Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law. Hello.

Ah, you're... Jane Halliday.

I'm Douglas Brackman. This is Ann Kelsey, Jonathan Rollins, and Arnold

You've been charged with a murder.

That means you need to have someone paying very close attention to what

to you.

Last night I was at this restaurant, and the husband of the woman who your

client was charged with killing was there.

Yeah? He was with this hot tomato, and they were all over each other. They were

drinking, grabbing, kissing. I mean, it was like nauseating already.

Huh.

Do you mind that I'm here?

Well, you've got to be here, right?

Sort of.

How often have you been seeing Gail?

Once or twice a week.

So on the day she was killed?

Yeah. And you had a fight with her of any kind?

From New York?

Yeah. There's a lot of crazy people in New York.

It's like they're all talking at the same time.

Or arguing.

Or crying.

Or praying.

Sandy. The seat opens up on the subway, so I sit down.

And the lady next to me, standing, starts crying because she wanted to sit

Sandy, I need your help.

I need you to stop thinking about crazy people in New York and start thinking

about the crime you've been charged with.

Oh, I hate these patterns.

What patterns?

Patterns on the floor.

The linoleum.

Keep dividing and subdividing. There's lines in the quadrants and hemispheres,

and it's not that restful to have to look at that. I prefer to have plain

floors.

Plain walls.

Although these walls are pretty plain, but there's too much going on with those

floors. Did you kill anybody, Sandy?

What the hell would you do if I said I did? I'd be your lawyer. The same thing

I'd do if you said you didn't.

What's the difference?

It might affect the way I try the case.

Yeah, but it shouldn't, though.

You should try and get me off no matter what, right?

If that's what you want.

That's what I want.

Let me begin this morning by welcoming our newest associate, Miss Jane

You're here.

Welcome. How do you do? Hi. Hi.

I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to work with you. I do hope

of some service.

Also, I would like to thank everyone in advance for all of the help I'm sure I

will be asking for. Ask and it shall be given you.

Seek and you shall find.

Knock and it shall be opened unto you.

Matthew 7.

Well, I don't know the appropriate biblical passage for new business, but

whatever it is, this young lady is responsible for bringing some with her.

Carrie versus the Department of Veteran Affairs. Miss Halliday. David Carrie is

a veteran of the Gulf War.

Like hundreds of others, he's come down with a debilitating illness.

as a result of exposure to chemicals in Kuwait. I heard about that. They have

all kinds of strange symptoms, like hair loss, immune system problems.

Well, until recently, VA doctors routinely dismissed this condition as

psychosomatic. How did you come to represent him? He's a member of my

Great. Religious organizations, I believe, are a terrific and largely

source of referrals.

Would that more of us were trolling in those waters.

Next up, Bannister versus the American Buying Network.

That's mine. We represent the Buying Network.

The plaintiff is a guy who's suing them for selling to his wife. He claims she's

got an obsessive -compulsive shopping disorder that they took undue advantage

of. You're kidding.

Yet another theory for avoiding personal responsibility.

Those channels do play to people's compulsions. Oh, come on, she's weak.

extravagant and she's weak. Compulsions like this are a sign of weakness.

That wouldn't apply to your desire to own a $275 ,000 Bentley, would it?

No, it wouldn't. I'm expecting that if we're successful in this matter, then

American Buying Network may tap us for a variety of other services.

Eli, what's happening with your case?

I'm preparing for trial, interviewing witnesses, going over police reports,

kind of thing. I do need to hire a private investigator. If you've used

who you'd recommend... Jinx Baldessari.

You've used her?

Yes, I have.

Look out, look out!

How much is this one going to cost us, Douglas?

Not a dime.

Are you sure? First of all, the contract is primarily liable. Second of all,

those stilts are illegal in the state of California.

Assumption of risk, comparative negligence, we've got nothing to worry

How many do you see, Dave?

Mr. Bannister, how long has your wife been shopping with the American Buying

Network? Since March of 1992.

What kinds of items did she purchase?

Clothes, power tools, kitchen appliances, a radio transmitter dog

mind that we don't have a dog.

Stuffed animals and dolls. Never mind that we don't have any children.

The stuffed animals and dolls are collectibles. Ms. Bannister, please. The

ceramic ducks wearing galoshes are also collectibles?

Yes, they are.

Folks, for the purposes of this trial, you two are on the same side. I don't

want to hear any arguing.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

Mr. Bannister, is your wife currently under treatment for any kind of mental

disorder? She's under treatment for obsessive -compulsive shopping.

Did you inform the American Buying Network of that fact?

By registered mail.

How did they respond?

They responded by continuing to sell her anything and everything she wanted. Mr.

Bannister, what has been the result?

The result has been that I'm facing bankruptcy.

I have no further questions.

Mr. Bannister, let's talk about those ceramic ducts. Your wife has collected

ornamental birds for some time, hasn't she? Birds, rabbits, souvenirs, spoons.

She collects everything.

But your wife started collecting before she started watching the American Buying

Network, didn't she?

In a limited capacity, I suppose she did.

$1 ,500 worth of glass wands your wife bought in 1989 at the Crystal Palace

boutique. Is that a limited capacity?

All I know is that since they have been broadcasting, a day doesn't go by when a

delivery truck does not come to my house. You claim your wife suffers from

shopping compulsion. Is there anything about your wife's voice that would

indicate this compulsion?

No. Anything at all that would, in your opinion, indicate to a phone operator at

the American buying network that your wife was compulsive? Well, how about the

fact that she calls 50 times a day?

So you're saying that based on the frequency of your wife's calls, an

should have been able to diagnose her as having a psychiatric disorder?

That's right. And furthermore, based on the diagnosis, they should have refused

to sell her anything? That's right.

You don't have an American booze network selling to drunks, an American dope

network selling to junkies. By the same token, you should not have an American

buying network selling to my wife.

Mr. Carey, when did you first experience symptoms related to your current

condition? During Operation Desert Storm. My unit secured the albopro oil

which the Iraqis had set on fire.

The smoke was so thick that you could taste it. And that week I got a skin

headaches, and I...

I coughed black fluid from my lungs. And how was your health after returning to

the United States?

I experienced fatigue, pain in my joints, and some hair loss, as well as

headaches whenever I smelled anything chemical. But I didn't realize how bad

I was until I failed my annual physical performance test that August.

What happened after you failed?

I was discharged.

What? If any, medical treatment did you receive after your discharge?

Well, I went to the Veterans Hospital maybe a dozen times over a period of six

months, but the doctor said they could never find anything wrong with me. Dr.

Kreuter asked me if I was malingering, right to my face.

In the end, he just wrote me down as being depressed and gave me some pills.

How has your illness affected your life?

Two years ago, my wife and I had plans to buy a house and start a family.

Today... I have no job, no savings, $100 ,000 in medical bills.

My wife divorced me, and my career in the military is over.

Why are you suing the Department of Veterans Affairs?

I served my country, and I don't regret that for a second, but the deal was, if

I got hurt, that the VA was supposed to take care of me.

And instead, they just watched me fall apart.

I have nothing further.

Mr. Carey, according to your hospital file, you were seen by nine

VA specialists who conducted no fewer than 23 diagnostic tests on you. Blood

panels, bone marrow biopsies, EMGs, EKGs, CAT scans.

Is this your idea of doctors just watching you fall apart?

They never tested me for chemical poisoning.

Let me ask you something, Mr. Carey. How do you explain the fact that of the 120

men in your unit, you're the only one claiming to be permanently harmed by oil

fires? Maybe I breathe more smoke. I don't know. Look, there are hundreds of

guys from other units who came back just as sick as me. Nobody disputes that you

and other vets are sick, but you're accusing VA doctors of negligence.

Do you have any reason for believing that Dr. Kreuter and his staff were less

than diligent in their attempts to diagnose and treat you? Yes, I got hurt

there.

Just as sure as if I'd taken a bullet.

And Dr. Kreuter, he told me it was all in my head. I mean, he let me get worse

and worse to where I'll never recover.

To me, that's being less than diligent. To me, he was just being a government

bureaucrat when what he should have been was a doctor.

I don't like what's happening. Ray, I entered a plea of not guilty because I

think there's a chance of getting him off.

I hate to say this, but I don't think that's necessarily what's best for him.

What are you talking about?

Ed, face it. For once in your life, look at things the way they really are.

Our son is incapable of living outside of an institution. We have known that

since he was a teenager. I don't accept that. I know you don't accept it, but

whether you accept it or not, it's the truth. Eli, I want you to change the

to insanity.

I won't do that.

What do you mean you won't do that?

Just what I said.

You hired me to be your son's attorney.

That doesn't make you my client. That makes him my client. And I'm going to do

it in his best interest.

Do you think it's in his best interest for him to be on the street? I think

in his best interest to be in a controlled therapeutic environment. That

mean locking him up.

Particularly when he's innocent of the crime with which he's been charged.

Dr. Anson, as a specialist in environmental medicine, have you

Carey? Yes, I have.

Mr. Carey is suffering from chemical sensitivity due to petroleum exposure.

I might also add that I've personally diagnosed 27 Gulf veterans with the same

condition. On what do you base your diagnosis?

On chemical response tests.

Normally harmless concentrations of petroleum triggered violent reactions in

Carey, indicating a past exposure to a damaging dose of chemicals.

What treatment, if any, exists for this condition?

Patients are injected with tiny amounts of petroleum derivates to rebuild their

tolerance. Now, if Mr. Carey had received such treatment early on, I

would have fully recovered.

Doctor, in your opinion, should a physician who isn't trained in your

like Dr.

Kreuter, be expected to know about chemical sensitivity?

Generally, no. But two years ago, when the first vet showed up with these

symptoms, I contacted Dr.

Kreuter to alert him about chemical sensitivity.

I sent him case studies, treatment protocols.

If he would have used them, he could have saved David Carey untold suffering.

I have nothing further.

Doctor, isn't it true that the American Board of Medical Specialists rejects

environmental medicine as a specialty because they find your methods

inconclusive? Yes.

Naturally, I disagree.

Naturally. Now, these response tests...

You spoke of assuming they're accurate. They show that Mr. Carey is sensitive to

chemicals, correct?

Yes, and such sensitivity indicates chemical poisoning in the past.

But assuming that's true, how do you know that chemical poisoning and not

something else is behind Mr. Carey's fatigue, joint pain, and weight loss?

Our research shows that those symptoms are consistent with chemical exposure.

Are you aware that there are other theories that have been proposed for

wrong with these vets?

Some doctors say they have a rare bacterial infection.

Others say the culprit is a parasite transmitted in the bite of a Middle

sand flea. I know that I have been treating these vets and getting results.

After a year of your treatments, Mr. Carey still appears to be quite ill.

because Dr. Croyder has allowed his condition to progress to an irreversible

stage. That's one explanation. Another is that your diagnosis is wrong and your

treatment's ineffective.

Objection. That's all right. I'm done with the doctor.

What is your position at the American Buying Network, Mr. Atkins?

Founder, president, chief cook and bottle washer. It's pretty much my baby.

Could you describe for us the kind of interaction that would have likely taken

place between Philomena Bannister and the various operators she would have

orders with?

Generally, there would have been an exchange of pleasantries.

We'd take her name, address, daytime telephone number and a major credit

She'd place an order and that would be that. Mr. Atkins.

Why did the American Buying Network continue to sell to Philomena Bannister?

It's not our role to decide for our customers how much they should spend or

they should buy or how often they should shop any more than it's the role of

Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom's or Bob's Big Boy.

As long as Philomena Bannister wants to be our customer, it's not up to me to

say she can't be.

Thank you. Nothing further.

Mr. Atkins, do you have any idea how much Philomena Bannister purchased from

American Buying Network?

No, actually, I don't. Would it surprise you to learn that she averaged over $1

,500 a week in the past two years?

No. Would you say that sounds a little excessive?

I'm in no position to say anything of the kind. What's excessive for one

is moderate for another.

Does the fact that these two people...

face the prospect of the bank foreclosing on their mortgage, suggest

their case might not be moderate?

Again, I don't presume to tell someone how to spend their money. If a shelf

of figurines or a strand of faux pearls and matching earrings brings joy and a

sense of well -being to someone's existence, who am I to tell them they

shouldn't have those things?

Tell me, Mr. Atkins, do you have any familiarity with compulsive shopping

disorder? Not really, no. Well, let me put it this way. Did it ever occur to

that Philomena Bannister might not need any more shelves of figurines or strands

of faux pearls with matching earrings?

If I thought that way, I'd be out of business.

Spoken like a true visionary.

Objection. Withdrawn.

Nothing further.

Eli?

Eli, this is Jinx Baldessari.

How do you do?

Hi. Can I get you something?

A bottle of water would be great.

Thanks for coming over.

You're representing that guy who's charged with killing a social worker.

Right. From what my friends in the DA's office tell me, you've got your work cut

out for you.

That I do. What can I do for you?

I have reason to suspect that the husband is not all he seems.

You think he killed his wife?

I don't know. Is this an exercise in wishful thinking, then? It's a little

more than that. The husband's been seen around town with a woman he seems to

know quite well.

I'm led to believe their behavior is on the libidinous side. I can put a tail on

him 24 hours a day. I can find out who the girlfriend is and put a tail on her.

Sounds good. I charge $750 per eight -hour day.

Overtime and out -of -pocket expenses are extra.

You come very highly recommended. I'm sure you're worth whatever you charge.

Excuse me.

Here's your water.

Thanks. Sure. I love your outfit. Oh, thank you. Really fabulous.

Thank you. Is that at Harold and Beth?

Actually, it's at Comme des Garcons.

Oh. Really?

Glass. Oh, I'm sorry. I'll practice.

I'm sure people tell you all the time how you don't look like a private

investigator. Yes, they do.

Yeah, I figured they did. Is that something you were planning on saying?

Me? No.

Good.

Why don't we start going over the file?

Right.

Dr. Kreuter, during your examination of David Carey, what evidence of physical

illness did you find?

Despite extensive diagnostic testing, I found no evidence of anything physically

wrong with Mr.

Carey. And what did you conclude was the cause of Mr.

Carey's symptoms?

At the time, I concluded the cause was clinical depression.

Mr. Carey's fatigue, weight loss, mood swings, and loss of appetite fit the

criteria. I prescribed medication accordingly.

Do you recall during this period having a conversation with Dr.

Anson on chemical sensitivity?

Yes, and I received and read his materials.

Did you consider treating Mr. Carey for chemical sensitivity?

No. I found the theory speculative, and I wasn't about to experiment on my

patients with treatments whose efficacy and safety was unproven.

Dr. Kreuter, is there anything you know now that might cause you to revise your

diagnosis of Mr. Carey? The truth is, nobody knows what's causing these

symptoms. But having seen more cases of Gulf veterans with these sort of

problems... We have a basis for concluding that some sort of

condition does exist, so I might very well revise my diagnosis.

I have nothing further.

Dr. Kreuter, in your mind, does it indicate a prudent standard of care when

patient is allowed to deteriorate to the point where he can't walk unassisted?

I watch Mr.

Carey's decline with great frustration and sympathy.

But I did everything I could for him based on accepted medical practice.

given that accepted medical practice had failed, Mr. Carey, how could you

dismiss Dr.

Anson's approach?

I received my training at Johns Hopkins, Miss Halliday.

I was taught not to subject my patients to the risks of unproven treatments.

You never told me a treatment existed.

How could you know and not tell me?

I mean, it should have been up to me. How could you know and not even tell me?

David.

Dr. Kreuter, the treatment for chemical exposure is virtually risk -free. Didn't

you owe it to David Carey to at least give it a try?

We see hundreds of veterans a day, Miss Halliday.

We do not have the time or the funds to try every non -conventional treatment

that comes down the pike.

So to be cost -effective, you gave this man a handful of happy pills and shoved

him out the door. Objection. The fact that he laid down his life... For his

country didn't matter.

Objection, Miss Halliday. His country was through with him, and you weren't

about to expend the time or money to treat him. Objection, Miss Halliday. Is

possible, Doctor, that had you tried Dr.

Anson's treatment two years ago, David Carey would be well by now? Is it

possible that had you been of the mind to try, you could have done something to

help David Carey when he asked you for help?

I don't know the answer to that question.

I have no others.

Thank you, Doctor.

Do you go to war and get hit by a bullet?

They give you a medal, and everyone wants to see the scar.

But when you're hit with a bolt of toxic chemicals, they tell you it's all in

your head.

Like hundreds of other Desert Storm veterans, David Carey came home sick,

to face skepticism and denial from those charged with making him well.

It was Dr.

Kreuter's job to do everything in his power to relieve David Carey's

Not only did he fail to do so, but by choosing to ignore a promising therapy

heaped enormous and needless amounts of suffering onto his patient.

If not for Dr.

Kreuter's inaction, David Carey would be able to walk right now without using a

cane. He would be able to climb a flight of stairs without gasping for breath.

David Carey deserved better.

All of the men and women who risk their lives in service of our country deserve

better.

Dr. Kreuter got the physician's credo mixed up.

Instead of first do no harm, he heard first do nothing.

And by doing nothing, he caused David Carey a great deal of harm.

Harm from which he will never recover.

Standard of care.

That's the guideline you look to when judging whether a doctor acted

negligently. And Dr. Kreuter acted no differently in caring for Mr. Carey than

any responsible physician would have. The fact is, nobody could pin down this

disease two years ago.

And they can't pin it down now.

All we have are theories.

Against these odds, Dr.

Kreuter and his staff worked diligently to try to find out what was wrong with

Mr. Carey.

The fact that Dr. Kreuter had read some literature about a non -traditional

method of treatment in no way obliged him to experiment with it, especially

he had such serious doubts about its efficacy and safety. Dr. Kreuter is not

incompetent or a negligent physician.

He is a kind and caring doctor who treated his patients as best he could.

Don't ignore me, man.

Hey, I'm a human being.

I'm a subterfuge.

An experience?

Don't you pretend to be a husband and wife?

You know, I could be wrong, but somehow I don't think this woman is going to be

all that interested in our marital status.

You're Pamela Reisenfeld?

Yes, I am. We'd like to talk to you about Jonah Berge.

Who are you? I'm a private investigator. My name is James Baldessari.

This is Eli Levinson. He's an attorney.

Hi. I really have nothing to say about Jonah, and if that's what you're here to

talk to me about, I'd like to ask you to leave.

You don't want to talk to us?

No, I don't want to talk to you.

If I get a opinion issue, you'll have to testify in court. If you talk to us, we

may find there's no reason to put you through that.

Look, I don't know anything about Gail's death.

I'm sure you don't. What I'm looking for is just a little background

information.

What kind of background information?

What kind of shape was Jonah's marriage in? I don't know what that means.

Was he planning on getting a divorce?

I wouldn't know. How long had the two of you been sleeping together when his

wife was murdered?

I can't believe you're asking me that. That 1993 Jaguar you're driving is

registered to him. You're trying to hide the nature of your relationship.

You're not doing a very good job.

This discussion is over. I want you both to leave.

This is a murder trial, Ms. Reithenfeld.

There are no secrets anymore.

Your Honor, at this time, defense would like to call Philomena Bannister. Ms.

Mitchell, where's your client?

Your Honor, I apologize.

She said she'd be right back.

Your Honor, she's in your chambers.

She's what?

Are you kidding?

I love the fit. I love the color. I love the material.

Yvonne, I love those unicorns. Excuse me, Your Honor. Case closed.

We got Exhibit A right here. Your Honor, I want this excluded from the

proceedings. I do not want the jury told about this.

Never mind telling the jury. Just bring them in here and let them take a look

for themselves.

There will be no mention of this in front of the jury.

I want everyone back in that courtroom. I want to continue this trial in an

orderly fashion.

Now get out of my chamber.

Ms. Bannister, would you tell the court if you are currently in therapy for

treatment of an obsessive compulsive disorder?

Yes, I am. And it's a fact, is it not, that when you talk to your husband and

your therapist and others about shopping via this television channel, you didn't

just refer to the merchandise you ordered?

Oh, there's more to it than the merchandise. I acknowledge that. You

each of the on -air hosts by name?

You refer to feeling a sense of physical exhilaration each time they announced a

price reduction by tooting a bicycle horn.

I know I'm a compulsive shopper.

And I know that some people might find me ridiculous or pathetic.

But no matter what my therapist says, I don't shop because there's something

missing in my life or because I'm secretly angry with my husband.

I'm sorry, Howard.

I look at your face and I know you're trying so hard to do what you think is

best for us.

I shop because I love to.

I love everything about it.

I love picking up the phone and placing the order.

I love standing at my window every morning watching the truck arrive right

schedule. Asking the delivery man about his kids while I sign for my package.

I love slicing open the packing tape and opening the box and seeing what I got

new today.

I'm a housewife.

I've been married to the same man for 20 years.

Lived in the same house for 15.

The basics of my life don't change very much from day to day, and I don't expect

they ever will, but that's okay.

I'm not looking for a lot of excitement, so I call the American Buying Network.

And I chat with the hosts.

And then I buy something. Maybe a piece of jewelry or a blouse or even something

silly like a ceramic duck. But at that moment, I feel sustained.

I feel happy.

I have something new.

Please be seated.

Clerk will read the verdict.

In the matter of Kerry versus the United States of America, the jury finds for

the defendant.

Jury is dismissed to the thanks of the court.

We are adjourned.

I'm sorry, David.

Well, we gave it a shot, right?

We'll appeal.

Right.

Come on. Why don't you let me give you a ride home? No, I can get home by

myself. I think I'll...

Just sit here for a little while.

Sure.

Yeah.

I'd like to see Eli Levinson.

You want?

Jonah Bergen. Do you have an appointment?

No, I don't have an appointment.

What's with the attitude? I just asked a question.

I don't have an appointment.

Well, then how did you get past reception?

I lied.

Oh.

Let me see if Eli's available.

Eli.

Yeah, is it Jonah Berge here?

I have no idea.

Yeah. Okay.

Come right this way.

What can I do for you, Mr. Berge? You can honor a very simple request.

If you're interested in me, you come to me.

Don't violate the privacy of other people.

Are you willing to answer a few questions?

What is it that you would like to know?

How long have you been going out with Pamela Reisenfeld?

I don't know what you mean by going out. We've been friends for a number of

years. Were the two of you having an affair while your wife was alive?

I assume that the import of that question is that if we were, I killed my

I'm just trying to get a picture of who everyone is in all this.

You know, whenever I've had dealings with lawyers, I'm always struck by how

utterly amoral they are.

Really? You're willing to go into court and spread absolute falsehoods.

You're willing to impugn me.

You're willing to encroach on the lives of innocent people, not because you

actually think that I'm guilty of anything, but as a way of manufacturing

about whether or not your client is guilty.

It's amazing. You're totally unconcerned with what actually happened.

I don't know what actually happened.

Okay.

I'm not going to answer any more questions.

If I'm cold to the stand, I'll testify, but I don't want to answer any more

questions voluntarily.

I find what you're doing deeply offensive.

And I'm not going to cooperate with you. I didn't really expect that you would.

By the way, someone told me that you're a patient of Max Binderman's.

What someone was that?

I don't know who it was.

They said that you had a major breakdown a couple of years ago. Now, you've been

under Max's care.

The reason I mention it is that Max and I were in graduate school together.

I didn't realize you were trained in psychology.

One of my doctorates is in psychology.

I just never practiced.

Uh -huh.

Can we say hi to Max for me?

When you talk to him.

Compulsive shopping disorder.

It sounds like a joke.

I assure you, ladies and gentlemen, to those facing bankruptcy, it is no joke.

An addiction to shopping is just like any other addiction.

It robs you of your free will and it takes over your life.

This particular addiction is a little different, though. This addiction is

actively encouraged by a powerful broadcast network that lures in people

Philomena. They get them and they don't let them go.

Gerard Atkins claims he is not familiar with this disorder.

The truth is, he is all too familiar with it. He's made a fortune exploiting

The American Buying Network is designed to extract every dime they can from

people like Philomena Bannister.

They came into her home, they pretended to be her friend, and then they

systematically drove both her and her husband to the brink of financial ruin.

We ask that damages be assessed in the amount of half a million dollars to make

these two whole and to tell this corporation its behavior isn't justified

fact that it made the sale.

Philomena Vance loves to shop.

We all heard her testimony.

Howard Bannister thinks his wife shops too much.

Do I think she shops too much?

Maybe I do.

But the truth is, whatever anybody thinks about how much Philomena

shops, it's none of anybody's business.

And if you doubt that, ask yourself this.

Is it anybody's business how much you shop?

Philomena Bannister is seeing a therapist who says she has shopping

disorder. Now, the fact is, there's no listing for this disorder in the

Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual.

Howard Bannister couldn't tell us one identifying characteristic.

Yet he expected the American Buying Network to take his word for it and act

the capacity of a surrogate parent by refusing to sell to this woman what she

asked to buy.

Was the American Buying Network negligent?

No.

No, the American Buying Network is a business, and they do make a profit.

But that does not make them responsible for the personal choices of their

customers. It does not make it their responsibility to decide who can and

shop. And frankly, ladies and gentlemen, I'm glad they don't have that power.

I'm glad that each and every one of us is free to make our own choices.

As you see, the minute we make someone else responsible, we give our freedom

away.

Hi, Sandy.

Hello. I got you some reading material. I didn't really know what your current

tastes are, so I picked out some stuff that I like.

Larry McMurtry, Jim Harrison, some mysteries, magazines.

Yeah, it's a little too much.

Pick out what you like, and I'll bring the rest back.

No, it's all too much. There's too much coming in. I can't keep track of other

people's stories and plots and characters and some magazine article

something different and advertisements.

I can't keep track.

Of all that.

Okay.

Is there something that we need to discuss today?

There are a couple of things I wanted to ask you. Come on, Ed, let's go.

Is it necessary that we go? Sandy, do you mind if we stay?

Do what you want.

What do you want to ask me?

Did you ever meet Gail's husband?

No. He was never in the office when you were there?

I don't know what he looks like.

So you have no way of knowing whether or not he was in the office when you were

there? Right.

Okay. Is that it?

Sandy, can you tell me where you were in the morning Gail was killed?

Yeah, it was in my room.

Can you think of anybody who might have seen you in your room?

No. No one came by?

No. Did you go out to eat?

Okay.

Next week we start picking a jury.

Then we go to trial.

Right.

You need clothes for your trial.

Do you have clothes?

Yeah.

Back in your room?

Yeah. We'll go get them.

Wait, if I'm found guilty, they won't keep me here, right? Don't be thinking

about being found guilty.

Well, excuse me, I'm sorry, but I am thinking about it. And the question I

is whether or not they're going to keep me here or move me someplace else.

They'll move you someplace else.

Okay.

So nobody smokes around here, huh?

No, I don't think anyone here smokes.

We had a champ who used to blow a reefer in the stairwell. Other than that, I

don't think anybody smokes.

So if I want to smoke, I have to go out by the elevator to the ladies' room,

huh? Yeah, unless you want to risk incurring the wrath of your co -worker.

Damn, if there was a nun pounding on the door, I'd feel like I was right back in

high school. Let me help you with that.

You're Jane Halliday, right? Yes. You have a call.

Langston. Here.

Hello.

I'll be down in front of the building.

What's wrong?

My client's about to jump off a freeway overpass.

How

long

has he been there? About an hour. We can't get close to him. I thought maybe

could. David!

I'm just coming a little closer.

I'm just going to sit right here.

Okay?

They made me beg.

Like one of those guys with the signs that stands by the freeway entrance.

David, you never asked for anything you didn't deserve.

You know, when I was 24 years old, I was the youngest staff sergeant at Fort

Sills. I was responsible for 40 men.

I led my men into battle and I distinguished myself in combat.

I've already filed a notice of appeals. I intend to pursue this. I'll never be a

soldier again.

I'll never get my wife back again.

I'll never be able to walk up a flight of stairs without having to sit down.

I have no reason to end your life.

Are you going to give me some article of religious faith?

Are you going to quote me some scripture?

I can, if you want me to.

Sure.

You tell me what the Bible says I should do.

The Bible says, wait for the Lord.

Be strong and wait for the Lord.

If God is for us, who shall be against us? Who shall separate us from the love

of Christ?

And that does it for you, huh?

Praying does it for me.

When I feel confused or depressed, I pray.

I asked God to guide me. I asked him to show me the way. Well, I asked God to

guide me, but I haven't heard back from him yet.

You don't know any more than I know what the future holds.

You could find things that make you grateful for every year of life you're

given.

Is God talking?

No, it's me talking.

David, I want you to take my hand and come down from here.

I want you to take my hand.

I just want to have someone care about me.

Stay ready.

You have someone who cares about you.

You have me.

Has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor. What say you? In the matter of Bannister versus the

American buying network, we fine for the defendant.

The jury is dismissed with the thanks of the court.

We are adjourned.

Don't think this is over. I'll appeal. Mr. Bannister, Mrs. Bannister, I'd like

to discuss an idea I had.

Is there someplace we can talk?

Sure.

What are you proposing?

We're proposing a job. What?

I was watching you testify, Mrs. Bannister, and I wasn't visualizing you

witness stand.

I was visualizing you being broadcast into 43 million homes.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about offering you a position at the American Buying Network

on -air product host.

Oh, no.

We have the technology. What we don't want to lose is the humanity, and that's

you, Mrs. Bannister. That's me? I believe you embody all the qualities

keep us grounded, all the qualities our customers can relate to.

I believe you are the American Buying Network customer.

Really? We'd be willing to negotiate a substantial salary plus a signing bonus.

Plus you forgive the debt?

Plus we'll forgive the debt. And you agree not to sell her anything?

Done.

Gosh, I don't know what to say.

Say yes.

Now, wait a minute, wait a minute. I'm going to stop being a lawyer here just

for a second and ask a question. It's just someone who's watched you

the trial.

Is it a good idea for you to be surrounded by this much temptation?

Oh, Mr. Rollins, I'm surrounded by temptation every day of my life.

I'm in therapy. I realize the effect my extravagances have had on my husband,

and I know that in order for our marriage to survive, I must learn to

them. So, if I succumb to temptation, I will quit.

Okay. So right now I'm going to go home and figure out what to wear.

We'll give you help with that. We'll give you a complete orientation before

go on the air.

Wonderful.

I believe that you and I are going to have a lot of fun together.

I heard there was a little excitement today.

Well, I guess you could call it that.

I'm glad to hear he's all right.

He's alive.

I wouldn't say he's all right.

Let me get to the point. I understand you intend to move forward with an

I'd like to see if we can avoid that. What do you propose?

$250 ,000.

Full and final payment.

Only condition being absolute confidentiality.

Suicidal veterans make for bad press, don't they? As do overly eager young

attorneys with a great deal of time on their hands.

Mr. Highgate, just so you know, I'm not overly eager and I don't have a lot of

time on my hands. What I have...

He's a client whom I believe in. I'm prepared to pursue his case for as long

necessary until he feels he's been adequately compensated. And I think a

million dollars qualifies, wouldn't you?

I'll talk to my client.

I appreciate that.

We'd like this to be over.

Take what there is to take and go.

It's like a cell.

What I'd like to know is how I was able to pay for it.

Seller knows how it costs money.

I don't know how he paid for it.

It wasn't working.

He's paid for it through the end of the month.

Where did he get the money?

Should we at least fold his things so they don't get all wrinkled?

I think we're best off just buying him something to wear, Ed. I know, but he

should hang his things up.

He's got a closet. He's got hangers.

He should hang his things up when he takes them off so when he puts them back

again, they don't get all wrinkled. Then he wouldn't have to send them out to be

dry cleaned as much. And they wouldn't look like hell when he puts them back

Hang them up. You get into the habit. When you take them off, you hang them

Stop talking about him as though he's well, as though he's normal.

He's not well. He's not normal.

Okay, assume he's not.

What should we do, Ray? Should we just forget about him? Should we write him

and let him die? Is that what you want to do? Folks, you can't turn on each

other. You know, sometimes I get the feeling that she'd just rather be done

him. I get the feeling that it's too much trouble, that she'd rather not be

bothered. The way he pays for this room is that I send him money.

You do?

Yes.

So you've known where he's been? I send a money order to a post office box.

I knew he was in L .A. That's all I knew.

Why didn't you say something right? Why didn't you tell me? Because I knew you'd

try to find him. What would have been wrong with that?

Didn't you want to find him? No!

No! I wanted him to have a roof over his head. I wanted him not to starve.

Beyond that, I stopped wanting anything.

Oh, God, help me.

I never wanted to see him again.