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The A-Team: Original Pilot

The A-Team was one of the most successful action series of the mid 1980's. Combining witty storylines, guns, thermo-nuclear devices, cigars, insanity, jewellery, and a massive well 'ard bloke who was afraid of aeroplanes, it was a formula that couldn't fail.

However, the original idea was very different to the A-Team that we know and love today. For the first time ever, The Wibble can exclusively bring you the script for the original pilot episode of the series, an episode that was scrapped before even entering production.

The A-Team: Pilot (Ax9F)

[Voice-over] In 1974, a crack commando team was sentenced to life in a maximum security prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from the prison, and live today as fugitives from the law, helping those in need. If you need help, and if you know where to find them, maybe you should hire... The A-Team

Hannibal: Before we go around helping people solve their problems, maybe we should think about sorting out ours first.

B.A.: Wotchootalkin' 'bout, 'foo?

Hannibal: You know, the small problem of escaping from a maximum security prison and being fugitives from the law.

B.A.: But it was for an undisclosed crime that we didn't commit.

Hannibal: I know, but the law won't see it that way. We need to find some evidence to prove that we're innocent.

[Enter Murdoch] Murdoch: Fleeb! Guns master! Guns! Echobelly! Birds Angel Delight! Mustang!

B.A.: Wotchootalkin' 'bout, 'foo?

Hannibal: He says... "I've found a... video... tape.. that... proves... you... didn't... commit the crime... and... shown... it... to the relevant... authorities... and... you... are now free... to live... your... lives... like....normal ... people."

B.A.: Well, that showed them suckas!

Hannibal: I love it when a plan comes together. [he takes a Pez dispenser from his pocket, and eats some of the sweets]

Murdoch: Fleeb! Gweble!

[Voice over and fade to end credits] The A-Team went and lived their lives as normal; Hannibal set up a Pez shop in Boston, B.A. Baruccas set up a flight academy in Mexico, and Murdoch was put on Valium. The other one faded into obscurity, apart from guest appearances in various forgettable dramas.

Well, I think you can see why it was never filmed; all the loose ends were tied up in the pilot episode, giving no chance of merchandising and a decent series.

Hurrah for the need for shoddy plastic toy merchandise, spin-off cartoons and comic books and Rocky Film sequels!