No Deadly Secret (Quincy, M.E.)
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Episode Quote
'"We’re always told to watch out for ‘them’… maybe if the facts were known, We The People could decide what’s safe."
~ Dr. Quincy, in No Deadly Secret
Episode Overview
No Deadly Secret kicks off Season 3 on NBC, airing September 16, 1977. With a runtime of approximately 60 minutes, Quincy is pulled into a mysterious scenario where a man he believes he autopsied has vanished entirely—including all evidence. What begins as a midnight emergency on his boat evolves into a high-stakes conspiracy with missing bodies, altered identities, and silenced witnesses.
Episode Synopsis
At around 4 a.m., Quincy is roused on his boat by a gravely injured friend, Carl Hopwood. Quincy carries him to the morgue, performs an autopsy, and concludes he died from a beating. But come morning, every trace of Carl—body, slides, reports—has vanished. Quincy’s solitary witness, a lab assistant, dies from a suspicious overdose. Meanwhile, Quincy learns someone is impersonating Carl at his workplace. With his credibility fractured, Quincy fights against institutional doubt to reclaim the truth.
Plot Summary
1. Quincy is called to his boat at dawn where he finds Carl Hopwood fatally injured. 2. He conducts an immediate autopsy in the morgue and contacts police, suspecting homicide. 3. The following day, forensic materials and the body are missing; Quincy faces incredulity. 4. The morgue assistant who witnessed the body dies from an "overdose", eliminating a witness. 5. Quincy confronts an impostor living Carl’s life, forcing him to prove the original Carl existed. 6. Through painstaking forensic sleuthing—reviewing slides, audio, lab notes—Quincy uncovers the conspiracy behind the cover-up and restores order.
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
- Elaine Joyce as Quincy's girlfriend on boat :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
- Troy Melton as Carl Hopwood :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- Mary Frann, Ina Balin, Norman Burton among others :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Case File Summary
Victim: Carl Hopwood Case #: LACC 77.09.001
Carl’s death was staged to look like a random assault. The erasure of evidence and impersonation suggest a deliberate, calculated scheme. Quincy’s diligence and forensic discipline ultimately expose the truth.
Forensic Science Insight
- Autopsy detects blunt-force trauma inconsistent with accidental causes :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
- Forensic pathology and toxicology combined to reveal overdose as murder.
- Disappearance of physical evidence illustrates chain-of-custody vulnerabilities.
- Use of autopsy audio recording as a legal tool emphasizes evidence preservation.
Application of the Quincy Episode Laws
✅ Law 1 – Truth & Justice: Quincy fights to uncover the truth despite erasure of all evidence, serving justice for Carl.
✅ Law 2 – Social & Ethical Issues: The episode tackles institutional corruption and the suppression of truths by powerful forces.
✅ Law 3 – Complex Topics: Themes of conspiracy and identity theft are handled with suspenseful respect, avoiding sensationalism.
✅ Law 4 – Scientific Accuracy: Detailed dialogue and procedure around autopsy, toxicology, and evidence handling showcase strong scientific accuracy.
Themes & Tropes
- Conspiracy & Cover-up – evidence and identity erased to conceal wrongdoing.
- Isolation of the Truth-teller – Quincy stands alone amid disbelief.
- Forensic Science as Shield – advanced pathology counters deception.
- Impostor Tension – deeply rooted psychological and investigative intrigue.
Reception & Ratings
The episode is lauded in fan rankings (#5 of Season 3) with IMDb rating 7.6/10 from over 1,300 users :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}. Critics highlight its engrossing, paranoia-driven plot :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}, though some note the conspiracy premise strain believability.
Trivia
- Apartment set reused in the next episode “Tissue of Truth” :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
- Jack Klugman famously disliked the plot twist where Quincy’s observations appear dismissed earlier in similar scripts :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.
Cultural Impact
Season 3’s opener reinforces Quincy’s legacy as a pioneer for forensic-driven TV drama, spotlighting institutional distrust and the value of meticulous medical investigation well before modern procedural shows.
See Also
External Links
- [IMDb: No Deadly Secret](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0681812/) :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
- [TV Guide: No Deadly Secret](https://www.tvguide.com/) :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
- [TVmaze episode entry](https://www.tvmaze.com/) :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}