Original subtitles

[tapping]

Brackman: May we move along, please?

Partners will convene tomorrow at 10 a.m.

to review associate performance.

Brackman: Results of said review to be communicated

to interested parties in a timely manner.

Partner Review, Clooney's 6 p.m.

[chuckling]

The door swings both ways, Doug.

Next. A cautionary as regards next Tuesday's election.

Brackman: People, November eighth

is a full work day like any other.

Let us not use this precious right of democracy

as an excuse for tardiness.

Who're you voting for, Douglas?

That is between me and my conscience.

Such as it is.

My read is Abby, Victor, Jonathan...

Michael and Stuart are Dukakis people,

Leland, Douglas, Ann and I are for Bush.

Not that it's any of your business,

but I happen to like the other guy.

She's partial to short men.

[Abby chuckling]

Benny! Benny.

Who're you gonna vote for?

[stammers] I'm not voting.

Kuzak: How come?

- I should-- I should... Brackman: Hurrying along.

Brackman: Victor. Status on Jennings v. Guard Alert, Inc.

I am putting Mr. Jennings on the stand this morning.

Well, I thought the alarm company had offered to settle.

Yeah, it's still on the table, but I think that we have a shot

at a multi-million dollar judgment here.

So, I'm advising the Jennings to hang tough.

I don't know, Victor. Fifteen minutes doesn't seem

like an unreasonable amount of time

to respond to a panic alarm.

It is when you've got a gun pointed to

your head and your wife is being raped.

If you ask me, the only way to stop these crazies

is to keep a three-fifty-seven Magnum in the house.

Oh, come on. What are you going to do? Say time out,

excuse me Mr. Rapist, flag on the play

while I get my gun outa the shoe box in the closet?

Carry it on you.

Now, that's a little paranoid, don't you think?

- And it's illegal. - It's not paranoid.

And it's only misdemeanor.

Yeah, right. Until you shoot somebody.

I am a single woman living with a small child

in a high crime area. I would rather shoot someone

and take my chances with the system than go through

the kind of nightmare the Jennings went through.

Look, I'm not saying it isn't scary out there,

but if you give in to your fears and packing a gun,

you become part of the problem.

Kuzak: I couldn't live like that, and I don't think

when push comes to shove, that you could either.

[rustling]

[soft thud]

You're wrong.

Brackman: Excuse me.

- Is that thing loaded? - Mm hmm.

Abby, do you honestly think you could use that?

You could kill someone?

To protect my life,

or my son's life?

You bet your ass.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Ms. Stewart: I was sitting in the theater

enjoying the performance like everyone else.

When suddenly I felt this little

flitter in my ear

and it was moist.

Did you have occasion, Miss Stewart,

to determine the cause of this wet flittering?

It was that man right there.

He was sticking his tongue in and out of my left ear.

What did you do, ma'am?

Well, I told him to stop, or I'd call the police.

Ms. Stewart: I didn't want to make a scene,

you know, in such a crowded place.

And did he stop?

For a while.

And all of a sudden, there it was again.

Flitter.

- Flitter. - Your Honor.

Objection to the use of the term flitter.

- It's misleading. Judge: Overruled.

Ms. Stewart, could you tell us what happened after...

the second incident?

Well, I yelled.

That's when security came and arrested him.

Thank you, ma'am.

Nothing further.

Miss Stewart.

Excuse me. Ms. Stewart.

Isn't it true that you engaged in conversation

with my client prior to this so-called incident?

Ms. Stewart: He engaged, not me.

He whispered into my ear real creepy.

"Your perfume is so intoxicating", he said.

Isn't it true that you overreacted to this whole thing?

He stuck his tongue into my ear.

He was plunging away in there.

You don't think that leaping up in a crowded theater

is not the slightest bit over reactive?

I certainly do not.

Would you mind telling us what you screamed?

Murder.

"Murder?"

It was a serious situation.

Now, who's going to help me if I yell "tongue?"

[chuckling]

[whirring]

Excuse me.

Benny...

How come you're not going to vote?

[telephone ringing]

Because I'm retarded.

Well, that doesn't mean that you can't vote.

That's what the man outside the supermarket said.

I don't think that's true, Benny.

Yeah, it is, he said so.

Look...

if I could get you registered,

would you want to vote?

M-- my mom always said I wasn't smart enough.

She was wrong, Benny.

You think?

Yeah.

So why do you say, you want to give it a try?

[sighs]

I don't know how.

It's easy.

Hey, I'll show you.

[telephone ringing]

O-- okay, Mike.

Y-- yeah. I-- I wanna try.

Good. I got to do a little checking, but...

I think that we have a really good shot.

[Benny chuckles]

Keep your fingers crossed.

[telephone ringing]

[indistinct]

Hello you Goddess, you.

- Hi, David. - Look at this.

- What is it? - Aha.

See the tension device in here?

Pops it open into a twelve-sided calendar...

Message on the top, message on the bottom,

i.e. Seasons Greetings from McKenzie, Brackman,

legal holidays printed underneath...

maybe a metric conversion table as well.

It sits on the desk or folds flat for mailing in

a six-by-nine gummed manila catalogue envelope.

Irv Resnik is my supplier.

Now, I love Irv, but he always starts out with a problem.

First thing he tells me is, it'll be three cents a unit

since he's using rubber bands for his tension device.

I say Irv, please, you're milking my lizard.

Do us both a favor and go with elasticized nylon.

He says, "Not durable."

David: I say we have a grade three laminated mailer here.

We're not putting a man on the moon.

- Heh. - Anyway...

To make a long story short,

I get the price down to two cents a plus

and I buy his back inventory

of rubber bands which one phone call later

is headed to the largest newspaper

distributor in Broward County.

Huh.

So... you free for lunch?

Oh, I don't have a lot of free time, David.

It's really kind of important, Roxanne.

I need to talk to you about an extremely important matter.

Okay.

But no place fancy, alright?

[vehicles passing]

Jennings: Yes, they grabbed me as soon as

I unlocked the front door. And they pushed me inside.

And uh, one of the guys

held a gun to my head, and uh...

and actually both of them seemed pretty crazy. You know, wild.

Was there anybody else inside the house?

Yes, my wife was upstairs, and she was just...

Jennings: she was just tucking my little girl

in bed for the night.

I know that this is difficult for you, Mr. Jennings.

But if you can, I'd like you to be able to walk us through

everything that happened that night.

Uh, one of the guys started heading upstairs.

I told this other guy that I better

deactivate the alarm or it would go off.

This being the Guard Alert Security System?

That's right. Actually, it wasn't really on

but uh, I just needed an excuse

to get over there by the box.

Jennings: And in fact, that's when

I punched in the panic code.

What is that, sir?

Well, it sends a silent alarm

back to Guard Alert... their central station.

Jennings: It's suppose to tell 'em it's an emergency.

And does this panic code do anything else?

Jennings: Yes, actually, it does.

It activates this audio thing,

It's...

it's so that they can hear everything

that's going on inside your house.

My wife was being raped.

- Where the hell were you? - Objection.

- It's a simple question! - Mr. George.

Where the hell were you?

Mr. Jennings, that's enough. Please, stop.

Excuse me.

I have no further questions, your honor.

I am very sorry for your tragedy, sir,

but isn't it true, while that much of this was happening,

the Guard Alert officer had already arrived

at your house and was, in fact, securing the premises?

[sighs] Look, all I know is that

he wasn't inside where he was needed.

Well, is it your testimony that

he should have tried to enter the house?

No, I'm saying,

they advertised armed response.

Jennings: Now they knew what was happening!

They could hear everything on the audio.

Felix: Yes, they could and I'll ask you again.

Is it your testimony,

that while this "wild crazy" man,

had his gun in your mouth,

with his hand on the trigger,

that Guard Alert officer should have stormed the premises?

I don't know. How am I suppose to know that?

Well, isn't it possible that had he charged in...

both you and your wife might be dead?

I don't know.

Well, I want you to think about that, Mr. Jennings.

Felix: Isn't it possible that you would have been shot dead

by that wild man, had the Guard Alert officer

tried to capture him?

I don't think I have anything further.

Patsos: We immediately dispatched a patrol,

which got there at 7:57,

eight minutes after the alarm was received.

But why didn't your man go inside, Mr. Patsos?

Because the intruders were armed.

Patsos: Our policy under those circumstances

is to secure the premises

and await the arrival of the police.

And that's exactly what he did.

So then, is it your testimony that your patrol guard

behaved properly?

Absolutely. If he had gone in,

innocent people could have been killed.

Patsos: As it turned out, nobody died

and the suspects were caught

I might also add, that our audiotapes

helped secure a conviction.

I don't mean to minimize the tragedy

suffered by these people.

But there was nothing more we could do.

Thank you, sir.

Nothing further.

Here is your brochure, Mr. Patsos.

The nice glossy pictures of all your high tech security.

Show me the small print that says you can't do anything.

Felix: Objection. - Sustained.

You sold yourself as being better than the police.

- Didn't you? - Not really--

Didn't you say your response time is much faster than--

Yes, but let me--

Did you expressly tell my clients that you could provide

better home security than the department?

And we do.

And when it comes time for action, what happens?

Your guard sits outside waiting for the police.

Patsos: It would have been crazy to go in there.

But the police went in.

The police who you build

yourself as being better than, they went in.

If not for our alarm,

the police would never have known to come.

Well, there are plenty of alarms that can do that.

But you sold my clients men with guns

who would come running to their rescue.

Where the hell were they that night?

Your clients are alive, Counselor.

- You should be thankful. Sifuentes: Yes, they are, sir.

They are alive with the memory of a Guard Alert

security officer picking his nose

on their front lawn while she was being raped and sodomized.

Felix: Objection. - Counselor.

We sold them an armed response.

We gave them an armed response.

But didn't they think that armed response

meant armed intervention?

I don't know what they thought. I'm not a mind reader.

Well, did you tell them, sir, that your company's policy

not to intervene during violent crimes?

They didn't ask me.

They didn't ask you.

I have nothing further.

[door opens]

[indistinct voice over radio]

[door closes]

David asked me to marry him.

What?

He wants to marry me.

Arnie, what am I supposed to do?

You love him?

I could grow to, probably.

Roxanne... are you in love?

No.

Well, then, I don't see what the question is.

Well, people get married all the time for reasons

that have nothing to do with being in love.

Marriage without being in love is totally bloodless.

And I know you.

You're not bloodless.

You want it all.

That yearning in the pit of your stomach.

You're jealous if he even talks to another woman.

You're miserable when you're apart,

and you can't get enough of them when you're not.

Sex...

That's got to be hot. Fiery.

Loud. Dangerous.

Sweaty.

That's what it's all about, Rox, passion.

Arnie, I've held your hand through...

through dozens of passionate affairs,

and not one of them has ended happily.

Well, that's the point. Even a lousy, passionate

relationship is better than no passion at all.

What about affection?

Common interests, simple companionship.

- Get a dog. - Financial well-being?

Roxanne, that's okay for some people.

But we're different.

We're romantics. We want it all.

We want it perfect. Or what's the point of having it?

Look, [sighs]

you got to believe me. I'm right.

Becker: He's a good guy.

But you don't want to marry him just because he's a "good guy."

Benny... we're all set.

Tuesday morning, ten o'clock.

- We go to court. - C-- c-- court?

Yeah, we go in front of Judge Lobel and we tell him that you--

You-- you-- you didn't say I had to go to court.

I-- I-- I don't want to go to court.

Benny, Benny.

Benny, this isn't like the other time.

No one's saying you did anything wrong.

I don't know.

All we're going to do is ask the judge

if you can register late.

You still want to vote, don't you?

- Yeah. - Okay, then trust me.

- Okay. - Heh.

Abby's a good lawyer, Douglas!

Brackman: Nobody's saying she's not.

Look, it's not like we're firing her or anything.

This is just a recognition on our part

that she doesn't cultivate clients,

she doesn't generate revenue

and that she probably won't make partner.

What's so earth-shattering about that?

If we decide that Abby is not partnership material,

then we damn well have an obligation to tell her that.

Not true. We trained her.

We invested money in her. We have every right

to a few productive years before cutting her loose.

[exclaims] That's despicable.

Ann, we all love her.

But the truth is, you can't run a law firm

losing associates after two years,

just when they finally become profitable.

We are talking about Abby!

And anyway, this whole argument

is moot since as her friend,

I'm going to tell her exactly what's been said.

You can't do that.

You have a fiduciary responsibility

as a partner in this firm not to--

Stick your fiduciary responsibility, Douglas!

Alright, that's enough.

Now, look, our talk about Abby's tenure is speculative.

It's only speculative.

McKenzie: Whether she makes partner or not

turns more on her future performance than her past.

So I would suggest that we neither encourage

nor discourage her falsely.

Tell her what you like, tell her what we don't,

and leave it at that.

Alright. Let's move on here.

Jonathan Rollins.

Ripley: Her perfume was intoxicating.

So I lean towards her and I told her so.

Did she respond?

Not verbally...

but she smiled softly,

almost imperceptibly.

So you interpreted her reaction to be...

a form of encouragement?

Well, she wasn't flirtatious or anything,

but I didn't get the impression

she was erecting any walls either.

Michael: Then what happened, sir?

Well...

then I sort of kissed her.

It was just a peck.

It wasn't a lick and I'm very sorry, but...

[inhales deeply]

If my passion got...

well, a little out of hand...

it's only because I found you compellingly beautiful.

Ripley: That's the God's honest truth.

Michael Roitman: I have nothing further to add.

You got a little unbridled at Dodger Stadium

last year, too, didn't you?

Pardon?

April 18th. 1987.

You were ejected from the park

for tongue lashing an Usherette.

Michael Roitman: Objection.

And in February of the same year

an aerobics instructor...

That was completely reciprocal.

Your Honor, prior bad acts are completely inadmissible!

Admissible to show pattern, judge.

This man has been going "flitter, flitter"

all over Southern California!

Michael: Objection. - Overruled.

I want to hear this.

Van Owen: Isn't it true, Mr. Ripley,

you've been intoxicated by

seven different women in the last three years.

You must understand...

romance for me, is very difficult.

Yes, I'm sure it gets very hard.

Objection.

Withdrawn.

[water flowing]

[reporter talking on TV indistinctly]

[sharp inhale and exhale]

reporter on TV: It seems an appropriate moment

to stand back and reflect

on the tenor of the campaign.

From this reporter then, a few thoughts.

The parrying thrust between candidates is brought forth

is far more heat than light.

David...

- Yeah. - Kiss me.

Well, sure.

David, David.

- Put the popcorn away! - Alright.

reporter on TV: Faced with this swirling vortex of spin doctors

and focus group to arrive,

does not long for political leadership

would say what they mean

and trust us to make up our minds.

It isn't the plain speaking traditions

of these united states, but the political debate

between two highest office seekers in the land.

[reporter talks indistinctly on TV]

- David. - What?

We've always been pretty honest

with each other in our relationship.

Uh-huh.

And I want us to be honest with each other now.

Right now?

David, you know how I feel that I have...

I have great affection for you.

- Hmm-hmm. - But...

But that I'm not you know, I'm not...

- I'm not in love with you. - Uh-huh.

And you keep saying that that's okay.

But do you mean it?

Of course I do.

Don't you feel cheated?

Rox, you're good...

and kind and sexy,

and you're the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Now, would I like it if you thought I was a sexy guy?

Absolutely. Would I like it

if you were passionately in love with me?

Hey, no question about it.

But... I'm not a sexy guy.

I know this. I don't kid myself.

I'm a realist in this regard.

But you're here in this bed,

in my bed with me,

and that makes me the luckiest guy in the world.

And you can live with it that way?

Yes.

Well, then...

maybe we should.

What?

You know...

make it... official.

As in... married?

- Yes. - When?

I don't know, um,

tonight, this weekend, soon.

You mean before you change your mind?

I'm not going to change my mind.

[soft music]

Oh, boy.

Oh, boy!

[car passing]

You should be less arrogant

and less independent, Jonathan.

I understand.

That having been said,

I will tell you, it's our consensus

that you're an exceptional talent,

one who's exceeded our every expectation.

Brackman: We think that with proper training and nurturing,

you could be an outstanding lawyer with a long

and rewarding future at this firm.

Thank you.

Send Miss Perkins in on your way out.

Thank you both.

I hope she's not packing her piece.

[knocking]

Another year, another report card.

Brackman: Have a seat.

[door closes]

You've made nice progress, Abby.

The Rohner - Gradinger deal was splendid.

Your research has been consistently thorough

and the partners feel you've contributed

significantly to every case you've been a part of.

The problem of billable hours remains, though.

Eighteen-hundred is low.

We know you're putting in the time,

so either you're not accounting for all your hours

or you're not billing the clients for all your work.

Which would be heresy.

I've never felt it's fair

to bill a client for time spent going down dead ends.

But I hear you.

We'd also like you to concentrate

in the corporate department.

What?

We think we can operate more efficiently

with specialization.

But I thought I'd be getting to try more cases.

Not everyone can be a litigator.

But that's exactly what I want to be.

We don't think litigation is your strongest suit.

One question.

Am I on the partnership track here or not?

It's a little too early for that determination.

Excuse me. Based on my performance

during the last two years,

do you anticipate that I will eventually be

invited to be a partner?

That's a premature question.

Give me a premature answer.

Ann?

At this time, we don't anticipate

extending that invitation.

- But that doesn't-- - Thank you. Thank you.

I think I get the gist of my review.

[door slams shut]

[phone ringing]

- Hey, Rox. - Hey, Arnie.

- How was your weekend? - I got married.

You what?

I got married.

In here.

[telephone ringing]

- You got married? - Saturday night.

[door shuts]

[stammers] I'm stunned. I-- I--

How could you do this to me?

What have I done to you?

You asked my counsel, and I gave it to you.

Then you went out and you did the exact opposite

of what I advised. How do you think that makes me feel?

Roxanne: I don't believe you.

This is my wedding, my marriage,

a-- and your only reaction is me, me, me.

My reaction is disbelief.

You said yourself that you're not in love with him.

You compromised, y-- you gave up on...

romance and your dreams, your passion.

Those things make up your life, Arnie.

They have never been a part of mine.

Roxanne: I-- I don't have a-- a Rolodex of

available squeezes like you do.

It's been a long time since anybody sent me flowers

or-- or whisked me off to the Mauna Kea for romantic weekends.

I was broke. I was alone. I had nothing.

And this man, he came along, and he offered me a life.

A life which may not measure up to a good time

by your standards, but damn it, it's a hell of a lot better

than the one I had before.

[door shuts]

I knew the suspects were armed

and that a possible rape was in progress.

Gary Maus: But there be no discharge of any weapon

and loss of life not been imminent.

I declined to enter the dwelling for fear

of jeopardizing the safety of the victims.

Felix: So what did you do? Gary: I circled the premises.

Gary: Making note of all possible exits.

I maintained constant communication

with our central station,

which is monitoring everything going on inside.

And when the police arrived,

I fully apprized them of the same.

Mr. Maus, did you at any point

have an opportunity to prevent this rape from occurring?

- No, sir, I did not. - Thank you, that's all.

How old are you, sir?

- I'm 24 years of age. - Twenty-four.

And how long have you been working at Guard Alert?

Been with the company for 11 months.

- And before that? - Objection.

There's no relevance to the witnesses' prior--

This is the armed guard, judge.

He is the essence of the security company.

Sifuentes: I think that his training and his background

is definitely relevant.

- I'll allow it. Sifuentes: Thank you.

So I'm going to ask again, Mr. Maus,

how were you employed before Guard Alert?

I drove an ice cream truck.

And have you received any training

in the field of security?

Yes. I attended Guard Alert's

own private academy,

where I received extensive training

and CPR, first aid

and the use of firearms.

And when did you enter this academy, sir?

In October of 1987.

And when did you graduate?

October of 1987.

Sifuentes: And other than this extensive

two week stint at Guard Alerts Academy,

did you receive any other security training?

- No. - Alright, Mr. Maus...

You once considered becoming a police officer.

Sifuentes: Is that right? - I did.

Sifuentes: In fact, you took the entrance exam

for the Los Angeles Police Academy.

- Correct? - Yes.

Please tell the court the results

of that test, sir.

- I didn't qualify. - You failed.

That has nothing to do with that night.

Now, I made the right decision not to go in.

Gary: Nobody got killed, and we nailed the perps, remember?

Thank you. Sir, on July 20th of this year,

you responded to another alarm

on Stradella Road in Bel Air, is that correct?

It's possible. I don't remember.

Well, according to your records, and I'm gonna give you

a copy of your records right now, you did.

And also, according to your records, you once again...

determined a crime to be in progress, that safety mandated

you not entering the premises and in full accordance

with your training and your discretion,

you once again waited outside

for the police to come in and capture the intruder, right?

Yes.

Please identify this intruder

for the court, sir.

- It was a raccoon. - But you nailed him, right?

Felix: Objection. Sifuentes: Nothing further.

Oh-- oh, excuse me, that was a full-grown raccoon?

Your Honor.

Judge Weeks: Sustained.

Judge Parker: Stand up, Mr. Ripley.

Shock of shocks, I'm finding you guilty.

Judge Parker: As for sentencing--

May I be heard, Judge?

I'm listening.

I deeply apologize for my behavior.

And I...

I really didn't mean to scare anybody--

Well, like it or not, that kind of

unprovoked criminal behavior

does scare people.

I know. And I'm getting help, Your Honor.

I'm seeing a psychiatrist.

Mr. Ripley: I know what I did was wrong, and I've got to stop.

- But, will you? Mr. Ripley: I have to.

I don't want to go through anything like this again.

Believe me.

Judge Parker: Ms. Van Owen?

Probation for a year.

Van Owen: Conditioned on a psychiatric evaluation.

[indistinct chatter]

Kuzak: Counselor.

Van Owen: Counselor.

- What brings you here? - Oh, lawyer stuff.

- And you? - Ms. Van Owen?

Thank you. I know you didn't have to do that.

Good luck, Mr. Ripley.

Thank you very much.

So, are you free tonight?

Well, I could be.

What do you have in mind?

Well, I thought maybe a quiet little dinner,

we could rent a movie. Who knows?

You're pretty boring, Kuzak.

How 'bout Magic Mountain?

What? Magic Mountain?

Yeah, they've got this new thing, the "Ninja."

It's a trackless roller coaster.

[whispering] Excuse me...

what is that perfume you're wearing?

Trackless?

I think it's called "Surrender."

Yeah. Yeah, it's suspended.

It has no track.

- It's intoxicating. - No track?

[whispers] Overwhelming, compelling.

[sighs]

Yeah, uh...

so y-- you can't tell when you're about to...

plunge off the edge of the world.

Well, I think I'm more of a

bumper car kind of guy, myself.

That's the difference between you and me.

You're a bumper at heart

and I'm a plunger.

We better do dinner.

- Look-- - Oh, for God's sakes!

And as that man shoved his gun in Mr. Jenning's mouth...

threatening to pull the trigger...

the Guard Alert security guard...

sat outside.

Sifuentes: As the other man repeatedly

violated Mrs. Jennings...

their security guard sat outside.

And as a little five-year-old girl

walked into that room...

to see her own mother being

viciously and violently raped...

he sat outside.

Now, this poor family was being emotionally ruined,

probably for life...

...and their man was sitting outside

reciting the company line,

"Nothing we can do".

You cannot accept their excuse without validating it.

You cannot accept their excuse

without offering it up for use

by every other security company out there,

maybe even your own.

And if you let them off, ladies and gentlemen,

you'd be saying that it's okay to charge thousands of dollars

to put 24-year-old ex-ice cream salesman on patrol.

You'd be saying that it's okay to promise safety,

to take the money, and then to sit back

while a family is being savagely ruined.

Or you can stop them right now by saying,

"No, it's not okay."

By saying, "Yes, you damn well better try harder."

So the next time when it could be your house,

maybe they just won't sit in your driveway

waiting for it to be over.

Do you want to do something today that's gonna make us

all a little safer in our homes?

Then come back for the plaintiff.

And come back big.

He wants you to believe

that they could have prevented this tragedy.

Felix: And Mr. Sifuentes and I both know...

that you desperately want to believe this too.

Because if you can convince yourselves

that security companies can stop

any and all crime in the home,

then you can continue to cling to the futile hope

that this could never happen to you.

If you can convince yourselves that this occurred

only because an alarm company dropped the ball...

then you can dismiss this tragedy as an aberration

and thereby distance yourselves from it.

But no matter how much you want to believe that folks...

[chuckle] the facts in this case won't let you.

Guard Alert's alarm worked perfectly, that's undisputed.

Felix: They were there in eight minutes.

You heard experienced veteran police testify.

There was nothing Guard Alert or any security company

could have done to prevent this tragedy.

Now the facts tell you,

Guard alert did everything they could.

Everything they promised.

And the facts tell you that sometimes...

no matter what you do,

or how much you try...

the crime wave still rolls in.

You want to attach blame here?

Blame the tide.

[humming]

[intercom buzzing] Yeah, Cindy?

[over intercom] Mr. McKenzie,

there's a Ms. Jennifer Kepler to see you.

Send her in.

Jennifer.

Well--

Welcome home.

Thank you.

How was Europe?

Refreshing.

I'm sure it was.

When did you get back?

When the bar results were announced.

Oh, of course. Congratulations.

You didn't answer a single one of my calls.

I'm sorry.

I'm not usually a coward when it comes to these things.

And I'm not usually this aggressive.

But I thought we were both feeling something special

for each other.

I thought we'd agreed that when I returned

from Europe, we'd pursue it.

Jennifer...

Jennifer, you're...

you're a very special woman.

But...

it was after you left,

I realized that every time we were together,

I was acutely aware of how

inappropriate our relationship was.

There's nothing inappropriate about two adults

who want to be together.

Yeah.

Jennifer,

I'm old enough to be your father.

Now I find that socially embarrassing.

And quite candidly, that's...

it's-- it's-- sexually, it's-- it's frightening.

Well, I can't do much about your social embarrassment, Leland.

But when it comes to your sexual fear...

I can give you a hand there.

I just-- I just don't know how I feel.

Well...

if you want to see me, you know where you can find me.

If not, I just won't bother you anymore.

[door closes]

- Hi. - Good morning.

Well, I received a phone call

last night from opposing counsel.

They are offering a million settlement payable right now.

No admission of liability on their part.

And a gag order. So all the press gets told

is that we settled for an undisclosed amount.

Well, this means they think they're going to lose, right?

It means that they're not confident.

But I have to be honest with you, neither am I.

You think we should take it?

I don't see how we can't.

The jury could come back with twice that amount,

but they could also come back with nothing.

Mrs. Jennings: No.

Excuse me?

Mrs. Jennings: We're not settling on those terms.

A million dollars is a great offer.

Sifuentes: I think it would be a great verdict.

They're not going to sweep us to the back pages,

not after what happened to me.

- Marcia-- - No.

I want a public verdict. I want them blamed.

With all due respect, how would that further your interests?

People will know, damn it. God.

Every time I drive by one of those protected houses,

and I see that little sign out front,

"Property protected by Guard Alert."

I just want to stop, run up and bang on the door

and tell them.

Tell them they're not safe.

Tell them they'll never be safe!

- Honey. - No, get away.

I want to get them out in the open.

They're talking about--

No, you're talking about a quiet settlement

and I won't do it.

I was raped

[crying] and I want everybody to know it.

And I want everybody to blame them.

And I won't be quiet.

I won't.

No! No!

Okay. Okay. Okay.

Okay. It's okay. It's alright.

[Mrs. Jennings sobbing]

Tell them the offer is rejected, Mr. Sifuentes.

The law says he has to register 29 days

before the election, Mr. Kuzak.

Which he would've done if he hadn't been turned away

by one of the registrar's volunteers.

Your Honor, no disrespect intended,

but Mr. Stulwicz is retarded.

It doesn't disqualify him from voting.

Understood, but given his handicap,

it's quite conceivable he was unable

to fill out the registration forms,

which is grounds for disqualification.

He was never given the chance to fill out the form.

- You say so. - He says so.

And you don't have anybody here to contradict him.

Judge Lobel: Alright, gentlemen.

Mr. Stulwicz, what exactly

did the man at the registration table say to you?

He-- he said I couldn't vote.

Had you begun to fill out

any of the registration forms or papers?

No. He wouldn't let me.

What's your address, Mr. Stulwicz?

12. Orange Grove Street,

Los Angeles, California, 90046.

When were you born?

July 5th, 1949.

Do you have a job?

I-- I work in the mail room of

McKenzie Brackman Chaney and Kuzak.

Seems to me he's capable of completing

registration, Mr. Montal.

Mr. Kuzak, I'm assuming he's not on parole

and doesn't have a conservator appointed for him?

That's right, judge.

Mr. Stulwicz...

Would you approach the bench, please?

Do you know what this election is for?

Yes, sir. It's so that

people can choose who's going to be president

of the United States.

And this is something you want to do?

Sure.

I'm one of the people.

This man is qualified to vote, Mr. Montal.

Judge Lobel: And since I find that he probably

was unlawfully denied his right to register,

I'm ordering you to waive the thirty day requirement

and register him right now so he can vote today.

Judge Lobel: The clerk will draft it, Mr. Kuzak.

Mr. Montal, get it done.

That's all.

Well, what-- what did he say?

He said you're going to vote.

[sighs in relief]

[instrumental music]

Has the jury reached its verdict, Mr. Foreman?

We have, your Honor.

What say you?

On count one of the complaint

for the cause of action of negligence,

we find in favor of the defendant.

On count two of the complaint,

breach of contract,

we find in favor of the plaintiff,

and order the defendant to pay damages

in the amount of two point four million dollars.

[uplifting music]

[upbeat music]

[clapping]

Thank you.

Yeah. Rox!

Congratulations to you both.

Thank you.

Two point four million.

Thirty-three percent.

We just made eight hundred thousand dollars.

Victor, I toast your triumph.

Don't count it all yet, Doug. I'm sure they're gonna appeal.

Nevertheless, I needn't waste your time

telling you what you already know...

that you're a most valued member of our firm,

And all of us, the partners that is...

consider you to be on a very certain partnership track.

I'm flattered, Doug.

Thank you.

De nada, mi amigo.

Atta boy, Victor.

Thanks, Ann. [chuckles]

- Put your tongue in my ear. - What?

Well, now that Ripley's behind bars, someone's gotta do it.

- Come on. - Alright.

No, wait. Sort of flick it...

In-- in and out.

[giggling]

- How's that? - Oh, it's...

It's wet, it's-- gave me a little chill.

- I don't know. - That good, huh?

Yeah. Maybe it's--

It's not so much a flick...

as it is a flitter.

- Try it again. Yeah. - Flitter?

Oh!

Markowitz: Here they are.

Hey, congratulations, both of you.

- Thank you. - Great.

Thank you, I am the luckiest guy in the world.

- I hope you'll be very happy. - I know you do.

And I want you to know how much we appreciate that.

You know, we got a lot in common, Arnie.

We both love the same woman.

Fact, if I weren't such a basically

together guy, I might be a little jealous,

But I'm not.

I mean, hey, we're going to be an extended family, right?

Right.

Excuse me.

Markowitz: Well, here she is.

Congratulations. It's great.

Roxanne: Thank you. - Is this something or what?

David: Look at us. Four middle aged lovebirds.

Before too long, we're all going to be up to our elbows

in disposable diapers and tapioca pudding.

Am I right?

Well, we've been-- we've been talking about it.

Actually, we haven't yet, but, boy, I'm ready.

Can't you see Rox with a couple of little Meyers

running around the house?

You better get moving Ann, I can hear that

biological clock ticking.

David...

Will you excuse us, please?

- Stuart, let's go home. - Why? What's the matter?

Dave Meyer is insufferable.

What? The biological clock remark?

- Yes. Markowitz: Oh, Come on.

The doctor said it'll take at least six months

to get pregnant, even a year.

Totally normal.

Markowitz: Don't get upset over a dumb remark.

Kelsey: Stuart, maybe you should get tested.

Me?

Ann, we've only been trying for a few months.

It hasn't only been a few months.

I stopped using birth control...

over a year ago.

Why didn't you tell me?

I don't know. I was afraid.

Afraid of what? You know I want children.

I wasn't really trying to get pregnant.

I guess I just wasn't, not trying.

I don't even know if I can get pregnant.

Have you been tested?

Never any reason to, before.

Well, there is now, isn't there?

Don't push me on this, okay?

I'm not pushing you.

But it does raise the question, doesn't it?

Like, do you want to have a baby or not?

Because if you're ambivalent, forget about tests.

I'm not going to put my-- my-- my heart,

or anything else on the line here.

Mike.

Mike, it's getting late.

- I got to vote. - Alright.

Let's go exercise your constitutional right, Benny.

And when you're done with that,

Grace and I will take you to dinner, okay?

Great! Let's go!

[vehicle approaching]

Benny... don't forget.

You slide the card underneath the ballot,

then you take the little pin-push

to make a hole next to the candidate's name.

Okay.

And if you get nervous,

or you don't understand something,

don't be afraid to ask for help.

You got your papers?

Ye-- yeah.

Okay...

In you go.

[intense music]

My name is Benny Stulwicz.

I'm-- I'm-- I'm here to vote.

Yes, Mr. Stulwicz, we received a call

about you from the registrar's office.

- Sign in here. - Here you are.

Here's your ballot,

and you can vote in that stall over there.

[uplifting music]

[punching]

Mike, I did it.

I voted.

[music continues]

[credits music]