Original subtitles

Thank you.

We've got to study.

One sec. I want to see this.

Here he is. God, he's even better looking on television.

God damn it. Will you turn that TV off? We're wasting time.

Hang in there, Levitz. It'll just be a couple more minutes. A couple more

minutes could be the difference in assimilating a concept.

I never knew he was that good looking. He sits behind me in contracts.

What's it like going out with a celebrity?

I don't think of him as a celebrity, just a real good friend.

Your good friend happens to be the best running back in the history of the game.

You should have seen him in the Super Bowl. He was amazing.

Tony, two more minutes of this and I'm splitting. I'm not going to fail

Kingsville's test because of this garbage.

Well, screw him. Let's get started.

Well, you're one of the older students. You feel a bit out of place?

Well, the priority in law school is to get through, and that's where all of my

attention is directed.

I guess you can sum it up like this.

There's some facts in my life I have to deal with. I'm getting older.

We're all getting older.

I think we can direct our attention away from the television set and on our

futures for a while. What do we have to cover? Are we going to be ready for

this? We've already made extensive notes on information of contact. Let's begin

with that. I don't think that's a very interesting or dynamic area, Levitz. I

don't think it even merits Kingsfield testing us on it. It was interesting

enough for Kingsfield to spend three and a half days on it. Everything.

We have to cover everything.

Kingsfield will leave no stone unturned.

Would you please give us the case of Huckton?

versus Bolton Brothers, Mr.

Pierce.

Huckton versus Bolton Brothers involved a mail order house which stated in its

catalog that all products are guaranteed 100%. Mrs. Huckton

ordered a child's flannel nightgown from Bolton Brothers.

The nightgown, as it happened, caused her child to break out in huge red

pustules. And how do you consider that relevant, Mr. Pierce?

Well, apparently the nightgown had been treated to make it non-flammable.

At the time, it was a federal requirement.

The child was allergic to the chemicals.

Mrs. Hutton attempted to return the flannel nightgown to get a refund.

She also sued for medical expenses in treating the skin disease.

And was the court's opinion correct in your opinion?

Mr. Pierce?

Um, no, I don't think so.

I don't think that all items that are guaranteed 100% means that every item

has to be 100% perfect.

I think it means that the customer has to be 100% satisfied.

And Mrs. Huckton was not satisfied.

Well, Mr. Pierce, there are at least two reasons why Mrs. Huckton would not

recover her medical expenses.

In a suit for breach of contract, first, the guarantee limits her recovery to the

price of the product.

Secondly... The company has been required by federal law to use the

noxious chemical.

The fault, therefore, if any, lies with the government.

In any event, liability based on negligence lies in the field of tort

law. Here we study contracts, Mr. Pierce.

Sir, you didn't say anything about the exam.

I had nothing to say.

Will the exam cover promises implied? No.

No, it won't be covered? No advice, no hints, no help.

How you doing?

Sims, I'm Richard Sims. I'm in your contracts class.

Oh, right. How are you?

Not a good day, huh?

Mind if I sit down?

No, go ahead.

He was pretty hard on you today, wasn't he?

It wasn't fun.

Maybe Kingsfield's hard on you because everybody knows you. You're a celebrity.

Not in contracts, I'm not.

Just couldn't think very well on my feet today.

You're a man who's famous for thinking on his feet.

You must be used to incredible pressure.

It's a different kind of pressure.

I'm on the football field. There's noise, action.

You know, thousands of people in the stands, coaches yelling on the sideline.

And with all this action going on, it was still clear to me where I had to go.

The end zone was straight ahead.

Kingsville's class was quiet.

Everybody's waiting for your thoughts.

Well, what counts as a test?

You got to take on that test the way you took on Dallas.

Dallas was a breeze compared to Kingsville.

Hey, listen, Billy, we started a scuddy group in the dorms, you know, to go over

the material, prepare for the test.

Do you want to join?

I don't know whether I could contribute.

Well, we figure out each guy's strong area, and then that person's responsible

for researching that material.

I don't know if I have a strong area.

You've got to find out.

If I may say so, sir, I think you've outdone yourself this time.

Thank you, Nottingham.

I don't see how any student...

could complete this exam in the three hours they've been given, much less

pass. The truth is that law students are becoming ever more intelligent and more

subtle.

Some will pass, and a few will even do well.

Some will fail, Professor.

It's a very hard examination.

Please duplicate it, and as usual...

File the original and four copies for future reference.

Yes, sir. Thank you.

Now, what if I write a contract saying I promise to give you $100 and you give me

$10? Now, is that enforceable? Sure. No way, Billy. Remember the money

exception? A contract exchanging money with nothing more is held to be a gift,

not an enforceable business contract.

Okay, now what if the contract reads that you are to give me $10 today and in

exchange I'm to give you $20 in a year? Now, is that a valid contract?

I guess it's the same thing.

An exchange of money, therefore, not a contract.

Look, Billy, the cases are totally different.

Here, one party is getting paid right away. The other party is getting paid in

a year. So it's not an exchange dollar for dollar. It's also an exchange

involving when people get paid.

See, $10 right now may mean more to you than having to pay back

$20 in a year.

It's like an ordinary loan, not a gift.

I'm sorry. I'm just confused.

Look, Kingsville wrote a good article on this aspect of consideration.

It's called Nuance in Contract.

It'll help you out. I hope something does.

Look, let's go on to promissory estoppel. We're wasting time with

consideration. We keep jumping from topic to topic. If we don't get

organized around here, we're all gonna flunk this test.

If you'd all just listen to me. If we study restatement of contract, section

90, we'll do fine.

What about enforcement?

Specific performance?

No wonder you got a D in first term, Sims.

Thanks, Laura.

Billy, you can't rush yourself. You gotta think these things through.

I feel like I'm just hanging by a thread.

I know I'm holding everyone back.

Maybe we can study together, just the two of us. If I could be of any help,

maybe the three of us should study together.

Why do you want to help me?

I don't know. Maybe because you were my idol.

Hiya, Laura.

Getting a group of people together in a room to study for a King's Field test

and expecting them to be civilized is asking the impossible.

I'm just gonna have to gut it out myself.

I can do it if my body holds up. Laura, don't put yourself through this. Make it

easy on yourself.

Let me help you.

Yeah, who's gonna help you?

Hey, I'm a 2L.

I can help you if you let me.

But there's so much to study. There's so many things to cover. Laura, let me help

you focus in on the important area.

I'm stuck.

I'm stuck. I'm stuck with you.

Yeah, well, look at the converse. I'm stuck with you.

Actually, the advantage is yours, Berger. I have a 3.8 average and a

scholarship on the line. Oh, yeah? Well, I got a 3.89 and a summer clerkship

waiting for me.

Well, I...

Well, if you want to join me, I'm delving into specific performance.

Smuck!

Kingsfield's gonna lean more heavily on reliance. Every 1L in Kingsfield's class

is like a savage beast.

All they care about is passing that exam.

I'd never see him so mean. Oh, then you don't remember us very well, Val. Hey, I

was never like that. You were the worst.

It's gotten so bad, I've had to personally take over to make sure Laura

studies the right way.

Personally take over?

Willis, what are you doing?

She decided she didn't want you as a lover, so now you're going to try the we

can just be friends routine?

And if she gets in a jam, she'll lean on your shoulder, and who knows what might

happen. Ford, how can you take an honest effort and turn it into something so

calculated and debased?

I just have a friend's interest at heart. I want to see her at the top of

her class.

I want to see her in my arms.

Sunshine days in midterms? No, it's not fair.

I'd love to just... Stay out here.

But we're headed towards some dark old building where we're going to study

until we're bleary-eyed and have no sense of time.

We don't know whether it's day or night. Well, even after we finish the midterm,

we have to gear up for the final. It just keeps going on.

You know, maybe that's what law school is all about.

Maybe they do that on purpose to get us ready for case after case after case.

I don't know about the case, but this test has gotten to me.

I'm scared, Vivian.

I've never failed at anything before.

You'll do just fine, Billy.

I've got to.

You missed the point.

Lehigh Valley is the case to concentrate on.

Kingsfield argued it. He's got it in his case book, and he wrote an article on

it. He's got to stress it on the test.

Two years ago, he had two questions on it. Last year, one question. Which means

he won't be asking a question about it this year. He knows we'll be expecting

it. Hey, a lot of luck, Levitz. A lot of luck. Thanks.

I saw that burger.

So you got eyes.

How many times do I got to tell you? Obey the rules or else. If you don't

want to obey rules, why go to law school?

Why become a lawyer?

For the money.

Animals, nuts, crazy, insulting, arrogant, paranoid.

Law students, Bill, and worried about their grades, their future, and

Kingsfield.

Well, at least you're going to be adequately prepared for this exam. I got

some good horn books.

Oh, God.

Bell, I know you've been through this before, but Kingsfield said law students

shouldn't use crib notes.

He says it's best just to concentrate on the stuff that we've talked about in

class.

Laura, think for a moment.

Of course Kingsfield doesn't want any law student to take a shortcut, but then

he isn't the one who's doing the studying.

Bell, I'd rather do as Kingsfield suggested.

My office has been bombarded with inquiries concerning Friday's

examination.

There seems to be considerable interest on what materials will be covered, and

for that reason I've decided to deal with all these questions here, now, and

finally. Friday's midterm exam will consist of completely new questions.

None of the material on it, none of the questions, will reflect any of the past

tests given in this course.

Therefore, poring over the last year's exams, trying to divine what questions I

might ask, is completely useless.

There's only one way to pass this examination.

That way can be summarized in one single word.

Study!

Hey!

You've got Camper's book and bilateral promises.

Look, you're not reading it. I need it. Wait your turn.

Look, I've got Kingfield's exam. Will you leave me alone, please? Everybody's

got Kingfield's exam.

Jerk has Camper's book and you won't turn it over.

What's the matter with you? You can't do anything on your own? Do I have to do

everything for you? Watch how it's done, wimp brains.

Hi, Clements. How you doing?

Fine.

Why?

Hey, thanks.

Watch my stuff, would you?

Now,

you

must handle the professor's papers with the utmost care.

Mrs. Nottingham, I will treat every scrap of paper as if it were the Magna

Carta. I don't understand why the professor allowed you to be here

unsupervised. It was arranged through my commercial transactions, Professor.

You must make sure everything is locked up, the lights turned off. Mrs.

Nottingham, I will check everything twice, three times.

Well, good night, Mr. Bell.

Be sure not to touch anything in the professor's office.

Oh, and...

Please, please be careful. You are responsible if anything is disturbed.

And you won't need these lights.

Yes, ma'am.

McBride v.

Larkins is a definitive case for a specific performance where the court

refused to enforce the contract dealing with the sale of not... Vivian, Vivian,

let's take a break.

Sims will be here soon anyway.

Okay, well, when he gets here, we'll go on to damages. Gosh, there's several

cases we need to take a good look at here.

There's the one on... Vivian, let's slow down a little bit.

I'm exhausted.

Oh, gosh, I'm sorry. It's hard to stop.

I hate these midterms. It feels that... All the time spent not drilling the

material in your head is wasted time.

Yeah, but are we ever going to relax?

Oh, I hope so.

Do you miss playing?

Yeah, sometimes.

There's a certain thrill you get when you're running across a field.

Studying in a library doesn't quite give you the same rush.

I have a hypo for you. Shoot.

If it was possible for you to play football all the time, all your life, if

you could stay physically prime, okay, would you be here toughing it out at law

school?

Can't answer that.

Why not?

I just don't know.

What I do know is this. In football, when you turn 30 and you hear footsteps,

it's not another tackler.

It's time.

Time to...

Get out.

Gosh, most people are beginning to enjoy their success at your age. I mean, it's

weird, that young to face retiring.

I was bitter.

And I was wrong.

I felt the team wanted to toss me out.

There was no team loyalty.

You know the old story.

You slow down, they say goodbye.

Well, what about now?

Now? Yeah.

I just accept it.

It's not a matter of loyalty or anything like that.

I had to realize that I only had so many good years.

You know what I think about now?

What's that?

When I think about them, those good years, I remember just how great they

really were.

Then why did you decide to go to law school?

Why did you decide to go to law school?

Oh, I was fascinated with law. It just seemed to be the backbone of it all.

Besides the fact I was no good at science, so med school was out.

Viv, what makes you think that my answer would be any different than the

answer you just gave?

I don't know.

Looks like we have to get down to it now.

Hi.

Hi, sorry I'm late. Had to pry the Anderson text away from some asshole in

the library.

Uh, Sims, Billy and I went over the areas we need to cover. Hey, Billy,

where are your trophies?

In my mom's basement.

Oh, too bad.

Uh, Billy's gonna cover Reliance, I'll go over Considerations, and we figured

you'd do Damages. That's fine, except I already did a lot of work on Reliance.

Great, I'll switch then. That just means we'll get a head start.

Whoa, you've done some research.

Great, I really need the help.

Hey, we all need the help.

Lag in the case is crucial to understanding reciprocal agreements.

Yeah, but Bill said... Levitz, what are you doing?

Me? Yeah, you nitwit. Help the other students.

Look, Kingsfield's test is graded on a curve. The idea is to do better than

that. If you've got to give somebody information, at least give them the

wrong information.

I'll see you at the final review session about April. Quiet!

No distractions.

Will you please shut up? You may not care about this exam, but we do, so

please shut up.

It's only an exam.

Yeah, right.

Sure. Sorry.

It's just my life.

Only my future hinges on it. Who cares, huh?

Billy, to study alone, why don't you review with Sims?

What's wrong?

Sims? Yeah.

Well, I guess I don't like him. But that's not it. I need to be one-on-one

with the material.

One-on-one?

Yeah.

Okay, Billy, you should study with Sims.

Oh, I'll do it.

But I won't like it.

Well, you'll make Sims Day.

He'll have you all to himself.

I've had it with you inconsiderate bastards.

I don't understand how you can have a discussion in the middle of the library

when you know we have a midterm coming up.

Everybody's screaming.

How can I get any studying done when everybody's screaming?

Feinstock versus Shannon.

Reliance induced by fraud is not valid.

Connors versus Dennis.

The statute of frauds is not applicable in Louisiana, Bell. I'm wrecked. Very

good. Bell, I'm exhausted.

Have a cup of coffee. A cup of coffee?

I've already had five.

I'm shaking from all the caffeine.

I'm gonna start hallucinating if I don't get some sleep soon.

You think Sims and Billy and Vivian are sleeping? You think Berger and Levitz

are taking five?

This is the big time. You're up against everybody else.

Now, some people are going to pass this exam and some people are going to fail.

Some people are going to make law review and some people are going to go waltzing

right out of this law school. Now, which direction do you want to go?

Let's go.

I'm going to make it to the top.

I'm going to be a great attorney, a Supreme Court justice.

Oh, God, just let me make it through this test. That's the spirit.

Shamrock versus Fairfax.

Restatement of contracts is advisory only.

It has no legal effect.

Kingsville spent the entire week on specific performance.

I keep asking myself, why?

Why should he?

You want to know why? To throw the class off.

Billy, it's like strategy in a football game. You think you know what your

opponent's going to do, and then, boom, he fakes and runs the other way. Yeah,

but sometimes the best fake is to run it right up the middle and to do the

obvious. Hey, do it my way. I know I'm right.

What's the matter? Are you nervous?

Yeah, I'm nervous.

How did you handle it before a game?

Are you one of those guys who tears apart a vending machine and bangs his

head against the wall?

No, that's not even close to my style.

What I used to do is I'd go in the locker room and take a little nap.

Wake up, think about the game, what I had to do.

Get calm so I could execute well.

Guess there's not much difference now.

There's pressure.

Playoffs and Super Bowls.

You know, just like in school, midterms and finals.

Well, I guess law school teaches you the same thing that football does.

That the opponent is not the other guy.

It's yourself.

And that's what I'm afraid of.

I'm letting myself down.

Billy, you're a champion.

To me, that means you have the strength to do anything you want.

I think you're lucky. You know what it is to stand out. Only a few guys ever

get there.

The rest, they'll end up drudges who slave away in the trenches.

I guess that's what I'm afraid of. Never getting a shot at the great jobs, the

great clerkships.

Don't worry, Sims.

We'll both make it.

Take it from me, then. The theory of reliance, how it permeates contract law.

That's the way to go. Okay, Sims.

Reliance it is.

And I think we should review Larkin v.

Pipps on reliance. Civ brain! We went through that area yesterday.

What's the matter with you, Levitz? Are you having trouble retaining the

material? That is just like you, Berger. You egotistical son of a bitch. You

review material more than once, and why can't I?

I didn't realize, Levitz, you have a learning disability, and I wish you

would have told me before we became study partners.

I won't even pass the exam. I won't listen to this. Maybe I won't have

anyone to study with, but I can't take it anymore.

You're insulting.

You're an asshole. Study by yourself.

Hold it, Levitz. If you split now, we're both committing suicide.

We're stuck with each other. Even if I flunk, even if I lose my scholarship,

just thinking that you will flunk too is reward enough.

Lice versus Tittle.

The Uniform Commercial Code is constitutional.

Picket versus bounce.

Farm products that are regulated by the Department of Agriculture are not

subject to state contractual regulations bypassing the Commerce Code.

Thanks, Bill.

From now on, I've got to do it myself.

Okay.

Stay cool.

I hope you'll find taking this test as exhilarating an experience as

I had in preparing it for you.

I trust that for those who have studied, it'll prove a worthy battlefield

on which you can show your mettle.

For those who have not studied, I assure you, This examination will expose

your weaknesses like the honed blade of a surgeon's scalp.

You will have three hours to complete the exam.

Proceed.

May begin.

Gentlemen and ladies, your time is up.

Excuse me. Excuse me, please.

Excuse me.

My man, Sims!

You're beautiful. Thanks to you, I got an A- on Kingfield's exam.

And you?

I got an A. I got an A!

I had my doubts, but you stuck by me, and I got an A-.

All right!

Couldn't have done it without you, man.

Hey, Levitz, guess what? I got a B+. So much for flunking, huh?

Berger, I got an A-.

God, I love being smarter than you.

Look, Laura.

It's my fault.

I'll go to Kingsfield. I'll reason with them.

I'll get them to give you another chance. Willis, I just need to be alone.

Will you forgive me?

Mr. Bell.

I've asked you to come here because Mrs. Nottingham has just informed me

she's discovered that one of the file copies of my recent Contracts 1

examination is missing.

In the past weeks, only you, Mrs. Nottingham, and myself have had access

to these offices.

Since Mrs.

Nottingham is not in the habit of losing examination copies, I thought you,

perhaps,

might be able to enlighten me.

Perhaps you saw some law student near my office, or you invited certain of your

friends to visit you here. No, nothing like that, sir.

I see.

Professor Kingsfield, uh... I did hear something in the outer office.

What?

It was just noises. I went out and took a look, but everything seemed normal.

Mr. Bell, this is a matter of the utmost importance.

Future careers are at stake here.

A little glance at an examination before the test is grounds for expulsion.

An act like this degrades the entire university.

So think, Mr. Bell.

Think! My body broke out in a cold sweat.

I thought I was going to pass out right in front of Kingsfield.

This is a nightmare.

It is pretty coincidental, isn't it, Bell?

I mean, the test disappearing while you're in Kingsfield's office. I know, I

know. I was privileged enough to look at Kingsfield's material, and now I'm a

suspect. You're being ridiculous.

I am? Yeah.

Why shouldn't he suspect me?

A 2L who doesn't have a penny to his name gets his hands on a test that's

worth elephant bucks?

That's a motive.

And Laura.

Love has driven people to acts more desperate than this. Well, maybe Belle

did do it. No way.

Laura got a D, thank God.

They're shifting sands of love.

If anything should point to my innocence, it's the way I coached Laura.

Unconsciously, I prepared her for last year's test, the one we took.

Completely blew it for her.

Well, Belle, were there any surprises?

Did anyone do well who shouldn't have?

Well, a few people got As. Burger got a B+.

Hart, we gotta do something about this. It's gonna spread all through the dorms.

People will be suspecting each other, accusing each other. It'll ruin the

whole class.

What do you mean, we have to do something? You're the dorm advisor and,

I might add, a prime suspect.

Hey, Ford, I'm not a prime suspect. The thief walked in right under my nose.

Now, if we just remain rational about this, we'll realize that the suspects

are the people who got the good grades.

Berger, Levitz, Sims, Billy Pierce.

Pierce did well?

Rumor had it Billy was having his problems.

You got a minute, Berger?

No.

I think you got into law school in the first place.

Would it surprise you to know I graduated summa cum laude?

What's your major in, Ms. Pac-Man?

I majored in oriental literature.

What's your problem, Bell?

You did very well on that Contracts I exam, Berger. Very well.

Cut the crap, Bell. Who authorized you to play Sherlock Holmes? You got

something to hide, Berger?

Look, Bell.

I don't cheat.

And I didn't steal Kingsfield's exam.

That's the man you want to be talking to.

Levitz!

The night before the test, our little study group broke up.

He was so dense, I couldn't tolerate him anymore.

And the very subject he was so dense on is the same subject that Kingsfield

tested us on.

Yeah, Levitz was facing that test, and he was facing it alone.

And he was scared.

You should have flunked that test.

But you passed it, and you passed it with an A. You were struggling with the

material. You're the one who stole that test.

Let me tell you a little story, Bell.

My friend Burger here is such an unsavory, desperate character that he

was ready to feed Laura false information in order to improve his

position on the curve.

It's the same trick he played on me when he tried to steer me away from studying

reliance. Berger knew the subject matter on Kingsville's test would be reliance.

Oh. Anything to manipulate your position on the curve. Hey,

knock it off! What's wrong with you guys? You're not guilty. Why are you so

angry? Stuff it, Levitz.

Heck no. One's enough. I'm retired.

Billy, did you talk to Bell yet?

No, but I heard he's conducting an investigation.

Well, I'm glad he is, because somebody ought to be doing something.

Yeah, you're right.

Thanks.

Billy, how many questions did you anticipate, study for? I don't know. I

think Sims and I got lucky. You know, studied the right stuff.

You got lucky or Sims got lucky? Vivian, we both got lucky. I don't cheat and I

don't steal exams.

I'm not saying you did.

You can't just go around arbitrarily pointing your finger at people.

It's not arbitrary, Billy. Sims is not a good student. He got a good grade.

Look, Vivian, let's take a look at what happened, okay?

Now, I'd stake my life you wouldn't cheat or steal an exam.

But you broke away from the study group.

You wanted to be on your own.

You didn't need anyone else's help.

And you did well on the test.

Now, do you look any less guilty than Sims?

Or me?

Or anybody else in our class that did well?

Billy, Sims kept pressing for reliance. You think about it.

Billy, what's the matter?

It's the exam.

I keep wondering how everything you suggested we study

ended up on the test.

You hit every question right.

I was lucky.

I want to ask you a question.

Straight.

I didn't steal Kingsfield's test.

I was tempted to, but... I didn't do it.

Billy, come on.

Have a beer.

Hart, she won't even talk to me.

It's gotta be a shock.

You mean getting a D and then knowing you've got to ace the final exam at the

end of the year just to get a C?

Give her some time.

I feel like such a jerk.

Trust Brother Bell.

What was wrong with me? Why did I have to interfere?

This whole exam has been a nightmare.

Well, on the bright side, at least you're not the only suspect.

Now, the only person I haven't talked to yet is Billy Pierce.

Now, if you expect to build a case for yourself, you'll need to speak with

everyone who's implicated.

Hard. The guy plowed through linebackers for a living. I'm a little reluctant to

accuse him of unethical behavior.

Put on your track shoes, Willis.

I think you better talk to him.

Damn you, Bill. What are you here trying to say?

Billy, now look.

Somebody stole the test.

There are over 100 students in Kingsfield's class.

Any one of them could have taken that exam.

So why are you here talking to me?

It's only logical that we talk to all the people who got the top grades.

You weren't doing too well in the class.

Dammit, I studied hard for that grade. I studied damn hard for that test. Bell,

listen, you're on the wrong track here.

Now, Billy, I want to ask Bell a question. I want you to listen.

Go ahead. Okay.

Bell, what do you think the chances are of somebody guessing all the questions

Kingsfield would ask on an exam?

About one in a billion.

That's what I thought, too, but I'm just a dumb 1L.

Did you hear that, Billy?

One in a billion.

I'm sorry. I don't like what this place does to people. A midterm and people are

tearing at each other.

Someone risks their future to steal an exam?

That's insane.

I came here to study a profession with integrity, honor, dignity.

There's no dignity here.

I thought the dream of becoming a lawyer was a good one. Now I don't know how

good that dream is, nor do I know if I want to pay that price. Billy, listen,

you can't condemn a school just because a bunch of students go nuts over a test.

Billy, I'm sorry, but I don't think you got your grade the way you wanted to.

I don't think you've been telling me the truth. About what? Oh, come on, Sims.

For Christ's sakes, we worked our asses off. We did well on the exam. What's the

matter with you? Sims, I like you. Apart from Vivian, you were the first guy I

crossed the gap with. Made friends with a fellow law student.

But it's not going to last if you don't level with me.

You want me to say something I'm not going to say?

Come on, you anticipated every question on the test. You stole the test.

What do you want, Billy, a confession?

Come on, you've got to live with your own decisions.

Bullshit! There's no justice in law school.

You really think the good guys win out and the bad guys are punished and live

terrible lives?

Don't be naive, Billy. I'm not being naive. It's your future and it's going

to catch up to you. You want to hear about my future?

I am going to graduate at the top of my class.

The best law firms are going to be bidding for me. I'll make a lot of

money. I'll have a reputation that people will respect.

And you can't tell me any different, Billy.

I'm okay.

How are you?

I'm okay.

I wish I'd done a better job with you.

Bill, I really appreciate the fact that you tried.

But from now on, I'm going to have to study in my own way.

In my own time.

Only one thing, though.

Ultimately, you do it yourself.

Fill the other chest.

I'll get through Kingfield's class yet.

I know you will.

If you can get through it, I certainly can.

Can I buy you a cup of coffee?

Okay.

Mrs. Nottingham tells me you wish to speak to me about the recent midterm.

Yes.

I want my grade withdrawn.

And why is that?

Well, I've come to realize that it wasn't an accurate measurement

of what I've learned in your class.

I see.

And the test has been stolen.

Does that in any way affect your decision?

Yes, it does.

Are you trying to tell me, Mr. Pierce, that you are the one who stole the test?

No, but... But I think I studied with someone who did.

Mr. Pierce, we are dancing around the issue.

If you know who stole that test, it is your responsibility to speak up.

Sir, with all due respect, the only thing I can do in good

conscience is to nullify my own grade.

I hope that you'll give me the opportunity to retake the test.

Mr. Pierce, you will be able to take that test again.

Incidents of this sort always sadden me.

What are we here for?

Except to study and expand our abilities.

And in the process, we must... constantly re-examine ourselves

and unsparingly reappraise the progress we're making.

That is a challenge that anyone should gladly embrace.

Perhaps we should take a moment now to appreciate why

we are all here, to learn the law, the system of rules.

and guidelines by which we live.

When the law is broken, there are consequences which sometimes spill

over onto the innocent.

This test has been tainted by someone who chose to show

disrespect not only for himself, but for all of us.

The road toward becoming an honorable advocate is an arduous one.

You can only grow along the way if simply you can assess yourselves

with absolute honesty.