"Lowdown"
←	SVU, Episode 5.20	→
Production number: E4424 First aired: 6 April 2004
	th of 295 produced in SVU
←	th of 295 released in SVU	→
	th of 1021 released in all
Written By Robert Nathan Directed By Jud Taylor

Contents 1 Plot 2 Summary 3 Cast 3.1 Main cast 3.2 Recurring cast 3.3 Guest cast 4 References 5 Quotes 6 Background information and notes 6.1 Episode scene cards

Plot Edit

Benson's former boyfriend Jeffery York is murdered and its ultimately revealed that he's gay and had HIV. His partner was an ADA named Andy and Andy tries to get out of the murder conviction. Novak illegally informs Andy's wife of his affair and the fact that he may have HIV as she believes that his wife deserves to know so she could get checked with Casey saying if it was her, she'd want someone to tell her. Novak faces disciplinary action for her actions but she still feels she did the right thing. Novak goes to Andy's wife to apologize and explain herself and the wife reveals she got tested and does have HIV and is trying to figure out how to tell her kids that. Andy's wife approaches him with Novak and while his attorney is angered believing Novak is badgering her, Andy's wife invited her there. She tells Andy about her HIV and how she can forgive him for some things but can't forgive him for the rest if he doesn't own up to what he did. Andy confesses saying Jeff wanted him to leave his family, but he loved them too much to do that. He agrees to Man 1 and his attorney tells Novak that he'll drop the disciplinary action without even being asked.

Summary Edit

Episode summary

Cast Edit

Main cast Edit

• Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler
• Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson
• Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch
• Diane Neal as A.D.A. Casey Novak
• Ice-T as Detective Odafin Tutuola
• B.D. Wong as Dr. George Huang
• Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen

Recurring cast Edit

• Marlo Thomas as Judge Mary Clark
• Peter Riegert as Attorney Chauncey Zeirko
• Mike Doyle as Forensics Technician Ryan O'Halloran
• Caren Browning as CSU Captain Judith Siper
• Tamara Tunie as Dr. Melinda Warner

Guest cast Edit

• Michael Beach as Andy Abbott
• Bethany Butler as Mary Ellen Abbott
• David Aron Damane as DuShawn McGovern
• Robert Jason Jackson as Jerome Adams
• Romi Dias as Tina Gardner
• Roger Pretto as Francisco Martinez
• Harmonica Sunbeam as Keisha Brown
• Benton Greene as Terrence Baker
• Richard G. Lyntton as Desk Clerk Jerry
• Curt Karibalis as Charlie Horner
• Carlos Pizarro as Hector Alvarez
• Leyna Weber as Bartender Molly
• Ian Bedford as Officer Bamford
• William H. Burns as Officer Robbins
• Dean Strange as Jeff York
• Moet Meira as Hooker Belinda
• Antonia Marrero as Hooker Janine
• Amari Rose Leigh as Ally Abbott
• Roberto Rizzo as Attorney (uncredited)

References Edit

AIDS, HIV, The Down-Low

Quotes Edit

Odafin 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. (Benson, Cragen, and Stabler look at him) Don't look at me, I just know stuff

Elliot: You ok?

Olivia: Yeah, I…

Elliot: You know, if you slept with Jeff, you might wanna get…

Olivia: I know, I know; I'm gonna get tested.

Elliot: You don’t want the results in the departmental records, so be sure to go to an anonymous clinic. Ok?

Olivia: I know, like Jeff did.

Elliot: Look, you want me to go with you?

Olivia: No, I’ll be fine. Let’s just focus on the case.

Melinda Warner: I tested Jeff York's blood, high viral load. When did you two date?

Olivia: Five years ago. We only slept together once, and we used protection.

Melinda: Condoms are effective, not perfect. It only takes once.

Olivia: I know; I'm gonna get tested. I just haven't had time.

Melinda: Why don’t we do it here? Right now.

Olivia: Melinda. I’ll do it.

Melinda: Olivia, how many rape-victims have you told to get tested?

Olivia: All of them.

Melinda: Would you tell them it’s alright to wait?

Olivia (long pause): Ok.

Melinda: Sit down and roll up your sleeve. No paperwork; I’ll do it myself.

Olivia: Could Jeff have been HIV positive back then?

George Huang: Yes, but your risk of exposure is very low.

Olivia: How could I have missed this?

George: Liv, you're not the first woman to sleep with a closeted man.

Olivia: Maybe he didn’t know, I’d…

George: Sexuality is very complicated. Just because he was gay, doesn’t mean he wasn’t attracted to you.

Background information and notes Edit

Background information and notes

Episode scene cards Edit

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

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"Lowdown" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 5

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