Ep 13. Special Witness

Walker, Texas Ranger season 7 episode 13, titled "Special Witness," opens with a courtroom scene. Assistant District Attorney Alex Cahill (Sheree J. Wilson) is prosecuting racketeer Tony Malatesta, accused of murdering his partner. She brings as a witness a former employee of Malatesta's who witnessed the murder. However, as soon as he takes the stand, it becomes clear that he is terrified and likely to recant his testimony.

Enter Texas Ranger Cordell Walker (Chuck Norris) who has been called in by Cahill to protect the witness. Walker quickly comes to the conclusion that the witness is under pressure from Malatesta's people and needs to be taken into protective custody. However, the plan goes wrong when Malatesta manages to get to the witness and take him out of the courthouse.

Walker and his partner James Trivette (Clarence Gilyard Jr.) begin a desperate search for the witness. But they are not alone. Malatesta's hitman, the cold and efficient Brett McQueen (Robert Miano), is also on their trail, determined to eliminate the witness before he can testify.

As they dig deeper into the case, Walker and Trivette discover that the murdered partner had been embezzling from Malatesta. And that the witness had agreed to testify not out of any sense of civic duty but because he too had been stealing from the illegal enterprise.

But if the witness doesn't testify, Malatesta goes free. And if he does, he will likely face charges himself. The question becomes whether the rangers can convince him to go through with it before Malatesta's people catch up with him.

The tension in "Special Witness" continues to ratchet up as the clock winds down. Walker and Trivette work tirelessly to protect the witness while maintaining his trust. Meanwhile, Malatesta and McQueen are closing in, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake.

In the midst of all this, Cahill faces her own demons. She is haunted by the fact that the witness is the latest in a long line of people she has put in danger by doing her job. And as the stakes get higher, she finds it harder and harder to justify the danger she is putting people in.

Ultimately, "Special Witness" is a tense and action-packed episode that showcases the best of the Walker, Texas Ranger formula. There's plenty of martial arts action, a sense of moral purpose, and some genuine suspense as the rangers try to save their witness from certain death. It's a must-watch for fans of the series, but also a great entry point for newcomers looking to see what all the fuss is about.