This is a great study in the relationships between Grissom/Catherine, Catherine/Sam and Sam/Grissom. The purpose of the case is solely to support this character study. The case centers around the murder of two college students who were caught cheating in one of Braun's casinos. As the case unfolds we find out that the friend who designed the system they use is the son of a man that Braun managed to have blacklisted from the strip because of his cheating. The son sees the opportunity he's been given by his friends as the chance to one up his own father by cheating Braun without getting caught. The father finds out and murders the two friends thinking that Braun will be the one blamed for it thereby giving him his own revenge.
The Grissom/Catherine relationship is addressed beginning with the finding of the receipt from the Rampart and Grissom's sending Catherine home because he father is involved. This is the first time Grissom has taken a CSI off of a case since season one's Boom when Nick was a murder suspect. The looks exchanged between the two during this scene are heartbreaking. The other moment during this episode comes when Catherine comes to the lab to give Grissom a possible lead on the case involving her father and his car. Grissom both angers and hurts Catherine by telling her that any evidence coming from her would be tainted. Catherine retaliates by telling him that it will have to come from him, telling him he is "above reproach," and then leaves.
The Sam/Catherine relationship is addressed from the same starting point. Catherine is punished for being his daughter because Grissom feels the case could be challenged if she is involved. The confrontation between Sam and Catherine is intense. Somehow Sam found out she was sent home because he is her father. Catherine tells him she could loose her job for even talking to him. Her date tries to schmooze Sam and is rebuffed with "You aren't impressing her." It is when Sam leaves that Catherine makes the connection between his limo and the tracks at the crime scene. Ironically enough she is next seen giving this information to Grissom, choosing to help him over protecting her own father.
The Sam/Grissom relationship is actually the most interesting aspect of this episode. We see two alpha males battling for supremacy. The battleground? Catherine. Sam is baiting Grissom from the moment the two meet again. He feeds him a line about Grissom not being able to pin a murder on him. Grissom keeps his cool. He brings up the check that he gave to Catherine and gets both a figurative and literal rise out of him. Grissom's reaction is quick. He doesn't like the idea of the money, he sees the strings that must be attached to it despite Sam's insistence that there were no strings. Round one goes to Sam.
Round two is also Sam's. After finding blood in his limo Grissom has him brought in for questioning. Braun goes against his lawyer's advice and spills it all. He's an innocent man this time and he knows it. He also knows Grissom would love to lock him up.
Round three goes to Grissom when the father of the boy who designed the foot gadget is brought in and sat in a room with Braun. Brass and Grissom are observing the interaction and see that Braun knows the man.
Round four goes to Sam when the DNA from the blood sample does not match the victim. Greg asks Grissom if he's disappointed and all he can say is "it's the evidence."
However, the final round (and victory) goes to Grissom in the very last scene. We see Catherine arriving at the lab for her shift. She walks over to Braun's limo, asking him to dinner as a way of apologizing for what has happened. The young man from earlier stumbles up from inside the limo and is obviously drunk. Sam looks to Catherine and tells her he always gets his money's worth. The limo drives away leaving a stunned Catherine realizing what she may have gotten herself in to.
Overall a wonderful episode.
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Episode Summary
Two young men are found murdered after scamming Sam Braun's casinos. Because of her relationship with Braun, Grissom refuses to allow Catherine to participate in the case, leaving the rest of the team to solve the mystery. One of the suspects is the son of a man who was black-listed for cheating years ago in Sam Braun's casinos. Sara finds out that Grissom recommended Nick for the promotion that she wanted.moreless
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William Petersen
Gil Grissom
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Marg Helgenberger
Catherine Willows
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Gary Dourdan
Warrick Brown
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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Trivia
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Notes
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Quotes
ADD QUOTES- Warrick: Are you trying to tell me that your own father set you up? Seth Landers: The truth is, I just wanted him to like me. But I'm not him. You know, I'm never going to be him. Counting cards and the poker face. They say it's a skill, but it's a gift. 'Til Sam Braun took it away. Warrick: So you went after Sam Braun to prove something to your old man. Seth Landers: Yeah. I mean, I went after the whale, but I skinned it. I did what my dad could never do. Edit
- Greg: That means Sam Braun's innocent. This time. Are you disappointed? Grissom: It's the evidence. Edit
- Catherine: Uh, you know those tracks that we found at the neon graveyard? Grissom: The ones from the case you're not working on? Catherine: Yeah, those. Sam ... used to be a caddy man. He would drive a new one every year. These days, he's being driven. Grissom: And you know this because ... ? Catherine: I saw him. He came to me. Grissom: And you walked away, I hope. Catherine: I made him walk away from me. Right into a stretch limo with a big turning radius. Grissom: That doesn't prove anything. Besides, any evidence that comes from you is tainted. Catherine: Then have it come from you. Warrant shouldn't be hard to get. Especially if the call comes from someone whose character is above reproach. (they share a look, she makes sure he gets the meaning of what she's saying, and then she turns and leaves) Edit
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Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS- The underlying story of the computers in the shoes is based on The Newtonian Casino by Thomas A. Bass. Edit
- Brass (to Warrick): Remember when you said you can get a print off of air? Brass is referring to the Season 2 episode "Burked" in which he asked Warrick if he can get a print off of balloons and Warrick replied "I can get a print off of air." Edit
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