Original subtitles

Leland, we have to face reality.

When Victor and Michael left, litigation fell off.

When Jack Salas went.

It nose-dived.

Now Abbie's leaving

and taking more business with her.

Alright. The situation is serious, but it's not critical.

I disagree, the bank is so nervous,

they're reviewing our line of credit.

Oh, that's ridiculous. They're overreacting.

Brackman: It gets worse.

I got a letter this morning from Perry Littlefield.

Because of the Shays claim,

Ballantine is doubling our liability premium.

Because of Ann Kelsey's suspension,

malpractice is going up to half a million.

Over my dead body.

We'll take our business elsewhere.

I'll make a loan if I have to.

You can't keep propping up the firm with Rosalind's money.

We have to consider alternatives.

I will not consider renting space to Susan Bloom.

Her practice is phenomenal.

She represents half of Hollywood,

and she's willing to pay top dollar.

- They call her "Jaws", Douglas. - A rumor.

And printed in the same rag that called me a "bald bore."

Susan Bloom is everything I hate about entertainment law.

Cheap, phony, utterly devoid of ethics.

[shushing] You don't even know her.

She's dynamic.

Sh-- she's cutting edge.

She's a litigator anyone would be proud to share space with.

Why are you whispering, Douglas?

She's in my office.

She's taken the trouble to stop by

on her way to a very important screening.

Bloom is here? Now?

[door opens]

Susan Bloom, Leland McKenzie.

Hi, Leland.

I hear you need someone to save your ass.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

- Great hair! - Thanks.

Uh, before we start, I have an announcement.

For those of you who don't know, Abigail Perkins

is no longer with the firm.

- What? - Is she okay?

She got a huge offer from McCann Jones,

we couldn't match it, she resigned

her partnership last night.

Brackman: And frankly, she couldn't

have picked a worse time.

Doug, her father had a stroke, she put him in a nursing home

which is gonna cost God knows how much.

C.J: She needed some security.

- You knew about this? - Uh-huh.

Since there's nothing we can do, I suggest we move on.

I'd like to introduce our new associate, Bill Castroverti.

Some of you are familiar with his talents as a litigator.

- Familiar? He killed me. - Thanks. It's weird to be here.

Brackman: He'll be moving into Victor's old office.

Second, a heartfelt welcome back to Ann Kelsey.

Believe me, you were missed.

Rollins: Alright. It's about time.

It's good to be back.

Too bad Stuart can't say the same.

Kelsey: He's with Matthew.

Amalia quit two days ago and we've been

going crazy trying to replace her.

What is this crap Douglas, I come in. I'm running late.

My messages haven't been picked up.

My mail hasn't been opened, and there

is some bimbo sitting outside my office

telling me that Gwen is serving jury duty.

I thought you were gonna get her excused.

She didn't want me to.

You'll just have to survive with a temp.

I have special needs, Douglas.

Personnel is Roxanne's department.

Use your influence. [people gasp and chuckle]

Brackman: Jonathan has the Lunsford deposition.

C.J. starts People versus Manheim,

I meet on the Powell trust.

Anything else?

Brackman: Ah, one more note.

We may be renting out our extra office space.

That isn't settled yet.

Then we're adjourned.

[door opens]

[door closes]

- Grace. - Leland.

Oh, it's good to see you.

You too.

I know. I should have made an appointment.

Oh, no, don't be silly.

I'm-- I'm sorry.

I'm sorry about the baby.

I got your note. Thank you.

How is Victor?

Victor and I...

Victor and I are separated.

Um. I'm no longer practicing with him and Michael.

Well, I... I don't know what to say.

I'd rather not talk about it now, Leland.

I'm here because I took the Chandler case with me.

We impanel today.

I cannot conduct an effective defense out of my house.

I would like to move in here temporarily

and pay you a percentage.

Oh no, Grace, this is all happened so... quickly.

You've had a lot to deal with.

Maybe you should move for a continuance.

I've had two. And Elsa Chandler is being tried in the press.

The "Ice Queen" who killed her husband.

The judge is not gonna go for another delay.

Well, certainly a couple of weeks--

The D.A. would fight it as well!

I'm up against a wall, Leland.

Yeah.

Yeah, I see.

You know, we sure

could use your name on our letterhead just now.

What if you were to come back to the firm, of counsel?

[sighs] After the way I left?

This is very generous of you.

Oh, not at all. No, no, it benefits us both.

You'd be bringing in something high profile.

We would supply the second chair.

I'm not sure that's necessary.

No, I insist.

It's a capital case.

You'll need someone.

It's the least we can do.

Have you read, seen, or heard

any of the publicity surrounding this case?

I saw one news report on TV.

Did it cause you to form an opinion about

the guilt or innocence of Mr. Diamond?

No.

Roth: Juror is acceptable to the people, Your Honor.

How do you feel about sex, Ms. Taylor?

Roth: Objection!

What on earth does that have to do with anything?

Your Honor, some people consider

my client a pornographer.

He is one. He admits it.

Kittredge: But he's not on trial for it.

Weapons and assault charges have nothing

to do with pornography.

I want to know if Mr. Diamond's occupation

damns him in the eyes of this juror.

Alright, I'll allow it.

Watch yourself, Mr. Kittredge.

I repeat, Ms. Taylor,

how do you feel about sex?

Safe sex between consenting adults?

I'm for it.

What about explicit sex in movies?

I don't go to see it, but I don't

think it should be censored.

Kittredge: Should they censor magazines

like Mr. Diamond publishes?

Ones that show, for example, oral sex?

I've never read one of Mr. Diamond's magazines.

- Does that disgust you? - Objection.

You're out of line, sir. Put that away.

I was simply trying to get this juror's reaction.

I know exactly what you're doing

and it won't work in my courtroom.

Now, go on to something else

and apologize to the young lady--

Your Honor, your feelings about pornography are well known.

They're obviously coloring what you see here.

If you're accusing me of bias, Mr. Kittredge, be careful.

Be very careful.

I can bury you in sanctions.

I didn't mean to offend you, ma'am.

You didn't.

I wouldn't buy one of Mr. Diamond's magazines.

But I believe in the First Amendment.

He has every right to publish them.

Defense accepts this juror.

Mullaney: Now if they get in your way, you just stop.

We'll do all the talking.

Chandler: I-- I can handle anything but the cameras.

Yeah, but they have a right to be here.

If you look pleasant, don't smile too big

and we'll get you in court as fast as we can.

Chandler: I'm sorry to be such a pain, Mr. Mullaney.

You've been very kind

[rustling]

- You ready? - No.

Let's go.

[door opens]

Reporter 1: How did it feel to shoot your husband?

[indistinct chatter]

This is a burning-bed case of long-term abuse.

We're confident that Mrs. Chandler

will be found not guilty.

Graphia: Elsa Chandler is a murderer.

She put a gun in her purse.

She took it to her husband's office,

and she killed him with it.

It was not self-defense.

It was not the desperate act of a wife who's been abused.

The evidence will show that it was a well-planned,

cold blooded execution.

Carried out so that Elsa Chandler could inherit

her husband's multi million dollar estate.

It was murder for financial gain.

Murder committed solely for the purpose

of making Mrs. Chandler a rich woman.

When you hear the facts, when you weigh the evidence,

you will reach the only possible conclusion

that Elsa Chandler is guilty

of murder with special circumstances

beyond a reasonable doubt.

Thank you.

Ralph Chandler battered his wife for 12 years.

A number of times, including the morning of his death,

he forcibly raped her.

I'm not talking about a wife reluctant

to make love and an insistent husband.

I am talking about violent...

forced sex.

I am talking about a husband

who had to control his wife's every move.

A husband who enjoyed his wife's pain.

A husband who was aroused...

by humiliating her.

This was the man that Elsa Chandler shot in self-defense.

Van Owen: A man who tortured her for 12 years.

Whose abuse she couldn't survive any longer.

Ralph Chandler swore that he would kill her that night,

Ladies and gentlemen.

She took the gun with her

because she believed him.

Ned: I worked my way through Cal

taking care of my advisor's kids.

The first day, I didn't think I was going to make it.

They locked me in the bathroom and had a food fight.

It was Beeferoni, wall-to-wall.

Well, I gotta warn you Matthew is seriously into Beeferoni.

Ah, well. Gotta go.

[chuckles]

So, anyway my advisor moved to Berkeley

and I got a fellowship in Clinical Psych

but it doesn't really pay for much more than my rent.

Alright, well, we've got your number. We'll be in touch.

Alright.

- Well, thanks for your time. - Bye, thanks.

Bye.

Oh, that's okay. I can find my way out.

- Alright, goodnight. Bye bye. - Goodnight.

I tell you. He could be my first choice.

- You're not serious. - What?

A man can't make a good nanny.

Of course, he can, but Marta has more experience.

Which one was Marta?

The Greenblatts' au pair?

You've met her a hundred times.

Maybe twice.

Isn't she a little flaky?

Jennifer says she's a free spirit

but she's very responsible.

If they weren't moving they'd never give her up.

The kids love her.

Well, Matthew thought Ned was great.

His references were terrific.

I think we should at least see them both again.

Honey, we know the Greenblatts.

This is a personal recommendation,

and we've got to hire somebody now.

Yeah, I guess a male nanny would be a little strange.

Will you stop? It has nothing to do with that.

Marta just happens to be the best person, that's all.

Okay. We'll go with the girl.

[knocking]

- Hi. Got a minute? - For you?

I've got five.

I just wanted to let you know how happy

I am to have you back.

Well, it's mutual.

Grace, I know you and Victor are none of my business,

but if there's anything I can--

I'm fine, Leland.

Really.

When Roslyn...

When I lost her,

um, I thought that I was fine.

I went about my work, I was in control, no problem, except...

there was no joy.

I was just going through the motions.

Leland.

I'm sorry, but it's been a long day.

Sure, sure. I'll let you get back to work.

I'm here if you need me.

- Goodnight. - Goodnight.

[door closes]

So, Mrs. Chandler called and asked you to come

to Ralph Chandler's office.

What did you find when you got there, detective?

Well, Mr. Chandler's body was facedown

on the floor by the desk.

There was a gunshot wound in his chest.

Mrs. Chandler was sitting in a chair by the body.

She was holding a ...38 caliber handgun.

Did she tell you whose it was?

Said it was hers, she had brought it from home.

The gun was registered to her husband.

When you first saw her...

did Mrs. Chandler seem upset?

Graphia: Was she crying?

No. She was very calm.

Very quiet.

What did Mrs. Chandler say?

When you found her beside her husband's body?

Said Ralph Chandler deserved to die and she'd killed him.

No further questions.

Did it appear to you that Mrs. Chandler was in shock?

Objection. Witnesses isn't qualified to make that judgment.

Van Owen: He's been a police officer for 25 years.

He's seen people react to severe trauma.

Overruled.

Van Owen: You have seen shock

look like extreme composure, haven't you, detective?

The same composure Mrs. Chandler showed

the night of her husband's death?

Yes.

And she had good reason to be in shock, didn't she?

I have no idea.

You took a statement from Mrs. Chandler,

Didn't she tell you how her marriage...

was a nightmare?

Didn't she say

that her husband had forced her

to come to his office that night?

And didn't she tell you exactly why she killed him?

She said he raped her, but not that night.

Van Owen: But didn't she tell you that he had

raped her as recently as that morning?

And physically abused her for 12 years.

That he had burned her with Cigarettes,

held her head under water--

- Objection. Judge Green: Overruled.

Didn't she say those things, detective?

Yes, but I had no--

And didn't Mrs. Chandler tell you

how terrified she was of her husband?

How when he ordered her to the office, she became frantic.

She was afraid that if she went, he would kill her.

And if she didn't, he'd come home and do it.

That was her story.

And didn't she say that if she ran,

if she hid, he would find her?

And that was why

she found her husband's gun and took it with her

to protect herself because she didn't know what else to do.

Wasn't that part of her statement to you?

Yes.

Thank you, detective.

Did you see any evidence of abuse that night?

Was Mrs. Chandler's clothing torn?

Did she have any broken bones or bruises?

Were there any signs of a struggle

in her husband's office?

No, nothing like that. Just the body on the floor.

Oh, this. This can't be right.

She's been calling insurance companies for two days.

Only one would even consider us.

Their quote was for over a million.

You're telling me Ballantine is a bargain?

Well, not exactly.

Today they dropped the other shoe.

They want a lump sum premium up front.

Well, I can't believe that.

I've known Perry Littlefield for ten years.

Times are hard.

The insurance business isn't what it used to be.

[sighs] And neither is the law business.

Roxanne: Don't worry. We'll find somebody.

[door opens]

Uh,

Susan Bloom called today.

I don't want to hear it.

She was worse than I even imagined.

You spent 5 minutes with her?

Yes, and in that time, she managed

to be vulgar, crass and insulting.

Leland, she's negotiating with a top litigator, a killer.

If he's her associate we'd have access--

Smoke and mirrors, Douglas!

Hollywood hype.

McKenzie: I doubt if there's a litigator.

She probably made him up to pressure us, but it won't work.

Look, we've got Grace back.

We'll get insurance or we'll go bare. Other firms have done it.

As a last resort.

The exposure is monumental.

My father would spin in his grave.

Uh, then we'll find another way.

But I won't be moved on this.

Susan Bloom is not an option.

Benny?

Oh, I was thinking... about Abby.

Yeah, she told me she called you.

She's worried about her new job.

She's gonna do great!

I know it's always difficult starting someplace new,

and it hurts when people leave.

You know, nobody likes change.

- It's hard. - It's an ass-kicker, love.

We both still see Abby, but it's not the same, is it?

I miss knowing I can just pop into her office at any time.

I really miss that.

Yeah.

She was a P for Perkins

and Victor was an S,

so when they left it didn't really change everything

but Casta- Castaverti is a C

so all the mailboxes have to move down one and...

I have to remember that Kelsey is where Kuzak used to be.

And I had to put Van Owen back in!

Exactly.

It's all a bit off.

We're just gonna have to adjust.

We will be fine!

Benny,

will you help me with the xerox machine?

I think it hates me.

Sergeant, when you were dispatched

to Mr. Diamond's mansion in Bel Air on June 9th,

what was the complaint?

Myrow: Mr. Diamond's neighbor called us.

Mr. Seldes... he was scared out of his mind.

He'd complained about party noise.

Mr. Diamond responded by strafing

his yard with an assault rifle.

Objection. Hearsay.

Sergeant Myrow did not see the shots fired.

Sustained.

What happened when you got to the mansion, Sergeant?

Myrow: Mr. Seldes said the shots came from the back yard.

I got there in time to see Mr. Diamond

throw the assault weapon into the pool.

Roth: And what else was Mr. Diamond doing.

Screaming at Mr. Seldes over the fence.

Roth: So, you saw Mr. Diamond throw the gun into the pool.

He was verbally abusing Mr. Seldes, and...

"someone" sprayed Mr. Seldes' yard with bullets.

Objection. She's going for pure speculation.

Sergeant Myrow did not see the weapon fired.

Sustained.

But you did see the weapon in Mr. Diamond's hands?

Yes.

Your witness, counsel.

Mr. Diamond was giving a party.

There were upwards of 40 people around the pool, weren't there?

I had some nut firing shots. I wasn't counting heads.

You were at the shallow end of the pool, right?

Kittredge: And the gun was retrieved from the deep-end?

Yes.

So the entire length of the pool and most of the guests

were between you and the gun.

How could you possibly have seen Mr. Diamond

throw the gun in the pool?

I have 20/20 vision.

Then you must have noticed that most

of the party guests were women.

Very attractive women.

A number of whom were topless.

And you still say you clearly saw Mr. Diamond

throw the gun in the pool?

- Yes. - Really, Sergeant?

Through all those breasts?

Roth: Objection.

Asked and answered.

He's being totally argumentative.

Kittredge: I'm legitimately questioning

the witnesses perception.

He claims not to have noticed

thirty beautiful women dressed like this.

Mr. Kittredge, what is going on here?

Kittredge: I'm proving my point, Your Honor.

A bailiff's been standing by the door

for most of Sergeant Myrow's testimony.

Without looking, can you tell me if it's a man or a woman?

Don't answer that, Sergeant.

Put those coats back on, now!

I want those women removed.

Your Honor, this is interference with the defense.

Perception is fair game at any trial

except, apparently, this one.

- You're in contempt, Kittredge. - I move for a mistrial.

Denied. You're getting a hearing when this is over.

And probably a jail cell.

You're a grandstander with no respect for the law.

You have no respect for my client, Your Honor.

You disapprove of sex and you disapprove

of him because he sells it.

If you don't sit down, I'll have

you thrown out of here, too!

I continue this trial under protest.

- So noted. - Now, shut up.

Judge Swanson: The jury will disregard

Mr. Kittredge's outburst

and his bad manners.

We're adjourned until 2 p.m.

[indistinct chatter]

[door closes]

Marta...

Marta?

Marta...

Oh, my God.

- Oh, please. - Oh, my God.

Oh, please.

Where's my son?

Where's Marta?

Marta!

Oh, it's alright.

Marta: Everything is fine. - Everything is not fine.

- Where's Matthew? - He's fine.

He's upstairs taking his nap.

Oh, this is Kumar.

Kelsey: Kumar? - Please.

He teaches me Hindustani.

You get dressed and get him out of here.

- You're fired. - It was a mistake.

If you're not gone in 5 minutes,

I'm calling the police.

You were the Chandler's accountant.

What happened when you went to their home

a week before Mr. Chandler was killed?

Your Honor. I renew my objection to this witness.

Graphia: Once again, Your Honor.

She goes to motive behavior of the defendant

with regard to her husband's money.

Overruled. Witness will answer.

[clears throat] We had to work out a tax problem.

When I arrived, Elsa and Ralph had been arguing.

Violently?

Vosburgh: Oh, no, no.

Ralph never raises his voice.

But he was pretty upset.

Elsa had written over $20,000 worth of checks

on their joint account.

Who were the checks made out to?

Some were to cash,

and the rest were made out to Waering Antiques.

Mrs. Vosburgh, did Mrs. Chandler

tell her husband what the money was for?

Vosburgh: She said she bought things with it.

A Chinese vase and some paintings.

Ralph didn't believe her, though.

Graphia: Thank you. Nothing further.

This was a joint account, wasn't it?

I mean, legally, the money belonged to both of them.

Yes, but Ralph never liked Elsa

to write checks without his approval.

In other words, Ralph Chandler

wanted to have total control.

Y-- yes.

And when Mrs. Chandler told her husband

about the Chinese vase,

what did he do?

He took a hammer and what did he do, Mrs. Vosburgh?

He destroyed the vase.

Thank you.

Nothing further.

Judge Green: Witness may step down.

Who's next, Mr. Graphia?

Your Honor, the People call Mr. Steven Waering.

Objection. Witness is not on their list--

His testimony also goes to motive, Your Honor.

How? He was her antique dealer.

In the last 24 hours, we've uncovered

an intimate relationship between

Mr. Waering and the defendant.

Van Owen: Objection, Your Honor.

This is a blatant attempt to blindside defense.

I move to exclude--

Take it easy, Miss Van Owen.

If he didn't know about the witness, he didn't know.

Mr. Graphia will provide you

with all of the investigative reports.

But to be fair to your client I'll give you

until tomorrow afternoon.

It's not enough.

In my opinion, it is.

Then I move for a stay, Your Honor.

I want time to get a writ on that ruling

from the Court of Appeals.

Judge Green: You've got to be kidding!

They'd throw you out on your ear. Stay denied.

- Your Honor-- - I've ruled, Miss Van Owen.

We're adjourned.

Just take a deep breath, okay?

[door opens]

[clattering]

I met him at a charity auction.

Sometimes Ralph would let me go to those without him.

Anyway, Steven and I had lunch together,

and we became friends.

But that wasn't all.

No.

I care for Steven.

But we were never, ever involved.

Then why didn't you tell us about him?

There was nothing to tell.

The DA says that you spent the night with Waring.

We have a security video from his garage.

You came in at one 1:04 a.m

and you left at 6:15.

Three months before your husband was killed.

Well,

you see, that night, um...

Ralph got drunk um...

when he drank,

he used to play this game.

He called it...

"How should I kill Elsa."

Chandler: Um. "Should I beat her to death?"

"Should I cut her throat?"

"Maybe I should strangle her."

And it would go on for hours

until he would finally pass out.

So I needed someone to talk to.

And Steven said that I could call him at any time.

So, I did, I called him, and he persuaded me

to come to his apartment.

Where you slept with him?

Chandler: No, we just talked,

and he tried to get me

to leave my husband, but I couldn't.

Because, you see, I still believe that Ralph needed me.

So, after a few hours,

I was frightened that he would wake up and find me gone.

So, um, I went home.

And that was it.

That is the truth.

It's still going to be hard for a jury to swallow.

It's none of their business.

Look, um...

Steven is the only good thing in my life.

Ralph had me convinced that um...

That I couldn't love anybody.

And Steven changed that.

I had started to feel...

something that I hadn't done for a long time.

And if the jury sees it, you'll probably

go to the gas chamber.

- Grace. - They see a woman in love.

They're gonna believe the prosecution.

They're not going to look at you as the abused wife

who defended herself against a habitual rapist,

they're going to see you as the cheating bitch

who killed her husband for money.

I think you made your point.

Not telling us about Waering was a lie.

If you lie to us again, we drop the case.

[door closes]

[instrumental music]

He's got play group at 9:00 and Gymboree at 1:00.

And if Laura next door is taking Chelsea

they love each other, they can carpool.

Am I going too fast?

Play group at 9:00 and Gymboree at 1:00.

Try to get a date with the girl next door.

I can do that. I can do that.

Oh, great! We have to get my car.

Junk food is out, but yogurt's okay if it's low-fat.

And I hate to be a dictator, but I'm really

gonna have to insist on no visitors.

Kelsey: I hope you understand. - That's no problem.

You ready? Come on.

If he goes in the sun sometimes he gets a rash.

There's cream for it in the diaper bag.

I think you covered that, Ann.

Oh, and if you're reading My Little Pony,

he goes right to sleep,

but he won't go in the bathtub without Kermit.

You've got all the emergency numbers

by the phone both ours and the cars.

- See you tonight! Ned: Bye!

Don't hesitate to call, even if you think it's stupid--

Markowitz: Ann! I could've walked by now.

Bye-bye.

Okay, I talked to a friend and two guys he works with.

Waering is okay.

He's divorced, but he loves his kids.

He doesn't fool around...

His child support is always late,

his ex-wife is not a fan

and his business is in deep trouble.

Okay, so it ain't gonna be a picnic.

No.

Maybe I should take it, huh?

The judge could still be mad at you for--

Come on. I had to hit back.

Not with a writ. Grace, you lost your temper.

I had every right. They were walking all over us.

Chandler wasn't. She made a mistake.

You didn't have to slap her around.

I just told her the truth.

You scared the hell out of her.

That's just what her husband did it made her shut down.

She does that on the stand, we're dead.

I don't have time for this, okay?

I have to be ready for Waering in two hours.

Grace, this isn't like you.

Give yourself a break.

Let me cross Waering, give Green

a chance to cool off, huh?

It's my call. I can handle it.

Just be there to back me up.

[door opens]

Bailiff: Please come to order.

This court is now in session.

Come here, Mr. Kittredge.

I'm placing you on notice.

Any breach of decorum, even the slightest

will land you in front of the State Bar.

Your Honor, it's clear that you hate my guts and my client's.

Keep your voice down.

That's exactly what I'm talking about.

Kittredge: You're hamstringing me, Judge.

You're blocking any effective defense.

I've reached my limit with you, counsel.

I will not let you demean my courtroom.

Your Honor, I'd like to say something.

You can't. You're a member of a jury.

- I have to talk to you. - Objection.

Miss, the jury doesn't address the court.

Gwen: You have the discretion to let me, Your Honor.

People versus Gates. Upheld on appeal,

97 Cal. App. Third, 129.

[indistinct murmuring]

Alright. What's your problem?

Mr. Diamond isn't getting a fair trial.

We're supposed to concentrate on the facts here, and we can't.

All we can hear is you two yelling at each other.

I instructed you to ignore Mr. Kittredge.

And if you have complaints about me, you can take them

to the Judicial Performance Commission

after we're finished.

Judge, this juror has obviously formed an opinion.

Wrong. She's trying not to.

Put a sock in it, Frank.

She should be excused.

Well, then you'll have to excuse the whole jury.

We all feel the same.

You've discussed the case among yourselves.

Not testimony, not anything we might deliberate,

but when we're watching World War Three,

you can't just ignore it.

Do you know what you're saying?

We took an oath, Your Honor, to give you a verdict

based only on the evidence.

And I am telling you that right now we can't do it.

[door opens]

You are a stubborn old fart.

Well of all the... Get out of here!

Don't splutter at me, Leland. This is too important.

We can do each other a lot of good.

I would rather swim in nuclear waste.

Ha! Get over it, honey.

This place is in deep financial doody,

and everybody knows that.

Hold on. Just listen to my proposal.

If you don't like it, then you throw me out.

- You have two minutes. - I only need one.

I'm a cash cow. I have more money than God.

I will agree to pay anything you want for office space.

Refer you my litigation overflow, plus anything

my clients need outside the industry.

And I will even get you a deal with my insurance company.

In return for what?

Your downtown connections,

your sterling reputation.

You need a shot in the arm.

I'm looking to branch out.

Together, we're Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

She had the sex, he had the class.

If you mean a merger, that's out of the question.

I like to cohabit before I get married.

We, uh, share space. See what happens.

Trust me, nothing will.

But you like my offer.

We have the right to terminate, at any time

on a month's notice.

You pay for office services

and the use of the library.

Any joint clients? 50-50.

My name goes on the door.

We issue a press release and agree

to talk closer ties in six months.

A year and this will all have to be approved by the partners.

- It isn't final. - Small strokes, baby.

It's paperwork. We got a done deal.

[door opens]

[door closes]

Once again, Mr. Waering.

Mrs. Chandler visited your apartment regularly.

Three times over eight months.

And at least one of those times she spent the night with you.

Not the way you mean. No.

An attractive woman who loves you,

comes to your apartment at 1 a.m.

stays till dawn, and you don't sleep with her.

Objection. He's badgering.

Graphia: Witnesses is hostile, Your Honor.

Overruled.

Are you denying that you had a sexual relationship

with Elsa Chandler before her husband was killed?

Yes. We were friends.

Waering: I was trying to help her.

Help her leave her marriage, help her funnel

Ralph Chandler's money into your failing business?

- Objection. Judge Green: Sustained.

He was beating her, for God's sake he was raping her.

According to her.

But the truth was, Elsa Chandler

desperately wanted to be rid of her husband

so that she could be with you.

Van Owen: Objection. - No, no, no.

- She had to get out. - She wanted out because of you.

- And you needed cash. - No, wait a minute.

- We weren't the criminals-- - No further questions.

Waering: The way he treated her was psychotic.

What happened to Ralph Chandler was his own fault.

That'll do, Mr. Waering.

[indistinct whispering]

Not sure about him yet. You gotta build up sympathy fast.

You knew Elsa Chandler was married, didn't you?

As she told me when we met.

But she didn't tell me the kind of monster she was married to.

Objection. Non-responsive. Move to strike.

Jury will disregard the answer.

When did you realize that Elsa Chandler

was being abused by her husband?

Objection. No foundation. He didn't see any abuse.

He was with the defendant right after she was brutalized.

- This man is an eyewitness-- Graphia: After the fact.

I'll allow you some latitude, but don't push it.

Van Owen: I repeat, Mr. Waering.

When did you realize that Elsa Chandler

was being abused by her husband?

Waering: The night she came to my apartment.

At 1 a.m.

She was--she was white and shaking

Under her raincoat, her blouse was torn.

Her--her cheek was bruised.

And there was blood all over everything.

And...

And there were cuts.

Cuts on her neck.

and on her breasts.

Who did she say inflicted those cuts?

Ralph Chandler.

With a butcher knife.

Did Mrs. Chandler tell you these things easily?

Oh, no, no.

She couldn't talk for, for quite some time.

It was hours before she told me what had happened.

When it finally came out, I wanted to kill him myself.

Had she ever said anything about

her husband abusing her before this?

She tried so hard not to.

I-- I knew something was wrong,

but I could never get her to say what.

[sighs]

After all the sick things he did to her,

she was still loyal.

Mr. Waering, from what you witnessed that night,

from the physical evidence,

do you have any doubt that Elsa Chandler was severely abused?

She was bleeding. She was terrified.

You can't fake that.

Of course, she was abused.

Thank you, sir.

You don't know that Elsa Chandler

was abused by her husband.

In fact, Mr. Waering, you don't know

that she was abused by anybody.

- Objection. Graphia: I'll rephrase.

Couldn't Elsa Chandler have inflicted

what were really minor injuries on herself

in order to gain your sympathy?

It's possible but she didn't.

Graphia: The two of you were very close.

Maybe you agreed to back up Mrs. Chandler's story

to help her fabricate an excuse for murdering her husband.

- Objection. - Sustained.

You're in love with Elsa Chandler,

aren't you, Mr. Waering?

I don't see what that has to do with what I'm--

Answer the question please.

Are you in love with Elsa Chandler? Yes or no?

Yes.

Would you lie to save her life?

- No. - Objection!

- This is argumentative. Judge Green: Overruled.

According to phone company records,

Ralph Chandler called your store

from his office on July 10th, 1990.

Did he ask if his wife was there?

Yes.

And Elsa Chandler was there, wasn't she, Mr. Waering?

Yes.

Did you tell that to her husband?

He would have gone crazy--

Graphia: Did you tell Ralph Chandler his wife was there?

No.

So you lied to protect Mrs. Chandler?

Yes.

No further questions.

- I have a confession, Stewart. - Now?

Kelsey: You were right about Ned.

He's wonderful with Matthew.

I was being a chauvinist.

I had a knee jerk reaction to a male nanny.

Well, we got over it.

Matthew likes him. Turned out fine.

Except for the Marta fiasco.

That was all my fault.

I just rushed into hiring her.

Come on,

what's really going on?

I love being back at work, Stuart.

This may not be exactly the kind of law I want to practice,

but I wake up every morning,

I can't wait to get to the office.

And this is bad?

Maybe it's not fair to Matthew.

After three months, he's used to having me home.

So he'll get used to Ned.

Honey,

you hated taking him to Gymboree, right?

Oh!

Ned loves Gymboree.

And Matthew knows the difference.

Absolutely, I mean, you can discuss it with him,

but I'll bet you the happier you are, the happier he is.

And if coming in here and going to work

is what you want, Matthew would say go for it.

If he could talk better.

I love you.

Me too.

Wyles?

Are you able to render a verdict in this case based

solely on the evidence?

No, Your Honor.

Clerk: Zinsmeister.

Judge Swanson: Are you able to render a verdict in this case

based solely on the evidence?

No, Your Honor.

I have never seen anything like this

in 20 years on the bench.

Since the jury considers itself incapable

of an impartial verdict,

I have no choice but to declare a mistrial.

Ladies and gentlemen, you're excused.

I hope I never have the pleasure again.

[indistinct chatter]

[elevator dings]

[elevator door slides open]

[elevator door slides close]

Thanks.

You're the reason I won.

It was a mistrial.

Which I'll claim resulted from judicial misconduct.

In this state, I can argue double jeopardy.

I win and Mr. Diamond walks.

He should be tried again.

Absolutely.

But he has a very good lawyer.

And he had you.

[indistinct chatter]

Roth would have eventually persuaded

one of the party-goers to testify.

She'd have convicted on assault with an automatic weapon

and our friendly judge would've slapped

Mr. Diamond with the 6-year max.

- We made it all go away. - You had no case.

Those fights were deliberate. You used us.

I couldn't get the judge to bite.

But you were a dream come true.

You slimy son of a bitch.

Gwen: I'll go to the judge.

I'll tell him exactly what you did.

He already declared the mistrial.

And you have no proof.

You're out of your league, Miss Taylor.

This is no place for amateurs.

Mullaney: You were great.

But the boyfriend hurt us.

Anyway, they rest tomorrow and we put Elsa on

no later than Thursday.

Well, she does worry me.

She could get up there and check out.

She could protect herself so much

she sounds like the phone book.

You got another choice?

No, she's the only way we prove abuse.

But we got to hit hard on the temporary insanity.

She wasn't herself.

He made her do things she never would have done.

No, I'm going with self-defense.

And insanity, file both.

I'm not using both. I want a clean acquittal.

Oh, the odds are against us.

She took the gun with her.

We can't prove immediate threat.

We gotta have insanity to fall back on.

Look hey, it's still not guilty.

There's been too much publicity.

The judge would have to commit her.

We'd end up victimizing her again.

Grace, you don't want to go for broke here.

I don't want Elsa Chandler in a mental ward,

possibly for the rest of her life.

At least she'll have a life with straight self-defense,

you're taking too much of a gamble.

Don't second guess me, Tommy. I know what I'm doing.

So do I. You're acting out.

You've got an awful lot of anger about

the baby and you're letting it cloud your judgment.

Now, as your friend, I know it's got to be killing you,

and I'm sorry, but on behalf of our client, I think it stinks.

This was a mistake. You're not comfortable with second chair?

- I'll ask Jonathan. - Great.

You dump me, railroad the client.

Do your very best to screw things up.

You know what? What's hurting ya is still gonna be there.

[melancholic music]

I was accepted at Loyola but I never went.

I've always, always talked myself out of going back.

But do you want to be a lawyer?

I must.

I can't seem to get away from them.

And I've covered for enough to think I'd be good,

in spite of what happened today.

- Then do it. - It's not that easy.

Law school at night and a full time job, huh?

It'll be hell. You might not make it.

But if you don't try, you'll never know.

I'll need more flexible hours but

I'll make sure Arnie is covered.

If you want help convincing him, just let me know.

Thanks. You've been really great.

Oh, watch that. Careful.

This painting is worth more than your company.

Hey, Leland! I'm glad we caught you.

Wait by the door.

Frank Kittredge, my new associate.

Bloom: I promised a hired gun, I deliver.

The eminent Leland McKenzie.

Pleased to meet you.

Oh, Damn. Don't throw--

This is Gwen Taylor.

We've met.

Can you believe it? I'm payin' these putzes golden overtime.

I'll see you tomorrow, now these offices are really tacky

but they have huge possibilities.

- They're moving in? - Regrettably, yes.

[rumbling] Oh!

Oh! Where are you when I need you?

[melancholic music]

[theme music]