Original subtitles

Ms. Lamb, the United States Government is deeply saddened

by what happened to your client's wife.

Oh, is that why you're trying to shut us up?

Why you had us slapped with a gag order the day we filed?

I thought we were here to talk settlement.

Alright. What's your offer?

- A hundred thousand. - That's insulting!

No admission of liability, the case stays sealed.

And nobody will ever know what happened to Catherine Phillips?

Forget it.

You're obligated to discuss

this with your client.

Oh, I will.

And he'll be as disgusted as I am.

You put Louis Videro, a dangerous criminal,

into your Witness Protection Program.

C.J.: You locate him in a residential neighborhood

where he brutally murders an innocent woman.

And now you offer her husband a hundred thousand dollars

to buy him off?

You people are really something!

Before you reject this, I'd think about a few things.

Such as?

The national interest.

We're fighting a war against drugs, Ms. Lamb.

The Witness Protection Program is a vital weapon.

Reisman: We'd appreciate your cooperation.

I don't believe I'm hearing this.

We do not appreciate people who work against our interest.

Reisman: One like you could have immigration problems.

And then there's your...

unorthodox lifestyle.

Is that a threat?

Not at all.

I'm merely pointing out the facts.

The system works best

when we all work together.

Let's get something clear.

My client is not going to be bought off

and I am not gonna be scared off.

Catherine Phillips is dead

because of the government's negligence.

And you are going to be held accountable.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumenal music]

Where is Tommy Mullaney?

McKenzie: He's running late,

according to his assistant.

Brackman: For the second time,

this week. Next up.

The James Phillips vs. United States of America.

Did I hear rumblings of a settlement?

We turned them down.

Are you out of your mind?

Kelsey: I agree with her, Douglas.

The Government didn't supervise Videro.

This case is worth at least ten times their offer.

But they're claiming immunity.

You know they're gonna beat this.

Rollins: But if there's gross negligence,

you can get around immunity. Maybe.

Kelsey: Can you get Videro to testify?

C.J.: No.

He pled guilty to the murder.

He's in prison now and he won't cooperate.

The Government's moved to dismiss against us,

but the judge wants a full hearing.

It doesn't matter. The case is a loser.

If we accept the Government's offer, Douglas,

we'll be telling them it's okay to conduct business

any damned way they choose, regardless of the consequences.

I admire your principles.

It's your judgement I question.

Well, let's bear in mind that

there's a gag order in place here.

Not a word of this is to leave the room.

Underscored. We can't afford the fines.

- Moving along-- Roxanne: Excuse me.

But you wanted to know when Arnie was on.

Rollins: It's today? Markowitz: Oh, yeah.

He's gonna keep on debuting until he gets it right.

[all laughs]

Arnold, coast to coast.

It's a terrifying thought.

Rollins: I'll say.

male narrator: Is the place to be!

We'll have a live report in half an hour.

female reporter: That's it for the news. Brooks?

Thanks, Kelly.

And now we're pleased to welcome

Attorney Arnold Becker,

Brooks: who'll be demystifying

the legal process for us.

Arnie, it's good to have you here.

Good to be here, Brooks.

He's such a natural.

No offense, but I think most of us

would rather go to the dentist

than a lawyer. Why is that?

Well, most people only think that you go to a dentist

when you're in pain or to a lawyer when you're in trouble.

Except really, a lawyer can quite

often be a preventative to trouble.

But it's not just that, is it?

It's also a question of ethics.

Well, there is a perception that some attorneys

act more in their own best interests than their clients'.

Dragging out a case with

endless depositions to increase billable hours.

"Star" lawyers more interested in promoting themselves

than their client's case.

Exactly.

Brooks: And, yet, you yourself

released a video casette, didn't you?

"Arnold Becker's Do-It-Yourself Divorce."

Uh, yeah. Yes, I did, uh...

Becker: Precisely, because I wanted to reach out to people

who normally don't go to lawyers.

Uh, legal service has increasingly

become a privilege of the rich.

And I wanted to provide a service

to the disenfranchised middle class.

Maybe you should just lower your fees instead.

[chuckles]

I'll keep that in mind, Brooks.

And we'll be back, after...

I haven't seen this kind of rapport since Sonny and Cher.

[credits music on TV]

[door opens]

[indistinct chatter]

Scotch rocks.

[pouring alchohol]

[distant car honks]

Nice work, Arnie.

What was all that stuff about my video?

That wasn't in the script.

No. I like to keep it spontaneous.

A little conflict gooses the ratings

and we brought you in to be provocative, right?

You didn't think I was serious?

No, no, of course not.

Good! I knew we were gonna have fun together.

It was about 11 o'clock on a Sunday night.

Philips: We had just been out to dinner.

Philips: And Cathy said-- - Your wife.

Philips: Yes. Cathy said that

she needed some money for the week...

so we stopped in...

a drive-in cash machine, and...

I-- I didn't even see the guy at first.

But when I reached for the money, he was there.

He had a gun. And I-- I could tell that he was...

loaded on something.

And I talked to him, I...

told him not to panic,

that he could have every cent.

And then what happened, Mr. Phillips?

He shot me...

in the chest.

And the pain was unbelievable.

[Philips stammers] I guess I blacked out.

And...

when I came to...

I heard Cathy screaming.

She was begging for him to stop.

I tried to get out of the car,

but I-- I couldn't move.

He was hurting her and...

I was totally helpless.

And then what happened?

And then I-- I pulled myself up and...

I fell on the horn.

[scoffs]

That was all I could do.

I don't know how long it was before the police got there.

I-- I just remember...

a paramedic telling me that I was lucky.

I was gonna be okay.

And your wife?

Well, she was dead.

He beat her to death.

[gasps] He crushed her skull.

Phillips: Her face was unrecognizable.

And he'd raped her.

Yeah.

The police apprehended the man that night?

Philips: Yes. They caught him

trying to sell...

a gold bracelet that I'd given Cathy for our anniversary.

Uh... I--- I identified him the next day.

Were you notified of a trial date?

Yeah. The D.A. told me that they had everything

they needed to send him to the gas chamber.

- Objection, hearsay! - I'll allow it.

And-- and then all of a sudden, they're telling me

there's not going to be any trial.

Why was that?

Philips: Because of the Federal government.

Videro had testified for them

in some big drug trial back east and they...

owed him.

The next thing I knew Videro was gone.

Thank you.

Mr. Phillips,

let me say how genuinely sorry

we all are for the loss you've suffered.

Oh, that's great.

I can understand your anger.

When someone you love has been the victim of random violence,

it helps to have someone to blame.

No, you're not getting off the hook that easy!

The man who committed the crime is being punished, isn't he?

He pleaded guilty and he's serving a life sentence

without the possibility of parole.

In a private cell w-- with a stereo and a V.C.R.!

Mr. Videro is in solitary confinement

for his own protection.

And what about her?

She's the U.S. attorney, for God's sake.

She put Videro in the program!

She was supposed to make sure they were watching him!

Mr. Phillips, neither Miss Copeland nor the United States

Government is responsible for the death of your wife.

No. She knew what he was!

Philips: She did not do her job! - Your Honor--

No, I'm sick of you trying to shut me up!

Mr. Phillips, please--

That animal beat my wife to death!

He killed her with his bare hands.

How can you let that happen?

How can you do that to innocent people?

[somber music]

Bless me Father for I have sinned.

It's been two years since my last confession.

And what are your sins, my son?

I, uh...

I shot somebody.

And I killed him.

How come you're movin' so fast?

[telephone ringing] I got a "B" and "E" at nine.

Don't... answer it.

I've got two witnesses I haven't even met yet

and one arresting officer out sick with a kidney stone.

Could you do my zipper, please?

Zoe on answering machine: Hey, it's Zoe.

I'm praying to plead this one,

I do not want to try this case.

Mullaney: Hey, Zoe.

When you've got a minute give me a call, please. Thanks.

When was the last time you talked to Tommy?

Ah, last week.

He's been a little incommunicado lately.

Ah, it's more than that.

Something's wrong with him.

What do you mean?

Ah, he's been agitated at work.

Missing court deadlines.

Ever since... you know.

Damn, I don't see how you can still sleep in this room--

Wait, wait, wait. Agitated, how?

Short temper...

erratic.

If you ask me I think he could use a little professional help.

Becker: Jim, I'm only in New York for half a week.

I have to have another researcher for this interview.

I can't just-- oh, ah, hold on, I got another call.

Hello?

Yeah, Gwen, I'm on... what?

No, no, I can't depose then,

I've got a settlement conference.

O-- okay, okay. Hold on, hold-- hold on.

Why don't you switch the Markham to...

Friday at 11,

dump Dreiberg to Thursday at nine

and see if you can't juggle the Monday schedule

somehow to accommodate Lawton.

Great! Okay thank you.

Jim, yeah. Listen, I'm going to have to move that

wardrobe meeting to Wednesday, something just came up.

Right. Oh, thank you!

Okay. Bye-bye.

Great.

Which do you like better, the jade or the teal?

Oh, I don't care. Either one's fine.

You must have some preference!

Rox, I really don't have time for this right now.

Right, like you didn't have time

to look at wallpaper for the den,

so now you make gagging noises every time you go in.

Arnie, we both live here,

we both have to make these decisions.

Rox, in two days, I have to do a major interview.

I'm not Phil Donahue, I can't pull this stuff out of thin air.

And I can't afford to screw up.

Look at this.

"Arnold Becker, in his debut, is so stiff

someone should be drawing chalk lines around his body."

Roxanne: It's one bad review. - One is all it takes.

Becker: My God, in this business they don't even give you a week!

The sharks are circling, there's blood in the water.

If I blow it again, I'm bone meal.

Arnie, this is crazy.

I only see you four days a week

and-- and then for only an hour or two, at most.

You're not a boyfriend, you're a-- a rumor.

You think I like this? You think I enjoy spending

three nights a week in a hotel

eating all that great airline food,

careening down 5th Avenue

with a Kamikaze cab driver?

Yes, I do think you like it!

I think the crazier it gets,

the-- the more exciting,

the more glamorous you find it.

That is ridiculous.

That is so ridiculous.

I gotta go. I'll see you tonight.

Arnie!

Copeland: The war on drugs isn't just

some P.R. catchphrase.

It's very real. If we're going to win it,

we need men like Louis Videro.

- There's no other way? - Sometimes we get lucky.

A wire tap or...

an informant's tip pays off, but...

in most cases, if we want a conviction,

we need the testimony of someone who's been on the inside.

Now, this is an organization shrouded in secrecy.

Until Videro, our ability to infiltrate was zero.

And with his testimony?

To date, we've secured

the convictions of Raphael Ramirez,

Cesar Rivera and Felix Quintana.

Three individuals responsible for importing and selling over

twenty million dollars' worth of cocaine

a month in the United States.

Short of offering him a new identity or relocation,

was there any other means of securing Videro's cooperation?

In their own country, Columbian drug bosses

think nothing of murdering police, judges,

even a presidential candidate,

anyone who dares to oppose them.

Without protection, Videro would never have agreed to testify

and... I can't blame him.

But in the end, Ms. Copeland, you're-- you're...

turning out a hardened criminal on the street.

Every participant in the program knows...

that their protection stops if they commit a crime.

Reisman: But there's still the risk?

Copeland: It's the lesser of two evils.

Drugs and organized crime are out of control in this country.

The public wants action.

We're being forced to take calculated risks.

Like Louis Videro?

- Yes. Reisman: Thank you.

C.J.: Calculated risk?

Robbery. Drug possession.

Aggravated assault.

Armed robbery. Rape.

This is the record of a violent criminal.

Wasn't Videro about to be

charged with manslaughter when he cut this deal with you?

Hadn't he beaten a man to death?

A rival drug dealer.

A human being.

You let him out and he murdered again in the same way,

only this time it was an innocent woman, wasn't it?

Louis Videro is not some serial killer.

He went through hours of psychological testing

before he was admitted into the program.

And he passed all of them.

What do these tests measure?

His ability to cope with loneliness and isolation.

That's it?

These are critical problems facing a new witness--

Did you measure the likelihood

that he'd commit another violent crime?

Not directly.

You really didn't care

about his psychological profile!

- Objection! - Or his record.

- Objection! - Or his violent nature!

Sustained.

All that mattered to you

was Videro's testimony in your cases.

You didn't even care about his drug use.

Videro was clean when he came into the program.

Videro was in custody

when he came into your program.

But six months later, a report was made to you...

by William Hopson, the U.S. Marshall supervising him.

He caught Videro using cocaine.

It was a small amount. On one occasion.

On one occasion that you knew of.

C.J.: But it's still a crime, isn't it, Ms. Copeland?

According to your own rules, Videro should have been

thrown out of the program--

We have discretion there,

it's a judgment call.

If we terminated an individual

every time there's a minor infraction,

there'd be no one left in the program--

If you'd terminated him,

Catherine Phillips would still

be alive, wouldn't she?

There's no way we could've

predicted he'd kill someone!

Really? Ms. Copeland...

you took a man with a terrifying history

of drugs mixed with violence and murder.

C.J.: You gave him his freedom.

You knew he was using drugs again.

And you say you couldn't have predicted this?

What did you think was going to happen?

The man self-destructed.

Your man self-destructed, Ms. Copeland!

He was your man.

[indistinct chattering]

This is a nightmare. I'm gonna be playing catch-up all night.

Alright, let me have the bad news.

Preston vs. Comparsi?

I took care of the filing on Monday.

Well, good, good. Spencer vs. Menken?

I made sure the discovery deadlines

were being satisfied. No problem.

Oh, God, Jack Terry is gonna be livid,

I haven't checked in with him in weeks.

He's fine. I make a point of it to call him

once a week to give him an update.

Go ahead, let's hear it.

Hear what?

I'm presumptuous. I'm meddling, I'm impertinent,

I'm taking liberties, I'm overstepping my bounds

except somebody has to, Arnie. You sure as hell--

Gwen... thank you.

- Excuse me? - You're right.

I've been so frantic lately.

I've been letting things slide.

You've been bailing me out.

Thank you.

Who are you and what have you done with the real Arnie?

Have you got a minute?

Come in.

I hear you've done some damage.

Not enough.

Do you still have friends at Justice?

There are one or two people who don't hate my guts.

[both chuckle]

Frank, I need your help.

Sit down.

Kitteredge: I was hoping you'd come by.

I'd take a long, hard look at what you're doing.

It could have serious consequences.

You're a little late. I've already

been through this with Reisman.

You're pointing out their imperfections.

They don't like that.

Well, they've already threatened to deport me

as undesirable. What more can they do?

[chuckles softly]

"They" won't do anything.

But you might suddenly develop tax problems.

The State Bar may get complaints

about your competence or your morals.

And custody proceedings can be revisited.

Well, I'm surprised you left the Justice Department.

You sound like a true believer.

I was.

Till I got in their way.

It was only a minor cover-up.

A small operation in Jersey welched on a defense contract.

We had them dead bang for fraud.

But when I began to investigate it became apparent

that bribes have been paid to some people

rather high up in Defense.

Word came down for me to take my time on this one.

Then the press found out somehow...

and I was fired.

I'm not backing off.

But, hey, [sighs] thanks for the warning.

I understand why you can't help.

I didn't say that.

When you worked for them, would you have

gone to all this trouble to get me to settle?

Probably not.

Then, why are they?

[scrapping]

So you feedin' me, huh?

This is big.

You never made dinner when we were married.

How would you know?

You never came home for it.

- Toosh. - Toosh.

I gotta tell ya, though,

this brings it all back.

You sure as hell can't cook.

[chuckles]

Mm-mm.

Okay.

So, what's the point?

Word is you've been acting strange.

"Word is?" Where did you hear this?

From Jonathan, you know where I heard it from.

[sighs] You've been...

You've been agitated at work, he says.

So, do you think you should talk to somebody about this?

Who? Who am I gonna go to but you?

- Well, then talk to me-- - No, no.

You don't wanna have this conversation.

You dont' wanna be sayin' out loud what happened that night.

It was self-defense.

Yeah, that's a good answer.

I keep tellin' myself the same thing.

I can almost believe it.

The man pulled a gun on you.

I made him pull the gun!

I baited him, I forced him to draw the gun

so I could put a bullet in him and call it self defense.

You know it. I know it.

- What I saw-- - Don't, Zo.

Don't.

You lying's only gonna make me feel worse.

A, I don't regret it.

The psycho woulda come back, he'd a been here to kill you.

Same situation all over, I'd do it again.

Then why are you beating yourself up about this?

Because I killed somebody!

I-- I hid in there with my gun and I planned.

I wasn't thinkin' about just woundin' him

or just gettin' him arrested.

Only thing going through my mind

was "don't miss."

I can't sleep, Zo.

I'm like afraid to, uh...

be alone with myself, I'm...

I know I did the best thing, Zoey.

I gotta be able to live with what I did--

- Absolutely! Absolutely! - Yeah, absolutely.

So, why can't I?

[sighs]

[instrumental music]

Hey, Zo?

You up yet?

Listen, I'mma off drop some stuff

and I'll just swing by after wor--

Jonathan? [gasps]

Jonathan!

Jonathan! Jonathan!

[breathing heavily] Oh, God.

Oh God, this is great.

[gasping]

[sighs]

Brooks: We're back with Arnold Becker,

legal affairs correspondent, and his guest,

celebrated divorce attorney John Caplan.

- Arnie? - Thank you, Brooks.

And thank you for being with us today, Mr. Caplan.

My pleasure.

I think it's safe to say

that all of us in family law

respect and admire your work in the field.

At the same time you are a controversial figure.

I should hope so.

- I've worked at it. - He-he.

You represented Barbara Geller in her palimony action

against financier Robert McClure.

Some people were dismayed at your tactics,

particularly your public revelations of...

Mr. McClure's sexual peccadilloes.

Ah, well, my tactics

may have been in questionable taste, perhaps,

but there was nothing unethical about them.

Caplan: If Mr. McClure was so foolish as to be

careless about his sexual indiscretions,

he can't complain when it's used against him.

He deserves what he gets.

Arnie? May I?

Mr. Caplan do you regard it as ethical

for an attorney to have a sexual relationship with his client?

[scoffs] Well, I certainly think it's ill-advised.

But not unethical?

A woman puts her trust in her attorney,

and he violates that trust

for his own pleasure?

What do you think, Arnie?

I can see how it might occur,

but ultimately it does present a conflict of interest.

Of course, in certain cases,

I can see where it might uh...

be a-- a violation of trust, as you put it.

But didn't you, in fact, have

just such a sexual relationship

with Barbara Geller?

Not until after the trial.

Brooks: I have statements from a desk clerk at a hotel

in Santa Barbara attesting to the fact

that you and Ms. Geller checked in there

on May 11th, 1989, three weeks into the trial.

That was a strategy session-

You stayed overnight in the same room.

What kind of strategy were you discussing?

That is none of anyone's business

but mine and Ms. Geller's--

And possibly the State Bar's.

If a man is foolish enough

to be careless about his indiscretions

doesn't he deserve what he gets?

Becker: You ambushed me!

I ambushed him.

And you helped me.

Well, why didn't you tell me?

It made for better television. We're a great team.

You lulled him into complacency, and I moved in for the kill.

Except you come off as the great journalist,

I look like an amateur!

If that's what's best for the show, yes!

Don't get me wrong, Arnie, I like you,

but if I decide it's in the best interests of the show

to deliver your lines standing on one foot

and whistling Dixie, you'll do it!

Are we clear?

[scoffs]

[knocks on door]

I owe you an apology.

You owe me nothing.

Nothing happened, Jonathan.

I was there because I was a mess

over the shooting and I...

I turned to Zoey.

And she was there for you.

It all worked out.

But nothing happened!

I crashed there, I slept there,

maybe I held onto her like a baby,

but nothin' physical happened.

And she called to tell you last night, you weren't pickin' up.

Well, then, it was all just a misunderstanding then.

'Cause if she had just told me, "Hey, Jonathan,

I'm sleeping with my ex-husband tonight,"

then everything would be great.

- Jonathan-- - Hey, don't! Man...

I wanna be mature about this.

I'm late, I gotta go.

[distant phone ringing]

[distant chattering]

Mr. Hopson, when did you first meet Louis Videro?

In '89, just after he came into the program.

I was the U.S. Marshall assigned to supervise him.

And what did that function entail?

Hopson: I found him an apartment,

I helped him get furniture

and phone service

and I helped him look for a job.

In your estimation,

was he making the adjustment?

He had his ups and downs, he couldn't find a job.

But, um, overall, he was doing pretty well.

What about Ms. Lamb's contention

that the one drug incident

should have alerted you that

something more serious

was going to happen?

Like he was gonna go out

and commit a murder? No way.

Hopson: You've got to understand the people in this program.

Most of them have had lifestyles you wouldn't believe.

Cars. Money. Women.

Then suddenly they're alone. Stuck in a suburb.

Bored out of their minds.

Some guys'll take a drink.

Videro did a little coke.

That's not to say we ignored it.

What action did you take?

We stepped up supervision.

I had a talk with Videro.

I told him, one more episode like that

and Ms. Copeland would throw him out of the program.

Thank you. Your witness.

No random testing?

- No drug counseling? - No.

So you really thought a warning

and increased supervision would be sufficient?

Without our protection, Videro was a dead man and he knew it.

That's strong incentive to stay clean.

Yeah, but it wasn't enough, was it?

He was high the night he murdered Catherine Phillips.

Do you know where he got the drugs?

No. Not for sure.

C.J.: Do you know where he got the gun?

No.

Mr. Hopson, you said

you increased supervision.

C.J.: Just how closely were you watching him?

Look, I've been doing this work for 15 years.

I've supervised 60, 70 guys. I'm not a rookie.

Mr. Hopson...

what does the name Cindy Black mean to you?

Objection, irrelevant!

I will show relevance, Your Honor.

Reisman: Your Honor, this is extremely

sensitive information that threatens

the security of the Witness Protection Program!

Overruled.

You've got your gag order, Mr. Reisman.

This courtroom is sealed.

The witness will answer.

Cindy Black was a prostitute.

Hopson: It's my understanding that

Videro was one of her clients.

And you knew this because

an informant told you, correct?

I didn't ask Ms. Copeland,

I asked you.

Why did your informant tell you about Louis Videro

and Cindy Black?

Because Cindy Black was murdered.

In fact, she was beaten to death, wasn't she?

Your Honor!

The plaintiff would like to

recall Lisa Copeland.

Isn't it possible, even probable,

Louis Videro murdered Cindy Black?

She was a prostitute, she knew hundreds of men.

Any one of them could've done it.

Ms. Black was beaten to death

the same way Videro murdered before.

So? Prostitutes die that way all the time.

Did Louis Videro kill all of them?

Did you at least notify local law enforcement

that Videro might be a possible suspect?

No. We conducted our own

thorough investigation and concluded Videro was innocent.

You conducted an investigation...

without access to the body, the coroner's report

or any other evidence?

There was absolutely no hard evidence

tying Videro to this murder.

There was plenty of circumstantial evidence.

C.J.: You knew Black was probably

turning tricks with Videro.

That doesn't mean he killed her.

That she was probably

selling him drugs

and that he had a history

of violence. But you kept it

all to yourselves to protect the credibility of your witness.

- Objection! This is a speech. - Sustained.

Another murder might've tainted his testimony

and that could've jeopardized your drug cases--

Reisman: Your Honor! - Move on, Ms. Lamb.

So... in spite of Cindy Black's murder,

you never considered removing Videro from the program?

As I said...

we'd cleared him of any wrong-doing.

It was all part of the bargain, wasn't it?

Two weeks after Cindy Black's murder,

Videro kept his end.

He testified for you in the Ramirez trial.

Yes.

C.J.: And two months after that,

he beat Catherine Phillips to death.

How does it feel, Ms. Copeland,

knowing you could have prevented her murder?

- Objection! - Ms. Lamb, that's enough!

I have no more questions.

This is how you deal with things?

You just don't return phone calls?

Hey, after what I saw there was nothing to say.

Clemmons: He was hurting, Jonathan. He needed--

And his pain justifies you sleeping with him?

I was not sleeping with him!

You were in the same bed, he spent the night--

You know his state of mind, for God's sake--

I don't care how much he hurts, you understand?

I'm not-- I'm not gonna be with anybody

whose relationship with somebody else,

whatever the hell it's supposed to be,

has them winding up in bed together!

You selfish son of a bitch!

You got that right, baby.

When it comes to me being involved with somebody,

I'm the most self-protecting

self-centered bastard you'll ever meet!

- I'm leaving! Rollins: You hurt me!

And I'm not going to get in any deeper with you

and end up being hurt worse.

What happened last night is not going to happen again.

Yes it will! Zo, don't you understand?

You two still love each other. You need each other.

- That's not true! - It is! It is!

Rollins: It's true and I can't handle it.

I can't be in this anymore.

I'm sorry.

Are you saying... we're finished?

Yeah. We're finished.

[distant chattering]

I'll be right with you, honey.

Right. Morning.

Feldman: What do you want? Just tell me. What you want?

Uh-huh. Oh, yeah. Look, he is the attorney...

Tapman: He's a lightweight.

If I hadn't stepped in,

he would've let Caplan off the hook...

Feldman: You haven't given the poor guy a chance!

Tapman: I gave the lifestyle corespondent a chance.

I gave the media critic a chance.

I gave very one of your

club footed mutants a chance,

and what did they do? Embarrass me!

Network suit: Okay, c'mon, calm down!

Tapman: I will not

stand by and watch him

flush this show down the toilet!

I've put too many years into it for that!

[exhales]

- Tough night? - Bad morning.

I think I just lost my innocence.

Oh, leave it to me, honey.

You'll be a virgin again

in no time.

Life in the war zone, huh?

Is it always this bad around here?

Oh, Tapman and Ken have been

gunning for each other all season.

See, Tapman wants Ken out,

so naturally everybody Ken brings to the show

has to be wrong.

That explains a lot.

Yeah. So don't take it personal.

Well, I guess it happens.

The wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Arnie, baby, you are innocent!

Don't you know, there are no accidents?

What do you mean?

You were God's gift to Tapman.

Everything he needed to force a face-off with Ken.

Trust me on this, you did not just drop into his lap.

Somebody planned this.

You watch. If Tapman leaves first, he lost.

Now if Ken leaves first, he's gone.

But if network leaves,

it's status quo, they'll live to fight another day.

And if Ken goes, I go.

At the speed of light.

Everybody around here know about this except me?

Everybody feels for you because

we all know you're a nice guy and you don't deserve it.

Man: ...okay?

[sighs]

Sorry, honey.

You're toast.

How can the Government claim they are not

responsible for the murder of Catherine Phillips?

Because they didn't strike the blows that killed her?

C.J.: Because they didn't brutally

rape her before she died?

No, the Government did not

commit those horrible crimes.

But they made it possible

for Louis Videro to commit them.

They took a vicious criminal,

they gave him his freedom

and they protected him better

than they protected the innocent people around him.

The Government had two chances to prevent

the death of Catherine Phillips

but they chose not to.

They knew Videro was back on drugs.

According to their own rules,

he should've been thrown out of the program then...

but he wasn't.

Even when the U.S. Attorney

knew Videro might have murdered a woman

still they did nothing.

They kept Louis Videro in the Witness Protection Program

and it cost Catherine Phillips her life.

Why does the Government want the circumstances

of her murder kept secret?

Because the Government was grossly negligent, Your Honor.

It acted with callous disregard for the lives of its citizens.

But for that negligence...

Catherine Phillips would still be alive.

Your Honor, if you have any doubt

what the drug trade is doing to this country

you've only to look at our inner cities,

or any suburb, or small town.

Reisman: It's everywhere.

It's a national disaster.

It touches every part of our society.

It drains our criminal justice system, fills our prisons,

robs families of loved ones.

Delivers babies in agony and addicted.

It destroys thousands, maybe millions of peoples lives.

Without witnesses like Louis Videro,

we have no hope of ever stopping this drug trade.

It's a risk that must be taken.

This is a battle,

whose sole purpose

is to protect the people of this nation.

People like Catherine Phillips.

The last thing we ever wanted was for this war to claim her.

But, the sad fact is,

in any war...

there will be casualties.

I know you don't wanna talk about this.

So I will just do all the yappin'

and you could, y'know, maybe just listen.

I do love and need Zoey...

more than I admit to her or even myself,

a hell of a lot more than I feel like admittin' to you.

Maybe you love her more, I doubt it, but could be.

I know I know her more than you do.

In and out of marriage I know her pretty good,

and knowin' her...

I ain't ever seen her so happy

as since she started

hangin' around with you.

That's part of the reason why I feel so threatened

is cause you and her feel right.

It's not that simple, Tommy.

Oh, yeah, it's definitely that simple. You love her.

She loves you. Simple.

Mullaney: Don't let go of her, Jonathan.

I could never take your place, man.

Oh, you don't want my place.

You want yours.

Tom, don't you see, part of the reason

you're even here right now

is that you still love her.

- Yeah, I do! - You're not over--

And part of really lovin' somebody

is wanting what is best for that person.

I'm here now

'cause I know what's best for Zoey is you.

I know you're hurt,

but let that woman get away...

then you'll know hurt.

[distant phone ringing]

Judge Hansen: There's no question that

the government was negligent here.

Any parent would treat their child's drug use

with more concern than that shown by

those supervising Louis Videro.

But in establishing the Witness Protection Program,

Congress failed to issue any guidelines

restricting the Justice Department's operation.

From that, I must conclude

that they intended to allow full discretion

in both the selection

and supervision of these witnesses.

Under the law as it exists,

negligence, even this gross negligence

isn't enough to sustain a claim.

And the plaintiff has not shown that the government

intended to cause Mrs. Phillips' death.

Therefore, I'm granting the

defendant's motion to dismiss.

As for this gag order, I see nothing in this record

that jeopardizes the Witness Protection Program

or threatens the lives of its participants.

So I'm denying the government's request

for a permanent injunction.

The order is hereby lifted

and this transcript made part of the public record.

The parties are free to talk to the press.

Your Honor, we move for a stay pending appeal.

Opposed. Your Honor, we've argued this over and over again.

I have no choice, Ms. Lamb.

The stay is granted. Until a further ruling,

the gag order will remain in place.

Judge Hansen: This case is adjourned.

Arnie!

Welcome back.

I heard what happened.

I think they were idiots to let you go.

No. More like I was the idiot.

I don't follow you, babe.

I didn't do my homework.

I let you stroke me, pump me full of smoke.

I don't know what you're talkin' about but it sounds sexy.

Listen, can we continue this--

Brooks Tapman is a client of yours!

I didn't mention that?

You maneuvered Ken Feldman into hiring me,

so Tapman could use me against him.

Use me as a weapon to get Ken Feldman fired.

You set me up.

- So? - S-- "so?"

You used me!

You manipulated me!

That's right.

I manipulated you into taking $600,000 a year job.

They'll cash you out at 50 cents on the dollar

for the first option, period.

You'll walk with a 150 grand

for two weeks work. Where are your damages, Arnie?

I was humiliated on network television!

Damage to the ego heals fast, take it from me.

Damage to your reputation? Don't flatter yourself.

Two weeks from now people won't even remember you were on.

That is not the point!

By the way, KCYB called yesterday.

I told them you might possibly be interested in coming back.

I got 'em to bump your salary 15% plus perks.

Deal memo's in the mail.

I gotta fly. Ciao, babe.

[instrumental music]

[knock on door]

Hi.

[sighs] I'm sorry.

Don't tell me you're sorry, tell me you're back.

- I have conditions. - I know.

No ex-husbands in the bed.

And I don't want him hiding in the bathroom with a gun, either.

He is a part of my life.

You have to remember that, Jonathan.

Yeah. And what you need to keep in mind...

is, so am I. Alright?

[distant shouting]

[indistinct shouting]

Bad news.

We lost the appeal.

- The gag order's permanent. - Ah...

[indistinct shouting]

They're getting pretty restless.

Uh, give us a minute, please.

[distant shouting continues]

I'm not backing down.

I want people to know what those bastards did.

You would be defying a court order, Mr. Phillips.

If you speak to those reporters,

you'll be held in contempt.

I don't care.

Let'em put me in jail.

I miss my wife, Mr. McKenzie.

I want her death to mean something.

And I'm tired of playing by the rules.

But I understand why you have to.

If you say so, I'll talk to them somewhere else.

I can't answer for the firm.

Douglas and I feel that our...

risk here is minimal, as long as Ms. Lamb doesn't participate.

Well...

Thank you.

Thank you.

reporter #1: There he is. Mr. Philips...

You've done everything you can...

within the law.

If he wants to go beyond that, that's up to him.

But you have no choice.

Ladies and gentlemen, I want to tell you how my wife died.

[reporters shushing]

She was raped and beaten to death...

by a criminal that the United States Government

put back on the street.

His name is Louis Videro.

Phillips: He was a murderer...

You made the right decision.

Then tell me, Leland.

Why do I feel like such a coward?

Phillips: They were aware of his drug abuse.

And yet they chose to do nothing.

reporter #2: Did you get an apology?

reporter #3: Did they give you any kinda context?

[theme music]