| "Virtue" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | L&O, Episode 5.08 | → |
| Production number: 69412 First aired: 23 November 1994 | ||
 | ||
| Written By Jeremy R. Littman & Mark B. Perry Directed By Martha Mitchell | ||
Plot[]
McCoy uses a charge of "larceny by extortion" against a councilman whose former colleague claims he demanded sex in exchange for a law-firm partnership.
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[]
- Joanna Merlin as Defense Attorney Deirdre Powell
- John Ramsey as Judge Walter Schreiber
- David Lipman as Arraignment Judge Morris Torledsky
- Jurian Hughes as Assistant M.E. Gardner
Guest cast[]
- Anthony Heald as Councilman Spencer Talbert
- Regina Taylor as Sarah Maslin
- Christopher Cousins as Todd Locke
- Lily Knight as Penny McNeely
- Anne Lange as Evelyn Talbert
- Erik LaRay Harvey as Marty Pine
- Nancy Addison as Edith Nash
- Sharon Cornell as Jerolyn Adams
- Cynthia Darlow as Lisa Franklyn
- Seth Barrish as Stuart Hendricks
- Catharine Boyd as Dr. Sandra Means
- Chris Walker as Bailey
- Paul Schulze as Randall
- Deirdre Lovejoy as Judith Crockit
- David Edward Jones as Ken Shepski
- Robert Trumbull as Bennett Cole
- Robert Shampain as Reporter #1
- Geraldine Bartlett as Reporter #2
- Merri Ann Milwe as Court Clerk
- Marvin Klompus as Jury Foreman
References[]
- New York City Council
- United States Congress
- Wall Street
Quotes[]
- Powell: This has to be a joke. "Larceny by extortion"? That's when the mob says, "Pay up or I'll burn down your restaurant."
- McCoy: "Sleep with me or I'll destroy your career." Same thing.
| “ | So what? If we assume that everything Sarah Maslin said is true, my client is the quintessential sexist son of a bitch. He not only advantage of Miss Maslin, he demeaned her. He humiliated her. He destroyed her dignity. As a woman, I'd like to go over there and smack him in the head. But as an officer of the court, all I can do is say, "So what?" Sarah Maslin was ambitious. She wanted to get ahead and she got what she wanted by her own choice. She alone determined her fate. Sure she may be emotionally distraught. But under the law, you hurt someone's feelings, you take out your checkbook. You do not go to jail. | ” |
–Defense Deidre Powell's closing statements | ||
| “ | Give me the keys to your house, or I'll charge you with murder. I'm the D.A. I can do it. Give me $10,000, or I'll tell the Feds about that shipment of heroin I saw you pick up at J.F.K. I'm the D.A. They'll listen. What would you do? I can tell you what I'll be doing for the next 10 years or so. I'll be in Attica. Because what I just did is called extortion. And it's a felony. Sleep with me or I'll tell your boss that you're under indictment for fraud. It's not true, but do you really think you'll be working next week? Sarah Maslin worked for eight years. She was the best, the most productive associate in her firm. She had clearly earned a partnership. But the only way that she could get it was to have sex with the man who had the power to make or break her career. Sarah Maslin laid down on that couch for Mr. Talbert. But can any of us say that she really had a choice? | ” |
–Jack McCoy's closing statements | ||
Background information and notes[]
- Regina Taylor and Sam Waterston both starred in the short-lived NBC TV series I'll Fly Away.
Episode scene cards[]
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|
|
Accident |
Campaign Headquarters of |
Office of |
| 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|
|
Sarah Maslin |
Office of |
Office of |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Supreme Court |
Danelli's Cafe |
Supreme Court |
Supreme Court |
| Previous episode: "Precious" |
"Virtue" Law & Order Season 5 |
Next episode: "Scoundrels" |