| "Savant" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | SVU, Episode 9.04 | → |
| Production number: 9005 First aired: 16 October 2007 | ||
 | ||
| Written By Judith McCreary Directed By Kate Woods | ||
The key to a violent assault case lies within a mentally-challenged girl with remarkable aural recall.
Summary[]
When Corrine Nicholson is found brutally attacked in her home and put in a coma, the only witness to the attack is her young daughter, Katie who has Williams Syndrome. As they investigate the case, Corrine's husband, Ben blindsides the investigation by refusing to have the detectives question Katie further.
Plot[]
Ben Nicholson is in a cab, paying the driver to continue circling around the block in an attempt to avoid getting into an argument with his wife. As the cab passes by his building once more, his daughter Katie runs out onto the street, with blood on her. When the detectives arrive, it is revealed that Ben's wife, Corinne, has been raped and attacked, leaving her in a coma. When the detectives interview him, Ben claims to have been away on a business trip and had just returned that night. Ben reveals to the detectives that Katie has Williams Syndrome, and that he and Corinne have been attending group therapy meant for parents who have children with mental disabilities. The detectives question a doctor that the Nicholsons had filed a lawsuit against, but he is found innocent.
After researching, Munch informs the others about children who have Williams; noting that they have sensitive hearing and perfect pitch. He infers that even though Katie was in a separate room and was covering her ears, she still heard every word that was said. Stabler, Tutuola and Novak return to question Katie and Ben. Katie recounts what she had heard: her father coming home, getting into an argument with Corinne, and slapping her; and another man entering the apartment and sleeping with Corinne. Because of Katie's perfect pitch, they realize that Katie can identify the other man by voice. They assume that Nicholson must've been the one who attacked Corinne out of anger for cheating and becoming pregnant with her lover's child after Nicholson had a vasectomy.
Ben Nicholson's involvement with the FBI results in complications for Novak when she attempts to charge Nicholson with his wife's attack. She notifies the detective that physical evidence must be found in order to tie Nicholson to the crime. Munch arrives with news of the DNA test. The DNA found in Corinne wasn't a match to Nicholson, and is actually a match to Joel Parven, who also attends group therapy with his wife and sons. Parven is brought in and he reveals that he did sleep with Corinne that night, but denies attacking her. Katie is brought in to identify Parven's voice, however she ends up revealing to the detectives that another man was there that night. As Parven is leaving, his son Alex comes to pick him up. Katie identifies Alex as the man who attacked Corinne.
During a competency hearing, Katie and Ben fail to appear on time and have seemingly disappeared. Stabler investigates and discovers that Katie has been staying with Tina Parven, while Ben fled in order to conceal his involvement with foreign nationals. She is brought to court where Alex's attorney attempts to disprove her claims. Novak successfully proves to the judge Katie's hearing abilities. Alex takes a plea deal, sparing Katie from testifying in court. At the hospital, Corinne is being discharged but has developed retrograde amnesia, forgetting her affair. Stabler silently watches as Ben separates Katie from Corinne, who begs Ben to let her come home with them.
Cast[]
Main cast[]
- Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler
- Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson
- Richard Belzer as Sergeant John Munch
- Diane Neal as A.D.A. Casey Novak
- Ice-T as Detective Odafin Tutuola
- Adam Beach as Detective Chester Lake
- B.D. Wong as Dr. George Huang (credit only)
- Tamara Tunie as M.E. Melinda Warner (credit only)
- Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen
Recurring cast[]
- Peter Riegert as Defense Attorney Chauncey Zeirko
- Julie White as Dr. Anne Morella
- Joanna Merlin as Judge Lena Petrovsky
- Caren Browning as C.S.U. Sergeant Judith Siper
- Vincent Spano as F.B.I. Agent Dean Porter
- Elizabeth Flax as Nurse Carey Hutchins
- John Henry Cox as Judge Gregory Trenton
Guest cast[]
- Aidan Quinn as Ben Nicholson
- Paulina Gerzon as Katie Nicholson
- Geraldine Hughes as Tina Parven
- Robert Clohessy as Joel Parven
- Judy Kuhn as Corinne Nicholson
- David Andrew MacDonald as Dr. Gerald Morgan
- Jayne Atkinson as Marion Springer
- Josh Caras as Alex Parven
- Danny Dennis as Cabbie
- Suli Holum as Pregnant Woman
- Kathleen Tipton as Jordana Weitz
- Robert Kim as Dr. Paul Wei
- Lia Yang as Ursula Wei
- Yvonne Cecelia as Dr. Morgan's Nurse
References[]
- Apregen Biochemicals
- Ashkenazi Jewish Genetic Panel
- Crime Scene Unit
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Mercy General Hospital
- Andrew Parven
- USA Patriot Act
- Kathy Stabler
- Marissa Weitz
- McMartin preschool trial
Quotes[]
- Katie Nicholson: Hi, my name's Katie. What's yours?
- Elliot Stabler: I'm Elliot.
- Katie Nicholson: Hi Elliot! You look upset and need a hug... Can I?
(Katie suddenly latches onto Elliot's waist, who looks taken aback)
- (Fin and Lake are waiting to meet with Dr. Morgan)
- Pregnant Woman: Have the doctor told you if its a boy or a girl?
- Odafin Tutuola: (puzzled) Excuse me?
- Pregnant Woman: It's so hard for gay couples to adopt. A surrogate's really your only option. I don't get why they think its better to leave kids in the system than send them to a gay home. You two look like a nice couple to me.
(Lake looks at Fin and grins as he pats the surprised Fin's right knee affectionately)
- (Benson and Stabler are leaving the Busken Group, and Elliot looks upset)
- Olivia Benson: How's Kathy?
- Elliot Stabler: Over 40 and pregnant. I just can't stop thinking about all the bad things that can happen...
- Olivia Benson: So why don't you see a doctor?
- Elliot Stabler: We're Catholic. Maybe it's better not to know.
- (Ben Nicholson is being covered up by the FBI for reasons relating to the Patriot Act)
- Elliot Stabler: So we can't touch him?
- Donald Cragen: The Patriot Act trumps rape and attempted murder every time.
- Katie Nicholson: Hi Elliot! Hi Fin! I'm so glad to see you!
- Casey Novak: (approaches and extends her hand) Hi Katie. I'm Casey Novak...
(Without warning, Katie latches onto Novak and hugs her) - Katie Nicholson: Pretty!
- FBI Agent Marion Springer: There is a terrorist around every corner, Ms. Novak. You just don't know it.
- Katie recalling the attack on her mother.: BAM! Then breathing. BAM! BAM! BAM! Then 'Bitch'... Then he went away. But he used the wrong word. That's not what it means.
- Casey Novak on the PATRIOT act.: That convoluted piece of legislation isn't worth the paper it's written on.
- (Alex Parven is meeting his dad as Ben Nicholson is leading Katie past him)
- Alex Parven: This is crazy. I knew you didn't do this...
(Katie hears Alex and suddenly starts pulling away from her dad) - Ben Nicholson: Katie? Honey? What are you...?
(Katie breaks away and walks up to Alex) - Katie Nicholson: You used the wrong word! A bitch is a female dog. (Alex looks bewildered and everyone freezes)
- Stabler: Are you sure?
- Katie Nicholson: My mother is not a bitch!
- Joel Parven: (to Alex) What the hell did you do?
- Casey Novak: Katie, do you know what a lie is?
- Katie Nicholson: Something that's not true. You get punishment for that.
- Casey Novak: Have you ever told a lie?
- Katie Nicholson: A lady once made me a grilled-cheese sandwich. It had things in it. I didn't tell her that I liked it, but I ate it very quickly so that she would think I liked it... does that count?
- Casey Novak: (smiles ) No. (to judge) Your Honor, I submit that this witness can be sworn in.
- Lena Patrovsky: So ordered.
(Judge Petrovsky bangs her gavel, and Katie flinches in pain) - Katie Nicholson: Don't do that!
- Casey Novak: She has very sensitive hearing, Your Honor.
- Judge Lena Petrovsky: Oh, I'm sorry.
- Katie Nicholson: That's okay.
(half-beat) - Katie Nicholson: Can I have a hug?
- Judge Lena Petrovsky: No. (quietly) Maybe later.
Background information and notes[]
- This episode marks Paulina Gerzon's second appearance on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and her fourth appearance on the Law & Order franchise.
- Gerzon wore a pair of false teeth over her own in order to appear more like a Williams' child.
Episode scene cards[]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Busken Group |
Office of |
Mercy General Hospital |
Federal Courthouse |
| 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|
|
Chambers of |
Swearability Hearing |
Swearability Hearing |
| Previous episode: "Impulsive" |
"Savant" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 9 |
Next episode: "Harm" |