Joan of Arcadia (TV Series)

Just Say No (2003)

Joe Mantegna: Will Girardi

Quotes 

• D.A. Gabe Fellowes : Look, I've tried... 200 rape cases. There's a pattern. Guy had a gun, looks like a lunatic with tattoos, the jury will go with the victim, no problem. But if he doesn't have a weapon, and he resembles their son or their brother, they'll start looking to give him a break. Maybe it's because she knew him. Maybe it's because she was drinking. Maybe it's both, but they'll latch onto something.

  Will Girardi : I'd like to send a different message under my watch. We don't grade on a curve. Rapists don't get a pass.

  D.A. Gabe Fellowes : Then go back and teach your boys how to write a report.

• Will Girardi : Why is my past on the kitchen table?

  Helen Girardi : Joan is having a yard sale, and I got sucked into it. Don't ask me why, 'cause I don't know.

• Lt. Michael Daghlian : What's that about?

  Will Girardi : Oh, she's explaining that a civil trial would open up the case, so he should forget that, and she's asking him who Amy McFadden is.

  Lt. Michael Daghlian : Yeah, who is Amy McFadden?

  Will Girardi : My girlfriend from the seventh grade. I just needed to know for myself. He's guilty as hell.

• Will Girardi : How can I be running late already? Where's my badge? What happened to Sunday?

  Helen Girardi : It was devoured by football games.

  Will Girardi : [to Joan]  Hon, you didn't sell my badge, did you?

  [she ignores him] 

  Will Girardi : Are we gonna hang meat in here later? Is this about the records?

  Helen Girardi : No. This particular sulk has my name on it.

  Joan : Keep the paintings, don't keep the paintings. Who cares? The point is you acted like a freak in front of my boyfriend!

  Helen Girardi : I didn't know he was your boyfriend.

  Joan : Well, he probably isn't anymore!

• Will Girardi : There something you want to tell me?

  Lt. Michael Daghlian : Gabe's taking the case.

  Will Girardi : Oh, that I know. You want to tell me why?

  Lt. Michael Daghlian : It's... my case, Will, and I take full responsibility for it.

  Will Girardi : Lieutenant Daghlian, there's no looking the other way on my shift. Now, you get on the phone and you get that report back.

  Lt. Michael Daghlian : He wouldn't give it back even if I asked.

  Will Girardi : Look at me. I don't play ball.

  Lt. Michael Daghlian : There was once a good cop. High-ranking, on his way up in Narcotics. He wanted to take this drug dealer down, but he had no probable cause, so he took advantage of a phantom anonymous tip. He knew it wouldn't hold up under scrunity, but he believed his squad would back him up. However, he didn't... well, he didn't count on the good captain.

  Will Girardi : He was a good captain. And the best thing he ever did for me was junk me from the squad, send me to the fringes, and make me start all over again. I had to work my way back to being an honest cop.

  Lt. Michael Daghlian : The point is you played ball.

  Will Girardi : The point is I did my time, and now you have to do yours.

  Lt. Michael Daghlian : There's certain forces in the universe that aren't gonna let that happen, Will.

  Will Girardi : If the powers that be want to set you up in the next county... hell, if they want to make you the commissioner, I'll fall on that sword when I come to it, but you don't work for me.

  Lt. Michael Daghlian : Hey, a bad guy is going to prison.

  Will Girardi : You falsified a report.

  Lt. Michael Daghlian : You asked me to.

  Will Girardi : I'm sorry if that's what you thought.

  Lt. Michael Daghlian : You practically spelled it out.

  Will Girardi : If that's the party favor you want to take out of here, I can't stop you. Now pack your things and go.

• Sara Bonner : I'm not the kind of person who likes to make trouble. I-I've tried to be patient, but I've called the D.A.'s office every other week, and they never give me a straight answer.

  Will Girardi : I appreciate your frustration. Even though it's filed, the D.A. has to prepare the case and agree to a court date. Chances are it didn't make it to his desk yet.

  Sara Bonner : The man who did this to me is a monster. Why is this low down on someone's priority list?

  Will Girardi : I genuinely don't believe it is. If your case is backed up, it's because this kind of thing happens far too frequently.

  Lt. Michael Daghlian : You do understand that this really isn't a police matter anymore? I mean, once we've written the report and sent it over to the D.A...

  Sara Bonner : You know, I don't care about any of that. I just want something to happen, and I'm not gonna shut up until it does.

  Will Girardi : Here's what I can do. I can contact the district attorney and inquire about the status of your case. I'll get back to you as soon as I know anything. All right?

  [she stands to leave] 

  Will Girardi : I'm... very sorry about what happened to you.

  Sara Bonner : You just make sure that twelve people are equally sorry. Then I'll be impressed, all right?

• Sara Bonner : This doesn't look good.

  Will Girardi : Your case hasn't been officially reviewed by the D.A. His deputies are doing what they do; scrutinizing evidence, determining whether or not they can win. Right now, they're worried that it might not be strong enough.

  Sara Bonner : Well, did they see the pictures of me? Did they talk to the doctors?

  Will Girardi : It's all in the police report.

  Sara Bonner : Well, maybe he'll kill the next girl. I mean, that's a stronger case, I assume.

  Will Girardi : I understand how painful this must be.

  Sara Bonner : Don't say you understand. You don't! No man gets to say that.

  Will Girardi : You're right. But some of us are closer to understanding than others.