Title: The Car
Directed by: Bruce Bilson
Written by: Nat Mauldin
Air Date: November 12, 1981
Previous: Advancement
Next: Possession
Guest Starring: Joe Regalbuto, Larry Gelman, Alice Backes
"The Car" is the third episode of the eighth season of Barney Miller.
"The car" is owned by one Joseph Hilyer, who assaulted some Japanese tourists that were getting too close to his '57 De Soto, then punched Wojo when Wojo, who just happened to be there, intervened. The situation is further complicated when Mr. Hilyer admits that he doesn't actually own the car after all. In fact, he stole it when it was new, 24 years ago. Wojo finds the 1957 grand theft auto report and brings in Miss Louise Shawcross, who is the legal owner of the car.
The other case involves Officer Earl Slatic of the Sanitation Police. It seems that Officer Slatic observed a man toss a candy wrapper on the ground. When the man ignored Officer Slatic's order to throw the wrapper in a garbage can, Slatic pulled a gun and fired a couple of warning shots.
Meanwhile, Harris's writing career continues to be a source of tension. Harris is still pissed off that Barney forced him to miss a meeting with a publisher in last week's episode, and continues to show a bad attitude, which irritates Barney in turn. Finally the two men have another confrontation in which Harris admits what's really bothering him: he hasn't been able to write anything since his novel "Blood on the Badge".
In another plot thread, Barney sends Levitt off to check out a report of some kids climbing on construction equipment. This seemingly minor errand turns serious when the squad room is told that Levitt is dangling from a 10th floor construction scaffold.
Tropes:
- Big Damn Heroes: It turns out that Levitt, after arriving at the construction site, pulled a kid off a dangling 10th floor construction scaffold, only to himself fall off of the scaffold—and onto another scaffold on the ninth floor. Barney's going to recommend him for the Medal of Valor.
- Continuity Nod: Last week's episode is referred to again, as Barney's displeasure over Harris neglecting his police career for his writing career reaches a boiling point. Then at the end of the episode Wojo, saying that the detectives should work on their problems together, mentions how he was diagnosed as being sterile in season premiere "Paternity".
- Cool Car: Mr. Hilyer's vintage '57 De Soto, a cool enough car that a whole Japanese tour group was motivated to stop and check it out. Mr. Hilyer describes a quasi-spousal relationship in which he sponge-bathes the car and was going to surprise "her" with new plates for "our 25th anniversary." Miss Shawcross compliments Mr. Hilyer on how well he took care of the car.
- Donut Mess with a Cop: Levitt brings in doughnuts for the office. He uses this for a very thinly veiled insult when Barney sends him off on a minor errand, saying "Save some for the guys."
- Foreshadowing: Mr. Hilyer is in a big, big hurry to sign a release form and get out of the squad room. Why? Because he's going to steal the car a second time before Miss Shawcross can drive it away.
- Japanese Tourist: Not seen but discussed, as Mr. Hilyer says that a group of Japanese tourists were "violating" his classic car, touching it and taking pictures and such.
- Old Maid: Miss Shawcross is a fiftyish woman who is explicity referred to as Miss Shawcross. She's lonely and explicitly invites Mr. Hilyer to spend time with her and the car.Miss Shawcross: I like bubble baths too.
- Redemption Rejection: It turns out that the statute of limitations on the theft of the De Soto expired 18 years ago, and Wojo is generous enough to not process the charge of assaulting an officer, so Mr. Hilyer is free to go. He leaves in a hurry, with Miss Shawcross suggesting as he goes that he could come visit the car. The episode ends with Miss Shawcross coming back key in hand and saying "Has anybody seen my car?" Mr. Hilyer has stolen it again.
- Writer's Block: The real reason that Harris is so agitated. In fact he was thankful to Barney for forcing him to miss a meeting with his agent and publisher, because he hasn't been able to write anything since "Blood on the Badge".
