Mr. Monk and The Billionaire Mugger

A tech billionaire is shot dead trying to rob someone at knifepoint — and it only gets weirder from there. We dig into the science of midlife crises, Sharona finally solves a case herself, and Monk buys three lamps. Three identical lamps.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome back to I Don't Give a Shaloube. This is Kathy. And this is Jen. How's it going, guys? We really missed you this past week. We are out of the asylum and we are, I don't know where we are.

SPEAKER_06 0:12

We are on the streets of San Francisco. We're we go to a lamp store. We're in a very ritzy house. We're all over.

SPEAKER_01 0:20

Before we go to San Francisco, which honestly, guys, we are really close to San Francisco. We are. Um, we live close to San Francisco. Okay, but before we go to the city, um, Jen, how are you doing this week?

SPEAKER_06 0:36

Um, I'm doing alright. This is we actually skipped podcasting last week. Um, because it was just a hard week. And I'll just say really quickly, one of my clients, which means she's a dog, um, that got put down this week, which it was time, but I'm I watched her pretty much every month for ten years. And uh I'm really, really very sad, and it really hurt that I couldn't be there. So I'm a little sad today, but I am happy to be here.

SPEAKER_01 1:09

How are you? Oh, um, well, I'm feeling really heartbroken for you. Thank you. And uh I'm I'm really sad for you. I'm not feeling so well today. Um God, it feels like you're always sick. Oh my god. It's true, guys. Um I I have mentioned in previous episodes that I have chronic illness. And uh, if you don't know what that means, it means that I have some illnesses that do not have cures, and I will have them chronically for the rest of my life. Um if you're curious, I have multiple sclerosis and I have Crohn's disease, um, and I have myelgic encephalomyelitis, which is abbreviated to M-E-C-F-S, uh, commonly called chronic fatigue syndrome. And I have some other stuff, but I'm gonna stop telling you because it may take up the whole episode. Um so yeah, I got a lot going on. It's my full-time job. I'm actually unable to work. And some days, like today, I just wake up and I do not feel well. But uh I told Jen I still want to get together because I could do it sick. I could do this, I could talk about my favorite show.

SPEAKER_06 2:37

Because you're a hero.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

And on the note of this being my favorite show, please. Um, I was thinking as I edited last week's episode. Um, Jen has tried to bring up the concept of monking. Um, in short, she has defined it as trying to force this. Just say fetch isn't happening. Fetch, it's not happening. Um monking is overcoming your phobias to be a hero, right? Um, or we could say stepping outside your comfort zone if we want to make it really palatable, like really um easy to apply. So I I think really it goes back to when she was taken aback in the first episode, um, Mr. Monkey the Candidate, when he followed Sharona into the sewer in order to save her. And this we've had monkeying in every episode since the first one. So I was editing Jen's weekly update, and I couldn't believe it. Had I repeatedly watched a series about a man who took himself out of his comfort zone, okay. Well, now that I think about it, I guess that's what he's been doing each week. That and solving a murder.

SPEAKER_06 3:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:53

So here's the thing is I've always watched TV at about 80%. I pay attention, like mostly. I absorb it mostly. I really just enjoy it for like entertainment's sake, and I don't watch it that deeply. I don't get too introspective or analytical when I'm watching it. And so I guess I watch it quite differently than Jen, you could say. But now that we're watching it together, I'm gleaning all sorts of great value. I do love the word gleaning. And she's keeping me accountable for my favorite show in a new way. But does he actually have a little heroic moment in each episode? And I've been taking it for granted, like completely missing it. And I think it's quite possible. So, my listeners, let's go on this journey together and see if I've been missing something obvious and wonderful. I usually am, to be honest.

SPEAKER_06 4:57

I love that.

SPEAKER_01 5:00

So that's my little update for you. I wrote that out because I knew I wouldn't remember it.

SPEAKER_06 5:04

That was really good. So we're gonna be watching to make to see Howie Monks as well. Yes, we'll be watching because I think you're right. He absolutely, even if it's just leaving his apartment every day with all of his sensory overwhelm, like there's a point in this episode where he's walking down the down the street and and skateboarders are going past him. And he's just like, you can see how hard life is for this person.

SPEAKER_01 5:31

But I definitely know m the moment in this episode that I would say is his monking moment. So I'll call it out if you don't. Perfect. But Jen, well, I I shouldn't say how did you monk this moment? You had a really, really hard week.

SPEAKER_06 5:47

Well, I did do one thing that I'm proud of. Um the homeless population in the area that we live is getting worse and it's heartbreaking. And um I see it as a health crisis. So I actually and I was a history major, so I actually wrote a letter to our governor making a parallel between his role as being in the same office as as the one of our previous presidents, and how he is in a historically similar position and he could do a lot to help the homeless. I won't get into it because this is not a political podcast, nor is this really a political issue, but um I wrote it and I wrote out five different versions, and I'm just gonna start sending them because I'm I don't know what else to do besides, you know, give my money, but I I do think that I think I've said enough there.

SPEAKER_01 6:50

No, I think it is a political issue, and I think that it was a beautiful letter, and I think it was the right thing to do.

SPEAKER_06 6:57

Thank you. I'm proud of myself because I you never really know what to do about these things. But how did you monk this week, Kath?

SPEAKER_01 7:05

Um, well, my monking takes us back to my chronic illness. I had to start a new medicine this week, and that for someone who is very sick is actually um quite scary because you never know what side effects you're gonna get. And when you're adding a new medicine, it has to like dance with all of your other medicines. But I did wait 24 hours because like once it arrived, I didn't give it to myself right away. Um because I'm scared. But I gave it to myself, it's an injection, so like that was an additional level of fear. Um it's one of those auto-inject pens, so it's like way less scary than like when I used to like use a needle, but yeah, it went very smoothly, and I haven't felt oh, maybe that's why I don't feel well. You just never know with me.

SPEAKER_06 8:04

But truly, anytime there's new medicine going through your body, your your whole body's like, oh uh oh, we've got something new. Someone new arrived. We're gonna have to make some room, rearrange the furniture. So of course it's gonna be more time.

SPEAKER_01 8:16

Get a new chair, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 8:18

Um, so that explains a lot.

SPEAKER_01 8:21

I hope it starts working. Thank you. So, yeah, that was my monking this week. Look at us.

SPEAKER_06 8:29

We are heroes.

SPEAKER_01 8:31

We are heroes. We we have uh what was my definition? We have gone outside our comfort zones.

SPEAKER_06 8:41

Okay, so are you ready to find out how Mr. Monk monked this week? Let's do it. So this is Monk Season 1, Episode 6, Mr. Monk and the Billionaire Mugger. There's not a lot of background for this episode. The idea came from David Breckman, who is Andy Breckman's brother. David wrote the idea into a sketch while he was a writer for SNL. The sketch never made it to air, so the brothers kept it and worked on it, and it became this episode. So an idea they use as a sort of basis or excuse for the crime was midlife crisis, and that piqued my interest. Being in my midlife, what are they really? Are they common? I want to know everything. So now you get to know everything too. The term midlife crisis was coined in 1965. Kathy just got so bored.

SPEAKER_01 9:38

Did not. I did not dip down when I started to say coined.

SPEAKER_06 9:46

I did not. I just fade. Anyway, so this psychoanalyst, Elliot Jox, noticed that his middle-age patients would have abrupt lifestyle changes when confronted with personal limitations or mortality. Only about 10 to 20% of people actually experience a midlife crisis, which I was surprised.

SPEAKER_01 10:08

That's a small amount. I thought it was like more of a everyone experience.

SPEAKER_06 10:13

It's like just hold up. Ooh, mid-40s, here we go. Uh-huh. No, that's kind of more in our cultural zeitgeist, that's the belief. But actually, it's not even, it seems to be just a Western phenomenon. It's not even, it doesn't even show up really in Indian or Japanese cultures. Of course. But we're so youth obsessed. We're also, this is a capitalist society, so like, where are you financially? What's your job? It's very uh pressure motivated. So a lot of people do hit this time period and are just like, what is my life? Men's midlife crises are more likely to be triggered by work issues. Whereas women tend to be sparked by evaluating their personal lives. More women than men report crisis tied to children, like when their kids have gone off to college. I remember my aunt had a really hard time. And a lot of women, especially our mothers' ages, were stay-at-home mothers, and then that's just their whole job. My mom wasn't a stay-at-home mom. I said, like our mother's ages. Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_01 11:24

Yeah, I'm not doing a good job list. My bad.

SPEAKER_06 11:28

No, but my mom was. Um, and so they kind of get, or they feel emotionally distant from their kids as their kids develop larger personalities or an outside social life. Whereas men were more likely to cite job loss, blocked promotions, or career disappointments as triggers. So a midlife crisis for a man tends to be more external, more about action, desires, and external stimulation. Whereas women, it's more internal, looking for what's the meaning of life or gratification, soul searching. Men often express midlife struggles through restlessness or sudden dissatisfaction, becoming overly focused on physical fitness, questioning career achievement, becoming more critical of their relationships.

SPEAKER_01 12:12

This all sounds spot on from what I have seen in Western media.

SPEAKER_06 12:18

Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Suddenly wanting to change jobs or start a business. There are four primary triggers that tend to drive male midlife crises. Identity collapse when the I am my job mentality falls apart, physical decline from aging or hormonal shifts, mortality awareness after a health scare or watching peers die, and the success trap, achieving the goals they set and feeling empty anyway. I thought that was interesting, the success trap. Other common behaviors include spending money on things he hasn't been able to before, making new and sometimes younger friends, showing more interest in sex, sometimes having an affair, and prioritizing his physical appearance. Women, however, may talk to friends or professionals, return to work if it was set aside to raise children, go back to school, volunteer, or focus more on diet or physical health. All as a way of working on inner identity rather than women are way more productive.

SPEAKER_01 13:16

Truly. And like Could we be healthier? Or like I don't know. What's the right word? Moral?

SPEAKER_06 13:25

Yeah. They're like, there's a problem, it must be internal, whereas men are more there's a problem, it must be external. We're not judging, we're just noticing. But shared signs include feeling sad, unfulfilled, constantly looking backwards at the past, feeling like life is meaningless, sudden impulse purchases, having affairs, and feeling like everyone else is happier than you are. Social media does not help that phenomenon. Kath, have you had a midlife crisis? And if you could, what would it look like?

SPEAKER_01 14:08

Um well, I think it's fair to say that chronic illness handed me my midlife crisis. Um I had to leave my career. I lost many friends who were more seasonal friends that were part of my career, or just more circumstantial and I don't get to see them, um, or we didn't keep up because I'm very sick and it's hard to bridge that gap. Um but if I was healthy, I yeah, it's just so hard to speculate.

SPEAKER_06 14:45

Of the fun things. Say you're a you're a dude. Um, peace and yeah, I would.

SPEAKER_01 14:54

Well, it's hard to say I had to have an affair because I'm not married. Um maybe you'd have an affair with a married man. Maybe I would have an affair with a married man. I've been trying to do that for years. Um and all of her one ads are pretty clear. And maybe I would get a cute car. I mean, I already really love my car, but it's an SUV. It's an SUV. So maybe I'd get another sporty vehicle that is not an SUV.

SPEAKER_06 15:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:29

I'll have to think about this and get back to you in a future episode. I love it. I would probably get a nose job. Please do not touch that gorgeous nose. Probably a tummy tuck. I would bust into the office and be like, do not touch.

SPEAKER_06 15:44

Okay, I guess I wouldn't get a nose job because Kathy would stop me. No. Could I get a tummy tuck?

SPEAKER_01 15:50

No. Why? You don't need one. Can I get a boob lift? Yeah, and can I get a boob lift too? Yes. Okay. We agree on that. Or like, I need a reduction. Yeah. Is that I think that's the right word.

SPEAKER_06 16:02

Yeah, a reduction in lift. I think I would want that too. Um, and I think I'd get, I'd definitely get a new car, maybe a Jaguar. Jaguar.

SPEAKER_01 16:15

Um, could we start an animal sanctuary? Yes. But I think that's more of like if we win the lottery rather than midlife crisis.

SPEAKER_06 16:24

Midlife crisis means you're going with the money that you have, you're just spending it recklessly. Yeah. If you're again a guy.

SPEAKER_01 16:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 16:32

I think that's all I'd do.

SPEAKER_01 16:35

I love spending money recklessly, but it's usually on DoorDash.

SPEAKER_06 16:42

Alright, good. As long as we have a plan.

SPEAKER_01 16:46

You ready to jump into the episode? Okay. Might as well. I forgot this is a podcast about monk. Let's do it. People have been doing the 15 seconds ahead, 15 seconds ahead.

SPEAKER_06 16:59

My god, they're still talking.

SPEAKER_01 17:01

I only do that through ads. And we don't have any ads, so you better not be doing that.

SPEAKER_06 17:07

Okay. The scene opens at night. The camera drifts slowly over an expansive lawn toward a grand ivy covered mansion. Warm light spills from every window, nearly twenty that I can see. And I'm wondering about the electric bill. Sydney, where are you going? A female voice asks. Sydney responds, Oh, I didn't tell you, I have a lecture. The woman, Myra, we find out, is annoyed. Another lecture? We already gave them a half a million dollars. You don't owe them anything. But Sydney is the picture of magnanimity in Domerglasses. I don't mind, he tells her, I like to give back. He kisses her head and promises to not be too late. He walks through huge room after huge room saying goodnight to the maids. This guy is richy rich rich.

SPEAKER_01 17:56

But isn't he so nice? He knows all of his maids and butlers by name. And I think they're showing that he's just a kind-hearted rich man.

SPEAKER_06 18:09

Sydney opts to drive himself tonight and leaves through the front gate. Bad to the bone is blasting as Sydney drives into a lit-up San Francisco. The city that rock and roll built is looking extra pretty tonight. Like we see him driving by the San Francisco skyline and it's all lit up. It is one of the prettiest cities that you'll ever see.

SPEAKER_01 18:29

Is this like a side note to me? Yeah, I'm just telling you.

SPEAKER_06 18:33

We're talking.

SPEAKER_01 18:36

She half-litted looked at me. Well, she was making eye contact with me, and normally she's looking at her script on like I didn't believe it. I was like, I know I live here.

SPEAKER_06 18:51

But it's really, really pretty, okay? Okay. Um, once in the city, Sydney takes a turn down a small alley. He parks his car, removes his glasses, then sticks a fake mustache above his lip. Leaving the car, he pulls the hoodie over his head and moves deeper into the alley. On another street, we see a happy couple leaving a movie theater. The theater is having a Hitchcock festival, and I'm wondering if this will be an extra suspenseful episode. It's not. The couple themselves end up being important, so a quick visual for those who don't watch. The woman is pretty with coppery blonde shoulder length hair. She's slim with fair skin and a wide smile, which she shares with the man holding her hand. He's average height and solidly built. He's got a cop haircut, tight on the side, short on top. He's tan with a strong, strong jaw. And do you recognize him? I do recognize him, but it's not an emotional, like, oh, that's a friend of mine. So I didn't even look him up.

SPEAKER_01 19:49

I didn't look him up either, and I was really counting on you to do that for me. Sorry. Because you look up everyone, and I'm like, that guy's familiar to me.

SPEAKER_06 19:57

I do, but he again, he's not familiar like he was in psych or anything like that.

SPEAKER_01 20:02

Um I'll look him up while you while you continue with our story, and then I'll just interrupt you and be like, here's who he is. I love when you have a strong plan.

SPEAKER_06 20:14

Um anyway, he's an athletic, square-shaped man who looks delighted to be with his beautiful date. They are both maybe 30s to forties. Sydney watches the happy couple from behind a dumpster, and we see he's holding a knife. As they are looking for their car, Sydney rushes in front and with the knife aloft screams, give me your wallet now. The woman screams and the man raises his hands trying to restore calm. Don't be a hero, Sydney shouts. The would-be mug E mimes no resistance here. He like brings his hands up and seemingly moves to his back to grab his wallet. But instead of the wallet, he grabs a gun. Hey, what are you? Sydney begins, then bam bam bam! Sydney collapses to the pavement, dead. In the next scene, still at night, our beautiful heroine is making her way down a busy street. She approaches an ATM attempting to withdraw some cash, but the machine won't give her her 60 bucks. Insufficient funds glare from the machine face in angry red letters. She shakes her head in frustration, kicking the machine because it had it coming. In his apartment, Monk is pouring over documents. They are piled on his desk as he holds up two photos, looking back and forth in confusion. He's looking at Trudy's car after the bomb. He drops the pictures and rubs his eyes, then lowers his head to his desk. Exhaust and defeat battling for dominance. He accidentally knocks the lamp off his desk and it shatters. Just then, an irate Sharona rushes in. Do you have any idea how hard it is to be a single parent? Monk is all furrowed brows and confusion. Um no, he tells her. Paycheck bounced, Adrian. Monk gestures to the shattered lamp. My lamp, he says mournfully. Well, what are you going to do about it? Sharona is becoming a little shrill. I'll just have to sweep it up. Not what she's asking about, Adrian. Sherona is clearly very panicked while Adrian is unbothered. Apparently a client, Leo Ottoman, paid in an IOU. He was a little short. No, Sherona is short. Leo Ottoman is it Ottoman or Ottoman Ottoman? Let's go with Otterman. Otterman is easier to say, but since I wrote it, I'm pretty sure it's Ottoman. Otterman. Just got one of his Picasso's back, but Monk's like, he wasn't liquid. Cash flow issues, poor soul. Does he say that? Poor soul. I don't know if he says poor soul, but he's like very compassionate to this guy and not to Sherona. To this guy with a Picasso. Monk goes to pick up a broom. This is a business, Sherona reminds him. Monk walks past her, moving to sweep up the broken pieces. Her voice lowers, getting serious. If he misses one more payment, she quits. He is still ignoring her. So she repeats herself. If he misses one more payment, she quits.

SPEAKER_01 23:21

And Jen, you asked me in Mr. Monk and the Candidate, or maybe it was, you know, Mr. Monk and the psychic. You asked me if money was going to be an issue. And I didn't want to like completely let on, but money's an issue.

SPEAKER_06 23:39

And it's uncomfortable. I do not like hearing people fight about money. My parents' biggest fights were always about money. And sh I want to remind you guys, since we're going back to the candidate episode, Sherode was given a golden ticket. She could ask the mayor's aide for any favor. This could have been dealt with in the first episode, but no.

SPEAKER_01 24:03

Maybe it's a continuity thing, like they forget. It absolutely is. That she doesn't like they act like she doesn't have power.

SPEAKER_06 24:10

But that goes to the writers. Do they really think that we want to hear them fighting about money? Yes, they do. I want Monk to be independently wealthy and for this not to be an issue.

SPEAKER_01 24:21

Well, it's an issue, everyone.

SPEAKER_06 24:25

Okay, back to the story. Yeah. And he's also unbothered. Monk just is not listening to her, and she's very upset about this, and he doesn't care. And that and I care. That upsets me.

SPEAKER_01 24:37

Yeah, he's very, very rude.

SPEAKER_06 24:39

None of this seems to be registering for Monk as he hands Sharona the broom to answer the ringing phone. In the next scene, Monk and Sharona walk quickly to the crime scene. Siren lights are flashing and a crowd has gathered. Now don't give in, Sharona reminds Monk. A ten percent raise is not asking for too much. Monk completely agrees, eye scanning the scene. Ten percent, you can't argue with that. But Sharona isn't done. Don't solve anything until they agree. Once he solves it, they lose their leverage. Monk is in complete agreement. They approach Stottlemeyer. Hey Cap, I see the circuses in town, Monk says, gesturing to the crowd and reporters jostling each other from behind the crime scene tape. Oh yeah, and it's about to get way worse, Stottlemeyer affirms. Sherona jumps in here, raising her voice above the helicopter sirens. Captain, Adrian would like to talk to you about our fee. She is ignored. Is that the shooter? Monk asks. The camera pants to the couple giving the statement to Disher. Yeah, that's Archie Modine. He's an ex-cop. He was second lieutenant in Palo Alto. I already checked him out. He's a straight up good cop.

SPEAKER_01 25:47

And do you want to know what his real name is?

SPEAKER_06 25:50

Desperately.

SPEAKER_01 25:51

His name is Peter Onarati. Ooh, good name. And uh he according to Wikipedia, he is an American actor. He's known for his TV roles as Charlie Howell on Civil Wars, Mr. Scato on Murder One, Stanley Pearson on This Is Us, Nope. Which I think had quite a big following. Okay. Um, and then a few other things like SWAT Goodfellas and Fallen Arches. Um, in case you wanted to know, his years active or since 1986, he is married and he has three children. So I I got a whole lot of info here for you, but I think that's good enough. But we just know him, he hasn't been in anything important to us. Uh no, he has a really long filmography. Is that the word? Filmography. So I bet you've just seen him in like single episodes of different stations. Like Grey's Anatomy. Different things. I said station because he was in station 19 for an episode. He was definitely in the rookie for an episode. Okay. Blue blood. So we can stop. Okay, I'll stop.

SPEAKER_06 27:02

We're gonna be here until five. Um and the words are already blending. Okay. But he shot a guy to death for having a knife. The reaction seems excessive. But the captain continues giving Modine's background. He's now head of security at CK Pharmaceuticals. Sharona breaks in here a bit more forcefully. She needs to feed her child. Uh, Captain, about our fee, we want Sharona, please. Monk cuts her off. Oh, I hate when he does that. Makes me crazy. Then to Leland, walk me through it. As Leland is going over the pretty routine shooting, we watch his realization, then resignation crosses Shrona's beautiful face. Once the captain finishes going over the basics, Monk confusedly asks, if this is so routine, why is he here? Flummix, the captain, answers, here comes the punchline. Our perp is Sidney Teal. The computer guy? Shrona asks. Monk is interested, a small smile playing at his lips. He says, Get out of town. Take a look, Stadlmeyer leads them to the covered body. They all kneel as he pulls back the sheet. That's what five billion dollars looks like. Get out of town, Monk repeats, clearly delighted by the mystery. What in God's name was he doing? As he pulls Sidney's faux mustache away, Stadlmeyer postulates, I think maybe this is how he got his kicks. I mean, that amount of money can make a person crazy. Monk's like, yeah, wouldn't know about that. But that's Stadelmeyer's theory. If Monk has a better one, he'd love to hear it. Monk opens his mouth, ready to astound. Then Sharona jumps in. Hand on his arm, she stops him. No, no. Captain, we can't stop working until we talk about our fee. But Monk cuts her off again, this time more forcefully. Sharona, he snaps, could you give me a second here? And I'm done. I have a note. I'm like, I want to smack him. I'm done with him. Yes. I'm done with Monk. The level of selfishness and lack of concern for her and Benji, it's unacceptable. Sharona seems to agree. Simply glaring at Monk, getting up and leaving. And at this point, I thought she left. Like, but she didn't. Apparently that's something we have to get used to. Her getting really mad, but staying. It's unhealthy, Kath. Monk doesn't even notice. You know, this is insane, he says, smiling at Stot, who stuck I cut I wrote Stot over and over, knowing this was going to be a problem, but Stotelmeyer, writing Stotelmeyer over and over gets tiring. Monk doesn't even notice. You know, this is insane, he says, smiling at the captain, who leans in a green. It gets crazier. Check this out, Stotelmeyer tells him, lifting the sheet from Sydney's legs. He's wearing knee pads. Knee pads? Yeah, and he's got elbow pads. Was he planning on going rollerblading after Monk wonders, mystified? Further down, Disher continues to take the statement, but the crown is getting a little wild. Modine is walking through the steps leading up to the shooting. Anyway, he says, I had my keys which now I can't find. We see Monk lean down. Using a pen, he lifts up a set of keys. Excuse me, he says, addressing Modine and Date. Are these yours? We get a tight shot on the keys and see three letters. Fraternity. Modine takes the keys, thanking Monk, then continues to give a statement. Anyway, he came at me with a knife and he said something. The date pipes up here. He said, Don't be a hero. Modine continues, I pulled my piece and got three rounds on him. A witness from a nearby apartment corroborates Modine's story. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 30:52

It makes me very angry because the right way police are taught to never use lethal force. Can I just tell you? A gun and a like you don't bring a gun to a knife fight. Isn't that like isn't that like a thing? Yes. Like you're supposed to try and talk the person down, but unless they're lunging at you, I guess they But he wasn't lunging.

SPEAKER_06 31:19

He was, I would say, 15 to 20 feet away. And I talked to Ben. Um Ben is in law law enforcement, so I gave him the scene, like the setup. And um he does carry a gun, which I hate. But Ben is the hubby. Yeah. I put him in Modine's shoes. He's off duty. We're on a date in the city. It's n it's night. A mugger approaches probably 15 to 20 feet away, pulls a knife. The mugger does not lunge or approach any closer. Would Ben shoot? More importantly, would he shoot to kill? And of course the answer is no. Get he's like, uh you get a good look at the mugger, show him the gun, tell him to get out of here, give a report of the attempted mugging, ba bada bing, bada boom. Everybody leaves their lives and valuables. Is that what Ben said? Yes. Bada bing, bada boom. That's part of protocol. Bada bing bada boom. Okay. So I'm immediately suspicious of Modine. But no one else is. Disher loves the guy, because of course Disher does. Hey, Lieutenant Modine breaks in seriously. Is that really Sydney Teal? Afraid so, Disher tells him. Modine's eyes close and he shakes his head, horrified. Jeez. Next we see Sharona with the captain. I thought she rightly quit, but I'm thinking I like her will just have to continue to swallow Monk's rudeness. Five hundred dollars a day? The captain shouts, shocked. Plus expenses, she tells him. And she's firm. It's more than fair he's never had a raise. But the captain is cheap and he just can't authorize an increase this large. She's like, it's more than fair, and I think they should be paying her too. But he's firm. For this large of an increase, she's going to have to take it downtown. He tells her to talk to her friend, Sheldon Burger.

SPEAKER_01 33:13

He actually calls him Shelley Burger. And you know what? This is like probably the third or fourth time that I'm like completely not hearing any discussion of this character. Really? Remember, like in the first episode, I'm like, nah, he never comes to it.

SPEAKER_06 33:35

So Monk joins them and backs up the chief, telling her, yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll deal with this later. The glare Sharona gives Monk is so deep and real. He's giving her wrinkles, and we know she will not be able to afford Botox. Oh, poor thing. The female victim with Modine interrupts the glare. Can I say something? They all turned to her. I'd like to file a complaint against one of your cops, she says shrilly. To be fair to the actress, if I had to speak over all the cops and sirens, I'd sound shrill as well, but her voice grates me. There was a cop standing right over there who saw the entire thing. She points down the alley. After Archie shot the guy, the cop just turned and ran away. She didn't get his badge number. At this information, the press goes wild. Leaning over the caution tape, they volley their questions. You've got nothing to say, they asked Stadlemer accusingly. And he's like, There is nothing to say. There's not a police officer on my force that would run away from the scene of of the crime. It is inconceivable. But Shrill Sheila, because we we don't know her name, is fully indignant. I know what I saw, she yells at the captain. He ran away. The witness that's there, he's like so the witness is into it. I don't know if you remember this guy, but um there was a guy that saw the whole thing happen from his apartment, and he really tries to steal the scene away, but his lines are kind of basic, so I didn't Everyone I'm nodding. Yeah. Anyway, he passionately agrees with her and says, Yeah, he ran away. And I wrote, he's gotta be in on it, because he's really acting his little pants off. But we never see him again. In the next scene, we see Sharona and Monk driving home. The sun has just come up, meaning they've been there for hours. Tired and snippy, Sharona drives and Monk corrects her. The speed limit is 35, Monk says. I'm going 35, she responds. 37, 38 now. Monk counters. But for once it's Sharona ignoring the present moment. Why couldn't you hold out for the raise? She asks, furious. I can't believe you folded like a cheap suit. A cheap tent, Monk corrects her. I folded like a cheap tent. Sharona continues ranting, and I get it. Let's not forget, she couldn't get sixty dollars from the ATM, and she lives in San Francisco. Even in the early 2000s, it was not cheap. As she's coming up with ideas for cash, Monk continues to passenger side drive. Meaning he's like telling her how to drive from Yes, I understood. Okay. Sorry. Hearing a weird squeaking from the engine, he asks, What's that noise? Sharona sigh, it's the alternator. Why don't you have it fixed? He asks innocently. After a vicious glare, Sharona comes up with a plan.

SPEAKER_05 36:28

Here's plan B. We are gonna solve this case as fast as we can, okay? A billionaire with too much time in his hands went crazy. What about the knee pants? No, no, no, no, no. Forget the knee pants. A billionaire went crazy, and that's it. We're gonna take some credit for it this time, get a little publicity, and then I'm gonna pull Shonen Berger in the mayor's office and demand a 10% increase.

SPEAKER_01 36:51

There's that Sheldon Berger again. He's back. The number one character that you forget.

SPEAKER_06 37:00

Um what would I do without you? You'd watch TV relaxed. I feel like I'm stealing it from you. But anyway, it's a good plan. And Monk nods. And then they pull into Sidney Teal's estate. Speaking of money, whoa, Monk breathes as they take in the behemoth ahead. We're in the wrong business, Sharona says, shaking her head in disgust. Not just us, everyone in the world is in the wrong business except this guy. And I hear you, sister.

SPEAKER_01 37:33

Well, he did have like five billion dollars, right?

SPEAKER_06 37:36

Okay. He was like a software startup. So the idea that the Breckman brothers were kind of playing around with was that it's Bill Gates. Like Bill Gates was the I was the I thought maybe it was gonna be my guy. Steve Jobs? Yeah. But Steve Jobs has more. You'll understand more when you underst when we get further in the plot, but Bill Gates is a nerdy nerd nerd.

SPEAKER_07 38:01

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 38:01

Do you understand the difference? Like Steve Jobs didn't really have a problem with the ladies.

SPEAKER_01 38:06

Okay. Do you under like yeah. Yeah, to be honest, I never read any bios. I don't know much about the dudes. I mean, the fact that Ashton Couture played Steve Jobs.

SPEAKER_07 38:16

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_06 38:17

I don't think Ashton Couture would ever play Bill Gates. True. Okay, moving on. Okay. Inside the mansion, Mrs. Teal or Myra from now on is answering questions. Myra is another pretty blonde. There are a lot of pretty blondes in this episode and most TV during this time. She has a kind of strange haircut. It looks like Mrs. Brady's mullet had a baby with Meg Ryan's PC Shag. You know the one from You've Got Mail?

SPEAKER_01 38:47

Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_06 38:48

So when I thought of that, I was like, oh, I want to look at Meg Ryan's hair again. Because I wasn't sure if it was. But so did you know that Meg Ryan was kind of the originator of that haircut, which was so big during that time. Faith Hill had it. My sister had it. That like peaky. So it's like the Rachel. People would go into the salon and ask for the Meg. Oh, I did not know this.

SPEAKER_01 39:11

Anyway. Maybe I should still go in and be like, can I get the Meg? It kind of. And see if they know.

SPEAKER_06 39:18

Looking at the pictures, God, she was gorgeous. And it kind of made me want, because my hair's short right now. It kind of made me want to go get it. But I've always done this where you see an actress and you're like, I'm gonna get her haircut, but you have no bone structure like her. Like nothing.

SPEAKER_01 39:34

You would look so early 90s. Yeah. Oh, actually, this is from the 2000s. So maybe she was she was just a leftover. What do you mean? Yeah. Like she was like 90s going into the 2000s.

SPEAKER_06 39:47

She was about to change her hairstyle. Absolutely. Okay. And and most of society was. We were getting into the Rachel, really.

SPEAKER_01 39:54

No, no, the Rachel. Oh, yes. Well, okay.

SPEAKER_06 39:57

Ooh, were they both at the same time?

SPEAKER_01 39:59

They were at the same time because Friends started in what 97? Yeah. Maybe 96 even.

SPEAKER_06 40:05

And then she got the Rachel within the first two years of the show. Yeah. Everyone.

SPEAKER_01 40:10

Good thing we're here for this.

SPEAKER_06 40:12

Everyone at my church got the Rachel. Oh, that's so funny. I got the Monica accidentally.

SPEAKER_01 40:17

There was no Monica. No one wanted the Monica.

SPEAKER_06 40:20

I remember in the first season where it was like PC and then flipped out. It was I I had a terrible hairdresser. Okay. Um so she's also back to Myra. Um, she's in her early 30s and she has peaches and cream has a peaches and cream complexion, delicate bone structure, and a kind smile. Her baby blue eyes are red rimmed. We were building a guest house in the backyard, she tells them. I was supposed to meet with the architect today. Monk and Sharona are doing what we all do in big rich houses, wandering around and touching stuff. Do you know what I did instead? Myra asks, voice breaking. I made funeral arrangements. I know, it's a terrible time, Monk sympathizes. We just have a few questions. Sherona stands next to Monk, and for the first time I'm noticing her outfit. I don't know if you noticed this, but I always feel like she's dressed nicely. Not expensively, but she's always well groomed. Here though, she's standing in front of this expensive looking woman, and she looks not cheap, but I couldn't think of another word.

SPEAKER_01 41:29

Well, she does dress a little light.

SPEAKER_06 41:33

The shirt looks cheap, and I remember that shirt. What what what was she wearing? It was like well, it I didn't write it down a it's a it's a blue shirt with like little cap sleeves and it's it buttons snaps, snap buttons. Uh-huh. Um it's just not I remember it being in the stores, so it wasn't like an exp maybe what where did we shop? Ross, you know. Uh-huh. Um It was a Ross shirt. Yeah, it was a Ross shirt.

SPEAKER_01 41:59

I had some great things from Ross, just to clarify. Some great things. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_06 42:04

But what I'm saying is her hair's all scrunchy, like when I used to do my perm, and I just put handfuls of wet n wild and would like Yeah, she does not um scrunch the crunch. It looks crunchy and frizzy, and she's got a weird berret right in the middle. And she just I don't know if it was purposeful, but it feels purposeful because again who's like all diamonds and elegance, she looks cheap. And I just kept thinking of like the starving girl who's serving a banquet to royals. Yeah. That's how it felt, especially since she's struggling with money right now. Yeah. Even still, she approaches Myra gently. The police think Sydney was having a midlife crisis. That's true, Myra confirms. It started about a year and a half ago. Myra looks down, sniffing. Sydney just changed. He started trying new things, crazy things. Renting motorcycles, bungee jumping. As she's speaking, we see monks scan various pictures. There's like 20 plus all arrayed on a couple of baby grands. How do you feel about pianos being used as like tables or display cases?

SPEAKER_01 43:15

I that doesn't make sense to me because it would vibrate. You looked over at my piano, and the reason that I can have that is because mine is an upright. But I think on like a flat piano, I think it would vibrate more. Oh, absolutely. They would rattle. Yeah. I don't know.

SPEAKER_06 43:37

No, I think you're right.

SPEAKER_01 43:38

I'm glad I asked a musician. I actually just made Oh my gosh. I'm getting all sorts of notifications, folks. Very rude for not turning off my phone.

SPEAKER_06 43:47

I didn't either. I think I made that up. I think I made that up. No, you better keep that in. I think you're out. It makes sense scientifically that if there's stuff on top of a baby grin, which Flat and it's only like this far from where the music is being made that all the shit on top would rattle. Please don't take that out. Okay. Look at your concerned face. This is why I show up so much more in the uh in the It just cut my pipe. You just think that what you say is crap. It's not. Okay. Um the pictures on top of the piano are all handshakes and hugs from former presidents and heads of state. Myra continues, but the gist really does support the theory. The guy was an adrenaline junkie. But she never imagined he'd take it this far. Robbing someone with a knife. What was he thinking? Adrian is listening, but he sees disorder. So right in front of a disgruntled maid, Adrian begins rearranging the frames. Did he go out at night? Monk asks, continuing to straighten. Recently, Myra told him. He'd go out late once or twice a week. Can I tell you guys a story?

SPEAKER_01 45:01

Please. Um it is not related to this at all. Yeah. I want to hear. But when he asked, you know, did you go out at night? You guys, I do not go out at night. Uh-huh. But I went out last night. Yes. Um, because I'm sick. I feel like we've talked about this a lot in this episode. I'm sick. Okay, get over it. Um, I don't I don't go out at night because my body goes to sleep. But I went out last night. I forced myself because there was a brass concert I wanted to go to. Um, and it was really lovely, and I'm very happy. Um, just wanted to let you know. Completely irrelevant. Do you feel nourished in a certain way? I feel really, really happy.

SPEAKER_06 45:45

Yeah. Because here's a little behind the scenes. We this is the second day we're working on this podcast because we're both so tired yesterday. Kathy, we really really wasn't feeling good. So we split it, and you your energy is completely different.

SPEAKER_01 46:00

Not that Oh, really?

SPEAKER_06 46:02

Well, yesterday I felt much more sick than I do today. Yeah. But I think that it was really good for you to get that kind of creative nourishment.

SPEAKER_01 46:10

Yeah. I'm happy for you. I had definitely caffeinated myself. Um, it was difficult, but I was very, very happy. I'm so that makes me happy. Okay, we can get back to, you know, good old Sydney.

SPEAKER_06 46:26

Look, all that's happening is Monk is asking questions and adjusting all the frames to look correct to his brain in front of a disgruntled maid. Um but so Monk asks, why do you think he was wearing knee pads last night? Myra is at a complete loss, no idea. Her eyes continue to fill up and she apologizes for looking a mess. No, no, Sharona jumps in reassuringly. You look great. The maid moves the frame back. Monk just needs to ask one more question. When did Sydney start wearing eyeglasses? About three years ago, Myra guesses. Why? No reason, Monk tells her, beginning to move another frame. But the maid gets right up in his face and stares him down. Do you remember that? Or she turns and looks.

SPEAKER_01 47:13

He is rearranging stuff and um she doesn't like it. It reminds me of when uh he is this is like the Del the Whale episode, and he is rearranging stuff on the maid's uh coffee table. Yes. And it's like he he just has to do it, he just has to rearrange things so they make sense to him.

SPEAKER_06 47:34

Yeah. It's a compulsion, but she's like, no, this is my house. Back it off. So the two leave the house, and when they're walking out, Sharona asks why Monk asked about the glasses. So I could tell which photos were the most recent. There were about 200 pictures in that room. They documented everything. And Sharona prods.

SPEAKER_04 47:57

No bungee jumping, no skydiving. The most exciting thing Sidney Teal's done in the last two years is go to Disneyland.

SPEAKER_05 48:04

Not exactly Batman.

SPEAKER_04 48:06

This guy, he was what's the opposite of Batman.

SPEAKER_01 48:11

I loved that. Like you just knew something brilliant was coming. Well, not brilliant, but you knew something wise was coming when it was like the product of him rearranging the pictures and him like asking about the glasses, like that lady was lying.

SPEAKER_06 48:31

His brain is always working. And whether or not he can read people, he reads facts and details, and it's it's fascinating. So Sharona tries to turn on the car, but it's making that horrible grinding sound. You know, that one and it won't start. Anyway, she loses it, pounding on the steering wheel, letting out a string of dam it's Monk helps the situation by telling her, say damn it some more. In the next scene, one of Teal's driver, his name is Willis. Even though they never introduced us, I had to look it up. Oh, very nice. And um he's great. I think this actor steals the scene. I wish he would be in it. He's just a real cool guy. He's just a cool Willis. And he's working to fix Sharona's car. He is elbows deep into the engine while also answering some light questioning. How long has Willis worked for the Teals? Seven years. Does he believe what they're saying that Mr. Teal had a dark side, a secret life? Handing over some car guts for Monk to hold, Sharona takes it instead. He gives it to them straight. Mr. Teal didn't have a life. Except for his computers. Boy Scouts used to laugh at him. He didn't drink, didn't smoke, wouldn't even let Willis start the car until they were both buckled up. Did Mr Teal have a temper? Nope, not at all. Mr. Teal was a pussycat. So then Monk wonders, what does he make of what happened that night? Willis is flummoxed. Hypnotism is his best theory. Sharona likes it, but Monk shakes his head. No, you can't hypnotize someone into doing something he wouldn't normally do, which I thought was interesting, and that's a relief. What about the missus? Monk wonders. Is she also a pussycat? Nah, Willis says she's more like a tiger. But I never worked for her. I worked for him, Willis continues while screwing in some other parts. She made that clear. The truth is poor Willis will be out of a job soon. He smiled at Monk and Sherona. If Monk ever needs a driver, keep him in mind. Then he asked Sherona if Monk is a good boss.

SPEAKER_05 50:36

Well, my last paycheck bounced. I can't take a vacation because he can't live without me. And two nights ago, he called me at 4 a.m. because he stole a cockroach.

SPEAKER_04 50:47

It was pretty big.

SPEAKER_01 50:50

Sounds like you. Yeah, I have to admit, I have called people about cockroaches. But I became way, way better about it because unfortunately I had a cockroach problem one year. Yeah. So I can just kill those mofos without any issue now. Poor little guys.

SPEAKER_06 51:08

I take him outside. Sharona goes to start the car. Willis is the true hero here, but he doesn't want cash. If they really want to pay him, find out what happened to his boss. Monk promises to do what he can, and Willis thanks him. That actor gave his all in that scene. I wish he stayed longer. At the police station, Disher hurries into Stodelmeyer's office. Captain, he says. You miss the deputy commissioner, Stodelmeyer tells him. Guess what he wanted to talk about? Murder rate spiking? Sydney Teal investigation? No. All he wants to know is what we're doing about the runaway cop. Freddy Cop, Disher cuts in helpfully, dropping a newspaper on Stott's desk. A headline Blair Stott. Sorry. I knew my shorthand would seep in.

SPEAKER_01 51:56

Um, you know, you can create a shortcut on your computer that will have to learn how to autofill. I know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 52:05

That just seems like more work. To learn it and then implement. Freddy Cop Disher cuts in helpfully, dropping a newspaper on Stadelmeyer's desk. A headline blares from the front page. Who is Freddy Cop? That's what they're calling him, Disher continues. We sort of pieced together the route he took, he says, showing the captain a large city block map. He walks the captain through what they know. After the shooting, three people saw him running west towards Mission Park. He puts a red pushpin in the map. Then on nineteenth street, he flagged down a taxi where he threw up in the back. Good news is they got his blood type from the vomit. The taxi driver dropped him off at the bar at a bar on Geary Street, where he sat in a booth in the back drinking bourbon and crying. The captain is taking us all in. He was crying, oh dear lord. Disher continues. Around midnight, an older woman in a brown station wagon was seen picking him up. Possibly his mother. Stadlemeyer's eyes narrow and the music picks up speed. He called his mother. Uh yeah, Randy confirms. Well that son of a bitch better hope I don't find him first. Oh, it was the sweetest thing he called his mum. Here's where I know, I know, suspend disbelief, but and just go with the silly plot. But my mind is screaming. This is San Francisco. Many people dress up here. Like, not every person wearing a uniform actually works for that business. Why are they all so quick to believe this guy with his vomit and tears isn't an actual cop? Like they're all believing that this is an actual cop. Well, you may be onto something, Jen. Mmm. In the next scene, we find Monk and Sharana waiting in an office building full of flower arrangements. And when I say full, we're talking like 30 plus and nice ones, not a carnation in sight. I love carnation. I knew you were gonna say that. So does my mom.

SPEAKER_01 54:10

And so does my mom. I actually have them tattooed on me. Did you know that? No. Um, next to Tucky, I have a tattoo of three animals, four, four animals for our listeners. And one of them has carnation. Four five carnations. One, two, three, four, and a bud. I didn't see them as carnations. Yeah, they're carnations. Oh god.

SPEAKER_06 54:36

Now I know what to get. Because they're my mom's favorite. Oh, I didn't know that. Mm-hmm. Well, they're also the cheapest flower you can get. So that's why I was pointing out. These are not no rich person scented.

SPEAKER_01 54:49

For one of my mom's birthdays, I got her a huge bouquet of carnations, like really big. How much did it set you back? I think they were a dollar each. See? Yeah. So like a hundred carnations was really beautiful.

SPEAKER_06 55:03

Yeah, I'm sure. Okay. Um, he must have had a lot of friends, Sharona says, to a middle-aged woman behind a large desk. Her name is Mrs. Butterworth. Did you make that up? Nope. So one thing that happens a lot in these TV shows that I've noticed is no one introduces these characters. So as I'm writing, I'm like, and she said, and the woman said, and it gets very frustrating. So with Prime, if you look over, you can see what actress has played it and what the role was. That's how I got Willis's name. And so this woman was playing a Mrs. Butterworth, which I'm sure they just put in as like a filler. They never actually introduced her, but yeah, they gave her Mrs. Butterworth. Poor Mrs. Butterworth. Oh, poor MW. Um it's been overwhelming. She nods. These are from Bill Gates, she says, waving to a large bouquet. And these are from the governor, she continues. And look at all these letters. As Mrs. Butterworth is speaking, Monk pulls a rose from one of the bouquets. At her objection, he grabs scissors and trims the stem. You'll thank me later, he tells her. Continuing the interview, he asks her, How long have you worked for Mr. Teal? I was with him since the beginning, the very beginning, when he was working out of his garage. Back when they only had two phone lines and filled all the orders themselves. The good old days. Sherona is walking around the office and picks up a book. Is that why you thought Steve Jobs?

SPEAKER_01 56:28

Uh no, I just kind of picked up on the He's a rich rich rich guy. I I didn't put too much thought into it. Um I never put too much thought into anything.

SPEAKER_06 56:39

Wozniak and Bill I mean and Jobs did work out of their Yeah. Did they? Okay. Yeah. Kathy used to work for Apple, so that's her guy.

SPEAKER_01 56:50

I actually was the third person at the garage.

SPEAKER_06 56:53

I knew it. God, she's rich. Yeah. Do you have a life insurance? Never mind. Um Sharona is walking around the office and picks up a book from a large pile of identical books. That's his autobiography, Butterworth says. You can have one. Monk replaces the rose and ooh, it's too short. He starts collecting all the rest of the arrangement. What are you doing now? Butterworth questions. I cut it too short, Monk tells her. Now I have to make them all even. I'm sure you understand. And I do, Monk. My jaw length hair can attest that I really do. It's so short, right? Jen uh cuts your own hair. Look, my stylist started raising her prices exorbitantly and I got annoyed. Um I think it looks cute. Yeah, it does look cute. Don't look at the back. He continues his questions as he trims. When was the last time you talked to Mr. Teal? That evening, she tells him, he called on his way home to ask about Tony Bennett. The singer, we all ask. Yeah, the singer. Mira is a big fan, and Sydney was taking her to Vegas to see him. He was going to surprise her. He loved doing that. Suddenly Sherona notices the card and it has the same Greek letters that we saw in Archie Modine's who I call Happy Trigger Finger Magoo. Keychain. Sher I literally know Archie Modine. Happy Trigger Finger Magoo. It's keychain. Sherona pockets the card. Monk looks at Butterworth and asks the most important question of the night. Does she have any idea what Sidney Teal was doing in that alley? But she's as plimmox as the rest. She can't believe it happened. It makes no sense. Maybe he went crazy? She looks at Monk, who is finishing up evening out all the rose stems. Do you think it's possible for a man to be normal one day and then suddenly go crazy? Yes, Monk smiles, placing the perfectly even bouquet of roses back into the vase. That's our guy. That's our guy. But he wasn't responding to her anyway. A trolley car glides.

SPEAKER_01 59:04

Oh, right, right, right. He was talking about the roses. He wasn't at all responding to her. He was just pleased with the roses.

SPEAKER_06 59:10

Yes. Yes. But we also know it's kind of true in his case, too. Um, in the next scene, a trolley car glides past a store front called Lighting Ideas. And I kept writing lightning ideas, but it's lighting ideas.

SPEAKER_01 59:27

I could use that story now because I really want a new lamp for right here to go over me when I'm doing my puzzles. Oh, yeah. And when I'm reading. Well, I'll talk to you about that later. Okay.

SPEAKER_06 59:41

Sharona is irritated. It's so funny because this is before ordering stuff in, really, was so common. And they've already been to five lamp stores today. Keep that in mind. They have been up all night at the crime scene. Apparently, Benji just doesn't exist and I have to get over it. Because that's on my mind all the time. But who's taking care of the little Benji? She's been with him and now wearing that same outfit with the same frizzy hair, they're in a lamp store. The fifth of the day. Mm-hmm. Gotta replace that lamp. But Monk has a good feeling about this place. They search through the store packed with various light fixtures. Sharona gestures to one, but no, Monk tells her the other one was silver and swiveled. You don't have to buy the exact same one, she tells him. What do you mean? Well, she responds, pointing out the obvious. You can buy a different lamp. A different lamp, Adrian scoffs at the very idea. Sharona points out another option, but it's not silver. She's like, you know, if you were blind, you wouldn't know the difference, to which Monk quips. If I was blind, I wouldn't need a lamp. Haha. Sharona tells him the truth he needs to hear. It's time for a new type of lamp. Who knows? His lamp was probably discontinued. The camera pants close to Monk's shocked face. Discontinued. He wanders away aimless. When he suddenly looks up and right there, right there glowing like well a lamp, it is. He smiles satisfied. He buys three because of course he does. Two are backups. Next to the register we see a help wanted sign. Why don't you fill out an application, Monk tells her? Her glare is glacial. Maybe I will. Then, and this is where the the actual episode gets very frustrating to me. He asked Sharona to pay the 95 bucks for the lamps. The lamps are kind of cheap. Yeah, well. But that's not the point.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:46

Yes, that's not the point.

SPEAKER_06 1:01:47

But she couldn't even get 60 bucks out of her ATM.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:50

Right.

SPEAKER_06 1:01:51

And she's like, where's your wallet? And he's like, it's getting buffed.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:54

Oh, what a piece of shit. He's paying to get it buffed. Do you I do you think that he's actually getting it buffed or he's just being like a little shit? I don't know.

SPEAKER_06 1:02:04

I don't understand the character of Monk well enough. I think sometimes he's just a vehicle for a joke.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:09

Yeah, I don't I don't think that it's actually I don't know. So money is a can I Yeah, please. So money is a capital I S S U E in this episode. Is you. So I tried to do some research for us on how to work with your boss when money is an issue. And most of the articles I found were about how to request a raise or how to discuss money with your boss in ways of that sort. None of them were about how to deal with your boss when he's a cheapskate. How to deal with your boss when he isn't paying you. How to deal with your boss when he is asking you to pay for his three lamps. How to deal with your boss when he won't request a raise from his employer and therefore isn't paying you. I just couldn't find anything for us. So no financial advice for us at this time.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:00

To me, what I wrote was okay, if this is the issue, Shrona needs to be his business manager as well. They need to open a proper private eye thing. She needs to pay herself first and then manage all of his expenses because that's basically what he's expecting her to do.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:20

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:21

Her credit card is declined.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:23

The money needs to go through her and then to him. It has to.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:27

She he can't be in charge of paying her. Yes. As she's paying, Monk looks at Sydney's book cover. There's no way this guy, referring to Sydney's face, walked on the wild side. No way. But Sharona's all, I don't know, people surprise you. Then she tells Monk about the flower arrangement she saw from Sydney's old fraternity, Phi Beta Tao. Monk is taking this all in, an intense look filling his features. Just then the teller approaches, Hanny back the card. She tells Sherona it's been declined. Ugh. But they take cash. Sherona snaps, and she should, yelling at Adrian that this is unacceptable. He has to pay her. But Adrian is on another planet. When he doesn't respond, she looks at him, asking what's wrong? Monk lowers his head thinking, then pops up remembering On his keychain he had an insignia. Phi Beta Tao, he tells her. Who? Monk's like, The guy, the guy who shot Teal. Happy trigger fingers McGillicuddy. This means that not only were they in the same fraternity, they knew each other. Later, Archie Modine sits in the interrogation room. He's antsy. This was a lot more enjoyable when I was on the other side of the table, he says to Disher and Stuttlemeyer. Disher leans against the window, arms crossed, watching Modine with a cat's got the cream expression. He does. Do you know what I mean when I say that?

SPEAKER_01 1:04:53

Um I mean I could like I get it, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 1:04:57

I'm uh how else would I describe that? Like he's about ready to pounce. He knows a treat's coming. Um, I got you now. Yeah. Yeah. Stademeyer is circling. You're on the right side of the table, Modine. Modine is on edge. But he's not lawyering up or anything here. He's here answering questions. Yes, he screwed up. Here, Disher pipes in, oh yeah, you screwed up. Modine sighs, nodding. Yeah, I withheld information. I filed a false report. All right, I knew the guy. So the captain asks the million dollar question. Sorry. I wrote. So the captain asked the million dollar question. Why do you do all the stuff that you did? Why'd you do all the stuff that you did? Because I didn't feel like writing it all out. Um and shakes his head. I was protecting a friend. Mrs. Teal, the captain states. Oh that's right, Modine affirms. I mean, I just didn't want to drag her into all this. You understand that, right? And I'm like what? And so is the disher and so is the captain. They share a skeptical glance which Modine sees maybe not, he says to his hands. I just didn't think anyone would connect us. I mean, how did you find out? The words seemed to choke the captain a little as he admits. We had a little help, glaring at Randy for good measure. Modine gives the history. Sydney Teal was two years ahead of him at Cal State. They were in the same frat, but he didn't really know him. So then how'd you meet his wife, disher questions? Fun raiser. For the college, you know. Sidney was in the spotlight, but my interest was more in Mira. As the kids say, we hooked up. It was just a little fling, he tells them, with a fond memory kind of look stealing his attention. But honestly, Cap, he barely remembers it. Teal must have found out and then he looks at Stodemeyer. Come on, Captain, he came at me with a knife. What would you do? At a press conference, we get an up close and personal shot of Captain Stodemeyer addressing the cameras. Sidney Teal did not suffer a nervous breakdown. The incident on Harrison Place was in fact a crime of passion. The reporters lean in closer. We believe Mr. Teal was in fact trying to murder Mr. Modine, who was romantically linked at one time with Mr. Teal's wife, Mira. Now, over the next ten days, the DA's office will decide if they want to press charges against Mr. Modine for filing a false report. Any questions? Predictably, all these fool reporters want to know just one thing. What about FredyCop? And the captain has had enough.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:49

I have another statement. Here it is. The next reporter that asks me about this so-called Freddykopp is going to be banned from all press conferences for a year.

SPEAKER_06 1:07:58

And with that, he storms off the podium. Mr. Sensitive. Disher right at his heels. Later, at Disher's desk, Sharona hands him an invoice for Teal's case. Don't you usually just mail us in, Disher asks, taking it? We're in a rush, Sharona tells him. Tisher tries to be funny here. A little short. But Sherona is not having it. Not today. She's still wearing the same outfit. She's been to five different lamp stores with Monk. She's frazzled, exasperated, and just wants her money. Just initial it where it says job completed to satisfaction, please. But just then, Monk snatches the paper. What are you doing? Sherona demands. It's not over, Monk tells her. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Don't do this. Sherona grabs the paper, handing it back to Disher. The case is closed. You heard the press conference. Monk grabs the paper back. He owned a gun, Monk tells her. If Teal didn't want Archie Modine in that alley, why didn't he bring the gun? I don't know, Sherona answers, grabbing the paper and handing it to Disher. He brought a knife. But Monk is exactly right when he points out it wasn't even a very big knife. It only had a four inch blade, he tells her, grabbing the paper. Plus he was planning a romantic getaway with his wife. Monk doesn't think Teal even knew about the affair. But Sherona is not having this. The real facts are she and her son need money. Close the case. She hands the invoice back to Disher. But we know and she knows, and Disher knows that the case cannot close. Not yet. He hands the invoice back to Monk. I'm sorry, he tells Sherona. If you don't submit that invoice, I'm quitting, she tells him. Now, I'm going to give you until three. Monk looks at his watch. No, not until three o'clock until the count of three. Shoulders back, tone tense, Sherona is every inch the fed up mom. One two Disher and Monk share a panicked look. Three. She shakes her head sadly. Call me the minute you grow up and storms out of the station. The two men share an awkward look. What should I do? Monk asks Disher sadly. I don't know, Disher tells him, a perpetual deer in the headlights.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:24

And it's like he softens here. He's been kind of a dick the whole episode. And now he's sweet, like can you find someone who will tell me what to do? Yeah. Well, actually, maybe I jumped the gun. No, it's okay. Were you talking about his sweet how how do what tell me what you do?

SPEAKER_06 1:10:42

I didn't talk about dish your sweetness. I just talk about how he says, I can't tell you what to do.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:48

Yeah, like he he really has this vulnerable moment where he he needs guidance. Monk needs guidance. Um he did the right thing, of course. Like if a murder case isn't solved, you you can't say it's solved. Um but Sharona reached her limit at a time when Monk needed to stand his ground. And unfortunately, he stands his ground all the time on things he shouldn't. Right. So he has really used up her patience resources.

SPEAKER_06 1:11:22

Yeah. It's it just shows how unhealthy this dynamic is, and it's very frustrating because I want to fix it. Yes. But it's a show as well. But and so Monk she l also leaves him without a car. It's unhealthy for his type of anxiety level for who he is, but she's also right to do it. It's very And poor Sharona is in the same outfit from the previous day, so woman has not slept. She hasn't seen her kid in probably a year. And um In the next scene, an unwell monk wanders down a street, tapping each pole as he passes. A yellow mustang follows. Monk stops to remove a sticker from a plane of glass, then uses his handkerchief to clean up a smudge. He drops his cloth and as he bends to pick it up, a shot rings out and the glass shatters over him. The yellow mustang races away. Back at Lighting Ideas, Sherona is dusting. She's listening to a horrible radio station full of sound effects. She looks off wistfully. Maybe she's bored or grossed out by the fart sounds, but she's unhappy. Next we see Dr. Kroger sitting across from Monk. He's asking about the drive-by shooting, but the cops know little at this point. Kroger notes how calm Monk seems, and Monk is. He knows he's making the shooter uncomfortable, and that's a good thing. Kroger asks about Sherona. She must have been terrified. She quit, Monk tells him. We had an argument about money and now she's working at a lamp store. She'd rather see lamps than work for me. He's just never had to think about money, Monk explains. Trudy used to pay all the bills, so I'm like, give Sherona a raise and make her her business manager. Yes. All this money talk has brought up a sensitive issue that Kroger needs to address. Monk hasn't paid him for nine sessions. Oh my god. Nine!

SPEAKER_01 1:13:26

And let's say that he pays like at least a hundred dollars per session. So we're talking about like a good thousand dollars, right?

SPEAKER_06 1:13:37

Kroger's like, it's a lot of money. And this poor man. So Monk has an interesting reaction that we you guys gotta hear.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:48

Oh my god. You're gonna leave me too. No, no, no. I I did not say that, Adrian. I'm gonna be all alone. What a time to be me. Adrian, I promise you, I no one is leaving you. Sharona dead? Are you okay? I hate owing you money. I just I just hate it.

SPEAKER_04 1:14:10

Listen. Until until we get squared away, I'm gonna have to start seeing you twice a week.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:21

I love that last line. Oh, it makes me so mad. Oh, really? I just think it's so cute. I think it's so cute.

SPEAKER_06 1:14:31

I just he's he's trapped, which a lot of givers can become, where they're like.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:36

Oh no, no. He went to school. He is trained to have boundaries and but he's not displaying them. Well, that's his own doing.

SPEAKER_06 1:14:45

And again, he also needs a business manager.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:48

Well, maybe he has one and we don't see them.

SPEAKER_06 1:14:51

Well, I um they need to be fired because they have a tilt. I love my monkey monk. That's good, good, good. Okay, then I will take out the part where I say he's trapped and I want to scream and blah blah blah. No, no, I'm keeping that. No, no, no, no.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:05

We're gonna have differing opinions.

SPEAKER_06 1:15:09

Oh, I wrote, Monk is basically just expecting everyone to be okay with his actions, and I feel like the show is asking this of its audience. It's infuriating. I want to go back to the mental hospital. I actually think he might be more effective there. Bring the cases to him there, and John can be his girl Friday. Yeah. We love this fun. But back at the lamp store, Sharona is reading Sidney Teal's autobiography by lamplight.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:38

First. Oh, that's funny. By lamplight.

SPEAKER_06 1:15:41

First, we notice a new outfit. She's wearing a pink shirt with matching, with a matching weird clip in the center of her hair. She still is doing her hair with Wet and Wild and it's not looking good. Um And she also matches her hair with I'm sorry, she I again think this was filmed way earlier because I think they got better hair people later on. Anyway. I think it's meant to look a little trashy. You do? Yeah. Okay. Um she also matches her shirt with her makeup, so her lids are bright pink as well. Whereas earlier in this in the episode, they were blue to match her blue shirt.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:24

Yeah, she's meant to look a little Okay, I shouldn't have said trashy. No, you didn't say it. Then you decided to. I'm taking aback. Because I think it's meant to look like Jersey.

SPEAKER_06 1:16:40

Jersey.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:40

Yeah, I agree.

SPEAKER_06 1:16:42

That is a trend, especially back then.

unknown 1:16:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 1:16:45

Okay. Don't come for us, mom and dad, who are the only ones listening. Um secondly, and more importantly, Sharona pauses from her reading, looking up. And the music gets a little bouncy here, a little jazzy, and it's clear she just found a clue. In a rush, she turns to the only shopper. Excuse me, miss, we're closing early. The shopper's like, why? And she's like, it's lamp day. Next we see Monk eating grapes, cheese cubes, and crackers across from a picture of Trudy. He asks her about her day and tells her he about his three new lamps. It's sad and sweet. Later that night, Monk is still at his desk, which is now covered in pieces of evidence, fast asleep. A car honks outside and he wakes with a start. He notices a baggie on the floor with an address. He picks it up, looking closely. It says five thirty Kelly Street, mister Simon. It means nothing to me except I love the name Simon. In the next scene we find Sharona sitting in a small kitchen with a woman and a young girl. They're discussing Sydney's autobiography. I've been meaning to buy the book, the mother and Angie DeLuca tells Sharona. Did he really mention me? Yeah, Sharona confirms. It was just one chapter in line in sorry, it was just one line in chapter three, but he said he loved you. Angie is mystified. I'm surprised he even remembered me. We only dated two or three times, she says, pouring iced tea into two glasses. Sidney was a junior. You know, you could already tell he was going to be rich and famous. I should have married the schlub. Sherona listens, taking rapid notes. Can I ask you something? Angie says to Sherona's bent head. We get a strong view of the oversized berrette, and I'm mad I'm mad about it. Is this your first case? Sherona continues to write frantically. Uh no, she answers, but I usually work with a partner. Next, Monk pounds on a glass plated door. A gypsy looking woman appears. I'm looking for Kelly Street, Monk tells her. Kelly's not home. I'm her sister Bonnie, the woman smiles expectantly. Oh, Monk says. My name only to be cut off. It doesn't matter, Bonnie tells him, turning to move inside. Come on in. Inside the foyer, Bonnie tells us and Monk that Kelly will be back in any minute. Monk hugs his jacket to him, refusing refreshments. Bonnie gestures to sit down. So you say your wife was a writer. Monk sits Yes, she was a columnist for the examiner. She died four years ago. She was murdered. Bonnie is horrified. Oh dear, what's the world coming to? I don't know, Monk tells her. I ask that every day. But more to the point he shows her the slip of paper he found that morning. This was from her appointment book, he explains. It was her last entry. I always thought that five thirty Kelly Street was an address, but then this morning, he snaps, it hit me. It's a name, Kelly St Bonnie jumps in excitedly here. Her real name is Katrina. I was the first one to call her Kelly. Mm-hmm. Monk continues his explanation. Right, but five thirty isn't a house number, it's a time. So Trudy must have been planning to meet your sister on that day. But who's mister Simon? Bonnie is hanging on every word. Mr Simon was her dog. When mister Simon passed away, Bonnie continues, she couldn't bear to bury him, so she had him stuffed. She looks meaningfully to her left, where we see a beautiful taxidermy German Shepherd. Some people thought it peculiar. Your wife was probably writing an article about her. Monk looks delighted and shocks us all by asking if he can touch Mr Simon. Of course, Bonnie smiles. So Monk approaches the German Shepherd. His touching pen is in front of him. He is astonished, getting closer. Mr Simon looks so full of Then lunging at Monk, Mr Simon barks and barks. At this moment I gasped I was watching it on my computer with my headphones in and I gasped so loudly when it happened that Ben seriously freaked out. He looked around and was like what what? And he yelled at me for scaring him. Monk is also shocked, flying backwards in terror. What are you doing? Bon asks, giggling. That's not mister Simon, silly Billy. Then grabbing a much smaller colonel. Yeah. She's she does grab a much smaller scruffy white dog by its neck, and she says this is mister Simon. At this moment the sister enters the room. The resemblance is uncanny. Monk approaches her excitedly. Mrs. Kelly Street, she asks. Mr Monk, you don't remember me? she asks infused. You've been here three times. You come every year asking about your wife. Monk's face is frozen, the hopeful smile hanging on as the light fades from his eyes. Slowly he takes a seat. You should really write it down, Mr. Monk, so you don't forget.

SPEAKER_01 1:21:59

Okay. That was eerie. The whole you come every year. Yeah. Must have locked it out. I I don't think there's anything like that up until now, where we're seeing memory gaps or some sort of like weird situation like that. Well, we did see it when he went to the asylum. Where he forgot something significant?

SPEAKER_06 1:22:25

No, where he didn't realize that he was in the wrong house. Oh my god, you're completely right. And every time that happens, I'm like, this guy should not have a gun. But yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:37

Oh my god, you're right. He went to the wrong house. Yeah. Here though, he's like forgetting that he completely and that he did something. I feel like this is almost more significant.

SPEAKER_06 1:22:49

I I it is very upsetting, especially since it's happened three times and his brain keeps resetting. Yeah, wow. It's a very confusing. It's very alarming. Yeah. And I hope Kroger knows about that. Yeah. So we leave Monk there, just baffled. But back at the interview, Sharona continues questioning Angie DeLuca. In your book, Sydney says someone mugged you on your date, but he didn't really give any details. Angie nods. Technically, we weren't mugged, we were almost mugged. The screen fades to black and white. A masked mugger runs at a young Angie with long Kelly Kapowski hair and Sydney. The mugger pulls a knife at brandishing at the couple, but Sydney suddenly becomes all alpha male protector and grabs the guy, forcing the knife from his hand, then headbutting him for good measure. The mugger runs away. Sidney really stood up to the mugger, Angie tells Shrona. I didn't really think he had it in him. Did the mugger say anything? Okay, I'm sorry, but something twenty years ago I would not remember what was said. But it was a traumatic event. The brain tends to hold on to things like that.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:09

Okay, I'm trying to I tried to think of a traumatic event. And the most traumatic thing I could come up with was like when I fell when I like broke my ankle. And I because I remembered like people coming over and getting in a car and going to the ER or being dumped. That was rather traumatic. Like I'm trying to think of these moments.

SPEAKER_07 1:24:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:33

They they're different than someone coming at me with a knife.

SPEAKER_06 1:24:36

Well, but still your brain onto those trauma moments.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:39

They're pretty clear in my brain, but I don't remember the words that were said.

SPEAKER_06 1:24:42

I mean, that's that's the thing. Um, that's also why cold cases are so hard to solve because the witnesses are supposed to be believed that they can remember what they saw. You and I couldn't even like agree on what Stalmeyer's hair color was. So you put time and the faulty fail feel feel the failing of the what? The like the failing of a human memory. And it's really not reliable. But it's enough to get Sharona looking up and the music to go jaunty. Yes, we love the jaunty music. And he's like, is that important? And Sharona's all, oh yeah. Oh, I don't think you said yet what she I've got, we're gonna listen to it. Oh, okay. Um, and Sharona's all, oh yeah, that's important. Sharona jots down more notes, then looks up in amazement.

SPEAKER_05 1:25:40

I think I just busted this case wide open. Yeah, you did.

SPEAKER_06 1:25:47

Monk dazedly walks down the street, freezing when skateboarders swerve past. He glances down at a newspaper dispenser. Putting money in and opening up, he readjusts the front page. And then closes it. Then closes it. Looking across the street, he sees an old man leaving an Italian restaurant. Dodging cars, Monk races across the street, arms above his head. He cries out, Leo, Leo! The old man looks up. You remember me? Monk asks. I'm Adrian Monk. I I found your Picasso. Leo's like, Of course, my man, what's going on? Monk gets firm. I still have not been paid. Leo tries to push past him. I told you I need a little more time. Monk rushes before Leo can escape in his limo.

SPEAKER_04 1:26:31

Leo, I'm telling you.

SPEAKER_02 1:27:01

Call my office and we'll work something out. Leo. Leo, wait, Leo, wait a minute. All right, look, wait a minute. Leo. Hey.

SPEAKER_06 1:27:08

I'm sorry, but Leo is a putz. Oh, he's so much worse than a putz. This guy is getting into a hired limo or a his own limo, and he can't pay Monk. This asshole gets into his limo, completely brushing off Monk, who is not done. He hurries to the front of the car telling Leo, you're gonna have to run me over. But the driver simply backs up and drives away.

SPEAKER_01 1:27:35

And would you say this is Monk putting himself outside of his comfort zone?

SPEAKER_06 1:27:40

One hundred percent. He is monking so hard. Just even going up and demanding the money. But so proud of him. Yes. Like he didn't he doesn't care about it, so it's uncomfortable, but he knows he needs it. So yes, he's being a true hero. Before we have time to curse Leo Ottoman. Then Sherona drives up, shouting, Adrian, Adrian. He tries to explain what just happened, but Sherona tells him, Forget about that jerk. Look at this. She shows him her notepad. What have you been doing? Monk asks her. Investigating, Sharona tells him excitedly. Then she fills Monk in on the fruit of her labor. Monk is fully astonished and impressed with his Girl Friday. Get this, she continues. The mugger from twenty years ago said, Don't be a hero. Interesting, Monk whispers in wonder.

SPEAKER_05 1:28:34

See? I knew it was interesting. I mean I didn't know why, but I knew.

SPEAKER_06 1:28:39

Sharona watches as a big smile spreads across Monk's face, and a bigger one fills hers. I know that look, she says, nodding. You got it, right? They both grin like idiots at each other. And I'm grinning like an idiot too. Back at the Teal Mansion, Stodemeyer and the cops are waiting for Monk. Are you sure about this? Stodemeyer asks. Yes, Monk promises, walking toward the house. You hesitated. Why'd you hesitate? Modine joins the group, arms in the air, all annoyed. What's going on, Captain? Mr. Monk just wants a few moments of everyone's time. Another pack of reporters rush the investigators, but a tall officer shuts that right down. Pushing the horde back, he says in a thick Rick Moranis accent, which is like Chicago. Hey, hey, hey, you out you want to ambush people? You join the army, okay? The captain's trying to work here, people. He doesn't have time for your crap. Now step back, step back.

SPEAKER_01 1:29:37

I don't know if I can comment on that. Was it bad? No. Like, do you want me to read it again? No, okay, so I'm from Chicago and Oh, well, do you know Rick Moranis? Of course I know Rick Moranis. Is he from Chicago? We love Rick Moranis. Um, well, he's I don't know if he's from Chicago. He and John Candy have a similar accent. I don't know what I thought it was Chicago. I've never been able to really identify a Chicago accent. My mom, everyone says my mom has one.

SPEAKER_07 1:30:03

I don't hear anything.

SPEAKER_01 1:30:04

Um and I don't. You just um no, growing up, everyone said your mom has such an accent. Um, and I don't. So I'm very neutral sounding.

SPEAKER_06 1:30:16

I feel like accents are dying. Yeah, accents are dying. Very sad. Okay. Um well that was my attempt at a Rick Moranis accent, maybe not a Chicago accent.

SPEAKER_01 1:30:28

Did you know that Rick Moranis left acting because his his wife passed away and he wanted to raise his children? Ugh, I love him. At the height of his fame. Yes, at the height of his fame.

SPEAKER_06 1:30:40

What a good guy. He's the best. Everyone is impressed with young Officer Morata. And I wrote, I hope we see you again. I really liked him. I was hoping he was gonna be a new character. Maratha and crew all rush into Mrs. Teal's opulent living room, and there she sits amidst her art and pictures and maids smoking. I wish I'd known you were coming, she tells the cops. I would have had Mrs. Danfers prepare something. This isn't a tea party, misses Teal, disher scolds. Modine is put out. Well I guess you can't believe everything you read. The newspaper said this case was closed. Theirs was, Sherona retorts, pointing at the cops. Ours wasn't, pointing at her and Monk. Aha. Mrs. Teal is unbothered. Smoke wafting around her diamond and shag. She smugly tells our heroes, My attorneys tell me I can file a harassment case whenever I feel like. But Sherona is not here for it. Teal, your lawyers are gonna have enough to do to keep you off death row. Addressing Modine, Monk says, You're gonna need a lawyer too, sir, for the murder of Sidney Teal and the attempted murder of me. That last line sure got the captain's attention. Arms crossed and eyes narrowed, Sodemeyer looks between Modine and the misses. Both of them? And I'm like duh, Captain, it's always the spouse.

SPEAKER_01 1:32:03

Always And her lover.

SPEAKER_06 1:32:06

I'll tell you what troubled me from the beginning, Monk says, beginning to tie all the pieces together. The knee pads and the elbow pads. He looks directly at Mrs. Teal. When your husband left that night, he wasn't planning to mug anyone, and he wasn't planning to kill anyone. He was just going out to have a little fun, maybe roll around on the ground. The captain squints here, and we're all a little confused. Explain more, Monk. Instead, Sherona takes over. He thought he was going to impress your date, Mr. Modine. That's ridiculous, Modine scoffs. Is it? Sherona will not be gaslit. You did it it you did it before twenty years ago. He wrote about it in his book, back in college. Sydney had a big date with Andy DeLuca. The scene shifts to black and white, and we see a young Modine and Teal sitting in a small room, Sydney writing notes. Monk takes over narrating.

SPEAKER_04 1:32:58

So the two of you cooked up a plan.

SPEAKER_06 1:33:00

Yep, you cooked up a plan.

SPEAKER_04 1:33:02

Would you like to tell it?

SPEAKER_05 1:33:04

No, no, no. You're you you're you're better at telling it.

SPEAKER_04 1:33:08

Go ahead. You can you can tell it.

SPEAKER_05 1:33:10

No, you tell it.

SPEAKER_06 1:33:12

I love it. I like that he's actually seeming generous. Like he's he's this is his big moment. You can tell he loves doing this, but he does seem, at least in this moment, like Sharona, you tell it. I think it's a good one.

SPEAKER_01 1:33:24

Oh my gosh, no, I'm reading it completely different. Okay. He's like, I'm sorry, are you gonna tell it? Or do I get to tell it?

SPEAKER_06 1:33:31

I was that's more how he gets towards the end of their big reveal. But I was hoping for a little emotional growth. No, no, no. She solved the case.

SPEAKER_01 1:33:39

No, I'm I'm reading it as like, seriously, are are you gonna tell it or do I get to tell it?

SPEAKER_06 1:33:45

Ugh, well, monk takes over. Back to black and white. It was a harmless little prank. We see Modine putting a balaclava over his head. Then we s again balaclava. That's a hoodie with the eye masks and mouth taken out.

SPEAKER_01 1:34:01

I didn't know that's what it's called. It is. It's like the word balaclava sounds familiar. I just couldn't pair them together.

SPEAKER_06 1:34:07

It's not a baklava, which is what autocorrect kept trying to do. Balaklava. Um, I really like that word. It's got a lot of sharp consonants and avas. Well, hopefully the series will let you use it again. I get to write balaklava again. Um then we see we again see the fight in the alley, Sidney overcoming and Modine running away. Mug continues, you pretended to mug Sidney Teal in his date, and for a minute the mild mannered supergeek got to look like Superman. Back to color. I'm sure you both had a big laugh about it later on. Modine is fully unimpressed. You are a nutcase. He sneers looking around at the others. No one is going to believe him. Stodlmeyer jumps in here, eyes twinkling, telling Modine. On occasion, I've been known to believe him. Don't stop now, he tells our heroes. Um, and Stodelmeyer has the twinkliest eyes. Have you noticed that? It's I feel like all I write is he has twinkly eyes. His eyes are twinkling, his eyes are warm.

SPEAKER_01 1:35:12

Slowly falling in love with him.

SPEAKER_06 1:35:13

Yeah, I've I've liked this character from the beginning, even though I don't like that he changes every episode.

SPEAKER_01 1:35:20

Uh-huh. They they're figuring him out again.

SPEAKER_06 1:35:22

He's a really good actor and um a fun character. And I like his suit right now. Where was I, Monk asks? But Sharona is happy to jump in. Twenty years later, Sidney brought Mira to his college fundraiser, and that's where you two met, she smirks. And you met again and again and again. Black and white memories show us Modine and Mira doing it over and over and over. I'll say it differently. What should I say, Kathy?

SPEAKER_01 1:35:55

Meeting up. But they're in bed.

SPEAKER_06 1:35:57

And it's like they roll over in bed. The look she just gave me from saying.

SPEAKER_01 1:36:04

I'm holding my baby boy.

SPEAKER_06 1:36:07

He doesn't care if I it's not like I said a different any other words.

SPEAKER_01 1:36:12

I'm holding right my cat, by the way.

SPEAKER_06 1:36:14

It's a Lagrange delecti. But we can't tell if they're actually naked. Anyway, they're doing it. You sure you don't want to tell them? No, no, no, you're doing great, Sherona lies. Monk continues. A year goes by and you two decide life would be perfect without Sidney Teal around. Back to Black. The two lovers scheme in bed. Then Modine meets up with Sydney and reminds him of their past escapades. Would Sydney be interested in repaying the favor? Sherona jumps back in. You knew he wouldn't say no. It was a chance for him to relive one of the best nights of his life. As Sherona's speaking, Monk is smiling, really into it. He jumps back in and as a flashback continues, and it worked like a charm. We see Teal waiting, fake mustache perfectly in place, then running out, knife front and center. To the rest of the world, it looks like an eccentric billionaire just had a nervous breakdown. Modine shoots Teal. And if worse came to worse and someone connected you to Sidney Teal, Monk continues, you could just tell people you had an affair, and tell people it was self defense. Mira is looking nervous now, clutching her diamonds. Archie Modine is still unmoved. That is one hell of a story, mister Monk, if you can prove it. Disher's big eyes stare at Monk imploringly. Monk looks at Modine, shaking his head with an apologetic smile. He always went the extra mile. That night, your pal Sidney had a little surprise of his own. You see, he hired an actor to pose as a cop, so after you scared off the mugger, the cop was going to run up and commend you for your heroism. Oh my God, Stadelmeyer says, looking around in wonder. Freddy cop, Disher breathes. Oh Dishy. See, Monk remembered what Stotemeyer had said. No cop in his department would ever run from the scene of a crime. Then it occurred to him, maybe Freddy Cop wasn't even a real cop. You and Monk think alike. It occurred to me within the first second. I should be solving crimes. Mira is panicking now. She knows it's over. Sharona jumps back in. I checked all of the local costume shops. There was only one cop costume rented that night. And again, I think in San Francisco a lot more would have been rented.

SPEAKER_01 1:38:38

Yeah. And people own them and all sorts of stuff, but let's go with our willing suspends.

SPEAKER_06 1:38:44

She's the one that did the work. Again. She always takes on little work. In black and white, we watch Freddy Cobb watch the murder, then run away in panic. Monk turns to the powerful young officer from before, introducing everyone to Joseph Murata, a very promising young actor. Leland looks up at Joe in disbelief. You? Monk continues. Joe wanted me to mention that he can be seen at Cat on a hot tin roof at the Harris Webley dinner theater all next week. Stottlemeyer is fuming. Joe explains, you know, when I heard the shots, I guess I kind of panicked. He chuckles a little embarrassed. I'm sorry if I could caused you guys any problems. Problems, Stodlemeyer bellows. Son, you have no idea. I think it's blustered. He blustered, didn't he? He doesn't bellow. I I think both words are excellent. The missus is beside herself now. Smug smile gone, cigarette out. She jumps up from her chaise lounge. I swear I didn't know about any of this. This is all his idea, pointing at Modine. But Archie has had enough. You lying bitch, he snarls. His word, not mine. Mm-hmm. Pulling out his ever ready revolver and pointing it at Mira. You plan the whole thing. Mira shrieks and falls on the couch as the room erupts into chaos. Modine swings the gun wildly around, then BAM, Disher soars through the air, tackling Modine to the ground. The gun goes off, but no one is hurt. Score one for Randy. Yay, Dishy. Joe, our Fredy cop, scores nothing, however, at the sight of another gun. He screams and bolts through the house through the throng of reporters who all give chase. Studlmeyer and Disher watch him go. Shoot him, Studelmeyer orders. I can't do that, sir, Randy tells him sadly. Then shoot me. In the next scene, Sherona Monk and Joe are all at a golf course where they finally cornered Leo Ottoman. Leo counts out fourteen hundred in cash, complaining that they didn't need to call the cops on him. But then he recognizes Freddy Kop, and all three are chased off the golf course, with Freddy Cop outrunning them both by like two miles. Look at him go, Monk smiles. He's an inspiration. The end.

SPEAKER_01 1:41:09

And Monk gets his money and he could pay Sharona happily ever after.

SPEAKER_06 1:41:14

$1,400 doesn't seem like enough for recovering up a costume.

SPEAKER_01 1:41:17

Oh my god. Totally. And how much could Sharona possibly take home of that$1,400?

SPEAKER_06 1:41:24

Truly. Monk has to pay for his San Francisco apartment. She has to pay for her house in San Francisco. Maybe she's getting alimony, but we haven't heard about any husband. I will not tell you anything. Anyway, I did not like them fighting about money. I didn't like his lack of empathy towards her. But going through it again, I did enjoy the episode.

SPEAKER_01 1:41:51

And doesn't his uh Kelly Street moment kind of come out of nowhere and feel like it's irrelevant to the plot?

SPEAKER_06 1:41:58

What I think they were trying to show was that Monk was cognitively declining because of not having Sharona there. Yeah, he's lost without her. But do you know what actually really happened? You I know I told you, so do you want to tell us?

SPEAKER_01 1:42:12

Um, well, I think you mentioned that some of this was shot before outside of the episode.

SPEAKER_06 1:42:17

It was shot for the pilot, which we'll remember the pilot was like a hundred years long. So they really liked it. They didn't want to, you know, never use it, but so they thought, oh, this is a perfect moment for to show that Monk is lost without and then he integrated the line into the Leo Otterman scene.

SPEAKER_01 1:42:36

Yep. Very nice.

SPEAKER_06 1:42:38

Yeah. So you're right, it was out of nowhere. And it also explains why Monk suddenly will go up to a taxidermy dog. I thought that was out of character too. Well, um Yeah, they they switch things around with his character.

SPEAKER_01 1:42:53

Yeah, I mean, he there's a lot of inconsistencies, but we're just along for the ride. It m we're along for the ride, touche. Well, thank you for going on this journey with me. Yes, our monk journey and and our journey of of you know, checking out these heroic moments. I don't know, standing in front of the car wasn't that heroic.

SPEAKER_06 1:43:14

No, it was for him.

SPEAKER_01 1:43:15

But it it was pretty good for him. Pretty good. I think he did great.

SPEAKER_06 1:43:21

He was also shot at, but I don't know. You know, that's that's just a small thing. Also, because this is important, he asked for double therapy when he was upset. And that really is important.

SPEAKER_01 1:43:37

That is hard to do. It is. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 1:43:39

I mean, it's easier when you don't pay for it, but still.

SPEAKER_01 1:43:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 1:43:44

If you're not paying, that's one thing.

SPEAKER_01 1:43:46

Uh but we'll be we'll be back next week. I don't know what the episode's called, but we'll be back. It's Mr.

SPEAKER_06 1:43:52

Monk and the other woman.

SPEAKER_01 1:43:54

Ooh, okay, good.

SPEAKER_06 1:43:56

We'll be back with the other woman. Yes. All right. Thank you guys for joining us. We love you. Remember to adopt, don't shop. Yes. And have a great week. Have a great week. Bye. Bye.