Original subtitles

On the practice. We've decided to let you go. Go where?

Here's a check.

Representing two weeks severance pay.

I've generated fees in excess of six million dollars. You've handed me a

for fifteen thousand.

Alan Shore seemed to know this was coming. Did you tell him? Yes.

Your employment here is terminated.

What's with the red tie, soldier?

Red is soft.

Soft does not work around here, sailor. That's Denny Crane. The Denny Crane.

Don't be fooled.

Once he's in the courtroom, he's every bit the icon.

I'm a senior partner in my firm the way you are in yours.

It's not enough to insist on fidelity or fair dealing.

A good leader has to practice it.

Was the defendant's termination of the plaintiff wrongful? We find in the

affirmative. We are the defendant to pay the plaintiff $2 .3 million.

Denny, this is Tara Wilson.

We hire only the prettiest people in this firm. Are you a pretty girl

I am, so... I like her.

Jimmy. Manny.

What? Look at you in that suit.

Do you, like, own that?

I was just talking to your mother. I know this. She told me, which is kind of

what put the idea in my brain that I should maybe come see you. I heard you

fatter, but you look good.

Thanks.

Eleanor Frutt, Eugene Young, Manny Quinn, old friend.

Hi.

What's up?

Uh, can I talk in front of them?

Well, uh, yes.

They're lawyers.

Privilege applies to all of us.

I've had some drug problems as of late.

Not using, I swear.

Just selling. I would never use.

Anyway, I got, uh... I can talk, right?

Yeah. I got myself in this situation, okay? A few weeks ago, I got shot right

the ass. Nothing serious. You know me. I'm not a complainer.

Anyway, I had this dope deal coming up that I was planning.

I didn't tell anybody, except Gigi Cooley, my girlfriend.

Remember Gigi? Of course.

How is she?

She got fatter, but she's good.

Anyway, all of a sudden, the feds are busting down my door.

I got raided. They seized my pot. They arrested me. They opened the wound in my

ass all over again.

It was terrible.

It healed up good, and I'm not suing for that or nothing.

But my point...

Nobody could have known about this drug deal, Jimmy. I didn't tell no one.

I think the FBI bugged me. I'm positive.

Bugged you?

How? They inserted some device in my buttocks.

I know it sounds nuts, but I think during the first surgery, they inserted

of those small microchips. Then during the second procedure, they took it out.

It's the only way they could have known about the pot. I mean, I didn't talk

about this deal on the phone or nothing.

So I want to bring a motion to suppress.

I mean, this is beyond unconstitutional.

You can't bug a man's ass.

It isn't right.

You must be joking.

I don't joke. I don't believe in humor. Well, I don't believe in guns, and I do

not shoot ducks.

Every new employee picks up a rifle. It's how I judge character.

Denny.

Little problem. The Finnerty's are here, very upset.

Oh? Who are they, and why do I care?

They're the wrongful death case you brought in here.

And they're upset because their trial starts tomorrow, and you've been totally

absent. Did you explain to them that I'm typically absent? I did.

And they're maintaining it's you they hired, and they're feeling defrauded.

All right.

Tell them I'll be right in. Okay.

And to prepare me, do you know what you plan to say?

No idea.

Most paralegals request not to work with me. And just so you know, I'm totally

fine with being hated.

Got it. I'm actually not that difficult.

Don't do anything to disappoint me, and we'll get along fine. Something like

that. Thanks, Sally.

If you dress like that, people will get the right idea about you. Please, go

home and change.

You can't keep talking to me like this.

Woman on woman can still be sexual harassment.

Wonderful. And if you look around, you might find someone who cares.

In the meantime, go home, or wherever it was you woke up this morning, and put

on a different outfit.

At ease.

Bill!

Sarah.

Good to see you. Good to see us. You know, we hired you 14 months ago. We've

been in here dozens of times for meetings, depositions. We have never

Our trial starts tomorrow.

We came specifically for you, which we made clear.

Sheldon Mowdrey specializes in wrongful death. He's uniquely qualified to handle

this, given the way your daughter so... wrongfully died.

Do you even remember how our daughter died?

Of course I do.

Such a shame.

So wrongful.

Tell me how my daughter died, Mr. Crane.

Bill. Sarah.

Mary died when a store light fixture fell tragically on her.

Are you going to be trying this case or not?

I am going to be trying this case.

I beg your pardon?

He's a friend, Eugene, so I'd like to, you know, help.

You filed a motion to suppress?

Yes, based on the exclusionary rule. The client had a reasonable expectation of

privacy, which we feel was violated.

You're planning to walk into a court of law and argue that federal agents

installed a listening device in your client's buttocks. I know it feels

desperate. Desperate. It feels desperate.

Eugene, if the evidence doesn't get suppressed, he goes away.

This is one of my oldest friends. I got to do this.

He says when he had a rigorous movement, he could hear a little beeping sound.

You can't possibly try this case.

Why not?

You don't know the facts.

You don't know the law.

Well, lay it out on the memo.

One page, no more. Double -spaced. That's far too complicated. One page,

-spaced. Off you go.

Denny. Edmund.

Are we on today? No, I have an emergency.

Could I talk to you?

Of course.

It's my son.

He's been arrested.

Daryl? What for?

Sexual assault.

Date rape.

Which he is innocent of. I know you don't do criminal work anymore. I'll

care of it.

He's a wonderful young man, Denny.

You know him. He would...

And he's insisting on trying a case that he knows nothing about.

Tomorrow, he settled a claim behind my back.

He lit my tie on fire because it was red.

He referred me to a surgeon to get my breath done.

What are you going to do about it?

Whoa,

whoa, whoa, let's all take a breath.

Richard, as I understand it, the case he settled behind your back was for more

money than you were prepared to close on.

Mitchell, the tie smoked a little.

It did not go ablaze.

And, Julie, you've been complaining about your breasts for three months.

No, you seem to be the only one, Matthew. You need to somehow rein him

is Alan Shaw, Sheldon. In addition to being a gifted attorney, he's an

accomplished Denny Crane wrangler. He'll join you at tomorrow's trial.

What? Please, let's all remember when dealing with Denny, deep down beneath

amusing exterior...

His name comes first on the letterhead.

Hannah, I need you now, sweetheart.

That's it?

That's it?

What are you going to do about it?

A son of a client just got arrested for date rape. Danny just asked me. Oh, no.

Big client, Hannah. You're an XDA. You might be able to... I told you, you're

more criminal. Please don't make me beg.

Remember what happened the last time I got on my knees?

Don't flatter yourself.

You weren't that great.

Well, I need you to be, Hannah.

Like only you can.

Yes, and you're not that charming either. I left the DA's office to get

from... Danny promised the client we'd make it go away.

And I promise I'll make it up to you.

Pretty, please?

Hmm?

Deep rants.

Hmm.

What do you mean I can't take it?

Obviously, this is a very precarious time for the firm. Which is why I would

think we could use clients, even... Not that client.

Manny is one of my oldest friends.

Jimmy, the absurdity of this motion would damage our credibility.

And that would hurt our other clients.

I want to take this case.

We're voting two to one to turn it down.

You know, I never come to you and ask... We understand that, Jimmy.

And if it were anything but this, we would probably say yes.

But this firm cannot go into court and claim that the FBI bugged a client's

We don't know for sure they didn't. The stuff that's going on these days...

Fine. Get some evidence to support it. We'll reconsider.

But for now, we're not taking the case.

I specifically asked for a one -page memo, soldier.

You've given me a page and a half.

I thought since it is double -spaced, I won't read it.

I like to read.

What are you doing here?

Matthew thought my presence could add prowess.

There's no need for prowess when I'm in the room.

Denny Crane.

Gentlemen, this is Alan Shore. He'll be joining us today.

And I believe you all know Denny Crane.

The woman is dead here.

$1 .2 million isn't going to bring her back to life.

Do you have a figure that will bring her back?

2 .3.

Mr. Crane, the decedent was not a college graduate.

Her earning capacity is limited. No pain and suffering, no loss of consortium.

The jury verdict research on an instant death with no dependents is 875 ,000

structured. We're offering 1 .2 up front. It's generous.

And I like fast little talkers. They remind me of chipmunks.

Denny, the fixture satisfied all safety requirements.

It never should have fallen. But it did.

On Mary Finnerty's head.

Killing her.

Irreparably.

Now listen, son.

Your client. All shop.

They have over 3 ,000 stores nationwide. That's 57 ,000 lighting

fixtures just in the good old U .S. of A.

What if they all fell down there?

We're not talking about one little accident that killed Mary Finity's head.

This could wipe out hundreds of thousands of innocent people.

Denny Crane.

The text was consensual. I give you my word, Miss Rose.

Well, her word seems to be rape. And since there's both torn clothing and

vaginal bruises... She's making it up.

Why would she do this? Because rape trials are fun?

I dated this girl.

We had sex before.

Consensual. But if you'd had sex before, why would she now be saying that she

was raped?

Excuse me a second.

I realize that everyone is different, but I don't like my paralegals to talk.

I'm happy.

But I am so ready to give it to you now.

Obviously, for you to speak to a junior partner like that, you must be screwing

a senior partner.

So, Daryl, any ideas? We have a woman here with bruises, ripped clothing.

I'm looking for a little direction here.

Well, her father was very abusive to her when she was younger.

He even sexually assaulted her.

And? And I'm not a shrink, but a buddy of mine is. He said we could argue that

because of what her father did, she psychologically, I don't know, gets

on by mistreatment and stuff, which personally I think she does a little,

is why, you know, we were having rough sex, and that would account for the

bruises and stuff.

Also...

She's African -American.

I'm sure the relevance of that is obvious, but could you run it by me

Well, a Boston jury is likely to take my word over hers.

Plus, African -American women like sex.

You know.

Rougher.

What do you mean you can't take my case?

My firm, they voted against it. I thought you were a partner.

I am, but I was outvoted, Manny.

Jimmy, if I don't suppress this evidence, I'm looking at eight years.

I tried.

I don't understand it. It's a criminal firm. You're a partner. I'm a criminal.

Besides, you're my friend here.

I know, but... But nothing, Jimmy.

You remember when you passed the bar? We threw that great big party.

And he gave this great speech about what it meant, how you were finally going to

be able to help your friends.

Well, here I am coming to you for help.

Now, what's the deal?

We look ridiculous. You must really love to shoot.

This is America. Everybody loves to shoot.

Guns are what makes America great.

There are more guns in the American household than pet dogs.

Listen, as soon as we can get the guns to fetch, we can lick this damn dog

problem completely.

Asaba! Pull!

The damn!

Pull!

Terry! Pull!

See? The trick is, you gotta... Oh!

Whoa, now that...

Trick is, you're going to want to hit the target.

Okay.

Mother! Pull!

Did you say mother?

I only meant to scare her.

Now that we've played guns together, can I be candid, Denny?

I've had the opportunity to observe you for a while from up close and afar.

And I've noticed something.

Like what?

You're not well.

People in your firm aren't going to tell you that because they like you.

Plus, you wield a great deal of power.

But you have about as much business being in that courtroom tomorrow as you

holding a loaded shotgun.

Do you know who you're talking to?

Look, I offer this because, A, I don't care if I get fired, and,

B, someone very dear to me died with Alzheimer's.

And when I think I see symptoms, even the possibility of

symptoms...

The fact that you may have Alzheimer's is good to criticize me.

Danny, these people, the Finnerneys, have waited 14

months for trial.

You want me because they think you're prepared.

Who do you think you are?

Who?

I hire you. You're here a week, and now you're trying to tell me what to do?

Nobody. Nobody.

what to do.

Dad, you're my father and you don't even remember.

I'm not your father.

I had you for a second.

Don't you laugh at me.

When I went to law school, it wasn't to get rich or...

I had a lot of buddies who got in jams.

I became a lawyer to help my friends.

It was that simple.

There was something about that that seemed very glamorous to me.

And it still does.

Really?

Get some space in the north end.

Wake up every morning, drop my laundry off at the fluff and fold, have coffee

with Lenny and Sal at Maury's Donuts, help Steve get the Denver boot off his

pickup, help Sylvia get a loan even though she's got no credit, negotiate a

better price on a condo for my Aunt Mary.

Help the people I really care about to live better lives, you know?

Then close up early enough to have supper with them.

That sounds like a life to me.

A rich one, even.

You have to do it.

Do what?

Hang a shingle on the North End.

Help Aunt Mary with her credit. Help Lenny with...

You have to do it.

I can't abandon the firm now, of all time. Jimmy, the word on the street is

firm is over.

I've been looking.

You have?

And get this.

One of my close friends is a headhunter.

Eugene's put his name out there.

What?

Eugene? Three weeks ago, he interviewed Hollings and Gray.

That's not even the point.

You have to go do this.

Because it's what you want to do.

You have to do it.

Not just going away, Matthew. Especially not quickly.

He raped her. Not what I want to hear.

Look. Get the new guy to do this. He's done criminally. The new guy is in court

on Denny Crane control.

I told you when I came here it was to get away from criminal law.

I have an official complaint to lodge. And since it's about her, she might as

well be present for it. I fight my battles open.

You might want to opt for an adverb there, Sal.

Openly would support your predicate. Open would describe your leg position.

At the bar.

I want that on the record.

Ooh, the girls are fighting.

Got a big one, Glenn.

Yeah, tell me something I don't know. Oh, please.

Hannah. Glenn.

Date rape. We need to find some credibility issues quickly.

Victim's name is Candace Watson.

Suspect's father is a blue chip. We'll get your employee records, school

transcripts, credit report.

Your hair.

It's so you.

Hi. Hi.

We're not simply looking to prevail at trial. The goal would be to squash this

now.

I need this.

Denny, I am begging you. I've prepared this opening for three weeks.

Overkill.

Alan.

We don't want to steal the thunder from your closing, Denny.

Not going to get to a closing, no, sir.

Mr. Crane.

We'll hear from you.

Denny Crane, here's what's going to happen.

A whole lot of witnesses are going to get up and tell you how and why all

lighting fixture, fell on Mary Finnerty's head, killing her.

The defense is going to get up, have their say, then I'll get up again and

you to give Sarah and Bill Finnerty a whole lot of money.

Now, It's difficult to put a price on a human life, I grant you.

But this is all shop.

And as the defense counsel was so quick to point out to me, they have over 3

,000 stores in this country, 10 ,000 internationally.

We're not talking about one lighting fixture.

We're talking about a lot of lives at stake here.

Objection. Sustained.

Mr. Crane, can we talk about this case only? Can we do that?

Oh, of course. I'm sorry, Your Honor.

Value of human life.

It's a bugger.

My friend Jerry Spence tells a story of this paper boy delivering his papers on

this morning route one day. He throws the paper through the window, shatters

glass, blinds a woman.

What's the value of that?

Paper boy decides to give the woman.

His profits for the week, not very much considering she was blinded. Now here,

we have a loss of life.

An avoidable loss.

Not merely an accident.

One they could have prevented.

So I think the paperboy had the right idea.

At the end of this trial, I'm going to get up. I'm going to ask the defendant

pay my client one week's profit.

Now, let's make that a day's profit.

Let's not get greedy here.

We may not be able to put a price on Mary Finnerty's life, but we can at

pay her family the profits for the day they killed her.

What could be more fair than that?

Hmm?

My client's profits are not relevant.

The number of stores they have is not relevant. How dare you go into that?

And how dare you not shut him down?

May I go off the record?

Briefly. All right, Ed.

Thank you. This is not for your ears, by the way.

You stupid bastard. Cases rarely turn on what's legally relevant.

What you have to be concerned with here is that all shop makes $160 million of

pure profit a day. A day.

In gross revenues, $800 million.

In the 20 minutes it took the ambulance to reach Mary Finnerty's crushed head,

your client took in $10 million.

That might slip out in court, and even if it doesn't... Look at this face. It

comes with its own publicist.

The jury will get wind of those numbers.

In which case we'll appeal. Great. And do you think you'll be the lawyers to

handle that appeal when your client gets whacked with a $50 million judgment?

You're an ass.

You're an ass.

You're an ass.

How about we settle this case like your careers depended on it?

Dumb bastards.

I'm sorry. Where were we?

Leaving? I've been thinking about this for a long time. And now... Because you

couldn't take that case?

In part, yes.

The truth is, I've always wanted to hang my own shingle.

I'm 43 years old. If I don't do it now, when then?

Considering what we're going through now, how can you even think of leaving?

You are.

You interviewed with Hollings and Gray last month.

Is that true, Eugene?

They called for an interview. I declined.

No, you didn't. I declined the job.

But not the interview.

You considered leaving, Eugene.

That's what I've been doing.

We just came to different conclusions.

Do you have any idea how difficult it would be to launch a practice?

Probably not.

But I'm not coming totally from logic here.

This is emotional.

Given that, why don't you at least wait to see if this impulse passes?

The truth is, Eleanor, I've been wanting to leave for a hundred years.

I love this, and all of you, don't get me wrong.

But what I really want to do, deep down, this isn't it.

I'll pitch in, handle cases, whatever you need. I won't abandon you.

But I gotta do this.

And when would you do this?

Today.

It needs to be now.

I'm sick of her not respecting me.

I made law review at Holy Cross, top 10 % of my class, and people totally

dismiss me because of the way I dress.

Well, then let's talk about your dress.

I get clients because of the way I look, Matthew.

People approach me... Men approach you. Yes, many of whom go on to hire me.

And is that how you plan to carve out your career?

You know, you're right.

Law review, top ten percent of your class.

Firms all over town should have been extending offers.

How many did?

Sally, you're an attorney.

I'm also 25, and I'm not going to dress like I'm 40.

My legal skills are excellent. I shouldn't get punished because my skirts

short. And you can tell, Hannah, I'm going to hit her.

I don't care if she's a partner.

If she keeps treating me like this, I'm going to hit her.

According to the seminars, I'm not supposed to hug you.

But I'm going to risk it.

Hey, hey, hey.

Shh.

Shh.

It's okay.

It's okay.

Munchausen's. Basically, it's a disorder that causes people to make up or fake

diseases. I know what it is. Where did you get this?

I should say, how did you get this?

I don't think you mean to ask me that.

Was she ever actually diagnosed with Munchausen's?

She doesn't have it.

Then why is she on a hospital list?

It's computer generated.

If a person is admitted for treatment over and over, the name eventually might

end up on a possible Munchausen list.

Even if the injuries are legit?

Shouldn't happen.

But one doctor along the way had to wonder whether she was really abused by

father.

That's enough.

Do you have a second?

Sure.

I'm going to ask you this in a quiet, refrained tone so as not to seem like

attacking you.

How is it you could interview with another law firm?

Eleanor, they wanted to meet.

I told them I was not interested.

They were persistent about at least talking.

I only agreed to hear them out. I did.

I restated my position that I had no interest in leaving here. And that was

end of it. Was that before or after you fired Alan?

It was after the firm voted to discharge Alan Shaw.

Eugene, I don't think I need to lecture you on the importance of perception.

But for us, during an incredibly vulnerable period, for our senior

seen interviewing... Nobody saw.

The word was out. Jamie heard it. She told Jimmy. The word got out.

Forget that I'm your partner.

As your friend, if you're planning to bail... I'm not bailing.

Are we going to survive, Eugene?

We'll survive.

I'm not bailing.

And we'll survive.

I'm going to tell his father.

That I'm meeting with the DA this morning.

Other than that... Tara, copies of cases.

First circuit's on top, Massachusetts is the second tab, dictum and legislative

intent after that.

Would you like me to come with you? I would, actually.

But I'm too afraid he'll talk.

Would it kill you to be kind?

Actually, I was once, and I almost did. Ah, so I get the blame for how you treat

people. Just the opposite. I give you total credit.

Hannah, I would hate to be the only one to experience the tender you.

It's late.

I've got to go do good deeds.

Sheldon, I heard you settled.

Yeah. 6 .5 million.

Good result, clients pleased.

6 .5?

You were stuck between 1, 2, and 2, 3.

How'd you get 6, 5?

Denny did good work.

So I don't need to intervene today?

Don't you love it here?

These convictions are extremely difficult to get.

especially when the suspect and victim once had a consensual relationship.

Well, their relationship... I'm not saying I won't get it.

I'm just trying to prepare you, Mr. Watson.

Kenny, I, uh... Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were busy.

Actually, I did.

You're Candace Watson's father?

I am.

Hannah Rose.

I have the unfortunate task of defending the man who raped your daughter, who,

between the three of us, I'm convinced is guilty.

What do you want, Hannah? In the interest of no surprises, medical

A claim you once abused your daughter.

I'm sure you didn't.

A hospital turned up her name as a possible Munchausen. What is going on?

could excuse us, please. If she makes things up. That's all, Hannah.

I'm leaving.

This can be used to pierce rape shield, which is vulnerable to begin with.

You might want to consider sparing your daughter this trial.

Hannah, get out.

Misdemeanor assault.

One year suspended.

That's a gift.

None of us wants to go to trial here.

And the D .A. agreed?

I just got the call.

Your son does get a conviction.

But no jail?

Assuming the judge signs off, which he should.

Oh, thank God. You can thank Hannah.

I... I don't know what to say.

He's a fine young man, Miss Rose.

And... Mr.

Solomon, I can see you're having a moment.

But from my take on the facts, which includes an interview with the fine

man, he's a rapist.

If he's to make anything of this second chance, Daddy needs to see the fine

young man for what he is and get him into some counseling.

They're all nuts.

Who? The partners.

You know, they've all totally had work done.

They have?

Please. Denny Crane's head so pumped full of Botox. Even Hannah. Pretty

Hannah Rose?

Yeah. She's in her 30s. So what?

She's pulled so tight she's got to cross her legs and smile.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

I guess it's lucky I don't like to smile. I was just...

How much do we pay you, Sally?

$160 ,000.

Do you think we pay you $160 ,000 to come down here to the storage room and

smoke pot, Sally?

No, ma 'am.

It would be a mistake to call me ma 'am.

Give me the joint, Sally.

Do you need to pee, Mark? Yes, ma 'am.

Sir.

Hannah.

God. Go pee, Mark.

I've, like, so miscalculated my day.

I've had a lousy day, too, Sal.

I arranged for a rapist to get off with just a slap on the wrist.

Now I need to go buy something to feel better about myself.

I've been eyeing the little purse, actually.

It cost $900.

Can you imagine $900 for a purse?

Luckily, I can afford it.

Partners here are well paid.

I bet you hope to be partner one day.

Complain about me to anyone ever again, even to your own mother.

This little pot incident comes at a light.

What the hell are you doing in my office?

Had you there again, didn't I, Dad?

I've asked you not to make fun of my mental elf.

I meant it.

If I offended you before, I apologize.

You know, you don't fool me.

My success as a trial attorney comes from my ability to read people.

I know your little secret, soldier.

You do?

You're in awe of me.

Well, now that the secret's out, let me tell you something, Denny Crane.

Having watched you at the courthouse yesterday, I just want you to know I

am in awe.

You're Denny Crane.

And that's... simple.

You've taken up a minute of my time.

To whom do I send the bill?

Send the bill to me

That

thing is elegant you can go dressy and it's casual

it goes with the sweater and jeans as well Do you like to carry a lot of stuff

totally

Oh, I'm jealous.

I'm saving up to get the same bag.

Well, look on the bright side, if I saw it on you, I'd no longer want it.

Tell you what.

Give me half off.

I'll buy you one.

If only I could.

Look, if you get home and you suddenly hate it, bring it back. No problem.

I'm not supposed to say it.

Never heard it.

What's the matter?

Hannah Rose?

You're an attorney?

Why?

My name is Candace Watson.

Your client raped me last week.

Small town, Boston.

You're good to go.

Look, I, uh...