Original subtitles

Barry Graham residing at 11275 Lamar Road

shares dwelling with Miss Valerie Renault.

Actress, model, member in good standing.

Screen Extras Guild.

The rental agreement listing Miss Valerie

as principal occupant was signed by Barry

four months prior to leaving his wife.

Here's a copy.

Mr. Graham owns Exotic Body Parts

and Auto Repair, Inc. in Van Nuys.

Hmm.

Lots of insurance work, lots of cash transactions.

Here's his tax returns for the last three years.

Lots of creative bookkeeping.

Nice house.

Sipriano: South of Ventura Boulevard on a cul-de-sac.

Now watch it. I just got 'em back from the lab.

They still may be a little tacky.

Here's one. They're both in the nude smoking a joint.

- Tacky indeed. - Here's another.

They're doing some serious necking in the hot tub.

And the piece de resistance.

Barry and his honey poolside on the chaise lounge

engaged in the sex act usually described

by a two-digit number.

Barry, you total degenerate.

Well... this is going to be a lunch

that Mrs. Graham will not soon forget.

I swear I don't understand you, Arnie.

Sipriano: You take this poor woman to some smitzy restaurant.

You slap these on the table.

She goes into the ladies room and ralphs up fifty bucks

worth of lunch all over the velvet wallpaper.

What's the point?

Well, if I take the meeting here

in the office, she goes berserk. She makes a scene.

She may even go for my eyes.

Becker: At best, it's gonna take a couple hours

to get rid of her. Because I can't throw

a crying woman out on the street.

So, instead, I take her out.

She sees a half dozen of her best friends.

They see her. Couple glasses of chardonnay.

A little salad Nicoise...

then I hit her with the slide show.

Becker: She's not gonna say a word. She'd rather die

than be embarrassed in front of all of her friends.

Plus, later I bill her for the lunch.

[scoffs]

Lawyers.

Hey, it's a jungle out there.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[cutlery clanks]

[indistinct chatter]

The future.

Such as it is?

Becker: You don't sound too optimistic.

Why should I be? I'm nearly forty.

I have two children, a failed marriage.

And I can't wear a bikini.

I think you'd look great in or out of a bikini.

[chuckles] Buttering up the client?

Divorce is a growth industry, Lydia.

I don't need the business.

Good, because I've thought seriously about it.

I've decided to accept the settlement as is.

C'est la vie.

Do you mind telling me why?

In the long run, there are more important things than money.

I've just seen too many divorces get ugly.

You really are quite a rare woman.

Becker: But, okay, okay.

What I'll do then is, I'll--

I'll put the investigation on hold.

Investigation?

Well, I had one of our private investigators

look into a few of your husband's affairs, financial.

Otherwise, no cost to you, of course.

I'll just keep this on file and...

if you ever change your mind...

Does it obligate me to look at it?

In no way.

It may be painful.

Excuse me. I uh, have to go powder my nose.

What have you got for dessert?

McKenzie: I'll always remember Norman Chaney

as a gifted lawyer, of course.

But more importantly...

as a good and loyal friend.

Norman Chaney left more than his name

on the letterhead of this firm.

He left a standard of quality

and character that

we can only hope to emulate

as we mourn his loss.

[organ playing]

McKenzie: I miss you, Norman.

[sobs]

Our colleague, Stuart Markowitz,

has asked to say a few words.

And after he has spoken,

anyone who wishes to contribute

their own remembrances,

is most welcome to.

Stuart?

[music continues]

[female #1 coughs]

[clears throat]

What can I say about Norman Chaney?

Norman Chaney knew everything

there was to know about tax law.

Shelters? Call Norman.

Foreign tax treaties? Call Norman.

- Ad valorem? Call Norman. - Call Norman.

Markowitz: During the-- the sweeping 1982 revisions...

one man stood as a beacon in the deep fog

of tax code confusion.

[music continues]

That man was my friend

and mentor, a giant

in the minefield of tax law

and its ever-changing fiscal implications.

A man for whom no tax complexity was...

ah, was, too-- too complex,

if you will.

I got a first draft of that memo you asked me for.

The implications of Chapter 11

in the divisions of community assets.

Oh, good.

I can give it to you tomorrow,

or we could go over it tonight.

It's up to you.

[Markowitz talking indistinctly]

Well, I'm sort of anxious for your opinion.

Tonight then.

I've gotta warn you. It's kind of rough.

You may not be able to read my scribbles.

You can give it to me orally if you wish.

I, for one, will miss this man.

And I would like to say in conclusion that...

if I had but one word

with which to characterize Norman Chaney,

that word would be...

fiduciary.

[female #2 gasps and cries]

Goodbye, Norman...

my good friend,

and my... my fiduciary.

[female #2 cries]

[music continues]

The Caribbean, miles of deserted white sand beach.

Her and me alone, completely nude.

[sniffles] Norman Chaney...

was the best friend...

I ever had.

[voice breaking] I loved him dearly.

I met Norman in a gay bar.

[music stops]

My name is not Georgia Buckner.

It's George.

[female #2 gasps]

[female #3 gasps]

Georgia: He took me home.

You and George...

Georgia: He was the gentlest man...

- Georgia; I'd ever met. - Completely alone.

Georgia: I poured out my heart to him.

Nude.

Georgia: I told him I wasn't gay,

but transsexual,

[voice breaking] a woman trapped...

in a man's body.

[crying] Norman...

encouraged me to face myself.

Georgia: He supported me morally

and financially through several years...

of deep analysis.

Finally, he even offered to pay for my surgery.

And when the hospital said that I had to live and work

as a woman for 18 months

before they'd perform the operation...

he got me a job.

Georgia: Most of you

[female #4 cries]

probably couldn't guess that Norman was gay.

[door squeaks opens and shuts]

Well, most of you didn't know him at all.

He was [sniffles]...

a deeply complicated man,

never really comfortable with his sexual orientation.

I think that his support of me

in my struggle...

was his way of reckoning with his own ambivalence.

I'll miss you, Norman...

your wisdom, your guidance...

your love and support.

You gave me the courage...

to heal myself.

[sobs]

I'll miss you...

[inhales deeply]

and love you always.

And I want to thank you all for participating

in Norman Chaney's memorial service.

It was, to say the least, an unusual service.

But then Norman was an unusual man

with a wry sense of humor

concerning the human condition.

McKenzie: I think it would have tickled him.

Sorry we're late.

That's alright. How long do we have?

Mr. Kuzak has a courtroom appearance

at 11 in the Pregerson case.

And you're lunching with a potential new associate.

Uh, if I may ask, who is it?

He's with the PD's office...

Victor Sifuentes.

- A Chicano? - I believe so.

Okay, Kuzak's getting his body.

I want Chaney's office.

Ah, not until we make a decision about

hiring a tax specialist.

Brackman: If we bring in some big rainmaker

at a senior partner level,

he'll demand the office in his perk package.

Don't take me for granted, Douglas.

Who makes more rain here than I do?

- I, for one. - Sure.

Clients come in thinking they're getting

the original, genuine Brackman.

Not some cheap, second generation knock-off.

How dare you!

McKenzie: Gentlemen, settle your differences

outside of this room

and on your own time.

Alright.

Brackman: But my list is not as current as it should be

due to my secretary's sudden departure from the firm.

- What happened to her? - I fired him.

How come?

Because I do not want that freak of nature

sitting outside my office representing me.

- Homophobic, Douglas? - Knock it off, Arnold.

McKenzie: I mean it.

Now let's start with the Lewis tax audit.

Stuart?

Ah, yes, I'm-- I'm fully prepared.

Good.

Douglas, will you continue down your list, please?

New business.

I'm pleased to say I've brought in

Nathan Electronics on retainer.

And R, T & O Industries on a corporate acquisition

and anti-trust matter.

Old business.

The divestiture, I assume, is status quo.

Brackman: Now Patramco.

Miss Kelsey, I'm stilling waiting

for those interrogatories on Patramco.

They've been on your desk since yesterday evening.

And how is your little pro bono case?

Is the crusading lady lawyer

going to get the big bad insurance company

to pay the $750 or not?

They're going to pay, alright.

But it'll be a hell of a lot more

than seven hundred and fifty dollars.

She's got a brain tumor.

Can you prove a causal connection

with the insurance company's bad faith?

I believe so.

Is there a possibility...

that she could die?

Just in case...

why don't you and Markowitz

start working on the actuarials?

Cover all the contingencies.

Even if she doesn't die,

we could still be looking at a six-figure fee.

[slams table] In deference to the fact that you are a partner

in this firm, I'm going to leave before I say something

that I might regret later.

Excuse me.

Ann?

He's a pig!

We are talking about a woman who could die

and all he can see are dollar signs.

So if you're gonna ask me to apologize, forget it.

Annie, without legal representation,

all the same terrible things would have happened to her

excepting the very real possibility that

she might never have received medical treatment at all.

I understand that.

And while, yes, it's possible our firm

may profit from her problems.

So will her children.

And perhaps just as important, the insurance company

will think twice before they do it to anyone else.

I am not against earning a buck, Leland,

as long as we don't sell off our humanity in the process.

I grant you, in the hands of a Douglas Brackman,

the law may not be pretty.

But in the hands of Ann Kelsey...

it can be uplifting

and life-affirming

and we can all be proud of that.

You're handling me.

True.

But I'll also handle Douglas.

That's your case. You run with it as you see fit.

Thank you.

[crying]

[crying]

Ratakowski: Let the record reflect that the alleged victim

in this matter, Adrienne Moore,

has formally apologized to the court.

And, accordingly, the contempt is discharged.

Mr. Cavanaugh, you may pick up your cross-examination

from where you left off.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Miss Moore,

drawing your attention once again

to the evening in question.

Cavanaugh: As you came out of the convenience store

carrying your purchases,

did you take your package

and put it in the car first,

or did you take it with you as approached my client?

Objection, Your Honor, to that sleazy trick question.

I object to your inference.

Sit down, both of you.

Miss Moore, what did you do immediately after

leaving the convenience store?

I'm sorry. I don't remember.

Did you go to your car?

Did you go to the defendant's car?

Did they come to you? What happened?

I don't remember.

I just don't remember.

Ratakowski: Two days ago in this courtroom,

I don't recall your having any such memory problems.

Your Honor, due to my situation,

I'm on extensive medication.

Moore: Vincristine, Prednisone,

Codeine, Dalmane, Chlonodine.

With the court's permission,

would you explain to us what some of these drugs are?

Vincristine and Prednisone are chemotherapy drugs.

Codeine is for pain and

Dalmane is a tranquilizer.

Cavanaugh: Well, forgive my ignorance,

but might some of these drugs cause

drowsiness, impaired memory?

Perhaps occasional confusion?

Yes, they would, and they do.

Well, then is it possible that...

some of your prior testimony might render

unreliable under these circumstances?

Yes.

I'm just not as clear on the events

of that evening as I thought I was.

Ratakowski: If this sudden loss of memory

is your way of refusing to supply testimony,

I must warn you, Miss Moore,

you are once again in contempt of this court.

I'm sorry.

Ah, Your Honor, move for a continuance.

I want to confer with the witness.

It won't help.

Cavanaugh: Approach bench, Your Honor?

Approach.

Ratakowski: Motions?

Motion for dismissal, Your Honor,

due to the unreliability of the complaining witness.

Objection, Your Honor. She's...

clearly feigning memory loss to avoid testifying.

There's that possibility, Mr. Gold, but...

whichever the case, you're not going to be able to

make this case stick with an uncooperative witness.

I see no choice but to dismiss.

If the D.A. can talk to the witness

and urge her cooperation, the people are then,

of course, free to re-file charges at that time.

Thank you, Your Honor.

There is no cause for smiling, counselor.

Step back.

Defendant will not be held to answer

due to insufficiency of evidence.

Case dismissed.

Bailiff: This court is adjourned until 9 a.m. tomorrow morning.

What's happening?

It's over. There's no case.

Kuzak: Go home.

Pregerson: Well, what about our threats?

She said she'd blow us away!

You deserve to die!

Did you-- did you hear that? That's a threat!

What's going on here?

She ought to be arrested for that!

I'll have the turbot, sauce on the side.

Nothing to start.

Monsieur?

Cold chicken plate, nothing to start.

Monsieur?

How much is the warm lobster?

Waiter: Uh, sixteen dollars.

- And the pasta? waiter: Uh, eleven dollars.

Okay. Both.

That's $27, that's okay?

You seem concerned about the cost of lunch, Mr. Sifuentes.

Well, Doug, the way I figure it,

with the wine and all, this lunch has gotta go

two-fifty, three hundred bucks.

Sifuentes: Which ain't a lot compared to what you probably

paid for your suit.

Until you figure that that suit's gonna last you

a couple of years, maybe more.

But by tomorrow, lunch is sewage.

- You get my point, Doug? - I'm afraid it escapes me.

Well, I think Victor is curious about the value

that we place on his services

relative to food and clothing.

Assuming he's invited to join us.

Right, assuming that.

Tell us your background, Victor.

Well, I'm a local boy, East L.A.

High school, couple of years in the army.

Cal State Northridge,

Glendale College of Law in Glendale.

And four years at the PD's office.

And why the law?

Lots of reasons.

Make a living...

give something back, you know.

Do a little good for the people.

And that's what you were doing the other day in court

with all that mambo about

being denied access to your client?

Hey, man, you do what you gotta do.

The bottom line is, the dude's not gonna do time.

- He's going into a program. - The dude is a hype.

And 20 bucks says he's gonna wind up dead in an alley

somewhere with a needle sticking out of his arm.

You don't know that.

If you could do any kind of law

what kind would it be?

Pro bono stuff, class actions.

Immigration stuff, Indian Affairs, like that.

If you come with us, assuming that Mike wants you,

we'll do everything we can to accommodate your needs.

Kuzak: Now you've been in the PD's office for a long time now.

Maybe you wanna stretch a little.

You mean, like you did with the Pregerson kid?

- Cheap shot. - Oh, yeah?

Well, the fact is, you don't want me to do no pro bono.

Sifuentes: And you sure ain't looking for a little third world

color to brighten up your office decor.

What I do think is that you're tired

of picking up the snails yourself.

So you're bringing in the Mexican gardener

to do it for you.

Well, I think you've made your position quite clear.

Yeah. I guess I have.

Gentlemen.

Mestman: Nice. Very nice offices

you ladies have here. Very nice indeed.

Kelsey: Thank you, Mr. Mestman.

Nice. Nice touch, this.

Very, very feminine.

I don't mean to be rude, but

you said on the phone that you had an offer to propose.

Yes, I discussed the matter with my superiors.

Now, of course, without admitting

or implying any liability on our part.

But merely in recognition of the potential litigiousness

of this matter, we feel a settlement

might be appropriate at this time.

I, frankly, think any settlement

would be premature until after Mrs. Robinson

undergoes surgery tomorrow. But I'm willing to listen.

Uh, let me add that this offer in no way admits

or infers any causal connection between Mrs. Robinson's

failing to seek treatment nine months ago

and her condition today.

Your reservations are duly noted, Mr. Mestman.

Now what was the number you had in mind?

Twenty-five thousand...

plus reasonable hospital medical and surgical bills, of course.

We might be willing to go to 50 if she dies.

Well?

My law clerk has made a notation of your offer in the file.

- Thank you, and good day. - Wait a minute.

What kind of number did you have in mind?

One with at least two more zeroes at the end.

This is a black woman, a domestic.

She's a caterer and I don't know

what her color has to do with it.

I'm offering her more money than she probably

earns in an entire year.

Before you turn your nose up at it,

I'd advise you to think twice.

Once was more than sufficient. Good day.

You think you're pretty smart with your fancy law degree.

Well, we'll see just how smart you are

when you have to take this to a jury.

Trust me, juries don't like bulldozing,

chop-busting, butch lady lawyers any better than I do.

Thank you for sharing that insight with me, Mr. Mestman.

Kelsey: Once again, I must decline your offer.

But I do appreciate your coming in.

Have a nice day.

[telephone ringing]

Glazer: I'd be less than honest if I didn't tell you

for the record how deeply disappointed my client is.

That after hammering out this settlement in good faith,

we find ourselves in such a clearly adversarial proceeding.

Oh, it was hammered out, alright.

We're just not so sure about the good faith part.

We offered alimony for...

six years at $1,500 per month.

Glazer: And child support for like amount.

Further, after the sale of their jointly-owned home,

one-half of the net proceeds

plus all the furniture, silver and art.

Becker: I've read the menu, sir.

Please don't kid a kidder.

This woman, the mother of Mr. Graham's

two young children, has been deceived.

This woman did you no harm, sir.

Becker: She was true to her vows.

As was Mr. Graham!

Oh, please.

You might want to browse these.

How did you get these?

You miserable, you lying scum!

Lydia: You said there was no one else.

Counselor?

Now who's kidding whom?

Glazer: This is California.

The fact that Mr. Graham has a lady friend...

is of no relevance whatsoever.

This is what it's all about, isn't it?

The fact that I have a loving and close relationship.

Close? You ought to be sued for practicing

medicine without a license!

And you won't be happy until you've made me pay!

I'm the one being made to pay here, you low-life degenerate!

Becker: Lydia, Lydia, Lydia.

Lydia, Lydia, calm-- calm down.

Come on, come on, come on. Come on, sweetheart.

You punishing bitch!

You can't stand that I could be happy

with another woman, can you?

Forgetting momentarily

this invasion of privacy issue,

what is the point of this ugliness?

Other than to...

unnecessarily inflame an already...

overheated situation?

Mr. Graham has lied to his wife.

We have reason to believe he's lied about other matters

of a financial nature as well.

You're spraying.

We're prepared to subpoena your records if we have to.

Go ahead.

But while we bury each other in paperwork,

how's she gonna support herself? Get a job?

Graham: She couldn't get paid for the only thing

she's qualified to do. She's not good enough!

You filth!

Lydia! Shh!

Mr. Graham, we have reason to believe

that you are daily in violation of the criminal code.

Becker: You deal in stolen auto parts.

You regularly engage in insurance fraud

that you do not declare cash transactions.

You'd better be prepared to defend yourself

in a slander suit, sir!

As I recall, truth is a complete defense.

I have here signed and notarized affidavits

from one of our private investigators,

Ms. Angela Sipriano, stating that on such and such a date,

blah, blah, blah, blah...

she drove onto your premises to discuss repairs

of her badly damaged automobile.

Becker: At which time, after carefully inspecting

said damages, Mr. Barry Graham...

personally proposed in exchange

for a cash payment that he would...

Let's see that.

If you can prove any of this,

why don't you go to the police?

Hold on-- hold it just-- just a minute.

What are we talking about here?

We're talking about grief, Mr. Graham.

Yours...

your wife's...

your children's.

We're talking about fairness.

Mainly, Mr. Graham...

we're talking about money.

How much money?

Chew on those numbers, you impotent piece of snot.

Rox? You wanna type this up?

Let's messenger it up to Glazer

for his and Mr. Graham's signature, okay?

Right away.

Can I get you anything, Mrs. Graham?

A glass of wine? Coffee?

A new tissue?

I'm fine, thank you.

Well, I guess we socked it to him pretty good, huh?

I think what you did was despicable.

I'll never be able to look at him again

with any kind of respect...

or affection.

Lydia, you came in here looking for somebody

to do your dirty laundry. What'd you expect?

Well, it stinks.

Becker: Well, dirty laundry usually does.

It's messy and it's nasty.

And it churns up a whole lot of goo.

But it's a hell of lot more civilized

and a hell of a lot more lucrative

than putting a bullet between his ears.

It's all so easy for you.

Just sock it to him and get the money.

Well, I lost my life.

Lydia: My children lost a family.

And there's no amount of money that would compensate for that.

You gonna give it back?

Lydia, maybe you hate me today.

That's understandable.

But two weeks from now,

you're gonna be recommending me to a friend.

Two months from now, you'll be inviting me over for dinner.

[Lydia sniffles]

[chuckles]

[tires screeching]

Kelsey: I think I'd rather face four hours of root canals.

Hey, what are you supposed to wear to this party?

I have a very simple little blue silk.

- Fine. Yeah. - Suit and tie for Jim?

Just think of it as a funeral and you can't go wrong.

- Kelsey: See you tonight. - Yeah.

I need money.

- Go talk to your father. - You talk to him!

He canceled my credit cards, my bank account!

Fat slob!

Who in the hell does he think he is?

I can't help you. I'm sorry.

I need money. I gotta get out of L.A.

You leave, they're gonna violate your probation.

Well, then you fix it with my probation officer!

Take your hands off me.

Alright, look.

I'm-- I'm a little strung out, okay?

[sniffles and laughs]

I'm a lot strung out.

But you better fix this thing for me.

Or someone's gonna get hurt.

- That's not too smart. - Not smart?

You deserve to die.

You heard it. You deserve to die!

That crazy broad's looking to kill me, man.

The gun also violates your probation.

Well, it beats being dead.

How much money you got?

Not the kind you need.

Give me what you got. I'll pay you back.

Alright.

How about you give me the gun?

How about you fix things with my probation officer, huh?

[car engine starts]

[revving]

[tires screeching]

[upbeat music]

[indistinct chatter]

Evening, Lester.

male #1: Excuse me.

Go away. I'm drinking alone.

Quit pouting. It's not your most attractive trait.

Real proud of yourself tonight, huh?

Well, I did my job, you did yours.

That's the way the system works.

The system's down.

We got citizens behind locked doors.

Wise guys on the street.

Hell, what went on in that courtroom was a joke.

Those animals did it and they walked.

I wish she'd blow 'em away.

Hell, I'd buy her a gun.

You're a real drag, Lester.

- I'm going. - Good.

I don't wanna be seen hanging out with you.

By the way...

you wouldn't happen to know offhand if...

Justin Pregerson's got a carry permit

for a pearl-handled .38 revolver, would you?

Why?

Oh, just curious.

Goodnight, Lester.

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[knocking on door]

Hey.

I didn't think you high-paid types worked this late.

Well, I'm expecting a phone call from a client

who's about to be arrested.

Kuzak: Is this a social visit?

Nah.

I always pay off my bets.

- What's this for? - My hype.

They found him a couple hours ago

in an alley with a needle stuck in his arm.

Plus, I owe you an apology. I was way out of line at lunch.

Oh, forget it.

Sit down, sit down.

You know...

where I come from, guys like you...

were always the enemy. I don't know.

Somehow just even having the lunch was like selling out.

Well, the job's still there if you want it.

Yeah?

I can't see me running around here in no gray suit.

[both chuckle]

Neither can I.

You guys weren't just blowing smoke

about doing some pro bono, were you?

Lawyers? Blow smoke?

I'm serious, man.

I'll make a deal with you.

You work for six weeks, full associate status.

You don't like it for any reason, take a bus.

No questions asked.

It would have to be a two-way street.

Six weeks and I ain't cuttin' it,

you have the right to throw my butt right out the door.

Well, that sounds fair.

- Deal? - Oh, mama.

Deal.

[telephone rings]

Ten to one, the aforementioned client.

Kuzak: Kuzak?

Yeah, I'm listening.

[scoffs]

What are we looking at here?

Well, a lot of junk charges.

Kuzak: In your serious category, we got resisting,

assaulting a police officer,

possession of narcotics, to wit,

a white powdery substance

resembling cocaine.

And possession of a concealed weapon.

I was set up.

Yeah, we'll be sure to point that out

to the District Attorney.

Most of these charges are bogus.

They just use them for bargaining purposes.

You automatically violated on the coke possession.

You'll go away on that one alone.

Hey, either we rowing the same oar

or you just get the hell out of the boat!

Pregerson: Alright, hold on.

What am I looking at here?

Oh, six to eight minimum.

Maybe we offer them a deal?

You don't have anything to offer.

Pregerson: What about Dollar and Garcia?

What about 'em?

They did the rape. I'll testify to it.

Pregerson: We can just drop all the other stuff.

You did the rape too?

Sure, yeah.

It was three of us.

It was their idea.

Are you prepared to do time on that charge?

Depends.

See what kind of deal they're willing to cut.

I'll be back to you on that.

[classical music playing]

- Becker: Stuart? - Ready for a refill?

Well, as soon as everyone has seen my face,

we can get out of here and maybe go get a little pasta.

This is okay.

Is anyone here in the business?

George Lucas.

Come on.

Francis Ford Coppola.

Shh! Steven Spielberg.

Get outta here.

[music continues]

April, honey, why don't you go get yourself

a drink and work the party?

And I'll catch up to you, hmm?

Excuse us?

Excuse me.

- What's your problem? - Very classy.

I hope you asked her for a medical certificate.

Lisa, if you wanna be an associate with this firm,

you and I can't be seen on dates together.

[music continues]

Come on, don't pout.

After I dump her off, I'll come by your place.

What time?

Early as I can.

Leave the door open.

I promise to wake you.

Kelsey: You've got great leverage over them

on that Lewis tax audit.

What, hold them up for a partnership?

- You're damn right. - Ha-ha.

They'll keep you a backroom mole 'til you're eighty

if you let 'em get away with it.

I don't know, Annie.

I'm not unhappy with the way things are.

- Hi. - Hi.

- I'm sorry to interrupt. - No problem.

Um, I just got off the phone with Celia Robinson.

I told her we're pulling for her.

And I'll be there tomorrow when she comes out of surgery.

Right at her bedside. Isn't that just awe-inspiring?

Jim: You know, I'll bet if she spent half as much time

in bed with me as she does with this damn client,

we might even have a marriage.

Stuart Markowitz,

Ann Kelsey,

this is my husband, Jim.

Res ipsa loquitor.

I beg your pardon?

Oh, I thought that's how you lawyer types talk.

But I wouldn't know, being a mere unemployed house husband.

Jim, stop it.

- You're embarrassing me. - That's not embarrassing.

[gasp]

That's embarrassing.

[exhales]

Um...

I'm s-- I'm sorry.

He's-- he's just had a little too much to drink.

Abby?

Please.

[indistinct chatter]

Markowitz: So, Celia Robinson,

that's your-- that's your bad faith case, isn't it?

Can we please not talk business?

Sorry.

Celia Robinson is 35 years old.

She's going into surgery tomorrow

and she may not come out of it.

And I'm 35 years old and maybe I'll live past tomorrow.

Let's face it.

None of us gets out of here alive.

You don't think you're being a little morbid or anything?

Yes, I am being a little morbid.

You know how many of these damn annuals I've been to?

- Five. Exactly. - This is my sixth.

You and I, we spend our lives every day

of every week of every year doing this crap.

And I keep feeling one day my real life is gonna start.

Only this is it.

And, damn it, bottom line,

I'm not happy.

[music continues]

Are you happy, Stuart?

[stammers] I'm not-- I'm not unhappy.

That's not good enough.

When's the last time you made love to a woman?

God, Ann, come on.

Don't you think that's kind of personal?

Yes. When?

Markowitz: That's not something you go to the supermarket

and buy with your TV dinner, you know.

When?

Ann, look at me. I...

I am what I am.

I'm short. No, believe me, I'm short.

You can't tell from where you're standing, I'm sure.

And I don't do Nautilus or anything.

I'm-- I'm not...

I'm not sexy and I bruise easily.

[music continues]

And I...

I don't like being turned down.

Good. So you're safe.

We're all so safe here.

[music continues]

[inaudible]

- What? - You heard me.

Are you bombed?

Don't sell yourself short.

I've had a few, but I'm not bombed.

Will you?

Ann, i-- if you think about it, it's not--

Thinking is the last thing I wanna do.

Come home with me.

I don't know what to say.

Don't say anything.

Schroeder: Let the record reflect

that a conference was held in chambers

early this afternoon.

Amongst and between the defendants, their attorneys

and the representative from the D.A.'s office.

Based on my understanding of the facts in this matter,

and the apparent problems of proof,

it is appropriate to reach a pretrial disposition.

Mr. Pregerson, do you wish to waive your

constitutional right and enter a plea of guilty at this time

to Penal Code Section 245?

Yeah. Guilty.

Schroeder: Mr. Dollar?

Dollar: Guilty.

Schroeder: Mr. Garcia?

Garcia: Guilty.

Does counsel join in these pleas and waivers?

- Yes, Your Honor. - Yes, Your Honor.

Very well. Defendants' plea of guilty is accepted

with an indicated sentence of

eighteen months in the state prison facility at Vacaville.

Schroeder: Formal sentencing set in Department 145,

September 19, 9 a.m.

This court is adjourned. [bangs gavel]

[indistinct murmuring]

I know that as things go...

eighteen months is not a very long time.

As things go, it's a lot better than nothing.

Look...

Here's my card.

If you ever need a lawyer.

If you need a friend,

please don't hesitate to call...

for anything.

- Hey, Mike. How'd it go? - Stuart, Douglas.

- Michael. female #5: Wait a second!

- Good night. Brackman: Hold that elevator!

Iris: Yes, he arrived this afternoon.

No. I'm sorry. He's gone for the day.

Yes, I'll have him call you in the morning.

Thank you. Goodnight.

- Goodnight. - Goodnight, Iris.

[clears throat]

How'd it go?

Kuzak: All three of them copped to single counts of assault.

How much time did they pull?

Not much. 18 months.

I suspect young Pregerson is gonna find out

more about the crime of rape in those 18 months

than he bargained for.

I suspect you're right.

Word is, you were

doing the prosecution's job.

Well, I let the cops know he was a ticking bomb.

They did the rest.

That's a pretty thin line, ethics-wise.

If I stepped over it...

which, by the way, I don't think I did...

I'll live with it.

I'm having dinner with Martin Garver.

- Care to join? - Ah, I'll pass.

I got a mountain of work I gotta do.

For what it's worth...

I might argue your ethics in this case.

But I admire your conscience.

[soft music]

[knocking on door]

[music continues]

Miss Moore?

You said if I needed a friend...

Come on in.

I'm...

[clears throat]

[voice breaking] I'm...

I'm so scared.

[crying]

[soft music]

[theme music]

[music continues]