A Good Smack in the Mouth (Quincy, M.E.)
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Episode Quote
"Every year 2 million kids are beat up by their parents, 2 thousand of them end up on slabs."
~ Dr. Quincy
Episode Overview
A Good Smack in the Mouth is the eighth episode of Season 2 of *Quincy, M.E.*. Originally aired on NBC on **April 15, 1977** :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}, it tackles child abuse, marking one of the early socially conscious narrative arcs in the series.
Table of Contents
Episode Synopsis
Asten's wife Melissa picks up a young boy, Joey Harrison, hitchhiking late at night. After they're in a car accident, Quincy visits the hospital and notices old bruises and healed fractures on Joey—signs of repeated abuse. X-rays confirm the injuries pre-dated the crash, indicating systematic child abuse. Quincy then works to uncover the truth, gather witnesses, and navigate hospital and legal barriers to protect Joey. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Plot Summary
After the accident involving Melissa Asten and a boy named Joey Harrison, Quincy examines Joey’s injuries and detects abuse. He reviews X‑rays and interviews caregivers. Facing institutional inertia and lack of eyewitnesses, he pushes to get proper legal action. The episode highlights Quincy's advocacy for vulnerable children and his willingness to challenge authority.
← Has Anybody Here Seen Quincy? • A Good Smack in the Mouth • The Hot Dog Murder Season 2 Overview: Full Episode List
Main Cast
- Jack Klugman as Dr. R. Quincy
- Robert Ito as Sam Fujiyama
- John S. Ragin as Dr. Robert Asten
- Garry Walberg as Lt. Frank Monahan
Guest Cast
- Barbara Babcock as Melissa Asten
- Shane Sinutko as Joey Harrison
- Additional hospital staff and neighbors (uncredited roles)
Case File Summary
Victim: Joey Harrison (child) Cause of Concern: Physical child abuse (old bruises, fractures) Ruling: Protective intervention recommended
Forensic Science Insight
- Physical examination and x-rays revealed repeated trauma predating the accident—classic diagnostic evidence of child abuse :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- Bridges medical and legal procedures, illustrating Quincy’s active role in child protection
Themes & Tropes
- Social issue special – bringing awareness to child abuse
- Forensics as advocacy – use of medical evidence to challenge neglect
- Institutional resistance – Quincy navigates bureaucratic barriers, from hospital administration to law enforcement
Reception & Ratings
- IMDb rating: **7.3/10** from 158–162 users :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
- Viewer reviews describe it as a “heartbreaking” episode addressing a tough social issue :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
Trivia
- This is one of the first Quincy episodes to focus explicitly on a social issue rather than just a murder investigation :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
- Directed by Oscar-nominated actor-director Jackie Cooper :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
See Also
External Links
- [IMDb: A Good Smack in the Mouth](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0681741/)