Olivia Benson quotes from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Benson

Eddie, don't!

Why do you care?

Benson

Because I know what you're feeling.

No, you don't!

Benson

Yes, I do. My father did terrible things to women, to my own mother. You have a choice. I'm nothing like my father. You don't have to be like yours.

[about Benson's half-brother Simon] Anything you wanna tell me?

Benson

It's... complicated. I have a niece.

Congratulations. What does he want from you? Liv, the last time your brother showed up, he nearly cost you your shield.

Benson

Captain, he was being framed!

And now, what does he want?

Benson

He's the only family I have.

And believe me, he knows it. You watch your step.

Benson

How's the new assignment?

Dr. Huang

A single, gay, Chinese-American man living in Oklahoma who's opposed to the death penalty... it's heaven.

If my client is outed, it could seriously damage his practice.

Benson

Not as much as a murder charge.

You people just don't see the big picture, do you?

Which is what?

Delia Wilson has evaded arrest for 10 years. Why do you think that is? Because she's got the goods on everyone you work for and everyone you could ever consider working for. You have no idea how deep this goes.

Benson

We'll do our job, you do yours.

What, you and your DA friend Haden? You're in way over your head, sweetheart. I usually get top dollar for my legal advice, but here's some for free - walk away, little people.

Watch yourself, counselor.

And you. You think your marriage is rocky now, kiddo? Wait 'til your wife finds out about you and your star witness.

Benson

We're gonna go for a walk.

Why?

Benson

Because I have to arrest you. And I don't want your daughter to see.

Benson

Captain. I didn't see you come in.

You probably didn't recognize me without the orange jumpsuit.

[about suspects] They all have a reason. Something.

Benson

And that's how you break them. Get them to tell their story.

Isn't that how you do it?

Benson

Well, I don't normally do it leaning over sideways.

I learned that from my partner at Major Case. It was his way of keeping eye contact.

Benson

It's a little eccentric.

You have no idea.

Munch

[about Lomitan] This guy's like the Zelig of missing child cases.

Benson

If he's our guy, he's been carrying this secret around for 13 years.

Ya'll interviewed him back in '99. How did it go?

Munch

He was mad at me because I didn't treat him like a brother officer.

Good. Do it again.

Munch

With pleasure.

I help you out, what do I get?

Benson

We'll work something out.

I want dinner. I want a steak.

Benson

You got it.

And a baked potato.

Sure. We'll see if we can get you a cup of coffee, too.

[smiles] Thanks, honey.

[smiles back] You're welcome, darlin'.

[about Father Menendez molesting Angelica] He swore to me that it would never happen again.

Benson

And you believed him? Pedophiles are gifted liars.

Yes, I did. See, I left my daughter at that parish, and Rita keeps an eye on him. And then, once a year, I come in to take his confession. For a decade. I don't believe he's hurt anyone else.

Benson

Is that how you sleep at night?

[sighs] Who says I do?

Benson

I wanna get this guy as much as you do. I'm just wondering, would you challenge a straight marriage like this?

If I thought that the husband was good for a murder? I'd cross-examine the priest.

Benson

You're going to claim that a gay man married to another gay man hates gays?

Watch me.

Ellis

You have any vacation days accumulated?

Benson

Oh, I don't know... 50, 60 weeks?

Benson

Mr. Amiri, we've also become aware that Mr. Rhodes was a victim of sexual abuse as a child.

I'm sure that's true for half my cases. But the government doesn't pardon murderers because they had a bad childhood.

Ellis

Look, it took me 15 minutes to find out that the deceased had a record for solicitation of young men. I need to prove that the original defense lawyer to tell the jury about mitigating circumstances. Period.

Mr. Ellis, what we do is triage. I've got people on death row for crimes they didn't commit. You think you can come in and do a better job? Have at it.

Ellis

Thank you. That's all I wanted to hear.