Bonnie Somerville credited as playing...
Heidi Sorenson
- Olivia Benson: Did you know Amy James?
- Heidi Sorenson: She had... problems.
- Olivia Benson: He had tape on her!
- [noticing Heidi's reaction]
- Olivia Benson: Does he have tape on you?
- Heidi Sorenson: No!
- Olivia Benson: We can fight this.
- Heidi Sorenson: Don't judge me. And don't worry, I'm not gonna kill myself.
- Olivia Benson: All right. Well, when you're ready to have a serious conversation, you know where I am.
- Olivia Benson: Is it true that you're re-negotiating your contract with "HNT"?
- Heidi Sorenson: I'm exploring my options.
- Olivia Benson: Is that why you don't wanna tell me the truth about what happened this morning?
- Heidi Sorenson: I should never have said his name out loud like that.
- Olivia Benson: Why? Because it isn't true or because you're scared of getting fired?
- Heidi Sorenson: They are replacing me with Margery Evans. Officially, I'm "on vacation".
- Olivia Benson: I see.
- Heidi Sorenson: You were right. When I went to apologize to Harold, he forced me onto my knees, and he said I had to show him how serious I was. I actually thought that would work, that I'd get my job back. He screwed me in private, that's one thing, but he just screwed me in public.
- Olivia Benson: And you're ready to go after Coyle now?
- Heidi Sorenson: I know what it looks like. That I'm doing this because I got fired, but that's not the reason.
- Olivia Benson: Oh, I believe you. Let's get this guy.
- Olivia Benson: If we want to take it to court, you need more for the jury. So, Heidi, did you tell anyone about the assault? Send a text? Send an e-mail?
- Heidi Sorenson: No. Margery was the one person I confided in.
- Olivia Benson: Look, I know that you want to go after Coyle criminally, but... but the fact is you may have more leverage pursuing a civil case.
- [as they talk, Benson's phone buzzes]
- Heidi Sorenson: This isn't about money.
- Olivia Benson: Do you know a Gwendolyn Gates?
- Heidi Sorenson: Yeah, she was an anchor at "HNT" ten years ago.
- Olivia Benson: She's on her way to our squad room. She says that Harold Coyle assaulted her, too.
- Heidi Sorenson: It started day one, my job interview. Coyle said to me "Oh, you're beautiful, you're bright, you could be a star. But I interviewed five other women today that are just as qualified and I'm going to hire whoever shows me she wants it the most."
- Olivia Benson: And then what happened?
- Heidi Sorenson: He put his hand inside my blouse. Uh, and his tongue in my mouth. I was shocked, frozen. But I didn't run out of the room and I got the job.
- Amanda Rollins: And the behavior continued?
- Heidi Sorenson: Yeah. Touching, kissing, groping. He would demand that I wear... lacy pantie, thigh-high stockings. Before I went on the air, I'd have to give him a private fashion show and pretend to seduce him, and he would tape me.
- Olivia Benson: How long did this go on?
- Heidi Sorenson: Years. And I didn't think things could get any worse, until January they did.
- Olivia Benson: Okay. Tell us about that.
- Heidi Sorenson: The ratings were high and my contract was up, and I told Coyle if he wanted me to stay at "HNT", I wanted a promotion. He... he locked the door, threw me onto a couch, pulled up my skirt... and he raped me. I fought him, but I couldn't get away. He said if I complained, he'd release the tapes that he had, or worse. And that if I wasn't happy at the morning show, he'd hire Margery Evans.
- Amanda Rollins: So you didn't report it.
- Heidi Sorenson: No. I straightened myself up, walked out, and I went back to work. Like a good girl. Like a good, stupid girl.
- Olivia Benson: Did you confide in anyone?
- Heidi Sorenson: The irony is Margery was the one person I told. I was trying to warn her.