Amends (L&O)

"Amends"
←	L&O, Episode 11.07	→
Production number: E1302 First aired: 29 November 2000
	{{{nNthProducedInSeries}}}th of 456 produced in L&O
←	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries}}}th of 456 released in L&O	→
	{{{nNthReleasedInAll}}}th of 1271 released in all
Written By William N. Fordes Directed By Matthew Penn

Plot

Lt. Van Buren is castigated by the Commission for her unit's unacceptable closure rate, forcing the detectives to take a look at cold cases. They decide to re-investigate a 1981 murder in which the suspects were a plumber and a powerful ambassador's son.

Cast

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 (credit only)

Recurring cast

• Shawn Elliott as Judge Joseph Rivera
• Merwin Goldsmith as Judge Ian Feist
• Thomas Lyons as Detective Byrne

Guest cast

• Ron Leibman as Defense Attorney Barry Nathanson
• Ken Marks as Michael Sarno
• Remak Ramsay as Ambassador Peter Sarno
• James Hanlon as Sergeant Charlie Curran
• Tom Aldredge as Retired Props Clerk
• Barbara Andres as Alice Mosley
• Brad Sullivan as Tommy Brannigan
• Bill Buell as Chris Paley
• Elizabeth Hess as Janice Trainor
• Tommy Hollis as Dean Issac Wadleigh
• Mateo Gómez as Johnny Estrada
• Laurie Williams as Stephanie Lucien
• Barry Snyder as Fred Jenks
• Marcia Haufrecht as Brenda Jenks
• Michael Shelle as Dr. Roy Hermann
• Ray Virta as Alex Citren
• Richard Michael Hughes as Chief
• Peter Ratray as First Deputy
• Jimmy Palumbo as Gomez
• Stephanie Berry as Bildner
• Marina Durell as Soledad Estrada
• Carol Emshoff as Peggy Brannigan
• Ian Helfer as Paralegal
• Joseph Hein as J.J.

References

• David Berkowitz
• Kurdistan
• O.J. Simpson
• People v. Wilkens

Quotes

Charlie Curran: Could've got back on the squad if I wanted, but the truth is, I'd rather be in uniform. Too much politics in being a detective. I don't know how you guys do it.

Lennie Briscoe: Oh, we're different. We're in it for the money.

“	D.M.V. can't even spell my name right and they got a twenty year old ticket in the system?	”
–Lennie Briscoe

Peter Sarno: I want what any parent in my position would. An end to the persecution of my boy.

Jack McCoy: It's prosecution, not persecution, and we're doing this because we think your son is guilty.

Peter Sarno: Please. You're just doing it to get your name in the paper.

Tommy Brannigan: I let him go. He killed a girl, and I let him go.

Lennie Briscoe: So now he's caught now.

Tommy Brannigan: You forgive me, Lennie?

Lennie Briscoe: All day long, Tommy. All day long.

Background information and notes

• This episode appears to be ripped from the headlines of the Martha Moxley and Michael Skakel case.

Episode scene cards

1	2	3
Parkside Car Service 296 E. Houston Street Friday, October 1	Apartment Of Mrs. Alice Mosely 283 West 87th Street Friday, October 1	Apartment Of Mr. Alex Citren 185 East 79th Street Monday, October 4

4	5	6	7
Office Of Dean Isaac Wadleigh Moorwood College Monday, October 4	Supreme Court Motion Hearing Tuesday, November 16	Supreme Court Trial Part 46 Monday, November 29	Lakeridge Nursing Home Jericho, Long Island Tuesday, November 30

Previous episode: "Burn, Baby, Burn"

"Amends" Law & Order Season 11

Next episode: "Thin Ice"