Just Say Yes

// K2809 · Originally aired July 13, 1998

Maggie’s hot temper leads to her indoctrination into a world that mandates drug use.

Written By // Richard Manning
Director // Jefferson Kibbee
Music // Danny Lux

Reviews

// Earth Prime

If you’re looking for a solid comic outing, you’ll definitely enjoy “Just Say Yes.” The little touches and the weather during filming give this episode a solid second season vibe to it. And at the very least, it’s another of the fourth season’s return to form for the series.

// Think of a Roulette Wheel

Or, the one with all the drugs and casual sexism.

// External Reviews

Worlds Visited

OFF World

You may hate mosquitoes, but for God’s sake, don’t swat any. They’re an endangered species here.

Drug World

Early 20th-century research into pharmacology by Sigmund Freud has led to state-sponsored drug usage to manage the highs and lows of human emotion.

Details

The Chandler bar serves zucchini juice, beet frappe, frozen okra whip and broccoli with soda.
Helena Malone runs the Abbie Hoffman Memorial Clinic.
The DEA on Drug World is called the Drug Empowerment Administration.
There is a Ritz Merchandise Company across the street from the Chandler.
The DEA’s minivan license plate reads 3UGT672.
The taxi cab has two signs printed on its doors:
- Driver only carries 5 dollar in change.
- Rates—75 cents first 1/7th
The doors in the clinic read “Waiting Room” and “Helena Malone, M.D.”
Reorientation Compound Four is located at 1402 Elm Street.
Maggie and Colin are reading the following books:
- Drugs are Your Friends
- Domestic Bliss Made Easy
- Illustrated History of Pharmacology
Damon’s jacket has a patch that reads “Licensed Facilitator.”
The alley where Quinn and Rembrandt try to purchase troxoprine is located at 1125 Gould.
The license plate of the car that hits Damon reads 929-LET.
The license plate of a Jeep on the street reads 3NRV212

Pharmacology

Mood elevators

Tranquol™: Lowest-level commercial tranquilizer. While the dosage can be adjusted, the overall effect produces a please, tranquil mindset.
Euphoridine™: For those who find Tranquol a little ineffective due to increased tolerance.
Ecstacide™: Pure bliss. Unless you’re prepared for it, Ecstacide will knock you out.

Stimulants

Decimide: A PCP-esque drug that enhances strength and rage while reducing pain sensation and, unfortunately higher mental functions. Symptoms of Decimide include fever, trouble breathing and limited mobility. Decimide is so strong that even it is regulated by the government. To authorize its use, field agents must fill out a D-I-1029 form and submit it to the state capital.

Regulators

Troxoprine™: Neutralizes all other drugs in your system.

Character Information

Quinn’s double was arrested twice for non-possession and was believed dead from an underdose. His last known whereabouts are Ensenada, Mexico.
Rembrandt is no stranger to drugs. While on tour, he’s seen people stoned and even saw a roadie set on fire.
Maggie is, surprise, a horrible cook.
It’s apparent from Quinn’s reaction to the drugs around him that he’s not a casual drug user.

Notable Quotes

“Quinn, you ever wonder why we have so many fingers?”—a doped-out Colin.
“You sound orange.”—Colin.
“I knew a roadie once who crashed for three days. Didn’t even twitch when the drummer set him on fire.”—Rembrandt, reliving his glory days.
“How do you feel? And please don’t say hungry.”—Quinn to Colin.
“It’s important to experience new sensations. Science demands it.”—Colin.
“Stay loose. You’re gonna make me forget my mantra.”—Taxi cab driver.
“Where’s the Beaver?”—Quinn, after seeing the pseudo-1950s design of the reorientation compound.
“Baking, hmmm… I’ll try anything once.”—Maggie, confirming everyone’s assessment that she’s not much of a homemaker.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me!”—Quinn, after Damon gets up from a number of different attacks.
“In that case, these are the worst cookies I’ve ever tasted!”—Colin, after Maggie says it’s impossible to hurt her feelings.
“Wow… this new formula… outstanding.”—Taxi cab driver after seeing the Sliders enter the vortex.

Money Matters

Rembrandt and Colin ponder the drink selection of the Chandler bar.
Quinn and Rembrandt aren’t worried about paying for two uncut, maximum-strength doses of troxoprine.
Rembrandt has several hundred dollars that he flashes the cabbie.

Nitpicks and Errors

1402 Elm Street… or is it? Dialogue says it’s Street, but in the next shot, it shows a street sign saying Elm Avenue!

Neatpicks

Maggie does an impressive “Singing in the Rain” impersonation during her high after leaving the Chandler.
Abbie Hoffman was a counter-culture type that died of a drug overdose in the late 1980s. It’s always been rumored that Hoffman was offed by government agents, as he was about to go public with some sensitive anti-government information. It’s a nice touch that he’s been memorialized as a clinic name, despite the fact that he hated drugs!
Quinn asks “Where’s the Beaver?” when he and Rembrandt first see the Re-orientation Compound. The house Colin and Maggie live in is the same house as the one seen in Leave it to Beaver.
Call it a personal like, but the crappy weather that visited California for months gave “Just Say Yes” a Vancouver, BC look that hasn’t been seen since the second season.
It’s interesting to learn about Quinn’s double and not meeting him. Why should Quinn have a sixth sense on the whereabouts of his doubles? He doesn’t.

Rewind That!

As Maggie dances in the street, she does a cartwheel. At one point, her underwear is clearly visible.
Sponsorship rears its ugly head again as a FedEx truck is clearly visible in the alley behind the Chandler.

Parallel History

In the beginning of the 20th century, Sigmund Freud found out about the psychological effects of lithium and began researching drugs as a way to promote well-being, abandoning his other areas of research. Pharmacology paved the way into the American consciousness, and as a result, is now the de facto method of controlling the population.

It is also hinted at that most of the western world uses medical infusers to prescribe medication, saying that only a few parts of Canada still prescribe the drugs orally.

The Drug Empowerment Agency was enacted instead of the Drug Enforcement Agency, allowing the government to make sure that its citizens are kept happy and complacent through the uses of pharmacotherapy. Police are substituted by licensed facilitators, men and women who inject people with mood tranquilizers like Tranquol to keep them docile. As a result, the amount of crime is seriously reduced to the point where door locks and camera monitoring systems aren’t implemented, even in sensitive areas like doctor’s offices.

In 1995, in Monterey, California, the seal population exploded, prompting the state government to call in the Coast Guard and lessen the numbers by spraying high-pressured water on them. A protest was held by a group of environmentalists, and a few Facilitators were given Decimide to eliminate the problem.

Now, in 1998, Quinn Mallory is considered a high-profile criminal. His whereabouts are unknown.

Guest Starring

J. August Richards as Damon
Katherine Moffat as Dr. Helena Malone
James Sutorius as Agent Fletcher Lowell
Connie Sawyer as Winifred
Gonzalo Menendez as Jorge
David Ursin as Cabbie

Script Archive

Click on the links below to download rare scripts, outlines, and memos associated with this episode.

The Inside Slide

The working title for this episode in pre-production was “San Fernando Valium.”

· · ·

Kari Wuhrer waxed enthusiastic about this episode.

“I also had a great time doing an episode called ‘Just Say Yes.’ It was when Charlie just started and Charlie and I got to be strung out on drugs the entire show.”