“Unfinished Business” quotes from Criminal Minds

[Displays bagged scissors] Found these in the school dumpster.

Fin

She means I found them under the tuna casserole. All she did is stand and point.

Stabler

In the 6 months since Zoe and Kate took St. Victor's to court, the whole family's been harassed. They've even changed their phone numbers twice.

Fin

Didn't do any good. Broken windows, graffiti on the doors. Zoe's filed 6 reports. Nobody's ever been charged.

Munch

Since when did New York become a red state?

Fin

But Zoe wanted to make a point. Take the school to court. Win one for the cause.

Munch

Someone's got to fight the fight.

Fin

It shouldn't be an 8-year-old.

Novak

How'd it go?

Benson

Great. I love putting 8-year olds in lockup overnight.

Man, I ain't carrying, all right? And you can search me.

Munch

(Opens a front-loading washing machine and finds dozens of packets of crystal meth) Look at what I found.

Fin

Oughtta be worth a couple of grand.

Can't pin that on me.

Fin

Yeah, but I might be able to pin a murder on you, DJ.

What?

Fin

The rape and murder of Monica Phelps.

No no no. I did not murder her.

Munch

(Studies bottles of detergent on top of the machine) So what should I use? Lemony goodness, or Mount Stream?

Thought she was working at a hot dog stand. She wouldn't be frying franks if she was dealing. Now wasn't I helpful.

Munch

Very. (turns on the laundry machine)

(to underage girl in motel room) Why don't you just take off your clothes, and we'll have ourselves a good time.

Stabler

(bursts into room with a drawn gun) Can we have a good time too?

Fin

(entering) Me too. I bet we can all have a lot of fun.

He was attempting to have sex with a minor, and you know this because you can read his mind?

Benson

We know this because he paid a minor $2,000 to have sex.

Devere

Some of you might think that Nathan Phelps acted out of simple vengeance. Ted Carthage murdered his mother, so he murdered Ted Carthage. That is what the assistant district attorney will argue. She will tell you that anyone who kills out of retaliation should go to jail. I agree with her. But that is not what my client did. Did he hate Ted Carthage? Absolutely. Did he kill him? Yes. So, if not out of retaliation, what made Nathan do it? This is a new study published in Science magazine. It found that people who have witnessed gun violence are twice as likely, sometimes 3 times as likely, to commit an act of violence themselves. Nathan witnessed Ted Carthage shoot his mother. And just as this study predicts, he reacted with violence. This study equates gun violence with an infectious disease. Anyone exposed to it is infected. Now, you may not agree or like this study. Gun manufacturers don't like it, either. It goes against their mantra: "Guns don't kill people. People kill people." But this study points to something that is almost unspeakable in today's gun culture, and that is that the blame for violence can be directly placed on the gun. Once you see someone squeeze the trigger, it's easier to do it yourself. Nathan saw his mother shot to death in front him, and at that moment he contracted the disease. It wasn't his choice, any more than it is your choice to catch a cold after someone has sneezed on you. Violence is the disease. Guns are the virus. And we have an epidemic on our hands.

Novak

Does witnessing a murder justify a murder?

Benson

It doesn't justify it. But it might explain it.

Devere

He's not testifying, period!

Let him.

Devere

And let him incriminate himself?

Exactly

Devere

Are you crazy?

[to Novak] What do you think?

Novak

A jury's been sworn in on a criminal case, a witness has testified. Do you see where this is heading?

Devere

If you screw us over on this-

Novak

Trust me.

Why did you kill Ted Carthage?

I don't know.

Didn't he kill your mom?

Yeah.

So are you lying when you say you don't know?

I'm not lying.

Was your mom a prostitute?

I don't know.

Did you have a nice apartment when she was alive?

It was okay.

Was there a lot of crime in the neighborhood?

I guess.

Did you have a nice life, Nathan?

Yes.

Doesn't sound like it. How old were you when your dad was stabbed to death?

6.

If you could, would you shoot the guy that stabbed your dad, just like you shot Ted Carthage?

No.

No?! Why not?! He stabbed your father!

I don't wanna kill anybody!

Sure. You did. You were angry.

No!

Yeah, Ted Carthage killed your mother. You hated him!

Stop it!

You didn't kill because you saw the gun! You wanted to hurt him! You hated him, and you wanted him to die!

[furiously jumps out of his seat] YES! I HATED HIM! ALL RIGHT?!!

Devere

Your honor, at this time, the defense would move for a mistrial.

Miss Devere, you can't do that. This is a hearing. Not a trial.

Devere

My apologies, Judge Malloy. That motion wasn't made to you. I'm speaking to Judge Donnelly. Nathan Phelps was compelled to incriminate himself in these proceedings. The testimony is admissible in his criminal trial and violates his right against self-incrimination. It's grounds for a mistrial.

Motion granted. The criminal case against Nathan Phelps is dismissed with prejudice.

What?!

Novak

In that event, Judge Malloy, I move to dismiss this proceeding. Now that there is no case against Nathan Phelps, there is no reason to investigate this research.

Your honor, this is a setup, perpetrated by the DA's office.

Mr. Geddes, I'd agree with you, except you're the one who called Mr. Phelps to the stand. This action is dismissed. Court is adjourned.

Killer got a foster family. That's nice.

Novak

You're a jerk, Geddes.

Yeah, and you got a murderer off.

Novak

Nathan Phelps would be serving the sentence I had already negotiated had you not gotten involved. So why don't we put the blame where it really belongs? On your bosses?

Stabler

"Password protected."

My 6-year old could hack this.