| "The Torrents of Greed (Part I)" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | L&O, Episode 1.15 | → |
| Production number: 66222 First aired (US): 12 February 1991 First aired (AUS): 1 November 1993 | ||
 | ||
| Teleplay By Michael S. Chernuchin Story By Michael S. Chernuchin & Michael Duggan Directed By E.W. Swackhamer | ||
An assault on a candy store owner leads Benjamin Stone and Paul Robinette to build a case against a powerful mafia don.
Plot[]
Detectives arrest three members of the Masucci crime family involved in a fatal assault. Stone tries to take down the entire Mob, but his plan backfires when he's set up with false testimony.
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[]
- Bruce Altman as Harv Beigal
- Christine Baranski as Katherine Masucci Beigal
- Charles Cioffi as Frank Masucci
- Robert Fields as Mario Zalta
- Steven Keats as Defense Attorney George Zuckert
- Stephen McHattie as Joe Pilefsky
- Lee Richardson as Defense Attorney Mike Le Claire
- Ronald Hunter as Pilefsky's Defense Attorney
- Phillip R. Allen as Defense Attorney Davis
- Anna Katarina as Elena Skolnick
- Doris Belack as Trial Judge Margaret Barry
- Jacques Sandulescu as Isaac Skolnick
- Rick Zieff as Dr. Cohen
Guest cast[]
- Hy Anzell as Mr. Spivak
- Lynnie Greene as Meg Hennessy
- Christopher McCann as Edgar Hoover
- Janis Dardaris as Florence Mackey
- Joe Lisi as Mahoney
- Dean Iandoli as Finkle
- Eric Payne as Boswell
- Luis Antonio Ramos as Valdez
- James Noah as Arraignment Judge Barry Marton
- Nancy Addison as Reporter #1
- Jim Gillis as Reporter #2
- Coco Barat as Hotel Manager
- Maria Ottavia as Reporter #3 (uncredited)
References[]
Spivak Grocery; Zalta's Import-Export
Quotes[]
"What's less than nothing? Minus zero? Negative bupkis?"
- - Donald Cragen
"There is no fire like passion. There is no shark like hatred. There is no snare like folly. There is no torrent like greed."
- - The Dhammapada, chapter 18, verse 251
"I don't photograph well with egg on my face, how about you?"
- - Adam Schiff
"Look man, you know how hard it is to get work? I keep my eyes closed, I keep my job."
"What about your ears?"
"Sure, I hear stuff."
"What kind of stuff?"
"Like guys that talk don’t talk for very long. Look, I’ve seen Godfather I, II, and III."
- - Delivery man and Max Greevey
"This is New York, remember? Sometimes people get beat up just for the hell of it."
- - Donald Cragen
"Hey, they don’t play by the rules, why should we?"
"Because that’s our job."
- - Mike Logan and Benjamin Stone
Background information and notes[]
- This episode is based on the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa and the assassination of Paul Castellano. The mob boss of this episode and his crimes share similarities with those of the John Gotti crime syndicate, who were responsible for Paul Castellano's assassination. Hoffa disappeared on July 30, 1975, and was legally declared dead on July 30, 1982. The exact circumstances of his death were never resolved. Gotti and five of his brothers all joined the mafia at early ages, and Gotti soon became boss of the well-known Gambino crime family, one of the Five Families in New York City. He became widely known for his outspoken personality and flamboyant style, which were factors leading to his downfall. In 1992, Gotti was convicted of numerous crimes and was sentenced to life in prison, where he died ten years after his incarceration. (Source: John Gotti at Wikipedia)
- Both this episode and the second part aired on the same night in Australia on Network Ten, which were advertised as a special movie length episode event.
Episode scene cards[]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
New York Ledger |
Filmore Hotel |
Zalta's Import-Export |
Masucci Family Baptism |
| 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|
|
Spivak Grocery |
St. Mark's Hospital |
Supreme Court |
| Previous episode: "The Violence of Summer" |
"The Torrents of Greed (1)" Law & Order Season 1 |
Next episode: "The Torrents of Greed (2)" |