The Prodigal Son
In New York City, three aliens in the bodies of police officers are hunting for an individual who the Advocacy orders to be captured. The person being hunted is the hermit artist known as Quinn. He runs and hides from the three aliens and lures them to an alley. The aliens follow him there and notice Quinn's hat on the ground. Carefully, one of the aliens picks up the hat and underneath, is a blinding crystal. Quinn knocks the aliens down and runs away. One of the three aliens pursues Quinn. He chases Quinn to the roof of a building where Quinn leaps and makes it to the next building, as the other alien jumps and is holding on to the ledge. Quinn walks over to him, and the alien begs for Quinn to pull him up. Quinn shakes his head no then smiles as he sees the alien losing his grip. Quinn suddenly kicks his hands and the alien plummets to his death. "To life immortal...sucker," Quinn says. Down below, the other two aliens notice the remains of the fallen alien. At the Cottage, Harrison tells Ironhorse and Norton that he has been invited to meet with Quinn and if he's lucky he will be able to purchase an original artwork of Quinn's by personal invitation only. Ironhorse reminds Harrison that they have a vital meeting with the United Nations to discuss the threat of the aliens. Harrison assures Ironhorse that he will be there and he heads off to New York to meet with Quinn. In New York, the two aliens seek the counsel of the Advocacy. The Advocates are frustrated that their soldiers have been unable to capture Quinn since he has eluded them so many times before. They tell their soldiers to know the city better than Quinn does. Advocate Xana tells them, "He must be captured and brought to us- dead or alive." Advocate Oshar informs that their species future may depend on them accomplishing their goal. Advocate Horek warns them to not return without Quinn. In New York, Quinn's driver leads Harrison to Quinn's limo. Harrison tries to shake Quinn's hand but Quinn lets him know that he dislikes being touched. He asks Harrison to wear a blindfold as they head to his studio since he must shroud his work in absolute secrecy. Harrison lets him know that they share that need. "And perhaps more needs than that, Harrison," Quinn remarks. At Quinn's studio, he shows Harrison his art piece- entitled "The Universal Truth". When Harrison asks about the cost, Quinn replies, "How much is truth?" At an art dealership, three aliens approach an art dealer and ask her where they can meet Quinn. She tells them that she doesn't know and if she did she wouldn't tell them so he could lose his business. One of the aliens lets his alien third arm burst through and the fingers dig into the woman's temple, retrieving the necessary information about Quinn's location. Quinn tells Harrison that he will give him the artwork for free. He asks Harrison then to put on a bracelet and Harrison obliges. Quinn then asks Harrison if he believes in extraterrestrials. Harrison responds that he does and Harrison then wants to know if Quinn's inspiration comes from the stars. He tells Harrison, "It is the source of invention. Of imagination itself. And of life immortal". Realizing that saying, Harrison halts and asks Quinn if he's made contact with aliens. Quinn then tells Harrison that he is aware of Sylvia, Dr. Forrester and his research of the Ezekiel Project, but he tells him a story that takes place near Harrison's home in California back in 1953. The story revolves around one who didn't fall prey to the bacteria from the main invasion. And for 35 "long, lonely" years, that individual has had to survive in a hostile planet called Earth. Harrison then realizes that Quinn is an alien and Quinn merely responds, "No Harry. You're the alien." Quinn explains to Harrison that he is a superior race from a dying solar system in the constellation we refer to as Taurus. Approximately, the planet is forty light years away from Earth. Their army was sent in 1953 to eradicate all parasites on the surface and he then tells Harrison humanity was especially one of those things- and he strikes him. Then, Quinn dares Harrison to leave the studio. Harrison tries but collapses to his knees and is pulled to Quinn thanks to the bracelet Quinn gave him. "Like my gift, Harry?" Quinn quips. Outside the studio, the aliens murder Quinn's driver. Quinn tells Harrison that the only way the bracelet is coming off will be thanks to him- and whether Harrison lives or dies. He then places a grip on Harrison's throat and tells him that unless something happens to stop this war the result will be planetary annihilation. The aliens begin to break into the studio and Quinn- with Harrison in tow- escape through one of Quinn's trap doors. The aliens begin to follow them and one of the aliens is blown up thanks to an explosion as soon as he tried to follow them. "What was that?" Harrison asks after hearing the explosion. "Why do you think they call them trap doors?" Quinn responds. The other two aliens chase Quinn and Harrison down beneath the New York City tunnels. Ironhorse and Suzanne are worried about Harrison and try to call Harrison via the RSVP number that he gave them. Quinn hears Harrison's cell phone ringing and smashes it. He instructs Harrison that he is to talk to no one until they meet with the United Nations. Harrison asks Quinn why is he running from his own kind. Quinn tells him that he wants to live and that he has gotten used to the idea of living thanks to his time in society. And the Advocacy wants to capture him since he is the exception to the rule- and is immune to bacteria. He is a hybrid trapped in the human body- so he cannot switch bodies. And the other aliens know who he is and they have been hunting him since the awakening. If the Advocacy get him- they will remove a vital organ from him to get the secret for themselves and he dies. Quinn and Harrison continue to run as the aliens notice that the cell belonged to Harrison Blackwood. At Quinn's art studio, Ironhorse realizes that a message Harrison left on his matchbook means that Quinn is an alien. He and Suzanne realize that Harrison could be possessed. They call Norton and tell him to get out of the Cottage with Debi and everyone else. Quinn takes Harrison to a safe hideout and he tells Harrison about his demands. He says that he wants Harrison to tell the United Nations that they must follow his demands. Ten percent of the human population will be spared and put on reservations far away from the aliens- and the rest will be poisoned. Otherwise, complete annihilation is inevitable. Quinn adds that he will rule the aliens alone and that they will respect him since he is war itself and a Supreme Commander. He says that they are an army of thousands on Earth ruled by just three- the Advocacy. And he says that within less than five years, three million colonists from the ancient planet of Mor-Tax (Mor-Tax is a garden planet with a dying sun) are going to arrive on Earth. And Harrison has a choice to decide who lives and who dies. At the United Nation meeting, Ironhorse instructs his soldiers to not shoot Harrison unless he says that Harrison is a target. However, some of Harrison's men are possessed by aliens now. Harrison tells Quinn that he has more human traits than aliens and the aliens wouldn't follow a half-breed like Quinn. Quinn and Harrison depart for the UN and Quinn lets Harrison know that his demands better be met, or all is lost. They make their way to the United Nations Plaza and Quinn and Harrison are trapped by the aliens- as they are in a locked room- with aliens below, and aliens trying to burst into the room. Quinn tells the aliens that he is not going to allow them to capture him. They tell him that it is the will of the Advocacy. He offers to trade Harrison for his life but the aliens inform him that if he does- he will die a hero's death. Quinn demands that he should rule instead of the Advocacy but the aliens inform him that they "live to serve the three". Realizing that his people would not accept him as their leader, Quinn knows that it's the end. Harrison tells Quinn to let the aliens in, and as the door opens, Harrison burns three aliens with a flamethrower he put together with some materials. They escape and the aliens chase after them. They are cornered but Quinn- using a nice trick- kills the remaining two aliens. He admits to Harrison that he has saved his life and he tells Harrison how to get the bracelet off. Harrison looks up to find Quinn gone- and Ironhorse approaches Harrison. He checks to see if Harrison is not an alien, and Harrison clears up any doubts the Colonel has with his response. The team address the alien danger at the United Nations meeting. Meanwhile, we see Quinn making his way through the New York City night. COMMENTS: This episode introduced the much-loved character of Quinn (played by the late, great, John Colicos). Quinn is a trickster character- in the fact that he seems to be out for his own gain. He seems to help and hinder both sides. He wants to rule the aliens instead of the Advocacy, and disrupts alien operations. And he also seems to get pleasure out of bothering the operations of the Blackwood Team. Quinn is a real opportunist and that is what makes him so fascinating. The revelations and scenes with Harrison and Quinn are amazing. And the dialogue flows nice- especially due to Quinn's sense of humor. Ironhorse also proved how far he has come in the series. He has come to understand Harrison and how he thinks. The scene with the matchbook explains it. It's so refreshing to see how much the character has evolved..and will continue to evolve. A biblical element popped up in this story in my mind. Quinn offered Harrison a chance to decide who can live and who will die when the time comes just as God let Noah decide who will live and die and come on the Ark with him. If Harrison had chose to do that, just imagine the weight that such a decision could bring. One of my favorite episodes of the show and this is not the last time we see Quinn from the first season.
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Quinn smiles in the face of his enemy
Harrison meets the hermit artist, Quinn
Harrison is controlled by Quinn's bracelet
