| "The Faithful" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | CI, Episode 1.04 | → |
| Production number: E2104 First aired: 17 October 2001 | ||
 | ||
| Written By Stephanie Sengupta Directed By Constantine Makris | ||
A murder takes place in a church, leading the detectives to unravel a complicated web that spans back a couple of decades.
Synopsis[]
SPOILERS! Before he became a priest, Father Michael McShale accidentally fathered a son with one Melanie Grasso years ago. The son's name was Kevin Donovan. Kevin grew up in foster homes until he was of age because neither Melanie or McShale wanted to come to terms with their unplanned son. McShale promised to take care of him, to the point of skimming church funds so Donovan wouldn't be homeless, as he was a drug addict.
One day, Kevin is caught stealing from the church box by the church sexton, Morris Abernathy, but he blames it on a homeless man nearby. Abernathy tells both of them to leave. After getting arrested then bailed out for buying drugs, Kevin returns to the church to kill Abernathy in retaliation for confronting him about stealing from the church box. Later, Kevin Donovan is found dead.
When the trail leads to McShale, McShale first lies to the police that Kevin is his lover and he feared for his life because Kevin would beat him during his drug rages. It comes to light however that Father McShale feared for what Kevin might do to Melanie Grasso if Kevin found out about her as he found Melanie Grasso's address in Kevin's wallet. Wanting to protect Grasso, he killed Kevin and gave him his last rites. Goren convinced McShale to take the plea of 25 years to life to ensure a trial needn't be necessary so Melanie's family wouldn't find out about Kevin Donovan. However, Carver is displeased to find out that Goren spoke to McShale without his lawyer and promises dismissal if Goren ever goes behind his back again.
Detail[]
Plot
Cast[]
Main cast[]
- Vincent D'Onofrio as Detective Robert Goren
- Kathryn Erbe as Detective Alexandra Eames
- Jamey Sheridan as Captain James Deakins
- Courtney B. Vance as A.D.A. Ron Carver
Recurring cast[]
Guest cast[]
- Michael O'Keefe as Father Michael McShale
- Peter McRobbie as Father Capanna
- Alex Feldman as Kevin Donovan
- Renoly Santiago as Chiggy Rios
- Dana Reeve as Melanie Grasso
- David Leary as Father Dell
- Stephen Henderson as Morris Abernathy
- Stacy Highsmith as Clarissa Abernathy
- Patricia O'Connell as Mrs. Whitlock
- Jo Twiss as Marg Cleary
- Santo Fazio as Carlos Rios
- Roy Thinnes as Sheridan Beckworth
- Michael Marisi Ornstein as Howard
- Jim Bracchitta as Attorney Winsley
- Angela Pietropinto as Sister Mary Agnes
- Rony Clanton as Slim Jim
- Michael Rivera as Hector
- Stuart Rudin as Ronnie
- Tom Cappadona as Todd
- Boston Stergis as Evidence Officer
- Tia Dionne Hodge as Telle
- William H. Burns as Police Officer
- Joseph La Rocca as Guard
- Maria Leventis as Nurse
- Mick O'Rourke as Cart Guy
References[]
- Rikers Island
- Saint Justin's Church
Quotes[]
- ADA Ron Carver: Kevin Donovan was given the last rites?" (pause, then realization) "By the priest who killed him.
- Kevin Donovan: I don't like when you talk to me like that Morris.
- Morris Abernathy: I don't care what you like or don't like. You're a good for nothing junkie.
- Kevin Donovan: I'm just one of God's children.
- Morris Abernathy: You're a sickness.
- Alexandra Eames: (Picks up book on Goren's desk.) Liturgy of the Catholic Church. You thinking of converting? 'Cause I think Father Capanna would love to baptize you.
- Robert Goren: Too late. You're speaking to a lapsed altar boy.
- Alexandra Eames: Ah, I should've known. The disregard for authority, the fascination with bad behavior.
- Kevin Donovan: You're way too hot to be a cop.
- Alexandra Eames: You're way too smart to think I'm gonna fall for that.
- Ron Carver: Detective... If you try and run one by me like that again, I'll have your badge.
- James Deakins: (Deakins and Eames watch Goren shouting and cheering bravo to a homeless man in the Interrogation room.) Great. The Goren Show's back in town.
- Alexandra Eames: You know us. We're the NYPD. We lie all the time. And we're good at it.
- Alexandra Eames: After 18 years in foster care, Kevin turns up an uncle.
- Robert Goren: Touching, isn't it?
- James Deakins: What about you? Any dazzling insights you'd like to share?
- Robert Goren: Uh...no.
- Attorney: This is pure harassment.
- Alexandra Eames: You have no idea how many times a day we hear that.
- Alexandra Eames: (to Goren) Listen to you. What did you think you were doing here? A catch-and-release program?
Background information and notes[]
- This installment actress Leslie Hendrix's first appearance as M.E. Elizabeth Rodgers in an episode from Criminal Intent. Hendrix plays the same character in Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Law & Order: Trial by Jury.
- The script from "The Faithful" was used for the Paris Enquêtes Criminelles first season episode "Requiem pour un assassin".
- Actor Roy Thinnes (who played Sheridan Beckworth) played the original District Attorney, Alfred Wentworth, in the first Law & Order pilot, "Everybody's Favorite Bagman." He was replaced by actor Steven Hill for the following ten seasons of the show.
- Actor Peter McRobbie is probably best known for playing Judge Walter Bradley on Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Law & Order: Trial by Jury, and in the short-lived Conviction.
Episode scene cards[]
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|
|
Saint Justin's Church |
Home of Morris Abernathy |
Office of the Treasurer |
| 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|
|
Office of the Rector |
Saint Justin's Church |
Rikers Island |
| Previous episode: "Smothered" |
"The Faithful" Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 1 |
Next episode: "Jones" |