Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

True Believers (2011)

Mariska Hargitay: Detective Olivia Benson

Photos 

Quotes 

• Olivia Benson : Now, Sarah, you said that you gave him a beer?

  Sarah Walsh : It's on my coffee table. I haven't moved it. It's in a plastic cup. I thought that that might be better for DNA.

  Olivia Benson : Actually, the bottle would've been better.

  Sarah Walsh : I'll remember that for next time.

  Olivia Benson : I'm sorry. I... I wasn't thinking.

• Olivia Benson : [after Michael Wedmore is acquitted of all charges]  Sarah...

  Sarah Walsh : Don't! Don't you dare tell me that that was worth it. That was so ugly!

  Olivia Benson : Sarah, you didn't let him get away with it. You accused him in public...

  Sarah Walsh : So what? He's going home with his family. I would have never let anyone go through that.

  Olivia Benson : That's true. And I know that that's how you feel right now...

  Sarah Walsh : No, you have no idea how I feel!

  Olivia Benson : Sarah, listen to me. Sending him to prison isn't gonna heal you. Healing begins when someone bears witness. I saw you. I believe you.

• Olivia Benson : [to Ellis]  We've got the right man.

  Bayard Ellis : Not the right way.

  Olivia Benson : Look, there's no big conspiracy here. What's in this for you?

  Bayard Ellis : Nothing, but if improprieties happen on ordinary cases like this, that means they happen all the time.

  Olivia Benson : So you're gonna use this case to declare war on the NYPD?

  Bayard Ellis : The NYPD declared war on young men of color a long time ago. 500,000 stop and frisks in one year?

  Olivia Benson : That son of a bitch raped her.

  Bayard Ellis : Last I heard, even if a black man is accused of rape, the burden of proof is still on the state.

• Olivia Benson : [to Ellis]  Are you proud of yourself? You brought up every stereotype. You shamed that girl about her sexuality. You said that if a white girl in that neighborhood cries rape, she must have wanted it? Nice work.

  Bayard Ellis : And your case? The ID? The gun your partner heard slide under the couch? No DNA? If Michael were white, this never would've gone to trial.

  Olivia Benson : Oh, wow. You're still playing the race card, huh?

  Bayard Ellis : 84% of the young men in New York jails are black and Latino.

  Olivia Benson : He raped her!

  Bayard Ellis : So she says. We don't know. Neither one of us was there. The only thing we can do is believe our people and we do it without question.

  Olivia Benson : So that's it. You're a true believer.

  Bayard Ellis : I am. And so are you.

  Olivia Benson : I just do my job.

  Bayard Ellis : Look, not everyone in the NYPD is like you, Detective. I wish they were. I could retire. This job, fighting this hard, it... win or lose, it comes with a cost.

• Olivia Benson : You know, I look at the unis, all these kids in the squad room and all I can think of is, I'm so tired.

  Bayard Ellis : I get it. This is what happens when you live for the job.

• Nick Amaro : [to Olivia]  Thanks for having my back.

  Olivia Benson : I can't say that I saw something that I didn't see.

  Nick Amaro : That's good to know, partner.

• Jen : Sarah, as your advocate, I wanna make you aware that one of your options is to not file charges...

  Olivia Benson : Excuse me?

  Jen : You showered. There's a lack of obvious physical violence. Those cases can be difficult to prosecute.

  Olivia Benson : They also give you a voice to say that this is not okay and to demand justice.

  Jen : Prosecution is emotionally grueling...

  Olivia Benson : Jen, can I talk to you for a second outside? Thank you.

  [she and Jen step outside the exam area] 

  Olivia Benson : What are you doing?

  Jen : It's my job to ensure the survivor knows everything about this process. I don't sugarcoat.

  Olivia Benson : And you've been a counselor for how long?

  Jen : Yeah, you've been doing this longer, but I have fresher eyes. The reality is the system doesn't always work.

  Olivia Benson : I understand that, but that girl has just been robbed of all her power and all her humanity and your best advice is pretend it never happened and walk away?

  Jen : That's not... I meant...

  Olivia Benson : It doesn't matter.

  [walks away from Jen]