Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

Futility (2003)

Christopher Meloni: Detective Elliot Stabler

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Quotes 

• Det. Olivia Benson : I made Carrie relive the worst thing that's ever happened to her. I screwed any number of victims who might have sought counseling from Bethany Taylor. And a few less rapes may be reported because of it.

  Elliot Stabler : And if Michael Gardner is convicted, he'll never rape another woman.

  Det. Olivia Benson : It's not worth it. It's not worth the cost.

  Elliot Stabler : To you or them?

  Det. Olivia Benson : I'm not talking about me.

  Elliot Stabler : Yeah, you are. For as long as I have known you, you've always identified with the victims. Now, maybe that's because you're a woman. I don't know. I do know it's one of the things that makes you a great cop. It's also one of the things that makes this job torture sometimes. You can never go back and change things that have already happened, Olivia. You can't. You kill yourself to make something happen or you do nothing.

• Michael Gardner : Why are you harrassing me? I didn't do anything.

  Elliot Stabler : Violating an order of protection you moron! You just bought yourself a cell in Rikers.

• Alex Cabot : [after Carrie tells Olivia that Gardner followed her into a coffee shop]  It's not enough.

  Det. Olivia Benson : Hold on, Alex. You think this is a coincidence?

  Alex Cabot : Probably not, but a judge won't call it a violation. She entered the establishment, so in essence she followed him.

  Elliot Stabler : Gardner's got to know where Carrie lives. He attacked her right in front of her own building. If he's stalking her, he's got to know where she gets her coffee.

  Alex Cabot : His lawyer will argue that they live in the same neighborhood. It's not implausible they would frequent the same places.

  Det. Olivia Benson : Orders of protection are real helpful when you can't enforce them.

• Elliot Stabler : Olivia, no one's making you do this. The difference between you and all the victims is you can walk away.

• Elliot Stabler : [to Erin Russ about Michael Gardner]  Still think your client's an innocent man?

  Det. Olivia Benson : This is no longer a case of mistaken identities or false line-ups. This man is guilty of rape and murder.

  Erin Russ : If I knew where he was I'd tell you.

  Elliot Stabler : People are in imminent danger here.

  Erin Russ : I told you, I don't know where he is. If I hear from him, you're the first call I'll make.

• John Munch : [after it's revealed that Michael Gardner is nowhere to be found]  Locals are putting Gardner's mug shot on the 11:00 news. It'll be in the papers in the morning.

  Dr. George Huang : But there's still a possibility that he's staying in town despite the danger. He's already shown a propensity for stalking which means that any number of people could be a target.

  Donald Cragen : That's why I want warnings out to the judge, the D.A's, every witness, victim, juror. Anybody who set foot in that courtroom that he could see as an enemy.

  Elliot Stabler : [answers the phone]  Stabler.

  Donald Cragen : That includes you, Olivia. This guy's got a hard-on for you.

  Det. Olivia Benson : Good. I hope he tries something.

  Elliot Stabler : He did try something. Another attack.

• Det. Olivia Benson : [When Olivia stops by Elliot's house]  Where is everybody?

  Elliot Stabler : Kathy took the kids to "La Boheme." Pass.

  Det. Olivia Benson : So on your one night as a bachelor, you go to the grocery store? That's pretty pathetic.

  Elliot Stabler : A grocery store with strippers.