Original subtitles

[theme music]

[instrumental music]

Hey, what do you think you're doing?

[sighs] God, Arnie.

Hoping to duck in and out unnoticed?

That was the plan.

How goes the plan in general?

Well, actually I think fine.

Which considering how blindly I got into this

probably translates to great.

Ah, but are you making any money?

It's coming in.

My expenses are modest.

Is that what you're looking for?

Modesty in all things?

[chuckling] No, I would've stayed here if I wanted that.

Well, then let me offer you my going away present.

Free consultation with my publicist.

A publicist? Serious.

Abby, I am serious. She's great.

She's young, she's classy.

She's got fabulous media contacts.

My professional visibility is the highest

it's ever been, I gotta tell you.

Translates handsomely to the bottom line.

I don't know, Arnie. I think I'll just rely

on good old fashioned word of mouth.

Abby, listen to me. Personally, I don't think

you should have gone out on your own, but as long as you did,

don't become some low rent, ambulance chasing day player.

Give yourself a competitive edge.

There's a-there's a trillion lawyers out there.

Okay.

Okay. I'll meet with her.

Okay?

Okay.

[Abby chuckles]

Arnie, staff meeting.

- I'm setting it up. - Okay.

Abby. Well, uh, nice to see you.

- Nice to see you too. - I have a referral for you.

The fellow has done some plumbing work for me.

- Expect his call. - Thank you, Douglas.

Hello. How's it going, counselor?

- Great. - What, you stealing files here?

Nice suit.

Abby.

Benny. Hi, how are you?

Good.

Me too.

You uh, you'll need me to help move stuff?

No, I think I'm fine.

Uh, I can-I can come on Saturday

or Sunday, anytime you like.

Thank you. You're a real friend, Benny.

So are you.

I gotta go.

You take care.

Abby...

Ab-- Abby.

I-- I miss you all the time.

[voice breaking] I miss you too, Benny.

[phone ringing]

[indistinct chatter]

female #1: Mackenzie Brackman, good morning.

I don't believe he's in his office yet.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

What I am suggesting one and all

is that the very people who insisted

that the installation of a fax machine

would slice our messenger bills in half

are the ones who have failed to make good use of it.

Can we get on with it?

Brackman: Coyel versus Terra Nova instruments.

Ready for trial.

That's the wrongful death suit

where the guy fell off the mountain?

- Yeah. - It's flat.

Uh, exactly where is the liability here?

I mean, the guy goes out for a social outing,

he falls down. So what?

The liability is the company coercion.

The rock climbing with the boss's practically

a required activity if you want to be promoted.

Is anybody else hot in here? It's like an oven.

You wanna swap them right here by the AC?

No, I uh... I'll just get some air, thanks

Excuse me.

Brackman: Returning our attention to the trial.

Brackman: Jonathan. - Hmm.

We're a little concerned about

you flying solo here

on such a potentially big matter.

- I can handle it. - Just the same. Victor?

We'd like you to sit second chair

to provide whatever backup may be.

- Me? - What?

This is nothing against you, Jonathan.

It most certainly is something against me.

You're saying you don't trust me.

McKenzie: No, no. It's not that at all.

It's just that you're a second year attorney

without much trial experience

and we feel we owe it to the client.

It's my case. She's my client

and she is perfectly comfortable with me handling it alone.

Plus, which my schedule for this week is jammed.

Anne and Michael can help out on your schedule--

Leland.

The decision has been made.

And I think it stinks.

Where are you going?

I suddenly have a trial to prepare for.

Look, the quality of your decision aside,

your timing is great. That kid has probably

got the biggest trial of his life coming up

and you undercut his confidence an hour before kick off?

Very prudent.

Well, Leland, you certainly handled that beautifully.

[sighs]

Stuart, I want you to call the doctor.

Just let me get my bearings and then I'll be alright.

I don't care how many

sperm this drug is supposed to be building.

If it's blurring your vision, it can't be okay.

I was just sitting there, all of a sudden,

this flush starts on my whole body.

[inhales and exhales deeply]

I want you off the drug now.

I'll call the doctor.

Promise?

I said I'll call the doctor.

[rustling]

[sighs]

[indistinct chatter]

[door closes]

[sighs]

[rustling]

[door opens]

[instrumental music]

Hi, Benny.

- Michael, you have a call? - Who is it?

Grace Van Owen.

Tell her I'm in a meeting.

[instrumental music]

Miss Perkins?

Whitey Holland, Mr. Brackman referred me.

Of course. Come on in.

Excuse the hand, I just came from a job.

It's a real pleasure.

The pleasure's mutual, Mr. Holland. Please sit down.

I'm hoping you're gonna take a big load off my mind

with this court deal.

Well, we'll do our best.

Now, why don't you tell me exactly where you stand?

This customer of mine,

it was a rehab on a health spa.

One of those jobs that's a four-legged bitch

from beginning to end.

Mr. Holland: Rubber checks, lots of promises.

Finally, I told them, you get nothing more from me

until I see the dough.

They got somebody else to finish the job.

I'm out of about $2,500 in labor...

I figure, fine, I'm rid of them...

until I'm sued.

Do you have the papers they served?

I just rushed over.

Don't worry, you can send them over.

I'm supposed to be in court tomorrow.

- Tomorrow? - I know.

It's hopeless, it's too late, you can't help me.

No, no, no, no, no.

Um, what I'll do is,

tomorrow I can get a continuance,

which shouldn't be a problem, and then we can sit down

and sift through this in a little more detail.

That'd be great.

Now, I'll need a retainer from you of a thousand dollars.

Yeah, sure, fine.

Geez, I hope you'll take a check.

Yeah.

Was your husband looking forward to making this excursion?

Terry was dreading the trip.

He... had never been rock climbing in his life.

Why did he go?

Because Mr. Osteen invited him

and if you ever wanna get a promotion at Terra Nova,

you go rock climbing with the president

of the company if he asks you to.

- Objection, conclusory. - Sustained.

Mrs. Coyle, did you ever try to

dissuade your husband from making this trip?

Mrs. Coyle: Repeatedly.

He was 30 pounds overweight.

He never exercised. It was crazy.

But he felt he'd never get ahead if he didn't go.

And he said he owed it to me and the kids.

Ma'am, this may be somewhat upsetting for you,

but I'd like you to take a look at

a photograph of your husband,

taken by the Kern County Medical Examiner.

Objection, this hasn't been marked or authenticated.

I'm having her authenticate it.

Oh, my God. Is this Terry?

Carla: She has no foundation to authenticate it.

Carla: And you know it. - Is this Terry?

This is totally inflammatory, Your Honor.

Oh, my God. Is it Terry?

It is not inflammatory,

it's relevant to show the brutal

violent death suffered by her husband.

This is a cheat stunt, Your Honor.

Carla: He sprung this photo on his own witness

just to manipulate the jury.

I object to that.

How can you show him like this?

- Please, ma'am. - How could you do this to me?

- Look at him. - Mrs. Coyle.

Just look at him.

[sobbing]

Your Honor,

I know it's not my role to look out

for Mr. Rollin's client,

but I feel we should allow Mrs. Coyle

a short recess to collect herself.

Uh, unless Mr. Rollin's objects.

Twenty minutes.

[sobbing]

Mr. Noyes: I worked for a Terra Nova Instruments from

August of 1980 until February of 1984.

Were you familiar with the term Pay Your Jews on the Rock?

I was.

Jonathan: And what did it refer to?

The, uh, head of the company, Peter Osteen,

was this avid fanatical rock climber,

and an invitation to go climbing with him

was taken to be the equivalent of

getting rushed by a fraternity.

You know, we think we want you,

but we'd like to take a closer look.

Mm-hmm. Mr. Noyes...

were you ever invited on a climb?

Yes, I was. October of 1983.

- Did you go? - Yes, I did.

It was Yosemite.

I got to the foot of what they were calling a-- a rock,

and there's this guy way up there

flat against it and he looks like one of those

stuffed cats you'll see suctioned into a car window.

Well, nothing short of a cattle prod was gonna get me up there,

so I thanked them for the opportunity

to come to terms with my mortality

and uh, I went home.

And what consequence, if any,

did you suffer by refusing to climb?

Well, I never got that promotion I was in line for,

and in fact, I was demoted.

And in February of 1984, I resigned.

Thank you, Mr. Noyes.

I have no more questions.

Mr. Noyes, you lost a major sales account

ten days before your demotion, didn't you?

Well, you win and lose accounts all the time.

Yes, but this was Fullerton Hospital,

your biggest account, right?

Yes.

Do you make room for the possibility, sir,

that your demotion might have had something to do

with your costing Terra Nova

over $300,000 in lost revenues?

That wasn't it. Look, everybody knows

you're expected to do the rock climb.

Mr. Noyes: Terry Coyle probably felt like he had to do it.

Had you, uh, ever met Terry Coyle, sir?

Uh, no, not personally, but at Terra Nova--

So, you didn't really know what

Mr. Coyle thought or knew, did you?

I didn't have personal knowledge, no.

And were you there the day of this tragedy?

No, I was not.

So, you didn't have an opportunity

to see or know anything, did you?

I didn't see it, but Mr. Roland

showed me the pictures.

Yes, he's very helpful that way.

Thank you. Nothing further.

Case number 4271 Mount Olympus House of Tone

versus Nathaniel Holland.

Plaintiffs ready for trial.

Abigail Perkins for the defendant.

I've just been retained, Your Honor,

I'll be seeking a continuance.

- What, again? - I'm sorry?

Judge: This is the third trial date he's shown up for

with a new lawyer looking for a continuance.

Your Honor, my previous counsel was not competent

as guaranteed to me by the Sixth Amendment

of the Constitution of the United States.

Forget it, you're not gonna delay this anymore.

Not with new lawyers, not with constitutional amendments.

Your Honor, I've never even seen the papers.

Look, it's a simple case.

We'll put the plaintiff on today and then

I'll give you a day to prepare your defense.

Judge: Call your first witness.

Mr. Sylvia: Uh, plaintiff calls Leonard Mosher Jr,

to the stand.

The only reason I hired him,

the only reason was he promised

to finish by Memorial Day weekend, my grand opening.

Mr. Mosher, could you tell us,

did he finish the plumbing work by that date, sir?

[chuckles]

Move to strike, non-responsive.

Answer the question, sir.

The morning of my grand opening,

I got a hundred people in the lobby

and he's still whacking on the pipes.

People in tuxedos waiting to see

a full service health club, restaurant, juice bar.

Mr. Sylvia: Uh, were you able to open the club, sir?

Mr. Mosher: Well, finally about noon time,

he says it's finished.

Well, I didn't have no inspection or nothing,

but hell, I got potential customers here.

- So, you did open? - Took them on a tour.

Wait room, life cycle, everything's looking smart...

till we get to the sharp facility.

I especially wanted them to see that because

I had gold flex put in the tiles.

Your Honor, this is narrative.

Just tell us what happened, Mr. Mosher.

This lady, nice lady, in a cream colored dress,

decides to test the shower.

She turns on the nozzle and out comes this crap.

Uh, what do you mean by crap, sir?

I mean, crap, like in bowel movement.

Mr. Mosher: The man had the sewer lined to my plumbing.

Mr. Sylvia: You're sure?

The water was brown and some of it was chucky...

Your Honor.

Mr. Mosher: And he tells me it

just needs more chlorine.

- Hearsay! - Can I tell him about the bar?

What was wrong with the bar?

Oh, man.

First guy up orders the doors with a splash.

You should have seen that splash.

Okay, I get the picture.

Things was floating around in the jacuzzi.

Judge: Oh. Alright, Mr. Mosher.

Arne Becker, is a publicist's dream.

Well, he certainly loves you.

No, I have not slept with him, if that's what you mean.

Now, I understand. I-- I think I understand...

how it works with actors, but

how do you publicize a lawyer

without making it, you know...

- Sleazy? Okay. - Yeah.

First of all, what I like to do with our non-celebrity clients

is position them in their field of expertise.

Like, I'll get this.

Like, my goal for Arnie Becker is to have every Rolodex

in every newspaper and TV station in LA

with his name in it under divorce.

Legislature passes a law concerning community property,

reporters call Arnie for a thoughtful reaction.

This has gotta be great for business.

Or I place him as a guest lecturer

at an ABA Family Law Symposium.

Then I orchestrate some quality press coverage.

The publicist's hand, one is totally unseen.

People read the paper and they figure that

Arnie Becker is the expert...

which he is.

But even assuming I could afford you...

I'm not an Arnie Becker.

I'm a beginning general practitioner.

Oh. Who happens to be young, attractive,

sexy as hell photogenic.

- Single? Me too. - Single mom.

So, what would be so wrong with promoting you as say,

a legal consumer advocate for a local TV station?

Nothing.

Or a legal advice column in a

magazine like Ladies Home Journal.

That wouldn't be too shabby, would it?

I'd love it.

Legal rights for single mothers, something like that.

What do you normally charge for your services?

Normally, two a month.

Two hundred?

Two thousand.

But if I can't generate at least

that much income for you within the first month,

then I'm not doing my job, and you can me.

Arnie's, right. You are great.

Thanks.

Abby, I like you too,

and I think I can make things happen for you.

I can't afford you.

Don't worry about that now.

Let's worry about a hook,

one case with an angle that we can exploit.

I'm not exactly attracting any glamor stuff here,

unless you think you can do something with sewage.

Has a certain raw appeal.

[chuckles]

Look, you might have to wait six months, maybe a year.

That case is gonna come along and when it does, watch out.

Deal?

Deal.

So, you saw nothing wrong

with sending a novice

such as Mr. Coyle up that rock?

No. He was perfectly capable of making the climb.

Mr. Osteen: He'd-- he'd already made it to the top, it was...

he was coming down when it happened.

And what exactly happened as you saw it, Mr. Osteen?

Well, we were, uh... we were repelling

and, uh, Terry was leaning too far out.

Mr. Osteen: He tipped over upside down.

And I, uh, I started down for him

as soon as I saw he was in trouble.

He was swinging back and forth, and

I-- I-- I just kept screaming at him

just to hold on, but...

he panicked and he started pulling the rope off his chest.

And what happened then, sir?

Well, he fell.

I tried to get to him, but he just panicked.

Mr. Osteen, you've heard testimony

that your employees felt pressured into doing this climb.

I-- I can't believe that's true.

Uh, everybody knew that this was a social thing.

It was purely social.

Carla: And did you ever, sir,

directly or indirectly suggest

that doing these rock climbs could promote job security?

Absolutely not.

Thank you, sir. I have nothing further.

According to an interview you gave to Recreational

Climber Magazine four years ago, and I quote,

"A mountain takes a measure of a man.

It's a better judge of character

than any executive search committee."

I said that.

I was-- I was speaking of myself and what rock climbing--

You were using those climbs to judge

your executive's characters, weren't you?

No. It was social.

- It was fun. - Fun?

How much fun were you having while he

was dangling upside down from that rope?

Carla: Objection.

Was it fun watching him

plummet to his death?

- Objection. - Mr. Rollins.

I tried to save him.

You helped to kill him.

- Mr. Rollins! - Ahem. Your Honor.

Uh, Your Honor, I'd like to have

a few seconds to confer with counsel, please.

Make it fast.

- What's up? - What the hell are you doing?

Jonathan, jury's looking at you like a monster.

Just dial it back, okay?

Yeah, okay, okay.

I'm sorry, if I upset you, sir.

But isn't it true, had you not pressured Terry Coyle

into making that climb, he'd be alive today?

Carla: That's argumentative and cruel.

Cruel?

Your Honor, we all know how horrible this tragedy was.

He needn't exacerbate it like this

by punishing and bullying everybody.

I object to that self-serving attack

and I take personal offense that--

Both of you, that's enough.

[both sighs]

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

And Mr. Rollins, I'm so sorry

if I've hurt your feelings.

Yeah, sure, I'll check.

Hang on.

Michael?

It's Grace.

- I'm in a meeting. - Still?

[door closes] Still.

Goodnight, Elizabeth.

Goodnight. Michael.

How'd the Blaustein audit go?

Lousy.

How do you feel?

- Lousy. - Still?

I thought that once you stopped taking the drug,

the symptoms will disappear.

Oh, yeah, they did. Right along

with my last chance of getting you pregnant.

Stewart... this is not an impossible situation.

Anne, the normal average sperm

count's a 125 million, give or take.

I got a lousy 16 million.

Sixteen million sounds like a lot to me.

Yeah, well it's not. [sighs]

Except if they're all little Matt Biondis.

Sperm Olympics. I like it.

Yeah, it's great.

I can't even make the qualifying heat.

Hey, all it takes is one cute little sperm

in speedo suit and goggles.

Yeah, it's not funny.

We didn't have much of a chance with the drug without--

[thuds]

I just feel like such a goddamn wimp.

[inhales and exhales deeply]

Stuart, you're not a wimp...

and we're not without other options.

Sperm bank?

Hey, I'm not crazy about the idea,

but it's something to think about.

You wanna tell your kid he wasn't conceived,

he was defrosted.

Listen to me, according to the doctor,

there's still some things we can do,

techniques we can use

times of the month when our chances increase.

Think quality of sperm Stuart, not quantity.

[both moan and giggle]

[moaning]

- Lock the door. - Uh-uh.

I'm not doing it all over, Maury Blusteins audit.

I want dinner.

I want candlelight.

I want dancing.

And then maybe ba boom, ba boom.

Ba boom, ba boom.

Or if you prefer,

ba bing, ba bing.

I love you.

[soft music]

Remember, Stuart?

Think sperm.

[instrumental music]

And as Mr. Coyle's supervisor, Mr. Swayze,

would you tell the court whether this rock climbing

expedition was a function of his employment?

It definitely was not.

Was it even remotely connected to career advancement?

Look, a lot of people think,

"Hey, it can't hurt to go hiking with the boss."

Mr. Swayze: But was it policy,

was it quid pro quo for promotion?

The answer is no.

Thank you, sir. Nothing further.

How much were you paid by Terra Nova?

Objection, there's no relevancy to Mr--

The relevance is this man gets

paid a fat salary by the defendant.

A salary he doesn't wanna jeopardize right now.

I'll allow it.

How much were you paid by Mr. Osteen, sir?

Terra Nova pays me $85,000 a year.

And you would lie to protect that $85,000, wouldn't you?

- Objection. - I'm not lying.

You're lying to save your job, aren't you?

- Your Honor-- - I object to this interruption.

Carla: How many noses does he have to bloody?

Judge: Ms. Stritch?

I am sorry, Your Honor,

but it is difficult for me to keep quiet

while he continually victimizes innocent witnesses.

I said that's enough.

Now, sit down.

And Mr. Rollins, she's right.

Stop the badgering.

They badgered Terry Coyle, in going up that rock.

- Objection. - Mr. Rollins.

I have nothing further.

Judge: Any redirects, Ms-- - Excuse me, judge.

I've got a couple of questions for the witness.

It better be brief.

What do you think you're doing?

Sit down. Good afternoon, Mr. Swayze.

I'm Victor Sifuentes, co-counsel with Mr. Rollins.

Sifuentes: I just have a couple of questions

and then we can let you go, if I can begin.

How many vice presidents are there at Tarra Nova, sir?

Besides me there are seven.

And of those seven,

how many have gone rock climbing

just prior to their promotions?

I wouldn't know.

Well, if I tell you, sir,

that through our pre-trial discovery,

we have determined that number to be seven,

would that surprise you?

Nothing surprises me.

Really?

So, when I tell you that nobody who's refused

to go rock climbing has ever gone on to make Vice President,

that wouldn't surprise you.

It's just a coincidence.

Coincidence?

If people don't like rock climbing,

they don't have to go.

Sifeuntes: I see.

Are you a rock climbing fan, Mr. Swayze?

Mr. Swayze: Not wild about it.

Sifuentes: But you've done it? Mr. Swayze: Once.

When was that, sir?

When Mr. Osteen, invited me.

Sifuentes: And were you up for the vice presidency

at that time, Mr. Swayze?

I believe I was.

And three weeks after that you in fact,

were made Vice President, correct Mr. Swayze?

That would be correct.

Thank you, sir. Nothing further.

You left out key evidence, I had to get in.

- I could have gotten it in. - You lost your focus, Jonathan.

You had no righteous humiliate me like that.

How the hell do you think that looked jumping in--

- As soon as I-- - Jumping in?

I jumped in to save you.

Sifuentes, this is my case.

It was your case, I'm taking over.

- You are like, hell. - Come on, Jonathan.

Nobody makes a fool outta me like this, not you--

Oh, go ahead. Well, you wanna take a shot at me now?

You wanna beat me up?

You have got a client out there with no husband

who is about to lose a lawsuit

and any chance to salvage a life for her kids,

and you are in here crying because your ego's bruised.

You listen to me. My closing arguments

are prepared. I'm the best man--

That the jury hates you, Jonathan.

They don't wanna even look at you much less, listen to you.

Now, I didn't want in on this case, but I am in

and I gotta do what's best for the client.

That means me taking over right now.

You don't like it? Talk to Mackenzie or quit.

[instinct chatter]

It was dark, I mistook the waistline for the main.

And what percentage of your work had you completed?

All of it.

I did everything except for that one mistake,

which I never would've made

if he hadn't been breathing down my back,

putting all that pressure on me.

Alright. I think I've heard the stories here,

and I'm going to rule.

Uh, before you do, judge,

let me simply remind the court

of the substantial loss of business suffered by my client

as a result of that putrid raw sewage

pulsating through Mr. Mosher's pipes.

I'd also like to remind the court that Mr. Mosher failed

to have any permits on the day of his grand opening.

That's because of your guy.

The building inspection is independent of plumbing,

Your Honor, and the fact is that Mr. Mosher had no right

to open that club on the day in question.

She's right, Mr. Sylvia. Alright.

I'm finding for the plaintiff,

but I'm denying all consequential damages.

Mr. Holland will pay the cost of repair of $2,300

plus court course of five hundred dollars.

We're adjourned.

We gotta appeal.

- I've been screwed. - We're not appealing.

That judge was bought, we can sue him for bribery.

Whitey, we are not suing the judge.

The case is over and so is our relationship.

- What do you mean? - You weren't straight with me.

You didn't tell me about the other lawyers

and the continuances, you didn't even tell me the true facts.

Plus, your check bounced today.

That's the bank harassing me.

I'm bringing a case against them.

- Whitey! - Ms. Perkins, don't abandon me.

Look, I will file the necessary papers

to help you get substitute counsel.

And after that, Whitey, you are on your own.

Please, I'm begging you.

I know I got a mess of problems, but I need you.

I'm begging you, Ms. Perkins, please!

[knocking] I've been thinking.

Strategically, it's probably not a good idea

for me to do the closing.

Sifuentes: It would send out a message to the jury

that I don't trust you or your arguments and, uh...

well, I think I'd be doing more harm than good.

So, I think you should close.

Try not to make me regret it, huh?

Hey, Victor. How's the trail going?

Everything's under control, Leland.

Good. Glad to hear it.

Why haven't you returned any of my calls?

I've been busy.

[scoffs] Busy? Hell.

A deadbeat client gets better treatment.

My deadbeat clients don't lecture me

on judicial ethics every opportunity they get.

Is that what this is all about?

Kuzak: Not entirely, no.

Look, I don't know what's going on.

For the last two weeks, you have been cold and distant.

I'm not getting love from you anymore.

I'm-- I'm getting lectures.

I just don't know what's happening with us.

Are you seeing someone else?

No.

[sighs] No.

Well, then, I don't understand.

Do you remember the Torrey case?

Double cop killing?

Yeah.

Our key witness was a police informant.

His testimony should have been suppressed.

I let it slide.

You know, I'd always thought that there was a special help

for attorneys and judges...

with flexible ethics.

The ones who could conveniently forget a little law

because they know the guy is guilty

and they want him off the streets.

I could never understand

[scoffs] how they sleep nights.

And suddenly...

I'm one of them.

How could I tell you that, Michael?

Gracie.

You can't do anything about it now. It's over.

The guy killed two cops. He's been put away.

You file it under lessons learned and you go on.

But it bleeds into the rest of my life.

I cannot forgive myself.

What do you want to do?

You want to go public?

You know... if I do, oh, [sniffles]

it is not just my career on the block,

it is Bruce Rogoffs, it is...

how the whole department will look.

It is putting a cop killer back on the streets.

Where's the good in that?

I don't know the answer, Grace.

But I do know that it helps

to sometimes realize that you're not alone.

That you're not the only one out there

who falls shorter than mark sometimes.

Oh, Grace...

you'll figure this one out, Gracie.

You'll do the right thing.

I don't know.

I just don't know.

[pensive music]

[door opens]

You got a second?

Sure.

Guess what?

I just talked for half an hour with Arnie Becker

and he gave me a complete overview

of the whole world of adoption out there.

And he said, give an our personal timetable

and everything, private adoption

would absolutely be our best shot.

And they gave me the name of a lawyer that we can talk to.

You talked to Arnie about this?

Yeah. Well, he's our family law expert.

Who else am I gonna talk to?

Me, Stewart. Me.

Yeah. Honey, it's just he-- he knows the field, that's all.

And now he knows all about our little

pregnancy dilemma too, doesn't he?

Yeah. And I'm the one with the low density sperm.

What's your problem?

You keep making unilateral decisions about stuff

that affects us both, Stuart, that is my problem.

Wait a minute, wait a minute. I-- I don't get it.

Do you want to have a baby or not?

- I don't know. - What?

You are the one who was talking about exploring all the options.

Now, all of a sudden, you don't know?

I'm 38 years old. I love my work.

I'm not sure I'm ready to put it on the back burner indefinitely.

Why would you have to put it on the back burner?

Oh, please.

You are not the one that's gonna stay home when the kid

has an ear infection, at least be honest about that.

How can you take something so simple, the most natural thing

in the world and blow it up into this complicated mess?

I wanna have a baby and what about you?

I'll be damned if I'm gonna let you railroad me

into caving in on something so important, Stewart.

It takes two. You keep forgetting that, Stuart.

You could have world class Olympic sperm.

Ann: It still takes two.

Oh, that's great, Anne.

Why don't you say it a little louder,

some of the partners still have their doors closed?

[door thuds]

- Oh! - Ow!

Benny, are you okay?

I guess.

Did I hear my 10 o'clock?

[instinct chatter]

We'll hear from the plaintiff.

Um, to be perfectly honest, I'm a little scared right now,

not just because this is the first

closing argument I've ever given.

But more because I'm afraid my very first big trial

might amount to nothing more than a showcase...

of my own inexperience.

If where I tried to be assertive...

I was belligerent,

if where I tried to be self-assured...

I was arrogant,

then I apologize.

And I can only hope for Maura Coyle's sake that the maturity

I so badly lacked exists within the 12 people on this jury.

The maturity that will allow you

to rise above the personalities and the petulant,

the maturity that will allow you

to focus on the facts of this case,

because however much contempt you may harbor from me

on the facts...

Moura Coyle cannot lose.

Tarra Nova through Peter Osteen, it's President,

sent out the message that in order to climb the ladder,

you gotta climb the rock, that's coercion,

negligent, coercion,

and because of it...

this woman's husband fell

two-hundred feet to his brutal death.

"The mountain takes a measure

of a man," Peter Osteen said.

Jonathan: That rock didn't measure Terry Coyle's life,

ladies and gentlemen,

that job is totally up to you.

And for this grieving widow,

I place now into your hands, both her hope...

and to trust her hope,

that you will measure her husband's life

more dearly than did Peter Osteen or Terra Nova,

or some big rock in the middle of a desert.

And to trust...

that you won't factor in the likability

of her attorney into the equation.

[inhales and exhales]

Make sure this goes straight to his office, not the mail room.

- Okay. - Then take lunch.

You want me to get you something?

No, I got a sandwich. Thanks.

Okay.

I should be back about two.

Excuse me.

Abby: Mr. Holland?

I've gotta apologize to you.

Come on in.

I just don't want you thinking that

I'm a guy who does that kind of stuff to customers.

You ask my pal Mr. Brackman,

he'll tell you what kind of work I do.

It's okay, Mr. Holland, you don't have to apologize.

[exhales] Good.

Now, what's it gonna take

to get our train back on track?

[sighs] I'm sorry.

I can't keep you as a client.

- I can't afford to. - I'll pay.

I'll pay. I can give you $50 tonight, $500 by Monday.

I'll copper pipe your house, it'll last a hundred years.

Please, listen.

I-- I have bills to pay just like you do.

I'm being squeezed just like you are.

Don't do this to me. I'm a drowning man.

And maybe more important, I was not able to represent you well

because you were not candid with me about your situation.

Come on. I was afraid you wouldn't take me.

I'll be straight with you, I promise, a hundred percent.

No.

Look, I-- I won't resubmit the check that bounced.

We'll say goodbye, we'll call it even, okay?

Don't play with me!

What is it with you?

[breathing heavily]

Let go of me.

That kind of behavior won't get you

anywhere with me, Mr. Holland.

Now, I suggest you leave before you get into bigger trouble.

[door thuds and locks]

[sighs]

[door closes and locks]

[exhales]

[sighs]

Hazel, it's Abby. Yeah, um...

Eric has soccer today. I-- I forgot completely.

Good. [chuckles]

Yeah, if you could just pick him up. Yeah, that'd be great.

[door crashes]

[dramatic music]

[glass shatters]

I'm going to kill you.

What? Playing games!

- Get back! - How can you say no to me?

[gunshots]

[gunshot]

Oh!

[groans]

[breathing heavily] Oh!

[camera shutter clicks]

[instinct chatter]

[music continues]

[indistinct chatter]

- Here. - What?

Your mouth is bleeding!

Oh.

I bit my lip.

I don't know when.

According to your statement to the officer,

you were on the phone when he came in.

Yeah, and I-- I didn't wanna

frighten the babysitter, so I hung up.

And I reached into my purse for my gun.

No, I think you probably reached into your desk drawer.

No, it was in my purse.

Abby.

- Hi, Mike. - Are you okay?

Yeah, I was a little wobbly before.

Yeah. I got a little wobbly when you called too.

I-- I hope I didn't sound too strange

when I called the babysitter

to tell her to keep Eric for tonight.

I know that she knew something was wrong.

Yeah. I'll check with her later. Alright?

I'm Michael Kazak, I'm Ms. Perkin's Attorney.

Lieutenant Ringstrom.

Kuzak: You've been questioning her?

She was filling me in on what happened.

She's been read her rights, I hope.

She's not a suspect.

Well, you can see that she's in absolutely no condition--

Mike, Mike, I already talked to another officer.

Just let me finish.

Go ahead, Lieutenant.

Now, you'd pulled your gun

out of the desk drawer.

No, no, I'm sure that it was in my purse.

Uh-oh, desk drawer.

So, you purchased that gun for the lawful purpose of

protecting yourself in this office,

not for the dangers and unlawful purpose of

carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.

Oh.

Are we alright here, counsellor?

Yeah. Fine.

Anyway, I didn't mean to interrupt.

[sighs] Um...

I reached into my desk drawer

and I pulled out my gun.

He kept coming and so I-- I shot him

and I think I shot him more than once, but I don't know.

You shot him five times.

Oh.

Uh, look, I shot a guy once.

I had the whole thing.

Flashbacks,

the night switch, the denial.

When it gets hard to handle,

give me a call, okay?

Okay.

[instinct chatter]

We're dead.

Bailiff: All rise.

Be seated.

Judge: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

have you reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

In the matter of Coyle versus Terra Nova instruments,

we find in favor of the plaintiff

and order the defendant to pay damages

in the amount of one million, two hundred thousand dollars.

[sighs]

Judge: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

thank you for your time and service.

This court's adjourned.

[instinct chatter]

Thank you.

I can't thank you enough.

Oh, thank you both for everything.

Congratulations.

You, too.

Mr. Rollins.

Congratulations.

A little humble pine, never hurt anyone, did it?

No, ma'am.

Don't you forget that now.

[chuckles]

Hazel on phone: Hi, Abby, it's Hazel, Eric's fine.

He can spend the night here if you like, just let me know.

Bye, dear.

Betsy Major on phone: Abby, it's Betsy Major,

I just heard the news and I hope you're okay.

My God, what a world.

Listen, the press is gonna be coming after you.

Feel free to refer them to me because...

I know this is gonna sound tasteless as hell,

but this is it.

This is your chance to get in in the game now.

Just off the top of my head

and all of it can wait till morning.

I think we should strongly consider

selling exclusive tour the Nationals.

God, it is a dream for them.

Hindsight lawyer plugs, plumber,

the pistol packing Abby wipes down the law.

Abby gets your gun. And TV?

Oh, they are going to beat you up with a spoon.

Kiddo, by the time I get through,

you'll be the hottest lawyer in LA.

[Abby sobbing]

[outro music]

[music continues]