Cry Wolf -- Stingray, episode 21

[partly]

Cry Wolf

Quick Summary

Ray gets drawn into a case of a drugged-up TV star, Ty Gardiner, who tries to hire him despite Ray's misgivings. When faced with mobsters, Yakuza and feds, Ray find the most dangerous thing he has to face is Ty's self-centered stupidity.

Recap Comments

I think this could be the talky-est of all the eps. I'm not sure though. It may just seem talky because it’s the first one I'm recapping. I have a fondness for dialogue. Television is based on dialogue and most of my concepts of the characters come from what they say and how they say it. Throughout this episode, Nick does a great job of deadpan delivery of a dry, subtly sarcastic wit that can't always be captured in a recap. In fact, this entire episode is full of wonderful dialogue and moments that really need to be heard in order to get the full effect.

I'm just letting you know that I'm putting a lot of the dialogue in here, simply because, to me, that's the main pleasure of this episode, but I'm not sure if the humor really comes across. I'm also going to point out that I think my copy of the show is missing something. There is a scene from the intro that isn't in the show itself, and I seem to remember an additional line or two that aren't in it now. It could be I have a copy that had cuts made, or I'm just mis-remembering. In either case, it's not a big deal because the main feel of the show it still there. I just thought I'd mention it.

Episode Recap

At a rainy, deserted railway station, Ray meets with Mr. Dodd, a nebbish little man who looks like he'd rather be anywhere else. When Ray points out that Dodd went through a lot of trouble to meet him and wants to know what he thinks Ray can do for him, Dodd replies "Well it's not for me, it's for Ty Gardner." At Ray's silence, Dodd goes on to explain that Ty Gardner is an actor, star of the hit show "Cry Wolf". He does this all in the tone of voice that implies that he can't believe that any one, anywhere wouldn't know who Mr. Gardner is. Ray, who obviously couldn't care less that Mr. Gardner is a "star", says that he still has to talk to him personally. Dodd says that he's Mr. Gardner's personal representative – "sort of" – and that Mr. Gardner couldn't come out in public because "he'd be mobbed by autograph seekers". "You're kidding me," Ray replies, looking around, "there's no body here."

Dodd forges ahead: "You see, someone has decided to kill Mr. Gardner and he needs to find out who." Note that he doesn't want to stop them, just find out who they are. He also says that "my client" doesn’t want to have any "scandalous headlines". Remember that, it's important later. Ray points out that he doesn't work for money, to which Dodd replies "Yes, we understand the nature of your employment contract and the terms are acceptable to us." It's also important to note that this is how Dodd speaks the entire time. When Ray asks if, by us, he means both Ty Gardner and Dodd, Dodd says "Us is a term indicating Mr. Gardner. It is an affectation of speech often used in Hollywood. So, do we have an agreement then? Shall I tell Mr. Gardner you have been engaged?"

Ray, who looks like he'd rather just walk away, says again that he will have to speak to Mr. Gardner in person. "Because of his celebrity status," Dodd demurs, "Mr. Gardner keeps his personal contacts to a minimum. I guess, under the circumstances, I'll just have to take the responsibility to authorize a personal contact." At this point Ray, breaks down and asks the question that we are all thinking: "Do you always talk this way, Mr. Dodd?" Dodd answers, "Yes. It's annoying to some people, I know. It's just that I'm not a very emotional man. It's a shortcoming." This is just another example of how this show can be extremely funny, without one humorous thing happening on screen.

It's raining in this first scene. In fact, it's raining a lot during the episode. Even though I doubt that the rain was planned, it adds to the feel of the episode or at least never distracts from it. It is interesting how many scenes have actors using umbrellas. I can't think of a time when that's happened before. There's something about grown men – tough guys, really – walking around under umbrellas that amuses me. In the shots during the credits, you can see that it was cold in addition to being wet. Even though the crew was often in winter coats, none of the actors seem to be suffering from the cold. But I will have to watch it through again – just in case I missed something.

Once they arrive at Mr. Gardner's ranch ("We bought it because it's only 20 minutes from Hollywood"), there is a yellow sports car in front of the house. Dodd explains that it belongs to Miss Fairchild, "Mr. Gardner's doctor of vegetarian medicine." "Do I have to ask," Ray says, "or are you going to explain that." It turns out that she's a dietitian and Mr. Gardner is on a very strict vegetarian diet. I get the feeling that the only meat in his diet is Miss Fairchild herself, because when Ray and Dodd walk into the house, Ty and his dietitian are busy "consulting" with each other in the pool. Ray takes a long look, says "I don't think this is going to work", and heads out the door.

Ty pulls himself away from the blonde and chases after Ray, stopping him just short of the door. "Look, pal," he says, "I don't know who you think you are, but when we hire someone around here, we expect at least a dime's worth of employee/employer courtesy. Now the way you started, you're lucky we don't fire you."

Ray doesn't even blink. "Not bad, delivered with about the right amount of intensity, but still, all in all, a miss." When Ty pulls him to a stop again, Ray goes on to say he usually doesn't "work for half-naked goofballs who hold conferences in the shallow end of their pools". He does, however, give Ty a minute to convince him otherwise.

Ty, not really picking up on the "convince me" part, insists that Ray just can't stand around and do nothing because people are trying to kill him. Ray calmly points out, "People tried to kill Hitler, too. Some of them are still highly thought of." Although each show has at least one line that I really love, this one is, I think, my favorite line of the entire series. "I've put you off," Ty says. "No doubt about it," Ray agrees.

At this point, Ty seems to settle down. Despite calling Ray "Mr. What-ever-you-call-yourself", he gives good and believable explanation on how scared his is and how Ray is his last hope. This sincerity is completely ruined when he interrupts the conversation to schmooze with Miss Fairchild as she's leaving and then goes into this long spiel about how terrible it is to be a celebrity, how much he hates the character he plays ("I'm not Dr. Wolf, he's actually a jerk"), and how he needs honest emotion in his part. I doubt Ty would know an honest emotion if it jumped up and slapped him.

"It makes me tense," Ty says, "and I say things that I don't mean." Ray, who's watching this all in open disbelief, waits until the end of the outburst to say "All of which means absolutely nothing to me." At which point, in addition to once again calling Ray "Mr. What-ever-you-call-yourself", Ty offers him a steak for dinner – Ray will eat, he will watch. This man is the master of the non sequitur.

Ray does stay for the steak. Although I think he only does it because this whole situation is like witnessing a train wreck. Ty further annoys Ray by speaking pigeon Spanish to the chef ("No necissario for youa to stick arounda"). After Ray says something to the chef that my limited knowledge of Spanish can't translate, Ty goes off on a tangent about a good looking actress who once tried to teach him "the lingo". When Ray can finally get a word in, he says that he doesn't think he will be able to take the job.

This motivates Ty to go into a long, dramatic monologue about, well, really nothing to do with what's going on now. It turns out that it's from a play that Ty did during a break – one that Ray had seen. Ray is absolutely beautiful here. I often wish I could have a copy of the show that just showed Ray reacting to everything going on around him. Because, you know, that would make this fangirl happy. Ty admits it was a lame attempt, apologizes and then asks how the steak is. Ray, who hadn't eaten any of the steak yet, offers him a piece. Ty eats it and says "Boy, can that Mexican cook". Ray can't tank it any more and stands up. "You can't possibly be this loony. Is someone trying to kill you, or is this some kind of a publicity stunt?"

"No, last year? That was a publicity stunt." Ty says. "When Tina Augustina tried to kill me with a butcher knife? I got three magazine covers out of that deal." Yet for some reason he finds it odd that the police don't believe him now.

Ray, having finally reached the end of his patience, heads out. Ty follows and does his very best to convince Ray to stay. They are standing on the porch and Ray is trying to extract himself from the situation, when a car drives by and spews a hundred or so bullets into the porch. Ray chases after the car to get the license while Ty hollers that he was hit. I love the fact that Ray will run after a car that just tried to kill him and that he'll do so despite the fact the world may be better off without Ty Gardner lowering our collective IQ.

Dodd unsuccessfully tries to get the police to come out, and has to settle for an investigation sometime tomorrow. Last year, it seems, not only did Ty file a false police report, but he failed a lie detector test about it and then sued the department. The captain is less than enthusiastic about having anything to do with Ty.

Ray, probably envying the captain's ability to stay out the situation, is trying to get some sort of real information out of Ty with no luck. The whole conversation that follows with Ray being the irritated straight man to Ty's run-away ego is wonderful. I promised myself that I wouldn't transcribe the whole thing but I have to quote some. Ty is lounging on the sofa groaning in pain as Ray wraps his thumb up in a rag.

Ty: "I've never been shot before."
Ray: "You still haven't. You got hit by a wood splinter from the gate."
Ty: "Come on. That was cold hard lead. I ought to know, I've done three westerns. I was hit. I felt it."
Ray: "If your thumb would have been hit by a .30 caliber bullet, your thumb wouldn't be there."

Later, Ty goes "I was hit by a .30 caliber (here he looks at Ray) wood splinter. There does that cover it?" This leads to Ty saying how he would have gotten a purple heart for it if he would have been in Nam. But he didn't go to Nam because of a bad back ("Actually, it was my neck. V9S1 I think was the vertebrae. But I fought them and fought them…") and how if Dr. Clinton 'The Yutz" Wolf would have been at the draft board he would have said that he could have gone. Then he tells Dodd to make a note of that so they could do it as a plot for his show.

At which point Ray finally checks Ty's pupils and asks what kind of drugs he's on. "Prescription," Ty answers, "it's, um, a thing that makes my chemical allergesic balance out my, um, whatsit… what's it again, Dodd?" "It's an amphetamine," Dodd answers. "He gets it from a man in the valley." Note that the word "doctor" was not mentioned here.

Ray – reluctantly – says "Since someone is really tying to kill you, and since I saw the car and some of the people in it, and since the cops aren't going to help because you've been pulling their noses for the Inquirer, let's just say that I might agree to help." Here Ty whimpers dramatically and says how much his thumb hurts. Ray has three conditions: Ty needs to tell Ray everything that's been happening he has to do everything that Ray tells him without question, and he needs to say off of the drugs. All the drugs. At this, Ty goes "Who are you? The lady from the DEA?"

Ray insists that he's "not going to trot around next to a wired-up egomaniac who's only go a vague recollection of why people are trying to kill him." Poor Ray, he doesn't realize that being wired up really has nothing to do with those other problems. He finally ends by reminding Ty about his payment, "a favor for a favor", to which Ty replies that his thumb hurts way too much for it just to be a wood splinter. Ray finally shuffles him off and insists that Dodd will check Ty's pupils before bedtime to make sure he's staying clean. The petulant look Ty gives him at this (all the while sucking on his sore thumb) is perfect.

Here we get the musical montage. The song is "Life is a four-letter word" and I end up singing it after I watch the show. I love all the songs done for this show (I may just be easy that way) and the words are transcribed at the bottom. The montage shows Ray checking out the security of the house and looking through Ty's stuff while Ty sleeps. It's got some very nice cuts (as all the mini-videos do) where Ty is searching all through his empty bottles of pills while the line "bottom of an empty heart and a bottle of pills" plays. I think the style of this show is greatly under-appreciated.

Ty wakes, drug free and all his bottles empty. When he first sees Ray, he looks at him like he doesn't remember seeing him before and, considering how drugged up he was, he may not. Ray has been going through the shoe box where Ty keeps all his very-disorganized bills and letters from bill collectors. Ray finds a letter from Mark Webber, someone who Ty played golf with a couple of time. Webber wanted to get Ty involved with a real estate deal with some people from Las Vegas. Ray says that the car from the shoot out had Nevada plates. As Ty gets an address for Mark Webber, he finds a full bottle of pills and takes a couple.

During the drive to talk to Webber, Ty badgers Ray about his choice of asking for favors instead of "just going for the gold". When Ray says there's more to life than money, Ty demands that he names one. "I'll name you three," Ray says. "Love, friendship and understanding."

Ty scoffs and begins to babble about "six foot blondes with teeny-tiny brains and big bazookas" and how great Ray would be in the movies and how wonderful the name Stingray is because "it's like Fabian, Cher, or Charo"…. Ray slams on the breaks and demands the bottle of pills because "you're leaving skid marks all over my upholstery". Ty hands them over to Ray but continues to monologue about how much he hates his life (well, except for the six-foot blondes). I'm really not sure how Ray manages not to kill him.

They arrive at the address Ty had and it's the headquarters of the "Tygard Corp" and it has a parking place that reads "Mr. T. Gardner, President". It also has a large number of bullet holes scattered around its front door. Mark Webber is out sick for the day ("Lead poisoning?", Ty asks. "A lot of that's going around.") but Mr. Gardner has an office in the building. Ty's secretary gives Ty a pile of bills and is willing to give Ray anything else (smart girl, that one). Ty, miffed at everything already, is obviously put out that all the good looking women not only don't recognize him, but that they only have eyes for Ray.

Ray manages to convince Ty, who is unduly impressed with his nice office, that the whole business is a front – they make it look like Ty is involved by putting up publicity photos and setting up an office – but in the end Webber walks away with any money and Ty is stuck with the bills. And other pesky little things like a contract on his life, obviously.

They get Webber's address and head off to talk to him, personally. On the way there, Ty's biggest concern is that they may be using last year's photos as mementos because "I was ten pounds more last year. This year's are much better – show my inner intensity." "Look over at me, again," Ray demands, falsely believing that such lack of any brain activity must be due to drug use. "I'm not wired," Ty insists. "You know, being with you is like having a 24 hour urine analysis." Ray wisely doesn't comment on that.

Webber turns out to be a typical Hollywood hustler, who uses words like "Boobola", "Bunky" and "Babe" when he addresses people. He is obviously disconcerted at having Ty and Ray pop into his house and keeps as much of the room as possible between him and them, but he insists that he's doing nothing technically wrong as there are 15 Ty Gardners that exist. Ray lets Ty do most of the talking (not that I think there is actually a way to shut him up) but he does manage to get in the important questions, because, let's face it, Ty wouldn't know what an important question is.

Ray: "Look, Mr. Webber, someone is trying to kill my client."
Webber: "A business dispute with some partners from Vegas, which has been adjudicated. There's no need to worry. It's over."

At which point a man steps into the doorway behind Ty and Ray and shoots Webber dead. Ray, ever the man of action, does a wonderful spin kick to knock the gun out of the killer's hand, and then kicks him again, knocking him down a flight of stairs. They never say whether the guy is actually dead or not, but I'd lean toward a broken neck if only because Ray doesn't immediately demand Ty call for an ambulance. Ray pulls off a ring the guy is wearing and obvious recognizes its import.

Ty: "What the hell is going on? Who is that guy?"
Ray: "Yakuza." (I really like how he says it too, which the stress on 'kuz' instead of the 'ya') Here he tosses the ring to Ty.
Ty: "Yakuza. What the hell is a Yakuza? I don't even eat Sushi."
Ray: "Japanese mafia."
Ty: "This guy looks like my gardener". Here he looks more closely at the guy on the stairs. "I think he is my gardener."

Ray has Ty call the police. The two of them, of course, get hauled down to the police station, where Ray insists that it's his constitutional right not to tell them his name. The two officers who are questioning him are so obviously playing "good-cop, bad-cop" that Ray goes "You guys ought to polish up your act before taking it to the big town." He tells them that they should be investigating the late Mr. Webber's connection to the Yakuza and Vegas mobsters. When they don't say anything, Ray demands that they owe him a phone call.

The "bad cop" says that "they don't owe him squat", but the "good cop" says to "give him his call, Marty. What's it going to hurt? He's not a bad guy." To which Ray replies, "I like you. You are gentle and kind. I wish you could have been my daddy." Obviously hanging out with Ty has had an adverse affect on the temperament of our hero.

Ray makes a call to Stan and asks for his favor. I don't recall a Stan from a previous episode, but I may just be missing something. I'll have to check it out.

In a different room, Ty is complaining that he isn't getting the respect he is deserved. Of course, he seems to be being questioned by the captain, so I assume that he's getting some favored treatment. The captain wants to know what Ty and Webber were doing mixed up with the Japanese drug trade and why the Yakuza are after them. Ty insists that he "abhors drugs" and that they are "the single most destructive influence in this society". We are spared from the captain's sure-to-be incredulous answer by the arrival of Ray and his keeper.

The captain asks if they've gotten a name out of him yet and Ty goes, "I'll tell you his name: Stingray. That's all he tells anybody. He's got a black corvette Stingray that he drives around in." At this point, I really think Ty is lucky that Ray is in a room with two armed men who would stop him from harming Ty. Probably would, at least. He does tell Ty to "keep it in check" because they'll "be released in minute". In the middle of the captain's rant about how that will never happen, he gets a phone call. When he hangs up, he tells Ty and Ray they can go.

Ty annoys everyone by asking if the Captain wasn't "going to tell them not to leave town". The captain goes "Not necessary. With all the action surrounding this deal, my guess is you guys aren't going to stay alive long enough to find a bus station." Ray, who knows enough to know the captain is right, drags Ty out of the room. The captain explains that he had to let them go because he "got a writ from the Lieutenant Governor's office: Executive privilege."

Have I mentioned that Ray is wearing a really nice suit so far this episode? Now, I'm not one to usually notice these things, but it looks fine: Silver, nicely fitted with a sharp white, tie-less shirt. Early in the episode when Ty was complaining about Cry Wolf "cooking corn for America" he said that he never got to wear any really hot clothes – "Don Johnson, all those, other guys, they get to wear pastels, Armani". Now, while Ray is definitely not in pastels, it could be Armani. And that's just the type of humor they would put in this episode.

Ray and Ty stop off to sign for their things. It's interesting. Ray must not have had any identification or personal belongings – otherwise they would have been able to pin a name on him from that. Plus, while Ty is busy reclaiming his Ray isn't singing anything. I wonder how the Stingray was registered? I think that this is the first time Ray was picked up and no name was attached to him at all. Of course, they didn't actually book them, so there were no fingerprints taken – or if there were, nothing was ever made of it. I don't think you fingerprint people until you have them actually under arrest. Ty and Ray hadn't gotten to that point yet.

While Ty is signing for his belongings and complaining that no one is recognizing him, he tells the gal in charge that she should have the red mole on her hand looked at because it could be a "carcinoma – nothing to worry about if you have it looked at quick enough". Now, this is important because earlier in the episode when Ty was complaining about Cry Wolf "cornball writers", this was the exact type of "garbage" they wrote for him. The officer behind the counter looks at him, then casually wipes off the red marker mark on her hand and shows it too him.

Ray grabs him and drags him off, saying "let's go, Horace." Ray continues as they head out the door, "Another medical miracle by Dr. Clinton "The Yutz" Wolf. What's with you Horace?" This annoys Ty greatly who insists that he is no longer Horace Poindexter (love that name), that he changed his name when he came to Hollywood, even if he didn't want to pay a "shyster lawyer $2600 bucks to file a couple of papers". He ends with iIf you ever call me Horace again, you'll regret it."

At which point Stingray looses it. "I've had it up to here with you. Now, I can barely hold it together here. You are up to your capped-teeth in drug transactions. Do you understand drug transactions? People are going down all over the place like ten-pins and you are diagnosing magic marker marks and signing autographs? When are you going to come into focus?"

Not only is Ray beautiful delivering this rant, but Ty's look of complete non-comprehension is priceless. When Ray finishes, Ty says "Ah, Sting," and here he claps Ray on his shoulder, "they don't want me. I haven't done anything. They got Webber. It's over man."

Ray, and again I think the only reason he doesn't harm Ty is because they are in a police station, finally manages to explain that the Yakuza are "very, very, very big on vengeance" and if they think you've wronged them "they chop your head off. They are borderline psychotic." "You mean," Ty says, still incredulous, "they will kill me just because they think I'm involved?"

"Yes," Ray says, "The answer is a resounding yes. Now, clean your ears out, Horace, I've been trying to tell you that since yesterday."

Ray and Ty end up going back to Webber's place to look for whatever the cops may have missed. Ray figures that there has to be something. "How do you know," Ty asks, looking like he's seriously coming down from a high. "Oh, I don't know," Ray answers, "It goes with the personality type." There's a pause. "What are we waiting for?" Ty asks as they watch a police car put up do-not-cross tape. "For the police to leave," Ray says. "Oh, that makes sense," Ty agree. "Ya think?" Ray replies. It's very cute, really. I did mention I'm not transcribing the whole ep, didn't I? I'm coming close, but I'm not doing it.

As they go inside, some nameless men watch them through binoculars. A mysterious voice says that "two bogies" just arrived. He's told that they need to be "contained".

Inside the house, Ray has just found a cable that leads to a hidden room, when the sound of a helicopter distracts him. He orders Ty to go and check it out. Ty is sure that it's just the neighborhood patrol, so he only acts like he does so, then goes back and tells Ray everything is fine. I think that Ray should have known better than to trust the dingbat, but you have to figure that just breathing the same air as Ty may lower your IQ, so I'll cut him some slack.

Ray finds evidence that Webber was ripping off a big Vegas mobster, Sam DeGusta. He also finds a letter that says "Mr. Gardner" will make good on all losses. Just when Ty is getting all indignant about the letter, well-armed men in suits and sunglasses make their way into the house. Ray, of course, hears that they are being moved in on and makes Ty admit he really didn't check anything out. They make a break for it but run into a helicopter full of armed men.

Ray and Ty end up sitting in folding chars in the middle of a dark parking lot, surrounded by cars with their headlights on. It wasn't dark when they were captured, so I'd like to know what was happening to them in the several hours that must have passed. Ray just sits casually and waits. Ty looks no where near as good. A well-dressed and extremely serious black man in a suit and tie comes up and says: "Who are you guys? What are you doing in Webber's place?"

"Who am I?" Ty pointlessly repeats. "I'm a national celebrity, you yutz. I'm on national television every week. I've been on 10 national magazine covers this year alone. Now, how can you stand there and ask me who I am?"

"Because," the big guy answers, "I don't know." Dry deadpan delivery, priceless humor. I love it.

Ray, in what I assume is an attempt to stop Ty from talking and spilling everything, tries to divert the conversation. "You guys have fed written all over you, from your lace up oxfords to your lawn mower hair cuts."

The fed, who knows which of the two will break first, ignores Ray and threatens Ty again, who immediately caves: "I'm Ty Gardner. He's Stingray." Here Ray gives Ty another death look that Ty doesn't pay any attention to. "He doesn't go by any other name, just Stingray. He was working for me. I'm as anxious as you guys to find out who he is.

"Thanks for you support, Ty," Ray says. I love Ray. He handles all this insanity with such an easy calm. Or at least, he can maintain a facade of easy calm. The fed immediately orders a print out on Stingray. "It's closed and decoded," Ray says. "Not to me it isn't," the fed argues. I wonder if he knows how many people have said that to Ray.

But at this point Ray has managed to get some measure of control over the conversation and he gives the fed a quick run down. I also like this about Ray. He never tries to go it alone if he can get help and he never turns away the authorities when they are a legitimate reason for being part of it. "Mark Webber set up Tygard as a front," Ray says. "This is Ty Gardner, the president of the company." At this point Ty looks smug, as if he's pleased that at least Ray knows who he is. "For two days now, someone has been trying to end his brilliant acting career. Now I figure that there are two teams involved: the Japanese Yakuza who have been stiffed on some kind of drug deal and some phony real estate men from Vegas with long names and bent noses."

The fed says that there is no Vegas connection. Rather, he tells Ray that Webber came to them with an offer to help them catch the Yakuza drug dealers. The feds would set Webber up with a credible looking but completely fake line of credit ($3 million fake), and Webber would use it to set up a drug deal with the Yakuza, who the feds would then bust.

Ray figures it out right away. Webber took the line of credit and suckered in the mobsters to a phony real estate deal. "Then he took the cash and split. They decided to kill him. He took the Japanese dope and didn't pay. And everyone wanted to kill him. Mr. Gardner got caught in the middle of it. His life is still in danger."

The fed is unimpressed. Without a clear path to the drug dealer, he is willing to walk away and let Ty take his chances. Actually, I'm kinda on the fed's side here, but Ray stops him with an idea to get both the Yakuza and the mob guys. I supposed he agreed to keep Ty alive and it's a little late to go back on that now. Besides, there's no way Ray would let the mobsters and Yakuza walk if he could do anything to stop them.

Ray drives up to the estate of Mr. Sam DaGusta, saying that he's Ty Gardner's representative. When he meets with the mob kingpin, he's very deep into "Italian mob flunky" mode, wearing his trademark leather jacket, has an accent you could slice with a knife and talks more with his hands than with his mouth. When DeGusta says the only thing that will make things right is having Ty pay back the $4 million they lost in the real estate deal, Ray tells him he's got bigger problems: the Yakuza are moving in on his Mexican dope operation.

Ray goes on to say that Webber – before he died – made a deal with the Yakuza and that "they're gonna to come in here with their black pajamas and gonna make you guys look like mud." Ray goes on to say that Mr. Gardner is willing to exchange and the dope he took from the Yakuza in exchange for mob protection. Mr. Gardner, Ray explains, didn't know what was going on. "He's an actor." Then Ray goes on to say something in Italian that I dearly wish I could understand because I'm sure it wasn't flattering to Ty. In any case, it is exactly what DeGusta needed to hear. He agrees to a meet. I will also mention that I love it anytime Ray speaks in a different language.

When next we see Ray, he is sitting in a Japanese tea house. He sips tea and politely greets an elderly Japanese man with a bow. Ray is totally different from the scene before. He is poised and polished and reserved. "I would like to make an arrangement for the return of your merchandise," he says. "My client, Mr. Gardner, wants no part in this; he wants only to be left alone. You have already killed the man responsible." They agree that Mr. Gardner will return the drugs and the Yakuza will stop trying to kill him. I adore this scene. I love the fact that Ray doesn't use any contractions when he speaks. Everything is proper, concise and contained. I hate the fact that this scene is so short. I would have loved to have heard Ray speak some Japanese and to demonstrate the same knowledge of Japanese culture that I'm sure he has.

I find the difference in Ray (even though he has the same clothes) is amazing. How he acts, how he speaks, everything is great. I realize that is the whole point of "acting" but its nice to see it in a show, especially when TV shows tend to what to make their actors be as iconic as possible. Nick is very good at these different characters, but we usually don't get to see the differences so closely together.

In a closed and boarded up amusement park, Ray and Ty are sitting in the Stingray, waiting, watching and talking. "Do you believe in Karma," Ray asks. Sometimes, Ty says, "depends on the girl." Ray, who obviously believes in Karma continues, "Well, right now you have more bad Karma than most economically depressed countries. And as things are in life, you are now paying the price."

Ty wants to back out because they are going to try to kill him. Ray explains that all they want is "The dope and the money. The money and the dope. You're going to give the performance of your life." Ty doesn't care and is ready to bolt, but Ray grabs him. "You are going to do exactly what I told you or I'm going to kick you butt all the way down the street." "Oh," Ty says, "major tough guy." "You finally got that part right," Ray answers. I'm not sure if Ty really does understand it, but he does what Ray says.

Sam DaGusta shows up with ten gunmen. Ray gets out of the car and checks out what I assume to be a signal light in one of towers. He walks to the car and Sam gets out. Ray looks back at the Stingray and Ty climbs out, carrying a case. Meanwhile, Japanese men are running around with automatic weapons. Ty goes up to Ray and, on his orders, opens the case to show that it is full of packages of white powder. Meanwhile, the number of people with guns and the number of guns pointed at Ray and Ty keep increasing.

Suddenly, someone gets antsy and a shot is fired. All hell breaks loose in a stylish musical montage. You have the mafia and the yakuza shooting everywhere. Ty makes a run for it and is shot – with real bullets – this time. Ray stops to help pull him out of danger. They hide behind a totally inadequate trash can as the feds and local cops pull up that join in the fray. Things settle down with the addition of several dozen law enforcement types. Our dynamic duo are still hiding out.

Ty: "Look at me. Look at me. I've been hit. I'm bleeding."
Ray: "There are no vital organs in the upper shoulder. You're gonna live."
Ty: "I gotta shoot tomorrow. My show needs me."
Ray: "I thought you hated that show."
Ty: "I do. It stinks. But it's all I got right now. You know, it should have been you that got shot."
Ray: "I did. I'm not lying here to keep you company."
Ty: "Yutz."
Ray: "Yutz."

I love that scene. Yes, I know I say that a lot. *grin* But to see Ray lying there calling Ty a "Yutz" – it's very lovable.

Next Ray and Ty are in a hospital room; the fed (who never does get a name) is talking to them. Ty looks relaxed and happy (which probably has a lot to do with the drugs he's on) but Ray looks tense (which probably has a lot to do with his roommate). Ty wants the fed's name and address so they can go on talk shows together to tell the world how important Ty was in arresting both the mob and the Yakuza.

"Is he kidding?" the fed asks. "Nope," Ray answers. "That's how he is all day long. A one way track to banana-land." It's important to know that Ty's side of the room has flowers and stuffed animals and Ray's side has nothing. Which is both sad and completely in character. Also, throughout this entire scene Ray is massaging his wounded leg and he gets up and walks on it, testing it out. I have a feeling that Ray is going to be leaving a lot sooner than Ty is. In fact he'll probably be leaving a lot sooner than anyone thinks.

As the fed leaves, he tells Ray that he was right – when he tried to run Stingray, he was "code locked and scanned" for his trouble. "Whoever you have in Washington is doing a good job of downfield blocking. I didn't get squat. All I got was a phone call from my section chief at 2 am in the morning telling me to drop it." They shake hands "Who ever you are," the fed says, "You're good."

As he leaves, Ty says, "I guess you showed him," which earns him a look from Ray that actually seems to cower Ty. Slightly. For a moment. Ray sits down and turns on the TV. Ty immediately turns on the news. Ray turns it off, Ty turns it back. Ray tosses down the remote in disgust. "Show business is my life," Ty says. "You can get the ball scores later."

"There's one other thing that I wanted to ask ya," Ty says as he picks up a teddy bear. "Yeah, what's that?" and you can tell from his tone that Ray is really not looking forward to this.

"This favor stuff," Ty says, "explain that to me again. How's that supposed to work again?"

Episode Comments

This is a good episode. Both Nick Mancuso and Jeff Conaway (who played Ty) are excellent. So is Renny Temple who plays Author Dodd, and I miss the fact that he's only in the first part of the episode. The episode does a great job of poking fun of the both the Hollywood lifestyle and the "star" attitude. It helps to have some knowledge of the 80's and the 80's television shows, but I think most of the humor is still very accurate.

Ray's plans can sometimes seem a little far fetched, and I'm not really sure that the ending shootout will really get Ty off the hook, but it's close enough that I don't consider it a plot hole. There is a shot in the "previews" that isn't on my copy – Ty is talking to Ray (at his house) and he says "But you never worked for a TV star before, betcha it puts a little zip in the old agenda." Now I've known shows (especially in the 80's) to have shots in the previews that never show up in the show, but I'd like to know if that's the case or if my copy is edited.

On my scale of 1 (average) to 5 (excellent), Cry Wolf is a 5. I always like episodes with humor and this one had it in spades. At no time does humor take precedence over the plot, no gags that dumb down any of the characters. The supporting characters are all solid and even if the cops questioning Ray are sort-of Mutt and Jeff, it fits the atmosphere of the episode. There are no technical problems that detracted from the show and no loose ends that I feel the need to wrap up with a fanfic. The closest I come to a problem is the lost time between the arrest and questioning by the feds. But this show has a tendency to fudge time and it's not enough to be a problem.

While mobsters dealing drugs and shooting people was common in 80's television, this was one of the first mention of the Yakuza. I liked that they weren't treated like a joke, but equal – if not more dangerous than – the Mob. As I said in the recap, I wish I could have had more with Nick dealing with the Japanese, but I'm glad that what was shown was in keeping with what I know about the respectfulness of the society. I didn't find any of the portrayals to be insulting.

I think the best thing about the show is the way Nick and Jeff play off of each other. They really seem to shine in their scenes together and both are great at reacting to the other. Plus they look like they are having fun doing so, without actually pulling me out of the story.

Music in the Show

Life, is a four-letter word
So you've got to be cool when the going gets tough,
'cuz no matter how bad it looks now, it can always get worse.
If you want my advice, when you're crossing the road,
You better look twice
And then, breathe easy, sip a little lemonade,
Take a number from the hit parade, another dreamy little serenade
Yeah, make believe you got it made
In the Beverly Hills,
Where the water is wine, there's a chemical cure
At the bottom of an empty heart and a bottle of pills
What a wonderful view
Here's looking at me, who's looking at you
Just -- breath easy, sip a little lemonade,
Take a number from the hit parade, another dreamy little serenade

Aliases used by Ray

None, shockingly enough. And no one finds a letter or other piece of paper that they think gives them Ray's name either.

Favors Reclaimed

Letter of executive privilege releasing Ray and Ty – Stan with some connection to Lt. Governor's Office: I don't think Stan was ever in an episode.

Facts about Ray

He speaks Spanish

He speaks Italian (Not that this is surprising; Nick Mancuso was born and raised in Italy until he moved to Canada when he was 8)

He attends plays – although that could have been part of a job, I'd like to think that Ray is cultural enough to see a play for play's sake.

I feel the need to mention that it really bothers me that Ray's Stingray is an automatic. Of all the 1965 Stingrays sold, only 10% were automatics and I don't see Ray as the kind of have one. Sticks are just better cars all the way around. And you know, I'm really not sure you can duplicate some of the tire-spinning moves they have the car do if you use an automatic. Still, that's what we're left with. It's just wrong on many levels, and thought I should point it out.

Any changes, additions or comments? Let me know. Please, feed my obsession.

Comments

[kitap.livejournal.com]

I thought if the show had continued that Ty would have made a great recurring character, showing up once a season or show, driving Ray crazy.

And really, Ty only works because Jeff Conaway did such a good job of playing him.

[partly.livejournal.com]

The episode I would have dearly loved to see would be the one where Ray finds out that Ty is making a feature film about him. Couldn't you see Ty wondering around in black sunglass and trying to be all cool and dangerous? Of course, he would keep wanting to change everything about Ray -- make him flashier, more edgy. He would say that no one would ever believe in the "favor for a favor" thing, so he would have to make it all about money. And women.

The best part would be that Ty would want to hire Stingray as a consultant on the film.

More thoughts...

[partly.livejournal.com]

I imagine Ty would even want to change the car to make it more 'hip' -- say to a Ferrari Daytona Spyder (used on Miami Vice at the time) and then character could be knowing as "Spyder" instead of Ray. The car would also have to be a really flashy color because that's what "sells". Couldn't you just see him in a bright yellow car, wearing pastels and back-up by a driving rock 'n roll score?

[kitap.livejournal.com]

What I see is Ty name-dropping Ray every time someone needs help. Can't you see the strings Ray would have to pull behind the scenes to get people to think that Ty is actually talking about someone else/exagerrating?

And yes, I can see Ty trying to talk someone into a Stingray movie at the very least.