Playing Dead (Law & Order: Criminal Intent)

"Playing Dead"
Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode
Episode no. Season 8
Episode 1 (#156 overall)
Directed by Michael Smith
Written by Dick Wolf (creator)
René Balcer (developer)
Antoinette Stella (teleplay)
Jacquelyn Reingold (story editor)
Production code
  1. CI8003
Original air date April 19, 2009
Guest stars

Scott Cohen
Betty Gilpin
Otto Sanchez
Brian Tarantina
Stephen Gevedon
Elan Moss-Bachrach
Kathy Baker

Episode chronology
← Previous
"Frame"
Next →
"Rock Star"

"Playing Dead" is the eighth season premiere of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and the 156th episode overall.

Plot

In this episode, Detectives Goren and Eames investigate when two drug-addicted kids are shot in their apartment, killing one in the process and injuring the other. It is revealed that the injured victim had pretended to be dead under her boyfriend’s body, until she was discovered by her mother.

During the investigation, Goren and Eames discover a trail of deception that leads them to City Hall. However, when their only witness attempts suicide, Goren starts to delve further into her past. He finds out that she and her stepfather, who’s running for mayor, had a history of incest, thus explaining why she ran away from home and turned to drugs. As they investigate further, the detectives learn this information was used to blackmail the councilman’s family.

In the final scene of the episode, Goren provokes a confession from the councilman and his mother. It turns out his mother had ordered the killing in order to cover up her son’s past and clear his way for the mayorship.

Cast

Vincent D'Onofrio   Det. Robert Goren
Kathryn Erbe Det. Alexandra Eames

External links