THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE
Episode 6-16 [120]
18 February 1991
MacGyver takes to the streets as one of the homeless to investigate the murder of Father Jim, a priest who had dedicated his life to their plight. The police have failed to turn up any leads, the problem being that the homeless are afraid to come forward and talk only to one another. Once undercover Mac goes to a homeless refuge, built from whatever they have found to keep warm and alive, where he meets Doc, who introduces him to Danny, a severely withdrawn youth who may have knowledge of the murder. Then as befits his role as madhatter in this upside down world, Doc rushes off, distractedly saying he mustn't be late. MacGyver sees him a few minutes later talking to his daughter, who visits him once a week. MacGyver befriends Danny and discovers that he witnessed the murder. Doc, who was a high school English teacher before his asthma became severe, is asked to read through Father Jim's papers to find evidence of any crime that he might have been aware of. Behind the façade of benefactor, Aaron Sandler owns mental health care homes where patients were discharged while he continues to pocket their disability checks. Meanwhile, Sandler hears from Rachel that Danny was witness to the murder, so he offers him a new winter coat to lure him away from the others and drives him to one of his factories, empty of people that day. MacGyver is close behind and overcomes Sandler before he can kill Danny.
Doc: Trust you? Why should I trust you? You're on the other side.
MacGyver: No, I don't believe that. The only difference between you and me is a little bit of luck. Aside from that we're both people. We're made of the same stuff.
