Law & Order Special Victims Unit s18e08 Episode Script

1 In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous.
In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit.
These are their stories.
Hey, uh, I was just about to put Noah to bed, but I have a sec.
Yeah, I'm sure.
I know.
Never enough time, right? Okay, um, well, I could do lunch.
Mommy, Mommy, look! Noah, don't move.
Ed, I gotta call you back.
Noah, honey, what're you doing up there? What are you doing, my love? Please I can have a cookie.
Oh, honey, that's so dangerous.
You gotta ask Mommy first.
Right? You could have fallen down and hurt yourself.
Right? Oh, Noah.
All right, it's time for bed, sweet boy.
[gasps.]
Wow, wow.
[giggles softly.]
- Ready? - Mm-hmm.
Okay.
Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite.
[chuckles.]
Tighter.
Tighter, like a mummy? Okay.
- [growls playfully.]
- [giggles.]
I'll see you in the morning, Theo, okay? - Okay.
- Okay.
Good night.
Nadine, I'm leaving now.
Oh, Gloria, I forgot to get cash.
- Oh, it's no problem.
- Theo's in bed? Yes, he's tired.
It's late.
Well, he doesn't have school tomorrow, - so he'll be fine.
- Okay.
Hey, you ready for lights out? - Not all the way.
- I know, I know.
There we go.
Do you wanna wear your quiet headphones tonight? Mommy's having company.
- Okay.
- Okay.
There you go.
Love you.
- There she is.
- Entrez, entrez.
Mwah! - Looking fabulous.
- Oh.
Mm, peonies.
My favorite.
- Theo asleep? - He is out like a light.
He was exhausted.
Theo? Theo, where are you? Theo? Theo.
[breathing shakily.]
Theo! Theo! Gloria, what is it? Theo's missing.
Is he with you? No.
What are you talking about? - He's gone.
- He's not gone, okay.
He's in the house somewhere.
No, no, I looked everywhere.
He's not here, and the front door was open.
His room is a mess.
Please, maybe I Oh, my God.
Theo? - What is it? - I have to call 911.
Where the hell is my cell phone? Theo! We have a missing six-year-old boy? Theo Lachere.
Nanny came to wake him at 7:30, front door was open, he was gone.
Nanny? What about the parents? No father in the picture.
The mother, Nadine Lachere, had some friends over last night.
Friends over? Okay.
This is more than friends over.
With a six-year old in the house? [dramatic music.]
He was right there sleeping.
- I came to check on him.
.
- What time was this? About every every hour or so.
His floor rug is missing.
- It was here last night.
- Okay, that's helpful.
Now when was the last time that you saw Theo? About 2:00 or 2:30.
Were any of the guests still here at that time? Kat, but she didn't do this.
She was in bed with me.
I was with Nadine all night.
Th we looked in on Theo together.
Okay, what time was this? Around 2:00.
He was sound asleep.
Okay, what's your relationship with her? We're friends.
I know all this looks bad, but, Nadine, she's a good mother.
Theo always sleeps through the night when I have people over.
Okay, and how many people did you have over? Uh, I don't know, maybe at some point 15, 16.
And you're sure none of them were here in the loft - when you went to sleep? - I don't know.
I'm not sure.
They were friends bringing friends.
Okay, we're gonna make a list of everyone that you did know.
All right? Now, listen.
Can you think of anyone that would want to take Theo? No, no one.
Detective.
What is it? What is that? Ms.
Lachere, come on.
Let's let's step out.
Let's let the tech do his work.
I offered to stay over last night, but Nadine said that I should go home.
And what time was this? Uh, 9:00.
I tucked Theo in bed, and then I went home, and when I came back this morning, the front door was open.
- What time was that? - 7:30.
I made sure I was on time.
I knew that Theo would need me.
Any of these people maybe you worry about being around Theo? Look, I can tell that you care about him.
You been his nanny a long time? Since he was born.
He's such a shy boy.
He must be so scared.
- So what do we got? - The mother has a wild party and her son disappears sometime between 2:00 and 7:30 a.
m.
- Is there a ransom note or a call? - Nothing yet.
We're monitoring Nadine's house phone and her cell though.
- Could he have wandered off? - There's signs of a struggle.
See? They found blood there on the table.
Excuse me.
[exhales.]
It's not enough for an Amber Alert unless we have a suspect or a vehicle.
I'll check the security cams and canvas the neighborhood.
Yeah.
So, uh, the mom is a mess and hungover's just the half of it.
Is there any way she's involved? Well, she's not Mother of the Year.
Anything's possible.
Ms.
Lachere, I'm Lieutenant Benson.
You have to find my son.
You have to find Theo.
We're doing everything that we can, but right now I need you to provide us with the most recent photo of Theo and something that has his DNA on it.
I don't understand.
Well, we found blood in his room.
We need to see if it's Theo's.
Blood.
Oh, my God.
No, no, we it's just a small amount.
It could be nothing.
[crying.]
I know what this must look like, but I would never put my little boy in danger.
Okay, but we're, uh we're gonna need you to come down to the station and give us a full statement.
[quietly.]
What uh, am I in trouble? Because those aren't mine.
Right now our only concern is to find your son, so how about you get dressed and then you come with us, okay? Any names you can provide us with is a start.
And anyone else with a role in Theo's life? His father, maybe? Just my ex wife.
Fran Conway.
Theo's a sperm donor baby.
Fran and I raised him together until we got divorced two years ago.
Okay, does she have custody? Visitation rights? Not officially.
Fran's an orthopedic surgeon, top of her field.
She's at the hospital all the time.
Okay, does she have a relationship with Theo? I let her see him a few times a month.
It's hard to work around her schedule.
Okay, we're gonna need her contact information.
I've been calling.
She's not answering.
- She wasn't at the party? - No.
Fran's not like that.
Oh, she's gonna be so angry.
She's gonna blame me.
Nadine, was there anybody that you didn't know who may have given you a bad feeling? There was some young guy.
You know, super drunk.
He spilled red wine.
He left early.
[exhales sharply.]
I don't know, the night's a blur, okay? [sighs, sniffles.]
There was there was another man that I didn't know.
Okay.
He was taking lots of pictures on his phone.
He asked if my son was home.
Did he come with someone you know? I'm not sure.
Uh, Kat saw how freaked out I was.
She made sure that he was gone.
She said he took a QuikRide.
Why was he asking about Theo? Was it him? Nadine's friend Kat confirms that a white male in his 30s was taking pictures on his phone.
He left in a QuikRide around 11:00.
QuikRide reports a pickup on that block around 11:15.
Passenger's name was Kevin Dorsey.
Driver confirms that he was alone, on his phone, and agitated.
Okay, you get a drop off address? Yeah, on our way, Lieutenant.
Okay, did CSU get anything from the boy's room? - Prints, DNA? - They're still processing.
There's a lot of prints, hair fibers, but, um, they did confirm that the blood on the table is a match to Theo.
What about the nanny? Gloria Ramirez.
Mexican national, green card, no record.
She's worked for the family for the last six years, and she used her Metrocard last night at the E Train at Canal at 9:45, and then swiped again at Jamaica Station at 6:30 this morning.
What about street cams, surveillance? Well, it's just a lot of people going in and out of Nadine's loft.
Uh, there's no sign of Theo, but there are a couple of blind spots, including the service entrance to her building and two side streets, so TARU's going through the footage.
And the neighbors didn't hear anything? Didn't see anything? [cell phone buzzes.]
No, it's a lot of complaints about noise from the party.
Okay.
Just keep the pressure on TARU and did you get anything from the tip line? Nothing solid.
I mean, I just I can't imagine what she's going through.
Having your kid out there somewhere.
You don't know anything.
[quietly.]
Yeah.
I didn't do anything illegal.
It's not a crime to take pictures at a party.
- Might be.
- What are you talking about? You were at Nadine Lachere's apartment, you were taking photos, you were asking questions about her son.
Well, now he's missing.
I didn't know.
You think I had something to do with it? - Did you? - No, that's crazy.
Not to us.
Why were you taking photos? Okay.
I'm a licensed private detective.
I was hired to follow Nadine Lachere and her son.
Hired by who? Fran Conway? - Yes, can I help you? - NYPD.
We'd like to ask you some questions about Nadine Lachere and her son.
Theo? What happened? Is he okay? No, he's not.
He went missing earlier this morning.
What? Missing? Your ex-wife's been calling.
You didn't pick up.
I've been in surgery since 6:00 a.
m.
So what are you saying? He's he's been kidnapped? He disappeared from Nadine's loft.
She had a party last night, but you already knew that, didn't you? - Excuse me? - You hired a PI to take pictures.
Hang on.
You think I'm involved in kidnapping Theo? We're just asking questions.
Why was he taking pictures? Because I needed evidence.
I'm suing Nadine for custody.
Theo is my son too.
Dr.
Conway, I'm Lieutenant Benson.
- Have you found anything yet? - Not yet.
Fran, where's Theo? Did you take him? - No, of course not.
- Where is he? - Nadine, let's go.
- What were you thinking having a party like that? Was Theo there? No, he was fine.
He was fine.
- He was wearing his headphones.
- What are you talking about? - He is missing! - Okay, calm down, Dr.
Conway.
- My office.
- All right, this way.
Come on.
Did we send unis to the doctor's house and search her house, her car? - So far, nothing.
- [sighs.]
I hired a private detective to protect Theo.
You saw that party.
We don't know that Theo's disappearance had anything to do with that party.
- Well, who else could it be? - Well, you tell me.
A lot of child abductions turn out to be orchestrated by the non-custodial parent.
What are you saying? That I'm a suspect? I'm saying that we're gonna be going through your phone records, through your bank statements, and talking to the PI, and getting a warrant for any of the photos that he may have taken.
So if there's anything that you wanna tell me, - now would be the time.
- Wow.
Yeah, I-I didn't take Theo.
I've just hired a lawyer.
I am going to fight for him in court.
And when is the last time you did see Theo? Two weeks ago, and before you judge me, that's all Nadine would agree to.
Okay.
- [exhales sharply.]
- I understand.
Look, why don't you have a seat.
Look, after Nadine and I separated, I tried to get visitation.
I was told that under the New York law, a non-adoptive, non-biological caretaker is not defined as a parent.
Now, thank God, the laws have changed.
My lawyer thinks I have a good shot.
So why would I ruin that by kidnapping Theo? Well, when were you gonna tell Nadine all of this? Well, not until I had enough evidence to convince a judge that I should have joint custody.
Theo told me they're moving to Ibiza.
Okay, Nadine didn't mention that.
Yeah, well, Nadine doesn't mention a lot of things.
She barely lets me see Theo as it is.
If she takes him out of the country, I won't see him again.
She never even adopted Theo.
- She can't do that.
- Actually, now she can.
She doesn't have time for a kid.
She doesn't want a kid.
Nadine, you accused her of kidnapping three times - in the last hour.
- Ugh, I didn't mean that.
- Fran would never break the law.
- Okay, which brings us back.
Is there anybody in your circle who would? - No.
- Stranger abductions are rare.
So is there anybody in your life that could be angry with you? Maybe maybe someone you owed money? A drug dealer? No.
All right? I don't know why the hell you're asking me these questions.
Just go find my son.
I can't take this anymore.
We're doing everything we can.
Okay, Dr.
Conway, is there anyone in Theo's life that you've had suspicions about? Anybody from the neighborhood? Anyone from his school? I don't know anyone at the school.
I'm not even on the pickup list.
I brought cupcakes for his birthday, had to leave 'em at the front desk.
Anybody else that you can think of? Yes, my my private detective was investigating Nadine's girlfriends and boyfriends.
After we separated, she was searching for something.
Love, I guess.
So she started dating men? More like boys.
Bad boys.
Musicians, actors, models turned drug dealers.
Okay, anyone in particular that you're talking about? - Who is this? - That's Gabriel, but I haven't dated him in two months.
So a man you recently went out with has a criminal record and you didn't tell us about that? I'm sure he didn't take Theo.
Was he at the party last night? No, I broke up with him, like I said, two months ago.
- For what reason? - He's an angry, British failed musician.
He'd drink and do coke all day.
He gave me a black eye, okay? I'd had enough.
Did he ever threaten to hurt Theo? I broke up with him to keep him away from Theo.
Why didn't you tell us about this? Because I thought you'd think that I was a bad mother, and then when you did find Theo, you would take him away from me.
[knocking on door.]
Okay, Nadine, give us a second.
[door closes.]
We ran Gabriel Norton.
Drug charges, disorderly conduct.
Nadine said he wasn't at the loft last night.
Yeah, well, the lab says differently.
Hairs found in Theo's bedroom are a DNA match for Gabriel.
- Do you have a last known? - Lower East Side.
- We're headed there now.
- Great.
- Hey.
- Ed.
Sorry to just drop by.
I was worried.
- I didn't hear back from you.
- Oh.
- Noah okay? - Yeah, he ju he's fine.
He just climbed up on the kitchen counter.
Ah.
I'm so sorry I didn't get back to you today.
We have a missing six-year-old.
Yeah, I know.
I saw the news.
You all right? Yeah, just a lot to deal with.
Yeah, I can imagine.
You know, it's only been a week since you shot and killed a man, Liv.
I mean, I know it was a clean shoot and everything, but it can still take a toll.
Yeah, I'm fine.
I don't figure I could persuade you to get out of here? Maybe take a walk, get a cup of coffee or something? I can't leave now.
I'm I'm just right in the middle of everything.
I'm sorry.
I know.
All right.
[door closes.]
[knocks on door.]
Gabriel Norton, NYPD, open up! - Gabriel's not here.
- Yeah, we've got a warrant.
Sit back down.
Put your hands where I can see 'em.
- You sit down too.
- Where's Gabriel now? I don't know.
We got kids' toys and clothes.
He's out the window! Here.
NYPD, stop! Nowhere to run, Gabriel.
Put your hands up.
Where's Theo? Theo? I've no idea.
Yeah, then why do you have kids' clothes, toys, huh? I bought those for Theo for Christmas.
Nadine threw them in my face.
I don't know where he is.
- Why'd you run? - Huh, maybe because of this? That registered? I think I should call my lawyer.
I'll take that as a "no.
" My client is here because he wants to cooperate.
Your client is here because we busted him with an unregistered gun and cocaine in his apartment.
And as a lawyer, you should know that with those additional charges and his rap sheet, he's looking at 7 to 15.
Let's not get contentious.
We just wanna know what happened to Theo.
I don't know anything about the kid.
Then how come we found hair matching your DNA in Theo's room.
My client dated the boy's mother.
Those hairs could have been there for months.
When was the last time you were at Nadine's loft? Two months ago.
She broke it off with me.
I never went back.
And why would anyone ever break up with you, Gabriel? She said she was happier being a lesbian.
- Crazy bitch.
- Right.
Dumping a wonderful guy like you.
I could see why that would piss you off.
- She was lucky to be with me.
- All right, Gabriel, - take it down a notch.
- You seem angry, Gabriel.
Maybe angry enough to take it out on Theo? My client held nothing against the boy or her.
Oh, really? His, uh, text messages say differently.
"Go to hell, Nadine.
You and your snot-nosed kid.
" That's not looking good, Gabriel.
All right, all right.
So he was upset about a bad breakup.
She had the nerve to tell me her son was afraid of me.
I bought him presents.
- I was trying.
- Mm.
Okay, where were you last night? At home watching football.
Real football.
You think this is funny? There's a six-year-old boy missing.
I've told you everything I know! Okay, fellas, I think we're done here.
[door opens.]
Not much of an alibi.
Yeah, this guy seems like more like an angry, British douchebag than a child abductor.
I still want a search warrant for his car and computer.
Oh, absolutely, and he's not walking out of here.
Hold him on that gun charge.
Tell him myself.
It's been 12 hours.
- Lieutenant, I hear you.
- Do we have anything? What about those photos that the PI took at the party? Facial recognition didn't get anything.
All of Nadine's friends are amazing New Yorkers, but none of 'em have a record.
What about Fran? Oh, there's no motive, no evidence.
She didn't have anything to do with this.
I gotta believe we're missing something here.
This kid did not just vanish.
We both know that sometimes they just do.
- TARU came through.
- What do you got? So this was taken at 4:37 a.
m.
three blocks from Nadine's loft, and Nadine said that she thought a rug was missing - from Theo's room.
- I'll call the company.
- See who has access to that van.
- Okay.
See if Nadine recognizes that rug.
And, uh, what about the other mother? Uh, she's in the breakroom.
Send me that picture - and I'll show it to her.
- Listen, I saw Tucker here.
- Is everything okay? - It's fine.
It's just you know, we're not we're not connecting right now.
We're just missing each other.
- That's too bad.
- Thanks.
[door closes.]
I'm I'm not sure.
That could be Theo's rug.
Do you by chance recognize the man maybe? Or or the vehicle? No.
Is that Theo rolled up in there? Oh, we don't know.
Did Gabriel have something to do with this? No, this is a separate lead.
But you still think it's my fault? Nadine, it's not all about you.
We are trying to find your child.
Do you know how hard it is to be a single mother? No backup.
Trying to have some kind of your own life.
I didn't want Theo to grow up smothered.
Restricted.
I just wanted him to be happy, but I can't be there every single second.
Then why'd you shut out Fran? Maybe I was afraid he would like her more than me.
It's me.
Look, I still don't know what time I'm gonna be home.
I'm so sorry.
I'll let you know as soon as I can, okay? Thanks, honey.
- Did you find something? - Uh, we did on the security footage.
Does this picture mean anything to you? It was taken a couple blocks from Nadine's apartment, uh, about 4:30 in the morning.
That's Theo, isn't it, in the carpet? I mean, who loads a truck at 4:00 in the morning? Actually, in New York, that's not so uncommon.
Right, right.
[laughs nervously.]
Look, you've got you've got a lot on your mind, okay? Yeah, I feel like I'm losing my mind.
- Have a seat, okay? Have a seat.
- Okay, thanks.
You must be used to talking to people on the worst night of their lives.
I am.
But as a doctor, I'm sure that you've had a few rough conversations yourself.
Yeah.
[chuckles, sniffles.]
When Nadine and I decided to get pregnant, one option was that both of us get inseminated, and then I thought, how would that work? You know, both of us pregnant? How is that practical? I really wanted to take care of her.
Hey, I certainly understand the impulse.
The problem is [sighs.]
You take care of someone, you become their mother.
It's not sexy anymore.
They get bored.
They resent you.
[sighs.]
No wedding ring.
Are you in a relationship, Lieutenant? - Uh, actually - I'm so sorry.
[laughs.]
I shouldn't have asked.
- I'm sorry.
- That's okay, that's okay.
I am seeing someone.
Anybody ever get it right? [laughs softly.]
- That's a good question.
- [laughs.]
I really I really thought Nadine and I would be together forever.
That's why I didn't rush to adopt Theo.
You know, he was he was just a baby and I was working so much.
I was really busy, so Then I looked up one day, and, uh, bam, he was six, and I lost my chance.
You think I lost my chance? Hey, Lieutenant, we got a list of employees from Sal and Son.
- Nadine recognized a name.
- Oscar Ramirez, Gloria's brother.
Gloria Ramirez, your nanny? Her cell goes straight to voice mail, so does Oscar's, but his employer says he lives with his sister.
Where does your nanny live? I don't know.
Somewhere in Queens? - I don't have the address.
- I do.
Great.
Let's go.
Hey, Gloria, it's Detective Carisi.
[pounding on door.]
Gloria, we need to talk to you now.
Get the bathroom.
Bathroom clear.
Clear up here.
It's clear! Guys, I got something.
Well, there's no sign of Oscar, Theo, or Gloria.
It's Theo.
I don't understand.
You think Gloria has Theo? We don't know what we're looking at yet.
- Gloria loves him.
- Well, this shrine, - she seems obsessed.
- Wh-tell them.
We both hired her.
We both saw how good she was for Theo.
- Nobody's blaming anyone.
- We do need you to tell us everything that you know about Gloria.
- Right, she's from Mexico, right? - Yes.
We thought it would be good for Theo to learn Spanish.
We found her on Craigslist.
We paid her cash.
She's been with us since Theo was a baby.
This makes no sense.
Unless things have changed the past few years.
You always forgot to pay her.
Maybe she's angry.
No, nothing has changed, all right? - Maybe she's more religious.
- Yeah, well, I'm sure she doesn't approve of your lifestyle, Nadine.
Okay, we need to know about Gloria's family.
What about Oscar? What about family members that she has in Mexico.
What are you saying, they traffic kids in Mexico? We're not saying anything.
We're just trying to figure out - what's going on here.
- Maybe Oscar took them both.
Well, then, has Oscar ever been to your loft? Has he ever interacted with Theo? Sometimes he'd drive Gloria home.
Well, has he interacted with Theo, Nadine? I don't know.
He always seemed responsible.
Well, you're right about that.
Oscar just showed up at work - to drop off the van.
- Was Theo with him? No.
I told you I don't know where they are.
- Why you even talking to me? - Sit down.
[exhales sharply.]
That's you right there, right? Is that Theo rolled up in that rug? Listen, Oscar, we're gonna search that van.
If we find any evidence that Theo was inside, you're on the hook for first-degree kidnapping.
You better come clean.
That's 15 years, son.
I just I just did what my sister told me to do.
Okay, go on.
[exhales.]
She said Theo's mom was having a party.
She gave me a key, said I should wait for everyone to leave, then come and make the room a mess, - take Theo.
- The blood was fresh.
- Did you hurt that boy? - No.
Just a pinprick on his finger.
I swear to God.
Okay, okay, Oscar.
Where is Gloria taking Theo right now? Why should I tell you? You should ask Nadine why this happened.
Is that what this is about? You and your sister getting back at Nadine by taking Theo? Well, people get what they deserve.
You're gonna get what you deserve, Oscar.
You're going to prison.
You heard of that Mexican Mafia? Gonna make sure they know you like little six-year-old boys.
I pray for your soul.
We're done with you.
Call the prosecutor.
No, no, no.
No, no, no, my sister.
She's She gave me cash to buy her a used car.
That's good, Oscar.
Give me the make, model, and year number.
I give you that, I get to go? You tell me the truth, we'll take it into consideration.
Hey, early '90s, base Toyota Tercel, bought last week in an off-record sale with the plates intact.
Did you get that? I Got it.
I'm on Craigslist checking ads.
Think they're taking the boy to Mexico - to sell him to the cartel? - They wanted to sell the boy, - they could have done that here.
- Got something.
This.
Tercel for sale in Queens.
- Listing's from a week ago.
- Photos? Yeah, and [exhales.]
A license plate number.
NSO7946.
There it is.
Put out an Amber Alert.
Get Gloria's picture to the media.
Check the license plate readers for that car.
We need to find Theo now.
Yes, a Hispanic woman with a young child.
- I got the alert on my phone.
- This one? That's her.
Checked in last night.
Kid was asleep in her arms.
Okay, and what about the boy? Is this him? Yeah, looks like him.
Car's gone.
You didn't say she checked out.
She didn't.
Uh, let me call the front office.
Whoa, hold on.
What room was she in? We missed 'em.
Looks like she left in a hurry.
She's onto us.
Maybe she saw herself on the news.
It's directions to Juarez.
So she's headed to the border.
The manager talked to a motel guest who saw a Hispanic woman put a boy in the backseat of a Toyota around 10:00 a.
m.
And this guy didn't call the police? He said the kid seemed okay.
Hey, Liv, we got something.
A license plate reader on a tow truck just tagged the car.
It's a breakdown.
- Where? - A gas station off I-95.
15 miles from here.
That's not much of a head start.
We need to get to that gas station immediately before she does something desperate.
[car doors close.]
Get back.
- Nobody's here.
- Check the trunk.
It's empty.
- Where are they? - I don't know, man.
I just work here.
- Gloria! - [gasps.]
Go, come on, come on, come on, come on, go, go! Gloria! Go, go, go! Come on! Whoa, careful! [gasps, breathing heavily.]
- Gloria! - There's no place to go, all right? - Let go of the boy.
- Gloria, let him go.
- Gloria, put him down.
- No, no, no, no! - Put the boy down.
- No, I don't wanna go home! - I want Gloria! - Theo Please, no.
No, please, don't do this.
- [straining.]
- No, please.
- No.
- I want you, Gloria! - [sobbing.]
- Theo it's okay.
Theo, we gotta get you home, okay? It's okay, sweetheart.
We gotta go.
- Come on.
- No, no, no, no! - It's okay.
- No, no, please! We're gonna take you to your mom, honey.
- I want Gloria! - No, no, please! Oh, God, Theo.
Oh, thank God! - Is he okay? - The doctor says he's fine.
- I want Gloria.
- Theo - I know you do, honey.
- Gloria? What are you talking about, sweetheart? - Nadine, Fran, listen.
- Theo? Listen, we need to we need to question Theo, and it's best if we do it by himself, alone, with you two not here.
He may not be as forthcoming.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
I just wanna take him home.
Nadine, Nadine.
Let them do their jobs.
Okay, listen, we are speaking with him right now.
- Thank you.
- Theo, Mommy'll be right back.
Theo was endangered.
I had to take him.
Why did you have to take him? She was going to take him to Ibiza.
She's the parent.
It's her decision.
He would die there.
She wouldn't pay attention.
Partying with her friends.
He'd wander off.
We went to a party in the Hamptons.
Theo fell in a pool.
Nobody watching.
He could have drowned.
But you were watching.
You saved him.
I jumped in the pool with all of my clothes on.
I was so scared.
[crying.]
I am the one who cooks him dinner.
I know how he likes his rice and beans.
Exactly half and half.
Not touching on the plate.
I know how he likes to get tucked into bed at night.
Theo Theo wanted to be with me.
He wanted to go to Mexico.
My family has a ranch with goats and chickens.
He would have been so happy there.
I believe he would have been, but what you did is a crime.
No.
[sobbing.]
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Gloria was going to take me to a farm with real goats, so I didn't have to go to Ibiza.
'Cause then I'd never see her again.
Is that what she told you? Yep, and she always tells the truth.
She says God's listening.
So can you tell us the truth? What happened? How did you end up in Gloria's car? Well, Oscar took me.
So Oscar came into your room that night? Yeah.
It was kind of like a game.
Can you tell us about that? I was supposed to pretend to be a mummy.
Oscar rolled me into my rug.
So you and Oscar were just were just playing.
It was fun.
We got in a van and we met Gloria at a motel.
I got to watch cartoons.
And what did Gloria tell you? We had to wait a few days.
Then we could drive to Mexico.
We could live there.
Me, her, and the goats.
Where is Gloria? Is she okay? You know, I'm gonna go find out right now, and you stay here and talk to Detective Rollins, okay? Okay.
He said he wants to go to Mexico with Gloria? - He did.
- Nadine Theo is not hurt.
That's what's important.
So what's going to happen to Gloria? Well, she will be charged with kidnapping, but given the circumstances, our ADA will probably offer her a deal.
So Gloria is out of Theo's life even though that's not what Theo wants? - Yes.
- So I'll hire another nanny.
All right? I just wanna take my son home.
- Everything's gonna be okay.
- Were you even listening? Nothing is okay.
I am still his mother.
Yes, you are, but with everything that's happened, Child Services is now involved.
Wait, so I can't take him? Not right now.
Then then let me take him.
I don't I don't want Theo staying with strangers.
I'm afraid that's not possible.
Right.
I'm not Theo's parent.
Not in the eyes of the law.
Not yet, anyway.
I'm sorry.
- Ready, Theo? - That's really good.
- You'll be coming with me.
- For how long? Well, there will be a family court hearing first thing in the morning.
Let's say good-bye, Nadine.
I love you.
[laughs softly.]
I'll see you tomorrow, okay? - See you tomorrow too, Fran? - Yes, you will.
I promise.
Bye.
I love you, Theo.
What happens now? Social Services will interview Nadine and then Theo, and then inspect the home.
- Oh, God.
- Listen.
Family court judges tend to rule in favor of the custodial parent.
I'll help you.
I'll testify in court that you're a good person and a good mother, but Theo needs both of us in his life.
I thought Theo didn't need two mommies.
He does.
I know.
I'm sorry, Fran.
I just I was just [sniffles.]
We almost lost him forever.
You guys are still here? - I'm walking you out.
- Go home.
Paperwork can wait till tomorrow.
Copy, Lieutenant.
Good night.
What? I know what you're thinking, Amanda, and you're wrong.
You're a great mother.
I'm not so sure.
Well, I am.
I It just gets lonely sometimes.
Jesse still up? Yep, uh, sitter said she was.
All right, well, let's go get some groceries.
I wanna make spaghetti for all three of us, and then we're gonna watch some terrible reality TV.
I mean, it is gonna be so bad.
You got nothing better to do? No, I do not.
Here.
Take your coat.
- Let's go.
- Okay.
Come on.
Don't forget to brush your teeth, top and bottom, okay? Good night, sweetie.
I'll be right in.
Mwah.
Bye, Tucker.
Night, night, Noah.
All right, go on.
Be right in, sweet boy.
Go in.
[sighs deeply.]
So, can I ask what's going on with me and you? Is it that dinner when I told you - I was thinking about retiring? - No.
Yes.
I don't know.
[sighs.]
- But I'm not imagining it? - No.
No, you're not.
You know, maybe we're we're, um in different places right now.
I did get a little scared about the retirement thing, and, Ed, you know, this job, this is this is who I am.
I know.
When, uh when I was at IAB, I learned to listen.
To know when people are telling me who they are.
What they're really thinking.
A few months ago, you said you were happy, but you were crying.
You were afraid it wasn't gonna last.
I remember.
You were telling me the truth.
That we weren't gonna last.
[quietly.]
I tried, Ed.
And I know you tried too.
But if we've both been trying this hard I have this little boy who who needs me.
Who needs his mother, and I have to give him all the attention and all the time and and all the love that I have.
He has to be your priority right now.
I get that.
I do.
- I'm sorry.
- Me too.
Take care of yourself, Olivia Benson.
Mommy.