Law & Order (TV Series)

Tabula Rasa (1999)

Sam Waterston: Executive ADA Jack McCoy

Quotes 

• Jack McCoy : It's like Jonestown without the Kool-Aid.

• A.D.A. Abbie Carmichael : That was the spookiest bunch I ever saw.

  Jack McCoy : The whole family's worried, about inconveniencing Dad.

• Jack McCoy : Did William Fallon terrorize those girls by threatening to withhold his love for them if they didn't do exactly what he wanted?

  Sylvia Fallon : Yes.

  Nick Taska : You stupid cow!

  Judge Lisa Holt : Mr. Fallon!

  Nick Taska : Judge, you can't do this. The only reason I married her is so my children would have a mother.

• Jack McCoy : Do you work outside the home?

  Sylvia Fallon : I know it's old-fashioned, but I believe if there are children, the wife should be home for them. Children are a precious gift.

  Jack McCoy : Who handles the discipline, you or your husband?

  Sylvia Fallon : He does.

  Jack McCoy : Who takes care of the finances? Who deals with the workman, the electricians, the plumbers?

  Sylvia Fallon : Bill.

  Jack McCoy : Over the years, who took your children to school?

  Sylvia Fallon : Mmm, he did.

  Jack McCoy : Who took them shopping for clothes and toys?

  Sylvia Fallon : Bill.

  Jack McCoy : What exactly is your function in the family, Mrs. Fallon? To fold the towels?

  [Mrs. Fallon pauses and looks at her husband] 

  Jack McCoy : Your husband can't tell you what to say right now.

• Jack McCoy : Did you ever seen a movie or read a book or had a friend your father didn't approve of?

  Susan Fallon : No.

  Jack McCoy : Why not?

• Eleanor Taska : He used to tell them 'only bad girls cry' 'only bad girls soil their diapers'.

  Jack McCoy : From what point on?

  Eleanor Taska : Birth.

• Jack McCoy : How old was Alexis when you became her stepmother? Was she still in diapers?

  Sylvia Fallon : Yes, she was only two.

  Jack McCoy : Did you ever hear the defendant tell her only bad girls soil their diapers?

  Sylvia Fallon : You don't understand. From the outside it may look strange, but Bill just worked miracles with the girls.

  Jack McCoy : In what way?

  Sylvia Fallon : [stammers]  Well... well, when Susan was four, she learned to tie her shoelaces in one afternoon. How many children do that?

  Jack McCoy : How was this miracle accomplished?

  Sylvia Fallon : She sat there for hours, tying and retying the laces until her little fingers made it work.

  Jack McCoy : A four year old? Why? Did Mr.Fallon tell her that Daddy wouldn't love her anymore if she couldn't do it right by sundown?

  Sylvia Fallon : Both girls were intent on pleasing their father.

  Jack McCoy : I'll bet they were. Did the bow have to be exactly on center? Did the loops have to be exactly equal?

  Professor Norman Rothenberg : Your Honor...

  Judge Lisa Holt : Mr. McCoy, let's move it along.

  Jack McCoy : Why haven't you and your husband ever had children?

  Sylvia Fallon : We discussed it and decided against it.

  Jack McCoy : It was a mutual decision? You really don't want to have children of your own?

  Sylvia Fallon : Bill thought two was enough.

  Jack McCoy : What did you think?

  Sylvia Fallon : In our family we leave the important decisions to the person who is best equipped to make them.

  Jack McCoy : I see. How long has it been since you saw your parents?

  Sylvia Fallon : I don't know. Quite a while. Bill doesn't like me to be away.

  Jack McCoy : Do you hear yourself? Bill thinks, Bill wants, Bill needs. Do you think this man has ever asked himself once what you want, what you need?

  Sylvia Fallon : There has to be a final authority, Mr. McCoy.

  Jack McCoy : Are you saying that the defendant had total control of his family, Mrs. Fallon? Did the defendant constantly tell his children they were bad, they were stupid? Did he continually terrify them with a threat to withhold his love if they didn't meet his insane expectations? Did William Fallon terrorize his children, day after day, year after year, until they could no longer tell where he left off and they began?

  Sylvia Fallon : Yes!

  Nick Taska : You stupid cow!