A Question of Time (Quincy, M.E.)

A Question of Time
Series Quincy, M.E. Season 2 Episode 4 Airdate October 14, 1977 Airtime 60 minutes Runtime Production No. 48005 Writer Irv Pearlberg (as Irving Pearlberg) Director Ray Danton Music by Guest Star(s) Peter Mark Richman as attorney Walter Kingman; Brenda Scott as Mrs. Holloway; Irene Tedrow as Dr. Ruth Thaler; Peter Hobbs as Dr. Benton; John Alderman as Tom Holloway Victim Tom Holloway (spa patron) Autopsy Findings Water in lungs consistent with drowning; body temperature and algor mortis indicate time of death prior to spa session Network NBC Production Company Glen A. Larson Productions / Universal Television Previous Episode A Dead Man’s Truth (Quincy, M.E.) Next Episode Death Casts a Vote (Quincy, M.E.) Previous Season Next Season

Health spa exterior

Filming location: health spa exterior

Episode Quote

'"I need to know the exact time he died—not for science, but for justice."
― Dr. Quincy, A Question of Time

Episode Overview

A Question of Time aired on NBC on October 14, 1977. Quincy investigates an apparent drowning at a health spa, racing to establish the accurate time of death so a widow can receive her husband's insurance payout, while clashing with a corporate attorney managing the spa's public image. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Application of The QME Episode Laws

✅ **Law 1 – Seek truth and justice:** Quincy’s urgency to time the death ensures the widow's rightful life-insurance claim, protecting her interests and uncovering the spa's negligence. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

✅ **Law 2 – Confront powerful systems:** The corporate attorney attempts to manipulate the investigation to avoid liability, framing Quincy’s efforts as a battle for individual rights against institutional cover-up. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

✅ **Law 3 – Treat complex issues sensitively:** The episode handles wrongful death, corporate responsibility, and family welfare with care, avoiding sensationalism. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

✅ **Law 4 – Maintain scientific accuracy:** Quincy uses algor mortis, lung analysis, water dilution, and time-of-death techniques aligned with forensic best practices, showcasing methodological rigor. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

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1. 1. Episode Synopsis

Tom Holloway is found drowned in a spa tub. Quincy suspects foul play when the corporate attorney, Walter Kingman, pressures for a swift “accidental” verdict. Quincy determines the death occurred before the spa session by analyzing body temperature, water presence, and chemical markers. He uncovers negligence in spa operations, protecting the widow’s insurance claim.

Plot Summary

Quincy examines Holloway’s body and notes algor mortis inconsistent with the spa timeline. Lung fluid and water samples indicate drowning earlier. The spa’s attorney attempts to influence Quincy, but forensic data reveals the truth. Quincy works with Mrs. Holloway and Dr. Thaler to document the timing, ensuring justice and exposure of corporate negligence.

Episode Navigation

← *A Dead Man’s Truth* • **A Question of Time** • *Death Casts a Vote* Season 3 Overview: Full Episode List :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Main Cast

• **Jack Klugman** as Dr. R. Quincy
• **Robert Ito** as Sam Fujiyama
• **Garry Walberg** as Lt. Monahan
• **John S. Ragin** as Dr. Asten

Guest Cast

• **Peter Mark Richman** as Walter Kingman
• **Brenda Scott** as Mrs. Holloway
• **Irene Tedrow** as Dr. Ruth Thaler
• **Peter Hobbs** as Dr. Benton
• **John Alderman** as Tom Holloway

Case File Summary

• • Victim:** Tom Holloway (health spa patron)
  • Case #:** LACC 77.10.256

Quincy confirms the death occurred before the spa session, refuting the accidental drowning claim and supporting the widow’s insurance recovery.

Additional Victims

None.

Alleged Perpetrators

• No individual perpetrator; corporate negligence is implied.

Filming Locations and Exterior Footage

Spa exteriors were filmed on location to lend authenticity to the investigation setting. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Forensic Science Insight

• **Algor mortis estimation** used to establish death timing.
• **Pulmonary analysis** confirmed drowning.
• **Hydration and water chemistry** indicated delayed submersion, aligning with Hollowsay’s earlier demise.
• **Cross-verification** with spa records and staff timelines demonstrates methodical forensic procedure. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Themes & Tropes

• **Corporate accountability** – scrutiny of health spa negligence.
• **Forensic science vs. PR spin** – Quincy applies science to challenge corporate influence.
• **Justice for the vulnerable** – prioritizing a widow’s rightful claim.
• **Ethical dilemmas in public image management** – clash between profit and truth.

Reception & Ratings

IMDb rating: **7.2/10** from ~1,100 votes. Audience reviews highlighted the episode's moral focus and strong forensics. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Trivia

• Quincy references algor mortis in detail, demonstrating its role in time-of-death estimation—a nod to classic forensic textbooks.
• Actor Peter Mark Richman later appeared in other forensic TV dramas of the era.

Cultural Impact

One of the series’ early forays into forensic discovery used for financial justice; it prefigures later legal-forensic dramas centering on time-of-death conflicts and corporate liability.

See Also

• Quincy, M.E.
• List of Quincy, M.E. episodes
• Forensic pathology
• Insurance fraud in fiction
• 1977 in television

External Links

• IMDb: A Question of Time