Slaves

"Slaves"
←	SVU, Episode 1.22	→
Production number: E0926 First aired: 19 May 2000
	th of 502 produced in SVU
←	th of 502 released in SVU	→
	th of 1271 released in all
Written By Dawn DeNoon & Lisa Marie Petersen Directed By Ted Kotcheff

A cry for help from a young woman leads the Detectives to a sadistic predator.

Plot

After a shopkeeper brings a note for help to the squad, the detectives begin trying to locate a young Romanian woman named Ilena, only to find her aunt, who hasn't seen the girl in months. The squad eventually find her at the home of the Morrows, a successful yuppie couple. A forensic psychologist analyzes the team, and presents disturbing findings to Cragen, suggesting that one of the detectives be removed from the team.

Summary

Episode summary

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
• Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen

Recurring cast

• Reiko Aylesworth as A.D.A. Erica Alden
• Harvey Atkin as Judge Alan Ridenour
• Lance Reddick as M.E. Taylor
• Audra McDonald as Audrey Jackson
• Kirsten Sans as Lab Technician Felicia Young

Guest cast

• Andrew McCarthy as Randolph Morrow
• Kelly Bishop as Registrar
• Mary Lou Rosato as Constanta Condrescu
• Evelyn Furtak as NYU Admissions Director
• Michael Kelly as Vet Tech Barry
• Susan Floyd as Mrs. Morrow
• Layla Alexander as Ilena Condrescu
• Natacha Roi as Lindsay Haver
• Dyanne Iandoli as Tamara Morrow
• Albert Makhtsier as Mircha Gabrea
• Deirdre Lovejoy as Hernandez
• Sharon Washington as Dr. Benedict
• Peter Giles as Peter Haver
• Mark H. Dold as Reservations Agent
• Lynn Sellers as Louise
• Craig Wroe as Terrance, Morrow's Attorney
• Robert Carroll as Balloon Vendor
• Leith M. Burke as Orderly

References

References

Quotes

"Believe it or not, I have serious intimacy issues. I'm critical, negative, have the occasional bout of, lets see, melancholy. I'm a lousy date, but a good cop. So. That covers everything?"

- John Munch

"Randolph kept Illena in the closet for the first six months."
"Except when he raped and tortured her."
"You have no idea what I went through!"
"Which is why you did nothing for Illena, because he'd stopped doing it to you."

- Mrs. Morrow and Olivia Benson

"Illena doesn't even blink without my permission."
"She blinked. You broke her down too well, you made her too pliable. A lot of wives get the electric chair for what their husbands do but not her. You like controlling women, would you try with a tough guy? Stand up. (Morrow rises) Sit down. (Morrow sits) Stand up, stand up. (Morrow rises) Sit down, sit down. (Morrow sits). No who controls who?"

- Randolph Morrow and Elliot Stabler

"Honey, I'd like a mineral water, no ice."
"And I'd like your balls in a blender, but ain't life a bitch."

- Randolph Morrow and Olivia Benson

"Okay, let me see if I got this straight; some girl is being sexually abused by some guy, somewhere in Manhattan?"
"Something like that."

- Donald Cragen and Elliot Stabler

"Have you ever experienced any sexual disfunction since taking this job? And I'd appreciate a serious answer."
"Once"
"Thank-you. When did that happen?"
"Not sure but it was definitely within the last ten minutes."

- Audrey Jackson and John Munch

"Do you always deflect personal questions with jokes?"
"Do you always deflect jokes with personal questions?"

- Audrey Jackson and John Munch

"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Do you?"

- Audrey Jackson and John Munch

Background information and notes

• This episode shares similarities with the real-life case of Colleen Stan. Colleen was kidnapped by Cameron Hooker in the seventies. She was held in captivity for the next seven years. During her imprisonment, Colleen was tortured, sexually assaulted, and led to believe that she was being watched by a large organization called "The Company". Her tormentor kept Colleen locked in wooden boxes that he had made. One of the boxes was located under the bed that he shared with his wife. (Source: Colleen Stan at Wikipedia) At the end of the episode Detectives Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler found Ilena Condrescu hidden under Randolph Morrow's bed in a wooden box.
• This is Reiko Aylesworth's last appearance as A.D.A. Erica Alden.
• Actress Layla Alexander also appeared in the Special Victims Unit episode "...Or Just Look Like One" as Theresa Burgess.
• This episode introduced the psych evaluations which would be used in the Morris Commission in the next episode.

Episode scene cards

1	2	3
Apartment of Constanta Condrescu 207 West 95th Street Tuesday, February 22	Air Bucharest Executive Offices 248 East 54th Street Wednesday, February 23	Morrow Veterinary Clinic 260 East 76th Street Thursday, February 24

Previous episode: "Nocturne"

"Slaves" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 1

Next episode: "Wrong Is Right"