Mr Monk and the Other Woman

A dead lawyer, a very suspicious neighbor, and — hold on — is Monk on a date right now? Yes. Yes he is. This week things get complicated when the woman next door turns out to be someone Monk can’t stop staring at, and absolutely everyone has feelings about it. We get into it.

Transcript

SPEAKER_06 0:03

Hey everyone, welcome back to I Don't Give a Shalou, a Monk Rewatch Podcast. This is Jen. This is Kathy.

SPEAKER_05 0:10

How are you doing? I am doing great. I am so happy to be here. Oh my gosh, she's singing. I yeah, I I don't know where that came from. I love it. Yeah, I was just a jingle. A jaunty jingle. That's what we love, a monk. Wow, you are glowing.

SPEAKER_06 0:26

Did you have a good week? I had coffee. Okay. Sometimes that's all it takes. I also have had coffee, but I'm not glowing. Uh that's okay. That's okay. We're prepared. Yeah. We're ready to do this. Oh, absolutely. Did you monk at all this week?

SPEAKER_05 0:41

I monked, and that is actually why I'm tired, even if I don't sound it. Yesterday was March 28th, which was the Big No Kings protest, and I was very, very happy to go to it. And it is very hard for me. In previous episodes, I've mentioned that I am ill, and so I require help to leave the house almost always. And my dad took me, and so I was in my wheelchair, and I was really worried about being too warm because it was really sunny out where I live. But we found a shady spot right under a tree. It was really nice. Oh good. And I had an awesome sign, and it was really fun.

SPEAKER_06 1:29

Thank you for your service.

SPEAKER_05 1:30

There was only one or two cars that flicked me off. And I was wondering like why, if you disagree with me, why do you have to give me the finger? Yeah. Can't you just like go on by?

SPEAKER_06 1:43

Because these things become moral certainty.

SPEAKER_05 1:47

Oh my god. So if you are listening and you disagree with me, I really hope you're not flicking me off. Yeah, just is it flicking or flipping?

SPEAKER_06 1:55

It can be either interchangeable, but why don't you just flip right over to another podcast? Woo! I didn't monk, although, you know, I have PMDD. If you don't know, look it up. But which means I'm kind of a monster for a little while. I ran every day this week because it is my medicine, and every time I do it when I start out, I don't think I will can do it, and I always feel better. So that's a monk. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 2:25

You're taking care of yourself.

SPEAKER_06 2:27

It's not heroic like what you did, but still. It is you taking care of yourself is really, really hard. So thanks, pal. So this week we're covering Mr. Monk and the other woman. So in my little bit of research, I found out that this was not Andy Breckman or the other creators and writers' favorite episode. First off, it was filmed as the third episode, which explains Really? Yeah, some inconsistencies behaviorally. And I'll note them as we go on. But I have mentioned just to you, not on the podcast, that I feel like they're releasing these things out of order.

SPEAKER_05 3:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 3:02

For example, Mr. Monk and the Carnival, I feel like could have been filmed last. Yeah. As the end of the season, especially since they say he's been working for them for two and a half years for it to be the third or fourth episode.

SPEAKER_05 3:15

And he's like trying to get his badge back. He's having these special conferences. Yes. What's the word? Special review. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 3:23

Uh-huh. Um, but this confirms it. Like, this one was filmed third. And it also felt rushed and a little weird to be bringing in a love interest for Monk when the audience still didn't know Trudy. So they aired it a little bit later. That's why it became out seventh. Okay. But it still, like, you'll see. You know how the captain and Disher are either friendly or not, annoyed or not. Yes. And I always say they're like schizophrenic, you never know which version we're gonna get. That's why. But the creators still felt like the audience wasn't ready for monk to fall so hard yet. And then they said it ended up feeling like our Lifetime Movie of the Week Monk episode, writer Tom Sharpline admitted.

SPEAKER_05 4:08

That's all. Oh, I didn't feel that way, but maybe I should check out Lifetime Movies because you and I love this episode. Do you?

SPEAKER_06 4:17

Yes. That's so interesting. Please point out what you love throughout, like you do. I love that. Okay, good. So you ready to jump in? Oh, let us jump. The scene begins at night of you moving from a glowing golden gate to a high-rise building in downtown San Francisco. A man sits behind a large desk in front of a huge window. He's on the phone. Jerry, I'm a reasonable man, he says into the phone. You talk to Mr. Kramer, I'll talk to Mrs. Kramer. A woman enters the office, miming, I'm leaving. Who's the lucky guy? His name is Lou, asks, hand over the phone receiver. The woman, Regina, smiles slightly. None of your business. Remember when phones were big enough you could put your hand over the receivers? Yes. Now I wouldn't even know where to cover.

SPEAKER_05 5:02

Yeah, there's nothing to cover. You just have to like hold the whole phone away from your head. Anyway, I'm interrupting. Keep going. No, no, no.

SPEAKER_06 5:10

I was just thinking I'm usually I have my AirPods, so take them out. You can mute, but who has the time? So Regina smiles slyly. None of your business. And then you okay? He says yeah and waves her away. Regina makes her way down the hallway. As she leaves, another door opens and a figure with black gloves moves toward Lou's office. The masked man enters the office.

SPEAKER_05 5:33

The masked man? Or a man with a balaclava? I think it was a balaclava. And right. This is a word Jen taught me last week. So you never know when you're gonna have to use the word balaclava. Balaklava. Balaklava.

SPEAKER_06 5:53

It's so fun to say.

SPEAKER_05 5:54

Not baklava.

SPEAKER_06 5:55

No, which is also fun to say. Yes. Both delicious words.

SPEAKER_05 6:00

Only one actually delicious.

SPEAKER_04 6:06

We crack ourselves up. We do. It's the only reason to do this.

SPEAKER_06 6:11

I need a good laugh. So the masked man or balaclaba boy enters the office carrying a large knife, cutting Lou off mid-sentence. Oh God, Lou cries. Take anything you want. And then the masked man plunges the knife into Lou's belly. Regina exits the elevator, rifling through her purse, but then realizes oh she forgot something. Huffing in frustration, she heads back upstairs and we all go, No, Regina, no. No Regina, no. Back in the office, Lou is actually putting up a good fight. He and the intruder battle, rolling around for dominance, when the masked man grabs the phone cord and wraps it around Richie's neck. This murder would not happen today because no phone cord. Yes. Regina walks through the office as the masked man breaks a window. She pauses, confused, looking around. The man searches a filing cabinet and finding one he takes it. Regina enters Richie's office. The phone busy sound is audible and the office is wrecked. Lou, she calls. And the masked man is busy burning the file. Regina visually searches the office where books and paper are strewn everywhere, finally landing on poor Lou in a heap on the floor, bloody and strangled. She gasps, one eighteen to flee, but instead runs headlong into something or someone. She lets out a blood curdling scream and do do do Cue the intro. In the next scene we see Trudy facing a mirror, brushing her soft, light honey waves. She's always with me, Muck narrates. Every time I close my eyes, Trudy looks at us. Large, languid, heavy lidded eyes watch us watching her. Soft bluish grey irises glow from her porcelain skin. Delicate lips curve into a faint smile. Her every feature is perfectly balanced. She's just lovely. She's always thirty four years old, Monk says as he turns to face us. She's always wearing the same dress, smile curving into a small smirk. And she's always so Adrian? Monk snaps back to reality at doctor Kroger's interruption. The contented smile falling away. I have something to say, Kroger tells him softly. It's been four years since you lost Trudy. That's a long time. It is? Monk questions. Yeah, Kroger confirms. Have you ever considered dating again? No, Monk tells him, taking off his shoe. I I've thought about it. And you don't follow through because? Kroger gestures in the air? Go on. Because it's inconceivable. I can't think of anything life, other people until I find out who murdered her. Wait, Jen. Huh.

SPEAKER_05 9:12

I'm so sorry to go. No, please. But the line is I've thought about thinking about it. And I understand why you did not put the full line because this is like a summary. Yeah. But it is such a good line. It is. It really is such a good line. I've thought about thinking about it. Like. And I've thought about thinking about so many things. And then I choose not to think about them. And that's our right as humans and Americans.

SPEAKER_04 9:43

I'm like, I'm like, I'm just not gonna think about this. Yeah, not today. Not today. And probably not tomorrow. But it's good you're thinking about thinking about it. You know, I considered it and then I moved on.

SPEAKER_06 9:55

Thank you for stopping. That's really good. But while he's telling her, Monk is like, I can't think about anything until I find out who murdered her. Yes. And while he's saying that, he's trying to fish out a pebble from his shoe. Adrian. Adrian, Kroger tries, breaking Monk's focus. It's a pebble or something, it's driving me crazy. And I wrote, kind of like the pebble of who killed your wife, Adrian. Would you say that Trudy was a perfect woman? he asks. You know that phrase my better half, Monk asks him. Never really thought about it much until she died, but she was my better half. He says this with a gravity that makes it feel true, all the while continuing to search for the phantom pebble. I love that phrase, Monk chuckles. My better half. My better half. Ah he grabs the pebble. There it is. Kroger's eyes light up and he extends a small tray onto which Monk drops the teeniest piece, or really a fleck of something.

SPEAKER_05 10:56

Okay, I know this moment is intended to show him being like neurotic about something small. But yesterday, yeah, I stepped on the tiniest piece of chewed-up kibble. Sorry, it sounds really gross now that I'm saying it. It's okay. That one of my animals left on the floor. Yeah. And I was like, ah, Monk! Because I knew I could understand why Monk was like so upset about that tiny piece of pebble in his shoe. He was so right. Yes. That tiny piece of pebble or kibble. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 11:32

Really effing hurts. He was right.

SPEAKER_06 11:37

This is not Princess and the P. That's so funny you say that because that is what they called his Princess and the Pea moment in some of the research I did for this episode. Okay.

SPEAKER_07 11:47

Did you know that?

SPEAKER_06 11:48

No. Kroger looks at it, and like I probably would have and been like, that's it. And Monk nods, sensitive feet. Just like you. Sensitive feet, sensitive heart. Mm-hmm. Later that night, Monk and Sherona are at Lou's office to help investigate. Monk wanders around taking everything in while Sherona sidles up next to Disher. Her hair looks beautiful. Do you have a copy of the case file? she asks him. Nope, not an extra one, he tells her. She's annoyed. We're supposed to have a copy. But Disher is unsympathetic. Why are you even here? He asks Snidley, and I wrote, Oh good, my favorite version of Disher has come out to play. The one who completely discounts our duo skills and downplays all the help they've given the department the last few years. So I do the research into the episode after I've done the recap. Now we know why. This was an early version of him. This is not Dishy. Yeah, the disher that I like. Disher. This is Disher. He's like, McCaptain is my daddy. We're here, Sharona tells him defensively, because the victim was a friend of the mayor. Looks like the higher ups want to make sure the investigation is done right, and he's called out the big guns. Monk looks around exasperated. The scene is cold. Yeah, Randy no does him. The party is pretty much over. It all went down on Monday night. Forty eight hours. I really should have been here from the beginning. He walks to the door only to be intercepted by Sherona. Adrian, that is not true, she tells him, blocking the exit. But there must have been a dozen cops through here. Monk shakes his head defeated. But Sherona will not let this pity party continue. Placing her hands on his chest, she looks directly in his eyes. Adrian, you promised the mayor. She gets him to breathe deeply and firmly reminds him that he is the best. It's so sweet how she can reassure him in this moment.

SPEAKER_05 13:41

It really is. And keep him on track. Yep. I feel like that's something that's a little inconsistent from episode to episode. Sometimes she's like, Adrian, you could do it. And sometimes she's like, Adrian, fuck up.

SPEAKER_06 13:56

Yeah, do it. A small smile plays across his face. There was a struggle, he admits, then turns back to the scene. The victim was stabbed. Disher confirms that yeah, he was. How'd Monk know? You can smell gunpowder residue for up to four days in a room this size. And Disher's like, wait, you can? Mm-hmm. He can, Sharona quips proudly. Mm-hmm. Monk continues then he was strangled. Again, Disher confirms, asking Do you know with what? Phone cord, Monk responds immediately. Using his pen he lifts up the cord. You can see it stretched out. Disher is all eyes as he looks at the core cord in disbelief. We uh must have missed that. Monk faces a pile of books splattered with blood. What happened here? He asked. The assistant must have walked in on it, Disher explains the camera panning to the fallen earring. She was stabbed too, DOA at the hospital. Two victims, Monk marvels. I want to see more. In the filing room, Monk stares at the smashed glass door, but Randy is back to being annoyed. This is all moot, Monk. We already have a suspect. Who, we all wonder? A former client Disher Explains named Lawrence Grayson. Luke Pratt was his attorney and they lost a case about a year and a half ago. Guess he wasn't a satisfied customer.

SPEAKER_04 15:21

Is that the Disher suit theme song? I don't know what that was. Can I roll back and I take that noise?

SPEAKER_06 15:35

Everyone in the world needs to know that you just didn't.

SPEAKER_04 15:37

I think it was like um.

SPEAKER_06 15:44

I don't know what it was. She's got both hands on her face in shame. This is why I love Kathy, do not remove that. I'll kill you. Okay. I won't kill her. Please don't think that I will have to cut that off. But if she did, she'd wear a balaclava. Hell yeah, I would. And gloves. So, a year and a half ago, Monk muses, that's a hell of a long time to hold a grudge. He finds the soot stained garbage can, and Disher explains that the killer burned his own file. And what a moron. There were duplicate copies all over the office that he didn't even touch. But why, Monk and the rest of us wonder, why didn't he just take the file with him and burn it later? The captain thinks he must have panicked, been in a rush or something. Monk stares off. It doesn't make sense. What doesn't? Shrona asks. The whole thing. Monk tells her, looking around the room. I want to talk to this Grayson. Okay, Randy agrees, then, but I should tell you, Captain Stodemeyer isn't happier on the case. Did he say something? Monk asks. He didn't have to, Randy explains. The captain and I are like this, and holding two fingers intertwined, I know his every thought, need, desire.

SPEAKER_04 17:04

Does he really say that?

SPEAKER_05 17:06

No. I was like, I don't remember that.

SPEAKER_06 17:10

But it it was implied. I wrote Randland Forever. Or Lilandy. Like Lil Landy. We next jumped to a new house full of cops. A new crime scene, it looks like. The captain is giving a verbal spanking to a bee cop named Stuben. Everything with the lawyer's name on it, you bag it. You don't walk around with it, you bag it. Understood? Daddy's big med.

SPEAKER_04 17:41

I'm sorry, everyone. I'm sure that was quite loud on the mic. Maybe I made you laugh then I won. I really wasn't expecting Chen to say that.

SPEAKER_06 17:51

His arms are crossed, his eyebrows are furrowed. He eyeballs his subordinate, and we see Monk and Shrona enter the house. How am I doing, Monk? The captain sarcastically asks. Fine, Monk says in a small voice. Oh, and if you speak to the mayor, thank him for his vote of confidence. Everybody avoids Dodel Meyer's glacial stare as another man enters the room. He's following Disher, asking loudly, How's he gonna get any of his stuff back? They're taking so much. And we say hello to Grayson. Grayson is a rugged, middle-aged man with a strong jaw and lean, slightly weathered face. He has a beautiful full head of salt and pepper hair and a gorgeous little chin dimple. Did you notice?

SPEAKER_05 18:32

You said beautiful and then gorgeous. You have a crush on this man. Or I have a weak thesaurus.

SPEAKER_06 18:42

I guess he wasn't okay for it was fine. You know, 60-year-old man. Yeah, I don't have a crush on him, but I did like his little tiny dimple. Light blue eyes sit just below a strong set of brows, which are right now lowered in confusion and rage. Disher explains that he will get a complete inventory of what they took, but Grayson is not content with that. Oh no, he tells them. I'm calling my lawyer. Your lawyer is dead, sir. Stodlemeyer looks at him unsmilingly. That's why we're here. Behind Grayson, a large Rottweiler is barking and jumping ferociously at the back door. Another officer opens a gun safe behind the captain. At that, Grayson gets real pissed. He charges forward. Hey, hey, hey, do you mind? Stodelmeyer is not in the mood. Using his body, he blocks the indignant man, gruffly warning, another step and I'll have you arrested for obstruction. That's a very impressive collection, mister Grayson, Disher comments. Yeah, thank you very much. Yeah, I'm a I'm a collector. The camera pans to the safe packed with quite a few legit fancy guns. Semi automatics, rifles with scopes. I think it's safe to call it a small arsenal. I've got paper on everything in there. Grayson is defensive. It's a hobby. I'm permitted to have a hobby, am I not? Sharona is glaring. It seems like she does not like this Grayson guy. Monk breaks in here. Is that your truck parked out front? He asks. Yeah, Grayson confirms. Monk squints, confused. You own your own security company? Yeah, I do, Grayson confirms, then gets down to business. Now, why would I kill Lou Pratt? Huh? He's been my lawyer for twenty two years. Disher joins the chat. Sir, there are four thousand files in that office. The killer went out of his way to burn just one of them. Yours. And I'm like, that's it? Come on, that's weak even for this department. Anything else? You owed him money, Stodd adds, leaning on the gun case. Fists at his waist. What? I'd just like to tease you when you say Stot and Stars.

SPEAKER_05 20:46

Ohmeyer.

SPEAKER_06 20:48

Guys, from now on, the captain will be fur referred to as Leland, Stodlmeyer, the Captain, and Stot. Because, you know, I gotta shorten my time.

SPEAKER_00 21:01

You owe him some money? Yeah, 400 bucks. I'm suing the bitch next door. He screws up the case. I refuse to pay him. I'm gonna kill him for 400 bucks. I don't think so.

SPEAKER_05 21:10

That is the best quality that we have. I know they're inside and there's no I think.

SPEAKER_06 21:18

I am trying to be a little bit more mindful about when I choose the clips. Are they inside? Is there a lot of sound? Because it's okay sometimes. Monk says the most beautiful things, but there's an ocean behind him.

SPEAKER_04 21:29

It is what it is.

SPEAKER_06 21:30

Yeah. I also think actual podcasts like get the clips they've sounded engineered. Got it. Okay. Well, we don't, guys. Grayson asks if he can walk his dog, and he's permitted. Monk cautiously approaches the tents captain. What? Stademeyer asks. That guy, Monk begins, owns his own security company? He could have picked any lock in that building. Stademeyer nods, but he broke. Window. Stadelmeyer resists. You'd think he'd know by now, just go with Monk. You'll always look smarter, but he's just not, so he argues. This guy's not stupid. He knows, we know he can pick a luck. He tried to throw us a curveball. But Monk's frown deepens. It just doesn't make any sense. The captain asks him, Does everything need to make sense? Monks like, yeah, it kind of does. And I'm with him, especially for a murder case.

SPEAKER_05 22:30

Mm-hmm. We kind of like when things make sense. Mm-hmm. That's like innocent. Until proven guilty. Until proven guilty.

SPEAKER_06 22:41

Yeah. You dumbass. Outside, Grayson is standing with his dog arguing with a neighbor. He's pissed about the size of her garage. She's angry that his dog is off leash all the time, and the kids are afraid of it. It's obvious this argument has been going on for a long time. The gang hears the fight, which now has Grayson claiming his Roddy is a show dog bred for temperament. But Monk is transfixed. He cuts Grayson off mid retort. That dog is not a show dog. Show dogs are purebred, and this Rottweiler is not purebred. You can tell by his paws. They're too big. As he's speaking, he's gazing fascinated by the woman in front of him. And she does look awfully familiar. Honey blonde hair, delicate bone structure, peaches and cream skin. If it wasn't for her warm brown eyes, we might confuse her for Trudy. My hero, she smiles at Monk, and he is transfixed. Grayson moves to walk his pup and Monica returns to gardening. Sherona sidles up to Monk as he watches Monica repot a plant. You know who she kind of looks like in a weird way? Trudy. You think? Monk murmurs, not blinking. Mm-hmm, she confirms. Later we see the cops leaving Grayson's house, but Monk stays awkwardly inspecting Monica's garage. Monk and Sherona watch him from the driveway. When was it built? he asks her. Two years, I think. Is that the time your husband left? Monica is wigged. How did you know that? Monk walks closer. Packy Sandra under the basketball net. About two years worth. And I'm like, what? So I looked it up. Packy Sandra is ground cover.

SPEAKER_04 24:31

Pacy Sandra. Do you know what that is? Yeah, you're just saying it. Packy. That's how it's spelled. Pacquy Sandra. Are you friends with Packy Sandra? It's more like Pacissandra.

SPEAKER_05 24:50

Pacassandra. But you know what? I'm probably gonna be wrong. It's just like the piano where I was really confident that an upright piano had different rules than a baby grand. You ended up looking at a grand. Yeah, I looked it up and it was absolutely false. It was like, don't put frames on any piano. Oh. And I was like, I'm such a dumbass. This is a previous episode, which I'm sure y'all listened to. We I haven't been able to get through that one.

SPEAKER_06 25:20

We apologize. It was way too long even for us.

SPEAKER_05 25:23

Was that last time? Yeah. That was Mr. Monken. And now I'm like, it's not Packy Sandra, it's Pac a Sandra. And I'm probably wrong.

SPEAKER_06 25:33

To me, my brain goes, What are you gonna take on vacation? I think I'm gonna pack a Sandra. Just bend her in, fold her up. Well, it's ground cover for all of you who are not Kathy and don't know. So basically he's saying, no one's playing basketball on this ground cover, or it would be all squashed. And I have to say, we had a basketball hoop my childhood, and we never played with it.

SPEAKER_04 25:57

I played with my basketball hoop all. Did you?

SPEAKER_06 25:59

I'm just saying my dad didn't leave. That wasn't evidence. This adult couple might just not be playing basketball, but always meant to. Still, it's impressive and Monica agrees. Wow, that's twice you've impressed me. I'm Monica. Monica Waters. What a name. Monica and Monk. Monk and Monica. She takes his hand, shaking it. And you are? she asks him. Monk doesn't let go of the hand, which is weird. Sherona has his wipe at the ready, but he doesn't let go. Me? Monk replies. Monk, Sherona interrupts. Monk, Monk agrees, releasing her hand and taking the wipe. At her confusion, Monk attempts to explain his frantic wiping, then just gives up, asking instead if he can see the garage. Monica consents, handing him the key fob, which he takes using the wipe. Monica turns to Sharona confused but interested. He's a detective? she asks. Private consultant, Sharona corrects. In the next breath, is he married? No. Monica points to her left hand. Well he's wearing a wedding ring. Calm down, Monica. Take a breath. Sharona very forward. Whoa. Sherona is uncomfortable. Well, he thinks about his wife a lot, she explains. She's deceased. Oh, oh, Monica nods. He's germophobic? Yeah, Sharona confirms, getting a little wigged. With classic obsessive compulsive tendencies. Sharona's like, how did you know that? But before she can answer, they both jump as Monk bellows, Oh my god! Oh my god! The camera pans to Monk, eyes alight with excitement, wonder, disbelief. What's wrong? Sharona asks, rushing up towards him. The camera monks the camera moves d every time I see an M now, I just think Monk. Every word is monk. Every word is monk. Yes. The camera moves to show us what the big deal is. The inside of the garage is perfect. Everything is hanging in perfect order. There's not a hose tangled or a nail on the ground. It's it's immaculate, monk exhales in bliss. It's divided into different sections. Gardening, automotive, and you made little labels so you always know where everything goes. Sharona rubs her forehead annoyed, but Monica seems truly touched and grateful to be seen. My husband was very organized, she explains sheepishly. I guess it kind of rubbed off. May I say something? Monk asks, turning to her. If I ever have a garage, I want it to look just like this. Monica smiles awkwardly. Is there anything else? No, no, not really. He hands back her key fob. Okay, well, it was very nice to meet you, Mr. Monk, Monica tells him warmly. But Monk isn't ready to let this trudy doppelganger go. Who well actually, he stumbles over his words. In the future I may have some more questions. We could have coffee, Sharona cringes. Or or or do you eat dinner?

SPEAKER_05 29:16

Oh my god. This moment I'm jaw dropped.

SPEAKER_06 29:21

Yeah. So is Sharona. She's right there. Just This is unheard of for him. I know. I guess this is the example of him monking. Oh? Yes. He's completely outside of his comfort zone. Yes, I've been known to eat dinner, Monica tells him. Monk nods, smiling, then looks at Sharona. Do I eat dinner? Yeah, you eat dinner. Monk looks back at Monica. We both eat dinner. Then it's a date. Monica grins, leaving the two. Sherona shakes her head in disbelief. It's a date, she says to Monk. He just stares after Monica, looks of pride and excitement battling for dominance.

SPEAKER_04 30:03

Oh my god, insane!

SPEAKER_06 30:06

It is really cute. I do feel like this is a little soon, even though they waited till episode seven to fall this deeply so quickly, just because she looks like Trudy.

SPEAKER_05 30:20

Okay, I mean there's exactly so it's four years since Trudy passed. It's plenty of time for sure. Plenty of time. But it's very weird that he asked someone out who looks like her.

SPEAKER_06 30:32

He's not asking out this woman, he's look asking out Trudy, is what it feels like.

SPEAKER_05 30:36

Yeah. Uh-huh. But they also seem to have a connection. Like there's the everything is very well organized. There's vibes. Guaranteed.

SPEAKER_06 30:46

We gotta give that some credit. If the garage had been a mess, he wouldn't have asked her out. Exactly. You know, he found that attractive. Still, it feels quick and abrupt, and Sharona feels the same way. In the very next scene, Monk and Monica sit across from each other at a restaurant. He moves quick when he wants to. Boy, this place has really changed, Monk tells her looking around. You've been here before? Monica asks, and Monk makes a classic mistake. Oh, we used to come here all the time. So sh Monica's like, you and your wife. It's a statement, not a question. Monk just nods and starts pointing out the changes. There really are only two. Monica scrunches her nose. You really don't like change, do you? Uncomfortable Monk explains. I have no problem with change. I just don't like to be there when it happens.

unknown 31:39

Ha ha ha!

SPEAKER_06 31:41

Which is a brilliant line. I love that. The waitress arrives to take their order. Monica orders a Caesar salad with coffee. And for some reason that horrified me. I just don't think the two go together, and I think they might actually clash. How do you feel about that?

SPEAKER_05 31:57

Yeah, I think it's really inappropriate, and she made a grave.

SPEAKER_06 32:00

It's gross, right?

SPEAKER_05 32:02

Yeah, I would not do that.

SPEAKER_06 32:04

Coffee and Caesar salad.

SPEAKER_05 32:06

What? Monk orders the veal. Which really upsets me.

SPEAKER_06 32:12

All I did was put a little sad face.

SPEAKER_05 32:14

Yeah, because as a vegetarian, I judge others. Just kidding, I don't. I only judge others.

SPEAKER_06 32:21

Well, you're very good about not.

SPEAKER_05 32:23

I am I'm pretty cool. It's just when they order veal, I'm like, you know what, you've gone too far.

SPEAKER_06 32:28

As someone that does eat meat, I do try really hard to only eat free range grass-fed. But that's just because it hurts my heart to not. Veal I do have a problem with because. Well, we all know, so let's just move on. But so he orders the veal, then gets very brave and orders all the sides to be put on separate plates. I'm so proud of him for asking for what he wanted. Yes. And Monica says, You don't like your food to touch, do you? And Monk tells her, I believe most people don't like their food to touch. They just don't have the guts to admit it.

SPEAKER_05 33:05

I think I'm gonna start using that for any of my idiosyncrasies. Yes. Anytime someone points things out to me that I do that are a little peculiar, I'm gonna be like, what is everybody do that's peculiar? I don't know how to do it. I can't think of it. But I'm gonna be like, I think everyone does this or everyone wants this. They just don't have the nerve to ask or the nerve to do it. Yeah, you just wait, Jen. It's gonna come up soon. And I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna monk. Yeah.

unknown 33:35

Good.

SPEAKER_06 33:37

So I I had to look it up. This is a real thing. There's actually a clinical name for it. It's called, here we go. Pachy Sandra. It's called Brumotactylophobia. Brumo tactilephobia, an irrational fear of different foods touching on a plate. It's generally considered a mild manifestation of OCD, specifically what clinicians call symmetry and ordering compulsions, where things have to be arranged just right or it feels genuinely wrong. Not aesthetically annoying, wrong. There's also a just right OCD subtype where the fear isn't just about food, it's almost magical thinking territory. Like if I don't do this correctly, something bad will happen. Oh. Yeah. Underneath all of it is a need for control. When anxiety is high and the world feels unpredictable, compartmentalizing your plate, your environment, your routine is a way of carving out something you can manage. For monk, food separation isn't a quirk, it's a control mechanism. Oh, poor monk. Yeah. I don't have a problem with my food touching. In fact, I love combining different parts of the meal to create a perfect bite. But I definitely do not like coffee with salad. Noted. We will make sure this never happens. So there's someone wrong at this table, and it's not monk for once. Okay, so Monica straightens, clasping her hands on the table. You said you have a lot of questions. Monk polishes his cutlery, admitting that may have been an exaggeration. She raises her eyebrows. Well, how many do you have? None, Monk tells her, making deep eye contact. I have none. She's very surprised. Don't you want to ask me about Grayson? The neighbor from Hell? And I'm like, yeah, Monk. She has major beef with Grayson and could very well be setting him up for murder. But Monk is like, nope, don't think he did it. The motive is weak. Monica looks around and asks, Then what are we doing here, Mr. Monk? Monica, you know better. Monk focuses on the contents on the table, straightening each item. Avoiding her eyes, he shakes his head. I'm not sure, he smiles, looking at her in bewilderment. Then Monica has a question for Monk. Sherona said that when your wife died, you never left the house. And I wrote, gee, thanks, Sherona. Way to set your guy up for success. That's not true, Monk defends himself. I went outside to get the paper. Twice. And now you're a famous detective, Monica continues. Monk plays at modesty, but Monica pushes. Come on, the other cops obviously respect you. The mayor calls you when he has a problem. You're obviously out of the house. How did you do it? Here we get a little bit more of Monk's history. Captain Stodemeyer was worried about me, and he hired a nurse to take care of me. She showed up one day and just never left. You got lucky and you found the right person. Monica smiles. That's the secret, isn't it? And I wrote, I think she murdered her husband because he couldn't get better. Then built the garage to cover his body and hired the killer to frame Grayson. Something just isn't right about Monica. It was also giving me she herself reminded me of the woman from I Married an Axe Murderer. The Michael Myers movie. Yes, I remember that. Uh-huh. And I kept feeling that feeling. So I knew it was she wasn't guilty, but that's how it they kept playing.

SPEAKER_05 37:13

It was too easy for her to be guilty. Um. But I don't know, listener, maybe she is. Right, maybe she is. I also, this is the first time we hear Sharana was hired by Stadlmeyer, which is really a kind and interesting tidbit of information.

SPEAKER_06 37:35

It's also confusing based off of how Stadelmeyer himself treats monk.

SPEAKER_05 37:40

Yes. And I will say that Stadlmeyer like becomes more even keeled in the way he treats Monk, and it it does remain more like the next one. Whatever this is.

SPEAKER_06 37:57

Um fluid.

SPEAKER_05 37:58

Yeah, like it goes it goes up and down in the way he treats him, but you do see the love that he has for him. So it does make sense that he would have gotten the nurse. Sorry, it's like I started the space out there, guys.

SPEAKER_06 38:13

It's so funny because I don't think the writers ever even considered an idea of streaming. Even though you could buy DVDs at this time, or maybe you couldn't, I don't know. It ends with Stadelmeyer this episode, Stadlmeyer continuing to act how he is in this episode. And then the next one, he monkey tronas show up at the crime scene and he's like, hey guys, I'm so glad you're here. It is such emotional whiplash.

SPEAKER_05 38:39

It's so funny. Maybe it's just that Stadelmeyer has some problems.

SPEAKER_06 38:44

Well, we know from the pilot that he and his wife are having issues, but then that never comes back. Or does it. Or does it? Yeah. Okay. Are you saying people can't be the same at all times?

SPEAKER_05 39:00

Stadlmeyer is a very complex character.

SPEAKER_06 39:03

Complex character, thank you. So you found the right person, that's a secret, isn't it? Monk turns to focus on her. How long were you married? She looks at him for a long time. Then, breaking eye contact, says, Oh look, a jukebox. A look. A look. Oh look, a jukebox. Monk's smile falls as she walks behind him to the jukebox. He zones out deep in thought. Then to himself, D seven. We watch Monica push D7 and Andy Williams' Hawaiian wedding song begins to play. What? That's what it said on the button, but it was I Only Have Eyes for You, right?

SPEAKER_05 39:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 39:46

Is that not Andy Williams? When the camera zoomed up, it said Andy Williams Hawaiian wedding song. So that's what I wrote. But then the song itself was I Only Have Eyes For You. Which I was like, oh what an interesting name for that song I never knew.

SPEAKER_05 40:01

It's I Only Have Eyes for You, the Flamingos. Okay. We found a continuity or prop error.

SPEAKER_06 40:12

So Monk is astonished. Monica turns to him with a bright smile and then suddenly she's Trudy again. Then back to Monica. Monk smiles back. Transfixed. That's the word of the day. But that is kind of perfect for how he looks at Monica. Just stunned. Mm-hmm. Held by her gaze. That's a little true. It's unhealthy. Yeah. In the next scene, we see a gorgeous church. Bells tollin' for Jesus. I had to look it up because you know I love San Francisco architecture. And this is the Mission Dolores Basilica. It's this large, soft, cream-colored building, both Spanish and European in style, with a rounded dome on top and two towers in the front. Right next to it is the original Mission San Francisco di Assis, which is the Mission Dolores. And it's super small and way more simple. And that's the one from 1776 and is the oldest building in San Francisco. It somehow made it through the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which destroyed the entire city almost. That was just a little bit of geography for you. Inside the church, it's packed with rows of mourners. Monk and Sherona take a couple of seats near the back. Sharona excitedly turns to Monk. So how did it go last night? Monk sheepishly smiles, avoiding eye contact. Fine. What did you talk about? She presses. Well, mostly we talked about me. She kept asking me questions. Really? Sherona's surprised and draws the word out. Monk turns to her mildly offended. Yeah, I think she's interested in me. Okay, Sherona squeaks. Is that impossible that a woman like her could be interested in me? Monk questions. She stares at him seriously. Sherona, he whispers, I'm thinking. Just then we see Grayson entering the church. Talk about nerve, Sherona whispers judgmentally. Kills the guy, then shows up at the funeral? Monk shakes his head. I don't think he killed anybody. Did you get a look at that ring he wears? Guy was a green beret. So? Sherona squints. So the crime scene was a mess. That was a real struggle in there. It must have gone on for at least three minutes. How could a sixty-five-year-old man fight off a former Green Beret? And that's true. He was stabbed first, too. He was still able to fight. He didn't want to die, Sherona explains. The church is packed and we notice an elderly man in a wheelchair enter. The old man is flanked by a nurse and a young redheaded man. They choose to park the old man directly behind Monk. Just as the service begins, the old man starts coughing. Monk leans forward. The coughing continues, and the poor guy, he can't cover his mouth. He can barely move. But that means all the cough residue is going directly onto Monk. Monk fidgets. He does the tight look back we've all done in movie theaters, and people are like and the cough is getting louder and more violent.

SPEAKER_05 43:30

I have to say, this is me. I'm cringing. I would lean forward. Oh, me too. Like even pre-pandemic, I was really not okay with people coughing near me, especially right behind me where their cough is spraying on me. I'm like, ooh.

SPEAKER_06 43:46

And truly, this poor guy, he should have been in the back of the church if they knew this was gonna happen. Or they should find a way to cover his mouth. He can't. He can't, yeah. He should be wearing a mask, but this is BP before pandemic. I mean, now if I get a cold, I just put a mask on. I love wearing masks. You love covering your face so no one could see you. I kept the mask thing going way after everybody stopped wearing them because I was.

SPEAKER_05 44:13

Oh, I still wear a mask.

SPEAKER_06 44:15

I don't ever want to get caught for the stop and chat and I am immune compromised, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 44:19

Yeah. You should be wearing a mask. You can wear a mask and say you're immune-compromised if you want.

SPEAKER_06 44:24

I want to just lie and steal your thing.

SPEAKER_05 44:26

That's okay. I appreciate other people masking.

SPEAKER_06 44:30

Um cough is getting louder and more violent. Other mourners are looking over. Monk covers the back of his neck, a look of disgust deeply etched into his face. Shrana, seeing Monk's discomfort, turns to the young man next to the old one and offers her help, but they're fine. Thanks. What is she gonna do anyway? At the final coughing fit, Monk swings around right in the old man's mug and says, Sir, please, enough is enough. And twists back around. The old man looks shocked at first. Then, closing his eyes, his whole body deflates. The nurse stands to check on the man. As Monk loudly whispers, Sharona, honestly, can you believe this guy? He's hacking up a lung. The nurse starts to wheel the old man away as Monk continues to whisper rant. I just couldn't help myself. And Sharona is proud of him. Do you see how assertive you were? She cheers while the mourners behind them all get up in shock. It actually does feel really good.

SPEAKER_05 45:34

I think they get up because I think he literally falls out of the wheelchair. He's like slumping out of the wheelchair because he has He fell on the floor. Died. Yes.

SPEAKER_06 45:45

Outside the basilica, paramedics lift the deceased old man into an ambulance. Nearby the nephew stands around shocked. So the nephew was the young red-headed man sitting next to this old man. He's youngish, this nephew, with a pale pink complexion. He's average looking in every way, except his glorious head of hair. A bright light auburn. It falls in soft waves around his face, neither too thick nor too thin. Wait, who are you talking about? The nephew. It's lust.

SPEAKER_04 46:17

You're going into all this detail on the nephew? Yes. Yes. Okay. Okay. Let's do it. I mean, have you seen that head of hair?

SPEAKER_06 46:25

It needs a segment.

SPEAKER_04 46:26

I just didn't care.

SPEAKER_06 46:29

Well, he could have been a real contender for the throne in Westeros.

SPEAKER_05 46:33

Well, maybe he could have been like a pantsing pro-V commercial. That too. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 46:37

But for now, he's in San Francisco, and this guy's angry. Heading toward Monk and Shrona with his hands and fists, he calls, hey you! You should be ashamed of yourself. Monk holds his hands together tight. I am, he tells the boy. 24-7. That is heartbreaking if you think about it. Do you know what tomorrow is? The nephew asks. Tomorrow is my uncle's birthday. He would have been 90 years old. Shrona jumps in to defend here. Hey, he didn't mean to kill him. He was he was coughing on my neck, Monk says, as if that explains it all. The nephew looks at both of them in disdain. He was my hero. Then storms off as Monk continues to defend himself. I can feel a spray on the back of my neck. Mm-hmm. Sherona has a headache. I can just tell. Stodlmeyer pulls up. Monk, he calls, exiting the car. Where's Grayson? Still inside, Monk responds, waving toward the church. Monk doesn't think he did it, Sherona says. Oh really? Stodlemeyer scoffs. Well, this should interest you. Grayson brought a bunch of knives online a year ago that matched the murder weapon. Stop moves towards the church. He means business, but Monk calls out almost passively, trying not to pick a fight with this porcupine. A million people buy knives online, and we know Grayson collects weapons. Stadelmeyer doesn't care.

SPEAKER_02 48:08

What do you got? Something's wrong, Captain. It doesn't make any sense, Captain. Huh? You got nothing, Monk. Grayson is the guy. If I had a farm, I'd bet it.

SPEAKER_05 48:21

And you'd lose it. Yeah. Okay, good, you agree.

SPEAKER_06 48:26

Yes, of course. And it doesn't matter. Even if he was right, the way he's talking to his co-worker.

SPEAKER_05 48:32

He has to be the dumbest captain in the world.

SPEAKER_06 48:35

But also, this is how you talk to other people.

SPEAKER_05 48:38

Yeah. Captain, we are not not having it.

SPEAKER_06 48:43

Yeah. Doddle Meyer. He stomps away, and during that whole dialogue, Sharona is all eye rolls in attitude. Whereas Monk is like a junior hire who's told he can't sit there. He's just like looking down, shoulders hunched. Later that night, Grayson walks out to his porch calling for his pup.

SPEAKER_05 49:00

Okay, Sherman, let's go. Come on. And why is Sherman just out by himself? I don't even want to like talk about that. I'm just mad that Sherman's just out aloud.

SPEAKER_06 49:14

It also makes me nervous. He's clapping and he's like, Sherman, come on, let's go. But the dog is nowhere to be found. Grayson grabs his flashlight as he hears barks. Slowly, he makes his way to Monica's property where he finds Sherman in the garage. Grayson is confused. His boy is growling and barking ferociously at him. As he tries to get Sherman to come, a masked man or a balaclava Balaklava boy. Balaklava boy sneaks up from behind and wham! He thwacks Grayson in the head with a shovel. In the next scene, we see a peaceful monk asleep in bed. A light shines in his eyes. Adrian Adrian Monk blinks awake. And there she is, Trudy sitting at the foot of his bed. Hey, he says. Hey yourself, she smiles. How'd you sleep? Mmm, monk shakes his head. You know, I don't think she looks anything like me, Trudy says. Monk agrees. Are you attracted to her? She asks. Monk is every good married man and lies by instinct. Of course not.

SPEAKER_05 50:23

I think this is the first time we see a ghost visualization of Trudy. Does this happen more and more?

SPEAKER_06 50:34

I don't know. Oh psha, you know. Trudy tells him it's okay if you are, you're only human. And Monk's voice gets high and he shakes his head harder. Not attracted to her. But Trudy didn't die yesterday. She's no fool. Adrian Monk, she glows lovingly. You're the world's greatest detective and the world's worst liar. The dream blends into real life as in Sharona's voice, Trudy tells him to pick up the phone, and the light goes out of the room. Monk, hello? A voice blares from the answer machine. Where are you? If you're there, please pick up. But that's not Sharona. Monk turns to grab the phone. It's Monica. Grayson's dead, she tells him. She found him in her garage. She's been at the police station for hours and she didn't know who to call. How did she have his phone number? They had exchanged it when they went on their date. Yeah. Adrian, she asks, Who's doing this? I don't know, Monk tells her. They think I'm involved. As do I, Monica. Do you need a lawyer, Monk asks? I have a lawyer, Monica tells him. What I need is a friend. Later that day, Monk, Monica, and Sharona pull up to the crime scene, which is now Monica's garage. Stodelmeyer is pissed, which of course he is. To Randy, he points at our heroes. How'd that happen? She must have called them from the station, Randy concludes. He's like a bad cold.

SPEAKER_05 51:57

Why is Stodelmeyer such a dick? You know how you always say his eyes are sparkling or glistening?

SPEAKER_06 52:03

They glow, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 52:04

They are not, Jen. They are not.

SPEAKER_06 52:07

They're iced over in fury. Yes. Monica goes into her house. How's your friend? Stademeyer asks Monk tightly. She's a little upset, Monk tells him. Yeah, I bet she is. They walk to the garage. So that's it for Grayson. Definitely no longer a suspect, Stodemeyer tells him. What about your farm, Studelmeyer? He's still sure they're in the right neighborhood. Somebody used his dog to lure him there. Which makes me so sad. The camera zooms to a bloody shovel, the murder weapon. He was struck from behind. Any prints, Monk asks. No, Disher says. Negative on the shovel, negative on the dog. Any ideas, Monk? Stalemeyer questions, 'cause I have a few. Most of them involve your girlfriend. She has means, motive, and they've been feuding for years. Stalmermeyer counts these facts off on his fingers. And threatening each other, Randy adds. He's dead, the lawyer's dead, the lawyer's secretary's dead, a whole lot of dead people. But Monk is only half listening. That light with the motion detectors. All smashed. We see that the bulbs have indeed been smashed. Stock confirms it was probably done at the shovel too. But Monk points out that means the killer didn't know where the switch was because he'd never been there before. Or, Sodelmeyer counters, the light startled her and she smashed them. Isn't that possible? Monk reluctantly agrees that yeah, it's possible. At this, Dodelmeyer power walks out of the garage while laying out the situation. Your friend Monica Waters is a suspect in three homicides. Oh no, no, no, no, Monk protests. But the captain, who's had a short fuse, this whole case finally ignites. Furiously, he turns on Monk. Yes, Monk, you're not seeing this clearly. You've got you've got this blind spot. And he shoves Monk. He likes manhandles him a little bit, and they talked about how Breckman and the other creatives were across the country while this was being filmed. So it was an actor's choice or a director's choice to be physically aggressive with Monk.

SPEAKER_05 54:14

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 54:15

It from what they said, it never happens again, and it would never happen in a later season. Stademeyer would never put his hands on Monk. So it is another example of they're still getting to know the characters, and this is early on in season one.

SPEAKER_05 54:28

Somehow I didn't clap yet.

SPEAKER_06 54:30

Leland softens a little bit and looks imploringly at Monk. Adrian, listen to me. She is not Trudy. Monk looks across the yard to where Monica waits. Stodemeier walks towards her, explaining that the garage is now an active crime scene and she can't touch it. Monica understands, and no, she tells the captain, she's not planning on leaving town. Good, he growls and stalking away. Monica frantically runs to Monk. She's all questions and panic. Is she really a suspect? What if the killer is still out there? She can't stay at her place. What the hell is she supposed to do? I could stay here overnight, Monk offers. You do that? Monica asks, hopefully. Monk turns to a scowling Sharona, asking, Can I have a sleepover?

SPEAKER_05 55:18

Later, and I'm like, what is Monk gonna do to protect her? And I'm thinking, what the FNF is going on.

SPEAKER_06 55:27

Later we see Monk packing a meticulously organized overnight bag. Sherona paces behind him. I will not come and get you in the middle of the night. You won't have to come and get me, Sherona. I'm not a child. Adrian goes through his checklist and is almost ready, but he can't find his PJs. Sherona tosses him a vacuum sealed pack, which he happily puts in his suitcase. Ready. Sherona turns to him. Adrian. I do not have a good feeling about her. But oh Monk forgot his underwear. Four pairs should be enough. I think she's dangerous, Sharona continues. I think you're jealous, Monk chuckles, placing the four packs of underwear in his case. I'm not jealous, Sherona insists. I'm scared. But Monk insists he's totally safe. The only danger I'm in tonight is running out of talcum powder. And he goes to grab some talcum powder. Next, Trudy drops Monk off in the driveway. Holding his case as he watches her drive away. Monica comes outside and invites Monk in. Once inside, Monica leads Monk to a guest room. She'll be right down the hall. She thoughtfully left him four cases of moist towelettes, which I think is a sweet gesture. Really cute. She gets him a brand new pillowcase from a drawer full of unopened pillowcase packs. Her husband seemed to have had OCD nearly as severely as Monk. She admits, yeah, it was tough, but also not, and she looks at him meaningfully. So sweet.

SPEAKER_05 56:55

She goes to get dinner ready, and Monk goes to the bathroom. I noticed something. Yeah. He was in a somewhat more casual outfit. He had a sweater over his button-up shirt. So it's a little bit different than his normal suit.

SPEAKER_06 57:11

Yeah. When he finally joins her in the dining room, Monica's a little wigged. Monk has been in the bathroom for two hours. He can't believe it. But it is now 9 30. I would be I'd be asleep. His time loss is a real issue that needs to be addressed. But she's still into having dinner. She pours him a glass of wine and goes to retrieve dinner. Just then, Stademeyer calls. Monk pretends it's Shrona as the captain gives him the details.

SPEAKER_01 57:39

Listen to me. Her husband disappeared two years ago. Two days later, she started building the garage. Monk, she killed him. She buried him under the garage. We're getting a court order tonight. We're gonna dig him up in the morning.

SPEAKER_06 57:50

The whole time, Monk is holding his glass of wine, smiling at Monica while he's taking all this information in. Monk ends the call, and we watch as he tries not to eat or drink anything lest he be poisoned. Finally, after badly pretending to eat a bite of her salad, Monica loses her patience, demanding he show her his mouth.

SPEAKER_05 58:12

I love that. It's like a mother with a child.

SPEAKER_06 58:15

He curls his lips over his teeth, barely opening his mouth as she tries to scan the contents, but he can't keep this going. Just tell me the truth, he begs. Are you trying to kill me? What? she says, completely confused. It's okay if you are. I just need to know. I promise I won't be upset. So he says. He lifts the salad. Is this poisoned? Do you think I could hurt you? She asks, shocked. Oh come on. He's under the garage, isn't he? Who? Your ex-husband. You buried him under the garage. Monica looks completely betrayed. How can you say that? she asks him. Everyone is saying it, Monks bats. Monica's face falls. My husband, Derek, is schizophrenic. He had a complete breakdown two years ago. Monk's face falls. He's in a private institution, she continues. We've been trying to keep it a secret. He didn't want his family to know. Oh my god, Monk breathes, closing his eyes. Then he's in Zurich, isn't he? At the Brynhof Clinic. How did you know that? she asks. It's the best hospital in the world for psychological disorders. I'd be there myself, but I don't fly. And you have soaps from different hotels in Zurich, Monk explains. Because Monk's got a monk. And now everything makes sense. Why she's so interested in Monk, why she seems so familiar and okay with his OCD tendencies, her fascination with how he got better. I couldn't help but wonder, are OCD and schizophrenia linked? Was Monk on his way to becoming schizophrenic, but was saved with Sherona's help?

SPEAKER_05 59:52

Did you look this up? Of course. Because schizophrenia is a distinct diagnosis.

SPEAKER_06 59:58

OCD and schizophrenia share real biological overlap, the same brain regions, similar wiring, and it's not rare. About 30% of people with schizophrenia also have OCD symptoms, and roughly 12% meet the full criteria for both diagnoses. So when Monica looks at Monk and sees her husband, it makes sense. The rituals, rigid disorder, the need to control everything around them. On the surface, they look identical, but they are not the same disease. And I feel like this show makes it seem like Monk would have become schizophrenic if not for Shona. Here's the difference though. It's honestly pretty basic. Monk knows his behavior is irrational. He's tormented by it, but he knows it. In schizophrenia, that self-awareness breaks down. The fears aren't fear, they feel like reality. So no, Monk could not have become schizophrenic, no matter how bad things got or how alone he was. Something outside breaks their focus and they both jump. Monk wipes his mouth and they go outside.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:02

Why would they go outside? Why? If there's a threat, you gotta go towards it, obviously.

SPEAKER_06 1:01:08

Not me, man. In the dark, monk shouts, Who's there? I've got a gun. But in reality he's holding up a gardening trowel. But it's just the captain and a bee cop. Captain, Monk implores him, you don't have to do this. Stodemeyer wrestles the trowel out of Monk's hand, and the other cop holds him back. Monk still explains that no, Monica didn't kill her husband. He's alive in Zurich. Stodelmeyer can check. Stademeyer is smacking gum and looks like a real big dummy. He releases Monk. So where does that leave us? Stademeyer asks Monk. And I'm like, oh, so now it's an US? Back at square one, Monk tells him. At Lou Pratt's office, a cop lets Sharona and Monk into the filing cabinet room. Remind me again why we're here, Sharona asks. I know you told me, but I wasn't paying attention.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:02

I feel like that came right out of my mouth.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:08

Grayson's file, the word file. Oh God. It had nothing to do with anything. Absolutely nothing. There was a decoy.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:18

A decoy?

SPEAKER_03 1:02:19

The real answer is in one of these other files.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:25

Oh, you have to be joking.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:26

I was joking, it would certainly be a lot funnier than this.

SPEAKER_06 1:02:34

Shirona stands there as what they need to do sinks in. It's going to be a long night, and I am once again wondering about her son. As she opens a third cabinet, completely overwhelmed by the contents, she begs him to think of something else. It's ridiculous.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:50

She starts to close the cabinet, but so I mean, there are thousands and thousands of files.

SPEAKER_06 1:02:55

So many, and they're all the same color. It's just looking at it would start your eyes to cross. But something catches Monk's eye. Wait, he shouts, studying the organized files. What? she asks. Monk turns to the cabinet in front of him, then closes it. He pulls another and closes that one. Returning to Sherona's files, he looks down. He reaches to a middle file, plucks it out, and drops it on top of the others. Sherona reads the label. Thomas Catterskill, who's that? That's our guy, Monk tells her, all confidence and ease. In another room, a will is being read aloud. Our very upset redheaded nephew sits in the front row. To my beloved grandchildren, I leave two point four million to be divided between you equally, and the balance of my estate totaling more than ninety seven million, I leave to my alma mater Westmore University. The beneficiaries gasp. Excuse me, one asks. My alma mater Westmore University, the estate attorney says again. Our very upset redheaded nephew is extra upset.

SPEAKER_05 1:04:04

His panting pro V hair just deflated.

SPEAKER_06 1:04:08

Oh man, it's actually curling. Just twisting itself with the curls in anger. This is a joke. There's something wrong. Well, son, the attorney says, addressing the boy directly. Or the man boy. I know it's a bit unorthodox, but upset nephew cuts him off, jumping up to stand over the lawyer. No, this is not the right will. He left everything to me. How do you know that, Todd? A calm, monkish voice asks from the back of the room. Monk Sharona and Staldemeyer stand in the doorway. I know you, Todd says, confused, facing them. This is your uncle's will. Monk holds up an official looking document. Actually, it's a forgery of your uncle's will. But this is what you expected to hear today, isn't it? The family turns to Todd. I don't know what you're talking about. Staldemeyer grabs the papers from Monk and walks toward Todd. It's dated October 4th, kid. You screwed up. The notary republic that was supposed to have signed this was on a cruise in the Caribbean on October 4th. We were in the file room yesterday. Monk cuts in, moving to stand near Leland. He holds up Todd's file. You see the little tabs on the top? Some are on the left, some are on the right, some in the middle. Mr. Pratt had a system. When he put files away, he alternated them. Left, right, middle, so they'd be easier to read. And they were all arranged like that, except for this one. It was a middle, and it was right behind another middle. We all assumed that the killer broke in here to burn a file or to steal a file, but we were wrong. The killer broke in to add a file. Todd chuckles, but he's uncomfortable.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:47

Here's what happened your uncle was dying. And you knew you'd been cut out of the will. So you wrote up a phony will where you inherited everything. Of course, you had to kill Lou Pratt. He was your uncle's attorney, and he would have spotted the forgery.

SPEAKER_06 1:06:05

Hoo-hoo-hoo. Ha ha ha. Faded black and white, Lou Pratt stands at his desk on the phone. Todd watches, knife in his hand. We see the murder in the file room break in again. Monk continues. After you killed him and his assistant, you put the phony will in the file, but you couldn't stop there. The cops would have wondered why Lou Pratt had was murdered, and they would have gone through every one of his files. Eventually they would have found your phony will. So you had to send them down the wrong road. Any wrong road would do. You picked a file at random and burned it, and it worked. Everyone was focused on Grayson and Bonica Waters and the garage dispute. But when you overheard me at the funeral, you got scared, because you knew I was having some serious doubts about Grayson. So you killed him to push us even further down that wrong road. Todd glares at Monk and then makes a break for the door, where Disher and Sherman are waiting for him. Yay, Sherman. I failed to mention that we brought Mr. Grayson's dog with us, Monk adds. Looks like he remembers you. Monk grins as Todd is put in handcuffs. He did it again. Later, Monk and Sherona exit Lou Pratt building, walking into wet cold San Francisco. Stodlmeyer follows after them. Hey, Monk. He looks down sheepishly. I'm sorry. You don't have to say that, Monk tells him, shaking his head. Yes, I do, Stot says, walking past them. The commissioner is making me. Adrian, we hear another voice call, and it's Monica. She smiles at him. Monk walks over purposefully. Is it really over? she asks nervously. Monk nods. I knew you could do it, she tells him. They both try to talk at the same time, then laugh. Go ahead, no you go. I just wanted to say you're an extraordinary man. And she really seems to mean it. A sweet smile spreads across Monk's face. I had just about given up, but spending time with you reminded me of how things were with Derek and I. How I want us to be us again. Sad realization floods Monk's face. I'm flying off to Zerk this week, but I won't be going home until he's better. He's a lucky man. Brace yourself, Monk. I'm gonna kiss you goodbye. He looks like he's going to be hit by a car as Monica leans in and Sharona watches. With a forced, bittersweet smile, Monk watches as Monica walks away. Sharona stands next to him and hands him a wipe, which he brings up to his mouth but doesn't use it. He's okay with those germs. He tosses a wipe back to her, she catches it, then they walk down the street together. And there it is. Monica flies his herb to be Sharona for her husband. And we get it, we completely get it. But it is worth saying out loud, these are two very different diseases. Monk's OCD never breaks his sense of reality. It limits him, but he always knows what's real. Schizophrenia doesn't offer that floor. There's no cure, not yet. What's possible is remission. And with the right care and the right person steady beside you, remission can mean a full life. And that's the hope for Monica's husband. Not cured, but present himself. Monica may not know exactly what she's walking into, but the love driving her to Zurich, that's exactly the kind that makes remission possible. Ding dong, the end.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:30

That was a really sweet thought process regarding schizophrenia. I watched the episode and I didn't give a damn about the schizophrenia uh mention or like Monica going to Zurich to be with her husband. I didn't think it was important to differentiate between the conditions, or like I just didn't think about it. But I've mentioned in like previous episodes that I'm kind of like an 80% watcher, or did I even say 50%? I think it was really nice. But like on the note of monk and the husband, it's kind of like me with my illness. And as we were recording this episode, I faded. I have faded hard, and I am sitting here with a lot of symptoms happening, and sometimes we just gotta get through it. So I wish Derek the best. But our monk got a kiss, and I like that. Thank you for powering through. I really, really appreciate it. Not powering through. I mean, like you crashed midway and you Yeah, but I'm I'm sick. Hopefully, our listeners aren't sick.

SPEAKER_06 1:10:35

No, I didn't mean our listeners powering through. I meant literally you, Kathy. Thank you for powering through. Oh, oh. I could tell how you were not feeling good.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:42

Yeah, it's okay.

SPEAKER_06 1:10:43

And you did great.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:45

Thank you for coming along with us. Yes. We really enjoyed having you. I have no idea what next week is. What is next week?

SPEAKER_06 1:10:53

Next week is Mr. Monk and the Marathon Man.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:56

Ooh, I love that one.

SPEAKER_06 1:10:57

Yeah, it's a good one. Alright, we'll see you guys next week. Okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:11:01

Love you, bye. Love you, bye.