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"Turmoil"
SVU, Episode 11.08
Production number: 11008
First aired (US): 11 November 2009
First aired (UK): 4 December 2009
First aired (CAN): 13 November 2009
First aired (AUS): 15 April 2010
  {{{nNthProducedInSeries}}}th of 502 produced in SVU  
{{{nNthReleasedInSeries}}}th of 502 released in SVU
  {{{nNthReleasedInAll}}}th of 1271 released in all  
Elliot and Richard Stabler Turmoil
Written By
Judith McCreary

Directed By
Peter Leto

Plot[]

After risqué photos of a fifteen-year-old rape victim are leaked onto the internet, Stabler and Benson’s case becomes much more complicated. As the detectives’ case slowly morphs into an investigation by the State Bar, Stabler’s son Dickie becomes entangled in a streak of compromising events at the hands of his best friend Shane, a recovering drug addict. As Benson takes charge of the rape case, Stabler is forced to set his personal opinions aside and deal with the potentially life-threatening situation Dickie and Shane have gotten themselves into. Shane, a former drug addict, is later discovered brutally murdered. His killer is tracked down and confesses to the crime, having grown angry when Shane was unable to give him money for drugs. He enrages Fin when he shows no remorse for his actions at all.

Stabler hadn't wanted Dickie near Shane due to his past, but the autopsy confirms he had been off drugs for months. The rape victim tries to kill herself after Cabot decides not to press charges, but Benson finds her and manages to revive her. Cabot decides to refile charges and add new charges of witness tampering. She brings in the person who recanted her allegations, who is now willing to testify to what the rapist did. The lawyer asks for a deal, but Cabot decides to take the case to trial as the victim wanted her day in court over this and Cabot will make sure she gets it.

At the end, Dickie tries to get Stabler to sign papers so he can join the military, threatening to leave forever if he has to wait until he is eighteen. However, Stabler refuses and comforts his crying son instead.

Summary[]

Episode summary

Cast[]

Main cast[]

Recurring cast[]

Guest cast[]

References[]

Quotes[]

Liam Black: Word is Manhattan SVU likes to bend the rules. Bend 'em enough, they break.

Liam Black: [to Benson and Stabler] Collateral damage is like Jell-O. There's always room for more.

Dickie Stabler: Nikki Sherman? That's the sophomore at Manning Prep who said she got raped by the football player. She likes to party.
Elliot Stabler: Do you know her?
Dickie Stabler: No, but everyone says she's a lying slut.
Elliot Stabler: Hey, hey. Don't ever talk about a victim like that again, you hear me?
Dickie Stabler: Their words, Dad. Not mine.

Elliot Stabler: [to Kathy when Dickie goes missing] You're overreacting.
Kathy Stabler: I wish you would.

Benson: [to Danny Proctor] Hope that's soda you're guzzling.
Danny Proctor: I already have a mom, bitch.

Stabler: Sir? My kid comes in here again, you kick his ass out.
Army Recruiter: Sir, the Army has no intention of turning him down. In less than two years, you no longer have a say.

[after a scandalous picture of Nikki Sherman is discovered on the Internet]
Bensom: This doesn't mean that she wasn't raped.
Tutuola: You think the jury's going to buy her story or this photo?

Cabot: You have just shown me a photo that is going to make the jury think that our rape victim is a liar. What are you going to do about that?
Benson: Question Nikki about it.
Cabot: Don't bother. I will do the interview myself.
Stabler: That's up to you. The State Bar's not breathing down my neck.
Cabot: Because you missed the photo.
Stabler: All right.
Cabot: I don't suppose you forgot Nikki's recant statement as well.
Stabler: No, Counselor, not a chance.
Cabot: We are being watched. Anything you do against protocol stacks the deck.
Stabler: You don't get it. I don't care.

Cabot: Stabler is screwing up my rape case and now I cannot talk to Nikki Sherman until the morning.
Cragen: Cut him some slack, Alex.
Cabot: Personal investigations involving family members are completely against procedure. You know it, I know it and so will One PP.

[after Dickie is found assaulting a homeless man]
Stabler: I'm taking him home.
Benson: Elliot. Elliot, stop. Your son just assaulted a man with a 2-x-4. There's no way that he's going home. Don't make this worse than it already is.

Dickie Stabler: I'm not stupid. I know where you're going. My dad does this all the time when he's trying to get personal. How 'bout you detective ever sleep with your partner?
Benson: Never.

Dickie: You don't get to choose my friends or tell me what to do. I'm done listening to you.
Elliot: You've lost your mind.
Dickie: Well, I wouldn't be the first Stabler to do that, would I?

Cabot: Liam, I can not do this job with a noose around my neck.
Liam Black: I promise not to leave you hanging.

Cabot: I didn't blow a trial by breathing vodka onto a judge and I sure as hell wasn't forced to take a Breathalyzer in open court.
Paxton: Actually, it was scotch. And drunk or not, I've never been accused of a Brady Violation.
Cabot: I take my oath very seriously and I did not withhold evidence from the Defense.
Paxton: Look, even if it was the cops who didn't turn over every scrap of evidence, you're still culpable. They'll yank your license.
Cabot: Benson and Stabler would not do that.
Paxton: They're good cops, but their loyalty is to each other, not to you.
Cabot: I know you didn't get along with Stabler, but this is low, even for you.
Paxton: I'm not the one with an ax to grind.
Cabot: No, you just want to bury it in their backs.
Paxton: Who are you going to blame when you lose your job, Alex?
Cabot: You're telling me not to trust them.
Paxton: No. I'm telling you to do your job and watch your ass.

Cragen: Munch, you're in charge.
Munch: Not again.

Benson: [to Cabot] You're so busy telling us how to do our jobs, you forgot to do your own.
Cabot: Did you talk to Nikki Sherman?
Benson: Damn right. I put in a formal request for a new A.D.A.
Cabot: On what grounds?
Benson: Professional ethics. You sacrificed a rape victim to save your own ass.

Harold Moore: Shane said he didn't have any money, but he lied! He had nice things. He had a bank card. The bastard knew I needed to get high! He pretended the card didn't work. I needed that money!
Tutuola: You sorry son of a bitch. That wasn't even his card. You killed him for nothing.

Tutuola: You took that kid's stuff and left him naked in an alley.
Harold Moore: [chuckles] Why not? He didn't need them anymore.

Alex Cabot: [to Sam Baylor] That means you're going to prison. And your going to find out exactly how Nikki felt when you raped her on the bathroom floor.


Background information and notes[]

  • Sonya Paxton's drunken performance in court happened in the episode "Hammered".
  • This is the third time that a former ADA and the current ADA are seen in the same episode. The first time was in "Ghost" when Casey Novak was the current ADA and the second was in "Lead" when Kim Greylek was the current ADA. Both times, Alex Cabot returns.
  • This episode marks the second time that Cragen is suspended and Munch becomes acting commander; the first time was back in "Alternate".
  • This episode marks the third time that Alex shows her office.
  • Dickie mentions that he would not be the first Stabler to go crazy, referencing the mental health issues of his grandmother, Bernadette Stabler, and his sister, Kathleen as revealed in the episode "Swing".
  • George Huang doesn't appear in this episode, presumably due to his 30-day suspension given at the end of "Users".
  • This episode marks the final appearance of Dickie Stabler until "Return Of The Prodigal Son".
  • Goof: Benson does CPR wrong on the Nikki; when she does mouth to mouth, she doesn't close the Nikki's nose. It's necessary to pinch the nose so that the air being breathed into the persons mouth doesn't escape through the nose, which would make the efforts pointless.

Episode scene cards[]

1 2 3 4

Supreme Court
Pre-Trial Hearing Part 46
Tuesday, November 3

Newsome Residence
141-98 Poplar Street
Queens, New York
Tuesday, November 3

Cardinal Catholic
Preparatory School
80-14 Clintonville Street
Queens, New York
Tuesday, November 3

Homeless Shelter
194 West 123rd Street
Wednesday, November 4

5 6 7

Manhattan
Central Booking
One Police Plaza
Wednesday, November 4

Manhattan
Detention Complex
125 White Street
Wednesday, November 4

Manhattan
Detention Complex
125 White Street
Friday, November 6

Previous episode:
"Users"
"Turmoil"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Season 11
Next episode:
"Perverted"
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