Law & Order SVU “A Story of More Woe” Recap & Review

“A Story of More Woe” was clearly full of woe, but at least it ended on a happy note, with Rollins finally having her baby, a girl named Billie. But during this process, Rollins came to the realization that she doesn’t love Dr. Al. Al seems to accept the news of Rollins’ refusal of the proposal and that she doesn’t love him, but why do I feel that Dr. Al will go psycho at some later date over this issue? Will he take steps to get custody of the baby? He seems far too controlling just to sit back and let Rollins, or the baby, go without a fight. After all, this revelation wasn’t quite in his plans. Two deleted scenes were released a few weeks ago that implied that Rollins was going to move in with Al, but we never see if she actually did it. If she did, this could be a problem detaching from a man that she now says she doesn’t love and won’t marry. I’m making an assumption that Rollins never went all in on moving in with Dr. Al.   If that was a hospital room in which Rollins was staying, I wonder if Dr. Al paid the tab?  I can't see Rollins being able to cover the cost of such an expensive, well-appointed room. (Update February 5th - there was a third deleted scene where Carisi and Rollins are on a video call and he asks her how is life living with Dr. Al, and she replies it is going great.  So this deleted scene indicates they moved in. Maybe they had second thoughts about this which may explain why the scene was deleted...?)

One message contained in this episode is that love is much more than just a ring. And having – or not having – a ring doesn’t mean you love someone or are loved. The large rock that Dr. Al offered didn’t mean much to Rollins as she doesn’t love him, but 13-year-old Laura thinks the ring means she is loved, and assumes Benson’s lack of a ring means she is not. A ring is just a piece of jewelry and does not have magical powers to bring everlasting love.

The case of a pervert guy preying on a young neighbor - leading to murder - felt predictable,  but I still enjoyed it for some reason and I can’t put my finger on exactly why. Maybe it’s because it’s another episode where everyone in the main cast contributed to the story, maybe it’s because Carisi and Fin have good chemistry while working a case, maybe it’s because they did a good job bringing Rollins’ pregnancy to an end. The whole episode was nicely balanced and well written. I usually prefer episodes with some action, but for this episode I didn’t mind that there wasn’t any.

It was smart of the one sister to go off-script while she was being observed talking to Greg. She showed more smarts in pushing Greg’s buttons than the SVU. Sadly, they didn’t prepare well for the oldest twist in the book: victim gets revenge while under the watchful eye of the NYPD. I’m not sure that Benson was right by telling Britney that neither she nor her sister were at fault for the murder of their father. I know they were young but at some point, even teenagers know that murder is wrong. I was surprised that all they got was probation and counseling for what was a calculated killing.

In one scene, Benson hears from Stone that the lawyer is right; they can’t talk to the girls without a guardian’s consent. I’m perplexed as to why Benson had to ask Stone for this validation. With Benson’s work experience she shouldn’t need Stone to tell her this. If anything, the question to Stone should have been that she knows she needs the guardian’s approval to talk to the girls, but could Stone think of any loopholes to allow for this as the guardian is a possible suspect in a murder plot.

Here is the recap:

A room of 911 operators take calls. One caller is a woman who says a man broke in and tried to make her and her sister have sex. She says he is hurting her dad. She yells out about her and asks the attacker not to hurt him, and the line goes dead.

Sometime later, at 697 West 140th Street on Monday, January 14, Benson is on the scene with Carisi and another detective. He describes the generic attacker and says there was no doorman. They are checking for cameras. The victim was stabbed in the jugular with a kitchen knife and the perp left the weapon. The girls are traumatized and in shock and are with a neighbor until the ambulance arrives. There is no mother in the picture. As they look over the body, the detective wonders how they deal with kids all the time and Carisi says sometimes they don’t know either.

Benson and Carisi talk to the neighbors who are watching the girls - Greg Callahan and Susan. Benson and Carisi speak with Britney and Laura Moore, and the elder sister, Britney, breaks the news to the younger sister, Laura, that their daddy is dead, then insists that  Benson tell Laura he’s dead. Benson looks stunned as Laura begins to cry.

Later, Rollins arrives at the hospital where Benson is waiting, sleeping. Rollins says there is no sign of the guy and Benson says Britney’s rape kit is negative but Laura has genital trauma. There is no next of kin, the grandparents are deceased and the mother committed suicide two years ago. A woman exits the room and she says she is the acting guardian. She explains the girls can talk but she should be in the room. Benson asks for a couple minutes alone and the guardian agrees.

Laura explains she was doing homework and heard a smash, and looked up and saw a man on the fire escape, He opened the window and she screamed for Britney who was in her room. Britney ran out and yelled for the man to get away but he was already inside. He went into the kitchen and grabbed a knife and he put it up to her neck and said he was going…she can’t finish the sentence. With some gentle prodding, Laura explains that the man kissed her and put his fingers inside her and she couldn’t move. Then her dad came home.

In the other room, Britney explains the intruder started going toward her dad with the knife and her dad told them to run. The ran into her room and locked the door. She regrets not saving him. It got quiet and they opened the door and she saw her dad on the couch and she tried to stop the bleeding but he was already…she cries.

At the office of the Chief Medical Examiner at 421 East 26th Street on Tuesday, January 15, Carisi and Fin hear from the ME that Douglas Moore allegedly walks in on the assault and fights back, gets killed. When Fin says that is what the daughters told them, the ME says he has three problems with that: there are no defensive wounds; the stab was shallow and he didn’t put any pressure on the wound or call 911; he found undigested wine in his stomach and a whopping blood alcohol level – he would have been passed out or at least extremely drunk. Fin wonders if the daughters are telling the whole story.

Back at the apartment, Fin and Carisi look things over and determine Doug was home drinking. They look at the blood on the couch and Fin comments Doug managed to fall straight back when he was stabbed, and Carisi wonders that he was already on the couch. He also thinks the perp smashed the window and undid the latch from the inside. Carisi goes out on the fire escape and puts his arm through the hole in the glass and sees he couldn’t reach the latch from the outside.

Later, the guardian brings the two girls in to the SVU and Benson and Rollins separate the girls to talk to them. First they speak with Britney and confront her with what they know about his dad drinking at home and how the window got broken. Britney gets irate and says she doesn’t care, her father is dead and doesn’t think it makes a difference who killed him. As they continue to question her, Benson says if she is trying to help or protect someone,  they can help her.  Britney says nobody can help her, she had to protect her sister from her own father; he was raping her sister. She cries that she had to kill him. Benson and Rollins looks surprised.

Later, Benson brings in Alexis Farrow, who tells Britney if there are any questions Britney is uncomfortable with to check with her first. Rollins asks when Laura first told Britney she was being abused, and Britney replies a few weeks ago. They usually come home from school together except for Thursdays when she has band practice. When she came home that Thursday she came home and the bathroom door was locked and she heard Laura inside crying so she told her she had to tell her what was wrong.



At a separate time, Laura is in Benson’s office with Rollins, explaining it started after New Years and it was only a few times on Thursdays before Britney came home. Laura explains the attack, and when asked if she told anyone else but Britney, she tells them to ask Greg, the neighbor, he knows. She tried to talk to him after New Years.

Afterwards, the woman representing the girls tells Benson the girls will spend the night in custody at ACS and assumes, given the circumstances, the DA will be open to a plea. As the woman leaves, Fin asks now what? Benson says they will vet the story. She explains that Laura said she tried to disclose to the neighbor, Greg Callahan, and Carisi says they will follow up. Rollins adds she will have the lab run the father’s DNA against Laura’s rape kit. Benson tells her to check the bed sheets, the towels, and the clothes in the hamper.

At the apartment of Greg Callahan at 697 West 140th Street on Wednesday, January 16, Fin and Carisi question him. He said he met the girls two years ago, they seemed lonely. They explain the allegations about their father and he is shocked. Laura did come over after New Years and said Doug was hung over and Britney was sleeping in. She said she was mad at her dad and didn’t want to live at home any more. He wonders if that was what she was trying to tell him, he would have gone straight to the cops. He says he can’t believe it and says he feels sick.

Meanwhile, Benson speaks with Stone who tells her the DA is not interested in charging Britney as an adult and he will contact counsel to talk a plea. Benson explains Laura tried to talk to the neighbor; there is no physical evidence from the rape kit but Doug’s DNA is all over the room, Stone scoffs, saying he was their father and is not there to tell them his side of the story. He asks if there is any inheritance or life insurance in play here, and Benson states not that they have found so far. They are trying to untangle his personal and legal affairs and find his next of kin and they don’t even know if he has a will. Fin enters Stone’s office who explains they just heard from Doug’s boss; they had a staff meeting every Thursday from 3 to 6 and Doug led it, he never missed one. Benson concludes he could not have been home sexually abusing his daughter.

Back at SVU, Carisi and Rollins are eating in the break room, Rollins asking who puts chickpeas in a tuna salad. Carisi asks if she wants him to get her something else, and Rollins says no, she’s not hungry. As she throws out her lunch, Carisi’s phone buzzes and it is Benson, and he says he is on it. As he tells Rollins that Benson wants them to bring Britney and Laura back to go over their story again, he sees Rollins is not looking very well. She says she is fine, she is going into labor.

At the hospital, Rollins is in a wheelchair and Carisi is wheeling her in. She complains she feels light headed and the nurse says that is normal, she is having a baby. She asks Carisi how he is holding up, calling him papa. Carisi tries to say he is not the father but the nurse talks over him, then says they don’t have a room for her yet, just give them a few minutes. As the nurse walks off, Rollins asks what about an epidural, then adds or a lobotomy. Carisi tries to calm her and she asks him not to leave her. He says she is not going anywhere. But Al bursts in and Rollins asks what he is doing there. He explains the hospital called him and is upset she didn’t tell him. Carisi explains it happened pretty fast, and Al thanks him for being there but they give each other a look. Rollins explains she just wants to take deep breath but Al states they may not have a whole lot of time, second babies can be a surprise. He adds better safe than sorry, and he paces around, looking for something or thinking. He says this is not how he saw this happening. He comments that before the baby comes, he wants to make her an honest woman. He gets on his knees and Rollins tells him that’s okay, and when he looks like he is reaching for a ring, she says no and Carisi looks to leave. She tells him to stay, and Al tells Carisi to stay, he wants the whole world to hear this. Al gives her a speech and asks her to create a family together. He brings out a ring and asks her to marry him. She doesn’t answer.

Back at SVU, Fin tells Benson Rollins is fine, it looks like the baby isn’t coming any time soon. She is not in labor but they are keeping her at the hospital for observation and Carisi and Dr. Al are there. Benson wonders what could possibly go wrong. Fin explains that Al proposed and Rollins said she will think about it. Benson seems stunned, then asks where are they on Britney. Fin says they are nowhere, the new lawyer says no more questions. Doug did have a deed of guardianship and named Greg the girls’ legal guardian.

At Family Court Part 41 on Thursday, January 17, Greg hears from the judge that the girls made statements they want to stay with him. She adds the case is atypical but given the girls’ situation and the father’s wishes, she grants a provisional order to guardianship while the court completes its investigation. After the proceeding, Fin asks Greg says he just heard from the lawyer yesterday; he got the call after Fin left. He wants to get the girls out of the ACS facility ASAP. Fin reminds him he is taking on two teenage girls, and Greg says it is the last thing he needs but ACS said the next step would be foster care or strangers and he can’t let that happen. Fin says he admires what he is doing but they still need to talk to Britney and Laura. Greg explains that ACS mentioned that but Britney is being charged as a juvenile and taking a plea that the killing was justified, given what happened. Greg’s lawyer Avi Meyer steps in and Greg explains that Fin wants to question the girls.  Greg begins to speak quietly to Avi and Avi hands Fin paperwork, saying Greg reserves the right to decline police interviews for the girls. Greg gives Fin a look and then walks off, leaving Fin with the paperwork.

Later, Benson is in Stone’s office and hears from Stone that the lawyer is right; they can’t talk to the girls without the guardian’s consent. Benson and Fin think they plotted their father’s murder and that Greg is involved, Fin wondering if anyone is buying the nice guy next door act. Stone asks if there is any evidence otherwise, and Benson says, raising her voice, the only ones that could tell them more are the girls, who they can’t talk to as long as he’s their legal guardian. Stone says she needs to find a way to challenge the guardianship itself. She sighs and grabs the paperwork out of Stone’s hand and walks out.

Back at SVU, Fin comments he went through the document looking for red flags. He noted that Britney’s middle name is Katherine but the birth certificate is spelled Cathryn. Benson states even bad parents know how to spell their child’s middle name. Fin thinks Doug did not fill out that deed.

At the law offices of Izzy Budnick, Esq., 909 8th Avenue on Thursday January 17, Carisi asks a disorganized Izzy how long she was Greg’s attorney, and she says a couple months, calling him a nice guy. He came in the office himself several times and they talked about his wife’s passing and getting the affairs in order for his daughters. Fin shows her a photo of Doug and she asks who is that? She says that is not Doug, but identifies Greg’s photo as Doug. Carisi shows her the photo of Greg again, asking if he doesn’t look young to be 50-some year old with two teenage daughters. Izzy comments that he had a photo ID and his daughters’ IDs and paid with a credit card, wondering why he would lie about that. Fin and Carisi give her, and themselves, a look of disbelief.

Later, at Greg’s, Fin is chastising him and Benson is readying Laura and Britney to be removed from the house. Fin tells Greg not to make him cuff him in front of the girls. Susan asks what is happening, and Greg tells her to call his lawyer. Laura wrestles away from Benson and runs to Greg, begging him not to let them take them. Fin separates them and Benson pulls Laura away as she calls out to him and says she loves him and that she is staying. She begs Greg to tell them, but he says nothing as Benson leads the girls off. Fin cuffs Greg and takes him as Susan makes a call.

Rollins, in a beautifully appointed room with Al, is on the phone with Carisi. She hangs up and tells Al they could really use her on this case, and she needs to get back to work. Al says he was hoping she’d take a nice long maternity leave or even quit. She says she loves her job, but Al wants to take care of her. She states she knows he does, but says she can’t marry him as she doesn’t love him. He looks away and then stands up, looking heartbroken. He says okay, he is disappointed but one of the good things about getting older is that you get used to it. He says he is glad he met her and they made a baby together and he will always be grateful. She gets up and puts her hand on his face and thanks him. He smiles and comments “Let’s have this kid already” and she half-smiles back.

At SVU, Fin and Carisi question Greg, with Avi present. Avi says Greg admits to fraud but has compelling reasons: Greg says on New Year’s day Doug says he was going to kill himself. He has no proof but believed him; he was drinking heaving and was depressed. Doug said his wife had an exit strategy and thinks he was consumed with guilt about Laura. He tried to get Doug help but begged him to get counseling but he was dead set on his plan. Greg could not stand the thought of the girls going in foster care. Britney and Laura want to be with him and Britney is almost 16 and can decide for herself. He claims he did not know Britney was going to kill her father. Fin comments that Laura said she loves him, and Greg says she loves him like a big brother or an uncle. He claims it is not romantic; if anything it was a schoolgirl crush. Greg insists he is in love with his girlfriend Susan, they can ask her. Fin gets in his face and says they will, while Greg is getting arraigned for fraud, forgery, kidnapping, and endangering a minor. Greg is silent.

Afterward, as an officer leads Greg away, Benson tells Carisi and Fin that Stone says they can charge Greg with kidnapping but unless the girls testify it will be tough to convict. Carisi is stunned Greg could only do a year for forgery, saying Greg had something to do with this murder and they have to talk to Britney and Laura again. Fin thinks they will not turn on him, he has probably been grooming them for years. Benson tells them to get her evidence of that.

Back at Greg’s, Carisi and Fin speak with Susan, she explains what Greg told her about Doug and said he was trying to get proof. She has been involved with Greg for almost a year and had talked about her moving in but now with the girls it is not a good time. She says they need him, he has been there for them more than their own father. He made them dinner, listened to their problems at school, exposed them to art, music, and literature. She says Greg and Laura a reading Shakespeare together, and Carisi sees a copy of the book “Romeo and Juliet.” Carisi sees a note inside which says “from Romeo to my Juliet” and asks if Greg wrote this. She asks so what if he did? Carisi scoffs and Susan comments whatever they are thinking they are wrong. Fin and Carisi look at her with skepticism.

At ACS Facility at 163 West 125th Street on Thursday, January 17, Benson speaks with Laura. When Laura states that Greg said she doesn’t have to, Benson informs her it is not up to Greg. Benson sees Laura is reading Shakespeare, saying that is pretty grown-up stuff. Laura comments she IS grown up, to which Benson states she has a grown-up question. Benson states that Laura said she loves Greg, and Laura said she meant like a brother, like family. Benson asks if Greg told her to say that, mentioning Romeo and Juliet and the inscription. Laura thinks that Benson fells she is too young to be in love, and Benson says not at all, with someone her own age. Laura comments that Juliet was 13, and her mother killed herself. She is not like other girls playing with baby dolls. She is a real woman. Benson asks if that is what Greg said, because he told them that it was a schoolgirl crush. Laura says that is a lie but Benson insists he did say that. Laura explains that Juliet fell in love with someone she wasn’t supposed to and they are star-crossed lovers, even when it hurts, because that’s what people – and Benson joins in – “who love each other do.” Laura looks crushed. Benson says she knows that it wasn’t her father who had sex with her, she knows it was Greg, Laura says she would never betray him, but Benson says he betrayed her. Laura is in denial and Benson explains that he said he was in love with Susan. Laura says Susan doesn’t have a ring on her finger, and Benson tells her that is not what love is. Laura asks how does Benson know, Benson doesn’t have a ring either, but she does. She shows Benson a ring that Greg gave her, saying he proposed, adding as soon as she turns 18 they are getting married. Benson looks shocked and then puts her hand to her head in disbelief.

Later,  Britney, speaking with Benson and Stone, says her father was the one having sex with Laura, and this is why she had to kill him. Benson informs her that Laura lied to her about her father and about her and Greg. She adds that Greg manipulated her and he was the one who was abusing her. Britney’s lawyer said that Britney had no knowledge of this and Stone states they believe her but they need to hear it from her. Britney comments there was no relationship between them, and Benson states that Laura told her that their father was abusing her at night but she told them that is was on Thursday afternoons when she was at band practice. Benson asks when she came home was her father there or was Laura at Greg’s apartment. Britney reminds them Greg has a girlfriend, and Stone asks if Susan was at Greg’s apartment on those Thursday afternoons. Britney does not know. Benson explains that Greg did not care about Susan, he was after Laura and manipulated her and convinced her that she was in love with him. He even went so far as to propose to her. This surprises Britney, adding it was that stupid ring, it’s why Laura has been so happy. Benson asks what did Laura tell her, and Britney said that they would all live together and it would be okay. She’d been babbling on about Romeo and Juliet stuff. Britney realizes what has happened and asks what did Laura do and what did she do? Benson assure her this was not her fault, or Laura’s. It’s one person’s fault, and that’s Greg, and they will make sure that he never hurts her or her sister again.

At Square Diner at 33 Leonard Street on Friday, January 18, Greg arrives and meets with Britney. He tells her his lawyer says they will drop the charges but he is still not supposed to talk to her. She explains Laura will not stop crying and she is worried, but he says Laura will be fine. Britney is afraid Laura will kill herself, like her mom and Juliet, and Greg asks what did Laura tell her? As Benson and Fin are watching this on a tablet from another area inside the diner, and when Fin hears Greg say that Laura makes things up, Fin refers to Greg as a son-of-a-bitch. Benson asks that undercovers are close by, and Fin replies a booth away and she will be okay. Britney tells Greg that Laura showed him the ring that he gave her. He admits he got her a ring to make her feel better. He denies asking Laura to marry him, saying Laura lives in a fantasy world. He holds her hands and tells her he is going to get guardianship and they will all live together. Britney asks about the baby, and Greg looks surprised. Benson, hearing this, says to Fin they did not tell her to say that. Fin says she is going off script and asks if Benson wants him to stop it. But Benson tells him no, to give her a minute. Greg looks worried and then says okay, let him think. When Britney says they should get Laura to the doctor to see if it’s her dad’s, Greg get agitated and tells her to hold on, but she comments unless it is his baby. He glares at her and asks what did Laura tell her, and she says they are sisters, they don’t have any secrets. He looks panicked and says okay, then says he loves her and says maybe this is for the best. Britney angrily says Laura is 13, to which Greg says she’s had to grow up fast, they both know that. Britney shouts that Laura told her that their father was forcing her to have sex and she starts yelling at him and Benson tells the others to move in now. Britney screams that she killed her father for him, and she picks up a knife from the table and stabs Greg in the face. As Benson and Fin approach, Greg screams for help because he is bleeding, and Fin tells him to “shut up, she shoulda killed you, you’re under arrest.” Benson gets Britney to drop the knife as Fin cuffs Greg. Britney cries as Benson consoles her.

Later, as they walk outside, Stone tells Benson that Greg took a plea for 25 years for rape of a minor and conspiracy to commit murder. For Laura and Britney, the family court judge agreed to probation and mandatory counseling. Benson adds “all the counseling in the world.” Benson gets a message that Rollins had her baby, and they smile as they look at the photos.

Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC 2018 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Rollins is in bed holding the baby, with Carisi holding Jesse, and Fin also there. Rollins explains the baby was early but healthy. Carisi says she is beautiful. Her name is Billie. Carisi asks Jesse if she likes her new sister, and Jesse says she loves her. They all laugh. Benson arrives with a large gift basket and says the baby is perfect. Rollins says it is just us, just family.  As we pull away to see Rollins with her family and the SVU family, we fade to black.


Cast:
Mariska Hargitay - Lieutenant Olivia Benson
Ice-T - Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Peter Scanavino - Detective Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, Jr.
Philip Winchester – ADA Peter Stone


Guest stars:
George Newbern - Al Pollack
Alex Kramer - Greg Callahan
Zoe Colletti - Britney Moore
Talitha Bateman - Laura Moore
Mark Tallman - Sam Williams
Dov Tiefenbach – Fitz
Olga Merediz – Judge Roberta Martinez
Ariel Shafir - Avi Meyer
Arielle Yoder – Susan Bard
Lucia Spina - Alexis Farrow
Bethany Caputo - Izzy Budnick
Brittany Jeffery - Leah Simon
Valencia Yearwood – Denise Jackson
Lauren Noble – Carmen
Lauren Hooper – Mary Carmichael
Madison Cruz - Call Center #1
Jason Bentley Jones – Call Center #2
Charlotte Cabell – Jesse Rollins
Vivian Cabell – Jesse Rollins


Deleted scenes from “A Story of More Woe”








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