"Asunder" | ||
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← | SVU, Episode 2.07 | → |
Production number: E1404 First aired: 1 December 2000 | ||
Written By Judith McCreary Directed By David Platt |
Summary[]
The truth behind the alleged rape of a woman by her husband comes to light when a history of domestic abuse is uncovered.
Plot[]
A heated domestic quarrel ends up with Patricia Andrews charging her police officer husband, Sgt. Lloyd Andrews, with rape. The Special Victims Unit investigates the crime, but they have roadblocks every step of the way. It turns out that Patricia is the most abusive -- Patricia has a history of physically abusing Lloyd, and even throwing heavy objects at Lloyd, but every time the police are called to their residence, Lloyd's colleagues sweep it under the rug.
This time, Patricia tells Munch that Lloyd raped her, and the detectives are trying to sort out if it's real, or if there's a vindictive motive to the charge. But another distress call to the police summons them to the Andrews' apartment, and this time, Patricia has cut Lloyd with a knife. Now Patricia is under arrest.
Cabot is brought in to sort things out, as it seems that both parties, prone to violence, have let their marital problems escalate out of control. Bottom line: Lloyd supposedly apologized to Patricia for raping her. Patricia recants and doesn't want Lloyd to be charged. But Cabot won't let Patricia get off so easily. She charges Patricia with assault with a deadly weapon. Patricia deals out of doing time by reluctantly testifying against Lloyd. But he's found not guilty, and Patricia and Lloyd kiss and make up.
Meanwhile, Jeffries makes a decision about her own future with the SVU. Cragen has to deal with a pending discrimination lawsuit by Jeffries, who is on desk duty pending further psychiatric evaluation. Jeffries has admitted to sleeping with someone that she had under suspicion as a suspect in a case, and because of the sensitive nature of her job, the police psychologists and top brass thought she should be off the street, pending further inquiry. Heartbroken that Cragen agrees that she needs help, Jeffries decides to leave the SVU.
Cast[]
Main cast[]
- Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler
- Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson
- Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch
- Michelle Hurd as Detective Monique Jeffries
- Ice-T as Detective Odafin Tutuola
- Stephanie March as A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot
- Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen
Recurring cast[]
- Kevin O'Rourke as Defense Attorney Sam Tiffany
- Joanna Merlin as Judge Lena Petrovsky
- Dylan Price as Detective Danny Tatum
- Peter Francis James as Judge Kevin Beck
- Tom Tammi as Deputy Commissioner
- Brennan Brown as Defense Attorney Brendan Walsh
Guest cast[]
- Nestor Serrano as Sergeant Lloyd Andrews
- John Ramsey as Judge Walter Schreiber
- Jerome Preston Bates as Officer Clarkson
- Amy Carlson as Patricia Andrews
- Mario Mendoza as IAB Detective Santiago
- Mark Lotito as IAB Detective Howard
- Victor Verhaeghe as Officer Powell
- Meryl Goodfader as Clerk #1
- John Hartmann as Clerk #2
- Paul Stolarsky as Cyrus Parker
References[]
Quotes[]
- Munch: [to Patricia Andrews] Think of your body as part of the crime scene. Time and body fluids erode evidence. The procedure is we head to the hospital, and then I'll take your statement.
- Patricia Andrews: So basically the bastard rapes me and you waste time. That's the procedure?
- Munch: Ma'am...
- Patricia Andrews: Look here, Officer...
- Munch: Detective Munch. Perhaps you'd be more comfortable with a female detective.
- Patricia Andrews: I'd be happy to talk to anyone with a brain.
- Munch: There are five stages of grief. Don't go through them all at once.
- Munch: All you've proven here today is that women are still chattel.
- Cabot: Only if they want to be.
- Benson: Even a married woman has the right to say no.
- Sam Tiffany: Hell of a railroad job on what he said in the heat of the moment. Got me thinking about the fights with my wife, what people might say. Sometimes I want to kill her.
- Cabot: If she dies, then you've got a problem.
Background information and notes[]
- The episode title likely comes from the Christian mandate against divorce ("Whom God has joined together let no man put asunder.")
- In this episode Detective Monique Jeffries leaves the squad, and files a discrimination suit against the New York City Police Department. This is one of three episodes in the second season in which Hurd appears in the opening theme. The other two are "Wrong Is Right" and "Runaway".
- Actor John Ramsey makes a crossover appearance as Judge Walter Schreiber. Ramsey played the character in ten episodes from Law & Order.
- Actress Amy Carlson went on to play A.D.A. Kelly Gaffney in the short-lived Law & Order: Trial by Jury.
- Actor Peter Francis James makes his last appearance as Judge Kevin Beck.
- The IAB investigator mentions how Cragen was asked to take down his mentor, Peter O'Farrell, which happened in the Law & Order episode "The Blue Wall".
- When Munch and Cabot are interviewing Mrs. Andrews after she recants, she is crying, and her eyes re full of tears with tears running down her cheeks. The camera cuts to Munch leaning close to her, to ask Mrs. Andrews a question, and her eyes and face are totally dry. There was not enough time for her to dry her face and eyes before the camera cut.
Episode scene cards[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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Special Victims Unit |
Home of Cyrus Parker |
One Police Plaza |
Manhattan South |
Arraignment Court |
Previous episode: "Noncompliance" |
"Asunder" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 2 |
Next episode: "Taken" |