Ep 21. Ambitious

Ambitious is the 21st episode of the ninth season of Law & Order, a long-running American legal drama series that explores criminal investigations and court trials involving the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the district attorneys of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

In this episode, Detectives Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Rey Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) investigate a double murder case involving two college students, Leo Decker and Lisa Russo, who were found dead inside their apartment in New York City. The initial investigation suggests that the victims were killed during a robbery since their apartment was ransacked and some valuable items were missing. The detectives then start their quest to find the suspects involved in the crime.

Their investigation takes them to a local pawn shop where they discover that some of the stolen items were sold to the shop owner, Anthony Scalisi (Joe Lisi), who has a shady reputation for buying stolen goods. Scalisi admits to buying the stolen items but denies any involvement in the murders. However, when the detectives dig deeper into his past, they discover that Scalisi has a criminal history and has been involved in some similar crimes in the past.

Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) and his colleague Claire Kincaid (Jill Hennessy) take up the case and prepare to prosecute Scalisi for the murders. However, their case takes a surprising turn when they find out that Scalisi's son, Joseph (Brian Tarantina), is the real killer and that Scalisi has been covering for him.

As the detectives and the prosecutors continue to unravel the truth behind the case, they realize that the murder was not just a robbery gone wrong, but a premeditated act of violence. Joseph had killed the victims because he believed that Leo was a rival for Lisa's affection, and he could not let anyone come between him and the girl he loved. Joseph's testimony, combined with other circumstantial evidence, points to his guilt, and he is ultimately found guilty of both murders.

The episode also explores the theme of parental responsibility and the lengths that some parents will go to protect their children, even when they know that their actions are wrong. Scalisi's decision to cover up his son's crime ultimately leads to his own downfall, and he is sentenced to life in prison for his role in the murders.

Overall, Ambitious is an intriguing episode of Law & Order that showcases the investigative and legal processes involved in solving a complex murder case. The episode features strong performances from the cast, particularly from Orbach and Waterston, and offers a captivating storyline that keeps the viewers engaged until the very end.