Performance

"Performance"
←	L&O, Episode 5.14	→
Production number: 69419 First aired: 8 February 1995
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←	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries}}}th of 456 released in L&O	→
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Teleplay By Jeremy R. Littman & Ed Zuckerman Story By Jeremy R. Littman & René Balcer Directed By Martha Mitchell

Plot

Briscoe and Logan set out to identify the apparent victim in a snuff film, but they discover that she is alive and really the victim of a points-for-sex club at her prestigious high school.

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

• Richard Venture as Defense Attorney Douglas Greer
• David Lipman as Arraignment Judge Morris Torledsky
• Yvette Hawkins as Appellate Judge Meg Sanderson
• George Bartenieff as Appellate Judge Shawn MacNamara
• Chester A. Sims II as Appellate Judge Wayne Humphrey

Guest cast

• Monica Keena as Corey Russell
• Peter Facinelli as Shane Sutter
• John MacKay as Michael Sutter
• Maryann Urbano as Mrs. Russell
• Polly Adams as Monica Sutter
• Shane McDermott as Kyle Winters
• John P. Connolly as Nick
• Ray Girardin as Detective Malone
• Barbara Spiegel as Judge Ellen Dreiser
• Lee Shepherd as Percy Banner
• Keith Langsdale as Rose Laurin
• Gloria Biegler as Dana Kerr
• Dash Mihok as Ethan Quinn
• Lily Warren as Valerie Wright
• Kia Graves as Elise Mills
• Diane Davis as Beth Ritchie
• Devin Ratray as Mitchell Pauley
• Christopher M. Brown as Steven Quinn
• Harry S. Murphy as Mr. Parker
• Richard Bierman as Stuart
• Linda Gillen as Mrs. Winters
• Aasif Mandvi as Khan
• Terry Burke as Edwin Marx
• Billy Gillespie as Coach Lucas
• Rod McLachlan as Wally
• Andy Taylor as Frank Baker
• Robert Gomes as Jack
• Jud Meyers as Jerry
• Andy Umberger as Schwartz
• Nicholas Strouse as Stan
• Michael LaPorte as Kenny
• Cara Jedell as Susan
• Merri Ann Milwe as Court Clerk
• Sydney Symington as Jury Foreman

References

• Snuff film
• Dawson v. Delaware
• Las Vegas
• Michigan
• Sharon Stone
• Mike Todd

Quotes

Logan: Snuff films. There were some fakes floating around in the '80s.

Briscoe: You think she's acting?

Logan: [gunshot on tape] Nope.

---

Logan: Hey, how'd you like to be in one of these movies?

Briscoe: Are you kidding? I don't even like to look at my own x-rays.

---

Briscoe: Whatever happened to Spin the Bottle?

Logan: Whatever happened to their parents?

---

Kincaid: Greer filed his notice of appeal. All evidence relating to the Mack Rangers should have been excluded.

McCoy: Why, because without it Greer might've won?

Kincaid: First amendment. The Constitution?

Schiff: Yeah. That pesky thing.

---

McCoy: Rule #1: Never drink at work. Rule #2: Never discuss work while drinking.

Kincaid: They've overturned the verdicts and remanded for a new trial. Evidence of the Mack Rangers is excluded.

McCoy: Rule #3: If rule #2 is broken, never drink alone. [hands Claire a drink]

---

“	How many points do you think you'll be worth in prison, son?	”
–Jack McCoy to Ethan Quinn

---

Kincaid: I think they should all be going to jail. They still don't think they did anything wrong.

McCoy: Maybe seeing their friends in Attica will convince them.

Schiff: Teenage boys? Good luck.

---

Background information and notes

• The episode was later adapted into the Law & Order: UK episode "Line Up".
• Goof: Barbara Spiegel is incorrectly credited as "Judge Harriet Doremus" when the nameplate shown by Barbara clearly says "Ellen Dreiser".
• Goof: The physical education uniforms say "Madison Hill School" even though the scene card right before it says "The Barnsdale School".

Episode scene cards

1	2	3
The Swinger's Guide 288 Park Avenue South Monday, January 15	N.Y. County Morgue Missing Persons Squad Thursday, January 18	Apartment of Mrs. Russell 15 West 76th Street Tuesday, January 23

4	5	6
Office of Michael Sutter 241 3rd Avenue Friday, January 26	The Barnsdale School 820 East 83rd Street Monday, February 1	Java Express 148 Irving Place Wednesday, February 10

7	8	9	10
Supreme Court Trial Part 37 Tuesday, March 13	Office of The District Attorney Thursday, March 29	Office of Executive Assistant D.A. McCoy Monday, April 23	The Barnsdale School School Gymnasium Wednesday, May 9

Previous episode: "Rage"

"Performance" Law & Order Season 5

Next episode: "Seed"