The A-Team (1983) s04e20 Episode Script
Mission Of Peace
1 (male narrator) In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit.
These men promptly escaped from a maximum-security stockade to the Los Angeles underground.
Today, still wanted by the government they survive as soldiers of fortune.
If you have a problem, if no one else can help and if you can find them maybe you can hire the A-Team.
[gun firing.]
(Nora) As we enter the Moultrie battlegrounds be sure not to miss the last stronghold of the settlers in this area the Mission de la Paz, the Mission of Peace.
The bloodiest battle in American history took place right here in 1843 just after John C.
Moultrie and his friends settled in the Prairie Creek area.
Chief Matsego led 3,000 Akantu Indian braves against the settlement in March of that year.
Every man, woman, and child was wiped out.
Ladies and gentlemen, please watch your step as you get off the tram.
The tram will return to town as soon as it is loaded.
Thank you.
Let's go.
We wanna see the tour.
Yeah, we got tickets.
The tour will start just as soon as the tram is filled.
Would you please take your seats? You've got enough people, old lady.
[groaning.]
Now, you go Oh, Mickey! (Nora) Mickey! Come on, let's go for a ride! Yeah, you ready, babe? [exclaiming.]
[smashing.]
[people screaming.]
Get back, get back! Oh! He's gotta be kidding.
[grunting.]
Are you all right? Yes.
You animals.
You dirty, filthy animals.
I know who sent you.
And you can tell Ashton we are not selling, no matter what you do! I never heard of an Ashton.
I'll tell you one thing, though I think you ought to get out of the tourist business.
You don't seem to be attracting a very good clientele.
[both chuckling.]
(Nora) Come on, dear.
[thunder rumbling.]
[Need Your Love So Bad playing.]
(B.
A.
) Okay, Hannibal.
She's got the handles.
Let's see if this lie detector of yours works, B.
A.
I think she's telling the truth, Hannibal.
Let's go get her.
We just want a little brew money, old lady.
That's all.
Couple of rounds of beers here for me and my buddies.
Don't take that.
That's got all my Whoa! What's that? We're talking some heavy partying here! Now, give that back to me.
That isn't my money.
Now give it back to me.
If it doesn't belong to you, then it must belong to us, right? (Hannibal) Wrong.
Really? Says who? Now, if you wanna throw a party, you have to invite the right people.
Ooh, this harassment began four months ago.
Up until then Mr.
Ashton and his men gave us no trouble at all.
Then, one day, Ashton comes to me and asks me-- He didn't ask.
He threatened.
Tell him, Rudy.
Tell him what he said.
Actually, what he said was, "Sell out to me "or ride in a coffin.
" Sounds like a threat to me.
Ashton wants the land, all right.
Rudy's family has owned this land for, oh, almost a hundred years.
Now, Ashton owns all the land around us.
He said that he wanted to expand his ranch by buying up our land.
He gets his jollies out of beating up old folks the little no good, low down, son of a-- [whispering.]
Babette.
Well, he does.
And he put poor Mickey in the hospital.
And I'd like to know what this A- you brought in is gonna do about it.
First thing we're gonna do is give him a pop in the eye to let him know things are gonna be different.
I like that.
I really like that.
[alarm ringing.]
Oh, drat.
Well, break's over.
Back to work, everybody.
Come on.
Many moons ago my people were young.
Save it for the tourists, Chief.
Well, something has to be done.
Without this home, we've no place to go.
And without the tourists We can't pay our bills the way things are.
Murdock, you and B.
A.
check this place out.
See if it's defensible.
Face, we need a few things.
Ah, yeah.
40 gallons red paint, seven electric fans, three loudspeakers, 40 pillows.
Is this a joke? I really appreciate this, Mr.
Peck.
I mean, I've heard a lot about your abilities to scavenge.
Uh, huh.
Yeah, right.
Let's see Houston Dallas Paris main office number 555-3843, closed on Okay, all right.
Now, you stay in the background and watch and try not to get in the way, okay? Heaven forbid.
Good.
Hi, there.
Hey, look, is that the paint I'm supposed to pick up? Paint? What paint? Right there.
See Look, I haven't got much time, you know the main office sent me over to get 40 gallons of high gloss robin's red latex paint to take over to the Dallas store.
Or was it the Houston st-- No, Houston gets the weed-eaters.
Look, I'm in kind of a hurry here.
I don't know anything about a paint transfer, I'm sorry.
You don't? No, sir.
No invoice? Nothing.
Dadgumit, that's the third time they've done that to me this week.
Look, why don't you just call Janet down at the main office.
Ask her yourself.
You know the number? 555-3346.
You got that? It's five-- Oh, you got it.
Okay.
(woman) Hello, you've reached our main office.
We're closed today.
Please call back tomorrow Sorry, all I get is a recording.
The office is closed today.
Can you believe it? Oh, that's right, it's Monday.
They're closed on Monday.
Well, look, I tell you what, why don't you just let me take this stuff and have them send you an invoice.
Hold it right there.
Don't you dare give this paint to anyone.
What the heck is going on here, anyway? Langford Simpson, Environmental Control Agency.
Those cans of high gloss robin's red latex paint are laced with lead! Obviously you chose to ignore the recall that we sent to you last week about the poisoned children in El Paso.
Hey, I didn't know anything about this.
Right.
I'll bet.
Well, regardless, I'm here to take this poison away.
Got it? Yes, sir.
Rudy, Rudy, Rudy if I'd have needed any help, I would have asked.
Well, we got everything, didn't we? But that's not the point.
You see, these scams, they're very, very delicate.
It takes a certain kind of finesse.
See? To pull them off.
I thought I was helping.
I'm sorry, Mr.
Peck.
But you see, Rudy has always been our provider.
If it wasn't for him, most of us would be in state-run homes.
So, please be kind to him.
Okay.
Well, a good day's work, Face.
Oh, yeah.
It's a good day's work.
Let's get B.
A.
and get this show on the road.
Old Faceman, he ain't what he used to be Ain't what he used to be, ain't what he used to be Ladies and Gentlemen would you please gather in front of the mission for a treat you wouldn't believe possible for the few pennies you paid.
A demonstration of the law of the West.
For many years, the white man lived peacefully with the red man.
But there were renegades on both sides.
And war broke out between these two people.
On one side, the mighty Chief Watashi! And from the settlers, a man who knew no fear.
A man who rode the wind of destiny.
None other than Daniel David Bowie Boone Murdock.
Known to his friends as Pathfinder! [flute playing.]
All right, that's it.
I warned you.
Hit the road, Cochise.
You leave him alone.
[people booing.]
Come on, Chief.
Hey, you bear-greased badgers! I'm not taking too kindly to the way you're talking to our womenfolk.
[men chuckling.]
The funny guy wants to put on a show.
(man) Go get him, Pathfinder.
[people cheering.]
Hannibal! Hit it, B.
A.
[people cheering.]
And that, ladies and gentlemen will be the end of this afternoon's performance.
I don't know what to tell you.
Where did they get that kind of muscle? I don't know.
Those old geezers were ready to roll over and play dead until these guys showed up.
Now, I don't know who they are, they just took us by surprise.
We got a time limit on this thing.
We can't sit around and play ball with these old folks.
They gotta be out of that mission by the end of the month.
I gotta go talk to Taggert about this.
Don't touch the car.
Why don't you get cleaned up? [engine starting.]
[tires screeching.]
[van accelerating.]
I don't go for this farm bit.
I think somebody got to Ashton and talked him into a land grab.
Well, it wasn't for the mineral rights, I'll tell you that because I done checked with the County Assayer's Office and they rated this piece of God's acre as a mere "okey-dokey.
" It's nothing to get excited about.
Historic value? Ashton said he wanted to bulldoze this mission.
But there's a Federal agency to preserve historic sites.
The Department of the Interior.
The only problem is, they don't consider us an historical site.
We've applied for Federal status but they have never answered any of our letters.
They don't even return Rudy's phone calls.
Oh, departmental red tape is all it is.
Darn bureaucrats.
You know how the government is.
Okay, Face, you and Murdock go down to the Federal Building and see if you can push the paperwork through.
When you get that done, Ashton couldn't bulldoze it even if he owned it.
Uh, do you mind if I tag along? I mean, I had such a great time when we went looking for the red paint.
Well, not this time, huh, Rudy? I think Murdock and I can handle it.
Huh, Murdock? The slinky of destiny is making it's way right on back up to the top of the stairs.
It's beginning to make sense to me now, Face.
Ah, it is? Yes.
You know, all the stories that my grandmother H.
Emma Murdock, used to tell me about my great, great granddaddy when I was just a little Captain? They were true.
'Cause the last time my grand daddy was seen, he was making his way right into Texas.
And you know what that means, hmm? It means, that he was right here fighting alongside of John Moultrie and the other settlers defending the mission.
And now just a few generations later, the Murdock clan is being called upon to defend Mission de la Paz.
I'm gonna go wash down them horses and I'm gonna put some jerky in them cases just in case we have a camp without a fire.
Excuse me.
No, no, no, really, he comes in handy sometimes.
Well, what do we do now? Just wait? Not long.
I figure Ashton's pretty jumpy by now, and he should be running to Daddy.
And Daddy is who we want.
Are you telling me I should start worrying about my investment? No, out of nowhere, Mr.
Taggert.
Those guys came down on my boys like a sack of lead.
I just need more time, that's all.
There is no time.
Either you get that land soon, or the whole deal falls through.
They'll go somewhere else.
[brakes squealing.]
Thanks for the ride, darling.
You're welcome.
They've been in there for an hour.
I would have been here sooner, B.
A.
, but But the old lady wouldn't floor the accelerator.
I don't speed.
You wanted her to speed, Hannibal? Who's the guy? I don't know, Hannibal.
He met Ashton here.
That's his car parked over there.
He locked his briefcase in the trunk before he went in.
Check that briefcase out.
I'm gonna pay Ashton and his friend a visit.
Babette, you stay here.
[bell on door ringing.]
Hi there, Ashton old buddy.
Who the hell are you? I'm the new caretaker of the old mission and the guy who's going to make your life miserable.
Hi there.
We haven't met before.
I don't know who you are, but you're digging a grave for yourself.
Really? Well, let's talk about that.
Now, that's the hammer of a 9mm 8-round automatic pointed right at your belly.
Hollow point in the chamber.
How does a guy get a cup of coffee around here? Do you know, pal? What are you doing? We didn't hire you to steal.
This ain't stealing.
Here, look at these.
You're the thief.
You look at them.
Now the mission is about to be declared a national treasure.
And until that happens, I'm going to be around to see to it that you guys keep your hands off.
Let me tell you something.
I'm gonna get that old folks' land.
And I'm going to get you, got it? Almost time for the afternoon performance.
It's been charming.
Hey.
Don't you think it's been charming? That guy is dead.
Just tell your men to get ready to move.
So, as you can see, being the Undersecretary's Secretary to the Assistant in charge of the Secretaries for the Department of the Interior is a very demanding job.
But then, of course, someone as astute as yourself doesn't have to be told that, now, does she? No.
I believe, what my friend is trying to get across to you is that these are very important documents that must get to the Great White Father in Washington, D.
C.
Yes.
They concern the settlers at Mission de la Paz.
Precisely.
So, you see, it's highly imperative that these be sent to the Secretary for the Department of Interior.
As a matter of fact, you might want to put the Federal seal on them and mark them confidential.
Oh! Oh, yes! That's a good idea! Maybe, send them Express, huh? Even better! Pony Express.
I'll get the necessary documents.
Could you cool with the Pathfinder stuff? I can't.
It's genetic.
Genetic Would you just sign these right here, please? Yes, certainly.
There you go.
A pleasure.
Excuse me, miss.
My name is Randall Corn, and I work with the Secretary of the Interior.
Oh, really? What a coincidence.
These forms should've actually come to my office.
Otherwise, it'll just come back.
It was blatant vandalism.
Oh, no, Babette, it wasn't vandalism.
Well, I don't know what else you'd call it when somebody forcibly breaks into your car.
Hello, hello.
Hello.
So that's it, Hannibal.
Rudy walked right in there and just took back the papers.
It's no wonder this place hasn't been declared an historic site.
He keeps blocking it.
You know, Hannibal.
This doesn't make any sense to me.
I mean, Rudy's grandfather fought right along side my great, great grandfather in defense of this mission.
He died for this land.
It's hard to believe Rudy's in cahoots with Ashton.
B.
A.
, what about the material from the briefcase? Were there any check stubs with Rudy's name on it? No, Hannibal.
They was all made out to Ashton.
So, some guy named Bart Taggert of the Unified Survey Corporation is making out checks in large amounts to Ashton.
It's got to be a dummy corporation.
At least that's what I'd do if I was setting up a land grab, you see? And I'll bet you that, that guy you saw with Ashton was probably Taggert.
Hannibal, I just had a horrifying thought.
Now, just assume that Rudy really is working for Ashton.
That means he knows who we really are.
(Fulbright) All right, Smith we've got the entire place surrounded.
Throw out your weapons and come on out.
Wonderful.
But, we asked them here.
Listen, lady, they're criminals and they're going to go to jail.
You understand me? Hey, Smith! Don't make us come in shooting.
(Hannibal) Okay, General.
You've got us.
We're coming out.
Check the house for weapons.
Hello, Fulbright.
I've missed you.
(Fulbright) That's very funny, Smith.
The three of you can laugh all you want to, but there'll be no rabbit coming out of the hat this time.
All right men, let's go.
Excuse us, grandmother.
[police dispatcher chattering on car radio.]
I've always felt that February was our best month for escapes.
It's such a short month, but What do you think, Face? I prefer the spring months.
March, April-- Shut up, all of you.
You'll have plenty of time to talk in Leavenworth.
Sir, we found their van.
Have it brought around.
Yes, sir.
Your last ride, Smith.
In that pretty little van of yours.
Then we're gonna cut it up for scrap.
Whatever you say, General.
And just one other thing, so you know.
This time my men have removed all of the weapons from it.
Wait! (Murdock) All aboard.
Come on, after them! Let's go! [guns firing.]
There they go.
Let's go.
[guns firing.]
Come on, let's go! Hurry up! Tell your men to lay down their arms.
Lay down your arms! You know something, Fulbright? You're too dedicated.
You should go away for a while.
(Fulbright) You're never gonna get away with this, Smith.
I'll get you.
You wait! I'm gonna get you, Smith.
Let me out of here! I know.
(Fulbright) Smith! I know, Fulbright.
We'll never get away with it, right? And if you find work, send money.
(Fulbright) Smith! Smith, you hear me? You better get me out of here.
They burned down the house, Hannibal.
[building smoldering.]
I don't know.
What do you tell people who've lost everything? I should have just sold out to Ashton in the first place.
I had no right to put these people in danger.
And now.
Well, we've lost everything.
Rudy, don't blame yourself.
We all made our own decision.
None of us was ready to give up our home.
It doesn't matter.
There is no home now.
There's only ashes.
That was a picture of my husband.
Nora, where am I going to go? It's all right, it's all right.
(Rudy) We can't win, Hannibal.
And we can't afford to fight anymore.
You can't afford not to fight.
All right, Mr.
Smith.
You're in charge.
What do you want us to do? First, a place to live.
The Mission de la Paz.
The fire warped all the weapons, Hannibal.
It totaled the tram, too.
These men defiled the territory of my forefathers and I request permission to show them the business end of my musket.
In due time, Captain.
First, I want to ask Rudy a couple of questions.
It is Rudy, isn't it? What are you talking about? Face.
That's my wallet.
That's right.
Charles Winston.
Wait a minute.
Charles Win The Charles Winston? You're Charlie the Clip? You picked my pocket.
You know, I can't believe it.
I picked the pocket of Charlie the Clip.
Do you know who this is? I studied every scam you've ever done.
This is the guy who sold the Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn.
A few minor accomplishments.
Charlie, I never figured you for a sellout.
Why'd you call Fulbright in on us? If you didn't want our help, why hire us? Call in Fulbright? Yeah.
I never even heard of the man until he knocked on my door.
I swear I had nothing to do with it.
A part of your story doesn't track, Rudy.
If you're not working for Ashton why are you trying to block the effort to establish this site as a historical monument? After everything that's happened I guess I should be straight with you guys.
I didn't want those papers to go through to Washington.
If anyone ever did any research on this place they'd find out that the Mission de la Paz doesn't actually exist.
Wait a minute.
You mean, this whole thing is a scam? You invented the Mission de la Paz? You mean, there was never no Jonathan Moultrie? That's right.
That means there never was no Daniel David Bowie Boone Pathfinder.
It's not true.
It's not true.
My daddy opened this place as a social club in 1924.
Called it the "Church of Divine Pleasure.
" Before that it was a stable.
That's lies.
It's lies.
(Rudy) I won those cannons in a poker game.
They were placed at the entrance to the local library in Muncie, Indiana.
The pews were bus benches in Chicago.
Everywhere I went I collected pieces of the legend.
I'm sorry, Murdock.
What about Chief Watashi and the Akantu Indians? No such animals.
I picked the Chief up hitchhiking in Cleveland.
Trying to avoid the daddy of a old girlfriend.
I can't believe I fell for a Cleveland Indian.
Well to be completely frank, Face he's not really an Indian.
[laughing.]
Not really an Indian.
(Rudy) These people are my family.
And this mission is all they have left.
We don't want to be taken care of by the state or anyone else.
The mission gives us a chance to take care of ourselves.
I had to stop those papers.
Rudy, I refiled those papers.
Then we might as well quit now.
Once they start to research-- We'll think about that later.
First things first.
Ashton and Taggert really want this place.
That means there must be something very special about it.
B.
A.
, you and Murdock go out to Taggert's.
Give it a real going over.
Maybe you can get us some evidence.
Colonel, I'm not going anywhere.
I'm just an empty shell.
I'm a man without a past and a questionable future, and I I just can't believe that Grandma Murdock lied to me.
Come on now, Pathfinder.
Just because I made up my story, doesn't mean what your Grandma told you isn't true.
Seems to me I remember stories about the great frontier scout they called Pathfinder.
You keep going, son.
You'll be part of your own legend soon.
If there was no Pathfinder at the first battle for the mission there certainly will be for the second.
He's right about that, Captain.
Come on, B.
A.
We have legends to begin.
Pathfinder rides again.
I wish you hadn't done that.
You should've figured they'd move themselves into the mission, Ashton.
Hey, it was your plan, now we can't get near them.
You're a fool, Ashton.
I'm going to have my men roll right over the top of them.
Mission and all.
Right.
And have half the Federal Government down on us in 10 minutes.
You heard Smith.
This is a historical landmark, here.
(Murdock) No wonder this guy knows who we are.
He's a retired colonel.
Man lives pretty good for a retired Army colonel.
Too good.
How convenient.
Maps.
Finesse and style.
Army survey map of Prairie Creek.
(Taggert) Do you really think the military would waste time and money surveying the property if there was a landmark they couldn't remove? Maybe they don't know about it.
Look, Ashton, I've made some calls to Washington.
We'll know the truth about this so-called historical site before the day is over.
And then I'm going to blast-- Oh, damn! [van doors closing.]
[van engine starting.]
[van tires screeching.]
What did they get? Everything.
Survey maps, receipts.
Everything! (Rudy) The Army wants to build a new military base! So, that's what this is all about.
Taggert used his Pentagon connections to find out about the land then brought in Ashton as a cover.
Then, Ashton and Taggert sell the land to the military through their dummy corporation and split the profits right down the middle.
They got to be worth millions of dollars, Hannibal.
And now that Taggert knows we're onto him we'll have to watch him.
Pathfinder? Yes, sir? Keep your eye on him.
The only thing that's kept him off us is this historical landmark business.
Once he finds out it's a phony he'll come after us.
We need to know.
Just as I thought.
It's a bluff.
There is no Jonathan Moultrie.
No Battle of Prairie Creek, nothing! Well, if Hannibal Smith wants a war I just happen to be in a position to accommodate him.
What the hell are you doing, using Army men and supplies? Are you planning on giving away the whole scam? These are my men.
They can be trusted to keep their mouths shut.
You might be wise trying doing the same.
All right, let's move out! They're on their way, Colonel.
[horse nickering.]
Excuse me.
[people chattering.]
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
[whistling loudly.]
Thank you.
We got about an hour to get ready for Taggert.
How? The only weapons you have are the guns you got from Fulbright.
That won't stop an army.
There's not a cavalry charging over the hills in this movie.
You got to have a little more faith, Rudy.
[scoffing.]
Pathfinder, Pathfinder.
We're going to need the cavalry on this one.
[radio buzzing.]
How does it look, Colonel? Looking good, Face.
B.
A.
, how accurate is your cannon? You tell me where, and I'll hit it.
Good.
(Nora) How long do you think we can hold out? Depends on Pathfinder.
It's funny, but Jonathan Moultrie held out for three weeks over a 100 years ago.
(Nora) And here we are, just like Jonathan Moultrie.
Yeah.
In fact you are standing on the very spot where Jonathan C.
Moultrie took Chief Matsego's arrow and was mortally wounded.
Yeah, just like Moultrie.
Colonel! Colonel! Colonel Fulbright.
Colonel Fulbright, are you in there? (Fulbright) What do you think you idiot! I'm a General, not a Colonel.
[laughing.]
(Fulbright) Let me out! Open this thing up! What do you think this is anyway? Smith, you dummy! Let me out of here! Who the heck are you anyway? lam the Pathfinder, sir.
And I bear a message from the besieged forces at Mission de la Paz.
A Colonel Hannibal Smith has asked me to deliver these documents to you and he requests your presence on the battlefield immediately.
Hannibal Smith sent you.
I cannot stay, sir.
My place is in the heat of battle! Come on.
[horse snuffling.]
We got to get to that mission now! Get that van, get it started.
Let's go.
Come on.
[engine starting.]
(Taggert) Smith! Hannibal Smith! I think we need to talk.
Not much to talk about, Taggert.
You're a money-hungry slimeball.
No more warnings, Smith.
(Taggert) You and your friends come on down, nice and quiet.
Now! Before I blow you to bits.
I'll give you 10 seconds.
Good luck, pig breath.
(Hannibal) Let her rip, B.
A.
[guns firing.]
[shells exploding.]
Come on, let's go! They're getting too close! [guns firing.]
Sore loser at 10 o'clock, B.
A.
Colonel! We can't hold out much longer.
Keep it up.
We've got to wait for Pathfinder.
[guns firing.]
[shells exploding.]
Cavalry has arrived, Colonel! [guns firing.]
[shells exploding.]
All right, Taggert.
You're under arrest.
You're under arrest for misuse of Government property.
And if I can swing it, conspiracy to commit treason.
Captain.
I want all these men around here put under arrest.
Nobody leaves here, until I get this thing sorted out.
By the way find out if the A-Team is still hanging around here someplace.
As we dedicate this structure recalling that it was once owned by Sam Houston and used as a stable before the glorious battle of the Alamo.
I don't know how we can ever thank you enough for all you've done for us.
It was a pleasure.
Well, you're okay in my book.
But, you better be careful.
The next time you feel like breaking into a car it just might not be a little old lady that sneaks up on you.
Face, I don't know how you pulled it off.
Where did you find out about Sam Houston? [clearing throat.]
Yes, well, you know, Hannibal if you talk to the right people in just the right way, you'd be amazed at what you can find out.
It is evident that this site played a great role in the shaping of the West.
It is therefore fitting and proper that we recognize the achievement of those who lived and died here by declaring the Mission de la Paz a national monument of the United States of America.
[crowd cheering.]
Thank you so much.
Got a pretty sharp fellow here, Hannibal.
Better keep a close eye on him.
Ready to go, Murdock? I'm right here, Colonel.
L--- I got a surprise for you all.
Guess what it is.
You're staying! No.
It's Rosie here.
She's a new member of the A-Team.
I mean, I couldn't really be the Pathfinder without a horse, and In a manner of speaking, she did save the day.
That's a nice thought, Murd Pathfinder but I don't think the Chief would want to let go of Rosie.
They've been together for quite a long time.
No, no.
We traded even.
You traded? Mmm-hmm.
Traded what? [van engine starting.]
(Hannibal) Hi, Chief.
What's the matter, big guy? You're the one who said we ought to give back to the Indians everything we took away from them so I thought I'd get the ball rolling with your van.
These men promptly escaped from a maximum-security stockade to the Los Angeles underground.
Today, still wanted by the government they survive as soldiers of fortune.
If you have a problem, if no one else can help and if you can find them maybe you can hire the A-Team.
[gun firing.]
(Nora) As we enter the Moultrie battlegrounds be sure not to miss the last stronghold of the settlers in this area the Mission de la Paz, the Mission of Peace.
The bloodiest battle in American history took place right here in 1843 just after John C.
Moultrie and his friends settled in the Prairie Creek area.
Chief Matsego led 3,000 Akantu Indian braves against the settlement in March of that year.
Every man, woman, and child was wiped out.
Ladies and gentlemen, please watch your step as you get off the tram.
The tram will return to town as soon as it is loaded.
Thank you.
Let's go.
We wanna see the tour.
Yeah, we got tickets.
The tour will start just as soon as the tram is filled.
Would you please take your seats? You've got enough people, old lady.
[groaning.]
Now, you go Oh, Mickey! (Nora) Mickey! Come on, let's go for a ride! Yeah, you ready, babe? [exclaiming.]
[smashing.]
[people screaming.]
Get back, get back! Oh! He's gotta be kidding.
[grunting.]
Are you all right? Yes.
You animals.
You dirty, filthy animals.
I know who sent you.
And you can tell Ashton we are not selling, no matter what you do! I never heard of an Ashton.
I'll tell you one thing, though I think you ought to get out of the tourist business.
You don't seem to be attracting a very good clientele.
[both chuckling.]
(Nora) Come on, dear.
[thunder rumbling.]
[Need Your Love So Bad playing.]
(B.
A.
) Okay, Hannibal.
She's got the handles.
Let's see if this lie detector of yours works, B.
A.
I think she's telling the truth, Hannibal.
Let's go get her.
We just want a little brew money, old lady.
That's all.
Couple of rounds of beers here for me and my buddies.
Don't take that.
That's got all my Whoa! What's that? We're talking some heavy partying here! Now, give that back to me.
That isn't my money.
Now give it back to me.
If it doesn't belong to you, then it must belong to us, right? (Hannibal) Wrong.
Really? Says who? Now, if you wanna throw a party, you have to invite the right people.
Ooh, this harassment began four months ago.
Up until then Mr.
Ashton and his men gave us no trouble at all.
Then, one day, Ashton comes to me and asks me-- He didn't ask.
He threatened.
Tell him, Rudy.
Tell him what he said.
Actually, what he said was, "Sell out to me "or ride in a coffin.
" Sounds like a threat to me.
Ashton wants the land, all right.
Rudy's family has owned this land for, oh, almost a hundred years.
Now, Ashton owns all the land around us.
He said that he wanted to expand his ranch by buying up our land.
He gets his jollies out of beating up old folks the little no good, low down, son of a-- [whispering.]
Babette.
Well, he does.
And he put poor Mickey in the hospital.
And I'd like to know what this A- you brought in is gonna do about it.
First thing we're gonna do is give him a pop in the eye to let him know things are gonna be different.
I like that.
I really like that.
[alarm ringing.]
Oh, drat.
Well, break's over.
Back to work, everybody.
Come on.
Many moons ago my people were young.
Save it for the tourists, Chief.
Well, something has to be done.
Without this home, we've no place to go.
And without the tourists We can't pay our bills the way things are.
Murdock, you and B.
A.
check this place out.
See if it's defensible.
Face, we need a few things.
Ah, yeah.
40 gallons red paint, seven electric fans, three loudspeakers, 40 pillows.
Is this a joke? I really appreciate this, Mr.
Peck.
I mean, I've heard a lot about your abilities to scavenge.
Uh, huh.
Yeah, right.
Let's see Houston Dallas Paris main office number 555-3843, closed on Okay, all right.
Now, you stay in the background and watch and try not to get in the way, okay? Heaven forbid.
Good.
Hi, there.
Hey, look, is that the paint I'm supposed to pick up? Paint? What paint? Right there.
See Look, I haven't got much time, you know the main office sent me over to get 40 gallons of high gloss robin's red latex paint to take over to the Dallas store.
Or was it the Houston st-- No, Houston gets the weed-eaters.
Look, I'm in kind of a hurry here.
I don't know anything about a paint transfer, I'm sorry.
You don't? No, sir.
No invoice? Nothing.
Dadgumit, that's the third time they've done that to me this week.
Look, why don't you just call Janet down at the main office.
Ask her yourself.
You know the number? 555-3346.
You got that? It's five-- Oh, you got it.
Okay.
(woman) Hello, you've reached our main office.
We're closed today.
Please call back tomorrow Sorry, all I get is a recording.
The office is closed today.
Can you believe it? Oh, that's right, it's Monday.
They're closed on Monday.
Well, look, I tell you what, why don't you just let me take this stuff and have them send you an invoice.
Hold it right there.
Don't you dare give this paint to anyone.
What the heck is going on here, anyway? Langford Simpson, Environmental Control Agency.
Those cans of high gloss robin's red latex paint are laced with lead! Obviously you chose to ignore the recall that we sent to you last week about the poisoned children in El Paso.
Hey, I didn't know anything about this.
Right.
I'll bet.
Well, regardless, I'm here to take this poison away.
Got it? Yes, sir.
Rudy, Rudy, Rudy if I'd have needed any help, I would have asked.
Well, we got everything, didn't we? But that's not the point.
You see, these scams, they're very, very delicate.
It takes a certain kind of finesse.
See? To pull them off.
I thought I was helping.
I'm sorry, Mr.
Peck.
But you see, Rudy has always been our provider.
If it wasn't for him, most of us would be in state-run homes.
So, please be kind to him.
Okay.
Well, a good day's work, Face.
Oh, yeah.
It's a good day's work.
Let's get B.
A.
and get this show on the road.
Old Faceman, he ain't what he used to be Ain't what he used to be, ain't what he used to be Ladies and Gentlemen would you please gather in front of the mission for a treat you wouldn't believe possible for the few pennies you paid.
A demonstration of the law of the West.
For many years, the white man lived peacefully with the red man.
But there were renegades on both sides.
And war broke out between these two people.
On one side, the mighty Chief Watashi! And from the settlers, a man who knew no fear.
A man who rode the wind of destiny.
None other than Daniel David Bowie Boone Murdock.
Known to his friends as Pathfinder! [flute playing.]
All right, that's it.
I warned you.
Hit the road, Cochise.
You leave him alone.
[people booing.]
Come on, Chief.
Hey, you bear-greased badgers! I'm not taking too kindly to the way you're talking to our womenfolk.
[men chuckling.]
The funny guy wants to put on a show.
(man) Go get him, Pathfinder.
[people cheering.]
Hannibal! Hit it, B.
A.
[people cheering.]
And that, ladies and gentlemen will be the end of this afternoon's performance.
I don't know what to tell you.
Where did they get that kind of muscle? I don't know.
Those old geezers were ready to roll over and play dead until these guys showed up.
Now, I don't know who they are, they just took us by surprise.
We got a time limit on this thing.
We can't sit around and play ball with these old folks.
They gotta be out of that mission by the end of the month.
I gotta go talk to Taggert about this.
Don't touch the car.
Why don't you get cleaned up? [engine starting.]
[tires screeching.]
[van accelerating.]
I don't go for this farm bit.
I think somebody got to Ashton and talked him into a land grab.
Well, it wasn't for the mineral rights, I'll tell you that because I done checked with the County Assayer's Office and they rated this piece of God's acre as a mere "okey-dokey.
" It's nothing to get excited about.
Historic value? Ashton said he wanted to bulldoze this mission.
But there's a Federal agency to preserve historic sites.
The Department of the Interior.
The only problem is, they don't consider us an historical site.
We've applied for Federal status but they have never answered any of our letters.
They don't even return Rudy's phone calls.
Oh, departmental red tape is all it is.
Darn bureaucrats.
You know how the government is.
Okay, Face, you and Murdock go down to the Federal Building and see if you can push the paperwork through.
When you get that done, Ashton couldn't bulldoze it even if he owned it.
Uh, do you mind if I tag along? I mean, I had such a great time when we went looking for the red paint.
Well, not this time, huh, Rudy? I think Murdock and I can handle it.
Huh, Murdock? The slinky of destiny is making it's way right on back up to the top of the stairs.
It's beginning to make sense to me now, Face.
Ah, it is? Yes.
You know, all the stories that my grandmother H.
Emma Murdock, used to tell me about my great, great granddaddy when I was just a little Captain? They were true.
'Cause the last time my grand daddy was seen, he was making his way right into Texas.
And you know what that means, hmm? It means, that he was right here fighting alongside of John Moultrie and the other settlers defending the mission.
And now just a few generations later, the Murdock clan is being called upon to defend Mission de la Paz.
I'm gonna go wash down them horses and I'm gonna put some jerky in them cases just in case we have a camp without a fire.
Excuse me.
No, no, no, really, he comes in handy sometimes.
Well, what do we do now? Just wait? Not long.
I figure Ashton's pretty jumpy by now, and he should be running to Daddy.
And Daddy is who we want.
Are you telling me I should start worrying about my investment? No, out of nowhere, Mr.
Taggert.
Those guys came down on my boys like a sack of lead.
I just need more time, that's all.
There is no time.
Either you get that land soon, or the whole deal falls through.
They'll go somewhere else.
[brakes squealing.]
Thanks for the ride, darling.
You're welcome.
They've been in there for an hour.
I would have been here sooner, B.
A.
, but But the old lady wouldn't floor the accelerator.
I don't speed.
You wanted her to speed, Hannibal? Who's the guy? I don't know, Hannibal.
He met Ashton here.
That's his car parked over there.
He locked his briefcase in the trunk before he went in.
Check that briefcase out.
I'm gonna pay Ashton and his friend a visit.
Babette, you stay here.
[bell on door ringing.]
Hi there, Ashton old buddy.
Who the hell are you? I'm the new caretaker of the old mission and the guy who's going to make your life miserable.
Hi there.
We haven't met before.
I don't know who you are, but you're digging a grave for yourself.
Really? Well, let's talk about that.
Now, that's the hammer of a 9mm 8-round automatic pointed right at your belly.
Hollow point in the chamber.
How does a guy get a cup of coffee around here? Do you know, pal? What are you doing? We didn't hire you to steal.
This ain't stealing.
Here, look at these.
You're the thief.
You look at them.
Now the mission is about to be declared a national treasure.
And until that happens, I'm going to be around to see to it that you guys keep your hands off.
Let me tell you something.
I'm gonna get that old folks' land.
And I'm going to get you, got it? Almost time for the afternoon performance.
It's been charming.
Hey.
Don't you think it's been charming? That guy is dead.
Just tell your men to get ready to move.
So, as you can see, being the Undersecretary's Secretary to the Assistant in charge of the Secretaries for the Department of the Interior is a very demanding job.
But then, of course, someone as astute as yourself doesn't have to be told that, now, does she? No.
I believe, what my friend is trying to get across to you is that these are very important documents that must get to the Great White Father in Washington, D.
C.
Yes.
They concern the settlers at Mission de la Paz.
Precisely.
So, you see, it's highly imperative that these be sent to the Secretary for the Department of Interior.
As a matter of fact, you might want to put the Federal seal on them and mark them confidential.
Oh! Oh, yes! That's a good idea! Maybe, send them Express, huh? Even better! Pony Express.
I'll get the necessary documents.
Could you cool with the Pathfinder stuff? I can't.
It's genetic.
Genetic Would you just sign these right here, please? Yes, certainly.
There you go.
A pleasure.
Excuse me, miss.
My name is Randall Corn, and I work with the Secretary of the Interior.
Oh, really? What a coincidence.
These forms should've actually come to my office.
Otherwise, it'll just come back.
It was blatant vandalism.
Oh, no, Babette, it wasn't vandalism.
Well, I don't know what else you'd call it when somebody forcibly breaks into your car.
Hello, hello.
Hello.
So that's it, Hannibal.
Rudy walked right in there and just took back the papers.
It's no wonder this place hasn't been declared an historic site.
He keeps blocking it.
You know, Hannibal.
This doesn't make any sense to me.
I mean, Rudy's grandfather fought right along side my great, great grandfather in defense of this mission.
He died for this land.
It's hard to believe Rudy's in cahoots with Ashton.
B.
A.
, what about the material from the briefcase? Were there any check stubs with Rudy's name on it? No, Hannibal.
They was all made out to Ashton.
So, some guy named Bart Taggert of the Unified Survey Corporation is making out checks in large amounts to Ashton.
It's got to be a dummy corporation.
At least that's what I'd do if I was setting up a land grab, you see? And I'll bet you that, that guy you saw with Ashton was probably Taggert.
Hannibal, I just had a horrifying thought.
Now, just assume that Rudy really is working for Ashton.
That means he knows who we really are.
(Fulbright) All right, Smith we've got the entire place surrounded.
Throw out your weapons and come on out.
Wonderful.
But, we asked them here.
Listen, lady, they're criminals and they're going to go to jail.
You understand me? Hey, Smith! Don't make us come in shooting.
(Hannibal) Okay, General.
You've got us.
We're coming out.
Check the house for weapons.
Hello, Fulbright.
I've missed you.
(Fulbright) That's very funny, Smith.
The three of you can laugh all you want to, but there'll be no rabbit coming out of the hat this time.
All right men, let's go.
Excuse us, grandmother.
[police dispatcher chattering on car radio.]
I've always felt that February was our best month for escapes.
It's such a short month, but What do you think, Face? I prefer the spring months.
March, April-- Shut up, all of you.
You'll have plenty of time to talk in Leavenworth.
Sir, we found their van.
Have it brought around.
Yes, sir.
Your last ride, Smith.
In that pretty little van of yours.
Then we're gonna cut it up for scrap.
Whatever you say, General.
And just one other thing, so you know.
This time my men have removed all of the weapons from it.
Wait! (Murdock) All aboard.
Come on, after them! Let's go! [guns firing.]
There they go.
Let's go.
[guns firing.]
Come on, let's go! Hurry up! Tell your men to lay down their arms.
Lay down your arms! You know something, Fulbright? You're too dedicated.
You should go away for a while.
(Fulbright) You're never gonna get away with this, Smith.
I'll get you.
You wait! I'm gonna get you, Smith.
Let me out of here! I know.
(Fulbright) Smith! I know, Fulbright.
We'll never get away with it, right? And if you find work, send money.
(Fulbright) Smith! Smith, you hear me? You better get me out of here.
They burned down the house, Hannibal.
[building smoldering.]
I don't know.
What do you tell people who've lost everything? I should have just sold out to Ashton in the first place.
I had no right to put these people in danger.
And now.
Well, we've lost everything.
Rudy, don't blame yourself.
We all made our own decision.
None of us was ready to give up our home.
It doesn't matter.
There is no home now.
There's only ashes.
That was a picture of my husband.
Nora, where am I going to go? It's all right, it's all right.
(Rudy) We can't win, Hannibal.
And we can't afford to fight anymore.
You can't afford not to fight.
All right, Mr.
Smith.
You're in charge.
What do you want us to do? First, a place to live.
The Mission de la Paz.
The fire warped all the weapons, Hannibal.
It totaled the tram, too.
These men defiled the territory of my forefathers and I request permission to show them the business end of my musket.
In due time, Captain.
First, I want to ask Rudy a couple of questions.
It is Rudy, isn't it? What are you talking about? Face.
That's my wallet.
That's right.
Charles Winston.
Wait a minute.
Charles Win The Charles Winston? You're Charlie the Clip? You picked my pocket.
You know, I can't believe it.
I picked the pocket of Charlie the Clip.
Do you know who this is? I studied every scam you've ever done.
This is the guy who sold the Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn.
A few minor accomplishments.
Charlie, I never figured you for a sellout.
Why'd you call Fulbright in on us? If you didn't want our help, why hire us? Call in Fulbright? Yeah.
I never even heard of the man until he knocked on my door.
I swear I had nothing to do with it.
A part of your story doesn't track, Rudy.
If you're not working for Ashton why are you trying to block the effort to establish this site as a historical monument? After everything that's happened I guess I should be straight with you guys.
I didn't want those papers to go through to Washington.
If anyone ever did any research on this place they'd find out that the Mission de la Paz doesn't actually exist.
Wait a minute.
You mean, this whole thing is a scam? You invented the Mission de la Paz? You mean, there was never no Jonathan Moultrie? That's right.
That means there never was no Daniel David Bowie Boone Pathfinder.
It's not true.
It's not true.
My daddy opened this place as a social club in 1924.
Called it the "Church of Divine Pleasure.
" Before that it was a stable.
That's lies.
It's lies.
(Rudy) I won those cannons in a poker game.
They were placed at the entrance to the local library in Muncie, Indiana.
The pews were bus benches in Chicago.
Everywhere I went I collected pieces of the legend.
I'm sorry, Murdock.
What about Chief Watashi and the Akantu Indians? No such animals.
I picked the Chief up hitchhiking in Cleveland.
Trying to avoid the daddy of a old girlfriend.
I can't believe I fell for a Cleveland Indian.
Well to be completely frank, Face he's not really an Indian.
[laughing.]
Not really an Indian.
(Rudy) These people are my family.
And this mission is all they have left.
We don't want to be taken care of by the state or anyone else.
The mission gives us a chance to take care of ourselves.
I had to stop those papers.
Rudy, I refiled those papers.
Then we might as well quit now.
Once they start to research-- We'll think about that later.
First things first.
Ashton and Taggert really want this place.
That means there must be something very special about it.
B.
A.
, you and Murdock go out to Taggert's.
Give it a real going over.
Maybe you can get us some evidence.
Colonel, I'm not going anywhere.
I'm just an empty shell.
I'm a man without a past and a questionable future, and I I just can't believe that Grandma Murdock lied to me.
Come on now, Pathfinder.
Just because I made up my story, doesn't mean what your Grandma told you isn't true.
Seems to me I remember stories about the great frontier scout they called Pathfinder.
You keep going, son.
You'll be part of your own legend soon.
If there was no Pathfinder at the first battle for the mission there certainly will be for the second.
He's right about that, Captain.
Come on, B.
A.
We have legends to begin.
Pathfinder rides again.
I wish you hadn't done that.
You should've figured they'd move themselves into the mission, Ashton.
Hey, it was your plan, now we can't get near them.
You're a fool, Ashton.
I'm going to have my men roll right over the top of them.
Mission and all.
Right.
And have half the Federal Government down on us in 10 minutes.
You heard Smith.
This is a historical landmark, here.
(Murdock) No wonder this guy knows who we are.
He's a retired colonel.
Man lives pretty good for a retired Army colonel.
Too good.
How convenient.
Maps.
Finesse and style.
Army survey map of Prairie Creek.
(Taggert) Do you really think the military would waste time and money surveying the property if there was a landmark they couldn't remove? Maybe they don't know about it.
Look, Ashton, I've made some calls to Washington.
We'll know the truth about this so-called historical site before the day is over.
And then I'm going to blast-- Oh, damn! [van doors closing.]
[van engine starting.]
[van tires screeching.]
What did they get? Everything.
Survey maps, receipts.
Everything! (Rudy) The Army wants to build a new military base! So, that's what this is all about.
Taggert used his Pentagon connections to find out about the land then brought in Ashton as a cover.
Then, Ashton and Taggert sell the land to the military through their dummy corporation and split the profits right down the middle.
They got to be worth millions of dollars, Hannibal.
And now that Taggert knows we're onto him we'll have to watch him.
Pathfinder? Yes, sir? Keep your eye on him.
The only thing that's kept him off us is this historical landmark business.
Once he finds out it's a phony he'll come after us.
We need to know.
Just as I thought.
It's a bluff.
There is no Jonathan Moultrie.
No Battle of Prairie Creek, nothing! Well, if Hannibal Smith wants a war I just happen to be in a position to accommodate him.
What the hell are you doing, using Army men and supplies? Are you planning on giving away the whole scam? These are my men.
They can be trusted to keep their mouths shut.
You might be wise trying doing the same.
All right, let's move out! They're on their way, Colonel.
[horse nickering.]
Excuse me.
[people chattering.]
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
[whistling loudly.]
Thank you.
We got about an hour to get ready for Taggert.
How? The only weapons you have are the guns you got from Fulbright.
That won't stop an army.
There's not a cavalry charging over the hills in this movie.
You got to have a little more faith, Rudy.
[scoffing.]
Pathfinder, Pathfinder.
We're going to need the cavalry on this one.
[radio buzzing.]
How does it look, Colonel? Looking good, Face.
B.
A.
, how accurate is your cannon? You tell me where, and I'll hit it.
Good.
(Nora) How long do you think we can hold out? Depends on Pathfinder.
It's funny, but Jonathan Moultrie held out for three weeks over a 100 years ago.
(Nora) And here we are, just like Jonathan Moultrie.
Yeah.
In fact you are standing on the very spot where Jonathan C.
Moultrie took Chief Matsego's arrow and was mortally wounded.
Yeah, just like Moultrie.
Colonel! Colonel! Colonel Fulbright.
Colonel Fulbright, are you in there? (Fulbright) What do you think you idiot! I'm a General, not a Colonel.
[laughing.]
(Fulbright) Let me out! Open this thing up! What do you think this is anyway? Smith, you dummy! Let me out of here! Who the heck are you anyway? lam the Pathfinder, sir.
And I bear a message from the besieged forces at Mission de la Paz.
A Colonel Hannibal Smith has asked me to deliver these documents to you and he requests your presence on the battlefield immediately.
Hannibal Smith sent you.
I cannot stay, sir.
My place is in the heat of battle! Come on.
[horse snuffling.]
We got to get to that mission now! Get that van, get it started.
Let's go.
Come on.
[engine starting.]
(Taggert) Smith! Hannibal Smith! I think we need to talk.
Not much to talk about, Taggert.
You're a money-hungry slimeball.
No more warnings, Smith.
(Taggert) You and your friends come on down, nice and quiet.
Now! Before I blow you to bits.
I'll give you 10 seconds.
Good luck, pig breath.
(Hannibal) Let her rip, B.
A.
[guns firing.]
[shells exploding.]
Come on, let's go! They're getting too close! [guns firing.]
Sore loser at 10 o'clock, B.
A.
Colonel! We can't hold out much longer.
Keep it up.
We've got to wait for Pathfinder.
[guns firing.]
[shells exploding.]
Cavalry has arrived, Colonel! [guns firing.]
[shells exploding.]
All right, Taggert.
You're under arrest.
You're under arrest for misuse of Government property.
And if I can swing it, conspiracy to commit treason.
Captain.
I want all these men around here put under arrest.
Nobody leaves here, until I get this thing sorted out.
By the way find out if the A-Team is still hanging around here someplace.
As we dedicate this structure recalling that it was once owned by Sam Houston and used as a stable before the glorious battle of the Alamo.
I don't know how we can ever thank you enough for all you've done for us.
It was a pleasure.
Well, you're okay in my book.
But, you better be careful.
The next time you feel like breaking into a car it just might not be a little old lady that sneaks up on you.
Face, I don't know how you pulled it off.
Where did you find out about Sam Houston? [clearing throat.]
Yes, well, you know, Hannibal if you talk to the right people in just the right way, you'd be amazed at what you can find out.
It is evident that this site played a great role in the shaping of the West.
It is therefore fitting and proper that we recognize the achievement of those who lived and died here by declaring the Mission de la Paz a national monument of the United States of America.
[crowd cheering.]
Thank you so much.
Got a pretty sharp fellow here, Hannibal.
Better keep a close eye on him.
Ready to go, Murdock? I'm right here, Colonel.
L--- I got a surprise for you all.
Guess what it is.
You're staying! No.
It's Rosie here.
She's a new member of the A-Team.
I mean, I couldn't really be the Pathfinder without a horse, and In a manner of speaking, she did save the day.
That's a nice thought, Murd Pathfinder but I don't think the Chief would want to let go of Rosie.
They've been together for quite a long time.
No, no.
We traded even.
You traded? Mmm-hmm.
Traded what? [van engine starting.]
(Hannibal) Hi, Chief.
What's the matter, big guy? You're the one who said we ought to give back to the Indians everything we took away from them so I thought I'd get the ball rolling with your van.