The Good Death (29 Apr. 2007)

The detectives discover that nine years ago a terminally ill man actually died of a morphine overdose before the disease could take him.

Director:

Paris Barclay

Writers:

Meredith Stiehm (creator), Gavin Harris

Stars:

Kathryn Morris, Danny Pino, John Finn

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Kathryn Morris	...	Lilly Rush
Danny Pino	...	Scotty Valens
John Finn	...	John Stillman
Jeremy Ratchford	...	Nick Vera
Thom Barry	...	Will Jeffries
Tracie Thoms	...	Kat Miller
Anthony Starke	...	Jay Dratton
Lynda Boyd	...	Caroline Dratton
Justina Machado	...	Amelia Lopez
Marcus Giamatti	...	Larry Kenick
Trent Gill	...	Tommy Dratton - 1998
Aaron Lustig	...	Dr. Lason - 1998
Ned Vaughn	...	Phil Wingeter
Reston Williams	...	Tommy Dratton - 2007
Meredith Baxter	...	Ellen Rush

Storyline

The detectives discover that nine years ago a terminally ill man actually died of a morphine overdose before the disease could take him.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 April 2007 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 22, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Warner Bros. Television, CBS Paramount Network Television

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Out of My Head"
Performed by Fastball

User Reviews

Terminal

Jay Dratton was a ruthless, self-made man. His death takes center stage when a convicted male nurse confesses to several 'mercy killings' at a local hospital. Dratton was supposed not to have succumbed to his brain cancer so soon. Instead, a high amount of morphine, was found to have been the thing that killed him.

As the Cold Case reconstruct the facts surrounding Jay's death, one thing comes clear, he was not a well liked, or regarded man. He might have been a good business man, but his family life was a mess, although it really didn't start that way. The detectives discover the name "Louise" written in Jay's papers, no one seems to connect him with any woman by that name.

While in the hospital, his mind keeps wandering back to a happier time with his wife and young son. Jay, a horrible individual, quarrels with Amelia,a young mother, whose daughter is also in the last stages of the same disease. After the young girl dies, Jay goes, in a surprise visit to Amelia with a check that covers what she owes for the hospitalization.

The mystery of Jay's death is put together by the Cold Case team when they questions the son, and the estranged wife. Both have a lot to say about a father and a husband they came to regard as a horrible person.

Lilly has words with her mother after Ellen is found at a local bar drinking. Ellen, an alcoholic with no desire to stop, in spite of her live cirrhosis, is killing herself, something that is hard on the well meaning Lilly. Ellen accepts to stay with her daughter.

Paris Barclay directed this episode, written by Gavin Harris. Anthony Starke and Linda Boyd play Jay and Caroline Stratton with conviction. Justina Machado has some good moments as Amelia. Meredith Baxter appears as Ellen Rush.