Hollywood, California - Hollywood movie executive producers of "That '70s Show" and former "Flower Children" of the turbulent '60s themselves, were eager to help re-assimilate convicted Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) member, Sara Jane Olson, back into mainstream society. So following her 12 year sentence (6 years served) for her part in the criminal, political and moral guilt for the death of a human being and failed attempted bombing of a police car, they offered her a role in the up beat comedy movie version of "That '70s Show."
Olson, cast as high school chemistry teacher and Nun at a Catholic Carmel Convent for girls, was on the movie lot filming her part when she got the bad news that police were on their way to rearrest her after a corrections officer discovered he made an accounting error in giving her time off for being a role model prisoner.
"It was kind of sad really," said Mark Johnson, production assistant on the show. "I mean I know she's a convicted terrorist, but she did her time and repaid her debt to society…well, almost."
Johnson was present while Olson was in costume rehearsing her scene, acting out her lines behind a chemistry table just before filming started.
"Then she got the news that the police were on their way for her. She took off her crucifix and set it on the chemistry table opposite a beaker filled with dry ice," said Johnson. "Then I saw her eyes dart back and forth. It was like she was watching a tennis match. First, she looked at the crucifix then over to the beaker of dry ice. She went on like that for at least a full minute like she was trying to make a decision or something, until she suddenly grabbed the beaker of dry ice and stormed off the set."
Everyone had assumed Olson went into her dressing room to change before the police arrived to rearrest her but when they came, she was nowhere to found.
A stagehand reported seeing Olson headed for the special effects department where small explosive devices are used in movie making are stored.
Police eventually found Olson in the cafeteria calmly eating a burrito when they rearrested her.
Witnesses present in the cafeteria at the time say she seemed remarkably relaxed as she taken away by the authorities and could even be seen smiling as she was driven away to jail, handcuffed in the back of a police car.
Later, studio security had to call police back to the studio lot as a substantial quantity of explosive devices were reported stolen from the special effect department.
A bomb-sniffing dog was seen searching the studio grounds as studio security, and police reviewed security tapes trying to retrace the last free steps of Olson.
Producers have canceled shooting until further notice.
"Well, I guess, she wasn't rehabilitated," said Johnson. "I guess she needed to serve out the remainder of her sentence after all."
