Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

Witness (2010)

Stephanie March: ADA Alexandra 'Alex' Cabot

Quotes 

• A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : I put in my papers. I'm taking a leave of absence.

  Elliot Stabler : So you're abandoning us again.

• [last lines; Alex is leaving to join a new ICC task force] 

  Detective Olivia Benson : Wow. Nardalie really got to you.

  A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : She inspired me.

• Nardalee Ulah : [to Cabot]  Do you have any idea what is happening in the Congo? Where I come from, hundreds of thousands of women have been raped. In the Eastern provinces, it is used as a weapon of war. It is so common, it is to be expected.

  A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : Is that what happened to you?

  Nardalee Ulah : They came into my house. Five of them. They raped me and my daughter in front of my husband. In the middle of it, he ran away. No one came to save us.

  [crying] 

  Nardalee Ulah : My angel, Sabine was only five years old. She looked into my eyes and cried for her mama as they each took their turn with her.

  A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : Where is she now?

  Nardalee Ulah : It took her six days to die.

  A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : What about your husband? Did they ever find him?

  Nardalee Ulah : After the militia passed through, he came back, cast me out of our home.

  A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : Why?

  Nardalee Ulah : He said everyone would know what happened to me. He could not bear the shame. I ran into the forest. I made my way to a refugee camp in North Kivu. One day, the lnterahamwe came, accused us of treating rebels who attacked the mine they were guarding. They... they dragged me back into their camp. They... they...

  [starts sobbing] 

• A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : [to Olivia]  Do you know rape is not recognized as grounds for asylum? It is only granted for persecution based on race, religion, nationality or political opinion. Gender violence isn't even covered.

  Detective Olivia Benson : That's outrageous. How can they not recognize the systematic rape of women as torture?

• A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : [to Nardalee]  Ms. Ulah, do you see rape everywhere?

  Nardalee Ulah : The women in my village were raped. The women in the militia camp were raped. I was raped repeatedly by so many men, I lost count. They put their guns in my sex and one of them pulled the trigger. I was in the hospital for over a year. It left me incontinent. So yes. I have seen rape everywhere. That is how I know that girl was raped.

• A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : [after Lainie's rapist is convicted]  Oh, Nardalee. Thank you.

  Nardalee Ulah : I can't believe I helped put a rapist in jail. I never thought it was possible.

• A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : Lainie, this is your last chance to speak for yourself. Don't you want the jury to hear your side of the story?

  Lainie McCallum : What's the point? I'm going to be dead.

  A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : The man who did this to you needs to be punished. He will testify it was consensual.

  Detective Olivia Benson : Lainie, if you do this your voice will be heard Iong after.

• A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : [to Nardalee]  I need you to tell the grand jury what happened to Lainie in that stairwell.

  Nardalee Ulah : I cannot do that.

  A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : By 5:00 tomorrow, a rapist could walk free if you don't testify.

  Nardalee Ulah : I am very sorry for what happened to that girl. I did what I could to help her.

  A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : Other people would have turned and walked away, but you risked your life.

  Nardalee Ulah : And she got away. She survived.

  A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : She died because of injuries she sustained during the rape. You are the only chance she has. Please do not walk away from her now.

• Lainie McCallum : Oh, my God. Is that the man who raped me? I told you he had one of those pot bellies.

  A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot : And I told you that I would come and get you when I needed you. And what are you wearing? We went over this.

  Lainie McCallum : You said to look nice. Don't I look good?

  Odafin Tutuola : I think she had a little more Sunday school in mind.