Down Time

Down Time
Episode #	213
Air Date	December 16, 1978
Briefing	Put out an APB for blonde, beautiful burglars. Ponch's prized car is boosted by a cadre of female thieves.

Title screen

Brief Plot

Ponch is proud of his newly rebuilt Firebird, but sadly his car gets stolen. Ponch's vacation plans are ruined when a gang of female car thieves steals his newly rebuilt Firebird. Little does Ponch know that his new neighbor is part of the gang that stole his and other vehicles from the Marina area. Jon's wallet is stolen as a relentless streak of bad luck afflicts the duo. Ponch breaks his pinky finger during a police chase. Getarer loses the duty roster. Sindy wants to go on a diet and get married.

Plot

Ponch’s newly rebuilt Firebird

Ponch now showing off with Baricza and Jon

After just another morning of constant rain a motor officer finally starts riding out while Ponch and Jon pull into Central on their bikes, and a patrol car pulls out. Ponch is now inside the building by having Sindy, Baricza, and Grossie follow him to the back door. Ponch finally agrees to take them outside for a very special surprise in the parking lot. Jon is walking in the other direction, and Ponch stops him just in time to turn him around in the other direction. Ponch now finally opens up the back door by letting his friends go outside to show them a very special surprise which actually turns out to be a recently restored Pontiac Firebird Trans Am in parking lot. Ponch just had it freshly repainted in the original color which is actually Canyon Copper, and finally ends up putting a brand new bird decal on the hood.

Ponch new neighbor Kim

Brandy is filing her nails

Sindy, Baricza, Grossie, and Jon are now starting to admire Ponch’s beautifully restore car. Grossie was actually starting to think that Ponch would eventually give up on the restoration project, and consider trading in that old hunk of junk car of his for a brand new set of wheels. Ponch now reassures Grossie that it’s actually the same car. Sindy knows that it’s actually the same old, and ugly burnt out hunk of junk car that Ponch had bought for $83 at a fire sale about two months ago. Ponch knows that Sindy is actually about the car that he just finish restoring a couple of days ago. Grossie actually knows about Ponch restoring the car by himself along with a little help from his friends, and is very impressed with the beautiful restoration work.

Melodie is now backing up

Melodie is now pulling out

Both Jon and Baricza now look at Grossie for his comment on Ponch's car. Sindy knows that Ponch actually has a male alter ego for old muscle cars. Ponch now has his feelings hurt a little a bit by Sindy's sexiest remark about the car. All of Ponch’s friends are still admiring his beautifully restored car. Grossie now finally decides to give Ponch a very special compliment on his beautifully restored car. Ponch is now proud new owner of this beautifully restored car. Sindy now decides to have a long talk with Ponch about his beautifully restore car. While Ponch and Sindy are having a long talk their actually unaware about Getraer is coming outside only to admire this beautifully restore car for just about a minute. Getraer finally admires Ponch’s beautifully restore car for just about a minute, and is impressed with the restoration process.

Melodie is now driving Ponch's Firebird down the street

Kim and Melodie are now driving off

Getraer now finally decides to change his mind about admiring Ponch’s beautifully restore car, and wants all of his colleagues to hit the streets right now in order to do their jobs. While Sindy, Baricza, and Grossie now finally decide to do their jobs, and will get going along with the rest of their day in order to protect the streets free from crime. Jon now finally decides to do his job, and gets going along with the rest of the day by putting on his aviator sunglasses. Jon now finally decides to walk away, and is actually leaving poor Ponch still standing there like a vegetable admiring his beautifully restore car. Ponch will eventually now decide to get going along with Jon, and rest of their day together by finally walking away from his beautifully restored car.

Kim and Melodie are now driving away

Melodie and Brandy make a very sharp turn onto the on ramp

At the end of the day around five o’clock in the late afternoon after Ponch has just finished running some errands, and finally picks up his uniform from the dry cleaners. Ponch is now driving back all alone to his apartment at the marina, and while deciding to enjoy his beautifully restored car. While Ponch is still driving on the outside of the underground parking garage, and is unaware that his very strange beautiful new neighbor with very short blonde haircut has just finished pulling into her parking spot. She is now starting to finally get out her beautiful brand new Datsun 280Z, and Ponch has just finished pulling into his parking spot. Ponch with a recently broken pinky finger, and her now finally decide to get out of both of their cars at the same time.

Melodie and Brandy are driving a little to fast

Melodie and Brandy making a very sharp turn around the corner

She is now carrying her bag of groceries for the week, and all of sudden starts walking towards Ponch. While Ponch is trying to get his dry cleaning, and the next minute his beautiful new neighbor has just now decides to show up while carrying her groceries only to start admiring his beautifully restore car. Ponch now decides to stop getting his dry cleaning for a minute only to start admiring his beautiful new neighbor, and her very special compliment on his beautifully restore car. Ponch now finally starts admiring his beautiful neighbor, and the next minute this seems very strange because they didn’t introduce themselves to each other yet. She now finally decides to take a turn by going first, and introduces herself as Kim Balford.

Melodie and Brandy now knocking down an automated stop guard

Melodie and Brandy now making an escape in SAO 476

Kim now decides to let Ponch know about finally moving into her new apartment, and it was just two days ago. Ponch now finally decides to welcome Kim inside the parking garage at the marina, and finally decides to introduce himself as Frank Poncherello. Ponch now decides to shake Kim’s hand with a recently broken left pinky finger, and now let’s her know that he actually lives in apartment number 127 just in case you ever need to borrow some things. Kim now finally decides to let Ponch know about borrowing some things, and just starts walking away in a hurry to go someplace. After Kim now finally starts walking away, and just leaving Ponch still standing there like a vegetable now staring at her very sexy body.

A baby blue Firebird passing by the car dealer

Two women pulling into Al Dubowe Used Cars

Within an hour later around six o’clock in the early evening when two very strange, and mysterious looking beautiful female car thieves that actually both have blonde hair now finally decide to show up riding around on a recently stolen Kawasaki KZ200. After receiving a tip from an anonymous phone call by their friend Kim who now actually lives in the apartment building down at the marina on stealing a beautifully restored Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. Melodie Fisher while riding on the back of a recently stolen motorcycle, and now actually manages to spot the beautifully restored car that is temporarily located in it’s usual reserved parking spot. Brandy is actually riding the recently stolen motorcycle, and now finally agrees with Melodie by managing to turn around in order to come to a full complete stop.

Baricza making a joke about Ponch's broken left pinky finger

Jon now enters the break room for a snack

Melodie now finally agrees to get off the back of the motorcycle, and starts walking towards the beautifully restored car. Melodie now finally manages to break into the car by popping the lock with a slim jim. Melodie now finally manages to get into the car, and decides to use a slide hammer to yank the ignition lock off. Brandy now files her beautiful long fingernails while keeping a look out for the cops that are actually on duty this early evening. After Melodie finally finishes starting up the car with a screwdriver, and is now pulling out of the reserved parking spot. Melodie now finally makes a last minute decision to follow her best friend Brandy who’s actually riding around the recently stolen motorcycle.

Sindy eating a doughnut while enjoying a cup of coffee

Ponch now enters the break room

Around seven o’clock the very next morning after Melodie has finally gotten a good night sleep, and finishes taking a quick shower in order to freshen up followed by a change in clothes. Melodie finally delivers the recently stolen car down to Al Dubowe Auto Sales which is actually a local used car lot that is part is of a big time fencing operation, and is owned by Oscar who is a friend of theirs who is also helping them fill the contract on the recently stolen cars. After Melodie finally arrives at the used car lot, and she now gets out of the recently stolen car by walking away while Oscar outside puts a sold sign on it. Melodie now finally walks away by actually getting into a car driven by her friend Kim, and start laughing about they just ripping off their victim of the day which turns out be Ponch by driving off.

Ponch is now reading some local vaction brochures

Ponch is now sitting down while reading vacation brochures

Earlier that same day around lunchtime at twelve o’clock in the early afternoon. Ponch and Jon now have their speed trap set up while taking a lunch break at a construction site near the entrance ramp of the Harbor Freeway. While sitting on their bikes, and Ponch just can’t seem to stop be annoying towards Jon by talking about his beautifully restored car. Jon now wants to change the subject with Ponch besides talking about that beautiful car that he just finished restoring a few weeks ago. But Ponch just can’t seem to get his mind off the subject about that certain car, and is now starting to become intolerable by still talking about his car going from 0 to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds. Ponch now wants to make a bet with poor Jon that he can actually drive his car from Tel Aviv to Sussex Canal in less then a hour and a half.

Everybody nows checks for Jon's missing wallet

Jon driving Ponch home at the end of the day

While still on their lunch break, and Jon has actually just became so annoyed by Ponch talking about his beautifully restore car. Jon now catches two beautiful looking women that are actually driving around in a recently stolen Corvette that is carrying a set of old expire license plates, and happens to be speeding through traffic by cutting off other cars. Ponch knows that the State of California had stopped making those license plates about eight years ago. Their lunch break is actually now cut very short when they have to start giving a little police pursuit of a recently stolen Corvette by going up the Harbor Freeway entrance ramp. Both Ponch and Jon are now thinking that the Corvette could be recently stolen, and is temporary carrying a change of expire old license plates.

Porsche passing by the apartment building

Ponch's newly rebuilt Firebird is stolen

Ponch now agrees to call in the expire license plate numbers of the recently stolen Corvette, and Jon calls in a big 10-4 on his CB radio. Both Ponch and Jon are still in hot pursuit of a recently stolen Corvette that is now speeding down the Harbor Freeway for couple of miles. Both Melodie and Brandy are actually now enjoying the police pursuit of Ponch and Jon, and then decides to make a last minute decision by taking the Harbor Freeway exit ramp. While Ponch and Jon are still in hot pursuit of a recently stolen Corvette that is now speeding through the city streets, and at the last minute they actually decide to very quickly to turn around the corner. Both Melodie and Brandy now decide a little fun with their police pursuit which is actually given by Ponch and Jon by finally turning into a city parking lot.

A checker taxicab pulls into Central

Ponch has to take a checker taxicab to Central

Melodie and Brandy now accidentally running over an orange cone, and then knocking down an automatic stop guard while going through without paying to park. Melodie and Brandy now finally decide to drive around in circles, and then followed by driving through the city parking garage. While Ponch and Jon are still in hot pursuit of a recently stolen Corvette, and being unaware of a handicapped group of veterans that have recently returned home from Vietnam. The handicapped group of Vietnam veterans are actually trying to learn how to use their wheelchairs along with the help of a rehabilitation therapist. Melodie and Brandy now dangerously approach the rehabilitation therapist that is trying to teach a group of recently handicapped Vietnam Veterans how to use their wheelchairs.

Ponch is now calming down with Jon in the office

Ponch now decides to go to centrals auto theft division

Only one fortunate handicapped Vietnam Veteran out of whole group manages to make it across the sidewalk very quickly in his wheelchair. Melodie and Brandy while driving a recently stolen Corvette now decide that they don’t care about the recently handicapped group of Vietnam veterans, and finally exiting the city parking lot by cutting the rest them off including their rehabilitation therapist. Ponch is actually now trying to stop very quickly in order to avoid hitting the handicapped group of Vietnam veterans along with their register male nurse. Ponch is now scraping the ground his bike along with his right hand, and causes him to accidentally wipe out on his bike. Ponch is now lying on the ground of the city parking lot after being thrown from his bike, and is unaware that he accidentally broke his left pinky finger in the process.

Ponch and Kim getting closer to each other

Kim and Melodie attemping to break into a Lincoln

Jon now finally manages to come to a full complete stop without wiping out on his bike. Jon now gets off his bike very safely, and carefully only to check on Ponch who is still lying on the ground of the city parking lot isn’t injured. Jon now checks on the handicapped group of Vietnam Veterans, and their rehabilitation therapist to make sure that they weren’t injured during the recent incident. Jon now agrees to help get the uninjured Ponch off the ground of the city parking lot. Jon now has to take a report from one very upset rehabilitation therapist that is actually complaining about the two crazy women driving a recently stolen Corvette that could have easily killed someone today. After Jon finally finishes taking the report from the rehabilitation therapist, and decides to let the handicapped group of Vietnam Veterans get going with the rest of their day.

Kim and Melodie run through a red light

Kim and Melodie now driving on the docks

Ponch finally now takes off his left hand glove, Aand is actually trying to massage the swelling out of his recently injured left pinky finger. While Ponch is trying to shake off his recent medical injury, and while Jon is now using the CB radio from his bike in order to call in code 4 to the dispatcher at central about losing the pursuit of a recently stolen Corvette. Jon now notices that Ponch is trying straighten out the knuckle of his recently injured left pinky finger. Jon now knows that Ponch was lying to him about not being injured during the recent incident. Ponch now once again is trying to actually lie to Jon about not being injured during the recent incident. Ponch eventually does decide to the truth comes out about recently injuring his left pinky finger after wiping out on his bike during the pursuit of the stolen Corvette.

Kim Melodie now ditch the car into the water

Kim wearing a bikini while partying on a boat

Jon now knows about Ponch’s recent medical injury, and has to take him to the nearest emergency room which is actually the Los Angeles County USC Medical Center. Jon now knows that Ponch can very stubborn about going to the emergency room for treatment of his recent medical injury, and doesn't want to given a hard time today. Ponch now has a very upset look on his face, and is actually worried about going in for medical treatment of his recent injury. After Melodie and Brandy finally escape the police pursuit by deciding to slow down, and continue with caution by delivering the Corvette to the dealer. Both Melodie and Brandy now decide to finally get out of their recently stolen Corvette, and walk into the office building.

While back at central where the contractors are now starting their remodeling project today by making complete modern up to date changes in the building. Baricza now comes in carrying a box, and decides to have some fun with Getraer by trying to report a missing officers lounge. Getraer is now really upset about the contractors that are now starting to remodel central today, and doesn’t want hear a stupid joke today but instead wants Baricza to call on the following Tuesday for a good joke. Baricza still continues to ignore Getraer, and finishes carrying the box to the table. Both Sindy and Grossie are now filing some up to date paper work today. Grossie now really decides to be obnoxious big shot after seeing Jon arrive back from the emergency room, and embarrasses Ponch by announcing their arrival.

Both Sindy and Baricza now decide to tease Ponch about his recently broken left pinky finger. Sindy now decide to tell Ponch a stupid story about a fallen hero that is supposed to being carried out on his shield today. Ponch is now even more embarrassed about his recent medical injury, and doesn’t want to hear Sindy’s stupid story about the fallen hero today. Baricza now decides to tease Ponch about never learning how to play the piano again. Ponch is very upset about his recent medical injury, and doesn’t to hear any jokes from his colleagues today. Getraer now decides that he wants Ponch to come into his office in order to file an up to date medical injury report, and walks out of the officers section.

Ponch and Jon now decide to ignore Getraer’s immediate request to come into his office in order to file a recent up to date medical injury report, and want to know all about the contractors starting remodeling project today. Baricza now agrees to give Ponch and Jon the information about them finally deciding to put in a women's locker room. Grossie now agrees to give Ponch and Jon the additional information about the remodeling orders to put in women’s locker room actually came from state office in Sacramento. Sindy now thinks that it’s just actually another way for women's libration to come forward in the workplace. After finally being ignored by Ponch's refusal to come into his office in order to file an up to date medical injury report, and now Getraer becomes angry by yelling at him for refusing to listen.

After Jon now finally agrees to accompanied Ponch into Getraer's office in order to go file a recent up to date medical injury report. Getraer now has move some boxes in order to sit at his desk just to file a recent up to date medical injury report. Getraer now sits at his desk just to file a recent up to date medical injury report, and wants see Ponch’s left hand in order to a good look at the broken pinky finger. Ponch is now embarrassed about showing Getraer his left hand, and finally agrees to do it while wearing a splint on his broken pinky finger just to finish filing a recent up to date medical injury report. Getraer is now smiling in order to keep from laughing at the story about how Ponch accidentally breaks left pinky finger during a police pursuit of stolen Corvette.

Jon now suggests to Getraer about Ponch doing a light workload while on desk duty for at least the minimum of one week. Getraer now turns down Jon’s suggestion about Ponch going on desk duty because he already knows that half of the regular staff is actually gonna have to work out in the hallway. Ponch now wants to go back on the streets while being temporarily assigned another bike, and is willing to make best of it. Getraer now moves the typewriter in order to pull a file out of the filing cabinet, and offers Ponch actually a whole week of vacation time. Ponch is now very surprised about finding out that he actually has a whole week of vacation. Getraer now suggests that Ponch actually take a whole week of vacation, and eventually he will lose them by the end of next month.

Jon now finally decide to offer by taking a whole week of vacation if Ponch just wants to go on desk duty for the remaining time of the day. Ponch now decides to change his mind about going on vacation for a whole week, and finally agrees to take the royal treatment plan for a recent medical injury. Ponch now walks out Getraer’s office with Jon, and wants to plan out a whole week of vacation activities by going into the men’s locker room to change his clothes. Getraer now finally hears the telephone ringing while sitting in his office desk chair, and actually has to dig through a whole bunch of boxes without any help just to answer a certain very important phone call from the state office in Sacramento.

Meanwhile in the lunchroom where both Sindy and Baricza are sharing two cups of coffee and two doughnuts by enjoying each others company, and reading a magazine together. Jon now enters the lunchroom after dealing with Ponch’s recent medical injury report, and wants to grab a quick snack out of the vending machine. Sindy now wants to go on a diet but later changes her mind, and finally finishes eating her doughnut. Ponch now finally comes into the lunchroom by reading a couple of vacation brochures, and includes a certain men’s magazine from the local travel agency. Baricza now decides to give poor Ponch a hard time for receiving the royal vacation treatment for a recent medical injury.

Ponch now finally sits down to plan out his whole week of vacation activities, and needs to run some errands after work by first going to the local auto club. Jon just can't stand it when Ponch starts planning his whole of vacation along the beautiful scenic route of the coast. Baricza now finds out that Ponch actually wants to visit the bay areas of San Francisco, and some other vacation areas including Oakland. Ponch now wants to get an early start tomorrow morning by driving along the beautiful scenic route of the coast in his recently restore car, and along the way he will actually be visiting the town of Big Sur which also includes Carmel then followed by Monterey. Sindy now decides that she wants to marry Ponch by tonight in order to go on their honeymoon tomorrow morning as newlyweds to San Francisco.

Kim getting away in Ponch's newly rebuilt Firebird

Kim doing a sharp turn in Ponch's newly rebuilt Firebird

Kim driving Ponch's newly rebuilt Firebird

Kim going airbourne in Ponch's newly rebuilt Firebird

An Ambulance arriving at the accident scene.

Ponch's newly rebuilt Firebird involved a wreck now with an out of control fire

Great Quote

"That Baloney" - Ponch

Guest Stars

• Burr DeBenning as Bill Ross
• Randi Oakes as Kim Balford

Also Starring

• Brianne Leary as Sindy
• Brodie Greer as Baricza
• Paul Linke as Grossman
• Susan Kiger as Brandy
• Deborah Zon as Melodie Fisher
• Cynthia Brian as Teller

Featuring

• Barry Cahill as Max Kinneman
• John Hart as Boat Owner
• Alfred Dennis as Companion #1
• Art Lewis as Companion #2
• Norman Mont-Eton as Oscar

Crew

• Produced by: Cy Chermak
• Written by: Richard B. Mittleman
• Directed by: John Florea
• Executive Consultant: Rick Rosner
• Story Editors: William D. Gordon & James Doherty
• Associate Producers: Wm. L. Young and Paul Rabwin
• Developed for television by: Paul Playdon
• Music by: Alan Silvestri
• Theme by: John Parker
• Music Supervisor: Harry V. Lojewski
• Director of Photography: Robert F. Sparks
• Art Director: Joseph M. Altadonna
• Editor: William Neel
• Unit Production Manager: Thom Anable
• Assistant Director: Richard Schor
• 2nd Assistant Director: Mary Lou Maclaury
• Script Supervisor: Jack Gannon
• Set Decorator: W. Joseph Kroesser
• Production Consultant: Bob Hayden
• Technical Advisor: Dick Barton
• Sound: Robert Sheridan & Hal Watkins, C.A.S.
• Stunt Co-ordinator: Paul Nuckles
• Wardrobe Supervisor: Shelly Levine
• Makeup: John M. Norin
• Casting: Michael O. Hanks
• Locations by: Cinemobile Systems
• With Appreciation to Glen B. Craig, Commissioner California Highway Patrol
• Motorcycles Furnished by: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
• Automobiles furnished by: Ford Motor Company
• Filmed in METROCOLOR / Titles and Opticals MGM
• Rosner Television in association with MGM Television

Fun Facts

• The first time that Ponch had finished his newly rebuilt Firebird it had a Trans Am bird on the hood.
• Kim Balford is played by Randi Oakes who would later play Bonnie Clark in seasons 3 through 5 of the show.
• Susan Kiger, who plays Brandy was Playboy's Playmate of the Month for January 1977.
• Ponch's original interior inside the car was black leather.
• Ponch's original factory mags were charcoal Z28 Rally Wheels.
• Ponch's car was the left over movie car from the film Corvette Summer.
• Ponch's car is a 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.
• Ponch's car has a second lower side vent exclusive to 1971 Formulas.
• Ponch's interior includes high back bucket seats.
• Ponch's car exterior also includes Trans Am Fender extenders, Trans Am air extractors, and a rear top spoiler.
• Ponch's license plate is 033 PCE.
• Ponch's car was also driven Joey Aresco's character Niles in the first season episode Crack-Up, although Joey doesn't appear in this episode.
• When Jon drives Ponch home, we see Jon's truck at the intersection of Adams Blvd. and Arlington Ave. View in Google Maps
• Kim lives in Apartment 217.
• Al Dubowe's Auto Sales was at the intersection of La Cienega Ave. and Washington Blvd. in Culver City.
• The truck loaded with cars passes Davis Bros. Tires located at 5931 Washington Blvd. in Culver City.
• The ambulance is actually the 1968 Ford Econoline left over from the episode High Explosive.

Mistakes

• Jon actually mentions that the 1978 Chevrolet Corvette C3 is a 1977 model.
• When Ponch introduces himself to Kim his pinky finger is broken, but this does not happen until later when he wrecks while they are chasing the Corvette.
• When the Corvette approaches the group in wheelchairs, the first guy in a wheelchair is nearly across the parking lot exit when we see the Corvette approach. When the shot cuts to the interior of the Corvette, he has just begun to cross the exit.
• When Kim runs into Ponch and Jon having lunch, she refers to him as 'Ponch' although he has only introduced himself as Frank Poncherello. Why wouldn't she call him Frank or Officer Poncherello?
• The scene where Ponch shows the department his newly rebuilt 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, and middle scene where Melodie and Brandy steal his car are at the beginning.
• While sitting in the Lincoln, Kim refers to "the talkative one to the left, happens to be a cop looking for a stolen car, his stolen car" ; however, Jon was to their left, not Ponch.
• Before Grossman pursues Kim and Melodie in the Lincoln, we see traffic moving behind him in close-up shots; however, when he begins pursuit, there is no traffic--everyone is stopped at the light.

The Lincoln is empty.

• When Kim and Melodie ditch the Lincoln, it seems as though they went into the water in with the car; however, the car is empty as it leaves the pier.

Melodie shows through her bikini top.

• A network censor apparently missed Melodie's bikini top.
• The car that Kim and Melodie are being chased by Grossman in changes license plates. They start out dark in colour with yellow lettering. As it plunges into the water, the plates change to yellow with dark lettering.
• Melodie's clothes change from a brown tight sweater and slack to blouse and jeans in between stealing Ponch's car and delivering it.
• Whomever painted Ponch's Firebird did a fantastic job on it. They painted the grills, headlight buckets, and all of the chrome window trim as well.
• When Jon is giving Ponch a ride home in his pick-up, he makes a right on red without making a full and complete stop. The cross traffic light has just gone to yellow.
• When the Firebird rolls over during the final pursuit, the fuel tank has been removed. Also, the left rear tire appears to be completely bald (or a racing slick).

Buy this episode

• Down Time on DVD at Amazon.com

Preceded by: "High Explosive"

Down Time 213

Followed by: "Repo Man"