Mood (Season 19, Episode 2)
Premise: Detectives doubt a young woman’s report of a rape by a man in a Prince Charming mask until a second victim describes the same attacker.
- Air date
- Season/Episode
- Season 19, Episode 2
- Starring
- Lt. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), Det. Odafin “Fin” Tutuola (Ice-T), Det. Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish), Det. Dominick “Sonny” Carisi Jr. (Peter Scanavino), DA Investigator Brian Cassidy (Dean Winters)
- Guest stars
- Saxon Sharbino as Savannah Ross, Robbie Sublett as Tom Williams, Amirah Vann as Michelle Morrison, Marion McCorry as Nancy Burns, Christina Rouner as Mrs. Williams
- Director
- Michael Pressman
- Writers
- Story: Brianna Yellen & Robert Brooks Cohen & Céline C. Robinson & Elizabeth Rinehart; Written by: Allison Intrieri
Summary
“Mood” begins with Michelle Morrison of the DA’s office questioning Benson about Noah’s bruise. Benson explains the near miss with the cab, bristles at questions about her sessions with Dr. Lindstrom and her beating of William Lewis, and says the only thing she is guilty of is being distracted. Back at the squad, Savannah Ross, 20, reports that two weeks earlier a man in a Prince Charming mask came in through her bedroom window, played an opera recording about lovers united in death, raped her and made her shower while a timer ticked. She asks for emergency housing and says she cannot go home.
Her account soon unravels. Photos show her out drinking two hours after the attack. Her grocery-store manager fired her for lateness and took her to a precinct detective, who says she told him she might have dreamed it. A former foster mother says that Savannah, who passed through ten foster homes, once accused a foster brother of rape and later admitted it was a hoax. Rollins argues that Savannah is working the system and suggests that Benson’s own troubles are clouding her judgment, and Benson tells Savannah she has to go back to her apartment.
Then a retired teacher, Nancy Burns, describes the same masked attacker, the same Wagner aria and a timed shower and mouthwash meant to wash away DNA; he even handed her her inhaler and took a diamond tennis bracelet. DNA on the inhaler matches a hair from a Brooklyn break-in a year earlier, where Anne Speer’s coworker stabbed the intruder in the leg. Speer remembers a canvasser on crutches who had her sign a petition, and the other victims signed petitions too. Benson apologizes to Savannah. Rollins hears from a DA investigator that the case against Benson started with Brian Cassidy, and Benson confronts him. He says he praised her over drinks with Michelle, but she tells him never to help her again.
Spoiler, the ending: The canvassing firm identifies Tom Williams, who lives with his mother. A search turns up masks and a petition list with stars beside the victims’ names, and Mrs. Williams is wearing the stolen bracelet. The squad reaches a third starred name, Vivian Stevens, as Tom attacks her. He holds off a detective with a gun, flees down the fire escape and, refusing a hand up, falls. A detective brings Savannah a meal and an apology, and tells her the city will pay her rent for a few months. At home with Noah, Benson lets a work call go.
Why it stands out
- Benson refers back to her abduction by William Lewis in Season 15 and her therapy with Dr. Peter Lindstrom.
- The inquiry into Benson, opened in the premiere, turns out to have begun with Brian Cassidy, and Benson cuts him off.