1 00:00:01,309 --> 00:00:02,630 Previously on L .A. Law. 2 00:00:02,850 --> 00:00:06,610 After a very brief deliberation, the partners here would like to express 3 00:00:06,610 --> 00:00:11,130 unanimously their feeling that you would represent a significant asset to this 4 00:00:11,130 --> 00:00:15,130 firm. We would like to extend to you an invitation to join our firm. Should 5 00:00:15,130 --> 00:00:17,590 there be any doubt, the offer is an offer of partnership. 6 00:00:19,650 --> 00:00:24,190 It just takes so much courage for you to be this honest in front of a couple of 7 00:00:24,190 --> 00:00:25,190 strangers like this. 8 00:00:26,270 --> 00:00:28,490 I'm really not surprised to see how brave you are. 9 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:31,940 Because that's what it took to give your baby up for adoption, didn't it? 10 00:00:32,740 --> 00:00:34,000 She loves us, Tammy. 11 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:37,720 She's just a little baby, but we feel her love and her trust. 12 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,380 She knows we're her mommy and dad. No, I'm her mama! 13 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:48,340 I hereby find the circumstances of Tammy Harris' life too significantly changed, 14 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,500 making reasonable the withdrawal of her consent. 15 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:54,540 I further grant her petition for habeas corpus. 16 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,520 Bailiff, please deliver the baby to Miss Harris. 17 00:01:03,630 --> 00:01:05,450 We can't find a way to avoid this trial? 18 00:01:05,710 --> 00:01:08,890 I don't see how, Your Honor. Ms. Heberton adopted this little girl more 19 00:01:08,890 --> 00:01:09,829 years ago. 20 00:01:09,830 --> 00:01:13,450 Mr. Connolly's attempt to assert his parental rights at this late date we 21 00:01:13,450 --> 00:01:16,870 as both self -serving and wholly inimical to the best interests of this 22 00:01:17,050 --> 00:01:19,850 Your Honor, the fact that we're doing this when we are isn't because of my 23 00:01:19,850 --> 00:01:23,290 client. It took him a year and a half to find this child, and having done that, 24 00:01:23,350 --> 00:01:26,870 we've met with delay after delay engineered by Ms. Heberton and her 25 00:01:27,130 --> 00:01:28,870 The delays were not engineered, Mr. 26 00:01:29,090 --> 00:01:31,970 Angeletti. We want to resolve this every bit as much as you do. Is there any 27 00:01:31,970 --> 00:01:33,830 possibility... For shared custody. 28 00:01:34,030 --> 00:01:36,310 My client feels that that would only confuse the child. 29 00:01:36,770 --> 00:01:40,230 It's time for the little girl to come home to her father. That's what we want. 30 00:01:40,470 --> 00:01:43,490 Miss Kelsey? Your Honor, Emily is my daughter. 31 00:01:44,050 --> 00:01:46,170 I am not willing to share custody of her. 32 00:01:47,310 --> 00:01:50,770 Mr. Conley, I assume your lawyer is speaking for you when he says the same 33 00:01:50,770 --> 00:01:53,430 thing? Yes, Your Honor. I'm not willing to share custody either. 34 00:01:53,930 --> 00:01:56,350 Look, this woman might have named her, but that doesn't mean that she has the 35 00:01:56,350 --> 00:01:57,249 right to raise her. 36 00:01:57,250 --> 00:01:58,450 She's my daughter. 37 00:01:59,270 --> 00:02:00,290 I want to raise her. 38 00:02:00,790 --> 00:02:01,790 All right. 39 00:02:02,110 --> 00:02:03,730 We'll start at 2 o 'clock this afternoon. 40 00:02:04,690 --> 00:02:09,330 I would ask both sides to refrain from making any inflammatory statements to 41 00:02:09,330 --> 00:02:12,790 press. I don't want this to be any more public than it absolutely has to be. 42 00:02:13,290 --> 00:02:16,810 Your Honor? How much of an issue is going to be made about the respective 43 00:02:16,810 --> 00:02:20,190 characters of Miss Hebert and Mr. Conley? We've been specifically 44 00:02:20,190 --> 00:02:23,090 the judge in this case not to make any statements that inflame the proceedings, 45 00:02:23,130 --> 00:02:26,410 and I'm going to abide by that. I think my adversary is being overly fastidious. 46 00:02:26,470 --> 00:02:29,270 The truth is, before we get down here, both these people's pants are going to 47 00:02:29,270 --> 00:02:30,270 down around their ankles. 48 00:02:30,330 --> 00:02:34,550 You yourself adopted a child, didn't you, Miss Kelsey, a little girl? 49 00:02:34,830 --> 00:02:36,850 Thank you. I don't have anything more to say. Laura? 50 00:02:38,450 --> 00:02:41,910 I'm just wondering, has that experience led you to taking this case? I'm not 51 00:02:41,910 --> 00:02:42,910 answering any questions. 52 00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:05,940 I just wanted to share that with you. 53 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:41,680 I think we ought to show some fiscal responsibility. 54 00:05:41,940 --> 00:05:45,240 Haven't you heard, Douglas? Eat, drink, be merry, for tomorrow you die. 55 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:46,860 Wow, what's this about? 56 00:05:47,100 --> 00:05:50,220 That's the only skirmishing preliminary to the partnership meeting. 57 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:54,620 Ah. Yeah, we're voting on how to split up the profits this quarter. The 58 00:05:54,620 --> 00:05:57,100 renovations took a big chunk out of our first quarter earnings. 59 00:05:57,460 --> 00:06:01,580 The renovations are finished, Douglas. Why do we work like dogs if we can't 60 00:06:01,580 --> 00:06:02,880 enjoy the fruits of our labor? 61 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:04,560 We can discuss this later. 62 00:06:05,110 --> 00:06:09,270 Haberton versus Conley. Laura Haberton is a single mother who adopted a baby 63 00:06:09,270 --> 00:06:12,710 girl two and a half years ago, and now the birth father is suing for custody. 64 00:06:12,990 --> 00:06:16,270 Tough one to win, no? If the judge's primary concern is the best interest of 65 00:06:16,270 --> 00:06:18,510 child, I'm okay. If it's the rights of the father, then we're dead. 66 00:06:18,750 --> 00:06:20,590 What inspired the father to be doing this? 67 00:06:20,830 --> 00:06:23,570 Part of it is that he wants to have a daughter, and part of it is that he's 68 00:06:23,570 --> 00:06:27,310 the birth parents network behind him. What is that? It's an organization 69 00:06:27,310 --> 00:06:30,670 dedicated to asserting the rights of the birth parents over the adoptive 70 00:06:30,670 --> 00:06:34,810 parents. There you are. urging him on, providing legal counsel, and covering 71 00:06:34,810 --> 00:06:36,210 whatever other expenses are involved. 72 00:06:36,510 --> 00:06:38,710 So this encompasses more than just the parties of interest. 73 00:06:39,070 --> 00:06:40,210 You might say that, yeah. 74 00:06:40,630 --> 00:06:45,750 Churchill versus Bowles. Madeline Churchill works for the main branch of 75 00:06:45,750 --> 00:06:46,750 .A. City Library. 76 00:06:47,050 --> 00:06:51,450 She's been repeatedly harassed by a fellow librarian she's suing. How does a 77 00:06:51,450 --> 00:06:52,710 librarian harass somebody? 78 00:06:52,910 --> 00:06:53,910 Very quietly. 79 00:06:54,790 --> 00:07:00,710 This is a rather unusual case. Madeline faints any time she hears vulgarity or 80 00:07:00,710 --> 00:07:05,790 sexual innuendo. Most of the other employees have been quite considerate in 81 00:07:05,790 --> 00:07:10,810 accommodating her situation, but the defendant has chosen to make sport of 82 00:07:11,090 --> 00:07:12,090 She faints? 83 00:07:12,230 --> 00:07:13,230 She faints. 84 00:07:13,430 --> 00:07:15,010 So this is a mental condition? 85 00:07:15,590 --> 00:07:19,070 I wouldn't call it a mental condition. I prefer to think of it as a heightened 86 00:07:19,070 --> 00:07:22,090 sensitivity. How heightened is it? What do you mean? 87 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:26,640 How vulgar a vulgarity, how sexual a sexual innuendo does it take? 88 00:07:27,180 --> 00:07:28,360 I don't know, Arnold. 89 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:31,460 Hey, if anybody could make her faint, you could. 90 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:36,000 However eccentric Madeline may seem, the fact remains that someone has made her 91 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:37,180 workplace intolerable. 92 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:41,080 I think the basis for the lawsuit is legitimate, and I expect to win. 93 00:07:47,420 --> 00:07:48,820 Yeah, okay, I'll see you later. 94 00:07:50,260 --> 00:07:51,640 Conference room's all booked up. 95 00:07:52,170 --> 00:07:55,910 Where are we going to go? To the safe room. Is it set up? Well, set up. 96 00:07:56,350 --> 00:07:58,450 What is the safe room, please? 97 00:07:58,850 --> 00:08:01,030 It's the place we're supposed to go when we're under attack. 98 00:08:01,730 --> 00:08:04,170 They've got a phone in here and they put some lights in there. 99 00:08:07,730 --> 00:08:08,730 Come. 100 00:08:10,310 --> 00:08:11,310 Can I talk to you? 101 00:08:11,550 --> 00:08:12,890 Sure. What's up? 102 00:08:14,370 --> 00:08:15,470 It's about the partner meeting. 103 00:08:16,090 --> 00:08:17,090 Ah. 104 00:08:18,010 --> 00:08:21,500 The... First time you passed me over for partnership, you said it was because of 105 00:08:21,500 --> 00:08:22,500 finances. 106 00:08:22,580 --> 00:08:23,580 Mm -hmm. 107 00:08:23,860 --> 00:08:24,679 It was. 108 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:26,980 You asked me to be patient, and I was. 109 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:30,420 Since then, you've taken on two new partners ahead of me. 110 00:08:30,660 --> 00:08:33,120 Well, they both had been partners at other firms. 111 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:34,700 I've been here seven years, Leland. 112 00:08:35,020 --> 00:08:39,120 I've made more than my share of rain. I've handled more than my share of high 113 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:41,539 -stakes cases, and I don't think I've been found wanting. 114 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:42,739 You're right. 115 00:08:42,740 --> 00:08:44,720 Far from it. I think I'm due. 116 00:08:45,380 --> 00:08:47,680 Well, I can't make you any promises. 117 00:08:48,970 --> 00:08:50,290 But I will bring the matter up. 118 00:08:51,350 --> 00:08:52,350 Thanks. 119 00:08:57,430 --> 00:09:02,650 So, Miss Halliday, since when does Mackenzie Brackman get involved with 120 00:09:02,650 --> 00:09:03,650 like this? 121 00:09:03,670 --> 00:09:04,690 Harrisman isn't nonsense. 122 00:09:05,070 --> 00:09:08,950 Did I ever lay a hand on you? You repeatedly and deliberately made her 123 00:09:08,950 --> 00:09:12,490 intolerable, Mr. Bowles. Miss Churchill is completely within her rights to seek 124 00:09:12,490 --> 00:09:14,870 damages. Let me be a pragmatist for half a minute. 125 00:09:15,230 --> 00:09:16,290 Let's say that you're right. 126 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,980 Let's say that this poor woman was harassed. What do you think you're going 127 00:09:19,980 --> 00:09:20,759 come away with? 128 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:23,000 My client has $73 in the bank. 129 00:09:23,220 --> 00:09:25,940 You're aware of our demands. If he finds another job, we'll drop the suit. 130 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:29,880 Forget it. These are fascist mind games, and I'm not giving in to them. Ever 131 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:33,380 since you came to work at the library, your every intention has been to debase 132 00:09:33,380 --> 00:09:36,680 me. Untrue. And poison the atmosphere I'd come to love. 133 00:09:36,900 --> 00:09:40,180 Look, profanity is part of lingua franca. You know what I mean? At this 134 00:09:40,180 --> 00:09:44,340 history, that is the way people talk. It isn't the way I talk, Mr. Bowles. 135 00:09:44,730 --> 00:09:47,510 Well, that may be because you are something of a tight ass. 136 00:09:47,750 --> 00:09:48,649 Oh, dear. 137 00:09:48,650 --> 00:09:53,470 Mr. Peters, due to the fact that my client has somewhat of a delicate 138 00:09:53,470 --> 00:09:55,830 would ask that your client control his language. 139 00:09:56,130 --> 00:10:00,350 She has a delicate nature. She wants to rule the world. And if we're not careful 140 00:10:00,350 --> 00:10:03,610 in the 21st century, she and women like her will. Carver. 141 00:10:04,030 --> 00:10:07,410 Please, let's try to return to the business at hand. We are not androids, 142 00:10:07,410 --> 00:10:11,890 Madeline, nor are we pure thought. We are all of us raging, devouring sexual 143 00:10:11,890 --> 00:10:16,730 carnivores. Mr. Peters, once again, I would ask that you put a muzzle on your 144 00:10:16,730 --> 00:10:21,370 client. Put a muzzle on me? She's suing me, and you want to put a muzzle on me? 145 00:10:22,010 --> 00:10:23,050 F*** you. 146 00:10:23,570 --> 00:10:24,570 F*** the both of you. 147 00:10:26,670 --> 00:10:27,670 Look at her. 148 00:10:29,010 --> 00:10:30,010 Great. 149 00:10:30,790 --> 00:10:33,890 Mr. Conley, would you please tell the court who Maureen Booker is? 150 00:10:34,370 --> 00:10:35,750 She's the mother of my little girl. 151 00:10:36,150 --> 00:10:39,370 Objection. Ms. Booker has waived her parental rights. Let the record reflect 152 00:10:39,370 --> 00:10:42,750 that the witness's response is taken to mean biological mother only. 153 00:10:43,030 --> 00:10:46,670 Had you and Ms. Booker made arrangements regarding the custody of this child? 154 00:10:46,950 --> 00:10:49,930 After she got pregnant, we agreed to get married. 155 00:10:50,590 --> 00:10:52,290 Then she changed her mind. 156 00:10:52,930 --> 00:10:56,010 So we agreed to split up and share custody when the baby was born. 157 00:10:56,330 --> 00:10:57,330 And then what happened? 158 00:10:57,510 --> 00:10:59,810 Well, just before the baby was due, Maureen disappeared. 159 00:11:00,740 --> 00:11:02,740 I tried to find her, but nobody knew where she was. 160 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:06,020 Then six months later, she showed up and told me that the baby had died. 161 00:11:06,260 --> 00:11:07,260 Did you believe her? 162 00:11:07,380 --> 00:11:10,380 Yeah, I believed her. I couldn't imagine that anyone would lie about something 163 00:11:10,380 --> 00:11:11,139 like that. 164 00:11:11,140 --> 00:11:13,360 What, if anything, happened to change your belief? 165 00:11:13,860 --> 00:11:16,940 One night, one of her friends called me up and told me that the baby didn't die, 166 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:18,940 that Maureen had put it up for adoption. 167 00:11:19,340 --> 00:11:20,159 And what did you do? 168 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:21,300 I hired a private investigator. 169 00:11:21,680 --> 00:11:24,700 He looked for her for about six months, but when I ran out of money, he stopped 170 00:11:24,700 --> 00:11:25,700 looking. 171 00:11:25,940 --> 00:11:27,820 Then I read about Birth Parents Network. 172 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:29,320 I made a phone call. 173 00:11:29,900 --> 00:11:33,100 Went to a meeting, and suddenly I had this whole organization that was willing 174 00:11:33,100 --> 00:11:36,400 to help me. I mean, they paid for good private investigators. They paid for 175 00:11:36,500 --> 00:11:37,500 Mr. Angeletti. 176 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:41,740 They're the reason that I found my daughter. What steps, if any, have you 177 00:11:41,740 --> 00:11:44,940 in anticipation of being awarded the custody of your daughter? 178 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:49,140 Well, I enrolled myself in a substance abuse program and got myself straight. 179 00:11:49,300 --> 00:11:50,300 That's the first thing. 180 00:11:50,900 --> 00:11:55,900 Then I got a job, I got a decent place to live, and I made arrangements with my 181 00:11:55,900 --> 00:11:58,180 mother to take care of my daughter while I'm at work. 182 00:11:58,620 --> 00:11:59,620 Mr. Conley. 183 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:03,780 If two years ago you'd been asked to waive your parental rights, would you 184 00:12:03,780 --> 00:12:04,579 done so? 185 00:12:04,580 --> 00:12:06,500 No. No, I wouldn't have. 186 00:12:06,980 --> 00:12:09,060 I wouldn't have waived them then, and I don't waive them now. 187 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:10,320 I have nothing further. 188 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:17,160 Mr. Connolly, is it your desire to act in what would be considered the best 189 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:18,160 interests of your daughter? 190 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:19,440 Of course it is. 191 00:12:19,680 --> 00:12:22,800 You are of the belief, are you not, that her best interests are served by being 192 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:23,800 given over to you? 193 00:12:23,900 --> 00:12:24,900 That's correct. 194 00:12:24,940 --> 00:12:28,300 But it's safe to assume that the biological mother of this child felt 195 00:12:28,700 --> 00:12:29,900 Objection. Speculation. 196 00:12:30,460 --> 00:12:33,020 Sustained. Were you drinking while Miss Booker was pregnant, sir? 197 00:12:33,820 --> 00:12:35,080 I was then. I'm not now. 198 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:36,580 Were you using amphetamines? 199 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:38,640 I was then. I'm not now. 200 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,680 Did you ever become physically violent with her while she was pregnant? It 201 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:42,680 happened once. 202 00:12:42,900 --> 00:12:45,420 She might have even had something to do with it. In other words, it was 203 00:12:45,420 --> 00:12:46,420 justified. 204 00:12:49,560 --> 00:12:53,760 No, it wasn't. You would agree, would you not, that placing a child in the 205 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:58,200 custody of an individual who has a drinking problem, who has a drug 206 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:02,420 is prone toward physical violence, in all likelihood, would not be in the best 207 00:13:02,420 --> 00:13:03,420 interest of that child? 208 00:13:03,580 --> 00:13:05,900 Objection. Yes, I would agree. Overruled. I do not like that anymore. 209 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:07,120 That's right, I'm not. 210 00:13:07,660 --> 00:13:09,020 I'm also that child's father. 211 00:13:09,660 --> 00:13:10,900 I have no further questions. 212 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:12,200 I'm her real father. 213 00:13:12,420 --> 00:13:15,200 Mr. Conley. And I'm the one who should be raising her, too. Mr. Conley, I'll 214 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:16,500 have to ask you to step down now. 215 00:13:17,740 --> 00:13:18,740 Yes, Your Honor. 216 00:13:29,680 --> 00:13:32,360 would you tell us about your relationship with Brian Connolly? 217 00:13:33,680 --> 00:13:35,720 We were together about six months. 218 00:13:36,460 --> 00:13:37,640 It didn't work out. 219 00:13:37,980 --> 00:13:38,980 Why not? 220 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:40,640 A lot of reasons. 221 00:13:41,820 --> 00:13:43,900 He's got a temper. He drinks. 222 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,600 When I got pregnant, we were going to get married. 223 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:54,080 But I thought about what my life would be like and what my kids' life would be 224 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:55,080 like. 225 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:57,080 And I said, no way. 226 00:13:57,520 --> 00:13:58,880 Why did you put your baby up for adoption? 227 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:00,460 I was just out of high school. 228 00:14:00,820 --> 00:14:02,820 I wasn't ready to be a mother. 229 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:07,100 I met Miss Heberden and decided to do what was best for my kid. 230 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:09,540 Did you know that Mr. Connolly wanted custody? 231 00:14:09,940 --> 00:14:11,420 That's not what he said then. 232 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,080 He wanted me to raise it so he could come and visit once in a while. 233 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:17,060 He didn't want the responsibility. 234 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:19,760 I couldn't even get him to chip in for medical expenses. 235 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:21,660 Did you consider having an abortion? 236 00:14:22,060 --> 00:14:24,200 I don't really believe in abortion. 237 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:30,340 On the other hand, if I thought the alternative was to have Brian raise her, 238 00:14:30,340 --> 00:14:32,280 probably would have considered it. Why? 239 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:35,700 He wasn't any more ready to raise a kid than I was. 240 00:14:36,260 --> 00:14:37,900 Thank you. I have nothing further. 241 00:14:40,020 --> 00:14:44,120 Ms. Booker, the time of your breakup with Mr. Conley, were you seeing other 242 00:14:44,380 --> 00:14:45,640 I was seeing another man. 243 00:14:45,940 --> 00:14:46,919 One man. 244 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:47,920 Did he have money? 245 00:14:48,060 --> 00:14:49,060 Objection. Irrelevant. 246 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:51,930 Sustained. Laura Heberton has money, doesn't she? 247 00:14:52,570 --> 00:14:55,770 Objection. Sustained. How much did Laura Heberton pay you, Ms. Booker? 248 00:14:56,370 --> 00:14:58,770 She paid for my medical expenses. That's it. 249 00:14:59,010 --> 00:15:02,490 You say that Mr. Conley refused to pay for your medical expenses. 250 00:15:02,830 --> 00:15:04,930 That's right. You disappeared before the baby was due. 251 00:15:05,190 --> 00:15:07,830 And then you didn't get in touch with him again for six months. And when you 252 00:15:07,830 --> 00:15:09,190 did, you said that the baby was dead. 253 00:15:09,510 --> 00:15:12,130 Did you really give him a chance to pay for those medical expenses? 254 00:15:12,890 --> 00:15:14,050 It wouldn't have mattered. 255 00:15:14,570 --> 00:15:15,570 How do you know? 256 00:15:15,890 --> 00:15:16,890 I know Brian. 257 00:15:16,990 --> 00:15:19,010 Isn't what happened was that you wanted to hurt Brian? 258 00:15:19,450 --> 00:15:22,430 And you wanted to leave yourself unencumbered? And what better way to 259 00:15:22,430 --> 00:15:26,350 both those things than by denying him the child that was his? I care about 260 00:15:26,350 --> 00:15:28,290 child as much as anyone in this room. 261 00:15:29,070 --> 00:15:31,990 I gave her up because I thought it was best for her. 262 00:15:33,050 --> 00:15:34,610 She could be loved. 263 00:15:35,090 --> 00:15:37,170 She could have someone to take care of her. 264 00:15:38,130 --> 00:15:43,070 And as painful as it was, I don't regret it for a second. 265 00:15:44,730 --> 00:15:46,310 I did what was right. 266 00:15:47,500 --> 00:15:49,240 Have you visited your child, Ms. Booker? 267 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:56,420 No. The truth is, you have no idea what kind of a parent Laura Heberton is, do 268 00:15:56,420 --> 00:15:57,420 you? 269 00:15:57,660 --> 00:15:59,140 I think she's a good parent. 270 00:15:59,340 --> 00:16:01,320 I'm sure it's comforting for you to think that, isn't it? 271 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:03,520 Objection. Withdrawn. I have nothing further. 272 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:13,920 Before we begin the deposition, I would like to remind Mr. Bowles that certain 273 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:18,080 words and phrases are extremely discomforting to my client, and I don't 274 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:19,280 to subject her to them. 275 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:25,340 In the interest of expediting the matter, my client has agreed to refrain 276 00:16:25,340 --> 00:16:29,120 vulgarity. When did you start working at the library, Mr. Bowles? 277 00:16:29,380 --> 00:16:30,380 Last November. 278 00:16:30,580 --> 00:16:31,960 Would you describe your duties? 279 00:16:32,430 --> 00:16:35,650 I put the books back on the shelf. I worked the checkout desk. 280 00:16:36,010 --> 00:16:38,190 Bounced the homeless people that got too stinky. 281 00:16:38,410 --> 00:16:39,510 General library duties. 282 00:16:40,010 --> 00:16:43,870 Were you ever told about Miss Churchill's sensitivity to language? 283 00:16:44,370 --> 00:16:49,490 I was told she fainted. Having been told that she fainted, did you ever act in 284 00:16:49,490 --> 00:16:51,330 such a way as to cause her to faint? 285 00:16:51,690 --> 00:16:53,110 Well, apparently I did. 286 00:16:53,610 --> 00:16:54,730 Did you do so deliberately? 287 00:16:55,110 --> 00:16:56,130 No, I did not. 288 00:16:56,510 --> 00:16:59,830 Did you ever use profane language when speaking to Miss Churchill? 289 00:17:00,170 --> 00:17:04,530 I'm a human being. I speak in the colloquial vernacular of the age. 290 00:17:04,530 --> 00:17:06,930 is a pain in the ass. In other words, you resented her. 291 00:17:07,130 --> 00:17:10,910 Every day there was a new rule. One day there was no jeans. The next day there 292 00:17:10,910 --> 00:17:15,030 was no gum. The next day there was a memo about the proper forms of 293 00:17:15,450 --> 00:17:19,790 I was seeking a certain minimal level of decorum. Is that why you told me I 294 00:17:19,790 --> 00:17:21,530 couldn't handle any 19th century additions? 295 00:17:21,970 --> 00:17:26,099 I told you. I told you that because your fingernails were ill -kept. More rules. 296 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:30,720 Rules? Rules of conduct, Mr. Bowles, are in the end what define us as a 297 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:32,740 civilization. Let me tell you something. 298 00:17:33,020 --> 00:17:36,480 Rules and repression start with the genitalia and they work their way 299 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:37,740 until they imprison the mind. 300 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:39,820 Could we get back to the deposition, please? 301 00:17:40,020 --> 00:17:42,160 Read Fahrenheit 451 sometime. 302 00:17:42,420 --> 00:17:46,080 Read Philip K. Dick. I thought that we had agreed on something. 303 00:17:46,340 --> 00:17:50,920 It's a name. That's his name. Philip K. Dick. Did you not taught her on a daily 304 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:55,340 basis, Mr. Bowles? Did you not do everything in your power to make 305 00:17:55,340 --> 00:17:56,340 work utter... 306 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:58,880 I used words. 307 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:01,700 At first, I used them in the course of ordinary conversation. 308 00:18:02,060 --> 00:18:06,280 Then, when the philosophical ramifications of her repressive attitude 309 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:08,940 language sunk in, I used them deliberately. 310 00:18:09,180 --> 00:18:12,040 I used words to describe the human excretory function. 311 00:18:12,340 --> 00:18:16,480 I used words to describe the human sexual function. I used words to 312 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:17,680 define human existence. 313 00:18:18,020 --> 00:18:22,020 It was intolerable for her to hear them. Well, it was intolerable to me to be 314 00:18:22,020 --> 00:18:23,980 prohibited from using them. Oh, yeah. 315 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:26,560 Every now and then I would come up to her. 316 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:28,640 I'd lean in and I would whisper. 317 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:30,280 Madeline? 318 00:18:31,340 --> 00:18:33,200 Well, she beat me too at that time. 319 00:18:35,900 --> 00:18:41,580 Something has come up we have to discuss before we can proceed. 320 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:42,519 What's that? 321 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:44,740 Jonathan Rollins approached me this afternoon. 322 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:46,980 He thinks it's time we made him a partner. 323 00:18:47,180 --> 00:18:49,440 Partnership decisions are made in June. This is February. 324 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:50,640 I realize that. 325 00:18:50,820 --> 00:18:52,640 Jonathan would like a decision now. 326 00:18:53,050 --> 00:18:57,150 That's a little cheeky, isn't it? Douglas, we told him two years ago he 327 00:18:57,150 --> 00:19:00,270 being passed over because the firm was in financial straits. 328 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:02,400 Clearly, that's not the case anymore. 329 00:19:02,660 --> 00:19:05,980 How do you define financial straits? Do we have more money than we need? I don't 330 00:19:05,980 --> 00:19:09,700 think so. He's also young. He hasn't been an associate for a terribly long 331 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:13,720 He also took a year off. Jonathan is one of the best litigators in the city, and 332 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:16,300 everybody in this room knows it. I don't think anyone's arguing that. 333 00:19:16,540 --> 00:19:18,320 The truth is, that's not an appropriate criteria. 334 00:19:18,620 --> 00:19:21,460 This would have a negative financial impact on everyone in this room. 335 00:19:21,700 --> 00:19:26,100 Well, that's true whenever you take on a new partner, Douglas. Does that mean we 336 00:19:26,100 --> 00:19:29,860 should never do it? It means we do it as dispassionately as possible. 337 00:19:30,380 --> 00:19:31,380 Let's put it to a vote. 338 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:33,160 Blind ballot. 339 00:19:37,980 --> 00:19:40,680 Given that I don't feel comfortable being part of this decision, I'm just 340 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:41,680 to listen. 341 00:19:59,500 --> 00:20:02,520 I can't thank you enough for all the trouble you've taken, Miss Halliday. 342 00:20:03,220 --> 00:20:05,320 I'm truly sorry to be such a burden. 343 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:07,240 You're not a burden, Madeline. You're a client. 344 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:09,000 Just the same. 345 00:20:09,460 --> 00:20:12,200 All these scenes, all this fainting. 346 00:20:12,580 --> 00:20:13,780 It's quite embarrassing. 347 00:20:14,140 --> 00:20:16,400 I'm sorry that you're embarrassed. You needn't be. 348 00:20:18,220 --> 00:20:21,280 Okay, we have mints. Apple, Earl Grey. 349 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:22,660 Have you any valerian root? 350 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:26,760 No, I don't see any. 351 00:20:27,100 --> 00:20:28,340 Um, chamomile. 352 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:30,560 Chamomile will be fine. Sugar? 353 00:20:30,780 --> 00:20:32,420 Please. Madeline Churchill. 354 00:20:32,940 --> 00:20:35,560 Yes. Arnold Becker. How do you do? 355 00:20:35,860 --> 00:20:40,400 Very well, thank you. I've been following your case. Have you? Yes, I 356 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,380 like to afford our clients the benefit of various points of view here, 357 00:20:43,420 --> 00:20:47,560 notwithstanding that Jane is as capable as any attorney here. Yes. 358 00:20:47,820 --> 00:20:51,920 Miss Halliday is doing a wonderful job, and under rather difficult 359 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:52,920 circumstances. 360 00:20:53,790 --> 00:20:57,670 As you may or may not know, our opponent is something of a cat. 361 00:20:57,950 --> 00:21:00,530 He keeps using those upsetting words, doesn't he? 362 00:21:00,750 --> 00:21:01,750 Yes, he does. 363 00:21:02,090 --> 00:21:04,450 We should probably get back to work. 364 00:21:04,670 --> 00:21:05,670 Just one second. 365 00:21:06,550 --> 00:21:08,530 I find you to be a fascinating woman. 366 00:21:09,270 --> 00:21:11,830 I'm sorry, was that too forward? No. 367 00:21:12,090 --> 00:21:16,050 The relations between the sexes is my bailiwick, so to speak, hence my 368 00:21:16,050 --> 00:21:21,310 curiosity. So I find myself wondering, is it the word or the... 369 00:21:21,710 --> 00:21:24,430 implication of the word that gets you upset. 370 00:21:24,690 --> 00:21:26,930 Arnie, I really need to get Madeline going here. 371 00:21:27,130 --> 00:21:31,230 I'm not sure I know the difference, Mr. Becker. Some words are exclusively 372 00:21:31,230 --> 00:21:37,130 sexual. They either refer to genitalia or various sexual acts, whereas other 373 00:21:37,130 --> 00:21:41,110 words acquire their sexual meaning from the context in which they're used. 374 00:21:41,370 --> 00:21:43,310 Arnie. A restaurant chain is called Hooters. 375 00:21:43,630 --> 00:21:48,410 Now, if you infer that that name refers to the waitress's breasts rather than to 376 00:21:48,410 --> 00:21:50,290 Al's, would that cause you to faint? 377 00:21:51,030 --> 00:21:54,530 Contrary to what you may think, Mr. Becker, I am not a knave. 378 00:21:54,910 --> 00:21:57,910 I know to what the name of these restaurants refers. 379 00:21:58,370 --> 00:22:03,450 And while I choose not to patronize such an establishment, neither would the 380 00:22:03,450 --> 00:22:07,490 name cause me to faint. If a man told you that he was going to go home to 381 00:22:07,490 --> 00:22:11,210 the bishop... Okay, Arnie, that's all we have time for. One more, one more, one 382 00:22:11,210 --> 00:22:12,210 more. 383 00:22:12,430 --> 00:22:16,330 A woman walks into a room full of men and asks, which one of you is Eric? Now, 384 00:22:16,330 --> 00:22:20,910 if you were to hear this as which one of you is erect, thereby conjuring up 385 00:22:20,910 --> 00:22:25,430 images of orgiastic behavior, multiple penetration and so forth, would that 386 00:22:25,430 --> 00:22:26,430 cause you to faint? 387 00:22:28,990 --> 00:22:30,770 My God, it works. 388 00:22:32,300 --> 00:22:35,460 Your Honor, once again, I would argue this witness is not qualified to testify 389 00:22:35,460 --> 00:22:36,319 as an expert. 390 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:38,480 She's a psychologist, Your Honor, board certified. 391 00:22:38,780 --> 00:22:41,480 She's been associated with the American Birth Parents Network since its 392 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:44,440 inception, Your Honor. She's here as an advocate. And I'm sure you'll cross 393 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:47,020 -examine her accordingly. The witness may testify. 394 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:52,860 Dr. Spahr, would you please state for the court your field of specialization? 395 00:22:55,220 --> 00:22:59,660 I deal with families who have suffered through the trauma of adoption, 396 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:03,640 Parents who have lost their children or children who have lost their parents. 397 00:23:04,180 --> 00:23:07,480 Characterize for us, if you will, the effect of such loss. 398 00:23:07,780 --> 00:23:11,580 Objection. Counsel is dealing in meaningless generalities. The issue of 399 00:23:11,580 --> 00:23:13,120 per se should be considered here. 400 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:14,640 The objection is overruled. 401 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:16,040 Witness can answer. 402 00:23:17,580 --> 00:23:22,100 Most children who have been adopted spend their lives trying to puzzle out 403 00:23:22,100 --> 00:23:25,060 identity in a way that other people can't understand. 404 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:30,740 No matter how much their adoptive parents love them, these children grow 405 00:23:30,740 --> 00:23:33,380 feeling like a part of themselves is missing. 406 00:23:33,740 --> 00:23:39,400 Adopted children live with a sense of having been abandoned by their parents. 407 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,760 It's a tremendous burden to carry. And how do these children respond? 408 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:45,820 Objection. Excessively broad. Excessively vague. 409 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:47,200 Overruled. 410 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:51,400 Adopted children can respond in any number of ways. Some are more effective 411 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:57,060 others. But the range of response includes behavior that is quite 412 00:23:57,180 --> 00:24:02,020 whether it be eating disorders or drug abuse or criminality. 413 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:09,000 The healthiest solution for an adopted child is to seek out his or her birth 414 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,560 parent and establish a relationship with them. 415 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:16,620 In your opinion, Doctor, At what age is it better to let things be? At what age 416 00:24:16,620 --> 00:24:20,580 is it better for a child not to be taken from its adoptive parents? 417 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:26,960 If a birth parent stands ready, willing, and able to make a home for that child, 418 00:24:27,140 --> 00:24:33,860 I believe that child is better off with their birth parent at whatever 419 00:24:33,860 --> 00:24:35,380 age. Thank you, Doctor. 420 00:24:38,350 --> 00:24:43,430 Would you concede, Ms. Farr, that at the present time, Brian Connolly is in fact 421 00:24:43,430 --> 00:24:44,590 a stranger to this child? 422 00:24:44,810 --> 00:24:49,270 First off, Ms. Kelsey, I would ask that you refer to me as doctor, as I have in 423 00:24:49,270 --> 00:24:50,390 fact earned that credential. 424 00:24:51,490 --> 00:24:55,950 And as to your question, no, I would not concede that Mr. Connolly is a 425 00:24:55,950 --> 00:24:57,710 stranger. He is anything but a stranger. 426 00:24:57,990 --> 00:25:01,490 And yes, I think a two -year -old child would sense that. 427 00:25:01,730 --> 00:25:04,450 And how would she sense that, Dr. Farr? 428 00:25:04,670 --> 00:25:06,530 I have seen pictures of little Emily. 429 00:25:08,010 --> 00:25:11,850 She has her father's eyes and her father's chin. 430 00:25:12,190 --> 00:25:17,230 If I can recognize that, so can she. Have you ever met little Emily, Doctor? 431 00:25:18,270 --> 00:25:19,450 No, I haven't. 432 00:25:19,730 --> 00:25:21,670 Have you ever interviewed Laura Heberton? 433 00:25:21,990 --> 00:25:23,350 No, I haven't done that either. 434 00:25:23,670 --> 00:25:27,970 And yet you're up here as an expert witness, testifying as to what's in the 435 00:25:27,970 --> 00:25:29,010 interest of this child. 436 00:25:29,330 --> 00:25:31,630 Don't you find that a little odd, Doctor? 437 00:25:32,010 --> 00:25:36,670 No, Miss Kelsey, I don't find it in the least bit odd. You see, I myself was 438 00:25:36,670 --> 00:25:37,670 adopted. 439 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:43,380 I was rejected by my birth parents, not once, but twice. The first time, when I 440 00:25:43,380 --> 00:25:44,259 was born. 441 00:25:44,260 --> 00:25:47,880 The second time, 28 years later, when I finally located them. 442 00:25:48,100 --> 00:25:51,860 Is it ever harmful to the child when the birth parents make contact? 443 00:25:52,340 --> 00:25:54,680 I'm 38 years old, Miss Kelsey. 444 00:25:55,080 --> 00:26:00,180 Every year, on my birthday, I wait for a card from my birth parents. 445 00:26:00,500 --> 00:26:05,240 Is your expertise based on being a psychologist or on the fact that you 446 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:06,240 adopted child? 447 00:26:07,150 --> 00:26:08,150 It's based on both. 448 00:26:10,150 --> 00:26:11,410 I have no further questions. 449 00:26:17,230 --> 00:26:18,230 Come in. 450 00:26:21,610 --> 00:26:24,310 I'm afraid the vote did not go as I had expected. 451 00:26:26,510 --> 00:26:30,890 I may have made a mistake by insisting that the vote be taken at this time. 452 00:26:31,270 --> 00:26:35,510 There were some who thought we should wait until June when partnership 453 00:26:35,510 --> 00:26:36,510 are usually made. 454 00:26:36,810 --> 00:26:38,650 You think the results will be different in three months? 455 00:26:39,030 --> 00:26:40,370 I think so, yes. 456 00:26:41,830 --> 00:26:42,970 Who voted against me? 457 00:26:43,490 --> 00:26:44,830 It was a secret ballot. 458 00:26:45,410 --> 00:26:46,410 I don't know. 459 00:26:47,310 --> 00:26:49,270 Then how do you know they'll vote differently in June? 460 00:27:09,130 --> 00:27:10,610 Hey, Jonathan, how you doing? 461 00:27:11,570 --> 00:27:12,570 Okay. 462 00:27:12,830 --> 00:27:15,090 I spoke to Barry Glassman this morning. 463 00:27:15,350 --> 00:27:17,430 Oh, yeah? Yeah, he and Faith said hi. 464 00:27:19,010 --> 00:27:21,030 You know, we should all get together sometime. 465 00:27:22,430 --> 00:27:23,930 Sure. Have dinner? 466 00:27:24,530 --> 00:27:25,050 Stuart 467 00:27:25,050 --> 00:27:32,910 Markowitz. 468 00:27:34,030 --> 00:27:35,030 What? 469 00:27:35,430 --> 00:27:36,950 You voted against him. 470 00:27:38,090 --> 00:27:40,970 Can we not talk about this here? How could you vote against him? 471 00:27:41,170 --> 00:27:44,790 Because I think occasionally we have to exercise a little fiscal conservatism 472 00:27:44,790 --> 00:27:45,629 around here. 473 00:27:45,630 --> 00:27:47,150 Fiscal conservatism? Yeah. 474 00:27:47,430 --> 00:27:50,990 Partnership decisions are made in June. There's a reason for that, Ann. We have 475 00:27:50,990 --> 00:27:54,210 rules around here for a reason. I can't believe I'm hearing this. What are you 476 00:27:54,210 --> 00:27:55,430 all of a sudden, Douglas MacArthur? 477 00:27:55,870 --> 00:27:59,510 Ann, the fact is it's better for Jonathan this way. It's better for his 478 00:27:59,510 --> 00:28:02,590 situation. It's better for his buy -in situation. I see. So you're just looking 479 00:28:02,590 --> 00:28:06,330 out for his best interests. Yeah, your sarcasm notwithstanding. I feel totally 480 00:28:06,330 --> 00:28:09,720 justified. He saved your best friend's life, and you feel totally justified. 481 00:28:14,540 --> 00:28:17,400 Let me tell you what you did yesterday. 482 00:28:17,900 --> 00:28:22,160 You caused a perfectly innocent, rather fragile woman a tremendous amount of 483 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:25,960 embarrassment. After your little performance yesterday, Madeline spent 20 484 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:27,320 minutes in the ladies' room weeping. 485 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:31,660 That woman is a client of this firm. That entitles her to your protection as 486 00:28:31,660 --> 00:28:32,660 well as mine. 487 00:28:33,220 --> 00:28:34,220 You're right. 488 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:37,860 I'm sorry. Whatever sexual games you might play with me, Arnie, does not give 489 00:28:37,860 --> 00:28:39,880 you the right to involve an innocent bystander. 490 00:28:40,260 --> 00:28:42,220 Do it again and I'll gouge your eyes out. 491 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:56,240 Miss Churchill, how long have you worked 492 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:57,240 at the public library? 493 00:28:57,740 --> 00:29:02,440 Four years at the Wilshire branch and ten years now at the main branch 494 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:04,239 Fourteen years. 495 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:08,960 And in that time, have you ever had any trouble getting along with other 496 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:10,780 employees? Not at all. 497 00:29:11,700 --> 00:29:12,700 You're right. 498 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:17,760 Well, there are occasional misunderstandings, but for the most 499 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:21,600 librarians are diligent and considerate workmates. Isn't it true, Miss 500 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:24,680 Churchill, that you've had three other employees fired for nothing more than 501 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:25,680 offending your sensibilities? 502 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:26,919 Absolutely not. 503 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:28,500 Oh, well, I've got a letter here. 504 00:29:28,970 --> 00:29:33,590 from Miss Melody Weagle. A terrible laggard. She was routinely late for 505 00:29:33,830 --> 00:29:35,890 Right. She said only happened a couple of times. 506 00:29:36,510 --> 00:29:39,610 Punctuality, Mr. Peters, is not an occasional virtue. 507 00:29:40,010 --> 00:29:41,010 What about Mr. 508 00:29:41,470 --> 00:29:42,930 Kirk Dauphinese? 509 00:29:43,170 --> 00:29:44,750 That man was a drunk. 510 00:29:44,970 --> 00:29:46,550 He'd have a beer at his lunch. 511 00:29:46,870 --> 00:29:48,430 He stank of liquor. 512 00:29:48,770 --> 00:29:52,070 Kathy Twill. Miss Twill engaged in... 513 00:29:53,110 --> 00:29:55,310 illicit activity in the library stack. 514 00:29:55,610 --> 00:29:56,890 She was kissing her boyfriend. 515 00:29:57,270 --> 00:30:02,150 They were doing more than kissing, Mr. Bowles. Isn't it true that you cost 516 00:30:02,150 --> 00:30:04,910 people their jobs, Miss Churchill? And I think you're trying to do the same 517 00:30:04,910 --> 00:30:05,829 thing to my client. 518 00:30:05,830 --> 00:30:08,210 Your client is not a gentleman, sir. 519 00:30:08,430 --> 00:30:11,730 Well, that happens not to be a crime, Miss Churchill. You see, this is not 520 00:30:11,730 --> 00:30:13,830 century England. It's 20th century Los Angeles. 521 00:30:14,030 --> 00:30:17,490 And you may not like it, but this is where you live. I beg to differ with 522 00:30:17,550 --> 00:30:18,550 Mr. Peters. 523 00:30:18,990 --> 00:30:22,510 Time and culture are not a place, but a state of mind. 524 00:30:22,990 --> 00:30:27,570 In fact, I do not live in the 20th century, nor do I have any intention of 525 00:30:27,570 --> 00:30:28,570 doing so. 526 00:30:28,590 --> 00:30:29,590 Fine. 527 00:30:30,210 --> 00:30:32,070 Uh, I have no other questions. 528 00:30:33,170 --> 00:30:34,170 Let's go to trial. 529 00:30:35,170 --> 00:30:38,370 With all due respect, Miss Halliday, your client's a lunatic. 530 00:30:38,610 --> 00:30:39,690 We'll see you in court. 531 00:30:40,390 --> 00:30:42,850 Why am I a lunatic, Mr. Peters? 532 00:30:43,130 --> 00:30:46,170 Madeline, we're finished now. You don't have to talk to him anymore. No, Jane, 533 00:30:46,270 --> 00:30:47,270 I'm curious. 534 00:30:47,980 --> 00:30:52,660 I go to work every day. I perform my duties valiantly and well. 535 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:59,020 I treat my fellow man with kindness. My standards of behavior are rigorous, I 536 00:30:59,020 --> 00:31:03,000 admit, but I'm never mean -spirited about the failure of my employees to 537 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:04,000 those standards. 538 00:31:04,540 --> 00:31:08,440 What is it about my behavior which suggests mental instability? 539 00:31:09,220 --> 00:31:11,420 Well, look at you. Look at the way you dress. 540 00:31:11,980 --> 00:31:13,020 Excuse me, Jane. 541 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:15,460 Uh, Jane, they need the room. 542 00:31:15,900 --> 00:31:17,820 Tell them that we're running a little bit late. 543 00:31:18,020 --> 00:31:19,020 Okay. 544 00:31:19,260 --> 00:31:25,120 Mr. Bowles, I hardly think we are sufficiently familiar with one another 545 00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:28,100 to engage in a conversation about the way in which I dress. 546 00:31:28,340 --> 00:31:32,040 Miss Churchill, you can't force other people to live like you. 547 00:31:32,420 --> 00:31:33,640 You don't have that right. 548 00:31:33,860 --> 00:31:36,580 Do you have the right to force me to live like you? 549 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:42,780 In a world where violence is as common as the common cold and common decency is 550 00:31:42,780 --> 00:31:43,780 all but obsolete? 551 00:31:44,910 --> 00:31:51,150 In this world, your world, Mr. Peters, the sins of the flesh have nearly 552 00:31:51,150 --> 00:31:53,390 annihilated the life of the mind. 553 00:31:53,910 --> 00:31:57,770 Even the discussion of spirituality has become an embarrassment. 554 00:31:58,630 --> 00:32:01,210 People's very souls have shrunk. 555 00:32:01,670 --> 00:32:05,290 Am I the lunatic because I will not embrace this world? 556 00:32:06,510 --> 00:32:12,030 Perhaps the Victorians were fragile creatures whose mistakes were as grand 557 00:32:12,030 --> 00:32:14,190 their achievements, but they... 558 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:17,860 bowed before beauty. They yearned for grace. 559 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:21,700 They struggled for intellectual integrity. 560 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:24,300 And they had manners. 561 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:30,480 I beg your pardon if I am reluctant to exchange their values for yours. 562 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:45,560 Miss Heberton, could you tell the court how you met Miss Booker? 563 00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:49,700 I had placed advertisements with several adoption agencies. 564 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:54,100 I paid an attorney who specializes in adoptions. 565 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:59,680 Maureen contacted me when she was seven months pregnant. I flew to Ohio to meet 566 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:00,159 with her. 567 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:04,280 When did you first learn about Mr. Connolly? About two weeks before Emily's 568 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:05,280 first birthday. 569 00:33:05,460 --> 00:33:08,940 Maureen called me to tell me that she had heard through friends that he was 570 00:33:08,940 --> 00:33:10,260 actively looking for the baby. 571 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:12,880 Did you try to contact Mr. Connolly at that time? 572 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:16,840 No. Why didn't you? I was in a complete panic, that's why. 573 00:33:18,380 --> 00:33:20,540 I couldn't imagine what I would say to him. 574 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:23,420 As soon as he contacted me, I hired you. 575 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:24,940 In contesting Mr. 576 00:33:25,140 --> 00:33:29,360 Connolly's suit, do you believe that you're doing what's best for your child? 577 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:30,820 the core of my being. 578 00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:35,600 I was there when Emmy started to crawl. 579 00:33:36,120 --> 00:33:38,400 I was there when she learned to walk. 580 00:33:39,100 --> 00:33:44,820 I make her breakfast every morning. I color with her. I pat her back at night 581 00:33:44,820 --> 00:33:46,220 until she goes to sleep. 582 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:49,440 I am her whole world. 583 00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:55,980 I'm sorry if Brian Connolly feels that his rights have been violated. 584 00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:58,920 Quite frankly, he is not my concern. 585 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:00,240 Emily is. 586 00:34:01,100 --> 00:34:02,720 Thank you. I have no further questions. 587 00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:08,199 How much did you pay the lawyer who arranged this adoption? 588 00:34:08,659 --> 00:34:11,960 Objection. Irrelevant. Sustained. How much did you wind up paying Maureen 589 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:14,179 Booker? Objection. Irrelevant. Sustained. 590 00:34:17,139 --> 00:34:19,400 Are you able to have a child of your own? 591 00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:20,920 Objection. Irrelevant. 592 00:34:22,159 --> 00:34:23,159 I'll allow it. 593 00:34:24,420 --> 00:34:27,080 I have a child of my own, Mr. Angeletti. 594 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:28,760 I have a daughter. 595 00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:31,380 Are you able to have children by giving birth to them? 596 00:34:31,980 --> 00:34:32,980 No. 597 00:34:33,409 --> 00:34:37,190 Is it fair to say ma 'am that this is a source of great frustration to you? 598 00:34:38,409 --> 00:34:39,409 Yes. 599 00:34:39,590 --> 00:34:42,730 And thanks to your financial resources you've been able to overcome this 600 00:34:42,730 --> 00:34:47,469 frustration haven't you? I assure you sir that regardless of my financial 601 00:34:47,469 --> 00:34:54,090 resources I would have found the money to try and stop you people from taking 602 00:34:54,090 --> 00:34:55,090 Emily away from me. 603 00:34:57,310 --> 00:34:58,390 Does Emily have a nanny? 604 00:34:59,310 --> 00:35:01,530 Yes she does. How many hours a week does she spend with her? 605 00:35:01,870 --> 00:35:03,430 I don't keep track week to week. 606 00:35:03,650 --> 00:35:06,850 60? 70? I try to keep my work week to 40 hours. 607 00:35:07,130 --> 00:35:09,970 Occasionally, I can't. Does Emily call the nanny mommy? 608 00:35:10,270 --> 00:35:11,870 Not that I know of, no. 609 00:35:12,070 --> 00:35:14,170 Emily's seeing a child psychiatrist right now, isn't she? 610 00:35:14,910 --> 00:35:19,510 Yes. Why would a two -year -old need to do that? This trial has taken a toll on 611 00:35:19,510 --> 00:35:22,450 her. I'm upset, and she senses that. 612 00:35:22,730 --> 00:35:25,110 You're upset, so your child sees a psychiatrist. 613 00:35:25,910 --> 00:35:29,570 Emily was taken to the emergency room at Cedars -Sinai nine weeks ago. Was she 614 00:35:29,570 --> 00:35:30,570 not? 615 00:35:30,690 --> 00:35:35,530 Her arm was burned. She reached up to the stove while I was making dinner and 616 00:35:35,530 --> 00:35:37,330 spilled hot water on herself. 617 00:35:37,650 --> 00:35:41,590 Do you think you're a good mother, Miss Everton? Yes, I do. Would you 618 00:35:41,590 --> 00:35:42,590 acknowledge it if you weren't? 619 00:35:42,920 --> 00:35:45,800 Would you acknowledge that it might not be in the best interests of this child 620 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:50,120 to remain with you rather than be returned to her real parent? Objection! 621 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:51,280 her real parent. 622 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:54,080 I'm real because of what I do. 623 00:35:54,460 --> 00:35:59,300 I'm real because I am the only mother that Emily has ever known. That, Mr. 624 00:35:59,420 --> 00:36:02,960 Angeletti, is real. I wonder if Emily will agree with you when she finds out 625 00:36:02,960 --> 00:36:03,960 she's adopted. 626 00:36:04,140 --> 00:36:07,380 Objection! Sustained. You do intend to tell her, don't you? 627 00:36:07,720 --> 00:36:08,720 Yes. 628 00:36:09,420 --> 00:36:10,680 When she's older. 629 00:36:12,220 --> 00:36:13,940 I intend to tell her everything. 630 00:36:16,900 --> 00:36:17,900 I have nothing further. 631 00:36:27,860 --> 00:36:31,260 Laura, I think we should discuss this. I don't want to discuss it, Hans. If we 632 00:36:31,260 --> 00:36:33,000 discuss it, you're going to talk to me. 633 00:36:33,740 --> 00:36:35,380 What is it you want to do, Miss Heberden? 634 00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:37,020 I want to make an offer, Laura. 635 00:36:38,940 --> 00:36:39,940 Until now. 636 00:36:40,230 --> 00:36:42,830 I've been unwilling to agree to any kind of visitation. 637 00:36:43,690 --> 00:36:47,790 I was concerned that Emily was too young, that it would be upsetting for 638 00:36:48,870 --> 00:36:49,870 I'm still concerned. 639 00:36:51,830 --> 00:36:54,730 Okay, that said, I'm willing to try it. 640 00:36:55,310 --> 00:36:58,890 I'm willing to see how some sort of structured visitation goes. 641 00:36:59,230 --> 00:37:00,230 Is that it? 642 00:37:00,410 --> 00:37:04,490 If it's not upsetting to her, we can increase it. Forget it, Miss Hebert, and 643 00:37:04,490 --> 00:37:05,490 what you're offering is nothing. 644 00:37:05,690 --> 00:37:08,730 Do you think it's nothing, Brian? Don't talk to my client, Miss Kelsey. Talk to 645 00:37:08,730 --> 00:37:10,780 me. I was hoping to get custody. 646 00:37:11,220 --> 00:37:13,660 Do you know what that would do to her, Brian? 647 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:18,980 You would be taking her away from the only home that she's ever known. 648 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:20,360 Yes, we would, Miss Hepperton. 649 00:37:20,620 --> 00:37:24,020 I'm sure the transition period would be somewhat difficult, but we believe that 650 00:37:24,020 --> 00:37:27,980 Emily, assuming that Brian decides to continue calling her that, would get to 651 00:37:27,980 --> 00:37:32,680 know a new home. We think that in time, she'd come to barely remember either you 652 00:37:32,680 --> 00:37:33,680 or your home. 653 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:35,800 Let's go, Brian. 654 00:37:48,779 --> 00:37:49,779 Leland. Yes. 655 00:37:50,460 --> 00:37:52,300 I want to talk to you about that partnership issue. 656 00:37:52,700 --> 00:37:56,020 You know, of course, if it was up to me, you'd be a partner by now. 657 00:37:56,980 --> 00:38:01,400 What I'd like more than anything is just to do it by executive fiat and be done 658 00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:05,000 with it. But this firm doesn't work that way. I realize that. There are limits 659 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:08,360 to what I can do unilaterally. With all due respect, Leland, I don't care. 660 00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:10,080 I don't care about your limitations. 661 00:38:10,500 --> 00:38:12,960 I don't care about your good intentions anymore, Leland. 662 00:38:14,300 --> 00:38:15,680 This is about business now. 663 00:38:16,220 --> 00:38:17,380 I have to take care of business. 664 00:38:17,840 --> 00:38:21,340 I would like to stay here at McKenzie Brackman, but I won't if you're not 665 00:38:21,340 --> 00:38:22,340 to make me a partner. 666 00:38:23,500 --> 00:38:25,240 You have until 5 o 'clock today to make a decision. 667 00:38:29,020 --> 00:38:33,160 Jonathan, ultimatums are really not appropriate here. 668 00:38:33,540 --> 00:38:35,440 I expect to hear from you one way or another, Leland. 669 00:38:58,120 --> 00:38:58,959 I like you here. 670 00:38:58,960 --> 00:39:00,300 How do you get it to do that, Pins? 671 00:39:01,140 --> 00:39:02,140 Yes. 672 00:39:02,720 --> 00:39:06,600 It's a great look. It kind of reminds me of, um, what's her name? Kathy from 673 00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:07,600 Wuthering Heights. 674 00:39:07,740 --> 00:39:08,760 Kathy Earnshaw. 675 00:39:09,420 --> 00:39:10,820 I think of her often. 676 00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:13,100 You've read Wuthering Heights? 677 00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:14,400 Oh, it's a book? 678 00:39:16,020 --> 00:39:17,020 Yes. 679 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:26,000 I was surprised to receive your call, Mr. Peters. I didn't think we had 680 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:27,000 more to talk about. 681 00:39:27,500 --> 00:39:28,500 Did I? 682 00:39:28,680 --> 00:39:31,160 However, my client seems to have had a change of heart. 683 00:39:31,900 --> 00:39:34,280 I was impressed by what you said yesterday, Miss Churchill. 684 00:39:34,500 --> 00:39:39,440 For the first time, I glimpsed the mind and the soul that lay behind your 685 00:39:39,440 --> 00:39:43,480 visage. I want to apologize for whatever pain I may have caused you by the 686 00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:45,280 grossest of my behavior. 687 00:39:45,620 --> 00:39:50,300 If this is some kind of ploy, Mr. Bowles... It's not. I realized that what 688 00:39:50,300 --> 00:39:55,520 Churchill said was true, that I have not been a gentleman, and to my surprise... 689 00:39:56,270 --> 00:40:00,170 This realization was extraordinarily painful to me. 690 00:40:00,870 --> 00:40:02,490 I'm willing to accede to your demands. 691 00:40:03,070 --> 00:40:04,070 Anything you want. 692 00:40:04,410 --> 00:40:08,470 I'll quit. I'll give you money. You don't have any money, Carter. Miss 693 00:40:08,470 --> 00:40:11,710 has suffered grave distress in my hands. I've been a brute. 694 00:40:12,050 --> 00:40:13,110 You want some kind of medication? 695 00:40:13,550 --> 00:40:16,630 Miss Churchill, last night I went home and I read Bleak House. 696 00:40:16,970 --> 00:40:17,970 Mr. Bowles. 697 00:40:18,030 --> 00:40:19,110 I couldn't put it down. 698 00:40:19,490 --> 00:40:21,510 Joe's death destroyed me. Oh, yes. 699 00:40:22,330 --> 00:40:23,470 Yes, of course it did. 700 00:40:23,850 --> 00:40:25,090 I had no idea. 701 00:40:26,010 --> 00:40:30,650 I'll draw up the papers. I realize that I have given you great pain. If you 702 00:40:30,650 --> 00:40:36,410 could see into your heart and forgive me, forgive a wretched, foolhardy man 703 00:40:36,410 --> 00:40:39,870 me, perhaps we could have tea? 704 00:40:41,230 --> 00:40:45,030 This is quite sudden, Mr. Bowles. 705 00:40:49,570 --> 00:40:52,770 Are we ready to proceed with summations, Counsel? 706 00:40:53,090 --> 00:40:54,090 Ready, Your Honor. 707 00:40:55,779 --> 00:40:59,500 We start from the premise that children are best served when they're raised by 708 00:40:59,500 --> 00:41:00,720 the people who brought them into being. 709 00:41:01,280 --> 00:41:05,080 We have here two people, both claiming the right to be awarded custody of a two 710 00:41:05,080 --> 00:41:09,160 -year -old child. Her father and the woman who adopted her. Your Honor, I'd 711 00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:12,600 to stop this. Mr. Conley, your attorney's in the middle of his 712 00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:15,460 Your Honor, I want to withdraw my claim for custody. 713 00:41:15,880 --> 00:41:18,520 Your Honor, I would like a minute to talk to my client. 714 00:41:18,980 --> 00:41:20,680 I want to see both sides in chambers. 715 00:41:23,980 --> 00:41:26,480 Your Honor, before anything gets said here, I would like an opportunity to 716 00:41:26,480 --> 00:41:27,640 consult with my client alone. 717 00:41:28,040 --> 00:41:30,020 Do you want to talk to your attorney, Mr. Conley? 718 00:41:30,300 --> 00:41:31,420 No, I do not, Your Honor. 719 00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:33,800 He doesn't want to talk to you, Mr. Angeletti. 720 00:41:34,060 --> 00:41:38,080 Are you formally withdrawing your petition for custody, Mr. Conley? No, he 721 00:41:38,080 --> 00:41:39,080 not. Mr. 722 00:41:39,240 --> 00:41:40,240 Conley? 723 00:41:41,840 --> 00:41:42,840 Yes, Your Honor. 724 00:41:43,340 --> 00:41:46,380 If Miss Heberton is still willing to let me see her once in a while, I'd 725 00:41:46,380 --> 00:41:47,380 appreciate that. 726 00:41:47,710 --> 00:41:48,710 I'm willing, yes. 727 00:41:48,970 --> 00:41:50,830 All right, now, in the name of God, can you be doing this? 728 00:41:51,030 --> 00:41:52,790 My daughter is not a cause, Mr. 729 00:41:53,010 --> 00:41:54,630 Angeletti. She's a two -year -old little girl. 730 00:41:55,090 --> 00:41:57,870 And I think the best thing for her right now is for her to stay where she is. 731 00:41:58,250 --> 00:41:59,250 I think that. 732 00:41:59,910 --> 00:42:03,170 I know that you and the birth parents network don't, but I do, and I'm her 733 00:42:03,170 --> 00:42:06,470 father. Do you understand, Mr. Connolly, that if you withdraw this action, you 734 00:42:06,470 --> 00:42:09,810 will, in all likelihood, be precluded from reinstituting it? Yes, I do. 735 00:42:10,350 --> 00:42:12,350 Your daughter will never forgive you for this. 736 00:42:12,910 --> 00:42:14,450 Maybe she will, maybe she won't. 737 00:42:17,100 --> 00:42:20,540 Why are we meeting in here? Space shortage. Business is booming. 738 00:42:20,540 --> 00:42:23,620 is booked till June. We need to build a second conference room. We could knock 739 00:42:23,620 --> 00:42:25,180 out a wall in one of the old offices. 740 00:42:25,520 --> 00:42:26,520 No more renovation. 741 00:42:26,760 --> 00:42:30,180 I also think it's appropriate we divvy up the spoils in a room that was 742 00:42:30,180 --> 00:42:32,320 to withstand attack from those outside. 743 00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:34,600 Arnold. 744 00:42:35,140 --> 00:42:36,118 Thank you. 745 00:42:36,120 --> 00:42:37,520 Stuart. Thank you very much. 746 00:42:37,760 --> 00:42:38,760 And this is Fran. 747 00:42:38,840 --> 00:42:40,040 She thanks you very much. 748 00:42:40,320 --> 00:42:43,300 We have some business to take care of before we distribute checks. 749 00:42:43,540 --> 00:42:44,540 What kind of business? 750 00:42:44,620 --> 00:42:49,580 Jonathan Rollins has said that if we don't make him a partner, he'll leave 751 00:42:49,580 --> 00:42:52,740 firm. He wants a decision by 5 o 'clock today. 752 00:42:53,120 --> 00:42:57,100 Seriously? If the answer is no, he'll be gone by tomorrow morning. He's 753 00:42:57,100 --> 00:43:01,400 bluffing. We must also assume that if he leaves, a considerable number of his 754 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:02,580 cases will go with him. 755 00:43:03,049 --> 00:43:06,130 Basically, he's blackmailing us. He's not doing anything of the kind, Douglas. 756 00:43:06,190 --> 00:43:07,910 He's just forcing us to make up our minds. 757 00:43:08,150 --> 00:43:11,170 Yeah, but we did make up our minds. We said no. And now he's telling us the 758 00:43:11,170 --> 00:43:14,410 consequences that we don't change our minds. I can't believe he'd stoop to 759 00:43:14,690 --> 00:43:15,690 Why not? You would. 760 00:43:16,730 --> 00:43:20,230 Does he want to stay? He says he does. Then it seems to me we have no choice. 761 00:43:20,690 --> 00:43:23,990 Frankly, I don't like the fact that we're being forced into it. Neither do 762 00:43:24,050 --> 00:43:27,990 This is not the way to take on a partner. I would very much have 763 00:43:27,990 --> 00:43:31,790 decision based on mutual respect and affection among colleagues. 764 00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:36,580 Since that option has passed us by, I suggest we take this one. 765 00:43:45,140 --> 00:43:49,240 You should know that if the day ever comes when Brian Conley decides to seek 766 00:43:49,240 --> 00:43:52,760 custody again, our organization will be there in support of him. Dr. Farr, 767 00:43:52,800 --> 00:43:55,540 neither my client nor I have anything to say to you. We will be there in support 768 00:43:55,540 --> 00:43:58,300 of him if he attempts to make contact with his child. 769 00:43:58,960 --> 00:44:02,280 We will be there in support of him if he decides to go back into court. I don't 770 00:44:02,280 --> 00:44:06,120 want to stand here, Anne. We will be there in support of the birth mother if 771 00:44:06,120 --> 00:44:08,920 ever attempts to make contact with her child. Let's take the stairs. 772 00:44:09,320 --> 00:44:13,260 Do you understand that the little girl that you call your daughter is not your 773 00:44:13,260 --> 00:44:16,840 daughter? That she has a place in this world with people whose daughter she is? 774 00:44:17,200 --> 00:44:22,100 Dr. Farr, I think you should stop this. Do you understand that I am this little 775 00:44:22,100 --> 00:44:23,100 girl? 776 00:44:23,700 --> 00:44:25,720 No, you are not.