Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)
Denial (2002)
Stephanie March: ADA Alexandra 'Alex' Cabot
Quotes
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Fin Tutuola : [to Cabot] Claire's on her way back to the Tombs. Is there anything we can do to help her?
ADA Alexandra Cabot : No, she's going to prison. With her history of violent rages, the jury's going to believe that she is guilty.
Fin Tutuola : That's what you're going with? She did it 'cause you can sell it?
ADA Alexandra Cabot : I'm not railroading her.
Fin Tutuola : You just need a win to get the boss out of your ass.
ADA Alexandra Cabot : You seem to have done a 180 all of a sudden.
Fin Tutuola : Excuse me?
Donald Cragen : Alex, if Claire killed her sister, she wouldn't have taken the finger after all those years.
ADA Alexandra Cabot : Well, I might be able to sell that if she had turned her mother in or asked for help or told someone.
Fin Tutuola : She did tell somebody. She told Grandma. Grace had three kids. Two are dead. Now I don't like those odds, do you?
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Court Clerk : Docket Number 624353: People versus Grace Rinato. Two counts murder, in the second degree. Intent and depraved indifference, one count hindering prosecution, one count tampering with physical evidence.
Judge Lena Petrovsky : How do you plead?
Grace Rinato : Not guilty.
ADA Alexandra Cabot : Remand, Your Honor.
Harding : That's ridiculous. My client has permanent residence, she's gainfully employed by the state, she's not going anywhere.
ADA Alexandra Cabot : The defendant committed murder. She willfully and maliciously beat a two-and-a-half year old child to death, and then callously dumped the remains in a bedroom closet to avoid justice.
Judge Lena Petrovsky : Do you propose to try your case right here, Miss Cabot?
ADA Alexandra Cabot : No, I'm merely using rhetoric to make my point.
Judge Lena Petrovsky : One of your more endearing qualities.
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Judge Lena Petrovsky : Approach.
Judge Lena Petrovsky : [both attorneys approach] There seems to be some error here. There is only one defendant, there should be two.
ADA Alexandra Cabot : I don't understand.
Judge Lena Petrovsky : [scoffs] Your entire case rests upon the word of the victim's drug-addicted sister, who I don't see on my docket. Why is that?
ADA Alexandra Cabot : The People aren't charging her with Lisa Rinato's death.
Judge Lena Petrovsky : Is there any corroboration?
ADA Alexandra Cabot : ...No.
Harding : My client acted to prevent her daughter Claire from being charged with murder.
ADA Alexandra Cabot : The defendant had possession of the body.
Harding : If that's her only argument, then Claire Rinato was also in possession of body parts.
Judge Lena Petrovsky : And if *that*'s true, then it stands to reason that you would charge Claire Rinato as a co-conspirator. So, I expect you to bring charges before the close of business today.
ADA Alexandra Cabot : With all due respect Your Honor, you don't have the right or the authority to tell the District Attorney's office who or when to level charges against.
Judge Lena Petrovsky : Step back.
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Bureau Chief Elizabeth Donnelly : Lewin is making nice with the judge to get you out of here, so be prepared for that ass-chewing phone call.
ADA Alexandra Cabot : I'm not going anywhere. Petrovsky crossed a line, I want to get her censured or... thrown off the bench.
Bureau Chief Elizabeth Donnelly : Least you're not dull, I'll say that for you. Forget her Alex, she'll bury you.
ADA Alexandra Cabot : I need your support, Liz.
Bureau Chief Elizabeth Donnelly : For what? So you can start a war? You file a judiciary grievance against her and every judge we face will take it personally.
ADA Alexandra Cabot : So what, she gets to push us around?
Bureau Chief Elizabeth Donnelly : She's not pushing us around, she's pushing you. All the more reason not to bait her.
ADA Alexandra Cabot : How am I baiting her? By refusing to prosecute someone I don't think is guilty? I won't do it and she can't force me to.
Bureau Chief Elizabeth Donnelly : But I can. And I wouldn't be so quick to pronounce Claire Rinato innocent without all the facts. SVU detectives found that Claire was prone to uncontrollable rages, it's all well-documented by the school and juvenile detention. She attacked kids and had a nasty habit of kicking them while they were down.
ADA Alexandra Cabot : Are you ordering me to file charges?
Bureau Chief Elizabeth Donnelly : No. I already did it for you.
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ADA Alexandra Cabot : The People have requested remand.
Judge Lena Petrovsky : Well, you're not going to get it. $300,000.
ADA Alexandra Cabot : Objection!
Judge Lena Petrovsky : Overruled.
ADA Alexandra Cabot : Your Honor, I must object. Since you've rebuked me from manipulating the law to my own advantage, your ruling seems... hypocritical.
Judge Lena Petrovsky : That's enough. One more word out of you, and you'll be enjoying my hospitality.
ADA Alexandra Cabot : Ma'am, I urge you to re-consider or you will force me to file a grievance.
Judge Lena Petrovsky : You're in contempt. Bailiff!
[bangs gavel]