Blue Bamboo

"Blue Bamboo"
←	L&O, Episode 5.03	→
Production number: 69402 First aired: 5 October 1994
	{{{nNthProducedInSeries}}}th of 456 produced in L&O
←	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries}}}th of 456 released in L&O	→
	{{{nNthReleasedInAll}}}th of 1271 released in all
Teleplay By René Balcer & Morgan Gendel Story By René Balcer & Hall Powell Directed By Don Scardino

Plot

The killing of a Japanese nightclub owner who was visiting New York leads to the arrest of a singer who once worked for the deceased, and whose lawyer uses the "battered-woman syndrome" defense.

Cast

Main cast

• Jerry Orbach as Detective Lennie Briscoe
• Chris Noth as Detective Mike Logan
• S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
• Sam Waterston as Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy
• Jill Hennessy as A.D.A. Claire Kincaid
• Steven Hill as D.A. Adam Schiff

Recurring cast

• Ron Orbach as Defense Attorney Max Hellman
• Joyce Reehling as Defense Attorney Mildred Kaskel
• Shawn Elliott as Judge Joseph Rivera
• Carolyn McCormick as Dr. Elizabeth Olivet
• John Fiore as Detective Tony Profaci

Guest cast

• Laura Linney as Martha Bowen
• Aida Turturro as Cocktail Waitress
• Chuck Cooper as Art Samuels
• Ilene Kristen as Sandra Krane
• Dan Desmond as Ed Royland
• Tibor Feldman as Kendrick
• Michael Mastro as Jensen
• Tom Shillue as Danny Zabel
• Katrina Lantz as Suzy Kamecki
• Melissa Justin as Diane Elcott
• Virginia Wing as Dr. Watanabe
• Glenn Kubota as Nakahara
• Mike Girard Sheehan as Detective Dennis Murray
• Vanessa Marshall as Veronica
• Hynden Walch as Angel Monroe
• John Scurti as Hoeck
• James Doerr as Grady
• Rufus Collins as Teagle
• Daniel Hagen as EMS Dixon
• Robert Phelps as Ron
• Barbara Christie as Irene
• Akira Takayama as Karaoke Singer
• Susan Willerman as Jury Forewoman

References

• Clarence Thomas sexual harassment allegation
• Madonna
• Attack on Pearl Harbor
• Shinro Hayashi (victim)
• Charles Kett
• Japan
• Lorena Bobbitt
• Gloria Steinem

Quotes

“	Nice guy. Probably thinks you have to be born eating sushi to get the job done.	”
–Logan on Mr. Nakahara's condescending comparison of US-Japanese crime

---

Briscoe: What's the deal, Mike? Your favorite uncle died at Pearl Harbor?

Logan: It's their attitude. They think they're better than everybody else. Masters of the universe. Doesn't that bother you?

Briscoe: No, what bothers me is some kid heisting my car for a living because nobody taught him how to read.

Background information and notes

This episode was inspired by the Japanese use of comfort women during World War II.

Episode scene cards

1	2	3
Apartment Of Danny Zabel 804 East 11th Street Tuesday, July 14	Samuel's Talent Agency 720 West 55th Street Friday, July 17	27th Precinct Line-Up Wednesday, July 29

4	5	6
Suzanne's Cafe 470 Charles Street Monday, August 10	Apartment Of Diane Elcott 1077 Westend Avenue Thursday, August 13	Supreme Court Motion Hearing Wednesday, August 26

7	8	9
Office Of Dr. Elizabeth Olivet Friday, August 28	Supreme Court Part 71 Tuesday, September 15	Supreme Court Part 71 Monday, September 21

Previous episode: "Coma"

"Blue Bamboo" Law & Order Season 5

Next episode: "Family Values"