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Law & Order

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Season 18, Episode 4, Aired Jan 16, 2008

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9.2

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The investigation into a pair of missing pants leads to the murder of a young lawyer. Lupo and Green soon turn their suspicions to a businessman who works for a shady multinational corporation called SavingsMart.

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Will Chase

Derek Cahill
GUEST STAR
Roxanna Hope

Rachel Monroe
GUEST STAR
Kaitlin Hopkins

Cahill's Attorney

Alana De La Garza

A.D.A. Connie Rubirosa
Sam Waterston

D.A. Jack McCoy
Jeremy Sisto

Det. Cyrus Lupo
S. Epatha Merkerson

Lt. Anita Van Buren
Jesse L. Martin

Det. Ed Green
Linus Roache

Exec. A.D.A. Michael Cutter

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Fan Episode Reviews (6)

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Good episode and combining two ripped from the headlines cases was a great step. Dealing with the evil of money grubbing corporations with the China tainted products scandal and the

8.5

"Great"

By danharr, Mar 09, 2011

Good episode and combining two ripped from the headlines cases was a great step. Dealing with the evil of money grubbing corporations with the China tainted products scandal and the infamous million dollar paints civil suit and the need for tort reform. Like a Law and Order episode things were embellished with a murder. The lawyer defending the dry cleaners is killed because the pants link two corporate workers to a sex scandal. Even though I didn't like the jab at companies that have moral codes for their employees. I still like the complexity of mixing the two types of stories.moreless
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What some companies won't do...

9.6

"Superb"

By XMLarry, Sep 02, 2010

Very good insightful episode about morals, lying, corporate greed...well 2 out of 3 aint bad. Van Buren and her mentor had good chemistry but her wisdom came through in the end at the second motion hearing which spelled the end for the murderer (and some of the company profits me thinks). Linus Roache is growing on me as the ADA after his first episode which was so-so. And McCoy is a good DA, I hope they leave him in that spot (Thompson was a big bore). Jury is still out on Lt. Lupo (with sister-in-law as recurring character at the precinct).moreless
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Great combination of headlines

9.0

"Superb"

By erbylikewhoa, Sep 02, 2010

The writers rip several headlines and combine it into one story pretty well, from the SavingsMart (can we just say "Wal-Mart"?) quality-control, big company ethics, and the Roy Pearson dry cleaners lawsuit. The only story that sort of disappointed was the missing pants storyline -- it only mattered to start off the detectives' case, but the two guys suing the dry cleaners? The missing pants just bled right into the SavingsMart case with no wrap-up on what happened with the lawsuit.

Other than that, this was really well written, and I liked how the ADAs met up with the SavingsMart execs. Seems like L&O is still a bit apprehensive about giving Linus Roache a lot of courtroom scenes (for mainly two reasons: we like McCoy and Roache is not Waterston in the courtroom). That meeting was a good way to give Cutter some good screen time.

The SavingsMart story from the secret relationship to the whole toothpaste scandal was really good, in my opinion. Even if it was totally "ripped from the headlines," the story was believable, despite the twists and turns.

Also ... try imagining Jack McCoy shopping for a pink tricycle for his niece. Hmmm.moreless
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Show on the rebound!

10

"Perfect"

By JPPT1974, Jan 25, 2008

The show is on the rebound and glad that it is back on Wednesdays and not in the dead Fridays like it was last year. As I was afraid that McCoy's less screen time would hurt the show. But it hasn't as Jeremy Sisto has become quite a strong presence. As Cuttler is good taking McCoy's place but never will be a McCoy that's for sure. Good to take on companies that try to sellout and do things at people's expense. Even where the person dies, in this case, in this episode. Really glad that the show is making a comeback as of recently.moreless
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Too much "ripping off" of headlines. Though nice to see Walmart exposed for what it is.

6.9

"Fair"

By kyravon, Jan 17, 2008

Think of your own storylines!

That said it was kind of funny of them to make fun of the guy who tried to sue for millions over pants.

And I did enjoy their revealing facts about Walmart - they are one of China's leading trading partners, they probably do have more financial clout than most countries. For more information: http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/facts/#china

I guess they were attempting to explore the legal ramification for importing tainted toothpase (that really DID happen in China).

As usual, the part I enjoy is the legal questions. Can a company that allows you to use their lodgings search your rooms and turn that over to the police? Do you not have the "expectation of privacy" no matter who pays the rent?

So let's avoid the sensationalism and stick to an intelligent exploration of current issues. Educating people is ok. I have actually learned things from Law & Order (For example, I actually didn't know much about BLOOD diamonds until I saw an episode on this issue). Lazy scriptwriting and just trying to rid the coattails of current scandals is not.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (6)
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- Ed Green: Now all we need to do is look for one black guy and one white guy together in New York City. (Pause) Cyrus Lupo: Well, there's us. (Later, spotting suspects) Ed Green: Look, look--one black guy and one white guy. Cyrus Lupo: And it's not us!
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- Connie Rubirosa: You shop at SavingsMart? Jack McCoy: A child's bicycle costs 150 dollars on Columbus Avenue, 35 dollars at SavingsMart. Michael Cutter: You ride a child's bicycle? Jack McCoy: My nephew's daughter does.
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- Cyrus Lupo: Four years overseas chasing terrorists, now I'm the pants police.
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- Ed Green: They had a pleat and a cuff. Wrong pants. Anita van Buren: Well, that's worth 20 million.
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- Jack McCoy: Why would they be lying? SavingsMart believes all murderers should be freed so they can shop?
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- Fuller: We have our employees' DNA on file, in case of medical emergency. Ed Green: Like what, a kidney transplant during office hours?
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NOTES (2)
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- International Air Dates: Australia: April 28, 2008 on Network 10
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- Special billing was given to Ron Canada (and) in this episode.
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ALLUSIONS (4)
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- This episode appears to be ripped from the headlines of recent problems with Chinese-made products. Several times in 2007, lead and anti-freeze tainted toys, toothpaste, pet food and other products from China were found in retail stores in the US. Just like the Chinese plant supervisor's suicide in this episode, in real life Zhang Shuhong – the owner of Lida Toy Company in Foshan, China – hung himself.
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- SavingsMart appears to be based on real life retail store chain Wal-Mart. Both are "big box" companies, spending billions on merchandise in China each year, founded by a man known for his moral values, and with thousands of stores in the US. The SavingsMart name tags even look like the Wal-Mart ones.
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- A.D.A. Connie Rubirosa: If the pants fit, they can't acquit. This is a play on what Johnnie Cochran said during the 1995 O.J. Simpson trial: "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit." In that case, he was talking about a glove.
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- This episode appears to be ripped from the headlines of the Roy Pearson case. Roy Pearson sued a dry cleaners called Custom Cleaners for over 67 million dollars for the loss of his pants. The pants were from several suits that Pearson had brought to the cleaners to be cleaned in May 2005.
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