RESPECT. Power. Today I was a winner. Today, I came first."
-- Tessa (Part One)

Importance: This quote establishes Tessa's sense of empowerment and confidence at the height of her career. The repetition of "today" emphasizes her current sense of victory and control, suggesting that in her professional world, success is a constant source of affirmation. It also hints at the transient nature of her power, as the play will soon show her struggle to maintain this sense of dominance in the face of personal trauma. The phrase "I came first" reinforces her competitive nature, indicating that Tessa measures her worth by her achievements and ability to outmaneuver others in the courtroom.

[Alice.] ‘You don’t think they’re using you because you are a woman and it looks better?’ [Me.] ‘So what. Cab rank is cab rank.’ She doesn’t let it go. ‘I think a lot of barristers hide behind the rule is...
-- Alice and Tessa (Part One)