I don't care what anybody says.
Birthdays are important.
So when a good friend's turning 60,
and I'm returning from another government mission,
there isn't a much faster way to get home
than to catch a ride on a T-38 ace flight.
It's a good thing they didn't serve a meal on this flight,
'cause my heart was already in my mouth.
It may not have been first class seating,
but who cares with pilots like this?
The Phoenix Foundation has thrown some wild parties before,
but this time, Pete really decided to do it up right.
Surprise!
Happy birthday, Kelly!
Oh...
You're not Kelly!
Nice to know I'm so appreciated. Thank you.
All right, everyone, let's clean up the confetti
and the streamers right away.
And quickly.
And turn that map light off.
Kelly's going to be here any second.
Mac, it's good to see you, but you're a day early.
What are you doing here?
Ah, it's for Kelly. I wouldn't miss it.
But to tell you the truth, I'd show up anywhere
to see you wearing that hat.
So, how'd you con Kelly into coming over?
I lied -- I told him one of our computers was down
and needed to be fixed right away.
You know, it's not like him to be late.
No answer at his place.
Where'd that come from?
Listen to this, Pete.
"Dear Mac, if anything will improve your game, this will. Kelly."
Well, your game could stand a little improving.
Pete...
you know that favorite pair of hockey gloves I've got?
The old beat-up ones? Yeah.
Yeah, well, I'd never give those away.
This is Kelly's favorite cue stick.
Something's wrong.
I'll wait here in case he shows up.
Kelly!
Kelly, it's me, Mac!
Open up!
Kelly!
Come on!
Happy birthday, Kelly.
I just can't believe you'd do something that dumb.
What was going through your head, Kelly?
Let it go, Mac.
No, I won't!
I want to know why a guy I know --
a guy I thought I knew -- a man I respect,
would try and take his own life!
Kelly, you've got three kids! Did you forget about them?
I did it for them!
I turned 60 years old today,
and you know what I got to show for it?
Nothing! I'm broke.
All those years of scrimping and saving,
I got nothing' left! Do you understand?
How? You were always so careful with your money.
It's gone, Mac.
It doesn't matter how.
I got two kids in college and another one in grad school.
What am I going to tell them?
A man's not worth much
if he can't help pay his kids' education.
That's what this idiot stunt was all about? Pride?
I figured with my insurance, I'm worth more dead than alive.
Kelly, you could've come to me or Pete.
I don't like going to people with my problems.
You don't go to people with your problems.
You come to your friends.
Well, you don't always remember that.
Yeah... I know.
All right... how'd you lose it?
I was cheated.
Can you believe that?
I got nothing left.
He-He-He made it sound so enticing.
Cheated how?
I invested in some land development.
A swamp bottom, it turned out to be.
Give me a name, Kelly.
Forget it, Mac. This guy is dangerous.
I found out he killed some people.
I want his name.
James Crowe.
I already had Research check him out.
He's a regular criminal entrepreneur, this guy.
Stick-up man in his youth, a fence,
a shakedown artist,
even deals in cocaine if the price is right.
Ah, a busy guy.
Yeah, but this latest was a land fraud deal
that took Kelly for 35,000, along with seven others.
Retirees -- all of them. $400,000 in all.
- What do the police say? - They know he's a thief,
but the fraud is a technical fine line.
The D.A. won't file charges, so the police closed the file.
- Hi. Joanne Remmings. - MacGyver.
Oh, I've heard about you.
You're the guy who does the whatchamacallits,
you know, MacGyverisms: turns one thing into another?
"MacGyverisms"?
Joanne is new here. She just signed on.
In addition to threat assessment and terrorist strategy,
she just happens to have written a major research paper
on bunko scams.
Here it comes. James Crowe.
Seven indictments. Zero convictions.
Every con in the book.
A man of many talents.
Yeah, he really gets around.
Oh, I'd really like to get this guy Crowe
and hang him by his ears for what he did to Kelly.
That makes two of us.
What else do you know about this guy?
Well, he can't stay away from the track.
Give Crowe a horse to bet on, and he's in seventh heaven.
Oh, and silk.
He loves to wear white silk suits with a Panama hat every day.
Probably has a closet full of them.
Well, whatever he wears, the D.A.'s office doesn't figure
they've got a guaranteed conviction,
so the police have lost interest.
Maybe it takes a con to beat a con.
I mean, I hate to toot my own horn, guys,
but I know some great stings.
I'd love to help you nail this guy.
Nah, I don't think so.
We could use the Philadelphia Flash
or the Toledo Twist.
No, no, no.
I kind of like this idea.
Oh, Mac, I can't get the foundation involved in something like this.
Absolutely not.
That's why it'll be just you and me.
And me.
Come on, Pete, do it for Kelly
and all the other people Crowe's cheated.
All we got to do is get back 400,000.
That's all?
Listen, I could get my head handed to me
for getting into something like this.
Pete... guy...
you're dying to do it. You know it.
Hmm?
Yeah.
It would be great, wouldn't it,
to see if we could out-bunko Mr. Bunko himself?
All right.
I want everything you know about bunko scams
on my desk in half an hour.
Hey, wait a minute. What about me?
Hey, I'm the one who knows all this stuff.
Hey, guys!
Ladies and gentlemen,
the horses are coming out on the track for the fourth race
which will be run at a distance of one mile.
The last race was a bust.
You know, Benny's obviously not a very smart trainer.
Smart trainers dope horses when I tell them to.
I think we need to have a very active conversation with Benny.
Find him.
Again, as a reminder,
scratches in the fourth race are number three, Paranormal,
and number seven, Nomaly.
There's Crowe.
How do I look?
You look good.
Here.
Now you look great. Come on.
The horses are approaching the starting gate.
Mac, I don't know.
I'm tellin' you, I had this hot flash on Ireland's Own last night.
What are you talking about? Ireland's Own is a mudder.
She only runs in the rain.
Well, so who did you bet on for me then?
Now if I tell you that, it won't come true, remember?
Okay!
- All right. - Let's go!
- Let's g... - Go!
- Hey, now... - Come on, run, baby, run!
Hey... Hey, buddy, knock it off, will you?
You are yelling in my ear!
Knock it off, or I'm gonna call the cops.
- A cop? You want a cop? - Yeah.
- You got one right here. - All right.
Don't yell in my ear anymore.
- I'll run you in. - All right, all right.
- For disturbing my peace. - Okay.
As the three-quarter folds, Chocaholic moves up
- and is now in plain position. - All right, let's go.
On the rail, Batter is Red is in the lead.
Snow Miss is second by half a length over Chocaholic.
Chocaholic looks strong.
And now it's Batter is Red and Chocaholic.
Okay. Come on, let's go.
As they enter the wire, it's Batter is Red...
Hey, hey, look at him. Hey, all right, all right.
and Chocaholic neck and neck. And at the finish, it's
Chocaholic, number two! Wins by a nose!
Well, so what happened? Did I win?
When I'm hot, I'm hot, huh?
MacGyver, I like your style.
Yeah?
You and me are gonna do things together, buddy.
- Yeah? Like what? - Yeah.
Well, first of all, as soon as I get a little cash,
I'm gonna give you a bonus.
And second, I'm gonna cut you in on the deal of your life
if you don't mind getting a little dirty.
A little dirt never hurt anybody.
Hey, I got to get back to the station before they miss me.
Yeah.
Deal of a lifetime, huh?
Name's James Crowe.
And that's a pretty lame con you're running on the cop.
I don't know what you're talkin' about.
Please, Mr. MacGyver, I heard and saw the whole thing.
All the losing tickets,
making your idiot cop think you have the Midas touch.
All you saw was me makin' a friend real happy. That's it.
Maybe I can make all three of us happy.
I don't mind getting a little dirty, either,
especially if I have the added protection
of a tarnished badge in my pocket.
I'm listening.
Your cop mentioned he had a certain deal he needed some cash for.
Well, I might have some ready cash.
Of course, I'd have to be cut in on the action.
I might be able to arrange that.
Maybe you and I ought to have a more detailed conversation.
Say, stables, 20 minutes.
Done.
Joanne?!
What are you doing here?!
What are you doing here?
- Following you. - Why?
Because I'm tired of just sitting in front of a computer.
I need field experience.
You picked a fine time to try and get it.
But you guys don't know stings the way I do.
I can really help you.
I mean, like-like, finding the mark
- and playing the con... - Shh!
...and roping the mark and telling the tale.
I know all this stuff like the back of my hand!
I appreciate everything you're trying to do...
Look, I want to be where the action is.
This way! This way! Bring him over here.
Looks like you just got your wish.
Ever hear of a blind trainer, Benny?
Next time I tell you to dope a horse,
I'll bet you do it.
MacGyver, they're gonna kill him!
We've got to do something!
Yeah.
Take him down that way.
Bring him in there.
Tony, keep an eye on him.
Now we'll have a little fun.
Come here.
What are we gonna do?
Give me a couple of bobby pins.
Bobby pins? Sure.
Yeah.
Great.
Let me borrow this, and, uh, a couple of buttons.
- Make it three. - Another MacGyverism!
Oh.
That's it.
And let me borrow your glasses, please.
They're yours.
Yeah, thanks.
So what do we do now?
You just did it.
Huh, time to meet the bad guys.
Yo, Crowe!
Hey, I thought we were gonna talk.
I thought I told you 20 minutes.
I guess my watch is a little fast, huh?
Yeah. Let him go.
Listen, Benny, next time
I'm really gonna have to do some damage, you know?
So don't let me down, huh?
I'll do better for you next time, Mr. Crowe.
- Yeah. - I promise I will.
You better.
Well, who's your friend?
She has an admirer.
A certain cop you may have seen me with earlier
who happens to be in the narcotics division.
Interesting.
Now this cop has some pretty heavy gambling debts,
and with a little persuasion from Joanne,
might be convinced to, uh...
To hook us into a nice little cocaine deal
he has going down in the next couple of days.
Right. Cocaine.
Like she says.
Well, I like a woman with initiative.
Tell me, you think you'll be able to
talk our narc friend into this little proposition?
Well, I've talked him into propositions before.
So, was I good?
Oh, I was great!
How'd you like the way I hooked him into the Toledo Twist,
one of the best stings I've ever researched?
Yeah, Joanne, that's just great,
except after reading all the research you came up with,
Pete and I decided to go with the Boston Bang.
Oh, that's all wrong for this.
The Twist is much better.
But that wasn't your decision to make.
Listen, have you researched this stuff?
No. Well, that's what I do.
I've got it nailed.
And the Toledo Twist is the one to use.
Could I have my glasses back?
- You can keep the bobby pins. - Thanks.
Mac,
uh, you know Crowe is gonna check on me,
so I just had Data feed my cover into the police computer.
I'm a visiting narc on rotation.
That's great, Pete. What's in the bag?
Oh, uh, everything we're gonna need for the Boston Bang.
Mac, it's gonna be terrific!
Yeah.
Pete, how do you feel about the Toledo Twist?
The Twist? Why?
I've had my heart set on the Boston Bang.
- Well, Joanne seems to think... - Joanne?
Pete, trust me. Don't ask her to explain.
Just go with it.
I just bought all this stuff!
Besides, we'd need more people for the Toledo Twist.
I know, and I got just the guy.
- Who? - Our old friend, Kelly.
But Crowe knows what Kelly looks like.
Don't worry. He'll be wearin' a beard.
This better be good, MacGyver.
I got a busy day ahead of me bustin' dingheads.
I'm sure there's a proposition that'll be of mutual benefit
to both of us, Mr. Thornton.
- So, you're Crowe, huh? - Mm-hmm.
I'm listenin'.
I understand you know of a certain deal that's about to happen.
That you may be willing to split the profits
for a partner with some ready cash.
Maybe.
And that you're up to your neck in debt.
What the hell are you doin' tellin' this guy my business?!
I ought to beat your brains out!
Pete, he's got cash, and we need it.
Pete, get a hold of yourself.
- Come on, honey. Let him go. - Come on.
- Pete...
Okay, are we all friends again here?
Sure we are.
Pete just gets a little anxious sometimes, that's all.
Listen, I've been working on this deal for a long time.
I don't want anybody to screw it up.
I'm just here to help. What can I do?
We need a pound of 90% pure cocaine
to get the deal rolling. Can you score it?
Yeah, but that's a nice chunk of green you're asking me to lay out.
You're a narc. Why can't you get it?
I'm risking enough already.
Look, you don't want to buy in, I'll find somebody who will.
Hey, Pete, wait a minute! Come on!
What are you afraid he's gonna bust you for possession?
Never entered my mind.
If he tried, I'd bury him for entrapment.
Even he's smart enough to know that.
I just don't want to be left sitting on a pound of snort.
What, a guy like you can't unload a pound of coke?
Is that it?
Maybe you're gettin' a little too cautious.
Yeah, maybe you're right.
All right, tell your hot-headed partner I'll do it.
All right, meet me tonight.
9:00 sharp at the Beverly Canyon Hotel, suite 1611.
Bring the coke with you, have it in a plastic bag.
Now what's goin' down?
I'll lay it all on ya when I see the goods.
Look, you show up, you don't like what you see,
you walk away. It's as simple as that.
Okay.
Hey, not bad.
You guys pick a nice place for a sting.
Nothin' but the best for our friend Crowe.
Everything set?
Yeah, fine.
Did you check your gun, make sure you're just firin' blanks?
Mac, I've already checked it twice.
Come on.
Oh, I just love this kind of stuff!
Well, I really do.
Yeah.
Show time.
I hope Kelly's beard stays on.
Everything ready?
Yeah, right down here.
Hey.
Two-way mirror.
Very nice.
This setup looks like the Sacramento Switch.
Is that it?
Yeah. So where's the stuff?
Patience, officer.
You're sure that hasn't been cut with anything?
Top of the line cocaine, my friend.
Tested it myself.
Oh boy, you got to be a real bonehead to snort this stuff.
That looks like the real thing. What is that, powdered milk?
Among other things.
Then when your buyer wants to test the coke,
you're gonna hand him my bag,
and it's gonna test out 90% pure, right?
So the dimwit who's payin' 300 grand
for this stuff gets one pound of high-grade toot...
And nine pounds of powdered milk.
You guys are okay.
Ah, look at this guy.
It's like taking candy from a baby.
All right.
Let's see what the money buys.
Okay.
Pure as the driven snow.
Oh, hold on, son.
Let's not be too hasty.
This boy's mama didn't raise no dummy.
Where did that come from?
All right, just be cool. Pete can handle it.
No, this is going down bad.
- Put the gun away. - Get away!
Nailed him!
Well, what the hell are you doing?
You want to be here when the cops come? Everyone, out!
- What about my coke? - That is evidence!
I've got to have something to show to Internal Affairs.
Come on, get out! Not all at once!
I don't want it looking like Grand Central Station.
Crowe, you go first.
All right, but I want a meeting... tomorrow at the dam.
- We'll be there. - Noon.
We'll be there!
Kelly?
Kelly!
I may be dead, but I'm not deaf.
Oh, thank God Crowe missed!
You...
These blood capsules look pretty real.
You know, you scared the hell out of us.
- Yeah, you and me both. - Oh, Kelly, you were terrific!
Yeah, I even surprised myself.
Well, this is one bag of coke that is not going to hit the streets.
It's as good as flushed.
Mac, help me pick up this money, will you?
I want to get it back to the foundation vault.
You mean all this money is real?
But you said it was fake.
I didn't want you to get nervous.
Are you telling me you let this man carry around $300,000 in cash,
and he thought it was fake money?
I didn't want to affect his performance.
Do you think Crowe bought it?
Yeah.
And tomorrow, we tell the tale.
How'd it go?
Not good. I want some insurance...
and she's it.
Now follow her. Find out where she lives.
Okay, now let's go through this one more time.
Oh...
Come on, it's good to be ready.
Now, if Crowe asks why MacGyver has to go
into the police property room with you...
I just say that it's a lot quicker
for four hands to pack up two million dollars than two.
- Right. - The rehearsal's over, kids.
I lost money last night.
I hate losing money.
How'd you like to make a million bucks in one day?
You kill me, MacGyver.
Come on, listen to me.
The doper's money from last night went into the police property room
which holds a whole lot more money.
And I have easy access to that property room.
If you want in, all you got to do is come up with 400,000, cash.
We take your 400 grand and turn it into two million
once we get into the police property room.
Then we pull a switch.
Spend 400,000, you make a million dollars' profit.
Why should I believe you? You've already lost me money.
- Now I should give you more? - Hey, wait a minute.
You're the one that blew it last night, not us, Crowe.
You're lucky we came back to you.
Hey, listen, if you're not interested, I mean, we...
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
All right. Say I give you the cash.
How do you pull this off?
Joanne, get the suitcase.
I put your money in a suitcase with a false bottom like this, see?
Your money goes on top,
because the watch commander is going to check it, naturally,
to make sure it's real.
And we put pop-up stacks of fake money in the false bottom.
Just put the ends together like this, and you got it, see?
It's terrific.
Looks good.
Oh, they look a lot better with real money stacked on top of 'em.
Now, by the time they find out that the money is gone,
there'll have been so many people in and out of there,
they'll never know who took it.
So tomorrow, Mac and Pete go down into the police property room
with the suitcase at exactly two minutes to 1:00.
Pete tells the watch commander he got the money in a drug bust.
The watch commander gives me the key to the property room,
and then he goes to lunch at 1:00.
And he just leaves you alone in the room?
I'm a cop! Cops trust cops.
MacGyver's not a cop.
He's the witness to the crime.
I have to take his statement as soon as I'm through in the property room.
And then MacGyver helps me load the money.
Four hands are better than two.
Not bad, not bad.
Now, what are you going to do about the two million?
You can't take it out in that.
The Brockman trunk. It's a case Pete was handling.
It's finally going to trial tomorrow.
You see, Mr. Brockman killed his fourth wife.
He hid her body in a trunk.
I have been subpoenaed to take that trunk
out of the property room tomorrow
and down to the court as evidence.
And, Mr. Crowe, here's the topper.
That trunk is just about the right size to hold two million dollars.
If I lose 400 grand on this deal,
you're going to wish you never laid eyes on me.
What do you mean, it's too dangerous?
This whole thing was my idea.
I don't believe you guys. After all I've done,
you're not going to let me be in on the touch.
I can't be responsible for you out there
if anything goes wrong.
I'm not asking you to be.
No good! You're out of it.
My decision.
A peace offering, huh?
Come on in.
Thank you.
Interesting breakfast.
I always photograph strange things when I'm angry.
You must get angry a lot.
So, I'm still not going with you guys tomorrow?
No, and you know it's for your own good, too.
My own good.
So, what's in the bag?
Pastrami on rye.
You call that a peace offering?
Oh, terrific.
I'm always blowing a fuse.
Come on, I have some extras in the kitchen.
MacGyver...
Phone's dead.
Got a flashlight?
This battery should do it.
I need some matchbooks, too.
- Okay. - Two of 'em.
All I have to do is connect your floodlight wires to this battery.
This should bridge the gap.
What are you going to do?
I'm going to try and brighten their evening a little bit.
Come on!
Mac!
What's going on, Crowe?
Well, let's just say if I'm going to give you 400 grand,
I'm going to need a little insurance policy.
- What do you want? - Simple.
Tomorrow, we'll meet outside the Decker Street police station.
You'll go in with my money,
you'll do the little switcheroo in the property room,
you'll put the two million dollars in the trunk,
and you'll bring it out to me, and then I'll give you the girl.
- When? - Don't worry, MacGyver.
Girl's going to be with me. I'm going to be nearby.
You'll get her when I get the trunk.
What if I say no to your deal?
Well, then she's dead.
MacGyver!
It's a deal.
She's yours.
Yes.
Come on.
I should have known Crowe would cover his flanks.
Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.
Yeah. We got cocky.
Look, Joanne is going to be all right...
as long as Crowe needs her.
Pete...
Crowe's always slipped through the cops' fingers
by using legal technicalities, right?
Yeah.
Well, what if the cops found him
in their property room
with his hand in the till?
That'd be a little tough to explain, don't you think?
Well, sure, but our plan didn't include
taking Crowe into the police station with us.
What if we convince him that we can't be trusted with his money?
Then he'd want to go in, wouldn't he?
But why should he?
He knows we're not going to do anything funny
as long as he's got Joanne.
Unless he thinks we don't care about her.
You got the whole 400,000 in there?
That's all of it.
You got the fake money in here?
Very good. Okay.
Yeah, I love the smell of money, don't you?
Nothing like it.
Clears the sinuses, you know what I mean?
By the way, your girlfriend says hello.
Oh, yeah? Good.
Well, give us about, uh, 20 minutes,
and we'll be back with, uh, two million dollars.
Wait a second, wait a second.
You gentlemen seem a little too eager here.
What about the girl? You didn't ask about her.
How is she?
Oh, she's fine.
She's watching us right now with a gun pointed at her head.
Oh, she's out here. You're not going to find her.
Well, looks like you got us, Crowe.
Hold it. Maybe this girl doesn't mean as much to you as I thought.
That girl... is my life.
Yeah, right.
And everybody's got a price.
I'm going in with you.
Nobody's going to handle my money but me.
Uh, now, wait a minute. That's crazy.
My plan didn't include you going into the property room.
Just MacGyver.
Instead of having one witness to your supposed drug bust,
you're going to have two.
When you see me come down with the trunk,
send the girl out.
Come on!
Thanks, but no thanks.
- Now move to that door. - What?
Don't say a word. Move!
Well, you know, you guys are really gonna get it this time...
I guess you don't remember me, do you, Crowe?
But then you don't remember any of the people
you conned out of their life savings.
Look familiar?
Do you hear that, honey?
'Cause if your boys don't come up with the money, then you're history.
Get him in there!
Get him down in there! Yeah.
One peep out of you, Crowe, you'll never live to see daylight again.
Have a nice day.
All right, easy, easy.
Got it.
- Good luck. - Thanks.
Come on.
Oh, thanks.
How you doing?
Well, what can I do you for?
Sergeant Thornton.
I got a trunk here with a lot of coke in it.
I had a lousy bust.
The guy got away, but I got his stash.
Lucky you.
What about him?
Oh, the detective and I are very attached to one another.
He's a pickpocket.
I got to get him downtown for an arraignment hearing
as soon as we're through here.
So, are we gonna get this booked in already?
I got a busy day ahead of me.
Sure, but you got to have a 314, seven-two-A form
before I can do anything.
Okay, but I got to get the watch commander's John Hancock on this.
Wait here.
Pete?
- Hey. - Yeah?
You readin' the sports section?
No. You-You want it?
Yeah, thanks.
I'll give it back to you as soon as I'm done.
Uh, sure.
Uh, Sarg, uh, I need your okay on this, please.
Shh!
Uh, Joe, I'm kind of in a hurry.
Could you get the sarge to okay...?
Go.
I'm lookin' at two dead men!
Yeah, it's been a lot of fun.
You're dead meat, MacGyver!
You're both dead!
You're dead meat!
What's takin' 'em so damn long?
Take it easy.
Excuse me, I...
No, no, you first. Hmm.
Give me your hand.
Now, Mac, this part, we take nice and easy.
Sarge, I need your, uh, autograph here.
Do you mind? There's a line here. Hmm?
That's Crowe.
Come on.
Howdy.
What? Are you stupid?
What, are you gonna shoot him? There's a million cops out here.
Where the hell's Crowe?
Who cares? Let's get the money.
Okay, I'll get the van.
Thanks.
You know, you could have been a doctor.
Who the hell are you?
I'm-mm-mm...
And what are you doing in my cage?
Gee, you're all tied up.
Maybe I should come back a little later.
M-MacGyver!
MacGyver?
Yeah, the pants could come in a little,
but they're not bad, huh?
Come on.
Quick! There were two other guys here, too.
With a trunk!
20 years on the force, I never had so much excitement!
You're not gonna just let them get away!
No, I think the bottom's about to fall out
of that plan.
That's the guy.
Freeze! Hands up!
Get your hands up!
Come on!
Whoa!
So what do you think now, Kelly?
Hey, after helpin' you guys pull this off,
I feel like I can do anything.