Ep 3. The Man with Two Right Shoes

The Man with Two Right Shoes is the third episode of season 7 of the hit police procedural drama NYPD Blue. The episode revolves around a mysterious case that Detective Sipowicz and Detective Simone are trying to solve. It aired for the first time on October 27, 1999, on ABC.

The episode begins with a bang as a young man is shot dead by an ATM machine. Detectives Sipowicz and Simone are immediately called to the scene, and they start their investigation by talking to potential witnesses and canvassing the surrounding area. They find out that the victim's name is Sam Russo and that he worked as a doorman at a nearby apartment building.

During their investigation, Sipowicz and Simone discover that Russo was heavily in debt and that he had a lot of enemies. They find out that Russo had borrowed money from a loan shark, and he had been threatened with violence if he didn't pay back the money. They also come across some leads that suggest Russo was involved in some shady deals.

The detectives find out that the victim had a brother, Jack Russo, who was a known criminal. They visit Jack and question him about his brother's death, but Jack denies any involvement. However, Jack does tell them that he was recently ripped off by a guy named Paul, who was a friend of his late brother.

The detectives continue to investigate and soon come across a man named Paul, who turns out to be the "Man with Two Right Shoes" of the episode title. Paul is a small-time criminal who is involved in petty thefts and frauds. During a chase sequence, Sipowicz and Simone catch up with Paul and find that he is wearing two right shoes, which he claims was a mistake when he was getting dressed.

As they question Paul, they find out that he had been involved in a scam with Sam Russo and that the two of them had been planning to rob a nearby card game. However, Paul denies any knowledge of Sam's murder. But the detectives are certain that Paul knows more than he's telling. So, they offer him a deal: they will go easy on him if he tells them what he knows about Russo's murder.

Eventually, Paul reveals that he was present when Sam was killed. He tells the detectives that he had gone to the ATM to withdraw money for the card game when he saw two men arguing with Sam. One of the men suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Sam, while the other man stood by and watched. Paul had fled the scene, and he didn't know who the two men were.

Using the information provided by Paul, the detectives are able to identify the two suspects as Louis and Mikey, two low-level criminals who were also involved in Russo's shady deals. They catch up with Louis and arrest him, and Louis reveals that Mikey had shot Sam because Russo had owed money to him. The detectives track down Mikey and catch him red-handed, trying to flee the city. They arrest him and close the case.

In the end, Sipowicz and Simone are able to piece together the events leading up to Sam's death and bring the culprits to justice. The episode ends on a poignant note, as Sipowicz and Simone reflect on the tragedy of Russo's death and the many lives affected by it. It is a gripping episode that showcases the excellent writing, acting, and direction that made NYPD Blue one of the most popular and respected police dramas of all time.