My Moral Compass (5.02)
(In Monk's house, debating on telling the "truth" about Jimmy Cuzsak)
"Mr. Monk, this is an ultimatum. I will not work for you anymore if you do not tell the truth," Natalie declared firmly.
"Ok, Natalie. Let me explain again this concept of the 'greater good,'" Monk returned, "Sometimes you need to make a tradeoff between two desired goals, when both of them cannot be achieved at once. In this case, they are telling the actual truth about Jimmy Cuzsak or calling it a suicide and moving the negotiations along. Both are ideal and desirable ends for me and…ok, for me. If I do the former, the negotiations will collapse and nobody will be talking for weeks. All the garbage will pile up and soon I cannot see beyond my house. If I do the latter, true, I admittedly will be neglectful, and let the murderer get free. But given all that, you know why I have to choose the latter right?"
"No, please do explain, Adrian," Natalie replied with emphasis on his name.
Monk was a bit startled by her resolution. He thought quickly to justify his position, which was difficult with the stench in the air and his brain cells. "Here's why I cannot tell the truth about Jimmy Cuzsak. If I do that, as you know, the garbage strike will go on forever. The union will only blame the mayor and police, and vice versa. Think about the consequences: all the garbage in the streets like a mountain range, the B.M. everywhere and the stench, all the runoff into the sewer and water systems, the germs – yes, myriads of them! – in the air and water. Can you imagine what that would do to the people, especially me? Soon, everyone will hate my guts for telling the truth and nothing will come good of it. Leland will probably fire me too."
Natalie was still giving him a pointed look. She did not look convinced at all.
Monk continued, "Now, if I called it a suicide, as I did, everything would turn out better. The union and city will negotiate, and if you watch the news today, they say an agreement will come in no time. I'm a hero; the police are heroes; we are all heroes. Plus, all the garbage will be picked up. That's most important."
"Yes, for you maybe."
"It's for everyone. See, that's what the 'greater good' means. We need to make everyone, or at least the greatest number of people, happy. See, Jeremy Bentham and John Mill both agree with me. I'm sure everyone in the city would agree too. Picking up and getting rid of the garbage is most important for all of us. Who wants all the sick garbage lying around?"
"And you're saying what's important for you is also the greater good?"
Monk twitched his neck, and followed with a soft "Yes".
"That's it? Is that what you really believe?"
Monk shrugged his shoulders this time. To him, it seemed that the argument was obvious: garbage strike or Jimmy Cuzsak's case. Plus, Jimmy Cuzsak was at fault for the whole strike. It wasn't Monk fault or karma that killed him, but maybe something did happen for the 'greater good'. Monk hated thinking that way, but he had little choice.
"And what about justice? What about putting murderers behind bars? Isn't that what you swore to do?" Natalie questioned.
"Natalie, you have to understand. Justice is important, but it's just one of many factors in the greater good. It's not the most important thing in my life."
"It isn't, huh? Well, that's not the Adrian Monk I know. And that certainly isn't the Adrian Monk who has spent his life trying to solve his wife's murder. Nor the Adrian Monk who wants to get back on the police force. If justice isn't most important, then what about finding out what happened to Trudy? Maybe you should quit on that, because the case burdens the 'greater good'. I also happen to know that justice is the primary virtue on the police force. You swear to defend the Constitution and promote law and justice for all. For all, including Jimmy Cuzsak. Now that's the Adrian Monk I know and love. If you are not it, then I cannot work for you and must find the real Adrian Monk."
Natalie's words took Monk by surprising force. He always had a stubborn gene, and few, including Captain Stottlemeyer, succeeded in convincing him. Trudy did, but more often than not, she acquiesced to his quirks and habits. Natalie, on the other hand, reasoned her way to belie his 'greater good' theory. For once, Adrian Monk was stuck speechless in argument.
"Come on detective, sit down on the couch and think about it," Natalie said as she extended her arm.
Monk walked over and sat down slowly. Natalie went to the kitchen to prepare some coffee. He stared around and thought about Natalie's words. Meanwhile, Trudy's photo on the pedestal continued to smile at him. Monk thought for a long moment, and made his decision.
"Natalie, you're right. I'll go down to the police station and tell them the truth."
"Good. I knew the good Adrian Monk is still within you. And you're not just doing this because I threatened to quit?" Natalie asked with bemusement.
"No," Monk stated as he drank his coffee. He's avoiding the question, for now, but still convinced inside by her principles.
(After Monk's failed explanation implicating the mayor as "the guy")
"Oh. I have done it again," Monk agonized as he and Natalie reached his house.
"Mr. Monk, look at me. It's ok and not the end of the world. You made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. None of us are perfect," Natalie explained.
Monk looked at her incredulously. A hundred and two times, he had solved cases for the police and each time, he was right in his deductions and summations. This one time, with the garbage stench in the air, he erred. Leland must be angry with him – more than usual – and would not enjoy the next press conference. Randy was incredulous that he was wrong, for once. Well, Monk could not blame Randy, because he himself felt the same.
But Natalie's response was different. She consoled Monk but did not allow him to despair. She seemed to understand his feelings without coddling him. On the way home, she played some uplifting songs, which Monk could not understand or identify but still enjoyed.
"Here's the thing. It feels so unusual to be wrong. It's the whole stench and garbage. I just cannot concentrate and function," Monk said.
"Relax, Mr. Monk. You just need some sleep and rest to clear your head. Tomorrow's another day and I'm sure you'll solve this case. Come on, up you go, and don't think too much tonight. Get proper rest," Natalie replied as she stopped and opened the car.
"I doubt it. How can I sleep with the stench in the air? I need to close my windows and turn on my twenty air purifiers, all of them."
Natalie shook her head at his childish (or childlike?) thoughts. She walked him to his apartment door and bid him goodnight. "Mr. Monk, I'll come by at nine tomorrow, so you'll get extra rest. Good night."
"I'm deducting an hour of your pay then."
"Fine, be like that."
"Just kidding."
Adrian Monk joked. Natalie could not believe it. Maybe laughter was the best medicine to his temporary down state, or perhaps all his phobias. With that happy thought, Natalie walked down the steps into her car, awaiting tomorrow and what it would bring.
