| "Want" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | CI, Episode 4.03 | → |
| Production number: E5407 First aired: 10 October 2004 | ||
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| Teleplay By Elizabeth Benjamin Story By Elizabeth Benjamin & René Balcer Directed By Frank Prinzi | ||
Detectives Goren and Eames investigate the murder of a stripper found beaten to death with part of her calf missing. John Tagman, a shy, lonely young man, becomes the focus of the investigation.
Plot[]
Goren gets into the head of John Tagman, a man driven to torture, murder, and cannibalism by overwhelming despair and loneliness. He surprises his colleagues with a passionate plea that the man be spared the death penalty, and engineers the confession that will save the man's life through a plea bargain.
Goren feels empathy for Tagman, who he believes did not kill his victim for killing's sake but to create a submissive, eternally beautiful partner who would never judge or leave him. While interrogating Tagman, Goren tells him that it is only a matter of time before he kills again, and that the only way he can be a good person is to take responsibility for what he did. Tagman bursts into tears and confesses, expressing remorse for his actions - thus avoiding the death penalty. He is put in prison for life, but he is soon afterward beaten to death by another inmate.
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[]
- Leslie Hendrix as Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers
Guest cast[]
- Neil Patrick Harris as John Tagman
- Shannon McGinnis as Amanda Norman
- David Wolos-Fonteno as Detective Wanstedt
- Kristin Griffith as Mrs. Norman
- Christine Meyers as Claire Massey
- Stephen Park as Dr. Shimo
- Kevin Gray as Gilbert Hicks
- Karla Cavalli as Kelly Jane
- Mando Alvarado as Manny Feijo
- Kimberly Dilts as Jocelyn Gillespie
- Ty Jones as Detective Fecci
- Traci Godfrey as Detective Mattes
- Peter Ganim as Andrei
- Faina Vitebsky as Frankie
- Robert Sedgwick as Mike
- Jenn Harris as Didi
- Kenya Brome as Abina
- Adam McLaughlin as Brian
- Beth Lein as Gretchen
- P.J. Sosko as Chocolate Cook
- Lawrence Cameron Steele as Correction Officer
- Richard Chassler as Boris (uncredited)
References[]
Quotes[]
- Robert Goren: I guess you've gotten used to being by yourself. Is that what you're saying?
- John Tagman: You don't really get used to it.
- Robert Goren: No, you… No, you don't ever really get used to it.
- Alexandra Eames: Did you enjoy your play date?
- Robert Goren: Is that what you like, John? Cuddling? Holding her close to you?
- John Tagman: I don't think it's possible for a person to understand himself.
- Alexandra Eames: Of all the people to go to bat for...
- Robert Goren: With all our complaining, it's women who are vulnerable.
- Ron Carver: What are they doing?
- James Deakins: Better not to ask.
- (After learning that Tagman been killed in prison after Goren helped him to dodge the death penalty)
- Alexandra Eames: I guess now everybody has what they want.
Background information and notes[]
- The episode, written by Elizabeth Benjamin and René Balcer, won the 2005 Edgar Award for Best Television Episode Teleplay.
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