- [last lines]
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: Well, I've barged into your office enough for one week.
- Olivia Benson: Please, any time.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: 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?
- Olivia Benson: Nope. Not at all.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: I'll see you, Olivia.
- Olivia Benson: I'll see you, Chief.
- Olivia Benson: You all saw that, right?
- Amanda Rollins: On-air disclosure?
- Odafin Tutuola: We were watching you live. They couldn't cut away fast enough.
- Olivia Benson: Yeah, and then she told me that Harold Coyle raped her.
- Dominick Carisi Jr.: Coyle, huh? Heard a lot of rumors about that guy. He's paranoid, he's a predator.
- Amanda Rollins: How well do you know Heidi?
- Olivia Benson: We met at "Women in New York" panel years ago. We stayed in touch. I don't see her making this up.
- Mark James: I saw you on "HNT" this morning. Heidi Sorenson, she was talking about Harold Coyle, wasn't she?
- Olivia Benson: Why do you ask?
- Mark James: He assaulted my wife.
- Olivia Benson: Did you know Amy James?
- Heidi Sorenson: She had... problems.
- Olivia Benson: He had tape on her!
- [noticing Heidi's reaction]
- Olivia Benson: Does he have tape on you?
- Heidi Sorenson: No!
- Olivia Benson: We can fight this.
- Heidi Sorenson: Don't judge me. And don't worry, I'm not gonna kill myself.
- Olivia Benson: All right. Well, when you're ready to have a serious conversation, you know where I am.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: 1PP got a call from Steven Turner at "HNT". You're investigating Harold Coyle on assault charges?
- Olivia Benson: It's very preliminary.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: Who's the complainant?
- Olivia Benson: It's really very preliminary.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: Okay. That's what Turner said. Your detectives are basically throwing spaghetti at the wall.
- Rafael Barba: All due respect, I hope you're not advising we stay away from "HNT"?
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: 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...
- Olivia Benson: I hear you.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: 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. Just have a damn good reason.
- Olivia Benson: I hear you, Chief.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: I'll leave you two to it.
- Olivia Benson: [Dodds leaves] So, happy to be back at work yet?
- Rafael Barba: After that? Almost makes me miss suspension.
- Olivia Benson: Everybody at "HNT" knows about Coyle, but nobody's willing to talk about it.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: Okay, par for the course.
- Rafael Barba: I was hoping for at least one corroborating witness.
- Olivia Benson: Well, we have Heidi's story, and once she came forward, she's been consistent.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: What about texts? E-mails to Coyle? Any change after the alleged assault?
- Olivia Benson: Well, there's no communication saying "Why did you rape me?". And there's certainly nothing from him to her.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: What about the timeline?
- Olivia Benson: She got to work at 6:00. She was in with him from 6:20 to 7:10.
- Rafael Barba: Behind closed doors with no witnesses.
- Olivia Benson: Somebody else was there. Coyle. Look, I think it's time for us to get his side of the story.
- Rafael Barba: With no evidence for leverage?
- Olivia Benson: He doesn't know that. And he's notoriously paranoid.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: Okay, we'll talk to him. Together.
- Olivia Benson: You don't think that I can handle it alone?
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: I do. But I want him to know how seriously NYPD is taking this.
- Olivia Benson: [after talking to Coyle] What he implied about Mike's death...
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: 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 aplogized sooner.
- Olivia Benson: It's all right.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: 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.
- Olivia Benson: I know.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: [nodding towards the HNT office] And we don't give up this fight. You stop fighting, the bullies win.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: So "HNT" is doing our job for us?
- Olivia Benson: The more audacity they have with their denials, the more it's backfiring.
- Odafin Tutuola: [poking his head in the door] Liv, two more women that worked for "HNT" say they were harassed by Harold Coyle.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: Well, now we're getting somewhere.
- Olivia Benson: Get their statements.
- Harold Coyle: I hope you know what you're doing.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: It's good to see you, Harold.
- [Coyle leaves, and Barba approaches]
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: Good luck. Careful what you wish for.
- Olivia Benson: [Dodds leaves] Now what?
- Rafael Barba: I file a motion to include the testimony of the four other victims. The defense files a motion to exclude.
- Olivia Benson: You know the other women are pursuing a civil case.
- Rafael Barba: 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.
- Rafael Barba: [his motion to include has been denied] Not the ruling I was hoping for.
- Olivia Benson: So where does that leave us?
- Rafael Barba: With two witnesses. Heidi Sorenson and George Thanos.
- Olivia Benson: Is that enough to go to trial?
- Rafael Barba: If I'm willing to go out on a very high, very shaky limb.
- Olivia Benson: I assume that's a "yes"?
- Rafael Barba: Damn right it is.
- Rafael Barba: [Benson is on the witness stand] You were seated next to Ms. Sorenson. In your experience as an SVU, Lieutenant, what can you tell us?
- Olivia Benson: She was triggered. She was traumatized. In my opinion, she exhibited symptoms of a victim of sexual assault.
- Rafael Barba: But when you tried to follow up, she refused to speak to you?
- Olivia Benson: No, she had an emotional reaction and then she backed down, which is not uncommon.
- Rafael Barba: Two days later, she did disclose that Harold Coyle had assaulted her?
- Olivia Benson: Yes.
- Rafael Barba: Thank you. Nothing further.
- Olivia Benson: Chief, how can I help you?
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: I wanted to congratulate you. "HNT" is back on its financial heels and Coyle will do eighteen months.
- Olivia Benson: Well, the guy just couldn't help himself.
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: The tortoise and the scorpion.
- Olivia Benson: I'm sorry?
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: 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?".
- Olivia Benson: And the scorpion says "Because it's in my nature."
- Deputy Chief William Dodds: Oh, you do know that one. I guess the scorpions keep us in business.
- Mark James: This is her, Amy. She worked in public relations at "HNT".
- Amanda Rollins: Okay, can you tell us what happened?
- Mark James: Harold was always making moves, being flirty. She told him she was married.
- Olivia Benson: But he didn't stop.
- Mark James: 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.
- Olivia Benson: She told you this?
- Mark James: Yes. I said we should go to the police, file a report.
- Amanda Rollins: Can I ask why you didn't?
- Mark James: 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.
- Olivia Benson: I'm so sorry.
- Mark James: I want you to go after that bastard and the network. They all knew about him and nobody did a thing.
- Amanda Rollins: Coyle threatened her directly?
- Mark James: His producer, Turner. He said if Amy wanted to go after Coyle, it would be scorched earth. "HNT" would destroy us.
- Olivia Benson: Is it true that you're re-negotiating your contract with "HNT"?
- Heidi Sorenson: I'm exploring my options.
- Olivia Benson: Is that why you don't wanna tell me the truth about what happened this morning?
- Heidi Sorenson: I should never have said his name out loud like that.
- Olivia Benson: Why? Because it isn't true or because you're scared of getting fired?
- Heidi Sorenson: They are replacing me with Margery Evans. Officially, I'm "on vacation".
- Olivia Benson: I see.
- Heidi Sorenson: 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.
- Olivia Benson: And you're ready to go after Coyle now?
- Heidi Sorenson: I know what it looks like. That I'm doing this because I got fired, but that's not the reason.
- Olivia Benson: Oh, I believe you. Let's get this guy.
- Olivia Benson: 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?
- Heidi Sorenson: No. Margery was the one person I confided in.
- Olivia Benson: Look, I know that you want to go after Coyle criminally, but... but the fact is you may have more leverage pursuing a civil case.
- [as they talk, Benson's phone buzzes]
- Heidi Sorenson: This isn't about money.
- Olivia Benson: Do you know a Gwendolyn Gates?
- Heidi Sorenson: Yeah, she was an anchor at "HNT" ten years ago.
- Olivia Benson: She's on her way to our squad room. She says that Harold Coyle assaulted her, too.
- Gwendolyn Gates: I turned on the TV, saw Margery Evans spouting that inane defense of Harold. I couldn't stay silent any longer.
- Dominick Carisi Jr.: Thanks for coming in.
- Gwendolyn Gates: I should've known it wasn't just me.
- Amanda Rollins: Tell us what happened with Coyle.
- Gwendolyn Gates: You're gonna need more paper.
- Dominick Carisi Jr.: All right, so we got four women, all former "HNT" employees, with credible stories of harassment going back fifteen years.
- Rafael Barba: Okay, good. What's the bad news?
- Amanda Rollins: They're all allegations of misdemeanor assault, from over two years ago. Outside of the statute of limitations.
- Rafael Barba: Except for Heidi's rape, which is a he said/she said.
- Amanda Rollins: And one allegation of attempted rape. Alana Reed, twenty years old. She quit right after the incident.
- Rafael Barba: Tell me she went to HR.
- Dominick Carisi Jr.: No, but she was George Thanos' assistant, and he already hates Coyle.
- Rafael Barba: And this gives him one more reason.
- Odafin Tutuola: Coyle is a bad guy, George.
- George Thanos: Why didn't Alana tell me?
- Dominick Carisi Jr.: Well, maybe she thought you wouldn't believe her. Maybe she thought you wouldn't back her up.
- Odafin Tutuola: Like Heidi.
- George Thanos: Heidi and I have been behind a news desk, in the foxhole, for seven years. Nobody has her back more than I do.
- Odafin Tutuola: Then act like it. Testify that you saw how upset she was after the rape. We need someone to back her story up.
- George Thanos: I want to, I do. But I can't.
- Dominick Carisi Jr.: George, you said you had a daughter, right? Well, she must have heard about this on the news. She hasn't asked you what you know? What you're doing about it?
- George Thanos: This is a kamikaze career move.
- Odafin Tutuola: Think of it like this: you'll go down as a hero.
- Steven Turner: 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.
- Dominick Carisi Jr.: Actually, we're here about Amy James.
- Steven Turner: Amy James.
- Odafin Tutuola: Yeah, she worked here a few years ago. She killed herself.
- Steven Turner: I did hear about that. A tragedy.
- Dominick Carisi Jr.: Yeah. Did you also hear she accused Harold Coyle of assault, just like Heidi?
- Steven Turner: Maybe you should talk to our lawyers.
- Odafin Tutuola: Good. We can ask them to turn over the video tapes of Amy. The tapes Coyle was blackmailing her with.
- Steven Turner: I think you're off base here.
- Dominick Carisi Jr.: 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.
- Steven Turner: The real reason Heidi had her "breakdown"? She's trying to renegotiate her contract. Then she found out Margery Evans is being groomed to replace her.
- Dominick Carisi Jr.: Groomed? By who? Harold Coyle?
- Steven Turner: This is a brutal business for women. There's a shelf life. No matter how much plastic surgery they get.
- Heidi Sorenson: 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."
- Olivia Benson: And then what happened?
- Heidi Sorenson: 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.
- Amanda Rollins: And the behavior continued?
- Heidi Sorenson: Yeah. Touching, kissing, groping. He would demand that I wear... lacy pantie, 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.
- Olivia Benson: How long did this go on?
- Heidi Sorenson: Years. And I didn't think things could get any worse, until January they did.
- Olivia Benson: Okay. Tell us about that.
- Heidi Sorenson: 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.
- Amanda Rollins: So you didn't report it.
- Heidi Sorenson: No. I straightened myself up, walked out, and I went back to work. Like a good girl. Like a good, stupid girl.
- Olivia Benson: Did you confide in anyone?
- Heidi Sorenson: The irony is Margery was the one person I told. I was trying to warn her.