- Jack McCoy: [to Spencer Talbert about Sarah Maslin] Are you admitting you had sex with her?
- Councilman Spencer Talbert: Yes. Not only was it consensual, it wasn't very good.
- Jack McCoy: You really are a piece of work, Mr. Talbert.
- Sarah Maslin: [about Spencer Talbert] He told me if I didn't sleep with him, I wouldn't make partner. He'd blackball me from any other job. I killed myself for eight years. I deserved to be a partner in this law firm, Mr. McCoy.
- Jack McCoy: [closing summation] Give me the keys to your house, or I'll charge you with murder. I'm the D.A. I can do it. Give me ten thousand dollars, or I'll tell the Feds about that shipment of heroin I saw you pick up at J.F.K. I'm the D.A. They'll listen. What would you do? I can tell you what I'll be doing for the next ten years or so: I'll be in Attica, because what I did is called extortion, and it's a felony. Sleep with me, or I'll tell your boss that you're under indictment for fraud. It's not true... but do you really think you'll be working next week? Sarah Maslin worked. For eight years, she was the best, the most productive associate in her firm. She had clearly earned a partnership. But the only way that she could get it was to have sex with a man who had the power to make or break her career. Sarah Maslin laid down on that couch for Mr. Talbert. But can any of us say that she really had a choice?
- Evelyn Talbert: I don't really know what you expect me to tell you. Spencer and I have been together for 13 years now. We have a very strong marriage.
- Mike Logan: Strong enough to withstand a rape accusation?
- Asst. M.E. Gardner: [about the victim] These were on her legs and arms which are not consistent with the crash. Abrasions on her buttocks and more bruises resembling finger marks. Looks like her underwear was ripped off. And there's vaginal tearing, semen.
- Lennie Briscoe: So we're talking rape.
- Asst. M.E. Gardner: If it was a romantic evening at home, I'd hate to meet her boyfriend.
- Claire Kincaid: [to Sarah Maslin about Spencer Talbert] If he raped you...
- Sarah Maslin: Oh, he raped me all right. When we worked together.
- Claire Kincaid: You mean over three years ago?
- Sarah Maslin: It was late at night at the office.
- Claire Kincaid: You didn't go to the police?
- Sarah Maslin: I'm an attorney, too, Miss Kincaid. I know the drill. A rape trial boils down to "he said, she said." And when the "he" is one of the most respected lawyers on Wall Street, the "she" doesn't stand much of a chance.
- Claire Kincaid: You're an educated woman. You're articulate, strong. People would have believed you.
- Sarah Maslin: You don't get it. It wouldn't have mattered. I had a career to protect. I was still an associate at the firm. I wanted to become a partner. What difference would it make?
- Claire Kincaid: You were the victim.
- Sarah Maslin: I was involved in a scandal. Clients don't like that much in their legal advisor.