Anna Van Patten: Emilia Barassi

Exchange

Emilia Barassi

Emilia Barassi: He drove right by my house.
Olivia Benson: And what did you do then?
Emilia Barassi: He was polite. I thought he might have made a mistake, misheard me, so I repeated "Central Park West and 69th, Central Park West and 69th."
Olivia Benson: Okay, did... did you see his name on the... on the taxi permit?
[she shakes her head]
Olivia Benson: Did you see his face?
Emilia Barassi: He was... he was black.
Olivia Benson: Okay.
Emilia Barassi: And then... and then the doors locked shut, and I freaked out that he was gonna kill me. Why did I...
Olivia Benson: No, honey. This is not your fault. None of this is your fault.

Emilia Barassi: He's already in jail in Italy. Lara testified against him.
Olivia Benson: I am so sorry for everything that you've been through. Emilia, how old were you?
Emilia Barassi: Four. Do I have to talk about this?
Olivia Benson: I... I really think that it will help.
Emilia Barassi: Help what? I'm fine. I got over it.
Olivia Benson: Sweetie, you're not fine, okay? You went to a sex party with two men that were over twice your age. It takes time...
Emilia Barassi: You think I'm a slut.
Olivia Benson: Uh, n-not at all. That's far from the truth. Okay? I think that you are punishing yourself.
Emilia Barassi: For being a slut.
Olivia Benson: I think that you are a young, innocent girl who had a bad thing happen to her.
Emilia Barassi: It happened because of me.
Olivia Benson: [trying to stop her from leaving] Emilia. Emilia, your father... is the criminal here. Not you. This is not your fault. What did your father do to you?
Emilia Barassi: It was always in the morning when Lara was at school. Mama was in town at the market. She went every Tuesday. I could hear his flip-flops snap against the wooden floor, and I knew. He carried me into his bed. The same bed where he slept... every night with Mama.

Olivia Benson: So, Emilia, I need you to tell me again exactly what your father did to you.
Emilia Barassi: [standing to leave] This is dumb.
Olivia Benson: No, listen to me. Please, it is very important. I need to trust me, and after this, I promise you I'm not gonna bother you again. Please.
[they sit back down]
Olivia Benson: So, you said... you said that it happened in the morning when Lara was at school, right?
Emilia Barassi: Mama was in town at the market. She went every Tuesday. I could hear his flip-flops snap against the wooden floor, and I knew.
Olivia Benson: That's exactly what your sister said. Word for word. Do you know what I think? I think maybe you weren't... really molested by your father.
Emilia Barassi: Papa's in jail.
Olivia Benson: I know he is, and I think that that is a mistake.
Emilia Barassi: Why would I lie?
Olivia Benson: You're not lying. I know that you believe that that really happened, Emilia, but I think that you were brainwashed. You and your sister...
Emilia Barassi: You're crazy.
Olivia Benson: ...were brainwashed.

Olivia Benson: Emilia... do you really remember being molested by your father?
[she shakes her head]
Olivia Benson: I didn't think so. Emilia, who told you that? Who put that idea in your head?
Emilia Barassi: Lara. She said he did it to her, too. I didn't believe her.
Olivia Benson: Did Richard tell you that, as well?
Emilia Barassi: I didn't believe him, but he proved it.
Olivia Benson: He proved it? How? How could he prove it?
Emilia Barassi: I don't want to talk about it.
Olivia Benson: Emilia, this is very important. How could he prove it?
Emilia Barassi: With his fingers.
Olivia Benson: Oh, sweetheart.
Emilia Barassi: He put them inside me and he said...
Olivia Benson: And what did he say?
Emilia Barassi: He said he loved me.
Olivia Benson: Emilia, that's not love, honey. He hurt you. He brainwashed you. It's called grooming.
Emilia Barassi: Why would he do that?
Olivia Benson: Because he wanted you to do what he wanted.

Olivia Benson: So, Emilia, I was hoping that you might be able to remember some more details about the man who attacked you.
Emilia Barassi: I'm sorry.
Olivia Benson: That's okay. Can you tell us where you were before you got into the cab?
Emilia Barassi: I was at my friend's house. Tommy Burke. But he didn't do anything.
Olivia Benson: Okay. Because if I know where the cab picked you up, then that would help us find him. How about your clothes? You have any idea what happened to them?
Emilia Barassi: I left them at Tommy's, but it's not what you were thinking. We were just playing a kind of poker where you...
Olivia Benson: Where if you lose, you lose your clothes. Gotcha. I was a teenager once.

Olivia Benson: I saw the video on your phone.
Emilia Barassi: I don't know what you're talking about.
Olivia Benson: Are you sure? 'Cause I can talk to Mary or Richard about it.
Emilia Barassi: No! He'd kill me.
Olivia Benson: Okay, then why don't you tell me? Okay? Just you and me. And I need you tell me everything.

Emilia Barassi: A man...
Olivia Benson: What man?
Emilia Barassi: I met him online. He said his name was Bob, but I don't know. It was when I first got here. And Richard and Mary are great, but...
Olivia Benson: But?
Emilia Barassi: I was just lonely, I guess.
Olivia Benson: Emilia, the men in the video, they were more than... than twice your age.
Emilia Barassi: It was just once.
Olivia Benson: Okay. Do you remember where you were?
[she's reluctant to say]
Olivia Benson: Honey, what they did to you is against the law. It's illegal.
Emilia Barassi: They didn't force me.
Olivia Benson: It doesn't matter. Did they give you anything? Alcohol, drinks? Huh?
Emilia Barassi: Yes. But I didn't even want it.
Olivia Benson: Okay.
Emilia Barassi: It was at the Harper Hotel, and I never went back. But please... if Richard finds out, he'll send me home.

Olivia Benson: Look at these photos, okay? Just...
[showing her a picture of Emilia and her father]
Olivia Benson: Emilia, do you remember that?
Emilia Barassi: I don't want to look at him.
Olivia Benson: [showing another picture] Do you remember riding a bike with your father?
[showing another picture]
Olivia Benson: How about this one?
Emilia Barassi: That's my First Communion.
[touching her necklace]
Emilia Barassi: It's when Mama gave me this.