THIEF OF BUDAPEST
01.03 Episode 3 (#40191-004)
Airdate: October 13, 1985
In Budapest, a young Gypsy steals a watch containing microfilm that MacGyver was supposed to receive from a Russian double agent.
Written by: Joe Viola
Directed by: John Patterson
Guest Starring: Michael Constantine as Jan Messic, Bruce Abbott as Nicolai Kossov, Kelly McClain as Jana, Sue Kiel as Reena, E. M. Margolese as Alex, Charles Raymond as Stephan, Robert Hallak as Bruno, John Prudhont as Peter, Sid Haig as Khan, Nicholas Kadi as Nicolai Grodsky, Charles Joseph Martin as Cernik, T. Lee Griffin as Lanko, Magda Harout as Woman, Jim Gosa as Grosz
OPENING GAMBIT: "PEGASUS" MacGyver retrieves a stolen horse and gets picked up - literally - by a helicopter. Written by Terry Nation & Stephen Downing / Directed by Lee H. Katzin
Nielsen Ratings: 13.0 rating / 19 share / 3rd (47th overall)
Reference: Alex, Borza Prison, Bruno, Budapest, Nicolai Grodsky, Jana, Khan, Nicolai Kossov, Jan Messic, Middle East, Peter, Reena, Stephan, Transcarpathian Road Rally
MACGYVERISMS
Stole a horse using an airlift by helicopter
Stopped a truck using lightbulbs sandwiched between wood to simulate a flat tire
Created a chemical explosion using salt, sugar, weed killer and battery acid
Used an unmanned bulldozer to knock down a guard tower and create a barbed wire barricade
Created an explosion by igniting paprika with a match
Made a magnifying glass using a bent hair pin dipped in wine
Used slices of a credit card to alter the timing of a traffic signal and cause a traffic jam
Taped a radio to a police radio and elevated them with balloons to jam police radio signals
NOTES OF INTEREST
- The "Pegasus" stunt of lifting a galloping horse by helicopter earned a Stuntman Award in 1986.
- Much of the racing footage of the Mini Coopers through Budapest used stock footage from the 1969 movie "The Italian Job."
- This episode marks the first appearance of the brown leather jacket.
- MacGyver demonstrates excellent horsemanship skills.
- MacGyver states that he doesn't drink.
- Jana stole the Swiss Army knife twice, then MacGyver gave it to her.
MEMORABLE REMARKS
- Typical. Just when you're getting ahead, somebody always changes the odds. [MacGyver]
- My mom had a chili recipe that would just about blow your socks off. Shake of this, pinch of that, and just let it cook. I changed the ingredients a little-- salt, sugar, weed killer. I wouldn't want to eat it, but the end result should be... dynamite. [MacGyver]
- The man who said life is just a bowl of cherries had it wrong. It's a bowl of Hungarian goulash-- hot and sticky. And I'm not that hungry. [MacGyver]
- Am I too late for happy hour? [MacGyver]
- I see the beautiful people just stopped in to have a quick cocktail before the ballet. [MacGyver]
- That's your lie detector? [MacGyver]
- I don't have a lot of cash on me. Do you take plastic? [MacGyver]
- The U. S. of A! Clint Eastwood! Coca-Cola! Girls just wanna have fun. [Jana]
FOR THE RECORD
- Swiss Army Knife Count: (3)
- Picked the lock on the supply truck
- Cut open the containers of salt and sugar
- Cut slices of a credit card
- Duct Tape Count: (1)
- Taped together a transistor radio and a police radio
- RIP - MacGyver's Friends Who Have Been Killed: (1)
- Nicolai Grodsky, a Russian double agent and old friend, was struck and killed by a truck in Budapest
IMAGES
