THE WASTELAND
Episode 6-13 [117]
21 January 1991
MacGyver seeks to stop Andrew Bartlett, a land developer who's on the verge of creating environmental ruin. Reports filed with the E.P.A. give fallacious results. Studies by the Phoenix Foundation show the land is unfit to support Bartlett City, the new residential project. Scott and Laura, Bartlett's son and daughter, have a malicious plan to take over the family business. When men hired by Laura fail to scare MacGyver off, Scott connects a bomb to the odometer in MacGyver's truck. MacGyver persuades Bartlett to take a tour of the Wasteland Test Site. Miles from any help the truck explodes, and Bartlett is seriously injured. MacGyver gives him firstaid and builds a fire, then walks a mile to the Test Site tent but is unable to radio for help because of an approaching storm. Scott insists he and Laura follow the truck to be sure the bomb went off. When they arrive, Scott confronts the wounded Bartlett and pulls a gun. Laura, who hadn't expected the company takeover to involve killing, struggles with Scott over the gun and is accidentally shot and killed. MacGyver has meanwhile built a makeshift motor and parachute and swoops in on them, knocking down Scott and carrying Bartlett to safety. Later at a press conference Bartlett accepts his son's behavior with no sign of anger and is convinced of the truth of the Phoenix environmental study. He abandons the Bartlett City project and hopes to reestablish communication with his son.
Bartlett: Why are you trying to destroy me?
MacGyver: I'm not the problem here, Mr. Bartlett, just the messenger. Now do you want to listen to me or not?
