Delinquent

"Delinquent"
←	SVU, Episode 12.23	→
Production number: 12023 First aired: 11 May 2011
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←	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries}}}th of 502 released in SVU	→
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Written By Dawn DeNoon Directed By Holly Dale

A mother is quick to defend her 14-year-old son who is found naked and asleep in a young woman's bed. However, Detectives Benson and Stabler try to figure out what truly happened.

Summary[]

A naked teenage boy found asleep in a woman's bed puts Detectives Benson and Stabler on the hunt for what turns out to be a possessive mother who has a "reasonable" excuse for his every misbehavior. As they attempt to ferret the truth out of the manipulative teenager, a bigger truth may await them.

Plot[]

A young woman named Annie Meyers, after returning home with a date, finds 14-year-old Hunter Mazelon asleep and naked in her bedroom, and evidence suggests that Hunter might've been waiting to rape Annie.

Hunter's mother, Bree Mazelon, is quick to defend him. While Benson and Stabler try to figure out what truly happened, they also have to manage the sneaky Hunter. Bree seems to be in denial about Hunter's behavior, as Hunter wrongfully accuses Stabler of touching him inappropriately, which leads to a restraining order being filed.

When Hunter disappears, the detectives learn about Ellen Huffner, who played a key role in shaping Hunter's behavior. Ellen was Hunter's babysitter when he was younger, and it turns out that she sexually abused him when he was 7-years-old. Bree never sought counselling for Hunter. At that point, Hunter calls his mother and she notes on him being drunk and he vaguely hints at his actions. Hunter also reveals that he is well aware that she is talking to the cops while hoping that it is Stabler because of his anger at him.

Stabler arrives at Huffner's apartment, where he finds her and Hunter laying in a puddle of blood. However, Hunter is alive and reveals what transpired. At first, he tried to talk her into saying why she abused him, but since she refused to tell him, he resorted to killing Ellen to make sure she won't abuse anyone else, so no one else would suffer the painful life that he's had. He also states now he will never abuse anyone again now that he has been caught.

Cast[]

Main cast[]

• Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler
• Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson
• Richard Belzer as Sergeant John Munch
• Ice-T as Detective Odafin Tutuola
• B.D. Wong as Dr. George Huang (credit only)
• Tamara Tunie as M.E. Melinda Warner (credit only)
• Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen

Recurring cast[]

• Francie Swift as A.D.A. Sherri West
• Robert John Burke as I.A.B. Lieutenant Ed Tucker
• Ned Eisenberg as Defense Attorney Roger Kressler
• Isabel Gillies as Kathy Stabler
• Harvey Atkin as Judge Alan Ridenour
• Caren Browning as C.S.U. Captain Judith Siper
• Roy Milton Davis as Charlie
• Eric Schneider as Officer Eddie Nelson
• Tim Miller as Court Clerk

Guest cast[]

• Sterling Beaumon as Hunter Mazelon
• Sean Patrick Folster as M.E. Birch
• Larry Joshua as Probation Officer Zwicki
• Lynda Gravatt as Judge Jane Emery
• Rita Wilson as Bree Mazelon
• Marina Squerciati as Annie Meyers
• Nicolas Read as David
• Luke Marcus Rosen as Jake Cartelinni
• Brian J. Carter as Larry Cartelinni
• Buzz Roddy as Uniform Officer Mikasen
• Alyxx Morgen as Madeline Harris (uncredited)
• Anne Kyle as Ellen Huffner (uncredited)

References[]

• Ellen Huffner

Quotes[]

Stabler: You're staying in here till your mom shows up.

Hunter Mazelon: Screw you! I'm claustrophobic.

Stabler: Then why were you hiding in a woman's closet?

Stabler: [to Mrs. Mazelon] Are you in the habit of smacking your child around?

Hunter Mazelon: No. Her weapon of choice is a verbal tongue lashing.

Stabler: [to Hunter] So how'd your twisted little fairy tale play with I.A.B.?

Bree Mazelon: Stay away from my son, you pervert!

Stabler: You know he made it up.

Hunter Mazelon: You know, I saw your file on Lieutenant Tucker's desk. It was pretty thick. How many other guys have you been a little too friendly with?

Stabler: [to Mrs. Mazelon] Has your son ever been taught his actions have consequences?

Bree Mazelon: Hunter, let's go.

Hunter Mazelon: No, why don't we stay here and listen to some more parenting advice from a child molester.

Stabler: [to Mrs. Mazelon] You let him lie and charm his way out of trouble. You're not doing him any favors.

Tucker: Maybe you stayed at the dance too long Detective. What's the Nietzsche quote? "Those who fight monsters be careful lest you become a monster."

Stabler: I don't touch children. I protect them.

Tucker: [to Stabler about Hunter] You shoved him against a wall, making mention of a cavity search.

Stabler: No, that was his lame joke.

Tucker: You came up behind him.

Stabler: To uncuff him.

Tucker: You slid your hands between his legs.

Stabler: You've been watching too much porn.

Tucker: Hunter cried out for help. He asked you to stop, saying stop touching his junk.

Stabler: He was setting me up!

Tucker: Then why didn't you report him first?

Stabler: Because it was an asinine prank by a 14-year-old punk that only a moron with an axe to grind would ever believe.

Benson: So now any scumbag perp in custody looking to cut a deal can yell "bad touch"?

[Olivia calls Elliot in the middle of the night]

Kathy Stabler: Surprise, surprise, it's your "work wife."

Stabler: [to Hunter after he was holding a knife] When an officer tells you to drop a weapon, do it.

[after they put the perp in the back of the squad car, Munch looks at Fin and asks]

Munch: Did he just threaten my hypothetical sister?

Tutuola: [about Hunter] Mikasen and Vitalie had him in the back of their car. We're following them Next thing you know, the kid comes flying out the window.

Hunter Mazelon: I can't breathe.

Tutuola: You're lucky to be alive, idiot.

Bree Mazelon: [to Hunter on the phone] Oh, honey, you don't sound fine. Your speech is slurred.

Hunter Mazelon: That's because I've been drinking, you dumb cow.

Hunter Mazelon: Bye, Bree. Thanks for selling me out. Bye, cops. I hope it's you, Detective Stabler. If it is, I'm gonna do your job for you, you giant douche.

Hunter Mazelon: The other women I hurt, that wasn't me. I don't know why I kept doing those things.

Benson: I do.

Hunter Mazelon: I wanted to stop. I thought if I confronted Ellen and made her tell me why she did those things to me, I thought it would end, but she wouldn't tell me. At least she'll never do it to anyone else. Neither will I. I think I'm gonna be all right. I think I'm gonna be okay now.

Background information and notes[]

• This would be the last episode to have the original cast consisting of Detectives Stabler, Benson, Sergeant Munch, and Captain Cragen.
• This is also the last episode to feature Kathy Stabler and any members of the Stabler family until the episode "Return Of The Prodigal Son".
• When Stabler is accused of molesting Hunter, Ed Tucker comments that Stabler has possibly been on the job too long, and then cites Friedrich Nietzsche's quote: "Those who fight monsters be careful lest ye become a monster." The same quote is used by Lauren Cooper in the season nine episode "Signature".

Episode scene cards[]