Ep 7. Grand Hotel

Barney Miller season 2 episode 7 titled "Grand Hotel" is one of the best episodes of the series. The episode revolves around a story about a man named Robert Erdhart who claims to be a descendant of the Hapsburgs. Robert is a wealthy man and is staying in a luxurious hotel in New York City.

The episode starts with Robert making a dramatic entrance at the hotel lobby. He is dressed in a white suit and hat and holds a cane, which he bangs on the ground, grabbing the attention of everyone around him. He claims that he is a prince from Austria and expects to be treated as one. The hotel staff is not sure what to do and calls the police.

Detective Barney Miller and his team arrive at the hotel and try to calm Robert down. They quickly find out that Robert has a lot of wealth, connections, and friends in high places, which makes it harder for them to deal with him. Robert insists that he is the rightful heir to the Hapsburg empire and demands his inheritance. However, he does not have any official documents to prove his claim.

Throughout the episode, Robert's behavior becomes more erratic. He orders expensive champagne and meals and throws extravagant parties in the hotel room. He also insists on buying expensive gifts for everyone he meets, including Barney Miller and his team.

Meanwhile, the hotel staff is becoming fed up with Robert's behavior. They want the police to remove him from the hotel to avoid any disruption to their business. However, Barney and his team are hesitant to arrest Robert. They do not want to cause a scandal or make a mistake by arresting someone who may be a royal heir.

As the episode continues, the team tries to find out more about Robert's claim of being a royal heir. They consult with experts and examine documents but find nothing substantial to support his claim. Furthermore, they learn that Robert has a history of making similar claims in other cities.

Finally, in the end, Barney and his team decide to let Robert go. They warn him against making false claims or causing any disturbance. Robert leaves the hotel, but not before making a grand speech about his royal heritage.

Overall, "Grand Hotel" is a fantastic episode of Barney Miller. It showcases Barney and his team's decision-making abilities and how they deal with people from different walks of life. The episode also highlights the absurdity of people's claims to royal heritage and how individuals can use their wealth and connections to manipulate others.