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Missing Melody

Episode Screen Caps Episode Number: 138
Season Number: 7.11
Air Date: 12/3/1986
Writers: Roger E. Mosley, Cal Wilson
Director: Harvey S. Laidman
Producer: Rick Weaver
Exec Producer: Donald P. Bellisario

Recurring Characters
Fay Hauser (Tina Calvin), Shavar Ross (Bryant Calvin), Alfonso Ribeiro (Kenny), Martina Stringer (Melody Calvin)
Guest Stars
Albert Popwell (David Crawford), Tom McFadden (Big Jim Stotter), Bob Fimiani (Agent John Estin), Lillian Lehman (Evelyn Perry), Cyndi James Gossett (Donna), Reggie Ho (Bernie the Bookie), Fuzzy Moody (Security Guard)
Episode Brief
T.C.'s children, Melody and Bryant, come to visit him in Hawaii, but at the airport Melody goes missing. It transpires that the young girl has been kidnapped and is being held for $300,000 ransom. Magnum, Rick, and Higgins help in the rush to either raise the ransom money in time, or deduce and find whoever snatched Melody. The kidnapping puts a strain on T.C.'s relationship with his son Bryant, as well as his ex-wife Tina, who quickly comes to Hawaii with her new boyfriend as soon as she hears of the kidnapping of her daughter.
Rating
7.7(29 votes)Rate Episode
Notes
1 This is the eighth "T.C.-centric" episode of the series, following "Thicker than Blood" (1.12), "Past Tense" (3.5), "A Sense of Debt" (4.8), "Paradise Blues" (4.15), "Under World" (5.5), "Tran Quoc Jones" (5.9) and "Round and Around" (6.6). After seven seasons, we learn that T.C. has an ex-wife (Tina) and two kids (a son named Bryant and a daughter named Melody)! No explanation is given for their breakup, or why T.C. never sees or talks about his kids! Bryant will return in "The Great Hawaiian Adventure Company" (8.9), "Transitions" (8.11) and "Resolutions" (8.12 & 8.13). Tina and Melody will appear (briefly) in the series final "Resolutions".

2 This episode is co-written by Roger E. Mosley, his first and only script for television. Roger has been quoted as saying that this is one of his favorite Magnum P.I. episodes (along with "Operation: Silent Night").

3 T.C.'s house is seen (both inside and outside) for only the third time in the series. It was previously seen in "Did You See the Sunrise?" (3.1 & 3.2) and ""Paradise Blues"" (4.15).

4 Blaxploitation film star and "Dirty Harry" actor Albert Popwell (Cleopatra Jones, Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold) guest stars as David Crawford.

5 Kenny (Alfonso Ribeiro) previously appeared in "L.A." (7.1 & 7.2). Alfonso will go on to star as Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996).

6 The famous scene from "Compulsion" (5.14) where Magnum, T.C. and Rick pretend to be Higgins' servants (for his Sandhurst buddies) is mentioned briefly by Magnum.

7 Kapiolani Park in Waikiki and Honolulu International Airport are used as a filming locations.

8 The indoor kitchen set for the main house of Robin's Nest is seen for only the third time.

9 Part of Magnum's voice-over dialog early in the episode, about being scared of monsters under his bed when he was six, is very similar to that heard in Season Four's "Home From the Sea" (4.1). (Noted by Jay-Firestorm)

10 For the second time in the show, a first generation (1G) mobile phone is used by Rick. One was previously seen in "Novel Connection" (7.9).

11 Higgins uses the Audi in a car chase to catch the bad guys. The Audi suffers minor damage to the right-front side.
Quotes
1
Magnum: When I was six years old, I was convinced that monsters lived under my bed, just waiting for night time to come out and grab me. I laid awake all night for weeks, on guard against my own fear, until my Dad told me to call the monsters out, and see if they came. They never did. Unfortunately, my Dad never had a solution for the real monsters, the ones that reach out and grab you in broad daylight, and neither did I. (Narration)

2
(on the phone)
Higgins: There is every need to shout Mr. Eberhart! I seem to have no other way to convince you of the urgency of the situation! A little girl's life may be lost because of feeble excuses about computer malfunctions!
Mr. Eberhart: Are you quite finished?
Higgins: No! But your relationship with Robin Masters investment firm will be if you can not find a way to devote your immediate and undivided attention to this matter!!
Mr. Eberhart: I'll do my best.
Higgins: I sincerely hope it's enough!!
(click)
Flubs
1 When Higgins is on the phone talking to the Swiss bank, a boom mic can be briefly seen at the top of the screen. (Noted by Tim Enloe)

2 T.C. was told to send someone to the Sea Palms Hotel, room 401 (1st room at 4th floor). But later, when Magnum enters the room, you can see the room is at the 12th floor, because the front door has the room number 1202. (Noted by Guillermo Reyes)


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