Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

Painless (2004)

Marlee Matlin: Dr. Amy Solwey

Quotes 

• Det. John Munch : [to Amy]  Can you read my lips?

  Doctor Amy Solway : Yes.

  Det. John Munch : Why won't you take this kidney?

  Doctor Amy Solway : My life, my decision.

  Det. John Munch : Yeah, well, it's the wrong decision.

  Doctor Amy Solway : Leave me alone.

  Det. John Munch : Why, so you can die alone in this dump?

  Doctor Amy Solway : Get out.

  Det. John Munch : Great way to catch that train, isn't it?

  Doctor Amy Solway : I don't want to hurt anymore.

  Det. John Munch : Then let them do the transplant.

  Doctor Amy Solway : No.

  Det. John Munch : It will take away your pain.

  Doctor Amy Solway : So I could go to prison?

  Det. John Munch : So you can live.

  Doctor Amy Solway : Why do you care if I live or die?

  Det. John Munch : Because my father killed himself. When I was a kid, I thought it was my fault. The night before he blew his brains out, he punished me for being a wise-ass. I told him I hated his guts. Those were the last words I ever said to him. It haunts me to this day. You're the only person I've ever told.

  Doctor Amy Solway : Why me?

  Det. John Munch : Because we're the same. I feel guilty. My father was suffering, I couldn't help him. You feel guilty because of what you did to Christina.

• Doctor Amy Solway : [through a translator]  I help people who don't want to suffer anymore.

  A.D.A. Casey Novak : The truth is you don't know who they are, do you? They're just names on a computer screen.

  Doctor Amy Solway : Stop! They're in pain, I know what pain is! I live with it every day. You don't! How can you judge me? How can you judge them?

• Doctor Amy Solway : [to Dr. Huang through a translator]  You believe that suicide's wrong because it's your job to save people.

  Dr. George Huang : Medicine and psychiatry are about how to improve the quality of life, not how to end it.

  Doctor Amy Solway : Antidepressants and therapy never worked for me. I still think about suicide every day.

  Dr. George Huang : But something keeps you from doing it.

  Doctor Amy Solway : Those people on the Internet. Who'd help them if I'm gone?

• A.D.A. Casey Novak : [to Amy when she refuses to go on dialysis]  When Judge Bradley hears about this stunt, he's gonna blow a gasket.

  Barry Moredock : There's a lot I'd do to win a case, Miss Novak, but I'm on your side here.

  Det. John Munch : [to Amy]  Why are you doing this?

  Doctor Amy Solway : I would rather die now than in prison.

  Det. John Munch : You mean you'd rather be a martyr, don't you?

  Doctor Amy Solway : Stop calling me that!

  Det. John Munch : Or do you finally feel some guilt over tricking Christina Nerrit into your bogus suicide pact?

  Doctor Amy Solway : I did not trick her. I thought by saying I would die with her, it would make her feel more comfortable, feel better about her decision. Her decision.

  A.D.A. Casey Novak : This won't work. I'll get a court order to force the dialysis.

  Barry Moredock : You know full well, no judge will ever issue such an order.

  A.D.A. Casey Novak : I can still try.

  Doctor Amy Solway : You can't force me to eat. I'll just starve.

  Det. John Munch : I thought you were all about avoiding pain.

  Doctor Amy Solway : When you don't eat, your body releases endorphins as it breaks down its own tissue for fuel. I'm told it's a very pleasant and painless death.