Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law. They really put each other through a lot.

The infidelities, the counter -infidelities, the public tantrums. I

something strange.

Those fights in public always arouse me sexually.

Really? Zoe, come on, don't make a big deal out of this. I already feel like

being pulled in six different directions.

And I'm just another thing pulling at you? No, of course not. Yes, I am.

This won't be the last dinner.

It's not going to get any easier to bring me along.

Your job is going to be pulling us apart, and I don't want to be the only

trying to put us back together.

Next up, Bob Steinloggy versus Florence Leach, a .k .a. Madam Eldemira, I'm

afraid to ask. Madam Eldemira, psychic to the stars?

That's the one.

It has something to do with a man.

Tall, dark.

Is he Latino?

This is crazy. I'm sorry.

Thanks anyway.

He's coming back.

Do you think Alex is really looking forward to coming home at the end of

treatment? You heard him. He's counting the days.

Fortunately, he has us to help him.

You are something, Douglas.

What? You should have seen yourself sitting there in group, holding hands

strangers, caring, sharing.

I mean, that stuff is not exactly up your alley, and yet you were doing it.

Well, it's never too late for me to start being a father to my son.

It meant a lot to Alex having you there.

Speaking of caring and sharing, do you have any idea how great you look today?

Sheila, have you noticed that after we visit Alex, we always end up in bed?

Really? Really.

Do we keep our record spotless?

It's not a good time.

You know, it gets me crazy when you make me beg.

This is not foreplay, Douglas. It really isn't a good time.

I'm expecting someone.

Well, then let's go in the house and just not answer the doorbell.

He has the key.

Whoa.

This someone sounds serious.

Serious enough so that when I'm with you, I feel like I'm cheating on him.

I don't mean to make this your problem, Douglas, but we promised each other in

group that we'd be open and honest from now on.

And here he comes.

The pool man?

He said I needed a new pump. Next thing I knew, he was servicing me twice a

week.

I want to thank you for meeting me. I know how much you hate early mornings.

It's okay. I haven't been sleeping much anyway.

Me neither.

Flying dreams. Only I keep getting tangled up in the power lines.

Probably the new job.

Performance anxiety.

Well, I didn't make things any easier jamming you the other day about

commitment. No, no. Listen, you didn't do anything wrong. You told me clearly

what you needed.

So...

We've reached a point where we should be getting engaged or something.

But I'm not there yet.

Wait a minute.

I want us to be together emotionally, but I never said anything about getting

married. But that's where we're headed.

I don't want to string you along, so... You're breaking up with me, aren't you?

What I'm saying...

is that I don't want to be the one to make you unhappy.

Why can't you just admit that you don't want a white woman on your arm because

you're afraid it'll hurt your political career? Look at me in the eye and tell

me it's not true.

I think that maybe we shouldn't see each other for a while.

Okay.

I better go.

Please, don't.

Thumbs up.

There are a lot of Q words.

I always have trouble getting my pinky up to the Q.

I'm sure you did fine.

Mr. Becker will be making a decision about a new secretary by the end of the

week. Great.

Thank you. You're welcome.

Bye -bye. Bye -bye.

Here's the schedule of assets for Bromberg versus Bromberg.

The status conference for the Niedermann divorce is set for Thursday, and your

lunch is canceled.

Roxanne, it is great having you back at the helm again. Are you sure I can't

entice you back on a more permanent basis?

We're ex -lovers.

I couldn't come in every day and be this close to you.

Paige Dietrich called. She wants to know if you can squeeze her in this

afternoon. Paige Dietrich?

Whoa, now there's a chapter.

She went through a nasty divorce.

I was her attorney, a shoulder to cry on.

It was the first time I ever broke the unwritten rule, but God rocks if you

could have seen how beautiful this woman was.

I guess that means squeeze her in. Is she getting another divorce?

No, she said it was a personal matter. Oh, let's duck her then. I don't like

revisiting the past. That's why I don't collect antiques.

In other words, I guess there'll come a day when you won't take my calls either

because I'm some ancient artifact in your life.

Okay, okay, work her in.

Geez, if you're going to take everything so personally, maybe I don't want you

back.

How are the interviews coming?

Lulu, who just left, doesn't take dictation, isn't computer literate,

words a minute and leaves out the letter Q.

But seeing the way you drooled over the rest of her resume... You don't really

think I've evolved at all, do you? You know, even I understand that using women

to decorate the workplace objectifies them in the most demeaning way.

I'll keep interviewing.

Good.

Why don't you let me have Lulu's number? The least I can do is give her a call

and let her down easy.

You're going to take a pro bono federal case. At least take one you have a shot

at winning. I think I will win. You are suing on behalf of an ex -con who claims

his constitutional rights were violated because he got aid in prison. Now, even

if you could prove deliberate indifference on the part of the state,

doubtful, the jury's sympathy is never going to be with your boy, not to the

tune of two million in damages.

Wait a minute. He can argue that his client was a rape victim. That ought to

evoke plenty of sympathy. Any chance that the state will settle? No, they

to go all the way with this one. And why wouldn't they? They know they're going

to win. Well, I must admit, I don't see how the Department of Corrections can be

held responsible for prisoners who contract AIDS.

Who else are you going to hold accountable?

Between the IV drug use and the high rate of homosexual activity, the

of inmates are probably arrested.

Now, those are flowers. Whoa.

Good God. She's one of the slow to escape the rose parade.

They're for grace.

Who from? Somebody rich and ostentatious.

It's blank. Somebody rich and ostentatious who can't write. Who'd be

enough to spend all that money and not take credit? I guess we can assume it

wasn't you.

Yeah. Here come my allergies.

Are we about 20, Douglas?

Adjourned.

Gesundheit.

Mr. Meacham, will you tell the court why you were sentenced to Bolsa Verde State

Penitentiary in May of 1987?

I was convicted of armed robbery.

Where were you housed in Bolsa? Cell Block C in a two -man cell.

Is there another man in that cell?

John Smithy. Mr. Meacham, can you describe for us what happened after you

placed in the cell with Mr. Smithy?

After the first night, I was raped.

And pretty much every night for six months.

Did you tell anyone what was being done to you? I yelled for help once.

God came.

He didn't do nothing.

And why did these attacks eventually stop?

Smithy got sick.

They put him in the hospital.

What was the nature of his illness?

They found out that he had AIDS.

And he died.

Subsequently, you learned you too had AIDS. Isn't that correct?

Yeah. Your Honor, I'd like to submit stipulated medical records from County

Hospital, where the plaintiff...

was treated for wounds suffered in his arrest, which show he was HIV negative

before his incarceration.

Mr. Meacham, after learning you had AIDS, did the prison doctors put you on

medication such as AZT?

No. After you were paroled, were you provided with any treatment?

My parole officer told me about a county program for people with AIDS, but there

was a wait list.

So what'd you do?

Well, um... After a while, I got pretty desperate.

You know, I wasn't living too good.

I wasn't eating.

I was sleeping on the street.

I figured my only chance was to go back to the joint.

So next time I went to see my P .O., I hit him.

Figured that'd get me thrown back in for sure.

What'd your parole officer do?

Well, he said he was going to file charges with the district attorney.

Two days later, he dropped him.

Did he tell you why?

Yeah, he said I was a headache that the system didn't need.

And what did you take that to mean?

That the Department of Corrections didn't want me back inside because they

didn't want to take care of me.

Thank you. I have nothing further.

The truth is, Mr. Meacham, you don't actually know you got AIDS from John

Smithy, do you?

I know. How?

You have no way of proving that you didn't contract this disease from

dope, do you? Objection. Assuming facts not in evidence.

Sustained. Now, Mr. Meacham, you say you called an officer for help, but he did

not intervene.

When he came to your cell, did you tell him what was being done to you? I

couldn't. Smithy had a knife.

But it sounded like the screw didn't know what was going on. And you never

reported it again after that? Smithy said he would have killed me if I did.

So you only complained once?

about these heinous acts that you supposedly had to endure. Isn't it a

Meacham, that you're making these allegations as a way of concealing the

embarrassing truth?

With no other sexual outlet, you, like many men in prison, consented to a

physical relationship with another inmate. No. You voluntarily engaged in

-risk sexual activity, you got AIDS, and now you want to make that someone

else's production argumentative.

Mr. Kick.

I'll withdraw the question, Your Honor. I have nothing more at this time.

Paige, is Dietrich here to see you?

You want to show her in?

Paige.

Thanks for seeing me on such short notice. Anything for an old friend.

have a seat.

It's been a long time, huh?

1984. Right. I took you to see Carl Lewis win all those gold medals at the

Summer Olympics.

Thank you.

What's wrong?

I have AIDS.

I need to draw up a living will.

My God.

I know what you're thinking, Arnie. You can relax.

I'm pretty sure who I caught the virus from, and it was long after you and I

our summer games.

I've had shingles. I've had a blood disease nobody's ever heard of.

I have tumors.

I've had pneumonia three times, last time on a respirator.

Fifteen days with a tube shoved down my throat, and for what?

I mean, it's not like I'm ever going to get well.

I don't want any more heroic measures.

I want it to be over now.

Can you take care of it for me?

Paige, you know, a living will really isn't in my area of expertise.

Oh, but from what I understand, it's not all that complicated.

Yeah, but still, you ought to have the best. And I'm kind of underwater right

now. Oh, I see.

You're frightened because I have AIDS.

No. Forget it, all right. No, wait. No, wait. Paige, if you want me to take a

run at this, I'll see what I can do.

Really.

Well, I've jotted down some instructions.

If you could make it legal, you know, render it dense, impenetrable.

Nobody does dense better than I do.

I'll have a draft together in a day or two.

I think I can last that long.

Listen, uh, Paige, if money's a problem... Thanks to the divorce

got me, it's not necessary.

She's sweet to off.

Yeah, hi, this is Arnold Becker again. I called yesterday about making an

appointment for an HIV test.

Arnie, you were supposed to be at Malamute and Pottinger five minutes ago.

Cancel. Yeah, I can hold. I can't cancel. The client flew in from New York

this conference. Roxanne, this is an emergency. Just handle it.

Okay.

What's wrong, Arnie?

This woman sails in here yesterday, tells me she's got AIDS, and I'm not

supposed to worry about it because she thinks she got it after we slept

together. That's what's wrong.

Ernie, you told me when we were first getting together that you had had an

test and that it was negative. Did I? Do you think that I would have slept with

you otherwise?

Don't you hate it when they stick you on hold and they forget about you? Did you

or did you not have an AIDS test? I think what happened was I had an

appointment, but I couldn't make it for some reason. So basically you lied to

me. I didn't lie. I just didn't get around to actually having the test

didn't think there was any reason to be concerned.

And there's probably no reason to worry about this either. Look.

Why don't I make an appointment for both of us, put both of our minds at ease?

Yeah, hi.

Yeah, look, can you test another person, too?

Warden Keogh, what are the circumstances under which you would segregate a

prisoner from the general population?

Medical or behavioral problems which pose a risk to other inmates.

Did the plaintiff's cellmate, John Smithy, fall into either of those

Based on his prison record and his inmate profile, I would have to say no.

Now, sir, when Mr. Meacham was diagnosed with AIDS, would it be your opinion

that he received adequate treatment from the prison medical staff?

Absolutely. When he had meningitis, we even brought in a specialist to evaluate

him. After that, he was paroled, and we were no longer responsible for him.

Thank you.

No further questions.

Warden, you want us to believe John Smithy didn't pose any kind of medical

But you were aware that this man had been arrested twice for possession of

heroin, weren't you, sir?

Yes. And didn't a history of intravenous drug use put Mr. Smithy in a high -risk

category for AIDS?

He was never convicted of either charge.

So you didn't even bother to perform a simple HIV test?

We were precluded by law from mandatory random testing.

So you ignored the medical threat?

Objection sustained.

It's your testimony, warden, that John Smithy wasn't a behavioral problem,

right? Yes.

His prison file contained several reports of sexual assault against

inmates. Those were accusations.

We could never substantiate them. So you chose to ignore that threat, too?

Prisons are overcrowded. I deal with 1 ,700 men, many of whom make John Smitty

look like Captain Kangaroo.

That might be a plea for prison reform, Warden, but the fact is your deliberate

indifference is why Mr. Meacham is going to die from AIDS.

Objection. Withdrawn.

I have nothing further.

Thanks for stopping by.

The judge in Alexander's case is asking us to file a declaration with the court

certifying that Alex is in a substance abuse program.

I need your signature. Here.

I'm sorry about Rex coming by yesterday.

It was bad timing.

Not a problem.

I don't want you to think that I'm falling back into my old pattern of

lovers in your face just to torture you. I don't think that, because that's not

what you were doing.

In any case...

Rex and I have decided not to see each other anymore.

Just when you were getting your algae problem under control.

Every time Rex and I made love, I found myself fantasizing about you.

Really? And when you make love with someone like that under false pretenses,

well, it didn't seem fair to Rex, or to me, or to you.

I'm flattered.

Are there plans that can be broken?

Well, I've been seeing someone, too, and we had a date for tomorrow night.

Too bad, though.

We could have had some fun.

Oh, of course. I could always see Sandra another time.

Well, should we get together at your place?

My building's being tented for termites.

What about the house?

Not with Jeffrey there.

Why don't I make some arrangements?

You do that.

I am writing in response to your letter dated April 16, people versus Wahlberg

security, period.

Mr. Wahlberg will be available for deposition, comma.

Hello, Grace.

Thanks for the flowers.

Hmm.

How did you know they were for me?

A fortune teller told me.

What's the occasion?

Last Tuesday of May.

What's that?

That's the first time we made love, Grace.

I was hoping that maybe we could have dinner tomorrow to mark the anniversary.

No. Why not?

Because you're playing with my head. I'm not playing with your head.

I need to talk. Then talk, but don't expect me to relive a romance that we

have anymore.

Well, the things I have to say can't be said here.

Grace, please have dinner with me.

All right.

7 .30 at Metro. I can come over and pick you up. I'll take my own car.

Okay.

I'll see you there.

Mr. Cruz, after the plaintiff hit you, why did you decide not to press charges?

I made a judgment call.

I felt that by lashing out at me, Ray was just testing out the strength of my

commitment to him, so I decided not to turn my back.

When Mr.

Meacham was waitlisted at the AIDS treatment center you referred him to,

didn't you take steps to see to it he went to another agency?

Ray never told me that there was a problem.

Mr. Cruz, do you know of any reason why the plaintiff would make up these

allegations of deliberate indifference? Or why he would be asking for damages in

excess of $2 million?

Objection. Your Honor, the witness is Mr. Meacham's parole officer, someone

intimate with his patterns of behavior.

Overruled. The witness may answer.

Ray could have finished school while he was doing his time, and he didn't.

He could have learned a skill. He didn't do that either.

I think it's just easier for him to be mad at the system than to have to go out

there and try to make something of himself and risk failing.

Frankly, I think he's lazy.

No further questions.

Isn't it possible, Mr. Cruz, that my client's not lazy, but rather sick from

debilitating and fatal disease?

I suppose.

Now, you say that after Mr. Meacham smacked you in the face, like the good

tells us you decided to turn the other cheek. Is that right? That's exactly

I said. I realized that Ray needed my help. Oh, come on, Mr. Cruz.

Didn't you drop the charges because you were under orders to do so? Because your

supervisors in the Department of Correction didn't want to put an AIDS

back into prison due to the high cost of his treatment?

Objection. Compound and assuming facts, not in evidence.

Sustained. Mr. Cruz, you said you didn't know.

That Mr. Meacham was waitlisted at the county center. Why didn't you ask?

I would have eventually.

Eventually?

Early treatment is this man's only hope.

I've got to worry about 209 parolees. Oh, admit it. You let Ray Meacham fall

through the cracks. And he'd be better off back in prison? He doesn't want to

back to prison, Mr. Cruz.

He just wants the care he deserves.

No further questions.

I know lawyers don't make house calls, but the trip to your office yesterday

really took it out of me.

Thanks for coming. No big deal.

Would you mind if we sat in the other room?

No problem.

It's easier for me to breathe in the vaporizer.

Pull up a chair.

Can I have Gina get you something?

No, thanks. I've got lunch.

Oh, let me get this out of your way.

Now.

Based on our conversation yesterday, I put together what's called a durable

power of attorney for health care. It allows you to designate someone to issue

instructions to the doctor if you're no longer able to make informed consent.

So they can pull the plug when the time comes.

Basically.

What about withholding food if I'm unable to feed myself?

We can request that nourishment be withheld if that's what you want, but we

would have to spell it out in there.

Then do it.

Oh.

Almost.

It's a favor to mine.

I'm thinking about having my ashes put in it.

Well, uh, okay.

I will start to work on those changes, and if everything else is okay, I can

have this ready for your signature tomorrow.

Listen, we didn't get a chance to chat yesterday. What's going on with you?

You happy?

Yeah, everything's okay. In love? No, nobody special right now.

Look, I would love to visit, but I'm running a little late, so... Well,

for everything.

Hey, no problem. Look, don't get up.

I can show myself out.

Hey. How you doing?

Whenever my life is in the toilet, you show up to brighten my day.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just call me Mr.

Sunshine. Mr. Sunshine. Look, let's not do this. Not that I'm not grateful, but

for once, let's do something different.

Like what? Anything but talk about my screwed -up life.

Okay. Want to talk about my screwed -up life?

Yeah. I'm thinking about quitting Mackenzie Brackett. Why?

Why not?

Fact is, this corporate kiss -ass law bit is starting to wear thin.

See, I'm not a team player. I speak my mind. That ruffles feathers.

Good. Whose?

This time, the palmist.

He's all pumped up about some constitutional case. He can't win, but

want to hear that.

Well, you should listen. You're usually right. How many juries are going to

listen to an ex -con with AIDS who's nuts enough to punch his parole officer

get back into the pen?

I know that one. That landed on my desk.

The P .O. was ordered to drop those charges because the Department of

Corrections didn't want the guy dying on their nickel.

Are you sure?

That's what he told me.

Would you be willing to testify to that?

Tommy. Well, you could help the Palmer in a big way. I thought you weren't a

team player, and no.

No, don't get me involved. I have enough on my mind already.

It's okay.

I'm not dead yet.

I'm just too weak to get out of bed.

Let me get you some iron beads and be out of your hair.

You can get back to sleep.

Sorry I was a little late.

Traffic was murder.

Oh, Arnie.

It's so hard for you to be in the same room with me.

My neighbor called.

Said there was a guy in a Porsche parked in front of the house for the last

hour.

I told him not to call the cops because I knew it was you.

I was on the phone.

I had to return phone calls.

I can remember a time when you'd do anything to get into this bedroom.

Come on, Paige.

I also remember what you told me when we broke up.

You said the... The first love after a divorce isn't meant to last, but to

But that should always be there for me.

Guess I made the mistake of believing that wasn't just an exit line from a

lawyer. I am here for you.

Well, don't be.

It just makes me feel more alone, more afraid.

Show me where to sign so you can get out of here.

I just heard you're going to be subpoenaed to testify in federal court.

Oh, man, I asked Mulaney not to get me involved.

Well, according to the assistant attorney general handling the defense,

have to say would impeach the testimony of the parole officer, and that might

give credence to the plaintiff's overall claim.

Are we just chatting, or are you going somewhere with this? I just wanted to

that from where I sit, there's no reason for you to extend yourself to help the

plaintiff. You want me to lie? No.

I'm just suggesting you don't embellish your testimony in such a way that the

defense suffers.

I'm going to tell the truth.

You take the stand and tell your truth.

It's going to sound like this guy was smart to hit his parole officer.

Send out a message like that, and we'll be inviting every indigent in California

to commit a crime so they can go to the joint and get free health care and

housing. That's a lot of crap, Ruby, and you know it.

I know what's going on in your private life, Zoe.

Do you want to jeopardize your work life, too? That sounds like a threat.

I've always respected you for being tough and fair.

But you also have to be smart. This is the Attorney General's office calling.

People with a lot of influence who can help your career.

You're in line for Assistant Head, Deputy D .A.

This is not the time for you to get a reputation as someone who doesn't know

to play.

Douglas? Hello?

What a wicked idea to meet in a hotel.

Flowers were on my mind, too.

Remember our trip to Maui? We never left the hotel.

All I wore for three days was a Plumeria lei.

mind if i take this off i'm hot you

always were my biggest fan

Would you like something to drink? Yeah, a glass of water, plenty of ice.

Thank you.

You look very pretty.

Thank you.

What do you want to talk about?

Look, I understand you have every right to be leery.

A few months ago, I needed to go my own way, right?

And you let me.

And how do I pay back that understanding?

I disappear.

No phone calls, no letters, and then here I am, right?

All that I can say, Grace, is that I was... really confused.

I was scared.

It was a tough time for me.

And I just kind of dropped out.

But I started seeing a therapist.

You?

And therapy?

Mr. Paddle, your own canoe.

Mr.

Shrinks are a rip -off.

Yeah, well, good evening.

Tonight's special. We have a grilled John Dory served in a coulis. Could you

just give us a couple of minutes?

Okay. No problem.

Somehow, I don't see you lying on a couch dissecting your dreams.

Stuffing up a whole new world for me.

And I'm dealing with emotions that I never knew I had.

And I'm finally letting myself go after the things in life that make me happy.

We've been talking about you a whole lot, Grace.

And I see how much you mean to me and how much I want us to be together.

So I've been offered this job in New York City, which I'm going to take

it's a great opportunity.

And I really would like you to come with me.

Yeah, I know this is a whole lot to throw at you all at once, but, I mean,

take your time. I don't need an answer. You really are something. You know that?

You go into therapy and you work out your feelings, and then you expect me to

follow you across the country like a trained dog. Come on, Grace. No, no, you

come on.

How do I know six months down the road you won't decide that you need your

and leave me hanging again? Because I'm telling you I won't.

The point is, Grace, we both love each other. You love me. I know it. You know

it, too.

Yeah, I love you, Victor.

But if it takes me 50 years to get over you, I'll get over you.

I don't think it'd be easy as all that.

You are the most self -absorbed, preening macho man I have ever met.

And you can go fornicate yourself and the caballo you rode in on.

Your Honor, new evidence has come to light which we believe materially

the plaintiff's case. We'd like to call another witness.

Go ahead, Mr. De Palma.

Call to the stand Zoe Clemens.

Ms. Clemens, you were the deputy district attorney assigned to handle the

assault charges brought by parole officer Richard Cruz against Ray

isn't that right?

Yes. When Mr. Cruz subsequently told you he wanted to drop the charges, did you

ask why?

Yes, I did.

And how did Mr. Cruz answer?

He said that he decided to give Mr. Meacham another chance.

Is that all he said?

To the best of my recollection.

Are you sure he didn't say anything about pressure brought to bear upon him

others who might have wanted to keep Mr. Meacham out of prison?

Yes.

Do you know a Tommy Mullaney, Ms. Clemens?

Yes. Didn't you describe to him events entirely different from those you've

testified to? I don't recall that I did.

May I remind you what the penalty for perjury is? Objection. Ms. Clemens is a

deputy district attorney. She knows perfectly well what the penalty for

is. Your Honor, earlier this woman... Objection sustained, Mr. De Palma.

I have nothing further.

I have nothing to ask this witness, Your Honor.

You're dismissed, Ms. Clemens.

Yeah, hi, I'm calling for the results of my HIV test.

Becker Arnold.

Oh, thank you, thank you. Look, can I put you on hold a sec? I'm going to put

Roxanne Melman on for her results.

Roxanne, it's Dr.

Fiscus's office on line one.

Thank you, doctor.

Bye. Everything okay?

Clean as a whistle. Great.

Ditto for me.

Look, Rox, I behaved badly. I was thoughtless and selfish, and there's no

for what I did. By not being completely honest with you about my blood test, I

put you through a lot of needless worry.

I'm sorry.

I hope you can accept my apology.

I don't know if I can do that, Arnie. The fact is, you value your own pleasure

more than anything or anyone.

That's how little other people really matter to you.

Maybe someday I'll be able to forgive you.

Right now, I can't.

In the matter of Meacham v.

The State of California, on the claim of deprivation of constitutional rights,

we find that the defendant is not liable.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, thank you for your time.

We're adjourned. You heckers, huh?

Found a way to save the state a few bucks, huh? What the hell am I supposed

do, huh? Go find a palm tree to tie him?

Ray, take it easy.

I'm all right.

Easy. I got him.

You did the right thing. No, I didn't.

I did the absolute wrong thing.

And I'm going to recant. What?

I lied.

Because my life is a mess right now, I let you convince me to lie.

Tell the court you perjured yourself. You could be disbarred.

You know, since I took this job, I've been asked to compromise a little on the

law here, shade a little there, until pretty soon the line between right and

wrong doesn't mean anything.

If it's going to cost me my ethics and my dignity...

Maybe I don't want this career I'm going to the judge

should do?

Like what?

Give blood? I don't know. Jonathan just phoned in.

She's a county.

And they're operating on her now.

Well, county's good. They have the best trauma unit in the city.

I just heard.

Poor Zoe.

I just keep thinking.

I saw her for lunch the other day. None of it makes any sense.

No, it doesn't.

One minute you're thinking about breakfast.

All of a sudden you're fighting for your next breath.

Carpe diem.

Which is why I've decided to get married.

To who?

The former Mrs.

Brackman. Sheila? We've recently rekindled our passion and discovered

still a lot there.

Well, don't everybody congratulate me at once.

Is it possible that Douglas is having a nervous breakdown?

Oh, yeah.

Douglas, I'm sorry if no one seemed jubilant about your very good news.

Given today's tragic events, it's understandable.

Yeah.

Congratulations.

Thanks.

I wish you and Sheila the best.

I couldn't reconnect with someone after so much pain, no matter how much I love

them. Life is short, Grace. If you love someone, that's all that matters. The

rest of it, the doubts, the jealousies, the anger and backbiting, you gotta let

go of that.

Once Sheila and I realized we were both still in love, we shut up and forgave

each other.

Yeah, yeah.

What are you doing here?

I had to see you. I'd like to come in.

What, was there some remark you forgot from last night? Some name you forgot to

call me, maybe?

No.

That's not why I came. Okay, we'll make it quick, because I'm watching the news.

Okay.

Whoa, whoa.

Am I skipping a beat here or something?

Shh.

Don't say anything.

We'll talk about everything when we get to New York.

Ernie?

Hey.

How you doing?

What are you doing here?

Came by to keep you company.

Uh -oh.

Now I got you feeling sorry for me.

Not possible.

I'm way too self -absorbed.

Well, I'm warning you.

Not much of a conversation these days.

And sex is out.

That's okay.

I brought a book.

I thought you might like me to read to you.

What's in it for you?

I get to listen to the sound of my own voice.

Fair enough.

What are we going to read?

Tales of a Thousand and One Nights.

I'm not sure I have that much time.

Well, let's see how far we can get.

Chapter One The Merchant and the Genie

There was a certain merchant who had great wealth and traded

extensively with surrounding countries.

One day he mounted his horse and journeyed into a neighboring country to

what was due to him.