All language subtitles for L.A.Law.S03E06.Dummy.Dearest.1080p.HULU.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-BurCyg_track3_[eng]

Woman:
Kenzey Brackman chaining Kuzak.

Yes.

[indistinct chatter]

Kenzey Brackman chaining Kuzak.

One moment, please.

Yes.

What are you looking at, Waldo?

You're making him talk.

Oh, oh, you guys are going
to get along just great.

You're both dummies.

Gilbert: Hey, Waldo, have
another doughnut.

Why settle for tubby
when you could be fat?

What's the matter, Waldo, huh?

- Gilbert: Cat got your tongue?
- Stop it!

Stop calling me Waldo.
My name is Benny.

Sorry, Benny.

- Jonathan: Mr. Peterson?
- That's us, ace.

Come on in.

Hey, Waldo, did you
hear about the moron

who ate the refrigerator bulb?

He wanted to have a light lunch.

[laughs]

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Before we begin, for those
of you who haven't met her,

I'd like to introduce
Ms. Dorothy Wyler,

our new associate

who begins employment
with us today.

Brackman:
Ms. Wyler will initially be

concentrating on
corporate matters

and all assignments to her are
to be channeled through me.

First item up, a reminder to
all that the Christmas party

will commence at the close
of business Thursday.

A further reminder that
business concludes at 6:30 p.m.

Ho ho ho, Dougie.

Feel free to invite your clients
to share in the holiday cheer,

provided they've generated

over 200 hours of
business this year

and their accounts are
not over 60 days past due.

Brackman: Stuart, I trust you've
taken care of catering?

On a less jolly note,

where do we stand with
your inquisition, Michael?

I'm appearing before
the disciplinary committee

this morning with the able
Victor Sifuentes at my side.

Brackman:
They wouldn't levy a fine

against the firm, would they?

They don't Levy fines, Doug.

Kuzak:
My guess is a private censure.

What happens to uh,
what's-his-name... Mathers?

He's up on criminal
charges for fraud,

impersonating a lawyer.

Last I heard, he got
an expedited trial,

and he's representing himself.

How incompetent could he be

if he got himself
an expedited trial?

Brackman:
Moving on, People vs. Peterson.

In the twilight zone.

This guy's charged with
assaulting a police officer,

resisting arrest.

He'll only talk through a nasty
little dummy named Gilbert.

The guy's
a certifiable kookaboo.

Well, you're going
to have to use

the well-known kookaboo defense.

Seriously, Leland,
I don't know what to do.

I waltz this guy into court
without his dummy,

I don't have a case.

I waltz in with the dummy,

they laugh me out
of the courthouse.

I'm not unmindful of the degree

of difficulty here, Jonathan.

We're all aware of Kenny
Peterson's extensive psychiatric

history and the unfortunate
event which precipitated it,

but his father is one of
our more prized clients.

McKenzie:
And I've assured Peterson Sr.

that his son will be vigorously

and successfully
defended in this matter.

I trust you'll accomplish this

in your inimitable fashion.

- Then, I'll do my best.
- Mm-hmm. Good, good.

McKenzie: Move along, Douglas.

Amanda Shaw vs.
The National Informer.

The settlement offer was up to
three hundred thousand.

Amanda takes the stand today.

If you ask me, I'd take the
three hundred.

Celebrities almost
never win libel cases.

We're talking about an actress

with an image purer
than ivory soap...

An image completely
destroyed by lies they printed.

So, she should run with it.

Enjoy all the controversy,
move up to something R-rated,

get away from those
g-rated musicals.

I'll mention it to her.

Finally, Masterson
vs. Omni American.

Trial starts next week.

And I'm going to need
some backup on that.

Whatever you need.

Dorothy, coordinate with
Michael. And, Stuart,

maybe you could jump in to
crunch some numbers?

- No problem.
Doug: Let's not blow this one.

Aside from this case
bringing in major revenue,

this is a real chance
to show that we can handle

sophisticated anti-trust cases
as well as the big boys.

Brackman: Jack Masterson still
pleased, Michael?

Yeah. So far, so good.

- He loves me.
- Yes?

Well, on that megalomaniac
reflection, we're adjourned.

Ann. Hang on. Stuart.

News on the adoption front.

I've got you in
with Ross Burnett.

- Wednesday, 12:30, his office.
- You're kidding.

I thought there was a
six-month wait for this guy.

There is, but I pulled a few
strings for him on his divorce

and he owes me one.

But it's just a meeting, right?

I mean, we're not
committed to anything.

Look, I-- I think he assumes
you're ready to go forward.

What's the charge?

Fifteen thousand.

What?

Look, Ann, they
don't give them away.

I don't want to feel like a
couple of over-privileged adults

who go out and buy a baby

the way you go out
and buy a car.

Look, you're paying Ross for
his legal services,

the birth mother for her
rent and medical expenses...

It's totally legitimate.

The other thing
to remember is that

she that she has the
right to take the baby back

any time until the
consent form is signed.

- How long is that?
Becker: About six months.

Six months?

Ann, we're going to take it
one step at a time, okay?

[sighs]
Okay.

Okay, we're in business then.

Thanks.

Kuzak.

What are you doing here?

I thought I'd lend
you my support.

Heh. In exchange for what?

Hmph. You doing the same.

I testify for you,
you testify for me.

Very symmetrical, no?

No.

He'd be helping me out.

Hey, don't look at me.

- Mike.
- I'm sorry.

But I don't want you
to be my witness,

and I certainly don't
want to be yours.

The first part of
that is up to you.

The second part's up to me.

Here's your subpoena.

If you could get there by
10 o'clock, that would be great.

Oppenheim: As the evidence
clearly has established,

Michael Kuzak violated
disciplinary rule 3101

in aiding the unauthorized
practice of law.

If the committee please...

In order to assess
Mr. Kuzak's ethical conduct,

I believe it first necessary
to appreciate the circumstances

under which it occurred.

In other words,
you got an excuse.

The discovery that Richard
Mathers was unlicensed

to practice law came more
than halfway through the trial.

The issue here is that
the court didn't learn of it

until after the verdict

and then from only
Mr. Mathers himself.

Well, if you
could just stand back

from the code for one moment,

I think that you'll see that
the only motivation here

was a fair settlement.

We don't stand back from
the code, Mr. Sifuentes.

- Gregg: We enforce it.
- I understand that, ma'am.

Furthermore, this
isn't some nit-picking

technical violation
we're talking about.

These charges indicate
conduct in direct violation

of a lawyer's obligation
as an officer of the court.

Sifuentes: All Mike Kuzak did

was try to avoid having
Richard Mathers' fraud

force his client into
protracted litigation

at considerable further expense.

That's not the concern
of this committee.

Well, with all due respect...

- Maybe it should be.
Sifuentes: Mike.

If the only question here is

did I or did I not
violate the code,

let's stop wasting
each others' time.

I did.

But you only talk about
a lawyer's obligation

as an officer of the court.

What about my
obligation to my client?

Your first loyalty is
to the legal system.

The purpose of which
is to administer justice.

Richard Mathers was a
highly skilled practitioner.

There's no argument about that.

Mr. Kuzak and he went
head to head.

Both clients received skilled,
uncompromised representation.

Tell me what that
is if not justice.

And you in fact
read this article

on the day it was
published, correct?

Shaw: It wasn't even two weeks
after my daughter's death.

I had just buried my little girl

when I picked up that paper...

and read those lies.

Could you tell us exactly
what the lies were, Miss Shaw?

They said... they printed that
I was having sexual intercourse

with Elena's boyfriend,

her 17-year-old boyfriend...

and that when Elena
found out about it,

that's when she took
the overdose.

I know it's painful, but
I'd like you to try describe

the humiliation you felt.

Shaw: Humiliation?

They said I was sleeping

with my teenage
daughter's boyfriend,

that I...
helped cause her suicide.

And that goes

way, way beyond... humiliation.

Do you think that I'm
sitting in this chair right now

because I feel humiliated?

Has there been any public
reaction to this article?

Shaw: Oh, I get
letters every day.

Letters calling me
perverted, twisted, sick.

My friends have all backed away

because they feel that
if they've printed that...

there must be something to it.

What about the
professional reaction?

As far as the studios are
concerned, I make people sick.

I'm the repulsive mother

who screwed her
daughter's teenage boyfriend.

Would you want me
on your marquee?

Thank you. Nothing further.

Um...

I take it from your testimony

that you did not have sex
with Michael Lyons.

Of course I didn't.

Yet... you were physically

attracted to him, were you not?

Shaw: No. He was my daughter's
boyfriend.

Did you not refer to him
in a talk show interview

as being fabulously
handsome and sexy?

I was talking about my daughter,

and how wonderful Michael
and she were together--

And you said that he was
handsome and sexy, didn't you?

Yes, but I--

Mitchell: Did you ever kiss this
sexy guy, Miss Shaw?

Romantically, no.

The question is,

have you
ever kissed Michael Lyons?

You mean have I ever kissed
him hello or goodbye? Yes.

Did he ever swim with you naked
in your backyard pool?

Mitchell: I'm sorry, did you
not hear the question?

You're taking
that out of context.

Now, that was a party where
a couple of the kids

ended up going skinny dipping.

Including you and this
fabulously sexy teenager,

completely naked.

I had my suit on and I got out

the minute
they took theirs off!

Mitchell: I'm sure you did.

Ma'am, on February 22nd, 1986,

when your daughter
was away on a ski trip,

did Michael Lyons spend
the night at your house?

Shaw:
He had a fight with his father

and his mother called
me and asked me

if I would put him up
for one night.

Your suggestion
is completely perverted--

Well, all I am
suggesting is that

it's possible for
people to get the wrong idea.

Shaw: No! It is not possible!

Ma'am, you publicly declared

your attraction for him
on a talk show.

You kissed him, you hugged him,

you spent the night alone
with him in your house.

You are a bastard!

- Judge Adelstein: Miss Shaw.
- I'm sorry, Miss Shaw.

I'm just demonstrating
how it looks...

to me, right now,

and how it looked to my client
when he published that article.

Move to strike the speech,
Your Honor.

Mitchell: I'll withdraw it.

Nothing further.

[intense music]

And what happened next, officer?

I pulled him over and
started writing up the citation,

when this dummy strapped into
a car seat starts ridiculing me.

The dummy was ridiculing you?

Jordon: Well, Peterson, but he
was doing it through the dummy.

Lemoyne: So what did you do?

Jordon:
I warned him to stop. He didn't.

And when he became verbally
abusive, I impounded the dummy

and attempted to place it
in the trunk

of my unit for safekeeping.

- That's then he jumped on me.
- Mr. Peterson?

Jordon: Right. He just came
at me like a madman.

So I said,
"That's it, you're busted."

Then he really went berserk...

Knocked me down and
started pummeling me.

Did Mr. Peterson
injure you, sir?

Chipped three teeth, 12 stitches
in my forehead...

I was on disability
for two weeks.

Thank you, sir. Nothing further.

- Why'd you grab the dummy, sir?
- Excuse me?

You said that prior to
my client attacking you,

you grabbed the dummy.
I'm asking you why.

You should have heard
what it was calling me.

Well, I-- I mean, I know it was
Peterson, but it was through...

Well, if you knew
it was Mr. Peterson,

why did you grab the dummy?

I don't know. I was agitated.

I-- I lost my head,
and out of impulse--

So at the time of this arrest,
you-- your mental facilities

were impaired,
and you were acting impulsively?

- I didn't say that.
- Well, what did you say?

I'm saying, if you
had been there--

Ha! He's got that
pig squirming now.

Lemoyne: Objection!

You see, that's what
I had to put up with.

You broke my arm,
you infected grunt!

- I should have broke your head!
- Kenny!

Judge Vance: Hey!

Mr. Rollins... I'd thank you to
control your client.

And, officer Jordan,
would you please refrain

from addressing the puppet?

What did you do with the
dummy after you grabbed it, sir?

I just put it away
for safekeeping.

You stuck me in your
trunk of your car, you Nazi!

That's it! Bailiff,
confiscate that thing.

Your Honor, I object!

My client cannot communicate

without that dummy, Judge.

Jonathan: If you remove it
for his possession,

you strip his ability
to confer with counsel,

to contribute to
his own defense,

and he'd be
incompetent to stand trial.

You've got to be kidding.

This is a joke.

He's sane and
Mr. Rollins knows it.

Lemoyne: The idea that
Mr. Peterson thinks

this dummy is
real is ridiculous.

Is it? The last
20 minutes alone,

we've all individualized it.

You objected to it twice.

Jonathan: Your witness here
threatened to break its head.

And you, Your Honor,
want to take it into custody.

Imagine how Kenny Peterson
thinks of it

having lived his
whole life with it.

Look, you want to
plead temporary insanity

or self-defense here, fine.

But I won't have your client

and his imaginary friend
disrupting my courtroom.

Now we'll adjourn
until tomorrow.

In the meantime, get your
client to clean up his act!

Forty-two, and?

And I'm thirty-eight.

We brought resumes...

Educational and professional
vitae, that sort of thing.

Religion?

- Ann: Protestant.
- And Jewish.

Burnett: And the baby?

How will you raise it?

Oh, uh...

We thought we'd just do
you know, a menorah

and a Christmas tree,
that sort of thing.

- Ann: Is that an issue?
- Sometimes.

Some birth mothers
request a certain religion,

others don't care.

And you plan on
working full-time

after the baby is born?

Part-time, probably.

We have the money, so...

Would you consider a black baby?

- Stuart?
- Um...

I don't know, uh...

How do you feel about it?

Burnett: I just want to know
your requirements.

I feed the data into a computer.

Birth mothers tell me
what they want.

I try to make a match.

Uh, white...

We want a white baby.

I'll get this information
out to attorneys,

to doctors, to high
school gym teachers,

to anyone who might
know a birth mother.

I'll need pictures...

happy pictures of you
two together.

Burnett: Do you have a dog?

Should we get one?

Birth mothers like
dogs in the pictures,

what can I tell you?

We'll get a dog. [laughs]

When I find a birth mother
who seems right for you,

I'll give her your phone numbers
and she'll call you collect.

Make a list of questions.
Write them down.

People tend to forget everything
when the call happens.

And take the call, no matter
what's going on.

[both sigh]

I-I should probably
get back to court.

Ann, the call will come for you.

Burnett:
Considering the circumstances,

these girls generally have
no use for men right now.

Be open and honest.

Tell her how much you
want to have a baby.

Let her know how
vulnerable you feel.

Above all, don't cut the
conversation short for anything.

Not even if you have
to get back to court.

Okay.

Mr. Kuzak, in the period of
time that we were adversaries,

you observed me conducting
some 11 depositions.

You heard me argue
11 pre-trial motions.

Mathers:
You watched me pick a jury.

You sat across from
me during 15 days of trial.

What kind of lawyer am I?

- Competent.
- Competent?

Tell us, how many attorneys

did Barry and Nina Toland
have prior to hiring me?

I believe they had three.

Three different
bona fide attorneys,

licensed to practice law
in the state of California.

What settlement offer,

if any, was on the table
during that time?

None.

Mathers: And two months
after I had come

into the case,
how had that changed?

Mr. Tecowsky's insurance carrier

authorized throwing in
the proceeds of the policy.

Which amounted to how much?

Half a million dollars.

I guess they thought
I was competent, too, huh?

- Objection.
- Sustained.

Mr. Kuzak, around
December 1st of this year,

you approached me with this
same half million dollar offer

and one additional
piece of information...

namely that you knew I was
not licensed to practice law.

What was my reaction to that?

Kuzak: You turned it down.

And what reason did
I give for doing so?

You said you wouldn't sell your
client out to save yourself.

Thank you. I have
no further questions.

What did you do
when you found out

that Mr. Mathers
wasn't a lawyer?

Objection. Irrelevant.

Goes to credibility, Your Honor.

Gylkowski: This witness
perpetrated a fraud

upon the court for
which he is now

under investigation by
the state bar.

I move to strike that!

Mathers:
That's prejudicial and--

Judge Syler:
Both of you settle down.

The witness can
answer the question.

I confronted
Mr. Mathers directly.

So you tried to convert it
to your advantage?

- Mathers: Argumentative.
- Sustained.

Tell me, sir,

what is the status of
Toland vs. Tecowsky now?

It's been settled.

Is that right?

Did the plaintiffs engage
new counsel so soon?

The parties reached
an agreement between themselves.

Did you have any conversations
with Mr. Mathers

subsequent to his arrest as to
what that agreement might be?

We set certain parameters.
I advised Tecowsky.

I assume he did
the same with the Tolands.

And how did you
two boys make out?

I object, Your Honor.

District attorney is slinging
mud against the wall

and hoping something sticks.

That's funny, Mr. Mathers,
because

with the two of you it seems
that something always does.

That's quite
sufficient, thank you.

Tell me, Mr. Kuzak,

is your testifying
on behalf of Mr. Mathers

part of the settlement
arrangement?

I'm here under subpoena.

Naturally.

I'm sure the two of you
are well-versed

at avoiding the appearance
of collusion.

Lyons: I never had any romantic
thing with her mother.

That was a total lie.

Did anyone from
the National Informer

contact you prior to
publishing this article?

No. Never.

Michael, what was your
relationship with Amanda Shaw?

She was my girlfriend's mother.

Were we close? Probably.

Lovers? No, that's ridiculous.

Lyons: Totally ridiculous.

Thank you, Michael.
Nothing further.

[clears throat]

Mr. Lyons, you and Elena

were boyfriend and
girlfriend for how long?

Almost two years.

You were in love?

Yes.

Were you ever unfaithful to her?

Once.

But it wasn't
with her mother.

Mitchell: This was about a month
before Elena's death.

Is that correct?

It was one incident and

it was all straightened out.

I'm sure it was.

Mr. Lyons, did you ever have

private discussions
with Elena's mother

about Elena's mental well-being?

We talked about her depression.

She wanted me to help convince
Elena to get counseling.

And how did Elena feel about

these discussions
with Mrs. Shaw?

She wasn't happy about it.

In fact, she shouted
at you at school one day

to stop going behind her back to
her mother. Isn't that correct?

Elena was real upset about
a lot of things. She had--

So, as I understand it, about...

a month before
Elena took her own life,

she was upset about
your cheating on her

at approximately the same time
that she was openly screaming

at you to stay away
from her mother.

Is that a fair understanding?

You're making it
sound like something

completely different
than what it was.

Oh I see, so what you're
saying is that it is possible

to... misinterpret
the circumstances?

- Yes.
Mitchell: Thank you, Mr. Lyons.

Nothing further.

And what exactly did your
source tell you, Mr. Bellini?

Mr. Bellini:
That a romantic affair existed

between the boy and Mrs. Shaw.

And you were satisfied that
this information was accurate?

Well, he had been
accurate in the past.

It jibed with all
the circumstantial

evidence we collected.

I had no reason to believe
the story was not true.

And, accordingly,
we decided to run the piece.

Thank you.

No further questions.

Who told you about this
so-called affair, Mr. Bellini?

Mr. Bellini: A reporter is not
required to reveal his sources.

That's my right under
the state constitution.

You're absolutely correct.
But you also have the right

to disclose your
source if you so desire.

And since your neck
is on the cutting block

of a $50 million lawsuit here,

I would think
you'd want to prove

that this informant
really exists.

Or would that compromise
your journalistic integrity?

I told my source I'd protect

his identity, and I
stick to my word.

Are you telling this court

and this jury,
that it's your game plan

to exalt the rights
of a blatant liar

over those of an
innocent victim?

You say he's a liar.

I've put seven witnesses
up here saying he was a liar.

- Who've you gotta say he's not?
- Your Honor!

Mr. Bellini:
I'm a professional reporter.

I check my sources.
I verify my--

Did you check with Amanda Shaw
before printing this article?

She didn't return my calls.

Did you check with Michael Lyons
before running this article?

I figured he'd deny it.

And why ruin a good story with
the facts, huh, Mr. Bellini?

There's plenty of
facts we didn't print.

I was told she was
pregnant with the kid's baby

and had
to have an abortion.

- What?!
- Sit down, Mrs. Shaw.

Mr. Bellini:
But I didn't print that.

I couldn't verify it,
so I didn't print it.

Because you're such a decent
and honorable man, right?

Objection.

Here is a file containing
every article

you've published in
the last two years, Mr. Bellini.

Find me one single
piece that doesn't

bash the reputation
of a celebrity.

These are all legitimate
stories that I wrote.

Find me one that doesn't bash
the reputation of a celebrity.

I do investigative expose work.

That's what I do.

That's what you do.

Ann: No further questions.

Mr. Sifuentes, do you
have anything to say

before we render our decision?

Only that it has never
been our intention

to minimize the importance
of ethical standards.

I've simply tried to make
the committee aware

of the difficulty of
Mr. Kuzak's situation.

Sifuentes: Now, Mike's record
both as a prosecutor

and in private practice
has been exemplary.

I would just hope that his
actions be taken in context.

Mr. Kuzak, your
council has argued

that the actions
of Richard Mathers

justify your own.

Doesn't work that way.

What he did constitutes fraud.

What you did constitutes

devious and unethical behavior

utterly at odds with
our code of conduct.

Gregg: Now, since Mr. Mathers
isn't an attorney,

he is beyond the limits
of our authority.

You, sir, are not.

Gregg: We are your peers.

We speak for our profession,

and we condemn what you did.

Our recommendation to
the state bar association

is that you be publicly censured

and suspended from
the practice of law

for a period of not
less than one month,

effective immediately.

- A month?
- That's right, Mr. Kuzak.

A month.

[scoffs]

Well, I'm going to
sleep a lot better

knowing that the
members of this committee

are there to pass
out pronouncements

on the correctness
of my conduct,

especially when they don't allow
themselves to be distracted

by the specifics
of the situation.

If your contempt
for the committee

is any indication, sir,

I fully expect this will not be

the last time we'll
be seeing you.

We're going to
fight this out with

the bar association in court.

Let's see how smug these
fat-assed Rotarians are

after they've gone a
few rounds with a litigator.

No.

What do you mean "no"?

Bottom line,
you broke the rules, Mike.

Now, we tried to put the best
face on it that we could

and this is the way
it came down.

What are you saying?
You think that they're right?

Yeah. And if you want
my recommendation,

both as your friend and
as your lawyer right now,

I'm gonna tell you
to take your medicine

and be glad it's not worse.

Shale:
Kenneth Peterson was kidnapped

when he was less
than three years old.

He was thrown into
the trunk of a car

and driven around for days

in a state of virtually
total sensory deprivation.

And from that time,
he has never spoken.

But, Dr. Shale,
everybody in this room

has heard him talk
through the dummy.

Shale: But psychologically,
that's not really Kenny.

In lay terms, that's
a separate personality

that he's created
to protect his real self.

Protect his real self from what?

Shale: From the outside world.

It's called atypical
dissociative disorder,

and it's usually brought on
by an early childhood trauma.

- Such as kidnapping?
Shale: Exactly.

And this makes people
become ventriloquists?

Heh. When a child won't talk,

we try to get him
to talk through a doll.

Shale:
I've treated Kenny from...

about age seven until 13,

at which time he refused
any further treatment.

And what's the prognosis
for him now, Dr. Shale?

Well, it's impossible
to say with any certainty,

but unless Kenny
somehow develops

a greater trust
in the outside world

or faces his trauma
through treatment,

I'd say his chances of

reconstituting his personality
are slim.

Jonathan: And do you think he
poses a threat to society, sir?

No.

The only reason
he became violent that night

was because he felt Gilbert
was being threatened.

Shale:
When he saw Gilbert being thrown

into the trunk of that cruiser,

it recalled his own
terrifying experience

and he probably just snapped.

Jonathan: Thank you, Dr. Shale.
Nothing further.

Doctor, are you saying
this guy's insane?

No. I'm talking about
a basically functional man

who has withdrawn into
a private fantasy world.

Then he knows this
dummy isn't real, doesn't he?

Yes, I think he does.

Then why did you always
talk to me, you fruitcake?

- You know I'm real.
- Kenny...

Get your hands off of me. You'd
be objecting to this quack.

Mr. Peterson...

Hey, judgie boy!
Get with the program.

Gilbert: Kenny's the dummy here.
He's the one who doesn't talk.

- Your Honor--
Judge Vance: Mr. Peterson!

Go ahead. Don't be such a wimp.

Say something. I dare you.

Show us you're not
a lost cause, Kenny.

Give us a word...

one well-chosen word.

I rest my case.

This guy is hopeless.

And so are you.

Everyone in my chambers... now.

So, how the hell did you
ever get to be a judge?

Gilbert, I swear,
if you don't shut up,

I'll roast your chestnuts
on an open fire.

Ha!

It's clear to me that we're
dealing with some

pretty extraordinary
circumstances here,

but I can't have
this guy going crazy

every time the trunk
of a car slams shut.

- He's not dangerous, Judge.
- He beat up a cop.

You heard the psychiatrist.

It was a unique and
threatening situation.

Look, Kenny.

Gilbert.

Alright. Gilbert.

If I let Kenny go,

can you promise me
he'll resume his treatment?

What am I, his keeper?

Yes, in a manner
of speaking, you are.

I want your word
that you and Kenny

will go back to getting therapy.

Otherwise he's
going to jail... alone.

Judge Vance: Do you understand?

Ah... alright.

Criminy.

Mr. Rollins, I'm going to
continue this matter

without a finding for one year,

after which I'll drop
the charges

if he stays with the treatment.

Judge Vance:
That's all. We're done.

I'll enter this matter
in the record.

You can all go.

You were pathetic.

What's up?

Masterson pulled out.

[scoffs] He what?

McKenzie: He's going to Crea,
Leitner, and Farrell.

Why?

He's afraid a federal Judge

who thinks he's first
cousin to God almighty

might just be
a little suspicious

of whatever it is
you have to say.

And you know something?

Under the circumstances,
I can't says I blame him.

I'm numb.

Yeah, well...

Before it gets any worse,

assuming such a thing
is possible,

we have to take some steps.

Well, I suggest you start
by speaking to Victor.

He seems to think that we should
go gently into that good night.

I have spoken to Victor.

I believe he is
absolutely correct.

And I intend to honor that
suspension recommendation

to the letter.

Go home, Michael.

Your very presence
in these offices

compromises this entire firm.

You're not gonna
stand up for me?

Oh, damn it, Michael.

You kept your mouth
shut about Mathers

without so much as
a word of consultation.

You were wrong,

and everybody here
is now paying for that!

And if you expect us all
just to fall in line behind you,

well I-- I suggest you've over
estimated your own importance.

I can't come back to
the office for a month?

Not anywhere near it.

This newspaper printed
malicious, devastating lies...

lies that destroyed Amanda
Shaw's professional career.

Lies which caused
her emotional pain

that will haunt her
for the rest of her life.

And as if that isn't bad enough,

they're here now standing proud,

cloaking themselves
in the first amendment...

freedom of expression,
freedom of the press,

the fundamental principles
that America stands for.

But the Constitution doesn't
say you can disregard the truth

and obliterate the reputation
of innocent people.

They accused her of having sex

with her daughter's
teenage boyfriend.

Ann: They said that she
contributed

to her daughter's suicide.

That's vicious.

That's devoid of
any human decency.

And don't you dare
endorse their suggestion

that that is what
America stands for.

Don't you dare
accept their notion

that it's this kind of freedom
that makes this country great,

because everyone
in this room knows

they printed that trash
for the sole purpose...

of selling more newspapers
at the checkout stand.

And all the flag waving in
the world won't change the fact

that they sacrificed
an innocent, grieving mother

for the sake of
corporate profit,

and that is abhorrent.

They think they know
what America stands for.

Show them what
we don't stand for.

In order for Amanda Shaw to
prevail here...

she has to prove that
the National Informer

recklessly published
that article

when they knew or
should have known

that it was false.

Michael Lyons was having
an affair with someone.

About 20 people at school,

heard Elena scream at Michael

to stay away from her mother.

Stay away from Amanda Shaw,

a woman who admittedly
kissed him, who embraced him,

who said on national television

she was sexually
attracted to him,

the woman who spent
the night alone with him

when Elena was out of town.

Did the National Informer
jump to a conclusion here?

Maybe.

Was it a reckless,
malicious leap?

Of course not.

My client was
probing the questions

that a lot of
people were asking.

And isn't that exactly what
a free press should do...

to ask your questions,

to explore your curiosity?

Oh, sure, newspapers
and magazines

can print nice,
pleasant articles

that never offend,
anger, or provoke.

Mitchell: Wouldn't it be neat

if we can pick up a
newspaper every day

and never have to read anything

that was, my god, inappropriate?

Wouldn't it be swell if the
press stopped being

aggressive or hungry?

I hate to stall Ms. Kelsey's
momentum here,

but, the first
amendment exists in part

not only to promote that
kind of zeal by the media,

but to guarantee it,

so that we don't have editors

telling us what is good
to read and what is not.

Mitchell: So we do not have
to have publishers

suspending our civil rights

every time there's a chance...

that somebody might be bruised.

Amanda Shaw...

suffered real pain here.

I won't ask you
to believe otherwise.

But when Ms. Kelsey
steps up here

and tells you that
this case is not about

first amendment
or freedom of the press,

don't you believe that either.

Not for one single second.

[instrumental music]

Judge Adelstein: Have you
reached a verdict, Mr. Foreman?

- We have, Your Honor.
Judge Adelstein: How say you?

In the matter of Amanda Shaw vs.
The National Informer,

we find in favor
of the plaintiff

and order the defendant
to pay damages

in the amount of
$1.3 million.

[indistinct chattering]

Happy with the amount,
Ms. Kelsey?

Very satisfied. Yes.

How are you gonna
spend it, Amanda?

Mm, maybe donate it
to a university

that teaches
responsible journalism.

One point three million is a
pretty big donation.

Money isn't the issue here.
I think you all know that.

The big thing is is that
I'm finally exonerated.

That verdict tells the world
that those lies were lies.

I'm just happy
to get my name cleared.

I take it you
haven't seen today's

edition of the
National Informer.

No, and I don't care to.
Thank you.

Reporter 1:
How do you feel about

making the front page again,
Amanda?

Any truth to the story about
your abortion, Amanda?

I'll sue them again. You pigs.

Shaw: I'll sue you again.
Ann: Amanda.

- You bastard.
- Amanda.

- I'll sue you again!
Reporter 2: Mr. Nelson!

- Nice. Very nice.
- Mr. Nelson, any reaction?

- Reporter 3: Any comments?
- She called us pigs.

- That's slander.
- Alright, that's enough.

Thank you very much.
No more. Thank you.

That's all. Goodbye.

Are you going to countersue?

- We can't sue them.
- What are you talking about?

This one's worse
than the other one.

This just recounts
what was said in court.

They can print that.

But it was their reporter
who said it in court.

It doesn't matter. A newspaper
can cover court proceedings.

Then let's sue the reporter for
saying it in the first place.

We can't do that either.

Witnesses have
qualified immunity.

Are you telling me that because
he said this lie

on a witness stand,
he can get away with it?

Basically.

So, is this how
the system works, Ann?

Is this what I went through
two years of litigation for?

[sighs deeply]

I always felt that
the beauty of the jury system

was that ordinary people
make the ultimate decisions,

guided by their hearts,

their minds,

and their own humanity.

Mather: Right now,
I don't want to talk

about the elements of fraud,

burdens of proof, or reasonable
doubt or any of that.

I just want to tell you
who I am.

My whole life, I never wanted
to be anything but a lawyer.

Mathers:
By the time I was a teenager,

I could recite
the courtroom speeches

from every lawyer
movie I had ever seen.

"Inherit The Wind,"
"To Kill A Mockingbird,"

"Town Without Pity..."
I knew all of them.

I went to law school
for a year at night.

When I lost my scholarship,
I dropped out.

I drove a cab,
I taught high school,

I sold office furniture.

But the whole time,
I read and I worked

at teaching myself
how to be a lawyer.

Mathers: At first, I practiced
just for friends.

Little by little, though,
I realized

I could really do this.

I didn't need a diploma.

I was going up against
graduates from top ten schools

and beating them cold.

I might not have
been legitimate...

but I served my clients
with unstinting loyalty.

Mathers: Not a single one of
them came to testify against me

because not a single
one of them felt defrauded.

Competent representation
was what they asked for,

and competent representation
was what they got.

Yes, I practiced law
without a license.

And regardless of your verdict,

I will never practice law again.

That, for me, is the
greatest punishment of all.

When I walk through those doors,

when I see that reporter
sitting at her machine,

and I plead my case
knowing that someone

is depending on me
to get them through

what are most likely the most
desperate moments of their life,

I feel more alive here than
I do anywhere else on earth.

I love doing this.

God, I love doing this.

It's hard to imagine this
is the last time I ever will.

[inhales deeply]

[instrumental music]

- Thank you so much.
- Thank you.

Come on, come on.

[laughs]
Well, Leland,

another year,
another holiday season

to demarcate
the passage of time.

- Yes, indeed.
- I don't know about you guys.

But I've always felt
the spiritual side

and the business side
to be wholly compatible.

- Huh.
- Hmm.

I mean, is a pretzel
and potato chip sampler

lithographed with a print
of Christ in the manger,

or an electric menorah with
sequentially blinking bulbs

necessarily any
less an expression of

faith than simple prayer?

David: Heavy.

[knocking]

Uh, if I promise to be
a good little boy,

can I come in and have
some cake and ice cream?

So what's new
on the fertility front?

We met with a baby
broker yesterday.

Ann, that's wonderful.

Abby, I'm 38 years old.

- I've never changed a diaper.
- It's easy.

What if we get
one of those colicky babies

that cries all night
and never sleeps?

And what happens
if they get sick?

I mean, it's not as if they can
tell you what's bothering them.

- What about crib death?
- Ann, stop.

Don't worry about
things you can't control.

I guess I just
always thought that

I'd have nine
months of pregnancy

to learn how to accept
a baby and love it.

But I'm not going
to be pregnant.

What if I don't love this baby?

You may be terrified right now,
but the first time

that you hold this little...
[inhales deeply]

tiny, helpless baby
in your arms,

you'll fall in love.

And within 24 hours
you won't be able to

imagine your world without it.

Markowitz:
Merry Christmas! Ho ho ho!

And a Happy Hanukah!

So, how do you feel
about the place so far?

Mm, not bad. I think
I'll get used to it.

You have much experience
with divorce cases?

Only my own.

Well, first thing is... thanks.

Divorce yourself
from your own divorce.

You don't have to worry.
Tell me what you want me to do,

and I'll do it.

Ms. Kelsey.

Kudos and attaboys on a big win.

Ugh, some win, Douglas.

All Amanda Shaw
got for her troubles

was another round
of vicious public lies.

Celebrities open
themselves up to it, Ann.

But at least through our efforts
maybe they'll think twice

before doing it to someone else.

Fat chance. At a million three,

they probably made
money on the deal.

That aside, let us
not forget the one-third

that swells the coffers
of McKenzie Brackman.

Gilbert: I'll do what I can.

But I give up. I mean it.

What's the use
of protecting you?

You're useless.

Everybody out there
is onto you, boy.

They're laughing at you.

Gilbert: They know how
screwed up you are.

You're a pathetic little mole.

Don't look away.
I'm talking to you, buster.

Leave him alone.

Shut up, dummy.

Don't you pick on him.
He's scared.

Scared?

What's he got to
be scared about?

I'm the one who takes the heat.

I'm the one that got
thrown into the car trunk

when he refused to
talk to the policeman.

I'm the one that
had to go to court

and talk to the stupid
Judge for him.

Do you think it's easy
living my life

as this idiot's mouthpiece?

You know what I think?

I-- I think you don't
want him to talk.

Excuse me, doofus?

'C-- cause if he could talk,
he wouldn't need you.

[indistinct chattering]

Hey.

Van Owen:
No practicing law, remember?

Leaving instructions
for a few things

that have to be taken care of
during my exile.

Any plans of your own?

Well, no more appointment
book for starters.

Van Owen: You could always
reread "Crime And Punishment."

[laughs]
Maybe I should.

When too many people
tell me that I'm wrong,

I'd be a fool not to consider
the possibility.

On the other hand,

maybe I better just
find a rock somewhere,

and sit down and think.

I'll join you.

I've had a few doubts
about my own ethics lately.

Kuzak : You know what
the funny thing is?

Mathers doesn't
have any such doubts.

I saw his summation today.

He's one of the best lawyers
I've ever seen.

He may have broken the law,

but his moral centre
never wavered.

Will a jury make
that distinction?

[scoffs] They already did.

Took them exactly 35 minutes
to come back with an acquittal.

So he's a fake, we're for real,

and it's our moral compasses
that need adjustment?

Well, not to worry.

I think that between
the two of us,

we ought to be able
to find true north.

- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas, Mickey.

- Merry Christmas, Benny.
- Thanks, Victor. You, too.

Hey, Waldo.

What?

This dummy thinks he's got
something to say to you.

[soft music]

Thank you...

for sticking up for me.

I-- i-- it's okay.

I know I have to
find the strength

to face people...
just like you do.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Big deal.

[music continues]

Anyway...

Merry Christmas.

[Benny chuckles]

Merry Christmas to you, too.

And happy new year!

This is making me sick.

I got to go puke.

[theme music]