All language subtitles for Law and order SVU S23E01

- 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.

- Single mothers in subsidized
housing are being trafficked

in exchange for apartments.

- Congressman Howard's
Chief of Staff was there.

- My client has knowledge

of complicit individuals
at nonprofits

and government agencies.

- You've heard of a
Dr. Catalina Machado?

- Yeah, the founder
of Proud Life.

- Catalina knew.

- Every single man
that Ortiz named

had a direct connection
to Proud Life.

- What else does
she have to offer?

- Well, a Deputy Mayor,
three congressmen...

- The old guard
is coming for me.

- What I see?

Failure written all over you.

- Crazy.

- Pretty good-looking couple.

- She's a cop.
His first partner.

[dramatic music]

- You think anybody
at the wedding saw us?

- Nobody saw us.

- This is not a great idea.

- It's the courthouse
at 10:00 p.m.

It's not like the cleaning
crew is gonna bust us.

[soft music]

♪

- Look.

- Is this even real?

- It seems like it is.

- And tomorrow?

- All of them? I
live in a studio.

Phoebe wants you and
Céline to enjoy them.

- Tell Phoebe they're lovely.

- That was kind of nice, right?

- The best!

- What's next?

You guys going on a
we-didn't-get-married-moon?

- Not yet.
Catalina's flippin'.

Captain wants all hands
on deck, all weekend.

- Copy that.

- Counselor Carisi?
- Yeah, sorry I'm late.

- Anya Avital,
Southern District.

- Good to meet you.

- The rest of the
team is waiting.

Oh. Lipstick.

- What?

- You had fun at
the wedding, huh?

- [sighs]

- Got it, Chief.

CompStat first thing
Tuesday morning.

I'll be there.

- CompStat?

So Chief McGrath
can bully you again?

- That's not what
this is, Lamai.

Catalina Machado is with the
Southern District right now.

We thought she was
the ring leader,

but if she's just the middleman,

who knows how high this goes?

SVU takes the lead on this case.

Politicians, congressmen
involved in sex trafficking?

This is the break
I need at NYPD.

- My colleagues, U.S.
Attorneys Carstairs and Atwood.

And of course, you
know Catalina Machado.

- We've met.

- Where's Captain Benson?

- She's en route, Counselor.

- My boss already punched
out; now I've missed

the last ferry to
the Jersey Shore.

Can we get started here before
I miss the entire weekend?

- Let me call her again.

- It was a great night.

Everything that's been
going on, it's just...

It's nice to get a break.
- It really was.

[phone buzzes]

Hold on a second.

I've got Carisi
on the other line.

- Yeah, take it.
I'll be right here.

- Liv, where are you?

I got half the Southern
District waiting here.

- On my way, on my way.
- Okay, see you soon.

She may be a few more minutes.

Why don't we get started?

- I was supposed to be at
the DA's office an hour ago,

so I gotta go.
- I know you do.

[tense music]

- Except that I've
got some idiot

with his brights on behind me.

- Eh, pull over.

[horn blares]

Hey, Liv, let him pass.

- I'm trying.

[tires screeching]

♪

- Liv? Liv? Liv!

I got you.

Stay with me.

- Elliot.

- Hey, I'm here.

♪

- Hang in there, ma'am.
You're going to be okay.

We got you.

♪

[dramatic music]

♪

.

- You scared the
hell out of us, Liv.

- Guys, I'm fine. Air bags.

- How about that ankle?

- Well, they want me
to get an MRI, but...

[groans] Like I have time.

- No, you got to
see an orthopedist.

You don't mess
around with an ankle.

- Thank you, Doctor Carisi.

- Crash investigations
get anything?

- Stabler and the OC
are looking into it.

Going through my car,
looking at traffic cams.

But so far the working theory
is drunk driver, hit and run.

- By someone who knew
just how hard to hit you

and just how fast to run.

- Fin, if there's anything
there, they will find it.

How did it go with
Catalina? Was she helpful?

- And then some. She's a font.

- Chief McGrath will be happy.

- Even when he's
happy, he's not happy.

Bring me up to speed?

- Here it is.

- Our investigation started
with a prostitution complaint

from a neighbor.

And we quickly ascertained
that homeless mothers

were being given
subsidized housing

and then threatened
with eviction

if they didn't provide
sexual services.

- And how did that get
us to Catalina Machado?

- We picked up Ruben Ortiz,

who was the aide to Congressman
George Justin Howard.

- He gave up Catalina.

She in turn named
co-conspirators,

including a former HUD secretary

and two former
assemblymen and...

- I'm hearing a lot of formers.

So who is your
highest-raking public servant

who still has a job?

- Congressman Howard.

[dramatic music]

[bell ringing]

[applause]

- Nothing sadder than

white people
congratulating themselves.

- That bulldog is
Howard's handler?

- That's Myron Gold.

That's Howard's lawyer
turned political consultant.

Word is Gold is gonna make
Howard the next president.

- [scoffs] That happens,

Céline and I are
moving to France.

- Justin Howard was
born in Westchester.

He is the only son of a
prominent New York family.

- Can we cut to the chase?

You've got Catalina and
Ortiz wearing wires?

- Yes.

- And neither of them
knows the other is wired.

- Even better.

- Victims?
- Yeah.

- Phone records?

When do we pick him up?

- There is a fundraiser
this weekend.

- Well, to be fair, we're
still building the case.

We're going over NDAs; we're
following online payments.

- I don't want this
investigation to stall out,

like the Feds with that...
That Ken doll, Gaetz.

You reel this guy in,

that's a win for us.

And for you, Chief Garland...

♪

Everything will be forgiven.

♪

- I saw you on the news this
morning, ringing the bell.

Good for you!

- Big things are happening.
- Absolutely.

And wherever I go, there's
a place for you, Catalina.

- Aw, God bless
you, Congressman.

Whatever I can do.

- Oh, since you mentioned it,

I went by Holt Tower
to visit my mother,

and I couldn't find my friend
Paulie, the maintenance guy.

- He had a family emergency.

- But I miss my sweet Rosa.

- Rosa's been a
little difficult.

She's worried about
what her son might know.

- So we need another NDA.

- I'm already on it, boss.

- The problem is
these young mothers,

always worried about
their little kids.

Aren't there deserving
homeless families

with, uh, teenage daughters?

- I'm sure we can find some.

- Thank you, Catalina.

- What a piece of crap.

- I do love to, uh, mentor.
- Mm.

- So maybe you can let
me know by Saturday?

- Chief McGrath.

- Don't get up. You
stay off of that leg.

- It's not a big deal.

- We're all lucky
that it wasn't worse.

Especially Chief Garland.

I am well aware that this
is more your case than his.

- Oh, I wouldn't say that.

I've been working
closely with him on this.

- That's good to hear.

So, between us, I have a
very good UC who I trust.

- Howard is going
to a fundraiser,

and I have two CIs
in the room with him.

- Mm, even so,

can't hurt to bolster
their testimony.

So who can, uh...
Who can middle that?

- Uh, maybe Dr. Machado.
I'll let Garland know.

- Eh, eh, eh, don't.

Department's a little worried

about Garland's
prior relationship

to Catalina Machado.

- I can assure you

that Garland's loyalty
is to the Department.

- Mm-hmm.

There's still the
matter of his judgement.

I'm trusting you not to
mention this UC to him, okay?

[soft dramatic music]

Or anyone else on your
squad, for that matter.

- Chief, this could be
dangerous for your guy.

- So make sure it isn't.

♪

.

- So the Holt Tower
trafficking case is now focused

on Congressman
Howard's involvement.

Rosa, Lulu, and Denise
have all disclosed

that Howard paid
them multiple visits.

So, are they all solid?

Guys, is there a problem?

- Lulu's not talking until
she gets her daughter back.

And I don't blame her... she's
already been burned twice.

- I'm working with protective
services on that, Fin.

- And Denise is out.
- Not worth another run?

- No, I mean out.
Out of the city.

Can't find her.

- Okay, that leaves Rosa.

- We promised to
leave her alone,

so she and her son could
have a fresh start.

- We did, but you two
have a good rapport,

so ask her about Howard
and see where it leads.

- Rosa?

- I told you that
you can't be here.

I was on a school field trip.
- I know.

- Pequeño, mijo. And
bring me back my change.

- Look, things are moving
quickly, all right?

We're looking to make a
case against Mr. Howard.

- No.

Your own captain told me
after I helped with Catalina

that I could keep the apartment.

She said it was over.

- And it is over... for you.

But he's hurting other women.

Raping girls.

- I believe it.

The man's a pig, the
worst of them all.

- We need your help
to put him away.

- By testifying?
Against Howard?

Are you crazy? You
know who he is.

- I do. But we
can protect you.

- Ma! You want some?

- I have to go.

- Hey, at least think it over?

- Let me be with my son.

- Are you nuts?

Bad enough I had to
rat out Catalina.

But Howard?

That guy's gonna be
president someday.

Got a machine behind him.
Think they're gonna let

a mamaluke like me blow that up?

- We can drive you. Say
it's a medical issue.

No one here has to know.

- Grand jury.

I told you already.

I took Howard to Lulu's
apartment, Denise's apartment,

and Rosa's apartment.

- Well... well, now we need
you to testify to that.

[dramatic music]

- How are we doing on the
afterparty for the fundraiser?

I haven't heard
back from Catalina.

- She's working on it.
- Not fast enough.

It's been a busy week,
and we need to unwind.

What about those girls
who interned last summer?

- They were still in
high school, boss.

- Just make sure they have IDs.

Ooh, the petite blonde.
She was like a colt.

- [chuckles] Colt's
the male horse.

Filly's the female.
- [laughs]

- You getting confused, partner?

- Well, she was flat and sleek.

That's all I know.
None of that mama fat.

- Oh, Jenna.

- That's her. That's
my little pony.

- [chuckles]

And her cute friend.
- Hayden.

- So Ortiz needed a law
degree to become a pimp.

- Jenna, how old is she?

- Ortiz said she's a sophomore.

- So high school. What, 16?

- Yeah, or maybe even 15.

I've got three girls
at Sacred Heart.

God, this makes me sick.

Make sure Ortiz gets this
Jenna to the fundraiser

and catch Howard in the act
and arrest him on-site, okay?

- Um, again, Chief,
the thinking here

is that maybe we let
this play out a bit more.

- Why?

- Well, some of our witnesses
are a bit reluctant.

And we're thinking if we
give them more time...

- Tell your witnesses
to grow a pair.

I want this guy to go down now.

You understand me?
- With all due respect,

we're only gonna get one
shot at Congressman Howard.

- And the Eighth Floor agrees.

- Yeah, well, they
got no balls, either.

Correct me if I'm
wrong, Counselor,

but as soon as Howard announces
his exploratory committee

for presidency,

then any arrest is gonna
be perceived as political.

Am I right?
- Agreed.

But that's still a ways off.

- What's not is a new mayor.
[phone buzzes]

And after the year
that we've just had,

Howard is the perfect target.

- You mean white?

- And privileged, yeah.

And that is just the kind
of headline that makes us...

Captain, are you with us?

- I'm sorry.

Something's come up.

I have a situation
and I need to leave.

Excuse me.

- Where's the captain?

- Don't know. Still
haven't heard from her.

- That did not feel right,
pressuring Rosa today.

I feel like we're
rushing this, you know?

Maybe she'll talk
to McGrath about it.

- Good luck.

- I know the job is not
supposed to be easy, but...

today is the first day
where it just felt wrong.

You know?

- That's part of the job,
too. You gotta get past that.

- Morales was a cop gone
bad. He was distressed.

Couldn't handle it.

- So what happened next?

- He put a gun to his head.

Sergeant Bell was
trying to talk him down.

- No. You do not
go out this way.

- Ayanna, I need you right now.

- I'm here.
- I need you.

- I'm here.

- Morales finally
lowers his weapon

and we all took a breath.

- You have your... no!
[gunshots]

- Everything
happened so quickly.

He aimed his gun at us,

and Sergeant Bell used
force to fire first.

It was a good
shooting. Textbook.

Suicide by cop.

- Anything else you want to add?

- No.

- Why were you at the
hospital, Captain Benson?

- I received a text
from Detective Stabler.

But I know now that
he didn't send it.

- How?
- He told me.

- And you have no
reason to doubt him?

- He was my partner
for... For 12 years.

- Then who was it from?
- Richard Wheatley.

It's all part of his vendetta
against Detective Stabler.

Any woman who's close
to him is a target.

- Wheatley wanted to kill you?

- I was run off the
road a week before.

That may have been
a warning shot.

- I'm aware. But
at the hospital,

it was my understanding
he sent Morales

to kill his ex-wife,
Angela Wheatley.

- Or both of us.

- Liv. Olivia Benson.

Wow.

Elliot, now I
completely understand.

She's a knock out. Poor
Angela, though, huh?

Such a pleasure
to meet you, Liv.

- Get him out of here.

.

- How'd it go at IAB?
- It went.

Are we all set up for
Howard's fundraiser?

- Everything's in motion.

- Fin, help me understand.
What is it with these men?

Wheatley, Howard...

- Too much money.
Too much power.

They think they can
do whatever they want.

- [groans] Ow!

- You okay?

- I just... I tweaked
my ankle again.

I'm fine.
- No, you're not.

I'm taking you to the doctor.

[engine turning over]

- Looks like a full house.

- Just make sure Howard gets
to the suite with the girls.

We'll do the rest.

- Will he know I set him up?

- We'll burn that bridge
when we get to it.

Meanwhile, just keep
rocking him to sleep.

- You don't understand.

Howard gave me my first
job out of law school.

He's been my friend
since college.

I-I can't do this.

- You want to continue
that friendship in jail?

- If the roles were reversed,

he wouldn't think
twice about you.

- Showtime. Let
me walk you out.

- Ortiz gonna keep it together?

- Don't worry, Counselor.

[faint dance music]

♪

- You ready? A lot
riding on this.

- Yep. And if it
all goes well,

my bosses will
take all the glory.

- If it doesn't?

- [sighs] Maybe we
open up our own agency

- [laughs]

Actually, I like
the sound of that.

- What a waste of
a good hotel room.

- [chuckles]

Mm. Oh, hold that thought.

It's on.

[applause]

- Good evening.

Welcome, everybody.
I'm Catalina Machado.

Whenever Proud Life
has needed help,

Congressman Howard has
always answered the call.

And so when he
called me to ask me

to introduce him
tonight, I was honored.

Congressman?

[applause]

- Thank you, my dear
friend. Amiga mío.

Our partnership with Proud
Life proves that we have

bipartisan support
to end homelessness.

And who better to lead that
charge than Catalina Machado?

Alliances like ours prove that

results are more important
than petty politics.

They're what real
Americans want.

[applause]

- Mm, he's got his rap down.

- Give him that much.

- The divisions in this
country break my heart.

We need to stop the
blaming, finger-pointing,

the demonization of corporate
America, the overregulation.

- Congressman is aware of the
obstacles facing your company.

- When he becomes president,

pharma will have a friend
in the White House.

- I don't know about all that,

but, uh, I do hope you
consider me an ally.

All this tax talk must
be boring for you two.

- No, not at all, Congressman.

You had me at lowering
capital gains rate.

- Justin, take it easy tonight.

Tomorrow's an early day.

Gold.

- Congressman Howard,

meet Danny Quiñones, AKA "Q."

I told you about him.

- Oh, yes! Of course.

I'm glad you decided to make it.

Catalina tells me you're
a major influencer.

- He is. He reps
a clothing line,

a vape brand, um, a
photo-sharing app?

- For what it's worth,

I got about 40 million
Insta followers.

- There's a lot of teenagers

that'll be vote eligible in '24.

- Know this guy?

- Well, it looks like he's got
a net worth of $120 million,

he guest DJs at Triller,

and he's followed by Dua
Lipa, Lizzo, Billie Eilish...

Oh, Olivia Rodrigo.
- Who?

- Treat Q right, he'll lead
us to the Promised Land.

- I'm all about the youth,
you know what I'm saying?

And I don't see
a lot of it here.

- I have some young activists
in our hospitality suite.

- Care to "caucus"?

- If that means party,
hell freaking yes.

- [chuckles]

- Amazing how these
guys find each other.

- Players always do.

[elevator dings]

- It's on.
- It's about time.

- Welcome to politics,

where the men are fours
and the women are tens.

- Wow, those girls look like...

- Girls?

Bother you?

- No. I peaked in high school.

- Well, they're
just peaking today.

They'll do anything you want,

and anything you
haven't even thought of.

[upbeat dance music]

- May I present
Jenna and Hayden.

- It's good to see you again.

- Hi.
- And this is Q.

You might recognize
him from the interwebs.

- I want to be on that "Teens
Run the World" platform.

- Those interviews are cool.

- Maybe you two can
be next. Take my info.

Where are you guys coming from?

- Jersey. Not too far.

- Transporting a minor
across state lines

for immoral purposes.
That's a felony.

Absolutely.

- You know, you two
play your cards right,

and you could be the
next Fiddle and Faddle.

- Who's that?

- Interns JFK used
to frolic with

at the White House
pool during lunch.

Those are code names.

- The White House?

I'll drink to that.

- [chuckling]

You feeling okay?

If you need to lay down...

Ooh, got you.

- I feel funny.

What was in my drink?

- That's just bubbles.

Lots and lots of little bubbles.

- He roofied her drink.

Assault in the second
degree. Felony number two.

- No, wait!
- It's all right, hey.

- Now we're looking
at attempted rape.

That's all I need.
- We gotta go.

We gotta stop this.
- Go

- I don't want to
do this. No, I...

[tense music]

♪

- Go.

- NYPD, hands up. Hands up.

♪

Party's over, Congressman.
- She's of age.

I did nothing wrong.
- Up against the wall.

Face the wall!

- Easy, easy.

Don't do something
you'll regret later.

- Jenna.

Jenna.
- What's going on?

- You're okay.
He's in trouble.

You'll be fine.

- Ah, ah.
- You good?

- The hell is this?
You set me up?

- Not a word, Q. Lawyer up.

They can't prove a thing.

- It was just a
dance, I swear to God.

You can ask her.
- Yeah, just keep talking.

- I was invited! He set me up.

- Get him out of here.

- He set me up!
- Hey.

- All right, guys. Take
off these bracelets.

And make sure you
bag those flutes.

The champagne was
probably laced.

Oh, sorry, Joe Velasco.

I'm on the job.
- Nice try.

- We didn't know
anything about a UC.

- Hey, hey, hey, it
was a "need to know."

Call Tommy.

Chief McGrath?

.

- Yes, Chief, we're
maintaining your UC's cover.

He's in holding with
Congressman Howard.

I will let them
know. You're welcome.

Chief McGrath sends his
thanks to the entire team.

- Would have been nice to
know who the entire team was.

There's a UC on the job,

McGrath, Garland,
don't let us know?

- Close the door.

[door clicks]

Garland didn't know.

McGrath told me not
to tip anyone off.

The UC's name is Joe Velasco.

McGrath's apparently his rabbi.

- McGrath doesn't
even trust Garland?

That's not good.

- How long are we
keeping "Q" in holding?

- Until Congressman
Howard's lawyer gets here.

I mean, maybe he'll
get him talking.

- Would that be admissible?

- Let's let the
lawyers sort it out.

[phone buzzes]

Kat. Okay.

Rollins is on her
way to meet you.

They gave Jenna
fluids and a sedative.

She's lucid.

- All right, we need to make
sure that they run her urine.

Is her family there?

- The mother's on
her way from Jersey.

Talk to Jenna before
she gets there.

I'll have Carisi get a
warrant for her phone.

[light knock]
- Captain?

- Yes.
- Howard's lawyer is here.

He says he'll only talk to you.

- Put him in Interrogation.

- So, what'd the doctor
say about your ankle?

- It's fractured.

He had to reset it, and
that was... crunchy.

It's too swollen for
them to do surgery on it.

- And that's why
you should go home.

I can handle this.

- I know you can, Fin.

But I can't tell McGrath

that I have a sitting
Congressman in holding

and I need a sick day.

- [coughing] Ahh.

Hey! What's the big deal?

We were just partying.
- I'll ask again.

You need me to get you a lawyer?

- I got one. And
this won't stick.

If the girls brought the drugs.

Two phone calls from
you, we're out of here!

- Compadre, listen.

These guys are looking
to take me out.

Don't say anything.

- There's nothing to say.

- Congressman,
your lawyer's here.

- Hey. Hey!

I still need to make a call.
- I'll be back.

- [coughing]

- Ahh, Sarge, Sarge, Sarge.

Can't you put me somewhere else?

- Sorry.

- [coughing continues]

- You called my parents
without asking me?

- You're 16, Jenna.

- I wasn't doing anything.

- You had Rohypnol, alcohol,
pot, and MDMA in your system.

- I don't do Ecstasy.

All I take is Addy.
I bought it online.

I have ADHD.

- So how do you know
Congressman Howard?

- I met him on a
class trip to D.C.

He took photos with all of us.

He asked for my number
to text me the pictures.

He follows me on Insta.

- Did you live in his district?

- No, I'm from Bayonne.

I told him I was
interested in politics,

solving climate change.

He said he could get
me an internship.

- How often did you see him?

- Mostly in the summer.

He'd send a car service.
Parties at his house.

He had a Fourth of
July party on a yacht.

- Did he ever get
physical with you?

- What do you mean?
- You know what we mean.

- Jenna, you are not
in any trouble, okay?

Whatever happened,
that's on him.

- Nothing happened.

- He drugged you.

He took you back to his bedroom.

Have you two ever had sex?

- Not "sex" sex.

I give him massages.

That's not illegal.
He told me so.

He went to law school.

- You guys had your fun.

Keeping my client, a
United States congressman,

in a holding cell overnight?

- He's under arrest, Mr. Gold.
- On what probable cause?

- Well, the girl that he
drugged and put in his bed,

she was 16 years old.

- First of all, anything she
took must have been hers.

And her vaccination
card said she was 18.

- Come on, as a lawyer,
you gotta know that

that's no excuse.
- Nothing happened.

She must have taken
something. She seemed dizzy.

I helped her lie down,
administered CPR...

- With your pants unzipped.
- Let's just stop right here.

- Do you always party
with teenage girls

after a fundraiser?

- My client is single.
He has a spotless record.

We all know this is a
political witch hunt.

- All right, let's move
on from the girl, then.

You're a regular visitor at
the Holt Tower apartments

in Manhattan.

- Yes, I am. My mother
has a pied-à terre

overlooking the park.

- Okay. So which one of these

is your mother?

- I don't know any
of these women.

- Really? Because
they know you.

And we have security footage
of you on their floor.

So can you explain
that to me, please?

- Due diligence. Inspecting
their apartments.

Part of my duty as a member
of the housing sub-committee.

- Enough, Justin, this is a
goddamn fishing expedition.

I understand it's
every ADA's wet dream

to take down a
presidential contender,

but we're done.

- Hey, actually,
one more question.

Who put you up to this?
My party or theirs?

- Oh, nobody us up to
this. You see, we're SVU.

You're a sexual predator.
So guess what happens next?

- Congressman Howard.

On the charges of sex
trafficking, rape 3,

facilitating a sex offense
with a controlled substance,

and attempted rape,
how do you plead?

- Not guilty, Your Honor.
As I've said repeatedly,

this is a political move by
the NYPD and the DA's office.

- Not the time nor
the place, Counselor.

People on bail?
- We ask for remand.

- Remand? For a
sitting congressman?

He has an obligation
to his constituents.

- He's looking at
20 years in prison.

- If it will help you sleep
better, Counselor Carisi,

I'll ask the congressman
to surrender his passport.

- Uh, ten seconds, folks.

- Chief. Garland's
not here yet.

- Well, maybe
that's for the best.

We don't need any questions
about his relationship

with Catalina Machado.

- Okay, Chief.

- [clears throat]

Good afternoon.

I'm joined by Captain
Benson of SVU, ADA Carisi,

and attorneys from the SDNY.

After an exhaustive
investigation,

today we announce the arrests

of Proud Life director
Dr. Catalina Machado,

congressional aide Ruben Ortiz,

and New York state congressman
George Justin Howard,

who, along with other
unnamed co-defendants,

will be charged
with sexual assault

and sex trafficking.

- Celia?
- We know that there are

more victims out there

who were given
subsidized housing...

- Why isn't this on my schedule?

- We are asking you
to come forward.

- I'm sorry, I didn't know.

- No one notified you?
- No.

- Are you... are you sure
you didn't miss an email?

- We are convening...
- I'll check.

Maybe it went to spam.

Should I call McGrath's office?

- No. Thank you, Celia.

- To uphold the public
trust. Thank you.

- Okay, um, we can take
some questions, if you like.

[tense music]

[batteries clatter]

♪

.

- Mm. Chief.

- Good morning. How
are you feeling?

- I'll live.

Listen...

about the press conference.

I never would have gone

if I knew that you
weren't coming.

- All good. I
spoke to McGrath.

- You did?

- He was surprised
I wasn't there, too.

He apologized.

Must have been a communication
error from his office.

Things are moving pretty fast.

He said that's probably
why he didn't tell me

we had a UC at the fundraiser.

- He said that?

That's, uh, not
exactly what happened.

- Water under the bridge.

We play this right,

plenty of attaboys
for everybody.

How close are we
to an indictment?

- Well, we're prepping
Catalina and Ortiz today

for the grand jury tomorrow.

- We trust Catalina?

- She's looking at 20 to life
if she doesn't cooperate.

- I'm still trying to
wrap my head around

somebody who's
done so much good,

yet she got caught up in this.

- Chief... she didn't
get "caught up."

She orchestrated it.

- I know, I know.

I was having a conversation
with my wife last night,

talking about my
own blind spots.

- Well, we all have them.

[dramatic music]

♪

- If I haven't made it clear,

I appreciate you
pointing them out for me.

And for having my back?

- Always.

♪

- Congressman Howard invited
me to his suite to party.

He said, some men like
melons, some men like mangoes.

He told me he likes cherries.

Hey, I'm sorry. That's
the way he talks.

- So you get to his
suite, and who's there?

- He asked me to make sure
that two former interns,

Jenna Evans and Hayden
Smith, were in the suite.

- Do you remember
what you told him?

- I reminded him that they
were still in high school.

He told me, just make
sure they have IDs.

- Did Congressman Howard
ever express any interest

in high school girls before?

- That's when Congressman
Howard told me he was tired

of the young mothers.

He asked me to find apartments

for mothers with
teenage daughters.

- And you took that to mean...

- That I was to
find homeless women

whose daughters would
have sex with him

in exchange for
subsidized apartments.

- And that was a
clear quid pro quo?

- Ortiz said he was
bringing his boss,

Congressman Howard,
to Holt Tower.

He expected the VIP treatment.

- What did he mean by that?

- Look, I'm not gonna
say he did anything.

- That's okay, Jenna.

We'll just ask you to tell
the grand jury your age.

- I'm almost 17.

- And you went to the
hotel bedroom with Howard

after he gave you a drink.

- I had to let him do
whatever he wanted to me.

On my knees.

Forcing me.

And then he turned me over.

It hurt. But I
couldn't scream,

because my son was
in the next room.

- How often did he come

to your apartment in
Holt Towers, Rosa?

- Two or three times a week.

He told me his mother
lived in the building

and he could come over
whenever he wanted to.

And if I didn't submit to him,

that he would tell Catalina

to send me back to the shelter.

- Thank you, Rosa.

- [whimpers]

- I'm days away from launching
my political action committee.

No one's gonna believe
these "victims."

- A grand jury will.

- They'll believe
these homeless women

who get to keep
their free apartments

if they testify?
- Or Catalina?

She's lying to save her own ass.

She's been robbing Proud
Life blind for years.

- So you knew that,

and yet you still asked
her to introduce you

at your fundraiser.

- Let's not litigate
who knew what when.

My client is willing to
testify that Catalina offered

to bribe him with sexual favors

in exchange for
supporting Proud Life.

- Not sexual favors.
They're called rapes.

- Or these women are grifters.

The only reason the
congressman went to Holt Tower

was to visit his mother.

And she'll make a better witness

than your rapist
handyman or Dr. Machado.

- Look, you asked
for this meeting.

So, you know, any deal offered
means he goes on the registry,

and he does prison time.
- [laughs]

I'm not going to prison.

I'm gonna be president.

- You know, I've seen
a lot of powerful men

in this position,
and they all thought

that they could commit
crimes with impunity.

- I'm going to be president,

and I will not let a
politically-motivated ADA

and a bitter woman cop
who's spent her life

getting back at
men take me down.

- Justin...
- No, don't Justin me, Myron.

Tell them. Tell them.

Tell them who
they're dealing with.

- We're well aware who
you are, Mr. Howard.

- Are you?

Then you know this man
right here makes two calls,

and you're gone, like that,
from the ADA's office.

And you,

you're on traffic
duty in Staten Island

with your old boss.
- Excuse me?

- I need a moment
with my client.

- Good luck.

- You should have kept
your pants zipped.

Now you need to keep
your mouth shut.

- I'm not going down
for this, Myron.

- Not another word.

- You need to make this go away.

- Shut up, you idiot.

- Should we break this up?

- It's a private conversation.

We didn't see or
hear any of this.

[tense music]

- I know you're gonna say no,

but we're in good shape.

Can you take a break?

[chuckles]

- You know what?

You're right.

Let me, uh...

let me take you to dinner.

- Seriously? You?

The night before
your grand jury?

- Well, I got a UC,
I got two informants,

wires, cameras...

Congressman Howard
doesn't know it yet,

but he's a dead man walking.

- Let's go. Yeah.

[phone buzzes]

[phone ringing]

- Rollins.
- Carisi.

[distant sirens wailing]

[tense dramatic music]

♪

- Guys. Please, come on!

You don't have to do this.
Please, I'm begging you.

Please, no! No, no, no...

[groaning]

[shouting]

- [speaking Spanish]

[phone ringing]

- Hello? Hello!

Stop calling me.
Stop calling me.

♪

Mijo. Mijo, wake up!

Wake up, come on.
- Ma...

- We gotta go. Get out of bed.

- We're checking
security cam footage,

but passersby claim that
they saw Catalina jump.

- Find Rosa and find Jenna now.

♪

.

[wolf howls]

.

[wolf howls]