The Serpent's Tooth

"The Serpent's Tooth"
←	L&O, Episode 1.19	→
Production number: 66224 First aired (US): 19 March 1991 First aired (AUS): 22 November 1993
	th of 456 produced in L&O
←	th of 456 released in L&O	→
	th of 1271 released in all
Teleplay By Robert Stuart Nathan & René Balcer Story By Joshua Stern & I.C. Rapoport Directed By Don Scardino

Two brothers appear to be the logical suspects in the murder of their wealthy parents.

Plot

In another case ripped from the headlines, a wealthy couple's teenage sons are the prime suspects in their murders. The detectives soon learn that the boys were victims of abuse by their father. Prosecutors are convinced the brothers are solely to blame, but Detectives Greevey and Logan continue their investigation over the D.A.'s objections.

Cast

Main cast

• George Dzundza as Sergeant Max Greevey
• Chris Noth as Detective Mike Logan
• Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen
• Michael Moriarty as Executive A.D.A. Benjamin Stone
• Richard Brooks as A.D.A. Paul Robinette
• Steven Hill as D.A. Adam Schiff

Recurring cast

• John Fiore as Detective Tony Profaci
• Bernie McInerney as Trial Judge Michael Callahan

Guest cast

• Frances Sternhagen as Margaret Langdon
• Stephen Mailer as Greg Jarman
• Matt Hofherr as Nick Jarman
• Lewis J. Stadlen as Eli Schwab
• Olek Krupa as Sasha Osinski
• George Morfogen as Dwight Anderson
• Lee Wilkof as Jack Epstein
• Norman Rose as Edmonds
• Jonathan Hadary as Alex Petrovich
• Elaine Bromka as Secretary
• Don Peoples as Hecht
• John Christy Ewing as Dean
• Ted Sorel as Doctor
• Robert Riesel as Zarovic
• John Henry Kurtz as Pelletier
• Mary Barbara Alexander as Ruta
• Duke Stroud as Technician
• Johnny Dapolito as Palone
• Alberto Vazquez as Block
• Anthony Alessandro as Carpetman
• Richard M. Ticktin as Judge Rosenblum
• Edward D. Murphy as Foreman

References

• Menendez Brothers

Quotes

"What about the kids?"
"They're either innocent, or well-rehearsed."

- Donald Cragen and Max Greevey

"The family that kills together..."

- Max Greevey

"Some of my money in the bank, yeah."
"Some? Now, the bank records show that there was, last month, $6,011,301.26."
"If you say so."
"And the month before that, $9,615."
"Sounds right."
"A six million dollar difference, uh ... good month at the discount store, sir?"

- Sasha Osinski and Benjamin Stone

"He ain't heavy, he's my brother."

- Max Greevey

"A prosecution based on debt re-financing. That’s going to get you real far with the jury."
"I’ll lay it out for them. I'll draw them a Monopoly board."
"Yeah, I’d like to see them get from 'Park Place' to 'Go.'"

- Adam Schiff and Benjamin Stone

Background information and notes

• The Serpent's Tooth is a novel by Singaporean writer Catherine Lim, about a mother who worries about her family's influence on their children.
  • The title, in turn, is taken from a line in the Shakespearean play King Lear: "Sharper than a serpent's tooth is to have a thankless child."

Episode scene cards

1	2	3
Embassy Row 75 St. and Fifth Ave. Wednesday, February 21	Ballistics Lab Thursday, February 22	Residence of the late Karl & Evelyn Jarmon 6.E 75th Street

4	5	6
Jarmon Printing Co. 235 Varwick Street Tuesday, March 6	Rikers Island Correctional Facility Monday, March 12	Supreme Court Trial Part 45 Thursday, August 9

Previous episode: "The Secret Sharers"

"The Serpent's Tooth" Law & Order Season 1

Next episode: "The Troubles"