Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law.

Is Nelson going to become a client here? I just opened some dialogue, that's

all. Like hell.

What are you saying, Victor?

I'm saying you sold out our client. I'm saying you were bought, Rosalind. Do you

know for a fact? You mean, can I prove it?

No. You never can with her. She's too damn good.

I'm not sure how to put this, but the quality of the work we've been getting

never been better than since Rosalind Shays took over the account.

If she left the firm, there could be a problem.

Don't walk out on me, Michael.

It wouldn't be walking out on you, Leland.

It'd be walking out on Rosalind.

I'm not stepping down.

Then I'll have to break you.

You want a war, Leland?

You've got one.

I think your father is losing touch with reality.

In what way? He takes on the persona of a television character.

I wanted to see where he was watching.

What are you wearing? Same thing I always wear.

Not in power of mine.

Let me take care of you.

No.

You're facing the deprivation of very important rights. Your daughter has

petitioned for a conservatorship.

You're entitled to an attorney, sir. It's okay, Judge.

I was always able to stand up for myself.

And that's what I'm going to do here.

As you like.

Mr. Becker, you may call your first witness. Yes, Your Honor.

We call Gut Niven.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,

help you God?

I do.

State your name.

Gus Nivens.

How do you know the respondent, Mr. Nivens? Well, he had the unit next to

at the retirement home until they kicked him out.

Did you spend much time with him? At one time, we were best friends, but not

anymore. Why not?

I hate to say this with him sitting there, but he ain't right in the head.

really believed that he was Ralph Crandon.

Judge. Yes, Mr. Melman.

When did you get off saying what it was that I believed?

The witness will refrain from speculating on the respondent's state of

How do you know that he wasn't just having fun?

What he talked about wasn't funny.

He'd say how his family didn't want him around.

He'd say, Norton, you're all I got left.

Finally, I said, uh, my name ain't Norton. How did he respond to that?

He grabbed me by the throat.

For a minute, I thought he was going to kill me.

Then, just like that, he lets go and busts into tears.

Was that the last time you spoke with him?

No, I spoke to him this morning, as a matter of fact. I asked him how he was

doing, and he said that if they're not going to let him drive a bus no more,

that he was going to throw himself underneath one.

No further questions.

My turn?

Yes, Mr. Melman.

Hi, Gus.

You really think I'm crazy?

Well, you tried to strangle me, Murray.

Does that mean I'm crazy?

Well, look, I ain't no shrink.

Yeah, but you're sitting here saying that I'm nuts.

What have I done?

Do I yell at strangers?

Do I drop my pants in public?

You're losing touch with reality, Murray.

Reality?

Reality was a bunch of toothless old farts sitting around discussing the last

thing they ate.

Mr. Mailman.

I'm sorry, Judge.

Gosh. Do you still talk to your buddy Mitchell?

Well, you know I do, Murray, every day.

Would you tell the judge where Mitchell is right now?

Sure. Sitting right here on my shoulder, where he always is.

Trudging forward, Victor, you start the priest malpractice case today?

Yep. Priest malpractice?

Negligent confession.

Our client refused to absolve a 32 -year -old woman who ended up having a

breakdown. Her husband is suing for emotional distress and loss of

Whatever happened to the separation of church and state?

The count against the church was dismissed, but they're making it stick

our guy individually.

Why isn't the church defending him?

Father McNamara baptized me.

And when he asked me to personally defend him, I said yes.

Well, just make sure the father pays his legal fees.

Move along, Douglas.

Arnie, you're handling Roxanne's conservatorship hearing? I am, and the

is representing himself, and he's pretty good.

Glad to hear it. Now, as you all know, because none of you could have possibly

forgotten, Benny's portrayal as the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz takes

place this Friday evening.

Incredibly, Abby has managed to get tickets.

All right, all right.

Can we move along, please?

I think we're done. Hold on.

I have an announcement.

I'm seeking to reinstate my position as senior partner.

A new vote will be scheduled for this Friday.

Excuse me. You have no authority to call that vote.

The executive committee can call the vote, Rosalind, and that's what I am

The executive committee hasn't even discussed this.

We're discussing it now.

All committee members in favor of a new vote, say aye. Aye?

Douglas, how do you vote?

I guess there's nothing wrong with voting if, uh... That's two to one.

The committee has authorized a new vote.

Now we're adjourned.

We can still settle it, Walt.

It might make sense.

Penance isn't something you negotiate for, Victor.

I just want you to remember that even though the church is behind you, you're

the only one on the hook here.

I mean, if they win, any judgment comes out of your pocket, personally.

Wait a minute, Victor.

Personally, I'm a priest.

If I ignore God's law, then I've got to face a whole different kind of judgment.

I wasn't wrong, Victor. I don't want to settle.

She had always been a very devout Catholic.

Church every Sunday.

She'd go to confession all the time. And there were these counseling sessions.

What counseling sessions, Mr.

Delahunty? She'd have all these sessions with Father McNamara.

Those are what usually upset her. But this particular time, it was the

confession. Now, this was the confession with Father McNamara on April 4, 1988,

correct? Yes.

She came back from church, and she wasn't talking.

Did she tell you what was wrong?

Not right then.

But I sure found out the next morning.

What happened then, sir?

Well, she just went crazy, ranting and...

Crying, you know, crying that she was going to hell.

What else did she say? She said that Father McNamara had condemned her to

eternal damnation. Objection, Your Honor. That's totem pole here today.

Overruled.

He said that since we used birth control, she was committing a sin

and that because of that, God would not forgive her. What effect did this have

on your wife?

Well, she was sedated that day.

And she was hospitalized for depression after the breakdown.

And she really can't do anything now. The doctors say that she's becoming

totally dysfunctional. Objection. Your Honor, could we have counsel use

psychiatrists to present psychiatric evidence?

Sustained.

What about your children?

She can't even talk to them or spend any time with them.

She says that...

Her soul is damned, and that the kids, for their own sake, should stay away

her. They're three and seven years old.

I have nothing further, Your Honor. Mr. Sufuentes?

Sir, as I understand these medical reports, your wife's depression was

on by severe guilt.

Which guilt was caused by having violated her religious faith?

Is that correct?

It was brought on by him telling her that she was going to burn in hell.

me, sir, but to your knowledge, did he ever use those words? He said he

forgive her.

She certainly knew what that meant.

And he also knows how seriously she takes her religion.

As did you, sir.

And yet you repeatedly encouraged her to go against her religious beliefs,

didn't you? I'd make love to my wife.

That's hardly... You'd wear a condom.

You'd insist to her that you use birth control against her faith didn't you

Catholics today use contraception? Everybody knows sir your wife is a

-born Irish Catholic strictly religious and you'd insist on wearing a condom

Yes, or no we have two kids. I make $31 ,000 a year we could have thank you Now

at the time of her breakdown on the morning of April 5th Exactly what were

two doing? She had the breakdown because he condemned her. What were the two of

you doing when she suddenly started, as you say, ranting and crying?

We were having marital relations. You were having intercourse.

You were using a prophylactic, weren't you?

Yes. And the doctors concluded that it was this particular event, it was the

intercourse that was the initiating event of this breakdown, did they not?

That's what they'd say. Thank you, sir.

Nothing further, ma 'am.

This is bad.

The clients Rosalind brought in currently account for 32 % of our

What's more, three of our biggest pre -existing clients have indicated they'll

go with Rosalind if she leaves.

Who?

Petramco, Feldenkrantz, Toll.

Oh, God.

By my calculations, we stand to lose over 50 % of our projected revenues.

How the hell can this be? She's been winning over Leland's clients, that's

We gave her the big accounts because they seemed to like her so much. And now

she's got them.

So what you're saying is if we vote against her and she walks, this place

fold.

We let it fold.

We can all find other jobs.

It's better than being under Rosalind's reign, right? It's not as simple as

that, Mike.

We've got a five -year lease here, $25 ,000 a month.

If this place dissolves, the partners are going to be on the hook for that

personally.

So they re -rent the space?

Don't bet on it. There's a lot of vacant office space in downtown L .A. right

now. It's not going to be easy for them to re -rent it. And if they don't, we're

going to have to fork over as much as $200 ,000 apiece. What?

We also have an outstanding loan of half a million, which will cost us another

$75 ,000 each.

This is unbelievable.

This can't be right.

It's right.

If we lose Rosalind and her clients, we don't just make less money.

Some of us could be losing our houses.

It can be more empowered over a confessing mental state than is your

psychiatrist. But, doctor, priests see a great many parishioners.

Yes, but he saw this particular parishioner over and over again in

sessions, which made his relationship with her much more like doctor and

patient. So?

So, he knew her fragile emotional state and how vulnerable she was with respect

to her religion. He had to know that damning her soul would devastate her.

Doctor, why doesn't this woman...

Simply find herself another priest.

She doesn't have the freedom of conscience to choose another priest.

convinced by virtue of their counseling sessions together that Father McNamara

specifically is her agent of God. If he doesn't absolve her in her mind, she

goes to hell. Well, thank you, Dr. Smithson.

I have nothing further.

Doctor, based on your psychiatric examination of this woman...

What is the cause of her underlying depression?

Guilt for having sinned against God.

That's right.

And is my client in any way responsible for the commission of these sins?

No, but he's the one who exacerbated her depression to the point of making her

delusional. How is she delusional, sir?

She's obsessed with the thought she'll burn in hell.

Well, do you know for a fact that she won't?

Well, that's a ridiculous question.

You're not Catholic, are you, sir?

Objection, Your Honor.

The expert is obviously making judgments concerning the plaintiff's religious

beliefs. His own religious beliefs are therefore relevant to his foundation as

an expert.

The objection is overruled.

Are you a Catholic, sir?

No, I'm not.

I see.

And so, in the gospel, when St. Mark claimed that a man who had been dead for

three days rose and ascended bodily into heaven, was he delusional? I don't

consider religious beliefs to be delusional, per se.

Do you think a dead body could rise up and ascend?

No. If someone told you that they saw this happening, would they be

When my client holds the wafer and wine in his hand and believes it to be the

body and blood of Christ, is he suffering from some psychiatric

happen to be his beliefs. If a woman says she's pregnant but says she's never

had sex, is she psychotic? You're talking about religious faith.

Exactly. You see, when you cut right down to it, Doctor, if Kate Delahunty is

going to hell, if her soul is going to burn,

And she is not delusional, is she?

Not if you make that kind of assumption, no.

Thank you, sir.

I have nothing further.

He insists that people around him are other characters from The Honeymooners.

gets very agitated when they tell him that they're not.

Has he ever endangered himself?

He commandeered a city bus.

He didn't crash it only because the cops got to him first.

Boss, you there, Charlie?

Are you making an objection, Mr. Mailman?

No.

I'm just saying she wasn't there.

Of all the people who were there, no one said a word about my driving.

How come she's so sure I would have crashed?

The respondent's correct.

His driving ability isn't before the court.

I'd like to ask you something, Mr. Mailman.

Isn't it possible that your father's an eccentric and he's behaving this way

simply because he's bored? In the beginning, that's all I thought it was.

That's what I desperately wanted to believe.

I've watched him go into these states, though. He's becoming someone who can't

take care of himself.

I'm afraid of what could happen.

All right, Miss Millman, thank you. I have no further questions.

I wouldn't ever put him through this otherwise.

Mr. Melman.

So, you think your old man can't flip the flop tax anymore, huh? I think you

need help.

Your Honor, I ask that the witness be addressed as a witness and the

conduct his cross -examination appropriately.

All right, Mr. Becker, but I am giving everybody a little latitude here.

Mr. Melman, you can only ask questions for now.

Questions?

Hmm.

Uh...

When you got the call that your father was being thrown out of the retirement

home, how long had it been since you last paid him a visit?

Objection. Wholly irrelevant.

Really? I don't think so.

The witness said how concerned she is.

I'd like to judge the side for herself.

You may answer the question.

It had been about six months.

And how long before that?

It had been months. I don't know how many.

How can you talk about what your father was becoming when you have no idea what

he was to begin with?

That's not true.

Does the witness know that last year her father underwent surgery?

For what?

An obstruction in his digestive tract.

Thought to be cancerous in nature.

Was it?

Apparently the witness knows nothing about this.

Daddy, do you have cancer?

No. But you wouldn't have known about it even if I did.

Why are you... think I'm doing this, Daddy? So you can forget all about me,

honey.

So you can put me in a nut house and forget all about me.

I have nothing further for this witness.

What's going on, Douglas? And why on earth do we have to meet in the men's...

Because this is the one room Rosalind won't come in. I have the solution.

What? Leland can't bear the thought of her being in charge, and Rosalind can't

bear the thought of losing her power.

Leland would support me as senior partner, however, and Rosalind might

can convince her, I'd still let her run things. She'd never go for it. She

might. She's faced with losing, or if she wins, a mass exodus. She's got to be

willing to compromise, and I might be the perfect compromise.

And you'd be the senior partner?

Figuratively, yes. Well, what about me being the senior partner figuratively?

You. Come on. What do you mean, look at that?

The only other vote you got was from your wife. What does that tell you?

you didn't even get your own vote. What does that tell you? Hey,

I'm trying to make a good -faith effort to solve a crisis here. No, you're not.

You're trying to wheedle yourself into becoming... No, wait a minute. I

want to go short man's complex. Chemical bald man's complex. I'm used to having

hair, but you've never been taught... Shut up!

For God's sake, you're both acting like children.

I'm just trying to solve a problem. Well, it doesn't do it. Fine.

Sorry I brought it up.

Meeting's over. Fine.

Mrs. Delahanty, you have agreed to testify here on behalf of the man your

husband's suing.

Could you tell us why?

I don't think what the father did was wrong.

He refused to grant you absolution.

I didn't deserve it. Do you think you deserve to be condemned for using birth

control? I believe in one...

True church, Mr. Cifuentes.

Holy, Catholic, and apostolic.

I have sinned in thought, word, and deed.

And birth control is a sin?

A mortal sin.

And you also believe that whoever dies in a state of mortal sin is condemned to

hell?

Yes. It would seem that your belief has caused you a great deal of pain.

That... that isn't important.

Kate, don't you wish that Father McNamara could find it in his heart to

you? Father McNamara...

has been my strength since the day I moved into his parish.

He's guided me and he's comforted me. He didn't absolve me because he couldn't

absolve me.

Even now, he hasn't abandoned me.

And I never will, Kate. I never will.

That will do, Father.

Thank you very much.

Nothing further, Your Honor.

Aside... From what Father McNamara told you, did you think what you did was so

bad? It's not what I think that matters.

It's what the church tells me. And is it fair to say that Father McNamara knew

this about you? Of course.

He was my priest.

Did you ever tell him how hard it was to be a good wife and a good mother

and a good Catholic all at the same time?

Yes. Did you tell him how desperately afraid you were of having more children?

Yes. What was his advice?

To use natural planning and to follow the teachings of the one true Church,

holy, Catholic, and apostolic. And if you strayed from the teachings of the

true Church, holy, Catholic, and apostolic, did he tell you what would

If I remained in a state of sin, I would spend an eternity in hell.

Did he paint a picture of what that would be like?

Yes.

You would burn forever in a non -consuming fire?

Hotter than a thousand suns.

My flesh gnawed by vermin and goaded by spikes.

Never to be permitted into heaven.

Never to be allowed in the presence of God.

Well, since Father McNamara confirmed that this would be your fate, have you

been able to care for your children?

No. Have you been able to so much as touch them?

No, sir.

Did Father McNamara know this?

Yes. I have no further questions, Your Honor.

Let's take a 30 -minute recess.

What can I say, Judge?

How can I prove I'm not crazy?

How does anyone?

You'll concede, Mr. Melman, that your behavior does raise the issue.

What am I doing that's so terrible?

Assuming that I fall into my own little world.

Who am I hurting?

I think your daughter's fear is that you might end up hurting yourself.

Please, Judge, tell her not to worry.

I can take care of myself.

Mr. Becker.

Are you aware of it when you assume the role of...

Ralph Cramden, Mr. Melman? Sure, I'm aware of it. Yet you told your daughter

that you weren't.

I was yanking a chain, that's all.

So when you called the mentally retarded clerk at McKenzie Brackman, Ed Norton,

you were just having fun with him?

That's right.

Same as when you put on a uniform and drove off with a city bus.

I was just trying to be funny, that's all.

Come on, Mr. Melman.

Listen, wise guy.

I'm telling you the way it was.

Maybe I don't dress as good as you do. But I put on a clean pair of underwear

every morning. I eat three meals a day.

And I was doing just fine until you came along.

Why Ralph Cramden, Daddy? Miss Melman, you have an attorney here.

Your Honor, you said you were giving some latitude.

I'd like to ask a few questions myself.

All right.

Daddy.

Daddy, you watched a lot of other television shows.

Now, why didn't you become Jack Benny or Sergeant Bilko?

Why Ralph Cramden?

Because he never gave up, that's why.

Because he was always looking for his pot of gold.

He also never ran off and left his family.

I think it's all a favor.

You didn't.

I was always a failure in everything I did, no? You were a failure because you

left.

Son of a bitch!

Promise me the pocket concession. Mr. Mailman, who are you referring to?

Frank. Everything you wanted, I did for him.

He needed tickets, I got him tickets.

You wanted me to watch the store, babe, I watched the store. Sir. I'm gonna take

care of you, Murray. I'm gonna give you a piece of the pie.

Where is it?

When was the last time you spoke with Frank, Mr. Mailman? Just last Friday. I

said, Frank, Roxanne is gonna start high school next year.

Before I know it, she's gonna be thinking about college.

What are we talking about, huh? Do I get the concession or not?

Who am I, Mr. Melman? Oh, come on, Bernie.

What's the matter? You don't trust me anymore?

All of a sudden, everybody decides Boris cares, shall we?

Daddy. Well, it's nice to know who my friends are.

I think maybe we should take a short reset.

Ah, forget about it.

I can always make a buck.

As long as I got my strength, I can always make a buck.

Who wants tickets?

Oh, thanks for coming in.

Listen, I'd like to represent to the partners that the associates here fully

back me.

I have Victor.

I'd like to confirm the two of you.

Well, Leland, you know we both hope you win.

I want your endorsement on the record.

Suppose you lose.

That makes our future here very tenuous.

Oh, well, Rosalind could certainly forgive you for backing me.

She isn't the one who hired you.

I, on the other hand, did hire you.

You're putting us in a bad position, Leland. And I don't think that we

Yes. Yes, I am. But this is a war. And everybody has to take a side.

I'm simply asking you to make your call now.

Okay.

You have my official support.

Good. In exchange for your unconditional support when I come up for partner.

Me too.

I didn't call you in here to bribe you with anything, and I don't think... Then

let's not call it a bribe.

Let's call it a threat, because that's exactly what you just did to us.

Look, Leland, when we come up for partnership, everyone is going to have

a side.

We're just asking you to make your call now.

Okay. Good.

We have a deal?

Yes, we do.

Good. Best of luck in the vote, Leland.

We're with you.

I'm sorry, I cannot break the confessional seal to talk about this. I

that. But generally, and of course hypothetically speaking, Father, if a

came to you and confessed to having used birth control, would you grant

absolution?

If I felt the person were truly repentant, yes, I would. Again,

speaking, under what circumstances would you not?

Well, like every priest, I would refuse to grant absolution if I felt the

penitent was not sincere about his confession. And if a person had come to

confess and say hundreds of times, and each time confessed to having committed

the same sin, would a priest consider him or her to be truly repentant? If a

person kept repeating the same sin and showed no real intention of conforming

his or her moral behavior, no, no, I would not consider the person to be

repentant. And would you condemn this parishioner to burn in hell?

No, I would never say that.

I simply would no longer continue to absolve that person for the same sin.

you, Father.

What happens when a

person dies in a state of mortal sin?

It's God's will that the soul is damned for eternity.

And if Kate Delahanty were ever denied absolution, she'd understand that to

she'd burn in hell, right? Objection, Your Honor. This witness had counseling

sessions with her. He knows her state of mind. He knows how obsessed she was

with her afterlife.

The objection is overruled. In fact, Father, you knew that by withholding

absolution, you'd shatter this woman, didn't you?

I'm sorry. I cannot divulge the contents of a confession.

Would the vast majority of Catholic priests withhold absolution because of

control? Mr. Penn, it was not sincere yet.

Many Catholics today use contraception. Are you saying... Yes, I know. Many of

them don't even come to confession at all anymore. They might as well be

Protestants. Well, in his encyclical letter of human life, Pope Paul VI

upon priests when dealing with this issue to have consideration of the weak.

Now, did you think... I had consideration, Mr. Laporte.

The paragraph 28 of that encyclical letter calls for obedience to the

authority of the church. And that encyclical letter also clearly states

birth control is against the law of the church. In the Vatican II document, The

Church in the Modern World, it says that the condition of the times should be

taken into account when dealing with contraception, right?

But that paper also says...

that conjugal love is intended for the transmission of life.

Hypothetically speaking, Father, would you deny absolution to a parishioner

though you knew it would psychologically devastate her?

All we can do, Mr. Laporte, is put our trust in God.

No, Father.

Kate Delahanty put her trust in you.

Forget about the fact that he's a priest, ladies and gentlemen. This case

nothing to do with God's law.

We're talking about a therapeutic relationship where that man served as

woman's de facto counselor.

Now, Pope Paul VI, in his encyclical letter, called upon the priest to act as

counselors.

Well, if they're going to hold themselves out that way, people, they

assume the responsibilities of that role.

They have to exercise ordinary care.

That man didn't. A weakened, unstable woman

came to him seeking compassion.

And he crushed her, knowing her to be fragile, knowing her.

to be emotionally infirm.

This man, from his own psychological vantage point, devastated her. That

made his conduct negligent. That made it reckless.

Because of what he did, she can't hug her own child.

She can't have sexual relations with her husband.

Because of what he did, she has nightmares every day about her flesh

In hell.

That man did that to her.

He did it knowingly.

And he wants you to excuse that just because he wears a collar on his neck.

For her sake.

For God's sake.

Don't you forgive him.

Basically, they're asking you to find my client negligent for suggesting that

Kate Delahunty would be going to hell.

But in order for you to find him negligent, you'd have to find the whole

Catholic faith negligent.

Because it is the teachings of Catholicism that say this woman will go

Despite what modern day practices, the law of the Catholic Church is still...

that a penitent who is not sincere in his confession shall not be granted

absolution. The law of the Catholic Church is that if a person dies in a

of mortal sin, he will be damned for eternity.

Now, you don't have to believe that.

You are all free to pick your faith, just as Kate Delahunty picked hers.

She chose Catholicism. And my client acts in strict accordance with the laws

that religion. You condemn him, then you condemn the Catholic Church.

And if you want to put his religion on trial, look out.

Yours will be next.

Because the truth is, ladies and gentlemen, the day you apply negligence

religion, the day you hold divine faith up to standards of reasonableness,

that is the day you outlaw religion altogether.

Thank you.

You may be seated.

There are few things sadder than the deterioration of a human mind.

Most of us just stand and watch helplessly as it becomes clear that a

no longer do what they've done all their lives.

We may be powerless to prevent it or reverse it, but we're not powerless to

minimize the consequences.

Based on the testimony presented and what I myself have observed, I'm

the petition for conservatorship and appointing Roxanne Melman as

Effective immediately, she's to have full control over all of Murray Melman's

finances and affairs.

His pension and Social Security checks will be mailed directly to her. I've

taken it upon myself to revoke Mr. Melman's driver's license.

You're locking me up.

No, sir. I urge you, however...

To accept the fact that you need to be taken care of.

Okay,

this will

simply be a forum for free discussion, after which we'll convene at the end of

the day for final statements from the two candidates, followed by the votes.

The floor is now open. If I may.

I would like to hear your specific criticisms of my performance as senior

partner.

I assume that you do have reasons for wanting me out.

Nothing. This stupid executive committee thing.

Leland's idea, I simply put it into effect.

What else?

You wanted to take on Anderson Industries to directly do business with

Africa. Arnold Becker also wanted to take on that client.

As did Douglas Brackman, as did Leland McKenzie initially.

What about going to Victor's client behind his back?

I asked Victor to go to the client.

When he refused, I had to fulfill an attorney obligation.

There is no attorney obligation to accept a bribe and sell out a client.

I didn't know such a thing.

I challenge everybody in this room to offer a single piece of evidence to the

contrary. Oh, look, Rosalind, nobody can tell what goes on behind closed doors.

But you did go to the client behind the back of a lawyer here.

You went behind my back to Scott Perot with a deliberate attempt to undermine

me. Now, that is a breach of fiduciary duty, and you did it. Maybe in an

to keep this firm together.

Is that where your interest lies, Michael? In staying together?

If so, I'd be very curious to know why you're currently interviewing with a

on Wall Street.

Don't underestimate my network out there.

I find out most everything.

Look. My future is not the subject matter of this meeting. But the future

this firm is.

And I am the only one here that can guarantee it. Keep in mind, with me in

charge, you have the freedom to leave.

But if I leave, I take 50 % of the business with me.

And you lose that freedom.

Your only choice remains to stay and work much, much harder for far less

or... Leave. In which case, the firm dissolves. And you all incur staggering

partnership liabilities.

Come on.

I'm certainly open for more discussion.

Has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

What say you?

On the claim of negligence leading to loss of consortium... We find for the

plaintiff, Kevin Delahanty, we award the lump sum of $250 ,000 in damages.

This matter is concluded.

The jury is dismissed with the thanks of the court.

All right.

I think maybe we can sit down and work something out here.

Excuse me a minute.

You want to work something out?

Here's what you tell your client.

Tell him I don't want his money.

Tell him I want my wife back.

He's not about to give in, Kevin.

Why don't you give me a couple of minutes with him?

Sure.

All those people want from you, Walt, is absolution.

I think you should grant it.

You've known me a long time, Victor.

Do you really think I could put a price tag on the blessed sacrament of

confession?

No. Then why are you asking me to sell it?

According to my reading of canon law, what's required for absolution is

repentance. You really think she's undeserving of mercy?

It's not enough, Victor.

She hasn't committed that sin in two years, Walt.

That tells me that she's sincere.

Look at her, Walter.

Father McNamara, look at her.

Wait here, Victor.

Would you excuse us, please?

Come on, let's go.

Through the ministry of the church, may God grant you pardon and peace.

I absolve thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy

Spirit.

This vote isn't about Rosalind. It isn't about me.

It's about all of you.

It's your standards, your priorities that are on the line here.

Arnold, you said that if I put your name on the door, this firm would become

a part of you.

Well, Arnold Becker was stenciled in on that class.

This place is now a reflection of you.

With your vote, you get a chance to show us what that means.

Ann, you once said that Rosalind Shays embodied money and power, and you feared

this place would become her.

The question today is not whether the firm has strayed from its moral center,

but rather, have you?

Stuart, when you campaigned for this job,

You said the main function of a senior partner is to breed a sense of community

into an otherwise cutthroat business.

What kind of community feeling is Rosalind giving you?

By far the most humbling part of this is for me to have to lobby for your vote.

Your father and I started this firm.

flourished and had floundered a hundred times during those early years.

But whatever this firm was, it was always us.

And then he passed on, and this firm became you and me.

You and me.

If Rosalind Shays remains as senior partner, Michael Cusack won't be the

one to leave.

One by one, you will all leave.

Because each of you, ultimately, will choose to work at a place that just

doesn't help you make your mortgage payment, but in a place that serves your

values, a place that makes you proud, a place that personifies what you know

yourselves to be.

If I stay, you get that.

If I stay, this place remains what it's always been.

Mackenzie Brackman, Cheney Cusack.

Isn't that something?

I'm asking you now. Don't you let that get away.

Rodland?

Leland is beloved.

Few personality clashes, but I've rescued it.

Is there anybody here who wants to see me remain a senior partner?

I don't think there's any need for a vote.

So, what now?

Can I turn on some lights?

What are you asking me for?

You're going to do whatever you want anyway.

I wish there had been another way to do this, Daddy. Well, it's done now.

You want to tell me what I'm in for?

What kind of an institution?

Are there going to be bars on the windows?

Straight jackets?

Shock treatments?

It's not going to be anything like that.

Oh, no.

Well, what's it going to be like?

It can't be another one of those retirement villages.

They don't want anybody who's a problem.

Listen, we haven't even started looking.

You're putting me in a home.

I'm not putting you anywhere.

We're going to find some place where you're comfortable. If you don't want to

stay there, you won't.

I don't want to go in a home.

We ought to see some of these places before you say that.

A home is a place where you go when you're ready to die.

When the rest of the world doesn't need you anymore.

When one day is just like the next.

I have to know that I have something good for me.

Even though it's only handing out handbills.

Placing a two -dollar bet on a whore.

You can live with me, Daddy.

It's not gonna work.

Maybe it will.

You got a life of your own.

Now you're in it.

Come on.

Let's go.

I'll help you pack.

I'm paid up here till the end of the week.

I'd like for you to come with me now.