Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law.

I hardly know what to say regarding the untimely death of Norman Chaney. I

met Norman in a gay bar.

My name is not Georgia Buckner.

It's George.

She barged in without an appointment. At this moment, my client, Celia Robinson,

is at St. Anthony's Hospital trying to check in for a CAT scan.

Only they won't let her because your insurance company is still refusing to

admit that she's got coverage. So don't talk to me about appointments.

Come home with me. I don't know what to say. I don't say nothing.

Your Honor, I move to suppress admission of the blood sample report on grounds

that the chain of custody has been broken. That is to say that we have been

denied access to Mr. Gallagher's blood sample, and since no other evidence has

been introduced by the DA to lay an appropriate foundation for the claim

client was inebriated at the time this unfortunate accident occurred, I move

dismissal of all charges.

Your Honor, while it's true that the blood sample was in fact lost or broken,

The expert from S .I .D. will testify under oath as to the matter in which he

conducted the test as well as to the results.

And his credibility, of course, can be assessed at that time.

I think I'm in love.

Take a number.

I see no choice but to dismiss.

Your Honor, this is clearly relevant evidence which under federal law would

admissible. And this court knows, or ought to know, under Proposition 8 that

this evidence should also be admissible under California state law. I would

remind the Deputy D .A. that in spite of the fact she's running for judgeship in

District 7, she need not lecture this court on the validity of Proposition 8

pertains to this matter.

And I might add as well that Proposition 8 is anything but clear on this point.

My ruling stands... Your Honor, with all due respect, you're wrong. And we're

going to take this up to the appellate court. Assuming you can find time

campaign appearances, you're welcome to do so.

My aspirations to the bench notwithstanding.

The bottom line here is this court is releasing back onto the streets an

habitual...

and dangerous drunk driver who murdered an eight -year -old boy. That's

gratuitous and self -serving. The bottom line is you haven't made your case, and

you're trying to pass the buck to me.

When and if you win election to the bench, Ms. Van Owen, you may have the

word. In my court, I get it.

Case dismissed.

20 -minute recess.

Court will reconvene in 20 minutes.

I don't know.

Right after recess.

Do you mind explaining this to me again?

You plead guilty to misdemeanor theft, $500 fine, one year informal probation,

treatment by your private therapist. If there are no further shoplifting

arrests, we can have you expunged. I wasn't stealing it. I just wanted to see

the diamond had any fire in the sunlight.

Put it down.

You could have got me killed.

It's a reaction.

You're a reflex.

My eight -year -old son was murdered.

There was no justice in that courtroom.

I'll sympathize with your pain, Mr. Figueroa.

Still, it's a very serious thing you did.

Are you a father?

No. Then don't tell me, because you can't know.

Mr. Justice, my boy's dead.

His killer's free, and I'm in jail.

Well, I should be able to do something about that, at least. Look, I think

are a lot of extenuating circumstances here. I think that I might be able to

you off without any jail time.

Please, Mr. Cuenca, you've got to get me out of here.

No more shooting.

I just want to go home to my wife and my baby.

You got yourself a lawyer, Arturo.

I'm going to try my best to get you out of here, and Mike Cusack is going to

file a wrongful death case against Gallagher.

That'll get him where it hurts.

Muchas gracias.

Mi familia y yo se lo agradecemos por el resto de nuestra vida.

Excuse me, Mr. Becker.

I wonder if you could reach that book for me. There you go.

ALR 14.

I just had to get close to you. I was going out of my mind.

You were totally hot last night.

Tonight?

Of what?

You.

You scare me, lady. You could break my heart.

Oh, Arnie.

I would never do anything to hurt you.

Well, maybe just a little.

Come in.

Ann. Hi.

Hi. I, uh, I hope you liked him.

See, uh, they're for me.

They're beautiful.

Thanks. Yeah.

Did you get all my phone messages?

Until the tape ran out.

So I got a little carried away, huh?

Look, Stuart, I'm kind of distracted right now.

The Celia Robinson thing.

Oh, yeah, sure. I understand that.

How about a late dinner? We can talk then.

I can't. I can't spare the time.

It's going to be pretty crazy for a couple of weeks. I just talked to Celia

Robinson. I told her... Oh, I'm sorry.

No, no, it's okay.

I'll, uh... I'm sorry.

I'll, uh, I'll see you later.

Uh...

Nice

flowers.

What about Celia Robinson?

What the hell are you doing interfering in my case?

Which? Your one -eyed caterer?

Leland said it was my case.

So why is my client calling from the hospital to tell me that Lester Messman

waving a $150 ,000 check in her face, an offer he says was approved by her

lawyer, Douglas Brackman? Messman called me.

He thought I might be able to expedite the matter.

You mean sell her down the river. The woman didn't die. She lost an eye.

And she isn't Picasso.

She's a cook.

Under the circumstances, $150 ,000.

Doesn't sound like such a terrible river to me. Under the circumstances, it

isn't even worth discussing.

Your opinion is she should reject the offer? I already told her to tear up the

check and not to accept any phone calls from Messman or you.

Then you had better hope that you can pull some very big rabbits out of your

hat, Miss Kelsey.

Because if you can't, I seriously suggest you start looking for another

I'm coming up.

Let us recap.

Petramco is proceeding apace.

A negotiated settlement is being explored in good faith in the Celia

case. The Lewis tax audit is scheduled for the 19th. 18th. I stand corrected.

And... Mr.

Sifuentes' recently acquired Figueroa case should yield a primo wrongful death

suit. Nelson Gallagher's one of the wealthiest real estate developers in

California.

Mucho bucks.

A tip of the sombrero, Victor.

In consideration of which we're agreed, we won't charge Figueroa for his

criminal defense.

As you wish.

Penultimately, the reading of Norman Chaney's will, 5 .30 p .m. this

Speaking of which, and as you've observed, I seem to have inherited Miss

Brunschweiger from the Cheney estate.

And last item, summer law clerks.

Our final determination as to which of you shall be asked to join the firm will

be announced after tomorrow's partners meeting.

Very well, people.

I believe that brings us current with our agenda.

Uh, not quite.

I'd like to know...

what the significance of Mr.

Cifuentes joining the firm is.

I'm not sure I take your threat, Mr. Taylor.

As pertains to my future.

If I understand your question correctly, advancement within the firm is a

function of performance.

No more, no less.

I take issue with that.

It's a function of style, of relationships, cronyism, of color.

I don't think a staff meeting is the proper venue for this debate. Why not?

Excuse the pun, but let's call a spade a spade.

You brought me on with promises of meaningful work.

Advancement.

I believed you.

But what did I get?

I got cocktail parties.

My, aren't we liberal? Doesn't he look grand in a suit?

But when Cusack here needs a body, does he look in -house?

No, no.

He goes outside with your blessing to find his own boy. I'm not anyone's boy.

And neither am I.

And I'm not going to be your house nigger no more. Now, I wouldn't tolerate

language about you, sir.

I won't tolerate it from you. And you won't have to, sir.

I quit.

If you want to reconsider a decision made hastily and in the heat

of the moment. Well, it was heated, but it wasn't hasty.

I've got no partnership potential here.

Writing was on the wall.

If it was.

I didn't see it.

You didn't read graffiti.

You're welcome to use the office till you find another position.

You'll receive eight weeks severance pay, and I'll write a strong letter of

reference. Is that what it costs to buy off your guilt?

Your failure to succeed with this firm belongs to both of us. I may have been

remiss in not...

Paying close attention to your needs, Andrew. But face it.

You didn't do the job.

You never let me.

Oh, grow up.

Nobody gives you power.

You have to take it.

Now, you've got a choice.

You can locate an area of the law that excites you and you can work your butt

off to excel at it.

Or you can nurse your anger forever.

it will not serve you in the long run.

As I grow older, I have a tendency to pontificate.

I'll write the letter.

Use it.

Or not.

Good luck, Andrew.

Mr.

Becker, may I steal a moment of your time?

This is about the associate position.

You know I'm not at liberty.

No, it's nothing.

I've left

my husband.

This is the same husband who shared his drink with your dress at the McKenzie

party.

Um, yesterday he picked up our three -year -old from nursery school.

And he was drunk.

He got into an accident.

Was the child hurt?

No. He was scared.

We got into a fight about his drinking, and when I told him that I would leave

him if he didn't stop, he became abusive, and he threatened me. He said

would never let me take Eric.

And whether I'm asked to stay with the firm or not, I would like you to

represent me, and I'll pay whatever it costs.

Whether you're asked to stay with the firm or not, let's not worry about the

fees. Let's worry about getting an immediate court date and an OIC.

Consider it a professional courtesy.

Thank you.

You'll owe me.

Mr.

Messman? I appreciate your seeing me without an appointment. We have nothing

talk about, Mr. Messman.

I would think otherwise. It would seem a quick and timely disposition of this

case would be to the benefit of all concerned.

My only interest, Mr. Messman, is Celia Robinson.

We are not without sensitivity to Mrs. Robinson's circumstance.

Is that why you went to her behind my back with that insulting lowball offer?

direct offer to your client was not intended as an insult to either one of

You are an extremely able and, if I might say, also an extremely svelte

So if you would be disposed to accepting an apology, we might move along to a

more meaningful dialogue.

By which I mean we are prepared to make you an offer substantially higher than

before in hopes that we could all avoid a costly and lengthy litigation.

$250 ,000. I have a fine check right here in my breast pocket. Abby, bad

insurance cases.

Globe Casualty v.

Kaufman, $8 .2 million in favor of the plaintiff.

Mutual Indemnity of North America v. Hernandez, $7 .1 million in favor of the

plaintiff. Massachusetts Fidelity and Life v.

Tagliatero, $3 .4 million in favor of the plaintiff. On appeal, the judgment

increased to $5 million. Are you getting the drift, Mr. Messman?

What'll it take to settle this out?

$1 million on my desk by the end of business today.

I don't know. That's very high.

I'll have to put this to my superiors. Put this wherever you like, Mr. Messman.

But if the check isn't on my desk by 6 p .m. today, the price goes up $100 ,000

per day.

You've got a lot of hormones, lady.

Sorry I'm late. You should have been there.

Your buddy Martin Weisbart gets up... Excuse me.

Gets up to address the jury. For 20 minutes, they smirk and hit her.

until finally Judge Hanson mirthfully points out what everyone else in the

courtroom has already taken note of, that Weisbord's fly is wide open.

Whereupon Weisbord asks for a mistrial, Hanson denies the motion, and he

proceeds to lecture the courtroom ad nauseum on the pros and cons of judicial

decorum. Grace Van Owen. Michael Coovan.

Would you like a beer? Love one.

So? Okay.

This is our best offer.

We drop the gun possession.

Figaro cops to one count felony assault. He does a year and a day with time off

for being a perfect citizen.

He's out in seven months.

Not bad for shooting up a crowded hallway. Come on, Gracie, this one's a

wobbler. You could go misdemeanor just as easy as selling. Victor, people could

have been killed. Under the circumstances, this is a great deal,

like hell to bring you. You want circumstances?

I got a client with an otherwise spotless record who sits in a courtroom

watches the drunk driver that ran over his little son go free because of a

-up by the cops.

In his grief and outrage, he takes a shot at the guy and misses. I can't wait

go to court. I doubt if I'm going to lose, but even if I do, you lose more.

I can just see the headlines now. Distraught father, convicted, killer of

boy, walks, DDA, Grace Van Owen says, quote, I feel bad about Mr.

Figueroa's family going on welfare while he does his time, but he should have

thought about that sooner, unquote.

What are you looking for?

Reduced to admit suspended sentence.

You've got to be kidding.

Okay, then let's go to court.

I know this is none of my business.

But what about six months on the misdemeanor, which with time off reduces

three?

I'd try to sell that to my boss.

Well, don't bother. You never sell it to me.

What are you trying to get for this guy? Sainthood?

Look, the man is not a threat to society anymore. What is the point in locking

him up?

Give me four months probation with public service and two months jail time

served on weekends.

Come on, Gracie.

Think like the great judge that I know you're going to be.

Justice tempered with mercy.

Nice meeting you, Mr. Kozak.

You off the bat.

And to Stuart Markowitz, my friend, my

trusted colleague, and my financial advisor.

Forgive me.

The traffic was a mess.

I bequeath my complete tax law library, as well as my non -binding but deeply

felt personal hope that this firm will recognize his talents with a long

partnership.

To Arnold Becker, a man I have long admired, I bequeath my entire

collection of Indian and Chinese erotica.

To my good and loyal Hilda Brunschweiger, I bequeath the sum of $50

And to my most valued and unique friend, Georgia Buckner, to whom I owe much,

and with the wish that she may find true peace and happiness, I bequeath the sum

of $250 ,000. What?

This is an outrage.

Douglas, this is none of your business. Yes, it is.

It's an insult, a mockery of all of us in this firm. I say we should contest

this will. This thing was obviously exercising undue influence.

Douglas! Who knows what kind of perversion? How dare you?

I've conducted myself with total love and honesty.

Honesty? You're not even straight enough to be a decent homo.

Oh!

Unprovoked assault.

This could be permanent neurological damage.

Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn.

Wait up.

Listen, I just don't want there to be any bad blood between us. I mean, guys

like us, we shouldn't be in competition.

You mean interchangeable token men of color.

You think it was all thought out like that? Trade black for brown?

Well, that's the way it worked out, isn't it?

Look, me, I've never gotten where I was going by crawling over another body.

Now, if I'm responsible for you losing your job in any way, I'm out of here.

truth? You did me a favor. You brought something to head I've been doing my

damnedest to avoid.

I wish you a lot of luck.

I wish you luck, because these guys are going to tell you anything going in.

What'd they dangle to you, a class action? Pro bono?

Andrew.

I, uh,

I don't know what to say.

Well, no, uh, no insult intended, but that's always been the problem with the

partners in this firm.

Good night.

Ann.

I'm almost afraid to ask.

Check come?

No. Any word from Mesfin?

No.

Maybe he's on the way.

I'll stay around a little longer, but I'm not holding my breath.

Call me if he comes in.

He'll be the first to know.

Good night, Stuart.

So, are you making any dinner plans yet?

Uh, thanks, Stuart. I've got to work late.

Petramco's stop. I'll order out.

Order for two. I'll keep you company.

Look.

Stuart. What happened between us was one of those things that occasionally just

happens between two people.

Gee, I was kind of looking forward to it happening again.

I don't think it will.

You mind telling me why?

Stuart, you are a wonderful man and a wonderful lawyer.

But I'm not what you're looking for, Zane. I'm not looking at all.

It's not that I don't want a relationship with you. I'm not looking

relationship with anyone.

Look, Ann, I don't want to push myself on you, believe me, but I'm not a kid. I

have adult needs and adult feelings.

I'm not standing here telling you that I love you.

Oh, George. No, no, really. I do.

Look. I'm not saying I can't live without you or anything.

I'm saying I'd rather not have to.

I don't know what to say.

Think about it.

Think about me.

Would you do that, please?

Yes.

Good.

Are you going to do it now, or...? Good night, Stuart.

Mr. Cusack, to what do I owe this pleasure?

Well, I was in the neighborhood. I thought I'd drop by.

This used to be my office.

Really? Look, I don't know how you feel about stuff like this, but if we promise

not to talk about work, would you like to get some dinner?

Mr. Cusack, I have three rules.

Two of which being I never date lawyers and I never date anyone I work with.

Well, what's number three?

You already disqualify on one and two.

Well, here's a hypothetical.

If you and I were to take separate cars and meet up at Musso and Frank, would

that constitute a date?

Yes, definitely.

How about this? You and I, separate cars, Musso and Frank, Dutch.

Is that a date?

A cheap date.

I go to Musso and Frank.

I grab a seat at the counter.

I'm sitting there eating my lamb chops when you happen to fall by for a house

salad to go.

Hey, nice to see you. Sit down, take a load off.

Now, you can't tell me that that's a date.

No.

Not to the strict letter of the law.

So, you got a date tonight?

No. You gotta eat.

I thought maybe I'd grab a salad or something at Mousseau and Frank.

Nice place. I go there myself now and again.

So, you gonna tell me?

What?

Rule number three. I never sleep with a man on the first date.

Good morning, Elizabeth.

Good morning, Michael. Any calls?

Messages? Somewhere.

A Grace Van Owen, by any chance? No, no, doesn't sound familiar.

Would you try her for me, please? She's in the DA's office. Sure.

Morning, Michael. Arnie, you wouldn't happen to know a good florist, would

Only a basic 50 bucks. Thanks for the referral basket. Call Bennett's. Use my

name. Tell him to Julia Lippincott. I think I need something a little more

personal than that.

A $75 potted cymbidium. That's the Linda Maiselow. Grace Van Owen, please.

Michael Cusack calling.

Would you leave word, please?

No. Right.

Cusack. K -U -Z -A -K.

Thank you.

$150 worth of sterling roses, orchids, alstroemerias. Tell Bennett it's the

Christina Amarali.

That should get your garden hosed.

Ann.

Ann, Lester Messman's in reception.

Oh, hi.

The check is per your request. Please have your client sign the enclosed

releases and messenger them back. Thank you. Mr. Messman, just a moment of your

time, please.

I'm afraid there's a mistake.

The amount, Mr. Messman.

One million dollars.

No, the agreed amount was one million, one hundred thousand.

You said one million dollars.

If you'll refresh your recollection, I said one million.

If received prior to 6 p .m. yesterday, one million, one hundred thousand today.

This isn't about your client. It isn't even about winning. It's just about

busting my chops.

It'll be $1 ,200 ,000 if you wait until tomorrow. You're dreaming. See you in

court, butch.

Your Honor, as the respondent husband has failed to appear, I would request

the orders be entered at this time.

You're asking sole custody, extremely limited visitation, and a restraining

order?

The respondent husband is alcoholic and violent.

The most direct testimony of which is...

unfortunately evidenced by my client's physical appearance today.

How did you acquire the injuries, Mrs. Perkins?

Last night, my husband came by the house.

He was drunk and upset.

He asked me not to go through with the divorce.

And when I said no, he grabbed me by the arm and he started twisting.

Then he choked me and he...

banged my head against the wall, screaming at me not to do it.

Eric came running in. He was scared to death.

Eric just stood there and cried as his father kept hitting me.

Mr. Perkins?

Yes? You're more than an hour late.

Abby, please.

Sit down, Mr. Perkins. Abby, please don't get away from her. Sit down, Mr.

Perkins, or the bailiff will take you into custody.

Do you have a lawyer, Mr. Perkins?

First thing we do.

Let's kill all the lawyers.

Shakespeare.

Henry VI, part two.

Mr. Perkins, are you capable of understanding the serious nature of this

hearing? This kangaroo court?

The proposal before me is that you be denied access to your son, except when

supervised by an attorney or police officer.

He's my son.

You can't do that.

That's enough.

Frankly, Mr. Perkins, your demeanor before this court would strongly incline

toward granting your wife's motion.

However, this is an extremely serious matter.

Therefore, I will grant you a one -week continuance, in which time I strongly

suggest that you sober up and find yourself a lawyer.

In the interim, this court orders that temporary physical care and custody

remain with Mrs. Perkins.

No visitation rights in respondent, Father.

Further, Mr. Perkins is enjoined from coming within a hundred yards of either

Mrs. Perkins or the minor Eric Perkins.

It's going to be next week, next Thursday.

Is that all right with your office?

Dammit, you said it was my case, that I should run with it as I saw fit.

If a Mike Cusack did what I did.

We'd call it aggressive hardball lawyering.

But if a woman does it, she's a steamroller and a... This has nothing to

sexism, and you know it.

I made a judgment call.

That I had to back up what I said to the insurance company, or they would never

take me seriously the next time.

There's a hell of a difference between a judgment call and negligence.

Your cavalier dismissal of a million -dollar settlement offer could

expose this firm to a malpractice suit.

I hardly think that's likely, Leland.

I had Celia Robinson's authorization.

I did what I considered to be in the best interest of my client.

What you did was indulge your ego at the expense of your client.

They can drag this thing out five years before you ever see the inside of a

courtroom. If you don't like the way I'm handling it, you can take the

appropriate steps.

It will be on the agenda of this afternoon's partners meeting.

That's all.

Let's forget the reading of the minutes.

Sorry, I was in court.

Quite all right, Arnold.

In your absence, we voted that I be given the chamber office.

Hey, a jest, Arnold.

Gentlemen, we have a very full agenda. The first item of which I would presume

is Miss Kelty's unconscionable handling of the Celia Robinson matter.

After some thought, I've decided to let that wait a week.

See where the dust settles.

I say we sweep it out the door.

Give her four weeks' notice and... We'll bring it up at the next meeting. All

right. Summer clerks. Discussion.

I don't think that there's much to discuss.

Bruce Pollack was an editor of the Harvard Law Review.

Number three in his class.

A pleasing personal demeanor. No dependence. And has done superlative

he's been here. Mm -hmm. Mm -hmm. I'd have to concur with Douglas on this.

is a very, very impressive young man.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I'm honored, of course.

But...

I've decided to accept an offer from a Wall Street firm.

Mr. Pollack, if that's the case, might I inquire what you've been doing here

for the last three months, wasting our time and money?

Well, you were so pleasant and so persuasive when you interviewed me.

And I had never been to L .A. before.

I had a great summer.

All right, then.

Let's review the bidding.

Weston or Perkins?

Their academic records are approximately equivalent.

Arnold, you've been working most closely with Lisa Weston.

How would you evaluate her skills?

Arnold, I hate to say this because she's very bright.

I think the woman is some kind of nympho or something.

She's made repeated sexual overtures toward me ever since she's been here.

been extremely embarrassing.

And quite honestly, I'm concerned about her possibly compromising this firm's

client relationships.

So, where did that leave us?

I can't believe it.

I'm in.

That's great.

That's really great.

I'm so happy. for you, for both of us. Thank you.

You have no idea how much this means to me.

I'm sure you ladies will be relieved to know that this just arrived by

messenger.

$1 ,100 ,000.

As I calculate, that's roughly $366 ,667 for us.

Take the rest of the day off, Miss Kelsey.

You've earned it.

to know that the girlfriend and I worked up a deal.

Who?

Deputy D .A. Grace Van Owen.

Anyway, Arturo copped to the mist, credit for time served, two months of

weekend. He's on his way home to his wife and child and everyone that's

ever after. Sounds good.

That helps.

Excuse me.

Oh, no, you don't. You really stink, Becker.

Miss Bean, dinner's off tonight. If you think I'm going to let you do this to

me... Do what exactly, Lisa? You rat.

You told me I had a real chance at this job if I played my cards right.

Look, honey, this isn't a daycare center. You came on to me. No one

a thing.

You know I'm a lot smarter than that little twit. The least you could have

was speak up for me. I did.

I was overruled. I'll bet.

Look, honey, I did you a giant favor. You just don't know it yet. You're

You're attractive.

You're going to be a great attorney, but there's no way you're going to sleep

your way into a job, not in this firm anyway, and you should have known that.

Yeah, you should have told me.

Would you grow up, kid?

I feel older already.

Mentoring, Arnold, a heavy burden.

Word on the vine is you kicked a little butt on Celia Robinson.

Word further has it that even Douglas Brackman was impressed.

Great. So how come I'm so depressed?

Ah, well, uh, multiple choice.

A, because it's over.

B, because you cared more about winning than you do about your client.

C, because winning's no fun unless you have someone to share it with.

Or, uh, D, none of the above.

Pretty smart for a guy who spends his life in a room going over the tax code.

Yeah, well, not so smart.

Anyway, congratulations are in order, so how about a celebratory dinner at the

romantic restaurant of your choosing?

I don't think so, Stuart.

Look, Ann, I hate to be a pest here, but I want to pursue a relationship.

Look, maybe it pans out, maybe not, but I'm not afraid to try.

I think maybe I am.

All right, look.

I'll tell you what.

I'm going to go to my office, and I'm going to put on my coat.

Then I'm going to count to 100, and I'm going to leave.

Between now and then, I hope you change your mind and join me.

If not, I won't bother you anymore.

One.

Two.

Ah, three.

Congratulations.

You played hardball.

And you won.

I was lucky.

You were right. I was representing my needs at the expense of my client.

Good lesson learned.

Some of us never learn it.

Stuart Markowitz just suggested that I care more about winning than I do about

the client.

I think that's a little harsh.

If Celia Robinson walked in here right now, I wouldn't know who the hell she

was. I never even bothered to meet the woman.

Get the job done, nevertheless.

Sure has helped him give her a lot of moral support along the way.

She probably had that from her family, her friends.

What she needed from you was your anger, your expertise, and your courage.

And those she got, in full measure.

A better lawyer would have given her both.

99 .5, 99 .75.

How did you get into my car?

I worked my way through law school as a car thief.

Well, now that we know that you haven't lost your touch, please get out.

I called you 37 times.

Seven times.

Why are you avoiding me?

I'm not avoiding you. I just don't want to see you.

So if you don't mind... Hold on.

We had dinner together, remember?

We shared a bottle of wine.

We talked until two in the morning. Am I crazy? We've got some kind of chemistry

here.

Look, Mr. Cusack, I... Call me Michael.

Even Mickey.

What? I can't hear you.

Speak up. I'm in the car phone.

Thanks.

Bad news?

Well, Mickey, it seems your client Arturo Figueroa just murdered Nelson

Gallagher.

At least let's admit it in the privacy of this table.

We're accessories to a murder.

Look, the man says he's sorry. He swears he'll be a good boy. What, do you want

me to be a mind reader?

I thought we were cutting a humane deal.

Oh, right.

We all felt so guilty.

We were so overcome with the depth of our moral outrage, we lost sight of the

damn law.

Look, if you're going to bleed, don't do it all over me. My job is to represent

my client. You start what -iffing yourself on every deal, and you wind up

paralyzed. Well, maybe we should have what -iffed ourselves on this one. He

but neither of us paid any attention to him.

You were angry that he wasn't backing your play, and I was so busy playing

politics.

We redressed one murder with another.

I'm going home.

After this fiasco, I'll probably be in traffic court for the rest of my life.

I don't need a hangover to add to my list of woes.

Speaking of which, I've had a little too much myself.

Could you give me a lift?

Victor can take you.

I think I'm going to stay a while.

Or I'll take a cab home.

Or whatever.

You didn't need a lift.

You hardly had anything to drink.

You're right.

I just wanted to spend a little more time with you.

You're a very good driver. This isn't going to work.

Why not? Because that's why.

The thing is, I'm engaged.

I'm getting married in three weeks.

Who's the lucky fellow?

His name is Kevin Crenshaw.

The media guy?

Oh,

I suppose he's going to run your campaign.

As a matter of fact, yes.

Well, that doesn't mean you have to marry him. Mr. Cusack.

Do you love him? Of course I do. No, what I'm asking is, are you in love with

him? Mr. Cusack, I've been in love more than once.

It has its charms, no doubt about it, but it also has its downside, and

I'm getting too old for roller coasters.

How old are you?

Would you stop?

Just go away.

What about passion?

Not that it's any of your business, but I enjoy his company very much.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement. We have lots in common.

I care deeply for him.

But you're not in love with him.

Being in love with someone is only a stage you pass through on your way

feeling lovingly to that person.

I guess you've got it all figured out, haven't you?

I think so, yes.

And honestly, I'd appreciate it if you got out of the car, closed the door

behind you, and left me alone.

But what about these feelings that we have?

It's the nice thing about being a grown -up, Mr. Cusack.

Having them doesn't mean we have to act on them.

Good night.

Good night, Gracie.