**SPOILERS**** On the run from to streets of San Francisco to the crowded tenements of lower Manhattan wanted for the murder of this smiling security guard, his words not mine, career criminal Steve Lollo,Jack Warden, ends holding hostage or being held hostage, they seem to take turns, himself by this self proclaimed "King of Venus" character young Mickey McDavoran, Michael McGreevey, in his personal world or hiding place on a rooftop water tower.
While together both end up getting very friendly with Mickey obviously suffering from a case of Stockholm Syndrome and Lollo from what seems like loneliness. Both weirdos seem to click together for entirely different reasons. Lollo needs a place to chill or hide out and Mickey needs a father figure. But as expected in this "Naked City" psychological study like episodes with the very in touch with his inner feelings Detective Adam Flint, Paul Burke, doing the investigating as well as explaining the end will in fact balance things out: For the cause of ultimate & universal justice!
Jack Warden does a good job trying to keep a straight face throughout the episode and not cracking up during his scenes with young Mickey who seems to be suffering for some kind of strong and powerful mind altering, LSD for example, drug that makes him sound and at time look like he's completely nuts. Mickey's widowed mom Mrs. McGreevey, Barbara Baxley, also realizes that her son is a bit off the wall but for totally different reasons. She thinks he's a thief, that's when he gave her $50.00 that Lollo gave him for hiding him, not a mentally unbalanced lunatic.
***SPOILER*** Sad ending but it had to come with Mickey freaking out when his now adopted daddy Steve Lollo tells him he'll have to leave with the cops quickly closing in on him. And then a terribly distraught and heart-broken Mickey feeling him being abandoned and left alone blows Lollo's cover by going wacko thus alerting the police in the area. What did the crazy and not too on the ball kid think? That his good friend and surrogate dad, who besides being well read in the works of Spinoza & Schopenhauer as well as Jack London, who's a great tap dancer and tremendous ex-baseball player the wanted on the loose murderer Steve Lollo will stay with him forever in that God forsaken water tower! Without anyone,including the cops,not noticing him?