All language subtitles for LA Law s03e09 Victor Victorious

Previously on L .A. Law.

Hey, hey, hey. Look who's at McKenzie
Crackman. With the long -awaited file.

Good. I hope you're a genius, Stuart.

What, you doubt me?

Well, the offer came in at 40. I don't
even know if that's ballpark. So if you

would just run down the stock valuation
and the tax consequences.

Just wade through it and I'll let you
know. Great.

Arnie. Hi, Allison.

Final cut. It's stunning.

Hi, Rox. How's the diet?

Fine. What the hell was that?

It was me representing my client.

You're trotting out this racism crap as
a way of deflecting attention from the

real issues of this case. Which are?

The guilt or innocence of the defendant
based on what happened in that jewelry

store. You pick your issues, I'll pick
mine.

I trusted Kelly.

I let myself want that baby.

Ian, that baby, that wasn't a baby.

Our baby's waiting to be born to
somebody else, somebody we don't even

We'll find our baby.

I swear to you.

Ta -da!

The finished product.

What do you think?

Nice. Very, very nice.

I like the possessory credit. Arnold
Becker's Guide to Divorce. They're not

going to be able to keep it on the
shelf.

From your lips to God's ears.

Hey, I've done a billion of these
things.

This one's got pop.

It's gonna be a huge seller.

You think so?

It's great. You're great. I gotta run.

Allison, you're always running. Why
don't you stop for a minute and smell

daisies? My luck, I'd get stung by a
bee.

Dinner tonight.

Celebrate. I can't. I'm working.

Oh, and Dave Meyer said to tell you that
he'll send a case of those over

tomorrow.

God,

I'm sorry. No, excuse me. I was... Okay.

Victor Fuente.

Alison Gottlieb.

Nice to meet you.

Yeah, it is.

Edward Chang's here.

Um, Ronnie, I got this nasty letter from
Jim Higgins saying that we never

produced documents in the borough case.

The copy center hasn't done it because
we haven't paid our bill.

For God's sake, you know what's going to
happen?

He's going to file a motion to compel
I'm going to get hit with the cost.

How much is a stupid copy bill?

Forty -seven and change.

Look, take it out of petty cash and then
call Jim Higgins.

Petty cash is gone.

You said I could have it since you
didn't pay me last week.

Great.

Ed, hi. Come on in. I thought I'd come
down and pick up the settlement office.

Got it right here.

Great.

About time.

I want you to go over that carefully,
and then we'll talk.

For six years, I trusted that swine.

My clients were his clients.

And the whole time, he's got his hand in
my pocket.

Yeah, well, he's not going to do it
anymore.

I've got my tax with Stuart Markowitz
crunching the numbers as we speak.

$40 ,000. You think that's enough?

Nothing to sneeze at, but it's nothing
we have to jump at either.

That's why I want you to review this
carefully.

In the end, it's your decision.

Right. That Stuart Markowitz guy, does
he think it's enough?

I'm meeting with him this afternoon, so
I'll call you as soon as I get the

breakdown. Great.

Thanks a lot, Abby. Take care. Bye.

I've got building management on line,
too. They want to know if you'll be

dropping off a rent check today. Um,
tell them I mailed it.

Then call Doug McBain and tell him the
balance is outstanding.

Hello?

Yeah, it went out first thing Monday
morning. Are you sure you haven't

it?

Hey, your rocks are signed to a bearing
there.

You want a donut?

At about 230 calories each, I think I'll
pay half.

How come?

I'm trying to lose weight.

Why?

Well, I think I'd look better.

Gee, I think you're pretty now.

I'd be prettier if I weighed ten pounds
less.

No, you wouldn't.

You'd just be smaller.

Well, some of us could stand to be a
little smaller.

Should I be smaller?

Only if you think it'll make you feel
better about yourself.

I never thought about it.

Maybe you should get the donuts in
there. I think they're starting the

meeting.

Roxanne, my all -encompassing vessel of
passion.

Are you busy for lunch today?

Uh -oh.

I'm eating in. If you can call this
eating.

Then how about a midday tryst at the
Bonaventure? You know, they say 30

of vigorous lovemaking burns 500
calories in an hour. That is 1 ,000

per person.

I don't think so, Dave. No? Then how
about we jump in the car, head over to

Rancho Park, and hit a bucket of balls?

Dave, please.

What? I just want to be left alone with
my boiled eggs and my celery sticks.

Your wish is my command, you voluptuary
you.

I have a lot of work to do. One kiss.
One kiss.

I'll see you at home tonight. With that
in mind, how about I fire up the old

jacuzzi for an after -dinner romp? Huh?

Huh?

The thought of your alabaster buoys
bobbing in the bubbles.

Truth to tell, I don't think I'm going
to get much work done today.

If we can get started,

we're running late, Arnold.

How goes the Mazzotti case?

Actually, Ms. Weiler is in a better
position to talk about that than I. I

out that Isaac Mazzotti's wife is
carried on the books of her family's

She also is the title owner of several
parcels of property in Damascus. All of

which has been kept carefully hidden and
which should knock her claims for a

piece of Isaac's rug business right out
of the box.

Good work, sir. She's done a real bang
-up job.

Chang versus Century Partners Limited.

Yeah, we're still pretty far from an
agreement, but there's a lot running in

favor. How's Abby acquitting herself?

Quite well. She's really gained a lot of
confidence since going out on her own.

There's nothing more gratifying than
seeing young lawyers who've been under

tutelage go forth in the world and
blossom.

No doubt you were quite an influence on
her, Douglas. We've all had our mentors,

Victor. It's really just a matter of
giving something back.

I don't think anybody motivated her more
than you. Thank you, Michael. Thank

you.

Avianca versus National Brands. April
Avianca was waiting tables at the Gilded

Cage. The manager talked her into
becoming a combatant at their Tuesday

mud wrestling contest.

When the mud was replaced with lime
gelatin, April's skin broke out in a

red rash that covered her from head to
toe. She lost two movie roles that she'd

been cast for as a result.

Why is she suing National Brands? They
manufacture the lime gelatin. So what?

It's intended to be eaten, not wrestled
in. True, except gelatin wrestling has

been around long enough to...

raised the issue of foreseeability,
particularly when topless bars are

by the case.

I trust Ms.

Avianca is open to the possibility of
settlement?

Absolutely. She's also available for a
next Christmas party.

I think we're adjourned. Uh -uh. Before
we go, has anyone seen the cutout of me?

It was in my office, and now it's gone.
Well, maybe one of the clerical staff

who worships you from afar took it home
with her.

You must have known that was going to
happen. How's the videotape venture

Arnold? David Meyer tells me the early
sales figures are through the roof.

Look at this packaging.

Very impressive.

I'm getting a case of them tomorrow, so
you can all have a copy of your own.

Staying fond of the tape -up, Arnold
Becker is shipped out.

To another country.

Hey, Arnold, what's the deal with this
Alison Gottlieb person?

No deal. She just directed my video.

Yeah, but what kind of person is she?
Well, she's bright. She's ambitious.

Yeah, you got it.

No. No.

Seriously. No.

No, we just had a couple of dinners. So
you're not going to mind if I ask for

help?

No, go ahead.

Rox will give you the number, but don't
hold your breath.

What does that mean?

Well, it means that she loves to flirt,
but when push comes to shove, she has a

definite problem with intimacy.

But hey, what the hell?

Go ahead. Give it a shot.

I want a full written report.

Funny.

Rox?

Six months to spend the two years in the
service.

He must be on drugs.

Come on, he's a 60 -year -old Baptist
minister. You really think the jury's

going to convict? When he blows away a
teenager with a .357 Magnum, yeah, I

think they'll convict. Self -defense,
don't blur.

Two bullet holes in the back don't
suggest self -defense to me.

Ms. Van Owen, we're talking about a
saint here.

He runs shelters for the homeless,
halfway houses for addicts. And he

17 -year -old boy.

I'll give you murder, too, but that's
it. This case is open and shut.

You say so, but when a jury hears about
an elderly black man who's been

repeatedly victimized by the youth in
the neighborhood, in this case, the

youth... Oh, no, you don't. Your racism
defense isn't going to work this time.

It works every time because it's there
every time.

So take my advice.

Plead this out on aggravated assault and
spare yourself the embarrassment.

You'd spare yourself.

I'm ready for you this time, and there's
no way in hell I'm going to lose this

thing. I will not let my client do time,
Counselor. Trust me.

He's going to jail, Mr. Atkins. Trust
me.

All right, Ms. Van Owen, we'll hear from
the prosecution.

Excuse me, Judge, I'm sorry. I'd like to
file one last pretrial motion before we

open. Mr. Atkins?

I apologize, but this is in response to
newly discovered information.

The motion is to compel District
Attorney to produce all exculpatory

I've already done that, and counsel
knows it. Forgive me, but I've been

that two months ago, Ms. Van Owen
prosecuted a black man with illegally

evidence. Objection. An unconstitutional
confession.

Get up here right now, both of you.

The people versus Lyle Torrey, Judge.

She concealed evidence in that case, and
I want to make sure she doesn't conceal

any here. This is a cheap stunt for the
jury's benefit.

It's not a stunt. It's a legitimate
motion. You're going to start this crap

over again, aren't you? Quiet.

Mr. Atkins, I know your propensity for
grandstanding, but don't you dare pull

that here.

I'm the wrong judge for that. Do you
understand me?

Your motion is denied.

Now step back, both of you.

Sorry, Judge.

Members of the jury, you will disregard
that last exchange in its entirety.

Ms. Van Owen, please proceed.

No, it's not a good offer. $40 ,000 is
not good.

It's all the client lost, Stuart.

We're not going to get any punitives,
and it seems to me that if... His out

-pocket loss was 40, Abby. That doesn't
take into account loss of profits. It

doesn't take into account interest.

And this thing's on a four -year payout
schedule, which means the present day

value is about 32.

Which is still not bad, considering the
cost of a trial.

Happy, the client doesn't bear that
cost. You took it on a contingency,

remember? Even so, Stuart, anti
-competition cases are tough to win. And

sure we should roll the dice with a
wobbler. You have a strong case here,

That's why the offer's as good as it is.

I think you can get at least 65.

I disagree.

Look, even if we win on liability, which
to me is very iffy, the upside award in

this is going to be in the low 50s. I
think you're wrong.

Thank you, but that's my decision.

I'm going to recommend to the client
that he take it.

Fine, but I've got to tell you, if he
asks me, I'm going to recommend

Stuart, I'll talk to the client. I don't
need you giving him mixed signals about

this deal.

Whoa, I'm co -counsel here, Abby. I have
a duty to protect Mr. Chang's interest

as well. I'm the one who hired you.
Yeah, on the client's behalf, which

have an affirmative obligation. Well,
then I'll just remove that obligation as

of this moment. I beg your pardon?

You're fired.

You're firing me? I'm sorry, but your
services are terminated, as is your

obligation to speak to my client.

You can send me your bill.

I just can't believe how stupid I was.

I fell right into it again.

Well, at least the judge hammered him.

Well, that's the thing. The jury didn't
hear any of that.

All they heard was the stuff about me.
And all they saw was me ranting at the

bench like a lunatic while Atkins stood
there calmly.

Gracie, Gracie, the guy's good.

And you're a lunatic.

Well, this lunatic is ready for Mr.
Atkins. He's not going to get under my

anymore.

I steadied up on him. I know all his
tricks, and I'm ready to stop him at

turn. So that's what you were doing till
3 o 'clock in the morning?

Mm -hmm.

Nobody beats me twice, Cusack.

Nobody. Go get him, Counselor.

Come on.

So the defendant never denied shooting
him? Oh, no.

He just said it was self -defense and
that he had to do it. Did your

investigation support that conclusion,
Sergeant? I'm afraid not. The victim

didn't have a weapon and he was shot
from behind.

You're sure about this?

Both bullet wounds were in the back. One
was just below the shoulder blade. The

other was just above the base of the
spine.

Sergeant Bassett, did you have occasion
to meet with the defendant prior to this

incident? About three weeks before. We
were responding to another burglary at

his church. Some kids had stolen some
stuff.

And he was real agitated. Could you
describe this agitation, please?

Well, he was mad at us for one thing. It
was about the tenth time his church had

been hit in the last year.

And he said he was sick of it. And
that's when he made the threat.

What was this threat, sir?

He said if the police couldn't stop
these punks, he'd do it himself.

Thank you, Sergeant Bassett.

I have nothing further.

Did you report this threat to anybody?

No, I didn't. Why not, Sergeant?

I really didn't take it seriously.

Because victims in the heat of the
moment say crazy things all the time,

they? Yes, sir. And when you heard my
client spot off Bob Vengeance, you

regarded that as human nature, didn't
you?

I guess that's right. In fact, Sergeant
Bassett, the real reason my client is on

trial here today is not because of that
impassioned outburst, but because of the

two bullet holes in the back of the
intruder.

Isn't that right?

That's certainly the most incriminating
evidence, yes, sir. How long have you

been on the force, Sergeant?

16 years.

16 years?

In that time, have you known of a police
officer to shoot and kill anybody from

behind? It's happened. To your
knowledge, have any of these police

been prosecuted for murder?

No, because they didn't commit murder.

In your opinion?

Look, counselor, if an officer fatally
wounds somebody from behind, there's

going to be a complete investigation.

And if the shooting isn't justified or
an honest mistake, there's damn well

going to be a murder charge, whether
it's a cop or not. So it is possible for

these kinds of shootings to be either
justified or an honest mistake?

That's right.

Thank you, Sergeant.

Nothing further.

Mr.

Chang. Hi.

I appreciate you seeing me without an
appointment.

Oh, it's okay.

I don't know if Abby told you or not,
but I'm no longer in the case.

She told me.

The reason I came in is to find out what
exactly happened.

Oh, nothing happened.

I was hired to run some numbers and give
some advice, which I did, and my job's

done. She told me you had a
disagreement.

Well, no, we differed as to the damage
computation, that's all. You think the

offer's too low, don't you?

Yeah, I'd like it to be bigger, but
look, Abby's in a much better position

make this call. She's much better versed
in the liability issue. How much do you

think I should get? I think you should
ask Abby. She's your lawyer. She's quite

capable. Suppose I wanted to make you my
lawyer, exclusively.

No.

Listen, Abby's a litigator. I'm not. I
think your interests are much better

served with her. But you disagree with
the way she's handling it. No, I didn't

say that. I said we had a difference of
opinion as to the numbers. Now, that's

all.

Thank you, Mr. Malkowitz.

Thank you for your time.

Hey, Victor, como esta?

Bien.

Did you call Allison?

Yeah, I did.

And? Uh, we're gonna go out for a little
dinner.

Great.

Don't forget, full written report.

And where were you, sir, when you heard
this noise?

In the basement.

I've been staying there at night to
protect my church.

But just when I got ready to turn in, I
heard it.

And I thought, oh, Lord, here we go
again.

What did you mean by here we go again?

Ten break -ins in the past seven months.

I can't even get insurance because I'm
too much of a ripper. What did you do,

sir, when you heard this noise?

I got my gun and I went upstairs.

And when I went into the chapel, I
thawed.

I couldn't make them out too good
because it was thought a dog, so I

Who are you?

And that's when he just started
charging.

Charging at you? Yes, sir.

But he was shot in the back.

Well, he turned towards the door just
before I fired. He was moving fast. I

my hand on the trigger.

With God as my witness, I did not want
to kill anyone.

Thank you, Reverend.

I have nothing further.

When you shot him the first time, Mr.
Sealy, he was ten feet away.

And according to your testimony, you
thought he was charging you, right?

Yes. But when you got him with the
second shot, he was 30 feet away, over

door. Are you telling us that after he
ran an additional 20 feet away from you,

you still thought he was charging?

It was dark.

It wasn't dark, sir.

The lights were on.

Sometimes I don't see too good.

Do you wear glasses?

No. In fact, you have 20 -20 vision,
don't you? The point is, I thought I was

danger. No, the point is, Reverend, you
have perfect vision. You were in a

lighted room, and you say you couldn't
tell if the boy was coming towards you

running away.

Doesn't that sound a little funny?

Objection. My plan doesn't have to
ratify her sense of humor.

Then let me rephrase the question.

Doesn't that sound a little like murder,
Mr. Sealy?

Objection. Sustained.

After the last break and you told the
police... You stopped these punks,

you? That was just talk. I didn't, did
it? And was it just talk the next week

when you went out and bought the .357
Magnum? I needed protection.

And when you took shooting practice for
two weeks, was that just a little more

talk? That was me taking steps to stop
crying to police, though. So you were

doing the police department's job?

Yes. They should give me a medal.

Too bad. They stopped giving out medals
for shooting teenagers in the back.

Objection. Withdrawn. I have nothing
further for the Reverend.

What possible justification do you have
for turning my client on me?

I didn't turn your client.

Why, did he leave you? Yes, he did,
Stuart. You know he did.

No, I don't know, Abby.

He came to my office very uncertain
about the deal you were trying to slide

him. I resent that characterization.

It is precisely accurate, Abby. I am a
precisely accurate kind of guy. And I

severe misgivings about the way I
handled that meeting with him. Because I

him to believe that what you were doing
was okay.

You sold him down the river, Abby.

I waved to him from the dock.

He deserved better.

Oh, come on, Stuart. You would have
negotiated that deal to death. You'd

nothing better than to bat those profit
projections back and forth to the end of

recorded history.

But for people who live in real time,
Stuart, including Mr. Chang, they have

bills to pay.

Oh, is that it, Abby?

Bills to pay? Did you push for a
settlement because you have bills to

It was a decent offer. Did you push for
this settlement because you have bills

to pay?

I'm out of money, Stuart.

I'm also out of credit.

And I would sift by two clients for fees
that I was counting on. But I would

never sell out my own client. Yeah,
because he walked before you had a

to. Abby, good lawyers don't screw their
clients.

What am I supposed to do, Stuart?

Lose my practice? Close up shop?

Ask for a loan, for God's sake. Here, I
have money.

Stick your money, Stuart. Stick your
money and you're moralizing.

That's it.

I can't tell if I'm helping or hurting.

You're alternating.

Excuse me.

Abby.

Come in.

Why don't I go and... No, Ann.

Ann, I, um... I just came to apologize
to your husband.

He was right on target yesterday.

And the righter he was, the madder I
got.

I hope that he'll accept a blanket
apology.

Because point by point, we'll just
remind him of what a complete jerk I am.

Let's do it.

Forget it.

Thank you.

Is there anything we can do?

Ann, don't ask. Believe me.

Yeah, really.

Although, if you don't mind, I gave your
name to somebody today.

No, I don't mind.

He owns Diamondback Skateboards.

He's an interesting guy, actually. He
was four -time international freestyle

thrasher champion.

They call it thrashing.

Here, some sportswear manufacturer
starts putting the Diamondback Snake

logo on its summer line, and we got a
conflict here, so I gave him your name.

Trademark infringement?

Yeah, I thought it would be right up
your alley.

Well, I mean, it's just a scenario that
I'm not.

All that fluent in.

What fluent? Read up.

Sure, but if the guy thinks I'm some
kind of expert... I told him you're

I told him you're smart, I told him he'd
be lucky to get you. So take it if you

want it.

I'll give it a shot.

Thanks for the endorsement.

Get the door, will you?

Yeah, Walter Goetz, please. Stuart
Markowitz calling.

Mr.

Goetz, good morning.

Yeah, I've been thinking about lawyers
for your case, and I think I found

somebody for you.

Uh -huh.

Her name is Abigail Perkins.

Yeah, yeah. Now, look, I don't know if
she can free herself up for this, but

I... Oh, yeah, I will definitely put a
good word in for you.

I'd be glad to do it.

All right, Mr. Atkins, what's this all
about?

I'm afraid I have a situation, Judge,
that necessitates my being excused from

this case.

Pardon me?

Reverend Seeley believes that my defense
has been incompetent and he's suing me

for malpractice.

What in hell are you talking about?

This is the complaint he plans to file.

Obviously, I can't be expected to
continue representing a client who's in

process of suing me. Excuse me, Judge,
but I believe that Mr. Atkins instructed

his client to file that complaint.

What? It's a great trick.

He tells his client to sue, forcing you
to remove him as counsel from the trial.

His withdrawal at such a late stage is
so prejudicial that it's grounds for a

mistrial, or at worst, surefire grounds
for appeal after conviction.

This is ridiculous.

Not so ridiculous.

Mr. Atkins has been sued three other
times by clients in the late stages of a

losing effort.

1971,

1978, and again in 1981.

All three complaints snatching mistrials
from the jaws of defeat.

Oh, and all three suits subsequently
dropped after the clients got their new

trials. That proves absolutely nothing.

Mr. Atkins, did you tell your client to
sue you so that I would scrap this

trial? No, Your Honor.

That would be unethical.

Well, let me tell you this, Mr.
Attorney.

I don't think that your client has any
grounds for a malpractice claim.

And, judging from your behavior, I am
quite confident that you will continue

represent him zealously.

You are not excused. This trial goes on.

We're going back in there right now for
closing arguments.

Your Honor.

Let's go, Mr. Atkins.

And just be glad that I don't lock you
up for obstruction of justice.

Nice try, Counselor.

Jerome Seeley sacrificed the last 30
years of his life so that others

might suffer less.

Food for the hungry.

Shelter for the homeless.

Hope for the desperate.

And now, Ms. Van Owen wants you to lock
him up because he dared to

raise a gun against a burglar in his own
church.

No 12 people of conscience.

could go back to that jury room and come
back with that kind of verdict?

He's a good man, a giving man, who
panicked and shot a criminal.

Jerome Thiele was afraid and pent up
with the frustrations that white

Americans have in difference to crimes
against black people. The police

timed to crimes in his black
neighborhood 17 minutes longer.

In the response time to crime in a white
neighborhood just three blocks away,

two weeks ago, simultaneous reports were
made to the police about two separate

crimes. A car theft in the white
neighborhood, an ongoing rape in the

The police responded...

to the car theft first. I object to
this. He's introducing new facts in his

closing, and that's illegal.

Your Honor. There has been no evidence
introduced about a response time on any

rape two weeks ago. I object to this
blatant intrusion.

Your Honor, I move that Attorney Atkins
take the stand so that I can cross

-examine him. What? Cross -examine?

He is making statements of fact.

Functioning as a witness, I have
absolute right to challenge him. This is

ridiculous. You're afraid to take the
stand, Counselor. Ms. Van Owen.

Want to cross -examine me? Go ahead.

Both of you approve.

Now, I will strike this evidence and
remove it. They've already heard it,

You can't unring the bell. If she wants
to put me on the witness stand, that's

okay with me.

All right.

We'll come back in here tomorrow.

Members of the jury, we will reconvene
at 10 a .m., at which time Attorney

Atkins will be called as a witness.

Until then, we are adjourned.

If you think you can go one -on -one
with me, lady, you just made a big

Yeah.

Okay, send him in.

Walter Getz?

Hi, Abigail Perkins.

Thanks, Ronnie.

Pleasure. Have a seat.

Go. Stuart told me a little bit about
your case. Look, before we go too far in

this, I understand the value of keeping
things lean, but when your name came up,

I had no idea this was a one -man
office.

Well, if Stuart Markowitz recommended
me, there had to be a reason.

Look, Mr. Getz, at the risk of sounding
immodest, I'm good.

And the reason I don't have a flock of
associates backing me up is because I

don't need one.

You think my case is winnable?

From what I know, absolutely.

The guy's making money off your logo.

Well, it's real close. It's not an exact
copy.

No, no.

The issue here is likelihood of
confusion.

And when the layperson sees the design
on his T -shirt, they're going to

associate it with your skateboard
company.

Well, that's great, Miss Perkins, but do
you really think one person's enough to

service this case?

I mean, we could be talking big numbers
and... Don't I really think?

I think you should interview some other
lawyers.

Hey, look, don't get me wrong.

You don't need to explain, Mr. Getz.

One of my golden rules here is never
take on a reluctant client.

And the fact is that there are a lot of
fine law firms out there that'll do a

nice job for you.

Well, maybe I should at least talk to a
few, you know, see what they say.

I think that would be smart.

But do yourself a favor and don't hire
your last lawyer, whoever that was.

Why? Well, he could have registered your
trademark.

If he had, you might not be in this jam.

Well, he said it wasn't necessary
because it was a unique design.

Well, he was wrong, wasn't he?

Look, once you guess, I'm not saying
you're not going to win here because you

should. It's a fanciful mark that could
easily establish secondary meaning.

But if you were registered, you'd have
another presumption in your favor going

in.

It's just plain stupid to not be
registered.

You know what?

I think I'm ready to hire you.

No, I don't think you should make this
decision yet. Think it over. No, I'm

sure.

I'm sure.

Okay, fine.

I'll need a retainer from you of $10
,000 to be charged off at a rate of $1

an hour.

Right.

It's been a long time since I've been at
a real date.

I'm surprised.

Why?

Oh, I don't know. I guess you don't
strike me as the shy type.

No, it's just that the women that I meet
are in the legal profession.

And, you know, you spend your whole day
with lawyers. I know. I feel the same

way about the guys I work with.

And then I work a lot of nights, too,
particularly when I have to be in court

the next morning. My mother is going to
be thrilled when I tell her I went out

with an attorney.

Name C. Fuente.

Well, I don't think I'll tell her that
far.

Unless I see you again.

Well, that's up to you.

I'd like...

So,

does, um... Does that mean that you're
not involved with anyone?

Yeah. You are? Yeah, I mean, no.

I'm not involved with anybody.

Good.

That's good.

Let me get that.

The car hasn't...

Are you going to be in my life, Victor
Cifuentes?

Oh, yes.

Yes, I am.

Hey, Victor. How was the big date?

Good.

Where'd you go?

A little place in Malibu Canyon.

And?

What?

How was it?

It was pretty good. I had the New York
steak and Allison had the grilled

chicken.

Talking about afterward.

Fine.

Fine?

What's fine supposed to mean?

Fine means fine. Okay, you gonna see her
again?

Yeah, probably.

What is this, a news blackout?

Mr. Atkins, yesterday's statement about
police response times in black and white

neighborhoods, where'd you get that?

It was my own research based on numerous
interviews with reliable witnesses

living in both places.

Why didn't you call any of these
reliable witnesses to testify?

Maybe I should have.

Yes. Or maybe you were afraid they
turned out to be not so reliable or

nonexistent. I don't fabricate data,
Mrs. Van Owen. Oh, you don't.

What about the so -called simultaneous
reports concerning this rape and car

theft? They happened January 7th, 1989.

But they didn't happen simultaneously,
Counselor. According to the police

records, a unit was already in the white
neighborhood investigating the

automobile theft when the rape call came
in, and they responded immediately.

All I know is they were in the white
neighborhood first. Oh, no, Mr. Atkins.

know the facts exactly.

But you chose to deliberately mislead
this jury. That's totally false.

It's true, and it's not the first time.

You were suspended from the practice of
law for doing this before, weren't you?

Objection! It goes to his honesty I'm
offering to impeach. I'll allow it.

1972. You submitted and argued false
evidence to a court of law for which you

were suspended for three months,
correct, Counselor? You did the same

months ago.

Thank you, but for now, let's stick to
your adventures.

Like your 1978 conviction for assault
and battery on a police officer.

Objection! He's a witness, Judge.

Felony convictions bear upon
credibility.

Your Honor.

Overruled.

That was an anti -apartheid
demonstration.

Were you convicted or not, Mr. Atkins? I
pled guilty proudly.

And were you proud in 1968 after being
arrested for breaking and entering,

trespassing... A faculty protest at the
administration building at Berkeley.

For which you were arrested, Mr. Atkins.
That was a political crime, Ms. Van

Owen, which you, as a chosen class white
American, can't understand.

I understand income tax evasion, sir.

Something you were investigated for in
1970.

I refuse to pay my taxes in protest of
the Vietnam War.

Bravo, Mr.

Atkins. It's always nice to have an
excuse. But let me conduct a review

and you tell me if I'm wrong.

Yesterday, you illegally introduced new
facts before this jury.

Facts about response times which you
cannot prove.

Facts about a rape and a car theft which
are out and out false.

Previously, you've been suspended by the
state bar for lying to a jury. You have

a criminal record complete with a felony
conviction. And you've been

investigated for income tax evasion.

That's all true, isn't it, Mr. Atkins?

Just because. Is it true or not, sir?

Yet it's true.

Thank you, Counselor.

It's a privilege to know where you're
coming from.

You may step down, Mr. Atkins.

Mr. Nolan, members of the jury, I'm
afraid that I cannot let this trial go

What are you talking about?

I think you know very well what I am
talking about.

This new information is extremely
prejudicial, and in my view, it severely

compromises Mr.

Atkins' ability to render effective
representation.

Judge, you can't throw this thing out.

Ms. Van Owen, you have left me no
choice. Mr.

Atkins is now so severely undermined
that it jeopardizes the defendant's

constitutional right to a fair trial.

Members of the jury, regrettably, I must
declare these proceedings a mistrial.

I thank you for your efforts, and I am
deeply sorry that you will not be able

complete your service.

This matter is adjourned.

Nice try, Counselor.

Did you talk to Abby today?

Mm -mm.

She said she was going to call.

She was pretty excited.

Great.

Speak of the devil.

Here, you answer.

Hello?

Yeah, yeah, it is.

Wait a minute, let me get a pen.

Uh -huh.

Which terminal?

Well, yeah, is it going to be there?

All right, thanks.

It's Ross Burnett's wife.

Ross is at the airport and he's got a
baby for us.

What?

I'm three days old, coming in from
Arkansas, and like it's an 1120.

Arkansas? We didn't meet anybody from
Arkansas. Who's the mother? I don't

Come on, let's get going.

Stuart, this is crazy.

We don't have a crib or diapers or baby
food?

One thing at a time.

Where's my car key?

Hi.

Hi. How are you feeling?

Eh, I'll live.

Grace. It's not like you lost. It's only
a mistrial.

And a mistrial always favors the
defense.

You've still got a sure thing, and you
know it.

Now, the reason that you're so upset is
because you were outsmarted.

Oh, thanks for the reminder, Counselor.
You win some, you lose some. I don't

mind losing some, but this guy rubs my
nose in it every time I go up against

him. I just don't ever want to see his
face again.

Hey, I brought you your present.

It's just a little dumb material.

Oh, Mickens.

That is so sweet.

You are something.

What am I supposed to do with this?

Well, it's exactly what you always
wanted to do to Atkins.

Punch him right in the nose.

I can't do that.

Sure you can. Go ahead.

Oh, come on, Grace. You can do better
than that. Go ahead.

Go for it.

Yeah!

Flight 543 is ready for

departure at gate 12.

The flight's a few minutes late, so we
had a little bit of time.

The couple that was supposed to take the
baby got cold feet and pulled out.

The baby was already in the air.

I called three different couples. You
were the only ones home.

Look, I've got the mother on the phone
now in Arkansas.

I faxed her your file, and she's going
over it. Why don't you take a look at

that top file and tell me what you
think? Jane Wartside.

This is Jane Wartside.

Please pick up KMA Point Courtesy
Telephone.

Please pick up KMA White.

Mother's 20.

She lives in her hometown. She's
presently working at a grade school

as a baker.

There's no history of mental illness in
the family.

Paternal grandparents died of heart
disease.

The mother was born with a malformed
left foot, which was corrected by

in infancy, but Ross wrote, the margin's
not hereditary, the baby's perfect.

That's it.

Stuart, this is not the way to have a
baby.

It's not fair to anybody.

She said yes.

She liked that you were both lawyers and
that Stuart had a nice smile and Anne

was tall.

I want to talk to her before we decide.

She doesn't want to.

We don't even know if it's a boy or a
girl.

It's a girl.

I can't do it this way.

I have to meet the mother. Stuart, if I
see her, I'll know if this is the right

baby for us. I have to see her.

Maybe we can... I don't know.

Spend a little time with the baby first
before we decide?

No.

You can look at her. You can hold her.

But if you take her home, she's yours.

We're supposed to take a baby off a
piece of paper in a snapshot?

Is that how desperate we've become?

Just give us a second, Lee.

Can we get out of here, please?

Yes, we can go.

I mean, if you recall, if it's not right
for you, I don't want to do it.

The plane has landed.

Well, you want to take a look?

I guess so. Okay.

I got a name picked out.

Tell me.

Kelsey.

Kelsey Margulies.

Yeah.

You like it? I like it.

How about we all go home? Do you want to
go home?

Okay?