Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

Selfish (2009)

Stephanie March: ADA Alexandra 'Alex' Cabot

Photos 

Quotes 

• Alexandra Cabot : [to Stabler about Ashlee]  Well then, get back in there and wring a confession out of her before she remembers her favorite episode of "Judge Judy" and lawyers up.

• Alexandra Cabot : If Ashlee makes a full confession, we will reduce the murder charge to negligent homicide.

  Sophie Devere : What's wrong, Alex? Don't you have enough evidence for the full monty?

  Ashlee Walker : Will I have to stay in jail?

  Alexandra Cabot : Not if you confess to what you did.

  Sophie Devere : Where's the catch?

  Alexandra Cabot : Ashlee does 500 hours of community service, weekly therapy and she enrolls in an alcohol treatment program.

  Sophie Devere : We'll take it.

  Ashlee Walker : Last Thursday, Sierra had a fever and this terrible rash, too. She wouldn't stop crying and I just couldn't take it anymore. It was all night long. So, I spanked her. Then, she got quiet. I just went back to sleep and the next morning when I woke up, she was just... she was cold.

  Alexandra Cabot : What happened next?

  Ashlee Walker : She was dead and I just panicked and I buried her. If my mom had've found out...

  Alexandra Cabot : You were only thinking of yourself, Ashlee. You were afraid you would be blamed.

  Ashlee Walker : No. I killed her. Oh, my God. I must have hit her so hard, I killed my baby.

  Alexandra Cabot : No, you didn't.

  Ashlee Walker : I don't understand.

  Alexandra Cabot : Sierra died from measles.

  Sophie Devere : What?

  Alexandra Cabot : [to Devere]  I'll expect your client to be at her first therapy session tomorrow morning.

  Ashlee Walker : She tricked me?

  Sophie Devere : For heaven's sake, Alex. She could have walked.

  Alexandra Cabot : Yeah, but I'm giving her the chance to grow up.

• Alexandra Cabot : Ms. Stewart, what is your medical degree in?

  Monica Stewart : I don't have one.

  Alexandra Cabot : But you were making medical choices on behalf of your child.

  Monica Stewart : Just because I don't have a degree doesn't mean I can't be an informed parent.

  Alexandra Cabot : You chose your informed opinion over that of people who do in fact, have a medical degree and understand the science behind vaccinations and recommend that all kids be vaccinated.

  Monica Stewart : I know what's best for my child.

  Alexandra Cabot : Well, if you know what's best and the doctors are of a different opinion, then it stands to reason that they don't have your child's best interest at heart.

  Monica Stewart : Their science is just another opinion.

  Alexandra Cabot : Your opinion killed a little girl.

  Trevor Langan : Your Honor...

  Alexandra Cabot : I'm just trying to show that if Ms. Stewart had vaccinated her child, Sierra Walker would be alive today.

  Monica Stewart : I'm not sure that's true.

  Alexandra Cabot : You're not?

  Monica Stewart : That woman was a horrible mother. It was just a matter of time until something tragic happened.

  Alexandra Cabot : You're the one on trial, Ms. Stewart.

  Monica Stewart : Exactly. And how fair is that? I'm the good mother. I make sure my child eats well, is taken care of. She buried her daughter in a shallow grave.

  Alexandra Cabot : Yes. She buried the child that you murdered.

• Sophie Devere : [to Cabot]  You're full of surprises today.

  Alexandra Cabot : And you're full of the usual.

• Alexandra Cabot : [during her opening statement]  This case boils down to one simple word: Choice. Not whether a parent has the choice to vaccinate their own child, but whether or not another parent can make that choice for your child. This case isn't about her. It's about you and you, and all of the people you love. Because any one of you could have been in the park the day that Monica Stewart decided to bring her un-immunized, sick child to play, thereby endangering each and every one of you. And because of her choice, this little girl is dead. Make no mistake. Sierra Walker would be alive today were it not for Monica Stewart's choice.

• Detective Olivia Benson : I think Monica has a point. Ashlee was a bad mother who did everything wrong while Monica was trying to do everything right.

  Detective Elliot Stabler : Monica exposed innocent children to a dangerous disease.

  Detective Olivia Benson : She didn't know that her kid was sick. He didn't have any symptoms when she took him to the park.

  Detective Elliot Stabler : But that's the problem with measles. That you're infectious before you even get the spots. Now, Monica wants to take her kid and live in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, fine, but the minute she walks out that door, she's got to play by society's rules.

  Alexandra Cabot : Or somebody truly innocent ends up paying the price.

• Alexandra Cabot : I've got to say. This one hurt.

  Detective Elliot Stabler : Look, it wasn't even your case. It was a personality contest. The jury liked the defendant more than they liked the victim.

  Alexandra Cabot : Tell me about it. I talked to them after the verdict. They all thought Monica should have vaccinated her child, but they did not think Sierra's death was her fault.

  Detective Elliot Stabler : They passed the buck.

  Detective Olivia Benson : It's a tragedy all around. Both mothers' lives are ruined.

  Alexandra Cabot : Thanks to Ruth. She screwed up Ashlee and now she's filed a civil suit against Monica.

  Detective Olivia Benson : She's doing everything but support her daughter.

  Detective Elliot Stabler : Yeah, Ruth will get around to bonding with Ashlee over a case of beer.

• Judge Arthur Cohen : [while Cabot is texting her cell phone in court]  Uh, Ms. Cabot, are we keeping you from some important business?

  Alexandra Cabot : I'm sorry, Your Honor. The People request remand.

  Sophie Devere : What?

  Alexandra Cabot : The defendant has established a pattern of theft and obfuscation. We consider her an extreme flight risk.

  Sophie Devere : Ms. Walker has no criminal record. To keep her locked up over these two charges is ridiculous.

  Judge Arthur Cohen : Uh, that sounds a little extreme. Even for you, Ms. Cabot, and if you don't put that phone down, I'm going to hold you in contempt!