Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law. I'm going under and I really need some help. I will

help you. You will? Because tomorrow night's soon enough.

Yeah. Good. I feel calmer now than I have in the last few weeks. And now

a moment back there when I actually pictured myself as a lawyer. It was

great.

I can't believe I did that.

You did some things that were not very nice.

What kind of things?

You know.

Sex? Uh -huh.

Well, Rosalie, you gotta tell somebody.

Did you tell this man that you didn't want to have sex with him?

Yes. Okay.

If that's what happened, I think we have a case against him.

I've agonized over what happened to my daughter that day. But presenting my

daughter not as a woman who was raped, but as a helpless, retarded girl who is

incapable of making her own decisions.

I believe you'll be doing her far more damage, and I won't let you do that.

I want to withdraw the complaint.

Come on, let's go.

Does this look okay?

Very pretty.

So you, uh, you bought all this stuff with your own money, huh?

It's a basic trial strategy.

You want to look good in court.

You're going to feel good.

The clothes the county provides are usually a bit threadbare.

Well, this isn't exactly my style, you know.

It's for the jury.

So is Andy going to be there? Don't worry about him.

Is he going to be there, though?

Yes, he'll be there to testify.

He used to say it was me and him until the end of time.

He lied.

So what kind of deal did he make?

He promised him straight probation.

So he's going to walk.

The fact that he never got out of the car means that the victim couldn't ID

which means that they have a stronger case against you.

So if I lose, I get five years, right?

Possibly.

Maybe I should have made a deal.

Christine, if you really want to cop a plea, I can see if the door's still

But you've been saying for months that you want to go to trial.

And although there are no guarantees, you do have a lawyer who believes in

Don't make me talk to him, alright?

People versus Rowan. What's this?

Christine Rowan was an unwilling participant in an armed robbery.

Her boyfriend forced her to pose as a prostitute, lure a John to a

position, then hold him up at gunpoint.

Sounds like you're pleading duress. That we are.

Has my boyfriend made me do it really a valid defense?

If this woman was threatened with grave bodily harm, absolutely.

The threats were psychological.

Doesn't make them any less grave.

This guy kept my client a virtual prisoner in his apartment.

demanded total submission, sexually and otherwise, to the point where her will

became subsumed by his.

What kind of woman puts herself in that position?

In this case, a teenage prostitute with a history of abuse.

Sad story, but a tough sell. Very tough.

You couldn't plead this? She didn't want to do time, and I didn't think she

deserved to.

Hopewell versus Payne. Yeah, Leland's urging I'm representing Mason Payne. His

wife is suing him for divorce.

All I had to hear was that Mason Payne was looking for an attorney. Why, who's

he? Who is he?

He's one of the great country music singers and songwriters. That's who we

Country music?

Oh, God, Leland, you listen to country music?

I know. It's hard to imagine, isn't it? Get along, little Dougie. We don't have

to discuss this anymore.

Leland, I'm stunned that you listen to country music. Some of the greatest

American poetry ever written is country music.

You know what happens when you play a country music song backwards?

What happens? You get back your wife, you get back your dog, your pickup

fixed. And your mama's alive.

You're all very sophisticated, aren't you? Well, I listen to country music.

And I am thrilled that Mason Payne is our client. And as far as I'm concerned,

'all don't know nothing.

Mr. Bowling, would you describe the nature of the event that took place on

evening of October 4th, 1992?

It was close to midnight. I was driving down Las Palmas.

South of Sunset, looking for a female companion.

Could you be more specific, Mr. Bowling?

A prostitute.

I was looking for a prostitute.

I saw that young woman over there standing on the sidewalk near Las Palmas

Selma. I pulled over.

She asked if I wanted a date. I said yes.

She got in, and away we went.

Where did you go? She told me to pull into an alley just up the street for

privacy, she said.

So when I parked, a guy came up behind me and blocked me so I couldn't back

That's when she pulled the gun. What, if anything, did she say?

She told me to hand over my wallet or she'd blow my head off.

Her voice is real calm and cool, like ice, like she did this all the time.

Objection moved to strike.

I'll allow it. Your Honor, when the witness claims that my client sounds

she did this all the time, he's engaging in speculation, which is both wholly

improper and highly prejudicial. The witness is stating his opinion,

I think the jury is capable of interpreting it as such.

Proceed, Miss Tripp.

What happened next, Mr. Bowling?

She told me to hand over my watch, my wedding band, and a gold chain that I

a thank -you for medallion on.

Then she drove off with my car.

Thank you.

I have nothing further.

Mr. Bowling, have you any training, psychiatric or otherwise, that would

you interpret my client's behavior on that night? No. For all you know, Ms.

Rowan was scared out of her wits, isn't that right? She didn't look scared to

me. In the statement you made to Believe, you said that the man in the

directed the action that night. Is that description accurate?

He yelled some things at her, yes.

Such as?

Well, he told her to make sure to get my watch and my ring. I remember that.

Did she obey his instruction?

Well, yes, she did, but... Thank you. The question only requires a yes or no

answer. But he didn't tell her to hold the gun at my head. She did that on her

own. Non -responsive move to strike.

Denied. Your Honor, I asked a yes or no question. The witness is entitled to

finish his thought.

That little girl threatened to blow my head off, and now she's trying to say it

wasn't her fault? Your Honor, I object. I've ruled the witness can continue, Ms.

Paros, and I won't tolerate another interruption. She lured me in, she

threatened me, she robbed me, and she did it like she meant to.

She did it like a pro. The witness is finished.

I have no more questions.

Mason, I'm not denigrating anything you've done. In fact, the matter is I've

always thought you were a major talent.

Unfortunately, your marriage isn't working and your wife wants to move on.

That's real showbiz talk, isn't it? That's the way they talk out here in L

We're going to move on.

We've taken all there is to take. We're tired of you. We're bored with you. So

now we're going to move on.

I'm just curious.

How much have you had to drink today, Mason?

Just enough to get through this, darling. Not one drop more.

Folks, we're here to see if we can come to an agreement as to finances. I

strongly suggest... That's what we deal with. Good idea.

Well, what's Mason's position on Amanda's continuing to perform his

Mason says she can't. Mason, hold on a second. Mason can't say she can't.

There's a compulsory license law that entitles her to perform all published

work. Let's put it this way. I'm not signing any divorce agreement that gives

her permission to sing those songs.

Well, we got a problem, Mr. Becker.

I mean, those songs and all the royalties derived thereof are his only

significant contribution to the marital estate.

And if he seeks to prevent his wife from using what has become a substantial

portion of her repertoire, well, he can't expect to share pari passu in that

selfsame estate.

Amanda, darling, if you understand what he just said, I'd best abandon all hope

of winning you back.

I think you best do that anyway, Mason.

This matter is not going to be settled, Mr. Becker. And it's certainly not going

to be settled today.

My suggestion is that tomorrow we just start with the depositions. Amanda.

Don't say anything, Mason. Just please, don't say anything.

I thought you were going to let me use the songs to bargain with.

They're the only thing I've got that she still wants. If I give them to her,

then you'll drop some papers, and just like that, it'll be over. You realize

only thing you're holding on to are divorce proceedings. I'll hold on to

whatever I can.

Mason?

Mason, I brought some of my albums in to show you.

Look at that.

Hawkshaw Hawkins, The Hawk of the West Virginia Hills.

That boy, Copus.

Bob Wills, Tommy Duncan.

Oh, Lefty Frizzell.

And Farron Young.

Leland. And Uncle Dave, Uncle Dave Macon, he's doing wrap it in the pea

and keep my skillet good and greasy.

Leland, Leland, this probably isn't a good time for that.

Oh.

Oh, okay.

Maybe later.

A presumption has no force or effect when specific contrary evidence is

and admitted.

And how much contrary evidence is necessary to overcome a presumption?

It depends on the case. Sometimes the standard is enough evidence to support a

finding of the non -existence of the presumed fact.

In other cases, the standard is just substantial evidence.

You got it.

You know, you were right about a change of scene. I couldn't remember any of

this until we got outside. Now it's all coming back.

What are you doing?

What am I doing?

Making myself extremely vulnerable. When this happened before, you said it was

an accident. You said it was a momentary lapse in impulse control.

It was.

This wasn't.

No.

I am very attracted to you.

Are you at all attracted to me? I just got out of a relationship, and I did

because I don't have the time right now for anything.

Except passing the bar.

But you also thought that coming out here would completely blow your

concentration, and what it did was clear your head. So imagine how focused you

would be after a weekend at the San Ysidro Ranch.

Tony. Please, don't say anything. Just hear me out. This is an incredible

It's so quiet, you'd think you were in the middle of nowhere.

Instead of a hundred miles from L .A., private cottages, horseback riding.

Not to mention this is the place Jack Kennedy spent his honeymoon.

Tony, it sounds really great. Please, just think about it.

That's all I ask.

Um, your assistant told me I could wait in here.

I knew it was a reason I hired her.

Um, Tony, I, uh, I thought about your invitation, and, uh, I'm going to have

say no.

It's not that I don't like you. It's just that I need to keep my life as

as possible right now, and that means not confusing relationships.

You're my teacher and my tutor, and I want to keep it at that.

I couldn't sleep last night because I kept thinking about you.

Tony, you're making me really uncomfortable.

I am more than just interested in you, Gwen.

I'm... I am overwhelmed by you, the way you dress, the way you move, the way you

smell. It makes it impossible for me to concentrate.

Look, Tony, I need to get back to studying for the bar. I am sorry I have

effect on you, but you're an adult.

You'll get past it.

To pretend that I don't feel this.

massive attraction for you is more than I can do, Gwen.

I'm sorry.

What do you mean?

I mean that I think I'm going to have to end our private tutoring sessions, and

you can certainly continue to come to class, but I would ask that you please

at the back, preferably behind someone tall.

Don't ask any questions. Don't talk to me before or after class, and if this is

not okay with you, I will gladly refund your money.

What good's that going to do me?

I can't get into another review class at this point. To hear you and see you and

know that I cannot get any closer to you is just too painful for me. I'm sorry.

You're an adult, Gwen.

You'll get past it.

Well, Arthur Bryson is a pretty well -respected judge.

Could you possibly have misread the situation?

Leland, he invited an opposing witness to vilify my client at length during my

cross -examination.

Well, what possible motive could he have had for doing that? I have no idea.

How old is your client?

Twenty. Bryson's got a daughter around that age. It's pretty well known she's

had some trouble, a couple DUIs, a possession bust.

Rumor is the judge went out of his way to make sure she got six months at Sybil

Brand. That's it.

Because I'm in there arguing that a woman the same age isn't responsible for

actions. I'd say that's the wrong thing to be arguing in front of the judge.

Do you think I have enough to disqualify him?

You have speculation based on rumor.

Now, to win a recusal, you need evidence of clear -cut bias.

So I do nothing.

This girl's headed for prison.

What you do is proceed with caution. You gain some insight into the potential

bias of your judge.

You plan your case accordingly.

Don't forget, you don't need the judge if you got the jury.

When was the last time you were in a recording studio, Mason?

It's been a while.

As a matter of fact, you haven't released an album since 1975, have you?

As a matter of fact, I haven't. How about concerts? You given any concerts

lately? Tell me something.

How come he's asked me all these questions he already knows the answer

Because I need a stenographic record of your responses, that's why.

Let's just get through it, Mason. When's the last time you performed?

Ten years ago. Last time you were scheduled to perform was on the

Hayride show, wasn't it? Oh, I know where this is going.

Wasn't it? Yes, it was.

Isn't it a fact that you showed up to that engagement in an inebriated

and were not permitted to go on stage? The reason I was not permitted to go on

stage is because I wouldn't put on a ten -gallon hat and stand there telling

jokes with that grinning idiot they had for an emcee. Jason, how many promoters

did you burn, Mr. Payne?

How many engagements did you show up to drunk?

How many engagements did you fail to show up to at all? My wife's the one

keeps track of things like that.

No, I'm not looking for an exact number, sir.

I'd just like to know if there's anyone out there who's still willing to take a

chance on booking you. That's an improper question. Don't answer it. It's

improper question. It goes to the issue of whether or not he rendered himself

unemployable. I say it's an improper question. I'm instructing him not to

it. Fine, I'll get a ruling. Get a ruling. I will get a ruling. Fine. My

this is what hell must be like, sitting in a room with lawyers picking over your

bones. Well, what did you think getting a divorce was going to be like, Mason?

I don't know. I didn't want to be getting a divorce.

I wanted to stay married.

Amanda, you know what? Why don't you take off? Can I? Absolutely.

Great.

You're gonna leave?

This is your deposition, not mine.

Now, this will be off the record.

All right, now, your wife won't say this to you, but I will.

You're old, and you're in the way.

Amanda Hopewell has a fantastic career ahead of her as a solo artist, and I'm

not gonna stand by and let him sandbag that.

Now, his songs may be an asset, but he himself is nothing but a liability.

You know it, I know it, and he knows it best of all.

Frank, I already gave your guy time served. Next thing he'll be wanting is

-to -wall carpeting. Come in.

The deal is, she pleads to involuntary manslaughter or we go to court.

Come in!

Right, I gotta go.

I said come in.

Oh, Rosalie.

I couldn't understand what you were saying.

Yeah, uh, well...

Sometimes I don't talk so clearly. Come on in.

How are you?

I'm fine.

How are you?

Fine. Is Benny with you?

No. It's all right if I come here alone.

Of course it's all right.

Something wrong?

I'm not sure.

Is this about Clark Sims?

You've seen him.

Once yesterday, twice last week.

I think he's on the corner of my street when I get off the bus.

And did he say anything to you?

He wanted to know why I hadn't been to the swimming pool.

And he told me that I look pretty in my bathing suit.

And did he say anything else?

He said we had to do sex again.

You don't have to do anything with him, Rosalie. You understand that? You don't

even have to talk to him again.

And we will get a restraining order so that he stays away from you.

Have you told your mother about this?

She gets so mad the last time.

Oh, she wasn't mad at you, Rosalie. She was worried about you.

Do we have to tell her?

No, but if we press charges against Clarkson, she's probably going to find

And if we go to court, I think you're going to need her.

Mr. Barney.

How would you describe your relationship with the defendant?

Well, about three years ago, I rescued Christine from hooking off the streets.

I looked after her, I protected her, and she was my girl.

And would you tell the court, please, how the two of you supported yourself?

We stole.

Would you describe for us what, if anything, took place on the evening of

October 4th, 1992?

The two of us robbed a guy. How exactly did you do that? Well, Christine

pretended to be a hooker. The guy stopped, and she got in the car.

I pulled up behind him. She robbed him.

Threw him out of the car. Mr. Barney, did you force her to do this?

Absolutely not.

We were really living the life at the time.

Doing a lot of drinking, a lot of cocaine, right, Christine?

She was the one who came up with the plan.

I never forced her to do anything.

Thank you. I have nothing further.

Mr. Varney, in return for your testimony against Christine Rowan, the district

attorney agreed to recommend probation, which is in fact what you expect to

receive, is it not? Hey, look, I was willing to own up to my mistakes, and I

think it's too bad that Christine won't do the same. Mr. Varney, are you

currently living with someone named Yvonne Mallory?

Yeah. How old is she?

Like 22. I have a certified copy of Ms.

Mallory's driver's license.

Would you please read aloud her date of birth?

Okay.

She's 17.

So what? Isn't it a fact that Ms. Mallory was working as a prostitute when

met her?

Objection. This line of questioning is irrelevant. Your Honor, Mr. Varney's

pattern of exploiting vulnerable young women is entirely relevant. The only one

on trial here is your client, Ms. Paros. The objection's sustained.

Isn't it a fact that four years ago, you and a 19 -year -old woman were

convicted of robbing two men in the exact same manner that Christine stands

accused of today? Yeah, and when I told Christine about it, she said, hey, why

don't we give it a try? Mr. Varney, wasn't it your idea to rob these men in

way? No, it wasn't. Didn't you, in fact, threaten to cut Christine off and throw

her out in the street if she didn't comply?

Hey, look, she is nothing but a coke slut, man. And she got off on doing it.

lying son of a bitch! Miss Paros, if your client can't keep her filthy mouth

shut, I'll order the bailiff to tape it shut. Your Honor, I ask that counsel be

heard in chambers.

All right, Miss Paros, you brought us all in here. What is it? Your Honor, I

move for a mistrial on the grounds that your derogatory remark against my client

in front of the jury has irreparably prejudiced my case.

Motion denied.

Is that it?

Your Honor, this remark is not an isolated incident.

I believe you're biased against my client.

Motion denied. With all due respect, Your Honor, your rulings indicate that

prejudged this case.

My rulings are my rulings. They don't indicate any such thing.

I think they do, Your Honor. The fact is, I think that when you look at my

client, you see your own daughter. And I think as a result of this, my client's

not getting a fair trial in there. Who the hell do you think you are? My

relationship with my daughter has nothing, nothing to do with this case.

is absolutely no business of yours.

You have no grounds for a recusal motion. You have no evidence of error on

part. And there isn't a judge in this building who'd argue otherwise.

Motion denied, Counselor.

You're stuck with me.

When Christine was six years old, her mother's live -in boyfriend sexually

molested her. At the age of eight, Christine was abandoned by her mother

left in the care of her maternal grandparents.

The grandmother died the following year, and Christine was raised by her

grandfather until his death when she was 14.

And what effect did these childhood experiences have on Christine?

They left her with a diminished sense of self and an abnormally dependent

personality. Meaning? Christine craves the approval of others, men in

particular, and wants desperately to attach herself to someone who will love

her. Once in a relationship, she'll do almost anything to maintain it. Clearly,

this leaves her vulnerable to victimization.

In your opinion, was Christine victimized by her former boyfriend,

Varney? Yes. He isolated her from her friends and kept her in a state of near

captivity. He assumed control over even the most minor decisions in her life.

Gradually, Christine entered a state of learned helplessness in which her own

will was subjugated to the will of Mr. Varney. Doctor, in your opinion, was

Christine acting of her own free will when she committed the robberies of

she stands accused?

No. Mr. Varney threatened to throw her out if she didn't participate.

Christine's greatest fear was that she'd be abandoned, as she was repeatedly

during childhood.

In her dependent state of mind, Mr. Varney's ultimatum was like a death

Thank you, Doctor. Nothing further.

Doctor, didn't Christine choose to enter a coercive relationship because she

wanted someone else making decisions for her? It's possible she made that choice

initially, but prolonged mistreatment by Mr. Varney eroded her will to the point

she felt she had no choice. Let's get something straight. Was Miss Rowan

at the time of the robbery?

No. Could she tell right from wrong? Yes. So she knew what she was doing was

wrong, but she went ahead and did it anyway.

Yes, acting under the threat of abandonment, which to her is the

death. And how do you know Mr. Varney made this threat, Doctor?

Christine told me.

And I believed her.

Right.

Nothing further.

Mr. Mullaney, what are you doing here?

I didn't tell her you were coming.

What's going on? Can I come in? Please.

I'm sorry for this intrusion, but something's been going on that I think

should know about.

You could sit down if you want.

Can I make you some coffee?

Oh, no, thank you, Rosalie. I'm fine.

What is it, Mr. Mullaney?

Clark Sims has been threatening your daughter, Mrs. Hendrickson.

Why didn't you tell me?

I didn't want you to get mad.

When Rosalie came to my office, I had a detective look into his background.

Two years ago, the guy was under police investigation on five complaints for

sexual harassment and rape.

The complaints were filed by the Rootman Rehabilitation Center on behalf of five

young women, all of them mentally retarded.

Did they go to court? There were no witnesses, no evidence of force.

and none of the girls could give credible testimony.

See, I think Rosalie can.

I want to put Clark Simpson in jail so he can't hurt anybody anymore, but I

you to help me do that.

I want to go to court, Mom.

How is it that you became a singer?

My husband played his guitar and sang for me, and one day I joined in and sang

with him.

What did he say when he heard you sing?

He said when God handed out voices like mine, he meant to hear them used.

So your husband, in fact, encouraged you to sing, did he not?

Yes, he did.

He played me Carter Family Records, Hazel Dickens, Kitty Wells, Patsy Cline,

of them. Your career has taken off, hasn't it, Miss Hopewell?

I guess. Well, as a matter of fact, your career has eclipsed that of your

husband's, hasn't it? What's your point, Mr. Becker? The point is, Mr. Pelton,

she doesn't need him anymore.

Arnie. I don't need you anymore. Is that what you think all this is about?

No, I don't. Let me tell you something, Mr. Becker. The worst day of my life was

the day I decided to file for divorce. Amanda, it really isn't necessary for

to defend yourself here.

Well, I'm going to say what I have to say.

When it was good between us, it was as good as life gets.

Those years we lived together in Nashville, there was nothing I wanted

didn't have then.

What changed?

You changed.

You stopped writing songs. You stopped performing.

All you do now is drink, play cards, and complain.

Maybe you can live like that, but I can't.

I remember what it used to be like, and it makes me so damn sad.

If it's all the same to you, I would ask to be excused.

You can ask me whatever you have left. Ask me another time.

It's fine. Thank you.

By the way...

In case you're interested, Mason will be performing tomorrow night. What? Yeah,

T -Tot's lounge on Lancashire Boulevard. He'll be singing a whole bunch of new

songs. New songs?

You haven't said anything to her?

Uh, no.

He's been writing up a storm the last few weeks. Really? Well, stop by, why

don't you?

Can he be persuaded to let Amanda record any of these songs?

It's possible.

Well, maybe we will stop by.

What are you doing to me?

I'm representing you.

You're representing me? How are you representing me? I haven't written any

songs, and I'm not scheduled to go on stage tomorrow night.

Look, you've got more than 24 hours to write the songs, and we represent the

owner of T -Tots.

How do you know I can write any new songs?

And even if I could, what makes you think I can put a band together between

and tomorrow night?

Look, you want to get your wife back? I don't know if that's a possibility or

not, but before you give up on it, I think you have to take a shot.

This won't get her back. Well, maybe it won't, but what it will do is make her

stand up and take notice.

I used to think that Andy was the best thing that ever happened to me.

He got me off the streets.

He told me how beautiful I was.

How much he loved me.

But I never realized that deep down it was all pretty thick.

What do you mean by that? The drinking and, um...

The drugs.

The way we lived like animals. Nothing clean, nothing nice.

And he would say that it was only temporary.

He'd sometimes say how we'd both get jobs and a nice apartment and a nice

And I believed him.

Plus, he used to say that nobody else wanted me.

Why did you stay, Christine?

Because.

He cared for me.

He was my family.

Whose idea was it for you to pose as a prostitute to trap and rob men?

It was his. He owed the money to some dealers, and they were going to kill

And I didn't want to do it. I hate violence.

I hate guns.

Why'd you go through with it?

Because he said if I didn't, he'd leave me.

Do you have any children, Christine?

Yes, I have a little boy.

Where is he?

I don't know. I gave him up for adoption.

Did you want to give your baby up for adoption?

No, I wanted to keep him. Why didn't you?

Andy wouldn't let me.

I was pregnant when I met him, you know, and he said that he really didn't want

another guy's kid around, that it would only remind him that I had been with

somebody else, and he didn't want to be reminded, so he told me to give the baby

up. And you did?

Yeah.

No further questions?

Mrs. Rowan, isn't the real reason you gave your baby up for adoption that you

didn't want to take care of it? No, I want to keep him. It's kind of hard

care of an infant when you're high on coke all the time.

Objection. Sustained. Are you responsible for your actions now that

are apart?

Yes. But for the entire three years you were with Andrew Varney, you accept no

responsibility for any of your actions? All I'm saying is that I would have

never robbed anyone if he hadn't forced me to do it. Miss Rowan, you put a gun

to your victim's head. That suggests a certain amount of conviction on your

part, doesn't it? I did what Andy told me to do.

How do you get to the point where that happened?

Excuse me? How do you get to that point?

How do you get to the point where a man like that has so much influence over

you? I don't know.

Cheryl, you must have given it some thought.

I mean, you didn't start out as a prostitute, did you? You didn't start

drug addict, as a thief?

No, I didn't. Your Honor, I object to this line of questioning.

Sit down, Miss Paros.

I'm not proud of myself, Your Honor.

Was there no one in your life who offered you any guidance? Was there no

loved you?

My grandpa did. How do you think your grandpa would feel if he could see you

today? If he knew that the little girl that he held and played with and read

bedtime stories to and loved had sunk so far beneath any

semblance of human decency?

Your Honor.

How would he feel?

I think he'd feel bad.

Miss Chip, do you have any further questions for this young woman?

No, Your Honor.

You may step down, Christine.

You can go back to your seat.

Christine Rowan asks you to believe that she is a vulnerable young girl so

submissive to the wishes of her boyfriend, Andy Varney, that she has no

her own.

Well, the fact is, this vulnerable young girl put a gun to Howard Bowling's

head, terrorized him, threatened to kill him, and then stole his money.

Now, it doesn't take a psychiatrist to tell you that the type of person who

commits this kind of violence is not the type of person who is easily pushed

around by her boyfriend.

Christine Rowan is a dangerous criminal who should be locked up.

To legally establish coercion, Miss Rowan must prove to you that she

her crime under threat of death or grave bodily harm.

We have heard no testimony that Andrew Varney threatened her with either.

He never threatened to kill her. He never threatened to even hit her.

Ms. Rowan's defense is nothing more than a desperate attempt to evade

responsibility for her crime.

Do not let her do this.

Find her guilty.

Thank you.

It's almost impossible for any of us to imagine the psychological effect of

living in a constant state of isolation and submission.

But for three years...

Christine Rowan rarely left her apartment. When she did, it was only in

company of Andrew Varney.

She became a woman without an identity who gave complete control of her life to

somebody else.

She was told what to do, and she did it. And whether that meant giving up her

child or putting a gun to a man's head, she obeyed.

Now, there may not have been bars on the window, but this, ladies and gentlemen,

was a prisoner.

What you as a jury are being asked to determine is Christine's state of mind

the time of the robbery. What was her intent? Did she rob Howard Bowling for

money? Or did she rob him in order to survive?

The fact is, Christine Rowan committed this act because Andrew Varney told her

that if she didn't, he would abandon her. And to her, that was a death

Now ask yourselves this.

Will justice be served by sending Christine Rowan to prison and allowing

that was her captor to go free?

Excuse me.

Oh, man, it's you, Mason.

I was looking for Arnold.

He's due back in a little while.

His secretary told me it was okay to wait in here.

Oh, sure, sure.

I understand you're going on the stage tonight.

Last night, I... I put a pot of coffee on it.

I stayed up and I wrote some songs.

And then this morning, I looked at what I wrote.

I don't know, you know. I don't know if it's any good. I don't know if I can

still do this.

There's only one way to find out.

You don't understand.

The business has changed. Country music has changed.

The ones selling records now are all young. They've got big hats and long

I'm not like that.

No, you're not like that. So what am I doing walking out on stage?

You're going back to work.

I make enough off royalties to get by. I don't need to go back to work.

Forgive me if I'm being presumptuous with someone I don't know all that well,

but I think you do.

Look, I appreciate what Arnie Becker did.

I just don't think it's realistic.

My wife's not about to change her mind.

It's easy to think you've outlived your time, isn't it?

That all that's left is a rubber donut on an easy chair and an afternoon nap.

One old man to another, Mason.

That's not all there is left.

The world at large won't tell you that.

If you let go, no one's going to reach out and pull you back.

That's why if you've got something to hold on to, if you're lucky enough to

someone or something, then hold on to it.

In the end, that's what keeps you alive, whether your wife changes her mind or

not.

I told you I cannot talk to you, Gwen.

I have second thoughts about your proposal.

What does that mean?

It means I have something for you.

Thanks, Leonard.

California law prevents me from giving it to you myself.

What is this?

Summons and complaint.

Consider yourself served.

You're suing me? According to my reading of Title VII, your behavior toward me

falls under the heading of sexual harassment.

Oh, really?

You better hope that's not an essay question on the exam. Title VII applies

solely to employer -employee relationships.

I think it can be interpreted to encompass teachers and students.

And if it can't, I'll sue you for intentional infliction of emotional

Are you nuts?

I give you an innocent kiss, I ask you out, and suddenly I am harassing you?

That is not what you did. What you did was use a position of power to pressure

me into going to bed with you. I gotta tell you, Gwen, if this is any

of your legal acumen, I don't hold out a lot of hope for you passing the bar.

What happens to me in the bar is no longer any of your concern.

So does this mean we're not going away for the weekend?

Has the jury reached its verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

What say you?

In the matter of people versus Rowan, one count of armed robbery, we find the

defendant not guilty.

The jury's dismissed with the thanks of the court.

Do you have the number for the Magdalena home?

Yeah.

Do you want a ride?

I can get there on my own.

I think I'd like to take a walk.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

What is it, Miss Paris?

Your Honor, I had no right to refer to your personal life in the context of

case. I don't know anything about your relationship with your daughter, and it

was inappropriate of me to bring it up. I was only trying to understand why you

regard my client and me with such evident contempt.

Evident, was it? Yes, sir.

Well, I didn't mean to disturb you.

Miss Paris, how old are you?

32. 32?

You actually believed in your case, didn't you?

Yes. I've always believed a person must be responsible for what she does,

regardless of her background.

I've seen young women rise above depredations you would not believe and

Others start out with every advantage and end up...

I have a terrible fear that I will never see my daughter again.

And I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what I've done wrong.

You'll have to excuse me, Ms. Barrows.

I'd like to thank you all for being here.

Some of you might know me.

Some of you might not.

I've got a new song I'd like to play for you all.

It's been a while.

Sing it.

I knew I should have had a drink before I got up here.

There's a woman who it's been my greatest pleasure to come home to.

And I don't know if she's here or not, but if she is, I just want her to know

that I love her, whether I'm coming home to her or not.

And I'd like to dedicate this song to her.

If you're going to dedicate it to me, why don't you ask me to come up and sing

it with you?

Is that you?

Yes, it's me. Who do you think it is?

Come on up here.

Y 'all can take my cotton out of yours now. We got someone who can really sing.

Amanda Hopewell, ladies and gentlemen.

Is that the man?

Yeah, I guess I got the original damn song last night.

Well, you know that I love you.

Darling, you know that I've always been.

Well, I know how bad you hurt me.

But I know how good you make me feel.

There's a part of me that wants to hold you and believe.

That you'll never let me go.

But there's a heart of me in those days.

So I just gotta know.

Is this gonna hurt again?

Can I trust my heart with you?

But then I recall the good times too.

Last time forever didn't last that long.

It just let up.

Tell me, do I have a chance to win?

Or is this gonna hurt again?

Why didn't you come in? I didn't want to bother you. I thought I'd bring back

your dresses.

No, I meant for you to keep them.

Oh, I wasn't sure. I didn't want you to think I stole them or anything.

Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm okay.

You want to tell me?

I'm scared.

What are you scared of?

I'm scared of... I'm scared of... Being on my own.

I'm scared of finding myself back on the streets. I'm

scared of running into people I know.

I'm scared of everything.

Have you had dinner?

Mm -mm.

How about you and me getting something to eat?

Yeah? Yeah.

What do you feel like eating?

Oh, anything.

Anything. Oh, God, anything at all.