Mr. Monk Is On The Run (1) - Recap

Stottlemeyer and Disher are investigating an electronic store robbery and call in Monk. Although no one is dead, the components stolen are those used to make a remote control bomb. And not just any bomb, but the exact same bomb that was used to kill Trudy Monk. Also, they determine from the fingerprints at the crime scene that the murderer had six fingers on one hand: the same as Trudy’s killer. Finally, a coded message referring to angels was seemingly dropped at the crime scene.

Monk dreams of being present at Trudy’s car when it blows up, and being unable to save her. Natalie tries to decipher the coded message when Monk wakes up and complains about how his orange juice is missing. Natalie denies drinking the orange juice and tries to prod him into figuring out the code. Monk is depressed and refuses, but after Natalie leaves he deciphers the code… and goes to the closet to take out his service revolver. He then takes a bus to a statuary company that manufactures angel statues. A man with six fingers on one hand greets him, says they’re good to go in Riverton, and asks for his money. However, when he recognizes Monk he draws a knife and Monk attacks him. Monk manages to get the advantage and draws his gun. The killer refuses to identify his boss, saying if he gives Monk the information then he’s a dead man. Monk looks at his wife’s killer for a moment, and then a shot rings out and the bomber falls down dead.

The local sheriff, Rollins, comes in right away and orders Monk to drop to the ground. Rollins reveals that the killer was Frank Nunn, who had just returned to the U.S. from South America. Monk denies shooting Nunn despite the obvious evidence. He’s arrested and taken to court where he is held with a million dollar bail. Stottlemeyer and Natalie promise to do whatever it takes to raise the bail bond and Monk uncharacteristically gives Natalie a hug. However, as he’s taken away Natalie realizes that he’s stolen her court pass. Rollins and his deputy drive Monk to prison while the sheriff complains about his cold and how he’s taking plenty of vitamin C. Monk uses the pass to jimmy the lock, jumps out, and runs into the woods. Rollins and his deputy lose Monk in the woods after he touches each tree he goes by, throwing the bloodhounds off the track.

Monk tries to steal a truck from a gas station but can’t overcome his urge to draw in perfect circles so he runs away and goes to Natalie’s apartment. Monk insists that he was innocent and the coded message was bait in a trap to set him up: someone else shot Trudy’s killer. Natalie gets a power drill to cut through the handcuffs but Disher arrives and she tries to explain why she has a power drill by saying she was going to make smoothies. Disher buys it and she slips out to get Monk free and provide him with one of her ex-husband Mitch’s Navy pilot uniform.

Sheriff Rollins is calling out all the stops, tapping Kroeger’s phone. Stottlemeyer is suspicious, wondering where the sheriff is getting the authority and why he’s so determined. Meanwhile, Monk goes back to the statue manufacturer and checks the murder scene, and determines that someone else was present behind him. Monk realizes that Rollins was in his apartment: he drank the missing orange juice to help overcome his code, then stole Monk’s revolver. Rollins switched gun chambers between his revolver and Monk’s, hid and waited for Monk to arrive and confront Trudy’s killer, then shot the bomber and had Monk lay down on the ground. Once Monk was down, Rollins put Monk’s gun chamber back, so that the ballistic report would show that Monk fired the fatal bullet. He calls Stottlemeyer but they realize there’s no way to prove Monk’s theory.

Later, Stottlemeyer comes to Rollins and tells him that Monk wants to arrange a meeting to get some food. Rollins tells Stottlemeyer to go ahead and orders a tac squad to go to the pier where the meeting is set. Stottlemeyer meets Monk that night but Monk hears a noise and draws his gun. When Stottlemeyer tries to stop him by drawing his gun, Leland has no choice but to shoot Monk several times in the chest. Monk’s body falls into the water and sinks beneath the waves.

<i>(to be continued)</i>


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