One Chance to Live

This is an inconclusive mess! Two stories that are supposed to overlap somehow, but no explanation or tie-in is given. I watched the epilog twice, trying to find exactly WHY the psycho killer was after "Martha Howard". Other than the comment from the florist about him throwing down the flowers, nothing is said!

The bitter wife who verbally threatens Martha Howard when she learns of the affair...no relationship between her and the whacko is established. And, who is the psycho's mother? Is it his landlady?

Finally, where was Ms. Howard planning to go when she arrived at the airport?

Very poor writing. 5 stars for this sloppy show.

Affluent spinster Martha Howard is stalked and nearly run down by a scuzzy psycho (Steven Keats). She calls the police and is met by San Francisco cops Mike Stone (Karl Malden) and Steve Keller (Michael Douglas). If the stalker didn't sufficiently terrify her the sight of Inspector Keller's 1970's sideburns, turtleneck shirt and loud sports-jacket probably did.

Stone doesn't believe her. She has made complaints to police before and they went nowhere. But Keller believes her and has proof she really is being stalked when she tape records her tormentor calling her up and threatening her.

The reason why she is being stalked is unclear though her poorly disguised affair with married Canadian cabinet minister Brian Downing (Edward Mulhare) raises suspicions which Keller and Stone argue over.

Also raising suspicion is the affair itself. Dashing, powerful, distinguished, jet-set Downing is married to a glamorous younger woman and could presumably have affairs with women more glamorous and even younger if he wanted. For whatever reason he has taken up with a woman (pleasant looking but no stunner) in her mid forties who dresses like a librarian and talks like one too.

As someone from Canada I found the portrayals of Canadians in this episode agreeable but baffling. The vast majority of Canadians don't have British accents, look like characters on night-time soap operas or dress like fashion magazine models.