Ep 12. Mr. Monk Goes To Bank

In the season 6 episode 12 of the show Monk, titled "Mr. Monk Goes To Bank", Adrian Monk is tasked with guarding $10 million in cash that is to be transported in an armored truck from the bank to the federal reserve. The episode starts with a flashback of Monk’s first day as a police officer, where the young officer is tasked with guarding a sum of money, but due to his compulsive need for cleanliness and order, he ends up counting the money for hours while it slowly dwindles in value, leading to a reprimand from his superior. Cut to the present day, and Monk is still struggling with his obsessive-compulsive disorder and his need for order.

As the armored truck arrives at the bank, Monk is surprised and ecstatic to see his former partner, Lt. Randall Disher, now working for the bank. Disher explains to Monk that the bank has hired him to oversee the transfer of the cash and to ensure that everything goes smoothly. As Monk bonds with Disher and the two reminisce about old times, a group of robbers disrupts their conversation, causing chaos in the bank and putting the lives of everyone inside at risk.

The robbers, who are masked and heavily armed, are led by an individual calling himself “The Chairman”. They proceed to take everyone in the bank hostage, including Monk, Disher, and the bank’s manager, Harold Kemp. The group proceeds to tie everyone up and threaten them with violence if they do not comply with their demands.

As the investigation unfolds, Monk is called upon to use his detective skills to deduce the robbers’ motivations and to figure out a way to get them out of the bank safely. With the help of Disher and the local police department, Monk navigates the bank’s labyrinthine corridors, picks up on subtle clues, and starts to piece together the puzzle.

As it turns out, the robbers are actually disgruntled former employees of Harold Kemp, who feel that they were wrongfully terminated and are now seeking revenge. Their plan is to steal the bank’s money and to use it as leverage against Kemp.

As the confrontation between the robbers and the police heats up, Monk realizes that there is a way to defuse the situation peacefully. He uses his negotiation skills to speak directly to the Chairman and to offer him a chance to return the money and to turn himself in, promising that he will receive a fair trial in court.

As the standoff at the bank comes to a close, Monk’s obsessive-compulsive disorder comes into play once again. His fear of germs and contamination leads him to refuse to touch the money until it has been thoroughly disinfected, causing yet another delay.

In the end, the robbers are caught, the hostages are rescued, and the $10 million is safely transported to the federal reserve. Monk is hailed as a hero by the police department and the grateful bank employees, and he even receives recognition from the mayor himself.

Overall, “Mr. Monk Goes To Bank” is a powerful episode that showcases Adrian Monk’s detective skills and his unyielding determination to do what is right, even in the face of danger and adversity. It also highlights the challenges that come with obsessive-compulsive disorder, as Monk struggles to overcome his fears and anxieties in order to complete his mission. The episode is well-written, well-directed, and well-acted, and it is a standout among the other episodes of the series.