Law & Order (TV Series)

Bodies (2003)

Elisabeth Röhm: ADA Serena Southerlyn

Quotes 

• [discussing a serial killer's defense attorney] 

  D.A. Arthur Branch : Yeah, who is that stupid S.O.B. anyway?

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : Tim Schwimmer, legal aid, and he isn't exactly stupid.

  D.A. Arthur Branch : He listened to his client when he told him about fifteen other bodies?

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : Yes.

  D.A. Arthur Branch : He then confirmed his client was telling the truth by taking a peek at those bodies?

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : ...Yes.

  D.A. Arthur Branch : Fine. What's dumber than stupid?

• Jack McCoy : If he tells us about any other murders, I'll re-examine the death penalty.

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : You didn't ask for bail, Jessica. You must know...

  Jessica Sheets : I know a lot of things. I know I dended a father who raped and murdered his eleven year old daughter. I've defended a guy who, for no apparent reason, walked into a grocery store, shot twelve innocent people with an Uzi. Right now, I've got a kid who decapitated his mom, hung her head on a stick outside of his church. All the scum of the Earth, they send them my way. I do my best for them, but this guy... so you're turning down my offer?

  Jack McCoy : You know I have no choice.

  Jessica Sheets : Damn it.

  Jack McCoy : All you have to do is...

  Jessica Sheets : I can't. Mark Bruner scares the socks off of me, Jack. How am I supposed to represent someone that I'm scared to death to be in the same room with?

• ADA Serena Southerlyn : He's obnoxious is what he is. He only wants to make a name for himself so he can move on to seven figure criminals.

  Jack McCoy : The job of a Congressman is to become a Senator. The job of a Senator is to become President. Everyone does what they do for the wrong reasons, but somehow the whole system works.

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : That's politics, not law.

  Jack McCoy : Same difference.

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : Oh, really? What's your secret ambition?

  Jack McCoy : It wouldn't be a secret then, would it?

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : [answering a ringing phone]  Jack McCoy's office. Yes, Mr. Schwimmer, it's me. Because I was closer to the phone, that's why. Fine.

  [hanging up] 

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : Schwimmer wants to talk tomorrow morning, with Bruner.

  Jack McCoy : Here comes the plea.

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : F. Lee Bailey didn't make a career for himself cutting deals.

  Jack McCoy : Every once in a while, even a Congressman has to listen to his constituents.

• Tim Schwimmer : I never thought I'd win that motion.

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : Well, then why did you make it?

  Tim Schwimmer : Practice.

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : I wish you'd saved it for a more deserving client.

  Tim Schwimmer : What, are you kidding? What could be a better career boost than a serial killer? F. Lee Bailey had the Boston Strangler. I've got Mark Bruner.

• Jack McCoy : Cart before the horse, Jessica. Won't talk plea until we know the extent of your client's crimes.

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : Bruner's DNA matched semen found both on Sally Galan and the girl in Brooklyn.

  Jessica Sheets : And two's not good enough for you?

  Jack McCoy : Not if one of them isn't in my jurisdiction.

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : We're still waiting to talk to the Brooklyn D.A. about consolidation.

  Jessica Sheets : You know, I don't get you people. I'm serving up a murderer on a platter. Take the death penalty off the table.

  Jack McCoy : How many murderers have you defended, Jessica?

  Jessica Sheets : I don't have that many fingers.

  Jack McCoy : Then it must have crossed your mind that Bruner's M.O. suggests he might be a serial offender.

  Jessica Sheets : Evidence, Jack. You need facts, not suggestions.

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : There was a five year gap between Sally Galan and Holly Pinkston. Bruner was on the street all of that time. And you've gotta suspect...

  Jessica Sheets : Add your suspicions to his suggestions, it makes for a great Gothic tale, not a case.

• Tim Schwimmer : I know you.

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : That's my problem.

  Tim Schwimmer : Oh, come on. You gonna hold my brilliant legal mind against me?

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : It wasn't so much your brilliance as Judge Karan's idiocy. Look, I respect what you do, Mr. Schwimmer. It doesn't mean I have to like you.

  Tim Schwimmer : Well, let me tell you about me. I grew up in Lakeview. Look a map sometime; I'll be damned if I can find a lake anywhere in Queens, but that's beside the point. City College, then on to teaching algebra to kids whose only interest in math was counting the notches on their guns.

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : Well, now you get to represent those kids all grown up.

  Tim Schwimmer : What, you think legal aid was my first choice? The problem is after Fordham Law at night, Wall Street didn't exactly open its arms.

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : Looked to me like you were having a grand old time.

  Tim Schwimmer : Hey, I don't have to second seat anyone. You should think about it.

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : I prefer my killers behind bars, thank you.

• Jack McCoy : You have to know you lost as soon as the first crying mother took the stand.

  Tim Schwimmer : I only went to law school nights but I did learn the basics.

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : If you could just give us something... anything.

  Tim Schwimmer : And if pigs could fly... Back in Lakeview I loved to go to the movies. I'd sit there all afternoon with this enormous box of Jujy Fruits. First I'd pick out the red ones, then the yellow, green, the blacks I'd give to my buddy Mel. Unfortunately, I don't have that luxury right now. I can't pick and choose the rules I want to follow and when to follow them.

  ADA Serena Southerlyn : If you helped us I can't I doubt that any Bar Association in the country would even consider disbarring you.

  Tim Schwimmer : Shame on them