i remember see this when it debut on tv ( well and the first part at least ) and finally get to catch up with it again . this be an epic miniseries ( a 2 nighter ) about english teacher william bradfield ( peter coyote ) who be suspect of murder his fellow teacher or secret lover susan reinart ( stockard channing ) and her two child . policeman joe van nort ( peter boyle ) and jack holtz ( gary cole ) spend nearly 6 year try to get info on the guy . base on the true crime novel by former cop joseph wambaugh ( the new centurion and the onion field ) and this one really pack a punch with the multiple twist and turn . coyote be excellent a the eccentric bradfield . one have to wonder how so many people could fall under this guy spell in real life and but coyote give a performance with such conviction that you begin to see why . the support cast and which also include treat williams and robert loggia and be great with gary cole give a really good performance .