Original subtitles

Dorian vs Togetherness Dating Service.

Yeah, that's mine. Voir dire is complete.

We go to trial this afternoon.

This case really can't be settled, Stuart?

In all good conscience, I wouldn't recommend it, Leland.

Why not?

Because the gravamen of the plaintiff's case is such

that we're gonna beat her cold.

Couldn't that still end up costing us

more than a settlement?

Uh-uh, not if I'm successful in my motions

for costs, disbursements and legal fees.

Plus, let's not forget, if we settle there'd be

more plaintiffs coming out of the woodwork.

Gravamen?

Giant Sequoia Tourist Council

vs. Giant Sequoia Beverages.

That's mine, we're representing a small mineral water company

that's being sued for using the name Giant Sequoia.

They claim it's a fraudulent misrepresentation

of where the water comes from.

- Where does it come from? - El Segundo.

They have mineral water in El Segundo?

It's municipal water, it's been filtered

and flavored with junipe extract and bottled.

Can we expect this to go to trial, too?

Actually, no, our guy is trying to come up

with another name so he can make this

whole thing disappear quietly.

As well he might.

Partners meeting, tonight 8:00 p.m.

Hmmm. A little party after dark to split up the pie, ay?

Rollins: To the partners go the spoils.

What can I say? We all have a part to play.

- Here. - Good, Benny. Good.

- What's this? - Melons-by-mail.

A cut-rate produce outfit that ships by mail.

Saves money. Saves lugging it up here from the store.

I ordered thirty pounds of cantaloup

for a third of what you'd pay in the store.

[gasp] Oh my God. Get it. Come on. Get it. Come on.

- Get him, Douglas. - I'm not getting it.

Why do I have to get it?

Kelsey: Because you sent away for it, that's why.

You better get it. It's on the floor.

Benny! Could you get in here for a minute?

Sifuentes: There he goes. There he goes.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Two years. Minimum security.

No chance. Any kind of guilty plea, my guy loses custody.

Oh, and what a horrible thing that would be.

A child molester losing custody of his daughter.

- How could we sleep at night? - Hey, Grace.

He's no child molester until you prove it,

which we both know is a hard thing to do.

And I'm telling you, Ed was a very convincing guy

at the Family Court hearing.

Yeah, yeah, I saw how convincing he was

when he failed the polygraph test.

Which we know is inadmissible.

Doesn't it bother you, Brian?

You know he's guilty, and you're actually

helping him to keep custody.

I took the case, it's my job to advise him

of his options and his chances, and then carry out his wishes.

He wants the big N.G. He wants unsupervised visits.

So, I gotta do what I gotta do.

Van Owen: And what made you first suspect that your daughter

was being molested by her father?

Last December, Lisa came back from a weekend

with him and she was very upset.

I asked her what was wrong but she wouldn't tell me.

And then she started to cry.

So we sat in the rocker and that's when she told me.

- Objection! Hearsay. - Sustained.

Did you notice anything unusual about your daughter that night?

Yes, when she was undressing for her bath I noticed

that her underwear was on inside out.

Van Owen: Did you ask her why it was on inside out?

- Objection. - Sustained.

What else, if anything,

unusual did you notice about your daughter that night?

There were bruises on her leg, way up on the inner thigh.

And, uh, then on her vagina there were more marks.

Did she have these marks before going to visit her father?

No, she did not.

As a result of these marks

and as a result of your conversation

with your daughter, what did you do next?

I took her to the hospital.

And then I went to the police and reported

my ex-husband for sexual child abuse.

Thank you, ma'am. I have nothing further.

Has your daughter ever had a bruise?

Well, of course. She's a little girl.

Exactly. Little girls get bruises all the time.

But not there. She's never--

In all the time you were married

did you ever see your husband

touch your daughter in any improper way?

- No. Not then. - Not then. Or ever.

Would you describe your divorce as amicable

or bitter, Ms. Haley?

I'd say it was bitter.

Who wanted the divorce, you or he?

We both did by that point.

Who asked for the divorce, Ms. Haley?

- You or your husband? - Ed asked for the divorce.

In fact, didn't you ask your husband

the day before the divorce became final

if you could have another chance?

I didn't know he was molesting our daughter then.

- Motion to strike. - What's wrong with you?!

- Your Honor. - Mrs. Haley.

- She's five years old, Ed! - Mrs. Haley, be quiet.

Or I'm going to call a mistrial right now. Do you want that?

No, Your Honor, I just want that bastard

to keep his hands off my little girl.

And it was at this point you decided to hire

the defendant's dating service.

I'm not proud of it, believe me. But I'm a working woman.

I put in a lot of hours and I just don't have

time to meet people. So I figured why not.

And I paid the thirty-five hundred dollars.

And did they match you up with suitable men?

- Pleeease. - Objection. Non responsive.

Argumentative. Move that it be stricken.

Judge: Sustained.

Ms. Dorian, could you tell the court exactly

how the defendant failed to live up to its promise?

Objection, leading, assuming facts not in evidence

argumentative and conclusory.

Overruled. The witness can answer.

I had very specific criteria. On education.

Physical attractiveness. Normalcy.

What I got was unstable

sometimes imbalanced individuals who--

Objection! This witness has no foundation

to render psychiatric opinion.

I move to strike that characterization

or in the alternative, a mistrial.

Mr. Markowitz, why don't you come this way.

I will note for the record your very thorough command

of the rules of evidence.

But can we get through this, please?

Your Honor, I believe this witness has been coached.

And I'm sure you've prepared your witnesses as well.

Yes, but within the bounds of B and P 6077.

Go back to your table.

Ms. Dorian, could you please state

for us the defendant's specific failures.

Well, it was as if they threw my questionnaire in the trash.

I'd say there were only two men with whom

I shared any common interest.

The one man I did like, it turned out

he couldn't... Well, uh, function.

What do you mean he couldn't function?

He was... you know.

With a capital I.

Objection. Calls for a medical conclusion.

You have to let me object to that.

Alright. Sustained.

Did you voice your complaints to the defendant, ma'am?

I did. They basically said "too bad."

They wouldn't refund my money, and that's why I'm suing them.

I have nothing further.

[clears throat] According to your testimony, ma'am,

you did in fact meet a man who you did in fact find

to be compatible, did you not?

No, I did not. In fact.

Then how is it, Ms. Dorian, that one of your dates

progressed to a point which occasioned you

to discover the man's sexual incapacity?

He volunteered it at dinner. He said, "The salad's delicious.

By the way, I'm impotent."

These are the kind of men they send me.

And you engaged four other dating services

before going to my client, did you not?

Objection. Relevance.

It's offered to show the witness' pattern

of discontent, Your Honor.

I'll allow it.

Ms. Dorian, how many men

did these other dating services set you up with?

Probably about twenty a piece.

Whew. So you've rejected over a hundred men.

Were they all imbalanced?

They were all unacceptable, yes.

Not one met your standards?

- That's correct. - Thank you, Ms. Dorian.

I have nothing further.

[instrumental music]

This is unbelievable.

- This cannot be right. - It's right.

This is twenty-three thousand less than my split last year.

Try thirty-seven thousand for me.

We're all making less.

Leland, what the hell is going on?

Firm revenues are down, that's what.

There's been no hint ever

that we were facing rollbacks like this.

I was counting on my same share, maybe a little less, but God!

Well, you don't see me celebrating, do you?

The fact is, this firm is struggling. Our rent is up.

Michael, your murder defense of Earl Williams

is going to cost this firm in excess

of two hundred thousand dollars.

We lost over a hundred in fees in the furrier case.

- We've lost big cases before. - Yes. Yes, we have.

But this is the first time in twenty five years

that our client base is shrinking.

Now you're all great lawyers. There's no question about that.

But none of you, with the occasional exception of Arnold

none of you, brings in high paying clients.

The role of recruiting cash cows has always been on my shoulders.

It's still on my shoulders. But I'm getting old.

I can't do it like I used to.

So we've got to make some choices.

- Hard choices. - Such as?

Such as considering a merger again.

- No way. - No. No. I don't want to merge.

Or in the alternative, bringing in

a major rainmaker.

- As a new partner? - That's the usual way.

Douglas and I have been working

with a headhunter for the last few weeks.

He's put us in touch with a few heavy hitters

with substantial client bases.

I'd like to call a meeting with one of them.

Exactly where does this new partner

fit in on the totem pole?

- That would be negotiable. - Now this stinks.

Arnold!

I'm not getting pushed down the line for a new partner!

If we don't pull in a rainmaker and pull him in fast,

this little family could be breaking apart. For good.

And Dr. Bizland, what conclusion did you draw based on

your physical examination of Lisa Haley.

My conclusion is that Lisa Haley was the victim

of sexual molestation.

On what evidence do you base your belief?

First, there's behavioral evidence.

When you examine a child who has been

the victim of sexual abuse and you touch

the child's vagina, she will automatically relax that muscle.

Normal children will just tense up.

Also, when you touch the abused child,

they seem to leave their bodies.

Their eyes glaze as if they've lost contact

with their physical being.

Lisa displayed both of these symptoms.

And what about the physical evidence?

I examined her genitalia, both macro and microscopically,

and found scarring.

Several crescent-shaped scars

around the periphery of the hymen.

Can you explain the significance of the scars?

Yes. It means it was penetrated by an outside object.

These are the telltale signs of sexual abuse.

Did Lisa tell you anything about the scars?

Objection. Hearsay.

Spontaneous utterance, Your Honor,

exception to the hearsay rule.

- The objection is overruled. - This is prejudicial. It's--

Objection is overruled, Mr. La Porte. Sit down, please.

What did Lisa Haley tell you

about the scars, Dr. Bizland.

When I examined her vaginal area

she said that that was where her father would touch her.

Thank you. I have nothing further.

Doctor, there was no penile penetration here, was there?

No, I believe this to have been digital penetration.

But I do not exclude the possibility

of penile contact against the vulva of the vagina.

Are you saying that happened?

I'm saying it could have happened.

- Any traces of semen? - No.

- And pubic hairs? - No.

So there's no evidence whatsoever

that this girl was ever touched by a penis?

No conclusive evidence.

And, Doctor, as for this digital penetration,

is there any evidence linking it to a specific person?

No.

There's no physical evidence

which suggests that Lisa was touched

by this man right here?

- No. But-- - Thank you.

Doctor, have you ever known a case where

a child has claimed she was molested by a parent

when it hasn't been true?

I've never had such a case.

Well, have you ever heard of such a case

where a child, through displacement

will blame a parent for something that didn't happen?

There have been cases, yes.

And, Doctor, as for this vaginal scarring we're talking about

it could have happened in a tricycle accident

if she came down too hard on the bar, right?

I don't believe that's how it happened.

Well, it's possible, isn't it?

Well, I suppose anything is possible. But--

In fact, Doctor, you can't conclusively

prove sexual abuse here, can you?

You can never positively establish

sex abuse a hundred percent. All--

Thank you, Doctor. I have nothing further.

There's a number of different ways you can go with this.

Whatever works.

Let me just outline the options.

I always say the more a client knows

about what it is I do, the better.

- Mr. Tumka-- - Call me Steve.

Okay. Steve. We have one rat loose in our office.

We would like it if you could get rid of it

as quickly as possible.

This is a standard snap trap.

I bait it with peanut butter, then place

I would say in the neighborhood of a dozen

at various points around the office.

Your rodent takes the bait, whack.

Spring mechanism breaks its neck.

That sounds great, Steve.

We can always go with liquid bait stations.

But let's go with this approach first.

Okay.

Tumka Pest Control has taken on

a lot tougher jobs than yours, little lady.

I'm sure you can take care of this one.

Wish me luck.

[indistinct chatter]

Rosalind, first off, let me welcome you.

I'm only stating the obvious when I say that

we all have the highest regard

for your reputation as an attorney.

Let me state the equally obvious

which is that the admiration is mutual.

That said, I'm sure there's a plethora of questions

that need to be asked.

Ready on the left, ready on the right

ready on the firing line.

I guess I'll start.

You've been successful where you are

why do you want to make a move at all?

A large law firm can get very bureaucratic.

I found myself fighting that too much of the time.

And as my visibility grew, it became somewhat

of a threat to other members of the firm.

You don't have to worry about that happening here.

We're all very secure.

Let's talk portables for a minute.

While you've got an all-star client roster now,

how many of them will follow you here?

There's a simple rule at my firm, Douglas.

You eat what you kill.

So any clients I brought in over there,

I will bring here with me if I come over.

I love the sound of that.

Bringing them is one thing,

and keeping them is something else.

Do you anticipate a problem?

- I have some concerns. - Like what?

Well, let's start with your tax department.

I understand that, uh, Stuart Markowitz ... is that his name?

- He's it. - So what's your concern?

- First off, where is he? - Stuart's in court today.

On a tax matter? As a matter of fact, it's not a tax matter.

He, uh, he just stepped into the breach, so to speak.

- His forte is strictly tax. - I hope he'll be adequate.

Well, he hasn't been found wanting up until now.

We're also fully prepared to make

whatever adjustments are necessary.

- Assuming any are necessary. - What else?

- Your litigation department. - What about it?

Well, other than your tax attorney having to fill in,

I want to be certain you're not about to lose one of your aces.

- Who's that? - Victor Sifuentes.

He's been an associate for three years.

Given his reputation, he's got to be looking for a partnership.

Well, Rosalind, the truth is that a partnership offer

is not contemplated in the near future for Victor.

On the other hand, I expect that one ultimately will be made.

And I have no reason to believe

that we're in danger of losing him.

Good and while we're speaking about associates,

I should let you know that I will be bringing one with me.

I see no reason that we can't accommodate you there.

Maybe we should first get a better idea

of what that accommodation entails.

Before we do that, maybe we should ask ourselves

if this is really a place where Rosalind can be happy.

Let me say something. Right now, we're very wary of each other.

We should be very wary.

If this venture's to go forward, we're going to have

to adjust to each other. I'm willing to go half way.

If you're looking for more than that

you've got the wrong dame.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth,

nothing but the truth, so help you God?

I do.

Your Honor, I renew my objection to this.

The fact that the plaintiff had a bad date with this witness--

He's being offered to prove the defendant's willful disregard

of my client's wishes. He's totally relevant.

Alright, quiet. The objection's overruled, the witness is in.

- But let's move through it. - Thank you.

Could you please state your name for the record.

- Howard. - Your full name, please.

Howard Hulse.

Mr. Hulse, did you employ the defendant

Togetherness Dating Service?

I did.

And as a result of that employment

were you matched up for a date

with the plaintiff, Dianna Dorian?

Yes.

I'm holding in my hand a copy of my client's

pre-date questionnaire setting forth her requirements.

Item twenty three, she lists leadership.

- Are you a leader? - I could be.

Given the right set of circumstances, I could be.

Dynamic.

I'm as dynamic as the next guy.

With a rapier-like intellectual wit.

Objection. Counsel's mocking the witness.

I'll overrule it. But I want you to move fast, Mr. Sanderland.

You know, people find me to be a very lively

conversationalist and that's on a wide range of topics.

How about "emotionally stable?"

How about it?

Isn't it true that you refused to park

in an underground garage because

of what you referred to as, and I quote

"an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia?"

Eccentricities don't necessarily

indicate instability, sir.

You sniffed your food

and you sniffed Ms. Dorian's food

at the restaurant. Why?

I sniffed mine for signs of putrefaction.

It would have been rude of me

not have sniffed hers as well.

Tell me, what's wrong with that?

Nothing, Mr. Hulse. Nothing at all.

I have no further questions.

Um, boy, sounds like a pretty horrible date.

Yes, it was a horrible date.

Mr. Hulse, I have both your questionnaires here.

It seems like you both like opera, you both like

the theater, Julio Iglesias,

you like to take long walks on the beach.

Boy, on paper it sounds like

you guys have a lot of potential.

Oh, yes. On paper I do very well.

Well, then what happened when you went out with her?

- What happened? - She was basically very polite.

I brought her flowers and she thanked me for them.

And then we had our date which was very horrible.

Afterwards, I took her home and she told me

that she felt drained and depressed.

I took that to mean that she didn't want to see me again.

- Did you like her? - How can I like her?

She subpoenaed me here as proof of a lousy date.

No, I don't mean now. I mean, back when you met her?

Did you like her then?

You know it's funny, because actually I did.

In fact, when I first got the summons,

I didn't think it was real.

I thought, this is a creative way

of asking me out. Stupid me.

I have nothing further.

[instrumental music]

What was Lisa doing that day, Mr. Haley?

She was riding her trike down the road.

I could see that she was going too fast

so I called out to her, "slow down."

It was right around then that she hit the bump.

And then what happened?

She fell forward off the seat

and came down hard on the cross bar.

- It really shook her up. - And me, too.

Is it your belief that that is how

Lisa got her scars?

It's the only possible explanation

because I certainly didn't molest her.

Mr. Haley, have you ever touched your daughter

in an inappropriate manner?

I've kissed her. I've hugged her.

I've extended affection to her

like any father would his daughter.

But I've never done any of the things my ex wife said I did.

I couldn't even think about anything like that.

Thank you, sir. Nothing further.

Are you asking this court to believe that the vaginal scars

found on your daughter were the result of a bumpy trike ride?

Like I said, it was pretty rough.

How do you explain that there were not cuts or scratches

on her legs after being thrown off the curb?

The trike went over the curb but she didn't lose her balance.

I see. Were there any witnesses to this accident?

- No. - Nobody?

Nobody out on a beautiful Sunday afternoon?

Just you and Lisa?

- That's right, Ms. Van Owen. - Hmmm.

Do you ever give your daughter baths, Mr. Haley?

Sometimes.

Where do you touch her when you bathe her, sir?

I wash her and dry her off.

Where do you touch your daughter

when you bathe her, sir?

I wash her and dry her off.

You've never touched your daughter's vagina

saying, "Daddy has to clean inside?"

- Objection. - I never did that.

Objection's overruled.

Does your daughter sometimes sleep in the same bed with you?

Sometimes if she has a bad dream she'll come

into my room and get into bed.

- And do you sometimes hold her? - Of course.

If she's scared, I hug her.

I see. And what do you wear to bed?

I sleep in the nu...

I'm naked, but you know,

that's how I sleep.

Well, have you ever gotten an erection

when she was in the bed?

- Objection. - Can she do this?

Overruled.

Just answer the question, Mr. Haley.

When you are lying naked with your five-year-old daughter

do you get an erection?

- Your Honor. - Ms. Van Owen. No, I don't.

I have nothing further.

[instrumental music]

You said we wouldn't have to do this!

I said I hoped we wouldn't have to.

God, I can't, I can't put her through this.

She's five years old.

Charlotte, if Lisa doesn't testify

we're looking at a not guilty.

I can't believe this.

Believe it. For every doctor that we have put up there,

he has put up two.

He has paraded in all these character witnesses.

His own testimony was pretty darn good.

I think he's got reasonable doubt.

Lisa is the only one who can change that.

And what will that do to her?

Getting grilled on a witness stand,

what's that going to do to a five-year-old?

Or growing up knowing she put her own father in jail?

But it's either that or more unsupervised visits with daddy.

Oh God.

We had an offer, an acceptance.

My client paid consideration

in the amount of thirty-five hundred dollars.

A valid contract was formed.

Legally obligating them to proffer men suitable

for a compatible relationship.

Instead, they sent cologne soaked foreigners.

They sent ex-cons. They sent Howard.

They breached that contract.

They breached faith with my client

wreaking havoc with her emotions

for maybe the rest of her life.

You people represent society.

You people are Dianna Dorian's

only hope for justice.

A relationship, ladies and gentlemen,

can't be secured by a contract.

Oh sure, a dating service can help the odds.

They can introduce you to people with common interests

and help your chances. But there's no guarantee.

My client promised to bring Dianna Dorian together

with men and they did so.

But in all those dates, what did Dianna Dorian bring?

I'm sorry, this is not a very compassionate person.

We all saw what she put poor Howard through.

And all this talk about whether these men

had all the qualities on her list is insulting.

Because those of us who have been there know

love isn't getting all the qualities on your list.

Love is accepting all those things that aren't on your list.

And until Dianna Dorian learns that, until she's willing

to give of herself as much as she's ready to ask of others,

then she will never be accessible

to a real relationship.

And no dating service

can be held responsible for her misery.

See, your common rodent, must decumanus, mus rattus,

is what's known as comensile.

Huh?

It's adapted to living with humans.

I've seen them make a three course meal

out of what gets put in a trap and avoid

the spring mechanism entirely.

What happens after you catch them?

Depends.

If it's a glue board that they're on

I generally dispatch them

with a blunt instrument to the cerebellum.

Most of the time, though, poison's the agent of mercy.

Central nervous system shuts down.

All of a sudden Mickey can't breathe so good.

A couple of faint dry gasps, then morte.

- Morte? - Dead.

Done. Finished.

What do you do with them then?

Landfill, buddy. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

I'm sorry, it feels to me like we're panicking.

Ann, the wolves are at the door.

You're gone in February on maternity leave,

further reducing our income.

Financially, this firm is in dire straits.

I don't think that she is our salvation, Douglas.

She would, however, increase our billables by some

one-and a-half-million dollars per year.

I find that alone pretty hard to give up.

She's bringing over clients that are accustomed to a large firm.

Why do you have any confidence that they'll stay?

Well, it's her feeling that they will.

Well, that doesn't really give us

a helluva lot to go on, does it?

Given our current make-up, Ann,

I would've thought you'd be only too glad

to get a little estrogen in here.

I say that we're dealing with a real prima donna.

Fundamentally, she is not a team player.

Fundamentally, neither are you.

Now what speaks loudest of all to me right now

is that she's a rainmaker of the first order.

That's what we need. That's what we'd be getting.

I guess the kind of rain is beside the point.

- Rain is rain. - I disagree.

Look at the clients she represents.

Banks involved in slum refinancing.

Real estate syndicates, a personal favorite of mine.

Ann, she's a lawyer representing clients.

Now, if want to continue to do pro bono work,

we have to have a client base that will keep us on our feet.

Rosalind can give us that.

Michael, there is no guarantee

- She's going to-- - Alright.

We've all spoken our piece.

I vote yea.

- Same. - Nix.

- I vote yes. - I vote no.

- What about Stuart? - He gave me his proxy.

- What is it? - Stuart votes yes.

- You're kidding? - No, I'm not kidding.

- Ohhh. - That's it, then.

We can open up negotiations and see where it goes.

[engine revving]

Lisa, you know what it means to tell the truth, don't you?

And, Lisa, if you don't understand a question,

or if you need any help at all,

you just tell me, alright?

- Yes. - Okay.

Lisa, do you know why you're here?

- Yes. - Can you tell us?

Because Daddy touched me in bad places.

Okay. I want you to pretend that this doll is you.

Renew my objection to the doll.

Overruled.

Lisa, I'd like

for you to show us on this doll

where it is that daddy touches you. Okay?

It's okay. It's pretty scary here.

I know that. Alright.

Now, can you show us where daddy touches you?

Let the record reflect that the witness has indicated the legs.

Let the record reflect that the witness has indicated the chest.

Let the record reflect that the witness

has indicated the buttocks.

Let the record reflect she has indicated the vagina.

You are a very brave little girl, Lisa.

Now can you tell us when it is that daddy touches you?

When I take a bath. And in his bed.

Okay.

And what parts of daddy's body

does he use to touch you with?

- His hands. - Just his hands?

- His mouth. - Anything else?

Does he touch you with anything else, Lisa?

Lisa, does your daddy touch you with anything else?

His penis.

How do you feel about him touching you this way?

I don't like it.

- Do you want him to stop? - Yes.

Thank you, Lisa. I'm all finished, honey.

Now, Mr. La Porte has a few questions to ask you

and then we'll be finished.

That was very, very good.

That was very good. Very, very good.

You were excellent.

Did your mother help you go over

what you were going to say today?

- Yes. - She did.

And did Ms. Van Owen also help you to prepare for this?

- Yes. - Did they tell you what to say?

- A little bit? - Yes.

Tell me, Lisa.

Where did you first hear the word "penis?"

From Mommy.

And was it mommy who first told you

that daddy touched you in bad places?

- I think so. - Okay.

And, Lisa, this weekend that you were at your daddy's house

the weekend that we're talking about

did you fall down on your tricycle?

I don't remember.

Well, have you ever fallen on your trike

when riding it at daddy's house?

- Yes. - Thank you very much, Lisa.

You did a good job.

Lisa, just a couple of more questions, okay?

Did daddy touch you in the places

that you pointed to on this doll?

Yes.

Now did this really happen,

or did you just say that because mommy or I told you to?

It really happened!

Thank you very much, Lisa.

I have nothing further.

- Mr. La Prote? - Nothing.

Alright, Lisa, you can step down now. Thank you.

[instrumental music]

[crying]

Charlotte: It's okay, honey. Let's go.

Judge: Has the jury reached its verdict, Mr. Foreman?

- We have. - What say you?

In the matter of Dianna Dorian vs Togetherness Dating Service

we find in favor of the defendant.

Yes! I won! Oh, congratulations.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

I hope you've all had a very pleasant time.

- We're adjourned. - Here we go.

Congratulations.

[clears throat] Excuse me.

Great.

- Uh, Mr. Markowitz? - Yeah.

Oh, Hi. Uh, look, ex parte.

Oh, it's okay. Look, I want to say congratulations.

And also, I may have lost, but

I'm not walking away from this with nothing.

You gave me a lot to think about.

Thanks.

Figures you're married.

- Stuart. Stuart Markowitz! - Hi, Dave. How are you?

- Another time, another place. - What are you doing here?

Just picking up some lists of judgment debtors.

Really.

Let the other guys go after the Mercedes owners.

I want to know who got their truck repossessed.

- Why? - Why? You're asking me why?

Because I have the field to myself.

What makes you think that a guy a little down on his luck

isn't interested in the occasional purchase?

Well, what can he afford to buy?

Oh, how about a serpentine silver neck chain

to buoy up his spirits?

A tri-fold leatherette wallet with a gold tone clasp?

Both less than five dollars, yet conceivably priceless

to a drowning man.

Dave, this is Dianna Dorian. Dianna, Dave Meyer.

How do you do?

If you two have a minute,

I would love to show you something.

Actually, Dave, I really have to go.

I ... I ... I have a minute.

Do you know much about the direct mail game, Dianna?

Beyond a reasonable doubt.

That's the standard they have to satisfy here

and they don't even come close.

The medical evidence is conflicted.

Even their own doctor admitted it was impossible

to conclude there was sexual abuse here.

Impossible to conclude.

There's no medical evidence whatsoever

which suggest penile penetration.

And there's no medical evidence whatsoever

which specifically implicates Ed Haley.

The only evidence they have which points

to my client is the testimony of a five-year-old girl.

A girl whose testimony was prepared by her mother,

still bitter over the divorce.

A girl whose testimony was prepared

by the District Attorney.

Five-year old girls can be very impressionable.

They can be influenced into saying

what you want them to say.

And while no one wants

to call Lisa Haley a liar.

I'll remind you of the psychiatric evidence

we introduced on how little girls

sometimes make these charges up.

Sometimes to blame parents

for not spending enough time with them.

There's plenty of doubt, ladies and gentlemen.

Plenty of it.

He didn't do it.

I suppose you're not out of line if you think he did.

I'll admit, it's possible to suspect him.

But beyond a reasonable doubt?

Not a chance.

It was the opinion of the doctor who examined her

that the vaginal scarring was caused by sexual abuse.

Somebody's fingers.

No, we can never medically establish this

with a hundred percent certainty.

But her diagnosis was corroborated

by Lisa Haley herself.

In the most terrifying of settings,

she came up to this witness stand

and asserted one unshakable fact.

That man touched her

on her buttocks, on her vagina.

And while they offered the best

expert testimony money could buy

to cast doubt wherever they could,

they offered you nothing

to contradict that fact.

Yes, we talked to her before she testified.

We talk to all our witnesses.

And, yes, sometimes little girls do tell lies.

But as she told you, as Lisa told you

her daddy really did molest her.

And let me tell you something, ladies and gentlemen

it's a terrible thing to put a little girl

through the ordeal of a trial.

But I made her do it.

I made Lisa come in here and relive

what happened because it was the only way

I could keep it from happening again.

Because Edward Haley is a child molester.

He did it. He did it.

And for Lisa's sake, please don't give him

the chance to do it anymore. Thank you.

[indistinct chatter]

And that is the piece of artwork I was telling you about.

You see who's going into McKenzie's office?

Uh-huh. Looks like they pushed the button.

She won't start off as any associate, that's for sure.

- No. - What's going on?

Look who's with them.

Did you pump anything out of Michael?

No. Only that there are going to be changes.

Yeah. Well, there goes the first change right there.

I tell you, if they're bringing in a new partner

we all better start updating our resumes.

Oh, come on. Hey.

There's them and there's us.

And when they start plotting behind closed doors

they're not trying to figure out how to benefit us.

- She's overreacting. - No, she's not overreacting.

Oh, come on, Victor. You know you're a lock for partnership.

Nobody's a lock here, Jonathan.

Now don't get me wrong, they like us all.

But nobody is ever safe. Abby's right.

Never trust them. Not totally.

Why can't you ever admit when you're wrong?

- I'm not. - You're wrong.

- You misplaced it. - I told you, Arnie.

No, I didn't. Hi, Benny.

- What's up, Buddy? - It's dead.

Wow. It certainly is.

It didn't hurt anybody.

Hey, Benno, he's happier this way.

He doesn't look happy.

Well, he's at peace now, Benny.

He's gone to heaven.

- My Mama's in heaven! - Whoa. Hey, hey, hey.

He's not going to bother your mother.

He's in rat heaven.

And your mother, she's in, uh, mother heaven.

Gee, do you think that

that that hurt him?

No.

[instrumental music]

Will the defendant please rise.

In the matter of the People v. Edward Haley,

we the jury find the defendant not guilty.

- Ahhh. - Congratulations.

Oh God!

Members of the jury, we thank you for your time.

Oh, God!

This matter is concluded.

- The defendant is free to go. - Oh!

- Court is adjourned. - I don't believe it.

Are you okay?

I'm so sorry. Are you alright?

I'm so sorry, Charlotte.

Double jeopardy won't stop me from going after him again.

If he touches her again, you tell me, and I'll get him.

You said you'd get him this time! And he's free! My God!

I'm sorry, Charlotte. You're sorry?

She's been through thirty-seven interviews.

Policemen, detectives, social workers

gynecologists examining her with microscopes.

And for what?

So she can be dragged into court to relive it

and then sent back to daddy?!

Oh, I'll tell her, Ms. Van Owen.

I'll tell her the district attorney is real sorry.

- That's not fair. - Tell me about fair!

He molested her and nothing happens!

This system can't even keep him from raping my little baby.

[sobbing]

Can you get some kind of restraining order

to keep him away?

Not after an acquittal.

What happens if I just take Lisa and we disappear?

Charlotte, he has custody rights.

You'd be charged with kidnaping.

Uh-huh. So, what if I do that?

That's the only way I can keep him away

from Lisa, isn't it?

As a district attorney it would be inappropriate

for me to encourage an illegal act.

Give me another choice!

I can't let this happen to her again.

As a district attorney, it would be inappropriate

for me to encourage an illegal act.

I hear you, Ms. Van Owen.

I hear you loud and clear.

[instrumental music]