All language subtitles for Law.and.Order.SVU.S22E15.WEBRip.x264-ION10

.

- 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.

- Here you go, Daddy.
- Thanks, Charlie.

You're the man.

- Good morning, my sweet boys.
- Hi, Mommy.

- Oh, Andy, Joy texted,
she'll be late.

- Yeah, but I gotta go to work.

- And I have my installation
today, so.

Thanks, honey. I love you.

- Looks like it's
you and me, kid.

- School's starting,
gotta Zoom.

[sentimental music]

♪

[apprehensive music]

♪

- Love you. Gotta run.

- Bye.
Oh, turkey burgers for dinner?

- With red wine?
- Mm-hmm.

- Okay.

- I think I have a fever.

- What's wrong, Abby?
- 99.

- The school won't let her
come to class,

and I'm in depositions all day.

- My turn to work from home.

- If I'm sick,
I don't have to Zoom?

- Nice try, kid.

You gonna be a lawyer
like your mother?

- I don't wanna go to class.

[machinery whirring]
[truck beeping]

- Hey, what the hell?

- I'm sorry, man.
It was an accident.

- Accident?
This isn't some theater.

It's a freaking
construction site--

- Come on, man,
I said I'm sorry.

- Yeah, you're one
sorry S.O.B.

- What the hell's going on?
- Nothing, boss.

[tense music]

- Ow!

Hey!
- Hey, sorry, man.

- Talk to transit,
see if they--

- Yeah!
[laughs]

- Abby?

- Whoo-hoo!

- Hold on a second.

Abs. Abs.

What happened
to your headphones?

- Can't dance with them.
[laughing]

[knock at door]
- What now?

Can you turn it down, please?

[music turns off]

- Mr. Garland!

[suspenseful music]

♪

- Charlie.

- Mr. Garland, my dad's hurt.

- Isn't your mom or nanny home?

- Mommy's at work.

Dad came home from work early.
He said Joy could go.

- What happened?
- He fell and he won't get up.

- Abby.

♪

Okay, you guys stay here.
Where's your dad?

- In the kitchen.
- Okay.

Andy. It's Christian Garland.

This is Deputy Chief Garland.

I need a bus
at 876 148th Street.

[dramatic music]

♪

Diana, Christian Garland
calling again.

Andy's still being treated
at Mercy North.

I'm here with my daughter,
your son.

Please call me
as soon as you get this.

- Chief Garland.

Mr. Richards is your neighbor?

- Yes, how is he?
- In bad shape.

Did he tell you
how he sustained his injuries?

- No, he was unconscious.

- He told me
he fell down some stairs.

- And you think
that's a cover story?

- Well, I can't violate
confidentiality,

but it might be a good idea

to have
Captain Benson talk to him.

- You sure your mom lets you
eat sugar?

- My dad does.

Is he gonna be okay?
When can we go home?

- Soon.
- Chief.

- You guys wait
with Officer Ortiz, okay?

- I've got them, Chief Garland.

- Thanks for coming.
- Sure. What are we looking at?

- Black eye, bruised,
blood loss.

We also had to stitch up
a torn perineum.

- I get it.
- And he refused a rape kit?

- Well, whatever happened
to your neighbor,

he's not ready
to come forward yet.

- Well, that's not unusual.
- Can you try talking to him?

- Yeah, it might make him
more comfortable

if you introduced us.
- He's right over here.

Mr. Richards.

No, no, no, no.
You shouldn't be up.

- No, I gotta get home.
- Okay, uh.

Let me see
if I can find his doctor.

[suspenseful music]

- Christian?
You brought me in, right?

Where's Charlie?

- He's with Abby
and an officer.

He's fine.
I left messages for your wife.

- Oh, she had
a big event at work today.

- Okay.

This is Captain Benson.
She works with me at SVU.

- Hey, Andy. Rough day, huh?
How you feeling?

- Good enough to go home.

Why are you--
- Andy.

Your injuries are serious.
I'm worried about your safety.

- Oh, don't be.
It was just--it was stupid.

I--I had a thing at work.
I do construction--

- It was an accident on-site?
- It was a fight.

I got into it with this guy.

It's was as much
my fault as his.

- Mr. Richards.
- Andy.

Oh, my God.

What happened?

- It's okay.
- Yeah?

[solemn music]

- Hey.

Your daddy's fine.

We're all going home now. Okay?

- Christian,
I can't thank you enough.

- That's what neighbors do.

- And I appreciate you coming,
Captain Benson,

but Andy was adamant,
this isn't a police matter.

- Okay, still, if he was
assaulted at work--

- More like hazed.
And he comes from the theater.

These hard hats
give him a hard time.

It's been tough for him.

- Is that what he told you?

- That, and that he doesn't
want to pursue this.

But thank you.

- Charlie.

- Dad.
- Hey. How you doing?

- I'll take them home.
Thank you again.

- Thank you.

♪

- You know,
"hazed" can be a euphemism.

- For bullying
and sexual assault?

- Yeah, I mean,
it could explain

why he's reluctant to talk.

And if he doesn't want
to pursue, then--

- He is a neighbor
with a small child.

My wife's close to his wife,
she'd be upset

if we looked the other way
and something worse happened.

- Okay, well,
I can definitely send

some detectives down
to his work

and get some clarity on it.

- As long as they don't think
Andy made a police complaint.

- Chief, we can be discreet.

- Okay.

- It's a construction site.
Accidents happen.

Who the hell called the cops?

- I can't say, but look around.

You're surrounded
by apartment buildings.

- Yeah, they're always
complaining about the noise.

"We start too early."
They got nothing better to do?

- Not today.

We heard there was a fight.
- Oh, barely.

A couple of my men
got into it this morning.

Too much Red Bull.

- Can we talk to them?

- I sent them both home early
to cool off.

No harm, no foul.

- You guys got safety cameras?

- Company doesn't
wanna get sued.

But there's nothing to see.

- So you won't have
any problem with us

looking at the footage.

- I don't understand.

You said there's security
footage of him in a fight.

- What we saw was just a minor
scuffle with another worker.

A push, a shove,
a couple of punches.

It doesn't explain
Andy's other injuries.

- Maybe something else
happened to him?

Away from the camera?

- We think something may have
happened the night before.

Where is Andy now?
- Um, resting.

He's on painkillers.

Why wouldn't he tell me?

- It may have been that
he didn't want you to know,

or he was embarrassed.

- Embarrassed about what?
- I heard voices.

What's--what's going on?

I'm fine.

I appreciate you guys
caring about this,

but I was--
I was just clumsy at work.

There's no there here.

- Andy, if I may.

You know, I've been doing
this a long time,

and my experience
and my gut tell me

that this wasn't
some workplace incident.

Some "boys will be boys" brawl.

- It's nothing.
- Will you hear me out?

First of all, your wife
doesn't need to know.

But if somebody
did this to you,

if you're protecting them--

you're a big guy.

If they did it to you,

then they'll do it
to someone else.

[suspenseful music]

- She won't--
I mean he--he won't.

- Andy, who is she? Your wife?

- All right, I need you to stop
asking me questions

and get out of my house.

- Who is she?

- This is a private matter,
okay?

Just go.

- Okay.

♪

- Are you sure
he didn't just misspeak?

- I am sure.

- And you think he was
sexually assaulted by his wife?

- Well, it certainly explains
why he's too afraid to talk

and why she's
doing damage control.

- What can we do about it?

- As of right now,
not a damn thing.

.

- Andy's wife,
Diana Orsini-Fowler--

her website says that
"she's at the forefront

of the next wave of
New York City art galleries."

Harlem is the new Chelsea.

- Like I didn't
know that already.

- No record. No DV complaints.

Her first marriage
was to a hedge-fund guy.

Divorce decree sealed,
but she kept his last name.

- And his money.
- Hi.

- Carisi.
- I was in the neighborhood.

I thought I'd bring back
your father's will.

- Will?

I thought your dad
was doing better.

- Yeah, he is.
Counselor Carisi

is just teaching me
how to be a grown-up.

- What are you doing?
Buying art?

- Me? Uh, no.

I'm running background
on a DV case.

- And she's being abused?

- Actually, she could be
the abuser.

- Suspected abuser.
- It's Garland's neighbors.

The husband let slip to Liv

that his wife
had sexually assaulted him.

- But then backtracked it
right away.

- So now that you're here,
Counselor,

you think you can get us

a warrant
for her phone or computer?

- On an unsubstantiated
and retracted allegation?

That's a no.

- He had serious injuries

Consistent with forceful
penetration of an object.

- We all know that could
encompass multiple scenarios.

- He's a family man.

There's no evidence
of a down-low life.

- Which is the definition
of "down-low."

- Would you be blaming
the victim if it was a woman?

- Hold on, wait.

Isn't this something that

Kat is supposed
to lecture me about?

- Hey, I'm on your side
this time.

- Okay. Keep investigating.

Find anything to corroborate,
I can go to a judge.

And for what it's worth,
my brother-in-law

was sexually assaulted
by his female parole officer.

- I'm not saying
it can't happen.

I've read those cases,

but usually, if it's got
stripes and hooves--

- It's a zebra?

- Either way, no complaint,
no case.

And no guy wants
to talk about this.

- Well, if he is
in an abusive relationship,

then somebody
must've seen something.

- Diana called Lamai
this morning

to let us know
Andy's doing better.

- She's trying
to get ahead of this.

Have you talked to Andy?

- Nah, I wanted to give him
some space.

- You mean you don't wanna
talk about this, either.

Hi, Olivia.
- Hey.

- Why don't I
leave you two to talk?

- It's funny,
Christian's the chief of SVU,

but he says
your practical experience

is much broader than his.

- Male victims
of domestic violence,

it's not our usual case.

How well do you know
the family?

- We're friendly,
mostly because

our children are friends.
- Yeah.

- My sense is, she's not
that interested in us.

Christian doesn't see it,

but we just
don't move in her circles.

- Anything to indicate

that there's problems
in their marriage?

- No.

I mean, she's the breadwinner,

seems to make the decisions.

- Thank you.

Sometimes you look at a couple,
and you just get it,

and sometimes you don't.

I'm mostly worried
about Charlie.

- Has Charlie mentioned
anything about his home life?

- He--he's polite but shy.

And when his dad comes for him,
he's clingy.

- What about around his mother?

- She and I text
to set up playdates,

but she almost
never comes with him.

Either Andy brings him
or the nanny.

[sentimental music]

- [laughs]
Yeah?

Uh, Charlie, why don't you go
get yourself some ice cream?

- Thanks, Joy.

- I don't think Ms. Diana
would want me talking to you.

- She won't know about it.

- We know you take good care
of Charlie.

- And Ms. Diana
would never hurt him.

- What about Mr. Andy?

- Oh, no, he's so sweet.

He's a gentle man. Too nice.

- So you'd say that Ms. Diana
is the boss of the family?

- Big time.

- She pays you, but can she be
a little tough to work for?

- Mr. Andy says
she's high-strung

because her job
has so much stress.

- Uh-huh, and does she
take that stress out on him?

- Not when I'm in the room.

- But you've heard things?

[apprehensive music]

- He asks for ice sometimes.

Yesterday,
before he sent me home...

I--I saw his eyes
filled with tears.

A big man crying like that.

I asked if he was okay.

He left the room.

Maybe he didn't hear me.

♪

- Instinctual, isn't it?
- [chuckles]

- Margo is one of
our newer artists.

A 22-year old
Afro-Caribbean pansexual.

She lives in the neighborhood.

- Is that right?

- She's exploring
how our relationships

to our most
intimate possessions

reveal our biases toward class,
gender, sexual orientation.

- I can see that.

- Can I show you
some more of her work?

- Actually, I don't think I can
afford anything in here.

I'm Amanda Rollins.
I work at SVU.

I don't mean
to sneak up on you.

- I see. How can I help you?

I already told
Christian Garland

this isn't a police matter.

- I know, and we're not
investigating his coworkers.

- I don't understand.

- The problem is, given
the nature of Andy's injuries,

and that there's a minor
in the house,

this may be a bigger issue.

- Our child is not in danger.

But you're saying his injuries

are being perceived
as sexual in nature?

- It's a working theory.

- We sleep in the same bed.

There was blood.

He insisted it was from work.

- I'm sorry
to have to as you this,

but is there any other
possible explanation?

- You mean a double life. No.

I have friends
who've lived through that.

Whatever his coworkers think,
Andy's not gay.

And he would never cheat on me.

- But he had lost his career,

and he's been under
a lot of stress.

- And depressed,
and drinking a lot.

Can I be honest with you?

- Please.

- The last year,
our sex life got weird.

- Mm-hmm.
- Angry.

He needed more stimulation
to get off.

I came in one night,
and he was masturbating to porn

with a belt around his neck.

Oh, my God.

We have sex toys.

Is it possible
he did this to himself?

- She implied that Andy
gave himself a torn perineum?

- You want to ask any ER doctor
what kind of sexual injuries

they've seen solo men
inflict upon themselves?

- It sounds like
classic victim blaming.

"My wife fell into the knife.

She got drunk
and walked into the wall."

- Maybe, or maybe
that's why Andy

wants all this to go away.

- We've been here
a hundred times.

Our experience, people don't
make up stories of abuse.

If a man is the assailant
and the woman is intimidated,

we believe her.

- So what do you want us to do?

- I want you to fight
for the victim.

- Wait. It may be too late.

There was a 911 call from Andy
and Diana's townhouse.

- Fin, let's go.

[tense music]

♪

- What happened?

- Diana called 911,
says Andy threatened her.

- He cut my neck.
He went crazy.

- Diana, we're gonna
take care of this.

Where's Andy?
- In the kitchen.

He's not saying much.
We bagged the knife.

- Take her outside to the EMTs.
- Wait. Charlie is upstairs.

- I can stay with him.
I'll call Lamai.

- No, he should be with me.

- Diana, get that cut
looked at.

Charlie will be fine.

- Andy.

Andy, can you tell me
what happened?

Andy.
- [groans]

- Andy, I need you
to tell me what happened.

- I did it.
Whatever she said, I did it.

♪

.

- She's claiming he held
her knife to her?

- Yeah, and EMTs
confirmed that she was cut.

And at the house,
he went along with that.

- Went along.
You don't believe him?

- My gut tells me that
he is the victim here,

but now with all of this,
I don't know.

- When I was a detective,
I felt like

if I put in enough shoe
leather,

I could solve any case.

But sussing out
somebody's marriage...

what about the kid, Charlie?
Was he in the house?

- He was in his room.
He's at Garland's now.

- Okay, that's good.

Has either parent said
that we couldn't talk to him?

- No, but he's only eight.

Whatever's going on here,
both parents wanna protect him.

- Yeah, just not each other.
- Yeah, that's what worries me.

When couples get
to this point--

Our next call could be
from the morgue.

- Abby, Mom's taking brownies
out of the oven.

Why don't you go
and help her set up?

- Yes!

Mommy, I'm coming!

- How you doing, Charlie?

- What's gonna happen
to my dad?

- I know this is scary.

Do you wanna talk about it?

No.

- Can I have a brownie?

[sentimental music]

- I'm more embarrassed
than hurt.

I did, or said
something that set him off.

- Listen, nothing
that you can do or say

justifies your husband
assaulting you.

- It's not his fault.
He was drunk.

- Okay, can you walk us
through what happened?

- He's still hitting it
pretty hard.

I told him that I was worried
about him.

He got angry.

- And where were you two?
- In the kitchen.

Andy kept yelling, asking,
"What did you say to the cops?"

- And what did you tell him?
- The truth.

That whatever happened to him,
I wasn't judging him.

He heard that, he snapped.

- How do you mean?

- Um.

There was a knife
on the counter.

He grabbed me from behind,
he put it to my neck.

He told me that if I left him,
he'd kill me.

I got free, I locked myself
in the bathroom, I called 911.

- That's good.
The call will be on record.

- On record? For what?

I'm not pressing charges.

And he won't do it again.

- The thing is, Diana,
in these situations,

there's mandatory arrest.

- What?
You didn't tell me that.

I don't wanna
make this worse for Andy.

I think I need to talk
to a lawyer.

- Look, I'm worried
about my son.

He saw police in the house.

Can I just go home?

- With what your wife is
saying, that's not happening.

- What's she saying?

- Why don't you tell us
what happened?

- We were fighting.

- Her neck was bleeding.

You remember doing that?

- Her neck?

I--I must have, but I--
I didn't want to hurt her.

- You must have?
Where did you get the knife?

- From a drawer?
I guess I was waving it around.

Look, I'm really tired.
I just want to see Charlie.

So whatever she says is fine.

- Charlie, you wanna
try a brownie?

How about I cut you
a little piece?

- Be careful with the knife.

- I will. Good looking out.

- My mommy got cut today.

- You saw that, Charlie?
- Yeah.

She didn't know
I was in the kitchen

when she had her accident,
but she said not to worry.

I got her a Band-Aid.

- And where was your dad?
- Upstairs, in their room.

[suspenseful music]

- Okay, who wants whipped
cream?

- I do!

- She wanted a lawyer because
she's making all of this up.

- What happened to
believing the victim?

- That only works
if she is the victim.

- So Andy is still insisting
that he did this?

- He's hazy on the details.

- But it's still
a mandatory arrest.

- So she gets to go home
as if she did nothing wrong?

- Maybe not.
Garland talked to Charlie.

- Diana gave her statement.

She'd like to get home
to her son.

- Uh, well, just a few things
to clarify,

if you don't mind.

Now, Diana,
while all this was happening,

where was Charlie?

- In his room, doing homework.

- Did he ever come out
of his room,

maybe after he heard yelling?

- Counselor, please don't
drag the boy into this.

- Did Charlie see you
get cut, Diana?

- What? No. Of course not.

Why? Did he say something?

- I'm sure they wouldn't
talk to your child

without a parent present.

- What do you think
Charlie might have said, Diana?

- I don't know.

But I do know that
he saw police come,

and that he's worried
about his dad.

He wants to protect him.

- My client is a victim.

So unless this is now
a custodial situation--

- It's not custodial,
but your client is now

the target
of our investigation.

She might want to get
ahead of that.

- There's nothing
to get ahead of.

Whatever is going on here,
it's a private matter.

It's not a criminal one.

- I was in front of her.

I pointed the knife
to her throat, like Diana said.

- Diana said that you grabbed
her from behind.

- Well, then I guess
that's what happened.

Why are you
asking me this again?

- Charlie saw his mom cut
in the kitchen

after you went into your room.

- He did?

- Your wife is
setting you up, Andy.

- Does she know
what you told me, Andy?

- No.

But she said a cop
came to the gallery.

She was furious.

She said if I kept making up
stories, she'd take Charlie.

- But you're not
making anything up, Andy.

You had serious injuries,

and she's the one who gave
those to you, isn't she?

- It doesn't matter.
I know she loves me.

She's not gonna do it again.

- I can't tell you
how many times I've sat here

and heard those exact words.

In these situations, Andy,

unfortunately,
things don't get better.

- I know you're worried about
what people think,

but this isn't just about
fighting for yourself.

- I don't want Charlie to know.

- Kids know more
than you think.

Is this how you want
the rest of your life to go?

Waiting for her
to hurt you again?

To take your son away?

Andy, that's where
this is going.

- What you want me to do?

She said if this ever
goes to trial,

the jury's gonna
take one look at me,

one look at her,
no one's gonna believe me.

- We believe you.

And juries are smart.

They figure things out.

♪

.

- The alleged victim
in this case,

my client's husband
of ten years,

has had a rough road.
I feel for him.

He has struggled
with unemployment,

alcoholism,
self-destructive tendencies.

But blaming his wife
is not the answer

to his problems.
- Oh, my God.

Feigning sympathy
while defaming the victim.

Wow. He is smooth.

- I'm more worried about Andy.
He should be here by now.

- Hold on. Garland texted.
He's on his way.

- The press? I can't do this.

- Come on. Andy.

You've prepped. You're ready.

We know it's not gonna be easy.

- Is that a flask
in your pocket?

- Yeah, it's just
a little liquid courage.

- It will set
the metal detectors off.

How about
I hold onto it for you?

- There you are.

- Traffic.

- Hey. You ready?

All right, let me take you in
the side way.

Come on.

- How's he doing?
- This is tough.

Lamai and I are still trying
to wrap our heads around it.

- Spousal abuse
is spousal abuse.

The problem is,
is that people see these cases

through the prism
of gender bias.

- I'm just hoping Carisi
can get the jury past that.

- Ugh. Me too.

- Miss Mercado,
can you tell us

about the day
in question, please?

- Ms. Diana called me
that morning.

Told me to make sure
I changed the sheets.

- What did you notice
when you washed them?

- There was blood on them.
A lot.

- Was there any indication
whose blood it was?

- I saw Mr. Andy's underwear
in the garbage.

Also with blood.

- Did you ask them about that?

- Ms. Diana said
it was not my business.

- And you do
what she tells you to?

- Yes, she's in charge.

If Mr. Andy tells me
to do something,

I have to check with her first.

- Thank you.

- Ms. Mercado,
you're here illegally?

[suspenseful music]

- I am working on my visa.

- And Ms. Diana said

she would sponsor you
through her gallery?

- She said she would,
but she didn't yet.

- Are you angry
at her about that?

It's understandable if you are.

Look at me, Ms. Mercado.
You're under oath.

You're angry at Ms. Diana about
a lot of things, aren't you?

- She's a very tough boss, yes.

- As a Sexual Assault
Nurse Examiner,

I've treated male patients

in the ER with objects
inserted anally.

Sometimes the doctors
even laugh,

but these injuries
can be life-threatening.

- In your opinion,

could Mr. Richards' injuries
have been self-inflicted?

- Not likely.

He had a torn perineum,
indicating a lot of force,

and there was no evidence
of lubrication,

which is usually present

in a solo
or consensual sex act.

- Mr. Syndergaard, ah,

you've been an ER nurse
at Mercy and also

Fire Island Pines Clinic
for over ten years?

- Yes.
- And it's your testimony

that you've never seen a man

cause serious
sexual injury to himself,

especially when drugs
and alcohol are involved?

- I'm not saying it can
never happen,

just in my experience
in all those years--

- Nothing further.

- It's very common for domestic
sexual assault victims

to be reluctant to disclose,

especially male victims
of female partners.

At the hospital,
Andy led us to believe

that he'd been injured
on the job.

- But your belief changed?
- Yes.

After speaking with Andy
at his home,

we had a new target
of the investigation.

- Who was that?
- His wife, Diana.

We began to investigate
if she sexually assaulted Andy.

- And did Andy cooperate
with that investigation?

- Not at first.

Again, not unusual
at all in DV cases.

Victims often try
to protect their abusers,

especially when there
are children

and custody issues at risk.

Andy did eventually
fully disclose,

after his wife falsely accused
him of domestic violence.

- Thank you.

- Let me make sure
I've got this straight.

Mr. Richards initially lied

about being assaulted
in his workplace?

- Yes.

- And then he refused
to cooperate

with the investigation
of his alleged abuser?

- Yes.

- And then when his wife
accused him of assault,

he agreed to cooperate
with the police

rather than be held accountable
for his own violence?

- Yes.
But those charges were false.

- I'm sorry,
which ones were false?

Never mind. Thank you, Captain.

♪

- This lawyer, Garrison,
he's getting his shots in.

- Yeah, that's why she went
for a male lawyer.

It's easier for him
to discredit a male victim.

- Like I did before?

- Kat, I make mistakes
every day.

That's just part of the job.
- Hey. Has anybody seen Andy?

- I saw him
in the witness room

before I testified.
- He's not there now.

- Maybe he went out
for some air.

I'll see if I can find him.

- What?

- You escaped, huh?

- How'd you find me?

- I'm a cop.

And you're also
testifying next.

We have to get back to court.

Can we get a coffee, please?

- This just keeps getting
worse and worse.

- I'm sorry, Andy.

Drink that.

- My wife has a temper.

Throughout our marriage,
she's yelled,

thrown things at me.

Plates, a pot of coffee.

Broke a bottle over my head.

In the bedroom,

she's always dominated,
been aggressive.

- How so?

- She likes to be on top,
experiment with BDSM.

Like, tie me up,
hit me with a belt or a whip.

Use sex toys.

- And you went along with this?

- She's always been
more wild than me.

- I'm just not wired like that,

but, I could go along
with most things.

- What about the night
in question?

- I told her
I was too tired for sex.

I had a long day,
I had some drinks.

I must've passed out.
I woke up in pain.

She was--

penetrating me
with one of her vibrators.

- What did you do?
- I asked her to stop.

But she just kept
forcing that thing into me.

I passed out again.

When I woke up, there was blood

down there and on the sheets.

- Did you call 911?

Did you report
what had happened to anyone?

- I was embarrassed, in shock.

I took a shower, went to work.

When I got home,
I must have fainted.

I had to be taken
to the hospital.

I was trying to deny
what'd happened.

I just wanted it to go away.

The next night,
my wife called the police

and claimed I attacked her.

At the station, I finally
told the cops the truth.

That I had been
sexually assaulted by her.

- I'm sure that was difficult.

Like testifying today must be.

- I don't wanna be here.

But I knew my wife
would never stop.

I don't want my son to think
it's okay to be abused.

- Thank you, Mr. Richards.

[solemn music]

- I'm sure this is difficult
for you, Mr. Richards,

and I am sorry for the
questions I have to ask,

but is it your testimony
that you went along

with the sexual behavior
your wife wanted?

- Yes.

- Engaging in BDSM. Role-play.

Being tied up.
Acting submissive.

- Yes.

- And that can include

anal penetration
with an object?

[tense music]

- Sometimes.

- Again, I'm sorry
I have to ask this,

but were you ever
aroused by that?

- Objection.
- I'll allow.

- Sometimes.

- Did you ever communicate
with your wife

that you didn't like
that kind of sex?

- I was trying
to make her happy.

- Okay.

And on the night you claimed

you were assaulted by her,

did you tell her
you didn't like it?

- I said, "Stop."
She didn't listen.

- Why didn't you just
push her off you,

or off the bed?
- I couldn't.

- Because you were afraid
that she'd overpower you?

You're what, 240 and change?
She's barely 110.

- You don't understand.
I didn't wanna hurt her.

- So you made a choice
to continue?

- I didn't want
what she was doing.

- Why didn't you just leave
the bedroom?

I mean, you weren't tied up
or taped or handcuffed.

Were you?

- No, but I was drunk.
- I see.

Have you had a drink today,
Mr. Richards?

- Objection.

- Where is this going,
Mr. Garrison?

- He testified he's a drinker.

I'm just trying to see
if he had a drink today.

- I'll allow.
Witness may answer.

- Maybe a couple.

- And if you wanted to get away
from me right now, for example,

I mean, couldn't you
just get up and walk away?

- It's not that simple.
I love my wife.

I--I don't even wanna be here.

- Why are we here?

I mean, this sounds to me
like a marital disagreement

about your sex life,
not a crime.

- Objection.
- Withdrawn.

- I can get up.

I can get up and leave
anytime I want.

- Mr. Richards, sit down.

- Your Honor, we need a recess.

- I didn't wanna hurt you.

I didn't wanna make you angry.

- Bailiff!
- Andy.

- I'll grant you that recess,
Mr. Carisi.

[suspenseful music]

♪

.

- He told me that you
dragged him out of the bar.

You couldn't give me
the heads-up?

Was that too difficult?

- Carisi, he was trying
to help Andy.

- No, Mr. Carisi is right.

I gave Andy coffee,
walked him back.

I thought if he didn't go
through with it

today, he never would.

- We may have just
lost this case.

- Hey. You okay?

I have to put you
on the stand again.

Redirect,
salvage your credibility.

- No, I'm not going back
on the stand.

She's furious at me,
and when she gets like this,

she can't control herself.

- We have to let the jury
know that.

- It's late, Your Honor.

Mr. Richards is not well.
I move we adjourn--

- Mr. Richards has sobered up.

And it's important
that the jury hears him now,

today, not after they've
had a night to sleep on it.

- He is not the defendant,
Your Honor.

- No. He's the victim.

- Mr. Richards, do you feel
well enough to testify?

- I do, Your Honor.

And I apologize
for my behavior earlier.

I--I'm fine.

- We can continue,
but keep it brief, Mr. Carisi.

- Mr. Richards, can you tell us

why you didn't fight
your wife off that night?

- Look at me, look at her.

I'm always afraid that
I'll hurt her.

- But you could have
left the room.

Why didn't you just get up
and walk away?

- I'm also afraid
of making her angry.

- Why is that?

[tense music]

- When she's angry, she becomes
like a different person.

Her eyes go flat dark.
It's like she's not even there.

She doesn't care who she hurts.

- And that night,
were you afraid

that she was gonna hurt you
even more than she already had?

- Objection.
- Withdrawn.

Mr. Richards, do you think your
wife is angry at you right now?

- Yes, I know she is.
- How do you know that?

- She just sent me a text.
- Just now?

- Your Honor,
there's a non-contact order.

She's in violation.
- Objection.

This is the first
I'm hearing of a text.

- Approach.

♪

- How do we even know
it's from her?

- We can just look
at Andy's phone.

Or you can ask her, yourself.

- I need a recess, Your Honor,
to talk to my client.

- I'll let Mr. Carisi
explore this now.

I'll allow a few questions.
Step back.

- Mr. Richards, your wife
just texted you?

Can I look
at your phone, please?

- Sure.

♪

- Can you read for the jury
what she texted?

- "You stupid bitch,
I warned you.

"You're nothing.
A loser. A zero.

"By the time
I'm through with you,

you'll never
see Charlie again."

[jurors murmuring]

- Thank you, Mr. Richards.

- There are seven others
from today.

Do you want me
to read those too?

- The psychology of domestic
violence is complex.

It--

ah, it's--scratch that.

The psychology of intimate
partner violence is complex.

It's not just physical.

It's emotional abuse.

Instilling fear.
Controlling the victim.

And Andy lived
with his wife's abuse for years

because,
like most abuse victims,

he thought
he didn't have a choice.

- That was terrific.
I mean it.

But I haven't even
made my case.

- Are you going to put
your client on the stand?

- No. That would be a disaster.

But she has expressed remorse.
She's worried about her son.

I think we need to find
a reasonable solution.

Let me propose one.
- I'm listening.

- Diana is willing to plead

to misdemeanor assault,
no jail time.

- Not interested.
- Hear me out.

She'll serve probation,

and afterward, she won't
fight Andy for custody.

He and Charlie can stay
in the family home.

She'll pay support.

- Well, there's no way
to hold her to that.

I want her on the registry.

- So she can't change her mind
and ask for custody?

[suspenseful music]

- Mr. Garrison.

- Your Honor, my client

is ready to make her plea.

- Ms. Orsini-Fowler,
on the charges

of misdemeanor sexual assault

and assault
in the third degree,

how do you plead?

- Guilty, Your Honor.

I sincerely regret my actions,

and I apologize to my husband
for any hurt that I've caused.

I only hope that he can find it
in his heart to forgive me.

- Mr. Carisi?

- State accepts the plea,
Your Honor.

- Ms. Orsini-Fowler,
I sentence you

to a year's probation
with the understanding

that you're on
the sex offender registry

until your child
turns eighteen.

Pending checking in
with your parole officer,

you're free to go.

We're adjourned.
[gavel bangs]

- Andy.
Maybe we can work things out.

I'd like to try.

I didn't realize
that I was hurting you,

and now I'm worried
about hurting Charlie.

- Andy, you don't
have to listen to her.

- I know.

But there's something
I need to say.

[apprehensive music]

I won't keep Charlie
from seeing you.

- Good.

Then we'll both be in his life.

- And we will.

But we won't be
in each other's.

♪

- Thank you, Mr. Carisi.
- Yeah.

- Captain Benson.

And Christian, I don't even
know what to say.

Thank you.

- Let's get you home.

[solemn music]

♪

[dramatic music]

♪

[wolf howls]