| "Beautiful Frame" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | SVU, Episode 14.11 | → |
| Production number: 14012 First aired (US): 9 January 2013 First aired (UK): 26 February 2013 First aired (CAN): 9 January 2013 First aired (AUS): 14 March 2013 | ||
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| Written By Peter Blauner Directed By Jean de Segonzac | ||
Plot[]
Tommy Bandolce is killed in Babylon, a town in Suffolk County, a county that takes up most of Long Island. Tommy's girlfriend Jesse Sturgis is immediately arrested for it. Benson recalls Jesse as a single mother who was raped four months ago in the Meatpacking District by Michael Provo, and Provo has still not gone to trial.
Amaro says that the DA's office hated that case, because Jesse was drunk, and her story was a mess. Benson says that Jesse knew Provo, and was afraid Tommy would learn about that. Fin explains that Jesse has been arrested for killing Tommy.
Suffolk County DA Pam James, who has an icy demeanor, is determined to put Jesse away, no matter what. Barba and the SVU team like a different suspect for the murder -- Provo himself. The trials start simultaneously, and both prosecutors must fight for a conviction before the other can destroy their case. The SVU figures out that Provo killed Tommy, and framed Jesse, in order to make sure no jury would ever believe her rape accusation. With the conspiracy discovered, Barba proposes that the Suffolk DA withdraws the charges, but a protesting Provo starts making threats. After considering her options, Pam agrees and requests the detectives take Provo away. Provo is then arrested for his crimes of conspiracy and murder, as Provo is hauled away by the detectives, he swore that he was going to bring Pam down with him.
Jesse is released and is disappointed that the rape charges she filed were withdrawn but is still relieved that she can go home with her son.
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson
- Danny Pino as Detective Nick Amaro
- Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins
- Richard Belzer as Sergeant John Munch (credit only)
- Ice-T as Detective Odafin Tutuola
- Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen (credit only)
Recurring Cast[]
- Raúl Esparza as A.D.A. Rafael Barba
- Aida Turturro as Judge Felicia Catano
- Tony Campisi as Defense Attorney Steve Roth
- Renée Elise Goldsberry as Defense Attorney Martha Marron
Guest Cast[]
- Jane Kaczmarek as D.A. Pam James
- Yvonne Zima as Jesse Sturgis
- Shamika Cotton as Carol McEwan
- Todd Gearhart as David Elias
- Craig "muMs" Grant as Eddie Baker
- Robert LuPone as Gabriel Gorromini
- Dan Debenport as Judge D. Aidala
- Enver Gjokaj as Michael Provo
- Jonathan C. Kaplan as Sergeant Richie Russo
- Joseph Masi as Tommy Bandolce
- Matthew Foster as Counselor Gunther
- Aymee Garcia as Operator #1
- Antonio De Marco as Shep Morrissey
- Bridget Megan Clark as Ally
- Carson Grant as Larry Banks
- Nicholas Damiano as Matthew Sturgis
References[]
Quotes[]
- Pam James: [to Barba] You attack the integrity of my office, you're in for the fight of your life.
- Michael Provo: [to Pam James] You'd really sell me out, Pam? After everything I've done for you? You'd still be putting your tits on the table for traffic court judges if it wasn't for me!
- [about Jessie Sturgis after she's arraigned for murder]
- Barba: We're in someone else's courthouse and it's not our case. She's their defendant.
- Benson: I know, but she's also our victim.
- Barba: Ms. James, what brings you to town?
- Pam James: I was heading to the governor's fundraiser when I heard that your SVU minions arrested Mr. Provo in Islip.
- Barba: Yeah, they said traffic was terrible coming back.
- Amaro: See, we know Provo's M.O. He was having a relationship with you while your husband was away.
- Carol McEwan: You can't prove that.
- Benson: Carol, it's what he does. He takes advantage of women who are already in trouble.
- Carol McEwan: I love my husband.
- Amaro: Did Provo threaten to tell Eddie about your affair?
- Carol McEwan: I'm Eddie's whole world. If he finds out, he'll kill me, then he'll kill himself.
- Benson: And we don't want to have to tell him, but there's an innocent woman who's looking at 25 to life.
- Carol McEwan: So you're gonna blackmail me into doing what's right? Who's taking advantage of who now?
- Benson: Jessie, we had to withdraw charges.
- Jessie Sturgis: What? But he raped me. He beat me. He left me bleeding in the street.
- Benson: Barba had to make a deal to get you out right away. That was... that was the priority.
- Jessie Sturgis: And the rape never happened?
- Benson: Legally, no. Jessie, take Matthew home. You won.
- [about Jessie]
- Amaro: Raped, put in jail, her kid taken away. I don't know how she held it together.
- Benson: She did it for her son.
Background information and Notes[]
Episode scene cards[]
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|
|
Arraignment Court |
Grand Jury |
Gorromini & Sons |
| 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|
|
Preliminary Hearing |
Suffolk County Courthouse |
Residence of |
| Previous episode: "Presumed Guilty" |
"Beautiful Frame" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 14 |
Next episode: "Criminal Hatred" |