Original subtitles

[engine rumbling]

Hi, I'm-- I'm Arnold Becker, I'm Mr. Stulwicz's attorney.

- Good! Maybe he'll let you in. - Well, what's the problem?

The problem is he's got a 12 year old child in there

and he won't release him.

Becker: Benny! It's me, it's Arnie.

- Who are you? - Sharon Browning.

- Social Services. - Well, come on.

I came here to take custody of the child.

Mr. Stulwicz locked me out.

That's why I called the police.

Benny! C'mon, open up!

It's me, it's Arnie! Let me in!

Benny: Just you! - Alright.

Just me and Roxanne. Would you open up now?!

Becker: You guys just wait out here.

C'mon, Rox.

Becker: Who are you? - Sam Perry. Who are you?

I'm Arnold Becker, I'm his attorney.

Would you put down the bats?!

I told ya.

Becker: Where do you live? - He lives with me.

W-- what do you mean he lives with you?

Since when does he live with you?

Since the week after Thanksgiving.

Sam is homeless.

Benny found him going through the trash,

and well, he-- he moved in.

You've known about this?

He was afraid if he told people at the firm

you would intervene like you always do.

- I swore I wouldn't tell! - This is illegal, Roxanne.

He can't just take in a kid. This is not legal!

Officer: Mr. Becker! - I wanna live here.

Arnie, you gotta help us.

Don't let them take him away. Please!

I've been checking on them, Arnie.

Benny's doing a great job.

It doesn't matter!

He could be charged with kidnapping.

Officer: If you don't let us in, sir,

we'll have to break it down.

Alright!

Benny: Arnie, don't!

Look, you'll-- you'll have to come with us, Sam.

Please! Please!

Excuse me! Officer.

Sam: Hey. Benny: Hey, no, no!

He is not gonna hurt him!

Becker: Where are you taking him?

Sam: Benny! Browning: McLaren Hall.

Alright, go on. Go, go, go. Just go!

- Don't let them take me! Benny: He lives here!

[inaudible]

- Ah-- - Just...

You said he'd help!

- Arnie! - I will help!

We'll jump right on it tomorrow.

- Come for me, Benny! - Let's go.

Ya gotta come for me!

Don't let them do this!

Hey--

Officer: Move along, now.

[indistinct chatter]

[engine whirring]

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Brackman: He's been there three months?

According to Roxanne, who knew about this,

Benny's been a pretty good parent.

He even got the kid enrolled in school.

That's how Social Services caught up with him.

Benny couldn't show any proof of legal guardianship.

- Where are the real parents? Becker: No father.

Mother's an alcoholic who abandoned him.

The kid was living on the streets for two months.

- Oh, my God. Becker: Look, I promised Benny.

Becker: We'd try to help get him back.

Grace is gonna handle it

since I could be a witness.

Brackman: Wait a second.

We're actually gonna advocate

that Benny keep this kid?

- Why not? - What's wrong with that?

He's mentally retarded.

I pledged this firm's support

and he gets it, Douglas.

Brackman: Alright. But please,

people, under no circumstances

is this firm to assume guardianship responsibilities.

On a more soothing note, I'm pleased to announce that

no charges will be filed against Tommy Mullaney

in the self-defense shooting of John Harvey.

- That must be a relief. - Yeah.

I am so surprised they even considered it.

Thanks. Thanks, guys.

Brackman: Uh, where are we on

Malone versus. Westside Medical, et al?

Depositions start today.

Brackman: Any settlement offer to our client?

Nothing worth mentioning.

- How much. - Twenty-five thousand.

Is it realistic to hope for more? Did you counter?

Client doesn't want to.

Well, don't you think she should?

We're more concerned with stopping this guy

from operating on anybody else.

It's only a matter of time before he kills someone.

But is that the client talking or you?

Rollins: Besides, isn't this guy you're suing like,

the top orthopedic surgeon in the universe?

I've got a client who came out of surgery paralyzed for life,

and a scrub nurse who says that something weird happened

to the universe's top orthopedic surgeon

in the operating room that day.

I'm gonna find out what!

Good for you.

Becker: Good for her?

Mr. Settlement?

Mr. "Take the Money and Run?"

Excuse me. Believe it or not, I happen to think

there are certain things more important than money.

Douglas... are you feeling okay?

- I'm on your side, Ann. - Thank you, Douglas.

Now, if that concludes our business, we're adjourned.

I'll be right outside, Sam.

I'll drive you back to McLaren when you're finished.

Great. I can't wait.

Brackman: Now, we can help you with this fight,

but you both have to realize, this is your fight.

Which means, Benny, you will have to go to court and testify.

I know. I'm-- I'm ready.

Are you guys sure that you want to live together?

Sam: We're sure. Van Owen: Why?

Why?! 'Cause I hate sleeping in dumpsters.

He's hates being alone.

He's a scared to sleep in the dark unless--

- I am not! - Are too.

You know, if you go to court, you have to take an oath.

- I've been to court five times. - Alright.

Sam: Look, we've both got nobody else.

- Benny has us. - Yeah?

You let him pick up your laundry or get your mail.

If he gets lucky, he gets to sit in your Porsche

and sniff the leather.

You tell him that?

Sam: You treat him good, he knows it.

But when was the last time you had him over to eat?

- You visit him much? - Show some respect, young man.

Benny and me need each other, okay?

So just tell us. Yes or no?

Don't go and get my hopes up.

Will you help us?

I called Judge Robin's clerk.

- We're booked for 7:30 a.m. - 7:30?!

Her day was full, it was the only time she had.

Put me on the stand, and we'll go from there.

You sure these guys know what they're doing?

Hey! Respect.

- Arnie, you gotta minute? - Sure.

What's up?

Arnie, let me ask you a very direct question.

Go ahead.

Are you happy in your life?

Yeah. Sure.

No complaints? No regrets?

Nothing serious.

Anything you'd change if you could?

Where is this going, Susan?

Bloom: I had dinner last night with Ken Feldman.

Who's Ken Feldman?

Executive Producer of the Sun-up show.

And he asked me to see if you might be interested

in becoming their full-time legal segment reporter.

- Me? - He looked at your tapes.

He's impressed by your Q-rating,

and he loves your demo.

[sighs] Gee, Susan...

I... I don't know.

Well, if you're not interested--

I didn't say that. I mean...

I just-- it's like being jumped from single "A"

right to the big leagues. I...

I don't even know if I'm ready.

Well, he thinks you are.

So do I.

[sighs] I don't know what to say.

Becker: What would it involve?

First of all, it involves money.

Now I took the liberty of feeling him out about

a... three year, two and a half million dollar deal.

Bloom: He didn't blink.

Now, I might even be able to do better than that.

Are you interested?

I don't know-- yeah!

I mean, I'd be crazy not to be.

Now, it's be a full-time job, lots of travel.

You'd have to cut back on your law practice.

Would I have to live in New York?

Because that would be a deal-breaker.

I don't know.

Lemme think.

Okay.

They're doing the show in L.A. for a week.

Let me arrange a lunch date,

the two of you can get to know each other.

I mean, you may hate each other.

- Set it up. - Alright.

Only, don't tell anyone.

You know how the rumor mill loves this stuff.

I won't.

I promise.

Good.

Come here, you gotta hear this.

[beeping] Yes?

Receptionist: Veronica Berg to see you.

Send her in.

[door opens] Veronica. Come in.

Douglas, I can't accept this money!

[door closes] Of course you can.

But, ten thousand dollars--

Veronica, you're going to need it

to live and I have it to give.

What else is money for?

But you've done so much already.

You and Grace convinced the school board not to appeal and--

Please, please. This is my way

of letting you know that you and Ricky aren't alone.

That I'll always be there for both of you.

[sighs]

I don't know what to say.

There's nothing to say.

- You're gonna make me cry. - Oh, come on.

This is nothing.

You'd do the same for me.

How's Ricky doing?

He's back at Logan, thanks to you.

Ah, he loves it,

and the teachers say they already see progress.

Have you found a place yet?

I rented a small house,

and I'll be moving up there next week.

I've always loved Santa Barbara.

So, your being there

gives me a good excuse for visiting.

Douglas,

how can I ever repay you?

Have dinner with me Wednesday.

I'd love to.

Good.

[indistinct chatter]

Okay, got it.

[sighs] Here goes.

Are you nervous?

There were only two things I wanted to avoid in life,

hospitals and lawsuits.

I know.

You're doing the right thing.

Ms. Whitcomb, you were scrub nurse

for Doctors Banes and Paterson during the operation

which is the subject of this lawsuit.

That's correct.

Hastings: And you filed an incident report

with the operating room supervisor

which is in large measure is the basis for the suit.

Whitcomb: Yes, I did.

Please describe the circumstances

which led you to file your report.

The operation was to remove

the patient's second lumbar disc

and to fuse the vertebrae.

Dr. Banes was almost finished,

the disc was out, the fusion was done,

there's a point where the surgeon checks

to see if there's any bleeding or any sharp pieces of bone...

o-- or any disc left.

Suddenly he stopped operating,

he started turning his head from side to side.

Whitcomb: As he turned his head, he looked at the field

with first one eye, and then the other.

Then, finally he asked the circulating nurse

to wipe his glasses.

Does that exhaust your chronicle of

Dr. Banes' strange behavior, Ms. Whitcomb?

He paused for a period of time,

then asked to have his glasses wiped?

Is the sarcasm really necessary?

Whitcomb: The part about the glasses was unusual.

There was no reason to wipe the glasses.

I mean, they weren't steamed up

or bloody or anything.

Were you looking out of the doctor's glasses?

My point is, is that one minute he was operating

and the next minute he turns and walks out.

Hastings: So I'm sure I understand you,

you're not alleging you saw Dr. Banes

make any surgical errors,

as best as it's within your capacity

as a scrub nurse to know.

No. I did not see him make any error.

You also didn't file an incident report

at the time of the operation, did you?

Whitcomb: No. Hastings: Neither that day...

Hastings: Nor the next. Whitcomb: No.

I filed the report

a week later,

when I heard the patient

was paralyzed.

Hastings: Which happened to be

the same date you resigned

from Westside Medical and

left the nursing profession.

I was planning to leave

nursing for some time.

Isn't it true you were written up by

two doctors for "unprofessional conduct."

"Unprofessional conduct" means "personality conflict."

Hastings: Isn't there at least one surgeon at Westside

who refused to have you assist him in the O.R.?

Why are you talking to her like that?!

Kelsey: Rachel--

Malone: She didn't make the mistake

that left me like this!

She had nothing to gain by coming forward.

Why do you make it sound as if she's lying?!

As much as I may sympathize with your situation, Ms. Malone,

my job is to represent the interests

of Dr. Banes and Dr. Paterson.

If that means exploring the motivations

of a scrub nurse, I am going to do that.

If it means when it comes time to depose you,

I explore the possibility your paralysis

may have other causes, rest assured,

I am going to do that, too.

Okay. Here are the pros.

Money.

Not just short-term,

but if I'm good at this, I can expand from just doing

legal segments to doing in-studio interviews,

to who knows?

And then there's the prestige factor.

I mean, you're a celebrity, but it's not like

your teeny bopper kind of fame,

it's classier.

Plus which you get to travel,

you get to meet all sorts of interesting individuals--

- Women. - With a forum like this...

You could reach literally millions of people.

Rox, this is an opportunity to make a real difference.

Okay, what about the cons?

For one thing,

I'm giving up my legal practice,

which means a lot to me.

I'm giving up my relationship with McKenzie-Brackman,

which also means a lot to me.

And I know I'd have to spend a lot of time

in New York, and I hate New York!

- What about me? - What do ya mean?

Aren't I a consideration?

- Of course you are. - Pro or con?

This is not about you, Roxanne.

The hell it isn't!

We live together!

I-- if you take this job, it changes your life.

If your life changes, my life changes!

This is incredibly selfish of you, Rox!

- Me?! - You know, most men...

Their wives go along with whatever they decide to do.

[spray hissing]

Their wives?!

Are you asking me to marry you, Arnie?

Oh, thanks a lot. I'm trying to make one of

the most important career decisions of my life

and all you can think about is how it's going to affect you!

[grunts]

Do you have an opinion as to whether

Benjamin Stulwicz would make a good parent?

Becker: I think he would make an excellent parent.

He's extremely responsible.

He owns and maintains his own house.

He's a dependable worker who very ably

manages the mail room at our law firm.

He has exceptional organizational skills,

and he's a very caring and loving person.

I'm afraid sorting the mail is a little different

than raising a child, Mr. Becker.

Yes, it is, but there are a lot of lawyers and teachers

and... even judges who fail miserably at parenthood.

Becker: But I know this man.

He's moral. He's loving.

Given that and given the functional intelligence

that I know Benny has, I'm telling you, he can do it.

Thank you. I have nothing further.

Mr. Becker, you first met Mr. Stulwicz

when he was arrested for assault and robbery?

- He was acquitted. Weisberg: Yes.

Uh, your defense was

that this man lacked

the mental capacity to form

culpable intent, is that right?

Right.

This man was also arrested

for rape, was he not?

Objection. That was a case of mistaken identity.

He confessed the crime to the police.

Becker: Because he didn't understand the charges.

That's right. Because he didn't understand.

He thought that he was being arrested

for going to a strip joint.

Weisberg: Right, Mr. Becker? - Yes.

Weisberg: And this would-be parent

did, in fact, go to a nude strip joint

where he paid a woman to take off her clothes

and talk to him.

A lot of men go to strip joints, Mr. Weisberg.

Do you?

It's certainly not a habit, but... I've been.

Mr. Stulwicz was again arrested in December

for disorderly conduct and assault,

after getting into a barroom brawl.

He went to the defense of a senior citizen

who was embroiled in the fight.

And he was arrested!

Becker: He was sticking up for a friend.

He's not a criminal, Mr. Weisberg.

He's a responsible person.

Oh, do you consider joining

a religious cult responsible behavior?

He made a mistake there.

Weisberg: He paid the "Children of God" a thousand dollars.

And what did you do, Mr. Becker?

You came running to court claiming that

this man didn't have the mental faculties

to enter into a contract!

- And the judge disagreed. Weisberg: Yes.

But, you said that he had diminished capacity,

didn't you, Mr. Becker?!

You argued that this man couldn't

protect his own best interests.

- Yes, but I was trying-- Weisberg: Yes.

And now you want to vest in him

the interests of a 12 year old boy!

Your Honor--

Benny would make a good parent!

Have you ever been a parent, Mr. Becker?

Objection!

What is that supposed to mean?!

I mean, that you're up here

giving us an expert opinion

on his ability to be a good father.

I'd like to know if you ever tried parenthood, Mr. Becker?!

Van Owen: Objection! - How'd you do?

Judge Robin: Alright, Mr. Weisberg!

This line of questioning is irrelevant here.

Sorry, Your Honor. I have nothing further.

Kelsey: Dr. Banes, why did Ms. Malone require surgery?

She had a ruptured disc in her mid-back

which was causing a great deal of pain.

Was there anything atypical about her condition?

Dr. Banes: She was younger than most people

with such advanced disc disease,

and the rupture was higher in the lumbar column

than we usually see. It was also quite large.

Before the operation, did you discuss with

Ms. Malone the possibility of complications?

There are always inherent risks in this kind of surgery.

I explained to her that there was

a chance of infection and bleeding.

Dr. Banes: Also that her pain might not go away.

I also told her that there was a remote possibility

that she might experience

a post-operative weakness in her legs.

By "weakness" do you mean paralysis?

The chance of that happening is far less than one percent,

but it did exist.

And did you tell her that her "weakness"

might include an inability to control her bladder or bowels,

that she might need a catheter and a colostomy?

Yes, those are the sequelae of post-operative paralysis

in this sort of procedure.

As I say, they are extremely rare.

How did the operation go, doctor?

Technically, it went fine.

Your scrub nurse described a time at the end of the operation

when you appeared to become disoriented.

I was hardly disoriented.

My glasses became fogged.

Your nurse didn't see any fog on your glasses, doctor.

Was anything wrong with your vision?

- No. No. Kelsey: With your coordination?

Why were turning your head from side to side?

I told you, so we could see better.

We sweat during an operation.

We breathe behind surgical masks.

Sometimes our glasses fog.

Kelsey: But you were fine. Dr. Banes: Yes.

And the operation was "technically" fine.

Yes!

And Rachel Malone is

paralyzed for life!

I'm afraid so.

It's going badly, isn't it?

I didn't expect he'd admit to botching the operation, Rachel.

We're just gettin' him on the record.

But even the scrub nurse only said

Dr. Banes had behaved strangely,

she didn't say he'd done anything wrong.

Rachel, please trust me.

We're in the process of making our case.

We've got a long way to go yet.

Do you really believe I have a chance, Ann?

Do you really believe that?

Yes. I really believe it.

Cap off, Sam.

- Cap off. - Sorry.

What was it like, living with Benny?

It was great. I had my own room.

I could sleep. I could eat.

Sam: T.V.

Did you go to school?

Yeah, Benny made me.

And he made me get braces.

Van Owen: Did he ever yell at you or hit you?

Sam: He yells at me to take a bath.

Mostly when I'm dirty.

Sometimes when I'm clean.

He never hits me.

Before you met Benny,

where were you living?

On the street.

Van Owen: And before that?

In my mom's car, but, uh, [sighs]

I don't know where she is now.

Where's your dad?

Sam: In Detroit.

He used to, uh, beat up my mom and me, so we left.

Van Owen: And what happened when you got to L.A., Sam?

My mom...

she left me at a gas station.

Van Owen: If it were up to you, Sam,

would you like to go back and live with Benny Stulwicz?

Yeah!

Van Owen: Mrs. Barrett thinks that

you should be in McLaren Hall.

Sam: Tell Mrs. Barrett she can go

live in McLaren Hall!

They give you food and a bed.

Benny gave me a place to live.

Van Owen: Thank you, Sam.

Hi, Sam. My name is Ed Weisberg

and I'm the lawyer for the county.

I just have a few questions for ya.

Weisberg: When you lived with Mr. Stulwicz

did you get a lot of homework?

Sam: Yeah. - I bet it was hard.

Did you ever ask Benny to help you with it?

Not if I wanted the right answers.

Weisberg: Why is that? - He's retarded.

Sam: He doesn't think real fast at school stuff.

- Doesn't that bother you? - No!

I mean, I'm supposed to be doin' my own homework anyway, right?

Did your parents do your homework?

[woman chuckles]

I bet you did your own.

You're right.

Sam, what if your friends

made fun of him?

I mean, how would that make you feel?

[inhales] Well, if they made fun of Benny, I'd kick their butts.

Weisberg: Sam, you gotta level with me here.

Do you really think you're gonna listen

to what Benny says? A retarded man?

Sam: My father wasn't retarded,

he used to kick me in the head!

My mother was pretty smart and all she ever did was drink!

Benny comes home every night.

We eat together seven days a week.

You know, we play cards, we talk.

It may not seem like a lot to you.

It's all I got.

- Thank you, Sam. Judge Robin: Alright.

Judge Robin: We'll reconvene tomorrow at 3 o'clock.

Until then, we're adjourned.

[instrumental music]

Feldman: I'll be real candid with you, Arnie.

I like you and I like what you do.

Becker: Thank you.

You come across as credible and I tell you what,

in this business, that's very important.

And, you have that... thing.

What thing?

The camera loves you.

I think with you on our team

the Sun-up Show could kick

some serious ass.

[sighs] I'm very flattered--

Oh, no. No, no, I'm not-- I'm not trying flatter you here.

I'm making you an offer, Arnie, based on my own selfish interest

which I hope will be mutually beneficial to both of us.

Well, based on what Susan Bloom told me,

the money sounds more or less adequate.

But the part that troubles me the most

is giving up my law practice.

Arn, try looking at it this way, uh...

I like to think that you wouldn't be

giving it up so much as-- as...

expanding it to national proportions.

- I like the sound of that. - Yeah.

- Are-- are you married? - No.

- Gay? - Uh-uh.

Well, Arn, all I can tell you is

as a single guy with the kind of national exposure

you're going to be getting on the Sun-up Show,

well, let's just say, if you ever wanted to

take your love life public, I'd buy stock.

Tell me about Brooks Tapman.

Brooks, uh, well, what can I tell you about Brooks...

You know, what you see is what you get.

He's a good anchor, he's got a good mind.

He's a-- he's a man's man.

What does he feel about me?

First of all, Arnie, Brooks Tapman is

not the boss of the Sun-up Show, I am.

Okay, and second of all, I gotta believe that you two guys are,

are gonna hit it off big time.

What's Louise Harper like?

She's smart, she's tough,

she gives great interview

and she's got major breasts.

Married?

In the midst of a divorce.

Feldman: Arnie, there's something to consider here.

Uh, maybe you could give her the benefit of...

your input.

[woman laughing]

Come on, Jeff, my client's worth five points.

Okay, okay, four, but you are stealing her.

[kisses]

No, a June start date is not a problem.

Great, I'll work the rest out with legal. Ciao, babe.

How'd it go?

I think he liked me.

Liked you? Heh.

He just called me from his car.

He is seriously pregnant.

- Alright. - He-he.

There's only one hurdle left.

- Brooks Tapman? - He wants to meet you.

Oh, I hear this guy is really tough on people.

Arnie, baby,

I'd always heard exactly the same thing about you,

but the truth is you are a sensitive, caring man

that people often misunderstand

because they confuse who you are with what you do.

That's true.

I've set up lunch tomorrow at Nicky Blair's.

Now if anyone can forge a bond with Brooks Tapman, it's you.

Kelsey: It's your testimony, Dr. Paterson,

that nothing unusual or untoward occurred

while you and Dr. Banes performed Ms. Malone's surgery.

That's right. There was no hematoma,

no bone fragment, no cord infarct.

That's why her bad outcome was so disturbing.

"Bad outcome."

That's another one of those physician's euphemisms

I'm going to have to get used to.

Kelsey: Now, I keep saying that you and Dr. Banes

performed the surgery, in fact,

it was pretty much Dr. Banes' show.

I assisted him. That is correct.

During the part of the procedure in which your scrub nurse

described Dr. Banes as becoming distracted or disoriented,

would that have been the time Dr. Banes was examining

Ms. Malone's spinal cord for possible damage?

Well, I do not agree with her description

of Dr. Banes' behavior, but yes,

that would have been the time he was examining the cord.

You have enormous respect for Dr. Banes, don't you?

Yes, I do, professionally and personally.

Dr. Banes pioneered the procedure we used that day.

He also established a fellowship program

for orthopedic and neurosurgical residents.

I couldn't have completed

my training without his generosity.

So you respect him and you're

very grateful to him as well.

That's right.

So grateful that if you

had any doubts about his capacity

to perform as a physician, you'd want to protect him

or at least give him the benefit of the doubt.

I have no such concerns, Ms. Kelsey.

Doctor, would the way in which

Nurse Whitcomb described Dr. Banes

as behaving be consistent with

someone having a petit mal seizure?

Well, that description could fit a number of conditions.

Would it describe, say, a transient ischemic episode

what a lay person would call a minor stroke?

Yes, but I still do not agree with your predicate.

In either case, wouldn't it be possible

that once the episode was concluded

Dr. Banes might be unaware that it had occurred

that he might believe he had done

the spinal cord examination when in fact he hadn't?

This is preposterous!!

Kelsey: And that given your respect and admiration

and esteem for your colleague

you might assume he'd done the examination as well?

Dr. Peters: That is not what happened!

Kelsey: How do you know that he--

How dare you!!

I've done that operation more times

than anyone else in the world!

I've trained 50 other surgeons to do it!

People come from all over the world to train with me!

[soft music]

Alrighrt, Jack.

[grunts] Jack, take it easy.

[clears throat]

Are you alright?

Yes.

Yes, I'm-- I'm fine.

So, Mr. Stulwicz, you think you could be a good parent?

Yes.

Weisberg: Well, let's say that Sam got hurt.

Say he fell down some stairs and was unconscious.

What would you do?

I'd take him to the doctor.

- Can you drive a car? - No.

Then how would you get him to a doctor?

I'd call Arnie or Roxanne...

Weisberg: What if they weren't home?

You know, we can't always rely on our friends, Mr. Stulwicz.

What if they weren't home?

Your Honor, this is badgering.

Weisberg: What would you do? Benny: Um, I...

I'd-- I'd call 9-1-1.

Mr. Stulwicz, this is a bottle of aspirin.

Could you read the label, please?

"Uh, f-- for temporary relief

of minor aches and pains--"

What's the dosage for a 12 year old?

Benny: "Adults and children over 12--"

Weisberg: No, I'm sorry, that's over twelve.

I-- I asked you for a 12 year old.

Uh...

Should you give any to a baby?

Uh...

Weisberg: How about to a child under six?

[stammers] I don't know.

Van Owen: Objection. We're not talking about

babies or children under six,

and testing my client like this is unfair.

I'm afraid it's relevant, Ms. Van Owen. Overruled.

Would you read the part where it says "warning", please?

Benny: "Children and teenagers should not use this medicine

"for chicken-pox

or flu sym-- symptoms."

What are the symptoms of chicken-pox, Mr. Stulwicz?

I-- I don't know.

Would you be able to tell if Sam

were under the influence of drugs?

I think so.

Weisberg: How would you tell?

I-- I don't know.

Weisberg: You don't know.

I only have one more question, okay?

Who do you think is smarter, you or Sam?

- Objection. Weisberg: I'm sorry, Your Honor.

But let's face it. This man is supposed to be a guardian.

He's mentally retarded, he can't even understand

a bottle of aspirin.

Van Owen: Objection. - Alright, Mr. Weisberg.

You've made your point.

I have nothing further.

Judge Robin : Alright.

You can step down now, Mr. Stulwicz.

I'll hear closing arguments

from counsel at 9 a.m. tomorrow,

and I'll make my decision by the end of the day.

Bailiff: This court is now adjourned.

[engine rumbling]

[engine stops]

Douglas, I had a lovely evening. Thank you.

The pleasure was mine, believe me.

[chuckling]

Oh, you know...

I don't know how to begin to...

to thank you for all that you've done for me.

Veronica, I'm going to say something here,

and I hope it doesn't offend you.

But I've grown quite fond of you.

Well, why would it offend me?

Well, I don't know. Maybe fondness

isn't a strong enough word...

to describe what I'm feeling.

What are you feeling?

Actually, I find myself...

extremely attracted to you.

Well, what would you say if I told you the feeling was mutual?

So if I were... to kiss you now?

Kiss and find out.

[instrumental music]

Your Honor,

what we have here,

is parenting by default.

It was kind of Mr. Stulwicz to take care of Sam Perry,

but that doesn't mean he qualifies as a good father.

Sam did fall, temporarily,

through the cracks in the system,

but that doesn't mean that a mentally retarded single man

with a history of violence is his best shot at a family.

And while we're all impressed by the affection

between Sam and Mr. Stulwicz,

that doesn't mean that Mr. Stulwicz

would be able to deal with the complex,

frustrating job of raising an adolescent.

As much as I admire Mr. Stulwicz for trying,

and I do...

I must ask that the court deny his petition for guardianship.

Benny Stulwicz found Sam Perry

looking through his garbage for food.

Sam had one pair of torn sneakers

and a thin cotton jacket.

He'd been on the streets for two months

and the Department of Social Services didn't know he existed.

Van Owen: It was Benny Stulwicz who gave Sam Perry a home.

He didn't ask questions,

he didn't ask to be compensated.

He saw a child in need and he responded.

And Sam, maybe for the first time in his life...

had someone who cared.

Right now, Sam lives in McLaren Hall,

along with 200 other kids.

He sees a social worker maybe twice a year.

He stands in line for food.

He stands in line to go to the bathroom.

People are searched before they can visit him.

And the reality is Sam Perry will

probably spend the rest of his childhood

in institutions like McLaren

because there aren't enough people out there

who are willing or able to take these kids into their homes.

Benny Stulwicz is willing, Your Honor.

He loves this kid.

And over the past three months,

he has proven himself

more than able to take care of him.

Mr. Stulwicz would not have to ask this court's permission

to raise a child of his own.

He is asking permission to raise a child...

that nobody else wants.

Please...

don't throw Sam back into a system

that already failed him once.

Give him a chance for a real home.

Thank you.

[beeping]

You son of a bitch!

Sheila.

How could you do that?!

I assume you're talking about me and Veronica?

How could you humiliate me like this?!

Sheila, no one is trying to humiliate anyone.

All this is about is two people

who've discovered a mutual need to be with one another.

You're schtupping my baby sister!

Well, you schtupped my baby brother!

So, I was right.

You're doing this just to get back at me!

I'm not doing anything to you!

Brackman: I'm doing something for me.

I didn't set out to fall in love with your sister,

it just happened.

- Pervert! - Pervert?!

This is incest!

But do you care? No!

Do you think for one single minute

how this is gonna make your sons feel?!

No!

All you care about is your own

disgusting perverted sexual desires!

This is not perversion! This is not incest!

This is two single people

who have every right to be with each other!

I hope your thing falls off, you son of a bitch!

Yours, too, you son of a bitch!

[door closes]

[sighs]

They've made a settlement offer.

A lump sum of one million dollars,

plus payment of any medical bills to date

not covered by your insurance,

plus 40,000 dollars a year to cover ongoing costs

of care and rehabilitation for as long as you live.

It's not as much as I'd hoped.

But, they're admitting he made a mistake.

No. You're being compensated for your medicals,

for your pain and suffering, for your loss of income.

Dr. Banes would admit no guilt,

there would be no sanctions against him,

and we've have to agree never to discuss the settlement.

No one else will ever know

except his malpractice insurance carrier.

So they raise their rates...

and he raises his.

Let's talk about the alternatives, Rachel.

If we go to trial, it could be that the jury

would not find for our side and we'd get nothing.

Kelsey: Or they could find for us and the award could be

significantly less than what you're being offered.

And you'll have to take the witness stand.

That won't be fun.

Most people wind up feeling victimized a second time.

Are you saying I should settle?

My responsibility as your lawyer

is to lay out all the options.

If you're asking what I think would happen in trial,

given what we saw in that conference room yesterday,

I think we'd take them to the cleaners.

And I want to...

I want to get the knife out of that man's hands.

And what if I do win? Then what?

They'll appeal.

How long would that take?

It could take years.

The money they're offering...

is enough to pay for my kids' educations...

enough to make sure I'll never be a burden to them.

Is the rest of it...

my obligation,

to see that he can't practice medicine anymore?

To be some kind of social protector?

I can't answer that question for you, Rachel.

Ann...

I haven't got the strength

or the patience to go any further.

If Dr. Banes shouldn't be practicing,

the system is going to have to

find its own way to get rid of him.

I've given all I've got to give.

Tapman: So, what did you think of Ken Feldman?

Becker: He's alright.

Basically, he's a network guy.

And the network is trying to cut

our operating costs to the bone,

but all things considered, he's a pretty good guy.

Mr. Tapman, may I have your autograph?

Absolutely! What's your name?

Barbara.

I really admire your work so much.

The whole show is great.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you. And keep watching.

I will.

Woof. What a beast.

[laughs]

Shh.

Anyway...

I know it's gonna sound corny,

but do you want to know the truth

about the Sun-up Show gang?

It's a family.

Sure, we have our squabbles,

but dammit, if someone comes after you...

they're gonna have to take on all of us.

That sounds almost too good to be true. I mean--

Life is too short.

And the work is too hard.

If you can't have fun

with friends you trust, what's the point?

I couldn't agree with you more.

You spend much time in New York?

Becker: Uh, no. Not really.

It's a zoo.

Now if you take this job,

and I sincerely hope you do,

insist on a car and a driver.

Make it a deal breaker.

Good advice.

We could have a lot of fun, Arnie.

A lot of fun.

I'd call your client's particular attention

to the eighth term of the agreement.

I've gone over the agreement with Ms. Malone, Arthur.

Any breach of the confidentiality clause

means the payments stop, Ms. Malone,

and we sue for all of our money back.

I understand.

Then I think our business here is concluded.

Kelsey: Have you discussed the AMA rules

with your clients, Arthur?

Specifically, the sanctions which could attach

to any physician knowingly concealing a condition

which endangers his patients?

I don't need you to tell me the rules of the AMA.

Kelsey: Who are you operating on today, doctor?

Is that really necessary?

You're bound by those rules, too.

You have an affirmative responsibility to reveal

knowledge of another doctor's impairment.

You do not get to lecture us, madam!

Everyone who saw you in this conference room yesterday,

recognizes that you have a medical problem, doctor,

and I'm sorry about that.

But if you continue to deny it,

you are no better than a common criminal

and neither are those who protect you!

She's right, Jack.

We both know it. You've gotta do something.

It could be a repairable vessel.

It could be 20 different things we can help.

- I know. I know. - I'll get you through it.

Some things you go through alone.

Bloom: Uh-uh. Yeah.

[whispers] I want it.

Bloom: I'll call you back.

- Are you sure? Becker: Yes.

I want 800,000 the first year,

I'll give'em a two year option after that

at a million and a million-five,

my own dressing room,

a car and driver at my disposal whenever I'm in New York.

And I get to keep my wardrobe. [chuckles]

I'll see what I can do.

[exhales]

[instrumental music]

[chuckles]

[instrumental music]

Bailiff: Please be seated.

I've never had a case like this before.

I'm not sure anyone has.

On the face of things,

Mr. Stulwicz doesn't meet the standards

the county sets for guardians.

Judge Robin: But if it had been up to the county,

Sam Perry might not be alive today.

It was Mr. Stulwicz who got him off the street...

who cared for him, who paid attention to him...

who loved him.

If that doesn't make Mr. Stulwicz a parent,

I don't know what would.

I, therefore grant Mr. Stulwicz petition

for temporary guardianship of Sam Perry.

And I order that Sam remain a dependent of the court

and that continuing assistance be provided

by the Department of Social Services.

We'll reconvene in six months,

at which time the court will review the record...

and consider Mr. Stulwicz petition

for permanent guardianship.

That's all, folks.

I won?

[soft music]

You won.

We live together?

[laughs]

Oh.

Yes, you do.

[laughs]

Oh.

[theme music]