"Mystery Man" (Part One) --
On the road, David (trying to get to San Diego) accepts a ride from bubbly "country girl" type Rose Sanders, who is on her way to Santa Fe, New Mexico. He gets more than he bargained for, as the woman quickly sinks into a stream of teary-eyed complaints about her unfaithful husband (and men in general). Despite David pleading with the woman to be mindful of her driving, she's increasingly erratic, speeding and turning wildly until she loses control, crashing through a guard rail--sending the vehicle tumbling over and again.
Eerily reminiscent of the crash that killed Laura Banner, Rose (like David) is sent flying from the car, while David (similar to Laura) is trapped in the car, its leaked fuel igniting.
David's legs are pinned under the crushed dashboard, and in the frantic struggle to escape, he transforms into the Hulk--just as two men (spotting the accident) observe. The enraged creature breaks out of the car, then flips it over, but is caught in the blast from the exploding gas tank--his hair burning. As the two onlookers race to Rose, elsewhere, the Hulk staggers, holding his head as if in a daze, then falls to the ground. The police arrive, and eventually find the unconscious David.
The next day, at
St.Monica's Hospital (still in Santa Fe), the groggy Banner is examined by a doctor, who tells him of the crash--and questions him about his general identity. In a passageway, Jack McGee arrives (undoubtedly following the report of a Hulk sighting near the accident). That evening, the doctor explains--
Doctor: "Now, what's happened to you is not uncommon. Concussions--especially severe ones--can sometimes cause temporary amnesia."
David: "Did...uh...did I have any identification?"
Doctor: "No, I'm afraid not. The car burned. There is a slightly scorched duffel bag in our property office. it's probably yours."
David: "What was in it--no name on it, initials..something?"
Doctor: "Nope. You're officially listed as 'John Doe.'
At the nurses' station, McGee's promises of publicity leads nurse Edith Phalen to divulge David's room number...
David feels hopeless about his memory loss--
David: "Everything's just a blank...it's as if it has all been erased."
Doctor: "I'm sure after you've rested a little bit more, the pieces will start fitting together."
David: "It's really frightening doctor. I feel as if I've been....born...right here in this room when I woke up."
Doctor: "I understand the disorientation, but you mustn't give up hope; there are no set rules governing amnesia."
At that moment, McGee barges in the room--only to see the patient's face completely bandaged.
David's memory: As McGee introduces himself to the doctor, the name and face sends his mind recalling his first meeting with McGee so long ago.
The doctor does not think it is wise for McGee to question "John Doe," but David's memory--the familiarity with McGee's face holds some answer for him, so...
David: "Is it all right, doctor--please? I think I know him."
Doctor: "Are you sure?"
David: "I'm not sure of anything, but it's a feeling, uh..a flash of recognition..a feeling."
Doctor: (to McGee)
"Okay, just a few minutes, alright?
McGee: "Thank you, doctor. Thank you very much."
David: "You're a reporter?"
McGee: "Yeah--uh, National Register. That could be where you think you know me. I used to have a column--a photograph--a byline...you could have read the column..seen the picture..stick in your memories--a subconscious sort of thing."
David: "I--I don't think that was it...have you seen me before?"
McGee: "Hard to say with the way they've got you rigged up here."
Doctor: "Flash burns and lacerations--the bandages will come off in about a week. Maybe less."
McGee:
"I uh--I interviewed Mrs. Sanders. She's the one who was driving the car. Mrs. Rose Sanders? All she could remember is you mentioned having come from Oklahoma City--that ring a bell?"
David: "No..uh, nothing."
McGee: "I was afraid of that. That was my tie-in, that's why I came here."
David:"I'm sorry, I don't understand."
McGee: "Oklahoma City--that's the last place anyone saw the Hulk--Oklahoma. Here--there he is...that's the Hulk."
David stares at a photo of the creature--
David's memory: Caroline's therapy--the caged Hulk reaching for David from
"Married" / The Hulk's first night during the lightning storm from
"The Incredible Hulk."
McGee: "What is it? What's matter? Are you remembering something?
David: "The accident I was in--was it raining?"
Referencing the accident with Rose, coupled with David's mind linking the Hulk to an accident (the night the Hulk was "born.") gets several "wheels" turning. The doctor produces a
Register clipping of the Hulk that was in David's possession at the time of the accident. McGee believes that the clipping, plus David's reaction to McGee's files means this "John Doe" has some connection to the Hulk.
The doctor tells McGee "John Doe" is suffering from traumatic amnesia, which not understood to any acceptable degree
, and adds if McGee & "John Doe" really know each other, perhaps that association will help restore his memory. He adds that a specialist in Los Angeles--a Dr. Sidney Brandis--has had success with traumatic amnesia.
McGee convinces "John Doe" to charter a plane to see Dr. Brandis in L.A.; aboard the plane, McGee admits his motives for helping are not entirely altruistic--if J.D. leads McGee to the Hulk, he gets his story, and the mystery man gets the $10,000 reward. The pilot warns McGee about the weather conditions; the shaky flight triggers--
David's memory: David (from
"747") at the controls of the airplane just as he's turning into the Hulk / As the Hulk, hanging by his fingers from the cargo hold of the plane
The violent storm unnerves McGee, the reporter revealing that even though he was in the Air Force (in Korea), he still never enjoyed flying. Moments later, the plane's oil line is damaged from a lightning strike; as the pilot struggles with the descending plane, David & McGee brace themselves, just as the plane crashes deep in a forest area, somewhere in Arizona.
Recovering from the crash, David carries McGee from the plane--the pilot died on impact. McGee's leg has been injured, which sparks
David's medical knowledge:
David: "I think a tibia may be broken...you have a very deep laceration here in the thigh...I don't know--a good possibility of a compound fracture."
McGee: "Ohh beautiful. My Cup Runneth Over."
David makes a splint for McGee's leg, but hesitates by yet another memory--somehow, he learned to make splits as
someone...
David--seeking answers about himself, asks about McGee's own background--
David:
"Tell me something about yourself--for example, what city are you from?"
McGee: "St. Louis."
David: "Tell me what St. Louis is like--maybe I've been there."
McGee: "Not much to tell about St. Louis...I haven't been home for quite awhile. 'Home is where there's love.' That was my old man..my father had a little saying for all occasions. He was...honest, and hardworking...and a failure at everything he ever tried."
David: "Failure?"
McGee: "One small time business after another..he was uh..the kind of guy who was an easy touch...give anybody a loan or credit.."
David: "Well, maybe he thought some things are more important than money."
McGee: "The two of you would've got along just fine. Whoever you are, John Doe, its becoming apparent that you are an idealist."
McGee wonders if David was a doctor in his forgotten life, the comment leading to another flash of memory--performing surgery....
McGee's pain causes the man to pass out. Hours later, he rises to see David standing over the rock pile grave of the pilot. David suggests they leave the crash site, as snow is coming; McGee wonders if any rescue party would naturally search for the plane, but the crash brought enough trees down, that it would hide the wreck from aerial searches. Using a map, David plots their course to reach Eden, Arizona...some 48 miles in the distance.
David creates a sled/harness rig from the seat belts and a damaged wing.
That night, McGee recalls his failed attempts at capturing the Hulk--from Wilmington, Delaware (the boxing match from
"Final Round") to New York (the Hulk being a
"Terror in Times Square").
McGee: "If only there was some way to control it. The Hulk's huge--its not like you're trying to tackle you local mugger, you know...a story like this--I could track that thing down--put me right back on top!"
David: "Tell me more about this Hulk. Do you know what it is?"
McGee: "Heh! If I knew the answer to that, I'd be halfway to home-plate. I've shown photographs of the Hulk to the leading anthropologists in the country, and their conclusions range from 'obvious hoax' to 'freak mutation.' In other words, a big, fat zero."
McGee is almost lost in thought--
McGee: "Well, there was one man--a scientist. He could have told me anything I wanted to know about the creature...but he's dead."
David: "Who was he?"
McGee: "Doctor David Banner."
That name leads to--
David's memory: Walking on the beach / working with Caroline (
"Married") / David's first transformation from
"The Incredible Hulk" pilot
McGee: "What's the matter--something wrong?"
David: "I think I just remembered something. Sort of like dropping a coin in the soda pop machine, but there's no soda pop. I don't know--maybe telling me about your past will remind me of mine. please...please go on. What happened to doctor Banner? How'd he die?"
McGee: "The Hulk! It was uh...it was shortly after the creature had first been sighted...there was a man and his daughter...they were camping in the woods...the Hulk chased the little girl into the water. The man took a shot at the creature, and almost killed himself."
Clips from the pilot--
David listens carefully, taking in the information, but not sure why it seems familiar...
McGee: "They found Banner's car in the area, it had been wrecked and burned. The police also found enormous footprints...I managed to get a cast made; Banner and his assistant denied knowing anything about it. You can call it reporter's intuition, or a basically suspicious nature or whatever you want, but I just wasn't convinced that doctor Banner and his assistant were telling the truth. So, I decided to go back at night, and have a look at what they were up to in that lab."
David: "What did you find out?"
McGee: "Enough to convince me that I was right."
Clips: McGee investigating the destroyed lab chamber, and spotting a giant footprint matching the cast he made / Banner and Elaina Marks discussing an alternate facility that would hold the creature, in the event it returned...
David: "...and you think they were talking about this Hulk?"
McGee: "Absolutely! If only I'd been able to hear more..."
David: "What happened?"
McGee: "Banner found me in that closet, and escorted me out of the place...its before it all blew up."
Clips of the lab explosion / David running into the fiery lab / the Hulk emerging carrying Elaina...
McGee: "The building was a mass of flames...Banner ran back inside. I must have been dazed, or something. When I came to, it was the first time i saw it...I'll never forget that moment as long as I live!
They found Elaina Marks in the woods...she was dead."
Such an impactful moment from David's past comes to mind--
David's memory: The Hulk's final moments with Elaina--her hand slipping from his as she died.
McGee notices how David is staring off--as if he absorbed all of McGee's account of that tragic night--
McGee: "John?"
David: "Hmm? I'm alright. I was just...just getting a few flashes. Pieces? Faces from nowhere...The creature..but none of it makes sense."
McGee: "Yeah, I know. It's like me and the Hulk. I'm never gonna know the whole story--it's gone. It's gone like Banner and Elaina Marks...but I...I can find their killer.And I will, too--someday."
David listens intently....thinking of the account and McGee's quest....
The next morning, David pulls McGee on the wing/sled, beginning their 48 mile journey; aerial search places canvas the last known area of the plane, but cannot see any trace of the wreck. By nightfall, David sleeps--and has nightmares involving the seemingly unstoppable Hulk...and Caroline's last minutes--a memory that wakes him, calling her name. McGee asks who Caroline is, but he does not remember. He believes the dream-Hulk wanted to destroy him.
McGee believes there is a stronger connection between John Doe and the hulk--piecing together the following facts--
McGee: "Listen..John, let's take a minute here...and review some of this, okay?"
David: "I don't understand."
McGee: "Well, when you first met me, you thought that you knew me, right?" Okay, that's item one. Item two--the Hulk was in Wilmington."
David: "Yeah, i've been to Wilmington."
McGee: "Item three, they found you at the accident site where the Hulk was spotted. Item four, you;ve just come from Oklahoma City...."
David: "...where the Hulk was last seen."
McGee: "Right!"
David: "But...what does that all add up to?"
McGee:
"Heh--I don't know...I don't know. and except..i'm a..kind of a hunter, and the Hulk is what I hunt. Now, its just possible that you're hunting him too, only for a different reason."
David: "Like what??"
McGee: "Could be anything...the Hulk is..rough, he's a killer, he..uh..he could have hurt somebody you know, somebody you loved."
David's Memory: Caroline dying in the Hulk's arms...
McGee: "...and now, you're out to..."
David:
"..to kill him?"
McGee: "Yyeah, well, could be...it's just possible that..."
Their talk is interrupted by the sound of a plane--possibly one of the search group, but it is too far away for the duo to do anything about it. By morning, David continues pulling the McGee sled, but as they reach a ridge, they see a growing forest fire. Though exhausted, David needs to outpace the moving fire..but that demands traveling away from their original destination--Eden. McGee protests, but--
David: "We can't stop now--we're going to have to head back the other way--we can rest later!"
McGee: "But that's north! That's away from Eden--away from everything that we're after--your--your memory, my story...the Hulk--"
David's reasoning is undeniable--
David: "...if we get caught in the middle of that, my memory, your story and the Hulk won't make any difference, Jack! It just simply doesn't matter--now come on!!"
To be continued...
NOTES:
The Incredible Hulk was always strong on character development, and launched this second season with a great example of that. Now, the series took its main antagonist to center stage in analyzing just what makes him tick both personally and professionally. Although McGee still displays a bit of his survivor's guilt in his recollection of the events surrounding the deaths of Banner & Marks, with he--being the only living witness (or so he believes), feeling a need to bring this "killer" to justice, is wiped away by his own true nature.
McGee gives the impression that he lives a loveless, glory-seeking life (explored in greater depth in part 2), and true to his being the polar opposite of Banner--even thinks "John Doe" would get along with his father, since he sees both as "bleeding heart" / "sap" types. On that note, it is telling that even suffering from amnesia, Banner's inherent nature falls hard on the side of right, in noting that there's more to life (and dealing with people after hearing the story of McGee's father) than money.
GUEST CAST:
Don Marshall (
Doctor) was a guest in season one's
"The Hulk Breaks Las Vegas," and will return in his third and last TIH guest role in season three's
"Deathmask." Aside from his
Star Trek role (
"The Galileo Seven" - 1967), and being best known as Dan Erickson from Irwin Allen's
Land of the Giants (ABC, 1968-70), his other fantasy credits include:
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour - "The Cadaver" - 1963 / "Isabel" - 1964 / "Night Fever" - 1965
- Tarzan - "The Fanatics" - 1967
- Bewitched - "Sisters at Heart" - 1970
- The Bionic Woman -"The Vega Influence" - 1976
- The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries - "The Strange Fate of Flight 608" - 1977
- Buck Rogers in the 25th Century - "Planet of the Slave Girls" - 1979.
Then, for anyone wanting to hear Marshall's experiences on LOTG, there's the TV documentary,
The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen (1995) long available on DVD.
Victoria Carroll's (
Rose) fantasy roles date back to 1970--
- The Immortal - "White Elephants Don't Grow on Trees" - 1970
- The Lucifer Complex - 1978
- ..and "Fast Lane" - a 4th season episode of The Incredible Hulk from 1981
A number of voice artist roles--most notable:
- The Incredible Hulk - (the NBC cartoon) 1982 - 1983
- Richie Rich - 1982
- Shirt Tales - 1982
- The Jetsons (second version) - 1985
- The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo - 1985
- The Smurfs - 1986
- Batman: The Animated Series - ("The Underdwellers") 1992
- The Mask - 1996
Aileen Towne (
Nurse Phalen) has only one significant fantasy credit outside of TIH--as a regular one of the earliest TV sci-fi series,
Commander Cody: Sky Marshall of the Universe (1955).
Skip Riley (Pilot) has a short list of fantasy credits:
- Circle of Fear - "Graveyard Shift" - 1973
- The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire - 1981
..and another TIH episode from the third season,
"The Slam" - 1979
To each his own.
