Law & Order/Recap/S17/E12 Charity Case: Difference between revisions

In a shabby apartment that is overstuffed with personal possessions, Brody tells the detectives that it's a 'tough break' that Sean was shot. Brody is white and obviously disheveled. He says that Sean slept with his wife, and he (Brody) moved out of the house and away from his kids because of him.

 

"You bet."|Ed Green and John Brody}}

 

Green and Cassidy say they know that Cooper was strenuously against the adoption, which Cooper admits too. But he still won't tell them anything.

 

"Three days is not a year."|Marlon Cooper and Nina Cassidy}}

 

Rubirosa tells Sofia that, if she lets Mogae see his son, he'll plead guilty to manslaughter and serve fifteen years. Otherwise, he goes to trial. Sofia will have to testify, and possibly Agatha as well. Furthermore, the gun was broken -- it might have really went off on its own, and Mogae could be sympathetic enough to encourage the jury to acquit. Sofia asks how Mogae could possibly be sympathetic, so Rubirosa points out that the Archers refusing to let Mogae see his son will look bad, as will the illegalities in the adoption. Sofia is horrified, but Rubirosa presses on, saying that it will only be for five minutes, Mogae can't come within three feet of the child, and Rubirosa, Green, and Cassidy will be supervising it. Sofia, in tears, agrees, after Calvin offers to supervise as well. However, when Mogae sees the child's face at the jail, his grin vanishes and he begins to look horrified. Rubirosa looks puzzled, as does Calvin.

 

"This… is not my son."|Ed Green and Ephraim Mogae}}

 

At Bedford Hills, a jail, Harris says Sofia agreed to raise Harris's child while Harris served her sentence. Harris is a black woman of middle age. Sofia, Harris says, made the offer about four months prior. Harris knew, vaguely, that Sofia was planning to adopt a child from Africa, but didn't learn anything more about that. She also doesn't know where the child is. Rubirosa finally tells her that Sofia was raising Harris's son as the child from Africa. Harris claims that she didn't know that Sofia would do that; rather, Calvin just approached her, saying that Sofia just wanted to raise her son. Rubirosa is surprised that Calvin is involved.

 

"It's not your son I'm worried about."|Lashonda Harris and Connie Rubirosa}}

 

In a conference room, McCoy tells Farmer and Sofia that Christopher's body has rib fractures consistent with being beaten to death. Sofia blames Calvin for this, so Rubirosa tells her to drop the pretense since there's no cameras in the room.

 

"Your client could be a little less nauseating."|Farmer and Connie Rubirosa}}

 

Farmer asks if Calvin killed Christopher; Calvin denies it. Farmer points out that Calvin admitted to burying Christopher and approaching Harris. Farmer then brings up Calvin's past, working for a Paige and Franklin Littlefield and nannying their son Jackson. Calvin admits to taking Jackson to the ER three times. Farmer recites Jackson's injuries, but Calvin protests that Jackson was autistic and would hurt himself. Farmer then says that the Littlefields fired her. Calvin's response is that the Littlefields wanted a specialist in raising autistic children to be their new nanny, and Calvin didn't qualify.

 

"Objection, Your Honor!"|Farmer and Jack McCoy}}

 

McCoy points out that Sofia refused to let Christopher be seen in public during her absence. Sofia says that this was to reduce the amount of press. McCoy asks if this was to ensure that no one could compare Harris' son to Christopher; Sofia denies this. McCoy then points out that Sofia lied in her press releases when she said that she would raise Christopher herself, then presses home the point that Sofia has a history of skillful lying. Sofia says that she only lied to the press to raise awareness for the Mumoono orphanage, and she succeeded in steering three million dollars in donations to that facility. McCoy accuses her of just doing that to boost her career, and says that, if she lied that much over a career move, she would lie even more to stay out of jail. Sofia asserts that Calvin killed Christopher, but McCoy disagrees. He cites the payment, but Sofia reiterates that this was a loan for Calvin's mother's medical bills.

 

"Just neglecting one to the point of being unable to recognize him."|Sofia Archer and Jack McCoy}}

 

Rubirosa finds McCoy in his office.

 

"I delivered newspapers."|Connie Rubirosa and Jack McCoy}}

 

Sofia begins to confess, saying that it might have been an accident. Rubirosa points out that this would imply that Sofia perjured herself. Farmer quickly tries to say that this was just a hypothetical, but Sofia keeps going. McCoy, though, quickly shuts her down.

 

"You might have been able to sell the adoption as simple goodwill, and Christopher's death as maternal incompetence, but you replaced him with another child!"|Sofia Archer and Jack McCoy}}

 

Sofia says that she raised millions of dollars in money and supplies for Mumoono.

 

"We're only concerned with the one who won't."|Sofia Archer and Jack McCoy}}