Why had he been brought here in the first place?

"A dead end which he brought us to in the first place."

"How are men of color brought to the system in the first place?"

She could tell he was thinking about the thing that had brought them here in the first place.

"The charges should never have been brought in the first place."

"Then why did he bring us here in the first place?"

"You should never have brought her in the first place."

And should never have been brought together in the first place.

"You should not have brought me here in the first place."

And to think it was I who brought you here in the first place!