Robert Goren quotes from Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Eames

You think he's the money trail?

Goren

I am going to try and find out.

Eames

I really feel I should try to talk you out of this.

Goren

But that's always been a wasted effort.

Eames

Yeah. [pause] Right.

Temptation is a test given to all of us, detective.

Goren

Well, it seems to be a test you're failing.

Goren

The tattoo on your wrist shows that you and Matt have the same ideals. You home-schooled him. You taught him Marx and Mao. You turned him into a revolutionary.

Beats being a cop.

Do you believe in anything beyond that badge? Anything?

Goren

I guess I believe that victims need an advocate.

And you put me in a cell? I spent my entire life fighting for the victims of racism, of imperialism, of the blind selfishness of capitalism.

Goren

Was it worth it? Did you bring down the warmongers, the bankers? Did your revolution crush the capitalist system? They're all still there, but your son is gone. Was your revolution worth his life?

Eames

I tried Proust in college. I gave up after the first million pages.

Goren

It picks up after the second million pages.

Eames

This place used to called "Mr. K's". Cherry popsicles were a quarter. And Danny Quinland dumped me right there in front of Moran's.

Goren

Not for being ordinary.

Eames

For kissing Nick Farrel at recess.

Goren

Ooo. Lucky Nicky.

[about murdering her husband] It was never about the money. I am not a whore.

Goren

No, no you're not. You're a murderer.

Goren

You asked me if I'm lonely. You asked if I could ever have feelings for someone.

Romantic feelings.

Goren

For someone I respect. But you didn't answer my question: is it too late?

You're worried that you've missed the boat? I think as we start...

Goren

No, could we just... you know, we don't have a lot of sessions left. I'm a big boy, I'm a grown man. What was it you said, my emotional drawbridge is up. I can take it. Just tell me if you think I can have what other people have. you know, a home, a relationship.

If you want to work toward those goals, then yeah, we can do that.

Goren

What does that mean, no? Is that couched in shrink-speak?

I'm not the one saying no or it's too late. Where's this coming from?

Goren

I look in the mirror every day and I see what you see. It's not working. I ask you for your professional judgment and you turn it back on me. I mean, come on, you're smart. You're someone that I respect.

[warily] And you want to know if I see you as someone capable of being in a relationship.

Goren

[flustered] You think that I'm hitting on you? Come on!

No, that's not what I...

Goren

I know what you do, doctor. You seem open, empathic, and you listen... you're beautiful. So you get your patients to trust you, and then you pull back. You toy with them. And that's your game. Isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it?

Detective, please. I know that I have inadvertently...

Goren

Look, this is not working for me. You know, you should call my captain, or 1PP, or whoever you report back to, and you should tell them that I am not a good candidate for therapy.

I need you to help me understand what I did wrong.

Goren

You wanna take my badge away again.

Right when you want to run...

Goren

This isn't working. It's not helping. [slams the door]

Goren

[of Rollins] She's emotional.

Eames

Yeah, alcohol will do that.

Goren

[finding a pack of cloves under a mattress] Djarum Blacks. The same clove cigarettes Aaron Winters smokes.

Eames

Rock stars. Don't they know it's not safe to smoke in bed?

Are you insane?

Goren

The jury's still out on that one.

Eames

Call came in. D.O.A at a bank on West 44th Street. The Feds are on their way, but I thought we might want to...

Goren

Get there first. [Eames gets in the car. After a moment of reflection, Goren gets in too.] Let's go.