Original subtitles

Thank you, Stuart. That was wonderful.

And we get to go home together.

That's the best part.

[Markowitz chuckles]

Oh, my God.

- What? - Don't make it obvious.

But nice and slow, look to your immediate right.

That's nice and slow?

Markowitz: What the hell are they doing here?

Kelsey: What does it look like they're doing?

They're having dinner.

You think it's social?

It couldn't be social. You think it's social?

Kelsey: They're sitting in a booth.

Why would they choose a booth unless...

[instrumental music]

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[theme music]

[door buzzes open]

[door sliding]

So, they'll plea it out to life, but, that's all.

Life imprisonment, what the hell good is that?

It beats the death penalty which is what you're looking at.

Lionel, you've got one murder conviction already,

they don't have to give you anything.

- How 'bout parole? - No.

[inhales deeply]

Let's go for the trial then,

you know, life's as good as gas to me.

Okay, it's your call.

I don't what was in my head not killin' that girl.

If she's dead, they got no eyewitness.

Are you telling me right now that you did kill the husband?

Well, that'd be pretty stupid of me. Right, counselor?

Smarter for me just to tell you nothin'.

- They gave you a suit, right? - Yeah.

- And a tie. - Wear it.

We go in at 2 o'clock. I'll see you then.

You're gonna be a good lawyer, aren't you, Mr. Sifuentes?

[knocks on door]

[door buzzes]

First up, a very happy birthday to Arnold Becker.

[all cheering] Happy Birthday, Arnold!

- Happy Birthday, Arnold. - Thank you.

My birthday isn't until Thursday.

Agreed. But since you seem to be particularly anxious about it,

I though I'd take the opportunity

to remind you every day this week.

Rollins: The big 4-0.

Thirty-nine. Can we move on, please?

Of course. Anybody seen Ms. Perkins?

Yes, she's in her office. She sends her regrets.

Brackman: What do you mean she sends her regrets?

She's skipping the staff meeting?

C.J.: Evidently, she's under the impression

things could manage without her.

Can't imagine what she could be thinking.

Ah, Victor.

People vs. Lionel Sanders.

Trial starts this afternoon.

How can you actually defend this scum?

The court ordered me to represent the guy, Ann.

It's not like I had much of a choice.

Just the same, you're gonna fight

like hell to get him off, right?

I hope I lose. But to answer your question,

yes, I'm gonna fight for the guy.

That's what I was appointed to do, right?

Moving on. Grace, you authorized payment of

hospital expenses for a Ms. Helena Washington?

That's the woman who supplied the kidney for Carol Graf.

She developed some complications

and to protect the firm from potential liability,

I saw to it she be hospitalized and fully checked.

What's this about?

We went through a kidney broker

to get Carol Graf's kidney.

Why are we just hearing about this now?

I've already reprimanded both

Grace and Mullaney on this matter--

No, no, no. That's not the point!

No file was opened, no case number was assigned.

Kuzak: Why was this done secretly?

It shouldn't have been. They screwed up.

Move on, Douglas.

Brackman: There is some good news.

Leland has landed Velnick Industries,

a major manufacturing company of household fixtures,

a client which could generate billables

upwards of a quarter of a million dollars annually.

Becker: That's terrific. - That is good news.

Brackman: And more good fortune.

I note, Arnold, you have a meeting with

Christina Sheppard, regarding her divorce from

Leonard Bey, CEO of Kenmore Consolidates.

This could be major.

Mr. Bey is worth between fifty and a hundred million.

Becker: Hopefully, I'll reel in Mrs. Bey this morning.

Let's hope so. It's been a while since you brought in a big one.

What are you bringing in, Doug?

Brackman: It was an observation.

Don't be so sensitive... during your birthday week.

McKenzie: Douglas! - Sorry. We're adjourned.

Grace. Tommy. My office, please.

- Oh, can it wait, I-- - No.

In my office now.

Why wasn't I told about this kidney broker thing?

It didn't involve you, that's why.

You expose us to this kind of liability,

it damn well does involve me--

Well, Leland knew all about it

and already gave us chapter and verse--

That doesn't absolve you of your

obligation to inform me about it.

What do mean inform you?

This was a function of the litigation department.

That means you come in here, you tell me everything--

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Cut the crap, will you, Michael?

You got a problem with me

seeing Victor, fine.

Van Owen: But it is totally unprofessional for you to act--

I am talking about the way you practice law.

No, you're not. This is personal!

This is professional! As head of litigation--

You're not head of litigation, I am!

- What? Van Owen: That's right, Michael.

Leland made me head of litigation.

It was a condition of my coming here.

So don't tell me what I can or can't do as a lawyer here

and don't tell me what I can or can't do

concerning anything else!

[door slams]

Are you finished with me?

I'm not going to lie even though I happen to be quite good at it.

Thank you.

You're the ninth lawyer I've gone to.

The other eight have all said the prenup can't be broken,

which is terrible since it

limits me to five hundred thousand.

- And you want more. Sheppard: Much more.

Leonard's worth about seventy million dollars.

Five hundred thousand just seems a little bit trivial.

Maybe. But, then, on the other hand,

you've only been married to him for seven months.

Quality time.

Look, I made a mistake,

a mistake I would like him to pay for.

And I hear you're creative.

Let me look at the agreement. See what I can come up with.

Four hundred an hour applied against

a nonrefundable retainer of thirty thousand.

That seems a bit high, compared to the others.

I don't compare to the others, Ms. Sheppard.

Is that right?

I'm going to have three lawyers

comb through this little contract,

and then you're going to tell me everything

you know about your husband. Everything...

whether you think it matters or not.

And then I'm going to get to work and make you

a very large amount of money.

Becker: How does that sound?

You arrived home around 11 p.m.?

Yes, we went to a movie.

John parked the car in the garage

and we came in through the side door, and...

he was there in the kitchen.

Kennedy: And what happened, Mrs. Brusell?

Well, I-- I think we surprised him at first

because he-- he jumped back.

Then, he pointed his gun at us.

Does this look like the gun, ma'am?

Yes.

People offer this as exhibit one, Your Honor.

And what happened next, Mrs. Brusell?

Wendy: He started screaming at us to get down on the floor.

He said if we didn't get on the floor that he would kill us.

Kennedy: Keep going.

Wendy: Well, we did what he told us to do.

And he was swearing all the time, he was swearing at us.

And then he made John take off his...

his watch and he made me give him

my rings and a bracelet...

Then, he-- he put his gun in my mouth,

and he was laughing.

He told John to look because...

he wanted him to watch...

he wanted him to watch his wife die.

I thought he was going to kill me right then and there.

And then, um, then he took the gun out of my mouth

and he hit me on the side of the head with it

and I-- I guess I just blacked out.

And what's the next thing that you remember?

Waking up and seeing John there...

lying-- lying in the blood.

He had a...

he had a hole in the side of his head.

He was shot. He killed my husband.

Kennedy: And you're absolutely sure

this was the man you saw that night.

Yes. Yes, that's him.

Kennedy: Thank you, Mrs. Brusell.

Nothing further.

Mrs. Brusell, my name is Victor Sifuentes,

and ma'am, I am truly sorry for your loss.

Now, you didn't see my client

shoot your husband, did you?

No, I-- I didn't see it.

Sifuentes: Okay.

Okay.

I have nothing further.

Well, the prints from inside the house

match those of the defendant.

Saleno: And based on that, as well as Mrs. Brusell's

positive photo identification,

we sought and obtained the warrant and proceeded

to arrest Mr. Sanders at his residence.

Kennedy: And, detective, did you search

the defendant's department incident to his arrest?

Saleno: Yes, we did. - And what did you find?

Located under some dishrags beneath the sink,

was a .357 Magnum.

I show you People's Exhibit One

and ask, if you recognize it?

This is the gun we found. I recognize it

by the chip on the handle.

Kennedy: You ran this through ballistics?

Yes, and they confirmed this to be

the gun used to kill John Brusell.

Sir, what else did you find

on the premises or on the person

of the defendant, Lionel Sanders?

Saleno: We recovered a watch and some jewelry

identified as belonging to the victim and his wife.

We also noticed a bullet wound on the arm of the defendant.

Kennedy: Were you able to ascertain

the cause of that wound?

Saleno: We believe the victim attempted

to go to the aid of his wife

as the defendant beat her.

Now, the gun probably went off, wounding the defendant

and it was likely at this time, he fatally shot Mr. Brusell.

Kennedy: Thank you, detective.

I have nothing further, Your Honor.

You have no eyewitness to this shooting do you, detective?

To the actual shooting, no, we don't.

And it is possible,

isn't it, that the fatal gunshot

could have gone off during the struggle?

Saleno: It doesn't matter, felony murder rule.

Sifuentes: Move to strike! - Even if it goes off by accid--

- It's still murder one. - Move to strike!

- That is a legal conclusion. Judge Hansen: Sustained.

Sifuentes: Thank you. You can't rule out the possibility

that this was an accident, can you?

He was shot point blank, counselor, I don't think that--

It could have gone off during the struggle, right, detective?

It could have. But, I doubt it.

Thank you, sir. That's all.

What the hell are you talking about accidents for?

It don't matter if it's an accident.

It does for sentencing, right now

that's the only thing worth concentrating on.

Hey! Stop goin' through

the damn motions and do something.

I am trying to tell you, there's not much we can do here.

Then screw the hell up in there.

Get me an appeal for inadequate counsel.

Get me damn a mistrial, anything!

- That's not gonna work. - Do something for God's sake.

I'm lookin' at the freakin' gas chamber here!

They appointed you to defend me, so dammit, let's see a defense!

Look! All I can tell you is...

Right now, we're looking at a certain conviction.

Sifuentes: Now, you can testify and try to change this,

but you have an obligation to tell the truth.

You understand what I'm saying?

I cannot put you up on the stand,

if I know you're gonna lie.

I got you. Put me up there.

I'm just gonna ask you what happened and you tell me.

Right.

- Hi. How we doin'? - Hi.

Oh, we're alright. Arnie's in his office sulking.

He's really freaked.

Then a surprise party is just what he needs.

Rox, I need you--

- Hi. - Hi, sweetie.

Dropped by to say hello.

Uh-huh.

Look, in case you two are planning

any surprise parties, forget it.

I am not celebrating this birthday.

We'll go out to dinner, just you and me.

No. I have to work late Thursday night.

Arnie... excuse me.

- Sorry, the thing's air tight. - Don't tell me that, Jonathan.

They haven't invent an air tight prenup.

They have now. This thing's crafted.

You're telling me this ten minutes before my meeting?

Rollins: I've been telling you this since last night--

Forget it, Jonathan! Just forget it!

Fine.

I gotta go to the bathroom.

No parties!

Now, what do we do?

I already booked the caterer.

- Relax. We'll just do it here. - Here?

If we can't get him to the party,

we can bring the party to him.

What can I do for you, Ann?

I thought initially I wouldn't say anything,

but now that I think about it...

Stuart and I had dinner at Tribeca's the night before last

and as we were leaving

we saw you kiss Rosalind Shays.

Ah-ha.

Is that it? "Ah-ha?"

I didn't know that my social life

was any of your business.

It is, if it affects the firm.

Oh, this doesn't affect the firm--

You had us represent her in that S&L case

because of your involvement.

That's deception, Leland,

if not an outright lie!

We represented her to save ourselves

three hundred thousand dollars--

- Oh, please! McKenzie: There's nothing to--

Then why didn't you just tell us

you were seeing her?

Well, if you were having

an affair with Rosalind Shays,

would you tell anybody?

You're sleeping with her?

- Please leave, Ann. - I don't trust that woman.

I didn't trust her motives when she was here

and I certainly don't trust them with you now!

I said leave.

- Leland, you got a minute? - What do you want?!

Oh. I'm sorry.

What can I do for you, Michael?

Grace Van Owen and Tommy Mullaney violated federal law.

We have knowledge of it, thereby putting us

at serious risk if we do nothing.

Kuzak: We could all be disbarred, or worse,

we could all be brought up on conspiracy charges.

What are you saying?

I'm saying that, like it or not,

we have to do something to protect ourselves.

At a very minimum, they should both be suspended.

You can't be serious!

Leland, the donor is sick.

If she dies, there will damn well be an investigation.

If we are so much as charged criminally,

this firm is finished.

But if we suspend them, we leave ourselves open to scrutiny.

Then we have to do it very carefully.

We simply suspend them without pay for undisclosed reasons.

The partners will never suspend Grace, you know that--

On your strong recommendation, they might.

This have anything to do with

Grace's new relationship with Victor?

McKenzie: I know about it. It's all over the firm.

I am talking about this firm... period.

I won't make that recommendation.

But you're risking the whole--

This discussion is over, Michael.

Who's head of litigation?

I beg your pardon?

Grace told me that you made her

head of litigation when you hired her.

At the time, you were leaving the firm.

But I didn't leave the firm, I stayed.

Who is head of litigation, Leland?

Well, this firm has never operated

on that kind of hierarchy so what's the--

Officially, who is head of litigation?

I made a commitment to Grace.

And I stand by that commitment.

When is it ever gonna cease to suck around here?

This agreement is so fundamentally unfair

it virtually has no chance of standing up in any--

Five hundred grand for seven months,

I'd say she gets off okay.

Given your client's net worth, Mr. Cleland,

this contract is unconscionable.

She was represented by counsel. This thing is binding.

But ambiguity is construed against the drafter.

That's very true, but there's nothing ambiguous about it.

There is enough to get in to court

where things can get very ugly.

That is not something that you want, sir.

Is that a threat?

Well, I don't know, the line between

"threat" and "promise" is so easily blurred.

Go ahead and sue. I'll cross claim her

for being a gold digging malicious slut.

Becker: We'll add on for slander.

I'm surprised, Christina.

Is this all you come up with?

Cleland: Let me tell you what I'm gonna do.

In exchange for you recommending

to your client that she walk with the five hundred

and not a penny more, I'll recommend to my client

that he not haul you in on sanctions for abuse--

Who do you think you're talking to?

A lawyer that has no case, that's who.

Do some research, Mr. Cleland.

You're dealing with Arnold Becker here.

- Uh-oh. Cleland: Yeah, you're right.

Instead of five we'll give you four.

We'll see you in court.

Cleland: Hey, you know, she's hired every

lawyer in town to crack this,

that should tell you something about

the validity of this prenuptial.

And as for you... you're her ninth choice.

That should say something, too.

Come on, Lenny.

We're dealing with Arnold Becker.

[Bey chuckles]

Look, why don't you just bill me

for the time spent and we'll leave it at that, alright?

It's not over yet.

Well, for us I think it is.

Look, you're a very nice man,

it was lovely to meet you, but I think--

I'm not finished with him yet.

And you're not gonna fire me.

You give me another day and I'm gonna beat those bastards.

I am not a nice man.

I promise.

Sanders: I needed the money for drugs,

that's why I broke into the house.

I'd just gotten inside when they came home.

And what happened, Mr. Sanders,

after the Brusells entered their home?

It was like she said at first,

I put my gun to 'em,

said get down on the floor, I...

I took their jewelry.

Did you put your gun inside Mrs. Brusell's mouth?

Sanders: The reason I did that,

it would make it harder for her to remember me.

I figured, she got a gun barrel in her face,

she's not thinkin' about the color of my eyes.

So... you did that to shock her, yes?

Yeah, since I knew I wasn't gonna kill her

I didn't want her remembering me.

Did you strike her with the gun?

Yes, sir.

And then she passed out,

so I stopped.

And next you turned to Mr. Brusell.

Sanders: Yes, sir.

Sifuentes: Did you put your gun inside his mouth, too?

No, sir.

Well, could you tell the court

what happened then?

I raped him.

[court murmuring]

- You raped him? - Yes.

And then what happened?

Sanders: He was cryin' the whole time.

Beggin' me to stop.

And I made him, uh...

I made him do things to me.

- What things? - Sex things.

And in the middle of it, he jumped up and grabbed me.

That's when he got the gun away from me.

So, Mr. Brusell...

got possession of the revolver?

Yes, and I started to run away. That's when he shot me.

Victor: And then what happened? - Well, I just hit the floor.

You know, I didn't know that he'd just gotten me in the arm.

I thought that, uh...

this was it, you know. I thought he was gonna kill me.

So what did you do?

Sanders: I just laid there on the floor

pretendin' I was dead

and prayed to God Almighty

that he'd let me live.

And, uh-- and the man, he just started cryin' again.

Mr. Brusell started crying?

Sanders: Yeah, he was cryin' and, uh...

he began to tremble and...

God, that's when he done it.

Did what?

He put the gun to his head and he just...

He just pulled the trigger.

[court murmuring]

Is it your testimony then...

that Mr. Brusell committed suicide?

Sanders: I swear that's how it happened.

I wasn't gonna kill either of 'em.

He put the gun to his own head.

So, then what did you do?

Well, I got the gun and I left. Look, Mr. Sifuentes,

I didn't kill nobody.

I broke in there to steal and I committed a rape.

I should go to jail, probably forever.

But I did not kill that man.

Thank you, sir. I have nothing further.

Mr. Sanders...

you expect us to believe

that the victim just took your gun and shot himself?

My word to God, that's what happened.

Didn't check on his wife,

didn't call an ambulance

to make sure she'd get help,

just turned the gun

on himself and fired?

Objection! Your honor,

that goes to the victim's state of mind.

Sustained.

How come you never told us this before?

Because I knew nobody would believe me.

You were previously convicted of manslaughter in 1980,

weren't you, Mr. Sanders?

For which you served eight years?

I ain't lived my life too good.

I've done a lot of stuff I deserved to be punished for--

- Just answer yes or no. - Yes!

I committed that murder in 1980, but this one, I didn't.

That man...

he killed himself.

Sanders: I didn't murder anybody that night. I didn't!

[soft music]

So, what are you gonna do?

What else can I do?

I have to try to prove this guy's story.

But, you yourself said it's a total lie.

Yeah, but, I don't know for a fact that he's lying.

Do you even remotely believe this guy?

No.

- Well, then-- - But it doesn't matter.

If I don't use and incorporate his testimony into my defense,

then I'm as much as admitting to the jury

that I don't believe him and that's...

- Violation of privilege. - Violation of privilege.

I gotta go with this cock and bull story.

I gotta do whatever I can to try to try to prove it.

Oh, Victor.

What if you pull it off?

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chattering]

- Dr. Felder? - Mr. Sifuentes?

Thanks for coming.

Tommy Mullaney told me you're the best.

Well, I don't know what I can do on such short notice,

but hell, let's give it a try.

I tried to get a continuance but...

Look, these are all the medicals

that I could dig up so far on John Brusell.

Now, anything that you could

possibly do to support the theory...

When am I going on, hmm?

Forty-five minutes.

God.

Okay.

Let me pour through this.

Did you bring the check?

Yeah. Two thousand, right?

I-- I'm gonna need a receipt to get reimbursed by the court.

No problem.

I wish I could give you more time to prepare--

Not to worry.

Forty-five minutes should be fine.

And so, you're saying

it's possible that this was a suicide.

It was very possible. The trauma of rape

can effect near psychotic reactions.

Victims are very often suicidal.

Sifuentes: Why is that, Dr. Felder?

Felder: Rape is extremely destructive,

the sense of violation is overwhelming.

Mr. Brusell was the victim

of brutal, violent sodomy.

And this could cause a man to take his own life?

Usually, the suicidal tendencies manifest later.

But... there are no rules here.

This man had to sit by helplessly

and watch his wife get a pistol stuck in her mouth,

get knocked unconscious.

Felder: Then, he was forced to have anal sex.

He was forced to orally

copulate this stranger?

This could very definitely have consumed him

with such self-disgust, he-- he just snapped.

There's plenty of anecdotal evidence to support this.

- Thank you, Dr. Felder. Felder: One more thing.

I examined the coroner's report

and from the angle of the bullet wound--

Objection!

It definitely could have been self-inflicted.

Objection, this man is not

a coroner, he has no foundation!

Judge: Sustained. Members of the jury will give no weight

to the remark regarding the angle of the bullet wound.

One does not have to be a coroner--

Dr. Felder, be quiet.

Sifuentes: I have nothing further, Your Honor.

You never knew or even met the victim, did you?

Felder: No, no I did not.

Kennedy: And you're up here espousing

a psychological opinions on him?

I'm talking about rape and suicide--

You're talking about whatever defense counsel...

- Wants you to talk about. - Objection!

Throwing around any psychological buzzwords

you can think of to justify your witness fee.

Sifuentes: Objection! Judge Hansen: Counsel.

Felder: Let me tell you something, Ms. Kennedy.

I don't like the defendant.

I think he should rot in prison for the rest of his life,

but that doesn't mean that I should overlook

the evidence which is in front of me.

That evidence suggests a very real possibility,

if not probability, that John Brusell took his own life--

Move to strike!

That's why I'm sitting in this witness chair!

And when you investigated this crime, detective,

you never explored the possibility of suicide, did you?

No, we did not.

Sifuentes: When you recovered the murder weapon,

you found two prints on it

which belonged to the victim, didn't you?

Probably during the struggle, he grabbed ahold of the gun.

Sifuentes: The victim's prints were on the gun, yes or no?

Yes.

And you never explored the possibility

that the victim was raped, isn't that right?

There's nothing in the autopsy report to suggest that he was.

Sifuentes: But if there was no tearing or semen,

autopsy could've missed it.

And, in fact, sir, you ordered

to exhume the body of John Brusell yesterday

to check for evidence of rape, isn't that right?

That's correct.

Sifuentes: What did the coroner conclude?

There was too much decomposition to tell.

It was inconclusive?

Yes.

Thank you, sir. I have nothing further.

Becker: Christina!

You're late. Where the hell were you?

This better be good, Arnie.

Just play along, Christina.

Gentlemen.

I'll tell you, I will move for sanctions--

This is my meeting, Mr. Cleland. I'd appreciate it if--

Yeah, well you just be glad we showed up.

Now, let's just settle this and I don't want to hear

any more garbage about breaking the deal.

Oh, I don't care about the prenup.

We're going to be seeking an annulment

to the entire marriage.

- An annulment? - You gotta be kidding.

I'm not kidding. Your client induced this woman

into wedlock through fraud.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about your inability

to naturally consummate your marriage, sir.

I'm talking about your penile implant.

Cleland: His what? - Oh, God.

My client had no knowledge

that a material part of your

anatomy was inflatable.

- She knew it. Becker: After you were married.

She never would have known it

had one of your cylinders not ruptured.

- For God's sake! - What is this crap?

This crap concerns an internal mechanical device

designed to give him an artificial erection.

Wait just a second! You're not impotent.

Absolutely not! I'm functioning--

With the aid of technology, yes.

You son-of-a-bitch!

This is the lowest most

disgusting ploy I've ever heard of.

Thank you, and besides that, it's relevant.

Becker: Goes directly to the issue of conjugal relations

and therefore is grounds for annulment.

Alright, my friend. You want an annulment, you got one.

But that means that they were never married.

Cleland: So, instead of five hundred thousand

she's entitled to absolutely nothing.

Excellent point! The only thing is, for the annulment,

I'll have to file the grounds with the court,

and therefore make it a matter of public record

that the CEO of Kenmore Consolidates

has this built-in body pump that shoots liquids into his--

That's blackmail!

Two million dollars, Mr. Bey,

or the whole world finds out you're a self-made man.

You can't do this!

Two million dollars by the end of business tomorrow.

Who the hell do you think you are?

Her ninth choice.

[indistinct chatter]

[sighs] Alright, Abby.

How long is gonna go on? I said I was sorry.

And I accepted your apology,

so let's just forget it, okay?

But haven't forgotten it,

you've been carrying it around for over a week now--

Ann, I'm sorry if it makes you feel uncomfortable.

I'll try and look happy.

[sighs] Look...

I would quit if I could afford to, I really would.

But I have a son

and I am a sixth year associate in a depressed market,

I have nowhere else to go.

So... I trudge in here every day

to McKenzie Brackman Chaney Kuzak and Becker

so pleased with myself.

The depressed market is the only reason you weren't made partner.

Your work is great. Everybody likes you.

It's simply a question of the economics.

That probably doesn't make you feel any better

but you have to know there is still

a lot of support for you here.

Who voted against me?

That's confidential.

Leland and I voted yes.

Everybody else voted no.

Did Leland push for me or did he just vote?

He fully supported you.

No. Did he push for me?

What's the difference how he--

The difference is we had a deal.

Abby: Last year Leland struck

a bargain with Jonathan and me.

We pledged our support for him

in his fight against Rosalind,

in exchange for his promise to

endorse us for partnership when the time came.

- Quid pro quo. Just like that? Abby: Yeah.

What I want to know is, did he keep his promise?

Oh, yeah. He kept it.

[door slams]

Yes?

I'm sorry.

About before. I was out of line, Grace.

Okay. Let's forget it.

Hold on a minute. You don't even know what I'm apologizing for.

Yesterday I went to Leland behind your back.

I tried to get him to suspend you and Tommy Mullaney,

ostensibly to protect the firm,

but more likely to punish you.

The only explanation I have for all of this...

is that I'm...

not over you, Grace.

I thought I was, but...

I don't know how far your relationship

has progressed with Victor,

but I do know that I love you.

And I want you back.

That's not gonna happen, Michael.

Well, is it Victor?

It's me...

you...

a-- and yes, Victor.

Okay.

I gotta get back to work.

Again, I'm-- I'm sorry.

[door closes]

- You're doing what? - Just what I said.

We're dismissing the burglary

and aggravated assault.

- Why? Sifuentes: I'll tell you why.

She knows the jury hates my guy

so much they're never gonna dare let him walk.

And by dismissing the other two counts, the only available

means of to lock him up will be the murder charge.

If I want to dismiss in the interests of justice--

Then I want the complaint amended to include the rape.

Kennedy: Opposed.

Sifuentes: He admitted it under oath.

The interests of justice would also mandate--

I'll bring the rape charges after this trial.

Judicial economy says do it now.

Alright, you're both very clever.

Look, if the district attorney wants to dismiss on burglary

and aggravated assault, I really can't stop her.

Judge Hansen: And I'm certainly not amending the complaint

to include rape now, that'd be against

the defendant's constitutional rights.

- We waive it. - State won't stipulate.

Sorry, counsel. Burglary and assault dismissed.

He remains up on murder alone.

Look... [sighs]

I don't want this guy to go free either,

but this isn't right. You're trying to box the jury

into a corner with their own fear so that you can get

a murder conviction that you might not otherwise get.

You are doing whatever you can to get him off, Victor.

I'm doing whatever I can to get him on death row.

Yeah, but you know what, you're playing loose with the rules.

You're dropping counts to force jurors hand,

you're playing fancy free with the system here.

- And you are letting her. - I've made my ruling.

Closing arguments, 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.

To be perfectly honest with you, ladies and gentlemen...

I hate Lionel Sanders.

I'm here as an attorney

under court appointment.

I have to tell you that the idea of representing this man

is repulsive to me.

But...

that doesn't change the fact

that on the charge of murder here,

Lionel Sanders must be acquitted.

He must be. Nobody saw him shoot the victim.

Prosecution has offered nothing

to refute his testimony.

The evidence suggests

that the bullet wound...

could have been self inflicted.

The victim's fingerprints were on the gun.

You heard Dr. Felder talk about

the psychological effects of rape.

The trauma of being sodomized,

and how that could drive a man to take his own life.

Yesterday morning, the prosecution suddenly

had enough doubt themselves...

that they ordered the body to be exhumed.

And the tests were...

inconclusive.

The prosecution cannot exclude

the possibility of suicide here, and that means...

that they can't negate reasonable doubt.

Now you can all go back to that room

and unanimously conclude that sitting over there

is a despicable human being.

You can go back hoping

that when he's brought up on those rape charges,

and he will be after this trial is over,

that he's put away for a long, long time.

But what you cannot do,

ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

is ignore the fact that reasonable doubt exists here.

No matter what she says, no matter what they tell you,

she can't stand here and rule out suicide

because they never investigated it!

They never even investigated it.

[sighs] So...

you can be weak and do the popular thing...

or you can be strong

and cling to the principles

and the obligations that you took an oath to uphold.

It's not easy. Heh.

Dammit, your job is not easy here.

But be it for this system's integrity

or simply your own...

you have to do it.

You have to do your job.

Ladies and gentlemen...

Lionel Sanders is a convicted felon

who by his own admission had killed before.

He made up a wild suicide theory to save his life,

uh, hired a veteran professional witness doctor

to lend credence to his theory,

and that is his whole defense.

He broke into this home,

battered the wife,

a bullet from his gun...

ended up in the head of Mr. Brusell

and they're asking you

to swallow suicide.

There's no evidence of rape here.

Nothing. In the autopsy or anywhere else.

Because he made it up.

Kennedy: He is a cold blooded

two-time killer

who told a desperate lie on the witness stand

in order to get you people to acquit him

of a vicious homicide.

Don't do it, ladies and gentlemen.

You know what he is.

Don't give him the chance

to show up one day in your kitchen.

Thank you.

[court murmuring]

[telephone ringing]

[door opens] What's going on?

I have nothing to do with this. I've just found out.

I'll take responsibility, Douglas.

Since I'm the catalyst.

We have some concerns, Leland, and we'd like to address them.

- What kind of concerns? Kelsey: With leadership.

Specifically, your emerging track record for deception.

You concealed your social relationship

with Rosalind while mandating that we represent her.

You secretly promised Grace that she would be head of litigation.

You never even told Michael, or me for that matter.

Oh, please.

Kelsey: Yesterday, I found out

that you made a covert

partnership promise to Jonathan

and Abby in exchange for them

backing you against Rosalind.

My God, Leland, you sat in this room

last week endorsing Abby on her merits

when it was really a political payback.

I truly believed she would make a great partner.

Becker: The point is you don't make deals like that

and you of all people have to know that.

Today, I learned, through a little checking,

that Velnick Industries, our new big client,

is a subsidiary of the Tammon Group Corporation,

a corporation who's head lawyer is Rosalind Shays.

Kelsey: Did she refer this subsidiary to you?

So, what if she did?

So, you never told us about that.

Now, since Rosalind's client has control over our client,

she indirectly has some control over us here.

- That's ridiculous. Markowitz: It's not ridiculous.

You've completely subverted the democratic process.

You're running around making decisions that affect all of us

and yet you're keeping us totally in the dark.

You hired C.J. Lamb unilaterally,

that should've been put to a vote.

You hired Tommy Mullaney unilaterally,

that also should have been put to a vote.

I'm trying to build our revenues back up here and C.J.--

Kelsey: We don't like your methods!

We don't like the secrecy,

especially now that Rosalind's got your ears.

Now that's out of line, dammit!

Maybe it is, but this is a partnership,

not a dictatorship. We've called this meeting

to make our feelings clear.

Fine. Now let me express

my feelings.

The burden is still on me to bring in the business.

McKenzie: I can't spend eight hours a day

trying to build a client base

and take out time to serve your sense of democracy.

I know I've been cutting some administrative corners,

but it is tough being both rainmaker

and office ambassador at the same time!

So, what are you saying?

I'm saying I'm going to set my priorities.

For the next six weeks, I'm going to completely

concentrate on expanding our client list

and thus free myself from all this office bureaucracy.

I am passing the senior partnership

temporarily, over to Douglas.

Markowitz: You can't do that. - I certainly can.

McKenzie: The partnership agreement authorizes me

to make a pro tem designation,

unilaterally, and that's what I'm doing.

Douglas, for the next six weeks, you're in charge.

I leave it to you to establish

a fair and democratic process

that everyone can live with.

Are there anymore questions from anyone?

Good. Thank you for airing your concerns.

This meeting is adjourned.

Isn't this exciting?

Becker: Mr. Bey.

What a surprise.

You don't know how this kills me.

I could've just sent it over by messenger.

But... listen.

Even though the deal says that she can't talk about my...

- Mm-hm. - You know...

I know how lawyers tell war stories to each other

and... this would be a good one.

I won't tell anyone.

I must be the world's biggest sap, huh?

Thinking a girl like that could go for an old fart like me.

As much as I can tell about your ex-wife, Mr. Bey,

I wouldn't bother measuring yourself by her standards.

Bey: But I do, y'know.

Problem is... I grew up handsome

and I just can't face the reality that one day,

even if it isn't now,

that people aren't gonna think that I'm attractive.

I'm gonna walk into a room

and girls like Christina aren't gonna look.

What are you, 42, forty-three?

Thirty-nine.

Bey: Well, then, you know what I mean.

You're still turning heads,

that old smile still work like it used to?

Oh, I don't really worry about that.

Well, then, you're lucky.

You're lucky you're not vain, because aging...

there's nothing gradual about it.

You're just suddenly old.

Is that why you got the implant?

Oh, I didn't need it. I wasn't impotent or anything.

I just wanted to be as strong and as virile, and...

God, the thought that one day I'd end up with this...

limp, useless rag-like--

Mr. Bey, I've got another meeting so, ah...

Yeah.

Tell Christina I wish the best for her, okay?

Sure.

They've come down to second degree.

Which translates to what?

Twenty years.

[chuckles]

You see that?

Never underestimate the value

of a good lie, counselor.

Three days ago it was life, now, 20 years.

Look, you, uh, you really need to decide.

They could come back in any time.

Twenty years is pretty good,

with parole you'd get fifteen.

Well, what do you think? We got a chance?

Yeah, there's-- there's always a chance.

Yeah.

Sifuentes: There's also a big risk.

You lose, you're lookin' at the death penalty.

Yeah. Yeah.

You know somethin'?

I'm feelin' lucky.

You did a hell of a job in there

and I'm feelin' pretty lucky.

Even if you win, you're still lookin' at the rape.

So, what? Even with high term and the prior,

I'll be out of there in seven,

which is a lot better than twenty.

Let's roll the dice, counselor.

Your closing argument in there today was...

fantastic.

[indistinct chattering]

- Hi. - Hi.

- L-a-t-e, you're late. - Shh. Quiet.

I got a call today

about something that might interest you.

Shh! Shh!

Please. Everybody, quiet.

I'm gonna go get Arnie now.

- Okay. - Okay.

[knocks] Arnie?

Are you in there? It's me, Roxanne.

Becker: Go away!

Arnie...

- Get up. - Are you crazy?!

- Get outta here! - Shhh!

What in the hell's the matter with you?

You wife and twenty of your closest friends

are in the reception area,

waiting to give you a surprise party,

that's what's the matter with me.

Get your clothes on, for God's sake!

You. You don't go anywhere!

You stay right here in this office

and you don't move until

I come back and say you can.

Rox!

Roxanne: Hurry up and get ready, Arnie

before somebody walks in,

you stupid jerk!

Wai-- wa-- wait.

[sighs] Okay, I'm ready.

[door slams] Nice time for a nap, Arnie.

Stop it.

Now you just look surprised, dammit.

You stupid selfish, ungrateful pig!

all: Surprise!

[all applauding]

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday dear Arnie ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

Thank you.

[paper rustling]

Judge Hansen: Madame Foreman, has the jury reached a verdict?

- We have. Judge Hansen: What say you?

In the matter of People vs. Lionel Sanders

on the charge of first degree murder,

we find the defendant not guilty.

Judge Hansen: Members of the jury,

thank you for your service.

The defendant's free to go.

Kennedy: Your Honor, I have a warrant

for the arrest of Mr. Sanders

on the grounds of aggravated rape

and I ask that he be taken into custody.

So ordered. Bailiff. We stand adjourned.

Mr. Sanders, are you gonna plead guilty to the rape?

I'm-- I'm confident that we'll win that, too.

I have no comment.

The DA's office

and the police have both stated for the record that

they don't believe there was a rape.

I think I'll make reasonable doubt.

Uh, I would like to thank my attorney.

Obviously, we're both satisfied that justice has been done.

- No comment. reporter #1: Mr. Sifuentes--

Did you hear what I just said? I have no comment, that's all.

[court murmuring]

[theme music]

[music continues]