Law & Order SVU “Redemption In Her Corner” Recap & Review

I’m on the fence about this episode. It provided some depth for Kat Tamin and gave Jamie Gray Hyder a nice feature story. But there were some parts along the way that really irked me.

The open before the credits was unusually long – 6 minutes 30 seconds by my clock. I don’t care much for what I call filler scenes but I can’t complain about the opening cameo with the beloved Raúl Esparza. It was great to see him and hear that Barba has landed a job doing something with election fraud. But why on earth must this show take cheap shots against Midwest America every chance it gets? Barba’s excuse for growing a beard is that he is in Iowa, he has to blend in, saying this with what sounded like disdain in his voice. I guess no one in New York or on the east coast grows beards or that Iowans can’t deal with clean-shaven people? I am growing very tired of how Law & Order SVU continues to perpetuate stereotypes about the Midwest.   Barba also wishes Benson a happy birthday, early. (One web site has Benson’s birthday as February 7, 1968 but I can’t find the source confirming that date.)

Back to the open. Kat is preparing for a boxing match. She sees something that doesn’t feel right involving a teen boxer in training, Cami, and the adult trainer, Romeo. Romeo sets Kat up with bad advice and as a result, Kat loses her qualifying match with Esperanza Morales. I’m not a fan of boxing,  but the open nicely established an outside interest for Kat and showed the support she is getting from her colleagues (except Benson, who couldn’t make the match because Noah).

It doesn’t take long before Kat wonders if she is seeing perps everywhere, and confers with Benson. With their collective intuition telling them something is off, they do some investigating, eventually bringing the whole team into the process, even though there hasn’t been any complaint. Things get complicated when Esperanza argues with Romeo about the alleged sexual abuse with Cami and decks him, and he hits his head as he falls to the floor and is rushed to the hospital. While Benson and Rollins are questioning Esperanza about this, Kat enters and delivers a message from Esperanza’s father suggesting she get a lawyer. This horrifies Benson and she lectures Kat about her error. It surprises me that Kat made such a rookie cop mistake, but it gets worse.

The next thing we know, Romeo is dead as a result of the assault. This is where we take an odd turn – it’s now murder, yet the SVU and Carisi are intent on helping clear Esperanza’s name, likely driven by Kat’s connection to Esperanza. Benson had lectured Kat earlier that her old captain used to warn her that if you are too close to a case, you are not helping the victim. Of course, Benson is Captain now and she can dish out the platitudes, but whenever it suits her, she throws them out the window. As a result, the SVU jumps into digging up whatever they can to help Kat’s friend who is charged with murder. At one point, Benson even asks Esperanza if she can call someone for her before her arraignment. Benson is now all in.

Kat is a loose cannon, and gets in trouble when she talks to Esperanza, without her lawyer, while she is in Rikers,  after specifically being told not to do so. Now Benson has her on a short leash.

I found it funny that Kat was making legal suggestions and assumptions to Carisi like Carisi used to do to Barba, Carisi getting a taste of his own medicine. Carisi was highly agitated talking  with Kat and maybe now he will understand how Barba felt. While we’re on the subject of Carisi, it was nice of him to bring Benson some soup made by his mother, forcing her to take it, maybe because his mother’s soup is some sort of magic elixir to fix Benson’s melancholy over Tucker’s death.

One comment was very un-Benson-like: when Kat comments that Carisi gets “stuck” and Benson says, “that’s all men, actually.” What the heck does THAT mean and what other biases does Benson have about men that we don’t know about?

The scene where Esperanza goes into a rage while speaking to her father was well done by Manni L. Perez.  At least Esperanza gets some justice for the abuse she and her sister experienced and their father is arrested.  Unfortunately, Romeo was assaulted and later died in the process, maybe because SVU handled the case poorly from the start.

Here is the recap:

Benson is on a video call with Rafael Barba. She comments that he has grown a beard, and he explains he is in Iowa and is trying to blend in. She laughs and tells him good luck and asks why he is there. Barba explains it is election fraud and that they are living is a dystopian nightmare and then says enough about him. He asks Benson how is she, and Benson says “ Hmmmm.” Barba says he heard about Tucker, and Benson tells him it’s been rough and there has been a lot of loss lately and time has been flying by. He states he is back out to the primary and suggests dinner, on him. She comments she’d like that. He adds before he goes…happy birthday. She chuckles and says he is early, but he smiles and says he wanted to be the first. He asks her to give his regards to the squad, and Noah. Benson ends the call and closes her laptop and looks away in thought.

She walks into the squad room and tells them all that Barba sends his regards. Rollins asks how he is doing, and Benson replies he is in Iowa, tilting and windmills. Benson asks where is Kat, and Fin explains he let her out early so she could warm up for her boxing match, reminding her they are all going. Benson looks stunned and says she totally forgot, she has an appointment. When Fin asks about it, Rollins tells him to let it go. Rollins suggests Benson meet her after, and Benson explains she can’t, Noah has a rehearsal but to wish Kat good luck from her. Benson leaves. Fin tells Rollins that Benson just needs time, she’ll be okay.

At Romeo’s Boxing Club at 548 West 176th Street on Monday, January 27, Kat enters the boxing club gym and she comments to Esperanza, who is sparring, telling her she needs to save some of that for the ring. she is taking her down. Esperanza retorts that Kat’s cop intimidation tactics are useless, she will bury her. Kat asks if Romeo is around, and Esperanza says he is in his office, wondering if Kat is backing out. Kat says Esperanza should be ready to catch her hands and the two women in the ring go back to sparring. Kat tries to open the door of Romeo Solis’ office and it is locked. She knocks, calling out if he has a minute. The door opens and Cami walks out. Kat says hello to her and Cami says “hey” and quickly moves off. Kat looks at her suspiciously and enters the office and sees Romeo fixing up his sweat pants. Kat comments his door was locked and Romeo acts surprised and says Cami did that, Cami pulled her left shoulder and he had to pop in back in for her. Kat looks around and he tells her to focus and reminds her if she wins the night, the golden gloves are within reach. She nods. He adds he forgot to tell her that Val is going to be in her corner tonight. Kat questions this and she says she was banking on him. He explains so is Esperanza, stating she is 19 and Kat is bigger and will be fine. She asks if that is it for her pre-fight pep talk. Romeo says he shouldn’t be telling her this but Esperanza has a weak left hook and suggests Kat hit her with a couple body jabs – he demonstrates – and says they follow up with an overhand right and make it hard for her to counter and Esperanza would be done. He says Kat didn’t get none of that from him. He walks off but Kat seems to think something is off.

Kat walks over to Cami who is in the locker room and asks how is her shoulder. When Cami doesn’t seem to understand the question, Kat explains Romeo said he had to pop it back in. Cami laughs and says it’s fine. Kay asks who locked the door, and Cami quickly says “Hey SVU, take a knee. I’m not some after-school special, okay? Quit trying to stir up trouble.” Cami walks off.

At the Golden Gloves qualifying match on Monday, January 27, Kat and Esperanza warm up in the ring. Carisi arrives and sits down next to Rollins and Fin. He comments there are a lot of people here, wondering if Kat is any good. Fin replies that Kat can whoop his ass. Rollins asks if they know anything about Kat’s opponent, and a man stands up and says it is his daughter Esperanza Morales, most knockouts in the gym. A woman sitting nearby  says Esperanza is a total killer and Kat is a stepping stone. Fin says his money is on the girl from Gowanus. The announcer welcomes the crowd to the elite qualifying match and introduces Kat – in the blue corner – as the Phenomenon from Lebanon, the Brute from Beirut – Katriona “I Own Ya” Tamin. Carisi, Rollins, and Fin show their support amid several boos. The announcer introduces – in the red corner – with an undefeated record of 6 wins and no losses – “The Dyckman Street Devil” Esperanza “No Hope” Morales. The crowd cheers as Carisi, Rollins and Fin look on. The bell to start the round rings and the match begins. Fin observes Kat looks good, and Rollins counters everybody looks good until they get popped in the mouth. Carisi cheers on Kat. Kat lands a few good punches and Esperanza does the same. But Romeo’s advice turns out to be no good and Kat is quickly decked and falls to the floor. The crowd cheers and Kat struggles to rise off the floor as the ref counts. She sits up and looks over to Romeo who is embracing Cami and he gives her a look. Kat shakes her head.

The next day, Fin and Rollins talk about the fight and when Rollins comments that Kat can drink, Fin explained this is why he drove her home. Kat enters the squad room wearing sunglasses and takes them off to show a shiner. Fin calls Kat “Rocky Tamin” as Rollins notes the shiner. Kat comments that Rollins and Carisi were hitting it pretty hard last night and asks if they got home okay. Rollins laughs. Fin tells Kat she had it until she went to the over hand. Kat blows this off and asks if Benson is in.

Kat knocks on Benson’s office door and Benson, who is looking blankly out the window, calls out, “Yeah.” Kat opens the door and Benson waves her in. Benson comment she heard that Kat impressed the squad, and Kat replies “Until I didn’t.” Benson, seeing the shiner, says, “Ouch.” As Kat sits down, Benson asks if Kat is alright. Kat replies she is not sure, asking when Benson first got there, did she start seeing predators everywhere? Benson nods and says she did, explaining it takes a while to get your bearings. She asks Kat what’s this about, and Kat tells her before her fight, she went in to see the head trainer, Romeo, and his door was locked. Cami another fighter, 16, came rushing out and Romeo was tying his sweats. Benson gives a concerned looked and asks if there is anything else, and Kat explains he claimed he popped her shoulder back in and Cami had no idea about that. Kat adds it kept her up all night. Benson says if her gut is telling her that something’s off, you’ve got to trust that. Kat nods.

At the apartment of Cami Vega at 637 West 169th Street on Tuesday, January 28, Benson and Kat speak with Cami who explains that the trainers are intense and Romeo saved her  life. He made her a fighter and before that she was a screw-up. Kat explains her worry but Cami says Romeo was just popping her shoulder back in. Cami says she has to go to the book club. Benson says if anything comes up to please call. As Cami opens the door to leave, her grandmother. Mrs. Vega, enters and looks surprised. Cami explains in Spanish and after she leaves, Mrs. Vega tells Benson and Kat that Romeo is a good man. Before that she didn’t have a father in her life and now she does. She add he has a good heart; every time they train late her drives her home. Benson asks what time does she get home, and Mrs. Vega says he wants her to be a champion so he trains her like one and she is so tired she goes straight to bed. Kat asks how is her shoulder, and Mrs. Vega looks confused at the question. Kat explains she injured it, asking if Cami saw a doctor. Mrs. Vega says he is fine, saying Cami does 100 pushups every morning. As Benson leaves the apartment, she suggests that, just in case, Mrs. Vega talk to Cami about Romeo and her shoulder. Benson hands her a business card and she and Kat leave.

Outside, Kat asks that Romeo is good for this, and Benson tells her to slow down. Kat says the grandmother just described grooming and the shoulder was an excuse. Benson counters maybe, but there are two scenarios: one, he is a predator and two, he is a trainer that cares about his girls. Kat wonders if now Benson is telling her not to trust her gut, but Benson says no, now they dig deeper, wondering who else they can talk to from the gym.

At the Laundromat, Benson and Kat speak with Esperanza who says Romeo touches her but not in a way that is creepy. They ask about Cami and Esperanza says they are close, and Romeo plays favorites. She knows they are from SVU but Romeo is not like that, he is not a perv. Benson explains Kat says she is the eyes and ears of the gym and wonders if she has noticed anything. Esperanza she wants to protect her girls as much as they do. She comments that Kat’s eye looks better and Kat calls it a lucky punch. Esperanza explains not really, Romeo said when Kat comes around with that big right that Kat drops her guard. Kat, surprised, questions Romeo told her that, and Esperanza replies yes; Romeo said she could pivot and hit you with a right – “no mercy” were his exact words. Kat is silent and Benson looks back and forth at the two women. Esperanza comments they are still good, right” Kat states “of course.” Esperanza walks off with her laundry.

Outside, Benson asks what was that about, and Kat states she knew it, Romeo told HER to throw that overhand and told Esperanza it was coming. She wonders if it was a message to shut up about whatever happened between him and Cami.

Back at SVU, Carisi enters, saying he was in the neighborhood – his mom made Benson soup. Benson waves him off and thanks him, saying she is fine. Carisi motions again for her to take it, saying it is his mother’s, telling her to take the soup. She accepts it, and suggests while he is here, she wants fresh eye. He sees the photos from Kat’s gym and she explains when she got back into boxing a year ago, she was told Romeo was the best. Carisi asks “but?” and Rollins explains he may be sexually involved with an underage boxer. Carisi asks what’s his story, and Fin explains he has no record, with a box full of awards and honorary degrees. Carisi asks about the complainant, and Benson replies she hasn’t disclosed yet. Carisi questions what DO they have, and Kat states she interrupted Cami and Romeo behind a locked door and they weren’t working out. Fin adds that Romeo also tipped off her opponent to Kat’s fight plan. Carisi comments that is why Kat got tagged. Kat states she might have lost anyway but he was pissed when she called him out and he had her do his dirty work. Benson sees Cami arrive with Mrs. Vega and approaches them. When Mrs. Vega prompts Cami to tell Benson, Benson suggests they go someplace more private. As they walk, Cami says Esperanza grilled her and that is the only reason she is here so she gets the truth from her and not some jealous…When Benson says “the truth”, Cami turns and says it is actually none of their business but she and Romeo are in love. Benson, after pausing, asks that it is more of a relationship. Mrs. Vega says Benson does not understand, commenting Romeo has been sleeping with Cami for two years. Benson says she gets it, asking Cami that she is 16. Cami says she is old enough to know what she wants, and her grandmother retorts she is not, telling Cami to show her the texts. Benson says she would like to see them and would like to hear more, and motions Rollins to move them into another room. As Rollins takes them to another room, Kat looks concerned and Fin says that’s no love that’s just rape. Kat asks that now they arrest Romeo, and Fin explains no, now they get Romeo’s side of the story, and Benson if she goes with that. She tells him yeah, go. She tells Carisi she will need a warrant for their cell phones, his office. Carisi states he has her covered.

As Fin and Kat enter the gym, there appears to be an argument in process. Esperanza punches Romeo and he drops to the floor, hitting his head.   Kat moves to restrain Esperanza as Fin tells the others to back up. Kat tries to calm Esperanza and Fin calls for a bus.

As the ambulance drives to the hospital with Romeo, Fin speaks with him. Fin asks why they were going at it and he says it doesn’t matter. Fin asks about Cami and about them being in love, and Romeo laughs, calling it a Mickey Mouse crush. Fin brings up sleeping with Cami and the texting, and Romeo says she is lying and she set him up. Fin asks why would Cami do that, and the EMT says it is her ambulance and to stop talking as she put and oxygen mask on Romeo.

At SVU. Kat explains to Rollins that Esperanza was protecting Cami. Rollins tells Kat to let Esperanza tell them, and tells Esperanza to come with her. Esperanza says Kat knows why she did it, SVU wasn’t doing anything. As Rollins and Esperanza walk off, Benson approaches Kat who explains Esperanza confronted Romeo about Cami and lost it. Benson asks if she said Romeo made an admission but Kat says they did not get that far and she can find out. Benson stops her and explains she knows Kat is worried about her but to let them talk to her. Benson walks off.

Rollins speaks with Esperanza who explains she spoke to Cami and if he was molesting her she had to know. She explains confronting Cami and saw the texts, saying he is sick. Cami doesn’t know it was rape, mentioning she was 14 the first time, to which Benson explains they are aware. Romeo never crossed the line with her, always treating her like a daughter.

Kat sees Mr. Morales arrive at SVU and she explains what is going on with Esperanza punching Romeo. He thinks Romeo started it and wants to be in the room when Benson speaks with her. Kat stops him and he asks her to tell Esperanza that her dad said to zip it until she can call a lawyer. Kat says yeah, and asks him to take a seat.

Meanwhile, Esperanza continues to explain that when she confronted Romeo he said she was crazy and that she should mind her own business. Kat enters the room and explains Esperanza’s father is there, and Benson states they are still talking. Esperanza says Santos does not need to be there, and Kat blurts out that he said wants Esperanza to get a lawyer. Stunned, Benson’s mouth drops and she turns, glaring at Kat, asking her “Officer, you have a sec?” Benson excuses herself from the room and Esperanza, looking worried, asks if she needs to get a lawyer. Rollins said it’s in case Romeo presses charges, and Esperanza gets upset, saying Romeo is the rapist. Rollins suggests Esperanza calm down for a second.

In another room, Kat knows she screwed up. Benson states yeah, she did. Kat explains it was just Esperanza's dad is upset and she wants to help Esperanza and she is scared for Cami. Benson says she gets it but it is hard to be objective when she is too close to a victim. Kat reminds Benson she bonds with victims all the time and Benson admits that she does but she had to learn to see things with perspective. Her old captain used to warn her that if you are too close to a case, you are not helping the victim. Kat asks when Romeo will be arraigned, and Benson states he is in the hospital and they are running some tests. When he went down, he hit his head. Kat thinks he is faking injury in order to buy time, and Benson says she will pass that one to Carisi. She leaves the room.

At LaGuardia Hospital at 32 East 122nd Street on Wednesday, January 29, Romeo comments to Carisi that they are arraigning him in bed, suggesting he pull the plug already. Carisi says not to tempt him, and his lawyer, Counselor Robert Kluger, tells Romeo to let him do the talking. Kat is also there. The judge states that Romeo pleads not guilty on the charge of rape 2 and asks Carisi about bail. He suggest $20,000 and requests an order of protection for the defendant to stay away from the victim and his gym as his livelihood involves close interactions with young girls, one of whom his is accused of raping. Kluger explains Romeo is in no shape to get back to work and wants to regain his health and clear his name. The judge still grants the temporary order of protection, sets the bail at $20,000, and Romeo must surrender his passport. Carisi thanks the judge and leaves, and stops to speak with Kat who is waiting outside the room. Kat asks if he got bail and Carisi says Romeo is not going anywhere – and Kat comments until he goes to trial. Carisi asks if Cami is still in love and Kat says she is, and she doesn’t want to testify. He suggest Kat keep working on her and if he has to he will call he as a hostile witness. They hear an alarm ring and see many people racing toward Romeo’s room. They hear someone say that Romeo is coding and to call the alarm. Carisi and Kat look at the activity in the room and Carisi comments Romeo was fine. Carisi asks if Esperanza has a lawyer yet, and Kat looks at Carisi and says nothing. Carisi says she didn’t hear this from him, but she’d better get one. Kat looks worried.

At the DA’s office walking in the halls, Bureau Chief Vanessa Hadid has heard from Carisi that Romeo died minutes after the bedside arraignment from a brain bleed. Carisi doesn’t think there was a cause and effect, and Rollins said it was a subdural hematoma, common among boxers from head trauma. Hadid asks that it was inflicted by one of the teens he trained with, and Carisi replies yes, explaining Esperanza is 19, his protégé and a championship boxer, a success story in the gym. Hadid asks if Romeo abused her too, and Carisi explains she hasn’t said that; she was confronting him about the one victim they know about, Cami. Hadid says all that is moot; his rape case became a murder case. Rollins adds she interviewed Esperanza and this wasn’t premeditated or intentional. Hadid states premeditated or not, Romeo is dead and they will have to pivot their investigation. Rollins questions “Murder?” and adds she’s a kid and has no priors. Carisi adds Romeo was a predator. Hadid feels for her but she is a trained boxer and unless they can prove she or someone else was in imminent danger, Miss Morales is facing man 2.

Afterward, in the hall, Rollins comments with sarcasm that Hadid was in a bad mood, and Carisi says always. Carisi explains Esperanza can get up to 15 years. He punches the elevator button for Rollins and then walks off as Rollins takes a deep breath.

In SVU interrogation, Esperanza speaks with Benson and Kat and they explain it is not assault, Romeo died and the DA wants to charge manslaughter. They are aware of the circumstances but it may not matter. Benson asks if Romeo ever did anything to her and she insists no. Benson asks if there is anyone they can call before arraignment, and Kat reminds her that her father mentioned getting her a lawyer. Esperanza insists no, saying she doesn’t want anything from him. Benson asks if there is anything she remembers that could justify this as self defense, and Kat asks if there is anything the other girls saw. Esperanza says no. Benson asks for a minute and she and Kat exit the room. They agree Esperanza is hiding something. Benson asks how many witnesses were at the scene, and Kat says a dozen at least. Benson asks her to see if they know what happened. Kat wonders if it is self defense if they will drop the charges, and Benson tells her one step at a time.

At a street memorial at Romeo’s Boxing Club at 548 West 176th street on Wednesday, January 29, a news crew is there reporting on what happened. Fin and Rollins speak with one witness who doesn’t know who to believe. But she says Esperanza came into the gym all hyped up and went to Romeo and they started arguing, something about getting too close. Romeo said Esperanza was jealous and when Rollins asks if it was Cami, and she say maybe. All she knows is Romeo never crossed the line with her. She adds Esperanza never stirs the pot like that and she punched Romeo out – she had a reason.

Meanwhile inside, Kat speaks with Val who asks Kat if what they are saying about Romeo are true. Kat says they are bad. Kat asks if she heard what they were arguing about before he went down, and Val does not want to take sides. Kat asks if that is what she will tell Esperanza when she is in prison for 15 years? Val explains she was wrapping a girl’s hand and Esperanza and Romeo were getting into it and she went over to break it up. Romeo got in her ear and said something about damaged goods. She slugged him. Kat tells Val to be straight with her, asking if she looks back was there anything not right between Romeo and Esperanza. Val explains trainers play head games with boxers all the time; whatever he did or didn’t do, it doesn’t matter. No one will ever look at them without thinking of that. Men make the mess and women get stuck cleaning it up. Val walks off.

Back at SVU, Benson hears the latest from the group and says it sounds like Romeo was abusing Esperanza, and Rollins comments maybe but they don’t know that and she won’t admit it. Kat asks what difference does it make, if she was protecting Cami, wouldn’t a jury be sympathetic to that? Carisi replies emotionally, yeah, but technically you can’t just kill someone because you don’t like how they are treating someone else. Fin asks if you can prove he is abusing her, and Carisi says it changes the case, if she gets a good lawyer she can get a variation of the battered wife defense; an abused teen snaps perhaps if she is taunted by a predator…Kat says Esperanza is a boxer and she won’t admit to it, she has a rep to protect. Benson suggests she is scared and in denial. Carisi says if Esperanza and her lawyer come to him with her admission, he can convince Hadid to make a deal. He wishes them good luck and leaves. Rollins mentions the $10,000 bail and Fin says she won’t make that. Kat suggests she go to Rikers and talk to her, and Benson reminds her she is under arrest and none of them can talk to her without a lawyer present.

At Rikers Island Correctional Facility Meeting Room on Wednesday, January 29, Kat speaks to Esperanza without her lawyer. Kat brings up her father Santos and Esperanza says to leave him out of this. She wants to know if he sent Kat, and Kat says nobody sent her and she’s not supposed to be there without her lawyer. Esperanza tells her to go home. Kat tells her she is looking at 15 years, and Esperanza says Romeo didn’t touch her, and Kat asks why did he all her damaged goods. Esperanza is surprised people heard that, worried now everybody knows. She gets very upset and says they can’t know. Kat realizes it was not Romeo, it was her father. Esperanza says not to mentions Santos’ name to her ever again. She storms out of the room.

Later, in Benson’s office with Carisi, Kat said she didn’t approach Esperanza as a cop but as a friend. Carisi yells it was at Rikers, after she invoked, saying “NO. Her lawyer needs to be there.” Benson she Kat understands that, but Carisi wonders did she, because if Esperanza said something probative she would have tainted the case. Kat raises her voice and says the good news she didn’t say anything too probative. Carisi says with sarcasm that it was just a little probative. Benson tries to get Carisi to cool off and tells Kat to go on. Kat explains it was what she didn’t say about her father. She insists Romeo didn’t touch her but when she mentioned Santos she bolted from the room. Carisi comments she is inferring the Esperanza’s father abused her, so why did she punch Romeo? Kat says Romeo called her damaged goods, asking if he was taunting her about her father’s abuse that that is mitigating, isn’t it? Benson tells her to hold on, Esperanza hasn’t accused her father and they would need corroboration. Carisi adds Kat should be talking to Esperanza’s lawyer and whatever she does, do not go back to Rikers without a lawyer. He storms out. Kat says Carisi gets stuck and Benson says that is all men, actually. Benson says Carisi is right, if Esperanza doesn’t disclose…and Kat suggests talking to Santos. Benson asks if Kat is kidding her, saying she can’t trust Kat right now, and can’t do ANYTHING without Benson.

At Mariners Temple Baptist Church at 8 Oliver Street on January 30, Fin and Rollins speak to Santos who says Esperanza is angry and always lashes out. Her mother left them when she was 10 and she never forgave her. He gave her everything – ballet, gymnastics and boxing – he busts his ass so she could have the success he never had. Fin and Rollins press and Rollins suggest he got too close to her. Santos said he did everything for his two girls and admits she had a sister (Graciela), and she got hooked and tried to save her. Now he lost two daughters. He excuses himself and Fin and Rollins walk off, Rollins mentions one daughter was a junkie and the other was a boxer, and Fin says you do whatever you can to get out of a house like his.

Meanwhile, Benson and Kat are at Rikers meeting with Esperanza and her attorney. Esperanza doesn’t want to talk about her father but Benson and Kat continue to press, with Kat saying they can keep it a secret if she wants, no one ever has to know. Esperanza pauses, and says that’s what he whispered when he crawled into her bed. She says Santos was a mean drunk when she was little and she heard his footsteps at night, that is how she knew he was coming for her. She describes what he did to her and how she eventually gave in. She told Romeo the first time she met him she told him she needed to protect herself and he took one look at Santos and knew. When she confronted Romeo about Cami, first he called her a liar and then he said she was just jealous because he never wanted her papi’s sloppy seconds. She should have known and should have protected Cami, and Benson and Kat bring up her sister Graciela. Esperanza asked if they talked to her sister and Kat asks that she is still alive, Esperanza replying as far as she knows. She last saw her two years ago, panhandling near the Port Authority. She gave everything she had. She promised to call her but Graciela never did.

At Tompkins Renewal Shelter at 351 East 10th Street on Thursday, January 30, Fin and Kat speak with Graciela and says they want to talk about her sister and want her to help. Fin explains Esperanza punched her trainer because he was taunting her about her father, and Kat asks if she knows about that. Graciela says this is why she boxes and when she got good, she told their father he had to leave them alone. Kat says it could help her sister if she told her ADA that. She agrees but thinks Esperanza has made money and wonders how much she will pay her. Fin and Kat look at each other.

At the courthouse, Carisi, walking with Hadid in the main hall, comments to Rollins and Kat about Graciela thinking she will get paid to testify and Esperanza won’t testify as she is too ashamed. Hadid says Esperanza is still looking at man 2 and Kat argues Santos abused his daughters for years, they should be arresting him. Hadid states they are right, but they are not, sorry. Hadid turns and walks off and Carisi follows. Kat comments Rollins that Esperanza is in jail and her sister won’t help her, adding her own sisters would do anything for each other and she doesn’t get it. Rollins says she didn’t say she wouldn’t help, she wanted to get paid.

At Rikers Island Correctional Facility in the visiting room on Friday, January 31, Santos visits with Esperanza. He complains about the glass between them and she says she is lucky she is talking to him at all. He explains Graciela called him and she is nervous about Esperanza running her mouth. Esperanza asks if Graciela is, or is he? Benson and Kat observe and Carisi comments it’s nice making it about Santos, and Benson says that is all he cares about. Santos complains about making the trip there and says since the gym turned on her he has no one but her. She counters she’d rather have no one. He stands up and says she is stubborn as a rat and if she wants to survive in here she has to toughen up and let go of whatever grudge she is holding. He moves to leave. But she tells him to wait, saying she gets it, he wants her to keep her mouth shut but her lawyer says the only way she doesn’t go down for murder is by telling people what he did.  He think she is confused by Romeo and her friend, She said he was his papi and he should have never touched her like that. He says all he did was look out for her and love her. She counters he never looked out for her, he is only here because he is scared they will find out he is the worst kind of papi, screwing his daughter. She asks how could he do that to her, she was a little kid. He says he couldn’t help it, after her mother left, Esperanza was all he had, it is not his fault. She says because it was hers, because he said she was beautiful she was teasing him. He explains he raised her alone and had needs. She says he raped her. He asks if she hears herself, and does she want him to want her after she says that on the stand? She cries and asks how can he say that? He states if he hadn’t done what he did, she would have been a victim her whole life. She angrily says he took everything from her – her childhood, her little sister, and her career. She was almost out and once she had her golden gloves, she’d be out, leaving him and all his baggage behind. She was a fighter and she was damn good and she had a chance but now – she starts screaming and slamming the phone receiver. He says she can’t change her past as she continues to rage. She jumps on the counter and pounds on the glass that separates them as she screams. A guard restrains her as pulls her away as she screams at the top of her lungs. Santos looks stunned.

Later, Esperanza meets with Benson, Kat, Carisi, and her lawyer and Kat says she did great, she got a confession. Esperanza asks why does she feel like she lost? Benson says to trust her, she didn’t, adding the hard part is over and she is still standing. Her lawyer says her client did what she asked and Carisi says he will do what he promised, assault 2, for 2 years. Her lawyer tells Esperanza to stay out of trouble and she will be out sooner. Esperanza asks what about Santos.

Elsewhere, in a bodega, Santos shops with Graciela, saying she’ll never blame him, she got over it and she has to get Esperanza to do the same. Graciela nods and moves to walk out of the store. She opens the door and Santos walks out. Rollins, there with Fin, calls out his name and Fin says he is under arrest. As they cuff him, he looks over to Graciela and says, “My own daughter? You set me up? How could you do this?” Graciela yells, “How could I? How could YOU!” She spits on him and says she hopes he dies in prison. Graciela says to Fin to tell Officer Tamin she didn’t need to pay her, she will give her the money back. She walks off and as Fin and Rollins move Santos to the car, he screams to Graciela.

Later, while she is working out at the gym in Green Haven Correctional, a guard tells Esperanza she has visitors. When she gets to the visiting room she sees Kat, and then Graciela. They have a tearful reunion, with Graciela saying she is sorry. They embrace as Kat stands nearby. Esperanza thanks a smiling Kat 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:
Manni L. Perez - Esperanza Morales
Daniel Zacapa – Santos Morales
Clayton Cardenas – Romeo Solís
Michael Mastro – Judge Serani
Zuleikha Robinson - Bureau Chief Vanessa Hadid
Raúl Esparza – Rafael Barba
Symaua Bouhbal – Cami Vega
Mya M. Carter – Sasha Rose
Ashley Marie Ortiz – Val Nuñez
Emma Sofia Caymares – Graciela Morales
Jasmine Walker – Counselor Marame Toussant
Zuleyma Guevara – Migdala Vega
Jeremy Russial – Counselor Robert Kluger
Michale Olajide – Michael Olajide
Allyson Morgan – Nurse
Romelda Teron Benjamin – Correction Officer #1
Alexis Casg – EMT
Roger Clark - Reporter




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