Original subtitles

Judge Strongin: You're facing the deprivation

of very important rights.

Your daughter has petitioned for a conservatorship.

You're entitled to an attorney, sir.

It's okay, judge.

I was always able to stand up for myself.

And that's what I'm going to do here.

Judge Strongin: As you like. Mr. Becker,

you may call your first witness.

Yes, Your Honor. We call Gus Nimmons.

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

and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

- I do. - State your name.

Ah, Gus Nimmons.

How do you know the respondent, Mr. Nimmons?

Well, he had the unit next to mine

at the retirement home,

until they kicked him out.

Did you spend much time with him?

At one time, we were best friends.

- But not anymore. Becker: Why not?

I hate to say this with him sittin' there

but, uh, he ain't right in the head.

He really believed...

[laughing] that he was Ralph Kramden.

- Judge? Judge Strongin: Yes, Mr. Melman?

Where does he get off saying what it was that I believed?

The witness will refrain from speculating

on the respondent's state of mind.

How do you know that he wasn't just having fun?

What he talked about, wasn't funny.

Gus: He'd say how his family didn't want him around.

He'd say, "Norton,

you're all I got left."

Finally, I said, uh...

"My name ain't Norton."

How'd he respond to that?

He grabbed me by the throat.

For a minute, I thought he was going to kill me.

Gus: Then, just like that, he lets go and bust into tears.

Was that the last time you spoke with him?

No, I spoke to him this morning, as a matter of fact.

I asked him how he was doing, and he said

that if they're not gonna let him drive a bus no more,

that he was going to throw himself underneath one.

Becker: No further questions.

My turn?

Judge Strongin: Yes, Mr. Melman.

Murray Melman: Hi, Gus.

[sighs]

You really think I'm crazy?

Well, you tried to strangle me, Murray.

Does that mean I'm crazy?

Gus: Look, I ain't no shrink.

Yeah, but you're sitting here saying that I'm nuts.

[chuckles] What have I done?

Do I yell at strangers?

Do I drop my pants in public?

You're losing touch with reality, Murray.

Reality.

Reality was a bunch of toothless old farts

sitting around discussing the last thing they ate.

Mr. Melman.

Melman: I'm sorry, judge.

Gus...

do you still talk to your buddy Mitchell?

You know I do, Murray, every day.

Would you tell the judge where Mitchell is right now?

Sure, sittin' right here on my shoulder,

where he always is.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Trudging forward, Victor, you start the...

priest malpractice case today?

- Yep. Markowitz: Priest Malpractice?

[chuckles] Negligent confession.

Sifuentes: Our client refused to absolve a 32-year-old woman

who ended up having a breakdown.

Her husband is suing for

emotional distress and loss of consortium.

Whatever happened to the separation of church and state?

Sifuentes: Count against the church was dismissed.

But they're making it stick against our guy individually.

Rosalind: Why isn't the church defending him?

Father McNamara baptized me...

and when he asked me to personally

defend him, I said yes.

Well, just make sure the father

pays his legal fees.

Rosalind: Move along, Douglas.

Brackman: Arnie, you're handling

Roxanne's conservatorship hearing?

I am, and the old goat is representing himself,

and he's pretty good.

Brackman: Glad to hear it.

Now, as you all know

because none of you could have possibly

forgotten Benny's portrayal

as the Cowardly Lion in "The Wizard Of Oz,"

takes place this Friday evening.

Incredibly, Abby has managed to get tickets.

Rosalind: Alright. Alright.

Can we move along, please?

- I think we're done. McKenzie: Hold on.

McKenzie: I have an announcement.

I'm seeking to reinstate my position as senior partner.

A new vote will be scheduled for this Friday.

Rosalind: Excuse me?

You have no authority to call that vote.

The executive committee can call the vote,

Rosalind, and that's what I am doing.

The executive committee hasn't even discussed this.

McKenzie: We're discussing it now.

All committee members in favor

of a new vote, say aye.

Aye. Douglas, how do you vote?

I guess there's nothing wrong with voting if, uh...

McKenzie: That's two to one.

The committee has authorized a new vote.

Now, we're adjourned.

[indistinct chatter]

We can still settle it, Walter.

It might make sense.

Penance isn't something you negotiate for, Victor.

Yeah. I just want you to remember

that even though the church is behind you,

you're the only one on the hook here.

I mean, if they win any judgment

comes out of your pocket, personally.

[scoffs] Wait a minute, Victor.

Personally, I'm a priest.

If I ignore God's law, then I've got to face

a whole different kind of judgment.

I wasn't wrong, Victor.

I don't want to settle.

She had always been a very devout Catholic.

Church every Sunday.

She'd go to confession all the time.

Delahanty: And there were these counseling sessions.

What counseling sessions, Mr. Delahanty?

She'd have all these sessions with Father McNamara.

Those are what usually upset her.

Delahanty: But this particular time, it was the confession.

Laport: Now, this was the confession

with Father McNamara

on April 4, 1988, correct?

Yes, she came back from church and she wasn't talking.

Laport: Did she tell you what was wrong?

Delahanty: Not right then.

But I sure found out the next morning.

What happened then, sir?

Well, she just went crazy, ranting and...

crying, you know, crying that she was going to hell.

What else did she say?

She said that Father McNamara

had condemned her to eternal damnation.

Objection, Your Honor. That's totem pole hearsay.

Judge Vance: Overruled.

He said that...

since we used birth control...

she was committing a sin against God.

And that because of that, God would not forgive her.

Laport: What effect did this have on your wife?

Well, she was sedated that day.

And, uh, she was hospitalized

for depression after the breakdown.

And she really can't do anything now.

The doctors say that she's...

becoming totally dysfunctional.

Objection! Your Honor,

could we have counsel use psychiatrists

to present a psychiatric evidence?

Sustained.

What about your children?

She can't even talk to them or spend any time with them.

She says that...

her sole is damned, and that the kids

for their own sake should stay away from her.

They're three and seven years old.

Laport: I have nothing further, Your Honor.

Judge Vance: Mr. Sifuentes.

Sir, as I understand these medical reports,

your wife's depression was brought on by severe guilt,

which guilt was caused by having violated

her religious faith, is that correct?

Delahanty: It was brought on by him telling her

that she was going to burn in hell.

Sifuentes: Forgive me, sir, but to your knowledge,

did he ever use those words?

Delahanty: He said he wouldn't forgive her.

She certainly knew what that meant.

And he also knows how seriously she takes her religion.

As did you, sir.

And yet you repeatedly encouraged her

to go against her religious beliefs, didn't you?

I'd make love to my wife, that's hardly--

You'd wear a condom.

You'd insist to her that you use birth control

against her faith, didn't you?

Look, Catholics today use contraception.

- Everybody knows it. Sifuentes: Sir.

Your wife is a foreign-born Irish Catholic,

strictly religious. And you'd insist on wearing a condom.

Sifuentes: Yes or no? - We have two kids.

I make $31,000 a year. We could have--

Yes, thank you, sir.

Now at the time of her breakdown,

on the morning of April fifth,

exactly what were you two doing?

She had the breakdown because he condemned her.

What were the two of you doing when she suddenly started,

as you say, ranting and crying?

We were having marital relations.

You were having intercourse.

You were using a prophylactic, weren't you?

Yes.

Sifuentes: And the doctors concluded that it was

this particular event, it was the intercourse

that was the initiating event of this breakdown, did they not?

- That's what they say, but-- Sifuentes: Thank you, sir.

Nothing further, Your Honor.

[indistinct chatter]

This is bad. [door shuts]

The clients Rosalind's brought in

currently account for 32 percent of our revenues.

What's more, three of our biggest pre-existing clients

have indicated they'll go with Rosalind if she leaves.

Kelsey: Who?

Petramco. Feldenkranz. Towle.

Oh, God.

By my calculations, we stand to lose over 50 percent

of our projected revenues.

How the hell can this be?

She's been winning over Leland's clients, that's how.

We gave her the big accounts

because they seem to like her so much.

And now she's got them.

So what you're saying is, if we vote against her,

she walks...

this place could fold.

We let it fold. We can all find other jobs.

I mean, it's better than being under Rosalind's reign, right?

Markowitz: It's not as simple as that, Mike.

We've got a five-year lease here at $25,000 a month.

If this place dissolves, the partners are going to be

on the hook for that money personally.

- So they re-rent the space. Markowitz: Don't bet on it.

Markowitz: There's a lot of vacant office space

in downtown L.A. right now.

It's not going to be easy for them to re-rent it.

Markowitz: And if they don't, we're going to have to

fork over as much as $200,000 a piece.

What?

Brackman: We also have an outstanding loan

of half a million which will cost us another 75 each.

Becker: W-- w-- wait, this is unbelievable.

- This can't be right. Brackman: It's right.

If we lose Rosalind and her clients,

we don't just make less money,

some of us could be losing our houses.

Smithson: A priest can be more empowered

over a confessee's mental state

than is your average psychiatrist.

But, doctor...

priest see a great many parishioners.

Yes, but he saw this particular parishioner

over and over again in counseling sessions,

which made his relationship with her

much more like doctor and patient.

So?

So, he knew her fragile emotional state,

and how vulnerable she was with respect to her religion.

Smithson: He had to know that damning her soul

would devastate her.

Doctor, why doesn't this woman...

simply find herself another priest?

Smithson: She doesn't have the freedom of conscience

to choose another priest.

She's convinced by virtue

of their counseling sessions together...

that Father McNamara, specifically,

is her agent of God.

If he doesn't absolve her,

in her mind, she goes to hell.

Laport: Well, thank you Dr. Smithson.

I have nothing further.

Doctor, based on your psychiatric examination

of this woman, what is the cause

of her underlying depression?

Guilt for having sinned against God.

Sifuentes: That's right.

And is my client, in any way, responsible

for the commission of these sins?

No. But he's the one who exacerbated

her depression to the point of making her delusional.

Sifuentes: How is she delusional, sir?

She's obsessed with the thought she'll burn in hell.

Well, do you know for a fact that she won't?

Well, that's a ridiculous question.

[chuckles] You're not Catholic, are you, sir?

- Objection. Sifuentes: Your Honor.

The expert is obviously making judgments

concerning the plaintiff's religious beliefs.

His own religious beliefs are therefore relevant

to his foundation as an expert.

The objection is overruled.

Sifuentes: Are you a Catholic, sir?

- No, I'm not. Sifuentes: I see.

And so, in the gospel, when St. Mark claimed

that a man who had been dead for three days,

rose and ascended bodily

into heaven, was he delusional?

Smithson: I don't consider religious beliefs

to be delusional, per se.

Do you think a dead body could rise up and ascend?

No.

If somebody told you that they saw this happening,

would they be delusional?

When my client holds the wafer and wine in his hand...

and believes it to be the body and blood of Christ,

is he suffering from some psychiatric infirmity?

Those happen to be his beliefs.

If a woman says she's pregnant,

but says she has never had sex, is she psychotic?

You're talking about religious faith.

Sifuentes: Exactly. You see when you cut right down to it,

doctor, if Kate Delahanty is going to hell,

if her soul is going to burn...

then she is not delusional, is she?

Not if you make that kind of assumption, no.

Sifuentes: Thank you, sir.

I have nothing further.

[indistinct chatter]

[car engine rumbling]

He insists that people around him

are other characters from "The Honeymooners."

Roxanne: He gets very agitated

when they tell him that they're not.

Has he ever endangered himself?

He commandeered a city bus.

He didn't crash it only because the cops

got to him first.

Was you there, Charlie?

Judge Strongin: Are you making an objection, Mr. Melman?

No.

I'm just saying she wasn't there.

Melman: Of all the people who were there,

no one said a word about my driving.

How come she's so sure I would've crashed?

The respondent's correct.

His driving ability isn't before the court.

I'd like to ask you something, Ms. Melman.

Isn't it possible that your father

is an eccentric and he's behaving this way

simply because he's bored?

In the beginning that's all I thought it was.

That's what I...

I desperately wanted to believe.

But I've watched him go into these states, though.

He's becoming someone who can't take care of himself.

I'm afraid of what could happen.

Alright, Ms. Melman. Thank you.

I have no further questions.

I wouldn't ever put him through this otherwise.

Judge Strongin: Mr. Melman.

So...

you think your old man can't flip

the flapjacks anymore, huh?

I think you need help.

Becker: Your Honor, I ask that the witness be addressed

as a witness and the respondent conduct

his cross-examination appropriately.

Judge Strongin: Alright, Mr. Becker, but I am giving

everybody a little latitude here.

Mr. Melman, you can only ask questions for now.

Questions?

Hm, uh...

When you got the call that your father

was being thrown out of the retirement home,

how long had it been since you last paid him a visit?

Objection. Wholly irrelevant.

Really? I don't think so.

The witness said how concerned she is.

Melman: I'd like the judge to decide for herself.

You may answer the question.

It had been about six months.

And how long before that?

It had been, uh, months. I don't know how many.

How can you talk about what your father was becoming...

when you have no idea

what he was to begin with?

That's not true.

Does the witness know that last year

her father underwent surgery?

- For what? Melman: An obstruction.

In his digestive track.

Thought to be cancerous in nature.

Was it?

Apparently the witness knows

nothing about this.

Daddy, do you have cancer?

No, but you wouldn't have known about it even if I did.

Why do you think I'm doing this, daddy?

So you can forget all about me, honey.

So you can put me in a nuthouse and forget all about me.

I have nothing further for this witness.

[instrumental music]

Kuzak: What's going on, Douglas?

And why on earth do we have to meet in the men's room?

Because this is the one room

Rosalind won't come in.

- I have the solution. - What?

Leland can't bear the thought of her being in charge

and Rosalind can't bear the thought of losing her power.

Leland would support me as senior partner, however.

And Rosalind might too, if I can convince her

I'd still let her run things.

- Uh, she'd never go for it. - She might.

She's faced with losing.

Or if she wins, a mass exodus.

She's got to be willing to compromise,

and I might be the perfect compromise.

And you'd be the senior partner?

Figuratively, yes.

Well, what about me being senior partner, figuratively?

You? Come on.

- What do you mean come on? - What's the matter with that?

The only other vote you got was from your wife.

- What does that tell you? - That doesn't mean anything.

Douglas, you didn't even get

your own vote, what does that tell you?

- Stuart, don't start with him. - Oh, come on, guys.

Hey, I'm trying to make a good

faith effort to solve a crisis--

No, you're not, you're trying to weasel yourself into becom--

Wait, I wouldn't want either one of you to be senior partner.

- Typical short-man's complex. - Typical bald-man's complex!

- This is getting out of hand. - Okay, enough, alright.

I used to have hair but you've never been tall.

Shut up! For God's sakes.

You're both acting like children.

I'm just trying to solve a problem.

- Well, this doesn't do it. - Fine.

Sorry, I brought it up.

- Meeting's over. - Fine.

Mrs. Delahanty, you have agreed to testify here

on behalf of the man your husband is suing.

Could you tell us why?

I don't think what the Father did was wrong.

He refused to grant you absolution.

I didn't deserve it.

Do you think you deserve to be condemned

for using birth control?

Mrs. Delahanty: I believe in one

true church, Mr. Sifuentes.

Holy Catholic and Apostolic.

I have sinned in thought, word and deed.

And birth control is a sin?

A mortal sin.

And you also believe that whoever dies

in the state of mortal sin is condemned to hell?

Yes.

Sifuentes: It would seem that your belief

has caused you a great deal of pain.

That-- that isn't important.

Sifuentes: Kate, don't you wish that Father McNamara

could find it in his heart to absolve you?

Father McNamara...

has been my strength since the day

I moved into his parish.

Mrs. Delahanty: He's guided me and he's comforted me.

He didn't absolve me because he couldn't absolve me.

Even now...

he hasn't abandoned me.

And I never will, Kate. I never will.

That will do, Father.

Thank you very much.

Nothing further, Your Honor.

Aside from what Father McNamara told you,

did you think what you did was so bad?

It's not what I think that matters.

It's what the church tells me.

Laport: And is it fair to say

that Father McNamara knew this about you?

Of course. He was my priest.

Did you ever tell him...

how hard it was to...

be a good wife,

and a good mother, and a good Catholic,

all at the same time?

Yes.

Laport: Did you tell him how

desperately afraid you were

of having more children?

- Yes. Laport: What was his advice?

To use natural planning...

and to follow the teachings of the one true church.

Holy Catholic and Apostolic.

And if you strayed from the teachings

of the one true church,

Holy Catholic and Apostolic,

did he tell you what would happen?

If I remained in a state of sin...

I would spend an eternity in hell.

Did he paint a picture of what that would be like?

Mrs. Delahanty: Yes.

You'd burn forever in a non-consuming fire--

Hotter than a thousand suns.

My flesh gnawed by vermin and goaded by spikes.

Never to be permitted into heaven.

Mrs. Delahanty: Never to be allowed in the presence of God.

Since Father McNamara...

confirmed that this would be your fate...

have you been able to care for your children?

No.

Laport: Have you been able to so much as touch them?

No, sir.

Did Father McNamara know this?

Yes.

Laport: I have no further questions, Your Honor.

Judge Vance: Let's take a 30 minute recess.

[car engine revving]

Melman: What can I say, judge?

How can I prove I'm not crazy?

How does anyone?

Judge Strongin: You'll concede, Mr. Melman,

that your behavior does raise the issue.

What am I doing that's so terrible?

Assuming that I fall into my own little world...

who am I hurting?

Judge Strongin: I think your daughter's fear

is that you might end up hurting yourself.

Please, judge, tell her not to worry.

I can take care of myself.

Judge Strongin: Mr. Becker?

Are you aware of it when you assume the role of

Ralph Kramden, Mr. Melman?

Sure, I'm aware of it.

Becker: Yet you told your daughter that you weren't.

[chuckling] I was yanking her chain, that's all.

So when you called the mentally retarded clerk

at McKenzie, Brackman, Ed Norton, you were...

just having fun with him?

That's right.

Same as when you put on a uniform

and drove off with a city bus?

I was just trying to be funny, that's all.

Come on, Mr. Melman.

Listen, wise guy!

I'm telling you the way it was.

Maybe I don't dress as good as you do,

but I put on a clean pair of underwear every morning.

I eat three meals a day.

And I was doing just fine until you came along.

Why Ralph Kramden, daddy?

Ms. Melman, you have an attorney here.

Your Honor, you said you were...

giving some latitude.

I-- I'd like to ask a few questions myself.

Alright.

Daddy...

Daddy, you watched a lot of other television shows.

Now, why didn't you become Jack Benny...

or-- or Sergeant Bilko?

Roxanne: Why Ralph Kramden?

Because he never gave up, that's why.

Because he was always looking for his pot of gold.

He also never ran off and left his family.

- I did us all a favor. Roxanne: You didn't.

I was always a failure in everything I did, no?

You were a failure because you left.

[bangs desk]

[as Kramden] Son of a bitch!

Promised me the parking concession.

Mr. Melman, who are you referring to?

Melman: Frank. Everything he wanted, I did for him.

He needed tickets, I got him tickets.

He wanted me to watch the store for him...

- I'd watch the store. - Sir.

I'm gonna take care of you, Murray.

I'm gonna give you a piece of the pie.

[bangs desk] Where is it?

When was the last time you spoke with Frank, Mr. Melman?

Melman: Just last Friday. I said, Frank,

Roxanne is gonna start High School next year.

Before I know it, she's gonna be thinkin' about college.

What are we talkin' about, huh?

Melman: Do I get the concession or not?

- Who am I, Mr. Melman? - Oh, come on, buddy.

What's the matter? You don't trust me anymore?

Melman: All of a sudden everybody decides...

Murray's cash only!

- Daddy... Melman: Well...

It's nice to know who my friends are.

I think maybe we should take a short recess.

Ah, forget about it!

I can always make a buck.

As long as I've got my strength, I can always make a buck.

Melman: Who wants tickets?

[indistinct chatter]

Oh, thanks for coming in.

Listen... I'd like to represent to the partners

that the associates here fully back me.

I have Victor.

I'd like to confirm the two of you.

Well, Leland, you know we-- we both hope you win.

I want your endorsement on the record.

Suppose you lose?

That makes our future here very tenuous.

Oh, look.

Rosalind could certainly forgive you for backing me.

She isn't the one who hired you.

I, on the other hand, did hire you.

You're putting us in a bad position, Leland.

And I don't think that we should--

Yes, yes, I am.

But this is a war.

And everybody has to take a side.

I'm simply asking you to make your call now.

Okay.

- You have my official support. - Good.

In exchange for your unconditional support

when I come up for partner.

Me too.

I didn't call you in here

to bribe you with anything, and I don't think--

Then let's not call it a bribe.

Let's call it a threat.

Because that's exactly what you just did to us.

Look, Leland, when we come up for partnership,

everyone is gonna have to take a side.

We're just asking you to make your call now.

Okay. Good.

We have a deal?

- Yes, we do. - Good.

Best of luck in the vote, Leland.

We're with you.

Father McNamara: I-- I'm sorry, I-- I cannot break

the confessional seal to talk about this.

I understand that.

But generally, and of course,

hypothetically speaking, Father,

if a person came to you and confessed

to having used birth control,

would you grant absolution?

If I felt the person was truly repentant, yes, I would.

Sifuentes: Again, hypothetically speaking,

under what circumstances would you not?

Well, like every priest, I would refuse

to grant absolution if I felt the penitent

was not sincere about his confession.

Sifuentes: And if a person had come to confession,

say, hundreds of times,

and each time confessed

to having committed the same sin...

would a priest consider him or her

to be truly repentant?

If a person kept repeating

the same sin and-- and showed no real intention

of-- of conforming his or her, uh, moral behavior,

no, no, I would not consider the person to be repentant.

And would you condemn this parishioner to burn in hell?

No, I would never say that.

I simply would no longer continue

to absolve that person for the same sin.

Sifuentes: Thank you, Father. Nothing further.

What happens when a person dies in a state of mortal sin?

It's God's will that his soul is damned for eternity.

And if Kate Delahanty were ever denied absolution,

she'd understand that to mean

she'd burn in hell, right?

Objection, Your Honor!

This witness had

counseling sessions with her.

He knows her state of mind,

he knows how obsessed

she was with her afterlife!

The objection is overruled.

In fact, Father, you knew that

by withholding absolution

you'd shatter this woman, didn't you?

I-- I'm sorry, I cannot divulge the contents of a confession.

Laport: Would the vast majority of Catholic priests

withhold absolution because of birth control?

If the penitent was not sincere, yes.

Many Catholic today use contraception, are you saying--

Yes, I know, many of them

don't even come to confession at all anymore.

They might as well be Protestants.

Laport: Well, in his encyclical letter

of human life,

Pope Paul, the sixth, called upon priests

when dealing with this issue,

to have consideration of the weak.

Now, did you think--

I had consideration, Mr. Laport.

But paragraph 28 of that encyclical letter

calls for beatings of the teaching authority

of the church, and that encyclical letter

also clearly states that birth control

is against the law of the Church.

In the Vatican two document,

the Church in the modern world,

it says that the condition of the times

should be taken into account

when dealing with contraception, right?

But that paper also says

that conjugal love is intended for the transmission of life.

Laport: Hypothetically speaking, Father,

would you deny absolution

to a parishioner even though you knew

it would psychologically devastate her?

All we can do, Mr. Laport, is put our trust in God.

Laport: No, Father.

Kate Delahanty put her trust in you.

Laport: Forget about the fact

that he is a priest, ladies and gentlemen.

This case has nothing to do with God's law.

We're talking about a therapeutic relationship

where that man served

as this woman's de facto counselor.

Now Pope Paul, the sixth,

in his encyclical letter,

called upon the priests to act as counselors.

Well, if they're going to hold themselves out that way, people,

they have to assume the responsibilities of that role.

They have to exercise ordinary care.

That man didn't.

A weakened, unstable woman

came to him seeking compassion,

and he crushed her.

Knowing her to be fragile.

Knowing her to be...

emotionally infirm.

This man from his own psychological vantage point...

devastated her.

That made his conduct negligent.

That made it reckless.

Because of what he did...

she can't hug her own child.

She can't have sexual relations with her husband.

Because of what he did, she has nightmares

every day about her flesh burning... in hell.

That man did that to her.

He did it knowingly.

And he wants you to excuse that

just because he wears a collar on his neck.

For her sake...

for God's sake...

don't you forgive him.

Basically... they're asking you to find my client negligent

for suggesting that Kate Delahanty

would be going to hell.

But in order for you to find him negligent...

you'd have to find the whole Catholic faith negligent.

Because it is the teachings of Catholicism

that say this woman will go to hell.

Despite what modern day practice is,

the law of the Catholic Church is still...

that a penitent who is not sincere in his confession,

shall not be granted absolution.

The law of the Catholic Church...

is that if a person dies in a state of mortal sin...

he will be damned for eternity.

Now you don't have to believe that.

You are all free to pick your faith.

Just as Kate Delahanty picked hers.

She chose Catholicism.

And my client acts in strict accordance

with the laws of that religion. You condemn him,

then you condemn the Catholic Church.

And if you want to put his religion

on trial, look out...

yours will be next.

Because the truth is, ladies and gentlemen,

the day you apply negligence law... to religion,

the day you hold divine faith

up to standards of reasonableness...

that is the day you outlaw religion altogether.

Thank you.

You may be seated.

Judge Strongin: There are few things sadder

than the deterioration of a human mind.

Most of us just stand and watch helplessly

as it becomes clear that a person can no longer do

what they've done all their lives.

We may be powerless to prevent it or reverse it...

but we're not powerless to minimize the consequences.

Based on the testimony presented, and what I myself

have observed, I'm granting the petition

for conservatorship,

and appointing Roxanne Melman as conservator.

Effective immediately, she's to have full control

over all of Murray Melman's finances and affairs.

His pension and social security checks

will be mailed directly to her.

Judge Strongin: I've also taking it upon myself

to revoke Mr. Melman's driver's license.

You locking me up?

Judge Strongin: No, sir. I urge you however...

to accept the fact that you need to be taken care of.

That's all.

[sighs] Sorry.

Okay, this will simply be a forum for free discussion,

after which we'll convene at the end of the day

for final statements from the two candidates,

followed by the vote.

Brackman: The floor is now open.

If I may, I would like to hear

your specific criticisms

of my performance as senior partner.

I assume that you do have reasons for wanting me out.

Nothing?

This stupid executive committee thing.

Leland's idea, I simply put it into effect. What else?

You wanted to take on Anderson Industries

who directly do business with South Africa.

Arnold Becker also wanted to take on that client,

as did Douglas Brackman,

as did Leland McKenzie initially.

What about going to Victor's client behind his back?

I asked Victor to go to the client.

When he refused,

I had to fulfill an attorney obligation.

There's no attorney obligation

to accept a bribe and sell out a client.

I did no such thing.

I challenge everybody in this room

to offer a single piece of evidence to the contrary.

Oh, look, Rosalind, nobody can tell

what goes on behind closed doors.

But you did go to the client

behind the back of a lawyer here--

And you went behind my back

to Scott Perro with a deliberate attempt

to undermine me. Now that is a breach

of fiduciary duty, and you did it.

Maybe in an attempt to keep this firm together.

Rosalind: Is that where your interest lies, Michael?

In staying together? [chuckles]

If so, I'd be very curious to know

why you're currently interviewing

with a firm on Wall Street.

Don't underestimate my network out there.

I find out most everything.

Look, my future

is not the subject matter of this meeting.

But the future of this firm is.

And I am the only one here that can guarantee it.

Keep in mind, with me in charge,

you have the freedom to leave.

But if I leave...

I take 50 percent of the business with me.

And you lose that freedom.

You're only choice remains

to stay and work much much harder

for far less money or to leave.

In which case, the firm dissolves.

Rosalind: And you all incur staggering

partnership liabilities.

Come on.

I'm certainly open for more discussion.

Judge Vance: Has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

Judge Vance: What say you?

On the claim of negligence leading to loss of consortium,

we find for the plaintiff, Kevin Delahanty.

We award the lump sum of $250,000 in damages.

Judge Vance: This matter is concluded.

The jury is dismissed with the thanks of the court.

[indistinct chatter]

Frank?

You think maybe we can sit down

and work something out here?

Excuse me a minute.

You want to work something out,

here's what you tell your client.

Tell him I don't want his money.

Tell him I want my wife back.

He's not about to give in, Kevin.

Why don't you give me a couple of minutes with him?

Sure.

Sifuentes: All those people want from you, Walt...

is absolution.

I-- I think you should grant it.

Father McNamara: You've known me a long time, Victor.

Do you really think I could put a price tag

on the blessed sacrament of confession?

No.

Then why are you asking me to sell it?

According to my reading of Canon law,

what's required for absolution is repentance.

Sifuentes: You really think she's undeserving of mercy?

It's not enough, Victor.

She hasn't committed that sin in two years, Walt.

That tells me that she's sincere.

Sifuentes: Look at her, Walt.

Father McNamara...

look at her.

[sighs]

Wait here, Victor.

Would you excuse us, please?

Come on, let's go.

[sighs]

[instrumental music]

Through the ministry of the church,

may God grant you pardon and peace.

I absolve thee in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

[instrumental music]

This vote isn't about Rosalind.

It isn't about me.

It's about all of you.

It's your standards,

your priorities that are on the line here.

Arnold...

you said that if I put your name on the door...

this firm would become a part of you.

Well, Arnold Becker was stenciled in on that glass.

This place is now a reflection of you.

With your vote...

you get a chance to show us what that means.

Ann, you once said that Rosalind Shays

embodied money and power,

and you feared this place would become her.

The question today is not whether the firm

has strayed from its moral center...

but rather, have you?

Stuart, when you campaigned for this job,

you said the main function of a senior partner

is to breed a sense of community

into an otherwise cut-throat business.

What kind of community feeling is Rosalind giving you?

By far, the most humbling part of this...

is for me to have to lobby for your vote.

Your father and I started this firm.

We flourished and floundered a hundred times

during those early years.

But whatever this firm was...

it was always us.

McKenzie: And then he passed on,

and this firm became you and me.

You and me.

If Rosalind Shays remains as senior partner,

Michael Kuzak won't be the only one to leave.

One by one...

you will all leave.

Because each of you, ultimately,

would choose to work at a place that...

just doesn't help you make your mortgage payment,

but in a place that serves your values.

A place that makes you proud.

A place that personifies

what you know yourselves to be.

If I stay, you get that.

If I stay...

this place remains what it's always been.

McKenzie, Brackman...

Chaney, Kuzak...

and Becker.

And that's something.

I'm asking you now, don't you let that get away.

[clicks tongue and inhales]

Rosalind?

Leland is beloved.

I'm not. I know this.

I know this.

But... I've rescued this firm.

Not without a...

few personality clashes.

But I've rescued it.

Is there anybody here...

who wants to see me remain a senior partner?

I don't think there's any need for a vote, Douglas.

I resign.

[door opens]

[speaking in foreign language]

[Melman sighs] So? What now?

Could I turn on some lights?

What are you asking me for?

You're going to do whatever you want anyway.

[speaking in foreign language]

[siren wailing]

I wish there had been another way to do this, daddy.

Melman: Well, it's done now.

You want to tell me what I'm in for?

What kind of an institution?

Are there going to be bars on the windows?

Straitjackets?

Melman: Shock treatments?

There's not going to be anything like that.

Oh, no.

Well, w-- what's it going to be like?

I don't know.

Melman: It can't be another one of those retirement villages.

They don't want anybody with a problem.

Listen, we haven't even started looking.

You're putting me in a home!

I'm not putting you anywhere.

We're going to find some place where you're comfortable.

If-- if you don't want to stay there, you won't.

I don't want to go in a home.

Maybe you ought to...

see some of these places before you say that.

A home is a place where you go when you're ready to die...

when the rest of the world doesn't need you anymore.

When one day is just like the next.

I have to know that I have something going for me.

Even though it's only handing out handbills.

Placing a two-dollar bet on a horse.

[sighs]

You can live with me, daddy.

[instrumental music]

[voice breaking] It's not going to work.

Maybe it will.

[sighs]

You got a life of your own.

Now you're in it.

Come on.

Let's go.

I'll help you pack.

[music continues]

I'm paid up here until the end of the week.

I'd like for you to come with me now.

[music continues]

[theme music]

[music continues]