PLOT: Graham McVeigh is rather a stupid villain and no match for Columbo. McVeigh kills his brother Teddy while the two are in his car and then leaves the scene of the crime on a bike (this presumably was put in as a joke, as Wendt's overweight figure looks out of place on the small push bike.) Then mafia boss Vincenzo Forteli, who Graham owes money to, turns up (in fact it was Teddy who had incurred the debt but Graham's left to pay off the debt in his brother's absence.) Forteli says he wants McVeigh's ranch as payment but McVeigh refuses. Forteli says he wasn't asking him he was telling him, and if he doesn't hand over the ranch by the following evening he will kill him. McVeigh is worried and phones the police to ask for protection. Columbo, who already suspects McVeigh of the murder of his brother, says there is little he can do and puts a tail on McVeigh. Then McVeigh receives a message to meet Columbo in a restaurant. McVeigh turns up and sits down for his meal but Columbo doesn't show up. He sees one of Forteli's henchmen by the door. He calmly goes to the lavatory and phones Columbo on his mobile phone, asking him why he hasn't showed up. Columbo says that he never arranged to meet McVeigh in the first place and McVeigh finally realises it was a set up. He asks Columbo to get down to the restaurant ASAP. When Columbo shows up he is warned by Forteli to keep out of it. He threatens Columbo and Columbo says he has no choice but to leave. McVeigh panics and begs Columbo not to leave him to the mercy of Forteli, who intends to kill him. Columbo says there is nothing he can do. He hasn't got enough evidence to convict McVeigh for the murder. McVeigh agrees to confess and tells Columbo where the murder weapon is. Columbo asks if this is enough to satisfy Forteli and he agrees. As McVeigh leaves under police custody it becomes clear that Forteli and Columbo had staged the whole thing. There seems genuine warmth between Forteli and Columbo, and Forteli asks Columbo if he will stay for a drink. Columbo reluctantly turns him down, realising it wouldn't be good for his reputation if he was seen getting too friendly with a mafia boss. Then the two men say their fond farewells and the episode ends.
VERDICT: George Wendt's character is too stupid to be a good murderer and it is such a shame that Steiger did not play the murderer instead. Columbo is his by now customary old and tired self and the episode lacks energy.
