Call Me Java Sunday's Cereal

"Sometimes you know exactly how things will go, even before you go into the situation.  I knew when I went into the main estate at Robins' Nest, that Gibbs would try and keep me from most of the information.  He was NCIS, and as a Naval Criminal Investigator his job was to keep information under control and see that as little as possible got out to the public."

"Now McGarrett on the other hand kept trying to make sure that I was given full access, so I could do what I needed to."

Magnum was pulling into the King Kamaehameha Clubs' parking lot at this moment.  He still was working on how to approach Rick on needing to speak with Ice Pick on this matter.

"All I knew is that I was in something that Rick would not believe.  For that matter I was still struggling with this."

Magnum walked into the King Kamehameha Club.  As he did he noticed Michael Knight sitting at the bar.  Rick was looking at Michael like he had lost his mind.  

"Hey Rick, how are you doing?"

"Thomas, first off you still owe me for last weeks' tab, and secondly I am glad you are here.  This guy wants me to put him in touch with Ice Pick, because he is trying to track down Harmon Rabb Jr."

"Hello Michael, so how did you find out about Rick's ...never mind, you contacted FLAG."

"I did, but this guy just will not listen."

"You know this guy Thomas?"

"Yes Rick.  This is Michael Knight of the Foundation for Law and Government, he and I are working on the same case."

Rick did a double take, first at this stranger then his friend.

"Thomas, I know you have had your share of unusual cases, but this one takes the cake.  A former J.A.G. officer goes missing, and every agency is trying to find him?"

Both Thomas and Michael looked at each other in disbelief then at Rick.  It was Michael who spoke first.

"Excuse me, I was under the impression that Rabb was still active.  That is what we have been briefed on at least."

"You really are serious about this?  So Thomas, let me guess... you too want to speak with Ice Pick on this?"

"Yea Rick.  Ice Pick may be able to answer the questions about what is really going on here.  Right now, it's like being blind in a dark alley."

Rick shook his head.  He ignored Michael Knight and looked at his old friend.  

"Alright Thomas, not because of Mr. Flag, or whatever his name is. "

Before Rick could continue Michael Knight broke in.

"Listen, I know I am an outsider here, however the more we debate this, the more time we lose, and time is something we can not get back!"

"He's right Rick, we need to speak with Ice Pick as soon as possible."

"As I was going to say Thomas, I will put you in touch with Ice Pick, because I know that Ice Pick will accept speaking to you.  I also trust you, even though this case is crazy as they come."

"Great Rick, and I really owe you for this one.  Just one thing, why did you say Rabb is a former J.A.G. officer, as I said we have been briefed otherwise."

Rick polished a glass and put it aside then looked at his friend.

"Because when Harmon Rabb Jr. Came into the Club a week ago, he was buying drinks for everyone celebrating his leaving J.A.G. and the Navy, once and for all.  He made a big deal out of it, said that Mac just did not understand him and he needed time and space away from everything."

Both Magnum and Knight responded at the same instant in time.

"He was here a week ago!  Why didn't you say anthing before now?"

"Because, neither of you asked.  What am I supposed to be, a mind reader.  I will call you as soon as I have a time set up with Ice Pick."

Without thinking Thomas Sullivan Magnum did something out of character. he placed a $20.00 bill on the bar.

"Keep the change.  Thanks Rick."

Magnum left before Rick had a chance to respond directly.

"I don't believe it, he actually left a $20.00 and didn't ask for change?  Something has got Thomas spooked.  So Mr. Flag...."

"That's Knight, and I would really appreciate if you would contact me too when you have contacted Ice Pick."

"Listen Mister Knight, I know Thomas, he and I go way back.  Ice Pick knows Thomas, they have worked together on occasions before.  I do not know you, I have no reason to trust you, nor does Ice Pick... and I will not put someone I do not know, and have no reason to trust in contact with a very confidential contact.  So drink your drink then leave.  You will get nothing more from me.  Have a nice day."

Michael Knight was floored, he was used to having people do what he asked.  Yet he was an outsider here.  He needed information though and he did not like having to depend on a Private Eye he did not know.

"Alright.  Maybe I can get in touch with an old friend while I am here  Do you know how I could contact Daniel Williams?"

Rick smiled, his voice was sarcastic as he responded.

"Which one, there are a lot of people with that name."

"Daniel Williams of Five O.  He and I go way back, I knew him when I was a cop with L.A.P.D."

"You know Dano Williams?"

"Yea, of course it was a while back, before I was shot and took on a new last name.  My name was Michael Long back then."

"Yea well, I will see what I can do.  Leave me a number.  You owe  $16.98 for your drinks."

Michael felt he was being jipped, but he did not want any more headaches.  He was outside his comfort zone and on his own.  He paid the bill and walked off.  As soon as he was out of ear shot he spoke into his watch.

"KITT, I need a complete background check on a Rick Wright, I need to know his association with a Thomas Magnum and someone known as Ice Pick.  I need this as quick as you can get it for me pal."

"Very well Michael.  Michael, how are we doing?"

"Lousy pal, we are striking out and the bases are loaded.  We need some magic here soon, or I think we will be too late."

"I'll do all I can Michael."

"Thanks pal."

As Michael Knight walked toward the parking lot a dark gray Ford Mustang came out of no where and was bearing down on him.

TO BE CONTINUED...

A Matter of perspective

Sometimes, it is just a matter of perspective.  You can see a movie a hundred times and it is just a favorite,,, then suddenly you watch movie again, read a book or listen to a song and there is a BOOOM.


Well for me this happened recently.  What brought this about, is that nearly for a month I have been living in a hotel in Denver with a T.V. that has ten channels, maybe 12.  With the exception of USA and Discovery, there is very little else to watch; however I rented the entire fifth season of HAWAII FIVE-O and have been watching these with vigor.


Now I have always been a huge fan of the original series, Jack Lord was and still is the only Steve McGarett, his pacing and timber of voice just is unique 


The fifth season was for me a surprise, yet one I found myself still familiar with.  How could this be?


Before I left Colorado originally last year, a new channel came on the scene call R-TV, this shows classic television series from the '60's to the 80's.


I had started watching Five-O on R-TV.


But what really struck me this time as I sat and watched were how many well known actors played against type in this series.


William Shatner, played a crooked Private I who marched wits against McGarett.  There were guest stars like Dirk Benedict, in a walk on part, amazingly enough Benedict actually could act, this was before he became locked into the personification he used in Battlestar Galactica and The A-Team.


Richard Lawrence Hatch, yes that was his name back then also played an a typical character of Gar, a hippy who with his girl friend, would steal children then sell them, so they could be "free" from the rules.


Three episodes strongly stand out so far in the fifth season run.  The first is "The Child Stealers"   which I mentioned above.  What stands out in this episode is that this is still happening today.  You have people who will sell children for many reasons, freedom, inability to care for the child, the list goes on and yet here in 1972-73 we get an episode that looks at this and in a very cool manner.


You sit and you get into the head of Gar "Hatch" his girlfriend "Nina" played very well by Meg Foster and the lawyer who brokers the children played by Richard Anderson, who also played Oscar Goldman on "The Six Million Dollar Man"


Hatch was so cool and believed what he was doing, that it didn't seem like he was acting, again he actually played a part because he hadn't been type cast yet.  Either that or it was that he used his full name.


But Five O did some other things, in their fifth year that were ahead of their day.  In an episode titled "V is For Vashon"  we see for what may very well be the first time a homo sexual character is introduced into a story line.  The character involved is a State Judge and he has kept this secret, and has been blackmailed to change his testimony or this secret will come out.


Granted it was not a positive image, however it was impact-full because in 1973 this was something that wasn't discussed in public and not used as part of a television series or movie, especially one that many family members watched.


But the episode that captivated me most, so far is one titled "The Listener"  


"The Listener" gets under your skin so fast that you want to pull your hair out, because you are a victim and you have no idea at first how, or why this is happening.  Your secrets, the secrets of your patients being recorded and used to black mail you.


What is so disturbing about this episode is that it can still happen today, and with the improved technology it can be more invasive and harder to defeat.  This is just one of those stories that haunts you, because it is current and yet it is from 39 years ago.  Back when computers used punch cards, there were  no cell phones and when Crime Scene Investigations used powder to collect finger prints, and you used a magnifying glass to check ridge patterns.


The technology has changed, the way we live may have improved to some point, but people are the same.  And there are those out there who would do what "The Listener" did, and the unfortunate thing, not everyone has a Steve McGarett who can out smart the bad guy in the end.


Now not all of the fifth season was as dark and moody as "The Listener" , "The Child Stealer's", or "V is for Vashon"
You had some that were down right humorous, such as "I;m a family crook...don't shoot" which starred Andy Griffith as the head of a family of thieves.  


Or the compelling episode "Death Wish on Tantalus Mountain"  This episode featured Ricardo Montalban as a wealthy race car driver who is in love with Diana Muldaur.  Montalban faces the possibility someone is out to kill him, and he faces a challenging mountain he intends to defeat in his souped up race car.


What made Five-O so powerful by the fifth season, the principle characters were established, the story lines were crisply written by an established team and it had the clout to pull punches like a homosexual character before the time it was talked about, or even accepted in passing.  A psycho who taps a psychiatrist to blackmail him for his perceived injustice, or a family of grifters who hit pay dirt just to have everything fall apart.


There will never be another series like the original Hawaii Five-O and that is fortunate, because it makes it one of the most powerful, and fun series to come back to again and again.


So "Aloha" until next time.


SPOILER WARNING, this gives away the end of "The Listener"  You are warned.

  Another spoiler warning, for the end of "The Child Stealer's"  Richard Hatch was young, and you can't tell it as well from this clip, but he could act.

V for Vashon...a chilling statement and set up for the second of three part episode.

Pig in a Blanket, an episode that haunts us today, because this is unfortunately how many see police today.

I know intense stuff, but I have been putting this off for a week.  Be grateful I hadn't finished season Five or I might still be writing.


Again, "Aloha, until next time..."