Original subtitles

Woman on PA: L.A. 30, 461 eastern...

Read his rights?

Yeah, we read him but I don't know if he got a take or not.

I think he's a d-u-m-m-y.

- Huh. - Hey, just keep moving.

You don't have to talk to us if you don't want to.

And you can call a lawyer if you want, right?

The detective's talking to you.

[groans]

Walt: His name's Benny Stulwicz.

Matched the victim's general description.

He took off running when we tried to question him.

[rattling]

Stanziani: Okay, Benny.

[footsteps]

I'm gonna ask you a few questions.

What's happened is very bad, I don't want you

to make you to make it worse by lying.

Do you know why you were arrested, Benny?

[gasps]

Sex.

[clicks tongue]

Rape is just a little more serious than just sex.

Uh, huh! Uh, huh!

Don't lie to us, Benny. Stanziani: Easy, Walt.

Listen, everything will be much better

if we talk about it, Benny.

You hurt a woman tonight, didn't you?

Why don't we start from the beginning.

I want Arnie.

Can, can I talk to Arnie?

- Who's Arnie? - He's my friend.

He's also a lawyer.

Why don't you just tell us what happened?

He asked for his attorney, we're done.

Let him make the call then lock him up.

[clinks on door]

[shrieks]

Not so tough anymore, are you, big guy?

Tough man with the women, but not so tough here, huh?

[gasping]

[groans]

[metal rattling]

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[engines revving]

[phone rings]

[clinks on door]

Morning, Rox.

Mrs. Tossi canceled her 2 o'clock,

and there's a message that Benny called.

What about?

I wouldn't know, he called the service before I got in.

[phone rings] Still mad, Rox?

This guy said, "You know what!"

Why shouldn't I be mad?

I go all the way to Palm Springs at your invitation

to be marooned with your family while you...

you skirt off with a waitress!

I was helping a distraught woman get over the trauma

of being separated from her family, look, I'm late!

She left her family in Sweden

when she came over here to be an actress, you pig!

Sometimes your lack of compassion

really astounds me, lady.

You ditched your family on Christmas, you ditched me.

You know, you are so damn selfish. You don't care about--

Roxanne!

I have got a staff meeting.

[indistinct chatter]

[paper rustling]

[thud]

[phone rings]

I'm very disappointed.

[paper rustling]

Douglas: People, please, if we could get started?

First, on a personal note and to assuage any lingering anxieties.

My doctors assure me that I'm totally out of the woods.

There was, however, an interesting aftermath to this

frightening experience which I would like to share with you.

Douglas: You see, it forced me acknowledge

just what a slender thread binds us to this life.

And to realize that in the end,

it isn't the acquisition of material goods and prestige

that counts for anything, rather it's our friends and our family.

Those that we love and those who love us.

Stuart, Ann, my dear friends, be happy together.

Excuse me.

It's just looking at you two, I feel so very privileged

to be asked to share your special day of love.

- Thank you, Douglas. - Me too.

I love weddings.

Other people's.

[chuckles]

Saturday, 2:30, right?

Saturday, 2:30, and I have maps printed up

in case anybody needs directions, Arnie.

Now how come it's always so impossible

for me to find a date to these events?

Who are you going with, Victor?

My sister. [chuckles]

She's staying with me over semester break.

[inhales deeply] Doug, I have to be in federal court.

Of course, forgive my digression.

Ms. Perkins, how are the Muffin Kings?

We'll be taking Roadgrad inc. public by the end of next month.

[applause] Hear, hear.

Once again I want to compliment you

on the superb job that you've done.

Douglas: And what is this, Gianelli versus Hartvig?

This is Gianelli as in Tony Gianelli?

He called me yesterday, he said

he had something kind of an accident.

He doesn't harbor any old feelings

about leaving the firm?

He did asked me to meet him in a restaurant instead of here.

Arnie, that message from Benny, he's in jail.

- What? What for? Abby: What!

I don't know, he must have been there all night,

come on, you got to get him out.

I-- I-- I don't even know what to do, run a writ?

Let's go.

Victor: How can he be in jail?

[clinks]

Where was he last night?

- I don't know. - There goes the mail room.

[phone rings] Michael: You want to fill me in?

Not too long a story, woman leaves the theater

by 11 o'clock, your guy grabs her in a parking lot

off of western avenue and forces her to orally copulate.

No way!

We got a confession and the victim ID'd his picture.

Detective, Benny Stulwicz is retarded.

From the neck up, maybe.

This guy doesn't even know what sex is.

I've been doing this job for 17 years, counselor, trust me...

over the age of 12, they know what it is.

Huh.

[clinks on door]

[groans]

[phone rings]

[rattling]

Michael: Benny.

[footsteps]

Benny, it's me, Arnie.

Arnie: What happened?

Look at me.

Benny, we're gonna get you out of here.

But you have to help us out a little bit.

Michael: Tell us what happened.

Benny, I know you're afraid but...

huh, you got to be strong.

Talk to us now.

Benny, it's us...

your friends.

Arnie: We can't help you unless you tell us what happened.

Now come on.

I did something bad.

[instrumental music]

I have to go to jail.

[sobbing]

[sobbing]

[engines revving]

[upbeat music]

[horn honking]

[mellow music]

- You look great. - Thanks.

When you told me on the phone you were suing

over a cannon accident, I was pretty worried.

You look okay, are you?

Oh, it's not me that's doing the suing.

It's this guy in the audience that got hurt.

I don't get it.

Uncle Baldo must have used too much explosive and um...

[glass clinks]

I overshot the net.

You're kidding, Tony, that's terrible.

Yeah, well, lucky for me I landed on top of this

300-pound guy, he broke my fall.

Only now, he's suing us for $5 million

and we don't have enough insurance.

Anyway, I entered the complaint myself

and I tried to settle it out for $25,000, but the guy said no.

Tony, I'm in the middle of this big public offering.

You've got depositions day after tomorrow.

I don't know if I can just drop everything.

Look, Abby, this might seem like small potatoes to you,

but to me, my family, this is no laugher.

If we lose, we lose everything.

Every penny, the compound in Agoura.

And they'll probably repossess the wheelchairs.

I tell you what, let me ask Jonathan Rollins to take it on.

He's very bright and he's very aggressive.

Are you sure?

Mm-hm, and if he won't do it, I will.

- Okay? - Okay.

Anthony: I really appreciate this.

Forget it.

[indistinct chatter]

Look, Abby, can I say something?

Mm-hm.

This is from the heart.

I love you.

Thank you.

I mean it, I really love you.

As in man-woman?

I want to marry you.

Don't you think this is kind of sudden?

Yeah, well, getting shot out of a cannon is kind of sudden, too.

It changes the way you look at things.

Tony, look, I'm a 26-year-old divorced mother.

And even if I did love you, I don't think that marriage

to a human cannonball's in my future.

[footsteps]

How about a date then?

[chuckles]

Anthony: Come on, give me a chance to change your mind.

- I don't know. - Will you think about it?

Sure.

And in the meantime, I'll have Jonathan call you about this.

[rustling]

I really appreciate this.

Hey, it's the least I can do for a guy

who's just proposed marriage.

[footsteps]

[engine revving]

The way I see it, we've got two choices, we go to court

and plead insanity or we avoid trial altogether

by having Benny declared incompetent.

- You can do that? - Well, he's uncommunicative.

Can't contribute to his defense.

He's unfit for trial.

In which case they throw him in a mental bin.

Michael: If you have any better ideas, I'm all ears.

Look, get him declared incompetent for now.

Three or four months down the road,

he's judged competent again.

Victor: By that time the victim's memories fade a little.

You have a better chance of shaking her at trial.

Yeah, but in the meantime, Benny rots in the rubber room.

Beats doing 15 at Vacaville.

But hey, look, we're talking about Benny, okay?

He could not have done this, I know this man.

He does not have an aggressive bone in his body.

Judging from the evidence, I'd say at least

one of his bones was a little contentious.

Abby: Douglas!

Michael: Look, Arnie's right about one thing.

If Benny gets locked up anywhere he's not gonna recover.

He's already deteriorated after one night.

Michael: The main thing is to get him out and back here

before he goes further into the dumper.

Well, hold on, I don't think you should bring him back here.

Where else is he gonna go?

Well, I don't know, but if we turn him loose in our employ

and he attacks anybody in the building,

we could be sued right out of business.

Leland, he didn't do this, he is a good person.

I'm not disputing his goodness, but let's face it.

None of us really knows what

Benny knows when it comes to sex.

[sighs] Leland: Maybe he didn't think what he did was bad.

So we're just gonna abandon him.

No, but neither are we going to expose this firm to a lawsuit.

Put up the bail, Michael.

Leland: But unless he is completely cleared...

Benny doesn't work here anymore, I'm sorry.

[clinks on door]

[indistinct chatter]

[phone rings]

- Hi. Jonathan: Hey.

How is it going with the flying Gianellis?

It's actually kind of an interesting case.

Do you want to hear some thoughts I have on strategy?

Do you have any idea how long you're

supposed to leave these things in?

Frozen burrito, about two minutes.

Oh, hell.

Ow!

[phone rings]

Abby: Anyway, how about a cross-claim against the circus?

It could be that they were negligent in providing the

dimensions of the tent, or where the seats were positioned.

Uh, that's interesting but I've come up

with something along a slightly different tack.

Really? What?

Tell you what, the plaintiff's deposition is tomorrow.

Come on by.

I'll try and find the time.

Great, it should be a hell of a show.

[phone rings]

[metal rattling]

[indistinct chatter]

[rustling]

Right through here.

[indistinct chatter]

This session's in order.

People versus John Simpson.

[rustling]

Mr. Simpson's...

I'm sorry, you want to go for incompetence,

get him stuck in a laughing academy, I won't fight it.

No, but I got to get him out of here.

Michael, come on, you think he's fit enough to stand trial?

Michael: Well, I will make that decision later.

Ralph: And meanwhile, you want him on the street.

Ralph, I know this guy, if I don't get him out of lockup,

the damage to his psyche will be irreversible.

Just give me bail, I can make it.

Come on, I know you.

You're gonna get him outside today

by using that he's got all his monitors okay.

Trial date comes, you'll be back pleading insanity, huh?

People versus Benny Stulwicz.

Let's let him decide, okay?

[clinks]

Judge James: Is counsel here?

[coughs]

[rattling]

Michael Kuzak for the defendant, your honor.

Michael: Waive reading, plead not guilty.

Question of bail, judge, we've got violence,

sexual deviance, threat to public safety.

My client has no record, your honor, no history

of sexual violence, strong roots in the community--

Ralph: Lives alone, no family, no money.

Michael: He's an employee of my law firm, your honor,

and I can attest to his reliability.

This is an isolated incident of alleged violence--

Serious violence, Judge, this man is dangerous.

He's not dangerous, I know him.

This is the first offense, your honor, there's no threat

to the public safety, no chance that my client

will miss the trial. An O.R. is certainly in order.

It's not in my order, Mr. Kuzak.

There's some indication of mental incompetence here.

And I'm not inclined to put the defendant back

on the street without supervision.

Well, I would agree to exercise such supervision, your honor.

In so far as my client is already emotionally

debilitated from this ordeal, I think that

further lockup could cause irreparable harm.

Michael: I respectfully urge personal recognizance,

or in the alternative, a reasonable bail.

[clears throat]

$15,000, with the condition of supervision.

Judge James: The court will draw out the order, next case.

[indistinct chatter]

[rattling]

Hang in there, Benny, we're gonna get you out.

[rattling]

[instrumental music]

Ann: I don't know, Stuart likes it a lot,

but I, I'm not sure if it's really me.

Come on, let me see it already.

[doorbell dings]

You look gorgeous. [gasps]

And notice the detailing, Victorian lace.

Sea pearls at the neckline.

Don't you think I can get away with my beige silk suit?

Ann, come on, you're only gonna do this thing once.

Okay, twice.

But the last time was so long ago

it's probably been expunged from your record.

Think of the romance of the gown.

The other happy brides have worn it through time.

Right, and where are they now?

Either divorced or dead.

[gasps]

Ann: I don't know.

Let me think about it for a few minutes, okay?

Fine.

Oh, God, if I were you, I'd go for it.

It's so bridey.

The whole point of this thing was to keep it simple.

Just a few friends.

I know, but it means a lot to Stuart

and I'm sure it does to your mom also.

She's not coming.

I haven't spoken to her at all since she was here last.

[sighs] The truth is, I don't want her here.

Feeling the way she does about Stuart,

I don't think she'd come even if I did.

Of course she would, Ann, she's your mother.

Please, no lectures about the sacredness

of motherhood right now, okay?

[metal clinks]

So who did you decide to bring to the wedding?

Well, I guess I could bring Tony Gianelli.

Don't sound so enthusiastic.

Maybe I'm a circus bigot or something.

I just can't see myself going out with someone

who gets shot out of a cannon on a regular basis.

Come on, nobody's perfect.

[phone rings]

You like this one?

Um... I like this one better.

Hmm!

[clinks]

I don't know.

[clicks tongue]

[sighs]

[gasps] Can I see that bracelet?

[bracelet rattling] It would look lovely with the dress.

Oh, god, it's gorgeous.

But never mind.

[chuckles]

[gasps]

[sighs]

So you really like it, huh?

I love it.

[music continues]

Okay.

Let me get our dressmaker, I'm sure we can

have all the alterations done by Friday.

Hmm.

And if you do decide to marry Gianelli,

maybe I can loan it to you.

I don't think it'll be right for me.

You're the one who likes it so much.

I do, I-- I just have a feeling that the groom

would be more into spangles and capes.

[chuckles]

[phone rings]

[knocks on door]

Michael: Arnie?

- Did you get him out? - Yeah.

He's in the stairwell, he doesn't want anyone to see him.

I can't get anything out of him, he just won't talk about it.

Maybe you could get him to open up a little.

Yeah, let me have a try.

A condition of bail, we got to supervise him.

Can you take him home with you tonight?

No, I can't.

I-- I sort of have this, it's a date there.

Arnie: I... - Arnie!

Michael: Well, Gracie's at my place tonight.

Huh, believe it or not, you're the one

he seems to trust the most.

If anybody can get through to him, you can.

[phone rings]

Okay, I'll take him.

[indistinct chatter]

[phone rings]

[clinks on door]

[metal creaking]

[elevator bell dings]

[clinks]

[door screeches]

[clinks on door]

[footsteps]

Benny, it's time to talk.

Look, huh, I know that you're scared...

and ashamed and stuff, but...

[sighs]

[rustling]

You got to tell us what happened.

Arnie: Come on, Benny. - I don't want to.

We can't defend you in court unless you tell us.

- I don't want to! Arnie: But dammit, you have to!

Look, maybe we can show that you didn't know what you were

doing or-- or that you didn't meant to hurt her.

There are different things we can do to keep you out of jail.

But we can't do anything until you

open your mouth and start talking.

You'll get mad at me!

I will not get mad at you!

[sighs]

I'm not gonna punish you, Benny.

I promise.

We're friends.

Friends can talk to each other.

I...

I went to one of those places.

Where girls have no clothes on.

Oh, boy, Benny, what--

No, never mind.

What happened at this place?

I gave a man some money.

And he took me to a little room.

He left me there.

A girl came in.

She was naked.

All over.

What happened?

She talked to me.

She said dirty things.

She told me to touch myself in bad places.

Did you?

No, my mother told me never.

So what happened?

After a while, she went away.

Then another man came in and said I had to leave.

So I did.

Then when I was going to the bus stop...

the police came to get me.

Wait-- wait-- wait a second, wait a second.

What happened between the time you left

the naked girl and the police came?

Nothing.

They just came 'cause they knew!

- They knew what? - That I was in a bad place!

That's it?

Benny...

Benny...

[rattling]

I want you to tell me the truth now, the 100% truth.

After you left this bookstore...

did you meet with up another woman?

No.

Did you ever physically touch any woman?

No!

Benny, you-- you-- you-- you told the police,

and you told us that you did something bad.

What did you mean by that?

I saw it.

I saw sex! She was naked!

They arrested you because they think you grabbed

a girl and forced her to touch your penis.

I did not!

I did not! I...

Man to man, Benny, friend to friend, did you

ever try to make a girl touch you

or have sex with you that night?

No, Arnie, no!

[instrumental music]

You didn't do it, did you?

D-- d-- do what?

[instrumental music]

[engines revving]

Michael: Are you sure?

I was joking about him, I called him Ricky Retardo.

And you'd recognize him if you saw him again?

Sure, he was sweet.

Told me I was pretty. That's a first.

What about the time, are you positive

he was in here at 11 o'clock?

My shift was from 11:00 to 5:00 that night

he was my first customer.

The victim said the attack occurred at quarter past.

- If your testimony can establ-- - Wh-- whoa, I'm not testifying.

Melanie, you're the only one in here who remembers him.

Arnie: He could go to jail.

Look, between you and me, I'm on parole.

I'm not supposed to leave the state of Colorado.

I testify, I go to jail.

Well, I can talk to your parole officer,

we might be able to figure out...

No! No way.

Wait a minute, please come with us and talk to the D.A.

- he might decide to drop char-- - No, look!

I'd like to help this poor guy but

I ain't going to do time for him.

Michael: Look, lady, an innocent and good man is gonna

get sent away for 10 years if you don't help him.

He's retarded.

He'll get completely destroyed if he goes to jail.

Michael: His life is at stake.

[sighs]

Please, you're his only hope.

Can you really fix it with my parole?

[indistinct chatter]

Michael: Yes, I think so.

Okay, If you can fix it, I'll help him.

[footsteps]

[engine revving]

[tires screeching]

[thud]

Oh, sh--

[clinks on door]

Roxanne: I'm sorry! I'm sorry.

I-- I just looked away for a split second.

[thud]

- You alright? - Oh, yeah, thanks.

Oh, my god, I'm sorry about your car.

Is there much damage?

Oh, I don't think it's anything too serious, here.

- My insurance will cover... - Well, that's-- that's okay.

Roxanne Melman, you-- you work in this building?

Yes, I work for McKenzie-Brackman.

- You a lawyer? - No!

No, I'm-- I'm a legal secretary.

Oh... Jimmy Markham, Levi-Stroller.

- I've seen you in the elevator. - Yeah, I've seen you, too.

Kind of an expensive way to get introduced.

No, not really, I mean I like to think that people

come along in your life, it's worth a pile

of sheet metal to have known them.

Sometimes it's just a matter of getting those

first few words out. [chuckles]

You don't seem like you'd be all that shy.

Oh, I think everybody is basically shy.

I mean, you meet somebody, you want them to like you.

You say, "Will they laugh at me? Will they hurt me?

- Will they disappoint me?" - Will you disappoint them?

"Will the opportunity arise in which we can find out?"

Interesting questions.

How about dinner?

[chuckles]

[tires screeching]

[clinks on door]

- Graci! - McKenzie-Brackman.

[whirring]

[indistinct chatter]

I need my passport, Douglas.

- Passport? - I've got to get away.

- I need a vacation desperately. - From what?

All you do all day is shop, eat lunch and play tennis.

What is this, a freak show?

This is making me nauseous.

Then, why don't you leave?

Why don't we go into your office?

I need a check for $10,000.

$10,000?

Who are you taking? Bjorn? Roger?

[indistinct chatter]

My god, not Erroll.

Oh, stop being so paranoid.

Now can I please just have the money?

No! We'll have a vacation together in July.

There may not be a July!

Every dime you own is half mine,

Douglas, and I want my nickels now!

Sheila, you're out of control.

Here's a $100.

Have a facial, get your nails done.

You'll feel better.

[thud]

[phone rings]

You were seated in the, uh, third row

of the arena, Mr. Hartvig, is that correct?

[rustling]

Well, I'd uh, taken my wife and our

five children out for a special day.

Hartvig: Some special day that turned out to be.

Hartvig: Crippled for life. Victor: Uh, huh.

Poor man, I know his pain.

He's trying to take all of our money, Aunt Tessa.

Hartvig: They announced the flying Gianellis

and they rolled this big cannon out.

Well, my kids were scared to death.

They're covering their eyes, they're afraid this

Gianelli guy's gonna hurt or something

when all of a sudden, bam!

Hartvig: He's flying through space right at me.

I don't have time to duck, to protect my kids, to do nothing.

Wham! Hits me like a ton of bricks.

[clattering on keyboard]

Hartvig: You can't imagine the pain. [sighs]

I just... thank God every day that it was, uh, it was me

and not my wife or kids that had to take it.

Uh, huh, he's a good family man, you know.

- I feel for his pain. - Shh! Shh, shh, shh!

Mr. Hartvig, I see you're asking for lost wages

in your cause of action.

Ah, nobody ever gave us any money for our pain.

Victor: Based on our claim starting from...

He should bear it like a Gianelli.

But he's not a Gianelli.

Well, I haven't been able to work

a single day since this terrible tragedy.

But you weren't working before it either, were you?

Hartvig: I was temporarily laid off.

- For three and a half years? - Uh, lazy.

If we could have a little quiet, please.

The man's lazy, oh!

There's a big difference between being temporarily laid off

and never being able to work again for the rest of your life.

Hartvig: Forget work, I can't even move.

And that's why you're in a wheelchair now,

is that correct, Mr. Hartvig?

Hartvig: I can't move a muscle, not a one.

Not any?

Hartvig: Well, my arms.

I can wiggle my toes a little, that's it.

Oh, my god! Fire!

[in foreign language]

- Everybody out! - Where's the fire!

Wait a minute! Hey!

- Fire! Hartvig: Hey!

[indistinct shouting]

You be careful!

[speaking in foreign language]

Hey, hey!

[speaking in foreign language]

Nice to have you back on your feet, Mr. Hartvig.

[gasps]

[speaking in foreign language]

[gasps]

Mr. Gianelli: Graci!

[phone rings]

Take care.

[wheelchair rattling]

Bye, bye.

- Okay, Tony, be good, bye, bye. - Thanks, bye.

[rattling]

[rattling]

Sorry!

[chuckles]

Victor: Bye, bye. - Bye.

She's gone.

Who's gone?

Michael: Moses!

I called the bookstore to tell Melanie

you'd pick her up for the prelim.

Her boss told me she'd quit.

- Where did she go? Michael: He doesn't have a clue.

Oh, great.

I got to call Renee Quintana,

maybe she can track her.

Can we get a continuance on the prelim?

Only if I can give assurance that we'll find her.

- Oh, God. - What, what's this mean?

It means that we have no way to prove that he's innocent.

Arnie: Benny could go to jail. - This is just a prelim, right?

I mean, we have plenty of time to find her before trial.

Well, we were hoping to avoid a trial.

And with the trial, you have a jury, and they're gonna take

one look at Benny on the stand

and see this big hulking creature.

Michael: With all the paranoia, about

the mentally retarded, sex, their libido.

[phone rings]

They're gonna think he did it.

No, they won't, they can't.

Roxanne, even I thought that he was guilty.

Mike, do we have any way of winning without that stripper?

Uh, I don't see how we can unless maybe...

maybe we can shake the victim's testimony somehow.

[phone rings]

[sighs]

Benny is in trouble, big trouble.

And what he demanded, Ms. Flood, was oral copulation?

And I thought if I didn't do what he wanted,

he would kill me, so I did it.

Did he say anything to you during the act?

[sighs]

He kept saying, "Enjoy it, bitch.

Show me that you love it."

Ralph: Do you see this man in the courtroom today, Ms. Flood?

That's him over there.

Ralph: Let the record reflect.

The witness has indicated the defendant, Benny Stulwicz.

Nothing further.

[coughs]

Ms. Flood, you told the police at the scene that you never

really got a good look at the man's face, didn't you?

Yes, but I--

So you're here today making a positive I.D. of a face

that you never really got a chance to see, isn't that right?

I gave them a general description.

Well, you couldn't tell the color of his eyes,

his approximate weight, or even his approximate age!

- He's badgering the victim. - The victim is over there!

He confessed, for god's sake.

Is that why you think he did it,

because they told you he confessed?

- Objection! - Overruled.

Of course, that's gonna make me think he did it.

A confession's a confession.

Ms. Flood, I'm not trying to beat you up, I swear.

But an innocent man could go to jail here.

My client Benny Stulwicz, is mentally retarded.

On the night that this happened, he came out of a strip show

in the area of the attack at the time of the attack.

Now this was the first time that he'd ever gone

to see a show like that and he was very much ashamed.

So ashamed that he ran away when the police approached.

So ashamed that he admitted that he had done something bad.

Now that is the essence of this so called confession

he thought that going to a strip show was bad!

Is there a question remotely in our future here?

Ms. Flood, Benny Stulwicz is sitting in this courtroom today

because you singled him out as the man who attacked you.

Now I think the reason you think he did it

is because the police told you so

and you figured they have to be right.

Possible?

I don't know.

Alright then, I want you to do this.

I want you to listen to my client's voice and tell me--

This is a circus, judge.

She testified that he talked all through the attack, your honor.

Voice identification appropriate.

- I'll allow. Michael: Alright, Benny.

Michael: I want you to read this over and over again.

Don't stop until I tell you to stop.

Just like we practiced, alright?

Did the man speak quickly or slowly?

He spoke very fast.

Okay, Benny, read it as fast as you can.

As fast as you can.

Read.

"E-- enjoy it, bitch... show me that you love it."

Michael: Again, Benny, faster.

Benny: "Enjoy it, bitch. Show me that you love it."

Ralph: Your honor... Michael: Again, Benny.

Michael: Louder this time. Benny: "Enjoy it, bitch.

Show-- show me that you love it."

This approach is completely inflammatory.

There's no purpose whatsoever!

Michael: It's relevant, your honor.

And he should be allowed to continue.

- "Show me that you love it." Judge Mason: Mr. Trevino...

This is ridiculous grandstanding, Judge

and I ask that it stop.

Your honor, the district attorney is

interfering with my cross-examination.

Will everyone just quiet down for a minute?

Benny: "Show me that... - It's not him.

Mr. Kuzak, please instruct your client--

That's not him!

[instrumental music]

God, you told me you caught him!

Your honor, she's been so been badgered--

That's not him!

The man who attacked me didn't talk like that.

This man's retarded, for God's sake.

Ms. Flood, are you sure that's not him?

Oh, my god.

[gasps]

That animal's still out there.

He's still out there!

[gasps]

Judge Mason: You may step down now, Ms. Flood.

[whimpering]

This case is dismissed, the defendant is free to go.

Judge Mason: This court is in recess until 2:00.

Yeah! We did it, Benny! We won!

Do I have to go to jail?

Michael: No, Benny, you don't have to go to jail.

[chuckles]

Man, I owe you a beer or something.

[laughs]

[sighs]

[smacking lips]

[music continues]

[footsteps]

I'll take those for you.

Thank you.

Not too far I hope.

Arnie, I swear to god if you do this to me again,

you'll be typing your own letters on Monday.

Okay.

Hey, there, Benny, good to see you.

[instrumental music]

What?

I'm scared.

Why?

Do, do they know what I did?

It's okay, Benny.

You don't have to be embarrassed or afraid.

Everybody here is going to be real happy to see you.

[indistinct laughter]

Hey, congratulations.

- Hi, Rox. - Hi.

Hey, Benny! How are you?

We missed you.

Can I come back to work?

Oh, you bet. The mail room is all mixed up.

We got a dozen packages that need to be delivered.

You want me to come in tomorrow?

[music continues]

Monday, Monday will be fine.

Okay, 8 o'clock?

Okay.

[chuckles]

[indistinct chatter]

[sighs]

[knocks on door]

Ann? Ann?

[mellow music]

Ann?

[thud]

- Ann! Ann: I'm in here!

Are you almost ready, my darling?

Ann: My hair still looks awful. - Let me see.

Ann: It's bad luck for you to see the dress.

Ann, it's okay, I've seen it already, let me see.

You look unbelievably beautiful.

You were right about the dress, I love the dress.

- My hair's a disaster. - No, your hair is great.

The only thing wrong is the wrist.

- My wrist? - Yeah, it's, uh, too bare.

Oh, Stuart, the bracelet.

How did you know?

I guess you wouldn't believe me if I told you

that's how physically attuned we are, huh?

You wouldn't believe that, no.

[gasps]

- I had a spy. - Abby.

Uh, uh, the saleswoman.

- Uh, hmm. - She works on commission.

[chuckles]

So... is my lady ready to go to her party?

Wait, I just want to check out--

- Ann, you're beautiful. - Something wrong with the hem.

Dammit, I snagged my hose on the damn bracelet!

- I hate these hose. - Damn bracelet?

I hate these, oh, of course.

Here, what about these? These are the same color.

Stuart!

You're making me very nervous.

Please, go outside.

I'll be ready in five minutes.

Five minutes.

[clinks on door]

[door screeching]

You know they're giving the Bar again in March.

Not for this cowboy they're not.

It's no big disgrace to fail it twice, Tony.

I know guys who failed it 10-12 times

before they finally passed.

Well, that gives me an awful lot

to look forward to, doesn't it?

I didn't mean it like that.

I haven't worn one of these things in months.

I feel like it's choking me.

I used to get nuts sitting in the office all day.

There's a guy I went to school with.

He wears t-shirts and jeans, he has

a private practice out of his condo in Malibu.

Abby, the truth is, I like what I'm doing now.

It's exciting, I'm my own boss.

I get to travel a lot.

It's fun.

[instrumental music]

That's great then.

You've got a life that you like.

Give me champagne, please.

Stuart, everything looks beautiful.

[gasps]

- Yep, thanks. - How's Ann doing?

Abby, she just redid her hair for the ninth time.

At-- at the day of my wedding, it took

me five hours to get dressed.

[sighs]

Thanks, that's very encouraging.

[laughs]

Stuart, I am so happy for you.

Thank you.

You're a hell of a lucky guy, Stuart.

Yeah.

[laughs]

[rattling]

So you think maybe you and I ought to try this some day?

[laughs]

[music continues]

I told you we wouldn't be late.

We're the last ones here.

Hello, Douglas, Sheila.

I'd like you to meet my friend Janet Robinson.

Leland: Sheila and Douglas Brackman.

Janet: Pleasure to meet you. - Pleased to meet you.

Sheila was late getting back from shopping.

Hmm. [mellow music]

It appears the bride is running a bit behind time herself.

Sheila: Maybe she's come to her senses

and bailed out on this farce.

- Sheila... - Huh!

"To forsake all others till death do you part."

Is that a crock, or what?

Sheila: I mean, have you seen the new Hite report?

70% of married women in this country are fooling around.

Sheila, please.

And of course, my loving hubby here does everything he can

to keep up the men's average, too.

[instrumental music]

[sighs]

[clinks on door] Come on, Ann, you said five minutes!

[rattling] What? Wh-- wh-- wh-- what?

I had to do something to give it some height.

We're talking about two more minutes.

Two more minutes.

You have 50 people waiting down there

who don't give a damn about the height of your hair!

[knocks on door]

- What? Charlotte: Annie?

Mother?

[sighs]

Great.

[clinks on door]

[door screeching]

This is for you.

For both of you.

[faint music in background]

[paper rustling]

I know you don't want me here,

but Aunt Fid told me.

[footsteps]

Annie, I'm only human, it isn't easy to admit

when you've done something wrong.

[rustling]

Charlotte: At first I tried to convince myself that it wasn't

me, that it was the two of you who owed me an apology.

Oh, sure.

Annie, please, I have cried myself

to sleep every night for two weeks.

And that's supposed to be our fault?

No! No, it's my fault.

I was ignorant and cruel and hateful.

Stuart, do you think you can ever forgive me?

Charlotte: Give me another chance?

It would mean so much to me.

It's, um...

it's nice to meet you, Ms. Kelsey.

Annie, what about you?

Charlotte: Do you think you can forgive me, too?

We've always been so hard on each other.

I'm not even sure if I've ever

even told you how much I love you.

Charlotte: And I do love you so much, my baby.

My beautiful, brilliant daughter.

And I want so much to share this day with you.

Will you let me?

[sighs]

Think we can, uh, get those things out of your hair now?

[groans]

[sniffles]

- Oh, my mascara's running. - No, the mascara's fine.

We'll put a veil on, we got to go, we got people waiting.

They're just gonna have to wait, Stuart.

I'll get a tissue.

[clinks on door]

I told you to get started earlier,

I told you not to go into the office today but--

And you just love getting to say, "I told you so."

No, but somebody's got to be an adult around here.

You are the most compulsive, the most controlling--

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Come on, let's go.

I'm warning you, take your hands off me!

[faint music]

Benny, right here.

[instrumental music]

Oh, it's so beautiful.

Arnie, give me a hankie.

Weddings always make me cry.

Two-to-one, this marriage doesn't last a year.

Sheila, I'm warning you.

Might I suggest that since the two of you seem incapable

of getting in the spirit of this occasion

you might take your leave now?

And might I suggest that you are a totally inconceivably

pompous, self important bag of wet brownies?

[whispering]

[chair creaks]

Sheila, how could you say that to him?

Because you don't have the courage to do it yourself.

For 20 years, you've let him step all over you, he steps

on you at the office and then you come home and step on me.

You're manufacturing this, Sheila.

I'm sick of it, Douglas, I'm sick of you.

I'm sick of your bald head and your hairy back.

Sheila: I'm sick of your three-piece suits,

that stupid pocket watch of your father's.

[music continues]

But most of all, I'm sick of you humiliating me

with your sickening little affairs.

My affairs? And who are you, the Virgin Mary?

[bride's march]

[indistinct chatter]

[gasps and chatters]

We're gathered here in the presence of these witnesses...

for the purpose of uniting this couple in matrimony.

Minister: The contract of marriage is most solemn.

And is not to be entered into lightly.

But with the deep realization of its obligations--

Sheila: And this is deep realization, Douglas.

I can't stand another day of this.

My lawyer will call your lawyer Monday.

[indistinct chatter]

[whispering]

Now, then, do you, Stuart, take

Ann to be your lawful wedded wife?

Fine.

Minister: Do you promise to love and comfort her,

forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?

Yeah, fine.

Minister: And do you, Ann, take Stuart

to be your lawful wedded husband?

Fine.

Do you promise to love, honor, and obey?

To love and honor?

Minister: In sickness and in health,

so long as you both shall live?

Ann: That's fine.

Aha! Uh!

At this juncture, Ann, you had, uh,

had asked to say a few words.

There was a-- a poem that I was going to read.

I must have left it in my purse.

[chuckles]

I know, I should have planned ahead.

It's no big deal.

The only big deal is that you're here, believe me.

Stop that.

Stop being nice or I'm gonna cry.

I've totally ruined this whole day for you.

- Ann, you didn't ruin it. - I did.

I wouldn't do anything till the last minute.

Stuart: It's just your way.

It's your way of dealing with what's really bothering you.

Which is how scary it is to be standing here doing the M-word.

Ann: Oh, Stuart, I'm such a bitch.

[gasps]

I can't believe I would fight with you on our wedding day.

Ann, people fight.

Stuart: I've-- I've even grown to like it.

I don't love it, I grew up thinking

it was the worst thing in the world.

It's really liberating to realize

that you can fight with somebody and still love them.

With other people, I always used to try

and pretend that I was someone I wasn't.

Ann: Then I'd feel angry that no one really loved me for me.

But you do, Stuart.

You really love me for me.

And that is the most incredible gift.

And I just I hope to God that I can make

you half as happy as you've made me.

I've, I've never been so happy.

Stuart: I never thought I could be so happy, here.

I love you so much, Stuart.

Let's not screw it up, okay?

- Deal. - Deal.

Oh!

[whining]

You can go ahead now, I'm finished.

Minister: By virtue of the authority vested in me

by the State of California, I now pronounce you man and wife.

You may kiss the bride.

[laughs]

Minister: You've already done that.

[laughs]

[applause]

[theme music]

[outro music]