Ep 6. Even Odds

Quincy, M.E. is a medical drama series that aired from 1976 to 1983, following the investigations of Dr. Quincy, a medical examiner whose job it is to determine the cause of death in cases that are not immediately clear. The show stars Jack Klugman in the titular role.

In season 4 episode 6, titled "Even Odds," Quincy is called in to investigate the death of a well-known gambler. The victim, Thomas Carver, was found dead in his hotel room on the morning of a big boxing match, which he had bet heavily on. It quickly becomes apparent to Quincy that Carver's death was not the result of natural causes, and he sets out to determine who may have had a motive to kill him.

Quincy begins his investigation by speaking with Carver's girlfriend, a woman named Barbara who is involved in the world of high-stakes gambling. She tells him that Carver had been on a winning streak recently and had attracted a lot of attention from other gamblers, some of whom had become jealous of his success. Quincy also learns that Carver had been approached by a mysterious man who had offered to sell him inside information on the boxing match. Carver had refused the offer, but the man, whose identity is unknown, may have had a reason to want him dead.

As Quincy digs deeper, he realizes that there are many possible suspects in the case. Carver had a reputation as a womanizer and a gambler, and many people had reason to feel aggrieved by him. Quincy speaks with several people who had contact with Carver in the days leading up to his death, including a boxer who had lost a lot of money betting against him and a man who had been caught cheating in one of Carver's poker games.

However, it is not until Quincy performs an autopsy on Carver's body that he is able to make a breakthrough in the case. He discovers evidence that suggests Carver did not die from natural causes, as had been initially suspected. Instead, he was poisoned with a rare and deadly toxin, one that is extremely difficult to obtain. This revelation narrows the list of suspects considerably, and Quincy is able to focus his investigation on those who would have had access to this poison.

In the end, Quincy is able to solve the case and identify Carver's killer. Along the way, he confronts some of his own biases and assumptions about the people he is investigating, and he learns that sometimes the people who seem the most obvious suspects are not always the guilty ones.

Overall, "Even Odds" is a classic episode of Quincy, M.E. that showcases the show's strengths: solid storytelling, complex characters, and a fascinating glimpse into the world of forensic medicine. It is a must-watch for fans of the show and for anyone who enjoys a good mystery.