EADA Benjamin Stone

Michael Moriarty

The Quotable Ben Stone

Prescription for Death

Dr. Auster: "When you practice medicine, Mr. Stone, sometimes the patient dies."
Stone: "And when you're a lawyer, Dr. Auster, some of the people you prosecute are convicted."

Subterranean Homeboy Blues

Shambala Green: "What have you got on your side?"
Ben: "Not very much, I agree--just the New York penal law."

"Do you have any other personal views on this subject you'd like to air before we walk into court and Ms. Sham-ba-la Green hands us our asses on a platter?"

The Reaper's Helper

[Scene: A day or two after Ben has taken a punch in the face from a gay activist.]
Max: "How's the jaw?"
Ben: "It only hurts when I prosecute, so keep me out of court until the swelling goes down."

Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die

Robinette: "Well at least we gave [the victims' parents] justice."
Stone: "Yeah, but justice doesn't give you grandchildren."

Everybody's Favorite Bagman

"I'm not certain, I'm positive!"

Indifference

"Put them both in a dungeon, put them on a wheel and annihilate them."

Adam: "What bothers you the most about this case?"
Ben: "My own rage."

Prisoner of Love

"She wants to dominate me. I'm going to give her the chance."

Woman: "It's a hope chest."
Ben (pulling S&M stuff from trunk): "What were you hoping for?"

"I'm a Catholic, sir; I can feel guilty about anything."

Life Choices

When the defendant is testifying and trying to justify her actions by saying it was right in the eyes of God, Ben objects: "This case is being judged on the temporal plane, your honor!"

"If you consider abortion murder, no matter how you felt about Mary Donovan, aren't you guilty of the murder of her unborn child?"

"And I'd like to spend an hour in a Jacuzzi with Cybill Shepherd."

"I'm having trouble convicting Celeste McClure of bad gardening!"

The Violence of Summer

Greevey: "You're the one who dismissed the case; you got any ideas?"
Stone: "*No* I don't have any ideas! That's why I'm here!!"

Torrents of Greed

"It all plays like opera, except they kill the singers."

The Secret Sharers

"The commandment says 'Thou shalt not kill,' not 'Thou shalt not kill nice people!'"

Shambala: "I'm going for temporary insanity."
Ben: "Yours or your client's?"

Sonata for a Solo Organ

(have to see it delivered for full impact): "Miss Woodleigh, do you think your father would have acted any differently if you'd needed a heart instead of a kidney?"

Defense Attorney: "Stone, what do you want?"
Ben (after thoughtful pause): "Peace on earth, the Mets in the series and Dr. Rebberty in Dannemore."

The Blue Wall

"The last time conspiracy was easy to prove was the Jews and the Romans".

Asylum

"Your psychiatrist tells me that you have moments of clarity. Now, you are going to going to get up on that witness stand and you are going to have one of those moments."

Cradle to Grave

"Everyone knows what muerto means."

Forgiveness

"Praise the Lord and pass the amunition."

Helpless

"Next time, sir, stay off the evening news."

Lawyer: "What do you want?"
Ben: "In a perfect world, I'd like to see your client locked in a room for a week with these women."

Conduct Unbecoming

Capt. Bunker: "Do not sit there and judge me."
Ben: "I am not judging you, sir. That is up to your conscience and 12 taxpayers. And I assure you that the latter will not be as tolerant as the former."

[Scene: During cross-examination, Stone presses Capt. Bunker by bringing up the prostitute he roughed up as proof of his tendency toward violence.]
Capt. Bunker: "That bitch deserved it."
Ben Stone: "Which bitch is that sir?"

Snatched

"Out of all of the criminals that I've ever prosecuted, you have to be the stupidest!"

Big Bang

"Physics for Poets" and "Geology 101--Rocks for Jocks" - Ben and Claire discussing their required science credits

Wager

"Is that a threat, SIR?"

Unidentified

"...or with God as my witness, I'll subpoena you!"