NYPD Blue Summary/Review by Amanda Wilson aka Puedo01@aol.com

"Jealous Hearts"

Season 9 Episode 10

1/15/02

Teleplay by Matt Olmstead and Nicholas Wootton

Story by Bill Clark & Matt Olmstead

Directed by Bob Doherty

With NYPD Blue poised on the brink of a pick up, this episode kicked ass!

There's a summary and a review:

SUMMARY:

JULIAN RETURNS: Andy and JC are working a double homicide at a taco stand
where a clerk and a customer have been shot to death in a robbery. A

witness, Jeff, has been shot but lived. Jeff describes the suspect but is

too shaken up to say much more.

Back at the house, Andy is unpleasantly surprised when Julian Pisano

arrives wearing shades and acting like they're old pals. Julian is the mope

who helped bury Danny after the mobster Lagazi killed him last year. He led

the cops to Danny's body and turned in the killer in exchange for a walk on

the charges.

But now Julian is acting like the cops owe him something. He didn't get to

collect the reward money he feels he was owed for helping get a cop killer.

Clark reminds him he got to walk for that information, but Julian's not

buying that. He says he's got information now that will get him some cash.

Andy restrains himself several times from caving Julian's head in. Julian

tells them he saw a guy that morning who looked really shaken up. This guy,

Gio DiLauria, told him that something went down that day. Julian says he'd

heard earlier about the double homicide at the taco place, and he knew this

guy went there a lot, so putting two and two together, he asked the guy if it

was the murders at the taco place. The guy reacted strongly, and Julian knew

he could get some informant pay. He gives up the guy's name an address, and

Andy picks him up by the collar and escorts him out the door.

Andy, JC, Greg and Baldwin go Gio's girlfriend's house and pick him up.

The girl, Lisa, tips Gio off that cops are at the door then throws herself on

Andy's back to try to stop him from rushing in. Andy grabs her by the hair

and slams her into a door with one hand and draws his gun with the other.

JC, meanwhile, makes it through the door unscathed and reaches Gio just as

he's reaching across the bed for his gun. Both are taken into custody while

their little girl looks on.

During the interview, Gio denies he was anywhere but at Lisa's house

that day. He denies he did anything, and he's very convincing. Andy puts him

in the cage while they go get Jeff for a lineup.

Jeff comes in, still very shaken up by the shooting. They all decide to

try to go easy with him since he's so upset. Jeff takes a look at the lineup

and picks Gio out pretty fast. They feel fairly sure that Jeff's ID of him

will be enough in court, but Valerie asks about using Julian. John and Andy

say they'd rather save him as a CI for the future if they can.

Just then, Jeff's dad shows up to take him home. He seems completely

uncaring about Jeff's status as a hero and about his shaky condition. The

cops try to convince him that Jeff is still a little freaked out, but dad

knows best. He tells them Jeff has been like that since he killed several

million brain cells sniffing glue when he was a teenager. He encourages them

to ask him what day of the week it is and he responds with "funday."

Now that Jeff's ID won't hold up in court, Andy and John go back at Gio

for the confession. They go low to get it: they tell him that if he doesn't

talk, both he and his wife will go to prison and their daughter will be

living in foster care forever starting today.

Gio gives it up, and in the process, asks if Julian was the one who gave

him up. Andy says he's never heard of Julian. Gio says it had to be Julian

because he was the only one who knew what Gio was going to do.

Julian is slammed back into a chair. He begins to dance around the lie

he told earlier and it becomes clear to Andy and John that Julian let the

crime go off in hope of picking up some quick cash. The problem is that they

can't prove it. Andy kicks him out again, but Julian won't go before he asks

repeatedly about the reward money. This time John makes him go, but not

before he delivers a classic line that at any other time would have earned him

a smack from Andy. (see LOW)

FAKE COP: At the scene of the taco killings, Connie arrives and notices a

female uniform hugging a weeping bystander. Connie also notices there's one

hell of a traffic jam around the crime scene. She approaches the uniform,

Officer Louise Fellner, and suggests in a rather Andy-like manner that she

assist with traffic. Louise explains she was only trying to comfort the lady.

Connie suggests again she do traffic.

When Connie and Rita exit the taco place a short time later, there's

Officer Louise again hugging the crying woman. Connie gives her a good

look and calls her over to ask why she's not doing traffic. Again, Louise

explains the woman is very upset. Connie asks where her radio is. Louise can't

answer. Connie asks another series of questions Louise can't answer, like what

squad she's with, and then grabs Louise's gun. She discovers it's fake. Louise

sweetly begs them not to grab her. She says she was only trying to help.

Connie and Rita take her quietly down to the station.

Once there, Louise apologizes over and over for impersonating a cop. She

makes it clear that she means no disrespect; she's only trying to be helpful.

All she wants to do is help other people and not get in the way. She says she

bought the uniform and badge in a shop in Chinatown. Connie and Rita ask

where she lives. She says she lives with her mom, who never answers the

phone. She gives the address.

They put her in the crib with Josh watching her. Both detectives seems a

little charmed by Louise, and figure she's probably got some sort of metal

problem. They're willing to let her go if she proves harmless. Tony wants

them to make sure they get the uniform and badge first.

After Louise's mother doesn't answer the phone, they go to the apartment.

There's no answer at the door but they notice a foul odor. A neighbor comes

out and says she hasn't seen the elderly woman for quite a few weeks. She

offers a key that she has since Louise is always losing hers. Once inside

the apartment, the odor is much stronger. The open a bedroom door to find

Louise's mother lying peacefully dead in her bed, covered with a zillion

flies.

Back at the house the run into Josh in the hallway. He says Louise is

asleep. When they open the door to the crib, Louise is gone. Connie gives

Josh a verbal wrap and he explains he had to go to the can. Tony isn't

happy. They aren't sure what happened to Louise's mother--the ME has to

figure out whether it was natural causes. They learned from the neighbor that

Louise has a history of mental illness. Tony sends them out to look for her.

Much later in the day, in the midst of dealing with Julian, a call comes

in the squad that a cop has been shot in a robbery attempt.

At the scene, the store clerk says how a man was robbing him when this

cop walked in and took a bullet for him. On the pavement, Louise is

bleeding. Connie and Rita run to her. Louise explains she was only trying to

help and wanted to do something good. Connie knows she's dying and tells

her that she did do something good. Louise asks about her mother. Connie

says they saw her. Louise explains that when her mother died, she just didn't

know what to do. Connie tries to calm her down. Just before she dies, Louise

says again she just wanted to help. Connie, distraught, tells her that she just

saved a man's life.

MRS. HORNBY: Andy's hot on the trail of the missing necklace Mrs.

Hornby told him about. She thought her maid stole it, but Andy wants to

know more about everyone who works for her.

His first stop is a visit to Eddie Gibson, who's recovering nicely in the

hospital. All he has to do is have a healthy...ah....bowel movement, and he's

home free. Eddie is glued to the TV during his waiting, but takes a moment to

tell Andy he's nuts if he's going to try to mess too much with Mrs. Hornby's

life. Andy insists he thinks something bad is happening to the woman. Eddie

assures him that Mrs. H is just a nut who's missing quite a few screws and

that Andy's better off just taking the money and letting it go.

Andy doesn't, of course. His old friend Jim Bower, an ex-cop now working

security at a bank, has agreed to put his job on the line to help out. He's

pulled Mrs. Hornby's bank records. He's found that Mrs. Hornby's business

manager, the obsequious Cory Beachum, has been funneling her millions into

a bogus account, running up thousands on two credit cards in her name and

stealing from her ATM account.

Jim agrees to further put his career in jeopardy by taking a harder look

at the bogus account Beachum has set up.

That night at Mrs. Hornby's, the grand old dame is ready for a sock

hop. She insists Andy take off his shoes. Andy tries to tell her what's

going on with the missing necklace case and she tells him it doesn't matter

because she found the necklace.

He keeps on telling her what he's found out, but she keeps saying she

found the necklace and would he please take off his shoes? Andy gets her

attention when he tells her that her bank accounts are being raided. She

doesn't want to believe it's Cory. He's her late-husband's nephew and she

trusts him. She tells Andy to go sit in his chair. He keeps insisting and

she, realizing that she's not going to get to play, tells him to just "go

ahead then!"

THE BABY: Baldwin is spending the day seriously preoccupied with

thoughts of his pregnant girlfriend, Valerie. Greg notices, and spins the lovely

tale of his affair with the "gifted" Donna. Baldwin seems only mildly

skeptical and only slightly bored. When Greg ponders Donna's two most

outstanding gifts, he's loses his train of thought. But, since words rarely fail

him, Greg finds his place again and finishes with a solid bit of wisdom: give

her space and it'll work out.

After the line-up with Jeff, Baldwin has a chance to talk to Valerie. He

asks her coldly to let him know when and if his life is going to take a major

change. She let's the comment go for a few minutes.

Later, she approaches him and apologizes if she gave the impression that

she's unaware or doesn't care about his role in things. He begins to complain

a little and she plants a kiss on him. She says she just needs some time and

for him to be there for her. He says he will be.

THE HUSBAND: Don returns to the 15th on the premise that he's got some

papers Rita needs to sign. She's out, so rather than leaving the papers on her

desk, he waits. He's tried her cell phone a few times, but she's got it

turned off. Clark is sitting there, so Don grills him a bit about his love

life. Clark says he's single and has no complaints.

When Rita arrives, she asks why he didn't leave the papers for her. Don's

paranoia is to strong to hide when he asks where she's been. She tells him

she was on a follow-up interview at a hospital. He wants to know why her

phone was off. She tells him she had to turn it off in the hospital and

forgot to turn it back on. He wants to know which hospital. John is forced to

watch this and he's a bit uncomfortable. So is Rita, and she takes Don out

into the hallway. She tells him they can work this out at home. He tells her

this job is no different from her vice and demands again to know where she's

been. T-Rod comes up the stairs and notes the disagreement. When Rita tells

Don again to leave and then walks back into the squad room herself, Don

follows insistently. Tony stops him and tells him to leave. Don becomes

angry. Tony tells him to deal with it at home, but Don won't go. Rita turns

around and tells him again to leave. Don's suspicions are doubled and he

turns on Tony, asking him accusingly why he's so interested in Rita. Tony

throws him out. Tony then tells Rita they need to talk.

When they find time, Tony and Rita meet in his office. Tony's not at all

happy with the situation and asks Rita what's going on. She's hesitant to

tell him much. He wants to know if it's an ongoing problem, and says he

needs to know because he looked at her first for hiring as a favor he owed

Don. She tells him Don's overprotective and paranoid but they're working it

out. Tony asks if Don has ever hit her. She looks a little to the left, then

says no. Tony tells her he won't have Don's crap in the squad again. She

offers to transfer. He says that's not necessary.

THE DATE: A single red rose arrives for Connie. Andy spies it with disdain.

Connie reads the note and smiles. She tells Andy that a friend set her up on

a blind date (this time, it's true). Andy makes a smart-ass comment about

the card and Connie tells him that her date writes that he's looking forward

to meeting her. Andy asks more about this date and finds out he's a lawyer.

He's got plenty to say about that, and none of it nice (apparently in spite

of the fact that the love of his life was a lawyer). Connie, who's never

been one to mince words with Andy, asks him what his problem is. He tells

her it's that he doesn't want his son getting attached to someone who's going to

disappear from his life again. He reminds Connie that Theo's mother died and

that Katie has a job now and that Theo took both of those things as

abandonment. Connie tells Andy she'll always have time for Theo. Andy turns

smart-ass on her and tells her not to go out of her way.

Connie's date turns out to be the blowhard Andy predicted. He spends

most of the evening talking about himself. When he realizes this, he asks

Connie about her day. She tells him about Louise. He doesn't know how to

respond and begins talking again about himself. She excuses herself then,

before dinner, telling him she's got an awful headache. He seems to know

better but doesn't push it.

On her way back to her car, she calls Andy. Theo answers and asks her

when she's coming over to tickle him. She tells him soon. Theo, still

learning all the ins and outs of telephone operation, accidentally hangs up

on her. She calls back and gets Andy the second time. She tells him she's

worried that he's angry at her. He apologizes for being an idiot and says he

was totally out of line. She asks if he got that way because "you consider

me a good part of your lives." He adds "and not wanting that to go away." She

thanks him and says she needed to hear something that would cheer her up.
He asks if she's got a ride home. She says yes and they both say "see you

tomorrow."

REVIEW:

JULIAN RETURNS: Glad to see this guy back. Hey, if I can't have Leslie

Peach, I'll take this guy as favorite hateable informant. Would have liked to

see Andy a little more pissed off at the beginning, but he made up for it in the

end.

Lenny Venito did another bang up job playing this guy. The story was

good. Different in that I can't remember when they were just going to let a

line-up end their case for them. Of course, having Jeff turn out to be a

drooling idiot changed that, but it worked because I was completely fooled,

as were the detectives, into believing the guy was just a little delicate and

freaked out by the scene earlier in the day.

It's good to note that things seems have gelled in the squad very, very

nicely. It's been a long time since we've had such a cast of characters that

fit together so well. I liked Danny, but Rick's absence from the show and the

subsequent addition of MPG has made a much bigger difference than I expected.

Danny was so uneven with Andy and Diane, and never seemed much like one

of the guys with Greg and Baldwin, and now here's John C. being a solid

partner and a good all around guy.

I suspect this is largely due to the way the character has been crafted

by the writers, but you can't count out MPG's ability and perhaps his general

temperament on the set. The friendliness seems very genuine.

The addition of Esai Morales has a lot to do with it, too. He's much

more powerful than McDaniel was as Fancy. I've got no complaints about

McDaniel, but Morales has a lot more presence. That may be why he's got

more to do. Even when he doesn't have a lot to do, he does a lot with what he's

given, just like Gordon Clapp.

My one nitpick in this story: It looks like something got cut regarding

the set up on Jeff's dad. Either that, or there was no set up. I had no

idea who he was when he came in, and no one in the squad looked surprised

to see him.

FAKE COP: I thought this came off very well. It certainly seemed in danger

of being a little too melodramatic in the end, but I thought Charlotte Ross

prevented that (as she seems so very able to do, thank God.) Also, in that

end scene, I have to admit I was a little distracted by seeing Kavi Raz and

saying "Is that the guy from St. Elsewhere???" over and over. (The answer in

CAST LEGACIES) ;)

I loved the writing here, too. We have a little sympathy going for

Louise due to those heartfelt apologies and the fact that even though she

denied it, it was obvious she had mental problems (great job by actress

Margaret Welsh!). Then, when we seem that Mama Lies With The Flies, we

automatically think she's a murderer. But, turns out she's just real flaky

and tragically dies because of it. The only thing that could have made it

tug the heartstrings even more would have been to have her tearfully

explaining that she wanted to help so much because of all the cops who were

lost on 9/11.

MRS. HORNBY: These guest actors are the best, aren't they? Elmarie

Wendel outdid herself as Mrs. H. this week. She's a temperamental old bitch

(ah...Mrs. H, not Ms. Wendel), but this week the sting came right out of her

when we saw that underneath her demanding richbitch persona, she's truly and

tragically childlike. Something is indeed missing upstairs with that woman,

and that makes her much more sympathetic. Of course, we need that in order

to be completely on Andy's side as he plays her hero. It's a beautiful

little story now.

Happy as can be to see Eddie again, and to see that he's recovering so

well. Five minutes (or was it less?) on screen has me wanting this man back

in the squad!! :)

I hope it's not the last of Eddie. Alan Sepinwall reminded me this week

how amazing it is that John O'Donohue, who plays Eddie, was an NYPD Lt.

in real life. It's true: If he was anything like T-Rod or Fancy in real life,

he's one hell of an actor now! (He must have run across his share of

half-retired cops.)

Speaking of retired cops, the one who helped Andy, is really risking a

whole lot doing what he's doing. It's illegal, as they pointed out. I wonder

what he owes Andy? I mean, most of Andy's former acquaintances seem to

remember him the way John Clark,Sr. does--a drunken asshole waiting to pick

a fight.

THE BABY: OK, is everyone with me now on Garcelle's improvement? I

thought she was super again this week. When Baldwin popped off at her a

little bit in the observation room, she could have played that like the stiff,

unyielding Valerie of episodes past, but she didn't. Maybe she's finally made

a connection with Valerie's more human side: Valerie certainly can't fault

Baldwin for his feelings and she doesn't. The question is, how long will he

be able to hold up while she's deciding how much his life is going to change?

That was an excellent line.

And how about Greg remembering Donna? It was very, very funny and it

was touching, in it's own Greg-like way. I think you could see that while he

obviously admired her more obvious attributes, Greg also loved Donna. If

you've been reading me for a while, you know I love Greg, and seeing this

makes me want to see Greg find another bombshell--hell, anyone-- to date.

Whatever happened to the Donna look-a-like he was seeing? Another

opportunity shoved aside, I suppose. Too bad.

I like this baby story because it's being told so neatly. There's not a

lot of unnecessary histrionics. It's tight, and the actors are putting all

the right emotion into those few lines. Economy! And it's working.

This story, the scary adoption story---both story ideas that seem

downright soapy, as I've mentioned before. But in the hands of these

creators, they haven't come off that way at all. Can't say that about some

stories in Blue's past. Let's hope we can say it about our next foray into

daytime storylines: Don and Rita.

THE HUSBAND: I took some heat in alt.tv.nypd-blue for suggesting that

Don was being overly controlling by wanting his wife to quit vice over "the

outfits and the hours". I stand by my feelings on that and I'm glad to say I

was right. He is a controlling prick, and it's nice to see Rita having a tiny

bit of backbone. Seems as if he's pushing her to her limit. She's not there

yet, but does anyone doubt she'll get there?

To have Tony ask her if she's been hit was dead on. Good instincts,

since the emotional abuse seems obvious. I may be reading too much into her

glance to the left when he asked her that question, but it does make me

wonder.

And JO seems to be over the jitters a bit. I still think her voice is

pitched a notch too high, but it only distracted me once this week. (When she

speaks too high--something she doesn't do all the time--it forces on her a

less serious attitude than I think is required by the actual lines. If that

makes any sense.)

Another nice thing about this story: It's Tony who gets to be the hero

rather than Andy. Usually, Andy is the one rushing in to save everyone from

themselves (and since he's the main character, that makes sense), but this

time it's Tony. It gives the show a bigger feel, I think, to have things

going on that the main guy knows little or nothing about.

THE DATE: Andy's look of concern last week was about Theo, and perhaps a

little about Connie. I still can't tell for sure if they're interested in

each other, and I think that's just how the writers want it to be. If so,

they're dancing nicely on the edge of this one while the rest of us out here

in TV land moan, groan and bitch. ;)

Andy needs a woman, fine, but not Connie. Enough said.

Meanwhile, I grow more attached to Theo myself. What a fine little

actor they've got. When Andy asks him why he hung up the phone, he said it

all with just a split-second puzzled look: "Why DID I hang up the phone? She

said, 'Bye Bye,' that's why, and that's what people say when it's time to hang

up. I'm 6 and that's the way it is. Isn't it? Did I do something wrong? Can I

have some more fishsticks now?"

Also, I'd like to think putting on Andy's glasses was the idea of this

young actor himself. OK, that's doubtful, but it's these little things that

make a scene work.

One word on Connie's date: I feel her pain, and I'd like to congratulate

whichever fine brain on the writing staff it was who made her get up and

leave. She's my hero. Of course, I knew the guy would be a noodge the

minute I saw the flower BEFORE the date. After the date is very, very cool.

Before the date is, well, a little desperate. (Unless it's someone you

already know.)

QUICK HITS:

*A riddle for those with high IQs: if Connie told Theo last week that she'd

see him "next Monday night," then what was she doing tell him this week that

she'd seem him "tomorrow night?" We know they don't work on Sundays.

*Once again, Phone John's shirt matched the book he was carrying. Nice

going! I'd love to know about that kid-drawn picture he has hanging up. Theo?

*Ten NYPD Blue dollars (good at all of Alan Sepinwall's stores), to the

person who can identify the football team on John Clark's coffee mug. It

didn't look like any NFL team I know (thank God, because at first glance it

looked like the bluck-pooey Browns). A college team maybe?

*Twenty NYPD Blue dollars (again, good at all of Alan's NYPD Blue stores)

to the person who can identify Eddie's tattoo. I know the answer to this one, so

that's why it's worth more.

*You know, the fact that the uniform in question was a woman should have

been Connie's first tip off to Louise being a bogus cop. When have we ever

seen a female uniform at a crime scene?

*I simply must congratulate the Fly Wrangler. Ewwww! Nasty. In a good

way. Just like the rats of a previous episode this year. I hope we see more

creatures. I especially like how the Fly Wrangler got one to land in Connie's

hair. Impressive!

*Well, Josh let one go. You know, Hank NEVER would have made that kind

of mistake. ;)

*During Andy's little jab-session over Connie's lawyer date, it occurred to

me that it must have slipped old Andy's mind that the love of his life was a

lawyer.

*You'd think that in all the time Theo spent with Phone John, he'd have

learned how to answer the phone properly.

*Oh, and thanks to the writers for making me remember one of the worst

all-time songs ever in history (and, yes, there's a point to all that

redundancy): "When You're In Love With a Beautiful Woman" by Dr. Hook.

Actually, the use of this particularly horrid song worked so well in that

scene on two very distinct levels: One, because it was quoted by Greg who,

like Dr. Hook, astounds people with his ability to snag a hot hootchy-mama;

two, because the song is so cheesy and bad yet still managed to be a huge

hit, much like Donna's wardrobe.

CAST LEGACIES:

Again, this show's ability to get good guests is truly amazing. They are all

winners:

Previously on NYPD Blue: John F. O'Donohue as Eddie Gibson; Elmarie

Wendel as Susan Hornby; Stan Cahill as ADA Don Harrison; Austin Majors

as Theo Sipowicz; Ray LaTulipe as Josh!; Mike Sabatino--one of the famous

Sabatino brothers-- as Officer Dowd (he's got a name now!).

Margaret Welsh (Louise Fellner): In addition to other things, she played Mr.

and Mrs. Bridge's daughter in the movie with Paul Newman and JoAnne

Woodward. She's also been on Judging Amy, Providence and NY

Undercover.

Robert Patrick Benedict (Jeff, The Drooling Sniffer): He was on Felicity (may

still be; never watch it). He's also done spots on Buffy & Chicago Hope. His

sister is actress Amy Benedict.

Eileen Weisinger (Lisa): She was in the most recent version of Planet of The

Apes. I think she was a monkey, but who could tell? She's a stunt woman, too,

so I guess Dennis really did grab her hair. ;)

John P. Connolly (Jim Bower, Andy's retired pal): He played James Brady in

a recent TV flick about the Regan shooting. He's also done Blue twice before

as Det. Jerry McCabe. He's been on ER and L&O.

Kavi Raz (SBL-saved by Louise): He was VJ on St. Elsewhere, an original

cast member I think; he's also been on LA Law and Chicago Hope and he

did Blue in '95.

The other fine players: John Ciccolini as Gio DiLauria; Ron Gilbert as Mark

Gamble; Geraldine Singer as the neighbor; Andy Buckley as the last EMS

guy; John Cappon and Chuck Licata as the first two EMS guys.

LINES OF THE WEEK:

Oh great. I have to pick one?

Greg, describing Donna: "Gifted." It was all in the gesture.

PAA John delivering Eddie's message to Andy: "Eddie Gibson called. He said

'The loaf has landed; I'm headed home.' "

Eddie, who's clearly been watching too much TV, delivering his

impersonation of Mrs.Weakest Link: "Goodbye."

Ret. Det. Jim expressing concern over whether he can trust PAA John: "How

about Mr. Feather Fingers answering the phone?"

And what's sure to be everyone's favorite:

Julian, holding open the gate for the squad members after the call came in

that a cop had been shot, "Let's be careful out there."

Next week: A re-run. So don't miss it!

Take care & let me hear from you---

Amanda Wilson