O.J. Simpson quotes from American Crime Story

O.J. Simpson

[sees cops outside his house investigating] Why don't they just leave? I told them all the facts! They acting like I did this or something!

Robert Shapiro

Any time that I take on a new criminal case, I always ask the client a question. Now, I won’t be judgmental, but I think it’s crucial that the attorney and the client are truthful with each other. So anything you tell me is completely confidential, and will never leave this room. So… O.J… Did you do it?

O.J. Simpson

No. [pause] I loved her.

Johnnie Cochran

[to O.J.] Have you forgotten who you are? These walls around you don’t change that. You know what you mean to people? [O.J. does not answer] Okay. Well, then let me tell you what you were once to me. 1978, I just left private practice, gone back to the LA D.A. Gonna be the first black assistant attorney in office. Gonna change things from the inside. Shit… That wasn’t happening. Same old shit, same rigged system. Feeling powerless for the first time in my life. And then my first marriage blows up in my face. My children won’t talk to me. I’m a failure at work. I’m a failure at home. I was down, brother. I was way down. Sunday, sitting on my bed, surrounded by dead-end paperwork and divorce lawyer bills, drinking beer – all right, maybe a little too much beer – feeling sorry for myself, watching a football game, all alone. Crappy TV. 49ers vs the Falcons. What I saw you do on that field, that day, somehow, as I was watching, it became as if you were running for me. Driving up that field, crowded with adversity and obstacles, getting knocked on your ass, and then popping right back up again! See, that’s what I wanted to do out there on them streets, back home with my troubles there but couldn’t. But you, you, you… You willed what you needed to do into being, with nothing but grace.

O.J. Simpson

I scored a touchdown that day.

Johnnie Cochran

You did. And when they cut away to the commercial, there you were again, leaping through the airport for Hertz, breaking another barrier with charisma, humor, intelligence. A black man as the public face for one of the world’s biggest corporations.

O.J. Simpson

We lost that game.

Johnnie Cochran

I don’t remember that. I remember everything about that game, but not that, because it didn’t have nothing to do with what touched me. And when the game was over, I got the hell up off that bed, and jogged the six blocks back to my office, and got right back to work, and haven’t stopped and wallowed in self-pity since that day. You did that for me. Just like you’ve done for so many others. Because you are O.J. Simpson. You are O.J. Simpson, and you are an inspiration.

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.

Hey, Dad.

O.J. Simpson

Oh, hey, son.

Hey, uh, called the Riviera. They can’t take us.

O.J. Simpson

What do you mean? Call ‘em back, ask for Marco. He’ll make room for me.

I did, Dad. Marco said he doesn’t have room for you.

O.J. Simpson

[shocked] Well, the hell with the Riviera. I’ll find another place.