"(male narrator) In 1972, a crack commando unit... was sent to prison by a military court... for a crime they didn't commit." "These men promptly escaped... from a maximum-security stockade... to the Los Angeles underground." "Today, still wanted by the government... they survive as soldiers of fortune." "If you have a problem, if no one else can help... and if you can find them... maybe you can hire the A-Team." "[gun firing]" "[heartbeat thrumming]" "[[[The Heart of Rock and Roll playing]" "[ LA, Hollywood and the Sunset Strip [" "[ Is something everyone should see [" "[ Neon lights [ l'm gonna beat him, if he don't shut up." "Actually, I think he sounds pretty good." "Don't humor him, Faceman." "If you do, this fool just keep going on and on and on." "Nonsense." "Murdock, just...." "[ Still that same old backbeatin' rhythm [[" "Come on, Murdock." "Hannibal's waiting." "The concert's already started." "[[[music playing]" "[ Go [" "[ Go [" "[ Let your feelings show [" "[ Don't you know that's what they love?" "[" "[ Go [" "[ 'Cause I'm standing [" "[ Beautiful thinking, beautiful thinking [" "[ Go [" "[ Go [" "[ Don't you know you are beautiful?" "[" "[ You'll feel much better [" "[ 'Cause one thing I know I can go [" "[ Oh, baby [" "[ Girl, you're so sweet [" "[ You're my precious, right [" "[ If you like me [ [ we'll make love tonight [" "[ You're such a jewel [" "[ You're a precious gem [" "[ Open your heart, girl [" "[ Let me come on in [" "[ Beautiful thinking, beautiful thinking [" "[ Go [" "[ Go [" "[ Don't you know you are beautiful?" "[" "[ I'm in love [" "[ Love [" "[ Oh, baby [" "[ Beautiful thinking beautiful thinking [" "[ Go [" "[ Go [" "[ Don't you know you are beautiful?" "[" "[ You'll feel much better [" "[ 'Cause one thing I know I can go [" "[ Oh, baby [" "[ Go [ [crowd cheering] [crowd applauding]" "[[[scatting]" "[ Go [ [crowd cheering]" "[crowd roaring]" "(Rick) Man, am I glad you made it... because I was really getting worried." "When y'all didn't pick up them tickets last night... I didn't think you was ever gonna make it." "We're here now." "I'm glad." "See you all later." "[Rick exclaiming]" "C.J. Mack is one of my best friends." "When I was down and he was up... he stood by us, he made us play... he made us sing backup on his records... he gave us openings in his gigs, no matter who protested." "(Face) Boy, C.J. Mack." "I wore out three copies of his Blood Simple album when we were in Nam." "Hey, man, isn't a dude alive who haven't heard of C.J. Mack." "You can say that again, brother." "Why, right in the middle of the blood, and the guts, and the noise... you could hear the reassuring sounds of C.J. Mack." "And that Blood Simple was practically the common soldier's anthem." "That was before he got sent up for manslaughter." "Before he got sent up on manslaughter charges, nothing." "The judge gave a full sentence to the man 'cause he was rock and roll... with loud music and all that silly nonsense." "But that was way back then, and he pleaded guilty." "And he admitted he fell asleep at the wheel... and he admitted that he hit the girl." "But he wasn't on no drugs." "He didn't have any alcohol in his system." "He's a special kind of cat... man, and he took the full count." "I don't know what it is, but something's happened." "He's into something, and I really wanna help him." "I ran a check on your friend." "He's been turned down for parole twice." "If it wasn't for the superior efforts... of his lawyer, a Miss Devon Paige... he wouldn't be getting released tomorrow." "I don't understand, though." "What's the problem?" "I don't know, B.A., but you know, me and a couple of guys, man... like, we've always stayed in touch with him." "We go see him, we send him some of our latest stuff... you know, just so he can hear what we're doing." "Matter of fact, I even gave him a guitar... and he started recording some of his own tracks." "Dynamite stuff, man." "It's like he's getting that feeling back... but then it disappears." "He won't take visitors and he won't see people." "It's like he has no more life, and he doesn't care." "He's, like, he's given up on music." "A man goes to prison for 10 years... he ain't gonna be the same when he come out." "You know what I mean?" "I understand that, B.A... but not after all this time." "There's just no C.J. without music." "I mean, he's a reflection of his own music." "Even the stuff he recorded on this little tape recorder we gave him, man... you should hear that stuff, man." "You should just listen to it." "I've been knowing him a long time." "He's my main man." "And I need your help, that's the bottom line." "I need your help." "(C.J.) [ What do you do [ [ when the one you love [ [ is gone?" "[" "[ How do you face each day [ [ all alone?" "[" "[ Well [" "[ How do you smile [ [ when the pain is growing [ [ inside?" "[[" "[guitar stops]" "Everybody say you're getting out today, fish." "[[[playing guitar]" "Everybody's well informed." "Where you got it?" "I don't know what you're talking about." "Half the yard is watching us, Gravedigger." "You gonna kill me in front of all these witnesses?" "You been going to school here 10 years, musicman... and you ain't learned diddly jack." "There ain't nobody looking at us." "I can make it real bad, musicman." "So bad, you won't enjoy standing for a whole week." "Yo, Gravedigger... you playing ball, or you planting the guard?" "Guess this is one tune we don't get to finish... since I'm getting out." "There's getting out... and there's getting out." "(Crichton) lt is just a shame... that something like this happened on your coming-out day, C.J." "I would like to think that the other prisoners wouldn't be jealous." "That they would see a future... when another inmate got released." "That... is what happened, isn't it?" "Yes, sir, just a...." "Just a couple of fellows getting carried away." "I can get another axe on the outside." "You have been a model prisoner." "I wish everybody who came through those doors was just like you." "Make my job a lot easier." "I don't think they built a place like this, for guys... who fall asleep at the wheels of Maseratis." "No, no, they sure didn't." "Good luck." "Yeah, it's gotta be him." "They're transporting him to the releasing facilities." "Let's go, B.A." "This ain't the way to the releasing facility, Hannibal." "This isn't the way to anywhere." "Get out." "You know, you're crazy." "Both of you." "What are you talking about, bro?" "You got out all official-like." "You just skipped out, and nobody knows where you are." "Now, I've done my time." "And there's no reason I'd go AWOL on the releasing facility." "And you-- [coughing]" "Now, tell me where you hid it, you sack of spit." "You'd kill me anyway." "You got that right." "[tires screeching]" "[machine guns firing]" "C.J., you all right?" "Come on." "Go, B.A." "(Face) Devon Paige?" "How do you do?" "I was wondering if you might have a moment." "Not for people who approach me in underground garages." "I have an office." "Call for an appointment." "I see." "Well, it's regarding one of your clients." "Oh?" "Mmm-hmm." "Well, then, definitely make it during office hours." "See, I'm James Peppage... of the Central Division of Parole Applicants." "Wrong." "You are not anyone named James Peppage... and there is no such thing... as the Division of Parole Applications." "Lucky for you." "You'd be in a lot of trouble pointing that gun at me." "I have a license to carry this." "I also happen to be a very good shot... and will have no trouble if I decide to shoot you." "Let's avoid that at all costs." "I just wanted to talk to you about C.J. Mack." "C.J.?" "Yeah." "What do you know about C.J.?" "What's happened to him?" "I really think you should come and talk to him in person." "You know where he is?" "Yeah." "He's with some friends of mine who are helping me housesit." "Thank you." "You're welcome." "[birds chirping]" "C.J.!" "Hey, babe." "How's it going?" "Are you kidding?" "What do you mean, "how's it going?"" "I've been going through hell, for years, trying to get you paroled." "And, then, when I finally turn that rock over... I find you're an escaped prisoner." "Escaped, while on his way to the release center, no less." "It's all okay, Devon, really." "Relax." "Relax?" "Not only are you an escaped prisoner... but you're consorting with known felons." "Extremely well-known felons, I must say." "I'm Hannibal Smith." "You're the A-Team." "He told me." "(Face) Aw, thanks for helping out, Candy." "Anytime, Butch." "Butch?" "Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you're in?" "Not half as much trouble as he was in prison, Miss Paige." "Really, I finally feel safe here." "What are you talking about?" "You're not making any sense." "(Murdock) Yes, he is making sense." "You see, C.J. has just explained to us... that he has uncovered an entire ring of armed robbers... that are operating right inside the prison." "Apparently, any number of convicts... and one guard in particular..." "Quint." "...Quint, Quint is running the ring." "From jail?" "Quint is the guard who is in charge... of the Work Furlough program." "He picks the prisoners who go out for the day." "They pick a target to rob close to the work site... then they take it down afterwards." "No one even suspects them... because when the robbery occurred, they were in jail." "It's true, Devon." "How come you never told me any of this before?" "Because, while I was locked up in there, they kept an eye on me." "I didn't know if they were watching me or listening." "Do you have any proof of any of this?" "Yeah." "Well, then give it to me." "I'll do something about it." "It's in jail." "Under the floorboards in the workshop." "I didn't have a chance to get it out." "And once they knew I was on to them... they were watching to see what I'd done with the cassettes I made." "(Devon) Where does that leave you now?" "You're still wanted." "You have not been officially released." "You're gonna have to let me take you back." "What do you think, Hannibal?" "Well, don't ask him." "He's wanted by the law himself." "I'm in charge here, Miss Paige." "You were only invited here by courtesy... because Mr. Mack requested it." "If we take him back to jail before we catch those crooks... he's dead." "Now, you don't want to get him killed, do you?" "Well, no." "[sighing] I don't know what to do." "I happen to be an officer of the court." "I could be disbarred for helping you guys." "Oh, no, you can't." "You were kidnapped." "By me, at gunpoint." "Remember?" "I was holding the gun." "Well, what can you do to get these guys?" "We can follow them, figure out what they're gonna hit next... and then give them an old-fashioned hoe-down." "Right, Murdock?" "Sure..." "Butch." "Butch?" "Butch." "Yeah." "Yes, gentlemen, may I help you?" "You can get in the back and open that safe you got." "Oh, no." "You will not hurt me?" "Just do as I tell you." "Then you will not hurt me?" "No, he didn't say that." "He just says do like he tells you." "[whimpering]" "Open it." "[whimpering] lt's open." "Get out of the way." "[[[scatting]" "Hey, what's going on back there?" "Your friend decided... it was not nice to rob crippled old men." "Oh, yeah?" "I'll show him what's right or not." "No, pal. I'll show you." "[machine gun firing]" "Come on, get moving." "Well, lets see." "Yeah." "Shall we go?" "(Hannibal) Yeah." "Okay." "[birds chirping]" "(Devon) Yes, we'll be down at the releasing center... within the hour." "Well?" "Well, I told them that you surrendered yourself to me immediately... and that you wanna go and turn yourself back in." "And I requested that Warden Crichton meet us there... since he's been your biggest supporter in this matter." "So, you think they'll believe me?" "How can they not?" "We dropped those guys right in front of Metropolitan Police Headquarters." "Along with a little note." ""How can mugs like these..." ""be robbing jewelry stores while doing 20 years hard labor?"" "Come on, let's go." "I told them we'd be there within the hour." "I don't know what to say to you guys." "How can I repay you?" "How about some tickets to your next concert?" "There's not gonna be a next concert, B.A." "You're crazy, man." "Singing is what you do." "It's what I did." "Anyway, thanks." "Perhaps, we could get together and have dinner sometime." "I can leave home my fake id, and you can leave home your gun." "Maybe, but... I think you're a little bit ahead of yourself." "Hi. I'm looking for Ramone, the photographer." "(all) Ramone?" "Work never ends." "(Murdock) See you, Butch." "I thought you were supposed to be here tomorrow." "I can't believe how you mucked this up." "I simply want this guy taken care of." "Somewhere outside the prison." "I write him a clean bill of health, so he'll get paroled." "And then you go ahead and you let Jones... and all those other idiots get theirselves busted." "I swear we didn't know what was happening." "Those guys weren't even cops." "Lucky for us." "And lucky for you that that attorney of his called back here." "Now, I'm going down to the releasing center... and I'm going to bring that guy back." "And I want you to find someone who's not gonna mess up this time." "It's got to look like an accident... and I want that man dead." "Ah." "How about some ice tea?" "Oh, I'm glad you guys are still here." "I was afraid you might've cleared out by now." "We just don't get a chance to work on our tans at the hospital." "Yeah." "What happened?" "C.J.'s back in jail." "And so are those goons you guys caught." "What?" "That doesn't make any sense." "I know. I know." "[stuttering] I don't know what to do. l" "Now, now, just calm down." "Take it slowly." "Now, what happened?" "We got back to the releasing center as we were supposed to." "Then when I tried to have the arrest of those hoods checked like you asked... they couldn't pin anything on Quint... because a report had gone through about the escape." "That's not possible." "They couldn't have had time to put through the report." "Warden Crichton verified that the report went out." "He doesn't know why it didn't get to the police any sooner... but Warden Crichton's word is strong." "If you're thinking what I'm thinking... my heart belongs to you, Daddy." "Yeah." "The warden could have been in on this the whole time." "Crichton?" "Yeah, make a nice little safety net." "Who else could move prisoners in and out... have guards changed without being questioned?" "Then he's the one that's been trying to kill C.J." "And now he's got him right back there." "And there could be a convenient accident at any time." "You have to do something." "Well, we can't do anything unless we can get into that prison." "Why, now, that's crazy." "Maybe KA-Team Radio... could throw a party for C.J." "I mean, the warden can't kill the guest of honor... and not attract attention." "Yeah." "And who's on the guest list?" "Rick James." "Tina Turner." "Kenny Rogers." "Lionel Ritchie?" "Oh." "Yes." "No." "Yes." "Of course I'm aware of what it could do...." "Yes, absolutely. I'm for it." "The Governor is correct, it's a terrific idea." "It's just that this part about C.J. Mack...." "Yes, he has been a model prisoner, right up...." "Right." "Yes, sir." "Yes, sir." "Damn." "They want me to arrange for a concert." "Here, tomorrow, in honor of C.J. Mack." "And one of their requests is that C.J. perform a song with them." "We can't let this guy pal around with his old friends." "Suppose he tells them something." "Well, what the hell am I supposed to do?" "The Governor thinks it's a good idea." "Congressman Pierce thinks that it's a good idea." "The Mayor thinks that it's a good idea." "Except for our little problem, it would be a good idea." "So, how do I explain to them that I don't want their guys... making contact with C.J. Mack... because he could put us away in our own prison?" "He should have that accident right now." "Yeah." "Well, don't act as dumb as you are." "I want you to keep somebody on him all the time." "I don't want him out of sight of a prison guard for more than five seconds... or it's your butt." "You got it?" "[sighing] Maybe, it'll turn out to be the best thing." "If he'll lead us to those tapes that he made... then we get them first." "We haven't got a problem... 'cause once we've got those tapes in our hand he can sit here and rot." "Nobody's ever gonna listen to him." "[[[Jailhouse Rock playing]" "Hey, excuse me, Warden." "I wanna introduce to you Mr. Rick James." "Hello, Mr. James." "How you feeling?" "I am Murdock the K, the Howler himself... and I want to tell you, you are the talk of the town... with what you've been doing out here today." "Why don't you come on my show... and answer some phone calls and something... because the people out there, they wanna know what it is." "I mean, what it is that has inspired this great show... of love and togetherness." "What it is?" "What it is." "Why, I'd love to." "I listen to your show all the time, Mr. K." "I'm sure you do." "Excuse me, Warden." "I want you to do me a real good favor." "Please give this to C.J. for me." "It's very important." "What is this for?" "Just a couple of tunes to rehearse." "I'd like him to go over it and make sure, you know, he knows what we're doing." "He gonna need these, too?" "Well, we wouldn't want anyone around to hear what we're gonna play tonight." "You know, that would spoil all the fun." "Right. I'll see that he gets it." "I appreciate that." "No, you gotta...." "Oh." "Okay?" "Right on." "Yeah, he's cool." "He cool." "All right?" "Just check it out." "Might dig it." "[[[blues music playing] [tape rewinding]" "[[[blues music playing]" "See that C.J. Mack gets this." "Hey, don't use so many outlets." "Ha!" "Tried to pass off." "They performed the other night in Memphis." "Gonna try again tonight." "Well!" "Right!" "Now." "Looking cool, my man." "Looks like you got 220 running through a good part of this establishment." "How about this here, upper H and K?" "No way, that's a cellblock area." "You ain't cleared to get up there." "Wow, man, like, take it easy." "I mean, he's just asking." "Yeah." "Yeah, well, these areas here, and here, are restricted." "Well, how about this over here, workshop?" "It's got plenty of juice." "You gonna let us in there, are you?" "Yeah, workshop area." "Sure." "Well, dig it, babe." "It's been waiting right here for us." "[laughing]" "Now, we got to follow the lead." "So start looking for the run-off under the floor." "Ooh!" "The run-off, wow!" "Under the floor, don't you know?" "Hey, under the floor?" "What are you guys gonna do?" "We'll try and keep ourselves from getting blowing up, is what we're gonna do." "Yeah, well... if you guys are gonna pull this place apart, maybe I should call the warden." "Maybe you should." "We're just going to pull up a couple of floorboards... but do whatever you do, my man." "Do whatever you do." "Looking good, partner." "Looking good." "Hey." "The numbers you'll be playing tonight." "I never said I'd play." "I don't care if you stick it in your nose." "It's for you." "[[[blues music playing]" "(B.A.) Hey, C.J." "C.J., this is B.A. I've got a small receiver... hidden in the headphones." "You can't talk back so just listen." "We're gonna get you out of here." "You just be real cool... and let them bring you down to the stage, like they said." "It ain't no trick by the warden." "We gonna get you out of here." "Okay?" "[[[blues music playing]" "[grunting]" "Excuse me, pal." "Come on, sister." "Show us your treasure." "[grunting]" "Oh, wow!" "Hey, Jake, my man." "Listen, man, could you...." "Could you, like...." "Do me a favor, huh, would you, would you?" "Oh, wow!" "Now...." "[Face laughing]" "Now, just keep your eye on the dial... and tell me when it says 180." "180?" "Yeah, right, Jake, man." "1-8-0." "(guard) You got it." "Good, Jake." "Wow, man, okay." "Yeah." "You got it, Jake?" "No." "Oh, man, are you sure?" "Of course, I'm sure." "It's 150." "Wow." "Must have missed the juice out of that second socket." "Right." "Oh, Jake, Jake, man." "Keep your eye on the amps there, man, or you'll fry us all." "(Hannibal) There." "I think that might do it." "Yes, it certainly should." "Tapes, please." "Thank you." "You know, Warden, I bet those tapes show... you run a nifty little robbery ring... and a terrific prison." "Well, you'll certainly get a chance to find out firsthand." "You check back with me in about 20 years..." "Colonel Smith." "Hey!" "Hey, he knows you." "Price of fame." "Crowd is getting restless, C.J." "It's time for your big comeback." "[[[Super Freak playing]" "[ She's a very special girl [" "(chorus) [ The kind of girl you want to know [" "[ From her head down to her toenails [" "[ Down to her feet, yeah [" "[ And she'll wait for me backstage with her girlfriends [" "[ In a limousine [" "[ Going back in Chinatown [" "[ Three's not a crowd to her, she says [" "[ Room 7 14, I'll be waiting [" "[ When I get there she's got incense, wine and candles [" "[ It's such a freaky scene [" "[ That girl is pretty kinky [" "(chorus) [ The girl's a super freak [" "[ The kind of girl you read about [" "[ In new-wave magazines [" "[ That girl is pretty wild now [" "[ The girl's a super freak [" "[ I really like to taste her [" "[ Every time we meet [" "[ She's all right She's all right [" "[ That girl's all right with me [" "[ Yeah [" "[ Hey, hey, hey, hey!" "[" "[ She's a super freak, super freak [" "[ She's super freaky [" "[ Temptations sing [" "[ Super freak, super freak [" "[ That girl is super freak [" "[ She's a very kinky girl [" "[ The kind you won't take home to mother [" "[ And she will never let your spirits down [" "[ Once you get her off the street [[" "Blow, Daddy!" "[[[saxophone playing]" "Just look at him, man." "is he cold-blooded or what?" "I can dig it, man." "And pretty soon you gonna be great again, too." "Not me, B.A. Not this old boy." "What you talking about, man?" "Rock and roll might be here to stay, but not C.J." "I been, B.A. I been, and now I'm gone." "That's crazy, man." "You ain't no truck driver, or a surgeon." "You don't retire or grow too old to do what you do." "You can't." "What you do is you." "It's something inside you... and nothing can get rid of it unless you die." "All the time my life was going great... and I didn't think I was going through anything worth singing about... I had plenty to say in my songs." "But I've been dead for years now." "Since that night, since I've been in here." "A lot of guys had it tougher than you and they came through it." "So you done something wrong." "But you paid your dues." "And you gotta keep on playing, and be who you really are." "Because a lot of people out there went through a whole lot of trouble... to do for you." "And now you gotta do for them what you always have done... and that's sing." "[people cheering] [people applauding]" "[people whistling]" "Great, man!" "Thank you!" "Thank you!" "Thank you, Mr. Rick James." "Thank you." "Warden Crichton thanks you." "His officers thank you for providing him with job security." "But that's enough of that." "Now, I want to introduce to you... somebody I know that you love and remember." "So, I want you to create a quiet riot... for the cellblock rocker himself..." "Mr. C.J. Mack!" "Yeah!" "[people applauding]" "Go ahead, brother." "Show them." "[people whistling]" "[people cheering]" "[[[Steamroller playing]" "[ I'm a steamroller, baby [" "[ I'm bound to roll all over you [" "That's very touching." "I was wondering how I was gonna get him out there." "Take him away." "Put him with the others." "[ I'm bound to roll all over you [ l must say, Warden, this is quite a PR coup to have pulled off." "[ I'm gonna inject your soul [" "Maybe you can prevail upon your personal relationship... with Mr. Mack to perform at other prisons." "I certainly think that's a possibility, Mr. Mayor." "Given... my special relationship with C.J." "[ I'm a cement mixer [" "[ A churning urn of burning funk [" "Well, we could make some personalized plates." "Mmm." "Sure would be nice if we had B.A. and Murdock." "Hi, guys." "[door slams]" "Nice, huh?" "[ I'm a napalm bomb, baby [" "[ Guaranteed to blow your mind [" "[ I'm a napalm bomb, baby [" "[ Guaranteed to blow your mind [" "[ If I can't [" "[ If I can't have your loving, baby [" "[ There won't be nothing left behind [" "[ Well, well, well [" "[[[saxophonist soloing]" "(Rick James) [ I'm a steamroller, baby [" "[ Bound to roll over you [" "Well, B.A.?" "[ I'm a steamroller, baby [" "[ Bound to roll all over you [" "[ I'm gonna inject your soul [" "[ With some sweet rock and roll [" "[ And shoot you [" "[ Shoot you full of rhythm and blues, girl [" "[ Oh, oh, oh, yeah [" "[ I'm a cement mixer, baby [ [ a churning urn of burning funk, y'all [" "Quint!" "[ A churning urn of burning funk [[ [people clamoring]" "Get up on stage." "[prisoners cheering]" "Smith, I'm gonna put you away till you rot for this." "That'll make two of us." "[feedback screeching]" "I just hope we don't have adjoining cells." "(Crichton on tape) I want him dead, you hear that?" "I don't care who or what gets in the way." "If the Mayor gets wind of this..." "I may have to kill him to keep this quiet." "It's rock and roll and we love it." "Yeah." "[people cheering] [people applauding]" "I just wanna say it's been my great privilege and pleasure... to be the conduit that has brought this great talent... back to the stage where he belongs." "So, without any further ado, C.J. Mack!" "Hooray!" "[people cheering]" "[ Hear that whistle?" "It's 10.:00 [" "(chorus) [ Don't let go [" "[ Come on, baby, it's time to rock [" "(chorus) [ Don't let go Don't let go [" "[ I'm so glad I've got you here [" "(chorus) [ Don't let go Don't let go [" "[ Keeps me grinnin' from ear to ear [" "[ Don't let go don't let go [" "[ Oo-ee [" "[ Mmm, this feelin' is killin' me [ [people cheering]" "[ Oh, shucks [" "[ Well, I wouldn't stop for a million bucks [" "[ I love you so [" "[ Just hold me tight and don't let go [" "[ Thunder, lightning', wind and rain [" "(chorus) [ Don't let go [" "[ Love is formin' inside my brain [" "(chorus) [ Don't let go Don't let go [" "[ I'm so eager I'm nearly dying' [" "(chorus) [ Don't let go Don't let go [" "[ You've been keepin' your lips from mine [" "(chorus) [ Don't let go Don't let go [" "[ Oo-ee [" "[ Mmm, this feelin' is killin' me [" "[ Oh, shucks [" "[ Well, I wouldn't stop for a million bucks [" "[ I love you so [" "[ Just hold me tight and don't let go [[ [people cheering] [people applauding]"