Original subtitles

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.

I'm sleeping better.

And how are the feelings of detachment?

I'm sorry. Did you say something?

Last session, you talked about how easy it was for you

to disappear sometimes.

I think you compared it to a safe room inside of yourself.

It's a place that feels familiar.

From childhood?

I don't...

Have you filled that prescription

for antidepressants I gave you?

I'm not taking meds.

Okay.

How are your girls?

It hasn't been easy pretending like things are normal.

The goal is not normalcy or to adopt

a façade for our children.

The goal is to do the work.

And to do that, first, you need to show up.

I know I've missed a few appointments.

After on-the-job trauma, there's a protocol.

You miss appointments,

and I'll be forced to report it.

And if I report it, there's a good chance

you'll be removed from active duty.

Music's hottest young couple,

Nashville songbird Kelsey Jones

and pop bad boy Austin Boyer

have just hit 30 million followers

on their joint social media account.

And we've all been there every step of the way

since they first met backstage at Coachella.

And here they come right here.

Here they are, Austin and Kelsey!

Whoo!

Oh, wow, they are looking so great.

Looking like a vision in pink.

Kelsey, let me get an interview.

Kelsey, you look gorgeous as always.

You're a lucky man, Austin.

Aw.

Kelsey, two albums in two years.

What keeps you motivated?

Honestly, this guy right here.

The truth is, we inspire each other.

Sounds like the fans agree.

Hey, babe. Do you mind?

No, of course not.

I'm Max Carter, here on the red carpet

with Kelsey and Austin,

and we will see if Academy voters

agree with the fans.

You guys be good tonight, all right?

Listen to Gigi.

What time are you coming home?

You will be fast asleep by the time I get home, okay?

But what about the noise in our closet?

She thinks there's a monster.

Okay, monster's gone.

And trust me, it is not coming back.

Not with that monster spray.

You guys have nothing to worry about.

You girls are safe.

Don't worry about your mom. She's a hero.

And any monster that comes up against me in court,

guilty as charged.

And how about we bring home some fortune cookies?

Okay, I guess we decided on Chinese, huh?

Okay, be good, girls.

Thank you, Gigi.

♪ I'm on fire, on fire

♪ There's only reason to wait, and I made it through ♪

Baby, come on.

Hey, guys.

- Do this. Ah! - Hey.

Yo, come here.

- Come get next to me, girl. - All right.

- I love this lighting. - Let's do it. All right.

Okay.

- I like that one. - Baby, come on.

Get in the picture. Come on.

- Don't tell me what to do! - Ow!

And how about you put on some clothes next time?

Yo, fam, chill!

Screw you.

Little bitch!

You okay?

Yeah, I'm good.

Think you got room for gelato?

I know a place right up the block from here.

- Ooh. - Come on.

Austin! Ouch!

Let's go.

Austin! Ow!

Let me go.

I mean it.

Yo, you good?

You whack job. You want to go? Go.

You want to go?

Go.

Hey. Hey, hey, hey.

Excuse me, miss?

Excuse me, miss?

Hey, hey. Is everything okay?

I'm a police officer. Are you okay?

Oh, it's nothing.

My boyfriend and I just got in a fight.

Drama in the limo?

Yeah.

He ripped your dress.

Oh, yeah, he just... He got a little drunk.

Was it... is there somebody that we can call for you?

Uh, I can call an Uber.

Why don't you let us give you a ride?

I don't really want to impose.

Nah, it's not a problem.

- The car's right there. Come on. - Yeah.

Austin again.

Give it a rest, dude.

It might be a good idea for both of you to cool off.

This is what we do.

We fight, make up.

It's our foreplay.

Austin calls it "five play."

Sorry to involve you.

- Yeah, it's not a problem. - Here.

Give us a call any time if you need help.

Hey, Amanda. You did everything you could.

Why does it not feel like enough?

A greasy taco bag.

Thank you, Fin. I already had breakfast.

Your little rescue left this in my car.

Who, Muncy?

She's a millennial.

They're all entitled.

Well, she should feel entitled

to getting my car detailed and filling it up with gas.

You're the sergeant, Fin. Straighten her out.

Me?

You're the one that wanted her here.

And I want her to stay, so I can't piss her off.

Door is closed. What do you think

they're talking about?

Well, judging by the takeout bag...

Tell me you at least gassed up the car.

What the hell is Kelsey Jones doing here?

You listen to that crap?

She sang the national anthem at the Jets game.

Kelsey.

- Hey. - Hey.

I didn't think you knew who I was.

Yeah, I didn't want to bring it up last night,

but yeah, my daughter is a huge fan.

Are you okay?

I think...

I think I need to talk to someone.

Kelsey, this is my captain.

I explained your situation.

Hey.

I appreciate you listening to me.

I... I don't want to cause any trouble.

Oh, we're here to help.

So Detective Rollins tells me that your boyfriend

may have assaulted you.

Yeah, last night.

Okay, you want to tell me what happened?

He grabbed me, pulled me into his lap

in the back of the limo.

He ripped my dress in front of his friends.

I mean, then, we got home, he wanted to have sex.

I said no.

Well, then, he couldn't get it up,

and he had so much rage.

And he threw me on the bed, and I was...

I was really scared.

And then he passed out. So.

I... I don't know, I guess he didn't really do anything.

Well, from what you described,

if he touched you in a way

that you didn't want to be touched, that...

That is a crime.

I don't want him to go to jail.

I just... I don't want him to do it again.

So how about we can investigate,

and then you can decide later whether or not

you want to file a police report?

I'm done covering for him.

You know, maybe it's best that you don't go home tonight.

Is there somebody else that you can stay with?

I can call my mom.

If I tell her I'll take her shopping,

she'd probably be on the next flight.

Well, in the meantime, maybe stay at a hotel.

Okay.

- Okay. - I'm sorry.

I think some paparazzi followed me here.

Is there a back exit?

Yeah, of course.

Yeah, I drove Kelsey and Austin last night.

What, she called the cops on him?

Yeah, any reason she might have done that?

Well, she says she was assaulted in your limo,

so that kind of makes you a witness.

I don't want to get involved.

So they did get in a fight?

Look, they might be in their late 20s on the outside,

but inside, they're just kids who

can't handle their emotions.

And you add in money, fame, constant validation...

Right. We get that.

So what happened?

All I want to say, they need a timeout.

Excuse me.

Kelsey, call me back now.

Look, this is between me and Kelsey.

Well, actually, it's between us and Kelsey.

But I do want to hear your side of it.

Whatever she told you is a lie.

So her dress just ripped itself?

She threw a champagne bottle at me.

I could have lost an eye.

Was that before or after you threw her down on the bed?

You think this is funny, Mr. Boyer?

SVU takes these kinds of allegations very seriously.

You know who else is gonna take this seriously?

My lawyer.

These "he said, she said" celebrity cases,

they're difficult to prosecute.

He's gonna hire the best attorney that money can buy.

So we don't even try?

She's a victim.

Rollins, nobody's saying that she wasn't victimized.

All I'm saying is, he's claiming he's a victim, too.

This is gonna come down to a popularity contest

just to get a jury to convict.

But it is doable, as long as Kelsey's on board to testify.

Rollins, have you heard from her?

Rollins?

Have you heard from our Nashville songbird?

No, I'll give her a call.

Kelsey is a big star now, but she is a small-town girl.

She grew up in a trailer park in Kentucky.

You add to that a legacy of domestic violence...

Well, what I learned on social media today, Austin,

he didn't have it easy, either, you know?

Father was an alcoholic. His mother's in jail.

I mean, it makes sense that his love language is turmoil.

Opposites attract. Dysfunction attracts harder.

- You see this? - And in entertainment news,

Austin Boyer and Kelsey Jones just made an announcement.

Austin bought her off with a proposal.

And a tough case just got impossible.

Oh, my God.

Hey. What's going on, you guys?

What... what... What's the matter?

Billie's right. There is a monster.

No.

Mommy, why do you have a gun?

Mommy, you're scaring us!

It's okay, girls.

Mommy, is it gone?

Amanda.

Mommy, stop.

It's gorgeous, isn't it?

It's... it's big.

That's for sure.

Austin and I talked.

I definitely do not want to pursue charges.

He's using this engagement as a sick attempt

to distort your reality.

It looks like it's working.

Every song on my last album is about Austin.

How am I supposed to perform those songs

- if I have him arrested? - So this is about your career?

Austin and I are in love.

And he's... he's working on his anger.

Well, next time...

There's not gonna be a next time.

Kelsey, we're just asking you to...

To think about it, okay?

Take that in.

Oh, my little songbird is supposed to be on vocal rest.

Whoo, she always says that when she wants me to shut up.

Hi. I'm Lilah.

I'm Kelsey's mother.

Would you ladies like some wine?

Mom, they are police officers.

Well, I know that. I'm just trying to be polite.

Oh, we're good. Thank you.

Suit yourselves.

Kelsey's my everything.

Did you even see her ring?

Bro, that rock is sick.

No doubt.

Yeah, that's got to be, what, a five-carat apology?

She always this cynical about love?

Only when it's fake.

Everything's gonna be perfect between us.

Once her mom leaves.

By the way, thanks to whichever one of you

told Kelsey to call that bitch.

Don't get me wrong.

I do not think that Austin is healthy for my little Kelsey,

but mama lion is here now.

We appreciate your concern, Mrs. Jones.

You should know, this kind of course of control,

it doesn't have an endpoint.

Victims have a hard time seeing the abuse.

Austin and I are talking about making

- an album together. - Baby, vocal rest.

Kelsey...

We want you to know that we're here for you.

And if you need help, we're here,

or if you change your mind about pressing charges,

you call us any time.

Mom's a piece of work.

That kid should be in therapy, not forced into silence.

A lot of crooked branches on the family tree.

I ought to know.

Speaking of which, how are the girls handling everything?

Why? What did Carisi tell you?

Nothing.

That guy is either plain stupid, or he's in denial.

Yeah, he did offer tickets to his tour.

Right, yeah.

I'd rather pass a kidney stone through my ears.

You two good?

Yeah, all good.

Ah, so the diva doesn't want to throw

her boyfriend in jail, huh?

Ah, as of right now, no, she doesn't want to pursue.

Yeah, I'm not surprised after I saw that rock.

Hey, Muncy, there are no perfect victims.

There are no perfect investigators.

Oh, believe me. I know I'm far from perfect.

Look, I realize that it wasn't your choice to be here.

Are you having second thoughts?

Not yet.

You won't.

I like your confidence.

And if you are planning on sticking around,

you might want to invest in a... in a blazer.

I'm going to speak to Muncy.

You know, I would actually hold off for now.

I just gave her a little bit of wardrobe advice,

and I don't want to overload her.

Captain, I'm sorry to interrupt.

Austin Boyer is here to see you.

Go ahead and have a seat.

Thank you for meeting me, Captain.

I just want to assure you that what happened between me

and Kelsey won't happen again.

Okay.

Well, I'm glad to hear that.

And my lawyer says the charges

still haven't been dropped.

Why you're really here.

Can you blame a guy for trying?

I want to do the right thing.

And I appreciate that, Austin,

but it's not up to you, or Kelsey, or me.

It's up to the DA now.

I went to my first meeting today.

I want to get sober.

You know, we all have choices to make.

And the kind of change that you're talking about,

real change, Austin, has less to do

with what you put in the glass and more

to do with emotional maturity.

Now, I'm guessing that you didn't have

the greatest role models growing up.

My advice to you is whatever it is

that you were taught about being a man,

do the opposite.

Let me guess, Austin was here doing damage control?

You know, I think that he actually wants to heal.

Well, if he figures that out, I'll buy his self-help book.

Detective Rollins.

Whoa.

Lilah, slow down.

- Take it easy, Mrs. Jones. - No one's listening to me.

I'm telling you. He hurt my baby.

She called me crying. I came right over.

She wants to cause trouble again.

It's what she does.

Stay out of our business!

Hey, what... what happened?

You need to be locked up!

You're the one that needs to be locked up,

you psycho-ass, bipolar bitch!

Stop calling me that!

Whoa, whoa, hey!

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!

Okay, both of you are coming with us.

- What? I'm under arrest? - You want to be?

Go ahead. Take her away.

She's not exactly going alone, cowboy.

Come on.

Austin and I got into a fight at the restaurant.

It was my mother's fault.

Tell us what happened.

Austin thought that I took my mother's side,

and so he left the restaurant angry.

And by the time we got home,

it was a full-blown war.

A physical one?

He got what he wanted this time.

I... I tried to fight him off.

I said no.

Austin raped me.

Austin was flirting with that waitress,

and Kelsey was just pretending that she didn't mind.

But you did.

I minded for her.

Sometimes diamonds just make a girl go blind.

Her mother called me a pathetic little prick,

loudly, in front of everyone.

Did she have a reason?

Yeah, I was being nice to the waitress.

The girl's a fan. Is that a crime?

Well, how about when you and Kelsey got home?

Austin kept calling my mother names.

And he was going at her.

He was pretty drunk.

To be fair, I had some drinks too.

Well, that... That doesn't matter.

So how did it escalate?

We both were pretty turned on.

Things got kind of rough.

That would cause the bruises?

Part of our foreplay, dial it up a notch.

We fight, tear each other's clothes off, have hot sex.

Oh, so you did have sex?

Did he do or say anything afterwards?

He just got up,

went to the balcony for a smoke.

Like nothing was wrong.

Austin's lawyer is here.

I'm assuming you've Mirandized my client.

We did.

He said he wanted to explain what happened.

Austin, not another word.

He admitted to rough sex.

And Kelsey insists it was not consensual.

Rollins took her to get a rape kit.

Mother confirms her story.

And we're sure Kelsey is not gonna backtrack again?

Well, let's say that she doesn't.

Do we have enough?

Admission from him, victim's word, outcry witness?

Yeah, arrest him.

In the meantime, wish me luck.

The DA's office is already getting calls.

Oh, the paparazzi took a photo of Austin

in the back of the squad car.

Charges of rape one, sexual assault one, and rape three.

How do you plead?

Not guilty, Your Honor.

The people on bail?

100,000 and the defendant surrenders his passport.

My client isn't a flight risk.

He's a highly recognizable public figure

who couldn't hide if he tries

and only wants to prove his innocence.

We also request no photography, Your Honor.

Freedom of the press.

I'm aware of the law.

Details of this case have already gone viral.

Mr. Boyer has over 40 million followers online.

The complainant has almost as many.

I'm warning both parties to stay off social media,

but I can't ban the press.

Bail is set at 100,000.

Passport surrendered.

Mr. Carisi, I'm Austin's father.

How can I help you?

Austin's not guilty of what you're charging him with.

He's a drunk.

That's all.

It's a curse he gets from me.

People wind up in this court because of their choices,

Mr. Boyer, not their excuses.

Austin, did you do this?

My client intends to prove his innocence in court.

Austin, what do you say to your fans?

Thank you for your support, and trust me.

The truth will come out.

The circus begins.

How's... how's Kelsey doing?

Benson and I convinced her and her media consultant

- not to go on the offensive. - That's great.

That's great. I'll see you at home?

Uh. Uh.

The girls are still with my mom.

You mind if I wait?

It's... it's gonna be late.

I'm prepping for trial.

I don't want to be alone right now.

Of course.

But I'm gonna bore the hell out of you within a half hour.

Boring sounds really good.

It's about all I can handle right now.

Kelsey called me at my hotel.

She could barely talk, she was crying so hard.

And I immediately jumped into a cab.

And when you got to the apartment, what did you see?

Kelsey was in the bedroom,

and Austin was drunk, angry.

And my little girl told me that he had sexually assaulted her.

The room was a wreck.

Kelsey's bruises, her nightgown...

I just knew.

Thank you.

Mrs. Jones, has your daughter ever told you something

you don't believe?

Defense exhibit A, a police report filed in 2015

in Maysville, Kentucky.

Can you contextualize that for the jury?

Kelsey called the cops on my boyfriend

at the time, Dennis... Bruce.

Alleging?

That he molested her.

It was a... it was a misunderstanding.

She was 17 years old, and she was angry at me

for not going to LA with her

to audition for some teen soap.

So you didn't believe her?

Of course not. I read it in her journal.

That thing was full of lies.

- Objection. - Sustained.

She would write made-up stories in that journal

all the time just to mess with me because

she knew I was snooping.

Your Honor.

Sustained. Jury will disregard.

Nothing further.

Kelsey, are you lying about Austin?

- What? What do they mean? - Back up.

Why does everybody suddenly hate me?

Not another word to the press.

Not another word.

Baby, they made me say those things in there.

What things?

Focus on your testimony.

Austin and I were together for three years.

We connected through music.

You got engaged, but then you broke it off.

Why was that?

Our relationship had always been turbulent,

but recently, things got worse.

He was verbally and physically abusive,

and I admit, I was too.

What about the night in question?

Well, we got in a fight at dinner.

And when we got home,

I was too angry to have sex.

And he physically overpowered and raped me.

My mother called the police.

Now you had been to the police before

with a complaint against the defendant.

Yes, he assaulted me in a limo.

But you decided not to cooperate.

Why?

I thought he would change.

Thank you.

So it's safe to say you changed your mind

about the prior alleged assault?

Yes.

The night he gave you a ring?

That had nothing to do with it.

The timing was convenient.

What will it take to change your mind this time?

Six carats, seven?

- Objection. - I just wanted his love.

- You're a liar! - Your Honor.

You're a liar!

- Why are you lying? - I did love him.

Why are you lying about Austin?

- I do love him. - Bailiff, get her out of here.

- Bailiff. - He would never hurt you.

- What is wrong with you? - Bailiff!

Why are you trying to hurt him?

Court's in recess.

That's her!

She had Austin arrested.

What is wrong with you?

Why are you lying about him, huh?

Why are you taking her side?

Why are you lying about Austin?

What did he ever do to you?

Austin would never hurt anybody.

He wouldn't hurt a fly.

What's wrong with you, huh?

Why are you lying about him?

Your Honor, I'm asking that we try this case

in a courtroom and not on social media.

My client is also a public figure.

Your client's supporters showed up wearing red pants.

Liar, liar, pants on fire? This is ridiculous.

Mr. Carisi feels their

wardrobe choices are tainting the jury.

If that's the case, Your Honor, we move for a mistrial.

I'm not granting a mistrial,

and I can't close the courtroom.

But I can ban misbehaving individuals,

including ones wearing red pants.

We both know it's not the cameras.

This never should have gone to trial.

Then tell your client to take a deal.

These TikTok trolls, they're raking up

millions of likes off of smearing me.

- Maybe stay off your phone. - So Carisi got the judge

to keep the fans out of the courtroom.

It doesn't matter. My career is already ruined.

You know, you need to toughen up.

Detective Rollins.

Can you give us a minute?

My son, Austin, always had an addiction problem...

Drinking, drugs, women.

He forgot to add media attention.

He's not helping his son's case at all.

Yeah, Austin! Yeah!

Austin, we're on your side!

I guess we all have our issues.

Speaking of which, Amanda.

Yeah. Don't worry.

I'm driving her to therapy from now on.

Okay.

I'll wait outside if I have to.

That's real love.

Yeah, it's mostly about running errands.

Should she be here?

She asked if she could come to the courtroom

for Austin's testimony.

I told her, not a great idea, but I couldn't stop her.

Couldn't or didn't want to?

I'm the first to admit that our relationship

has been unmanageable...

Verbal abuse.

It's gotten physical on both sides.

But I did not sexually assault Kelsey.

I never have, and I never would.

Thank you, Austin.

Mr. Boyer, that night at the restaurant,

you and Kelsey got into a fight?

Yes.

And that fight continued when you got home?

Yes, I've said all that.

You smacked her around a little bit.

Objection.

It's the defendant's own words, Your Honor.

I'll allow.

Yeah, it got physical.

You pushed her against the wall.

- Yeah. - You threw her on the bed.

It's what we do.

Yeah, it's what you call "five play," right?

The jury's seen photos of the bruises.

Yeah, okay.

Was tearing her nightgown a part of that?

Yes, by accident.

And when you forced yourself on her sexually...

She's my fiancée.

So what?

That means she can't say no?

You held her down.

You ripped off her nightgown. She was pinned.

Does that not sound like the definition of rape to you?

I know how it sounds, but context matters.

Oh, so your father was wrong then, huh?

- You're nothing like him? - That's right.

A man who drank, who beat your mother.

That's a family pattern that provides

a context all its own.

Maybe you don't know what normal is.

Objection.

I am not my father.

Kelsey, I never meant to hurt you.

I swear to God.

You want me to say it out loud?

I was controlling, I lost my temper.

I attacked you.

I'm sorry.

There, I said it. I'm sorry.

More than my father ever gave me.

No further questions.

He said he was sorry, and you saw him.

He really meant it.

I'm sure that he does.

Look, I want this over with, okay?

I want my life to go back to normal.

The DA can't just drop the charges.

And his lawyer won't take a deal.

Kelsey, he sexually assaulted you.

Now, whether or not you choose to forgive him,

that is up to you, right?

Every survivor heals differently.

But what happens to Austin, that's up to a jury now.

This is a classic case of "he said, she said,"

and the "she" has a history of lying,

a history of confabulating accusations about men.

My client isn't perfect, by any means.

He may be guilty of certain things,

but not the crime he's been accused of,

despite what he said on the stand

in an emotional attempt to win Kelsey Jones back.

Make no mistake.

What you witnessed here in this courtroom

are two people who have suffered

grievous and unbearable childhood trauma.

But you also witnessed Austin Boyer confess on the stand.

Yeah, he needs help.

And I sincerely hope he gets the help that he needs...

In prison.

Because past demons and claims of love

are not, and never will be, an excuse for sexual assault.

Okay, thank you.

- Yeah. - Hey, you got a minute?

Of course.

What's up?

I know I've been a bit off my game lately.

Well, for what it's worth, Rollins, at the end of the day,

you off your game is ten times better

than most detectives on theirs.

I pulled my gun in Jesse and Billie's room the other night.

They were right there.

I... I was...

I was pointing at a monster in their closet.

Did you get him?

Not yet, but I will.

Good.

Has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

On the charge of rape in the first degree,

we find the defendant not guilty.

Sexual assault in the first, not guilty.

Rape in the third degree, we find the defendant guilty.

Okay. It's okay. Go ahead.

The jury did not find Austin Boyer guilty

of the two more serious charges of sexual assault,

splitting the baby with a guilty verdict on the charge

of rape in the third degree, a felony,

which will also land the superstar entertainer

on the National Sex Registry.

You proud of yourself?

Step back.

How you doing?

What's gonna happen to Austin?

Well, that's up to the judge.

He'll either do prison time or probation

if he agrees to abide by certain conditions...

Anger management, rehab.

And what do I do?

How am I supposed to tour?

How am I supposed to sing those songs?

Those songs were all about our love.

Kelsey, what you two had, that wasn't love.

And you're gonna write new songs.

You know, you might want to try

to be alone for a while.

You need to learn to love yourself

before you can love anyone else.

Just so you know, we're planning to appeal.

That's your right.

I can recommend leniency from the judge,

as long as your client sticks to his commitment.

I'll do the prison time.

I just want this to be over.

We don't always get what we want.

We're appealing.

Do you think Kelsey will take me back

if I do anger management, all of that?

Son.

It's over.

And I don't know who you've been taking

your romantic advice from, but I would seriously consider

losing them from your life.

I never thought

I was capable of having

a healthy relationship.

And now that I have one...

You're afraid you're gonna mess it all up.

I'm afraid that I already have.

Really, you haven't.

Are you sure?

Look...

Everybody's got monsters in their closet.

The question is...

What do you want to do about it?

I want to evict the little bastard.

It's gonna be okay.

Sure.