Title: The Mole
Directed by: Mark Warren
Written by: Reinhold Weege, Danny Arnold, and Chris Hayward
Air Date: March 18, 1976
Previous: The Kid
Next: Evacuation
Guest Starring: Ron Carey, Severn Darden
"The Mole" is the 22nd and last episode of the second season of Barney Miller.
All sorts of bad guys are cycling through the 12th Precinct. Mr. Randolph Cook, a surprisingly erudite, sophisticated derelict, more or less demands to be arrested for vagrancy, so he can spend a night indoors in the squad room cell. Chano and Yemana bring in a doctor and an insurance executive, who got into an argument over medical insurance that resulted in trashing a hotel bar. Meanwhile, Harris and Wojo respond to a report of a jewel robbery in progress. They wind up going through a manhole and into the sewers, finally nabbing the perp, one Angelo "The Mole" Molinari. (Not The Mole.)
In personal news, Barney is still limping around on the broken foot that he was suffering from in the previous episode. Fish is also suffering from a complaint, namely hemorrhoids. He is sitting on a doughnut pillow at work and contemplating an embarrassing operation.
Last appearance of Gregory Sierra (Chano), who left the show after two seasons. First appearance of Ron Carey, who plays Angelo Molinari. He became a regular in Season 3 as Officer Levitt.
Tropes:
- Absurdly Spacious Sewer: It seems there are sewers capacious enough in New York for NYPD detectives to chase burglars around.
- Contrived Coincidence: On the night where Fish is contemplating having to go under the knife for hemorrhoids, the 12th brings in a doctor and an insurance salesman, with the salesman continually needling the doctor about unnecessary/unsafe practices. Fish keeps freaking out.
- The Dandy: Harris is on the verge of hysterics when he returns to the squad room, his $200 suit (in 1976 money!) covered in waste. ("I fell in a sewer!") When Barney suggests that Harris should probably forgo wearing fancy tailored suits on duty, Harris says he can't not wear fancy suits.Harris: I've tried, and I just can't make it out of the house.
- The Disease That Shall Not Be Named: Played for laughs. No one ever says the word "hemorrhoids", even though it's perfectly clear what Fish is suffering from as he groans from discomfort while sitting on a doughnut pillow.
- Eccentric Millionaire: Cook the derelict claims to be this, although apparently he's really making up an excuse to leave as the squad room is getting too crowded. On the way out he asks for directions to the 14th Precinct.
- The Gambling Addict: Yemana, as usual. He's placing a bet on a horse at the racetrack called "Barney's Kid". He later admits that he's lost $3 million over the years on betting at the track.
- One Phone Call: When the insurance salesman is offered his one phone call, he says he doesn't need a lawyer; he's covered.
- Paying for the Action Scene: The insurance salesman and doctor agree to settle with the hotel for the drinks and the busted lamp, and drop charges against each other.
- Sewer Gator: Angelo says the reason that Harris and Wojo caught him is because he tripped over an alligator in the sewer.
- Toilet Humor: Harris and Wojo come back to the squad room covered in sewage and emitting a horrible stench.
- The Tramp: Randolph Cook, a sophisticated derelict who waxes on about the "escalator of life" while also cheerfully admitting to being a bum who needs a warm place to sleep.
