Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law. Your client got caught in a little homosexual activity

while stationed at Fort Benning, Stuart.

She told you that?

I think it's left him feeling like he has something to prove.

Maybe beating up on his wife in a divorce settlement is one way to do

don't you shut your mouth?

Look, I played rough, yes, but I got you what you wanted. I didn't want for my

little girl to grow up breathing poison.

Look, it'll pass.

Who deals with it if it doesn't pass?

Coran, fresh semen was found on Nina Corey's bedsheets at the time her body

discovered. Objection. Move to strike.

Overruled. Whose semen was it? Objection. Overruled, Mr. Cuthat. Whose

it? Your Honor, I object. It was the defendant's, Earl Williams.

Do you think I'm exploding Diana Moses?

Look, it's obvious. You take your relationship with Miss Moses seriously.

wouldn't assume that. Right now, the only thing you can assume about my

relationship with Miss Moses is that it will never be any of your business.

If you'll excuse me.

People versus Gustafson.

Mr. Kopeski, tell us, please, the authority on which the police searched

suspect's car.

Um, the search was conducted under the authority of Carroll v.

United States, where it was held that a warrantless search is justified when

there's a danger of losing the evidence, as in the case of an automobile which

can quickly be driven out of the jurisdiction.

Where was Mr.

Gustafson's car when the police searched it?

At the station.

Oh, they had the vehicle in their possession?

Yes. Then what danger was there that it could be quickly driven out of the

jurisdiction?

I guess it was pretty slight.

So then Carroll versus the United States doesn't apply.

Does it?

Well, um, the underlying rationale for Carroll was exigent circumstances,

Sit down, Mr.

Kopeski.

Ms. Moses, what justified the warrantless search?

It was conducted under an expanded application of Schimel v. California.

How does Schimel apply?

The search was incident to the arrest.

The suspect wasn't present, and the search took place more than four hours

the arrest. How could it possibly be incident to the arrest?

I don't think it was.

Actually, in my opinion, the search was illegal.

Then why did the court hold it valid?

I don't know. Did you read this case, Miss Moses?

Yes, sir, I read it.

Yeah, you read it.

You read it, but you didn't understand it. I read it, and I found it

inconsistent with the veil of ruling.

Oh, what about Chambers v.

Maroney? Did you read that case?

Um, I...

I don't think that case was assigned.

No, it wasn't. But the holding in Gustafson was specifically based on

And anyone wishing to understand the Gustafson case would have looked up

Chambers.

What happens if and when you become a lawyer? Do you intend to march into

and tell the judge, gee, I didn't think that case was assigned?

No, sir, I don't.

Sit down, Miss Moses.

Between you, Mr. Kopetsky, we've wasted nearly five minutes here.

Mr. Aronowitz.

What is it you want to know?

Whether or not I'm making a mistake putting you up on that witness stand.

Why would you be making a mistake?

Look, I know this hasn't been easy for you.

You don't know the first thing about how it's been for me.

All right.

Don't you concern yourself with my state of mind, Mr. Kovac.

Well, forgive me, Mrs. Williams, but I have no choice.

As long as I'm your husband's lawyer, I'm the guy his life depends on.

Now, if you're going to hurt him,

You think that because my husband was unfaithful to me, I want to see him sent

to the gas chamber?

No.

You just put me on that witness, Dad.

Trudging along.

Leland, the Schneiderman meeting is scheduled for tomorrow at 11.

Will that conflict with law school?

My class is over at 10 .30. I should be back. Diana says you're pretty tough in

there, Leland.

A law school professor should be tough.

What's your style?

Strictly Socratic. Ooh.

Moving on, there's good news and bad on Dorothy Wyler.

The good news is she's fully recovered from Epstein -Barr disease and stands

ready to return to work.

Good for her.

Great. The bad news is I fired her. What?

You fired her? We had to write down her billable so often we were losing money

on her. Wait a minute. Don't you think that's something we should have

discussed? Get our input on it? I did get your input.

I read your evaluation forms for associate review.

Douglas and I discussed this, and as unpleasant as it was, the decision was

warranted. Let's move on.

Has anybody talked to Michael on the Williams case?

He's up against it. He expects to go to jury by the end of the week, but he's

struggling. Arnold, Hammond versus Hammond.

Corinne Hammond's coming in today to sign the settlement papers. Looks like a

wrap. I believe congratulations are in order.

I understand you worked a very favorable division of property.

Mrs. Hammond must be thrilled.

Yeah. Yeah, sort of.

That's it, people.

We're adjourned.

Sweden? Yes.

Oh, thank you so much for seeing me. No problem.

If you don't mind my asking, how'd you find me?

Well, I saw your name in the Martindale Hubble book.

And I prefer young attorneys.

They're not so hard -bitten.

You're black, aren't you?

Yes, ma 'am, I am. Doesn't matter to me.

Negroes can do anything. That's what I always say.

I appreciate that.

Have we reached the point where you're billing me, or is this still

free time?

No, ma 'am, this is all free.

No, we don't charge unless we accept you as a client. But before I can do that,

I need to know why and for what you need an attorney.

Well, eight months ago, I slipped on some spilled papaya juice in Kendall's

mart. I sprained my wrist in the fall.

The pain you cannot imagine.

The store manager admitted it was their fault.

But the insurance people won't even take my calls.

My friend Gladys saw the whole thing, only she can't testify.

Why not?

Dead. Got sick in her sleep last summer and drowned in her own vomit.

Sorry to hear that.

This is Wheaton.

I'm afraid I can't take your case.

Why can't you take it?

A sprained wrist, even with liability clearly established.

would be worth about $10 ,000 tops, and this firm doesn't take $10 ,000 matters.

Why not?

Well, with our overhead and everything, it'd be impossible for us to make any

money on a claim like this.

Don't you ever take a case just because somebody needs your help?

Not really.

Never mind.

I don't know why I'm surprised.

Every lawyer's told me the same thing.

I just thought maybe you would be different.

I'm sorry to have taken up your time, Mr. Robbins. Mrs. Whedon,

let me make a phone call or two.

That's all I can do. Oh, thank you.

Well, now, this is the number for Kendall.

And this is the name and number of the insurance adjuster. All right.

And this is all I have by way of evidence.

The shoes I was wearing at the time. You can see that's very good traction.

Okay. Yes.

Do I need to sign these copies here? No, these are just your records. We're all

done.

Very good.

Thank you.

Gwen.

I was wrong.

I'm sorry.

Okay. If you ever need any help with Chloe, I'd like you to please let me

I've dealt with a number of first -rate child psychologists over the years.

What is it, kind of a package deal? You screw them up, they straighten them out?

I said I was wrong.

I was trying to remember things were bad before I got involved.

You just made them a little worse.

Yeah, I did.

I, uh... I got this book for Chloe.

What is it?

One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey was one of my favorites when I was a

kid. I guess I just... I wanted her not to think that I was just a mean man with

a briefcase.

Does that really matter to you all that much?

Yeah, it does.

Why?

What do you mean, why?

I behave badly, and that weighs on me.

Don't let it weigh on you.

Look, I really have to go. I'm already late.

I'd still like to be your attorney.

I don't know.

Don't you think once the air clears that maybe we could put what happened behind

us? Like I said, I don't know.

I don't... Maybe we could have lunch tomorrow. We could talk about this.

Come on.

I'll think about it.

Good.

Tuesday, November 8th, 1988.

Between 6 and 7 p .m.

Would you please tell the court where you were?

I was home.

Were you alone?

No. My husband was with me.

How long had he been with you?

He got home around 5.

What do you remember about that day, Jackie?

The kids were at the library.

Earl and I had the house to ourselves.

Nina Corey was killed between 6...

7 p .m. Was your husband with you then? Yes.

Are you sure?

Yes. Why are you sure?

Earl and I watched the nightly news with Tom Brokaw.

Tom Brokaw comes on Channel 4 every weeknight at 6 .30.

Thank you.

I have no further questions.

Ms. Williams, do you consider your husband a violent man?

My husband is not a violent man, Miss Flanagan.

Yet on September 5, 1984, the Inglewood Police Department responded to a report

of domestic violence at your home, did they not?

Objection. Offered to impeach, Your Honor.

Overruled.

Things were different then. Miss Williams, please just answer the

you've been asked.

Earl and I have had our problems.

Did the police come?

Yes. Did you sustain injuries about the neck and face as a result of your

husband having hit you?

I don't remember.

Would you like to see the police report? Your Honor, the incident that Ms.

Flanagan is referring to took place more than five years ago.

You've made your point, Ms. Flanagan.

Move on. Did you know that your husband had had sexual intercourse with another

woman on the day in question?

No. Did you know that he was carrying on an affair with one of his students?

No. Well, forgive me, ma 'am, but this does seem to raise the question of just

how well you know your husband.

I know him well enough to know he's not a killer.

And would you tell the truth if you were, or would you lie to save him? I'm

lying now.

But you would lie to save him. Ask and answer. What are you afraid of, Ms.

Williams? That your husband's going to take a baseball bat to you if you don't

testify for him?

Objection. Sustained. Get something straight, lady.

The only thing I'm afraid of is that those 12 people will believe you and not

him.

Did my husband lie to me?

Yes, he did.

Do I feel betrayed by him?

Yes.

Did he kill this young girl?

As sure as I know that I breathe, I know that he didn't.

We know each other almost 20 years.

And in that time, have you ever known him to be violent?

Not really.

The answer's no.

Earl does have a temper, Mr. Cusack.

Yeah, but the question is, have you ever known him to be violent? And the answer

to that is no.

Fine. No.

Good.

Um, how would you characterize Earl Williams' relationship with his

I think it depended on the student.

That's the wrong answer.

It did depend on the student, Mr. Cusack.

Yeah, but I'm putting you on the stand as a character witness.

That means you have to make the jury like Earl Williams.

Mr. Cusack, Earl Williams and I were in graduate school together.

I consider myself his friend.

I resent your coaching me on how to express that. Well, you can resent it

you want, and I'm not asking you to lie.

But if you can't express your friendship with some conviction, then... I can't

put you up there.

I teach literature.

I'm trained as an historian.

I see shades of gray in everyone.

Earl Williams is no saint.

Sir, excuse me.

I am trained as a trial lawyer.

Right now, history and literature don't interest me.

But if you care about this man, if you really want to help him, then you will

get up there and you will testify that Earl Williams is a gentle and a caring

individual. And that from everything you know about him going back 20 years, he

is utterly incapable of the brutality he's charged with. Now, can you do that

not?

Dr. Craig, would you say the defendant was popular with the students?

Yes, very much so.

To what do you attribute that?

Earl loves to teach.

He's patient and enthusiastic, and I think his students have always responded

that. Have you ever seen the defendant outside of work?

Yes, many times.

We were graduate students together.

And over the years, our families have become rather close.

Ever seen him to be violent or abusive?

No, sir. Never.

Now, based on your having known him for 20 -odd years, would you please describe

him for the court?

Earl Williams is a gentle, caring individual.

I believe he's utterly incapable of the brutality with which he's been charged.

Thank you, Dr. Craig.

I have nothing further.

You're on the tenure committee of the English department, is that right, sir?

Yes. That would make you Earl Williams' superior.

I think of it as colleagues.

Well, nonetheless, since you do evaluate his performance and have a great deal

to do with granting him tenure, it's fair to say he understands the value of

staying in your good grace. Earl never put up a front for me or anyone else. Is

that right?

Tell us, Dr. Craig, were you aware he was having an affair with Nina Corey?

No. So somehow...

Earl Williams kept a side of himself hidden. Objection.

Sustained. Tell us, did you ever suspect the defendant was involved romantically

with the student?

No. With any other student?

Objection. No foundation.

Sustained. Did you harbor any suspicion that Earl Williams was cheating on his

wife with anyone?

Look. Yes or no, sir?

I can't collapse everything I know into a simple yes or no answer. I'm afraid

you're going to have to, Professor.

No, I had no idea he was being unfaithful to Jackie. That does seem to

question of just how well you knew him, doesn't it, Professor?

I knew him as well as anyone did.

No.

There was a 20 -year -old girl named Nina Corey who knew him better.

And with a badly sprained wrist, clear liability, pain and suffering... 2 ,000.

Take it or leave it. Come on, Mr. Clancy, we're talking about a

elderly woman who... Yeah, yeah, she took the header into the kumquats. Two

grand.

I'm trying to deal in good faith here, Mr. Clancy. You're trying to flush me.

We both know this pimple would cost you much more than you'd ever make.

There's no chance you'd be crazy enough to try to think.

You're rolling dice for a quickie settlement, and two grand is all you're

to squeeze.

Nice view. Look, Mr. Clancy, the claim is worth ten.

At least give me five. That way I can... Oh, no, I can't do that.

But how about, say, uh, two?

You're disappointed in me, aren't you?

I could add on a claim for punitive damages.

I'm all the clever.

Look, you can't afford to litigate this.

You'd have to be a total lunatic to pursue it.

Take some friendly advice from a guy who's been around the block.

Tell Grandma to take the two Gs, buy herself a new walker, and steer clear of

fruit juice puddles.

Is that City Hall?

Will you forget the view?

Talk to your client.

Tell her she can have the money as early as tomorrow.

He's really a great digs.

But something hit me the day I saw your daughter.

I've been so pleased with myself for engineering this firestorm.

Then I looked at who was in the middle.

And it got to me. You know?

This can't be the first time you've handled a divorce where children were

involved. No, it isn't, but...

The truth is, it never bothered me before. All that really mattered was

was good, that it lived up to my reputation, and that people were afraid

Clients themselves, their families, their children.

Those were just details.

What happened to change that?

I looked in your little girl's face.

And I couldn't make her a detail.

Still hate me?

No. Still your lawyer?

How come I still need one? Settlement papers have been signed.

You may have to enforce that settlement.

People sign agreements one day and dishonor them the next.

Randy's not like that.

Hope you're right.

If I'm wrong, you're the one I'll turn to, okay?

Good.

Well, thanks for lunch.

How about dinner?

Dinner.

Why not?

Well, my daughter, for starters. She doesn't want to be left with a sitter

now.

So don't get a sitter.

Don't get a sitter?

No, bring her along.

I'll call you.

Detective Vitale, you were originally assigned to investigate Nina Corey's

murder. Is that correct?

That's right. And during the time that you were on the case, was the defendant

ever a suspect in your mind?

In my mind, no.

Why was that?

Cash was missing, credit cards were missing, jewelry was missing.

To me, it looked like a robbery.

Did you pursue robbery suspects?

In my opinion, not to an adequate degree.

When a viable suspect was not immediately forthcoming, it was the

superior officers that we pursue known acquaintances of the victim. Can you

us... Why they came to that decision?

Objection. Calls for the witness to look into the mind of another person. It

calls for an opinion as to the workings of a police department that the witness

was a member of for 15 years.

Objection overruled. The witness can answer.

Burden of hand, right?

Got the department off the hook. Are you saying that there was pressure on the

department to make an arrest?

Pressure?

It's like the whole world was breathing down our neck.

Detective. In your opinion, is this the right man?

No, sir.

In my opinion, it is not.

I have nothing further.

Approximately two feet from where the victim was situated, an expensive

watch was in plain sight, yet not taken. Is that correct?

In fact, that watch proved to be a cheap watch, Miss Flanagan.

Would a thief have stopped to appraise it before sticking it in his pocket?

A thief would have known by looking at it. Does a thief generally stop in the

middle of a robbery to batter their victim to death? It happens.

Believe me.

Did the baseball bat lead you to a thief?

The prints we got off the bat didn't lead us anywhere.

There was no sign of forced entry, was there, Mr. Vitale? That means absolutely

nothing. It means Nina Corey opened the door to her killer.

It means Nina Corey knew her killer.

She might open the door for anybody you knocked.

Tell us, sir.

Would you feel differently if it had been you who brought Earl Williams in?

I would not feel differently.

It would have been a hell of a caller for you. He just said it wouldn't have

mattered.

You got passed up for promotion, did you not, sir?

Yes, I did. And you took early retirement soon after.

Right again.

It's really an ego thing with you, isn't it, Mr. Vitale?

You didn't turn out to be the hero, and you're miffed. Let me tell you

something. Whether I'm miffed or not, if I thought he was responsible for this

crime, I wouldn't be sitting here.

Don't forget, I saw what that girl's body looked like.

Flanagan's offering second degree.

And?

It's your decision.

You recommend I take the deal, though.

Well, I can't recommend that you spend 15 years in jail for something you

do.

On the other hand, if I did it, 15 years isn't bad, right?

Like I said, it's your decision.

Tell Flanagan no.

In that case, I'm going to put you on the stand this afternoon.

Okay.

See you in court.

Wait. What do you want me to do?

To do?

Well, I want you to testify exactly like we said. I know that. What I'm asking

is what should I do?

What should I act like? How should I be?

How should you be? That's right. I'll be anything you tell me to be. Now look,

Earl.

If the jury thinks that you're putting on an act, we're finished.

You have got to be dead real out there. Do you understand?

Yeah.

Dead real.

Here's the memo on Rico's forfeiture.

I'll have the citations later today.

If I was unprepared for that class, it's because I was up half the night

researching this memo for you.

And that entitled you to special treatment?

It entitles me to fair treatment.

I've been putting in a lot of hours around here, and you can't expect to

me from both sides.

A lot of law students have jobs, Diana.

They don't get any favors.

Nor should you, just because you happen to work for me.

You're trying to drive me out of here, aren't you?

Excuse me? You disapprove of my relationship with Jonathan, and you're

remedy the problem by forcing me out. What happened yesterday was that a

was unprepared.

And a teacher got tough to prevent that from happening again.

That's all.

Uh -uh. What happened yesterday was one individual treating another with

disrespect. And that's a premise I will not accept.

Sorry.

Diana, have those citations on my desk by five o 'clock.

Well, hello there.

Hi.

Jonathan, what's this Whedon versus Kendall's food mart thing?

Helping out the photo woman in a flip and fall. You've indicated a liability

ceiling of ten.

She's getting steamrolled by an insurance company. You have no right to

this case.

I'm not going to run up a lot of hours. Don't worry.

I'm having one more meeting with the claims adjuster, and I'll be out of it,

promise. I wish I could believe that. You have a tendency to turn the flight

conflict into a protracted catfight, and I won't allow you to... Would you like

to take over, Douglas?

Maybe you should do it.

Perhaps my counsel could prove fruitful.

I'm an excellent negotiator.

I'll bring you the file.

The meeting's at two tomorrow.

Good. Good.

Would you describe your relationship with Nina Corey, Mr. Williams?

Her freshman year, she was just a student in my class.

Very bright.

Very enthusiastic.

Her sophomore year, she became my research assistant.

We worked long hours on a paper I was doing, and the more time we spent

together, the harder it became to fight.

The impulse we both felt.

Finally, we gave in.

You became lovers?

Yes.

You lied about that, Earl. Yes, I did. You sat here, and you let me repeat that

lie to the jury.

Yes. Why?

I was afraid that if it came out that I were there that day, no one would

believe I didn't kill Nina.

Then there's my wife.

I think I can face anyone easier than I can face her.

Scared to death of losing her.

You went to see Nina Corey the day she was killed, didn't you?

Yes, I did.

What time did you arrive?

About two.

Would you please tell the court what transpired during that visit?

We talked for a while.

She showed me some clippings she had torn out of a newspaper.

Then we went to bed.

You had sexual intercourse?

Yes.

Then what?

I took a shower.

Nina made tea.

What time did you leave?

Around four.

Earl, did you ever strike Nina Corey?

No, sir.

Was she alive when you left her apartment?

Yes, sir.

She was alive.

Thank you.

I have no further questions.

Hello, Mr.

Williams. Why did you take a shower after having sex with Nina Corey that

I don't know.

It's just what I'm in the habit of doing.

Really?

You mean you always wash the smell of another woman off before going back to

your wife?

Objection. Sustained. The truth is, you were desperate to conceal this affair

from your wife, weren't you? It was important to me that she not find out I

that, yes.

Yet as desperate as you were about that, you were just as desperate that the

affair continue, weren't you? I cared about Nina, but I wouldn't call it being

desperate. No?

What would have happened to your standing at the university if it got out

were sleeping with a student?

I don't know.

Would it have helped you? Would it have hurt you? The witness said he didn't

know. Except that the witness does know. He knows full well the kind of risk he

was running. Make your point, Miss Flanagan. The only reason you ran that

is that you loved her. I cared about her. I said I cared about her. And I say

you loved her.

Desperately and passionately. You loved her and wouldn't let her go. Your Honor,

argumentative. Sustained.

Tell us how you felt about her wanting to end the affair, Mr. Williams.

She never gave any indication that she wanted to end it.

You heard Todd Aaron Price testify.

He and Nina were going away for Thanksgiving.

She was leaving you for him. Even if it were true.

I was hardly in a position to object.

Oh, you were in a position to do whatever you wanted. You were bigger

was. Objection. Move to strike.

Sustained and stricken.

You were in the apartment. You had sex. She told you about Todd.

How did you feel about her going off to Palo Alto with this rich white boy?

Objection.

Overruled. Look, I was a married man. She was a young girl.

I felt bad, okay? But I did not kill her.

I think you did.

I think you went into a murderous rage that didn't end until she lay dead on

that floor. I'm not capable of doing something like that. I think you are.

You saw this pretty young girl with a will of her own. You couldn't break her

down, so you beat her to death. Your Honor, I ask that the prosecutor be

instructed to stop badgering this man. Miss Flanagan, that's enough.

Mr. Williams.

You're now asking that all these people believe that you went to Nina's

apartment on the day she was killed. You had sexual intercourse. She told you

she had someone else. You kissed her goodbye and you left.

Then a short time later, some unknown, unseen person showed up and beat her to

death. That's exactly what happened.

Because you're incapable of murder? Yes.

Incapable of brute force?

Yes. I'm not a brute.

I am a professor of Russian literature.

I am a learned man. That doesn't mean you're not a savage killer.

Objection! I am not a savage.

I am not a wild beast. No matter what you would like these people to believe,

matter how you see me, I am a human being and I did not kill anyone!

The law says that I can fold my arms and stand mute.

And if the prosecution has not proven guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, you

to acquit this man and let him go free.

Okay. Given that, let's look at what the prosecution has proven.

That the defendant and the deceased were having an affair.

That the defendant was in the deceased's home on the day that she was killed.

That's it.

None of that.

None of it proves that the defendant committed murder.

Now, the prosecution's eyewitness made her identification in the dark when she

was scared out of her wits. A detective who was assigned to the case testified

that it was a thief that committed the murder. And we have the unrefuted

testimony of Jacqueline Williams that Earl was at home with her at the time

killing occurred. occurred.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all go home feeling as though this horrible

crime had been avenged?

It would seem to resolve this tragedy if we could ignore the lack of proof,

declare this man guilty, and dispatch him to his fate.

But what distinguishes us from a lynch mob, however, is that we choose to

do that which is just over that which is easy.

I don't know who killed Nina Corey.

But I do know in my heart that this man did not. The police department and the

district attorney's office, in their desperation to solve a crime, have

a runaway train.

I beg you, ladies and gentlemen, I beg you to stop it.

Earl Williams.

We know he's a liar. He lied to protect himself.

He steadfastly denied having an affair with Nina Corey until we identified the

semen on her sheets as his.

He denied being in her home at the time of the murder.

And his wife backed him up.

We produced an eyewitness who was positive she saw him leave.

Various friends and family members have testified to his gentleness.

Because that's the side of him they knew.

We're here, ladies and gentlemen, because of another side.

The side that only Nina Corey knew. The murderous side. The side that battered

the life out of a girl simply because she wouldn't bow to his will.

Did anyone see him do it?

The answer's no.

People seldom kill in the presence of others.

Besides, Nina was willing to be alone with Earl.

For nearly a year, she had been willing to give Earl anything he wanted. And

this man wanted everything.

He wanted his marriage, he wanted his job, and he wanted his affair.

And no one was going to take that away, especially not some 20 -year -old girl.

Who was she to cause him such pain?

Who was she to back away from him?

So this six -foot -one...

A 190 -pound man took a baseball bat to a girl who stood 5 '2 and weighed 105.

He shattered her legs.

He pounded on her midsection until her insides burst.

He crushed her skull.

He did this, ladies and gentlemen. This man who sits before you did this.

Find Earl Williams guilty and punish him for what he did.

You have all the proof you need.

And I thought if the three of us sit down as reasonable men, we could

Nice. Birch.

Imported oak.

Mr. Clancy.

Young attorneys sometimes fall victim to their passion.

You and I should be more disposed to extol common sense.

You're absolutely right, Doug.

I'll give you $2 ,000.

You see?

You're a crude businessman, sir.

But crudeness is often the calling card of compromise.

Don't start whacking me with proverbs, Dougie.

I told our little victim of passion here that I'd spot you two bills.

Now, since you're obviously not gonna bite, and since we both want it to go

away, I'll bring it up to, uh, 25.

But that's all.

Three and you got a deal.

Done. With a signed release today.

No.

Jonathan. No. Her medical bills were almost 800.

Jonathan. She's my client, Douglas. I'm not gonna let her go for this. You'll do

what I tell you to.

Schmidt, Douglas.

Oh, gee, here he goes.

You wanna see me go?

You watch me go. Jonathan. This may cost us $10 ,000 to litigate, but it's going

to cost you a lot more. Bluff away.

No bluff.

The complaint will be filed tomorrow, you son of a bitch. The interrogatories

will be on your desk next week, and the depositions will start after that.

Mr. Rollins.

You're crazy. That's right, Mr. Clancy. You're going to war with the crazy man.

I'm going to haul your fat ass up and down those steps three times a week for

what's going to seem like the rest of your putrid life.

Jonathan. Shut the hell up, Douglas.

There's nothing you can say that'll stop me. I'm gonna bury this cheap bastard.

You're gonna fire him, right?

I wish I could.

What do you mean, you wish you could?

You're a partner. He's an associate.

Yeah.

But he's a valued associate.

And I can't just terminate him. He just screamed at you, for God's sake.

Are you gonna stand for that? The point is, Mr. Clancy...

He wins his cases.

And if he's determined to litigate this, there's nothing I can do to stop him.

Did he fold?

Like a cheap umbrella.

Twelve thousand.

What? I told you it would work.

She'll have the check tomorrow.

You're the greatest. Thank you. Well, the idea was good, but I must admit,

little performance really brought it home. It was sensational.

Just following your direction. Let's see, in a one -third contingency, the

just made $4 ,000 for less than an hour's work. And a little old lady gets

fair settlement for her pain. That, too.

Good work, Jonathan.

Hello? Oh, Diana, come in.

I just wanted to tell you, your RICO memo is excellent.

Thank you. You're doing excellent work, Diana.

Keep it up.

I don't quite get it. Around this office, you're so charitable and nice.

that class... The jobs are different.

In here, it's my function to cultivate loyalty.

But there, I have 50 minutes three times a week to push 65 people up a hill that

isn't too much fun to climb.

And I have to use everything I can, including scare tactics.

I think I understood that until I became the victim.

There was nothing personal, Diana.

And about my trying to drive you out of here. I didn't mean that. I was feeling

a little wounded, and I shouldn't have said that.

The truth is, I am a little uncomfortable about an associate here

clerk.

It's not a great precedent.

But do I disapprove of your relationship with Jonathan?

No.

Would I be more comfortable if you didn't work here?

Absolutely not.

You're sure?

Extremely sure.

Now, get back to work.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

I don't like the red thingies.

How's everything else? Do the hot dogs measure up to your standards? They're

okay. I hope you saved some room for dessert.

Oh, he's always got room for dessert.

My dad takes me to a different place for hot dogs.

Does he? My dad has the best place for hot dogs.

Well?

You like Chinese food?

I hate it.

That's too bad, because I've got a special place for that.

You like Chinese food.

No, I don't. I hate it.

It's news to me.

Are you my mom's boyfriend?

Well, let's see.

I'm her friend.

I'm a boy.

My dad said you're her boyfriend.

Did he say that to you, honey?

I heard him talking on the phone.

Well... You made my dad cry.

I didn't mean to.

Well, you did.

How'd he do that, honey?

When he told him Mr.

Becker came to the house, he started to cry.

Well, Mommy and Daddy both cry sometimes, Chloe.

I cry sometimes, too.

May I go on the dragon now?

Do you want to go by yourself?

Yes. Sure?

Yeah. Okay.

She's got a lot of questions.

Me too.

Oh, yeah? Like what?

What if at some point Randy decides to fight you in custody?

A lawyer's professional judgment can't conflict with his personal feelings.

A lawyer himself can't be made an issue on which you're vulnerable.

A lawyer can't keep questioning himself because he's afraid he could be falling

for his client.

I think maybe you need another lawyer.

Has the jury reached a

verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

Will the defendant please rise?

In the matter of the people versus Earl Williams, criminal complaint number

7341. We, the jury, find the defendant, Earl Williams, guilty of

murder in the first degree.

We further find special circumstances to exist, namely that the murder involved

the infliction of extreme physical pain.

Ms. Flanagan.

Your Honor, at this time, the people ask that the defendant be sentenced to

death.

Members of the jury.

We will reconvene in four weeks' time to commence with the penalty phase of this

trial. The sole issue to be determined is whether this defendant, Earl

receives life imprisonment or death by the infliction of lethal gas.