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Matlock Season 3 Episodes
Season 3 Episode Guide
20 Episodes 1988 - 1989
Episode 1
The Lemon
Tue, Nov 29, 198850 mins
Don Knotts is introduced as Ben's new neighbor Les Calhoun. Les gets mixed up in a murder with two competing used car salesmen and Ben defends him.
Episode 2
The Ambassador: Part 1
Tue, Dec 6, 198850 mins
Matlock travels to New York City to help Alex Winthrop represent a British Ambassador accused of murdering his lover's husband. The ambassador could invoke diplomatic immunity, but would lose his diplomatic career. The trail leads to a mysterious pharmaceutical company, and a murky conspiracy.
Episode 3
The Ambassador: Part 2
Tue, Dec 13, 198850 mins
Matlock travels to New York City to help Alex Winthrop represent a British Ambassador accused of murdering his lover's husband. The ambassador could invoke diplomatic immunity, but would lose his diplomatic career. The trail leads to a mysterious pharmaceutical company, and a murky conspiracy.
Episode 4
The Mistress
Tue, Dec 20, 198850 mins
Ben Matlock defends a jealous wife who is accused of killing her husband.
Episode 5
The D.J.
Tue, Jan 3, 198950 mins
Ben Matlock very reluctantly defends abrasive talk radio personality Arthur Saxon who has been accused of dispatching his rival Robbie Moore via gunfire.
Episode 6
The Captain
Tue, Jan 10, 198950 mins
Ben Matlock is hired to defend young police officer Jerry Reese, who has been framed for murder by Police Captain Edward Hanna, a habitually angry police-force veteran with serious grudge.
Episode 7
The Vendetta
Tue, Jan 17, 198960 mins
Michelle, Julie and Tyler are held at gunpoint by the brother of a man who died in prison after Ben Matlock proved he was the murderer in an earlier case. Several previous episodes are reviewed as the three testify to Ben's integrity and honor.
Episode 8
The Mayor: Part 1
Tue, Jan 31, 198950 mins
Popular mayor Brian Barelli argues with visitors to his home; the next day he is killed by someone dressed as a well known environmentalist. Ben, Michelle, and Tyler are lured to defend the accused under false pretenses.
Episode 9
The Mayor: Part 2
Tue, Feb 7, 198950 mins
Ben continues his defense of a man wrongfully accused of killing a popular mayor.
Episode 10
The Black Widow
Tue, Feb 14, 198960 mins
After seven years in prison for killing his wife Ann, Ken Wilson gets out and finds her working in a real estate office. Anne soon turns up dead and Ken is tried, once again, for killing his wife.
Episode 11
The Other Woman
Tue, Feb 21, 198950 mins
Ben defends psychiatrist Lucas Forbes accused of killing Adam Whitley, the cruel abusive husband of his patient Erin Whitley by gunfire.
Episode 12
The Starlet
Tue, Feb 28, 198950 mins
The daughter of an old friend of Ben's wins a beauty pageant. The runner-up who's a sore loser threatens to reveals a secret unless she drops out. Later the runner-up is found dead and the daughter of Ben's friend is arrested. Ben defends her.
Episode 13
The Psychic
Tue, Mar 7, 198950 mins
A psychic rushes to Matlock's door and begs him to represent her against a charge of murder. When Matlock asks her to explain, she says she's only had a premonition that a man will be killed, and she will be charged. She also tells Les, Ben's next door neighbor, that he will not live to see the end of her trial. Ben tells her that he doesn't believe in that sort of thing, and says he only takes on "real" cases. However, the next day, one of her fellow psychics at the New Age Faire, is found murdered, and she is arrested. The victim also happens to be her best friend's boyfriend, a serial philanderer. Les urges Ben to represent her, and to believe in psychic phenomena. Ben agrees to the first part, and takes the case. Is the real killer an angry husband, who killed the victim because of an affair? Is it one of the other psychics, who killed the victim over professional jealousy? Matlock must find out before the trial ends for Les's sake, and for the psychic's.
Episode 14
The Thief: Part 1
Tue, Mar 28, 198987 mins
A coin dealer discovers that a man working for him has been stealing. He then demands that he returns everything that he took or pay back what he took. When he is found dead, the dealer is charged for murder. He hires Ben to defend him. And also the private investigator whom the dealer hired to get evidence against the man is giving Ben and Tyler unsolicited assistance, and is also a little impetuous, making things tough for Ben to get evidence that can clear his client.
Episode 15
The Thief: Part 2
Tue, Apr 4, 198950 mins
While trying to recover from the surprise testimony at the end of Part 1, Matlock discovers the true motivation for Linda's actions. as well as discovering the vital clue that leads to the real killer.
Episode 16
The Thoroughbred
Tue, Apr 18, 198950 mins
Ben is hired to defend Tommy Jenks, a special needs young man accused of murdering the adult daughter of thoroughbred racehorse ranch owner Sam Taylor.
Episode 17
The Model
Tue, Apr 25, 198950 mins
During the trial of a journalist accused of killing an internationally recognized model, Matlock is accidentally struck by a car and winds up in the hospital. He receives witness depositions and works from his hospital bed to piece together the evidence.
Episode 18
The Cult
Tue, May 2, 198950 mins
William Austin is desperate to get his son out of the Cult he has joined (and given his $400,000 trust fund). After he threatens Joshua Bradbury (the Cult leader), in front of his son Dennis and Atlanta police officers, hours later Joshua is found dead at his desk by Dennis. William is arrested for murder when his son claims to have seen his father fleeing the murder scene. Ben defends William, feeling certain there is more to this Cult (like making members to sign over all their financial assets - let alone his belief the accused is not guilty). Ben's first task is to figure out WHY Williams' son Dennis would say his father is the killer........has Dennis been brainwashed?
Episode 19
The Blues Singer
Tue, May 9, 198950 mins
A singer-composer finds an old blues musician living on the streets. He takes the old man to his home over the objections of everyone. Later the singer is found dead. The old man is arrested and Ben who is also a fan decides to defend him.
Episode 20
The Priest
Tue, May 16, 198950 mins
A former mobster, Nathan Carlino, is accused of murdering a priest. Alex Winthrop's firm represents the Carlino family and flies from New York to Atlanta to handle the case. Alex, who was introduced near the beginning of season three in a two part episode The Ambassador, meets with Carlino, who requests representation from a more seasoned lawyer. Alex promises to get his good friend, Ben Matlock, to work as his co-counsel. It takes a $20 hot dog to get Ben on board, but once Ben and Michelle start assisting Alex, it becomes clear that this murder was not as open and shut as it appeared. This episode takes some interesting twists along the way.