The Old Man and the Sledge - Recap

Hammer and Doreau stop off for a cup of coffee but the waitress tells him they're out of coffee. Doreau gets a report of gunfire but his parked car is pinned in. After some maneuvering with a garbage truck, Hammer gets out and arrives at the site. An old man was arrested for firing a gun at a social worker who was trying to take him to a retirement home. The old man identifies himself as Gilmore Yates and Hammer recognizes him as one of the greatest cops who has ever lived. Hammer takes Gilmore under his wing despite the social worker's objections. Gilmore tells them they can leave but Doreau insists on taking Yates in. After Hammer's endless adulation, Yates begs Doreau to take him in.



At the station, Yates explain he can't get by on his pension and was forced to retire. Trunk says that social worker won't press changes if Yates goes to the retirement home. Yates refuses and says he'll prove he's still got it. He starts beating up on a likely suspect only to discover he's an undercover detective. Trunk puts Hammer in charge of Yates, and Doreau in charge of Yates and Hammer. As they head home, Doreau tries to convince Yates to go to the retirement home and the ex-cop explains that he kicked out his wife because she couldn't understand him. Yates asks to ride with them for the rest of the day and Hammer agrees, overriding Doreau. They go to the firing range where Yates ends up firing the wrong direction. Hammer wants to give Yates a chance and they go over to the police board to look for jobs. Yates decides to take a security guard position but the jewelry storeowner, Mr. Smith, doesn't want an old man. Smith is expecting an expensive shipment from the Van Bornstein estate and Hammer convinces him to take on Yates on a provisional basis.



Later, as Hammer and Doreau get coffee, Doreau admits she's seeing Hammer in a new light given his compassion toward Yates. He suggests they go see how Yates is doing. Yates is busy frisking customers when Hammer and Doreau arrive. He shows them around and points out the Van Bornstein jewels, as well as a nervous diamond cutter. Smith asks them to leave but after they go, two masked burglars arrive and take the Van Bornstein jewels, which they ask for by name. Yates drops his gun and one of the robbers shoots him. Hammer and Doreau get the radio report and arrive to find the injured Yates.



Later, Yates is taken to the retirement home where he blames Hammer for his situation. He wants to go down to the police station to identify the robbers, but Hammer says that Smith says the robbers can't be identified and the jewels were insured. Yates refuses to let it drop and says that Hammer owes him. Doreau warns against it and Yates storms off. Hammer finally gives in and take him out to the car. When Hammer's car won't start, Yates suggests they use his wheelchair battery to jumpstart the car, but the backlash sends Yates flying. Back at the station, Yates doesn't provide a particularly useful description but has a good ear for the voiceprints. They go over suspects' voiceprints and come up with Red Williams, who worked for a Bruno Reese. Trunk comes in with word that Smith's jewelry store was held up again and this time the owner shot the robbers. They go there and coroner Norman Blates identifies them as Williams and Reese. Smith explains he bought his own gun and Hammer points out it's odd that the same men robbed him. Smith dismisses his suspicions and says that he's shutting down the store. Doreau concludes that the case is over and they go to the retirement home to explain to Yates. He insists that the case isn't solved and says one of the robbers pronounced Smith's name the way Smith wanted it pronounced. The partners don't believe him but back at the station, Hammer has doubts once he learns that there was no sign of the stolen jewels at the robbers' home.



Hammer goes to see Smith, who is living in the lap of luxury. Smith's new girlfriend is wearing Van Bornstein jewels and Hammer spots her, then explains how Smith set the whole thing up. Smith shoots Hammer's gun out of his hand with a hidden revolver, but Yates arrives via wheelchair and knocks Smith into the pool. Hammer recovers his gun and gets Yates out of the pool, Later at the retirement home, Trunk gives Yates a commendation award and Yates is now head of security at the retirement home. He spots a woman stealing pound cake and pulls his gun to deal with her...



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