Original subtitles

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

Arnold Becker?

Do I know you?

Well, do you remember a client named Kim Bonner?

- Sure. - That's my mother.

- You're... - Lucinda.

God, last time I saw you, you were just,

you were a little kid.

Well, I just turned 21 a couple days ago.

- Happy birthday. - Thanks.

You're still lawyering, I assume?

Yeah, I guess you're not still in junior high school.

No.

- Shopping for the family? - No, you?

Oh, no, I just stopped by to pick up

some Smyrna figs for breakfast.

This is all I have during the day.

It's water from the St. Augustine Springs.

Lucinda: Since I tried it, I simply can't drink any other.

Getting a divorce was really the best thing

- my parents ever did. - Sometimes that's the case.

You still living with your mother?

[chuckles] Arnie, please. I can afford my own place.

Oh, forgive me. I must be living in the past.

By the way, what last name are you using?

- No last name. - No last name?

Well, I'm a model, so I'm known professionally only as Lucinda.

You must be doing fairly well.

Cover of Glamour next month.

You know, those are nice cars.

I used to have one before I got the Mondial.

You know, I have to tell you something.

I used to have a really big crush on you.

- Really. - Yeah.

I-- I used to imagine

you sweeping me off my feet and taking me away.

Would you still be willing to give me the chance?

Call me.

[engine revving]

Eight years ago, when I represented her,

she had a daughter then who was only 13 years old.

Cut to this morning.

I stop off at the store, and there is her daughter.

- She's 21. - Rox, this is beyond intrigue.

Don't ask me how I know.

Arnie, if I line up a good temp,

do you think I could use some of the time I have coming

to take Friday off?

Leon wants to take me to Hawaii.

- Absolutely. - Really?

Rox, that sounds like a great weekend.

- Where you going to stay? - The Mauna Kea.

Oh, that's the best beach in the world.

Boy, if the possibility exists to live

a truly joyful existence, it's got to be LA.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Woman on radio: Let's take a call now

from Leonard in La Jolla. Hello, Leonard.

Man on radio: Hello, doctor.

[phone ringing]

Woman on radio: So what's on your mind today?

Man on radio: Well, I'm-- I'm about to go into

personal bankruptcy in order to pay...

Why the, uh, the reject, on the Ellis complaint,

uh, Van Owen?

- Because it's trash, detective. - Uh-huh.

Would you be willing to amplify that for me just a little?

Ellis has a concussion and four cracked ribs

he said he received while in custody.

Brutality charges have been filed against the department,

and now you-- you bring me this laundry list?

No. Now, see.

Now you're losing me, Van Owen. What's the problem?

The problem, sergeant, is that despite the fact that

you would like to charge him with eight different felonies,

the only thing that you have on him

are three vehicular infractions.

Take it to traffic court.

What about the 25-caliber automatic he had with him?

No PC to search the trunk.

There is nothing here that's going to stick

no matter how much you fling at the wall.

How about he's a wrong guy?

I can't charge him for being wrong.

- What is it with you? Yeah. - What is it with me?

Didn't you get a pretty first hand view

- of what it's like out there? - What if I did?

Nothing. You're right.

Don't give it a second thought.

I'm sure there wasn't a reason in the world

for the cops to have laid a finger on him.

By the way, that cop you got sitting outside on detail,

guarding you, how much slack you think you'd cut him?

You're out of line, sergeant, but since you asked,

the very same amount I would cut anybody else.

And spare me the Iwo Jima speech

about enduring the front line.

The only reason this file is on my desk is

because your people screwed up,

and now you're looking at a law suit.

Only you don't get combat pay around here.

And the District Attorney's Office

is not your department's Private Defense Counsel.

So do me a favor and take a hike.

You bet.

And I hope there's something I can do for you sometime.

[indistinct chatter]

[sighs]

[phone ringing]

Are you positive they'll hold the jeep for us?

We're going to pick it up on the way to camping store.

God, Stuart, just think how long it's been

since you breathed real air.

Woody Allen says you should never trust air you can't see.

Look, Stuart, I know that camping was not

your first choice for a vacation,

and I just want you to know how much I appreciate

your being so open t-- to try something new with me.

You know that's the kind of guy I am.

You know I talked to my travel agent.

We can still get in almost anywhere...

Hawaii, Mexico.

See, I think our lives have just gotten so out of balance,

you know, enclosed in this hermetically sealed box,

never seeing the sun or a tree or a bird.

They have sun and trees and birds in Acapulco,

and you don't have to sleep in the dirt.

Aren't we the little prince?

Ann: Anyway, you get to choose the next vacation.

Assuming I live through this one.

Messer and the Jack of Hearts.

Ron Messer's a commercial fisherman

who works out of San Pedro. The Jack of Hearts is his boat.

He claims that the IRS took it away from him.

Was he asleep at the switch?

Douglas: It doesn't seem like that can happen without warning.

I assume he had some warning.

With the service, you can't assume anything.

Douglas: What are we doing?

Stuart an I are meeting with Messer this morning.

Are you crossing over into Stuart's bailiwick, Mike?

Well, from what little I heard on the phone,

this one looks like it might go into court right away,

in which case Mike's the one.

Feel like cutting your teeth with me in tax court, Victor?

Victor's not available.

You know, I could easily give up this trip

- if you want me around, Mike. Mike: No, not necessary.

Excuse me.

Is he alright?

Douglas: Ann, you're not coming in tomorrow?

That's right, Douglas.

Stuart and I are going backpacking

in the Buellton Highlands.

Ann: Abby, there's one thing I'd like you

- to cover for me if you could. - Sure.

Douglas: Abby's not available, Ann.

Victor and Abby not being available have anything

to do with this ongoing Sparky litigation, Douglas?

Let's get something straight.

I've been hit with criminal assault charges

as well as an enormous civil liability claim.

These represent a grotesque travesty of justice.

Douglas: The only possible means I have of righting the scales

a bit lies in the lawsuit I filed against Keris

for killing Sparky and for slashing my tires.

I would hope that I could count on the forces of this firm to

be mobilized out of sheer moral indignation if nothing else.

Douglas: I think we're adjourned.

Let's go, Mike.

Ron. Hi, I'm Mike Kuzak. This is Stuart Markowitz.

- He's our tax specialist. - Hello, Ron. How are you?

So...

Uh, where should I start?

Tell us about your boat.

She's 85 foot, steel hull, I've got her rigged for long lining.

Five days ago I took on enough ice and provisions

for a two-week trip.

Next day I go down to the pier, the harbor master tells me

Internal Revenue agents have seized the boat.

They left me a notice I owed $540,000 in taxes.

Ron: My best year I made 80 grand.

Plus the one thing I never not do is pay my taxes.

I don't ask them for extensions. I don't tell them any stories.

I just give them the money so they don't give me any trouble.

- Doesn't always work, does it? - Tell me.

The guy does my returns, he called.

He couldn't get any information.

I phoned. The lines are always busy.

Mike: Well, if what you're saying is accurate,

it sounds like somebody really goofed.

Stuart: Let's hope that's all it is.

Remember. We are dealing with the IRS now.

You're telling me they can do anything

the hell they want to do?

They can do things nobody else can do.

They have their own police force.

When they decide to move in, they move in.

They can take everything.

And if you happen to be standing there,

they can search you.

I know a case of a guy where they went to his house

and not only took his two cars, but the truck that belonged to

the gardener who was cutting the grass at the time.

- So I just roll over? - Oh, no. No, no, no, no.

I know a few people down there.

I think we can get a meeting by this afternoon.

Don't worry.

We'll get this whole thing straightened out.

Well, I hope it's soon because I've got five crewmen

going to leave me flat if I'm not outbound in a week's time.

I'm three payments late on the boat.

I'm two payments late on the house.

My wife is a wreck because of this.

If they don't give that boat back to me soon,

they might as well keep it for good.

So some kid takes a potshot at me,

and all of a sudden I'm supposed to be

the department's hard ass.

Well, I don't think you're being singled out, Grace.

I think he was just doing what cops do.

Since when are you an apologist for the LAPD?

Since when are you having three drinks for the lunch?

How about you mind your own business?

Look, I think I've been pretty good about what's been going on

with you the last couple of weeks.

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

You have been pushing me and everyone else away

with the booze and the tranquilizers.

Mike: It's not you, Grace.

Micky, be a pal, huh?

Get off my back.

Hey, why don't we go dancing tonight? Hm?

I-- I have a friend who can get us into Helena's.

Well, I've got too much to do with this IRS thing.

They are really putting the screws to this guy.

Yeah, well, someone's always putting the screws to someone.

It never ends. Give it a break.

Just for tonight.

I can't, Gracie.

You know what, Kuzak?

The thing I like about you the best

is you're such a hell of a lot of fun.

Enjoy.

[indistinct chatter]

[phone ringing]

I have number 15 sun block, zinc oxide,

snazzy new sunglasses. [chuckles]

I feel like we're going to Paradise for the weekend.

Let me call you back later, Leon.

Rox, I know you're very busy making plans,

but if we could do a little office business

for just a second.

I'd like you to have a case of St. Augustine Water

sent to Lucinda at her house. Thanks.

So that we may understand one another on this point,

my client is fully willing to provide

all pertinent corporate financial records

to the present shareholders.

I have advised them that he is under no duty whatsoever

to divulge any details of his current financial condition

beyond the scope of the corporation.

Leland, what's wrong?

Call Dr. Weiner.

Tell him I have to see him right away.

Leland, what is it?

I don't know, Iris.

That's why I want to go to the doctor.

Now, would you call him, please?

Oh, Mike, I'm in a spot.

I've got the Regina Furnald Murder trial prepared for her,

and now assault charges against Brackman have landed

- up on Marilyn Feldman's desk. - So?

I copped her grandmother's rocking chair.

There's no way I'm going to get her to deal.

There's no way I can take this to trial.

I was wondering if there was any chance

that you could go down there for me.

Oh, not if you want to go anytime soon.

What about Abby?

Abby is handling Douglas' civil litigation.

Brackman wants me for the criminal charges,

but the way it looks now, I don't stand a chance.

Sure, you do, you can turn this

whole thing around to your advantage, Victor.

Offer up an act of contrition,

combined with a certain innocent charm.

Pretty soon you've got her right where you want,

even more so than if you'd never had to fight

- with her in the first place. - I don't think so.

I think the policy objective of the Secret Council of Females

is crush Sifuentes every chance you get.

Except the difference here is that between you and Feldman,

there's no romance, warped or straight,

past, present, or future.

So all you have to do is deal with the case.

I don't know. I'll tell you one thing.

If Marilyn Feldman is not a dog lover,

Douglas could be looking at some serious pound time.

I had a Collie named Daisy.

She used to roam around in this field

where the cows would graze.

Sometimes a cow would get loose and get out on the road,

and Daisy would run after her and bark like hell.

One day a truck hit her, and she had to be put to sleep.

All my mother would tell me was that Daisy was going to live

in a place where it was safe for her to run,

where there were no trucks.

I promised to keep her off the road and protect her,

but Daisy wasn't coming back.

Just imagine, instead of it having been a truck that hit her

by accident, it was some guy who killed her on purpose.

They say a dog is the only animal who will lick

the hand of its killer.

Daisy would've been just as trusting as Sparky was,

nuzzling up to the stranger who is offering her chopped meat,

chopped meat laced with strychnine.

Now, Sparky was poisoned in an enclosed area.

Keris' back yard gave him direct access

without tripping off the alarm system.

Victor: I mean, he had every opportunity.

He had the inclination. He had...

Oh, wait a minute.

What exactly are you after here?

Marilyn, I just want you to be able to use

your prosecutorial digression and drop the case.

Victor: Douglas Brackman has absolutely no record

for violence. He was horribly provoked.

And he's remorseful for what he's done.

If there's any victim here, it's him.

Why is it I get the feeling that you're going to be

laughing at me once you get outside my door?

Because you don't know me.

Well, I don't know Mr. Brackman either, do I?

He seems bent on vengeance. He's suing Keris.

What's to say he doesn't come after him again,

this time with a baseball bat or a gun?

If that happens, I'm sure you know that I don't want to be

the prosecutor who dropped the charges.

Supposing you were convinced that Brackman

isn't about to do that. Okay?

Supposing we get them together, and they all agree

that this is all best put to rest.

Your guy drops his civil suit?

Well, I will certainly suggest it.

Well, let's get them both in here

and maybe we can do business.

Hi, sorry I'm late.

- I got hung up at the IRS. - It's okay.

Oh, stocking up for some long nights by the campfire, huh?

Stuart, I think this is really going to be good for both of us.

Just to slow down a little. You know?

Sleep out under the stars, nothing between us and nature.

I think we better get started.

You know, I was up reading catalogues last night.

- I stayed up. - Uh-huh.

There's a lot of this stuff

we're absolutely going to need,

like these bags here.

Oh, well, we've already got those bags

that I borrowed from my cousin.

Not like this.

You know this is the exact same bag they took to the north pole?

[scoffs] We're not going to the north pole, Stuart.

We're going two hours out of Los Angeles,

- and this bag costs $400. - May I help you?

You gonna do something, you may as well do it right, Ann.

Yeah, we'd like to take two of these,

and I'd like to see your half-dome tents, please.

- Right over here. - Thanks.

This is a terrific model.

Aluminum alloy poles with a lifetime warranty.

Stuart, we're going to be camping for three nights.

It's got a convertible rain shield/dining canopy.

- Yeah, we'll take it. - Stuart, are you kidding?

How about packs?

The wrong backpack can totally ruin a trip.

You got one you particularly recommend?

Mm-hm, this is the visionary, state of the art.

- Here, why don't you try it on. - Yeah, great.

It's got a 1000 Denier Cordura bottom.

- Mm-hm. - It's too big.

No, it's actually very well balanced.

Conically cut waist band, coil zippers,

- perforated Lombard pad. - $349.

Stuart, that is totally ridiculous money for a knapsack.

[scoffs] Ann, it's not a knapsack.

Clerk: We have less expensive models, naturally,

with fewer features, of course.

No, I think I really like this one.

- You'll be very happy with it. - Hm, great.

- I've got a few more things. - Okay.

You know those boots with the bilateral arch support?

- Mm-hm. - I'll take two pairs of those.

- Okay. - Then goose down jackets.

And you have that silk and polypropylene underwear?

- What? - Right.

And then, you know, lanterns,

signal mirrors, bug spray,

snake-bite kit, wind-proof matches,

citronella candles, bungee cords, a couple of those.

Bungee cords?

Yeah, you know, they hold on...

Never mind. Here, why don't you take the list?

And I'll browse around, see whatever else I might need.

- Great. - Thanks.

- Ooh. - Stuart.

These are nice.

Oh, this stuff is great. Here.

Some of this. You know, maybe you were right.

Maybe this getting close to nature isn't really going to be

so terrible after all.

Think you're going to need another basket.

Man on TV: Pirate corridors of success.

Your host is celebrity interviewer Robin Leach.

David is perched high on a hill on the south side of the island

with a spectacular view of what has to be

the most stunning harbor anywhere.

Hi.

- What time did you get home? Grace: 4:00.

At this point the job's so stupid I might as well

stay home.

You feel like talking?

No.

I feel like zoning out in front of the tube.

[scoffs] That sounds uplifting.

If you want me to go home...

I can go home.

How you going to get there, crawl?

Drive.

You're not driving anywhere. You are drunk.

Take your hands off me, Mike.

You try to leave this house, and I'm going to knock you down.

Macho man.

Sit down and give me your drink.

Now, lie down.

Lie down and you stay under the covers.

Alright? Go to sleep.

[chatter over TV]

[instrumental music]

Alright, this is unbelievably steep.

Just be careful here for a second.

Let me get down first.

Ow. Ow. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

Alright.

Here.

Alright?

Stuart, my back is killing me.

Are your hip stabilizers secure?

I don't know whether they're secure or not.

I do know that I told you it was ridiculous

to bring in all this junk.

Don't start with me, Ann.

Don't start with me.

The entire trip was your idea. Remember that?

And, believe me, my feet hurt worse than your back.

Not with your Austrian boots with the bilateral arch support.

The best boot on the market. Just not broken in yet.

Stuart, could we make camp here for the night?

Oh, we haven't hiked very long.

Well, let's... We'll go farther tomorrow.

- Whatever you say. - Okay?

Whatever you say is fine.

- How's this? - Fine.

- Sit down. - God.

Ann. Ann!

[laughing]

Woman: McKenzie Brackman, may I help you?

One moment, please.

Ron, what's up? What time did you get here?

About an hour ago. Here, take a look at this.

Notice of auction?

Two weeks, they're selling the boat.

I've worked long enough on other people's boats to get to

where I can run my own, and now people I've never laid eyes on

are going to sell it out from under me?

Well, we're not there yet.

Then where the hell are we?

Ron, there's something I have to get straight.

The IRS is saying you're using tour boat to run drugs.

- I have to know if that's true. - Drugs?

That's why your assessment is so high.

They're saying that fishing is just a front.

That's crazy. Where did they get that?

Well, at the moment they don't have to say.

Then how the hell am I supposed to defend myself?

Why don't you let me worry about that.

Right now I just have to hear it from you.

- Yes or no. - No. No, I don't run drugs.

I've never run drugs. All I've ever done is fish.

Alright.

Tomorrow morning we'll go into Federal Court,

and we'll see if we can get a judge

to move on this right away.

You know the impound dock?

They don't even have chafing gear on the lines.

They haven't kicked on the auxiliary generator.

The ice is melting.

The bilge pump is running on the battery.

The bait hold is full of stinking mackerel,

and she's sitting too low in the water.

Ron, we are moving on this as fast as we can.

Everybody's got their idea of what hell is like,

and this is mine.

People in offices with no windows,

sending each other pieces of paper with my name on them.

I can't get them on the phone because the line is always busy.

I can't find their offices

because I don't know who they are!

Mr. Kuzak...

Mr. Kuzak, guys like me end up in the street

from this kind of thing.

Would you come in, please?

Leland, what did the doctor say?

I'll have to cancel a number of appointments.

I've tried to call all yesterday and this morning.

I have to go into the hospital next Thursday.

What for?

- I'd rather not go into it. - Leland.

It's nothing serious. I would just rather not go into it.

Tell Saul... Saul Tartoff I'll call him on the weekend.

Also I'm scheduled to appear for Gordon Hollingsworth

and an administrative hearing.

Call Keighton Craig and arrange for an adjournment.

Talk to Seth Craig. You won't have any problem.

Leland, you are someone who never goes to a doctor,

let alone takes a day off from work.

It's obvious to me it's something serious,

which makes me very afraid.

I'm asking, as a friend, that you talk to me.

And I'm asking, as a friend, that you respect my privacy.

That's the kindest thing that you could do for me right now.

Gentlemen, what we're here for is to see whether or not

it's possible to avoid criminal trials altogether.

- For whom? - For either of you.

Either of us?

You murdered an innocent animal.

That is a totally unsubstantiated accusation.

You have motive and opportunity.

All I did was respond

to the monstrousness of this man's crime.

Mr. Brackman, your sense of moral outrage,

regardless of how genuine or pronounced,

does not entitle you to commit mayhem however you see fit.

Marilyn: What you did to this man constitutes

aggravated assault

for which you may be tried, and if found guilty,

- sentenced to prison. - How do you like them apples?

I wouldn't be getting too cocky if I were you, Mr. Keris.

Now, I'm willing to drop this entire matter,

but I need some fairly solid assurances from both of you

that this pattern of violence and feuding

is not going to continue or escalate.

- So be it. - Mr. Keris?

Well, I'm not looking to make any trouble.

Good.

In my family we always resolved a crisis over a meal.

So before we start formalizing this, how about it?

Marilyn: Well, I've got corned beef, roast beef.

I'll have a roast beef.

- Corned beef, please. - Nothing.

If you're smart, you'll both drop the civil suits as well.

All that's going to happen is that you'll burn up

a lot of time and effort,

and one's just going to cancel out the other.

- You alright? Man: John, are you okay?

Marilyn: Would you like some water?

I think he's really choking.

Oh, my god.

- Do something. - Oh, no, no, don't do that.

There's that procedure. What's it called?

- The Heimlich Maneuver. - Yes, do you know how to do it?

- I do. - Well, then do it.

The man's choking to death here.

I find there to be something

of a special irony in that.

It was at his hand that Sparky choked to death.

Mr. Brackman, you can't let the man die.

To lose compassion for the dying is to lose all humanity.

Isn't that right, Keris? Tell me.

Did you watch Sparky as he gasped his last breath?

Was there a part of you that would've reached over

and saved him if you could, like this?

[coughing]

Oh, thank god.

- John, are you alright? - You bastard.

I think you broke my rib.

I saved your life, you undeserving viper.

When he gets finished with you,

I'll have the shirt off your back.

This is who you want me to settle with, Ms. Feldman,

Douglas: this miscreant?

This man's life calls out to be extinguished

and his bodily parts sold for scrap.

I'm leaving.

I don't make deals with terrorists.

You were both witnesses. Expect a subpoena.

The man saved your life, mister. I wouldn't push your luck.

Lawyers.

Trilfa: John, calm down.

I guess this wasn't such a good idea.

At least we tried.

So where does that leave us?

I'm not going to prosecute.

Each of them is enough of a punishment for the other

without getting the whole criminal justice system

- involved. - Thanks, Marilyn.

That's really very decent of you. Thanks.

It's a shame to waste perfectly good food.

Are you hungry?

I could eat.

Abbot: Very beautiful. Come on, love me.

Who loves me? Look at me. Very good.

Now, I want you to jump, honey. I want you to jump for me.

Now, look in the camera. Jump, baby. Good, very good.

[instrumental music]

Abbot: You love me, honey. You love me. Come on, honey.

Hi, Arnie. Abbot, Arnie Becker.

- Hi, Abbot. - Yeah, alright.

Abbot: We're just going to finish up a couple more.

Then we can take a break. Okay?

Good, I love you. Good. I want you to pout.

Abbot: Come on, pout for me. He was mean to you last night.

Pout for me. Beautiful. You are beautiful.

Okay, gorgeous. Now go and change.

Thank you.

- You're gonna hate me. - Not in this lifetime.

We got started really late. The truck needed detailing.

This morning they sent over a Testarossa instead of a Lagonda.

Lucinda: It's been one thing after another.

Could I take a rain check until tomorrow?

I could change the dinner reservations,

make them a little later, wait for you,

watch you work for a while.

Wouldn't be the hardest thing I ever did.

Arnie, I couldn't work with you here.

I would be totally distracted.

What if I promised to be very quiet?

It's not your voice that's distracting, Arnie.

It's wanting to get away and be with you.

You know, the camera picks all of that up.

I can look at a photograph and tell

when a model's just broken up with her boyfriend,

got in a drug habit, fallen in love.

You have no idea how naked I really am.

Just so long as I can dream.

Come here.

Abbot: Lucinda.

Oh, man. The middle's all raw.

Stuart: I knew we should've bought that butane stove.

Ann: Eat some more trail mix. - I'm sick of trail mix.

Ann: Well, if you hadn't broken all the eggs

when you fell over...

Yeah, like that was really my fault, right?

Ann: Okay, I don't want to fight anymore.

Could you throw some toilet paper over here?

Stuart: Yeah, where'd you pack it?

- I didn't pack it. You did. - Uh-uh, you did.

Oh, great, you brought every damn thing in the world

except the toilet paper.

- What am I supposed to do? - How about a leaf?

- A leaf? - Yeah.

Well, you did say you didn't want anything to come between

you and nature, didn't you?

You're really enjoying yourself, aren't you, Stuart?

Oh, I am having a ball. I really am.

Well, okay. That's exactly what I'll do. No big deal.

I'll use a leaf.

[insects chirping]

- Come on, honey. - Ah!

I'll get him. I'll get him.

Alright, the hell with him. Hell with him.

I'll let him go. Come on.

God, I hate lizards.

Oh, God.

God, this pack is unbelievable.

I feel like a llama.

- How you feeling, honey? - How do you think I'm feeling?

Is-- is the itching getting any better?

The itching's worse. The burning is worse.

I am in agony, Stuart. Total agony.

Just going to be a little bit further. It'll be okay.

How are we ever going to find a dermatologist

in this god-forsaken place?

Well, you know, any kind of doctor can treat Poison Sumac

or whatever it was.

Did you, did you remember to bring the leaf specimen?

I thought you were going to bring it.

Well, you know, he probably doesn't need it anyway. Come on.

[crying] Oh, Stuart, could you please run and warm it up?

Come on.

[engine starting] Come on, come on.

Come on. It won't start.

Oh, God, Stuart.

Stuart, you're got to get me out of here. Please.

I don't care how. Just...

Just get to the ranger's station or something, please.

[crying] You've got to get me out of this miserable...

Before I start to cry.

Ann. Ann, come on, honey.

I'm going to get you out of here.

I'm going to... Just hang in there, honey.

I'm going to get us out of here real soon. I promise.

I'll be right back. Now, just don't move.

I'll be right back! And don't scratch!

Your Honor, in order to justify the snatching

of this man's boat and his livelihood,

the service has to show that the assessment

was reasonable and appropriate.

Right now they're not even close.

Your Honor, I would point out to Mr. Kuzak

that if the service is in compliance

with the rules of procedure, in executing

the termination assessment and levy,

and there is no showing that it isn't,

then the review taken here goes to the assessment only,

not to the taking of Mr. Messer's boat.

Mr. Messer only owes the tax's claim if it can be shown

that he was involved in smuggling drugs.

Now, where is the proof of that?

According to section 68-51, the burden isn't on the service

to provide that proof.

Ms. Zeppoli, I think you'll agree the evidence

of drug smuggling is rather thin,

and there's a good likelihood that Mr. Messer will wind up

with an abatement.

In the meantime could he at least

have his boat restored to him?

Unfortunately, Mr. Kuzak, there's been no showing

that the levy was anything but proper.

Peck: As such, I'm not at liberty to disturb it.

Your Honor, Ron Messer is being forced into personal

and financial ruin, and all anyone can say about that

is that the service is in compliance with its own rules.

Now, what is this man supposed to do while we labor to discover

that a mistake was made?

Counselor, I sympathize with your client's dilemma,

but this is not a criminal proceeding.

Peck: The safeguards afforded a criminal defendant

are not in place here.

And we can rail about the unfairness of it,

but that's the law.

Peck: The best I can do is to set an early trial date.

I cannot grant the relief you're seeking in a summary fashion.

The IRS sure as hell moved in a summary fashion, didn't they?

That'll do, counselor. That's about all I'm going to tolerate.

This court's adjourned.

Judge, can anybody here help me?

Can anybody explain this beyond saying there's a section

in a book someplace? I'm not a criminal.

Ron: I just want my boat back so I can get back to work.

This is the United States of America.

I want my boat back. I want to get back to work...

Lady, could you at least tell them to take care of the boat

while they got it? Or you could just give it to the navy...

Mr. Kuzak, you've got a message here from Officer Crane

- of the Santa Monica Police. - Thank you.

Ron, well, I'm sorry. I've got to go.

I'll call you later.

Woman: Dr. North, report to CCU stat.

Excuse me, I'm looking for... Never mind.

You alright? Is she alright?

She's fine.

Excuse me. Are you with the young lady?

- Yeah. - Can we talk to you a minute?

I'll be right back.

- What happened? Anybody hurt? - She lost it on San Vicente.

Officer: No, but she wound up on the center divider.

We ran a breathalyzer on her. It's below the legal line...

Just. She's also had a few of these.

She's got a valid prescription,

but she shouldn't be behind the wheel.

We also know she's with the DA's office.

Make sure you get her home, huh?

Thanks.

[indistinct chatter]

Okay, let's go. Come on. It's time to go home.

[instrumental music]

Stuart. Stuart, is that it?

Ann: Stuart, is that really it?

Yeah. Come on.

Easy. Easy, easy, easy. Come on.

Come on.

- Mr. Markowitz. Ciao, Franco.

- Ms. Kelsey. - Hi.

There's wine and beer and fresh orange juice in the mini fridge

unless you'd prefer champagne, of course.

Mr. Markowitz told me that you might be hungry,

so I brought along some oysters, lobster, fresh caviar.

The controls for the television

and the stereo are in that front panel.

- Now, everything else okay? - Yes, finally.

Great. You just lean back, relax.

We'll have you back in LA in less than two hours.

Great.

If you've got something to say, just say it.

I'm not going to stand by and wait for you to bottom out.

Then don't.

Mike: If you don't care about yourself,

why don't you stop and think about

what this might be doing to the people around you?

Now I'm supposed to feel guilty, too?

Do me a favor. Just get off my case.

Give me some slack.

Slack almost got you killed today.

Just like after you got shot,

you're ready with a thousand answers.

You got your speech about how that was nothing,

how this is nothing. Well, it's not nothing.

It's something and you're going to deal with it.

The question is whether you're going to deal with it

with your eyes open or closed and what the cost is going to be

when you're through.

Now, I'm going to go out, and when I come back,

the pills better be gone. The booze better be gone.

Or you better be gone.

[somber music]

[music continues]

[sobbing]

Lucinda, couldn't we go inside?

Isn't this the most fabulous car you've ever done this in?

Yeah, but still it's a car.

We could... We could go inside.

We could be in a bed.

Why would you want to be in a bed when you could be in a car?

Besides, this is how I always saw us anyway.

- What the hell are you doing? - Great.

Now you want to come around and see me again.

You left a message that said you'd be here.

What did you expect?

You're the one that didn't want a commitment.

Remember? You had all the reasons why not.

Lucinda: Fine. This is what you get.

You had to make sure I'd find out about it, too, didn't you?

Aaron: Didn't leave anything to chance.

You leave word that you have to see me.

You park in front of the house.

I mean, are you trying to tell me something here or what?

Yes, Aaron, I am.

I'm trying to tell you I feel neglected,

Lucinda: and this is the only way I have of doing it.

I'm not as articulate as you. Okay?

I just can't say what I'm feeling.

Alright, look, why don't...

Why don't you come out of the car,

and we'll go inside and talk. Okay?

- Who's the guy? - Arnold Becker. Aaron Fein.

How you doing, man?

Listen, I know this is a little bit weird,

but I think Lucinda and I need a little time together

- right now. Lucinda: Really, Arnie.

- I think it's the best thing. Aaron: You know something?

We're all going to be having dinner together in six months

laughing about this. Is it perfect?

I mean, it's LA, right? [chuckles]

Roxanne: Hi, you've reached Roxanne.

I'm not home right now, but if you leave your name

and any brief message at the sound of the beep,

I will get back to you. Thank you and have a great day.

This is Arnold Becker.

I'm calling from Pico Boulevard,

where I've just pulled over to the curb to wait out

the impulse to head due west until I crash through

the guard rail of the Pacific Coast Highway,

plunge to my death in the ocean below.

I hope you're having a hell of a good time in Hawaii.

[instrumental music]

Grace? Grace.

[music continues]

Grace: So, Micky, I wish I had the courage to say this

to your face, but I don't right now.

And I think that's okay.

Uh, I'm going away, Micky.

I-- I spoke to Rogoff, and he's given me

an indefinite leave of absence,

and I love you, and you know that,

but after everything that's happened, I feel...

I feel so out of control right now, and...

And I'm okay, I'm really okay

thanks to you, but I think I need to be by myself

for a while, and I've got a lot to think about.

You know?

A lot of stuff that I haven't wanted to think about.

And I don't know where I'm going to.

I don't know. Maybe up north. Maybe New Mexico.

Micky, please. Please don't worry about me. Okay?

Even if you don't hear from me for a while,

as soon as I understand what I really want,

I promise you'll be the first one to know

because I love you so much.

I do.

Bye.

[theme music]