Original air date: 9/14/1971
Teleplay by: Jerome Coopersmith
Story by: Elick Moll and Joseph Than
Directed by: Charles Durbin
The fourth season premiere episode is one of my top ten favorites of the series. A smart script brings out the best in the direction and acting. Herbert Lom as Mondrago is a terrific foil for McGarrett and France Nuyen as his daughter is mystifying and, for McGarrett, quite intriguing.
The opening reveals an archaeological dig which discovers some skeletons that aren't nearly as old as expected.
When I think of archaeologists, this guy always comes to mind.
Only McGarrett could wear this shirt and still be cool.
The archaeologist calls on McGarrett when tests show two skeletons are only 10 years old. They have some great dialog as we wrap up the teaser:
Archaeologist: Curious fact...each one shows...bone-splintering caused by foreign small object.
McGarrett: Bullet?
Archaeologist: That's your department, Steve. We call it death caused by induced traumatic insult.
McGarrett: We call it murder.
The opening is unusual in that it uses overlapping voice overs, revealing the initial results of the investigation.
An unexpected and unsettling first meeting with Mondrago's daughter.
McGarrett and Mondrago meet. Mondrago is a powerful presence and unwaveringly goes head-to-head with McGarrett, always a welcome quality in his nemeses.
A visit with Mrs. Mondrago's doctor goes horribly wrong.
We don't often get to see McGarrett kept waiting. Here he inspects a trinket while Chin pretends to be doing something productive.
The doctor suffers the worst of all fates on Five-O - his car explodes in stock footage used repeatedly on the show and which never matches the actual car supposedly blowing up. I cringe every time they use this footage.
The bones are piling up in this case.
A disturbing cross-fade that some actresses might not approve of.
Mondrago and McGarrett have a heated confrontation. Mondrago senses correctly that McGarrett is getting too close to the truth. He tells him that he should back off or "this one might break your arm." Without missing a beat, McGarrett replies, "Oh, that's been tried." Jerome Coopersmith was the best.
As he leaves, McGarrett is called over by the daughter and they have a fun conversation where more is said without words. Their chemistry is compelling.
A sound effect is used when she smiles here that at any other point might have seemed cute but somehow works.
McGarrett visits Duncan, the painter who created the mesmerizing painting of Mrs. Mondrago, though Duncan jokes at first that McGarrett is inquiring about "the nude at the Hilton."
McGarrett's questioning enrages Duncan who reels out a list of accusatory names for him.
Duncan is so angry, he explodes. Or maybe there was another cause for the explosion.
Herman Wedemeyer playing a judge at the exhumation hearing.
This is McGarrett's just-be-cool look.
Mondrago, all lawyered up like rich men do.
Jesus!
McGarrett imagines how the murder happened. Danno interrupts his preoccupation.
Mondrago confesses but McGarrett finds flaws in his statement.
Steve makes a trip to the Big Island where Duncan has been found in the drunk tank.
The daughter, in a crazed state, shoots McGarrett. He slowly draws the truth out of her about her mother's murder.
I'd say McGarrett is pretty pissed at this point.
Even though she's a murderer and nearly killed him, McGarrett comforts the daughter after her breakdown. This is a unique trait of McGarrett - just because he's sending them to prison doesn't mean he can't see the humanity of the situation and have some compassion. For example, McGarrett also sympathizes with Charlie Swanson at the end of "The Box".
Pau.
