Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

Motherly Love (2017)

Raúl Esparza: ADA Rafael Barba

Photos 

Quotes 

• Olivia Benson : I don't think that Luke intentionally shot Trey. He truly believes that his mother was being assaulted.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : I agree. Counselor, look. Luke had no clue that his mother was using his friends sexually. He just happened to walk in. I mean, if he hadn't gotten into an argument with his father that night, he never would've been there in the first place. Nicole is the one who's lying, not Luke.

  Amanda Rollins : [looking at her phone]  And this proves it. Lab results are back. Traces of fresh semen were found on a towel in Nicole's bedroom upstairs. DNA matches Trey's.

  Rafael Barba : She said Trey was upstairs that night?

  Olivia Benson : We asked her point blank and she denied it.

  Rafael Barba : Arrest her.

  Olivia Benson : Statutory rape?

  Rafael Barba : Oh, I'm thinking a lot more than that.

• Rafael Barba : Poor kid doesn't know whether to hate her or love her.

  Olivia Benson : It's hard to give up on your mother, no matter how sick she may be.

• [last lines] 

  Rafael Barba : You okay? Look, he's a strong kid. He'll be fine.

  Olivia Benson : You really believe that?

  Rafael Barba : Can I buy you a drink?

  Olivia Benson : No, thanks. I, uh... I got to go home to see Noah. I got to... I just want to be with my boy.

• Rafael Barba : What do we know about Trey Franklin?

  Olivia Benson : Only son of Charles and Regina Franklin. Father's an English professor. Mother is an oncology nurse. No priors. Good student. He started high school at Manor Hill in September.

  Rafael Barba : Rape kit?

  Olivia Benson : There's no semen. Jut a few minor abrasions.

  Rafael Barba : How long did the mother know Trey?

  Olivia Benson : A few months. She said she didn't mind her son being friends with Trey, but she had a bad feeling about him from the beginning. Whatever that means.

  Rafael Barba : Because he's black?

  Olivia Benson : No. I didn't get a sense that it was racial.

  Rafael Barba : And Luke. Do you believe his story?

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : I do. He's... he's taking this hard. He had no clue the alleged rapist was his friend.

  Rafael Barba : But firing the rifle was the only way to stop the assault?

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : He panicked. He was trying to scare whoever he thought it was away.

• Dr. Daniel Keller : Luke wants to plead guilty.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Guilty? Guilty of what?

  Dr. Daniel Keller : Murder. But he can't even do that, right? You gave him immunity.

  Rafael Barba : Qualified immunity.

  Dominick Carisi Jr. : Listen, if he changes his story now, he starts lying to protect his mother, that deal, that goes away.

  Rafael Barba : The judge may very well accept his plea.

  Olivia Benson : Dr. Keller, this makes no sense. What exactly is Luke saying?

  Dr. Daniel Keller : He now believes he deliberately shot Trey, that deep down he knew his mother was screwing his friend.

  Olivia Benson : She's spinning him upside down.

  Rafael Barba : She wants him to go to prison?

  Dr. Daniel Keller : In her deluded mind, Luke is responsible for what happened, for her shame. He is the enemy, so taking him down, that's gonna make her feel whole again.

  Rafael Barba : Even if it means convincing her son he's responsible for a murder he didn't commit?

  Olivia Benson : Well, we can't let her do that, so, Mr. Keller, where is Luke now? I'd like to talk to him.

• Rafael Barba : Trey showed up at your house at 9:00 at night. Your son wasn't home, but you let him in anyway?

  Dr. Nicole Keller : I felt empathy for his turbulent home life.

  Rafael Barba : You kept telling the police that - "his turbulent home life" - even though his parents are happily married and he's a straight-A student.

  Dr. Nicole Keller : Grades are not indicative of psychological or emotional problems.

  Rafael Barba : Yeah, we're not interested in your psychobabble for the moment, but thank you so much for sharing.