JESSE STONE: NIGHT PASSAGE (TV)
Summary
One in a series of made-for-television drama films, based on the novels of Robert B. Parker and concerning an emotionally troubled police chief who deals with murder and corruption in a small Massachusetts town. This installment, based on the first Parker novel, is a prequel to the series' first film, "Stone Cold" (2005). The story begins in Santa Monica as hard-drinking former LAPD officer Jesse Stone drives to New England with his trusty bloodhound Boomer, calling his ex-wife Jenn from motels along the way. In small Paradise, Massachusetts, police chief Lou Carson is warmly lauded at his retirement party, though town council chairman Hastings "Hasty" Hathaway privately tells him that he "cannot afford him anymore." Stone turns down a friendly young woman's advances and finally arrives in Paradise, and Hasty glosses over Stone's admission that he was fired from his homicide detective position for drinking on the job, sure that it was a momentary indiscretion in the wake of his divorce, and hires him on the spot. Stone talks to Carson about the challenges of small-town policing, though dispatcher Molly Crane does not seem impressed by her new boss.
Stone is then summoned to a domestic dispute, where Joe Genest is found to be harassing his ex-wife Carole. Finding that Joe has no regard for the restraining order, Stone opts for a blunter form of dissuasion, making it clear that he will make Joe pay if he harms his family. Town attorney Abby Taylor arrives to scold Stone for his illegal behavior, but Stone is unconcerned by her warnings and ends up asking her out to dinner. Stone visits the gun range with Officer Luther Simpson, wondering why Carson retired, while elsewhere Carson is suddenly murdered by Joe, who rams his car off of a cliff edge with his truck. Stone talks to Carole, who admits that she knew little of her ex-husband's personal life and warns Stone that Joe will wish to "get even" with him. Hasty is revealed to be in cahoots with Joe, who coolly reveals that Carson died in an "accident" and declaring that they are now "equal partners" in their shady financial dealings. On his date with Abby, Stone admits that he has turned too often to scotch to deal with his divorce, and while out on patrol with Simpson, whom Stone has inexplicably nicknamed "Suitcase," Stone spots Joe and Carole's teen daughter Michelle cutting school and smoking marijuana and gives her a stern-but-kindly talking-to about good and bad choices.
Stone buys an isolated bungalow from realtor Cissy Hastings, Hasty's wife, and Captain Healy visits Stone and breaks the news of Carson's seemingly accidental death, which Stone immediately feels "doesn't sound right." Stone again calls Jenn, who reveals that she has split with her new beau, and Stone confesses that he does not feel at home in Paradise. Stone's cruiser is soon defaced with graffiti regarding his alcoholism, and Crane is deeply shaken when Stone tells her of her friend Carson's demise. Stone then meets with Hasty, who urges him to call "day or night" with any problems regarding the town. At Hasty's request, Stone and Abby attend a fundraiser at the yacht club, and Stone is surprised when Cissy makes overt comments about her interest in him out on the dance floor. Hasty talks privately with Stone, asking probing questions about Stone's divorce and wondering why his own wife is "frigid" towards him. Despite Cissy's advances and a suggestive phone call from Jenn, Abby and Stone's relationship deepens, though Stone is then heartbroken to learn that Boomer has begun to suffer renal failure. Stone spots Joe following him and speculates that he is having an affair with Cissy, and though Joe denies any involvement with Carson's death, Abby is upset to learn that Stone has concealed the fact of his demise from her.
Stone instructs his officers not to tell Hasty of his private police-chief business, and "Suitcase" confirms Stone's suspicious about Joe and Cissy, admitting that he himself was previously involved with her. Stone follows his "coply intuitions" and tails Joe, and he and Crane guess that he is involved with money laundering and killed Carson after Hasty "pushed him out" as chief. Healy confirms that Carson's car was intentionally shoved off the cliff, though he cannot yet tell by whom, and Abby ends things with Stone, feeling that they are moving "too fast." Stone finally tells Simpson that he has nicknamed him after oft-traded baseball player Harry "Suitcase" Simpson, and he later recruits good-natured Dr. Perkins to help him euthanize Boomer, feeling that he is kinder than the veterinarian. Stone, upset that Carson's death happened "on his watch," resolves to prove Joe's guilt and ends up talking to Michelle about her parents' divorce, urging her to confide in him if need be. Stone later contacts Hasty and, pretending to believe him innocent, "reveals" that Carson was indeed murdered by Joe because of their mutual involvement with mob crime, but states that he does not yet have enough evidence to prove it, adding that Joe is also involved with Cissy.
A panicked Hasty summons Stone to a private meeting to discuss the matter, and Stone seems entirely unfazed when he is instead met by a gun-wielding Joe, who reveals that he has long been a mafia hitman. Joe is suddenly shot dead by Hasty, who then confesses his own involvement with the financial scheme as he nervously prepares to kill Stone with Joe's weapon, but Hasty is then arrested by Suitcase and Crane, who witnessed his entire confrontation. Stone visits Carole and Michelle to break the news of Joe's death, then quietly returning to his new job.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:29:18
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 120460
- GENRE: Drama, police/detective
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, police/detective; Drama, mystery/suspense; Massachusetts
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 2006
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Tom Selleck … Executive Producer
- Michael Brandman … Executive Producer
- Steven Brandman … Producer
- Robert Harmon … Co-Producer, Director
- Drew Matich … Associate Producer
- Tim Christenson … Associate Producer
- Tom Epperson … Writer
- Robert B. Parker … Based upon the novel by
- Jeff Beal … Music by
- Tom Selleck … Cast, Jesse Stone
- Saul Rubinek … Cast, Hastings "Hasty" Hathaway
- Viola Davis … Cast, Molly Crane
- Kohl Sudduth … Cast, Luther 'Suitcase' Simpson
- Polly Shannon … Cast, Abby Taylor
- Mike Starr … Cast, Lou Carson
- Brittany Robertson (see also: Britt Robertson) … Cast, Michelle Genest
- Liisa Repo-Martell … Cast, Carole Genest
- Stephen McHattie … Cast, Captain Healy
- John Beale … Cast, Dr. Peter Perkins
- Vito Rezza … Cast, Anthony D'Angelo
- Stephanie March … Cast, Cissy Hathaway
- Stephen Baldwin … Cast, Joe Genest
- Maria Brooks … Cast, Sandy
- McKenzi Scott … Cast, Tammy
- Brian Jamieson … Cast, Truck Driver
- Christie McFadyen … Cast, Veterinarian
- Gil Anderson … Cast, Jenn
- Bill Meuse … Cast, Native Man #1
- Agumeuay Nakanakis … Cast, Native Man #2
- Mike Turner … Cast, Cop