Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

Child's Welfare (2012)

Mariska Hargitay: Detective Olivia Benson

Quotes 

• Olivia Benson : You want to be a good father, Simon. Grow up.

• Olivia Benson : [to Simon]  So Ellis worked out a deal between Children's Services and the D.A.'s office.

  Bayard Ellis : They'll reduce the kidnapping to custodial interfence: a misdemeanor.

  Simon Marsden : So that's good, right?

  Olivia Benson : Yes. You only have to serve 60 days.

  Simon Marsden : And what about the kids? Wait, shouldn't Tracy be here?

  Olivia Benson : Simon, Tracy had to get her own lawyer. They had to separate the cases. It was the only way for Tracy to regain custody.

  Simon Marsden : Her... wait, what are you saying?

  Bayard Ellis : One of the conditions for reducing your charges is that you give up your custody petition.

  Simon Marsden : Give up my daughter?

  Bayard Ellis : The judge ruled that you can only visit your children in a supervised setting for the next three years. You'll have to move out of the apartment, get your own place.

  Simon Marsden : Wait, what? Are you kidding? This is the best that he could do?

  Olivia Benson : Simon, it's better than your daughter visiting you in jail. You were looking at 25 years.

  Bayard Ellis : The judge will reconsider the term at the end of the year if you don't violate your parole.

  Simon Marsden : And... and Tracy went along with this? No, we're getting married.

  Bayard Ellis : Not right now, son. She needs some time.

  Simon Marsden : So that's it? I really thought I could get it right this time.

  Olivia Benson : I know. Me too.

• Donald Cragen : [to Olivia after Simon comes to see her]  Anything you want to tell me?

  Olivia Benson : It's complicated. I have a niece.

  Donald Cragen : Congratulations. What does he want from you? Liv, the last time your brother showed up, he almost cost you your shield.

  Olivia Benson : Captain, he was being framed.

  Donald Cragen : So what does he want?

  Olivia Benson : Look, he's the only family that I have.

  Donald Cragen : And believe me, he knows it. You watch your step.

• Simon Marsden : This is crazy. They dropped the pot charge. How can they keep my kids?

  Bayard Ellis : The smoking gun theory. Possession is considered evidence that other abuse and neglect could be going on.

  Tracy Harrison : What's going to happen with Ty and Olivia? They're in a foster home, they're scared...

  Olivia Benson : We're gonna fight this, Tracy.

  Simon Marsden : Yeah, right. They will not let us keep our kids no matter what.

  Olivia Benson : Simon, nobody's talking about quitting here, okay? You got to trust me on this.

  Simon Marsden : Liv, you know what I've been through. What, now you're telling me I should trust the system?

• Olivia Benson : [to Ellis]  I'm so sorry that Simon got...

  Bayard Ellis : No, I don't blame him. The city of New York stripping children from their parents' arms is a clear abuse of government power.

  Olivia Benson : So what can we do?

  Bayard Ellis : I've been reviewing Judge Suarez's decisions. In cases involving one or two minority parents, she's upheld the removal of the children. She's ruled the other way in cases involving two white parents. I'm trying to set up a hearing, get her ruling overturned.

  Olivia Benson : Do you want Simon there?

  Bayard Ellis : Only if you can keep him calm. Blowing up in court is not going to help.

• Olivia Benson : [to Cragen]  Captain, what's going on?

  Donald Cragen : When's the last time you talked to your brother?

  Olivia Benson : About an hour ago - he's been calling me, but I didn't pick up.

  Donald Cragen : Do you know where he is?

  Olivia Benson : I have no idea. What's going on?

  Donald Cragen : Simon and his fiancee just kidnapped the children from foster care. There's an Amber Alert out for them. He's been calling you? I'm gonna need your phone. You don't have a choice here, Liv.