Original subtitles

[cutlery clanking]

[indistinct chatter]

[knocks on glass]

Hershberg: Hi, Mike.

Sid. Sorry I'm late. Traffic.

No problem. Sit down.

Cup of coffee?

Yes, please.

I already ordered.

Uh, just an English muffin and grapefruit juice.

So, let me read your mind.

He looks okay...

he sounds okay...

but is he really okay? Or is he going to throw his omelet

at the next table and punch out the busboy?

[chuckles]

Something like that.

Kuzak: How you doing, Sid?

Great.

Really, Mike, just great. [sighs]

I know it was embarrassing as hell for everyone,

but coming unglued in court like that

was the best thing that ever happened to me.

I've been disregarding danger signs for a couple of years.

I started drinking too much at night,

then a couple of valium to get to sleep,

lost my sex drive.

My marriage was rocky as hell.

Yours will be up in a second, honey.

- Thank you. - Anyway...

[sighs] It was just too much.

Something had to give.

Well, you look great, Sid.

Thanks. I feel great.

Couple of weeks in the laughing academy,

a little psychotherapy...

I'm good as new.

Better. Huh.

Kuzak: I'm really happy for you, Sid.

Honey, bring me a beer, will you?

Mike?

It's a little early for me, Sid.

Uh, whatever kind you got.

So...

the reason why I called.

I need a big favor, Mike.

I got a case I just can't handle.

I'm jammed up and I gotta be in D.C.

to argue a case in front of the Supreme Court.

- Really? Hershberg: Yeah.

And I got this woman...

really, she's a victim.

A bunch of cops blow into her apartment,

middle of the night, looking for drugs.

She used to see some guy who's dealing,

so they bust in looking for him.

- Was he there? - Hell, no.

She hasn't seen him in weeks.

[sighs]

But they open fire.

Wounded her... and killed her kid.

She shoots back, self defense,

and wounds one of the cops.

They arrest her for attempted murder.

She needs help, Mike,

and this Supreme Court thing has...

h-- has got me crazy.

Hershberg: What do you say?

Uh, gee, Sid, I don't know.

I'm pretty jammed up myself.

No money in it, is that it?

No, that's not it, Sid.

You're asking me to take on this woman's case

I know nothing about.

Here, just look at her file.

- Sid. - Mike!

Just look at the damn thing, would you?

Continuance,

continuance, continuance.

Sid, what have you been doing?

What do you mean, what have I been doing?

Well, you haven't interviewed witnesses.

You haven't argued bail.

Hold it right there, hot shot.

What good's bail if you're on welfare anyway?

That's a waste of time.

Well, about the other two kids?

Don't know. DBSS has them somewhere.

Sid, this woman's been in jail for five months.

She hasn't seen her kids. All you've done is

move for continuances.

What are you trying to do...

heap more guilt on me?

[slams table]

What the hell was I supposed to do?

You want to tell me that?

I got cases up the ying yang.

Most of these people are pure scum anyway.

I'm under extreme pressure.

I got the Supreme Court situation

staring me in the face.

Why the hell do you think I came to you in the first place?

- Sid, take it easy. - You take it easy.

I mean, what am I supposed to do here

to get a little help from a fellow member

of the fraternity, huh,

stick my omelet on my head?

Throw food?

- Sid. - How's that?

Don't Sid me!

Sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave.

[clamoring]

I've got a caseload so big...

I can't get my briefcase shut.

I gotta catch a flight to D.C.

You think the Supreme Court cares about my problems?

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[epic music]

Van Owen: Why don't you just say it, Bruce?

That's just it, Grace. I shouldn't have to say it.

Bruce: I shouldn't have to tell my prosecutors

it's not their job to get murderers off.

That's not what I did.

You had lunch with Appleton's attorney.

You told him about this cockamamie AIDS Stress Syndrome,

then backed up his motion for a new trial.

I did what I thought was in the interest of justice.

Great. Well, the official response from this office

is that you screwed up.

Don't do it again, Grace.

By the way...

you've been reassigned to night court.

You start tonight.

Is that my punishment?

Of course not.

This office does not punish people

for their professional conduct.

This is completely coincidental.

How long?

Till your reassigned or die, whichever comes first.

I have to work on Christmas Eve?

You should love that, with this new

good will toward man attitude you've developed.

Merry Christmas, Grace.

[door slams]

Nina: The man just keeps getting continuances,

continuances, continuances...

while I sit here and rot,

and now he takes off.

Do you have any money for bail?

Anything to put up as collateral?

My sister's got about two thousand.

Can you get me back with my kids on that?

I don't know. I can try.

I can schedule a bail motion.

I almost forget what they look like... it's been so long.

Nina, now, I know you've been through this

a million times, and I know how painful it must be...

but I need you to tell me exactly what happened

the night of the shooting.

It was the middle of the night

and I was asleep next to Sarah...

my little one.

Billy and Anna were in the back room,

and I hear this pounding on the door which wakes me up.

Then I heard shouting.

Do you remember what they were shouting?

No. No.

All I was thinking was about Mrs. Flood, three doors down.

A month before she got robbed and raped.

So I reach for my rifle where I keep it under my bed.

Next thing, the door comes crashing down.

Three men come rushing in and all I see is guns,

so I lift my rifle and somebody shoots.

I just see this flash,

and I feel this hot pain in my arm,

so I shoot back.

They shot first, Mr. Kuzak.

[voice breaking] I just shoot back

to protect my babies, my family.

What happened then?

I looked down...

I looked down next to me.

There's my Sarah...

my little one.

They shot Sarah.

[crying]

They killed my baby.

She was just lying there...

next to me.

She was so quiet, so still.

They murdered my baby,

and before I could bend down and kiss her goodbye...

they grabbed me away and took me to jail.

I never even got to kiss Sarah goodbye.

[crying]

Brackman: Then it's agreed.

Full-time administrative staff members,

which term, I might add, does not embrace paralegals,

shall receive Christmas bonuses in the amount of

three-quarters of one percent of their per annum salaries

multiplied by the number of years of employment.

Isn't this a little complicated?

Not at all. A secretary earning

twenty thousand dollars, three years employed,

would get three-quarters of one percent...

which comes to a hundred and fifty dollars,

times three for the three years worked,

for a total of four hundred and fifty dollars.

- Simple. Becker: Great.

Now, if we're done with this Christmas stuff,

I'd like to address something more serious.

Tonight's basketball game.

What are we going to do without Victor?

- Anybody know where he is? Becker: No.

Becker: And guys, this is the playoffs, two out of three.

Now, we won the first by one point with him.

We don't have a prayer without him.

You know, I'm still trying to get the whole story

on why he left.

I told you why.

I made the decision that PetramCo Industries

was more important than his criminal client,

and he took exception to it. End of discussion.

Brackman: Well, I'm afraid his departure has left this firm

with a more serious problem

than just a power forward.

We desperately need another associate.

- How are the interviews going? Brackman: Lousy.

December is not a good time for hiring,

which is another reason why I don't like Michael

taking on a pro bono criminal case.

Sid Hershberg is non compos mentis,

and this poor woman's been in jail for five months

without anybody doing anything for her.

That may be, but how can we take on this case

when we're so undermanned as it is?

McKenzie: Just find some help.

Hire somebody on a temporary basis if you want,

but get it done.

Let's get somebody with a jump shot.

[sighs]

I think we're adjourned.

What's the matter with my jump shot?

Arnie, there's an attorney here

by the name of Clarence O'Malley

who says he represents Abby's husband.

- Where? - I put him in your office.

I thought you'd want to talk to him.

Alright. Tell him to wait.

I'll be there in a second.

- Abby. - Yeah?

There's a man in my office

claiming to represent your husband.

Where is Erik? Is he alive?

What are you talking about?

He's been very well cared for.

- Thank God. - Where is he?

Hear me out, Mr. Becker. Mr. Perkins feels very strongly

that the boy should not be denied the regular contact,

guidance, and support of either one of his parents.

For that reason, he's asked me to express to you

his desire to return to this jurisdiction

in exchange for certain guarantees.

- Where is my son? Arnie: No guarantees.

Your client is a fugitive.

He's facing federal criminal charges, and

if you're helping to hide him, that makes you an accessory.

Don't you see that it's this very atmosphere

that caused him to leave in the first place?

What does he want?

He's willing to relocate

and to look for work in this area

provided that you drop all charges against him

Clarence: and you agree to a schedule of joint custody.

Unacceptable and out of the question.

I'll convey that to my client.

Wait. Wait. Wait.

If I agree, what'll happen?

What do you mean, what will happen?

Excuse us a minute. Abby.

Don't play games with this guy. He's garbage.

He knows where Erik is.

Abby, you have got to trust me.

Arnie, you have been telling me that for the past

four months and nobody has been able to do anything.

I know what I'm doing.

I want my son back.

Okay, I'll agree to it.

Naturally, we'll want to execute and sign

a stipulation in advance of the hearing

to modify the existing orders.

When can I see my son?

[sighs] Well, I have to talk to my client

and tell him the good news,

but after that, who knows?

With everybody's good faith and cooperation,

I don't see any reason why...

why, I couldn't have him back in time for Christmas.

[soft music]

[cheering and applause]

Brackman: Pick him up. Pick him up.

[whistle blows]

Blue ball!

No, no, no, he pushed!

- Blue ball. - That's unbelievable.

Give him a technical, ref.

You want to play the game or help him, referee?

- Let's go. Kuzak: Arnie.

[cheering]

Roxanne: Go! Pass!

[Roxanne screaming]

Go, Arnie!

Pass! I'm open! I'm open!

Becker: Baseline! Baseline!

[Roxanne screams]

Ow!

Hey, watch the elbows, goon!

Brackman: Pick him up.

Get up on him.

Stay up on him!

Tight!

Tight!

Becker: No shot! No shot! Brackman: Miss!

[buzzer]

[both groan]

[whistle blows]

Game can't end on a defensive foul!

male #1: That's football. Becker: Yeah, which is what...

You were practically playing out here tonight.

Sore loser, Becker.

Yeah, tell me about it, Lady Bing.

That's actionable.

Wait, you're all witnesses. You saw him.

Assumption of the risk, man.

You just bought yourself a lawsuit, buddy.

Your play was reprehensible.

- Write your Congressman. - Yeah, Merry Christmas, Murray.

Hey, you think I won't sue, huh?

Go ahead and try it, wimp.

- What? Huh? - You got lucky, that's all.

We'll see you in court for game number three, pal.

You guys-- you guys practice law the way you play basketball?

Only briefs you guys know about

is the ones you wear on your butts.

Hey, careful, he's a borderline psychotic.

- See you next time, Braddock. - We'll be back.

Yeah, lady, come back, and the next time wear a dress.

male #2: Ooh. male #3: Oh!

[all laugh]

male #4: Them's fighting words, Jack.

Tell you what I'm gonna do. Because you're new here

and because I like you and

because I'm a swell individual,

my offer to you for one night only,

and despite the dubious nature of the State's evidence,

I'm willing to lighten your caseload considerably

by copping Ballard to one count misdemeanor possession,

two hundred and fifty dollar fine

and credit for time served. What do you think?

Sounds perfectly fair...

except for the fact that Ballard had a 10-gallon trash bag

full of cocaine in his house.

No deal, Kaylens.

Take it from me, by midnight you'd be grateful

to get a spitting on the sidewalk out of this squabbler.

Right. Next?

Okay, try this.

Escobar. You drop the receiving count

and seven counts of burglary.

Kaylens: He'll cop to one count, one year county lid.

Or behind door number three, a weekend in Las Vegas

and a Lazy-Boy lounger.

[sighs] Well, here we go.

It's gonna be a long night, boys.

The lady does not like to deal.

Lawyers only, sir.

It's okay. I usually am.

Mickey, what are you doing here?

Kuzak: I missed you. Van Owen: Me, too.

[inhales deeply] Look, it's Friday night.

I can't believe the judge will keep us late.

There'll be plenty of time to pick up dinner...

decorate our tree.

Is the D.A. ready to call the calendar yet?

Yes, Your Honor.

Don't go away. It won't be that long.

In order to avoid any grousing later on,

I'd like to make it perfectly clear

that we are going to clear this calendar in its entirety

before anybody gets out of here.

So bah humbug,

and call your first case.

[instrumental music]

Judge: Defendant to remain free on bail until that time.

Don't tell me that's a wrap?

Thank God.

Well, it's been a little slice of heaven.

See you sports fans Monday night.

[music continues]

Mickey.

Honey, come on, let's go home.

What time is it?

Time to leave.

Let's go home and decorate the tree.

It's late.

I'll make it worth your while.

You ever decorate a tree in the nude?

Sounds dangerous.

Depends on where you hang your ornaments.

Case Number L3--7-4-0-0-5,

People vs. Emmons.

Michael Kuzak for the defendant, Your Honor.

At this time, I would move to substitute in for Mr. Hershberg

as Ms. Emmons' counsel.

Is this what you want, Ms. Emmons?

Yes, Judge.

No objections, Your Honor.

Mr. Kuzak may substitute in as counsel.

Thank you, Your Honor. As counsel for Ms. Emmons,

I would move at this time for bail modification.

Your client is currently being held in lieu of

one hundred thousand dollars bail, is that correct?

Yes, Your Honor, which I would argue is excessively high,

as Ms. Emmons has no history of prior violent activity

and poses no threat to the public safety.

She's been charged with the attempted murder

of a police officer.

One isolated incident, Your Honor,

where a woman was defending herself

Kuzak: and her children in her own home

against three men she thought were intruders.

She has priors, Your Honor.

Prostitution in 1978

and possession of marijuana in 1979.

Kuzak: No police contact at all since then.

What are you looking for, Mr. Kuzak?

Your Honor, Ms. Emmons has lived in L.A. all of her life.

She has two small children, roots in the community.

I would submit that she be released

on her own recognizance.

OR is absurd

under the circumstances of aggravated assault.

The lowest I'm willing to go is fifty thousand dollars.

That would seem reasonable.

She's a mother on welfare, Your Honor.

Fifty thousand would be the same as no bail at all.

Twenty-five thousand dollars.

Pendleton: That's the best I can give you, Mr. Kuzak.

Next case.

I see you're an associate

at Styer, Rhodes & Fishbein.

Mm-hmm.

Brackman: How long have you been with them?

About 18 months.

You know, Don Fishbein and I

went to law school together.

Randy: Oh, yeah?

Does Don know you have plans to defect?

I don't have a whole lot of dealings

with any of the partners directly.

I see. Why McKenzie Brackman?

Good rep, good pay,

and also I just bought this condo in Bunker Hill.

You guys are so close, I could ride my bike here.

Sorry, Douglas. I was on a conference call.

Quite alright. You haven't missed much.

Meet Randy Heidelberg.

Heidegger.

Brackman: Mr. Heidegger was just telling me about

his illustrious career at Styer Rhodes.

Styer Rhodes is a graveyard.

You'd be much happier here.

Hypothetically speaking.

Becker: Tell us about your outside interests, Randy.

- Sports? - I ride my bike and I work out.

Play any ball?

Four-year starter at Boston College.

Counselor.

Markowitz: I-- this one I think is really good.

What do you think of this one?

It's okay.

You like this one better?

It's fine.

Ann, I would really like your opinion on this, you know.

Stuart, fabric is fabric.

How come you get so snappish

every time you get within ten feet of this place?

I am not snappish.

Oh.

Well, correct me if I'm wrong here,

but you said you would do the office

in Santa Fe colors, right?

Now, I've got adobe and I have sand.

- Stuart. male #5: Excuse me.

Forgive me...

if I happen to think

that in the cosmic order of things,

fabric selection is not way up there.

Now, I've got a lot of work to do.

Excuse me.

Why don't you admit it, Ann?

You're just mad about losing the office to me.

- I am not mad. - Yeah, you are.

You know how mad you are?

You haven't even asked me how my eye is.

How is your eye, Stuart?

It hurts.

And you're not going to believe this.

I mean, you were there, you saw it.

The guy deliberately threw an elbow at me, right?

Now he's suing me. [scoffs]

- Unbelievable. - Yeah.

A process server was waiting outside my door this morning.

It's just an intimidation tactic, though.

He's trying to neutralize my naturally aggressive style

for the playoffs, you know what I mean?

What is it?

The rampant Y chromosome?

What do you mean?

[scoffs]

Sometimes I truly fail to understand

how your sex can become so totally competitive

about every single thing in the world.

[indistinct chatter]

- Elizabeth. - Hmm?

Can you raise Robert Scanlon?

He's at the city attorney's office.

Elizabeth: Sure, right away.

Oh, by the way, Michael, Victor just came in.

- Where? - He's in his office.

[knocks on door]

I called you maybe 20 times.

Thanks a whole hell of a lot for returning my calls.

Well, there was nothing really to talk about.

The great white father shafted me.

Fact of life in a law firm, Victor:

sometimes you have to compromise.

- You knew that going in. - Well, not this.

Believe me, you wouldn't have put up with this crap either.

I've withdrawn from plenty of cases

when there was a conflict that would have hurt the firm.

Yeah, and I would've too if I would've had the chance.

McKenzie dropped the entire PetramCo file,

complete with Osborne's tax fraud convictions on my lap.

I mean, the minute I took a look at it,

I didn't have a choice.

I had to pull out.

That's privileged communication.

I can't believe he'd do a thing like that.

Right. The man suckered me, Mike.

I'm sorry. I won't work with people like that.

Well, I'm not going to defend him. I can't.

Kuzak: But you came here to work with me.

And when you open up your own firm

free of the baggage, let me know.

We were just getting started.

I gave you my chair, for crying out loud.

Look, nobody said it wasn't good while it lasted, Mike.

What are you gonna do?

I got a couple of days' worth of paperwork to close out,

and then I'm gone. [scoffs]

There's a hiring freeze over the PD's office.

That's okay. Something will turn up.

Victor...

I wish you'd think about this.

That's all I've been doing for the past three days, Mike.

I'm not going to change my mind.

At this time, Your Honor, we'd like to read into the record

a stipulation regarding temporary custody,

both legal and physical pending further orders.

I must say, I find these developments surprising

considering the previous allegations,

violence, alcoholism, kidnapping.

Well, there's been a great deal of mudslinging

on both sides, Your Honor,

but both parties have agreed

to set aside their differences

in order to spare the minor child any further anguish.

Where is the respondent husband, Mr. O'Malley?

He and the minor child are in this jurisdiction, Your Honor,

but upon advice of counsel,

they're not at the present hearing.

Frankly, Mr. Becker, I'm surprised

that you're joining in this motion.

Robin: Did you recommend to your client

that this schedule be accepted?

I outlined what I thought were the options open to my client.

I believe the decision she made was an informed one.

Mrs. Perkins, did you not testify previously under oath

that your husband was violent and you were afraid of him?

Yes, Your Honor, but that's only when he's drinking,

and his attorney has assured me that that's no longer a problem.

I have affidavits, Your Honor, as to his current sobriety

and his participation in an alcohol recovery program.

Mrs. Perkins, is it your feeling

that you can work with Mr. Perkins

Robin: and cooperate with him effectively

on all decisions insofar as they affect your son?

Yes, Your Honor.

And do you accept these terms knowingly...

and of your own volition, Mrs. Perkins?

I do.

Robin: Very well.

So entered.

This court is in recess.

Well, seeing that everything turned out so well,

I have a little surprise for you.

[indistinct chatter]

[soft music]

Erik?

Hi, Abs.

Erik.

Go to mommy.

Mr. Perkins: Go on, Erik.

Honey?

Go to your mother, son.

Erik! Erik!

[music continues]

Bob: Is this a social call, Mike?

Actually I'm looking for a favor.

- As regards? - Nina Emmons.

Police shot and killed her five-year-old daughter.

Both border rights and the grand jury

found it to be an accidental death in the line of duty.

That remains to be seen.

[chuckles] And you're here to talk about

the wrongful death action you're going to file, huh?

Not really. I'm here to ask your help

in getting an OR release.

She's been in jail for five months,

no contact with her kids.

It's Christmas. I want to get her out.

Speaking of which, you hear the latest on Sid Hershberg?

[upbeat music on speaker]

What now?

He was arrested at LAX.

Apparently, he was advising passengers

that their constitutional rights were being violated

by having to walk through a metal detector.

- Did he hit anyone? - Security guard.

The got him in the psycho ward at County.

Poor guy.

In any event, I wish I could help you out,

but, I got nothing to do with the criminal case.

But that's the whole point.

There shouldn't be a criminal case and you know it.

She shot a police officer.

In self-defense, and only after

he failed to identify himself.

Criminal charges are determined

by the District Attorney, Mike, as you well know.

You're lobbying the wrong office.

The City Attorney represents the city and the department,

and you will be involved in a wrongful death claim.

Have a heart, Bob.

This woman has been completely victimized

first by an incompetent attorney,

and now by your office.

The only reason she's in jail is you know

if you don't charge her with the crime,

you're a sitting duck on the wrongful death case.

Look, counselor, your client shot a cop.

She was charged accordingly.

You got a problem with the criminal case,

take it up with the DA.

You want to file a civil suit, fine.

I'm right here waiting for you.

In the meantime, you're so hot to have her out for Christmas,

you think she's such a victim,

you put up her bail.

Come on, this won't take long.

Stuart, truthfully, I don't have time

to look at any more sofa swatches.

You won't have to. It's finished.

Well, what do you think?

What do you think I think?

It's beautiful. I hope you'll be very happy in it.

Only if you are.

It's your office, Ann.

What?

No.

Mm-hmm. Merry Christmas.

- Absolutely no way. - Why not?

Because I would never forgive myself.

I'd always think that I had guilted you

into giving it to me.

[scoffs] Yeah. But what if it

makes me happy to give it to you?

Thanks anyway, Stuart, but I can't.

Uh, you guys want to excuse us for a second, please?

Don't be a schnook. Take it.

Sit.

Now, you wanted this office.

Yeah, I wanted it, too. So did Arnie Becker.

But I wanted it for symbolic value,

to prove my equality as a partner in this firm,

and I loved getting this office.

Now I love giving it to you.

And if you don't have the good sense

to accept it graciously, I'll walk down the hall,

I'm sure Arnie Becker will be glad to take it off my hands.

- But Stuart-- - No. No buts.

Well, I guess...

if you leave me no other choice...

Thanks, Stuart. I love it.

[instrumental music]

Do I look like a mogul?

A beautiful mogul.

I like your style, kid.

Great little tush, nice pair of legs.

You wanna mess around?

As far as the associate candidates go...

on the merits, it's not much of contest.

Brackman: Smollen is top ten in his class at Stanford,

Order of the Court--

I don't think he'd fit in.

He's a Law Review Editor from Stanford,

top ten in his class.

A law firm is more than a place of work, Douglas.

It's a collection of people.

Becker: We have to have chemistry, harmony.

Smollen is a dork.

The best of the lot without question is Randy Heidegger.

You've got to be joking.

The man is practically incoherent.

The man is six feet eight inches tall.

Hey, I move we offer him

a two-week trial run with an option.

Will he go for it?

Becker: What have we got to lose by trying?

How can you choose him

over a Law Review Editor from Stanford?

Make him an offer as well.

Okay by me.

Hold on.

Before we start taking on new associates...

I want to talk about Victor Sifuentes.

McKenzie: I don't know what there is to talk about.

He quit.

It's not that simple and you know it.

You never discussed the situation with him.

McKenzie: You know what he's like

when he's representing a client.

He goes for the jugular and can't let go.

Nonsense. He would have withdrawn

for the good of the firm.

You never gave him the chance.

I couldn't take the chance.

What would you have me do, lose our single biggest client?

Have you any idea what the fallout

from that would have been?

Well, what about the fallout when word gets out

that we betrayed an associate's trust?

Kuzak: At the very least you could have discussed it with me.

I'm the one who brought him in.

You were tied up with your death penalty case,

and I had to make a decision.

McKenzie: There was no time for a bloody vote.

Well, it was a lousy decision. You panicked,

and you cost us a damn good lawyer in the process.

Excuse me, but is there something

that I'm not understanding here?

What you are not understanding

is that Leland slipped Victor the Osborne file

and told him to review it.

As soon as he saw the Osborne tax fraud conviction,

he had to withdraw on a conflict of interest

whether he liked it or not.

I did what I felt I had to,

and frankly, I don't think it's that close a call.

With all due respect, if what Michael says is true,

I think it was a totally wrong call.

Stuart, you got an opinion?

Yes, sir.

I didn't know Victor all that well...

but if somebody did that me, I'd have to quit.

[knock on door]

Come in.

May I sit?

It may be too little, too late, Victor...

but I'm hoping you'll accept my sincerest apology

for the way I behaved

and reconsider your decision to quit.

I accept the apology.

I don't think I'll change my mind about leaving, though.

Not to excuse what I did,

it was foolish and it was venal,

and most of all disrespectful.

McKenzie: But these things can happen wherever you go.

What's to prevent it from happening again?

Well, I hope I'm old enough to learn from my mistakes.

McKenzie: It's quite possible

you might occasionally make a mistake yourself,

and you'd have the right to expect the same forgiveness

and tolerance from me

that I'm asking from you.

I have to be able to trust the people that I work with.

Yeah, well...

if I didn't trust you,

it's because I didn't know you.

I hope you'll at least stay on

long enough for me to remedy that.

[soft music]

Will you think about it?

Yes.

You're as talented an associate as we've had, Victor.

It'll be the firm's loss and my...

failure should you leave.

You may want to peruse this division of property schedule.

Are you kidding? There's nothing here.

Which means really the only substantive issues to address

are alimony and child support.

What are you offering?

We're requesting alimony in the amount of $250 a week.

What?

Clarence: Until Mr. Perkins gets back on his feet financially,

at which time, obviously, he'll want to

assume his fair share of child support.

This man cleaned out their joint accounts,

both checking and savings,

to the tune of over three thousand dollars.

Becker: He borrowed another 1,500 against their credit cards

and you want us not only to waive child support,

but you're looking for alimony as well?

Mrs. Perkins' gross income is $875 per week,

plus medical and pension, which projects out

to $45,500 per annum before bonuses.

Mr. Perkins, on the other hand,

has no income at the present time.

Which projects out to zero per annum.

Clarence: Mr. Perkins fully expects to locate

meaningful employment. He has no desire

to indefinitely freeload off of Mrs. Perkins.

Oh, how long does

Mr. Perkins intend to freeload?

Sorry. That was an unfortunate choice of phrasing.

Clarence: We're simply availing ourselves

of the current statutes, which make no distinction

between parties based on gender,

but simply on the ability to provide.

How can you have the gall, after what you did,

to come in here and ask me to support you? It's immoral.

Clarence: Morality is not the issue here, Mrs. Perkins.

Reality is.

The reality is that Mr. Perkins needs more time

to reestablish his ties to the community.

Excuse me.

The reality is that this bastard stole my son.

He stole my money, he stole my piece of mind!

Excuse me.

Counselor, this abusive behavior

is not going to solve anything.

- Abusive? - Abby, come on.

No. No, no, no. I will not "come on."

Let me tell you about abusive.

Abusive is not being able to see your child for months on end,

not knowing where he is,

not being able to tell him that you love him,

praying that his father doesn't get drunk

and kill him a car wreck,

and then finally getting him back

and having him punch you because he thinks

that you abandoned him.

I don't have to put up with this crap.

Get out my life and you don't have to!

You ought to be grateful I brought him at all.

Instead I'm hearing the same kind of manipulative garbage

that drove me away in the first place.

You are a coward and a criminal.

Abby: Give him whatever he wants.

Write it up and I'll sign it.

But I am not going to sit here and listen to anymore of this.

- What, no luck? - No answer.

I don't know what could be wrong.

The guy said he'd be here.

What's wrong is your Mr. Heidegger is an idiot.

He reminds me of one of those big dinosaurs

with the little head and the brain the size of a peanut.

Meanwhile, we're gonna have to take these guys on

four against five.

No, you won't.

- Victor. - Hey.

I thought you were permanently retired.

I had to come back and save your bacon, didn't I?

Seriously, you coming back to work?

Yeah, we worked things out.

Alright.

That's great, really great.

I'm-- I'm really delighted.

Well, come on, get suited up, let's go.

- Come on, let's go. - Right.

You're practically a living legend over at criminal court.

Oh, yeah?

But I stood up for you.

I said no way the guy's that stupid

he posted bail for his client.

I was right, wasn't I?

I take the fifth.

You are that stupid, aren't you?

I figure she's good for it.

Anyway, that's the real reason I came back.

I mean, somebody's gotta look out for you.

[buzzer]

[whistle blows]

male #6: Alright, let's go, Victor.

Hey, hey, hey, get off the court. Yo, ref.

Please take a seat in the stands, sir.

- We're about to start the game. - Who's Harris DeKay?

- Right here. - Season's greetings.

What the hell is this?

- A summons and a complaint. - For what?

Abuse of process for malicious litigation.

I'm Mr. Markowitz's attorney.

- Oh, get out of here. - Hey!

- Hey, hey, come on, come on. - Break it up. Break it up.

male #7: Hey, whoa! - Break it up.

You two want to sue each other, do it somewhere else.

You've got a game to play.

male #8: Fight in court.

Yeah! Alright!

male #9: Alright!

- Okay, guys. Okay. - Alright, alright, alright.

[cheering and applause]

Becker: Switch off! Switch off!

Hurry. Pick him up!

[cheering and applause]

Time out!

[whistle blows]

Referee: Time, Blue.

Randy. We got a substitution, ref.

- Wait a minute, who's he? - He's our new center.

You can't bring a ringer in the game. League rules stipulate

the roster has to be announced before the game,

and he has to be a lawyer.

Weren't you listening, Murray? We just hired him.

I want to see a paystub, and I demand to see

some letterhead with his name on it.

Is he legit?

Kuzak: We brought him on this afternoon.

Yo, ref, I want you to know

we're playing this game under protest.

Every game I ever officiated with you guys

was played under protest.

Take it to the commissioner, Murray.

Kuzak: Where were you? - I had to get my knee brace.

I've got a lot of cartilage damage.

- The guy's a gimp. - Get out.

Becker: Alright, guys, come on.

[unison] Whoa!

[upbeat music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[cheering]

[rain pattering]

Sid.

How you doing?

Look at me. Heh.

I'm penned up like some kind of dog in the pound.

Hershberg: It's a hell of a thing.

I'm sorry about all this, Mike.

Don't worry about it.

Worry about getting better.

[siren wailing in distance]

They have me on some kind of drug.

I'm pretty cooled out.

Oh, I wanted you to know I got Nina Emmons out on bail.

We got a really short court date.

I think we're gonna have a happy ending.

Great.

That's great.

Hershberg: I can't thank you enough.

Oh, forget it.

Hey, Mike...

I want to explain.

Heh. You know all that stuff about my Supreme Court case?

Hershberg: All that was crap.

I was just so scared

I was going to blow it for her,

I didn't trust myself to go into court.

It's all going to work out, Sid.

Don't beat yourself up over it.

[voice breaking] Oh, God!

I don't know what's happening to me.

I go along feeling okay...

and then suddenly with no warning,

it's like this wave just comes up from my gut

and then it moves through my chest,

and then when it gets to my eyes,

I gotta throw something or hit someone.

[panting] I'm not a violent man, Mike.

I'm so ashamed of myself.

Hey, Sid...

everything's gonna be okay.

What if it's not?

What if it's never okay again?

Look at me. I'm 44 years old

and I'm locked up in a rubber room.

[voice breaking] Look at this.

I can't even wipe my own nose.

What's happening to me?

[crying]

Sid. Sid.

[crying continues]

[theme music]

[music continues]