Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 4)

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 4
DVD cover art
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	25
Broadcast
Original channel	NBC
Original run	September 27, 2002 (2002-09-27) – May 16, 2003 (2003-05-16)
Home video release
DVD release
Region 1	December 4, 2007
Region 2	September 11, 2007
Region 4	November 21, 2007
Season chronology
← Previous Season 3 Next → Season 5
List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes

The 4th season of the television series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit premiered September 27, 2002 and ended May 16, 2003 on NBC. This was the last season of the series to air on Friday nights at 10:00 PM/9:00 PM (Central).

After two seasons of being a recurring guest star, B. D. Wong (Dr. George Huang) is added to the opening credits this season. This is also the last full season to star Stephanie March as ADA Alexandra Cabot. Gloria Reuben guest starred in the episode, "Dolls" as the mother of a missing daughter, Ruben later goes on to portray Bureau Chief Assistant District Attorney Christine Danielson in the ninth season before go on to portray an Assistant U.S. Attorney by the twelveth season. Mike Doyle began portraying CSU Forensics Technician Ryan O'Halloran with the episode "Choice", a recurring character he portrayed for the next six seasons, his character killed in the "tenth season finale". John Cullum also guest stars as ADA Cabot's old law professor-turned-defense attorney, Barry Moredock who comes in when defendants' civil and amendment rights are believed to be violated.

Cast

• Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler
• Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson
• Richard Belzer as Det. John Munch
• Ice-T as Det. Fin Tutuola
• Stephanie March as ADA Alexandra Cabot
• B. D. Wong as Dr. George Huang
• Dann Florek as Capt. Don Cragen

Recurring cast

• Tamara Tunie as M.E. Dr. Melinda Warner
• Isabel Gillies as Kathy Stabler
• Pam Grier as AUSA Claudia Williams
• Illeana Douglas as Gina Bernardo
• Erik Palladino as Detective Dave Duethorn
• Mike Doyle as CSU Forensics Technician Ryan O'Halloran
• Robert John Burke as IAB Sargeant Ed Tucker

Episodes

Season no.	Series no.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code	U.S. Viewers (millions)
1	67	"Chameleon"	Jean de Segonzac	Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters	September 27, 2002 (2002-09-27)	E3151	15.60
The detectives go on the trail of a recently paroled rapist responsible for the murder of a prostitute during a raid at a men's club and are called to the scene where he was shot in self defense by his own gun. However, the murder weapon was also used in another crime while he was still in prison, leading the detectives to investigate the victim (Sharon Lawrence) through a trail of previously unsolved cases, a spending spree and another victim. Special appearance by Dianne Wiest as DA Nora Lewin. Sara Ramirez also guest stars.
2	68	"Deception"	Constantine Makris	Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters	October 4, 2002 (2002-10-04)	E3105	N/A
A family portrait painted by a kindergartner leads the detectives to investigate her mother for child sexual abuse of her teenage stepson (Jonathan Bennett). When the boy's father (Tom Mason) is found murdered, the focus of the investigation shifts to the boy and his stepmother (Sherilyn Fenn) goes to great lengths to protect him and prevent the detectives from learning the truth.
3	69	"Vulnerable"	Juan J. Campanella	Lisa Marie Petersen & Dawn DeNoon	October 11, 2002 (2002-10-11)	E3104	15.91
When an elderly woman (Jane Powell) breaks into an apartment, the detectives discover she had been mistreated but have to investigate with no credible information from the victim because of Alzheimer's disease. They discover that she had been released from a nursing home to the custody of her financially scheming son who becomes the prime suspect. However, they go back to the nursing home to find a pair of suspects, including the director (Mary Kay Place) who details the dangers faced by both patients and staff with her own heroics precariously standing out. Guest stars: Andy Powers, Georgine Hall, Tom O'Rourke, Sean Grennan, Valerie Geffner and Tamara Tunie
4	70	"Lust"	Michael Fields	Amanda Green	October 18, 2002 (2002-10-18)	E3102	N/A
The wife of a retired attorney (Michael Gross), a public health doctor, is found murdered and raped in Central Park. Her work involved contacting sexual partners of HIV patients which gives the detectives a long list of suspects. The discovery of a second body in Central Park with the same signature shifts the focus to a serial killer; however, the trail leads to a man who has no knowledge of the crimes but has a distant connection to the doctor and her husband.
5	71	"Disappearing Acts"	Alex Zakrzewski	Judith McCreary	October 25, 2002 (2002-10-25)	E3101	N/A
The detectives respond to a brutal rape only to have the victim taken into custody by federal agents on racketeering charges. The investigation leads them to a father-son duo (John Heard and Tom Guiry) who are in the Federal Witness Protection Program and an agent (Pam Grier) who appears bound and determined to protect them, regardless of consequence, so they can testify against the Russian mob.
6	72	"Angels"	Arthur W. Forney	Jonathan Greene & Robert F. Campbell	November 1, 2002 (2002-11-01)	E3106	15.30
The body of a battered young boy found in a luggage compartment of an airport shuttle bus sends the detectives to his guardian who was discovered to be a pedophile only to find his corpse in bed with his genitals removed. The subsequent investigation leads them to a travel agency specializing in exotic trips for sexual predators. Will Arnett guest stars.
7	73	"Dolls"	Darnell Martin	Amanda Green	November 8, 2002 (2002-11-08)	E3114	16.80
When the decomposing body of sexually molested five-year-old girl is discovered, Detectives Benson and Stabler's investigation leads them to the painful reality that they are searching for a serial pedophile (David Harbour) as they race to save the life of his latest victim. As the mother of the missing girl (Gloria Reuben) frantically awaits news of her daughter's whereabouts, she must reconcile the fact that her own recent bout with addiction may have played a part in her daughter's fate.
8	74	"Waste"	Donna Deitch	Lisa Marie Petersen & Dawn DeNoon	November 15, 2002 (2002-11-15)	E3111	N/A
The investigation into the rape of a comatose woman leads to a doctor (Bruce Davison) whose stem cell research is funded by a billionaire with Parkinson's disease who is desperate for a cure. Chandra Wilson, Rainn Wilson, and Judy Gold also guest star.
9	75	"Juvenile"	Constantine Makris	Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters	November 22, 2002 (2002-11-22)	E3112	N/A
A cancer patient who was growing marijuana in her apartment is found raped and murdered, sending the detectives on a hunt for two junior-high students (Shane Lyons and Connor Paolo), each blaming the other. The prosecution team is faced with the dilemma of trying the older boy as an adult, despite evidence that he was not mentally capable of being able to carry out the crimes. Illeana Douglas Kyle Gallner also guest star.
10	76	"Resilience"	Joyce Chopra	Patrick Harbinson	December 6, 2002 (2002-12-06)	E3113	N/A
When a 15-year old girl (Rachael Bella) is saved from jumping in front of a train, SVU is called in to help her. She falsely accuses an ex-boyfriend of raping her, but when the search turns to her dysfunctional family, surprise discoveries are made. From an overly helpful father (Titus Welliver), mysterious children, an overaffectionate little girl, a bracelet and finally sperm from two men who never raped, SVU discovers that the family is even worse off than they thought. Illeana Douglas also guest stars.
11	77	"Damaged"	Juan J. Campanella	Barbie Kligman	January 10, 2003 (2003-01-10)	E3109	N/A
When a six-year-old girl who was critically injured in an apparent robbery gone bad later dies and tests positive for a sexually transmitted disease, detectives investigate the family, the store clerk, and the son of a prominent attorney (Michael Gaston) who had appeared to foil the crime. After evidence turns up that the little girl's older sister (Ari Graynor) was dating the alleged sexual predator, ADA Cabot attempts to eradicate the deal that had been made with the older sister for her testimony. Glynnis O'Connor, Erik Palladino, and Dan Lauria also guest star.
12	78	"Risk"	Juan J. Campanella	Jonathan Greene & Robert F. Campbell	January 17, 2003 (2003-01-17)	E3115	N/A
Cocaine being smuggled in baby formulas leads detectives to a good cop gone bad. When they start to get closer to the truth they have to put Detective Elliot Stabler undercover. When things get really heated it ends up putting Stabler's life in danger and he ends up having to make a choice to either kill or be killed. Robert John Burke guest stars.
13	79	"Rotten"	Constantine Makris	Judith McCreary	January 24, 2003 (2003-01-24)	E3119	N/A
In their investigation of a prisoner's death, Benson and Tutuola learn that he was assaulted before being incarcerated. They subsequently discover several killings of drug dealers in the precinct where the man was arrested, and that two cops from this precinct had a connection to every case. William Mapother guest stars.
14	80	"Mercy"	David Platt	Christos N. Gage & Ruth Fletcher	January 31, 2003 (2003-01-31)	E3118	N/A
When the body of a baby girl is found inside a cooler, the detectives need to investigate just who she is, and how she got there. They soon learn that the little girl had a genetic disorder known as Tay-Sachs disease, and that her name is Sarah Brown, and she is the only daughter of Andrea and Daniel Brown. When Andrea admits to having killed her daughter, Alex has to put aside her own feelings of sympathy to prosecute Andrea Brown for the murder of her daughter. Elizabeth Mitchell, Paul Adelstein, and Judd Hirsch guest star.
15	81	"Pandora"	Alex Zakrzewski	Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters	February 7, 2003 (2003-02-07)	E3120	N/A
Stabler hunts for a missing 14-year old girl (Alexis Dziena) who may have been abducted by a foreign child pornographer (Lothaire Bluteau). The hunt takes him around the world. Zena Grey, William McNamara, and Pam Grier also guest star.
16	82	"Tortured"	Steve Shill	Lisa Marie Petersen & Dawn DeNoon	February 14, 2003 (2003-02-14)	E3121	N/A
A Tibetan woman who was tortured in her home country is found murdered, with her foot missing and after an exhaustive search of potential suspects, the killer is a victim of torture himself. Margaret Colin and Fred Weller guest star.
17	83	"Privilege"	Jean de Segonzac	Patrick Harbinson	February 21, 2003 (2003-02-21)	E3122	15.00
Detectives Benson and Stabler are called to a crime scene – a young woman dressed in a maid's uniform has apparently committed suicide; however, because of the degree of sex-related bruising, they believe she might have been raped and murdered. Erik Von Detten, Michael Learned, Mariette Hartley, and Sarah Wayne Callies guest stars.
18	84	"Desperate"	David Platt	Amanda Green	March 14, 2003 (2003-03-14)	E3124	N/A
After a young boy witnesses the brutal sexual assault and murder of his stepmother, his father (Rob Estes) blocks the efforts of the detectives to question him. Sandra Bernhard also guest stars.
19	85	"Appearances"	Alex Zakrzewski	Teleplay: Stephen Belber Story: Liz Friedman, Vanessa Place, & Stephen Belber	March 28, 2003 (2003-03-28)	E3110	N/A
On a field trip, a student tells his teacher about a suit-case he found. The teacher immediately contacts NYPD to call the bomb squad out. The police find a body of a little girl inside the suit-case. The case is then handed over to Detectives Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson. They discover that the girl was on the beauty pageant circuit. One of the suspects tells the detectives how he came across a way to kill the girl. A pornography maker (Brian Kerwin) is put on trial for giving instructions on how to kill via a child porn story on his company's website. John Cullum also guest stars.
20	86	"Dominance"	Steve Shill	Jonathan Greene & Robert F. Campbell	April 4, 2003 (2003-04-04)	E3123	N/A
A quadruple homicide with sexual overtones is just the start of an intense rampage of killings that brings a homicide detective into the mix. As the entire squad races against time to prevent further victims, the evidence leads Tutuola to a building superintendent (Frank Langella), his two sons (Ian Somerhalder and Jason Ritter) and a cross to bear. Erik Palladino also guest stars.
21	87	"Fallacy"	Juan J. Campanella	Teleplay: Barbie Kligman Story: Joshua Kotcheff & Barbie Kligman	April 18, 2003 (2003-04-18)	E3117	N/A
Benson and Stabler try to prove self-defense when a rape victim (Katherine Moennig) kills her attacker. Events take an unusual turn when they learn that the victim is a transsexual. In the end, Benson and Cabot get a call regarding the victim and head to the hospital where they learn she has been gang raped. Michael Lerner and Chad Lindberg guest star. Fred Thompson also guest stars as D.A. Arthur Branch.
22	88	"Futility"	Alex Zakrzewski	Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters	April 25, 2003 (2003-04-25)	E3125	N/A
After arresting a man (Fred Savage) accused of raping several neighborhood women, Detectives Benson and Stabler attempt to obtain an indictment for their suspect with the help of a key eyewitness - his last victim. However, the suspect's decision to handle his own defense casts some doubt over the trial's outcome as he proves to be a formidable opponent for ADA Cabot.
23	89	"Grief"	Constantine Makris	Adisa Iwa	May 2, 2003 (2003-05-02)	E3116	N/A
A dead girl is found outside a bar. The death, however, is ruled a suicide because the victim's boyfriend (Paul Leyden) continually raped her, but the victim's father (Joe Morton) eventually snaps, vowing revenge against his daughter's rapist. D.J. Cotrona also guest stars.
24	90	"Perfect"	Rick Wallace	Jonathan Greene & Robert F. Campbell	May 9, 2003 (2003-05-09)	E3126	12.90
A murdered 14-year-old girl leads the detectives to a prominent physician (Gale Harold) who specialises in reproductive therapy. Barbara Barrie, Robert John Burke, Kimberly J. Brown and Laura Harring guest star.
25	91	"Soulless"	Chad Lowe	Lisa Marie Petersen & Dawn DeNoon	May 16, 2003 (2003-05-16)	E3127	N/A
A rape victim, Chloe Dutton (Peyton List), is brought into the hospital one night with a bar stamp on her hand, and when Benson tries to interview her, she insists that she wasn't raped after all and that she was drunk; then she refuses to accept Benson's help. A short time later, the nurse announces that the rapist snatched Chloe from the hospital. Chloe is later found deceased and one of the suspects involved in her death (Logan Marshall-Green) turns out to be a sociopath with a history of murder. Ann Dowd and Siobhan Fallon Hogan guest star. Inspired by the Jesse Pomeroy case.

References

• TV.com - Law & Order SVU's 4th season

External links

• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 4 - TV IV
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 4 on the Law & Order wiki
• Season 4 episodes at IMDb.com

Preceded by Season 3

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit list of seasons

Succeeded by Season 5