All language subtitles for Law.and.Order.SVU.S23E05.720p.HDTV.x265-MiNX

In the criminal justice
system, sexually based offenses

are considered
especially heinous.

In New York City,
the dedicated detectives

who investigate
these vicious felonies

are members of an elite squad

known as
the Special Victims Unit.

These are their stories.

‐ Why are Tate and Liam
so cute?

I can't believe they invited me
to the Wheelhouse.

‐ I thought Diggy Wheeler
invited you?

‐ Well, yeah, technically.

But I've been DMing with Tate.

‐ Diggy's house, his rules.
Show him respect.

‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ And Tate and Liam can be...

‐ Fun, creative.

Really, really sexy.

Don't give me that look.

This could be
a huge break for me.

Posting content with these guys

could bring me
to 6 million overnight.

‐ I'm not gonna let you go
into that lion's den alone.

I'm coming with.
Now close.

‐ This is it.
The Wheelhouse.

‐ Holy freaking‐‐I mean are
you kidding me with this place?

‐ I know.
Never gets old.

So it's one thing to look
at the skyline from Jersey.

‐ But it's another
to be on top of it.

‐ Come on.
Fun times.

‐ Diggy Wheeler.
How are you doing?

‐ It's good to be the king.
And you must be Willa.

You're as pretty in real life
as you are in your videos.

That never happens.
No one told me you were here.

‐ Well, you snooze, you lose.

‐ We were just giving her
a tour.

‐ What do you think, Willa?
‐ This place is sick.

‐ Well, I'm glad you like it.

Maybe we'll find
a spot for you.

‐ Oh, I've got
lots of content ideas.

‐ Which is why you're here.
‐ Mm‐hmm.

‐ Yo, check it out.
Hit a million views.

‐ Already?
‐ Yep.

‐ That's insane.

‐ Think you could get
used to this?

‐ Getting paid to make
videos all day?

‐ It comes with the territory.

‐ Dude, it is the territory.

‐ All right.
Vibe check.

Shots and then hot tub action,
eh?

‐ Yeah.
‐ Hey.

‐ Oh, God.
I'm such a lightweight.

‐ All right,
welcome to the Wheelhouse.

‐ Hey.
‐ Ooh!

‐ Cheers.

‐ Oh, yeah, baby.
‐ Ugh.

‐ Wow.
‐ [coughs]

‐ Willa, are you all right?
‐ Me?

I'm‐‐I'm totally‐‐I'm fine.

‐ Whoa, whoa, easy.

‐ Yo, everything Gucci
over there?

‐ [muttering]
I'm good.

‐ Hey, you‐‐
you need to lie down.

There's a guest room
downstairs.

‐ Okay.
[phone buzzes]

Thank you.

‐ Oh, it's our business
manager, Lenny.

‐ Oh.
‐ I can call him back.

‐ Dude, take the call.
That's why you're the boss.

‐ We'll help Willa downstairs.
Poor Willa.

‐ Easy.
‐ I'm sorry.

‐ Oh, careful.

‐ You're good.
‐ Okay.

‐ Willa? Honey, I've been‐‐

‐ Mom, Mom, look.

‐ TikTok, Noah?
I said no phones at the table.

‐ Just look.

‐ You guys, I'm here
at the Wheelhouse.

We were partying tonight.

And Tate and Liam‐‐
they just raped me.

I don't know whether
to post this or go to SVU

or pretend like
it was a bad dream.

‐ Who is this?
‐ Willa Bartola, a dancer.

[dramatic music]

‐ Well, she must
have deleted it.

It's not there anymore.

‐ If the video's gone, does
that mean you can't help her?

‐ No, it doesn't, honey.

Sweetie, remember
how I keep telling you,

once you post something
on the internet,

it stays there forever.

‐ You guys, I'm here at the Wheelhouse.
We were partying tonight,

and Tate and Liam‐‐

they just raped me.

‐ So she's a TikTok star?
‐ According to Noah.

So she posts this video,
and then she deletes it.

‐ But not before
everybody copied it?

Do we know when she posted it?

‐ No, Carisi, we don't,
and to be honest with you,

I don't really know
what we're looking at here.

‐ That makes two of us.
‐ Hmm.

‐ Sorry to interrupt.
‐ Detective, yes.

Sergeant Bell told me
that the OC

was looking for our help
to find a missing girl.

‐ Her name's Rita Lasku.
Do you mind?

‐ Of course.

‐ Stabler found her passport
in the closet

of an Albanian gang higher‐up,
along with a dozen others.

All young Albanian women.
‐ They're holding passports.

That means
they're trafficking them.

‐ That's why I'm here.
Stabler got close to Rita

when she was waitressing
in a diner.

She's been missing
for a few days.

‐ Did he ask
about her at the diner?

‐ They claimed she was sick.
He can't really pursue.

‐ Well, we can,
and we will look into it.

‐ Thanks.

Wait, that's Willa Bartola.
Did something happen to her?

‐ You know her?
‐ Everybody knows her.

‐ Not everyone.

‐ A rising star.

She blew up last week

when she posted a dance video
with the Wheelhouse guys.

‐ Yeah Tate and Liam.
‐ Rivers, so you do know them?

‐ She's claiming that
those two raped her.

At a party at the Wheelhouse.
‐ That's rough.

I'm not entirely surprised.
I get a bad vibe.

‐ Back up.
What is the Wheelhouse?

‐ It's a content house.

‐ Meaning?

‐ Groups of influencers
live together

and crank out videos 24/7.

The Wheelhouse is the
brainchild of Diggy Wheeler.

Kind of a nerd
who's broken through.

‐ So Willa went there looking
for her 15 minutes?

‐ More like
15 million followers.

If you get invited into that
house, you're a superstar.

Endorsement deals,
money pouring in.

If it works out.

Looks like it didn't.

‐ Willa, thank you
for meeting us.

That video you posted,

you made that right
after you were assaulted?

‐ Yeah, I went back and forth
on whether or not to post it,

and then I finally decided

everybody needs to know
who these guys really are.

‐ Okay, but then
you took it down.

‐ I had to.
‐ Why?

‐ You wouldn't believe
the hate I was getting

from Wheelhouse fans.
I was doxxed.

They put my face
on porn star bodies.

My DMs were all "whore" this,
"slut" that.

‐ Willa, I'm sorry,
but since you're here,

how about‐‐how about
you have a seat

and sort of walk us‐‐walk us
through what happened?

‐ In the video,
you said you were invited

to a party at the Wheelhouse?

‐ Um, it was more
like a tryout.

Diggy Wheeler, Tate,
Liam, and I,

we were filming some content,

and it was amazing, at first.

‐ Okay.
Until it wasn't.

‐ We were doing shots
in the hot tub.

I got really dizzy,

and then Tate and Liam
took me downstairs.

‐ Downstairs where?

‐ To Tate's bedroom,

and then that's when
they locked the door.

And they said that I was
gonna get what I came for.

Some of their brotherly love.

‐ And what did
they mean by that?

‐ Tate got on top of me,
and then Liam.

And I was crying
and telling them no.

I must have passed out.

I‐I woke up,
and my‐‐my clothes were off.

I was a mess,

and I just wanted
to get out of there.

‐ Is there a chance
any of this was recorded?

‐ No.

They said that
if there's no video,

it never happened.

‐ Did you tell anyone?

‐ Yeah, my‐‐my friend Kavon.

He found me in the bathroom,

and he said
we should call the cops.

And I wanted to be asked
to join the house.

‐ I warned Willa
about Tate and Liam.

Those two‐‐they get away
with whatever they want.

Please tell me
that they're going down.

‐ Well, we're still
investigating.

‐ I know that they raped her.

I saw her right after.
She was hysterical.

I said, "Let's go
to the hospital," but‐‐

‐ Would you be willing
to give a statement?

Testify, if we needed you to?

‐ Absolutely.

I quit that house
two months ago.

The only reason I was there
was to protect Willa.

‐ Well, Kavon backed me up,

so can't you just
arrest those guys?

‐ The case is a little more
complicated than that.

‐ Willa, you didn't get
a rape kit.

You didn't report right away.

‐ And none of that means
you weren't assaulted,

but these boys are gonna lawyer
up as soon as we question them.

‐ Which is why we want you
to talk to them first,

while we listen in.

‐ Well, Diggy's the only one
who wants to talk to me.

‐ Diggy Wheeler?
How do you know that?

‐ Well,
after I posted the video,

he texted me saying
he wants to apologize.

‐ How about you
text him back then?

‐ Unfortunately,
there's no news on Rita Lasku.

The diner
where she worked claimed

that she quit last week.

‐ They can't go up
against Albi.

‐ I may have somebody who will.

He claims that he's a vigilante
in the Albanian community,

so I'll keep you posted.

But while I have you
on the phone,

I'd like to borrow
one of your detectives.

‐ Thanks for meeting me, Willa.

Can I get you
something to drink?

‐ No, thanks.
‐ Okay.

Uh, why don't we go outside?

‐ Okay.

‐ I just wanted to tell you
I'm sorry you were so upset.

‐ You're not sorry
that Tate and Liam raped me?

‐ Willa, those guys told me

everything that happened
was consensual.

I was even a little bit
jealous, but I get it.

You don't like me that way.

‐ I didn't like them
that way either.

‐ Look, I know you were unhappy
that we didn't invite you

to join the house,

but maybe we can find
a way to collaborate on‐‐

‐ Well, well, well.
‐ Guys, get out.

‐ If it isn't the girl
who cried rape.

‐ You guys can't be here.

‐ Well, last time I checked,
it's our house, so‐‐

‐ Well, I thought‐‐
I thought Wheeler said

that those guys
weren't gonna be home.

‐ Did he set her up?

‐ What the hell
are you doing here?

‐ You said you were going
to apologize,

but there's nothing
to apologize for.

‐ Yes, there is.

What you guys did to me
was not‐‐

‐ Exactly what you came for.

‐ All right, back up.
Just give her some space.

‐ Not until she apologizes
for that desperate video.

Look, the fans need to know

that you're okay,
and we're all fam.

‐ No, I'm‐‐I'm not okay.
I‐I didn't want you guys‐‐

‐ Uh‐oh.
‐ She's getting upset.

‐ Ugh.

‐ Okay, the fans don't want
to see you melting down again,

so don't do that.
It's bad for your brand.

‐ I‐I didn't want you guys‐‐
‐ Whoa, whoa.

Tate's right.

You need to tell people your
little video was just a stunt.

‐ Smile.
‐ We...

‐ Don't do‐‐
‐ Are live...

‐ Whoa!

‐ From the Wheelhouse
with our girl Willa,

and there is nothing but love
between us, right, Willa?

‐ No doubt, no doubt,
since day one.

‐ They're livestreaming this.

‐ You all probably knew her
from her dancing vids,

but I bet you didn't know
she'd pull a fast one.

‐ She's terrified.
Go.

‐ Yeah.
‐ Go, I'll text Jet.

‐ I know Willa the stunt queen
had some of y'all real shook...

‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ With her video.

But she was just playing
the whole time, right, boo?

‐ Hey, guys, gotcha.
both: Aww.

‐ Love you.
‐ Love you.

You heard it here first, kids.

‐ NYPD.
Get away from her now.

‐ Yo, cops?
What the hell, Wheeler?

‐ I have no idea
what's going on.

‐ I do.
She set us up.

‐ Back off,
and shut your mouth.

‐ A frisky one.
Who the hell are you?

‐ NYPD.

‐ She told me you guys
invited her.

‐ Almost too easy.

Why don't we talk
about this downtown?

‐ Go, now.

You okay?

‐ They just assaulted me
all over again,

and the whole world
was watching.

I know Willa, the stunt queen had some of y'all real shook
Mm‐hmm. ‐ With her video.

But she was just playing
the whole time, right, boo?

‐ Hey, guys, gotcha.
both: Aww.

‐ Love you.
‐ Aw, love you.

You heard it here first, kids.

‐ Is this girl credible,

or is she just playing us
to gain followers?

‐ She's defaulting
to her online persona.

Listen, this is
the social media version

of texting your rapist
the next day.

You remember that, Carisi.

‐ Yeah, I do.

It's just different when you
know your jury's gonna see it.

The boys have
lawyered up already?

‐ They're 21, and they make
more in a month

than we do in a year combined.
What do you think?

‐ I didn't want you guys‐‐
‐ Whoa, whoa.

Tate's right.
You need to tell people

that little video of yours
was just a stunt.

‐ It literally was a stunt.
‐ Tate.

Counselor, Detective.

I appreciate your attempt
to trap my clients,

but there's nothing
incriminating here.

If there was, they'd be
under arrest right now, huh?

‐ They're not under arrest yet.

But they did try to coerce
Willa into absolving them,

and then they streamed it live.

‐ She did absolve them.

Live.
‐ She was ambushed.

They weren't supposed
to be there.

‐ Well, it's our house.
She was trespassing‐‐

‐ Mm‐mm.

‐ Sorry.

‐ You have one weak tape,

all right,
so let's look at all the tapes.

One party video,
one deleted video,

and one absolution video
that 3 million people liked.

‐ That still doesn't answer why
Wheeler reached out to Willa

wanting to make an apology.

‐ Wheeler was there.
He saw how into us Willa was.

He knows nothing happened
that she didn't want to happen.

‐ Tate.
‐ No cap.

The only reason
he apologized is

he's worried about his image.

‐ First of all,

I want your assurance that
my client is not a suspect.

‐ Yeah, Willa didn't name him,

but it's
an ongoing investigation.

‐ Why don't you tell us what
happened that night, Diggy?

Sit down.

‐ Um, I invited Willa over.

We shot some content, and then
we all got into the hot tub.

I had to take a call, so Tate
and Liam took her downstairs.

‐ Where they gang‐raped her.
‐ They told me she was into it.

That the three
of them were partying.

‐ Then why did you call
her to apologize?

‐ She was upset.

I'd invited her.
I felt responsible.

It's not easy running
a house like this.

Everybody second‐guessing you.

I try really hard
to be the good guy,

and all I get is burned.

‐ So the boys
are backing each other up.

That's not a surprise.
‐ No, it's not.

But this is a she said,
deleted what she said,

and then backtracked
what she said.

‐ Did anybody else in the house
that night see anything?

‐ If they did,
they're not talking.

The house is trending,

so nobody wants
to get kicked out right now.

‐ Everybody there posts 24/7.

Have we gone through
all their videos?

‐ They all show Willa having
a great time with these guys.

Singing,
dancing, in the hot tub.

‐ I got you a subpoena
for the house security cameras.

Where are we on that?
‐ Nowhere.

There's no cameras
in the bedrooms.

‐ Also not a surprise,

but the defense is gonna muddy
this up six ways from Sunday.

‐ Hang on.
I just got a text from Jet.

Liam and Tate
made another video.

‐ We're gonna get real
for a minute

about what actually happened
with Willa.

‐ It's time for us
to come clean.

The truth is...

We double‐teamed
that pick‐me girl.

‐ And if she said
she didn't want it,

she's lying.
You know why?

‐ Well, she couldn't
say anything.

Her mouth was too full.
[laughter]

Oh, and the cops
and that dumbass DA?

Yeah, they brought us down
to the station,

but had to let us go.

‐ Enemies of the people.

Stay woke.
Stay vigilant.

Peace.
‐ Wheelhouse.

‐ Please tell me that
that's an admission of rape.

‐ That affect‐‐enough
to bury them with the jury.

Let's pick them up.

‐ Go.

‐ Docket #24516.

People versus Tate
and Liam Rivers.

‐ Tell them to put
the phones down.

‐ Everyone,
turn off your phones.

‐ On the charges of rape one
and unlawful imprisonment,

how do you plead?
‐ Not guilty, Your Honor.

‐ People on bail.

‐ We request $3 million,
Your Honor,

and also that the defendants
surrender their passports.

‐ They have no record.

They're respected members
of our community,

and they're looking forward
to proving their innocence.

‐ Well, that isn't
what I saw in the video.

I'd advise your clients
not to litigate this

on social media,
TikTok, YouTube.

I don't care what tube.
Bail is set at 1 million.

‐ Thanks again for
your support.

‐ And remember,
this is not our fault.

‐ Not even Willa's, you know?
She didn't go to the cops.

They went to her,
so blame them.

‐ You want a selfie, huh? Yeah.
Let's go, let's go!

‐ Didn't the judge
just tell them

not to litigate this
on social media?

‐ They don't know
the difference

between the real world
and the virtual world.

‐ Look!
It's that dumbass prosecutor.

‐ With the cops in the video.
‐ Free Tate and Liam!

all: Boo!
‐ Hey.

‐ Are you guys kidding me
right now?

‐ Guys.
‐ This is great content.

‐ Rollins, let's go, let's go.
‐ Guys, back off.

Hey, Wheelhouse fans,
let's be cool.

Guys, back off!
Whoa!

Hey, I'm really sorry, man.

‐ Yeah, well,
your fans aren't.

Are you okay?

Come on.
Let's get out of here.

‐ Wheelhouse!
‐ Wheelhouse!

Your Honor, either this case will be tried
in the court of TikTok or in a court of law

The defendants were
already warned at arraignment.

It's time for a gag order.

‐ Is this about a wound
to the judicial process

or Counselor Carisi's ego?

Now, a gag order
would deprive my clients

of their livelihood and
their First Amendment rights.

It should suffice
to instruct the jury

to stay off social media.

‐ Respectfully, you can
instruct all you want,

Your Honor, but the jury
can't stay off of social media.

They're already googling
every witness in the elevator

on the way down
to Center Street.

‐ I agree, it's an issue.

While I can't ban everybody
from the internet,

I can strongly admonish
all parties

from posting
anything about the case.

You're inching towards being
charged with inciting a riot.

Is that understood, gentlemen?

‐ Totally.
‐ Is that a "yes," Mr. Rivers?

both: Yes, Your Honor.

‐ Judge didn't go
for a gag order?

‐ Not officially, but she did
put everyone on notice.

‐ I want to tell my fans
I can't post anything

until the trial is over.

The arc of the moral universe
bends towards justice, and‐‐

Willa, how's everything going?

‐ You really can't be
talking to her.

‐ I get that.

I‐I just want to say
that I'm sorry

about what happened
out there the other day.

That's not our fanbase.
‐ Really?

Isn't that
the same fanbase that's rooting

for Tate and Liam
to get away with raping me?

‐ Let's go, Willa.

‐ I really am sorry.
‐ Are you?

Then why are you testifying
for those guys?

‐ They told me
nothing happened.

‐ You're a smart kid, Wheeler.

Ask yourself,
who has more reason to lie?

‐ Captain Benson,
in your experience,

is it unusual for a victim to
come forward on social media?

‐ Actually, no.

Public online disclosures are
becoming more and more common.

Many survivors like to disclose

within their social media
networks,

because it gives them
an enhanced sense of control.

And, in Willa Bartola's case,
that was TikTok.

‐ But despite having recorded

the video minutes
after the assault,

Willa didn't post it
until a week later.

‐ And that's
not unusual either.

Willa was traumatized.

She was trying to stay in
the good graces of her rapist.

Victims can take far longer
to come forward.

Months.
Even‐‐even years.

‐ Thank you, Captain.

‐ So she waited a week.

Maybe that's not unusual,
but it does happen to coincide

with the day that she learned

that she wasn't invited
to join the house.

Doesn't that give her
another motive?

‐ In my experience
as an SVU captain,

I believe that she was
reacting to her assault.

‐ But you're positive

that she wasn't reacting
in anger to being rejected?

‐ Objection.
‐ Overruled.

The witness may answer.

‐ There are many reasons why
a survivor delays reporting.

‐ Including trying to
get more followers?

‐ I don't think that was
the case here.

‐ But you can't know that
for sure.

‐ It was late.

I hadn't seen Willa
for a while.

I went looking for her.
Found her in a bathroom.

A mess.
Crying.

‐ And what did she tell
you had happened?

‐ That Tate and Liam
trapped her in a bedroom

and assaulted her.

I told her that
we should get a rape kit.

‐ But she refused.

‐ She was having
a panic attack.

I should have called
911 myself.

Willa's my girl.

I've never seen her so upset.

‐ Did you see Tate and Liam
do anything to Willa?

‐ I wasn't in the bedroom.
No.

‐ You parted
with the Wheelhouse

a few months ago on bad terms?

‐ You could say that.

‐ So bad that you wiped
all collabs from your profile?

‐ Just Tate and Liam's.

I've got no issue
with Diggy Wheeler.

‐ Oh, so you do have a problem
with Tate and Liam?

‐ Yeah, I got a problem.

They're homophobic,
misogynistic asses.

‐ Well, I don't know, folks.
Does that sound

like the witness
has a bias against my client?

‐ Your Honor?
‐ Mr. Swope.

‐ I am so sorry.

But you don't like them, right?

And that has affected
your testimony today.

‐ Your Honor.
‐ Withdrawn.

Nothing further.

‐ You may step down.
Mr. Carisi, next witness.

‐ The people call
Willa Bartola.

‐ It's time for us
to come clean.

The truth is...

We double‐teamed
that pick‐me girl.

‐ And if she said
she didn't want it,

she's lying.
You know why?

‐ Well, she couldn't
say anything.

‐ Mm.
‐ Her mouth was too full.

‐ That must be painful
to watch.

‐ It was.

And I know that people think

I did all of this
for followers,

but I would never
falsely accuse anyone of rape.

‐ Thank you
for coming forward, Willa.

I know this hasn't been easy.

‐ Ms. Bartola, the day
you visited the Wheelhouse,

you made a video
with Tate and Liam.

Isn't that right?
‐ Yes.

‐ And after that video
went viral,

you gained a million followers

and received two dozen
brand ambassador offers.

You must have been riding high.

‐ Half of me was.

‐ Because the other half of you
wanted more followers?

‐ No, I‐I lost followers.

I was bullied, harassed.
‐ So your strategy backfired.

I guess that's why
you deleted it?

Withdrawn.

Let me ask you.

You're familiar
with a TikTok star

from an L. A. content house
named Blair Brooks?

‐ Yes, but I don't know her.

‐ But you've seen
her videos though?

‐ Yeah.
‐ Exhibit H.

A 12‐minute YouTube clip
posted by Blair Brooks

the week before you
visited the Wheelhouse.

‐ Objection.
Relevance.

‐ Well, in the video,

Blair accuses a member
of her house of rape.

I would like Willa to read
the comment she wrote.

‐ I'll allow.

‐ "Love to see you
speak out about this dirtbag.

"Take him down.
Cancel him.

Hope you get
all his followers."

‐ After posting her video,

Blair gained
2 million new followers.

The day you liked Blair's video
you started DMing with Tate.

At the house,

the three of you made
sexually suggestive videos.

You flirted with them
in a hot tub.

Were you setting them up
all this time?

‐ Of course not.

Diggy Wheeler invited me
to the house.

‐ But you did send
sexual DMs to Tate?

‐ That was a mistake.

‐ Well, you seem to be
making a lot of them.

Ms. Bartola, put yourself
in the mindset of this jury.

You earn your living
making up content.

Well, how can you expect
these good people to know

which of your videos are real

and which are modern‐day
performance art?

‐ They think I'm going through
all of this to get famous?

‐ No, it's just
the defense's strategy.

It doesn't mean
the jury believes it.

‐ Hey, what are you looking at?
How do you sleep at night,

after you let
your superstar bros rape me?

‐ I didn't do that!
‐ No?

They told me that's why you
invited me to the house.

‐ Wait, what?
‐ Willa, he's not worth it.

Come on.

‐ I would never set up any girl
like that, especially Willa.

‐ You know what, Diggy,
you keep saying

that you care about her.

But you threw her
to those dogs.

‐ Carisi.
‐ I'm coming, I'm coming.

Don't go anywhere.

‐ No.
Carisi, you gotta look at this.

‐ What?
‐ Look.

Wheeler's livestreaming.

‐ It took me too long
to realize it,

but I failed
to look out for Willa.

Tate and Liam did assault her.

I didn't want to see
that side of them.

I should have believed Willa
and Kavon, from the start.

No means no.
There's no excuse.

Willa, stay strong.

I hope someday you'll find it
in your heart to forgive me.

‐ I mean this is
a good thing, right?

‐ No, not really.

After the defense sees this,

they're gonna move
for a mistrial.

And then,
after what happened today,

there's no chance that Willa's
gonna agree to testify again.

‐ Mr. Swope, I seem to remember
issuing a rather stern warning about
the use of social media in this case.

But then I thought,
"Maybe I imagined it."

‐ Your Honor, we had no
prior knowledge to this tape.

And, although
we have listed Mr. Wheeler

as a defense witness,

obviously that is
no longer the case.

‐ Mr. Wheeler?
‐ I'm sorry.

My fans were barraging me
with questions.

I owed them an answer.

But I deleted the video,
Your Honor.

‐ As if that helps.

Given that there's no way
to ensure the jury

hasn't seen the video,
we move for a mistrial.

‐ The jury has seen
far worse, Your Honor.

And now that the defense
is no longer interested

in Mr. Wheeler's testimony,

I'll be calling him as
a witness for the prosecution.

‐ Your Honor, this is the first
I'm hearing of this.

My client has not agreed
to testify.

‐ I'm prepared to compel him.

‐ Mr. Wheeler's
shifting testimony

is inherently unreliable,
and he obviously has

an axe to grind
with his now former housemates.

‐ You'll have your opportunity
to cross‐examine, Mr. Swope.

I'm denying defense's motion
for a mistrial.

Mr. Carisi,
call your next witness.

‐ No means no.
There's no excuse.

Willa, stay strong.

I hope someday you'll find it
in your heart to forgive me.

‐ Mr. Wheeler,
why did you make that video?

‐ Because I believe
Willa was sexually assaulted

by Tate and Liam.
‐ Objection.

‐ Sustained.

‐ Mr. Wheeler, you were
originally supposed to be

a witness for the defense.

Can you explain why you're now
testifying for the prosecution?

‐ Yes, I saw Willa
after she was cross‐examined.

She was shaking, raw, hurt.

I have a lot of experience

auditioning performers
for my house,

and to be honest, she's not
that good of an actress.

Sorry, Willa.

‐ But you did invite her
to the house?

‐ Yeah.

I thought she had a special
quality, that she'd fit in.

‐ But you didn't
ask her to join‐‐why?

‐ The next morning,
Tate and Liam told me

she'd said negative things
about me.

That she was toxic,
had bad energy.

But later that day,
I overheard them talking about

"shutting that bitch down."

‐ What did you take
that to mean?

‐ They were trying to discredit
any allegation she might make.

I regret not telling
the police that earlier.

‐ Well, thank you for coming
forward now, Mr. Wheeler.

‐ In the past,
when you've invited

female content providers
to the house,

they didn't provide
anything more

than content to you,
did they?

‐ Not really.
No.

‐ But a lot of them hooked up
with Tate and/or Liam, right?

‐ I guess.

‐ All the women like you,
but not that way.

You're a good guy,
you do everything by the book,

and then the women come in,
and they don't even see you.

That must gnaw away at you
over time.

‐ Objection.
‐ Witness may answer,

but move along, Mr. Swope.

‐ I'm not there to hook up.
I run the house.

It wouldn't be professional
to cross those lines.

‐ So you do all the work,
and then my clients

get all the goodies.

And then you met Willa.

She must have
seemed special to you.

Defense exhibit J.

27 direct messages
sent by Diggy to Willa.

All of them telling Willa
how much you love her content

and how you're looking forward
to meeting with her.

These all yours?

‐ Yes.

‐ So when the four of you
were in the hot tub,

and Willa was flirting
with Tate and Liam,

how much of that hurt
your feelings?

‐ Objection, Your Honor.
‐ Mr. Swope, move on.

‐ Mr. Wheeler,
you reached out to Willa

after she posted
her rape video.

Now was that just an excuse
to see her again?

‐ No, I legitimately felt bad
about what had happened to her.

‐ Bad or angry?

Because we have a video
where she gets

out of a hot tub,
you put a towel over her.

‐ I was trying to take
care of her.

‐ Oh, you weren't trying
to get her into your room?

‐ No!

She shouldn't have gone
into anybody's room.

She was drunk.
I mean, she wasn't a partier.

‐ But you must have seen
other girls

go into Tate and Liam's room.

Maybe a little high.
Did you object?

‐ I don't‐‐I don't know.
‐ Hmm.

You didn't.

See, it's not that
you're such a great guy.

You just didn't like
any of those other girls

the way that you liked Willa.

You're jealous that she wanted
my clients and not you.

‐ She didn't want them.
‐ How do you know that?

Is that because
you thought she liked you?

‐ She did like me.

And you guys knew that,
but you‐‐you had to screw me,

show me who's really the boss.

‐ Okay. Mr. Wheeler,
just answer the question.

‐ You kept saying
she was bad news.

‐ Your Honor,
I think we need a recess.

‐ I don't need a recess.

I need these guys to know
that I know the truth.

You raped her

because you wanted me to know
that you were the big dogs.

‐ Mr. Wheeler.
‐ Oh, you're laughing at me?

You guys treat everyone
around you like crap,

but you're
the real pieces of crap.

‐ Mr. Wheeler‐‐

‐ How many girls have I walked
out of the house

the next morning in tears?
I covered for you.

Every time you screwed up,
I fixed it.

And then you repay me

by assaulting the one girl
I really cared about.

‐ Okay!
That's enough.

Jury will disregard.

Mr. Wheeler,
I'm holding you in contempt.

Bailiff,
take Mr. Wheeler into holding.

Approach.

‐ Your Honor, despite these
late‐in‐the‐game histrionics,

the prosecution has failed
to make a case.

No rape kit.
No police report.

At this time, we move for

a trial order motion
for dismissal.

‐ In other words,
you don't have a defense,

and there's no chance
that he's gonna

put his knucklehead clients
on the stand.

‐ Okay, enough, both of you.

I will not declare a mistrial,

and I will not dismiss
this case.

Mr. Carisi?

‐ The prosecution rests,
Your Honor.

‐ Mr. Swope?

‐ The defense rests,
Your Honor.

‐ Then this case
goes to the jury.

‐ So the judge held Wheeler
in contempt? ‐ Yeah, and I don't blame her.

You know, Wheeler made it all
about himself, not Willa.

And the bright side is,

Carisi feels
like Wheeler made his case,

'cause Wheeler also mentioned
that there are other girls

that Tate and Liam
may have assaulted.

‐ Well,
we can put it out there.

See if any victims
come forward.

But the case has been public
for a while.

‐ Yeah.

‐ How's Carisi doing?
[phone buzzes]

‐ I'm not sure, but I'll know
in about 20 minutes.

Jury just came back.

Elvis is in the house.

‐ Mr. Baktashi.

My favorite vigilante.

Thank you for coming in.

‐ It's funny.

When I was protecting
my neighborhood,

you called me a racist,
but now you need my help.

I got one condition.

‐ That nobody can know
that you're here.

Not the Albanians.
Not Albi Briscu.

‐ Just the opposite.

When you finally
take that scumbag down,

I want me
and the Dyckman Knights

front and center with you
at that news conference.

‐ Done.

So you know what happened
to Rita Lasku?

‐ She's being trafficked,
but she's not the only one.

Take out your pen.

‐ The jury will now
read the verdict.

‐ On the charge
of unlawful imprisonment,

we find the defendants
not guilty.

‐ I love you!
‐ Order.

Order!

‐ On the charge of rape
in the first degree,

we find the defendants

not guilty.

‐ Order!
Order!

‐ I am so sorry.

‐ I got into social media
because I wanted people

to think that's
what my life was like.

And this is my actual life.

Who wants to look at that?

‐ What happened?

‐ They were acquitted
on all charges.

‐ So I'm the only one
sitting in a cell right now?

‐ You did the right thing,
Diggy.

And honestly, after you
went off on Tate and Liam,

the jury knew
you were telling the truth.

‐ They just didn't care.

I saw the way the women in
the jury were looking at them,

like they always do.

That one in the front
with the red hair,

ready to lie down
and roll over.

You and me,
we never had a chance.

‐ Carisi.
‐ Hey, I should have called.

Are the girls are asleep?

‐ Yeah, come on in.
‐ Sorry, I'm‐‐this‐‐

this couldn't wait
till morning.

You remember
the jury forewoman?

‐ The redhead.

She seemed giddy
about the whole thing.

‐ Yeah, that's exactly
what I thought,

so I did some digging.

‐ Wait, is that her
with Tate and Liam?

‐ Yeah, outside the courthouse
right after

she and the rest of the jurors
found him not guilty.

Yeah it is.
That's not all.

Look at her last tweet.

‐ "You guys,
I'm totally freaking out.

"The Wheelhouse just DMed me

"and invited me over
for a collab.

All goes well, I could be
their newest member"?

But after the verdict,
they can do whatever they want.

‐ Yeah, maybe.
But not before the verdict.

‐ DMing a jury member
during the trial.

Offering her entry
to the Wheelhouse.

I'm looking at jury tampering,
bribery.

‐ Your Honor, this is the first
that I'm hearing about this.

‐ Yeah, well, I should
certainly hope so.

‐ We also have evidence
that the defendants

DMed a second juror,
Brian Cummings,

also during the trial,

inviting him to become
a member of the Wheelhouse

in exchange
for a not guilty verdict.

And I quote, "If the jury
acquits, the Wheelhouse fits."

‐ Very clever, gentlemen.

Do you have anything
to say for yourselves?

‐ That's just how we recruit.
‐ Yeah.

Like Willa said,
the timing is a coincidence.

‐ Okay, that's enough.

Your Honor,
I'll have to verify this.

‐ Well, you do so, Mr. Swope,

because if this turns out
to be true,

your clients could be looking
at double digits.

‐ They'll get over ten years
in prison?

‐ Their lawyer cut a deal,

so they'll get seven
and they'll be out in five.

‐ Still, they'll be so old.

I just wanted an apology.

‐ We're so sorry, Willa,

and we did everything
that we could.

‐ I know.
At least Diggy apologized.

He invited me
to join the Wheelhouse.

‐ Hold on, Willa, are you sure?
‐ This is different.

He invited me and Kavon.
We're gonna rebrand.

A new collective,
kind of like a survivor squad.

It'll be a place for survivors
of sexual assault,

discrimination,
mental health issues.

‐ Wheeler certainly knows how
to land on his feet,

but it sounds like
a good thing.

‐ He did right,
and so did Counselor Carisi.

Would you guys
thank him for me?

‐ We can do that.
‐ He's a nice guy.

To me,
he's one of the good ones.

And for what it's worth,

I can see
how much he likes you.

‐ So we are looking
at sex trafficking.

Does your informant
have any idea where Rita is?

‐ No, but he did find out
that there is a shipment

of new prospects
coming in from Albania‐‐

12 underage girls.

‐ When does the plane land?
‐ Eight hours from now, at JFK.

‐ I'll let Stabler know.

Make sure he's part of the crew
picking up the girls.

‐ We may need your ongoing
help with this, Captain.

‐ Always.

sync & corrections
jhj@2021