Alicia Florrick quotes from The Good Wife

Kalinda

You're such a pushover.

Alicia

I am not. I'm responsible. [Kalinda gives her a look] No, I mean, I'm responsible for the Feds questioning him.

Kalinda

You're not responsible for everything bad in the world, Alicia.

Alicia

[she pauses] Where would they put her, the mom?

Kalinda

Broadview, McHenry detention, General population at Cook County. They make it a shell game.

Alicia

But you could find her?

Kalinda

So you're the pushover, I'm the one who actually does the work?

Kalinda

You have until Friday.

Alicia

I have...? No. I have two weeks.

Kalinda

Diane and Will are deciding between you and Cary on Friday.

Alicia

Where did you hear that?

Kalinda

Cary was going door to door with equity partners, lining up support. He heard it from your assistant. My guess is he's phoning in on accounts, loading up on receivables. How are you with Will?

Alicia

I don't know.

Kalinda

What happened?

Alicia

I don't know.

Kalinda

You do know. You just don't want to say. Did you sleep with him?

Alicia

No.

Kalinda

So that's the problem: you didn't sleep with him?

Alicia

No. We talked. We had... a moment.

Kalinda

And you shut it down?

Alicia

He did, too.

Kalinda

Okay. You have three problems. Cary's a good finisher. He got a head start. And Will is gonna work overtime to appear objective. Unfairly objective.

Alicia

I'm... I'm just so tired of this.

Kalinda

I know, but that's what people like Cary count on.

Alicia

I heard you were deciding on Friday.

Will

That really wasn't supposed to be circulated.

Alicia

I know. I just... I'm really proud of the work I've done here.

Will

As you should be.

Alicia

And I wanted to make sure that you saw that.

Will

Look, Alicia, I don't know what you're hearing, but that's all we'll be looking at.

Alicia

Okay, good.

Will

You have my word. When we decide, nothing else will enter the picture other than your work.

Cary

It's weird, huh?

Alicia

It's like a date with the executioner.

Cary

Nice working with you.

Alicia

You too. You're a good lawyer.

Cary

I hear it's always the first one called in, they're the ones who get fired.

Alicia

I really didn't need to know that.

Cary

Sorry.

Alicia

I don't know what to do. I've worked hard. You say that's not enough, so I'll work harder. You tell me Cary can work harder still. So what do you want? Tell me what you want, because I can't lose this job.

Diane

You're not Cary. You can never be Cary. But you don't have to be.

Alicia

I don't understand.

Diane

Your name, your connections... You've been reluctant to... use them.

Alicia

You want me to use my connections?

Diane

I want you to want the job.

Jackie

[about Peter] He couldn't have done it without you.

Alicia

Oh, that's not true.

Jackie

It is. We women stay in the shadows, we smile, we comfort, we nurse, but we're always there. You are a good woman, Alicia.

Alicia

Are you gay? [Kalinda doesn't answer] Oh, come on. We are talking about every single little detail of my life. It's a simple question.

Kalinda

I'm... I'm private.

Alicia

Ugh. Come on.

Kalinda

What does it matter?

Alicia

It doesn't.

Kalinda

Then why'd you want to know?

Alicia

Because I do. And how is this fair? I talk about everything.

Kalinda

I didn't say it was. You like to talk about your life. I don't like to talk about mine.

Alicia

I just wanted to say I am sorry.

Cary

Sorry you got the job, or sorry for what you did to get the job?

Alicia

Sorry we both didn't get the job.

Cary

Alicia, here's the thing... you like to think you're a good person, and maybe at one time you were, but we both know you'll do whatever it takes. Sleeping with the boss? Check.

Alicia

Cary, if it makes you feel better to think that, then think it, but...

Cary

I don't have a name. Alicia, I don't have a fairy godmother I can phone up or the whole Chicago political machine. I had to work, I had to sweat, I had to make money for this firm and that's just not enough.

Kalinda

I phone Will, I tell him we're in a bar and that you're too drunk to go home. So you're getting a hotel room upstairs. Alicia, one night... no repercussions.

Alicia

And tomorrow?

Kalinda

Tomorrow you wake up.

Alicia

That's just not me, Kalinda.

Kalinda

Everything is you. Everything you want to be you is you.

Will

[on the phone] Okay, I just need to say it. We've been up and down, back and forth, and I look at you, Alicia and I think that...

Alicia

Will...

Will

No, I just need to say this.

Alicia

No! Show me the plan.

Will

The what?

Alicia

The plan. I get the romance. I need a plan.

Will

Not everything needs a plan.

Alicia

Everything that matters does. I have two kids that mean the world to me. I have the press. They're just waiting for a whiff of a new scandal. And I have a husband. So if you want to cut through all that noise, then show me a plan. Poetry is easy. It's the parent-teacher conferences that are hard.

Alicia

So is it always gonna be this way between us?

Will

I want to say yes, but I want to know what you mean.

Alicia

Just... talking. Being casual and...

Will

Blunt? [she nods] I like myself around you, Alicia. I don't like myself around a lot of people.

Alicia

You do.

Will

It's an act. It's perfected over a millennium.

Alicia

Don’t put me in the middle of your thing.

My-my thing? I-what’s that?

Alicia

I don’t know. But whatever games you’re playing you play with her [Kalinda]. I’m too busy. Okay?

Afraid of the Alicia stare.

Alicia

The what?

You know. (makes a glacial glare)

Alicia

When have I ever done that?

When someone doesn’t live up to your standards.

Alicia

You make me sound like such a bitch!

Noooo. Proper.

Alicia

Ow!

Are you going to leave him?

Alicia

Owen, please don’t.

He’s two-faced.

Alicia

Everyone’s two-faced.

You’re not.

Alicia

Yes, I am.

Then you’ve changed.

Alicia

No. Issues got more complex. And I grew up.

Alicia

Could... we talk sometime?

Will

We can talk anytime.

Alicia

No, I mean... We need a moment. Just a moment when things don't seem so all over the place.

Will

Okay, that's probably not now.

Alicia

(chuckles) No.