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In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episodes
Season 5 Episode Guide
22 Episodes 1991 - 1992
Episode 1
A Woman Much Admired
Tue, Oct 1, 199160 mins
Georgia Farren returns to Sparta, squired by her latest love interest, Ramon Palez. She asks her former lover, Chief Bill Gillespie to assist in several legal matters concerning her real estate holdings, her husband Ken Farren, and her nineteen-year-old daughter Lana. Things are not as amicable as they seem, however, and the consequences are tragic for everyone, especially the Chief.
Episode 2
Baby for Sale
Tue, Oct 8, 199147 mins
Capt. Bubba Skinner's cousin, Candace Reilly, and her husband, Kevin Reilly, adopt a baby boy from a young woman named Patty Bowden through a legal private adoption in which the couple paid $10,000 to her. The baby's natural father Waylan Davis is soon back in Sparta threatening to challenge the adoption unless he gets some money or the alarm and safe codes to Kevin's workplace. When Kevin's boss Ralph Newborn is found shot to death at his hardware store and with a large sum of money missing from the safe, Kevin's conscience eventually forces him to admit to Bubba and the Chief his exact involvement in the matter and who's responsible for Newborn's murder.
Episode 3
Obsession
Tue, Oct 22, 199148 mins
A promiscuous high school teacher is stalked by her dangerous ex-boyfriend.
Episode 4
Liar's Poker
Tue, Oct 29, 199160 mins
Edgar Van Buren holds an annual high-stakes poker game at his home, featuring booze, drugs, and prostitutes. His wife Annabelle stays in her suite during the weekend to protect the dignity of her home. This year a close friend of Annabelle, Dalton Sykes, is invited to talk business with Edgar, but Edgar is murdered during the party, and his paramour/prostitute, Laverne Carter, is the chief suspect.
Episode 5
Ruda's Awakening
Tue, Nov 5, 199147 mins
Virgil's vengeful aunt, Ruda Gibson, is the only eyewitness to a fatal shooting involving Capt. Bubba Skinner and a young black robbery suspect. Bubba insists that he never shot the suspect, but Virgil's Aunt Ruda alleges she didn't see anything but murder. Meanwhile, the Sparta Herald runs a hit piece on this matter in their paper attacking Gillespie's tenure as chief. Bubba asks for Althea's help in talking to Ruda about coming forward about what she witnessed on that fateful night. Ruda Gibson wrestles with the decision to talk to the Sparta P.D., since this tragic incident is similar to what happened to her own son and the outcome has a definite impact on the strained relationship with her nephew, Virgil Tibbs.
Episode 6
Unfinished Business
Tue, Nov 12, 199147 mins
Follow-up to "Just a Country Boy" (#4.20), in which Bubba Skinner's prisoner was killed. Bubba is back in Los Angeles to testify in the case. Meanwhile, the Mississippi arm of the gang is investigated by Chief Bill Gillespie and the Sparta police. Bubba renews his friendship with Mike Chin and rekindles a romance with insurance investigator Pat Day.
Episode 7
The More Things Change
Tue, Nov 19, 199148 mins
Cyrus Chambers threatens to sell his business and leave for an extended trip with his wife Irene, to the dismay of his junior partner, Tom Dalton, who is having a torrid affair with Irene. Chambers also has financial problems with his illegitimate African-American daughter, Faith Todd. Subsequent events bring disaster and redemption.
Episode 8
Sweet, Sweet Blues
Tue, Nov 26, 199148 mins
Blues man Ches Collins (Bobby Short) sings a song in his nightclub act that recounts the 1948 murder of Louis Sweet, Sgt. Wilson Sweet's (Geoffrey Thorne) grandfather. Neither Louis' body nor his brand-new Packard sedan was ever found. The only official witness to the crime, Delbert Mueller (Roy Lind), is at death's door but will not reveal any further details. The sheriff who took Mueller's original statement, Nathan Bedford (James Best), knows more than he will say, which frustrates Sgt. Sweet's quest for the truth.
Episode 9
Sparta Gold
Tue, Dec 3, 199160 mins
Warning shots are fired at Captain Bubba Skinner and Mary Ellen Lasso at a remote picnic area. Investigation shows they have wandered onto a prime location for marijuana growth. The weed is so rich it is called "Sparta Gold" and is harvested mainly for export.
Episode 10
An Eye for an Eye
Tue, Dec 10, 199147 mins
When District Attorney Gerard Darnelle's daughter Becky is kidnapped, he is caught between concurrent investigations (turf wars) by the Sparta police and the FBI. Benjamin Sloan is quickly identified as a likely suspect, but his motive is not clear at first. Chief Gillespie plays a wily game with the FBI in pursuing the case, but it is up to Captain Skinner, Lieutenant Jamison and their four-footed friends to wrap up the chase.
Episode 11
The Littlest Victim
Tue, Dec 17, 199147 mins
Lt. Lonnie Jameson is sadly reunited with a Sparta High School girlfriend, Francie Miller, when her younger brother Jimmy is beaten up by her boyfriend, Nick Crews. Lonnie's investigation leads to charges of child abuse (infant neglect) against Francie and an intense hunt for Crews.
Episode 12
The Landlord
Tue, Jan 7, 199248 mins
When sleazy property owner Keen Philbrick is found murdered in the backseat of his car, the Sparta P.D. soon afterward arrest two of his tenants for the crime. But when the investigation moves forward, Philbrick's dealings with dope pushers might have been the reason for his demise. Bottoms informant Jimmy Dawes gives the Chief the info on who is really behind the slumlord's murder.
Episode 13
Fool for Love
Tue, Jan 14, 199247 mins
When a doctor's disabled wife discovers his affair with one of his patients, he takes matters into his own hands to correct the situation.
Episode 14
Love, Honor and Obey
Tue, Feb 4, 199248 mins
Parker's friend takes matters into her own hands when she is fed up with her husband's physical abuse.
Episode 15
Odessa
Tue, Feb 11, 199248 mins
As the city of Sparta plans to celebrate its first registered African American voter, Odessa Robbins, memories of the civil rights struggles bring tense feelings between members of the community. As an old time Southern policeman, Bill Gillespie is conflicted, especially because Harriet DeLong was integral to the civil strife and is central to the celebration. The resolution of the conflict is unexpected.
Episode 16
A Time to Trust
Tue, Feb 18, 199247 mins
The Sparta P.D. investigates a series of big truck accidents that seem to have a common element to them. When the last driver of the fourth truck crash is autopsied, he is found to have speed in his system. Meanwhile, Althea is worried about one of her students, Shelley Hughes, when she tells about her miserable home life and that her mother's boyfriend Bobby Foster is primarily the one to blame. Althea frustrates Virgil when she vows not to let Shelley be questioned by the police and also doesn't tell Virgil pertinent information involving this case. The Sparta P.D. must work quickly to uncover who is pushing the illegal drugs to these big rig drivers.
Episode 17
By Means Most Foul
Tue, Feb 25, 199248 mins
Garage owner Brian Moss sets a truck bomb that kills Kevin Riley and by chance only injures Peter Ballard, leaving him brain-dead and on life support. Peter's wife Rebecca, who is having a torrid affair with Moss, must now decide how to care for him.
Episode 18
Trundel's Will Be Done
Tue, Mar 3, 199248 mins
Harriet DeLong wants to raise Eric, her dead sister's son by magnate V. J. Trundel, but V. J.'s wife Emily also seeks custody of the boy. Follow-up to "Citizen Trundel: Part 1" (#3.21) and "Citizen Trundel: Part 2" (#3.22).
Episode 19
Moseley's Lot
Tue, Mar 31, 199248 mins
Two enforcers from New Orleans, Rene Balcer and Tony Bressak, trace Brian Moseley to Sparta to collect a huge gambling debt (actually stolen money). Brian's father, Warren Moseley, wants to settle the debt, but his brother, Louis Moseley, resents the perceived overindulgence. In this variation on the story of the prodigal son the innocent definitely suffer more than the guilty.
Episode 20
Family Reunion
Mon, Apr 20, 199248 mins
After fourteen years in prison for armed robbery, Roy Paxton arrives in Sparta, looking for his son Laine and his ex-wife Vidalia, who is holding $750,000 loot. Roy kills an insurance investigator to cover his tracks, but he is no match for Chief Gillespie and the Sparta police. The episode alternates between drama and light spoofery.
Episode 21
Sanctuary
Tue, May 12, 199260 mins
Ramon Salazar, a political refugee from El Salvador, escapes from a Newman County road gang and seeks sanctuary in the local monastery. Father DiMarco protects Ramon and prohibits even his good friend Chief Gillespie from arresting the fugitive.
Episode 22
The Law on Trial
Tue, May 19, 199248 mins
Chief Gillespie and Detective Tibbs along with Father DiMarco stand trial together for conspiracy to obstruct justice charges, which deals with failing to turn over escaped prisoner Ramon Salazar who fled a county work detail. Meanwhile, the Sparta P.D. finds there is more to Councilman Waters determination to get Gillespie fired from the police force, when they run surveillance on a prominent Sparta businessman's home.