Original subtitles

You scared the hell out of me.

It's the witching hour, 12.

Let's get out of this disgusting slime pit full of all these moldy, aging,

rotten books.

What do you say we wrap it up, go back home and get thoroughly soused? All

right. You're acting like a couple of dumb 1Ls studying through the night.

Can you... Yeah, would you put those too?

Hallucination. What? The guy, the guy in the center.

It's William Patterson, Attorney General of the United States. He went to school

here.

Hi.

What's he doing here?

This late?

Can I help you, fellas?

Um... No, thanks.

Say, are we gonna let that guy intimidate us? I mean, this is our law

school.

Then go back there and follow him.

I'm intimidated.

What do you suppose the Attorney General is doing here?

Good evening, Bill. Welcome.

12 o'clock. Why do we always wind up working late?

It's one of the natural laws of our profession.

I'm sitting here at this ungodly hour. It's because I've been asked to file an

amicus curiae brief for the Second Circuit. And as usual, it's due in the

morning.

Sit, gentlemen. Sit.

Sorry, sorry. This is my legal aide, Greg Noyes. And Sam Royce, who provides

security.

Attorney General of the United States must always be secure.

I take it if you've interrupted your very busy schedule at such short notice,

it's because you have something important to discuss.

Am I being called upon once again to render legal services without a fee?

Reynolds. He is retiring from the Supreme Court. Why? He's only 75. He's

not well.

Charles, you know the process.

The president is considering several people.

But I think with a little pressure from me that the nomination could be yours.

Can I tell the president that you would be willing to have your name placed in

nomination for appointment to the Supreme Court?

There are my ties to the school.

There is the small matter of my prior experience, when, for reasons which you

know very well, I withdrew my name from nomination.

And there is my age.

Your age?

Oh, hell.

You live forever.

Not quite forever.

I assure you, Bill, I will give the matter serious consideration.

Zeiss, you finished the site check on the tort liability article. We'll hustle

it. Zeiss, we got a deadline on that. Hart, you finished proofing the

Zimmerman piece?

Yeah, it's right here.

Good boy.

Simon time.

Peters, I want you to research the corporate responsibility of directors.

See if there are enough new court decisions to warrant a full article.

Now, we're going to run a bibliography on Kingsfield.

It means researching everything he's written over the years, writing a

description of each piece.

including every brief he's filed.

We did one about ten years ago, but he's published a lot since then. I'll do it.

Hart, Golden's the president. He makes the decisions.

I'd like a crack at the piece.

None of the questions, Zeiss. Look, if it's about Kingsfield, I'd like... You

don't have that kind of experience. Take down, boys!

Hart, I am not sure you have the experience for a major bibliography of a

significant legal scholar's work.

And how do I get the experience unless I get a chance?

I'll think about it. Zeiss, trot over.

Let's go. Move.

Zeiss, trot over to the library and see if you could find the September 1965

issue of the Yale Law Review. I need it quick, Zeiss.

Hart, I said I'll think about letting you do the bib.

Don't bug me.

Okay, okay, Golden.

Um, Golden, listen, do you have any idea who was wandering around here at

midnight last night?

The Attorney General of the United States.

I'm not surprised. I was wondering when he was going to show up.

Wait a minute, you're not surprised?

Listen, Reynolds is retiring from the Supreme Court. The Attorney General was

Kingsfield's student. He worshipped him. And they've done a lot of stuff

together, will and decision.

They filed an amicus brief together in the Jensen case.

Look, Patterson is here to see whether Kingsfield would be willing to have his

name placed in the nomination for the court.

Obviously, the President isn't going to nominate Kingsfield if the next day

Kingsfield is going to get on the tube and decline the invitation.

Kingsfield on the Supreme Court.

golden how do you know this stuff i mean how do you know reynolds is retiring

from the court why do you think i am president of the review heart and you

are just another flunky around here now get moving find something useful to do

we have an issue to get out peters thank you

thanks

danny thanks you know what Kingfield on the Supreme Court.

You'd probably choose Golden to clerk for him.

It's one of the most prestigious jobs a law student can get after graduation.

It would automatically mean Golden would be considered one of the top lawyers in

this country. Yeah?

And think about what it would mean for you.

What?

Well, upon your graduation, you would probably be chosen as one of Justice

Kingfield's law clerks.

You got an A in his course. You're on a law review.

Think about that.

Hey, Hart.

When you're, um, climbing those big marble steps... and you're passing notes

to Justice Kingsfield... with the best lawyers in the country arguing the most

important cases... will you still find me erotically attractive?

in the Supreme Court building?

I wonder how Kingsfield would treat his clerks.

Do you think we'd just do research?

Or do you think he'd actually let us do part of the drafting of some of those

opinions?

I hate to snap you out of your dreams, Hart, but it's closing time.

Let's go back to my place. We want to keep talking.

We'll keep talking. We'll wake up your roommate.

We'll talk very quietly.

I don't think he likes me.

Yeah, but I'm crazy about you.

Good morning.

Morning.

I slept like a baby. Did you?

Although I don't think babies have dreams like the one I had last night.

I dreamt about that one L I have a date with tonight.

Sandra... What the hell was her last name?

Person Pissarini.

That's close enough.

Anybody who looks like that doesn't need a last name.

Listen, about tonight, I think we ought to work out a system.

So you don't come barging in at an inopportune moment.

Ah. Now, if everything is going well, and I fully anticipate that it will,

I will leave my tie on that doorknob out there.

Now, if you see that tie, that means that you are not under any circumstances

to enter.

Now, are you going to tell her that you're using the doorknob as a tie rack?

Trust me, James.

You went to public school.

This is an old prep school ploy.

Well, I certainly hope Connie doesn't plan

on singing all six of those Brandenburgs. There are others out here

who'd like to take a shower, too.

Horn.

I apologize.

While I have been making plans, you have been executing them.

Congratulations.

Maybe I should have gone to public school after all.

Charles Kingsfield being considered for the Supreme Court seat soon to be

vacated by Justice Miller P. Reynolds.

You know what, sir? I was going to tell you. Listen to this.

Inside sources indicate that Kingsfield is the personal choice of the Attorney

General of the United States.

Uh, Kingsfield declined comment.

Uh, born in... Whoa, James, look at this.

In contrast, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes was only 61 when appointed to the

course.

Morning, Ford.

Hiya.

Stuff about Kingsfield's in the newspapers.

What? He was nominated?

Did he accept?

No, no, just that he's a strong contender.

There's some stuff in here about a couple of other guys who are possible

nominees.

Oh, well, then he'll probably take himself out of the running.

It's just too much fun teaching 1L, right?

Hey, Kingsfield turns 80 next week. We ought to do something.

He just might take himself out of the running, beginning to serve as the

Justice of the Supreme Court at that age.

Oh, Justice Kingsfield.

Connie, am I to assume that you are going to be staying here now on a semi

-regular basis?

Shut up, Ford.

was only asking, because if that is to be the case, I think we should work out

some kind of system, don't you?

For instance, owners shower first, guests second.

Look, if I'm imposing... Oh, you are not imposing. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Oh, Ford, really?

Sorry.

Sorry I drank your coffee.

Sorry that I read your newspaper.

The only reason I let myself use that little piece of soap in there was

because it didn't have your name on it.

Gosh, guys, I'd love to stay for breakfast, but I've got class.

See you soon, Constance. Trust you find our accommodations more pleasant than

the dorms.

Dorms are just fine.

Take it to the dean. We'll take it to the dean.

Hey,

knock it off, you animal. That's law school property.

Knock it off.

Savages.

Oh, if I ever remembered when elves were this crazy, I never would have taken

this job as dorm advisor.

Val, from my own recent experience, I can tell you that two elves aren't any

better.

I see that, as usual, nothing remains secret in Washington for long.

But, as usual, the reporters are playing catch-up.

Still a step behind.

The president has narrowed his choices down to three, who are...

Judge Wiley and Stephen Tillingham.

And you.

Wiley's a good man. He's not a genius, but he's adequate.

Tillingham has personally raised $5 million for the president's campaign.

A man of considerable initiative.

But is he a great lawyer?

For God's sakes. It's time we left politics completely out of court

selection.

Charles, what I would like to see is a return to the days of Holmes, when the

great justices were scholars.

I remember on the law review, you suggested that I read the Holmes Pollock

letters. You've always had a fondness for reminiscing, haven't you, Bill?

Charles.

Charles, I need a decision from you.

If the president nominates you, will you accept?

I have my forces all lined up.

Ash Heim and his boys at the Bar Association are ready to apply the

pressure.

My Washington friends are ready to lobby the hell out of it, but nothing can go

on till you make up your mind.

Are you in the running?

Here you are, Bill, wanting to go back to the days when politics played no part

in the Supreme Court.

At the same time, you're mobilizing all the political power you can muster.

The media seem to be having a lot of fun with my age.

I'm known as the octogenarian.

You'd think they'd have the decency to wait until my birthday next Wednesday.

Until then, I should be known as the septuagenarian.

Oh, hell, Holmes served on the court till he was 90.

Charles, do you need more time to make up your mind?

Maybe I can hold everything up for a week or two.

No, I've come to a decision.

My ties to the school are enormously important to me.

I enjoy working behind the scenes and changing the law.

But you may inform the president that if I were to be nominated and confirmed,

I would serve on the court.

You do this, Hart.

Do what?

Stick a ballpoint pen in my cola.

No way.

Jokers.

Weirdos.

Sometimes I wonder how any of them made law review.

Chris.

Sir, do I get to do the bibliography of Kingsfield's work?

Look, now with Kingsfield and all the Supreme Court stuff, every clown here

wants to do the bib.

What if you blow it?

Kingsfield doesn't like mistakes, and neither do I.

You might make a mistake. Look, bottom line, how much experience do you have? I

am not going to make a mistake.

You swear?

You swear on the corpus juris secundum that you did not stick that pen in my

column? Yes, I so do solemnly swear.

All right, Hart.

Get started on it.

When you got a draft, hand it in to Kingsfield's office for his preliminary

review. Do it fast. There's obviously a lot of time pressure on this.

Hart.

Look, Kingsfield has told the Attorney General he'll accept the nomination.

He's put himself on the line. He's in the race.

What do you know these days?

I have my sources.

Now we have to do something for his birthday.

Art, I've known Kingsfield for three years.

He would not allow it.

It's not his style.

Forget it. Get to work on the bibliography.

I know someone who's known Kingsfield a lot longer than that.

Mrs. Nottingham.

Yes?

Perhaps you are aware, next Wednesday is Professor Kingsfield's birthday.

I've been wondering if it might not be appropriate to hold some sort of

celebration.

Good afternoon.

No, I'm sorry. Professor Kingsfield is not available for any interviews.

No, he has...

No comment on any comments.

No comment.

No comment.

Now, what was it?

I thought it might be appropriate to organize some sort of function to honor

Professor Kingsfield on his 80th birthday.

Mr. Hart, it would not be appropriate.

But it's his 80th birthday.

And 10 years ago, it was his 70th birthday.

And 20 years ago, it was his 60th birthday. And so on and so forth, Mr.

Hart. And there were no celebrations because Professor Kingsfield does not

like them. Now, do you understand?

But this time, isn't it special?

No, Mr. Hart, no. No parties. Now, do I make myself clear?

Yes?

Oh.

Yes, Senator.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Uh, Professor Kingsfield is not in his office.

I'm sure he'll be delighted to know you're doing everything in your power.

Yes, I'll tell him.

Thank you.

Good day, Mr. Hart.

Mr. Simps.

Justice Kramer's opinion... in Halloway v.

Lord has been criticized as omitting to deal with the statute of frauds.

Was the justice correct or his critics?

Sir, we've read in the newspapers... I am astounded that you have time to read

the newspapers.

I suppose I have not been assigning enough work.

Miss Lehman, perhaps you would be so kind as to help Mr. Simms.

Sir, I think that the whole class has something that they'd like to say We

hope you're nominated We hope you are confirmed Sit down

This is a classroom not a stadium

Repeat your moronic attempt to turn it into one

Mr. Simms

We were discussing the issue of the statute of frauds and whether it was

applied correctly by Justice Kramer.

Was it?

Sir, this was an Oklahoma case, and that state has enacted a slightly different

version of the statute of frauds, one which...

Hell, it's only 3 o'clock in the morning.

When I worked here, you weren't allowed to punch out till the sun came up.

You getting soft?

Can I help you, sir?

Looks like you're the one who needs the help.

What are you working on?

Oh, there's a bibliography on Kingsfield.

Well, they keep you going for a few years.

He has probably published.

More important articles, books, and briefs than anyone else in the history

of the country.

That includes everybody.

From John Jay to Brandeis.

When's it due?

I turn in a preliminary report tomorrow.

Good luck.

You're not only dealing with Kingsfield, you're dealing with his own work.

I hope you've done a decent job.

Well, you must have.

Because obviously you're aware that your neck is on the line.

Um... Do you want something, sir?

I mean, from the law review?

What's your name?

Hart. James Hart. James Hart.

This is a picture of the 1956 law review, and this young man looking like

a jerk.

The one with the idiot smile is me.

This is where I learned a lot of my law, Hart, and the place means something to

me. I like to see how it's being kept up.

And I see that you guys are about as big a bunch of slobs as we were 20 years

ago.

What is new on the review, Hart?

Besides your bibliography of Kingsfield.

Um...

Well, I guess everyone is speculating on whether or not the president is going to

appoint Professor Kingsfield to the Supreme Court.

Keep your mouth shut on this, but there's a good chance.

I sure as hell intend to push for it.

Maybe his age is against him.

Hard.

I hope those morons back in D.C.

have enough sense to realize that four or five years of Kingsfield in the high

court is worth another guy's 50 years.

Sir.

We're both members of the Law Review, aren't we?

Yes, sir.

And presumably you've got the brains to know the name of the Attorney General of

the United States, so use it.

Don't... Don't call me sir.

Mr. Patterson.

Professor Kingfield's 80th birthday is Wednesday.

And some of us thought it might be nice to...

hold some sort of celebration in his honor, especially now that he's being

considered for the Supreme Court.

We tried to give Kingsfield a birthday party.

We tried twice.

I spoke to him myself.

Screwed up the guts. I was his research assistant at the time.

He almost blew me out of his office.

Good luck.

Charles Kingsfield is all work and no play.

The school should do something.

The school is going to do nothing, Hart.

Hart, who do you think runs this eminent institution, this great law school?

The dean?

Charles W.

Kingsfield runs the school.

Sir, the car's waiting.

Good. I'm going to get some sleep.

Well, Hart, good luck in the bibliography of Kingsfield. I hope he's

satisfied. If he's ever satisfied.

And on your other plans, sometimes you just go with what you feel in your guts.

It's what you learn from politics.

Keep moving it down.

All right, go.

Oh, sometimes these dorms drive me out of my mind.

How can I study here?

You think that's funny?

You can always go back to my house. No, I think I should give Ford time to miss

me.

Besides, we don't tend to get too much studying done there.

I've got a feeling Kingsfield's gonna call on me tomorrow.

I turned in my bibliography of Kingsfield's work. Oh, did you?

Yeah, we meet on it tomorrow.

Good.

I knew Kingsfield was brilliant.

But until I got this chance to really look at his work, all of it, I never

realized what a contribution Kingsfield's made to American law.

And over such a long period.

Did you know that Roosevelt was going to appoint him attorney general?

You're kidding. Kingsfield was young then, but then Roosevelt made young

appointments. I think Justice Douglas was only 41.

But Kingsfield opposed Roosevelt's Supreme Court backing plan.

You know about that?

Ah, vaguely.

The court had ruled against Roosevelt's economic recovery programs, held most of

the New Deal to be unconstitutional.

So Roosevelt decided to change the court.

You know, you idolize Kingsfield.

It's too bad you can't find anybody to go along and celebrate his birthday with

you. But what 1L or 2L in the world is going to go along and support an idea

that Kingsfield has vetoed?

Chickens. Yeah!

We're all too scared of him.

You know, you're going to be meeting with Kingsfield personally.

Why not just do this simple human thing and ask him to have dinner with you?

Well, think about it.

It's a natural thing to do.

Especially since you're working on his bibliography.

Take him to dinner.

After a couple glasses of wine, you can wish him happy birthday.

And then you can let him know that the rest of us hope he gets appointed to the

Supreme Court.

I think you should do it.

I'll do it.

There's a weird sense of humor. He's teasing you. He really likes you.

Let's get out of here. Why?

Let's go to the library.

Oh, but I think we'd better go.

Do it.

Whatever it is, I don't think they want an audience.

Come on. People pay a lot of money to see stuff like this.

Binsky, yeah, how do you do? I'm James Hart. How do you do James?

Yes. Well now that we all know each other so well, why don't you just just

Ford's been very generous with the brandy Coffee could someone make me some

coffee?

Sorry about last night.

We really did try to leave, but Sandra invited us in. What else could she do?

You were standing out there spying on us.

We weren't spying on you. Come on, Hart.

We had an agreement.

Contract. Remember those?

I really think you're overreacting.

I am not overreacting. How would you feel if I barged in on you and Connie

singing arias in the shower?

Ford.

Would you like some breakfast?

I think you'd feel better if you ate a little something. What would you like?

Cereal. Good. What kind? Bran or wheat smacks?

Bran.

We're all out.

What do you mean, we're all out? I just got a whole box last week. Did you eat a

whole box? Did Connie?

These are fine.

I hate wheat smacks!

You are acting like a maniac.

Well, you'd act like a maniac, too, if you had some dumb roommate who can't

even follow simple instructions.

That does it.

I'm getting out of here. I've got a meeting with... Kingfield, and I have

got a lot on my mind.

Oh, yeah, you've got a lot on your mind. I suppose there's nothing on mine. I'm

just trying to keep order here around this slum apartment.

But oh, no, no, no cooperation.

There's no food. There's nothing. I guess we could send Connie out for a

little food, but then she'd probably just bring back wheat smacks.

Ford!

Your tie froze.

What's happening, noise?

I told you to work on Senator Smith, for Christ's sakes. He's close to the

president. He's on the Judiciary Committee beside.

Listen, Hoyas, this is no time to rest in the laurels. All the potential

nominees are being pushed like Kingsfield.

Nothing is locked up. So get your staff on the phones.

Recheck the bar associations.

Are they writing?

Telephoning? Is the depth of the feelings coming across?

Oh, hell, in this game, you never know what's going to happen. What's really on

the president's mind? There could be a dark horse out in left field.

That's why you check your men once, twice, three times.

What did Kennedy said? Damn, he said you start running and you run until you

drop. I want that nomination for Kingsfield.

Noyce, what the hell do you mean the guy feels he has to support Tillingham? Just

because he comes from the same state?

Noyce, that is the oldest con game in the world.

Find out what he owes Tillingham.

Find out what he owes us.

And then put the pressure on him. Make the bastard sweat.

Professor Kingsfield's in his office.

He's expecting you.

Sit down. Good morning, sir.

I've read the first draft of the bibliography you're preparing on my

work. What is a bibliography, Mr. Hart?

It's a tool.

It is an instrument for scholarly research.

Therefore, merely to list the books, articles, briefs that I've published

is simply to duplicate material already in the library.

True. You have described my publications, but without a central

theme and without a core.

You have described, but you have not probed with your mind.

How has my thinking progressed over the years?

Do my views of the concept of restitution remain the same between 1930

and 1980?

A bibliography is the chart of a man's thinking.

a chart of his mind, not a mere catalogue.

I find your work totally unacceptable.

Moreover, I am seriously considering asking the president of the Law Review

to assign another student to the task. Professor.

However, the Law Review does have a double purpose.

It publishes articles which are of enormous interest to members of the

legal community.

It also supplies a crucible in which students may learn and refine their

skills.

In view of this double purpose, and since your skills are in such desperate

need of refining, I've decided to let you continue.

Thank you, sir. But never again give me such slovenly and ill-prepared work.

Is that clear?

Yes.

Mr. Hart, was there something more?

No, nothing more.

Go to work, Mr. Hart.

I just failed him.

I mean... No, the whole thing was a flop.

Everybody blows it sometimes.

So you blew it.

So he let you have it.

At least he's giving you a second chance.

You're a big boy now. You're going to be a lawyer soon.

It's about time you start taking responsibility for yourself.

I know, but maybe that's what Kingsfield was trying to teach you.

Aside from the fact that you should do a better job next time.

You ask him about dinner?

No.

Why not?

I didn't think it was the right time.

Why?

Because he criticized you?

What does that have to do with dinner?

You still could have asked him to dinner.

I couldn't. I froze.

You know something, Hart?

I think there's still a little bit of the one L left in you.

I do.

Being scared, freezing, not being able to answer when Kingsfield calls on you.

Yeah, but you know something?

What?

I like that.

I do.

I do. It proves that law school hasn't turned you into a robot.

Good evening. This is Susan Friedman. What's going on?

The White House is making an announcement about Reynolds' replacement

on the Supreme Court.

Rumors have been circulating in Washington all week, but our sources

inform us that the president has reached a decision on the person he'll name to

the Supreme Court to succeed Justice Reynolds, the justice who last week said

he'd be stepping down from that court.

That announcement can be expected at any moment.

Frankly, we don't understand why the announcement hasn't already been made,

but apparently there have been some last-minute discussions between the

Attorney General and the President's advisors.

Come on, Kingsfield.

I really hope he gets it. What, so he won't be around to flunk it?

He deserves it. There's no one better.

Professor.

I said I didn't want to be disturbed.

The Attorney General is on the telephone. I thought you might make an

exception. All right, Nottingham.

Yes, Bill.

We can only guess at what's holding up this announcement, and our guess is that

it is a result of informing the nominee and all others who've been under

consideration.

The last time one can recall such controversy and suspense surrounding an

appointment to the Supreme Court is that of John Marshall, the justice appointed

by President John Adams in 1801.

Of course, it was Marshall's tenure on the Supreme Court that began one of the

most epic periods in Supreme Court history.

I'd miss the old bastard. I hate to admit it, but I'd miss him.

School wouldn't be the same without him.

Kingsfield. Kingsfield.

Kingsfield. Kingsfield.

official, the President has nominated George David, his personal counsel to

the Supreme Court.

This comes as a very big surprise.

Mr. David was not even mentioned as one of the possibilities, but approves

another of those truths about Washington.

First, that the unexpected nearly always happens, and perhaps most importantly,

those closest to the President are always in the running.

Mr. David has been the President's personal counsel for over 40 years.

resident of Chicago, and a member of the prestigious law firm of Taylor,

Greenbaum, and David.

On Wall Street today, stocks began moving higher from the outset and gained

21 points.

Sorry for you.

What a bitch.

Can't they ever do anything right in Washington?

I wonder how Kingsfield feels.

If he feels. He feels. Don't worry about it.

Sir, I'm sorry.

Not again.

May I ask what you are doing at four in the morning?

Thought we weren't talking.

Just a point of information.

Making a cake.

Oh, I see. You had a sudden impulse.

You just had to have cake at four in the morning. What is tomorrow?

Tomorrow is Wednesday, Kingsfield's birthday.

I'm going to make him a damned cake.

And I'm going to take it into his classroom and I'm going to sing...

Happy birthday and probably get a cake thrown back in your face Probably but I

feel like doing it And the Attorney General of these United States Said to

me sometimes you've got to do what your gut tells you to do Well, that's a very

valuable piece of advice However, neither you nor I nor I dare say the

Attorney General Has the faintest idea how to make a cake you want to learn?

to get on the court just as much as anybody.

You know, he's probably gonna kill us for this.

Beat. Six eggs.

Six?

Good

morning,

Professor. Good morning, Nottingham.

Professor.

Happy birthday.

The question, Mr. Sims, is whether Lord Mansfield intended to adopt the

doctrine of moral consideration.

Sir, are you referring to Hawkes v. Saunders, that English case from, I

think, 1782?

Of course, I'm referring to Hawks versus Saunders.

Mr. Simms, we don't have all day. We have other cases to discuss, other

issues to probe.

Time, as usual, runs on, and I wish to finish this issue now.

Miss Lehman, how do you interpret Lord Mansfield's opinion?

Miss Lehman, in this classroom one faces the front, one's

ears are pointed in this direction, one's brains, to the extent that they

exist, are concentrated totally.

totally upon the discussion at hand, do I make myself clear?

Yes.

Come on.

I'm waiting,

Ms. Fleetman.

I'm afraid I missed the question.

I'm sorry.

Being sorry is not good enough, Miss Lehman. One does not explain mistakes to

one's clients by saying, so sorry.

We're discussing moral consideration.

Lord Mansfield, the case of...

I

know this is out of the ordinary, Professor Kingsfield.

I realize you don't like your class to be disturbed, but we all know that

this is your 80th birthday, and you can tell me to take this cake right out that

door, and I'll do it.

First, I'd just like to say something.

You've taught thousands of students, and every one of them

has been frightened by you.

Their minds...

twisted and tortured, and finally trained.

Lawyers all over the country, all the way up to the Attorney General, have

been molded by you.

You've been their greatest influence.

It is significant that this is your 80th birthday.

Perhaps you do not want to mark the occasion, but we must.

We need the opportunity to tell you we are grateful for the honor of being your

students and learning from you.

You mean a lot to us.

Happy birthday.

Mr. Hart.

You have introduced a fire hazard into my classroom.

Despite this unfortunate interruption, five minutes of class time remain.

Miss Lehman?

Please continue Lord Mansfield's opinion.

In Hawkes versus Saunders, Lord Mansfield said, and I quote,

that the honesty and the rectitude of the situation is the consideration.

Mr. Hart?

Not only have you deposited a fire hazard in my classroom, you've also

deposited a health hazard.

Obviously, we're going to have to get rid of this huge cake.

Otherwise, it will attract vermin.

You may stay, and you may help us all dispose of it after class.

Sleeman, can you?

I believe that Hawkes versus Saunders is a ratification of the principle of moral

consideration. The words speak for themselves.

The problem is that later decisions written by other judges seem to back

away from the concept that Lord Mansfield was trying to establish.

Perhaps they were scared that taking the decision too far would lead inevitably

to a flood of lawsuits based on moral promises.

And in most situations, the problem of what is moral...

It's a difficult one to resolve.