For God and Country (Homicide: Life on the Street)
Encyclopedia
"For God and Country" is an episode of the fourth season
of the American police drama television series Homicide: Life on the Street
. It originally aired on NBC
on February 9, 1996. The episode was written by Jorge Zamacona
and Michael S. Chernuchin
and directed by Ed Sherin. Aside from a brief cameo by Mike Logan
in an earlier episode, For God and Country is the first episode to firmly establish a narrative link between Homicide and its sister show, Law & Order
. The episode follows the events of Law & Order episode "Charm City".
, a man who has been arrested for setting off a poison gas attack in a subway begs authorities to see to his family's protection in Baltimore, but will not reveal why he fears for their lives until he knows that his son is safe. This prompts the detectives to investigate further. Meanwhile, the poisoner's family is indeed attacked in Baltimore, leading to his wife's death and his son's attempt to flee the city before Frank Pembleton
and Tim Bayliss
chase him down. NYPD Detectives Lennie Briscoe
and Reynaldo Curtis travel to Baltimore to aid in the investigation, and it becomes apparent that the two cases are linked to a gas attack in a Baltimore church five years earlier that killed six people. The investigation leads to the mastermind behind all of the attacks, an anarchist and Special Forces Vietnam War
colonel named Alexander Rausch, who reveals that his poison attacks on black communities were motivated by a desire to start a race war. Though Rausch is in the custody of the Baltimore police, NYC Assistant District Attorney Claire Kincaid
demands extradition, creating tension between Pembleton/Bayliss and Briscoe/Curtis and starting a court battle between Kincaid and Baltimore District Attorney Ed Danvers
. A Baltimore judge approves Kincaid's extradition order as all the detectives make their peace with each other. As the detectives escort Rausch to the train station for his return trip to New York, he suffers a heart attack brought on by deliberately failing to take his medication. Frank Pembleton
, who had personalized the case, is heart-broken that Rausch has avoided trial and incarceration.
In a comical subplot, Det. John Munch
discovers that, after one of his ex-wives divorced him, she had a brief sexual relationship with Briscoe. Munch also learns that he is not as good a pool player as he thinks, losing $500 to Briscoe in short order.
Homicide: Life on the Street (season 4)
The fourth season of Homicide: Life on the Street aired in the United States on the NBC television network from 1995-10-20 to 1996-05-17 and contained 22 episodes....
of the American police drama television series Homicide: Life on the Street
Homicide: Life on the Street
Homicide: Life on the Street is an American police procedural television series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Homicide Unit. It ran for seven seasons on NBC from 1993 to 1999, and was succeeded by a TV movie, which also acted as the de-facto series finale...
. It originally aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
on February 9, 1996. The episode was written by Jorge Zamacona
Jorge Zamacona
Jorge Zamacona is an American television writer and producer. He worked extensively on the police drama Homicide: Life on the Street and wrote the series cross-over episodes with the crime drama Law & Order...
and Michael S. Chernuchin
Michael S. Chernuchin
Michael S. Chernuchin is an American television writer and producer. He has worked on the NBC crime dramas Law & Order and Brooklyn South...
and directed by Ed Sherin. Aside from a brief cameo by Mike Logan
Mike Logan (Law & Order)
Michael "Mike" Logan is a fictional character in the police procedural and legal drama television series Law & Order franchise, played by Chris Noth.-History in the franchise:...
in an earlier episode, For God and Country is the first episode to firmly establish a narrative link between Homicide and its sister show, Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
. The episode follows the events of Law & Order episode "Charm City".
Plot summary
In New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, a man who has been arrested for setting off a poison gas attack in a subway begs authorities to see to his family's protection in Baltimore, but will not reveal why he fears for their lives until he knows that his son is safe. This prompts the detectives to investigate further. Meanwhile, the poisoner's family is indeed attacked in Baltimore, leading to his wife's death and his son's attempt to flee the city before Frank Pembleton
Frank Pembleton
Francis Xavier "Frank" Pembleton is a fictional homicide detective on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by Emmy Award winning actor Andre Braugher. He is a primary character of the show through the first six seasons...
and Tim Bayliss
Tim Bayliss
Timothy Bayliss is a fictional detective on Homicide: Life on the Street. He was a primary character, and was played by Kyle Secor. He was loosely based on the real-life Det...
chase him down. NYPD Detectives Lennie Briscoe
Lennie Briscoe
Leonard W. "Lennie" Briscoe is a fictional character on NBC's long running police procedural and legal drama television series Law & Order. He was featured on the show for 12 seasons, from 1992 to 2004. He was created by Walon Green and René Balcer, and was portrayed by Jerry Orbach...
and Reynaldo Curtis travel to Baltimore to aid in the investigation, and it becomes apparent that the two cases are linked to a gas attack in a Baltimore church five years earlier that killed six people. The investigation leads to the mastermind behind all of the attacks, an anarchist and Special Forces Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
colonel named Alexander Rausch, who reveals that his poison attacks on black communities were motivated by a desire to start a race war. Though Rausch is in the custody of the Baltimore police, NYC Assistant District Attorney Claire Kincaid
Claire Kincaid
Assistant District Attorney Claire Kincaid is a fictional character on the television series Law & Order, played by Jill Hennessy from 1993 to 1996.-Character overview:...
demands extradition, creating tension between Pembleton/Bayliss and Briscoe/Curtis and starting a court battle between Kincaid and Baltimore District Attorney Ed Danvers
Ed Danvers
Ed Danvers is a fictional character played by Željko Ivanek in the television series Homicide: Life on the Street.-Character profile:A recurring character, Danvers is usually shown only in his professional capacity as an Assistant State's Attorney , although the series did delve into his personal...
. A Baltimore judge approves Kincaid's extradition order as all the detectives make their peace with each other. As the detectives escort Rausch to the train station for his return trip to New York, he suffers a heart attack brought on by deliberately failing to take his medication. Frank Pembleton
Frank Pembleton
Francis Xavier "Frank" Pembleton is a fictional homicide detective on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by Emmy Award winning actor Andre Braugher. He is a primary character of the show through the first six seasons...
, who had personalized the case, is heart-broken that Rausch has avoided trial and incarceration.
In a comical subplot, Det. John Munch
John Munch
Sergeant John Munch is a fictional character played by actor Richard Belzer. Munch first appeared on Homicide: Life on the Street. Upon that series' cancellation, the character was transplanted to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the first spin-off of the Law & Order franchise...
discovers that, after one of his ex-wives divorced him, she had a brief sexual relationship with Briscoe. Munch also learns that he is not as good a pool player as he thinks, losing $500 to Briscoe in short order.