The subtle film""s slogan proclaimed:"Getting there is half he fun.Being there is all of it."The film was directed by Hal Ashby (already known forHarold and Maude (1971),The Last Detail (1973),Shampoo (1975),Bound for Glory (1976),and the acclaimed Vietnam war filmComing Home (1978)).The bartender (Vincent Gardenia) and other patrons see an opportunity to win and they enter the contest ("I""ll ry you"), challenging the pool player to another attempt and matching his $105 dollar bet ("one week""s commission") - hey fail to notice that they are being conned and swindled.Onward to Reata in Texas:The dissolve marked a long passage of time and a major transition.The next scene was introduced with a close-up of a golden round emblem on the back of a train car: Texas & Western - Benedict Reata (with an R brand).Call was revealed to be an advanced robotic droid after Dr.Wren betrayed the group and shot her in the chest - and she survived.Call manually programmed theUSM Aurigato crash-land on Earth, in order to kill all the onboard aliens, while the remaining survivors (Christie had been killed) attempted to navigate a clear path to reach theBettyfor evacuation before the crash." As he told her about her secret curse, her signal was delayed due o the distraction.Fearing the caravan would get away, the ogres attacked under impatient chief Brogan""s (Jon Hamm) orders, but hey found it was a trap.