Sleeping Dogs (Quincy, M.E.)
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Episode Quote
"If six people pull the trigger, justice becomes a minefield." ~ Dr. Quincy, in Sleeping Dogs (Quincy, M.E.)
Episode Overview
Sleeping Dogs is the sixth episode of Season 7 of Quincy, M.E., first aired on NBC on November 17, 1982 :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}. Quincy must testify in a small‑town murder trial involving bully Harry Muller. After witness intimidation leads to an acquittal, Muller is shot dead—then **six unlikely suspects falsely confess**. Quincy’s forensic acumen uncovers the single true shooter and restores accountability :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
Table of Contents
Application of The QME Episode Laws
Law 1 – Quincy Must Be Right
Quincy's forensic investigation doesn't stop at multiple confessions—he verifies **only one fatal shot** and identifies the real shooter.
Law 2 – There Must Be a Social/Ethical Issue
This story confronts **vigilante justice**, small‑town solidarity, and moral complicity in crime.
Law 3 – Quincy Must Tackle a Complex, Difficult Topic
With **six false confessions**, Quincy navigates a moral labyrinth about collective guilt and responsibility.
Law 4 – Quincy Must Apply Forensic Science Uses **ballistics**, **gun‑shot residue (GSR)** screening, and **rifling striation** analysis to isolate the one true shooter.
Episode Synopsis
Quincy is summoned to a small-town trial where Harry Muller—a violent local bully played by Brion James—is acquitted after witnesses are intimidated :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}. Hours later, Muller is found shot dead. In a bizarre development, **six members of the town** each confess, surrendering identical revolvers. The police label it self‑defense. Quincy disagrees, recognizing **only one bullet fired**. Through forensic testing—ballistics and GSR—he determines who truly pulled the trigger. The real shooter steps forward, breaking the town's silent code.
Plot Summary
Unreasonable Doubt (Quincy, M.E.) • **Sleeping Dogs** • Science for Sale (Quincy, M.E.) Season 7 Overview: Full Episode List
Main Cast
- Jack Klugman as Dr. R. Quincy
- Robert Ito as Sam Fujiyama
- Val Bisoglio as Danny Tovo
- John S. Ragin as Dr. Robert Asten
- Garry Walberg as Lt. Frank Monahan
- Joseph Roman as Sgt. Brill
Guest Cast
- Brion James as Harry Muller – the victim/town bully :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
- Sheila Larken as Jane Lemner – witness
- John Anderson as Police Chief Frank Ollano – enforces town consensus
Case File Summary
Victim: Harry Muller (LACC Case #78.xxx) Preliminary Findings: Single fatal gunshot wound; six guns surrendered Forensic Tests: Ballistic comparison, GSR, striation analysis Conclusion: Only one bullet fired. Quincy identifies Tom Bishop as sole shooter, others confessed to shield him.
Alleged Perpetrator(s)
- Tom Bishop – true shooter, identified via GSR and ballistics.
- Carol Fields, Joe Sanderson, Ellen Markham, Linda Cortez, and Paul Ryker – all confess but are proven innocent.
Victims
- Harry Muller – notorious local bully, acquitted, then shot dead.
Pictures
Filming Locations and Exterior Footage
Shot on location in and around **Los Angeles County**, including the local courthouse, small-town stores, police station, and the LACC morgue :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
Forensic Science Insight
- **Ballistics:** Strand-by-strand rifling analysis confirms single bullet origin.
- **GSR Testing:** Identifies actual shooter under multiple confession cloud.
- **Striation Match:** Cross-section examination eliminates false confessors.
Themes & Tropes
- Mob/Vigilante Justice – community punishes outside of legal boundaries.
- The Lone Truthbearer – Quincy stands firm amid collective deception.
- Science vs. Assumption – hard facts expose societal myth.
Reception & Ratings
Rotten Tomatoes notes the unique premise: *“Six people in a small town all confess to the shooting death of a man”* :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}. No official Tomatometer score available. IMDb/Trakt rate ~6.8/10 :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}. Fans applaud the moral complexity and forensic rigor.
Trivia
- Brion James’s performance as Muller aired just before his role in *Blade Runner*.
- The premise mirrors real-life vigilante cases of the early 1980s.
Cultural Impact
Highlights the power—and limits—of communal loyalty. Reinforces Quincy’s role as a scientific moral compass in law enforcement–shaped narratives.