Written by Gary Winter
Directed by Bill Nuss
Airdate: May 3, 1987
Guest Stars: Josh Brolin (Taylor Rolator); John D'Aquino (Vinnie Moragan)
Hanson and Penhall go undercover at an exclusive Prep School after a young woman (Kim Morgan) was raped and murdered after a weekend parry. The episode dealt with class privileges and the ways the wealthy take advantage of those they consider beneath them. A young Josh Brolin guest stars as the ringleader of drug ring at the school, desperate to cover-up their crimes.
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| "The Fun Club" |
At the Prep School, Penhall and Hanson befriend the suspects (the fun club), who drink and do cocaine in their off hours. In a literature class, the sense of elitism and entitlement at the school come out in the competitive discussion on the novel All the King's Men. Hoffs interviews the victim's family who speak of their concerns about Kim attending the wild weekend parties, while her brother Vinny appears ready to take his own revenge.
Meeting with Jenko, the unit express their doubts about whether Kim was murdered or simply overdosed, Jenko encourages them to continue the drug investigation. Penhall is used as a "mule" as he's told to take kilos of cocaine on a commercial flight, fearing he would blow his cover he went through with it. Meanwhile, Niles, a drug dealer working with the boys, comes to the unit's attention, believing he knows what really happened. Niles gets arrested for smuggling but is offered a plea bargain since they suspect he knows who committed the murder.
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| Smuggler's Blues |
Realizing Niles will get a soft sentence for drug smuggling and a cash reward from "fun club" afterwards - the interrogation goes nowhere, Hanson and Penhall visits Brolin and company as police officers, but the boys brazenly do cocaine right in front of them certain they're getting off. Hanson warns them Niles might confess in exchange for a lighter sentence. Taylor seems nervous after they leave and rats out his buddies for the murder, but then Vinny is found standing by his car after school, the episode ends with a gunshot.
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| Justice Awaits |
A tightly written episode that's mostly on point with its themes. A young Brolin (post-Goonies) shows off his acting chops as a villainous character. There was enough material for a longer episode, exploring more of the prep school's toxic culture or more scenes with Kim's family to provide more depth. Hanson and Penhall are still competitive with each other at this point, while Jenko shows he will go to bat for his unit. It should also be noted the cast appeared in an "Anti-Drug" PSA after the episode in a prototypical '80s moment.
Final Report: B+
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