Original subtitles

I came as fast as I could. Now what's--

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

This has never happened to me before.

- I don't know what to do. - Calm down, Marilyn.

- Okay, okay, okay. - Just calm down.

And tell me what happened.

There. That happened.

One of my clients.

God, I made him take a stress test

before I even took him on.

I swear he was in good health.

He's dead?

Marilyn: [sighs] I don't know what to do.

I would have called the authorities,

but that's Jerome Miller.

- Oh! - The State Senator?

[sighs] I'm scared of the publicity.

Plus, I don't think he had a permit for the gun.

- I don't think-- - I'm getting out of here.

I really need help.

- Douglas. - I don't care.

I'm not getting involved in this for God's sakes.

- Douglas. - No!

After I leave, you call the police.

[door bell rings]

- Oh, God. - It's just my nine o'clock.

- I'll get rid of him. - And then I'm leaving.

I was never here.

- Douglas. - No.

- Hello, hello, hello. Marilyn: Go home, Howard.

The mission's scrubbed for today.

I'm sorry, sweetie.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Let's make this fast, we've got a busy day.

- Stuart, welcome back. - Hey, Stuart.

- Glad you're feeling better. - Thank you.

Douglas: You'll be putting in half days?

No. Just this week. Then full time.

We were thinking that since Stuart has been shouldering

so much of the accounting and administrative stuff here,

he should get a second secretary to ease the burden.

At least temporarily.

Michael. People versus Chisolm.

Voir dire today. Trial starts tomorrow or Wednesday.

- I'm not sure. - I thought you struck a deal.

We did. Until Rogoff caved in.

I'll be needing Jonathan all week.

Rosalind Shays versus all of us.

Obviously she's winning, thanks to Ann Kelsey.

Don't start with me, Douglas.

- You totally buried us! - Alright.

I was asked questions under oath and I answered them.

There is no point dwelling on Ann's gaff.

- Gaff? - She didn't gaff.

Leland: The point is, how do we go from here?

Arnold, I'm a little nervous about putting you up there.

- Why? Douglas: Why?

Because you have a shaky reputation for honesty.

She knows you to be the sleaze factor here

and Sollers will pick at you like an open sore.

- Stick it, Doug. Leland: Alright, Arnold.

Hey, I'm not talking to hear the sound of my voice.

Stop it. You're upsetting Stuart.

Douglas: Does not cover sex discrimination.

We're looking at real liability.

And our own people are killing us with stupid testimony.

Hey! Come on, now.

Now, this thing's far from being over.

Grace took a big chunk out of Rosalind on the stand,

and we haven't even begun our defense yet.

Arnie, are you ready?

- Very. - There you go.

We start with him and then from there we just get better.

There is a plan here.

This thing is not over, okay?

Now, he is absolutely correct.

Just ask me the questions, Grace. I'll pull us even.

Sollers won't lay a glove on me.

Well, let's not get too cocky, Arnold.

I'm not being cocky. I'm just telling ya.

He can't touch me.

Okay, let's go.

- We're adjourned. - Showtime.

Leland. Can I see you for a second?

Yeah. In my office.

Arnold? Arnold?

I'm sorry, I'm just a little on edge

because of a situation I had this morning.

- Okay. - A situation, actually...

For which I could use your advice.

What could I possibly have to offer? I'm an open sore.

[sighs] It was just a figure of speech.

You can find me after lunch.

Thank you.

This firm has never forced lawyers to take cases.

I don't see how you could--

Right now this firm is all tied up.

We can't keep everybody happy.

The only reason you stuck me on this case

is because I'm black.

That's right. That's right.

Just like I did the age discrimination case

because I was old, and Ann Kelsey

did the OB-GYN case last year

because she was pregnant.

Come on, you have to use whatever gives you

an advantage, Jonathan.

In this case it happens to be your skin color.

Leland.

Okay.

Brian Chisolm may very well be innocent. I know this.

But personally, I'd like to think that someday

I could be an effective voice for the black community.

If I go up against Derron Holloway,

that'll never happen.

I'll always be the guy

who took on Derron Holloway.

Yeah, well, I'm not unsympathetic to that, Jonathan.

Believe me, I'm not. But Mr. Holloway is not a client.

The black community is not a client.

Brian Chisolm is.

And right now we need your help.

Look, I-I've got to get to court.

Give Michael whatever he needs.

Removing Rosalind Shays

was not something we did casually.

It was a very risky move for us.

How so?

Well, any law firm, to survive these days,

must project unity and stability to the outside business world.

Now, playing musical chairs with your senior partnership

severely undermines that objective.

The consequences could be devastating.

Grace: Why, Mr. Becker?

What did Ms. Shays do that was so terrible?

Well, many things. First...

By the way, let me say that

personally I happen to like Ros.

I think she's a very misunderstood person.

Not nearly the ogre she presents herself to be.

- Objection. Judge Travelini: Sustained.

Judge Travelini: Mr. Becker, just answer the question.

Of course.

Initially, it was the alienation of the associates

She took on a client who supported

a apartheid in South Africa

and then ignored our black associate

when he justifiably protested.

She went behind the back of Victor Sifuentes,

our Hispanic associate,

and settled a case from under him.

Now, I'm not, I'm not saying that

Ros is overtly racist,

but she demonstrated no regard whatsoever

for our minority employees.

What else did she do, Mr. Becker?

Well, it was this fundamental incompatibility

that ultimately began

to spread through the firm like a cancer.

And her underlying dishonesty simply became prohibitive.

We felt sorry for her. That's why we chose not to fire her.

But senior partner? Please.

Thank you, Mr. Becker.

Nothing further.

Fundamental incompatibility.

You yourself secretly defected from this firm

in the middle of the night last year, didn't you?

I temporarily left the firm, yes, I did.

Jack: You snuck out, you stole clients, and they sued you.

Is that what you mean by stability

and unity, Mr. Becker?

Truth be told, one of the reasons I left

was because Rosalind Shays was brought in.

Oh, really? A second ago you said you liked her.

Personally. But professionally, I couldn't endorse her methods.

And putting her in a leadership position

to me represented a major shift in this firm's moral center.

Something that didn't sit well with my conscience.

Your conscience?

You've had sexual relations

with several of your divorce clients, haven't you?

Objection, relevance.

Goes to explore this man's moral center, Your Honor.

I'll allow it. He opened the door.

You've slept with clients,

you've slept with opposing counsel--

Yes, Mr. Sollers, I've had relationships

with people I've represented,

all before I became a very happily married man.

As a person who works extremely hard,

most of the people I meet are through work.

The fact that social friendships

have resulted from some of my professional associations

is neither an indictment of my integrity,

nor my sense of ethics.

And I'm personally offended at your suggestion

to the contrary.

I'm confused, Mr. Becker.

You say Rosalind Shays was ousted

because of incompatibility.

Ann Kelsey says it was because she was a woman.

- Which one of you is lying? Grace: Objection!

No. That-- that's okay. Let me answer that.

Ann Kelsey wasn't lying. She was mistaken.

[laughing] Well, pretty big mistake to make

under oath, with a huge judgment on the line.

Well, the simple fact is, Ann Kelsey

tends to suffer from hypersensitivity

on man-woman issues,

stemming from the basic insecurity

that she only became partner on the coattails of her husband.

I'm sorry, Ann.

But sometimes this insecurity

would cloud her judgment.

And while I have no doubt

that she was sincere when she made this statement,

I also have no doubt whatsoever

that her assumption about Rosalind Shays...

was totally misplaced.

[indistinct chatter]

Derron: The fact that a trial is going forward means nothing.

This could mean nothing more than painting the illusion

of justice where none exists.

Here we go again.

Mr. Kuzak, why are they insisting on a trial

if, as you say, they have no case?

Because District Attorney Rogoff

is more interested in politics than he is in justice.

Oh, and let's all turn to Mr. Kuzak

for his interpretation of justice.

Ask Mr. Holloway if he even knows the facts of this case.

Ask Mr. Kuzak why Mr. Rollins is here?

Why all of a sudden

has he put a black attorney at his table?

Why don't you ask Mr. Holloway

why he has to look at Jonathan Rollins

as a black attorney and not just an attorney?

Because "Black" is why you picked him.

He has nothing to do in this trial.

I doubt he even believes in your client's innocence.

- Is that true, Mr. Rollins? - What's your role here?

- Do you believe Brian Chisol... - I have no comment.

Did Mr. Kuzak ask you to take this case?

Neither Mr. Rollins nor I have any doubt whatsoever as to

Brian Chisolm's innocence. And neither will the jury.

- Do you think-- - Excuse me. Thank you.

Brian, could you excuse us for a minute, please?

- Yeah, sure. - Jonathan.

- What the hell was that? - What?

A reporter asks you whether you think your client is guilty

and you say "No comment"?

Hey, I thought the object here was to just get through it.

Don't give me that crap.

"No comment" to a question like that borders on malpractice.

The cameras' were pointed at you, for God's sake,

and you said, "No comment"?

Fine. I'm sorry.

Michael: Oh. Don't give me you're sorry!

There's a lynch mob mentality out there

that's gonna hang an innocent man,

and you just helped to fuel it.

I said, I was sorry.

I don't care what your problem is,

you get your head and your ass into this trial.

Arnie: Was the gun inside the holster?

That's really not important, Arnie.

You're probably right.

Big fat cowboy senator, croaks on top of a palomino surrogate.

Who's going to care about the gun?

Oh, please.

They're evidentially hauling him out as we speak.

Arnie, I can't take this relationship anymore.

I can't come home to her, ask her how was her day,

and hear about bullwhips and gerbils.

So tell her to quit her job.

She won't. She trained to be a sexual surrogate.

She says that's what she is.

No, I have to end it between us.

So end it. Why do you need me?

Because you're the resident expert

on wiggling off hooks, that's why.

I'm afraid Marilyn's pretty involved.

I don't wanna hurt her, and I--

You wanna find the chicken's way out.

Exactly.

Well, I happen to think you two make a very good couple,

but if you're sure that's what you want, uh...

here's what you do.

You take her to a nice, elegant restaurant.

You know, somewhere where she wouldn't dare make a scene.

Nicky Blair's. Great, Nicky Blair's.

Little wine, Salad Nicoise, and then you lean over

with all the humility that you can muster

and you say, and trust me, this works, you say,

"Marilyn, I'm overwrought...

with ambivalence."

- Come on. - Swear to God.

You just drop the bomb, straight out.

She's not gonna make a squeak. The place is too public.

She might even admire your honesty.

God, I love it when that happens.

You say goodbye,

you tell her that it hurts you

more than it hurts her.

You ask for the check...

and don't look back.

Tip the valet on the way in, and he'll have the car waiting.

[sighs] It's so cold.

I was hoping to come out of it as-- as friends.

Oh, big mistake. Big mistake. Believe me.

You want total severance, a clean break.

The last thing you need are

old memories coming back to haunt you.

Stuart: Arnie. Douglas.

You know this young lady, don't you?

Arnie: Ah, yes. Hello.

Hello. Hi, Arnie.

Gwen, what brings you?

Stuart: I just hired her.

Oh, great. Great.

So, how's married life treating you?

Good. Very, very good.

Good. Good.

And how long have you lived in Inglewood, Mr. Lewis?

About 42 years.

Ever had any problem with the police?

None that I can recall.

Now, do you believe that white policemen

apply one set of rules to white people

and a different set to blacks?

Not in my experience.

Michael: Thank you. The defense accepts this man.

Ever been the victim of a crime, Mr. Lewis?

Lewis: My house was robbed once.

- Police catch who did it? - Yes.

- You recall his race? - He was a black kid.

The prosecution asks that Mr. Lewis be excused for cause.

Objection. There's been no showing of cause.

I believe Mr. Lewis is conditioned to believe

that blacks are more likely guilty

when charged with a crime.

Michael: Where do you get that?

The juror is discharged for cause.

Marcia: Would the fact that he's a police officer

make you more inclined to believe that he was innocent?

No.

All kinds of people commit crimes.

Policemen, too.

Marcia: Thank you, Mr. Pryor.

The People accept this juror.

[Michael clears throat]

Have you ever been arrested, Mr. Pryor?

I resent that.

Well, I take it you've never been arrested then.

That's right.

Thank you.

Do you ask white jurors that question?

Your Honor, the defense asks

that Mr. Pryor be excused for cause.

No showing of cause, Your Honor.

I see no reason for this juror to be excused.

The defense exercises its last peremptory challenge.

Ask to be heard in chambers, Your Honor.

Let's go.

Well, I move we skip the trial

and proceed immediately to sentencing.

Don't get smart with me.

Michael: That juror was not only predisposed

to see a race thing here, he took a pop-shot at me.

Maybe you provoked him.

[sighs]

Your Honor, I move that you recuse yourself from this case.

- Opposed. - On what grounds?

On the grounds that you, like Rogoff,

are too politically scared to do the job here.

If I were scared, I would find a way to get off this case.

I would dodge this thing like an oncoming train,

which is exactly what it is.

But this judge doesn't delay justice

simply because the victims are black.

And this judge doesn't dole out favors

and continuances to defendants

simply because they happen to be police officers.

And this judge, because the boundaries of his district

were changed, suddenly can't be reelected

unless he captures at least 50 percent of the black vote.

Your motion is denied.

- I want this on the record. - It's on the record.

Now let's get back in there.

This trial is going forward.

Roxanne: Abby.

Abby, there's a film crew in reception.

And there's some reporter who would like a comment

on what's going on with the trials.

Can't do it. I gotta get down to a motion session.

Matt Cramer is trying to get an attachment

on John McMahon's house.

Milt Sinden is still waiting in Leland's office.

- Anybody home? - Oh.

Look, Rox, all Mr. Sinden has to do

is, uh, go over his deposition transcripts

and sign the back page.

So just let him make any necessary changes.

Daddy, this is not a very good time.

Murray: The plaintiff was a witch.

Oh, Rox, I'm expecting interrogatories

from Fine and Ambrogne. Docket the response date.

Murray: What's going on here?

Everybody goes and comes like flies?

- I am sorry. But you-- - Oh. Excuse me.

Is there someone here who could give

a statement on the on going trial?

Uh, I have no comment on the Rosalind Shays trial,

other than to reiterate our continued confidence.

As for the Chisolm case, we remain gravely concerned

to the extent that both politics and the media have invaded,

if not infected, the judicial process.

- Do you think Holloway will-- - I'm sorry, I can't.

I have to get to court.

Your Honor, at this time the defense calls

to the stand Mrs. Susan Raab.

Objection. This witness is not on their pre-trial.

Grace: Your Honor, we just decided

to call this witness last night.

I notified counsel this morning.

Sidebar, Your Honor.

This witness has no relevance to this case.

Our defense is that Ms. Shays

is a difficult person to get along with.

- This is a cheap attempt to- - - Look, Mr. Sollers.

If you want to adjourn after direct, you got it.

But let's keep this thing going.

Swear her in.

Raise your right hand.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth

and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Susan: I do.

Grace: Please state your full name for the record.

Susan Raab.

Ms. Raab, you're here under subpoena today.

- Are you not? - Yes, I am.

Grace: Could you please state your relationship

to the plaintiff, Rosalind Shays.

She's my mother.

I seek to treat the witness as hostile, Your Honor.

- Granted. - Where do you live, Ms. Raab?

I live in Glendale, California.

Do you know how far that is from Pacific Palisades,

where your mother resides?

It's probably about an hour car ride.

I'm not positive.

And before this moment,

when was the last time you saw your mother?

- Objection. - I'd like a little latitude...

Grace: Your Honor. - Go ahead.

When was the last time you saw her, ma'am?

I'm not sure.

Grace: Was it more than a year ago?

Susan: Yes.

- More than five years ago? - Probably.

Grace: Could it be more than ten years ago?

Look, I'm not sure. I said, I don't know.

Grace: Do you have children, Ms. Raab?

Susan: Yes. - What are their ages?

I have a seven-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter.

Have they ever met their grandmother?

Have your children ever met their grandmother?

No, they haven't.

Why have your children never met their grandmother?

Answer the question, ma'am.

We just...

we just don't get along, that's all.

Do you have any more questions, Ms. Van Owen?

No, Your Honor.

Do you love your mother?

Of course I do.

Nothing further.

Cafeteria workers at Oakridge high school,

who were on strike for better wages,

only last week, today celebrated winning--

Somebody called for room service?

Kelsey: What's this?

This is little bedtime champagne.

Stuart, you know my morning head

if I drink this stuff right before I go to sleep.

Then maybe we shouldn't go right to sleep. Hm?

[chuckles] That's sweet.

That's sweet?

- Come here, you. - I'm healthy, Ann.

The doctor said I'm fine.

It's the trial, Stuart. It's hard to relax--

No, it's the heart attack.

If we're gonna have a problem,

let's at least be honest about it.

The doctor said sex is okay. It's not gonna kill me.

I know.

Okay, let's have sex.

[sighs]

Man on TV: And while Attorney Michael Kuzak

completed jury selection in the murder trial

of police officer Brian Chisolm,

his partners at McKenzie Brackman Chaney and Kuzak

were busy in their own defense

against the splashy sex discrimination suit

brought by powerhouse Rosalind Shays.

- Powerhouse? - He left out Becker.

...to get an inside look

at this headline-making law firm.

Litigation always tends to be consuming.

- What's he doing? - Oh, my God.

But when your own firm is a named party,

and your own partners are subpoenaed as witnesses,

obviously things get hectic.

But in the end--

- When did he do this? - For God's sake.

...and grind up Rosalind Shays into a cheap mulch.

This just in.

State Senator Jerome Miller

suffered a fatal heart attack this morning,

apparently stress induced, during sexual intercourse.

The senator was best known for his decision to fast,

in protest of the Public Railways Act,

only to be secretly videotaped

at a McDonald's Drive Thru.

[sighs]

Woman on TV: And in Sacramento Horus Smith...

[instrumental music]

This is a last minute stunt.

Michael: It's no stunt, Your Honor.

My client seeks to discharge me as counsel.

That's his prerogative.

What's wrong?

Michael: As long as I am still his lawyer,

I would like all dialogue to go through me, please.

Denied.

You want a new lawyer,

you yourself will have to tell me why.

Brian: We have differences of opinion,

which I feel compromise Mr. Kuzak's ability

to provide effective representation.

Such as?

Work product, don't answer.

Fine. Mr. Rollins will be your lawyer. We start tomorrow.

Your Honor, the conflicts are germane to the entire firm.

Mr. Rollins included.

Either you tell me what these conflicts are

or your motion is denied.

Defense strategy, personality differences.

He's not satisfied with my competency.

Uh-huh.

You're competent alright.

So competent, in fact, that I have no doubt

that you instructed him to discharge you

in order to buy more time,

hoping that by the time this thing

rolled around again for trial,

I'd be wrapped up in something else

and you'd have to get a different judge.

Well, that's not going to happen.

You're very adequate counsel, no grounds for a switch,

this trial starts tomorrow. That's all.

- Your Honor-- - I said that's all.

- You can live with this? - Hey, you think I like it?

I got everybody breathing down my back for a conviction

while I barely have any evidence.

I was hoping that little trick would work.

Mr. Kuzak.

Mr. Kuzak, what the hell is going on?

God, I thought you said this would work out.

Well, I was wrong, Brian.

And, quite honestly, right now

I don't know what to tell you.

[sighs]

Douglas: Aside from humiliating this firm

what you did bordered on fraud.

- I was just trying to help. Ann: That doesn't help.

Passing yourself off as an attorney,

lying to the media, that doesn't help.

I thought it sounded good.

- Did you see it? - Murray, you can't do that.

- So you don't want me to help? All: No.

- You don't want me to pitch in? All: No!

Okay, okay, just so I understand it,

my help you never want.

[indistinct chatter]

[telephone ringing]

You ready?

Ready.

The main thing is, show authority.

Leland: I know, Grace.

We've been over it again and again.

Leland, I've prepared more than a thousand witnesses

and nobody testifies exactly the way it's rehearsed.

When you get up on the stand, you're gonna be nervous.

That's acceptable.

Nerves cause some people to be tentative.

That is not acceptable. Not in this case.

They'll try to paint you as the weak,

aging senior partner who needed to be rescued.

Your demeanor has to suggest otherwise.

I know what I have to do.

Good.

The reason I asked for this lunch--

Uh-huh.

There's something we must discuss.

You're a little flipped out about yesterday.

Actually, this concerns

a bigger picture than yesterday's events.

Marilyn.

I'm overwrought with ambivalence.

Excuse me?

I adore you.

But I wanna terminate our relationship.

Because of one dead client in a holster?

[sighs] It goes beyond that, but yes,

the shocking confrontation with what you do.

I'm sorry, but I just can't handle it,

and the honest thing is just to end things between us.

The honest thing?

Douglas, I told you from the very beginning

you didn't want to get involved with a sexual surrogate.

Shh. Keep your voice down.

Why did you specifically tell me

that my job was not a barrier if it was?

I didn't really know myself very well back then.

You knew yourself.

You were a bald, impotent workaholic

who couldn't even think about having sex

without breaking wind.

- Could I get the check, please. - And I changed all that.

Douglas, I made you happy.

We made each other happy.

Overwrought.

I told you, I'm overwrought.

Leland: I was the one who brought her in.

I certainly wanted to see her succeed.

But she didn't succeed in your mind, did she?

A senior partner has to be

trusted by her partners. She wasn't.

A senior partner has to deal honestly

with clients, co-workers. She didn't.

So, she was voted out?

It never came to that.

Once it became clear she couldn't win, she resigned.

She wasn't pushed or shoved out, or even asked to leave.

She just quit.

But you've heard her claim

that she was forced out because she was a woman.

Oh, that's ridiculous.

If we were against women,

why would she have been elected

senior partner in the first place?

If we were against women,

why have three of the last four partners

we've made been women?

This dispute has nothing to do with gender

and Rosalind Shays knows that.

Thank you, Mr. McKenzie.

I have nothing further, Your Honor.

You were old, you couldn't hack it.

So you brought in a woman, you gave her the title,

you let her build the firm back up

and then you just took the job back.

It didn't happen that way.

That's exactly how it happened.

[chuckles] You were smart, Leland.

Objection to the informality.

I'm sorry. Mr. McKenzie.

That's right, that's right,

it's okay for Mr. Becker to sit up here,

calling the plaintiff "Roz."

But dare we use a man's first name--

Stick to the case, Mr. Sollers.

I'm very much sticking to the case, Your Honor.

This man specifically wanted a woman

taking his place because he knew,

with the makeup of his firm, he knew

he could more easily get rid of a woman.

That's crazy. She lost the job because she manipulated people.

She lost the job because she couldn't be trusted.

Well, if you breed the trust that she can't,

tell us why Arnold Becker defected from you, not her.

She could not run the firm!

Then tell us why revenues went down

under your rule, not hers?

Tell us why when Rosalind Shays left,

she took eleven of your long-standing clients with her?

I'll tell youth is, everything I ever did

was in the best interest of my fellow partners.

Oh, is that right?

Well, could you tell us why you exalted your own vanity

at the expense of your partners?

- What? - Isn't it true, sir?

Even though you are hard of hearing,

you refused to wear your hearing aids

because they embarrassed you?

Isn't it also true, sir, that Rosalind Shays,

because she was worried about the firm being sued

for malpractice, had to ask you to wear your hearing aids?

This is totally irrelevant!

Jack: It is not irrelevant.

It goes to this man's ego, which is completely at issue.

An ego that compromised the interests of his firm.

An ego that victimized this woman!

- She victimized herself!

You were the executioner, Leland.

- You were the one-- Grace: Objection!

Mr. Sollers, that is enough.

I founded that firm!

And I wasn't gonna let her ruin it!

You were a tired and scared old man.

Scared of being obsolete.

I-- I am not obsolete. I am not obsolete!

I founded that firm!

Mr. McKenzie, settle down.

I founded that firm.

I'm not obsolete.

No further questions.

[crickets chirping]

Diana: Hey.

It's a lot easier when you close your eyes.

Thanks.

- Diana. - Hm?

[moaning]

Thanks for not beating me up for all this.

Maybe I don't think you're wrong.

I'm sitting at the defense table...

looking black...

letting myself be exploited.

You don't think Holloway's exploiting things a little?

Yeah, to make a point.

Mm.

What's my point?

He's a blatant rejectionist, Jonathan.

He... offers up nothing but rage.

It gets him a lot of cheers,

but what does he accomplish?

Sometimes rage is a start.

And look at what it's started.

A public desperation for

a conviction, no matter what.

Innocent or guilty, they are damn well

has to be a conviction to keep the peace.

That's what Holloway has started.

Baby, I don't know if Brian Chisolm is innocent.

The point is... whether he is or not

seems to be totally irrelevant.

[sighs]

There's so much hate in that courtroom.

Mm.

In the halls, in everybody's eyes.

They're all afraid of it.

The judge, the D.A., even Michael.

They're all afraid of the hate.

- Okay, I'm listening. Michael: Simple deal.

You stop talking to the press, inflaming the media,

we'll stipulate to negligence at the civil trial.

[chuckles] Nice sense of humor.

Hey. You represent the kid's family.

Your obligation is to them.

Now, we've offered to make your whole civil claim.

My client's aren't in this for the money.

They're in this because their child was murdered

and they want the person responsible for that

be held accountable.

And what are you in it for?

With all this grandstanding and pulpit thumping,

what are you in this for?

Well, one thing about me, Mr. Kuzak.

I never bother trying to justify myself

to people like you.

Well, you're making it impossible for us

to get a fair trial here. You're poisoning the process.

And you ought to bother justifying that.

You assume that the process

is poison-free to begin with.

I don't.

Oh, by the way, Mr. Rollins,

you're doing a great job.

I can see why he brought you in.

Jack: The toughest thing here, I suppose,

is to put a price tag on a dream.

Because that's what they took from her, ladies and gentlemen.

Her dream to be a senior partner.

She finally had her chance.

And when they forced her out, they crushed that dream.

And the news went whipping through the legal grapevine.

"Did you hear? They threw her out."

"Can you believe it, they dumped Rosalind Shays."

"Put her out on her ass."

"She only lasted two months. Wow!"

By their actions,

they put out a declaration to the entire legal world

that Rosalind Shays is unfit

for senior partnership status.

Oh, they had their reasons. A bunch of them.

She wasn't incompatible, she was this, she was that.

Well, it's funny how they waited

until after she rescued 'em from potential bankruptcy

before deciding that she was incompatible.

You heard Ann Kelsey.

She admitted, had Rosalind Shays been a man,

this might never have happened.

That's bad faith, ladies and gentlemen.

Bad faith.

Now, you can't give Rosalind Shays

back her senior partnership.

You cannot return to her her dream

that's probably gone forever.

The only thing that you good people can do

is give her money.

See to it that you give her a lot.

Your Honor.

My clients knew that Rosalind Shays

would likely pack up and leave

if she lost the senior partnership.

And they also knew the likelihood

that clients would go with her.

And that that could financially cripple the firm.

So why would they wanna vote her out?

Because she's a woman?

Give us a little credit for intelligence,

ladies and gentlemen.

They want you to believe

that this firm risked its entire solvency

because they didn't like women.

Would Ann Kelsey be working there if she thought that?

Would I?

[chuckles]

Now, sitting here is one of the most gifted attorneys

you could ever meet.

It was no fluke that McKenzie Brackman

began to flourish with her.

She brought in clients, she made deals.

It is indisputable

that Rosalind Shays is an extraordinary legal talent.

What is also indisputable, however,

is that she cannot get along with people.

She has severed every relationship

that she's ever had.

That's why she sits here today.

She's a woman without friendships,

a woman without family,

a woman who has never ever even met her own grandchildren.

Feel sorry for Rosalind Shays. Definitely do that.

Because I think her dream, her real dream...

is to be liked. And she's not.

Thank you.

I didn't like the judge's charge to the jury.

If we lose, let's order an expedited transcript.

There are grounds for appeal here.

- Okay. - Mr. McKenzie

Hi.

Hello.

I'm sorry about the scene.

But you hurt me.

I know.

Listen, I think you're being very reactive

to something that shocked you.

And I totally understand.

But, Douglas, I love you.

Somehow I fell in love with your stupid bald head

and your... little pessimistic idiosyncrasies.

I'm absolutely crazy about you.

Marilyn... all my life

I've viewed myself through my father's eyes.

I know that's unhealthy and probably stupid...

but the bottom line is,

he'd never approve of you and me.

But he's dead. For God's sake, Douglas.

It doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter.

Please go.

I love you.

Officer Chisolm claims that he was fired upon first,

by two unknown drug dealers.

There is no evidence to suggest

that these two drug dealers even exist.

No stray bullets were ever found.

And though Mr. Chisolm never took a lie detector test--

- Objection! Judge Stone: Ms. Fusco!

You know better than that.

Members of the jury, whether or not

the accused took a polygraph test

is of no relevance

and you're to give that no consideration.

- Move for a mistrial. Judge Stone: Approach.

- You're not getting a mistrial. - For God's sake, Your Honor.

She didn't say he failed it.

She implied that he refused to take it.

She did no such thing. She just said he didn't take it.

I see no prejudice.

- But this is outrageous! - Keep your voice down.

You let Holloway grandstand, you let in biased jurors,

and now with an obvious prejudicial statement

from the district attorney--

Your motion is denied.

It's all on the record. Take it up on appeal.

But I'm not stopping this trial.

Now step back, both of you.

Oh, this is a bag job.

Step back!

Members of the jury, I apologize for the disruption.

I'm not gonna take up any more of your time

I think that justice will best be served

if we get right to the evidence.

Evidence that will clearly demonstrate

that the defendant, Officer Brian Chisolm,

gunned down a black teenager in cold blood.

Evidence that will demonstrate, beyond a reasonable doubt,

that Brian Chisolm is a murderer.

Thank you.

[indistinct chatter]

Mr. Kuzak?

Mr. Kuzak?

I'm sorry. [clears throat]

Serving justice,

that's what she said we were here for, right?

The only problem with that is it's premised

on the assumption that we have...

impartial jurors and a fair judge.

Now, I have my doubts about you jurors,

I'll be honest with you.

But I have no doubts at all

about that big chicken bastard

sitting up there wearing the robe.

Mr. Kuzak, you are in contempt.

This man here cares nothing about justice.

All he cares about is getting reelected.

All he cares about is staying on Holloway's good side

so he doesn't get scathed in the press.

- You gotta call a mistrial now. - Take him away!

You've got no choice now!

Hey, I haven't finished my opening statement!

Judge Stone: Members of the jury,

you are not to consider Counsel's breakdown,

or in any way hold it against the defendant,

Mr. Kuzak was simply attempting to get this trial called off

for reasons which have nothing to do

with the issue before you.

Mr. Rollins, please take over.

- Excuse me? Marcia: Your Honor.

Under the circumstances--

I will not reward Mr. Kuzak's outburst

by letting him obtain his objective.

Now, this trial will go forward.

Mr. Rollins, please take over where Mr. Kuzak left off.

- You can't be-- - I said...

Take up where he left off!

Okay.

Um...

Um, I believe he left off...

calling you a big chicken bastard

worried about reelection.

You're in contempt, too! Bailiff!

He forgot to call you stupid.

And he forgot to ask who you bribed to get that robe.

Judge Stone: Take him out! - Objection.

Get your hands off me. I want my objection on the record.

He's a highly prejudicial judge.

Judge Stone: Members of the jury, I am sorry,

I have no other choice

but to suspend these proceedings and declare a mistrial.

You're giving them what they want!

Shut up, Mr. Holloway.

I have no choice.

The jury is dismissed.

We're done.

[indistinct chatter]

Judge Travelini: Mr. Foreman, have you reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

Judge Travelini: What say you?

"On the claim of bad faith termination,

we find in favor of the plaintiff

and order the defendant to pay compensatory damages

in the amount of one dollar."

"We further order the defendant to pay punitive damages

in the amount of two point one million dollars."

[indistinct chatter]

So what happens now?

Well, we just sit here.

No, I mean with the trial. What happens?

They'll impanel a new jury and we'll start all over again.

With Judge Stone still sitting?

I'll make another motion for recusal

but the way things are going...

Jonathan...

I want you to try this case.

Okay.

You sure?

Yeah.

Yeah, I'll try the case.

Murray: We're obviously saddened

at the incarceration of our two attorneys.

We feel it's a terrible abuse of judicial discretion.

As for the Rosalind Shays verdict,

that's an aberration.

The finding is wholly unsupported by the evidence,

and the award is outrageously excessive.

Another atrocity of an overly litigious society.

Naturally, we will appeal.

[theme music]