Title: Contempt: Part 1
Directed by: Noam Pitlik
Written by: Frank Dungan and Jeff Stein
Air Date: March 12, 1981
Previous: Rachel
Next: Contempt: Part 2
Guest Starring: John Dullaghan, William Windom, Maggie Brown, Dale Robinette, Larry German
"Contempt: Part 1" is the 15th episode of the seventh season of Barney Miller.
Ray Brewer is back! And he's turned his life around! Ray, the wino who was continually bouncing in and out of the 12th Precinct, has quit drinking, cleaned himself up, and joined the Salvation Army. For once, he's not in the squad room because he's under arrest: instead, he's there to report a series of thefts at Salvation Army facilities. He is followed to the squad room by Lt. Melinda Holly, his superior in the Salvation Army, and a good-looking woman who draws Wojo's eye.
The second wacky case involves a Sidney Bouton, who assaulted a waiter at a fancy French restaurant. It seems that an enraged Sidney struck the waiter because Sidney, a bald, short, squat little man, was denied entrance to the restaurant because he was too unattractive.
Meanwhile, Barney has to go testify as part of some big drug bust where the 12th seized $8 million worth of cocaine. He comes back from court acting oddly subdued, and when the detectives notice, he tells them some startling news: he's been cited for contempt, for refusing to disclose the name of a confidential informant. As the episode ends, Barney goes to jail.
Tropes:
- Ambiguously Jewish: One of a handful of scattered references over the course of the series to Barney being Jewish. As Barney heads off to jail, Ray Brewer, who knows a little about going to prison, says "Tell them you keep kosher. You'll eat better."
- And Starring: William Windom, an Emmy-winner who appears as Barney's cellmate, gets a "Special Guest Star" credit.
- As You Know: Barney's comment about going to court is the trigger for a little exposition, as Harris makes a comment about "that little eight million cocaine bust we made" and the detectives tell each other things they already know.
- Bad to the Last Drop: The Running Gag about the 12th's awful coffee. Ray says that now that he's quit drinking, coffee is his only vice. Barney takes a sip and says "It's a sin, all right."
- Blunt "Yes": Matt Hagan, the obnoxiously handsome owner of the obnoxious French restaurant for pretty people comes by to sign the complaint against Mr. Bouton.Mr. Bouton: What did they do, send over an Adonis to torment me?
Mr. Hagan: Yes. - The Faceless: Barney's cellmate, who says that the last guy routinely handed over his milk. All that we see is his feet.
- Multi-Part Episode: First of a two-parter in which Barney goes to jail for refusing to name an informant.
- Oddball in the Series: One of only thirteen episodes over the entire eight-year run of the show that included a scene outside the squad room. In this case, it's when Barney goes to jail.
- Prison: Barney winds up in a cell after he's cited for contempt.
- Recovered Addict: Ray Brewer, once a wino who slept in alleys and routinely committed minor crimes that brought him into the 12th. He has quit drinking and joined the Salvation Army.
- Shameful Strip: After surrendering his possessions at the jail, Barney is told to strip. Obviously it isn't shown, but the admitting officer at the jail has surgical gloves and a pen flashlight.
- What Did I Do Last Night?: Ray tells of the moment he hit rock bottom. He found an unlocked liquor store, and went inside and had a binge. He woke up two weeks later on a subway train—and he was driving the train.
