Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

She Paints for Vengeance (2020)

Mouzam Makkar: Dara Miglani

Photos 

Quotes 

• Monica Russo : You don't give up, do you?

  Olivia Benson : Monica, this is Dara Miglani, and she's willing to represent you if you want.

  Dara Miglani : How you holding up, Monica?

  Monica Russo : Can you just get me out of here?

  Olivia Benson : We're talking to the ADA. We're gonna try to get you arraigned as soon as we can.

  Dara Miglani : Once we know the charges, we'll figure out our strategy.

  Monica Russo : Hey, I-I'm not pleading guilty. To anything.

  Dara Miglani : Good for you.

• Dara Miglani : Jan was a sports journalist before she was assaulted.

  Amanda Rollins : Why don't you tell me what happened to you.

  Jan Erickson : Um... I had lucked into an interview with Markeevious in his hotel room. I was excited. But I could tell he wasn't taking me seriously. He kept asking if I had a boyfriend. He touched my breast. I pushed him away. He grabbed me. His face was... blank. He assaulted me.

  Amanda Rollins : Did you tell anyone? Or go to the police?

  Jan Erickson : [softly crying]  No. I went home and took a bath. I can't even watch sports anymore. I feel like I'm running away in my head as fast as I can, like something ugly is chasing me. It's me. An ugly me.

• Olivia Benson : I would've appreciated a call.

  Dara Miglani : Asymmetrical warfare. The element of surprise is key.

  Olivia Benson : You do know that I'm on Monica's side?

  Dara Miglani : You are, but I can be louder. And quicker. And my tactics worked. I've been contacted by two other women Markeevious raped.

  Olivia Benson : Here in New York?

  Dara Miglani : Out of state, but goes to pattern. They'll talk to SVU with me in the room. In fact, they're both on the way here. You can thank me later.

• Monica Russo : [after an outburst in court]  I know, you told me where the line was, and I crossed it. I screwed up.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : No, you didn't.

  Dara Miglani : You're fine.

  Judge Elana Barth : Excuse me. What the hell was that? Amateur hour? Keep it up, you're gunning for contempt.

  Dara Miglani : Oh, go back to your rapist client.

  Amanda Rollins : [Barth storms off]  She's pissed. You got to her.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Not me. Monica. My guess is it worked.

• Dominick Carisi Jr. : All right, I'll... I'll talk to my boss. I'll-I'll ask him not to push for jail time.

  Dara Miglani : Ask? She has a right to be angry.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : So I've heard.

  Dara Miglani : Soon as you arrest Markeevious, she'll calm down.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Maybe. Look, this can't look like I arrested him because she chained herself to his restaurant.

  Dara Miglani : Why not?

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Listen, we both want Markeevious to go down, right? So I need Monica focused. I need her prepping for her testimony, not making headlines.

  Dara Miglani : [her phone buzzes]  Here we go.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : What? What?

  Dara Miglani : Markeevious has gone on the offensive. He's all over Twitter saying he's the victim, and he's gonna sue Monica for harassment and defamation.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : He's bluffing. Look, the last thing this guy wants is to be deposed. Do me a favor. Make sure your client doesn't overreact.

• Dara Miglani : Thanks for the call.

  Olivia Benson : Hi, absolutely. I hear you're representing Getz's victims. You must be busy.

  Dara Miglani : I am. That's a good thing. These guys always get the best defense money can buy. Survivors need advocates.

  Olivia Benson : They do.

  Dara Miglani : How's Monica doing?

  Olivia Benson : She is angry and unrepentant and, I must warn you, unpredictable.

  Dara Miglani : Defiant. I live for that.

• Judge Colin McNamara : On the charges of disorderly conduct, making graffiti, resisting arrest, and criminal mischief, how do you plead?

  Dara Miglani : Not guilty. My client has no priors, isn't a flight risk. We request ROR.

  Judge Colin McNamara : Mr. Carisi?

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : The People have no objection.

  Judge Colin McNamara : Granted. Do yourself a favor, Ms. Russo. Stay away from paint for a while.

  Monica Russo : Yeah, I can't promise that.

  Dara Miglani : Your Honor, she will.

  Judge Colin McNamara : I hope so. ROR granted. Next case.

• Dominick Carisi Jr. : Ms. Miglani, I've heard a lot about you.

  Dara Miglani : Is that code for "I can be a pain in the ass"?

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Yeah, pretty much.

• Dara Miglani : There was no collusion.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : These three women were never in the same room together? Get your client ready to testify, because as of now, this is all on her.

  Judge Elana Barth : Mr. Carisi, they tell me tomorrow's your first trial. I'd promise you I'd go easy, but that's just not how it works.

• Odafin Tutuola : What the hell's going on?

  Monica Russo : [on a bullhorn outside a precinct]  My name is Monica Russo. I was raped by Markeevious Ryan at the Topaz Club.

  Odafin Tutuola : Her attorney gave you the heads-up?

  Olivia Benson : Oh, not in so many words. But I brought this upon myself. I wanted somebody who would fight for Monica.

  Monica Russo : I was exercising my right to free speech against a man who raped me, and now he's suing me!

  Dara Miglani : [taking the bullhorn]  While Monica sat in a holding cell, Markeevious greeted customers at his steakhouse. He continues to enjoy his freedom and the perks of his fame while Monica fights to have her voice heard. We are here to ask any other victims of Markeevious to come forward and to contact us, and to demand that the NYPD arrest Markeevious Ryan.