NBC'S SVU SHOWCASES HARGITAY IN EMOTIONAL EPISODE

NBC's "LAW & ORDER: SVU" Showcases Golden Globe Winner Mariska Hargitay in Emotional Episode Oct. 4 at 10pm ET/PT

"The drama unfolds in one room and it is a true testimony to Mariska's acting ability," said Baer

NEW YORK � September 29, 2005 � In a poignant departure from the traditional show format, this episode chronicles Detective Olivia Benson's (Golden Globe Winner and two-time Emmy nominee Mariska Hargitay) persistence and dedication as she struggles to locate a nine-year old girl held captive at an undisclosed location, connected only by the cell phone left by her abductor on NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" (Oct. 4, at 10pm ET/PT).

"This show is a departure from our traditional format, because instead of jumping from one scene to the next, it focuses on Olivia in one room on the phone trying to locate this little girl for three acts and her determination no matter what the cost." said Law & Order: SVU's Executive Producer Neal Baer.

"In the face of opposition from the entire department, including her captain, Olivia follows her gut instinct and will stop at nothing to save a young girl who has been sexually assaulted," said Hargitay. "I felt so passionate about this episode because it shows how my character would never give up no matter the risk to herself or her job."

Fully dressed for a night on the town, Benson puts her plans on hold when she receives disturbing 911 call from nine-year-old Maria Recinos held captive at an unknown location. Unable to physically locate her, Benson follows her gut in an attempt to find her. Recinos will only talk to Benson, and just as she is getting closer to finding her, the cops question the case and are now concerned that it could be a prank. Taxed by trying to keep Recinos calm and on the line while persuading her department to keep this case open, Benson knows this is real and needs to act quickly on what little information she has if she is going to save this girl's life. Chris Meloni, Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Diane Neal, Ice-T, B.D. Wong, and Tamara Tunie also star.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" is a Wolf Films production in association with NBC Universal Television Studio. Dick Wolf is creator and executive producer; Neal Baer and Ted Kotcheff are executive producers.