Without a Trace (2002–2009)

Lynn Whitfield: Paula Van Doren

Photos 

Quotes 

• Jack Malone : What kind of ambiguity?

  Paula Van Doren : The ambiguous kind.

• Jack Malone : There was no way I was going to leave that boy to die.

  Paula Van Doren : You made your own bed on this, Jack.)

  Jack Malone : You know, I used to think that this job was worth it. Giving up my life, my family, my friends, but today I almost sold my soul, and you know what? Not worth it. Here's my letter of resignation.

  [Note: Jack DOES NOT quit his job] 

• [a drop off has turned into a hostage situation, in which Sam is one of the hostages] 

  Paula Van Doren : What the hell happened, Jack?

  Jack Malone : We had a drop go bad. There's a suspect across the street in a bookstore. He's holding about a half a dozen hostages.

  Paula Van Doren : And Special Agent Spade is one of these hostages?

  Jack Malone : Yes.

  Paula Van Doren : Mm-hmm. Have you achieved contact with the suspect?

  Jack Malone : [sighs]  Not yet.

  Paula Van Doren : Then Drummond should step in and be the negotiator on this.

  Jack Malone : With all due respect to you and Drummond, I am knee-deep in this. I have background on the suspect. I know a lot about the person he kidnapped. I have tons of experience in hostage negotiation, not to mention the fact that there's one of my agents in that bookstore.

  Paula Van Doren : Which is what makes me doubt whether or not you have proper objectivity - particularly because it's... this agent, Jack.

  [Martin looks over and appears to be eavesdropping] 

  Jack Malone : [lowers his voice]  Which is exactly why I should do it. Because if she tries to communicate something to me covertly, I am the best one to interpret it. I know her. Drummond doesn't.

• Paula Van Doren : You've got the rope, Jack. Don't hang yourself with it.

• [after that last conversation with Barry] 

  Jack Malone : We're not sending in a doctor, we have to send in the SWAT team.

  Paula Van Doren : [softly]  Jack, when I asked you if you could keep your objectivity with Spade inside there, you said you could. Now, she said it was an accident. She said it was a through-and-through.

  Jack Malone : Yeah, and I think she's not telling the truth. For all we know, he had a gun to her head. We can't take anything she says at face value.

  Paula Van Doren : SWAT is the last resort. Now, do your job and negotiate your agent out of there.