LAW & ORDER {LAW AND ORDER}: CRIMINAL INTENT: CRAZY (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramas -- a spin-off of "Law & Order" -- that deals with the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of criminals, but with a slight twist: each episode begins from the criminal's point of view as the actual crime is committed. In this episode, forensic psychiatrist Charles Webb secretly records his dinner conversation with Officer Michael Stovic, and he later accompanies Sara Lindstrom, whom he is attempting to romance, to her nephew Richard's bar mitzvah. There, he talks to Sara's young niece, Sophie, shortly before Richard and Sophie's father, heart surgeon Larry Feldman, is found shot to death in the bathroom. Detective Goren smells gin on the body, though Larry's new girlfriend Lauren claims he only ever drinks red wine, and Larry's soon-to-be ex-wife Julie admits that he is "very possessive" of the two kids.
Elsewhere, Sara tries to keep Webb at arm's length as he continues pursuing her by buying her an expensive piece of art, and as the detectives comb through the party guest list, they find that a Judge Rankin gave Julie a remarkably small divorce settlement and recently forced a gag order on a nearby hospital. A nurse explains that Sophie was treated for what seemed to be sexual abuse by her father, though Rankin put a quick stop to the investigation, and Goren and Eames guess that Julie had her ex killed for his heinous actions. Webb meets with Stovic and delivers $23,000 of the 50 he is owed for Larry's murder, and a forged letter requesting the social worker's files, plus the discovery that the gun used in the crime had gone missing from the police evidence locker, tells the detectives that the shooter was a cop. A.D.A. Stillman connects Webb, who has worked extensively with police and the D.A.'s office as a trial witness, to Sara, and a guest from the bar mitzvah recognizes the gin-swilling Stovic from the party. At the same time, Sara is horrified when Webb reveals that he had Larry killed for harming Sophie, and he orders her to keep his deadly secret.
In need of additional evidence, Eames poses as another friend of Webb's in need of Stovic's services, and they arrest him after he placing a damning phone call to Webb about her. Goren suggests that Webb took advantage of Stovic's own traumatic past to goad him into murdering abusers, and Stovic accepts a plea deal. Webb is arrested and, naturally, attempts an insanity defense, having purposefully laid the groundwork ahead of time for his so-called "paranoid fantasies." Skoda tells the cops to look for "false notes" in his pretend-crazy behavior, and when Goren reads the caseworker's interview with Sophie, he realizes she may not have been molested at all. A conversation with the girl reveals that a mere bathroom accident was mistaken for abuse — and that Webb knew the truth, but had Larry killed all the same in order to impress Sara with his "heroism." Carver demands a charge of second-degree murder, and when Goren taunts "geek" Webb about his obsessive need to win Sara's adoration, he finally admits the entire scheme, protesting that she was "his last chance" at love. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: November 30, 1999 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:44:07
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:72364
- GENRE: Drama, police/detective
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, police/detective; Drama, legal; Murder; Psychiatrists
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 2001-2011
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Peter Jankowski … Executive Producer
- René Balcer … Executive Producer, Developed by, Writer
- Dick Wolf … Executive Producer, Created by
- Arthur W. Forney … Co-Executive Producer
- Fred Berner … Co-Executive Producer
- Geoffrey Neigher … Co-Executive Producer
- Roz Weinman … Producer
- Marlane Gomard Meyer … Consulting Producer
- Theresa Rebeck … Consulting Producer
- John L. Roman … Producer
- Michael Kewley … Co-Producer
- Tim DeLuca … Associate Producer
- Steve Shill … Director
- Mike Post … Music by
- Vincent D'Onofrio … Cast, Detective Robert Goren
- Kathryn Erbe … Cast, Detective Alexandra "Alex" Eames
- Jamey Sheridan … Cast, Captain James Deakins
- Courtney B. Vance … Cast, A.D.A. Ron Carver
- Michael Gross … Cast, Dr. Charles Webb
- Stephanie Seymour … Cast, Sara Lindstrom
- Jenna Stern … Cast, Julie Feldman
- David Lansbury … Cast, Officer Michael Stovic
- Reathel Bean … Cast, Webb's Attorney
- Reed Birney … Cast, A.D.A. Stillman
- John C. Vennema … Cast, Mrs. Feldman's Attorney
- J.K. Simmons … Cast, Dr. Emil Skoda
- Julie Halston … Cast, Gallery Owner
- Dashiell Eaves … Cast, Waiter
- Christine Farrell … Cast, Forensics Technician Arlene Shrier
- Jason Fuchs … Cast, Ricky Feldman
- Ricky Ullman (see also: Raviv Ullman) … Cast, First Boy
- Lydia Jordan … Cast, Sophie Feldman
- Catrina Ganey … Cast, Jamie Scavato
- Joe Paparone … Cast, Thomas Lucci
- Danny Maseng … Cast, Larry Feldman
- Traci Godfrey … Cast, Detective Valerie Pasche
- Lauren Gott … Cast, Lauren
- Seth Barrish … Cast, Bouchon
- Peggy Gormley … Cast, Judge Colloy
- Sally Mayes … Cast, Brenda
- Joel Rooks … Cast, Scott Freiden
- Jim Jacobson … Cast, Max Healy
- Patrick Tovatt … Cast, Judge Bastone
- John Joseph Gallagher … Cast, Clerk
- Jason Moscartolo … Cast, Uniform Policeman
- Rebecca Wisocky … Cast, CSU Tech
- Les McDonough … Cast, Court Clerk