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MAGNUM, P.I.: ADELAIDE (TV)

Summary

One in this detective series set in Hawaii, starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a former naval officer turned private investigator. In this episode, Magnum, Rick and TC compete in a volleyball tournament, although Higgins warns him that his winning would prove embarrassing for Masters in the long run. Magnum is then approached by a shy, nervous young woman named Adelaide who wants to hire him, although she has little money, saying that someone called Norman is in mortal peril. He takes the case when she mentions that her uncle is Charles Cathcart, a “wild man” and former Navy surgeon who once saved Magnum’s life. When they go to her home, however, Cathcart dismissively says that he can handle the problem and scoffs at Magnum for “quitting” when he could have been a career Naval officer. Magnum is further frustrated when Adelaide reveals that Norman is in fact a horse, a Grand Prix jumper whom she intends to sell for $250,000 after an upcoming show. He takes the case, however, and they both sleep overnight in the stables to keep an eye on Norman, although Magnum points out that he will only be valuable after the show, provided he wins. In the morning, all seems calm, but several masked cowboys suddenly appear and grab Adelaide, and Magnum pursues her, although he knows it may be a diversion. He and Cathcart recover her quickly and return to the barn, and she is horrified when she finds Norman lying prone in his stall, but Magnum realizes that he has merely been tranquilized as a warning.

Having doubts about the security of the showground, Magnum attempts to recruit Rick and TC’s help, although they quickly deduce that he has been hired to protect a horse and share a hearty laugh at his expense. Later, Adelaide trains with Norman and receives a threatening phone call, but Magnum urges her to listen for more information next time. They spend the night in the barn again, and Adelaide lets slip that she is “saving herself” for the right person and was nervous that he would “pounce,” but now sees the appeal in his doing so. Before they can go further, however, a fire breaks out, and Magnum is sure that it is another diversion. He shoots at the arsonists, but they escape. On the day of the race, Rick and TC show up dressed to the nines and Higgins arrives against his will, declaring it “too droll” that Magnum has taken such an ignoble case. Nevertheless, Magnum encourages a nervous Adelaide to go through with the competition and convinces Rick and TC to act as his surveillance. The show gets underway and Adelaide and Norman are triumphant, pulling off a perfect score. Later, however, it is time to sell Norman, and Adelaide tells Magnum that her uncle’s lawyer, McDonald, is handling the transaction. When he arrives, Magnum checks his identification and the exchange goes smoothly. When they meet Cathcart for lunch at the turf club, however, the real McDonald arrives and they realize that they were duped.

A story appears in the paper about Magnum’s bungling of the case, much to Higgins’ amusement, but Magnum demands his help and Higgins informs him about different kinds of insurance for horses, including for sterility. Magnum realizes several inconsistencies in the events so far and thinks that Cathcart may have plotted against his own horse in order to collect the money, which upsets Adelaide. They realize that he could have hidden Norman at the showground, and when they arrive they find the horse unhurt, but Cathcart arrives with henchman in tow and admits to the scheme, saying he has no choice but to kill Norman. A fight breaks out and Norman escapes his pen, and Adelaide manages to get a gun on the other criminals. Magnum pursues Cathcart, only to find him dead, apparently trampled by the horse. Some time later, Magnum and his friends prepare for the volleyball championship when Adelaide appears and pays him for his services, saying she is leaving with Norman. She admits that she was wrong to believe the rumors of his womanizing ways, and they share a good-bye kiss as the others look on impatiently. Commercials deleted.

Details

  • NETWORK: CBS
  • DATE: March 19, 1981 9:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:49:12
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:11181
  • GENRE: Drama, police/private detective
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, police/private detective
  • SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1980-1988
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Donald P. Bellisario … Executive Producer, Created by
  • J. Rickley Dumm … Producer
  • Rick Weaver … Associate Producer
  • Glen A. Larson … Created by
  • Robert Hamilton … Writer
  • Lawrence Doheny … Director
  • Mike Post … Music by
  • Pete Carpenter … Music by
  • Tom Selleck … Cast, Magnum
  • John Hillerman … Cast, Higgins
  • Roger E. Mosley … Cast, TC
  • Larry Manetti … Cast, Rick
  • Christine Belford … Cast, Adelaide Malone
  • Cameron Mitchell … Cast, Captain Charles Cathcart, USN Retired
  • Don Lamond … Cast, McDonald
  • Allan Kucin … Cast, McDonald #2
  • Gray Gleason … Cast, Tony
  • Tremaine Tamayose … Cast, Ring Attendant
  • Deborah Takushi … Cast, Waitress