Trackdown is the 2nd Episode of the 7th Season of Walker, Texas Ranger. It aired October 3, 1998.
Carlos's nephew-in-law, Hector Lopez, is accused of attacking his greedy former employer, but Walker eventually helps him clear his name. However, just before Hector can be officially released, he is forced to escape from the prison after his cellmate, killed by corrupt prison guards, gives him evidence of a drug-trafficking operation said guards are running, and needs Walker and Carlos's help in bringing the guards to justice. Meanwhile, Alex opens the HOPE (Help Our People Excel) Center to try to help the less fortunate, realizing she needs to do more with her life besides putting the criminals behind bars.
Tropes seen in this episode:
- Big Bad Ensemble: Corrections Captain Paul Kelton and Joey Dunbar.
- Blatant Lies: Joey Dunbar, Hector's former employer, would always lie about anything when it came to dealing with his employees. In fact, it's the basis of the scam-driven way of running his business: he convinces people to work for him, then falsely accuses them of stealing or some other offense and wrongfully fires them, all for the sake of attaining cheap labor and making maximum profit for himself. When Hector assaulted him, it was out of self-defense when he was sucker-punched. Dunbar also claimed Hector had a gun when he robbed him, but there was no gun found. After Walker hears Hector's side of the story and busts Dunbar for his lies, Dunbar's men changed their stories pretty quick, allowing Hector to be released.
- Dirty Cop: Kelton and his guards are secretly running a drug-trafficking operation within the prison.
- Fun with Acronyms: This episode marks the debut of the H.O.P.E. (Help Our People Excel) Center. After being hospitalized from her shooting in "The Wedding", Alex decided to do something more with her life besides putting criminals behind bars, and it usually involves helping the victims get back on their feet. Walker helps Alex find a vacant house, down payment and all, and he immediately comes up with an excellent name for the Center when Alex says all she wants to do is "help our people".
- He Knows Too Much / Leave No Witnesses: Guard Captain Kelton finds out Eddie stole his logbook and murders him shortly after he gives the book to Hector, and this kicks off the episode's main plot.
- One-Word Title
- Special Guest: Marc Alaimo as Guard Captain Paul Kelton, Greg Serano as Hector Lopez, Lorina Zapata as Carmen Lopez and Ron Harper as Eddie.
- Victim of the Week: Hector Lopez and Eddie. It's very likely Hector becomes the first client for the HOPE Center after this story.
