Law & Order SVU “The Longest Night Of Rain” Recap & Review

Yes. there is a halo!

Farewell and rest in peace to Ed Tucker, the guy that, for many years, Law & Order SVU fans loved to hate. (Much appreciation to Robert John Burke for his layered portrayal of Tucker over the years.) His career in IAB, with his near-obsession with nailing the SVU, morphed into near-marriage with Olivia Benson. It was an odd match which strangely worked, that is, until Benson broke it off (in Law & Order SVU “Chasing Theo) I believe) .

In “The Longest Night of Rain”, Benson fears seeing him for the first time since she broke it off, but before the episode ends, she is forced to deal with the fact that Tucker has terminal cancer, and he later takes his own life and disappears from her life forever. It was a rare multi-tissue tear-jerker for Law & Order SVU, coupled with relaying a very serious message about suicides in law enforcement. The writing was exceptional, with the story by Peter Blauner and Warren Leight, teleplay by Peter Blauner.

Benson visits her psychiatrist, Dr. Lindstrom, because of fears of seeing Tucker at his retirement party, and at least she acknowledges the incongruity of it, considering the more horrific things Benson has experienced. She has regrets about the pain she has caused him, but later finds that Tucker has moved on and recently married. During his retirement party, a former police officer throws a drink at him, saying Tucker is evil. When Tucker appears evasive about what that was about,  and when the officer kills herself in her car outside the party and leaves a video message, Benson switches into SVU mode and gets suspicious about Tucker's involvement in the assault or covering it up. It bothered me a bit that Benson was unsure about Tucker, a man she knew so well that they nearly married. But as the episode progressed, it was clear that because Benson DID know him so well she felt he was hiding something. It just wasn’t what Benson expected. Sadly, we learn that Tucker has lung and brain cancer, and has only 6 months to a year to live. He decides to not let nature take its course.

Benson may not have much of a relationship in the future with Dr. Lindstrom. Not only did she ask to meet him under false pretenses, she also pressured him for information on his patients that she knows full well she can’t get by simply asking for it. Benson’s singular focus on her cases can annoy me and I’m glad that Lindstrom put her in her place when she started making unreasonable demands. Having Carisi take Lindstrom to court to get patient information won’t help mend fences either. After Lindstrom has put in the effort to build trust between him and Benson during their sessions, she destroyed that trust in a matter of minutes. Fin wondered why anyone in the force would tell Lindstrom anything, for fear of being sent to the “rubber gun squad” but now we know that Lindstrom won’t breach any patient confidentiality (unless forced by the court I suspect). I’d be surprised if Lindstrom even continues to work with the NYPD after this. Bill Irwin finally got a chance to bring a spark to Dr. Lindstrom.

In all this sadness, there is one thing that gave me a chuckle. It was when Benson asks Carisi if the case with Gary goes to trial, how long this will take, suggesting months and Carisi says it could be years. As most SVU cases we see are wrapped up usually in about a week, why would this one take months or years? Maybe I missed something, but I thought Gary’s admission to Tucker that Benson and Fin overheard would be enough to move the case along with the usual SVU speed. This was one case where it would have been satisfying to see the victim – who took her own life early in the episode – get justice.

The episode was also a visual delight, with plenty of location scenes and interesting camera angles. My favorite shot was near the end when Tucker and Benson revisited the walkway at the water’s edge with the Statue of Liberty in view as seen in ”Heartfelt Passages”. It closed the loop perfectly from those happier times he and Benson shared together.

Update February 5, 2020 - a video of a deleted scene has been added after the recap.

Here is the recap:

Benson enters Dr. Lindstrom’s consulting room and thanks Lindstrom for staying late, and he replies “Of course…Captain.” He congratulates her and she thanks him, adding she owes some of that to him. He laughs and asks if she is coming to thank him, and she sits down and says no. She mentions Ed Tucker, saying she has been invited to his retirement party tonight and she hasn’t seen him since she broke it off. She tells him it’s crazy; she’s had guns in her face and she is afraid to see an ex-boyfriend. Lindstrom asks if she knows what she is afraid of, and Benson says regret, or the pain that she caused him. He advises that whatever her regrets and her guilt, it’s harder in the long run to leave things unsaid.

Elsewhere,  Rachel Wilson dresses for the evening and then adds a gun. The Reverend comes down the stairs and asks if she is headed out, and Rachel explains that an old police colleague is retiring and she wants to help with the send-off. The Reverend comments it is NYPD and asks if she is sure that is a good idea. She replies that she won’t stay long and won’t drink.

Benson arrives at the bar where Tucker’s retirement party is being held and she comments to Fin, who had already arrived, that she didn’t expect to see him at Tucker’s retirement party. He explains he is there for Benson, not for Tucker. She sees Rollins and Carisi, and says she sees Rollins brought reinforcements, Rollins commenting they let Carisi out for an hour.  Benson thanks them all. Benson sees Tucker standing next to another woman, and she asks the detectives who is the woman with Tucker. Fin questions why she is asking them, and Carisi wisecracks that they got Benson in the divorce.   Rollins says the bartender told her that is his new wife, she is a nurse and they eloped a month ago. Benson, with a look of surprise, says, “Oh. Good for him.”

As Tucker’s friend Gary Wald makes a speech, Gary jokes that when he decided to hold the farewell party for Tucker, as he was IAB, where would they hold the party, in phone booth? Everyone laughs, and Tucker comments to his wife that this is how it’s going to go. Gary adds when you have a friend like Ed, you are blessed. As Gary continues to speak, Fin asks if he is giving a toast or bragging.

Meanwhile, Rachel sits in her car, drinking.



Gary suggests after everyone has imbibed for each of them to come down and make a toast to Ed. Everyone cheers. Tucker turns to see Benson. She smiles at him and his face looks somewhat blank. He turns away. Rollins asks Benson if she would like to sneak out, and she says no, he’s seen her and Benson guesses she should introduce herself to his new wife. Benson walks over to him and he say he is so glad she made it. They hug each other. Benson introduces herself to Patty Tucker and Patty says she has heard so much about Benson. Tucker says it is all good. Gary walks over and comments to Tucker he still has all his hair, jokingly calling him a bastard. Tucker introduces Gary, his old partner, as Rachel walks into the bar. Gary tells them he took a bullet for Tucker at the 2-2, and Tucker comments it was not on purpose and Gary never lets him forget it. Rachel approaches them and asks who is the man of the hour. Benson recognizes her, and Rachel acknowledges Gary, saying he is still riding high in the saddle. Benson comments she and Rachel went to the Academy together and asks Rachel how has she been? Rachel replies not as good as Benson, adding Benson has a son and made Captain and the good ol’ boys really looked out for her. Tucker comments that Benson paid her dues, but Rachel argues not like she did. Benson looks at Rachel with concern, and Gary asks Rachel if she still drinks bourbon. Rachel replies she is good, she just wanted to look her follow officers in the eye one more time, adding “hear no evil, see no evil, and evil.” She takes a drink off a nearby table and throws the contents at Tucker. Rachel storms off as Benson looks on with concern and Patty moves to console him. He says he is alright, he just needs a couple napkins. Gary comments it looks like he needs a refill and will make it a double. Benson asks him what was that about, and he replies he has no idea, he can barely even place her.

Rachel is back in her car and, recording a video on her phone, states she has said her peace and it is on the rest of them now. She adds her name is Rachel Wilson, she is a former New York City police officer until she was pushed out of a club a dozen years ago. She says she is making a video at the crime scene and she is the victim. She picks up her gun.

Back in the bar, Benson speaks with Tucker and has heard Patty has two sons. Tucker says they are good kids but they are testing him. Benson says she is not ready for teenage boys. Tucker jokes he will have to use some of his old IAB psych tricks to keep them in line. Benson smiles. A gunshot is heard outside and everyone races to see the source. They find Rachel in the car with a gunshot wound in her chest. Benson calls in a 10-13 from 169 and Broadway, saying it was an off duty police officer shot and to rush a bus.

Fin and Rollins race into the hospital where Benson is waiting. Rollins tells Benson she didn’t make it. Benson thinks she knew what she was doing; she shot herself through the heart. Fin comments he is sorry, and Rollins adds she saw her throw a drink at Tucker, wondering what that was all about. Benson replies she has no idea. She states she knew her and they were friends, but hadn’t seen her in a while. Benson adds she was bright and ambitious, and knew she had a rough time over at Vice and she just crashed and burned. Rollins says “rest in peace” and Benson comments they have been saying that too much. Fin sighs.

At SVU, Kat comments to Rollins and Fin that’s he heard they had a rough night. Rollins comments they’ve had a lot of those lately. Kat comments that the Captain knew her and asks if she is doing okay, and Rollins says that and the loss of her brother, it’s a lot. Fin adds Benson has been on the phone with One PP all morning and the grief guy is in with her now, saying Chief Garland advised them to all check in with him. Kat asks if it is necessary, and Rollins explains they need to start talking about this and not sweep it under the rug. Benson steps out of her office and shouts for everyone to listen up. She walks out with Dr. Lindstrom. Fin asks Rollins if she is okay, and she says she is not great but she is dealing with it and she thanks him. Benson explains that as they all know, they lost one of their own last night and she was a good woman. She adds this is an epidemic and more of them are dying by their own hands than by somebody else’s. She explains Dr. Lindstrom is there to speak with every single one of them. Lindstrom adds that he knows the last thing many cops want to do is talk about feelings or fears. Benson adds they know this is a stigma but the department policies have changed and asking for help is no longer a sign of weakness. She states they have all been to way too many police funerals and they can’t afford to lose another brother or sister.

Later at SVU in an office, Kat is speaking with Lindstrom, telling him she has to support a family and they survived the war in Lebanon and came here with nothing. She adds they look out for each other. Lindstrom says he is glad she has that and thanks her for humoring him. Kat leaves the office and as Fin walks in, she tells him he is up. Fin comments to Lindstrom he guesses Kat didn’t open up. Lindstrom explains he can’t really talk about another officer and anything anyone says to him is confidential. Fin asks him if someone came in there and told him they were going through a really rough time, Lindstrom says the system allows the cops to make appointments with outside therapists completely anonymously. Fin counters that Lindstrom works for the police department, and Lindstrom replies in this capacity yes, but the police department is more concerned that people get help rather than worrying about their records. Fin worries that NYPD can still take his weapon away, and Lindstrom states when it is warranted. Fin worries about being sent to the rubber gun squad, asking then why would anybody tell Lindstrom anything? Lindstrom smiles and says nothing.

Meanwhile, Benson speaks with Rollins and says what got her was the way Rachel was talking last night was like Benson had the life that she should have. Rollins counters she would take that with a grain of salt. Benson explains back then with NYPD, being a woman was hard enough but being a woman of color…Rollins says that she gets that but it was probably more than one thing that pushed her over the edge. Benson comments it just bothers her because just a few years ago they ran into each other and said let’s get a cup of coffee and then she adopted Noah and got promoted and never followed through. Rollins reminds Benson she can’t be responsible for everybody. Benson states she knows but she just wishes…a loud knock is heard on the door and Carisi enters, asking if she has a minute. Rollins realizes Carisi wants to speak to Benson alone and she leaves. After Rollins leaves, Carisi explains it is about Rachel Wilson’s suicide, explaining the investigators recovered her cell phone and she made a video statement before she killed herself. Benson watches the video where Rachel explains several years ago she was violently assaulted and raped by a superior officer. She went to her sergeant and IAB and they all conspired to protect her attacker. She would name names but it doesn’t matter anymore, he won and she lost. She cries that she was so proud to be a cop but the system betrayed her and NYPD will always protect who they see as their own and they didn’t protect her. She adds she has said her peace.

Later, Fin sees the same video and comments now they know why she threw the drink at Tucker. Benson counters Tucker said he had no idea why. Fin asks if Benson believes him, and Benson says she does not know what to believe and doesn’t know what to do about it. Fin says yes she does.

At the home of Ed Tucker at 85-45 160th Street, Jamaica, New York on Tuesday, January 21, Benson speaks with Patty who explains they just closed on the house last week. She brings Benson to another room where Tucker is working. Benson apologizes for barging in and Patty leaves them to talk. Benson explains Rachel’s video saying she was sexually assaulted by a colleague on a job. She adds Rachel gave no name but said there was a cover-up. Rachel brought it to IAB but there was nothing in the files. Tucker says this is the first he is hearing about it. Benson brings up that at the party it seemed like Rachel knew him, asking what that is about. Tucker shakes his head and says he is not sure, wondering how long ago. Benson was hoping Tucker could tell her, reminding him Rachel threw a drink at him. Tucker says he is sorry, he is at a loss. He adds he must have done 600 cases at IAB and will have to dig out his notes. Benson looks hard at him and says she wants to believe him but he just did something he never did when they were together. He asks what’s that, and Benson explains he lied to her face.

Back at SVU in the break room with Fin, Rollins and Kat, Rollins is surprised to hear Tucker lied to Benson. Benson says or Rachel lied on the video but she doesn’t think so; Tucker seemed off. Fin comments never trust and IAB cop, no matter how close you’ve been. Kat asks how do they work this case, do they go back to every supervisor she ever had? Benson says before they cast the net that wide, look into who was in her life now. Maybe she disclosed to someone.

Rollins and Kay visit the Blessed Redemption Congregational Churn at 1592 Undercliff Avenue, Bronx, New York on Wednesday, January 22. The Reverent comments the NYPD didn’t honor her in life but now they are going to honor her in death. Rollins asks why he says that, and he replies they threw her away. He adds she is not only one of the finest cops he’s known but one of the best people. Rollins states that’s what they hear too. He explains he knew her since she was a child and saw her go from being at the top of her class to a step from homeless these past few years. He’s been letting her sleep in the church basement. Kat asks if there were mental health or drug problems and he replies yes, but not to let themselves off the hook that easy. He states the department pushed her over the edge. Rollins comments that Rachel made some accusations about being abused on the job and asks if she told him anything about that. He says “Damn right she did” and explains she said she’d been raped by someone she worked with. Kat asks if she said who, and he states no, just that it was when she was at Vice. Rollins glances at Kat and the Reverend excuses himself, saying he has a eulogy to prepare. As he walks off, Rollins mentions that she ran Rachel’s NYPD record and she was at Vice in 2004. Kat comments she thinks her rabbi was at Vice back then and if he knows something, he’ll tell her.

Later, Kat, along with Benson approaches Sergeant Ralphie Morris and he comments that Benson was the one who stole Kat from him. He adds to keep an eye on her, she is going places. Benson comments Kat has already arrived. Benson explains they are taking a look at what happened to Rachel Wilson. He sighs and says it was a terrible thing. He adds this is the third cop he knows. Benson explains the video and the accusation and Kat says it may have been someone in Vice. Ralphie explains he didn’t know her that well and a few months after he came on she transferred out. Kat says she told Benson he was a straight shooter, and he says he doesn’t like speaking ill of the dead but Rachel had a rep. He adds Kat is a good girl but Rachel got around. The guys who were there before him could tell them more. Benson explains it is a matter of public record but asks anyone in particular? He replies the top of his head, Gary Wald. Benson explains she just met him, he runs a security firm. Ralphie says he is a big shot now. Ralphie asks a favor, saying Gary has a lot of juice and to keep him out of this.

At the office of Gary Wald,  Mobile Fortress Security at 326 Hudson Street on Wednesday, January 22, Fin and Carisi speak with Gary about Rachel. He says she had really just fallen apart and to take her own life is heartbreaking. Fin asks that Gary was her captain at Vice, and Gary explains Rachel was something; she was a talented undercover but she had issues. Fin mentions the video and Gary says he heard Benson already talked to Tucker about it. Carisi looks and Fin then asks if Gary ever heard about Rachel being assaulted at Vice, and Gary says, “Rachel. Cone of Silence.” He adds she was like a live sex grenade with the pin pulled out. He adds she rolled from man to man and when he started to back away, she threatened to blow his life up. He warned Tucker about this back when he called him chasing some story but Rachel put new meaning into internal affairs. Fin comments that Tucker really did look into this, and Gary said he came to the same conclusion – Rachel was a fabricator. Gary adds he tried to help her but sometimes when you try to save a drowner she pulls you under.

Later, outside at Tucker’s house, some guys are moving stuff into Tucker’s home and Fin and Rollins approach. Fin asks if Tucker is cracking the whip, and Tucker says he is trying to fast track a new kitchen for his wife with non-union labor. He tells the workers to put the stuff inside the door and he will be right in. But Rollins explains they need him to come with them. They have a few questions. He asks them quietly that they couldn’t call first instead of embarrassing him in front of his family. Fin asks if he did that when he was with IAB? Tucker explains that was different, he was dealing with dirty cops. Rollins gives Fin a look and then they both look back at Tucker, and then he asks if they can give him a minute so he can tell his wife where he is going? Rollins replies they will wait right there.

At SVU in the interview room with Carisi and Fin, Fin asks Tucker why did he tell Benson he didn’t know Rachel. Tucker says no, what he said was he couldn’t place her. Carisi states Tucker was at IAB when Rachel claimed she was assaulted by somebody at Vice. He confirms he was. As Benson at Rollins observe, Tucker adds that was 15 years ago and he honestly had no memory of it at first. Carisi counters “At first, but you do now.” Tucker states it came back to him; she talked about filing a complaint but it never went anywhere. Carisi states she accused Gary Wald, his former partner. Tucker says nothing, and Fin shouts “Yes or no, Tucker!” Tucker replies yes, she did. They looked into it, there were charges and counter-charges about the assault but also about other relationships she was having with other guys on the job. If she had filed a formal complaint against Gary at that time there would have been four broken marriages and her career would have been ruined. Fin counters it was ruined anyway, she fell apart. Tucker replies he knows, and he felt terrible about that, but at the end of the day it was her choice not to pursue. Rollins, in the other room observing, says to Benson that Rachel was slut-shamed into keeping her mouth shut and Tucker made sure she understood how that would play out. Benson explains she can’t see Tucker covering up a rape, even if she had a rep. Rollins says it happened all the time and she thinks he is still covering it up. Kat enters the room and Benson says they are in the middle of something. But Kat, looking upset, says she just…her old Sergeant, Ralphie Morris, just killed himself, two hours after they talked to him. Benson looks flabbergasted.

Benson and Kat arrive on the scene as Ralphie’s body is being taken away. His wife Marie tells Kat to get away, she has nothing to say to her. Benson says she is sorry for her loss, and Marie asks Benson if she was the other one who talked to Ralphie before he shot himself, asking if she is proud of herself. Benson says she understands she is upset but something as horrible as this doesn’t come out of nowhere. Kat adds Marie knows Ralphie meant the world to him and she prays it was nothing that she did. Marie explains it wasn’t just her, it had been coming for a long time. Kat says she had no idea. Marie says no one did but she must have called the department a half dozen times over the last few years telling them to take his guns away. When Benson asks what was the matter, Marie retorts what wasn’t the matter, Ralphie was an ox but the job wore him down. People dump buckets of water on him in the street and politicians blame the cops when anything goes wrong. She adds they are upside-down on a second mortgage to pay for their son’s rehab. Benson says being a parent and being a cop, they all get it. Marie asks them to tell her why couldn’t he get the help he needed? Benson apologizes for asking her this but asks what happened today? Marie says he came home distraught, talking about killing himself. She was on the phone begging with 911 and he was screaming into his phone in the other room right before she heard the shot. Kat asks if she has any idea who he was talking to, and Marie states he made a few calls but the last one was to his shrink.

Benson returns to Dr. Lindstrom’s office, who says he can’t imagine how she is feeling. She comments she can’t imagine what HE is feeling, and he says he doesn’t think he understands. Benson says Ralphie was his patient, and when he asks how did she know that, Benson explains his widow said he made a series of calls before he shot himself. The first two were burner cells and they are triangulating those but the last call was to Lindstrom. She mentions he heard his final words. He steps back and says when Benson told him she need to see him right away, he thought it was because SHE needed help. She explains she DOES need help; he has information that is relevant to their case. He counters they have spent a lot of time establishing trust and angrily says if she wants to question him on a case she can’t come there under a pretext. Benson explains she hears him but if Ralph revealed anything that could help them…Lindstrom cuts her off and forcefully states he can’t reveal anything to her, he is sworn to protect a patient’s privacy. Benson argues that Ralphie is gone, but Lindstrom firmly counters that confidentiality extends beyond the grave. She looks at him coldly and says, so he knows, if he can’t see his way to help them, then the DA’s office will subpoena him. Lindstrom coldly says he will see them in court. He moves to the door and tells her now she will excuse him, he lost a patient tonight, it is not her problem but he thinks she can understand what he is feeling right now. He opens the door for her to leave and she exits.

At Supreme Court Part 32 on Thursday, January 23, Carisi argues to get the information from Lindstrom. The judge asks Lindstrom, without revealing anything specific, can he advise the court as to whether he might have information relevant to this investigation? Lindstrom states he is not prepared to answer even that, there is a precedent here. He adds they are all profoundly aware that the NYPD is in the middle of a mental health crisis and it is more important than ever that police officers who have the courage to seek counseling know that their records and conversations remain privileged, even after their death.

Meanwhile, back at SVU, Benson enters a room with Fin, Kat, and Rollins, the latter who is outlining the case on the board. Rollins asks that Carisi is taking Lindstrom to court and Benson wouldn’t count on that working either. Rollins recaps what they know: in 2004, Rachel made detective under Captain Gary Wald and Sergeant Ralphie Morris. He partnered with Detective Guevara, and Fin adds that from Tucker’s files, she hooked up with all three of them plus a UC. Kat doesn’t believe it about Ralphie. Rollins says it would explain Gary’s leverage over him. Fin states they were able to trace the burner cell – Gary and Ralphie exchanged calls before killing himself. Benson thinks after Rachel’s suicide, Ralphie feels guilt and Gary leans on him to keep quiet and Ralphie doesn’t see another way out.

Back in court, Carisi argues that he respects the principle but in this case the two suicides may be a result of a crime and a cover-up and Lindstrom has a duty to warn. He adds he may have information that could stop yet another officer from committing suicide. The judge comments that he’s heard Carisi used phrases like “maybe” and “may well have been” and “we believe”, all words that tell him this evidence he seeks is speculative and second or even third hand. He adds Carisi failed to show that the interest of justice outweigh the deceased’s interests and confidentiality. Carisi looks dejected.

At the office of Dr. Lindstrom at 26 West 82nd Street on Thursday, January 23, Benson and Rollins enter the office which appears to have been ransacked. Benson asks if he is okay, and he says he is fine and this must have happened while he was at the hearing. He adds they broke into his desk but didn’t bother to take prescription samples or his checkbook. Benson asks if anything was missing, and he states his laptop and Ralph Morris’ file.  Benson thinks they were worried the court would order him to turn over the files, and Lindstrom says now they have them. Rollins says they will call CSU and get a team in there to get prints and touch DNA. He says he can save them the time; he had a visit to his office late last night from Gary Wald. He wanted the same thing Benson wanted – to know what Ralph said before he took his own life. He didn’t tell him – he can’t. but without breaking confidentiality he can tell them that their friend Ed Tucker must know everything he knows. Benson looks stunned.

Later, outside a store, Tucker brings Benson some coffee and asks if she still takes milk. She thanks him. He comments 4 times in a week, first she couldn’t wait to get rid of him and now he needs an order of protection against him. Benson, not amused, tells Tucker they need to talk. He says to walk with him, he’s not going far. He asks what is on her mind and she replies Rachel Wilson, Ralph Morris, him and these games that he has been playing. He comments to trust him, he doesn’t have time to play games. She asks if he knows his friend Gary Wald broke into Lindstrom’s office and stole the file on Ralph Morris. He says he had no idea. He comments lately he realizes he had no idea about a lot of things. She wants to believe him but still gets the feeling he is not being straight with her about any of this. He stops on the sidewalk and she sees right behind him the Jamaica Hill Cancer Center. She asks if that is what they are doing here, and he says she can’t tell his wife. Benson looks devastated.

Afterward, Benson, in a diner across the street, waits for Tucker to return. He sits down asks her if he ever told her where he worked after 911. She said she asked. He explains they had him detailed to the first killed landfill recovery site, looking for remains. There were 12-hour shifts of working the conveyor belt, sifting through debris, watching credit cards, baby pictures and wedding rings go by. Every once and a while, a finger bone or a rib. Benson says it sounds like how she pictures hell. Tucker says you start thinking about your own life, all the things you missed, wished you’d done. If they caught the cancer in his lungs before he started seeing her, now it is in his brain. They say there is no connection but…Benson asks if they can treat that and Ticker says they can but the doctor says he has 6 months to a year. Benson is stunned and he says it is what it is; pretty soon he won’t be himself any more. He is starting to have memory lapses. Benson comments that is why he didn’t remember Rachel and he says he had no idea how he knew her and was too embarrassed to tell her when Benson asked. Gary called him after Benson left and he was making sure that he had his back, like when they were partners. Benson asks if he is saying he covered up a rape to protect his friend, and he says no, he would never. Gary told him he had an affair with her and when he went to break it off she accused him of rape just to get back at him. He was stupid enough to believe him. He doesn’t want Rachel or Ralph on his conscience and there is still time to make this right.

At Ralphie’s home after the service, Benson and Kat give their condolences to Marie. Benson sees Tucker speaking with Gary and glares.

At Wolfgang’s Steakhouse at 4 Park Avenue on Saturday, January 25, Tucker and Gary are enjoying a dinner and Gary speaks about how wonderful his work is, and says it would be good for Tucker too. Gary asks if he got anything from Benson, and Tucker says they know what happened at Vice and it was with a supervisor. Gary asks if Ralphie shrink gave them anything and Tucker says not even after somebody broke into the office. He asks Gary that they don’t need to worry about that, do they? Gary says the notes are gone and it gets easier, just pin the rape on Ralphie. He has proof he had the affair. Tucker says she really got around, mentioning Gary and Ralphie. Gary asks him if he remembers he told him they called her the hot box of midtown south? Tucker replies he remembers but then she started giving Gary a hard time, and he said it was more like stalking him; she called his wife and he can’t have that. He had to tune her up, and Tucker says he never told him that. Gary says it was different time, he had to protect his home, his family, and his job. Tucker says he gets it, and Gary says he roughed her up good and she got the message. And now she is gone and Ralphie is gone and it all ties up with a bow. As Benson listens in the surveillance van with Fin, Fin comments that these IAB guys know how to reel them in. Benson says the one thing about Ed Tucker, he settles his accounts.

As Tucker and Gary leave the restaurant, Tucker holds on to a wall and Gary comments he didn’t think he had that much to drink. Tucker comments he is turning into an amateur now that he is retired. Gary asks if he wants a ride home, he has his driver. Tucker declines, saying he is good, it is out of his way. Gary tells him if he sticks with him, he will be riding in that Rolls Silver Ghost they always talked about. As Gary drives off, Tucker looks ill. Benson steps out of the van and races over to him when he looks like he is going to collapse. He asks if they got enough for an arrest and she says it is all good. She walks him to the van.

Later at a courthouse office with Carisi,  Benson and Rollins play the recording back and Rollins asks if they are good to go on the arrest warrant for Gary. Carisi says that Gary runs a global security firm and if there is anything out there on Tucker he will find it. He asks if Tucker is okay testifying against his former partner, and Benson says Tucker is clean. Carisi asks if she believes him and she nods yes. Carisi says it took him long enough to come around on Rachel. Benson asks if this goes to trial, how long this will take – months? Carisi says it could be years. He wonders why she is asking, and Benson explains there is a reason Tucker wasn’t himself before She tells them not to make her spell it out. Carisi comments they need to do this without him, and Benson says yes. Carisi says they have the tapes, he will get them the search warrants and see if they can flush out anybody from Vice from that time. Rollins asks if anything else, and Carisi says to pick up Gary Wald.

Gary is at his office when Fin and Kat arrest him for sexual assault, witness tampering, and breaking and entering. He questions based on what, the word of two cops having an affair that killed themselves? Kat, putting the cuffs on Gary, tells him he’d better watch his mouth. Gary asks what is her problem, and Fin says Gary heard what she said. His office staff watch this unfold.

At a later time, Benson walks outside with Tucker who has heard Gary is on his way to central booking. He comments it was one of his best friends, his partner, and he never even knew it. He thinks of all the people he never let get close to him because of IAB. Benson tells him not to blame himself, but he said it was his job to root out bad cops and he missed one of the worst standing right in front of him. If he had, Rachel might still be there. Benson says a lot of people missed it, she’s missed some things. He comments he didn’t realize they changed the subject are they talking about them now? Benson says she is sorry for the way she ended things. She thinks underneath it all, she was afraid. He says her dance card was full, the job, Noah. She whispers what she wishes she had, and what she wishes they had, was more time. He says okay, they’ll always have Paris, adding he always wanted to say that. Benson looks misty-eyed and embraces him and they stand overlooking a familiar skyline. He walks off.

At the courthouse, Carisi explains to Rollins and Carisi that the judge felt Gary was a flight risk so he did not make bail. Fin says Gary can cool his jets at the jail they were going to name after him. Rollins gets a message on her phone and stops cold, saying “Oh my god.”

Benson sits in her office, alone, and Fin enters. Fin tells Benson he heard about Tucker, asking how is she doing. Benson explains Tucker took his life with his old .38 and she just doesn’t know what to do with that. Fin assures her there is nothing she CAN do with that, it just is. She adds he left his wife a letter, his benefits, his pension and told her he didn’t want to spend the best years of her life taking care of a dying man. Benson, looking at Fin with tears in her eyes, tells him Tucker had brain cancer. Fin, stunned, says he didn’t know. Fin moves to her to console her, and explains Tucker was suffering and that is not how he wanted to be remembered. Benson says she knows, it’s just a lot of rain in one place. Fin suggests she doesn’t need to be here alone, asking to drive her home. She asks him to give her a minute, she’ll be okay, she is good. Fin walks out of her office and Benson pulls a photo from her desk with her and Tucker in Paris. She smiles at the happy memory and continues to look at the photo as we fade to black.


Cast:
Mariska Hargitay - Captain Olivia Benson
Ice-T - Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Peter Scanavino - ADA Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, Jr.
Jamie Gray Hyder - Katriona "Kat" Azar Tamin

Guest stars:
Robert John Burke - Captain Ed Tucker
Michael Gaston - Gary Wald
Holly Robinson Peete - Rachel Wilson
Joe Grifasi – Judge Hashi Horowitz
Saul Stein – Ralphie Morris
Willie C. Carpenter – The Reverend
Cora Vander Broek – Marie Morris
Bill Irwin - Dr. Peter Lindstrom
Abby Royle – Patty Tucker

Deleted Scene (may have a limited life):




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