Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

Redemption in Her Corner (2020)

Jamie Gray Hyder: Detective Katriona 'Kat' Tamin

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Quotes 

• Katriona Tamin : Hey, Cami. How's your shoulder?

  Cami Vega : Hmm?

  Katriona Tamin : Romeo said he had to pop it back in.

  Cami Vega : Oh. It's fine.

  Katriona Tamin : So, who locked the door, you or...

  Cami Vega : Hey, SVU, take a knee. I'm not some after-school special, okay? Quit trying to stir up trouble.

• Odafin Tutuola : Kat threw down. Our girl can fight.

  Amanda Rollins : Yeah. She can drink, too, huh?

  Odafin Tutuola : That's why I drove her home.

  [seeing Kat come in] 

  Odafin Tutuola : Here she is. Rocky Tamin. What's up?

  Amanda Rollins : [seeing the bruise around her eye]  Ooh, nice shiner.

  Katriona Tamin : Uh-huh. You and Carisi were hitting it pretty hard last night. You get home okay?

  Amanda Rollins : Eh.

  Odafin Tutuola : You had it, rookie, 'til you went to the overhand.

  Katriona Tamin : Yeah, yeah. The captain in?

• Romeo Solís : Forgot to tell you that, um, Val's gonna be in your corner tonight.

  Katriona Tamin : Val? I was banking on you.

  Romeo Solís : So is Esperanza. She's 19. You're a big girl. You're gonna be fine.

  Katriona Tamin : So that's it for my pre-fight pep talk?

  Romeo Solís : [short laugh]  All right, kid, listen, and I shouldn't even be telling you this. Right? Esperanza's got a weak left hook. Okay, so what are we gonna do? Hit her with a couple of body jabs, right?

  [pantomiming] 

  Romeo Solís : Pah! Pah! Then we follow it up with your overhand right. Pah! Make it hard for her to counter. Boom, boom, boom. She's done, finito. Hey, but you didn't get none of that from me.

• Olivia Benson : What was that about?

  Katriona Tamin : I knew it! He told me to throw that overhand right, and he told her that it was coming.

  Olivia Benson : So he set you up.

  Katriona Tamin : It was a message. To shut up about whatever happened between him and Cami.

• Olivia Benson : Everything all right?

  Katriona Tamin : I'm not sure. When you first got here, did you start seeing predators everywhere?

  Olivia Benson : I did. I know it takes a while to get your bearings. What's this about?

  Katriona Tamin : Before my fight, I went in to see the head trainer, Romeo. His door was locked, and then Cami, another fighter, 16, came rushing out, and Romeo was tying his sweats.

  Olivia Benson : Okay. Anything else?

  Katriona Tamin : He claimed he popped her shoulder back in, but Cami had no idea about that. It kept me up all night.

  Olivia Benson : Well, if your gut is telling you that something's off, you gotta trust that.

• Katriona Tamin : Okay, so I didn't approach her as a cop. I-I went to visit her as a friend.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : At Rikers. After she invoked. No, Kat. Her lawyer needs to be there.

  Olivia Benson : She understands that, counselor.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Does she? Because if Esperanza would've said something probative, then you would've tanked this whole case.

  Katriona Tamin : Well, good news is she didn't say anything too probative.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : [sarcastic]  Oh, so it's just a little probative.

• Katriona Tamin : [after visiting Esperanza at Rikers ex parte]  She insists Romeo did not touch her, but when I mentioned Santos, she bolted from the room.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : So you're inferring that Esperanza's father abused her. So why would she go off and punch Romeo?

  Katriona Tamin : Romeo called her damaged goods. If he was taunting her about her father's abuse, then that's mitigating, isn't it?

  Olivia Benson : Hold up, Kat, she hasn't accused her father. And we would need corroboration.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : And aside from that, you should be talking to her defense attorney and not me. Whatever you do, Kat, do not go back to Rikers without a lawyer.

  Katriona Tamin : [watching him leave]  He gets stuck, doesn't he?

  Olivia Benson : Well, that's all men, actually, but Kat, he's right. If she doesn't disclose...

  Katriona Tamin : How about I take a run at Santos?

  Olivia Benson : Are you kidding me? Kat, I can't trust you right now.

  Katriona Tamin : So, what, I'm benched?

  Olivia Benson : You can't do *anything* without me.

• Dominick Carisi Jr. : So her sister knew about the abuse, but she'll only testify if she gets paid?

  Katriona Tamin : Yeah.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : What about Esperanza?

  Amanda Rollins : She won't testify. She's too ashamed.

  Vanessa Hadid : And she's still looking at man two.

  Katriona Tamin : Santos abused his daughters for years. We should be arresting him.

  Vanessa Hadid : You're right, but we're not. I'm sorry.

  Katriona Tamin : [Hadid and Carisi leave]  Espe's in jail, and her sister won't help her. My sisters and I would do anything for each other. I still don't get it.

  Amanda Rollins : I do. She didn't say she wouldn't help. She said she wanted to get paid.

• Dominick Carisi Jr. : That's the, uh... that's the guy who runs Kat's gym, right?

  Katriona Tamin : Romeo Solis. When I got back into boxing a year ago, everyone told me he was the best.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Ah. But?

  Amanda Rollins : He may be sexually involved with an underage boxer.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Great. So what's his story?

  Odafin Tutuola : No record. Box full of awards and honorary degrees.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Who's the complainant?

  Olivia Benson : Well, she hasn't disclosed yet.

  Amanda Rollins : So what do you have?

  Katriona Tamin : I interrupted her and Romeo behind a locked door. They weren't working out.

  Odafin Tutuola : He also set Kat up. He tipped off her opponent to Kat's fight plan.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : So that's why you got tagged.

  Katriona Tamin : Look, I might've lost anyway, but he was pretty pissed when I called him out. Had her do his dirty work.

• Katriona Tamin : So, Romeo's good for this, right?

  Olivia Benson : Slow down, Kat.

  Katriona Tamin : The grandmother just described grooming, and the shoulder was just an excuse.

  Olivia Benson : Maybe, but there are two scenarios. One, he's a predator, and two, he's a trainer that cares about his girls.

  Katriona Tamin : So now you're telling me not to trust my gut.

  Olivia Benson : No, now we dig deeper. Who else can we talk to from the gym?

• Odafin Tutuola : That's not love. That's just rape.

  Katriona Tamin : So now we arrest him?

  Odafin Tutuola : Well, no. Now we get Romeo's side of the story. You good with that?

  Olivia Benson : Yeah, go. Also, I'm gonna need a warrant for their cell phones, his office...

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : I got you covered.

• Katriona Tamin : Esperanza was protecting Cami.

  Amanda Rollins : Okay. Let her tell it. Esperanza, you can follow me.

  Esperanza Morales : She knows why I did it. You guys weren't doing anything.

  Katriona Tamin : [Benson approaches]  Okay. She confronted him about Cami and she lost it.

  Olivia Benson : Did she say that Romeo made an admission?

  Katriona Tamin : We didn't get that far, but I can find out.

  Olivia Benson : Okay, listen, I know that you're worried about her. Let us talk to her.

• Migdala Vega : Romeo's a good man. Before him, Cami didn't have a father in her life. Now she does. Tiene un buen corazon.

  Olivia Benson : "Good heart." How so?

  Migdala Vega : Every time they work or train late, he drives her home.

  Olivia Benson : What time does she get home?

  Migdala Vega : He wants her to be a champion, so he trains her like one. She's so tired, she goes straight to bed.

  Katriona Tamin : How's her shoulder?

  [seeing Migdala doesn't know] 

  Katriona Tamin : She injured it. Did she see a doctor?

  Migdala Vega : No. She's fine. She does a hundred push-ups every morning.

• Esperanza Morales : Your eye looks better.

  Katriona Tamin : Yeah, it was a lucky punch.

  Esperanza Morales : Not really. Romeo said when you come around with that big right, you drop your guard.

  Katriona Tamin : He told you that?

  Esperanza Morales : Mm-hmm. He said I could pivot, hit you with the right. "No mercy" was his exact words. But we're still good, right?

  Katriona Tamin : Yeah, of course.

• Katriona Tamin : Esperanza, you better save some of that for the ring. I'm taking you down.

  Esperanza Morales : Your cop intimidation tactics are useless. I'm gonna bury you.

  Katriona Tamin : Romeo around?

  Esperanza Morales : Yeah, his office. You backing out?

  Katriona Tamin : Hey, you just be ready to catch these hands.

• Santos Morales : My daughter, Esperanza, is she okay?

  Katriona Tamin : Yeah, she's doing better than Romeo.

  Santos Morales : Yeah, but what happened?

  Katriona Tamin : They got into an argument, and Esperanza landed a punch.

  Santos Morales : Oh. Well, you know, she's a good kid. He probably started it.

• Olivia Benson : Esperanza, is there anything that you remember that could justify this as self-defense?

  Esperanza Morales : Um...

  Katriona Tamin : What about the other girls who were there? Maybe they heard or saw something?

  Esperanza Morales : No. They didn't see anything.

  Olivia Benson : Give us a minute.

  [she and Kat leave] 

  Katriona Tamin : She's hiding something.

  Olivia Benson : Clearly. How many witnesses were at the scene?

  Katriona Tamin : A dozen, at least.

  Olivia Benson : So, see if anyone knows what happened.

  Katriona Tamin : If it's self-defense, they'll drop the charges, right?

  Olivia Benson : One step at a time, Kat.

• Esperanza Morales : You know, growing up, I always told myself that I'll rise above the narrative they have for people like us, but here I am. All because I assaulted that mañoso.

  Katriona Tamin : Esperanza, it's no longer assault.

  Olivia Benson : There was a complication with the injury. Romeo died this morning.

  Esperanza Morales : I didn't mean to...

  Olivia Benson : I know. But for now, The D.A. wants to charge manslaughter.

  Esperanza Morales : Did you tell them it was an accident?

  Olivia Benson : They are aware, but it may not matter. So I have to ask you again, did Romeo ever do anything to you?

  Esperanza Morales : No. I already told you, never.

  Olivia Benson : Okay. Is there anyone that we can call for you before arraignment?

  Katriona Tamin : Your father mentioned getting you a lawyer.

  Esperanza Morales : No. No. I don't want anything from him.

• Katriona Tamin : Did he get bail?

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : He's not going anywhere, Kat.

  Katriona Tamin : Until this goes to trial.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Cami still in love?

  Katriona Tamin : She is. She doesn't want to testify.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Well, keep working her. If I have to, I'll call her as a hostile witness.

• Katriona Tamin : [seeing hospital personnel rushing to Romeo's room]  What's going on?

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : I don't know.

  Nurse : Stand back. Please don't crowd. Patient's coding. Call the OR.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : He was fine. Your friend Esperanza, does she have a lawyer yet?

  [Kat shakes her head] 

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : You didn't hear this from me, but she'd better get one.

• Val Nuñez : Girls are gossiping. Parents are calling. I don't know what to tell 'em. What they're saying about Romeo, is it true?

  Katriona Tamin : The allegations are bad. Did you hear what Romeo and Esperanza were arguing about before he went down?

  Val Nuñez : I can't take sides.

  Katriona Tamin : Is that what you're gonna tell Esperanza when she goes to prison for 15 years?

• Val Nuñez : I was wrapping a girl's hand. Esperanza and Romeo were getting into it. I went over to break it up. Bad energy.

  Katriona Tamin : Getting into it about what?

  Val Nuñez : Romeo got in her ear, said something about damaged goods. Then she slugged him.

  Katriona Tamin : Look, you gotta be straight with me, Val. Looking back, did you ever see anything not right between Romeo and Esperanza?

  Val Nuñez : Trainers play head games with their boxers all the time. Whatever he did or didn't do, it doesn't matter. No one's ever gonna look at us without thinking about that. Men make the mess; women get stuck cleaning it up.

• Katriona Tamin : I know, I know. I screwed up.

  Olivia Benson : Yeah, you did.

  Katriona Tamin : It's just, her dad's upset, and I wanna help Espe. I-I'm scared for Cami.

  Olivia Benson : I get that, but it's hard to be objective when you're too close to a victim.

  Katriona Tamin : You bond with victims all the time.

  Olivia Benson : I do, and I've had to learn to... to see things with perspective. My old captain used to warn me. He said, "If you're too close to a case, you're not helping the victim."

  Katriona Tamin : Okay. Speaking of helping the victims, when do we arraign Romeo?

  Olivia Benson : He's in the hospital. They're running some tests. When he went down, he hit his head.

  Katriona Tamin : He's faking injury in order to buy time.

  Olivia Benson : I'll pass that on to Carisi.

• Olivia Benson : Damaged goods? Jealous? I mean, it sounds like Romeo was abusing Esperanza.

  Amanda Rollins : Maybe, but we don't know that, and she won't admit it.

  Katriona Tamin : I don't see what difference it makes. If she was protecting Cami, I mean, wouldn't a jury be sympathetic to that?

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Emotionally, yeah, but technically, you can't just kill someone because you don't like the way they're treating someone else.

  Odafin Tutuola : But if we can prove he's abusing her?

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Well, that changes the case. You know, she gets a good lawyer, she could do a variation of the battered wife defense. An abused teen snaps when she's taunted by a predator.

  Katriona Tamin : She's a boxer. She'll never admit to it. She's got her rep to protect.

  Olivia Benson : Or she's scared, or in denial.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : If she and her lawyer come to me with her admission, I can convince Hadid to make a deal. Good luck.

  Amanda Rollins : Bail's set at 10 grand?

  Odafin Tutuola : She won't be able to make that.

  Katriona Tamin : How about I go over to Rikers and talk to her?

  Olivia Benson : She's under arrest, Kat. None of us can talk to her without a lawyer present.

• Amanda Rollins : So, you went to the gym to confront Romeo.

  Esperanza Morales : Yeah, he was coaching Sasha, and I told him we needed to talk. I asked him, how could he be having sex with Cami?

  Olivia Benson : And how did he react?

  Esperanza Morales : He said I was crazy, and that I should mind my own business.

  Katriona Tamin : [entering with a knock]  Sorry. Uh, Esperanza's father's here.

  Olivia Benson : Oh, Kat, we're... we're still talking.

  Esperanza Morales : Santos? He does not need to be here.

  Katriona Tamin : He wants you to get a lawyer.

• Esperanza Morales : Hell no. Mal pensada. Romeo was like a...

  Katriona Tamin : Father. I know. But you have a father, Santos.

  Esperanza Morales : Leave him out of this. He send you?

  Katriona Tamin : Nobody sent me. I'm not even supposed to be visiting you without your lawyer.

  Esperanza Morales : Then go home. Go.

  Katriona Tamin : You're looking at 15 years.

  Esperanza Morales : Girl. Romeo didn't touch me.

  Katriona Tamin : No? Why did he call you damaged goods?

  Esperanza Morales : People heard that? So everybody knows.

  Katriona Tamin : Knows what, Esperanza?

  Esperanza Morales : No, I mean... they can't. No, it's...

  Katriona Tamin : Espe, it wasn't Romeo. It was your father, wasn't it?

  Esperanza Morales : Santos. Don't you ever mention that malparido's name to me ever again.

• Katriona Tamin : Esperanza, you did great. You got a confession.

  Esperanza Morales : Then why do I feel like I lost?

  Olivia Benson : Trust me, you didn't. The hard part is over, and you're still standing.

  Counselor Marame Touissant : My client did what you asked.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : And I'll do what I promised. Assault two, two years.

  Counselor Marame Touissant : Stay out of trouble, and you'll be out sooner than that.

  Esperanza Morales : Okay. But what about Santos?

• Santos Morales : To see my own kid, I gotta sit here with glass between us? Breaks my heart.

  Esperanza Morales : You're lucky I'm even talking to you at all.

  Santos Morales : Your sister called me. She's nervous about you running your mouth.

  Esperanza Morales : She is? Or you are?

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : [watching the security camera feed]  Nice counter. Make this about Santos.

  Santos Morales : You better be nice.

  Olivia Benson : That's all he cares about.

  Santos Morales : I took two subways and a bus to get here. Two hours.

  Katriona Tamin : [sardonic laugh]  Point proven.

  Santos Morales : You know, since, uh, your whole gym turned on you, I mean, you got no one but me.

  Esperanza Morales : I'd rather have no one.

  Santos Morales : Stubborn as a rat. You know, you wanna survive in here, you gotta toughen up. Yeah, let go of whatever grudge you're holding.

• Counselor Marame Touissant : Just to be clear, my client is here to discuss the events leading up to the tragedy, but nothing she says will prevent her from claiming self-defense.

  Olivia Benson : And we understand, and we're here because we want to help you.

  Esperanza Morales : Too late.

  Katriona Tamin : Something triggered you. Was it about your father?

  Counselor Marame Touissant : [seeing her refuse to talk]  Esperanza. You have to give the jury a reason to understand how we got here.

  Esperanza Morales : I'm not gonna talk about him. I'm a fighter. I can't look weak.

  Olivia Benson : Telling your story isn't weak. And whatever happened to you doesn't define you.

  Katriona Tamin : For now, it's just us. We can keep it a secret if you want. No one ever has to know.

• Esperanza Morales : Jesus.

  Katriona Tamin : What?

  Esperanza Morales : That's what he'd whisper when he crawled into my bed.

  Olivia Benson : Your father.

  Esperanza Morales : Santos... was a mean little drunk when I was little. At night, I'd hear his footsteps, and... that's how I knew he was coming for me.

  Olivia Benson : Coming for you?

  Esperanza Morales : He'd get under my covers... move on top of me... hold me down... eventually, I just gave in.

  Katriona Tamin : And Romeo knew about this?

  Esperanza Morales : First time I met him, I told him I needed to protect myself. Took one look at Santos. He knew why.

• Odafin Tutuola : Graciela Morales?

  Graciela Morales : [seeing his badge]  Easy, papi. I'm clean. I already pissed twice in a cup this month.

  Katriona Tamin : Actually, we wanted to talk to you about your sister.

  Graciela Morales : Espe? I heard she's in trouble.

  Katriona Tamin : She is. We were hoping that you could help us help her.

  Graciela Morales : How?

  Odafin Tutuola : She punched her trainer 'cause he was taunting her about your father.

  Katriona Tamin : Did you know anything about that?

  Graciela Morales : That's why she boxes. After she got good, she told him he had to leave us both alone.

  Katriona Tamin : It could help your sister if you came and told our ADA that.

  Graciela Morales : Yeah. Sure, okay. She's doing good now boxing. She must have money. How much she gonna pay me?

• Olivia Benson : Esperanza, what did Romeo do when you confronted him about Cami?

  Esperanza Morales : First, he called me a liar. And then he said, "You're just jealous because I never wanted your papi's sloppy seconds." I should've known, and I should've protected Cami.

  Olivia Benson : Like you should've protected your sister.

  Katriona Tamin : Your father got to her, too, huh?

  Esperanza Morales : What do you know about Graciela? You talked to her?

  Katriona Tamin : Graciela's alive?

  Esperanza Morales : As far as I know.

  Olivia Benson : And when was the last time you saw her?

  Esperanza Morales : Two years ago, panhandling near the Port Authority. I gave her everything I had. Made her promise to call me, but she never did.