Ep 1. The Big White Rat

The show "Dragnet" is a classic police procedural drama that aired from 1951 to 1959. It follows the investigations of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives as they work to solve various crimes. In season 3 episode 1, titled "The Big White Rat," detectives Joe Friday (played by Jack Webb) and Ben Romero (played by Barton Yarborough) are called to investigate the murder of a young woman.

The episode begins with Friday and Romero arriving at a motel where the victim, Virginia Lowery, was found dead in her room. The detectives begin their investigation by interviewing the motel staff and guests, including a recently released ex-convict named Tommy Brent who was seen leaving the motel room around the time of the murder. Brent denies any involvement in the crime and provides an alibi, but Friday and Romero are suspicious of him.

As the investigation continues, the detectives discover that Lowery was a model and part-time actress who was involved with several men. One of these men is a wealthy attorney named Harold Harrison, who had been arguing with Lowery in the days leading up to her murder. However, when questioned by Friday and Romero, Harrison also denies any involvement and insists he had nothing to do with her death.

Friday and Romero then begin to follow up on other leads, such as a tip from a witness who saw a man fitting Brent's description fleeing the motel room on the night of the murder. They also interview Lowery's roommate, who reveals that Lowery had been dating a man named Eddie Larkin who worked at a nearby warehouse.

The detectives follow the lead to Larkin's workplace and question him about his relationship with Lowery. Larkin admits to being involved with her but denies any involvement in her murder. Friday and Romero continue to press Larkin, and eventually, he confesses to killing Lowery in a fit of rage after she broke up with him.

Overall, "The Big White Rat" is a well-written and suspenseful episode that showcases the meticulous investigative work of Friday and Romero. The episode is a classic example of the type of crime procedural that "Dragnet" is known for, and it remains a popular and highly regarded episode to this day.