Barba quotes from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

What's happening to this country? It's like all of a sudden, people feel free to say all the horrible things they're thinking out loud. No common decency. No filter.

People have always felt this way. Now they just feel empowered. They have permission.

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.

Why would a guy who gets punched with bare knuckles for a living take a plea deal?

Benson

Because we're going to hit him with something much harder.

Benson

I screwed up, Rafael.

No. This was coordinated, planned, well-executed. Look, there's no way you could have seen this coming, Liv.

Benson

You know what the problem is with this job? What good do we really do? I mean, we come in after the fact with a broom and a mop and we clean up the mess. What would really matter, or would... really be special is if, just one time, we could prevent it from hitting the floor.

We prevent the next mess.

Benson

I should have seen this coming. As a cop, as a mother, should have seen this coming.

Well, you...

Benson

What?

Nothing.

Benson

You can't punch me harder than I've already punched myself, believe me.

Maybe you wanted this Sheila thing to work out too much. Look, maybe all you just wanted was a family.

Benson

Yeah. What was I thinking?

That's... why I shouldn't have said anything.

[seeing one of Noah's toys in a "prison"] What's he in for?

Benson

Stealing all the ice cream.

I never trusted that elephant.

Benson

Congratulations on the indictment.

[chuckles] The first thing Optimum will do is make a motion to dismiss. Which they'll win, but I get to appeal.

Benson

And you'll win that?

60/40 against. But we got the wheels turning. If this law's ever going to change, this is a good start.

You heard.

Benson

How bad was it?

The Titanic meets the Hindenburg meets my first year of Little League.

Benson

Nobody's forcing you to prosecute.

If I don't, I'm telling the world that baby Drew has no rights.

What about his right to die?

Sonny

Unfortunately, that's not in the Constitution.

Okay, let's find out if daddy's little excursion yesterday caused the baby any harm.

Benson

So you can let Aaron go with a clear conscience?

So I can prosecute and maybe get some sleep in the next decade or so.

You know, when we first started working together, what was it, five years ago?

Benson

Six.

The world was an old movie. It was all black and white. And it was high noon. I was Gary Cooper. I was absolutely sure, absolutely, who were the good guys, who were the bad guys. And then you, you started to weasel your way into my world, and the black and white became different shades of gray. Don't. Don't say it. Before I knew it, there were blues and greens and yellows and reds. I'm you now, Liv. You opened my heart. And I thank you for it.

Benson

And?

I've got to move on.

Benson

You grew a beard?

I'm in Iowa, trying to blend in.

Benson

Doing what?

[smiles] Election fraud. We're living in a dystopian nightmare.

I have no intention of disrespecting Carisi, but... Mickey deserves a defense. Isn't that why you came to me?

Benson

I wanted you to cut him a deal! Listen, as the Chief said, we cannot send a message that it's okay to take the law into your own hands.

Well, that's Carisi's case to make. Luckily, I don't work for the D.A. I don't need to worry about messages. I just need to make 12 New Yorkers like my client... and me.

Benson

Barba, he's guilty!

[smiles] Is he? Depends on the jury.

When I was an ADA, this would be the moment where I would offer the defense a deal.

Sonny

Man-2 is still on the table. I can recommend the minimum.

That's exactly the offer I told Mickey you'd make.

Sonny

And what did he say?

Basically "no thank you," but more anatomical.

[raises his drink] Cheers.

Sonny

To what? Jury deliberates for 6 hours to find Mickey guilty of Man-2, and we are right back where we started.

To irony, then.