Technical Information

First Broadcast: Thursday, November 12, 1987, 8:00 PM

Production Code: B-87508

Number of bullets fired by Sledge: 6

Critical Info

TV Guide summary: Rumors of a mobster's planned prison break send Hammer undercover at a Federal pen, disguised as notorious hit man Nick the Dart.

Ph episode rating on the Hammer scale (1 to 6 bullets): 2. Posing as a hit man, Hammer acted more like an annoying little brother.

Episode references:

• Cool Hand Luke (movie)
• Papillon (movie)

Opening Credits

Produced by Thomas Kane
Supervising Producer: Ron Friedman
Executive Producer: Alan Spencer

Guest Stars:

• Dick Bakalyan (as Clive Winston)
• Leslie Ray (as Warden Keane)
• Kurt Fuller (as Special Agent Bunion)
• David Leisure (as Chester)

Created by Alan Spencer
Written by Mark Curtiss & Rod Ash
Directed by Bill Bixby

Act One

Hammer and Doreau enter Trunk's office to hear from F.B.I. Special Agent Bunion about a top secret assignment. The F.B.I. would like to borrow Hammer to go undercover at Chadney(?) Federal Prison, posing as the hit man Nick LeBoe, a.k.a., Nick the Dart. According to their sources, Bunion says that Clive Winston, the biggest crime boss in the late 60's, is planning a prison break. The F.B.I. is hoping Hammer can get close to Winston, become friends, and lead them to his accomplices, whom they have been trying to catch for years.

When Trunk tells Hammer he won't be able to bring along his gun, he entrusts it with Doreau.

At the prison, Hammer meets with the female warden and Chester, a prison offical who keeps on jabbing him with a stick.

The warden warns him to not even think about escaping, as no one escapes from her prison, not even her.

Warden: I'd like to think of this as a progressive prison. That's because it gets progressively worse.

When placed in the cell with Winston, Hammer tries to warm up to him. However, Winston makes it clear that he doesn't like him, having to share a cell.

Trying a little too hard to act like he wants to get out, Hammer acts like a caged animal banging on the bars with a tin cup.

Hammer: Trust me. I know what I'm doing.
[22 KB WAV file]

Chester then sprays the two in the cell with a fire hose. Winston is growing increasingly irritated with Hammer.

At a prison aerobics class, Winston is still trying to get rid of the chummy Hammer. Meanwhile, a fellow inmate, Zeke, recognizes Hammer from a distance as a cop.

I believe this character was played by episode director Bill Bixby.

Act Two

At the mess hall, Hammer is served an appetizing meal topped off with green slop.

Hammer sits down and eats across from Winston even though he tells Sledge to get lost. Winston's attitude changes, however, when Hammer saves him from being stabbed by Zeke. Zeke was actually going after Hammer with a butter knife.

Back in their cell, the cellmates exchange stories about how they've abused people. With a new fondness for Hammer, Winston let's Hammer in on his planned escape for tomorrow morning. When Hammer asks who is helping them out on the outside, Winston just tells him to be ready at 5 A.M.

Hammer receives a visit from Doreau, dressed up as a hit man's girlfriend. After stroking a picture of his gun behind the glass window, Hammer tells Doreau of Winston's planned escape.

In the morning, Winston is summoned to the warden's office, and Hammer follows. When she accuses them of planning an escape, Hammer denies it, but Winston confirms. The corrupt warden says she can't take the risk of letting two escape, but Winston agrees to pay fifty-thousand dollars extra with his credit card.

Hammer rides with Winston in a waiting Mercedes on a deserted country road to a deserted farmhouse. After parking next to the "Valet Parking for Clive Winston's Prison Break Party" sign, Clive is greeted inside with "He's A Jolly Good Fellow".

Hammer asks to make a call to his "girlfriend" to have her join the party. As a bimbo gives Doreau directions to the place, Winston introduces his new friend, Nick the Dart.

Unfortunately for Hammer, Nick the Dart has killed friends or family of most of the party attendees, who aim their weapons at Hammer. When Hammer confesses he is actually a cop, Nick draws his gun on him too. When no one buys his next claim of being Geraldo Rivera, Hammer dives under a table. As everyone fires countless rounds at the table, Hammer manages to move with the table as a shield and dive out a window.

Just then, the police arrive. Doreau throws Hammer his beloved gun, and he shoots the guns out of six men. [gunshots 1-6]

Hammer: Happiness is a warm gun.

Tag

As Hammer caresses his gun, the crooks are handcuffed and led away. After congratulating Hammer, Bunion handcuffs Hammer, as Trunk says he still considers him an escaped convict.

Closing Credits

Associate Producer: Robert Ewing
Creative Consultant: Leonard B. Stern
Executive Story Editors: Mert Rich & Brian Pollack
Story Editors: Mark Curtiss & Rod Ash
Story Editor: Chris Ruppenthal
Co-Starring: Hope North (bimbo)
Featuring: Michael Tino, Michael Torphy, Carl Ciarfolio, Doc Duhame, Manuel Perry, Branscombe Richmond (Rico), Tino Santhon, Joe Barton, Tally Chanel
Co-Producer: Jim Ragan
Director of Photography: Chuck Colwell
Production Designer: Gregory Melton
Music Composed by Lance Rubin
Theme by Danny Elfman
Unit Production Manager: Jim Ragan
1st Assistant Director: Candace Allen
2nd Assistant Director: Nancy King
Film Editor: Janet Ashikaga
Art Director: Gregory Melton
Set Decorator: Michael Parker
Construction Coordinator: Raymond Camaioni
Property Master: Christopher Amy
Location Manager: Anthony Saenz
Stunt Coordinator: Ed Ulrich
Sound: Tom Koester
Camera Operator: Tony Baggott
Key Grip: Dylan Shephard
Gaffer: Walter Stewart
Make-Up Artist: June Rudley Brickman
Hair Stylist: Robert Hallowell
Costume Designer: Nancy Fox
Script Supervisor: Nancy Friedman
Transportation Coordinator: Eddie Lee Voelker
Special Effects: Chuck Dolan
Casting: Cathy Henderson (C.S.A.), Barbara Hanley (C.S.A.)
Assistant to Alan Spencer: Tracy Yeager, Sherry Gamlin
Assistant to Thomas Kane: Nancy Edwards
Production Coordinator: Bonnie Jordan
Production Auditor: Erica Fox

Electronic Laboratory: Pacific Video
Post-Production Sound: West Productions, Inc.
Filmed at Valencia Independent Studios
Alan Spencer Productions in association with New World Television