Post by owlcroft on Jan 8, 2015 20:45:59 GMT -5
It's finally time to clean out all the clutter, after Hardcastle is served with a warning from the local fire marshal. It's a regular trip down memory lane for both the guys, culminating in the discovery of a tacky-looking basketball trophy. But, on closer examination, Hardcastle discovers it isn't his. It belongs to his old college roommate, retired NBA player Teddy Hendrix.
Hardcastle decides it's time to return the memento, and maybe catch up on bygone days. Mark can't quite believe that the judge was b.f.f. with a big star like Hendrix. Even in retirement he's doing big money endorsements for a sports magazine.
Unbeknownst to the guys, Hendrix isn't happily semi-retired. The magazine publisher his works for, Roy Barlow, is putting some kind of unspecified squeeze on him. Hendrix has finally decided to stand his ground. He throws two of Barlow's "representatives" out of his office.
Mark's doubts about how close the judge thinks he was with Teddy seem to be confirmed when they show up a short while later at his office. First they're told he's left the office, then when they encounter him, being confronted by the same two goons again, he runs off while they deal with Barlow's hired help. Despite their best efforts, the goons escape.
Hardcastle is puzzled. He consults Frank for an ID on the would-be kidnapper's car. It is registered to the sports magazine Hendrix shills for. Now even more curious, Hardcastle head to Teddy's house. Teddy's not there but his wife is.
At last here's someone from Milt's past who greets him warmly. Of course he's not suspicious. He tells her all about the garage incident. She tells him she has no idea what's going on, but Teddy was calling it quits with Barlow. Oh, and he may have started drinking again.
Cue call from Teddy. He tells Milt everything is hunky-dory. Just a misunderstanding. Luckily, the judge can do blasé, too. He casually invites Teddy to a title-justifying reunion at Gull's Way the following night.
They leave. Teddy, who was watching from across the street the whole time, returns home. He pulls out a gun but continues to assure his doting wife that everything is okay.
The next morning he encounters Barlow (with henchmen--don't leave home without 'em) in his office. This time he pulls a gun and destroys a vase to show he means business. At half-time it's Hendrix 3, Barlow 0.
That night, at the estate, Hardcastle's former college teammates (who all showed up on very short notice, proving that Hardcastle isn't the only one without a social life) exchange jibes and stories. Looks like Hendrix will be a no-show, but he finally arrives, slightly pickled. Harcastle takes him in the kitchen and wheedles a confession out of him. He's gone back to drinking because he's disgusted with himself. His litany of failings goes all the way back to throwing the championship game in college, and he's still recruiting young players who will rig the odds for Barlow.
He agrees to stay the night and plans to confess all to the D.A. in the morning. But when morning comes, Teddy's in the wind. He doesn't know that the henchmen have been following him and now suspect he's going to snitch on their boss.
Mark and Milt hit the pavement, first revisiting Hendrix's office, then hunting him down at a session of basketball coaching for a bunch of underprivileged youths. The guys arrive just in time to scare off the henchmen yet again. They'd planned on knifing Hendrix.
This ought to be a sign to move that appointment time up a little, right? So Mark escorts Hendrix there. Milt goes off in search of warrants, but while he's in Frank's office, getting himself up to speed on Barlow, Fran (don't trust her!!) calls. It's the old "I've got something to show you." Instead of asking for specifics, Hardcastle dutifully goes to her home, walks in and gets slugged by one of the henchmen--showing that persistence is what counts.
Barlow, Fran, and henchman retire to a remote spot with Hardcastle. Barlow calls Hendrix, at the D.A.'s office (what cheek he has!) advising him that he's nabbed the judge. Hendrix bows out of his interview and then tells Mark what's up.
A short while later Mark's put together his strike force with two more of Milt's old basketball buddies to round out the squad. Those two, in hardhats and work gear, drive to the meeting spot, feigning being lost. Mark and Teddy are hidden in the back of the vehicle. Mayhem ensues. Hendrix gets the traditional flesh wound. Milt gets to slug some guys. The final whistle finds the good guys in control and Fran, who was perfectly useless in the fight, looking wan.
In the epilogue, the big Gull's Way garage sale netted over four-hundred dollars. Wow. That's 1986 dollars, too. Unfortunately, the Malibu Fire protective services fined the guys an extortionary $500, so Mark, in for a ten percent fee, is once again in arrears.
Written by Stephen Katz Premiered Feb. 17,1986
Reply
Delete
Hardcastle decides it's time to return the memento, and maybe catch up on bygone days. Mark can't quite believe that the judge was b.f.f. with a big star like Hendrix. Even in retirement he's doing big money endorsements for a sports magazine.
Unbeknownst to the guys, Hendrix isn't happily semi-retired. The magazine publisher his works for, Roy Barlow, is putting some kind of unspecified squeeze on him. Hendrix has finally decided to stand his ground. He throws two of Barlow's "representatives" out of his office.
Mark's doubts about how close the judge thinks he was with Teddy seem to be confirmed when they show up a short while later at his office. First they're told he's left the office, then when they encounter him, being confronted by the same two goons again, he runs off while they deal with Barlow's hired help. Despite their best efforts, the goons escape.
Hardcastle is puzzled. He consults Frank for an ID on the would-be kidnapper's car. It is registered to the sports magazine Hendrix shills for. Now even more curious, Hardcastle head to Teddy's house. Teddy's not there but his wife is.
At last here's someone from Milt's past who greets him warmly. Of course he's not suspicious. He tells her all about the garage incident. She tells him she has no idea what's going on, but Teddy was calling it quits with Barlow. Oh, and he may have started drinking again.
Cue call from Teddy. He tells Milt everything is hunky-dory. Just a misunderstanding. Luckily, the judge can do blasé, too. He casually invites Teddy to a title-justifying reunion at Gull's Way the following night.
They leave. Teddy, who was watching from across the street the whole time, returns home. He pulls out a gun but continues to assure his doting wife that everything is okay.
The next morning he encounters Barlow (with henchmen--don't leave home without 'em) in his office. This time he pulls a gun and destroys a vase to show he means business. At half-time it's Hendrix 3, Barlow 0.
That night, at the estate, Hardcastle's former college teammates (who all showed up on very short notice, proving that Hardcastle isn't the only one without a social life) exchange jibes and stories. Looks like Hendrix will be a no-show, but he finally arrives, slightly pickled. Harcastle takes him in the kitchen and wheedles a confession out of him. He's gone back to drinking because he's disgusted with himself. His litany of failings goes all the way back to throwing the championship game in college, and he's still recruiting young players who will rig the odds for Barlow.
He agrees to stay the night and plans to confess all to the D.A. in the morning. But when morning comes, Teddy's in the wind. He doesn't know that the henchmen have been following him and now suspect he's going to snitch on their boss.
Mark and Milt hit the pavement, first revisiting Hendrix's office, then hunting him down at a session of basketball coaching for a bunch of underprivileged youths. The guys arrive just in time to scare off the henchmen yet again. They'd planned on knifing Hendrix.
This ought to be a sign to move that appointment time up a little, right? So Mark escorts Hendrix there. Milt goes off in search of warrants, but while he's in Frank's office, getting himself up to speed on Barlow, Fran (don't trust her!!) calls. It's the old "I've got something to show you." Instead of asking for specifics, Hardcastle dutifully goes to her home, walks in and gets slugged by one of the henchmen--showing that persistence is what counts.
Barlow, Fran, and henchman retire to a remote spot with Hardcastle. Barlow calls Hendrix, at the D.A.'s office (what cheek he has!) advising him that he's nabbed the judge. Hendrix bows out of his interview and then tells Mark what's up.
A short while later Mark's put together his strike force with two more of Milt's old basketball buddies to round out the squad. Those two, in hardhats and work gear, drive to the meeting spot, feigning being lost. Mark and Teddy are hidden in the back of the vehicle. Mayhem ensues. Hendrix gets the traditional flesh wound. Milt gets to slug some guys. The final whistle finds the good guys in control and Fran, who was perfectly useless in the fight, looking wan.
In the epilogue, the big Gull's Way garage sale netted over four-hundred dollars. Wow. That's 1986 dollars, too. Unfortunately, the Malibu Fire protective services fined the guys an extortionary $500, so Mark, in for a ten percent fee, is once again in arrears.
Written by Stephen Katz Premiered Feb. 17,1986
Reply
Delete
