The episode opens with Adam-12 cruising down a Los Angeles area highway. Isn't this CHiPs territory? Most shocking - there's barely any traffic. Malloy's decision to take the highway proves fortuitous as a radio call sends them to a liquor store right off the highway. There's been a robbery.
Malloy and Reed opt to not stop at a Dairy Queen for some Ice Cream Cones. Instead they pass right by and pull into the parking lot of the robbed liquor store next door. The owner, Marty, complains that this is just the latest in robbery after robbery. Viewers learn that operating a money-making business of any sort right near an entrance to a highway isn't the best idea. That nearby highway makes for a quick escape from the area.
Deputy Barney Fife of the small town of Mayberry ("The Andy Griffith Show") North Carolina, once won a Public Safety Contest. His submitted Safety Warning Phrase, "Walk on the left after dark, or you'll end up playing a harp" taught children (and adults) that it was safer to walk on the side of the road against traffic come nightfall. The same is true for during daylight as well. Just ask Officer Pete Malloy. Patrolling a mountainside road while on the lookout for brush fires and possible arsonists, M & R happen upon a couple of youngsters who are walking on the right side of the road, with traffic. The partners inform them that it is better to walk on the left, toward approaching traffic. Then you can see when cars are coming and dodge out of the way if necessary. It's great to see Men of the Law from both coasts of the country, agreeing on safety protocols when it comes to walking alongside traffic.
Next, Adam-12 employs the use of a female stunt woman. She's laid out down a mountainside with a car rolled on top of her. At least, I hope that was a stunt woman. She really was halfway under the car. I'm sure the scene was handled with the utmost of professionalism.
Because the next scene wasn't. Back at the Police Station, we see Sergeant MacDonald pull into a parking spot in his L-20 Station Wagon. He parks in the spot next to the wall right by the parking lot entrance door to the Station. While having a quick conversation with Malloy and Reed, we see that Adam-12 is parked in the second spot next to the wagon. As Mac heads indoors, M & R get into the squad to leave. The camera shot then moves back 30 feet to film Adam-12 backing out of it's space. But Holy Houdini, Batman! Mac's L-20 Station Wagon has disappeared into thin air! An unfortunate transistion from newly shot material to stock footage of the squad car leaving the Station. This should have been caught in editing.
After running down another robber of the same liquor store from the top of the episode, Malloy and Reed escort this guy - a real "dip" (pay attention to signage at the arrest location) to the squad. Well, first Malloy has to frisk him. He commands the robber to put his hands against a wall and spread his legs. The guy's legs are already spread. Malloy then kicks the guy's legs together. Make up your mind, Pete!
During the course of the episode, Reed has been spouting the virtues of married life to Malloy. Malloy has inturn been complaining to Reed about Malloy's latest girlfriend, Donna. Seems that during a double date with Reed and his wife, Donna had gotten the itch to get hitched. She'd like to get married to none other than confirmed bachelor Peter Malloy. There's some fun banter and bickering between the two pals. Each with extremely varying views on matrimony. To Reed's chagrin, the final call of the evening will have Malloy running for the proverbial hills in the opposite direction of marriage. Adam-12 responds to a call of loud music coming from a house in an otherwise peaceful suburban area.
Upon arrival at the house in question, the partners are met by a mixture of loud stereophonic music and blasting sound from a television. The house belongs to a real sad sack and his gorgeous wife. She's beautiful, but she has the personality of a witchly hag. The husband is jobless, extremely depressed and just wants to listen to his music. The wife despises him, his depression and his music. She purposely cranks the volume on the TV so as to drown out his music as well as drive him further into a suicidal mindset. It's a very sad scene. Actor Paul Carr, portraying the husband, is very good in the scene. He even manages tears. The actress playing the wife makes an excellent harpie.
As Malloy and Reed exit the home with the situation solved, at least for the time being, Malloy again brings up the days subject of constant conversation with Reed. That of impending doom - or rather, impending marriage. At least, "impending" for him as Reed, Reed's wife and Donna would like. In referring to the "marriage" of the sad sack and harpie with whom they've just dealt, Malloy provides this episode with it's title.
Another very good episode of Adam-12.
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