The first appearance of Harry Denby on the show, although not the first appearance of Scott Cohen. He first turned up playing a different character in the 1994 episode 'Double Abandando'.

Denby Summary:

Things are heating up for Kirkendall in regards to her ex-husband, Don. Still under arrest, Don has been hinting that his ex-wife had at the very least peripheral contact and knowledge of his drug dealing. The Narcotics Task Force pricks up its ears in interest, and Detective Harry Denby is sent to speak with Diane Russell, Kirkendall's partner.

Denby tells Russell about Don's hints, and lets her know that her partner shouldn't be afraid to speak up about anything she knows. They're not interested in getting anything on Kirkendall; they just want more on Don.

Unsure if Denby can be trusted, Russell agrees to meet him after work. Unfortunately for her it's no longer daylight, and with the night comes a much friendlier - and much less pleasant - Denby.

Denby Pictures:

Denby Quotes:

"I was on a foot post in the Bronx; two years a cop. A couple of geniuses in ski masks come out the front door of a bank - I got lucky in the shoot out. Job gives me my gold shield, make some lucky collars in narcotics..."
"You're a lucky guy."
"They upped me to this task force. So now I work regular hours - except when I'm babysitting jerks like your friend Don - I get a new car every year that I get to drive home...who's got it better than me?" (drinks arrive)
"Thanks."
"Thank you my child. I mean now I'm safely in the lead and you're still not gonna drink with me?"
"No. No."
"And is this tactical? You abstain, find out what Denby knows as he yields to what is - admittedly - a small problem with alcohol? Or am I in the presence of conviction?"
"You're in the presence of someone who doesn't wanna drink."
"No, I sense we're drilling a bedrock here. Is it the old story - one's too many, fifty aren't enough?"
"It's got a ring to it."
"And have you now seen the light?"
"This seems like a good place to take a turn in the conversation."
"Gets mean behind his cocktails, this Denby. I apologise."
"It's okay."
"So...do you come bearing a message from Detective Kirkendall?"
"I come in peace is as far as I'm ready to go at the moment."
"You come in peace, huh. Look what believing that from a stranger got the Indians. If you're prepared to have a drink with me, I could shed some valuable light on your partners situation."
"How 'bout doing that anyway, just 'cause you're a good guy?"
"Too intangible. We need what the devil would call 'an exchange of consideration'."
"I'm not drinking with you."
"Will you give me a small peck on the cheek?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'll give you a small peck on the cheek."
"Well this kiss would have to be a priori. You know what that means? Are you the victim of a Jesuit education too?"
"Come on Denby."
"A priori means you go first. You peck...I shed light."
(She pecks) "Now, don't you feel like an asshole?"
"No, actually I feel rather good about the world, I feel rather set up."
"Your turn."
"God did this, right? When there was darkness on the waters? (Starts playing with her hand) I would say this, Detective; as it applies to a Federal prosecutor, are you familiar with the legal term 'wuss'?"
"Talking about the prosecutor that would be going to bat against my partners ex-husband?"
"I'm talking about a prosecutor who's supposed to be going to bat against six Dominican and three Peruvian bad guys, against who without your partners ex-husbands testimony, we have got evidence up the ass."
"So giving a deal to Don is what makes the prosecutor a wuss?"
"Real kiss, you get the rest. And I find myself out of scotch."
(To waitress) "Could he get another drink?"
"And her, too."
"Screw you, Denby."
"Screw me? Nah, I'm a realist. My price isn't that high."
"I'm not drinking with you."
"I need a wet one then."
"You were a decent guy this morning."
"It's not morning anymore on this part of the globe. It's good. The rest of the story is good."
"All right. You first this time."
"I can't rationalise that, Diane. The whole sorry history of the red mans trust is staring me in the face."
"You must hate yourself in the mornings."
"Only sometimes. Often I don't remember anything at all. I mean how much do you care about your partner?"
"You prick."
"Now, now. (She kisses him; drinks arrive) I believe this is called hitting the daily double."
"You better tell me."
"The prosecutors new boss is an anti-wuss."
"I don't wanna hear any clever crap. You tell me what's going on."
"The prosecutors new boss is gonna make the prosecutor go to bat against the dealers, with or without your partners ex-husband on the team."
"Tell me what I should tell her."
"You should tell your partner sit tight. Tell her...not to give me anything. (She goes to leave. He nods towards her drink) Can I have that if you don't want it? (She pushes the drink towards him and leaves) Goodnight."

Observations:

* I'm thinking of renaming this part 'Scott-Cohen-Sure-Is-A-Physical-Person-Isn't-He?' He loves touching people and - to be honest - I enjoy watching it as much as he enjoys doing it. The best non-verbal part for me is when he starts playing with Diane's hand as he says "I would say this, Detective..." She doesn't pull away because she wants the information, but you also know she doesn't want to stay there. I'm pretty damn sure Denby knows this too, so he plays if for all he can get. Hence the touching. And more importantly, hence the kissing - peck and non-peck.

* Did you notice the Wolf-like temple scratch at the beginning of the last scene? Couldn't miss it, really...

* Also enjoyed the nose pulling (what was that about?), the forehead scratch, and the arm scratch. This guy can't stop moving, and I love it. So energetic.

* The less said about the way the man holds his glass, the better. Lord only knows which innocent young minds are travelling through these web pages...

* I rarely think that the word 'sparkling' is accurately used to describe a scene of conversation, but here it absolutely fits the bill. The last scene is just Denby and Russell talking - no action, no explosions - and the whole time I am absolutely entertained and engrossed. Doubtless it does have something to do with my admiration for Scott Cohen's work, but the scene is very well written and extremely well acted by both Scott and Kim Delaney.

* I know I'm reaching here, but I saw some vague werewolf allusions in this episode. When we first see Denby it's daylight. He seems like an okay guy. No one you'd trust immediately, but he does tell Diane to get in from the cold, and anyone who wants to see that idiot Don pay his price deserves a feeling of "Well he can't be that bad..."

Then comes the last scene. Night. The moon is out. Admittedly, we don't know if it's a full moon or not, but either way some version of the moon is out, and Denby's character is magnified by a great degree. He becomes very predatory, and I can very easily imagine him circling Diane, ready to swoop in.

As for the kisses? They're not about sex or attraction. In the same way that Don has a hold over Kirkendall, it's all about control. I get the feeling just from this first episode that Denby isn't in control of many aspects of his life - especially his drinking - and he sees something in Diane that he needs to get a reaction from. Alcoholism, a lack of control...she's been where he is, but he can't ask for help.

There are several theories being bounced around for his behaviour:

1) He wants to ask for help but don't realise it (or doesn't know how), so he can't. Instead he does everything he can to annoy her, irritate her, and get on her nerves in the hopes that she'll figure it out for herself and do something about it. More than one person has suggested that he hopes Diane will just snap and shoot him.

2) He is deep, deep undercover and needs to act like a total slimeball to make it convincing. At first I took this as the hopeful ramblings of Scott-lovers who want Denby to be a good buy, but the more I think about it the more...well, okay. I'm still not completely convinced, but it's plausible.

3) He is a total slimeball. No getting around it; he's an absolute swine who would rather strangle a puppy than give up his last drink.

4) My own theory is a combination of 1 and 3. I think he does want help, but this is somewhat hindered by the fact that he's a swine. Bare in mind though that I've only seen the first episode he's in, and therefore reserve the right to be completely wrong and completely change my theory by the time I come to write about episode number two.

* Lastly..."Will you give me a small peck on the cheek?" Yeah, yeah I'll give you a small peck on the cheek, but you'd better clarify which one...

UP NEXT: Episode Two: 'Brothers Under Arms'
- Denby screws up, but does he screw Diane? -

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