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Spenser: For Hire Season 1 Episodes

Season 1 Episode Guide

22 Episodes 1985 - 1986

Episode 1

Pilot Episode

Fri, Sep 20, 1985 120 mins

Spenser (Robert Urich) is hired by areal-estate developer to find his runaway wife, who is mixed up in bank robbery and murder. Susan: Barbara Stock. Hawk: Avery Brooks. Patterson: Geoffrey Lewis. Pamela: Donna Mitchell. King Powers: Chuck Connors.

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Episode 2

No Room at the Inn

Fri, Sep 27, 1985 60 mins

Spenser's assigned to protect a witness in an organized-crime case on the recommendation of a police captain he clashed with eight years ago. Meghan: Lisa Banes. Hanely: Stephen Keep. Angela: Deborah Rush. Spenser: Robert Urich. Belson: Ron McLarty.

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Episode 3

The Choice

Fri, Oct 4, 1985 60 mins

Spenser rescues a senator's kidnapped daughter and becomes a celebrity---and the target of two men who kill for the thrill of it. Liz: Patricia Clarkson. Chip: Sam Robards. Alice: Angela Bassett. Susan: Barbara Stock. Spenser: Robert Urich. Hawk: Avery Brooks.

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Episode 4

Children of a Tempest Storm

Fri, Oct 11, 1985 60 mins

Susan (Barbara Stock) agonizes over revealing her pregnancy to Spenser, who has taken in the children of the hit man he killed in self-defense. Rick: Noah Moazezi. Jenny: Judith Tannen. King: Chuck Connors. Chadway: Baxter Harris. Hawk: Avery Brooks.

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Episode 5

Original Sin

Fri, Oct 18, 1985 60 mins

Spenser suspects foul play in the apparent suicide of a novice who left the convent to help the poor in the ghetto fight evictions. Father Crawford: Jay O. Sanders. Jordan: James Eckhouse. Flaherty: David O'Brien. Spenser: Robert Urich. Susan: Barbara Stock.

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Episode 6

Discord in A Minor

Fri, Oct 25, 1985 60 mins

After a symphony conductor's daughter is kidnapped, bodyguard Spenser is fired, but he finds later that her disappearance wasn't what it seemed. Cathy: Barbara Garrick. Lowington: Paul Shenar. Broz: Neill Barry. Spenser: Robert Urich. Quirk: Richard Jaeckel.

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Episode 7

The Killer Within

Tue, Nov 12, 1985 60 mins

A woman hires Spenser to protect her sister---who turns out to be his client, who proves to be as confused as Spenser. Robert Urich, Barbara Stock. Donna/Diane: Nancy Paul. Collins/Garrett: Jon DeVries. Hawk: Avery Brooks. Rolfe: Richard Borg.

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Episode 8

Autumn Thieves

Tue, Nov 19, 1985 60 mins

Spenser is framed for theft after being hired to follow a man (Mark Keyloun) who stole a religious museum piece and promised it to two rival buyers. Robert Urich, Avery Brooks. Roman St. George: Alfred Drake. Kay: Alice Haining. Banker: Ron Frazier.

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Episode 9

Blood Money

Tue, Nov 26, 1985 60 mins

A ransom-delivery snafu leads Spenser to doubt the existence of a radical group claiming responsibility for kidnapping a corporate executive. Ellen: Maureen Anderman. Partland: Jimmie Ray Weeks. Hillary: Lonette McKee. Spenser: Robert Urich. Belson: Ron McLarty.

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Episode 10

The Resurrection

Tue, Dec 3, 1985 60 mins

Spenser persuades a has-been lawyer (Paul Dooley) not to defend a prostitute's assailant, but to help the victim, who violated her parole by carrying a gun. Lydia: Kasi Lemmons. Clayton: Earl Hindman. Camaris: Dick Latessa. Hawk: Avery Brooks. Belson: Ron McLarty.

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Episode 11

Internal Affairs

Tue, Dec 17, 1985 60 mins

Quirk (Richard Jaeckel) is suspended over allegations that he tipped off an illegal-gambling ring about a planned raid, and he refuses to speak in his own defense. Robert Urich, Ron McLarty. Katie: Shirley Knight. Ronny: Bruce MacVittie. Phillip: James Douglas.

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Episode 12

Death by Design

Tue, Jan 7, 1986 60 mins

Spenser thinks his client, who is researching designer drugs, is worried about more than missing earrings and the whereabouts of her gigolo boyfriend. Linda: Robin Groves. Renhill: Hansford Rowe. Graves: Leon Russom. Tony Ristelli: Burke Moses.

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Episode 13

A Day's Wages

Tue, Jan 14, 1986 60 mins

While investigating theft at a dressmaking plant, Spenser learns that his client is in deep to a mobster who's counterfeiting dresses and planning a takeover. Brady: Ed Binns. Broz: Raymond Serra. Mary: Frances McDormand. Spenser: Robert Urich. Hawk: Avery Brooks.

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Episode 14

A Madness Most Discreet

Tue, Jan 21, 1986 60 mins

A Soviet ballerina (Maria Holvoe) doesn't want to defect to the U.S., but the Soviets want to kill her just to make sure. Robert Urich, Avery Brooks, Barbara Stock. Robertson: Robert Hogan. Max Klaus: Walter Gotell.

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Episode 15

Brother to Dragons

Tue, Feb 4, 1986 60 mins

After two girls overdose on heroin at Susan's school, Spenser turns up a mobster whose operations include porno movies. Susan: Barbara Stock. Amanda Layton: Patrice Colihan. Corbett: Stephen McHattie. Jim Gullen: Timothy Carhart. Spenser: Robert Urich.

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Episode 16

When Silence Speaks

Tue, Feb 11, 1986 60 mins

A deaf advice columnist (Phyllis Frelich) wants Spenser to locate the man whose letters led to a personal relationship that the man suddenly broke off. Brad Munson: Philip Kraus. Spenser: Robert Urich. Laura Louise Johnson: Caitlin O'Heaney.

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Episode 17

In a Safe Place

Fri, Feb 14, 1986 60 mins

Spenser (Robert Urich) hunts for an illegal alien whose son is being held as bait by an immigration official. Angel: Gerry Cooney. Zalesky: Jeffrey DeMunn. Emily: Nancy Marchand. Luis Rosalez: Ray Contreras.

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Episode 18

Angel of Desolation

Tue, Mar 4, 1986 60 mins

A socialite who hired Spenser for protection before her husband dismissed him doesn't want her innocence proven when her spouse is murdered. Diedra: Shelly Burch. Alicia: Leigh Taylor-Young. Jeffrey Miller: Eriq La Salle. Marcus: Jim Gillis.

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Episode 19

She Love Me, She Loves Me Not

Tue, Mar 11, 1986 60 mins

Belson's ex-partner is murdered, and the killers think that Belson (Ron McLarty) was involved in the man's illegal dealings. Spenser: Robert Urich. Frankie/Mildred: Gail Strickland. Walter Nash: Greg Mullavey. Jean: Ruth Cox.

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Episode 20

At the River's Edge

Tue, Mar 25, 1986 60 mins

A 12-year-old girl hires Spenser (Robert Urich) to find out who killed her sister, whose murder is jeopardizing prospects for an evangelist (John Davidson) with political aspirations. Hawk: Avery Brooks. Lenore: Karen Carlson. Marcella: Carrie Kei Heim.

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Episode 21

Rage

Tue, Apr 1, 1986 60 mins

A teenage runaway is abducted by an ex-con after she sees him commit a murder. Robert Urich, Avery Brooks. Jill: Christie Houser. Max Lyons: Brad Dourif. Jack Weller: Trey Wilson.

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Episode 22

Hell Hath No Fury

Tue, Apr 8, 1986 60 mins

A man whose son was killed in a building collapse claims that a political coverup sent an innocent building inspector to prison. Spenser: Robert Urich. Karen Cooper: Linda Thorson. Ed Farady: Stephen Joyce. Maggie Petrie: Mary-Joan Negro.

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