Partners of the Month (PotM)

Männerwirtschaft

Week starting April 16th, 1995

Shelly Goldstein

Alan Simmonds

Deborah Rennard as Julia Winwood & Victoria Adilman as Victoria Levy

The episode opens with its customary teaser: An attractive woman, dressed in lingerie, is preparing herself for a night to remember, but the object of her affections is not interested in anything but his computer. He seems to be doing something quite urgent, and when she tries to convince him to at least acknowledge her, he only tells her "Very pretty." She has biting words for him and then storms off. He calls after her, but realizes it's no use. He returns to his computer, though later on, we see a gun lying on the floor, and the same man drooped over his desk, with blood trickling from his head to his hands.

Police cars are stationed outside a large fancy house, which Schanke affectionately calls "Snob Hill". Inside, amongst the homicide squad, Nick, Nat, and Schanke discuss the death. The maid had discovered his body, and alerted the man's-Jonathan Levy's, wife, Victoria Levy. She called the police. Fatal gunshot wound straight to the head. There is a suicide note found, addressed to Victoria. It looks like suicide, Nat tells them, but she can't be sure until she completes an autopsy. The partners question the wife, and Nick detects just a hint of bitterness in the other detective's voice.

In the Caddy, Schanke tells Nick that he believes Jonathan Levy's death was no accident. Victoria was responsible. "What's really bothering you?" asks Nick. Schanke voices general frustrations with married life, and we can see that there is trouble in paradise in the Schanke household. In fact, he's sleeping on the couch.

At the police station, Schanke hands Cohen the paperwork on the Levy case, and hints that they deserved the Partners of the Month plaque for their continuously excellent work. Too late, Cohen says, they won't be getting the plaque this month. She asks for Nick's opinion on the case, where he answers "it's too early to tell." Both Schanke and Nick have different points of view on the circumstances surrounding Levy's death, so Cohen tells them to work on it, and follow all possible directions.

Natalie tells Nick and Schanke that it still seems like a suicide. Schanke still demands it's the wife, and points at her prints on the gun to back up his hunch.

At the loft, Nick is lying on his couch, listening to the Nightcrawler's daily "uplifting" monologue. Someone starts banging heavily on the elevator door. When Nick opens it, his partner bustles right by him with a box of pizza and a six pack, ready to do some celebrating. For what? He's left Myra.

Schanke tosses Nick a beer can, and he holds it gingerly, with a startled look on his face. Schanke begins to bring in his things, packed neatly in a cardboard box, and gives Nick his most unusual keepsake to hold - his lamp, shaped like a duck. Nick tries to convince his partner to return home and reconcile with Myra, in which Schanke says accusingly, "You don't want me to stay here." Nick reluctantly lets him stay at the loft.

The next day, Nick wakes up and heads over to the fridge to get a bottle of his choice meal. Schanke, on the other hand, has prepared a sumptuous breakfast of eggs and bacon, which he tries to cajole Nick into eating. He gets offended when Nick refuses, and tells him that both he and Myra don't appreciate good 'ol Schanke. Natalie calls, and is amused to find that the two partners have become roommates. She tells Nick that the case of Jonathan Levy definitely looks like murder.

Nick and Schanke return to the Levy residence, where family and friends have gathered after the funeral. Nick talks to James Coulter, Jonathan's lawyer, while Schanke meets with Julia Winwood, the deceased's "close" personal assistant. Both learn interesting information, which they share with each other once inside the Caddy. Schanke reveals that there was trouble in the Levy's marriage, while Nick confides that Julia and Jonathan were having an affair on the side. He also tells Schanke the most interesting bit of news: Levy had written Julia Winwood into the will, giving her half of everything. Schanke is upset that Nick has managed to upstage him again, while Nick tries to tell him that it really doesn't matter. They're partners.

The argument continues in the precinct; Schanke sees this latest information as even more hardcore proof that Victoria murdered her husband. Nick disagrees. Cohen sees them fighting and warns the partners that they should "stop acting like you're married". Harry, a detective at the precinct, uncovers the fact that the supposed "suicide" note was actually written 2 days BEFORE Levy's death.

The pair visits Julia Winwood, where she tells them that she and Jonathan were deeply in love, and he had promised to divorce his wife, in order to marry her. Then, during a visit with Mrs. Levy, Schanke tells her that Jonathan meant to leave his mistress half of everything in his will, an idea that was still up to speculation. Victoria Levy is grief stricken. Schanke and Nick argue again about the case, and Schanke's actions. This fight eventually leads to Schanke storming out of the loft, possessions and all, and heading over to The Raven. He talks with Janette, and tells her his marital and friendship woes, while she reflects on her breakup with Nick.

Suddenly, Schanke realizes that he needs to return to Myra, and furthermore - Jonathan's real intentions for the will. He meant to return to *his* wife, which means no one else would have a motive but Julia Winwood.

In the meantime, Nick learns that funds have been transferred from Levy's Swiss account to another in the Caymans after his death. When Schanke goes to confront Winwood, she pulls her gun on him. Nick is ready to burst in and save the day, but he remembers his partner's biting words about Nick always having to be the hero and getting the glory. Instead, Nick indirectly helps his friend by stopping the descent of the elevator Winwood and Schanke are in, giving the latter time to wrestle the gun away from the murderess and handcuff her.

At the precinct, Schanke gives a "thank you" speech to the bored audience at the station, as he triumphantly held the "Partners of the Month" plaque he so wanted. Schanke has some making up to do with Myra, while Nick has ideas along the same line.

At the Raven, Janette is surprised to find a card and a package, tied with a gold ribbon, waiting for her. She reads the card and unties the ribbon to unveil the painting she and Nick had quarreled over during their past relationship. Nick stands by watching, and tells her he offers it back to her as a form of peacekeeping, between friends. She replies by giving him a passionate kiss, and Nick responds wholeheartedly.

Nick and Janette have been living together for 97 years, longer than any "married couple", but Nick is hurt, confused, and shocked when Janette decides to move-on, without him.

He finds her packing her things, and as much as Janette tries to reassure him that this is what she has to do, Nick cannot accept the fact that she is leaving him. Janette tries to explain that vampires, just as mortals, yearn for excitement, for adventure. She is bored, and restless, and now is her time to see the world. Nick is devastated. "I love her," he tells LaCroix.

When he sees Janette reach to take the portrait of herself (painted by DaVinci) away with her, Nick, bitter and spiteful over her leaving him, won't let her take the portrait. He argues that even though the picture is of her, it is just as much his as it is Janette's. She relents when he points out that she is tearing his life apart by leaving him.

Later, when she is gone, Lacroix tries to comfort Nick by telling him "there is plenty of love left in the world."

The episode has some superbly written dialogue, as the interactions between Nick & Schanke and Schanke & Janette are priceless. The parallels fit perfectly, as the show explores relationships between "partners" of all types-friends, lovers, and spouses. I wasn't too thrilled with the main story (of the Winwood murder), although it did set the theme for the overall episode, and applied itself rather well to the conflicts the regular characters were experiencing. The only thing that got to me was the woman had to be really dumb to write her lover's suicide note on the computer, as well as transfer funds out his account immediately after his death and expect not to get caught by the police. It seemed too unbelievable to me, but at least it worked well with the rest of the intertwined stories.

There are some unforgettable scenes, such as Schanke offering Nick eggs, and later on, seeing him dance at the Raven. Then, there is the victory speech Schanke gives, upon receiving his Partners of the Month plaque, that is SO typical Schanke. It bores everyone to tears. Watch for when Schanke realizes that his beloved plaque has his name misspelled as "Shanke". But, I liked seeing Schanke be the hero for a change, letting Nick and the audience know how he felt.

I liked how the painting of Janette was used as a token of friendship, or "maybe more", in this episode, when Nick gave it back to her. Later on, in The Human Factor (third season), we see the same painting used again as a symbol, though there is disagreement among fans on what it means.

The entire episode flowed well; the dialogue, the action, the storyline, all of it, really fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. There were no choppy moments, and all the elements of a good, well-done episode, were interwined to make for some good stuff. Another bonus: you'll definitely get a lot of laughs out of this episode!

FoDs:	Friends of Don would definitely enjoy this episode! By far, the biggest draw of this episode was Schanke. His fights with Nick were hilarious, and his dialogue with Janette is terrific. Plus, Schanke's duck-lamp is a must-see! He had the best lines, and I loved seeing Schanke come out as the hero!
Immortal Beloveds:	Janette and Nick concentrated flashbacks, an almost entirely relationship-focused episode, Janette talking about her feelings for Nick with Schanke, the hopefulness in her eyes when Schanke mentions Nick might be dropping by the club, and the end-scene with that yummy (and lengthy) kiss!
Ravenettes:	Janette, along with Schanke, has some of the best lines in this episode. Here we see Janette, the independent, beautiful vampire who has Nicholas, even after 800 years, still enchanted.
Knighties:	The Nick and Schanke scenes are classic! This is the first time we really see them *fight*, as partners, and as friends.

Nick & Lacroix:	Nick: "I loved her." Lacroix: (during flashback, comforting Nick) This has nothing to do with love... Immortals can't cling like lichen to a stone. (check out Queen of Harps!!!)
Janette & Nick:	Janette: (calling from the Raven. Schanke is partying and dancing) "Nicola, your friend is here." Nick: (surprised) "Schanke? What's he doing at the Raven?" Janette: "He's scaring away my customers."
Schanke & Janette:	Schanke: (about Nick) "You know, I could really see you two together. You must've been really something once." Janette: "It was a very long time ago." Schanke: "I know when. In college, right?" Janette: "Actually, it was closer to the Renaissance."
Schanke & Janette:	(Both thoughtful, talking more to themselves than to each other.) Schanke: "Sometimes, I think I hear her voice." Janette: "And I see his face in a crowd." Schanke: "Or call her name out loud." Janette: "Or remember the softness of his kiss." Schanke: "Is is just me, or did we just walk into a Sinatra song?"
Schanke & Janette:	Schanke: "What happens to a person when you leave the love of your life looking for cheap thrills?" Janette: "In my case, usually homicide."

Lacroix's monologue, as usual, pertained to what was happening in the episode. It was combined this time, with a caller, whom he gave advice to. It was a short speech, about not holding onto a love that has been lost, and to move on.

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