Olivia Benson quotes from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Fin

Reverend, huh? What'd he have to say?

Benson

That they're not in Kansas anymore.

Benson

These people really think that nothing criminal happened.

Never underestimate the power of faith. Regardless of where it's placed.

Let's go over Ann's testimony one more time. Make sure she's consistent.

Benson

Okay.

You know, he said/she said/God said, you don't want God to get the last word. [checking his phone] Spoke too soon. Defense filed a motion to dismiss based on First Amendment protections.

Benson

So they're saying that rape is okay if it's done for religious reasons.

Huh. I don't remember reading that in the Bible.

Man plans, God laughs.

Benson

No, there's nothing funny about Reverend Gary. Or rape in the name of religion.

Benson

Go get your boss. Now. Look, I realize you're young and you're trying to do your job, but I'm warning you. I've been doing my job a long time, and I got a lot of friends.

Are you threatening me?

Benson

Yep.

Benson

Listen, two people were killed and you're deporting the one person that can ID the men that did this?

I don't wanna get into politics, so I think it's time for y'all to leave before things get unpleasant.

Benson

No, no, they already are unpleasant.

I agree. Now get the hell outta here.

Or what? You're gonna deport me to Cuba? [gestures to Carisi] You gonna take him to Italy?

[about Lela and Maya] They're angry at you?

Benson

Yes.

Because you didn't back up her story about seeing my husband's face?

Benson

It doesn't matter what I did or didn't say. Your husband is guilty.

I know what they did.

Benson

Well, then do something about it. I know that you called the police four times in the last two years. I know that you know what kind of man he is. What kind of violence he's capable of.

He's my husband.

Benson

He's a rapist and a murderer. And the next dead woman on the floor, that might be you. So don't tell the truth for Maya or for Lela. Tell the truth for yourself and for your son. Take that first step.

Towards what?

Benson

Freedom. Safety.

Fin

A hell of a case.

Benson

Hell of a year.

Fin

We got the conviction. That's all that matters.

Benson

Wish it was that simple.

An oh-fer. We'd have better luck starting the Byron Marks fan club.

Benson

Well, look, it's upsetting, but it's not surprising.

Yeah, I tried to explain that to him.

Look, I know. I'm sorry. It's just I'm Italian. Revenge is one of our three major food groups.

Just feel so alone, you know?

Benson

What about family? What about your parents?

What about them? Look at me. Exhibit A, all the wonders of the New York City foster care system in all its glory. Fourteen years living in other people's houses, sleeping in other people's beds... you know what you pray for most? A new lightbulb. It's crazy, right? But the other one kept burning out because I was too scared to shut it off.

Benson

I'm so sorry.

You know what's worse than being scared? Being pitied. Yeah, I should have told you that I already reported it to other cops. What's the point? People like you don't believe people like me.

Benson

Tracy Montgomery was a cashier who worked at a Chevron station at a minimart. She claimed she was raped at gunpoint by three guys in the storage closet.

Fin

Only the cash register receipts showed she made six sales during the time of that attack.

Benson

So I could have blown it off and I probably should have blown it off, but the bottom line is the truth of what her two cousins were doing to her from the time she was three years old, was far worse than anything she could have made up. Sometimes girls like Tracy, girls like Savannah, need to make up fairy tales just to get through the day.

Benson

Given the nature of the injury, there's a sexual motivation behind all of this.

Explains why Karr won't talk.

I can't prosecute the assault unless the victim makes an ID.

Sonny

OK, well how about we charge the three women with obstruction?

For asserting their Fifth Amendment rights?

Sonny

After they lied to us and obfuscated our investigation.

[smirks] "Obfuscate"? Yummy.

Listen, I'm considering offering a deal. Karr does the same four years Evelyn Bundy agreed to.

Benson

You proved forcible rape.

If she cut off his finger, if she poked him in the eye...

Benson

It shouldn't make a difference.

We don't live in a vacuum. I can assure you, the seven guys on that jury, they feel Karr's pain.

Benson

And if Karr wasn't castrated, if he had cancer...

It's not the same thing.

Benson

But it should be. Why do we do this, Rafael? Because the next girl who gets raped needs to know that that person is us. No matter what.

So one of these boys is guilty. It's like playing three card monte.

Benson

Yeah.

Who has the most to lose?

Benson

I'd say the kid who took the picture of a half-naked 15-year-old girl and texted them to everyone in the school.

Benson

Teenagers have always been cruel, but when did they become cowards?

Since the invention of the Internet.

Benson

What kind of world are our kids going to grow up in?

Whatever we think we're gonna have to worry about, it's not gonna be that. It's gonna be something we never saw coming.