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Dream A Little Dream

Episode Screen Caps Episode Number: 83
Season Number: 4.20
Air Date: 3/29/1984
Writer: Reuben Leder
Director: Roger E. Mosley
Producer: Reuben Leder
Exec Producer: Donald P. Bellisario

Guest Stars
Cindy Pickett (Karen Teal), Robert Apisa (Joe Soames), Rosetta Tarantino (Leah), Jeff Celentano (Larry)
Episode Brief
It's a case of deja vu when Magnum is reunited with an attractive woman who was his first client five years earlier. She calls for his help once more with concerns that she and her young daughter are being threatened by some surfer punks right before a North Shore surfing competition.
Rating
8.3(48 votes)Rate Episode
Notes
1 Roger E. Mosley directs for the first, and only, time in the series. He will later pen the teleplay for Season Seven's "Missing Melody" (7.11).

2 After a glimpse at Higgins' past two episodes earlier, in "Holmes Is Where the Heart Is" (4.18), this episode gives an insight to Magnum's life a year before we first saw him in 1980. The story is split between current events in 1984 and past events in 1979. In 1979, Magnum is just starting his P.I. business and works out of a Honolulu office, and drives a convertable Bug; Rick wears a white jacket and black bow-tie, and talks like Humphrey Bogart (just like his Pilot Movie persona in 1980); T.C. doesn't have his own chopper yet, but flies birds for a company called Ken Enderlin Charters (and wears a t-shirt that says, "We'll fly you to the END-ERLIN of the rainbow").

3 Surprisingly this is one of only two episodes to feature surfing scenes (Season Two's "Wave Goodbye" (2.8) featured a brief surfing scene)! During the "North Shore Surf-Out" awards ceremony, two legendary Hawaiian surfing pioneers are seen - Rell Sunn (the "Queen of Makaha") and Randy Rarick. Neither has any dialog and both are uncredited. Several Hawaiian-based Downing surfboards can also be seen this episode. (Noted by Tuan Vu and Sam)

4 Rick and T.C. only appear in flashback scenes in this episode.

5 Haleiwa (on the North Shore) is used as a filming location for several scenes.

6 Former soap star Cindy Pickett (Karen Teal) will go on to become a regular cast member of St. Elsewhere (1986-1988). She is perhaps best remembered for playing Ferris Bueller's mother in the iconic 1980's comedy film Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

7 In the opening trailer, Rick is seen standing opposite Magnum as he says the line (in Bogey style), "You see, the one trick of staying alive in this crazy, cockeyed world, is to know when you're licked". In the episode itself, he is seen walking towards Magnum across the beach. (Noted by Jay-Firestorm)

8 We learn that Michelle (supposedly) "died" the same day Magnum evacuated from 'Nam - April 30th, 1975.

9 The blue and white chopper that T.C. flew for Ken Enderlin Charters is a Hughes 500-C, registered with the number N9267F. It is registered to Heli Logistics Inc. (Honolulu). It is a 1975 model, Serial # 1150778S. (Noted by N1095A)

10 Thomas Wolfe's last novel You Can't Go Home Again (1940) and Detroit Tigers star Hank Greenberg are referenced by Magnum. Greenberg was one of Magnum's idols growing up (along with Al Kaline).

11 Magnum's three Tours of Duty in Vietnam are mentioned again, this time by Higgins.

12 Two stock cover songs from Universal's vault can be heard: "Good Lovin'" by The Rascals and "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" by The Tempations. "Surfer Girl" by The Beach Boys was heard in the original broadcast, and early syndication packages, at the beginning of the episode, but was taken off the DVD version (and later syndication packages) and replaced with incidental music, presumably because of licensing issues.

13 Magnum visits the "Hall of Records" again, but Ms. Jones is not seen.

14 In 1944, Higgins organized a surfing competition (using discarded airplane wings) off the Moroccan coast to boast the morale of his unit. Higgins finished 6th behind Corky Bostwick, Binky Farmbush. Higgins claimed it was one of the most memorable moments of his life, because he was able to tempt death without actually killing anyone.
Quotes
1
Magnum: It's kind of funny how the years can sometimes creep by on you, two or three at a time, and nothing much changes. You're in a routine, and all that you really get is a little older, until whammo! -- you get a big three hundred and sixty-five that sometimes sets you right on your ear, changes everything. I guess 1979 was that kind of year for me. I resigned from the Navy and I became a private investigator. Of course, that's a big oversimplification. Actually, there was a little more to it than that. There was Karen Teal, for example. The best woman surfer of 1979, and '8, and '7, and '6. Karen was the best. She always won, no matter who she went up against, and I really think it was that way because her love for life brought out the best in her. I know that because a long time ago, Karen Teal brought out the best in me. It seemed like only yesterday. (Narration)

2
(to Magnum)
Higgins: Your extremely limited capacity for pain never ceases to amaze me. As does the fact that you actually survived three tours of duty in Vietnam.

3
(knock, knock)
Magnum: Who's there?
Higgins: Magnum!
Magnum: Magnum who? (laughs)

4
Karen Teal: ...I don't even have a sponsor. All I want to do is surf... and win.

5
Magnum: Maybe Thomas Wolfe was right. Maybe you can't go home again....but it sure is hell worth the try. (Narration)
Flubs
1 At 8:29, Magnum is seen driving his beat-up convertible VW Bug on the beach, but the driver is clearly not Tom Selleck. (Noted by Al Beast1)

2 T.C. wears different headsets in the same chopper scene!

3 At 31:23, while riding in T.C.'s chopper, Magnum racks his .45 with his finger on the trigger! (Noted by Al Beast1)

4 At 32:51 into the episode, Magnum fires a shot at Joe Soames (Robert Apisa) then immediately cocks the hammer of his gun. It's not necessary to cock the hammer after you fire a shot with a .45 ACP. It automatically cocks it for you. (Noted by bbert73)


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