Original subtitles

[whistles]

- Excuse me.

- Looks like another perfect day.

I love LA. - Arnie.

- Rox, I'm a new man, a little Randy maybe.

- Arnie, there's a problem.

- Getting rid of the deadwood, huh?

Just make sure I get proper billing.

- Arnie, you can't go in your office.

- Oh, not more water damage.

- I called security.

- Rox, I don't wanna tell you how to do your job,

but when the toilet upstairs gets plugged, call maintenance.

- Arnie, what I'm trying to say is the circus is back in town.

- Rodolfo, the, uh, the cape, the goatee, divorce

becomes you.

- Prepare to die.

- Listen, I'd love to talk, but I

am really jammed this morning.

I'll fit you in.

- I have lost everything.

- But you-- you-- you agreed to the settlement.

- My life has no value.

My family name is dishonored.

Le Cirque de la Lune is in ruins.

- Rodolfo Rudy, this is a common response

to a painful situation.

What you're feeling is a diminished sense of self.

Call it a lack of security.

- Oh.

- Let's be reasonable.

- Marsha, open the trunk.

- Oh, wait a second.

I think you're making a mistake.

In fact, I know you're making a mistake.

- My only mistake was trusting you.

- Hey, pal, I did my job.

You-- you're the one who found your wife high

wiring it with the trapeze act.

- Ciao.

[screams]

[gasps]

[claps]

- Thank you.

- Well, I'm glad we all got that out of our system.

I know I feel better.

No, no.

This has gone far enough.

- One knife remains.

- Rox, do something.

- Like what?

- You have destroyed my manhood.

Now, it is my turn to destroy yours.

- For the love of God.

Rox, close the trunk.

Close the trunk!

[theme music]

[music playing]

- Always good to start with a clean slate, Leland.

- Yeah, if you say so.

- Leaner and meaner law machine, a clear reflection

of the times.

- Well all well and good, but perhaps

we've been short sighted.

I can't help feeling we must be doing

something wrong with all the comings

and goings this past year--

- This way.

- What's that all about?

- We should install a revolving door.

- You were the one who showed Grace van Owen

the Great White Way out and agreed to pay for her move

to New York.

- Well, consider it Grace's going away present.

- Then I never should have sent her the picture frame.

Who ate my bran muffin?

- Unusual neckwear, Benny.

- My Swiss cheese tie.

- Oh, where did you get that?

Wisconsin?

- At the novelty shop.

It's not real.

- I was making a joke.

- Oh.

- We've made mistakes, Douglas, misjudged character.

Although I admit, I'm glad the firm no longer functions

in Susan Blum's shadow.

- Frankly, I'm gonna miss her.

She was a real cash cow for us.

CJ Lamb on the other hand.

- CJ, everyone loved her.

- But CJ wasn't committed to the law.

If her heart set on joining the professional golf tour,

so be it.

Now, she'll get it both ways and hit from the red tees.

- There are so many changes around here.

I'm concerned about morale.

- Nonsense.

This isn't about feelings.

It's about finance.

These are some of the highest paid professionals in town.

Stop babying them.

Good morning.

Let's get underway.

As you're well aware, the arduous task of restructuring

is almost complete.

What are you doing here?

- It's my idea.

- It's a bad one.

- Gwen begins her internship under my supervision today.

There's no reason she shouldn't be observing.

- I'll just go. - Sit.

- Normally, staff meetings are limited

to partners and associates.

There are sensitive firm issues to discuss.

- Oh, really, I'll just go.

- Stay.

- Sit, stay.

What's next? Fetch?

- Douglas, I think Gwen should attend these meetings.

- Fine, having wasted enough time.

- Sorry I'm late. [whistles]

- What happened?

Should get a new dry cleaner.

- I am through with domestic litigation.

Divorce used to be fun, but everybody's

lost their sense of fair play.

Nowadays, it's life and death.

And who's gonna pay for this suit?

- We will. - We will?

- You're damn right.

Nobody in this room generates greater income for McKenzie

Brackman than yours truly.

- What is it you want?

- More, better, now.

- Could you be specific?

- Entertainment law.

- Well, you're already handling Mr. Champion's

wrongful termination suit.

- A labor dispute.

You threw me a bone.

- Where are we on that one?

- Jury's been impaneled.

Opening statements have been waived.

I have to change.

- May we get down to business?

- Hold on, Douglas.

- Oh, the candidate has the floor.

- Thank you.

As most of you know, I have decided

to run for city council, only I didn't take into account

the time that's needed.

I'd like to extend my leave of absence.

- You're putting us in a difficult position.

- We'll be fine, Jonathan.

All the best. - Great.

Thanks.

I'll save my goodbyes for the end of the day.

- As I was saying--

- Douglas, I have some personal stuff of my own.

Zoe comes home from the hospital this afternoon.

- Great.

- Yeah.

So I'm taking off a few days to help her out just

till she gets back on her feet.

I'd really appreciate your understanding

on this one, folks.

And if you need me, I'm just a fax away.

- Yeah, I, uh, I have to finish the Sulzberger audit.

- Oh, I've got the Litwin deposition, Douglas.

Sorry.

- Well, no use discussing our new partner.

- Where is Morales anyway?

- Is this a bad time to discuss res ispa loquitur?

- I believe I hear Anne Kelsey calling your name.

- So--

- Leaner and meaner.

- Tom.

- Hey.

- That's good news about Zoe.

She's a lucky girl.

- Luck's got nothing to do with it.

She's tough.

She always had a high threshold for pain.

After all, she was married to me.

- You're gonna take her home?

- To my place.

- Tom, I think I wanna come by and see her.

- Sure no one's stopping you.

I just think it's a little late for you

to start insinuating yourself back in her life.

I mean, you barely visited Zoe in the hospital.

- Well, I didn't wanna complicate

things after the breakup.

- Always politically correct.

- Just say hi for me and leave it at that, all right?

- Sure.

- Good.

Thanks.

- Benny, here's the address and change for the bus.

The Brackman's present is already paid for.

- If Mr. Brackman already got married,

how come they're getting married again?

- Because they got divorced.

- Then why are they getting married?

- These are all really good questions, Benny.

But right now, I need you to go.

And come right back.

- Oh, sorry.

- Oh, well, excuse me.

- Daniel, let me give you a hand there.

- Thank you, Stuart.

- Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

Hi.

What's this little monkey's name?

- That's Lucy.

- Oh, yeah?

Well, I love Lucy.

[laughs] Hi, honey.

What's your matter?

- Uh, she's, uh, got a full diaper and an empty stomach.

- Uh-oh.

- And we lost her Elmo somewhere on PCH.

- You lost your Elmo.

Oh, no.

You wanna go into daddy's office and share a bottle with me?

What do you say?

- This is a different world from my private practice

up North I'll tell you.

- Where were you up North?

- Santa Barbara.

- Arnie.

I was just up front.

Mr. Champion's here sort of.

- Oh, thanks.

Did you hear about this morning's staff meeting?

I finally got their attention.

- Oh, good for you, Arnie.

What about?

- I am one step closer to becoming McKenzie, Brackman's

new entertainment honcho.

- If that's what you want.

- Hey, anything to stop my life from feeling like a cartoon.

- Arnie, Homer Simpson.

- How are you doing?

- Mr. Champion, is that you inside there?

- How's my favorite shyster?

[laughs]

- We're broadcasting live from the Valley courthouse,

where four white police officers charged

with beating a Black motorist-- - Come.

- moments ago.

We go now to our reporter on the scene.

- Leland.

- Jim, what can you tell us?

- Still plugged into this trial, huh?

- Been with it since first gavel.

Jury is about to deliver the verdict.

What an extraordinary exercise in justice.

- Open and shut case.

Uh, Leland, I-- I wanna thank you again for supporting

my city council bid.

I mean, the whole thing it's been a difficult decision,

and I'm aware it's a bad timing for the firm.

- A number of our colleagues have left us, Jonathan, some

not under the best of circumstances.

But I admire your commitment to the community.

- for offended not guilty of the crime

of excessive use of force under color of authority, not guilty.

- This is wrong. - falsifying LAPD report.

- This is trouble.

- In violation of Penal Code Section 245(a)(1),

not guilty; section 149, not guilty;

Penal Code 118.1, not guilty.

- How soon after the incident were you

fired from the amusement park?

- I refuse to answer on the grounds

it might incriminate me.

- Mr. Champion, I am trying to prepare you for what you'll

be asked on the witness stand.

Familyland is a major Hollywood power.

They will try anything to undermine your credibility.

- Figures another victim of an organization

that takes its best and brightest and dims their bulbs.

[screams]

Sorry, I didn't know it was loaded.

- We have work to do.

- Up.

Up here.

Now, take off the head.

- Uh-huh.

Another trick question.

I'm not allowed to take my head off in public.

That's why Familyland gave me the heave ho

in the first place.

- The fact is there's-- there is still an injunction

against you wearing this costume at all

until this case is settled.

As your attorney, I could be held in contempt.

- Ooh, gotta go.

- Mr. Champion?

- Oh, last night, I had to take a whiz three times.

But I was so tired.

I only got out of bed twice.

- Can I ask you a stupid question?

- Only if you want a stupid answer.

- Do you plan on wearing that clown suit in court?

- You're wearing yours?

- The only way I can win this case

is to let the jury see the man inside.

- No one cares about the man inside.

- I'm not finished.

- Neither am I. Pass me the sports section.

- Mr. Champion, would you talk to me?

If you show up dressed as Homer, at best

you've been uncooperative.

What is the problem?

- I know you think I'm a goofball.

But the truth is, the best years of my life

have been spent playing Homer Simpson.

Do you know what it's like to have complete strangers,

small children run up and hug you,

to see their faces light up with joy,

to be loved unconditionally?

- No, I don't.

- It's the greatest feeling in the world.

Don't let them take this away.

- [sighs]

- I'm aware we're not the closest friends probably

because we're partners.

You know what they say about business with pleasure.

- If this is about my giving up my comfy new couch

from Susan's office, forget it.

- You may remember, I'm getting remarried to Sheila

this afternoon at City Hall.

- Love is more wonderful the second time around.

- Right.

Well, but with being preoccupied with the upheaval

inside the firm, I've been meaning to ask,

and I know it's last minute, but could you--

that is, will you be my best man?

- G Douglas, uh, I'm really--

- Honored?

- Busy.

If you had given me more notice--

- I would have if you'd been my first choice.

- Can't you get somebody else?

- Look, if you don't wanna help me out--

- No one said I didn't wanna do it.

- Great.

I'll leave all the details with your secretary.

Oh, and a celebratory magnum of champagne will be in order,

don't you think? - Sure.

- I'll pick one up.

And uh, if you have time for a trim, that wouldn't hurt.

You're looking a bit scruffy.

[indistinct chatter]

- Yes.

- Should we take my car or yours?

- Councilman, slow down. Let's go back inside.

- Terry, it's important I do something.

- Of course, it's important you do something,

but the verdict was just delivered.

We don't know what the reaction will be.

- Sure, we do.

- Look.

My job as your campaign manager is to steer the course.

This is not the time for you to react emotionally.

- People in South Central have seen decades

of police brutality, Terry, civil rights violations,

economic indifference.

People down there have given up.

- You don't wanna be perceived as one of the instigators.

- And perception is everything.

- Now, you're catching on.

Trust me.

- Hi, Allison--

- Same old story.

We finally hire women litigators that's

what a courtesy only to have the pendulum

swing back the other way.

- I heard we interviewed a lot of people.

- We?

- Mm-hmm.

- Big difference between the royal

we of McKenzie Brackman and the little we we of all

of its partners.

If this firm doesn't hire another female attorney,

I'm gone too.

[baby crying]

- Are you OK?

OK.

Let's just move this stuff out of the way.

- Oh, my papa.

- Daniel, let me help.

- Oh, thanks, Anne.

Her diapers are buried in that suitcase someplace.

I need a shirt too.

I was burping Lucy, next thing I know it's a milkshake to go.

- Happened to me all the time with my son, Matthew.

Gwen Taylor, Daniel Morales, our new criminal attorney.

- Hi.

I studied the court transcripts from the Welch murder case,

and your closing arguments were awesome.

- Well, I got Lucky.

But thank you.

Any diapers?

- Yeah, here.

- OK.

- And uh, let's see. How's this?

- Perfect.

- I'd be glad to hold her for you while you get dressed.

- That's OK.

I'm set.

- Yes, Your Honor.

- Nice touch.

- Get comfortable while I dump this in the bedroom.

Oh, do you want some tea?

I bought a box of that no taste herbal crap that you like.

- You know, you really don't have to take time off for

me, Tommy.

- Did you ever stop to consider I got

my own laundry to sort through?

Who knows?

Maybe I'll start prosecuting again like you.

- Be a mistake to leave McKenzie Brackman.

- Thanks for the support.

Lie down.

I'll put on the kettle.

- Tommy, you promised, no hovering, no mothering.

I'm a big girl.

- You caught a bullet in the chest and barely survived.

Where are you going?

- Bathroom.

Do I need permission?

- You just went--

- I'm a big girl with a little girl's bladder.

[music playing]

- Oh, I'll-- I'll see you at home.

- Where are you going?

- Douglas asked me to be the best man at his wedding.

Do you think I need a haircut?

- You're gonna be the best man at his wedding knowing the way

that they behaved at ours. - No.

Come on.

It's more like being a witness.

What was I gonna say?

- How about no?

- Believe me, yes was easier.

Hey, don't you think I'd rather be home with you and Maddie?

- Obviously not.

- Um, why don't we finish this later?

- OK.

- Mm-hmm.

So, um, how's it going with Gwen?

- Don't start. - No, no.

I'm-- I'm really glad that you've taken

her under your wing. That's all.

Nothing more, nothing less.

- Great.

- And I kissed the girl one time.

- Stuart--

- Two years ago.

Don't you think there's a-- a statute of limitations on that?

- Do you really have time to lecture me, Stuart?

- No, I don't.

- Mr. Reininger, how long have you been

casting director at Familyland?

- Four years this July.

I've cast a number of characters, including Captain

Squiggles, Snurf and Turf, Dippy Duck, and the Simpsons,

of course.

- And once chosen, are your employees

free to behave as they wish when portraying these characters?

- Oh, no.

Familyland has strict guidelines governing

conduct during a performance.

But basically it's pretty simple.

Under no circumstances are they to break the illusion.

That's the number one rule.

- And the reason for Mr. Champion's dismissal?

- He broke that rule.

While dressed as Homer Simpson, Mr. Champion removed his head,

and in so doing violated his character

and created hysteria for the children.

- Objection.

We're talking about a cartoon character.

- Who's no less real to children than the Easter

Bunny and Santa Claus.

We've received countless complaints, been served

with more than one lawsuit.

The effects of this may ripple through the entire season.

- Objection speculative.

No foundation.

- Sustained.

Jury will disregard.

- Your Honor, I'd like to submit a videotape of the incident

taken by a Familyland visitor.

- Objection.

No authentication.

- The photographer is prepared to testify, Your Honor.

- I'll allow it.

Bailiff.

- Don't go.

- Get your friends.

- It's not my best side.

- Reports of crowds gathering in the Downtown area.

What seems to have begun as loosely organized protests

against that not guilty verdict which

was announced this afternoon has in some cases escalated--

- Is this the best champagne you carry?

- We go now to our aerial reporter

live from South Station.

- Oh, trouble, bad trouble.

- Say, could you put this in a box?

- Too close for comfort.

- Listen, I'm running late.

I appreciate you picking up the pace.

- less than an hour ago, they were apparently--

- And while you're back there, a bow would be nice.

- on street--

- Get the bow.

I was way out of line.

- Leave now. Hurry.

[window shatters]

- What the hell is--

[crowd shouting]

[gunshot]

- Hey, come on, take--

- I know my rights.

My name is Brackman Douglas P. Esquire.

- You got no identification.

- Someone picked my pocket.

- Another John Doe number 53.

- I want to make a phone call.

You can't lock me up without due process.

- LA is under siege.

We're doing you a favor by locking you up.

- Was on my way to get married.

- Yeah, then we're doing you a big favor.

- I wanna make a phone call.

- Later maybe.

- Hey, this is wet and sticky!

- I can't breathe, man.

- Mr. Champion, how long have you

been employed at Familyland?

- 19 years.

I started sweeping popcorn and candy wrappers.

And uh, later I was promoted to churro concession,

then to supporting player in the Happy Avenue parade.

Three years ago, I was selected to play Homer.

- 19 years at the same place, must be more than a job.

- It's an adventure.

- Bailiff, could you give me a hand?

Now, while we're busy here, would you please

describe what happened the day that you were terminated?

- Sure.

It was a Saturday.

It was hot, real hot.

The park was chock full of people.

Anyway, my replacement didn't show,

so I had to do double duty performing

for crowds and ride lines.

- Please go on.

- Well, I was sweating buckets.

It's like a sauna inside that costume.

All of a sudden, I started feeling

dizzy and sick to my stomach.

I think it was the bad mayo in the employee tuna salad.

- Objection.

Mr. Champion is not an expert on food poisoning.

- Sustained.

Strike from the record.

- So something you ate made you ill.

- Yeah.

The next thing I know, I was face down on the ground,

my head off, covered with vomit.

- You'd thrown up.

- Inside my head.

- So you took the head off.

- Well, I thought I was gonna suffocate.

- I see.

Your Honor, at this time, I'd like to conduct

a demonstration to show--

- I renew my objection, Judge.

It's prejudicial.

- I have already overruled you on this, Miss Greenzaid.

- Thank you, Your Honor.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, many of you

are experiencing a loss of peripheral vision,

claustrophobia, a lack of ventilation

and adequate hearing, only part of the working conditions

under which Mr. Champion has to perform.

And add to this a 30-pound suit made of 3/4-inch polyfoam,

restricted mobility, 100 degree temperatures,

park visitors jostling for photographs,

and extreme nausea.

To say you would be in discomfort

is putting it mildly.

I'd say these circumstances are enough to cause

anyone to pull off his head.

- Ladies and gentlemen, you may do the same.

- Oh.

- Oh.

- Looting fires and gunshots are filing in at what seems to be

an ever increasing number--

- What's the latest?

- Oh, worse.

Neighborhoods are being destroyed, mini malls

going up like kindling.

I can't watch any more.

Is Lucy finally napping?

- Sorry about the noise.

- I have three brothers and a sister.

I'm used to it.

- Hey, what's--

- You picked some day to arrive.

Your wife must be worried.

- My wife passed away last fall.

She suffered a stroke during Lucy's delivery

and never recovered.

- I am sorry.

- You know, I don't know--

- I thought coming here would be a fresh start.

[sighs]

Looks like I won't be moving in tonight.

I better try and book a room someplace.

Excuse me. - Mm-hmm.

- Jonathan, I'm a bit surprised to see you here.

- I considered going down to the riot zone.

It is my district, but I changed my mind.

- Why is that?

- Nobody can change this.

- Unfortunately, you may be right.

And going down there probably isn't the most prudent action

to take.

- Damned if I do and damned if I don't.

Truth is, I've been ineffectual as a councilman.

Everyone knows I live in Brentwood

and just have a post office box in South Central.

- We're all feeling powerless.

- I don't even know whose side I'm on.

- Hopefully we'll get this whole thing under control.

- I'm trying.

- You wanna get your things together.

- Telephones are still out.

I've been trying to call the store and track down Benny.

- The one quality Benny does not lack is common sense.

He'll be fine.

- It's my fault.

- What nonsense?

Who could have predicted this day?

- Mr. Thomas.

- Let's send everybody home.

- There is one of utter chaos as an angry mob--

- It looks like everybody out there is carrying a gun.

- This is crazy.

- Shouldn't be too hard for a liberal guy

like you to understand people who get screwed over

by the law turn to violence.

- You're buying into a mob mentality?

- It's not a question of numbers.

I was shot by one guy who reacted the same way

when his verdict came down.

I was watching that.

- Come on, we're leaving.

- What?

- We'll drive up the Coast Carmel maybe

until this insanity cools down.

- I don't wanna drive up the coast.

- Then we will go to the desert or the mountains.

I don't care, any place but here.

- No.

- Zoey, you're coming with me--

- Oh, damn it. That hurt.

- I'm sorry.

- Why do you always have to control me?

- I said, I'm sorry.

- Just stay away.

- Fine.

OK.

- looters are using shopping carts to hold--

- I'm going home.

- At least let me drive you.

It's dangerous.

- Who cares?

I know what it's like to be shot.

I know what it's like to be dead.

- Mr. Champion, when you began playing Homer Simpson,

were you aware of the arduous conditions under which

you were to perform?

- Sure.

I'm not complaining.

I love my job.

That's why I want it back.

- This is the Familyland handbook

governing character conduct.

You've read it, haven't you?

- Yes.

- And did you take a break every 30 minutes as instructed?

- No.

- You're also instructed to drink plenty of liquids

to guard against dizziness, dehydration, and nausea.

- Yes, but my--

- Did you drink liquids?

- But if I was--

- Did you drink any liquids?

- No.

- And when you began feeling dizzy, did you

make any effort to get out of public view

away from the crowds?

- It happened so fast.

I guess I went on autopilot.

- The fact is, Mr. Champion, you have a record

of character misconduct, wearing your costume outside

of the park.

- To a children's hospital benefit.

- Riding on the amusements with the visitors.

- What's the harm?

- Arriving for work under the influence.

- Well, that's a lie.

I had a cold.

My prescription made me drowsy, but I didn't

wanna disappoint the children.

- Mr. Champion, I suggest that if you would

follow company procedure-- - Objection.

- you never would have disappointed--

- Miss Greenzaid.

- the children by destroying Homer's--

- Miss Greenzaid. - Objection.

- Withdrawn.

Nothing further.

[beeping]

[distant siren wailing]

- What do you want me to do?

- Come on.

Come on.

- Now come on.

Move, move.

Let's go.

- I wish you luck.

[beeping] - What you doing in the hood?

- Where do you think you're going?

[mixed commotion]

- Really?

Leave him alone.

- Stop it.

- Yeah, coming through.

- Anne, how Stuart?

- He's still in surgery.

According to the doctors, he lost a lot of blood

and suffered a severe head trauma.

- Excuse me.

- I called a friend on the board here for a referral.

What happened?

- He was beaten.

They pulled him from his car, and they

punched him and kicked him.

People just stood there and watched.

Where the hell were the police?

- Seem to be avoiding confrontation

all over the city.

- After Stuart's heart attack, I--

I-- I promised to cherish our time together.

But I fell back into the same patterns

and the same old behavior.

[sobbing] What is it that I'm always arguing about?

What if he doesn't live?

Why would somebody do this to such a gentle soul?

- I see the point in--

[murmuring]

- Mr. Becker, in light of the rioting,

the court would appreciate it if you would wrap

this up as quickly as possible.

- Certainly, Your Honor.

Ladies and gentlemen, this case is about perception.

Let's also talk about reality.

15 seconds of tape is hardly representative

of Mr. Champion's 19 years of work at Familyland.

What occurred before that camcorder was turned on

or after it was turned off?

What didn't we see?

What are we missing here?

- Your client.

- Quickly responding to our request

that the National Guard be assigned here.

We gave a number of 2,000 that--

- Hi.

- I remembered you like your egg rolls extra crispy.

- What's going on, Zoey?

- I was sitting in my apartment listening

to the helicopters and the sirens and the gunshots.

And the more I listened, the more afraid I became.

And so I figured that the best way to combat my fears

is to just live my normal life.

Hot mustard?

- I'm not hungry.

- I deserved to get shot.

- Oh, Zoey.

- During the Meechem trial, I perjured

myself on the witness stand.

I lied, and I'm being punished.

There, I said it.

Now, I'm really hungry.

You know how people have those near-death experiences

and they describe seeing auras leaving their bodies,

feeling all at peace?

It didn't happen to me.

And I was really disappointed, like I

hadn't earned the privilege.

You wanna see my scar?

- Yeah.

[music playing]

- Sing us a song, Bender.

- Excuse me.

- Wearing a bad tux like that, you must play in a band

or be a mortician.

- For your information, I was on my way to get married,

and you should floss.

- You wanna be the bride or the groom?

- I'll ignore that homophobic prattle.

- I said, do you wanna be the bride or the groom?

- Listen, I appreciate a good joke as well as the next fella.

- He'll be the groom.

- Somebody stop playing the organ because here

comes the bride.

- Oh.

- I'm supposed to be at the Bel Air Hotel

with my wife having room service.

I love room service!

The next miscreant who so much as looks at me is a dead man.

- Entire Los Angeles basin lies choked

in a blanket of smoke on this night

of the worst civil unrest.

- Leland?

- Daniel, I'm surprised you're still here.

- I was-- I was hoping things would calm down

before going out with Lucy.

- It doesn't look like they will.

- May I?

- Sure.

- I remember the last time I held a baby.

- Your children must be at their house by now.

- Never had children.

It's the biggest regret or mistake of my life.

- checks and balances of the societal structure or tonight

being torn apart by hatred and terror,

hatred and violence fueled by an arsenal

of weaponry which at this moment has

outpowered any attempts to--

- I was assistant DA during the Watts Riots.

I was young, fresh to the city.

Working in the jails trying cases,

I witnessed racism firsthand.

I was outraged, swore to make a difference.

Nearly 30 years have gone by and all has changed

is the view from my window.

I'm beginning to believe there's too much

law and not enough justice.

- These days, most people would agree.

- Yeah, but this isn't the way to respond.

Our legal system is what holds our society together.

Random violence, innocent victims,

that's-- that's anarchy.

That accomplishes nothing.

I've watched the city burn once before.

I never thought I'd see it again.

When will we learn?

- You found me.

- Pal, I wasn't looking.

- So what happened?

Who won?

- Your disappearance didn't help.

- Did they notice?

- Oh, they noticed.

- I'm sorry, I took off.

I just couldn't sit there any longer.

I wanted to be someplace safe.

- Where is it?

- Familyland.

Only once I paid the admission and walked inside the gate,

for the first time, things felt phony.

You-- you can't sell happiness.

I know.

People are desperate to escape the harsh reality

of their lives, but life isn't about escape.

It's about facing the truth and yourself

and building a better place, not tearing it down.

One man has to make a difference,

eight fingers or ten.

- Found it, my passport.

When the going gets tough, smart guys leave the country.

Oh, by the way, you won--

back pay, damages, the whole show.

- [laughs] Well, how can I ever repay you?

- Cashier's check in full.

- In your face, Familyland.

- I hate LA.

- Boo!

- Benny, where have you been?

- Oh, you sent me.

Here.

- Yes, I know, but that was hours ago.

You should have called.

I was worried.

Everyone was.

- You asked me to pick up Mr. Brackman's present.

- Didn't you notice what was going on out there?

- But--

- There is no excuse for you not calling.

I mean, how can you be trusted if-- if--

- Roxanne? - you're irresponsible?

- Roxanne.

- I-if you can't follow directions.

- Ask me about my tie.

- Benny--

- I finally figured it out.

- You're not listening.

- Ask me.

My tie, it's Swiss cheese.

- What are you talking about?

- Ask me.

Say, where did you buy your tie?

- OK.

All right.

Benny, where did you buy your tie?

- Wisconsin.

Cheese.

Get it?

- I get it.

[laughter]

I'm glad you're safe.

- If being pigheaded is an electable quality,

you'll win by a landslide.

- I just wanted to see for myself.

- Not a lot of light to shoot by.

- Yeah, that's why God invented the strobe.

OK, take off your jacket and hand it to me.

And roll up your sleeves.

- Everything's gone.

- It's hardly a district left for you to represent.

Follow me.

You follow us.

Come on.

- Wait a minute, man.

You left something.

- Shoot.

Good. Other side.

Come on.

Hurry up.

OK. OK.

It's good.

We're out of here.

- I'm staying.

- What?

You're crazy.

- Maybe.

I'm still staying.

- Shoot.

- Hey, hey, look.

- OK.

OK.

Fine.

[sighs] See.

[beeping]

- Mom.

[music playing]

[theme music]