Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)
Redemption in Her Corner (2020)
Manni L. Perez: Esperanza Morales
Photos
Quotes
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Esperanza Morales : I get it. You want me to keep my mouth shut. But my lawyer says the only way I won't go down for murder is by telling people what you did.
Santos Morales : Espe, you... you must have me confused with Romeo and your friend.
Esperanza Morales : You were my papi, and you should've never touched me like that.
Santos Morales : All I did was love you. Look out for you.
Esperanza Morales : You never looked out for me. You're only here because you're scared people are gonna find out that you're the worst kind of papi. Screwing your daughters.
Esperanza Morales : Cállate, Esperanza.
Santos Morales : How could you do that to me? I was a little kid!
Santos Morales : I couldn't help it. After your mami left, you were all I had. It's not my fault.
Esperanza Morales : 'Cause it was mine, right? You said because I was beautiful, I was teasing you.
Santos Morales : I raised you alone. I had needs.
Esperanza Morales : You raped me!
Santos Morales : Do you hear yourself? What man will want you after you say that on the stand?
Esperanza Morales : How could you say that?
Santos Morales : If I hadn't done what I did, you would've been a victim your whole life.
Esperanza Morales : You took everything from me. My childhood, my little sister, my career. I was almost out, and once I made Golden Gloves, I was gonna leave you and all your baggage behind. I was a fighter, and I was damn good! I had a chance, but now I'm stuck in this hellhole!
Santos Morales : You can't change the past, Epse.
Esperanza Morales : I'm stuck in here because of you! You took everything from me!
[a guard grabs her and pulls her away]
Esperanza Morales : Get out!
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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.
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Amanda Rollins : So, let's rewind. You talked to Cami.
Esperanza Morales : Yeah. Like your captain said, if Romeo was molesting her, I had to know.
Amanda Rollins : Right.
Esperanza Morales : She's my girl. Like a sister.
Olivia Benson : Good. Good, and what did... what did she say?
Esperanza Morales : First she denied, but I pushed, and she spilled it all. She showed me Romeo's texts. He's sick. And she thinks it's love. She doesn't know it's rape. I mean, she was only 14 the first time they...
Olivia Benson : We're aware.
Esperanza Morales : I did not know about her and Romeo. I mean, he looked out for me when no one else did.
Amanda Rollins : So Romeo never crossed a line with you?
Esperanza Morales : No. He's always treated me like a daughter.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.