You have to love the title for this season opener, an outstanding little mystery. Don Brinkley wrote this, though suprisingly, it was the only episode he did. Missed opportunity. Brinkley was associated with both cop and adventure shows in a long career, later creating TRAPPER JOHN.
Popular character actor Ross Elliot plays George Beaumont who basically fakes his own death in a plane crash --that he was supposed to be a passenger on but was not. Very clever. Accordingly, the insuarance money goes to his wife, but there is a third party. Enter no-account investigator Vaughn Taylor (as Harry), perfectly cast as a blackmailer who wants a slice of the pie --until George turns up dead for a SECOND time!
Don't you love this skullduggery?
This is all beautifully done and well acted by some familiar faces. Joan Camden, who appeared in three series episodes, plays Perry's client, Ruth. Future soap opera star Jeanne Cooper plays Laura.
Taylor definitely has fun with his role as you will see. He guested on many classic tv shows, generally as brooding or bitter old gents with a bone to pick with someone.
Yes, this is the first story, and actually a groundbreaking episode, employing a female judge for a change of pace. Not really clear if Don Brinkley wrote it that way, or the producers cast an actress as the judge, however the parties involved are to be congratulated.
Brinkley may have also "borrowed" the general idea from a classic ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS episode called "Don't Come back Alive," this time making the wife the phony victim instead of the husband.
SEASON 2 EPISODE 1 remastered CBS/Universal box set.