Abbie Carmichael quotes from Law & Order

You're charged with murder in the first degree. How do you plead?

Not guilty.

The defendant is serving state time, so bail is moot.

She's remanded. Any other business?

What is it, Mr. Pinsky?

My client is asking me to make an application I feel is clearly inappropriate.

Spit it out, please.

Well, she wants to disqualify Miss Carmichael.

Aren't you gonna say anything?

Judge, I am not going to waste the court's time with this.

Could I represent myself? 'Cause this lawyer's worthless.

Talk to me, Miss Simonelli.

[points at Abbie] She should not be prosecutin' this case. She's prejudiced against me.

Abbie

That's ridiculous.

Let her finish.

She locked me up three years ago, just 'cause I couldn't help her. She's got a grudge against me.

Abbie

Your honor, this woman has some kind of persecution complex.

Save your breath, Miss Carmichael. [to Alice] I'm sorry. I can't disqualify an ADA from a case simply because she...

All I want is a fair trial. This BITCH is out to get me!

[bangs gavel] Enough! Take her out.

I was ashamed.

Carmichael

Why would you feel ashamed if it wasn't your fault?

Have you ever been raped, Miss Carmichael? Maybe I felt stupid for being where Charlie Tyner could rape me.

Carmichael

[taken aback] So now you blame yourself.

Yes.

Carmichael

But now, instead of punishing yourself, you punish Charlie Tyner.

No, no...

Carmichael

You had Luis Pachenko force him to his knees...

He was killing me!

Carmichael

...And beg for his life.

I just wanted to go home to my daughter. Charlie knew that. He was usin' that. He was never gonna stop. I was just scared all the time! Can't you understand that?! He had all the power! I was nothin'!

McCoy

Need a lift?

Carmichael

Go ahead. I'll call a cab. I need to take a breath.

McCoy

Want to talk about it? Or not. Whatever you feel comfortable with.

Carmichael

[turns to leave, but suddenly turns back] I was a freshman. He was a 3rd-year law student. We were on a date ... I never told anybody. I blamed myself. But not anymore.

I believe you're aware the Canadian government has instructed me not to comply with this subpoena.

Carmichael

That's nice. Are they going to send the Canadian army down here to help you carry your money and computers home?

I beg your pardon?

Carmichael

This bank is in New York county. [points] Those detectives are going to take it apart brick by brick to look for the documentation we've subpoenaed.

That doesn't make sense. The transfer you're interested in originated in Ontario.

Carmichael

These detectives are about to search every account file, every computer disk. It'll take a couple of weeks. You can close the bank down now.

First of all, I am not a drug dealer...

Carmichael

Right. You just collect rare cocaine.

Carmichael

We got Stephanie Harker's letter request to transfer $50,000 to Doris Nichols. It came by courier from Muskoka.

McCoy

[surprised] They caved.

Carmichael

Morals are morals. Money is money.

McCoy

Who are you going to shake down to get her car, the Royal Autoclub?

Briscoe

[about Affirmative Action] You wouldn't have gotten any complaints from me; it came in after I joined the department and it'll still be there when I'm gone.

Curtis

Well you wouldn't have liked my answers. When I was filling out my application, when it asked about race, I checked 'none of the above'.

Carmichael

Well I'd like to think I got where I am on my own merit.

Lt. Van Buren

So would I, but I got 2,000 pages of legal documents that say contrary.

McCoy

No crime, no cover up. 3 people dead, and no one's accountable.

Schiff

Justice on a budget. What'd you end up charging them with?

Carmichael

Tampering with evidence. An E felony.

Schiff

Oh.

Carmichael

We arraigned them, they posted bail. $2,000. Then they walk away from 3 murders.

McCoy

We can always hope they jump bail.

Schiff

Whatever happened to sending the kid to her room?

Carmichael

They tried that. The mother kept her chained to a radiator.

Carmichael

There's no church here! Rose Hallacy was a loose cannon!

McCoy

Who didn't take a dime from Margot Gracen or anybody else, ministered to these people out of the goodness of her heart, gave up worldly things to do the work of God.

Carmichael

Spoken like a parochial schoolboy.

McCoy

6 years at St. Ignatius.

Carmichael

Did they teach you how to do exorcisms, Jack?

McCoy

They taught us to have a healthy respect for the devil.

Carmichael

The only devil in this case is the woman we're trying for murder.

McCoy

It may be time to make the best deal we can with all of them. 2 years probation, a fine.

Carmichael

Oh, a fine! Ouch! Those poor doctors might have to hock one of their Porsche's.

McCoy

Abby, there isn't much of a case left.

Carmichael

But there's still a victim! Jack, she went in a healthy woman, she came out a corpse!

McCoy

Between the 2 of us, depraved indifference is a reach. Criminally negligent homicide is a gift! I wouldn't squander it.

Carmichael

You make excuses, I'll make the case.

Defense Attorney

Miss Carmichael, we'd like to discuss a deal.

Carmichael

Why should I cut your client a break?

Defense Attorney

Well, you haven't proven negligence yet.

Carmichael

But here you are.

Carmichael

Did Pelham ever complain to internal affairs about her? That she assaulted him or was stalking him?

We don't have anything on file like that. We got reports she spends a lot of time in the gym with her fellow female officers.

McCoy

Your point?

Maybe she's got a problem with men.

Carmichael

Thank you for dropping by, lieutenant. Careful you don't get carpet burns on your knuckles.

Carmichael

After six years, I still don't know what cops are about.

McCoy

I grew up with one. I don't know, either.

Carmichael

Well, they're real good at circling the wagons to protect themselves from the likes of us.

McCoy

And who protects them from each other?

McCoy

Andrew Hampton accepted our offer. Attempted Man 1, 6-12 years in jail.

Carmichael

Well hopefully his sister will be joining him.

McCoy

You don't think he can convince a jury Nicole put him up to it?

Carmichael

I think she'll toss her hair back a few times and convince them she didn't.

McCoy

Really cynical, Abby.