Original subtitles

[panting]

[engine revving]

Was I going over the speed limit, officers?

Man 1: Let's see some ID. - I don't have my wallet...

Look, I-- I don't usually carry it with me when I run.

Will you please step towards the car, slowly.

Wait a minute, I'm an attorney.

I live two miles from here.

Yeah, sure. Move.

What's your reasonable suspicion?

You don't belong here, you don't fit

the profile of the neighborhood, that's my suspicion.

We asked you to step towards the car.

- Get your hands off me. - Shut your mouth!

Hey, hey, hey!

[grunting]

[screams]

Happy now smart guy? You happy now?

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Alright. Let's get going, shall we?

Arnie: Where's Roxanne?

Attending to other matters this morning.

She may join us later.

First up, revenues for McKenzie Brackman

you'll be pleased to know rose 22%

for the month of January.

Excellent work, people. Let's keep it up.

Next, on a truly disastrous note,

I'm the object of libel in this weeks "Inquisitor."

I show you page one. "Vanna Dumps Bald Bore."

- Nice picture. - Yeah, what's...

What's the deal on that, Douglas? She got married?

Yeah, she told me she was going skiing.

Oh, well. Anyway, it's filled with malicious lies.

I want immediate action.

Ann, you've beat these tabloids before,

call their lawyers, make some heads roll.

Moving on, the Barkley prenup.

Yeah, me. I'm meeting alone with them tomorrow.

Her lawyer isn't even coming.

But I've got to get a secretary, Douglas.

We've sent you nine this past week.

- You fired every one of them. Arnie: Yeah.

Because you send bimbos, I'm telling you, Douglas,

Roxanne's got a lot to learn about personnel recruitment.

I'm also telling you, that this Barkley prenup

could be very complex,

and it is inconceivable for me to take this meeting

without a qualified, able assistant.

Douglas: I'm assigning Gwen Taylor. She's excellent--

- No way. - She's mine.

Stuart, you no longer need two secretaries.

Yeah, well, fine, give him Mary Beth.

- But I need Gwen. - You do not need Gwen.

Arnie: I don't need her, I don't want her.

- I don't like her. - Well, you're getting her.

At least until the Barkley deal is done.

This is a million-dollar client.

- My decision is final. - When are his six weeks up?

Jonathan Rollins is calling in. He's in jail.

- Why? - He was arrested.

He left a message last night on Victor's answering machine.

- I didn't get it. Brackman: What happened?

Well, he didn't say, he just said that

he's being arraigned this morning

and he needs you or Victor.

- I'll take it. - No, you both take it.

Get down there right now. See what he needs. Move.

Grace, put in a call to Rogoff, maybe he can help.

- Sure. - Let's adjourn.

We'll cover the other items later.

Grace: I wonder what happened. - I'm gonna get my coat.

[indistinct chatter]

CJ: Hey, it's okay. Settle down.

Just tell me what happened.

Okay. Uh...

Jim took Josh for the weekend.

You know, he gets him every other weekend.

I know. And?

- He's not bringing him back. - What?

His lawyer just showed up this morning.

And, uh, he says he's bringing a new

petition for custody in Indian Court.

- CJ, can they do this? - Where is Josh now?

He's still with Jim on the reservation in Arizona.

Okay, uh, look...

I'll go into court and get an order.

- When? - This afternoon.

Leland McKenzie can get me in with

Judge Lobel, we'll jump all over this.

And then they'll, they'll bring him back, right?

They can't just keep him, right?

I don't know.

I know the law, Janice, but I have to be honest with you,

I don't know the first thing about Indians.

Number 9-3-5-7-1.

People vs. Jonathan Rollins.

Disorderly conduct, resisting arrest,

aggravated assault on a police officer, two counts.

Waive reading. Defendant pleads not guilty.

Question of bail?

Your Honor, the accused is a respected attorney,

no criminal record, we'll be looking for OR.

There's a police officer in the hospital

with a broken jaw, judge.

Michael: Which officer attacked Mr. Rollins without provocation.

He was resisting arrest.

Your officers wouldn't be pressing this

to avoid brutality charges, would they, Mr. Graphite?

The defendant assaulted a police officer, Your Honor.

We ask for a preliminary hearing at the earliest possible date.

So that we can refute these ridiculous charges

and spare further damage to Mr. Rollins' reputation.

Tomorrow morning, I'll do it myself.

The defendant is released OR.

Mr. Graphite, sit down with your officers.

If they made a mistake,

I don't want them compounding it in this courtroom.

Next case.

Man 2: Case number 5-0-9-7-2, State vs. Bowcher.

I find that acrimony, if properly channeled,

can result in excellent productivity.

Now, since you two don't get along,

let's simply set some ground rules,

so we can at least be clear on needs and expectations.

Arnold, you first.

- This won't work, Douglas. Douglas: Tell her your needs.

Now.

Alright, first and foremost,

I need someone who realizes that she is support staff,

not somebody to second guess me,

not somebody to burden with problems or questions,

but a person who will help me be a productive lawyer.

Now, if that means getting me coffee, you get me coffee.

If it means picking up my dry cleaning,

you get my dry cleaning. You don't bitch.

You don't even throw a resentful look in my direction.

You'll come in early some days, you'll stay later others.

You'll bring enthusiasm to your work.

You will bring effort to your work.

And most of all,

you will offer up total subordination.

Those are my ground rules.

Very simple.

[sighs] Very good. Gwen.

I type 90 words per minute.

I take excellent shorthand,

and I write a pretty good letter.

I will get you coffee on an occasional basis

as a function of courtesy, not employment.

I will not go near your dry cleaning.

I come in at 9:00, I leave at 6:00.

If I have a question, I'll ask it.

If I have problems, I'll address them.

As far as your notions of subordination go,

I will be treated with respect at all times.

You'll keep your sexist delusions to yourself.

Your grabby paws will not even brush against me,

and if you mentally undress me,

I will feed your groin into the shredder.

Those are my ground rules. Very simple.

Douglas: Well. Looks like we're all clear.

I think we have a team.

CJ: What Mr. Long did amounts to kidnapping.

We have already had a custody hearing,

which custody was awarded to my client.

Wauneka: In your courts. Now we go to ours.

Counsel, the order of this court stands.

Your Honor, the Indian Child Welfare Act

is federal law that gives the tribe

exclusive jurisdiction

over the placement of Indian children.

Judge Lobel: It's not exclusive.

And that act exempts final divorce decrees

in our courts, including custody decisions.

Yes, but the ruling here prejudiced my client,

I am ordering you right now to bring back that boy.

That's not going to happen.

I will lock you up for contempt.

I'm not the one disregarding your order.

Ms. Long, I would send the police if I could.

But I am afraid that I have no enforcement power

on the Navajo reservation.

What does that mean?

Judge Lobel: What I'm saying is, I can't do anything.

If you want your son back anytime soon,

it looks like you'll have to go to Tribal Court.

My client is White, Your Honor.

Mr. Long is an Indian.

How can we expect to get an impartial hearing

in a Navajo court?

I don't know, Counsel.

Mr. Wauneka, you tell your client

that if this is the way he wants to play,

he better hope to hell he wins.

Because if she does get her son back,

I'm cutting out all unsupervised visitation.

I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help, ma'am.

You'll have to take your case to the Navajos.

[instrumental music]

Problem is, it's not just the best interests of the child.

These people factor in the welfare of the tribe as well.

Then how can I possibly win, really?

Well, I'm told that Navajo tradition

does favor the mother.

Not White mothers, they don't. Trust me.

Hey, listen, whatever your attitudes are,

you have to show respect in there.

If you alienate that court, we will lose before we begin.

Now, the only thing I want them to see in you

is a loving mother. Okay?

Josh!

Hi.

Ooh! [Josh cooing]

Oh!

Oh, I've missed you so much.

How have you been, sweetheart?

I just wanted to let you say, "Hi."

How can you do this to me?

Can you take him back to his grandparents, please?

[crying]

You're not taking away my little boy. [crying]

You're not going to do this. He's all I have.

[sighs] I didn't wanna do it this way.

Officer Jansen, why did you detain

Mr. Rollins on February 10th?

We had a serial rapist working the area.

An hour earlier he beat and raped

a 60-year-old woman half to death.

The defendant matched that description.

And what happened when you stopped Mr. Rollins?

Jansen: After identifying ourselves as police officers,

we asked for some identification.

The suspect refused, and then became abusive and belligerent.

Graphite: Verbally or physically?

He called my partner a bastard,

and then attempted to flee the scene.

When Sergeant Cobb moved to detain him,

the suspect assaulted him in the face.

At which point, I then subdued the suspect

and placed him under arrest.

Thank you, officer.

So you thought my client was the rapist?

He matched the general description.

I'll show you a printout copy of the APB report

giving a "General description"

of the suspect. Could you read it?

"Black male, height '6"3, weight 225."

Victor: Mr. Rollins is '5"11 and he weighs 170.

He is four inches shorter

and fifty pounds lighter than your rapist.

It was dark.

And he was Black in an all-White neighborhood.

- Objection. - Withdrawn.

Did you direct racial slurs to my client?

Nobody made any racial slurs.

Did you tell him that he didn't fit

the profile of the neighborhood?

He didn't, this was

a White neighborhood, your client is Black.

We've questioned White people in Black neighborhoods too.

Do you put them in choke holds and punch them in the kidneys?

Graphite: Objection! Jansen: I didn't punch him.

When he broke my partner's jaw, I tried to

restrain him and he fell against the car.

[laughs] That's your testimony?

Mr. Rollins fell against the car?

Yeah, that's what happened. Were you there?

- I'm done here, Your Honor. - You may step down.

Judge 1: Anything further, Mr. Graphite?

No, Your Honor.

Defense requests immediate ruling,

so I'm going to give it.

Unfortunately, it's not what you want to hear.

Given Officer Jansen's testimony,

the signed statement of Sergeant Cobb,

and their exemplary records as police officers,

I find sufficient evidence

to bind Mr. Rollins over for trial.

I'll hear scheduling motions tomorrow.

We're adjourned.

Good. Why don't we all just sit.

Now, before we start drafting,

we just want to get a general idea

as what you would want this prenuptial to accomplish.

John: Well, basically this is coming from my family.

They just want to protect my inheritance.

Anything I already have or anything I make,

Sarah can have.

Is this okay with you, Sarah?

Fine. Whatever makes the uncles and aunts happy.

- I just want John. - That's sweet.

But if I may, though, I'd like to ask you,

and I don't mean to sound contentious,

I'd like to ask you both, before I start drafting,

to give some very serious thought

as to what this agreement represents.

Meaning what?

Arnie: Meaning that there is the possibility,

in fact, the probability,

that in the State of California, this marriage will fail.

Mr. Becker, this marriage is not going to fail.

Arnie: I certainly hope it doesn't. I mean...

You both outwardly seem very committed,

but let's at least recognize the seed of doubt

that's giving rise to this very meeting.

We don't have any doubts, Arnie.

I wouldn't be doing my job as a lawyer, John,

if I didn't play a little devil's advocate.

Now, we're here planning for a contingency.

Should that contingency become a reality,

neither of you are gonna be feeling

as charitable as you do at this moment.

Sarah, suppose he sleeps around.

- Arnie. - What is this?

Arnie: Oh, I'm not saying we do it willingly, John.

But God forbid you could fall ill.

Recent studies show a rising occurrence of satyriasis,

as well as sex addiction. If this--

Arnie, I think that's a little remote.

Excuse me, are you an attorney?

What happens if you have children, Sarah?

Are you gonna wanna snatch the kids

from the fruits of their inheritance

as well as the love of their father?

This is ridiculous.

It's not ridiculous.

You two have to see marriage as the plank walk that it is.

Statistically speaking, you two

could end up hating each other.

And it's with an eye for that hatred

that you should draw up this agreement.

We'd only been back on the reservation

eight months when she left.

She filed for divorce in LA.

Wauneka: Where she was afforded full custody

and you got visitation rights.

But this last time you took him for a visit

you decided to keep him.

My son's a Navajo, Mr. Wauneka.

In the White world he'll be raised to be ashamed of that.

You don't think he could be raised

to appreciate his culture in Los Angeles?

I lived there.

Do you think all White men hate the Indian?

There are two kinds.

The ones who dismiss us just because our skin is red.

And the others who welcome us and encourage us to be White.

Do you have any reason to believe that your ex-wife

would be guilty of this kind of discrimination?

She will make him forget his Navajo culture.

Objection. This man does not know my client's intent.

I know her, I know she'll raise him

with White man's dreams, chasing White man's success.

And he'll end up with White man's contempt

for the Indian.

Wauneka: I have nothing further.

You yourself were brought upon an Indian reservation,

yet, ten years ago you left

to pursue "White man's success,"

is that right, Mr. Long?

- I made a mistake. - Yes.

But the truth is, growing up on a reservation

doesn't prevent one from chasing Western dreams.

- Does it? - May be not.

CJ: And the only reason you came back to the reservation

is because your painting business

in Los Angeles went bankrupt.

- Is that right? - So?

So, you came back to a place

where you could feel safe.

And you're sitting here today looking to get custody,

not so you can pass on your hopes to Joshua,

but rather your fears.

Your fear and hatred of the White world.

You don't know the first thing about me.

I know that you lying to this court.

Objection!

Why do you call this man a liar?

Is it true when you married my client

you told her you wanted opportunities for your son?

Chances you never had growing up on a reservation?

I said I was mistaken.

I show you a picture.

A picture you yourself drew for my client.

This is a drawing of your reservation.

- Do you remember this? - [sighs] Yes.

Did you draw these coyotes and owls around it?

Let me see that.

- Did you draw this? - I'm sorry, Your Honor.

[speaks Navajo]

[speaks Navajo]

For the record, could you tell us

the symbolism of the coyotes and the owls.

They're messengers of... illness and bad luck.

And death.

This picture, in your opinion, means that

the Navajo reservation is dying.

Is that right, Mr. Long ?

I have nothing further.

Come along. Right here.

Graphite: Alright, look, this is the situation.

Upon a closer look at the events,

we agree that it's possible,

possible that the officers were a little reactive.

- Reactive? I don't think you-- - Jonathan. And?

But nevertheless, you did resist,

and a policeman got hurt.

We can't dismiss.

But we'll plea it out to misdemeanor battery.

You're just looking for a conviction to insulate

the department from a civil suit.

That's not gonna happen.

Then we got another problem.

See, the grandmother that was raped,

we showed her your picture,

with others, of course.

And while she couldn't conclusively ID you

as the rapist, she couldn't rule you out either.

- Come on. - What the hell is this, Rogoff?

Rogoff : Hey, I don't suspect him.

At least not with what I've seen so far.

But you were in the area of the rape

at the time of the rape.

The victim's fingered you as a possible.

Bastards. You won't get away with this.

Graphite: We're not accusing you, Mr. Rollins.

We're just trying to apprise you of all the circumstances.

Look, let's get to the bottom line here.

What the hell is your message?

Let's get rid of this.

The fact that she said it could be you.

Well, those officers will be screaming that

as loud as they can if they're forced to defend themselves.

Take the plea, the book on this gets closed.

Refuse the plea, everything stays open-ended.

There's your message.

[intense music]

Sons of bitches.

[instrumental music]

What do you mean I have got no case?

They said I slept with my stepmother.

Well, you had that affair with Rusty, Douglas.

And she did give birth to your half brother.

While she may not technically be your stepmother,

we won't make libel here.

What about the part saying I like sex

with senior citizens and prostitutes?

Well, Rusty was in her 60s, and, uh, Marilyn,

even though she's a legitimate surrogate,

basically engages in sex for money.

What about this one?

This was in "Stargazer."

"His shiny head hurts my eyes."

I'll uh, I'll look it over.

You rang? Oh, sorry.

John Barkley wants to leave the firm.

- What happened? - I don't know.

The guy's an egg shell. I just pointed out--

He stands to inherit his father's company.

This could potentially be one of our biggest clients.

- I'll get him back, Douglas. - A simple prenup!

And you end up costing the firm--

I said I will get him back.

So just lay off.

Do you hear me, Senior Partner?

Lay off.

Landale: In addition to being a Doctor of Psychology,

I'm also a Professor of Anthropology.

- And you're a half-breed. - Yes, I am.

So I feel I can tell you both, personally

as well as professionally, raising Indian children

in White families does not work.

Because they are raised White, with absolutely

no sense of their Indian culture.

Wauneka: What's so wrong with that?

Landale: When they hit adolescence, they run

head-first into a society that will be

telling them they're not White.

And since they have no Indian heritage

to fall back on,

they virtually become nonpersons.

This type of situation is extremely destructive.

But, doctor, what if Mrs. Long were careful

to make Joshua aware of his culture?

Landale: Well, that is a very nice idea,

but the reality is if you assimilate this child

into a totally White environment

he's still gonna grow up with a White social identity.

His identity will eventually be stripped away

no matter what Mrs. Long does.

It is in any child's best interest

to see their race preserved.

The American-Indian is facing extinction.

So whenever you take an American-Indian child

off the reservation and assimilate them

into a White society,

you're fostering cultural genocide.

It's certainly not in Joshua Long's best interest

to see his people wiped out.

Thank you, Dr. Landale. That's all.

You never made an examination of this particular child

to determine which parent he'd be better off with, did you?

And, doctor, what would happen to a boy's ability

to bond and trust should he be taken away from his mother?

Landale: It'd be compromised. CJ: Compromised?

CJ: The damage could be irreparable, couldn't it?

A separation for a child more than six months old

rarely causes long-term harm.

But it could.

Severing the boy's ties to the American-Indian tribe

could be just as devastating.

What is the leading cause of death

on the Navajo reservation?

Alcoholism.

CJ: And what's the life expectancy of

an Indian male on the reservation?

It is approximately 45 years of age.

Did any of this factor into consideration

of Joshua's best interest?

Medically, may be the Indian is not that advanced.

- Yes. But-- - What about education?

What about unemployment?

What about the fact that half the Indian

population lives below the poverty line?

You're raising the subjective standards of the White man.

CJ: I'm talking about the threat of hunger,

the threat of poverty, illiteracy and death

being greater in the Indian world

than it is in Western society.

Are those subjective standards to you?

It is the White man's obliteration

of American-Indian that has caused this.

I'm not asking what did the damage, doctor.

I am just asking you to admit the damage.

It is my professional opinion that this child

is better off in the Indian community.

Yes, your opinion is very clear.

And where do you live, Dr. Landale?

- Objection. - No.

Where do you live?

Phoenix.

Thank you.

I have nothing further.

Come on, we got to be able to do something.

Are you sure they didn't say anything

that we could go public with?

No. It was all scripted.

They were careful to paint the threat

without crossing the line of extortion.

But the message was there, if Jonathan fights,

they put it out he's a rape suspect.

I don't like to give in to this kind of crap.

But I don't know what else to do.

I'm not pleading out, Michael. I can't.

I make that deal and those two cops walk away,

heads high, totally vindicated.

Jonathan, if you don't plea

the stain of that woman ID-ing you--

She didn't ID me.

Grace: As a possible, she did.

I don't care how inconclusive

or tainted the make was.

Do you realize that all they have to do is say

that there is evidence against you,

but insufficient to prosecute.

Your career... it'll be dead forever.

Not to mention your reputation.

I can't take a plea here.

I would never be able to live with myself.

Victor, man, come on.

You have to know what I'm saying.

I know exactly what you're saying, Jonathan.

But if we fight here...

you get hurt worse.

[scoffs]

Oh, for God's sake, people, we're all smart lawyers here.

We've got to be able to come up with something.

We can't just let him die on the vine.

John, can we please just talk a little?

Forget the talk. Just give me the check.

You tried to sabotage the whole wedding,

for God's sake. I don't--

- If you'll just hear me out. - No.

One thing I will not do is hear you out.

The things you said... My God!

How can anybody spew out that kind of crap

to two people about to get married? Thank you.

I was just being honest, if I offended--

You did. Good-bye.

Um, if I could be so blunt, Mr. Barkley,

I think you're being a little silly.

- Gwen. - That's okay.

- Why am I being silly? - Well...

A lawyer is supposed to protect the client from disaster,

not play emotional cheerleader in praise of marital bliss.

That's the minister's job.

Now, as for Arnie, specifically... come on.

He doesn't know the first thing about what it takes

to build a relationship of any kind.

- Excuse me? - No offense, Arnie.

He just came out of a failed marriage

which he himself wrecked.

He has no concept of fidelity.

He's devoid of any ability to trust,

and he wouldn't share a stick of gum,

much less his feelings.

But...

when it comes to the breakdown of relationships

and all the legal consequences that are involved,

that he knows.

That, Arnold Becker knows better than anybody.

So I guess the question here is are you looking

for a guidance counselor or a divorce lawyer?

Well, I'm looking for someone a little less destructive

to the welfare of the marriage.

Did he say anything that even remotely

threatened your relationship to Sarah?

- No. - No.

- No, but he tried. - It's his job to try.

Gwen: To look for the seams and to build a prenup

that will protect you if those seams should ever split.

Give me back the check Mr. Barkley,

let's put that money to good use.

Sweetheart.

Baby.

- Mmm. - Hi.

- Hi. - Mmm.

- How much? - No.

I don't need any money this time, I promise.

Oh, God.

The last time you showed up unexpected,

not wanting any money, you proposed.

Please, let me write you a check.

I need a favor, kiddo. It's a big one.

- Uh-oh. The tone. - Yeah.

Name Jonathan Rollins mean anything?

[sighs] Come on, Tommy

the whole department's talking about that one.

He works in my firm. And he's a friend, Zoe.

- You know what's going down? - Yeah, I hear some things.

Tommy: He's innocent.

And you know that, too, don't ya?

Look, honey, I don't mean to get you in trouble.

But your people here are making him take a fall

for somethin' he didn't do.

Now, that kind of stuff don't sit with too good with you...

Tommy: We both know this. - What do you want from me?

I want you to get involved, if you can make it go away,

I want you to make it go away.

[sighs]

I can't help you on this.

This isn't just the police

protecting a couple of reckless cops.

- This is bigger. - How much bigger?

[sighs]

Well, word around the office is that

Rogoff owes the police some serious

political payback. They've come collecting on this.

Dig it up for me, Zoe. You've gotta give me something I can--

I don't have anything you can use!

You can't win this, Tommy. Don't try to be a hero.

- The kid needs a hero. - Tommy!

Look, Zoe, I'm sorry.

I know I got no right putting you in the middle.

But this thing, it's just a little hard

to walk away from.

I wish I could help you. I do.

Yeah. Me too.

Cindy?

Never mind. Cindy, wait.

Uh, get me the Brian Chisolm file.

All of it. Right now.

Janice: I don't doubt Jim's ability

to be a good father, and I know he loves his son

very much.

But I've taken care of Joshua all his life.

I've been with him every day. I can't...

He should be with me.

CJ: I think the fear is if Joshua lives with you

he will lose out on his Indian culture.

I don't intend to make him forget he's an Indian.

And maybe I can't give him some of the things you talk about.

Some of the Indian ways. But I'm his mother.

And I'm the only one that can give him that.

Whatever any little boy may need growing up

in any society or culture.

My God, he has to have his mother.

Thank you, Mrs. Long. I have nothing further.

You yourself rejected the Indian way of life, didn't you?

I rejected living on a reservation, yes, I did.

What's a Healing way, Mrs. Long?

- I'm not sure. It's Navajo-- - It's an Indian ceremony.

- What's a Flintway? - Objection.

Wauneka: Your Honor, the witness suggests

that she won't cause the child to abandon his heritage,

when it's clear that she herself

doesn't know anything about how we live.

Well, let me tell you about how I lived

on your reservation, Mr. Wauneka.

I had to chop wood and lug water every day.

Move to strike.

No. I want to hear her answer.

I was ostracized because I couldn't herd sheep

or speak Navajo.

I had to live in a hogan without electricity,

without running water.

And as a White person... I was the enemy.

And none of you can deny that.

I was treated as an outsider.

If I rejected you, Mr. Wauneka,

it's because you rejected me first.

My son is Indian

and I want him to know that.

And I want him to be proud of that.

But more than anything else I want to

try to teach him that people are people

are people.

Race doesn't matter.

At least not to me.

Are you telling us that his Indian race doesn't matter?

Oh, it matters.

It matters.

But what matters more is that I'm that boy's mother.

I gave birth to that little boy.

And he shouldn't lose me...

just because I'm White.

I don't think there's much doubt

that both parents love Joshua very much.

But under the Indian Child Welfare Act,

the federal law, as passed by the United States Congress

you also have to take into account

what's best for the tribe.

The Indian culture is faced with genocide.

Thirty percent of our children are taken away.

Ninety percent of those going to White families

who cause these children to abandon their heritage.

You heard Janice Long...

she rejects us.

How can any child raised under her influence

grow to love or even respect what we are?

The only means of saving our world

is the child.

And with every one that slips away,

our race is one step closer to extinction.

It's a desperate thing, I suppose,

to cling to children as a means of propagating a race.

But genocide is a desperate thing.

I understand your pain, ma'am.

I hope that one day you will come to understand ours.

They call America a melting pot.

A place where all cultures come together as one.

The trouble with the American Indian is

we're trying to melt the entire race.

We took your land.

We assimilated your people.

As Mr. Wauneka says,

your tribe is being eroded away and that should stop.

But this isn't the way.

You cannot attempt to serve your heritage

at the expense of a two-year-old boy.

And that is what they're asking you to do.

He has lived all his life with her.

When he cries, she's the one he runs to.

When he's happy, she's the one

he wants to share his joy with.

This woman is that boy's life.

There is no one he trusts more

and there is no one he loves more.

He lives in Los Angeles.

Let him go home.

Let him go home with his mother.

Last chance, Jonathan, you sure you wanna go through with this?

Guess I have no choice.

Woman 1: Case number 9-3-5-7-1.

People vs. Jonathan Rollins.

Your Honor, the parties are prepared to offer a plea.

All assault counts dropped.

Mr. Rollins agrees to plead guilty

to misdemeanor battery on the resist.

Joint recommendation for 60 days probation.

- Defense so agrees? - Your Honor, Zoey Clemmons,

Assistant District Attorney. If I may be heard.

Approach.

Your Honor, I have information which calls into question

the legality of this prosecution.

- What are you doing? - Shut up, Billy.

What's going on?

Your Honor, several months ago

this office prosecuted a police officer

by the name of Brian Chisolm,

who was charged with the fatal shooting

of a Black teenager.

Ironically, it was Mr. Rollins himself

who defended this officer.

Judge 1: I remember. So what?

Your Honor, because of the racial tension

surrounding this event, Mr. Rogoff

was faced with a tremendous backlash

at a time when he needed the Black vote

to win his re-election.

It is widely believed within the department

that Mr. Rogoff prosecuted Brian Chisolm for

the sole purpose of appeasing his Black constituency,

in turn to secure that re-election.

- That's a bald-faced lie! - Mr. Rogoff, be quiet.

Clemmons: Further, upon information and belief,

Police Chief Kevin Vance

was prepared to publicly condemn Mr. Rogoff

for what he believed to be the political sacrifice

of one of his officers.

Chief Vance and Bruce Rogoff then struck a deal,

whereby the chief agreed to stay silent

on the Chisolm issue, Bruce Rogoff, in exchange,

agreed to back the police department

at every turn after he was re-elected.

Vance is sticking Rogoff for the payback in this case.

Your Honor, this isn't about politics.

The fact is Mr. Rollins committed a crime.

Nobody believes that Mr. Rollins is a criminal.

This is about ass-covering.

Your Honor, it is also widely believed

within the department that Mr. Rollins

is being blackmailed into accepting today's plea.

If he does not capitulate,

the department is prepared to cite him

as a possible rape suspect,

despite a total absence of good faith belief

that he committed any such crime.

Did they hang rape over your guy?

- Yes, Your Honor, they did. - You can't prove any of this.

Clemmons: I am in that office, Billy.

I know what's going on. Everybody knows what's going on.

This is one of our top ADAs, Judge.

Why would he be assigned a simple felony?

Why is Bruce Rogoff monitoring this case?

Why is he in this room for a plea bargain?

I guess I should ask... why are you here?

I am coming forward as an officer of the court

to prevent what I believe to be a gross violation

of the judicial process.

Bruce Rogoff abused his power.

Jonathan Rollins is an innocent man.

I am here in what could be my last act as an ADA...

asking the court to remedy an extremely unjust situation.

Thank you.

[murmuring]

Well, I don't know where that came from--

Shut up.

Don't worry, Mr. Rogoff, I only believe every word.

A warrant is hereby issued for your arrest

for obstruction of justice.

You don't have the authority to do that!

Watch me, a court officer will place

Mr. Rogoff into custody.

And be thankful, Mr. Graphite, I don't lock you up as well.

The complaint against Jonathan Rollins

is hereby dismissed on all counts.

This is a complete farce.

Judge 1: Put that man in lock up now.

And don't forget to read him his rights.

Shut up.

- What? - Listen, uh, Rox, I, uh...

[sighs]

I'm kind of messed up. I, uh...

I acted out all my hostilities the other day

over this Corrinne thing and I nearly lost a client.

And I've been dumping secretaries.

I fired you.

[sighs]

I want you to come back, Rox.

I'm working for Douglas now.

Arnie: I know, and I hear you're doing great.

I-- I'll-- I'll match whatever he's paying.

I think I'll just stick where I am for a while.

I can't take, Gwen. I can't.

Well, according to John Barkley,

Gwen's the reason he stayed with this firm.

Arnie: I don't care. Do you know what she's been saying?

She-- she says that I have no concept of fidelity,

that-- that I'm not to be trusted.

An... I-- I'm not even capable of having a relationship.

You should hear some of the stuff

that's coming out of her mouth.

I need you, Rox.

No. For 12 years I've done nothing

but nurture your esteem, Arnie.

I loved you. I-- I was in love with you.

Admired you.

It must have been so great

for you to come into work every day

and, and look at yourself through my eyes.

I'm sure Corrinne gave you the same thing.

What you need, Arnie, is to see yourself

for who and what you really are.

Gwen may be the best thing that can happen to you.

I'll just fire her. You can't stop me.

You're right. I can't.

Hi, I brought you some coffee.

As a function of courtesy.

Parties approach. Lawyers too, please.

As a Navajo, I bring to the bench my subjective belief

that the White man is a nemesis who destroys the land

and he will eventually bring ruin to himself.

I also believe that since Congress

has trusted me to protect the tribe...

I'm authorized to fight the White man's dominance.

The genocide that Mr. Wauneka speaks of,

we've all seen it happen,

and we all desperately want to stop it.

But steeped even more in our traditions

is the protection of the child's relationship

to his mother.

And without any evidence

that this mother is unfit to raise her son,

I am not going to strip her of the custody.

Your Honor, please.

Judge 2: Bring in the boy, please.

Mrs. Long, just as you prayed

that I would not overlook the truth

that this child is your son,

I pray that you will not overlook the other truth...

that he is a Navajo.

The order of the California Superior Court is upheld.

Give the boy to Mrs. Long.

Please. Let me hold him first.

[baby cries]

[speaks Navajo]

[instrumental music]

District Attorney Bruce Rogoff, meanwhile,

is steadfastly denying all allegations.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Sheer

will become acting DA for the duration

of the investigation.

[knock on door]

- Hi. - Hi. [sighs]

I got somebody here who wants to meet you.

[sighs]

I'm sorry that you had to go through such an ordeal.

I don't know how I can ever repay you, Ms. Clemmons.

Zoey. [laughs]

Zoey.

Nobody's ever went out on the limb for me

as much as you did today.

Ever. And you don't even know me.

It's him. [chuckles]

He makes me do crazy things.

That's why I had to leave him. [laughs]

Yeah, well, I owe him too.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Give me a minute, would you, Jonathan?

- We'll be right out. - Yeah, sure.

Are you going to be okay here?

It's a little scary.

If Rogoff's out, I'm okay.

If he comes back into power, I go into private practice.

It's about 50-50 right now.

You know, sometimes it's hard to believe

that you were such a God-awful wife.

'Cause you are still the greatest person

that I ever met.

[sighs]

Can I quote you on my resume?

Absolutely.

- You are such a bad influence. - Oh.

I know.

I know. [chuckles]

[theme music]