Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law.

My husband, Armand Sevilla.

The land developer.

This divorce, he never wanted it.

He's made certain threats.

And you're frightened of him?

Yes. Well, I'm not. So why don't you have dinner with me tonight, Lauren?

Mackenzie's called me into his office this afternoon for a meeting about

v. Gratinger.

This can only mean one thing.

I'm getting fired.

Marty and I have agreed to merge and go public.

You're kidding!

Of all the attorneys we had, she's the only one who realized that what we

wanted was to get back together again.

Well done, Miss Perkins.

Not to worry. We're brothers, remember?

Brothers help each other.

Like you're going to help me with office space nights and weekends.

Your lovely bride, what's her name? Sheila.

I don't know any way to say this except to be blunt.

We have to break it off.

I'm being blackmailed.

Oh, no.

Your brother?

Douglas Brackman to see Mr. Farrell.

Oh, yeah.

The brother, right?

Would you just tell him, please?

It's your brother.

Okay. He'll be out in a jiffy. Thanks.

Brandy ball?

Entree, mon cher frere.

Is this a Christmas visit or a business rendezvous? Neither.

It's quite simply goodbye.

Goodbye? I told Sheila about my relationship with Rhonda. It cost me a

coat, an emerald necklace, and a jaguar. But you'll blackmail me no longer, you

swine. Dougie, mon frere. Don't Dougie me, you cheeseball. It is Douglas.

As a toddler, it was Douglas. As a teenager, as a collegian, at this moment

time, and ultimately on my tombstone, it is Douglas.

Now give me back my office keys.

Okay, okay.

Relax.

Don't have a heart attack.

I'm gonna miss you, Dougie.

This is gonna be a serious loss to me.

Emotionally speaking.

Especially this time of year, which that reminds me.

Merry Christmas.

Aren't you going to open it?

I can't accept this.

It must have cost a fortune. That's the beauty part of it. I've got a client who

deals with stuff.

Perfect knockoff, huh?

Wear it in good health.

And if you ever need a brother or a lawyer...

Ho,

ho, ho, ho.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas. Thank

you.

Merry Christmas, Chief.

Same to you.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Do you like ballet?

Hmm.

Ballet.

It's not my thing.

So you won't be angry then if I take my niece tonight instead of you?

I promised her months ago.

As long as you promise me that you'll come back.

Yeah. After.

Yeah.

Okay.

You don't know how much you mean to me.

I feel like this again.

I'm paying for both.

Trying to bribe the opposition, Conrad?

My way of wishing you an extremely Merry Christmas, Grace.

And an extremely Merry Christmas to you.

How about we sit for a minute?

Sure. Gotta be back in court in five.

Actually, what I was thinking is we should probably save ourselves the time

the taxpayers the money.

Conrad, please. How many different ways can I say I am not going to dismiss a

murder case?

My client is every bit as much of a victim as his father, Grace.

No, Conrad, there is one big difference. His father's dead.

And it was pure self -defense.

He stabbed him 11 times.

11. His father was trying to kill him.

I mean, he'd been physically brutalizing that kid for years.

You tell me, what in the hell was that kid supposed to do? Well, here's a real

original thought. He could have called the police.

I'm sorry, Conrad. I don't care what kind of an ogre his father was. It

give Reuben the right to murder him. I don't get it, Greg. I mean, what are we

talking here?

We're talking a basically good kid.

No priors? No priors.

What about the two burglaries, assault, possession of a controlled substance?

All committed as a juvenile, which means the jury is never going to hear about

it. All they're going to see is this brutalized, terrified, 18 -year -old

and they're going to acquit him. You're dreaming.

The evidence easily supports murder, too. Your client is looking at a

15 years to life, Conrad. Oh, and the thought of that really gets you hot,

doesn't it, Grace?

No, it doesn't.

And it happens. I feel there are extenuating circumstances here. And I do

for this kid, which is why I'm still willing to let him cop to a voluntary

manslaughter with a recommendation for minimum sentence.

He'd be out in three years. It's a good deal, Conrad. Take it.

I'll see you in court, Grace.

And would you tell us what happened then, Officer Tanana?

At this point in time, my partner and I knocked on the door and we identified

ourselves as police officers.

The defendant, Ruben Mendez, opened the door. There was blood all over him and

he had a bloody knife in his hand. I told him to put it down, at which time

complied.

Showing you People's Exhibit 1, is this the knife?

Yes, it is.

Yes, I put my initials on a tag before booking it into evidence.

And what happened after the defendant put down the knife?

My partner and I entered the apartment where a male Hispanic, later identified

as Jose Mendez, was dead from apparent stab wounds. At that time, we placed

Ruben Mendez under arrest for murder.

Did you advise him of his constitutional rights?

Yes, in English and in Spanish. He said he understood his rights and he wanted

to waive them and speak to us without an attorney present.

Did he make a statement to you?

He said his father was hitting him, so he got a knife and he cut him.

Thank you.

Nothing further at this time.

Officer Tanana, you say that when Ruben Mendez let you into the apartment, he

was holding this knife in his hand?

Correct. Now, did he threaten you or your partner with it? No.

Did he resist you in any way?

No.

Officer, you testified that Ruben made a statement to you.

After he was marandized both in English and in Spanish.

Right. I'm not disputing that. What I am disputing is the substance of what

Ruben said to you.

Objection. Sustained.

Ask a question, Counselor. Thank you, I will.

Officer Tanana, isn't it true that Reuben told you his father said that he

going to kill him, and that's why he got a knife, to protect himself?

I don't remember anything like that. He just said his father was hitting him.

You don't remember?

Well, didn't you write down what Reuben said at the time he said it? Not in

full, not until I got back to the station.

Don't you think it would have been a good idea to do it at the scene while

might have had a chance to actually remember what he said?

Objection, argumentative.

Sustained.

Officer Tanana, did you see any bruises or injuries on Reuben's body the night

you arrested him?

They look like old ones to me.

Objection. Motion to strike is non -responsive and conclusionary.

Officer, did the defendant have bruises or injuries? A simple yes or no will

suffice. Uh, yes, yes.

Thank you. Nothing further?

Officer Tanana, have you had any training and or experience in

origin and severity of injuries?

I had training at the police academy and then ten years in the field.

Unfortunately, you see a lot.

Based on your training and expertise, did you form any opinion regarding any

bruises or injuries that Ruben Mendez might have had on the night that you

arrested him?

He had a bruise and a small cut around his left eye.

but both injuries appeared to be a couple of days old at least.

Thank you.

Nothing further.

Who's in charge here, guys?

There?

Detective?

Hi, Victor Fuentes.

Ah, the attorney, huh? Yeah.

I'd like to see my client, please.

Yeah, well, the grieving widow is hiding out upstairs.

What's the attitude, Detective?

From my experience, Counselor, a woman with nothing to hide usually doesn't

explaining what her husband's doing shot to death in the driveway of their home.

Go, Charlie.

It's okay.

It's okay.

Honey, are you all right?

I don't know.

Most of them would happen.

Oh.

I was pulling my car into the garage.

I thought you were supposed to come to my place after the ballet.

After I took my niece home.

I stopped by here to change.

He must have been waiting. When I opened the garage door, he slipped in behind

me, and he grabbed me as I got out of the car, and he started yelling.

Then I was a bitch and a whore, and he punched me and

said he was going to kill me.

So I took out my gun, and I told him to leave me alone.

You carry a gun?

It was his.

He had six or seven of them, all unregistered.

I didn't think he'd miss one, so I took it before he moved out.

Victor, I was scared of him. I didn't mean to use it.

But he kept coming at me. He kept telling me he was really going to make

I was terrified.

So I closed my eyes and pulled the trigger.

What did you do with the gun?

I dropped it on the ground next to him.

I came inside and called you.

The fingerprints will probably tie you to the gun.

I don't have fingerprints.

I had gloves on.

Gloves?

I wore them to the ballet.

Where are they?

The police will want to test them for gunshot residue.

I burnt them.

What? Oh, please.

This is Armand Sevier we're talking about. The Sevier Institute of Science.

The Sevier Collection at the County Museum.

People don't think of him as the sort of man that sends out for teenage

prostitutes.

Or what is his wife?

To have sex with a business associate while he watches and then breaks her jaw

for doing it.

I also took his watch and all the cash he had in his pocket. Oh, Lauren. I'm

sorry. I didn't think anyone would believe me. I thought I was doing the

thing.

What happens now?

They're going to arrest you.

Why do they have to arrest me? Why? Because that cop out there believes you

murdered your husband. That's why.

What about you?

What do you believe?

I don't know.

I don't know.

Moving along to Lipper versus Lipper. Yeah, that's mine. The husband's

from Ed to Paul. It's some sort of a custody matter. I'll know more about it

when I...

See him this weekend.

In re estate of Sprake.

Still waiting for that release from Franchise Tax Board.

Mr. Rollins, what is the status on Bass versus Capital Studios?

We filed for a court -ordered accounting.

We should have something scheduled by the first of the year.

Excuse me, I gotta go.

Victor, you sure you don't want me to take over the arraignment?

Thanks, Mike.

It's under control.

Anybody know what happened?

The paper said he was killed right outside the house.

Why would I not want to defend the woman I loved in a murder case?

You think they have a case, Mike?

Well, people, if we can refrain from speculation as to the day's headlines,

like to get through here. Miss Perkins, why don't you bring us current on their

own degrading of merger?

I'm trying to get the SEC filing put together by year end. I figure with some

serious night work this week, we ought to be in shape.

Excellent. If that concludes the morning's agenda, I'd like to remind you

that our annual Yuletide festivities will be held this coming Wednesday at 5

'clock. While attendance is not mandatory, all those present will

Christmas bonuses at that time.

Anything further?

We're adjourned. I can't believe you got fathered.

There is absolutely nothing here to tie my client to the murder of her husband.

Gee, I don't know, Victor. Call me cynical, or maybe I've just been doing

job too long. But I see people every day who kill for 20 bucks and a time at

some point.

Somehow it's not too hard for me to imagine your client doing it for $50

million. Oh, that's not it, Jack. But your imagination doesn't exactly

proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

I've got this theory, so hang in there with me for a minute, okay?

We start with the premise of a beautiful and very smart little cookie who's

married to this guy with $100 million.

Only now he wants to unload her and do it cheap thanks to this prenuptial

agreement. So our cookie gets an idea.

A do -it -yourself divorce.

And because, as we said, this is a smart cookie, She wears gloves so there's no

prints or gunshot residue.

And then they throw the police off. She lifts his watch in his wallet to make it

look like robbery.

Unless you think maybe she had an accomplice.

You think that, Victor?

Go sell it to the movies, Jack. In the meantime, you still don't have one piece

of physical evidence to tie her to the crime.

The murder weapon, Victor.

You were able to connect her to the gun? No.

It's unregistered and untraceable.

Victor, how many street robbers do you know who leave their gun behind?

Now, what jury could possibly harbor a shred of reasonable doubt after you

present them with something as devastating as that?

Speaking of jury, they're not going to like her.

The accent, the look.

Uh -uh.

They're going to want to see her pay.

Between you and me.

That's really kind of a loss. I mean, look at her.

Gorgeous, smarter than your average bear.

And if you could get her off, richer than God.

If I could only learn to overlook small character flaws like murder, this is a

woman I could get real with.

Maybe even get married.

Sure, it might get a little scary every time she got mad at me, but what the

hell is life without risk? Hey, how about you give it a rest, okay?

What? What? What do I sense here? That our crusading lawyer has perhaps more

than a professional interest in this case?

Oh, great. The judge just buzzed. He's coming out.

All rise.

This court is in session.

The Honorable Sidney Schroeder presiding.

It's nearly 11 o 'clock. Can we get started here?

People versus Lauren Sevilla.

Ready, Your Honor. Victor C. Fuentes representing the defendant, Your Honor.

We're ready. Wave reading.

So, waved.

Miss, uh, Sevilla, how do you plead?

Not guilty, Your Honor.

Preliminary hearing set in Department 137.

Your Honor, at this time, I would like to request an O .R. release for my

client. O .R.? This is a capital crime, a murder with special circumstances.

You're looking for the death penalty here, Mr.

Angeletti? It's possible. Your Honor, I would argue that this is not a capital

case, as it does not fall under the special circumstances murder for

gain provision.

Furthermore, I would like to point out that my client has never been in trouble

with the law whatsoever.

Further, the D .A. has an exceedingly weak case. How about I save it for the

prelim, okay, Counselor? That's enough.

Miss Angeletti, is the DA's office opposed to any bail whatsoever?

A million dollars bail, Your Honor. And I would once again reassert my petition

for O .R., or in the alternative, argue that $25 ,000 is more than sufficient to

ensure my client's presence in court.

Submitted.

Bail set in the amount of $200 ,000.

Next case.

Mrs. Mendez, will you please tell us...

What happened when your son Ruben pulled your husband off you? He started going

after Ruben.

He was crazy drunk.

And what did you do when your husband chased your son?

Like I always do.

I grabbed the baby and I ran into the bedroom and locked it. That's when,

when I heard it. Now, I want you to tell the court exactly what you heard, Mrs.

Mendez. He was, he was screaming at Ruben that he was going to kill him.

Then all of a sudden, the noise just stopped.

I opened the door, and I'd seen it.

Jose was dead.

And Ruben had... He had a knife.

Would you like to take a break, ma 'am?

I'm so ashamed.

I saw him lying in all that blood, my husband, and I felt glad,

glad that my children didn't have to be afraid no more.

Thank you, Mrs. Mendez.

Nothing further, Your Honor.

You said your husband threatened the safety of your two children on and off

the last three years?

That's right.

And yet, not once did you ever call the police or notify any authority.

Why?

We usually got away.

We would lock ourselves in the room.

Only this time, Ruben didn't make it.

Jose was going to kill him.

I swear.

There was a telephone in that room, Mrs. Mendez.

If you were so sure that your son was about to be killed, why didn't you pick

up? There was no time. No time?

So you chose just to sit it out?

Your Honor. There are 12 reasonable people here, and you're asking them to

believe that while your son's life was in danger, you didn't go to his aid?

You didn't call for help, but instead you sat and waited for the noise to die

down. Your Honor, she's badgering. And she's lying.

I am not lying.

You stayed in that room because there was no reason to believe that Reuben's

life was in danger. Isn't that right?

He is a good, good boy. You don't know what he's gone through. He killed his

father. He is a good boy.

Nobody should have to take what he took.

Nothing further.

Excuse me.

What are you doing here?

We're waiting to see the lawyer.

Why? To help us with our immigration forms.

The lawyer?

Is he helping you?

Yes.

For $2 ,500.

Excuse me.

And yourself?

Abigail Perkins. I'm an attorney here.

Oh, well, allow me to formally introduce myself.

I'm Douglas Brackman's brother. Douglas Brackman doesn't have a brother. Look at

this face. Look at that hairline.

Senor Martinez, could you excuse me in a momento?

Por favor.

Gracias.

Oh, Miss Perkins.

You're so young to be an attorney, you must have passed the bar first shot out

of the box.

Just what are you doing here?

Well, Dougie's letting me use his office while my new space in Century City is

being decorated.

And does Douglas know you're charging these people $2 ,500 to process their

residency forms?

I'm providing an essential public service for these people.

I mean, somebody's got to do it, am I right?

Hey, wait.

Hey, what'd you tell him? That you're a crook, right? Hey, now I'm losing my

temper when you mess with my livelihood.

You told them your brother owns the INF?

No, no, no, no. She's confused. I said he owns this firm.

The language thing's the real barrier, you know what I mean?

Look, look.

I'm providing a service here, and I noticed that your command of the

tongue is pretty serious.

What do you say I cut you in? Together we do three times the volume. Nice cash

business. What do you say?

Hey,

you just cost me close to 15 big ones.

And that's called restraint of trade.

Interference with business opportunity.

Inducement to breach.

You listen to me, Mr. Farrell. What you're doing is ripping these people

And if the police are not interested in that, then I am sure the State Bar

Association will be.

Assuming, of course, that you are actually a lawyer.

Hey, hey, take it easy.

Of course I'm a lawyer.

Then I suggest you pack up your things and get out of here right now.

No need for threats, honey.

See, that's the beauty of America.

Even two individuals who disagree on principle can still remain respectful

towards each other's inalienable right to turn a buck.

Pleasure to have met you.

Avaya con Dios.

Ciao, baby.

Without going into the sordid detail, I knew nothing of my half -brother's

heinous activities.

He said that you gave him the office, Douglas.

I won't mince words, Miss Perkins.

He was blackmailing me.

But that climate has been rendered hostile, and Errol Farrell will no

blacken this firm's reputation.

But if he has keys to the office complex... He returned the keys to me,

Perkins. I can only assume he made a duplicate set.

However, not to worry.

I've already seen to having all the locks changed.

Nevertheless, I appreciate your diligence.

Have you told anyone else about this?

No. Good thinking.

And I would take it as a personal kindness if this matter were kept

confidential.

All right, Douglas.

The matter is well in hand.

Call the building locksmith.

I want all the locks in the complex changed by end of business today.

See that all the appropriate people get new keys.

Yes, sir.

Oh, Mrs.

B called. She wants to know what time you'll be home tonight.

The usual time, 7 .30.

Tell her I wish to have dinner on the table at 7 .45.

Officer Beardsley.

Officer Beardsley.

What about the bail?

Why is it taking so long?

I am still trying.

But the money in your husband's estate has been frozen until the disposition of

your case.

I don't sleep.

I can't stand it in here.

Preliminary hearing is tomorrow.

Just hang in there. What if the judge makes me stand trial?

I don't think that'll happen. You're not even convinced I'm innocent.

Why should the judge be?

Lauren, you're not required...

To prove your innocence.

The state has to prove that you love me.

You want me to take a lie detector test?

Courts don't put much stock in them. I'm not talking about the court.

I'm talking about us.

I love you.

I thought you loved me.

Since the night it happened, you haven't been able to get it out of your head.

A murder.

What you did.

The way you tried to cover it up.

I'm having a lot of trouble with it, Lauren.

It's not going to work for us, is it?

I really don't know.

Hey.

Um... If, uh... If you can't believe me,

should I be looking for another lawyer?

I can still be your lawyer.

You want to be? Yes.

No matter what, I can't live with the thought of you at the back time in

I already did my time for Mary Harmon Sevilla.

I'd die if I had to do any more.

And then my mother locked herself in the bedroom with the baby.

So it was just you and your father in the living room at this point.

And he had me by the hair.

Kept smashing my head into the wall.

Said he was gonna kill me.

And then what happened? I broke free.

That's when I went and got the knife in the kitchen.

And I come back and I go, you stay away.

I show him the blade and tell him, keep away.

And did he keep away, Reuben? He just came lunging at me.

And I stuck him.

I had to. He was going to kill me.

It's going to be all right, Reuben.

Your witness.

Ruben, when you broke away and ran into the kitchen, did your father follow you?

No. So it would be fair to say that the attack had stopped, correct?

No, he came at me again.

But only after you returned to him waving a knife. I told him to stay back

he charged me.

Did he continue to charge after, say, the fourth or fifth time you stabbed

Ruben? Objection.

Overruled. What about the tenth or eleventh puncture? Did that discourage

any? It was self -defense. I was scared for my life.

There is a door at the end of the hall and another one in the kitchen.

Tell the jury why, instead of running away, you chose to go back in there with

carving knife.

I was...

He could have killed my mother and sister.

So suddenly it's not your life that you were worried about. It was theirs?

Yes. No, both.

I had to protect them.

But you just said that they were locked safely in the bedroom.

I thought maybe they came out. You went back in there for revenge, didn't you?

You weren't afraid.

You were angry.

It was crazy, lady. He had to be stopped. I had to stop him.

You stabbed him 11 times. Stopped him pretty good, didn't you? Yeah.

Yeah. Objection. One, two.

Objection. Three, four. Your Honor.

Five, six, seven. Miss Van Owen, that's enough.

Sorry, Your Honor.

I'll stop at seven.

But you didn't, did you?

Objection! Withdrawn.

Nothing further.

Sheila!

Sheila? Sheila?

Douglas?

What are you doing in my bed with my wife?

Douglas, this is all a giant misunderstanding.

Sheila, how could you?

Payback, Douglas.

Payback? What about the car?

The fur?

The jewelry.

Just a down payment.

Look, people. Shut up.

Did you really think you could buy me off with a few trinkets, Douglas?

Yes. You guys want to be alone? Be quiet, you dog.

How could you do this to me?

How could you?

Believe me, Douglas.

Luring this sleazy little woodchuck into my bed is not my idea of a great time.

Now, Bjorn and Roger were a great time.

Bjorn and Roger?

But this is strictly business.

Quid pro quo.

You play, you pay.

And if you don't like it, I will divorce you and take half of everything you

hold dear.

Your house, your money, your kids, and your law partnership.

Is this clear?

Yes.

Kids, I gotta run.

Dougie, hand me my pants.

I show you this, and I ask you if you recognize People's

Exhibit 3.

It's a picture of the deceased Armand Sevilla. And is this a fair and accurate

representation of the victim as he appeared when you arrived on the scene?

is.

I offer this photograph into evidence and I have nothing further for the

witness.

Mr. Cervantes?

Did you find any fingerprints or other evidence linking my client to the gun,

Lieutenant?

No. Did you run a gunshot residue test on my client to determine whether in

he fired a revolver?

We did. And what were the results of that test?

Negative. And were there any witnesses to this crime whatsoever?

No.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

I have nothing further.

Mr. Angeletti?

People rest, Judge.

You may step down.

Well, Your Honor, at this time I move for dismissal.

There is absolutely no physical or testimonial evidence connecting the

to the crime or to suggest in any way that my client... It just so happens

the accused stands to inherit over $50 million, which he never would have

if the divorce had become final.

Not to mention the coincidence of his getting shot at her house.

Motive and opportunity alone does not constitute sufficient probable cause,

Angeletti. If that's all you've got, I have no choice but to grant defendant's

motion. We expect the ongoing investigation to turn up physical

It's just a case of... Mr. Angeletti, I make my determination based on what is

before me now.

Case dismissed.

Your Honor... If you turn up anything, you can refile at that time.

Until then, defendant is free to go.

And since I had to be at the sales conference on such short notice, it

worth the additional expense to... Excuse me.

Is it very warm in here?

Do you want me to turn the heat down, Judge?

Please. Sure.

Miss Woods, is it your contention then that your dog was mistreated

at Mr. Crone's kennel? You haven't heard a word I've said. This is not my dog.

Your Honor, this is a copy of our registration. You can see there was no

English bulldog registered among our guests.

All our dogs are carefully supervised and monitored.

Your Honor, this is a photograph of my dog, Jake, taken on his

birthday. And this is the dog that they tried to pawn off on me when I got back.

Please. Look at him. He's listless. He's overweight.

Look at his overbite. Do you see?

Chest.

Tightness.

All right.

Heart attack.

Don't panic. Just calm down.

Get that animal out of the way.

I'm going to have to give this man mouth to mouth. No. No bodily fluids.

In the matter of people versus

Ruben Mendez.

The jury finds the defendant guilty of murder in the second degree.

Sentencing to take place second week of January.

The defendant will be taken into custody.

The jury's excused.

This court is now adjourned. Oh, God, no.

Ruben. Ruben, come.

Oh, God, no. You can't take him away. Oh, God, no.

Ruben. Ruben.

All right, thanks. Thanks, Victor. Merry Christmas, huh?

What a farce.

All year long, they treat us like schnauzers. And then once a year, they

us all up and expect us to sing Christmas carols. Well, how can they

to have a party with Mr. Bragman? Well, Hilda, do you think they care?

They don't care.

Hi, how are you? Do you think I should call the hospital?

I think Mr. McKenzie will let you know as soon as there's any news.

It's got to be the deadliest party I have ever been to.

Look, what's the protocol around here?

You think I put in enough time?

I think you'll be all right.

Great.

Listen, if I don't talk to you, have a reasonably great Christmas.

You too, Jonathan.

Mike!

Merry Christmas.

Benny?

Well, thank you very much. I will put this under my tree.

Okay, I won't tell you what it is then.

Okay.

Maybe I'll give him a call and tell him I have the flu.

Arnie, they're your parents.

They're expecting you.

Besides, there's lots worse things than Christmas in Palm Springs, you know.

Name one.

Being home alone all weekend, like I'm going to be.

Why don't you come to Palm Springs with me?

What? Well, yes. Sure, it'd be great. We could drive out first thing in the

morning.

What about your parents? Won't they want you all to themselves?

That's exactly why I need you there.

Be surprised.

Hi. Hi.

You'd make a great fourth canasta.

Will I have a separate room?

Sure.

Hi, guys.

Hi. Merry Christmas. Yeah.

Are you St. Cusack?

Yeah, he just... Come on.

Great.

Hi. Merry Christmas.

Yeah. How'd it go?

What do you know about Conrad Peters?

I don't know. I hear he's a pretty good lawyer. Why?

He's a jerk.

I offered him voluntary manslaughter with a recommendation for minimum

Three years.

Told me to shove it.

His kid got second degree murder.

He's looking at 15 big ones.

Ouch.

I'm going to go to the sentencing hearing and argue for a reduction to

manslaughter. You think the judge will buy it?

I don't know.

I hate to see a client paying for his attorney's ego.

Too bad he didn't have Victor for a lawyer.

Now, what's that supposed to mean?

Michael, don't you find it ironic that this kid is looking at 15 years to life

and Lauren Seville walks away with $50 million?

There's a difference here.

Lauren didn't kill anybody.

We know that for a fact.

We know for a fact that she did?

Come on.

This doesn't seem right. Oh, let it go, Gracie. It's Christmas.

Want to go out on the stairwell and nut?

Yeah, I would.

Okay, let's go.

You're too good to me.

May I have your attention, please?

I've just spoken at length with Douglas's doctor, and it was not a heart

as was first feared. A stroke.

Actually, it was an anxiety attack, complicated by a gastrointestinal

disturbance. He had a gas attack?

Inelegantly, Port. Yes.

The doctor said they plan to keep him for observation for 24 hours and hope to

have him home in time to spend Christmas with his wife and family. So, we have

much to be grateful.

Now, I'd also like to take this occasion to wish each and every one of you and

your families the most joyous season and to thank you all for making this past

year a success.

Merry Christmas to you all. Merry Christmas.

Can I say something?

Oh, of course, Benny.

I... I never had a job before.

I used to worry that maybe I never could because nobody would want to work with

me.

But you were all so good to me after my mom died.

I just want to tell you that I'm... I'm really happy to be working here.

And I want to say, uh... Merry Christmas.

You're my friends.

And I love you all.

Allah.

Merry Christmas, Kevin.

Feliz Navidad, Victor.

Feliz Navidad.

Funny.

I thought we were going to spend the holiday together.

It was going to be the first Merry Christmas in a long time.

I feel more than merry myself.

I never thought I'd be able to come up here.

It's not that I didn't want to.

It's just that I'm usually a little too big in the pride department.

Pride?

I don't want to make this thing about pride, Lauren.

How many women do you think come into my life that I fall in love with?

I thought maybe we still had a chance.

It's different now, isn't it?

Yes.

Since I won't be with you on Christmas.