| The Equalizer | |
|---|---|
| Season 4 | |
 Season 4 American DVD cover | |
| Starring | |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release | October 26, 1988 (1988-10-26) – August 24, 1989 (1989-08-24) |
| Season chronology | |
← Previous Season 3 | |
| List of episodes | |
The fourth season ofThe Equalizer premiered October 26, 1988 (1988-10-26) and ended August 24, 1989 (1989-08-24) onCBS. It is the final season of the series.
In this season, The Equalizer goes against a political hard-baller, a psychoanalyst, demon lords, a ghetto drug kingpin, an Oriental slaver, an international cartel, a malign music manager, apartheid Special Branch, South African intelligence operatives, yet more gang rapists, yet more KGB, yet more Mafia, a gun-toting retaliator, a vengeful grieving mother and wife, an international nerve gas peddler, a Bio-WMD, brain-washers, Justice Department moles, Company infiltrators, Company traitors, a Company tribunal, a deaf-hating housebreaker, a fatigued first-responder, a corporate-conniving killer, a belligerent Bulgarian brother, his father's killer, international jewel thieves, local skinheads, a master wargames strategist, and the manipulative "Million" drug dealer.
He saves a made-up-mental maiden, a would-be terrorist avenger, a foreign diplomat, a martyr from martyrdom, a singer's career/life, a mob "family" heir and heiress from "the life," a son's hero and a man's lost hope, two young lovers, and two deaf lovers. He rescues yet another old flame, New York City from a breakout, Control...again...,Sally Jesse Raphael on Live TV, a young girl from a black sorcerer, the homeless from an "angel of death," an "extra-terrestrial" from psychotic delusion, a poet from painful prison death, an amateur sleuth from slaughter, two peaceful men from vigilantism, two sisters from revenge, a young man from radicalization, and another young man from "thug life."
McCall teaches high school thanatology, recites Shakespeare, weapon-tests a toilet and a garbage truck, gets committed for paranoid schizophrenia, "rides the elephants" with Control, and gives a struggling teenJohn Steinback'sThe Grapes of Wrath, "A book about a family that survives."
Pete presents bi-polar disturbance, Mickey manages a mental meltdown, Austin cracks Company code, Jimmy becomes Big Brother, Lettie goes back to school, and gangsters get a glimpse ofGehenna.
The Equalizer was initially renewed for a fifth season (causing Keith Szarabajka to turn down a role onMidnight Caller). However, the show was later canceled due to a dispute between CBS and Universal Studios over the renewal ofMurder, She Wrote.[1]
It might very well be "The Last Campaign" for incumbent Senator Virgil Thomas Blake, played by guest starE. G. Marshall. That is, if Assemblyman Phillip Wingate has his way, as portrayed byStanley Tucci. Wingate has "dirt" on Blake and tries to use it, not only to force Blake to give up his seat, but also to compel Blake to publicly endorse Wingate for the election. However, Wingate's plan might go awry if Cindy has anything to say about it. As Wingate's aide, she stumbled upon the material he was planning to use to blackmail Blake, and she calls The Equalizer for help.[2] This isLaila Robins' television debut as Cindy Claussen, a year after her film debut inPlanes, Trains and Automobiles (1987). Nearly 33 years later, Robins also played CIA Director Suri Nance in the2021 re-imagined series season one episode, "The Milk Run" (March, 2021).
South African stage actressYvonne Bryceland guest stars as Darlene, Cindy's next door neighbor who witnessed medics carting Cindy away after an apparent drug overdose.Larry Keith guest stars as Dr. Quentin who runs the psychiatric ward where Cindy has been committed against her will at Wingate's orders.Maureen Anderman makes her last guest star appearance asPete O'Phelan, who gets herself committed with Dr. Wolff's help to protect Cindy and to surveil Jay. After this episode, Anderman returned to her recurring role asNina Shapiro onThe Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (1987–1991), and appeared in theLaw & Order franchise. Co-stars includeJay Patterson as Jay Trescott who works for Wingate doing his dirty work, and the first of two appearances byWendell Pierce as Dr. Wolff, who McCall finds running a neighborhood free clinic. His second appearance is in "Starfire."[13] Pierce's television debut was in theHBO anthology,Vietnam War Story (1987) in the third episode, "The Pass" along withChing Valdes-Aran, who made her screen debut in the first season ofThe Equalizer in the second episode, "China Rain."[20][21][22] This marks Dr. Wolff as Pierce's second television role, and third screen role after his film debut inThe Money Pit (1986). Supporting Chinese-American actressFreda Foh Shen plays Leslie, a reporter who questions Wingate's plans on running for the Senate.[2]
Demon Lords Goat, Cruz, and the rest of their gang use school grounds to intimidate students and gang rape Alicia (played by co-star Lucy Vargas). Director and playwrightSeret Scott guest stars as the school Principal, Elena Rodriguez, in her second television role, and fourth overall screen appearance out of only ten in total. Rodriguez is at her wits end trying to keep the school both safe, and open, as it is being threatened with closure by School Board members. Complicating matters is neighborhood gangster boss Cristo, played byKeith David. Cristo wants to expand his narcotics operation into the school market, so hejumps-in Goat to run his own franchise for him. Cristo is Keith David's third television role afterMister Rogers' Neighborhood (1983–1985), andThe Oldest Rookie earlier in 1988.Reginald VelJohnson plays Arthur Williams, who tells Principal Rodriguez he has no choice but to close the school according to the Board's decision (VelJohnson also played D.J. Harmon Hunter in season one, "Lady Cop"[23]). Both Rodriguez and McCall argue for more time to deal with the gang violence. Also guest starring is Chad Redding in her recurring role ofSgt. Alice Shepard, who uses her influence with the Gang Task Force to do a sweep of the school to confiscate firearms and other paraphernalia.[12]
Shepard also rounds up the Demon Lords so that McCall can teach a new course: Physical Science 800, with their first lesson inThanatology, complete with a field trip to the morgue. This episode introduces the first of two appearances by Indian actorHarsh Nayyar as theMedical Examiner. He also appears later this season in "The Visitation."[3] Before they leave the morgue, the Demon Lords get a first-hand account of the "Sea of Fire" witnessed by former professional contract killer Phillip Borchek, as portrayed by guest starDavid Strathairn. Borcheck was shot in the face with a 38-caliber hand gun and nearly died, but not before getting a glimpse into the afterlife and what awaited him there if he didn't change his life-path. McCall uses Borcheck's compelling testimony to loosen Goat's grip over gang members. Co-stars include Tito Núñez as Goat, andSocorro Santiago as Mrs. Sanchez, the mother of Eduardo (played by supporting actor Jose Ynoa), who was stabbed by the Demon Lords in retaliation for reporting Alicia's rape to Principal Rodriguez. Other supporting actors include Sixto Ramos as Cruz, and in her screen debut, a brief appearance byKarina Arroyave as Girl #1.[12] Arroyave later had her film debut inLean On Me (1989), and a regular role onAs the World Turns as Bianca Marquez Walsh (1989–1993).
Narong Bansari, the son of Thai national Sirit Bansari, is "Riding the Elephant"[a] to catch his love Manika regardless of the consequences.[24] Both Narong and Manika are under "contract" to gangster Jimmy Thanarat for their entry into the United States, and their hope for eventual citizenship, but at what cost? Manika is ensconced by Jimmy at hisRose of Bankok massage parlor, and Narong is entrapped in a "stable" of kick-boxers at Jimmy's sports arena. Narong will do anything to escape, so long as he can buy Manika's freedom, thus the risky business; smuggling China white heroin for Jimmy, using his father's store as cover. Veteran actorJames Hong guest stars as Sirit Bansari, who is very traditional in his observance of old-world customs.Russell Wong guest stars as Narong Bansari, who urges his father to forget the past and embrace the current realities of life in America. Narong and Sirit clash to the point where Narong is disowned. Beginning in 1994, Wong played Jian-Wa in theVanishing Son television films and episodic series, among other roles.[25]
In her television debut,Elizabeth Sung guest stars as Manika who can't see a way out of her current predicament, so she calls The Equalizer. Sung made her film debut inLe Palanquin des larmes (récit) (Journey in Tears).[26] After herEqualizer role, Sung made an appearance onChina Beach (1989).Mako guest stars as Jimmy Thanarat who is ruthless in his control over his slaves as they are worth more to him alive than dead. So when Sirit offers him a solid gold Buddha, a family heirloom worth more to Sirit sentimentally than its actual monetary value, Jimmy scoffs at Sirit's attempt to buy Manika's freedom, and holds Sirit hostage as well to force Narong's compliance, and the return of his heroin. Co-stars include Michael G. Chin as Noi, Everett Mendes III as Flack (who saw Sirit dispose of the heroin and took it for himself), and Raymond Moy as Kai.[25]
Bruce Payne guest stars as Greg Rivers, a manager for singers who specializes in teens. Rivers beings by ensuring their success so he can swindle most of their income. A "bad influence" he gets them hooked on drugs to make them reliant upon him. If and when they ever rebel, he discards them...even fatally. Singer Vitamin C guest stars in her secondEqualizer appearance under her real name,Colleen Ann Fitzpatrick as Beverly Heat, who is a young singing star rising like she's "Eighteen with a Bullet." Beverly respects and idolizes the older, well-established Gina Rox, but she has no idea how badly Gina has been used and abused by Greg. Her mother tries to open her naive eyes, but it's no use; she won't hear it. Fitzpatrick previously made her television debut in season one playing Susan in "Last Call."[27] After her secondEqualizer role, she played a Blues Singer inThe Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991).
Other guest stars includeAmy Morton as Gina Rox, whose career is on the decline after spending years with Rivers, earning him money, and becoming his lover. In return, Rivers hooked her on heroin to maintain her compliance, hastening her deterioration and her demise at Rivers' hands. French-American actressCaroline Lagerfelt plays Evelyn, Beverly's concerned mother, who after finding her daughter drunk has had enough with her manipulative manager and calls The Equalizer to help her escape the life that has destroyed Gina Rox.Broadway baritone singer and actorTerrence Mann plays Graham, a formerdisc jockey whose career was ruined by Rivers. Mann also played the villain "Shadow Man" in season three, "Inner View."[28] Stand-up comedian and game show hostKen Ober co-starred as the DJ who plays Beverly Heat's new single on the air at WZAD and answers call-ins from fans, and fromMickey Kostmayer who uses the live broadcast to rattle Heat's malign manager.[29] Besides game and talks shows such asStar Search (1984) andMTV's cable showRemote Control (1987), this episode marks Ober's screen debut as an actor before a regular role as Nathan Merrick in the television seriesParenthood (1990–1991).
Kasi Lemmons guest starred as Zandili, who isScott McCall's current girlfriend in "Day of the Covenant." The episode title is a reference to theDay of the Vow, an important South African religious public holiday forAfrikaners. It originates from the 1838Battle of Blood River at which more than 450Voortrekkers vowed that if God rescued them from 16,000Zulu warriors they would honor that day as asabbath in remembrance. In 1994, after the end ofapartheid, it was officially replaced by theDay of Reconciliation.[30] In the episode, Zandili plays the flute and insists she is only a student activist, never revealing anything about her past. But she lost her father to the Department of Cooperation and Development and has a vendetta against the man she holds responsible, the Deputy Director. Lemmons made her film debut inSpike Lee'sSchool Daze earlier the same year, and appeared as Zandili in between playing Nella Franklin onAs the World Turns (1987–1989). AfterThe Equalizer Lemmons played Ardelia Mapp inThe Silence of the Lambs (1991). David Leary guest stars as Anton Jooste, aNational Intelligence Service operative at the South African Consulate. This is Leary's last of threeEqualizer roles after playing Lawseth in season one, "Dead Drop"[31] and Marty Bennett in season two, "The Line."[32] Jihmi Kennedy guest stars as Ulysses, Mickey's Company contact who has been to South Africa five times, and delivers intelligence on Zandili indicating she's much more than a student activist. This is Kennedy's last of threeEqualizer roles after co-starring in season two as Mosley in "Counterfire"[33] and Clarence Marshall in "Coal Black Soul."[34] AfterThe Equalizer Kennedy played Shakey Williams inTour of Duty (1989–1990) and Pvt. Jupiter Sharts inGlory (1989).[35] Austrian-American veteran actorTheodore Bikel guest stars as Voorhees, an Afrikaner who also has a vendetta, against Zandili whom he blames for the bomb that killed his wife while she was visiting him at his South African Police station.[19]
"Day of the Covenant" co-stars includeMichael Genet as Ben, a fellow member of theAfrican National Congress who warns Zandili that the ANC will not approve of or abide by any terrorist actions she might carry out on American soil.Tobin Bell co-stars as the Deputy Secretary, the target of Zandili's wrath.[19] Bell also played Agency operative Weber/Cronin in season three, "Mission: McCall."[36]
An operation is launched by Allenwaite that targets and kills Company agents, forcing Control to contact McCall.Richard Bright guest stars as Gropman, who hurries to Stone Freight for his "retirement" fund before making his escape. A former Company man, he is personal friend of Steven Parmelee. When McCall threatens to flush $50,000 down the toilet, Gropman gives up the name of the operation. Bright also played Vegas in season three, "No Place Like Home,"[37] and Detective Sgt. Max Gallagher inRed Heat earlier in 1988. After hisEqualizer appearance, he reprised his role as Al Neri inThe Godfather Part III (1990). Tom Klunis guest stars as Parmelee, a KGB mole who launches an operation to purge the Company of his enemies so he can take over control as Company Director. Klunis also played Murdoch in season three, "Shadow Play."[38] Parmelee, is under orders from John Allenwaite, played by guest starKevin Conway. Allenwaite has been developing a procedure to inject "Splinters" of the mind into his subjects to first break them, and then "repaint" them with any colors he wishes; i.e., brainwashing. Tracy Kolis co-stars as Serena, who appears to Mickey in a dream sequence while under Allenwaite's Spinter procedure. Serena is Mickey's former lover who died in Bucharest Romania in 1982, a defecting agent murdered by the KGB. AfterThe Equalizer, Kolis had a recurring role asRebecca Downey inDays of Our Lives (1989–90). Supporting actorChristopher Meloni makes an appearance as Team Leader in his screen debut.[39]
Tom Noonan guest stars in the "Making of a Martyr," as Brandon Thorton, a victim of gun violence, he has been paralyzed and confined to a wheel chair after having been shot through a door by a mental patient. Brandon tries to be supportive of his wife Barbara but believes she no longer loves him because of his broken body, so he pushes her away. This is only Noonan's third television role, after numerous films beginning in 1980. The year after hisEqualizer role, Noonan played Cain inRoboCop 2 (1990).Barbara Williams guest stars as Sylvia Thorton, Brandon's wife, who has since become agun control advocate, giving lectures using her husband's injury to drive home her point of view.William Converse-Roberts guest stars as John Kelly, who was also a victim of gun violence, but has turned violent arming himself to the teeth, and setting out to make Sylvia the target of his irrational power trip.[14] Converse-Roberts also played Will Rattigan in season three, "Suspicion of Innocence."[40]
Co-stars include a cameo ofSally Jessy Raphael as Herself, who is set to interview Sylvia in a televised debate against gun advocate Senator Harcourt, played by co-star Stephen James. James also played a Reporter in season three, "Blood and Wine."[41] Media personalityBobby Rivers co-stars as Chris Perley, who gives a radio interview with Sylvia leading up to her television debate. Supporting actors include Harry O'Reilly as a Policeman in his second television role, fourth overall after his film debut as Private Michael Duffy inHamburger Hill (1987). AfterThe Equalizer O'Reilly had a recurring role as Sgt. Charlie Hailey onHomefront (1991–1993). Bruce Kirkpatrick plays the Stage Manager (also as a Guard in season two, "Carnal Persuasion"[42]). AfterThe Equalizer, Kirkpatrick went on to have eleven different roles in theLaw & Order franchise (2002–2022) and recurring roles inAll My Children (2005) andThe Wire (2008).[43][44] And A.L. Sheppard plays a Forensic Detective.[14] Sheppard begins a recurring role asDetective Kelly beginning in "Lullaby of Darkness."[15]
J. Smith-Cameron guest stars as Natalie Santelli, who is trying to save her son Carlo Jr. (played by supporting actor Jordan Gochros) from "The Sins of Our Fathers," because Carlo Junior's father is mob boss Carlo Alberto "The Angel" Santelli, played by fellow guest star Al Shannon. Natalie knew when she married him that his father and grandfather were mobsters, but she believes him when he says that he wants to change all of that and "go legit." Smith-Cameron also played Vanessa in season one, "Mama's Boy"[45] and Susan Foxworth in season three, "Regrets Only."[46] Randy Danson guest stars as Sarah Booth, whose husband and son were shot by Carlo Senior in a restaurant eight years prior, thus the kidnapping. She wants to make him pay for what he did. Randall "Randy" Danson née Gosch was the first wife ofTed Danson (1970–1975).[47] AfterThe Equalizer, Randy appeared inKojak: Flowers for Matty (1990), four roles in theLaw & Order franchise (1991–2001), and as Lu Varga inYour Friends & Neighbors (2025).[48] Randy Danson also continued appearing on stage.[49] Tom Signorelli guest stars as Dio, who is Carlo Senior's right-hand man.[9] Signorelli also played Frankie Corso in season one, "The Confirmation Day."[50] A veteran actor, Tom Signorelli made his screen debut in 1963 onWagon Train as Mike.[51] AfterThe Equalizer, Signorelli played Pete DeBeau inDream Street (1989), Mike inDick Tracy (1990), and played roles inLaw & Order (1990, 1996), among others.
"The Sins of Our Fathers" is the last of three guest star appearances by bothYvonne Wilder as McCall's housekeeperLettie, andAustin Pendleton as Company computer hackerJohah, but also includes the first of three appearances by guest starJoe Morton as the Company's explosives expert,Carter Brock. "Brockie" as McCall refers to him, is a former Company man turned freelance, and he is responsible for executing the kidnapping, having employed ex-military to carry out the job. When McCall confronts him, he tells him "A guy's gotta eat." After three tours in Vietnam, he is struggling. McCall demands that Brock give Mickey the tape cassette recording of the job instructions which he received. Supporting actors include,Michael Sergio as Disimone in his third television role afterLoving (1986–1987). AfterThe Equalizer Sergio had a recurring role as Sgt. Abruzzi onMathnet andSquare One Television (1990–1992), then he branched into producing and directing. John Di Benedetto plays Blanda, his third screen role before his film debut inRenegades (1989).[9]
Jenny Agutter guest stars as Dr. Lauren Demeter who is doing her best to fight back against "The Visitation" of a contagious deadly strain of Africanorthopoxvirus loose in New York City. Dr. Demeter is anepidemiologist at theU.N.'s International Health Organization. Lauren is also one of McCall's old flames.James Tolkan guest stars as Ruger, an international arms dealer who has nerve gas he wants to move. When Lazar won't bite, Harriman cannot trust him to alert anyone else to the nerve gas. Thus he has Lazar killed.[3]
Other guest stars includeLeonardo Cimino in the first of two appearances asDoctor Phil Molinari, who is with the Department of Health, Bureau of Contagious Diseases, helping the Medical Examiner and Dr. Demeter contain the outbreak. Cimino appears later this season in "17 Zebra,"[4] and played mobster Thomas Marley Sr., the incarcerated father of Vincent D'Onofrio's character in season two, "Counterfire."[33]Martin Shakar plays Harriman, who isRudy Bagler's cousin and a doctor who lost his license for performing unnecessary surgeries. He now practices "under the table." This is Shakar's thirdEqualizer role after playing Frank Morrow in season one, "Prelude,"[52] and Kelly Stigman in season three, "Christmas Presence."[53] Shakar also plays Detective later this season in "Endgame."[17]Eddie Jones makes his first of three appearances this season asLt. Brannigan.[3] Jones had previously appeared as Mr. Winslow in season two, "Joyride."[54]
Joseph Ragno plays Asa Lazar a small-time gun smuggler who has done a few jobs for the Company in the past. So Lazar want's nothing to do with nerve gas or other suchWMDs, and yet he's sick with the virus, himself a victim of abio-WMD. Randle Mell plays Tillerman, one of Harriman's thugs, the other being Garrick, played byMike Starr. Tillerman winds up catching the virus. Supporting actors include:Harsh Nayyar in his second and last appearance as aMedical Examiner; Robert Burke as Carpenter, who has to hold off his press release for the Mayor to contain panic while McCall and the doctors track down those who have been exposed; and Cuban-Jewish actressMel Gorham as a Mother of a child who has contracted the virus. As an illegal immigrant, there is a language barrier and the fear of deportation if she takes her baby to the hospital. Ken Solarino has an uncredited speaking role in "The Visitation" asPete O'Phelan's bartender,Jeremy.[3]
Katherine Cortez guest stars as Cecilia Romero, whose husband had a "Past Imperfect" that resulted in the FBI issuing an arrest warrant for murder and drug smuggling. It left her alone as a single mother raising her son Thomas (played by guest star Jose Edwin Soto) who is now ten years old, and believes his father died a hero as a freedom fighter. Katherine Cortez made her television debut onThe Equalizer in season one co-starring as Cynthia in "Pretenders,"[55] and guest starred as psychic Karen Alden in season three, "Inner View."[28]Héctor Elizondo guest stars as Ray Quintero, the person of interest to Federal authorities, and to the Company, who have joined forces to bring down the Darien Cartel. Raywas in fact a fighter, recruited by the Company fromSpecial Forces, and sent undercover to penetrate the cartel. But Ray got in too deep. Now, he believes it's too late to extricate himself. He doesn't believe in heroes anymore. McCall tries to change his thinking, for his son's sake.[3]
Mark Margolis guest stars in his last and most substantialEqualizer appearance as series regularJimmy, who has become aBig Brother to young Thomas and wants to take him on a Ski trip to Bear Mountain. Jimmy is "49 years old...divorced...and Thomas is a terrific kid." When Thomas overhears his mother talking about Ray, and what his fatherreally did for a living, he intends to run away. But Jimmy dissuades him. AfterThe Equalizer Margolis appeared inGlory andQuantum Leap (both in 1989), and as Dr. Nel Apgar inStar Trek: The Next Generation (1990). More recently he has arguably become best known for his role ofHector Salamanca inBreaking Bad (2009–2011) andBetter Call Saul (2016–2022). Other guest stars include, the second appearance of Eddie Jones asLt. Brannigan; Luther Munson, a Company "expert on strange and esoteric information" is played byBrad Sullivan; and Rudolph Willrich plays Elliott Jarvis, a Justice Department agent who says he wants Ray's testimony, but has another agenda. Co-stars include Kenneth J. McGregor as Corman and Anthony Powers as Garfield (also as Marco in "Joyride"[54]). Supporting actors includeFrank Adonis making his last of fourEqualizer appearances as the Chauffeur who tries to kill Ray Quintero. AfterThe Equalizer, Anthony Powers played Jimmy Two Times, and Frank Adonis played Anthony Stabile, inGoodfellas (1990). Joe Perce supports the cast as David Lance, who dies trying to abduct Thomas.Peter Mackenzie in his third television role plays 1st Man, an inept Company surveillance operative who is scolded by McCall and told to report in.Off-off-Broadway theatre expansionistAl Carmines, who is an ordained minister in real life, acts as the funeral priest at Ray's funeral, and tells them "a mystery" about theresurrection reading from thefirst Epistle to the Corinthians.[5]
In "Trial by Ordeal", stage, screen, and film starSylvia Sidney guest stars as Judge at a Company Tribunal that puts Control on the hot seat...literally, theelectric chair. Sidney, born in 1910, had her film debut in the 1920s while still a teenager. A year prior to her appearance onThe Equalizer, she played Juno, the afterlife caseworker for the Maitlands inBeetlejuice (1988) for which she won aSaturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. By the time "Trial by Ordeal" aired, she was 78 years old and still appearing in other films and television shows. Her final film role was Grandma Florence Norris inMars Attacks! (1996), and her final television role was Clia on the revivedFantasy Island series (1998-1999). British actorRoy Dotrice guest stars as Charlie McGuinness, the Prosecutor. At the time, Doltrice had a recurring role as Jacob "Father" Wells inBeauty and the Beast (1987-1990). Roy Dotrice is the father ofMichele Dotrice, Edward Woodward's second wife, who guest starred as Vanessa Daniels, the central character in season two, "Heartstrings".[56]
When first summoned by the court,Robert McCall, played by the show's starEdward Woodward, believes that it is he himself who is the target of the tribunal. Naturally, he's a bit put out, derisively calling it "abloodykangaroo court." He informs the court it has no authority over him since he left the Company. However, the Judge reminds him that he took an oath 29 years prior, and he was never released from that vow. McCall soon learns that he is not on trial...yet! Special guest starRobert Lansing returns asControl, the defendant. Control is charged with starting his own network, independent of the Company but still utilizing its resources for his own agenda. During the course of the trial, footage from previous episodes is introduced as flashbacks to illustrate the evidence the Company has against Control...and McCall. It provides a retrospective of the series, while also integrating plot narrative.[57] The episodes used are as follows:
Enter the witness for the Prosecution, also starringKeith Szarabajka asMickey Kostmayer. Unbeknownst to both Control and McCall, during the events in "Beyond Control" Mickey was secretly working for the Operations Director. Thus they know that Control "lost control" of the Exden files to his secretary John Ferman, a KGB mole. So, Mickey must testify against Control. Finally, Control's letter, the "Genesis" list is entered into evidence. It contains signatures from Control's network, theSand Star Confederation, with a declaration that would seem to go against the Company's agenda. Before sentencing, Control makes his plea, to free the "Prisoners of Conscience" which is the name of an up-coming episode.[57]
There are no co-stars in "Trial by Ordeal." As with other television retrospectives, footage was reused. Screen end-credits list five actors who appeared before, none of whom delivered new lines or scenes. They were given a "with" supporting actor credit for "Trial by Ordeal." The actors from "First Light" were originally guest stars, Jerome Dempsey as Senator Claremont andKaiulani Lee as Ms. Watson. Actors from "Counterfire" were originally co-starsSully Boyar as Judge Maurice Sanderling and Virginia Sandifur as Baker, "with" Robert Trumbull as Hodges following afterward.
Howie Seago guest stars as Ron, who, having been born deaf and abandoned by his parents, has a "Silent Fury" for the men who held his wife Jackie at knife-point and stole her wedding ring. He feels he should have been able to stop them. He distrusts any and all who aren't deaf. He even argues with Jackie, who can speak and doesn't want to associate exclusively with the deaf. Having grown up in foster homes and out on the streets, he doesn't trust McCall either and calls him a fake, wondering what McCall's services will cost them.Cynthia Nixon guest stars as Jackie, who lost her hearing after contractingyellow fever when she was eight years old, thus she can speak and read lips, unlike Ron. She takes the news of Valerie's heart attack emotionally as they were close, and Valerie was her matchmaker with Ron. She remembers the advert that she considered using once before, and calls The Equalizer.Jon Polito guest stars as David Pfieffer, Ron's friend and a volunteer at the Center for the Deaf. He has a troubled past with his deaf father, whose anger at his condition was redirected at his son. He believes the deaf "deserve everything they get...they all do."[6]
Other guest stars includePaul McCrane as Crocker, one of Pfieffer's pilferers, andMark Boone Junior as Hall, another felon who fleeces the deaf, and absolutely will not go back to prison for it. Fearful of being identified by Ron, Hall goes after him. Eddie Jones playsLt. Brannigan, his third appearance.Jeff Weiss guest stars as Fineberg, a Company scientist testing and perfecting sound-wave weapons, about which, he is pragmatic, not altruistic. He was rescued from agulag by McCall, and gladly returns the favor. "I expected freedom, not utopia." Co-stars include: Bari Willerford as a Priest who presides over Ron and Jackie's wedding. This is Willerford's television debut, after which, he joined the cast ofSquare One Television andMathnet asBenny Pill (1990–1992); Beth Ann Bull as Francine; and Peggy O'Gorman Hlibok as Valerie, who died from a heart attack after the robbery.[6]
Broadway actressMary-Joan Negro guest stars as Rebecca Morrison, the belittled and battered wife and mother of young Mindy. Like too many abused women, she has been "conditioned" to stay, obey, and pretend they are the perfect family. Worse, she suffers fromseizures from repeated head trauma, thus she relies on sedatives administered by her husband Joseph. Negro also played Irene Winters in season three, "The Child Broker."[59] Ellen Hamilton-Latzen guest stars as Mindy Morrison, who uses her active imagination to mentally escape the horrible abuse; her dolls "come to life" and tell her to flee upstairs to the Fun Room. Later the same year, Hamilton-Latzen became better known as Ruby Sue Johnson inNational Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (December 1989). Guest starStephen Lang plays the abusive Joseph Morrison, who tells Mindy he "hates disciplining" her but always buys her "a new doll" and the latest is a black-robed sorcerer, which also "comes to life" in a "Lullaby of Darkness" as the sinister avenger.[15]
Other guest stars include, Chad Redding asSgt. Alice Shepard, andJacqueline Brookes as Dr. Myrna Grayson (also as Phyllis Robertson in season three, "Christmas Presence"[53]). As a psychologist, Dr. Grayson hides with hand puppet "Andy the Monkey" who talks to Mindy when she sleepwalks to the Fun Room, while McCall videotapes Mindy's reaction. In this way they obtain evidence of Joseph's abuse, which he shows to Sgt. Shepard. Robert X. Modica plays The Sorcerer, dressed all in black, hooded and faceless, he asks Mindy "Is there someone you want to kill?" and in her dream, she answers "Yes." In the end, The Sorcerer appears in a "waking dream" and urges her to fly from the top of the building to help her dolls far below. Modica also played Dawson in season one, "Back Home"[60] and Terrance Booth in season two, "First Light."[61] In her final screen role,Vivian Nathan guest stars as Mrs. Drake, the Morrison's worried neighbor, who has twice before called police to no avail, and calls The Equalizer. Gwyllum Evans guest stars as Dream Father, who along with Dream Mother, played by co-star Kate Dezina, comforts Mindy in times of crisis. Dezina also played Manon in "Memories of Manon" Part 2.[62] Also co-starring is A. L. Sheppard in the first of three appearances asDetective Kelly.[15]
Joe Seneca guest stars as Fossil Williams, a spiritual man who can quotescripture from memory, he runs the McKenzie Mission for the homeless inThe Bowery neighborhood of New York City, otherwise known asSkid row. Fossil calls The Equalizer after a regular named Lucky (played by co-star Stephen Payne) dies from a heart attack. But Fossil has a doctor perform regular check-ups on visitors, and Lucky and three others were in good health, thus he suspects murder. A building superintendent finds Lucky passed out drunk in the doorway and calls 9-1-1 falsely reporting a heart attack in order to force Lucky's removal. "17 Zebra" is the call sign the dispatcher uses for the ambulance team of Gideon and Friedman, who affectionately call each otherTonto (Friedman) andKemosabe (Gideon).[4]
Cordelia González guest stars as Donna Marie Estrelita Concepcion Friedman, whose longPuerto Rican-Jewish name is a source of wonder to her fellow paramedic, Edward F. Gideon played by guest starWilliam Atherton. With only one year under her belt, Friedman looks up to Gideon, a veteran of twenty years nicked named "The Pride" for having been decorated several times. So she cannot believe it when McCall suggests he may have caused Lucky's death. Friedman eventually helps McCall after she observes Gideon's behavior, particularly when he is in the midst of traumatic flashbacks while dealing with the homeless, drunks, and addicts. González previously had a lead role as Raquel inLa gran fiesta (1985) and appeared inHomeboy (1988). AfterThe Equalizer she appeared inBorn on the Fourth of July (1989).[63] McCall surmises that Gideon is suffering from burn-out and later learns it was compounded by the traumatic death of a little girl at the hands of a derelict.[4] Atherton also played Martin "Alpha" Loeber in the season three premiere "Blood and Wine."[41]
Robert Joy returns in his recurring role ofJacob Stock to help McCall research the names of a total of four fatal heart attacks to find commonalities which lead them to Gideon.Leonardo Cimino makes his lastEqualizer appearance, guest starring asDoctor Phil Molinari, who advises McCall on the most likely medicine that a paramedic might have access to, which could cause a heart attack. Supporting actors include Raymond Moy as the Superintendent, andSocorro Santiago as the Mother of the Little Girl (played by Diane Lozada) who was stabbed by the unremorseful man Gideon was then forced to treat.[4] Santiago also played Mrs. Sanchez in "Sea of Fire"[12] and later had a recurring role asIsabella Santos onAll My Children (1994–2003)
Special guest starMichael Moriarty was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award in the category ofOutstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Wayne "Seti" Virgil in "Starfire" in which he portrayed an aerospace systems engineer who has undergone a traumaticpsychotic break leading to theschizophrenic delusion that he is from another planet, sent to Earth to stop The Confederation of Vega from enacting an apocalyptic "end times" catastrophe. The trauma stems from the tragic explosion of a Vega-1 rocket atVandenberg Space Force Base that killed twelve ground crew, for which he feels guilty. Seti's self-appointed alias derives from the real-life organizationSETI involved in the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence.George Plimpton guest stars as Clinton Brandauer, who, after Virgil's breakdown has positioned himself as the new Senior Engineer at their company, AeroDimensions, so that he can make millions of dollars in profit from a merger with Transnational Aviation, assuming that the Vega-1 failure will be covered up by Virgil's demise.[13]
Angela Goethals guest stars as Amber Sweeny, a young girl who befriends Seti as her newfather figure. When the episode aired in April 1989, Goethals was only a month away from her twelfth birthday (May 1989). "Starfire" was Goethals' television debut after her film/screen debut inRocket Gibraltar followed byHeartbreak Hotel, both in 1988. AfterThe Equalizer, she appeared inHome Alone (1990) as Linnie McCallister the sister of Kevin played by anotherEqualizer actor,Macaulay Culkin. Deborah Hedwall guest starred as Claire Sweeny, Amber's single mother who becomes increasingly concerned for her daughter's safety after men try to kill Seti. It is Hedwall's fourth television role after her film/screen debut inAlone in the Dark (1982). After herEqualizer role, Hedwall had a recurring role as Gwen Bedford inI'll Fly Away (1991–1992), and won a 1992Obie Award forDistinguished Performance by an Actress for her role as Patricia in theoff-Broadway playSight Unseen. The play also featured Hedwall's husband and fellowEqualizer guest star,Dennis Boutsikaris.[64] Wendell Pierce makes his last appearance as psychologistDr. Cameron Wolff, who diagnoses Virgil's condition and agrees to help him recover.[13]
In "Time Present...," guest starBrian Bedford plays Harold Ross, which is his alias after defecting to American. Ten years prior in "...Time Past," Harold was Emil Kostov, head of Covert Operations for Bulgarian Intelligence. As amusicologist, Ross has been helpingScott McCall further his music studies after having been introduced by Scott's father, Robert McCall. However, Emil's defection has caused problems for his family back in Bulgaria, and in particular for his younger brother Yorgi Kostov, played by guest starDennis Boutsikaris. Yorgi followed Emil into intelligence work, and has had to prove his worth and loyalty to his nation, all the more so after his brother's defection. Yorgi is therefore determined to bring Emil back to Bulgaria for trial and execution to restore the family name. Scott is captured in the drama when Yorgi abducts Emil and takes them both back to the Bulgarian Embassy.[10] Bedford also played W. Donald Polk in season one "Bump and Run,"[65] and Paul Coble in season two "Beyond Control."[66] Boutsikaris also played C.R. Heaton in season three, "In the Money."[67]
Shirley Knight guest stars as Kay, Robert McCall's ex-wife and mother to their son Scott. Kay is angry at Robert for Scott's abduction, and cannot understand why Robert would've introduced Scott to an ex-spy who placed him in such danger to begin with. Scott is an accomplished musician, and she doesn't want him following Robert's path into violence. She still resents Robert for not being present while their daughter's health deteriorated fromcardiomyopathy, eventually leading to death. Knight was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award in the category ofOutstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in "Time Present, Time Past." In the season one episode "Out of the Past" the role of Kay was played by guest starSandy Dennis, her last television role before her death in 1992. In "Out of the Past," Kay was remarried to Walter Wesley played byBarry Primus,[68] although no reference is made to the remarriage in "Time Present, Time Past." Guest star Joe Morton makes his second appearance asCarter Brock, andTom Mardirosian co-stars as Arnoff, a Bulgarian agent working with Yorgi.[10]
Guest starsPat Hingle as Waldo Jarrell, andTony Plana as Antonio Cruz, were both "Prisoners of Conscience" having been persecuted and imprisoned for the ideas they penned into the written word. Antonio Cruz is a Chilean poet who was previously jailed by theCentral Nacional de Informaciones (CNI) (English: National Information Center), the secret police and intelligence agency guilty of kidnapping, torture, murder and disappearance of political opponents duringAugusto Pinochet's military dictatorship inChile. Having fled to the United States, Cruz is now at university where Waldo Jarrell teaches. Antonio knows Mr. Jerrell is more than just a teacher and encourages him to begin writing again. But Waldo believes it to be out of the question, after having beenblacklisted along with many otherHollywood screenwriters during theMcCarthy era. Further, the humiliation of being jailed and forced to "name names" has estranged Waldo from his own son for forty years, so he looks on "Tony" as a surrogate son. When Antonio is taken by the CNI, he pleads with McCall to save Tony from death.[18]
Edward Woodard's sonTim Woodward guest stars as William McCall, Robert McCall's father who was murdered during the1952 Egyptian revolution atPort Said next to theMediterranean end of theSuez Canal. William was a Captain with the British Army responding to the coup d'état againstKing Farouk. William appears in a flashback to Robert's childhood, and again as an imaginary/ghost figure with whom Robert converses insidePete O'Phelan's bar. Robert tells Control he had searched for William's killer for twenty years, but gave up after being told by the Company that Randall Payne had been gunned down. Robert is furious to learn he has been lied to for the past fifteen years, and that Randall Payne is not only still alive, but alsoworking for the Company.Dan O'Herlihy guest stars as Randall Payne, who is in New York to torture Antonio to force him to "name names" so that he can change the outcome of the up-coming Chilean elections. Jaime Tirelli co-stars as a CNI Operative working for Payne.[18] Tirelli also played Ramon Scavosa in season one "The Lock Box."[69]
Special guest starMaureen Stapleton portrays Emmy Rutherford, a cleaning woman and avid detective novel aficionado who gets caught up, literally and figuratively, in "The Caper" that costs a man his life, and puts her own in danger after she witnesses his murder. She has already called the police numerous times in the past to report crimes that only exist in her overactive imagination. Therefore, Sgt. Alice Shepard (Chad Redding) is naturally dubious of Emmy's latest claims. McCall assigns a young operative to Emmy while he investigates.Laura San Giacomo guest stars as Trudy Collins, the energetic and eager Company agent assigned to guard Emmy. Graduating top of her class in marksmanship, her skills are put to the test.Richard Hamilton guest stars as Frank, Emmy's neighbor and handyman who would prefer that Emmy get her nose out of her books and pay more attention to him. Frank's life is also put in danger by Emmy's obsession to solve the murder herself.[16] Hamilton also played Otis Hendricks in season one "Breakpoint."[70]
Other "Caper" guest stars includeAlberta Watson as Taffy Gould, an exotic dancer and Kenny Pack's girlfriend, who has a secret she withholds from McCall. Watson also played Carla Holden in season one "The Distant Fire."[71]Michael Wincott plays Jarrow, a British criminal who runs an international crew. Wincott also played the villain Jordan in season two "High Performance."[72] Co-stars includeLewis J. Stadlen as Danny, a small-time criminal out on parole who McCall leverages for information, andZach Grenier as Pack who is the killer Emmy witnessed.[16] Both Stadlen (as Mr. Cooper) and Grenier (as Wirth) appeared in season two, "A Community of Civilized Men."[73]
John Shepherd guest stars as Michael Gianelli seeking the "Heart of Justice" against low-life thugs who gang raped his wife Cynthia and beat her into abrain dead coma to silence her testimony. A peaceful man, Michael struggles to enact vengeance.Paul Guilfoyle guest stars as Max Gorman, an ailing drug addict and rapist. Joseph Hindy guest stars as Victor Koslo, whose wife and child were killed by violent men. Koslo has become a heartless vigilante killer who monitors the courts for violent criminals released on technicalities, seeking his own vengeance. Hindy also played Mickey's Father in "Christmas Presence."[53] Actress andJungian AnalystMargaret Klenck guest stars as Laura, who contacts The Equalizer to prevent Michael's vengeance and ensure her sister Cynthia's unborn child is delivered before she dies. Robert Joy reprises Company manJacob Stock, andEddie Jones makes his last of three appearances asLt. Brannigan. AfterThe Equalizer, Eddie Jones played Detective Ed Mattingly inKojak: Flowers for Matty (1990), and had regular appearances asJonathan Kent inLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993–1997), and as Charles Borden (The Official) inThe Invisible Man (2000).Philip Bosco guest stars as Oscar, who works in the Criminal Data Analysis division of the Company. McCall tries to leverage his extra-marital affair to wrest a favor, but Oscar says his wife already knows. So McCall instead warns he'll reveal his mistress as a Cuban double-agent to elicit Oscar's cooperation. Bosco also played Brian Barclay in "Pretenders."[55]Roberta Maxwell guest stars as Justice Lindsey Smith, who by law must unfortunately dismiss the rape case because the car search was technically illegal. Co-stars includeVincent Gallo as Tony Santiago who raped and beat Cynthia, andJudith Malina as an Old Woman who witnesses Michael Gianelli aiming a gun at Tony, but doesn't see Koslo. In one of only three roles, after her screen debut inDoom Asylum (1988), supporting actress and modelPatty Mullen plays Teresa, Oscar's mistress who he believes is named Michelle.[7]
Laurence Fishburne guest stars as Casey Taylor, a teacher on a teacher's salary who must move from an expensive but run-down city apartment to a better home in the Ridge Park neighborhood with is wife and child. A law-abiding citizen, he stops his car when he hears the siren and sees the lights of a police patrol car behind him. But they are not police; he is attacked by localskinheads who say the only way he can live in their neighborhood is to be white, as they pour white paint on Casey.Aleta Mitchell guest stars as Martha Taylor, who calls The Equalizer when her husband Casey threatens to buy a gun and take care of the skinheads himself if they attack again. Martha is also concerned for the safety of their baby.[8]
David Andrews guest stars as Dale Stevens, a low-level member of theKKK who vows tolynch all "Race Traitors" when the "day of the rope" arrives. Stevens is a "community" organizer who wants to set up his own network in multiple cities while liaising with otherneo-Nazi groups to instigaterace riots. Stevens gives speeches to indoctrinate, radicalize, and rally young working class locals to join the skinhead ranks and carry out violent attacks. Nick Kaminsky is one such as embittered youth, as is Chuck, played by co-starMorgan H. Margolis. While Nick is aneophyte, Chuck is already an active member of the skinhead cell that Stevens is trying to control.[8] Morgan is the son ofMark Margolis who plays the recurring characterJimmy. Andrews also played Del Larkin in "A Dance on the Dark Side."[74]
Michael Cerveris guest stars as Nick Kaminsky who wants someone to pay for the death of his brother, John, who was shot to death two months prior by a black man committing a robbery at his mother's tavern, with only $100 in the register. Cerveris also played Frank Fipps in "Last Call."[27] In one of her last three television roles,Verna Bloom guest stars as Ellen Kaminsky, Nick's mother, who operates the local tavern, leasing it from a Jewish owner. While she doesn't hate the owner, she doesn't like the decline of local businesses, which she partly attributes to the influx of "the blacks." But she doesn't want her son Nick to be full of hate and vengeance, so she works with Mickey to turn him away from the skinheads. Bloom also played Marian Grey in "Target of Choice."[75] Other guest stars include Robert Joy in his last appearance asJacob Stock. Joy had roles in four films, all released in 1989, the year "Race Traitors" aired. AfterThe Equalizer Joy became well-known as medical examinerSid Hammerback onCSI: NY (2005–2013).Caroline Kava plays Barbara Ashton who quit the Company, and whose son McCall and Mickey once helped out of a jam. In return, Barbara creates a backstory for McCall's new identity as a powerful European Nazi so he can put a stop to Stevens by tricking him. Kava also played a Mercenary Recruiter in "Shades of Darkness."[76] In one of only a handful of screen appearances,baritone opera singer and stage actorBruce Hubbard plays Detective Warren who helps McCall in the investigation and arrests the perpetrators.[8] Hubbard also played a club Manager in "Solo."[77]
Supporting cast includes Sheila Stainback ofINN / USA Tonight and ofWPIXNew York Tonight, who appears as a Newscaster on the tavern television. In season three, Stainback also played an Anchorperson in "Blood and Wine,"[41] and appeared in cameo as Herself in "Inner View."[28]The Velvet Underground founderJohn Cale plays an unnamed Aryan Leader, from whom Stevens is petitioning for financial and political support to expand his own network and power base.[8]
Guest starsElizabeth Berridge as Susan Wilhite andAmy Morton as Linda Wilhite are the intended victims in an "Endgame" planned bywargamestrategist Ernest Rasher, played byJosef Sommer. Rasher's son was a U.S. Army Colonel imprisoned for stealing weapons to sell on the black market. Linda was responsible for his incarceration five years prior. Rasher's son hanged himself in jail, so he wants revenge and hires Dodd to frame Linda's jealous sister Susan for murder by rigging the third shot of herpaintball gun to fire a.44 Magnum cartridge to kill a random opponent. Afterwards, Rasher kills Dodd and frames Linda for it. Finally, Rasher reveals a terrible secret about Susan to Linda, hoping that Linda will either kill her sister and thus be convicted of murder, or commit suicide like his son. Morton also played Gina Rox in "Eighteen with a Bullet."[29] Other guest stars includeLewis Van Bergen as Stuart Dodd, the hit-man Rasher hires to kill Susan (also as Johnny Sax in "Always a Lady"[78]),Martin Shakar as the Detective who questions Susan regarding the shooting (also as Frank Morrow in "Prelude,"[52] Kelly Stigman in "Christmas Presence,"[53] and Harriman in "The Visitation"[3]), and Chad Redding reprising her role asSgt. Alice Shepard.[17]
Philip Kraus Co-stars as Charlie Arnold, Susan's boss (also as Durkin in "Beyond Control,"[66] and Dr. Gary Foxworth in "Regrets Only"[46]). In his screen debut,Nick Bakay co-stars as a Yellow Team Member of the paintball group. AfterThe Equalizer, Bakay had recurring roles as Stu Dunfy onIn Living Color (1993–1994), and asSalem Saberhagen inSabrina the Teenage Witch (1996–2003). A.L. Sheppard also reprises his role asDetective Kelly.[17]
Ving Rhames guest stars as Luther "Million" Paxton, who uses hishooligan "Suicide Squad" of former athletes to "run interference" in drug deals with his buyers, keeping Paxton clean of direct involvement. Paxton says his nickname "Million" is because "Working for me is like having a million dollars in the bank." He launders his illegal proceeds through theCayman Islands, and back into his health clubs, running his drugs out of his flagship gym on 47th street. He enjoys corrupting athletes like Willie because they, "think they own the Earth...I love their expressions when they realize they're just as dirty as everyone else." Million manipulates Willie into becoming the latest member of hisSuicide Squad, with no way out but self-destruction.Adam Coleman Howard guest stars as Willie Halsey who is failing at academics with a 1.7 GPA. He struggles to finish his papers, half of which are written by his sister. Further, he now has a bad knee hampering his athletic performance. Thus he fears, not only will he lose his athletic scholarship, but he might not even graduate. He turns to his father, Joe Halsey, played by guest starRobert Swan, suggesting he help him with his sign business to make an honest living. But Joe's business is on the decline, and he wants a better life for his son. Thus he pushes Willie harder than he should, not recognizing he may lose Willie to the "easy money" of "thug life" dealing drugs.[11]
Other guest stars include Joe Morton who reprises his role asCarter Brock, andDavid Harris as Hammer, one of Million's minions who is known around the school as "a regular supermarket" from which athletes buyperformance-enhancers such asanabolic steroids, and "anything else" he might have. Alyson Kirk plays Mary Lou Halsey, Willie's sister, who knows that Hammer sells to students. Concerned for Willie, she calls The Equalizer. Kirk also played Lynn Rowan in season one "A Place to Stay"[79] after her television film debut as Missy Westin inIt Came Upon the Midnight Clear (1984) withMickey Rooney.[80] In her final screen role,Regina Baff plays Kitty Halsey, Willie's concerned mother. Baff also played Susan Donahue in season one "Unpunished Crimes."[81]Leo Burmester guest stars as Coach Bell who only has so many slots for football scholarships, so he cuts Willie from the team to allow a better performer to succeed. McCall convinces Bell to reinstate Willie, at least until he improves his grades. Keith Szarabajka receives a screen credit but his character Mickey Kostmayer does not appear in "Suicide Squad," making "Endgame" his final appearance onThe Equalizer. Dan Moran made his screen debut in 1986 onThe Equalizer in the season one episode "Out of the Past" as a Pizza Employee.[68] Moran co-stars in "Suicide Squad" as Pete, the high school "Doc" that checks Willie's knee injury.[11] AfterThe Equalizer, Moran had sixLaw & Order franchise roles (1990–2008),[82][83] and appeared onHomicide: Life on the Street (1993).[84]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S. viewers (millions) | Rating/share (households) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | 1 | "The Last Campaign" | Richard Compton | Lee Batchler & Janet Scott Batchler | October 26, 1988 (1988-10-26) | 17.0[85] | 11.9/18[85] | |
The reporter Leslie[c] asks if Assemblyman Phillip Wingate[d] is running against incumbent Senator Virgil Thomas Blake.[e] While publicly supportive, he secretly wants Blake's resignation and endorsement. Wingate's assistant Cindy Claussen[f] discovers blackmail material on Blake. Having heard of McCall fromSusan Foxworth, she asks for help. Jay Trescott[g] drugs Cindy. Her neighbor Darlene[h] tells McCall, "Medics took her."Sterno finds her committed to Longview Psychiatric Institute. At a free clinic, McCall asks his friendDr. Wolff for help. Since Wolff can't get her out, he commits McCall; paranoid schizophrenic. "I am quite wonderful at feeling hostility, Dr. Quentin." "Hrmm... OK... spies, adventurism, overthrow governments... I see," replies Dr. Quentin.[i] Pete gets in too; "bi-polar disturbance." Robert prevents Jay from drugging Cindy, and they hear her story. Pete keeps eye on Jay and protects Cindy. After fencing, Wingate blackmails Blake. McCall asks Blake to help, but he's afraid, so he rattles Wingate to "resign, Resign, R E S I G N." ^ cast | ||||||||
| 68 | 2 | "Sea of Fire" | Alan Metzger | Story by : Peter McCabe Teleplay by : Peter McCabe & Coleman Luck | November 2, 1988 (1988-11-02) | 16.1[86] | 11.7/18[86] | |
Cristo[j] and the Demon Lords watch as "Goat" getsjumped in to run a "franchise." Principal Elena Rodriguez[k] complains to Arthur Williams[l] about school resources. The Demons rape Alicia. Elena calls The Equalizer. They stab Eduardo Sanchez, who reported it. McCall and Elena talk to Alicia. Mrs. Sanchez[m] frantically arrives at theER. Frustrated,Sgt. Alice Shepard doesn't have the manpower. McCall requests off-duty volunteers from the Gang Task Force, who seize forty-three guns from school. McCall starts teaching Physical Science 800. The subject? Death! Athanatology field trip to the morgue. The Demons watch an autopsy by theMedical Examiner. Cruz is sickened; Goat chastises them. "Hitter" Phillip Borchek[n] explains his profession, until he was shot in the face with a .38, and had anout-of-body experience... an ocean, but not water... aSea of Fire. McCall wants Alicia to return to school, and testify. Elena asks Williams for time before dismantling the school. Williams argues with McCall. Cristo and Goat try to trap McCall. Mickey protests McCall going in unarmed.... ^ cast | ||||||||
| 69 | 3 | "Riding the Elephant" | Donald Petrie | M.K. Lorens | November 9, 1988 (1988-11-09) | 14.7[87] | 10.6/16[87] | |
A kickboxing match goes poorly for Narong Bansari[o] as drug dealing slaver Jimmy Thanarat[p] watches at his sports arena. At theRose of Bankok massage club, Narong gifts his mother's necklace to Manika,[q] but she feels uneasy wearing it, doing what she does. Jimmy breaks them up; he won't let either of them out of their contracts. Narong says he'll do anything. AtPete O'Phelan's for his birthday, McCall reminisces with Control about "riding the elephants"[a] in Angola. Thai national Sirit Bansari[r] finds China white heroin in a crate his son Narong was holding for Jimmy, so Sirit chastises Narong. Sirit throws the heroin in the trash. In the shadows, Flack sees it. Narong warns Sirit the "ghost soldiers" will kill him if they don't find it. Sirit disowns Narong, so Narong asks Manika to flee with him. She calls The Equalizer. He intervenes to save Sirit, but learns Control buys intelligence from Jimmy, giving Jimmy a free hand. Sirit tries to buy Manika's freedom for his son, but Jimmy holds Sirit hostage. McCall, Mickey and Narong have to be careful, but quick to get him back. ^ cast | ||||||||
| 70 | 4 | "Eighteen with a Bullet" | Richard Compton | Bruce A. Taylor | November 16, 1988 (1988-11-16) | 16.3[88] | 11.4/17[88] | |
Eighteen year-old singer Beverly Heat[s] is on the rise, while Gina Rox[t] is on the decline. Beverly's mother Evelyn Weaver[u] finds her drunk and warns her. Evelyn asks McCall to help Beverly escape the clutches of her manipulative manager Greg Rivers.[v] Mickey provides McCall background; Rivers specializes in teens, swindles their earnings, hooks them on drugs, and discards them. They visit Graham,[w] who was the hottest DJ in town. Graham says Rivers ruined his career and moved on to Gina Rox. Jealous of Beverly, Gina threatens Greg with cops and reporters, regarding the pay-offs, the drug deals... She's not heard from again. Beverly takes fan calls Live on the air with a WZAD DJ.[x] Mickey turns the tables on Rivers by calling in. Outside, he separates Rivers from Beverly and drives off so McCall can enlighten her. At Gina's apartment, he shows her the future. Then he starts in on Rivers, with voice-modulation help from Graham. ^ cast | ||||||||
| 71 | 5 | "Day of the Covenant" | James A. Contner | Robert Eisele | December 7, 1988 (1988-12-07) | 11.0[91] | 7.7/12[91] | |
Twelve years removed from the violentSoweto uprising, Scott and his girlfriend Zandili[y] play a happy tune. She leaves with "cousin" Ben.[z] A masked man tries to kill her, and they flee. Robert asks whySpecial Branch is after her. He draws out the gunman, anAfrikaner named Voorhees.[aa] McCall asks why he would harm a defenseless girl. "Defenseless? Kafir bitch," he replies before ranting aboutBlood River and his "Day of the Covenant." He claims she's a terrorist who killed his wife by bombing hisSAP station. McCall takes him to Anton Jooste,[ab] anNIS operative at the South African Consulate. Ulysses[ac] tells Mickey she led anuMkhonto cell, but theANC wouldn't operate in America. Having learned her past, Robert confronts Zandili. She leaves, but now Jooste is after her. Ben helps Zandili escape Jooste and hisimpimpi. McCall deduces Zandili's next target is the Deputy Secretary[ad] for the Department of Cooperation and Development. ^ cast Note: The opening scene portraying the South Africangovernment crackdown on the 1976 anti-apartheid Soweto uprising is an excerpt taken directly from the 1987 film,Cry Freedom (starringDenzel Washington andKevin Kline), filmed inZimbabwe. It ends with another excerpt of a speech byDesmond Tutu.[89][90] | ||||||||
| 72 | 6 | "Splinters" | Paul Krasny | Coleman Luck | December 14, 1988 (1988-12-14) | 15.1[92] | 10.8/17[92] | |
John Allenwaite[ae] is informed the operation is underway. Mickey leads a clean-up mission. His team is ambushed, killed, and he is captured. McCall answers a coded call from Control who suspects the mission was compromised by Parmelee.[af] For the enemy operation, McCall confronts Gropman[ag]...with his retirement fund and a toilet. The project is called "Intangible Plastics" (i.e.,psychological warfare). "We call the procedure, Spinter," Allenwaite explains to his audience, as Mickey, unconscious, has a vision of McCall implanted. For Mickey's location, McCall confronts Parmelee...with a garbage truck. Mickey next envisions a murdered woman, Serena.[ah] Allenwaite's assistant[ai] increases the dosage. Allenwaite waits for McCall; Parmelee is of no further use. McCall learns the Company has been infiltrated by aKGB unit, using agency finances to researchbrainwashing. McCall must overcome Mickey's programming, before Mickey kills him. ^ cast | ||||||||
| 73 | 7 | "Making of a Martyr" | Bradford May | Wayne Powers & Donna Powers | January 11, 1989 (1989-01-11) | 16.0[93] | 11.3/18[93] | |
Brandon Thorton[aj] wakes from a dream of being shot and paralyzed. Sylvia Thorton[ak] gives agun control presentation. In the audience is pro-gun Congressman James Harcourt, and gun-violence victim John Kelly.[al] She receives threatening calls. Brandon calls McCall. Sylvia argues for police, not vigilantes. McCall asks Shepard for a wiretap. A policeman[am] rousts Mickey from his surveillance van outside the Thorton's home, allowing Kelly entry. Shots are fired, but he escapes. The forensic detective[an] finds fibers but no prints. Shepard and McCall argue motive, but agree on a computer search. Sylvia goes live on WFQB-FM'sTalkback with Chris Perley[ao] about her upcoming television debate with Harcourt. She talks about the man threatening her. He calls in and fires a gun. She calls him a coward. McCall suspects Sylvia is orchestrating it, and repudiates making amartyr of herself. McCall and Mickey review Shepard's research, establish motive, and confirm their suspect. At the TV-8Facing Facts studio, Kelly gains entry and plants a gun after fooling the stage manager.[ap] During the interview withSally Jessy Raphael, he fires the gun.... ^ cast | ||||||||
| 74 | 8 | "The Sins of Our Fathers" | Paul Krasny | Tom Towler | January 18, 1989 (1989-01-18) | 16.6[94] | 11.1/17[94] | |
It's a normal day at the playground with Carlo Jr., his nanny Estrella... and mafia guards Blanda and Disimone.[aq] Carlo is taken. Mobster Carlo Alberto "The Angel" Santelli[ar] is livid, shouting at Tommy Dio.[as]Lettie and McCall discussShakespeare before the call from Carlo's mother, Natalie Santelli.[at] Mickey describes what happened. McCall smells a military operation. They contactCarter Brock, who got a letter, $5,000, and "one very weird tape of instructions." Santelli is contacted; "I don't want money, I want YOU Angel. I'm going to kill everything you love."Jonah hacks the D.A. andThe Times for Santelli'srap sheet: assault, racketeering, extortion, drug smuggling inTurkey... and murder. "No Disposition!" McCall intends to change that. Natalie meets McCall, Carlo has her tailed, Mickey intercepts them. Santelli demands to know who's helping her. Mickey has the tape analyzed at InterTex Sound Lab; "modern technology triumphs again...the original dulcet tones of the kidnapper." Armed with identity and motive, McCall tries to find Sarah Booth,[au] open Natalie's eyes, get her intoWITSEC, save the son, jail the father, and readSonnet 73 to Lettie. Just a normal day. ^ cast | ||||||||
| 75 | 9 | "The Visitation" | Bradford May | Robert Eisele | February 1, 1989 (1989-02-01) | 15.6[96] | 11.0/17[96] | |
International arms dealer Daniel Ruger[av] is selling nerve gas, so (coughing) small-time gun smuggler Asa Lazar[aw] won't deal. Ruger can't trust him, so Garrick[ax] and Tillerman[ay] grab him. Lazar flees into a residence, but the new mother[az] denies entry. Garrick shoots him, but catches a fatal strain of Africanorthopoxvirus. AtPete O'Phelan's, McCall dines with an old flame, Dr. Lauren Demeter,[ba] anepidemiologist at theU.N.'s International Health Organization.[95] TheMedical Examiner performs Lazar's autopsy, and quickly enlistsDr. Phil Molinari from the Dept. of Health, Bureau of Contagious Diseases. Molinar sends blood to theCDC, and calls his colleague, Lauren.Lieutenant Brannigan's mass round-up of suspects tips Carpenter who says, "The Mayor would want the people to know." McCall convinces him to grant 48 hours to isolate Lazar's killers. Mickey findsBagler's cousin, Dr. Harriman;[bb] a "top quack inNYC" who "lost his license for performing unnecessary surgeries." He finds Tillerman, but Lauren takes Ruger's number, trying to deliver the serum to anyone who needs it. Now McCall and Mickey must rescue Lauren. ^ cast | ||||||||
| 76 | 10 | "Past Imperfect" | Russ Mayberry | Gail Morgan Hickman | February 15, 1989 (1989-02-15) | 17.2[97] | 11.9/19[97] | |
Corman[bc] welcomes Ray Quintero.[bd] Ray's chauffeur[be] hands him the phone. "Hello, Ray. Goodbye, Ray." The chauffer tries togarrote him, Corman tries to shoot him, but Ray escapes.Big Brother Jimmy visits Thomas and his mother Cecilia Romero.[bf] Men try to kidnap Tomas. Ray shoots one, the others escape. Jimmy scoffs at Lt. Brannigan's theory. Mickey identifies him as David Lance. McCall sees his tattoo; "What we need is an expert on strange and esoteric information." For meaning, Mickey leverages Luther Munson.[bg] McCall tells Jimmy and Cecilia about the Darien Cartel, and Ray Quintero. "Name mean anything to you Mrs. Romero?" She tells her story, while Tomas eavesdrops. Mickey spots Company surveillance men. McCall berates the first man[bh] and orders the second to contact Control. Control andJustice Department agent Elliott Jarvis[bi] want Ray's testimony. McCall hears Ray's story. Jimmy dissuades Tomas from running away. Corman comes after Tomas, and Garfield is shot. McCall suspects a Company mole. Ray gives his testimony and is shot. At the funeral the priest[bj] reads "a mystery" (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Tomas gets his own special chauffeur. ^ cast | ||||||||
| 77 | 11 | "Trial by Ordeal" | Marc Laub | Coleman Luck | March 1, 1989 (1989-03-01) | 13.9[98] | 9.8/16[98] | |
McCall is summoned by Prosecutor Charlie McGuinness.[bk] Lights reveal theSword Star. "I think you know what this is, "says the Judge.[bl] "A Company tribunal... a bloody kangaroo court!" Convened by Internal Operations, McCall has "been reclassified Category Red." He recalls Control warning, it's too dangerous to resign (years ago in "The Equalizer"[58]). The Judge reminds McCall of his oath upon joining 29 years ago. Prosecutor, "You and Control met, and exchanged an envelope..." (in "A Community of Civilized Men"[b]) "What exactly were the contents of that envelope?" McCall, "A mail order for a dozen new bowties...I had just discovered a secret sauce." But it's Control on trial; establishing his own network in Violation #28 of the Morrison Directives. Treason! The penalty? Death! He's asked about utilizing Control's network (in "Counterfire"[33]). As evidence, is his quid pro quo with Control (in "First Light"[61]). If Control is convicted, McCall also goes on trial. Having worked for the Operations Director (in "Beyond Control"[66]), Mickey testifies about Exden Doc. #1344-H (25 years of assassinations, government destabilization, currency manipulation... Everything!). Control's letter is entered into evidence; theSand Star Confederation declaring, "We the undersigned pledge our lives, and our resources to the worldwide defense of human rights, accepting as our mission, the overthrow of any force that shackles the freedom of human conscience, by unjust imprisonment, false trial, torture, and execution." The Judge asks Control, "Do you disavow this document?" "No, I do not." The Tribunal finds him guilty, but a death sentence requires unanimous peer agreement. McCall calls for a statement; Control makes his plea... to free the "Prisoners of Conscience..." ^ cast | ||||||||
| 78 | 12 | "Silent Fury" | Russ Mayberry | Donna Powers & Wayne Powers | March 8, 1989 (1989-03-08) | 14.4[99] | 10.0/16[99] | |
Two masked men break in. She paints. They take thesilver service. She's oblivious. The fruit bowl...still, she paints. It's not enough...they take her necklace too. Valerie's heart gives out in a wordless scream. Hall,[bm] "That was good! Where to?" Crocker[bn] drives to the next target. Ron[bo] proposes. Jackie,[bp] "Yes. Oh Yes." In the bedroom, they interrupt two masked men. Ron charges Hall, unmasking him. Crocker grabs Jackie at knife-point. They flee...with Jackie's wedding ring. Lieutenant Brannigan struggles questioning the deaf couple with Ron's silent fury. Ron's friend and Deaf Center volunteer David Pfieffer[bq] translates their statement. Jackie calls McCall, but Ron doesn't trust him. Mickey gets the police report and tells McCall about Pfieffer. Hall, afraid of being fingered, draws Ron out viaSuperPrint. McCall arrives in time, but Crocker takes Hall out. With only circumstantial evidence, Brannigan is stymied. McCall puts the Pfieffer "rat back in his hole," then consults Company engineer Fineberg[br] about "the power of sound." Fineberg, "The Company is very excited about the possibilities...emitting frequencies via satellite...very damagingand cost effective." Ron's fury boils over. He goes after Pfieffer, getting himself and Jackie captured. McCall and Mickey sound off... ^ cast | ||||||||
| 79 | 13 | "Lullaby of Darkness" | David Jackson | Coleman Luck | March 30, 1989 (1989-03-30) | 16.9[100] | 11.9/19[100] | |
Rebecca Morrison[bs] simply asks, "more spaghetti?" But nothing pleases her psychopathic abusive husband Joseph.[bt] Their daughter Mindy[bu] closes her eyes... knowing what's next. As Joseph beats Rebecca, Dream Father[bv] appears, urging Mindy to "The Fun Room" out the window, up the fire escape. Dream Mother[bw] also appears to comfort Mindy. Rebecca's neighbor Mrs. Drake[bx] phones The Equalizer, explaining she already called police, but Joseph is powerful, and his doctor diagnosed them as having injurious seizures. Sgt. Shepard confirms Mrs. Drake's story. McCall surveils Joseph. To assuage Mindy's fear, Joseph buys her a doll of The Sorcerer[by] who in time tells her, "I can kill things...forever. All you have to do is wish." McCall hears Rebecca yelling and barges in...to her seizure. Joseph medicates her, then calls police on McCall. After the Judge's diatribe and restraining order, McCall tells Mickey, seizures are also caused bybrain damage from beatings. Joseph files a $5,000,000 retaliatory suit against Mrs. Drake. After McCall witnesses Mindy sleepwalking to the Fun Room, he consults Dr. Myrna Grayson[bz] who takes action, with help from Andy the Monkey and McCall's video camera. McCall, Mickey, Mrs. Drake, Sgt. Shepard, andDetective Kelly set a dangerous trap for Joseph. ^ cast | ||||||||
| 80 | 14 | "17 Zebra" | Alan Metzger | Jacqueline Zambrano | April 6, 1989 (1989-04-06) | 17.4[101] | 12.1/19[101] | |
Policemen chase a punk who shoots a juvenile bystander. The dispatcher calls, "17 Zebra...man down." Decorated senior paramedic Edward F. Gideon[ca] responds with his rookie partner, Donna Marie Estrelita Concepcion Friedman.[cb] Still under fire, she finds no pulse until Gideon revives him.Skid Row homeless arrive at McKenzie Mission. Fossil Williams[cc] turns Lucky away for drunkenness. "17 Zebra" is called again. Friedman handles Lucky, passed out, while Gideon chides the superintendent for wasting their time on some "worthless drunk." Friedman drives the ambulance; Gideon injects Lucky, who dies from a heart attack. Suspecting murder, Fossil calls The Equalizer. Lucky was 35 and healthily.Jacob Stock investigates four deaths, finding the common denominator. Another homeless man triggers Gideon into a traumatic flashback.Doctor Molinari suggests Gideon might've usedpancuron. McCall arranges a drive-along, becoming convinced Gideon suffers fromcombat fatigue. He asks Friedman for help. Another attack and Gideon nearly crashes...a vial slips from his pocket. McCall devises a plan to incriminate Gideon, and Fossil volunteers. Gideon flashes back to a mother[cd] and her little girl who was stabbed to death...he freezes, then explains. McCall arrives, and Gideon tells Friedman, "You did the right thing." ^ cast | ||||||||
| 81 | 15 | "Starfire" | Bradford May | Robert Eisele | April 13, 1989 (1989-04-13) | 16.7[102] | 11.7/19[102] | |
Seti[ce] fiddles with electronics in his basement. Eleven year-old Amber Sweeny[cf] brings a sandwich andHopi pottery. Seti senses The Confederation landing on Earth to kill him for his "silicone intelligence" containing "the memory of my race." Amber introduces Seti, and Robert quips, "Search forExtra-TerrestrialIntelligence?" Seti explains he was sent fromEpsilon Eridani as a "pact-maker" by The Grand Mu. "The Vegans have a Confederation...End-Time fanatical," and hedubs Robert, "Quotan, interstellar defender."Dr. Cameron Wolff says, Seti "experienced trauma...psychotic precipitating factor," translation, "schizophrenic delusion...adaptive behavior." Wolff advises, "Establish trust...learn his past." McCall sends Seti's device for Company analysis. "End-Timers" shoot at Mickey and Seti. Claire Sweeny insists on meeting Amber's new "father figure." Mickey finds Seti's "kaleidoscope"patentee; Wayne Virgil, aerospace systems engineer at AeroDimensions. Mickey stops Company sniper Snider, who's freelancing to silence Virgil for senior AeroDimensions engineer Clinton Brandauer[cg] who loses millions if the merger with Transnational Aviation fails. Brandauer calls Crandell for security, but Mickey intervenes. McCall confronts the executives. Seti says, "My name is Wayne Virgil," and reveals the Vega-1 rocket explosion atVandenburg that killed twelve, before rambling, "We are all made from Starfire." Seti leaves with Wolff to receive therapy. ^ cast | ||||||||
| 82 | 16 | "Time Present, Time Past" | Gordon Hessler | Tom Towler | April 20, 1989 (1989-04-20) | 15.1[103] | 10.8/18[103] | |
At the store ofmusicologist Harold Ross,[ch]Scott McCall listens to a rareGiacomo Puccini performance by opera singerLicia Albanese. Yorgi Kostov[ci] adds the sound ofsuppressed gunfire, shooting "Emil" in the leg. Kostov and Arnoff[cj] haul Harold/Emil out. Scott, intervening, is taken hostage to theBulgarian Embassy. Control briefs an outraged but scared Robert. Harold reveals he's really Emil Kostov, former head of Covert Operations for Bulgarian Intelligence. Robert explains to his ex-wife Kay,[ck] Scott's mother, that as aKim Philby-esque double agent, Emil defected ten years prior. Kay is angry at Robert for introducing Scott to Ross, placing his beliefs, honor and duty above family. Mostly, Kay still blames Robert for his absence prior to the death of their daughter fromcardiomyopathy. McCall wants to rescue them, but to appease Russia theState Department will return Emil to Bulgaria. Scott devises his own escape plan, then insists on freeing Emil despite parental objections. Kostmayer,Brock, and Thompson drill Scott relentlessly in preparation. They storm the embassy, but Emil has decided to clear the family name by returning to Bulgaria. Yorgi shoots Brock, forcing Scott to make a life-or-death choice before Yorgi shoots Emil. ^ cast | ||||||||
| 83 | 17 | "Prisoners of Conscience" | Marc Laub | Robert Eisele | April 27, 1989 (1989-04-27) | 14.7[104] | 10.4/17[104] | |
Chilean poet Antonio Cruz[cl] recites, and tells his teacher Waldo Jarrell[cm] he wrote it while imprisoned "for my conscience." Leaving school, Jarrell witnesses Tony's abduction.Jeremy welcomes Waldo toPete O'Phelan's and Robert recognizes the "signature" of Randall Payne,[cn] who shot Robert's father in the back atPort Said during the1952 Egyptian revolution. Thought dead for fifteen years, Payne was working for the Company. McCall demands Payne's dossier, and Control says, "I have worked all my life to free prisoners of conscience." Meanwhile, Payne tortures Antonio for the names of the guerillas he counseled as a psychological advisor toLa Vicaría de la Solidaridad, the human rights arm of the Catholic Church inChile. Mickey learns that theCNI want to discredit the Vicariate to affect upcoming elections. Robert recalls serving as a British Army officer at age 19 under his father, Captain William McCall[co] and he has an imaginary conversation with him. Waldo reveals that as aHollywood screenwriter, he too wasblacklisted and imprisoned for his ideas, just like Antonio. McCall and Mickey locate Payne and his CNI operative[cp] to free Antonio. Robert must decide how best to avenge his father's murder. ^ cast | ||||||||
| 84 | 18 | "The Caper" | Alan Metzger | Tom Towler | May 4, 1989 (1989-05-04) | 15.0[105] | 10.8/17[105] | |
Emmy Rutherford[cq] cleans toclassical, while Kenny Pack[cr] pursues a man inCentral Park. Emmy witnesses the murder, but Sgt. Alice Shepard says the last time it was Rutherford's neighbor carrying his dead wif...soggy carpet. A crime/mystery novel enthusiast, Emmy is determined to help solve it. She tells Frank Zelinski[cs] the killer is after her. Frank finds McCall's advertisement. Company agent Trudy Collins[ct] is enlisted to protect Emmy, who finds Pack's mug shot.Detective Kelly says Pack's girlfriend is striptease dancer Taffy Gould,[cu] who doesn't provide McCall any useful information, but seeing Danny[cv] sneaking away, McCall confronts him. Pack is killed by his boss Devon Jarrow[cw] to eliminate links. Emmy traps Trudy in the bathroom to leave, enlisting Frank to solve the crime, but she's followed. McCall shoots the man before he can kill her. Shepard identifies him as Jack Washer, part of Jarrow's crew. Trudy finds "Clinton Street" and Emmy uses her novel knowledge to discover a clue; "Van Warren's" indicating the caper is a jewelry heist. Emmy distracts Frank to escape police protection, and is abducted by Jarrow who stole theHabsburg diamond; 132 carats, worth $17,000,000. The mysterious "Lou" is revealed, holding Emmy hostage at gunpoint.... ^ cast | ||||||||
| 85 | 19 | "Heart of Justice" | Bradford May | Gail Morgan Hickman | May 11, 1989 (1989-05-11) | 14.6[106] | 11.2/18[106] | |
A clerical error forces Justice Lindsey Smith[cx] to accept the defense motion to suppress the steel pipe that put Cynthia Gianelli in a coma. Both Prosecutor Solaris and Cynthia's husband Michael Gianelli[cy] object in vain. The rape charges against Tony Santiago[cz] and Max Gorman[da] are dismissed. Michael vows to kill Santiago and Gorman. A man with a scared hand leaves the courtroom. When Michael and Cynthia's sister Laura[db] argue, she realizes he has a pistol and contacts McCall fearing what Michael will do. Jacob Stock gives McCall the rapists' parole reports. Michael finds Tony to kill him, but scarred-hand-man kills Tony first. An old woman[dc] thinks Michael shot him, so Lt. Brannigan arrests Michael. Stock can't find anyone else with motive against Santiago. McCall believes a vigilante pattern exists. They trail Gorman, but the vigilante escapes. Company Criminal Data Analysis expert Oscar[dd] parts with his mistress Michelle, aka Teresa Curtis[de] who is a double-agent working for Cuba. McCall leverages Oscar who finds a suspect; Victor Koslo.[df] Stock briefs McCall and they go after Koslo. Michael escapes jail and hunts Gorman with a gun. Together, McCall and Koslo try and talk Gianelli down before Michael becomes a killer just like Victor. ^ cast | ||||||||
| 86 | 20 | "Race Traitors" | Robert E. Warren | Donna Powers, Wayne Powers, & Gail Morgan Hickman | June 29, 1989 (1989-06-29) | 11.6[107] | 8.3/16[107] | |
Casey Taylor[dg] hears police and pulls over; He's terrorized by Ridge Parkskinheads. Casey's wife Martha[dh] calls The Equalizer. McCall urges Mickey to help, despite it being his high school neighborhood. TheAryan leader[di] at Dale Stevens'[dj]white supremacy presentation asks why he should support a refrigerator repairman. Tavern operator Ellen Kaminsky[dk] complains about failing businesses, and "now the blacks are moving in." Angry his brother was murdered by a Negro, Ellen's son Nick[dl] helped attack Casey, and gets tattooed "American Skinhead" at a rally. Stevens rants, "The day of the rope will come," displaying anoose for "race traitors." Detective Warren[dm] recognizes Stevens as lower-echelonKKK. McCall asks former Company agent Barbara Ashton[dn] for a cover story to infiltrate Dale's skinheads posing asAryan Identity leader Walter Jessick. Mickey surveils Stevens. Skinhead Alex inblackface fires on white pizzeria customers with anArmsel Striker shotgun. The Newscaster[do] reports it killed a man. Dale fans the flames at Ellen's tavern, and implies Nick agrees. Jacob Stock arrives to protect the Taylors. Mickey and Ellen plan to show Nick how wrong Dale is. To incriminate Dale, "Walter Jessick" tests Stevens to shoot a "traitor" skinhead, Chuck.[dp] Detective Warren arrests Stevens. ^ cast Note: The episode opens with historic footage ofAdolf Hitler, theGerman American Bund, real-life skinheads, and otherneo-Nazi activity from the news. It is overlaid by a speech narrated by the fictional character Dale Stevens. | ||||||||
| 87 | 21 | "Endgame" | Alan Metzger | Coleman Luck | August 10, 1989 (1989-08-10) | 11.2[108] | 8.3/15[108] | |
Wargamer Ernest Rasher[dq] cherishes his son'sPurple Heart. Hit-man Stuart Dodd[dr] intrudes. Rasher fires poison from his model cannon, but wants a different death. With herpaintball gun, Susan Wilhite[ds] playscapture the flag against Yellow Team members[dt] inside the derelictGettysburg Hotel; one hit, one miss. Her third shot killsyuppieArmTech co-worker Michael with a .44 magnum. The detective[du] can't believe someone tampered with her gun. Sergeant Alice Shepard has no record of its theft. Army Captain Linda Wilhite,[dv] formerly aPentagon Criminal Investigator, arrives as Susan's lawyer, but Susan wants The Equalizer, showing McCall modelConfederate soldiers she received. Mickey surveils as Susan's boss Charlie Arnold[dw] suspends her. Dodd offers her a drink, per instructions. Linda also receives models...Union soldiers. McCall explains the expensivestrategy game pieces. Linda provides her list of Army wargamers. Dodd is meeting Susan for a date...with death...tonight. Mickey findsNYC wargamers, including Rasher. Linda finds DoddOD'd, dead in her bed. Susan assumes Linda framed her. Shepard arrests Linda forconspiracy. McCall explains theCivil War soldiers; brother against brother, sister against sister. ThroughStrategy Games International, Robert "Cavendish" (McCall) challenges Rasher, revealing Rasher'sendgame against Linda and her sister Susan. ^ cast | ||||||||
| 88 | 22 | "Suicide Squad" | Marc Laub | Jacqueline Zambrano | August 24, 1989 (1989-08-24) | 11.2[109] | 8.2/15[109] | |
"Doc" Pete checks the knee. Coach Bell[dx] cuts Willie Halsey[dy] for failing performance andGPA, endangering his football scholarship. Willie lies to his father Joe.[dz] Hammer[ea] offers "help." Willie's sister Mary Lou calls The Equalizer because Hammer deals drugs for Luther "Million" Paxton.[eb] At Million's job offer Willie balks, "theForeign Legion" is "safer."Carter Brock says Paxton's ex-jock "Suicide Squad" deals his "coke,steroids andQuaaludes." McCall confronts Willie. Paxton buys Willie's parents a recruitment gift. Willie offers to help Joe's business, but Joe wants him earning from sports. Willie goes to Paxton's gym. McCall convinces Coach to extend Willie's scholarship. Willie argues, Mary Lou wrote his papers...football is his only shot. McCall informs Joe and his wife Kitty[ec] who argue with Willie. Paxton sends Willie to deal withDominicans. McCall's ultimatum to Paxton, "You close your entire operation down...Imight let you live." PaxtonShanghaies Hammer for double-dealing, and gives Willie a revolver. McCall tells Joe, Willie is now armed and dealing. Disguised, Brock gets Willie "Scared Straight!." McCall adds, Hammer was murdered, "They found pieces of his body in the river. Is that they way you want to live? Or die?" They set a trap for Paxton. ^ cast | ||||||||
| Preceded by | List ofThe Equalizer (1985 TV series) episodes | End of Series |
(picture caption) Ching Valdes-Aran, Tony Becker, Merritt Butrick and Wendell Pierce star in 'The Pass,' the tale of a fateful encounter with the Viet Cong in an after-hours bar.
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