Ep 8. Slaughter

Lou Grant season 2 episode 8 is titled "Slaughter" and revolves around a story that Lou and his team at the Los Angeles Tribune newspaper are covering. It is a story about a slaughterhouse where the animals are not being treated humanely and are being subjected to pain and suffering. The episode is directed by Lou Antonio and written by Michael Russnow.

The episode begins with Lou (Ed Asner) and Billie (Linda Kelsey) arriving at the slaughterhouse. The scene is grim, as cows and pigs are being led to their deaths. Lou and Billie meet with Jack Kincaid (Kenneth Tobey), the owner of the slaughterhouse. Jack is an unpleasant man who is evasive and hostile towards Lou and Billie. He denies any wrongdoing and dismisses their concerns as unfounded.

Lou is determined to get to the bottom of the story and assigns Rossi (Robert Walden) to investigate. Rossi meets with animal rights activists who have been protesting outside the slaughterhouse. They give him inside information and tell him about the horrific conditions the animals are kept in. Rossi also speaks to the employees of the slaughterhouse, who confirm the activists' claims and reveal that they have raised concerns with management but nothing has been done to address the issue.

Meanwhile, Lou's boss, Charlie Hume (Mason Adams) is concerned about the story because he knows that it will upset the paper's advertisers, who are suppliers to the meat industry. Charlie tries to convince Lou to drop the story, but Lou refuses to back down and wants to expose the truth about the cruelty to the animals.

As the story develops, Lou and Rossi discover that the local authorities are turning a blind eye to the situation and are not enforcing the animal welfare laws. They also discover that some of the meat from the slaughterhouse is being sold to local schools to use in their cafeteria meals.

The episode raises ethical questions about the treatment of animals and the responsibility of the media to expose wrongdoing, even if it upsets powerful interests. It is a well-written and thought-provoking episode that is still relevant today.

The acting in the episode is excellent, with Ed Asner and Robert Walden delivering strong performances. Kenneth Tobey is convincing as the dislikable Jack Kincaid, and Linda Kelsey brings depth to her understated role as Billie Newman.

The cinematography is simple but effective, with some shots of the animals being led to the slaughterhouse being particularly powerful. The editing is tight and keeps the story moving at a brisk pace.

Overall, Lou Grant season 2 episode 8, "Slaughter" is a powerful and thought-provoking episode that is still relevant today. It raises important ethical questions about the treatment of animals and the role of the media in exposing wrongdoing. The acting is excellent, and the cinematography and editing are simple but effective. It is a must-watch for fans of the show and anyone interested in ethical issues.