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Episode Guide

Season 1, Episode 10


Episode Date
:
August 15, 2005

Writer:
Rick Kellard

Director:
Tawnia McKiernan

Guest Stars: Katy Selverstone (Deanna Dutton), Douglas Sills (Dennis Dutton), Stephen Tobolowsky (James Bloom), Rick Ravanello (Devlin Dutton), Mary Castro (Angelina Dutton), Samantha Quan (Vice Detective), Thomas Ian Griffith (Thomas Yates), Clive Revill (Albert Turner)


The Closer The Butler Did It Episode

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Episode Synopsis

The unexpected death of the young widow of one of L.A.'s wealthiest men and the subsequent suicide of their butler spells double trouble for Brenda and her team. With all the members of the dearly departed's dysfunctional family under suspicion, the Priority Homicide Division must separate the fact from fiction in a complicated who-dunnit. But as Brenda focuses on obtaining a conviction, is she being frozen out by Captain Pope and LAPD brass?

EPISODE CASE FILE
Location of murder:
Victim name:
What we know about the victim:
Cause of death:
Evidence:
Suspect:

Investigation complications:
Killer:
Motive:
Brenda's closer tactic:
Brenda
BRENDA'S PERSONAL LIFE
Personal conflict(s):

Family conflict(s):

Developments with Fritz:

Work hassles:

Sugar junkie moment:





Episode Background and Trivia

  • This is the first episode where Brenda interacts with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. The Los Angeles County District Attorney is responsible for all felony prosecutions in the county, and his staff of over 900 Deputy District Attorneys handle misdemeanor prosecutions in nearly 80 cities county-wide. The DA's office also includes a staff of nearly over 250 investigators, the fourth largest law enforcement agency in Los Angeles County, who are charged with witness location and supplemental pre-trial investigation. The DA's headquarters is located at 210 W. Temple, about four blocks from Parker Center. (Among the consultants for The Closer is former District Attorney Gil Garcetti.)
  • The Frolic Room where Devlin Dutton attempts to pick up Det. Sanchez, is a famous Hollywood landmark. One of the principle watering holes of the most glittering of stars in the 1930's – 50's, the bar is still in operation. Located on Hollywood Blvd. adjoining the Pantages Theater, it has been featured in numerous films, including L.A. Confidential.
  • Provenza: "I've waited my whole career to say this: The butler did it."

    The title of this episode refers to an old cliché from British and American drawing room mysteries, particularly those involving the wealthy. In fact, the phrase is so commonly used it has become a bit of a joke, as Lt. Provenza demonstrated early in this episode.
  • Trivia: The Season 1 DVD include a series of scenes deleted from this episode involving a gathering of the high command at the LAPD, including Assistant Chief Pope and Commander Taylor, to which Brenda has not been invited. Brenda apparently learns of it (we don't see this) and confronts Will, who assures her she just missed an invitation. She and Fritz arrive ahead of the appointed time, to find the all-male group having dinner, still having excluded her. Brenda puts on a brave face, and heads for the bar to wait for the dinner to conclude. There she laments the lack of respect she receives from the upper echelons as she gets drunker and drunker. Eventually, she leaves without ever having joined the group, but not before having an awkward conversation with Pope and Taylor.
  • Trivia: Fans of the early Star Wars movies may recognize the voice of Clive Revill, who played the butler, Alfred. Revill supplied the voice of the Emperor in the original Star Wars and in The Empire Strikes Back.


Best Episode Quotes

Devlin: "Actually I was with a hustler that I met online. Give me a pen, I'll give you his number."
Brenda: "How long were you with this guy? A matter of hours? Days?"
Devlin: "More a matter of inches. 8 to be exact. (To Sanchez) Don't get insecure."
Brenda:" ...We are running him down the flagpole and that's all that there is to it. If you want to examine the body, you may do so after I'm done. "
(Albert's body comes crashing through the window)
Brenda: "I'm done."
Provenza: "Don't drive mad." (To Brenda)
Brenda: "There's a bit of a drop." (To Gabriel and Provenza)
James Bloom: "Is there a chance I could plead insanity?"


Best Episode Moments

  • Brenda climbing over the privacy fence at the Dutton estate.






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