Sergeant Joe Friday and Officer Bill Gannon are working in Homicide Division. While looking over reports, a fellow officer, Sergeant Carl Maxwell, yells at the Captain about his case being thrown out of court. When Maxwell stops showing up to work, fellow officers find him drinking in a bar. When Captain Hugh Brown is forced to turn the case over to internal affairs, Maxwell goes missing. Friday and Gannon use their vacation time to try and find Maxwell in order to convince him to show up for the internal affairs trial. If he doesn't show, he will be fired from the force.
Just the Tropes, ma'am:
- Donut Mess with a Cop: Friday and Gannon visit a donut shop run by an ex-boxer while looking for leads on Maxwell. Gannon even gets the Champ's latest special.
- Drowning My Sorrows: Maxwell has been doing this ever since his case was thrown out of court. He didn't even like drinking until that moment. However, it is said he is drinking to ease the pain of his wife's death after becoming a workaholic no longer worked.
- Easily Forgiven: Averted. Although Friday and Gannon prevent Maxwell from being kicked off the force, he still gets slapped with a heavy suspension for going AWOL.
- The Lost Lenore: Sergeant Maxwell's wife died, causing him to become a workaholic. The reason Friday and Gannon find him at the mountain resort is that is where Maxwell had his honeymoon, calling it the happiest time of his life.
- It's Personal: Friday and Gannon are working on their vacation time to find Maxwell as they have worked with him before and personally know he is a good cop who has had very emotional issues.
- Off on a Technicality: Sergeant Maxwell's case was thrown out due to the defendant's lawyer saying Maxwell's arrest was police brutality, (as in following the defendant around.) Even the judge didn't agree with it but his hands were tied.
- Police Brutality: Sergeant Maxwell is accused of this. However, the only thing that he was guilty of was following the defendant around as the police knew they had the right person but didn't have a warrant.
- Race Against the Clock: Sergeant Maxwell has until Monday to show up for his trial along with Friday and Gannon having 2 days to search for him. On the last day, they find him at a mountain lodge.
- Rage Breaking Point: Sergeant Maxwell's breaking point was getting his case thrown out due to a technicality.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Captain Brown towards Sergeant Maxwell. After Maxwell calls in sick, the Captain sends two patrol men to check up on him. After finding him in a bar, the Captain himself goes to talk with Maxwell. Maxwell talked back at him and cursed him out. The Captain still decides to give him a few days after talking with him and even would look the other way. However, he gets to the point that he can no longer cover for him.
- Sticky Fingers: Champ Ridgley's girlfriend has a problem with this. He laments to Friday that she ended up back in jail for stealing a lawnmower, even though they don't have a lawn.
- There Are No Therapists: Surprising Averted for its time. Al, Carl's brother, had been pushing his brother to talk with the police therapist about his wife passing. Even his fellow officers have been pushing him to see the therapist.
- Workaholic: Maxwell has become one since his wife passed away. Hurting his relationship with his son and brother.
