Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)
She Paints for Vengeance (2020)
Tonya Glanz: Monica Russo
Photos
Quotes
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Olivia Benson : You painted a billboard so someone would pay attention to you. I'm here. I'm paying attention. Talk to me.
Monica Russo : It's a few weeks before Christmas, place is packed, Markeevious wants just me and him in the VIP room.
Olivia Benson : Was that the first time?
Monica Russo : No. Usually it's me and another girl or two. That night, as soon as I shut the door, he starts taking his pants off, and I'm like, "Whoa, slow down, buddy," but...
Olivia Benson : He's not listening to you.
Monica Russo : He started putting on a condom, a-and I'm like, "Wrong move, buddy," you know, I'm trying to joke my way out of it.
Olivia Benson : Right, like you've probably done a million times before.
Monica Russo : Yeah. But that night, I was scared of him.
Olivia Benson : Why?
Monica Russo : He had this... blank look on his face. And he pinned me against the wall. And I tried to fight him, and he threw me on the floor.
Olivia Benson : Tell me about that.
Monica Russo : I was alone. I-I... I was trapped. I was... I was yelling, a-and the music was so loud, nobody could hear me, and-and... and he just... he overpowered me. He-He was moving me around like a piece of furniture, any way he wanted. And, uh, you know, I-I struggled, and... at a certain point, I just gave up. And he raped me. I just tried to go back on stage. I was trying to pretend like nothing happened, you know, and Markeevious was still there, and he waved at me, and that's when I told Jared. And Jared said, "Markeevious is a good customer, so I should shut up."
Olivia Benson : Okay. And that's when you went to the local precinct.
Monica Russo : They never even returned my calls. So I started to imagine blowing things up.
Olivia Benson : Blowing things up?
Monica Russo : With paint. Calling 'em all out.
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Monica Russo : I told you, I don't need your help.
Olivia Benson : Hey, Monica, I get why you're reluctant, but a name has come up. Markeevious Ryan.
Monica Russo : Took you long enough. Have you talked to him yet?
Olivia Benson : Not yet, but can I come in?
[Monica lets her in]
Olivia Benson : [seeing her paintings] Wow.
Monica Russo : Don't worry, I'm not painting you.
Olivia Benson : Hey, you're furious. I get it. I'm furious, too, at Markeevious, at your club manager, and at that local cop that you reported to.
Monica Russo : I can't help you with that.
Olivia Benson : Well, you can tell me what happened to you, and we could make a case.
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Monica Russo : You don't give up, do you?
Olivia Benson : Monica, this is Dara Miglani, and she's willing to represent you if you want.
Dara Miglani : How you holding up, Monica?
Monica Russo : Can you just get me out of here?
Olivia Benson : We're talking to the ADA. We're gonna try to get you arraigned as soon as we can.
Dara Miglani : Once we know the charges, we'll figure out our strategy.
Monica Russo : Hey, I-I'm not pleading guilty. To anything.
Dara Miglani : Good for you.
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Monica Russo : [showing the squad a new mural she painted] What do you think?
Odafin Tutuola : What are those keys?
Monica Russo : Seven. One for each year of his sentence.
Dominick Carisi Jr. : Do I have to have wings?
Olivia Benson : Yeah, you do.
Monica Russo : You both do.
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Judge Elana Barth : You consider yourself an artist, don't you, Ms. Russo?
Monica Russo : I am an artist.
Judge Elana Barth : How many shows have you had?
Monica Russo : It's really hard to get shows when you're starting out, especially in New York.
Judge Elana Barth : So, none. And you've never sold any of your artwork, have you?
Monica Russo : No.
Judge Elana Barth : In fact, your biggest success as an artist to date has been that billboard.
Monica Russo : I wanted attention to the...
Judge Elana Barth : Attention? You got it! Was that your plan all along? To accuse a famous man of sexual assault and then get your art all over Instagram.
Monica Russo : I had to! Nobody was listening to me, and he just sits there while I'm up here baring my soul.
Judge Elana Barth : Well, isn't that what you do for a living, Ms. Russo? You bare yourself.
Monica Russo : I'm a performer.
Judge Elana Barth : Oh, are you performing right now? Is this an act? Because I gotta hand it to you, you are creative.
Dominick Carisi Jr. : Objection.
Judge Elana Barth : Withdrawn. Nothing further.
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Judge Elana Barth : Did you get a rape kit?
Monica Russo : The officer I reported it to told me there was no point.
Dominick Carisi Jr. : Objection, Your Honor. The officer verified that he took her report.
Judge Namazi : Sustained.
Judge Elana Barth : And then he threw that report out when he decided that her complaint was unfounded.
Monica Russo : He wasn't even listening to me!
Judge Elana Barth : You sound angry, Ms. Russo. Are you?
Dominick Carisi Jr. : Objection! I-It's badgering.
Judge Namazi : I'll allow the question.
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Dominick Carisi Jr. : I know this isn't easy, Ms. Russo.
Monica Russo : No, it isn't.
Dominick Carisi Jr. : Having the defense imply that because you took the money, you weren't raped.
Monica Russo : I don't want money. I want justice.
Dominick Carisi Jr. : Being called a liar because you're a stripper, does that make you angry?
Monica Russo : It makes me furious.
Dominick Carisi Jr. : And they can say whatever they want about you. Doesn't strike me as fair. Not when the man who raped you is just... is just sitting there.
Judge Elana Barth : Objection. Is there a question here?
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Monica Russo : [after an outburst in court] I know, you told me where the line was, and I crossed it. I screwed up.
Dominick Carisi Jr. : No, you didn't.
Dara Miglani : You're fine.
Judge Elana Barth : Excuse me. What the hell was that? Amateur hour? Keep it up, you're gunning for contempt.
Dara Miglani : Oh, go back to your rapist client.
Amanda Rollins : [Barth storms off] She's pissed. You got to her.
Dominick Carisi Jr. : Not me. Monica. My guess is it worked.
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Judge Elana Barth : Just to be clear, Ms. Russo, and forgive me, I'm still getting the ins and outs of the stripper business, but you were initially paid $800 that night?
Monica Russo : The club gets more than half of that.
Judge Elana Barth : But you accepted my client's $200 tip?
Monica Russo : Okay, I was on autopilot.
Judge Elana Barth : Just answer yes or no.
Monica Russo : Yes.
Judge Elana Barth : So you're saying that my client raped you, and then afterwards, you and the club collected $1,000.
Dominick Carisi Jr. : Asked and answered, Your Honor.
Judge Namazi : Ms. Barth, move on.
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Monica Russo : Now they send women cops?
Olivia Benson : We're from Special Victims Unit. Monica, we saw your billboard.
Amanda Rollins : And we know that the club, the local precinct tried to bury it.
Monica Russo : Mm-hmm. Yep. That's why I'm here. There are rules. Everyone follows them. There are roles. Everyone knows them. Get out of line, you're never coming back.
Amanda Rollins : But not at the strip club?
Monica Russo : No. Dancer decides to give something extra, it's more money for everyone. You tip out the bouncer, manager, even the freaking DJ.
Olivia Benson : Monica, what happened to you wasn't "giving extra." You didn't choose this.
Monica Russo : [sarcastic clapping] You got it.
Olivia Benson : What we'd like to do is help you.
Monica Russo : Okay.
[taking out her phone]
Monica Russo : Smile.
[taking their picture]
Monica Russo : You can be my next billboard.
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Monica Russo : [working at a strip club] Ariana, sniffer's row is standing room only.
Ariana Lopez : Dollar wavers? There's a pod of whales in the back.
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Monica Russo : [the message she left on a billboard] On December 10th, I was raped. I told my boss. I told NYPD. They tried to shut me up, but the silence makes me louder.
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Dominick Carisi Jr. : So, your complaining witness has withdrawn cooperation again.
Amanda Rollins : She's frustrated. We all are.
Dominick Carisi Jr. : And the suspect's saying what? That it was consensual? That he paid for it?
Olivia Benson : That's what they all say. You can contextualize that for the jury.
Dominick Carisi Jr. : Yeah, if I have a credible victim, and she sounds like a wild card. How's she gonna present on the stand?
Olivia Benson : Well, she doesn't have a lot of faith in the system, but I think I can get her there.
Amanda Rollins : [showing them her phone] She's ahead of us. Have a look.
Monica Russo : Nobody cares. Nobody wanted to listen to me.
El Niño : You hear that?
Monica Russo : Yeah.
El Niño : Markeevious the rapist.
Monica Russo : Are you listening now? There's a rapist walking around in these streets, in this restaurant. Does anyone care?
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Judge Colin McNamara : On the charges of disorderly conduct, making graffiti, resisting arrest, and criminal mischief, how do you plead?
Dara Miglani : Not guilty. My client has no priors, isn't a flight risk. We request ROR.
Judge Colin McNamara : Mr. Carisi?
Dominick Carisi Jr. : The People have no objection.
Judge Colin McNamara : Granted. Do yourself a favor, Ms. Russo. Stay away from paint for a while.
Monica Russo : Yeah, I can't promise that.
Dara Miglani : Your Honor, she will.
Judge Colin McNamara : I hope so. ROR granted. Next case.
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Monica Russo : I had danced for him before, and that night, I was paid to go into the champagne room, but getting raped was never part of the deal.
Dominick Carisi Jr. : Can you point out the man who raped you, one... once more, please?
Monica Russo : Mm-hmm.
[pointing at Markeevious]
Monica Russo : That's him. Markeevious Ryan.
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Odafin Tutuola : What the hell's going on?
Monica Russo : [on a bullhorn outside a precinct] My name is Monica Russo. I was raped by Markeevious Ryan at the Topaz Club.
Odafin Tutuola : Her attorney gave you the heads-up?
Olivia Benson : Oh, not in so many words. But I brought this upon myself. I wanted somebody who would fight for Monica.
Monica Russo : I was exercising my right to free speech against a man who raped me, and now he's suing me!
Dara Miglani : [taking the bullhorn] While Monica sat in a holding cell, Markeevious greeted customers at his steakhouse. He continues to enjoy his freedom and the perks of his fame while Monica fights to have her voice heard. We are here to ask any other victims of Markeevious to come forward and to contact us, and to demand that the NYPD arrest Markeevious Ryan.
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Monica Russo : Markeevious Ryan is a rapist!
Olivia Benson : [making her way through the crowd] Excuse me. Excuse me.
Monica Russo : [getting handcuffed] Leave me alone. Let me go! Why don't you arrest the rapist?
Olivia Benson : Hey, Captain Benson, SVU. Sergeant, Sergeant, this is... this is my case.
Sergeant Chuck Inslow : Take that up with my captain. She's under arrest.
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Olivia Benson : [Monica is being arrested] Hey, hey, hey. Take it easy. She's cuffed. Don't be so rough with her.
Monica Russo : Cowards, all of you!
Olivia Benson : Monica, Monica, listen to me. Stop talking, okay?
El Niño : This is harassment. This is police harass...
[a patrol cop takes his phone]
El Niño : No, you can't do that!
Olivia Benson : Just get in the car. Not a word, all right?
El Niño : This is police harassment!
Olivia Benson : Listen to me. I'm gonna get you a lawyer.
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Olivia Benson : He's claiming consensual, which puts him in the room with her.
Amanda Rollins : His ex said that there were more allegations, but she's refusing to name names.
Olivia Benson : [surprised to see her] Monica.
Monica Russo : What the hell did you say to them?
Olivia Benson : What are you talking about?
Monica Russo : The club. They sent me all of my stuff back.
[dumping the contents out]
Monica Russo : It's all ripped, it's all covered in crap. Oh, and they sent me this.
[showing them a dead rat in a plastic bag]
Monica Russo : Yeah.
Olivia Benson : Wow, Monica, I am... I'm so sorry. Why don't you come into my office so we can talk?
Monica Russo : Why?
Amanda Rollins : Markeevious conceded that he had sex with you. He said he tipped you after...
Monica Russo : After I was raped. Yes, I took it. I was in shock.
Olivia Benson : We understand that, but let's just go...
Monica Russo : You know what? You know what? You're all fired.
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Monica Russo : Yeah, I'm angry.
Judge Elana Barth : Angry enough to defame my client by painting a billboard?
Monica Russo : Yeah, because he raped me!
Judge Elana Barth : So you claim, but isn't what you're really angry about is that you have to dance at a strip club for a living instead of working as an artist?
Dominick Carisi Jr. : Objection!
Judge Elana Barth : Withdrawn.
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Dominick Carisi Jr. : What do you think of Markeevious Ryan right now?
Monica Russo : I think he was a bully in the room, and I think he's a coward now. He doesn't have the balls to face me. What's he so afraid of? You said you didn't rape me. Then why aren't you man enough? Get up, and just...
Dominick Carisi Jr. : Approach, Your Honor.
[approaching the bench]
Dominick Carisi Jr. : Your Honor, I, uh, I need a brief recess to confer with Ms. Russo.
Judge Namazi : I don't know what you're gonna discuss, but it better not be about why the defendant isn't taking the stand.