Original subtitles

Jason.

She didn't forget.

Forget what?

It's my birthday.

Today? Happy birthday.

She knew how much I was dreading this one. She knew it and she went out and

bought a card. She sat down and she wrote, wishing you only the best, only

happiness. Very nice. Which one is it, by the way?

Has it ever occurred to you that maybe something else is going on here?

Like what? Like a rethinking of her desire to get a divorce.

No, Arnie, she hasn't given any indication of that, and God knows her

hasn't acted like there's any doubt in his mind. Young Brackman, if I've taught

you anything about the vagaries of people in the throes of marital

I hope I've taught you that nobody is sure about anything.

That's why cases proceed in fits and starts. That's why we have to keep our

clients' hearts from running roughshod over their heads. I think that's what

trying to do. This card is not just a card, my young friend. This is a set of

keys conveniently forgotten, only to be retrieved. This is a no.

I got my birthday card.

And now I'm going over to get my present.

Don't do it, Arnie.

What happened to we were going to call before we came over?

That was the rule you gave me, Arnie, remember?

Are you going to say something or what? I mean, you walked in on us.

Okay.

I'm sorry you saw us, but that's the chance you take when you walk into

someone's bedroom without knocking.

God, as we open up our sixth chakra, we ask for your divine light to transmute

out energies that are unloving, unkind, ungrounded, darkened,

stagnant, and based in fear.

We ask for clarity and divine tenacious.

Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's a call from your son's school, and

neither of your secretaries are in yet.

Thanks, Roxanne.

I didn't realize the guru was in here.

I've read all your books.

This is Stuart Markowitz.

You're kidding.

Hello.

Oh, hi.

Is everything all right?

Yeah, look, I apologize, and I will take care of it first thing this morning,

all right?

No, no thank you.

What, Stuart?

Our tuition check to Crossroads bounced.

Why don't we deal with that later?

Stuart, while Cyril's still here, why don't we finish up our seven chakras?

I think I'm going to have to let it go at six today.

I'm looking for Michael Cusack.

Who? Michael Cusack. He's a lawyer here.

There's nobody here by that name.

You know Michael Cusack?

Yeah. He doesn't work anymore?

No.

Look, why don't you leave your number? If I find out there's a way to reach

I'll call you with it. Look, Mommy, I've been calling his office for a week

without getting a call back. Now I need to talk to a lawyer.

Let me talk to a lawyer now.

You can't go back there.

I'm getting hammered with this alternative minimum tax.

Is there any way you can defer my estimated?

Let's do it.

Excuse me.

This looks like the boss's office. Excuse me? Which one of you is the boss?

the managing partner. What is it you need? I need you to manage to tell me

I can find Michael Cusack.

Michael Cusack hasn't worked here for over ten years. Either you remember

Hutchinson? Yeah, who killed the cop. Who was accused of killing the cop. Who

Michael Cusack was his lawyer and who now has two weeks before they execute

Right. I'm his daughter.

I said she couldn't come back here.

Oh, it's okay, Benny. Thanks. And you need what?

My father's lawyer says he has angina and he wants out. So I need somebody who

gives a damn, somebody who knows the case, who's ready to take it on.

Michael Cusack is no longer practicing and we don't handle capital cases.

This lawyer just got angina?

Look, I've been in rehab for a while, okay?

So I haven't been as involved as I should have been. The last place I was

heard that hooker Belinda who testified against my father now thinks she lied.

Do it.

We have a staff meeting.

So that's it?

Why don't you write your number down, and if we're able to make a referral,

somebody will call you.

Not us, however.

Here, let me take them.

Who knows? Maybe I can help.

I talked to the bank. They said they're going to hold up returning any other

checks, which is good.

And I'll go in and see him tomorrow.

You see what happened?

I think we both have a pretty good idea of what happened.

Where's Arnie? Uh, he was here earlier. He had something to do outside the

office. Not waiting.

Stecker versus Gerstner Food Group.

Patent infringement involving corn chips shaped like stars of David.

Lee Stecker claims she patented an extrusion mold to make snack food in the

shape of religious icons for all major religions.

Arbitration scheduled for next week.

I can help you with that.

Thanks.

Eisendrath versus Betancourt.

Some Beverly Hills homeowner with too much time on her hands wants to enjoin

Betancourt from serving liquor at the restaurant he can sell to the top of his

store. On what grounds?

She says the granting of a liquor license is a violation of administrative

process and endangerment to the community, etc., etc.

Would it be all right if I sat in with you on that?

Sure. Okay, great.

Anything else?

Yeah, I would like to talk to Michael Kuzak about this Hutchinson thing.

that? Not firm business.

Jason.

In my office.

You're going to amend our pleadings and take our settlement proposal off the

table. We said she could have the house. She can't have the house.

The valuation we gave her of my equity in the firm, forget it. I was a partner

in this firm before I ever met her. Whatever it's worth, it is not a mere

lesson. I knew you shouldn't have gone over there.

Spousal support, the offer to pay her medical and dental, maintaining a life

insurance policy with hers to name beneficiary, all off the table. The

the Land Rover, my Porsche, the art collection, the antiques she acquired

my money, and those stupid Bichon Frises.

I want it all.

Arnie, you're not going to get it all.

Maybe not.

Make her live to whatever it takes to get it away from me.

Where was she when I was building the restaurant?

She's claiming there was insufficient notice.

Worst case scenario?

She gets an injunction, it's made permanent, and you can't make a dime.

You say that so calmly.

I'm a lawyer, Max. I'm calm until it serves your interest for me not to be.

Yeah?

Pardon me, is this a bad time? No, come on in. Max, this is Chloe Carpenter.

She's an associate here.

Hello. How do you do?

Very nice to meet you, Mr. Ben Gordon.

Do you have that correspondence file?

It's in my office.

Would you get it?

Sure. Excuse me.

Something took it.

Michael, there's someone named Stuart Markle to see you.

Stuart Markle? I have him over by the door.

Mike?

You remember me?

A prostitute tells a bill dealer that she lied on the witness stand.

Come on, it's new evidence, and I think there will be considered something less

than unimpeachable.

Well, I might not be doing it justice, Mike. I gave the file a precursory read

-through. I gave it my best shot at trial, Stuart.

Now, all the appeals have been lost. The federal habeas writ has been lost.

There's nothing left.

And he's still got any representation.

I'm a saloon keeper.

You ever miss being a lawyer?

You remember why I quit.

You can't hold yourself responsible for that, Mike.

I get a guy off for rape.

Six weeks later, he goes out and commits another rape, only this time he also

kills the girl.

On what planet don't I hold myself responsible?

You do what lawyers do, Mike.

Right.

And an adversarial system of justice is the cornerstone of our democracy.

And you still haven't answered my question.

Which is what?

Which is, do you ever miss it?

Never.

Okay, fair enough.

You know, you could just check out whether this prostitute would be willing

come forward.

I could do that. Well, you know her from the trial is the only reason I ask.

They need you, Mike.

Albert, she found you.

Look, I was telling your daughter that I haven't practiced law in almost ten

years. I don't have a firm behind me. I don't even have an office.

You're still the best lawyer I know, Michael.

Well, let me find you a lawyer.

You were the only lawyer who believed my father was innocent.

It doesn't matter what I believed.

You had no evidence. You had no witness. You believed it because you believed

me. And the fact that you couldn't prove it didn't make you believe it any less.

My father wants you to represent him, Mr. Closet.

I know the odds against me, Michael.

But I still think I have a better chance with you than with anyone else.

You want a date, honey?

Yeah, I do.

I know you're no cop in this, but... You got that right.

Don't think I'm being silly.

You don't remember?

No, darling. Should I?

I was Albert Hutchinson's attorney.

Had to know where to find me.

Well, when I found out you were in the faculty of medical school, I figured I'd

look here.

Now, that's pretty funny.

Any truth to the rumor that you had a sudden attack of conscience?

Said you lied on the witness stand?

No, whatsoever.

Now, given that it was your testimony that convicted him, it could probably be

arranged for you to be present at the execution.

Let me out.

A two -bit pot dealer gets sent to death because why?

You got a feel for your son?

Look, I said what I saw. Other people saw what they saw.

You were the only eyewitness.

Now, just what other people would those be?

Nobody.

That wouldn't be nobody.

What'd you find out?

Uh, Cyril used those check -signing privileges.

We're cleaned out.

How did that happen?

I don't know.

Things got away from him. He had cost overruns. Does he know our account is

cleaned out?

Not yet.

He's gonna feel awful.

I'm Kennedy Brack.

Can I help you?

I'm Michael Kuzak. I used to... I'm here to see

Douglas Brackman.

Do you have an appointment?

Actually, I don't.

Michael!

Roxanne! What brings you here?

I needed to see Douglas. Is he here?

Yeah, he's in Leland's old office. Come on, I'll take you. Great.

Oh, need to get that validated.

Oh, look the same?

More or less.

There's someone here to see you.

Hey, Douglas.

Michael Cusack. How are you? Good, and yourself?

Good. Good.

Very good. Now listen, Douglas.

I'm going to represent Albert Hutchinson in his appeal.

Excellent.

He's lucky to have you.

Uh, well, the thing is, I can't do it on my own.

I need a firm behind me.

I hope you're not talking about this firm.

Well, this is the only firm I know.

Hey, stranger.

Ann! Oh, yeah. I heard you were here.

So, uh, this related to you taking the case?

Yeah. Great.

I was just asking Douglas if I could do it in association with the firm.

Sounds good to me.

We're not in a position to do that, Stuart.

Why not?

We phased out our criminal practice. We'll be at the height of

Since Hutchinson was represented by the firm at trial, don't we have an

obligation to him?

No, we don't.

I'm talking morally.

No, we don't.

So I heard from your wife directly.

She wanted to know if you were serious about the Bichon Priests or if you were

just angry and saying you wanted them for effect.

Serious.

You know, a judge is going to hammer us if we start making an issue over stupid

stuff, Arnie. Better prove that I didn't love those dogs as much as she did. You

simply said you locked them in a file cabinet. That's not going to be too

I'm playing with them.

Hi.

Hi.

So anyway, the deposition's on for tomorrow.

I'm ready, man.

I want us to work together.

Well, I'm just an associate here, so I do what I'm told.

Great.

I'm telling you.

Mr. Kuzak is here.

Hello, Michael.

Right. Sure wasn't expecting to see your name on my call sheet today.

How are you?

Good.

Yourself? Good.

How's the bar?

Good. Though most people refer to it as a restaurant. But we do have a bar. I

keep meaning to come by.

Anytime.

So, what brings you to my neck of the woods?

I want to ask you not to oppose us.

They have execution in Hutchinson.

Are you back to being a lawyer?

Just one case.

Ah.

I can't do it, Michael.

Hutchinson's had nine years' worth of appeals and writs, and they've all been

denied. I'm not asking for a pardon, Gracie. I'm asking you not to oppose my

motion. I know what you're asking for, and I can't do it.

Even if I wanted to, which I don't.

The judge isn't going to grant it.

You can't allow for any possibility that you might have convicted the wrong man?

You and I went through a trial.

I put on my witnesses, you put on yours, and beyond a reasonable doubt, he was

found guilty. Personally, Gracie, for one brief moment, I want you to stop

a prosecutor and talk to me as a human.

You're here as an attorney representing a client.

I'm here as the district attorney.

Come on, Gracie, we lived together. We loved each other.

I need you to talk to me from your heart.

It's always been hard for you to understand, but in my heart, I'm a

That was true when we loved each other.

It's still true.

No stay.

Beautiful greenery.

Michael!

Leo. How are you? Fine. Good to see you.

You look well. Thank you.

Ah.

Cherry tomato.

Oh, thanks.

Nothing like homegrown tomatoes in the middle of the afternoon.

Oh, what's that one over there?

Udon tiota.

Well, that is beautiful.

You drive all the way up to Montecito for a garden tour?

No.

I'm handling Albert Hutchinson's appeal.

I need to do it in association with the firm. I got 11 days left until the

execution.

Have you taken this up with Douglas?

Douglas doesn't want the firm involved.

That's his decision.

Albert Hutchinson heard himself sentenced to death with me standing next

He wants me to stand next to him now.

I don't believe the firm has an underlying obligation.

According to whom? The Bar Association?

The Lawyer's Code of Ethics?

Those are the authorities we look to.

You taught me to look to a higher authority, Leland.

Didn't you?

Well, why do I keep getting the feeling that you've been waiting for something

like this to come along?

Will you help me?

We don't feel like he took us for anything, Douglas.

He's building a homeopathic slash Ayurvedic healing center in the

Is that right? We got a fax that he left for Switzerland last night.

Well, that's certainly no cause for alarm.

We're not alarmed.

No, we're not overly alarmed.

Stuart. None of those Switzerland's the place people go when they're looking to

hide money.

He's trying to start a center in Switzerland.

Just out of curiosity, why would you make him a signatory on your account?

We wanted to.

Yeah, and obviously we didn't know he was going to, you know.

We both felt that it would allow Cyril to move forward with his healing center,

which we both felt was an incredibly worthwhile and important thing.

We were also assured by Cyril that any money he took out of our account, he

would make sure to put back in. So you have an assurance.

Exactly. Well, you're both idiots.

Hi, folks.

Hey, what are you doing in the neighborhood? I need to speak with

for a minute. Oh, well, we'll let you be. Do it.

I'll take care of covering your account.

Douglas, thank you.

Good to see you, Leon.

Is everything all right?

Everything's fine.

What's your feeling on this Hutchinson case?

Who's that? Talk to you about it.

Yeah. My thinking is that it's not the kind of cake we handle.

But Michael would be doing the actual hearing. And using this firm as his

support staff.

Not exactly the role I envisioned for us.

Would that have been your reaction had someone other than Michael Cusack come

you?

Now, why would you ask me that?

There's history between you.

You felt that he didn't respect you.

That he viewed you as a little more than an office manager.

Oh, water under the bridge.

We all have our grievances.

And if there's a chance we can do some good by setting them aside, I say take

that chance.

Would you be telling me that if someone other than Michael Cusack had come to

you?

Right. The prodigal son returned.

Well, my hope is that you'll do it.

But I... Won't love you anyway.

Roxanne, your ex -husband Dave Myers is on the phone.

Take a message.

We're waiting for Laura's attorney.

Anybody call his office yet? See where he is?

Her office.

What'd you do? Change attorneys again?

That's right.

How much time do you think that'll buy you? She doesn't need any time.

Really? Got yourself a real hard charger, did you?

I think I did.

Who is it?

Hello, Arnie.

Abby? Long time no see.

You're Lauren's attorney.

Is there a problem?

Yes, there is a problem. She used to work here. Well, that is a problem. To

extent that you have confidential information about this firm gained

employment here, I'm quite sure your partnership agreement precludes you from

making use of it.

You're Douglas' kid.

Right. My, how time flies.

First of all, I was never a partner here, so there is no partnership

Second of all, I left the firm ten years before Arnie and Laura met, so any

information that I may have would be woefully out of date.

Shall we proceed?

No, we shall not.

What firm are you with? Law Offices of Abigail Perkins.

You're a sole practitioner.

I have eight associates working for me.

Hi.

This is a deposition of defendant husband Arnold Becker to be conducted by

plaintiff attorney Abigail Perkins. You can stop typing because defendant

husband Arnold Becker will be marching into court to obtain a protective order

barring said plaintiff attorney Abigail Perkins from coming anywhere near this

case. Unlikely you're going to get that, Arnie.

Nice to see you, Abby.

Hey, Leland!

Abby!

Hey, how are you, kid? I'm great.

Don't you look terrific?

So do you.

What are you up to these days?

Well, I have my own practice.

Great. What brings you here?

As it happens, my office is representing Arnie's wife and their divorce.

Lara Becker, Leland McKenzie. How do you do?

How do you do? And I'm so happy to run into you because I just happen to have a

subpoena for you.

What is it? To examine your tax returns and financial records having to do with

the firm going back ten years.

Great to see you, Leland.

Adelaide?

That looks great.

Is this real grass for grass?

Well, I think the grass will turn brown, sweetie. It'll probably be better off

using crayons.

Who's that?

I don't know.

Hi, Dave.

Hey, Rox.

I was having some difficulty getting through to you at work. I was in the

vicinity and thought I'd just drop by.

Hey, monkey head.

You're a monkey head. No, you're a monkey head. Okay, okay.

Look, we're right in the middle of homework here.

Yes, you are, and I don't want to keep you from the task at hand. What I was

hoping is you might be free for dinner tonight.

I'm not. We have a project due.

Tomorrow night.

Dinner's tough.

Lunch. You know, since I leave to pick up Maddie early, I don't take lunch.

Breakfast? Breakfast.

Coffee. Happy office.

Coffee it is.

And how did you make a living at the time of your arrest, Albert?

I sold pot.

Were you selling pot in the building where Officer Scott Ellis was killed?

Yes, I was.

Did you kill Officer Ellis?

No.

No, I did not.

Were you ever given the opportunity to plead guilty in return for the state

dropping their demands for a death sentence?

Objection. Irrelevant.

Overruled.

Yes, I was.

Do you regret not taking that off?

I regret a lot of things in my life, Nelson.

I regret not being a better father to my kids.

A better husband.

A better son.

Do I regret not saying something that wasn't true?

No.

That I do not regret.

No further questions, Your Honor.

The police who arrested you also found a gun in your apartment, did they not?

That wasn't my gun.

This gun was proven to be the murder weapon, was it not?

It wasn't my gun.

Your record indicates that in the past you have carried a gun.

Yes, ma 'am.

But this one wasn't mine.

And even though Officer Ellis was investigating a complaint about drug

and there were drugs in your apartment, you...

Would never have used a gun to avoid being arrested.

No, I wouldn't have.

You would have just let him arrest you and send you back to prison.

Yes, ma 'am.

No further questions.

Any other witnesses, Mr. Cusack?

Not at this time, Your Honor.

Well, in that case, we stand adjourned.

Tired of being the boss?

Actually, I couldn't resist the chance to be in a room with you.

Good. I hate to attribute it to the 6 o 'clock news.

Attribute it to this.

When Congressman Diebenkorn was DA, he trusted me to try this case. I owe my

being DA to winning it. I'm here to protect my record and my reputation,

which you will no doubt try to destroy.

Have a nice night.

You're going to strap him down and kill him so you can score points for being a

badass and maybe get to be a congressman like the last DA, right? Raylene!

This isn't the time for us to have a conversation. Raylene, what should I do

right now?

They killed my father.

You're going to answer for it. Yeah, that's a threat. It's not a threat. We

a cop over here. Grace, I promise she won't hurt you. Just let her leave with

me, okay?

Go ahead.

Come on, Raylene.

Just finishing up some things for me, and then she's all yours.

You don't need a full -time secretary.

Douglas was very definite that you should have one. The photocopy room and

library are in the same place they always were. Do you remember where that

Yeah, sure.

Anything I can do, Mr. Kuzak?

How much time do you have?

Yeah, but okay, so I'll make time.

Scott Ellis was the cop who was killed.

His partner was Ronald Gerben.

I was suspicious of Girvin all throughout the trial. I could never find

on him.

Run a search.

See if anyone filed a complaint against him in the last nine years.

Or if he's even still with the department. If he's not, find out why he

You got it.

I actually have a friend that works at the chief's office, so this should be

fast. Fast is good.

Everything all right?

Like I never left. Anything you need, Roxanne will take care of it.

I'd like to cover the cost of it.

That's quite all right.

Douglas, I'm not a member of the firm. Money's not a problem for me. The firm

will bear the cost.

I was just helping him move some boxes.

Good.

Deposition to 10.

What about the motion?

I had a conversation with the judge's law clerk. He strongly advised against

motion and said we will not get Abby Perkins disqualified.

Jason, what are you saying? He's saying you're stuck with her.

The amazing thing is I start telling some of these younger guys the

of research and direct marketing, and their eyes just glaze over.

It's hard to imagine.

I know.

I know.

But all kinds of irons in the fire.

That's great.

Office supplies, herbal breast augmentation, sports collectibles.

Another thing I wanted to mention under the heading of what's Dave up to now, I

have the big casino.

A .K .A. cancer.

What?

You heard right, little lady.

Multiple myeloma, and it is metastatic.

Dave.

Ran the course of chemo.

Passed the point with surgeries of any benefit.

Oncologist can't pinpoint how much time I have exactly, but he did say it's

probably best I don't buy too many green bananas.

I'm so sorry.

What I was hoping is that I might be able to bunk down in your guest room for

some of the time. I mean, my current living situation being what it is, I

it's a little tricky being alone at night.

I can't do it.

Okay.

Hey, it's not like I asked you to fly to Hawaii for a luau at Don Ho's.

Yeah, that's fine.

But I still want you to feel that you can call me if you need anything

or if you just want to come over.

Great.

Hug and kiss.

Someone named Warren Matelka to see me.

Warren Matelka?

Who's he?

He said a Belinda told him to come.

You got Krispy Kreme?

Yeah. Do I have one?

They're the people who work here.

You can have one now.

I get the Dale's.

Dale's, don't I?

Regulars, $5 .65 a dozen.

Dale's, $2 .50 a dozen.

Aren't they stale? Yeah.

You Warren?

Yeah. I'm Michael Kudak.

Should we go into my office?

I'll come.

So we can talk.

Can we talk here?

Well, I think it would be better where we have some privacy.

Maybe I'll come back.

Benny.

You told the receptionist that Belinda sent you here?

I have to go.

Are you a witness to the murder of that cop, Warren?

To get out to the street, do I press 1 or L?

L. There is no 1.

Benny, maybe you want to talk to Warren.

Tell him a man's life may depend on his telling the truth.

Are you going to stand here?

I'll be in my office.

He's mean.

I've known him a long time. He's never been mean to me.

He won't hurt you.

Nobody will hurt you.

And, uh, I saw, uh...

a flash from a window on the fourth floor across the courtyard.

Oren, did you see who was in the fourth floor window?

Somebody not Albert Hutchinson.

Did you tell this to anyone?

Well, first to Belinda. Only, don't be mad at her. She only lied because

Dumbledore made her. She wanted me to tell Dumbledore what I saw, so he

make her, but he still made her.

Who's Dumbledore?

Oh, Mike from Harry Potter.

Warren, is all of this something you read in Harry Potter?

No, he was only like Dumbledore from Harry Potter.

Do you know what he's talking about?

Albus Dumbledore.

I don't know who that is, Benny.

He was head of Hogwarts.

Yeah, he was good and nice, but the man that I went to see wasn't. So he wasn't

really like Dumbledore then?

No, no, his name was like Dumbledore, but he wasn't like Dumbledore.

He had no beard and two flags behind his desk, and his name

was... Oh, like Dumbledore, but not Dumbledore.

Diebenkorn? Yeah, yeah, Diebenkorn.

He was the district attorney.

I told Diebenkorn.

Vous avez un petit surprise, monsieur.

Aston Martin is gorgeous, although possibly too fastidious in its

The GTO is edgy, but possibly pathetic.

Your wife is here.

Here? Hi, Ernie.

Hey, I'm going to go busy myself with any one of a thousand things now.

I wanted to come here without my lawyer.

See if we can end this.

Afraid you'll end up with Neiman Marcus behind the counter selling perfume to

women who are still being kept.

I'm afraid I'll wind up spending more time getting divorced than I could being

married.

You have a proposal, Laura?

I thought we could sell the house and split the money. I'll keep my Mercedes.

You'll keep the rest of the cars. As for the arts, I like the O 'Keeffe and the

Schnabel. You can have everything else.

Why this novel?

Because I found it.

And because I love it.

Well, sleep with him. Maybe you can get yourself another one.

Although you might have to come across with a different sex act every month.

Kind of a Harry and David's Fruit of the Month Club.

You know, Ernie, when I met you, I knew you were a little boy.

I fell in love with you anyway.

There was this happy devilish glint in your eye.

And I guess I wanted a little boy.

Really?

You're not a little boy anymore, aren't you?

You've turned into a bitter old man.

I want you to tell the court if on September the 3rd, 1990, at about...

'clock in the afternoon.

You saw anything unusual?

Yeah. I saw a man in a window shoot a policeman in the courtyard.

Do you recognize that man in the courtroom today?

No.

Now, Warren, I want you to look very carefully at Albert Hutchinson.

And I'd like you to tell the court how it is you're sure that's not the man you

saw in the window.

The man I saw wasn't black.

Did you tell anyone that?

Yeah, I told it to Mr.

Diebenkort. And where did that take place?

In his office.

Your Honor, I have here a certified copy of the sign -in sheet for the Hall of

Justice dated September the 5th, 1990, on which is found Warren Matelka's

signature.

I ask that it be marked Defense Exhibit Number 1.

Reserve question of reliability and relevance.

What did Mark tell me?

Warren. What? If anything, do you remember Mr. Diebenkorn saying to you

you told him what you saw?

Oh, he said not to say anything else to anybody.

Thank you, Warren.

I have no further questions.

You kept silent a pretty long time, Mr. Matelka.

Can you tell us why that is?

Well, Mr.

Diebenkorn said not to say anything.

I know, that's what you said.

But didn't it strike you as odd when nothing else happened and a different

from the one you say you saw was convicted and sentenced to death?

I don't know.

You don't know.

Did Mr.

Cusack tell you that he wanted to put you on the witness stand and have

listen to you?

Yes. And did he tell you that if he wins his case, you'd be the hero?

No. He said I'd be doing an important thing.

How do you support yourself, Mr. Matelka?

I get checks.

From where do you get checks?

From my mailbox.

Who sends you these checks?

Oh, the Department of Social Services.

What do you get them for?

For being disabled.

Physically disabled?

Mentally disabled.

Mentally disabled.

Thank you.

I have no further questions.

Thank you. You may step down.

Your Honor, given that the issue of suppression of key evidence has been

I would ask for a stay of execution and it might be further substantiated.

Further substantiated? What we've heard to this point hasn't been substantiated.

It's been an allegation from one individual about an event that there is

independent record of ever having occurred.

I'm asking for 30 days.

If you're going to kill him, what difference does it make whether you kill

in one week or four weeks? Mr. Cusack, you will address the court and not Ms.

Van Owen.

I'm sorry, Your Honor. I was interested in seeing exactly what Ms. Van Owen's

objections were.

Ms. Van Owen.

I don't have any objections, Your Honor.

You don't, huh?

Well, on the basis of this one witness, I'm not granting any stays.

You stand to judge.

Not to worry, Albert.

Ron Gervin retired in 1999 with a departmental charge of planting evidence

pending. His conduct provided grounds of a reversal for a major narcotics

conviction.

Who is the attorney?

His name's Eli Levinson. He actually used to work for Mackenzie Brackman,

although after he left.

And he's not an attorney anymore.

What does he do?

I'm the producer.

He stinks. Just fire him.

Ricky, where's the terror?

There's Nazis at the door, not the guy to read the meter. Eli, if you're going

to testify, I need time to prepare you. People say I was crazy to produce

another version, but I say the Holocaust is a story you can't tell too many

times. My client is going to be executed in six days. Where's my sesame bagel?

Are you going to testify or not?

I know you blame me for losing all this money.

No. You should.

It's me who's responsible.

Ann, you're the Indian scout.

You go off into the wild and you see what's out there and then you come back

the fort And you convinced our guild me to come along with you.

I think we've had a pretty good life doing it that way Maybe I should have

while we were ahead Don't ever quit

So, what do we do

I think we see what assets he has to free and we march in court we reason

Oh, pardon me. What time is the Max Bettencourt meeting? Oh, my God, I

all about that.

Can I wait?

Uh, call him.

Tell him I had to run to court and I'll see him tomorrow.

All right.

No problem.

Then we're gonna have kids.

Yeah, well, it's probably good you didn't.

Might have kept us together.

I doubt it.

She said I was old, Rox.

She's 29, Arnie. To her, you are old.

Come on. You can't mean that.

Well... Older than her.

Can I come in late tomorrow, then?

How come?

Really.

It's the anniversary of when my mom died, and there's a memorial mass, and I

want to go to the cemetery.

Sure. Thanks.

How old is he?

Fifty -two.

52.

What's with Dave?

What do you mean?

I mean, he looks terrible. Is he all right?

No.

That.

He has cancer.

Take as much time at the cemetery as you need, Benny.

I'll be in by 11.

I remember that you took care of your mom before she died.

Yeah. You moved her bed to the first floor so she wouldn't have to go up the

stairs.

And you read her the comics.

She liked There Ought to Be a Law and Mary Worth and Blondie.

I'm sure that did her a world of good.

You fleeting turf.

I don't know if that did her any good on account that she died.

I'm glad I did it, though.

What am I doing here if Ann's not here?

Well, this Eisendrath woman accused you of bribing the alcoholic beverage

control board in a statement outside court, right?

So, what do you say? To discourage her from continuing to cause problems, sue

her for defamation.

Well, aren't you a little spitfire?

Yes, I am.

Are you familiar with an individual named Ronald Girvin? Yes, I am.

Would you tell us in what context you are familiar with him?

In my former life as a criminal defense attorney, I handled an appeal on behalf

of a guy named Nathan Miles who was convicted of cocaine possession.

Ronnie Girvin was the arresting officer, and I got the convictions thrown out by

demonstrating that the evidence was planted.

Your Honor, I ask that this entire line of questioning be stricken as

irrelevant. I ask the court's indulgence to demonstrate relevance, Your Honor.

I'm willing to grant some leeway. Just get there soon.

Was Ronald Girvin fired from the police department?

No, he wasn't. Why was that?

Mr. Girvin enjoyed the friendship and protection of former District Attorney

Diebenkorn. Your Honor, we're now hearing testimony that is irrelevant,

and constitutes defamation of character.

No further questions, Your Honor.

Objection sustained.

Stricken.

Are you aware of the fact that the Ruger 357 was found in Mr. Hutchinson's

apartment? Yes, I was aware. Although, I'm sure you're aware, District Attorney

Van Owen, that guns are the most common piece of evidence to be planted. Ask if

the witness's remarks be stricken other than those directly responsive to the

question. So stricken. The witness will confine his remarks to answering the

questions he's asked.

I have no further questions, Your Honor.

You may step down.

We stand adjourned until 9 a .m. tomorrow.

I'll go to my partner's, we don't... Ronnie, you're a disgrace as a cop.

But you throw this poor woman up to me, it makes me sick to my stomach.

Who's that?

Thanks. Coming down here is the best thing I've done since a sock woman's any

miniseries. Thanks for doing it. You got it.

All righty.

Where's the car?

I have to hand it to you, Michael, with absolutely nothing to go on. You're

actually making up a case.

Gee, thanks.

I'll pay you a couple.

Yeah.

I've been through the saccharides and slaughter cases.

Those are the ones with the pressing motions pending.

So I'm done.

Is that a legal pad of shield to ward off advances?

I was actually planning on using it to take notes.

Oh, good. Notes. Okay.

All right. Here we go. Sit.

Check on availability of cottages at the San Ysidro Ranch. First choice being

the JFA suite. Excuse me, Arnie.

Abigail Perkins is here.

A vec entourage.

With her people.

Abby.

Abby, what is this?

These are forensic accountants. Attorneys and paralegals working for me.

are here pursuant to a discovery motion to go through records.

I let Douglas know they're here.

Would you come into my office for a minute?

Just Abby, please, Arnie.

Hey, what's doing, Arnie? Hey, Dave.

You think you're entitled to turn this firm upside down? If Arnie had responded

to the subpoena in a timely fashion, we wouldn't have to. And in any event, it's

Mrs. Becker who's entitled, Douglas. Don't hand me that champion of the

downtrodden routine.

You're here to get back at the firm for what you imagined was done to you while

you worked here.

That would be more in the nature of a bonus.

Here's what you get, Abby.

Nothing. No accounts receivable, no tax returns, no retainer agreements.

Nothing. You understand there'll be sanctions imposed.

I don't care.

Oh, my.

Douglas Brackman standing on principle even when it costs him money.

If I didn't know you better, I'd admire you. You gonna take us on, Abby? I think

that's what I'm doing. Good. Take us on.

See you in court, Douglas. Good.

Is it all right that I drop by?

Sure.

I set up the guest room.

There's a TV, a VCR, a phone. There are clean linens on the bed.

What can I buy?

Nothing.

Rocks? No, Dave, nothing.

I don't need money.

I don't need you to buy things.

I have an extra key made up, so whenever you want to go back there.

Thanks.

Rocks? Oh, excuse me.

Have you seen Chloe?

Hey, Dave.

Ann.

Are you all right?

Yeah, yeah, just a little bit under the weather.

How's everything in direct mail? Yeah, she just left in.

There's an urgent call for you.

Hello?

Whoa, slow down, Harley.

Who told you we were filing a lawsuit?

Always something, isn't it?

I told him that if his client continued to harass our client, we'd sue her for

harassment.

Money on either side of me I take on the world.

Max, you beat up on that woman, you alienate everyone you need to get your

restaurant up and running.

Ann, please, I wasn't planning on beating up on her. I simply thought a

intimidation might make her think twice about filing another lawsuit.

You think anything you want in the confines of this office, you tell an

attorney what you think, there are consequences.

Why are you talking to me like I'm a child?

Chloe, it was a difference in approach. No harm done. No harm done.

Well, Max, maybe this is as good a time as any for you to decide which approach

you want to take.

Wait a minute.

Max pays this firm to represent him. As long as that's the case, he's not doing

anything I deem inimical to his best interest.

What I'm suggesting, Anne, is that Max may want me.

Chloe, darling, I think you're smarter to whip.

I gotta choose who's my lawyer and my lawyer.

What?

You realize that by placing liens on my client's property, you're leaving

yourself open to a lawsuit.

I'm a tax attorney, Mr. Singh. I have records and receipts from when I buy

shaving cream. You think I can't prove this?

Well, you should factor into your expectations of prevailing a trial

ability to make people love him.

Aaron, could you excuse us for a moment?

Of course.

I have to say that right now I feel great sadness.

Do you have the money, Cyril?

I'm sorry if I've done things that were hurtful.

Sorry's not going to do it.

Is there anything that does?

Pay the money.

I don't have the money.

Then we'll see you in court.

So, if they insist on taking this to court... Hello.

Hello. See, am I right?

Right.

No, uh, bag of what they sing, by any chance?

Novelty importer from Woodland Hills.

Doesn't ring a bell.

Was today a good day for you?

How do you mean?

I can see that you're not well. I wanted to know if today was a good day for

you.

No.

No, it wasn't a good day.

I know you're afraid.

Congressman Diebenkorn, we've heard testimony from a Warren Matelka that he

to your office and gave you his eyewitness account of Officer Scott

murder.

Is that true, Congressman?

No, it isn't.

But my adversary has produced the sign -in sheet on which Mr. Matelka's name is

recorded indicating that he was going to see you. Now, how is that possible?

Well, he could have claimed to have a delivery, could have claimed to have an

appointment.

Lobby wasn't where they verified those things. He could have come in, wandered

around the building and left.

Ten years ago, security wasn't what it is today.

Congressman, can you imagine any circumstances under which you as a

would have concealed evidence because it benefited the defense?

No, I can't.

Now, I understand that this fellow who claims to have given me the statement is

mentally challenged and maybe he conjured this up somehow and...

I understand the desperation of Mr. Hutchinson here to avoid the death

but what I find appalling is that Mr.

Cusack, an officer of this court, would propound lies that impugn not only me,

but the office in which I served.

Thank you, Congressman.

I have no further questions.

I have no questions right now, Your Honor, but I do reserve the right to

this witness at a later time.

He's a real charmer.

He's a decent guy.

I don't think so.

I know you don't.

Can I still ride in the elevator with you?

Why

did

I put together a manufacturer of votive candles?

And a bankrupt soft drink bottler.

No idea.

I guess that there was a market for wax candy lips.

Stuart may not be seeing the point of that, Dave.

What's your con here, Cyril?

This guy doesn't need anybody working him right now. You want to put your hand

in someone's pocket? Do it to someone who's healthy.

Maybe it's best if I'm not here.

Yeah, maybe it is.

I spent my whole life pulling the wool over somebody's eyes.

Everyone I met was a customer.

Every conversation was a sales meeting.

But as much as I prided myself on walking away with the bigger half of the

wishbone, I never left anyone empty -handed.

Now, Cyril got something. There's no question about that.

But he also gave something.

What he got,

was for me to cover his debt to you, but what he gave me was a

means to die in peace.

Wait a minute, Dave.

Stuart, look on the bureau, please.

There's a bank draft for $327 ,000 made out to you and Annie.

That should cover the gift tax and the $250 ,000 you lost.

Why are you doing this, Dave?

I don't want you and Cyril to fight anymore.

Just take the money and be friends.

You know we can't take this.

I, uh... I really need to close my eyes for a while.

Roxanne, have you seen Jason?

No, I haven't.

We'll have to do this without him.

We also have to discuss the Chloe situation.

I have a feeling the Arnie divorce situation takes precedence. You're

I don't take kindly to getting dragged into people's divorces. I think I'm

totally reasonable under the circumstances.

You're fighting over dogs.

It's a big picture strategy.

I waffle on the dog, she drives a truck to me on the partnership.

Which he seems to be doing anyway.

Who in this room has been a matrimonial attorney for 20 years?

But you're acting like a client, Arnold. Like someone who's going through a

divorce. And a painful one at that.

Oh, thank you, Dr. Phil.

Here's what it comes down to, Arnie.

This firm is not going to join you in lying still for a colonoscopy with the

likes of Abby Perkins holding the probe.

Whatever issues you have with your wife need to be resolved, and they need to be

resolved now.

You're a managing partner in this firm, Douglas. It comes to my marriage, my

divorce, or my colonoscopy.

You have nothing to say.

What about Chloe?

She tried to take Max Bettencourt away from us. Fire.

Sexual harassment.

What are you talking about, Stuart? There's no sexual harassment here. Yeah,

that doesn't mean she won't sue us for it.

He was an important client. He came on to me. I was made to feel I had no

but to oblige him.

Not to mention the fact that if Arnie so much as said good morning to her during

her time here, there's ample cause for action right there.

So what do we do? Nothing?

Actually, if you'll allow me, my darling, I think I have a solution.

In the event that Arnie's divorce requires full discovery, we're going to

complete list of payments received, expenses incurred, dating all the way

to the inception of the firm. And we'll need it broken down case by case and

attorney by attorney.

Sir, why am I having to do that?

Well, these could be some pretty nasty proceedings, Chloe. We need somebody

good.

Michael Cusack tells me you've been a great help.

Yeah, he asked me if I could give him a hand.

And you told him you could.

Yeah.

You didn't think to ask if that was what I wanted you working on.

Didn't think you'd mind.

And you didn't want to run the risk to find out if I would. What's the problem,

Dad? The problem is that Michael Cusack doesn't allocate the resources of this

firm. I do. Okay, Dad, I made a mistake. I'm sorry.

Maybe I'm not that interested in handling divorces or states or whatever

function needs to be filled at the moment. Well, that's what your

did with me when I started out, and that's what I do with you.

I hate to tell you, but I don't want to follow in your footsteps.

I have no interest in keeping up the proud Brackman tradition of efficient

office management and resource allocation.

Pass the mantle on to someone else.

Just want to let you know that I'm proud of you.

For what?

For doing something that was different for you.

For doing it with grace.

Thanks.

What are you doing?

I'm going to the hospice.

Why?

I don't have much of a threshold for pain.

It's time I took matters in hand.

I know we didn't have a great marriage, Rox.

I hope that doesn't leave you with too many regrets.

You don't have to go tonight.

I'd rather...

Maddie and you didn't have to deal with me when I'm brown bread, if you know

what I mean.

What's brown bread?

It's Cockney rhyming slang for dead.

Bucket and pail, jail.

Cousin Ella, umbrella.

Errol Flynn, chin.

Tommy Dodge, God.

Stop it.

I have to pick up Maddie. I have to start dinner. And I have to know if

really going to die tonight.

Hey, Mike.

How's it going?

Congressman Devencore registers his righteous indignation.

All I can do is stall until tomorrow.

So there's no chance the prostitute will take the stand to refute?

Even if she did,

it'd be her word against the United States Congressman.

Unless it's not.

What? Well, she knows me as Albert Hutchinson's lawyer.

She doesn't know who you are.

Who am I? I'm a tax attorney.

That's not what you're going to tell her.

Hey.

You going out, too?

Yeah, if it's you I'm going out with, I'll be.

It's 1 .50 for a half an hour, 2 .50 for an hour.

Oh, you're going to have to do a whole lot of half and half to make the kind of

money I'm talking about.

I don't do whips. I don't do water sports.

Hmm. How about phone calls? Do you do phone calls?

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about Larry Diebenkorn and his wicked, wicked ways.

Look, I'm going to tell you what I told the other lawyer, okay? I'm not going to

testify. Oh, I don't want you to testify.

Look, Diebenkorn's running for re -election this November.

The only thing I'm interested in is that he lose.

I don't know what you're talking about. Pull over, I'm getting out. No, no, no.

I work for his opponent, okay?

Just relax.

All I want you to do is give him a call and set up a meeting.

At the meeting, you tell him you want $20 ,000 and you won't testify and you

won't go to the press.

And you record the conversation, you deliver the tape to me, I'll give you

,000 and tickets to anywhere you want to go in the world.

How do you know he'll take the meeting?

Because he's a United States congressman, and he wants to stay a

congressman.

Here.

You want to see what it feels like to have power?

Tough day, big guy.

I hate it when people die.

Yeah.

Me too.

Hey, come on. Let's go give Roxanne a hand, huh?

Oh.

Dear Dave Meyer, it must be tough for you.

All these people here and you can't say a word.

Can't tell us about split runs or sense -impregnated drain stoppers or

wine collector wheels made from two pieces of die -cut laminated stock

held together by a number 14 brass grommet.

You want it to be interesting?

To be loved?

I have to say, Dave, you weren't all that interesting.

loved you were by people who worked at McKenzie Brackman, who knew you and

laughed at you and now are going to miss you.

By me and my daughter Maddie.

By all kinds of people.

I know that whenever I get mail for leather insoles or genuine rare coins

or pepper spray keychain attachments,

I'll think of you and remember that.

Yours truly, Roxanne.

Love, Roxanne.

Ladies.

Ready?

I watched them put a guy in the ground this morning.

I don't want to fight about money or dogs or anything else.

Great.

You take the house, the furnishings, the cars.

And the Bichon Frises.

Arnie, I think you're upset from the funeral.

We shouldn't be doing that now. Laura, now is exactly when we should be doing

this. You and I are both blessed with having things in this world that give us

pleasure. For however much time we have to do the men, that's what we should be

doing.

I'll grab some forms. We'll wrap this up.

Hey, Arnie. Hi, Chloe.

Hey, Arnie.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend Dave.

Yeah.

Thanks.

Arnie.

How about us working together?

Why would you want to work with a bitter old man?

What are you talking about?

Chloe.

When I first proposed us working together, what I was really thinking

how much I wanted to have sex with you.

How that would make me feel better.

And how the fastest... way to accomplish it would be by making you think it

would benefit your career.

Since I now realize I was wrong about every single part of that equation, I

think it's best maybe if we start from scratch, huh?

Alright, let's start from scratch.

How about we work together?

I don't think so.

May I talk to you?

of the happiest days of my life was the day you came to work here.

Whatever frustrations I felt, however much I resented being relegated to the

role of bean counter and scold, it all paled compared to the pride

I felt at having my son working with me.

That didn't last, though, did it?

Well, I have myself to blame for that.

I set you up to vindicate me by being like me.

Everyone would see who you muddled yourself after.

They'd see how much influence I had, and they'd step back, and maybe they'd say,

we were wrong about Brackman.

With the way his son looks up to him, we must have been missing something all

these years. And even if they didn't, it wouldn't matter.

If my son looked up to me, I wouldn't care what anyone else thought.

Dad, do you know how hard it was for me to get through law school?

To pass the bar, why do you think I did all that?

You wanted to be a lawyer.

I wanted to be like you.

I still do.

You might want to get down to court.

What? Cusack's conducting cross -examination.

Always worth watching.

Hi. You didn't have to come in today.

I know.

Rox, you know about this money that Dave left us?

Uh -huh.

It's your money.

No, it's Dave's money. Now it's yours.

Roxanne, Dave's money should go to take care of you and your daughter before it

goes to take care of us.

Dave left us very well provided for.

I don't need it. He wanted you to have it.

Are there any other beneficiaries?

Just Benny.

Dave wanted to be sure he was taken care of, so he set up a trust.

He also left him the contents of his warehouses.

What kind of contents?

Hi, Benny.

Hello?

Belinda?

Yeah, where are you?

No, stay there. I'll be right over.

Who's Belinda?

She's our prostitute.

Recall to the stand Congressman Lawrence Diebenkorn.

Are you acquainted with a woman named Belinda James?

Doesn't ring a bell off the top?

It follows then that you never coached her prior to her taking the stand to

testify in this case.

That's right, Counselor.

To the best of my knowledge, I never met her.

And I definitely never coached her. And you definitely never instructed her to

lie. I object to Mr.

Cusack's backhanded accusations. And when did you stop feeding your wife

questions? Sustained.

I trust Mr.

Cusack that there's a legitimate basis for recalling this man to the stand?

There is, Your Honor.

I'm going to play a tape for you, Congressman.

I'm going to ask you to identify the voices that you hear.

Objection. No foundation.

Your Honor, I have a piece of evidence that goes to the issue of actual

innocence.

And that there are now only 48 hours before my client is scheduled to be

executed. I would ask that the court apply whatever reading of the rules of

evidence are necessary to allow this tape to be heard.

No.

I would beg the court.

I'll allow it.

Recognize that voice?

No, I don't.

How about

that?

No idea who these people are.

None. Your Honor, the witness has now stated twice that he couldn't identify

voices. By what logic are we continuing to admit this tape into evidence? Your

Honor, my client is entitled to have the court rule on the witness's

credibility.

Proceed, but not much more.

Clear this courtroom.

Is it your testimony, Congressman, that that's not your voice on this case?

Objection. Asked and answered.

Overruled. I admit it's a pretty good impersonation, but it's absolutely

preposterous to think that that is actually... No further questions.

You may step down.

Call Melinda Jay.

But remain in the courtroom, Mr. Diebenkorn.

Raise your right hand.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,

help you God?

I do. State your name.

Belinda Ann James.

Please be seated.

James, did you testify in the trial of Albert Hutchinson that you saw him kill

Officer Scott Ellett?

Yes. Was that true?

No.

Why did you testify under oath that it was?

Larry Diebenkorn told me he'd take my daughter away from me and put her into

foster care if I didn't.

Objection. Your say.

I'll allow it.

Did he give you a reason?

He said it was to protect Ronnie.

You're lying, Belinda. That's enough, Mr. Gerben. Now's when I'm telling the

truth. It's so wrong that Scotty's widow has to sit through this. Not another

word, Mr. Gerben. Does he know that you're the one who shot him?

Or you, Miss James.

Did Congressman Diebenkorn give you...

An explanation as to why Ronald Girvin might have killed his partner?

He said Ronnie Girvin was dealing narcotics out of the property room, and

Ellis found out and threatened to turn him in if he didn't stop.

It's nuts. You've got to believe this whore of court officers.

Miss James, why did you decide to come to court today?

When it was... Just to hold on to my kid, I felt justified.

She's 18 now. I don't need no more holding on to her.

And I saw this $2 ,000 that he gave me.

And I realized that's what a man was dying for.

Because the DA liked hookers and didn't want anyone to know about it.

I'm not the kind of girl who takes money for nothing.

Anybody have a motion?

If defense counsel will allow me.

By all means.

I move that Ronald Gervin and Lawrence Diebenkorn be remanded into custody and

that Albert Hutchinson be released.

So ordered.

Thank you, Michael.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you so much for helping us, Mr. Glitter.

Thanks for giving me the chance.

Roxanne Melman. Yes.

I'm Inspector Hightower. This is Inspector Wochuk. We're at the United

Postal Service.

We're looking for David Meyer.

He died.

Died?

The funeral was this morning.

Did he actually see his body in the casket?

He requested that the casket was to be closed.

We're going to need the name of the funeral home that handled the

Can I ask why?

He's wanted by the federal government for mail fraud.

Mail fraud?

To the tune of about $35 million.

Thanks for picking her up, you know. Oh, sure.

Hi. You ready to go?

Mackenzie Brackman.

Come on, please.

Roxanne.

Long distance for you?

This is Roxanne. Hey, Rox.

It's me, Dave.

Can I help you with something?

Wow, do I have a story to tell.

Uh -huh. Now, it's true that circumstances required me to hold back

the details.

And obviously, all is not as it seems.

You know, we get all of our office supplies on account, and we're very

with our vendors. So thank you. Rox, come on. Look, I meant everything I

Thank you. I'm sorry. Thank you. No, goodbye.

It's so annoying.

Yes, they are.

Where are you living these days?

Same place.

Same place?

Why would I move?

I'm only one person.

I eat out all the time. I don't need to go home to sleep.

Yeah, the same's true for me, but since the last time you and I were together,

I've moved four times.

Well, maybe you're more sensitive to your environment.

Or deluded into thinking it matters.

You know what matters?

The older I get, the more I'm convinced that the one true love in my life

was you.

Is it love?

Or just finding an old sweater hidden in a drawer?

And don't use the past tense.