Monk
[About his new office] Natalie, you can't afford this.
Actually, you're paying for it.
Monk
I can't afford this!
Oh yes you can. Remember last month when you got that bonus after solving the Kensington case?
Monk
No.
That's because I used it for a down payment.
Monk
Grown ups have a word for that. It's called "embezzlement".
Monk
Do you still have my invitation?
Oh, yes I do. [She pulls Monk's registration form out of her purse] "Adrian 'Captain Cool' Monk"? Who's Captain Cool?
Monk
[Strikes a Macho pose] Me. That was my nickname.
You were Captain Cool? Why?
Monk
Why do you think?
Monk
Why do you think?
Monk
Look, I didn’t write the invitation! Did I-
Okay! Okay! Well, uh, good luck, and I will see you here at seven o'clock. Okay? [She teasingly strikes a mirror image of Monk's pose] Captain. [She walks away]
[Monk and Natalie are in the college cafeteria]
Well this looks delicious! So this is where you ate? I mean was this your "hangout"?
Monk
I don't know. Natalie, I-I-I think I've seen enough of this. Let's just go.
No! I'm not gonna let you go! You've been looking so forward to this!
Monk
I don't know what I was thinking. These people weren't my friends, okay? They don't even remember me! The truth is, I was invisible. It was Trudy they loved. I was always just "the guy with Trudy," just like you're "the girl with me". [Natalie stops]
Mr. Monk, why is your name on this spit-shield? [Cuts to a close-up of Monk's name on a small placard]
Monk
Well, when I was here, there was nothing protecting the food.
So you donated all of these? That was so generous of you!
Monk
Well actually, it was more of a lawsuit. Took up a lot of my spare time... [Dianne Brooks sees them and walks over]
DBDianne Brooks
Adrian! There you are. We've been looking for you! [Dianne notices Natalie and looks at her suspiciously]
Hi, I'm Natalie Teeger. [Natalie and Dianne shake hands]
DBDianne Brooks
Hi. Dianne Brooks.
DBDianne Brooks
Oh! Oh, so you two aren’t... [She points between Monk and Natalie; Natalie smiles, amused]
Monk
Oh, no. No, no, no, no. No. No. Not... not... no.
DBDianne Brooks
Ok. Where are you sitting?
Monk
Uh, we're not...
DBDianne Brooks
Kyle and I are right over here. We saved you a seat. Fair warning - we brought a lot of pictures. [They start walking in that general direction]
Monk
Not really. She was Trudy's roommate, freshman year.
Monk
Out of pity. These are what we call "pity seats".
Mr. Monk, come on! Let's have some fun! [Snaps her fingers] You said you were gonna show me your dorm room!
Monk
Well, it's right here. This is it, old #303. Uh-oh! Tie on the doorknob! A tie is wrapped around the doorknob] My roommate and I did the same thing, it's a code.
Yeah, I think I might know about that.
Monk
Yeah, it means, "Don't come in! I'm reorganizing my closet!" [Natalie stares at him incredulously]
Monk
Yeah. My roommate in freshman year, Greg, he reorganized his closet, 4-5 times a week.
Uh-huh, and did his girlfriend ever come over to help?
Monk
Oh yeah, all the time, they were real neat freaks. I used to tease them about it. "Neat freaks!" [Spots something in the student lounge] Oh my God. Oh... my... God! [Natalie moves aside] I... can’t... believe it! [They walk in] He’s still here. Hello, old friend. [Monk walks over to the refrigerator] Remember me? Oh, I knew we’d meet again. It is our destiny. [Puts his hand on the freezer door] Natalie, put your hand right there.
[Natalie puts her right hand on the freezer door]
Monk
You feel that? [Long beat]
Monk
He’s afraid. Step back. Step back. [Pulls his hand into his sleeve] I’m going in. [Monk opens the freezer door, and they find the freezer totally frosted over. Natalie turns away, disgusted]
Why did he kill the nurse?
He had no choice! Katherine Rutherford read that note twenty-five years ago. It would have been made public, she would have recognized it!
My God, Mr. Monk, he could be doing it right now! [Stottlemeyer and Disher reach the registration station]
The registration sheets are all gone!
Monk
Oh!
Monk, do you have a cell phone number?
Monk
No.
Do you know where they stayed?
Monk
[Sighs, exasperated] Some hotel!
There are over 200 hotels in this city, Monk! It’ll take us over five hours to check them all!
Monk
Hold on. Hold on! [Rolls his shoulders forward a couple of times]
I don’t know. What are you doing?
Monk
The hotel where they’re staying. It was on their registration form.
Monk
When Dianne signed in... [flashback to Dianne filling her registration sheet out on Monk’s back] We were standing in line. She wrote... she wrote on my back. [Natalie smiles, realizing what Monk is doing]
It's how he met Trudy! It’s his superpower!
Monk
Oh, there’s her name. Home address.
Okay, Mr. Monk, it was near the bottom.
Monk
She has terrible penmanship. Why did it have to be cursive? [Makes what almost appear to be spasms as he tries to remember what Dianne wrote] She ordered the prime rib, medium rare.
Keep going. It’s just below that.
Monk
Yeah, there’s an L, uh, L-E... Lexus! Is there a Lexus Hotel?
No that’s the car they drove, Monk!
Keep going. [Monk finally reaches the section with the hotel name]
Monk
There’s a “P”, “P”, No! “P”, “P”, “B”! “B”! “B”!
Monk
It’s a “B.” It’s a “B.” It’s a “B.” “L.”
NCNatalie and Capt. Stottlemeyer
Bla…
Monk
“A.”
Monk
B-L-A…The Bla…The Blab…
It’s right up the street! [They take off]
Monk
I'm Adrian Monk, here to see Dr. Sorenson.
RReceptionist
Fill this out.
Monk
It says to list your phobias.
RReceptionist
That's right.
Monk
There are only five spaces.
RReceptionist
You can use the back.
Monk
I might need another sheet. [She hands him another sheet] I might need another sheet. [She hands him another sheet] I might need another sheet. [She hands him another sheet, and repeats this a few more times]
Adrian, I cannot continue to practice anymore after today. The police think that one of my patients killed Teresa Mueller. I should have seen it coming. I didn't; I missed it. This is all my fault.
Monk
This isn't happening. This can't be happening.
Adrian, I promise you I'll get you another doctor. I'll call you next week.
Monk
Okay! So it's not true! You're not retiring! I mean, you can't because... He can't retire...
[To Natalie] This is step one in the grieving process: denial. [Monk comes back to Dr. Kroger]
Monk
Damn you, Charles! Damn you to hell! I hate you. I hate you! You are dead to me.
No, that's step two, that's anger.
Monk
Okay. Okay, we're all adults here. We can work this out. I can hire you full time, all right? Put you on payroll.
This is step three, the bargaining. It usually doesn't go around this quickly.
Monk
Why me? Why is it always me? Everybody's always leaving me.
Monk
This can't go on. I mean, it's just too much. Okay, you're right. It's not the end of the world. I'll just have to find another doctor. I owe you so much. Thanks to you, I think I can get past this. Thanks, doc.
And finally, step five, acceptance.
Thank God that's over. [Monk walks over to another police officer]
Monk
He can't retire! The man can't quit because he's not a quitter.
I don't know. It's like he's starting all over again, like he's in a loop. [Monk peeps through the window blinds]
Monk
I HATE YOU FOR THIS, KROGER! YOU ARE DEAD TO ME! You understand me? DEAD!
I really should be heading home...
Monk
Captain, for the record, this was all her idea. I mean, I wouldn't be here if I couldn't drive or had anything else to do.
OK, I give up. What is it? [Natalie produces a check]
It's a $34 dry cleaning bill to clean the shirt and jacket that Mr. Monk ruined when he ran through the poultry farm to recover the ransom money in the Jimmy Creskow kidnapping case. What are you gonna do about it?
No-no-no-no! We've already submitted this twice! It is a work-related expense, and we are entitled to compensation!
Monk
Not my idea.
Look, I couldn't agree with you more. I believe you guys are entitled to every dime you can get, but, there's nothing I can do about it. Lieutenant Disher is the Disbursement Coordinator.
Uh, he's not here. He called in sick.
Monk
Is he okay?
You know, he didn't sound too good. He's got a bad fever and he's got a cough.
Monk
With that phlegmy flu thing? [Natalie waves her hands frantically to get Stottlemeyer's attention]
Okay-okay! When Randy is not here, who is in charge of payout?
That would be the Assistant Disbursement Coordinator.
' We don't have one. Is there anything else?
Monk
Nah, that about covers it.
[Stottlemeyer has received a phone call from his ex-wife]
[Laughs] My kid, my oldest, has skipped school, and Karen thinks he’s gone to a rock show.
Monk
Oh, I used to do that! Play hooky. Go to rock shows. [Natalie looks at him skeptically]
Monk
All the time.
Anyhow, I've gotta get up there and see if I can find him.
Monk
Okay.
Yeah, you know, I wouldn't mind. [Starts towards the door]
Monk
I'll come with you.
Monk
Of course I'm sure!
I'm sorry! I just can't picture you at one of these!
Monk
What are you talking about? I used to go all the time. Get a bus into the city and see the Stones.
[Walking through the parking lot] Look at this mess! Oh for God's sakes, it's gonna take me all day to find him here! I'm gonna miss a whole day's work! An entire day! Gonna wring his little neck!
Captain, he's just a kid! Don't you just want to stay out here for a minute and calm down before you go inside?
Monk
Whoa, whoa, hold on! What kind of rock show is this?
It's the biggest festival of the year!
Monk
Festival?
[Laughs] Wait- wait- wait, Mr. Monk! You thought they were real rocks? Like a geology exhibit, like a museum?
Monk
Maybe. Perfectly understandable mistake.
Monk
Okay, well, no harm done. So, I guess I’ll need a ride home.
Monk, I’m not going home without my kid.
Monk
All right, look, I, I, I can’t... [A passerby bumps into Monk]
Monk
I can’t do it! I, I can’t go in there!
Mr. Monk, come on! The Captain needs you!
Monk
But there's-- 10,000 of them, and not even one of me!
Okay, look, I understand, Monk. Why don’t you just go wait by the car?
Monk
Yeah, I’ll go wait by the car.
Okay, it’s gonna be a while!
Monk
Yeah, I’ll be okay. Don’t worry about me. Take your time. But, but hurry back. But take your time. Hurry back. [Trails off; leaving Natalie and Stottlemeyer confused]
[Jack and Adrian's truck is careening down the hill, out of control]
I gotta say something: I'm sorry! I'm sorry I wasn't there for you and Ambrose! I'm so sorry! Oh, I'm a bad father! That's all that matters!
MMonk
You're not a bad father! Look at Jack, Jr.!
Actually, he's not even a putz! He dreams one day of becoming a putz! He lives downstairs in my basement, he smokes pot all day long, he steals money from my wallet!
No, I made it all up! I lied! I wanted to have a son I could be proud of! I didn't know I had one in San Francisco.
[Julie is taking some french fries out of the oven]
Monk
No! Your mom said no junk food. I'm supposed to be babysitting you.
Mom said I was supposed to be watching you!
Monk
You are mistaken.
Monk
Of course I am.
Monk
I think that is between me and your mother. Are you?
Monk
An hour? [Pause] I guess you're the boss.
[Monk is STILL scrubbing his hands the morning after he first meets Derek Bronson]
Monk
Any more soap?
Monk
No, I mean, is there any more soap in San Francisco?
Mr. Monk, you’ve been scrubbing your hand for nine hours! I’m surprised you have any skin left!
Monk
It’s not coming out. I can still feel it. I think it’s spreading. [Pulls out a can from under the sink]
What are you doing? Is that kerosene?! [Monk douses his hand and tosses a match to Natalie]
Monk
Light me!
Monk
For the love of God, light me!
Okay, Mr. Monk, I’m not gonna light your hand on fire!
Monk
Fine. [Monk goes over to the stove, puts his left hand over his eyes, and screams as he tries to put his hand into a boiling pot. Natalie stops him]
You know what? You know what? Get away! You are overreacting, all right! All you did was shake a man’s hand!
Monk
You’re right. You know what? I’m glad it happened. The worst possible thing that could ever happen to me has happened. I shook hands with a leper, and I survived.
Monk
The worst moment of my life is behind me now. [Wipes his hand] I’m free. Wait. [Rotates a pot handle in his cabinet] Okay, now, I’m free.
Actually, Mr. Monk, it’s not completely over. Don’t be mad, but I talked to Mr. Bronson.
Monk
You did what? What?!
He called here this morning.
Monk
The leper! He called me? On what phone? On this phone?! [Points to the kitchen phone]
Yes. [Monk pulls a roll of paper towel, wraps the phone in it, and puts it in the trash] Mr. Monk, you can’t catch anything over the phone!
Monk
Oh, oh, oh, hang on. Now all of a sudden, you’re an expert on lepers?!
Okay, you know? Mr. Monk, he’s a nice man, all right? He’s in pain! He was crying his eyes out and…okay, listen to me. He upped his offer: he said he would pay you $25,000. All you have to do is meet him again!
Monk
Natalie, listen. Let me explain something to you: No!
That’s it? That’s your argument?
Monk
Okay, let’s go through it. A: whatever he’s asking us to do is probably illegal. "B" through "Z": the man is a leper!
You know what, I don’t know anything about leprosy, and neither do you. So, I called a doctor. He’s a specialist. He said we could come in, and talk with him. Let’s just see what he recommends, okay? I mean, it can’t hurt to listen, right? $25,000!
“Wife claims missing billionaire husband still alive. Probate hearing is set for tomorrow. Former homicide detective Adrian Monk is set to testify.” What the hell is Hansen’s Disease?
Monk
Leprosy. He’s a leper.
LDLt. Disher
I thought they lived in colonies, you know, like in Ben Hur.
And, uh, you met this guy face to face?
Yep. He’s a client, and he called us. He needed our help. Mr. Monk put aside all his fear and prejudice, and offered to do what he could, and I am very, very proud of him.
Monk
I shook his hand. I can still feel it!
He’s not at all contagious. We talked to a specialist. Randy, I think you might know him. Dr. Polanski?
Really? Because we thought we saw your picture hanging up in his office.
LDLt. Disher
Right. It was a case. I was undercover, posing as a kid, a teenager with bad acne. Captain, you remember that case?
You’re on your own, Randy.
Monk
It’s still tingling.
Well, I’ll tell him you said hi. We’re going out tomorrow night.