A U.S. space probe to Venus brings back an unwelcome hitch-hiker - a microbe capable of destroying all life on Earth. Dr.Charles Franklyn is part of a team of scientists working on an antidote, only to steal both the microbe and antidote with the help of the lovely Charlene. Sloane and Torque chase after him, and are pursued by an ambulance whose siren doubles as a rocket launcher. Franklyn gets away, handing his booty to evil gambling den owner and KARTEL agent Jonathan Cambro. The ungrateful Cambro tests the antidote on a live subject - Franklyn himself. When the scientist dies, Cambro realises the antidote is incomplete. Apparently Franklyn mislaid a page when transcribing the formula in his mountain cabin. The person who has it is Melissa Nelson, a sexy detective hired by Franklyn's wife to keep tabs on him. Eager-to-please Melissa has no idea of how important she has suddenly become...
Marc Brandel wrote for the original 'Danger Man' starring Patrick McGoohan, and the short-lived 'Amos Burke Secret Agent'. He could have called this 'The Satan Bug' had the title not been used already. Its another outing for that hoary old spy cliché - killer virus threatens Mankind. Sloane has only twenty-four hours to retrieve the antidote as the scientists who developed it are trapped in their lab. He and Cambro have met before, apparently, the latter was responsible for the death of a woman Sloane loved. Which makes it all the more strange why Sloane doesn't exact a more satisfying revenge than the one eventually achieved - he simply punches the villain in the stomach.
The underrated Monte Markham plays 'Cambro'; fans of 'The Six Million Dollar Man' will recall he played bionic 'Barney' in two memorable episodes: 'The Seven Million Dollar Man' ( written by Peter Alan Fields, co-author of this episode ) and 'Bionic Criminal' ) as well as being one of the hired gunslingers in 'Guns Of The Magnificent Seven'. Why he never achieved stardom is a mystery. Fellow cast member Morgan Fairchild, who played 'Melissa', fared rather better, notching up roles in hit 80's soaps 'Dallas' and 'Flamingo Road'.
Sloane's gadget - a pen torch capable of projecting light that can open locks. Very handy.
Best bit - the ambulance chase. Whilst hardly in the same league as 'Bullitt', it gets the episode off to a good start. Luckily, our man is prepared for such an eventuality - he sprays the road with oil, causing said ambulance to go spinning off the road. Cue witty quip ( quoted above ).
Marc Brandel wrote for the original 'Danger Man' starring Patrick McGoohan, and the short-lived 'Amos Burke Secret Agent'. He could have called this 'The Satan Bug' had the title not been used already. Its another outing for that hoary old spy cliché - killer virus threatens Mankind. Sloane has only twenty-four hours to retrieve the antidote as the scientists who developed it are trapped in their lab. He and Cambro have met before, apparently, the latter was responsible for the death of a woman Sloane loved. Which makes it all the more strange why Sloane doesn't exact a more satisfying revenge than the one eventually achieved - he simply punches the villain in the stomach.
The underrated Monte Markham plays 'Cambro'; fans of 'The Six Million Dollar Man' will recall he played bionic 'Barney' in two memorable episodes: 'The Seven Million Dollar Man' ( written by Peter Alan Fields, co-author of this episode ) and 'Bionic Criminal' ) as well as being one of the hired gunslingers in 'Guns Of The Magnificent Seven'. Why he never achieved stardom is a mystery. Fellow cast member Morgan Fairchild, who played 'Melissa', fared rather better, notching up roles in hit 80's soaps 'Dallas' and 'Flamingo Road'.
Sloane's gadget - a pen torch capable of projecting light that can open locks. Very handy.
Best bit - the ambulance chase. Whilst hardly in the same league as 'Bullitt', it gets the episode off to a good start. Luckily, our man is prepared for such an eventuality - he sprays the road with oil, causing said ambulance to go spinning off the road. Cue witty quip ( quoted above ).