All language subtitles for AB01FCF7924786CA8515CAFA3DDFB081_eng (THE RAINMAKER) (IND AND ARAB)

My father hated
lawyers all his life.

He wasn't a great
guy, my old man.

He drank and beat up my mother.

He beat me up, too.

So you might think
I became a lawyer

just to piss him off,

but you'd be wrong.

I've wanted to be a lawyer

ever since I read about
the civil rights lawyers

in the fifties and sixties

and the amazing uses
they found for the law.

They did what a
lot of people thought

was the impossible.

They gave lawyers a good name.

And so I went to law school,

and it did piss my father off,

but he was pissed off anyway.

In my first year, he
got drunk one day

and fell of a ladder

manufactured by the
company he worked for,

and he didn't know
who to sue first.

Now, he died a couple
months after that.

I'm empty.

Now, some of my classmates,

they knew they were
going straight from school

into the top law firms,

thanks mostly to their
family connections.

Now, the only connections I had

were made in the places
where I tended bar for 3 years

so I could pay my tuition.

And while I still had plans

to shine the blazing
light of justice

into every dark corner,

what I really needed
right now was a job,

and badly,

because there are too
many lawyers in Memphis.

This city's infested with them.

I don't think so.

I can't think of anything
more embarrassing

than telling people

I work for a guy
like Bruiser Stone.

I mean, he's a lawyer,
and they call him Bruiser.

That's how desperate I am.

Sure.

Shut the door.

No, not that. Not that either.

Sure.

Sure.

Let's make it my house.

OK.

I really pity the
poor FBI technician

that's gonna have
to extract the data

from that conversation.

Live sharks in
a lawyer's office.

It's a joke. Get it?

So, Prince,

is this the law student
you were telling me about?

Yes, sir. I just finished

my third year at Memphis state.

Couldn't you use
him around here?

Look, I'll vouch for him.

The boy needs a job.

He's tended bar at our clubs.

This'll be a great place
for you to work, Rudy.

This'll be...

A great place for you to work.

You can see what
real lawyers do.

Now, it ain't exactly
a salaried position.

It isn't?

I expect my associates
to pay for themselves...

generate their own fees.

Talk to me.

How exactly does that work?

Well, Rudy, you
draw $1,000 a month,

and you get to keep 1/3 of
all the fees that you generate.

Now, if you can't
cover your draw

at the end of each month,
you owe me the balance.

Do you understand?

Sounds fair to me, Rudy.

That's a hell of a deal, really.

You can make a lot
of money this way.

Um...

I'll tell you something, Rudy.

That's the only way I operate.

And I'll get you a
lot of good cases.

I have cases.

Uh...

I have 2 cases right now.

One is a will

that I'm drafting
for an old woman.

She's loaded, too.
She's worth millions.

And then I have this other case.

It's an insurance case.

Great Benefit. You heard of 'em.

You got these clients signed?

I'm on my way to
see 'em right now,

and they'll listen to me, too.

I helped 'em over
at a law workshop.

All right, I'm
gonna have you talk

to an associate of
mine, Deck Schifflet.

He used to work with these
big insurance companies.

He handles all the
high-powered stuff around here.

Hey, Deck!

Deck!

Damn it.

You got the
paperwork on this stuff?

In my car.

Good.

Hey, good lookin'

this is Deck Schifflet.

This man will get
you plugged in.

What I want you to do,

I want you to draw up a
lawsuit against this Great Benefit,

and you put my name on it.

We're gonna file it today.

Thank you.

Rudy, you're gonna learn a lot.

Rudy, I'm glad you came here.

You're making good
choices already, son.

All right, well, thank you.

OK, thank you.

Close the door on
your way out now, OK?

Law offices. May I help you?

This is an office,
there's people in it.

If there's somebody
in the office,

you can't have
it, it's off limits.

This is the bathroom.

Just a minute.

Sorry.

So, are you an associate here?

Sort of. Not really.

I'm actually not a lawyer yet.

Bruiser usually asks me

to review the insurance
cases when they come in.

I used to work for specific
mutual insurance company.

I got sick of that. I
went to law school.

Well, when did you
finish law school?

5 years ago.

See, I'm having a little trouble

with the bar exam.

I sat for it 6 times.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Yeah. When do you take yours?

I take it in, like, 3 weeks.

Oh, yeah.

It's that hard?

Pretty rough, I'll say.

I took it a year ago.

I don't think I'm
gonna take it again.

Anyway, this is
Bruiser's law library.

If you want to get anything

out of the fridge
or use the fridge,

you can put your name on stuff.

They'll eat it anyway.
Put that in for me.

Aw, it's only rice.
What the hell. Daisy.

Yeah.

We made a mess
here. Get that up, huh?

Sure, Deck.

Anyway...

So wait, what happens
when you have to go to court?

I've actually gone
a few times myself.

I haven't gotten caught.

There's so many lawyers here,

it's impossible to
keep up with us.

Bruiser owns all this.

Oh. Nice.

You can't call
it a firm exactly.

It's every man for himself.

You'll learn.

What, are you moving?

Evicted.

Here's the policy.

Yeah.

What do you think?

Well, this is the
scratch-and-sniff armpit

of the industry.

What are their
grounds for denial?

Oh, well, everything.

They first denied
it just on principle,

and then they said that leukemia

was a pre-existing condition,

and then they said

leukemia wasn't
covered in the policy.

I got 7 letters here.

Have all the premiums been paid?

According to Miss Black,

she paid every
single one of them.

The bastards.

This is a typical
debit insurance scam.

The Blacks call
it street-surance.

So what do I do?

You sign 'em up.
Sign 'em all up.

To J. Lyman Stone.

All right.

Yeah. I'll help you on this one.

All right. Well, thank you.

I appreciate it.

There's nothing more thrilling

than nailing an
insurance company.

Hi, Ms. Black. It's Rudy Baylor.

Remember? I'm handling your case

against Great Benefit.

I met you

over at the Memphis
state law workshop.

Well, come in.

Come in. I'm sorry
about them crazy dogs.

Oh, that's OK.

I thought you was
a Jehovah's witness.

Where's Buddy?

He's out in the car.

Where's he going?

Buddy isn't going nowhere.

He ain't right in the
head. War injury.

Korea. You know
them metal detectors

at the airport?

He can walk through
one buck naked,

and the thing would go off.

He's got a plate in his head.

Oh.

That's awful.

How's Donny Ray?

Well, good days and bad.

"Plate in head."

You want to meet him?

Maybe later.

Um, now...

Great Benefit first denied
your claim last August

when Donny Ray was diagnosed.

Why'd y'all wait till
now to consult a lawyer?

Stupid, I guess.

I just kept writing 'em,

and they kept writing me back,

and this here is the latest one.

"Dear Mrs. Black,

"on 7 prior occasions

"this company had
denied your claim in writing.

"We now deny it for
the eighth and final time.

You must be stupid,
stupid, stupid."

"Sincerely, Everett Lufkin,
Vice President of Claims."

I don't believe this.

You're the lawyer.

Mom says nice things about you.

She says you're
suing those bastards

over at Great Benefit.

Gonna make 'em pay, huh?

That's right.

That's right.

Hi, mama.

Hi, honey.

Well, before we
can file a claim,

I need all 3 of
you to sign this.

Is daddy coming in?

Well, he said he wasn't.

Some days he comes in,

and some days he don't.

Well, this is a contract.

What's in it?

Oh, the usual.

It's standard language.

It basically says

that y'all hire us to
be your attorneys,

and we take care
of the case for you.

We handle any expenses
that we might have,

and then we get
1/3 of any recovery.

Mm-hmm.

Well, why does it take
2 pages to say all that?

Don't light that.

No wonder I'm dying.

And all 3 of us have to sign it?

Yes, ma'am, all 3. Just
where your name is.

He said he wasn't coming in.

Take the pen and go out there

and make him
sign the damn thing.

I guess I could.

Now, Buddy,

you gotta sign this paper

so Donny Ray can get
that operation he needs,

and I don't want no
trouble out of you.

I'll take that damn bottle

and throw it
across union street.

Now sign the damn
thing. Come on, hurry up.

I know you must
think they're crazy.

They're nice folks.

Hey, man.

Hey, your nose is bleeding.

Mrs. Black!

Hold your head up.

Mrs. Black!

It's OK. I got it.

He's bleeding.

Put your head back.
Put your head back.

Come on, put it back.

Oh, sweetie, OK,
it'll be all right.

I got it.

I got it.

OK, OK.

OK, I got it.

You're gonna be all right.

Where's the paper?

Donny Ray, why don't
you just rest a little bit?

You can wait.

You don't have to do this now.

No, no. I want to do this now.

OK.

All right, all right,
you can do it.

Go ahead.

You're doing it.

Uh, Miss Birdie,
it's Rudy Baylor.

What?

Who is it?

It's Rudy Baylor.

Oh.

We met at the law workshop

at Memphis state.

Oh, yes. Oh, come in, come in.

Thank you, thank you.

How are you doing today?

Fine, fine.

Miss Birdie, I
wanted to talk to you

about your will.

Cut my children out
of my will. Cut, cut, cut.

Cut, cut, cut. I know.

I had trouble
sleeping last night

'cause I was worried
about your estate.

Now, if you're not
careful, Miss Birdie,

the government is just
gonna get a big chunk of this.

Now, a lot of these
taxes can be avoided

with a little bit of
careful estate planning.

Oh, that legal gobbledygook.

I suppose you want your name

in the will somewhere.

Of course not.

Lawyers are always
wanting their names

in my wills.

No, ma'am. Well, there
are all kinds of lawyers.

What I do need from you is,
for purposes of estate planning,

I do need to know
where the money is.

Is it in bonds or
stocks or cash?

Now, Rudy, not
so fast, not so fast.

OK, ma'am. So we have
this money somewhere.

Who are we gonna leave it to?

Well,

I want it all to go

to the reverend
Kenneth Chandler.

Do you know him?

He's on television
all the time now

out of Dallas.

Got this curly gray
hair premature,

and he wouldn't dream

of touching it up, you know?

I want him to have the money.

Forgive me, Miss Birdie. Um...

What?

I just have a real problem

drafting a will or
any instrument

that's gonna cut out family

and that's gonna replace it

and convey the
bulk of this estate

to a TV personality.

Well, he's a man of God.

I realize that.

I know.

Is there any way we could
attack this in more of a...

do you have to
give him everything?

Could it be more, say, 25%

he's got a lot of overhead,

and his jet is getting old.

His jet is getting old?

Now, Rudy, I want
you to just please

draw it up the way I ask

and bring it back to me

so I can review it, all right?

Here's the hustlers

when they were
still young and sweet.

Cut, cut, cut.

You come back now, huh?

Oh, I will, I will.

Thank you.

No. Thank you.

Is that a little
apartment back there?

Used to be.

What do you think
about my garden?

Oh, that's a
fine-looking garden.

Do you do all the
work on this yourself?

Most of it.

I pay a young boy to cut
the grass for me once a week.

$30. Can you believe it?

Used to be 5.

Well, I don't suppose
you'd be interested

in renting this place
out now, would you?

I couldn't afford much, though.

I could let you have
it quite reasonably

if you'd assist me with a
few chores around the place.

Sure, sure.

Perhaps a little weed
pulling now and then.

Sure. Weed
pulling's my specialty.

Go to hospitals all the time.

Bruiser has contacts
down at the main precinct,

guys he grew up with.

They feed him accident
reports every morning.

Can I ask you something?

Sure.

What does Bruiser
expect me to do?

Get the case. You
find the victims.

You sign 'em up to the
law firm of J. Lyman Stone.

Put the case together.

So I should solicit?

What did they teach
you in law school?

Well, they didn't teach me

how to chase ambulances.

Well, you better learn
quick, or you're gonna starve.

All you have to do
is ask for a doctor

and we can admit
you right here. Sure.

Nice flowers.

Thanks.

William.

How you doing, Deck?

All right. 346.

Dr. Wells.

Morning.

How are you? Good to see you.

Don't act like a lawyer.

Hmm. "Do not enter."

How you doing, Mr. McKenzie?

How are my tests?

Gall bladder. Wrong fish.

Mr. Van Landel.

Good afternoon, Mr. Van Landel.

Can you hear me, Mr. Van Landel?

Hi.

Who are you?

I'm Deck Schifflet, para-lawyer.

You haven't talked

to any insurance
companies, have you?

No.

Good. don't talk to 'em

because they're
just out to screw you.

Do you have a lawyer?

No.

My firm handles more car wrecks

than anybody in Memphis.

Insurance companies
are terrified of us,

and we don't charge a dime.

Can you wait till
my wife gets back?

Your wife, Mr. van...

Ow!

Aah!

Sorry.

I'm very sorry, Mr. Van Landel.

Very sorry.

Where is your wife,
Mr. Van Landel?

She'll be back
in a little while.

Well, I'm gonna
have to talk to her

down in my office

because there's a ton
of information that I need.

Just sign right there.

Remember, don't talk to anybody

except your doctor.

There are gonna be
people coming at you

from every direction

offering you settlements.

I do not want you
under any circumstances

to sign anything without
me reviewing it first.

Understand? My
number is on this card.

You can call me 24 hours a day.

Mr. Rudy Baylor's
number is on the back.

You can call that number
for him any time, OK?

Do you have any questions?

No.

Good. We're gonna get
you a bunch of money.

Let's go.

I'm real sorry about your leg.

I'd like to be alone please.

And that is how it's done.

Piece of cake.

What if the guy had a lawyer?

We came with nothing.

If he'd have thrown
us out of his room

for whatever reason,
what have we lost?

A little dignity.

Maybe a little self-respect.

You see...

In law school, Rudy,

they don't teach you
what you need to know.

It's all theories
and lofty notions

and big fat ethics books.

What's wrong with ethics?

Nothing, I guess.

I mean, I believe a lawyer

should fight for his client,

refrain from stealing money.

And try not to lie.

You know, the basics.

That was blatant
ambulance chasing.

Right, but who cares?

There's a lot of
lawyers out there.

It's a marketplace.
It's a competition.

What they don't teach you
in law school can get you hurt.

How do you know
when a lawyer is lying?

His lips are moving.

What's the difference
between a hooker and a lawyer?

A hooker will stop screwing
you after you're dead.

Everybody loves lawyer jokes,

especially lawyers.

They're even sort
of proud of 'em.

Why do you suppose that is?

A third party is no different.

He may also be
used by the plaintiff

to bring in a third party.

What the hell are you doing?

Oh, I'm studying.

I thought we was gonna
study on our own time.

I know, Bruiser, but look, man,

the bar exam is
next week, all right?

It is next week.

I'm scared, man.

Hey, Rudy, look,
you want to study,

why don't you run
over to the hospital

and study with Deck?

I'm not gonna study with...

I'm not gonna study with Deck.

Yeah, I got a
police report here.

Do we represent
her, this victim here?

Well, not yet.

Why don't you run
down to the hospital

and check it out?

Maybe you could sign her up.

Would you get me a soda?

Sure, darling.

Here you go.

Where did this all come from?

Are you gonna tell them where

all this stuff came from?

I know what's going on

the second I lay eyes on them.

Like I'm 10 years old,

my father crying in the bedroom,

my mother sitting
at the kitchen table

with blood all over her face

telling me that daddy's sorry,

and he's never
gonna do it again.

Jeez!

Just tell me yes!

Why are you doing this to me?

It's always the same with you!

You make me so crazy!

Kelly Riker was admitted

to St. Peter's
hospital 3 days ago,

at midnight, I might add,

with assorted injuries.

The cops found her lying
on the sofa in the den,

beat to hell, wrapped
in a blanket, naked.

Cliff Riker,

her spouse, was
obviously intoxicated,

highly agitated,

and initially wanted
to dish out to the cops

what he was giving his wife.

Which was, by the way,

a severe beating with
an aluminum baseball bat.

Evidently his weapon of choice.

Let's talk about
Miss Birdie's millions.

No, I want to talk about Cliff.

I want to talk about
what happened to Cliff.

He spent the night in jail.

His family bailed him out.

He's due in court in a week.

Nothing will happen.

Uh, all right.

Colleen Janice Birdsong.

She did indeed inherit
a couple of million bucks

from her late second husband.

But lawyers, bad trust
department investments,

and the IRS totally
devoured the estate.

All except for about $40,000,

which Miss Birdie probably
tucked in her mattress

for all we know.

Sorry.

Oh, good morning, Rudy.

Isn't it a lovely day?

Oh, yeah, it's...
it's beautiful.

Oh, here's my mulch.

That's right. There, there.

Right there. Yes.

Stop it, stop it.

All right. Just put
it right there now.

My yard boy will get it.

Just right down there.

Isn't that a fine
bunch of mulch?

Excuse me.

I'm not one to meddle, but...

Are you all right?

Are you in pain?

No.

But thanks.

OK, well, I'm right up here.

I'm just studying
for the bar exam,

so if you need anything,

just holler at me.

OK.

Anything. All right?

I'll get it for you.

My name is Rudy Baylor.

Kelly Riker. Nice to meet you.

Kelly, it's nice
to meet you, too.

Why don't you sit down?

Go ahead. Take a seat.

What school do you go to?

I went to Austin Peay

and then law school
at Memphis state.

I always wanted
to go to college,

but it didn't work out.

Did you?

Yeah. I always thought I'd go,

but it didn't work out.

What kind of lawyer
do you want to be?

Well, I enjoy trial
work, so, uh...

I'd like to spend my
days in the courtroom.

Defending criminals?

Maybe.

Maybe.

They're entitled
to a good defense.

They have a right
to their day in court.

Murderers?

Most murderers can't
afford a private lawyer.

Rapists and...

Child molesters?

No.

Men who beat their wives?

Criminal work is a
real rare specialty.

Um, I'll probably
be doing more, uh...

Civil litigation.

Like lawsuits and stuff.

Right.

Yeah.

It's, uh... Excuse me.

Mm-hmm.

Rudy Baylor.

Hey. Hey there. It's me.

What you doing?

How's the fishing going?

Um, it's, uh, it's going well.

I'm actually talking to
the prospect right now.

Well, you better sign her up.

What... Rudy? Rudy?
Can you hear me?

I enjoyed meeting you.

Rudy?

Yeah, thanks for the company.

Hey, tomorrow night?

Maybe.

Time's up. Pencils down.

Please pass your test
booklets to your right

so that your proctors
may gather them up.

In my first year at law school,

everybody loved everybody else

because we were
all studying the law,

and the law was a noble thing.

By my third year,

you were lucky if you weren't
murdered in your sleep.

People stole exams,

hid research materials
from the library,

and lied to the professors.

Such is the nature
of the profession.

Right here.

Half an hour ago,
her husband came in...

And threw a bowl of soup at her

because she just won't
get it through her head

how much he loves her.

This is my room.

Pregnant at 18, married,
then a miscarriage...

probably because
he beat her up...

and still, she can't leave him.

You are gonna have to help me.

Everything I've ever seen

tells me that
this girl is a loser,

scarred and broken and
maybe even dangerous,

but I've never really seen
anyone like her before,

and instead of running away,

all I want to do is protect her.

Visiting hours are over, hon.
You kids need to wrap it up.

So...

He should be shot.

Any man who'd beat his
wife with an aluminum bat

needs to be shot.

How did you find out?

There are police reports,
there are ambulance reports,

there are hospital records.

How long are you
gonna wait, Kelly,

until he decides to
hit you in the head

with that bat of his?

'Cause that could kill
you, you know. That'd be it.

A couple of good
shots to the skull,

and that would be it.

Stop it. don't tell
me how it feels.

Look at me, Kelly.

Can I ask you something?

Do you have a
father or a brother?

Why?

Because if my daughter

got beat the way your
husband beat you,

I swear to God
I'd break his neck.

No big brother?

No.

No one to take care
of me, you know?

Kelly, I'll try to help
you any way I can,

but you have to
file for divorce.

Do it now while
you're in the hospital

being treated for
the last beating.

It'll sail through.

What better proof
is there than that?

I...I can't file for a divorce.

Why not?

Because he'll kill me.

He tells me so all the time.

That's not gonna happen.

Could you pass
me a pillow, please,

and put it under my foot?

There's one over there.

Here.

That OK?

Yeah.

Yeah? All right.

Could you pass me
my gown, too, please?

Yeah.

Thanks.

You need some
help putting it on?

No. Just turn around.

All right.

Hey!

Oh! Who are you?

I live here. Who
the hell are you?

Oh, my gosh. I'm Delbert's wife.

Delbert? Who
the hell is Delbert?

How did you get in here?

Birdie gave me the key.

Who are you?

I am the person who lives here.

Do you understand that?

You have no right to be in here.

This is a private residence.

Oh, yeah, right.
Some place. Get a grip.

Birdie wants to see you.

"Agreements are permanent,

and restrictions
mentioned above herein..."

What is this?

Well, you must be the lawyer.

I'm Rudy Baylor.

I'm Delbert Birdsong,
Birdie's youngest.

He yelled at me.

He told me to get
out of his apartment.

That so?

You're damn right that's so.

That goes for the both of you.

I don't want neither
one of you up there

going through my stuff.

That's private property.

I come home to check on mama,

and, damn, she's got a
stinkin' lawyer livin' with her.

You been messin'
with my mama's will?

Well, she's your mama.
Why don't you ask her?

She won't say a word.

Oh, well,

then neither can I.

That's a
lawyer-client privilege.

But I tell you what.

I made a couple
of phone calls...

Mm-hmm.

Verifying some accounts.

Your mama's second husband

left her an enormous fortune.

How big?

Big.

Big.

I hope you're not meddling, boy.

Mama, wouldn't you just
love to come and visit with us

down in Florida for a while?

You'd love it down there, mama.

Mama, come on back in
and get some cake, mama.

I'll get her some milk.

We're close to the
fountain of youth.

We ain't but 33 Miles away
and 180 Miles from Disney world.

How you feeling, Donny Ray?

Great.

Don't I look fantastic?

You feel up to this?

Yeah. Let's go already.

All right.

A lawyer's not supposed to
become personally involved

with his client,

but there's all kinds of lawyers

and all kinds of clients, too.

You OK, baby?

Riker! Riker! Riker!

Riker! Riker!

Can I get you
guys anything else?

Um, want something?

I'll have a shot of
Jack Daniels, please.

What's it gonna do, kill me?

Miss Birdie, this is
my friend Donny Ray.

Oh, Donny Ray,

I'm so glad to have
you come over and visit.

Hello, Miss Birdie.

Where... oh.

There you go.

You just come right
over here and sit down.

Just have a rest.

You have me all...

Blocked off here.

Well...

Sorry, Miss Birdie. I
got to take a break.

My back's killing me.

I almost forgot.
This came for you.

Oh, my God.

Ohh! Isn't it exciting?

Ohh. I'm so proud of you.

I passed the bar.

All right.

Hey, come on. Here's to Rudy.

Congratulations
on passing the bar.

What the hell is that?

Iced tea.

Congratulations, Rudy.

That's some good work, boys.

I got a check today from
the Van Landel settlement.

I'm giving you boys a bonus.

5,500 each.

Thank you.

Sign up some more cases, huh?

OK.

Mmm.

So are we gonna be ready
for tomorrow morning?

9:00?

We're gonna argue

Great Benefit's
motion to dismiss.

Mmm, yeah, I think
we're ready. We're ready.

Deck and I have been going
over it. I think we're ready.

I hope so, because
I might, uh...

I might have you handle
some of that argument, Rudy.

It would be awfully
embarrassing if we lose this case

on a dismissal.

Boss?

OK, I got to go.

Food's on me.

Enjoy your meat.

Thanks a lot,
Bruiser. Appreciate it.

Something's about to go down.

I'm sure of it.

He never split
money like that before.

What do you think's
behind his generosity?

Come on, man.

Oh, yeah?

Here.

Yesterday, one of
Bruiser's ex-partners testified

before a grand jury.

I think he's cut a deal.

It's just a matter of time

before he's singing on Bruiser.

So what?

So... You're gonna
have to make a move.

Make a move?
Deck, I just got here.

Yeah? Well, things
might get a little hot.

Jury-tampering, tax evasion,

money-skimming, you name it.

I'm nervous, real nervous.

What are you nervous
about? They can't arrest us.

Listen...

Supposing they come in with
subpoenas and hacksaws. Huh?

They can do that.

They've been known to do
that in racketeering cases.

They come in, they
confiscate the files,

they haul the computers
out. What's that leave us?

I'm not worried
about being arrested.

I'm worried about my job.

All right, so what
are you saying here?

Let's bolt.

How much money you got?

I got... Got $5,500.

Me, too.

We can rent a small office,

$500 a month.

We operate on a shoestring
for the first 6 months.

It'll be beautiful.

We split everything, everything

right down the middle, 50-50.

Costs, expenses,
profits... everything

right down the middle.

What's the matter?

You don't want to be my partner?

Um, no, it's not... they...

it's not that. It's
just that you...

You're hitting me
with this right now,

and I mean, you got to
give me a minute, all right?

I mean, you can't
just spring it on me.

We have to act fast.

All right. Let's do it.

We'll do it for a while,

see how it goes.

How many files do you have?

Um, I... I got 3.

Get them out of there.
Take them home,

but don't get caught, OK?

Is somebody watching us?

The feds.

I'm eatin' too fast.

Sorry.

Hey. Listen, I went by
the office this morning.

The FBI was chaining
up the front door.

Is Bruiser comin'?

I doubt it.

Arrest warrants have been issued

for both Bruiser and Prince.

Oh, man.

Just relax. You can do this.

It's just a motion. Go on.

Me? Yeah. Come on.

I'm gonna be sick.

You know this case.
You're gonna be fine.

Listen, I don't even
have my license.

We don't need a
license. Come on.

I've memorized
the Black files cold.

I've read all the books
on jurisprudence,

the rules of evidence
and discovery,

but I take one look
around the courtroom,

and I realize I haven't
even been born yet.

Excuse me. Uh, sir?
Your honor, um, ahem.

I'm here for the Black
vs. Great Benefit hearing.

And who are you?

Uh, Rudy Baylor.

I work for J. Lyman Stone.

Oh, you work for J. Lyman.

Staunch supporter
of the tobacco lobby.

Where's Mr. Stone?

Um...

Honestly, your
honor, I... I don't know.

He was supposed to meet me here,

and I don't know where he is.

Well, why doesn't
that surprise me?

So what do you want?
You want a continuance.

No, your honor.

I... I am prepared
to argue this motion.

Are you a lawyer?

Well, I just passed the bar,

and, uh, these are my clients.

Mr. Stone filed
this on my behalf

until I passed the bar.

Well, you got a
hell of a lot of nerve

walking into my
courtroom without a license.

Now get the hell out of
here, get your license,

and then you come back.

Get a license!

Come back when you
got a damn license!

May it please the court...

For the record, my
name is Leo F. Drummond

of Tinley-Brit,

counsel for Great Benefit,

and I say

if this young man has
passed the bar exam,

your honor, let
him argue the case.

We welcome him to,
uh, big-time litigation.

You have no objection,
Mr. Drummond?

If it please the court,

I would be honored
to introduce Mr. Baylor

to the practice of law

in the great state of Tennessee.

Judge, you can give
him the oath right now,

and I'll be pleased
to stand for him.

Are you certain you're
prepared to proceed, Mr. Baylor?

Abso...

Yeah. Your honor, yes.

Very well, then.
Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly
swear, Rudy Baylor,

that you will support the
constitution and the laws

of the United States and
the state of Tennessee

faithfully and honorably,

conduct yourself in the
practice of your profession

to the best of your skills and
abilities, so help you God?

I do.

- OK, fine, fine. That's it.
- Let's move on.

Congratulations. Thank you.

Welcome to the war.

Sworn in by a fool and
vouched for by a scoundrel.

Harvey.

I'm a lawyer at last.

Come on in.

May I, Harv?

Sure.

Uh, sit down.

Um...

This lawsuit bothers
me, Mr. Baylor.

I wouldn't use the
word "Frivolous,"

but I'm not impressed
with the merits of it,

to be Frank.

Ahem. I'm gonna try to
sneak some gym time in.

In fact, I'm really tired
of these type of lawsuits.

Don't make no excuses.

I'm inclined to grant
the motion to dismiss.

Now, you can, uh, refile it
in federal court, you know,

take it somewhere else.

I don't want it
clogging up my docket.

Now, excuse me
while I go to the can.

You, too.

Rudy...

I'm a very expensive lawyer

from a very expensive
firm, and, uh...

I've had a lot of cases.

I can hit pretty close to
the center of the dart board,

and I told my
clients, Great Benefit,

that cost alone here
gonna be a big deal.

And for you, too.
Your side, too.

Now, they've authorized me...

To offer you and your clients...

$50,000 to settle
this thing out.

And I... I may even be
able to raise that figure up

as high as, uh, maybe 75,000.

No admission of
liability, you understand.

Course, uh...

If you say no,

then it's going to
be world war III.

My turn now. May I, Harv?

Sure.

Uh...

There's not much
of a lawsuit here,

I'm afraid, son.

But maybe I could lean on Leo

to make you an
offer of a settlement.

They'll probably want to
throw some money at you

to keep from paying Leo a
thousand bucks a minute.

But he already offered
me the cost of the defense.

Oh, really? How much?

Uh, 75,000.

Jeez.

Well, looky here, son,

you'd be crazy not to take that.

You think so?

75,000? Jeez.

That's a... That's
a bunch of money.

Doesn't sound like Leo.

Well, he's a...
he's a great guy.

Hmm.

Whoo.

So?

That was not a
meeting in chambers.

That was an ambush.

What happened?

They tag-teamed me.

Yeah.

Think they would have
done that to Bruiser?

Nah. Bruiser's
too savvy for that.

So what?

They offered me 75,000.

Good. Take it.

Our third is 25,000.

We need the money.

Judge Hale is serious
about dismissing this case.

He's an just an old angry man

who's been sitting
on that bench too long.

The best thing we can
do is grab what we can

to make things
easy on his parents.

The insurance company
made an offer to settle.

What kind of offer?

$75,000.

They figure that's
what it's gonna cost

to pay their lawyers
to defend the case.

Oh.

Son of a bitches think
they can just buy us off.

That's exactly what they think.

You better talk to him.

Do you wanna settle, Rudy?

I mean, some of
the money is yours.

No way.

I wanna expose these people.

Mama, could you get me
a glass of water, please?

Sure, baby.

Whatever you get
out of this case,

take care of my family with it.

I really love them.

I can't help thinking

that while we're all out there
scrambling around for an edge

like we're never gonna die,

this boy's looking right at it,

and he's doing it almost alone.

I can't even begin

to imagine the
courage it must take.

Hello?

Guess who died last night.

Who?

Do you ever sleep?

Harvey Hale.

62.

Quite a pedigree.

Judge Hale?

Yep. Croaked
with a heart attack.

Dropped dead in
his swimming pool.

You gotta be kidding me.

Uh-uh.

You gotta be kidding me.

Mm-mmm.

Guess what newly made judge

was assigned Great
Benefit case in his place.

How in the hell am I
supposed to know that?

Tyrone Kipler.

Black Harvard
civil-rights lawyer.

He can't stand Tinley-Brit,

and he's tough on
insurance companies...

sues them all the time.

Great luck for us.

All right, all right.

You know what a
rainmaker is kid?

The bucks are gonna
be falling from the sky!

It's 5:00 right now. What
time you coming down?

I'll be down in a minute.

Get down here. We gotta
talk about fast-tracking.

Coffee's on the way.

OK.

Mr. Drummond...

You've objected

to the fast-tracking
of this case.

What's the problem?

Well, your honor, uh...

This issue's already
been ruled upon

by Judge Hale.

Uh, the preparations required

for fast-tracking the case

place an undue
burden on both parties,

I believe.

Nonsense.

Let me ask you
something, Mr. Drummond.

As a defense lawyer,

have you ever agreed

to the fast-tracking
of a lawsuit?

Why, your honor,
I believe I have.

Fine.

Give me the name of the
case and the court it was in.

Well...

Well, your honor,

I have to get back
to you on that.

Well, call me this
afternoon by 3:00.

I don't believe I'm
gonna be in before 3:00.

Oh. Well, call me
when you get in.

I'm very anxious to
hear about this case

you agreed to fast-track.

Yes, sir.

This boy is about
to die, gentlemen.

You do agree that we
need to record his testimony.

Yes, indeed.

Of course, your honor.

It's just my trial calendar

is pushing me
around pretty good.

How about next
Thursday afternoon?

Great for me, your honor.

I'm sorry, your honor.

That's a week from today.

I believe I'm out of town.

Yes, I am out of town Thursday.

Deposition is set for...

Next Thursday
afternoon at 2 P.M.

Sorry if it inconveniences
the defense,

but God knows there's
enough of you guys to handle it.

Now, what's next?

Oh, uh, your honor,

the motion to
dismiss is still pending.

Ah, yes.

That motion is denied.

Well...

I guess that's it.

Gentlemen, let's go.

Congratulations on
your appointment,

your honor.

Thank you, sir.

And, Mr. Drummond...

don't forget to call me

with the name of that case
you agreed to fast-track.

I'll look around.

You in over your head, son?

Absolutely.

Now Deck wants to do an
ad on the local rap station.

And as much as
I'd love to hear it,

we can't afford it.

Furnishings, bar dues,
750 for a fax machine,

400 for a lease on a computer,

a down payment on a
new secondhand car,

and we're broke again.

Deck says he's thrilled with
the way things are going.

Whoa.

Rudy. Hi.

Hey, Dot.

Come in. How are you?

I'm doing good. How you doing?

Good.

Listen, I'm going up to
Cleveland Wednesday night.

It's the headquarters
of Great Benefit.

I'm gonna take depositions
from all the executives.

Oh.

So...

And don't worry
about expenses, either.

We're gonna take care of it.

Thank you, Rudy.

It's no problem.

Shh!

It's awkward.

My associate, Deck Schifflet.

How do you do?

Hi.

Hey, Rudy...

Tyrone's here.

OK.

The judge is here.

Oh.

Here, wait, Dot. Give me that.

Oh.

Thank you.

Hello.

Hello.

Come right in.

Thank you.

This is Mrs. Black.

His honor Tyrone Kipler.

It's a privilege to meet you.

The privilege is mine.

Oh, uh, come on in.

There's not a lot of room here.

Tight.

Let's take a look outside.

Is that all right with you, son?

Sure, OK.

All right.

All right.

I'll show you the way.

I'm looking at a team of lawyers

who are pulling down
a $1,000 an hour,

and I hate them.

From their lofty perch,

pissing down on the
whole justice system

with disdain.

I used to hate them because I
wasn't good enough for them.

Now I hate them for
who they represent

and what they represent.

Your honor, how are you?

Fine, sir.

Hope the dogs
didn't startle you.

We're doing this thing outside.

It's a little cramped inside.

Just have a seat here.

How you doing?

Good.

Thank you.

Hey, Donny Ray?

Hey.

You've already met Judge Kipler.

Howdy.

This is Leo F. Drummond

and associates.

This here is Tammy.
She's the court reporter.

Hi.

Swear him in.

Do you swear

the testimony you
are about to give

will be the truth,
the whole truth,

and nothing but the
truth, so help you God?

Yes, I do.

I told him...

I know. Come here,
come here, come here.

Don't worry about it.
It's just a deposition.

Donny Ray, I'm Leo Drummond.

I represent Great Benefit,

and I'm very sorry...

I'm very sorry to be here

under these circumstances.

Well, we wouldn't be here

if your clients had done
what they should've done.

I beg your pardon?
I didn't hear that.

Hey, kid,

you want a stick of gum?

Sure.

Here. Did you break your arm?

Yep.

You had an accident?

Why?

Well, I'm a lawyer, and, uh...

Give this to your
mom... you his mom?

Maybe I can get you some
money for the accident.

Why don't you help
with the display?

OK. I'll go help this man first.

Oh, no. I got it. It's fine.

Can I help you, sir?

Oh, I'm just looking.

There's a cinema
down the street.

Buy a ticket. Center
section, back row.

Be there in 30 minutes.

OK.

Cliff wants me to have a baby.

Well, you have a
decision to make.

He's become obsessed with sex.

He thinks it's going
to keep us together.

Listen, I really don't
want to talk about that.

I just wanted to see you.

I think I can smell her perfume

all the way to Cleveland.

It's hard keeping my mind on
Leo Drummond and his people.

They'll be flying
in, first class,

and after a leisurely dinner,

they'll meet in some board room

and discuss my
total destruction.

Around the time I'm
checking into motel 6,

they'll be sleeping
soundly in their suites.

And they'll wake
up fresh and rested

and ready for war.

It's my deposition,

but it's their turf.

Ah, young Rudy Baylor.

Just on time, too.

Mr. Drummond.

Get this boy some coffee, Tyler.

Jack Underhall.

Rudy Baylor.

Young lawyer is
always a hungry lawyer.

All these boys
claims, underwriting...

There must be a 100
years of legal experience

gathered around the table.

My staff has flunked
the bar exam 6 times.

Now, Rudy, don't be intimidated

by all these boys on
this side of the table.

I guarantee, you get
them on the golf course,

they fold like a cheap suit.

Let's see.

Let's see what we got here.

I think maybe it's,
uh, appropriate

to start with the
corporate designee,

Jack Underhall here.

I... I don't think so.

I beg your pardon?

Well, you heard me.

I want to start with,
uh, Jackie Lemancyzk,

the claims handler.

I think it's best we
start with Mr. Underhall.

With all due respect,
Mr. Drummond,

this is my deposition.

I'm gonna call these witnesses
in the order in which I see fit,

so I'd like to start with
Jackie Lemancyzk.

Maybe we should
just go call the judge.

Oh, I don't believe we
have to get pugilistic

this time of the morning.

I'm not admitting
to being pugilistic.

We're simply having
a little problem

with, uh, Jackie Lemancyzk.

Uh, this Polish woman.

What sort of problem?

She doesn't work here anymore.

Was she fired?

She resigned.

She resigned.

Um, well, where is she now?

Well...

She is no longer working
for our client, and, uh,

we can't produce
her as a witness,

so let's move along.

All right. Russell Crockett.

Anybody in the room
named Russell Crockett?

He's gone, too.

He was downsized.

Downsized?

Well, what a coincidence.

Our client's going through
a periodic downsizing.

Yeah, that will
happen, won't it?

How about Everett, uh, Lufkin...

Vice President of Claims.

Has he been downsized, too?

No, he's here.

You're Everett Lufkin?

Mm-hmm.

My congratulations...

Mr. Lufkin...

On your miraculous survival

of the carnage of late
here at Great Benefit.

Whoo.

I may not be 100%
today, but I'm here in spirit.

I'm curious.

About what?

I'm just wondering.

Do you even remember
when you first sold out?

You're an arrogant
little piss ant, aren't you?

I advise you to
mind your manners.

You're in the big water now.

Mind my manners?

I come up here from Memphis

to depose 4 people,

2 of whom are not here,

and you tell me to
mind my manners?

Well, it's your dime.

What's your call, son?

I'm gonna depose him...

Mr. Lufkin over there...

then I'm gonna pack up,

I'm gonna go back to Memphis.

So this is how
the uninsured die.

In a society filled
with brilliant doctors

and state-of-the-art technology,

it's obscene to let this boy
just wither away and die.

He was covered by
an insurance policy

that his mother
paid good money for.

It wasn't big money,
but it was good money.

I'm alone in this trial.

I'm seriously outgunned,
and I'm scared,

but I'm right.

I sit here with this
poor suffering kid,

and I swear revenge.

Hello?

Rudy, it's me.

What's... what's wrong?

I need your help.

Where are you?

I'm at the store.

OK, um, don't move, OK?

I'm gonna be right there.

All right.

Rudy Baylor.

She's in here.

Thanks for coming.

What happened?

Come on, let's show him.

I got you. It's all right.

Ohh.

Oh, Rudy, I'm so
glad you called.

Come. Come.

Oh, you poor child.

I'm gonna take care of you now.

Don't you worry.

Don't you worry.
We'll manage just fine.

All right.

You know where
I'll be if you need me.

I do. I do.

I tell myself

I'll do whatever I have to do

to get her out of this

because this guy's never
gonna stop until he's killed her.

Never.

Well...

Now it's a wrongful death suit.

Gazillions.

Deck...

I'm so sorry, Dot.

Well, thank you so
much for coming.

Appreciate it.

It'll be OK.

Hey!

For bugs?

Shh. Shh.

Here?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Enjoy your meal.

This bugging device has got...

Medium-grade circuitry.

It's a weak transmitter.

Probably manufactured
in Czechoslovakia.

No, I don't think

the cops or the
feds would place this.

Somebody else is listening.

Who else would
be listening to us?

Hmm.

I got a pretty good idea.

Rudy.

Yeah?

Just checking in.

You need anything from downtown?

No.

Hey, guess what. Guess
who wants to settle.

Who?

Dot Black.

Dot Black?

I went by there today,

and, uh, check up on her.

I brought her a fruitcake.

Yeah, and she said she just
doesn't have the willpower

to stand a long trial

and, uh...

How much?

She said she'd take 175.

I think we should take it.

We'll sleep on it. I'll
see you tomorrow.

All right, but I
say you take it.

I know. I heard
you. I'll think about it.

All right. Bye.

Hah.

Son...

This family's been
through a hell of a lot,

and I feel this
woman wants to settle.

I'll talk to her.

You go ahead and call her.

I'll wait here one while.

I'll get back to you,
Mr. Drummond.

Good day.

I'm sorry about the boy.

Mm-hmm.

Listen, my client, uh,

wants to settle, Rudy.

Let's say, Rudy,

just for the sake of putting
the numbers on the board,

that if the claim was covered

that my client should
have paid out somewhere

around 150-175,000.

Well, if you say so.

They bugged our phones.

I do say so. And,
uh, we will offer...

Guess we should...

Tell Judge Kipler.

I don't think so.

Why not?

I have an idea.

Um...

A kind of a crazy idea.

Jury tampering.

I love it.

I love it.

Who's our biggest nightmare?

The judge gave us the names

of 92 potential jurors.

We investigated
their backgrounds,

and we rated them with
plus or minus numbers.

What do you want me to do?

All right. Here we go.

What?

Any direct contact

would of course be
a serious offense.

What are we doing?

We're gonna do this thing.

Just do what I say.

Hello.

Yeah, uh, Rudy Baylor, please.

Uh, this is Rudy Baylor.

Uh, this is Billy Porter.

Uh, you stopped
by the shop today.

Yes. Mr. Porter.

Thank you very
much for calling back.

What do you want?!

Uh, yes, well,
it's about the trial.

You know, the one you
got a jury summons for.

I'm one of the lawyers.

Uh-huh. Is... is this legal?

Uh, of course it's
legal, Mr. Porter.

Just don't go telling anybody.

Look, I represent this lady
whose son died of leukemia

because the Great
Benefit insurance company

wouldn't give them

the money they
needed for an operation.

Oh, why, that sounds awful.

You know, I had an aunt
that had that same disease.

Kept wasting away and
my Uncle cried and...

I'll do what I can.

Well, yes, sir.

Now, thank you, Mr. Porter.
You have a fine afternoon.

Bye. Bye.

What... what...
what about the aunt?

Where'd the aunt come from?

I don't know.

You told me to be sympathetic.

I know but you don't have to...

don't elaborate.

Get your coffee.

Let's go back up there.

I'm just trying to help.

Come on.

Right behind you.

Ladies and gentlemen,

what I'm about to ask

is the most important
question of the day.

It's a simple question.

Can be answered yes or no.

Listen carefully.

Have any of y'all been
contacted about this case?

This is serious business.

Bingo.

We need to know now.

Let me ask it another way.

Did any of you have a
conversation recently

with either Mr. Rudy Baylor

or directly behind
him, Mr. Deck Schifflet.

Objection, your honor!

This is an outrage!

What are you doing,
Mr. Drummond?

Your honor,

we have reason to believe

that this panel has
been tampered with.

And he's accusing me.

I don't understand what
you're doing, Mr. Drummond.

Well, neither do I, your honor.

Neither do I.

Approach the bench, please.

Your honor, this panel's
been tampered with.

I want proof, Leo.

I can't say without divulging

confidential
information, your honor.

You are just out of your mind.

You are acting rather bizarrely.

I'm gonna prove it.

How?

Accuse us of
something like that.

Tamper. I...

it's ridiculous.

Just allow me to finish
questioning the panel.

I think the truth
will come forth.

Any objection, Mr. Baylor?

No, no objection.

Very well. Proceed.

Right.

What in the Sam hill
is going on up there?

Oh, it's just lawyer stuff.

Mr. Porter.

I want to ask you
a direct question.

And I'd appreciate

an honest response.

You ask an honest question,

I'll give you an honest answer.

Fair enough.

Did you, Mr. Porter,
or did you not

have a phone
conversation a few days ago

with Mr. Rudy Baylor?

Hell, no.

I thought you were gonna give me

an honest answer.

I gave you an honest answer.

Are you sure, Mr. Porter?

I'm damn sure.

Mr. Porter,

in a courthouse.

In a courthouse in
the United States,

in a courthouse of
justice, state of Tennessee,

I say you did not
provide an honest answer!

Don't call me a liar.

Mr. Drummond.

You son of a bitch.

Hey, get off him!

Order in the court!

Bailiff,

remove Mr. Porter
from this courtroom.

Mr. Billy Porter, you are
excused from the jury.

Your honor,

I move to dismiss the
entire panel, your honor.

Denied.

It's been tainted.

You, uh...

Your shoe, you left it...

Are we ready to proceed now

with the jury selection,
Mr. Drummond?

I'm ready to
proceed, your honor.

Thank you.

We'll file it today.

He'll go crazy.

He already is crazy.

He'll come after you.

I hope he does.

This is that good
processed Turkey.

Oh. Oh.

Well, I gotta get back to court.

I'm late. I gotta
get back to court.

What about your sandwich?

Oh, I was gonna
take that with me.

Good, good.

I'll see you later.

OK?

How'd it go?

I served the papers on Cliff

when he was on his way to lunch.

He didn't take it too well,

but I said I was
ready to rumble.

He backed down.

Hey, man, you better
watch your back.

All right.

Thanks a lot,
Butch. I appreciate it.

Do you solemnly swear

that the testimony you're
about to give in this cause

will be the truth,
the whole truth,

and nothing but the
truth, so help you, God.

Yes, I do.

You may take the stand.

Please state your
name for the record.

Mrs. Margarine Black.

Now, Mrs. Black,

you are the mother
of Donny Ray Black,

who recently died of
acute myelocytic leukemia

because the defendant,
Great Benefit...

Objection.

Leading.

Sustained.

Your son,

Donny Ray, needed an operation.

Objection.

Leading.

Sustained.

Mrs. Black, did you
purchase this medical policy

because you were concerned
about medical care for your son?

Objection.

I'm sorry, your honor.

Leading.

Mr. Baylor,

why don't you show the policy

and ask her why she bought it?

OK.

Mr. Baylor.

You must ask to
approach the witness.

Sorry, your honor.

Permission to
approach the witness.

You may.

Take it easy.

Take it easy.

"Great Benefit. July 7, 1996.

Policy 7849909886.

"Dear Mrs. Black,

"on 7 prior occasions

"this company has
denied your claim in writing.

"We now deny it for
the eighth and final time.

"You must be
stupid, stupid, stupid."

"Sincerely Everett Lufkin,

Vice President,
Claims Department."

Read it again.

Objection.

Repetitious, your honor.

Sustained.

I tender the witness.

Mr. Drummond.

Your honor.

Please remove that exhibit.

Now, Mrs. Black.

Ahem.

Turn it off.

Mrs. Black, why did you sue
Great Benefit for $10 million?

Is that all?

I beg your pardon.

I thought it was more than that.

Is that so?

Yes. Your client has
about a billion dollars,

and your client killed my son.

I wanted to sue for
a whole lot more.

What would you
do with the money?

If this jury awards
you $10 million,

what you gonna
do with the money?

I'm gonna give it

to the American
leukemia society.

Every cent.

I don't want a dime
of your stinking money.

Realize you are
under oath, Mrs. Black.

Approach the
witness, your honor?

You may.

Mrs. Black,

I want you to read
from the policy.

Page 16, section "K,"
paragraph 14, item "E,"

in which the insurance company

has in plain
English wording said

that it will not pay for
experimental procedures.

Now, your lawsuit says

that your son would have
been saved if he had had

a bone marrow transplant.

Isn't it a fact, Mrs. Black,

that there are only 7,000

bone marrow transplants
performed a year

in the United States?

Less than 200 in the
state of Tennessee?

Objection, your honor.

He's leading the witness.

This is cross-examination.
Leading is allowed.

Overruled,

as to leading.

So it was not
covered by the policy.

Now, Mrs. Black,

who was it, uh...

Who was it first diagnosed
your son's condition?

Well, at the very beginning,

our doctor, Dr. page.

That would be your
family physician?

Yes, sir, it would.

Is he a good doctor?

He's a very good doctor.

And is it not true, Mrs. Black,

that this capable, truthful man

told you repeatedly that
a bone marrow transplant

would do your son no good

because of the type
of leukemia he had?

Well, no.

No, he did not.

He didn't say that.

Not like that, to me.

Approach the
witness, your honor?

You may.

Mrs. Black, is this not
Dr. page's letterhead?

And at the bottom there,
is that not his signature?

He can't do that.

Why?

Because he can't
introduce evidence

that way. Plus it's hearsay.

Objection, your honor.

A... a letter from... from
the Blacks' family physician

to Mr. Drummond is inadmissible.

That is quite
correct, your honor.

And I'm not
asking for this letter

to be admitted into evidence.

I'm simply asking
that this witness

be allowed to read the letter

under rule 612 of the Tennessee

rules of evidence.

So her recollection
can be refreshed.

Mr. Baylor, what do you say?

I don't know, your honor.

I just object to this.

And also we were
not furnished this letter

in pre-trial discovery.

What do you say to
that, Mr. Drummond?

I had no idea this
letter would be needed.

I expected this
lady to tell the truth

about what her doctor told her.

Anything else, Mr. Baylor?

No.

Mr. Drummond,

I'm gonna give
you a little latitude,

but don't stray too far.

Very well, your honor.
Now, Mrs. Black,

does that letter
refresh your recollection

as to whether or not
Donny Ray's leukemia

was the kind that
could be helped

with a bone marrow transplant?

Well, see, now, he
is not a specialist.

But he is a licensed,

experienced, capable physician

who lovingly told you
time and time again

what you quite understandably
did not want to accept:

That your son was
going to die of leukemia

despite the best efforts
of medical science.

Is that not true?

But he wasn't a specialist.

I didn't believe him.

Not only did you not
believe him, ma'am,

but you were less
than truthful with me

and with this jury moments ago

when you told us under oath

that Dr. page never
said that your son

had the type of leukemia
that could not be treated

by a bone marrow transplant.

I believe your exact words were,

"he never said that.

"Not like that

to me."

He wasn't a specialist.

I just wanted Donny Ray

to have the best medical
treatment available.

You'd do the same thing.

Of course, ma'am.

Of course.

That'll be all.

You may step down, Mrs. Black.

I didn't do very good, did I?

Oh, no, no, you did fine.

You did fine.

It's all right. The jury can see

exactly what he's up to.

The jury can see
what he's up to.

I need a smoke.

I know you do.

We're gonna get to that later.

I hope he hasn't
changed the locks.

Are you scared?

Yeah.

Let's do it.

What a pig.

I'm sorry.

Hurry, Kelly. Come on.

There's more of
my stuff in the closet.

You can't take
everything, Kelly.

Oh, no.

Hey, hello!

I'm home!

Well, what do you know?

What do we have here?

What you two been
doing in here, huh?

Hey, take it easy, all right?

Come on, tell me.

I'm your husband.
Remember that, huh?

Take it easy, Buddy.

You shut up!

Hey, listen, Buddy, all right.

I ain't listening to nothing!

Take it easy.

Aah!

You hurt me, baby.

You hurt me so bad.

Why are you doing this to me?!

No, Cliff!

Run!

Rudy, Rudy!

Cliff!

You idiot, what are you doing?!

You see what you did?

Kelly!

Is this what you wanted?

It's not my fault!

I love you! I love you!

Rudy!

Stop it, Rudy.

Stop.

Ohh.

Give me the bat and leave.

What?

Give me the bat and leave.

You were not here tonight.

Give me the bat.

Go, Rudy.

You were not here tonight.

He's finally killed her.

No, it's him. He's dead.

You sure?

Just saw her.

How'd it happen?

I don't know.

They say when you
commit a murder,

you make at least 25 mistakes,

and later you're lucky if
you remember 5 of 'em.

It was self-defense,

but I can't get past
the fact that he's dead.

And the mistakes are
piling up in my mind so fast

I can't think.

But Kelly knew.

She knew what to do.

She knew it was time.

With everything
that was happening

and all that was at stake,

her first thought
was for my safety.

And I left her in
there all alone.

Damn it!

God damn you, Kelly!

What the hell's going on here?

What the hell did you do?

You killed my son!

God damn you!

Excuse me. I'm her lawyer.

I insist on being here while
she's being questioned.

This is your attorney?

Yes, sir.

I want her released
to my custody.

I can't do that

I don't know what
kind of lawyer you are,

but we got a dead body here,

and bond needs
to be set by a judge.

I'm going to jail?

Well, can we arrange
for a private cell?

Look, asshole, I
don't run the jail.

You got a better
way of doing things,

then you need
to talk to the jailer.

They love lawyers
down there, right?

Look...

If your lawyer here
is worth his salt,

you'll be out of here

sometime tomorrow if
you can post bond, OK?

OK.

You got 5.

Thank you.

They're watching us
through that window there,

and this room is
probably bugged,

so just be careful what you say.

What does "manslaughter" mean?

It's just murder without
the element of intent.

How much time could I get?

No, no, no, you have
to be convicted first.

I'm not gonna let that happen.

That's not gonna happen.

Cross your wrists
behind you please, ma'am.

This way, ma'am.

Mr. Lufkin,

you are the Vice
President of Claims

at Great Benefit, are you not?

Yes, I am.

Approach the
witness, your honor?

You may.

You recognize this?

Go on.

Read that to the jury.

"Dear Mrs. Black,

"on 7 prior occasions

"this company has
denied your claim in writing.

"We now deny it for
the eighth and final time.

"You must be
stupid, stupid, stupid.

"Sincerely Everett Lufkin,

Vice President, Claims."

That's you?

Yes.

How do you explain that?

It was a difficult time
for me personally.

I was under a lot of stress.

We had denied this
claim 7 times before.

I was trying to be emphatic.

I snapped.

I regret having
written the letter,

and I apologize.

Don't you think
it's a little late

for an apology?

Maybe.

Maybe?

The boy is dead, isn't he?

Yes.

Now, Mr. Lufkin,

who is Jackie Lemancyzk?

Jackie Lemancyzk is a
former claims handler.

And did she work
in your department?

Yes.

And when did she stop working

for Great Benefit?

I don't remember the day.

How about October 30?

Sounds close.

Wasn't that just 2 days
before she was scheduled

to give a deposition
in this case?

I really don't remember.

I'd like to refresh the
witness' recollection

under rule 612.

October 30th.

Apparently.

And that was just 2 days
before she was scheduled

to give a deposition
in this matter?

I guess so.

And she was the
person responsible

for handling Donny
Ray Black's claim,

was she not?

That's correct.

And you fired her?

Of course not.

Well, how'd you get rid of her?

She resigned.

It's right here in the
letter you just gave me.

Oh. Why'd she resign?

"I hereby resign for
personal reasons"

so it was her idea

to leave her job?

That's what it says.

Nothing further.

You may step down, sir.

Hello.

Hi. I'm Jackie
Lemancyzk's brother James.

Is it possible to see her?

James Lemancyzk?

Yes.

One minute.

All rise.

Let me explain, Miss Lemancyzk.

I'm really not your brother.

Rudy. Good.

I'd like you to meet
Jackie Lemancyzk.

This is Jackie Lemancyzk.

Where she goes, Carl goes.

This is my partner,

Rudy S. Baylor.

Just tell him what you told me.

Miss Lemancyzk.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Is it all right if I sit down?

Sure, sure.

All right, Miss Lemancyzk,

let's talk about the Black file.

It was assigned to you?

Yes, that's correct.

The initial claim
from Mrs. Black

was assigned to me.

Pursuant to company
policy at the time,

I sent her a letter of denial.

Why?

Why?

Because all claims
were initially denied.

All claims?

All claims.

OK, this is how it works.

The policy...

Is sold door to door

in the poorer neighborhoods.

Paid in cash

each week.

The claim comes in and
is assigned to a handler.

That's basically a
low level paper pusher.

Anyway, the handler reviews it

and immediately sends
a letter to the insured

denying the claim.

The claims handler

then sends the file
over to underwriting.

Underwriting sends a
memo back to claims

saying, "don't pay this
until you hear from us."

Now, what you
should keep in mind

is that even though
all these people work

for this big company,

and they all work
in the same building,

they don't know each other.

Nor do they know what the
other department is up to.

Now, this is very intentional.

The departments are
kept at war with each other.

Now, meanwhile,

there's the client.

And they're getting
all these letters.

Some from claims,
some from underwriting,

and most people give up.

And this, of course, is...

Intended.

Your next witness, Mr. Baylor.

Plaintiff calls
Jackie Lemancyzk.

What'd he say?

Ohh.

Objection, your honor.

Approach the bench?

You may.

This is a complete
surprise, your honor.

Why? She's listed
as a potential witness.

We have a right
to be forewarned.

When did you find her?

I didn't know she was lost.

It's a fair question,
Mr. Baylor.

Well, it's my first trial.

That's not good enough.

It is a matter of
fairness, your honor.

We have a right to be
notified about your witness.

I agree.

Are you telling me
she can't testify?

She's listed in the
pretrial order, your honor.

Pursuant to rule 26.06,

we have the right to
call her as a witness.

Objection overruled.

Go memorize.

State your name for the record.

Jackie Lemancyzk.

Miss Lemancyzk,

how long did you
work for Great Benefit?

6 years.

And when did your
employment end?

October 30th.

How did it end?

I was fired.

You mean you did not resign?

No, I was fired.

Approach the
witness, your honor?

You may.

I am baffled, Miss Lemancyzk,

because I have this letter here,

and it says you quit
for personal reasons.

The letter is a lie.

I was fired so the
company could claim

that I no longer worked there.

Can you please point out
the man in the courtroom

who made you write this letter?

Jack Underhall.

He told me I was
leaving immediately,

and I had 2 choices...

I could call it a firing
and leave with nothing,

or I could write that letter,

call it a resignation,

and the company would
give me $10,000 in cash

to keep quiet.

And I had to make that decision

right there in his presence.

Go on.

I took the cash...

And I also signed a letter
saying I would never discuss

any of my claims
files with anybody.

Including the Black file?

Specifically the Black file.

So you knew that claim
should have been paid?

Everybody knew...

But the company
was playing the odds.

What odds?

The odds that the insured
would not consult a lawyer.

Now, during that time...

You were a senior
claims examiner?

Yes, that's correct.

During that time, was
there ever an occasion

when you were given instructions

regarding how you
should handle claims?

Deny all claims for a year.

Add up the money saved,

deduct the amount spent
on quick court settlements,

and there's a pot of gold left.

Approach the clerk, your honor?

You may.

Thank you.

Number 6, please.

Here's what has
heretofore been marked

defense exhibit number 6.

Do you recognize this?

Yes. It's a Great Benefits
company claims manual.

Would you do me a favor

and just flip over to
section "U," please?

There is no section "U."

But do you remember
a section "U"

when you were a
senior claims examiner?

Yes, I do.

Section "U" was an
executive memorandum

in the senior examiners manual.

Thank you.

Your honor,

this is Jackie Lemancyzk's
actual senior claims manual,

and within it, there is an
executive memorandum

entitled section "U."

I ask that I might approach...

objection, your honor.
Approach the bench?

Your honor, we were not
given a complete manual.

Your honor, this
document contains

executive memoranda
that are stolen work papers

and may not be admitted.

May not be admitted?

Can you prove this, Leo?

Your honor, I ask that you
instruct my colleague here

not to read from

nor to make reference
to any suspect...

I don't understand why
this is not admissible.

It was not proffered
at the correct time,

nor do we know
how it was obtained...

I just found out
about this last night.

Assuming that I
can't get this in now,

do you have any more
questions for the witness?

No, your honor.

You may cross-examine,
Mr. Drummond.

Thank you.

Is it true, Miss Lemancyzk...

That you have
recently been committed

to an institution for
various problems?

I was not committed.

I am suffering from
alcoholism and depression,

and I voluntarily
checked into a facility.

I was supposed to be covered

by my group policy
at Great Benefit,

and they, of course,
are denying my claim.

Is that why you're
here, Miss Lemancyzk?

Because you're angry
with Great Benefit?

Miss Lemancyzk?

I hate Great Benefit

and most of the
worms that work there.

Did you feel
Mr. Lufkin was a worm

when you were sleeping with him?

Objection.

Your honor,

Mr. Drummond might
find this fun to talk about,

but this is not relevant at all.

Oh, there's no fun for me.

Overruled.

Let's see where this takes us.

You admit to having
an affair with Mr. Lufkin?

Miss Lemancyzk?

As long as I had sex
with certain executives

at Great Benefit,

my pay was increased,
and I was promoted.

When I stopped, I was demoted.

Miss Lemancyzk,

as an employee of Great Benefit,

you promised not to disclose

confidential private
claims information.

Yes? Yes.

In fact, you testified

that you sealed that promise

by demand of payment
for $10,000, didn't you?

That payment was not my idea.

But you accepted it, didn't you?

You put it right in
your pocketbook.

Even though in your mind,

you never intended
to keep that promise.

In fact, you were very angry

at Great Benefit and
Mr. Lufkin, weren't you?

You know, they preyed on me,

because I was broke,
and I was single,

and I had 2 kids.

So you told him you're
gonna go to his wife,

go to the newspapers.

And that $10,000,

that was just a piece
of blackmail, wasn't it?

A way to extort money
from the company you hated!

Isn't that right?

No, that's not true.

In fact, your testimony
here today is just a lie.

You stole company work papers,

confidential reports as
blackmail for revenge.

Hell hath no fury as
what, Miss Lemancyzk?

A woman scorned!

Your honor, I move
that all documents

provided the plaintiff by
Miss Jackie Lemancyzk

be deemed stolen work papers

and struck from
these proceedings.

Based on the evidence
presently before the court,

these documents
are inadmissible.

Ohh.

No further questions.

Thank you, Mr. Drummond.

Mr. Baylor.

You may step down,
Miss Lemancyzk.

I'm sorry.

Hello.

Hi. This is Deck Schifflet.

I need to speak to big
rhino. Can you connect me?

Big rhino? Just a second.

OK.

Hello?

Hey, boss, it's Deck.

Oh, hey, Deck, how you doing?

Good. How are you?

Well, I'm cool.

Are you here?

Well, I'm here and there.

Ah, yeah, here and there.

Listen, I got a
stolen-evidence situation.

OK. Stolen evidence, uh...

Let me see, uh...

OK. The De Soto case.

De Soto?

Carmine De Soto.
You remember him?

Club Ruby.

Uh-huh.

Where... where do I find that?

Uh, around '92,
you'll find it, uh,

let's see, 650 something, uh...

Southwest second.

Boss, you're a lifesaver.

'92?

Yeah. Club Ruby case.

'92...

Carmine De Soto.

Carmine De Soto.

Club Ruby.

Club Ruby.

It's from the appellate court.

Yeah. It kind of rings a bell.

I got it!

And from Bruiser, of all people.

Bruiser? I thought you didn't
know where Bruiser was.

Well, I don't, but I got an
emergency-contact number.

I call them, they get
me in touch with him.

Look, Rudy,

nobody knows more than
Bruiser about stolen evidence.

You might say it's
his stock and trade.

Hello?

Mr. Rudy Baylor?

Yes.

This is the Shelby county D.A.

Can you come to the
courthouse tonight?

I'd like to discuss
the Kelly Riker case.

Sure.

Come to room 6.

There's an advantage to
dealing with pimps and thieves.

In the case of Carmine
De Soto vs. The Club Ruby,

there are reams
of stolen evidence.

Now, Bruiser worked
on this stuff himself.

Not now. I got to go.

You got to go?

You got the CEO of Great
Benefit coming in tomorrow.

We... we got to nail
this guy, come on.

Good luck, Kelly.

Thanks.

I met with the D.A.

She's not gonna prosecute.

Said she'd never
get a conviction.

It was self-defense, Kelly.

The plaintiff would like to call

Wilfred Keeley to the stand.

Raise your right hand, please.

Do you solemnly
swear that the testimony

you're about to
give in this cause

will be the truth,
the whole truth,

and nothing but the
truth, so help you God?

I do.

You may take the stand.

State your name for the record.

Wilfred Keeley.

May I approach the
witness, your honor?

You may.

Mr. Keeley, uh, in this
Great Benefit brochure,

is that you? Is that your name?

Yes.

And what do those
initials stand for?

CEO?

Yeah. What do they stand
for? What does "CEO" mean?

Chief executive officer.

Chief executive officer.
Thank you, thank you.

So you're the... you're the guy.

You're the main guy,
you're the cheese.

The buck stops with you.

You could say that, yes.

Yeah. OK. Thank you.

Uh, your honor, I'd like
to turn the questioning

of Mr. Keeley over to
my partner Rudy Baylor.

Are you out of your mind?

You don't have a license.

I didn't have a choice.
What are you doing?

You're late.

Good morning, your honor.

Sorry I'm late, sir.

Approach the
witness, your honor?

You may.

This is the claims manual

that was given to me
by Jackie Lemancyzk.

Objection, your honor.

Stolen work
papers. Inadmissible.

You ruled on this.

Sustained.

May we approach?

I thought this matter was
already settled, your honor.

Your honor, I just this morning

found a case that is controlled

in this factual situation.

What do you have?

If you'll just take a
look at this ruling.

It's Club Ruby vs.
Carmine De Soto.

Copy for your honor and
one for Mr. Drummond.

Number 585, southwest
second, page 431,

argued by Bruiser...
by J. Lyman Stone.

And it shows very clearly

that stolen documents
are, in fact, admissible

if the lawyers played
no part in the theft.

Well, according to
these head notes,

this case will overrule
your objection.

Sorry, Leo.

Oh, I'm sure you
are, your honor.

But note my strong objection.

Objection noted.

May I approach?

Do so.

Uh... Your honor...

Your honor, I'm sorry.

Excuse the
interruption, Mr. Keeley.

We were about to talk about

the Great Benefit claims manual.

Is that a complete Great
Benefit claims manual, sir?

Yes.

Does it have a section "U"?

It has a section "U" in it.

Well, let's talk about this
mysterious section "U."

Why don't we
explain it to the jury?

Take a look at it.

Just read paragraph 3.

"Claim handlers are
directed to deny all claims

"within 3 days of
receipt of claim.

No exceptions."

Now, how do you
explain this section "U"?

Well, sometimes
we get some frivolous

and fraudulent
claims in our business,

and sometimes we have
to use this kind of language

to focus in on the legitimate

and more needy claims.

Mr. Keeley, do you
honestly expect this court

to believe that explanation?

Well, this chapter
merely denotes

in-house processing guidelines.

In-house processing guidelines.

No, Mr. Keeley. No, it does not.

Section "U" does
a lot more than that.

I don't think it does that, son.

Mr. Keeley, doesn't
it explain precisely

how claims should be routed
and shuffled and rerouted,

anything to avoid payment?

I admit nothing.

Your honor,
approach the witness?

You may.

Now, Mr. Keeley,

how many policies did
Great Benefit have in effect

in the year 1995?

I don't know.

Well, let's see.

Does the figure 98,000 sound
correct, give or take a few?

Maybe.

That could be right, yeah.

Thank you.

Now, of these policies,
how many claims were filed?

Well, I don't... I
don't know that.

Does the figure of 11,400
sound correct to you,

give or take a few?

That's about right,

but I'd have to
verify it, of course.

I see. So the
information that I want

is right there in that book?

Yes.

Can you tell the jury

of the 11 some odd
thousand claims filed,

how many were denied?

I don't think I could. That
would take more time.

You've had 2 months, Mr. Keeley.

Now answer the question.

Well, I...

I don't think...

Um...

"9,141."

11,462 filed.

9,141 denied.

Your honor...

I have yet another document.

This is a report

from Great Benefit's
medical committee.

Request permission
under previous precedent

to present it to Mr. Keeley.

Same objection, your honor.

Overruled. Objection noted.

Thank you.

Uh, Mr. Keeley, that is a report

from Great Benefit's
own medical committee,

which you chaired.

Would you please
read from line 18?

"Since bone-marrow transplants

"have become standard procedure,

"Great Benefit would
be financially justified

in investing in
bone-marrow clinics."

Approach the
witness, your honor?

You may.

Thank you.

There you go.

A little louder.

Objection, your
honor. Repetitious.

Overruled.

I want the jury to hear this.

"Since bone-marrow transplants

"have become standard procedure,

"Great Benefit would
be financially justified

in investing in
bone-marrow clinics."

Financially justified.

That's what it's all about
at Great Benefit, isn't it?

Tender the witness.

Mr. Drummond.

No questions. We
rest on our objections.

You're excused, Mr. Keeley.

Thank you.

Rudy.

Hmm?

Come on. Get up.
Come on. It's time.

Let's go. Come on, come on.

What will giving a judgment
of $10 million accomplish?

All insurance company
premiums will spin out of reach,

and it will pave the way

for government-controlled
health coverage.

Yours is a grave responsibility.

Be wise,

be careful,

and be just.

Be just.

Thank you, your honor.

Mr. Baylor, your rebuttal.

Thank you, your honor.

Ladies and
gentlemen of the jury...

When I think of
Donny Ray Black...

Gasping for his last breath
of air and slowly dying...

I am disgusted with myself...

And with the entire
legal profession

that could not save him.

I don't even feel good enough
about myself as a lawyer

to make my own summation.

So I thought I'd... I'd
let Donny Ray do that.

It's exhibit 16.

I weigh 110 pounds.

11 months ago, I weighed 160.

The leukemia was
detected in plenty of time.

I was in the hospital
being treated

when the doctors realized

that the only thing
that could save my life

would be a
bone-marrow transplant.

So, I got released
from the hospital,

'cause my family
couldn't afford to pay

the bill for what they
had recommended.

Why?

Great Benefit insurance
denied our claim.

Come on.

It's OK.

If I had had a
bone-marrow transplant,

I would have had a
90% chance of living.

I hope that you
are astonished...

As I am,

at the lengths to which a
wealthy insurance company,

like the defendant,

will go to take money
from a low-income family

and then keep it

by denying a legitimate claim.

It's no wonder they spend so
much money on their lawyers

and their lobbyists and
their public relations machine

to convince us we
need tort reform,

that we need to put an
end to punitive damages.

I'm asking you, the jury...

Just...

Do what you think is right

in your hearts.

If you don't punish
Great Benefit...

You could be their next victim.

That's it.

Don't be nervous.

Has the jury reached a verdict?

Yes, we have, your honor.

Is it written on paper,

according to my instructions?

Yes, sir.

Please read the verdict.

"We, the jury,
find for the plaintiff

"and award actual damages

in the amount of $150,000."

"And we, the jury,
find for the plaintiff

"and award punitive damages

in the amount of $50 million."

All rise.

These people were
trying to hide things

and trying to get away with
something they were, uh...

And they got caught at it.

Another remarkable
part of the story...

the lead attorney on
the case Rudy Baylor

was trying his first case.

That's a staggering verdict,

I think, by
anybody's estimation.

It's certainly one
of the largest...

Well, not bad for a yard boy.

Well, it wasn't
that difficult, really.

We just had a great
jury is what we had,

and the facts
just fell into place.

$50 million in punitive damages.

$50 million?

Yeah.

How much do you get?

You get right to
the point, don't you?

I'm sorry. It's
not what I meant.

I know you didn't.

We get 1/3, but the
money's not in the bank yet.

I'll see you later.

You gonna leave
this girl all alone?

Not for long.

Rudy. Rudy.

I've decided I'm gonna
put your name in my will.

Oh. You know what?

You are just too kind
to me, Miss Birdie.

Hot off the newswire.

"Mr. Wilfred Keeley,
CEO of Great Benefit,

"was detained yesterday
afternoon at JFK

"just after boarding a
flight bound for Heathrow.

"Traveling with his wife,

"they claimed to be sneaking
away for a quick holiday.

"However, they could not
produce the name of a hotel

anywhere in Europe..."

At which they were expected.

At 5 P.M. today, insurance
company Great Benefit

filed for protection under
the bankruptcy code

in federal court in Cleveland.

Many states are now
investigating Great Benefit,

and a number of class-action
lawsuits have been filed.

Hello?

Rudy, Leo Drummond here.

It appears the
company's been looted.

I'm... I'm sorry, Rudy.

I wanted you to get
every penny of that money.

Everybody loses on this one.

Wanted you to know.

Thank you, Mr. Drummond.

Great Benefit's like
a bad slot machine...

never pays off.

We should have taken 175,000.

What the hell were we thinking?

It just got all
twisted, didn't it?

This legal profession.

Every lawyer in America

is talking about me right now,

but that doesn't
exactly make me feel

like a member of
the legal community.

I might be able to
go on practicing law

if I was working
with my whole heart,

but I can't do that
and cover Kelly.

And she's gonna need
a lot of cover for a while.

I still love the law.
I'll always love it,

but maybe I should
be teaching it

instead of practicing
it out here in the world.

I need time to work it out.

Great Benefit has gone belly up.

Barring a miracle
way off in the distance,

we won't get a dime.

God.

You've put them
out of business, Dot.

One little woman from
Memphis, Tennessee,

bankrupted them sons of bitches?

Oh.

I'm gonna go to Donny
Ray's grave tomorrow

and tell him all about it.

So, I guess Kelly and I

will be taking off first
thing in the morning.

We made history, Rudy.

You know that?

We can always brag.

Bye.

There's no doubt
about it... I'm hot.

In fact, I'm so
hot after this case,

there's no place for
me to go but down.

See ya.

Every client I ever
have will expect this...

the same magic, nothing less.

And I could probably
give it to them,

if it didn't matter
how I did it.

And then one morning,

I'd wake up and find that
I'd become Leo Drummond.

Now, you give me a call
when you pass the bar exam.

Yeah, piece of cake!

Every lawyer, at least
once in every case,

feels himself crossing a line
he doesn't really mean to cross.

It just happens.

And if you cross
it enough times,

it disappears forever.

And then you're nothing
but another lawyer joke,

just another shark
in the dirty water.