Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law.

Every time I bring up anything to do with the wedding, you pick a fight.

Hogwash. I say black and you say white. Do it.

Whatever you want. I want us to see a therapist.

Fine. On an administrative note, I've finally secured parking for our new

associates.

Hence, beginning tomorrow, Mr. Gianelli and Miss Kleinberg may park on lower

level C.

Head in only.

My mother always said that if you want to learn about a firm, forget asking the

partners. They'll just tell you what you want to hear.

The pay isn't as good as it is for the bigger teams.

That's okay.

There are things that matter more than money.

The jury came back with a lousy $1 ,000 in damages.

Come on, get up.

I really think I ought to be alone tonight.

I'll buy you some dinner.

I really don't feel very social tonight.

You're looking for a fight, aren't you? No.

I'm looking for sympathy. And if you can't give me that, then why don't you

leave me alone?

I don't believe I agreed to do this.

What kind of women go to auctions looking for a date?

Will you relax?

It's going to be fine.

What? No, we're big.

We're going to be friends, you know.

I want you to bid.

I'm just listening to what's going on, so I'm not standing there.

I'll pay for it. I just don't want to be hung up out there.

They got $7 ,300 for mortuary. Calm down.

Go at least $1 ,800. I gotta beat the big bald guy who builds coffins. Mr.

Becker, you're on.

Excuse me?

I was always the last kid to get picked for the team.

Get out there. You get out there. You get out there.

Good luck.

Come on out, Arnold.

And isn't he gorgeous?

Now, don't start a stampede, ladies.

What's our opening bid?

$400. $400? That's insulting.

Look at his gauge. Somebody give me $1 ,000 this instant.

$500. Ladies, believe me, I would bid $1 ,000. Only my husband would be angry

and my boyfriend would kill me. Now do I hear a thousand?

There we have a thousand. That should just be the sales tax.

Okay, anybody else? How about we make it at even 4 ,000?

And as the evidence will demonstrate, Allison Toomey and Elliot Robb first met

while both were under the psychiatric care of Dr. Warren.

The evidence will further establish that Mr. Robb developed a psychotic

obsession with respect to Miss Toomey, which obsession was repeatedly and

graphically revealed to Dr. Warren both in group encounters and in private

sessions.

On October 13th, 1986, Mr. Robb walked into the defendant's office and

that he had bought a machete knife.

which he intended to use to slaughter this woman.

He then pulled out the machete from his gym bag and showed it to the doctor.

At the end of the session, Mr. Robb left.

Do you know what Dr. Warren did?

He closed up his office for the day, and he went to a movie.

Three days later, they found Allison's lifeless body face down in her

There were 11 stab wounds.

in her upper body, face, and neck.

Mr. Robb, whose testimony you will hear in this trial, was arrested and

convicted for first -degree murder.

His blame has already been assessed.

Today's proceeding is a civil action for wrongful death brought by Allison's

parents, and it concerns the blame of Dr. Warren, the man who knew it was

to happen, and let it.

The irony here is that Allison... to me placed herself in dr warren's care

because she wanted to get well and as a madman left his office to chop her to

bits does this doctor go to the police does he bother to go to her uh -uh he

went to crocodile dundee as we go along here you're going to hear a lot of legal

terms But people, all we're really talking about is a man who could have

prevented a savage mutilation with one phone call and instead chose to do

nothing. We are talking about a doctor who simply didn't care.

And we are talking about two devastated parents whose only prayer right now is

that you people do.

fantasize about violence all the time.

Order. This guy had a knife. Now, I don't see what's wrong with holding the

psychiatrist liable when he could have prevented it. I'll tell you what's wrong

with it. If shrinks start getting sued, they're going to start playing it safe

and refusing treatment to anyone who seems even remotely dangerous.

I said order.

The next person to shout out will be sanctioned. Don't you think you're

a little carried away with this judge stuff, Douglas? It's just small claims.

They don't even give you a robe.

For your information, I'm being fitted for a robe tomorrow.

Also, for your information, there's nothing trivial about a judicial

appointment, even if it is only a temporary one in small claims.

I'll be charged with the administration of justice. It'll be my province... All

right, Douglas.

We're all very proud of your judgeship, but we'd best move on here.

The same.

But may I add, for the record, Mr. Becker, my activities are of somewhat

consequence than parading around in a tuxedo for a bunch of divorcees. I

to have raised $5 ,000 for the homeless, Douglas.

I also happen to have shattered last year's record held by Stan Kagan, the

Beverly Hills gynecologist.

I'm not surprised.

You're probably more experienced in the field.

Order. We're still in session here.

Victor, how's the pajama case proceeding?

I am ready for trial.

The plate is bringing in some hot shots from out of state to try this thing. Oh,

yeah? Well, who's the hired gun?

It's Dark from Texas. He's an expert on product liability.

He's due here any minute, actually.

Moving on.

Mr. Markowitz, I'm still waiting for the Spenko perspective.

I'll get it to you first thing in the morning, Douglas.

What is going on?

You said with Mr.

Gianelli's help, you'd have it finished in a day.

Yeah, how about I get it to you first thing in the morning, Douglas?

I hope so.

And with that, we're adjourned.

Who is

that?

That's Hamilton Schuyler.

He's a gifted trial lawyer.

They call him Mighty Mouse.

Victor, you're going up against Mighty Mouse.

Stuart, thanks for covering my butt before.

I'll have that stuff finished by lunchtime, I promise.

No, take the whole day. Just get it right.

Thank you.

Hi.

Victor Cipuenta.

Hamilton Skyler. Nice to meet you.

Can I get you a cup of coffee or anything?

Now, I haven't had a chance to look at all the papers yet, but I was wondering

whether you'd be inclined to settle before I actually plunge in.

Well, we offer 20 ,000 to previous counsel, but I'm sure that my... I think

both know 20 ,000 is offensive.

We're talking about a little boy scarred for life.

With all due respect, I think that 20 is more than generous.

There's no design defect here, no negligence, no proximate cause.

There is a multi -million dollar fabric company with a product that caught fire

engulfed the face of a seven -year -old boy, causing irreparable disfigurement.

Well, I'm sure that once counsel has had time to review the files, he'll see

that his predecessor was warned by the judge to settle this. I'm sure that once

counsel has had the opportunity of seeing me in court, he'll realize I'm

predecessor, nor am I like any other adversary he's ever faced.

Let me give you a little preview, Mr. De Fuentes.

When we go in there tomorrow, we'll both approach the bench, all three foot

eleven of me and you in your six foot plus blender.

Now, a few people on that jury are going to snicker.

Some may even laugh.

Now, when they do, I'm going to make them feel very ashamed for doing that.

What makes me so gifted in the courtroom, sir, is I can take that

compound it with a little compassion, and turn it into a big, fat plaintiff

verdict.

All the while, you'll be sitting there helpless, knowing if you object or fight

back, you'll come off as a playground bully, maliciously attacking the

sympathetic dwarf.

Do yourself a favor, Mr. Sifuentes. Cut your losses.

Settle now.

You may be good, Mrs. Skyler.

But I've seen your cards, and you're not going to win with the hand you got.

See you in court, sir.

And it's quite conceivable Dr. Warren couldn't predict how dangerous the

would become.

So talk of violence alone doesn't always mean call the police.

Do you have any idea how many wives come into my office and fantasize killing

their husbands, or vice versa? Does that make them really dangerous?

Absolutely not.

But why not just play it safe and alert the police anyway?

The reality is that once you start whistleblowing, a lot of potential

psychotics who might otherwise seek help won't.

They'll stay out there, and maybe more people will be killed.

Thank you.

Your witness.

You're telling the court that as a maniac stalked out on a mission to

Allie Toomey, Dr.

Warren served a societal purpose by keeping his mouth shut? Please, don't

my words.

I'm saying that based on the history of the patient...

It is possible for Dr. Warren to have concluded he was harmless, and that, if

so, no warning was necessary. In other words, you're saying it's a guessing

game. And if a doctor has to guess incorrectly, better to err on the

side. Objection. Better to slash a girl's throat open than upset your trust

a patient.

Objection. Sustained. A knife was plunged into her torso 11 times, and

worried about the chilling effect on psychotherapy. Your Honor. Miss

The jury will disregard that last remark.

Dr. Adelson, you've been sitting in this courtroom.

You've heard about the threats.

The murder.

You really think Dr.

Warren done good here?

I'm saying it's possible for him to have determined that Mr. Robb was not really

dangerous. Good answer, doctor.

You're a very fine witness.

By the way, how much is the defendant paying you for your expert testimony

today? $2 ,000.

Uh -huh.

Your Honor, if it please the court, I'd like a sidebar.

Road.

Your Honor, during the course of the trial, I'll be calling my client as a

witness. Since he's only ten years old, I'd like permission to lead.

Why don't you make that motion at the time you call him? It's a little

right now. I apologise, Judge.

I'm ready to proceed.

Well, then, let's do.

Step back.

You know, I think the biggest falsity ever told to me came from my very own

mother. She used to say, one day, son, they're going to stop laughing.

Well, I soon found out, no matter what I did, the giggles were unrelenting.

There is nothing so piercing, nothing so emotionally debilitating as being

laughed at.

It makes one grow up full of pain, full of anger, but most of all, full of the

determination to make it stop.

That's one of the reasons I went to law school.

I assumed that no one would dare to chuckle at an attorney at law.

But I was wrong.

Because when I walk into a courtroom, they don't see a man who graduated

in his class. They don't see a man who is an accomplished attorney at law.

They see exactly what you just saw.

A dwarf standing tippy -toe on his trial case, trying to see over the judge's

bench. And they do exactly what some of you just did.

They laugh.

Now, I don't blame them, and nor do I blame you, because I've learned in the

science of human nature, physical deformity always gives rise to ridicule

worse, even shock.

It's a very, very painful lesson to learn.

Now, this young man is Kevin Talbot.

Three years ago, he was wearing pyjamas made of fabric manufactured by the

defendant. Those pyjamas caught fire, and now Kevin, too, has to learn that

painful lesson.

He may grow up to be many things. He may be a doctor, he may be an attorney.

He may even be a triple crown batting champion with one of the major leagues.

But what he'll always be first to everyone he ever meets is disfigured.

Now he may rise above his handicap, as I think I have mine. He may even achieve

enough successes to make people forget his disfigurement.

But every time he tries to forget...

There'll always be a frightened gasp of shock, a quickly averted stare to remind

him to bring back the humiliation and the pain that will afflict him every

single day for the rest of his life.

Believe me.

Morning. Morning.

Oh, they're gorgeous.

From Nina Hollander.

Rox, would you look at these? Ruba lily, jalapeno, sterling roses. This is

easily a $300 arrangement.

This woman gives to a charity. She really gives.

Where are you taking her? She's taking me. That's the whole beauty of it. I

some pencils.

You see, she sends the flowers, orchestrates the entertainment. It's a

role reversal, Rox. I love it.

Do you have any idea what a relief it is not to have to plan a date?

No.

For one, all I have to do is sit back and let the evening happen to me. No

expectation, no idea of what's to come.

Sounds great, Arnie.

Rox, call Renee Quintana and have her do a check on this woman.

I'd like to have some idea of what's to come.

What am I going to have? How about as soon as possible? Yeah, how about

Oh, uh, excuse me.

Quick lunch?

No, I have a sandwich coming in.

Well, how late are you going to be tonight?

Oh, maybe 10 .30, 11.

You know, between my trial and this Spanko mess of yours, it seems like I'm

never going to see you again.

I don't think it's fair for you to take all the heat for Janelle's screw -ups.

I'm going to break in. He's a good kid.

It's not like I hate him or anything, Stuart. I just would love to see you

before midnight one of these nights.

What's that, John?

You know, if he's not cutting it, Stuart, you're not doing him a favor.

should maybe talk to Brackman. It's going to be fine, Ann.

Everybody's a little slow at first. A little slow?

You are such a nice person.

Maybe I'll wait up for you after.

I'll, uh, I'll bring my butterfly net.

UCLA. Harvard Law.

Editor of the Law Review.

Ames Competition.

Best oralist.

Well, I am impressed, Mr. Rollins.

Thank you, sir.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Well, let's see. My mother's an attorney.

My father's a professor of economics at UC Riverside.

I've clerked for the past few summers at Staudter Ivy McCoy. As a matter of

fact, they offered me a permanent position.

But under the heading, less is more.

I think that a small, prestigious firm such as McKenzie Brackman could be more

responsive to my personal needs. Or at least Bill Howard thinks so.

Bill Howard?

As in Howard Enterprises?

Yes, sir. He's been a close personal friend of my family for years.

That's how Mr. Rollins came to our attention.

He also told me that you have a real commitment to minority hiring that goes

beyond tokenism.

That means a lot to me.

Well, Mr. Rollins, your education is top draw. Your family connections are

impressive.

I think you could fit in quite nicely.

Thank you. What would you be looking for in the way of compensation?

$72 ,500.

And I wouldn't be opposed to your designating a percentage of that as a

bonus. Excuse me, but we've been starting our associates pretty much

commensurate with the going rate, which, as I'm sure you're aware, is

considerably lower.

I understand, sir, but I've already been offered $71 ,000 with Horton Gold.

So much for your doctrine of less is more.

Sometimes more is more.

Well, perhaps we could reach as high as 57 .5? With all due respect, Mr.

Brackman, this is not a negotiation.

Gentlemen, it's been a genuine honor and a pleasure. Thank you very much.

Could you give us till the end of business today?

Of course, sir.

Obviously, his salary demands are totally out of line. Oh, he's bright,

articulate.

I like his directness.

He's a winner.

I want him to be our winner.

I strongly disagree.

Well, I'm pulling rank, Douglas.

What are you going to do when his salary becomes common knowledge among the

other associates?

We'll see that it doesn't.

Then I guess you've bought yourself a lawyer.

I hope you haven't bought all of us a giant headache as well.

So other pyjama fabrics have a higher level of flame retardant than the

defendant's? Yes, sir.

The defendant's fabric was treated with flame retardant chemicals, but the more

protective fabrics are the ones actually made with flame -resistant fibers.

And what would you say is the manufacturing cost difference between

defendant's fabric and the other more flame retardant brands?

The other one costs about 96 cents more per pair.

So it is possible that if the defendant saw its way to spending, shall we say,

an extra dollar in the name of safety, Kevin Talbot would still have his whole

face. Objection!

Sustained. That remark is stricken.

Nothing further.

Miss Walworth, isn't it true that some children are allergic to the fabrics

with flame -resistant fibers?

Some children do have reactions, yes, sir. And for those kids, their only

is the chemically treated pajamas, like the ones made by my client's fabric. Is

that right? That's correct.

And, Miss Woolworth, you're familiar with the government regulations

flammability standards, are you not? I am. And does the fabric used by my

comply with these safety standards?

It does.

And as a former member of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, have you ever

had occasion to question the safety of this fabric?

No, sir.

Miss Woolworth... Fire!

What the... Hey! Your Honor!

Objection!

This is outrageous!

He rigged that thing to go off! I apologize, Judge. I didn't mean to. I

just... Your Honor, I move for an immediate mistrial, and I ask that he be

in contempt.

Counsel, approach.

It was an accident. Yeah, sure it was. Get up here now.

If you try anything like that again, and you got a mistrial, I will personally

do it that you never try another case in this state again.

I apologize, Judge. I didn't mean to ignite it. The hell you did. Cut it out.

Let's proceed.

All rise.

The session is now called to order. The Honorable Justice Douglas Brackman

presiding.

I see that our docket is quite full, and accordingly, let us proceed to our

first case.

Case number one, Whedon v.

Brevey. $200. I pay for a talking bird, and all it does is cuss me. It talks.

The bird talks.

Wait a second. From the minute it came into my house... He wanted a talking

bird, and now he's upset over contact.

Hold it.

Am I to understand you seek a refund because the parrot engages in profanity?

Engage? I called my wife a whore. She called her a whore.

There's a big difference.

It was whore. He repeated it twice. Hey, hold it.

Bailiff. Bring exhibit A up here, please.

Now, litigants, I'm aware of no warranty as to the subject matter of the birds'

conversation.

What's its name? Penelope. Spike.

Well, Spike or Penelope, whoever you are, can you talk to Judge Brackman?

Can you say, hello, Judge Brackman?

Hello. Good girl.

Well, Mr. Whedon, it seems... You're a wimp.

Hey, is he?

Jackass! You're in contempt.

And he's a bigot, too.

Drop a breath.

Order everybody.

Suck my dick.

Penelope! I want punitive damages.

I'll take it under advisement.

20 -minute recess.

Bite my shorts.

Drop a breath. Kiss my brownie.

In the 17 years I've been a psychiatrist, I must have heard over 100

threats like this.

And have you ever warned the potential victims of these threats?

Yes, sometimes.

And the police, too. But you didn't on this occasion, did you? No.

I honestly didn't think Mr. Robb was capable of committing this kind of

violence. Everything in his history and his medical records indicated that these

threats were the products of delusional episodes.

I still can't believe that I was wrong.

No further questions.

So you hear these threats all the time, Doctor?

Between Mr. Robb and my other patients, I probably get one a month. And on how

many occasions do your clients come in wielding machetes?

I thought he was just trying to show off a little. Is it your testimony, doctor,

that it's customary for patients to expose weaponry to their psychiatrist?

No, but it does happen. Dr. Warren, you blew this one, didn't you?

It was not my fault. Hey, come on, doctor. A patient of yours tells you

going to go chop up a woman, then he goes out and does just that while you do

absolutely nothing?

Is it your testimony before this jury that you feel no compunction here

whatsoever? Of course...

And a day goes by that I don't replay that last session with him. Over and

again. And, Doctor, it just has to be true.

Had you done something, Allison Toomey might still be alive today.

That's true.

And knowing that, Doctor, how can anyone in this room truly consider you to be

completely blameless?

Objection. Come on, Doctor, look at the jury and tell them you don't blame

yourself. Objection. Sustained.

That's okay.

I don't think I have any further questions.

Thank you. You may step down, Doctor.

Kevin, can you tell us what the kids say to you?

Kevin, remember our little chat?

You're going to be a brave boy and tell the jury exactly what they say to you.

They call me things.

What kind of things?

The big kids say I'm a geek and stuff.

Like a leper.

And the little kids are scared of me.

They think I'm a monster.

Do you think you're a monster, Kevin?

Sometimes.

You're not.

You're a very fine, brave young boy.

No further questions.

You testified when you were playing with the lighter fluid.

You spilled some on your left sleeve, right?

Yes. And then you decided to light one of your mom's cigarettes.

Yes.

And it was the sleeve with the lighter fluid that caught fire then, correct?

Yes, and then it spread to the curtains.

Thank you, Kevin.

Nothing further?

Plenty of rest, Your Honor.

Yeah, the defendant moves for a directed verdict.

The jury will be excused while I entertain a motion from counsel.

See you back here 10 a .m. tomorrow.

Evan, thank you. You can step down.

There's no reason for me to even put on a defense.

As a matter of law, the plaintiff's claim cannot be sustained.

There is not one shred of evidence which goes for design defect.

And as for the failure to warn issue, their whole case comes down to this

ludicrous notion that there should have been a warning label on the pajamas

reading, do not soak in lighter fluid before igniting with a match. They have

case, Judge.

All this nonsense should stop right now.

Mr. Scarlett?

Your Honor, I don't expect Mr. Cifuentes to like our case, nor do I expect him

to have one ounce of compassion for my client's crippling injuries.

But take it from somebody who's been a victim his entire life... No, I'm sorry.

I have had enough of that, too.

Mr. Sifuentes.

Your Honor.

He has been beating the jury over the head with his handicap, using it as a

weapon. I am not handicapped, sir.

I want my objection to this manipulation on the record.

And I object to this attack.

Now, that's enough from both of you.

Mr. Sifuentes, you've made your point.

Mr. Schuyler, I must say it's not totally lost on me.

Now, let's skip these personal digressions and stick to the facts.

I apologise, Your Honour. I realise this case is not about myself, nor is it

about Mr Sifuentes.

It's about Kevin Talbot.

Now, if the jury rules against him, perhaps I can explain that to him. But

am I going to explain the fact that the judge is going to throw his hopes out of

court before the trial is even over?

Well, I'm not inclined to take this matter out of the jury's hands.

So I'm going to deny your motion, Mr Sifuentes.

Open tomorrow morning with your defence.

This case will go on.

And that is all.

And don't you ever speak to me like that again. You deserve it. That little fire

stunt that constantly... Hey, hey, hey!

Enough. Enough!

Arnie, Rene Quintana got the make on Nina Hollander.

What have we got here?

Married once, no kids. Well, educated, a harpist, no less. She studied at the

conservatory. This is a renaissance woman, Rox.

Look at this. Look at this.

She breeds Appaloosas.

Probably between harpless and... Here, sign this.

Worth approximately $30 million.

This lady multi -talented or what?

Plus what your limousine service calls.

They'll be picking you up on Thursday, and they would like to know what you

drink so they can stock the bar.

I could grow accustomed to this, Roxanne.

Make it.

Don't bury me off.

So, what do you hear about the new guy? Anything?

Black.

Brilliant.

Harvard Law.

Job offers up the wazoo.

Great. Star.

That noise you just heard, that was the sound of my option being dropped.

Stop being so negative.

Abby, if I fail the bar again, I'm dead meat.

You passed.

Tony, you passed.

It's easy for you to say.

Okay. When do the results come back?

In a couple of weeks.

And if I have failed... Excuse me.

I failed again. I have to go back into the family business.

What's the family business?

Suffice it to say, it ain't too lawyerly.

You'd give up being a lawyer?

I might have to.

You see, my brother was sort of running the business, but he recently, um...

He recently became incapacitated, and now my father's really pressing me, and

he's a very hard man to say no to.

All fathers are.

You don't know my father.

Whenever I go for a family dinner at the compound... The compound?

Never mind.

You don't want to know.

And then I dragged her from the kitchen to the bathroom.

And she was already dead at this point?

Yes.

But I kept stabbing her.

Over and over and over.

Then I was finished.

I washed my hands.

I had finished.

Nothing further.

Why the kitchen knife, Mr. Ruff?

All those threats with a machete, but instead you kill her with a kitchen

I didn't have it with me.

You go to murder someone and you forget the weapon?

What kind of a killer are you?

Objection. Something else is bothering me, Mr. Rob.

Today you tell us that you washed the blood off your hands, but in the

confession you gave to the police you said you never took your gloves off. I

object. Will counsel please tell us where she's headed with all of this? I'd

glad to.

This man did not kill Allison Toomey. I did, too.

He'd like to think he did, but I'm going to prove that this is simply another

one of his fantasies. Oh, this is crazy.

I don't like surprises, Miss Kelsey.

Neither do I, Your Honor. But while listening to Mr. Robb's testimony, it

suddenly became apparent to me. I'll give you a little more latitude.

When you described the murder a few moments ago, you stabbed with your right

hand. But in the confession, you said you were left -handed. Why?

I don't remember.

I'll tell you why.

Because in the paper, it said the police were looking for a left -handed killer,

so that's what you gave them. This is a speech.

Tell us, Mr. Rob, why did you confess to a murder you didn't commit?

Because I did it.

I did, too, commit it. Oh, come on. You don't even know the facts. You've been

found out. Objection! Miss Kelsey! You dreamed of killing her, but you didn't

it, did you? I was the one who killed her. Everything you confessed to was in

the paper. You memorized it.

But your memory is lousy today, Mr. Rob, and everyone in this courtroom knows

you didn't do it. I did.

I stabbed her over and over and over and over.

It was me.

It was my crime. It's mine.

I belong in prison.

You can't do this.

It's mine.

You've heard the testimony of a deluded individual desperately clinging to the

belief that he murdered Allison Toomey.

A right -handed man claiming to be left -handed.

A man who didn't even remember the facts.

You've also heard three psychiatrists tell you today that this could all very

well just be a fantasy.

That his confession and plea of guilty could simply be an extension of that

fantasy. The plaintiffs are asking you to punish Dr.

Warren. for not having the foresight to predict that Elliot Robb was a murderer.

And yet here we sit, with the full benefit of hindsight, and we still can't

he's a murderer.

And in fact, ladies and gentlemen, whether you believe that psychiatrists

warn in this situation or not, it no longer makes any difference.

Because if Elliot Robb didn't kill that girl, then the actions of my client are

of absolutely no consequence.

Oh, sure. I don't mind.

Whatever time you finish with your deposition.

Uh -huh.

Okay.

Love you too, Mickey.

Yeah. Talk to you.

Hi. Hi.

Stranger in a strange land.

I hope I'm not taking you at a bad time.

No.

Actually, I had a hinky 459 who just copped to a year county lid, so I'm a

woman. For now.

Huh? You don't do much criminal, do you?

Try none.

I've never even been in this building before. Of course, there was a total

in the elevator on PCP or something.

Yeah, so let me guess that since you are not here to soak in the luxurious

ambience, there must be something I can do for you.

Grace, I hate to impose, but some evidence came out in a civil trial I'm

involved in.

And I know it's going to sound more like Perry Mason than real life, but there's

a man in prison serving time for a murder he didn't commit.

And what I was hoping was that you could do something to get him out before I

lose another night's sleep over it. Are you representing him? Not exactly.

Well, it's really up to his counsel to make a motion for a new trial.

He didn't have a trial. He pled guilty.

Some PD represented him.

Can't you make a motion as an officer of the court?

I can if the new evidence is compelling enough. What have you got?

A lot of inconsistencies in the various statements he made.

And I just know he didn't do it.

Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Ann, but the police are usually

pretty good about sniffing out compulsive confessors.

And with about a thousand other case files sitting on my desk, I'd really

something more in the way of hard evidence to get his case reopened.

Okay.

Thanks for your time.

Sure.

It's just that win or lose, my company doesn't look very good battling this

little kid.

Besides, I'd sort of like to give him something anyway.

That's fine. I just don't want you throwing out any offers because you

we're beat.

I understand, Victor, but I want you to make the offer.

Hey.

I'll do it.

You got it?

You may check the head, Counselor. I'll make it fast. You're ready to go.

Hey.

Pull out his stud. Let's see what you got.

Hey, hey.

Hey, easy, bud. We're just doing a little anthropology research here.

What the hell is wrong with you?

Hey, bud, what are you going to do about it? I mean, there's three against one

here. Or should I say one and a half?

Hey, bud.

You better redo your math.

Let's go. Out.

Get out.

Cool. Cool.

God. You all right? You okay?

I'm fine.

Am I cut?

Yeah, a little.

Right there. Right over here.

Okay.

Skyler. Your Honor, I'm afraid there's been a slight altercation.

Not with Mr. Cifuentes.

No, with strangers.

Unfortunately, one of the byproducts of my abnormality is that I get attacked

simply because of the way I look.

There are bullies in this world who like to beat people up just because they

look different.

Something I've faced all my life.

Kevin Talbot, regrettably, will...

have to face it all through his.

I'd like a continuance until tomorrow morning so that I can seek medical

attention and get fresh clothes.

Certainly. Tomorrow morning, 10 a .m. Members of the jury, this incident is

relevant to any issue that's before us. I'm instructed to disregard it entirely.

This court is adjourned until tomorrow morning.

Mr. Foreman, has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

What say you, Mr. Foreman?

We, the jury, in the case of the estate of Allison Toomey versus Peter Warren,

find in favor of the defendant.

So, what happened to

William? He goes back to prison.

Even after that verdict? Well, that was just a civil trial about you, Peter.

Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with the criminal disposition on him.

Can I talk to you for just a minute? Would you excuse us?

Sure.

You see, this is exactly what's bothering me.

I have this sinking feeling that my job's only half done.

Elliot Robb is going back to prison, and the real murderer is still out there.

Won't the police do something?

I hope so, but I doubt it.

As far as they're concerned, Elliot's still the killer.

Which is why I need to review your medical files.

I want to refresh myself on the case history of the other members of that

therapy group.

Why? I think the DA's office will do something if I can give them something

work with. And I am willing to bet that the real murderer is a member of that

group therapy session.

Somebody who knew Allison and who heard Elliot's threats.

Just a second. See, if I can talk to some of those people, maybe I can stir

something up. Maybe there was some sexual involvement, some jealousies. You

yourself those groups can get pretty intimate.

Right.

We're still talking in the scope of our attorney -client relationship here,

right? Of course.

Let me tell you this in total confidence.

I murdered Allison, too.

Is this a joke?

We're having an affair.

And when she threatened to go public with that, well, a psychiatrist can lose

his license his whole life getting sexually involved with a 17 -year -old

patient.

She threatened to expose me, Miss Kelsey.

So I killed her.

You son of a bitch.

Psychologically, it wasn't very hard to convince Elliot he'd done it. Poor

bastard could rack with guilt anyway.

He wanted to be punished.

Why are you telling me this?

So you'll stop.

I'm well versed in the laws pertaining to privilege.

Not simply doctor -patient, but attorney -client as well. And I know that by

telling you these things...

You are forever precluded from directly or indirectly telling anybody else.

I also know that you have to cancel this little fact -finding safari you're

planning, unless you care to be disbarred. What makes you think I won't

anyway? Because we both know the things I tell you in the context of our

privilege are inadmissible in the court of law.

You can't get me, lady, even if you wanted to throw away your career to do

Thank you. The excellent representation.

I recommend you.

Damn it. I am just so tempted to turn him in.

What good will it do?

Nothing you say can be used against them, right?

And with Rob still confessing, they can easily get reasonable doubt. So your

doctor gets off, you get disbarred.

So what am I supposed to do?

You do what lawyers have to do sometimes.

You put it behind you.

You think about something positive, something worthwhile.

Linguini al pesto, for example.

And you accept the fact that what's best about the system is also sometimes

hardest to live with.

That and pray that my client gets hit by a bus.

Yeah, that too.

Come on, let's go to bed.

I have to sit down here for a while.

Do you want me to make you something to eat?

I'm fine.

I, uh, I love you.

The important thing is that it's all for a worthy cause.

Absolutely.

When you think this is providing shelter for the homeless, it all becomes a very

small sacrifice, doesn't it?

Well, we all do what we can.

Yet, I keep getting the feeling that somehow we just haven't done quite

I so agree.

Funny thing is, I just agreed, out of curiosity.

I wanted to see what these auctions were like.

That's where I went. I was curious.

No intention of bidding, but when I saw you, I... I won it.

Where are you going?

It's 1 .30, Nina. I got a full day tomorrow.

I should probably... Give me your hand, Arnie.

So soft.

What are you doing?

Relax, Mr. Becker.

You are my prisoner.

Nina, come on.

It's too late for a game.

This is no game, mister.

I paid $5 ,000 for this 910 to get my money's worth.

Every last penny.