Original subtitles

Tammy: So I go to his house, but the place is lit

with like a thousand candles, weird, okay?

So I go to the living room and there's like this box

like, like this casket

and the $200 is lying on top of it,

so I go over there

and this old guy is lying there totally nude.

So I started freaking out and screaming and everything,

and all of a sudden he pops out

and he starts mourning like,

"Aahhhh, aahhhh."

- That was Mr. Ludlum. - Sir, if I may...

So I mean, I'm totally flipped out.

I mean I got right on out of there.

Later I figured that's probably what

does it for him, the scream.

Your Honor, the absurdity of this young girl...

[gavel thuds] I said quiet.

And I'll ask you to refrain from further commentary

until Ms. Schiff has completed her testimony.

Continue, please.

Well, that's it, except for the next day

when I went back to get my money,

he gives me some story about how I didn't do it right

and how he's not gonna pay me anything.

Now, sir, you dispute the veracity of

how you enticed this innocent girl

to your home for the purpose

of satisfying your base sexual desires.

How dare you? I am an artist.

You know, not in of a performance art.

The work of the great Christo,

or the Korean Sun Pak Lee

who rolled his naked body across broken glass

in a lyric orgy of self mutilation.

I know about masturbating, sir.

- How dare you again? - How dare you?

You are a despoiler of young womanhood,

not only do I award her damages in the amount of $200,

but I fully intend to refer this matter

to the district attorney for prosecution. Next case.

The art is in the moment.

I'm not answerable to your authority

and I defy you. You what?

You think art is some rectangular thing

[laughing] you hang over your bourgeois sofa?

That's it. You're in contempt.

You're the contemptible one!

Laszlo, are you getting all this?

- I kill you! Rhonda: Hey!

- I kill you! - [indistinct] Get down!

- I kill you! - Move it.

You brought yourself some jail time, buddy.

You have no culture!

- You're nothing. - Shut up!

Ludlum: You have no culture.

You're primitive. You're nothing.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

Wellman versus Chernov

The perquisites that partnership implies.

I thought I might turn this little beauty over

to one of our two new associates.

- A trial? - Definitely.

- Then I want it. - Then I want it.

Becker: Listen to the facts first.

Our client Bruce Wellman, 34,

was driving his classic Aston Martin, the love of his life.

Becker: The only thing he really want me to try and save

during his rather ugly divorce.

It's raining hard.

It skids off on to the soft shoulder

of an isolated road up in Latigo Canyon.

Car sits balanced precariously on a cliff

while Bruce sits in the car, too scared to move.

Finally, a miracle, someone drives by.

Even more miraculously, actually stops to help.

A 23-year-old short order cook named George Chernov.

Well, Bruce tells him to go down

to the Pacific Coast Highway, and call the CHP for help,

but by now it's raining pretty hard

and George thinks it's a little too dangerous

to leave Bruce perched there on the cliff.

So, George opens the door,

holding his breath cautiously,

ever so cautiously, pulls him to safety.

Becker: They both breathe a huge sigh on relief.

Only unfortunately, when Bruce out,

the car rolls down the cliff.

Our client is suing the guy that saved his life?

- Right. For murdering his car. - What about insurance?

Well, Bruce says they won't value classic cars.

Besides, the real bottom-line,

he wants revenge.

Excuse me, but with all due respect.

Why have we taken this case?

Bruce Wellman is the son of Ross Wellman,

one of our biggest corporate clients.

Ms. Kleinberg, your call?

Heads.

Tails.

Jonathan, you're either free to take this turkey...

or you can fob it off on to Ms. Kleinberg.

On to more serious matters.

Brackman: Franklin versus Washington Pure Water Company.

Ms. Kelsey, could you illuminate us?

I mean, that's what we drink here.

There's nothing actually wrong with this stuff, is there?

Absolutely nothing, after months of discovery,

all the plaintiff can come up

with is some half-baked theory

that sense their own personal well

had certain chemicals in it.

Those chemicals must have somehow gotten there

from Washington Pure Water's plant

which happened to be next door to them

and since their visiting daughter drank water

from the well during her pregnancy

and gave birth to a deaf and blind infant,

it must be Washington Pure Water's fault.

What's the jury looking?

Kelsey: Impartial as I can hope for when dealing

with something as emotional as a birth defect.

More from personal experience, lots of luck.

Shall we be recommending a quick settlement?

McKenzie: I'd advice against offering them anything.

Not even nuisance value.

In the long run, all that does is

breathe more nuisance suits.

My way of thinking that's bad for our whole profession.

Oh, well, I have to flow up.

Uh, may I remind you all of the fundraiser of this evening

for the Los Angeles Lawyers

Constitutional Rights Association.

McKenzie: Now I realize you all have

many pools on your time and your money

and I don't want to exert any undue influence,

but this cause...

it's dear to me and you shall support.

That would be appreciated.

Ambassador Hotel, 7 o'clock.

We're adjourned.

[clicking]

What do you got there?

Just working on something.

Uh, just as I suspected.

Dreaded typist shoulder. Hmm?

- Feel good? - Mm-hmm.

You know something, Arnie?

You are almost irresistible.

Almost?

Don't you think that may just be the saddest word

in the English language?

If we weren't working together...

What's that got to do with anything?

Well, see I'm just the teeniest bit worried

that you might not respect me in the morning.

Oh, come on.

Let's say just for the sake of argument.

Let's say that I'll let you have your way with me...

and then as men have been known to do you

grow tired of me, so now what I mean

I'm kind of a drag to have around everyday, right?

You know, I bet you could even argue

that anyone who is such a pushover for you

might compromise the firm with the client.

Leslie, don't you think you're giving me

too little credit here?

So you raise the issue reluctantly,

of course, at a partner's meeting

and the next thing you know,

bang, I'm out of here.

You can't really believe that I would do something like that?

I don't know. Call me crazy, call me paranoid.

Call me an old school mate of last year's clerk.

You might remember her? Lisa Weston?

[Becker scoffs]

Miss Franklin, did you drink the water

from the trailer park's well during your entire pregnancy?

Yes, I did.

Unaware it was contaminated with toxic chemicals

from defendant's plant?

Objection. Leading and assuming facts is not an evidence.

Sustained.

Sorry.

Did you know the water was contaminated

with toxic chemicals from defendant's plant--

- I object. Judge Park: Sustained.

That's a cheap trick. There was no evidence

where those chemicals came from and he knows it.

Hatcher: Objection. - Counselor.

But he's gonna make little speeches, so am I.

Judge Park: No, you're not.

Both of you stop it.

Hatcher: Miss Franklin,

could you describe for the court

the medical condition of your daughter?

The defense stipulates that Marsha Franklin

was born blind in one eye and completely deaf

and that this condition is permanent.

Her client pollutes the earth with deadly toxic wastes.

And she doesn't have the decency to let the mother

of this poor child tell her story.

Judge Park: Both of you are out of order.

Please, stop it!

Judge Park: Mrs. Franklin...

[Ms. Franklin cries]

My daughter...

she can't see...

and she can't hear,

and all of you are jumping up and down about all the stuff

I don't even understand.

Judge Park: Mrs. Franklin, please.

I must ask that you sit down.

[crying] It's my baby.

[Ms. Franklin cries]

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chattering]

Sheila: Once again, here we are.

The Leland McKenzie show.

Don't you ever get fed up playing

second banana to that man?

He might as well take your name off the letterhead.

What am I talking about your name, your father's name?

My father was never a judge, neither was Leland.

Excuse me, but dressing up in a polyester smock,

for that ridiculous small claims court

doesn't make you a judge.

Sheila, stop.

You're 44 years old, Douglas.

When you're ever gonna accomplish

something with your life.

So the realtor finally takes me to his place

at 300,000 maybe little out of your price range she says.

And then we walk in and it's incredible.

Fireplace in the bedroom, panoramic views of the city,

but we honor the first rule of negotiation.

Play it cool, right? So how cool am I?

"I'm crazy about it." I mean, I just blurt it out.

I'd kill the client if they did anything that stupid.

No, I know what you mean.

For somebody else, I can be totally eloquent,

for myself, I'm a total dud.

So you're gonna buy it?

On my salary, it's a stretch.

You know, I'm not really sure

that this is any of my business, Jonathan,

but I'm gonna ask anyway.

How much are they paying you?

I'm not real comfortable with this, Abby.

I could easily find out.

- Seventy-two-five. - What?

It was kind of a unique situation.

Thank you.

- Two white wines please. - Yes, sir.

Well, well, Ms. Kelsey.

Mr. Hatcher.

Your people are guilty, you know?

I might not be able to prove it,

but Washington Pure Water Company is poisoning that well.

Hey, pal, this is a party.

Yeah, eat, drink and be merry

while the earth is being infected with deadly poisons.

Now who cares about a few more deformed babies?

I really don't think this is the appropriate...

Hey, look, hey, I'm entitled to my opinion.

Oh, yeah, yes, and as host of this affair

I'm entitled to ask you to leave.

McKenzie: Make sure we have a good time

or exercise our respective rights.

[instrumental music]

Now that we've done our bit for charity,

how about a graceful end of it.

Lynn: Mickey?

Lynn: I thought that was you. - Lynn?

Lynn: Oh, God, it's good to see you.

It's been forever.

You look great.

You too. What are you doing here?

I live here now. I'm practicing law again.

If you can call business affairs

and movie studio law.

Excuse me, I'm Lynn Palmer.

- Grace Van Owen. Lynn: How do you do?

I heard you got married, got a couple of kids.

Yeah, got divorced again, too.

I'm sorry.

It's all right, happens.

[indistinct chattering]

Well, I better be going.

Lynn: Mickey.

You know what?

I'm gonna call you for lunch.

I'd really like to catch up.

Lynn: Bye-bye.

[instrumental music]

Who was that?

My ex-wife.

Um...

Let's go.

What's the rush?

We are about to have a very big fight

and I think it would be better

if it didn't take place in the middle of this room.

It is such a betrayal, how could you not tell me.

Grace, it was over 12 years ago,

that has nothing to do with us.

Michael, you lied to me, that has a lot to do with us.

I didn't lie to you, you never asked me.

Dammit,

that is not the kind of question

you should have to ask. Not when you love someone!

Not when you live with them for a year!

Please, would you drop this now?

This is a subject that happens to be very hard for me.

Hard for you?

God...

You are the most selfish egocentric--

Alright!

Alright.

You remember I told you before that my father was dead,

but the truth is

that he bailed out on me and my mother

when I was 10 years old.

He just walked, no note, no nothing,

if I wanted to, I couldn't even find this son of a bitch.

It nearly killed my mother.

Kuzak: I don't think she ever got over him.

But I swore to myself that when I got married

I would never do that to my wife no matter what.

So isn't that great?

I ended up doing the same thing

to Lynn that my father did to my mother.

So, Grace, how could I explain it to you

when I couldn't even face it myself?

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to lie to you.

Oh, Mickey.

[melancholy music]

[knock on door]

Come in.

I just want to thank you for the beautiful flowers.

Not at all, Ms. Vasek, you saved my life.

Am I terrible if I tell you this?

Ever since I was first assigned to your courtroom,

I've had these dreams...

about us,

even though I know they'll never come true

because a man as principled and decent as you...

would never betray his wife for sexual relationship

even if it meant there were no strings attached

and no one ever had to find out.

Of course,

who among us doesn't have his own...

subterranean pockets of evil.

You, I believe you're committed to being a good husband

and an upstanding judge and...

that commitment allows you to overcome temptation,

where I'm weak, you're strong,

where I might give into just drop everything

and let myself be ravaged right here on this desktop,

that's not what you're about.

So thank you for not suggesting

we slip out to a motel at lunchtime...

for not locking the door

and ripping my clothes off.

Thank you for your strength.

Young: We truck in pure mountain spring water

from Washington State and then at our own plant,

we filter that water through clay to remove any impurities.

Would it have been possible

for the dumping of these clay filters

to in any way have caused damage to the plaintiff's well?

It would be a scientific impossibility.

Objection, this man is not an expert, Your Honor

he's a CEO of Washington Pure Water

and he has no foundation whatsoever

to render scientific opinions.

He has information

relating to the issue of safety, Your Honor.

Your Honor, that has nothing to do with--

Your complaint asks for punitive damages

predicated on the allegation that he knew of the hazards.

Kelsey: His state of mind therefore is directly an issue.

I'm going to overrule the objection.

Mr. Young, you're aware of the charge

that nickel is leaching from your field

into the trailer park well water.

We perform quarterly tests on our fields...

and we routinely find nickel to be present

in our own groundwater at two parts-per-billion,

two parts, that means that if any of it at all

were to find its way to that well

which is extremely unlikely since it's a half mile away,

it would have to be substantially under two-parts.

And is it your opinion that two parts-per-billion

is not a health risk?

Young: It's not just my opinion.

The environmental protection agency says

that anything under 13.4 parts-per-billion is safe.

I'm really sorry for what happened to that little girl

but there's absolutely no way that my company

had anything to do with it.

Thank you.

No further questions.

[knock on door]

Sifuentes: Come in.

- Victor. - Hi.

Abby: I got to talk to you.

Sure.

Do you know how much they're paying Jon Rollins?

Uh-huh.

$72,500 a year.

You're kidding?

Do I look like I'm kidding?

Victor, he's a year out of law school.

$72,500?

Now I was thinking maybe if we make a case together,

you know united front because I mean if he is making $72,500,

we should each be making at least that.

Oh, no offense, Abby, but I think

I'm more comfortable talking to Leland alone.

Oh.

You don't sound thrilled.

You just told me I'm not in your league.

Oh, come on, Abby, that isn't it I--

No, Victor, it's okay, forget it.

I hope you get your raise.

[telephone ringing]

[door slams shut]

Hey, aren't you supposed to be in court

on that vehicular manslaughter?

Vehicular manslaughter?

You know, the guy who killed the car.

[laughing]

Vehicular manslaughter?

You know, the guy who killed the car.

Elizabeth: How the deposition go?

Long, exceedingly long.

- Any calls? - Yeah.

Ruth Selig called, I told him

we'd send those documents over by messenger

and Ross Hartman phoned,

he want to see you on a new matter.

Lynn Palmer, she wouldn't say what it was regarding.

And Dave Leeson--

Did Lynn Palmer leave her number?

Mm-hmm. You want me to get her for you?

No, that's alright.

Alright. What about Ross Hartman?

You know, try Lynn Palmer for me, okay?

Sure.

[telephone ringing]

Mr. Hatcher, to what do I owe the pleasure?

This was given to me this afternoon by an engineer

who used to work for your client.

How do I know this isn't made up?

His declaration is attached

and you're free to try and shake him

when I call him to the witness stand.

Now I'm gonna assume the reason you didn't produce

this document is because you didn't know about it.

- I didn't. - Good.

And for $3 million dollars, nobody else has to hide it.

That's a lot of money, Mr. Hatcher.

Not compared to the cost to Washington Pure Water

if this information becomes public.

Do you mind?

"Our confidential internal research presents

strong new evidence that levels of nickel and cadmium

as low as one part-per-billion

may cause birth defects and/or cancer

and further at the presence of both these chemicals together

increases the carcinogenic affects

of each possibly to fatal proportions."

Three million bucks, Ms. Kelsey.

Or we read that little note for everybody.

Leland, I just heard some news

that doesn't sit really well with me.

Are you paying Jon Rollins $72,500 a year?

- Where did you hear that? - I heard it. Is it true?

You're asking me to reveal

another associate's compensation. I can't do that.

However I can tell you that whatever we're paying Jon,

his was a unique negotiation

which shouldn't affect you or anyone else.

What is that supposed to mean?

He was a very attractive candidate.

Number of firms were in the bidding, to be competitive,

we felt we had to be able to match their offers.

In other words a black from Harvard

is worth $72,500 and a Chicano from Glendale

with four years in the PD's office is only worth sixty.

I'd hate to leave but if I'm gonna stay on,

I got to have a raise.

Associate review will be coming up in

two months time, you've been doing fine work.

I'm sure the partners

will give your situation every consideration.

I need an answer now.

Victor, you're bending yourself into a corner

that may not be so easy to get out of.

I am not trying to be a primadonna, Leland.

But if I've ever got to go around here

feeling short-changed and resentful,

that's no good for anybody, is it?

What, ah...

would it take to make you happy?

Seventy-two-six.

Is that an ultimatum?

Yeah, I think it is.

[door opens]

[door shuts]

Hey, wait a minute, what are you doing?

- You can't just... - Ms. Kelsey.

- I'm sorry, she just walked in. - It's okay.

Whatever it is though, can you wait till tomorrow?

- I'm late dinner? - How do you do it?

You know this stuff is fatal and you just go on doing it.

The levels are within

environmental standards, there's nothing--

The EPA had access to this research

that shut you down in a second.

Where did you get this?

An engineer who used to work here

gave it to the plaintiff's counsel.

He gave it to me along with the demand for $3 million.

Offer it to him.

What?

Settle a case.

And you'll just go on dumping chemicals?

It would cost us $15 million to cleanup that dump site.

You're making a business decision

that it's cheaper to kill and maim people

than to clean up that dump?

You can't be so naive to think

that companies don't place cost to human life.

The automobile manufacturers could make a perfectly safe car

if they wanted to,

only it would cost more than a house

and nobody would buy it.

Young: Oil spill could be prevented entirely

but gasoline would cost three bucks a gallon,

and who would stand for that?

This is different, this is people--

It's the exact same equation.

And in our case,

we're balancing $15 million clean-up cost

against the potential lawsuits

over 300 people live in the park.

Factor into it that most are elderly...

and will die before the chemicals will affect them.

Factor into it that without this memo,

it'll be a very difficult claim to prove.

Factor into it, these random lawsuits

can probably be disposed over 200,000-300,000 a path.

And the reality is there's only one business option here.

We go on doing what we're doing...

and you settle a case.

Thank you, counselor, that's it.

Kleinberg: And have you driven in

Latigo Canyon often, Mr. Wellman?

Oh, yes. I used to take the Aston Martin up there

as often as I could.

Give her a little exercise, you know.

Of all the canyons, Latigo is her favorite.

Now did anything unusual happen on this particular occasion?

Wellman: Well, yes, it was a deer in the middle of the road.

Kleinberg: So naturally you swerved over

to the shoulder to avoid hitting it?

Damn straight.

Hit one of those things, it'll totally destroy

the front alignment of your car.

Wellman: Anyway I avoid hitting the animal

but I wind up practically hanging over the cliff

and add insult to injury I'm too far

on the boonies from my car phone to work.

So I just sit there.

Wellman: And eventually that man Chernov came along.

I told him to go get the CHP.

But, oh, no...

He got to be a big macho hero and do it himself,

so he jerks me out of the car,

practically dislocating my shoulder

ripping off the car door while he's at it,

and that's when the car started rolling.

My beautiful Aston.

Nothing I can do but just stand there.

You have any idea what that's like,

just standing and watching as

something you love takes her final plunge into the abyss!

Where she bursts into flames and burns to death,

slowly agonizingly right before your eyes?

Hey, I'm sorry, man.

I'm really, really sorry.

[coughing]

Sorry, I'm late.

That's alright.

I'm glad you agreed to see me.

So tell me everything.

Tell me about your kids.

My kids?

Well, ah, Billy's ten. He loves music.

Carrie is seven. She wants to be a doctor.

They're both terrific.

Michael, you really want to talk about my kids?

Well, it seems safe.

Lynn, I got to tell you this is not easy for me.

As a matter of fact I feel awkward as hell.

- Why? Kuzak: Why?

I'm the jerk who walked out on you, remember?

It has taken me a long time to come to terms with that...

and sitting here now looking it you, I,

I feel...

Well, this is not real complicated. I feel guilty.

We were just kids, Mickey, for God sakes.

What's the difference who walked out first,

I was no bargain, you remember?

I guess you were just too young,

both had a lot of growing to do.

Mickey, if you really haven't yet,

you've got to forgive yourself. I did.

[indistinct chatter]

That's it?

That's it.

I thought you wanted to see me so you can...

sort of yell at me a little.

Vent your spleen, tell me how rotten I was.

It would have make you feel any better when you get back

to the office I'll give you a call,

I can be extremely abusive.

[laughs]

Boy, I don't know what to say.

- Ready to order, Ms. Palmer? - Yes, Roberto.

Mickey, you just have to try the Chinese chicken salad,

and if you don't like it,

I owe you another lunch.

Chinese chicken salad.

- Two. - Fine.

That concludes the discussion on the rent increase.

Now, if we can move on from here

and as I'm due in court,

we have something pressing which is how to deal

with this latest uprising among the associates.

What uprising?

As I warned, Leland, what happened

Victor Sifuentes has gotten wind of the discrepancy

between Jonathan Rollin's salary and his.

Oh, boy.

Victor has presented us with an ultimatum,

$13,600 raise or he will quit.

Mickey: Well, I don't blame him.

I would have felt the same way.

And furthermore I think he's worth it.

I agree with Mike. I mean I like Victor, I think we all do.

Personal feelings aside, I don't think we can afford to lose him.

And let me ask you to consider this,

while you're giving Mr. Sifuentes

the keys to the larder,

how do you plan to hold the line against

Ms. Perkins and Ms. Kleinberg when they find out?

Are we gonna give every one of them $73,000 salaries?

Money which ultimately comes out of the pockets

of the partners in this firm.

You know Douglas is right.

This is gonna snowball.

Exactly, and Kleinberg shows promise.

- I'd hate to lose her. - What about Abby?

Truthfully, I think this is one we could afford to lose.

Oh, come on, Douglas, Abby is good kid.

If we allow ourselves to get any more attached to her,

we're only asking for trouble down the line.

I certainly can't envision her as partnership material

and it does her a disservice to keep her here...

if there's no future.

Alright, alright.

We will deal with Ms. Perkins

if and when the situation arises.

In the meantime what about Victor?

Give it to him.

In favor?

I'm.

I. I.

Opposed?

Nay.

Motion carries.

You tell him the good news,

I'm late for court.

- Ann? - Yeah.

I hate to impose on our friendship...

but this is something I really need to know.

Did Victor get his raise?

Abby, you know that's confidential information.

I love this place.

Anybody will tell you who they're sleeping with

but God forbid how much money someone is making.

Yes, Victor got his raise.

Isn't that just great?

I've been here over a year and Jon Rollins comes in

and leap frogs right over me

and now Victor goes...

Dammit, I'm gonna go in there and tell McKenzie

that I want $20,000 more or I'm out of here.

Don't threaten to leave unless you mean it.

What are you telling me?

Just that I'm not sure this is the right time.

Ann, I have been here longer than either of them.

Tenure has nothing to do with it.

The reality is if you want more money,

you have to work harder.

Work harder?

I get here at 8:30 in the morning,

I don't get home till 7 o'clock at night,

what am I supposed to do put my son up for adoption?

It's more than logging hours, Abby.

It's about taking the initiative,

not just waiting for somebody

to drop an assignment in your lap.

Is that what you think?

Or do you really think that because I'm a woman,

you can exploit me financially?

Oh, come on, this has nothing to do with sexism.

Look at me, I'm a partner.

Right, the only one.

And you know what I think?

I think you like it that way, the queen bee

keeping all the other females in their place.

That is a crock and you know it.

Abby: Yeah. Thanks for all your advice, Ann.

[door slams shut]

Leslie, Brackman just told me you quitting.

I feel totally responsible.

What are you talking about?

Sticking with that idiot Bruce Wellman,

nobody can win that case.

You can't let one loss in your entire career.

- I didn't lose, Arnie, I won. - You won?

Yes, opposing counsel was a complete yutz

so all I had to do was object every time he opened his mouth

and he became totally unglued.

You know I don't think the jury ever got it

that his client actually saved my client's life. Take this.

And then one of the juror's kept staring at me during the trial,

so I began staring back, I figured

at least I'll get one vote.

Then during closing arguments,

I began fingering the top button of my blouse.

I guess what I'm saying, Arnie, is that once that trial began

I would have done anything,

anything to win the case for a client that I hated

and a cause I found totally repugnant.

Sounds like you got the makings of a great attorney.

It's exactly what I'm afraid of.

Besides now I can finish my novel.

Your novel?

Yep, it's what I've always really wanted to do.

Law school's for my father.

But I guess I'm a grown up now,

I owe it to me to take my best shot.

Excuse me.

Well, what's it about?

The law, money, sex, office, politics.

Do you think it's commercial?

It better be I'm not real big on starving in garrets.

Any agents or publishers seen it yet?

It's not really finished yet, just a rough first draft.

What about movie rights? You discussed them with anyone?

Movie rights, no.

You know, I got a lot from the publishing context.

Let me take a look at it, if it's any good,

may be I can help.

What kind of percentage you gonna want?

I don't know, standard 10%.

Okay.

Okay I've got an extra xerox,

you just remember it's kind of rough.

It's okay.

Rough has never been a problem for me.

Mr. Hatcher.

It's all there for signature.

Including the agreement that certain memo

will not be disclosed.

And by the way the engineer informs me

that he's reached a similar deal with your client.

So if you can get your client to execute this,

we'll take the check and be on our way.

You realize that by doing it this way

people will go on drinking that well water.

- Some of them may die. - I know.

But we don't represent those people.

[knocking on door]

Arnie.

Don't you mean Barney, Barney Decker.

Did you read the whole thing?

Yeah, it's about us, McKenzie Brackman.

No, it's not. It's just a generic law firm.

Besides what did you expect? Eskimos?

You hardly even bother to change my name.

Barney was my sheepdog's name who died.

And I used to live in Decker, Canyon.

It's just a coincidence.

Well, some coincidence

about a blonde 36-year-old divorce attorney

who wears Italian suits drives a Porsche,

has sex with anything with a pulse.

Leslie, when this thing gets published

I'm gonna be the joke of this town.

Published?

You really think you can get this published?

Actually there's very strong commercial possibilities.

But no Deckers, Neckers, Heckers.

The name is no big deal.

How much do you think you can get for it, realistically?

Absolutely change the name.

It's done.

How much?

Anywhere from low to mid six figures...

with any kind of luck plus ancillary.

Oh, God. Arnie, you are irresistible.

You're not just collecting material

for another book, are you?

You can't really think I'd do something like that.

Besides now that I'm not working in the firm any more.

Ah, oh, whoo!

Watch the makeup on the shirt.

Ah, what, I...

Have you got a hanger?

I prefer wood.

Closets in the bedroom.

Condoms are in the nightstand.

[instrumental music]

Meet you there in a minute.

Decker, "watch the eye makeup on the collar."

"Have you got a hanger? I prefer wood."

The settlement agreement, ready for signature.

I also understand you bought off

the engineer to keep them quiet. Very nice.

You just tell me where to sign, I'll drop a check.

What's this?

That's another little agreement between you and me.

What the hell is this?

Just what it looks like.

You agree to clean up that dump in consideration for which

I don't give that memo to the Los Angeles times.

I'll sue your firm blind. You won't be-

I formally resigned from the firm,

I'm doing this on my own.

The only one you can sue is me.

Now listen, lady.

And if you do sue me this will all come out for sure

Washington Pure Water Company will be finished.

This is blackmail, I'll have you disbarred, it's unethical.

Call it whatever you want

but factor into it that you can't take me down

without exposing this information to the world.

Factor into it that that memo contains

enough dynamite to blow this company into bankruptcy.

Factor into it that your corporation's

only chance of survival is you're signing that agreement.

Am I speaking your language?

You're bluffing.

Good day, Mr. Young.

Okay, you win.

Was it a bluff that you really quit your firm.

[knocking on door] Come on in.

- Hi. - Hi.

I heard you got your raise?

- It's great. Sifuentes: Thanks.

Look about that,

are we gonna be okay about the other day?

Yeah, it's okay.

No really, Abby,

because I didn't mean it the way you thought.

I know.

You figured out what you gonna say to McKenzie yet?

Mm-mm.

When you finish up, you wanna go

for a beer we can plan strategy--

Thanks but I, I think I'm just gonna go home.

Hey, are you okay?

According to Ann, I don't have any right to ask for a raise,

I'm not working hard enough

and I'm not not showing enough initiative.

That's what management always says

to keep their workers in line.

Victor, I don't need a pep talk, okay.

It's just that I'm working so hard

and what if they fire me.

I don't know, I don't know what I'm gonna do.

[door opens]

Do you want to explain this?

I threatened to expose Washington Pure Water Company.

I told the CEO I'd go public

with certain incriminating information...

and coerced him into cleaning up their toxic dump.

Kelsey: Since my actions were in violation

of the lawyers code of ethics...

and may be illegal,

I decided to resign from the firm

to insulate you from liability.

I'm at a loss.

There are rules which govern the conduct of attorneys,

rules which you cannot just disregard

every time you decide you don't like a client.

I made a decision.

Ann, but there was no decision to be made.

If all lawyers felt free to put themselves above the law

our legal system would be reduced to anarchy.

With all due respect

if you're looking for a lawyer

who can just turn off her conscience

and follow the rules with blind deference,

there's the letter.

And if you're looking to be lawyer

who lets the law take a back seat

to her personal sense of morality,

then maybe I have to accept it.

Leland, we could probably argue this all night.

And the truth is in the abstract

I agree with what you're saying.

But this wasn't the abstract...

This was real people who were going to die,

if I let that settlement go through.

I don't know if I was right

and I don't know if I was wrong.

All I know is I couldn't do it, I just couldn't do it.

Could you have done it, Leland?

[paper ripping]

[instrumental music]

[door shuts]

So, Mickey.

Mmm?

I promised myself I wasn't gonna be jealous.

I wasn't gonna make myself crazy.

But... have you seen her?

We had lunch.

Why didn't you tell me?

Because I know how you feel.

And under the circumstances either I'll be asking

for your permission...

or asking for your forgiveness.

And I don't like the way that makes me feel.

Very glib, counselor.

We got a lot of history together, Grace.

What do you want?

You want to forbid me from seeing her?

It hurts me, okay?

Is that so hard for you to understand?

How the hell would you like it

if I started calling up old boyfriends?

Maybe inviting Kevin for dinner?

I can't legislate your feelings, Grace.

If that's what you want to do then I just have to trust,

you know what you're doing.

Or don't you trust me?

I love you...

and I'm scared.

You have so many secrets.

So tell me the truth, Mickey.

Are you gonna leave me?

[instrumental music]

Thank you for meeting me.

I-I couldn't believe it when you called me.

I was afraid I'd be late.

It's kind of hard to find.

Waitress: Can I get you something, sir?

Scotch and water.

I like what you've done to your hair.

It gives you a, uh...

A feral quality.

- Feral? - Untamed. Wild I guess.

But it's very becoming.

I love how you talk.

I learned so much from you just from being around you.

- And I, you. - Me?

What's there to learn from me?

I'm so... average.

Not at all.

You are so open,

so warm... and compassionate.

You mustn't deprecate yourself.

Oh, what am I gonna do, Douglas?

Meeting like this,

feeling the way I feel.

I'm sorry, it's an awful thing to say but...

I think I hate your wife.

- You know her? - No.

I-- I'm just jealous.

She's so lucky to have a man as amazing as you are.

To her, I'm just the cash register.

It wasn't always like that.

I remember when we were first starting out,

this will sound silly.

I used to make popcorn for us.

And we'd lie on bed till long hours,

watching old movies on TV.

Now, she says the salt makes you retain water.

I have a hot air popper, Douglas.

But I've never even taken it out of the box.

I don't even know if it... works.

All you have to do...

is plug it in.

I could show you.

Would you, Douglas?

Would you show me how to pop my corn?

- When? - Now.

Let's go.

Mm.

[theme music]