All language subtitles for M A Greatest Fight (2013)

This bout, 15 rounds

for the heavyweight championship
of the world.

The challenger from
louisville, Kentucky,

weighing 210
and one-half pounds,

the former olympic
light heavyweight champion,

Cassius Clay.

Of those of you
who won't be able

to see the
Clay-liston fight,

here is the eighth
round exactly
as it will happen.

Clay comes out to meet liston

and liston starts to retreat.

If liston goes back
an inch farther,

he'll end up
in a ringside seat.

Clay swings
with his left, Clay
swings with his right.

Look at young Cassius
carry the fight.

Liston keeps backing,
but there's
not enough room...

It's a matter of time...
Our Clay
lowers the boom.

Sonny liston's
not coming out.

Sonny liston is not coming out.

He's out!
The winner and the new

heavyweight champion
of the world is Cassius Clay!

I'm the greatest fighter
that ever lived.

I don't have a mark on my face

and I upset Sonny liston

and I just turned 22 years old.

I must be the greatest.

I shook up the world.
I shook up the world.

I shook up the world.

¶

Cassius is not my name no more.

Officially muhammad Ali now?

Muhammad Ali.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Mr. muhammad Ali

has just refused to be inducted

into the United States
armed forces.

Notification of his refusal
is being made

to the United States attorney,

the state director of
the selective service system,

and the local
selective service board

for whatever action
deemed to be appropriate.

How did
they treat you?
Respectable.

¶

respect for law in a nation

is the most priceless asset
a free people can have.

And the chief justice
and his associates

are the ultimate
custodians and guardians

of that priceless asset.

And when we consider
what a chief justice has

in the way of influence
on his age

and the ages after him, I think
it could fairly be said

that our history tells us,
our chief justices

have probably had a more
profound and lasting influence

than most presidents have had.

Good morning, petrus.

Good morning, sir.
How was your summer?

It was good to get away,
Mr. chief justice, sir.

Nice to see you again.
You, too, sir.

Thank you.

Good morning.

¶

sorry.

¶

Come in.

Mr. connolly.
I'm Mrs. Paige,
p-a-I-g-e.

You're 27 minutes late.

You're not off to a good start.

I'm sorry.
My car broke down.
Mr. connolly.

Back down the corridor.

The washroom is
the third door
on the right.

Thank you.

Straight ahead,
Mr. connolly.

We've got ourselves
a live one there,

huh, Mrs. p?

Don't flirt with me,
Mr. Becker.

It does not become you.

- Morning.
- Morning, chief.

Good morning, sir.
Janet.

Ohh.

This term, we really must do

something about this office.

It's ridiculous.
It's not satisfactory.

It's smaller than my office
at the court of appeals.

I'm the chief, petrus.
Makes no sense.

Take those geraniums
to maintenance.

Oh, and petrus,
don't overwater them.

They won't bloom.

Yes, sir.

Mr. justice,
this is Kevin connolly.

Sorry I'm late, sir.

Please, take a seat,
Mr. connolly.

Your grandfather.

Yes. He was on the court
for 34 years.

"The great dissenter."

The only justice to vote
against segregation.

Plessy v. Ferguson.
1896.

But even in his dissent
he still

called the white race
the dominant race

and vowed it would
continue for all time.
Heh.

Oh, sir, I... I'm sorry.

I wasn't thinking.
That's actually
very rude.

You know your court
history, Mr. connolly.

Or maybe you just did some
research to impress me.

There is currently
a case in court.

Cohen v. California.

Cohen walked
through a courthouse

wearing a jacket with
the words "fuck the draft"

inscribed on the back.

He was sentenced to 30 days.

"Congress shall make no law

abridging the freedom
of speech."

That's a very
literal interpretation
of the first amendment.

Clearly, if the first
amendment protects
speech of any kind,

it protects political speech.

And if the court
is saying that
anti-war protests

are not protected
by free speech,

then it's not paying
attention to what's

going on outside its doors.

I know your war record, sir.

Oh? Then you know
I'm no pacifist.

You should know I was
a student activist.

I've worked as a legal
advisor to draftees,

informing them
of their rights,
I'm a democrat...

Mr. connolly, I'm not
interested in your politics.

Here we're only
interested in the law.

Besides, it's
all in here.
Huh.

Tell me something.
How would your wife

feel about relocating to DC?

Well, clearly,
we've talked about it,

in principle, that is.

She... I think she'd
be very happy for me.

We're expecting
our first child, sir.

Oh, how marvelous.
Ha!

Well, thank you
very much, Mr. connolly.

Um... are you... are you
gonna hire me, sir?

Hmm. Well, we may not
agree on certain matters.

We may take different
positions on many things.

I'm only interested
in your I.Q.,

which I see is substantial.

And your academic skills,
which I note are impressive.

I want brilliant people

and I'll take care of the rest.

Wow. That's great, sir.
Thank you, sir.

That's all.

Uh... on the other hand,

you could make
the argument that

wearing a jacket
in the courthouse

is not speech but conduct.

"An absurd and immature antic,"

and is therefore
not protected by
the first amendment.

Now you're just showing off.

Yes, sir.
Mr. justice.

Kevin connolly. Hi.
How you doing?

Covert Becker the third.

What's your school, connolly?

Missouri.

Sam edelstein.
The first.

I have been here 6 months.

Covert here is a second termer.

Guess that makes you the boss.

Oh, I guess it does.

What's with...
With all the lights
in there?

That's the justice's
eyesight, and it's
getting worse.

That's you.

Yale, Harvard,
Columbia, Chicago.

That's the norm.
It's tradition.

I don't believe
we've ever
had a clerk

from the university
of Missouri before.

Yeah, no black clerks,
no women clerks.

I guess that's tradition, too.

Great.
Another bleeding
heart liberal

well, you've landed
with the wrong
justice, my friend.

Plus, the chief is Nixon's man,

and another
conservative
has just been

appointed to the court.

Thank you, God,
a change
is gonna come.

Ow.

Why do you insist
on being called

muhammad Ali now?

That's the name
given to me
by my leading teacher...

The honorable Elijah muhammad.

That's my original name.
That's a black man name.

Cassius Clay
was my slave name.
I'm no longer a slave.

What does it mean?

"Muhammad" means
"worthy of all praises"

and "Ali" means
"most high."

This will be an organization

that will give the black man
in this country

the right to defend himself.

It will encourage him
to defend himself,

and it will teach him
how to defend himself.

By any means necessary.

This is the regular
dance that I use

just before the shuffle.

I'm moving and I'm moving
and I'm jumping around

and just before you know it...

A split second right after that
shuffle is the big punch.

We are 22 million people

who don't have our names.

We were named after
our slave masters.

So teaches the honorable
Elijah muhammad.

Once you become free,
find out who you are,

then you will start saying.
"I am the greatest."

Over there.

Please be certain
to escort all the justices

to their
designated seats.

Justice Harlan, sir.

I don't want justice Brennan

sliding in beside
justice Marshall,
for example.

Liberals scheme.

Let's keep them
apart, shall we?

Hello, John.
Chief.

Petrus, I hear your daughter

graduated cum laude.

Indeed she did,
Mr. justice.

That's wonderful.

Please congratulate
her on my behalf.

I will.
Thank you, sir.

Let's walk over together,
shall we, John?

Oh. Thank you.

I have big plans
for the court
this year.

Oh?
During my
first year,

it became quite clear to me

there was
something wrong
with the design

of the courtroom bench.

We're all
seated straight
in a line.

We can't hear each other.

We can't see each other.

It's terrible acoustics.

Here's my solution.

I'm going to
curve the bench.
Ah.

You see, that
way, we can
see each other.

We can hear each other.

And it's going to prevent Hugo

from shouting out,

"pardon me?
Pardon me?"

Every 10
minutes, eh?

That's a very good
idea, Warren.

Yes, as it was mine,
I thought it was
very good.

Sir, sir, if you please.

You're seated there, sir.

One black man, 8 white men,

average age 71.

Gentlemen, please join me in
welcoming Harry to the court.

Aw.
Welcome, Harry.

Cheers, Harry.
Welcome.

Harry blackmun
and Warren burger.

The Minnesota twins.

They grew up together.

When burger got
married, blackmun
was his best man.

That's why Nixon appointed him.

He's gonna vote with
burger every time.

Hip-pocket Harry.

When president Nixon
nominated my friend Warren

chief justice,

a staunch defender
of our constitution,

I thought he
couldn't have made
a better choice,

and his first year on the court

has proven the
president correct.

To Warren.
To Warren.
Hear, hear, Warren.

I don't know.
What presidents
expect of their justices

and what those justices deliver

can be two very
different things.

Better get
started, boys.

There's more on the way.

I got a threesome here, guys.

3 chicks.

Wait, what's that about?

Porno cases.

Every Friday afternoon,
the justices

sneak down to the basement
to watch dirty movies.

They're looking
for a case to hear

so they can test
the obscenity laws.

But it's more
an excuse to have
a good time.

Hey. Clay, a.K.A. Ali,
versus the United States
of America.

Oh, the draft dodger.

Isn't he in jail yet?

Hey. Ali's
back up
the ladder!

Float like a butterfly,

sting like a bee!

Justice Brennan, sir.

Ooh. I was not
expecting this.
Not at all.

But sir, this case has
already been before
the court, hasn't it?

It was turned down flat.

I was the only one
who voted to hear
this case.

They told me I was
off on a cloud.

It was sent back down
to a lower court.

So, why is it back up?

Ali's lawyers challenged
the lower court hearing.

He's free to appeal again.

Operation stealth attack.

Go find out what
the others are thinking

and report back to me.

I'm guessing Hugo black
and bill Douglas
will be on our side.

Don't bother
with the chief
and Harry blackmun.

We know what
position they'll take.

These days, Ali's
a hero for taking a stand.

People are not going to like it

if we send him to jail.

This time around,
let's see who's

off on a cloud.

Ha ha ha.

¶

how can a man, any man,
regardless of color,

turn around when he is called
to serve for his country

and say, "hell, no, I won't go"?

It's
the white house, sir.

Thank you, Janet.

¶

chief justice burger here.

Mr. president.

I just don't think
I should go 10,000 Miles

and shoot some
black people that

never called me nigger,
never lynched me,

never put dogs on me,
never raped my mama,

enslave me and deprive
me of freedom.

You refused go
and fight in Vietnam.

Was it because
you disagree with
the war in Vietnam?

Or because you disagree
with fighting generally?

I believe in the holy quran.

It says we who
declare ourselves to
be righteous muslims

will not take parts in no wars.

No way, fashion, or form

which take the lives
of other humans

unless it's
a holy war declared
by God himself.

Do you think
there's anything wrong

in someone like Cassius
Clay, muhammad Ali,

in refusing induction?

Yes, sir.
I certainly do.
Why?

Because he's no better
than the rest of us.

You look very pale.

Do I?

How's the pain?

I'm all right.
Better, I think.

Have you called Abe?

Not yet.

If you don't, I will.

I think I'm quite capable

of calling my own doctor.

Then what's stopping you?

Jk-5 0-1-8-9.

¶

I'm so, so, so sorry.

I just couldn't
get away.
I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.
Hey, buddy.

Welcome to DC.

It's a new suit.

Yeah. You don't
like it?

It's very snazzy.
Why, thank you.

Not sure about
the color, though.

Come on!

I'm sorry.
Is he kicking?

Kevin, she's only 12 weeks.

It's a little
too early. Yeah.

I missed you.

¶

even my critics don't
agree with them.

Because you just can't take
a man's title out of the ring.

You gotta...

It's never been done
in history, and, uh...

All type moves have
been made against me

that's never been made before
in the history of boxing.

And the only way they can take
my title will be in the ring.

And I've been telling the world

for the past 4 years that I'm...

Thank you,
Mr. justice, sir.

Morning.
Morning.

Second floor, my man.

Yowsa, yowsa, yowsa.

Ahh. Larry.
Do you mind?

Ahh. Shouldn't
smoke, Larry.

Uh, sir, I'm Stephen.

Stephen blacher.

Larry left at the end
of last term.

Oh. So he did. Hmm.

I stand corrected.

John, you haven't
said anything.

How is your back?

Potter, I have a sacroiliac

joint dysfunction.

One leg longer
than the other.

Apparently.

Surgery then?

Not yet.

Back support, shoe lifts,

pain medication,
for the time being.

You know, the other day,

I decided to compute
how many boiled eggs

I've eaten in my life.

Two a day for about 60 years.

You know how many that is?

No.

44,000, give or take.

That's a staggering amount.

It's disgusting.
Yes, it is. Ha!

Justice white.

Covert, marshal the troops.

See you on the court in 10.

Yes, sir, Mr. justice.

6-1!
Mr. justice,
that's not legal.

You took 4 steps
and that was a foul.

Says who?

Your boss is a cheat.

A supreme court justice!

You tell him, Becker.

My boy teaching you the ropes?

Of course I am, sir.

It's pretty overwhelming, sir.

There's a lot to take in.

Go for the joog-ular.

The what, sir?

J.U.G.U.L.A.R.
Joog-ular.

In these 4 walls,

it's the only way to be heard.

They call us justices
9 scorpions in a bottle.

Who's the heavyweight
champion of the world?

One more time.
We don't want no excuses.

They may say the film was bad
or the camera was broke.

One more time, who's
the champ of the world?

A very controversial musical
play with a controversial star

recently stirred up,
as you remember,

the Broadway
audience and critics.

Here's the world famous
heavyweight champion

muhammad Ali Cassius Clay
in a scene from that play,

"buck white," so let's have
a fine reception for him.

¶

¶ We came in chains,
we came in misery ¶

Do you think you'd
have an easier time

if you weren't a black Muslim?

No, sir.
Not black Muslim,
it's Muslim.

I think I would
have a harder time

if I wasn't a Muslim.

I might be dead now

from forcing integrating
and marrying out of
my own race,

and drinking and smoking
and laying around bars,

catch a flying bullet.

If it wasn't for
the Muslim teaching,

I'd be in bad shape.

I'd be just another, what we
call "bum negro fighter."

¶

uh, it's in
alphabetical order, sir,

descending,
Clay, a.K.A. Ali,

Cohen v. California,
Phillips v. Marietta...

Which one's that?

Mother, young children,

the company refused
to hire her.

Oh, yes-yes-yes.

I know you don't
agree, but I've

included my brief on Ali.

You're damn right
I don't agree.

You're out of line, Henry.

Nobody in my office should
tell me how to vote.

I'd fire the lot of you,

but you're all so incompetent

you'd have trouble
finding another job.

Do you mean, sir,
you'd be prepared

to read, assess,
comment, advise,

draft majority
opinions, dissents,

draft concurrences,
bench and post-oral

arguments yourself?

Sure.

¶

John, can I
help you with those?

No, thanks.
I'm fine.

On Clay,
a.K.A. Ali,

my boys button-holed
your boys.

None of us can get a handle

on how you're gonna vote.

Uh-huh. Well, that's
for me to know

and you to find out.

Aw, come on.
I can't stand
the suspense.

He was the first person to say,
"don't rush into a decision."

He's been very kind.
He's been
very understanding.

In his own way...

Mr. justice,
it's time
for conference.

You better get going, sir.

Well, I suppose we
should start without him.

Yet again.

Phillips
v. Marietta.

Now, the woman they wouldn't
hire had preschool children.

How could she hold down a job?

That's for her to decide.

Well, as far as I'm concerned,

an employer can hire...

What's shakin', chiefy baby?

Oh. We started
without you,
thurgood.

We're on Phillips
v. Marietta.

Hi. Hey.
As I was saying,

as far as I'm concerned,

an employer can hire
whoever he wants

and for whatever reasons.

That is the boss's prerogative.

Now, I'd like to
hear why we should
hear this case.

It's discrimination
on the basis of sex.

Your position
amounts to
a declaration that

part of the
civil rights act
is unconstitutional.

With all respect, thurgood,

I don't want to argue
legal niceties.

You never do.

My first clerk
back in '56

at the court of appeals
was a woman.

She had young children,

and she had to leave
every evening at 6:00.

She had to go home.
She had to cook dinner.

Didn't work out well at all.

Well, I see you all have
different opinions.

All right.
Why don't we take a vote?

Clay, a.K.A. Ali,
v. The United States.

This is a waste of
the court's time.

No one wants to hear this case.

Excuse me, chief,
I want to hear
the case.

And I'll tell you why.

Ali never backed down
from his beliefs.

He took the consequences

of refusing induction.

Bill, you can't slow
us down on this.

We have a very
heavy load of cases
to consider today.

He took the consequences.
He lost his title.

He gave up almost
3 years in his prime,

millions of dollars
so that he could stand up

for what his conscience
told him was right.

He's clearly a man
of great principle.

The court is always
on dangerous ground

when it decides cases according
to the justices' own views.

Which one of us is free
of those, John?

I think it's terribly important
that we exercise self-restraint.

I think it's also important

that we express
what we believe.

Ahh. I'm out of here.

There's clearly
going to be a vote.

I'm recusing myself.

I was the solicitor general

at the time of
Ali's conviction.

I hate the
nation of islam,
Elijah muhammad,

and his bunch of
thugs and gangsters

organized from the jail.

They preach racial segregation.

I am an integrationist.

¶

I was born in 1908,

the year Jack Johnson

knocked out Tommy byrnes.

Oh, yeah, a negro

was the
heavyweight champion
of the world.

What happened
the very next day?

They went out looking for

the great white hope...

To take back the title.

There were race riots in
Springfield, Illinois,

the home of Abraham Lincoln.

89 negroes...
Were lynched that year.

¶

to qualify for
conscientious objector status,

you have to satisfy
3 basic requirements.

We know what they are.
I shall quote them.

One, you must be conscientiously
opposed to war in any form.

Two, your opposition
must be based on

religious training and belief.

Three, you must show
your objection is sincere.

Hugo!

Hmm? No need
to shout, Warren.

I'm listening.

Gentlemen, I'm wondering if,
in the future, we might not

end these sessions
a bit earlier.

Well, we can
hardly get through
the case load as it is.

It doesn't make much sense.

Hugo is 83 years old.
He's not in the best of health.

I may be slowing up,
but I am not dead yet.

Shh. Are they
still in there?

My God.
These sessions
take forever.

Yeah, Brennan won't
let them out

until they hear the Ali case.

You'll see...
5 votes to 3,
they'll hear it.

Really?
5 votes to 3,
they won't.

Anybody?
Come on.

It's 5 to 3,
they won't.
Here you go.

6 votes to two, they won't.

You're an idiot, Scott.

Brennan, black, and Douglas

are gonna vote
to hear the case.

You're right.
Ok, 5 votes to 3
for Ali.

You can't flip your bet, man.

Come on.
You already gave
me your money.

All right, it's a squeaker.

But 4 votes to hear the case,

Brennan, black, and Douglas,

and I got a hunch
Stewart's gonna vote
with them.

I got a hunch he won't.

To file for
conscientious
objector status,

you have to be a member of

an organized religion or sect.

The nation of islam?
What is that?

Let's just take
the vote and move
on, please.

Look, I know where
most of you stand.

I don't expect
the court to find
for Ali,

but at the very least,

I think we should
grant a hearing.

If we imprison

such a high-profile
war dissenter

without granting him
the full protection

of the legal process,

it could be seen
that the government

prosecuted the case
on a political basis.

Stuff and nonsense.

- Say what, chief?
- Bill?

You know my position.

If the court won't rule
on the legality
of the war,

let's at least
rule on this case.

At least two.

Harry?

This is a very complex case.

Does Ali satisfy the 3 tenets

of conscientious
objector status?

I need more time
to look at this.

Oh, for God's sake.

Harry, you can't
agonize over
this any longer.

You just have to vote.

If you insist,
but you're bullying
me into this.

On the face of it,
I don't think Ali
has a case.

Byron?

I agree with the chief.

This case is
a waste of our time.

I don't even
know why we're
discussing it.

Denied.

Hugo?

I was against world war ii

until pearl harbor,

against the Korean
war start to finish,

and against
the Vietnam war
from the start.

A waste.
A mistake.

We're paying a high
price for that.

Hugo, what is your vote?

We should hear the case,
goddamn it.

Didn't you hear
what I just said?

That's 3.

Potter?

I think Ali should
get his day in court.

I vote to grant.

And 4. Ha!
No one wants
to hear the case, huh?

You got that one wrong, chief.

Well, all this
wouldn't have happened

if the petitioner
had not been muhammad Ali.

That's right.
We are hearing
the case

because the
petitioner is
muhammad Ali.

¶

4-4.

What'd he say?

¶

all right, gentlemen,
you've got your 4 votes.

The case will be heard.

But it takes 5 to overturn.

Yeah, where's that
fifth vote
coming from?

Justice, sir.
Good afternoon, sir.

¶

Sir? What was
the vote on Ali?

We're going to hear the case,

lord only knows why.

Bill Brennan's doing.
He politics his way
around everything.

On Phillips vs. Marietta,

I want you to draft an opinion

that under
the civil rights act,

an employer may not, in the
absence of business necessity,

refuse to hire a woman with
children of pre-school age.

Sir, that's not what you
told us before conference.

You said the employer
was within his rights

not to hire the woman.

You said you were upholding.

That was a tentative vote.

Petrus, did you get hold
of the court plans?

They're on
your desk, sir.
Thank you.

He just
changed his vote,
just like that?

There's no mileage
in voting with
the minority.

If he votes with
the majority, he gets

to assign the opinion,
or write it himself.

Complaining about bill Brennan.

He's got a nerve.

Chief is always
pulling the strings.

Do not underestimate him.

Hold all my calls, please.

¶

It's Friday night.

Why aren't you at
home with your wife?

Oh, she's used to it, sir.

I just need to catch
up a little bit.

No, no.
This is important.

You must take every
moment you can.

Pack up.
I'll give you
a ride home.

Sir, would you
like me to drive?

New lenses.
It takes a while
to adjust.

You and Donna free
on Sunday for lunch?

Sir, please let me drive.

12:30 or 1 suit you?

That sounds nice.

¶

thank you. Uhh.

This is nice.

- Hello.
- Good afternoon.

How are you
settling in?

Fine, sir, thank you.

I'm enjoying DC.
I have a dog.

He's good company.
Ha ha!

We're going
on lots of walks.

Oh, I know
the hours are long.
It's hard.

Here you go, ma'am.

Oh, why, thank you, dear.

How long have you
been married, sir?

Hmm? 43 years.

Wow.

When I first met Ethel,
she was married
to somebody else.

But I stole her away from him.

Am I right, dear?

We planned to have
the wedding at

Ethel's aunt's house
in waterbury.

It was Hartford, John.

Hartford.
You're absolutely right,
my love.

But on the day,
the aunt fell ill,

so we had to switch
the ceremony

to the first
congregational church

in... where was it?

Farmington. Right.
That's right.

Well, at the last minute,
I suddenly realized

that the marriage
license was invalid

outside the Hartford
city limits.

So, we met in Hartford

for an early-morning
wedding

and returned to Farmington

for an early afternoon wedding.

Well, as ever, sir,
another testament

to your devotion
to both the spirit

and the letter of the law.

Happiest day of my life.

I...Perhaps
I should get ready.

We have guests for
cocktails, don't we?

No, no, not today.
Not today.

Oh.

Silly me.

Silly you.

Kevin, after lunch,

I'd like to take a quick look

at coolidge
v. New Hampshire,

if you wouldn't mind.

Of course.

Won't keep him long. Promise.

¶

sir? Sir, are you
all right?

¶

sir.
Give me
a minute, please.

¶

ah, yeah, that's better.
Ahh.

Um, would you
like me to read
for you, sir?

Yes, yes, that... that
would be helpful, Kevin.
Thank you.

¶

um..."In the wake
of a particularly
brutal murder

of a 14-year..."

Sir, would you like
me to call somebody?

No, no, no, no.
Please continue.

¶

"in the wake of
a particularly
brutal murder

"of a 14-year-old
girl,

"the new Hampshire
Attorney General

"took charge of
police activities

"relating to the murder.

"The suspect, Edward coolidge,

"is claiming that the searches

"of his home and automobile

violated his fourth
amendment rights."

I haven't burned
my own draft record.

But what I'm doing is legal.

This is why I believe
I'll receive

justice in the higher courts.

You can deny the draft
on any grounds

but you'll have to go to court...
It's law.

If you lose, you go to jail,
which I said I'd do.

My fight is legal.

But if you notice, I'm being
the most persecuted.

I'm not allowed
to work in America.

I'm not allowed
to leave America.

Home of the brave,
land of the free.

I'm not allowed to,
not even allowed

to leave where I can work,

countries that will accept me.

And now I'm due
$10,000 fine in 5 years.

All this brings on
racial trouble.

People see this, they see
other athletes and entertainers

getting by on little excuses,
and I know I'm sincere.

But now I get a heavy penalty
to the white preachers

that break in the government
house, burn up the draft card,

hang statutes of the president,

lay on the Pentagon steps,
leave America white citizens.

But I'm the bad one now,
the poor slave.

Now I'm the bad one.

All rise.

The honorable,
the chief justice,

and the associate justices
of the supreme court

of the United States.

Oyez, oyez, oyez.

All persons having business

before the honorable,
the supreme court
of the United States,

are admonished to draw near
and give their attention

for the court is now sitting.

God save the United States
and the honorable court.

Docket number 2-9-9,
Cohen versus California.

Mr. nimmer,
you may proceed
whenever you are ready.

The court is thoroughly aware

of the facts of this case.

It will not be necessary
to dwell on them.

At Mr. chief justice's
suggestion,

I certainly will
keep very brief

the statement of facts.

What this young man did
was to walk through

a courthouse corridor
wearing a jacket

inscribed with the words...

Mr. nimmer, we agreed,
it is not necessary
"fuck the draft."

To dwell on the facts.

I suggest we avoid
using that word

for the rest of oral argument,

and we simply refer
to it as... "That word."

Yes, your honor.
The court should
rule on the war.

We are arguing that
the state may not,

consistent with
the first and
fourteenth amendments,

make the simple
public display...

Every day in Vietnam,

young American men are killed

because this country
refuses to admit

that we've made a mistake.

- Let's go.
- Who wants to be

the last person
to die for a mistake?

- That's enough.
- This court should rule

on the war!

This court should rule...

Well, people bring
passion to politics,

and vulgarity is
simply a side effect

of a free exchange of ideas.

Calm down.

Get out.

He's right.
The court should
rule on the war.

Oh, bill, you've been
singing that song
since '66.

Yes, and I'll go on
singing it, whizzer.

Bill, please.
My name is Byron.

This is not a war
that's making the world

safe for democracy.

It's a war of aggression.

It is up to congress

to challenge the
war, not the court.

It's up to the court to decide

the constitutionality
of it, Byron.

If I was still in the senate,

I would lead the charge!

¶

They're trying
to say that they want peace.

They're trying to say that
they want to stop the killing.

They're trying to say that
they want to end the draft.

They're trying to say that we
ought to get out of Vietnam.

I agree with everything that
they're trying to accomplish.

¶

Yes?
It's
the white house, sir.

Thank you, Janet.
You can put the call
through, please.

Who's acting for the vets?
Is it Ramsey Clark?

I believe so, sir.

Get Ramsey Clark on the phone,

and the solicitor
general as well.
Yes, sir.

There is a real danger
to security, chief.

The anti-war protestors
have advertised plans

to shut down the city.

"Advertised plans?"

The government has no business

anticipating unlawful conduct.

The justice department
is seeking
a re-instatement

of the lower court order

to prevent
the vets from camping
on the mall at night.

Well, the appeals court
rule they can stay...

This is the supreme court,
Mr. Clark,

and if the United States
government

believes there's
a danger to security,

I will have no choice
but to reinstate

the lower court order.

The city won't grant
them a permit

to camp anywhere else.

You'll be evicting
a peaceful group

before their protest is over.

Well, due to
the lateness of the hour,

I believe the order won't
be instated until tomorrow.

Sir, first thing
in the morning,

I will appeal
the decision
to the full court.

I'm not sure the other justices

will support you.

Well, that remains to be seen,
Mr. Clark.

¶

I drove past
on my way here.

There are thousands of them
camped out there.

Oh, Warren,
they are veterans
against the war.

Men and women
who fought
for their country.

There is chaos, John.
Police barricades.

Traffic is stalled
all the way up
Pennsylvania Avenue.

It's as if the entire
city is under siege.

They were in court today.

Tomorrow, they could
be in chambers!

Tonight, I had to reinstate

the lower court order
to evict them.

You shouldn't have acted alone.

It was an emergency petition.

The president is
very concerned.

Excuse me, did I
hear you right?

You spoke to the president?

I speak to him often.
He's a good friend.

A justice should be
wholly removed
from politics.

I don't even vote in
presidential elections.

First thing tomorrow,
Ramsey Clark

will appeal my ruling
to the full court

and I don't wish
to be overruled, John.

In 20 years, that has
only happened once.

Now, I need you.
I depend upon you

to talk to the others.

Bill Brennan,
thurgood in particular.

Bill Douglas.

The decision must be unanimous.

It is essential to both
the court and the nation

that we all
come aboard on this.

I would appreciate it, John.

¶

John, the chief's order

is a breach of
the first amendment.

Government's trying
to govern by court injunctions.

We're being asked to do
Nixon's dirty work.

The chief
should've gone
into politics.

That's his
true calling,
not the law.

Yeah, just like bill Brennan.

Hugo, please.

I think you all
malign the chief unfairly.

Since his appointment,
debate in conference

has been more open, much freer

than it ever was
under his predecessor.

You can't argue with that.

I know this is not ideal

and normally we have
the luxury of time

but this was
an emergency petition.

And there's no point
in conflict.

You just get locked.

I'm with you, John.

To overrule the chief would be

a personal affront.

Personal affront?
What are you
talking about?

It is not in our interest
to embarrass him,
or the court.

Oh.

We have to vote
with the chief.

Let me have
one of these, John. Yeah.
Yeah, go ahead.

Well, shall we
put it to a vote, then?

Thank you, gentlemen,
for your unanimous support.

Excuse me, chief.

I'm afraid
the demonstrations outside

are growing stronger.

¶

I pledge allegiance
to the flag

of the United States of America,

and to the Republic
for which it stands,

one nation under God,
indivisible,

with liberty
and justice for all.

I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America,

and to the Republic
for which it stands,

one nation under God,
indivisible,

with liberty
and justice for all.

I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America,

and to the Republic
for which it stands,

one nation under God,
indivisible,

with liberty
and justice for all.

¶

do you know it's the first time

in the history of the court

that the doors have
been closed during
working hours?

Is that so?

This is serious, sir.

The government
can't stop people
from assembling

because of some vague fear

that they're gonna
commit a crime.

These protesters
were exercising

their constitutional right.

On the mall, in
front of the court.

They weren't
causing any trouble.

I would say it was necessary

to protect the city
and the court.

And I say
fiddle-sticks
to that, sir.

It's the first amendment.

It's the law, sir.

If the supreme
court's not
gonna protect

the constitutional
rights of
the people,

then who is?

¶

sir, please remain
completely still.

A tumor.

On one of the vertebraes
of my lower spine.

I'm sorry
to hear that, John.
I really am.

I'll tender
my resignation at
the end of the term.

Yeah. Yeah, I think
that's best.

John, smoking?

Oh, you know what
the doctor said?

He said, "if smoking
gives you comfort,

then carry on smoking."

Cigarettes are
the least of my
worries, my friend.

¶

When muhammad Ali lost
his heavyweight boxing title

for refusing military induction,

he also lost his
license to fight.

Now after 3 1/2 years
out of the sport,

the state of Georgia
is willing to let the ex-champ

back in the ring.

He said
it was a very severe cut.

That's the reason he stopped it.

The winner at the end of the
third round... muhammad Ali!

The next step in the boxing
comeback of muhammad Ali

will be a bout with
contender Oscar bonavena.

And he
goes down again!

It's over.
Ali is the knockout winner

at two minutes and 3 seconds.

If Joe comes out smoking,
I ain't gonna be joking.

I'll be peckin' an' a-pokin',
pouring water on his smokin'.

This might shock and amaze ya,
but I will retire Joe Frazier.

I have a lot of speed
and a lot of endurance.

When I meet Frazier,
he'll need more insurance.

¶

He's wearing
red trunks.

He weighs 215,
undefeated in 31 bouts,

scoring 25 knockouts,
it is muhammad Ali!

Not gonna go his way in court.

Won't go his way
tonight, either.

Ali's
the better fighter.
Lighter on his feet.

He's gonna dance
around Frazier
and wear him down.

The heavyweight
champion of the world,

Joe Frazier.

Round 11.

Again, Ali
appearing to be quite weary.

Frazier looking much stronger.

Frazier throwing
many more punches.

Frazier throwing punches.

That one hurt.
Look at that.

Muhammad Ali staggers.
Muhammad Ali was rocked.

He's holding on desperately.

Bill, one more.
You're up, connolly.

Right, this is
the final round of the fight

and what a fight it's been!

This is
the final round!

Referee Arthur
mercante has them touch gloves.

Something they've
been doing all night.

Muhammad Ali
has gotta go box him.

Joe Frazier
against muhammad Ali.

He is up.
He got up immediately
on the count of two.

The referee
Arthur mercante scores it

8.6-1 even for Frazier.

One vote for Joe Frazier.

Artie aidala 9-6 for Frazier.

Frazier is the winner!

Ali's history.

Heavyweight champion
of the world, Joe Frazier!

Joe Frazier!

For the first time
in his career.

Muhammad Ali was beaten!

Docket number 7-8-3.

Clay, a.K.A. Ali,
versus United States.

Mr. eskridge, you may
proceed whenever you are ready.

Mr. chief justice

and may it please the court.

On February 16, 1966,

my client wrote a letter
to his local draft board

alleging facts which he claimed

entitled him
according to the law

to conscientious
objector status.

In his handwriting, he wrote,

"Muslim means peace,

"total submission
to the will of Allah;

do not take the lives
of anyone."

His request was denied.

The appeal board
referred the matter

to the United States
justice department.

The justice department

appointed a hearing
officer... judge grauman.

Judge grauman heard
several witnesses.

He also had in front of
him, the record shows,

Elijah muhammad's book

"message to the
blackman in America."

Judge grauman found
that Ali was sincere

in his objections to
participation in war

in any form.

The government
rejected this finding,

stating that
Mr. muhammad Ali

would fight "tomorrow,"
quote unquote,

in a defensive war
on behalf of muslims.

Mr. eskridge,
when you say

"fight in a defensive war

on behalf of muslims,"

that is what is known as
participating in

a holy war, is it not?

It is, Mr. justice, yes.

And that is in the quran.

Yes, sir.
It's also referenced

in Elijah muhammad's book.

So, he would fight?

Uh, ahem.
Sir, black muslims

have taken some of their
beliefs from the quran

and fashioned them
to the black man's

experience in
the United States.

In this
holy war,

who would your client
be fighting?

Sir, nowhere in the record

has my client ever said

that he would
fight with weapons

against anybody.

Mr. griswold,

the hearing officer,
judge grauman,

recommended that
Mr. Ali's

conscientious objector
status be sustained.

Why did the government choose
to ignore his findings?

As your honors know,
the government is not

represented at such hearings.

Well, what I'm
interested in learning

is why
the government determined

that Ali's beliefs were
not religiously rooted.

We accept that his beliefs

are religiously rooted.

You accept that his beliefs
are religiously rooted?

Yes, your honor, we do.

But you question his sincerity.

We do not question
his sincerity.

You don't
question his sincerity?

No, Mr. justice,
we do not.

Mr. griswold, what is
the government's objection?

Sir, the only question
before the court now

is that his objection
was selective.

It is not enough
for his objection
to be religious;

it must also be an objection

to participation
in wars in any form.

The petitioner
just doesn't want

to fight the white man's wars,

and I can understand that.

At the same time, he has no

religious
or conscientious
scruples against

participation in wars
which would defend

the black man's interests.

In this summary
of the first hearing,

"Clay objects to being
in service because

he has no quarrel
with the Vietcong."

In his own words, quote,

"no Vietcong ever called
me nigger," unquote.

Since Mr. Ali
would participate
in a holy war,

he is not a true
conscientious objector.

Mr. eskridge,
people have always

fought wars for
religious reasons,

and then would defend them
as being holy wars,

"just" as opposed
to "unjust."

Like the crusades.

So, your client would
fight a holy war but...

And I'm quoting you here...

"Wouldn't fight with weapons
against anybody."

I'm sorry.
I'm confused.

How do you stand now with

the possibility of
going to jail?

Oh, I don't know.
I'm just waiting
any day now.

Do you think
about that, though?

Do you ever think
what you'll do

or if you do go?

Why, yes, you think about it
at nights when
you're in the bed.

You think about, you know,
if I went this way,

what could have happened,
if I went this way,

and I've figured it all out.

But whenever people want
to really make progress,

some have to sacrifice a lot,

and I like to say
white America right now

spending $30 million
a day in Asia,

black and white boys are
dying unjustly for nothing

just to free somebody else.

So, why should I worry about
going to little old jail

to free my poor people
who's been

catching all hell
for 400 years.

Gentlemen, let's
take the vote. John?

I uphold his conviction.

Uphold.

Free the man.

Uphold.

Oh, let's free the man,
for God's sake.

I'm with bill and bill.
Go free.

Harry?

Uphold.

I vote to uphold.
That's decided.

As the senior justice
on the majority side,

to write the opinion
I assign...

5 to 3
against Ali.
Yes!

John Harlan's been
assigned the opinion.

Come on, boys,
let's go to lunch.

We can drown our sorrows.

You're welcome
to join us. Yeah.

I recommended to a fellow
trustee at the Smithsonian

that unemployed blacks
be trained

to work as gardeners
at the mall.

I think they'd be wonderful.

They have such
a lovely sense of color.

Teddy,
cutty sark, please.

Sam, James.

Thank you, sir.

Kevin.
Sir?

Didn't he just
get married again?

That won't
stop him.

Never does.

Well... gloomy guses all.

Just bring the whiskey, please.

I'm sorry you're
retiring, John.

I'm going to miss you
on the court.

Oh, you'll get by, Warren.

Won't be the same.
You've been a good
friend to me.

I can always depend on you.

Yeah, well, you're very good
at looking after yourself.

You'll find new friends.

Big fight ahead of us.
Roe v. Wade.

Sir, your table is
just being prepared.

Thank you, Jacques.

With you gone, I'll probably

write that opinion myself,

or maybe I'll give it
to Harry blackmun.

Sir,
please follow me.

Go ahead, John.

Well, let's not get despondent.

We have roe v. Wade
coming up.

It's got all the ingredients.

Sexism.
Right-wing
fanaticism.

Misogyny. Race.

It's a blockbuster,
boys. Ha ha ha!

Michelle!

One, Ali is sincere
in his objections.

Two, his position as
a minister of islam

gives him the
appropriate credentials

for religious training
and belief.

But, three,
we are not convinced

that he is conscientiously
opposed to all wars.

Therefore, he does not qualify

for conscientious
objector status.

Therefore, by a majority
of 5 votes to 3,

his conviction is upheld.

Kevin, I want you
to write the opinion.

Uh, no thank you, sir.

No thank you. Wait,
are you recusing yourself?

Uh, no, sir.
I... I don't want
to be difficult,

but if it
doesn't matter
to you,

I wonder if
I could switch
with another.

I'd take any case.
Nelson, mcgautha-

that's fine with me, sir.
I'm happy to take Ali.

No, I'd like Kevin
to write this,

and I want the opinion
on my desk

first thing tomorrow
morning, please.

We need to close this case.
That's all.

Sir.

¶

why? Why won't they accept him
as a conscientious objector?

He's a properly ordained
minister of
the nation of islam.

His religion says he's
not supposed to fight.

What is the problem?
Why are we sending him to jail?

There's got to be some
precedent, some case...

Please, shut up.
Kevin,

I'm trying to finish
something here.

I'd like to go home.

Whew.

What time is it?

Hello?

I found it.

Kevin, will you go home?

Get some sleep.
Harlan's not
gonna flip.

It's sicurella.

Hang on, wait, wait.

The jehovah's witness case?

Yeah. 1955.
The jehovah's witnesses

were granted conscientious
objector status.

They don't have
to go to Vietnam.

Yeah? So?

Well, this is what
the jehovah's witnesses say.

If God commanded it,
they would fight.

And these are the words
from Ali's own statement:

"But the quran do teach us

"we do not take part
in any war...

Unless declared
by Allah himself."

I mean, it's clear as day.
Ali, a black Muslim,

a follower of Elijah muhammad,

is saying exactly

what the jehovah's
witnesses are saying.

He would only go to war
if his God commanded it.

His God. Allah.

Now, that's not gonna happen.

That's the same as
the jehovah's witnesses.

How can Harlan not buy that?

That's actually not bad.

Harlan is always
hammering us about

law, reason, precedent.

Well, sicurella
is the precedent.

And how can he make a reasoned
distinction between

the black muslims
and the jehovah's witnesses?

He can't.
Ali is just the same

as the jehovah's witnesses,

effectively opposed
to all wars.

Yeah. But you're still
gonna have to find a way

to convince him to take
the black muslims

and their religious views

and how those views
relate to war seriously.

One more thing.
However you write it up,

don't give him any reason
to find a political agenda.

Otherwise, you're sunk.

Whoo!

You all right?

You all right, mate?

Primo Maui wowee.

Oh, thank you.
I got a lot of work
to do tonight.

Me, too.

Good night.

Good night is right.

Mrs. Paige?

Mr. connolly,
the justice
would like to see you.

Good luck.

When he's finished with you,

don't come crying to us.

¶

I gave clear direction
didn't I?

Yes, sir, you did.

I gave you detailed notes

on what was said by
the justices in conference.

I referred you
to the precedents.

You're familiar
with the argument.

You know the outcome
of the vote.

But sir, the case
will not write.

The vote was 5 to 3.

But I can't
get that result in
the writing, sir.

I can't get that result

because there's something else

that needs to be addressed.

Mr. connolly!

Citizens cannot pick and choose

which war they wish to fight

any more than they
can pick and choose

which laws they wish to obey.

But sir, Ali for all
intense and purposes

is opposed to all wars.

It's right there in the
book in black and white.

No ambiguity.
I've marked it up
for you, sir.

I tell you what I do.

When a case is over,
I pull the plug,

clear my head...

And make room for the next one.

¶

all right.

I give up.
I give up.

And I'll write it
your way, sir.

¶

¶

Is the justice in his office?

He's in the basement, sir.

It's movie day.

Movie day?

Can I help you,
Mr. justice?

Oh, I'm just wondering

why 9 men, mostly
in their seventies,

should make
judgments
about sexuality.

I'm with you there, sir.
I couldn't agree more.

If I want to go to
a pornographic movie,

then I should pay my money.

In my view, nothing
should be banned.

Hear, hear!

I've redone my brief on Ali.

The justice is expecting it.

Good boy.

Oh, baby!
I want to make you
feel better.

That's it.

I don't know what it is,
but I know it

when I see it.

Is that two males
and one female?

I can't quite make it out.

It's 3 girls, John.

Oh, by jove.

Are they...

Are they... is that
what I think it is?

Well, that's remarkable.

Of course, I know
a lot of people are
wondering about this.

How about the draft situation?

Oh, you mean the army.
Yeah, I mean...

They're cleaning out my
cell to take me to jail

'cause it's better there fed

than in Vietnam dead.

Night, chaps.

Night, sir.

Sam, I realize that

passover is approaching
during the holidays.

Please feel free
to leave the office

before sundown if you wish.

Thank you, sir.

¶

Oh, thank you, Paul.

Usual time tomorrow, please.

Yes, sir.

Ethel?

¶

oh, my!

¶

where do you think
you're going, huh?

It's very late, you know.

And very chilly.

¶

come on.
Let's go home.

¶

ahh.

Hiya, Johnny boy.
How you doing?

I have a little love note
for you this afternoon.

Ah. Ha.

Morning.
Morning, sir.

Morning, gentlemen.

Could you ask Kevin connolly
to come in, please?

Uh, sit down.

Sir, I wanted
to try and explain.

Sit down.

Sir, when you hired me,

boy, I was just over the moon.

And it's... it's an honor
and a privilege

to work in your chambers,

but I'm starting to feel like,

like I don't belong here and...

Take this down, please.

You ready?

Uh... yes, sir.

Case 7-8-3,
Clay, a.K.A. Ali,

versus United States.

Dear chief.

My original conference vote
was to affirm.

It is on that basis, of course,

that you assigned
the opinion to me.

Subsequent work
on such an opinion

has brought me
serious misgivings.

I now understand
that black muslims

oppose all wars
on religious grounds.

You flipped.

Sir, are you...
Are you changing
your vote?

Ahem. Last night,
I took another look

at your original briefing.

I read through
the Elijah muhammad book

and yes, I'm changing my vote.

Sir, there's really no need

for you to read this.

I've... I've changed
my mind.

No.

No.

You've changed mine.

And I salute you.

All right.
Let's press on.

The religious doctrine
of islam states,

"our refusal to go armed

is our proof
that we want peace."

Sir! Sir.

Uh, "Elijah muhammad goes on.

"We felt that we had no right

"to take part
in a war alongside

"non-believers
of islam

"who have always denied us
justice and equal rights.

"We believe that we who
have declared ourselves

"to be righteous muslims

"should not participate
in any wars

which take the lives
of others."

"In my opinion,
this passage proves

"that black muslims
are legitimately opposed

"to all wars
on religious grounds.

"And I am now convinced

the conviction
should be reversed."

My God!

The vote's a tie.

John Harlan has
become an apologist

for the black muslims.

John Harlan is
one of the few people

who could convince me
that there is such a thing

as a good republican.

John?
4-4.

Ah, chief.

John,
you have betrayed me.

These are your last
days on the court.

What on earth
has taken hold of you?

It's bill Brennan, isn't it?

He's the one who's
been twisting your arm.

Twisting my arm?
Really?

Don't you patronize me, John.

Oh, come on in, Warren,
and sit down, for God's sake.
Come on.

Sit, sit.

Don't think I'm not sensitive

to how you judge me
sometimes, John.

Now, come on, Warren.

Now you're making it
a little too personal.

No, I'm not.

I count on you,
I depend on you.

As my colleague, as my friend.

We have the same values.

We're both
working hard toward
a united court.

Yes, well, it occurs to me that

sometimes we, we're inclined

to slide around the issues

when we wish to achieve
certain results.

That's the way it's done, John.

I am the chief justice

of the supreme court
of the United States.

It's my role.

I think it's time we left

politics to congress,
don't you?

Please.
You're being so naive.

Apart from this place,
do you have any sense

of what goes on
in the real world?

I know exactly what
goes on in the real world.

All the more reason to protect

the independence of the court.

So naive.

John, I don't understand
why you're doing this.

Why? You're
just about to retire.

Because this court
is a continuing body.

It acknowledges
the constitution,

the problems of the day,

and tries to reconcile the two,

and by God I respect that!

Oh, please.

The vote is tied, 4 to 4,

and it's not as if it's

going to change anything.

And I can assure you
that I am not

going to shift my position,

and no one on the court
will either.

How the hell
can you be so sure?

It's wilful, John.

Do you hear me?
It's wilful.

And what's the result?

You're not going
to get another vote.

Ali will still go to jail.

You've accomplished nothing.

Ooh! Ooh.

Ahh.

Uhh.

Ahh.

Everything all right, sir?

Mm. Yes.

Uh, get me
Potter Stewart, will you?

Right away, sir.

¶

petrus, the position
I've taken on the Ali case

has absolutely nothing to do
with his being a negro.

I hope you understand that.

Yes, sir.
It's about the law.

¶

Mrs. Paige.

Yes?

Um, it's about the justice.

What about the justice?

Is he sick?

I mean, I know he has
back problems, but

is it something
more serious than that?

He has cancer,
Mr. connolly.

He's a very private man.

I would ask you
to respect that.

Yes, ma'am.

Well, we are 4.

Thurgood has recused himself.

Where is our fifth coming from?

Chaps, it's not enough
to get the fifth vote.

In this case, the court

will have to be perceived
as having one voice.

The vote must be unanimous.

8-0?
8-0.

Against
the government?

Jesus, John.
The last
time around,

you were trying
to get us to
back the chief.

Potter?

In this situation, I think
we have to really dig deep.

Find a reason to overturn.

A reason that the others
would come aboard.

You know what this chief
is going to say.

If the court frees Ali,

every black American

will join the nation of islam

so he doesn't have to go
and fight in Vietnam.

Now, that's what
he's going to say.

Well, got to find
a reason to reverse

without setting a precedent.

You don't change the law.

You make the ruling
specific to
the Ali case.

Well, whatever trick
we come up with,

it's got to come from
a republican appointee.

Me or bill...
They'll mangle us.

John?

John?

You ok, Harry?

I know you're
all concerned about

what you perceive as
my indecisiveness.

You think I can't
make up my mind.

It's not that.
It really isn't.

It's that the issues
in this case are so grave.

You answer one question,
even tentatively.

You think you're safe and then

two more questions
appear on the horizon.

As I see it, I can't
make a final judgment

until all the facts are in,

until all the arguments
have been analyzed.

But it's not
a math problem, Harry.

You want to find out
one answer.

It doesn't work that way.

Here he is.
Sorry.

You're up.

You must be feeling
pleased with yourself.

Leave it
alone, Becker.

You crossed the line, connolly.

Ask anybody,

no matter whose
side they're on.

John Harlan
is one of
the most respected

justices in supreme
court history.

Chief burger
humiliating him
like that

in front of everybody...

They heard that
all the way over
on capitol hill.

He didn't humiliate him.
He just changed his mind

and then he stood his ground.

You know he's not
thinking straight.

Harlan did the right thing.

It's justice Harlan
to you, prick.

When you go home at night,

did you tell your wife

how you
took advantage
of a dying man?

You know what?

I've wanted to
punch you in the mouth

since I met you.

Put them up.

You're kidding me.

I'm not kidding.
Put them up.

Wow.
Now, I'm not gonna
tell you again.

You're making a mistake here.

In college, I boxed
in the golden...

Get off him!

Hey, break it up!

I've been troubled
by the government's case

against Ali since
the very beginning.

That's why I voted to hear
the case in the first place.

Now, last night, my guys
and I, we took a look...

What is there to look at?

There are 3 conditions
that determine

the status of
a conscientious objector.

The appeals board
ruled that Ali

did not meet any of them.

But the appeals board
was not specific, chief.

It did not say which
conditions it rejected.

What's your point?

Griswold challenged Ali
on only one condition.

He conceded the other two.

In fact, he said that
he found Ali to be sincere

and that his objections
were religiously based.

So, how do we know
that the one condition

that griswold singled out

was the same one
that the appeal board

used to hang Ali out to dry?

We don't.
The appeal board said nothing.

They gave no reasons.
It's an error of the law.

We have no choice
but to overturn.

I know what
you're doing, Potter.

You're trying to hang this
on a technicality.

Yes, a technicality,
chief, exactly.

That way we can
avoid a precedent

and we can make the ruling
specific to the Ali case.

This is
absolute nonsense.

If we do what
you're suggesting,

then a man who refuses

to fight for his country
on dubious grounds

will still go free.

His belief's a matter
of conscience, Warren.

Protected by
the first amendment.

Byron, Hugo, Potter, and John

are all military men,
and so are you, bill.

Do you know what this means?

Yes. Yes, it means there'll
be no more soldiers

left to fight
Nixon's dirty war.

That's
one way to end it.

Ha ha ha!

Well, guys, we're
losing focus here.

We're not ruling on the war,

we don't want
to set a precedent,

we're making this case
specific to Ali.

Byron, you don't agree
with this, surely.

Well, chief,
I have to say, uh...

I think Potter's
on to something here.

Hugo?

As long as
there's no precedent.

¶

well...

Harry, it looks as if
you and I are outnumbered.

¶

I've explored this
thoroughly, chief.
I really have.

I looked at the arguments,

I listened
to what everybody
had to say,

and I'm gonna vote
with the majority.

I believe that
the judgment
should be reversed

and Ali should be set free.

¶

Well. It seems
as if I am isolated.

Ah, look here.

The constitution
says quite simply

that you cannot favor
one religion over another.

Now, how can you make
a legal distinction

between jehovah's witnesses
and black muslims?

The only difference...
Black muslims are black.

And that's why
they went after Ali.

And if that's not a racist
and political conviction,

I don't know what is.

If this court
sends Ali to jail,

it is in effect saying there's

one law for whites
and one law for blacks.

If you dissent, chief,
it might be interpreted

as a racist vote.

What?

You know,
you once said to me

that it was essential

for both the court
and the nation

that everyone comes on board.

Your words, chief,
and you were right.

Nobody wants a divided court.

The opinion is fine, Warren.

Please, let it go.

¶

well, I suppose
an 8-0 decision

would be a good lift
for the black people.

¶

chaps, come on, chaps...

I know it's a tad early,

but it's never too early
for a good old hoot.

Rebel yell.
Does that appeal to you?

First time for everything, sir.

It's my favorite.
My favorite.

What happened to you?

War wounds, sir.

What? Oh, my God.

Contrary to his usual form,
muhammad Ali seemed subdued

as he arrived at the South side
gym for a workout.

A black Muslim, he thanked

Allah and the court
for his good fortune

and told them how
he got the news.

I was on 79th street
on the South side

and just bought my orange
in a grocery store

and the grocery owner
came out and grabbed me,

and hugged me
with tears in his eyes.

Little black fella, and told me

that you've just been vindicated
and you free,

8 judges all voted
in your favor,

and he just hugged me
and squeezed me

and he was this short...

I'm on my way,
Mrs. Paige.

Good night, sir.
Good night.

¶

When the supreme court
eventually decided

that you were right
and you had a perfect
right to do this,

you showed no resentment
against the men

who had kept you
away from boxing.

You were very quiet about it.

Then I would be
a hypocrite if I did

because I expected
them to recognize

me for what I believed.

And they did what they thought
was right at the time.

They took my title.
At the time,

they wouldn't let me box
nowhere in the country.

They just did what
they thought was right.

And for me to now to sue them,
or to condemn them,

or to speak out against them

for doing what
they thought was right,

then this would be hypocritical.

So, how can I get
on them for doing

what they really
believed was right?

¶

Sir?

Kevin connolly, sir.

And you remember my wife Donna.

[Baby fussing

hello, chaps.

Sweet of you to come.

Of course.

And this is
our daughter.
Louise.

¶

oh, how wonderful.

Ali
a sneaky right hand.

Another sneaky right hand.

This time he works over
the shoulder of foreman...

3, 4, 5, 6...8...

That's it.
The fight is stopped.

Muhammad Ali is the winner.

He's done it.

Muhammad Ali has done it.

Muhammad Ali has done it.

The great man has done it.

I shook up the world,
I shook up the world,

I shook up the world!

This is
the most joyous scene

ever seen in
the history of boxing.

This is an incredible scene.
The place is going wild.

Muhammad Ali has won;
Muhammad Ali has won

by a knockout, by a knockout!

¶