All language subtitles for Law.Order.Special.Victims.Unit.S18E16.The.Newsroom.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H265-SiGMA_track3_[eng]

- 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.

[dramatic tones]

- We're 45 seconds out to air.

Hair and makeup,
you have 15seconds.

- Camera two, ready.

- 30 seconds to air.

- Thanks for being here, Olivia.

I feel like I haven't
seen you in forever.

How are you?
- I know. I'm good.

Just, you know,
a little nervous right now.

- Oh, don't be.
You're a pro.

- What are we waiting for,
the damn actress?

- There she is.
- My fault.

I'm such a fan of Ms. Delucci,

I practically kidnapped her.
- Not a problem.

We're ready when you are,
Mr. Coyle.

- Places.
Ten seconds.

- [chuckles]
- Hi. Good morning.

- Hi.
- Please have a seat.

- We ready, people?
- Good morning.

- In five, four...

- Good morning
from New York City.

I'm Heidi Sorenson.
- And I'm George Thanos.

Thank you for joining us
on "HNT Morning Live."

- Also joining us today,
Golden Globe winner

Davina Delucci
and Manhattan SVU's Lieutenant

Olivia Benson.
- If you were paying attention

to the recent news cycle,
you couldn't miss

the controversy surrounding
the 2007 film, "Turnstyle."

- Davina Delucci has alleged
she was raped, on camera,

by her co-star, while filming
the movie's infamous sex scene.

Davina is pursuing legal action.

We'll hear her story,
but first,

Lieutenant Benson,
what can you tell us

about workplace sexual assault?
- Well, it happens

all too often,
and unfortunately,

it's one of
the least reported crimes.

- Why is that?
- Women are afraid of

not being believed,
of losing their job.

- Does this ring true
for you, Davina?

You waited almost ten years
to go public.

- Yes, I was scared
if I said anything

I'd never work again.
- And your rapist--

alleged rapist,
Dante Marino,

was not only your co-star,
he was your director.

- That's right.
- Can you tell us

what happened on the set?
- We were scheduled to film

the love scene later that day.

Dante told me the scene
was being re-written.

- Re-written how?
- He didn't go into detail.

He just told me to...

respond in the moment
organically.

- And what happened
while filming?

- We were on a couch.
Kissing.

Then Dante got aggressive.

Before I knew
what was happening,

he was raping me.

I couldn't fight him off.

I was frozen.

- You couldn't move.

- That's right.

For ten years audiences thought
they were watching a love scene,

but they were watching a rape.

My rape.

And I was too afraid
to say anything.

- So, you pretended
like nothing happened.

- Yes.

He was my director.
My boss.

- And you were afraid
for your job.

- Yes.

- I can't imagine
what you were going through.

- Of course you can't, George.
It never happened to you.

- A very, um...

um...disturbing story.

Thank you, Davina.
Uh, Lieutenant Benson.

We'll be back after the break
with our special guest

Karl Rove.

- And we're out.
- Excuse me.

- Hey, you okay?
What just happened?

- Harold Coyle raped me
in January,

on the couch in his office.
- Let's get you some air.

- No, no, I'm fine.
I'm just--I'm tired.

- Okay, I think we need
to speak.

- What I said,
I didn't mean any of it.

I'm fine. Sorry.
- Heidi...

[dramatic music]

♪

♪

♪

- I can't imagine
what you were going through.

- Of course you can't, George,
it never happened to you.

- You all saw that, right?

- On-air disclosure?
- We were watching you live.

They couldn't cut away
fast enough.

- Yeah, and then she told me

that Harold Coyle raped her.
- Coyle, huh?

Heard a lot of rumors
about that guy.

He's paranoid, he's a predator.
- How well do you know Heidi?

- We met at a "Women in New
York" panel years ago.

We stayed in touch.
I don't see her making this up.

- Okay, did she give you
any more details?

- Oh, no, she back-tracked.

She's now not returning
my calls.

- So, what's our move now?
- Excuse me, Lieutenant?

This guy says urgent.

- Hi.
How can I help you?

- I saw you on "HNT"
this morning.

Heidi Sorenson,
she was talking about

Harold Coyle, wasn't she?
- Why do you ask?

- He assaulted my wife.

This is her, Amy.

She worked in public relations
at "HNT."

- Okay.
- Okay, can you tell us

what happened?

- Harold was always
making moves,

being flirty.
She told him she was married.

- But he didn't stop.
- No.

He kept pressuring her,
making sexual comments.

She went along with it.

Then one day,
she said "no" to him.

And he...raped her.

- She told you this?
- Yes.

I said we should
go to the police.

File a report.

- Can I ask why you didn't?

- She told me Harold had
taped her.

He had made it look like
they were having an affair.

Then after he raped her,
he said,

if she went to the police,
he'd release the tapes.

She didn't want to hurt me.

After that...

she went into a depression.

She committed suicide
six months later.

- I'm so sorry.

- I want you to go after
that bastard and the network.

They all knew about him
and nobody did a thing.

- Coyle threatened her directly?

- His producer, Turner.

He said, if Amy wanted
to go after Coyle,

it would be scorched earth.
"HNT" would destroy us.

- Steven Turner? SVU.
- If you're here about Heidi,

your Lieutenant already knows,
there's nothing to talk about,

and I'm sorry,
but I'm late for a meeting.

- Actually, we're here
about Amy James.

- Amy James.
- Yeah, she worked here

a few years ago.
She killed herself.

- I did hear about that.
A tragedy.

- Yeah, did you also hear she
accused Harold Coyle of assault,

just like Heidi?

- Maybe you should talk
to our lawyers.

- Good.
We can ask them to turn over

the video tapes of Amy.

The tapes Coyle
was blackmailing her with.

- I think you're off base here.

- We have two allegations
of assault.

Now, a publicist
who's mentally unstable,

she's easy to discredit,

but the star of the network,
not so much.

- Harold, Harold, Harold, what
can you tell us about Heidi?

Will she be back tomorrow?
- We hope so.

This morning Heidi was
obviously very emotional

after hearing Davina's story.
Why we love her here.

- Margery,
what's next for you at "HNT"?

- I hope to follow
in Heidi's footsteps.

She's a real talent,
a dedicated journalist.

I consider her a mentor.
- Mr. Coyle, what can you--

- The real reason Heidi
had her "breakdown"?

She was trying to
renegotiate her contract.

Then she found out
Margery Evans is being groomed

to replace her.
- "Groomed"?

By who? Harold Coyle?

- This is a brutal business
for women.

There's a shelf life.

No matter how much
plastic surgery they get.

[camera shutters clicking]

[dramatic tones]

[doorbell rings]

- I told you
I didn't want to talk.

- Heidi, please.
It's important.

- [sighs]

- Is it true that
you're re-negotiating

your contract with "HNT"?
- I'm exploring my options.

- Is that why you
don't wanna tell me the truth

about what happened
this morning?

- I should never have said
his name out loud like that.

- Why?
Because it isn't true?

Or because you're scared
of getting fired?

Okay,
let's say it is true.

- I'm not ruining my career
because I had a weak moment.

I fixed it.

I apologized
to Harold personally.

He knows it won't happen again.

- Did you know Amy James?

- She had...problems.

- He had tape on her.

Does he have tape on you?
- No!

- We can fight this.

- Don't judge me.

And don't worry.
I'm not going to kill myself.

- All right.
Well, when you're ready

to have a serious conversation,

you know where I am.

- Uh, Lieutenant,
Chief Dodds is here.

- Lieutenant. Counselor.
- Chief.

It's been a while.
- 1PP got a call

from Steven Turner at "HNT."

You're investigating Harold
Coyle on assault charges?

- It's very preliminary.

- Who's the complainant?

- It's really
very preliminary.

- Okay.
That's what Turner said.

Your detectives
are basically throwing

spaghetti at the wall.
- All due respect,

I hope you're not advising
we stay away from "HNT"?

- Of course not.
A powerful, bombastic

news organization
with a penchant for suing

law enforcement,
who go after enemies on Twitter,

and who have friends in
the current administration--

- I hear ya.
- If you have reason to believe

there are individuals
in such organizations

that may be guilty
of sexual assault,

of course you have
to investigate it.

Just have a damn good reason.

- I hear you, Chief.

- I'll leave
you two to it.

- So, happy
to be back at work yet?

- After that?
Almost makes me miss suspension.

- Good night, Noah.

- Another story.
- Aw, sweetie, no more stories.

We gotta go to bed.
It's so late.

Okay?
Close your eyes, sweet one.

All right,
see you in the morning.

See you in the morning.

Night night.
Love you.

[knocking at door]

- I'm sorry to bother you
at home.

- It's okay.
Please, come on in.

- [sighs]
- What's going on?

- They are replacing me
with Margery Evans.

Officially,
I'm "on vacation."

- I see.
- You were right.

When I went to apologize
to Harold,

he forced me onto my knees,
and he said I had to

show him
how serious I was.

I actually thought
that would work,

that I'd get my job back.

He screwed me in private,
that's one thing,

but he just screwed me
in public.

- And you're ready
to go after Coyle now?

- I know what it looks like.

That I'm doing this
because I got fired,

but that's not the reason.
- Oh, I believe you.

Let's get this guy.

- It started day one,
my job interview.

Coyle said to me,
"Oh, you're beautiful,

"you're bright,
you could be a star.

"But I interviewed
five other women today,

"that are just as qualified
and I'm going to hire

whoever shows me
she wants it the most."

- And then what happened?

- He put his hand
inside my blouse.

Uh, and his tongue in my mouth.

I was shocked, frozen.

But I didn't
run out of the room

and I got the job.
- And the behavior continued?

- Yeah.
Touching...

Kissing, groping.

He would demand that I wear...

lacy panties,

thigh-high stockings.

Before I went on the air,
I'd have to give him

a private fashion show
and pretend to seduce him,

and he would tape me.

- How long did this go on?
- Years.

And I didn't think
things could get any worse,

until January they did.
- Okay.

Tell us about that.

- The ratings were high
and my contract was up

and I told Coyle, if he
wanted me to stay at "HNT,"

I wanted a promotion.

He--

He locked the door,

threw me onto a couch,

pulled up my skirt...

and he raped me.

I fought him...

but I couldn't get away.

He said if I complained,
he'd release the tapes

that he had or worse.

And that if I wasn't happy
at the morning show,

he'd hire Margery Evans.

- So you didn't report it.

- [crying]
No.

I straightened myself up,

walked out,
and I went back to work.

Like a good girl.

Like a good, stupid girl.

- Did you confide in anyone?

- The irony is, Margery was
the one person I told.

I was trying to warn her.

- Thank you for
talking to us, Ms. Evans.

- Of course. I hope you don't
mind, I asked my lawyer to join.

I'm a little nervous.

- Margery wants to cooperate,
but, um,

we need
to protect ourselves here.

- Okay,
but she's not a suspect.

- No, of course not.

- You said you had questions
about Heidi?

- Yeah.

How would you describe
your relationship?

- I consider her a friend.

- What about her relationship
with Harold Coyle?

- It's very good.

They've had their
dust ups, on occasion.

- Has Heidi ever talked
to you about how

Coyle treated her?
- I don't know what you mean.

- Well, she told us that

she confided in you

that she'd been assaulted
by him.

- I don't remember that.

- She never told you about being

sexually harassed by Coyle?

She never warned you
about Coyle?

- Never.

Is that what
she's telling the police?

- Uh, yes.
- Harold is like a father

to all of us.

- If that's all, Detectives,
I think that constitutes

full cooperation.

- I don't know why Heidi
would say something like that.

- You think any woman
would go public

and subject herself
to that kind of

public scrutiny
if it weren't true?

- Well, I don't believe
it's true.

That's not the Harold Coyle
I know.

- Harold Coyle values three
things in a female anchor:

high cheekbones,
long legs,

and how willing she is
to get down on her knees.

- Yeah,
we've been getting that.

- He's a paranoid egomaniac,
who has intel on everyone.

Internal investigations
dead-ended.

- Including Amy James?
- It's a real shame about Amy.

- Did you know Coyle
was harassing her?

- Off the record?
I suspected.

- What about Heidi?
- I'm sure she's had

her fair share
of unwanted attention.

She's making
a criminal complaint

on the sexual harassment?
- No.

Actually, she's saying
that Coyle raped her.

- [groans]
Jeez.

So that's what
that was about yesterday.

- She says it happened
the morning of January 3rd.

You two did a show
that day?

- Yes. Yes, we did.
She didn't say anything to me.

- Did anything
about her demeanor

strike you as different?
Was she--was she upset?

- Well, yeah,
now that I think about it.

She's been off
the past few months.

Crying jags,
snapping at the crew.

I wasn't surprised
she melted down on camera.

- Would you be willing
to tell that to our ADA?

- I hate Coyle,

but my contract expires
in six months.

I get on his bad side,
it's not like I can

walk around his office
in my underwear

and make it all go away.

- Everybody at "HNT"
knows about Coyle,

but nobody's willing
to talk about it.

- Okay,
par for the course.

- I was hoping for at least
one corroborating witness.

- Well, we have Heidi's story

and once she came forward,
she's been consistent.

- What about texts?
E-mails to Coyle?

Any change after
the alleged assault?

- Well, there's no communication
saying, "Why did you rape me?"

And there's certainly nothing
from him to her.

- What about the timeline?

- She got to work at 6:00.

She was in with him
from 6:20 to 7:10.

- Behind closed doors
with no witnesses.

- Somebody else was there.
Coyle.

Look, I think it's time for us
to get his side of the story.

- With no evidence
for leverage?

- He doesn't know that.

And he's notoriously paranoid.

- Okay, we'll talk to him.

Together.

- You don't think that I can
handle it alone?

- I do,
but I want him to know

how seriously NYPD
is taking this.

[dramatic tones]

Well,
thanks for seeing us today.

- Of course.

My attorney,
Richard Pace.

- Chief Dodds,
Lieutenant Benson.

- So why are we all here?

- Well, we'd like to talk
to your client

about Heidi Sorenson.

- A wonderful talent.

She's been under
a lot of stress lately.

- Can you tell us about
your relationship with her?

- It's very good.
Mutual respect, appreciation.

- Appreciation, I get that.
She's very attractive.

- Yes, she is.

- Have you two ever been
in your office alone together?

- Of course.
Yes.

- Okay, how about on
January 3rd?

Were you alone together then?
- It's possible.

I'd have to ask my secretary.

Why?
- Heidi Sorenson is alleging

that you raped her
on that morning.

- Well,
I'm shocked to hear that.

I'm--I'm stunned.

- Is that a denial?
- Absolutely.

- I can assure you,
these allegations are credible.

- And I can assure you,
there's no merit to the story.

- Oh, I don't see
the upside of her

making something like that up.

- She's aging out of the demo.

She's obviously looking
to leverage us.

- She hasn't hired
a civil attorney.

She came directly to me.

- When did she come to you?

After she found out
she was being replaced

by Margery Evans?

- We just wanna hear
your side.

To know what
we're looking at here.

- Any sexual assault claims
are baseless,

more than false,
and from where I sit,

defamatory.
- Are you threatening to sue us?

- I just want to remind you

that this organization
is in the business

of uncovering and exposing...

the truth.
- The truth?

[chuckles]
That's a matter of opinion.

- The point is...

if there's anything to find,
we'll find it.

Like who was responsible

for Sergeant Mike Dodds'
death.

And why
the internal investigation

was closed in less
than 24 hours.

- Okay.

We're done here.

- I think we can all agree
this meeting

has ceased to be productive.

- And I think we
know what we're looking at here.

Rest assured,
we will continue to investigate.

- Good.
So will we.

I know NYPD's year
hasn't been as disastrous

as say, Chicago's,
but I'm sure no one at 1PP

wants stories about
incompetence,

maybe corruption,
dominating the news cycle.

The thing about digging,

you never know what
you're going to find.

[chuckles]

- What he implied about
Mike's death...

- That's what they do
at this network,

stoke fear and paranoia.

I don't think
you're responsible.

I know a few months ago
I said some things--

things I didn't mean.

I should've apologized sooner.

- It's all right.
- No, it's not.

I'm your boss.
I was out of line.

The only thing I can say is...

the wound was still fresh.

- I know.

- And we don't give up
this fight.

You stop fighting,
the bullies win.

- I've always considered
Harold Coyle a mentor.

Almost a father figure.
I trust him implicitly.

- So you haven't experienced
the kind of harassment at "HNT"

that Heidi Sorenson
is alleging?

- Absolutely not.

And you know, Harold and I
have discussed this,

and I can tell you
he's incredibly hurt.

He's treated Heidi
with nothing but respect.

- Margery's a real pro.

Coyle knows what he's doing.
- We knew this could happen.

He's just playing hardball.

- So what happens now?
- If we want to take it

to court,
you need more for the jury.

So, Heidi, did you tell
anyone about the assault?

Send a text?
Send an e-mail?

- No. Margery was
the one person I confided in.

- Look, I know that you want
to go after Coyle,

criminally, but the fact is...
[cell phone chimes]

You might have more leverage
pursuing a civil case.

- This isn't about money.

- Do you know a Gwendolyn Gates?

- Yeah, she was an anchor
at "HNT" ten years ago.

- She's on her way
to our squad room.

She says that Harold Coyle
assaulted her, too.

- I turned on the TV,
saw Margery Evans

spouting
that inane defense of Harold.

I couldn't stay silent
any longer.

- Thanks for coming in.
- I should've known

it wasn't just me.

- Tell us what happened
with Coyle.

- You're gonna need
more paper.

- So "HNT" is doing our job
for us?

- The more audacity they have
with their denials,

the more it's back-firing.

- Liv, two more women
that worked for "HNT"

say they were harassed
by Harold Coyle.

- Well, now we're getting
somewhere.

- Get their statements.

- All right,
so we got four women,

all former "HNT" employees,
with credible stories

of harassment
going back 15 years.

- Okay, good.
What's the bad news?

- They're all allegations
of misdemeanor assault,

from over two years ago.

Outside of the statue
of limitations.

- Except for Heidi's rape
which is a he said, she said.

- And one allegation
of attempted rape.

Alana Reed, 20 years old.

She quit
right after the incident.

- Tell me she went to HR.
- No, but she was

George Thanos' assistant
and he already hates Coyle.

- [chuckles] And this gives him
one more reason.

- She was 20 years old
just like my daughter.

- Coyle is a bad guy, George.
- Why didn't Alana tell me?

- Maybe she thought
you wouldn't believe her.

Maybe she thought
you wouldn't back her up.

- Like Heidi.

- Heidi and I have been
behind a news desk,

in the foxhole,
for seven years.

Nobody has her back
more than I do.

- Then act like it.

Testify that you saw how upset
she was after the rape.

We need someone
to back up her story up.

- I want to, I do,
but I can't.

- George, you said
you had a daughter, right?

Well, she must've heard
about this on the news.

She hasn't ask you
what you know?

What you're doing about it?

- This is a Kamikaze
career move.

- This of it like this,
you'll go down as a hero.

[dramatic tones]

- On one count of first degree
rape of Heidi Sorenson,

how do you plead?
- Not guilty, Your Honor.

- People on bail?
- Given Mr. Coyle's

financial resources, including
an on-call private jet,

we believe he's a flight risk.
People ask for $10 million.

- My client has no priors,
and fully intends to show up

in court and defend himself
against these baseless charges.

- Bail is set at $2 million
and Mr. Coyle surrenders

his passport.

- I hope you know
what you're doing.

- It's good to see you,
Harold.

Good luck.

Careful what you wish for.

[both sigh]
- Now what?

- I file a motion to include
the testimony

of the four other victims.

The defense files a motion
to exclude.

- Okay, you know
the other women are pursuing

a civil case.
- I do.

I already asked
for the depositions.

Hope to hell the judge
agrees that they show pattern

or we're looking at
a he said, she said

with a man who has
no compunction about lying.

- My name is Alana Reed.

I was an employee of "HNT"

from January
to December of 2016.

- My name is Diane Douglas.
- Gwendolyn Gates.

- I'm Christine Davis.

- I had just started
at the network.

I was a cub reporter.
- I had just turned 25.

- It was four and a half
years ago.

I was a newlywed.
- I was only 19.

I was a production assistant
on "HNT Update."

- I was introduced to Coyle
at an awards dinner.

- He invited me to audition
for an opening in broadcasting.

- He pulled out some stockings
from his drawer,

asked me to put them on.
- Lifted my skirt,

slid his hand on my leg...

- Put a hand on my shoulder.

Eventually...

he tried to kiss me.

I didn't know what to do.

- At first it wasn't so bad.

He'd say, "Lift your skirt,
show me those legs."

- Later it escalated.
"Take off your blouse."

- Putting his...
tongue in my mouth.

- If I complained,
he'd remind me,

he had me on tape.
- He had a tape.

- I didn't feel like
I could tell anyone.

I mean,
he was the head of the network.

- I never even told my husband.
- I never told anyone.

- I--
[labored breathing]

I had to quit.
- I couldn't sleep or eat.

- [crying] I thought that
since I didn't leave the room...

I was complicit.
- That it was my fault.

That's why
I never came forward.

Until now.

- Gentlemen,
I've reviewed the depositions

at issue and am prepared
to hear arguments.

Mr. Barba?
- The statements,

which detail bad acts
by the defendant,

show one more example
of the crime he's charged with

is part of an on-going and
pervasive pattern of behavior.

- Defense objects.
These are unproven allegations

from years ago which were
never reported at the time.

The State had the opportunity
to bring them

as criminal charges,
but declined to do so.

- These women's statements
clearly show motive,

and the same MO,
in each case.

The jury needs to hear them
to understand

that the rape
that Coyle is charged with

is part of a broader pattern
of conduct.

- The only question before
the jury should be

the facts
of the specific charge.

Anything else would be extremely
prejudicial in this case.

- Mr. Barba,
while I find these statements

to be important evidence,
I agree with defense,

that in this case,
it would be more prejudicial

than probative.

People's motion is denied.
[gavel pounds]

- Thank you, Your Honor.
- Thank you, Your Honor.

Not the ruling
I was hoping for.

- So where does that leave us?
- With two witnesses.

Heidi Sorenson
and George Thanos.

- Is that enough
to go to trial?

- [scoffs] If I'm willing
to go out on a very high,

very shaky limb.

- I assume that's a yes?

- Damn right it is.

- He was my director.
My boss.

- And you were afraid
for your job.

- I can't imagine
what you were going through.

- Of course you can't, George,

'cause it never
happened to you.

- You were seated next to
Ms. Sorenson.

In your experience as an SVU,

Lieutenant,
what can you tell us?

- She was triggered.
She was traumatized.

In my opinion,
she exhibited symptoms

of a victim of sexual assault.

- But when you tried
to follow up,

she refused to speak to you?

- No, she had
an emotional reaction

and then she backed down
which is not uncommon.

- Two days later,
she did disclose that

Harold Coyle had assaulted her?
- Yes.

- Thank you.
Nothing further.

- That was well-timed.

A "spontaneous" disclosure
of assault

when the SVU Lieutenant
was in the studio.

- And I believed her.
- Oh, I'm sure.

It's your experience
to believe most victims

at first disclosure, isn't it?
- Yes.

- Heidi initially
reversed herself,

saying she didn't mean
what she said?

- Yes, but that's--
- She didn't want to take

your calls so you decide
to pay her a personal visit.

At that point, did she
repeat her allegations

or deny them?
- At that time she did not

want to cooperate.
- In fact, she only decided

she wanted to cooperate
when she found out

she was being let go
from "HNT" correct?

- I do not think that her
motivation was financial then

and I do not think
it's financial now.

- Really? She was losing
a $12 million-a-year job.

But, as you said,
you're a believer, Lieutenant.

- Is there a question here,
Your Honor?

- Mr. Pace?
- No, nothing further.

- Harold Coyle fondled
my breasts,

and put his tongue in my mouth,
during my job interview.

It escalated from there.

At dinner the night
before I started at "HNT,"

he tried to convince me

to have sex and I declined.

- How did he respond?

- He said
he controlled my career

and that no one said no
to the boss

and he was gonna have to
fix that.

- How did he "fix" it?

- He forced me to dance
provocatively in lingerie.

I would have to touch myself
while being taped.

- Why did you go along with it?

- There was always
the underlying threat

of being fired
and he'd--

he--he--he tortured me
psychologically.

I-I felt trapped.

- What happened on the morning
of January 3rd this year?

- I went into his office,
to discuss my future

at the network.
I-I wanted more.

I was argumentative.
He got angry.

He pushed me onto a couch...

he pinned me down...

and he raped me.
- Did you report it?

Did you call the police?

- No, I was--
I was in shock.

I was afraid for my job.

I...I buried
the feelings for months.

I had trouble sleeping
and eating,

being on camera.

Until one day,

I couldn't
keep it in any longer.

I needed to tell the truth.

- At financial and career cost?

- Yeah.

I'll never
work at "HNT" again.

My future is uncertain.

- Thank you.

- Ms. Sorenson,

have you, at any time,
been in contact

with a civil attorney?

- I spoke to someone,
but I decided

not to go that route.
- Are you aware that

four of your former co-workers
are filing a civil suit

against "HNT"
and Harold Coyle?

- Yes.
- And I'm sure you're aware

of the recent spate of
sexual harassment complaints,

with women in your position
scoring settlements

in the tens of millions?

- Yes, I'm aware.

- Yet you're not
pursuing that route.

- No.
- Not ever?

Or just not now?
You're a smart woman.

Are you waiting until after
the disposition

of the criminal trial,
which would be a smart strategy?

- Objection.
- Sustained.

- Nothing further.

- You may step down,
Ms. Sorenson.

Next witness, Mr. Barba.

- I'll need a recess,
Your Honor.

- Court is in recess.
We will resume after lunch.

[gavel pounds]

- Where is George Thanos?
- He's not coming.

He just texted me.
- With no explanation.

- Coyle must've got to him.
- Find out.

- Heidi will be fine;
she'll get paid.

Corporate wants this
to go away.

- Yeah, that's understandable,
but it doesn't change the fact

that Harold Coyle
is guilty of sexual assault.

- I'm telling you,
I can't testify.

- What the hell's going on
here, George?

Is this about your contract?
- No, Coyle won't even extend

the courtesy of a bribe.

His trolls are going after
my daughter.

She's got a juvie record
for drugs they got a hold of.

They're threatening
to go public.

It would devastate her.
- We could subpoena you.

- We all know how that goes.

I still have a chance to protect
one woman in my life

from Coyle--my daughter.

- I've worked at "HNT"
for four years.

Harold has always behaved
like a gentleman,

a mentor, a great boss.

- What was your impression
of Heidi Sorenson's

relationship with Harold?

- I never sensed a problem
or issue.

Heidi was always so upbeat.

- So she never expressed
any dissatisfaction,

or complained about
being harassed?

- Never.
Heidi seemed to love her job.

- Your Honor, objection
to this line of questioning.

It's pure speculation.

- Overruled,
but move along, Mr. Pace.

- Tuesday, January 3rd
of this year,

did you see Heidi?
- Yes.

We spent about an hour
in hair and make-up together.

- How was Heidi's mood?
- Happy.

Sunny.

She was telling me
how much fun she had

on New Year's Eve at
the Ritz Carlton in Puerto Rico.

- So not the demeanor of a woman

who had allegedly been raped?
- Objection.

- Sustained.
- Nothing further.

- Ms. Evans,

you replaced Heidi
on "HNT's" morning show

after she accused Harold Coyle
of sexual assault, correct?

- That's right,
but the conversations had been

on-going for months.
- And was part of

those conversations your new
salary for your new job?

$10 million a year?

That in the ballpark?

- So the jury has to decide
whether they're gonna

believe me or Margery?

- You know what?
Let's get you out of here.

- No.
I just wanna ask her why.

Do you really have no idea
what kind of a man

Harold Coyle is?
- If you think I'm happy

about any of this, I'm not.
- Then why defend him?

- I believe in loyalty.
- Not to me.

Not to the dozens of women
that Harold harassed.

- That's not my experience.
- Let's go.

- No,
she needs to hear this.

He promised you my job.

What else did he promise you?

There's a cost, Margery.

- You know, you may think
that you have to do

whatever Coyle asks of you.

Perjure yourself on the stand,

let him treat you
like you have no value,

and then just discard you
when he's through.

It doesn't have
to be that way.

- He would never
do that to me.

Never.

I'm sorry for whatever it was
that happened to you...

But I'm not you.

- Margery?
What a surprise.

- I'm just checking in.

- Come in.

I am so happy you came.

- I thought I'd see
how you were doing

with all of this.
- Ha.

Actually, I'm doing great.
We should celebrate.

Drink?

- You do know
the trial's not over yet.

- Yes, it is.

The jury's looking at Heidi
and you know what they see?

A cold, calculating,

aging career woman

with dollar signs
in her sights.

- But you did rape her.

- The truth isn't important.

What's important is what you can
get people to believe.

Now,
how about that celebration?

- I like that idea.
- [chuckles]

[glasses clink]

- What'd you have in mind?

- I can think of
a lot of things.

- I like the way you think.

- But first...
I've been a good soldier

all these months.
Loyal.

- Mm.
Absolutely.

- Defending you
and taking the stand.

Now I need a show
of good faith.

I want my tape back.

- Margery, I'd never use
that tape against you.

Ever.

Too much respect for you.

- Well, then, respectfully,

I'd like it back.

Wherever you keep those tapes,

you get mine
and hand it over.

I'll wait.

- Wow.

Now you're demanding.

- I'm serious, Harold.

Now that I have
the new position,

we can start over.

Have a real,
professional relationship.

- Actually,
I have another idea.

I have been a gentleman.
I have been patient.

No dancing away tonight.
Tonight...

if you want to keep that job?

It's time to show me
how much.

Take off your clothes.

Get on your knees.

Margery...

Come on now.
- [gasps]

- Come on.
Take off your clothes.

Get on your knees.
- Get off of me.

- Do it.
You know you want to.

- Harold, stop!
Get off me!

[static droning]

I managed to fight him off
and run out.

- You took a huge risk,
Margery.

- Had to find out
for myself.

I thought I was different.

I wasn't.

I realize I perjured myself
on the stand.

I'm willing to re-testify.

- That's good to hear.

- I'm sorry.
For everything.

What happens now?
- We get this to the ADA.

- Margery...
Come on.

Come on.
Take off your clothes.

Get on your knees.
- No! No!

- So what's on the table?
- Given that with Margery?

We're looking at misdemeanor
forcible touching, at least.

And I'm feeling pretty confident
about an argument for

aggravated sexual assault.
That's a D Felony.

Or...I get the judge

to admit this tape
at Heidi's trial.

The jury sees that,
plus Margery's testimony,

you get convicted
of rape-1.

- This was entrapment--
- Harold, enough.

- [chuckles]
That damn bitch.

- Okay, see you in trial.

- Let's start talking.

- I know it doesn't
look like much now,

but with a few million
from "HNT,"

this will be the new office
space for Step Up.

Mentoring and empowering
teenage girls.

- What an incredible use
of the settlement.

I wasn't sure
you were gonna take it.

- Well,
Margery convinced me.

I'll take some time to travel,
figure out my next move.

Maybe I'll write a tell-all.

- You won't miss the business?

- Actually, no.

For as long as I can remember,
I've been beholden to Coyle

and ratings,
corporate mandates.

You know,
I-I finally feel free.

Thank you, Olivia.

- Congratulations.

Really.
- Thank you.

- Good luck.

Chief, how can I help you?

- I wanted to congratulate you.

"HNT" is back on
their financial heels

and Coyle will do 18 months.

- Well, the guy just
couldn't help himself.

- The tortoise
and the scorpion.

- I'm sorry?

- Scorpion asks a tortoise
for a ride across the lake.

The tortoise says,
"Well, sure,

as long as you don't
sting me."

Scorpion says,
"Why would I sting you?

We'd both drown."
So they start off.

Halfway across the lake,
the scorpion

stings the tortoise.
The tortoise says,

"Why the hell did you do that?"

- And the scorpion says,
"Because it's in my nature."

- Oh, you do know that one.

I guess the scorpions
keep us in business.

- Yeah.

- Well...

I've barged into your office
enough for one week.

- Please, any time.

- I, uh...

I guess I've been avoiding SVU.

Every time I walk in
the place...

I think I'm gonna see Mike...

sitting at his desk.

Is that crazy?
- Nope.

Not at all.

- I'll see you, Olivia.

- I'll see you, Chief.

[sighs]