We've got a pretty good planet here... as planets go.
The trouble is, we're letting it go down the drain
in too many places.
Random testing downstream
had turned up some strange trace elements.
It was pretty close to home, so the Phoenix Foundation
had a real incentive to find out
why what should be clean water was showing up polluted.
- Okay, are you ready? - I'm ready!
Buddy?
What is it, boy?
Buddy...
Buddy?
Buddy!!
Two minutes! 800 more gallons!
Okay!
Come on!
Try some of your own poison!
Come on, let's go!
Hurry up!
Look out!
Go!
What happened?
Hey, wait a minute!
I'm on your side...
I think.
Hold still.
I'm not gonna hurt you.
Cut open your pants leg.
I don't need any help.
You got to stop that bleeding.
Who shot you?
I don't know,
but I saw one of 'em.
I'll remember him.
He killed my dog.
Yeah, I saw him.
I'm gonna tell you something, Charlie --
I don't like this. That big guy saw your face.
Put a cork in it.
What do you mean, put a cork in it?
Hey, I'm covering my butt. I'm out of this deal.
You call Dorman right now! Call him!
Or I'll call him.
I'm real sorry about your dog.
I learned a long time ago,
you bury the dead...
and that's it.
When did she die?
You okay?
Yeah.
You got a name?
MacGyver.
Toberman.
They call me Earthquake.
Hey, Earthquake.
I think we ought to have a doctor look at your leg.
I take care of myself.
I don't need no doctor.
Well, we've got to go into the city, anyway,
to report that dumping.
Might as well have a doctor look at it.
We don't have to go in the city.
I don't like the city.
Look, Earthquake,
they were dumping toxic waste into that stream.
They killed your dog.
My dog is dead.
They're gone.
You report it.
Look.
What happened out there today could provide some answers
to some pretty important questions,
but I need your help.
You can identify one of the men. You're a witness.
I fought my wars.
Okay.
Guess you got your reasons.
I got mine.
I work at a place called the Phoenix Foundation.
Will you remember that for me?
Phoenix Foundation. Okay?
Yeah.
Take care of the leg, huh?
Hit it!
All right, hold it!
All right, hit it!
How long will the cleanup take?
Clean it, empty it, fill it with oil -- about half an hour, Mr. Farber.
Good.
Then get it back on the road and make a normal oil delivery.
You two, get in there and strip.
- What?! - What?!
Burn those coveralls. We don't want any traces.
As soon as you've changed, take tanker number 16 there
up to the Twin Ridge Dump.
It's full of the same chemical and low-level radioactive mix
that you put in that creek.
Oh, come on, Farber. A legitimate delivery now?
Exactly.
After all, that is our business.
I've got a rundown on the guy they shot, Mr. Farber --
a Daniel Toberman.
Some kind of hermit.
Lives up in the backwoods.
Has he reported the incident?
Not to the cops -- or the EPA.
Good.
And the running water would have diluted
the toxics by now...
and they'll never be able to trace them.
I think we're clear.
But run a background check on this Toberman.
Wh-Wh-Why bother?
Because I told you so.
Look, I turned this operation into a perfect legal cover.
We have something to protect here.
Toxic waste disposal is very profitable for the organization.
In ten years, we'll be part of an industry worth billions.
Bigger than narcotics.
So, one mistake...
is one too many.
Okay.
We'll run a check on Toberman, but we're clean -- he's nobody.
I bet you this redneck's got hisself
some traveling money -- give!
What are you, nuts?!
I could've torn your head off!
Get out of here!
You know, it's really too bad you couldn't get
this man Toberman to agree to testify.
Pete, I tried.
The man wants to be left alone.
Okay, Toberman has every right to refuse.
But getting this close to an observed dumping operation!
It's a real shame we can't even start to track it down.
Well, I wouldn't go that far.
MacGyver has come up with a couple of good leads.
The lab broke down the sample I took from that creek.
And toxic would be an understatement.
Two acids,
a carcinogen, and cesium-137.
And Research gave us a laundry list of possible sources.
It came down to... Laboratory Chemicals, Inc.,
and Radiotronics Corp.
Well, now you do have something.
Yeah, it could be a lot.
Lab Chemicals processes its own toxic waste,
but Radiotronics uses a service,
an outfit called Chemco Waste Disposal.
Who are they?
Well, they were a nickel-and-dime
storage-and-disposal operation up until two years ago,
when they were bought out by the U.S. branch
of an offshore corporation
hiding behind a Caribbean registry.
The whole thing was arranged by the president of Chemco.
Martin Farber, straight out of Harvard Law.
He's not exactly Mr. Clean.
He's known to have heavy mob connections.
- Does that tell you anything? - A lot.
But not enough to get 'em to a hearing.
There's no proof, no legal evidence,
and no case without this... what's-his-name.
You can't go in!
Earthquake Toberman.
Uh, Helen, that's all right. Uh, thank you.
I thought it over.
I'm glad you did.
We're all happy to see you, Mr. Toberman.
I'm Karen Matsuga, staff attorney.
You want me to testify,
I'll testify.
Well, that's great.
This is terrific -- we think we got a line on the guys that jumped you.
Maybe.
Maybe. At a place called Chemco Waste Disposal.
Uh-uh, the sign on that truck said "Alamesa."
Alamesa?
Well, all right, I'll check it out, but...
it sounds like a phony to me.
I don't care what they call themselves.
I saw one of 'em.
Could you identify him?
At night, in a fog, underwater.
- Hey, how you doing? - I'm pretty good.
- Nice day, huh? - Yeah.
Got a hot load for you here.
A hot what?
A hot load. Where do you want it?
Hey, hey, whoa, whoa, what am I supposed to do with that?
I don't know, my boss told me
to drop it off, so I'm dropping it off.
Yeah, well, take it in there; I don't want it.
Where to?
Look, you go through the gate, you make a right,
go down to the end of that building, make another right,
and ask for a Mr. Dorman.
- Now, he'll tell you where to put that. - You got it.
I'll get the gate.
It was a truck just like that...
except it had Texas plates.
Well, they must've washed it down by now.
Let's get inside.
What's that?
It's kind of an all-purpose electronic bloodhound.
I got it set to react to the same chemical radiation recipe
I found in that water sample.
Yeah, right.
You handle that, and I'll look for the guy I nailed.
Dorman.
That shipment from Excelsior get in okay?
What shipment?
Two guys in a van.
They said it was hot stuff. I don't know.
I never heard of Excelsior.
Call the police and find those guys.
What is this place?
They recycle industrial waste by filtering out toxics.
At least that's what they're supposed to do.
- It looks legit enough. - Well, it is.
But if they're being paid to reprocess waste,
and all they're doing is dumping it,
a guy's got to wonder where all the money goes.
And we're talking about some big bucks.
We got something here.
What is it?
I don't know, but this thing's giving off a low level of radiation.
"Alamesa."
That's the sign I saw on the truck.
Wait!
Let's at least be cautious about this.
What are you doing?
Getting the lead out.
We're gonna have to protect ourselves from that radiation.
Watch the door.
Why don't we use the box I've been dragging around?
'Cause we're supposed to be dropping that off.
We can't very well walk out of here with it.
Good point.
Let's get back to the truck.
That's him.
He killed my dog.
Hey, what's going on?!
Help! Help!
Help!
They're over there! Come on!
Come over here! Come on!
What the hell's going on here?
Yeah, that's the guy. The hillbilly.
Get lost. Now.
MacGyver,
that was brilliant.
No, it's just lucky.
It's the only place they didn't look.
Yeah, very lucky.
Inside a piece of police evidence.
You'll never know what I had to go through
to get you two and this released.
We got it.
And I spotted that slimeball.
He got a name?
Charles LaFond.
Well, we got that, we got the evidence, so go get him.
Put the whole bunch in jail.
Well, it's not quite as easy as that.
I mean, we do have to establish a case.
Establish what case?
Karen's gotten us a hearing with the state environmental agency.
And with that evidence and your testimony to connect it,
we've got a chance to rip Chemco Waste Disposal wide open.
What do you think a bunch of paper shufflers are going to do?
They're no court.
No, they're not, but a fuse isn't a bomb, either.
But if you light the end of it and it burns down far enough,
there is an explosion.
They can send an investigation team in there
to go through everything.
If we get these guys dead to rights,
then the U.S. Attorney's Office will tear them apart.
But we need solid evidence...
and an eyewitness.
Well, here I am.
Please give your full name for the record.
Daniel Royce Toberman.
My only address... half a section of county land...
where I found him and his partner dumping poison.
Objection.
Sustained.
Mr. Toberman, you may only testify
as to what you've personally seen or heard.
I know it was poison.
It killed my dog.
We intend to present evidence to that effect later, sir.
Do you identify Charles LaFond
as the man who dumped liquids from a tanker?
I sure do.
And how was that truck identified?
The name on it?
Just said "Alamesa."
That's the sign, over there.
You saw the sign, the truck and Mr. LaFond?
I sure did.
Dumping toxics.
Reserve the right to redirect, sir.
Your witness.
Daniel Royce Toberman.
That's my name.
Not all of it.
You're also known as "Earthquake" Toberman,
aren't you?
Yeah, but that ain't got nothing to do with what we're doing now.
Bear with me, please.
Why are you called Earthquake?
Used a landslide once, to get out of trouble.
The kids started calling me Earthquake.
The kids?
My outfit.
Handful of greenies.
Some Vietnamese regulars.
And you won a Bronze Star
and three commendations for bravery, correct?
I don't remember. That was a long time ago.
Do you have a poor memory, Mr. Toberman?
No. I sure remember him.
Do you remember Captain Edward D'Angelo --
in Saigon, 15 years ago -- do you remember him?
I remember.
Do you remember attacking him?
Do you remember the court-martial
when you were described as borderline psychotic?
I object.
He's badgering my witness!
Mr. Toberman's past is not the question here!
Oh, but his credibility as a witness is.
She's the reason.
Tai Minh.
Tai Minh was the reason.
We wanted to get married.
Rules and regulations.
Your precious Captain D'Angelo said it all.
You see, white men marry white women.
Where is she now, Mr. Toberman?
She didn't make it.
She died.
Oh.
Did you kill her?
Mr. Toberman! Mr. Toberman!
He tried to kill me!
Mr. Toberman, I will not have this!
Miss Matsuga, restrain your witness or I'll hold him in contempt.
I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I just...
This hearing is continued until tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m.
And if there are any further outbursts,
I will dismiss your cause of action.
Let's get some air. Come on.
Follow them. See where they go.
I never seen anybody handle themself
like you just did.
Way to knock down that hillbilly, sir.
No, I discredited him.
I needled him to set him up as psychotic.
But we need one more final touch.
Now, listen closely...
Earthquake, you all right?
I'm okay.
What was that all about in there?
Farber was right. I killed her.
No, you didn't.
She was killed in a crossfire in Saigon.
You were on a mission in Cambodia.
There was nothing you could do.
Karen's one of the best.
She's done some digging.
She's on your side. I think we all are.
Then you know the rest.
Well, we know they put you away for striking an officer.
We don't know your side of it.
D'Angelo.
He really had it in for us.
I was going to get married anyway.
I set up a Buddhist ceremony.
He got wind of it.
Shipped me out
before I could even tell her.
I never saw her again.
I didn't even know she was... dead...
till I came back.
Just too damn late again.
And that's why you went after D'Angelo?
That's why I wanted to kill him.
But you only hit him.
Broke his nose.
They gave you 18 months for that, huh?
It was worth it.
Once you got out, you just headed for the hills?
Nah, I tried the civilian bit.
Got a greasy spoon with a buddy from 'Nam.
I thought that maybe I could leave this pain
and killing behind.
But I was wrong; I was so wrong.
I found that out one night after closing up the restaurant.
I was taking the garbage to dump in the back alley.
That's when it happened.
A kid.
A stupid kid with firecrackers.
If I'd had a weapon, that kid would be dead.
I'd have killed him like that.
But you didn't.
But I wanted to for a second. Don't you see?
Toberman, you could've handed Farber his head in there,
but you backed off.
What does that make me, a saint?
No, but that makes you a human being
just like the rest of us, with feelings and pain.
The Farbers of this world get fat off of people who,
who run off and hide, who don't care.
Well, you do care.
You care what happened to Buddy
and you care what happens when they dump their garbage.
That doesn't sound like a killer to me.
Well, I'd better get back to the foundation.
I want to be ready to go after them in the morning.
I'll drive you.
You coming?
Nah.
I'll stay here and...
sort some stuff out in my head.
Thanks, anyway.
All right.
Hey, Popeye,
Mr. Farber wanted me to give you something.
Good.
Let's get it over with.
You're right; let's get it over with.
You, hold it! Don't move!
I didn't do it. I didn't!
I said hold it!
Earthquake, don't move!
Keep everybody out of this building.
Stay back.
He couldn't have done it. We just talked to him.
He's not that kind of man.
Yeah, we know that, but we're going to have to prove it.
Listen, call Pete. Tell him what's happened.
It's obvious this whole thing's a setup.
Earthquake's got to be headed for Chemco.
Grade!
What happened?
Grade, come on! Can you hear me?
You okay?
I don't think so.
Mr. Farber, I've got Grade. He's been busted up pretty good.
It must be Toberman.
Get Grade patched up.
And then find that gorilla.
Let's get you fixed up.
Well, Farber... you got a story to tell.
And you're coming with me right now.
Oh, I doubt that.
You see, you've been expected.
All right, keep moving!
Come on.
Let's go, buddy, let's go.
Walk.
Straight ahead.
We'll talk when we get in there.
Back off!
Get your hands up.
Up!
I could waste him right now.
Not yet.
The police have simple minds.
We'll have to give them a simple story.
Get Grade.
Yeah, right.
When I was a kid,
my grandpa gave me two things I'll never forget:
A subscription to Popular Mechanics and a chemistry set --
and this place was one big chemistry set.
Chlorine, mixed with the right catalyst,
and near perfect timing on that inner tube,
was all I needed... I hoped.
Just get going.
Well, what's it all about?
Farber wants to see you, that's all you need to know.
Okay.
- Inside. - What's going on, Dorman?
- What's going on? - Sorry, Grade.
Business is business.
Please, Mr. Farber, don't kill me.
I've always done what you asked me. Please.
A real company man till the last.
Yes I am.
I'm impressed.
You see, he killed LaFond, and then came here.
We had no choice but to shoot him --
after he murdered you, Grade.
Congratulations.
You just made number two on the hit parade.
Why don't you give the police a call?
Now?!
It starts with a prowler.
Then we'll hear shots.
They'll get here just in time.
No, Dorman, please!
Cops are on their way.
Good.
Then let's not disappoint 'em.
Get the gun!
What the...?
It came from over there.
What the...?
Earthquake, no!
Don't do it.
It's over, man. It's over.
Listen, I want to turn state's evidence.
There's a man up there, his name's Farber.
He paid me to kill my friend, and I didn't want to do it.
Listen to me! I'm telling you!
I'm not responsible!
It's him! Farber!
You ought to be more careful, Mr. Farber.
You almost fell.
And Chemco Waste isn't
the only one we put out of business.
This guy Farber had his fingers in about a half a dozen toxic pies --
in five different states --
all of them running the same scam.
All out of business.
Thanks to you, Earthquake.
You know Karen's right, uh...
we're all really grateful to you.
So, uh, what's next? What are you going to do now?
I just want to go home.
MacGyver's going to give me a ride.
Hey...
Jeep's ready and waiting.
And, uh... so's my friend here.
Maybe I should say...
Earthquake's friend.
Man...
look at him.
Ain't he something?
Ain't he just something?
She... sure is.
She's really special.
Yeah.