Title: Stormy Weather
Directed by: Noam Pitlik
Written by: Tony Sheehan, Frank Dungan, and Jeff Stein
Air Date: February 12, 1981
Previous: The Psychic
Next: The Librarian
Guest Starring: Phyllis Frelich, Robert Costanzo, Seymour S. Bernstein
"Stormy Weather" is the 12th episode of the seventh season of Barney Miller.
Dietrich and Wojo arrest Madeline Schaeffer, a deaf woman who also happens to be a prostitute and who was soliciting at a bus station. To everyone's surprise, Officer Levitt turns out to be fluent in American Sign Language—he has a deaf sister—and winds up interpreting for Ms. Schaeffer. Dietrich for his part takes a liking to the pretty Madeline and wonders why she's a hooker.
In the other case, Harris and Wojo go out on a burglary call. Barney is horrified when he is notified that the suspect, who fled from them, jumped into the harbor, and Wojo jumped in after him, and Wojo hasn't been seen since. He is relieved when Harris returns and reports that Wojo is just fine. It turns out that the man Wojo was swimming after, petty criminal Ed Foronjy, saved Wojo's life after Wojo got a cramp while in the Hudson.
Meanwhile, New York City is getting hammered by rain, and it's cold and flu season so a bunch of cops are out sick, which is why Harris is at work despite himself having a cold and fever.
Tropes:
- Bad to the Last Drop: The coffee at the 12th Precinct is always bad, which is why Madeline frowns when she takes a sip. Dietrich can't resist a joke, saying "Hey, I don't want to hear it!"
- Deadpan Snarker: Dietrich as usual, who can't resist a joke when he and Wojo bring in a deaf hooker:Dietrich: (to Barney) You want me to mime her her rights?
- Don't Eat and Swim: On one of the NewhartPhoneCalls that Barney takes, he's trying to get info on Wojo's condition, clearly distraught about him possibly having drowned wile jumping in the river after a suspect. Barney finally snaps when the other end apparently asks him if Wojo ate before he jumped in.
- Hiding Behind the Language Barrier: Levitt and Madeline's lawyer, who is also deaf, are pretty clearly saying some uncomplimentary things about Barney in ASL. At one point Levitt turns around, sees Barney watching, and smirks.
- It's All About Me: When Levitt prefaces bad news to Barney with "I know this isn't the best time to bring this up", Barney pounces on Levitt, irate that Levitt would stoop to using Wojo's possible death as a means to ask for promotion. It turns out to be subverted, Levitt was merely going to report flooding in the ground floor and would never pull something so low. He does take the opportunity to apologize for his previous badgering Barney, but if a position does open up...
- Maybe Ever After: Dietrich invites Madeline out to dinner at a Szechuan restaurant. The scene ends with Madeline leaving the station with her pimp, only to poke her head back in and tell Dietrich (through Levitt) that she'll meet him at the restaurant tomorrow night.
- Newhart Phone Call: A frequent gag on the show, seen here when Barney takes a call from someone who apparently wants to build Noah's Ark.Barney: I'm not aware of any statute against shipbuilding within city limits....No, I don't know how many feet are in a cubit.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Mr. Foronjy berates himself for saving Wojo when he would have avoided arrest by letting Wojo drown. It seems Mr. Foronjy is just too nice a guy, a man who spends his free time (when he isn't working as a burglar) volunteering for a crisis hotline and the Big Brother program.
- Streetwalker: Madeline, who's charming and vivacious and unapologetic about the way in which she earns a living. Dietrich is smitten.
- Talking with Signs: Madeline, in her work as a prostitute. She has a printed card that says "I am a deaf-mute. Wanna party?" Other cards say "Are you here for the convention?" or have a list of services and fees.
