The A-Team (1983) s05e08 Episode Script
Family Reunion
This may be the most important document ever to come into my possession.
He wants to trade the rest of it to have Thanksgiving with his daughter.
When he calls back, give him the green light.
I ran a preliminary.
It seems that Able Seventeen or Able Eight would be best suited for the job.
He wants the A-Team.
He knows I've got them.
That's why he called me.
General, they don't seem to fit the profile.
It's hardly their style.
The information in this diary could bring down half the men in Washington.
Knowledge is power.
And I want that knowledge.
And he wants the A-Team.
He gets them.
"Forever yours, Templeton Peck.
" You know, I think next Thanksgiving, I'm gonna use pre-signed cards.
You know, this is the first time I'm spending Thanksgiving away from my parents.
Hey man, it don't matter where you are.
It's where your heart is.
And that's where your family's at.
B.
A.
, you know he's got a point.
Christmas, Thanksgiving, those are family holidays.
Family, you know, the mom and the dad and 2.
3 kids, station wagon in the garage Yo, Murdock, I'm trying to make a shot here.
Look, why don't you just go in there, tell Johnny you couldn't get the turkey for him? It's just that I find this all so ironic.
I mean, there is the Colonel in there, slaving over a hot stove to fix me a big juicy Thanksgiving dinner, and, I mean Ever since I've been tending turkeys, I mean Well, that's just the biggest mistake I ever made.
Well, like they say, never get too friendly with a bird you're gonna eat.
Hannibal's famous Four Day Turkey-Eating Experience is about to begin.
The sauce is simmering, the stuffing is terrific, the assistant chef is getting impatient, where's the bird? Colonel, I just can't, I mean, now that I work around turkeys all day long, I mean, I'm sorry.
Murdock got a little closer to the main course than he wanted to.
Oh.
Never get too friendly with a bird you're gonna eat, Murdock.
Well said.
I'm sure I could rustle up some soup for you.
But the rest of us, we've gotta have a turkey.
Good afternoon, gentlemen.
I think he's too big for the pot.
What are you doing here? Didn't you promise us a week off for the holidays? I don't recall using the word "promise," Lieutenant.
In exactly 48 hours, you're going to help reunite a wanted criminal and his daughter.
And in the process, bring down half the crooked politicians in Washington.
I guess we'll have to turn the sauce off.
A.
J.
Bancroft was a member of the Congressional kitchen cabinet in the 60s.
He was one of the most powerful non-political men in Washington until his indiscretions were discovered.
Yes, he was indicted on 22 counts, including conspiracy.
Well, you have to know something when you're tending turkeys.
Hey, man, if this guy is such bad news, why you want us to help him? Bancroft kept a diary.
A complete history of everyone he conspired with.
The swap.
A visit with his daughter for a list of crooked politicians.
One that I will put to good use.
I'll bet.
A list like that could make a man very powerful in Washington.
Don't insult me, Colonel.
Blackmail is not my style.
It isn't? Then how did I get here? It won't be long before certain people in Washington get wind of A.
J.
's return.
They'll do anything they can to silence him.
Anything.
Time is not in our favor.
B.
A.
, you and Frankie pick up Ellen in Tallahassee.
We'll meet Bancroft in St.
Augustine.
Check this out.
"At the age of 26, A.
J.
Bancroft "had established himself as the major force in independent corporate financing.
" The guy must be a genius.
He's a snazzy dresser, too.
And now he's coming back to see his daughter.
Imagine what he had to go through.
Him? Imagine what they went through when he skipped the country.
Darn it.
Erica is not at home.
Erica? Yeah, Murdock's got a girlfriend.
You do? Maybe, maybe not.
She just moved into our apartment building and I met her at the mailboxes and we kind of hit it off in a cerebral way.
Yeah? I asked her if she could look after my hamster and she said she would.
Sounds like true love to me.
Congratulations, Murdock, you know it isn't often that a girl offers to take care of a guy's rodent.
Okay, we'll meet at the Lobster Claw Restaurant in Daytona and then get on to the marina.
Slip number seven to be exact.
And, guys, I have scammed us a beautiful 70-foot sloop.
Listen, guys, anybody ever stop to consider that just possibly, this Ellen Bancroft is not too thrilled about finding her long-lost father? You know, I mean 20 years, that's a long time.
You drive first, Face.
All right, I hope this thing has cruise control.
Well, the issue here isn't cruise missiles, it's dollars and cents.
The President didn't recommend me for this position because I could dismantle a tank and tell you how it works.
But I can dismantle a budget, and that's what the Defense Department needs.
Mr.
Edwards, the committee is well aware of your ability to dance around the financial world.
I hate to ask this, but a very important phone call just came in.
If you respected elders wouldn't mind Adjourned for lunch.
Edwards.
It's Owens.
Our sources in Barbados confirm it.
Bancroft is on his way into the country.
I knew he'd pull something like this.
His timing couldn't have been worse.
He's come back to pull me down, but he'll want to see his daughter first.
Be there when he does.
The Bristol Queen.
Permission to come aboard? You've got less than 10 seconds to explain what you're doing here.
Uh-uh, uh-uh.
It's all right, Captain.
These men are my escorts.
You're A.
J.
Bancroft? The man at the office said she lived here.
The man at the office was running out the door for Thanksgiving.
I just hope she hasn't left town for the holiday.
Okay, you knock.
Then stand back and let me do my stuff.
Ellen Bancroft? Yes.
What can I do for you? Well, my associate and I have been commissioned by a party of mutual interest.
I am Frank Your father sent us.
He wanna talk to you.
Frank, you wait down here.
This is really bizarre.
It's hard to believe, you know? I mean, what am I supposed to say to the man? Maybe we better take the stairs.
Get them! You're gonna love this, B.
A.
We did it in Jaws.
Lobster bisque, lobster thermidor, lobster flambé, lobster with cheese and rice.
But no chili dogs.
Faceman's gonna be upset.
"Face.
" That's a charming nickname.
That's because he's a charming sort of guy.
We call him "Faceman" because he is so good-looking that he can extract the answer "yes" from you without ever having asked the question.
Sort of the conman's tool of the trade, you know? He doesn't sound like a very sincere kind of friend.
No, no, no.
He's a great guy.
Always there in a pinch.
He'd rip the shirt off his back for you.
Then he'd go out and scam one for himself.
A con man with integrity.
It's an interesting combination.
Well, at least that part of the mission is done with.
Well, I hope you guys didn't get followed.
Oh, Hannibal.
Sorry, B.
A.
That's interesting.
I mean, I've been out with a few ladies in my time, but I've never seen one go to the ladies' room without her purse.
Maybe that's because they had no intention of returning.
Get A.
J.
to the van.
I'll help Hannibal.
I didn't know it was a bomb.
I swear! Sure, lady.
What the hell is going on here? This whole thing was a set-up to kill you.
That wasn't your daughter.
But somebody knew you hadn't seen her in 20 years.
Well, where is my daughter? We're gonna find her.
First, we gotta get you out of here.
Leave that alone.
Give it to me now.
This is a picture of Face.
Would you give it to me? It's none of your business.
What are you doing with Face's picture? I told you it was none of your business.
No, but it's Face's business.
You wouldn't understand.
Enlighten me.
Templeton Peck is my son.
So, you tell me.
What makes you think Face is your son? Contrary to popular belief, A.
J.
Bancroft's life did not begin with his first corporate merger.
Long before that there was another life.
I married very young to my college sweetheart, Samantha.
The marriage was not really my idea.
You mean it was Face.
As it turned out, we named him Richard, after my father.
Things began to fall apart almost immediately.
I tried my best, but I couldn't support a family.
So So you ran out on them, right? That's something you do real well.
I went to New York and got a job in the Stock Exchange.
And in no time I was making a profit and hiring runners to work for me.
I remarried and had Ellen, and I tried to forget my past, but I couldn't forget my boy.
I couldn't find his mother, Samantha, and eventually, I went back to find him.
Well, if this is true, that means Ellen is his half-sister.
He's got a family.
I should tell him this.
No, you can't tell them yet.
You let me handle this.
No, I don't think so, Mr.
Bancroft.
You had 30 years to tell him and you blew it.
I had my reasons.
I protected my interests and that was wrong.
But things are different now.
I came back now to be with my family.
Look at me! Murdock, I'm dying.
I may never see another Thanksgiving.
I had to come back before that.
Which makes it all the more important that he knows now.
But for God's sake, let me do it.
Please? Consider this a last request.
Let me go.
Please, let me go! This is Evelyn Bronson, delivery girl for the mob.
Look, I told you, I didn't know what was in the purse.
She claims that somebody paid her five grand to set you up by pretending to be your daughter.
Who's paying you? Some guy named Owens.
The news report said no one was hurt.
What happened? You tell me.
There was a bomb in that purse.
I could have been killed.
That's the last time I'm working for you.
You better have the rest of my money or I'm going straight to the police.
Do you understand me? You'll get what I promised you.
In there.
Give me a minute.
a nice place to start.
What are you guys trying to do to me? Basting.
See, this thing has two settings, high and low.
At the moment, you're on low.
Now, where's my daughter? Cook the sucker.
Put him on high, B.
A.
Now, we got all day, what's it gonna be? How many hours of this do you think you can take? Okay, okay.
Shut it off.
I'll listen first.
Where's Ellen? I don't know! Really, I don't know.
Edwards has the girl, not me.
He knows Bancroft is coming back to testify.
Jacob Edwards.
I would have guessed.
Who's Jacob Edwards? My one-time partner, who's up for a presidential appointment.
The last half of my diary is devoted to him.
Okay, B.
A.
Put him on ice.
Let's go, guys.
Face, better check in with the owner.
Tell him we'll keep a list and pay when we leave.
What are we doing here? I thought we were going to see Edwards.
We are.
And I'm gonna shake him up a bit, so he'll wanna move your daughter.
That's when we grab her.
And we'll try to do it without endangering her.
But what are you going to do? We're gonna use power brakes.
Face, can I talk to you about something? No, not now.
I gotta go pay Mr.
Mullens for all this junk here Now, now, please.
Listen, it's very important.
I've got to tell you something.
What, am I gonna have to guess here? I mean No, no, no.
I, uh It can wait.
I'm sorry.
I appreciate your not saying anything.
I know how torn you are.
Listen, you got 20 hours left.
Then I'm gonna tell him everything.
What the devil? Hi, pal.
We didn't like the turkey you sent us, so we brought it back.
Who are you? Hannibal Smith.
You work for the government, any bells ringing? Smith.
Smith, the A-Team.
Hmm.
A.
J.
has hired the A-Team.
Incredible.
Where is Ellen Bancroft? You're bothering to ask? Why don't you just do to me what you did to him? He's just a flunky.
You'd have a back-up plan.
Now, A.
J.
is only in the country to have a little holiday with his daughter.
Don't bull me, Smith.
I'm a politician, bull is my specialty.
A.
J.
is here to testify.
You bring him to me, I'll release the girl.
No, you'd kill them both.
You were right.
A smart guy like me always has a back-up plan.
Now, I don't haggle, Smith.
This is a copy of the project A.
J.
's been working on.
You've got a terrific write-up.
Now, you meet me at the southwestern reservoir at 8:30 tonight with Ellen.
Let's go, guys.
All cooled off, huh, pal? What the hell am I paying you for? I send you out on a two-bit clean-up operation and I come home from Washington to this.
What do you expect? It was five against one.
Give me a little time.
I can take those guys.
Don't be a fool.
Nobody's gonna take the A-Team.
He's telling everything.
The little worm is gonna spill his guts and take me down with him.
Hannibal, I followed Owens to a warehouse on Orange Boulevard.
Okay, Murdock.
Colonel, Colonel, they're moving out.
They're heading west, I repeat, they're heading west.
We're on the way.
Closer, B.
A.
Closer.
Got him! What's going on? Hello, Ellen.
Come on, Frank.
Sorry it took so long, but I can't drive fast without my helmet.
Okay, let's go, B.
A.
Owens here.
They just left with her.
The transmitter is on her? I put it in her bracelet.
Give them time to settle, then track them down and remove them.
Here we go, three Burger Biffy Boxcars with cheese.
You No.
No, thank you.
Come on, you're not a health nut, are you? Come on.
It'll be good for you.
It won't hurt you.
I said no.
Thank you.
All right, I don't have high hopes for a warm holiday.
Where's Murdock? He's calling his girlfriend to check on Roger.
Well, he better hurry.
We have to be at Osceola National Park before sundown.
Osceola? But the yacht is in Daytona.
No, it's been there too long, Face.
We gotta play it safe.
The yacht is safe, Colonel.
Nobody traces my scams.
Face, think mountain cabin.
I'm sorry, that's all the information we have on Templeton, Sister Theodora.
That's all right, Sister Margaret.
We were just trying to update our records.
It's not important.
Bless you for trying.
You're welcome.
What do you think? The time, the date, the location, it's all perfect.
It could be Face's dad.
And if it is, he has a right to know that.
But would he want to know that his father is A.
J.
Bancroft? Yeah.
Would you like some fries with that, sir? Southeast.
Let's go.
There you are.
Listen, Murdock.
Please, don't ever sneak up on me like that again.
I'm sorry.
I just wanted to talk to you, Murdock.
I mean, what's going on, huh? You've been walking around, staring at the ground, talking to yourself, you're on the phone half the time.
Okay, here we go.
If you met somebody that you had never met before Yeah.
and they ask you not to tell me something that you thought that I should know, would you do it? Well, I don't know, I mean, I'd have to know That's too hypothetical.
Who are we talking about here, huh? We're talking about me.
You? Somebody asked me not to tell Erica something.
Listen, Murdock.
Where women are concerned, it's really best to just go on your gut instinct.
Where women are concerned.
Yeah.
Gut instinct.
Yeah.
Thanks.
Good.
Sure.
Any time.
I have a lot of things to discuss with you.
I really don't know where to start.
Why did you leave Mom and me? Start there.
I made some errors in judgment.
I won't defend them and I'm certainly not going to discuss them now.
I'm not talking about your crimes.
I'm talking about your wife and daughter.
Why did you leave us? At this point, it almost doesn't matter.
I think we both have to accept that I did it.
I thought I had to at the time.
Ellen, despite what happened, I never stopped caring for the two of you.
You didn't even come to her funeral! I need some air.
Am I allowed to leave the cabin? Are you all right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've been kidnapped, I have been shot at, I'm just I just need some air.
Am I a prisoner or what? Of course not.
Everything all right in here? You have a gift for understatement.
Come in.
I take it you saw Ellen walk out? Yeah, and she didn't look too happy.
I know, another understatement.
Reaching across I keep calling out for my little girl and expect her to listen to her father.
Mmm-hmm, and instead, what you have is a grown woman who doesn't even know what her father sounds like.
You would know that better than I.
But we're not talking about me here, are we? Templeton, what do you think? Is this a mistake, my coming back here after all these years? To be honest, Mr.
Bancroft, I don't know.
Well, do I have the right, does anyone have the right to do this to their children? Well, if you're coming back here to just wash some guilt off your hands, I'd say, yes, it's a mistake.
No, it isn't guilt.
As you can see, I'm not a well man.
I haven't been for quite a while.
My ailments have become my preoccupation, I feel things slipping away from me, the things I anticipated, my hope for the future.
People take their tomorrows for granted when they're young and healthy.
I assumed I had a lot of time to correct the damage I've done in my life.
You know, Mr.
Bancroft, when I was just a kid, one of the sisters in the orphan In the school that I attended, she taught me this poem.
"Look to this day For yesterday is but a dream "Tomorrow is but a vision But today well-lived makes every yesterday "A dream of happiness "And every tomorrow a vision of hope" Any father would be proud of you.
Well, I'm also a wanted criminal.
Who could be proud of a son like that? Or a father like that? Hi, can I buy you a drink? The back-up troops have arrived, is that it? Look, if you were sent out here to say you understand how I feel, that I should go back and work things out, you can save your breath, okay? I came out here because I hate to see somebody let an opportunity like this slip through their fingers.
An opportunity? Mmm-hmm.
If you had been there and seen what he did to my mother and me, you wouldn't feel that way.
You can't imagine.
And you can't imagine what it's like to have to leave the ones you love.
For whatever reasons.
No doubt about who's side you're on, is there? This isn't a game.
There are no sides here.
You know, I I'll tell you, if that was my father back in that cabin, I'd want to find out everything I could about him.
You never knew your father, did you, Face? No.
Well, I read about mine every week in the papers.
Maybe you're better off not knowing.
Maybe.
And, on the other hand, maybe you should forget what you've read about your father and go in there and find out for yourself.
You see, that's the difference between you and me.
You have the opportunity to find out, I can only wonder about who or what my father was.
What if you didn't like what you found out? Doesn't matter.
The bottom line is that I'd know.
And if I never saw him again, if the whole thing ended the next day, then at least I'd have a memory.
You know, I don't I don't think you're afraid of finding out that you're right about your father.
I think you're afraid of finding out that you're wrong.
You're afraid that you'll love him.
I'll be all right.
I'm sorry I ran out on you.
Must run in the family.
That seems to come under the heading of a personal request.
Not something I normally honor.
A.
J.
specifically requested us.
You must've been aware of that.
I know as much as you do.
That A.
J.
says he is Face's father.
Whether he is or is not is of no concern to me or your mission.
Now, I see no need to use my resources to confirm his genealogy.
Is that understood? I'm a lot closer to that precious diary of yours than you are, General.
Need I say more? All right, very well, I'll find out what you need to know.
In the meantime, concentrate on the mission.
How's Erica and the hamster? Oh, fine, fine.
Here, let me take one of those.
Murdock, you know something? I think this is gonna be a good Thanksgiving after all.
Good, good.
And after it's over, I'm gonna ask Ellen out.
Oh, that's a stupid idea.
Ellen is not your type.
Murdock, I never met anybody I was so completely, you know, at ease with.
It's weird, I can't explain it.
No, no.
She's definitely my type.
Other women are your type.
Murdock, you wouldn't happen to have your own, shall we say, designs on Ellen, would you? Yeah.
Yeah, we plan to get involved as soon as we can.
Murdock, you're a terrible liar.
I know I'm You see, you're not privy to the whole thing.
There are things here that you should know that you don't know, and I'm There they are.
Go get them! Get them! Johnny! Johnny, Face and Murdock are coming up the road.
Looks like they're in a hurry.
Guys, we better move, we just ran into Owens and his men back in town.
Ellen, you better get your father, we gotta move, okay? He's dead.
What? That's why he decided to see me now.
He was dying.
My father.
A man I never understood, and didn't want to until it was too late.
Goodbye.
I hope she's gonna be okay.
Bet Stockwell knew A.
J.
was dying.
I'm sure he did, but it doesn't matter now.
You ran out on him again.
At least you were consistent.
Well, I'll go tell him.
Okay, listen up.
They came in here yesterday and rented a cabin off the I-10.
Now, this is our last chance.
Either we bury these people or we can forget about going home.
Follow us.
Let's go.
What kind of a friend are you? Look, it still might not be true.
It's possible that he isn't your father.
Yeah, and it's possible he is.
Why didn't you tell me, Murdock? Why? Why did you hide it from me? Because A.
J.
begged me not to tell you.
And, I said okay, but if he didn't tell you, then I would.
I see, so you tell me now, after he's dead.
Well, your timing stinks.
Well, he was dying! What do you want me to do? It was a last request! Well, I see.
Well, it's nice to know where your loyalties are.
Who else have you told, huh? Hannibal, B.
A.
, Frankie, the newspaper boy? No, no, no, just you, me and Stockwell knows.
Stockwell? You told Stockwell about my father, but you can't tell me? I swear, you know, I don't understand what motivates you.
And you know something? You were always the one that I thought I could count on.
Well, you still can count on me.
Oh, really? And because of you I may have lost the only chance I'll ever have to find out who my father was, huh? Did you think it wasn't important? Face, that's not Leave me alone.
Listen, there's more to the story I said leave me alone! Good.
Good.
Good.
Good.
You're perfectly clear about that.
But let me tell you one thing.
You remember when I was in the van and you caught me on the phone? And I told you I was talking to Erica and then I asked for your advice.
I said somebody had come to me and they told me something about Erica, but they begged me not to tell her about it.
I said, "What should I do?" You said, "Trust your gut instinct.
" Well, it wasn't Erica I was talking about.
It was you.
And you were wrong! And let me tell you this.
If A.
J.
had not died and if he had had the opportunity to tell you, right now, here, by this tree, you would be thanking me for holding back and not telling.
Murdock.
No, don't say anything! One thing about you and me I've always liked, that's our fights.
'Cause we don't have to stumble over our lips apologizing.
Here they come.
First take, everybody.
All right, Bancroft, you got one minute before we start leveling this place.
Howdy, fellas.
Thanksgiving dinner isn't till 4:00.
Cut it, Smith.
I want Bancroft.
I don't give a rat's brain about you or your men.
Oh, seeing as you got a rat's brain, I'm tempted to believe you.
We've got the firepower that says we don't believe in dying for him.
You want him? You got him.
It's a dummy.
He's getting away! Never underestimate the efficiency of a special effects master.
That's everyone, Hannibal.
Except we're missing one weasel and that one belongs to Ellen.
I think the first order of business of this committee should be the confirmation of Jacob Edwards to the Committee for Defense Finance.
Lengthy investigations and hearings on the part of this panel have produced no reasonable obstructions to his appointment.
Therefore, if there is no further debate One moment, please! If I may address the committee.
Order, please.
Order! Who are you, young lady? Ellen Bancroft, daughter of A.
J.
Bancroft.
This is ridiculous.
Somebody take her away.
I'm an American citizen and I demand the right to speak at this hearing.
Ted, you can't It's the law, Jacob, even though the procedure is a bit unusual.
All right, Miss Bancroft, now tell me what you have in mind, but be brief.
You all know my father was a criminal.
A fugitive from justice.
He died Thanksgiving morning, but not before giving me his diary.
I think that these pages will be of interest to you.
They deal with my father's association with Jacob Edwards.
It's a lie.
I barely knew the man! I recommend that we suspend these proceedings until we've had a chance to research this.
Miss Bancroft, were you with your father when he died? What time did Stockwell say he'd call? Anytime now.
You know, at this point I I don't think I even want to know the truth.
He said he just had to run down a few leads.
What are you gonna tell Ellen? I don't know.
You know, I never knew what it was like to have a father.
How am I supposed to know what it's like to lose one? Hello? Captain, I have the information you requested.
All right.
What is it? He was your father.
Well, this is This is like a dream.
Thank God.
He wants to trade the rest of it to have Thanksgiving with his daughter.
When he calls back, give him the green light.
I ran a preliminary.
It seems that Able Seventeen or Able Eight would be best suited for the job.
He wants the A-Team.
He knows I've got them.
That's why he called me.
General, they don't seem to fit the profile.
It's hardly their style.
The information in this diary could bring down half the men in Washington.
Knowledge is power.
And I want that knowledge.
And he wants the A-Team.
He gets them.
"Forever yours, Templeton Peck.
" You know, I think next Thanksgiving, I'm gonna use pre-signed cards.
You know, this is the first time I'm spending Thanksgiving away from my parents.
Hey man, it don't matter where you are.
It's where your heart is.
And that's where your family's at.
B.
A.
, you know he's got a point.
Christmas, Thanksgiving, those are family holidays.
Family, you know, the mom and the dad and 2.
3 kids, station wagon in the garage Yo, Murdock, I'm trying to make a shot here.
Look, why don't you just go in there, tell Johnny you couldn't get the turkey for him? It's just that I find this all so ironic.
I mean, there is the Colonel in there, slaving over a hot stove to fix me a big juicy Thanksgiving dinner, and, I mean Ever since I've been tending turkeys, I mean Well, that's just the biggest mistake I ever made.
Well, like they say, never get too friendly with a bird you're gonna eat.
Hannibal's famous Four Day Turkey-Eating Experience is about to begin.
The sauce is simmering, the stuffing is terrific, the assistant chef is getting impatient, where's the bird? Colonel, I just can't, I mean, now that I work around turkeys all day long, I mean, I'm sorry.
Murdock got a little closer to the main course than he wanted to.
Oh.
Never get too friendly with a bird you're gonna eat, Murdock.
Well said.
I'm sure I could rustle up some soup for you.
But the rest of us, we've gotta have a turkey.
Good afternoon, gentlemen.
I think he's too big for the pot.
What are you doing here? Didn't you promise us a week off for the holidays? I don't recall using the word "promise," Lieutenant.
In exactly 48 hours, you're going to help reunite a wanted criminal and his daughter.
And in the process, bring down half the crooked politicians in Washington.
I guess we'll have to turn the sauce off.
A.
J.
Bancroft was a member of the Congressional kitchen cabinet in the 60s.
He was one of the most powerful non-political men in Washington until his indiscretions were discovered.
Yes, he was indicted on 22 counts, including conspiracy.
Well, you have to know something when you're tending turkeys.
Hey, man, if this guy is such bad news, why you want us to help him? Bancroft kept a diary.
A complete history of everyone he conspired with.
The swap.
A visit with his daughter for a list of crooked politicians.
One that I will put to good use.
I'll bet.
A list like that could make a man very powerful in Washington.
Don't insult me, Colonel.
Blackmail is not my style.
It isn't? Then how did I get here? It won't be long before certain people in Washington get wind of A.
J.
's return.
They'll do anything they can to silence him.
Anything.
Time is not in our favor.
B.
A.
, you and Frankie pick up Ellen in Tallahassee.
We'll meet Bancroft in St.
Augustine.
Check this out.
"At the age of 26, A.
J.
Bancroft "had established himself as the major force in independent corporate financing.
" The guy must be a genius.
He's a snazzy dresser, too.
And now he's coming back to see his daughter.
Imagine what he had to go through.
Him? Imagine what they went through when he skipped the country.
Darn it.
Erica is not at home.
Erica? Yeah, Murdock's got a girlfriend.
You do? Maybe, maybe not.
She just moved into our apartment building and I met her at the mailboxes and we kind of hit it off in a cerebral way.
Yeah? I asked her if she could look after my hamster and she said she would.
Sounds like true love to me.
Congratulations, Murdock, you know it isn't often that a girl offers to take care of a guy's rodent.
Okay, we'll meet at the Lobster Claw Restaurant in Daytona and then get on to the marina.
Slip number seven to be exact.
And, guys, I have scammed us a beautiful 70-foot sloop.
Listen, guys, anybody ever stop to consider that just possibly, this Ellen Bancroft is not too thrilled about finding her long-lost father? You know, I mean 20 years, that's a long time.
You drive first, Face.
All right, I hope this thing has cruise control.
Well, the issue here isn't cruise missiles, it's dollars and cents.
The President didn't recommend me for this position because I could dismantle a tank and tell you how it works.
But I can dismantle a budget, and that's what the Defense Department needs.
Mr.
Edwards, the committee is well aware of your ability to dance around the financial world.
I hate to ask this, but a very important phone call just came in.
If you respected elders wouldn't mind Adjourned for lunch.
Edwards.
It's Owens.
Our sources in Barbados confirm it.
Bancroft is on his way into the country.
I knew he'd pull something like this.
His timing couldn't have been worse.
He's come back to pull me down, but he'll want to see his daughter first.
Be there when he does.
The Bristol Queen.
Permission to come aboard? You've got less than 10 seconds to explain what you're doing here.
Uh-uh, uh-uh.
It's all right, Captain.
These men are my escorts.
You're A.
J.
Bancroft? The man at the office said she lived here.
The man at the office was running out the door for Thanksgiving.
I just hope she hasn't left town for the holiday.
Okay, you knock.
Then stand back and let me do my stuff.
Ellen Bancroft? Yes.
What can I do for you? Well, my associate and I have been commissioned by a party of mutual interest.
I am Frank Your father sent us.
He wanna talk to you.
Frank, you wait down here.
This is really bizarre.
It's hard to believe, you know? I mean, what am I supposed to say to the man? Maybe we better take the stairs.
Get them! You're gonna love this, B.
A.
We did it in Jaws.
Lobster bisque, lobster thermidor, lobster flambé, lobster with cheese and rice.
But no chili dogs.
Faceman's gonna be upset.
"Face.
" That's a charming nickname.
That's because he's a charming sort of guy.
We call him "Faceman" because he is so good-looking that he can extract the answer "yes" from you without ever having asked the question.
Sort of the conman's tool of the trade, you know? He doesn't sound like a very sincere kind of friend.
No, no, no.
He's a great guy.
Always there in a pinch.
He'd rip the shirt off his back for you.
Then he'd go out and scam one for himself.
A con man with integrity.
It's an interesting combination.
Well, at least that part of the mission is done with.
Well, I hope you guys didn't get followed.
Oh, Hannibal.
Sorry, B.
A.
That's interesting.
I mean, I've been out with a few ladies in my time, but I've never seen one go to the ladies' room without her purse.
Maybe that's because they had no intention of returning.
Get A.
J.
to the van.
I'll help Hannibal.
I didn't know it was a bomb.
I swear! Sure, lady.
What the hell is going on here? This whole thing was a set-up to kill you.
That wasn't your daughter.
But somebody knew you hadn't seen her in 20 years.
Well, where is my daughter? We're gonna find her.
First, we gotta get you out of here.
Leave that alone.
Give it to me now.
This is a picture of Face.
Would you give it to me? It's none of your business.
What are you doing with Face's picture? I told you it was none of your business.
No, but it's Face's business.
You wouldn't understand.
Enlighten me.
Templeton Peck is my son.
So, you tell me.
What makes you think Face is your son? Contrary to popular belief, A.
J.
Bancroft's life did not begin with his first corporate merger.
Long before that there was another life.
I married very young to my college sweetheart, Samantha.
The marriage was not really my idea.
You mean it was Face.
As it turned out, we named him Richard, after my father.
Things began to fall apart almost immediately.
I tried my best, but I couldn't support a family.
So So you ran out on them, right? That's something you do real well.
I went to New York and got a job in the Stock Exchange.
And in no time I was making a profit and hiring runners to work for me.
I remarried and had Ellen, and I tried to forget my past, but I couldn't forget my boy.
I couldn't find his mother, Samantha, and eventually, I went back to find him.
Well, if this is true, that means Ellen is his half-sister.
He's got a family.
I should tell him this.
No, you can't tell them yet.
You let me handle this.
No, I don't think so, Mr.
Bancroft.
You had 30 years to tell him and you blew it.
I had my reasons.
I protected my interests and that was wrong.
But things are different now.
I came back now to be with my family.
Look at me! Murdock, I'm dying.
I may never see another Thanksgiving.
I had to come back before that.
Which makes it all the more important that he knows now.
But for God's sake, let me do it.
Please? Consider this a last request.
Let me go.
Please, let me go! This is Evelyn Bronson, delivery girl for the mob.
Look, I told you, I didn't know what was in the purse.
She claims that somebody paid her five grand to set you up by pretending to be your daughter.
Who's paying you? Some guy named Owens.
The news report said no one was hurt.
What happened? You tell me.
There was a bomb in that purse.
I could have been killed.
That's the last time I'm working for you.
You better have the rest of my money or I'm going straight to the police.
Do you understand me? You'll get what I promised you.
In there.
Give me a minute.
a nice place to start.
What are you guys trying to do to me? Basting.
See, this thing has two settings, high and low.
At the moment, you're on low.
Now, where's my daughter? Cook the sucker.
Put him on high, B.
A.
Now, we got all day, what's it gonna be? How many hours of this do you think you can take? Okay, okay.
Shut it off.
I'll listen first.
Where's Ellen? I don't know! Really, I don't know.
Edwards has the girl, not me.
He knows Bancroft is coming back to testify.
Jacob Edwards.
I would have guessed.
Who's Jacob Edwards? My one-time partner, who's up for a presidential appointment.
The last half of my diary is devoted to him.
Okay, B.
A.
Put him on ice.
Let's go, guys.
Face, better check in with the owner.
Tell him we'll keep a list and pay when we leave.
What are we doing here? I thought we were going to see Edwards.
We are.
And I'm gonna shake him up a bit, so he'll wanna move your daughter.
That's when we grab her.
And we'll try to do it without endangering her.
But what are you going to do? We're gonna use power brakes.
Face, can I talk to you about something? No, not now.
I gotta go pay Mr.
Mullens for all this junk here Now, now, please.
Listen, it's very important.
I've got to tell you something.
What, am I gonna have to guess here? I mean No, no, no.
I, uh It can wait.
I'm sorry.
I appreciate your not saying anything.
I know how torn you are.
Listen, you got 20 hours left.
Then I'm gonna tell him everything.
What the devil? Hi, pal.
We didn't like the turkey you sent us, so we brought it back.
Who are you? Hannibal Smith.
You work for the government, any bells ringing? Smith.
Smith, the A-Team.
Hmm.
A.
J.
has hired the A-Team.
Incredible.
Where is Ellen Bancroft? You're bothering to ask? Why don't you just do to me what you did to him? He's just a flunky.
You'd have a back-up plan.
Now, A.
J.
is only in the country to have a little holiday with his daughter.
Don't bull me, Smith.
I'm a politician, bull is my specialty.
A.
J.
is here to testify.
You bring him to me, I'll release the girl.
No, you'd kill them both.
You were right.
A smart guy like me always has a back-up plan.
Now, I don't haggle, Smith.
This is a copy of the project A.
J.
's been working on.
You've got a terrific write-up.
Now, you meet me at the southwestern reservoir at 8:30 tonight with Ellen.
Let's go, guys.
All cooled off, huh, pal? What the hell am I paying you for? I send you out on a two-bit clean-up operation and I come home from Washington to this.
What do you expect? It was five against one.
Give me a little time.
I can take those guys.
Don't be a fool.
Nobody's gonna take the A-Team.
He's telling everything.
The little worm is gonna spill his guts and take me down with him.
Hannibal, I followed Owens to a warehouse on Orange Boulevard.
Okay, Murdock.
Colonel, Colonel, they're moving out.
They're heading west, I repeat, they're heading west.
We're on the way.
Closer, B.
A.
Closer.
Got him! What's going on? Hello, Ellen.
Come on, Frank.
Sorry it took so long, but I can't drive fast without my helmet.
Okay, let's go, B.
A.
Owens here.
They just left with her.
The transmitter is on her? I put it in her bracelet.
Give them time to settle, then track them down and remove them.
Here we go, three Burger Biffy Boxcars with cheese.
You No.
No, thank you.
Come on, you're not a health nut, are you? Come on.
It'll be good for you.
It won't hurt you.
I said no.
Thank you.
All right, I don't have high hopes for a warm holiday.
Where's Murdock? He's calling his girlfriend to check on Roger.
Well, he better hurry.
We have to be at Osceola National Park before sundown.
Osceola? But the yacht is in Daytona.
No, it's been there too long, Face.
We gotta play it safe.
The yacht is safe, Colonel.
Nobody traces my scams.
Face, think mountain cabin.
I'm sorry, that's all the information we have on Templeton, Sister Theodora.
That's all right, Sister Margaret.
We were just trying to update our records.
It's not important.
Bless you for trying.
You're welcome.
What do you think? The time, the date, the location, it's all perfect.
It could be Face's dad.
And if it is, he has a right to know that.
But would he want to know that his father is A.
J.
Bancroft? Yeah.
Would you like some fries with that, sir? Southeast.
Let's go.
There you are.
Listen, Murdock.
Please, don't ever sneak up on me like that again.
I'm sorry.
I just wanted to talk to you, Murdock.
I mean, what's going on, huh? You've been walking around, staring at the ground, talking to yourself, you're on the phone half the time.
Okay, here we go.
If you met somebody that you had never met before Yeah.
and they ask you not to tell me something that you thought that I should know, would you do it? Well, I don't know, I mean, I'd have to know That's too hypothetical.
Who are we talking about here, huh? We're talking about me.
You? Somebody asked me not to tell Erica something.
Listen, Murdock.
Where women are concerned, it's really best to just go on your gut instinct.
Where women are concerned.
Yeah.
Gut instinct.
Yeah.
Thanks.
Good.
Sure.
Any time.
I have a lot of things to discuss with you.
I really don't know where to start.
Why did you leave Mom and me? Start there.
I made some errors in judgment.
I won't defend them and I'm certainly not going to discuss them now.
I'm not talking about your crimes.
I'm talking about your wife and daughter.
Why did you leave us? At this point, it almost doesn't matter.
I think we both have to accept that I did it.
I thought I had to at the time.
Ellen, despite what happened, I never stopped caring for the two of you.
You didn't even come to her funeral! I need some air.
Am I allowed to leave the cabin? Are you all right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've been kidnapped, I have been shot at, I'm just I just need some air.
Am I a prisoner or what? Of course not.
Everything all right in here? You have a gift for understatement.
Come in.
I take it you saw Ellen walk out? Yeah, and she didn't look too happy.
I know, another understatement.
Reaching across I keep calling out for my little girl and expect her to listen to her father.
Mmm-hmm, and instead, what you have is a grown woman who doesn't even know what her father sounds like.
You would know that better than I.
But we're not talking about me here, are we? Templeton, what do you think? Is this a mistake, my coming back here after all these years? To be honest, Mr.
Bancroft, I don't know.
Well, do I have the right, does anyone have the right to do this to their children? Well, if you're coming back here to just wash some guilt off your hands, I'd say, yes, it's a mistake.
No, it isn't guilt.
As you can see, I'm not a well man.
I haven't been for quite a while.
My ailments have become my preoccupation, I feel things slipping away from me, the things I anticipated, my hope for the future.
People take their tomorrows for granted when they're young and healthy.
I assumed I had a lot of time to correct the damage I've done in my life.
You know, Mr.
Bancroft, when I was just a kid, one of the sisters in the orphan In the school that I attended, she taught me this poem.
"Look to this day For yesterday is but a dream "Tomorrow is but a vision But today well-lived makes every yesterday "A dream of happiness "And every tomorrow a vision of hope" Any father would be proud of you.
Well, I'm also a wanted criminal.
Who could be proud of a son like that? Or a father like that? Hi, can I buy you a drink? The back-up troops have arrived, is that it? Look, if you were sent out here to say you understand how I feel, that I should go back and work things out, you can save your breath, okay? I came out here because I hate to see somebody let an opportunity like this slip through their fingers.
An opportunity? Mmm-hmm.
If you had been there and seen what he did to my mother and me, you wouldn't feel that way.
You can't imagine.
And you can't imagine what it's like to have to leave the ones you love.
For whatever reasons.
No doubt about who's side you're on, is there? This isn't a game.
There are no sides here.
You know, I I'll tell you, if that was my father back in that cabin, I'd want to find out everything I could about him.
You never knew your father, did you, Face? No.
Well, I read about mine every week in the papers.
Maybe you're better off not knowing.
Maybe.
And, on the other hand, maybe you should forget what you've read about your father and go in there and find out for yourself.
You see, that's the difference between you and me.
You have the opportunity to find out, I can only wonder about who or what my father was.
What if you didn't like what you found out? Doesn't matter.
The bottom line is that I'd know.
And if I never saw him again, if the whole thing ended the next day, then at least I'd have a memory.
You know, I don't I don't think you're afraid of finding out that you're right about your father.
I think you're afraid of finding out that you're wrong.
You're afraid that you'll love him.
I'll be all right.
I'm sorry I ran out on you.
Must run in the family.
That seems to come under the heading of a personal request.
Not something I normally honor.
A.
J.
specifically requested us.
You must've been aware of that.
I know as much as you do.
That A.
J.
says he is Face's father.
Whether he is or is not is of no concern to me or your mission.
Now, I see no need to use my resources to confirm his genealogy.
Is that understood? I'm a lot closer to that precious diary of yours than you are, General.
Need I say more? All right, very well, I'll find out what you need to know.
In the meantime, concentrate on the mission.
How's Erica and the hamster? Oh, fine, fine.
Here, let me take one of those.
Murdock, you know something? I think this is gonna be a good Thanksgiving after all.
Good, good.
And after it's over, I'm gonna ask Ellen out.
Oh, that's a stupid idea.
Ellen is not your type.
Murdock, I never met anybody I was so completely, you know, at ease with.
It's weird, I can't explain it.
No, no.
She's definitely my type.
Other women are your type.
Murdock, you wouldn't happen to have your own, shall we say, designs on Ellen, would you? Yeah.
Yeah, we plan to get involved as soon as we can.
Murdock, you're a terrible liar.
I know I'm You see, you're not privy to the whole thing.
There are things here that you should know that you don't know, and I'm There they are.
Go get them! Get them! Johnny! Johnny, Face and Murdock are coming up the road.
Looks like they're in a hurry.
Guys, we better move, we just ran into Owens and his men back in town.
Ellen, you better get your father, we gotta move, okay? He's dead.
What? That's why he decided to see me now.
He was dying.
My father.
A man I never understood, and didn't want to until it was too late.
Goodbye.
I hope she's gonna be okay.
Bet Stockwell knew A.
J.
was dying.
I'm sure he did, but it doesn't matter now.
You ran out on him again.
At least you were consistent.
Well, I'll go tell him.
Okay, listen up.
They came in here yesterday and rented a cabin off the I-10.
Now, this is our last chance.
Either we bury these people or we can forget about going home.
Follow us.
Let's go.
What kind of a friend are you? Look, it still might not be true.
It's possible that he isn't your father.
Yeah, and it's possible he is.
Why didn't you tell me, Murdock? Why? Why did you hide it from me? Because A.
J.
begged me not to tell you.
And, I said okay, but if he didn't tell you, then I would.
I see, so you tell me now, after he's dead.
Well, your timing stinks.
Well, he was dying! What do you want me to do? It was a last request! Well, I see.
Well, it's nice to know where your loyalties are.
Who else have you told, huh? Hannibal, B.
A.
, Frankie, the newspaper boy? No, no, no, just you, me and Stockwell knows.
Stockwell? You told Stockwell about my father, but you can't tell me? I swear, you know, I don't understand what motivates you.
And you know something? You were always the one that I thought I could count on.
Well, you still can count on me.
Oh, really? And because of you I may have lost the only chance I'll ever have to find out who my father was, huh? Did you think it wasn't important? Face, that's not Leave me alone.
Listen, there's more to the story I said leave me alone! Good.
Good.
Good.
Good.
You're perfectly clear about that.
But let me tell you one thing.
You remember when I was in the van and you caught me on the phone? And I told you I was talking to Erica and then I asked for your advice.
I said somebody had come to me and they told me something about Erica, but they begged me not to tell her about it.
I said, "What should I do?" You said, "Trust your gut instinct.
" Well, it wasn't Erica I was talking about.
It was you.
And you were wrong! And let me tell you this.
If A.
J.
had not died and if he had had the opportunity to tell you, right now, here, by this tree, you would be thanking me for holding back and not telling.
Murdock.
No, don't say anything! One thing about you and me I've always liked, that's our fights.
'Cause we don't have to stumble over our lips apologizing.
Here they come.
First take, everybody.
All right, Bancroft, you got one minute before we start leveling this place.
Howdy, fellas.
Thanksgiving dinner isn't till 4:00.
Cut it, Smith.
I want Bancroft.
I don't give a rat's brain about you or your men.
Oh, seeing as you got a rat's brain, I'm tempted to believe you.
We've got the firepower that says we don't believe in dying for him.
You want him? You got him.
It's a dummy.
He's getting away! Never underestimate the efficiency of a special effects master.
That's everyone, Hannibal.
Except we're missing one weasel and that one belongs to Ellen.
I think the first order of business of this committee should be the confirmation of Jacob Edwards to the Committee for Defense Finance.
Lengthy investigations and hearings on the part of this panel have produced no reasonable obstructions to his appointment.
Therefore, if there is no further debate One moment, please! If I may address the committee.
Order, please.
Order! Who are you, young lady? Ellen Bancroft, daughter of A.
J.
Bancroft.
This is ridiculous.
Somebody take her away.
I'm an American citizen and I demand the right to speak at this hearing.
Ted, you can't It's the law, Jacob, even though the procedure is a bit unusual.
All right, Miss Bancroft, now tell me what you have in mind, but be brief.
You all know my father was a criminal.
A fugitive from justice.
He died Thanksgiving morning, but not before giving me his diary.
I think that these pages will be of interest to you.
They deal with my father's association with Jacob Edwards.
It's a lie.
I barely knew the man! I recommend that we suspend these proceedings until we've had a chance to research this.
Miss Bancroft, were you with your father when he died? What time did Stockwell say he'd call? Anytime now.
You know, at this point I I don't think I even want to know the truth.
He said he just had to run down a few leads.
What are you gonna tell Ellen? I don't know.
You know, I never knew what it was like to have a father.
How am I supposed to know what it's like to lose one? Hello? Captain, I have the information you requested.
All right.
What is it? He was your father.
Well, this is This is like a dream.
Thank God.