Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law.

I had dinner last night with Ken Feldman. Who's Ken Feldman?

Executive producer of The Sun Up Show.

And he asked me to see if you might be interested in becoming their full -time

legal segment reporter.

Me? I think with you on our team, The Sun Up Show could kick some serious ass.

Tell me about Brooks Gatlin.

Brooks, huh? Oh, I can't tell you about Brooks.

You know, what you see is what you get.

He's a good anchor. He's got a good mind.

He's a man's man.

What does he feel about me?

First of all, Ernie, Brooks Tappman is not the boss of the setup show. Okay,

second of all, I got to believe that you two guys are going to hit it off big

time. So what do you think of Ken Feldman? He seems all right.

Basically, he's a network guy. And the network is trying to cut our operating

costs to the bone.

Who are you?

Who else could it be, dear?

I'm shocked you didn't expect me. I expected you.

You wouldn't dare shoot if I stay passive.

Wrong.

I'm pleased to announce that no charges will be filed against Tommy Mullaney in

the self -defense shooting of John Harvey.

That must be a relief. Yeah. I am so surprised they even considered it.

Thanks, guys.

Miss Lamb, the United States government is deeply saddened by what happened to

your client's wife.

Is that why you're trying to shut us up? Why you had a slap at the gag order the

day we filed?

I thought we were here to talk settlement.

All right, what's your offer?

A hundred thousand. That's insulting.

No admission of liability, the case stays sealed. And nobody will ever know

happened to Catherine Phillips.

Forget it. You're obligated to discuss this with your client.

Oh, I will.

And he'll be as disgusted as I am.

You put Luis Federo, a dangerous criminal, into your witness protection

You locate him in a residential neighborhood where he brutally murders

innocent woman. And now you offer her husband $100 ,000 to buy him off.

You people are really something.

Before you reject this, I'd think about a few things.

Such as?

The national interest.

We're fighting a war against drugs, Miss Lamb. The witness protection program is

a vital weapon.

We'd appreciate your cooperation.

I don't believe I'm hearing this. We do not appreciate people who work against

our interest. One like you could have immigration problems.

And then there's your unorthodox lifestyle.

Is that a threat?

Not at all.

I'm merely pointing out the facts.

The system works best when we all work together.

Let's get something clear.

My client is not going to be bought off.

And I am not going to be scared off.

Catherine Phillips is dead because of the government's negligence. And you are

going to be held accountable.

Where is Tommy Mullaney? He's running late, according to his assistant.

For the second time. This week.

Next up, James Phillips versus United States of America. Did I hear rumblings

a settlement?

We turned them down. Are you out of your mind? I agree with her, Douglas.

The government didn't supervise Vedero.

This case is worth at least ten times their offer. But they're claiming

immunity. You know they're gonna beat this.

But if there's gross negligence, you can get around immunity.

Maybe. Can you get Vedero to testify?

No.

He pled guilty to the murder. He's in prison now and he won't cooperate.

The government's moved to dismiss against us, but the judge wants a full

hearing. Doesn't matter. The case is a loser. If we accept the government's

offer, Douglas, we'll be telling them it's okay to conduct business any damn

they choose, regardless of the consequences.

I admire your principles.

It's your judgment I question.

Well, let's bear in mind that there's a gag order in place here. Not a word of

this is to leave the room?

Underscored. We can't afford the fines.

Moving along.

Excuse me, but you wanted to know when Arnie was on.

It's today?

Oh, yeah, he's going to keep on debuting until he gets it right.

Arnold Coast to Coast. It's a terrifying thought.

I'll say.

Here's the place to be. We'll have a live report in half an hour. That's it

the news. Brooke?

Thanks, Kelly.

And now we're pleased to welcome attorney Arnold Becker, who will be

demystifying the legal process for us. Arnie, it's good to have you here. Good

to be here, Brooke.

He's such a natural. But I think most of us would rather go to the dentist than

a lawyer. Why is that?

Well, most people only think that you go to a dentist when you're in pain or go

to a lawyer when you're in trouble.

Except really, a lawyer can quite often be a preventative to trouble.

But it's not just that, is it? It's also a question of ethics.

Well, there is a perception that some attorneys act more in their own best

interest than their clients.

Dragging out a case with endless depositions to increase billable hours.

lawyers, more interested in promoting themselves than their client's case.

Exactly. And yet you yourself released a videocassette, didn't you? Arnold

Becker's do -it -yourself divorce.

Yes, I did.

Precisely because I wanted to reach out to people who normally don't go to

lawyers.

Legal service has increasingly become a privilege of the rich, and I wanted to

provide a service to the disenfranchised middle class.

Maybe you should just lower your fees.

I'll keep that in mind, Brooks.

And we'll be back after a second. I haven't seen this kind of report since

and Cher.

Nice work, Ronnie. What was all that stuff about my video? That wasn't in the

script. No, I like to keep it spontaneous.

A little conflict gooses the ratings, and we brought you in to be provocative,

right? You didn't think I was serious, did you?

No, no, of course not. Good. I knew we were going to have fun together.

It was about 11 o 'clock on a Sunday night.

We had just been out to dinner, and Kathy said... Your wife.

Yes.

Kathy said that she needed some money for the week.

So we stopped in a...

driving cash machine, and I didn't even see the guy at first.

But when I reached for the money, he was there.

He had a gun, and I could tell that he was loaded on something.

Well, I talked to him. I told him not to panic, that he could have every cent.

And then what happened, Mr. Phillips?

He shot me.

In the chest.

And the pain was unbelievable.

I guess I blacked out. And when I came to,

I heard Kathy screaming.

She was begging for him to stop.

I tried to get out of the car, but I couldn't move.

He was hurting her, and I was totally helpless.

And then what happened?

I pulled myself up and...

I fell on the horn.

That was all I could do.

I don't know how long it was before the police got there.

I just remember a paramedic telling me that I was lucky.

I was going to be okay.

And your wife?

She was dead.

He beat her to death.

He crushed her skull.

Her face was unrecognizable. And he'd raped her?

Yes. The police apprehended the man that night?

Yes. They caught him trying to sell a gold bracelet that I had given Kathy for

our anniversary.

I identified him the next day.

Were you notified of a trial date?

Yeah. The D .A. told me that they had everything they needed to send him to

gas chamber.

Objection. Hearsay. Call the law.

And then all of a sudden they're telling me there's not going to be any trial.

Why was that?

Because of the federal government.

Vedero testified for them in some big drug trials back east, and they owed

Next thing I knew, Vedero was gone.

Thank you.

Mr. Phillips.

Let me say how genuinely sorry we all are for the loss you suffered.

Oh, that's great.

I can understand your anger.

When someone you love has been the victim of random violence, it helps to

someone to blame. No, you're not getting off the hook that easy.

The man who committed the crime is being punished, isn't he?

He pleaded guilty and he's serving a life sentence without the possibility of

parole. In a private cell with a stereo and a VCR.

Mr. Federo is in solitary confinement for his own protection.

And what about her?

She's the U .S. attorney, for God's sake. She put Videro in the program.

She was supposed to make sure they were watching him. Mr. Phillips, neither Miss

Copeland nor the United States government is responsible for the death

wife. No.

She knew what he was.

She did not do her job. Your Honor. No, I'm sick of you trying to shut me up.

Mr. Phillips, please. No, that animal beat my wife to death.

He killed her with his bare hands.

How can you let that happen?

How can you do that to innocent people?

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.

It's been two years since my last confession.

And what are your sins, my son?

I, uh... I shot somebody.

And I killed him.

How come you're moving so fast?

I had a B &E at nine. Don't answer it.

I got two witnesses I haven't even met yet and one arresting officer out sick

with a kidney stone.

Would you do my zipper, please?

I'm praying to plead this one. I do not want to try this case.

Hey, Joe.

You got a minute? Give me a call, please. Thanks.

When was the last time you talked to Tommy?

Uh, last week.

He's been a little incommunicado lately.

No, it's more than that.

Something's wrong with him.

What do you mean? Well, he's been agitated at work, missing court

since.

You know.

Damn, I don't see how you can still sleep in this room. Wait, wait, wait.

Agitated how?

Short temper.

Erratic.

If you ask me, I think he could use a little professional help.

Jim, I'm only in New York for a half a week. I have to have another researcher

for this interview. I can't just... Oh, hold on. I got another call.

Hello?

Yeah, Gwen, I'm on... What?

No, no, no, I can't depose then. I've got a settlement conference.

Okay, okay, hold on, hold on.

Why don't you switch the Markham to Friday at 11, dump Dryburg to Thursday

and see if you can't juggle the Monday schedule somehow to accommodate Lawton.

Great. Okay, thank you.

Jim, yeah.

Listen, I'm going to have to move that wardrobe meeting to Wednesday. Something

just came up.

Right. Ah, thank you.

Okay, bye -bye.

Great.

Which do you like better, the jade or the teal? I don't care.

Either one's fine.

You must have some preference.

Fox, I really don't have time for this right now. Right.

Like you didn't have time to look at wallpaper for the den, so now you make

gagging noises every time you go in.

Arnie, we both live here. We both have to make these decisions.

Rox, in two days I have to do a major interview. I'm not Phil Donahue. I can't

pull this stuff out of thin air.

And I can't afford to screw up.

Look at this.

Arnold Becker and his debut is so stiff, someone should be drawing chalk lines

around his body.

That's one bad review.

One is all it takes.

My God, in this business, they don't even give you a week. The sharks are

circling, there's blood in the water.

If I blow it again, I'm bone meal. Honey, this is crazy.

I only see you four days a week, and then for only an hour or two at most,

you're not a boyfriend. You're a rumor.

You think I like this? You think I enjoy spending three nights a week in a

hotel, eating all that great airline food, careening down Fifth Avenue with a

kamikaze cab driver?

Yes, I do think you like it.

I think the crazier it gets, the more exciting, the more glamorous you find

That is ridiculous.

That is so ridiculous.

I gotta go. I'll see you tonight.

Arnie. The war on drugs isn't just some PR catchphrase. It's very real.

If we're going to win it, we need men like Luis Federo. There's no other way?

Sometimes we get lucky. A wiretap or an informant's tip pays off. But in most

cases, if we want a conviction, we need the testimony of someone who's been on

the inside.

This is an organization shrouded in secrecy.

Until Federo, our ability to infiltrate was zero.

And with his testimony?

To date, we've secured the convictions of Rafael Ramirez, Cesar Rivera, and

Felix Quintana, three individuals responsible for importing and selling

million worth of cocaine a month in the United States.

Short of offering Manu identity or relocation, was there any other means of

securing Videro's cooperation?

In their own country, Colombian drug bosses think nothing of murdering

judges, even a presidential candidate, anyone who dares to oppose them.

Without protection, Videro would never have agreed to testify.

I can't blame him. But in the end, Miss Copeland, you're turning out a hardened

criminal on the street. Every participant in the program knows that

protection stops if they commit a crime.

But there's still the risk. It's the lesser of two evils.

Drugs and organized crime are out of control in this country. The public

action. We're being forced to take calculated risks.

Like Luis Videro?

Yes.

Thank you.

Calculated risk.

Robbery, drug possession, aggravated assault, armed robbery, rape.

This is the record of a violent criminal.

Wasn't Vadero about to be charged with manslaughter when he cut this deal with

you? Hadn't he beaten a man to death? A rival drug dealer. A human being.

You let him out, and he murdered again in the same way, only this time it was

innocent woman, wasn't it? Luis Federo is not some serial killer. He went

through hours of psychological testing before he was admitted into the program,

and he passed all of them. What did these tests measure?

His ability to cope with loneliness and isolation.

That's it? These are critical problems facing a new... Did you measure the

likelihood that he'd commit another violent crime?

Not directly.

You really didn't care about his psychological profile.

Objection. Or his record. Objection. Or his violent nature.

Sustained.

All that mattered to you was Vedero's testimony in your cases.

He didn't even care about his drug use.

Vedero was clean when he came into the program. Vedero was in custody when he

came into your program.

But six months later, a report was made to you by William Hobson, the U .S.

Marshal supervising him.

He caught Vedero using cocaine.

It was a small amount on one occasion. On one occasion that you knew of. But

it's still a crime, isn't it, Miss Copeland?

According to your own rules, Vedero should have been thrown out of the

We have discretion there. It's a judgment call.

If we terminated an individual every time there's a minor infraction, there'd

no one left in the program. If you'd terminated him, Catherine Phillips would

still be alive, wouldn't she? There's no way we could have predicted he'd kill

someone. Really?

Miss Copeland.

You took a man with a terrifying history of drugs mixed with violence and

murder. You gave him his freedom. You knew he was using drugs again. And you

you couldn't have predicted this? What did you think was going to happen? The

man self -destructed. Your man self -destructed, Miss Copeland.

He was your man.

Oh, this is a nightmare. I'm going to be playing catch -up all night.

All right, let me have the bad news.

Preston versus Camparsi. I took care of the filing on Monday.

Well, good, good.

Spencer versus Mencken? I made sure the discovery deadlines were being

satisfied, no problem.

Oh, God, Jack Perry is going to be livid. I haven't checked in with him in

weeks. He's fine. I make a point of it to call him once a week to give him an

update.

Go ahead.

Let's hear it.

You're what? I'm presumptuous. I'm meddling. I'm impertinent. I'm taking

liberties. I'm overstepping my bounds. Except somebody has to, Arnie. You sure

tell. Gwen.

Thank you.

Excuse me.

You're right. I've been so frantic lately. I've been letting things slide.

You've been bailing me out.

Thank you.

Who are you and what have you done with the real Arnie?

You've got a minute.

Come in.

I hear you've done some damage.

Not enough.

Do you still have friends at Justice?

There are one or two people who don't hate my guts.

Frank, I need your help.

Stan, I was hoping you'd come by.

I'd take a long, hard look at what you're doing.

It could have serious consequences.

You're a little late. I've already been through this with Reisman.

You're pointing out their imperfections. They don't like that.

Well, they've already threatened to deport me as undesirable. What more can

do?

They won't do anything.

But you might suddenly develop tax problems. The State Bar might receive

complaints about your competence or your morals.

And custody proceedings can be revisited.

Well, I'm surprised you left the Justice Department.

You sound like a true believer.

I was.

Till I got in their way.

It was only a minor cover -up.

A small operation in Jersey welched on a defense contract.

We had them dead bang for fraud.

But when I began to investigate, it became apparent that bribes had been

some people rather high up in defense.

Word came down for me to take my time on this one.

Then the press found out somehow.

And I was fired.

I'm not backing off.

But hey...

Thanks for the warning. I understand why you can't help.

I didn't say that.

When you worked for them, would you have gone to all this trouble to get me to

settle? Probably not.

Then why are they?

So you're feeding me, huh?

This is big.

You never made dinner when we were married.

How would you know? He never came home for us.

Cush. Cush.

I gotta tell you, though, this brings it all back.

You sure as hell can't cook.

Uh -uh.

Word is you've been acting strange.

Word is?

Where did you hear this from? From Jonathan. You know where I heard it

You've been agitated at work, he says.

So do you think you should talk to somebody about this? Who?

Who am I going to go to but you?

Well, then talk to me. No, no, you don't want to have this conversation. You

don't want to be saying out loud what happened that night. It was self

Yeah, that's a good answer. I keep telling myself the same thing.

I can almost believe it. The man pulled a gun on you. I made him pull the gun. I

baited him. I forced him to draw the gun so I could put a bullet in him and call

it self -defense. You know it. I know it.

What I saw... Don't saw.

Don't.

You lion's only gonna make me feel worse.

Hey, I don't regret it.

The psycho would have come back. He'd have been here to kill you. Same

all over. I'd do it again. Then why are you beating yourself up about this?

Because I killed somebody.

I hid in there with my gun and I planned. I wasn't thinking about just

them or just getting them arrested. Only thing going through my mind was don't

miss.

I can't sleep so.

I'm like afraid to be alone with myself.

I know I did the best thing, Zoe. I've got to be able

to live with what I did.

Yeah, absolutely.

So why can't I?

Hey, you go.

You up yet?

Listen, I'm going to drop off some stuff and I'll just swing by afterwards.

Jonathan?

Jonathan?

Jonathan?

Jonathan?

Oh, God,

this is great.

We're back with Arnold Becker, legal affairs correspondent, and his guest,

celebrated divorce attorney John Kaplan.

Arnie. Thank you, Brooke.

And thank you for being with us today, Mr. Kaplan. My pleasure.

I think it's safe to say that all of us in family law respect and admire your

work in the field.

At the same time, you are a controversial figure.

I should hope so. I've worked at it.

You represented Barbara Geller in her palimony action against financier Robert

McClure.

Some people were dismayed at your tactics, particularly your public

of Mr.

McClure's sexual peccadillos.

Well, my tactics may have been in questionable taste, perhaps, but there

nothing unethical about them. If Mr. McClure was so foolish as to be careless

about his sexual indiscretions, he can't complain when it's used against him. He

deserves what he gets.

Arnie, may I?

Mr. Kaplan, do you regard it as ethical for an attorney to have a sexual

relationship with his client?

Well, I certainly think it's ill -advised. But not unethical. A woman

trust in her attorney and he violates that trust for his own pleasure?

What do you think, Arnie?

I... can see how it might occur, but ultimately it does present a conflict of

interest. Of course, in certain cases, I can see where it might be a violation

of trust, as you put it. But didn't you, in fact, have just such a sexual

relationship with Barbara Geller?

Not until after the trial.

I have statements from a desk clerk at a hotel in Santa Barbara attesting to the

fact that you and Ms. Geller checked in there on May 11th, 1989, three weeks

into the trial.

That was a strategy session. You stayed overnight in the same room. What kind of

strategy were you discussing? That is none of anyone's business but mine and

Geller's. And possibly the state bars? If a man is foolish enough to be

about his indiscretions, doesn't... He deserved what he gets.

You ambushed me.

I ambushed him, and you helped me. Well, why didn't you tell me?

It made for better television.

We're a great team.

You held him in complacency, and I moved in for the kill. Except you come off as

the great journalist. I look like an amateur.

Is that what's best for the show?

Yes. Don't get me wrong, Arnie. I like you. But if I decide it's in the best

interest of the show to deliver your line standing on one foot and whistling

Dixie, you'll do it. Are we clear on this?

I owe you an apology.

You owe me nothing.

Nothing happened, Jonathan. I was there because I was a mess over the shooting

and I... I turned to Zoe. And she was there for you.

It all worked out. But nothing happened. I crashed there. I slept there. Maybe I

held on to her like a baby, but nothing physical happened.

And she called to tell you last night you weren't picking up. Well, then it

all just a misunderstanding then. Because if she had just told me, hey,

Jonathan, I'm sleeping with my ex -husband tonight, then everything would

great. Jonathan. Hey, don't. I want to be mature about this.

I'm late. I got to go.

Mr. Hobson, when did you first meet Luis Fidero? In 89, just after he came into

the program. I was U .S. Marshal assigned to supervise him.

And what did that function entail? I found him an apartment, I helped him get

furniture and phone service, and I helped him look for a job.

In your estimation, was he making the adjustment?

It's ups and downs. He couldn't find a job, but...

Overall, he was doing pretty well. What about Miss Lamb's contention that the

one drug incident should have alerted you that something more serious was

to happen? Like he was going to go out and commit a murder?

No way. You've got to understand the people in this program.

Most of them have had lifestyles you wouldn't believe. Cars, money, women.

Then suddenly they're alone, stuck in a suburb, bored out of their minds.

Some guys will take a drink.

Videro did a little coke.

That's not to say we ignored it. What action did you take?

We stepped up supervision.

I had a talk with Videro.

I told him.

One more episode like that, and Miss Copeland will throw him out of the

Thank you.

Your witness.

No random testing.

No drug counseling.

No. So you really thought a warning and increased supervision would be

sufficient? Without our protection, Vedero was a dead man, and he knew it. A

strong incentive to stay clean. Yeah, but it wasn't enough, was it? He was

the night he murdered Catherine Phillips.

Do you know where he got the drugs?

No, not for sure. Do you know where he got the gun?

No. Mr. Hobson, you said you increased supervision.

Just how closely were you watching him? Look, I've been doing this work for 15

years. I supervise 60, 70 guys. I'm not a rookie.

Mr. Hobson, what does the name Cindy Black mean to you?

Objection. Irrelevant. I will show relevance, Your Honor. Your Honor, this

extremely sensitive information that threatens the security of the Witness

Protection Program.

Overruled. You've got your gag order, Mr. Eastman. This courtroom is sealed.

The witness will answer.

Cindy Black was a prostitute. It's my understanding that Vedero was one of her

clients. And you knew this because an informant told you, correct?

I didn't ask you, Copeland.

I asked you.

Why did your informant tell you about Luis Vedero and Cindy Black?

Because Cindy Black was murdered.

In fact, she was beaten to death, wasn't she? Your Honor! The plaintiff would

like to recall Lisa Copeland.

Isn't it possible, even probable, Luis Federo murdered Cindy Black?

She was a prostitute. She knew hundreds of men. Any one of them could have done

it. Miss Black was beaten to death the same way Federo murdered before.

So? Prostitutes die that way all the time. Did Luis Federo kill all of them?

you at least notify local law enforcement that Federo might be a

suspect? No.

We conducted our own thorough investigation and concluded Federo was

You conducted an investigation?

Without access to the body, the coroner's report, or any other

There's absolutely no hard evidence tying Vedero to this murder.

There was plenty of circumstantial evidence.

You knew Black was probably turning tricks with Vedero. That doesn't mean he

killed her. That she was probably selling him drugs and that he had a

violence. But you kept it all to yourself to protect the credibility of

witness. Objection. This is a speech. Another murder might have tainted his

testimony, and that could have jeopardized your drug cases. Move on,

So, in spite of Cindy Black's murder, you never considered removing Vedero

the program?

As I said, we'd cleared him of any wrongdoing.

It was all part of the bargain, wasn't it?

Two weeks after Cindy Black's murder, Vedero kept his end. He testified for

in the Ramirez trial.

Yes. And two months after that, he beat Catherine Phillips to death.

How does it feel, Miss Copeland, knowing you could have prevented her murder?

Objection, Miss Lamb.

That's enough.

I have no more questions.

This is how you deal with things?

You just don't return phone calls? Hey, after what I saw, there's nothing... He

was hurting, Jonathan.

He needed... And his pain justifies you sleeping with him? I was not sleeping

with him. You were in the same bed. He spent the night with you. You know his

state of mind. For God's... I don't care how much he hurts. You understand?

I'm not going to be with anybody whose relationship with somebody else,

the hell it's supposed to be, has them winding up in bed together.

You selfish son of a bitch. You got that right, baby.

When it comes to me being involved with somebody, I'm the most self -protecting,

self -centered bastard you'll ever meet. I'm leaving.

You hurt me.

And I'm not going to get in any deeper with you and end up being hurt worse.

What happened last night is not going to happen again. Yes, it will. Don't you

understand? You two still love each other. You need each other. That's not

It is. It is.

It's true.

And I can't handle it.

I can't be in this anymore.

I'm sorry.

Are you saying we're finished?

Yeah, we're finished.

I'll be right with you, honey.

Morning.

Club -blooded mutants. What did they do? Embarrass me.

I will not stand by and watch him flush this show down the toilet.

I put many years into it.

Tough night?

Bad morning.

I think I just lost my innocence.

Oh, leave it to me, honey. You'll be a virgin again in no time.

Life in the war zone, huh?

Is it always this bad around here?

Oh, Tatman and Ken have been gunning for each other all season. See, Tatman

wants Ken out. So, naturally, everybody Ken brings to the show has to be wrong.

That explains a lot.

Yeah, so don't take it personally.

Oh, I guess it happens.

Wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Honey, baby, you are innocent.

Don't you know there are no accidents?

What do you mean?

You were God's gift to Tatman.

Everything he needed to force a face -off with Ken.

Trust me on this.

He did not just drop in his lap.

Somebody planned this.

You watch. If Tappman leaves first, he lost.

Now, if Ken leaves first, he's gone.

But if Network leaves, status quo. They live to fight another day. And if Ken

goes, I go. At the speed of light.

Everybody around here know about this except me.

Everybody feels for you because we all know you're a nice guy and you don't

deserve it.

Sorry, honey.

You're toast.

How can the government claim they are not responsible for the murder of

Catherine Phillips?

Because they didn't strike the blows that killed her? Because they didn't

brutally rape her before she died?

No, the government did not commit those horrible crimes.

But they made it possible for Luis Federo to commit them.

They took a vicious criminal...

They gave him his freedom, and they protected him better than they protected

innocent people around him. The government had two chances to prevent

of Catherine Phillips, but they chose not to.

They knew Vedero was back on drugs according to their own rules. He should

been thrown out of the program then, but he wasn't.

Even when the U .S. attorney knew Vedero might have murdered a woman, still they

did nothing.

They kept Louis Federo in the witness protection program, and it cost

Phillips her life. Why does the government want the circumstances of her

kept secret?

Because the government was grossly negligent, Your Honor. It acted with

disregard for the lives of its citizens, but for that negligence, Catherine

Phillips would still be alive.

Your Honor.

If you have any doubt what the drug trade is doing to this country, you have

only to look at our inner cities or any suburb or small town. It's everywhere.

It's a national disaster. It touches every part of our society.

It drains our criminal justice system, fills our prisons, robs families of

ones, delivers babies in agony and addicted.

It destroys thousands, maybe millions of people's lives.

Without witnesses like Luis Federo, we have no hope of ever stopping this drug

trade. It's a risk that must be taken.

This is a battle whose sole purpose is to protect the people of this nation,

people like Catherine Phillips.

The last thing we ever wanted was for this war to claim her.

But the sad fact is, in any war, there will be casualties.

I know you don't want to talk about it, so I will just do all the yapping and

you could, you know, maybe just listen.

I do love and need Zoe more than I admit to her, even myself.

Hell of a lot more than I feel like admitting to you.

Maybe you love her more. I doubt it, but could be.

I know I know her more than you do.

In that marriage, I know her pretty good and knowing her.

I ain't ever seen her so happy.

since she started hanging around with you.

That's part of the reason why I feel so threatened, is because you and her feel

right.

It's not that simple, Tommy. Oh, yeah, it's definitely that simple. You love

her. She loves you.

It's simple.

Don't let go of her, Jonathan.

I could never take your place, man. Oh, you don't want my place.

You want yours.

Tom, don't you see? Part of the reason you're even here right now is that you

still love her. Yeah, I do.

And part of really loving somebody is wanting what is best for that person.

here now because I know what's best for Zoe is you.

I know you're hurt.

But let that woman get away.

Then you'll know her.

There's no question that the government was negligent here.

Any parent would treat their child's drug use with more concern than that

by those supervising Luis Vedero.

But in establishing the Witness Protection Program, Congress failed to

guidelines restricting the Justice Department's operation.

From that, I must conclude that they intended to allow full discretion in

the selection and supervision of these witnesses.

Under the law as it exists, negligence, even this gross negligence, isn't enough

to sustain a claim.

And the plaintiff has not shown that the government intended to cause Mrs.

Phillips' death.

Therefore, I'm granting the defendant's motion to dismiss.

As for this gag order, I see nothing in this record that jeopardizes the Witness

Protection Program or threatens the lives of its participants.

So I'm denying the government's request for a permanent injunction. The order is

hereby lifted, and this transcript made part of the public record.

The parties are free to talk to the press.

Your Honor, we move for a stay pending appeal.

Opposed. Your Honor, we've argued this over and over again.

I have no choice, Miss Lamb.

The stay is granted.

Until a further ruling, the gag order will remain in place.

This case is adjourned.

Arnie!

Welcome back.

I heard what happened.

I think they were idiots to let you go.

No. More like I was the idiot.

I don't follow you, babe.

I didn't do my homework.

I let you stroke me, pump me full of smoke.

I don't know what you're talking about, but it sounds sexy.

Listen, can we continue this tomorrow? Brooks Tappman is a client of yours.

I didn't mention that. You maneuvered Ken Feldman into hiring me so Tappman

could use me against him. Use me as a weapon to get Ken Feldman fired.

You set me up.

So?

So?

You... You used me.

You manipulated me. That's right.

I manipulated you into taking a $600 ,000 a year job.

They'll cash you out at 50 cents on the dollar for the first option period.

You'll walk with 150 grand for two weeks' work.

Where are your damages, Arnie? I was humiliated on network television.

Damage to the ego heals fast. Take it from me.

Damage to your reputation?

Don't flatter yourself.

Two weeks from now, people won't even remember you were on. That is not the

point. By the way, KCYB called yesterday. I told them you might

interested in coming back.

I got them to bump your salary 15%. Plus perks.

Deal memos in the mail.

Gotta fly.

Ciao, babe.

Tell me you're sorry. Tell me you're back.

I have conditions.

I know.

No ex -husbands in the bed.

And I don't want him hiding in the bathroom with a gun, either.

He is a part of my life.

You have to remember that, Jonathan.

Yeah. And what you need to keep in mind is so am I.

Right?

Pardon me.

We locked the appeal.

The gag order is permanent.

Give us a minute, please.

I'm not backing down.

I want people to know what those bastards did.

You would be defying a court order, Mr. Phillips. If you speak to those

reporters, you'll be held in contempt.

I don't care.

Let him put me in jail.

I miss my wife, Mr. McKenzie.

I want her death to mean something.

I'm tired of playing by the rules.

But I understand why you have to.

If you say so, I'll talk to them somewhere else.

I can't answer for the phone.

Douglas and I feel that our risk here is minimal as long as Miss Lamb doesn't

participate.

Well...

You've done everything you can within the law.

If he wants to go beyond that, that's up to him, but you have no choice.

Ladies and gentlemen, I want to tell you how my wife died.

She was raped and beaten to death by a criminal that the United States

government put back on the street.

His name is Luis Vedero.

You made the right decision.

Then tell me, man, why do I feel like such a coward?

drug abuse, and yet they chose to do nothing.