Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law. I would ask for a new trial on the grounds of AIDS

stress syndrome.

You didn't raise it at trial, so it's waived.

I just learned of the AIDS syndrome defense yesterday.

Ms. Ben Owen told me about it. I must move for a new trial on the grounds that

was incompetent in my representation of Mr. Appleton. My client's accused of

robbing a John.

This firm's biggest client happens to be my client's alibi. She was shacked up

with Mr. Osborne in his Malibu condo. Regarding Harold Osborne as a witness in

your trial, I want you to take a look at this.

Nice little trick, Leland.

All the dirt on Harold Osborne. But since I've learned it from office files,

it's privileged information, and now I can't use it.

Victor Cifuentes does whatever he can to protect his client. So do I.

Well, I won't live with it, Leland.

I quit.

You are in contempt, Mr. Hirshberg. Thank you. Thank you, Your Honor.

to this job, jail's a pleasure.

Dirtbags in, dirtbags out.

I'm going nuts!

Hi, Mike.

Sid. Sorry I'm late.

Traffic. No problem. Sit down.

Can I have a coffee?

Yes, please.

I already ordered.

Just an English muffin and grapefruit juice.

So, let me read your mind.

He looks okay.

He sounds okay.

But is he really okay?

Or is he going to throw his omelet at the next table and punch out the busboy?

Something like that.

How you doing, Sid?

Great.

Really, Mike, just great.

I know it was embarrassing as hell for everyone.

But coming unglued in court like that was the best thing that ever happened to

me. I've been disregarding danger signs for a couple of years. I started

drinking too much at night, then a couple of Valium to get to sleep.

Lost my sex drive.

My marriage was rocky as hell.

Yours will be up in a second, honey.

Anyway, it was just too much.

Something had to give.

Well, you look great, Sid. Thanks.

I feel great.

A couple of weeks in the Laughing Academy.

A little psychotherapy.

I'm good as new.

Better.

I'm really happy for you.

Honey, bring me a beer, will you?

Mike?

It's a little early for me, Sid.

But what have Kanye got?

So, the reason why I called.

I need a big favor, Mike.

I got a case I just can't handle.

I'm jammed up and I gotta be in D .C. to argue a case in front of the Supreme

Court. Really? Yeah. And I got this woman.

Really, she's a victim.

Bunch of cops.

Blow into her apartment.

Middle of the night, looking for drugs.

She used to see some guy he was dealing with, so they bust in looking for him.

Was he there?

Hell no. She hasn't seen him in weeks.

But they opened fire, wounded her, and killed her kid.

She shoots back, self -defense, and wounds one of the cops. They arrest her

attempted murder.

She needs help, Mike. And this Supreme Court thing has got me crazy.

What do you say?

Gee, Sid, I don't know.

I'm pretty jammed up myself.

No money in it. That it?

No, that's not it, Sid.

You're asking me to take on this woman's case I know nothing about. Here, just

look at her file.

Sid. Mike!

Just look at the damn thing, would you?

Continuance.

Continuance.

Continuance? Sid, what have you been doing?

What do you mean, what have I been doing?

Well, you haven't interviewed witnesses. You haven't argued bail.

Hold it right there, hotshot.

What good's bail if you're on welfare anyway?

That's a waste of time. What about the other two kids?

Don't know.

DPSS has them somewhere.

Sid, this woman's been in jail for five months. She hasn't seen her kids. All

you've done is move for continuances.

What are you trying to do?

Eat more guilt on me?

What the hell was I supposed to do? You want to tell me that?

I got cases of the yin -yang.

Most of these people are pure scum anyway.

I'm under extreme pressure.

I got the Supreme Court situation staring me in the face.

Why the hell do you think I came to you in the first place? Sid, take it easy.

You take it easy?

I mean, what am I supposed to do here to get a little help from a fellow member

of the fraternity, huh?

Stick my omelet on my head, huh?

I can't get my briefcase shut.

I get to catch a flight to DC.

You think the Supreme Court cares about my problems?

Why don't you just say it, Bruce?

That's just it, Grace. I shouldn't have to say it. I shouldn't have to tell my

prosecutors it's not their job to get murderers off. That's not what I did.

had lunch with Appleton's attorney.

You told him about this cockamamie AIDS stress syndrome, then backed up his

motion for a new trial.

I did what I thought was in the interest of justice.

Great. Well, the official response from this office is that you screwed up.

Don't do it again, Grace.

You've been reassigned to night court. You start tonight.

Is that my punishment?

Of course not.

This office does not punish people for their professional conduct.

This is completely coincidental. How long?

Till you're reassigned or die, whichever comes first.

I have to work on Christmas Eve.

You should love that. With this new goodwill toward man attitude you've

developed.

Merry Christmas, Grace.

The man just keeps getting continuuses, continuuses, continuuses while I sit

here and rot.

And now he takes off.

Do you have any money for bail?

Anything to put up as collateral?

My sister's got about $2 ,000. Can you get me back with my kids on that?

I don't know.

I can try.

I can schedule a bail motion.

I almost forget what they look like. It's been so long.

Nina, I know you've been through this a million times, and I know how painful it

must be, but I need you to tell me exactly what happened the night of the

shooting.

It was the middle of the night, and I was asleep next to Sarah, my little one.

Billy and Anna were in the back room, and I hear this pounding on the door

wakes me up.

Then I heard shouting.

Do you remember what they were shouting?

No. No, all I was thinking was about Mrs. Flood, three doors down, a month

before she got robbed and raped.

So I reach for my rifle where I keep it under my bed.

Next thing, the door comes crashing down.

Three men come rushing in, and all I see is guns. So I lift my rifle, and

somebody shoots.

I just see this flash, and I feel this hot pain in my arm.

So I shoot back.

They shot first, Mr. Cusack.

I just shoot back to protect my baby.

What happened then?

I looked down.

I looked down next to me.

There's my Sarah.

They shot Sarah.

They killed my baby.

She was just lying there next to me.

She was so quiet, so still.

They murdered my baby.

And before I could bend down and kiss her goodbye, they grabbed me away and

me to jail.

I never even got to kiss Sarah goodbye.

Then it's agreed.

Full -time administrative staff members, which term I might add, does not

embrace paralegals, shall receive Christmas bonuses in the amount of three

-quarters of one percent of their per annum salaries multiplied by the number

years of employment.

Isn't this a little complicated?

Not at all. A secretary earning $20 ,000, three years employed, would get

-quarters of one percent, which comes to $150, times... Three for the

three years' worth for a total of $450.

Simple. Great.

Now, we're done with this Christmas stuff. I'd like to address something

serious.

Tonight's basketball game.

What are we going to do without Victor?

Anybody know where he is?

No. Guys, this is the playoffs, two out of three. Now, we won the first game by

one point with him. We don't have a prayer without him. You know, I'm still

trying to get the whole story on why he left. I told you why.

I made the decision that Petramco Industries was more important than his

criminal client, and he took exception to it. End of discussion.

Well, I'm afraid his departure has left this firm with a more serious problem

than just a power forward.

We desperately need another associate.

How are the interviews going?

Lousy. December is not a good time for hiring, which is another reason why I

don't like Michael taking on a pro bono criminal case.

Sid Hirshberg is non -compass menace.

This poor woman's been in jail for five months without anybody doing anything

for her. That may be. But how can we take on this case when we're so

as it is?

Just find some help.

Hire somebody on a temporary basis if you want, but get it done.

Let's get somebody with a jump shot.

I think we're adjourned.

What's the matter with my jump shot?

Arnie, there's an attorney here by the name of Clarence O'Malley who says he

represents Abby's husband. Where? I put him in your office. I thought you'd want

to talk to him. All right.

Tell him to wait.

Be there in a second.

Abby.

Yes?

There's a man in my office claiming to represent your husband.

Where's Eric? Is he alive?

What are you talking about?

He's been very well cared for. Thank God. Where is he? Hear me out, Mr.

Mr. Perkins feels very strongly that the boy should not be denied the regular

contact, guidance, and support of either one of his parents. For that reason,

he's asked me to express to you his desire to return to this jurisdiction in

exchange for certain guarantees.

Where is my son?

No guarantees. Your client is a fugitive. He's facing federal criminal

And if you're helping to hide him, that makes you an accessory.

Don't you see that it's this very atmosphere that caused him to leave in

first place?

What does he want?

He's willing to relocate and to look for work in this area, provided that you

drop all charges against him and you agree to a schedule of joint custody.

Unacceptable and out of the question!

I'll convey that to my client.

Wait, wait, wait.

If I agree, what'll happen?

What do you mean, what will happen?

Excuse us a minute.

Abby.

Don't play games with this guy. He's garbage.

He knows where Eric is. Abby, you have got to trust me. Arnie, you have been

telling me that for the past four months, and nobody has been able to do

anything.

I know what I'm doing.

I want my son back.

Okay.

I'll agree to it.

Naturally, we'll want to execute and sign a stipulation in advance of the

hearing to modify the existing orders. When can I see my son?

Well, I'll have to talk to my client and tell him the good news.

But after that, who knows?

With everybody's good faith and cooperation, I don't see any reason why

couldn't have him back in time for Christmas.

You want to play the game and help him referee?

Let's go.

which is what you were practically playing out here tonight.

Yeah, tell me about it, lady thing.

That's actionable.

By your witnesses, you saw... Assumption of the risk, man.

You just bought yourself a lawsuit, buddy. Your plan was reprehensible.

Write your congressman. Yeah, Merry Christmas, Murray.

Hey, you think I won't sue?

Huh? Go ahead and try it, wimp.

What? Huh?

You're not lucky. We'll see you in court for game number three, pal. You guys

practice law the way you play basketball?

Only briefs you guys know about is the ones you wear on your butts.

Hey, careful. He's a borderline psychotic. Yeah, we'll see you in game

three, pal.

Yeah, lady, come back. The next time, wear a dress.

Tell you

what I'm going to do.

Because you're new here and because I like you and because I'm a swell

individual, my offer to you for one night only, and despite the dubious

of the state's evidence, I'm willing to lighten your caseload considerably by

copying Ballard to one count misdemeanor possession, $250 fine, and credit for

time served.

What do you think?

Sounds perfectly fair.

Except for the fact that Ballard had a 10 -gallon trash bag full of cocaine in

his house.

No deal, Kalins.

Take it from me. By midnight, you'd be grateful to get a spitting on the

sidewalk out of this wobbler.

Right. Next.

Okay.

Try this.

Escobar, you drop the receiving count and seven counts of burglary. He'll cop

one count, one year county lid. Or behind door number three, a weekend in

Vegas and a lazy boy lounger.

Well, here we go.

It's going to be a long night, boys.

The lady does not like to deal.

Lawyers only, sir.

It's okay. I usually am.

What are you doing here? I missed you.

Me too.

Look, it's Friday night. I can't believe the judge will keep us late.

There'll be plenty of time to pick up dinner, decorate our tree.

Is the DA ready to call the calendar yet?

Yes, Your Honor.

Don't go away. It won't be that long.

In order to avoid any grousing later on, I'd like to make it perfectly clear

that we are going to clear this calendar in its entirety before anybody gets out

of here.

So, bah humbug, and call your first case.

Defendant to remain free on bail until that time.

Don't tell me that's a wrap.

Thank God.

Well, it's been a little slice of heaven. See you sports fans Monday

Nikki.

Honey, come on. Let's go home.

What time is it?

Time to leave.

Let's go home and...

Decorate the tree.

It was late.

I'll make it worth your while.

You ever decorate a tree in the nude?

Sounds dangerous.

Depends on where you hang your ornaments.

Case number L374005.

People versus Emmons.

Michael Cusack for the defendant, Your Honor.

At this time, I would move to substitute in for Mr. Hirshberg as Miss Emmons'

counsel. Is this what you want, Miss Emmons?

Yes, Judge.

No objections, Your Honor.

Mr. Cusack may substitute in as counsel.

Thank you, Your Honor.

As counsel for Miss Emmons, I would move at this time for bail modification.

Your client is currently being held in lieu of $100 ,000 bail. Is that correct?

Yes, Your Honor, which I would argue is excessively high.

as Ms. Demmons has no history of prior violent activity and poses no threat to

the public safety.

She's being charged with the attempted murder of a police officer.

One isolated incident, Your Honor, where a woman was defending herself and her

children in her own home against three men she thought were intruders.

She has priors, Your Honor.

Prostitution in 1978 and possession of marijuana in 1979.

No police contact at all since then. What are you looking for, Mr. Kovac?

Your Honor, Miss Emmons has lived in L .A. all of her life. She has two small

children, roots in the community.

I would submit that she be released on her own recognizance.

O .R. is absurd under the circumstances of aggravated assault. The lowest I'm

willing to go is $50 ,000.

That would seem reasonable.

She's a mother on welfare, Your Honor.

$50 ,000 would be the same as no bail at all.

$25 ,000, that's the best I can give you, Mr. Cusack.

Next case.

I see you're an associate at Steyer Roads and Fishbine. Mm -hmm. How long

you been with them? About 18 months.

You know, Don Fishbine and I went to law school together.

Oh, yeah?

Does Don know you have plans to defect?

I don't have a whole lot of dealings with any of the partners directly.

I see.

Why McKenzie Brackman? Good rep, good pay.

And also, I just bought this condo in Bunker Hill.

You guys are so close, I could ride my bike here.

Sorry, Douglas.

I was on a conference call. Quite all right. You haven't missed much.

Meet Randy Heidelberg.

Heidegger.

Mr. Heidegger was just telling me about his illustrious career at Steyer Roads.

Steyer Roads is a graveyard.

I'd be much happier here.

Hypothetically speaking.

Tell us about your outside interests, Randy. Sport?

I ride my bike and I work out.

Play any ball?

Four -year starter at Boston College.

Counselor.

All right, this one I think is really good. What do you think of this one?

It's okay.

You like this one better?

It's fine.

Ann, I would really like your opinion on this, you know.

Stuart, fabric is fabric.

How come you get so snappish every time you get within ten feet of this place? I

am not snappish.

Oh.

Well, correct me if I'm wrong here, but...

You said you would do the office in Santa Fe colors, right? Now I got adobe

I have sand.

Stuart. Forgive me.

If I happen to think that in the cosmic order of things, fabric selection is not

way up there.

Now I've got a lot of work to do.

Excuse me.

Don't you admit it, Ann.

You're just mad about losing the office to me.

I am not mad.

Yeah, you are.

You know how mad you are?

You haven't even asked me how my eye is.

How is your eye, Stuart?

It hurts.

And you're not going to believe this.

I mean, you were there. You saw it. The guy deliberately threw an elbow at me,

right? Now he's suing me.

Unbelievable. Yeah, a process server was waiting outside my door this morning.

That's just an intimidation tactic, though. He's trying to neutralize my

naturally aggressive style for the playoffs. You know what I mean?

What is it?

The rampant Y chromosome?

What do you mean?

Sometimes I truly fail to understand how your sex can become so totally

competitive about every single thing in the world.

Elizabeth. Can we raise Robert Scanlon into the city attorney's office? Sure,

right away.

Oh, by the way, Michael, Victor just came in.

Where? He's in his office.

I called you maybe 20 times.

Thank you a whole hell of a lot for returning my call.

Well, there's nothing really to talk about.

The great white father shafted me.

Fact of life in a law firm, Victor.

Sometimes you have to compromise.

You knew that going in. Not this.

Believe me, you wouldn't have put up with this crap either.

I've withdrawn from plenty of cases when there was a conflict that would have

hurt the firm.

Yeah, and I would have too if I would have had the chance.

McKenzie dropped the entire Petramco file complete with Osborne's tax fraud

convictions on my lap.

I mean, the minute I took a look at it, I didn't have a choice.

I had to pull out.

That's privileged communication.

I can't believe you'd do a thing like that. Right.

The man suckered me, Mike.

I'm sorry. I won't work with people like that.

I'm not going to defend him.

I can't.

But you came here to work with me.

And when you open up your own firm free of the baggage, let me know.

Well, we were just getting started.

I gave you my chair for crying out loud.

Look, nobody said it wasn't good while it lasted, Mike.

I got a couple of days worth of paperwork to close out. Then I'm gone.

There's a hiring freeze over at the PD's office. That's okay.

Something to turn up. Victor.

I wish you'd think about this.

That's all I've been doing for the past three days, Mike.

I'm not going to change my mind.

At this time, Your Honor, we'd like to read into the record a stipulation

regarding temporary custody, both legal and physical.

pending further orders.

I must say, I find these developments surprising, considering the previous

allegations. Violence, alcoholism, kidnapping.

Well, there's been a great deal of mudslinging on both sides, Your Honor,

both parties have agreed to set aside their differences in order to spare the

minor child any further anguish.

Where is the respondent husband, Mr. O'Malley?

He and the minor child are in this jurisdiction, Your Honor, but upon

counsel, they're not at the present hearing.

Frankly, Mr. Becker, I'm surprised that you're joining in this motion.

Did you recommend to your client that the schedule be accepted?

I outlined what I thought were the options open to my client.

I believe the decision she made was an informed one.

Mrs. Perkins, did you not testify previously, under oath, that your

violent and you were afraid of him?

Yes, Your Honor.

But that's only when he's drinking, and his attorney has assured me that that's

no longer a problem.

I have affidavits, Your Honor, as to his current sobriety and his participation

in an alcohol recovery program.

Mrs. Perkins, is it your feeling that you can work with Mr. Perkins and

cooperate with him effectively on all decisions insofar as they affect your

Yes, Your Honor.

And do you accept these terms knowingly and of your own volition, Mrs. Perkins?

I do.

Very well.

So answered.

This court is in recess.

Well, seeing that everything turned out so well, I have a little surprise for

you.

You're going to wait on that.

Go to Mommy.

Go on, Eric.

Honey?

Go to your mother, son.

social problem, right?

Actually, I'm looking for a favor. As a regard?

Nina Evans.

Police shot and killed her five -year -old daughter. And both the board of

rights and the grand jury found it to be an accidental death in the line of

duty.

That remains to be seen.

And you're here to talk about the wrongful death action you're going to

huh? Not really.

I'm here to ask your help in getting an O .R. release.

You've been in jail for five months.

No contact with your kid.

It's Christmas.

I want to get around.

Speaking of which, you hear the latest on Sid Hirschberg?

What now?

He was arrested at LAX.

Apparently, he was advising passengers that their constitutional rights were

being violated by having to walk through a metal detector.

Did he hit anyone?

Security guard. They got him in a psycho ward in the county.

In any event, I wish I could help you out, but I got nothing to do with the

criminal case.

But that's the whole point. There shouldn't be a criminal case, and you

She shot a police officer.

In self -defense, and only after he'd failed to identify himself.

Criminal charges are determined by the district attorney, Mike, as you well

know. And you're lobbying the wrong office.

The city attorney represents the city and the department.

And you will be involved in a wrongful death claim.

Have a heart, Bob. This woman has been completely victimized. First by an

incompetent attorney, and now by your office.

The only reason she's in jail is you know if you don't charge her with the

crime, you're a sitting duck on the wrongful death case. Look, Counselor,

client shot a cop.

She was charged accordingly. You got a problem with your criminal case, take it

up with the DA.

You want to file a civil suit, fine.

I'm right here waiting for you.

In the meantime, you're so hot to have her out for Christmas, you think she's

such a victim?

You put up her bail.

Come on, this won't take long.

Stuart, truthfully, I don't have time to look at any more sofa swatches. You

won't have to. It's finished.

Well?

What do you think?

What do you think I think?

It's beautiful.

I hope you'll be very happy in it.

Only if you are.

It's your office, Anne.

What? No.

Mm -hmm.

Merry Christmas.

Absolutely no way.

Why not?

Because I would never forgive myself. I'd always think that I'd guilted you

giving it to me.

Yeah, but what if it makes me happy to give it to you?

Thanks anyway, Stuart, but I can't.

You guys want to excuse us for a second, please?

Don't be a schnook. Take it.

Now, you wanted this office.

Yeah, I wanted it, too. So did Arnie Becker.

But I wanted it for a symbolic value, to prove my equality as a partner in this

firm. And I loved getting this office.

Now I love giving it to you.

And if you don't have the good sense to accept it graciously, I'll walk down the

hall. I'm sure Arnie Becker will be glad to take it off my hands.

But, Stuart... No.

No buts.

Well, I guess.

If you leave me no other choice.

Thanks, Stuart.

I love it.

Do I look like a mogul?

A beautiful mogul.

I like your style, kid.

Great little tush.

Nice pair of legs.

You want to mess around?

As far as the associate candidates go, on the merit.

It's not much of a contest.

Smolin is top ten in his class at Stanford.

Order of the coif. I don't think he'd fit in.

He's a law review editor from Stanford.

Top ten in his class.

A law firm is more than a place of work, Douglas. It's a collection of people.

We have to have chemistry, harmony.

Smolin is a dork.

Best of the lot, without question, is Randy Heidegger.

You've got to be joking. The man is practically incoherent. The man is six

eight inches tall.

Hey, I move we offer him a two -week trial run with an option.

Will he go for it?

What have we got to lose by trial? How can you choose him over a law review

editor from Stanford?

Make him an offer as well.

Okay by me.

Hold on.

Before we start taking on new associates, I want to talk about Victor

I don't know what there is to talk about.

He quit.

It's not that simple, and you know it.

You never discussed the situation with him. You know what he's like when he's

representing a client. He goes for the jugular and can't let go.

Nonsense. He would have withdrawn for the good of the firm. You never gave him

the chance.

I couldn't take the chance.

What would you have me do? Lose our single biggest client?

Have you any idea what the fallout from that would have been?

Well, what about the fallout when word gets out that we betrayed an associate's

trust? At the very least, you could have discussed it with me. I'm the one who

brought him in.

Well, you were tied up with your death penalty case, and I had to make a

decision. There was no time for a bloody vote.

Well, it was a lousy decision.

You panicked, and you cost us a damn good lawyer in the process.

Excuse me, but is there something that I'm not understanding here?

What you are not understanding is that Leland slipped Victor the Osborne file

and told him to review it.

As soon as he saw the Osborne tax fraud conviction, he had to withdraw in a

conflict of interest, whether he liked it or not.

I did what I felt I had to.

And frankly, I don't think it's that close a call.

With all due respect, if what Michael said is true, I think it was a totally

wrong call.

Stuart,

have you got an opinion?

Yes, sir.

Now, I didn't know Victor all that well, but if somebody did that to me, I'd

have to quit.

Sit. It may be too little, too late, Victor.

But I'm hoping you'll accept my sincerest apology for the way I behaved

reconsider your decision to quit.

I accept the apology.

I don't think I'll change my mind about leaving them.

Not to excuse what I did. It was foolish. It was being all, most of all,

disrespectful.

But... These things can happen wherever you go.

What's to prevent it from happening again?

I hope I'm old enough to learn from my mistakes.

It's quite possible you might occasionally make mistakes yourself, and

have the right to expect the same forgiveness and tolerance from me that

asking from you.

I have to be able to trust the people that I work with.

If I didn't trust you, it's because I didn't know you.

I'd hope you'd at least stay on long enough for me to remedy that.

What do you think about it?

Yes.

You're as talented an associate as we've had, Victor.

It'll be the firm's loss and my failure.

Should you leave?

You may want to peruse this division of property schedule.

Are you kidding? There's nothing here.

Which means really the only substantive issues to address are alimony and child

support. What are you offering? We're requesting alimony in the amount of $250

week. What?

Until Mr. Perkins gets back on his feet financially, at which time, obviously,

he'll want to assume his fair share of child support.

This man cleaned out their joint accounts, both checking and savings, to

tune of over $3 ,000.

He borrowed another $1 ,500 against their credit cards.

And you want us not only to waive child support, but you're looking for alimony

as well?

Mrs. Perkins' gross income is $875 per week, plus medical and pension, which

projects out to $45 ,500 per annum before bonuses. Mr. Perkins, on the

hand, has no income at the present time. Which projects out to zero per annum.

Mr. Perkins fully expects to locate meaningful employment. He has no desire

indefinitely freeload off of Mrs. Perkins. Oh.

How long does Mr. Perkins intend to freeload?

Sorry, that was an unfortunate choice of phrasing. We're simply availing

ourselves of the current statutes which make no distinction between parties

based on gender, but simply on the ability to provide.

How can you have the gall, after what you did, to come in here and ask me to

support you? It's immoral.

Morality is not the issue here, Mrs. Perkins.

Reality is.

The reality is that Mr. Perkins needs more time to reestablish his ties to the

community. Excuse me.

bastard stole my son he stole my money he stole my peace of mind excuse me

counselor this abusive behavior is not going to solve anything abusive abby

on no no no i will not come on let me tell you about abusive abusive is not

being able to see your child for months on end not knowing where he is not being

able to tell him that you love him praying that his father doesn't get

kill him in a car wreck and then finally getting him back and have him punch you

because he thinks that you abandoned him. I don't have to put up with this

Get out of my life and you don't have to. You ought to be grateful I brought

back at all. Instead, I'm hearing the same kind of manipulative garbage that

drove me away in the first place.

You are a coward and a criminal.

Give him whatever he wants.

Write it up and I'll sign it. But I am not going to sit here and listen to any

more of this.

No luck? No answer.

I don't know what could be wrong. The guy said he'd be here. What's wrong is

your Mr. Heidegger is an idiot.

He reminds me of one of those big dinosaurs with a little head and the

size of a peanut. Meanwhile, we're going to have to take these guys on four

against five.

No, you won't.

Victor. Hey.

I thought you were permanently retired.

I had to come back and save your bacon, didn't I?

Well, seriously, you're going back to work?

Yeah, we work things out.

All right.

That's great. Really great. I'm really delighted.

Well, come on, get the studio up. Let's go.

You're practically a living legend over at criminal court.

Oh, yeah?

But I stood up for you.

I said, no way the guy's that stupid. He goes bail for his client.

I was right, wasn't I?

I take the fifth.

You are that stupid, aren't you?

I figure she's good for it.

real reason I came back.

I mean, somebody's got to look out for you.

All right, let's go. Hey,

hey, hey, get off the court. Yo, ref.

Please take a seat in the stand, sir. We're about to start the game. Who's

Harris Decay?

Right here.

Season's greens.

What the hell's this?

A summons and a complaint.

For what?

Abuse of process for malicious litigation.

I'm Mr. Markowitz's attorney.

Oh, get out of here. Hey, hey, hey, come on. Break it up. Break it up. Break it

up. You two want to sue each other, do it somewhere else.

You've got a game to play.

He's our new center.

You can't bring a ringer in the game. League rules stipulate the roster has to

be announced before the game, and he has to be a lawyer. Aren't you listening,

Murray? We just hired him.

I want to see a pay stub, and I demand to see some letterhead with his name on

it. Is he legit?

We brought him on this afternoon.

Yo, ref, I want you to know we're playing this game under protest. Every

ever officiated with you guys was played under protest.

Take it to the commissioner, Murray.

Where were you?

I had to get my knee braced. I've got a lot of cartilage damage.

That guy's a gift. Get out.

All right, guys, come on.

Oh, my God.

Sid. How you doing?

Look at me.

Panned up like some kind of dog at the pound.

It's a hell of a thing.

I'm sorry about all this, Mike.

Don't worry about it. You worry about getting better.

They had me on some kind of drug.

I'm pretty cool to have.

Oh, I wanted you to know I got Nina Evans out on bail.

We got a really short court date.

I think we're going to have a happy ending.

Great.

That's great.

I can't thank you enough.

You got it.

Hey, Mike.

I want to explain.

You know, all that stuff about my Supreme Court case.

Oh, that was crap.

I was just so scared I was going to blow it for her.

I didn't trust myself to go into court.

It's all going to work out, Sid. Don't beat yourself up over it.

Oh, God.

I don't know what's happening to me.

I go along feeling okay, and then suddenly...

With no warning, it's like this waves comes up from my gut, and then it moves

through my chest, and then when it gets to my eyes, I gotta throw something or

hit someone.

I'm not a violent man, Mike.

I'm so ashamed of myself.

Hey, Sid.

Everything's gonna be okay.

What if it's not?

What if it's never okay again?

Look at me. I'm 44 years old and I'm locked up in a rubber room.

Look at this. I can't even wipe my own nose.

What's happening to me?