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"Lowdown"
SVU, Episode 5.20
Production number: E4424
First aired: 6 April 2004
  th of 502 produced in SVU  
th of 502 released in SVU
  th of 1271 released in all  
Huang Benson Lowdown
Written By
Robert Nathan

Directed By
Jud Taylor

Summary[]

Benson's former boyfriend Jeffery York is murdered and it is ultimately revealed that he is gay and had HIV.

Plot[]

A man is found dead in his car and he is revealed to be an ADA named Jeffrey York who is also revealed to have dated Benson.

The detectives look into Jeffrey and discover that Jeffrey was actually gay as well as the fact he was HIV positive. It is also revealed that he may have been positive while dating Benson who is worried that she may have unknowingly became infected. Dr. Melinda Warner offers to run some tests on Benson to see if she was positive. Benson is initially hesitant but after Warner tells her that she would usher victims to get tested does she agree.

The detectives discover Jeffrey's partner was a fellow A.D.A named Andy Abbott who is shocked Jeffrey was gay but believes whoever killed him maybe someone he previously put away. While continuing the investigation, Benson is approached by Warner who reveals that Benson is not positive for HIV, to her relief.

SVU soon discovers from Warner that Andy is also HIV positive having the same strain of the virus as Jeffrey, revealing they were lovers. The detectives decide to question Andy by pretending to have him give a list of suspects that York was looking into. It didn’t take long for him to figure out that this is a ploy. Andy denies this because he has a wife and children. However, the detectives tell Andy that they know he is positive for HIV, to his shock and details and they have nothing to hold him and he tries to get out of the murder conviction.

Andy's wife Mary is angry at the detectives before Novak illegally informs Andy's wife of his affair and the fact that he has HIV. Novak informs Mary that she should tested if she believes in her husband. Outraged, Mary proceeds to leave the scene while Benson asked Novak should she have done that that much as the latter believes that Mary deserves to know so she could get checked with Novak.

Unfortunately, Novak faces disciplinary action for her actions from Andy's lawyer who promised to destroy the report if she drops the charges against Andy but she refuses and still feels she did the right thing. However, a meeting with her superior causes her to see that she might be in trouble

That night, Novak goes to Andy's wife to apologize and explains herself and Mary reveals she got tested like Novak suggested and does have HIV and is trying to figure out how to tell her kids that as well as how their father is facing murder charges.

At Rikers, Mary approaches her husband with Novak while his attorney is angered believing that Novak is badgering her, though Mary revealed she invited her there. She reflects on how she fell in love with Andy and how he had made her happy in their time together. She soon tells Andy about her HIV and how she can forgive him for that, but she can't forgive him for the rest if he doesn't own up to what he did and begs him to admit what he has done. Breaking down, Andy apologizes for not coming clean of his sexuality and infecting her. He soon confesses to the affair and what led to the murder, saying York got tired of being closeted and wanted Andy to come out with and leave his family to be with him but he was not ready to do it and he loved their family too much to do that, which led to a fight and Andy murdering York. Seeing that he is genuinely remorseful and guilty, Novak offers up a deal of first-degree manslaughter in which he will serve seven-and-a-half to fifteen years. His attorney tells Novak that he will drop the disciplinary action without even being asked. He looks to Andy to confirm this, as he shares looks with his wife who has him agree.

Cast[]

Main cast[]

Recurring cast[]

Guest cast[]

References[]

Quotes[]

Stabler: How many hookers you ever see strangle somebody with a hotpants?
Benson: Elliot, these aren't a hotpants, they're leggings, you wear them to the gym.
Stabler: So we're looking for a hooker who works out?

Dr. Warner: This is the DNA from Jeff York, this is the DNA from inside the condom, they don't match. There were two men in that car.
Benson: The operative word being 'men'.
Stabler: No wonder you and Jeff didn't have any chemistry. He was gay.

Stabler: You ok?
Benson: Yeah, I...
Stabler: You know, if you slept with Jeff, you might wanna get...
Benson: I know, I know; I'm gonna get tested.
Stabler: You don't want the results in the departmental records, so be sure to go to an anonymous clinic. Ok?
Benson: I know, like Jeff did.
Stabler: Look, you want me to go with you?
Benson: No, I'll be fine. Let's just focus on the case.

Warner: I tested Jeff York's blood, high viral load. When did you two date?
Benson: Five years ago. We only slept together once, and we used protection.
Warner: Condoms are effective, not perfect. It only takes once.
Benson: I know; I'm gonna get tested. I just haven't had time.
Warner: Why don't we do it here? Right now.
Benson: Melinda. I'll do it.
Warner: Olivia, how many rape-victims have you told to get tested?
Benson: All of them.
Warner: Would you tell them it's alright to wait?
Benson: (long pause) Ok.
Warner: Sit down and roll up your sleeve. No paperwork; I'll do it myself.

Benson: Could Jeff have been HIV positive back then?
Huang: Yes, but your risk of exposure is very low.
Benson: How could I have missed this?
Huang: Liv, you're not the first woman to sleep with a closeted man.
Benson: Maybe he didn't know, I'd...
Huang: Sexuality is very complicated. Just because he was gay, doesn't mean he wasn't attracted to you.

Tutuola: It's different for black men. They go out, have sex with other men, then come home, have sex with their woman, and pretend they're straight. [Munch, Cragen, and Stabler look at him] Don't look at me, I just know stuff.


Background information and notes[]

  • Benson has an HIV scare here, while Stabler had one in a previous episode "Victims".
  • A later episode that also deals with black men on the "down low" is "Down Low In Hell's Kitchen".
  • In this episode, the lipstick shade mentioned is called blush-rose. This is the same color as a nail polish in a few episodes prior.

Episode scene cards[]

1 2 3 4

Perk's Café
4 West 36th Street
Thursday, March 11

Rikers Island
Thursday, March 11

Apartment of
Jeffery York
119 West 98th Street
Friday, March 12

Abbott Residence
735 Garfield Place
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Friday, March 12

5 6 7 8

DuShawn McGovern
Enterprises
298 West 53rd Street
Monday, March 15

Office of
Jerome Adams
701 Third Avenue
Monday, March 15

Apartment of
DuShawn McGovern
151 Columbus Avenue
Monday, March 15

Law Office of
Mary Conway Clark
Wednesday, March 17

Previous episode:
"Sick"
"Lowdown"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Season 5
Next episode:
"Criminal"
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