Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–…): Season 16, Episode 5 - Pornstar's Requiem - 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.

MAN: Okay. Now,
the camera is rolling.

Hi. Uh, I'm Evie. I'm from
East Aurora, New York.

And I'm about to start
college in New York City.

MAN: Welcome, Evie.

Are you nervous?



About college?

Uh, I guess. I've never
been away from home before,

and I don't have the
money to pay for school.

MAN: Well, that's
why you're here.

And you have a lot going
for you. Such a tight body.

(LAUGHS) You
like showing it off?

Uh, yes, I love, I love it.

Excellent.

MAN: How old are you, Evie?
Do you have your driver's license?

Um, I'm 18 today.
It's my birthday.

MAN: Wow, 18 today.

Ready to celebrate with a bang?

(CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY) (LAUGHING)

Are you shy, birthday girl?



Uh, no. I, uh... I've
had boyfriends before.

I've just never been on camera.

MAN: Well, maybe
I can make it easier.

Instead of posing nude for 300
bucks, I can multiply that by 10.

Three thousand dollars? You
said you needed money for school.

You've got a pretty face. Let me
see your eyes, take off your glasses.

Now, I need to
see the rest of you.

(CHUCKLES)

MAN: Very nice. Now your pants.

MAN: You ever been with
two guys at the same time?

No. Oh, I think
you're gonna like it.

Hello, baby.

Dude, you gotta watch this.

Eighteen with a Bang! again?

Dude, breaking news.
They're all staged.

There's no way
those sluts are 18.

Oh, this one is.

Recognize her?

It's Evie. Evie?

The mousy girl from Econ?

She look mousy to you?

PORN ACTOR: You
like it hard, don't you?

Wow. How'd I miss that ass?

Invite her to the
pre-game tonight?

Totally.

(DANCE MUSIC PLAYING)

Evie! You made it. Cool.

Vodka shot? No, I'm good.

She's a classy girl.
Don't serve her that swill.

Evie, we got premium
beer in our bathroom.

I guess just one.

Right this way, Evie. (CHUCKLES)

Take your pick.

Thanks.

What are you doing?

What's the matter? Oh,
are you shy, birthday girl?

God. BOTH: You're
18, with a bang!

Please let me out! (LAUGHING)

Let me out!

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

Detectives, I'm
glad you're here.

Justin Adams, Evie's
R.A. She's a freshman.

Okay. And she was assaulted?

Yeah. Uh, I got up
early to take a run.

Evie was curled up on a
lounge couch, all messed up.

She said she'd been to a
party where two boys raped her.

Campus security
told you to call us?

No. I've been here four years, I
know not to get those guys involved.

I wrote down the
names of her attackers.

I wasn't surprised
to hear it was them.

Why is that?

The guys on the fifth
floor are entitled D-bags.

Evie's a sweet
girl, kind of shy.

Evie, it's Justin. I
called the police.

EVIE: Why'd you do that?

Okay. Evie, hi, it's
Detective Rollins.

Can we just talk
to you for a minute?

It's okay. They're here to help.

I didn't ask him
to call the police.

Your R.A. was worried about
you. He did the right thing.

I don't wanna press charges.

ROLLINS: That's your choice.

Your assailants, they
live in your dorm, right?

The school year just started. You're
gonna be seeing them everywhere.

I'll call Carisi, take
some statements.

I shouldn't have told
Justin their names.

But he was just being so nice.

Um...

You... You can just
tell me what happened.

You went to a party, right?

I wish I'd stayed in
my room and studied.

But he knocked on my door.

Who's this?

Daniel Pryor.

He's one of the cool guys.

He barely looked at me before
last night, and then out of nowhere,

he came downstairs
and invited me to a party.

I should have known why.

Why, what do you mean?

This spring, before I started college, I
needed money for a semester's tuition.

And my dad was sick, so I answered
an ad for modeling work but...

It wasn't modeling.

Whatever you've done before, it has
nothing to do with you being assaulted.

I think it does.

They saw me.

The modeling work, it...
It was a video. It was...

It was porn.

Please don't tell my parents.

It's okay, Evie.

Yeah, we're gonna take
this one step at a time.

They hurt you, right?
Did you take a shower?

No, the bathroom's co-ed.

That's actually a good thing.

We're gonna get you
to the hospital, okay?

Okay.

Evie's saying she was raped?

By you and Matt.

It wasn't like that?

No. We had sex.
She just did us both.

Okay. She's a little
roughed up, though.

Well, yeah.

Look, we rag dolled her.

But compared to what
she's done, it was nothing.

What she's done?
What do you mean?

Not to make her out
to be a slut or anything,

but you guys know she
did a porn video, right?

Yeah, we'll get to that later.
But let's talk about last night.

Okay.

We offered her a beer.

They're in the bathroom tub.

She follows us in,

shuts the door,
and just goes wild.

Wants us both. Tag team.

She's moaning, screaming.

Like she did in the
video, right? Yeah.

Yeah, that's why I can't
believe she called the police.

You know how it
is with these girls.

Morning after regret.

Anything you did that
she misinterpreted?

No way. All the stuff
we did, she likes.

That Eighteen with a Bang! video
was way more hardcore than we were.

(SIGHS) Eighteen with a Bang!

Yeah, it's a series.

They claim to get girls who dream of
making a porno the day they become legal.

Most of these girls haven't
been eighteen in a while.

But ours actually was.

Evie. Uh, she even
used her real first name.

Film class is over.

Whatever Evie did has no
bearing on what happened to her.

Well, these guys say it does.

Because she wanted it in a
porn movie, she wanted them.

Hello, a third of the traffic
on the Internet is porn.

That's how most of these
college guys learn about sex.

Carisi, stop. It doesn't matter.

Evie said no.

Okay, she wasn't drunk.

She... She gave a detailed
account of the assault,

and the exam in the ER was
consistent with forcible penetration.

The rape kit showed
the presence of semen.

So, she made one first
timer pornographic video?

Yeah, in New Hampshire.

One of the few places you can
still make porn without a condom.

"Live Free or Die."

What else do we know about Evie?

Her R.A. says
she's a shy, nice girl.

She has no history
with law enforcement.

She's made no prior allegations.

It's still a "They
said, she said."

But maybe not, because at the
hospital Evie told me, after a minute,

that... That Daniel turned
on his cell phone cam.

So, she thinks that the whole
thing might have been recorded.

Rollins, you're just
telling me this now?

I didn't get a chance to speak
with you today, Sergeant.

I'll get you a
warrant for his phone.

See if the video
confirms her story.

Okay. Fin, Carisi,
go back to these two.

Get me that video if it exists.

Rollins,

find out everything about Evie's
background, okay? No surprises.

What do you think?
You know what I think.

I'd like this case a lot more if she
hadn't made a pornographic video.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
We've got company.

Ah, Counselor Buchanan.

To what do we owe the pleasure?

It's your lucky day.

I'll be representing Daniel
Pryor and Matthew Cooper

for the duration of this farce.

That was fast.

So was your rush to judgment.

These are two bright,
hardworking boys

with their whole
lives ahead of them.

Save it for the jury.

I don't think we'll
be taking this to trial.

Uh, these gray cases, they get so
much easier when you can go to tape.

The video the boys made.

It's, uh, in bad taste,
but not criminal.

Don't worry, it's
uncut and uncensored.

Oh, we'll be
double-checking that.

And you might wanna
take a look at this one.

The professional
version. We've seen it.

It, or them?

Oh, she is quite prolific, and not
nearly as innocent as she looks.

I guess that's what sells.

(CHUCKLES)

Brace yourselves.

Smile for the
camera, smile. No! No!

We know you like it rough. No!

The video from Daniel's phone
corroborates everything Evie told us.

They cornered her in a bathroom,

she asked them to stop,
and they wouldn't listen.

Those boys are rough. So is
this. From her sophomore outing.

No, please, stop.
I don't want to.

No.

You get the idea.

Yeah. You've pretty much
seen it already, anyway.

Matt and Daniel's video is of
a piece with a lot of her work.

How many?

Uh, like, a baker's dozen
on Buchanan's flash drive.

And after the first one,

uh, Eighteen with a Bang!,
she uses a pseudonym.

Um, uh, Roxxxanne,
three X's, DeMay.

Most are violent, tag team,
rape fantasy scenarios.

Yeah. And unless we believe that
she forgot about the other 12 films,

she lied to us.

So, she lied to us.

So, instead of focusing
on what Evie didn't tell us,

I'd like to focus on
how we missed this.

Well, I just started to vet her.

Well, the defense found it fast.

She used a different name on the other
videos. Plus, they're behind pay wall.

Yeah, maybe Buchanan
was a subscriber.

It's all moot.

I mean, if a judge
allows these in,

how's Barba ever gonna
explain the difference to a jury?

Because on the boys'
video, she didn't give consent.

She wasn't paid,
and she said no.

Come on, Liv. You know sex workers
don't get the benefit of the doubt.

That's not how we go into this.

And I don't wanna be
blindsided again. Is that clear?

(CLAPPING)

Great speech.

Better headline.

Sergeant Benson, your office.

Uh, which one of these, uh,
detectives is your number two?

Fin?

Come on in. How are
your family problems?

My son is fine. He's home
from the hospital. Thank you.

Good.

Now, you're still a new
acting commanding officer,

so perhaps you didn't appreciate
that One P.P. and CompStat

follow everything that
you and your detectives do.

We are aware. It's
not on the Sergeant.

The girl misinformed us.
This happens a lot with vics.

We were just
starting to vet her.

I'm used to sloppy police
work, Detective Tutuola.

No, it's on me.

We just caught the
case. If it is a case.

What you may have here
is a disturbed female student

who willingly portrays
violent sex acts on film.

Well, it shouldn't matter.

She said she was raped.
We need to investigate that.

Don't preach, Sergeant,
not with egg on your face.

My other concern is protocol.

Why was Hudson
kept out of the loop?

President Roberts had to
hear about this from a reporter.

Did she? It's not our
job to notify Hudson.

And, for the record, Chief,

the student's R.A. called us,

because everybody knows that campus security
pressures girls into dropping charges.

It seems that Hudson
University is more concerned

with their Clery Act stats
than they are with rape.

Ah, so it's true.

The word upstairs is
you have an agenda.

It colors your
perception. Excuse me?

This is not the case to embarrass
Hudson or the department with.

Pick your battles.

I didn't know anyone would
see those other videos.

My producer said they were behind
a pay wall. That's not how it works.

So, you're dropping the case? No,
we're gonna continue to investigate.

But moving forward, you
got to tell us everything.

Okay, your professional history,
boyfriends, the kinds of sex you've had,

anything that you've
gotten paid for.

I'm not a slut.

I didn't say that.

But I can tell you that their
defense attorney will, so...

They raped me.

I didn't want it, and I did
not agree to be filmed.

They think just because I do porn,
they can do whatever they want to me.

They can't.

But if you've left
anything out, tell me now.

Everything I did was legal.

I signed contracts, I got paid.

It felt good.

I mean, these guys,
they look right through me.

They have no idea what I am
doing on set with hot porn actors.

Over a dozen hardcore
rape fantasy videos,

and she thought nobody would
find out? What was she thinking?

She's 18 years old,
she's all over the place.

And it doesn't help that people are
trying to make her the poster child

for exploited sex workers.
There's a Twitter campaign.

And she's being pulled
in all different directions.

One minute she's... She's empowered.
The next minute, she's ashamed.

She's hardly the only girl to turn to
sex work or pornography to pay tuition.

Belle Knox, Tasha Reign. I'm
not making a moral judgment.

But the video the boys made mimics
almost move for move her first film.

I can't sell this to a jury.

Are you backing off of this
because of the heat you're getting

from the Mayor's
office over Hudson?

You know me better
than that. I thought I did.

Guys, we're all on
the same side here.

The real question is,

can you use rape shield to keep
her porn videos out of the trial?

Depends on the judge. I can
file a motion under Section Five.

But it's a catch all.
Buchanan will fight it.

Buchanan is still representing
both boys? Mmm-hmm.

Rollins, find out if both
families are splitting the bill.

You doing all right, Matt?

How much longer
is it going to be?

Yeah, well, we just need your
lawyer to finish up with Daniel.

That's the problem with sharing
lawyers, somebody gets stuck.

You might wanna use the john.
Once you go in that room... Yeah, okay.

Come on, I'll walk with you.

It's over here, just
down the hallway.

Huh, he looks comfortable.

You guys worked out your
defense together, right?

What do you mean? I mean,
you're both paying for Buchanan?

Oh, no, that's right. You're
on scholarship, right?

Daniel's family's
paying. He and I are tight.

Okay. What?

Nah, it's just that, maybe that's
why he wanted to go in before you.

Usually, whoever cuts the
first deal gets the best deal.

Hey, man, no, no.
Don't get nervous.

But word to the wise,
if anything seems off,

don't let his lawyer
make you take the fall.

Come on.

Hey, Matt.

So, what did Dan say? The truth.

That girl wanted to make a porn
video with you two. There was no rape.

I don't know. She was crying.
She didn't cry in the other videos.

Hey, sorry to keep you waiting.

We just went over the details
with Daniel and his lawyer.

We just need to confirm
the story with you.

We're ready. Right, Matt?

Okay. Daniel said you invited
Evie to the party. Is that right?

Yes.

And he said that you talked to
Evie about making a sex tape,

and she agreed,

that he had no idea about it.

That's also right.
Isn't it, Matt?

He said that?

All right, good.
That clears Daniel.

Wait, wait, wait.
What do you mean?

Whoa, hold on here.

No, no. If he had no idea about
the rape, then he's off the hook.

What?

They're playing you, Matt. I need
a moment alone with my client.

(STUTTERING)
It... It wasn't my idea.

Well, that's not
what Daniel told us.

He said that you showed him her porn video
and suggested inviting her to the party.

Well, yeah, but he
was the one who...

Yeah, that's enough.
Stop speaking.

We're leaving. Why?
You got Daniel off.

That's why he went first?

As your lawyer, I am
telling you to stop speaking.

Well, then you're not
my lawyer anymore.

You can fire me
later, but shut up now.

No! You're selling me out.

Daniel was the one
laughing like it was a game,

but she was crying.
She... She wouldn't stop.

I didn't get it until
Daniel told me, but...

Didn't get what? That
you raped that girl?

If I'm no longer your attorney,

you have the right to ask
for a court appointed attorney.

You've been
dismissed, Counselor.

Matt, just take a minute
and think about this.

Matt.

You know what
happened. Talk to us.

The whole thing
was Daniel's idea.

I'd never, never met
a porn star before.

He said that's how they acted.

I lied because after
we... We did her,

and she ran out, Daniel told
me that I was guilty of rape.

That it was on video.

That we'd both go down

if I didn't lie and
say Evie wanted it.

At... At first, I didn't think
you could rape a girl like that.

(SOBBING) I'm sorry.

I'm really, really sorry.

There we go. Good boy.

Get him to write it down now.

I'm gonna call Barba, get a
video crew up here to record it.

Carisi.

Nice work.

Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, we appreciate
you coming down to the city.

And I know that Evie
appreciates it, too.

Yes. Thank you, Mom, Dad.

Uh, Evie said this
is going to trial?

We have a very good case. One of the
boys confessed and he's made a deal.

He'll testify against the other
boy. What is it you want from us?

Bob, please.

We were hoping you
would attend the trial.

Juries are more sympathetic when they
see a supportive family in the gallery.

Oh. Hold on.

You expect me to sit in a court to
show a jury that I support her choices?

No, that's not happening.
Bob, let's just hear them out.

Hear what? I don't condone this.

Mr. Barnes, your
daughter was raped.

So, whatever choices she
may have made in the past,

she didn't choose this.

My daughter,

in those videos.

That's not how we raised her.

What were you thinking?

Daddy, I'm sorry.

I told you we shouldn't
have come here.

Mr. Barnes, your
daughter is a victim.

Do you know what
it's like upstate?

I can't go to church or put gas in
my truck without people staring at me.

Did you think about us at all?

This has been very
hard on your father.

RAFAEL: I understand
that you're upset.

But this has been very
hard on Evie, as well.

Will you attend the trial?

Bob has dialysis, I
have to drive him.

I'll think about it.

Evie, please take
care of yourself.

I'm so sorry.

Evie, you okay?

They hate me.

They don't hate you.

Doesn't matter. I
don't need them.

I did nothing wrong, and
people need to hear that.

Ms. Barnes, we've seen some images of
you that may be upsetting and confusing.

Can you tell us why you decided
to work in the adult film business?

I needed money
for college tuition.

And what I did was
legal and regulated.

So, despite how it
may appear on screen,

you were never actually forced
to do anything against your will?

No, I followed a script.

I created a character
separate from myself.

And what happened
on set was an act.

The violence was not real.

Okay. And how is that different from
what happened with the defendant?

Daniel and Matt forced me.

The violence was
real, and painful.

I said no, and I meant no.

But they didn't stop.

They took turns raping me.

It was horrible, and at no point
did I consent. I begged them to stop.

Can you tell us about your
decision to testify here today?

I knew I would be opening
myself and my family

up to humiliation and
judgment from others,

to slut shaming
and victim blaming.

But I chose to send a message,

that people who work in adult
entertainment are still people,

just like anyone else.

And we do not deserve
to be subjected to assault.

Thank you, Ms. Barnes.

That was a terrific
speech, Ms. Barnes.

Now, can we come off the soapbox
for a moment and go over the time line?

Objection.

Mr. Buchanan, I won't
have that attitude in my court.

Treat the witness with respect.

Of course, your Honor.

Ms. Barnes,

can you tell us about your
first pornographic experience?

It was a casting
couch audition tape.

Eighteen with a Bang!, yes?

Can you answer aloud?
For the stenographer, please.

Yes.

And subsequently, you starred as

Roxxxanne, with triple X's,
DeMay in 12 additional videos?

Yes.

If you were doing something
legal, why change your name?

I was creating a
persona, a fantasy.

A persona.

One who engaged
in multiple sex acts

with two men at a time in 12
videos that are tagged "rape fantasy"?

Yes.

You didn't tell the police that you
had done these other videos, at first.

Why is that?

I hoped it would remain private.

You hoped it
would remain private

on the Internet.

You say this is your choice.

Let me ask,

why did you choose to
make rape fantasy films?

The specialty genres pay more.

So, this is about money?

I needed money for
my college tuition.

In this video,

and in the dozen that
you made after that,

you were thrown around, slapped, verbally
degraded, and penetrated by two men

while screaming and saying no?

That was acting.

Ah.

And in this video,

you were also thrown around, slapped,
verbally degraded, and penetrated by two men

while screaming and
saying no. Isn't that correct?

Yes, but I never said that...

So, the main
objective difference is,

in the 13 adult videos you were
paid, but in this one you weren't?

No, I did not want
to be raped. I said no.

You did!

In all 14 videos.

So, it would seem that "no" means
"yes" when you're getting paid,

but "no" means
"no" when you're not.

Objection. I'll rephrase.

We have seen that you
are a very gifted actress.

How do you expect these boys,

or this jury,

to know the difference?

I didn't want what
they did to me.

You say after the fact.

You didn't call the
police that night.

I'm curious,

is the reason you cried rape

the next day when
the police showed up

because you were embarrassed that you
had been caught in a compromising position?

Or was it because these
boys didn't pay you?

Again, your Honor, objection.

Sustained.

Nothing further.

Oh, and Ms. Barnes,

I'm sorry if it feels like
I was rough on you.

But that's what
I get paid to do.

The jury will disregard.
Mr. Buchanan, I won't warn you again.

The worst is over.

Tomorrow you can take it
easy, let ADA Barba do his job.

No, I wanna be there
when Daniel testifies.

Make him look at me.

Uh... You want
us to walk you up?

No, I'm a big girl.
But thanks. Night.

Daniel told me that we were going to do a
film with Evie and that she was cool with it.

Even if she resisted,
that was part of the act.

You believed him? I did.

But she was crying the whole
time and she ran out after.

That's when Daniel told me
that we'd actually raped her,

but that if anyone
asked, she wanted it.

Does that mean, in fact, that Ms. Barnes
never consented to have sex with you?

No.

The two of us raped her.

I feel sick about it.

I'm sorry, Evie.

Mr. Cooper, is it true you took a plea
deal in exchange for your testimony?

Yes.

You were charged with,

uh, misdemeanor sexual assault.

You face, at a maximum, one
year in prison or maybe no time at all,

instead of the five to 25
you were facing for rape one.

Is that the deal you made? Yes.

Well, at first, you thought the entire
encounter with Ms. Barnes was consensual?

Daniel had told me it was.

And she had responded
the same way she did

in the Eighteen with a Bang!
Video you'd seen. Was that part of it?

I guess.

And when the police
first talked to you,

you told them that
it was consensual.

But now that you're a prosecution
witness with a generous deal,

you're calling it rape.

Does that sound
accurate, Mr. Cooper?

I guess. But that
wasn't when I...

You seem like a
thoughtful young man.

These days, college is a confusing
place to experiment with sexuality.

This was your first threesome,
crossing lines you'd never crossed.

Is there a question, your Honor,

or is Counselor Buchanan
on his soapbox now?

Get to it, Mr. Buchanan.

Mr. Cooper,

if you weren't sure

at the time about
what had happened,

and you have said under oath that
you didn't think it was rape at first,

isn't it possible that
you're not sure, even now?

I don't know.

I mean, I guess.

But, but she says it was,
so I think that... Well put.

Thank you.

Redirect, your Honor.

I'll allow.

Mr. Cooper, yes or no,

did you and the defendant,
Daniel Pryor, rape Evie Barnes?

Yes.

We did.

Thank you.

When Matt told me Evie wanted
to do a three-way, I was flattered.

I had never even
met a porn star before.

In... In the bathroom, she was acting
just like she did in the video we saw.

Although advised otherwise, why
have you chosen to take the stand today?

I wanna speak for all
falsely accused men.

People believe women by default,

but false accusations
destroy lives.

(STAMMERING) I, seriously, I just
don't know why this is happening to me.

Nothing further.

Did you ever ask Ms. Barnes if
she wanted to have sex with you?

No, Matt did. I trusted Matt.
Maybe that was my mistake.

Then all you actually heard her say
was "no" and "stop," and you didn't.

She said "no" all those
other times and still had sex,

so why would this be different?
We were filming a scene.

But she said "no," correct?

Do you believe that any woman,
even a porn star, can decline sex?

Of course, I...
So, let's be clear.

Did Ms. Barnes say "no"?

She did. In fact, she cried.

She begged you to stop
repeatedly. Isn't that correct?

Well, yeah, but... You
didn't stop, did you?

No.

Do you understand that what you have
just described is the definition of rape?

Nothing further.

Members of the jury,
have you reached a verdict?

We have, your Honor.

What say you?

On the charge of
rape in the first degree,

we find the defendant,
Daniel Pryor, guilty.

Congratulations.

Thank you. Congratulations.

JUDGE: Ladies and
gentlemen of the jury,

the state of New York
thanks you for your service.

Mr. Pryor, you will remain
out on bail until sentencing.

Your Honor, I'd like to file a
motion to set aside this verdict.

So noted.

I'll reserve judgment
until sentencing.

What does that mean?

It's pro-forma.

If the jury reaches a verdict,
judges don't overturn it.

Nice work.

Thank you.

Evie Barnes? Yes?

You've been served.

What is that?

Oh, my God.

It's from the president's
office at Hudson.

I'm being expelled for
violating the code of conduct.

No, they can't do that.

They just did.

I have to move out by
the end of next week.

WOMAN: Sorry to
keep you waiting.

I understand you needed
to see me right away?

Yes. I, uh, am
a little confused,

and I'm hoping that you can,
uh, clarify a matter on Evie Barnes.

Now, you're the university president
and you expelled a rape victim?

What about the rapists?

Pending his appeal, Daniel
may well be expelled, too.

And Evie Barnes wasn't expelled
because she made a rape accusation.

I wanna be perfectly
clear about that.

I'm sure you do.

She blatantly violated
Hudson's code of conduct.

She chose to appear in
violent pornographic videos.

She even showed her
student ID in some of them.

Her presence on
campus is disruptive.

But the presence
of rapists is okay?

I have to tell you, there have
been as many false accusations

as ones that have proved true.

There's bad judgment
on both sides.

Bad judgment on both sides.

I think we both know that
that's code for victim blaming.

Hudson University is fully committed
to sexual violence prevention.

We're planning a luncheon
early next week on the subject.

Well.

I look forward to
seeing the cake.

I understand your
passion on this subject,

and I promise you that Hudson
University, NYPD, and the Mayor's office

have always had a mutually
respectful relationship.

Please don't hide
behind the Mayor's skirt.

Look.

I'm asking you to
do the right thing.

For Evie's sake.

I'm sure that you
can find another way.

JUDGE: Daniel
Pryor, please rise.

Before I speak to your
sentencing and other motions,

I understand you'd like
to make a statement.

Your Honor, I'd like to
apologize to my family

and my school for any
embarrassment I have caused them.

What happened that night
is something my friend Matt,

Evie, and I will have to live
with for the rest of our lives.

I showed poor judgment,

and I know if given
another chance,

I would never do anything to
dishonor another woman again.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I see genuine remorse, here.

What I did not see
during the trial, however,

is behavior rising to the level

of the criminal charges
brought against you.

Excuse me, your Honor?

I do not do this lightly.

Due to the lack of
sufficient evidence,

I accept the defense's motion to
set aside the jury's guilty verdict.

What's he doing?

Your Honor, this is an
outrageous abuse of your power!

Mr. Barba.

There is no basis to
overturn this conviction.

Her testimony, the
co-operator's testimony.

You don't need to
approach the bench.

Your Honor, you are making
a factual determination.

That is the jury's
job, not yours!

Sit down, Mr. Barba.

Young lady,

I don't know if you desire the
recently popular status of victimhood,

or if this was a publicity stunt
to jump-start your porn career.

But given the evidence,

there is no way to conclude
beyond reasonable doubt

that your "no" in this
incident truly meant "no."

I hope, going forward,

you find a way to respect
your body and yourself.

No, I wasn't lying!

What you are doing is giving
men permission to assault a woman

based on her sexual history.

You're setting the clock
back on rape law 50 years.

Last warning, Mr. Barba.
I will hold you in contempt.

I'm making an immediate
motion to appeal.

As is your prerogative.

Mr. Pryor, you are free to go.

Winner takes.

How can a judge
overturn a verdict?

It's called "judgment
notwithstanding the verdict".

It's pretty uncommon,
but it does happen.

Yeah, it makes you wonder
what the point of a jury is.

How's Evie? Uh, not good.

Sergeant.

Chief.

My office? Unless you want
your whole squad to hear this.

Let me guess. You
got a call from Hudson.

I did.

They wanna know why an SVU sergeant is
demanding they re-evaluate school policy.

Because they
expelled Evie Barnes,

which constitutes
victim blaming.

It's egregious behavior.

That may be your opinion,
but it's their decision.

It has nothing to do
with you, SVU, or NYPD.

Stay out of the
president's office.

Does your concern

have anything to do with
the fact that Hudson University

is New York City's
largest landlord?

Grow up, Sergeant.

You are good at
your job. Stick to that.

If you wanna change policy,

get into politics.

But the last time I checked,

you're a cop.

Yes, sir.

Sergeant. What?

Evie's mom is here.

Evie never came home today,
and she's not answering her cell.

And you checked her dorm
room? Her R.A. let me in.

The door was
covered with graffiti.

"Slut,"

"Whore."

She left her clothes,
her books, everything.

Her computer was
open on her desk.

(SIGHS) Okay, Mrs. Barnes.

Is there any place that you can
think of where Evie may have gone?

She told me this summer that she was
spending time with friends in New England?

New Hampshire?

Hey. I'm looking
for Evie Barnes.

Who? Roxxxanne
DeMay. Is she here?

Relax. She's
eighteen. We're legal.

I know. We just
wanna talk to her.

SONNY: Evie.

What are you doing here?

Evie, your parents
are worried about you.

I'm fine. I'm just
doing what I do best.

You don't have to be here.
Can we take you home?

Where should I be?

At Hudson?

Try being a sweet co-ed again?

I already made that video.

At least here, when I
say "stop," they stop.

There... There
are other schools.

I mean, you went through all this
to get to college in the first place.

Turned out great, didn't it?

Once you're Roxxxanne DeMay,
you can't be Evie Barnes again.

MAN: Roxxxanne.

Roxxxanne.

We're ready.

You wanna watch? Watch.

Everyone else will.

Evie. Amanda. Walk away.

It's not our choice.

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)