Original subtitles

Previously on In Contempt. Ladies.

Oh my lord. You slept with him last night. Charlie doesn't like anyone but

himself. No.

But if we cheat, we only bring ourselves down to their level. What are you doing

here exactly?

You just slumming it for a few months?

I don't think this is the right place for me. What? Just imagining what it's

going to be like to have you call me boss.

Cute. I call you a lot of things, Charlie. Trust me, boss ain't never

going to be one of them. You rammed a guilty plea down my client's throat

yesterday. It makes me not want to have sex with you.

Dinner. Nice glass of red.

Have I ever said no to a nice glass of red? And it will be shadowing us for the

next few weeks for its latest project.

So these old friends reconnect.

I'll drink to that.

Such a nice picture for such a bad day.

You sold your book. It was a beautiful day.

Yeah. I didn't get a chance to celebrate the way I wanted to.

Get a champagne.

But in a perfect world.

What would I have done with this?

What?

What?

Wake up!

Oh my god.

Was I drooling?

Yes, you were. And you were calling my name.

I'm just kidding.

Sounded like you were having a really good dream last night. I dreamt I paid

off Sally Mae.

I need to have sugar. Oh, hello, hottie professor.

You coming to the staff meeting?

I need to make a few phone calls first.

Splendid. We will see you in there.

Hey, you need to tell him you need to give my business back.

Listen up! Listen up!

Kitson quit this morning.

What?

All right, everybody, let's have a moment of silence for another fallen

brother.

And so, Lord, we pray for the repose of public defender Raymond Kitson, who was

struck down in his prime by the evils of judicial indifference.

Institutional racism.

And prosecutorial jackassery.

Amen.

Now you guys got to split up his felonies.

Is this chair broken?

Gwen, Tracy, Kipton had a murder on trial for the day.

Don't celebrate.

You're second chairing.

Oh, great.

A crackhead with a history of assault who is accused of knifing his mother to

death over money?

Oh, look, and there's the confession.

Those are what we call bad facts.

This case is uglier than homemade sin. No wonder kids who quit.

Well, let's just pray Judge Hernandez grants you a continuous.

Hey.

Nice to see you. Oh, my God, he's here.

I still can't believe that you know Bennett Thompson.

I mean, chance the rapper was totes talking about him on IG yesterday. Guys,

this is Bennett Thompson.

He's going to shadow Glenn's case.

And Vanessa, you were with Charlie catching an AP-5 this week.

Don't worry.

I'm totes sure he didn't notice.

Kyle Jablonski?

Yeah?

Where's Mr. Kitson? He's not with our office anymore. We'll be representing

you. Oh, come on.

David, I thought we were starting today.

Okay, we have to get an adjournment, but it'll give us a chance to get up to

speed. Mr.

Kitson did tell you I didn't do it, right? We didn't have a chance to talk

then. Sorry, guys. Gotta go.

I have an alibi. Okay, we're still reviewing everything.

Mr. Kitson, just up and quit, Judge. I'm asking for a two-week continuance. Your

Honor, the people object.

We're ready. Our witnesses are here, just like last time. Oh, come on,

Noreen. You're going to object? We just met the guy. Like you wouldn't do the

same. I would consent to two weeks if he'd just gotten a case this morning.

Ladies, enough.

We all know neither of you would consent to anything.

The request for a continuance is denied.

Hearings this afternoon. We'll pick the jury tomorrow morning. Judge, we

literally met our client two minutes ago. This is an old case.

The officer is here, and Mr. Kitson jerked us around trying to work speedy

trials. But, Judge, we're new to this case, and we need to... The longer you

argue with me, the less time you will have.

Let's keep this moving. We all want to get out of here at a decent hour.

She means happy hour.

Excuse me.

Nothing, Your Honor.

Nothing.

What just happened?

Hang him on Hernandez's ass. She used to be a public defender, but now she's got

her head permanently stuck up the DA's ass. Judges are elected and nobody gets

re-elected by being pro-defendant.

I'm going to go back to the office and look at the tape. We'll grab lunch. What

do you want? I'm not hungry. Chicken salad sandwich it is. She doesn't eat

real food during trial.

If I didn't force feed her, she might actually starve to death.

AP Fox, where the misdemeanors live. It's like 125th Street in Harlem back in

the day.

You got a wheel and deal. It's all about speed.

Catching means covering cases for the lawyers that can't be here. It's all

about negotiation.

Do not beg. Remember, you have something that the prosecutor wants. A guilty

plea. If a guy is out, he stays out. No jail time. It's community service at

worst probation.

Shop lifts are two days community service.

Hopping a turnstile is a fine.

You getting all this?

Almost. Can you just start from the beginning?

You got guys that hold themselves and guys who are out.

Look at the docket when your case is in order and stay ahead of the call.

Just watch.

Hey, Gail.

On number 33, we're going to do a CD and one day of community service.

72 is an ACD and a fine. You pick the price. And 21 has no supporting

deposition, so he's going home today.

I don't know about 21. I'm offering you two pleas, and your hands are tied on

21. Okay.

Well, that's how we do it.

Harkin, Yariv, Foley.

Remember, don't pay.

Negotiate. Wait, I... You got this.

Hey, boss.

Hey. To what do we owe the pleasure?

Watching, listening, calling a performance review.

She'll do great.

Not her.

You.

Then prepare to watch the MJ of your team ball out. I'm ready.

5-0, the people versus Aaron Carew.

What is this place? Our clothes closet. We keep a collection of dresses and

suits for clients who go to trial. It makes a better impression than their

baggy sweats and wife beaters.

It is also Gwen's five to power workspace.

This stuff smells, smells like baby. Dirty socks, pumpkin spice candles, and

potato chips.

This interrogation is so foul.

The sneaker prints, Kyle.

The ones by the broken window where the killer broke in.

The treads match your sneakers exactly.

And that's lie number one. Sneaker prints don't match.

It allowed to lie to the suspect.

Yeah, but just watch. We got the results of your polygraph.

This spike here says you're lying.

No, it can't be.

Lie number two, the lie detector test was inconclusive.

You were high.

Okay, you broke into your mother's house to steal money, which you had done

before, Kyle.

Okay, you got into an argument with her, and that's when you stabbed her.

No, I swear to God, I was with Alana. Here comes lie number three. Because we

spoke with Alana. She said you weren't with her. But I was!

That's a lie.

This went on for 19 hours.

So what's your next move?

Alana. She's a delightful stripper friend, probably a drug buddy.

The cops picked her up, but she refused to talk.

Kitson never talked to her? Kitson was never the same after that Second Avenue

murder trial.

Surprised he didn't check out earlier.

I didn't kill my mother.

Please.

I thought he was just another annoying, guilty client for claiming his

innocence, but now I'm thinking that he actually might be innocent.

Who wants to know? I'm Gwen Sullivan.

I'm a public defender, and this is... You work at the Wild Rhino Club, right?

Can we come in?

Ma, it's friends from work. Can you watch the judge shows in the back?

My mom never knew I stripped either.

Pink stiletto and panties. You stripped?

Paid for law school.

Pink, huh?

Who worked the door?

Fat Irish dude with your hair.

Called him the choker.

He always beat the shit out of anyone cop in the field.

Hell yeah.

Well, the good book says don't get drunk off wine, but it says nothing about

liquor, so bottoms up.

Kyle's in serious trouble, and we need to know if he was with you the day his

mother was killed.

I don't know nothing, sorry.

How long has your man been in prison?

Four years.

How'd you know?

His says together, right?

I have a brother in the system.

Robbery. I don't get to see him often, and I really miss him a lot.

Kyle and me, we're partying.

He's always got the good stuff, you know?

Was he with you the whole afternoon?

Yeah.

I remember, because I had to go to work at 5. He left with me.

Are you willing to testify?

Okay, that was a Meryl Streep-level accident. How do you know Choker with

the ear hair?

I really was a stripper.

A client. I visited her a couple times at work. And good on you for noticing

her tab. You're a Class A liar yourself.

Your brother's not in prison for robbery.

Burglary didn't sound glamorous enough.

I don't think he did it.

Doesn't seem so.

How are we even going to get her on the stands?

Kitson didn't serve alibi notice. You'll think of something when.

You always do. Just take a breath.

Honey, this isn't going to be another Lockhart, okay?

I hope not.

Because I don't think I can take it.

Need an expert to explain to the jury how false confessions happen juries

understand the concept of coercion. You don't need an expert They understand

being beaten or tortured. They don't understand psychological coercion Judge,

the detectives use something called the read technique to interrogate Jablonski.

Most police departments use it. It's a very specific three-step process.

First, the police break someone down. They interrogate him for hours and hours

and make him believe that nothing he says will make a difference.

Then they make him feel hopeless. Here they told Mr. Jablonski he failed the

polygraph and they threatened him with the death penalty.

And then they offer him a way out.

A confession.

An expert is going to give her expert opinion that the confession was coerced.

She's going to take the issue from the jury. No, she's not. She's just going to

explain the psychology of how it could happen. We're just asking for a fry

here. Okay, enough.

Jurors are completely able to draw on their own life experiences in

determining whether or not a confession is voluntary and knowingly given. Judge,

everyone believes they would never confess to something that they didn't

do. And you are free to question the detectives in the circumstances of the

interrogation. But the detectives don't think that they did anything wrong. And

you are free to argue the coercion issue with them. You know that's not as

effective. Your emotion for affecting is denied. Why do you keep interrupting me?

Now, is there anything else? Yes.

The prosecution has turned over a witness list. I'd like a proffer of the

witness testimony. I don't owe the defense a roadmap to my case. You don't

owe me a roadmap, but you do have to demonstrate relevance.

But she doesn't have to do it before the witness testifies.

We're moving on. Bring in the jury.

If I tell you, will you stop?

Kyle, just admit what you did. That's all we're asking. Just admit it.

You're not leaving here, Kyle, until you tell us what you did.

Fine. Fine.

After the defendant confessed, did you uncover any additional evidence?

I found out he had a combative relationship with his mother and I found

out he was a drug addict who stole money from her in the past.

And what about forensic evidence?

The defendant's fingerprints were on the knife. The bloody shoe prints were the

same size and shape as the defendant's shoes.

And, of course, the victim's blood was on his clothes.

All of which confirmed his confession.

Let's put it this way. I have no doubt in my mind we've got the right guy.

Detective, someone who came upon the crime scene and tried to help could have

touched the knife and tracked the blood around.

Yes. Fair to say most people who have difficult relationships with their

mothers don't kill them.

He confessed. You interrogated him for 19 hours.

You lied to him about failing the polygraph.

You lied to him about the sneaker prints being an exact match.

Counselor, would you confess to killing your mother if you really hadn't?

Would any of you?

What are you doing? Motion for AP 5.

We don't do motions in AP 5.

You don't do motions in AP 5.

I'm a graduate of Yale Law School and a Caldwell Fellow. I do motions in AP 5.

Okay.

I do what I want.

Say what you say.

I work real hard every day.

I'm an independent woman. Baby, all right.

I don't need a man to be holding me too tight.

I'm an independent woman.

Baby, that's right.

I'm just having fun with my ladies here tonight. I'm a nasty woman.

How's she doing?

What's her process?

Is that healthy?

Nope. But try taking them away from her. You might pull back enough. I can hear

you, you know.

Judge Hernandez was pretty angry with you over the expert. Why bring up the

witnesses now?

Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

We can hear you. Hey.

I have a master plan.

What? I don't know, but I'm on the verge.

Well, you're going to have to convince the jury how someone can falsely

confess, right? That is the dilemma.

I got it.

Sugar, I live with her.

We can't play the full 19-hour interrogation tape with no breaks. Your

Honor, I didn't say with no breaks. I said under simulated conditions. We need

to put them through what Mr. Jablonski went through. It's a ridiculous

proposal. Judge, the detective asked the jurors if they would confess to killing

their mothers if they hadn't. Nobody thinks they would.

The fact remains that it happens all the time. This is the only way for us to

show them how.

Are you sure about this?

The jury might end up hating you. Or they won't get in. You'll just confirm

the prosecution's argument.

What other choice do we have?

Your Honor, you can't possibly be considering this.

I'm going to allow it. How could you allow something so ridiculous? It's

either this or the expert, Ms. Nassar. Which do you prefer?

I'm tired. Can we just take a break? We'll take a break when you start

telling us the truth, Kyle. I am telling... No, you're not!

What do you want me to say?

I've already told you.

Kyle, just tell us the truth, man. Please.

I did!

I'm with Alana, we get high, I go back to her place, and then, I don't know, we

pass out, I wake up, I go to my mom's, and she's just lying there.

My BS meter is off the scale with you.

Do you think this is a game or something?

I don't know how else to tell you.

Listen, you're not going anywhere until you tell us what we want to hear.

So you might as well just...

Start going.

Stop.

We're not going anywhere, Kyle.

Listen.

Okay, if you confess, the judge will take your cooperation into account.

That way the death penalty will be off the table, Kyle.

Please stop.

You're out. I can't take this anymore.

Mr. Gannon, sit down. This is ridiculous.

I'm done. You do not think about anything to get out of here.

Objection. Would you make up a law? Yes, I would as a matter of fact. Objection,

wouldn't you? Your Honor.

Ms. Sullivan.

Your Honor.

Clear the courtroom now.

Counselors, approach.

Are you out of your mind? Judge, I'm sorry. I was tired. Probably just tired.

Everybody shut up.

Here's what's going to happen. I'm going to dismiss turn number five and seat a

replacement any objection We're adjourned for the night

Whatever

you do don't call her Gail I got this Hey Gail Miss hunter

about number 28 Toby Boyd Which one is 28?

The public nudity. How about $250 fine, no community service?

Do I look like Santa Claus to you?

No, but it's 10 days community service. Take it or leave it.

How about you go away now?

Bye-bye.

Your rookie is crashing and burning.

I don't believe in helicopter parenting, Tom. She's got to learn to come to me

with questions.

Tough love.

I'm telling you, the appellate division's not going to reverse.

I'm on solid ground.

I have half a mind to... Jesus.

Excuse me, I've got something in my office.

The defense calls Alana Martin to the stand.

Alana Martin?

Your Honor, may we approach?

I'd like a proffers to this witness testimony.

Oh, Ms. Nassar stated yesterday, and I quote, I don't owe you a roadmap to my

case. You then ruled that she didn't need to demonstrate relevance before the

witness testified.

She's got you there, Ms. Nassar. You may proceed, Ms. Sullivan.

Ms. Martin, how do you know Mr.

Jablonski? We're friends.

You do drugs together?

Yes. Can you tell me about the afternoon of May 5th?

Kyle was with me.

Objection! We were doing drugs together at my house at 2 o'clock. Ms. Martin,

stop talking.

Approach. Your Honor, the defense has sandbagged this court. We served 250-20

notice. They had eight days to respond.

You better have a good excuse for this. The police already knew Mr. Doblonsky

said he was with Ms. Martin. They had notice.

Then why set me up with a witnessless judge? I want sanctions.

I'm going to instruct the jury to disregard Ms. Martin's testimony.

I'm also going to instruct them that Mr. Jablonski, in fact, does not have an

alibi. You can't give that instruction. That's like telling the jury to confess.

Oh, but I can't. This is a murder trial. You are letting technicalities get in

the way of the truth. These technicalities, Ms. Sullivan, are the

law.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I am instructing you to ignore the testimony

you just heard.

I am further instructing you that any consideration of an alibi defense would

be unsupported by the evidence.

What? I was with her, Your Honor. Mr.

Jablonski, that's enough.

We'll take a recess.

What does that mean?

Jesus, we're getting screwed at every time.

What does that mean?

What does that mean?

It's a bad confession.

It's not a sound alibi.

It's hurting some of us now. We need to point the finger. We need to know the

suspect.

We need to know the suspect. Okay, wait.

Kyle, we need you to think. Is there anyone else who could have done this to

your mother? Yeah, Ryan Hooper. I kept telling that to Mr. Kitts. Ryan Hooper,

I know that name. Yeah, he's another tweaker. My mom's friend told me that he

came by the house asking to borrow money the day before she was killed. The cops

interviewed him and said he had no motive and no record. That's bullshit.

We were arrested together a few times. He's in prison right now for a robbery

he did a month after my mom was killed. Okay, I'll get an investigator on it.

You find out what prison he's in.

Kyle, you stay strong, okay?

You guys okay?

Not really. This is a disaster.

Maybe not.

Jury number five. Could have been a one-off. We have no idea what the other

jurors thought about the tape.

What's that?

Just a delicious, refreshing, healthier option in a flame boat.

Oh, you're serious.

You need to relax.

You know what? You're right.

But not like that.

Not too bad. I know. You're not either.

It's a little stiff, a little practice. You know, put work on that.

Oh, you know what's stiff? You and the carton. That's what's stiff. Yeah. You

thought it was better than that. Oh, oh, oh, oh.

Okay.

Yeah, maybe I was too optimistic about you getting better, you know.

Okay. Feels good.

You make sure you keep those hands up. Keep those elbows on those front ribs. I

think I know a little bit about boxing.

Sorry about your jaw.

You barely felt me.

Hey, you still with me?

Yeah, I was just thinking about Floyd Lockhart.

That's a client?

Yeah, he was a Golden Gloves champion at 19.

The guy didn't have much going on in his life, but God, he loved that diamond

belt.

He was convicted of a robbery homicide outside of a gentleman's club, and all

the evidence pointed to a BS case. It was a shady lineup, withheld evidence,

jailhouse informant.

The case should have been opened and shut.

I don't know how I lost it.

He got 25 years for a crime I know he didn't commit.

And I keep thinking that I see him in the street.

I see a taxi driver or a bike messenger that looks like him.

And I think, oh, my God.

Floyd somehow won his appeal.

He would always say, people have no idea.

How long 15 rounds truly are.

Until they're in the ring.

One was a fighter.

So were you.

Let's go.

One more round.

Mmm.

Dark and white chocolate.

Well, someone must have ordered us to go, because we're the flavors that get

to go home tonight.

Now that that's out of the way, we're Kyle Jablonski's lawyers.

You just started a 10-year sentence for assault and robbery. You stabbed someone

with a knife.

Maybe I did. Maybe I didn't. Lupita Jablonski.

Kyle's mom.

Was that a robbery gone wrong, too?

Sorry. No se habla assault and robbery.

You really want to play the asshole right now? I will play whatever you

want. I bet you are a wild African beast in bed.

Actually, I'm not the beast. She is.

I'm from Queens, so I know half the gods in this prison. And as a favor to a

neighborhood girl, they'd be happy to look the other way when another inmate

makes you his bitch.

Okay, so where were you at the time of Mrs.

Jablonski's death?

I was in a bar.

You know what? Forget about it.

Okay, wait, wait. All right.

i was at shantley's i got there around one i left around 3 30 so there ain't no

way i could have killed that old lady that is a pretty specific time frame and

i never told you what time she was killed miss sullivan in order to

argue third-party culpability you have to show this ryan hooper had motive and

opportunity in addition to harassing the victim the day before her murder he has

a long history of assault and robbery no actually he doesn't yes Actually, he

does. Judge, the detectives released him as a suspect partly because his rap

sheet said he had no priors, but they ran the wrong birth date. They ran 5-17

-89. He was born 6-17-89.

Having a sheet doesn't make him a murderer. And we checked out his alleged

alibi. The cameras at the bar where he said he was don't show him coming or

going. Your Honor, the law... is clear. They have to demonstrate a legitimate

tendency that Ryan Hooper committed the crime. Otherwise, they could present 100

people with the slightest motive. Counselor, she's right. All you've done

is raise a bear's suspicion.

Judge, this is getting to be absurd.

I mean, first you made us try this case with no prep, then you hamstrung us on

the expert, then you hammered us on the alibi. You hammered yourself. Shut up,

Noreen. Ms. Sullivan, when I was a public defender, I would flout the rules

like you do.

But I can't do that anymore. I have to protect the process. Even if it means

convicting an innocent man. You think he's innocent. They don't.

I've made my ruling.

I'm so stupid. I thought because I'm innocent, everything would be okay.

Who would believe that I actually killed my own mother?

My mother.

If I hadn't been an addict, I could have been there for that day. She'd still be

alive. Kyle, do not do that to yourself.

I'm gonna spend the rest of my life in prison, all right?

You're as broke as a baby, racking up credit card debt, and you're late with

the bills. You have got to stop this.

We're losing.

Shit, I'm sorry, honey.

Look, we drew a bad hand.

It's not your fault.

I just, I hate this feeling.

It feels like Floyd.

Baby.

That wasn't your fault either.

Bullshit. You gotta learn to embrace that C word, okay?

Compartmentalize.

We need a rabbit.

We sure do.

I

promise

I will bring it tomorrow.

The defense's motion to dismiss for facial insufficiency is denied.

Your Honor, to make out a claim of harassment, the prosecution has alleged

repeated instances of conduct.

They've only alleged one.

The motion is denied.

Your Honor, it is a 20-page motion. Perhaps you need a little more time to

read it. An adjournment. Counselor, I said denied.

Deferentially, Your Honor, and with all due respect. And not so deferentially.

It's either a disposition or a trial.

Oh, my God!

Does anyone care about the law around here?

Ms.

Hastings, you're right.

Sometimes it's easy for us to forget what our job is. And I want you to know

I do care about the law.

That's wonderful, Your Honor.

Now, if you don't step back, you'll be spending the night in jail.

That is why we don't bother with motions in AP5.

Hey.

Are you getting lunch, too?

What do you say I join you?

Huh?

I just could use a sounding board. Catching has been rough.

I mean, I know we don't always get along, but it's okay. I'm just looking

for a good seat.

Our case looks like a losing battle, which is unfortunate since our client is

innocent. You know he turned down a two-year plea bargain?

Yeah, and he had an alibi, but the judge excluded it. And then there's the

convicted criminal who went to see the victim the day before she was killed. He

lied about where he was at the time of the murder.

Oh, my God.

I know. I just... I know this guy did it.

This sounds really difficult for you.

This case comes down to whether or not you believe an innocent person would

confess to killing his own mother.

But you experienced that interrogation.

Remember how exhausted you were?

Hour after hour, continuously being worn down.

One of you even pulled the ripcord.

Now imagine yourself in that interrogation room with those

detectives. in your face for 19 hours, making you feel

that they will not let up until you confess.

Wouldn't you pull the ripcord too and try and fix it all later?

All the physical evidence is explained away by Mr. Jablonski finding the body.

There is no evidence proving motive.

There's only the confession.

If you don't trust it, if you have doubts about it, you must find Mr.

Jablonski not guilty.

Fingerprints on the knife.

Sneaker prints in blood.

A meth head who has stolen from his mother before.

No alibi.

And? The confession.

Now, was the interrogation long?

Yes.

Did they lie?

They're allowed to.

But he confessed.

To killing his mother.

I don't care how long you badger me, I'm not confessing to that.

When I watched that tape, I was tired.

If it were me, I'd probably be worried. But the one thing I wouldn't do is

confess.

And you have to ask yourselves whether you would either.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I understand you have a verdict.

Supreme Court, New York County.

In the case of the people versus Kyle Jablonski on the charge of murder in the

second degree, we the jury find the defendant not guilty.

Congratulations.

Thank you. But I do have one comment on your courtroom performance, though. Oh,

really? And how many years of trial experience do you have? Oh, wait. I'm

sorry. None.

But my comment is this. You are amazing.

Thank you.

Have dinner with me tonight.

That's something I want to ask you. 8 p.m. tomorrow.

Okay. Yeah.

I felt this way since we first met.

I can't stop thinking about you.

You're the only man who gives me butterflies, and I want to be with you.

And I hope you feel the same way.

Okay.

That's pretty good. I don't know. Maybe just, like, a little sexier, you know?

Like, we start like this.

Oh, please stop. I am not doing that, Tracy. Your boy is here. Now the party

can start.

Give me a head. Okay. Sure, help yourself, Tom.

Wait, what's going on?

It's that after work flow. You know, work hard, play harder, repeat.

Listen, it doesn't matter if you smoke, bike, get drunk, do yoga, meditate.

You got to do something to take the edge off of your big kitchen.

Quitting suddenly and joining an aspirin. Well, I already moved to

Vermont to do some woodworking.

No, Colorado.

A ski instructor.

Anyway, he was a good lawyer. I don't know.

I'm not really a smart person.

Pass the J.

Oh, come on, little rookie. You can't be that shocked by pot.

Okay, I covered a menacing harassment case today.

I did a motion.

I'm sorry, what? You did a motion? Uh-huh. An AP-5?

Can I tweet that, please?

Oh, my God.

Okay, okay, let's tweet it here. Just one hit.

What are you doing?

Yeah!

Why,

Your Honor, I do declare you are working too hard.

How'd you do in court today?

Very well.

Thanks for asking.

Don't kiss me.

Okay.

We don't have to kiss.

You sure made a miracle happen.

I can make a lot of miracles happen.

Shall I show you?

or the other. You think you can keep up?

No, I can do more than keep up.

Judge Dodson!

What's up?

No, I was, she was, uh, she called me and I was... Okay.

You look nice.

You look great.

So then he turns to me and he says, I'll take the plea if you feed my cat.

I was like, what?

And the question is, what did you do?

I fed his cat.

I chased that mean-ass cat around in my four-inch heels.

What's this?

Letting me get my hands dirty and help with your case.

Whoa, wait, whoa. This says first edition.

You know Zora Neale Hurston is my spirit animal, right? Your super soul melanin

queen is what I remember you calling her.

Their eyes were watching God.

And you're doing to who you are today.

Exactly.

Janie chose her own path regardless of what people thought.

She wasn't supposed to have big dreams as a black woman, but she did. She

didn't give a damn.

Like you don't.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

So you said you had something to tell me tonight?

I want to base my lead character on you.

You okay with that?

Well, it depends. What would this character be like?

Well, she'd be fearless, clever, rebellious, fueled by some inner outrage

like Janie.

There'd be nothing more important to her than doing right by her clients.

To find the most clever, unexpected angle to sway the jury. Like making them

watch 19 hours of interrogation video.

To be fearlessly independent.

Convinced that she doesn't need anyone. But the truth is, she desperately wants

to need someone.

Someone who knows her. Someone who knows that underneath that iron exterior is

the sensitive woman.

A woman who finally wants to let herself be vulnerable.

I mean, why does she have to be vulnerable?

Listen, I have something I want to tell you, too.

Hi, baby.

Hey.

My event finished early, and I remember you said you'd be here.

You must be Gwen. Finally, I get to put the face to the name.

Allison, this is Gwen. Gwen, this is Allison, my fiancée.

Next time on In Contempt. I think you're tampered with a jury. Until that gets

resolved, you're kryptonite.

Clearly I misread the situation. He's not into me at all. Here's a thought. Go

for him anyway.

It's wrong on so many levels, Trace. Oh, wait. You are not trying the stash and

cash, are you? It's what my client wants.

No, that's not a winnable case.

It's all about your client. He may look like a creep. He is a creep.

He's a subway rubber.

They're going to this restaurant tonight. I was thinking about showing

up. Is that stalkery? Hey, Bennett.

My word.