Episode 16 - "FRIENDS"
Air Date - 2/25/99

Mr. Chapel relates to KC a story about a young inventor - Darren Carver. Darren has invented a new energy source; a chemical that produces light without benefit of electicity. He has reached out to no one for help, producing a prototype and some test lights which he gives out to several people to test; securing his patent. Now, here comes his "friend". Big Time Steven Jensen, inventor millionaire, who wants to be partners in this wonderful invention. Darren declines the offer, so Jensen decides to steal the prototype and sabotage Darren's patent.

Jensen calls in his muscle, Mr. Hobbs; a general "fix-it" guy with mob connections. Hobbs steals the prototype and sets fires in the homes of the test subjects to make it look like the new chem-light has failed and is dangerous. This invalidates Darren's patent and ruins him completely. His prototype is gone and he is destitute, so he commits suicide out of dispair. Jensen takes the prototype, markets it as his new, improved safer version of Darren's invention. The money starts rolling in from investors.

Chapel goes to Lucas Zimmerman (Jerry "The Beav" Mathers; Too Cool!) for The Favor and gets Lucas to set him up as an employee of Lucas' employing company - Compardre Industries. Chapel tells Lucas that he (Lucas) can then single-handedly aquire most of the stock of Jensen's business at about 8 bucks per share when the time is right. Now, Chapel goes to see Jensen, presenting himself as a Compardre executive. He mainly wants Jensen to see him and proceeds to make Jensen very nervous.

Mr. Chapel goes to Jensen's high-security apartment and plants a device that lets him call the apartment by remote control. He sets KC up to be Jensen's new secretary; KC meeting with Madeline, the present secretary (who is fed up to HERE with Jensen!). She gives Madeline a new job with Compardre and sends her on a vacation to Acupulco. KC plants inflammatory memos (All female employees should wear short skirts, but portly or matronly female employees should disregard the memo!) News gets around and stock starts to drop off. Jensen scurries to some Japanese investors to try to get new backing since his regular people are dropping out swiftly. He knows that Chapel is behind this somehow, but can't figure out how. Compardre has denied knowing anything about an M.R. Chapel but Jensen doesn't believe them. He still thinks Compardre is out to take him over.

A big meeting is set up with the Japanese investors so Jensen can make his pitch. KC is busy, busy, busy getting a memo out to all the investors. Supposedly a welcome memo from Jensen, the note now has very disturbing comments about Pearl Harbor and The Enola Gay thanks to Mr. Chapel's fancy translating. The new memo is on the way to the meeting.

Jensen is tricked into changing his shirt just before the big meeting. His new shirt is treated with a chemical that makes him break out REAL bad. In fact, before he makes it in to the meeting (where the Japanese investors are already in possession of the memo and very angry indeed), he is told by Chapel via phone that his shirt is treated with a flesh-eating toxin. Since he is itching and swelling like crazy, he believes it and jumps out of the car, stripping down to his boxers in the parking lot in full view of the press and the investors. Everyone thinks he's completely crazy.

Chapel sees another Favoree and gets his hands on US Treasury plates - a serious felony if one is caught with them. He swears to bring them back. Then, he lets Hobbs "catch" him while he is copying the plates into big batches of money. Now, Hobbs' fingerprints are on the money; the Secret Service and the Treasury agents are on the scene. Hobbs is arrested for counterfitting (to save Jensen's company, of course). Then, the feds go after Jensen.

Now, Jensen is busted. He is tried, but released by reason of insanity. No matter, really. He is ruined. His stock is sold at 8 bucks per share, with Laurie Carver, Darren's widow getting the lion's share, Compardre the rest. Lucas is Compardre's hero as a result. Chapel finds the list of all Darren's test subjects who were set on fire by Hobbs early on in order to invalidate Darren's prototype and patent. He sends them each $100,000 (of Jensen's money, of course).

I didn't see any previews for next week. I suppose this was the last new episode. I didn't get an episode up here last week, which is why there was no report. Was it just me? I'm afraid it's all over now, children. Let this be a lesson to you. Never, ever get attached to another ABC new show. The second you decide you like it, it's history. If I don't see you again, it's been a real slice. Thanks for dropping by and checking it out.


MAIN PAGE
1. CRUEL & UNUSUAL 5. JUSTICE 9. NOIR 13. CLIQUE
2. VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE 6. AMBITION 10. VENDETTA 14. CRITICAL
3. EDEN 7. SECURITY 11. CONFIDENCE 15. LEGALESE
4. BITTER END 8. DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE 12. JUDGMENT 16. FRIENDS