| Busy Signal | |
|---|---|
| Season 2, Episode 11 | |
| |
| Air date | September 24, 1985 (production) November 30, 1985 (TV) |
| Written by | Eleanor Burian-Mohr Glen Egbert |
| Episode guide | |
| Previous "Ghost Catchers" |
Next "Bad Dreams Are Made of This" |
"Busy Signal" is the 11th episode of the second season of Inspector Gadget.
Synopsis[]
Dr. Spectrum has created a Phasor Gun capable of dematerializing matter at the molecular level. Spectrum has trained a squirrel to sneak into mansions and knock the telephone receiver of it's stand. Then M.A.D. Agent Lenny is teleported into the house by the landline, where he proceeds to transferred all the valuables right back to Claw's domain through the city's telephone circuits. Under the guise of a local telephone company, they systematically target the mansions of Metro City's elite neighborhoods and proceed in burglarizing them with the dial of a number and with a zap of the aforementioned gun to send the loot straight into Claw's hands. No break-in signs, no prints, and no traceability seems like M.A.D. has hit the mark with this furtive little scheme. This gets the attention of the police and Quimby assigns Gadget to solve the case, but the inspector erroniously thinks that the mansions themselves are being stolen.
After a run-in with a huge, burly truck driver and a woman taking a shower, Gadget finds a telephone book and thinks that it's a clue, so he goes to the telephone company building. He ends up finding Dr. Spectrum's room. Spectrum is about to use his gun to teleport Gadget away, but Brain rescues his master. This gets Brain chased by Gadget again, only to have Spectrum following the two and finally teleporting Gadget away with his gun. Gadget is teleported to an another robbed mansion and now he has to deal with a crying woman.
Meanwhile, Penny and Brain investigate Spectrum's room and find out what's going on. Figuring out where Gadget is, Penny sends Brain there. She then follows Spectrum to another soon-to-be-robbed mansion. Brain finds Gadget and, after telling Penny the good news, he has to bring the inspector to the mansion. Brain steals the book away from Gadget and the inspector starts to chase him. Soon, Penny gets captured by Spectrum, who threatens to teleport her to Claw, but she kicks the gun away. Spectrum and a M.A.D. agent fight over the gun, inadvertently teleporting the parts of the van to Claw, giving Penny a chance to escape. Gadget and Brain then arrive and the brawl soon makes the M.A.D. agent be teleported away. After a brief encounter with a furious Claw, the agent and the van parts are teleported back. Gadget inadvertently sets the gun in reverse, teleporting the stolen loot back. Quimby then arrives, but not before Spectrum uses his gun to teleport himself away.
Starring[]
- Don Adams - Inspector Gadget
- Maurice LaMarche - Chief Quimby
- Holly Berger - Penny
- Ted Zeigler - Dr. Spectrum
Also with[]
- Rita Taggart - Crying Woman
- Ron House - Truck Driver
Uncredited[]
- Frank Welker - Brain, Dr. Claw, M.A.D. Cat, M.A.D. Agent, Mansion Owner
Trivia[]
- A drawing of Heathcliff and Riff-Raff from Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats appeared on the book.
- The house that the truck driver is transporting on the gooseneck trailer of his truck is clearly a summer cottage, not a mansion. However, it doesn't appear to be large enough for anyone to live in. It appears to be only about 16⅜ feet long, 9 feet wide, 5⅞ feet high from floor to ceiling, and 10⅜ feet high at the roof (with the chimney adding another 1¼ feet).
Gadgets used[]
- Gadget Jackhammer
- Gadget Hands:
- salutes the Chief
- shows police badge
- uses Gadget Magnifying Glass
- two hands wring out a wet napkin
- holds a phone book
- picks leaf of a plant
- scratches his nose
- Gadget Neck
- Gadget Arms
- Gadget Skates
- Finger Gadgets
- Gadget laser (left index finger)
Locations[]
Chief Quimby's hiding place[]
- Up the Gadget Flagpole as part of plan 3B
Self-destructing message[]
- "Mansions in Metro City being burglarized. Unknown method used. Suspect M.A.D. involvement. Investigate and stop burglaries. Caution: this message will self-destruct."
Chief Quimby's reaction to being blown up[]
- "GADGET...!"
Brain's disguises[]
- Scooter Driver
- Telephone lineman
- Maid
M.A.D. Agents[]
Penny's gadgets[]
House Gadgets[]
Gadgetmobile Gadgets[]
- Converts from Gadget Van to Gadgetmobile
- Domelight emerges from roof
- Gadget Claw extends from front bumper
- Converts from Gadgetmobile to Gadget Van
Pop Culture References[]
- Star Trek: M.A.D. Agent Lenny asks Dr. Spectrum to beam him up.
Home media releases[]
- Busy Signal (The Maier Group)
