Magnum Mania!

Letter to a Duchess

Episode ID: 69
Episode Number: 4.6
Air Date: 11/10/1983
Writer: Robert Hamilton
Director: Bernard L. Kowalski
Producer: Reuben Leder
Exec Producer: Donald P. Bellisario

Guest Stars

Jane Merrow (Vivian Brock Jones), Terence Knapp (Wilkes), Max Kleven (Graham), Yankee Chang (Vendor)

Episode Brief

While Magnum prepares for an annual surf-ski race, Higgins has his hands full hiding the beautiful Lady Wilkerson from two shady pursuers. Smitten by the maiden in distress, Higgins sends her a letter expressing his feelings, but she mistakenly thinks the amorous words are from Magnum. It quickly becomes a case of romance on the run when the duchess is kidnapped and the two "Romeos" must spring into action to save her.

Rating

8.5 (26 votes) Rate Episode

Notes

¹ This is the fifth "Higgins-centric" episode of the series.

² It's not mentioned in the episode, but the first Higgins/Vivian flashback scene appears to be from the early 1960s, mostly likely in a Far East conflict (it could be Malaya 1960, in the Malayan Emergency). Higgins' shoulder patch (Tactical Recognition Flash) is that of a British/Gurkha unit. Based on Higgins' military history and his shoulder insignia, he is here most likely attached to the 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles regiment. (Noted by IslandHopper)

³ The Marks Estate in the Nuuanu Valley is used as a filming location for the King Kamehameha Club. Normally this location is only used for a brief establishing shot of the club, but here the back patio and front driveway are used for two extended scenes. The back patio was previously briefly seen in Season Two's "Billy Joe Bob" (2.1).

⁴ "Whitt" is fictional - There is no such place in the United Kingdom.

⁵ The King Kamehameha Club surf ski race is mentioned again. Once again, mention is made of the young girl (Kiki Kahuna) who beat Magnum in that year's race (as well as the year before). Kiki will be mentioned again in the Season Seven episode "Forty" (7.17).

⁶ The number on Magnum's King Kamehameha Club tank top has changed. Previously, it's been #44. Now, it is #14. (Noted by Mike Barnes)

⁷ Magnum mentions that he is 38 years old. This will be contradicted in future episodes, namely "Forty" (7.17).

⁸ Higgins is seen inventorying a copy of Charles Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop.

⁹ When Higgins helps Vivian in the alley, he drops his brown paper bag (containing purchases he just made at the British-themed store), but does not bother to pick it up as he leaves.

¹⁰ This episode features a particularly exciting brawl at the end. Magnum takes on, and takes out, 3 or 4 guys, while Higgins, with his cane, lays some serious hurt on a few guys himself! Higgins makes very few appearances in hand-to-hand combat scenes, so this is a real treat.

Quotes

¹
Magnum: Sure, I know, it's crazy to refer to whatever Higgins and I share as friendship, but it is. We fight and bicker like an old married couple, but somewhere, mixed in with the jibes, is a funny kind of mutual trust. (Narration)

²
Higgins: For a moment, I failed to remember that the ways of a gentleman are patently foreign to you. I revere words like honor, integrity, chivalry -- words that are clearly not in your vocabulary.
Magnum: Higgins, enough! Knocking my rubber chicken or my sloppy habits is within the rules, but you're attacking my character. I would like to think you don't mean that.
Higgins: Yes, I'm sorry. It's just that you can't know what it's like to care deeply for someone and have your hope taken.
Magnum: Yes, I can.

Flubs

¹ Magnum returns to the estate to learn that Higgins has received a call from the kidnappers. Higgins is in the study, sitting with a snifter of brandy in his hand and the bottle on the table. Magnum sits opposite Higgins, and Higgins tells him about seeing Vivian in the Strand after the war. Suddenly, in the midst of the conversation, Magnum is also holding a snifter of brandy, but he did not pour one for himself before sitting down, or get up to get one, nor did Higgins offer him one. Nor was there an empty glass on the table! (Noted by wilko)

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