Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 1 quotes

I'm just levelling the playing field.

Benson

How do you figure?

You ever work in a bar? I see these guys and their sweaty desperation, getting rolled by women night after night. I told Luke, if you're gonna pick up the check, make sure you're gettin' something for it.

Benson

And you made sure that he did. And the same for your other clients.

They're not clients. They don't pay me. They're just guys trying to get over. Just like them, you need me more than I need you. I didn't rape these women, if that's what you wanna call it, but I know who did.

I don't know if I'll be up for it, but I want to get strong enough to give a statement at sentencing. They thought of me as just this thing to experiment on. I want them to know that I'm a human being, that I matter.

Benson

And you're going to get there. And we will be by your side the whole time.

[showing Gil a picture of him with Ivy] This is you, yeah?

Yeah, that was last night. But, as she said, nothing happened...

Right. Where's Ivy now?

No idea.

So you know, she's 16 and missing.

16? [laughs, and then grows worried as Rollins remains stone-faced] No. No. She had ID.

You're looking at felony kidnapping of a minor, so I'm gonna ask you again: Where is she?

OK, I know where she'll be tonight. There's a bachelor party for my cousin at Slag. She's on the list.

You invited a 16-year-old to a bachelor party? [Gil shrugs] Wear something comfortable. If she doesn't show, you and your cowlick may be spending the weekend in The Tombs.

By the way, I've got a lead on Ivy. I'm picking her up tonight.

Benson

Because you're the only one that can save her?

Unless you've got a better idea.

Benson

What happened to you?

Excuse me?

Benson

You were a judge. You had respect for the legal system. You had compassion for victims.

I still do.

Benson

Not from where I'm sitting, you don't. That you would let a rapist like Sir Toby use you...

He's entitled to a defense. C'mon, I have two sons. You have a son. Can you imagine a scenario - he's at college, some girl makes a false accusation, their lives are over.

Benson

No. No, actually, I can't imagine.

Well, these days, you should. I would rather 10 guilty men go free than one innocent man...

Benson

Your client isn't innocent!

That's for a jury to decide, not you.

Benson

What do you need, Elana? Because whatever Sir Toby is paying you, it's not worth it.

Captain, I know it's late, but I need a word with you and Sergeant Tutuola. Jayvon Brown has filed a lawsuit against NYPD. You've both been named.

Benson

Jayvon Brown had outstanding warrants. He wouldn't answer questions.

Fin

There was a crowd. You know how fast they turn.

Stop! You both sound defensive. These days, that's not a good look.

Benson

Chief, we were by the book.

That's the book that got us here! After George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, this city, this country are on boil. Business as usual will not work.

Benson

Did Garland say anything about me?

Fin

Yeah - watch your back.

Since George Floyd, I have taken statement after statement from two kinds of cops: A ton of swinging gladiators who take one look at me and can barely hide their disdain...

Benson

I'm sorry you had to experience that...

...and the well-intentioned guardian cops who never see themselves as racist, but are in denial about their complicity in the systemic racism within the NYPD. Cops like you, Captain Benson.

Benson

I'm well aware that there's racism in the NYPD.

And what about your own bias?

Benson

I'm not racist.

I'm sure you're not... explicitly. But implicitly? If you grew up in this country, it's in you. And me. I struggle every day with my own biases. For too many people, law enforcement has lost all credibility, and until every one of us takes a serious self-inventory, we can't begin to get it back.

Were you two in a fight before you left? We got a call that there was a disturbance.

People around here need to mind their business. You know, back home, it's legal to beat your wife on Sunday. You can look that up.

Benson

Poor Will's been a punching bag his whole life. He finally hit back.

Fin

Did Irina tell you to get Will?

Mark

This is how you treat a brother officer? No wonder you have lawsuits against you.

Fin

It used to be so simple. Just take down the bad guy. Now the lines are blurred. Half the city are looking at us like we're the bad guys.

It was an impossible summer. Things are gonna calm down.

I don't see that happening. The way the NYPD handled those demonstrators...

We were under attack. What do you want us to do, sit there and take it?

You're supposed to de-escalate. Assess the situation, be aware of our biases. We're not supposed to overreact.

Fin

You mean like shoot a man in front of his son?

Fin...

Fin

Look, growing up in the 'hood, the way the cops treated us, I never trusted 'em. That's why I joined the force, to make a change. Then I worked my way over to SVU because there's no gray area when you're taking down rapists and pedophiles. The last thing I wanted to be is another trigger-happy cop who kills a Black man. And here I am.

Dr. Warner

First it was COVID, then the murder spike... No one's slept since March.

Maybe I don't always wear my mask, OK? Or stay 6 feet away. I went to bars, I danced, kissed guys, took them home, forgot them on the stairs. The world was dying. It made me feel alive.

I get it. I'm not judging you.

Yeah, you are.

[pause] Maybe I am. Because I have kids, and we've been cooped up for months. I'm ready for this to be over. For them to have a life.

Okay, leaks to the press, Brad turning on her after she slept with him. This is officially a witch hunt.

I just hate the double standard. They all slept together and she's the only one getting slut shamed.