PRACTICE, THE: GIDEON'S CROSSOVER (TV)

Summary

One in this series of dramas about the idealistic attorneys at a struggling Boston law practice. This episode is a crossover with "Gideon's Crossing," the dramatic series about Dr. Ben Gideon and the residents who work with him at Metropolitan General Hospital in Boston. The program begins as Helen explains to Mr. McGowan that his young daughter Amanda may indeed have to testify against her rapist in court, which disturbs him. The girl's therapist advises Helen to get a continuance to allow her more time to prepare. A woman named Kate Littlefield visits Bobby, explaining that her husband, Raymond, is charged with murdering her daughter and that their attorney doubts his innocence, saying that she prefers a lawyer who genuinely believes in him. She adds that she believes that the murder weapon was planted and that her troublemaking daughter was lying about an affair with her stepfather, though he did in fact have a mistress. Ellenor experiences problems with her pregnancy and is taken to the doctor, where her old friend Ben Gideon runs various tests. Helen is denied her continuance and finds that she has no choice but to call Amanda to the stand, first questioning a doctor who examined her after the assault.

Bobby talks to the Littlefields' former lawyer and surmises that Raymond confessed the crime to him, though the man denies it. Helen brings Michelle, the eyewitness, to the stand, and she explains what she saw, though the defense lawyer, Pashman, calls attention to her alcoholism to discredit her. Gideon tells Ellenor that she could have a potentially serious infection, but he is not yet positive. Bobby interviews Raymond, who explains that the girl lied to her counselor about the affair with him, and Bobby plans to get the evidence suppressed as hearsay. However, he begins to suspect that Mrs. Littlefield is in fact guilty of the murder, and Lindsay is unsure of the ethics of Bobby representing the family. In court he argues that there is no solid proof of the affair, but he becomes more suspicious when he learns that Mrs. Littlefield is the sole beneficiary of Raymond's will now that her daughter is dead, and Jimmy acknowledges the conflict of interest. Helen walks Amanda through the trial process, although Lucy and the therapist both feel that she is not ready. When she enters the courtroom, she freezes in terror, staring at the defendant, and Helen opts not to question her after all. Pashman argues that her actions are grounds for a mistrial, as he was not allowed to cross-examine her despite her wordless testimony. The judge is furious at Helen's "reprehensible" behavior, but simply orders the jury to disregard the girl's actions.

The other Littlefield daughter tells Bobby that her sister was indeed lying about the affair, swearing that her mother is innocent. Rebecca weighs in as Jimmy and Bobby discuss their "Plan B" tactic. Gideon tells Ellenor that her tests were clean and she is free to go home, much to her relief. Pashman and Helen give their closing arguments in Amanda's case, and despite the complications, the man is found guilty. Jimmy meets with Raymond's mistress, who is also a lawyer, and objects to being their "Plan B." She does, however, also suspect the mother. Bobby is successful when the dead girl's claims of the affair are thrown out as hearsay, but A.D.A. Alexander then finds clear forensic proof of a sexual encounter, and Bobby angrily berates Raymond, who still swears that he did not kill her. Jimmy updates Ellenor and Helen at Ellenor's home, but she suddenly collapses, and her friends hurriedly call an ambulance.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: March 11, 2001 10:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:59:57
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:64133
• GENRE: Drama, legal
• SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, legal
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1997-2004
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  • TV - Promos - "Columbo: Murder With Too Many Notes"
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CREDITS

• Robert Breech … Executive Producer
• David E. Kelley … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
• Christina M. Musrey … Supervising Producer
• Tammy Ann Casper … Supervising Associate Producer
• Pamela Wisne … Producer
• Todd Ellis Kessler … Producer
• Joseph Berger-Davis … Producer
• Gary M. Strangis … Producer
• Steven Lang … Associate Producer
• Michael Schultz … Director
• Jonathan Shapiro … Writer
• Peter Blake … Writer
• Lynne E. Litt … Writer
• Wendy West … Writer
• Marco Beltrami … Music by
• Jon Hassell … Theme Music by
• Pete Scaturro … Theme Music by
• Dylan McDermott … Cast, Bobby Donnelly
• Michael Badalucco … Cast, Jimmy Berluti
• Lisa Gay Hamilton … Cast, Rebecca Washington
• Steve Harris … Cast, Eugene Young
• Jason Kravits … Cast, A.D.A. Richard Bay
• Camryn Manheim … Cast, Ellenor Frutt
• Marla Sokoloff … Cast, Lucy Hatcher
• Kelli Williams … Cast, Lindsay Dole
• Lara Flynn Boyle … Cast, Helen Gamble
• Linda Hunt … Cast, Judge Zoey Hiller
• Isabella Hofmann … Cast, Kate Littlefield
• Tom Mason … Cast, Raymond Littlefield
• Kate Burton … Cast, A.D.A. Susan Alexander
• David Aaron Baker … Cast, Atty. Joshua Pashman
• Charles Napier … Cast, Judge Abraham Betts
• Mary Mara … Cast, Dr. Jane Lefkowitz
• Dey Young … Cast, Elena Wharton
• William Converse-Roberts … Cast, Atty. Michael Forbes
• Jamie Brown … Cast, Michelle Tritter
• Alexandra Kyle … Cast, Amanda McGowan
• Donald Sage Mackay … Cast, Howard McGowan
• Emily Yancy … Cast, Amanda's Therapist
• Jeanette Brox … Cast, Jenny Littlefield
• Andre Braugher … Cast, Ben Gideon
• Richard Topol … Cast, Dr. Josh Inwood
• Eamon Behrens … Cast, Bruce Wilson
• Scot Renfro … Cast, Jury Foreperson
• Allana Foster … Cast, Court Clerk