Murphy's Law

- Season 1

(1988)

D. P. Murphy is an insurance investigator and recovering alcoholic. His ex-wife won't let him see his daughter, his girlfriend won't take him back, and he must determine if a woman who died of an apparent heart attack was really murdered.

A fashion company executive is killed and Murphy must investigate. New company Vice-President Harriett Tapplinger gets on the case of both Murphy and his supervisor Wesley Harden.

Victor Beaudine takes on an insurance case involving Murphy's ex-wife, Marissa. Murphy has to find a missing rottweiler and locate a sea captain the company owes a check. If he gets a chance he hopes to see his daughter.

A brother and sister murder their rich uncle but are seen by a vacuum cleaner salesman. Murphy must prove murder before the killers can eliminate the witness.

Murphy's complaints about a disco club get him involved in an FBI investigation. Meanwhile, his attorney (played by Norman Fell) persuades Murphy to serve subpoenas.

Murphy and Kimi investigate arson involving an international relief organization. It may or may not have been an inside job. Kimi goes undercover to find out. Meanwhile, Murphy gets a promotion.

Murphy delivers $1 million to the owner of a stolen motorcycle. With a social worker checking on him ahead of potential visitation rights, Murphy thinks an apartment fire gives him cover so he can pretend it wasn't always a mess.

As Kimi visits Wes at work to ask him to keep Murphy company while she is away on a photo shoot, a disgruntled customer takes everyone in the office hostage. Meanwhile, Murphy has an odd visit from a fellow A.A. member.

Mean boss Victor Beaudine has Wes Harden fired, but as Murphy tries to get Wes's job back, the office is taken over by even meaner Morgana DeSade who creates a truly hostile workplace.

Murphy plays unwilling host to his aunt, a mystery writer; an imperious co-worker dispossessed of everything; and Wes, who's a suspect in a murder.

Kimi goes undercover to pose as the latest bride of a polygamist, called the Fox, whom Murphy has been after for insurance fraud. Meanwhile, Murphy anxiously awaits a visit from his daughter.

Murphy gets a visit from his daughter, Kathleen. Kimi finds out Murphy assumes she will help him. Wes wants Murphy to talk to a witness, but his sense of obligation to his daughter keeps getting in the way.

While Marissa is being suspiciously kind to Murphy, a jeweled egg is stolen at a charity gala and Murphy thinks the thief is the daughter of Alex Kovac, a well-known jewel thief.