Original subtitles

We got three people coming in that...

- Okay. - Where's my crawler?

You told me, "No more." You said you were putting on weight.

When did I say that?

Yo, Grace, how you doing?

Fine, thank you.

And the new boyfriend?

Word on the vine says he's a real animal.

D.A.: Real swinger, regular chimp off the old block.

Where'd you spend the weekend? San Simeon?

Your Honor, there's a message from Officer Johnson.

Grace: He'll be 20 minutes late.

Just put it on the jungle drums

as soon as you're ready.

If I'd known she was into dark and hairy

I would have shown her my chest.

I didn't know that she was into dark and hairy.

- I'd have shown her my-- - Gentlemen, excuse me.

But this is a court of law.

And while you may think it's all fun and games,

I doubt your clients share in your spirit of amusement.

Now if we can get on with our work?

D.A.: Aw, Gracie, I didn't mean nothing.

[laughing]

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Who's the guy?

- It doesn't matter. - Like hell it doesn't!

I'm in love with him.

And I'm terribly sorry that I hurt you.

That's not good enough! You owe me more, baby.

You owe me at least a chance to try to talk you out of it!

- It wouldn't have worked. - You owed me the chance!

- You're right. - Damn it!

I don't wanna be right, Grace.

I wanna be married to you.

Kevin, that's not going to happen.

What I did to you was awful.

I'm desperately sorry.

And I understand if you can't ever forgive me.

I already have. I may not be exciting, Grace.

I don't run around in a gorilla suit.

But when this burns itself out

there's somebody here who loves you

and wants you back.

I have to go. Goodbye, Kevin.

Mr. Finny, have you ever been on a jury before?

Finny: No.

Would it impose any undue hardship on you

if this trial went more than four or five days?

Not really. My boss is paying me.

Well, what do you know about the circumstances

around this case?

All I know is what I read in the newspapers.

And what's that?

Miss Gill was the lady on the local news.

Finny: They showed her having a breast cancer operation

and then a while later she was fired.

And when she was fired, did you sympathize with her at all?

I figured she'd turn up on another channel somewhere.

- They all do. - Thank you.

Not exactly in my corner, is he?

We've only got three preemptory challenges left.

I'm afraid we're gonna have to live with him.

The defendant accepts Mr. Finny, Your Honor.

Mr. Kuzak?

The plaintiff accepts Mr. Finny, Your Honor.

Mr. Albert, do you have any feelings

about TV news anchorwomen?

It's nice work if you can get it.

Sit in a chair, read off a cue card

and collect a six-figure check.

Miss Gill contends that she was fired

because the station didn't want a news anchorwoman

who was perceived as damaged goods.

Kuzak: The defendants contend that she was fired

because of low ratings.

Do you think that you could examine that issue objectively?

- I don't see why not. - Thank you.

No questions, Your Honor.

Let's lose him!

We can't show cause. We're down to two preemptories.

He's already made up his mind.

The plaintiff thanks and excuses

Juror Number Five, Your Honor.

You're excused, Mr. Albert.

Miss Brentley, did it bother you that during her series

of news features on breast cancer

Miss Gill bared her breasts on camera?

Of course not.

It was done in the context of a medical examination.

So you knew about the series?

It was one of the best things I ever saw on television.

And when she found out she had breast cancer

you really felt the shock.

And then when you saw her get a lumpectomy instead of

being mutilated by a mastectomy.

I didn't even know that was possible.

Thank you.

She's perfect!

I know. That's the problem.

Defense excuses Miss Brentley, Your Honor.

Perlman: You're excused.

Then you saw Miss Gill's series?

- Yeah, I saw it. - What'd you think?

My dad died of cancer, you know.

Truthfully, there's some things just not in good taste.

Some things I'd just as soon not bring into my living room.

Robertson: Thank you, Mrs. Clifford.

The plaintiff thanks and excuses

Juror Number Four, Your Honor.

You're excused, Mrs. Clifford.

[indistinct chatter]

There we go.

Thank you.

- I don't know, counselor. - What?

Well, if that's a fair and impartial jury of my piers

we're in a lot of trouble.

- I've seen lots worse. - Look, don't get mad.

But what would happen if we tried for a settlement?

Now? Well, they'd see it as a sign of weakness.

- They'd low-ball us. - How low?

Well, $50, maybe $75,000 tops.

Not a lot left over after you deduct the fees.

Yeah, but that's better than nothing.

Which is what we will both get if we lose.

Well, I'm betting that that won't happen.

No offense, counselor.

But if you lose the bet, you still have a job.

I'm living off of credit cards and bank loans.

And I've got a mortgage I can't pay.

I've got a daughter starting college in the fall.

You've hung on this long. Don't quit on me now.

When I first found out I had cancer

I guess I went into shock. I-I went through the surgery.

I had the radiation therapy. I was doing the series.

But it was like I was outside of myself.

You know, like it was all happening to some other person.

Now, 14 months later, it's just me.

I wake up in the middle of the night

sometimes in a cold sweat,

terrified that I'm gonna die.

I'm alone and I am broke.

I can't get a job.

- I feel ugly. - You are not alone.

And, believe me, Stacey, you are not ugly.

What you are is courageous, tough-minded.

Have you seen the way people stare at me?

You're a celebrity. People stare at celebrities.

Usually from the neck up.

Michael, I'm tired.

I'm tired of being stared at like I'm a freak.

Like I'm a breast that just happens

to have a woman attached to it.

Alright. I'll go to them.

I'll see if I can get a settlement tonight

if that's what's you want.

Kuzak: But they breached your contract.

They fired you for reasons that had nothing to do

with your competence. They violated your civil rights.

And arguably they made it impossible for you

to continue your career.

If you fold now, you're telling them

that it's alright for them to treat you like

some sort of cow they can put the blade to

whenever they decide they don't like the taste of the milk.

Thanks a lot.

You know, that is an utterly awful analogy.

[chuckles]

Don't let 'em get away with it, Stacey.

Make 'em pay.

In veno veritas,

do you really think my chances are good?

I wouldn't be here if I didn't think so.

To justice.

To winning.

McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak?

He's in court now. Can I take a message?

- Hi, Susan. - Hi. Okay.

- We're lawyers, not dentists. - Excuse me?

You look like you're going in for a root canal.

I work upstairs. I'm looking for Jeffrey Sullivan.

Come on, let's take a look around.

Victor? Just tell him he had a few calls.

Jeffrey? A young lady here to see you.

I'm Nancy. We spoke on the phone?

Right. Uh, come into my office.

Oh, there's some messages for you.

- These are mine. - Oh.

Some classmates want my text notes. Thanks.

[indistinct chatter]

I appreciate your forbearance in moving our staff meeting

to the end of the day as Mr. Kuzak and I were toiling

in our respective vineyards of courtroom law.

What's new in your slumlord case, Douglas?

I do not appreciate that characterization

of my landlord-tenant dispute, Mr. Becker.

The attorney who represents himself

has a fool for a client.

Douglas: Normally, I would not undertake my own representation.

But going up against Andrew Taylor is like

shooting fish in the proverbial barrel.

I anticipate a judgment in my favor tomorrow.

Now as the hour is drawing late,

let us move through the items at hand.

Arnold, Mishkin versus Mishkin.

Settlement agreement awaiting signature.

Becker: By the way, Mrs. Mishkin has assigned this firm

two and a half percent of the profits

in her film in lieu of fees.

Why wasn't this arrangement discussed beforehand?

As a partner in this firm, I made a determination that

it was a gamble worth taking.

Not when you're gambling with other peoples' money.

We'll discuss this further at the partners meeting on Friday.

Gill versus Barnett Broadcasting.

Jury selection is almost complete.

- What are our chances? - Well, the client is nervous.

But I think it's a winner.

I hope so, as we have $60,000 in expenses

and billable hours sunk into this case.

I am well aware of that, Douglas.

Well, keep us abreast of developments.

- Patrimko? - Pending.

And where might our Miss Perkins be?

Stuck in traffic.

Finally, as regards messenger costs.

Mr. Sifuentes, I'd like to draw your attention

to $300 worth of messengers charged against

your pending cases in the last four weeks.

What? Can I see those?

Now, unless there's anything else, we stand adjourned.

Woman: Oh, goodnight. See you in the morning.

[knocking on door]

Abby?

Hmm? Oh, my God.

I missed the staff meeting.

There wasn't much to miss.

Haven't you been getting much sleep?

No, the minute my head hits the pillow

my brain starts to race.

I wind up watching movies on cable TV all night.

So, where do you stand?

Nowhere, basically.

Last we heard, Jim got a traffic ticket outside

of Ft. Worth. near Six Flags over Texas.

- How about the car? - He sold it in Atlanta.

He told the salesman that they were headed for Florida.

Angelo Sipriano's theory is that they're doing

the grand tour of amusement parks.

Hmm.

So we're in touch with the Florida PD

and the Victims Aid in Orlando.

It's a long shot, but maybe they'll show up

at Disneyworld.

- Is there anything I can do? - I'll be alright.

It's just nights.

And weekends.

Get your things. We're going out to dinner.

No, no. You have other things to do.

Nothing as important as having dinner with you.

We'll talk, we'll have a glass of wine.

You'll stay over with me tonight.

I couldn't impose on you like that, Ann.

Are you kidding? The guest room's all made up.

It'll be like a pajama party, okay?

- Okay. - Good.

[instrumental music]

"Galaxy is so stunningly inept

one wants to shoot it into orbit."

Now wait. You'll love this part.

"The galactic share of the blame must fall on

"the shoulders of director Mitchell Mishkin,

who brings fresh meaning to the word pretension."

And that's his best review. The News called it loathsome.

The Times hated it.

Cutting off his head isn't gonna make us any taller.

No, but it makes him a lot shorter.

You and I need to go over

the proposed ad promo campaign for "Rose Bush" again.

- Mm-hmm. - Is tomorrow night okay?

Maybe Spago's?

Let's do Simply Blues.

"Galaxy" is playing at the Cinerama Dome.

And if we get a window table, we can count the box office.

Or even better, the complete and total absence of the same.

You know, Arnie, I've never met a man

who understands women the way you do.

[knocking on door]

Excuse me, Arnie.

- What, Roxanne? - Sorry.

Mrs. Kovaks is waiting if you're just about

finished in here.

Douglas: In wrapping up my testimony,

I'd like to reiterate, Your Honor,

that I never intended to be a landlord.

I purchased the building in question in hopes

of reselling it to a Japanese conglomerate

that had plans to tear it down and construct a hotel.

When that deal fell through, I was stuck.

So while continuing to look for another buyer,

I have allowed whatever tenants were living there

to remain at a very reasonable rent, I might add.

In the three years since I've owned it,

I'd like to point out once again that I have never made a profit.

If I were to make the repairs demanded in this lawsuit,

I would actually be losing money on the investment.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Mr. Brackman, approximately how many times did

Mrs. Vernon Fields make complaints to you

regarding the absence of hot water in her apartment?

I have no personal knowledge of any such complaints.

Your Honor, I'd like to have marked for identification

10 letters I have here signed by Mrs. Fields.

The management company handles any little problems

the tenants might be experiencing.

How many times did the Sampson family make complaints

regarding rats and cockroaches in their apartment?

If they complained, the management company handled it.

Do you have any knowledge of the floor that caved in

- in the Perry's apartment? - Perhaps you're not listening.

A management company routinely handles such problems.

And did you empower this management company

- to act as your agent? - In a technical sense, yes.

But you certainly can't try to hold me liable

for my agent's alleged gross negligence.

I see.

Approximately how much have you spent in repairs

to the building since you've owned it?

- Thousands. - How many thousands?

Three. $3,142.

You never spent any money to fix

a-a cracked sewer line, did you?

Or to repair a leaking roof, or rotting floor?

Perhaps you didn't hear me before.

If I had effectuated said repairs

I would have been in the loss column in the investment.

When was the last time you actually visited the premises?

- Not lately. - When exactly?

Actually, never. I just bought it for the loft.

Andrew: Do you believe, as an owner of a building,

you have any responsibility to your tenants?

Would it be better if I evicted them all?

They'd never find rent this cheap.

Do you believe you have a responsibility to provide

a minimally decent standard of living for your tenants?

I suppose minimally decent, yes.

Douglas: But if they want something luxurious

they should have to pay for it.

Thank you.

I-I think I've heard enough from both sides

to render my decision.

Waive closing arguments, gentlemen?

- So waived, Your Honor. - Okay, so waived.

Mr. Brackman, I find you liable and hereby order you

to complete work on Mr. Taylor's list in 10 days.

If you fail to do so, you will be held in contempt.

This isn't fair. It isn't constitutional.

You're asking me to provide public housing for these people!

In addition to the repairs, plaintiffs shall receive

compensatory damages in the amount

of 10 times their monthly rent

and punitive damages in the sum of $25,000.

[cheers and applause]

Hey, I appreciate it, man. Be good.

- Who's that? - Tim Noah.

He's from upstairs at Price, Plumera and Bloomingthal.

What? They don't have bathrooms up there?

Just stopped by to say hi, you know.

Can I talk to you for a minute?

- Sure. Yes, sir. - In my office.

Who are you trying to kid?

Kid? About what?

The phone messages. All these people.

Activity in and out of the bathroom.

Now either you are leading a very weird social life

or you have the weakest bladder in America.

Or you're dealing coke out of this office.

[chuckles] This is crazy.

That's crazy, Mr. Sifuentes. I swear to God.

Don't shoot me through the grease, kid.

I was a PD too long not to know a buy when I see it.

I swear to God.

Tim Noah is a real estate attorney

I'm working for on probate notices.

- In the bathroom? Jeffery: It's a drag.

But it pays $8 an hour and I can use the dough.

Look, I didn't wanna meet him out in the open

because I didn't want everyone thinking

that it was coming out of company time.

Well, it's coming out of company money.

$300 worth of messengers.

And you're charging 'em to my cases.

That's a mistake. I told Elizabeth to send these to me.

I'll straighten this out.

[chuckles] I like you, kid. I mean, I like your hustle.

But I'm gonna give you fair warning.

You quit doing business out of this office

or I'm gonna close you down so fast your head will swim.

You're gonna believe what you're gonna believe.

But I swear to God, I don't use drugs.

I don't sell drugs and my only hustle

is working my buns off to make enough money

to make it through law school.

Look, if it wasn't for this job

and doing other stuff for guys like Mr. Noah

nights, weekends, I'd never make it.

And that's the truth.

If you don't wanna believe it, I can't help it.

And if you wanna kill my chances here

by inferring that I deal drugs, I can't help that either.

I'm just a kid. I can't fight back.

And I don't know about you, Mr. Sifuentes,

but I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth.

I'm just trying to make something out of my life!

I swear on my father's grave!

Are you gonna poison me with Mr. McKenzie?

No. You're good enough to do that all by yourself.

[instrumental music]

You're a very cold guy, Mr. Sifuentes.

[indistinct chatter]

- Thank you. - You're late.

It's been a terrible day.

Aren't you going to wish me a happy birthday?

Happy birthday. Sign these.

- What are they? - Nothing.

Business. Just sign them.

It's my 41st birthday.

And all you can think about is business.

Well, excuse me.

But while you were having your nails Jubilee'd

or your toes pedicured or your tips frosted

or whatever it is females do with their afternoons

I was working overtime trying to protect the family assets.

So if you'll just sign these where it's marked

with red X's, we can move along to matters

of a more festive nature!

These papers sign all our community assets

- over to your mother. - Just temporarily.

Oh, sure, until you divorce me.

- That's absurd. - Who is she?

There is no "she." You're being paranoid.

Am I?

Well, if you think you can get rid of me

that easily, you have another think coming.

I sign nothing until I speak to an attorney.

Fine!

Just don't blame me if in the meantime

we lose everything we own!

What are you talking about?

That's why I'm late. I was in court all day.

- We're being sued. - Sued? What for?

Repairs on our apartment building.

Oh, my God!

Not to worry. We'll win the appeal.

But on the distant chance that we are held accountable,

I'm simply trying to protect us.

I'm gonna wind up just like Marjorie Rollie,

divorced and poor.

Working in Newberry's with those ugly support hose

and varicose veins sticking out all over my legs.

Sheila, this is crazy. I'm not going to divorce you.

[gasps] I'm 41, old, used up.

I don't snap back like some 25-year-old

with elastic breasts.

Once the community property is gone, what have you got to lose?

Well, if you're so damn concerned about it,

- sign the papers! - No.

It's a temporary measure.

If it's so temporary, then sign it over to my mother!

Your mother has the IQ of meat.

I'd rather file for bankruptcy.

You are an insensitive, uncaring man. And I hate you!

And you are a selfish, pampered aging princess

who doesn't know how to make a man feel loved!

Ha! Sex! I was waiting for that!

Shh! Quiet! People are staring.

You come in here half an hour late with papers for me

to sign giving over all my community property

to your lousy mother!

You didn't even bring me a present!

And then you wonder why I don't want to go home

and oil up my saddle

so you can play Sgt. Preston of the Yukon!

- Sit down! - No!

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to.

♪ Happy birthday to me! ♪

♪ Happy birthday, dear Sheila ♪

♪ Happy birthday to me ♪

Miss Gill, would you tell the jury how you came

to do this series of televised reports on breast cancer?

It started as a notion of Mr. Mellers.

Kuzak: The station manager. Gill: Yes.

He wanted me to have a mammogram.

That's like a breast x-ray.

And then to show me at the clinic giving an editorial

on the importance of regular breast examination.

But you had no idea that you yourself had cancer

- at this time. - No, none at all.

Kuzak: What happened then?

Well, I went with the crew to the clinic.

And then the next day they called me

and told me that they suspected that I had cancer.

Did you suspend your series on breast cancer at this time?

Gill: No, because Mr. Mellers thought that it would be

a very powerful piece to show me with the doctors

- discussing my options. - And you agreed?

Well, at first, I was just in shock.

But then I thought it would do some good.

How so?

Well, you see, a lot of women are afraid to be examined

because they can't face the thought of losing a breast.

Gill: I hoped that my report would show them that

with early detection, they didn't have to.

That they could have a lumpectomy

instead of a mastectomy.

A lumpectomy.

Kuzak: Is that the operation

Kuzak: that you had? Gill: Yes.

Kuzak: And was your operation

also the subject of a news feature?

Gill: Yes.

And what happened after you left the hospital?

Well, then we did a feature on my radiation treatments

and then I did a final story that showed the results.

And you exposed your breast on camera?

Yes.

Miss Gill, do you think that maybe you carried

- journalism a bit too far here? Gill: No.

I thought it was very important for women to see for themselves

that if, God forbid, they got cancer,

that they didn't have to be maimed.

Was it worth it, Miss Gill?

I've received hundreds of letters from people thanking me.

Some saying that I even saved their lives.

Yes, it was worth it.

And how did the station respond?

They said that people didn't want to watch me anymore.

That I made them uncomfortable.

- And they fired me. - Thank you.

Nothing further at this time, Your Honor.

Perlman: Mr. Robertson? Cross. - Thank you, Your Honor.

Robertson: Miss Gill, isn't it true that your firing

had nothing to do with your breast surgery?

Gill: No.

Robertson: Isn't it true that you were encouraged

to come back to your job and you were fired

only because your ratings went down?

Gill: No.

You knew your predecessor at the station was fired

- for bad ratings, didn't you? - Yes.

The one before her and the one before her.

That I don't know.

Ratings are the bottom line in TV news,

aren't they, Miss Gill?

And if job security is what you want,

you probably should take a job at the post office.

Kuzak: Objection. Argumentative.

Withdraw the question.

Miss Gill, have you been healthy enough

- to work since your operation? - Absolutely.

- And yet, in the 14 months since then,

you've chosen not to.

It was no choice. I wasn't offered anything.

I assume because of the negative publicity surrounding my firing.

You were never offered anything at all?

Nothing worth taking.

I know a lot of folks who wouldn't find

$65,000 a year too terrible.

You're speaking about the radio job in Phoenix.

Well, I don't do radio.

- Or floors or windows. - Objection, Your Honor.

Miss Gill, who is Dr. Howard Warnick?

He's the surgeon that performed my lumpectomy.

And since then, you've developed quite an intimate relationship

- with him, haven't you? - Objection, Your Honor.

Miss Gill's personal life has no relevance in these proceedings.

Robertson: Well, it's directly relevant to the issue of damages

if she turned down a high-paying job

because she was afraid of losing her boyfriend.

I'll allow the question.

I have been out with Dr. Warnick on several occasions.

You're 42 years old. Is that correct, Miss Gill?

I will be 43 next month.

And isn't it true you would very much like

- to marry Dr. Warnick? - No.

- Isn't it true you were afraid, if you went to Phoenix,

you might lose your chance at him?

No.

I'm sure, Miss Gill, you're aware of

the Yale University study which concluded,

among other things, that a woman over 40,

even one with perfect breasts, has a greater probability

of being killed by a terrorist than of latching onto a husband.

Objection, Your Honor!

I had breast cancer, Mr. Robertson.

My chances of surviving five years are good, 80%.

And yet I can't help but think every day of my life

whether I'm gonna be a part of the 20% that doesn't make it.

So if you would just get your brains out of your shorts

for even five minutes, I can't believe that

you really think I spend a lot of my time

worrying whether I'm gonna latch onto a husband!

Nothing further at this point.

[phone ringing]

[indistinct chatter]

Andrew!

- How you doing, sir? - Fine, just fine.

Well, I don't have to ask how you are.

I hear you pinned back Douglas's ears in court.

Well, I hope it wasn't a Pyrrhic victory.

Mr. Taylor?

It's good to see you, Andrew. Good luck.

- Thank you, sir. - Douglas, look.

My clients need relief now. Drop the appeal.

We're prepared to come way down on the judgment.

How far down?

Bring the building up to code

which you're gonna have to do in any case

and $2,500 per unit in damages.

Forget it.

You got no grounds for a reversal. You know that.

Maybe so. Maybe not. But I can spin the wheels.

Brackman! This isn't a game! Where's your decency?

The people in that building are living a nightmare!

Mr. Taylor, I intend to avail myself

of the full appellate process.

I shall seek vindication of my rights

with the State Appeals Court, and if necessary, continue on to

the Supreme Court of California!

It will likely take a long, long time.

But that is the system and I shall not apologize for it!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a busy morning.

[instrumental music]

I'm only doing this because you're a friend of Nina's.

But you gotta tell her not to come by here any more.

Call me at my apartment from now on, okay?

Okay, where's my $1,000?

[chuckles]

You're busted, kid!

Turn around, hands above your head.

You have the right to remain silent.

If you give up the right to remain silent

anything you say can and will be used against you

in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney.

If you cannot afford an attorney,

one will be provided by the court.

Come on.

Come on, let's get him outta here.

Detective: Let these people get back to work.

Mr. Sifuentes? Mr. Sifuentes!

I need to know something.

- Did you roll over on me? - Nope.

Good, 'cause I'm gonna need a lawyer

and I feel like you and I have a rapport.

I'm sorry, Jeffrey. I'm not with the Public Defender anymore.

Don't worry about that. Call my father, Harold Sullivan.

He's chairman and CEO of Titan Sports Industries.

- Come on! - Oh!

And you weren't born with a silver spoon

- in your mouth, huh? - No.

Actually, more like platinum.

He'll arrange bail and pay

whatever you charge!

I'm sorry, sir. I appreciate everything you've done for me.

I'm sure my father will be in touch to express

his appreciation personally.

I want you to know this charge is totally without merit.

- I don't use drugs. - Get him outta here!

I don't even know what cocaine looks like!

Detective: Let's go! Move it!

Don't say it.

Leland?

I've got something for you to sign.

Oh? What is it?

It's a letter from you

to the Dean of Admissions

at the Loyola School of Law.

- Oh, on who's behalf? - Mine.

I hope I've mentioned your uncanny skill

at judging character.

Along with intelligence and loyalty and diligence.

Mm-hmm. Does this mean I'm losing you, Iris?

- Night school. - Ah.

But who knows after I pass the bar?

Well, I'd hope you'd consider

an associate position with McKenzie, Brackman.

I'd be delighted to, Leland.

I think they're waiting for you at the partners meeting.

Yeah.

And upon signing the partnership agreement,

you become 5% owners of the law firm of McKenzie,

Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak.

[applause]

Said share to increase 5% every year

until it matches that of the other partners.

All we need from each of you is a check for $87,000.

What?

Well, I assume, Douglas, that you'll provide

low-cost in-house financing, right?

In the past, we have.

But consequent to Norman Chaney's passing,

we need an infusion of working capital.

So we're going to ask you to arrange

your financing elsewhere.

Douglas, how the hell am I supposed to secure

a note for $87,000?

Your financial problems are not my concern, Miss Kelsey.

However, this firm's very real financial problems are.

Well, based on the bottom line, Douglas,

I don't think we need to hold a benefit for ourselves.

On the contrary, if we have any intentions

of showing meaningful profits

through the remainder of the decade, we must,

A: Resist the impulse to make a partner

of everyone who rattles their saber.

Douglas: B: Take on at least four new associates right away.

And C: Generate among our current lawyers

a minimum of 5,000 more billable hours per annum

than they're producing now.

Which brings me to something else I find troubling.

I've taken the liberty of doing some personal accounting.

Here is a list of everyone's billable hours for the year.

You will note that, with one exception,

all the partners including our new ones

billed in the 1,500 to 2,000 hour range.

The one exception was our founding partner

who accounted for just over 300.

That's less than one revenue-generating hour a day.

Get to it, Douglas. What's on your mind?

It seems to me that someone who works part-time

should not have a full share,

much less 8% more than the rest of us.

But if all that mattered were the number of hours

that you put in, the world would be run by waitresses.

It's the quality of the hours that matters.

Kuzak: If he can settle a labor strike in 45 minutes

or bring in a major corporate account over a breakfast meeting

or help me win a case by giving me one piece

of advice, then how do you measure that?

Under the most generous of formulas,

he is still receiving far more than he is entitled to.

As things stand now, our two most senior partners

will receive 50% of this year's profits.

One is dead, the other might as well be.

- You are out of line, Douglas! - That's alright.

Frank exchanges are what partners meetings are for.

Leland: In the spirit of which, let me say that

I would be happy to fold my tent

and walk away from this firm, taking my primary assets,

my name and my reputation with me.

You may have the firm, Douglas.

And any of the attorneys and clients who choose to remain.

Leland goes, I go with him.

Me too, assuming that you want me.

Ditto.

Will this new firm do entertainment law?

I've been giving that serious thought, Arnold.

And I think it's time to dip a cautious toe in those waters.

The bottom line, Douglas, is you are not your father.

You are not the deep thinker he was nor do you possess

his courtroom skills, evidenced by your bungling

of that disgraceful landlord-tenant suit.

However, you are an adequate corporate attorney,

a solid office manager

and you have absolutely reached your level of competence.

Leland: And if you raise this question ever again,

I will disband this firm in two seconds flat

and you can start your own firm.

Now are we clear on that point?

- Yes. - Good.

Now that we've had a frank exchange of ideas,

this meeting is adjourned.

Dinner, partner?

After that meeting, who can afford to eat?

My treat.

Stuart, do you know what my net worth is?

Come on, there's not enough numbers

in that calculator to compute your net worth.

Seriously.

I am a single woman

with virtually no deductions

other than my condo for which I am mortgaged up to my arm pits.

What bank is gonna carry my note for $87,000?

- The Bank of Markowitz. - Stuart, absolutely not.

Why not? It's a loan.

You'll sign a note, I'll charge you interest.

On top of which, if you miss a payment,

I get to foreclose on your assets.

Which is exactly why I shouldn't.

Ann, come on. Get serious. What choice do you have?

What did I do before you came into my life, Markowitz?

Whatever it was, I don't wanna know about it.

[instrumental music]

[tires squealing]

Gimme that!

Take my wallet! I won't fight you!

Shut up! Shut up!

I have a wife and children! Don't kill me!

[tires squealing]

[instrumental music]

Get out!

Come on!

- What are you gonna do with me? - Shut up!

Where are we?

Don't you recognize it, Brackman? This is your building.

Taylor? You bastard.

I'll have you disbarred for this.

Comes to that, I'm gonna have to live with it.

You can't deny people their rights

and expect to get away with it.

You do.

I'll have you on criminal assault, kidnapping.

You are going to jail, my friend.

Maybe so, but before I do,

you're gonna see a jail of another kind.

Wiring gave out of here months ago. There's no light.

During the day, it's a shooting gallery

and at night, the bums sleep here.

Apartment 216.

A month ago, a 68-year-old woman was raped and killed in here.

- There was no lock on the door. - Management company...

This is your building, your responsibility.

This is the only bathroom on the second floor.

Tenants don't use it, plumbing's backed up

and there's a missing door.

'Course that don't stop the junkies

who come in off the street from using it.

Andrew: Rats, they own the place.

[toilet flushes]

Ugh!

- Ugh! - It ain't Perrier, Doug.

[knocking on door]

Woman: Yeah? Who is it?

It's me, Miss Fields, Andrew Taylor.

- Can I come in? - Come on in.

- You okay? - Mm-hmm.

This is the gentleman I told you about.

- Come in. - Alright.

Come on in, Douglas.

Andrew: The baby gets cold at night.

So she has to run her stove for heat.

Two weeks ago, Miss Fields had to take

her little boy to the hospital.

Rat bites.

While they were at the hospital, her nine-year-old girl

got gang-raped. There's no lock on her door either.

- Oh, God. I didn't know. - You didn't care.

I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. What can I do?

Just put your money where your mouth is.

Anything.

I'll do whatever it takes.

Woman over radio: It took six units almost two hours

to finally knock down the blaze

which started in a mattress factory

in the 4400 block of Burnside Avenue.

And finally, the Stacey Gill trial began today.

Miss Gill, the former Channel 6 news anchor

who was fired last year, is suing Barnett Broadcasting

for breach of contract and sex discrimination,

claiming that a series of features she did

on her breast cancer surgery and post operative treatment

led to her dismissal

and not, as Barnett Broadcasting maintains,

low ratings.

And now for the weather report.

[sighs]

You wanna mess around?

I thought you had homework to do.

- We're in recess 'til Monday. - Oh.

I'm sorry. I don't feel like it.

What do you feel like?

[sighs]

Maybe I should go.

Are we having a fight?

No, no, no, no. It's-it's my problem.

Is it something you wanna talk about?

[sighs] Damn it.

I hurt this man.

And he didn't do anything to deserve it.

There was no excuse for what I did, none.

- You wanna go back to him? - No.

So, you can't be happy with him,

and you won't let yourself be happy with me.

[instrumental music]

It's, uh...

It's just gonna take a little time, that's all.

You got it.

And a quart of Rocky Road ice cream?

I'll get it.

And a hug?

Come here.

[music continues]

Maybe we can wait on the ice cream.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

[theme music]

[20th Century Fox theme]