1983 - T.J. HOOKER: Vengeance Is Mine

Director: Tim Burton

T.J Hooker: William Shatner
Lt. Paul McGuire: Leonard Nimoy
Valerie McGuire: Michele Tobin
Larry Foster: Randoph Rowell

Lt. Paul McGuire and Hooker are friends for a long time. They are on their way with Romano to a robbery in process. From the rear seat of the car Paul tells Romano about his confidence in Hooker's instincts and reactions. They arrive in time to stop and arrest the robbers who were just escaping through the back door of the store. During the arrest one of the robbers shoots at McGuire – who's saved by his friend, Hooker, pushing him aside. Hooker shares with Romano that McGuire has once saved his life, too. 

After her work in the health club is finished, Val McGuire is asked for a date. Because she's too tired, she explains to Larry Foster that she's won't make it today. The same man then covers his face, takes out a gun, waits for her to leave the club and rapes her. Again in the patrol car with Hooker and Romano, Paul McGuire gets the call. McGuire rushes to the club, goes with his daughter in the ambulance and meets Hooker again while he's waiting in the hospital to see her. The desperate father recalls the night Val was born and struggles hard to believe what has happened now. When they are allowed in Paul desperately tries to find out who had done this to her and Val says she can recognize the voice of the attacker. Hooker sees his friend's agony and knows what both are going through. In the line up at the police station Val recognizes the voice and states that she is quite sure – her slight hesitation makes an official identification an easy pray for Larry's defense: he cannot be convicted despite McGuire's protest. Paul is totally frustrated and angry about the legal system since both, he and Hooker, know that there were several rape charges on Larry – unsuccessfully because of lack of doubtless identification. 

At home he listens to Val who still feels dirty and helplessly tries to comfort her. The only thing he can do now, since he's lost his confidence in the legal system, is to take revenge into his own hands. He breaks into Foster's home, steals the gun which obviously was used for the rapes before and plants it at the scene of the crime. He too arranges that it is found – making Hooker aware of McGuire’s involvement. Now Hooker has to confront his friend in spite of knowing that he is desperate. Waiting for him on McGuire's evening run, he tries to convince his friend that his interference will do more harm than help the arrest of Foster. Not believing that waiting for official progress would get Foster charged, he is not able to see Hooker's point and attacks him because he feels misunderstood by Hooker. 

Meanwhile the superior officer has found out about McGuire's interference in the case and orders him to leave his badge with him. Now McGuire feels betrayed by both, arguing with the superior and then with Hooker as a victim who's treated as the offender and the offender being protected by the law. Hooker's investigations concentrating on previous rapes committed by Foster bring him to a witness whom he can convince to testify against Foster – and he can arrest Foster, while he is trying to rape another woman. Foster is jailed. McGuire's desperation cannot make him wait for another failure of the legal procedure. In fear Foster might get away without being convicted again, he is not able to see the consequences of his actions and takes a gun. He forces the policeman in charge to open the cell and abducts Foster. 

While he's forcing him into his car, Hooker and Romano arrive on the scene, trying to tell Paul, they've got a solid case against Foster. In his agonizing attempt of vengeance McGuire drives off chased by Hooker and Romano. The road ends at a deserted factory where the two get out, McGuire holding Foster at gunpoint. When challenged by Hooker, McGuire aims at him, knowing that he cannot shoot at his friend but driven by despair. A frightened for his life Foster beside him. Fighting an agonizing inner fight he lowers his gun in the end. 

In his cell McGuire realizes how far he has gone. When Hooker and Val visit him, Hooker is sure that Paul's many years of service will even “one mistake”.