Original subtitles

Les: Thank you, Charlotte.

You're welcome.

Thank you, Wanda. Thank you, Karen. Looking good.

[giggling]

Thank you, Roxanne. Thank you.

Well, how'd we do this week, Gretchen?

[crying]

Sorry, girls, my aerobics class ran late.

Here's my work book, Les.

Les: How was your trip to Cancun?

Fabuloso. I got a tan all the way up to here.

I see you lost six more pounds. Congratulations, Tammy.

Thank you, Les. But I'm still way overweight.

Right here.

Les: Would that we were all as disciplined as Tammy.

Thank you, Les.

But I'm sure we're all trying our darnedest.

- Aren't we, girls? - Sure we are.

Roxanne, I see you've gained two pounds.

I'm holding water.

According to your Thursday night log,

you're holding more than water.

I can't help it.

It's my husband's poker night.

He brings home pizza, and ice cream and cake.

If you want my opinion, it sounds as

if your husband is subtly encouraging

you to stay obese as a way of

suppressing your sexual attractiveness.

What are you, the world's foremost

authority on my sex life?

Well, it doesn't take an authority

to see that your husband is expressing

a lot of latent hostility towards you.

Tammy, why don't you mind your own business.

- You see, you're doing it, too. - Doing what?

Dumping all your hostility on me instead

of on your husband where it belongs.

Excuse me, that wasn't hostility.

This is hostility.

[wham]

[thudding]

[groans]

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Alright, getting started.

Meister versus Prime Location Tickets.

Yeah, that's me.

Restraint of trade and breach of contract.

I'm going to be in depositions all week.

Dillard versus Richmond School District. Ann?

You met yesterday?

- We slid to Thursday. Brackman: Why.

A little nanny crisis. I, uh, spent yesterday home.

- And so it begins. - What begins?

The domestic emergencies taking precedence over work.

We all understand, I'm sure,

although some of us have assumed you'd be a bit more

resistant to the pull of maternal gravity.

Don't talk with your mouth full, Douglas.

Ackerman versus Lewis Mortuary.

- What's this? - A disaster.

Mrs. Ackerman called me last night.

Yesterday was her husband's funeral

and it all fell apart.

They mishandled the body, he still hasn't been buried,

and we're rushing in to get a court order.

Th-they mishandled the body? How?

You don't want to know.

Yuck.

Davis versus Eastland Hospital.

Trial starts today.

You know, I still can't believe that the hospital

is letting it go to a jury.

Their exposure's less than you might think.

The woman made how much a year?

The most was 17-5.

They refuse to admit a woman because she has no insurance,

she dies less than 24 hours later.

A jury can always find a way to make them pay.

Loss of love and affection, that's the key.

Just out of curiosity, what is the hospital suppose to do?

Fill up their beds with non-paying patients?

If non paying patients are sick and dying, yeah.

They're supposed to fill up their beds

with whoever needs to be in them.

And then who's supposed to pick up the tab? Me?

You ever get sick and then not go to

a doctor because you couldn't afford it?

You ever not get a prescription filled

because you couldn't afford it?

You ever watch your sister's baby die

because she came home from the hospital

before she should have?

Who's gonna pick up the tab?

I got mine, right. I got mine.

I hope you nail these bastards, Mike.

- You nail them to the wall. - Yeah.

Excuse me, where's Roxanne Meyers?

- Over there. - Thank you.

Roxanne Meyers?

Meyer. Yes.

We have a warrant for your arrest.

What?

Could you step away from your desk, ma'am.

Roxanne: What are you talking about?

Is this some kind of joke?

- Do you know a Tamara Jacobs? - Tamara?

She's filed battery charges against you.

For God's sake.

Would you please step away from the desk, ma'am.

Female cop: You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will be

held against you in a court of law.

You have the right to have an attorney.

Hey, hey, hey, what's going on out here? Roxanne?

Roxanne: Arnie. - Arnie, make them stop.

Hey, would you just cut it out for a second.

I am an attorney. Do you, do you have a warrant?

That's for real alright.

Do you understand each of these rights?

Look, look, is it really necessary

to cuff her for a misdemeanor?

Female cop: I'm sorry, counselor.

Everything's going to be alright. Okay?

Jonathan will be right behind you.

You'll be back at your desk before lunch.

Do you understand each of these rights

as I have presented them to you?

Yes.

Do you wish to wave your right to remain silent?

Do wish to have an attorney appointed to you?

[instrumental music]

Aside from reviewing the Adams file

one more time, I think we're covered.

Okay. I'll get it to you this afternoon.

Hi.

- Guess what? - What?

Turns out you didn't have to come down here at all today.

There's a few last minute things we didn't get to this morning

and the judge decided to start the trial tomorrow.

I'm glad I didn't take the whole day off.

Well, as long as you're here,

do you want to go over the lineup?

Sure.

Dr. Brian McKenna testifying as an expert as to cause of death,

followed by Hector Corvalis, a former resident at Eastland,

followed by Kate Adams, former ER nurse,

followed by Cornell Geisler, our insurance expert,

followed by you.

Sounds good.

I also have another offer to tell you about.

Ray: Yeah?

A 100,000 payable over two years.

No, thank you.

Believe me, I'm not recommending it.

But, you are still open to considering offers, aren't you?

To tell you the truth, not real open.

Well, the point may come when you should be.

What are you telling me, Mike?

Just that we should be smart

about what we're doing here.

Now, this may not be a particularly good offer,

but one may come in that is.

The fact that your wife didn't earn very much

will in all likelihood be considered by the jury.

The fact that she didn't earn very much

is the reason why she's dead.

Now I want to go to court.

[sighs] Well, you don't have to fight us.

We're going to go to court.

Just understand that Dorothy and I wouldn't be doing

our jobs if we didn't make you aware of all the risks.

I have to be able to say what they did, Mike.

You don't send a dog out to die the way they did, Jackie.

If they want to give me some money,

tell me, what am I gonna buy with it?

This is only the second funeral I ever taped.

Usually I stick to weddings and bar mitzvahs.

Well, I figured this would be the ultimate tribute to Izzy.

Objection.

Uh, just tell us the relevant facts, Mr. Greenberg.

Okay.

Alright, here. They're lifting the coffin.

Alright. Now keep your eye on the big guy turning the corner.

Fat Morty. We call that affectionately, he loves it.

Alright, I'm going to freeze frame here.

Alright, you can already see on his face,

Morty's in trouble here.

Double hernia last year.

Why he's up there can anybody tell me?

That's Milton behind him, he's not really lifting.

Alright, now I'm going to run this in slow motion.

Okay, there. Morty's starting to drop,

the coffin's starting to flip.

Whoop.

Here's Izzy. Right out of the box.

They're falling like duckpins.

Listen, listen, everybody's screaming.

I tried to zoom in on him, but I lost focus here.

Okay. But, a little better, huh?

- Alright, now. - Okay, okay.

I get it. Stop the tape.

But we didn't get to the best part.

When we see that the body isn't Izzy's.

What do you mean, it isn't Izzy?

They stuck the wrong guy in the box.

Look at this.

Okay, another close up of the guy.

Look at this. Isn't this great?

Some of my best work.

Hold it, hold it, hold it.

Turn that thing off.

Who was that in the box?

I don't know, but it wasn't Izzy.

They chopped him into bits!

- Sylvia! - Objection!

They sent his body to a research lab

and they diced him.

Mrs. Ackerman!

They diced my Izzy!

The hospital mis-tagged the bodies, judge.

Everybody quiet.

You were supposed to bury him.

Instead you sent him to the butcher

to be chopped up like celery.

Everyone stop talking now!

Am I to understand that the bodies were switched

and the real Izzy was dismembered?

To bits!

Yes, and we would like this court

to order the defendant to retrieve

every last piece of my client's late husband

as well as issue restraining orders

to the various hospitals who have him

so he's not dissected any further.

These hospitals are out of state.

I don't know if I can do anything.

[crying]

I'll, uh, take this all under advisement

and try and give you a ruling as fast as I can.

In the meantime, Mr. Braunstein,

I would suggest that your client start taking

immediate steps to collect the deceased.

Unbelievable.

[elevator dings]

Sorry.

We had to negotiate Dave out of coming along.

Hey, he would have been welcome.

Speak for yourself.

Criminal complaint number 8847,

People versus Roxanne Meyer.

Jonathan Rollins for the defendant, Your Honor.

William Riley for the City Attorney's office.

Ms. Meyer is charged with assault after attacking

a fellow student in her diet class.

I'd be looking to continue O.R., judge.

Ms. Meyer has no criminal record

and this was an isolated outburst,

provoked by the victim's derogatory slurs

regarding my client's physicality.

I told her she looked good, for God sake and she punched me!

And this would be the victim, I take it?

Civilian complaint, Your Honor.

Mm-hm and by any chance, would the victim's attorney

be at all accessible at this very moment?

I'm right here, Your Honor. Roland Burnet.

Surprise, surprise. Step up, Mr. Burnet.

You wouldn't be urging criminal prosecution

to bolster your civil cause of action, would you?

Oh no, Your Honor.

Oh, no.

Tell you what, I'm continuing this matter for one week,

during which time I think the attorneys

should get together and work things out.

If you do, I'll dismiss.

Is that okay with you, Mr. Riley?

- Fine. - What?

You're just gonna put her back on the streets?

Call me crazy.

Settle this counsel, it'll make me very happy.

If you can't, well, I'll still be your judge.

That's all. Next case.

Come on.

Uh, uh, uh, uh.

It's going to be a tough week for lunch.

Let's give ourselves a running start for a change.

How about dinner? An evening.

A night.

A night, a night, um...

Eric's got a birthday party to go to on Thursday.

I bet I can arrange a sleep over for him.

One for him and one for me.

Thursday night's out. I'm on duty.

I just don't want to bend Eric's routine out of shape.

Sure. Sure. How about lunch tomorrow?

- Can't. - Friday?

I'm going to be in Van Nuys.

Can you imagine how impossible

scheduling a menage a trois would be?

What about today? Now. Are you busy?

Oh, I've got to be in Whittier at 2:30.

And I... I should really...

[laughs]

I can't, really. Let's go.

[laughs]

Dr. McKenna, you examined Eastland Hospital's

records of Jackie Davis' visit, right?

I have.

Can you tell us what they say?

They say that on June 14, 1984,

she went to the emergency room

complaining of nausea and fatigue.

She also had a severe rash.

- And what was done for her? - Objection.

Dr. McKenna wasn't present

and isn't in a position to testify

what was or wasn't done.

He is a trained forensic pathologist

who studied the records and the body.

If Mr. Spitzer wants to refute his testimony, he can try.

Objection overruled. The witness can answer.

They took a pregnancy test. They took her blood pressure.

They took her temperature.

Then they sent her on her way.

And in your best medical opinion,

what should have been done for her?

At a minimum,

they should have checked for protein

after they took a pregnancy test.

That right there would have told them something was wrong.

There are simple blood tests for creatinine and urea.

They cost about $10 each. They didn't do either one.

Had they done them, could Jackie Davis' life have been saved?

Objection. I don't think Dr. McKenna

is trained as God, is he?

He's being asked his medical opinion, Mr. Spitzer.

Sit down, please.

Any one of the procedures I've suggested

would've shown Jackie Davis to be suffering

from acute renal failure

brought on by undiagnosed lupus nephritis.

In other words, her kidneys stopped working.

She could've been dialyzed and put on medication.

In my opinion, she stood

an excellent chance of full recovery.

Kuzak: Thank you, doctor.

I have no further questions.

Tell us, doctor, what does expression,

"When you hear hoof-beats, think horses, not zebras" mean?

It means that in diagnosing a patient

you start by attributing symptoms

to more common rather than less common causes.

So when Jackie Davis came in

complaining of nausea and fatigue,

would you be more likely to attribute it

to a stomach virus,

or acute renal failure brought on

by undiagnosed lupus nephritis?

A stomach virus... initially.

Which is exactly what the physician

on duty at Eastland Hospital did.

The problem lies in what he didn't do.

Thank you, doctor.

Isn't it a fact that hospitals transfer and release patients

who are unable to pay, all the time?

Not patients who are dying.

Spitzer: But Jackie Davis didn't appear to be dying,

she appeared to be stable.

And a simple battery of basic diagnostic

procedures would have shown that she wasn't.

Which at the time didn't appear to be necessary.

You ever misdiagnose a patient, doctor?

Not because they weren't insured.

Spitzer: Do you treat patients for free?

I sure as hell don't kick them out

the door because they're poor.

I didn't become a doctor so I could stand behind a turnstile

and watch people die on the other side.

I'm ruling that injunctive relief is warranted here

and I'm ordering the defendant to retrieve

the body parts of Isadore Ackerman.

We've already got a lot back, Your Honor.

Mr. Ackerman's torso is due in from Cleveland even as we speak

and this morning we located his pancreas in Detroit.

There is still the issue of the head, Your Honor.

What issue?

It went to a teaching university in Miami

and they refuse to give it back.

And why is that?

They purchased it from U-Cal Medicai and they claim

it's a valid contract for goods

under the Uniform Commercial Code.

Now, if you nullify it on the grounds of public policy,

we can take that order and try and get

the contract voided under some reciprocity, maybe.

You want me to render an opinion

on the Uniform Commercial Code

as it applies to the conveyances

of a human head?

I know, sounds crazy, but we're getting desperate.

The police don't regard it as foul play

so they won't get involved.

My client's only chance of getting

her husband back is through a court order.

Well, I'll give you the order, Mr. McKenzie,

but I don't know what good it's going to do

in a Florida court.

Oh, I'll never see Izzy again.

Oh, my God, my sweetheart is gone forever.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Ackerman, but I'm afraid

the only real remedy here is money damages.

I don't want money!

I want my Izzy!

How can I bury him without his head?

I'm sorry, ma'am.

We can try, but I just don't know.

[crying]

I know... alright, alright.

[instrumental music]

Woow. Happy Birthday, Mrs. Meyer.

Our reservation is at 8:00.

I thought you were going to meet me at home.

I was in the area, I thought we'd drive home together.

Let me just go to the lady's room.

- Dave Meyer. - Nice to see you, Douglas.

Dave Meyer. Have you got a minute for me?

Yeah, sure.

I want you to know how much I admire your work, Dave.

Considering your success with Arnold,

I was hoping you would indulge me for a minute,

while I propose another videotape.

Well, uh, I'm always looking for new titles.

- Have a seat. - What's it about?

[door closes]

I'm calling it "Office Management To Win."

As a matter of fact, I've been working on a script.

- May I? - Yeah, sure.

It's rough, but I think it's in the ballpark.

"They've called me bean counter.

"They've called me pencil pusher.

"I don't get insulted.

"I don't get defensive.

When the dust settles, they call me manager."

Very punchy.

"Staff people can stare into space

"when there's a lull in the work

"or they can oil chair casters

"so plexiglass rug protectors don't get scuffed.

"They can comb moribund files

"for paper fasteners and dividers--

I'm not all together sure what the market is here, Doug.

I think it's vast.

Uh-huh. Well, it might very well be.

Could we, uh, discuss this some other time.

Any time.

I'll be in touch.

Thanks.

- Is it okay? - Perfectamoondo.

Ewww, you people have my sympathy.

Why's that, Dave?

I just had to listen to an endless

Douglas Brackman schpiel.

I think I'd rather have root canal.

This guy is insufferable.

Mike, I gotta tell ya,

whatever you paid McKenna to testify was money well spent.

That's why you're here, Russell.

That's why we're here.

Now, having made the necessary concessions,

how about we talk some arithmetic?

Talk.

We're willing to sweeten the original offer

to the tune of $300,000.

Payable immediately.

For the death of an unemployed speech therapist

it ain't a bad day's work.

I don't know. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't.

Mike, the guy's a day laborer.

He hasn't seen this much money in his whole life.

Right.

And if you could have, you would have sent him home

with a handshake and a $100 bill.

Well, you can't do that with me.

So what'll it take to buy you off?

I think this discussion's over, gentlemen.

Why not be honest about it?

This is just greed.

You got a deep pocket to pick,

and you want to come away with all you can.

You throw a dying woman out of a hospital

because she doesn't have enough money

and you talk to me about greed?

Get this guy out of my sight, Russell.

[ominous music]

How did it go?

Well, they upped the offer.

Yeah? How much?

300,000. Payable up front.

Whoa.

Now, it's possible that we can do better.

But as I told you before, there are no guarantees.

I still feel like we're letting them off the hook, though.

Look, in the end

they are going to pay you some money

and they will be off the hook.

What we have to decide is whether this is enough.

You're the lawyer. What do you say?

Well, this offer isn't going to go away.

And the truth is, if they're this worried now,

I'd like to see what they put on the table after you testify.

So let me testify.

I'll put you on the stand tomorrow

while McKenna's still fresh in their mind.

Alright.

Are you ready for this?

If you tell me to be ready, I'll be ready.

Good man.

- Madame? - Not for me.

I'll have another mineral water.

It seems a shame that on

the occasion of your 39th birthday,

you can't even enjoy one small glass of bubbly.

David, this is a very difficult time for me right now.

I feel that if I go off this diet,

I won't have the strength to go back on.

Happy birthday.

You're a lusty wrench regardless of curb weight.

Thank you.

So. You've, uh, been on this diet four weeks now.

Is it worth it?

I think so.

I've lost seven pounds.

Seven less pounds of Roxanne Meyer

is not something to be devoutly wished for in my book.

Though dropping down from cruiser weight to middleweight

didn't take anything away from your right cross.

It doesn't make it any easier for me

knowing that you're not on my side.

Roxanne, center of my being, I am on your side.

But at the risk of momentarily appearing self absorbed,

I would like to point out that our sex life

has withered on the vine,

under the gloom of your perpetual depression.

Every time I feel amorous, you're not in the mood.

Every time I want a little snack,

I have to drive myself to the all-night deli.

Roxanne, isn't there another way?

What are you saying?

That I should quit my diet?

That's an option.

Another option would be to fast one day a week.

Another might be, just as a suggestion, to join a gym.

Instead of eating less, exercise more.

David, I want to feel good about myself.

And I can't feel good about myself when I'm overweight.

All I know is once we were happy.

We went out. We frolicked.

We made love with abandon. Life was full.

In other words, you can't be happy unless I'm fat.

I can't be happy when you're depressed.

And if you don't mind an observation,

you're more depressed now than you were before the diet.

- Sir. - Ah, the souffle.

Roxanne: David, what is this?

Your chocolate birthday souffle.

Why did you order this? You know I can't eat it.

Why not? For one moment give in to your appetites.

You're a vibrant female in the full bloom

of mature womanhood. Celebrate.

- I can't. No. - You can.

- No! - Yes.

David, please.

Don't make me do this.

She doesn't mean it.

Go ahead, dish it out.

One bite.

One bite just to commemorate what is arguably

the happiest day in my life,

the day of your birth.

Put some whip cream on there, would you?

Huh? Huh? Huh?

Go ahead, one more for the road.

You know you'll love it.

Go ahead.

That a girl.

[instrumental music]

Okay, now, given the extent of my client's pain

and suffering and the severity of the attack...

What attack? All I did was punch her in the nose.

I told you she was hostile

I think you'll find Ms. Jacobs' proposal more than reasonable.

This traumatic confrontation

has destroyed my client's appearance.

You can see for yourself, her injuries necessitate

reconstructive rhinoplasty.

- To be paid by your client. - Nose job.

And the additional cosmetic surgery to restore.

Ms. Jacobs' eyes and chin, to be paid by your client.

I never touched her chin.

Just listen to the proposal, Roxanne.

Plus liposuction limited to the thigh and buttocks area

and two weeks recovery at La Costa,

double room occupancy.

I broke her nose and gave her a shiner.

I am not paying from the neck down, Arnie!

My client was a beautiful woman.

Her body image has suffered greatly.

Two weeks at La Costa hardly begins

to heal Ms. Jacobs' battered self-esteem.

Sit down, Rox. Sit.

All herbal wraps, waxing, manicures

and daily shiatsu massage to be paid by your client.

- That's it. This is outrageous. - Yeah?

You're lucky I don't put your jealous fat ass in jail!

You come sashaying into the meeting

wearing a skin tight outfit

complaining about four pounds,

you're lucky I only broke your nose!

Ladies, enough!

Becker: Is that it?

One more small item. An apology.

In front of our System 21 class.

- You're delirious. - Delivered by you in person.

- I'd rather be in jail! - Good.

No more Mr. Nice Guy. Get a court date, Roland.

I'm out of here.

The settlement is fine. Everything but the apology.

That'll be a deal breaker.

I think I can sell it to my client without the mea culpa.

You'll draw up the papers?

I'll have them on your desk tomorrow morning.

Come on, this is ridiculous.

This is a worthless bluff.

My hospital doesn't mis-tag

bodies and you are just trying to...

- The mortuary said you did. - Well they're lying.

This whole thing is the mortuary's fault,

and U-Cal Medical.

We thought we were sectioning off Zuckerman.

We didn't know it was Ackerman.

The paperwork on Zuckerman said he was 43.

You took your chainsaw to some 72 year old sick guy

that any first year medical student would've recognized.

The paperwork said we had Burt Zuckerman

and we reasonably believed it was

Burt Zuckerman we were dismantling.

Well, I'm leaving.

My hospital is not getting sucked

into this lawsuit and...

You're both getting sucked in, believe me.

I'm cross claiming you

and I'm cross claiming U-Cal Medical as well.

I'll get a demurrer.

You'll also get about two hundred pages

of interrogatories in the next few weeks.

And you'll both get a lot of negative publicity

you could do without.

Now, either you cooperate with me now,

or brace yourselves for a nasty public nightmare.

What? What do you want us to do?

I figure a big hospital and a state university

have certain connections,

maybe influences even with

other hospitals or universities.

Am I right?

Okay.

What's the point?

You want to be completely left out of this lawsuit?

Bring me the head of Izzy Ackerman.

And bring it to me fast.

Our seafood special today is a langoustine

in a light cream sauce with fresh basil fettucine.

It's excellent. We also have the medallions of veal.

I want the chicken.

We have a paillard of free range chicken

in a tarragon and mustard sauce...

Broil it. No sauce. No butter.

And a small salad, no dressing.

I'll have the lobster.

Just because you're in a lousy mood,

don't take it out on the waiter.

I can't help it. I want the lobster.

Then have the lobster.

I'm on a diet.

Which so far has put you in a permanently lousy mood

and gotten you arrested for assault and battery.

You think I like feeling this way?

Rox, the only diet that's going to make you feel better

is the one where you lose a 170 pounds of Dave Meyer.

Thank you, Arnie, for being such an understanding friend.

As your friend, I have to tell you

your problem isn't your diet.

And you're...

And you're going to tell me what my problem is?

Yeah.

It's called displacing your anger.

The last person who said that to me got her nose broken.

[sighs]

Look, Rox,

you know that I love you.

And even if I didn't think marrying Dave was a great idea,

no one rooted for you to succeed more than I.

But your marriage is in trouble, kiddo.

Now if you want to take a swing at me

for telling you the truth, go ahead.

Thank you, Dr. Freud.

What are you, my shrink?

Hey, don't knock therapy.

I lose a lot of business by sending clients

to a good marriage counselor.

I don't know what's happening to me.

I'm desperate.

I can't sleep at night, I cry-I cry all the time...

Can you imagine me punching somebody?

I never punched anybody in my entire life.

I don't know what's going on.

[crying] Help me.

Look, I'm going to put you in touch with Jeanne Rubens.

She's a first rate therapist.

Fine. Anything.

Will Dave go?

Dave will do anything I tell him to do.

How long had you and Jackie been married

at the time she died?

Four years, three months.

I was in the service stationed in El Paso when we met.

The day she got her divorce papers, we got married.

Kuzak: What was it that made you take

her to the hospital, Ray?

She hadn't bee feeling well for a few weeks.

She couldn't hold down her food.

She was tired all the time.

At first we thought it was just a bug

but then it seemed to be getting worse.

I was always on her to go to a doctor

but she put it off and put it off.

Finally, she wanted to go.

Could you tell us in your own words

exactly what happened when you got there?

First, we filled out some forms. Then we waited.

I guess we were there about two hours when a nurse

came over and asked us how we intended to pay.

I said I had a $100 with me

and I would have to owe them the rest.

She said it didn't work that way.

She said they'd look at her

but they didn't admit anyone who didn't have insurance.

Did they look at her?

For about ten minutes.

A doctor took her behind a curtain

and then told us to wait for the results.

About an hour or so later he came back

and said, "Go home, honey. You've got the flu."

Tell us what happened then, Ray.

We took the bus home and I put her to bed.

The next morning she couldn't even

lift her head off the pillow.

I sat by her all day.

I tried to get her to have a little soup

or something but she didn't want it.

It was starting to get dark...

when she grabbed my hand

and just like that she was gone.

That was five and a half years ago?

- Yeah. - Do you still miss her?

Objection, Your Honor. Inflammatory.

Kuzak: Strictly relevant.

Overruled.

Ray?

Miss her?

Um, I still feel like I'm married to her.

Most Sundays I sit by her grave.

A day doesn't go by that I don't think about her.

I have no further questions.

Mr. Spitzer,

I'm sure you don't mind beginning

your cross examination tomorrow morning.

No, Your Honor. I-I don't mind.

Her clothes are still hanging in the closet.

People say I should get rid of them,

but how am I going to just pack them in some cardboard box?

How am I going to do that?

[buzzing]

Yes.

Intercom: They're here.

Well, send them in.

Is it true? Can it really be true?

Arrived this morning.

It's packed in dry ice.

I should get it to a mortuary or something

as soon as possible.

Oh, Izzy. Is it really finally you?

We should probably check this time to be sure.

Oh, it's him. Trust me.

We trusted the mortuary.

I want to see him.

I don't think you...

I'm going to look.

[sighs]

[whimpers]

It's Izzy alright.

He looks good.

Why shouldn't he look good?

He just came back from Florida.

Okay, close the box.

He's got that little smile he always used to have, you know?

Close it, Morty, please.

Oh, my honey.

My dear sweet man.

You are finally back with us.

Take your uncle.

It was always his wish that you carry him to his resting place.

And don't drop him.

Okay, let me get this now. Come on, Morty.

Okay. Alright. Go slow. Go slow.

Sylvia, come on, move up.

Come on. Very good.

Excuse me. Alright, Morty.

Come on. Morty, slow down.

Milton. Come on, Milton. Move it.

Okay. Very good. Very good.

Let's go. Slowly. Good.

Uh-huh.

Milton: Look out.

[groans]

Oh, no. Oh, my God.

Oh, my God!

[screams]

[screaming]

[engines revving]

Mr. Davis, was your wife an American citizen?

Yes, she was.

And did she live here all her life?

Yeah.

Tell me, sir, can you identify her handwriting?

Ray: Sure.

Please tell the court if that's her signature?

What is this?

Sir, is that your wife's signature?

It looks like her signature.

Your Honor, that hasn't been marked.

Your Honor, I have here a certified copy

of Jackie Davis' divorce decree

and I offer it for identification.

What's the point?

The point, Mr. Kuzak,

is that this divorce decree

was issued in Juarez, Mexico,

right across the border from El Paso.

The certificate signed by Jacqueline Davis,

then Jacqueline Baker, attesting

to Mexican domicile is fraudulent .

We got married by a Justice of the Peace in El Paso.

Did you know that the divorce was obtained

in Mexico, Mr. Davis?

Yeah, I knew.

We were in love with each other.

Her husband wouldn't give her a divorce.

Everyone said it was the fastest way.

Your Honor, request a recess so I can talk to my client?

I'm not granting any recesses right now, Mr. Kuzak.

You should have known your marriage was void, sir.

Void?

Sidebar, Your Honor.

She was my wife, Judge.

I don't care what the paper says.

Go ahead, Mr. Spitzer, make your motion.

I move to dismiss based on

the plaintiff's lack of standing to sue.

Based on what?

A photostatic copy of some

divorce papers from Mexico?

Mr. Kuzak, these papers may be all he needs.

Mr. Davis, I'm sorry.

Pending the submission of written memoranda

I have no choice but to grant defense counsel's motion.

The jury is excused. This court is adjourned.

[indistinct chattering]

So we appeal, right? The judge is wrong, right? She's wrong.

I don't think she is, Ray.

But one thing has nothing to do with the other.

If the hospital was wrong, they were wrong.

- There's more to it than that. - No there's not.

No there's not, a hospital's suppose

to take care of you if you're sick.

Ray...

You don't have standing, Ray.

You weren't legally married,

and you knew about the Mexican divorce.

That means that no matter what the hospital did

to Jackie, according to the law, you can't sue.

I don't care about the law.

I thought all we'd have to do is tell what happened.

That's all it would take.

A jury would say, "They can't do this to you.

They can't treat you like you're nothing

like it doesn't make a difference

whether you live or die."

Damn.

[slams]

I'm sorry, Ray. I shouldn't have let it happen.

You didn't know about it, Mike.

I can't blame you.

You were the only one who was on my side.

I could have done better.

She's gone, Mike.

It isn't fair.

It isn't right.

No.

No, it isn't.

What kind of law firm did you used to work for, Dorothy?

What do you mean?

We just got dismissed in the Davis case.

Why?

Jacqueline Davis got a bogus divorce,

which voids her marriage to Ray.

Ray is now out of court.

I saw the marriage license and I stopped there.

I know you did. If you hadn't,

we might've come away with something.

I would have kept him off the stand.

I would have accepted their offer.

I would have done something besides

get torpedoed in open court.

It was my responsibility. I let you down.

You bet you did.

I'm sorry about this, Michael.

I'm sorry, too.

It was both of our responsibilities.

- Is there anything we can do? - I don't know.

If you think of something, let me know.

[door closes]

He never even told us his wife had been married before.

Douglas, I really don't think we have anything to worry about.

No? Trust me, the legal malpractice sharks

are going to be salivating for this one.

You think this was malpractice?

I don't but you can be damn sure Ray Davis

is going to find himself someone who does.

When I left him he was a little too devastated

to be formulating a battle plan.

Believe me, that won't last.

In about five days this is all going to be your fault

and he'll come after us like the wrath of God.

Well, he oughta go after somebody.

Hey, Mike, that somebody is us.

Well, maybe it should be us.

How else is he going to get any compensation for this disaster?

Uh-oh, this attitude worries me.

I have a distinct feeling that in

an attempt to offer compassion

you served up admissions of negligence.

Doesn't compassion enter into this at all for you?

So long as it doesn't cost us money.

Oh, the old refrain.

The ultimate consideration.

The linchpin upon which all issues turn.

Don't get all high-minded on us, Michael.

- You're the one who screwed up. - Careful, Douglas.

You better not acknowledge that outside of this office.

It might cost us money.

[door closes]

I never saw a head without a body before.

Chances are you never will again.

I am not reneging.

I'm just wondering whether there might be

a better way of addressing our marital woes.

There isn't and can we not talk

about this right now, please.

Okay, just consider this as an alternative.

We cancel the appointment, catch the next flight

to St. Louis and I'll show you the house where I was born.

How can you take that which belongs

in the sanctum sanctorum of our life together

and put it in full view of others?

[elevator dings]

Whatever you do, I'm begging you,

just don't tell her about the videos I made of you in Vegas.

She'll pick me apart.

[instrumental music]

This poor bastard trusts me to get him some

pitiful excuse for compensation, some money and I blow it.

He gets screwed by the doctors, he gets screwed by the lawyers,

and in the end we all have a million reasons

why were not to blame.

Michael, he never mentioned his wife's divorce.

Now, that's not the kind of thing

you can be expected to discover.

Well, Spitzer discovered it.

Well, he played out a lucky hunch.

That any good lawyer would have had.

You know, I've always told you when

I thought you were to blame.

This is not one of those times.

Your associate was supposed to dig up stuff like this.

I was the one asking Ray the questions.

I had two years to ask him the right ones and I never did.

You can't blame an associate for that.

Anyway, I, I like this guy, you know?

I hate like hell to see him wind up like this.

Come on, Mickey, let's go home.

[inaudible]

Detective Ringstrom.

Ms. Van Owen.

You know Michael Kuzak?

The Whitey Holland shooting.

Right.

Hi.

Oh, I'm sorry, uh, Ms. Van Owen

from the D.A.'s office

Mr. Kuzak, this is my wife, Sally.

Well, enjoy your evening.

- Thank you. - Thanks. You, too.

Nice meeting you.

So, here we are.

Here you are.

Here to explore the marital terrain.

Yes.

I hope you have four wheel drive.

I'm not sure I know what you mean.

Just a little quip.

I have to say, in all honesty,

that I was a little reluctant to come here.

Were you?

Not to impugn the process,

but

self-examination,

introspection,

delving into why we do what we do

this has never been my forte.

What made you decide to come?

Simple recognition that a mid course

correction may be indicated.

I'm not unaware that there may be trouble in paradise.

Nor am I oblivious to the fact

that Roxanne is unhappy.

Jeanne: Are you unhappy, Roxanne?

- Yes. - Do you know why?

Correct me if I'm wrong here, Roxanne, but I think

it is mostly a matter of faulty communications.

An innocent comment is misconstrued,

a supportive gesture is misinterpreted

suddenly you have this domestic Bermuda Triangle

where every attempt at forging a bond gets lost.

Roxanne?

I have no idea what that means, David.

Lack of communication.

This is our problem in a nutshell.

Excuse me.

The problem in a nutshell

is that I don't love you.

I have never loved you.

And I am afraid that I will never be able to love you.

That is our problem in a nutshell.

[crying]

Well,

I think we have a lot of work to do.

[theme music]