Original airdate: 2/8/72
Written by: E. Arthur Kean
Directed by: Michael O'Herlihy
McGarrett gets owned by an eccentric billionaire but helps him escape murder charges in the end.One of my favorite episodes, I've nicknamed it "Steve McGarrett's Guide to Handling the Press" in honor of the press briefing he gives in this episode.
Things begin on a roll, with McGarrett summoned to the estate of Morgan Hilliard, played spot-on by Barry Sullivan, where a murder is reported. While Danno and Chin head to the estate, McGarrett is intentionally delayed by a mysterious phone call.
In one of my favorite scenes in the series, director O'Herlihy sets up a visually interesting view of McGarrett walking into Hilliard's trap. Six hired guns are waiting to "escort" him to Hilliard. They disarm him and tell him, "No one wants to tangle with you, Mr. McGarrett, but we have our orders." You can tell they know they're on thin ice, but they've chosen their paychecks over any quibbles over the illegality of what they've been tasked to do by their wealthy boss.
Not realizing that their boss has been kidnapped, Danny and Chin start reviewing the crime scene, which conveniently comes with an audio recording of the murder.
No, these guys don't look suspicious at all.
A great shot as the McGarrett kidnapping brigade makes its way toward the docks.
McGarrett doesn't like this guy.
And he doesn't like him either.
And he contemplates the terrible fate that may be awaiting him at the end of this ride.
Danny and Chin go over the murder with the witnesses and realize that Steve hasn't arrived yet. The opening credits are unique in this episode, using a freeze frame of the underlying action for each card.
McGarrett is escorted aboard a yacht. There's a group of gawkers on the boat in the next berth watching the filming.
McGarrett is caught off guard by a sudden burst of decontaminating mist as he boards the yacht.
Hilliard gives McGarrett his assignment - find out who really killed his associate. McGarrett rants that no one takes him captive and gets away with it.
Hilliard is one of very few characters in the series who stands square against McGarrett and challenges him as an equal.
Would you care to see our wine list, sir?
McGarrett has to face the very curious press which knows he's been missing during a very high profile investigation. For now, he blows past them. Oh, but he'll give them the press briefing of their lives a little later.
McGarrett gets up to speed on the evidence while one of Hilliard's spies keeps tabs on the team.
The one thing that bothers me about this episode. Chin says the bullets must have come from the sauna yet the arrows at his feet make it clear they didn't.
One of the witnesses, threatened by McGarrett as a potential suspect, uses the press against him. This has all the impact on McGarrett of a gnat smashed against the grill of a Mack truck.
Best McGarrett screencap ever.
Walking to the DA's office.
McGarrett gives the press their due in his briefing with them. You haven't had an effective press conference unless the reporters hit the deck.
McGarrett goes into the sauna and suddenly the reporters take cover as they hear shots.
Or maybe this is the greatest McGarrett screencap ever.
McGarrett leaves them with frayed nerves and a mystery to explain.
Having finally convinced Hilliard back to shore, McGarrett goes over the scene again, this time making a discovery - one of the shots came from overhead.
This is Steve's happy face. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Danny, I think he's smiling. What do we do?
Just a hair-trigger away from death.
In thanks, Hilliard offers McGarrett a variety of riches. McGarrett just asks for a thank you which he finally gets.
Pau.
