Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

Hammered (2009)

Christine Lahti: EADA Sonya Paxton

Quotes 

• Olivia Benson : Please, people do bad things because they're bad people. Getting drunk to do it is just an excuse.

  Executive A.D.A. Sonya Paxton : Olivia, finally, we agree on something.

  Captain Donald Cragen : Liv, if there had been a cure a decade ago, your mom might still be alive.

  Executive A.D.A. Sonya Paxton : [to Olivia]  Wait, Mommy liked her cocktail or...?

  Olivia Benson : My mother was a falling-down drunk. She died going down a flight of stairs.

  [walks away] 

• [Stabler accidentally let a murder suspect escape from custody] 

  Executive A.D.A. Sonya Paxton : Good morning, detectives.

  Detective Elliot Stabler : Just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse.

  Executive A.D.A. Sonya Paxton : Has anyone seen my missing defendant?

  Detective Elliot Stabler : Well, we could try and find him, unless you wanna just waste our time busting my balls.

  Executive A.D.A. Sonya Paxton : Oh, I'd never kick a man when he's down. I'm sure you feel like a grade "A" moron as it is.

• Dalton Rindell : [about Sonya after she arrives in court late and dishelved]  She's drunk.

  Executive A.D.A. Sonya Paxton : Excuse me?

  Dalton Rindell : She's drunk.

  Executive A.D.A. Sonya Paxton : Excuse me, Dalton? Are you... did you say something to me?

  Dalton Rindell : Trust me. I would know.

  Roger Kressler : Your Honor, this is outrageous.

  Executive A.D.A. Sonya Paxton : [to Kressler]  Oh, what's your problem, you tiny little man?

• Olivia Benson : [when Sonya refuses to take a breathalyzer in court]  Sonya, your eyes are bloodshot and watery, your speech is slurred and you stink of booze. Now blow.

  Executive A.D.A. Sonya Paxton : I thought you were my friend.

  Olivia Benson : Just do it.

  Executive A.D.A. Sonya Paxton : Don't do this to me, Olivia. Please don't do this to me.

  Olivia Benson : You did this to yourself, Sonya.

• Executive A.D.A. Sonya Paxton : [about Dalton's alcoholism]  What a load of crap. It's not that he couldn't stop. He just didn't want to.

  Captain Donald Cragen : It's not that cut and dry, Sonya. Alcoholism is a recognized addiction.

  Executive A.D.A. Sonya Paxton : That millions of people have successfully overcome.

  Captain Donald Cragen : I've been sober over 20 years, but I struggle with it every day. It's not something you ever overcome.

  Executive A.D.A. Sonya Paxton : But you're not drinking, are you? Proving my point. Alcohol is just a crutch for weak-willed, pathetic losers.

  Captain Donald Cragen : How many coffees and cigarettes you have today, Sonya?

  Executive A.D.A. Sonya Paxton : [scoffs]  Oh, please. I can quit anytime I want and if I committed a felony, I wouldn't trot them out like the old Twinkie defense.