Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law.

Tell me, I want to have a baby.

Oh, you'll make a terrific mother.

With you.

No one should become a parent unless they're ready. Now I know what to do.

clear. Crystal, you shouldn't have the baby with Roxanne. I'm having the baby

with Roxanne.

I love the script.

You're always on my mind.

Mr. Flicker.

Back in. Sorry I'm late. Stop with the excuses.

Sit, sit, sit.

Oh, this is some studio you have here. Certainly no shortage of beautiful

I'm ready to write my book.

I intend to strike while the iron is hot.

First the flowers, then the glass slipper.

It must be the guy you said was watching you in court. Or it could be anyone,

right?

Can you help me?

Yeah.

A little red riding hood?

I'm going to have it with me all the time.

And if those guys that attack me ever come around, I'll be ready.

Jaw.

When you sauntered into this office, I knew you were just another bun -dusting

downtown attorney.

You're too smart, Sidney. I have to protect my boss.

You're loyal.

That's a rare quality.

Arnie, what's the hurry?

I don't want Ben Flicker catching me with my pants down. Not this early. It's

his morning to see the nutritionist. Sidney, just between us.

Is there anyone out to stab Ben Flicker in the back? Why stab someone in the

back when you can simply rip their heart out? How does this feel? Oh, please,

please, Sidney. Arnie, what is the problem? When we made love, I never even

you let go.

I didn't. I didn't. I'm trying to stay on the schedule.

I need to preserve my yang essence.

By age 40, a man's potency begins declining. Dr. Sun Tzu Mo believed that

ejaculation should be limited to twice a month.

24 orgasms? Even during leap year? Dr. Sun lived to be 101.

Well, I bet Mrs. Sun never stroked the good doctor on a full moon.

Thank you.

I know you're headed for the dentist, but I need two copies of this as soon as

you get back.

Okay.

Well, I really should go. Lincoln, too.

If he poops in the office again, Douglas won't let me bring him to work.

Sidney.

Sidney. When I gave you this dog, you promised to get him a license.

Why? He can't even see over the steering wheel.

That was Stuart's joke.

We had a deal.

I know.

Well, I haven't had time. I will.

I promise. All right. Come on, Lincoln. Let's go for a walk.

No, not that way.

Okay.

Jonathan? Yeah? Can I ask a question?

Shoot. Is everybody afraid of the dentist?

Haven't you seen the marathon man?

No, no. Dr.

Cederbaum, he's putting in a new tooth here.

I asked Roxanna. She said insurance would pay.

Sure, just make sure your dentist gives nitrous.

You know, laughing gas.

Laughing gas?

So you won't hurt.

Oh, laughing gas.

That's silly.

Nobody move!

My watch is missing, and I want it returned now.

No one leaves this office until that watch is securely tucked back inside my

pocket. Come on, Douglas.

Lincoln hears the call of the wild.

All right, the dog can go.

You want to play hardball?

Fine. But if that watch isn't returned by... by end of business this afternoon,

you'll rue the moment we met. Have a nice day.

Hi. I'm Melina Paros. Hi. Ann Kelsey.

Welcome to McKenzie Bragman. Great having another woman to help balance the

scales. Thank you.

Do these staff meetings usually last long? I've got a prelim in 45 minutes.

You shouldn't have a problem.

Like some papaya?

Oh, no, thanks.

You're in my seat.

Oh. Seats are assigned?

No, it's just this is where I always sit.

Oh.

Well, I'm a little spread out. Do you mind taking another seat?

Of course not.

Ann, you're in my seat. Take another.

Why? It'll give you a different outlook.

Melina Paros, Arnold Becker. Ah.

Read your resume.

Very impressive.

Arnie, you're in my chair.

Ann's in mine.

Sit there. But, Jonathan, just sit.

Melina Paros, Jonathan Rollins.

I hear you're a great litigator.

Hey, you're in my chair. Arnie, from what? Ann's in mine. Stuart, just sit

anywhere and don't ask questions.

Not even, who are you? Melina Paros.

Stuart, slide over.

Ask Jonathan. Ask Gordon. Ask Anne. Ask Melina. Who's Melina?

Pardo. Would it help if I wore a name tag?

Is there a reason why everyone has changed seats?

If I knew what time it was,

I'd say we wasted enough of it. Let's begin.

Oh, Melina, please, join us. Sit. Sit anywhere you like.

Thank you, Melina.

By now, I'm sure most of you have met our new associate, Regina Paros.

Granted, our hiring procedure was a bit unorthodox, but the opportunity to lure

her from the Attorney General's office was a coup not to be missed. I take this

opportunity to extend a warm welcome.

Thank you very much.

I'll do my best to fit in.

See?

I thought you had a trial today.

The defendant woke up this morning and found his God, pled guilty.

Hallelujah.

On my way back from court, I can't resist stopping by.

I had a wonderful night with you at the Edgewater.

Me too.

No, I mean, I really enjoyed myself, and not just because we made love.

Tommy, I'm trying to get pregnant, and you helping me is strictly business.

Strictly business?

Tom. Tom, have you heard from Zoe? Why do you ask me that every time we bump

into each other? Oh, wait. I just want to drop her in line, that's all.

You can ask.

Roxanne,

my things are making their way across town.

Which, for as slow as it's going, might as well be cross -country. I'll be sure

the movers make the last hundred feet to your office. Thank you.

You're working here now?

How'd you bamboozle your way into this job?

The same way I bamboozled my way into the last job. I got them all fooled,

Mulaney. Not me.

You two know each other? Yeah, from this bogus child abuse charge.

You should have had the guts to prosecute that case when the DA threw it

desk. Hey, guts has nothing to do with this. The facts don't add up. The

mother's not guilty.

You want to hear my side? Come to the preliminary hearing.

Are you actually proceeding?

My last case with the Attorney General. Going out with a bang. Good luck.

I don't need a lot.

Tommy, it could be a little nicer. It's only his first day.

To take everything so personally?

Yeah, yeah, I know. For you, everything's strictly business.

And that's the last time I saw Ward Bond or Abby Singer on my movie lot. So help

me God.

So tell me, what did you find out from my Sidney?

that I have very little self -control.

Enough nonsense.

Actually, sir, with all due respect, I don't believe your assistant is

rumors around town. Of course she isn't.

Then why was it so important that I sleep with her? Because she's a great

I knew you two would hit it off.

Ben, listen.

Our relationship goes way back.

Two weeks? Seems longer. If I'm to help you push Worldwide Studios into the

black, you need to level with me.

You want the truth?

Which version?

Okay.

These last few years haven't been banner box office bonanzas for my studio. Not

long ago, I had to raise capital and take on a silent partner, a snorer who

turned out to be not so silent when it came to women and running around.

You're referring to Eric Shuler? In the middle of his divorce, Shuler falls for

a girl half his age.

Things get ugly, promises aren't kept.

Shula's wife finds out.

She cries wolf astaged.

Not yet.

Blackmail. The wife knows things.

If she demands an audit, I might as well put Worldwide's books up in Skywriting.

You have something to hide?

Who doesn't?

A deal here, a favor there.

Humbling everywhere.

I'm not always proud, but you gotta keep the wheel greased. After all, I'm still

in business, right?

What do you want me to do? Try talking sense to Schuller's wife. Stall this

divorce. Otherwise, we all lose.

I'll give it a shot.

What if I can't? Then you're not the man I thought you were.

Ben?

Tell me honestly.

I can take it.

What you have written is completely devoid of emotion.

Who cares about the legals?

Readers want to know about the people locked behind those prison bars.

Now, frankly, this is very poor storytelling.

Kick a partner when he's down, why don't you?

Yes.

Here? Just a moment.

Roger Beekman is out front.

We shared a cell at county.

I told him to look me up when he was released.

So? He believed me.

Now, Douglas, what about your promise?

I promised to pull at least one man from the River Styx. You can't turn that man

away. Of course not. The receptionist will do that.

All right.

I'll see what he wants.

I'll be right with you.

Where is he?

How you been, Pender? Roger.

Oh, gee.

Um, let's talk in my office. Great.

You know, you're looking pretty good.

Thank you for holding me. Hi, I'll sign for that. Hi, Ben.

You okay?

Thanks. I don't know what happened.

Benny, I can't understand you.

The dentist gave my mouth a shot.

A shot?

Oh, no, the kid.

He's gone.

He ran away.

Who ran away? The dentist?

No, Lincoln.

Come on back. He got loose.

I stopped at a novelty shop and left him outside.

Oh, come on with me. We'll make some phone calls.

This is all that's left.

We'll find him, I promise.

Roxy, we've got to hurry.

Glenn, this is for you. Oh, thanks, Roxy. Bye. Please, I've got to find

Hey. Hey.

Another package? Where'd you get this from? I don't know.

Oh God

Blood

never comes out

I think we should leave the stain there as a warning to clients.

This isn't funny, Jonathan. Now you are going to have to go to the police and

report this.

Sending a human heart, isn't that against the law? It'd look more like an

heart, actually.

How would you know the difference?

Before my brother flunked out of vet school, he used to bring home specimen

jars. Come on, let's go to my office.

Okay, here's the address of the animal shelter.

Yeah, are you sure Lincoln is safe? I told you, Benny, they have a lot of

You just have to go pick out Lincoln.

You aren't coming with me?

You want me to?

Rocks, little hand here.

If you want to wait... No.

I'll go myself.

It's my fault.

Okay.

Helping you find work is harder than I thought.

Unfortunately, you're an ex -con, and check -kiting is hardly a marketable

skill. People never forget.

Don't take it so hard.

The wonderful thing about humanity is eventually they let anyone in.

Your dad?

Yes. He founded this firm.

He looks worried.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

My father was the most confident man on the face of the earth.

Well, his eyes seem troubled.

Really? I lost my pocket watch today. Passed from generation

to generation.

Father loved it. He was a punctual man. A time for everything.

Yes. I'll be right there.

That's my cue to exit.

I haven't helped you find a job.

But you've done your best.

Now it's on to my next destination.

Where's that?

I don't know.

You were my first stop.

I was?

Absolutely. Even though I had the upper bunk at county, I looked up to you.

You weren't afraid to stand your ground.

He did have his bad days.

Roger. Wait here. This meeting won't take long.

You and I will work out something.

Lord knows he wasn't the easiest man in the world to please or call father.

But he loved you.

I can tell.

Dr. Voorhees, tell me about the night Mrs. Hastings brought her daughter to

emergency room. The 11 -month -old child presented with a high fever, congested

lungs, and an ear infection.

And what was your initial diagnosis?

Pneumonia. However, that wasn't my main concern. Go on, please. Mrs. Hastings'

daughter was severely underweight at only nine pounds. An 11 -month -old,

in the 50th percentile, should weigh almost twice that. What else raised your

suspicion? Objection. Leading the witness.

I'll rephrase. Was there anything else out of the ordinary about the child's

condition? She had puncture marks on her thigh, surrounded by bruises, as though

someone had squeezed the leg and stuck it repeatedly with a needle.

Anything else?

A severe red rash on her left arm resembling a chemical burn.

Did you question Mrs. Hastings about your concerns?

Yes, but for me, her answers didn't measure up, especially in light of the

child's condition.

In my judgment, Mrs. Hastings' daughter was being neglected at home, probably

abused. At that point, I had an obligation to report to social services.

Thank you.

No further questions.

Dr. Voorhees, you said there were puncture marks and a child's thigh?

Seven, eight. They appeared to be deliberate. Not possibly, as Mrs.

tried explaining that night, caused by straight pins mistakenly left in newly

purchased pajamas?

It's possible, however... Is it also possible that the bruises were caused

as Mrs. Hastings also tried explaining that night, she firmly held her

daughter's leg and swabbed those punctures with alcohol?

Yes, but... And finally, is it possible, as Mrs. Hastings also tried

explaining... that her daughter crawled onto the kitchen floor, which at the

time was wet with ammonia and cleanser, thus causing the rash on her leg.

Possible. You are currently on an internship rotation in the emergency

that correct?

Yes. Must be a stressful situation.

How many hours had you been on duty the night Mrs. Hastings brought her daughter

in for care?

23. I was working a double shift.

Is it possible that you jumped to conclusions about Mrs. Hastings, about

neglect and abuse, that you were exhausted by the demands of a double

Objection. This is speech -making.

Counselor, ask your question.

Is it possible that in your eagerness to be a good doctor, you jumped the gun,

called social services, and had Mrs. Hastings' daughter taken away for no

reason? Is that possible?

Anything.

Thank you. Nothing further.

It's always a treat to get out.

Of course, someday all this will be yours.

Really? What makes you think so?

It's the natural chain of events set in motion by Mr. Shuler's alleged

infidelity. You're threatening to open up the worldwide books.

That sounds like blackmail.

Ah, come now, Mr. Shuler.

You're true.

Do you believe in fate, Mr. Beckham?

I believe for every action, there's a reaction.

Exactly. So when my husband cheated on me, naturally I confronted him. We

argued. I ended up sailing down a flight of stairs.

He swears it was an accident, but he swears about a lot of things.

Have you met my husband, Mr. Beckham? No, ma 'am.

Here's a warning. When foot comes to self, make sure you're on firm footing.

Otherwise, he'll cripple you, too.

Beatrice, time to talk turkey.

What exactly do you want out of all this?

You're Ben Flicker's attorney.

Surely he must have told you. Mr. Flicker's not about to give you a

share of his studio.

That man will stop at nothing to keep his fantasy alive.

This town, this industry has passed him by, so he needs young Turks like you to

be his foot soldiers, to do his bidding.

Don't take anything you see here at face value.

Remember that, Mr.

Beckham.

Good day.

Are we having lunch?

No, not today.

At least let me help you back to the limo.

This may come as a surprise to you, but I am able to take care of myself.

Goodbye.

And as the cell door slammed shut... Just what do you think you're doing?

Oh, nothing.

Here I am, putting myself on the line, inviting you inside the inner sanctum of

my professional life, and this is what I get in return?

Invasion of privacy?

Petty theft?

God knows what's in your pockets. Well, you don't understand.

Boy, oh, boy. You can take the con out of the joint, but that's where it stops,

huh? I never trusted you, mister. Not for one minute. Fender! Don't fender me.

Get out.

You're probably responsible for the theft of my watch as well, Mr.

Sticky Fingers.

Excuse me.

I'm trying to find my dog.

Name on the tag?

No, there's no tag.

He's called Lincoln.

Because Stewart's at Colorado would be a stupid name.

Do you own this dog?

No, we found him. But then I lost him.

Roxanne called.

Look, I don't know what you're talking about. But if you want to adopt, here's

form.

Shelter.

No, no, no. Don't bring him down here now.

Hey! Lincoln! Hey!

Drool bucket.

I told you to wait.

This is Lincoln.

He's got no ID.

How are you going to prove it?

Well, let him out and he'll come to me.

So will every other dog in this place.

Besides, that one there has got a bad temperament. He tried biting me. Lincoln

wouldn't bite.

Look, if that bitch is still here, when you come back, he's all yours.

Where would he go?

Don's on his flute.

All dogs go to heaven. If no one adopts, we put them to sleep.

Kill what?

We kill them.

Now, be a sport, Lee, please. I want to go home.

Huh? Can't you kill me? You can't. Please don't kill my dog. Please.

Don't kill my dog.

Please. Please don't kill my dog.

Please.

I asked you, Lincoln, once before, and I'm going to do it again. Now, don't

worry, okay?

Let's do it. You still owe me a written statement. Complete. Not now.

Tomorrow. It's a date. I don't want those punks who beat you up making bail.

Hi.

Oh, no. More gifts. Why do you see what's inside?

Tommy, get this away from me.

Gwen, it took me a long time to wrap this.

Is this from you?

Yeah. It's for Rox.

Oh.

I'm Tommy. I'm so sorry.

Excuse me.

Hey, good -looking.

Hey, yourself.

You worked here for two years, and now I can't shake you.

Sometimes you have to leave to see what you left behind.

Does that make any sense?

Not really. Good, because I haven't been making sense lately. I'm smitten?

I mean, that's a word I never even used before. I'm not even sure I know what it

means even, but smitten feels right.

This is for you.

Go ahead, open it.

The row from the Edgewater Hotel.

Our first night together.

So, you have plans for lunch?

This isn't about lunch, Tommy.

I think we should keep our regular appointment.

But I don't want to become romantic.

And you stopping in here and bringing me gifts really throws me off.

Last thing I want is to throw you off.

See ya.

How you doing?

I'm great.

Gwen, you've got to try to put all this behind you.

If someone sent you a glass slipper, a red cape, and a bloody heart, God knows

what I'll get on Valentine's Day.

How could you put that behind you?

For the past two weeks, every night at midnight, my phone rings. I pick it up.

hear a clock striking 12 on the other line.

And then the line goes dead.

Can you put a trace on the phone?

I suppose.

I just, I was determined not to let this get the best of me, but it's finally

just wearing me down.

I don't want to upset you. You can't upset me any more than I already am. But

whoever is stalking you... You think somebody is stalking me? I don't know.

But whoever it is must be working here in this office.

Great. You think I'm being stalked by someone that works at the office. That's

great. Thanks a lot, Anne. Gwen, think about it for a minute. Who else could

know so much about your comings and goings, your daily routine, your court

dates?

You must have some notion of who this could be.

Actually, I do.

Who?

Stuart.

Nobody around here has been acting weird.

How did you find me? It wasn't easy.

May I sit down?

Good book?

Missed it in the last chapter.

But that's fine.

I enjoy making up my own endings.

Listen, I'm sorry I troubled you.

Won't bother you again, Douglas.

Call me Fender.

I listened to this. Hey, the story you tell, is it yours?

I had nothing else to do while I was waiting in your office. The recorder was

just sitting there, so I figured, why not? The narrative is wonderful.

Touching. It even bears a remarkable resemblance to my own adolescence. Two

who share a six -by -nine room with no secrets.

Where did you learn to tell such moving stories?

I didn't.

It's just something I can do like, you know, like this.

I have an idea.

Come with me.

Can we eat first?

Dr. Peresky, how long have you been Mrs. Hastings' pediatrician? Three months.

And during that time, how would you describe her daughter's health?

Generally speaking, I'd have to say poor.

Why is that, in your opinion?

Mrs. Hastings' daughter suffers from a medical condition commonly referred to

a failure to thrive.

Would you explain exactly what is a failure to thrive?

There is no precise medical definition. However, typically it refers to a child

who, despite repeated attempts, refuses to eat and thus gain weight.

What are some causes of this condition?

Food allergies, inability to break down certain carbohydrates, fussiness.

The cause often remains a mystery.

Have you been encouraged by Mrs. Hastings' efforts on her daughter's

Unquestionably. Karen Hastings is tireless in her crusade for little

life. She rarely leaves her side.

As a single parent, her efforts are even more extraordinary.

Dr. Paretsky, have you ever seen Karen Hastings behave in any way other than as

a loving...

caring mother. No, I haven't. No further questions, Your Honor.

Your cross, Miss Bowers. I'm ready, Your Honor.

Dr. Peresky, you describe Miss Hastings as tireless in her efforts on her

daughter's behalf.

What do you mean?

Karen often detects symptoms early and brings them to my attention.

She used to be a nurse and has exceptional diagnostic skills.

Which makes me wonder why Mrs. Hastings' first child died mysteriously.

Objection irrelevant and highly prejudiced. Where are you headed, Miss

Burroughs? It goes to a pattern of abuse, Your Honor.

I have here the coroner's report for the death of Colin Hastings.

Overruled. Watch yourself, Counselor.

Introducing People's Exhibit 4.

Doctor, would you mind reading the cause of death?

Gastroenteritis caused by severe dehydration leading to coma.

Thank you. Now tell me, wouldn't someone with, as you say, exceptional

diagnostic skills have been able to spot this condition before it resulted in

the death of a child?

Doctors are not perfect, Miss Paros. Neither are nurses, nor mothers, not

lawyers. We all make mistakes. That doesn't make us criminals.

Thank you.

No further questions.

Ben? Becker, talk to me.

We really should speak in private.

Attorney -client confidentiality doesn't mean books. Besides, Kimiko doesn't

speak a word of English.

It's warm in here. Take off your jacket. You're starting to schvitz.

Tell me what you found out. Beatrice Shuler isn't budging, right?

Speaking of budging, I'm a little confused.

She told me about her accident and implicated Mr.

Shuler. Perhaps I should meet him.

Perhaps you should not.

Why? If it wasn't for that gun, if Worldwide Studios wouldn't be in a

and I wouldn't be fighting a prostate with a mind of its own. Yeah, I may be

of line, but whatever possessed you, take on Shuler as a silent partner. Oh,

me started. I was thinking with my money clip.

Stairs. Don't make such a... It was an accident.

She got drunk and drifted. She contends he put her in a wheelchair.

That woman could out -sprint me to the ready teller with a 50 -yard head start.

Sir, Mrs. Shuler was... You are dope.

She can walk. Believe me. Look, let me tell you something. Oops.

I quell over my daughter.

She's sweet and wonderful and doesn't give a rat's ass about being Tori

Spelling. You, you're different.

And if you ever want to be considered my heir apparent, you better make up your

mind who you believe.

Now, take care of this. Go talk to Beatrice Schuller.

That the heir apparent?

What do you think?

Perfect.

Not done, no.

I tried explaining our policy to your friend here.

I'm sorry that I got upset, but those are the rules. Look, under the

circumstances, don't you think it might be better for all concerned if you just

give the man his dog back?

How can I be sure that it's his?

For all I know, there's a sad little girl on her way down here right now,

desperate to hug and hold the very same dog.

Here's my business card.

I'm an attorney with Mackenzie Brackman. Mr. Stulwich is a colleague of mine.

You can't convince me he got through law school.

And I can't convince you to give his dog back?

No. Well, is it possible that this will convince you?

Stuart! You want the dog back or not?

Oh, yeah.

Where is he? The dog back there.

Show me.

Come on. Come on.

He's over there.

Let him out. Let him out. Okay, please. Please, just don't let that thing go

off. I've got a family.

And a kid?

How many?

Three. Under five.

That's a handful, huh? Yeah.

Oh, come on. Open it up.

Here you go.

Here's the dog.

Hi, Lincoln.

Hi,

Lincoln. What happens to all these other dogs?

Well, if no one adopts them or we run out of space, they've got to be

Who thinks that's his room? Not me.

Well, go let him out. All of them.

Benny, give him a hand. Hurry up. Go on. Let him out. Go, go, go. Let's go.

Let's go. All the way.

At him, boy.

At him.

Before I make my ruling, I'd like counsel to approach.

Be seated.

Miss Parris, you have no direct evidence of any wrongdoing as regards Mrs.

Hastings. And your circumstantial evidence is just a tad more convincing.

To quote opposing counsel, you are out on a limb.

What you do have is a chronically sick baby.

with no satisfactory medical explanation despite the scores of diagnostic tests

that have been performed.

You also have a sibling who died with similar unexplained symptoms and a

who is the only person present during the onset of illness.

Now, that may be enough to get you probable cause here, but in my opinion,

light years away from convincing a jury.

Get busy, Miss Paros. Put some teeth into this case before you go to trial.

Otherwise... You are looking at a directed verdict for the defendant.

Now step back.

This court hereby finds probable cause has been established, and the defendant

is bound over on charges of felony child endangerment.

Her daughter remains in the protective custody of social services. I want to

bring my daughter home with me. Trial will commence one week from today.

Until then, we are adjourned. I'm a good mother.

You have to believe me. You'll get a chance to testify. No, please, Your

if you would just listen to me. Mrs. Hastings, my decision stands. But my

daughter needs me.

She should be sleeping in her own bed.

Mrs.

Shuler, I appreciate your coming down here.

Frankly, this isn't easy.

It is difficult for me to get around.

Yeah, right.

Nevertheless, I wanted to hear what you have to say face to face.

All right.

I think your marriage was already disintegrating when Mr. Shuler became

with another woman.

You grew despondent to the point where one night, blind drunk, you fell down

stairs, and now you're looking to take advantage of what could possibly prove

be a financial windfall.

But as a representative for Worldwide's Business Affairs, I won't let you get

away with it. I find it hard to believe that Ben Flicker would hire you.

Yeah, why's that?

Blicker despises vulnerability.

And I believe that deep down you are a kind man who hates doing what he's been

asked to do.

You're unable to mask your gentle nature.

Talk about duplicity, Beatrice. The wheelchair gig, is it all just for great

parking spaces?

Ernie, apologize.

Rock, stay out of this. And you, stand up. I'm leaving.

Rock, stay where you are. I want you to witness this woman is a fraud.

Please, don't do this.

Walk.

Mrs. Shuler, Hollywood, what you see isn't always what you get.

But Ben told me she can walk.

Can't you, Mrs. Shuler?

Arnold.

Oh, come on.

Wasp. Stuart!

What in heaven's name are you doing? I'm helping to balance it all out, Leland.

It's just like you said. Too much law, not enough justice.

Stuart Hickman, free Lincoln.

Yeah, well, somebody had to. I mean, the guy the dog found just wouldn't listen.

You should have seen him when he pulled out his gun and made him listen. What?

No, it's okay. I was real careful, you see. I took all the bullets out. It's

loaded. Stuart!

Give me the gun. No, it's okay, Leland. Police, free him! Watch out!

Drop it. No, it's okay.

His gun's not loaded on him. Don't, don't do.

I said drop the gun. Put the gun down, Stuart. That's my husband. Leland, will

you explain to them that I'm fine?

the cell door slammed shut.

All I could hear were the anguished cries of mournful weeping in this place

despair.

Wow.

You like it?

Roger, I'll be frank.

I was raised in the classics. I minored in contemporary American literature.

Steinbeck, Faulkner, Hemingway, a man's writer.

And I'd be lying if I said you measured up.

But what you do have, what you were born with, is the talent that may help write

a bestseller. Yeah?

Tomorrow I'll have my secretary begin transcribing the opening chapters.

We're going to make a great team.

What do you say?

Meet me here tomorrow morning?

Listen, if it's all right with you, I'd like to camp out on your couch.

Sleeping in the alley was kind of rough.

You've never had a place of your own?

I've been in and out of jail since I ran away at 17.

Don't even have a family.

My father was a very famous lawyer, you know.

As a youth.

Every night, I'd sit at the top of the stairs and wait for him to return home.

He'd walk through that front door and ask if he had a baritone's voice.

Douglas, what did you do today to make the world a better place?

What would you tell him?

I'd lie mostly.

But tonight, I could tell him I offered a man shelter.

Are you sure you got room?

Absolutely. Shouldn't you check with your wife? We haven't remarried yet, but

that's another story. Benny!

Benny! How are you?

My new teeth got knocked out in the fight.

That can be fixed.

And now I'm worried about Stuart.

Well, well, hopefully that can be fixed as well.

We didn't hurt anybody.

The gun wasn't even loaded, and that man was going to kill Lincoln. These last

few days have been confusing for all of us, but the important thing is we're all

safe. That goes for you too, Lincoln.

Yeah. How about I give you two a ride?

In your new car?

Yeah. You'd be really excited.

Well, we put down some paper.

Hey. This city is so deceptively pretty at night.

You heading home?

I've got the phone from a buddy of mine who's leaving tomorrow for Africa.

Fifteen days.

Botswana, Mozambique, Sudan, Ivory Coast.

Supposed to be traveling with his girlfriend, but she fell out.

So he asked me.

Are you going to go? I don't know. I took an extended leave of absence.

Doesn't seem like the right time to take a vacation right now.

Here's where I'd be.

Ooh. That's Schiaffa.

It's the place where people feel most welcome on Earth, I think. It's

You think you'd be happier at McKenzie Brackman?

It's hard to say, hard to say.

I haven't gotten off to an auspicious start.

I'll let you know when you get back.

If I come back.

I'll see you. Bon voyage.

Hi, Tommy.

Curtain's in an hour. We could still make it if... Not tonight.

Okay. I'll give him away.

Smells a little gamey.

Yeah, Lincoln dropped by with a few of his friends.

What's this about Stuart pulling a gun?

It wasn't loaded.

Yeah, but that's still nutsoid behavior.

I always thought this office was safe.

But lately with... Arnie's hunger for power, Stuart's confusion, Gwen's fear,

everything's out of control.

Why would I want to bring a baby into this insanity?

Because not two is giving up hope.

So what's really got you rattled?

I know I'm going to make a good mother.

But I'm a lousy, significant other.

I've got a failed marriage, a failed romance.

The truth is I've been pushing you away because I'm afraid to fall in love.

I'll tell you what.

How about we forget about relationships and we just spend the night together,

hmm?

Oh, in a purely professional sense, of course.

Strictly business.

The sitter's gonna kill me.

Hey.

Don't let this creep get you down.

You're the fairest of them all.

Yeah, means no white.

When the huntsman came back with the heart of a young boar he had killed, the

queen had insulted and ate it, believing it were no wife.

Cinderella.

Little Red Riding Hood.

Fairy tales.

Daniel?

You... Son of a -