Bernadette Stabler

**Bernadette 'Bernie' Stabler** is the widow of Joseph Stabler, the mother of Elliot Stabler and the grandmother of Maureen, Kathleen, Dickie, Elizabeth and Eli.

## History

Bernadette and her husband, Joseph, had six children together and raised them. However, she struggled to continue to raise them after her diagnosis with Bipolar Disorder. Eventually, she nearly killed Elliot during a phase. As a result, Elliot maintained little contact with his mother but allowed her to be active in the lives of her grandchildren.

## On SVU

After Kathleen was arrested for breaking and entering and burglary, Stabler reached out to his mother to convince her to try and chase out his demons. Bernadette had a psychotic meltdown on the beach when Elliot brought up his father's abuse and how his mother nearly killed him. After leaving the beach frustrated at his mother, Benson called up Bernadette and asked her to meet with her. When Bernadette met with Benson, Bernadette told her about Elliot's troubled childhood and how he suffered through many things. Benson managed to get through to Bernadette and asked her to meet with Kathleen in her cell. Bernadette convinced Kathleen to get help after she was also diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. As a result, the charges against Kathleen were dropped.

## On OC

### Season 2

Over the years, Bernadette became neurotic, erratic, forgetful and extremely fragile, while showing signs of dementia and her bipolar disorder which had gotten worse. After unintentionally slapping a child whom she thought was a young Elliot, Bernadette finds herself in a jail cell but is released. At the Organized Crime Control Bureau, Bernadette is seen sleeping but when Bell tries to wake her up, Bernadette gets frightened. Stabler enters the room and says hello to his mother. Bernadette then asked why he is hiding and Stabler explains that he lived in Rome in Europe and they visited four times to see Bernadette with Kathy - which prompts Bernadette to realise that Kathy was now gone but mistakes her for Olivia. When they arrive at the Stabler home, Kathleen and Eli encourage Bernadette to come and stay with them which Elliot thinks is a good idea. (OC: "New World Order")

Eli told Elliot that Bernadette placed plants all around the house so she didn't feel like she was in an abandoned warehouse and that she's helping them make it into a home. When Stabler asked where Kathleen and Bernie were, Eli claimed that they were food shopping and Bernie was going to make chicken cordon bleu that she used to make it for Elliot all the time. (OC: "For A Few Lekë More")

Bernadette is looking for her pills and can't find them and thinks that Eli stole her pills. Stabler walks in during this and makes everyone leave and makes tea for Bernadette and then talks to her outside. Bernadette claims that she had a vegetable garden and when Stabler was a boy, he used to eat the peas off the vine. Stabler doesn't know what she's talking about. Bernadette claims that she is worried about Eli and his behaviour and Stabler tells her not to worry but Bernadette questions him. Later, when Stabler arrives home, Bernadette lets Stabler that Benson is there to check on him and his wellbeing. However, when Eli leaves the bathroom and Benson enters she finds pills on the floor and after Eli leaves she notifies Stabler. Bernadette listens to the conversation. Bernadette claims that Eli's behaviour is just how life is. (OC: "The Good, The Bad and The Lovely")

When Stabler arrives home, Bernadette offered to make him eggs for breakfast but Stabler just came to check up on Eli. Bernadette claims that Eli is still not talking to her for what happened the other night. However, Eli is still sleeping and Stabler wakes him up, which annoys Eli. (OC: "Unforgivable")

After Eli disappeared, Bernadette freaked out and claimed that she might be responsible for Eli's disappearance. Stabler tells her that it is not her fault that he missing. Later, Bernadette attended the Stabler family christmas get-together along with the rest of the Stabler family, Carl, Kieran and Seamus. (OC: "The Christmas Episode")

While Bernadette is in the garden smoking, Bernadette hears a noise and thinks that someone has broken into her house. Bernadette yells out to see if anybody was there and yelled out that she is calling her son. After Stabler gets home, Stabler spots Wheatley walking outside of his house and tells Bernadette to go inside. Stabler walked up to Wheatley, threatening to kill him if he ever came near his family again. Bernadette started to become worried about what this might be doing to Stabler. (OC: "As Nottingham Was To Robin Hood")

At the Stabler house, Bernadette is seen outside smoking while the doorbell continues ringing. Stabler opens the door and their new neighbour, Miles Darman, is seen standing there with a flower for Bernadette. After he left, Stabler went to give Bernadette the flower and Bernadette asked Stabler if he scared him away. Stabler said that he didn't. When Stabler asked who Miles was, Bernadette claimed that Miles is a friend of hers. Later, Miles shows up at their door again with another flower for Bernadette. Bernadette answers the door and invites him inside for coffee. Stabler encourages him to have coffee with them before having to leave for work. It is later revealed that Miles is being hired by Wheatley to charm Bernadette. (OC: "As Iago Is To Othello")

After Stabler comes home to check on Bernadette, Bernadette becomes nervous about the power outage. After Miles tells Stabler that Bernadette was left at home by herself, Stabler tells Miles that he doesn't want her to be left alone. Bernadette tells Stabler that she is not the boss of him. Later, while at dinner together, Miles asks Bernadette to dance with him to the music played by the live band on the rooftop. Suddenly, Miles sees Angela at their home and Wheatley's men break in. After Miles attempts to protect Bernadette, Miles is subdued and Bernadette is kidnapped and taken to a secret location. Later, Wheatley shows Stabler the video of Bernadette being held hostage and screaming for Stabler's help. After Wheatley gets picked up by Angela, Wheatley reveals to Stabler that Miles works under his orders. Bernadette is later found and rescued by Stabler. (OC: "...Wheatley Is To Stabler")

At the Stabler family home, Eli brings up Joseph at the table and Bernadette claims that there is nothing to talk about. Bernadette claims that Joseph would have fought Stabler if he had ever rolled his eyes like Eli did when he couldn't leave the table. Bernadette starts to wonder why Eli is so interested in Joseph all of a sudden and Stabler asks Bernadette the story behind the Combat Cross. Bernadette claims that she doesn't know anything and starts to get upset. Bernadette claims that nobody trusted her with their secrets especially Joseph. Bernadette claimed that Joseph didn't want her to find out that he was cheating on her and that he got suspended from the force. When Stabler asks if Joseph got suspended, Bernadette denies saying that he got suspended and tells Stabler not to question his father. Bernadette then tells Stabler that Joseph will do worse to him than he did to that perp. (OC: "Can't Knock The Hustle")

After Stabler and Eli get into an argument, Bernadette tells Stabler that Eli reminds her of him when he was that age. Stabler tells Bernadette that he doesn't want to talk about his father and his past. Bernadette tells Stabler that his father loved him and that he needs to let go of his past. Later, Bernadette walked in on Stabler watching one of their home movies. Bernadette then hugged Stabler as they watched the movie together. (OC: "Change The Game")

Bernadette and Eli have a conversation with Stabler about moving in with Kathleen. Stabler then tells Bernadette and Eli that he was threatened and Bernadette started questioning Stabler about who threatened him and become hostile towards him, while Eli tried to get Stabler to listen to Bernadette. Later, Eli calls Stabler and tells him that Bernadette is having another episode and that he is worried about her. Stabler asks Eli to put Kathleen on the phone but Bernadette grabs the phone to talk to Stabler. Stabler then gets shot at outside his home while Bernadette listens in. Stabler then notifies Bernadette that he is alright. Later, Stabler meets Bernadette at their home and Bernadette gets aggressive with Stabler. Bernadette then drops and smashes a glass and Kathleen cleans it up. Later, Stabler approaches Kathleen at her home and then approaches Bernadette while she is in bed. Bernadette tells Stabler that she just wants to be home where they belong. (OC: "Streets Is Watching")

After Bell revealed to Stabler that he will be awarded the Combat Cross for his effort on taking down Donnelly for his crimes, Stabler's award ceremony was attended by Bernadette, Cragen and the rest of Stabler's family. After the award ceremony, while Stabler was looking at his Combat Cross, Bernadette enters Stabler's home and starts looking around. Bernadette becomes confused about what happened to his place and Stabler told Bernadette that he got into a disagreement with someone. Bernadette asks Stabler what could have happened to her sprained arm, claiming that the doctors aren't helping. Bernadette then asks Stabler about Donnelly and Stabler tells Bernadette that Donnelly was a good cop but a corrupt cop who committed suicide. Stabler tells Bernadette that he feels responsible for his death. Bernadette tells Stabler that life is complicated. (OC: "Friend Or Foe")

### Season 3

After Stabler makes tea for Bernadette, Bernadette forgets telling Stabler that she asked for tea. Stabler tells Bernadette that he wants Eli to move back home before telling Bernadette that he has to go into the office. Bernadette becomes annoyed that Stabler doesn't trust her to be at home on her own. Later, after scheduling lunch with Bernadette, Stabler calls Bernadette and tells her that he can't come to lunch because he is working on a case. Later, Bernadette calls Stabler and tells him that she went for a walk and doesn't know where she is. When Jet arrives at Stabler's home, Stabler claims that a cop found Bernadette in the yard. When Jet opens the photo after running facial recognition on the suspect, Bernadette recognizes Russian cigarettes in the man's pocket. Later, after solving the case, Stabler returns home to find Bernadette outside in the yard. Bernadette tells Stabler that she is making a wish on the stars before Stabler provides Bernadette with a list of names of places for her to look at. Bernadette tells Stabler that he's putting her out to pasture but Stabler assures her that he just wants her to be taken care of. Bernadette requests that she would live in a place with walking paths and that her only wish is for Stabler to be happy. (OC: "A Diplomatic Solution")

After Stabler comes home, Antonia claims that Bernadette requested that Stabler would make her dinner. Bernadette then makes a third spot for Kathy and claims that she is sorry she forgot that Kathy died. Stabler tells Bernadette that Kathy will always be here anyway. Stabler then gets a call from McCrary who says that Suarez had been traced to another murder. Bernadette claims that he can't leave her here but Stabler tells Bernadette that he will wait until tomorrow. Bernadette then tells Stabler that Antonia isn't working tomorrow. Stabler takes Bernadette with him while he canvasses and tells Bernadette to stay in the car. Bernadette doesn't even wait a second before getting out of the car. While Stabler questions the neighbour, a uni shows up with Bernadette who was wandering across the street. Stabler asks the uni to stay with Bernadette and they all go inside the house. Bernadette then discovers notes but the uni tells her to stop touching things. Bernadette then looks at photos and claims that she lost Joseph so young but Stabler moves her out of the way. (OC: "Pareto Principle")

### Season 4

After Stabler lights a candle for Whelan, Stabler comes home to find Antonia asleep and Bernadette wandering outside in the cold. Bernadette then becomes worried about Stabler's bruised face and then asks when she is leaving but Stabler tells her that she isn't. Bernadette insists on leaving as she didn't want to be a burden to him and that she made up her mind. Stabler then walks off where he gets a message from Benson and sends her a voicemail back. Later, after Stabler completes his mission, Bernadette interrupts Stabler while he is watching McGrath's press conference by calling him by Randall's name. Bernadette then asks Stabler where her tickets are but Stabler insists that she doesn't have to go. Bernadette claims that she doesn't need Stabler and that she needs Randall. (OC: "Memory Lane")

At home, Bernadette prays but struggles to remember what "who art" means in the Lord's prayer. Stabler then helps her by praying with her. After Stabler calls Randall to tell him that Bernadette needs him, Stabler tells Randall that Bernadette wants to go into long-time care. Randall offers to help pay for it. Randall tells Stabler that his therapist suggested it but Stabler snarks at him and Randall seemed unhappy about that. Randall then visits Bernadette who recognizes him and asks him about Angela. Randall tells Bernadette that he has been divorced from Angela for two years which upsets Bernadette. Bernadette then tells Randall that she always liked Angela. (OC: "Deliver Us From Evil")

## Appearances

* Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
	+ Season 10: "Swing"
* Law & Order: Organized Crime
	+ Season 2: "New World Order" • "The Good, The Bad and The Lovely" • "Unforgivable" • "The Christmas Episode" • "As Nottingham Was To Robin Hood" • "As Iago Is To Othello" • "...Wheatley Is To Stabler" • "Can't Knock The Hustle" • "Change The Game" • "Dead Presidents" • “Lost One” • "Streets Is Watching" • "Friend Or Foe"
	+ Season 3: "A Diplomatic Solution" • "Pareto Principle"
	+ Season 4: “Memory Lane” • "Deliver Us From Evil"