The Good Samaritan
Four teens are eating at a diner. One of the teens is suffering from a cold and the waitress suggests that they all have some chicken soup. They agree and she goes into the back where we find out that she and the rest of the cooks are aliens. The aliens poison the soup and one of the cooks follows the teens to observe them. The teens are rushed to the hospital, where they instantly die. The Commander reports that their scientists have developed a spore that when properly introduced, will eradicate all human life on Earth. The Advocacy are pleased with this progress and congratulate the Commander. Meanwhile, wealthy businessman, Marcus Madison Mason announces that his corporation has created a new miracle food that will end world hunger. We learn that Mason is a blatant womanizer and we see that he is cheating on his wife with Terri- his secretary, and with another mistress. Meanwhile, back at the Cottage, Suzanne is frustrated that she is unable to develop a strain of radiation resistant bacteria that would be harmful to the aliens and completely harmless to every other lifeform. Norton mentions the grain that Mason International is developing and Harrison suggests that General Wilson could arrange a meeting for Suzanne with Marcus Madison Mason. Ironhorse tells Harrison to consider it done. Suzanne meets with Mason and he openly flirts with her and probes into exactly why she is interested in the grain. But he says that he would be willing to discuss everything over dinner, which she accepts. The Advocacy meanwhile grow impatient with the Commander and tell him the toxic spores are worthless if they are not introduced in the right form. The Commander assures them that the means to introduce the spores is at hand. Three aliens possessing elderly women try to get to Mason, but are stopped by an aide of his. They then decide to follow Mason's mistress. Mason explains in a meeting, that the goal of this "miracle food" is solely for profit and that is the only intention. Ironhorse mentions Suzanne's date with Harrison to a jealous Harrison. Ironhorse states how Mason is a good looking guy and how Suzanne is a good looking woman. Harrison insists that are just business associates but after Suzanne appears all dolled up- Ironhorse basked in the fact that he was right. At dinner, Mason reserved the entire restaurant for Suzanne and tries to seduce her with exchanging information for sexual favors. Later on, Mason goes to visit a mistress- who is now an alien. Later, we see a possessed Mason walking the hallways of Mason International with new advisors in tow (the advisors happen to be the same kitchen staff at the beginning of the episode). The rest of Mason's staff is left in shock as the new advisors secretly infect the grain with the toxic spore. The Commander reports to the Advocacy that infiltration of Mason International is complete. And that those the spore doesn't kill will be too weak in number to fight them. The Advocacy congratulate the Commander and inform him they will report this news to the Council with due credit to him for his efforts. At the Cottage, Debi asks Norton has he ever missed not being able to walk. Norton answers her and she worries that she offended. But Norton smiles at her, and tells her that he would be more offended if she didn't ask the question. Suzanne, Ironhorse, and Harrison discuss the date in one of the funniest scenes I can recall on the show. Suzanne explains that she thinks that Mason is having an affair with his secretary, and she informs them how Mason propositioned her, but she turned him down. She does inform them that she was able to get a tour of the lab from Mason. She visits him again, and tells Harrison and Ironhorse that he seemed to be unaware of who she was. But she was able to sneak away with a sample of his grain. Suzanne's lab mouse- Ceasar- happens to eat the poisoned grain while no one is watching, but Suzanne puts him back in his cage. Meanwhile, Mason tells his staff how vital it is to meet the deadline imposed upon them. On a news report, Mason declares that the grain shipments will be free of cost to anyone who wants them. Debi tells Suzanne that Ceasar is dead, and Suzanne determines that the grain she stole is the same thing that killed Ceasar. And the grain has been poisoned- and the effect is lethal. Suzanne calls up Terri to warn her about the poison but when Terri tells Mason and the others- he tells her, "We all have to die...sometime." Norton triangulates an alien transmission near the Oakland Docks. Suzanne says that the Oakland Docks is the major distribution center for Mason International. Ironhorse and Harrison pose as safety inspectors and they meet with Mason and notice the marks on his hand. The two stall for time before the back-up arrives, but the aliens try to blend with them- however, Ironhorse intervenes and stops them. They chase Mason and Harrison wants to capture him alive.
However, Mason chooses death and jumps overboard. Harrison assures Suzanne via a telephone that he's okay. And he tells Ironhorse that he feels they have missed something. At the cavern, a possessed Terri informs the Advocates that at least they were successful in launching three of the freighters carrying the spore before they were discovered. Advocate Xana says that even though they accomplished that, logic would indicate that the humans will able to stop the freighters from reaching their intended destination. The Advocacy then ask the Commander for his input on this situation. He says that although they may have been stopped this time, he's positive that they will find another method of introducing the spore into their enemy's society. COMMENTS: Richard Chaves really was stealing the show at certain moments with his comedic lines. The "Ask your business associate" line remains a personal favorite and the entire breakfast scene with Ironhorse, Suzanne, and Harrison following the date is a riot. I also enjoyed the scene with Norton and Debi, because we get to discover some insight about Norton's feelings regarding his handicap, and it was rather poignant in a way. Nice acting by Philip Akin and Rachel Blanchard. This was the first appearance of the Commander- but don't get used to the character, that's all I will say. Just wait till "Epiphany" comes along- apparently the Commander has fallen out of favor with the Advocacy very quickly. But to be honest, I was shocked the Commander made it through this episode intact. We know how intolerant the Advocacy are of failure. I thought Alex Cord was properly charming and eerie as Marcus Madison Mason. Another in-joke by the producers is in the credits. The episode is supposedly written by Sylvia Clayton- which is a pseudonym of Sylvia Van Buren and Clayton Forrester. I wonder who was the writer of these episodes? Another tidbit: We learn that Suzanne's maiden name is Baxter.
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A human specimen ready for dissection
A possessed Marcus Madison Mason
Harrison and Ironhorse pose as safety inspectors
