Original subtitles

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.

Morning, Cap.

Well, if that is an apology for not...

Telling me that Finn lost his gun. Honestly, I don't hate it. Hand it over.

Just trying to do the right thing. I know it's a stupid decision, but I swear

it'll never happen again.

Finn knows that he put you in a bad spot.

And honestly, I don't know that I would have done anything different if I was in

your position, so... We're good.

Is there something else?

DEA wants you undercover guarding Ramirez's drug rugs. I mean, I get it.

It makes sense with all your experience with the cartels.

Do you trust the agents?

They seem straight up, but we're real clear about keeping this whole thing

under wraps. Even from you, I know I'm putting you in a bad position.

And if you want to report it up, I understand.

But I just had to ask... No, no, no, Velasco.

This stays between us.

But you gotta keep me informed. You gotta be careful.

Thank you.

No, you're not. The NYU is the right place.

You're going to work with your father on Wall Street.

Excuse me.

Um, something really bad has happened. Are you okay?

Sorry, I need help.

Yes, of course. I don't know. Something bad has happened. Tyler, call 911.

Okay, I'm here. You're safe.

So Chief Tynan and my father were partners back when they were on patrol

in 2-7.

And when he passed, Chief kind of took me under her wing.

Well, it must be nice having somebody, you know, look out for you like that.

Yeah, I agree.

Although, you know, I know how my new assignment might look to you.

Well, how do you think it might look?

Like I'm some sort of spy.

Well, what would you be hoping to uncover in your role as a spy?

I have no idea because I'm not a spy.

That's not what the chief's asked me to do.

What has she asked you to do?

To learn how to become a good detective.

Okay, well, I know that you led Midtown South in robbery callers for three years

running. Why not central robbery?

Because the chief says you are the best boss in the department.

Like you said, she looks out for me.

Well, look, Griffin, I appreciate you playing your cards up. I really do. But

here, we're very victim-centric.

And our victims are extremely vulnerable.

We work as one team here. I don't have any room for detectives who,

you know, have different agendas. I can promise you.

The only agenda I have is to learn. That's it. You are the boss.

I'm just really grateful for this amazing opportunity to be here. That's

it.

Is she conscious?

Yeah, I'm on my way.

Okay, Griff.

The education starts now.

You ride with me.

Okay.

It's a club. It was all night.

And then it was day.

Okay.

It's okay. I'm sorry.

There's something really bad happening. No, no, it's okay, Maya. You just need

to rest now, okay? We can talk later.

Okay.

Doctor, any idea which would be more coherent?

She tested positive for the alphabet.

GHB, MDMA, LSD. It's going to be a bit.

Okay. And did she say anything to any of your staff that might help?

Maybe like the name of the club?

She skipped repeating something bad happened.

Her dress was torn, so we did a rape kit.

Bruising consistent with sexual assault.

We sent the dress out, too. Smart.

Okay. Just let me know when she's lucid, okay?

Yeah. All right. Detective, you have anything to add?

I'm good, Cap. Let's roll.

Thank you.

I heard about this guy. They call him Batman.

His last tour was three years in Midtown South Anticrime. That's exactly what we

need, another guy who thinks he's a superhero.

I think it was the perps that called him that. Well, he's got some powerful

friends, so watch yourself.

Okay, guys, so, say hello to Jake Griffin. He is newly assigned.

What's up, Batman?

I'm sorry, Batman?

It's a stupid nickname the Mopes in Times Square used to call me. Where's

Robin? He doesn't need a Robin. He's got a chief at ease watching his back. All

right, all right. Look, guys, we all have our unique stories of origin.

So, let's get to work. Griff, run it down.

Uh, yeah. Okay. So, victim is Maya Moretti, 35.

She's a senior VP at Oakville Wealth Fund downtown.

She's currently pretty incoherent. The rape kit had, uh, had some bruising.

Uh... And, uh... Crime scene?

Uh, at this point, we don't have one, but once she's back with us, we need to

drill down. Now, in the meantime, I need you to find every single club in the

vicinity of 41st and 8th. There's gotta be about 30 clubs in that area.

Oh, you don't... You don't have to raise your hand.

Okay, sorry. Um, when we were in her room, I saw Maya had a tattoo on her

wrist, but it was more than a symbol. It was a QR code.

Like she was branded?

Maybe like a... Permanent stamp? Did you scan it? Yeah, yeah. Can I use this? I'm

going to use this.

It takes you to a website for a members-only club on 41st called

Sensate. I know that place. When I was at IAB, some bozos were working off-duty

there. Cops pretend to be bouncers at a wellness club? Well, we thought it was a

front for a high-end sex club.

Got to belong to the club to get the tat, meaning Maya Moretti is a member.

So what happened to the investigation?

Well, that's just it.

IAB opened the investigation, but 1PP shut it down hard.

And when my boss pushed back, he found himself transferred to Staten Island.

Well, 1PP can send me anywhere they want, but no one will be shutting us

down.

Maya is trying to check herself out of the hospital. Griff, you're with me.

You should have told me about Maya's tattoo.

I'm sorry. I just wanted to make sure it meant something before I said anything.

Well, I get it, but this is what I was talking about when I said that we work

as one team, okay?

Capital tactics don't work for me.

Be transparent.

Understood, Captain.

I'm sorry. Thank you.

I told you I want to get out of here. I understand. So how about we talk back at

my office, right? I don't want to talk.

Okay. Maya, you're not in any trouble, and I don't care about drug use. The

only thing that I care about is understanding what happened.

Where are my shoes?

Okay.

Excuse me. Give me one second.

Just give me one second. Listen, is there somebody that I can call for you?

Maybe they can bring you a change of clothes, maybe something a little more

comfortable than that. I don't need to talk to anyone. Okay.

I can help you. I can help you.

Really, I can.

You wouldn't understand.

I would, and I do.

I do.

Nothing happened? That's not what you said before.

Get out of my way, please. Detective, step aside, please. You're free to

leave.

I'm sorry. Yeah, I thought that you were... Yeah, but she's a victim.

And she needs space. And we honor that here. Yeah, I get that.

Aside from processing the assault, she's also processing shame. A misplaced

shame. The kind of shame that makes you want to leave the hospital too early and

lie about what happened.

Okay? So my job, and your job now, is to figure it out anyway.

Okay, detective?

Let's roll.

Okay.

I'll do better.

Welcome to Sense8.

Owner is Derek Simpson.

He's got a long list of failed clubs going back more than a decade.

This is the first one that's turned any profit.

No one would ever make this place out for a sex club.

That's the point.

Why do you want to play this?

Well, first thing we need to figure out is if this is even our crime scene, and

I want to see who we're dealing with.

Can I help you? Hi, Captain Curry and Detective Velasco, special victims.

We're looking for a Derek Simpson.

I can come back with some friends, but I don't want to mess up your nice door.

If someone was assaulted, that's news to me. What can I do to help?

Do you have any cameras in here, Mr. Simpson?

We'd like to review the footage. No, never.

That's a unique feature of my club. I don't surveil the members.

What about a list of people who were here last night? I'm sorry, we don't

keep any list.

Volcanic water?

We're good.

We'd like to start with a list of the members.

I don't mean to seem intransigent, Detective, but this is a private club.

We don't disclose our membership.

We're investigating a sexual assault.

I absolutely understand that.

And I can assure you, if that happened, I would know about it immediately.

I'm not assured.

Look, we're all adults here. You know the nature of this organization, what we

provide. Our members enjoy the freedom to express themselves.

And they pay a premium for privacy.

Give us a list of who was here last night, and maybe we can keep things

discreet. I'd like to speak to my lawyer before this continues.

You need a lawyer to cooperate with the sex crimes investigation.

I need a lawyer because I don't like the way this conversation is going.

I'll have to ask you to leave.

Okay.

That's your right, Mr. Simpson, but I got a feeling we'll be back.

Sex clubs like Sense8 have been popping up all over Manhattan and Brooklyn.

All word of mouth. Someone has to vouch for you to join.

Members are rich power players who are sick of dating sites and bars and want

to cut straight to the chase. Anonymous sex.

For a $50,000 membership fee.

So if it's a sex club, why not just bust them for prostitution?

Well, strangers having consensual anonymous sex isn't illegal.

The problem is that these places are usually fronts for drug trafficking and

money laundering. And it's also a breeding ground for sexual assault.

This is our uncooperative subject, Derek Simpson.

That's Councilman Mills.

And this is Assemblyman Rickston.

Wait a minute. Is this not... Is that... Superintendent Flynn? This is not good.

That guy's connected.

Connected enough to get the initial IAB investigation shut down.

Should we get a warrant, or is that gonna tip him off?

I wouldn't, which means that we need to get in another way.

Let's get in there and look around.

Undercover? Looking for what?

Crime scene.

Witness. Another victim?

Dude, if you raise your hand one more time, I'm gonna shoot it off.

Okay, sorry. I think I have a way in. I have an informant in Times Square right

near the club.

What kind of informant?

Oh, he's into everything. He scams tourists, sells knockoffs.

He'll know Simpson.

And he likes me.

Okay.

So take Bruno and make it happen.

Hey, there he is, my CI.

His name's Cheese.

Right there in the denim jacket.

Looks like he's running a scam.

Cheese? Oh, yeah, always.

He's probably selling them fake tickets to Sunset Boulevard.

Hey, Cheese!

Cheese!

I thought you said this guy liked you. Yeah, maybe like was too strong a word.

Whoa!

Come on, come on, come on, come on!

You're not gonna buzz me.

For bogus tickets, man.

That ain't true.

All right, look.

I got some solid info on Epstein.

Epstein? Ignore what he says, okay? It's a gift that keeps giving.

Oh, Griffey, Griff, Griff.

The street's been talking.

They say you hung up your Batman wings. Shut your mouth and listen to me.

Derek Simpson.

D. Simpson,

yeah. Man with a plan.

I need a meet.

Can you do it?

Dee Simpson ain't a friend of the Blue Boys, man. Yeah, well, you let us worry

about that.

What? You can't do it?

You gonna insult me?

Enough clowning around.

What are you looking for? Me?

Nothing. Cheese Man operates the favor bank.

Dee Simpson's always looking for high-net-worth people connections, so...

Make it happen.

Got it.

I fly solo.

No partners, no loose ends.

You feel me?

I like that.

You're working with anyone else at the moment.

If you think I'm going to give you my resume, you are done.

No, no, no. You check out.

But first, strip down. I got to be sure.

Trust is important.

But I don't strip for no man.

Our hyperbaric oxygen chambers provide our members with a rejuvenating,

restorative experience, promoting healing and general well-being.

Over here, we have morning mindfulness meditation.

And in this room, hot yoga, 10 a.m.

Well, that sounds very healthy and extremely early.

We were told your late nights get pretty wild.

Our mutual friend Mr. Rogers mentioned you might be interested in our after

-hours events.

Oh, Mr. Rogers is a very smart guy.

Indeed he is.

I love your patek.

Oh, yeah, I should introduce you to my watch guy.

He can get you to the top of any waiting list.

Hey, I got a question for you. Is there anything you can show us to, you know,

convince us to drop 50 Gs on a membership?

Well, why don't you come by tonight? You can be my guest.

Sure, yeah, I guess we're free.

And tonight will be all about free.

Free everything.

Freedom is my favorite word.

There's just one formality.

Everyone who parties here needs to sign these consent forms.

Lawyers.

Hey, you're a watch guy, man. Yes.

What do you think of that?

Ah, it's a nice piece. A gold cosmograph Daytona.

Can I ask what you paid?

This is preposterous.

The undersigned waives all rights regarding consent and understands that

the actions of any member are free from all potential litigation, civil or

criminal. In other words, rape anyone you want and no one says anything. Can

they enforce a contract like that? Of course not. This is total BS. This is

not the issue. The fact of the matter is that everyone that signs it thinks that

it's legally binding.

Meaning anything could happen and it goes unreported. So I'm starting to

understand why Maya won't talk to us. She thinks she can't.

We've got to get moving.

Yeah. So listen, be careful.

Okay, and just be prepared because these undercovers can go sideways quickly.

I've been undercover before, Captain. Trust me, not like this.

Okay.

Gentlemen, welcome.

Have a mushroom water and head downstairs.

You'll need to hydrate.

Everyone down there was engaged in some type of sex.

Saw that judge that got bounced to family court, the one that used to have

the sex worker sit on his lap during arraignments. Gronemann, that piece of

garbage? Couple of basketball players and that Wall Street guy the feds just

indicted for that Ponzi scheme.

I don't know that we found something specific to our victim.

Absolutely saw women that looked like they didn't want to be there.

If we raid that place during one of their events, we're gonna get some drug

busts and embarrass some one-percenters. Then our case gets burned.

Okay, guys.

All right, everyone go home.

All right, go home, get some sleep, and we will figure out next steps tomorrow.

Night.

You went out alone. I know I should have brought Bruno with me, but... Oh, no,

no, no, no. So, Griffin, this is unacceptable.

I've already told you twice that we do things differently here, and we don't do

things alone. I'm sorry. I thought I... Sorry?

You said that before.

Sorry means you made a mistake, and guess what?

You did.

You know what?

I don't think this is going to work out. I'm going to actually call Chief Tynan

and say that I don't need a cowboy who makes decisions on his own in this...

Can you please just hear me out for a second, please?

I know I took the wrong approach. You did.

Okay?

I hated that our undercover didn't get enough.

It was eating me up, you know, and I kept hearing your voice telling me, we

have to care about the victim, okay? So I let my instincts cloud my judgment. I

went back in, but I saw something. What did you see? First time we went, there

was a girl, and she was giving us a tour. Okay, and? She was in the basement

last night, but she was totally out of it. There was a guy just pawing her. She

couldn't even push him away. So I went back in. I know I should have done

things differently, but... I appreciate your empathy. I really do. I found her.

All right? I got her number.

Isabella Cruz.

She can meet us in an hour.

I was living with my parents in Florida, and my friend from high school told me

she had this great job up here as a shop girl.

Said the money was insane, so I got on a bus.

That's when you met Simpson?

He was super nice.

Um... offered to hook me up with modeling agencies, gave me a job at the

club as a shop girl.

At first, it was great.

I mean, ridiculous money.

Any drug you wanted.

Living in New York.

But, um... after a few months, the drugs, like,

went away.

So he got you hooked on drugs, and then he had something to manipulate you with.

He said there was a way I could make more money at the club.

It's okay.

Isabelle, it's okay. Take your time, really.

I try to just, like, zone out and let them do whatever they want, but... I

hate it.

I'm nothing to them.

They can just pay for whatever they want, and I have to take it.

I'm stuck.

I signed that contract.

And he said if I tried to leave, he would ruin my life, and I believe him.

I mean, the people he knows, I'd be better off if I were dead.

That is not true, Isabella.

And we will protect you.

That's what he said.

I didn't think anyone in this whole city cared.

We do.

We can help you.

Whatever I can do.

I'm done. I'm ready. I don't want this to happen to anyone else.

Good.

Hey,

this is private property.

Get the hell out of my club.

Stay down, scumbag.

Captain. Hi.

You're okay?

I'm Captain Curry with the NYPD. You're safe?

We're all just here to help you.

I know I don't have to say anything.

You executed the warren of the sex club and we found a bunch of young women that

we believe are being trafficked. Looks like you had a case with two of them a

couple years ago.

Layla Erdem and Tanya Santiago.

Right, brothel on 44th off 8th. Well, they're witnesses for us now.

The only problem is... That they lawyered up.

What are you, clairvoyant? If I was, I wouldn't be single.

No, I was a cluster. I tried to get the women to turn on the brothel owners,

asshat named Simpson, but they all invoked.

I turn the guests now.

Danny Boy Olin? Olin was obviously a house counsel.

Couldn't get Simpson, so... The women went down as charged.

Grace, I mean, I knew Olin was slick, but representing an entire brothel of

sex workers just to protect the owner? That's a different level of scummery.

So?

What's your plan?

I'm gonna move to have him removed from the entire case.

Can I drop that motion?

I'll be sweet revenge for what he did in my case.

Absolutely.

Hey, while you're at it, you want to help me take this prick down?

Second chair?

Yes, I do.

All right, get on it.

Your Honor, the people went after Mr. Simpson like he's John Gotti.

He runs a clean club, has never been arrested before, and from what I know...

Carisi's got no real witnesses. Well, actually, Judge, to that point, I am

moving that you disqualify Mr. Olin. He's acting here as House Counsel. Hold

on. What's this?

Well, in addition to representing Mr.

Simpson, he also represents a number of my potential witnesses.

Interesting.

Mr. Olin.

I'm not surprised that Mr. Carisi is afraid to face me at trial.

But here's the solution.

I will terminate my representation of anyone affiliated with this case and

only represent Mr. Simpson.

Mr. Carisi, as long as you do not anticipate calling Mr. Olin as a

witness... I only deal with honest witnesses, Your Honor. Enough. Motion

disqualified. Denied.

Bail is set at $25,000. Next case.

Captain, you should see this.

What? What are we looking at?

I searched this site for references to Sense8 and this popped up.

That's our victim.

She look like she's consenting to anything? No, she doesn't.

Maybe we can identify one of these guys as the perp.

See how many clips you can find.

Mr. Simpson promised us everything.

Work, housing, the chance to meet powerful people.

But once he got me hooked on drugs, he forced me to sell drugs and have sex

with the members.

Did you consent to having sex with the members?

I didn't have a choice.

He told us that by signing that consent contract, we had to do what he said.

Why didn't you just leave?

I had no place to go.

Thank you, Isabella.

I have nothing further you want.

Mr. Olin.

Thank you, Judge.

Ms. Cruz.

I'm only going to ask you a few questions.

If you could please answer either yes or no.

Did Mr. Simpson physically force you to sign the consent waiver?

No.

Did he ever physically force you to have sex with anyone?

No, but... That's enough.

Do you have any records at all?

that would prove that Mr. Simpson paid you to have sex with anyone?

Records?

Yes.

No, I don't have any records.

Did Mr. Simpson ever touch you in any inappropriate way?

No, but... Sounds to me like you've made all the mistakes a woman can make, and

now you're here trying to put them all on my innocent client.

Objection sustained.

I'm done.

I run a clean, safe, sexually free club.

We've never had one violation.

Not one.

Let's talk about these allegations.

Did you provide drugs to anyone?

Absolutely not.

What about prostitution?

Mr. Olin, I provide a safe place for people to explore their sexual

desires. Now, I know it may sound peculiar to some.

I accept that it may even sound distasteful.

But do we really want to live in a world where the government dictates how people

conduct their sex lives?

Nothing further, Judge.

Mr. Carisi.

Actually, Your Honor, ADA Jones will be handling this cross.

Welcome, ADA Jones.

Thank you, Your Honor.

You just said that everything that happens inside your club is consensual.

Because it is.

Then why do you have your members sign these consent waivers?

It was the lawyers who drew that up.

You just heard detectives Bruno and Griffin testify, correct?

The men who lied to gain entry? I heard them. Yes, the detectives who went

undercover to expose your criminal conduct.

Objection sustained.

Didn't you tell them that in order to gain entry, they needed to sign this

waiver? I did.

Because you knew that some people wouldn't understand that they could

never sign away their consent when they enter your club.

Again, it was the lawyers. I don't care what the lawyers think. Mr. Simpson, I

want to know what you think.

Do you think that someone could sign away their consent?

I'm not the person to decide that. Do you think that any woman who steps into

your $50,000 club is consenting to be raped?

That is not what I... Are you actually running a house of prostitution where

women are drugged and used by powerful men? I am not doing that.

You're just a pig, Mr. Simpson. Ms. Jones, not in my courtroom.

Jury will disregard.

I apologize, Your Honor.

Nothing further.

I have a lawyer. You're not allowed to... I'm not here to interrogate you,

Maya. I'm here because I think that you need to see something.

Oh, my God.

Why are you showing me that? I don't want to see it.

Because anybody who looks at this video can see what's happening.

Anybody who looks at that can see that you are not present.

There's no way that you consented to that, no matter what piece of paper that

you signed.

I'm so ashamed.

Maya, the only people that should be ashamed are the men that did this to

you. I did this to myself.

Okay? All the people that went to that club were there for the same reason. For

sex, right?

To have fun, to have freedom.

And all those men are having fun and freedom.

But you weren't. You were victimized. And then they used shame to silence you.

Look at this. I signed up for it, okay?

I did. That's what everybody's gonna say.

That I paid a lot of money.

To have sex with strangers.

But you didn't sign up to be raped.

You got to separate it out, Maya. I think you should go. I'm sorry.

I can't help you. I can't help you because I cannot testify because people

will see about it at work. My friends will see it. All this will do is just

ruin my life.

I don't think so.

What are you so afraid of what people will say about you?

They're gonna call you names What are they gonna call you?

No, I'm not gonna call you that the people in my team will not call you that

and anybody Who doesn't see that you were victimized from that video

it's not worth listening to let me tell you You know, that's not

what you signed up for

I can't.

I can't.

You can.

Don't take on what's not yours.

Okay?

I remember somebody pushing me.

And I told them to stop.

I was screaming.

And someone put their hand on my mouth and

stopped me.

the apartment.

I feel so alone.

And you're not the first woman to feel like this. They used your shame to

silence you.

Think about what happens if you start.

I know now I was drugged and lured into behavior I didn't want to do.

And, Maya, did you ever see Mr.

Simpson sell drugs in the club?

I did. And did you ever see him pay young women to provide sex to the

members? Yes, I did.

And how do you know all this?

Because I was there. I was a member, and I saw it all.

And I refuse to stay silent anymore.

Thank you, Maya. I have nothing further.

You signed the waiver of consent form.

Did you not?

Yes, I did, but... Thank you.

Were you threatened to sign it?

No, but I was told that every member was required to sign it.

And you knew that by signing the document, you were waiving consent.

I now know that a person can never waive that right.

but you wanted to engage in free sex so badly, you would have signed anything at

the time, correct?

I signed up for the same thing everybody else did.

Thank you.

I didn't sign up to be raped.

Objection, nonresponsive.

Overruled.

Mr. Simpson never physically assaulted you, correct?

No. Never even touched you in a sexual manner?

No. In fact, my client never even threatened you, did he?

Yes, he did, actually. That's enough. Let her finish her answer, Your Honor.

Mr. Olin, you asked the question.

Ms. Moretti, please continue.

One night, Derek was just... screaming at one of the shot girls, getting in her

face.

I went up to him and said to give her a break, and he just...

Lost it.

Said that if I didn't get away from him, he would make sure I had a really,

really bad night.

I believed him.

Madam foreperson, please read your verdict. As to count one, promoting

prostitution in the third degree, how do you find the defendant, Derek Simpson?

Guilty.

As to count two, sex trafficking in the second degree. How do you find the

defendant? Guilty.

And as to count three, criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third

degree. Guilty.

Congratulations.

See you outside.

Well done. Thank you, Captain.

Getting my arms down is a nail in the coffin.

Hang on to her. I like her. I already got it transferred.

Good night, Captain.

Oh, good night.

Hey, I, uh... I really blew it going in that club alone.

I own that.

You know, I always wanted to be a cop.

And, uh... Once I saw it, I was pretty good at it.

I, uh... I never really questioned myself, you know?

So now it just... To be honest, it just feels kind of weird to...

You know.

Yeah, well, as we discussed, you know, it's a learning curve.

And not everyone is right for SVU. Right. Yeah.

Yeah. Well, I'd understand if you have to ship me out.

Well, Isabella on cruise saw something in you.

And you made her feel safe.

And, uh... And you can't teach that.

So here's the deal.

As long as we are all on the same team,

You may have a home here.

Yeah. Yeah, okay.

Thank you.

Hey, and I understand chain of command, okay?

I promise I will never, never go behind your back.

Well, that is good to know.

Yeah.

Good night.

Hey, John. Hey, kid.

Good to see you.

Chief Tynan's inside waiting for you.

Thanks.