Homicide Episode Guide: From Cradle to Grace

Written by David Mills; story by Jorge Zamacona

Directed by Myles Connell

                           Given the enormous power of the last episode, one would think that the next episode would be a major disappointment. But while ‘From Cradle to Grave’ isn’t as brilliant as the last episode, it is also a very effective episode. This is due partially by the fact that  it has a flavor of the first season episodes habit of having more than one central story. Indeed, there are two extremely effective, very detailed cases served with a comic one.

                           The first one involves the murder of Monk Whetherly, a member of a biker gang known as the Deacons. From the beginning there is something very off about the gang’s attitude towards his death. They are upset that they have lost one of their own, but they seem to feel that it was inevitable (though they shy away from claiming responsibility) Meldrick Lewis working with Munch (he is  in the process of going through nearly every detective in search of a new partner) is stonewalled by one of the gangs leaders. He gets into a ‘whose -is-bigger”  (a fight that he seems to lose) with him bringing him into the station house.  Preacher (who is a prep school graduate and is certified as a bishop) gives a cryptic hint that Monk died because he loved his little girl.

                           Meldrick makes an attempt to understand bikers in general, their codes of honor. When he learns that Monk’s wife was  the source of an FBI enquiry, it makes sense: Monk died for his wife’s  sins, so his child could have a mother. Under their code, no Deacon will touch her but she still must go into hiding. This leads to a great moment at Monk’s funeral in which the detective, a trenchcoat among a sea of black leather, walks though the bikers to put a picture of Monk’s daughter on the casket while ‘Stand By You’ by  The Pretenders plays on the soundtrack. Another moment of quiet dignity and understatement by Clark Johnson  demonstrates his own value to the show.

                           While Meldrick’s case is unfolding, another high-profile investigation is surrounding Pembleton. In a case taken from   Simon’s book, a superior officer, Deputy Commissioner Harris, asks  Frank to investigate an alleged kidnapping of a Congressman. He doesn’t state it directly, but there are clearly big things in store for him.  Frank soon finds that he has  put his hand in a hornet nest. The Congressman never was kidnapped but he reported it as such in an attempt to  cover his own indiscretions and the fact that he is a homosexual. All of which would be all right if the congressman if had not filed a false police report, a misdemeanor.  The Deputy Commissioner seems to give Pembeton permission to bring an end to the investigation and  assures the man that this will not be pursued. Unfortunately, the media does get hold of the story and the  Commissioner deserts Frank leaving him to take the heat alone. For  once Gee cannot help him due to  Frank’s decision not to bring his lieutenant in on what was happening. Filled with indignation that he let himself be used in such a matter, he resigns from the department. Though it will turn out to be mostly for show, we’re not certain how this entire mess will turn out.

 (We find out in the next episode.)

                          

The situation with Pembleton leads to a remarkable scene in the fourth act. After the story breaks, Pembleton has to explain  to Giardello and Colonel Barnfather his actions, while Harris leaves him to twist in the wind.  Dramatc but not exceptional--- until you realize that all four actors are black. In a police drama, or for that matter almost any other show, when all of the actors are of the same race, they are usually talking about prejudice or discrimination. At the very least someone would mention it but Homicide  treats it as if it were nothing special (and in the Baltimore PD this probably does happen).

                            Making the drama of the two stories stand out is a mostly amusing case. Felton and Howard are called into investigate the murder of a homeless man only to find that the rookie officer on scene let the hospital attendants take the body away in an ambulance. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the paramedics return the body to the crime scene and attempt to reposition it, much to the exasperation of the detectives. (This, too, is described in Simon’s book) Never the most vigilant detective, and preoccupied with finally finding his kids, Felton commits an act of fraud by replacing his John Doe on the board  with  another John Doe that had been closed. Nothing is ever made of this (it’s fixed by the next episode) but you wonder if its ever been tried before. (Why the squad is till on the 1994 board in 1995 is another mystery never solved) This is forgotten in Felton’s reunion with his kids is about to occur

                           ‘From Cradle to Grave’ isn’t a perfect episode but it is definitely an example of old-school Homicide. We have great cases with the characters being true to form, we have  some humor and some real, poignancy This is the show in stride.

My score: 4.5 stars