Five-O Revisited: Once Upon a Time

Season 1, Episode 19
Original airdate: 2/19/69

Written by: Leonard Freeman
Directed by: Michael Caffey

This two-part episode takes a rare detour into McGarrett's family. He goes to L.A. to bring down a quack doctor who has been "treating" his sister's dying baby boy. His sister, in desperation, has become a believer, but despite the rift it causes between them and the pain it causes his sister, McGarrett can't seem to help himself - he has to bring out the truth. Ever since I first saw this episode many years ago, I've never forgotten McGarrett's line, "who made me big daddy to the world?" and Danny's comment to him, "Steve, just this once, can't you back off?"

Given that this is a first season episode, and a two-parter, written by Freeman, it is interesting in what it shows about Freeman's concept of McGarrett.

This is, I think, the longest opening of any Five-O episode, as we watch an obviously fraudulent doctor manipulate a mother whose baby boy is ill. We learn shortly that the mother and child are McGarrett's sister and nephew.

May bears the bad news to Steve, an urgent message from his brother-in-law.

Despite the news, Steve takes charge of the calendar. Chin gets to give a speech on law and order. He asks, "For or against?" Much to his chagrin, Kono gets "all the leg work." Steve apologizes to Danny for "bailing out" on him. Danny asks if there's anything he can do. Steve tells him to "mind the store."

Steve arrives at his sister's place in L.A. Steve mutters, "This smog could choke a skunk." Nancy Malone is wonderful as Steve's sister, Mary Ann. You sense all the love and devotion for her big brother but also the torment over her baby's illness and torn loyalties between Steve and Dr. Fremont.

John Carter is equally good as the also tormented Tom Whalen (a good Irish name), Mary Ann's husband, whose own courage to face his wife with the truth founders and leads him to summon Steve to do it for him. Steve asks Tom about his unwillingness to tell his wife the truth, "And what happens when the baby dies?"

Steve wastes no time beginning his hunt for his prey, the fraud Dr. Fremont. He recruits Frank Zipser of the F.D.A. whose skepticism is overcome in good time. McGarrett finds him a "prudent and thorough man." McGarrett has purchased one of Fremont's "miracle" machines with the express intent of transporting it across state lines. Sounds like "jurisdictional entrapment" possibly. McGarrett's posture as he sits is as impeccable as his posture standing.

Mary Ann and Steve argue about Steve's plan to bring down Dr. Fremont. He tells her, "I'm here because I love you. Because you and Tom and the baby are my family. The only family I've got." He also tells her that Dr. Fremont "couldn't cure a ham."

"I'm a cop. Remember, sis?"

He brings her to tears with his brutal honesty.

McGarrett pays Dr. Fremont a visit to give her a warrant. Joanne Linville is a hell of a lot of fun to watch in this role. She tries bribing him. She has a lot to learn about McGarrett. She also tries seducing him. He replies, "I'd rather take up housekeeping with a cobra."

This is how I react when I'm served a warrant.

She regales him with her unusual life story. In the end, the fun and games are over and the game faces are on. She tells him, "When somebody hurts me, I hurt back." The pawn is Steve's sister. She tells him, "Your sister won't forgive you for as long as she lives."

Back in Hawaii, bad news again. Steve takes a call from L.A. He breaks down and Danny tries to talk him through it. It's one of the most powerful scenes on the show. I hate to think of where Lord may have gone emotionally for this scene.