| "Criminal Pathology" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | SVU, Episode 17.02 | → |
| Production number: 17002 First aired (US): 23 September 2015 First aired (UK): 25 October 2015 First aired (CAN): 23 September 2015 First aired (AUS): 18 February 2016 | ||
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| Teleplay By Julie Martin & Warren Leight Story By Kevin Fox Directed By Alex Chapple | ||
As SVU uncovers disturbing secrets about Manhattan Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Carl Rudnick, an acquaintance of Dr. Yates and key figure helping SVU with the case disappears and later turns up dead.
Summary[]
The SVU is called to a familiar crime scene: the beach where serial killer Gregory Yates buried his many victims. When another body washes ashore, Detective Rollins tries to coax him into confessing, but the surprising information he provides sends shockwaves through the police department. As the case goes to court, Barba faces off against two hotshot defense attorneys in a trial that leads to blackmail, an incriminating confession, a new victim, and a fugitive suspect.
Plot[]
Episode plot
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Mariska Hargitay as Sergeant Olivia Benson
- Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins
- Ice-T as Detective Odafin Tutuola
- Peter Scanavino as Detective Dominick Carisi, Jr.
- Raúl Esparza as A.D.A. Rafael Barba
Recurring Cast[]
- Dallas Roberts as Greg Yates
- Elizabeth Marvel as Attorney Rita Calhoun
- Delaney Williams as Attorney John Buchanan
- Vincent Curatola as Judge Al Bertuccio
- Max Baker as C.S.U. Technician Colin Bennett
- Tamara Tunie as M.E. Melinda Warner
- Jefferson Mays as M.E. Carl Rudnick
- Cody Lindquist as Brooke Groves Norwalk
- Stephen C. Bradbury as Judge Colin McNamara
- Sarah Bisman as Bronwyn Freed-Wilkins
- Mary Bacon as Susie Frain
- Lauren Noble as Carmen
Guest Cast[]
- Dan Daily as Bob Hencamp
- Denny Dillon as Landlady
- Derek Kelly as Syracuse Sergeant J. Hudson
- Julia Coffey as Syracuse Uni Tanner
- Samantha Steinmetz as Flo
References[]
Quotes[]
- Carisi: Hey, you up for a flight?
- Rollins: No, not really.
- Carisi: Tough luck, our plane leaves in 40 minutes.
- Rita Calhoun: Dr. Rudnick was out on bond. He was simply taking in the sights of Buffalo.
- Barba: Uh-huh. We have a DNA match from Rachel Groves' hair and blood on the kitchen floor of an apartment that he leased.
- Rita Calhoun: He's an M.E. He autopsied her body. It could be cross-contamination.
- Barba: Well, he didn't autopsy Susie Frain and we found her blood in his car.
- Rita Calhoun: They were old friends. He gave her a ride. She bled from a paper cut. Both those cases were circumstantial and don't get me started on a 13-year-old body in a wall.
- Barba: So why are you here, Rita?
- Rita Calhoun: You have an M.E. accused of being a serial killer. The last thing your bosses want is a long, drawn-out trial. And these headlines... how are your migraines?
- Barba: Your solution is?
- Rita Calhoun: Dr. Rudnick pleads to one count of tampering with evidence and one count of unlawful disposal of a body. This goes away as quietly as possible.
- Barba: Misdemeanors? He killed three women. I can offer manslaughter, served concurrently.
- Rita Calhoun: A public defender can get as much. He is paying for more than that.
- Barba: I hope there's enough money in the world, Rita. I really do.
- Rita Calhoun: You better hope you don't get a conviction because if you do, every case Dr. Rudnick touched will be subject to an appeal, starting with Greg Yates.
- Greg Yates: [about Susie Frain] I knew she was walking into the lion's den, but she wouldn't listen. I... I think she wanted me out to be there when she gave birth.
- Rollins: So she told you she was pregnant.
- Greg Yates: No, she didn't need to. I knew. She had a slightly different scent like you do. How far along are you, Detective?
[Rollins looks stunned at his question]
- Benson: Hey, you okay?
- Rollins: Yeah. I thought it was Rudnick on trial, not Yates or me.
- Benson: A lot of pressure up there.
- Rollins: It is. Also, um I'm pregnant.
- Benson: Wow.
- Rollins: Not Nick's.
- Benson: Okay. Thanks for telling me.
- Rollins: And I know with the squad being shorthanded, it's not the best time for me, but I want to promise you this is not going to affect my ability to do my job.
- Benson: Actually, it is, Amanda, you know.
- Rollins: Yeah, of course, but I just meant...
- Benson: Look, I know you're going to fight me on this, but as soon as the Department hears, they're going to put you on restricted duty.
- Rollins: Can we wait to tell them? I just want to work until the last minute.
- Benson: I know what a hard worker you are. It's a really good thing 'cause because being a single mom is, uh... it's not easy.
- Rollins: Well, I may not be on my own. My mom might actually move up to New York.
- Benson: Good, good.
- Rollins: Yeah.
- Benson: Well, I want you to know I'm I'm really happy for you and, you know, if you want or need to talk about anything, I'm here.
- Rollins: Okay.
- [Dr. Rudnick joins Dr. Yates for lunch at the Greenhaven mess hall]
- Rudnick: Dr. Yates?
- Yates: [surprised] Carl.
- Rudnick: Mind if I join you?
- Yates: Suppose so. [Dr. Rudnick takes his seat] It's been a while.
- Rudnick: Yes. We have a lot to catch up on.
Background information and Notes[]
- When Dr. Rudnick takes the stand in the courtroom, the lead juror and subsequent girlfriend of William Lewis, is shown in the seats appearing to believe his story by nodding along.
- Goof: When the video is shown of Dr. Rudnick talking to himself, planning Susie's murder and admitting to the other 2, he does not call his lawyer as he had indicated he would be doing to Barba and Benson. However, the lawyer miraculously arrives shortly after he finishes talking to himself, without having been called. (Correction: On the video, while Dr. Rudnick was saying he would like to call his lawyer, he can be seen texting on his phone. Rita even says she received message from him while at an arraignment.)
Episode scene cards[]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Green Haven Correctional |
Apartment of |
Syracuse Police Precinct |
Arraignment Court |
| 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|
|
Supreme Court |
Supreme Court |
Supreme Court |
| Previous episode: "Devil's Dissections" |
"Criminal Pathology" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 17 |
Next episode: "Transgender Bridge" |