Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

The Undiscovered Country (2018)

Sam Waterston: DA Jack McCoy

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Quotes 

• Jack McCoy : I suppose you want to talk to me about ADA Barba.

  Olivia Benson : He is the best ADA that I've ever worked with. He is honest and honorable.

  Jack McCoy : But I can't have my ADAs running around killing people. It's unbecoming.

• Jack McCoy : In my younger and more vulnerable years, when I was knee-deep in my very first trial, opposing counsel unwittingly sabotaged his own case by including an inculpatory document in with his discovery request. I didn't know what to do. So I did what any young ADA did when he was utterly lost. I went to Mr. Stone's cubicle, where he was writing a closing. Ben listened patiently. "I can either ignore the document," I said, "or...", and he cut me off before I could finish the sentence. "A man shouldn't do what he can," he said. "He should do what he must, without regard for consequence or repercussion. That's what makes us moral," Ben added. "And God help us if we lose that." So, like that, the world is a sadder place. The noblest of hearts has cracked. Goodbye, Ben Stone. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

• Jack McCoy : We don't pay you to think, we pay you to work.

  [indicating the drink in Barba's hand] 

  Jack McCoy : Sure, I'll have one. You know, I always wish the law was more like chemistry. You heat up water to 212 degrees, and the son of a bitch boils.

  Rafael Barba : Sans bias, sans judgment.

  Jack McCoy : Sans conscience. So what's so interesting out that window?

  Rafael Barba : My father... almost seven years ago, dad went into a diabetic coma, and he was on life support for six weeks.

  Jack McCoy : I'm sorry.

  Rafael Barba : No, don't be. He was not well-liked. By anyone. Especially me. Still, I was at the hospital every morning before work, and every night, until the nurses threw me out. The doctors said that there was nothing they could do for him. There was no brain activity. They highly recommended that we end it. And I said "No. Where there's life, there's hope." I could've eased his suffering, but I didn't. And I told myself that it's because Father Mike wouldn't approve.

  Jack McCoy : I'm sure he wouldn't.

  Rafael Barba : I was selfish. I hated the man. But still, I didn't want the burden of being the reason that he took his last breath. I was selfish. I let him suffer.

• Jack McCoy : Prosecute Aaron Householder.

  Rafael Barba : For doing the same thing I did to my dad?

  Jack McCoy : The law is what the statute says it is.

  Rafael Barba : It's a shame. No matter how hard we try, we can't legislate morality.

  Jack McCoy : We're not in the compassion business, Rafael.

  Rafael Barba : Sure. Why not?

  Jack McCoy : [finishing his drink and standing to leave]  Cut a deal. Offer him probation. Go to church. Say three Hail Marys. Then come back here and fish off that bottle.

• Jack McCoy : It must have been tough growing up with Saint Ben.

  Peter Stone : A great man is not necessarily a good one.

  Jack McCoy : Did you know that he had everybody over to his place the first time you pitched? I thought his heart stopped when that bastard ruined your no-hitter. I think he secretly became a Cubs fan.

  Peter Stone : [with an amused laugh]  That's treason.

  Jack McCoy : That's what I told him.

• Jack McCoy : My first wife made me promise to never eat at my desk. I thought it was good advice. Sit.

  Peter Stone : I just wanted to thank you for your kind words yesterday.

  Jack McCoy : All of them true. All of them heartfelt. Sit.

  [as Peter sits down, Jack offers a paper bag] 

  Jack McCoy : Eat.

  Peter Stone : I'm good.

  Jack McCoy : This is still my jurisdiction, and people do what I say or they pay the price.