Original subtitles

[exhales sharply]

- Well, thank you very much, Mr Garabedian,

we are interviewing a number of people,

and we'll let you know as soon as we've

made our final decision.

- Before I leave, I want to say two words to you, class action.

Whether we're talking about negligently-manufactured

pacemakers or defective farm machinery,

I believe that multiple plaintiff lawsuits

will generate heap big moolah.

And I am just the boy to do it.

- Huh, thank you.

- Thank you.

- How many more of these do we have to see today?

- Five more.

- I can't do this.

You guys hire whoever you want to hire.

I just-- I can't do this anymore.

- Hello?

- Uh, you're?

- Jane Halliday.

- I'm Douglas Brackman.

This is Ann Kelsey, Jonathan Rollins, and Arnold Becker.

- Hi.

- Arnold, are you staying?

- Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?

- I'm from Oklahoma.

Went to Harvard Law School.

I clerked for a federal judge for a year after graduation.

Following that, I worked in the district attorney's office

in Oklahoma City for two years.

- What made you want to relocate out here?

- Well, I have family out here.

Also, I felt I could benefit by broadening my horizons a bit.

- Is there any particular area you'd like to specialize in?

- At this point in my career, I'd

just assume to be guided by what needs present themselves.

I'd be happy to do whatever you need me to do.

- It says on your resume that you

attended Bob Jones University.

- Yes.

- That's a religious school, isn't it?

- Yes, it is.

It's a Christian college.

- A fundamentalist Christian college.

- Yes.

- Are you a fundamentalist Christian?

- Yes, I am.

- Well, forgive me for saying this, but this firm

seems an unlikely setting for a fundamentalist Christian

to want to be in.

- Perhaps it is, but I made a decision to pursue a career

and to work and live in a more mainstream environment

than the one I grew up in.

Your firm is very well regarded in the legal community,

and I think I could benefit from working here.

And I also think that I could make a contribution.

- Miss Halliday, you might find us

something of a godless bunch.

- I think you'll find that I'm really pretty accepting

of people, Mr Rollins.

And I don't think any of us are godless.

- Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.

- Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table for me before mine enemies,

thou anointest my head with oil.

My cup runneth over.

Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow

me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House

of the Lord forever.

- Amen.

- Well.

- It was very nice meeting all of you.

- And it was nice meeting you, Ms. Halliday.

We'll let you know as soon as we've made our decision.

- Thank you.

- What?

[theme music]

[chatter]

- When is the table going to be ready, Douglas?

- They said another week.

- Unbelievable.

- Yeah, dust.

Everywhere is dust. - Hi.

- Is this it? - Yeah.

- This renovation is taking on epic proportions.

- When are they telling us now it's going to be done?

- End of the month.

- End of which month?

- Fellas, could you hold it down.

We are going to try to get some work done around here.

Folks, if we could get down to business.

Interviews are ongoing for new associates.

I'd like to have someone hired by the end of the week,

if possible.

- Well, I think it's safe to say that

as far as Arnold's concerned, we ought to be done looking now.

- I trust that what we witnessed was momentary infatuation

and nothing more than that.

- We'll see all the candidates, we'll make a decision.

Like everyone else, I want whoever

is best qualified for the job.

- What are you looking at?

- What am I looking at?

I'm looking at the prize in the Cracker Jack box.

I'm looking at the big brass ring

and the merry-go-round of life.

- What are you looking at?

- The Bentley Continental R.

- You're getting a Bentley?

- Yes, I am.

- How much?

- List is $275,000.

- You're spending $275,000 for a car?

- You think that's excessive?

[chuckles]

- Folks, as compelling as this conversation is, I'd really

like to get some work done before the sounds of hammering

drives me completely crazy.

- You're running the meeting, Douglas.

Run the meeting.

- Kincaid versus Owens, Pierce, McIntyre, and Reynolds.

- That's mine.

Judith Kincaid is suing her law firm for sexual discrimination

under Title VII for their failure to make her a partner.

- Yeah, but for the grace of God, go we?

- There are no female partners at Owen, Pierce, Douglas.

Not even one like there is here.

- Can this case be settled?

- The offers we received were insulting.

- Let's try not to get too much of a reputation

as a repository for litigious and embittered females,

shall we, Ann?

- Moving on.

[knock on door] - Excuse me.

- Eli.

- Is this a bad time?

- No, it's a very good time.

Everybody, this is my cousin, Eli Levinson.

- How do you do?

- Stuart told us you're involved in that

case of the-- the social worker who was killed.

- The parents of the accused are all friends of my family,

I'm out here on their behalf.

- Well, if there's anything any of us can do to assist you,

please let us know.

- Thank you.

- There's a vacant office you can use,

but we're a little shorthanded in the secretarial department.

- Oh, please don't worry about it.

You're being extremely gracious.

I'll make my own arrangements as it concerns a secretary.

- Do you think $275,000 is too much to spend on a car?

- I don't know.

- I bust my ass working, I'm at the top of my field,

I have no dependents, who should own a Bentley, if not me?

- Will it make you happy?

- Yes, it will.

- Then you should own it.

- A wise man arrives from the east.

Nice to meet you, Eli.

- Nice to meet you.

- You think there's any chance he'll be glad to see us here?

- My God, with the trouble he's in,

you'd think he'd be thrilled to see us.

- I think you should be prepared for that not to be the case.

[buzzer]

- Oh, Sandy.

- How are you doing, son?

- Who's that?

- This is Eli Levinson, an attorney who's

come with us from New York.

- What for?

- Because you need an attorney, because you have a little bit

of difficulty here.

- Do you still have my Beatles album, Yesterday and Today?

- We probably do.

I haven't thrown anything of yours away.

Certainly, not your record collection.

- Well, it's the album cover with the Beatles

in butcher coats.

See I steamed off the album cover

it was sold with because it's got

the original one underneath.

It's probably worth a fair amount of money.

- Should we send for it?

Do you want to have it here?

- No, thinking you should sell it.

[knock on glass]

I want to go back now.

- Hey, Ray, why don't you give us a minute by ourselves?

- I'll see you soon, son.

[door closes]

- Sandy?

[exhales sharply]

- Sandy?

You don't know me and I don't know you.

You've been charged with murder.

That means you need to have someone

paying very close attention to what happens to you.

- Do you have a cigarette?

- I don't smoke.

- I didn't ask you if you smoke, I asked

you if you had a cigarette.

[scoffs]

- I don't.

Sandy, there's a preliminary hearing scheduled for tomorrow.

Do you have any problem with me representing you

at that hearing?

- No.

- Good.

Is there anything you can tell me about the crime

you're being charged with?

- No.

- OK.

- Can I go now?

- Sure.

See you tomorrow.

- Yeah, who are you again?

- I'm your lawyer, kid.

[door shuts]

- How long did you work at Owen, Pierce, McIntyre,

and Reynolds, Ms. Kincaid?

- Eight years.

I was hired right out of law school.

- What were you told about your performance during that time?

- I was told that my analytical skills were first rate, as were

my briefs, as was my performance as a litigator,

as was my ability to supervise other associates.

- Were any conversations held with reference

to your being made partner?

- Yes.

In June of 1989, I came up for partnership review.

- What were you told?

- I was told that while my work as an attorney was outstanding,

my quote unquote "people skills" needed some adjustment.

I was told that I could be abrasive, I could be terse,

and I was told that I lacked a sense of humor.

- How did you respond?

- I said that I would work on it.

- Did you work on it?

- Yes, I tried to be a little more patient

in dealing with associates.

Tried to explain myself more, even tried

telling an occasional joke.

- Would you tell the court what happened the next time you

came up for partnership review?

- I was told that I wasn't on the partnership track, period.

- Did any of the partners at Owen, Pierce, McIntyre,

and Reynolds tell you why?

- Steve Bullock did.

I went into his office and asked him, point blank, why I wasn't

being considered for partner.

He said, Judith, I'll deny it if you ever quote me,

but the truth is, you're just too butch.

- I have no further questions.

- Would you say that one's ability to get along

with other people was in any way significant in evaluating one's

performance as an attorney?

- I get along with people just fine, Mr. McCafferty.

- Do you?

February 10, 1991, an associate by the name of Robin Michael,

after working 14 hour days for two weeks straight,

was leaving the office at 6:00 PM to attend a hockey game.

You stopped him at the door, told him you'll

have him fired if he went.

- I was waiting on research he was responsible for.

- It couldn't have waited till the following day?

- No.

- December 14, 1990, you initiated a confrontation

with Bob Connolly, a senior member at the firm,

because of an imagined slight.

And you saw fit to do so in front of a client.

- It wasn't imagined.

I felt as though Bob Connolly had

addressed me in a condescending tone of voice.

- Would you tell us, Ms. Kincaid,

what you hoped to accomplish by initiating a confrontation

in front of a client?

- I didn't hope to accomplish anything, Mr. McCafferty.

I did it because I found Mr. Connolly's

behavior intolerable.

- Do you fit in at Owen, Pierce, McIntyre,

and Reynolds, Miss Kincaid?

- Objection.

- I wasn't allowed to fit in.

I'm not sexy, I'm not funny, and I don't

know the secret handshake.

If they didn't want me around, they should have said so.

- Oh, I think in a manner of speaking, that's what they did,

isn't it, Ms. Kincaid?

- I put my heart and soul into that job.

I held back nothing.

If they weren't prepared to treat me like a colleague,

they shouldn't have hired me in the first place.

They shouldn't have stolen eight years of my life.

- I'm finished, your honor.

[music playing]

- Eli. - Hi, Denise.

- I can't believe it's you. Get in.

- I can't believe what you're driving.

- Hey, if you're going to have a car have a car.

Good to see you.

- So you and Jeffrey are finished?

- Yeah, we're divorced.

- I'm sorry to hear that.

- Hey, it's for the best, anyway, believe me.

We would have killed each other if we

would have stayed together.

- How's his health?

- Mentally, he's terminal, physically, he's fine.

[chuckles]

How's Sidney?

- Good.

- Charlie?

- Good.

Everybody's just where they were when you left.

- You know, I think about guys a lot.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

- So what have you been doing since you are out here?

- Uh, you know, a little bit of this, a little bit of that.

You know, looking for a job, meeting people,

going on a lot of blind dates, checking out the local culture.

- It's not much like New York, is it?

- It's not anything like New York.

It's clean, sunny all the time.

Nobody jaywalks.

Nobody knows how to dress.

Other than that, I love it.

[chuckles]

- You want to work for me while I'm in town?

- Do you need somebody?

- Yes, I need somebody.

- Oh, I would love to work for you.

- In addition to everything else,

I could use some help getting around town.

- What do you mean?

- I don't drive.

- What do you mean, you don't drive?

- I've lived in New York City all my life.

Denise, I never learned to drive.

- I'll be your driver.

- Great.

- You know, you don't know how much

easier it is to get around out here than it is in New York.

I mean, it hardly ever rains.

You never ever have to fight for a cab.

People are courteous. They're more relaxed, you know.

They're not always trying to kill each other.

[music playing]

What are you looking at?

- I'm looking at you, and I'm liking what I see.

- Oh, really?

- That's right.

Give me your telephone number.

- Drop dead.

- Give me your telephone number.

- Let's go.

- Come on.

- Court will come to order, Judge Shays presiding.

- Be seated.

People versus Sandy Morrison.

- Thomas Mullaney for the prosecution, your honor.

The defendant is charged under Section

189 of the California Penal Code with murder

in the first degree.

- My name is Eli Levinson, your honor.

I'm an attorney licensed to practice

in the state of New York.

My appearance on Mr. Morrison's behalf is pro hac vice.

- Do you have supporting papers for a pro hac vice appearance?

- I do.

- Approach.

Is your client prepared to enter a plea?

- At this point, your honor, I really

haven't had an adequate opportunity

to confer with my client.

I beg the court's indulgence that he might

enter a plea at a later date.

- I'll set it of down for Thursday.

Is that all right, Mr. Mullaney?

- Yes, it is, your honor.

- At this time, your honor, I would also move for Mr.

Mullaney's disqualification.

- On what grounds?

- On the grounds that my appearance in the state

of California is an association with a firm of McKenzie,

Brackman, Becker, Kelsey, Markowitz, and Morales, a firm

of which I believe Mr. Mullaney was a member.

- Your honor, I haven't been a member

of the firm for more than a year,

and I haven't met Mr. Levinson until today.

- I'm going to have to take this matter

under advisement, gentlemen.

I am not prepared to rule on this now.

- Your honor, in that I sense this is a little more

than a delaying tactic.

I'm prepared to withdraw from the case.

My office will appoint another prosecutor.

- Very well.

- I would assume that all evidence related to this case

be made available, be it inculpatory or exculpatory.

I would also ask that at Thursday's hearing,

the court entertain an application for bail.

- I believe that when Mr Levinson looks over

the evidence, inculpatory and exculpatory,

he will decline to pursue his application for bail.

- Why is that?

- Mr. Morrison confessed.

[chatter]

- I'll see you back at the office.

- Excuse me.

You're Sandy's parents?

- Yes, we are.

- I'm Jonah Burgee.

It was my wife who was killed.

I want you to know that I'm not unaware of your pain

in all of this.

And I, certainly, don't want you to feel as though I'm going

to be sitting here in court looking at you or your son,

for that matter, with hatred.

This is a tragedy, and it's a tragedy for all of us.

- Yes, it is.

- Thank you for saying that.

- If Gail were here, she would have said it.

But since she isn't, I know that she would want me to.

- Overall, I was pleased with yesterday.

What about you?

- I thought it went well.

- McCafferty got to me.

- A little.

It's OK though.

- I didn't want him to get to me.

- From the jury's perspective, it'll probably work

to your advantage that he did.

- Sylvia?

- Hello, Judith.

- I didn't expect they'd have you sitting in court.

- I am a member of the firm.

- They're using you as window dressing, Sylvia.

- I don't choose to see it that way, Judith.

I believe I'm serving a useful function.

- May we join you?

- I'd rather that you didn't.

- OK.

[chatter]

- Could you tell us why an offer of partnership

wasn't made to Judith Kincaid?

- I'd say it was a combination of things.

Her work was good, albeit, not exceptional.

She demonstrated no real potential

for generating business, and her personality

most definitely hurt her.

- In what way did it hurt her?

- Those of us who worked with her found her

to be rather severe, cold even.

And she had a low flash point.

She tended to be well, abrasive, bossy, ill tempered,

not a lot of fun to be around.

Given all that, we decided she wasn't partnership material.

- Was this determination influenced by the fact

that she's a woman?

- Absolutely not.

If anything, I'd say it gave her an advantage.

We're desperately trying to bring in some women partners.

We're in law schools recruiting.

We have more women associates at the firm

now than at any time in the past history.

And I think that at least one of them is going to make partner.

Oh, I assure you, we want a woman.

We just didn't want this woman.

- I have nothing further.

- How many attorneys are there in your firm Mr. McIntyre?

- 43.

- How many partners?

- 10 senior partners, 14 junior partners.

- How many senior partners are women?

- None.

- How many junior partners are women?

- I'm not unaware that there's a problem.

We are in need of the humanizing influence a woman would bring.

The right woman just hasn't come along.

- The truth is, she doesn't exist.

The attributes you want in a woman and the attributes

you want in a lawyer are mutually exclusive.

- Your honor.

- What you've done is nothing more than to construct

an elaborate pretext-- - Miss Kelsey

- for never having to allow a woman

into what you like to think of as your private club.

- Look, I'm not going to be bullied by her,

and I'm not going to be bullied by you.

Every time you don't get what you want,

it's because you're a woman, right?

It's the glass ceiling, whatever that is.

Well, you know what?

I'm a little sick of all your whining.

- Sick of all who's whining, Mr. McIntyre?

- Forgive me, your honor, I didn't

mean to speak in generalities.

- I'm the one that asked the question, Mr. McIntyre, who's

whining, were you referring to?

- I was referring to the plaintiff,

and only the plaintiff.

- Your honor, at this time, I'd like

to announce my intention to call Sylvia Reiner as a witness.

- I object.

Your honor, Sylvia Reiner is a member of the defense

team in this case.

- Your honor, I insist on being able to examine

the policies of this firm as they pertain to women.

I believe the jury is entitled to determine

for themselves who it was Mr. McIntyre was referring to.

- Given the lateness of the hour, we'll adjourn for today.

When we convene again tomorrow morning,

you may call Miss Reiner to the stand.

The witness is excused.

Court is adjourned.

[chatter]

- My firm specializes in environmental law,

and that's the field I'm primarily interested in.

- You have a good deal of litigation experience it seems.

- Yes, I do.

- Very impressive.

- I appreciate you saying that, but before I'd consider

joining this organization, there are a few things

we'd have to address.

- Like what?

- The air in this building is bad,

there has to be significantly better circulation.

I require ergonomically correct seating for myself

and my assistant, as well as radiation shielding for all

the video display terminals.

Look, it's one thing to take on environmental causes

where deep pocket defendants are involved,

it's another thing to put one's own affairs in order.

In other words, are you prepared to walk it like you talk it?

- I don't believe we have a resume.

- Forget the resume, I haven't been working

for the last three years.

- What have you been doing?

- I've been in jail.

I was convicted of mail fraud.

I served 28 months, now I'm out and I'm raring to go.

- How are you able to practice law

if you were convicted of mail fraud?

- I'm not able to practice law.

What I am able to do is make a great deal of money

in commercial real estate syndication.

What I need is a base of operations from which to do it.

[exhales sharply]

- I guess I'd like to start off by asking

about maternity leave.

[distant sirens]

- Ms. Kelsey?

- Yes.

Hi.

- I wonder if I could talk to you for a minute.

- Come in.

- I'd like to know what it is you hope to accomplish, really,

by calling me as a witness?

- Exactly what I said I hoped to accomplish.

To demonstrate that the way my client was treated

is indicative of the way other women at your firm are treated.

- I have no complaints about how I was treated.

- I understand that.

- Then why call me as a witness?

My testimony isn't going to affect the outcome of this case

one way or another.

- If I felt that way, I wouldn't call you as a witness.

- You're a partner here, Ms. Kelsey?

- Yes.

- You're a partner.

Judith could become a partner at any number of firms I'm sure.

You two are bright, successful young women.

Why is it necessary for you to do this to me?

Why is it necessary to humiliate me?

- I'm not trying to humiliate you, Ms. Reiner.

- That's what you're going to do.

You're going to paint me as this poor, pathetic creature who's

worked her entire adult life in return

for whatever scraps these men have thrown her from the table.

I don't want to be depicted that way, can you understand that?

Obviously, it's not an issue of any significance.

[sad music]

[exhales sharply]

- Are you married, Ms. Reiner? - Objection.

Irrelevant.

- Your honor, I think the jury is

entitled to view the totality of circumstances

affecting this woman.

- I'll allow it.

- I'm divorced.

- Do you have children?

- I have three grown children.

- How long have you been divorced?

- Since 1970.

- Who provided most of the income

that you and your children lived on, Ms. Reiner?

- I provided all the income.

- What year did you come to work for Owen,

Pierce, McIntyre, and Reynolds?

- 1962.

- And you remained there ever since as an associate,

is that right?

- Yes, I have.

- Now as time went on, one of your responsibilities

was to train other associates, wasn't it?

- Yes.

- Yet there were a variety of perquisites and privileges

extended to other associates that weren't extended to you,

weren't there?

- I really have no complaints about the way

I've been treated.

- Were you given your own office?

- No, I wasn't.

- Your own secretary?

- No.

- Isn't it a fact, Ms. Reiner, that you

make less money than associates whom you yourself have trained?

- I wouldn't know the answer to that question.

- Isn't it also a fact, Ms. Reiner, that until this trial,

you were never once allowed to set foot in a courtroom?

- As I said, I have no complaints.

- Have you seen the evaluation that

was made when you first came up for partnership

review, Ms. Reiner?

- No, I haven't.

- I have a copy of it here.

I ask that it be admitted into evidence as plaintiff's exhibit

number 5.

- Objection.

This evaluation is ancient history.

Attitudes towards women across the board

were totally different then.

- I would maintain, your honor, that

what we're here to determine is just how different they are.

It seems to me that the only thing that's different

is the degree of subterfuge those attitudes

are concealed behind.

- I'll allow it to come in.

- I quote, "Sylvia is like most women, good with details,

but utterly lacking in fire or leadership potential.

Loyal as a Saint Bernard--

keep her chained to the doghouse, feed her once a day,

and she'll follow us anywhere.

Definitely not partnership material, not even close."

Would you agree with that characterization?

- I have no complaints about the way I was treated.

- Is it possible, Ms. Reiner, that

having to raise three children on your own

taught you to have no complaints?

- You have no right to do this.

This is supposed to be about your life.

You have no right to force me to talk about my life.

- I apologize, Ms. Reiner.

Nothing further.

[knock on door]

- I'm looking for Beverly Halleran.

- You found her.

- I was told that you were assigned to the Morrison case.

- Who are you?

- I'm Eli Levinson, I'm representing Sandy Morrison.

- Sit down.

- I assume you know we're dealing

with someone who's quite ill?

- Are we?

- Have you studied his file?

- Yes.

- Then what's the question?

He's been institutionalized half a dozen times,

he's been diagnosed as a clinical bipolar depressive.

You don't doubt that that was a factor, do you?

- A factor in what?

- A factor in Morrison having killed Gail Burgee, assuming,

of course, that he did.

- Your client is a very dangerous man, Mr. Levinson.

I'm not interested in his clinical diagnosis,

I'm interested in getting him off the street.

- Me too.

But the truth is, he never should have been on the street.

- Well.

- And if you force me to try this case,

I will subpoena every shrink and hospital administrator

this kid ever saw.

Anyone who had anything to do with putting him on the street

will be called as a witness.

I'll make this trial about how Sandy

Morrison got to be a killer, not whether or not he was one.

- You can try to make it about that, Mr. Levinson.

Whether you succeed or not depends on the judge.

- You're right, and I'm more than

willing to take that chance.

- What is it you're looking for?

- Not guilty by reason of insanity.

Long-term commitment to a secure mental hospital.

Come on, that should satisfy your need

to get him off the street and my need to get him some help.

- I have your assurance you won't fight

me on the issue of confinement?

- Absolutely.

- OK.

He pleads guilty in court, I won't oppose it,

and we'll schedule a commitment hearing.

He also remains in custody until such time

as he can be transferred to a mental hospital.

- Agreed.

- OK.

Well, nice doing business with you, counselor.

- Nice doing business with you.

- Are you sure I can't interest you in a little wine?

They've got a great selection.

- Thank you, no, I don't drink.

- Everything God created is good,

and nothing is to be rejected if it's

received with thanksgiving.

1 Timothy, Chapter 4.

- Why did you ask me to lunch, Mr. Becker?

- I was very impressed with you the other day.

I was hoping I could interest you

in the field of matrimonial law, working directly under me,

so to speak.

- Does that mean I have the job?

- Well, partners still have to vote on it,

but I'd say you're a pretty serious contender.

- Well, maybe we better wait until they've made a decision.

- Are you involved with anyone at the present time?

- No, I'm not.

- Well, praise the Lord, as it happens, neither am I.

- Um, Mr. Becker, am I correct in assuming that you're

interested in entering into some sort of romantic relationship

with me?

- Possible inappropriateness of such candor notwithstanding,

interested would be far too mild of a word.

- Please understand something, I don't

believe in recreational sex.

- Do not deprive each other so that you may

devote yourselves to prayer.

Come together so that Satan will not tempt you because

of your lack of self control.

1 Corinthians Chapter 7.

- Paul's letter to the Corinthians

was referring to married couples.

- But the principle still obtains, does it not?

- No, Mr. Becker, it does not.

I'm a virgin.

I'm a virgin by choice, and I will remain a virgin

until the night of my wedding.

Now, if there's nothing else we need to discuss,

I'd like to go.

I do hope you'll still consider me for the position,

and I hope that you'll be able to confine our relationship

should I get the position to one strictly

professional in nature.

And I also hope that you will continue to read the Bible.

- I got it, she's a virgin.

Woo!

- There are those who will tell you

that Judith Kincaid is in here asking for special treatment.

I'm here to tell you that the reason Judith Kincaid has come

into this courtroom is that she's already

gotten special treatment.

She has been judged, not as an attorney,

but as a woman attorney.

She found herself being punished for the very

same behavior for which male associates were rewarded.

They were assertive, she was abrasive.

They showed leadership, she was bossy.

They were businesslike, she was cold.

Nobody told her when she first interviewed with the firm

that she would be judged not on how hard she worked,

but on how much fun she was to be around.

Nobody told her that her failure to smile

or her lack of interest in sports

would represent an insurmountable obstacle

to advancement.

And the reason nobody told her was

that the men who interviewed her wanted her to work for them.

They knew that this was a bright, driven

attorney who could be depended upon to work her tail off.

They knew that it would be six or seven years

before they'd have to tell her that she

wasn't going to make partner.

They knew what a good deal they had here.

They had only to look at the deal

they had with Sylvia Reiner.

Now, I have no doubt but that the man of Owen, Pierce,

McIntyre, and Reynolds are made somewhat uncomfortable

by Judith Kincaid.

I have no doubt that they are more

comfortable having as partners other men like themselves.

We ask that you consider the cost of that comfort.

We ask that you look at the lives that are expended

without recognition or reward.

We ask that you do something about it.

- When Judith Kincaid came to work at Owen,

Pierce, McIntyre, and Reynolds, what

did she have a right to expect?

She had the right to expect to be paid fairly

and to be given the same opportunities as

other associates at the firm.

The fact that she was judged and found wanting

does not translate into an act of discrimination.

Her work was satisfactory, her demeanor less so.

Given the range of candidates, the senior partners chose who

they felt were best qualified.

They made a decision.

So long as there were legitimate reasons for that decision,

they were wholly within their rights to make it.

Now, if you decide otherwise, if you compensate Judith Kincaid

for this alleged wrong, by extension,

you will hurt the prospects of all women who work.

You will presume by inference that women can't be judged

honestly, that they can't compete

on the basis of their own abilities,

that they need attorneys shepherding their progress.

Now, I believe that hard work and talent will result in women

taking their rightful place alongside men

in all strata of society.

But in order for that to happen, they must be permitted to fail.

And all of us who work for a living,

stand on our own two feet.

We all vie for promotions, we are all subject to the judgment

of others.

If we get knocked down, we get back up,

brush ourselves off, get back into the ring.

We learn from our failures, we learn from our mistakes.

Let Judith Kincaid do the very same thing.

[soft music]

- You like this place?

- Yeah, it's nice.

- I know the owner. - Oh yeah?

- Yeah. - Hmm.

- Where are you from in New York?

- Queens.

- Get out of here. - Yeah.

[chuckles] - What?

- I can't believe I'm sitting here in LA with a chick

from Queens. - And why is that?

- Where do you think I'm from?

- I have no idea where you're from.

- I'm from Bayside. - Get out of here.

- Yeah. [laughter]

- Excuse me.

You just got ticketed.

- What do you mean, you just got ticketed?

- They're giving out tickets.

- Well, send Matty in here.

- What's going on?

- I'm handling the parking here.

- What do yo mean, you're handling the parking?

- Well, I have a valet parking service, among other things.

I mean, last week, I did parties at Eddie Van Halen's, Mickey

Rourke's, and at Stallone's.

- I'm impressed.

- Yeah, I know, sometimes I can't believe it myself.

- I don't know what's going on, Anthony, suddenly they're

handing out parking tickets.

- What, do I have to do everything myself?

- No, you don't.

Excuse me for the interruption here.

- Hey, Matty, just give the meter maid $100

or park it somewhere else.

- $100, I'm going to wind up in a jackpot, I give him $100

- Then you win a jackpot.

Go ahead.

- All right, I'll take care of it.

- So you're working now? - Do I look like I'm working?

- Yeah, you do. - Hey?

- What?

- I'm sitting here entranced and entrapped by a gorgeous woman

from the borough of Queens.

- So it's just a coincidence that we

came to this restaurant?

- Well, what do you think?

- What do I think?

I think I'm remembering all the reasons why

I never wanted to end up with a guy from Queens, that's

what I think.

- Hey, how'd you like to meet Sly?

- Anthony? - What?

- I hate to bother you, but Matty's getting arrested.

- Yeah, for what?

- He offered money to the meter maid.

- This is what I get for bringing

these meatballs out here.

Go ahead.

Listen, give me five minutes, all right?

I'll straighten everything out.

I come back, we finish the meal, we'll head out to Nicky Blair's

and we'll hang out with Sly.

All right, gorgeous?

- Aight.

- Aight?

Be right back.

[chatter]

- God.

[exhales sharply]

- Oh yeah?

[chuckles]

All right?

Yeah.

- Yes, absolutely.

[chatter]

[laughter]

Phil Garabedian?

- Too green.

- I agree.

Lloyd Hassock?

- A prima donna.

- I agree with that too.

Jane Halliday?

- Pass.

- Why pass?

- Because she's a member of the religious right.

- Wait a second, all we know is that she's a young woman

who happens to believe in God.

- Is that all we know?

She went to Bob Jones University.

- Yeah?

- Ask her her position on freedom of choice for women.

Ask her her position on homosexuality.

- She's not being nominated for the Supreme Court, Ann.

We're looking for a first year associate.

- Wait a minute.

Whatever the relative merits of this woman,

I think the fact that Ann is as adamantly

opposed to her as she is should account for something.

- So you're saying we shouldn't consider her?

- I'm saying we shouldn't consider her.

If we can dismiss those other people out of hand,

we can dismiss her out of hand. - Tell me something, Stuart.

How would you feel if we were talking about a Jew?

- Not the same thing.

- Not the same thing?

Exactly the same thing.

This woman hasn't said one word about abortion or homosexuality

or anything else.

What you're doing is exactly what

all those white-shoe downtown firms do when they sit around

and refuse to consider tainting themselves by allowing

a Jew in their midst.

It's exactly the same thing, and the two of you know it.

- It appears that since we started interviewing,

she's far and away the best candidate we've seen,

and we need to hire someone.

If she starts proselytizing, well, we'll tell her to stop.

If she doesn't stop, we'll get rid of her.

I vote we hire her.

- So do I.

- I vote no. - Me too.

- I can't see keeping her out because of her beliefs.

I vote to hire her.

- Four to three, right, Arnold?

- Four to three.

- You let her know, Douglas?

- Yes, I will.

- Also, see if she's free to start Monday.

And also, find out when they're supposed to be

done with this renovation.

- Tell me, Arnie, is it possible you would have made a slightly

less impassioned speech if you hadn't

wanted to go to bed with her?

- I resent that.

- Are you saying you have no interest

in going to bed with her?

- I'm saying that the thought never crossed my mind.

[exhales sharply]

[chatter]

- Have you tasted these things?

- What?

- These, California bagels.

Look at this, raisin, blueberry.

I don't know what this one is, it's red.

Bluh, it's like cotton.

- I hate to tell you, Eli, but not

everybody likes hard bagels.

- H&H, they are not.

Kossar's Bialys, they are not. - Eli?

- Barney Greengrass's Sturgeon King, they are not.

- Eli? - What?

- I have something to tell you, that's what.

- Last night I was at this restaurant,

and the husband of the woman who your client was

charged with killing was there.

- Yeah?

- Well, it looked like the mourning period was over.

- What do you mean?

- He was with this hot tomato, and they

were all over each other.

They were drinking, grabbing, kissing.

I mean, it was like nauseating already.

- Huh.

- I mean, if it was me who died, I

wouldn't want my grieving husband

doing what this guy was doing.

- Good morning.

- Leland, this is my secretary, Denise.

- Well, how do you do, Denise?

- Hey, Leland, how you doing?

It's OK if I call you Leland?

- Of course.

Yeah.

- Cool.

see ya.

- Cool.

[chatter]

- I need to talk to you, Sandy.

I can either plead insanity or I can plead not guilty.

I need to know from you what you want me to do.

- Don't ask me.

- I've got to ask you, it's you who's accused of murder,

it's your life that's on the line.

- They didn't let me finish my breakfast this morning.

- Do you understand the nature of these proceedings?

- Took away my cereal.

I wasn't done with it yet.

- Sandy, do you understand?

- What you have to understand, Mr. Levinson, is I don't care.

- Did you confess because you didn't care?

- Court will come to order.

Judge Rona Shay is presiding.

First case on the docket, People versus Morrison.

- Please be seated.

Where do we stand on this case, Ms. Halleran?

- Mr. Morrison has indicated, through counsel,

that he is interested in entering a plea of insanity.

The people are prepared to agree to such a plea,

provided the defendant's confinement

to a secure facility remains continuous and unopposed.

- Mr. Levinson?

Mr. Levinson?

- The defense will not be entering

a plea of insanity, your honor.

At this time, we would like to enter a plea of not guilty.

- Excuse me?

- Set down for trial, October 21.

- The defense would like to make an application

for bail, your honor.

- Denied.

The defendant's remanded to custody.

Next case.

- Next case on the docket.

- Can I go now?

- Yeah.

Hey?

[chatter]

Here.

[chatter]

- You talk out of both sides of your mouth, Mr. Levinson.

- I had a change of heart.

- Oh, did you?

Well, in the future, I would appreciate it

if you wouldn't go through the pretense

of giving me your word, since, quite

apparently, it's worthless.

- You'll forgive me if my client's future is

a somewhat greater significance to me than remaining

in your good graces.

- You think you have a shot at an acquittal?

Good luck.

You also thought getting Tommy Mullaney off this case

helped your chances, well, I think you may have

miscalculated there as well.

- Has the jury reached a verdict?

- We have, your honor.

- How say you?

- We find, for the plaintiff, an award the sum of $1.5 million.

- On the issue of specific performance,

the court rules the firm of Owen, Pierce, McIntyre,

and Reynolds is hereby compelled to make

an offer of full partnership to Judith Kincaid.

With that, we are adjourned.

[knocking on gavel]

[chatter]

- I don't want this thing to drag out.

Get rid of her as soon as you can.

- You got it.

- Sylvia, I'm sorry to have put you through testifying.

If I thought of what it was going to be like for you,

I never would have done it.

- Given the outcome of the case, it's a good thing

you didn't think about it.

- We should schedule a meeting, Ms. Kelsey.

- For what purpose?

- For the purpose of determining how much

more time and effort is going to be consumed by this lawsuit.

- If there's a willingness on your client's part

to waive the partnership offer, we

would consider foregoing any appeals

and paying her the money damages in full.

- Judith?

- I think I'd probably agree to that.

- I thought you might.

Come on, Syl, let's go.

[sad music]

[knock on door]

- Hey.

So?

- Looks like we're going to trial.

I don't think my client is guilty.

- What about his-- his confession?

- I think he signed it because he was nuts.

And I think I have another suspect.

- Who?

- The husband.

- So it looks like you're going to be around for a while.

- Looks that way.

- Good.

Good.

- Do you remember the last time we saw each other, Stuart?

It was my grandmother's funeral.

We went back to Aunt Ida's to sit shiva,

and you and I went upstairs to play Risk.

- Aunt Ida, ooh.

You remember all that?

- Yeah.

- Good.

- It's odd, things remember, isn't it?

This guy that I came out here to represent,

he sits there in a psychotic haze

and remembers these seemingly trivial events

that appear to have no relationship

to what's going on around him.

And everyone sits there and looks at him as though he

were on another planet.

Two years ago, I had a nervous breakdown,

Stuart, and that's the way everyone used to look at me.

- Looks like you've recovered.

[chuckles]

- About 90% of the time I feel like I have.

[chuckles]

- You wanna go out, you want to get something to eat?

- Thanks, I don't think so.

- Look, I-- I know you don't believe this,

but we have some very good restaurants in Los Angeles.

- Let's do it another night.

I got some files to read through,

and when I get done with that, I think

I'm going to go for a walk.

- A walk?

Eli, this is LA, nobody walks in LA.

- I think I'm going to anyway.

- Listen, I-- I--

I just want to tell you that whether you're here

for a week or a month or whatever,

Ann and I are your family, and happily so.

So I-- I just want you to think of us that way, OK?

[sad music]

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