Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–…): Season 24, Episode 18 - Bubble Wrap - full transcript

- 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.

The constant,
endless criticism...

I feel terrible about myself.

Martin, it's
important to remember



that behind each of
Connie's criticisms

is an unspoken wish.

Connie, maybe you can tell
Martin what those wishes are.

I wish I was enough.

Martin, try to be non-reactive.

I want to matter to you as
much as you matter to me.

My whole life
revolves around you.

- It always has.
- Why do you push me away?

I need more space.

That's all.

Say it to Connie.

I need freedom,
volition, agency.

For what?

To be happy.



Your happiness has
always come first.

Then why do I feel like an
eel flipping around the deck

of a boat, gasping for breath?

Well, that's
hyperbolic, isn't it?

All I ask is for one
night a week, just us.

But it's never one night, is it?

It's canasta before bed

followed by Fox News
under a cotton duvet.

She gets mad if we don't
commute to work together.

My life is an unending Mobius
strip of violent closeness.

Are you going to let him
talk to me like that?

You control everything,
even these sessions.

It's called support.

I am asphyxiated
by your support.

While gorging
yourself on my money.

As an exercise, I'd like
you both to switch roles.

Try to see what it feels
like to be the other one.

No.

This view never gets old.

Oh, I can see the headline now.

Connie Parish shatters
the glass ceiling.

I didn't shatter anything.

Simply built the higher ceiling.

Yeah, the first female
developer to build

a hundred floors of
luxury in Manhattan.

You realize what a goddamn
icon she is, right?

She reminds me of it every day.

Martin...

I have matcha mouth.

Thank you. Eugene?

All right, so we are
on completion schedule,

code compliant fire
inspection signed.

And sales?

80% of units closed.

Check out the net total.

Oh, we're making
history and money.

Care to christen a...

A room?

Which one's your favorite?

I'm fond of the
upstairs terrace.

Me, too.

Eugene and I will be a moment.

You're not the only one

who needs a little
bit of freedom here.

Are you OK, Martin?

They're not exactly
being subtle.

It's OK to be pissed.

If I get angry, she wins.

Wins what?

Battle of who can care less.

Self-medicating helps.

So would a lobotomy.

I can help with the former.

You want to come over for
a glass or two of wine?

I like hanging out.

I really do, but...

You don't feel worthy?

I like your guidance.

I'm scheduling next week's
stagings for the D line units

in the 20 building.

Let me just run
some looks by you.

We'll keep it PG.

I can be free in an hour.

Martin, I'm going to
run home and freshen up

before our dinner.

I can't meet you, not tonight.

Well,
it's Friday night.

I made plans.

Plans? Martin.

With whom?

None of your business.

Well, I'm making dinner,

followed by cards
and a bottle of wine.

You don't cancel on me.

I just did.

I like the color
palette and the styling.

Question is, will Connie like
it for the North River Suites?

Mm, predicting the whims
of an overt narcissist...

Is that really how you
want to launch your career?

Her checks cash, don't they?

I'm tired. Do you
have any coke?

Did you already finish the
stuff I brought last time?

Here you go.

You can keep the rest.

It's nice of you
to invite me over.

Honestly, it was just an excuse

to get you away from her.

I like that you
want to protect me.

Makes me feel safe.

We both know this isn't smart.

You didn't seem
to have a problem

the last dozen or so times.

A private eye came to see me.

One of Connie's flying monkeys.

What did you tell him?

Nothing. Chill.

But he did ask how often
you come over here.

And now you don't
want to do this?

Maybe it's for the best.

I mean, focusing on me
like this, I can't say no.

Because of my
relationship to Connie?

Because you're my
boss, technically,

and it makes me unable to know
whether I'm good at my job.

Martin, are you listening?

- Are you?
- No, Martin.

- You don't say no to me!
- Martin.

Stop, stop, stop!

♪ I got you, babe ♪
[both grunting]

♪ They say our love
won't pay the rent ♪

♪ Before it's earned, our
money's all been spent ♪

♪ I guess that's so,
we don't have a pot ♪

♪ But at least I'm sure
of all the things we got ♪

Hello?

♪ I got you, babe ♪

♪ I got flowers
in the spring ♪

Am I too late to eat?

♪ I got you ♪

- I made London Broil.
- ♪ To wear my ring ♪

Left a plate warm
for you in the oven.

♪ When I'm sad,
you're a clown ♪

What happened to you?

Mom, I need your help.

I hurt someone.

I took out all my anger. I...

Shh.

Mama's here. Mama's
here. Mama's here.

I won't let anything
happen to you.

Shh.

You know we have
coffee here, right?

I just like things
a certain way.

Yeah, starting to see that.

You want a donut?

Late night?

Brushing up for my Masters

of Public Administration
and Leadership.

The MPAL.

You really are going to
run the city someday, huh?

For now, I just settle on
running things by Benson.

How's your brother Teddy doing?

I kind of think
he's seeing someone.

Oh, you think? You don't know?

Well, he knows what a bitch
I am to the women he dates,

but the guy deserves
it 'cause he's got

the worst taste in women.

It's nice to see Muncy
and Churlish talking.

Don't get excited. They're
the only ones here.

Velasco's off, and Bruno
just comes and goes.

Ah, is he still auditioning us?

Must be nice not
to need a paycheck.

We're lucky to have
him when we have him.

He's a good cop.

That kind of optimism
should be a crime.

Ah, so arrest
me.

Benson.

Uh-huh, and she's
getting a kit done now?

I'll send somebody over
to take her statement.

Yeah.

Well, that was Mercy Hospital.

Mona Stewart, 22,

raped last night by
somebody she works with.

Who's the guy?

Martin Parish of
Parish Enterprises.

The builder's son?

He's got money. We know that.

That explains how you
got a direct call.

So who do I take,
Muncy or Churlish?

How about we let them
go alone together?

Could be a good
bonding exercise.

I should have called
911 last night,

but Martin brought coke.

I did some. I didn't
want to get in trouble.

You won't. That's
not why we're here.

Can you tell us what happened?

He has these weird compulsory
dinners with his mother.

He usually likes coming
to my place after

as some sort of refuge.

Was it a date?

We're colleagues.

I do interior design
for the company.

I mean, we snuggle,
sometimes watch a movie.

He's rich, but he doesn't
have many friends.

Then what happened?

We had some wine, did some coke.

We were just hanging out.

Then he made a move.

And how did you respond?

- I tried to push him away.
- And what did he do?

He got angry,

ripped my shirt,

bit my breasts hard,

then raped me.

I just laid there frozen.

It's called fawning.

It's OK. It's normal.

Did he say anything
to you after?

He left.

I left a voicemail
for my roommate.

He came home and saw the
bite marks, freaked out.

That's when I called 911.

I was just going
to forget about it,

but I'm no one's fawn.

I don't care if I lose my job.

I want this bastard
charged with rape.

So we're looking
at Martin Parish,

the only son of Connie
and Peter Parish.

Peter Parish sold his
side of the business,

ran off with the
nanny years ago,

so Connie has been suing
him for one thing or another

ever since.

We know this family has
lawyers on retainer.

What do we know
about Mona Stewart?

- Mona's credible.
- And resourceful.

She gave me and Muncy the
wine glass Martin drank from.

The lab pulled DNA
from her rape kit.

Great. We have an
outcry witness?

Yeah. She called a roommate,
Stanton Garber that night,

left a message,
and then told him

- the whole story this morning.
- Enough to arrest?

Yeah, it is, but if you do that,

Martin's just
going to lawyer up.

So let's get his side first.

Mona went to the police?

That's crazy.

When I left, she was fine.

So you were at her apartment.

She was going over her
designs for the D line

at North River Suites.

- Nothing romantic?
- Why? What is she saying?

Look, we're not
HR, Mr. Parish,

so if you two had sex,
that's... That's your business.

We, uh, cuddled.

Nothing more than that?

Before you answer that,
you should know that

Mercy Hospital photographed
quite a few bite marks,

so we did a rape kit.

We were high on cocaine.

It's an aggressive drug.

It's not the first time we've
left bite marks on each other.

It's not the first time, OK,

but last night, she
called the police.

Any idea why?

My mother was about to fire her.

She might have gotten wind.

This is all starting to
make sense right now.

She was blackmailing you?

I never should have
gone over there.

I knew it was a risk given
her tenuous employment...

Martin, that's enough.

I'm Captain Benson. This
is Sergeant Tutuola.

I take it you're
Martin's mother.

I am. So what's
this all about?

We got a complaint from
one of your employees,

Mona Stewart.

Well, that wouldn't
be the first time

a soon-to-be ex-employee
tried to shake us down.

We found her story
quite credible.

- She let me snuggle with her...
- Shut up, Martin.

I appreciate you're
doing your jobs,

but my son won't be
answering any more questions

without counsel.

I apologize, but you understand.

We understand very well.

We'll be in touch.

- Mommy was pissed.
- Well, that's not anger, Fin.

That's jealousy.

So the Parishes lawyered
up. No surprise there.

- Our witness is cooperating?
- So far.

We have Martin's
DNA on the rape kit,

her outcry to her roommate.

OK, what are you not telling me?

She admits to prior encounters.

Her kit shows
alcohol and cocaine.

Which normally wouldn't matter,

but Connie Parish is trying
to get in front of this,

claiming they were
about to fire Mona.

Sorry to interrupt.

Mona. This is ADA Carisi.

How you doing? We're just
going over your case.

Well, you can stop.
I changed my mind.

- This wasn't really rape.
- Hang on, Mona.

- Let's think about this.
- No.

I'm just here because
you won't stop calling.

I'm sorry.

Looks like Mommy
protected her baby boy

with a lot of zeroes.

Carisi, please
tell me that we can

make this case without her.

Maybe I can get an indictment,

but convincing a
jury's something else.

So he's just going
to get away with it?

We have the rape kit.

We have her outcry witness.
That's probable cause.

It's enough to arrest him, if
that'll make you feel better.

Oh, it will.

- Martin is sleeping.
- That's OK.

We'll wake him up. We're
here to arrest him.

It's good. We got it.

Oh, the TV's still
on. He might be awake.

NYP...

What the hell is this?

We could ask you the same thing.

We're here to arrest
your son, Mrs. Parish.

Stand up, hands
behind your back.

Don't you touch him.

Do not move, or we
will arrest you, too.

Martin.

OK. I'm calling my lawyer now.

That's a good idea because
you're going to need one.

Dude had his head
on Mommy's boobs?

Sure what it looked like.

Could explain his issues.

What, are you working
for the defense now?

Excuse me, Captain Benson.

Can I help you?

Ron Cohen. I have
a few questions.

You can call the
NYPD press office.

But this is about Mona Stewart,

the young woman who's
stalking Martin Parish,

- making false accusations.
- And who hired you?

Connie Parish?

Do you know about Ms.
Stewart's personal life,

- work performance?
- Get the hell out of here, man.

Hey, this is an extortion plot.

Tell your employer,
if she has questions,

she knows where I work.

The court accepts
the defendant's plea

of not guilty.

People on bail?

$1 million, Your Honor.

Mr. Parish has unlimited means,

including access
to private jets.

We consider him to
be a flight risk.

My client is willing to
surrender his passport.

- Your Honor...
- I'm granting ROR.

Keep your powder
dry, Mr. Carisi.

Bailiff, next case.

I'll take what I have
to the grand jury,

but I can't guarantee
an indictment.

Pessimist.

Look, I have faith
in you, Carisi.

I appreciate that,
but I'd rather have

Mona's cooperation...
At the very least,

that testimony from the outcry
witness, Stanton Garber.

We're working on
that. What else?

Just make sure that Martin
doesn't get on a private jet,

fly to Moscow, and move
in with Edward Snowden.

Was Carisi this cranky
when he was a detective?

Yes.

Where are we with
Mona's roommate?

I couldn't get a hold of him.

He moved out of Mona's
rent-stabilized place

a few days after the rape.

All right, so he
took a payoff, too.

I put Muncy and
Churlish on the case.

Well, she looks fired
up. You need me?

No. You secure the
outcry witness.

I can handle the mother.

Captain Benson, a word?

Just us?

Where's your, uh, pit bull PI?

Well, as a mother, I'm
sure you'll appreciate

how helpless you feel when
you see your child in trouble.

Your son shouldn't
have committed rape.

Sure about that?

I heard she changed her story.

Because you paid her.

I'm doing everything I
can to protect my son...

Like you'd do, what...
What you have done.

That gang case?

So you follow the news.

I admire you, raising
your son alone,

climbing the career ladder,

being mother and father
at the same time.

Well, I guess we have
that in common, don't we?

You know, when my
husband ran off,

Martin was all I had.

So there was nothing
that you wouldn't do

to protect your son, including
bribing rape victims.

Well, sounds like you
have an axe to grind

with people who have money.

With people who abuse
their privilege?

Yes.

You've had a rough few months.

The DOJ called in
to clean up SVU...

That must have been
really embarrassing.

Yeah, that wasn't my squad.

Maybe not, but you are at
the end of your career.

You can't afford to look
like you're slipping.

You're sacrificing my son to
keep your reputation intact.

So your son is a rapist,

and no matter how much
you're willing to spend,

that will never change.

I'll do what I have
to, just like you did.

Do you honestly think
you're the only mother

who would do everything in her
power to keep her child safe?

I didn't break the law.

But we both
know you would have,

so please, let's not
disrespect each other

by pretending otherwise.

Captain.

Yeah, we're waiting, Sarge.

We won't leave until he shows.

Copy.

And far as I can tell,
Martin's never had

- a serious girlfriend.
- Yeah, 'cause he's got his mom.

There he is, Mona's ex-roommate.

Somebody going shopping.

I can't even pronounce
half these brand names.

Don't look at me.
Stanton Garber?

I told you guys I
don't know anything

about what happened to Mona.

And we're telling
you you're lying.

Mona told me she was lying.

She changed her mind

after she got a payout
from the Parishes.

I'm guessing you did, too.

One-bedroom condos in this
building start at a million.

And that's the real crime.

We pull your phone
records, we can prove

that Mona called you that night.

We can also get a search
warrant for your phone

to retrieve her message.

I don't like being harassed.

How about arrested?

Interfering with a
police investigation.

- Obstruction.
- Perjury.

And fair warning,
even the cheap lawyers

will go through
that payout faster

than you can file bankruptcy.

Stanton,
call me back.

I can't believe this.

Martin just attacked me.

He bit me. He raped me.

Can you please come home?

That is a message that
Mona left for her roommate

- the night of the assault.
- Uncorroborated.

That's inadmissible.

Well, her roommate will
testify at the grand jury

and at trial.

We'll get a hearsay
exception for the message.

It's an excited utterance.

Mona made this whole
thing up to blackmail me.

We already know
she's not testifying.

I can compel her.

She'll be a hostile
witness, but the jury

will hear her voice testifying
that that message is from her.

You don't want to go to trial.

Maybe you're right about that,

so let's start clean.

I'm not pleading
guilty to anything.

Martin, take a timeout.

My mother says that the only
reason you're coming after me

is because of our family name.

Hey, Martin,

we're going after you
because you're a rapist,

and for the first
time in your life,

your mother can't help you.

How is this possible?

I could go to jail
if I don't testify?

If you don't comply
with the subpoena.

But believe me, our
captain doesn't like

threatening victims
with contempt.

So I have an idea. Don't.

You were raped, Mona.

That kind of trauma
doesn't go away

by moving into a
bigger apartment.

Tell your story on the stand.

Take ownership of
what happened to you.

So this is you guys
worried about me?

I'm doing just fine.

And when the money runs out?

You had a job you were proud of.

You have a lot to live for.

Don't let what this guy did to
you make you lose self-respect.

It's not worth it.

Connie Parish is
never going to let

her "widdle baby
boy" go to prison.

You guys are deluded if
you think you could win.

So if Mona doesn't
want to pursue

and she's incentivized
to turn the other way,

this feels like a non-starter.

We're police officers.

Yeah, I'm just trying
to see both sides.

Like you did with Velasco?

Churlish, life isn't pass-fail.

We just got a call
from Mona's building.

Her new super found
her body. She's dead.

I was trying to let
some delivery guys in,

used my key, found her
lying on the floor.

What are we looking at?

We did CPR, took
a shot at Narcan,

but she was already gone.

OD?

Whole world is laced
with fentanyl these days.

You thinking what I'm thinking?

The night before the grand jury,

and Mona just
happens to overdose?

We'll get an autopsy
and a forensic analysis

on the drugs.

And bring Martin
in for questioning.

We found cocaine in her system

but not enough for an overdose.

Any fentanyl in it?

Trace amounts, not nearly
enough to kill her.

So what did?

X-rays we took show some type of

prolonged microscopic scarring.

That's not from the cocaine.

If I didn't know whose
lungs I was looking at,

I'd say she was at
ground zero during 9/11.

Well, she's too young for that.

She suffered a fatal
pulmonary insult.

Couldn't get oxygen
into her bloodstream.

So she suffocated
from the inside out?

- How?
- Nothing on the tox screen.

I can dissect the lung
and order some tests.

For now, if I had to
guess cause of death,

it's looking like asphyxia.

We just don't know from what.

So what do we know?

Well, Mona was about to
go to the grand jury,

and now she's been
silenced for good.

Maybe Connie's
getting desperate.

Maybe she poisoned Mona somehow.

Well, according to
the medical examiner,

whatever killed her sure
took the scenic route.

Unless the whole point
of this was torture.

Well, who would want
to torture Mona?

Connie was jealous of Mona.

I mean, she treats her son like
he's some kind of boyfriend.

It wouldn't be the
first time somebody

got poisoned for cheating.

All right, Churlish, Muncy,

where did Mona say
she got the coke?

She said Martin brought it over.

If it was laced with something,

maybe he's getting
infected, too.

Let's see if we can talk to him.

What is this?

This is a scan of Mona's lungs.

What the hell does this prove?

Nothing.

It proves she was
murdered last night.

- Well, that's good news.
- Is it?

We'll be filing a motion to
dismiss the rape charges.

Who would do such a thing?

We were hoping
you could tell us.

You two did cocaine together?

Yeah, but not last night.

Evidently, whatever killed
her is pretty slow acting.

When did you two
start hanging out

and doing coke together?

Right after she started the job.

Six months ago?

About that, but she did
way more than I did.

Martin, any chance
your mother knew

you and Mona were
snuggle buddies?

Oh, God. Mona did
mention a private eye.

How long have you been
using that inhaler?

A few months.

You might want to get
an X-ray of your lungs.

What the hell is going on?

Well, in case you
haven't noticed,

we're trying to keep
your client alive.

OK, OK, uh, can you
drive me to a hospital?

First, we're going to need
the name of your coke dealer.

This is a scan of
Martin's lungs.

That looks familiar.

Same type of scars
as Mona's lungs.

Yeah, it's not a coincidence.

Did Martin say where he
got the cocaine from?

Well, here's where
it gets stranger.

He says he got it from his
mother's middle-aged guy Friday,

who lives out near her
property in Long Island.

- Henry Caputo.
- Caputo?

This guy got a record,
mob connections?

Well, it's not as
stereotypical as it sounds

coming from you, Carisi.

Let's just say a little of both.

Well, it turns out that
the world of construction

in New York is as shady
as we all thought.

I get why Connie might
want to slowly poison Mona,

but her own son?

Maybe she wants to
keep him helpless.

I mean, Munchausen
by proxy is a thing.

The guy takes care
of the one property

she owns in Long Island,

makes about half a
mil a year doing that.

Half a million dollars? That
sounds like payola to me.

So can we get a warrant
for the property?

Hey, you can't
just come in here.

Actually, we can.
We have a warrant.

I got to call Mrs. Parish.

Please do.

She's very particular
about this place.

Yeah, I can see that.

This is the first model
home her father built

when she was a kid.

This is like a
shrine to her father?

She comes here sometimes
to be close to him.

What we want to know is
where you got the cocaine

you gave to Martin and Mona.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

Detectives, found something.

Dog alerted us to the
cocaine stash in the freezer.

Any poison?

A bucket of industrial abrasive.

Looks an awful lot
like cocaine to me.

Industrial abrasive... That'll
do a job on your lungs.

Bag it all.

That's been sitting
there for years.

Well, you're coming
with us. Call Carisi.

Get a warrant for
Connie's arrest.

That's my stash of
cocaine you found.

- For personal use?
- That's right.

The ME told us that
last batch that Mona got

was mostly industrial abrasive.

You want to tell us how
that got mixed into it?

I should go to the
hospital or something?

Maybe it's in my
lungs.

- I had a cough lately.
- Nice try.

You think I mixed it in?

Why would I poison myself?

What I want to know is what's
your relationship to Connie.

I work for her, do odd jobs.

- Whatever she tells you to do?
- That's right.

That's what she pays
me for... Hard work.

Sex?

And discretion.

Well, if we can prove
that Mona and Martin

got that cocaine from you,

you're looking down
the barrel at murder.

I think I need a lawyer now.

He's not as dumb as he looks.

If you think Connie's
going to get you a lawyer,

she's already paying for a few.

My client has absolutely
nothing to do with any drugs.

So you had nothing
to do with murdering

a woman who was about to testify

against your rapist son?

Who you also tried the poison.

No. Now why would I do that?

- I'm horrified.
- Mm.

Now I thought I knew Henry.

He's like a second son to me.

Maybe Henry was
jealous of Martin,

or Martin was jealous of Henry.

Oh, so this is just a
cocaine and Abel story, huh?

This is not about Martin.
This is not about Henry.

The real jealousy
here is your jealousy,

your jealousy for Mona.

Oh, please, why
would I be jealous

of a 22-year-old interior
decorator with horrible taste?

Horrible taste?

She had a taste for your son,

until, of course, he raped her.

That is an unsubstantiated,
uncorroborated,

and unacceptably
false accusation.

You'll never make
a case for rape.

Maybe not, but I can definitely

make a case for murder
against your client.

I had nothing to do with that
poor girl's horrible death.

- Connie.
- Please.

Now, my son did that cocaine.

Are you saying that I
poisoned him as well?

That's exactly
what we're saying.

Why would I do that?

Have you ever heard the
phrase "devouring mother"?

You're so afraid to lose control

over Martin that you
were willing to risk

crippling him, or even worse.

Somebody in the grave
can't leave you,

and you always know where he is.

My mother loves me.

She'd never let
anything happen to me.

In fact, it's just the opposite.

Have you ever heard the saying

"a spoonful of
industrial abrasive

helps the medicine go down"?

- No.
- Neither have we.

You're a smart guy.

You saw your lung
scan, your asthma.

So I did a little too much coke.

Keep your mouth shut. This
isn't a coffee klatsch.

We're here because
of a cocaine charge?

No, the coke was doctored on
your mother's orders, huh,

to teach you a lesson
and to kill Mona.

She'd never do that.

The ME dissected Mona's lungs.

He found the same
exact substance

as we found in the cocaine
on your mother's property.

That's all Henry.

Well, Henry didn't have a
reason to teach you a lesson,

but your mom did.

Why?

Because she wanted to
keep you bubble wrapped

all for herself,

to infantilize you so
you'd always need her.

It worked.

I do need her.

Your mother may be
going down for murder.

Only if Henry turns against her.

Or you do, Martin.

I want to entertain
what they're saying.

No.

That's never going to happen.

- It can't.
- Why not?

You don't understand.

I've already lost my father.

If I lose my
mother, too, I'll...

I'll be an orphan.

So this caretaker, Henry...

He won't turn against Connie.

He lawyered up and shut up.

He's in holding.

Oh, it's hard to get a
guy to solve a problem

that his paycheck relies on.

Look, what about Martin?

Is he actually that blind to
his own mother's complicity?

He might be 32, but
he's like a little boy.

Yeah, he's been stunted.

OK, well, I cannot
bring a murder case

without any
corroborating witnesses.

She's got plausible deniability.

I know that she kept
him in the nest,

but it seems like the rest
of the family wanted to run.

Her father's dead. The
ex-husband is in the wind.

Martin did say he's
afraid of being alone.

If that is the only
thing that's keeping him

from testifying,
then maybe his father

can talk some sense into him.

We'll track him down.

You know, I hope
there's one person

in this young man's
life who actually

wants the best for him.

Just a reminder, Liv,
Martin is a rapist.

I'm not making excuses for him,

but Carisi, he is also a victim.

And if we want him to flip,

then we need to
treat him like one.

Peter Parish is here already?

That was fast.

He took a red-eye
from the Azores.

So he really does care
about his son, huh?

He wasn't surprised to hear his

ex-wife was a murder suspect.

OK, and that's the
current Mrs. Parish?

That's Bianca,
their former nanny,

with their baby daughter.

And we sent Connie home?

With Martin.

We didn't have enough
to hold either of them.

Well, it's a damn shame.
She's missing this.

Uh, invite Martin
and Connie back.

- All right, Muncy, will you?
- Yeah.

- Yeah, I got you.
- Thanks.

You ready?

Mr. Parish, thank you
for coming in so quickly.

I was hoping that my
son would be here.

Well, he's on his
way. I'm ADA Carisi.

We got a few questions for
you, if you don't mind.

Sure.

So I'm going to jump right in.

Can you tell us why
you left your family?

Uh, well,

Connie tried to murder me.

What happened?

She was putting
industrial-grade abrasives

into my smoothies.

I started to have
digestive problems

and internal bleeding.

I was slowly dying, and Bianca
put two and two together.

I... I didn't just run away with
her because she's the nanny.

She saved my life.

You have any idea why your
wife would want to poison you?

Any idea? I know
absolutely why.

Martin was 12, and by then,

I was already
cheating on Connie.

And she sought comfort
in the wrong place.

She was... I don't
know how to say this.

She was nestled up with Martin.

I caught them in bed together.

I think she was
breastfeeding him.

- Did you confront her?
- Of course.

She begged me not to
talk to Martin about it,

and she swore that
it would stop.

- But it didn't.
- I don't know.

I hoped so.

I had moved out
to the guest house

to try to figure
out my next move,

and then a few days later,

I noticed the
decline in my health.

Then you left with the nanny.

Yeah, I couldn't stay.

But you left Martin with her.

I thought I was doing the
right thing at the time.

And I had asked him to
move to the Azores with us,

and he said no.

But you didn't call
child services?

I didn't want him to
end up in foster care.

A dysfunctional mother
is better than no mother.

OK, look, whatever
you think of me,

I love my son.

Oh, Dad, I missed you so much.

Oh, I missed you, too.

What Mom did, I had
nothing to do with that.

I made a mistake, and I
deserve to be punished.

But I can't do it alone.

Don't worry. I'm here for you.

Peter?

You think you can just
waltz back into our lives

and steal my baby away from me?

I'm never going to
let that happen.

It'll be hard to stop from
a prison cell, Connie.

I had nothing to do
with killing that girl.

No, but you tried to kill me.

That plan didn't work
out so well, did it?

Oh, there she is.

You steal my husband, and
now you're laughing at me,

you little bitch?

Mom, stop it. Leave her alone.

- Martin...
- Leave me alone.

- You don't mean that.
- I do.

Mrs. Parish, let's
step into my office.

Not without me.

I don't need you.

I don't need anyone,

not even you, Martin!

All right, let's go.

Let's go.

Hey, bud, come here.

Well, congratulations, Captain.

You've managed to turn
my son against me.

You call this police work?

You just don't get it, do you?

Your son's a rapist.

OK, I don't want to
keep hearing that.

I raised a good boy.

No, you raised a son who
is still a little boy

who is afraid of
displeasing you,

so he does everything
that you tell him to do.

You've crippled him, and
that is not parenting.

Parenting?

I had no parenting.
I parented myself.

That house you went to, that
was my father's real child,

and I swore I would never
let that happen to my son.

I'm a tough woman,
and I'm a tough mother

because I want what's
best for Martin,

because my career

wasn't the most important
thing in my life.

He was.

He needed me.

Maybe when he was little, but
you never let him grow up.

He wasn't ready.

Is that what you tell yourself?

No, Connie, you see,

you needed him,
and you used him.

He loves me, and I love him.

That's not love.

That's not mothering.

That's narcissism.

OK, that's enough.

I know that your
husband wasn't perfect,

and misguided as it was,

he did what he
thought was right.

But now, he's
putting Martin first.

That's love, Connie.

That's love.

We just made a deal.

Connie took a plea
to manslaughter.

She didn't want Martin to
have to get on the stand

and testify against her.

No, she knew if she was
found guilty at trial

that she'd do
double the sentence.

Oh, spoken like
a true pessimist.

I'm not a pessimist.

I'm a realist, and I just
know how sociopaths work.

Connie Parish has a...

Has a pathology where a
personality should be.

Eh, neglect will do
that to you, huh?

What about Martin? The
guy's still a rapist.

Yeah, his father says
that he'll stick by him

as long as he confesses
to Mona's rape.

He's going to confess?
So he'll do time.

It's not a happy ending, but
it's an ending nonetheless.

Oh, look who's a pessimist now.

You headed home?

Yeah, you know, it's just
been one of those days.

The only sane way
to deal with it

is a nice glass of Cabernet.

I'm thinking more like
a hug from my son.

Good night, Benson.

Good night, Carisi.