Morris Dinkler is an escaped convict who takes the Partridges hostage.
Background[]
Morris was once forced to act as a lookout for a gang of robbers who threatened to beat him up if he didn't comply. He was caught and sent to prison. Despite the extenuating circumstances, Morris thinks he got what he deserved. While he was in prison, he used to annoy the guards by singing I Think I Love You. Four months before he would have been eligible for parole, the old gang broke out of prison and took him as a hostage. An hour later, they threw him out of the car.
On the series[]
Morris hears the Partridges' new burglar alarm going off and figures that the police are so used to false alarms from their house, they won't respond to a real break-in. He breaks into their garage. When the alarm goes off and all the Partridges go into the garage to investigate, Morris takes them hostage by pretending the harmonica in his pocket is a gun. He only plans to stay overnight and then leave tomorrow, although he doesn't know where he's going to go. When Reuben Kincaid arrives (and is immediately taken hostage too), Morris realizes to his delight that he's staying with the Partridge Family. The Partridges make several unsuccessful escape attempts before they hatch a plan to distract Morris by letting him watch them rehearse while Reuben calls the police. Morris plays harmonica with the Partridges on Sunshine Eyes. After Reuben carries out his plan, the Partridges talk Morris into giving himself up. They promise to act as character witnesses. When Officer Metscur arrests Morris, he tells him that they already knew he was taken hostage and didn't want to run away from jail.