Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law.

We're doing exactly what Mr. Okubo did.

We're buying a kidney.

You either do it or she dies.

You aided and abetted a federal crime.

If you ever do anything remotely like that again, you will be out of here.

And the same goes for you.

We didn't mean for it to happen. It just kind of snuck up on us.

What I'm trying to say is...

Would it bother you if Grace and I started seeing each other?

Yes.

The new partners were voted on.

Victor's in, you're out.

Those bastards.

I wanted to tell you, Abby, but... But what?

What, your obligation to the partners took precedence over our friendship? I

it exactly, Anne.

You're the most important thing in my life.

And you always will be.

Then come home.

The idea of representing you is repugnant to me. Grace.

You can help me avoid the stain of an investigation.

I'm willing to pay you $300 ,000 to do it.

Why wasn't this out in the open, Leland? I wasn't hiding it. I just decided not

to publicize it. I knew there'd be opposition.

No jail for you this year.

Thank you, Leland.

I don't know how I could ever repay you.

Thank you, Stuart. That was wonderful.

Yeah, and we get to go home together.

That's the best part.

Oh, my God.

What?

Don't make it obvious, but nice and slow. Look to your immediate right.

That's nice and slow.

What the hell are they doing here? What does it look like they're doing? They're

having dinner.

You think it's social?

It couldn't be social.

You think it's social?

They're sitting in a booth. Why would they choose a booth unless...

So, they'll plea it out to life, but that's all.

Life in prison, and what the hell good is that?

It beats the death penalty, which is what you're looking at. Lionel, you've

one murder conviction already. They don't have to give you anything.

How about parole?

No.

Let's go for the trial, then. You know, life's as good as the gas to me.

Okay. It's your call.

I don't know what was in my head not killing that girl.

She's dead. They got no eyewitness. Are you telling me right now that you did

kill the husband?

Well, that'd be pretty stupid on me, right, counselor?

Smarter for me just to tell you nothing.

They give you soup, right?

Yeah, and a tie.

Where? We go in at 2 o 'clock. I'll see you there. You're going to be a good

lawyer, aren't you, Mr. Cifuentes?

First up, a very happy birthday.

To Arnold Becker. Happy birthday.

Happy birthday, Arnold.

Thank you. My birthday isn't until Thursday.

Agreed. But since you seem to be particularly anxious about it, I thought

take the opportunity to remind you every day this week. The big 4 -0. 39.

Can we move on, please? Of course.

Anybody seen Miss Perkins? Yes, she's in her office. She sends her regrets.

What do you mean she sends her regrets?

She's skipping the staff meeting? Evidently, she's under the impression

could manage without her.

I can't imagine what she could be thinking.

Ah, Victor.

People versus Lionel Sanders?

I'll start this afternoon.

How can you actually defend this scum? The court ordered me to represent the

guy, and it's not like I had much of a choice. It's the same. You're going to

fight like hell to get him off, right? I hope I lose.

But to answer your question, yes, I'm going to fight for the guy.

That's what I was appointed to do, right?

Moving on. Grace, you authorized payment of hospital expenses for a Ms.

Helena Washington?

That's the woman who supplied the kidney for Carol Graff. She developed some

complications, and to protect the firm from potential liability, I saw to it

be hospitalized and fully checked. What's this about? We went through a

broker to get Carol Graff's kidney. Why aren't we just hearing about this now?

I've already reprimanded both Grace and Mulaney on this matter. No, no, that's

not the point. No file was opened. No case number was assigned.

Why was this done secretly?

It shouldn't have been. They screwed up.

Move on, Douglas. There is some good news. Leland has landed Velnick

a major manufacturing company of household fixtures, a client which could

generate billables upwards of a quarter of a million dollars annually.

That's terrific. That is good news. And more good fortune. I note, Arnold, you

have a meeting with Christina Shepard regarding her divorce from Leonard Bay,

CEO of Kenmore Consolidates. This could be major.

Mr. Bay is worth between 50 and 100 million.

Hopefully, I'll reel in Mrs. Bay this morning.

Let's hope so. It's been a while since you brought in a big one. What are you

bringing in, Doug?

It was an observation.

Don't be so sensitive during your birthday week. Douglas.

Sorry. We're adjourned. Great.

Call me in my office, please.

Can it wait? I... No.

In my office now.

Why wasn't I told about this kidney broker thing?

It didn't involve you, that's why. You expose us to this kind of liability, it

damn well does involve me. Well, Leland knew all about it and already gave us

chapter and verse. That doesn't absolve you of your obligation to inform me

about it. What do you mean, inform you?

This was a function of the litigation department. That means you come in here,

you tell me everything. Hey, hey, hey, cut the crap, will you, Michael? You've

got a problem with me seeing Victor.

Fine, but it is totally unprofessional for you to... I am talking about the way

you practice law. No, you're not. This is personal. This is professional. As

head of litigation... You're not head of litigation. I am.

What? That's right, Michael. Leland made me head of litigation.

It was a condition of my coming here. So don't tell me what I can or can't do as

a lawyer here. And don't tell me what I can or can't do concerning anything

else.

Are you finished with me?

I'm not going to lie, even though I happen to be quite good at it.

Thank you.

You're the ninth lawyer I've gone to.

The other eight have all said the prenup can't be broken, which is terrible

since it limits me to $500 ,000. And you want more?

Much more.

Leonard's worth about $70 million.

$500 ,000 just seems a little bit trivial.

Maybe, but then on the other hand, you've only been married to him for

months. Quality time.

Look, I made a mistake.

A mistake I would like him to pay for.

And I hear you're creative.

Let me look at the agreement, see what I can come up with.

$400 an hour applied against a non -refundable retainer of $30 ,000.

That seems a bit high compared to the others.

I don't compare to the others, Miss Shepard.

Is that right?

I'm going to have three lawyers comb through this little contract, and then

you're going to tell me everything you know about your husband, everything,

whether you think it matters or not.

Then I'm going to get to work and make you a very large amount of money.

How does that sound?

You arrived home around 11 p .m.? Yes, we went to a movie.

John parked the car in the garage, and we came in through the side door, and he

was there in the kitchen.

And what happened, Mrs. Purcell?

Well, I think we surprised him at first because he jumped back.

Then he pointed his gun at us. Does this look like the gun, ma 'am?

Yes. People offer this as Exhibit 1, Your Honor.

And what happened next, Mrs. Purcell?

He started screaming at us to get down on the floor. He said if we didn't get

the floor that he would kill us.

Keep going.

Well, we did what he told us to do, and he was swearing all the time. He was

swearing at us.

And then he made John take off his watch, and he made me give him my rings

bracelet.

Then he put his gun in my mouth, and he was laughing.

He told John to look because he wanted him to watch. He wanted him to watch his

wife die.

I thought he was going to kill me right then and there.

And then he took the gun out of my mouth, and he hit me in the side of the

with it, and I guess I just blacked out.

And what's the next thing that you remember?

Waking up and seeing John there, lying in the blood.

He had a...

He had a hole inside his head. He... He was shy. He killed my husband.

And you're absolutely sure this was the man you saw that night?

Yes. Yes, that's him.

Thank you, Mrs. Purcell.

Nothing further?

Mrs.

Purcell, my name is Victor Cifuentes.

And ma 'am, I am truly sorry for your loss.

Now... You didn't see my client shoot your husband, did you?

No, I didn't see it.

Okay.

Okay.

I'm ready, brother.

Well, the prints from inside the house match those of the defendant.

And based on that, as well as Mrs. Broussel's positive photo

sought and obtained the warrant and proceeded to arrest Mr. Sanders at his

residence. And, Detective, did you search the defendant's apartment

this arrest?

Yes, we did.

And what did you find?

Located under some dishrags beneath the sink was a .357 Magnum. I show you

People's Exhibit 1 and ask if you recognize it. This is the gun we found.

recognized it by the...

Chip on the handle. You ran this through ballistics? Yes, and they confirmed

this to be the gun used to kill John Purcell.

Sir, what else did you find on the premises or on the person of the

Lionel Sanders?

We recovered a watch and some jewelry identified as belonging to the victim

his wife. We also noticed a bullet wound on the arm of the defendant.

Were you able to ascertain the cause of that wound?

We believe the victim attempted to go to the aid of his wife as the defendant

beat her.

The gun probably went off, wounding the defendant, and it was likely at this

time he fatally shot Mr. Brassell.

Thank you, Detective.

I have nothing further, Your Honor.

You have no eyewitness to the shooting, do you, Detective?

To the actual shooting?

No, we don't. And it is possible, isn't it, that the fatal gunshot could have

gone off during the struggle? It doesn't matter. Felony murder rule. Move to

strike. Even if it goes off by accident, it's still murder one. Move to strike.

That is a legal conclusion.

Sustained. Thank you. You can't rule out the possibility that this was an

accident, can you? He was shot, point -blank, Counselor. I don't think that's

accident. It could have gone off during the struggle, right, Detective?

It could have, but I doubt it.

Thank you, sir.

That's all.

What the hell are you talking about accidents for? It don't matter if it's

accident. Just for sentencing right now, that's the only thing worth

concentrating on. Hey, stop going through the damn motions and do

I'm trying to tell you there's not much we can do here. Then screw the hell up

in there. Give me an appeal for inadequate counsel. Give me a damn

anything. It's not gonna work. Do something for God's sakes. I'm looking

freaking gas chamber here.

They appointed you to defend me, so damn it, let's see a defense.

Look, all I can tell you is...

Right now we're looking at a certain conviction now you can testify and try

change this but you have an obligation to tell the truth You understand what

saying? I cannot put you up on the stand if I know you're gonna lie.

I got you put me up there I'm just gonna

ask you what happened and you tell me right?

Hi, hi, how we doing?

Oh, we're all right. Arnie's in his office sulking.

He's really freaked.

And a surprise party's just what he needs.

Roxanne, I need you... Hi.

Hi, sweetie.

Dropped by to say hello.

Uh -huh.

Look, in case you two are planning any surprise parties, forget it. I am not

celebrating this birthday.

Well, go out to dinner, just you and me. No, I have to work late Thursday night.

Arnie. Excuse me.

Sorry, the thing's airtight. Don't tell me that, Jonathan. They haven't invented

an airtight prenup. They have now. This thing's crafted.

You're telling me this ten minutes before my meeting? I've been telling you

since last night. Forget it, Jonathan. Just forget it. Fine.

I gotta go to the bathroom.

No party.

Now what do we do?

I already booked a caterer.

Relax. We'll just do it here.

Here? If we can't get him to the party, we can bring the party to him.

What can I do for you, Ann?

I thought initially I wouldn't say anything.

But now that I think about it... Stuart and I had dinner at Tribeca's the night

before last.

And as we were leaving, we saw you kiss Rosalind Shays.

Uh -huh.

Is that it? Uh -huh?

I didn't know that my social life was any of your business.

It is if it affects the firm. Oh, this doesn't affect the firm. You had us

represent her in that SNL case because of your involvement.

That's deception, Leland, if not an outright lie. We represented her to save

ourselves $300 ,000. It has nothing to do... Then why didn't you just tell us

you were seeing her?

Well, if you were having an affair with Rosalind Shays, would you tell anybody?

You're sleeping with her.

Please leave, Ann. I don't trust that woman.

I didn't trust her motives when she was here, and I certainly don't trust them

with you now. I said leave.

Leland, you got a minute? What do you want?

Oh, I'm sorry.

What can I do for you, Michael?

Grace Van Owen and Tommy Mullaney violated federal law. We have knowledge

thereby putting us at serious risk if we do nothing.

We could all be disbarred, or worse, we could all be brought up on conspiracy

charges. What are you saying?

I'm saying that, like it or not, we have to do something to protect ourselves.

At a very minimum, they should both be suspended.

Well, you can't be serious.

Leland, the donor is sick. If she dies, there will damn well be an

investigation. If we are so much as charged criminally, this firm is

But if we suspend them, we leave ourselves open to scrutiny.

Then we have to do it very carefully. We simply suspend them without pay for

undisclosed reasons. The partners will never suspend Grace. On your strong

recommendation, they might.

Does this have anything to do with Grace's new relationship with Victor?

I know about it. It's all over the... I am talking about this firm.

Period. I won't make that recommendation. But you're risking the

discussion is over, Michael.

Who's head of litigation?

I beg your pardon?

Grace told me that you made her head of litigation when you hired her. At the

time, you were leaving the firm. But I didn't leave the firm. I stayed. Who is

head of litigation, Leland?

Well, this firm has never operated on that kind of hierarchy, so what...

Officially, who is head of litigation?

I made a commitment to Grace.

I stand by that commitment.

When is it ever going to cease to suck around here?

This agreement is so fundamentally unfair it virtually has no chance of

up. Five hundred grand for seven months. I'd say she gets off, okay? Given your

client's net worth, Mr. Cleland, this contract is unconscionable. She was

represented by counsel.

This thing is binding. But ambiguity is construed against the drafter. That's

very true.

But there's nothing ambiguous about it. There is enough to get into court where

things can get very ugly. That is not something that you want, sir. Is that a

threat? Well, I don't know. The line between threat and promise is so easily

blurred. Go ahead and sue.

I'll cross -claim her for being a gold -digging malicious slut. We'll add on

slander. I'm surprised, Christine. Is this all you come up with? Let me tell

what I'm going to do. In exchange for you recommending to your client that she

walk with the 500 and not a penny more, I'll recommend to my client that he not

haul you in on sanctions for abusive... Who do you think you're talking to? A

lawyer that has no case, that's who. Do some research, Mr. Cleland.

You're dealing with Arnold Becker here.

Uh -oh.

Yeah, you're right. Instead of five, we'll give you four.

We'll see you in court. Hey, you know, she's hired every lawyer in town to

this. That should tell you something about the validity of this prenuptial.

And as for you... You're a nice choice.

I should say something, too. Come on, Lenny.

We're dealing with Arnold Becker.

Look, why don't you just bill me for the time spent and I'll be good at that,

all right? It's not over yet.

Well, for us, I think it is.

Look, you're a very nice man.

It was lovely to meet you, but I think... I'm not finished with him yet.

And you're not going to fire me.

You give me another day and I'm going to beat those bastards. I am not a nice

man.

I promise.

I needed the money for drugs. That's why I broke into the house.

I'd just gotten inside when they came home.

And what happened, Mr. Sanders, after the Brucelles entered their home?

It was like she said at first.

I put my gun to them, said get down on the floor. I took their jewelry.

Did you put your gun inside Mrs. Brucelles' mouth?

The reason I did that... would make it harder for her to remember me. I figured

she got a gun barrel in her face. She's not thinking about the color of my eyes.

So you did that to shock her, yes? Yeah. Since I knew I wasn't going to kill

her, I didn't want her remembering me.

You strike her with the gun?

Yes, sir. And then she passed out, so I stopped.

And next you turned to Mr. Brassell. Yes, sir.

Did you put your gun inside his mouth, too?

No, sir.

Well, could you tell the court what happened then?

I raped him.

You raped him?

Yes.

And then what happened?

He was crying the whole time, begging me to stop.

And I made him, uh... I made him do things to me. What things?

Sex things.

And in the middle of it, he jumped up and grabbed me, and that's when he got

gun away from me.

So Mr. Brassell got possession of the revolver?

Yes. And I started to run away, and that's when he shot me.

And then what happened?

Well, I just hit the floor.

You know, I didn't know that he had just got me in the arm. I thought that, uh,

this was it, you know? I thought he was gonna kill me. So what did you do?

I just laid there on the floor and pretended I was dead and prayed to God

Almighty that he'd let me live.

And, uh, and the man, he just started crying again.

Mr. Brassell started crying? Yeah, he was crying and, uh, he began to tremble

and... God, and that's when he done it.

Did what?

He put the gun to his head and he just, uh...

He just pulled the trigger.

Is it your testimony, then, that Mr. Brathel committed suicide? I swear

how it happened. I wasn't going to kill either of them. He put the gun to his

own head.

So then what did you do? Well, I got the gun and I left. Look, Mr. Sifuentes, I

didn't kill nobody.

I broke in there to steal and I committed a rape. I should go to jail

forever, but I did not kill that man.

Thank you, sir.

I have nothing further.

Mr. Sanders, you expect us to believe that the victim just took your

gun and shot himself?

My word to God, that's what happened. Didn't check on his wife?

Didn't call an ambulance to make sure she'd get help?

Just turned the gun on himself and fired? Objection.

Your Honor, that goes to the victim's state of mind.

Sustained. How come you never told us this before?

Because I knew nobody would believe me. You were previously convicted of

manslaughter in 1980, weren't you, Mr. Sanders?

For which you served eight years? I ain't lived my life too good. I've done

lot of stuff I deserve to be punished for. Does that answer yes or no? Yes.

I committed that murder in 1980, but this one I didn't. That man, he

killed himself.

I didn't murder anybody that night.

I didn't.

So what are you going to do?

What else can I do? I have to try to prove this guy's story.

But you yourself said it's a total lie.

Yeah, but I don't know for a fact that it's a lie.

Do you even remotely believe this guy?

No. Well, then... But it doesn't matter.

If I don't use and incorporate his testimony into my defense, then I'm as

as admitting to the jury that I don't believe him. And that's... Violation of

privilege.

I gotta go with this cock and bull story.

I'm gonna do whatever I can to try to prove it.

Oh, Victor.

What if you pull it off?

Dr.

Felder? Mr. Cifuentes?

Thanks for coming.

Tommy Mullaney told me you're the best.

Well, I don't know what I can do on such short notice, but, hell, let's give it

a try. I tried to get a continuance, but, uh... Look, these were all the

medicals that I could dig up so far in John Brassell.

Now, anything that you could possibly do to support the theory... When am I

going on, hmm?

45 minutes.

God.

Okay. Let me pour through this.

Bring the check?

Yeah. Two thousand, right?

I'm going to need a receipt to get reimbursed for this. No problem.

I wish I could give you more time to prepare. Not to worry.

Forty -five minutes should be fine.

And so you're saying it's possible that this was a suicide?

It was very possible.

The trauma of rape can affect near psychotic reactions.

Victims are very often suicidal.

Why is that, Dr. Felder?

Rape is extremely destructive.

The sense of violation is overwhelming.

Mr. Brassell was the victim of brutal, violent sodomy. And this could cause a

man to take his own life?

Usually the suicidal tendencies manifest later, but there are no rules here.

This man had to sit by helplessly and watch his wife get a pistol stuck in her

mouth, get knocked unconscious.

Then he was forced to have anal sex.

He was forced to...

Orally copulate the stranger?

This could very definitely have consumed him with such self -disgust he just

snapped. There's plenty of anecdotal evidence to support this.

Thank you, Dr. Felder. One more thing. I examined the coroner's report, and from

the angle of the bullet wound... Objection! It definitely could have been

-inflicted. Objection! This man is not a coroner. He has no foundation.

Sustained. Members of the jury will give no way to the remark regarding the

angle of the bullet wound. Well, one does not have to be a coroner... Dr.

Felder, be quiet.

I have nothing further, Your Honor.

You never knew or even met the victim, did you? No. No, I did not. And you're

here espousing psychological opinions on him? I'm talking about rape and

suicide. You're talking about whatever defense counsel wants you to talk about.

Objection, Ms. Kennedy. Throwing around any psychological buzzwords you can

think of to justify your... Objection, counsel.

Let me tell you something, Ms. Kennedy. I don't like the defendant.

I think he should rot in prison for the rest of his life, but that doesn't mean

that I should overlook the evidence which is in front of me. That evidence

suggests the very real possibility, if not probability, that John Rousseau took

his own life. That's why I'm sitting in this witness chair.

And when you investigated this crime, Detective, you never explored the

possibility of suicide, did you? No, we did not. When you recovered the murder

weapon, you found two prints on it which belonged to the victim.

Didn't you? Well, probably during the struggle, he grabbed a hold of the gun.

The victim's prints were on the gun. Yes or no?

Yes. And you never explored the possibility that the victim was raped.

that right? There's nothing in the autopsy report to suggest that he was.

But if there was no tearing or semen, autopsy could have missed it. And in

sir, you ordered to exhume the body of John Brassell yesterday to check for

evidence of rape. Isn't that right?

That's correct.

What did the coroner conclude?

There was too much decomposition to tell. It was inconclusive.

Yes.

Thank you, sir.

Nothing further.

Christina.

You're late. Where the hell were you? This better be good, Ernie. Just play

along, Christina.

Gentlemen. I'll tell you, I will move for sanctions. This is my meeting, Mr.

Cleland. I'd appreciate it if you... Yeah, well, you'd just be glad we showed

up. Now, let's just settle this, and I don't want to hear any more garbage

breaking the deal. Oh, I don't care about the prenup.

We're going to be seeking an annulment to the entire marriage.

An annulment? You've got to be kidding. I'm not kidding.

A client induced this woman into wedlock through fraud.

What are you talking about? I'm talking about your inability to naturally

consummate your marriage, sir.

I'm talking about your penile implant.

His what? Oh, God.

My client had no knowledge that a material part of your anatomy was

She knew it. After you were married. She never would have known it had one of

your cylinders not ruptured. For God's sake. What is this crap? This crap

concerns an internal mechanical device designed to give him an artificial

erection. Wait, just a second. You're not impotent. Absolutely not.

I'm functioning. With the aid of technology, yes, but... You son of a...

This is the lowest, most disgusting ploy I've ever heard of. Thank you, and

besides that, it's relevant.

It goes directly to the issue of conjugal relations and therefore is

annulment. All right, my friend, you want an annulment, you got one.

But that means that they were never married, so instead of $500 ,000, she's

entitled to absolutely nothing. Excellent point.

The only thing is, for the annulment, I'll have to file the grounds with the

court and therefore make it a matter of public record that the CEO of Kimwork

Consolidates has this built -in body pump that shoots liquids into it. That's

blackmail. Two million dollars, Mr. Bay, or the whole world finds out you're a

self -made man.

You can't do this.

Two million dollars by the end of business tomorrow.

Who the hell do you think you are?

Her ninth choice.

All right, Abby, how long is this going to go on? I said I was sorry.

And I accepted your apology.

Let's just forget it, okay?

But you haven't forgotten it. You've been carrying it around for over a week

now. Ann, I'm sorry if it makes you feel uncomfortable.

I'll try and look happy.

Look, I would quit if I could afford to. I really would.

But I have a son, and I am a sixth -year associate in a depressed market. I have

nowhere else to go.

So... I trudge in here every day to McKenzie, Brackman, Cheney, Cusack, and

Becker, so pleased with myself.

The depressed market is the only reason you weren't made partner. Your work is

great. Everybody likes you. It's simply a question of economics.

That probably doesn't make you feel any better, but you have to know there is

still a lot of support for you here.

Who voted against me? That's confidential.

Leland and I voted yes.

Everybody else voted no.

Did Leland push for me, or did he just vote? He fully supported you. No, did he

push for me?

What's the difference? How? The difference is we had a deal. Last year,

struck a bargain with Jonathan and me.

We pledged our support for him in his fight against Rosalind in exchange for

promise to endorse us for partnership when the time came. Quid pro quo, just

like that. Yeah, and what I want to know is, did he keep his promise?

Oh, yeah.

He kept it.

Yes? I'm sorry.

About before, I was out of line, Grace.

Okay, let's forget it. Hold on a minute. You don't even know what I'm

apologizing for.

Yesterday, I went to Leland behind your back.

I tried to get him to suspend you and Tommy Mullaney, ostensibly to protect

firm.

but more likely to punish you.

The only explanation I have for all of this is that I'm not over you,

Grace.

I thought I was, but...

I don't know how far your relationship

has progressed with Victor, but I do know that I love you.

That's not gonna happen, Michael.

What? Is it Victor?

It's me.

You.

And yes, Victor.

Okay.

I gotta get back to work.

Again.

You're doing what? That's what I said. We're dismissing the burglary and

aggravated assault.

Why? I'll tell you why. She knows the jury hates my guys so much they're never

going to dare let them walk. By dismissing the other two counts, the

available means to lock him up will be the murder charge.

If I want to dismiss in the interest of justice... Then I want the complaint

amended to include the rape. Opposed. He admitted it under oath. The interest of

justice would also mandate... I'll bring the rape charges after this trial.

Judicial economy says do it now. All right. You're both very clever.

Look, if the district attorney wants to dismiss on burglary and aggravated

assault, I really can't stop her. And I'm certainly not amending the complaint

to include rape now. That'd be against the defendant's constitutional rights.

waive it. State won't stipulate.

Sorry, counsel.

Burglary and assault dismissed. He remains up on murder alone.

Look, I don't want this guy to go free either.

This isn't right.

You're trying to box the jury into a corner with their own fear so that you

get a murder conviction that you might not otherwise get.

You are doing whatever you can to get him off, Victor. I'm doing whatever I

to get him on death row.

Yeah, but you know what? You're playing loose with the rules.

You're dropping counts to force jurors' hands. You're playing fancy -free with

the system here, and you are letting us. I've made my ruling.

Closing arguments, 10 o 'clock tomorrow morning.

To be perfectly honest with you, ladies and gentlemen, I hate Lionel Sanders.

I'm here as an attorney under court appointment.

I have to tell you that the idea of representing this man is repulsive to

But that doesn't change the fact that on the charge of

murder here, Lionel Sanders must be acquitted. He must be.

Nobody saw him shoot the victim.

The prosecution has offered nothing to refute his testimony. The evidence

suggests that the bullet wound could have been self -inflicted.

Victim's fingerprints were on the gun.

You heard Dr. Felder talk about the psychological effects of rape, the

being sodomized, and how that could drive a man to take his own life.

Yesterday morning, the prosecution suddenly had enough doubt themselves

they ordered the body to be exhumed, and the tests were inconclusive.

The prosecution cannot exclude the possibility of suicide here, and that

that they can't negate reasonable doubt.

Now you can all go back to that room and unanimously conclude that sitting over

there is a despicable human being.

You can go back hoping that when he's brought up on those rape charges, and he

will be after this trial is over, that he's put away for a long, long time.

But what you cannot do, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is ignore the

that reasonable doubt exists here, no matter what she says.

No matter what they tell you, she can't stand here and rule out suicide because

they never investigated it. They never even investigated it.

So, you can be weak and do the popular thing, or you can be

strong and cling to the principles and the obligations that you took an oath to

uphold.

It's not easy.

Dammit, your job is not easy here.

But be it for this system's integrity or simply your own, you have to do

it.

You have to do your job.

Ladies and gentlemen, Lionel Sanders is a convicted felon

who by his own admission had killed before.

He made up a wild suicide theory to save his life, hired a veteran professional

witness doctor to lend credence to his theory, and that is his whole defense.

He broke into this home, battered the wife, a bullet from his gun

ended up in the head of Mr. Bursell, and they're asking you to swallow suicide.

There's no evidence of rape here. Nothing.

In the autopsy or anywhere else because he made it up. He is a cold -blooded,

two -time killer who told a desperate lie on the witness stand in order to get

you people to acquit him of a vicious homicide.

Don't do it, ladies and gentlemen.

You know what he is.

Don't give him the chance to show up one day in your kitchen.

Thank you.

What's going on? I have nothing to do with this. I'll take responsibility,

Douglas, since I'm the catalyst.

We have some concerns, Leland, and we'd like to address them. What kind of

concerns? With leadership.

Specifically, your emerging track record for deception.

You concealed your social relationship with Rosalind while mandating that we

represent her. You secretly promised Grace that she would be head of

You never even told Michael, or me for that matter. Oh, please. Yesterday, I

found out that you made a covert partnership promise to Jonathan and Abby

exchange for them backing you against Rosalind.

My God, Leland, you sat in this room last week endorsing Abby on her merits

it was really a political payback. I truly believe she would make a great

partner. The point is you don't make deals like that, and you of all people

to know that. Today, I learned through a little checking that Velnick

Industries, our new big client, is a subsidiary of the Tamman Group

a corporation whose head lawyer is Rosalind Shays.

Did she refer this subsidiary to you? So what if she did? So you never told us

about that.

Now, since Rosalind's client has control over our client, she indirectly has

some control over us here. That's ridiculous. It's not ridiculous.

You've completely subverted the democratic process.

You're running around making decisions that affect all of us, and yet you're

keeping us totally in the dark. You hired C .J. Lamb unilaterally. That

have been put to a vote. You hired Tommy Mullaney unilaterally. That also should

have been put to a vote. I'm trying to build our revenues back up here, and C

.J. We don't like your methods. We don't like the secrecy. Especially now that

Rosalind's got... your ears. Now that's out of line, damn it. Maybe it is, but

this is a partnership, not a dictatorship.

We've called this meeting to make our feelings clear. Fine. Now let me express

my feelings.

The burden is still on me to bring in the business.

I can't spend eight hours a day trying to build a client base and take out time

to serve your sense of democracy.

I know I've been cutting some administrative corners, but it is tough

rainmaker and office ambassador at the same time. So what are you saying?

I'm saying I'm going to set my priorities.

For the next six weeks, I'm going to completely concentrate on expanding our

client list, thus free myself from all this office bureaucracy.

I am passing the senior partnership temporarily over to Douglas.

You can't do that. I certainly can. The partnership agreement authorizes me to

make a pro tem designation unilaterally, and that's what I'm doing. Douglas, for

the next six weeks, you're in charge. I leave it to you to establish a fair and

democratic process that everyone can live with.

Are there any more questions from anyone?

Good. Thank you for airing your concerns.

This meeting is adjourned.

Isn't this exciting?

Mr. Bay.

What a surprise.

You don't know how this kills me.

I could have just sent it over by messenger, but... Listen.

Even though the deal says that she can't talk about my... You know, I know how

lawyers tell war stories to each other and that... This would be a good one. I

won't tell anyone.

I must be the world's biggest sap, huh?

Thinking that a girl like that could go for an old fart like me.

As much as I can tell about your ex -wife, Mr. Bay, I wouldn't bother

yourself by her standards.

But I do, you know. The problem is...

I grew up handsome, and I just can't face the reality that one day, even if

isn't now, that people aren't gonna think that I'm attractive.

I'm gonna walk into a room, and girls like Christina aren't gonna look.

What are you, 42, 43?

39. Well, then you know what I mean.

You still turning heads?

That old smile still work like it used to? Oh, I don't really worry about that.

Well, then you're lucky.

You're lucky you're not vain, because aging...

There's nothing gradual about it. You're just suddenly old.

Is that why you got the implant?

I didn't need it. I wasn't impotent or anything. I just wanted to be as strong

and as virile. God, I thought that one day I'd end up with this limp, useless

rag like... Mr. Bay, I've got another meeting, so, uh... Yeah.

Tell Christine I wish the best for her, okay? Sure.

They've come down to second degree.

Which translates to what?

20 years.

See that?

Never underestimate the value of a good lie counselor. Three days ago, it was

life. Now, it's 20 years.

Look, you really need to decide. They can come back in any time.

20 years is pretty good.

Parole, you'll be out in 15.

Well, what do you think?

We got a chance?

Yeah, there's always a chance.

There's also a big risk. You lose, you're looking at the death penalty.

Yeah.

You know something?

I'm feeling lucky. You did a hell of a job in there, and I am feeling pretty

lucky. Even if you win, you're still looking at the rate. So what? Even with

high term and the prior, I'll be out of there at seven, which is a lot better

than 20.

That's for all the dice, Counselor.

Your closing argument in there today was fantastic.

As far as I know, it's a surprise.

Hi. Hi.

Hi. Hello.

I got a call today about something that might interest you.

Shh. Shh, please.

Everybody quiet.

I'm going to go get Arnie now. Okay.

Okay.

Arnie, are you in there? It's me, Roxanne.

Go away.

Artie.

Get up. Are you crazy? Get out of here.

What the hell's the matter with you? Your wife and 20 of your closest friends

are in a reception area waiting to give you a surprise party. That's what's the

matter with me.

Get your clothes on, for God's sake.

You don't go anywhere. You stay right here in this office, and you don't move

until I come back and say you can. Rox.

Hurry up and get ready, Arnie, before somebody walks in, you stupid jerk.

Okay.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Okay, I'm ready.

Nice time for a nap, Arnie.

Now, you just look surprised. Damn it, you stupid, selfish, ungrateful pig.

Madam Foreman, has the jury reached a verdict?

We have.

What say you?

In the matter of People v.

Lionel Sanders on the charge of first -degree murder, we find the defendant

guilty.

Members of the jury, thank you for your service.

The defendant's free to go. Your Honor, I have a warrant for the arrest of Mr.

Sanders on the grounds of aggravated rape, and I ask that he be taken into

custody. So ordered. Bailiff.

We stand adjourned. Mr. Sanders, are you going to plead guilty to the rape?

What not? I'm confident that we'll win there, too. I have no comment.

The DA's office and the police have both stated for the record that they don't

believe there was a rape. I think I'll make reasonable doubt.

I would like to thank my attorney. Obviously, we're both satisfied that

has been done.

Do you know what I just said? I have no comment, that's all.

Thank you.