Moonlighting, In 'n Outlaws

In 'n Outlaws

Air Date: 23 Apr 1989

Synopsis:

Agnes has been summoned for jury duty at the same time that Bert has planned a huge Viola family reunion.

It's the case of John Gibson, who is accused of murdering his office partner, Kathleen O'Rourke, and it's considered to be an open and shut case – the press, the other jurors, even Bert is convinced that Gibson is guilty, but Agnes knows differently. The evidence against him is the testimony of his office staff that he and O'Rourke argued bitterly – and even though he himself testifies that he loved her, that fighting is enough to convince the jury that he killed her.

But Agnes sees David and Maddie in the relationship between Gibson and O'Rourke. As she explains to Bert, "I'm the only one here that understands that two people can love each other and hate each other at the same time. They tried to pretend they didn't care but they did, just like Miss Hayes and Mr. Addison." And as a result, Agnes insists that Gibson is not guilty, because "Mr. Addison wouldn't kill Miss Hayes; he'd never let her know he cared that much, I mean enough to kill her – that would be letting her get the best of him, and he'd never let that happen." And so she has hung the jury, which must now be sequestered until a verdict is reached.

But Bert is desperate to get Agnes to his reunion, largely because no one there believes that he actually has a girlfriend. His family is too quick to believe that he's good for nothing, and he's desperate to show Agnes to his family to prove that he has made good.

And so, in an attempt to hurry the jury process along, he does some investigation of his own, and discovers proof that Gibson is innocent after all. Once the trial is over, he and Agnes rush back to the family (which by now is at the airport, preparing to return home after the reunion), where he finally reconciles with his father and grandmother.

Directed by Christopher T. Welch

Written by Marc Abraham

Guest Starring:
- Val Avery
- Eddie Mekka
- Ford Rainey
- Patti Deutsch
- John Capodice
- Terry Beaver
- Victor Bevine
- Charles Lanyer
- Susan French
Co-Starring:
- Jonathan Hole as Chip
- Fritzi Burr as Aunt Lenora
- Charlie Holliday as Hennessey
- Howard Goodwin as Hotel Clerk
- John Lafayette as Bailiff
- Victoria Perry as Jury Woman #2
- Anne Bellamy as Jury Woman #3
- Clinton Allmon as Jury Man #1
- Richmond Harrison as Jury Man #2
- Dwight Wheaton-Werle as Coroner
- Ronald L. Colby as Foreman
- Joe Costanza as Man in Convertible
- Debra Christofferson as Francesca
- Joey D. Vieira as Delivery Man
Featuring:
- Pat Crawford Brown as Cleaning Lady
- Joel Simon as Jury Man #3
- Connie Fredericks as Jury Woman #1

Memorable Dialog and Additional Links:

Music:

The theme from Jaws, composed by John Williams, at the start of the episode, as the postal worker delivers Agnes's jury summons

Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) by Domenico Modugno, when we first join the Viola reunion

That's Amore later, also at the Viola reuinon

My Country, 'Tis Of Thee as Agnes tries to persuade the jury

Question: at the end of Agnes's dream sequence, as she walks into the office to discover Kathleen's dead body, instrumental music is playing which resembles film music to me. I strongly suspect that there's a musical allusion happening here. Does anyone recognize that music, and is it associated with a particular film?

Notes:

At the end of this episode, Agnes converses with Bert's grandmother in Italian. Bert says he didn't know she spoke Italian, and she responds that he never asked. Interestingly, in an earlier episode, Agnes asks Maddie and David whether they know how to say "She'll be right with you" in Italian.

Date of last change: 16 December 2000

Contributions and suggestions are invited and encouraged.