“The Death Merchant” is episode twenty-five of season one of The Time Tunnel.
At the end of the previous episode, “Chase Through Time”, Doug and Tony had ended up on a U.S. Civil War battlefield. An oddly-dressed man had passed and Union soldiers were retreating. Tony was hit by an explosion and Doug asked a Union major for help. The major said Tony was dead. Ray is not getting any signal for Tony, which would only happen if he was, well, dead. Ann suggests a malfunction but Ray can’t find one. Doug’s signal is strong. There’s mop other explanation.
Doug and the major have arrived at a river. They were following a trail but it’s gone. Doug wants to go back for Tony. The major tells him he has no chance by himself, but if Doug helps the major, he will accompany Doug back so Tony can have a decent burial. Doug agrees but wants to know what is going on. A man in black stole a wagon with 150 kegs of gunpowder. The Confederates want it; the major needs to get it back or destroy it. He tells Doug to put on a uniform; it might save his life. There are no civilians on the battlefield. What is this place? Gettysburg.
General Kirk tells Ann they always knew the odds were against both surviving. He tells Ray to close down Tony’s channel, so they have full power for Doug. Ann objects; Kirk asks if she can think of anything else. Yes; try a power surge. This works and Tony revives in the arms of a Confederate corporal. The sergeant thinks Tony is a courier, Lieutenant Andrews, though without the money he’s supposed to have. Tony doesn’t remember anything but an explosion. The sergeant doesn’t think he’s likely to be anyone else but the lieutenant and gives him a uniform. They will track the Union major who is also looking for the man they are supposed to meet, Michaels.
Doug and the major cross the river; the major says the courier, Andrews, is dead. Doug follows the trail and the major waits to see if the Confederates arrive. They do. The corporal starts crossing the river and the major shoots him, then meets Doug outside a house. The dog seen earlier was there, and the man is inside the house. The man, Michaels, says the Union doesn’t need the gunpowder; they have enough. War is only interesting if the sides are evenly matched. He’s writing a book, The Art of War. Michaels is chatting, then plunges the room into darkness, stabs the major with a sword and disarms Doug.
The major is injured, but not dead. Michaels wants to know more about this war. He says Doug can help the major, but the major is too badly injured. He tells Doug Michaels is a madman and needs to be stopped. He just doesn’t want to die without knowing what happened. Doug fills him in on the outcome before the major dies. Then sees a chest with the name ‘Machiavelli’ on it and takes another sword.
Doug demands where Michaels is from. Another time, another place. Doug says it’s impossible; Machiavelli died four centuries ago. Michaels – Machiavelli – is pleased that his works outlived his era. Doug says he’s remembered as the most hated philosopher in history. They fight, but Machiavelli wins. Machiavelli doesn’t know how he got there. He was returning to Florence after meeting with Prince Borgia when he was seized by a maelstrom. Doug thinks of the Time Tunnel. Machiavelli thinks this is a most wonderful war.
Ray wonders how this happened; they are the only operation. General Kirk says it must have been them, then. Ray checks; Machiavelli’s signal is identical to Doug’s. A coincidence. Ann returns with photos of the area to try and identify it and asks the general about battlefield amnesia and how long it lasts. Sometimes hours, sometimes forever. They need to send Machiavelli back too and, given he hasn’t finished writing The Art of War, are probably going to succeed. Not without incident, though.
Just like Doug did in “Invasion”, Tony has forgotten who he is and wants to kill Doug. Machiavelli, and a really inaccurate portrayal of the individual this is, is taking far too much pleasure in the conflict.