"Straight Life"

Episode #:5 (1.5) Straight Life
Season:1
Air Date:8/4/97
Producers:Levinson/Fontana
Writer:Tom Fontana
Directors:Lesley Libman
& Larry Williams
 
Synopsis:
The infiltration of drugs into Oz has reached unprecedented levels; and the undercover efforts of McManus and Glynn to find out who's smuggling it in backfires in a deadly way. Despite a lockdown in the Emerald City, drugs continue to trickle in--and the blame shifts from prisoners to corrupt officials. New inmate Scott Ross has old ties to Schillinger and Diane, who he manipulates into smuggling in cigarettes; Said refuses treatment for his hypertension; Schibetta demands O'Reily shut down Healy's drug business; concerned with Beecher's growing drug use, Sister Pete arranges for a visit with his mother and forces him to drug counseling; after losing his baby, Miguel begins losing his mind.
 
Starring:
ERNIE HUDSON as Leo Glynn
TERRY KINNEY as Tim McManus
HAROLD PERRINEAU as Augustus Hill
EAMONN WALKER as Kareem Said
 
Also Starring:
EDIE FALCO as Officer Diane Wittlesey
STEVE RYAN as Officer Mike Healy
MURPHY GUYER as Officer Eddie Hunt
B.D. WONG as Father Ray Mukada
KIRK ACEVEDO as Miguel Alvarez
RITA MORENO as Sister Peter Marie
TONY MUSANTE as Nino Schibetta
J.K. SIMMONS as Vernon Schillinger
LEE TERGESEN as Tobias Beecher
SEAN WHITESELL as Donald Groves
DEAN WINTERS as Ryan O'Reily
 
Guest Starring:
ADEWALE AKINNOYE-AGBAJE as Simon Adebisi
GEORGE MORFOGEN as Robert Rebadow
O.L. DUKE as Paul Markstram
STEVE RYAN as Officer Mike Healy
JD WILLIAMS as Kenny Wangler
STEPHEN GEVEDON as Scott Ross
BRIAN TARANTINA as Ronald Pokelwaldt
PAT McNAMARA as Dr. Prestopnik
RICHARD HAMILTON as Whitney Munson
KATHLEEN WIDDOES as Tobias Beecher's mother
 
With:
CRADEAUX ALEXANDER as Drag Queen
LIEF RIDDELL as Mark Mack
PHILIP SCOZZARELLA as Officer Joseph Mineo
ESTHER SWAN as Barbara Deckart
RAY IANNICELLI as Officer Roger Brese (uncredited)
 
Notes:
Markstram is murdered. He was an undercover narcotics cop.
Scott Ross knew Schillinger on the outside. He also knew Diane Wittlesey, because he rode with her ex-husband Glen.
Officer Healy is busted for smuggling drugs to Ryan O'Reily.
This episode introduces:
#94P442 Ronald Pokelwaldt. Convicted March 8 1994. Arson in the first degree. Sentence 25 years, up for parole in 10.
#97R518 Scott Ross. Convicted June 4 1997. Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute (third conviction). Sentence: Life, without parole.
#45M242 Whitney Munson. Convicted March 7, 1945. Murder in the first degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance. Sentence: 110 years, up for parole in 60.