Homicide: Life on the Street (season 2)

When a tourist is murdered in Baltimore, it's a "red ball" case for Homicide. As suspects are arrested, Robert Ellison (the victim's husband) is forced to deal with feelings of helplessness and guilt, and also with the often insensitive world of veteran homicide cops. When a sweet-faced kid named Vaughn is fingered as the shooter, Howard is convinced he's taking the fall for his friends. As Felton closes down the case, Howard tries one last time to get at the truth.

Guest stars: Robin Williams as Robert Ellison; Jake Gyllenhaal as Jack Ellison

When the powers-that-be mandate sensitivity training sessions with a therapist for the entire staff, Bolander blatantly refuses, ducking scheduled encounters at every turn. Felton is torn between and duty and friendship when he learns that the terminally ill father of a childhood friend has hired a suicide doctor. When the father winds up dead at the hands of his son in an act of mercy-killing, Lewis and Crosetti are assigned to investigate. Felton asks Lewis to write the case up as a suicide rather than a homicide, and the two struggle with their conscience, personal morality, friendship, and duty as officers of the law.

The department and community press the Homicide Unit to solve a cop-involved killing. With the lives and reputations of fellow officers at stake, Giardello clashes with Pembleton over the investigations. Giardello demands a pursuit of civilian suspects, but Pembleton's instincts tell him the cops are lying. Other personal relationships are challenged when Munch gives his girlfriend a present recovered from a crime scene with disastrous results. Bolander meets a waitress at the local coffee shop who shares his love playing music.

An apparent S&M murder of a young woman leads Bayliss and Pembleton to investigate a phone sex company and a club where the quirky sexual appetites of the victim are revealed. At the local library, Lewis and Crosetti investigate the case of a man who was murdered over a $1.49 pen. Anxious about his first real date with the violin-playing waitress, Bolander asks Howard to double date. The evening out takes a few unexpected turns when an uninvited co-worker shows up.