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"The Wages of Love"
L&O, Episode 2.02
Production number: 67405
First aired: 24 September 1991
  th of 456 produced in L&O  
th of 456 released in L&O
  th of 1271 released in all  
Frank Lehrman
Teleplay By
Ed Zuckerman

Story By
Ed Zuckerman & Robert Nathan

Directed By
Ed Sherin

Plot[]

A double homicide of an older man and his younger lover casts suspicion on both the ex-wife and the former boyfriend of the murdered duo, with the dead man's murdered son holding the key to the mystery.

Cast[]

Main cast[]

Recurring cast[]

Guest cast[]

References[]

  • Christie's
  • New York Ledger
  • Edward Cullen (victim)
  • Alexandria Beckett (victim)

Quotes[]

Cragen: Phil, I know it looks obvious, but before we sentence the wife, remember we do have two victims here, and one of them is still wearing a tag on her toe: Jane Doe.
Logan: Maybe she had an enemy.
Cragen: Maybe she had a name.

Douglas Phillips: I didn't kill her, I wanted to marry her.
Phil Cerreta: Did she want to marry you? What was she doing at Cullen's, shopping for her trousseau?

Phil Cerreta: I wish we had a gun...
Donald Cragen: I wish I had a girlfriend named Lola.

Phil Cerreta: The State of New York says in 14 years you had three registered guns, two of them stolen.
Mike Logan: You're a hell of a security guard, George. You ought to hire a guard to watch your guns.

Adam Schiff: Pride goeth before a fall. I'll send you flowers in the intensive care unit.

Judge Rebecca Stein: If he accepts this, Ben, I'm going to make it absolutely clear they must believe beyond a scintilla of doubt, that she committed premeditated murder, or they acquit.
Frank Lehrman: Beyond a scintilla?
Judge Rebecca Stein: A mini-scintilla.

Frank Lehrman: Criminally negligent homicide. She does no time.
Benjamin Stone: No time... why don't we throw her a tickertape parade? Manslaughter one, eight and a third each count.
Frank Lehrman: It's called plea bargaining, not plea scalping. Pass.

Paul Robinette: Never seen you like this before.
Benjamin Stone: I have never done anything this potentially stupid before.

Melanie Cullen: I don't know what happened, I don't remember. I went there to talk to Eddie, I thought everything would be all right. That we could work everything out. We were married for 25 years. I thought everything would be all right. I've always loved Eddie... I've always loved Eddie.

Frank Lehrman: Murder two? Why even have it on the menu? This isn't murder, it's manslaughter.
Benjamin Stone: So you're admitting she killed them?
Frank Lehrman: No. But if she killed them, it was extreme emotional disturbance, and that's manslaughter.
Benjamin Stone: I get it, she wasn't there. And if she was there, she didn't kill them, and if she did kill them, she didn't mean to, and if she did mean to, it's because she was upset.

Background information and notes[]

Episode scene cards[]

1 2 3

Melanie Cullen's
Apartment
843 3rd Avenue
Thursday, June 28

Preston Law Boards
Review Course
Wednesday, July 11

Arraignment Court
Friday, July 20

4 5 6

Newton & Co. Jewelry
556 Madison Avenue
Tuesday, July 24

Supreme Court
Trial Part 43
Monday, September 3

Supreme Court
Wednesday, September 12

Previous episode:
"Confession"
"The Wages of Love"
Law & Order
Season 2
Next episode:
"Aria"
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