The Thoughts Of Sam Waterston And His Many Indentities

Sam Waterston

"Insofar as there's a philosophical point of view to this- it's that people die, people are born, relationships happen or don't- and you show up for work."~Sam Waterston

"There was a point when I wanted to get my horoscope properly read and asked my mother what hour I was born. She said, 'It was in the morning- or it was in the early evening.' So, all I know is that it was in a hospital."~Sam Waterston

"I once had a real knock-down, drag-out with my best friend over a jar of jam: 'That's mine!' 'No! It's mine!' In the end, the jar was smashed."~Sam Waterston

"I was supposed to go to a formal dance, but my mother said, 'You can't go with your hair like that.' I told her it was too late to get a haircut. So my sister cut my hair, but she had no idea how to do it. She said, 'Yes, I do!' and proceeded to make a huge hole in the side of my head. That was bad!"~Sam Waterston

"People love to read about actors' private lives; but that a sane, well-balanced human being might want to keep his private life private, even though he's an actor, doesn't seem too odd to me."~Sam Waterston

Response to being called 'The Thinking Man's Actor': "Probably it's because I speak in blurry, incomplete sentences. It's so hard for people to figure out what I mean that they think it must be deep."~Sam Waterston

Jack McCoy

"My guess, tomorrow's paper will call this a big step for women's rights."~Claire Kincaid "Yeah, and a giant leap for ignorance."~Jack McCoy

"I'm the D.A.. I can arrest whoever I want."~Jack McCoy

"That's blackmail! Would you go that low?"~Sally Dell "Don't you know me by now?"~Jack McCoy

"He was convicted on first degree murder. He serves life, then we'll talk."~Jack McCoy of a lawyer's suggestion of a lower sentence.

"Man has only those rights he can defend."~Jack McCoy

"Do you think Webber is innocent? Or do you think we're just gonna have a tougher time proving that he's guilty?"~Jack McCoy "I'm impressed. I never thought you'd distinguish between the two."~Claire Kincaid "Right. Hang'em High McCoy."~Jack McCoy "Oh get off it, Jack. you're the one who's always talking about 'The Game'. You're the one Hell-bent on winning."~Claire Kincaid "If I'm convinced the defendant is guilty."~Jack McCoy

"I think you lie as easily as I breath."~Jack McCoy

"You're an adult! Your victims are children! Nothing you can say can make me feel sorry for you!"~Jack McCoy

"Anyone ever tell you, McCoy, that you're a sore loser?"~Rhathanberg, a defense lawyer "Only when I lose, Mr. Rhathanberg."~Jack McCoy

"Open up all the jails- send everyone to a shrink."~Jack McCoy

"People who get in the way of my murder cases get run over!"~Jack McCoy

"Get off your soapbox- you're blocking the view."~Jack McCoy

"It's a tits-and-ass world. Men are pigs and we should all rot in Hell. Unfortunately, that's not my jurisdiction."~Jack McCoy

"Sometimes you have to make deals with the devil."~Jack McCoy "Just as long as you don't get your eyebrows singed."~Jamie Ross

"In my family, losing was not an option."~Jack McCoy

"The city needs this over. Dillard is getting three million dollars to settle his suit."~Adam Schiff to Jack McCoy, who has just returned from suspension, of a man wrongly convicted of murder because of the misconduct of one of Jack's former assistants, Diana Hawthorne "Thank you, sir, and I'm very glad to be back."~Jack McCoy in response

"Leave an empty seat next to you any riff-raff could sit down."~Jack McCoy "Are you sitting down?"~Jamie Ross

"The law says I don't have to give it to them, and besides that, I don't want to."~Jack McCoy of possible evidence in a case he is prosecuting

"But I'm innocent- I didn't kill anyone!"~Defendant "You've already learned the Rikers Island theme song- good for you."~Jack McCoy

"I want two things, Claire- justice for the dead and respect from the living."~Jack McCoy

"An E felony? I hurt myself more shaving."~Jack McCoy of a possible plea agreement

"You did a good job. Take the rest of the week off."~Adam Schiff "Adam, it's Friday."~Jack McCoy "So it is. See you Monday."~Adam Schiff

"I'm going to call your boss, get you busted down the ranks- you'll be lucky to work the drunk tanks on Saturday night!"~An enraged ambassador who's been put under arrest to Jack McCoy and Abbie Carmichael "That's okay- we didn't have much of a social life any ways."~Jack McCoy

"Jack, we made it sound like he hired Curren. If you didn't believe that but let it go on to strengthen our case..."~Claire Kincaid "Heavens to Betsy, Claire, what a dreadful idea."~Jack McCoy

"There happens to be a lot of gray between the black and white lines of your precious penal code."~Claire Kincaid "And where on this rainbow do you suggest that we place Dr. Haas?"~Jack McCoy of the murder prosecution of a doctor

"So what's next, Jack? Take a suspect across the border, beat a confession out of them, bring them back across the border, and have an admissable statement?"~Defense Lawyer "Works for me."~Jack McCoy

"That's a great theory. Why don't you get on the stand and let Ruthie Miller make a fool out of you?"~Dr. Elizabeth Olivet of Jack's theory on why a nanny killed the child she was supposed to be taking care of "Because I'm not an expert."~Jack McCoy "On lonely nannys? I'm not either."~Dr. Elizabeth Olivet "But you are on the psychology of murder."~Jack McCoy "Why Jack, that's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me."~Dr. Elizabeth Olivet

"Explain to me- how do men fall for women like that?"~Abbie Carmichael of a self-centered, manipulative woman "Well, you have to be there, Abbie."~Jack McCoy in response, with a roll of his eyes and a sarcastic, star-crossed sound to his voice

"I helped my husband in a lot of ways!"~Female Defendant "The chairman of a multi-million dollar software company? How exactly does a drug-wacked daughter of a souvenir stand owner help him?"~Jack McCoy

"Tell me something counsuler- were you born a wise-ass or did it just come with the job?"~Lt. Anita Van Buren "I'm a pussy cat. You should have seen my old man."~Jack McCoy "Your old man?"~Lt. Anita Van Buren "He was a cop...You knew that. If it had been him who was unlucky enough to be in front of that A.T.M. instead of you there probably would have been two dead kids lying on the sidewalk."~Jack McCoy "And you would have dragged him in front of the Grand Jury?"~Lt. Anita Van Buren "Damn right. I would have gotten an inditment too."~Jack McCoy

"The women were jealous of me! The men all wanted to get me in bed!"~Female Defendant "And you were happy to oblige!"~Jack McCoy

"Killing four people. Killing a child. Stephanie Harker doesn't push my pity button."~Jack McCoy