The Promise is the 2nd case of the third season of the series and is the 48th overall.
Description[]
Lilly re-opens the case of college freshman Laurie Dunne, who died in a fraternity house fire in 2004. The fire was deemed accidental at the time, but the discovery of a photograph taken and emailed from her cell phone shortly before her death prompts a closer examination.
Synopsis[]
While getting ready for a party at her school, Pennsylvania State University. eighteen-year-old freshman Laurie Dunne is singing and dancing along to Outkast's "Hey Ya!", using her hairbrush as a microphone. Her father enters her room without knocking and sees her dancing. Embarrassed, she sits down and uses her brush to insinuate that she was just fixing her hair. He gives Laurie a pink scarf that belonged to her late mother. She gets emotional for a moment, and then takes a picture of the two of them together with her phone. Her father tells her she looks like her mother and that she would be so proud of her daughter. Cut to a raging house fire and Laurie is seen dead on the floor. A police officer is then seen typing a report stating that Laurie died from smoke inhalation, with her death ruled accidental.
At the police station in the present, Malcolm Dunne talks about his daughter's life and her death as the detectives look at images of her in her senior yearbook. Lilly points out that they only specialize in homicides and that the fire had been an accident. Mr. Dunne had thought likewise until he found a photograph in Laurie's email that he shows the detectives on her laptop: she is seen in the middle of a mob of people seemingly being force-fed alcohol by unknown individuals during a fraternity party. It was taken 40 minutes before her death and she had sent it to herself, leading the detectives to assume she may have wanted evidence of what really happened that night. Laurie's postmortem blood-alcohol level was 0.22, leading Lilly and Nick to question why a non-partier and "straight-up nerd" like her would uncharacteristically consume enough booze to "put her flat on her back".
Lilly and Nick go to the university to question Dirk Bryant, Laurie's former best friend. He claims he left the party an hour before the fire. They show him the picture of Laurie, and Nick then asks if Dirk knows anything about the perpetrators. Dirk says no, as he had gone back to his dorm room beforehand and passed out, which his roommate can vouch for. He adds that the last time he saw Laurie was at the party because she had wanted to stay and drink. Nick is skeptical. Dirk counters that he never invited Laurie to begin with; she had invited herself.
Flashback: In the college cafeteria, Gamma Rho fraternity president Manny Jones addresses a group of pledges — including Dirk — standing at attention with their trays. Dirk is selected to sit down and eat his lunch...but with no hands. As he does as he's told, Laurie quizzically approaches him and asks what he's doing. Manny asks Dirk if he can introduce her, which he does. Laurie introduces her friend Deidre to the frat boys; they met in foreign film club. Deidre sits at another table to wait for Laurie. Laurie invites Dirk to an Ingmar Bergman double feature the next Saturday night, but Dirk doesn't say anything. Manny speaks for him by saying that Dirk is committed to pledging the fraternity, who are also throwing a party that night to which everyone is invited. Manny asks if Dirk even thought about asking Laurie. Dirk shrugs it off: "Guess I forgot." Laurie accepts the invitation nonetheless and Manny tells her to "bring your cute friend along" to snickers from the other frat boys. Laurie walks away with a satisfied grin.
In the present, Dirk says Deidre did attend the party with Laurie but explains that he and Laurie had drifted apart by college; he didn't know her friends and she didn't know his. Lilly asks how and Dirk replies that things change. Lilly counters, "You mean you changed." Dirk testily says he wanted more than reading foreign film subtitles. Scotty questions Deidre in the school's screening room. She says only that she remembered the "bozo" frat boys and tries to leave it at that, but the detectives show her Laurie's photo and Josie reminds her that Laurie was her friend. Deidre recalls that she had even bought a new dress for the party, and that the boys had blindfolded both her and Laurie so they couldn't see the location of their "secret room" where, she remarks sardonically, the "fun and games" began.
In a flashback, the party is in full swing and a blindfolded Deidre and Laurie are being escorted upstairs to the secret room Manny calls "The Pen". Laurie asks if she can take hers off but Manny says not until they're formally introduced first. He does such to Deidre and guides her onto an unseen platform inside the darkened room to scattered applause as she is outfitted with a sash. Manny is snickering the whole time; Dirk disapproves of his actions but it falls on deaf ears. Laurie then gets the same treatment but to louder and more raucous cheers. Manny then instructs the group of girls to remove their blindfolds. The room then lights up and they are bombarded with laughter, jeers and squealing sounds from the frat boys, all of whom are wearing rubber pig masks. They were unwittingly pranked into being placed onto the "Hog Scale", an old platform scale used for the sole purpose of weighing overweight girls in order to humiliate them, with the numbers then written on their sashes for all to see. As she is the heaviest of the bunch, the aghast Laurie is crowned "Queen of the Porkers" by Manny, who welcomes her and the other "porkies" to the "Pig Pen". Deidre flings her blindfold at Manny and the girls storm out. Laurie glares at Dirk, who claims he didn't know about the prank. She is the last to attempt to leave the room but the boys forcibly restrain her and close the door as Deidre watches from outside.
In the present, Deidre says they all got out except for Laurie. When asked why she kept it a secret, she responds, "Would you want to tell the world what they did to you?" Deidre says what happened to her friend was an accident. As Lilly and the team later discuss the prank, Naya approaches with a copy of Laurie's photo blown up to detail a fraternity ring, and they decide to make some calls. Scotty and Nick pay a visit to Gamma Rho Fraternity, where they're received by a pledge dressed as a French maid and carrying a feather duster. Scotty tells him they're looking for Herman Jones. The bemused detectives are invited inside by the pledge and led to Manny, who is lazing in a recliner watching other similarly-dressed young men performing housekeeping duties; he explains that it's his way of "disciplining" the new pledges. Nick informs Manny that they knew about his "Hog Scale party" and Scotty asks what he did after he dragged Laurie back inside "The Pen". Manny insists the party was a joke and he didn't do anything to Laurie, whose death he callously jokes about while referring to her in derogatory terms such as "heifer", "pork pie", and "fatty" instead of her name, and further remarks that she "had dreams of being a Gamma Rho booty call". Tired of Manny's nonsense, Nick stomps the footrest of the recliner, shooting Manny upright. He then orders him to tell his side of the story.
In the flashback, Laurie rips off her sash and attempts to exit "The Pen" but is prevented from doing so as the boys "weren't done with her yet". She furiously confronts Dirk, calling him a "four-eyed loser" like he had been called back in high school by the jocks who regularly bullied him. One partygoer wants to know if that's true, but she hollers back that she's not talking to him and to shut up. Laurie then talks sense into Dirk about how he's being a jerk and he used to hate guys like that, but he's already become one of them; as she speaks, Dirk is visibly blinking back tears. Laurie then hears a low, sinister laugh nearby and spots its source — a taller middle-aged man also in a pig mask and standing in the open doorway — and approaches him, saying she knows who he is. She then sees Deidre across the hall exiting another room, looking disheveled with her dress ripped and makeup smeared. Laurie asks her what happened but Deidre responds only with sobs. Laurie leaves "The Pen" without resistance as she guides Deidre downstairs. Manny could care less as he goes back to the party.
In the present, Scotty notes that Deidre was actually still in the house and Nick asks what Laurie meant when she said "I know who you are" to the older man. Manny dismisses it by saying it was alum weekend and he didn't know who the "old warthog" was. In the cafeteria, Josie and Will ask Deidre why she lied about being in the house. Shirley, a fellow student and friend of both Laurie and Deidre who was also at the party, urges her to tell the truth. Deidre replies that someone ripped her new dress but she couldn't identify her attacker as her surroundings were too dark. She had tried to find her way out of the house but there were so many rooms, and then someone had grabbed her and the sexual assault "was over before I could even scream". Laurie then found Deidre and got her out...but Deidre then claims Laurie betrayed her.
In the flashback, the group of girls from the scale "contest" are congregated in the backyard as Shirley tries to comfort a hysterical Deidre. Dirk appears and requests to talk to Laurie; the incensed girls demand he get away from them. Dirk swears he didn't know about the prank because the pledges aren't told anything, and that he never meant for any of them to come if he'd known. Deidre calls him a "lying piece of crap" but Dirk again begs Laurie to give him an audience. Deidre declares Laurie doesn't care what he has to say, but Laurie rebuffs her by stating that he is her friend and she wants to hear him out. Leaving her dismayed companions in her wake, she reenters the house to speak with Dirk in private.
In the present, Josie asks both Deidre and Shirley what they did after that. Shirley answers they went straight home and pretended that the events that night never happened. At the precinct, Will informs Josie that the man with the fraternity ring in the picture who'd poured the alcohol down Laurie's throat has been identified: city councilman John Avery, under whom Laurie had interned one summer and was why she recognized him at the party. Will and Lilly go to Mr. Dunne's house and ask him if he knew Avery. Mr. Dunne answers negative. The conversation diverts quickly to Dirk when Lilly asks if they keep in touch. Mr. Dunne says he comes over for a meal once a week and they watch TV together and talk; it helped him take his mind off things. He wants to know why they're asking. Lilly states that Mr. Dunne knew Dirk and Laurie were growing apart by the time they reached college, which he strongly denies. He recalls that following the realization Laurie's mom wasn't coming home from the hospital, his twelve-year-old daughter hadn't shed a tear, but one night he couldn't sleep and heard Laurie crying downstairs. That was when he spotted Dirk — also Laurie's age — consoling her; Mr. Dunne knew right then that Dirk was the only one whom she could depend on. Josie and Scotty later confront Dirk and tell him his actions are either out of commitment — or guilt. Dirk flatly says his lawyer said they can't talk to him. Scotty informs Dirk that Manny knows he's on the case and has spread the word, and is curious if his bringing Laurie back into the house was his attempt to save face after she had embarrassed him earlier in front of everyone. Dirk replies that he acted on his own that night.
In the flashback, Dirk and Laurie are alone inside the frat house's kitchen. She doesn't want to hear his explanation but knows she has to. Dirk begins with an apology, but Laurie, still smarting from the prank, has none of it: "That's it? That's what you have to say for yourself? That's not good enough." Dirk then recalls her mother's death and how he had watched Laurie cry and remembered thinking how they were both just twelve at the time, but those days were now over and Dirk realized that night that he was the only person thereafter whom Laurie could rely on. Choking up, she concurs the last part of his statement. Overwhelmed with guilt, Dirk says that he let her down tonight, and he returns Laurie's pink scarf. Both are now in tears and they share a heartfelt embrace. However, it's quickly broken up when Manny and his cronies barge into the kitchen. He intimidates Laurie by asking, "You boinking the oink, Dirk?" Dirk is told by Laurie that they should leave, but torn between loyalty to his best friend and his frat brothers, he doesn't reply. He does react to Manny calling Laurie a "porker", but Manny tells him to shut it. Laurie is accosted once again by the group and Dirk demands they leave her alone, but Manny punches him, knocking him to the ground. The boys then take Laurie away as Dirk desperately calls her name, but he is then kicked in the gut by two other frat boys. Laurie's scarf is discarded on the floor, and as he recovers from the blow, Dirk spots Avery.
In the present, Dirk says he then went back to his dorm. Josie wants to know why he didn't try to go for help. Dirk responds that he was out of it and didn't know what to do. Irritated by his seemingly cavalier attitude, she gets in a parting shot of "Friend like you...who needs enemies?" before the detectives walk away. That night, Stillman, Scotty, and Josie get off work. Stillman informs them that Avery has an appointment tomorrow and Josie states that older powerful men like Avery are a "bitch". After Stillman leaves, Scotty and Josie continue walking and talking. She asks him what the homicide detectives do on Thursday night. Scotty answers that they drink at Jones Tavern and swap "war stories". He invites Josie to join them but she refuses, not wanting to mix her personal life with work. Scotty admits he did that once and made a mistake. Josie assures him she would understand, having been in a similar situation herself with Sergeant White. They reach her car and Scotty praises it. Josie bids him good night and leaves. Scotty is a little upset, perhaps hoping for a date with her that night.
The next day, Stillman informs Avery he's not convinced the fire was an accident and they know he was at the frat house the night Laurie died, and shows him the picture for emphasis. Avery gives his point of view on what happened.
In the flashback, the frat boys repeatedly chant "Swill" as Laurie is mobbed and forced to consume alcohol by Manny and then Avery while loud rap music thumps in the background. She is able to snap a picture in the midst of the fracas with her phone, but is then caught attempting to send it. Manny rips the phone out of her hands and stomps on it to break it. At the same time, Avery is aware of the potential danger of incrimination after Laurie reveals she had already emailed the picture. Manny charges at her in response but Avery stops him, declares the party over, and orders everyone out. As a shaken Laurie repeatedly looks at Avery, he orders Manny to take her home by any means necessary.
In the present, Avery says she was alive when he left. There were witnesses who saw him leave the house: the other girls from the "contest" who were still in the backyard. Lilly then interrogates Shirley, accusing her of starting the fire and claiming that Deidre is blaming her. Shirley denies it, knowing Lilly is lying and that her friend would never do such a thing. Shirley declares that the boys had broken the girls' hearts with their actions that night. When Lilly inquires why they would burn down the house, Shirley says it was "to break theirs".
In the flashback, one of the girls suggests to just go home and forget about tonight. Shirley asks Laurie's opinion on the matter because they can't just go and tell everyone as they'll only face more embarrassment, plus it's their word against the boys'. In a huff, Laurie produces a matchbook from her purse and suggests torching the house. The group unanimously agrees. Deidre grabs the matches but fumbles to light them as she's too emotionally overwhelmed. Shirley asks if Deidre's okay and Laurie says she's not, then Dirk comes out and addresses Laurie. It's all puzzled together as the detectives already know what happened after that. Deidre is more than ready to burn down the place, but Shirley warns her that Laurie is still inside. Deidre could care less because Laurie is a traitor. Shirley manages to talk Deidre down by repeating that they should just go home. However, they then see Councilman Avery, whom Deidre recognizes as her rapist. He taunts them one last time with an "oink oink" before leaving the property. Deidre finally snaps, lights the entire matchbook, and tosses it through an open patio door. A set of curtains instantly goes aflame and the girls flee while only Deidre stays to watch the place burn.
In the present, Deidre recalls that the blaze spread so fast and everyone was running and screaming while all she could do was stay and watch, but she tearfully wants to know why Laurie hadn't escaped along with everyone else, including Dirk, who was the last one out. That last comment provokes Scotty and Lilly into confronting Dirk one last time, but he again wants them to leave him alone. Scotty knows he stayed trying to save Laurie, but Dirk adamantly continues to deny it and attempts to leave but Scotty stops him. Lilly goes on to say that he was there for Laurie and he was all she could rely on. His voice wavering, Dirk begs them to drop it because Laurie had made him promise. That was the reason he could never tell what had actually happened that night: her father thinks she had died happy, and if he ever knew the truth it would break his heart. Dirk adds that he wasn't Laurie's rock; instead, she was his. Lilly implores Dirk to tell them the truth.
In the flashback, Dirk rushes back upstairs to "The Pen", where he finds Laurie and Manny alone. Manny blames Dirk for Laurie's taking of incriminating pictures that risked the fraternity being shut down. Dirk simply tells Manny that it's over. In a last attempt at revenge, Manny begins removing his belt. Dirk catches on immediately and orders Manny not to touch her. The two grapple as Manny snarls, "Can't boink the oink, Dirk? Then I will." But as Manny forces Dirk out of the room so he can have Laurie to himself, they both notice a fire raging downstairs. Manny keeps Dirk at arm's length to prevent him from getting to her, and by the time she is aware of what's happening, it's too late as Manny then slams the door shut, trapping her inside. He has the key and makes Dirk choose between him or Laurie, and it's implied Dirk chose her as he tells Manny to give him the key, but Manny throws it away and flees. Dirk tries to break open the door amidst her cries for help on the other side but it's no use. He climbs out a window onto the roof and shouts at her to do the same, but the windows inside "The Pen", while open, are barred, meaning Laurie can't escape and she is unable to breathe as the house is engulfed in smoke. Dirk makes his way to the window and futilely shakes the bars while yelling for help, and instructs her to keep her face where there is air. Laurie gestures to him to hold her hand and he urges her not to let go. She makes her friend promise to take care of her father so he won't be alone. Dirk tells her not to say that and she will get out, but Laurie, knowing she will not survive, has to set him straight by again pleading him to promise. He agrees, but she is rapidly succumbing to the effects of smoke inhalation. Dirk desperately tries to keep her head upright, telling her he won't let her go. She says she knows he won't. Those are her final words as she then goes limp, falling from Dirk's grasp onto the floor and out of sight. Dirk tearfully screams Laurie's name as she dies.
"Fallen" by Sarah McLachlan plays. Dirk watches as Manny, under arrest for murder, is marched to a waiting squad car as a crowd of students looks on. Shirley smirks mirthlessly at him as he passes by, and snaps a picture with her phone. Deidre is getting her mugshot taken at the police station as she's booked for arson. Councilman Avery is escorted in cuffs by the detectives to the precinct amidst a throng of reporters. Nick writes "CLOSED" on Laurie's case box. At home, Mr. Dunne looks at a picture of himself and Laurie. Dirk gives him her scarf and sits down beside him. As Mr. Dunne looks down, Laurie's ghost appears at her bedroom door and Dirk "sees" her. She grins at Dirk a bit and gives him a nod of approval, which he reciprocates. Laurie then fades away.
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Kathryn Morris as Lilly Rush
- Danny Pino as Scotty Valens
- John Finn as John Stillman
- Jeremy Ratchford as Nick Vera
- Thom Barry as Will Jeffries
Guest Cast[]
- Lindsay Hollister as Laurie Dunne
- Sarah Brown as Josie Sutton
- James Immekus as Dirk Bryant
- Joel McCrary as Malcolm Dunne
- Pat Skipper as John Avery
- Nick Wechsler as Manny Jones
- Kristina Sexton as Deidre Miller
- Veena Bidasha as Naya
- Elizabeth De Razzo as Shirley
Co-Starring[]
- Luke Gannon as Brother Scott
- Mark Wallace as Brother Jim
- Guy Wilson as Pledge
Notes[]
- Laurie's case file reads "Dunne, L. M05-132. Closed." The box is also marked with the wrong date of October 2005, as she had died the year prior.
- The song "Here Without You", performed by 3 Doors Down, was played at the funeral of professional wrestler Eddie Guerrero. Guerrero died on November 13, 2005, a month and a half after "The Promise" first aired.
- While Laurie is eighteen years old in the episode, Lindsay Hollister, who played Laurie, was actually 28 at the time of shooting.
- The flashback scenes were filmed with a digital camera.
- Exterior shots of the frat house, both past and present, were filmed at Warner Ranch in Burbank, California.
Music[]
- Opening Song: Outkast "Hey Ya!"
- Bowling For Soup "Almost"
- Avril Lavigne "Sk8er Boi"
- PGM "Raise Your Hands"
- 3 Doors Down "Here Without You"
- 5 Alarm Music "All Flossed Out"
- Snow Patrol "Run"
- PGM "Talk To You"
- Closing Song: Sarah McLachlan "Fallen"
