Cold Case “Shore Leave”
Original Airdate: Oct 26, 2008
Amanda - TwoCents Reviewer
amanda@thetwocentscorp.com
Another home run for Cold Case, which takes us back to the 1950s this week for the investigation of the murder of Pfc. Jimmy Tully, a Marine who disappeared while on liberty and was presumed AWOL. His family knew he wouldn’t have done this, and spent fifty fruitless years trying to clear Jimmy’s name. However, with the discovery of his remains in a barrel of toxic waste (“the kinda stuff that’ll eat your Florsheims for breakfast,” according to Scotty), the detectives begin a crusade to solve Jimmy’s murder, restore his deserved honor, and return his long-lost heirloom pocket watch. Semper Fi!
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[photo: Cliff Lipson/CBS]
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Cold Case
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Original Airdate: Oct 26, 2008
Amanda - TwoCents Reviewer
amanda@thetwocentscorp.com
Another home run for Cold Case, which takes us back to the 1950s this week for the investigation of the murder of Pfc. Jimmy Tully, a Marine who disappeared while on liberty and was presumed AWOL. His family knew he wouldn’t have done this, and spent fifty fruitless years trying to clear Jimmy’s name. However, with the discovery of his remains in a barrel of toxic waste (“the kinda stuff that’ll eat your Florsheims for breakfast,” according to Scotty), the detectives begin a crusade to solve Jimmy’s murder, restore his deserved honor, and return his long-lost heirloom pocket watch. Semper Fi!
Shore leave for all concerned begins with one last inspection, and the sloppy appearance of one Pfc. Lenny Snow almost costs them leave. However, Jimmy bailed him out, and liberty was granted. While on leave, Jimmy met the beautiful and charming Nora Lee on the street, then followed her into the Gunwale, a confirmed Navy bar, and persuaded her to dance. Jimmy’s appearance in the bar wasn’t popular with the Navy guys, particularly Gene Karnow, the Navy’s best boxer (and modern-day boxing coach), who lost a fight to Jimmy earlier that day. However, Gene and Jimmy joined forces when a civilian and friend of Nora’s, Ray Lisi, confronted Jimmy. Ray has a nasty temper and a long rap sheet, but Nora convinced him to leave them alone. Meanwhile, in a bit of sleuthing after something “didn’t sit right,” Lilly learned that Nora’s son, Peter, was actually Jimmy’s son, disproving Nora’s original claim that she never saw Jimmy again.
The detectives learn that, while Jimmy and Nora were on a date, and he was forced to abandon Nora in a photo booth with a promise to find her later. It turned out Shore Patrol was investigating the theft of an officer’s revolver, which, naturally, was pinned on the ne’er-do-well Lenny Snow. After his release, Jimmy spent several hours hunting for Lenny, finally finding him at a bus depot with a ticket to Memphis, ready to go AWOL. Lenny told Jimmy that Max actually stole the gun, but Lenny didn’t think their tough-as-nails Sergeant, Hal Chaney, would believe him, so he planned to run. In a fantastic scene, Jimmy talked Lenny out of going AWOL and promised to go to bat for him. He found Max at a local bar getting chummy with some strippers, and learned that Max pawned the revolver for $60. Jimmy had no way to get that kind of money, at least, not until he went back to Nora. In a slightly clichéd, but nonetheless touching scene, Nora gave Jimmy a necklace her mother wore on her wedding day, assuring him that it would fetch enough money to recover the weapon. Jimmy thanked her by giving her his pocket watch, and was preparing to leave when Nora had, shall we say, another idea (which resulted in Peter).
Upon discovering that Gene, the Navy boxer, obeyed an order from Sgt. Chaney to dump some toxic waste barrels, the detectives brought him in for a second interview. In one of this season’s most compelling interrogations, Scotty proudly read Lenny’s service record, which contained tales of extreme valor and bravery, a Bronze Star, and a long, distinguished career. Sgt. Chaney refused to believe this story, both then and now, and after being confronted with the always-effective Wrath of Stillman, he spilled the rest of the story. Jimmy recovered the pistol and confronted Sgt. Chaney with both the pistol and the knowledge that he was trying to “wash out” Lenny, whom he thought wasn’t Marine material, and which was blatantly against the code of conduct. Jimmy was convinced that Lenny would make a fantastic Marine, and, when Sgt. Chaney wouldn’t listen to him, he threatened to take his knowledge to Capt. Ryan. The two then exchanged blows, the gun fell, and Sgt. Chaney picked it up and shot Jimmy.
With such an intriguing and compelling case, there wasn’t much room for the detectives’ personal stories, but Vera did find time to exact revenge on Jeffries and Scotty for the tie prank from “True Calling.” After stapling Jeffries’ tie to some paperwork, he revealed that “La Bamba’s” uppance had come as well. Just then, we see Scotty parading through the office with a sign taped to his back, reading, “Ask Me About Erectile Dysfunction.” It isn’t often that this show makes me laugh out loud, but this moment definitely, definitely did. Vera’s apparently not finished yet, however; during their interview, Gene offered to give Vera boxing lessons, and, during the end montage, we see that Vera has taken him up on his offer.
Case-wise, this was a Stillman-centric episode, and it was nice to hear some of his memories. John Finn always does an amazing job when given the material, and any case involving the military always brings out the best in both Finn and his character. The closing montage was especially moving, containing an absolutely beautiful instrumental version of “Taps,” the long-awaited Honorable Discharge and military burial for Jimmy, the return of the heirloom pocket watch, and Nora “seeing” her long-lost love.
Despite my “don’t get attached to the victim” mantra, Jimmy was hard not to like (possibly because he reminded me of a friend of mine). Every inch the perfect Marine, he’s one of the few victims who’s died for doing the right thing. Although he never made it to the battlefield, he gave his life for a fellow Marine, one who ended up saving countless other lives with his bravery in Korea. The love story was a bit clichéd, but touching nonetheless, and the ending montage had me seriously weeping (military funerals always do that to me). So that’s my two cents, which, in 1951, would be almost enough for a three-cent postage stamp. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
I loved this episode but was wondering why they didn't tell Peter and give him the watch.
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