EPISODE OF THE WEEK: UNREQUITED

[Patcat]

Will air April 9 at 1pm (EST) and April 10 at 12am (EST) on the USA Network. Originally aired January 18, 2004. Episode 12 of Season Three.

Written by Stephanie Sengupta and Rene Balcer
Directed by Jean de Segonzac

Guest Actors:

Casey Siemaszko as Harvey Grunewald
Rebecca Schull as Esther Grunewald
Claire Bloom as Marion Whitney
Gerny Becker as Lawrence Bradley (Mr. Becker would return to play the defense attorney in IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS)
Leslie Hendrix as M.E. Rodgers

Synopsis: An anonymous tip leads Goren and Eames to a former child star, an events promoter, and their dark ties.

Quotes:

Eames: "Before James Whitney died, Marion Whitney already had Harvey plotting her new life."
Goren: "And maybe her husband's death."

Deakins: "Who's Terry?"
Eames: "My date. Well, what was I supposed to do while I was pregnant, sit home and knit?"

Bradley: "Students have to show commitment, and talent, and..."
Eames: "A big bank account?"

Eames: "Dance of the merry widow."

Marion: "I want to frighten them with my eyes."
Bradley: "If they're here tonight, they'll be frightened."

Eames: "And here they thought they were the answers to each other's prayers."
Goren: "Well, they were. I mean, she's going to have another shot at fame at her trial. And Harvey...I think Harvey will like jail. It's where all the famous people are these days."

Queries:

Would this episode be stronger if Marion actually possessed some talent?

Who is more guilty--Marion or Harvey?

Would Marion and Harvey have gotten away with the murder if Mrs. Grunewald hadn't alerted the police?

Are either Marion or Harvey aware of how pathetic they are?

Would Marion have tried to kill her husband if she hadn't met Harvey?

Why did Mrs. Grunewald alert the police?

Do Goren and Eames have any sympathy for Marion, Harvey, or Mrs. Grunewald?

There are times Goren seems almost giddy in this episode. Is this because of Eames' return? How does Eames react?

Comments:
Another black comedy from Season Three that gets better each time I watch it. The initial discussion indicated many people liked this one, especially Goren's dance, his imitation of the actors, and Mrs. Grunewald's stubborn refusal to let the detectives in her home. There's some wonderful physical comedy from Mr. D'Onofrio and great snark from Ms. Erbe. And sometimes offbeat casting works. The great actress Claire Bloom is marvelous as the manipulative, self absorbed Marion, and Rebecca Schull, best known for playing the absent minded and sweet receptionist on WINGS, is both malevolent and sympathetic as Mrs. Grunewald. Throw in some in jokes, and a brilliantly staged finales, and you have a very good episode that's a bit different from the usual.

My apologies for the delay in the EOTW. Life, you know?

Patcat

[idget]

This is one of my favorite all time episodes, for most of the reasons Patcat mentions. From the dance Bobby does in the beginning, to his stretching in the actors studio, watching him try to get into Mrs. Grunewalds apartment, to the aria at the end with him and Eames exiting stage right and left. I have watched this episode several times and could watch it several more.

Queries:

Would this episode be stronger if Marion actually possessed some talent?
Absolutely not. Part of the fun is her awful acting and her delusions that she is the next Katherine Hepburn.

Who is more guilty--Marion or Harvey?
A great question. How much did Marion know about Harvey's plan to kill her husband? Did she ask him to do it? Or did she know and just decided to keep quiet? She obviously figured out it was Harvey's mother who dropped the dime on her and so plotted to kill her, so that makes me think that she and Harvey must have worked together to kill her husband. So I would say Marion is more guilty because she was responsible for 2 murders.


Would Marion and Harvey have gotten away with the murder if Mrs. Grunewald hadn't alerted the police?
Yes, I think they would have.

Are either Marion or Harvey aware of how pathetic they are?
Marion most definitely not. Harvey I think does realize it, but has learned to use it to his advantage.

Would Marion have tried to kill her husband if she hadn't met Harvey?
Another good question, probably not because it was Harvey whom she was counting on to fulfilling her dreams of stardom.

Why did Mrs. Grunewald alert the police?
I think she thought Marion alone was responsible for her husband's death and she was jealous of the time Harvey was spending with Marion.

Do Goren and Eames have any sympathy for Marion, Harvey, or Mrs. Grunewald?
None for Marion, maybe a little for Harvey. I think they admired Mrs. Grunewald especially after Bobby couldn't talk his way into her place.

There are times Goren seems almost giddy in this episode. Is this because of Eames' return? How does Eames react?
I think it all has to do with Eames' return. He is so happy to have her back. I'm sure he felt like a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. I think she is amused by it.

[DonnaJo]

Idget, I also agree that Bobby is delighted to have his old partner back. He would have never done that little dance if Bishop was still his partner.

I didn't mind Bishop, but she didn't bring out Bobby's fun side.

[Patcat]

Did Harvey know that Marion was responsible for his mother's death?

And why does Mrs. Grunewald want Harvey back? She doesn't seem that fond of him.

Patcat

[idget]

DonnaJo, I also didn't "mind" Bishop. I enjoyed watching Bobby trying to deal with her and playing a different role, but I was also glad that she wasn't in any more episodes than she was, because I just love the partnership that Goren and Eames has.

Patcat, I don't think Harvey realized Marion was in on his mother's death until Goren and Eames point that out to him in the end. I also don't think Mrs. Grunewald was that enamored with her son, but just because she didn't want him doesn't mean she wanted someone else to have him either. She wanted to be the center of his attention whether or not he was hers.

[Patcat]

If I was planning a murder, I think I'd want someone more reliable than Harvey as my partner.

Patcat

[idget]

LOL! I agree with you there Patcat!