Marcia Clark quotes from American Crime Story

Marcia Clark

Good afternoon. I’m Deputy District Attorney Marcia Clark, and what I will outline for you today are my office’s charges against Mr. Orenthal James Simpson in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Mr. Ronald Lyle Goldman on the evening of June 12th 1994. I think the facts speak for themselves. Simpson’s blood was found at Bundy. Nicole’s blood was found at Rockingham. And both Nicole’s and Ronald’s blood were found in the Bronco. Simpson will be charged with the premeditated deaths of both victims, and that is precisely what we will prove.

Marcia, Phil Vannatter, you got a sec? I need your opinion on a double homicide.

Marcia Clark

[to her kids] Boys, please go get your stuff. [to Vannatter] What have you got?

We’ve got two victims in Brentwood, on Bundy Drive. It’s pretty brutal.

Marcia Clark

Brentwood? Nobody gets killed in Brentwood.

Well, one of the victims is the ex-wife of O.J. Simpson.

Marcia Clark

Who?

Marcia, O.J. Simpson. You know, the football player.

Marcia Clark

Yeah, I have no idea who you’re talking about.

Marcia, O.J… The Juice? He’s a movie star. You know, he’s in The Naked Gun movie. He’s the guy in the, uh, the, uh, Hertz commercial.

Marcia Clark

Oh yeah, that guy. Huh. Well, will you just tell me what happened, please? [To her kid] Come here. Let me tie your shoe.

Well, there’s a lot of blood at the murders. And here at O.J.’s house there appears to be blood on one of his vehicles. And we can see drops of blood leading into the house. There are also two bloody gloves, one at each location, that appear to match.

Marcia Clark

[now giving the phone her full attention] Wow. What were you doing at Simpson’s?

We were here notifying a family member. We just didn’t realise he turned out to be a suspect.

Marcia Clark

Well, it sounds like you have enough to arrest him. This is major.

No, no, no, one step at a time. Right now, I just want a search warrant. Just wanted a prosecutor’s opinion, that’s all.

Marcia Clark

Well, this prosecutor says “Go get him.” [Hangs up] Boys, in the car, now!

Marcia Clark

[Reading Nicole's file, looking visibly angry at the contents] This is outrageous. Eight 911 calls, the police were called there eight times. Nicole had a bruised face, black eye, bleeding lip, O.J. broke a windshield with a baseball bat! God, the system failed her.

You can't get so upset.

Marcia Clark

You know what really pisses me off? This went on for years. All that battering before he was even arrested!

Marcia Clark

Why don’t we stop him? Shoot out his tires?

Gil Garcetti

We don’t want a shootout on live TV. We’re on every network in the country.

What’s the protocol?

Gil Garcetti

The protocol? I don’t know, Bill! What is the protocol for an armed celebrity fugitive being chased by 12 police cars and 7 helicopters? Christ. I thought I was gonna run for mayor.

Marcia Clark

I’m glad you were both able to find time to come down. It’s good for us to get to know each other. I know what you’re going through –

[sharply] DO YOU!? Do you have a son who was murdered!? Ron is dead! And it’s like no-one even cares! I turn on the TV, and it’s just O.J. and Nicole, O.J. and Nicole. It’s like Ron is a footnote… to his own murder! And if they talk about him, they make him seem like some kind of joke! It’s all so superficial. He was a male model, he was a nightclub promoter, he ran a tanning salon. It’s like they’re trying to tarnish him! Like… [sobbing] he… he was asking for it. [pauses to regain his composure] You know what he did in his spare time? He volunteered at a clinic for children with cerebral palsy. He was a good person! He didn’t drink, he didn’t do drugs. He should be celebrated! Not… this! When the police called and… they said Ron had been killed… I assumed it was a car accident. Never, in my worst nightmare could I have imagined the truth. What this… this monster did to him. Do you have children?

Marcia Clark

[nods solemnly, fighting back tears herself] Two boys.

[softly, leaning in close] I pray that you never have to read an autopsy report for your own child. My son’s last moments were filled with such horror… and such… pain. He… He was stabbed so many times. He was stabbed in his chest… his neck… his face… his head… his hands, his stomach… [sobs] his thigh. He was even stabbed… after he was dead.

Marcia Clark

[taking his hand] We are gonna get him.

[nods] You better.

Judge Lance Ito

Mr. Cochran, is Ms. Lopez present here today?

Johnnie Cochran

She is, Your Honor.

Judge Lance Ito

And do you anticipate that we can hear what she has to say in one day?

Johnnie Cochran

I would expect so, Your Honor, barring any acts of God, or further childcare crisises from Ms. Clark.

Marcia Clark

Your Honor. I am offended by Mr. Cochran’s remarks, as a woman, and as a mother. Mr. Cochran may not know what it’s like to work a 70-hour work week and also take care of a family, but I do. And many other people do, too. To belittle my childcare issues in your courtroom is unconscionable and totally out of line.

Marcia Clark

Ms. Lopez, just to confirm your occupation, you are the housekeeper of Mr. Simpson’s neighbour, is that correct?

Yes.

Marcia Clark

Mr. Cochran has moved the court to disrupt our schedule because you threatened to leave the country, since you’re being hounded by the press.

I stay just for today for Mr. Johnnie. Tomorrow, I fly.

Marcia Clark

Uh-huh. So when did you make this flight reservation for El Salvador?

This morning.

Marcia Clark

Really? Yesterday, Mr. Cochran stated that you had had one then.

I did. And I didn’t. I make it today.

Marcia Clark

[smiling to herself] Ms. Lopez, we called the airlines. They don’t show any reservation for you, at all. Not for yesterday, not for today, not for tomorrow.

Because I’m going to reserve it, as soon as I leave here.

Marcia Clark

So then, Ms. Lopez, could you please explain to the court why you are filing for unemployment when you say you’re leaving the country forever?

O.J. Simpson

[whispering to Johnnie] You need to get this woman off the stand. What the hell is going on?

Marcia Clark

[continuing] In your first statements, you saw the Bronco at 10pm, but now you say it’s 10:15. So which is it? Did you see the Bronco at 10, or 10:15?

Does it matter?

Marcia Clark

Yes, it matters very much. It’s why you’re here. Please answer the question.

Judge Lance Ito

Ms. Lopez, a shrug is not an answer.

Marcia Clark

So which is it? 10 or 10:15?

Whatever Mr. Johnnie says I said.

Marcia Clark

No. Not what Mr. Cochran says. We need to be told what you saw.

[after a moment] No me recuerdo.

Judge Lance Ito

Ms. Lopez, in English please, unless you need a translator.

I say I don’t remember.

Marcia Clark

You don’t remember? Hmm. [smiles] Good enough for me. No further questions.

F. Lee Bailey

[quietly] “Mister Johnnie?” Jesus.

Now, I’m not saying that he did it –

Marcia Clark

[clapping her hand over his mouth] Darrell! Darrell, we had a rule! First one who mentions the goddamn case drinks!

Fine by me. [downs his shot] I’m not saying that he did it. The jury’s still out.

Marcia Clark

Yeah, that is right.

But I heard he was making some TV show about Navy SEALs, or some shit, where he was trained to kill.

Marcia Clark

Yeah, yeah. Frogmen.

Yeah, that’s it! They showed him all these kinds of techniques, how to sneak around, and kill people with knives. Cut throats and…slash their legs, all that.

Why aren’t you talking about that in court?

Christopher Darden

Because the jury would be able to separate from TV and real life. Look, we’re strong enough without that kind of crap.

The cops framed his ass anyway.

Marcia Clark

[smiling] Is that right, Byron?

Christopher Darden

Oh, no. You’re on your own now, brother.

Marcia Clark

No, no, no, no, no. Come on, come on, come on, come on! What’s your theory?

Well, I think that cracker cop planted that glove. And they all did what they had to do to prove that O.J. did it. That’s what I think.

Marcia Clark

Okay. [stubs out her cigarette and clears a space around her on the bar. She holds up a shot glass] Here’s the crime scene, Bundy. [puts it down and picks up another glass] Here’s O.J.’s house. [puts it down some way away from the other shot glass] Okay. Fuhrman made up his mind at Bundy that Simpson did it. Even though he had no idea if O.J. had an iron-clad alibi that would then ruin Fuhrman’s career, and land him in jail. Fuhrman takes the glove at Bundy, makes sure it has Goldman and Nicole’s DNA on it, jumps in the car with the other detectives, heads to Rockingham with it, where he gets into the Bronco, somehow, getting all that evidence in it, including Simpson’s blood. Even though the police didn’t have Simpson’s blood until the next day. Then he goes over the wall, plants the glove behind Kato’s room. Then, with the help of the rest of his super-secret cabal of O.J. hating racist cops, he starts getting everything just so, just where it needs to be… Nicole and Ron, and O.J.’s blood, into O.J.’s bedroom. O.J.’s blood back to Bundy. Oh, and O.J.’s Bronco fibres back to Bundy, too. Oh, and they don’t forget to get rid of the real killer’s blood from the back gate – no, no, no – and replace it with O.J.’s blood. Then O.J.’s sock – they get that back to Bundy to pick up all the blood, and then get that sucker right back to Rockingham, too. These guys are a well-oiled conspiracy machine, after all. All this, during a time when everyone involved is under the most relentless media scrutiny in American history. [imitates explosion]

Christopher Darden

And all this for an unknown killer.

[smiles, and throws his hands up] Maybe.

Marcia Clark

[laughing] No!

Gil Garcetti

The most colossal disaster I’ve ever seen in courtroom practice. And it’s ours, it’s all ours.

Marcia Clark

We will rally. We still have the DNA and the forensic evidence. That is our silver bullet.

Gil Garcetti

[screaming] NO-ONE UNDERSTANDS GODDAMN DNA, MARCIA! But everyone can tell when a goddamn glove doesn’t fit on a goddamn hand!

Christopher Darden

[quietly] They did fit. It was the latex –

Marcia Clark

[frustrated] Get out!

So, again, the four pieces to DNA are adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine, abbreviated by their first letters: A, T, G and C. They also come in pair. Now, the non-Watson Crick base pairing is what really gets interesting. It, uh…

Marcia Clark

Mr. Fung, while all this can seem complicated to a non-scientist, the results are astoundingly accurate in terms of matching a suspect to tiny traces that have been left behind. Would you agree?

Oh, certainly. The matching process is many, many times more accurate than a fingerprint.

Marcia Clark

“Many, many times more accurate than a fingerprint.” And what were the results of the blood analysis from the Bundy crime scene.

Well, the RFLP pattern from item 47 shows us that…

Marcia Clark

Oh, let me rephrase. Other than the two victims, did this incredibly precise DNA matching show anyone else’s blood and DNA at the scene of the murders?

It did, uh, just one individual.

Marcia Clark

And does this same DNA match the blood you found on the back gate at Bundy?

Yes, it does.

Marcia Clark

And does it match the blood you found inside Mr. Simpson’s Bronco?

Yes, it’s all from the same individual.

Marcia Clark

And does it match the DNA and the blood you found leading up to Mr. Simpson’s house and on the sock at the foot of his bed?

Yes, it’s all from the same individual’s DNA profile.

Marcia Clark

Could it be anyone else’s DNA?

That blood has a particular set of characteristics that could only occur approximately in one in 170 million individuals.

Marcia Clark

[to the jury] One person… in one hundred and seventy million. [To Dennis] Is that one person who matches all that DNA in this courtroom here today?

Yes, he is.

Marcia Clark

Could you please point him out for the Jury? [Dennis points at O.J.] Let the record show that Mr. Fung is pointing to the Defendant, Mr. Orenthal James Simpson.

Johnnie Cochran

As she said, this was simply a misunderstanding.

Marcia Clark

She lied. She’s out!

Johnnie Cochran

She didn’t lie. She said…

Marcia Clark

She said no to the question “have you ever been a victim of domestic violence?” Her husband raped her twice.

F. Lee Bailey

Actually, it wasn’t legally rape in ’88. [Darden frowns in confusion] I mean, between a husband and wife.

Marcia Clark

You just said that. Out loud.

Judge Lance Ito

All right, so let me get this straight. The defence is arguing to keep a victim of domestic abuse, and the People are arguing to dismiss her? Somehow, I get the idea if this juror were white, we’d be having a different conversation right now. I have no choice but to dismiss #462.

Johnnie Cochran

Truth, Ms. Clark. The truth. The court hides nothing from the people! Nothing!

The truth? You’ve presented a defence that is based completely on lies and deceptions! Just teasing the public, the media, by throwing them bits of the tapes. Inflaming the public’s passions, in an attempt to exert political pressure over His Honor… [Ito raises his hand] In an attempt to pressure the court into admitting in the Fuhrman tapes!

Judge Lance Ito

Mr. Darden!

[To Ito] This case is a circus! And the defence has made it into a circus! And the court has allowed them to walk all over…

Judge Lance Ito

Mr. Darden, you are close to being held in contempt!

Well, I should be held in contempt! [The defence team starts laughing at this, but are immediately startled into silence] There’s nothing funny here!

Judge Lance Ito

Mr. Darden.

Johnnie Cochran

[softly, with some concern in his voice] Chris, calm down.

Don’t.

Judge Lance Ito

Mr. Darden! MR. DARDEN! I am warning you. A good piece of advice – take three deep breaths, then contemplate what you are about to say next.

Christopher Darden

I would like counsel, Your Honor.

Judge Lance Ito

[after a brief pause, during which everyone reacts with dismay] All right, Mr. Darden, you can have counsel. Do you wish to call your counsel at this time, Mr. Darden?

Marcia Clark

I would like to be heard on behalf of Mr. Darden, Your Honor.

Judge Lance Ito

Ms. Clark, do you represent Mr. Darden in this matter?

Marcia Clark

I don’t know if I’m legally entitled to, but I would like to be heard. Mr. Darden is simply responding to the unfair events that have occurred in this courtroom today, and other days. The court has been exploited, by counsel for cross-purposes.

Judge Lance Ito

Ms. Clark, I think perhaps you need to take ten deep breaths, for you also are about to be held in contempt.

Marcia Clark

Shall I take off my watch and jewellery?

Christopher Darden

Your Honor? Perhaps some of my comments may have been, um, uh, somewhat inappropriate. I apologise the to the court. I meant no disrespect.

Judge Lance Ito

All right, Mr. Darden. I accept your apology. I apologise to you for my reaction as well. You and I have known each other for a number of years, and I know that your response was out of character, so thank you.

Christopher Darden

Thank you, Your Honor.

Gil Garcetti

We are all profoundly disappointed with this verdict. But it was clear to me, and to the prosecution, that this was an emotional trial. And apparently, the jury’s decision was based on… emotion, and not reason. None of you will know the sacrifices that this team and their families made. We’re very proud of them. And we stand here in front of you with our heads held high. I’d like to give Marcia the opportunity to say thank you.

Marcia Clark

I first want to extend my deepest thanks to the families of the victims. To the Goldmans, and to the Browns. Their strength, their dignity and their support throughout this trial has been a tremendous source of inspiration and strength to all of us. This case was fought as a battle for victims of domestic violence. We hope this verdict does not discourage the victims who are out there, throughout this country, from seeking help. I know there are women who are, at this very moment, living in fear, living in violence. Please, don’t let this make you lose faith in our system. Thank you. [Quietly and encouragingly, to Chris] Chris?

Christopher Darden

Uh… If there is anything that ever motivated me throughout the trial, it was the, the idea, the notion that one day, I would have to turn and… to the Goldmans, and, uh… with the realisation that he had been acquitted. But that is the verdict, that is the Jury’s decision, uh, position. That’s their voice. And I accept that verdict. Uh… We came here in search of justice. And you’ll have to be the judges, I expect, as to whether or not, uh, any of us found it today. But I’m not bitter. And I’m not angry. But I’d also like to thank the, uh, lawyers on our prosecution team. I am honoured to have, uh…

Gil, Gil, Gil! You gonna look for the real killer now?