Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

Beautiful Frame (2013)

Raúl Esparza: ADA Rafael Barba

Quotes 

• Amanda Rollins : Sounds like it's time for a sit-down with the Suffolk County D.A.

  Rafael Barba : [pulls open his jacket to reveal his suspenders]  Open our kimono? I don't think so.

• Rafael Barba : [about Jessie after she's arraigned for murder]  We're in someone else's courthouse and it's not our case. She's their defendant.

  Olivia Benson : I know, but she's also our victim.

• Rafael Barba : [to Provo]  You remember Carol McEwan. She made the second 911 call, reporting gunshots that nobody else heard moments before Jessie even got there.

  D.A. Pam James : This is my witness. She's on my list.

  Rafael Barba : She's on mine now. She's going to testify that she was blackmailed by Provo into making a false report.

  Michael Provo : That lying bitch.

  Olivia Benson : Your frame's collapsing, huh, Provo?

• Olivia Benson : [while going over the case with Barba]  Four months ago, Jessie Sturgis was raped by a Michael Provo.

  Nick Amaro : Provo's side, it was consensual sex and she lied 'cause she was afraid of her boyfriend.

  Rafael Barba : Tommy Bandolce. The guy that Jessie's accused of murdering last night?

  Nick Amaro : Right.

  Rafael Barba : That's why Ms. James wants to see your case. She wants background on Jessie. She's also worried Provo was falsely accused.

  Olivia Benson : Did she tell you that Michael Provo is a CI for their office, helped make her the DA? She's just looking to protect her own.

  Rafael Barba : Didn't come up. Either way, she wants us to open our kimono.

  Odafin Tutuola : Excuse me?

  Amanda Rollins : She wants to see all of our casework, all the D.A.'s files.

  Olivia Benson : So she can build a case against Jessie. I assume you told her no.

  Rafael Barba : Detective, there's a protocol among D.A.'s. I can't just say no.

• Rafael Barba : Ms. James, what brings you to town?

  D.A. Pam James : I was heading to the governor's fundraiser when I heard that your SVU minions arrested Mr. Provo in Islip.

  Rafael Barba : Yeah, they said traffic was terrible coming back.

• D.A. Pam James : Mr. Barba, you have to understand, these allegations come as a complete shock to me. You can be assured that my office will conduct a thorough investigation.

  Rafael Barba : I've no doubt you will.

  Amanda Rollins : And in the meantime, all your charges against Jessie can be dropped.

  D.A. Pam James : Due diligence first, Detective.

  Olivia Benson : Due diligence? I'd call it saving face. Jessie Sturgis is innocent. She has a child in foster care.

  Rafael Barba : More to the point, once I get Mr. Provo convicted of conspiracy, every one of your cases he was involved with will be under the microscope. So will your office. Think about what that means, Pam.

  D.A. Pam James : Don't threaten me. Either of you.

  Rafael Barba : Counselor, no threat was intended.

• D.A. Pam James : Mr. Barba, I am due in court in three minutes. Where's that case file?

  Rafael Barba : I've hit a couple of red flags. It turns out Michael Provo was accused of rape four years ago.

  D.A. Pam James : It's not an issue. Charges were never filed.

  Rafael Barba : You mean you never filed them. You were the prosecuting attorney on that case.

  D.A. Pam James : This isn't the city. We don't drag the wrongfully accused through the mud.

• Rafael Barba : Pay no attention to Ms. James' icy demeanor. Underneath, she's all steel.