Law & Order (TV Series)

Burned (1997)

Carey Lowell: ADA Jamie Ross

Quotes 

• A.D.A. Jamie Ross : Your grandson needs psychiatric help.

  Carl Anderton : Absolutely not.

  Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy : I don't understand you, Mr. Anderton. We're offering him...

  Carl Anderton : What? The chance to stay in a loony bin till some state employee decides he can leave?

  [pause] 

  Carl Anderton : You know, I know what this is really all about, Mr McCoy.

  [pause] 

  Carl Anderton : You're going after my grandson to embarrass me.

  [McCoy shakes his head] 

  Carl Anderton : Yes! Personally, professionally, publicly.

  [Walks right up to McCoy] 

  Carl Anderton : I know your type. You think that to bring down a man who's accomplished something in life it builds you up. You're not going to get away with it. I put a fair offer on the table. You turn it down, I'll go public and I'll expose you for the vindictive, envious little man you really are.

  [McCoy stares at Anderton in astonishment] 

• Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy : Adam, why are we pussyfooting around?

  D.A. Adam Schiff : [referring to Anderton]  The man has a 4 billion dollar war chest. Three years ago, the Atlantic Star Cable merger, he took on the SEC and won.

  A.D.A. Jamie Ross : [sarcastically]  He's rich; he's powerful; maybe we should let Robin Leach try the case?

• A.D.A. Jamie Ross : It would help if we could tell the jury what turned Terry into an arsonist.

  Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy : He was angry at his father. That's an emotion I can understand.

• Dr. Emil Skoda : [McCoy and Dr. Skoda are discussing Terry Lawlor's interview with the judge]  I'm not a mind reader, Jack. 'Hi how are ya' is not a diagnostic question.

  Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy : You can't tell me anything?

  Dr. Emil Skoda : He likes rollerblading and Nintendo. So do I.

  A.D.A. Jamie Ross : I don't get it. They should have jumped at the chance for the exam.

  Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy : They think they're gonna win.

  A.D.A. Jamie Ross : The way things are going, they're probably right. So, now what?

  Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy : We go to trial. If they won't use his mental state to get him acquitted, fine. We'll use it to convict him. He set the fire because he's deluded.

  A.D.A. Jamie Ross : If he has a mental disease, he doesn't belong in prison, Jack.

  Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy : Maybe it won't come down to that.

  A.D.A. Jamie Ross : What if it does?

  Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy : That's what they pay us for.

• Dr. Emil Skoda : You want me to make a diagnosis based on the word of an amateur?

  Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy : Yeah. You got a problem with that?

  Dr. Emil Skoda : OK... uh, he can't relate to others, has low tolerance for frustration, he's unpredictable. So far that's my kid. Now, the fear and suspicion, the whispering through the walls sounds like he's in the early stages of bipolar disorder.

  A.D.A. Jamie Ross : Bipolar disorder.

  Dr. Emil Skoda : Alternating cycles of depression and mania, periods of feeling better than normal, brighter and more energetic and charming. Hypersexuality and poor judgement. Then, suddenly, irritability, aggression, delusions of persecution, hearing voices.

  Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy : That's what's going on with this kid?

  Dr. Emil Skoda : It's a third-hand diagnosis, take it for what it's worth. But, it might explain why the kid's a firebug.

• A.D.A. Jamie Ross : [referring to Carl Anderton]  Last year he made a surprise takeover bid for Commonwealth Airlines. One week later, he withdrew the bid, and accused the FAA and the stockholders of conspiring against him. It's classic manic-depressive behavior.

  D.A. Adam Schiff : Doesn't make sense. Runs a Fortune 500 company.

  Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy : So did Howard Hughes.

• Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy : [looking at a photo of Terry Lawlor in his school yearbook]  Looks pretty harmless in a jacket and tie.

  A.D.A. Jamie Ross : You all do!