Room 3502
The one where Rick and A.J. become ghostbusters. Who ya gonna call?
A Michigan couple without reservations get the last room at the Inn: Room 3502. It seems a despondent woman once slit her wrists in the room and now "everyone" knows its haunted. Or so the maid tells the wife.
Husband takes shower and come back to find a less happy wife. They sleep and he wakes to find her missing!
And now a comedy interlude...
Mr. Gorman, a S&S neighbor I don't believe we've met before, is watching the Chargers game. The announcer is evidently watching a different game. He calls a "beauty of a kick" and says the receiver catches it on the "one." The video, which is three or four seconds behind, shows the player catching the punt on his own 45. Then Gorman's TV goes on the fritz. We hear Rick's voice coming out of the TV. We cut to Rick who is making a call on his ship to shore phone while sitting next to A.J.s phone. He tells the ship to shore operator to charge it to 619-555-8896. A.J.'s phone rings and Rick approves the charge. He then tells "Suzy" on the phone he had to do that since A.J. locked him out of long distance calls.
Gorman walks in just before A.J. and starts to yell at Rick for messing up his game. They turn the TV on as Rick suggests Gorman get cable, but of course the game is over after an unbelievable play.
End comic interlude and A.J. introduces Bob Carmichael as their new client. His wife has disappeared! To the hotel, Rick!
Evidently Jody's father died five weeks ago and she had a breakdown. They meet the maid who talked to Jody. She tells them she told Jody the room was haunted. The story about Rosalind Martin slitting her wrists.
Bob is worried about getting his wife back, "She's so innocent."
We cut to Jody buying a gun, "This ought to do the job." Notice how well those scenes fit together? Luckily, California had liberal gun laws in the 1980s. Jody is told she has to wait 15 days to pick up the gun.
Unluckily, there just happens to be a guy outside the pawn shop willing to give her the name of a dealer for a mere $20.
Comic interlude II: Rick and A.J. go to Room 3502 and are arguing over nothing in a few short minutes. Rick thinks Jody discovered someone's "stash" and smoked, swallowed or snorted it.
Comic Interlude III: Jody buys a gun from an ice cream salesman. An ice crème salesman with knowledge of the Norse and a slightly acidic wit.
Comic Interlude IV: Rick and A.J. go to the house of the last person who stayed in Room 3502. They tiptoe around the subject until....
A.J. Is it possible that you might of, well, that you might have left, uh , well, some medicine?
Mrs. Mitchell: You mean "stash"?
A.J.: yes, ma'am
Mrs. Mitchell: I certainly don't need anything artificial to enhance my life. But if I did, I sure wouldn't leave it in some hotel room.
Rick: I told you it was a dumb question.
Mrs. Mitchell: That room was a totally different kind of trip.
Comedy Interlude V: We cut to Jody wandering the streets looking for Rafelson Chemical Building. She meets Wayne Ulmers - a smarmy jerk. He looks her up and down and calls her sugar. The man is on the make. "come on. I don't bite. Not right off anyway." Ick. He offers her a ride and is very interested until she mentions her name is Rosalind Martin. He says he bets all her friends call her Rosie. She answers, "I don't know."
Warning Number 1 for Mr. Ulmers. He continues though. He mentions her wedding ring and she replies her husband is dead. He's "really sorry to hear that." Right. Then Warning Number 2:
Wayne: Hey. You know who you look like? That TV actress with her own series. You know who I mean. Jody: No, the only TV I've been watching are the Watergate Hearings. Wayne: (confused) The Watergate Hearings? Jody: I think it's disgraceful the President of the United States should be involved in that way. I hope they impeach him. Don't you?
Wayne peels away in his Ford Pinto.
Comedy Interlude VI: The guys meet with Myron. Who has tracked Jody down to the Dunbar Hotel. Well, the fictional Hotel Dunbar in San Diego. But she's checked out. But we already knew that.. Myron mentions the phony name that Jody checked in under. "Martin, Rosalind Martin."
A.J. But that's the name of the woman who committed suicide!
The plot thickens! End of Interlude.
We cut to Jody walking through beautiful downtown San Diego. The sun shining. oops, it's raining again this episode. She has found the Rafelson Chemical Building! (Ooh, don't forget La Fonda Mexican Food. Nice bench. Advertising never affects me.)
She insists on waiting for Rafelson. This isn't the sweet distraught wife we saw earlier. She's a woman on a mission. So, obviously we must cut away to...
Comic Interlude VII: Rick puts the squeeze on Harry Fortune. Man, its cold an rainy in San Diego. And he's selling ice cream? Anyway, Rick almost puts the guys eye out with his cigar.
We cut to Gigi again upset that her hero is smoking. I'm explaining how bad it was for Rick to start and how hard it is for someone to stop. No, that was in my house. Back to the episode...
Rick gets the news they're an hour behind Jody. And off we go...
Back to Jody waiting in the office. The secretary takes her eyes away for a moment and Jody in the office. Tossing accusations. Claiming Rafelson killed her husband Frank Martin! She pulls the gun and shots fly. No one is hurt, but the window and desk take hits. (Well, unless you see the desk from Clive's view. No bullet marks yet.)
He wrestles with Jody. She gets hit. Security arrives. And. She gets away.
But Clive is worried. This could mess up the whole Passo Verde deal! He must find this woman! And kill her!
Cut to Jody walking pass the Grant Garage. With her hood over her face A.J. recognizes her while he's traveling 35 miles an hour. In his car. In the rain. No wonder he is so good at finding missing persons. Maybe it's the obvious microphone pack she has on under her raincoat?
AJ jumps out and calls to her. Jody now remembers she is married to Bob and her name is Carmichael.
AJ is followed as he helps Jody into his car. It's the bad guy's hired hand.
We cut to the hospital. Jody is in bed with our heroes and her husband hanging by. There has been at least 5 minutes without a comic interlude. Jody doesn't remember anything between the hotel and arriving in the hospital.
Bob pays the guys and tells them he plans to go home as soon as Jody can. As the brothers walk away A.J. notices an orderly walk by wearing $500 a pair Grassi Loafers. We forget how well paid orderlies were in the 80s.
No, evidently orderlies couldn't wear such expensive shoes, but A.J. knows hit men do. So they call out. The hitman reaches into the hospital hamper and starts shooting.
Gigi hasn't seen such an amazing thing since the ventriloquists dummy with the built-in gun. She is amazed the gunman can aim so well with his hand and gun in a large hamper. Frankly, so am I. The boys take chase.
Again someone on this episode gets a 20 foot head start and gets away.
But we get to have Comic Interlude VIII (I think): The guys call Myron to guard Jody. He's most interested in Rick calling Crazy Louie and laying a $20 bet to win on Bonecrusher in the third. Rick promises to call Bonecrusher and lay a $3 bet on the nose for Crazy Louie in the 20th race. They're like Abbott and Costello these two. They then negotiate with Myron to place Jody in his house. They must have her follow the rules, of which our favorite was "No flushing before nine."
Comic Interlude IX: Another discussion with Phoebe at the Hotel. She gives a few more details about the night the woman slit her wrists as told to her by her friend Lucy the Former Night Maid. It seems Mrs. Martin wanted Lucy to go to the Rafelson building and kill our Bad Guy.
I like the couple in the background. He in the bright blue coat and she in the bright red jeans. The stroll behind our heroes and then a minute later walk separately in front of them. I love watching for extras like that. Gigi, however, is easily bored when I stop, rewind, and ask if she saw that.
Rick and AJ break into Rafelsons office. They see bullet holes in the desk that weren't there when Jody shot up the place. They then find the smoking gun, er, documents, almost get caught by Rafelson. Talk their way out pretending to be drunk new janitors. He lets them go. Sees the missing Martin file and calls his henchman. Now he knows Rick and AJ are onto him!
That reminds me...If Rafelson owns the building why does he have a simple office in Room 510?
The McGuffin of the story is Passo Verde. It seems Martin found it was to be built on the site of an old chemical waste dump. Shades of Love Canal!
We segue to a nice scene of A.J. making a call on a pay phone. Can't find many of those around anymore. The guys then take a little stroll explaining the case to date for each other and the audience.
Rick: So when Jody shows up calling herself Rosalind Martin everyone gets very upset. A.J.: Upset enough to want to have her killed. Rick: And us too if we get in the way. (beat) What you say we get in the way?
They go to the house Frank and Rosalind Martin owned on Point Loma. Only to find Rosalind Martin. Not a ghost. She's alive!!! She attempted suicide, but didn't die. They talk. She gives them the name of Frank's old partner. Rick and A.J. don't know the henchman that shot at them is trailing close behind.
The guys play "men in sunglasses and grey suits" to get George Drayfus to talk. He tells them Martin would have made a copy of a map that proved the Passo Verde homes would be built on a waste dump. Drayfus doesn't it. Mrs. Martin doesn't think there is a map in her house, but....
Rosalind: It's funny. The day before Frank's accident he told me, 'Ros, if anything ever happens don't sell the boat. Keep it and go fishing.' (beat) It was very strange.
AJ: Why was that strange?
Rosalind: We weren't fishermen.
Our guys know the map is hidden on the boat and has something to do with fishing. They go to the boat and find a pole with a small map hidden in the reel.
Rick: Oh, yeah. The old map in the fishing reel bit! AJ: He had to make a copy. He could made a small copy.
As they find the map they also find Rafelson and his two henchmen have found them. There's a fight and AJ and Rick toss the bad guys in the water. Gigi summed up the scene: "Good job Rick!. The bad guys have to swim."
And we end with the comedy finale starring Dr. Joyce Brothers. Yes, the good doctor meets Rick, A.J., Rosalind, Bob, and Jody in Room 3502 to explain that the colors of the walls is the explanation for the odd feelings everyone has when staying in the room. She believes Rosalind's suicide attempt was triggered by the wall colors and Jody's recent troubles left her open to suggestion when the maid told the story.
The guys aren't too sure...that is until they start arguing again. We freeze.
The question I have is why Rosalind was staying in a hotel in the same town where she owned a home.
Quotes:
Gorman: I can deal with having you guys for neighbors. Did I say anything when that bomb went off in the Canal two months ago?
Rick: No, you didn't. No.
Gorman: What about those two guys in grey suits who keep driving their car over my lawn? Do I complain?
Rick: No, no, no you don't. Also, I didn't get to thank you for the coffee and doughnuts during the hostage situation. (to phone) I'll get back to you Suzy, bye bye.
Gorman: Can't you organize your love life so you won't destroy the entire neighborhoods communication with the outside world?
Rick: Ah, geez, the Charger game! It's their last chance for a playoff berth! I'm sorry. (turns on TV) Be my guest. There you go.
Announcer: Surely the most incredible play and the most bizarre ending in the history of American football. Thanks for listening. We now join Capitol Cloakroom in progress.
Phoebe: I bet you're really good detective. Gemini and Pieces. very observant.
Rick: Uh huh.
A.J. I'm not a Pisces.
A.J. What are you looking for? Ectoplasm?
Rick: What?
A.J. Ectoplasm. The stuff ghosts are made of. The stuff under the sheets. You don't buy this "haunted room" garbage do you?
Rick: There's something funny about this room though.
Rick: It there is nothing weird about this room why are we yelling at each other for no good reason!
Jody: I'm not cop for gods sake. All I want is a damn gun. Why should that be so hard? I've got $200 in cash. What will that get me?
Jody: I'm not interested in protecting my house. I've got other plans!
Trivia
This is Kip Niven's second S&S appearance. In his first he disappears and his wife calls the Simons to find him. In this episode his wife disappears and he calls the Simons to find his wife.
If you think Rafelson's secretary looks familar maybe you watched "Family Affair." Kathy Garver played Cissy for five years 1966-1971. This 1983 S&S was her first TV appearance in eight years.
The Carmichaels are from Ishpeming, MI
Wayne Ulmer's Pinto: 753RAH bumper sticker: I heart MPG
AJs car: 1PPA335
The Martin's boat "Rosalind" is docked at Fairhaven Marina. Slip Nine.
This is Phil Proctor and Michael Bond's first of two S&S appearances. It is Ian Patrick Williams second appearance.
Proctor is a member of the Firesign Theatre.
Chevi Colton was married to actor Joe Silver and Frank Farmer is the nephew of actress Frances Farmer.
Credits:
Original air date: March 3, 1983 - Production Code: 57524
Writer: Alan Brennert
Director: Sigmund Neufeld, Jr.
Guest Stars:
Jody Carmichael................Julia Duffy
Phoebe (maid)....................Lois Foraker
Bob Carmichael..................Kip Niven
Harry Fortune.....................Philip Proctor
Rosalind Martin...................Francine Lembi
Special Guest Star:
Cleve Rafelson..................Gerald S. O'Loughlin
Co-Starring: (closing credits)
Wayne (Ulmer).....................Ian Patrick Williams
George Drayfus...................Michael Bond
Joanie..................................Kathy Garver
Jerry....................................Frank Farmer
Dr. Hammond.......................Dr. Joyce Brothers
Barbara Mitchell..................Chevi Colton
Night Clerk...........................John O'Leary
Abel.....................................Terry Wills
Marty....................................Robert Feero
Arthur Gorman....................Joseph diReda
With
Nurse..........................Odessa Cleveland
Sleazy.........................Tom Wirth