Original subtitles

[telephone ringing]

That's a shredder.

Don't ever put your hand in it.

And, ah, this is the copy machine.

W-- whenever you got something

and-- and you want more, it makes 'em.

It's so big.

You want to see something funny?

Alright now, put your hand right there.

And when I tell you to, push,

but-- but not right now. Just a second.

I've got to close my eyes.

Okay, now, push.

[Alice laughs]

Look.

It-- it copied me. [laughs]

Whoa, that's silly!

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Moving forward, as you all know, we've tendered an offer

to Abby Perkins to return as an associate.

Leland and I are meeting with her tomorrow, and we hope

to have her answer by the end of the week. Meyer vs. Meyer.

Roxanne's deposition is today, I'm deposing Big Dave tomorrow.

I thought the judge threw you out on this.

Well, he said I could participate in the discovery,

so I'm okay for now. I'm hoping we settle.

Brackman: Yes, well I see you've booked the conference room

at 10:30 for tomorrow's deposition.

And, Mr. Rollins,

who suddenly decided to represent Diana Moses

in her divorce pro bono,

without getting an authorization from a partner first,

has also booked the conference room for tomorrow morning.

It's 9:30 settlement, the conference will be done

before Arnie's deposition, Douglas. It's real simple.

Brackman: Yes, you told us how simple it was.

So simple, she could represent herself.

McKenzie: Alright, Douglas.

If Jonathan wants to give Diana Moses

an hour or two, that's fine. It speaks well for the firm.

Very well. Turning to a new matter.

The Sensations vs. The Sensations?

Oh, yeah, that's mine. I'm representing The Sensations.

- You're kidding. - I used to have all the albums.

- I wore out the grooves. Kuzak: Yeah, well.

They're being sued by the new Sensations.

Markowitz: What's the new Sensations?

Kuzak: Well, the original group retired

three years ago, and they passed

the baton on to younger singers.

Basically, they sold them

the trade name and the performing rights.

But, the new guys have revamped

the music beyond recognition and the old guys are mad.

They want to go out on the road, do the songs

the way they're supposed to be done.

Oh, no, dueling do-wops.

Exactly. So the new guys are trying to enjoin the old guys

from performing saying that if the original group goes back

into business, no one's gonna wanna see the subs.

They're right.

Brackman: Well, I certainly can't wait

to see how it works out.

Moving on.

Quintana Brewery, Inc. vs. Gatling Distributors.

No settlement. Trial starts today.

I don't know, Victor, how do you prove trade libel

when all they did was repeat a rumor?

- They started the rumor. - Even still.

They never represented it as fact.

When you say, "We hear that there's urine in the beer,"

people don't need proof to stop drinking the stuff.

Gatling distributors deliberately spread that rumor

to put Quintana out of business. That's just about worked.

I tasted your client's beer, Victor,

and frankly, I believe the rumor.

McKenzie: Alright, Douglas.

The stuff is more yellow than the other brands.

Hey, this isn't some damn joke, Douglas.

Quintana might have to shut down because of this,

putting over 1,200 people out of work,

almost every one of them Mexican or Hispanic.

What's race got to do with it?

It has everything to do with it!

They didn't say this about an English

or German beer, because nobody would believe it.

But with Hispanics, they figure it'll play.

"Well, Mexicans would urinate in beer, wouldn't they?"

That's just like a Mexican, I mean, if a guy speaks Spanish,

"He'd piss anywhere." Right?

Believe me Douglas, race has something to do with it.

And I'm gonna nail him for it.

Whatever it takes, I'm gonna get him.

Well... on that passionate note,

we're adjourned.

And, how much in debt were you when you married my client?

Roxanne: I owed the IRS about $14,000.

David Meyer paid this off for you?

Yes.

Ganz: And after you got married,

he also bailed you out of chapter

Thirteen bankruptcy, didn't he?

Yes, he did.

And now that you're financially solvent,

you want a divorce, right?

I didn't marry him to make

myself financially solvent.

No, you married him because you loved him, right?

Becker: Irrelevant.

You can finish the answer.

David and I had an understanding when we got married.

Yes, you did and part of that understanding

included sex on a regular basis, didn't it?

We never actually discussed sex.

But, at the time of your marriage you were having sex

on the average of two or three times a week.

- Weren't you? - Yes.

So it was likely that when David Meyer married you,

he reasonably believed he'd be having sexual relations

on a regular basis, isn't that right?

Objection as to what David Meyer may have thought.

A few months after your marriage,

you stopped having sex with him all together, didn't you?

What's the point of all this?

The point is you never intended to sustain

a physical relationship with this man.

You went through the charade of sex long enough

to solve your bank account problems.

- That's crazy. - Objection.

This marriage should be annulled on grounds of fraud.

You tricked him into becoming your husband.

That's it, we're done.

Ganz: I'm not finished with my deposition.

Yes, you are Sheldon, I not going to sit here

and let you badger my client like this.

Ganz: I haven't even begun on your client.

And if you walk out of here, I'll haul your ass into court.

You'll be paying costs again, plus sanctions.

Who do you think you're threatening, Sheldon?

I have the right to ask questions.

You have the right to conduct appropriate discovery.

Anything else, and we're out the door.

Fine.

Now, Mrs. Meyer,

while we're on the subject of your honesty,

you were arrested for insider trading, last year, weren't you?

[loud sigh]

My clients bought the sole rights to the name, Judge,

together with a non-compete clause.

Legally, they are the Sensations.

- That's right. - You know it.

And the defendants simply cannot start performing again.

They want to perform again, Your Honor,

because the plaintiffs have completely

bastardized their music.

- That's right. - Now-- now that's a lie.

Sit down, sir.

There is nothing in the contract that

prohibits my clients from stylizing their songs.

Stylizing?

They don't resemble us.

We don't want to resemble you.

Keep quiet, too. You got a lawyer here.

Rice: Judge, if they go out again,

billing themselves as the original Sensations,

they will put my clients out of business.

Now, we paid a $125,000

for the exclusive right to be the Sensations.

And if they insist--

But they are supposed to do

the act just like the originals.

Judge, the changes were made for economic survival.

If they do the act the old way,

they won't get bookings and the act will die.

Your honor, may I respectfully submit

that if they don't want to be the Sensations,

then at least, let the Sensations be the Sensations.

Right on.

- No. - No way.

Alright, alright. Look...

With all due respect

for the national significance of this issue...

- Let's settle this. - We tried, Judge.

- They won't budge, Your Honor. - Well, let me try.

I'll see counsel in my chambers tomorrow at 2:00,

together with a member of each group

who's authorized to dispose of this thing.

Until then... goodbye.

Alright, then, Mr. Montoya, could you tell us

how you got into the beer business?

My wife's family ran a small brewery in Chetumal.

Since they had no American distributor

they offered me the chance.

How did it go, sir?

Stores couldn't keep it in stock.

Bars were ordering 30 cases at a time.

I took out a loan, bought a dozen new trucks.

Me, my wife, the children,

we were all working 15 hours a day.

It was unbelievable.

Were you ever approached by Gatling breweries, Mr. Montoya?

Yes. Four men flew out from New York.

I had them to dinner in my home.

They said they wanted to buy my company.

I thanked them for their offer,

but I told them I was not interested in selling.

What happened then, sir?

Oscar: About a month later,

a store manager told one of my drivers

that he heard workers

at my brewery were urinating in the beer.

Victor: What was your reaction to that?

Oscar: That Sunday I went to

see the store manager and I

asked him directly who told him that?

He said it was the service rep for Gatling.

- Objection. Hearsay. - Sustained.

Did you ever hear this rumor again, sir?

Oscar: Yes, I heard it almost every day.

And in less than two months, our sales fell off so much

I couldn't make payroll.

And every time we traced the rumor back

it led to someone who worked for this man.

Objection, Your Honor. Hearsay.

[speaks in Spanish]

Mr. Rivera.

[speaks in Spanish]

Judge Travelini: Gentlemen...

[speaks in Spanish]

Judge Travelini: Both of you, approach the bench.

[indistinct whisper]

This is not the U.N.

I do not have benefit of simultaneous translation.

Now, you will conduct yourselves appropriately,

and you will do it in English.

Step back.

Alright, Mr. Montoya,

did you ever hear this from a Gatling employee yourself?

Yes, a friend of mine owns a bar

and I was there when the Gatling rep showed up.

I can still hear his voice.

He said, "Mexicans piss in Quintana.

They ran tests in Washington, six and half percent urine."

I grabbed him and if my friend hadn't stopped me

I would have killed him.

Thank you, sir. I have nothing further.

Mr. Montoya...

- Have you ever spread a rumor? - No, sir.

Rivera: If someone told you that the chief of police

was a cocaine addict,

you wouldn't tell people what you heard?

I wouldn't say it was true unless I knew it was true.

That's not what I asked you, sir.

What I asked you is, would you repeat it?

Oscar: Well, then, let me ask you a question.

As a Mexican, should I have been any less insulted

because he was just repeating this?

Wait a minute, what he said

wasn't about Mexicans, it was about beer.

Only to someone like you.

I ask that the witness' response be stricken.

You know, I feel sorry for you.

You work for Anglos.

And you will do anything so they will accept you.

Well, the trouble is, mi amigo,

that to your client over there,

you will never be anything but a spic with a law degree.

[indistinct whispers]

Now Diana's student loans are all exclusively hers.

Daryl is asking only token compensation

for his interest in the car.

Jonathan: How token?

- Four hundred dollars. - Way high. Go on.

Continue.

All outstanding credit card bills will be shared equally.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, there's a $1,200 charge made

after the separation that Diana has nothing to do with.

Agnew: Well, I don't know the details about that, but...

Well, your client knows perfectly well the details.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about a vacation

in Mexico with your girl of the moment

charged on a credit card for the purpose

of rubbing your estranged wife's nose in it.

Let's steer clear of ascribing motives.

It's always a real bucket of bait.

I didn't do anything to hurt anybody.

Who are you, Jack? What do you know about my marriage?

I know that by the way you behave you shouldn't be planning

on coming out of this with a neat little profit.

I relocated. I took a cut in pay so she could go to law school.

Let's not re-write history, you not only failed her financially,

you left her at the first opportunity.

I don't want to hurt Diana, buddy,

but I sure wouldn't mind taking a piece out of you.

Business before pleasure, Mr. Tyler.

Let me dismantle you at the table before we step outside.

Hold it, I don't want anybody dismantled.

- If Mr. Tyler thinks he's-- - Stop it!

This is exactly what I didn't want to happen.

Jonathan, look, even if you negotiated

everything over to my side of the table,

I'm not going to leave this room happy.

This is about losing.

Both of us losing.

Daryl, what if we let Jonathan get Mr. Agnew

a cup of coffee and you and I went for a walk.

Let's see if we could get together

on some of these things.

Yeah. Okay.

This could be a mistake, Diana.

Well, it'll be my mistake, not yours.

Before we talk about salary,

I need your commitment that I'll be up

for partnership consideration within four years.

McKenzie: You've got it.

I also want to be trying cases.

Maybe not all the time, but I don't want to be

farmed out to corporate second chairing Michael and Ann.

We have every intention of utilizing

your trial skills, Abby.

Okay. Numbers.

- I want eigty-seven-five. - That's too high.

Abby: Douglas, my practice stands to yield between a 100

and a 140,000 this fiscal year.

That's gross, but you're carrying overhead

malpractice insurance, health and life insurance,

plus employee salaries and benefits.

Even so, I'll still be netting more than 87.5.

- I run a small shop. - Precisely my point.

A firm this size can't possibly show your profit margin.

This firm has a high overhead of 14,000 per lawyer per month.

Douglas, you bill me out at 160 an hour, 2,000 hours a year.

Only 80% of which we'll actually be able to bill.

What, with write-offs, bad debts--

Abby: Wrong, you don't write down my time.

I don't do pro bono work, and that overhead figure

is padded because it's completely unfair

to load the partners' perks

club memberships, cars onto associates.

Yeah, Abby's points are well taken, Douglas.

Abby: If you want more money, raise my billing rate.

You can easily get 180 an hour for my time.

Well, I think we can live with eighty-seven-five.

Good. Then I accept.

McKenzie: Excellent.

- I trust we'll see you Monday. - A week from Monday.

I need some time to close down my practice, inform my clients.

Of course, you take all the time you need.

Thank you, Leland.

Thanks, Douglas.

[telephone ringing]

Benny.

Hi. How are you?

- Hi, Abby. How are you? - I'm fine. Guess what?

I'm gonna come back to work at McKenzie Brackman.

You are?

We'll see each other every day, just like we used to.

That's great.

Abby...

I have a new friend.

She's a girl.

Really?

Her name's Alice.

She has a chauffeur,

a-- and last week she let me drive.

You drove a car?

Yeah. In a big parking lot.

Don't tell anybody. [giggles]

Here-- here's a, a picture of her.

- She seems very pretty. - She is.

I-- I like her.

- Sheldon. - Arnie.

- Hi, Dave. - Arnie.

If you're ready, we can begin.

Stenographer: Raise your right hand, please.

Do you swear the testimony you're about to give,

is the truth, the whole truth.

- And nothing but the truth? - I do.

Becker: Could you please state your name and address?

You know my name, Arnie. You know where I live.

State your name and address for the records, sir.

You've been a guest at my house for dinner.

David.

My name is David Meyer, I live at 1426 Brookside Drive

in Encino, California.

Do you own the property or do you rent?

I own it.

I bought it with my own money,

which, as I understand, the law doesn't

necessarily entitle me to enjoy the use of it.

If you could just answer the questions, David,

and leave out your interpretations of the law.

Makes perfect sense, given the fact that

my interpretations in general are so out of the mainstream.

Evidenced by my obvious misinterpretation

of the word commitment and how it should

accurately apply to marriage.

Further evidenced by my skewed notion of friendship,

which would have precluded the possibility

of you sitting across from me in an adversary proceeding,

lying in wait to betray me.

Off the record. Just for a second.

I'm sitting across from you at this table because you chose

to make this an adversarial proposition.

You're the one that hired this

bloodhound to tear apart Roxanne...

Pardon me, Sheldon, that was a professional compliment.

At your instruction, he's trying to annul the marriage.

At your instruction, he's trying to squash her like a roach.

Roxanne is a very important person to me, David.

And if she needs my help, make no mistake, she gets it.

If that means jeopardizing my relationship with you,

I'll do it, if it means getting ugly,

and dredging you through the polluted sludge, I'll do it.

You and I may be friends, but compared to my relationship

with Roxanne, that friendship means almost nothing.

That said, if you would just answer the questions

so we can carry on with the deposition.

Okay. Fine, Arnie.

Ask your damn questions.

The thing is, judge,

The Sensations have always stood for "smooth."

You hear us sing, and you see us dance,

and you're gonna say "smoooth."

These guys, they take our songs

and put in this ka-thunk, ka-thunk,

hop around all herky-jerky.

Herky-jerky? It's called rhythm.

Ha. When I step on bugs, I got more rhythm.

Alright, gentlemen. Mr. Wiltern, I take it you bought the rights

to the Sensations because you wanted to do their act.

We do, judge, but that's not enough for today's audience.

I mean, you have to give your audience visuals.

Something to look at. This is the age of MTV and high tech.

And a couple of shooby do-wops just ain't gonna fill the halls.

They've abandoned the very style

they agreed to perpetuate, Your Honor.

- What do you know? - Mr. Wiltern.

Look at this guy, Judge. He's white bread and no crust.

Wiltern: What do you listen to, anyway, huh?

- Objection. - What, the Osmonds?

- The Lettermen? - Quiet, Mr. Wiltern.

What is wrong with the Osmonds?

I bet Wayne Newton rings a bell for you.

Mr. Wiltern, I said that's enough!

Your honor, this is the same lack of respect

his group has showed my client's music.

If anything, we give them respect.

It just so happens people like our versions better.

- You little punk! Kuzak: Melvin.

Judge Vance: Mr. Redding!

You think people want to hear

that drively wahoo all day long?

- It's sugary puke! - You're dead!

- Melvin, Melvin, sit down. Judge: Both of you be quiet.

Or I'll hold you in contempt.

Now, I don't know which version is what

or who's compromising who.

But, there's one way I can find out.

Tomorrow afternoon, I want

both groups ready to sing in my courtroom.

- What? - Excuse me?

You heard me.

Kuzak: You want them to sing in court?

That's exactly what I want.

You can do "Walking In The Rain With My Baby."

That was always one of my favorites.

But, that's crazy, we need our band

and we have to bring electricians.

We got a light show, we use dry ice--

Forget it. You bring your band and that's it.

No dry ice, no pyrotechnics.

The Sensations don't sing in the daytime.

Mr. Redding, if you ever want to be a Sensation again,

you will sing in my courtroom

at 3 o'clock tomorrow.

That's all.

How many stores do you own, Mr. Perez?

Perez: I have eight in L.A. and three in San Francisco.

And do you carry Quintana beer?

- Yes, I do. - How's it doing these days?

Ever since the rumor, I can't give it away.

Why do you think it was the rumor that did it?

I asked the customers point blank, that's how.

The same fraternity boys that were buying it

ten cases at a time wouldn't touch it.

They told me they liked their beer without the Mexican mixer.

Now did you ever hear an employee of Gatling breweries

say that Quintana beer had urine in it?

Yes, I did.

Their regional sales rep asked me why

I was giving any shelf space at all to Quintana.

He said that brewery workers hated Americans,

that they didn't urinate in the beer that got sold in Mexico,

only what was shipped up here.

Thank you, Mr. Perez. Nothing further.

Mr. Perez,

you've called for a boycott by Hispanics

of all Gatling products.

The Gatling have aligned themselves

against every one of us, Mr. Rivera.

They need to know that has its cost.

Gatling has sponsored a series of Hispanic music festivals

and street fairs that you yourself

helped to organize, is that not correct?

Hispanics constitute a big market for them.

- It was good for business. - Then tell me, sir...

Why would they, go out of their way to, in your own words,

"Align themselves against us?"

They counted on us being complacent.

They counted on each of us looking out only for ourselves.

Rivera: That doesn't answer my question, sir.

But, tell me, other than free publicity

for your convenience stores, what do you want for?

Assuming facts not in evidence, Mr. Rivera.

Talk to me, Mr. Sifuentes. I'm the judge.

The objection is overruled.

Mr. Perez?

My friend, whatever it is I'm out for,

unlike you, I'd never sell my people out to get it.

[instrumental music]

I just thought before this thing gets any more exacerbated,

we should just sit down and see if we're at all close.

I said we'd listen to your proposal and we will.

Okay, first up, automobiles.

The Mercedes goes to Roxanne.

All the remaining cars will stay with David.

In lieu of any and all spousal support,

she'll receive 50% of all revenues

inuring to David as a result of the video.

Why don't you give her 50% of your take, Arnie?

She has no entitlement to my earnings, David.

- She's not my wife. David: Well, that's an easy fix.

Just ask her, I mean, you would be glad to marry him.

- Wouldn't you, hon? - David...

Is this not the man that you would like to be wedded to?

I would appreciate an instruction to your client

to behave constructively

as well as a reminder to him that

my relationship with his wife

has nothing to do with the relevance of this proceeding.

- The hell it doesn't. - Alright, David.

You represent the image that I cannot live up to, my friend.

You are the yardstick by which we all measure my failures.

Don't tell me you are not relevant to this proceeding!

You're hurt, Dave. It's understandable.

But let's keep in mind this is a settlement conference.

Emotion has no place here. This is just about money.

What a coincidence. So was our marriage.

- That's not fair. Ganz: David.

Fair? Fairness is supposed to factor into this some place?

No Dave, if it did,

she would be taking a lot more than she is.

Legally she's entitled to half of everything you made

during the marriage which would include over a million bucks

derived from your direct mail business.

Money which she's voluntarily foregoing

in the interest of an amicable settlement.

What a wonderfully charitable person you are.

Becker: Dave, what is going on?

Are you trying to drag this thing out?

Perpetuate whatever you got left here?

Why don't you just shut your mouth, Arnie?

- David-- - You shut up, too!

This is my marriage being ripped apart here.

Mine!

If I wanna be difficult,

if I want to fight,

if I want to make some trouble,

then that is something I'm entitled to.

I sign these papers...

and it is over.

Maybe I don't want it to be over so fast.

It is over, David.

I'm sorry.

If I could talk myself into this marriage

or talk myself into loving you, I would, believe me.

But I can't do that, no matter how painful this is,

no matter how much hurt there is

for both of us.

Nothing can change the fact

that this marriage is finished.

When this settlement conference is over,

I walk out that door...

and out of your life forever.

If you never believed anything I ever told you...

believe that.

Draw up the papers, and...

I'll sign anything you want.

[door opens]

I owe you an apology

for going after your husband the way I did.

- No apology necessary. - No, but there is, I just...

I-- I don't usually stink like that.

You didn't stink, Jonathan.

And we settled everything, so a good result came out of it.

Look, here's what's going on. I-- I just...

I feel very protective of you.

You got this...

You affect me.

[laughs]

You affect me, too.

[instrumental music]

[moans]

It's too soon.

Too soon?

I've been fighting that impulse for eight weeks.

It's not that I'm not interested.

Okay, listen...

you set the pace.

I am the original slow dancer.

Okay.

Okay.

[Sensations singing "Walking In The Rain With My Baby"]

♪ Walking in the rain with my baby ♪

♪ Baby ♪

♪ Holding her soft hand in mine ♪

♪ She's mine ♪

♪ The raindrops are falling for my baby ♪

♪ Drip, drip ♪

♪ I never knew love was so fine ♪

♪ So fine ♪

♪ Walking in the rain with my baby ♪

♪ Baby ♪

♪ I take her in my sweet embrace ♪

♪ Embrace ♪

♪ I look in her eyes, she's my baby ♪

♪ Peek-a-boo ♪

♪ I kiss the side of her face ♪

I noticed the soothing nature of the performance, Your Honor.

The Harmony blending in with the movements.

Objection to that characterization.

Sustained.

♪ She's the love of my life ♪

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ She's my whole wide world ♪

♪ Walkin' for life with my baby ♪

♪ Baby ♪

♪ Never will we be apart... ♪

We've got trilogy here, Your Honor. This is important.

Objection. It's redundant.

Exactly the cause of disinterest in today's audiences.

- Move to strike. - Alright. That's enough.

Stop the music.

Okay, I've seen them.

Very nice.

Uh, Mr. Rice, where are your clients?

Right outside, Your Honor. They like to make an entrance.

Never mind. Get them in here.

[drum music]

♪ Whoo ♪

♪ Let's dance ♪

♪ Walkin' in the nude with my lady ♪

♪ Naked lady ♪

♪ Her steamy wet skin next to mine ♪

♪ She's all mine ♪

♪ Lyin' in the rain makin' babies ♪

♪ Stick stick ♪

♪ Ooh, makin' love's so fine ♪

♪ Let's do it ♪

♪ Ugh, ugh, ugh ♪

♪ See the lady ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Ugh, ugh, ugh ♪

♪ She's my girl ♪

♪ Ugh, ugh, ugh ♪

♪ She's so sexy ♪

♪ Ugh, ugh, ugh ♪

♪ You know she rocks my world ♪

♪ Walkin' in the nude with my lady... ♪

Smut! They're doing smut!

- Melvin. - Mr. Redding, sit down.

Cheap, smutty trash!

Trash? That's art, you senile goat.

Kuzak: Objection, Your Honor. - Everybody, quiet.

We want to start again, judge. He interrupted us.

I said everybody keep quiet!

Okay. Now I've heard both sides.

But we didn't even get to the bridge!

Enough, Mr. Wiltern. I got the thrust of your version.

I'll take this matter under advisement

and give you my ruling tomorrow.

Man but we didn't even get to the bridge.

Man, that ain't cool.

Mr. Gatling, was this rumor originated

by anyone working for or on behalf of your organization?

Not to my knowledge it wasn't.

If I found out it was someone who worked for me,

I'd fire them so fast their head would spin.

Did your company ever

deliberately seek to spread the rumor?

Absolutely not. Anyone who knows me knows I don't play that way.

This is a memorandum you circulated?

Yes.

Rivera: Will you read it for us, please?

"Some of you may be aware of the rumors currently circulating

that Quintana beer contains significant quantities of urine.

Please be advised that at present

this appears wholly unsubstantiated."

Thank you, sir.

I have no further questions.

What made you circulate that memo, Mr. Gatling?

I think it's pretty self-explanatory.

We didn't want our people spreading false rumors.

Last year, sales for Quintana beer

increased nearly 230% while Gatling sales dropped 10%.

I'm well aware of that.

Sifuentes: At the annual sales

meeting, you said, and I quote,

"We are going to swarm on Quintana.

We are going to send them back to old Mehico...

with their tails between their legs."

Just a little inspirational rhetoric, Mr. Sifuentes.

That's what sales meetings are for.

After that kind of inspiration,

how did you think your employees would interpret that memo?

Didn't need interpreting. It meant just what it said.

Oh, come on, Mr. Gatling, you knew your people would do

exactly what they did, go after Quintana

by maligning the dirty Mexicans who make it.

Objection, Mr. Sifuentes doesn't like the witness' answer.

- So he makes up one of his own. - Sustained.

You're not gonna hang that on me, counselor.

We employ thousands of Hispanics all over the country.

I'm sure you do, sir.

You even got yourself one for a lawyer.

Tell us, though...

who's this gentleman sitting on his left?

- Objection. - Actually, Rob...

I'd like to answer that.

His name is Geoffrey Norman,

and he's assisting Mr. Rivera.

Only he is not with Mr. Rivera's firm, is he?

He's with Hardwick and Spencer in New York.

And he's not exactly assisting him, he's actually

out here to supervise him.

That's irrelevant to this trial.

Judge Travelini: Yes, it is irrelevant.

Mr. Sifuentes, get off it.

I just want to say...

we engaged Robby Rivera

because he's a hell of a good lawyer. Period.

- Ever engage Robby before now? - No.

And the fact that he is representing you in this case

has nothing at all to do with his being Hispanic?

- That's right. - Uh-huh.

Thank you, Mr. Gatling.

Nothing further.

What's the matter, Victor?

You decide that you can't win on the facts?

I think I can win on the facts.

Then why the attitude?

Why the insults, the disrespect?

Is that trial strategy or something?

No, man. I wish it was.

You're wearing $800 suits.

- You're wearing $300 shoes. - Come on.

Who's your patron? What do you do for a living?

When someone sticks a knife into Chicano ribs,

I don't sign on to be the one who twists it.

Forget that Chicano stuff, man, would you?

This is personal, between you and me.

Who you are is personal.

The Chicano stuff, that's personal!

Victor, back at the P.D.'s office,

we used to get each other through. You left, I left.

You moved out of east L.A., I moved out of east L.A.

With the stuff that happened to me,

you were right there.

How can you-- how can you turn on me like this?

Well, what do you want me to say, Roberto?

You want me to say it's alright? It's not alright!

I say it's alright.

I say that I can do what any white, Anglo,

wall street lawyer can do. You gonna tell me I can't?

Yes. In this instance, I'm gonna tell you you can't.

We're not cholos anymore, Victor.

You get it? Cut that loose!

You're the one who seems to be ashamed of it, Roberto.

You cut it loose.

You cut it loose.

[knocking on the door]

I'm sorry.

I didn't get your message until just now.

A matter of unprofessional behavior

has caused us some concern, Jonathan.

- Whose behavior? Brackman: Yours.

What?

As you know, this firm has a longstanding policy

against fraternization between clients and coworkers.

Fraternization?

We have reason to believe

your relationship with Ms. Moses

has taken an amorous turn.

And you object to that?

There's good reason for objection, Jonathan.

Yes. Ms. Moses is an entry-level employee.

You are an associate.

The potential for exploitation

should be apparent.

Do you think I'm exploiting Diana Moses?

Well, I'm sure it's not your intention, but...

any subordinate is vulnerable.

Brackman: It's for your own good as well.

Sometimes the underling takes advantage.

No, no, I understand.

And in terms of the big picture, you need a policy like this.

Somebody looking at this firm from the outside,

not knowing the personalities involved,

might not understand, say, a Stuart and Ann.

As a matter of fact,

we had just such a cautionary chat

with the two of them when they got together.

Sure, and there are people who are always going to object

to Arnold Becker's fraternizing with clients

or, maybe, another partner's liaison

with the granddaughter of a client.

But when I look at the individuals

who make up this firm,

I'm proud to say I see people whose judgment I trust.

I'd like to think these people also trust my judgment.

Look, it's-- it's obvious you take your

relationship with Ms. Moses seriously.

I wouldn't assume that, right now the only thing

you can assume about my relationship with Ms. Moses

is that it will never be any of your business.

If you'll excuse me.

Mr. Redding and fellow members of the original group,

as I see it, you sold your trade name to the plaintiffs

so that the Sensations could live on through time.

- That's right. - But times change, gentlemen.

People, as well as singing groups,

who want to keep up with the times,

have to be willing to change, too.

Yet, while you want the act to go on in perpetuity,

you forbid the plaintiff's from making changes

to accommodate contemporary audiences.

That's totally unreasonable.

They have to be able to make adjustments

to keep the act fresh and viable.

But, gentlemen, the adjustments you made...

You may be good, but you're not The Sensations.

That's right.

If your version of "Walkin' in the rain with my baby"

is any indication, I can only shudder to think

of what you've done to "Bopping All Night With Betty."

Judge Vance: Now you have a huge following, I know,

and I don't want to kill your show,

but I also know that the defendants

had something different in mind

when they sold you their name.

That's right.

And since I find the acts

so distinct,

I don't see that their performing

would cause you irreparable harm.

Therefore, I am going to deny

the plaintiffs' motion for injunctive relief.

Congratulations. That's great.

Your honor, with two groups using the same name,

people are going to get confused.

Believe me, Mr. Rice, nobody is gonna confuse these two acts.

You can argue your claim for money damages in trial,

but the injunction is denied,

and this matter is adjourned.

I look forward to seeing you fellows in a lounge near me.

- Alright, Your Honor. - You got it.

And I'll send my kids to see you.

[indistinct chattering]

My client believed in the American dream.

Until a year ago, he actually thought he was living it.

He risked everything.

He worked hard.

He made an unknown beer named Quintana

the fastest growing beer on the market.

Now, a huge corporation like Gatling

wasn't about to make way for an Oscar Montoya, though.

Victor: When they couldn't buy him, they decided to break him.

All they would have to do is tell a lie.

You see, sometimes if you tell a lie often enough,

it really doesn't matter whether or not it's not true.

And Gatling went about it

with all the mass-marketing skill

they use to sell their beer.

They knew that people in this country

always suspected Mexicans were different.

That we are capable of all kinds of things.

I mean, what kind of people...

can squat down in a field all day and pick lettuce?

What kind of people...

would stuff themselves into the back of a truck

just to cross a border?

That's got nothing to do with this case.

Sit down, Mr. Rivera.

Seventeen Mexicans dead from the heat...

just so they could be busboys in America.

What kind of people would do that?

Now you may ask yourselves, why

would a giant corporation like Gatling deliberately

pander to prejudice and bigotry?

There is one simple answer for that, ladies and gentlemen,

to sell more beer.

You see, that is all the reason they ever need.

Judge Travelini: Mr. Rivera?

You ever show anybody your tattoo, Victor?

I never show anybody mine.

I moved into a nice neighborhood, man.

Really.

I-- it's hard to believe sometimes.

Everybody always figured guys like us

would either wind up in prison or dead by the time we hit 30.

And look at us now. What a country.

I have a guy... who cuts my grass. [chuckles]

He's the same age as my father.

I call him Jose.

He calls me Señor Rivera.

[softly laughs]

What a country this is.

One thing you've got to know about Hispanic people,

who live here, though... we rip each other up.

Your Honor, may I have moment to confer with counsel?

Why don't you just take over?

I was never supposed to be the lawyer anyway, right?

Right... amigos?

Mi compadres?

I was supposed to be a busboy.

Those wetbacks who died in that truck?

One of them was my cousin...

Jesus.

I went to Calexico to identify the body.

Remember, Victor?

When I got back,

I cried in your arms.

Your Honor, may I approach the bench?

Yes, Mr. Norman.

He's your lawyer, Mr. Gatling.

Like the man said,

I'm just a spic with a law degree.

Judge Travelini: Mr. Rivera.

[melancholic music]

Gentlemen, clearly I can't now send this case to jury.

If you're unable to settle it, I will have to declare a mistrial.

Sifuentes: That's fine, Your Honor.

A second trial will generate more publicity than the first.

What are you looking for, Mr. Montoya?

I need two million just to hold off my creditors.

Gatling: What else?

An apology and a public statement from you, sir.

[inhales deeply] You got it.

Plus, whatever it costs to stay in business for one year.

- That's a blank check. - No, it's not.

They're all fixed costs.

Until Quintana's back in the black,

Gatling covers all operating expenses.

That way, Oscar at least has a chance to turn it around.

With all due respect, that sounds like welfare.

Sifuentes: Really, is that what it sounds like to you?

Sifuentes: Mr. Norman? - You're damn right.

No offense, but under those terms,

Oscar could stay in bed all day,

he could send his company to hell in a hand cart

plunder it for any liquid assets,

and Gatling would have to pick up the tab.

Have I done anything to indicate this is something I would do?

It's something you could do.

Mr. Gatling, you've heard the terms

on which I will settle.

There will be no negotiation.

No negotiation's necessary, Mr. Montoya.

Have your attorney draw up the papers.

Man: Be careful. Woman: Well, here he is.

Woman: Mr. Gatling? Man: Mr. Gatling.

We'll hold a formal press conference tomorrow.

but, right now, I just want to say that my friend

Mr. Montoya here sells beer

100% unadulterated beer from our neighbor to the south.

And if somebody tells you any different, they're a liar.

My company has always viewed the Hispanic community

as a tremendous asset to our great nation.

Uh, we've enjoyed a fruitful partnership

with them in the past and I wanna see it

continue into the future.

The Gatling brewery stands committed

to all minorities in this country.

We view this settlement

as a means of reaffirming that commitment,

as well as our proud tradition.

David, what are you doing here?

I just wanted to talk to you for a minute.

I think we covered everything yesterday, David.

I know.

I just wanted to say I'm sorry.

About... yesterday. About everything.

You don't have to apologize.

Things just didn't work out.

I'll be out of the house by the end of the week.

Oh, that's okay.

Take as much time as you need.

[chuckles]

We're both better off this way.

Oh, you're probably right.

We'll enjoy being single for a while.

Right.

We'll meet people.

Maybe we'll even fall in love.

It's all true,

what you're saying.

In the long run, splitting up

is probably the healthiest thing we could do.

It's still sad.

Well...

it's just that...

I have all these snapshots in my head.

And there's one of you...

standing by a window in the hotel room.

There's one of you...

laughing at a comedian on TV.

There's...

one of you opening a letter

the first time it hit me that...

both our mail came to the same address.

I just have this feeling that I'm stuck

with these snapshots for the rest of my life.

I have snapshots, too, David.

Yeah.

Look...

chances are that, uh...

we're never gonna be friends, you and me.

Years from now, you might barely remember being married at all.

Every once in a while, though, you will... remember...

something about whatever it is we had.

I would just like to think it's possible that

you might remember something good.

[crickets chirping]

I would like the same for you.

Goodbye, Roxanne.

Goodbye, David.

[footsteps receding]

[theme music]