Privileged vs Homeless - Law & Order 

The actor that played the homeless man is amazing.

"I lost it all...you don't know what that feels like...to be a failure..to go to bed on a wet piece of cardboard..wondering how did this happen to me" ..I felt that. Fantastic acting as usual

This actor’s performance is the most moving one I’ve seen. Sadly, I don’t think his career took off like it should have. One of the best-written Law & Order episodes ever.

It's sad since alot of people look away from these homeless people like they don't exist. Ever since the pandemic started, I can't imagine what they been through out there

I like how he called the guy human at the end. So much emotion on both sides

In the immortal words of CS Lewis comes this quote: experience is a brutal teacher but you learn my god do you learn. EDIT:Thank you for the likes.

To this day, there is no other show more gritty, more palpably REAL than this series. Many times I've found courtroom drama mind blowing, episodic conclusions gut-wrenching. No other television series has brought out these emotions in me, not even close.

The homeless man is Christopher Donahue, who is a stage actor. Unfortunately, this was his last TV show, film credit on imdb, which only showed 3 total. Wish there was more, as you can tell from this role he’s a great actor.

I love how he knows he has to stay acting as a prosecutor, has to stay on point with his case, but knows what he just heard is not something he can respond to any further. So he says: "Sounds Human to me." tells him that he sees him, sees his issues, sees who he is but also stays on point for his own job. It's straying dangerously close to that line, but it's done so well and I love it. This show lost it's character over the years, but these old ones? These will ALWAYS be amazing to go back and watch.

Having been there, I can relate. Been homeless, slept behind dumpsters that block the wind when it's 20 degrees and the snow's falling; seen how people turn their backs when you ask for a cigarette; went everywhere I could find, even fast-food places, looking for a job. That's when the recession was on, NOBODY was hiring. Unless you've been there, you'll never know.

I wonder if the reason why so many people ignore the homeless is due to terror-because most of us are balancing on a razor’s edge and just one stiff breeze could cause us to slip off and get cut and we could end up like the guy in that episode.

That actor got his one shot as guest on the show and boy, he took it.

I love this episode. Powerful stuff. I feel bad for this guy. He really had it rough and this happens to him. It’s bittersweet to think he went to jail where they give him food and shelter. The acting in this scene was spot on.

What separates the privileged from the homeless is one bad day. One bad day where everything we love, own, and subconsciously take for granted gets stripped away from us and is seen as nothing more than vermin. This episode makes me see how we should be grateful and appreciative for what we DO have and that there are people who have it far worse than us.

Never again. I'm never going to take anything for granted again. Not matter how rough things get.

What did he expect a homeless man to show up to court in? His best suit?

Powerful acting by the man who portrays the homeless accused. And a brutal reminder that we are all vulnerable. This scene reminds me of the movie "Falling Down", starring Michael Douglas. A movie about a man who has become redundant. That same man experiences a meltdown. And then it gets ugly. Real fast. A brutal reminder that we are all vulnerable.

The trial at the end where he gives his testimony is one of the best representations of what it's like to be homeless that I've seen in Media, and I've been homeless since 2012.

I heard stories where when homeless have finally lost hope they get on the nearest highway out of town and just roll the dice and walk ... and walk ... and walk ... like a drone till they find a wood, lay down; and pass on...

And in the end nobody learned a thing and the homeless stayed homeless Goodnight kids

This and ER were the best shows, they really picked their cast well, no other shows compare to these at all!

Most L&O episodes are strong, but this one is very relevant. Homelessness in the US is a tragedy and there is no "one size fits all" remedy. Instead of political parties blaming one another, it's time to brainstorm effective methods to treat those mentally ill and addicted and institute responsibility and work ethics for others. And that's just for starters.

Fred Thompson (Arthur) was an outstanding actor, so was the man who played the homeless man.

Why would Brisco & Green quote the police usage of the derogatory terms 'skell or lice-head' in their report? The answer is; they wouldn't!

I don't know which side to lean on more but this is a reality that is well conveyed in the actors part. Just amazing, you could feel the weight.

"The problem doesn't go away if you throw more money at the problem." In this particular case, it does. In Germany, we have a social safety net and work- and health-insurance. If there is an accident at work, insurance pays for your treatment until you're recovered. After six weeks being sick, the insurance takes over paying your wages until you're recovered. Then you can get back into your job. You can't be fired from your job for being sick, much less if you've been injured in a work-related accident. If you can't recover, there is something called disability-insurance, that's part of the insurance your employer is mandated to pay for. They will probably not pay your entire wages, but you'll get good money out of it and can for sure make a living if you add a decent side-job. People that get hurt at work don't become homeless in Germany. That's what we pay taxes for.

"homeless first an a human being second" you know the writers wanted him to sound like a complete fist magnet.

This hit close to home for me. I was almost crying at the end. Good stuff.

That was one hell of a scene. The actor that played the homeless man killed that part.

this homeless man problably one of the best actors i have seen in a long time and the writers did a great job

We had a sorta famous homeless guy in the city I studied in. Amazing guy to talk to when drunk. But that was the point. He was always drunk or stoned out of his mind. Sometimes you wish you could help but watching him... he completely lost hold over his existence.

This is one bay is one criminal in law and order I actually feel bad for because being homeless is a living nightmare and the actor portraying the homeless man did an excellent job portraying his character

Something I don't think was mentioned enough in this episode is that he didn't take out his frustration on the privileged. He took it out on another homeless person. And that is scarier than I like to think about.

I agree with everything the homeless man says, because thats exactly what it's really like to live out on the streets, it a constant struggle to survive!

Thx, Mccoy for showing, that because just someone is homeless, doesn´t mean that defines his human qualities.

The acting is superb. Law and Order is brilliant.

Of all the episodes I've seen of this show and all the performances, this one has always stuck with me. Just gutting. (And it's funny--the show has such confidence in the rightness of its main characters that the cops and DAs usually get the "undercut the perp's argument" last line, but this time it just feels unspeakably cruel, even though they probably didn't plan it that way.)

That defense backfired tremendously.

At the very end, McCoy and Southerlyn are talking, and McCoy says, “Don’t get me wrong: he killed somebody over an orange, he deserves to be punished for it.” Southerlyn: “. . . But. . .?” McCoy: “We just moved him from one jungle to another.” Very chilling and solemn.

I swear, Serena and Arthur's feud only got worse from this point till season 15. It's like writers had run out of ideas to sell in the 'Order' format.

The dead can't speak. But their murderers can pull on your heart strings for sympathy

It sucks that his family kicked him out.

To get a job you need to be clean and well presented and spend money to have a printed copy of your resume along with being able to send an online version with an application. So you need access to the internet. You also need an email address and a phone number. So again, you need a phone and money to pay the phone bill. You have multiple applications and even if you do get the job, you need a bank account, money for public transport to get there on time unless you live in a park nearby. You will need shoes and at least 2 of each item of clothing so you can clean 1 while wearing the other, so you need some kind of soap and a safe place to dry your clothes. You won’t be able to take your merger belongings with you to work, so you would need a safe place to store them, which is unlikely. You need bank info and multiple ID’s for the company because of tax and misc employment records. You usually don’t get paid until you have worked for 2-4 weeks. During that time you will still be scrounging for food and money, just in the limited hours that you aren’t working. So, without current ID, bank account, clean clothes, access to regular water, soap and a toothbrush along with work appropriate clothing and shoes and a way to explain the gap in your work history along with trying to find food and a safe place to live along with how to get to the places you need to be, it sounds like you are stuck in a pit with walls that crumble every time you try to pull yourself out. But sure, why don’t you just get a job?

They need love they need compassion they need to be treated with some respect too it’s sad to see people have no other choice but to live on the streets 🙏🏾

I grew up in NYC and have seen homeless/helpless people. It's so much worse today. Politicians have the power and money to help but they lack the desire or fortitude. Just the other day I watched a clip someone made, think it was "a walk down Kensington avenue, Philadelphia". It was just 2 minutes long but it was overwelmingly sad. I suggest you check it out..

i forget when i first saw this episode and scene. it really touched me hard. this scene is one of the main reasons i give to the homeless whenever i can. Bc it is true, not like that life was planned or chosen, they had misfortune and ending up homeless was the result. and remember, it could happen to anyone. one day you could be on top having millions, but you have those millions in stock, house, car, possessions. stock crashes, there goes those millions of dollars.

I love law and order and in Rotterdam Netherlands there is crime too

It's called bondage...bound by evil. I feel for this character as I have been through something similar. I really need to find the rest of this. ✝

Yes this backstory is tragic, yes homelessness is a real issue but let's not forget this man murdered another human being, and a mentally ill human being at that, because he felt entitled to that man's orange. "Slamming his face into the ground" key word being slamming, that is to say slamming repeatedly. He was aware and he was sane, disturbed and under high stress but fundamentally this man killed without a good reason and he knew it was wrong, he's guilty.

I wonder if there was universal healthcare in America would he be homeless in the first place. He would not have been in debt if healthcare was free after he had the construction site accident, which makes you wonder how many people are in the same situation that he was in right now!

Hospitals will often treat the homeless incredibly badly in fact I've had them lie to me. When it comes to the homeless some of the people that those who read this me live right next door to have the same kind of job pay their bills smile wave go by this is the same people who will take the most vulnerable person at the worst point part of their life judge them and kick them. The people who do these things have jobs just like anybody else in every industry every Nation and every city in nearly every business are these people who will abuse someone who cannot defend themselves well they treat you with courtesy and friendliness. That's part of what it's like to be homeless

I bet the Writer patted themselves on the back after finishing this script, then stepped over a Homeless person on their way home.

He is 100% right. I'm in a shelter at the moment. As I faced eviction on my own, feeling like a failure, I wondered," How did this happen to me?" 😭 "You think I chose this for my life?" 😭

This guy deserves an emmy

The fantastic thing about this show is how every episode feels real. I'm sitting here typing out what his lawyer should have done knowing full well the character had a script. LOL.

"Why didn't you get a job?" Its really, REALLY not that simple sometimes.

I can understand now why some homeless people choose jail. A murder sentence wouldn't be worth it, but a few years of food and a bed plus the small amount they can make working, or finishing/starting an educational goal sounds way better than the streets.

the entire scene where they are debating the validity of the case while at a restaurant two wine glasses per person, is rich if you ask me. its like the situation is lost on them that they can't see privileges.

wow..his acting is so good..so real.. and it most likely represents the truth as to what homeless people go thru..how they feel?? its truly sad..

Rats eating your fingers while you sleep. Man that’s rough

"The court fights over whether a homeless man should be judged for his crimes in the same way as those more privileged than him." - that's a stupid question. The video asks us if they should be treated more leniently. Would people agree with treating them more harshly? Discrimination, better or worse, is not to be accepted. And it's all besides the fucking point. He didn't choose to be homeless? Fine. He chose to assault and attack another person.

In the end, I felt Mccoy was wrong here, yes the guy was wrong for killing the other dude but he didn't hit him to kill him, he didn't intend to kill him. The world he lived in is different than the one Mccoy lived in, like it or not. Weakness gets you killed or attacked. Not to mention Hospitals do not like Homeless people. US Hospitals are private and used to make money, sure they help people....but only if you got insurance or a big fat wallet. They wouldn't have helped that homeless guy anyways, they just would have kicked him out and been like "we looked him over, he seemed fine". The charge IMO wasn't justified, just another example of Mccoy not caring about the fine details and just wanting to win his case, which makes him a real POS in a way.

"Limousine Liberals." Nice one.

Gotta admit, the defense has a convincing case

And the sad part are the people who question and judged them are the people have every thing in life, from wine and dine in 5 star restaurant, live in 4 bed room and 3 car garage. possessed every toys or gadgets in world have to offer even they don't even know what s that for.

The ending was weak. McCoy said nothing to rebut what the homeless man said. And it felt like he knew he had nothing to really come back with.

I live paycheque to paycheck, and am so scared that one day that I'll be homeless because I've lost my job and can't afford a place to live. This really drove home that it could happen to anyone

This actor did a phenomenal job

This was one of the first episodes of L&O I ever watched. Still think it's a great episode.

I was just watching this episode an hour.

I have never been homeless and I hope to never wind up homeless. But I can’t imagine what it’s like. There’s homeless shelters and soup kitchens to help them but they’re basically bandaids. There’s some programs in to help homeless people get back on there feet such as temporary places to stay until they can get a job, and afford a place of their own. I admittedly don’t know the exact conditions for it but I imagine you have to at least stay sober, show proof of getting a job, etc.

So health living costs destroyed yet another individual.

OMG KATE BURTON!!!!!! (Ellis Grey on Grey's anatomy)

I love how he acts so awesome

Annnnnnd here we go… my feed now belongs to the SVU algorithm…

A jail or a prison is a jungle filled with tigers

5:04..."Limousine liberals"...haven't head that one in a while LOL

Homeless guy actor has a really nice soft voice.

I’ve not experienced homelessness, but people I know who have say that among the many problems they face is lack of sleep, sometimes to dangerous levels. Even one night of no sleep can bring on symptoms similar to schizo-affective disorder, so if it’s likely that this man has lived on the streets for a long time it’s equally likely that his mind is stressed and tired and not at all functioning well. We live in a society where there needs to be some basic rules of conduct, but we tend to apply these rules to everyone without thinking about whether they’re in a position to follow them.

Amazing acting! How did this episode end? What happened to the guy?

This is why Law & Order is so great even the side characters are unbelievable

No offense. But why fight going to jail. He would get a warm bed (bad as it was) meals each day and free medical attention. Sure, jail is jail. But its better than being homeless by the looks of things.

What you call a bad night, having one nightmare, I call it a tuesday morning, in an endless eternity of suffering and doom.

Having been homeless three times in my life, I couldn't even look at the man while he was screaming in the stand. All I could do was clutch and fold inward. I know that desperation. This country, built on the poisonous PR that is rugged individualism, the idea that promotion of better civics and social welfare is weakness, that taking care of your neighbor as you would like to be taken care of is laziness, parasitism... We've been raised wrong and we vote against enlightenment and the raising of the quality of life of the greater whole because of it.

Incredible acting. That dude needs a show

What a fantastic performance.

You gotta love this comments section, "oh think of the poor homeless man" That's exactly why he gets convicted the jury thought of the poor defenceless homeless man he mudered. Ask yourself why you empathize with a murderer instead of his victim.

Have to say McCoy was heartless in this one.

5:00 he has a point. Lots of people virtue signal so they can feel better about the fact they don’t really contribute to their communities or civilization as a whole. They don’t actively choose to do good, selfless things, they’re just not doing bad things so when compared to actual good people they feel mediocre because not being evil doesn’t make you a saint. Just like volunteering at a soup kitchen once a year doesn’t make you a humanitarian

I recall being struck...uh, impressed...with Law & Order when it came on. Thought-provoking. Yet over time, I have been disgusted by the show's mentality, it's hypocrisy. In this case, we're intended to decide that a man shouldn't be account for violence...because he's homeless. Yet even McCoy points out how the man remains human. So, ...is a human being responsible for actions or not? If the homeless cannot make their own choices, the only solution would be death. ..Embrace another Holocaust. If the homeless CAN make their own choices, ...perhaps he ought be convicted. Perhaps he can learn to take care of himself in prison. One of Law & Order's serious down sides tended to be the will to make a bad case inspire even worse law.

I just went to the courthouse in Atlanta. While parking my car, I saw a homeless man underneath a bridge living amongst rats. This is a true story. I said to myself we have to take our jobs seriously.

You’d think a more conservative leaning person like Arthur would be more inclined to actually want to help the homeless, considering a good percentage of homeless people are veterans… You know, the people they say we should all support?

Pretty clear example of how the law just isn't sufficient to deal with homeless issues. You say they're people, yet the way they live is animalistic; not because they're animals, but because they're forced to survive. You think a guy like this can get a job? Try walking into even the most basic place--a McDonald's, a mall, etc--dressed like he is, looking like he is. They'll chase him out before he can get an interview. The prosecutor wants it both ways. He wants to be able to treat the homeless like people, but not for compassion, rather, for punishment. To treat them the same as anyone else while ignoring the circumstances that break them, the environment that strips away their personhood, makes them feel like they have to survive in the wild despite being surrounded by people doing better than them.

Never forget this guy is more privileged than Bronny James

once your in that situation getting out is almost impossible. you need an address to get a job and you can't take your backpack full of belonging to work if you happen to get a job without an address. alot of homeless people with cars don't "qualify" for assistance i was homeless for 7 years before i lucked into a program in SF that helped me get off the streets

Dr. Ellis Grey is a powerful lawyer too 👏

This is probably in my top 5 for Law & Order episodes

Great acting.

Doesn't seem like he beat that man just for a slice of orange, he wanted to protect himself and then the other man went crazy hence the result if I'm understanding this correctly. Murder isn't something that can be forgiven but if you take into consideration what the homeless have to go through, you start to look at it differently. He didn't even want this nor did he choose it either.

6:24 "They [shelters] are not safe, they're filled with crazy violent people [hey, just like me]."