PLOT:
Max Barsini is an artist with an unusual lifestyle. He lives with his wife and his lover and his ex-wife lives next door. He has sexual relations with all three of them. He plays one off against the other as they compete for his affections. He is furious when he finds his ex-wife has fallen in love with another man and plans to leave him, so he decides to murder the man. He goes to Vito's hotel, where he has a room. He shows Vito a blank canvas and then begins to paint. Vito knows not to disturb Max when he is painting so he returns to the bar downstairs and Max climbs through the window and commits the murder. Then he returns and takes out a finished painting and places it on the easel. He then shows it to Vito, who is impressed. Columbo is soon on the scene and asking awkward questions. Max explains where he was at the time of the murder. Columbo inspects the room and is puzzled that there are no paint marks on the floor. Odd considering Barsini was supposed to have painted a picture in there. Columbo is somewhat surprised at Barsini's living arrangements. He asks Barsini if he would paint him and Barsini agrees. The result is a good likeness of Columbo and Columbo is thrilled. However, that doesn't stop him from arresting Barsini for murder.
VERDICT: Patrick Bauchau is rather unimpressive as Barsini. This episode is a bit of a damp squib and the relationship Barsini has with the three women grows tiresome after a while. Whoever did the painting of Columbo deserves a mention though. I wonder who the artist was; it was unlikely to be Bauchau!
Written by Mark Wilson
(C) Copyright Wilson/Young Enterprises 2006.
CAST:
Max Barsini........Patrick Bauchau
Louise...........Fionnula Flanagan
Vanessa Barsini..Shera Danese Falk
Julie..........Isabel García Lorca
Vito...................Vito Scotti
Dr Sidney Hammer........George Coe
Ralph...................David Byrd
