Deadbeat

"Deadbeat"
←	L&O, Episode 7.07	→
Production number: K1108 First aired: 13 November 1996
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Written By Ed Zuckerman & I.C. Rapoport Directed By Constantine Makris

Detectives Briscoe and Curtis try to find the murderer of a deadbeat father.

Plot

Individuals involved in the case of a man murdered in a hotel room include the wife he deserted, his father-in-law, and his new fiancée.

Cast

Main cast

• Jerry Orbach as Detective Lennie Briscoe
• Benjamin Bratt as Detective Rey Curtis
• S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
• Sam Waterston as Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy
• Carey Lowell as A.D.A. Jamie Ross
• Steven Hill as D.A. Adam Schiff

Recurring cast

• Larry Sherman as Judge Colin Fraser

Guest cast

• Tamara Tunie as Caroline Bennett
• Val Avery as Max Schaeffer
• J. Evan Bonifant as Joey Reynolds
• Mark Casella as Detective Doyle
• Barbara Eda-Young as Betsy Graves
• Jim Frangione as Detective Scapelli
• David Healy as Mr. Reynolds
• Deborah Hedwall as Arlene Webber
• Zachary Kady as Billy Webber
• Madeline Lee as Judge Susan Amberger
• Abby Lewis as Mrs. Mills
• Jerry Mayer as Leon Storch
• Joyce Lynn O'Connor as Mrs. Reynolds
• Vincent Pastore as Jimmy Pogosian
• Renee Props as Victoria Lewis
• Nick Sandow as Pete Pogosian
• Scott Sowers as Joe Kirby
• Jerry Stiller as Sam Pokras
• Elaine Tse as Dr. Chen
• Jordan Lage as Charles
• Edward James Hyland as Gorian
• O.L. Duke as Jackson
• Sharon Angela as Delia
• Paul Urcioli as Bellman

References

• Arizona
• Fidel Castro
• CIA
• FBI
• Mafia
• Michael Webber (victim)
• Miami, Florida
• Nicaragua
• Nashville, Tennessee
• The King and I
• West Virginia
• Neil Gorton

Quotes

Briscoe: [about Max Schaeffer] If he did kill Webber, he's walkin' around with 50 grand traveling money in his pocket.

Van Buren: You think he's gonna run out on his grandson the same way the father did?

Curtis: You know, when we saw the kid, he was playin' a video game.

Briscoe: Yeah?

Curtis: A new PlayStation.

Van Buren: CD drive?

Curtis: Yeah, with, like, 6 games.

Van Buren: Ooh. Crash Bandicoot?

Briscoe: Uh, excuse me, young parents. My kids' idea of high technology was Barbie's convertible.

Curtis: No, Lennie. We're talkin' 'bout 5, $600 worth of video game here.

Van Buren: Yeah. Who bought it for him, and when?

Background information and notes

• The episode was later adapted into the Law & Order: UK episode "Paternal."
• Tamara Tunie plays Caroline Bennett in this episode and later goes on to play Medical Examiner Melinda Warner in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Episode scene cards

1	2	3
Women's Legal Assistance Center 332 West 45th Street Friday, November 10	Mercury Linen 2171 Lexington Avenue Friday, November 10	Apartment Of Arlene Schaeffer 542 West 45th Street Monday, November 13

4	5	6
Blixen's 701 East 46th Street Tuesday, November 14	Rikers Island Correctional Facility Wednesday, January 3	Pogosian Brothers Auto 901 11th Avenue Thursday, January 4

Previous episode: "Double Blind"

"Deadbeat" Law & Order Season 7

Next episode: "Family Business"