Legion (Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode)
Encyclopedia
"Legion" is a second season episode of the television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent
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and Eames
investigate the case of a man and his young son found with their throats slit in a park. Prior to this, they were bound and gagged with duct tape and tortured by their kidnapers.
As Goren and Eames begin their investigation, they discover that a number of adolescent boys have disappeared from the same neighborhood. They also learn that these kids showed up at school with injuries from being beaten, then dropped out of sight shortly afterward; the explanation is that they have moved away. Further investigation reveals that they were murdered and their bodies were dumped. A test of a shoe found by a body indicates that it has been exposed to liquid nitrogen
, which can be used to destroy bicycle locks by freezing them. When the locals refuse to cooperate with the investigation, the detectives begin to think that the boys are being used by someone to operate a bicycle theft ring. Their attention shifts to Jojo Rios, a major community contributor who runs 16 One Recording Studios; a place where local kids hang out.
When his apprentice, Frankie, is being investigated by the police for his involvement in the young boy's murder, Jojo hands him a package of cyanide
and says that he knows Frankie will do the right thing if captured. Shortly after being arrested by the detectives, Frankie starts to recite quotes from Marcus Aurelius and then suffers a seizure due to the poison he was given. While waiting in the hospital, Goren realizes the significance of the studio's name, which is a reference to the year Marcus Aurelius became Emperor of Rome
(161 AD). Frankie dies, but the police get a gag order to keep the news from reaching Jojo.
Two more kids are then arrested. While interrogating one of them, Benny, Goren learns Jojo's background: "Came from Cuba at night. His boat sank, and everybody drowned, except him. He made it because he's strong." Goren theorizes that Jojo has brainwashed the boys in order to train them more effectively, using Roman philosophy and military discipline to keep them in line. Goren and Eames then go to the studio to confront him about Frankie. Jojo tells the detectives that he owes the kids nothing, especially not loyalty.
As the detectives turn to leave, Jojo spots Goren adjusting a control on a CD burner and pulls a disc out of it. He angrily accuses them of trying to record the conversation, then breaks the disc and escorts them outside. When they reach the sidewalk, though, Jojo learns that he has in fact been bugged thanks to a wireless microphone/transmitter the detectives smuggled in. Benny, sitting in a parked van, has heard the entire talk and confronts Jojo, who is promptly arrested for the murders.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer, the series premiered on September 30, 2001, as the second spin-off of Wolf's successful crime drama...
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Plot summary
In this episode, Detectives GorenRobert Goren
Det. Robert "Bobby" Goren is a fictional character featured in the NBC-USA Network police procedural and legal drama television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent, portrayed by Vincent D'Onofrio....
and Eames
Alexandra Eames
Det. Alexandra "Alex" Eames is a fictional police detective with the NYPD Major Case Squad featured in the NBC-USA Network Law & Order: Criminal Intent, portrayed by Kathryn Erbe...
investigate the case of a man and his young son found with their throats slit in a park. Prior to this, they were bound and gagged with duct tape and tortured by their kidnapers.
As Goren and Eames begin their investigation, they discover that a number of adolescent boys have disappeared from the same neighborhood. They also learn that these kids showed up at school with injuries from being beaten, then dropped out of sight shortly afterward; the explanation is that they have moved away. Further investigation reveals that they were murdered and their bodies were dumped. A test of a shoe found by a body indicates that it has been exposed to liquid nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen is nitrogen in a liquid state at a very low temperature. It is produced industrially by fractional distillation of liquid air. Liquid nitrogen is a colourless clear liquid with density of 0.807 g/mL at its boiling point and a dielectric constant of 1.4...
, which can be used to destroy bicycle locks by freezing them. When the locals refuse to cooperate with the investigation, the detectives begin to think that the boys are being used by someone to operate a bicycle theft ring. Their attention shifts to Jojo Rios, a major community contributor who runs 16 One Recording Studios; a place where local kids hang out.
When his apprentice, Frankie, is being investigated by the police for his involvement in the young boy's murder, Jojo hands him a package of cyanide
Cyanide
A cyanide is a chemical compound that contains the cyano group, -C≡N, which consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. Cyanides most commonly refer to salts of the anion CN−. Most cyanides are highly toxic....
and says that he knows Frankie will do the right thing if captured. Shortly after being arrested by the detectives, Frankie starts to recite quotes from Marcus Aurelius and then suffers a seizure due to the poison he was given. While waiting in the hospital, Goren realizes the significance of the studio's name, which is a reference to the year Marcus Aurelius became Emperor of Rome
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
(161 AD). Frankie dies, but the police get a gag order to keep the news from reaching Jojo.
Two more kids are then arrested. While interrogating one of them, Benny, Goren learns Jojo's background: "Came from Cuba at night. His boat sank, and everybody drowned, except him. He made it because he's strong." Goren theorizes that Jojo has brainwashed the boys in order to train them more effectively, using Roman philosophy and military discipline to keep them in line. Goren and Eames then go to the studio to confront him about Frankie. Jojo tells the detectives that he owes the kids nothing, especially not loyalty.
As the detectives turn to leave, Jojo spots Goren adjusting a control on a CD burner and pulls a disc out of it. He angrily accuses them of trying to record the conversation, then breaks the disc and escorts them outside. When they reach the sidewalk, though, Jojo learns that he has in fact been bugged thanks to a wireless microphone/transmitter the detectives smuggled in. Benny, sitting in a parked van, has heard the entire talk and confronts Jojo, who is promptly arrested for the murders.
Cast
| Vincent D'Onofrio Vincent D'Onofrio Vincent Phillip D'Onofrio is an American actor, director, film producer, writer, and singer. Often referred to as an actor's actor, his work as a character actor has earned him the nickname of "Human Chameleon"... |
Det. Robert Goren Robert Goren Det. Robert "Bobby" Goren is a fictional character featured in the NBC-USA Network police procedural and legal drama television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent, portrayed by Vincent D'Onofrio.... |
| Kathryn Erbe Kathryn Erbe Kathryn Elsbeth Erbe is an American actress known for her role as Det. Alexandra Eames in Law & Order: Criminal Intent, a spin-off of Law & Order, and death row inmate Shirley Bellinger in the HBO series Oz.-Personal life:... |
Det. Alexandra Eames Alexandra Eames Det. Alexandra "Alex" Eames is a fictional police detective with the NYPD Major Case Squad featured in the NBC-USA Network Law & Order: Criminal Intent, portrayed by Kathryn Erbe... |
| Jamey Sheridan Jamey Sheridan James Patrick "Jamey" Sheridan is an American actor. He was born in Pasadena, California.He has had a prolific acting career in theater, television, and feature film productions. Born to a family of actors, he made it to Broadway and earned a Tony nomination in 1987 for his performance in the... |
Capt. James Deakins James Deakins Captain James Deakins is a fictional character on the NBC-USA Network U.S. television series, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, played by Jamey Sheridan.On the show, Deakins supervises New York City's Major Case Squad... |
| Courtney B. Vance Courtney B. Vance Courtney Bernard Vance is an American actor. He was formerly a regular on the NBC/USA television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Assistant District Attorney Ron Carver. He was also a series regular on the ABC series FlashForward. As of 2011, he appears on the TNT series The Closer as Chief... |
A.D.A. Ron Carver Ron Carver Ron Carver is a fictional character on the NBC-USA Network series, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, played by Courtney B. Vance.Carver often works in conjunction with detectives Robert Goren, Alexandra Eames, Mike Logan and Carolyn Barek of the Major Case Squad. He graduated from John Jay College of... |