ABC MYSTERY MOVIE, THE: GIDEON OLIVER: SLEEP WELL, PROFESSOR OLIVER (TV)
Summary
The premiere in this series, presented under the umbrella of "The ABC Mystery Movie," about a New York City-based anthropology professor that solves crimes with the help of his twentysomething daughter. In this episode, author Margaret Parrish questions cult leader Raskin about his criminal past, maintaining that she wants her daughter Allison out of his control. That night, Margaret answers the phone as someone calling herself Barbara says that she is Allison's friend. She claims to be calling in lieu of Allison, revealing that Allison wants to meet her mother that evening. However, the woman -- whose real name is Coombs -- is in cahoots with Raskin. Coombs waits in a car with her lover -- Allison's husband, Paul -- and observes as Margaret leaves her building for the supposed rendezvous with her daughter. Paul than shoots and kills his mother-in-law. The next day, Gideon lectures his class at Columbia University. Afterward, Gideon is approached by detective John Quinn, who wishes to talk about the death of Margaret, who was one of Gideon's closest friends. John hints that Margaret's murder was an execution rather than a random killing. John is interested in the research that Margaret was doing, as well as the men with whom she may have been involved. Returning to his office, Gideon's loyal secretary, Catherine Frazier, gives him the latest updates on Margaret's death, then tells him that daughter Zina is waiting for him. Zina says that his relationship with Margaret may have ended his marriage. Gideon is now determined to find out the specifics of Margaret's project at the time of her death.
Returning home, Gideon gets an idea and bikes over to the site of Margaret's murder. There, he examines the blood spot on the sidewalk, marking where she fell to her death. Meanwhile, Raskin and Coombs watch a videotape of Margaret's murder, saying that eight copies have already been ordered. Coombs says she is worried about John, with Raskin then ordering Coombs to kill an innocent person exactly as Margaret was dispatched, making it seem like the work of a serial murderer. The next day, Gideon gets a letter from Margaret postmarked the day she was killed. The letter asked Gideon for help, while Margaret also worried about the pornographers with whom Allison was associating. Later, Gideon meets with John, claiming Margaret was murdered due to her investigation of the pornographic underworld. Gideon wonders what John is hiding from him. John and Gideon then head back to Margaret's apartment to look through her belongings. They find books on pedophilia and sociopathic behavior, as well as a list with the names of John Steele and Raskin on it. Gideon later laments to Zina that he is getting no help from the cops. Gideon wants Zina to ask Allison about Margaret's project, but Zina is hesitant to call her old pal. Meanwhile, a portly man -- who was on the scene at Margaret's murder -- develops some pictures of nude young children before heading to a satanic shop. There, he presents the pictures to Coombs, who says the photos are as "hot" as the videotapes. Meanwhile, Zina meets with Allison, who talks about her mentally challenged son and thriving four-year-old daughter. Allison wants to know why Zina is visiting her for the first time in three years. Zina claims that it's possible Margaret's murder wasn't random. Allison claims to have no idea what Margaret was working on when she was killed. That night, Coombs, with Paul's aid, carries out Raskin's order to kill another woman to set up the serial killer ruse. Elsewhere, Zina tells Gideon that Allison knows something but is scared to reveal it. Then, Gideon hears about the latest murder and rushes to the scene. Gideon meets with John, but the detective claims there's nothing to see. Now, however, Gideon is certain that Margaret's murder was carefully planned. Gideon gives John a ride home to Queens. When they arrive, police are on the scene. A pentagram has been painted on his front door and a cat nailed to it. John's wife Lila is furious with him, having believed that he was off the case.
The next day, John heads to the gym where Gideon kickboxes. At the same time, Raskin and Coombs discuss having killed John's cat and how it failed to make the detective quit the case. Later, Gideon and John head to Central Park, where Gideon discusses how the detective has become a target. John discusses the satanic groups lurking in the city, citing how Son of Sam killer David Berkowitz was tied in to such a following. That night, Coombs's satanic cult meets and performs a ceremony involving the killing of a German shepherd. The sacrifice is filmed by Raskin for video sales, used to complement the group's earnings from child pornography and snuff films. Meanwhile, John shows Gideon how the Son of Sam murders could have been satanic in nature. He also admits that John Steele, whose name the pair had found in Margaret's apartment, was possibly connected to the Son of Sam killings. John thinks that Steele's supposed suicide in Oklahoma was faked, and that he resurfaced as Raskin. At the same time, Paul and Coombs stake out John's car, shooting the detective when he returns. John writes 666 in his blood before he dies. Gideon and Zina subsequently meet with Allison, who finally details how her mother was investigating the goings-on of Raskin's sordid practices. Allison reveals that she believes the satanic coven is responsible for all the shootings, and no longer attends their meetings. Gideon realizes that Allison is on the verge of a breakdown and that they can't use her as a witness for their case. Gideon goes to an old pal, the deputy commissioner of police, to get access to some files. Meanwhile, Coombs is angry at Paul for not keeping closer tabs on Allison, who talked to Margaret about the group. Coombs forces Paul to come up with a sacrifice to make amends: killing one of his children. Later, Gideon listens to the audiotape of John talking to a satanic cult expert about Steele's identity switch. The next day, Gideon meets with Father Phillip Roche to discuss Margaret's killing. Roche reveals a dealing he had with revenge-seeking satanists who carved 666 into both of his palms.
Later, he and Gideon discuss British occultist Aleister Crowley and why one might get involved in a cult. The priest also reveals how group leaders get their members to graduate from animal murders to ritual human sacrifices. Finally, the priest promises to send Gideon an article detailing a Queen-based cult that sacrificed thirty-five German shepherds. Acting on the priest's advice, Gideon visits a satanic Upper West Side bookstore, where he purchases a book on devil worship and is observed by Coombs and Paul. From there, Gideon heads to the 8th Avenue section of Times Square, where he peruses sex shops and grindhouses. Later, Gideon buys Sex Magazine -- "the New York Times of smut" -- after which Catherine helps him get a meeting with its publisher, Max French. Gideon talks with Max, who knows the professor must have an ulterior motive. Max tells Gideon about the pornography industry's workings. Gideon says he wants a meeting with snuff film producers. Under the guise of selling some rare erotica, Gideon is introduced to Raskin's associate. Meanwhile, Raskin has dinner with Mr. Costillo, a client who makes a deal to observe a ritual killing and receive a tape of it for $500,000. Elsewhere, Zina is upset at how far her father is taking his pursuit as he heads for a rendezvous with Raskin. At that meeting, Raskin says he knows all about Gideon, especially the fact that he was good friends with Margaret. Raskin makes a thinly veiled threat toward the professor -- and Zina. Later, Gideon finds a photo in his devil-worship book of John Steele that bears a startling resemblance to Raskin, as does a police suspect sketch from the Son of Sam slayings. Gideon and Zina then go to meet with Mrs. Milch, the eyewitness to one of the Son of Sam killings. She claims that Raskin was indeed the man who pulled the trigger in the murder that she observed. Gideon goes back to speak with the police captain, who doesn't find much use for his amateur sleuthing. Soon, Gideon learns about Steele's medical records, which prove him to be psychotic.
Later, Gideon gets a friend to blow up the picture of Steele and erase his facial hair -- making it indeed appear to be Raskin. That night, Paul forces Allison to watch a video of her mother's execution. He claims he was forced to kill Margaret after Allison betrayed group secrets. He claims she will only be able to make amends if she kills one of their children at a ceremony. Allison asks Gideon and Zina to meet her atop the Empire State Building and there she reveals the truth about Paul and the group's plan. Gideon goes to the police to get them involved in the case. Unfortunately, Gideon gets word from Zina that Allison has disappeared with Paul and the children, apparently thinking that the death of one child will save the other. Then, Gideon reads the article that Father Roche sent him about the dog killings in Queens, heading to the area with Zina. That leads them to Bob Ward, the newspaper article's author, who then tries to identify the cult grounds where he found the dead dogs. Then, Gideon, Zina, and Bob head to an abandoned church nearby, eerily similar to the one Father Roche described as the place he was taken by cult members. At that moment, another car pulls up with Raskin and Coombs. As Raskin and Coombs prep for the evening's sacrifice, Zina and Bob sneak off to alert the police. That night, Allison and Paul arrive at the church with their son, ready to offer him up. During the ceremony, Gideon interrupts and Allison -- who is holding a knife over her boy -- stabs Paul before fleeing with her son. Gideon goes after Raskin and Coombs, nearly getting killed by both of them before regaining the upper hand. Coombs is mortally wounded by Gideon, but refuses to confirm that Raskin ordered the murders before she dies. The police arrest Raskin, who then delivers a final threat to Gideon: "Sleep well, Professor Oliver." Also includes an "ABC News Brief" with Chris Wallace. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: February 20, 1989 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:51:59
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:14900
- GENRE: Drama, mystery/suspense
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, mystery/suspense; Drama, police/private detective; Murder
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1989
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Arm & Hammer Pet Fresh carpet deodorizer
- TV - Commercials - Ben-Gay warming ice pain relief
- TV - Commercials - Benadryl Plus cold relief
- TV - Commercials - Burger King restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Carnival cruise lines
- TV - Commercials - Delta airlines
- TV - Commercials - Dexatrim diet aid
- TV - Commercials - Drixoral cold relief
- TV - Commercials - Epson computers, printers
- TV - Commercials - Jergens Ever Soft lotion
- TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
- TV - Commercials - No Nonsense pantyhose
- TV - Commercials - Partnership for a Drug-Free America
- TV - Commercials - Pine Sol cleaner
- TV - Commercials - Plax plaque-removal rinse
- TV - Commercials - Pledge dust spray
- TV - Commercials - Polident denture cleaner
- TV - Commercials - Royal Caribbean cruise lines
- TV - Commercials - Slim-Fast shakes
- TV - Commercials - Sprint long-distance calling
- TV - Commercials - Subaru automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Summer's Eve feminine wash
- TV - Commercials - Tegrin medicated shampoo
- TV - Commercials - Unisom sleep aid
- TV - Commercials - Visine Extra eye drops
- TV - Commercials - Youth Plus for The Unsung Americans
- TV - Promos - "ABC Mystery Movie: Columbo"
- TV - Promos - "A Fine Romance"
- TV - Promos - "A Man Called Hawk"
- TV - Promos - "Beverly Hills All-Star Diamond Jubilee 75"
- TV - Promos - "China Beach"
- TV - Promos - "Coach"
- TV - Promos - "Dynasty"
- TV - Promos - "Get Smart Again"
- TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
- TV - Promos - "Great Circuses of the World"
- TV - Promos - "Growing Pains"
- TV - Promos - "Head of the Class"
- TV - Promos - "Hooperman"
- TV - Promos - "Nightline"
- TV - Promos - "Passion and Paradise"
- TV - Promos - "Roseanne"
- TV - Promos - "The Wonder Years"
- TV - Promos - "Who's the Boss?"
- TV - Promos - "World News Tonight With Peter Jennings"
CREDITS
- William Sackheim … Executive Producer
- Dick Wolf … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- William Link … Supervising Executive Producer
- Kevin Donnelly … Producer
- David Black … Co-Producer
- Daniel Sackheim … Co-Producer
- Cheryl Bloch … Associate Producer
- Don Sipes … Consulting Producer
- John Patterson … Director
- Aaron J. Elkins … Based on the books by
- Arthur Rubinstein … Music by
- Mike Post … Theme Music by
- Stephen Taylor … Theme Music by
- Louis Gossett … Cast, Gideon Oliver
- Michael Rooker … Cast, Detective John Quinn
- Cynthia Nixon … Cast, Allison Parrish Slocum
- Shari Headley … Cast, Zina Oliver
- Jenny Wright … Cast, Coombs
- Tom Sizemore … Cast, Paul Slocum
- Anthony LaPaglia … Cast, Raskin
- Donna Mitchell … Cast, Margaret Parrish
- Nicholas Kepros … Cast, Von Richter
- Mary Fogarty … Cast, Catherine Frazier
- Peter Crook … Cast, Bob Ward
- Shawn Elliott … Cast, Detective Torres
- David Margulies … Cast, Max French
- Stephen Pearlman … Cast, Folger
- Adrian Sparks … Cast, Larson
- Marcia Gay Harden … Cast, Lila Quinn
- Ralph Williams … Cast, Father Phillip Roche
- Bill Cwikowski … Cast, Detective #2
- Paul-Felix Montez … Cast, Mr. Castillo
- Brad Greenquist … Cast, Clerk
- Rita Karin … Cast, Mrs. Milch
- Kelly Cole … Cast, Wittig
- Jason Brill … Cast, Sobel
- Karina Arroyave … Cast, ASPCA Girl
- Gerald Quimby … Cast, Desk Sergeant
- Harsh Nayyar … Cast, Newsman
- Allison Field … Cast, Newscaster
- Jill Tasker … Cast, Co-ed
- Dan Moran … Cast, Detective #1
- Ralph Buckley … Cast, Policeman #1
- Magaly Colimon … Cast, Dog Walker
- David Berkowitz
- Aleister Crowley
- for "ABC News Brief"
- Chris Wallace … Anchor