War of the Worlds/The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan
Season 1, Episode 10
Airdate	December 26, 1988
Written by	Sylvia Clayton
Directed by	Paul Tucker
← 1x09 To Heal the Leper	1x11 → Epiphany
War of the Worlds — Season One

The Good Samaritan is the tenth episode of the first season of War of the Worlds.

Jared Martin (Harrison Blackwood), Lynda Mason Green (Suzanne McCullough), Philip Akin (Norton Drake)

and Richard Chaves (Colonel Ironhorse)

Guest Stars: Lori Hallier (Teri), Warren Davis (Franklin)

and Alex Cord (Marcus Madison Mason)

Also Starring: Richard Comar (Advocate #1), Ilse Von Glatz (Advocate #2) Michael Rudder (Advocate #3), Corinne Conley (Mrs. Pennyworth), Rachel Blanchard (Debi), David Gardner (Larson), Sharolyn Sparrow (Helen), Micki Moore (Joyce Mason), Barry Flatman (Hewlit), Michael Kramer (Commander)

Featuring: James O'Regan (Cook), Mark Krause (Busboy), Mung Ling Tsui (Waitress), Billie Mae Richards (Matron #1), Maxine Miller (Matron #2), Anne Mirvish (Matron #3), Michael Woods (Bodyguard), J.R. Zimmerman (Dr. Adams) George Kash (Longshoreman), John Baylis (Doctor), Djanet Sears (Nurse) Darrin Baker (College Boy #1), Andrew Gunn (College Boy #2), Laura Cruickshank (Cheerleader)

Uncredited: C.J. Fidler (Captive Woman)

Plot Overview

Businessman Marcus Madison Mason receives international attention for having developed a "Feed the World" grain that could end world hunger. Due to his promise that it is also radiation tolerance, Suzanne is arranged a meeting to learn his secrets in hopes of helping her development of a strain of bacteria against the aliens. The aliens, having recently developed a deadly spore, see Mason's grain as a means to help distribute it worldwide.

Notes

Teaser Quote

"We all have to die... sometime."

Base Three

• Three agents are in charge of the spore operation. Another three work to infiltrate Mason International.

• The agents report managing to launch three freighters.

Locations

• Oakland, California

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• Suzanne continues trying to develop a strain of bacteria that is also resistant to radiation as a weapon against the aliens.

• Norton begins being able to triangulate the alien transmissions to pinpoint locations.

Characters

• Ironhorse teases Harrison about being jealous of Suzanne's dinner date with Mason. Despite his denial of this, Harrison later apologises to her.

• Debi brings up Norton's disability. He opens up about not having the ability to walk and makes her feel at ease about bringing it up.

Referbacks

• Ironhorse mentions to Harrison about making a "strategic withdrawal", as he had when trying to retreat from the Jericho refrigeration plant without detection in "The Walls of Jericho".

Trivia

The Show

• The three aliens from the diner reappropriate their human identities in the same host bodies as "outside advisers." In doing so, the waitress goes by Ms Marshall, the busboy as Mr Stein, and the Cook as Mr Cook.

Behind the Scenes

• The second of three episode written under pseudonym, this one also a combination of Dr Clayton Forrester and Sylvia Van Buren. The episode was written during the Writer's Strike by an anonymous scab as one of only three episodes available for production after filming of the pilot. Along with "Epiphany", it was pushed back in airing order for reworking due to the nature of the writing.

Memorable Moments

• Norton and Debi's conversation.

• Ironhorse teases Harrison about Suzanne's dinner date with Mason.

Goofs

• When talking to Harrison about Suzanne's invitation to dinner with Mason, Ironhorse's hands go from held together to being separate frequently between shots.

Quotes

• Advocate #3: (turning to a captive woman) And how do you explain the presence of this rancid creature?

Commander: A small reward for our scientists. For months, they've been requesting a live human specimen for dissection. I think this one will do nicely.

• Commander: Those humans the spore doesn't kill will be too few and weak to defy us.

Advocate #2: Well done, Commander. We will convey the glorious message to Council.

Advocate #3: With due credit to you for your efforts.

Commander: Thank you, Advocate, but victory over these pathetic, disease-ridden creatures is reward enough.

• Debi: Sometimes I almost think Gertrude's alive.

Norton: So do I. Especially when she zigs when she's supposed to zag.

Debi: Gertrude, turn around.

Norton: It won't work. Gertrude and I are monogamous. Um, that means we stick together.

Debi: Norton, do you ever... do you ever... miss not being able to walk?

Norton: Well, it's hard to miss something you've never had. (beat) You know, Debi, when I was your age, I used to dream about walking all the time.

Debi: Really?

Norton: Yeah. But the funniest thing, I kept tripping over everything.

Debi: Does it bother you that I asked?

Norton: Uh-uh. I think it would bother me more if you didn't.

• Harrison: Well?

Suzanne: Oh, you want to know about last night?

Harrison: That is the main topic of conversation, isn't it?

Suzanne: Well, first we - Marcus and I...

Ironhorse: (to Harrison) Marcus?

Suzanne: We had a lovely dinner. And can you believe he reserved the entire restaurant so we wouldn't be disturbed?

Harrison: You're kidding.

Ironhrose: She's not kidding.

Suzanne: I'm not kidding. And the pâté was to die. After about seven courses and two bottles of wine, he invited me up to his office.

Harrison: Mason agreed to share his research with you?

Suzanne: No. As a matter of fact, he made it very clear he wanted to share his bed with me.

Harrison: You're kidding.

(Suzanne shakes her head)

Ironhrose: She's not kidding.

Harrison: You're not kidding.

Suzanne: He's very romantic, shrewd, terribly wealthy.

Ironhorse: (under his hand, to Harrison) Terribly.

Suzanne: And about as subtle as an adolescent on his first date. And I'm pretty sure he's having an affair with his secretary.

Harrison: Look, uh, your personal life, uh, his personal life, it's your own business.

Ironhorse: (under his hand, to Harrison) Right.

Harrison: And I don't need to know the details. But, uh, did he or did he not agree to tell you how he managed to get his radiation-resistant genetic engineering to work?

Suzanne: Not. Mason is as secretive about what he's doing as we are about what we're doing. And even if I had... fulfilled his fantasies, I don't think he would have given us what we need.

Harrison: So this entire exercise was a wash?

Suzanne: Except for the pâté.

• Marcus Madison Mason: I have decided that this grain will be available to any country, to any person who needs it, and at no cost. For me to do otherwise would be inhuman.

• Teri: You can't let this ship leave. There's something wrong with the grain, something our people missed. It's got some kind of a parasite or something. Anyone who eats it will die.

Marcus Madison Mason: Teri, we all have to die... sometime.

• Ironhorse: You okay?

Harrison: I think my violin-playing days are probably over.

Ironhorse: You play the violin?

Harrison: It's something I've always been meaning to do.