Down Time

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Down Time
Episode # 213
Air Date Dec 16, 1978
Briefing Female Car Thieves

Brief Plot

Ponch's vacation plans are ruined when a gang of female car thieves steal his newly rebuilt Firebird. Jon's wallet is stolen as a relentless streak of carelessness. Ponch breaks his pinky finger during a police chase.

Plot

Ponch’s newly rebuilt Firebird

In the morning, Ponch and Jon pull into headquarters as another squad car pulls out. While inside the building Ponch has everybody in the department follow him to the door for the surprise. Ponch takes everybody outside to show them his newly rebuilt Trans Am. Grossie guesses new car. Ponch now tells him that it’s an old car. Sindy knows that it’s the burnt out old hulk that he had picked up for $83 a couple of months ago. Ponch now goes bingo. Grossie knows Ponch had built it back up himself with a little help from Jon and Baricza. Sindy knows that Ponch has a male ego. Everybody is now admiring the car. Getraer now comes outside looking at the car and mentions to them about fair shake now then decides tells everyone to hit the bricks.

At the end of the day Ponch drives back to his apartment near the marina. As Ponch pulls into his parking spot, his new neighbor pulls into her parking spot. At the same time Ponch and his new neighbor get out of their cars she tells him that he has a nice car. Ponch knows that they haven't met yet; she introduces herself as Kim Balford. Ponch tells Kim that he lives in apartment number 127. Kim tells Ponch that she moved in just a few days ago.

A Blonde now filing her nails
A Blonde pulling out

Later, two blonde female car thieves show up on a motorcycle. The sandy blonde on the back points at Ponch's car, and the bleach blonde turns around on the bike now stops. She gets off the back of the motorcyle and breaks into Ponch's car. She gets into car and uses a slidehammer to yank the igniton lock off while the other one files her nails keeping a look out for the cops. She drives out of the parking garage.

A Blonde driving Ponch's Firebird down the street
Kim and Girlfriend driving off

She drives the car down to Al Dubowe Auto Sales, a used-car lot owned by a friend of theirs who part is of a big operation, and is helping them with the stolen cars. After arriving she gets out of the car and walks off where the salesman outside puts a sold sign on the car. Kim picks up her friend who had this morning just boosted the car in the parking garage, now making sure that there all set then starts laughing about who they had just ripped off Ponch; they drive off.

Two women making a sharp turn onto the on ramp
Two women making a very sharp turn

Later, Ponch tells Jon about his car. Jon asks him to change the subject to anything else. Ponch brags about his car hitting 60 mph in 8+ seconds and bets Jon that he can make it to Sussex Canal in a hour. Jon sees two women driving a brand new black Corvette carrying old plates. Ponch says that they stopped giving out yellow/black plates about eight years prior. Their break is cut short when they have to start up there motorcycles, and take off going up the on ramp while Ponch calls in the license plate numbers of the car. Jon now calls in a 10-4 on his CB radio. Both Ponch and Jon start chasing the car down the Harbor Freeway for couple of miles. The driver takes the exit ramp.

Two women making an escape in SAD 476
Two women pulling into Al Dubowe Used Cars

After getting off the freeway they make a very sharp turn during the chase. The women turn into the parking lot and now knock over the stop guard. Now going through the parking lot in circles while chasing them, and eventually go through the parking garage. Now out of the parking garage. Both women cut off the disable people in wheelchairs. Ponch now wipes out, and lands on his back accidently breaking his pinky finger. Jon gets off his motorcycle making sure Ponch and the disabled people are all right. One disabled person talks about how those crazy kids could have killed someone. Jon now tells the disable to split, and calls in code 4 on the pursuit. Ponch now tells Jon that he banged up his finger a little bit. Jon now tells Ponch that we have to go over to County General Hospital, and doesn't want any back talk. After losing the cops which are Ponch and Jon, the women now deliver the stolen car to the dealship, and go into the office.

While back at headquarters Baricza and the men are now moving stuff out. Baricza would now like to report a missing officers lounge. Getraer tells Baricza if he wants to laugh call me for pizza. Both Ponch and Jon arrive back from the emergency room at the hospital. Grossie goes look who is here. Sindy mentions about a fallen hero the suppost to being carried out on a shield. Baricza now goes, and guests that you will never play the piano again. Getraer now wants Ponch to come into his office. Baricza now mentions that their putting in womens lockeroom. Grossie also mentions orders from Sacramento. Sindy goes another way for womens lib. Getraer has to call out for Ponch one more time.

After going into Getraer's office, he mentions about enough problems. Ponch now mentions that he just broke his pinky finger. Jon mentions to Getraer about light desk work for at least a week. Getraer asks if he is kidding with half of the regular staff out in the hall. Ponch now wants go back onto the bike and make best of it. Getraer pulls a file out of the filing cabinet and offers Ponch some of his five days vacation time that he has coming up. Ponch goes on vacation. Getraer also mention that Ponch will be just in the way around here. Jon mention if Ponch doesn't want it that he will take it. Ponch mentions that he going to the locker room, and is going to change clothes.

Jon goes into the break room to grab a snack . Sindy mentions that now is the perfect time to on a diet if I wasn't so hungry. Ponch comes in with vacation magazines. Baricza calls Ponch if it isn't Mr. Lucky. Ponch sits down and mentions one trip to the auto club. Jon can't stand it. Baricza mentions San Francisco. Ponch starts talking about his little bronze beauty and says that on the way of course he will hit Big Sur, Carmel, and Monterrey. Sindy wants Ponch to marry her and take her away from there. Ponch asks her if she has a dowry. Jon asks if anyone has change for a buck and mentions that his wallet is gone. Getraer asks whether anyone has seen the duty roster. Grossie mentions to check his office. Sindy says that maybe he left it at home.

Jon driving Ponch home at the end of the day

At the end of the day, Jon drives Ponch and his broken pinky finger home. Ponch thanks Jon for the lift home. After arriving at Ponch's apartment Jon is looking for his wallet. Ponch says sorry old buddy to Jon. Jon notices Ponch's new neighbor from the floor above. Ponch mentions that's Kim Balford. Jon mentions the boy watching with binoculars. Ponch now that the new age, and they have their rights too. Jon asks Ponch to use his phone to stop three blank checks. Jon says you're going to split first thing in the morning. Ponch mentions somewhere around me and my bomb will be somewhere near cloud nine.

Ponch's newly rebuilt Firebird is now stolen

The next morning Ponch is already packed and carrying a garment bag and a suitcase while walking into the underground parking garage. Ponch notices that his car is gone, and he is very upset. Ponch puts luggage down and starts to run through the inside of the underground parking garage.

Ponch now has to take a checker taxicab to headquarters

Ponch is forced to take a checker taxicab to headquarters. Grossie asks Ponch if he is into rebuilding cabs now. Ponch now goes inside the building. Getraer is supervising the movers so they don't damage the doors. Ponch goes to Getraer who tells Ponch that it has to wait. Ponch tells Getraer that his car has been stolen. Getraer tells the movers to move the desk.

Ponch goes inside to the men's lockeroom to tell Jon. Jon is now talking is about his stolen wallet.

Kim getting away in Ponch newly rebuilt Firebird

Great Quote

"That Balogna" - Ponch


Guest Stars

Also Starring

Featuring

Crew

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 the Playboy 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, althrough Joey doesn't appear in this episode.

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 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 begining.

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Preceded by:
"High Explosive"
Down Time
213
Followed by:
"Repo Man"