- ADA Jamie Ross: Ms. Houston, we uncovered some documents relating to your divorce. I've highlighted the relevant portions. When I got a divorce, I fought for custody of my child, but you actually fought not to have custody.
- Frances Houston: I don't know what you're talking about.
- ADA Jamie Ross: It's all there in the draft agreements. Neither of you wanted custody. Your husband for practical reasons. And you... he actually had to triple the alimony payments before you'd agree.
- Frances Houston: They're wrong.
- Defense Attorney Ms. Joyner: What I see in these papers is a negotiation. Whatever meaning you're reading into it...
- Executive ADA Jack McCoy: Was confirmed by Mr. Burdett himself. And he'll testify to it at her next trial. She didn't want the boy because he's black.
- Frances Houston: Josh would never get up in court.
- Executive ADA Jack McCoy: He already agreed to do it.
- ADA Jamie Ross: The next jury won't buy your Mary-Mother-of-God routine!
- Executive ADA Jack McCoy: They'll see you for who you are. A bigot whose racism runs so deep, you even hate your own son.
- Defense Attorney Ms. Joyner: I assume there's an offer coming?
- Executive ADA Jack McCoy: Man one, eight-and-a-third-to-25.
- Frances Houston: Well, I want to see the other attorneys at the firm!
- Executive ADA Jack McCoy: The white attorneys? You walk out that door, Ms. Houston, the offer is off the table. You'll be retried for murder two. You have an attorney present. Give me your answer now.
- Defense Attorney Ms. Joyner: I discussed your offer with Ms. Houston. I explained that prosecutors don't just like to beat the other guy. They want him to limp off the field.
- Executive ADA Jack McCoy: No wiggle room, Ms. Joyner. Manslaughter one, eight-and-a-third-to-25, or she goes on trial for murder two.
- Defense Attorney Ms. Joyner: Then you won't like my counter. Second degree manslaughter, minimum time.
- ADA Jamie Ross: That's unrealistic. We've got her prints, her pay-offs to the O'Brien's.
- Defense Attorney Ms. Joyner: I said man two, minimum time.
- Executive ADA Jack McCoy: Do you really want to put your son through a trial, Ms. Houston?
- Defense Attorney Ms. Joyner: Let her worry about her son.
- Executive ADA Jack McCoy: Frankly, Ms. Joyner, I'm surprised you'd represent a bigot.
- Frances Houston: [Looking back]
- Defense Attorney Ms. Joyner: I don't see a bigot here. I see a woman deceived and pushed to the brink by a self-hating coward. Everyone at my firm agrees, Mr. McCoy. No jury will ever convict her.
- Jerry O' Brien: [Talking about Frances Houston] I can't understand how an educated woman like her could say it, but she said she didn't want "some nappy-haired little monkey" ruining her family.
- Joshua Burdett: [Looking at the Divorce papers] You're right. That's exactly what went on. I was traveling on business two weeks out of every month. I couldn't possibly take care of David.
- ADA Jamie Ross: It would have been nice to have this information before the trial. We could have impeached your ex-wife's testimony.
- Executive ADA Jack McCoy: Mr. Burdett, if there's a re-trial, I'm going to use this material and I'm putting you on the stand to authenticate it and explain what it means.
- Joshua Burdett: Absolutely not. My son doesn't know anything about this.
- Executive ADA Jack McCoy: Mr. Burdett...
- Joshua Burdett: I won't do it. Whatever happens to Frances or me, my son believes his parents love him. I won't do anything to make him think otherwise.
- ADA Jamie Ross: I gave myself asthma for nothing. We can't use these unless he authenticate them.
- Lieutenant Anita Van Buren: Hello, my brother. Damn, look at you. You did it. You passed. You know, I thought up close I'd be able to tell, but I swear, I can't. So what's it like when it's just you and them?
- Joshua Burdett: [Staying silent]
- Lieutenant Anita Van Buren: You laugh along when they tell the jokes? Oh, you know what I'm talking about, right? Or do you tell nigger jokes, too, just keep up appearances?
- Joshua Burdett: If you don't mind.
- Lieutenant Anita Van Buren: Oh, am I sitting too close? What, I remind you of somebody? Your mother? Was she dark-skinned? High yellow? Redbone? You're scared now, aren't you? You been scared for almost 40 years. And all that fear came gushing out Sunday morning. You panicked Isn't that right? You go ahead. Tell me what happened. Take the weight off my brother. You'll feel better.