"Like A Brother"
David
Butler works at the Dennison Car Wash in a part of the city with a heavy African American population; while the sudsy labor goes on and on, David is sent to vacuum the expensive car belonging to drug dealer/killer/etc. Taylor George. David gets more than he bargained for when George takes a racially laced crack at David (
"look what they're hiring now?") and an adult panther sitting in the car.
After David is instructed not to do his job by Lee--George's enforcer / bodyguard, George calls young employee Mike to his car, handing cash to the appreciative man. Taylor George observes that Mike is
"a good kid."
In the lunch room, David and other employees discuss Taylor George---but not before one of the men--D.J.--makes the racist joke about the panther's preference for
"white meat." Mike is impressed by George's wealth, but the slightly older worker--Oscar--had a different take on men of that ilk:
Oscar: "When I was young, I used to worked for a cat like Taylor George. I did time and he walked."
Mike: "This man's different--he doesn't ask for nothing."
Oscar: "You think he does you favors because he likes you?"
Mike: "Look, he knows I can't get a job at some air conditioned office downtown, like..like some folks."
(Mike shoots a negative look at David)
D.J.: "Lighten up, man."
Mike: (to David):
"You working here 'cause you fell behind on your Mercedes payment?
David: "No. I'm working here for the same reason you are--I need the money."
Oscar: "You in the wrong place for that, buddy."
Mike: "The wrong place...for a lot of reasons...buddy."
Oscar: "You ought to cool it, man.He ain't done nothing to you."
Mike: "Anybody that messes with my main man is messing with me."
Later, D.J. cuts his wrist wile trying to remove a sticker from a car; David and Oscar rush to help, but even as David clearly stops the bleeding, Mike cannot stop himself from firing yet another barb at Banner:
Mike: "I think you ought to see a real doctor, man. I bet he doesn't know what he's talking about."
..a remark that gets the attention of owner Mrs. Dennison, D.J. and Oscar. disarming the tension, David adds:
David: "I agree with Mike--you should let a real doctor look at this. It's okay, though--I was a medic in the army."
David's agreement leads Mike to a change of heart (we can assume he initially thought David was a "white know-it-all, " hence
some of his resentment). Since David's apartment is not too far from Mike's, the young man invites David home for dinner, and apologizes for his behavior.
Elsewhere, as Mike & David head home, Reverend Jack Williams (who runs a local youth center) speaks to Mike about his absences from a trade program. Mike says he's been busy...however, once inside Mike's building, they are stopped by George's bodyguard/enforcer Lee, who hands Mike a bag, questions why David is there, then leaves.
David meets Mike's younger brother Bobby (conveniently watching one of Universal's Abbott & Costello movies) and learns the child has been sick, and the brothers cannot afford to see a doctor or even a thermometer. Outside, Rev. Williams is finishing work on a car with Jimmy (one of his trainees), when he finds a bag full of pills in the vehicle. Angry, Rev. Williams knows it came from Taylor George--his nightclub (
The Panther's Den) sitting right across the street from Rev. Williams' Youth Center. Williams confronts George about his trafficking:
Rev. Williams: "I thought I told you to keep your poison away from my kids!!"
George: "My poison? I don't see my name on this, Reverend."
Rev. Williams: "Your name is tattooed in needle marks on arms all over this neighborhood!!"
George: "Reverend, you must have the wrong man. I run a respectable business."
Rev. Williams: "Nothing you touch stays respectable for too long!"
George: "Face it, Reverend--folks would rather spend their time in here, than across the street with you saints. Get out of here! You're trespassing!"
Rev. Williams: "I'm gonna bust your rotten action! Stay away from my kids!"
The next day at work, D.J. gives David an "Elephant Hair" bracelet, which (in D.J.'s words) means
"we've got this bond--that's strong, like an elephant." David seems a little surprised, then flattered. Taylor George's car pulls up--Lee calling for Mike, just as his brother Bobby calls the car wash, looking for his brother--complaining that's he's dizzy, feeling unusually ill.
David (who took Bobby's call) spots George walking with Mike, giving the youth money, and in a faux friendly way, warning him not to talk to strangers.
When David tries to alert Mike, Lee brutalizes David (telling him George wants him to stay away from Mike), ultimately tossing him on the hood of George's car, then activating the conveyor system. Oscar tries to intervene, but is punched out by Lee. As you might expect, the hot water and chemical sprays angers David--but the tipping point is falling off the hood in front of the moving vehicle. Oscar races to stop the conveyor, but it is too late--the hood of George's car flies away--revealing a furious Hulk. The creature hurls the car's engine block at the observation window (where Lee stands watching), sending Lee, George and his woman running in fear. A loose, occupied baby stroller runs into the Hulk, but he hands it to Oscar, and runs into traffic causing a few collisions along the way.
Later, David races to a sweating Bobby's side, checking his vitals; he spots a syringe on the nightstand, finds a refrigerated bottle of
Glucagon (an injectable for Type-2 diabetes), and administers the drug to Bobby--saving his life. Bobby states Mike's reluctance to tell anyone about his disease stems from the idea that the county authorities would take Bobby away from him.
Apparently, their father left when he was younger, while the mother--also a diabetic--died.
David wonders how difficult it must be for Mike & Bobby to survive, but Bobby informs his that beyond Mike's pay at the car wash, Taylor George gives him money and pays for Bobby's medicine. David stresses Bobby needs to eat good food...Bobby tells David he needs to find a shirt that fits--
David: "Well, i did the best I could under the circumstances."
David and Bobby bond over a meal, with David giving Bobby the Elephant Hair bracelet; Mike (on the fire escape) observes, feeling dejected.
David speaks to Rev. Williams about the Panther's Den, & the Taylor George situation...
Rev. Williams: "You want to talk about frustrated, man? That place, over there was supposed to be mine--for the kids. He bought it out from under me. I've got evidence on him, and I still can't go to the cops."
David: "Why?"
Rev. Williams: "The law of the street--I go barging in there, hundreds of kids will call me a fink! Lose them all."
David: "What about Mike and Bobby? "
Rev. Williams: "We'll help. I promise--but I've got to take care of business my way."
At The Panther's Den, Taylor George & Lee are having a conversation about the opposite side of the street...
George: "Damn it, Lee, I'm getting tired of the right reverend getting all of the good talent in the neighborhood!"
Lee: (pointing to a package)
"Don't worry about it! This will take care of him.I was an expert in the army--a demolition expert. When they hold funeral services, they won't have to worry about cremating the man!"
George: "Okay--that's good!"
Lee: "Of course, I ain't guaranteeing anything--unless I plant it."
George: "No, no, no, Lee. You and me are too old. If we get busted, we're gonna do twenty years or worse! But the kid--even if he gets busted, he's just gonna do a few months in the reform school."
Elsewhere, David confronts Mike...
Mike: "It's none of your business where I was!"
David: "Mike, Bobby almost died last night of was insulin shock--"
Mike: "But he didn't!"
David: "Well, you weren't home at all--i know, because I was here. Do you understand what's happening?"
Mike: "Don't worry about it--my folks will be home in a few--"
David: "I know about your parents!"
Mike: "You gonna turn us in?"
David: "I don't want to, no. But if you're gonna be a father to Bobby, you're gonna have to accept the responsibility."
Mike: "Yeah, like my father did for me? Look David, you don't know anything about it. I've been taking care of Bobby since I was ten!"
David: "And you've been doing a good job, too, but in fact, you're sixteen years old, and even though you may look older, its too much responsibility for anyone to handle. And you can get help--like Reverend Williams."
Mike: "Taylor George is helping me. You know how? With money! It's just like he says: money is better than anybody's help!"
David: "Well, Taylor George is going nowhere, but down, and he's gonna take you with him--don't you remember what Oscar said? He was the one that went to prison, while his 'main man' got off Scott free, now believe me, Taylor George--one of these days--is gonna start collecting his IOU's!"
Mike: "Look--just stay away from Bobby and me--WE DON'T NEED YOU, AND WE DON'T NEED YOUR HELP!"
George & Lee visit Mike and Bobby; George gives Bobby money, and asks him to stay in the bathroom until he's told to come out. Bobby goes, but once inside, tosses the money away in disgust. George gives Mike the
"we have to scratch each others' back" / "survival" speech, asking him to deliver a package (the bomb) to Reverend Williams. Mike is unsure, which sets off George who (on schedule) argues that he's kept the brothers alive without asking for anything in return--until now (just as David predicted earlier). George goes as far as threatening the delivery of Bobby's medicine over Mike's head, forcing Mike to accept the assignment.
That afternoon, Mike prepares to head to The Panther's Den; Bobby does not want Mike involved with Taylor George, but Mike counters with two facts: one, George has helped them with the medicine, and two, he cannot go to a doctor to get the prescription without a parent's consent. Despite Bobby's protest and tears, Mike promises he will always be there to take care of him.
After Mike leaves, David visits Bobby and learns of Mike's assignment. David calls Oscar and D.J.; although they are aware of the danger of crossing Taylor George, the trio heads to the nightclub...while Mike is on his way to delivering the explosive to Rev. Williams (and instructed to be a block away after dropping the package off).
David, Oscar and D.J. enter The Panther's Den, but Oscar hesitates, as he's a
"2-time loser" who cannot be seen around ex-cons for fear of a parole violation. That said, David takes his place--facing off against George & Lee; Lee beats D.J., leaving him for George to interrogate, while David is locked in a room--with the panther...
Mike makes his way to Rev. Williams' Youth Center, but has a change of heart, as he studies the package--and the Elephant's Hair bracelet--which David gave to Bobby earlier that day....
At the Panther's Den, David Hulks out, breaking out of the room (where the panther cowers in a corner). Lee runs off, leaving George to face the Hulk alone; the creature wrecks the club, but as George aims his pistol at the Hulk, Oscar returns--risking his future to disarm and beat the criminal down. Oscar aims the gun at the Hulk, but stops short of pulling the trigger, allowing the Hulk to leave--just as Rev. Williams, Mike and the police arrive. As George & Lee are arrested, Rev. Williams promises them he will take care of the property--as its turned into a club for the neighborhood kids.
Days later, the car wash owner--Mrs. Dennison has become a foster parent to Mike & Bobby, moving them out of their one room apartment. David says his goodbyes to Bobby & Mike, who calls David a friend and brother as he gives him the well-circulated Elephant's Hair bracelet.
NOTES:
This is not a cure-related episode.
Jack McGee and The National Register are not seen or mentioned.
In what could have been a tidal wave of horrible stereotypes rivaling the worst of that decade's "
Blaxploitation" movies (or Norman Lear's unforgivable black-led TV sitcoms),
"Like A Brother"--like just about all TIH episodes--handles its plotline with sensitivity. At the center of the plot is the very real subject of poor youth victimization by criminals--particularly of the same race, who use that racial connection to exploit the trust of those who see no opportunity or chance to survive in the so-called "white world."
David experiences both genuine racism (from Mike early on, and Taylor George in the climax) and the uncomfortable racial "joking" (from D.J.) many engage in, no matter the hurt inflicted on the target. In the end, D.J. says David's face (white) is not the best way to approach Taylor George, acknowledging the racism Banner will soon face when George apprehends him.
Thankfully, Mike is able to let go of that human evil through--at least--one strong example. Whether or not the memory of that example continues to influence him is unknown, but the episode obviously wanted the audience to believe in a permanent character change.
GUEST CAST:
We have to start with the enduring
Ernie Hudson (
Lee), the man who will always be Winston Zeddemore from the classic
Ghostbusters (Columbia, 1984) and its sequel. Hudson's other fantasy credits include
Man from Atlantis (
"The Disappearances" - 1977), the 1979 short-lived sci/strange sitcom
Highcliffe Manor (with TIH guest Shelly Fabares), and the Ivan Reitman-produced 3-D misstep
Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (Columbia, 1983...and get this--the studio dared to release it just a few
days before
Return of the Jedi!).
Hudson provided the voice of Cyborg / Victor Stone for the final series in Hanna-Barbera's
Super Friends franchise--
The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (ABC, 1985-86), and appeared in
Leviathan (MGM, 1989), a film many derisively labeled
"the underwater
Aliens." In the 1990s, Hudson guest-starred in the
Tales from the Crypt TV series ("food for Thought") the tragedy-laden, would-be star-making Brandon Lee film
The Crow (Miramax, 1994).
Congo (Paramount, 1995), and returned to the DC universe as Professor Felix in
"Action Figures," an episode of
Superman: The Animated Series (1997). Then...there's
Shark Attack, Stargate - SG1, Dragonball: Evolution, Heroes, and other productions you can look up.....
Next, we have a
Rocky franchise connection--
Tony Burton (
Taylor George) and
Stuart K. Robinson (
Mike) were both part of training camps of Rocky Balboa & Apollo Creed, as seen in
Rocky II (United Artists, 1979).
Burton's fantasy credits include:
The Invisible Man TV series (
"Go Directly to Jail" - 1975),
Gemini Man (
"Eight-Nine-Ten, You're Dead" - 1976),
The Six Million Dollar Man (
"The Infiltrators" - 1977),
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (
"The Lady on Thursday at Ten" - 1978),
The Shining (Warner Bros., 1980),
The Greatest American Hero (
"Hog Wild" - 1981), and others, with his last--one episode of
Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996).
Stuart K. Robinson's fantasy credits include:
Voyagers! (
"Buffalo Bill and Annie Play the Palace" - 1983), voice work for
Monster in My Pocket: The Big Scream (1992),
Tom and Jerry Kids Show (1993) and for the video games
Freedom Fighters (2003) and
Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse (2004). Oh, and if you're curious, Robinson portrayed one of a mutli-racial gang member in one of the most controversial movies of the 1980s--
Death Wish II (Filmways / Columbia, 1982)--starring Charles Bronson and Laurence Fishburne.
Austin Stoker (
Reverend Williams) introductory fantasy roles were part of the same series: he was cast as MacDonald--the human advisor of Roddy McDowall's Caesar in the 5th and final
Planet of the Apes film,
Battle for the Planet of the Apes (Fox, 1973). Two years later, he provided the voice of astronaut Jeff Allen in the animated
Return to the Planet of the Apes (NBC, 1975), the final production of the original Apes franchise.
Stoker's next trip into fantasy was the pilot of
Gemini Man (1976), followed by three episodes of
The Six Million Dollar Man --"The White Lightning War" (1975) & the 2-part
"Death Probe" (1977). Next, he appeared in
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (
"Dangerous Waters" - 1978), and the sci/horror schlocker,
Time Walker (New World Pictures, 1982),
Machete Joe (2010 - with Ernie Hudson) and as of 2015, the horror film
Shhh.
Dave Pullum (
Bobby) only had two credits: TIH and an episode of
The Dukes of Hazzard. That's it.
Michael D. Roberts (
D.J.) racked up fantasy work across the decades--aside from TIH, he was one of the regulars of Glen Larson's bottom-scraping
Manimal (NBC, 1983). Since that time, he's covered the fantasy map: the sci-fi spoof
The Ice Pirates (MGM, 1984),
Earthlings (1984), the 1992 fantasy
Wishman, two episodes of
Quantum Leap (
"The Color of Truth - August 8, 1955" &
"The Leap Between the States - September 20, 1862"), with his most recent credit being the new Sheriff George Patterson in the unaired, failed TV reboot of
Dark Shadows (WB, 2004).
