| "Criminal Stories" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | SVU, Episode 15.18 | → |
| Production number: 15018 First aired (US): 19 March 2014 First aired (UK): 27 April 2014 First aired (CAN): 19 March 2014 First aired (AUS): 1 May 2014 | ||
 | ||
| Teleplay By Peter Blauner Story By Julie Martin & Warren Leight Directed By Mariska Hargitay | ||
Summary[]
Renowned New York Ledger columnist Jimmy MacArthur is given full access to Sergeant Benson and the squad for an inside look at the city's Special Victims Unit. When the rape case of a young Muslim woman escalates to a hate crime, Jimmy stays one step ahead of the investigation and declares the entire crime a hoax. With the victim under fierce public scrutiny, Benson struggles to keep the case on solid ground and fears a rapist will go free.
Plot[]
Episode plot
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Mariska Hargitay as Sergeant Olivia Benson
- Danny Pino as Detective Nick Amaro
- Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins
- Ice-T as Detective Odafin Tutuola
- Raúl Esparza as A.D.A. Rafael Barba
Recurring Cast[]
- Delaney Williams as Attorney John Buchanan
- Leslie Odom, Jr. as Reverend Curtis Scott
- Ami Brabson as Judge Karyn Blake
- Josh Pais as Deputy Commisioner Hank Abraham
- Tamara Tunie as M.E. Melinda Warner
Guest Cast[]
- Alec Baldwin as Jimmy MacArthur
- Summer Bishil as Heba Salim
- Nick Mennell as Elias Kemp, Jr.
- Samrat Chakrabarti as Mr. Salim
- Manish Dayal as Fareed Salim
- Nils Lawton as Mike Sullivan
- Katie Couric as Herself
- Jacqueline Antaramian as Sakina Salim
- Samantha Tuffarelli as Janelle Hahn
- Sal Inzerillo as Lucius
- John Kinsella as Juror #3
- Ashley North as Mom / Passerby (uncredited)
- Questlove as Corpse (uncredited)[1]
References[]
Episode references
Quotes[]
- Benson: [to Jimmy McArthur]: Who showed you that report?
- Jimmy MacArthur: You want my source? Okay, I'll give it to you. Write this down. It's a funny name. G-O... space... F-U...
- Benson: [cuts him off] I got it, Jimmy.
- Hank Abraham: [to Olivia] Everybody in your office running for the lifeboats?
- Benson: It's still an open investigation.
- Hank Abraham: Open? How about imploding? City Hall is apoplectic. Why don't you quit while you're behind?
- Benson: Why? Because Jimmy Mac is bloviating in the press?
- Curtis Scott: Mr. MacArthur, you claim to be the conscience of your newspaper. Where's the compassion for a young woman who's been violently assaulted?
- Jimmy MacArthur: The only assault here is on the truth. She lied.
- Jimmy MacArthur: You screwed up this investigation. Now you want me to save your ass.
- Benson: That's not what this is.
- Jimmy MacArthur: Oh, yes, it is. And you can get down on your knees until they're raw. I'm not gonna change my mind.
- Benson: Wow, don't flatter yourself, pal.
- Jimmy MacArthur: Good night, Sergeant Benson. It's time to go because you are boring me and that is the greatest sin of all.
- Jimmy MacArthur: Jimmy Mac don't retract. He don't apologize. He don't explain.
- Benson: Wow. So that is it. The great Jimmy Mac. It's all gone to your head, hasn't it? The awards, the long nights at Elaine's, the celebrity...
- Jimmy MacArthur: Don't forget the Knicks tickets.
- Benson: It's sad. You used to be good. You used to have a conscience. You're not a reporter anymore, Jimmy. You're just like them. [Jimmy coughs and gags] Hey, by the way, you should think about laying off the sauce.
- Benson: Jimmy, hold on. W... where are you gonna go? There aren't that many papers left.
- Jimmy MacArthur: Don't ever cry for Jimmy Mac. I always land on my feet. I'm 55 years old, my profession is dying, my ex-wives all hate me, my credit cards are maxed out 'cause I got three kids in college and I never felt better in my life. I said my piece and now the whole world knows that I got balls the size of Jupiter again.
- Benson: [as she reaches for her wine] Here's to Jupiter.
Background information and notes[]
- This was the first episode of SVU directed by Mariska Hargitay.
- In the scene where Fin and Amaro first visit Kemp's office, Kemp walks into the room in mid-conversation, saying, "How many times do I have to tell that guy to always be closing?" This is a reference to the 1992 film Glengarry Glen Ross, which guest star Alec Baldwin starred in. Baldwin's character in the film delivered the famous "Always Be Closing" speech.
Episode scene cards[]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grand Army Plaza |
Home of |
Hauser-Kemp Real Estate |
Supreme Court |
Supreme Court |
Footnotes[]
| Previous episode: "Gambler's Fallacy" |
"Criminal Stories" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 15 |
Next episode: "Downloaded Child" |