NYPD BLUE: MOVING DAY {SERIES FINALE} (TV)

Summary

The finale in this series of rough-edged police dramas about the cases and private lives of the detectives and station house personnel of a Manhattan precinct. In this episode, the detectives investigate the murder of Pamela Wyatt, a high-priced call girl, and are surprised to learn that Sipowicz has been made squad commander. Back at the precinct, they are joined by rookie detectives Slovak and Quinn, who immediately begin work on the Wyatt case. Angelotti arrives with the wealthy Robert Heilbrenner and his lawyer in tow, and briefly chats with Slovak and Quinn, asking them about their work and learning that they plan to question one of Wyatt's clients, Johnny Nikada. Heilbrenner tells Sipowicz and the other detectives that he was having a long-term affair with Wyatt, but provides an alibi for the time of her death. Ortiz and Murphy talk to Wyatt's family members, and though her parents are ignorant of their daughter's true lifestyle, her sister Rosemary admits that she knew of her sister's activities and informs the detectives that Heilbrenner was violent with her. Slovak and Quinn question Nikada, who denies knowing anything about Pamela and states that he has diplomatic immunity. Heilbrenner's driver, Dale St. John, supports his boss' alibi, explaining that he was aware of the affair and sometimes chauffeured Pamela around, but knows nothing else.

Clark and Jones talk to Ann Marie, another prostitute with whom Heilbrenner and Wyatt had relations, and she admits that Heilbrenner was indeed violent with them, adding that Wyatt believed that he was going to leave his wife for her and was angry when he ended their relationship. Inspector Dowdell then arrives at the precinct with several agents, revealing that Nikada has confessed to the murder and returned to Japan. Sipowicz is frustrated that he has essentially gotten away with the crime, but praises Slovak and Quinn for obtaining the truth. Clark, however, doubts the validity of the confession, and the rookies note that Angelotti was oddly curious about their investigations plans when he stopped by. Ortiz states that she liked Heilbrenner for the crime, and Sipowicz decides to keep digging. Nikada's girlfriend Ai Watanabe tells the detectives that he was never violent with her and that she too doubts his guilt, telling them to talk to his uncle. Ortiz and Murphy talk to Mrs. Heilbrenner, who explains that she threatened to divorce her husband when she learned of the affair unless he ended things, though firmly declares that he is incapable of violence.

Chief Duffy arrives and lectures Sipowicz for continuing the case despite the confession, ordering him to drop it. Nevertheless, Clark and Jones question Nikada's uncle, who admits that his nephew had a considerable gambling problem. Medavoy stops by for a visit, meeting the rookies and reflecting sadly that the precinct is moving along swiftly without him. Ortiz and Murphy talk to Nikada's bookie, Siegel, who states that Nikada paid his large debt in cash just that morning, suggesting that Heilbrenner paid him to falsely confess. Jones and Clark find St. John again and lean on him, threatening him with accessory charges, and he finally admits that he picked up a shaken, bloodstained Heilbrenner at Wyatt's apartment early in the morning of her death and subsequently lied to cover for him. They arrested Heilbrenner at his home, which angers Angelotti, and Duffy furious berates Sipowicz for disobeying his orders as the others listen uncomfortably. Bale observes the scene and tells Sipowicz that the commander job is a "shaky perch," but symbolically turns the position over to him, telling him that "it's all yours." Sipowicz compliments the rookies' work, and the detectives depart for the evening, bidding their new leader good night, leaving Sipowicz quietly working at his desk. Commercials deleted.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: March 1, 2005 10:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:42:24
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:85809
• GENRE: Drama, police/detective
• SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, police/detective
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1993-2005
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Steven Bochco … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
• Mark Tinker … Executive Producer, Director
• Bill Clark … Executive Producer, Writer
• William Finkelstein … Executive Producer, Writer
• Bob Doherty … Co-Executive Producer
• Tom Szentgyorgyi … Supervising Producer
• Jesse Bochco … Producer
• JoAnne McCool … Producer
• Keith Eisner … Producer
• John Hyams … Producer
• Greg Plageman … Co-Producer
• Maureen Milligan … Co-Producer
• David Glazier … Associate Producer
• Joyce Davis … Associate Coordinating Producer
• Matt Olmstead … Consulting Producer
• Nicholas Wootton … Consulting Producer
• David Milch … Created by
• Mike Post … Music by
• Dennis Franz … Cast, Sgt. Andy Sipowicz
• Mark-Paul Gosselaar … Cast, Det. John Clark, Jr.
• Gordon Clapp … Cast, Det. Greg Medavoy
• Henry Simmons … Cast, Det. Baldwin Jones
• Bill Brochtrup … Cast, John Irvin
• Jacqueline Obradors … Cast, Det. Rita Ortiz
• Currie Graham … Cast, Lt. Thomas Bale
• Bonnie Sommerville … Cast, Det. Laura Murphy
• Bill Smitrovich … Cast, Al Angelotti
• Stanley Anderson … Cast, Robert Heilbrenner
• Joseph Sikora … Cast, Det. Joe Slovak
• Vincent Corazza … Cast, Det. Ray Quinn
• David Brisbin … Cast, Basil Greenhouse
• John Thaddeus … Cast, Dale St. John
• Rosemary Forsyth … Cast, Felicia Heilbrenner
• Keone Young … Cast, Akira Nikada
• James Martin Kelly … Cast, Chief Duffy
• Richard Portnow … Cast, Howard Segal
• Gwendoline Yeo … Cast, Ai Watanabe
• Danica McKellar … Cast, Rosemary Wyatt
• Maureen Muldoon … Cast, Ann Marie Sullivan
• Bruce Locke … Cast, Johnny Nikada
• Patty McCormack … Cast, Jeannie Wyatt
• Robert Silver … Cast, Pat Wyatt
• Edward Carnevale … Cast, James Fitzgerald
• Dan Ziskie … Cast, Inspector Dowdell
• Jeff Austin … Cast, Christopher Perkins
• Ralph Garman … Cast, Uniform
• Billy Concha … Cast, Uniform
• Rubin Knight … Cast, Doorman