Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–…): Season 16, Episode 23 - Surrendering Noah - full transcript

NARRATOR: In the
criminal justice system,

sexually based offenses are
considered especially heinous.

In New York City,

the dedicated detectives who
investigate these vicious felonies

are members of an elite squad
known as the Special Victims Unit.

These are their stories.

So the outlets are covered.

Um, corner padding.

Ms. Benson
toddler-proofed every inch.

And he's been
eating a lot lately.

How about outdoor activity?



BENSON: He has scheduled
exercise time at day care.

And of course the babysitter
takes him out every day.

And Ms. Benson spends
weekends and mornings with Noah.

BENSON: And at
night, of course, we read.

Noah didn't have a lot of
verbal interaction as an infant

so I wanna make sure he doesn't get
too far behind in his language development.

Do you sing to him?
That's also important.

Of course. Good.

And you need a toddler bed
before he climbs out of that crib.

Of course.

Okay, so...

You've passed all
your home studies.

I'm going to recommend you be
approved as an adoptive parent.

Thank you.



Thank you. Okay.

Thank you, Ms. Jackson.

Good luck, Ms. Benson.

(SIGHS)

That's great, Olivia.

So, what's next?

I'll, uh, confirm with the agency
that Noah is free for adoption.

Then we initiate proceedings
and go before Judge Linden.

Paperwork seems in
order. Uh, Noah's history...

Birth mother, deceased. Birth
father, unknown. No other known...

Yeah, about that. Um, there's
something that I should, uh, tell you.

So, we stumbled across Noah's
birth father during an investigation.

There was a mother searching
for her missing daughter.

Please, Nina. Where is Ariel?

Look, this is how it is. The morning after
he beat her, Timmer drove her to hell.

He killed her?

He took her to Johnny D.

Johnny D keeps his new girls
chained up for a whole week.

Lets all these pimps come in,
do whatever they want to 'em.

That's how he breaks them.

Did you know about
this? No, no, I swear.

Timmer asked for you by name.

If you're lying to
me, you're dead.

Hey, Timmer, this is Johnny D.

Okay, now we know
that you sold Ariel to him.

Come on, now, who told you that?

I'm gonna ask you again,
where is he keeping the girl?

What, you think I'm crazy?
Nobody's gonna talk about Johnny D.

Look, he don't think twice about
killing the pimp or whore or a cop.

Hey! Drop the glass.

All right, drop it, now!

Johnny Drake aka Johnny D,
has run out of delaying tactics.

We are proceeding to trial
on 17 counts of rape, assault,

trafficking and kidnapping.

Nice work taking
this from the Feds.

So you'll need us to testify?

I'm assuming that
won't be a problem.

Not at all. Lots of witnesses.
It's gonna be a long trial.

I want him put away for life.

All right, what can we do?

I need you guys to
re-vet every witness.

No surprises.

Counselor, walk you out?

(SIGHS) Something
you need to tell me?

Just so you know, I have,
uh, decided to name Johnny D

as Noah's birth father
on the adoption papers.

Mmm-hmm. No.
We've talked about this.

You are under no
obligation to do that.

It's not material to what
he's being charged with.

This isn't about the trial.

The adoption paperwork lists
Noah's birth father as unknown.

So, what's the problem?

Lying doesn't work
out well for me.

Okay.

Johnny D, family court,
separate universes.

He'll never find out. Maybe not.

But someday Noah might.

Or the courts.

I don't want my life with
Noah to be built on a lie.

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

Don't do this.

Johnny D is a psychopath.

Do not open this door.

(DOOR OPENS)

Stay seated.

What?

Oh, it's nice to see
you, too, Johnny.

Do you remember
this girl? Ellie Porter.

Crack whore who
got set on fire. What?

Are they trying to
pin her on me now?

Relax. Someone
else took that rap.

So why am I supposed
to give a crap?

Because she may be
your get-out-of-jail-free card.

(CHUCKLES)

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

I think I get why the Feds
kicked this case to Barba.

'Cause nobody wants to do
any more work than they have to?

Our bust, our case. It's true.

But geopolitically, Johnny
D is a Canadian national.

And they won't extradite
a US citizen back here

for a capital crime.

Exactly. So, rather than
risking an international brouhaha,

they give the case to Barba.

We should've shot him
when we had the chance.

Probably.

Because even if Barba gets
a conviction on all counts,

he's looking at 25 to life.

I mean, he could
be paroled in 15.

Okay, Barba, keep me posted.

Liv, hey, you got a minute?

Yeah, of course, come in.

What's up?

Uh, Fin mentioned
you're up for lieutenant,

and that you might
need a new sergeant.

Uh, right now, that's just talk.

Well, the deadline's Friday.
Same with the Sergeant's Exam.

I just registered.

Oh. Yeah.

Uh, look, I like to try
moving up the ranks.

After watching Munch and you,

I mean, it's a track I
could see myself on.

Of course. You know,
just so you know,

I had to approach Fin
first 'cause he has seniority.

No, I get that. But he
told me he's not interested

in the administrative
part of the job.

And, uh, well, I am.

Okay. Good.

Good.

Start studying.

I already have. (CHUCKLES)

JUDGE BARTH: Mr. Braun,
walk me through this.

Your Honor, we are
moving for an immediate

dismissal of all charges.

The lead investigator,
Sergeant Olivia Benson,

was informed some time
ago by the M.E.'s office

that my client,
unbeknownst to him,

is the biological
father of the foster child

she's attempting to adopt.

Your Honor, it's immaterial.

Yeah, unless...

Unless Sergeant
Benson's pursuit of my client

is motivated by her desire
to deny his parental rights.

RAFAEL: Sergeant Benson
was not aware of the DNA

until after Mr. Drake
was processed.

His DNA was not in the
system prior to this arrest.

Mr. Braun?

Both SVU and the
D.A.'s office have offered

numerous deals in
exchange for testimony

against my client and
they even wrested the case

away from the FBI.

If it smells like a vendetta
and looks like a vendetta...

Mr. Drake was arrested
by Sergeant Benson,

in the presence
of other officers,

while attempting
to flee a dungeon

where he was keeping four
girls imprisoned as sex slaves.

He's a dangerous
career criminal.

And yet his DNA
is not in the system?

Career criminal or the victim
of a single-minded blood feud?

This allegation of a vendetta
is completely fabricated.

This motion itself
is an overreach...

All right, Mr. Barba.

Save the Ivy League
oratory for trial, if we get there.

Before I rule on defense's
motion, I need to speak

to the M.E.'s office
and Sergeant Benson.

We're adjourned.

(STRIKES GAVEL)

Olivia. Hey.

Thank you for meeting me here.

Your squad know
about the situation?

They do now.

Listen, just to be clear,
I wanted to let you know

that I did not know

that Johnny D was
Noah's biological parent

until after the arrest.

All right.

The M.E. confirms, we
don't have a problem with it.

I mean, you probably
should have kept it to yourself.

This scumbag will use
any leverage he has.

But, either way, as
far as IAB is concerned,

you have
absolutely no liability.

Thank you.

Is that tea? It is.

Man up, will ya?

Fine. That was easy.

Can I get two glasses
of... Of the Nero d'Avola.

Listen, while you're
here, I wanted to, uh,

I wanted to run
something past you.

Uh, Nick Amaro applied
for the Sergeant's Exam.

Did he? Yeah.

You told me to think
about my number two

and I think he'll do
very well on the test.

Thank you.

It doesn't matter if he gets
a perfect score on the test.

He's damaged goods.

He's a solid cop. And lately,
he's turned things around.

He shot an unarmed
14-year-old kid,

chased after three
others with a baseball bat,

beat an innocent
suspect in a school yard...

Stop! In all of those
cases, he was exonerated.

Technically, yes.
But realistically...

The way 1PP sees it,
Amaro could cure cancer,

they're still not
gonna promote him.

Listen, I know you like the guy

but this is never
going to happen.

I got it.

CARMEN: Right
this way, Mr. Braun.

Hmm.

Nice digs.

My tax dollars at work.

Taxes?

Don't most of your
clients pay you cash?

(CHUCKLES) That's funny.

What can I do for you?

Well, while my
motion is pending,

I thought it would
be a good time

to be proactive.

Mmm-hmm, go on.

Here's what I can offer.

Johnny Drake had no
knowledge of this child's existence

and he has been deprived
of his parental rights

and he wants to do everything
he can to assert those rights

and to be a good
father to Noah Porter.

Does he?

Little hard to do when
you're serving 25 to life.

Here's where that
proactivity part comes in.

Absolutely not! Will
you just let me finish?

Johnny D will relinquish all
parental rights and waive visitation.

Noah won't ever have
to know he existed.

He doesn't get to do this!

As I was trying to say, they've
offered a plea of three to five years

for prostitution, which,
I agree, is not enough.

Not enough? But I
think I can sell them

on one count of
trafficking, pleaded down.

Braun indicated they
might accept 10 years.

Yes! Because he knows that if
this goes to trial, that Johnny D

will spend the rest
of his life in prison.

He sex-trafficked
underage girls.

He raped them.
He brutalized them.

He does not get to plea this down because
I wanna make my life less complicated.

Okay. There's something
else you should know.

Regardless of whether
he is convicted or not,

he can still appeal
for his parental rights.

He could request, and has a good
shot at getting, court-ordered visitation.

You could be taking your son
to visit Johnny D in state prison

until Noah turns 18.

You applied for the
Sergeant's Exam?

Seriously?

Yeah. Why?

I don't know. And
what did Liv say?

She thought it was a good idea.

All right. (CHUCKLES)

Well, you should
think about taking it.

You'd be on the fast
track here. Mmm-mmm.

You don't wanna be
a detective forever.

Yeah, I do. I mean...

I'm good as I am. My life
is perfect. Must be nice.

Hey, anybody heard
from the Sarge? She's late.

She's dealing
with a lot right now.

Oh, good, you're all here!

So, I just met with Barba.

The judge threw out
Johnny D's motion.

So, it looks like we'll be
going to trial in a few days.

Wait, you're not going
to testify, are you?

I have to. I was
first one on scene.

Yeah, if Barba doesn't call
you, the defense definitely will.

They're gonna try
and cast shade on you.

Still say we should've shot him.

Okay, Fin.

So, Barba needs to schedule
prep time with all of you.

He also wants to assign each
of us to one of the witnesses.

As bodyguards? No, more
as, you know, confidants.

So they know that we're
looking out for them.

Also, so we can let Barba
know if anyone gets shaky.

Okay, so we bond with them.

What about Selena and Timmer?
Their deal says they have to testify.

Well, they're both
up at Sing Sing.

Make sure that they feel secure.

Hey, Johnny D is not
getting away, Liv. All right?

Yeah. Nick, you got a sec?

Sure.

So...

I was, uh, talking to Tucker.

Tucker? What does
he think I did now?

It's not him. It's
the department.

What does that mean?

It means that he thinks that there's no
point in you taking the Sergeant's Exam.

He thinks they'll just
round robin you out.

I get it. I'm sorry, Nick.

Don't be.

What was it Munch said?
"Don't fall in love with the job, kid.

"She'll never love you back."

Been good for me here. Cleaned
up, just working my program.

Yeah, one day at a
time, right? You got it.

Well, if you have any questions
about the trial, or whatever,

we're here for you.

Yes, I believe you. I
believe my social worker.

I know I have to
testify. It's the right thing.

SONNY: Okay,
that's good to hear.

Whatever you guys want, I do.

Right. Um, how about we go over
what you'll be saying on the stand.

Thank you, Ariel. Thank you,
Martha, for coming back to New York.

Ariel, you look good.

She's doing great.

So, Johnny D's going to trial.

We just wanted to
prepare you to testify.

That's why we're here.

Screw you. I want
to see my son again.

After you testify,
right? That's the deal.

After I testify I'll be dead.

We are going to protect you.

I don't believe you.

So, what, I just tell the
truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the
truth, so help me...

You got it.

Look, don't worry about it.

Johnny D's going down.

I'm gonna take care
of that for you, baby.

Hey! It's okay, Fin.

So, Mr. Barba's gonna walk
you through your testimony.

What you saw, what you
knew. No embellishments.

I got this. And, um, you know I
mean no offense by that, right?

None taken.

That guy's working
us. He's working you.

I don't trust him. You
don't have to trust him, Fin.

The only way he lives to see
summer is if Johnny D gets sent away.

(CELL PHONE
BEEPS) He knows that.

If you say so.

Amaro just finished with
Selena. He's on his way out.

Is he okay?

I mean, he was all business
about taking that Sergeant's Exam.

Then, after he talked
to you, I saw him throw

his prep book in the garbage.

NYPD doesn't
want to promote him.

Oh, wow, that's tough!

Hey, there you are! I trust Selena
about as far as I can throw her.

Yeah, the same goes for Timmer.

We don't have to trust 'em.

They're both survivors
and this is their last chance.

NICK: I hope you're right.

Let's get out of here.

During the investigation,
we became aware that

Ariel was sold to the
defendant, Johnny Drake.

RAFAEL: Where
was he keeping Ariel?

BENSON: In Queens, in an
abandoned hospital basement.

Ariel and three other underage
girls were found, uh, locked up.

They were drugged,
beaten and raped.

This is a process used by sex
traffickers called "breaking in."

The girls suffer physical
and emotional torture

which basically destroys any impulse
they have to fight back or escape.

Okay, and when you and the
other detectives arrived at the scene,

what happened?

We were able to
rescue three of the girls.

They all had injuries that were
consistent with being brutally beaten.

They had bruising,
broken ribs, lacerations.

We later found out that the girls
were gang raped and tortured

by Johnny D and
several of his pimps.

Your Honor, uh, Exhibit A. The
medical report on the victims.

The M.E. and the girls will testify to
what they suffered in Mr. Drake's custody.

Tell us, what happened next?

Well, we heard the
sound of breaking glass,

and when we ran
down the hallway,

we found Johnny D
attempting to escape

with Ariel Thornhill
as his hostage.

He was holding a shard
of glass to her neck.

Eventually he surrendered, at
which time we placed him under arrest

and read him his rights.

Do you see the man you
apprehended in this courtroom today?

Yes, I do. He's right there.

Thank you, Sergeant Benson.

Afternoon, Sergeant Benson.
Thank you for sparing the time.

You're not just a
sergeant at SVU,

you're also foster mother
to a toddler, correct?

Your Honor, we've been
over this. Sergeant Benson...

Gentlemen, approach.

Now that it's just the
three of us, Mr. Barba?

Sergeant Benson only became aware
that Mr. Drake was her son's birth father

after he was in police custody.

But not after the
investigation was completed.

The M.E.'s office's statement confirms
that Sergeant Benson was informed

one day after the arrest, which was
before my client was even charged.

Completely irrelevant.

Well, not to my client.

The jury is entitled to hear about
Sergeant Benson's conflict of interest.

And, possibly, the D.A.'s.

When did you become aware of
the child's parentage, Counselor?

Your Honor, that may fall
under attorney client privilege.

While you both are working on
this case for the City of New York?

I doubt that.

But how about I spare you the embarrassment
and possible ethical jeopardy of answering,

and you agree to drop the
objection on this line of questioning.

Are we good?

Sergeant Benson, you're in the process
of adopting your foster son, correct?

Yes, that is correct.

And who did you disclose was
the child's birth father to the agency?

Johnny Drake.

The defendant? The same
man that you spent so much time

singularly focused on
investigating and apprehending?

And that had nothing to
do with the paternity issue.

Well, you're trying
to adopt this child.

Is it fair to say
that the father's

right to custody
could interfere with it?

Of course it's possible,
but it had nothing...

Is it also fair to say that
it's in your best interest

for my client to
be found guilty?

My only interest
is in making sure

that a sadistic, violent sex
trafficker be brought to justice.

Frankly, your anger
seems personal to me.

Your Honor. BRAUN: Withdrawn.

Nothing further.

Sergeant Benson,
you may step down.

Thank you, Your Honor. The
prosecution would now like to call...

Actually, we'll
recess for the day.

Prosecution's case will
continue at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.

Court is adjourned.
(STRIKES GAVEL)

How's my son, Sergeant Benson?

That's enough, Drake.
I've seen pictures.

I can't wait to meet him.

That's never gonna happen.

REPORTERS: (SHOUTING)
Sergeant Benson! Benson!

Liv, let's get you out of here.

He got to me in there.

It's not on you, Liv. The jury's
not gonna believe any of that crap.

Yeah, who's gonna testify next?

It was gonna be the M.E., but I'm
gonna move up Timmer and Selena.

I'll call and have
them transported.

Well, it's still early. You want
us to take a ride up to Sing Sing?

Give 'em one last pep talk?
Yes, great idea. Go. Now.

Liv, stairs.

I testify tomorrow?

And after that,
you'll see your son.

If I live. We'll protect you.

(SCOFFS) Wait, trust us.

You know how you survive
in here? You trust nobody.

You know, I'd like to be changing
my clothes, you know, before court.

And get up out
these greens, huh?

Yeah, tomorrow, all right?
You're a cooperating witness,

so we'll give you a
little bit of latitude.

You're gonna stay in a motel
tonight, and get a good night's rest.

We want you to look
good for that jury.

Oh, yeah, yeah, you know I won't
let you down, right, my brother?

Look, I've been doing a lot of
thinking when I was inside, huh.

I've spent my whole life
running, drugging and pimping.

I wanna change that.
Yeah, well, now is the time.

Yeah, and I've been
doing some reading too.

You know, The Autobiography
of Malcolm X, Soul on Ice.

I've become aware of what
Eldridge Cleaver would call

"touched into my higher
education," you know?

We got Selena Cruz.

Put her in.

It's your last chance, Selena.

How long have you
been out of the van?

What, you're gonna write me up?

You couldn't wait 20 minutes?

(BANGING)

Drop it! Drop it!

He attacked me.
I had to fight back.

He was gonna kill me.

How the hell did this happen?
Two prisoners, two officers.

One of 'em pulled
over for a cup of coffee,

the other one took
a smoke break.

And they figured since Selena
and Timmer were testifying,

they were on our team.

Or not. Start a complete investigation
into the background of both officers.

Deceased is male, black, 30
years old, in good physical shape.

Doctor Rudnick, what've we got?

Cause of death is severed
carotid and jugular artery.

He bled out in
less than a minute.

And the manner is homicide?

Goes without saying, Detective.

The woman who did this
is claiming self-defense.

Anything that backs that up?

Well, in my opinion, given his size,
she used the element of surprise.

Sliced his throat from ear to Adam's
apple before he knew he was under attack.

Any defensive wounds?

Some cuts on her hands and arms.

Absent video proof, it's
impossible to know the sequence.

All right. Thank you.

Uh, Counselor... Hmm?

How's the trial going?

Better before this happened.

Oh, this Johnny D is a monster.

The torture, the injuries
his victims suffered.

Did the jury understand
the significance of my report?

Hmm? That every
one of those girls

had left ribs eight,
nine and 10 broken?

It's a strange coincidence

unless one man has a
pattern to his beatings.

We'll be calling
you to testify to that.

It's horrible to think a man
could do that to a woman.

And even worse that
he might get away with it.

Thank you for your
faith in me, Doctor.

Timmer pull out a blade,
he, he comes at me,

he tells me I'm
never gonna testify.

That he kill me first.

So you just grabbed
it and slit his throat?

That's right. BENSON:
Selena, you're half his size.

How did you grab that
blade? Did you have help?

He threatened to kill my son. I
found the strength to fight back.

Well, you're still
gonna have to testify.

No. I don't care
what happened to me.

But my son... You don't
know Johnny like I do.

My Selena. She can get fired up.

Your Selena? You
had her kill Timmer?

Why would I do that?

Well, he was gonna testify against
you, so you had her do your dirty work.

My client's been in
Rikers since his arrest.

No visitors. Check the log.

I had no reason to kill Timmer.

He was never gonna
testify against me.

That's not what he said.

You bought that
Eldridge Cleaver line?

I bet he called you
"my brother," too.

We're done. I should say so.

Oh! Before you go, my client
has something for your Sergeant.

A present for my son.

(CHUCKLES) Yeah,
we'll make sure she gets it.

Leave it to The Ledger.

Turns out, the female CO was
dating one of Johnny D's pimps.

She slipped Selena the blade.

Great! Well, we've already
doubled security on all four girls,

Jessie, Nina, Pilar and Ariel.

Doesn't matter. He's
already in their heads.

So we keep going.

The longer we wait, the
more spooked the girls get.

Make sure they're ready
to take the stand tomorrow.

Timmer bled out? Good.
He used to boot stomp us.

Okay. Well, we just wanted to
make sure that what happened

doesn't affect your testimony.

It don't.

Okay, good.

'Cause, Pilar, Johnny D's
gonna be in the courtroom.

I just wanna make sure
you're prepared for that.

I'm not afraid. I'll look
him right in the eye.

Thank you for coming
in, Ms. Morenas.

Are you ready to take the stand?

It's just for practice. The
Counselor wants to go over it again.

Okay, Detective Carisi.

RAFAEL: So, let's get started.

Ms. Morenas, do you
know Johnny Drake?

I was sold to him
by another pimp.

Johnny D said he
needed to test me.

He punched me and broke
my ribs and then he raped me.

And how old were you?

I met Johnny D when I was 15.

And what happened at that time?

Well...

Do you need a
minute, Ms. Morenas?

No. I'm fine.

Can you tell us what
happened when you first met

the defendant, Johnny Drake?

He offered me money.

To have sex with him?

No, to clean his apartment.

(SIGHS) I remind you
that you are under oath.

Let me ask you again, Ms. Morenas,
when you first met the defendant,

was he a sex trafficker
who beat and raped you?

No, he wasn't.

You testified to a grand jury that
Mr. Drake beat you and raped you.

I remind you again,
you are under oath.

I only said that so I
wouldn't be deported.

I'm illegal. I was afraid.

Are you afraid of Mr. Drake now, is
that why you're changing your story?

No.

Johnny D never hurt or raped me.

He loves me. And I love him.

Your Honor, I need to confer.

I'll grant a one-hour recess.

You can shout all you
want. I told the truth.

Barba! Get her out of here.

Counselor. What?

That deal I shopped,
it's off the table,

what with your star
witness being dead and all.

You mean murdered by a
hit that your client ordered?

Now, we both know
that's impossible.

And now you got a witness
reversing on the stand.

It seems to me that reasonable
doubt is suddenly very reasonable.

Whatever you're selling,
Braun, we're not interested.

Well, you might
be interested in this.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Johnny D is requesting
an emergency appeal

to reinstate his parental rights

and stop the
adoption of his son,

Noah Porter Drake.

Tucker said this was
gonna be a bad week.

I'm calling in favors, make sure
the right judge rules on this appeal.

Trevor Langan, Noah's
attorney, he's on it.

He says that the best move
would be to get a conviction.

Well, good idea, but these girls
are just so scared for their lives,

or scarred, and I'm worried
they're gonna fold, too.

You know, they
may not listen to us,

but there is somebody that knows

exactly what they went through.

You know, I'm sorry to put
more pressure on you, Ariel.

Don't be. You saved my life.

Yeah, one more thing.

I wanted to give you this.

Fearlessness.

It works.

Thank you.

So, you've all heard about
Timmer, about Selena.

And Pilar. Did
Johnny D threaten her?

We don't know.
She's not talking.

But what we do know is that we
need each one of you to tell your story.

Let the jury hear
about the pain,

about the brutality
that you've suffered.

Let the jury see Johnny D
as the monster that he is.

And they will send him to
prison for the rest of his life.

Ariel?

Johnny D treated
me, treated all of us,

like we were nothing.
Like we were worthless.

Just a body to own, to beat,

to rape,

to kill, so he could make money.

I lived in fear.

I cried every day,

until I couldn't cry anymore.

Then I just became numb,

like all of you.

But we're free now.

And Johnny D doesn't control us.

He doesn't own us.

We don't have to
be afraid anymore.

And testifying is the
only way to prove that.

So, promise yourselves,
promise each other,

that you will get on that stand
tomorrow and you'll tell the truth.

I promise.

I promise.

So do I.

Me, too.

I've been forced to have
sex with 15 men in 12 hours.

I was raw, bleeding.

Johnny D forced me to take drugs
and then work another 12-hour shift.

He chained me to the bed, and
then brought in his sickest friends.

He let them do whatever they
wanted to me until I passed out.

He said if I didn't bring
him other girls, my friends,

he would rape my little sister.

She was 11.

He was kicking her in the
head and her eyes glazed over.

He rolled her up in a
rug and took her out.

I heard a gunshot and
I never saw her again.

My pimp, Timmer, found
out that I was trying to escape,

so he sold me to Johnny D.

Sold you?

Yeah. He said that after a few weeks
with Johnny, I'd crawl back to him.

What happened when he
first brought you to Mr. Drake?

I was stripped, chained,
raped and sodomized repeatedly

by Johnny and four other pimps.

A few days after, Johnny D
said we're going to a party.

He forced me to do cocaine
and uppers so I could perform.

We drove to the
house. Cops were there.

Johnny D accused
me of setting him up,

so he slammed my
head against the window.

Then he laughed.

Told me the cops were
there looking for me.

And my mother was
looking for me, too.

What else did he say?

That I'd never see
my mother again.

Liv! All those girls did
great today. Barba, too.

He timed his direct to Ariel
so the Judge had to adjourn

before Braun could cross.

The jury replaying what those
girls said, not sleeping tonight.

Between what he's done to
them and what he's doing to you...

He's not going to
do anything to me.

Liv, I was wrong to add to your
stress with this sergeant thing.

No, it's okay.

Look, I put you in a bad
position and I'm sorry.

I know how hard that must've
been for you to hear. I'm sorry.

But we'll get through this.

Yes, we will.

See you in court tomorrow. Yeah.

Hey, Liv, you see the look on Johnny
D's face when those girls testified?

He knows he's done.

Those were disturbing
stories you told, Ms. Thornhill.

And you've been a sex worker
for how many years now?

Objection. JUDGE
BARTH: Sustained.

I'll rephrase.

How old were you
when you left home?

I didn't leave. I was kidnapped.

But not by my client.

ARIEL: No.

In fact, you'd only been working together
a short time before he was arrested.

Isn't that so?

I wasn't working. I
was held prisoner.

Okay, and you'd been held prisoner
by others for three years prior.

Have you ever been asked
to testify against anyone else?

No.

I see. And Sergeant Benson, has
she personally prevailed upon you...

I'm sorry, that
means pressured you,

to testify against Mr. Drake?

(MOUTHING)

She asked. But I wanted to.

He's a horrible man.

He raped me, repeatedly.

Liar! You're a lying bitch!

Order! Order! Nah, you
can't let her lie like that.

(STRIKES GAVEL) Order!

One more outburst, I
will clear this gallery.

You don't tell me to
shut up. You shut up!

That's it. Officers, every
one of them out. Now!

OFFICER: Come on. Let's go.
What? Yo, leave her alone, man!

Get back, pal! He's
not doing nothing!

Calm down. Calm down.

(SCREAMING)

He has a gun! Stay back!

Drop the gun. Let her go.

Everybody back off!

(GUNSHOTS)

Nick! Nick! Don't!

Drop it! (GUNSHOTS)

How is he? PARAMEDIC:
We gotta move.

We gotta go! I'll ride
in the ambulance.

Okay? I'll meet you at Bellevue.

How's the Judge? She's
okay. She got hit in the shoulder.

Ariel, you all right, honey?

Yeah, I think.

Okay.

She's gone. Point
blank, through the temple.

Johnny D? He's
dead. Two in the chest.

Amaro got him. Is
he gonna make it?

En route to Bellevue.

Rollins, how's Nick?

He's in surgery. A
bullet hit his liver,

so they had to do an
emergency laparotomy.

And now they're
working on his knee.

The liver can heal itself.
But a bullet to the knee...

Yeah, I know that, Carisi.

Sorry. I'll get us
some coffee, okay?

Yeah.

Amaro's okay?

Considering. Johnny D?

He's dead. A court officer, too.

A judge and another CO got hit.

What was he thinking?
Grabbing a gun, shooting a judge?

No way he was getting
out of that building alive.

That's exactly what
he was thinking.

Hey, Lucy, thank
you for staying.

Oh, of course! How's Nick?

He's out of surgery.

His mother's with him.

It could have been worse.

Hi, my love!

You're still awake! Yeah, he didn't
wanna sleep without his mommy.

Oh! Mommy's home.

Mommy's home. Mommy's home.

JUDGE LINDEN: Father's
recently deceased?

Yes. And the agency was unable
to locate any living blood relatives.

Okay.

Sergeant Benson, are you willing to
raise this child as your lawful child?

Yes.

This child will
inherit from you.

He will be treated no
differently than a biological child.

Do you agree? Yes.

I know it's been a long
year, a hard process.

But everything
seems to be in order.

Congratulations, Olivia.

And to you, Noah Porter Benson.

I'm signing off on the adoption.

Thank you, Judge.

(SIGHS) Thank you.

All the best to you
and your family.

Thank you.

We did it. Noah Porter
Benson. (CHUCKLES)

Congratulations,
Liv. You look happy.

I am.

Amaro coming?
Yeah, he's on his way.

He's... He's
doing better, right?

Yeah, he's, you know,
only two weeks into PT,

so it's gonna be a long road.

Hey! There he is.

Hey! Hey, you guys
started without us?

Nick! Amanda,
thank you for coming.

Wouldn't miss it. For you.

Thank you.

So I'll be hobbling around for
three months. Then maybe a cane...

Yeah, you're gonna be on desk
duty for a while. We'll work it out.

Yeah, about that...

I haven't told anyone else yet,

but look, I've been
talking to my delegate,

and with this knee injury,
they're gonna try and force me out.

Hold on! We're
gonna fight that, Nick.

You're young,
you're in good health.

Liv, I'm not going anywhere
in the department, anyway.

Look, I can retire now. Put in
for three quarters pay, tax free.

And start over
again in California.

Nick...

Are you sure?

Zara's in LA. Gil's in
San Diego. I am sure.

I don't know what to say.

Well, I know I wasn't what
your old partner was for you.

No, you weren't.

I grew more in my
last four years with you

than I did in the 12
years that I was with him.

You know, that
relationship, whatever it was,

didn't allow for anything else.

But with you, with your support,

I have a family.

Yes, you do.

You helped me grow.

I appreciate you saying that.

Wow! So,

whatever happens, Nick Amaro,

friends for life.

Friends for life.

To family. ALL: To family.

Cheers.

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)