Ellen Parsons quotes from Damages

Patty

[about Ellen's father] Better be careful. We plaintiff attorneys can be vicious. His best strategy is to blame the victim.

Ellen

I know.

Patty

[about the plaintiff] At all costs it was her fault; period.

So I should just go in there and lie?

Ellen

I'm saying that they will. They'll spin into gross negligence. This is the real world, Dad.

I don't need you to teach me about the real world.

Patty

[about David] He called off the engagement?

Ellen

Maybe we went too far. [Pause] Do you regret what we did?

Ellen

I'm so sick of your bullshit.

Patty

What did you say to me?

Ellen

You heard me.

Patty

Get out. And don't bother coming back.

Patty

I'm sorry you went through that.

Ellen

I hate these people.

What's the matter, rich girl? Daddy won't post bail?

Ellen

Lower bunk's mine.

Bitch, don't even. I ripped off a convenience store and a bodega before they busted my ass.

Ellen

I killed my fiancé.

David

You decide right now -- do you want us or do you want this job?

Ellen

Please don't do this.

David

Right now. Right... now! You can't decide, can you?

Ellen

David...

David

No! We're done, Ellen.

Tom

Have you seen her since she... let you go?

Ellen

I don't think Patty wants to see me.

Tom

Yeah, what you said was pretty...

Ellen

Stupid?

Tom

I was going to say ballsy, but, yeah, stupid... stupid works.

Patty

Ellen... no matter what you think, I didn't have anything to do with any of this.

Ellen

I know.

Patty

But Tom told me that you accused me of trying to kill you.

Ellen

How else was I supposed to get you back here?

Ellen

You did teach me one valuable lesson.

Patty

I'm glad.

Ellen

'Trust no one.' Well, I don't anymore, Patty. Least of all you.

You got to relax, okay? Lay low.

Ellen

That's easy for you to say. You just want to arrest Patty Hewes.

And you don't?

Ellen

I want to destroy her.

Ellen

[about Daniel] Do you think he killed his wife?

Patty

I think it's best not to jump to conclusions.

Ellen

But you know him. Do you think he's even capable of something like that?

Patty

I think anyone is capable of anything.

Ellen

A sonogram?

Tom

It's a boy.

Ellen

You're pregnant?

Tom

Yeah. Don't tell Deb, though, 'cause I'm supposed to be on the pill.

Ellen

I think kids have got a really basic sense of justice. Don't you? And then, as we get older, it just gets all screwed up.

Tom

I don't think so. I think as you get older, y-you realize that the world is unfair and that, uh, Mommy and Daddy can't make everything okay. If you want justice, you got to fight and claw and, and do whatever you have to... to get it.

Ellen

You've been working for Patty way too long.

Ellen

Patty, I was wondering if I could sit in on your meeting with Detective Huntley.

Patty

Why?

Ellen

I thought it would be valuable. I don't have any experience with criminal law.

Patty

I don't think Mr. Purcell would be comfortable with you there.

Ellen

Okay.

Patty

And I'm not running a law school.