Ep 4. Bus Stop

Barney Miller season 3 episode 4, titled Bus Stop, centers around the detectives of the 12th precinct dealing with various incidents that occur at a bus stop in front of their station.

The episode opens with officers Dietrich and Wentworth attempting to break up a fight between two elderly men at the bus stop. They soon realize that the argument is actually a game of chess, with the men using people passing by as pieces to move. The officers are initially amused by the game, but it soon becomes clear that the two men have been banned from playing chess at a local park and are now using the bus stop as their new playing field.

Meanwhile, Detective Harris is forced to deal with a woman who has been camping out at the bus stop for three days straight. Despite his attempts to persuade her to leave, the woman insists on staying put and declares that the bus stop is her "home". Harris eventually learns that the woman is a former prostitute who is now homeless and has nowhere else to go. He begins to feel sympathy for her and tries to find her a place to stay, but his efforts are complicated by her refusal to accept help.

As the day progresses, the incidents at the bus stop continue to pile up. Another elderly man, who claims to be a retired spy, becomes convinced that someone is following him and demands the detectives investigate. A group of delinquent teenagers begin using the bus stop as a hangout, smoking and causing a disturbance. And a man with a prosthetic leg inadvertently drops his wooden crutch onto the subway tracks, forcing the detectives to come up with a plan to retrieve it.

Throughout the chaos, Barney Miller remains the calm and collected voice of reason, keeping his detectives focused and resolving each issue as it arises. In the end, the various individuals at the bus stop come to a sort of understanding, with the elderly chess players shaking hands and the homeless woman reluctantly accepting Harris' offer of assistance.

Overall, Bus Stop is a lighthearted and entertaining episode that showcases the variety of challenges that the detectives of the 12th precinct face on a daily basis. Through it all, the characters demonstrate their ability to think on their feet and handle even the most unusual situations with professionalism and humor.