Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law.

Ann, I'd like you to know something.

As far as I'm concerned, Mackenzie Brackman, well, it's you.

You spied on me?

I started out just waiting.

I will not be made to feel like a slut because I had dinner with my client. And

I will not tolerate your spying on me. Does this writ say anywhere that I was

error?

No.

My job has rendered me a little short of temper lately.

I'm getting out. The firms in town will start a feeding frenzy over a superior

court judge.

Actually, Leland, I'm here to give you first bite.

I have no reason to expect your temperament as attorney to be any more

liking than your temperament as a judge.

Judge, we have one count, PC -93, receiving a bribe by a judicial officer.

Does little doll have curb appeal or what?

Oh, God, I think I'm in love.

I said the minute I saw it, this is the Arnie Becker dream house.

What are they asking?

A million three. But it doesn't even go on the market until next Wednesday. And

my feeling is if you make them an offer this week, you can steal it for 950.

They put over a half million into remodeling.

At 950, they're taking a major bath on it.

God, look at that fireplace.

There's another one in the den, the dining room, the kitchen, and the master

bedroom.

This is exactly the house I've been looking for.

You sit on this baby six months.

I could get you a million four -fifty for it. Easy.

So tell me, uh, why is it, why is it such a bargain now?

Divorce situation.

Very bitter.

You know what that's like.

I know I shouldn't be telling you all the gory details, but after what you did

for me when the rat left, you're like family.

Tell.

It's the old story.

Rocky marriage.

Instead of going to a shrink to work out the real problems, they buy a house

instead.

He's seen it a million times.

It starts with fighting over the color of the tile.

Then he accuses her of having her taste in her behind, and she retaliates by

having an affair with the general contractor.

And the tile man.

And the stone man.

That's why there's so many fireplaces.

So, the upshot is... He absolutely hates the house. She totally loves it.

Well, she put so much of herself into it.

Tell me about it.

And he's insisting they sell and split the proceeds.

Who are the lawyers?

Greg Lyman for him and Matt Pates for her.

If you want my advice, you beg borrowers to steal to get this house.

Still, I'd sell my soul to get this house.

I didn't found Mackenzie Brackman so that it'd become the branch office of a

York law conglomerate. You realize the upfront payment to the more senior

lawyers would be in the nature of $300 ,000 to $400 ,000.

And somewhat less for the rest.

I believe I can speak for my partners.

You've created something rather special and unique at Mackenzie Brackman, which

none of us have any desire to change.

Are you sure?

You know, the view of the mountain looks different from the bottom than it does

from the top.

Leland, I know the firm is your life, but I... doubt if you're going to want

go on working forever.

Think of the younger members.

In a year, you can triple your billings.

I'm sorry, Raymond. Your offer is very flattering, but we're just not

interested.

Ask your partners.

I don't have to.

Are you afraid to?

Do you want me to make you breakfast?

I'm late.

I'm asleep.

Mickey, I hate this. By the time I get home, you're asleep. By the time I get

up, you're gone.

This is no way to live.

Well, you have to look at the bright side, Gracie.

At least we don't fight.

I mean it.

Yeah, well, you get no argument from me.

Well, what are we gonna do?

Since Mackenzie Brackman doesn't have a night shift...

I guess that's up to you.

Should I give them an ultimatum?

Don't paint yourself into a corner. This can't last forever.

Sleep on it.

You want to sleep on it with me?

I'd love to.

But I can't.

I will wait up for you tonight, though, I promise.

Okay.

I'm... Yes.

Thank you. Leland McKenzie.

Very impressive.

Morsehood's really pulling out all the stops, isn't he? Stan, it's nice to see

you looking so relaxed.

And what is that supposed to mean?

Just that this little sting operation wasn't your grandest hour.

hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayers' money, and all you bag is one

Muny court judge for fixing tickets, and Morris Hood, who most certainly will

have these charges dismissed on the grounds of entrapment. Ah, I was waiting

that magic word to be uttered.

Entrapment, when the crime was not contemplated by the defendant, but was

instigated by police officers, and the defendant was, by persuasion or fraud,

lured into its commission. Where a defendant has a previously existing

intent... The fact that when solicited by a decoy he commits a crime does not

show entrapment.

Morris Hood was an honest jurist with no propensity for bribery until your agent

lured him into it.

Oh, really?

The life and times of your squeaky clean jurist.

If you could prove any of these prior allegations, you'd have brought him to

trial. Evidentiary problems.

And this one is every bit as tainted.

He took the money, didn't he? Fifty thousand bucks worth.

You came after him three times before he took it, raising the ante each time. Or

are you going to deny that, too?

No. Then you violated his rights yet again. You turned his arrest into a

spectacle. Well, what are we supposed to do? Nominate him for sainthood or maybe

cheap justice? Is that what you want?

No, I don't.

But I do think he's suffered enough.

Let him retire from the bench with his pension intact.

You want a dismissal.

and you want him off the bench.

You want to avoid the public embarrassment of losing your showboat

court.

This serves both our ends, Stan, and truthfully, I don't see any good purpose

be met by sending a sad, broken man like Morris Hood to prison.

Do you?

People versus Dolores Kirby.

Mother -in -law allegedly harassed the ex -wife.

Some spillage from one of Arnold's divorce cases.

And where do we stand on the Cromwell suits?

We've already gotten two out of the three causes of action dismissed.

Discovery and trial on the remaining cause pending.

Cromwell called me himself to express his pleasure.

It's good work, Anne.

Thank you.

Stuart, this Chapman case, does it have the possibility of bouncing into

litigation? Well, I haven't interviewed them yet. I'm flying up to San Francisco

on Thursday.

Well, if there's nothing else... Uh, I, uh... I had breakfast this morning with

Raymond Lloyd, his senior partner in the firm of Marshall Taft, which Mr. Lloyd

informs me now has over 400 lawyers with offices in New York, Miami, Chicago,

San Francisco. They're seeking to establish a beachhead here in L .A. and

wondered if we'd be interested in becoming that beachhead. I turned him

Why? Well, it was conditional on merging with them.

I think they'd have their pick of every firm in L .A.

It's a real coup that they want us.

Did Mr. Lloyd perchance mention any figures?

Purely speculatively, he threw out something in the nature of three to four

hundred thousand per partner.

And you didn't think that was worth putting before the partnership?

I felt certain. I spoke for us all.

No offense, Leland, but if somebody wants to hand me close to a half a

bucks, I don't want anyone speaking for me but me. I'd have to agree with

Arnold.

I took it as an article of faith that the firm of Mackenzie Brackman would

cotton to being franchised.

I see I was wrong.

Well, I think that what we're objecting to is having our opinions preempted,

Leland.

In that case, Douglas, why don't you and Stuart contact Mr. Lloyd, get the full

proposal, and present it to the partnership at its earliest convenience.

Marty, you have got a ton of phone calls. Never mind that. Get my realtor

phone, quick.

I guess you know if this tribe splits up,

it's you and me on the colds.

I know.

Trial experience can make it a little warmer.

I know that, too.

So why don't you take this telephone harassment case?

When's the trial?

Two days.

Two days.

Me only court.

Basically, your client's word against the ex -daughter -in -law. You can learn

to fire within an hour.

No, Victor, I don't know.

I mean, it's just the thought of trying a case by myself is kind of scary. Well,

the first time always is, but two days from now, you will be much more

confident, not to mention, more marketable.

You're right.

Okay, I'll take it. Good.

I'll have the client come in the first thing in the morning.

Don't you worry about a thing. You're going to be great.

about this Marshall Taft proposal?

Never happened.

Well, just in case you're wrong, Mike, I want you to know that if you ever

decide to open up your own store, there's no one else that I'd rather hang

shingle with.

Thank you, Victor.

But I am positive that it won't come to that.

Are we in the same staff meeting or what?

What you heard was anger at Leland's peremptory attitude toward the other

partners. What I heard was the distinctive sound of money talking.

I guarantee you, Victor, when push comes to shove, Mackenzie Brackman will not

sell out.

I hope you're right, man.

But I think you're wrong.

Forgive me. I'm trying not to become too emotional, but...

But when I come to think of it, I mean, how this woman could actually have me

arrested and brought to trial just because I'm concerned about my

well -being. Her statement to the police alleged that you made repeated calls at

all hours of the night, that you used profane language.

How do I explain this?

Miss Perkins, do you by any chance have any children?

This is my son.

Ah. Well, then.

Maybe you will understand what it's like when someone tries to harm him. How you

turn into a lioness protecting her cub.

That's the way I felt about my son and now his son.

So what happens is you call to complain about how she's raising him.

Oh, no.

Actually, I just call to see how my grandson is.

But when that nine -year -old boy tells me that he's home all alone with nothing

to eat while his mother is off running around with some man...

All right, I'm not denying that perhaps my language could be a little more

ladylike, but I wonder what you would say to a woman like that.

Under the circumstances, Mrs. Kirby, I am sure the city attorney would be

willing to talk about a plea bargain.

Oh, no, no, I'm sorry.

I don't mean to be difficult, but I'm not guilty of anything.

She's the criminal, the way she neglects that child.

The only reason she brought this complaint was as a wedge against my son

custody suit.

If I were to cave into her now, I mean, who knows what she would do?

My God, you look like a juror bringing in the guilty burden.

Actually, the meeting went well, Morris.

The DA's office has agreed to dismiss the charges if you'll resign from the

bench. You couldn't tell me that yesterday?

I didn't want to get your hopes up till I'd also met with Nick Pierce at the

state bar.

It's just come from a breakfast meeting.

He thinks the Ethics Commission will reinstate with only a three -month

suspension. Forget about that. Tell me about the meeting with the DA. They

folded their tents just like that?

Their case is dubious. Their case is crap.

Or else they wouldn't have folded that fast.

Am I right?

Morris, the fact that their case is tainted doesn't vitiate the fact that

took a bribe.

You've got to resign.

Innocent until proven guilty, Leland.

Besides... If I beat the criminal charges, the ethics committee can't

I wouldn't be so certain of that.

Allegations of judicial impropriety.

A federal wiretap.

Suggesting that you may have taken a bribe on at least one other occasion.

If the DA loses a trial, they'll throw this to the judicial committee and the

bar. The same standards of evidence won't apply.

You'll be thrown out of office, Morris.

They'll never let you practice law again.

I'm not some cheap crook. There's no case here, and you know it.

I was coerced. A stronger man would have resisted.

Morris, please, listen to me.

You've been lucky so far, but... Look, neither of us is

young anymore.

It's time, Morris.

It's time to retire.

Please.

Sit in the sun, hit some golf balls.

God, that doesn't sound half bad.

No. Just because you're old and ready for the boneyard doesn't mean I am.

Morris, if you insist on taking this to trial, you'll have to get yourself

another lawyer.

I'll be happy to get a new lawyer, Leland.

I was just doing you a favor giving you this case anyway, thinking you would

have been grateful to win a big one like this.

But I guess you're past it, aren't you?

I always knew you were overrated.

Case continued until March 14, 1987.

Defendant to remain free, O .R.

Mr. Handelman, you'll let us know as soon as you're ready with your next

Mr. Handelman, I'm Abigail Perkins from McKenzie, Rackman, Shane, and Cusack.

Oh, yeah.

How's your pal Mike Cusack doing?

Very well.

I'm handling people versus Dolores Kirby set for jury trial tomorrow.

I was wondering if we could discuss the case.

This is the grandmother who keeps calling her daughter -in -law? Yes.

Hey, look, I hate these family beefs.

I've got no problem with a 50 -buck fine, three -month summary probation.

Actually, I was looking for a dismissal.

Well, I can't do that, all right? I have a daughter -in -law screaming for my

scalp.

Maybe we can just continue the thing with no finding or something.

My client had no statutory intent to annoy or harass.

That's what she said. If you ask me, I think it's the state that's guilty of

harassment in the prosecution of this case.

What is it with your firm? First Cusack comes in chopping me at the knees over

some cheap hooker case. Now you've got the hatchet. I've got no hatchet, just

innocent client.

Either you agree to a dismissal or there's no deal.

Guess I'll see you in court, Counselor.

According to the proposal, they say we can stay intact.

They say we don't have to move.

They're offering us a huge chunk of change.

People... I don't see the downside.

Marshall Taft has over 400 lawyers. It's a factory.

Look, I want to buy a house.

I want some equity in my life, and this is my chance.

Look, even speaking strictly from a financial point of view, I think we're

short -sighted. Arnie, their average partner income is less than ours is

now. You understand what that means?

It means we'll be making more money for them than they will be for us.

Besides which, I don't understand how many more cases we can take on than we

already have.

With a greatly expanded support system, lots.

None of us is exactly starving here. We already work 10, 12 hours a day.

Now, my concern, my bottom line, if you will, is quality of life.

What happens when we want to tell a client to go to hell?

We have to fly all the way back to New York to explain it to some management

committee? Half the times you want to tell someone to go to hell, you can't

explain it. It's a feeling.

So how are we going to talk feelings to New York?

I don't know.

We're going to wind up representing a lot of folks that we have no business

dealing with.

And that scares me.

Here, here. It seems to me that this is first and foremost a business.

And it's bad business that they know to an offer as potentially lucrative as

this one.

As we have been here for several hours, and the hour is growing late, no one has

anything else to say, I suggest we vote.

Yes for merger, no against.

We have a 3 -3 deadlock.

In consideration of which, I'm changing my no vote to yes.

Leland, don't. Michael, please.

If I may.

And I hope I don't embarrass anyone when I tell you how much this firm means to

me.

It's been my life.

My family.

But the thing that strikes me most as I listen to the pros and cons of this

merger proposal is the fact that I'm old enough to be the father of every

partner in this firm.

And I suppose, like all fathers, I've loved this firm somewhat to its

I've loved it like my child.

But the ultimate job...

of a parent is to know when to stop parenting.

To know when it's time to... to let go.

And clearly, if there is to be a future for this firm, it lies in heeding the

wishes of the younger partners.

Deadlock only exposes our divisiveness.

It leaves us vulnerable to raiding.

Whereas accepting this offer, by doing that...

At least we'll be together.

Under the circumstances, I... I know of no other solution.

And unless someone else does... I

suggest that we

let Douglas enter into substantive negotiations with Marshal Tapp.

And as that concludes the...

It was you, wasn't it?

It was me what?

You were the third vote to sell out.

Yes. I don't understand how you can do it, Ann.

Marshall Taft is a factory.

I mean, it's cold, it's impersonal.

They go by the numbers, Ann.

It's got an impressive power base.

It'll allow us to access the kind of cases we're not currently equipped to

handle. Yeah?

At what price?

I'm talking about you.

You think Marshall Taft is going to look kindly on Ann Kelty's humanist

instincts? You think they're going to let your meter run while you represent

some principal that may or may not have a profitable bottom line? Come on, Ann.

Marshall Taft. Marshall Taft thinks pro bono is Latin for sucker bet.

Stuart, we're all so inbred here.

I am not afraid of change.

I like the idea of new contacts, travel, a bigger pond.

Travel. You know what you're doing, don't you?

You're selling out the integrity of this firm because you want to distance

yourself from me.

That's ridiculous.

Uh -uh. I don't think so.

Ann, I'm asking you, please, please reconsider this merger business.

And I'm going to make it easy for you.

Our relationship is over. I'm not going to bother you anymore.

Gracie, you're up.

More or less.

You know, I never even heard you come in last night.

The good news is I threatened to quit unless they let me out of my court.

The bad news is they took me seriously, which means I'm still gainfully

employed.

You're back in day court?

Downtown felony trials, starting Monday.

That's great. Yeah.

Oh, Gracie, I missed you.

Me too.

You didn't really think about quitting, did you?

Not this minute.

But I sure can't picture myself doing the same job my whole life.

You know, I actually used to think I could.

Coffee, coffee, coffee.

I mean, be a lifer in a firm.

But I'm not a corporate man.

And if Leland ever decided to pull back his involvement... What would you do?

That's just the thing. I don't know.

I just wanted it to stay the way it was.

Well, if you don't like it, you can always quit.

I've been thinking about that.

Tell you what, Cusack.

You want to take six months off and figure this out.

Don't worry about money.

I can take care of us.

Gracie.

Come here.

Let me dry you off.

All support personnel are tied to the same mini -computer. It handles up to 30

freestanding VDTs.

We're only using half its capacity.

Plenty of room for expansion.

You'll need the extra room. Is your file room on line two?

I'm afraid we're in the dark ages when it comes to our filing system. It's all

paper.

You ever think about putting up dividers, walls around these desks? You

these support personnel, you cut down on unnecessary gossip.

A lot more work done.

You make the walls around the secretary's desk smoke plexiglass.

They can't hang anything, so they stop bringing in mementos.

It gives the firm a clean, hard -edged business look.

You mean they can't see out?

No, but you can see in to make sure they're working.

That's a little claustrophobic.

We have to work in offices, don't we? Why shouldn't they work in cubicles? Why

not cut down on the clutter?

Personally, I like clutter.

I can't help it.

I have my opening statement on cards, my questions, my list of cases on point,

cross -exam questions, closing argument.

They will never know what you've done.

So how come I'm scared to death?

Rock, this house in Malibu, it's got glass everywhere.

It's got a black -bottom pool, 180 -degree ocean view. It's got a fireplace

big you could roll a tree into it.

Rocks.

I love it.

Rocks?

Whatever it is, I'm going to make it better.

Come here.

Arnie, it's going to be awful.

What? If we become part of Marshall Taft.

Oh, no, it won't.

Is there any chance it won't go through?

I doubt it, but where I go, you go.

I swear, Rox, we're joined at the hip.

Nothing is going to separate us.

I've done some calling around.

They make you punch time clocks.

They charge you for personal calls.

You have to get supervisory approval for overtime.

The secretaries have work quotas. Rox, that's there.

We're gonna stay put right here. It's gonna be business as usual.

Arnie. There are two efficiency experts out there right now measuring us for

cubicles. And put this in your computer. Marshal Taft imposes a dress code on

all its attorneys.

They ought to call it Marshal Law.

Ask Scott Gottlieb.

Who's Scott Gottlieb?

He's a trust expert with Cohen, Kagan, and Fowler on the 12th floor.

He used to work for Marshal Taft in Chicago.

Okay. Call.

See if he's free for lunch.

We're live from downtown Los Angeles, where Judge Morris Hood has just arrived

at a hastily called news conference to announce his resignation.

His decision to call it quits follows his highly publicized arrest for

accepting a bribe. Let's hear what he has to say. Hey, I've served with

diligence and integrity, and now I've earned the right to step aside.

Judge, isn't it true that your resignation was key to the DA's office

criminal charges against you?

My client is leaving the bench with all the privileges of his former position.

Further than that, we have no comment. Mr. Glantzman, is it true that Judge

is joining your criminal law practice?

As a matter of fact, I have tendered an offer to Judge Hood, and I look forward

to a long and rewarding association with such a distinguished colleague.

Thank you, Paul.

The truth is, my personal experience of the past few weeks has given me a

renewed sense of purpose.

After a short vacation with my wife, I look forward to defending individuals

like myself who have been deprived of their constitutional rights.

He just couldn't give you the satisfaction, could he?

You look tired.

Why don't you go home?

Maybe I will.

Go hit some golf balls.

Self -pity doesn't become you, Leland.

Nor does self -delusion.

Not getting any younger, Iris.

On three years, I'll be finished with law school.

We can hang out a shingle, Hubbard and McKenzie.

Oh, that has a nice ring to it.

McKenzie and Hubbard.

Your Honor, I represent the defendant, Dolores Kirby, in this matter, who is

charged with one count PC, section 653M. I have the papers, Counselor. Let's

proceed. Yes, sir.

The defense will show that...

The defendant is the grandmother of the complainant's son.

We will further show that she made the phone calls in question out of her love

for her grandson.

A counsel approach.

What are we doing here?

I tried to plea it out, Judge. I even offered to continue it without a

My client is innocent, Your Honor, and I cannot in good faith recommend that she

plead guilty to a crime.

Civilian complaint, Judge. I can't just drop it. All right, let's go.

Uh, Miss Perkins, I'm sure the rest of your opening is going to be terrific,

since I'll be deciding this case on the evidence, can we just get to it?

Yes, sir.

The people call Nancy Trichler.

And at some point, Miss Trichler, did you call the police about the phone

I had to. I couldn't take it anymore.

The vile language, the threats.

I had to do something to finally stop her. Thank you.

I have nothing further.

Counselor.

Ms.

Trichler, isn't it true that you often forgot to pick up your son after school?

Objection. Irrelevant.

Sustained.

It goes to state of mind, Your Honor. I'm trying to establish that my client

called out of concern because she felt that Ms. Trichler was neglecting the

child. The witness is incompetent to testify as to the defendant's state of

mind. But if it'll speed things up, the people will stipulate that the defendant

thought the witness was a lousy mother and that she often called to express

sentiment. The people will also stipulate that the defendant's son felt

the same way.

Is that where you're going, Ms. Perkins, to show this woman made these calls to

criticize this woman's maternal performance?

Yes. Well, then I don't... No, I mean...

She called for more than that. She also calls to provide information.

You may proceed within that scope.

Miss Tritzler, didn't my client sometimes call to tell you things like

boy could be picked up or what time he should be dropped off?

No. His father would do that. She would only call to berate me. Like bloody

hell! I will not tolerate any more of that, Mrs. Kirby.

Isn't it true that she would sometimes call to ask you legitimate questions?

She would call to tell me that I was the worst thing that ever happened to her

son and that I was probably the worst thing that ever happened to my son.

I have nothing further.

People rest, Your Honor. You may step down, Mrs. Tritchler.

The defense calls Dolores Kirby.

Mrs.

Kirby. Could you tell the court what occasioned you to telephone the

repeatedly over the last two months?

I was worried about my grandson.

What specifically bothered you, Mrs. Kirby?

Well, all her men friends, for one thing. She lives the life of a whore. I

that on the record. Sit down, Mrs. Pritchler. I don't think it's right that

nine -year -old boy should be brought up in that environment.

I'd call to express my opinion, that's all.

Now, Mrs. Kirby, the records indicate that sometimes you would call as many as

six times a day.

Most of those calls were to my grandson.

I'd call and he'd be out playing, so I'd call back later.

Can I help it if that filthy little slut keeps answering? I want that on the

record! Somebody, please shut up!

Over your dead body! Mrs. Kirby!

Is it your testimony, then, that you made these calls to your ex -daughter

-law, not with the intent to annoy or harass, but simply out of concern for

welfare of your grandson?

Yes, it is.

Thank you.

I have nothing further.

No cross.

Mrs. Kirby, you're excused.

The defense rests, Your Honor.

Can we waive closing arguments?

Yes. Well, I'd like to say... Nothing you could say, Miss Perkins, could

possibly sway me. Will the defendant please rise?

Mrs. Kirby, I'm sure you're a very giving grandparent.

But you have no right to call this woman to tell her she's a bad mother.

You have no right to threaten her or to use obscene language.

If you want to file a report with the social services, that's one thing. But

those repeated calls constitute a criminal violation.

Don't do it.

Now, what I'm going to do is continue this matter without a finding for one

year. If you behave, I'll dismiss the complaint at that time.

But if you continue to make these calls, I will find you guilty on the facts

presented to me today.

I'll slap you with a big fine, and I'll make you spend a week in jail.

Now, I know you don't want that to happen.

So no more calls.

Now, Mr. Handelman, Miss Perkins, approach the bench.

Let me offer you these observations, Miss Perkins, in the hope that you learn

something from them.

I found your irresponsible rejection of the city attorney's offer... coupled

with a defense strategy that all but assured conviction and compounded by

inability to control your own client to be shamefully unprofessional.

Please be so kind to tell your firm that the next time they look to send

inexperienced attorneys out to cut their teeth, that they stay away from my

courtroom. That's all.

I am sorry about McGrath.

If I'd known it was going to get transferred to him, I never would have

in. He is a bear.

I was a meth, Victor.

I couldn't even think straight in there. I remember my first trial. All I got

was an upset stomach, two wobbly knees, and a guilty verdict.

Seriously, I had to run out after the trial and throw up on my new pair of

shoes. I'm not meant to be a trial lawyer.

I should just be the little office mole, researching, sight -checking, stuff

like that. It happens to everybody, Abby.

The only thing that really matters is the result.

And Mr. Kirby got a good one.

Don't try to make me feel better, Victor.

You weren't there.

But I was.

Excuse us for a minute, Victor.

Sure.

For what it's worth, I thought the judge was out of line.

Oh, but you weren't.

Telling him it was me who wanted the trial.

It was the truth.

He was against me from the start, and you contributed to that. Listen, it

happens. I lost my first case, too.

Oh, and you just love rubbing my nose in it, don't you? Not really.

Then why did you come down here?

To ask you out on a date.

A date?

What's with you? What's with you?

You do everything you can to embarrass me in court, and then you come marching

in here... Hey, I just tried my case. You embarrassed yourself.

I don't know what the hell I was thinking when I came in here.

Hi, George. Stink it, Counselor.

Status, Cromwell.

Unchanged. Stewart is currently in San Francisco on the Chapman case.

And in her first major league at bat, Douglas, Victor, even the great ones

strike out.

I trust, Miss Perkins, you will dig in at the plate next time at bat and hit

ball out of the park.

Thank you. Even Richard Nixon lost his first case.

Finally, negotiations, as you all know, are proceeding apace vis -a -vis merging

with Marshall Taft.

Uh, Douglas, if you'll permit me, after a great deal of thought, I have come

to regret the position I took on the merger.

All right, Annie.

The decision was made emotionally and in haste, and I don't think I had the

firm's best interest.

or even my own at heart.

So I'm formally changing my yes vote to a no.

Leaving us where?

Back at 3 -3.

Anyone else care to recant while you still got the chance?

Well, actually, I've been thinking about it.

Douglas. I truthfully am quite put off by their hands -on style of management.

Further... After several sessions of hard negotiation, it's become clear that

the upfront dollars once talked about are illusory. What?

They propose payment over a seven -year span.

What, seven years?

Non -negotiable.

Oh, forget that.

Besides, I, uh... I had lunch with a guy who used to work for them in Chicago.

Says it was like boot camp.

Let's tell him to go to hell.

Okay Leland that makes you the only one left I'll bow to the will of the

majority

At

this point rocks

We're not merging.

Deal's off. Call my realtor quick.

It's addressable.

Thank you.

Personally, I think you made the right decision.

I hope so.

Sometimes bigger really is better.

Well, for what it's worth, I chose McKenzie Brackman because of you and

they were small.

I've had no reason to regret my decision on either count.

Thank you.

Ann, I think I told you the first time we went to dinner together that

flirtation is just not my style.

The last few weeks working with you so intimately, I've... Well, I've grown

intensely attracted to you.

I'm sorry, George.

You're as attracted to me as I am to you. I can feel it.

Maybe at another time in my life.

So what you're saying is that you're a tease, that you just like to flirt.

No. Oh, yes, that you enjoy shooting up these little sexual flares, late -night

meetings, the intimate little touches.

What was the real agenda, Ann? This Markowitz character?

Pump me up so you can yank his leash?

If I gave you any mixed signals, I apologize.

But I'm in love with this Markowitz character.

And if you'll excuse me, I've got to catch a plane.

Mr. Vicker, your realtor tells me you have a written offer to present on our

house.

Arnie, and actually, to be totally candid with you, I don't want to buy

house.

Well, in that case, I got better things to do with my time. Mr. Alport, Mrs.

Alport, please.

I know this seems very unorthodox.

The truth is, my heart went out to both of you when I heard about your

situation. What did you hear?

Well, just that the house that you bought in hopes of showing up at

marriage had become a mirror of your shattered dreams.

Who the hell is this jerk?

Listen, pal, our marriage is none of your damn business.

Actually, it is my business. Literally, I mean. I'm a divorce lawyer.

Well, we already have a couple of sharks bleeding us dry. In fact, I happen to

admire and respect both of your attorneys, and I'm not trying to steal

business. So what's in it for you?

Absolutely nothing more than the satisfaction of seeing two people who...

probably love each other very much, work out their problems.

Love? Well, the little woman sure had a hell of a way of showing it.

It was nothing.

A cry for attention.

What the hell do you know about this?

Only people who love each other punish each other this much.

Well, thanks a lot, Dr. Freud.

Tell me, Gordon.

Look me right in the eye and tell me that you never did it with another woman

while you were married.

So the house became a very good way to avoid dealing with your real problems.

Since the day we bought it, we were at each other's throats.

Of course, it happens all the time. It's not your fault.

The decisions, the constant hassles. You know, I get enough of that stuff at

work. I didn't need to come home to that punishment.

Maybe you could have been a little bit more understanding.

And maybe you could have been more sensitive to her needs.

Marriage is like a ship in the ocean.

Sometimes you just have to ride the storm out.

Let's give it another try.

Please, come home.

I can't live there.

Well, I don't want to sell it.

Look, how about in the spirit of compromise, you lease it?

I could live with that.

Me too, I guess.

Excuse me.

Buy a lady a drink?

What would the lady be drinking?

You know how to make a Venus butterfly?

No, I'm sorry. That one's not in my repertoire.

That's okay.

It's in mine.

Are you here alone at the hotel?

We could go to your room.

I have to call room service.

I know.