A woman claims she suffered from extreme emotional disturbance when she shot her ex-husband and his young lover in bed. Prosecutors believe her son can uncover the truth in the case.A woman claims she suffered from extreme emotional disturbance when she shot her ex-husband and his young lover in bed. Prosecutors believe her son can uncover the truth in the case.A woman claims she suffered from extreme emotional disturbance when she shot her ex-husband and his young lover in bed. Prosecutors believe her son can uncover the truth in the case.
- George Warner
- (as David Smyrl)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode appears to be based on the 1989 Elisabeth Broderick case. Five years after a very acrimonious divorce in the late 1980s, Broderick, a mother of four, purchased a revolver and broke into the home of her ex-husband (Dan) with a key that she had stolen from her elder daughter, Kim Broderick. She shot him and his second wife, Linda Kolkena, in their bed whilst they slept. In the years leading up to their deaths, Dan and Linda had felt so threatened by Betty they had even hired guards to protect themselves. Betty was convicted on 11 December 1991 of two counts of second-degree murder. She was later sentenced to 32 years to life in prison, with her first possible parole date in March of 2010.
- GoofsThe police violate three basic forms of procedure during the opening:
- 1.) They enter a home without announcing that they are indeed, the police. This risks a potential confrontation with the homeowners or someone in the apartment.
- 2.) They walk down darkened hallways and into poorly lit rooms without using their flashlights. This could have allowed a hidden person (or persons) to take advantage of the police officers being unable to see clearly.
- 3.) They allowed an unknown civilian (the deliveryman) to both enter the apartment (a potential crime scene) and then they let the person follow behind them which could have resulted in them being ambushed by that person.
- Quotes
Detective Mike Logan: Here you go.
[Hands Cerreta a hot dog]
Sergeant Phil Cerreta: Best hot dog in the city?
Detective Mike Logan: 86th and 3rd, the Papaya Place.
Sergeant Phil Cerreta: [Takes a bite] Ptomaine city. You want this?
Detective Mike Logan: Yeah.
Sergeant Phil Cerreta: What's around here? Antonio's... go get some calimari.
Detective Mike Logan: Listen Phil, I don't eat anything that squirts ink, okay?
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 44th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1992)
This following episode "The Wages of Love" is not as good as "Confession", instead of building upon what was seen before the season takes a couple of steps backward quality-wise. It isn't as layered, as continually interesting or has the same amount of emotional impact, and the case isn't as strong. It is still a pretty good episode and has a lot of the good things, the best elements executed excellently, that Season 1 had and that "Confession" had, while missing the extra something.
In terms of the case, "The Wages of Love" is diverting enough but it is also a bit thin and at times slightly bland. It would have benefitted from having more suspects which would have given the episode more suspense and surprises, with there being not quite enough of either.
Also feel that the chemistry between Cerreta and Logan is one of the primary things that feels unsettled at this point of the season. It is far from non-existent and Paul Sorvino does commendably once again, but it doesn't quite feel gelled yet and the edge and oomph seen with Greevey and Logan as the first season progressed are not quite there here too.
However, the sharp yet still gritty and slick look of the photography still remains. As does the memorable main theme tune and unobtrusive scoring. The script is very thought-provoking, every bit as much as the writing in "Confession", and intelligently written. Also raising some very interesting moral questions, such as whether the sentencing should be for murder or manslaughter and revealing why the murderer acted the way they did which is where "The Wages of Love" is at its most suspenseful.
While the story is not perfect it still intrigues, if more the legal/trial scenes than the investigation. The moral questions and Stone's moral dilemma elevating those scenes to a greater level. The characters are well written, with Stone being particularly juicy. Michael Moriarty also gains the acting honours of the uniformly strong cast, giving his meaty material everything. It was interesting seeing a pre-Lennie Briscoe Jerry Orbach, who shines in the whole murder two exchange with Moriarty. Shirley Knight is affecting.
Summing, up, pretty good but not great. 7/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Feb 11, 2020