User Reviews

In this tale, loosely based on "A Christmas Carol", Steve is assigned to check out a military contractor's work on space industry equipment that may be used on a Mars mission someday. The main plot involves Steve assisting the depressed chauffeur of the boss. The boss Mr. Budge is played by Ray Walston ("My Favorite Martian") and the boss' nephew Krandall is played by Dick Sargent (Darrin II from "Bewitched"). Turns out, a "Christmas Carol" scenario has been playing out, where skinflint Budge underpays Krandall serially (it is revealed that an ethical breach was made by Krandall, but not without reason). Eventually, Budge gets gravely ill-- and an emergency visit from his physician informs Steve that he must keep Budge awake for at least 3 hours so that his medicines don't cause him to lapse into a coma (?). So Steve rents a Santa Claus outfit, and takes a groggy Budge with him to look at some things in town: first Krandall's family, where they hear the two adults talking about Budge's behavior; next the factory grounds of Budge's company, where they overhear employees talking about how Budge's cheapness is putting lives at risk with the materials for the space equipment. A hastily created fake tombstone (engraved with bionic fingers) helps sell the pitch: Budge needs to change his ways.

No real villains in this episode-- Budge is the nominal adversary, but of course he's not evil, just greedy. Nobody to beat up, and only two dramatic rescues, one involving Budge himself.

Steve also gets to retrieve an ad-hoc Christmas tree, bionic style.

Nothing objectionable overall, but this is a fairly average, kind of boring episode overall.