The Incredible Hulk
"Bring Me the Head of the Hulk"--
At the Cressler Institute's genetic research lab in Wisconsin, the Hulk destroys one of its rooms before breaking out and disappearing into the night...
PARIS--at his estate, Mr.La Fronte, checks an elaborate (for home use) computer and its reports about the Hulk. Alex (his assistant) believes--
Alex: "This Hulk thing must be commando trained. It would take a tank to do the damage indicated in those reports, sir."
La Fronte: "Another genetic research lab. This tends to confirm my theory about the creature."
Alex: "Then we go for him?"
La Fronte: "Just a question of settling on the bait. I'll need to see the dossiers."
Quickly fingering through folders, he settles on Dr. Jane Cabot...
La Fronte: "I think I prefer her."
Alex: "Is she the real thing, sir? You know what they call her."
La Fronte: "The Werewolf Doctor? An unfortunate result of her work in cell metamorphosis. She's controversial, but legitimate. She's also particularly grant hungry. I don't think she'll ask many questions. Book us a flight to Chicago."
La Fronte studies his life sized chart of the Hulk, imagining how much he will profit from this scheme...
CHICAGO--Arriving at the offices of the National Register, La Fronte meets McGee & his publisher, Roberts...
McGee:
"What is this? Some kind of a gag?"
La Fronte: "I can assure you, Mr. McGee, I'm not in the business of amusing people."
McGee: "What exactly is the nature of your business, Mr. La Fronte?"
La Fronte: "I find permanent solutions to my clients' problems."
McGee: "Suppose you could be a little more specific?"
La Fronte: "Southeast Asia, 1962. Congo, '64, Angola, '77."
McGee: "You're a mercenary."
La Fronte: "Among other things."
Roberts & McGee exchange glances...
Roberts: "What makes you think that you can capture the Hulk when everybody else has failed?"
La Fronte: "I said nothing about capture."
McGee: "Well, what makes you think that we would give you a license to kill the Hulk?"
La Fronte: "This particular issue doesn't require a license. I want a business agreement. For one million, I guarantee results."
Roberts: "One million dollars?? We could never afford a sum like that!"
McGee: "Mark, it isn't a question of the money."
Roberts: "Oh, I know."
McGee: "We don't want the creature killed. Just captured."
Roberts: "That's exactly what I meant."
McGee: "See, if you kill the creature, you also kill a man."
Roberts: "It's out of the question, Mr. La Fronte."
La Fronte: "I didn't know you were such humanitarians, gentlemen. Thank you for your time."
After La Fronte leaves, McGee tries to dig up information on the man. Elsewhere, David Bedford fails to secure employment at another lab...
Undaunted by his experience at the
Register, La Fronte meets with the publisher of a rival rag,
The Limelite; with research showing 75% of
Register readers believing the Hulk is real,
Limelite funding the successful destruction of the Hulk would be a major win for the paper--doubling their readership, and leaving the competition behind. With La Fronte also putting up a matching down payment, the
Limelite agrees to pay the mercenary to kill the Hulk.
Setting the trap, La Fronte & Alex establish the Cabot Foundation, knowing the man who becomes the creature will--once again--seek some sort of genetic research facility to end his problem. Only this time, Cabot's particular reputation will be too much for the quarry to resist...
La Fronte eases Dr. Cabot's concerns about not delivering on behalf of her investors, leaving her to excitedly set up her lab. As predicted, David contacts this new lab, seeking employment (access). Speaking to La Fronte, David's lack of references is not a problem, but to make sure Banner could be the target, he lays out references only the Hulk's alter-ego might know--
La Fronte: "Are you familiar with the Absolon 45-11 homogenizer?"
David: "Yes--I've operated one."
La Fronte: "Excellent. Where was that?"
David: "That would have been at my last job. That was at the Cressler Institute."
La Fronte: "Oh. Is here someone at Cressler I could contact for a reference?"
David: "Well, I wasn't there very long. I doubt very much if they'd remember me. You know, they had a fire there and all the records were destroyed."
La Fronte: "Yes, I'd heard. Well, that's not very important. Your qualifications seem excellent, and frankly, we're in desperate need of personnel."
Taking the bait, La Fronte & Alex feed David's suspicion-raising information into their master computer, which produce a match between the locations David claimed as past jobs and Hulk sightings. As David makes his way to the trap, La Fronte tests his new rocket launcher--able to destroy a target matching the Hulk's height and mass...
David arrives at the Cabot Institute, is provided with lodging and the appearance of being in a setting conducive toward finding his cure. Monitoring David's every move, his interest in Cabot's work, as well as his own background, La Fronte is more than ready to zero in on his target. Alex has a moment of "weakness" by mentioning how nice David is--an observation La Fronte questions as Alex possibly losing his objectivity on the matter, not to mention the possibility Alex might end up killing David.
David learns more about Cabot and her work with a transposer designed to initiate and control DNA transfer (and someday treating genetic diseases); she speaks of her forging ahead with innovative work that is not always safe, but worth the end result--a mindset reminding David of his own approach to his life-altering experiments.
In a city park, McGee has a clandestine meeting with Pauline, one of the
Limelite journalists, who--on the promise of a
Register position & raise-- gives McGee information on La Fronte, including possible money laundering...
At the lab, Alex--contrary to La Fronte's suggestions--lets his guard down talking to David about his life of never settling in one place, or starting a family. Obviously troubled, Alex tries to ask David a personal question but is interrupted by a lab worker....
McGee and Roberts pour over the background of La Fronte--a man seemingly tied to assassinations and assisting in overthrowing governments, among other unsavory work. The money laundering trail leads to a dummy foundation--namely Cabot's, leading McGee to reason if the money is there, so is La Fronte...and McGee soon will be....
Cabot & David work well into the next morning; David slightly butts heads with Cabot about not moving on to the next level of tests before confirming the early results. Once Banner retires for the morning, the fatigued Cabot accidentally aims the transposer at the cabinet where a supply of hydrofluoric acid is stored; the acid container is burned open, releasing fumes that instantly choke Cabot--who manages to hit the fire alarm. David runs in to save her, but is quickly overwhelmed by the fumes, which trigger a Hulk-out. The Hulk sends the acid cabinet through the roof, soaring into the courtyard.
Still suffering from the fumes, the creature escapes with Cabot--running right into Alex with the rocket launcher. Cabot pleas for his life, as he's just saved hers, inspiring Alex to question the Hulk, trying to determine if he's human. La Fronte runs up, screaming at Alex to kill the creature, but thanks to Alex hesitating, the rocket misfires into the hills. The Hulk transforms back to Banner, who races back to the dorm area, trying to find his way in, while La Fronte & Alex perform perimeter and room checks. David manages to slip back into his room--and into bed, leading Alex to believe he was sleeping there all along.
Cabot--instead of fearing the Hulk--is completely fascinated by it...a sentiment not shared by La Fronte, though he encourages or plays on her curiosity--
Cabot: "That creature...what could it have been?"
La Fronte: (at first feigning ignorance)
"I don't know. Aside from its shape and color, it seemed almost human. Perhaps its some kind of transformation of a man."
Cabot: "Into that??"
La Fronte: "Why not? You yourself have talked about lycanthropes and werewolves in your writing."
Cabot: "Yes, but that was as a metaphor for the uh...changes cells make. You're talking about a myth."
La Fronte: "And where do myths come from? In Kenya, there's a leopard society. Sumatra--weretigers. Europe--werewolves. Its a universal idea. Why couldn't there be something behind it? "
Cabot: "I suppose its possible. We did see it. We have to find that creature! And we have to study it!"
Gathering the staff, La Fronte eases David's fears by claiming vandals caused the disturbance, and out of a desire to avoid controversy, would not inform the police. One headache relieved--another begins as the ambitious Cabot takes a more personal interest in the Hulk--
Cabot: "David, if that creature I saw was a product of human metamorphosis, it could be a possible end to my research! Now this is something I want to pursue!"
David: "Dr. Cabot, consider the original thrust of your work. Cancer research...genetic disease...isn't that more important than this thing that you saw?"
Cabot: "But this could be important medically. Think of the rate of metabolism needed for such a metamorphosis! That in itself could cure disease!"
David: "Aren't you making some jumps in logic? If there was such a massive cellular transformation, wouldn't it affect the neuron flow in the brain cells?"
Cabot: "Yes, probably."
David: "And wouldn't a rational creature pick you up and simply take you out without destroying half the lab?"
Cabot: "But who can tell what its motivation was??"
David: "Just for the sake of argument, lets say the key to the transformation is anger...or pain. Consider the strength...the potential for violence!"
Cabot: "DAMN IT!! Why is it you only see the negative possibilities!!?? I've had to contend with that kind of thinking all my life!! "
David: "It's simply that I've been involved in research where those possibilities were not taken into account...and people were hurt."
Cabot: "Well, David, this foundation is under my control, not yours. As soon as this lab is repaired, I'm going ahead with this."
A weary David considers his next move...
Unbeknownst to David & Cabot, in the central control room, La Fronte and Alex listen to a playback of the entire conversation; La Fronte reasons that pain & anger could play a part in an adrenaline-based condition that produces such a transformation. If pain is the key to drawing the Hulk out...
Pretending to be an equipment dealer, McGee manages to call Cabot (with David and La Fronte listening), telling her the deadly purpose behind La Fronte's investment in the foundation. The mercenary sees this development as the call to speed up the means to draw the Hulk out: La Fronte plans to set fire to the lab, killing each until the Hulk is triggered. Alex--despite his history of taking lives--becomes one of La Fronte's hostages when he refuses to take part in the murderous plot. With the entire staff ordered into the transposer room, David steps forward, whispering that he's the subject of the search; knowing the Hulk cannot be triggered on command, La Fronte throws fire bombs into the room, locking the workers in. Alex orders the staff to use a metal rack to break the door down, and along the way, the frightened staff slam the rack into David's hand, causing the transformation...
Outside, La Fronte readies the rocket launcher for the inevitable appearance of the Hulk; from a hilltop overlooking the complex, McGee sees this and runs to the scene. Inside the lab, pandemonium takes over as the Hulk rises, breaks out of the room and faces La Fronte; McGee cannot risk his Big Ticket dying, so he drives his car in front of the mercenary as he fires--the car taking the full blast. The Hulk uses this distraction to bend the rocket launcher around La Fronte, bringing his hunt to anything other than a glorious end. Ever the hero, the Hulk rushes back to the lab to rescue Cabot for a second time, before running away.
Sometime later, David (packed and ready to leave) has a few parting worlds with Dr. Cabot--
David: "I want to thank you very much for bringing my things."
Cabot: "It wasn't easy. The lab's been swarming with police since they arrested La Fronte. Oh, I should have been more careful from the beginning. Five years to build a transposer, and what have I got to show for it?"
David: "Ohh, doctor, you are a survivor. I'm sure you'll get it rebuilt."
Cabot: "I suppose you're right. Tomorrow, I'll pick myself up and apply for another grant. David, your leaving like this...avoiding the police...McGee..."
David: "It's a personal matter. And doctor, I do need your help as far as McGee is concerned."
Cabot: "Don't worry. David....that creature...could be very important to my work. Do you know anything about it?"
David "I'd like to help you. I can't.
Cabot: "All right. "
NOTES:
This is somewhat of a cure-related episode, as David was at Cressler in act 1, and goes to Cabot for the same reason.
Dr. Cabot joins the list of people who
suspect David's secret & live to not talk about it.
Strong continuity again: David (being a little to open with
Banner instead of Bradford history) refers to The Culver Institute--his place of employment from the pilot.
In many ways, Cabot was painted as being just as single-minded and a bit reckless in her research goals as Banner was in the pilot. That he argued with her about the risks of her approach was a clear nod to pilot-Banner by the man himself. Well done.
McGee said,
"If you kill the creature, you also kill a man." Oh really. In
"Equinox", David tried to warn McGee about that when the tabloid-slinger was ready to shoot David with a curare-loaded dart. McGee knows
nothing of the proper dose for use on humans (because its not meant to be used on humans), but he did not care, since he was desperate to claim his "King Kong" sideshow and (from his own mouth) feel vindicated, but his blunder-headed use of the curare dart could have taken the Hulk out of his hands--permanently.
The only reason he tried to stop La Fronte is to
protect his admitted interests--his one and only ticket out of reporting on (as David observed in the pilot),
"Murder, rape, horoscopes, UFOs and Farrah Fawcett" (by 1981, one can swap out Farrah for Loni Anderson or Joan Collins). McGee needs a live Hulk/John Doe, which has far greater media value than a corpse which would lose its Jekyll & Hyde drama angle to exploit. Self serving as always.
Still, the car spin out/explosion was great stuntwork.
"Bring Me the Head of the Hulk" is only one of four episodes where
"Hulk" is part of the title, along with the pilot,
"The Hulk Breaks Las Vegas" and
"Interview With the Hulk".
This is the third time someone specifically targeted the Hulk with the intention of killing him. La Fronte joins Buck from
"The Antowuk Horror" and Michael Sutton from
"The Snare" as would-be monster-slayers.
Bill Bixby, a director since his days on
The Courtship of Eddie's Father, helmed this episode, his only ditecting assignment for TIH.
GUEST CAST:
Jed Mills (
La Fronte) previously guest starred as Teddy, Mike Cassidy's dim-witted lackey in
"Broken Image" (1980)
. Other fantasy roles:
- Galactica 1980 (ABC, 1980) - "The Night the Cylons Landed: Part 1"
- Conquest of the Earth (Universal, 1981) - Three slapped together episodes from Galactica: 1980 to make a movie. I can see the blurb, "Three times the length! Three times the misery!"
- Kiss Daddy Goodbye (Pendragon Films, 1981)
- The Creature Wasn't Nice (Creature Features, 1983)
- Whiz Kids (CBS, 1983) - "A Chip Off the Old Block"
- Amazing Stories (NBC, 1986) - "No Day at the Beach" & "Life on Death Row"
- Quantum Leap (NBC, 1991) - "Unchained: November 2, 1956"
Jane Merrow (
Dr. Jane Cabot) --
- The Phantom of the Opera (Hammer, 1962)
- The Woman Who Wouldn't Die (John Parsons-Neil McCallum Productions, 1965)
- Secret Agent aka Danger Man (ITV, 1964-65) - "A Date with Doris" / "A Room in the Basement" / "The Man Who Wouldn't Talk"
- Mystery and Imagination (Thames Television, 1966) - "Carmilla"
- Night of the Big Heat (Planet Film Productions, 1967) - with Peter Cushing & Christopher Lee
- The Prisoner (ITV, 1967) - "The Schizoid Man"
- The Avengers (ITV/ABC/Thames, 1967) - "Mission...Highly Improbable"
- My Partner the Ghost (ITC, 1969)
- Hands of the Ripper (Hammer, 1971)
- The Horror at 37,000 Feet (CBS, 1973) - with William Shatner, Roy Thinnes & Russell Johnson
- UFO (ITC, 1973) - "The Responsibility Seat"
- The Magician (NBC, 1973) - "Man on Fire"
- The Six Million Dollar Man (ABC, 1974 / 1977) - "Doomsday and Counting" / Death Probe: Part 1" & "Death Probe: Part 2"
- The Greatest American Hero (ABC, 1981) - "The Beast in the Black"
- Beware of What You Wish For (2010)
Walter Brooke (
Mark Roberts) will make his final appearance in
"Interview with the Hulk" also from this season.
- Tales of Tomorrow (ABC, 1952) - "Flight Overdue"
- Inner Sanctum (NBC, 1954) - "Dead Level"
- Conquest of Space (Paramount, 1955)
- Steve Canyon (ABC, 1959) - "Project U.F.O."
- The Twilight Zone (CBS, 1961 / '63) - "The Jungle" & "A Short Drink from a Certain Fountain"
- Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (ABC, 1964) - "The Fear Makers"
- The Munsters (CBS, 1965) - "Yes Galen, There is a Herman"
- The Green Hornet (ABC, 1966-67) - series regular - D.A. Frank Scanlon
- The Invaders (ABC, 1967) - "The Watchers"
- The Andromeda Strain (Universal, 1971)
- The Return of Count Yorga (AIP, 1971) - with TOS guest stars Mariette Hartley, Roger Perry & Michael Pataki
- The Sixth Sense (ABC, 1972) - "Lady, Lady, Take My Life"
- The Magician (NBC, 1973) - "Ovation for Murder"
- The ABC Wide World of Mystery (Dan Curtis Productions, 1974) - "Nightmare at 43 Hillcrest"
- Stowaway to the Moon (CBS, 1975)
- Time Travelers (ABC, 1976) - Yes, that oft-listed, failed Irwin Allen pilot movie
- Gemini Man (NBC, 1976) - "Escape Hatch"
- The Six Million Dollar Man (ABC, 1974 / 1977) - "Population Zero" / "Death Probe: Part 1" & "Dark Side of the Moon: Part 1"
- Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (NBC, 1979) - "Testimony of a Traitor"
- Bring 'Em Back Alive - (CBS, 1982) - "Thirty Hours"
- Automan (ABC, 1984) - "Unreasonable Facsimile"
Sandy McPeak (
Alex) returns to TIH; his first guest spot was the memorable role as the abusive father from season one's
"A Child in Need".
- The Green Hornet (ABC, 1966) - "Beautiful Dreamer - Part 2"
- Batman (ABC, 1967-68) - "The Funny Feline Felonies" / "The Joke's on Catwoman" - as Joker henchman Giggler
- Monster Squad (NBC, 1976) - "The Astrologer"
- Logan's Run (CBS, 1977) - pilot movie
- Quantum Leap (NBC, 1990) - "Leap of Faith - August 19, 1963"
- SeaQuest 2032 (NBC, 1994) - "Greed for a Pirate's Dream"
