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"Pandora"
SVU, Episode 4.15
Production number: E3120
First aired: 7 February 2003
  th of 502 produced in SVU  
th of 502 released in SVU
  th of 1271 released in all  
Sam Bishop
Written By
Tara Butters & Michele Fazekas

Directed By
Alex Zakrzewski

A body found in a car opens up an investigation into a worldwide child pornography ring, which takes Stabler halfway around the world.

Summary[]

The brutal rape and subsequent death of a female motorist turns out to be an informant for the FBI acting as a cyber vigilante for catching on-line pedophiles to capture the predators. Stabler, along with the homicide detective who found the victim's husband murdered, follow the trail of evidence for the latest victim she had been tracking, leading them to the US Attorney's Office and a trip to Prague for Stabler to assist the Czech authorities when they find the girl who was tricked into going there.

Plot[]

Elliot wonders what the perp wanted if he did not want money but then realizes that he stole her purse which contains her license and he knows where she lives. Heading to the apartment, Elliot finds Homicide squad on the scene and meet Sam Bishop with a dead man identified as Roger McGrath. Bishop asked what SVU was doing at the apartment and Elliot explains the wife of the murdered victim had her house keys stolen after she was raped, so he figured that the perp came to the house looking for something. Bishop then surmised that the perp came for the computer which was ripped out.

Elliot visits US Attorney's Office and Williams reveals that a murdered victim in his case was an informant bringing down pedophiles. They soon discover a case involving a missing girl named Mia Van Wagner.

They interview her mother Mrs. Van Wagner who says her daughter was gone for a while and that she cannot have the Internet. Mrs. Van Wagner is horrified to hear that there are pictures of her daughter and Detective Stabler tells her she would not want to see them. Mrs. Van Wagner tells them that they must find her daughter and reveals that she might go to her friend Samantha Gilligan.

The detectives interview with Samantha is not smooth because she refuses to cooperate but after Bishop shows her the picture of her friend does she decide to tell them all about how Van Wagner got a passport and headed out.

Elliot and Bishop interrogate Crowley but his answers only cause Bishop to strike him. As a result, Bishop was told to leave the room and Attorney Williams walks in to talk with Crowley. Williams brings up the picture of Mia Wagner while stating that she is aware that is not his real daughter and he trades Child pornography with and states customs is searching his computer hard drive right now. Crowley is forced to reveal that Mia came in and paid him off wanting to leave home but he has no idea about the other kid.

Cragen and Elliot discuss the case before Williams walks out and asks Elliot why he does not have a passport. She reveals that a sex trafficking ring has been formed and that she needed a SVU Detective to bring it down and Stabler was chosen with his passport having been made. Craven gives his permission and Stabler is sent on a trip to Prague for Stabler to assist the Czech authorities.

After a day of searching, they locate Mia and Tassig on the streets. Stabler successfully saves Mia while Tassig is able to evade capture. Stabler choosing to save Mia is met with outrage by the Czech authorities because they lost Tassig. However, he states saving the victim is the main concern.

Interviewing Mia, she denies that her boyfriend would ever try to hurt her, despite him making her take drugs. However, the detectives tell her about the pictures and them being uploaded on a child pornography site by Tassig. She is distraught to hear this news, especially to learn that is how they found her. They promised to bring the pictures down if she tells them where Tassig is and she reveals where he might be. Tassig is detained and beaten by Stabler for his crimes, before he confesses. Czech authorities also discover more clients that Tassig had on his computer and they primarily come from New York, with Stabler going back home.

Once back in New York, Stabler meets with Bishop who informs him of an appointment at the US Attorney's office they have to make because of what Stabler has discovered.

At the attorney's office, Stabler and Bishop meet with Williams who informed them of the successful arrest rate of pedophiles because of them. Williams congratulates the pair for their work and states she called Stabler because she felt that he would want to see the site creators taken down.

Surely enough, Customs and the police arrest the site creators, with Ruben finding more info. Stabler asks him to find the murderer and rapist of the McGrath couple who started all of this with Ruben finding the address, belonging to Nicholas Taylor.

Stabler and Bishop arrive at the house, where they get the culprit's daughter to let them in and lead them to her father. Bishop stays with the girl while Stabler goes upstairs where he nearly kills Taylor in his sleep but relents and awakes him. When Taylor questions where his daughter is, Stabler berates him and orders for him to get dressed for his arrest.

In interrogation, Bishop tells Taylor his fingerprints were found at the sites of both the McGrath's murders. When Nicholas' lawyers requests to speak with A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot for a deal. Stabler states the unlikelihood that they would strike a deal, for double murder and child molestation. Nicholas' lawyer tries to end the interview but Nicholas speaks up and rants about Meredith's "betrayal" as well as the rejoice of pedophiles everywhere communicating, raping and molesting together, saying not even law enforcement can stop what they all want to do in growing, noticeable numbers, saying people "are wrong" to find it sick. Bishop and Stabler proceed to admonish Nicholas for his crimes and say the pedophiles will be together in prison.

Afterwards, Stabler and Bishop have a drink at the bar where they discuss the case before Stabler says he has to go home to his family. He and Bishop lament about the worst of their job, despite the justice they fight but note that is why they are good at the job. After sharing one last beer, Stabler proceeds to walk off.

Cast[]

Main cast[]

Recurring cast[]

Guest cast[]

References[]

Quotes[]

Bishop: [sits at Benson's desk and sees a photograph of her]
Is this your partner?
[Stabler, on the phone, nods]
Does she date?
Stabler: A lot of guys.
[resumes his phone call]

Kate Logan: Eric Tassig isn't the only man profiting off the sale of children.
Stabler: You don't do anything about it, huh?
Kate Logan: Europol has no authority over the Czech citizens. As far as the Czech police, they have no incentive to stop it. There's too much money to be made handing out parking tickets to the German tourists. Look, this is the world that we live in, Detective Stabler. I should think in your line of work, you'd understand that.
Stabler: In my line of work, we wouldn't just sit back and take it.
Kate Logan: That's very noble, but as long as the demand for child exploitation exists, there's little we can do.
Stabler: So what the hell are you doing here?
Kate Logan: It's my job. What are you doing here?

Woman: We don't know what people put on their website.
Stabler: What are you telling me, lady? That you don't know what the website child.rape's all about? Shut up.

Sam Bishop: You mean your buddies on the Internet? You're right. And you freaks will never be alone in prison.


Background information and notes[]

  • The episode title is a reference to the ancient Greek story of Pandora's box, which is mentioned in the episode itself.
  • This episode is unique in Law & Order in that a green screen was used to insert a European city background behind Christopher Meloni, during the scene where Stabler first arrives in Prague. The vast majority of Law & Order is shot without the use of such an effect.
  • This is the second episode of any Law & Order that dealt with matters outside the country. The first was in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Manhunt," where Munch, Fin and Alex went to Canada.

Episode scene cards[]

1 2 3

New York Public Library
482 Columbus Avenue
Tuesday, January 28

Technical Assistance
Response Unit Lab
Tuesday, January 28

Office of
Claudia Williams
Assistant U.S. Attorney
Tuesday, January 28

4 5 6

Parkside Grill Restaurant
Flushing, Queens
Wednesday, January 29

U.S. Attorney's Office
Southern District
One St. Andrew's Plaza
Wednesday, January 29

Copy Pro Print Shop
74 West 37th Street
Wednesday, January 29

7 8 9 10

United States Embassy
Prague, Czech Republic
Friday, January 31

Teplice, Czech Republic
Friday, January 31

United States Embassy
Prague, Czech Republic
Friday, January 31

Federal Pornography
Task Force
Command Center
Saturday, February 1

Previous episode:
"Mercy"
"Pandora"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Season 4
Next episode:
"Tortured"
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