Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law.

Damn it, detective!

My husband violates a T .R .O., kidnapping my son, and the best thing

tell me is to get my own P .I.? Our two most senior partners will receive 50 %

of this year's profits.

One is dead. The other might as well be. You are out of line, Douglas.

If you raise this question ever again... You can start your own firm. They fired

you for reasons that had nothing to do with your confidence.

They violated your civil rights, and arguably they made it impossible for you

continue your career. I have a new client coming in, a movie writer

and I want to solicit her entertainment business.

Trust me. And this film can cross over from a boutique specialty item to a

-based box office winner. As an owner of a building, you have any responsibility

to your tenants?

Would it be better if I evicted them all?

Two weeks ago, Miss Fields had to take her little boy to the hospital.

Rat bites.

While they're at the hospital, her nine -year -old girl got gang raped.

I want to be married to you.

I hurt this man.

You want to go back to him?

No.

It's exactly it, just as I typed it.

Who saw this?

Jeff Sawyer, the vice president.

Mr. Mellor sent him a draft copy.

Anybody else?

No. He destroyed it, and it was never officially circulated.

I used to have a copy, but he must have taken it from my file.

Without the original, this is no good to me, Cindy.

I need you to testify.

I told you no.

I want to help. That's why I'm here, but I can't do any more than this. I think

deep down you will regret not helping her in court.

Deep down, Mr. Kuzak, I need my job.

I could subpoena you.

Please, I have done all I can.

If I testify against the station, I'll get fired.

What kind of paper was the memo typed on?

Regular blue memo paper.

Thank you.

No comment. Any offer to settle this girl? Mr. Cusack, Mr. Cusack.

I'm sorry, not just Cusack.

Please, please.

There's a three -point man right there. Everybody right here. This is all the

court. Michael, where were you? You were supposed to meet me outside.

Too much brand in the muffin.

Where's the client?

He'll meet you there. Division 16.

Excuse me for a second. Shoot me. I really appreciate this.

It's just a simple little Municourt dog bite case.

Our guy's pet allegedly bit the plaintiff. Did he?

To the bone.

It's a loser and we're stalling.

Just tell the judge I'm in court.

Get a continuance for as long as possible.

Well, will it be a problem?

No, no, just say unavailability of counsel. He'll give you the continuance,

that's the way. Okay.

Victor, thank you.

I owe you one.

Case number two, Shirell v.

Salter, reported settled.

Third on the list, Weeks v.

Stokes. Erica Tuckman, for the plaintiff. Ready, Your Honor.

Victor Cifuentes, for the defendant.

Your Honor, the defense will be requesting a continuance at this time

unavailability of defendant's counsel, Michael Cusack.

Mr. Cusack is in trial in the Superior Court, and I would therefore be seeking

stay of this action until the conclusion of that proceeding.

Both counselors, step forward.

I'm chagrined.

You have stalled, dragged, and burdened this matter with every dilatory measure

known to mankind.

And I don't like lawyers who clog the system just to put off paying a

Your Honor, I appreciate your sense of... Don't yank me.

This case was marked no further continuances, and the Honorable Mr.

it. And if he thinks this stunt of sending in an unprepared attorney is

buy him another minute, it's very wrong.

Well, what can I do, Judge? I don't know the case.

Then learn it, because we're going to trial right now.

With all due respect, Your Honor, that would be a travesty of justice. You'd be

forcing the defendant to proceed with... You have two answers, Counselor.

Default judgment for plaintiff or ready for trial.

Ready for trial.

Hi. Hi.

Guess we're both running a little late today.

You're at, um, McKenzie Brackman, right? Yes.

I'm Peter Brosens. I'm right upstairs at Sheertaff and Halbron.

Oh, sure. I think I've seen you in the elevator.

I'm Abigail Perkins. I know.

I asked around.

I was glad to hear you made an associate.

Thank you.

So, um, how's the search going?

For your son.

You really do ask around.

Well, the whole building kind of knows.

Sort of. Oh.

I see.

So?

Well, it's going.

There's nothing really concrete yet, but it's going.

Well, if there's anything I could ever do to help or... Thank you. I appreciate

it.

Maybe we can get together sometime.

For a drink after work or something.

I don't think so.

Oh.

Okay.

You seem very nice, Peter.

But I don't go out socially.

Do you mind if I ask why?

It's just that... Well... I just... I don't.

But thank you.

The check for $87 ,000 and the note for your signature.

Stuart.

I've been thinking about this.

I just can't. Ann, I get the interest from you or I get it from the bank.

the difference? The difference is I don't sleep... I don't sleep with my

He doesn't know what he's missing.

Stuart. Okay, okay.

Give it back.

I can't.

You're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Exactly.

Well, you know, there is another solution.

You can marry me.

Well, that way, half your assets become community property, half your debts

become community liability, and the loan zeroes itself out.

Well, you know, it'll get you off the hook.

I'll accept.

Oh.

Oh, the loan. The loan.

Enter.

Douglas, I think we ought to talk about this.

There's nothing to talk about.

I've resigned.

Why?

You made your opinion of my abilities painfully clear at the partners'

How can I command respect from the other partners after a humiliation like that?

You don't command respect, Douglas.

You've got to earn it.

Someone's got to wear the black hat.

Do they not?

It's a question of style, Douglas.

Weighing the needs of the individuals against those of the firm.

I thought I did that.

You're hard on people.

You don't make them feel cared for or wanted.

They have you for that.

You know... When your father was

alive...

He was the spiritual leader of this firm, and I was the lightning rod for

people's discontent. And partly because of that, he was one of the most loved

and respected men that I've ever known.

He was a demanding tyrant.

The law, according to Douglas Brackman Sr., God help anyone who questioned it

fell short of its standard, the man could carry a grudge.

He could punish with his silence.

I was never able to please him enough.

Then it's long past time you stop trying to. He's gone, Douglas. Be your own

man.

I hope you'll reconsider.

I hate to lose you.

Do you mean that?

Sincerely.

Thank you, Leland.

It was the most difficult decision I ever had to make.

Personally, I consider Stacey Gill to be a courageous and exceptional

journalist. But our ratings just dropped dramatically.

What do you mean by dramatically, Mr. Miller?

The open ratings showed a drop of two full points after she came back from her

treatment. Is that substantial?

Are you kidding? A two -point drop can cost the station $3 million a year in

lost advertising revenue.

Were there any other alternatives besides discharging Miss Gill which

remedied this problem?

Unfortunately, this is the news business.

And the only way to quickly boost ratings is to replace your on -camera

I know it's unfair, especially in this case.

But our research showed that the ratings dropped as a result of the lumpectomy

bit and because she showed her breast on camera.

And this was something we asked her to do.

We feel terrible about it. Did you give any thought to letting her continue as

your anchorwoman?

Absolutely. And believe me, if we could have, we would have.

But the truth is, with these ratings, we would have been signing our own death

certificate by keeping her on the air.

I have nothing further.

You fired her two weeks after she'd been back on the job, didn't you?

Well, yes, but by that time... Two weeks?

Well, as I said, our ratings plunged two full points in that period.

Didn't she come back at the beginning of the month? On, uh...

May 2nd, 1985, to be exact?

That's about right. Isn't it true, Mr. Miller, that your ratings drop one full

point during the first ten days of every month?

Well, there's always some decline.

Because the new cable movies come out at the beginning of each month, and that

affects your ratings, doesn't it? Yes. So it's possible that one point of this

two -point drop was directly related to these new cable movies, isn't it?

Perhaps, but market research showed that her ratings would continue to fall in

the ensuing weeks.

Wait a minute.

So what you're saying is you fired her not only because of this dip in the

ratings, but because of an anticipated dip that was yet to come?

That's correct. And you couldn't even wait long enough to see if it actually

would happen?

This woman bears her breast and her cancer to the viewing public at your

request, and you fire her after two weeks because you think your ratings

drop if you let her stay.

Objection. Argumentative.

Lucky for her, she's such a courageous and exceptional journalist.

Bought her next week.

Objection. Sustained.

Mr. Miller.

Did you dictate a memo to Vice President Scott Sawyer on May 18, 1985?

Possibly. That's a long time ago.

It concerned your decision to fire Stacey Gill. Did you dictate such a

Well, I'm not sure.

Mr. Miller, did you dictate a memo saying, and I quote, how long

can the public accept an anchorwoman with a nicked boob?

Who gave you that?

It makes no difference. Did you say it?

That's out of context.

I can explain that phrase.

All right, let me see that memo, please. I haven't got it.

But you wrote it, didn't you, Mr. Miller?

Is that a yes?

Yes.

No further questions, Your Honor.

Moving on to Gill versus Barnett broadcasting.

One more defense witness, then closing arguments.

Excellent. Word through the vine is you're doing an outstanding job.

Congrats.

Sorry I'm late.

It's quite all right, Victor.

As the hour is unusually early due to respective trial schedules, we can

a little tardiness.

Thanks, but I'm not supposed to have a trial schedule. What I'm supposed to

is a continuance. Donut?

You set me up. You knew that judge would make me go forward.

Come now, Victor, think of the client.

As a result of Michael's cagey maneuver, Mr. Stokes has the benefit of being

represented by an exceptional defense attorney.

Arnold, anything to report on the Mishkin films?

Hillary's film opens soon.

He's bombed. Keep her surprised.

Thank you all for attending. And now, if there's nothing else, we stand

adjourned. Don't forget your meeting with Mr. Taylor.

Thank you.

Mike, you could have told me.

I thought your not knowing was gonna give us a better chance of getting the

continuance.

The more I'm prepared you were, the better.

Yeah?

Well, now what?

This case is a flat -out loser.

Dog bit him.

At least now we have a chance for an appeal.

We can say that it was an abuse of judicial discretion to make you go

Not to ruin your plans, but I'm going to win this one. You're good, but you're

not that good.

Don't be so sure.

Victor, Clarence Darrow couldn't win this case.

You care to make a little wager?

Mm -hmm. Anything you want.

Your leather chair.

Except that. No.

No, you can't have my leather chair. Come on, counselor.

A bet's not a bet unless the stakes are high.

Where's your guts?

All right.

My chair against your earring.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

No way.

Aha!

Okay.

You got a bed.

And upon completion of the sale, all the tenants will be relocated at Mr.

Washington's expense to one of his other buildings.

Why are you doing this for me?

I'm not doing this for you. Those people shouldn't have to spend another night

in that building. I agree, Andrew.

And I swear I'm not looking to make a single cent from the transaction.

If I could just break even or not lose my shirt, I'll be grateful forever.

I'll see you this afternoon.

I look forward to it.

Hi, Peter.

Hi.

Come on in.

Thanks. Um, look, I'm not really very good at chit -chat.

So, um, I was thinking about what you said about not going out socially.

I once saw this film about a man whose only son was kidnapped.

He spends every waking minute of his life trying to find him.

He loses his job, he loses his friends, finally even loses his wife.

But he is so obsessed with finding his son that nothing else matters.

And finally, years later, he thinks he's located him.

But as he gets closer and closer, he begins to hesitate.

This search has taken up his whole life.

And when it ends... He realizes that he'll lose his only reason for living.

The point being?

The point being, you've got to have a life outside of this crisis.

How dare you presume to advise me?

My life, inside or outside of this crisis, is none of your damn business. I

wasn't presuming. I was just... You were just what?

Suggesting I lighten up a little? But I... of my life you were not invited

I'm sorry

I guess I should have kept my mouth shut now there's some advice

each

rating point represents 50 ,000 households

a two -point drop would mean that 100 ,000 families were switching their dials

to other stations All right, and what does that translate to in dollars and

cents? A new show with 24 spots a night and a two -point drop would lose $7 ,200

a night, $50 ,000 a week, $2 .6 million a year. So her drop in ratings could

cost the station approximately $3 million annually.

Yes, and her Q score indicated a further drop.

Q score? A formula we use to measure viewer appeal.

It factors in her recognizability and her likability, and we come out with a

number. 80 is good.

60 is bad.

Hers was 43.

Thank you.

Your witness.

Well, pretty extensive data, Mr. Weiner.

We research everything.

Does your research show how many lives were saved by Stacey Gill's story?

No. Does it show how many women... After having seen the story, opted for a

lumpectomy rather than the more mutilating mastectomy?

No. Does it measure the pain suffered by my client having to expose herself to

millions of people?

No. In fact, sir, these factors count for nothing in your research, correct?

That's correct.

Thank you.

That's all.

And calling your attention to the morning of June 6, 1985, did you then

occasion to see the animal?

Yes, I did.

I was manicuring my shrubs, one of which was turning yellow because it whittled

on it. Objection to the term it.

Overruled.

Cockapoo.

I beg your pardon?

It is a full -bred cockapoo.

Continue.

Could you tell us then, Mr. Weeks, what happened next?

Well, I said to him, see what you did.

These plants are my passion, my family, really. See what you did, I said.

Then the little mutt mauled me. Objection to the term mutt.

Counselor. He is not an it or a mutt. He's a pet.

And just because you hate animals is... I didn't say I hate it. Tell the jury

what you do to cats. Mr.

Twentor. I'm sorry, Judge, but I have no tolerance for animal abuse. Mr.

Twentor. Maybe you can sit by and watch vindictive eccentrics beat up a helpless

little puppy. Oh, for God's sake.

Get up here.

Now.

I know your game, cowboy.

You want to miss trial so you can buy more time. Well, you're not going to get

it. What you will get is sanctions. What you will get is contempt.

What you will get is a directed verdict for the plaintiff. Now you step back and

act like a lawyer, big shot, or you're going to lose this case right now.

Yes, sir.

Now then, Mr. Weeks.

Getting back to the day the dog bit you. Objection to the term bit.

I'm sorry, Your Honor, but the medical records indicate a nip. A nip?

It was a vicious bite. You're a liar. I'm warning you. A dog beater and a liar

too. In my chambers now.

Jury is excused till 1 p .m.

Move it.

You left me no choice.

You think I won't order a verdict for the plaintiff?

You think I won't? With all due respect, if you direct a verdict before I even

present my case, after already forcing an unprepared attorney to go forward,

going to have automatic grounds for an appeal, and you know it.

You want it, just ask for it. Go ahead, take it.

I'd love it.

Faith, the only way your guy can be a real winner is to win this trial on the

merits right here.

On the other hand, if you think I've got you, take the directed verdict.

You'll lose money, but at least you'll save face.

No DV.

No mistrial, Your Honor.

Let's go back in there.

She's busy.

They loved it.

Brilliantly written and executed, Rosebush looks like the sleeper box

smash of the season.

You can't pay for a better review.

Eroticism. So highly charged, you can feel the heat coming off of the screen.

Every teenager with raging hormones will be lining up for this one.

You were totally right about the sex scene, Arnie. I never thanked you.

You're a genius.

Come on, I bet you say that to all the guys.

I'll make some reservations at Michael's. We'll start the celebration

continue at my place.

No, I can't.

I already have a date.

Well, break it.

I can't.

I did for you.

Arnie, I'm having dinner with a highly bankable actor. If I can get him

interested in me and or my script, I've got a go project.

Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I love you a lot and...

When things are less crazed, I'll call and we'll have lunch.

Arnie!

Did that woman do something to you?

No.

No, I did it to myself.

I let my guard down.

I let myself care.

I should be smarter about women by now. All they see is the package.

The money.

The clothes, the flash, that's all they want. And when they've used you up, they

just spit you out.

You go out with the wrong women, Orny.

There's a sincere, loving woman somewhere who could really appreciate

who you are.

Rox, I've never shown this to anyone.

I've never trusted anyone enough.

Can I trust you?

With your life?

Becker in high school.

You look different.

Fat. Fat boy with glasses.

A little stocky.

I went on a blind date once, Roxanne.

Peggy Miller.

Daughter of one of my mother's friends.

When I got to the door, there was one of those little peephole things, this

eyeball looking me over.

Then I heard a lot of muffled voices moving around inside.

Finally, Peggy's friend let me in.

Peggy was standing there in a robe.

Her friend said that she was too sick to go out.

So I walked away from the door.

I heard them laughing in there.

They were laughing at me, Roxanne.

You have no idea what that felt like.

I know.

What you need is someone to really love you.

To hold you and take away all the hurt.

Rox, you ever been to Michael's?

No. I really used to think the day that I could afford to eat at a place like

that, then I'd be a happy man.

Where's the happiness if you haven't got somebody to share it with, right?

Right.

So, as difficult as it is, I think the thing to do is to go to Michael's, a

beautiful companion on my arm, and try to enjoy the pleasure of the moment,

right? Right.

So let's try Christina Amorelli. If she's not there... Barbara St. John.

Rox.

I don't know what I'd do without you.

So, all I'm asking, ladies and gentlemen, is that when you assemble all

evidence, you take a good long whiff of what they did.

Because it stinks.

They asked her to showcase her cancer.

To bare her breast, her pain, her humiliation.

And when she did, they fired her.

Sacrifice your personal privacy, they said.

Do it for the job, they told her.

And then they took away that job.

And now...

After doing all of that to her, they are asking you to say it's okay.

This one reeks of unfairness, people.

Draw upon your sense of justice, upon your sense of fairness, and send a

loud and clear that this sort of blatant prejudice will

not be tolerated.

Draw upon your emotion.

That's what Mr. Cusack wants you to do.

Because emotion is blind, ladies and gentlemen.

And if he can blind you, then he won't see the things that hurt his case.

Like the fact.

The fact that she had the worst ratings of any anchor person in the last four

years.

The fact that she turned down a job that would have paid her most of the money

she claims to have lost.

The fact that newscasters on every station get fired all the time for bad

ratings.

The only fact the plaintiff wants you to concentrate on is the fact that this

whole thing is unfair.

And to that charge, I say they're absolutely right.

It's unfair that outstanding news people get fired for low ratings.

It's unfair that Stacey Gill in particular got fired.

It's grossly unfair that what caused her ratings to fall was a piece that

perhaps will end up saving women's lives.

And what really tips the scales of equity here is that the station told her

do what ultimately caused her ratings to drop.

If the question here were fairness, I'll admit we wouldn't have much of a case.

But the issue in this court of law is not whether Stacey Gill was treated

fairly. She wasn't.

The question is whether Stacey Gill was treated legally.

Whether she has been denied any of her legal rights.

And the facts of this case say she hasn't.

And if you find, members of the jury, that defendant's discharge of plaintiff

was motivated by any factor concerning her physical anatomy or sexuality, then

you must find for the plaintiff. But if you find that the discharge was

motivated solely by ratings, as that term has been defined, then you must

for defendant, no matter how unfair or unpopular...

You may consider that discharge to be, given the particular circumstances of

this case.

I don't understand.

The judgment with the other side's instructions, not ours. What's the

difference? Ours would have allowed them to consider fairness. It's an issue.

Mr. Kuzak, do you feel more or less? Excuse me for a second.

Come on, counsel.

Are you settling now?

All right, try this out.

Dismiss the sex discrimination count.

Settle the breach of contract for $200 ,000.

You're offering $200 ,000 with that dream instruction you just got from the

judge? Well, it's a jury. Give them all the instructions in the world, they

could still say we've got a big TV corporation against a mother with a

-age kid, cancer, and no husband.

You know, the truth is, I think I made my case.

But a sex discrimination rap ain't good for a TV station.

We just can't take the risk.

Lump sum or structured?

All of it.

Payable today.

No comment.

I'll recommend to my client that she accept it, though. All right, good.

You ready

for this?

They just offered us 200 grand if we drop the discrimination claim.

I don't believe it. Believe it, but let's not sit on it. The jury could come

back any minute. Michael, I won't settle.

I've come too far.

Hold on a minute.

There's a good chance, make that a great chance, that we could lose and get

nothing here.

And even if we win, it may not be $200 ,000.

But if I drop the sex discrimination claim, it's like I'm selling out.

Stacy, listen.

I know that I counsel you to hold to your convictions, and I think you did

right thing.

But now, in my professional opinion...

This is the best result we can hope for. But what about upholding my principle?

Your principle won't get upheld if we lose.

I won't settle.

I admire your fortitude, but don't let it interfere with common sense.

Michael, you said it the other day.

If I settle, it's like telling them it was okay for them to do what they did to

me.

I won't tell them that.

You hate this dog, don't you?

No, I don't hate the dog. Come on, Mr. Wheat.

Come clean.

Jury won't believe you unless you level with us.

Objection! Those shrubs are your passion.

You weed them, you prune them, you mulch, spritz them, then that little

comes over and lifts his leg till all the leaves fall off.

You like that dog?

I never said I liked him. That's your family that he leaks on biweekly. You

that dog.

I don't like the dog.

Because he yellows your plans. That's right, because he goes to the bathroom.

my yard. Why don't you just shoo him away?

I try. He growls. That's right. He bit your bamboo rake and punctured the

didn't he?

Yes. What were you doing with the rake when he bit it, sir? I was shooing him

away. You hit that dog with the rake, didn't you? I didn't hit that dog. I've

got three witnesses here, Mr. Weeks. You want to change that answer?

Objection. Overruled.

I just brushed him with it to shoo him.

You've called a pound.

Three times in the last year.

Tell us, Mr. Weeks, tell us. Tell us why you called the pound.

Answer the question, sir.

I called.

I called to suggest that they look into, that they explore the

possibility of whether it would be appropriate.

to put the dog humanely to sleep. In other words, you beat

on him with a rake and now you want him dead for no good reason.

Objection! For every reason.

That damn mutt is nothing but a bag of worms.

The damn dog destroyed my shrubs. He deserves to die, doesn't he? You bet he

does.

No further questions, Your Honor.

You get off on the wrong floor?

Just the wrong foot.

You and me both.

Look, I am really sorry about... I really am sorry. I had no business.

We were both out of line.

Look, for what it's worth, you did give me something to think about.

And...

Well, I was kind of hoping that maybe we could just wipe the slate clean and

start all over.

Yeah, that sounds good.

So... A beer.

After work.

Yeah.

Okay. Mr.

Washington will purchase the building at the agreed -upon price and assume the

cost of relocating the tenants.

In addition, he will pay $2 ,500 in settlement to each family.

In consideration of this arrangement, the tenants agree to drop their suit

against Mr. Brackman and release him from all liability.

Are we agreed?

Agreed.

Oh, you guys really play hardball.

But... Okay.

You're both initial.

I'll draw up full papers tomorrow for signature.

Gentlemen, good night.

Dwight, how's it going?

Oh, pretty good, sir. How about yourself?

A little lonely at this hour, isn't it?

Oh, I don't know, sir.

I like it quiet.

Sir, they got my music.

How long have you been with us now, Dwight?

Been with the business nine years now, sir.

Are you happy here?

I ain't got no complaints.

That's incredible, Dwight.

There aren't many people able to say that.

Well, we all have our problems, sir. But you seem to bear yours with such

dignity and good humor.

May I ask how much you earn in a week?

I take home about... 285.

Now, I earn ten times that.

But do you know something, Dwight?

You're the richer man.

Oh, I don't know.

I ain't got much.

You've got peace of mind.

And that's what it's all about, my friend.

Well, if you say so.

I can learn much from a man like you.

Thank you, Dwight.

Thank you for your outlook, my friend.

I want you to have this. Oh, no, I don't want your money, sir. Take it. I want

you to have it.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you very much.

Good night.

Good night.

Sir?

Has

the

jury reached a verdict, Mr. Foreman?

We have, Your Honor.

Very well. What then say you, Mr. Foreman?

We, the jury, find in favor of the plaintiff on count one and count two of

complaint and order the defendant to pay damages in the amount of 1 .3 million

dollars.

Congratulations. You were right.

Do you plan to go back to broadcasting?

What do you think we want to know? We never go back to this station, Miss

We never think they'll let you back in the broadcast.

What are you going to do about it?

Miss Gill, is it true that you signed a book contract for the Stacey Gill story

in the neighborhood of a half million dollars or so? I have signed a book

contract, yes. And is it also true that the deal was conditioned upon this case

going to a final verdict?

I'd rather not talk about the book right now. Excuse me.

Who's the publisher, Miss Gill? Miss Gill.

With something I was offered during the trial.

How much?

I don't think that's really your concern.

How much?

$450 ,000 advance.

Conditioned on your getting a jury verdict, right?

The publisher wanted an ending, win or lose.

So, that's why you wouldn't settle, because you would have blown the book

You lied to me.

I didn't lie.

Well, you omitted the truth, the same thing.

And if I had told you, would you have been so passionate, so fired up?

I doubt it. That's right.

And it was your fire that won this thing.

It was your passion that got the jury.

It paid off in there. And it's going to pay off again when I capture it in my

book.

In other words, anything for a story.

Oh.

Well, forgive me for thinking that the livelihood of the client or the client's

family could ever come before the attorney's interest in his tidy little

You won.

And so did I.

And as far as results go, I think that's a pretty good one.

You didn't.

Verdict for defendant in 17 minutes.

Congratulations yourself.

This is a great country, huh?

What happened to your foot?

A fleabag bit it.

So sue.

Oh, it'll be okay.

I'll just keep it elevated as I lean back in my nice, soft chair.

Come on, Victor.

I want it back.

I bet the bet.

Victor, it took me a long time to break in that chair.

You know, you did a good job.

The soft spots, they're just in the right place.

Yeah, well, it's not just the time.

I've spent every day of my professional life in that chair.

It's part of me.

These things happen, Mike.

You could use that one if you want.

Another four or five years, and it'll be broken in.

Like this one

Ended

today when a jury awarded her 1 .3 million dollars in damages

I'm serious.

You won the case.

You're a hero in the news and with your clients, and you made $400 ,000 for your

firm, and you're telling me I can't get in under your sheets unless I agree you

were victimized?

She used me.

Oh! Look!

But I am most grateful to my attorney, Michael Cusack, who was not only

brilliant throughout, but still a great source of strength. Look!

How do you feel about the outcome?

We're happy that justice was done.

The verdict was fair, and we're grateful that the truth came out.

You think this is a fair judgment?

Well, uh... Uh -uh. Tell the truth. If

you had to do it all over again, and she walked into your office and she said,

take my case, would you?

Well... Of course you would, because it is juicy, newsy, exciting stuff.

I've used you to get her kicks as a journalist, but you used her to get your

kicks as an attorney.

Tell you the truth, I don't see the difference between what she did to you

what you did to Victor.

Uh -huh.

So give me one good reason to be so upset.

I lost my chair.

Close my chair.

You have my deepest sympathies, Mickey.

But don't worry.

As long as we're together, you'll always have something to sit on.