Patriot

"Patriot"
←	L&O, Episode 12.24	→
Production number: E2226 First aired (US): 22 May 2002 First aired (CAN): 22 May 2002 First aired (AUS): 1 August 2002
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Written By William N. Fordes & Sean Jablonski Directed By David Platt

Plot

The detectives come to believe that a victim in a building explosion may have been a terrorist.

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
• Elisabeth Röhm as A.D.A. Serena Southerlyn
• Dianne Wiest as Interim D.A. Nora Lewin

Recurring cast

• Leo Burmester as Lester Hastings
• Leslie Hendrix as Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers
• Charlotte Colavin as Judge Lisa Pongracic
• Fran Lebowitz as Judge Janice Goldberg
• John Cariani as CSU Julian Beck

Guest cast

• Terry Serpico as Frank Miller
• David Aaron Baker as Adam Teague
• Christopher Durham as Major R. Drifka
• Marc Damon Johnson as Mr. Jamison
• Stephen Payne as Gerald Platt
• Elisa Pugliese as Secretary
• Matt Fischel as Department Staffer
• Edward Hajj as Imam
• Robert Colston as Tenant #2
• Eisa Davis as A.D.A.
• Brian Donahue as Uniform Cop #1
• T.V. Carpio as Laundry Lady
• Raul Aranas as Landlord
• Mike Benitez as Clerk
• Ed Bogdanowicz as ESU Team Leader
• Chris Bauer as Sergeant in Wheelchair
• Bill Hoag as Fire Marshal
• Scott Johnsen as Boss
• Peter Elliot Rabin as Foreman
• Ron Lee Savin as Tenant #1
• David Shumbris as Officer #1
• M. Douglas Silverstein as Court Clerk
• Tony Travis as Superintendent
• Mark Elliot Wilson as FBI Agent
• Paul Acocella as Juror (uncredited)
• Jordan Gelber as unknown

References

• EBank
• Iowa
• World Trade Center
  • Mohammed Atta
• Gulf War
• World War II

Quotes

Briscoe: So, we got a best guess yet on cause-and-origin?

Fire Marshall: Well, Arson's doing the prelim now, but based on the burn patterns, I'm thinking gas leak.

Briscoe: Bomb Squad will be relieved.

Fire Marshall: Are you kidding? They evacuated the whole block when they got here. These days, you don't know who you're dealing with.

Briscoe: Yeah, well, the job wasn't exactly routine before.

“	In World War II, we put Japanese Americans into camps. I'm sure everyone concerned at the time thought it was right. But that didn't make it right. Or legal.	”
–Jack McCoy on American national prejudice after being attacked.

Background information and notes

• The episode touches on the subject of prejudice to Muslims and Arabs after the 9/11 attacks.
• Curiously enough, the defendant shares exactly the same name of famed comic book writer and artist Frank Miller, known for his anti-Islamic leanings, which he reportedly expressed through one of his works, Holy Terror.
• This is the last episode with actress Dianne Wiest (Nora Lewin) as part of the main cast of Law & Order. Her last appearance in the Law & Order franchise was in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Chameleon".
• Goof: This episode aired on May 22, 2002, but the episode scene cards correspond to a 2001 calendar.

Episode scene cards

1	2	3
King House 152 First Avenue Tuesday, April 3	Puff 'N Stuff Laundromat 192 East Houston Street Wednesday, April 4	United States Department Of State 11 Federal Plaza Friday, April 6

4	5	6
El Farid Mosque 142 Prince Street Friday, April 6	Teague Media 168 Hudson Street Monday, April 9	Pearson Pharmacy 157 Canal Street Tuesday, April 17

7	8	9
Rikers Island Correctional Facility Friday, April 20	Chambers Of Judge Lisa Pongracic Monday, April 30	Supreme Court Trial Part 73 Tuesday, June 26

Previous episode: "Oxymoron"

"Patriot" Law & Order Season 12

Next episode: "American Jihad"