Cut of Ice

"Cut of Ice" is an episode of the American television detective series Hawaiian Eye.

Synopsis

Tracy Steele and cab driver Kim are waiting at the airport to meet a courier from London, carrying a diamond for Hawaiian Eye client Paul Charring. When Tracy Steele is distracted by a fake paging call, an unknown man intercepts the courier George Crews, and leads him to Kim's cab. The cab and passengers disappear, along with the diamond. When the courier is found by police and questioned by Hawaiian Eye, he reports being kidnapped by the unknown man and a cab driver resembling Kim. Circumstances suggest Kim was expecting to receive a large amount of money soon, leading Lt Quon to order his arrest.

Kim, meanwhile, has recovered consciousness in the front seat of his cab. Learning from the radio of the manhunt for him, he panics and hides in the house of his adopted mother, Auntie Mama-san. Tom Lopaka finds him there, and learns that before losing consciousness, Kim had heard a sound like "attaboy". Kim escapes from Tom Lopaka, taking refuge with Cricket Blake at her house. While looking at photos she took that day at Kempo Karate, he realizes the sound he heard was "ataro"; he had been knocked out by a karate blow.

Kim visits Kempo Karate, but is captured by Taro Fujito. The Hawaiian Eye detectives learn that their client's partner John Miles may be mixed up in the theft. When Moke discovers their new receptionist Alice faked her references, she confesses and reveals the hideout location. Going there, the detectives capture John Miles and Taro, but still think Kim is part of the gang. However, when the gang's ringleader arrives and gets the drop on the detectives, Kim knocks him out and helps recover the diamond.

Episode cast

Series regulars

• Robert Conrad ...as Tom Lopaka
• Anthony Eisley ...as Tracy Steele
• Connie Stevens ...as Cricket Blake
• Poncie Ponce ...as Kim

Recurring characters

• Mel Prestidge ...as Lt Danny Quon
• Doug Mossman ...as Moke

Guest stars

• Roberta Haynes ...as Alice Thomas
• Frank Albertson ...as Paul Charring
• Robert Clarke ...as John Miles
• Keone ...as Taro Fujito
• Donald Lawton ...as George Crews
• Ethel Kuulei Reiman ...as Auntie Mama-san
• Clifford Kawada ...as Mike Murada
• Linda Wong ...as Teresa
• Roxanne Brooks ...as Airline Clerk

Musical interlude

This was one of the few Hawaiian Eye episodes to not have a musical interlude written into the teleplay.

Episode notes

The actor Keone appeared in many different minor roles for this series, often uncredited.

The actress Linda Wong in this episode should not be confused with the later actress of the same name who appeared in pornographic films.

A radio announcement during this episode gives the full name of Kim's character as "Donald Quisano", however other episodes render it as "Kazuo Quisado".