Law and Order
Register
Advertisement
"Loss"
SVU, Episode 5.04
Production number: E4402
First aired: 14 October 2003
  {{{nNthProducedInSeries}}}th of 502 produced in SVU  
{{{nNthReleasedInSeries}}}th of 502 released in SVU
  {{{nNthReleasedInAll}}}th of 1271 released in all  
Cabot Loss
Written By
Tara Butters & Michele Fazekas

Directed By
Constantine Makris

An investigation into a Colombian drug cartel takes a turn for the worse when ADA Alexandra Cabot becomes a target herself.

Summary[]

Detectives face off against a Colombian drug cartel and the Drug Enforcement Administration while investigating the brutal rape and murder of an undercover agent. While constructing the murder case, ADA Alexandra Cabot becomes the target of a cartel herself.

Plot[]

Alex Cabot gets in over her head while prosecuting the rape and murder of an undercover federal agent. With the help of a confidential informant, the detectives learn that the killer is Rafael Zapata Gaviria, a powerful drug dealer working for the notorious international drug lord, Cesar Velez.

When she refuses to back down from prosecuting the case, the cartel threatens to kill Cabot and her family.

A hit it placed on Cabot and she is gunned down in a drive by shooting. Cabot is announced dead and the detectives hit a dead end in pursuing her killers.

Afterwards, it is revealed to Detectives Benson and Stabler that Cabot actually survived the shooting, but she now has to go into hiding in witness protection until her killers can be brought to justice.

Cast[]

Main cast[]

Recurring cast[]

Guest cast[]

References[]

Quotes[]

Fin: Okay, you live like a monk, how come somebody wouldn't have any pictures or nick-nacs around?
Munch: Some of us appreciate simplicity, others of us lost the nick-nacs in the divorce settlement.

Munch: Feel free to express your derision and ridicule, but I'm gonna say it, spook.
Fin: I'm not ridiculing. We've probably got spies from every country all over this city.

Munch: [offers Felix a cola] There you go, Felix.
Felix: Papa, that's regular. I said diet.
Fin: You're gonna want the sugar, so drink it.
Felix: 'Kay. You people wanna treat me like that? That's fine.

Donovan: You talked to my informant.
Stabler: Yeah, we're investigating our rape case, as instructed.
Donovan: Who gave him to you?
Stabler: Oh, so now we're supposed to share information with you because you've been so forthcoming with us? Screw you.
Donovan: He's working with DEA. You guys are putting everything in jeopardy.
Benson: Well, then he must be moonlighting with NYPD Narcotics, 'cause that's how we found him.
Donovan: You're off him.
Stabler: Oh, yeah?
Donovan: Yeah. Yeah, nobody from your squad contacts Santos again. Felix has been apprised of the situation. We warned you to use caution.
Benson: And we have. Santos doesn't know that Livia was a cop. Nobody said a word about DEA.
Donovan: Keep it that way. We're done.
Stabler: Hey, did you tell Livia to do coke and screw Zapata to make your case or was that her idea?
Donovan: You don't know anything about her.
Stabler: I know you were supposed to protect her, and you let her die! And I know you feel so guilty that you'd rather let her killer get away with it than think about what you didn't do to help her.
Donovan: I didn't tell her to do drugs. I didn't tell her to do any of that. She wanted to nail those guys, she did what she thought she had to do.
Benson: You didn't see how bad it was getting?
Donovan: She was getting the job done. I didn't think she was in over her head. I should have pulled her. I didn't. That's my responsibility. My...my mistake.
Benson: Hey! We have no intention of taking your case and we realize that other lives are at stake, but we're flying blind here. If you don't tell us something to implicate Zapata, then we are never gonna make this right.
Donovan: Your M.E. found bits of fiberglass on her body. Then I know where he killed her.

Alex: Lionel, I see Zapata still has you on retainer. That explains the $3,000 suit. How'd you get the blood out?
Granger: My wife got me this suit.

Alex: Let me tell you a little bit about my job, Agent Donovan. After I tell the judge that I cannot produce the informant, she is going to issue a John Doe material witness order. If I don't give her your name, I will be found in contempt.
Agent Donovan: That's your call, your conscience.
Alex: I can tell you right now I'm not going to jail for you or for my conscience.

Stabler: Look, we had a good run. Conviction rates are up. We had to get screwed sometime.
Benson: Cesar Velez can probably do more damage to Zapata now than the justice system ever could.
Alex: It just... It never seems like enough, you know. The Feds'll get Zapata for killing Donovan. But what about Livia Sandoval? She dies without any justice, and we're supposed to be happy about it? We tell ourselves that we speak for the victims, but we don't. We can close cases. But the victims, even if they survive, their lives are ruined. I just get so sick of it.
Stabler: Alex, we can't always win.
Alex: But that's just it. Even when we win, we don't.

Background information and notes[]

  • This is the last appearance of Stephanie March as ADA Alexandra Cabot until Season 6 when she appeared in the episode, "Ghost".
  • Goof: The last title card states the date as October 1, but the camera pans to a copy of the NY Ledger which has the date as November 3, 2003.

Episode scene cards[]

1 2 3 4

Office of
The Medical Examiner
Monday, September 22

Sister Peg's
Mobile Help Unit
Monday, September 22

Stor-It-All Self Storage
Queens, New York
Monday, September 22

Café Andre
107 Hudson Street
Tuesday, September 23

5 6 7 8

Chambers of
Judge Petrovsky
Wednesday, September 24

Drug Enforcement
Administration
New York Field Office
Wednesday, September 24

Trial Part 46
Monday, September 29

Special Victims Unit
Squadroom
Wednesday, October 1

Previous episode:
"Mother"
"Loss"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Season 5
Next episode:
"Serendipity"
Seasons 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
Advertisement