#105 THE HOSTAGE (Original air date: 10/08/96)
Written by: William Schwartz Directed by: Victor Lobl Produced by: Martha Williamson, Jon Andersen & R.J. Visciglia, Jr. Guest Cast:
Aunt Ethel Mooster Cloris Leachman Fred Mooster Tom Amandes Kyle Matthews David Graf The Greene family stops in Pueblo, Colorado (en route to Albuquerque) to visit Claire's great Aunt Mooster to help celebrate her 100th birthday. The Greenes become embroiled in a hazardous waste cover-up at a local chemical plant, when an embittered employee (Kyle Matthews) takes the family hostage. Kyle claims Tyler Industries is responsible for his wife's death from cancer. Using his background as a Navy Seal, Russell disables the culprit and has him arrested. But the more Russell hears about the troubles in this small town, the more he suspects Kyle may be telling the truth. Emmy award winning actress, Cloris Leachman, gives a compelling performance as the irascible Aunt Mooster with a heart of gold and a gold mine of memories. Other highlights include Josh and Dinah's trip in Mooster's hot air balloon.