SPENSER: FOR HIRE: CHILDREN OF A TEMPEST STORM (TV)
Summary
One in this drama mystery series based on the novels by Robert B. Parker about Boston private eyes Spenser and Hawk. In this episode, while out shopping, Spenser is attacked by a man on roller skates and he is forced to shoot him dead. At home, he calls Susan and learns that she has left town for a few days, wanting to be "alone with her thoughts." Hawk asks Spenser about the would-be assassin and then reveals that the man, Tommy, had two young children who now have no one. Elsewhere, Susan talks with her doctor friend, revealing that she is pregnant and considering an abortion. When Tommy's girlfriend rejects the children, Spenser claims to be a friend of his and takes temporary charge of the kids. He confesses the truth to Susan, who agrees to help him to find an agency in which to place the kids, to whom he then breaks the news that Tommy is dead, though does not reveal the circumstances. At the same time, Hawk looks for information about the hit on Spenser, suspecting that the contract is still open. Susan chides Spenser for downplaying the attempt on his life, saying that he is always "self-sacrificing."
As she bonds with the girl, Jenny, Spenser travels to a "felons' emporium" for information, but learns only that the person who ordered the hit was "careful." He goes running with young Rick, who states that his father was nothing but a lowlife criminal, and Hawk arrives to tell Spenser that a more formidable killer has taken on the contract. Spenser breaks into Tommy's home and is attacked by a man with a shotgun, but he manages to evade him and then finds a lawyer's business card in the apartment. He finds the attorney, Chadway, at the courthouse and tries to get information on Tommy, and although the man is unhelpful, a security guard reveals that Chadway works with a powerful and imprisoned criminal, King Powers, and Spenser realizes that he is behind the hit, as he and Hawk were the ones to put him away. Spenser asks Hawk to keep an eye on Susan, Jenny and Rick, and then goes to visit Powers, who subtly admits his guilt but implies that he cannot be stopped. Back at home, Spenser overhears a surprisingly adult comment from Jenny and guesses that Susan is pregnant. They debate the matter, with Spenser arguing that the fetus has "a right to live," but Susan retorts that she is unsure and the timing is not right.
Powers' assassins attack Spenser again, and he fights one of them off on a city trolley before cornering one of his lawyers in a car and extracting a confession. He then confronts Powers again at the courthouse and reveals that he recorded the confession and will give it to the police unless Powers starts an ample trust fund for Jenny and Rick. Powers, having no other choice, agrees, and Spenser tells Rick that money owed to Tommy will pay for his and Jenny's schooling. Rick demands the truth, however, and Spenser admits that he was forced to kill Tommy, but assures him that he does genuinely care for him, and that Tommy, despite his faults, loved his children as well. He then goes to visit Susan, who has undergone the abortion, and brings her flowers, signaling that their relationship will endure. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: October 11, 1985 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:12623
- GENRE: Drama, police/private detective
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, police/private detective
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1985-1988
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- John Wilder … Executive Producer, Developed by
- William Robert Yates … Supervising Producer
- Dick Gallegly … Producer
- Robert Hamilton … Producer, Writer
- John Elizalde … Associate Producer
- Robert B. Parker … Based on characters created by
- William Wiard … Director
- Steve Dorff … Music by
- Larry Herbstritt … Music by
- Robert Urich … Cast, Spenser
- Avery Brooks … Cast, Hawk
- Barbara Stock … Cast, Susan Silverman
- Ron McLarty … Cast, Sgt. Frank Belson
- Richard Jaeckel … Cast, Lt. Martin Quirk
- Noah Moazezi … Cast, Rick
- Judith Tannen … Cast, Jenny
- Chuck Connors … Cast, King Powers
- Roger Serbagi … Cast
- Lauren Tom … Cast
- Baxter Harris … Cast
- Gregg Baker … Cast
- Cristine Rose … Cast
- Larry Victor … Cast
- Bill McCutcheon … Cast