2.12: Icebreaker
Technical Information
![[Hammer flicking head off paper archbishop figure]](../../images/sh/season2/i01.jpg)
First Broadcast: Thursday, December 10, 1987, 8:00 PM
Production Code: B-87512
Number of bullets fired by Sledge: 0
Critical Info
TV Guide summary: Hammer means to get even for being aced out of an investigation by a top British operative, who's in the country to thwart a terrorist's planned assassination of a archbishop -- and who also romances Doreau.
Ph episode rating on the Hammer scale (1 to 6 bullets):
3.
The jealous Hammer exuded sarcasm throughout the episode. Mandatory one-bullet deduction of no bullets fired by Sledge.
Episode references:
Act One
At a bar, Doreau has to sit through an arm-wrestling match between Hammer and Mayjoy. Mayjoy is winning until Hammer pulls his gun on him for an easy victory. Doreau decides to head home despite Hammer's ideas for fun (bowling, shooting pool, arm wrestling, shooting guns)...
Hammer: Women -- can't live with them, can't live... with them.
In his office, Trunk introduces Hammer and Doreau to Lionel Dashman.
Dashman: Please, just call me "Dash".
Doreau: Call me "Dori".
Hammer: Call me irresponsible.
Trunk: Mr. Dashman is a special operative from Interpol.
Hammer: Oh, that's one of those countries in Europe, isn't it?
Dashman, the top anti-terrorist expert in the world, has been assigned to stop the Pelican, an international terrorist. Dashman's contacts say the Pelican is planning to assassinate the archbishop of Costa Pobre, most likely at his speech at the Commander Hotel. Unfortunately, Dashman has no idea what the assassin looks like.
Trunk: Alright, listen up. Effective immediately, Agent Dashman is in charge of security for the archbishop's speech. That means he is calling the shots, Hammer. We are working for him. Is that clear?
Hammer:
Yeah. No, that's... that's good. So, what's your big plan, Monsieur?
[46 KB WAV file]
(butchers pronunication)
Examining a mockup of the hotel banquet room, Hammer derides Dashman's "doll house".
Following Hammer's suggestion to inspect the actual room itself, Dashman takes Doreau but leaves Hammer at the precinct.
![[Doreau and Dashman]](../../images/sh/season2/i02.jpg)
The rejected Hammer then tests the doll house for earthquake safety. As he shows how the paper Dashman tries to escape the quake, the paper figure is crushed by Hammer's gun.
![[Hammer smashing paper Dash figure with gun]](../../images/sh/season2/i03.jpg)
While scoping out the hotel, Dashman and Doreau hit it off. Dashman is struck by Doreau's combo of intelligence and beauty, while Doreau probably isn't used to having a partner as nihilistic as Hammer. She invites him back to her place for a "home-cooked meal".
![[Doreau and Dashman in the rain]](../../images/sh/season2/i04.jpg)
Trunk sees Hammer wasting time at his precinct desk and quickly detects Hammer's jealousy.
Hammer: You know what I say to that? I say "HA!". Me? Jealous of that doughnut-hole? In my whole life, I've been jealous of one man, one man only: Custer.
[112 KB WAV file]
When Officer Daley tells Trunk a dead body has been found in the river, Trunk reluctantly lets Hammer investigate, even though he has been assigned to the archbishop's security detail. At the river, Norman gives Hammer his ideas about who the victim was.
![[Norman at the crime scene]](../../images/sh/season2/i05.jpg)
Norman: I suspect he's a foreigner. All his clothes carry European labels.
Hammer: So, what? All my clothes have foreign labels: Taiwan.
Sitting in front of the fireplace, Doreau and Dashman are about to kiss, but Dashman pulls away. Dashman laments his job which requires him to move from assignment to assignment, not allowing him to ever get involved with anyone. When Hammer hears noises from outside Doreau's apartment #6 door, he bursts in, claiming he thought she was in trouble. Doreau is disgusted, but Dashman punches out Hammer.
Act Two
At the precinct the next day, Doreau is still angry at Hammer for ruining her romantic evening. When Hammer challenges that he might be married, Doreau finds out on her computer that he is not only single but has received sixteen citations for heroism. She also finds out he is working under the code name "Icebreaker".
At the hotel, Trunk breaks up Hammer and Dashman's verbal sparring.
Dashman: Alright, I want one last thorough search. The Pelican may have planted a bomb anywhere. I want you to check every seat, every curtain, every nook, and every cranny.
Hammer: (whispering to Trunk) What's this case got to do with English muffins?
Assigned to inspect the podium, Hammer goofs around with the microphone and frisks the curtains.
![[Sledge making noises into the microphone]](../../images/sh/season2/i06.jpg)
Dashman then inspects the podium to find a plastic explosive. Saying he checked that area, Hammer accuses him of planting it there to make him look bad. No one believes him, of course, and Dashman suggests he leave the premises for the safety of all.
Pacing the precinct area with nothing to do, Hammer runs into Mayjoy who tells him that the dead body is some Interpol hotshot code-named Icebreaker. After some thinking aloud, Hammer figures out that Dashman must be the Pelican.
In a hotel hallway, Doreau runs into Dashman. Doreau apologizes for Hammer's actions.
Dashman: Yeah, Hammer bursting in like that wasn't exactly my idea of an icebreaker.
Doreau: Do you think it's safe to say that out loud?
Dashman: I didn't know/no idea [?] it was a bad word.
Doreau figures out he's an imposter, but he punches her out before she can reach for her gun.
![[Dashman knocking out Doreau]](../../images/sh/season2/i07.jpg)
When Hammer arrives on the scene, he tells Trunk of his relevation.
Doreau awakens from a closet and kicks the door out onto Hammer, who was walking in the hallway.
As the archbishop begins to speak, Dashman can be seen from a balcony assembling a weapon. Just as Dashman is setting is sights, Hammer lunges for the archbishop. While the archbishop slams Hammer a few times, Hammer finally wrestles and drags him away to safety.
![[the archbishop]](../../images/sh/season2/i08.jpg)
Meanwhile, a bitter Doreau finds Dashman on the balcony.
![[Doreau pointing gun at Dashman]](../../images/sh/season2/i09.jpg)
While Dashman gives a sad tale about wanting to start a new life with her after this last assassination job, he knocks away her gun. However, Doreau is vindicated when she knocks him off the balcony with a pivoting spotlight onto a banquet table.
Tag
When Hammer catches Doreau working late, she expects him to gloat over being right about the imposter. Instead, Hammer asks her to go bowling, and she gives him an odd peck before leaving.
