MAGNUM, P.I.: REMBRANDT'S GIRL (TV)

Summary

One in this detective series set in Hawaii, starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a former naval officer turned private investigator. In this episode, Magnum receives a weekend trip to a resort for three as a gift from an associate. Before he can depart, however, he meets a woman, Susan, a bank manager who wants his help on a case. She explains that her father was recently paroled from jail and has been sending her “outlandish” gifs that he should not be able to afford, and she suspects that he is planning a “caper.” She requests that Magnum tail him to see if he is committing crimes, but he turns the case down. Elsewhere, Agatha brings Higgins a delivery of fruit juice, but Higgins is distracted when he cannot find a book that he needs for his upcoming meditation weekend, finally remembering that he placed in his safe deposit box at the bank. Magnum tells Rick and TC about the resort trip and they are intrigued, especially TC, who wants to avoid his wife’s annoying cousin, who is visiting for the weekend. Higgins convinces Magnum to pick up his book before leaving, however, and while at the bank, he runs into Susan. He declines her case again, and she desperately locks them both in the vault, saying that her father ominously promised her a “big surprise” and that she needs his help. Annoyed, Magnum attempts to escape. At Robin’s Nest, Higgins frets over his book as Rick and TC wonder about Magnum’s whereabouts, eventually concluding that he must have left without them and deciding to have a party of their own at the estate.

In the vault, Susan reveals that she thought her manager, Bill, might propose to her that night. Their attempts to open the door cause the sprinklers to come on, and they are both soaked as they attempt to disable them. Once they shut them off, they realize that the door to the deposit area is unlocked, and Susan is stunned to find that the money within is counterfeit. She states that her father must have been involved, and when Magnum asks, admits that he is in fact Herbert “Rembrandt” Norton, an infamous engraver and counterfeiter. Magnum is intrigued by the prospect of chasing a famous criminal and suggests that he must have had inside help, but Susan is insulted by his change of heart and “fires” him. To make matters worse, their further tampering with the electrical wiring causes the lights to go out. At the estate, Higgins’ calm weekend is interrupted by Rick and TC’s party, and Agatha panics when her juice ferments and has a strange effect on several guests. TC’s wife Gloria arrives, and they are surprised and displeased to see one another. Later, however, they agree that they argue too much when her cousin is in town, and they make up.

Magnum and Susan manage to fix the lights, and they share a celebratory “meal” of wine and chocolate that Susan had been saving for Bill. She wonders glumly if they will die in there and attempts to ask him personal questions, but he deflects. She talks about her memories of her father, and he ends up sharing a painful childhood memory and confessing that he was once married. They slow-dance, and sparks fly between them. At Robin’s Nest, TC and Rick find Magnum’s bags and realize that he never left for the resort, and they piece together what happened. Several hours later, Bill arrives in the vault and is shocked to find them there, and he quickly pulls a gun and reveals that he is in on the counterfeit scheme. He admits that he planned to let Susan take the fall, and when the sprinklers come on again, they cannot help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation, although Susan is sobered when Bill lets slip that he is working with a rival of her father’s, meaning that he is innocent. He holds them hostage for some time, and Magnum kindly tells Susan that she deserves better than Bill. Suddenly, her boss, Mr. Halliburton, arrives with Higgins, TC and Rick in tow, and Bill is captured. Back at home, Magnum is surprised by a visit from Susan, who explains that her father has ended his life of crime and wants to travel the world with her, and they share a good-bye kiss as she promises to send him postcards. Commercials deleted.

Details

• NETWORK: CBS
• DATE: February 2, 1984 8:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:48:51
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:11184
• GENRE: Drama, police/private detective
• SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, police/private detective
• SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1980-1988
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Donald P. Bellisario … Executive Producer, Created by
• Douglas Benton … Supervising Producer
• Chas. Floyd Johnson … Supervising Producer
• Reuben Leder … Producer
• Rick Weaver … Co-Producer
• Nick Thiel … Co-Producer
• Glen A. Larson … Created by
• Chris Abbott-Fish … Writer
• James Frawley … Director
• Mike Post … Music by
• Pete Carpenter … Music by
• Tom Selleck … Cast, Magnum
• John Hillerman … Cast, Higgins
• Roger E. Mosley … Cast, TC
• Larry Manetti … Cast, Rick
• John McMartin … Cast, Bill Campbell
• Deborah Pratt … Cast, Gloria
• Carol Burnett … Cast, Susan Johnson
• Gillian Dobb … Cast, Agatha Chumley
• David Palmer … Cast, Mr. Halliburton