Photo Gallery 1 (scroll to find correct episode once you get there)

Friends, Family & Guests: Garry Chalk (Unknown), Peter Outerbridge (Unknown), Peter Stebbings (Unknown) (Coach Brandon, Jeff Chandler, Billy Godwin), Pat Bermel (Inspector Nickerson), Delia Brett (Jeannine), Deanna Milligan (Vanessa), Jordan Pratt (Danny), Maurice Verkaar (Principal), Michael Puttonen (Harkoski)

 Opening Scene: Two girls, Jeannine and Vanessa, arrive at an outdoor shelterhouse party, where there is already a huge crowd dancing to music. A guy sits on a picnic table with a tiny fire in front of him. They hand him three cards with "X" on them, and he says "3 X’s buys you 1, 2, 3, hits of Ecstasy." He hands the pills to them, and one of them takes hers, washing it down with some wine. She hands the wine bottle to the other girl, but it’s empty, and when the kid gets up to get her some more, he collapses, instantly dead. They scream, and everyone runs, leaving him there dead.

Outside Roosevelt High, Jeff Chandler is talking loudly to a crowd of students, promoting a school-wide drug test and handing out free Say No To Drugs t-shirts. Penhall stops to listen, and Jeff asks if "Coach Penbrook" would like to wear one, pressuring him to do so. "There’s a future for you in used car sales," Penhall cracks, accepting the shirt. In the hall, he comes up to Hoffs, calls her "Miss Webb" and tells her how he got the t-shirt he’s now wearing. They discuss the proposed drug testing, and Hoffs doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Penhall reminds her that the autopsy report said that the kid ate 400 mg. of Ecstasy, and Hoffs says this won’t help HIM then, will it? and asks him when was the last time Penhall had to urinate in a cup. Penhall nonchalantly says he won 5 bucks doing it once, and she says she voted against the drug test. She is interrupted by a cough and gets some water, asking Penhall how his assistant coaching is doing. He rubs his neck, saying it’s painful, and she chides him gently, saying that he’s there to coach, not to play. Penhall says he’s not playing, he’s just always yelling "Drive to the hoop!" "Rebound Rebound" and "Get Out Of The Girls’ Locker Room!" Sounds rough, she teases him, and he says somebody’s gotta do it. As Hoffs walks off, Penhall sees something going on in the hallway and yells "Billy! That’s not funny!"

In chemistry class, it is announced that the vote is in, 1134 to 204, and there will be a universal drug test. Any student testing positive will be suspended from extracurricular activities and assigned a "drug-free buddy," as well as being required to attend mandatory counseling. Jeff passes out more t-shirts. Hoffs says that this really sucks and asks the girl next to her, Jeannine, how she voted. Jeannine says she didn’t bother to vote, that the "soc’s" have it all wrapped up anyway, so why bother. Jeff gives Hoffs and Jeannine t-shirts. In the gym, Billy Godwin arrives late for basketball practice. His teammates give him a hassle about it, and he is reprimanded by the coach. Penhall yells for everyone to "take a knee!" Coach Brandon advises them all to drink a lot of water and use the facilities before school tomorrow. Penhall glances at him sharply. Jeff, who is also on the basketball team apparently, says that the team won’t have a problem. Billy says he’s not taking the test, and Jeff says he has to, they voted. Coach Brandon says it’s for the principal to decide, and Billy angrily says the hell it is. Jeff says part of playing ball is being a team player, and Billy takes the basketball, throws it across the gym, and walks out. In the hallway, Penhall catches up with Coach Brandon and asks him why he gave them that advice. Coach says that he’s not their parents and not their moral keepers, he’s their coach. Penhall says, as their coach, isn’t he concerned about the star player? The coach says Billy will take the test, and that he’d better, because Billy is the school’s only chance for winning state.

The next morning, out in the hallway, Jeannine and Vanessa and some other girls are milling around talking about the drug test today. Hoffs says she hears coke goes away after two days but one puff of grass lasts a week. "What about Ecstasy?" Jeannine hesitantly asks. Hoffs grins and acts like she’s just been dying to find an Ecstasy source, taking her aside to ask her how she got invited to the party. Jeannine says she doesn’t know if there will be any more parties. Hoffs asks if people think the stuff is bad, and Jeannine says no, but the police are all over anyone who was there. Hoffs beams and says she has nothing to hide, and Jeannine, happily relieved, gives her a piece of paper and tells her to send money and someone will send her an invite with the time and place and an X. Hoffs nods knowingly, asking, "And for each X?" Jeannine answers, "You get a hit." Hoffs smiles at her and leaves for the bathroom, where the drug testing is taking place. Hoffs gets her cup and goes into a stall. When she shuts the door, the nurse opens it, and when she tries to turn around, the nurse says that she has to face her. Hoffs frowns and begins to undo her pants. Later, in chemistry class, the teacher hands out result packets. Inside the envelopes, besides the results, are red armbands for people who tested negative, and drug-buddy assignments. Jeannine gets an armband and triumphantly concludes Ecstasy must be like coke. Hoffs sets her envelope aside, not even looking at it. Jeff comes to Hoffs then, introducing himself as her new drug-buddy. She says it can’t be and looks at her results - she tested positive. She sits there, completely stunned.

In Fuller’s office, Hoffs is agitated, and Fuller’s acting like it’s no big deal. "I can’t believe I’m sitting here ‘cause some high school got hysterical," she says. Fuller says with that many tests, there’s bound to be some mistakes. It’s standard procedure to re-test her, he says, adding that it’s also standard procedure to suspend her. She is shocked, saying that she just now got a lead on how the Ecstasy parties work, and he says that she tested positive for amphetimines and there’s no way around it. "But you know I don’t use drugs!" she cries, and he says it doesn’t matter what he knows. She thinks he doesn’t believe her, and he says, seriously now, that he does believe her, but he’s not the one they have to convince. Then he tells her that the department wants her to check into Mercy Hospital for an exam. "Why don’t you just get out the cuffs?" she asks sullenly. He tells her to brief McCann so he can take over the case, and then he tells her he has to take her badge and weapon. As she leaves, he says, "Judy, the truth will out." In the gym, the team is practicing, but no one will let Godwin have the ball. When he says something about it, Jeff says "You want to join the team, take the test," and the rest of the team backs him up as Penhall watches from the sidelines. Billy decides to walk out again, and Penhall follows him, saying "Life ain’t tough enough, huh?" Billy replies "Go to hell," and continues walking. Penhall tells him all that will happen is if it come up positive he’ll get counseling and get better. Billy sarcastically says that would be great for the team, and Penhall says strongly that he doesn’t care about the team. Billy says he cares about him? Peter says he lost some friends to needles (yeah, like Tracy in the last episode - good continuity there). Billy says "so it's okay to barge into my body and my life?" Penhall stops him and says fiercely that he's heard that before from a lot of screwed up people. Billy gives it right back, saying that he doesn't drive a bus or fly a plane, he just wants to play ball and be left alone.

At the chapel, Mac intently plays a handheld video game and yells at it. Fuller comes in, and Mac doesn't notice, continuing to talk to the game. When Fuller finally gets Mac's attention, Mac says "Yo Yo Yo!" and Fuller comes over to him, repeating "yo yo yo?" and Mac says "Yes! Score!" Fuller comes and takes the game, pointing to his office. Mac follows him in, slightly chastened but not much. "Aren't these things for 12 year olds?" Fuller asks (well, actually, learning to play a handheld video game is a lot more work-related in 1990 than, say, that pinball machine that they have). Mac points out that it's good for relaxation and focusing, that "when you're in synch with the game, you get these alpha rhythms, like meditation" and goes on to say that you get great insights. Fuller asks what kind of insight he's gotten so far on his case. Mac says that the money goes to a PO Box registered to "Party Dude Industries," and it's all handled by mail. He says that he woke up the night watchman and found out that two weeks ago a tall kid in a Roosevelt jacket came by and left with an armload of stuff. Fuller thinks it could be either the dead kid or Billy Godwin, who Penhall's interested in. Mac says it could also be Jeff Chandler, drug crusader and chemistry ace - when he was registering, he snuck a peek at Chandler's file. Fuller is doubtful, saying that it would be like suspecting Nancy Reagan, and Mac points out that Darth Vader was Luke's father. Fuller tells him to go back to school and get close to Jeff Chandler, and he holds the game away from Mac when he tries to take it back. Mac points out which button is which and leaves. At school, Penhall is shooting baskets in the empty gym and cheering for himself as he imitates the sound of a roaring crowd. Hoffs comes in to talk to him. Penhall tells her that Fuller is worried about her and feels lousy. Hoffs says "not quite as lousy as I am, Doug." She's there to make Doug share the lousy feeling, she teases dolefully. Penhall says "You know all that stuff you heard about misery loving company? Big exaggeration. Terrible lie." But he sits next to her and listens, trying to comfort her and telling her that Fuller was on the phone for three hours after she left and there really is nothing he can do about it until the test results come back. She is restless and unwilling to just wait. Penhall reminds her that suspension means she won't get paid, but it doesn't bar her from the Chapel. "You suggesting I work for free?" she asks, and he says "I didn't think it was about money." Finally she decides to do it, agreeing with Penhall that it will really bug the people downtown at police headquarters.

Later, at the hospital, a nurse is asking Hoffs about recent surgical procedures - appendix? gall bladder? Abortion? Hoffs, knowing this will all go into a file that the Internal Affairs department will read, is rightfully wary, asking why they need to know all that. The nurse says it's because prescription painkillers could test as opiates. But she tested positive for speed, she argues, and the nurse cynically says, "That was four days ago, honey. If you're smart, you got all that out of your system." She begins to explain the re-test, saying that it's a gas-chromatography, and Hoffs realizes that this test will not disprove the earlier one and there will always be some question over her positive result, so she says no, she won't. The nurse says "Honey, I'm a nurse," and Hoffs says "I don't care if you're my mother, I'm not gonna do it." The nurse says there is only one test that can prove drug use in the past and they don't do it here. Hoffs says she won't do this test if it won't clear her for the speed. The nurse tells her about radioimmunoassay, saying it's very expensive and she'll have to pay for it, and they'll have to take 50 hairs from her head. "They test hair?" Hoffs asks. The nurse tells her that they can determine amphetamine use for nine months, maybe longer. "Well, go. Cut. Now," Hoffs says eagerly. At the Chapel, Fuller and Inspector Nickerson from Internal Affairs come up to Hoffs' desk. Fuller looks uncomfortable, but Hoffs keeps her guarded attitude up. Nickerson smiles creepily at her and says he just wants to have a chat with her about her file, and that scares her. She demands to know what he is doing with her file. "Miss Hoffs..." he begins condescendingly, and she snaps "Detective Hoffs!" He reminds her that she's currently suspended, and that it's not a good idea for her to be working because she might be tempted by a large amount of product. "Are you accusing me of scooping?" she asks in disbelief, and then she looks at Fuller and asks if he is going to stand there and let Nickerson do this to her. She says she's never stolen anything in her life. "We'll see," Nickerson says, adding for her to be in his office tomorrow at 2 PM. He leaves, and Fuller leaves, too. Hoffs sits, bewildered and scared.

The next day, at the IAD office, he's on the phone while she sits there, telling a car dealership to go ahead and run his paperwork, he's certain the loan will be approved. There is a big framed picture of President Bush on the wall. He hangs up the phone and goes on the attack. Hoffs explains three large cash withdrawals in May by telling him that she paid for a dental appointment, a car repair and a vacation in cash because she hasn't been able to balance her checkbook since she was sixteen, so she only writes checks for her mortgage and utility bills. He asks why she moved her account to a new bank in February, and she says it's because her mother suggested it when she gave her some extra cash for a cushion. He suggests another scenario - that she busted a speed operation on January 28, and while her partner went for backup, she was left alone with the drugs and a dead body. "For a user like you, that's tempting," he says, adding that she took half for herself and half to sell. He thinks that by May she had a major habit, followed by a June bust. "I've got it - you think you're Humphrey Bogart," she says sarcastically when he's finished, and he counters with "I think you're an addict." She tells him to get a life. As she goes to leave, he comes around the desk and says he couldn't have made her take that test. He lifts a strand of her hair, smiling when she shrinks away from his touch. "I'm so glad you took it on your own," he adds. She finally is allowed to leave. Back at the Chapel, she returns, totally pissed off, and begins digging through her files for her report on the January 29 bust, ignoring Penhall. "Not here. That's it. I'm gone," she says shakily. Penhall comes over, grips her gently as he grins at her and pretends to shake her and says in a funny voice "Look you. Talk. It's me here, Kimo Sabe. The guy you babysit for all the time?" She asks "Do you know what happened to me?" and tells Penhall about how even though he thinks it's just a false positive, the "false" doesn't matter - the "positive" does and will always be a red mark on her jacket. She gives possible scenarios of having testimony discounted in court, promotions denied, etc. "Everybody knows you're not a user," Penhall says reassuringly, but Hoffs doesn't care. "All I need is for the hair test to come back positive, and I'm done." Penhall says she knows it won't. "I knew the other one wouldn't, and it did," she reminds him.

After school, Penhall's on his way to basketball practice, and Billy is leaving the gym in street clothes. Penhall asks him what's going on, and he says "Coach says if I don't take the test, I don't play." So he's decided to take the test. "What about your principles?" Penhall asks. Billy points out that Penhall himself said that he was just making life tougher on himself, and Penhall tells Billy "I was wrong." Billy tells Penhall that people are harassing him and ignoring him in the halls, and Penhall says that it doesn't matter, that if he's using, he hopes he gets help, either way he has to stand up for his own principles, and that he has a right to say no to this test. In the chemistry lab, Mac comes in, finding Jeff alone doing chemistry experiments. He introduces himself as "Tony Marsh." Jeff tells him to watch, and he makes a chemical reaction poof of smoke. Mac is impressed and tells him that's cool, asking him if he always comes here after school to do experiments. Jeff says that he has to have a 4.0 to get into M.I.T., and Mac asks if he's going to be a chemist. Jeff says no, a chemical engineer, there's more money in it, and that what they do is "make a lot of chemicals, which in turn makes a lot of money." Mac asks for examples, and Jeff says car additives, adhesives...and Mac says "synthetic drugs?" Jeff laughs and says you don't have to be a chemical engineer to make Ecstasy, that in fact he could make it, but he'd never be slimy enough to do it. He wishes he could get his hands on the guy that is. Mac asks if he has any idea who that is, but Jeff says no, it could be anyone. They leave and go out onto the playground, where Billy is shooting baskets and missing, slurring his words and yelling at himself and no one in particular. Jeff points at Billy and says he can probably tell them. Billy is stumbling now and continuing to babble, and then he collapses to his knees. Jeff and Mac come up to him, and Jeff says "I didn't think you'd be dumb enough to do that stuff here." Billy giggles and calls him "Old Jeffy." Jeff gets angry and tries to start a fight, but Mac holds him back, saying that this is not the way to handle it. Billy calls Jeff a Nazi. Jeff pulls at Mac's shirt and says "C'mon man, you're my witness." Mac and Jeff leave.

Later, in the gym, Mac has told Penhall and Coach Brandon what he saw. Penhall asks if he was sure he didn't smell any alcohol, and Mac says no, but Billy's words were definitely slurred. The coach thanks him and tells him he and Penhall will take it from here. Penhall says he can't believe Billy would do it, but the coach says that Billy is a loner and refused to take the test, that one of his team members is dead and that his best players are at each other's throats. Penhall asks the coach if he thinks any of the players know who cooked up the batch of ecstasy. The coach appears startled and asks how he knew it was homemade -that the police never told him that and he thought it was brought in by some gang or something. Penhall says no, it was homemade, and asks the coach to think hard and try to remember if there was any reason at all why Billy would refuse to take the test. The coach says he can't think of any, but he wishes he could. Out in the hallway, some girls come up to Jeannine and Vanessa, who are wearing the anti-drug t-shirt (one of them has cut fringe into the sleeves). They give them some X cards. Vanessa hands the card back and says no thanks. Later, at Billy's locker, his locker is being searched, and Jeff Chandler is there, practically drooling. Billy comes up to them and begs them not to search it, and a crowd gathers. They find a paper bag at the bottom labeled "Isosafrole," and ask what that is. Jeff says that it's one of the chemicals needed to make Ecstasy, and then he rushes toward Billy, accusing him of killing the kid.

At the Chapel, Penhall and Mac enter Fuller's office to find him totally engrossed in the video game. "Whoo, 5^th level!" Mac congratulates him, and Fuller tells him to take the game back, he hates it. "What no alpha rhythms?" Mac asks, but Fuller says it irritates him. He thinks they came by to be congratulated on the collar, but Mac thinks it was a frame-up and they got the wrong kid. Penhall says Billy is a good kid, and Mac says Billy is smart and wouldn't have drawn attention to himself by refusing to take the test, if he had supplied the Ecstasy. Fuller asks how they explain the Isosafrole, and they say they think someone put it in Billy's locker. Mac suggests Jeff. Fuller says that there are now 64 kids getting help in drug rehab who have hope because of Jeff Chandler, so why would he be selling? Still, he decides to keep Billy for a while to let whoever did it think he got away with it. He asks Penhall to visit Billy as his concerned coach and lean on him. They are interrupted by a joyful shriek - Hoffs runs in, waving a folder - her hair test was negative. Fuller welcomes her back and says he supposes she'd like her old assignment back. She says that she has something to do first at Internal Affairs. Once she gets there, Nickerson tells them not to let her in, to tell her he's... "Dead?" she asks triumphantly, standing in his doorway with her folder. She asks him if he's read the report, and he says he has, and she says, "I'd like the pleasure of hearing you read it again," slapping it down on his desk. "Aloud. To me." He asks her if this is really necessary and calls her "Miss" Hoffs again. "Detective Hoffs," she says, adding that she was thinking about filing a complaint. He reads aloud "we would estimate that the subject had not been involved in drug use for nine months." "Excuse me?" she asks, and he repeats, nine months. "Now would that cover the time I developed my 'major-league addiction'?" She forces him to admit that he was wrong, and the file also says that it was a cross-reactivity caused by her antibiotic cough medicine leaving an "amphetamine-like trace." She likes the sound of that, "amphetamine-like trace," and says firmly, "I will expect a written retraction for my file." He grudgingly agrees. On her way out she turns and tells him that she ran into his loan officer and that he was very concerned to hear about Inspector Nickerson's gambling habit. "What gambling habit?" he sputters, and she says that his secretary told her that he buys a lotto ticket every Wednesday, sometimes two. He begins to get angry, and she says sarcastically, "OH! I'm sorry! Did I jump to a conclusion? You'll probably get your loan anyway. I only flashed my badge once."

Penhall visits with Godwin in the interrogation room, laying it on about how he doesn't understand and how he believed in him. "I'm not a junkie," Billy says. Penhall reminds him that two people saw him strung out on the playground, and if he's not a junkie, what is he, a drunk? Billy says no, he's a... and then he stops. Penhall presses him to continue, saying gently that if Billy tells him, he can help him. "I have to take phenobarbitol. Sometimes it has side effects." He confesses that he is an epileptic. Penhall looks away and runs his thumb along his lip, finally asking why he didn't say anything. Billy says that he hadn't had a seizure in two years and he didn't want anyone to know, that they treat you differently when they know - no one ever forgets, they're always watching. He says that it tests just like heroin, and that's why he didn't want to take the test. Penhall says that surely he had to tell someone - the principal? The school nurse? Billy says no, just the coach, and that when he made first string, his mom told the coach. Penhall asks, "Coach Brandon knew?" and realizes that the coach lied to him. Later, Penhall tells Fuller, Hoffs and Mac that the coach is their man and that Billy is epileptic. He points out that the coach knew but let the whole school crucify Billy. Hoffs reports that she looked at Coach Brandon's records, and he flunked out of med school after taking Chem 1 and Chem 2. Mac says that they have the means and the motivation, all they need now is the opportunity, and then he hands Penhall an X card. Fuller looks at it and says, laughing, "You think he's that stupid?" Hoffs says he could be that greedy. Fuller tells Mac to stake out the PO Box and even though it will probably be only a messenger, he'll lead them to the cook. Then he reminds them that there's bound to be ether around, and that the atmosphere will be volatile and not to discharge their weapons.

Hoffs and Fuller drive in Hoffs' Jeep and stake out the post office, and Mac's inside in a postal worker's uniform, filling out forms and watching the boxes. A kid comes in, but all he does is buy stamps. Then Jeannine comes in and opens the PO BOX, removing a big stack of mail. As soon as she leaves, Mac radios Hoffs & Penhall and tells them "We've got our man and he's a she," adding that it's one of Hoffs' buddies from school. Hoffs recognizes Jeannine, and they follow her as she drives off in a convertible. They leave the city and drive down thickly forested roads until they get to a dirt road, where Jeannine turns. When she gets out, they follow her on foot to a campsite, where an RV is parked. She knocks and goes in. They come around to the back of the RV and look inside - Jeannine begins opening the mail while Coach Brandon is making Ecstasy on the stove. Ether fumes fill the air, and Hoffs holds a leaf to her mouth to breathe through it. They watch as the coach fills up a baggie with pills. Hoffs is now breathing through the bottom of her jacket, and Penhall suggests that they get back to the car. They hide behind a tree and watch Jeannine leave the RV, and then they step out from behind it, arrest her and search her bag. They find the pills, and Jeannine is caught. The coach comes out, and Penhall says "I'll go get our loving coach." He walks toward him, his face lit by the glow of the fire that the coach has built in a big can. The coach is surprised to see him, and Penhall says he's under arrest. "Oh," says the coach, and then he says "Not without the evidence!" and he runs. Penhall chases him and gets his gun out, finally tripping him. The flaming branch that the coach had taken with him flies out of his hand and lands on a pile of straw, but Penhall stomps out the fire with his foot before there can be any further damage. The coach sits up, panting.

Closing Scene: Penhall makes the team do exercises. Billy isn't there. Chandler asks "Officer Penhall, did Godwin know about this practice?" He wants everything to be all right. Penhall tells him that he can't make everything all right, but he helped a lot of people and he should be proud of that. Jeff says regretfully that he didn't mean to hurt anyone. Billy comes in, and Penhall growls that he's late. Jeff apologizes to Billy, and they shake hands. "All right, cut out the sentiment," Penhall groans. "I'm only assistant coach for one more day." He begins yelling at the boys, yelling "Move it, monkeys, move it!!" and tosses them the ball.

Cyndi Glass: Hoffs testing positive for drugs was a real bombshell after the previous episode with Tracy shooting up heroin in secret. But, it’s Hoffs - we know it’s false, and I admire her tenacity in proving herself innocent, just as she has always fought for what she knows is right and to protect herself in the sexual harassment and rape cases in previous seasons. I enjoy the close friendship we see here between Hoffs and Penhall - he knows what she needs to hear without being told. Fuller seems a bit off here - I'd think that after being suspended himself in #50 "Fathers & Sons" he would have a bit more sympathy for Hoffs' predicament (or at least show more). We also see the three of them finally forming a cohesive and strong unit, working as a team on the case - Mac has been fully integrated into the unit - and we also see the beginning of the good friendship that forms between Fuller and Mac throughout Season 5. That IAD guy was a real sleazeball; today she would have dressed him down about sexual harassment for touching her hair like that. I guess back in 1991, the lines weren’t as clearly marked.

They also missed a great opportunity for some continuity - in Nickerson's scenario about Hoffs being an addict, he mentions a drug bust that she did on "January 28." Since this episode was broadcast on Nov. 10, 1990, I would assume he meant January 28 of 1990 - and when I looked back at the 21JS episodes for January 1990, there actually WAS a designer drug bust at a college (#68 "Research and Destroy"). However, the episode aired January 8, not Jan 28. Something that simple could have really been cool. The next three episodes of 21JS after that one had nothing to do with drugs at all, and the one that aired Jan. 29 was #70 "Back To The Future," which was a humorous clip show 40 years in the future. Overall, though, this was a good episode, especially in its character development. And I have to wonder as well - since they're in Roosevelt High School again (Kati & Dean were just there three episodes ago) how come nobody talks about how Alex, who was supposedly the biggest drug dealer in the school, might have an idea who's supplying the Ecstasy? Did Alex pass his drug-free test?

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