- Magnum's 40th birthday is approaching and he is hired to locate a Chinese gang "shaking down" local merchants.
- Magnum, T.C. and Rick are out on the town to celebrate Magnum`s coming 40th birthday. T.C. and Rick take Magnum to a strip club and reminice about their service days when Magnum excuses himself and goes outside looking for a lucky $2 silver certificate bill his uncle gave him. In some debris from fireworks, he spots a sparkling earring belonging to TV reporter Linda Lee Ellison, who thanks him and is summoned back to a car by John Costa.
Magnum is infatuated with Ms. Ellison, and the next day is given a job by Han in Honolulu`s Chinatown to find a wolf that is preying on shop owners. Magnum discovers a lead to Ms. Ellison and begins to obsess with watching her. He sees an argument between Linda and John Costa outside the TV studio and is almost late to participate in a canoe race along the Waikiki beach.
After winning the race, Magnum paddles to a spot off the shore from where Linda lives, and watches her on shore get into another argument with Costa who sees Thomas on the water. Thomas heads back to Chinatown and sees Linda filming a segment and wanders over to her smiling as she films. As the cameramen set up the next shot Thomas introduces himself and asks if Linda would like to get some coffee.
While drinking and talking, Thomas admits he has been following Linda and wants to get to know her. She tells him she is seeing someone (implying Costa) and that she is sorry. Meanwhile, T.C. and Rick and Higgins seem to be planning something to celebrate the "big 4 0", Magnum`s birthday, though none admit to a party. Magnum`s mother (back in Michigan) has been trying repeatedly for hours to get in touch with him to wish him a happy 40th birthday.
Magnum gets information on Costa about his underworld arms dealing (a local gang is stealing military weapons and he sells them on the open market) and goes back to Chinatown to look for Linda and instead is tricked into an alley where Costa and his goons rough him up.
Magnum goes to the TV station and sees Linda editing a story on Costa and the arms smuggling. He is worried about her, and tells her he can protect her. She slaps him and tells him to leave her alone, she can handle herself and the "story" about Costa.
Magnum returns to the Robin`s Nest and does some reading about an armory breakin when Higgins brings in a roughed up Linda. Magnum sees to her injuries and gets a call from Han which he pretends is Rick and hangs up in Linda`s presense only to call Han back again when Magnum goes into the bedroom. Han tells him the "wolf" has a deal at a local shrine set for that evening, and Magnum leaves Linda to go check out the lead. He sees Costa arrive with a briefcase of money and hand it to a gang member. Just then, HPD announces their presense and after a brief gun battle overwhelm the gang and Costa`s men. Magnum is also a suspect until Linda clears it up with HPD that he is not involved. She has a camera crew and is filming the end of her story, she listened in on Magnum`s call from Han. Magnum realizes he had a foolish 40 year old fantasy about Linda, and leaves her to her story.
As Magnum gets back to his bungalow at Robin`s Nest, he is surprised by everyone in gorilla masks. Higgins, T.C., Rick and others have been waiting for him. Higgins gives Magnum a $2 bill presuming it was the special one Magnum got from his uncle (under his breath, Magnum is heard to say, "this isn`t the ..." and stops). Magnum excuses himself and in the bedroom calls his mother to thank her for his gift. The TV news is showing Linda giving her story, and Magnum switches off the set to talk to his mother.
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