Technical Information

First Broadcast: Thursday, January 7, 1988, 8:00 PM (Next week, the series moved to a new day and time. "The Charmings" moved to this time slot.)

Production Code: B-87515

Number of bullets fired by Sledge: 1

Critical Info

TV Guide summary: A model disappears and her cousin is hospitalized, so Doreau goes undercover to infiltrate a modeling agency that's really a front for a white-slavery ring.

Ph episode rating on the Hammer scale (1 to 6 bullets): 2. After the opening refrigerator bit, it was all downhill. This one seemed like an episode of Models, Inc.

Episode references:

• Mommie Dearest

Opening Credits

Produced by Thomas Kane
Supervising Producer: Ron Friedman
Executive Producer: Alan Spencer

Guest Stars:

• Deborah Wakeham (as Jessica Hayden)
• Jill Jacobson (as Sally Vincent)
• Mort Sertner
• Joanne Baron
• Leslie Morris (as Officer Mayjoy)
• Nancy Parker
• Brion James (as Don Merrill)

Created by Alan Spencer
Written by David Ketchum & Tony DiMarco
Directed by Dick Martin

Act One

In his apartment, Hammer tries yet fails to shoot out the refrigerator light before it goes on.

Exiting his apartment #13 to complain to the landlord about the plumbing, Hammer sees a woman who can't get into apartment #15.

After busting in the door [gunshot 1], she tells Hammer this isn't her place.

Hammer: Then you're under arrest for breaking and entering.
Woman (Vincent): But I didn't break in. You did.
Hammer: Well, then you're under arrest for entering.

She introduces herself as Sally Vincent. Her cousin Kim Field moved in two months ago, but she hasn't heard from her. Kim worked for the Continental Model Agency, but they haven't heard from her in three weeks.

At the precinct, Hammer learns that the agency seems to be legitimate. Then Trunk tells him a body has been found at 625 Stamford Street #15, Hammer's apartment complex. When he arrives, he finds out that Sally Vincent has been taken to the hospital on a possible drug overdose.

Investigating the model agency, Hammer disrupts a Don Merrill photo session.

Hammer even manages to destroy the igloo of the winter scene.

As Hammer is harassing the photographer, Jessica Hayden, the owner of the studio, enters.

Hammer then questions Hayden in her office about Kim Field, who Hayden claims was too inexperienced for big-time modeling. Meanwhile, a model is showing various outfits to Hayden, each time wearing a little bit less. The flustered Hammer tries to maintain his concentration.

Hammer: Yeah, and I got a case to crack. (writing on a piece of paper and handing it to the model)
Hayden: Inspector, I'm sorry. Our girls do not accept home phone numbers.
Hammer: That's not a phone number. That's a citation for indecent exposure. The only time that girl has anything on is when she's got a coat on her tongue.

When Hammer leaves, Don Merrill enters. Hayden berates him for not killing Vincent to prevent her from going to the authorities.

In his office, Trunk informs Hammer he's been taken off the Field case. However, Hammer wants to go back, saying there is something fishy going on.

Trunk: Go back? Why? Is there something you forgot to destroy? Jessica Hayden called me -- she's mad as hell.
Doreau: Captain, trust him... he knows what he's doing. (strange glance between Hammer and Doreau) Did I say that?

Trunk orders him to go down the agency to apologize.

On her own initiative, Doreau enters the agency posing as a ditzy, aspiring model.

Hayden and Merrill confirm that she has no relatives and does not mind travelling overseas. After Doreau leaves, Merrill says to Hayden that Doreau is perfect and will make their clients very happy.

Act Two

Trunk: You apologize to that modeling agency woman yet?
Hammer: Sir, real me don't apologize. Frankly, I'd rather be shot.
Trunk: Hammer, don't give me those kind of options. Apologize. That's an order.

Following a runway rehearsal, the incognito Doreau converses with another model. Doreau concludes that none of the models, this one included, seem to have any family.

After awkwardly apologizing to Hayden, Hammer spots a photo of Doreau on her desk. Hammer claims that she is his partner, even after Doreau is brought in. Finally, Hammer understands her disguise.

Hammer: Oooohhh! Oh, no! Oh, boy! Oh, ho! Oh, I didn't. Oh, I, oh! oh boy! Oh, ha ha ha! I mean, I don't know where my head is at. [216 KB WAV file] I guess my eyes are just not seeing what they think they're seeing.
Merrill: Probably from mixing up too many different colors.

After Hammer embarassingly exists, Doreau still claims to Hayden and Merrill that she doesn't know Hammer.

Back at his apartment, Hammer trudges through a wet carpet. He complains to his landlord, Miss Davis, about the plumbing.

Hammer: I gotta have a gondola to walk to the bathroom.

Davis claims that she thought she saw a plumber the other day, right before she found Vincent's body. She continues that she knew he was a lousy plumber when she saw that he an earring with a tiny camera.

Back at the modeling agency, Hayden's girls are walking the runway for some military leader and four suited men with sunglasses.

Doreau seals the deal.

In the make-up room, the girls celebrate when Hayden tells them they have been hired. Merrill is seen drugging the champagne, and soon all the girls become drowsy, carried out by the suited men.

Doreau has escaped to call Trunk about the white-slavery ring, but Merrill catches her. Doreau tries to arrest Merrill and Hayden, but Hayden calls for the burly suited men. Fortunately, one of the men turns out to be Hammer in disguise. After Hammer busts the men and Doreau tackles Hayden, Trunk comes in with his officers.

Tag

Trunk tells Hammer and Doreau that Sally is going to make a full recovery and that Kim is being flown back from the Far East.

Closing Credits

Associate Producer: Robert Ewing
Creative Consultant: Leonard B. Stern
Executive Story Editors: Mert Rich & Brian Pollack
Story Editors: Mark Curtiss & Rod Ash
Story Editor: Chris Ruppenthal
Featuring Renee Landers
Co-Producer: Jim Ragan
Director of Photography: Chuck Colwell
Production Designer: Gregory Melton
Music Composed by Lance Rubin
Theme by Danny Elfman
Unit Production Manager: Jim Ragan
1st Assistant Director: Louis Race
2nd Assistant Director: Nancy King
Film Editor: Briana London
Set Decorator: Michael Parker
Construction Coordinator: Raymond Camaioni
Property Master: Christopher Amy
Location Manager: Rene Botana
Stunt Coordinator: Ed Ulrich
Sound: Tom Koester
Camera Operator: Tony Baggott
Key Grip: Dylan Shephard
Gaffer: Walter Stewart
Make-Up Artist: June Rudley Brickman
Hair Stylist: Robert Hallowell
Costume Designer: Nancy Fox
Script Supervisor: Nancy Friedman
Transportation Coordinator: Eddie Lee Voelker
Special Effects: Chuck Dolan
Casting: Cathy Henderson (C.S.A.), Barbara Hanley (C.S.A.)
Assistant to Alan Spencer: Tracy Yeager, Sherry Gamlin
Assistant to Thomas Kane: Nancy Edwards
Production Coordinator: Bonnie Jordan
Production Auditor: Erica Fox
Post Production Supervisor: Larry Levin

Electronic Laboratory: Pacific Video
Post-Production Sound: West Productions, Inc.
Filmed at Valencia Independent Studios
Cameras and Lens Provided by Ultravision
Alan Spencer Productions in association with New World Television