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"Under the Influence"
L&O, Episode 8.11
Production number: K2517
First aired: 7 January 1998
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Written By
René Balcer

Directed By
Adam Davidson

Plot[]

A drunken driver kills three people and is charged with first-degree murder in a case that causes strong disagreements between McCoy and Ross.

Cast[]

Main cast[]

Recurring cast[]

Guest cast[]

References[]

Quotes[]

Your car came back from Russia, Bernie, with love.

–Lennie Briscoe arresting Bernard Dressler

Jack McCoy: Kills three people and hides behind the bottle.
Jamie Ross: The law says he can.
Jack McCoy: The law. Probably written on a cocktail napkin. Intent follows the bullet. It shouldn't matter if it was fired by a drunk or by Carrie Nation.
Jamie Ross: Has he talked to you about this case?
Lennie Briscoe: McCoy? Eh, briefings, witness preps.
Jamie Ross: I don't mean that.
Lennie Briscoe: You mean, has he said, "This one's for Claire Kincaid"? No. That guy got 12 months at Mount McGregor.
This is the District Attorney's office! We prosecute criminals! If you could stop thinking like a defense attorney maybe you'd grasp the concept!

–McCoy snaps at Ross

Background information and notes[]

  • Jamie Ross, concerned about Jack McCoy's aggressive prosecution of a drunk driver in this case, talks to Lennie Briscoe about the accident that killed Claire Kincaid, which happened in "Aftershock". It is revealed that the drunk driver that hit Kincaid's car got a 12-month sentence at the Mount McGregor Correctional Facility.
  • Ross mentions she was meeting someone named David for dinner. She gets engaged to him in the episode "Damaged".

Episode scene cards[]

1 2 3

NY County Morgue
540 First Avenue
Monday, October 14

One Police Plaza
Accident Investigation Unit
Wednesday, October 16

John F. Kennedy
International Airport
Friday, October 18

4 5 6

Office of
Bernard Dressler
786 Fifth Avenue
Tuesday, October 29

Karl's Exotic Car Emporium
437 West 19th Street
Friday, November 1

Chambers of
Judge Gary Feldman
Thursday, November 14

7 8

Supreme Court
Trial Part 86
Tuesday, January 7

Supreme Court
Trial Part 86
Wednesday, January 8

Previous episode:
"Ritual"
"Under the Influence"
Law & Order
Season 8
Next episode:
"Expert"
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