Ep 13. Pick-Up

Adam-12 is a classic police procedural drama that aired from 1968 to 1975. The show follows the daily patrols of Officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed, two LAPD officers working in the fictional precinct of Rampart Division. In season 4 episode 13, titled Pick-Up, Pete and Jim find themselves dealing with cases of stolen cars and missing persons.

The episode opens with the officers patrolling the streets of Los Angeles when they spot a stolen car. They give chase to the suspects, but they manage to get away. Pete and Jim return to the station to file a report on the stolen car.

As they’re finishing up their paperwork, they receive a call about a missing woman. The woman’s husband says that she hasn’t been seen since the night before and he fears that something might have happened to her. Pete and Jim are tasked with finding the missing woman and bringing her back home safely.

As they start their search, they come across a young man who is driving a car that matches the description of the stolen car from earlier. They pull him over and question him about the car. The young man claims that he bought the car from someone, but he can’t remember who. Pete and Jim quickly realize that he’s lying and decide to take him in for questioning.

While they’re questioning the young man at the station, they receive another call about a missing person. This time it’s a young girl who has run away from home. The girl’s parents are worried that she may have fallen in with the wrong crowd and they’re afraid for her safety.

Pete and Jim continue their investigation into the missing woman and come across some new information that leads them to a seedy bar. They question the bartender and some of the patrons and eventually find out that the missing woman had been there the night before. They also find out that she had been talking to a man who has a history of violence towards women.

As they follow up on this lead, they receive yet another call about a stolen car. This time it’s a delivery truck that was stolen while the driver was inside making a delivery. Pete and Jim are able to track down the stolen truck and apprehend the suspect, but they still have no luck in finding the missing woman or the runaway girl.

As the episode progresses, the tension continues to build as Pete and Jim race against the clock to find the missing woman and runaway girl before it’s too late. They continue to gather information and follow up on leads until they finally get a break in the case.

Without giving away any spoilers, the episode ends with Pete and Jim resolving the case and bringing closure to the families of the missing woman and runaway girl. Through their diligent police work and determination, the officers were able to bring justice to those in need and live up to their motto, "Adam-12, see the man."

In summary, Adam-12 season 4 episode 13, Pick-Up, is a classic example of the show's formula. Despite the 50+ years since its creation, Adam-12 still holds up as a well-acted, well-written police procedural that captures the essence of police work. The episode exemplifies the show's ability to tackle multiple cases simultaneously while staying true to the characters and their relationships. If you're a fan of classic television, especially police procedurals or are interested in true crime stories, Adam-12 will not disappoint.