Original subtitles

[indistinct chatter]

Clerk: All rise!

Morris: Before we get started,

who's got a tan Buick with California plate number

1-E-O-H-1-0-1?

Um, that's me, Your Honor. Uh, is there something wrong?

You might say that. You're parked in my spot.

Well, what are you looking at me for?

You're holding up a courtroom full of people.

Go move your car!

Stan, put my car where it's supposed to be.

Clerk, call the first case.

Clerk: Kuzak versus Superior Court.

Be seated.

Morris: I have a feeling I know why you're here, Leland.

You are no doubt going to demonstrate to me

the error of my ways as you've done so many times in the past.

Morris: Am I right? - Not I, Your Honor.

I have a writ from the Court of Appeals

ordering you to instruct the jailer

to release Michael Kuzak forthwith.

Morris: Well now, McKenzie, Brackman certainly

takes care of its people. Okay.

You've got your Mr. Kuzak back.

He might benefit from your tutelage

on proper conduct of a criminal trial.

And since I don't recall your ever having been reticent

about imparting your wisdom to others,

I'm sure that's just what he'll receive.

Well, as of right now, I'm unaware of any

misconduct on Mr. Kuzak's part.

Are you saying I exceeded my authority in some way?

Morris: Are you implying that I was in error by punishing

Mr. Kuzak for contempt?

I believe the Court of Appeals

has spoken on that issue, Your Honor.

Does this writ say anywhere that I was in error?

I take that to be the import of it, mm-hmm.

Leland, you're a wizard of ambiguity,

you know that?

You can turn a phrase that creeps on cat feet

up to the edge of being definite

then turns and disappears without leaving a trace.

Morris: Now I'm going to do something that I daresay

no one has ever done to you before.

I'm going to ask you a question.

And if you give me anything other than a one-word answer,

the two possible choices being yes and no,

I'm going to cite you for contempt of court

and someone else is gonna have to come down here

and get the both of you out.

Now my question is, does this writ say anywhere

that I was in error?

No.

Good.

Then what we have is a case of the Court of Appeals

exercising their authority

differently than I exercised mine.

Morris: This isn't the first time that's happened.

I'm sure it won't be the last.

Release Kuzak.

It's always a pleasure to see you, Leland.

Take the day, pal.

He's all yours.

Will the court officer instruct the gentleman

who's reading his newspaper

that this isn't a bus station?

[indistinct chatter]

[exhales]

Michael, how do you feel?

You know how when American hostages are released,

they usually take 'em to a U.S. Air Force base

in West Germany so they can get checked out?

Sort of decompress before going home?

Uh-huh.

Well, what I need right now is for us

to go to a comfortable,

professionally-run hotel,

take ourselves a room,

order up a bunch of room service,

I can get checked out

and then undergo a concentrated regimen

of physiological rehabilitation.

Okay.

Gracie?

Gracie, were you faithful to me while I was in prison?

I tried, Mickey, but...

two days is an awful long time.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[epic music]

- Hey, where were you? - Just analyzing some data.

You don't wanna be late to a sentencing hearing, Andrew.

It sends out the wrong kind of message.

Yeah, but this wasn't just any data. I mean, this--

I was completing a crash course in Judge John Englander.

I-- I don't follow.

Based on a correlation of incidents

and variance analysis, I can expect

to be sentenced to six months summary probation

and 80 hours of community service.

Yeah, well, I hope you're right but,

I think you could be looking at a year.

No way. Now, I plotted the judge's sentencing record

against the standard deviation curve.

That's an X-Y kind of thing.

Now the projection is based upon a defendant

who is a white male, age 17 to 22

from a middle to upper middle income group

with no prior convictions

and a felony which entailed no violence.

What about for a non-white?

Well, if you're talking about the Ortega case,

I'd be concerned.

Hey, if you want, I can do an analysis for you.

And so, based on the careful examination of the report

and the recommendation submitted to me

and based on the fact that this is a first offense

Englander: and the defendant appears to be

keeping to the straight and narrow,

I believe no purpose would be served by incarceration.

Instead, I sentence the defendant, Andrew Putnam...

to six months summary probation

and 80 hours community service.

Don't disappoint me, young man.

Markowitz: That's fine. We'll see you at 4:00?

Thank you.

Markowitz: Oh, boy. - Douglas, what happened?

I broke my ankle playing racquet ball.

- Well, here, let me help you. - That's quite alright.

I've gotta start getting used to these things.

The doctor says I'll be hobbling around

for the next six weeks.

- Are you in a lot of pain? - What do you think?

Brackman: Thanks, Victor.

And how is our jailbird?

Does his absence this morning mean

we failed in securing his release from the pokey?

He's out and he's taking the day.

Well, as soon as he's recuperated,

I want him to jump this Cromwell situation.

Actually, Douglas, I don't think we're gonna need him.

In all deference to your good labors in this matter,

trial date will be upon us sooner than we think

and we need to bring our best litigator up to speed.

I'm on top of it, Douglas.

George Cromwell trusts me.

We have an excellent rapport.

And in my opinion, he'd object to having

another litigator brought in this deep in the case.

Don't you think you're being a little proprietary, Ann?

I mean, I think that's something for George Cromwell

to decide, don't you think?

Excuse me?

Markowitz: I just think that,

if Michael has his decks cleared,

he should jump into the fray.

If Ann feels confident and in control of her case,

I think we should leave her alone.

Thank you, Leland.

Brackman: People versus Ortega.

Yeah. My client's charged with knocking over a bar.

People versus Putnam.

Six months summary probation and community service.

As an aside, my compliments to the young genius.

Brackman: Our phone system is finally working the way

it's supposed to.

Richardson Estate?

Notice of Elections filed.

Randy: Morning.

Brackman: Mr. Heidegger.

I hope we didn't drag you out of bed.

Randy: Is there a problem?

I didn't have any appointments this morning.

Brackman: And why is that?

Well, nobody gave me any.

And that's your understanding of the job description?

Dribbling your time away like a doofus?

Collecting an excess of $1,000 a week?

Waiting for someone to throw busy work your way?

Hey, I'm sorry.

Brackman: Well, if there's nothing more, we're adjourned.

[indistinct chatter]

- Mr. Brackman? - That's me.

I have some papers for you.

Brackman: My assistant can see you're provided

with the necessary acknowledgment of service.

No good, chief. This goes to you direct.

It's a summons.

Ann?

Hah. I'm sorry.

I-- I was out of line, definitely way out of line.

I have no right stepping on your professional life like that.

I really appreciate your recognizing that, Stuart.

Ann?

Ann? Um...

I-- I know this isn't very cool of me to admit or anything.

But... I've just become like a basket case

ever since you got involved with this guy.

Stuart, there is no involvement.

And maybe we can talk later.

But right now, if you'll excuse me,

I have a meeting to prepare for.

Arnold?

Just so you know, I didn't start it.

Oh, boy.

Let the chips fall where they may.

I didn't plan it, I didn't mean for it to happen.

But now that it has...

now that Sheila's taken the first step, so be it.

What brought this on?

She found out I was having an affair.

You?

The truth is, I've been having a little fling

with a low-impact aerobics instructor from Playa Del Ray.

We were on our way to her apartment when the little vixen

said something particularly provocative.

I tried to take a shortcut to her front door and...

I didn't break my ankle playing racquet ball.

I broke it hurtling a hedge.

She took me to the hospital

and some idiot in the billing department

called to confirm my insurance coverage.

Sheila came racing down to the emergency room

and found Shannon holding my hand.

How committed is she to the idea of divorce?

Who cares? I'd just as soon hold her to it.

Becker: That's now, Douglas.

But when you've had a chance to think about it a little,

I'm sure you'll agree divorce is a pretty drastic solution

to any problems you and Sheila are having.

And I think a drastic solution

may be just what the doctor ordered.

Seventeen years of trudging home to Sheila night after night?

By 9:00, we've eaten, the small talk's over.

She's in bed, I've had a stiff belt of Maalox

and I'm drowsing on the living room couch

still bloated from dinner.

I'm looking to cut loose a little.

Fatten up the old address book.

I wanna see 20 girls naked in the coming year.

I guess I wanna live the life of Becker.

I guess I have had my share.

You've had mine as well.

Trust me, it's not always the thrill you think it is.

Brackman: I'd like to be the judge of that.

Look, Douglas, you can do whatever you want.

But I've gotta tell you, a divorce will not be painless.

Besides the emotional anguish which you're gonna go through,

and believe me, you will go through it,

Sheila is in a position to wreak absolute havoc with this firm.

Do you think she'd go after the partnership?

Count on it. You can also count on the probability

of a claim on all future earnings,

if she can show a substantial contribution

to your legal education.

Oh, my God.

That's horrible.

It's not a pretty picture.

So you think we're being a little precipitous?

After 17 years, I don't think one little deep knee bend

with an aerobics instructor is reason for divorce, no.

It's easy for you say.

Look, let me arrange a conference with Sheila

and her attorney with the idea of maybe

reconciling your differences.

And if we need to, we'll play hardball later on.

I'll leave it up to you to guide me, Arnold.

How's the decompression coming?

Decompression largely complete.

Serenity's setting in.

Michael, just what happened to you in jail this weekend?

A lot.

I don't wanna make it sound like I'm back

from 18 years in Siberia,

but it was a hell of an experience.

Lying there on a cot,

guys yelling, bars clanging.

I got to see the world through Sid Hershberg's eyes.

I actually began to feel the despair that he felt.

How he had to kill himself to get out of his own prison.

How I had to go to prison to find out...

and understand how really free I am.

So we're done with Sid now?

Sid's history?

We can get on with our lives?

- Yeah. - Good.

Because all this stuff about seeing the world

through Sid's eyes scares the poo out of me.

If Sid's eyes saw what mine do now...

[soft music]

they would never have seen the world the way they did.

You're the best thing that ever happened to me, Gracie.

And I guess I can thank him for showing me

how lucky I am to have you.

Then here's to Sid.

To Sid. [bottles clink]

[music continues]

[Van Owen laughs]

Elizabeth: McKenzie Brackman?

male #1: I'm sorry. I will not be available...

Elizabeth: Can you hold a moment?

Yes? May I help you?

- Oh, Leland! Elizabeth: Let me transfer you.

Morris?

Got a few minutes for an old classmate?

Oh, yeah. What brings you here?

Well, for starters, I'd like to apologize

for my behavior, which I know was a bit rash.

McKenzie: Incarcerating an attorney

without granting a stay is more than a bit rash.

Hood: Perhaps...

but if my judgment was clouded, Leland,

it's just that my job has rendered me

a little short of temper lately.

I'm getting out.

What?

After some 25 years on the bench?

There's no satisfaction anymore.

What few rewards there are don't seem to be

particularly sustaining.

When you walked into my courtroom this morning,

I suddenly saw all the things that have passed me by,

including the money, [laughing] I must admit.

Well, I'm sure you'll have no trouble.

The firms in town will start a feeding frenzy

over a Superior Court judge.

Actually, Leland, I'm here to give you first bite.

Hmm, you wanna work here?

I think you know that I wouldn't be approaching you

if I wasn't damn certain that I had a contribution to make.

Well, I have no doubt about that.

But we are a very small firm.

And I can help you grow.

I've made a lot of connections in my years, Leland.

I can be very valuable.

Hmm, naturally, this is something

I'd have to take up with the other partners.

Oh, I understand completely.

And if it helps in any way, you can tell Mike Kuzak

I'll be willing to have my name come after his.

[laughs]

You can also tell him I'm sorry.

I'll pass that on.

- Hi. - Oh, hi, Andrew. How'd it go?

Well, unsupervised probation and some community service.

Oh, great.

So, actually, w-- what I was thinking...

[stammers] Well, what I was hoping is,

I-- I'd like you to have dinner

with me tomorrow.

Oh, I don't know.

To celebrate.

Um, you know, I already made the reservation.

- Please? - Well...

Do you like French food? You'll love this place.

I'll pick you up at 7:30, okay?

Okay.

Great. That's-- that's great.

- Some enchanted evening? - Oh, Arnie, stop.

What was I supposed to do?

Prosecutor: And the bar was closed at this time?

Simpson: Well, I didn't think anybody was there

until I come out of the kitchen.

And see the cash register busted open.

And that guy running away with the money.

Let the record reflect that the witness has again

indicated the defendant, Francisco Ortega.

- Your witness. - Thank you.

When the police arrived, you told them

that you couldn't identify the suspect, didn't you?

Well, I didn't think I could until I saw him in the lineup.

Did you know, sir, that Mr. Ortega

was sitting on a stool in your bar

two nights before the robbery?

I didn't know that until the District Attorney told me.

Sifuentes: Tell me something, Mr. Simpson.

If you were serving a guy for a...

three-hour period and then you saw him

two nights later, he'd look familiar, wouldn't he?

- Objection! Hypothetical. - Overruled.

Sifuentes: Isn't it possible, sir, that you recognized

my client because he was a customer in your bar?

That when you saw him in the lineup, the only thing

that triggered in your mind was that you had seen him before?

He's the man I saw with the money!

Sifuentes: The kitchen door and the exit

are at opposite ends.

If he was running away when you first came in,

you couldn't see his face.

- I saw him from the side. - The side?

He was headed in the opposite direction.

- You saw his back. - I had an angle from the side.

Sifuentes: And you testified

that, when you first saw him, he was just at the door.

So at best, we are talking about a two or three-second

look from the side.

Something like that.

Mr. Simpson, I have no doubt that you are an honest man.

I want you to tell me if the following scenario

is possible, okay? Just if it's possible.

You walk into a room and you see a man running out the door.

You really don't get a good look at his face.

It's all happening so fast.

The police come and you tell them

that you really are not gonna be able

to identify who did it.

But when they take you down to the station,

they show you a face...

that you have seen before.

And you say to yourself,

[snaps fingers] "That must be him."

That's possible, isn't it, Mr. Simpson?

Anything's possible.

Sifuentes: Thank you, sir.

No further questions.

Your Honor, this is outrageous.

Counsel is asking for summary judgment

when there are substantial questions of material fact.

I'm asking for judgment only

on the second and third causes of action, Your Honor.

Which go to design defect only.

McLeash: Which is a big part of our case.

Counselors?

So big, he didn't come up with a

single fact in support of it.

Johnson: Miss Kelsey--

So big, they didn't file any

affidavits or exhibits which would

indicate anything defective in that plane.

I must agree, Mr. McLeash, that the evidence

in support of the allegations contained

in the second and third causes

of action is rather thin.

Have you got anything else?

Your Honor, I have submitted numerous affidavits

which go to the sophisticated nature of the craft.

McLeash: Such sophistication rendering it

virtually inoperable by the deceased.

Which goes only to the negligence theory

in the first cause of action, Your Honor.

And has nothing whatever to do with the question

of design defect.

She's got you, sir. I'm going to sustain you

on the first cause of action.

But as to the second and third,

there is simply no genuine issue of material fact.

I disagree.

Judgment in favor of defendant

as to the second and third causes of action.

Counsel for both sides should prepare to proceed

to trial on the first cause of action only.

Johnson: Thank you both.

- Brilliant. - Thank you.

[soft music]

[Cromwell chuckles]

I still can't believe it. You were just great.

Yes, that'll be fine. Thank you.

- I felt pretty good. - You were better than that.

You were all the champion I could have wanted.

- Well, we haven't won yet. - Heh, that's alright.

Your argument alone deserves a celebration.

[cork pops]

[glasses clink]

At least it had the desired effect.

[music continues]

Speaking of which, I'd like to tell you the...

effect of watching you in action had on me.

I intend to involve McKenzie Brackman in the affairs

of Cromwell Aviation more than I originally intended.

Cromwell: See, we're planning an acquisition next year and...

I've been told that there's a possibility

we could be involved in some anti-trust problems.

I'd like it if you would navigate.

Well, there are a couple of people at the firm

with very solid anti-trust experience.

Ann, I'd like you to know something.

As far as I'm concerned...

McKenzie Brackman,

well, it's you.

[instrumental music]

[both chuckle]

You shouldn't take your lawyer

out like this before the case is over.

[both chuckle]

I'm glad I don't have to be in court in the morning.

I'm sure you'd do just fine.

You show a lot of faith in me. I've gotta say that.

Complete faith.

It's appreciated.

It's well-earned.

Thank you for dinner.

Thank you for the company.

[music continues]

[music continues]

[epic music]

Uh, [knocks on door] excuse me? Uh, when were you...

when were you planning on saying something to me?

Around the time the two of you

took a long weekend together in Paris?

Stuart, could we possibly do this later?

Save the continuances for court, Ann, okay?

Okay, Stuart.

There's obviously a series of burning questions

that you're afraid to ask. So let me answer them.

Yes, he does have a romantic interest in me.

No, that doesn't bother me particularly.

And, no, I haven't slept with him.

Uh, so far.

You gonna sleep with him in the future?

You know, the fact that you feel compelled to ask that question

means that we do have a problem, you and I.

Kelsey: But the problem isn't George Cromwell.

No, huh-uh.

No, George Cromwell is just a guy that you kissed last night.

- What? - I saw you, Ann.

You spied on me?

I started out just waiting.

Waiting for what?

Waiting for you to come home.

You knew I went out to dinner with him.

Ann, does dinner necessarily entail coming home drunk?

Forgive me, Ann. The last time I saw you that plowed,

you went to bed with me. And you didn't even remember it.

I will not be made to feel like a slut

because I had dinner with my client.

And I will not tolerate your spying on me!

I'm jealous, Ann.

Forgive me, I'm jealous. Is that a big sin where you come from?

You're more than jealous.

The problem you have with George Cromwell

is entirely in your mind.

If he didn't exist, you'd think of something else.

Wrong, because you could have shut him down

and you didn't.

You let him wonder...

and you let him hope.

You let him, Ann.

You let him kiss you.

[clicks tongue]

What was I supposed to do, Stuart?

Punch out his lights?

[sighs] Stop smothering me!

We have gone from friendship to courtship

to total domesticity so fast,

I feel like I can't breath!

You are the sweetest man that I've ever met, Stuart.

But you are also the neediest.

Well, maybe you need somebody a little less needy.

Now, I'd like to report happily...

that, as basketball season is over,

Mr. Heidegger has been prevailed upon to tender

his long-overdue resignation.

Brackman: So, if there's nothing more,

Arnold and I are expected across town.

I have one more piece of business.

Judge Morris Hood of Superior Court

has approached me with the news

that he's looking to retire from the bench

and he'd like to join this firm.

- Are you kidding? - Wait a minute.

This is the same guy that threw Mike in the slam?

McKenzie: Yeah. Morris and I have known each other

since law school.

He is a seasoned jurist.

And there's no doubt he can make a contribution here.

Wait a minute. Are you telling us

that you've already invited him?

I told him that I would air it with the members of the firm.

So I now throw it open to you.

Absolutely not.

Quite apart from the personality conflicts

which will inevitably result,

the fact is, this firm needs more foot soldiers.

The last thing we need is another general.

Yeah, I agree. I think we ought to reject him simply

out of solidarity to Mike.

Besides which, this is definitely not the time

earnings-wise to take on another profit participant.

What are your feelings about it, Leland?

At the present, I would rather not say.

Kuzak: Well, whatever you do say

can and will be used against you

by somebody sometime.

You brought it up. You've gotta have feelings

one way or the other.

Knowing him for as long as you have,

you're in the best position to guide us, Leland.

I think that's exactly what he's doing, Douglas.

Oh, Morris, surely you can understand

that I'm under serious constraints here.

What my firm is in need of

is associates, not partners.

That's just a hard economic fact.

Why didn't you offer me a position

as an associate in that case?

- Oh, come on, Morris. - Why not?

Were you afraid I'd accept?

I'm no more about to become your employer

than you are mine.

If you and I are to have an association,

I wouldn't think of doing it on anything

other than a partnership basis.

Oh, the ways that exist

for telling someone no.

The ways in which I've heard it.

"My hands are tied, Morris. I wish it had been up to me."

"I've got bigger things in mind for you, Morris."

"Play ball on this, Morris.

There's a federal judgeship in it for you." [scoffs]

If you were coming in at any other time,

I'm sure the others could have been persuaded.

If you wanted me, you could have done it now.

But once you decided against me,

it was a dead issue as far as anyone else was concerned.

Let's face it, Leland.

You're afraid of the competition a presence

like mine would generate!

I'm not afraid of competition, Morris.

The truth is, I have no reason to expect

your temperament as attorney

to be any more to my liking than

your temperament as a judge!

Well, I've watched kids out of school two, three years

come before me making more money than I'll ever see.

You're damn right my temperament can get a little nasty.

Oh, damn it! There's more to this than money!

Well, one time there was.

My ambition ran to politics.

But when the Democrats lost the state House in '66,

that ambition became a drawer full of mementos

and a file cabinet full of failure that sits

next to the water heater in my basement.

They give me a parking place next to the courthouse.

They let me sit on the dais at dinners.

But they told me Superior Court is as far as I go.

Now I don't care if it doesn't live up to your lofty ideals,

ideals you can so easily afford to indulge in.

My dreams have been broken.

What I want is the money.

That's mine.

I realize that an expensive lunch is only proper form

for telling someone thanks, but no thanks.

And while I don't want to appear ungracious

or unappreciative of the hospitality

and the largess...

thanks, but no thanks.

This way, gentlemen.

Thank you.

There you go.

Good morning, gentlemen.

Lisa.

Where's Alvin?

Lisa: I'll be handling the preliminary stages of this case.

I didn't even know that you worked here.

Shall we get started?

I read a copy of your settlement offer.

And I was wondering if I could take a look at your copy.

Why do you wanna see our copy?

I think there may be some pages missing from mine.

- Pages missing? - Yes.

I didn't see anything in there about the partnership.

I assumed it was a clerical error.

What were you expecting to see about the partnership, Lisa?

Mr. Brackman is a managing partner with vested interests

in all income earned by your firm.

Before we even begin serious discussions,

I need to see financial statements going back

nine years or coterminous with his being made partner.

Don't you think that might be a little premature?

Particularly in light of the fact that Mr. Brackman

feels extreme remorse about this entire matter?

We'd very much like to explore the possibility

of a reconciliation with Mrs. Brackman

in spite of the circumstances.

It's nice to see you, Sheila.

I have advised my client to resist

any attempt at reconciliation.

Have you advised your client as well

of the fact that you have a personal ax to grind with me?

Mr. Becker must be referring to an extremely

brief romantic incident in which we were both involved.

You apparently mistake ambition for romance.

But that's not surprising

coming from someone whose only passion

is scrambling up on the backs of others.

How would you know what my passion is?

I never displayed any of it to you.

Oh, what was it? Make believe?

Lisa: That, or pity.

There's something so desperate about you, Becker.

The way you always fuss over your clothes

and your car and your condo.

Who's more desperate than you, Lisa?

Oh, you're fairly young now. But in a few years,

you're gonna be clutching at a box of saltines

late at night trying to figure out

how it is that you managed to wind up so all alone!

Lisa: And where will you be, I wonder?

Probably tucked in bed somewhere with the largest collection

of pornographic videotapes in west L.A.

You'll lull yourself to sleep with the images

of naked strangers on the screen.

Young ones, Arnie, the younger the better.

And you watching them...

fat, burnt out and bald!

Excuse me!

Whose divorce is this?

Sheila, I can't help feeling

that this is getting away from us.

That's what usually happens when you start

trying to jump over another woman's bushes.

I had an affair.

These things happen.

I have no doubt that there are consequences to that.

You better believe it, mister.

I'm willing to try to patch things up.

Well, maybe I'm not.

And it has nothing to do with this affair, Douglas.

You've had affairs, I've had affairs.

It runs deeper than that.

You've had affairs?

What kind of affairs have you had?

They didn't amount to much. The point is...

I am more than just a housewife or a cosigner.

I need attention.

I just need to get this straight in my mind.

Have you had multiple affairs?

Was it once?

Was it someone I know?

It was the pool man, okay?

Angelo?

Tony, the new pool man.

Oh, my God.

Look, you both had a little extracurricular activity.

Who else? The kitchen contractor?

The roofer? Oh, my God.

What's his name? The tennis pro!

- Bjorn. Becker: People, please, look.

Becker: The important thing here is not what you've done

outside the bonds of your marriage.

But what you've built within the marriage.

Oh, please.

A home, a family, a life.

I can't stand the thought of you with another man.

I thought we were getting a divorce here.

Brackman: There's no one who wants you more than I.

Take me back, Sheila, please.

Douglas, are you begging me?

Yes.

Alright.

Englander: Mr. Sifuentes, Mr. Aoli?

Having considered your closing arguments

and having heard the testimony you used

at three days of trial, including that of an eye witness

I found to be substantially credible,

I now find the defendant, Francisco Ortega...

guilty of robbery in the first degree.

Sentencing set February the ninth, 10 a.m.

Your Honor, at this time, I move for a new trial

and the disqualification of Your Honor from this case.

On what grounds?

Bigotry, Your Honor.

[spectators murmuring]

This statistical analysis demonstrates

a clear-cut racist predisposition

based on Your Honor's conviction

and sentencing record over the years.

That's outrageous!

Your Honor's conviction rate in non-jury trials

for non-white defendants when the prosecution

has a white eye witness is nearly six times as great

as when the defendant is white or the eye witness is non-white.

This includes Your Honor's time on the Municipal

as well as the Superior Court's.

And it clearly demonstrates that Your Honor's racism

has served to deny my client a fair trial.

I don't know what all this is, counselor, but I'll tell you,

you're way out of line.

Your Honor, I am not trying to provoke or offend you.

But the fact remains that these statistics--

Don't stand there calling me a racist

and pretend you're not trying to provoke or offend me!

I sit here very much offended, Mr. Sifuentes!

Shall I take this to be a denial of my motion, sir?

Take it as a personal response to your accusation!

I'll respond in my official capacity at a later date!

In the meantime...

this motion is taken under advisement.

[clearing throat]

May I help you?

I have a reservation for two under the name of Putnam.

Putnam, Putnam, Putnam.

Thank you.

Right this way, if you would.

[soft instrumental music]

Enjoy your dinner.

How much you supposed to tip those guys?

I've never really known, Andrew.

- Maybe five dollars. - Really?

Gee, I wish I'd known. I just gave him two.

It's alright, really. Two is fine.

I hope you're right. You don't think

I should just go over and give him the difference?

No, definitely not.

It's not a big thing.

Good evening. Would you care for anything from the bar?

Uh, yes. We'd like a bottle of

Dom Perignon, please. Chilled.

[music continues]

So, this must be

a tremendous weight off your shoulders.

Oh, it is. I intend to put that all behind me.

I am sorry to bother you, sir.

But I wonder if I might see some identification

that would verify your age?

My age? [chuckles]

Well, actually, gentlemen, that's quite a compliment.

I appreciate it.

[mumbles]

You know, it's-- it's just a thing of an ID...

I...

Uh, why don't I just order the champagne?

If your companion is underage,

we cannot permit him to drink on the premises.

I understand.

It'll just be for me.

May I bring the young man a soft drink?

[music continues]

Well, don't you look

exceptionally alluring this morning?

Thank you.

- Uh-huh, I knew it. - What?

How you can always tell with a woman.

The whites of her eyes get totally clear.

That's really dumb, Arnie.

- Tell me what happened. - No.

How was it?

It's none of your business, Arnie.

Oh, come on, Rox. Share!

No, and don't ask me again.

- You wanted to see me? - Yes.

[typewriter keys clacking]

Come on in.

I've been reading through your motion papers.

I must say, I'm really stunned.

I was just going by the numbers, Your Honor.

Numbers are a funny thing, counselor.

Do you wanna hear some interesting numbers

about Victor Sifuentes?

When you worked in the Public Defender's office...

you were nine times more likely to seek a trial

when the defendant was of Hispanic descent

than when he was either black or white.

My clients happen to be primarily Hispanic.

Numbers of Hispanics was slightly less than

twice the number of blacks and whites.

The number of hours you logged per case

shows a distinct predisposition towards favoring clients

with Hispanic surnames,

not unlike your present client, I might add.

With all due respect,

you don't know the first thing about the cases that I handled.

And just how much do you know about the cases I handled?

Nothing at all, but I cannot ignore

a computer analysis of your record on the bench

when there appears to be a good chance that my client

was convicted because he is a Chicano!

Englander: Judges don't judge by computer, Mr. Sifuentes.

We judge with our hearts and minds...

and experience.

I don't think of myself as a bigot any more

than you think of yourself as one.

Nevertheless, I'm granting your motion.

These numbers at least entitle your client

to the benefit of the doubt.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Englander: My reputation is that of a liberal, counselor.

I have supported various civil rights causes

over the years because my sense of decency

told me they were worthy of support.

But now you come along...

with this frankly chilling bit of news

that, for all my professed liberalism,

I've in fact been sending men to prison at least

in part because of the color of their skin.

That is not something I can ignore.

I will think long and hard on this.

Hope you do the same.

[intercom buzzes]

Yes?

Elizabeth: Judge Morris Hood, sir.

[sighs] Tell him-- tell him I'll call him back.

Elizabeth: He's been arrested.

Put him on.

I really hate your guts, Becker.

[sighs]

I don't hate yours, Lisa.

You didn't give a damn about saving that marriage.

You just wanted to humiliate me all over again.

Not true.

I pride myself on knowing what the client

really wants and delivering it.

Humiliating you was just a bonus.

You don't know what I had to do to get Kroenisch

to let me handle that case.

- I have a pretty good idea. - No. See, you don't.

I lost one job that way. I'm not about to lose another.

Lisa: Oh, you're really something, Arnie.

You stab me in the back,

you poison this entire firm against me.

And then you saw to it that I didn't get hired

at a time when I really needed a job.

And all because you decided it would be awkward

to work in the same office with a girl you had an affair with.

Well, it wouldn't have had to be awkward at all.

In fact, I could have easily forgotten

that it ever happened.

That was the whole problem.

I couldn't have.

When I found out that I was just another rung on the ladder

for you, Lisa, it... hurt me.

[sighs]

Becker: Look, will you do me something?

I'm not the hard guy you think I am.

Oh, you lying sack!

Becker: Hey, I'm a sucker for a pretty girl's affection.

And when I find out that I've been had,

sometimes, yeah, I can get a little ugly.

Trying to get ahead of someone on line

at the post office is a little ugly.

What you did to me was despicable.

You seem to forget that as a partner in this firm,

I have an obligation to assist my colleagues

in making informed decisions about

who we hire and who we don't.

And having a first-year associate who has shown a...

pronounced willingness to sleep around as a method

of career advancement is not in the best interest of this firm.

Besides, you seem to have landed on your feet.

Yeah, I did, didn't I?

Kind of makes you curious about what a second go-around

would be like, doesn't it?

- No. - Why?

Because I'm a lawyer in my own right?

Because I have a bright future at the firm I'm with?

Because the uncertainty of my getting hired

or not getting hired isn't hanging over us anymore?

I just don't think that this is appropriate right now, Lisa.

No, I bet you don't.

It isn't nearly sordid enough for Arnold Becker, is it?

No slave trade, no trap doors...

no ice pick through the heart.

Nothing to gain except the pure turn-on of it all.

And that's no turn-on at all for Arnold Becker, is it?

I don't know.

But if you wanna try...

come on. Let's try.

- Stop it! - What's the matter, kid?

Not sordid enough for you?

I guess not.

The tragedy of this is...

I'm just like you.

Arnold Becker with a pair of jugs.

[door slams]

[clamoring]

- Judge Hood! - Judge Hood!

[reporters shouting indistinctly]

reporter #1: What comes next, Your Honor?

reporter #2: How many people are involved?

reporter #1: Your Honor, any comments?

female #1: If you get anything, anything at all...

[indistinct chatter]

- Excuse me, sir. - I'm Judge Hood's attorney.

Well, you'll have to wait out here until he's through being

processed, counselor.

[indistinct chatter]

officer #1: Address?

Hood: 1139 South Crest, West Los Angeles.

officer #2: Charged with one count PC 93,

receiving a bribe by a judicial officer.

officer #1: Have you read him his rights?

Yeah, he's been read and he understands the Miranda.

officer #1: Alright, Judge. I'm gonna fingerprint you now.

So just extend your right hand.

Relax your fingers and I'll do the rest.

[theme music]

[music continues]