Comrade Hammer

"Comrade Hammer"
Sledge Hammer! episode
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 20
Directed by	Bruce Bilson
Written by	Tony DiMarco, Dave Ketchum
Original air date	February 21, 1987
Guest stars
Mark Blankfield, Lee Garlington, Richard Reicheg, Carl Ciarfallo, Lisa Long
Episode chronology
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List of Sledge Hammer! episodes

"Comrade Hammer" is the 20th episode of the television series Sledge Hammer!. It originally aired on ABC in the United States on February 21, 1987. The episode is mainly a parody of the 1963 James Bond film From Russia with Love^[1]

Plot summary

Hammer is jogging at a park when he suddenly sees a propeller plane stalking him from the sky. In similar fashion to the scene in North by Northwest, Hammer runs away from the plane and drops to the ground as it flies by him. He then pulls his gun and shoots down the plane, which turns out to be radio-controlled. Two women owning the plane argue with Hammer, who tells them they were "violating his airspace". An Alfred Hitchcock lookalike walks past by the argument. Hammer then continues his daily jog, stomping a couple's picnic in the process.

Meanwhile, inside a black limousine, Professor Vronsky (Mark Blankfield) is being held captive at gunpoint by a KGB agent. The limousine suddenly stops, almost running over Hammer. The driver shouts at Hammer, who shows his badge; he then apologizes as Hammer continues jogging. Seeing the agents distracted by the near-accident, Vronsky runs out of the car toward Hammer. The agents decide not to chase him off as they would attract unwanted attention.

At the precinct, Trunk discovers that Vronsky is from the Soviet Union and the KGB are after him. Vronsky does not want Trunk to notify the CIA, as the KGB may have already infiltrated them. Vronsky says he must attend a science conference in Springfield and needs Hammer's protection, as he does not trust anyone else. Doreau figures a plane ride is too risky and suggests they take a train instead.

Aboard a train, Hammer, Doreau and Vronsky meet Dr. Sara Johanssen (Lee Garlington), who is also attending the conference. Because all of the cabins have been booked, it is decided that Hammer and Vronsky share one room while Doreau and Johanssen stay next door - not knowing that the two KGB agents from the previous day are aboard.

Inside their cabin, Vronsky tells Hammer he suffers from claustrophobia and plays a game of chess with Hammer to calm himself down. Meanwhile, Johanssen reveals herself to be KGB agent Markovich, who orders the other two agents to put on waiter jackets. After a round of chess, Hammer gets bored and exits the cabin. He suddenly sees the limo driver/KGB agent in a waiter uniform and chases him to the outside of the dining car, where the agent falls off to his death. Hammer returns to his cabin to discover that Vronsky has disappeared. Fortunately, Vronsky returns, saying he just went out to get some fresh air. After Doreau and Johanssen arrive at the scene, Hammer swears not to lose sight of Vronsky. Then the train enters a tunnel and the lights go out. When the lights go back on, Vronsky is once again gone.

As Hammer and Doreau search for Vronsky, Johanssen secretly pulls the emergency brake. Hammer spots Vronsky being escorted out by the other KGB agent. He fights the agent in another cabin, where the agent attempts to strangle him with garrote wire from his watch. Hammer electrocutes the wire with a broken lamp, but the agent throws him out the window and runs off with Johanssen and Vronsky. Doreau rushes to the cabin, where it is revealed that Hammer managed to hang on the edge of the window.

The duo catch up to the KGB agents in the cattle car. Doreau subdues the agent while Hammer knocks out Johanssen with a punch. Doreau criticizes Hammer for hitting an unarmed woman, but Hammer pulls Johanssen's mask, revealing her to be the male agent Markovich. He figured out the ruse because they both wear the same aftershave.

While Vronsky is safe at the science conference, Hammer and Doreau return to the precinct with Markovich. Trunk is informed that the Russian government will retrieve Markovich in exchange for an important journalist. Hammer and Trunk ponder on why the Russians would spend millions to give Markovich a sex change; to which Markovich explains he will be entering the Miss Iron Curtain pageant.

References

1. ^ The Official Sledge Hammer! Website - Comrade Hammer