Gather Ye Acorns (2 Feb. 1986)

Jonathan Quick, the bane of his practical parents' existence, takes an ancient tree troll's advice to pack up his treasured comic-book collection and follow his heart. And so, 50 years ... See full summary »

Director:

Norman Reynolds

Writers:

Steven Spielberg (developer), Joshua Brand (developer),

Stars:

Mark Hamill, David Rappaport, Lois De Banzie

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Mark Hamill	...	Jonathan
David Rappaport	...	Troll
Lois De Banzie	...	Alma (as Lois de Banzie)
Mary Jo Deschanel	...	Francine
Royal Dano	...	Elmer
David Friedman	...	Jonathan, Age 12
Joanna Merlin	...	Marie / Wealthy Lady
Frank Schuller	...	Treadwell
William Dear	...	David
Forest Whitaker	...	Jerry
John Carlyle	...	Auctioneer
Conrad Dunn	...	Gas Station Attendant
Kelly Henson	...	Sister
Brian Smith	...	Brother (as Brian Parker Smith)

Storyline

Jonathan Quick, the bane of his practical parents' existence, takes an ancient tree troll's advice to pack up his treasured comic-book collection and follow his heart. And so, 50 years later....

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Release Date:

2 February 1986 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amblin Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Timothy Hutton was the original choice for the role 'Mark Hamill' (qv played.

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Goofs

The gas station attendant doesn't put out his cigarette when he goes near the gas pump.

User Reviews

Bad Advice From A Troll

A hairy little troll (looks and sounds like a leprechaun with the Irish accent) gives a young boy ("Jono") some bad advice....and advice you often hear in the movies: listen to your heart. No, that is bad advice because the heart is deceitful. Anyway, he tells the kid to forget about studying to be a doctor and that hard work is not a virtue. "There's doctors aplenty is this world," he says, What we could truly do with is a few more dreamers."

Wow, there's sound advice. He claims several times "I am Mother Nature's only son." Actually, writer-director-producer Steven Spielberg, who was responsible for this TV series, actually believes that nonsense (except I would guess he worked pretty hard to get to where he is).

We switch from 1932 to 1938 and now it's Mark Hamill of "Star Wars" fame playing Jono. He winds up spending all his hard-earned money on car. His dad is a little peeved, to say the least, and boots him out of the house.

Years go by and our boys is now a white-bearded almost-homeless bum, a man who has barely survived to ready to kill himself by driving his car

• if he can get gas money - over the Hoover Dam.

The story has a happy ending, of course, but a message that doesn't lead to a happy life. (They don't detail the man's 50 years of poverty with no family and friends). An interesting story, nonetheless with a guest appearance by an "unknown" at the time: Forest Whitaker!