Blood 

Detectives discover that a recently-murdered white woman had recently given birth to a baby whose race reveals a well-kept secret about the baby's biological father.

Director:

Jace Alexander

Writers:

Dick Wolf (created by), Craig Tepper (teleplay by)

Stars:

Jerry Orbach, Benjamin Bratt, S. Epatha Merkerson

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jerry Orbach	...	Lennie Briscoe
Benjamin Bratt	...	Rey Curtis
S. Epatha Merkerson	...	Anita Van Buren
Sam Waterston	...	Jack McCoy
Carey Lowell	...	Jamie Ross
Steven Hill	...	Adam Schiff
Stephen Mendillo	...	Joshua Burdett
Deborah Rush	...	Frances Houston
Harry O'Reilly	...	Jerry O' Brien
Lou Liberatore	...	Dale Brody
Joan Copeland	...	Judge Rebecca Stein
Kent Broadhurst	...	Harry Stokley
Franchelle Stewart Dorn	...	Ms. Joyner
Mike Hodge	...	Leonard Hillman
Keith Randolph Smith	...	Morris Keach

Storyline

Detectives Briscoe and Curtis investigate the death of Karen Burdett who jumped - or was pushed - out of her apartment window. They initially suspect suicide but the crime scene unit confirms she was thrown off the balcony. Her husband Josh dismisses suicide at first but then confirms that she may have been depressed over giving up their three week old daughter for adoption. He says they gave her up because he didn't want children, but when the police learn the baby is African-American, they begin looking for her boyfriend. The fact is that Josh Burdett is actually African American but has passed as white all of his life. Even his first wife - to whom he was married for 19 years - denies ever knowing he was black. ADA's McCoy and Ross soon realize they're on the wrong track and prosecute the person they are sure is responsible.

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Plot Keywords:

racist woman | racist mother | racist | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 November 1997 (USA)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wolf Films, Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Adam Schiff's quote "Back then they had lynch mobs and bull-whips; now they use toilet plungers" likely refers to the beating and forced sodomy with a broom handle of Haitian immigrant Abner Louima by Brooklyn NYPD officers. The case made national news that summer, a few months before this episode first aired.

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Goofs

[All goofs for this title are spoilers.]

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Connections

References Mandingo (1975)

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