Endurance
From The Law & Order Wiki
| "Endurance" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | L&O, Episode 11.01 | → |
| Production number: E1304 First aired: 18 October 2000 | ||
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| Written By Matt Witten Directed By Constantine Makris | ||
A mother is charged with the murder of her special needs child in a fire, and attempts to use an insanity defense.
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[edit] Plot
- A man talking on his cellphone on the street has it taken away by a woman, Megan Parnell, in her nightgown, saying she needs to call 911 because her house is on fire with her son inside. Tragically, he dies in the fire. When the Fire Department discovers an accelerant was used, Briscoe and Green begin their investigation by talking with friends and the woman's ex-husband. They also investigate the possibility that the child set the fire himself. In the process, they learn that the child was severely handicapped with many medical problems. This conflicts with what the mother told them about the child's problems, which leads them to suspect her. Upon discovering the nightgown in plain view in her friend's apartment, they get permission from the friend to have it tested. It comes back positive for paint thinner, and Parnell is arrested.
- Next, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani introduces new interim DA Nora Lewin to McCoy and Carmichael. Following that, Parnell's attorney, Barry Peck, attempts to ask for low bail, but is beaten back by Carmichael. After turning down a plea offer and all of his pretrial motions, the trial begins. Peck attempts to discredit the expert testimony regarding the analysis of the paint thinner and the fire, but largely fails. He is somewhat more successful at discrediting the testimony of an ER doctor who had heard Parnell say her son would be better off dead. This causes McCoy to wonder if Murder 2 is now a stretch, but that becomes irrelevant when Peck then changes their plea to Not Guilty by Mental Disease or Defect.
- Peck calls a Doctor to testify about Parnell's alleged mental illness, but McCoy easily proves that she is not a medical doctor and her theory is not accepted by legitimate medical organizations. Peck then calls Parnell, who describes the fire and her alleged instability at the time. Upon cross, McCoy unintentionally gets Parnell to admit that she had set the fire, but had intended to commit suicide by using her son's pills so they would die together. Afterwards, McCoy wonders if maybe she did indeed need to be put in a hospital, but Lewin tells him to do his job and go for the conviction. However, he does not listen to her, and when offered the chance to include lesser charges he declines. Parnell is found Not Guilty by Mental Disease and sent to a hospital. Lewin and Carmichael both agree that they were glad McCoy was trying the case and not them.
[edit] Cast
[edit] Main cast
- Jerry Orbach as Detective Lennie Briscoe
- Jesse L. Martin as Detective Ed Green
- S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
- Sam Waterston as Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy
- Angie Harmon as A.D.A. Abbie Carmichael
- Dianne Wiest as Interim D.A. Nora Lewin
[edit] Guest cast
- Nick Chinlund as Barry Peck
- John Costelloe as Colin Parnell
- Daryl Edwards as Nathan Walpole
- Crystal Field as Wilma Lovak
- Megan Follows as Megan Parnell
- Jerry Grayson as Richie Zwick
- Sakina Jaffrey as Dr. Balikrishan
- Dani Klein as Lori Wittingham
- Felicity LaFortune as Dr. Liz Alden
- Carlos Leon as Mr. Sandoval
- Frederica Meister as Dr. Denise Swanson
- Ramya Pratt as Katie Parnell
- Judith Roberts as Judge Schepps
- Larry Sherman as Judge Colin Fraser
- Michael Showalter as Allen Gee
- J.K. Simmons as Dr. Emil Skoda
- Sam Levassar as Tom
- Rita Gardner as Jury Foreperson
- Brian Delate as Harris
- Patricia Dunnock as Eleanor
- Aloysius Gigl as Chef
- Rudy Giuliani as Himself
- Joe Gonzalez as Aguilera
[edit] References
References
[edit] Quotes
"Maybe he's not the idiot we took him for."
"He's an idiot."
- Carmichael and McCoy, on Peck
[edit] Background information and notes
- This is the first appearance of Dianne Wiest as Nora Lewin. Rudy Giuliani makes a cameo appearance as himself introducing her.
| Previous episode: "Vaya Con Dios" | "Endurance" Law & Order Season 11 | Next episode: "Turnstile Justice" |
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