Law & Order S15 E24 “Locomotion”
“Hit show? Hit show? Do you know how many hits we did on ‘The Sopranos’? I didn’t think so.”
Detective Joe Fontana and his temporary partner Nick Falco (played by Michael Imperioli) look for the driver who left an SUV on the tracks which caused a fatal train crash. They suspect terrorism, and assume the culprit slipped in with the injured passengers to make his escape. The SUV belonged to a criminal whose prosecutor takes that train, but he says his vehicle had been stolen. Lt Anita Van Buren make the detectives find whoever left a second set of fingerprints on the steering wheel. Dave Buckley claims he was a passenger, but when Fontana and Falco examine his injuries, they appear to be self-inflicted. Buckley admits he was trying kill himself, but didn't think the collision would kill anyone else.
Lead prosecutor Jack McCoy charges Buckley with 12 counts of murder. His attorney argues Buckley was insane and makes the case that he wouldn't have attempted suicide if there were adequate mental health resources for the working poor. But midway through the trial, Buckley fires the lawyer and represents himself. That's was ADA Alexandra Borgia notices one of Buckley's brothers was conspicuously left off the witness list. It leads to a dramatic confrontation between the siblings about the limits family support.
We're talking about Law & Order season 15 episode 24 "Locomotion." Our guest is Charles Star from the "No Homework" podcast.
The episode is inspired by the 2005 train crash in Glendale, California.
