01x02 - Those Lips, That Eye

[bunniefuu]

- Previously on "L.A. Law..."

- Catch him.

- I hardly know what to say

regarding the untimely
death of Norman Cheney.

- I met Norman in a gay bar.

My name is not Georgia Buckner.

It's George.

- She barged in
without an appointment.

- At this moment, my
client Celia Robinson

is at St. Anthony's Hospital

trying to check
in for a CAT scan,

only they won't let her because
your insurance company's

still refusing to admit
that she's got coverage.

So don't talk to me
about appointments.

- Come home with me.

- I don't know what to say.

- Don't say anything.

- Your Honor, I move
to suppress admission

of the blood sample
report on grounds

the chain of custody
has been broken.

That is to say that we
have been denied access

to Mr. Gallagher's blood sample,

and since no other evidence
has been introduced by the DA

to lay an appropriate
foundation for the claim

that my client was inebriated

at the time that this
unfortunate accident occurred,

I move for dismissal
of all charges.

- Your Honor, while it's true

that the blood sample
was in fact lost or broken,

the expert from SID
will testify under oath

as to the manner in which
he conducted the test,

as well as to the results,

and his credibility, of course,
can be assessed at that time.

- Who is that?

- That's Deputy DA
Grace Van Owen.

- I think I'm in love.

- Pick a number.

- I see no choice
but to dismiss.

- Your Honor, this is
clearly relevant evidence,

which under federal
law would be admissible,

and this court knows,
or ought to know,

under Proposition
8 that this evidence

should also be admissible
under California state law.

- Uh-oh.

- I would remind the deputy DA

that in spite of the fact

she's running for
judgeship in District 7,

she need not lecture this court

on the validity of Proposition
8 as pertains to this matter.

And I might add as well

that Proposition 8 is
anything but clear on this point.

My ruling stands. Case...

- Your Honor, with all
due respect, you're wrong,

and we're going to take
this up to the appellate court.

- Assuming you can find time
between campaign appearances,

you're welcome to do so.

- My aspirations to the
bench notwithstanding,

the bottom line here

is this court is releasing
back onto the streets

an habitual and
dangerous drunk driver

who m*rder*d an 8-year-old boy.

- That's gratuitous
and self-serving.

The bottom line is you
haven't made your case,

and you're trying to
pass the buck to me.

- Your Honor...
- When and if

you win election to the
bench, Ms. Van Owen,

you may have the last word.

In my court, I get it.

Case dismissed.
20 minute recess.

- Arturo. Arturo, no.

- Be right back.

- Arturo, no.

- Is it our turn now?

- Right after recess.

- Do you mind explaining
this to me again?

- You plead guilty
to misdemeanor theft,

$500 fine, one year
informal probation,

treatment by your
private therapist.

If there are no further
shoplifting arrests,

you can have it
expunged from your record.

- I wasn't stealing it.

I just wanted to
see if the diamond

had any fire in the sunlight.

- That guy has a g*n!

- Everybody down.

- On the ground! Move!

- Drop it. Stay out of the way.

- Put it down.

- All right, down!

- You could have got me k*lled.

- It's just a reaction,
you know, reflexes.

- So is that!

- My 8-year-old son was m*rder*d

with no justice
in the courtroom.

- I sympathize with
your pain, Mr. Figueroa.

Still, it's a very
serious thing you did.

- Are you a father?

- No.

- Then don't tell me
because you can't know.

Where's the justice?
My boy's dead.

This k*ller's free,
and I'm in jail.

- Well, I should be able to do
something about that at least.

Look, I think there are a lot of
extenuating circumstances here.

I think that I might
be able to get you off

without any jail time.

- Please, Mr. Sifuentes,

you've got to get
me out of here.

No more sh**ting.

I just want to go home
to my wife and my baby.

- You got yourself
a lawyer, Arturo.

I'm going to try my best
to get you out of here,

and Mike Kuzak is gonna file

a wrongful death
case against Gallagher.

That'll get him where it hurts.

- Excuse me, Mr. Becker.

I wonder if you could
reach that book for me.

ALR 14.

I just had to get close to you.

I was going out of my mind.

You were totally hot last night.

Tonight?

- I don't know.

I'm scared.

- Of what?

- You. You scare me, lady.

You could break my heart.

- Oh, Arnie.

I would never do
anything to hurt you.

Well, maybe just a little.

- Come in.

- Ann?

Hi.

Hi.

- I hope you liked them.

They're from me.

- They're beautiful. Thanks.

- Yeah.

Mmm.

Did you get all my
phone messages?

- Until the tape ran out.

Guess I got a little
carried away, huh?

Look, Stewart, I'm kind
of distracted right now.

This Celia Robinson thing.

- Oh, yeah, sure, I understand.

How about a late
dinner? We can talk then.

- I can't. I can't
spare the time.

It's gonna be pretty crazy
for a couple of weeks at least.

- Ann, I just talked
to Celia Robinson.

I told her... Oh, I'm sorry.

- No, no, it's okay.

I'll see you later.

- Nice flowers.

- Yeah.

What about Celia Robinson?

What the hell are you
doing interfering in my case?

- Which, your one-eyed caterer?

- Leland said it was my case,

so why is my client
calling from the hospital

to tell me that Lester Mestman

is waving a $150,000
check in her face,

an offer he says was approved

by her lawyer, Douglas Brackman?

- Mestman called me.

He thought I might be
able to expedite the matter.

- You mean sell
her down the river.

- The woman didn't die.

She lost an eye.

And she isn't
Picasso, she's a cook.

Under the
circumstances, $150,000

doesn't sound like such
a terrible river to me.

- Under the circumstances,
it isn't even worth discussing.

- Your opinion is she
should reject the offer?

- I already told her
to tear up the check

and not to accept any phone
calls from Mestman or you.

- Then you had better hope

that you can pull
some very big rabbits

out of your hat, Ms.
Kelsey, because if you can't,

I seriously suggest you
start looking for another job.

Let us recap.

PetramCo is proceeding apace.

A negotiated settlement is
being explored in good faith

in the Celia Robinson case.

The Louis tax audit is
scheduled for the 19th.

- 18th.

- Ah, I stand corrected.

And Mr. Sifuentes' recently
acquired Figueroa case

should yield a primo
wrongful death suit.

Nelson Gallagher's
one of the wealthiest

real estate developers
in California.

Mucho bucks.

A tip of the sombrero, Victor.

- In consideration of which,

we're agreed we
won't charge Figueroa

for his criminal defense.

- As you wish.

Penultimately, the reading
of Norman Cheney's will,

5:30 P.M. this afternoon.

Speaking of which,
and as you've observed,

I seem to have inherited
Ms. Brunschwager

from the Cheney estate.

And last item,
summer law clerks.

Our final determination
as to which of you

shall be asked to join the firm

will be announced after
tomorrow's partner's meeting.

Very well, people.

I believe that brings us
current with our agenda.

- Not quite.

I'd like to know
what the significance

of Mr. Sifuentes
joining the firm is.

- I'm not sure I take
your thrust, Mr. Taylor.

- As pertains to my future.

- If I understand your
question correctly,

advancement within the firm

is a function of performance,
no more, no less.

- I'd take issue with that.

It's a function of
style, of relationships,

cronyism, of color.

- I don't think a staff meeting

is the proper venue
for this debate, Andrew.

- Why not?

Excuse the pun, but
let's call a spade a spade.

I mean, you brought me on

with promises of meaningful
work, advancement.

I believed you.

But what did I get?

I got cocktail parties.

My, aren't we liberal?

Doesn't he look grand in a suit?

But when Kuzak here needs
a body, does he look in house?

No. No.

He goes outside with your
blessing to find his own boy.

- I'm not anyone's boy.

- And neither am I.

And I'm not gonna be
your house n*gg*r no more.

- Now, I wouldn't tolerate
that language about you, sir.

I won't tolerate it from you.

- And you won't have to, sir.

I quit.

- Later.

- If you want to reconsider
a decision made hastily

and in the heat of the moment...

- Well, it was heated,
but it wasn't hasty.

I've got no partnership
potential here.

The writing was on the wall.

- Well, if it was,
I didn't see it.

- You don't read graffiti.

- Hmm. Yeah.

You're welcome to use the
office till you find another position.

You'll receive eight
weeks' severance pay,

and I'll write a strong
letter of reference.

- Is that what it costs
to buy off your guilt?

- Your failure to
succeed with this firm

belongs to both of us.

I may have been remiss

in not paying closer attention
to your needs, Andrew,

but, face it, you
didn't do the job.

- You never let me.

- Oh, grow up.

Nobody gives you power.

You have to take it.

Now, you've got a choice.

You can locate an area
of the law that excites you,

and you can work your
butt off to excel at it,

or you can nurse
your anger forever,

but it will not serve
you in the long run.

As I grow older, I have
a tendency to pontificate.

I'll write the letter.

Use it or not.

Good luck, Andrew.

- Mr. Becker, may I steal
a moment of your time?

- If this is about the
associate position,

you know, I'm not at liberty...

- No, it's not that.

I've left my husband.

- This is the same husband

who shared his
drink with your dress

at the McKenzie party.

- Mm-hmm. Yesterday,
he picked up our 3-year-old

from nursery school,
and he was drunk.

He got into an accident.

- Was the child hurt?

- No. He was scared.

We got into a fight
about his drinking,

and when I told him that I
would leave him if he didn't stop,

he became abusive
and he threatened me.

He said that he would
never let me take Eric.

And whether I'm asked
to stay with the firm or not,

I would like you
to represent me,

and I'll pay whatever it costs.

- Whether you're asked
to stay with the firm or not,

let's not worry about the fees.

Let's worry about getting
an immediate court date

and an OIC.

- I can't tell you
how grateful I am.

- Consider it a
professional courtesy.

- Thank you.

- You'll owe me.

- Thank you.

- Mr. Mestman?

- Huh, I appreciate your seeing
me without an appointment.

- We have nothing to
talk about, Mr. Mestman.

- I would think otherwise.

It would seem a quick and
timely disposition of this case

would be to the
benefit of all concerned.

- My only interest,
Mr. Mestman, is Celia Robinson.

- We are not without sensitivity
to Mrs. Robinson's circumstance.

- Is that why you went
to her behind my back

with that insulting
lowball offer?

- My direct offer to your client

was not intended as an
insult to either one of you.

You are an extremely able

and, if I might say also,
an extremely svelte person.

So if you would be disposed
to accepting an apology,

we might move along to a
more meaningful dialogue,

by which I mean we're
prepared to make you an offer

substantially higher than before

in hopes that we could all avoid

a costly and lengthy litigation.

$250,000.

I have a signed check right
here in my breast pocket.

- Abby?

- Bad faith insurance cases.

Globe Casualty vs. Koffman,

8.2 million in
favor of the plaintiff.

Mutual Indemnity of North
America vs. Hernandez,

7.1 million in
favor of the plaintiff.

Massachusetts Fidelity
and Life vs. Tagliatero,

3.4 million in
favor of the plaintiff.

On appeal, the judgment
was increased to 5 million.

- Are you getting the
drift, Mr. Mestman?

- What'll it take
to settle this out?

- $1 million on my desk by
the end of business today.

- I don't know.
That's very high.

I'll have to put this
to my superiors.

- Put this wherever
you like, Mr. Mestman.

But if the check isn't on
my desk by 6 P.M. today,

the price goes up
$100,000 per day.

- You've got a lot
of hormones, lady.

- Sorry I'm late. You
should have been there.

Your buddy Martin Weissbart
gets up... excuse me...

Gets up to address the jury.

For 20 minutes,
they smirk and titter

until finally Judge Hansen
mercifully points out

what everyone
else in the courtroom

has already taken note of,

that Weissbart's
fly is wide open.

Whereupon Weissbart
asks for a mistrial,

Hansen denies the motion,

and he proceeds to lecture
the courtroom ad nauseam

on the pros and cons
of judicial decorum.

Grace Van Owen.

- Michael Kuzak.

Would you like a beer?
- Love one.

- So?

- Okay, this is our best offer.

We drop the g*n possession.

Figueroa cops to one
count felony as*ault.

He does a year and a day

with time off for
being a perfect citizen.

He's out in seven months.

Not bad for sh**ting
up a crowded hallway.

- Come on, Gracie.
This one's a wobbler.

You could go misdemeanor
just as easily as felony.

- Victor, people
could have been k*lled.

Under the circumstances,
this is a great deal,

which I fought like
hell to bring you.

- You want circumstances?

I got a client with an
otherwise spotless record

who sits in a courtroom
and watches the drunk driver

that ran over his
little son go free

because of a
screw-up by the cops.

In his grief and outrage,

he takes a sh*t at
the guy and misses.

I can't wait to go to court.

I doubt if I'm going to lose,

but even if I do, you lose more.

I can just see the
headlines now:

Distraught father convicted,
k*ller of little boy walks,

DDA Grace Van Owen says, quote,

I feel bad about Mr. Figueroa's
family going on welfare

while he does his time,

but he should have thought
about that sooner, unquote.

- What are you looking for?

- Reduce to remiss,
suspended sentence.

- You've gotta be kidding.
- Okay.

Then let's go to court.

- I know this is
none of my business,

but what about six months
on the misdemeanor

which with time off,
reduces it to three?

- I'd try to sell
that to my boss.

- Well, don't bother.
You'll never sell it to me.

- What are you trying to
get for this guy, sainthood?

- Look, the man is not a
thr*at to society any more.

What is the point
in locking him up?

Give me four months
probation with public service

and two months jail time
to be served on weekends.

Come on, Gracie.

Think like the great judge
that I know you're gonna be.

Justice tempered with mercy.

- Nice meeting you, Mr. Kuzak.

- Mm.

- You I'll get back to.

- And to Stewart Markowitz,

my friend, my trusted colleague,

and my financial advisor...

- Forgive me.
Traffic was a mess.

- I bequeath my
complete tax law library

as well as my non-binding
but deeply felt personal hope

that this firm will
recognize his talents

with a long overdue partnership.

To Arnold Becker, a
man I have long admired,

I bequeath my entire collection

of Indian and Chinese erotica.

- To my good and loyal
Hilda Brunschwager,

I bequeath the sum of $50,000.

Oh...

- And to my most valued and
unique friend, Georgia Buckner,

to whom I owe much,

and with the wish that she may
find true peace and happiness,

I bequeath the sum of $250,000.

- What? This is an outrage.

- Douglas, this is
none of your business.

- Yes, it is.

It's an insult, a mockery
of all of us in this firm.

I say we should
contest this will.

This thing was obviously
exercising undue influence.

- Douglas.

- Who knows what
kind of perversion...

- How dare you?

I've conducted myself
with total love and honesty.

- Honesty?

You're not even straight
enough to be a decent h*m*.

Oh!

- Excuse me.

- Oh... You all witnessed it.

Unprovoked as*ault.

This could be permanent
neurological damage.

- Hell hath no fury
like a woman scorned.

- Andrew, wait up.

Listen, I just don't
want there to be

any bad blood between us.

I mean, guys like us, we
shouldn't be in competition.

- You mean interchangeable
token men of color?

- You think it was all
thought out like that,

trade black for brown?

- Well, that's the way
it worked out, isn't it?

- Look, me, I've never
gotten where I was going

by crawling over another body.

Now, if I am responsible for
you losing your job in any way,

then I'm out of here.

- The truth? You did me a favor.

You brought something to a head

I've been doing my
damndest to avoid.

- I wish you a lot of luck.

- I wish you luck,
'cause these guys

are gonna tell you
anything going in.

What'd they dangle to
you, class action, pro bono?

- Andrew.

I don't know what to say.

- Well, no insult intended,

but that's always
been the problem

with the partners in this firm.

- Good night.

- Ann, I'm almost afraid to ask.

Did the check come?

- Nope.

- Any word from Mestman?

- Nope.

- Maybe it's on the way.

- I'll stay around
a little longer,

but I'm not holding my breath.

- Call me if it comes in.

- You'll be the first to know.

- Good night, Stewart.

- So you make any
dinner plans yet?

- Uh, thanks, Stewart.

I've got to work
late. PetramCo stuff.

I'll order out.

- Order for two. I'll
keep you company.

Look, Stewart...

What happened between
us was one of those things

that occasionally just
happens between two people.

- Gee, I was kind of looking
forward to it happening again.

- I don't think it will.

- You mind telling me why?

- Stewart, you are
a wonderful man

and a wonderful lawyer.

- But I'm not what you're
looking for. Is that it?

- I'm not looking at all.

It's not that I don't want
a relationship with you.

I'm not looking for a
relationship with anyone.

- Look, Ann, I don't want to
push myself on you, believe me,

but I'm not a kid.

I have adult needs
and adult feelings.

I'm standing here telling you...

that I love you.

- Oh, Stewart.

- No. No, really.

I do.

Look, I'm not saying I can't
live without you or anything.

I'm saying I'd
rather not have to.

- I don't know what to say.

- Well, think about it, hmm?

Think about me.

Would you do that, please?

- Yes.

- Good.

Are you gonna do it now or...

- Good night, Stewart.
- Okay.

- Mr. Kuzak. To what
do I owe this pleasure?

- Well, I was in
the neighborhood.

I thought I'd drop by.

This used to be my office.

- Really?

- Look, I don't know how
you feel about stuff like this,

but if we promise
not to talk about work,

would you like to
get some dinner?

- Mr. Kuzak, I have three rules,

two of which being
I never date lawyers

and I never date
anyone I work with.

- Well, what's number three?

- You already
disqualify in one and two.

- Well, here's a hypothetical.

If you and I were to
take separate cars

and meet up at Musso and Frank,

would that constitute a date?

- Yes, definitely.

- How about this: you
and I, separate cars,

Musso and Frank, dutch?

Is that a date?

- A cheap date.

- I go to Musso and Frank.

I grab a seat at the counter.

I'm sitting there
eating my lamb chops

when you happen to fall
by for a house salad to go.

Hey, nice to see you.

Sit down. Take a load off.

Now, you can't tell
me that that's a date.

- No, not to the
strict letter of the law.

- So got a date tonight?
- No.

- You got to eat.

- I thought maybe I'd
grab a salad or something

at Musso and Frank.

- Nice place. I go there
myself now and again.

So you gonna tell me?

- What?

- Rule number three.

- I never sleep with a
man on the first date.

- Morning. How are you?

Morning, Elizabeth.

- Good morning, Michael.

- Any calls, messages?

- Messages somewhere.

- A Grace Van
Owen by any chance?

- No, no, doesn't
sound familiar. Mm-mm.

- Would you try
her for me, please?

She's in the DA's
office downtown.

- Sure.
- Morning, Michael.

- Arnie, you wouldn't happen to
know a good florist, would you?

- Your basic 50 bucks
thanks for the referral basket.

Call Bennett's. Use my name.
Tell them the Julia Lippincott.

- I think I need something a
little more personal than that.

- $75 potted cymbidium.
That's the Linda Maslow.

- Grace Van Owen, please.
Michael Kuzak calling.

Well, would you
leave word, please?

Right, Kuzak. K-U-Z-A-K.

Thank you.

- 150 bucks worth
of sterling roses,

orchids, alstroemerias.

Tell Bennett's it's
the Christina Amorelli.

That should get
your garden hosed.

- Ann. Ann, Lester
Mestman's in reception.

- Oh, hi.

- The check is per your request.

Please have your client
sign the enclosed releases

and messenger
them back. Thank you.

- Mr. Mestman, just a
moment of your time, please.

I'm afraid there's a mistake.

The amount, Mr. Mestman.

- $1 million.

- No, the agreed
amount was $1,100,000.

- You said $1 million.

- If you'll refresh
your recollection,

I said 1 million if received
prior to 6 P.M. yesterday,

1,100,000 today.

- This isn't about your client.

It isn't even about winning.

It's just about
busting my chops.

- It will be $1,200,000 if
you wait until tomorrow.

- You're dreaming.
See you in court, Butch.

- Your Honor, as the respondent
husband has failed to appear,

I would request that the
orders be entered at this time.

- You're asking sole custody,
extremely limited visitation,

and a restraining order?

- The respondent husband
is alcoholic and violent,

the most direct
testimony of which

is unfortunately evidenced

by my client's physical
appearance today.

- How did you acquire
the injuries, Mrs. Perkins?

- Last night, my husband
came by the house.

He was drunk and upset.

He asked me not to go
through with the divorce,

and when I said no, he
grabbed me by the arm

and he started twisting.

Then he choked me,

and he banged my
head against the wall,

screaming at me not to do it.

Eric came running, and
he was scared to death.

Eric just stood there and cried

as his father kept hitting me.

- Mr. Perkins?
- Yes.

- You're more than an hour late.

- Abby, please.
- Sit down, Mr. Perkins.

- Abby, please don't do this.

- Get away from her.
- Sit down, Mr. Perkins,

or the bailiff will
take you into custody.

Do you have a
lawyer, Mr. Perkins?

First thing we do,
let's k*ll all the lawyers.

Shakespeare.
"Henry VI part two."

- Mr. Perkins, are you capable

of understanding the
serious nature of this hearing?

- This kangaroo court?

- The proposal before me

is that you be denied
access to your son

except when supervised by
an attorney or police officer.

- He's my son.

You can't do that.

You bitch.

- That's enough.

Frankly, Mr. Perkins, your
demeanor before this court

would strongly incline me
toward granting your wife's motion.

However, this is an
extremely serious matter.

Therefore, I will grant you
a one week continuance

in which time I strongly suggest

that you sober up and
find yourself a lawyer.

In the interim,
this court orders

that temporary physical
care and custody

remain with Mrs. Perkins.

No visitation rights
in respondent father.

Further, Mr. Perkins is enjoined

from coming within 100 yards

of either Mrs. Perkins
or the minor Eric Perkins.

- Damn it. You
said it was my case,

that I should run
with it as I saw fit.

If a Mike Kuzak did what I did,

you'd call it aggressive
hardball lawyering.

But if a woman does it,
she's a steamroller and a...

- This has nothing
to do with sexism,

and you know it.

- I made a judgment call

that I had to back up what I
said to the insurance company

or they would never take
me seriously the next time.

- There's a hell of a difference

between a judgment
call and negligence.

Your cavalier dismissal

of a million-dollar
settlement offer

could conceivably expose
this firm to a malpractice suit.

- I hardly think
that's likely, Leland.

I had Celia Robinson's
authorization.

I did what I considered to be
in the best interest of my client.

- What you did was
indulge your ego

at the expense of your client.

They can drag this
thing out five years

before you ever see
the inside of a courtroom.

- If you don't like the
way I'm handling it,

you can take the
appropriate steps.

- It will be on the agenda

at this afternoon's
partner meeting.

That's all.

- Let's forget the
reading of the minutes.

- Sorry, I was in court.

- By the way, Arnold,
in your absence,

we voted that I be
given the Cheney office.

Hey.

- A jest, Arnold.

- Gentlemen, we
have a very full agenda.

- The first item of
which I would presume

is Ms. Kelsey's
unconscionable handling

of the Celia Robinson matter.

- After some thought,

I've decided to
let that wait a week

and see where the dust settles.

- I say we sweep
it out the door.

Give her a full
week's notice and...

- We'll bring it up
at the next meeting.

All right, summer
clerks. Discussion.

- I don't think that
there's much to discuss.

Bruce Pollack was an editor
of the Harvard Law Review,

number three in his class, a
pleasing personal demeanor,

no dependents,

and has done superlative
work since he's been here.

- Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I'd have
to concur with Douglas on this.

Bruce is a very, very
impressive young man.

- Thank you. Thank
you very much.

I'm honored, of course,

but I've decided
to accept an offer

from a Wall Street firm.

- Mr. Pollack, if
that's the case,

might I enquire what
you've been doing here

for the last three months,
wasting our time and money?

- Well, you were so
pleasant and so persuasive

when you interviewed me,

and I had never
been to L.A. before.

I had a great summer.

Thanks.

- All right then.

Let's review the bidding.

Weston or Perkins?

Their academic records
are approximately equivalent.

Arnold, you've been working
most closely with Lisa Weston.

How would you
evaluate her skills?

- I hate to say this
because she's very bright.

I think the woman is some
kind of nympho or something.

She's made repeated
sexual overtures toward me

ever since she's been here.

It's been extremely
embarrassing,

and, quite honestly,
I'm concerned

about her possibly compromising

this firm's client
relationships.

- So where does that leave us?

- I can't believe it.

I'm in.

- Oh.

- That's great.

That's really great.

I'm so happy for
you... For both of us.

- Thank you.

You have no idea how
much this means to me.

- I'm sure you ladies
will be relieved to know

that this just arrived
by messenger.

$1,100,000.

As I calculate, that's
roughly $366,667 for us.

Take the rest of the
day off, Ms. Kelsey.

You've earned it.

- Well, you might
be interested to know

that your girlfriend
and I worked out a deal.

- Who?

- Deputy DA Grace Van Owen.

Anyway, Arturo
copped to the mis,

credit for time served,
two months of weekends.

He's on his way home
to his wife and child,

and everyone lives
happily ever after.

- Sounds good. Let's hope so.

- Excuse me.

- Oh, no, you don't.

You really stink, Becker.

- Does this mean
dinner's off tonight?

- If you think I'm gonna
let you do this to me...

- Do what exactly, Lisa?

- You rat.

You told me I had a
real chance at this job

if I played my cards right.

- Look, honey, this
isn't a daycare center.

You came on to me. No
one promised you a thing.

- You know I'm a lot
smarter than that little twit.

The least you could have
done was speak up for me.

- I did. I was overruled.

- I'll bet.

- Look, honey, I
did you a giant favor.

You just don't know it yet.

You're smart. You're attractive.

You're gonna be
a great attorney,

but there is no way you're
gonna sleep your way into a job,

not in this firm anyway,

and you should have known that.

- Yeah, you should have told me.

- Would you grow up, kid?

- Oh, I feel older already.

- Mentoring, Arnold.
A heavy burden.

- Hey, word on the vine

is you kicked a little
butt on Celia Robinson.

Word further has it

that even Douglas
Brackman was impressed.

- Great. So how come
I'm so depressed?

- Well, multiple choice.

A, because it's over,

B, because you cared
more about winning

than you do about your client,

C, because winning's no fun

unless you have
someone to share it with,

or, D, none of the above.

- Pretty smart for a
guy who spends his life

in a room going
over the tax code.

- Yeah, well, not so smart.

Anyway, congratulations
are in order,

so how about a
celebratory dinner

at the romantic restaurant
of your choosing?

- I don't think so, Stewart.

- Look, Ann, I hate
to be a pest here,

but I want to pursue
a relationship.

Hey, maybe it
pans out, maybe not,

but I'm not afraid to try.

- I think maybe I am.

- All right, look,
I'll tell you what.

I'm gonna go to my office
and I'm gonna put on my coat.

Then I'm gonna count to 100.

Then I'm gonna leave.

Between now and then,

I hope you change
your mind and join me.

If not, I won't
bother you anymore.

1... 2...

3.

- Congratulations.

You played hardball,
and you won.

- I was lucky.

You were right.

I was representing my needs
at the expense of my client's.

- Good lesson learned.

Some of us never learn it.

- Stewart Markowitz
just suggested

that I care more about winning
than I do about the client.

- I think that's a little harsh.

- If Celia Robinson
walked in here right now,

I wouldn't know
who the hell she was.

I never even bothered
to meet the woman.

- You got the job
done nevertheless.

- I sure as hell didn't give her

a lot of moral
support along the way.

- She probably had that
from her family, her friends.

What she needed from you

was your anger, your
expertise, and your courage,

and those she
got in full measure.

- A better lawyer would
have given her both.

Stewart, hold the elevator.

- 99 1/2, 99 3/4.

- How did you get into my car?

- I worked my way through
law school as a car thief.

- Well, now that we know
that you haven't lost your touch,

please get out.

- I called you 37 times.

- Seven times.

- Why are you avoiding me?

- I'm not avoiding you.

I just don't want to see you.

So if you don't mind...
- Hold on.

We had dinner
together, remember?

We shared a bottle of wine.

We talked until
2:00 in the morning.

Am I crazy? We've got
some kind of chemistry here.

- Look, Mr. Kuzak, I...

- Call me Michael, even Mickey.

- Hello?

What? I can't hear you.

Speak up. I'm on the car phone.

Thanks.

- Bad news?

- Well, Mickey, it seems
your client Arturo Figueroa

just m*rder*d Nelson Gallagher.

- Thank you.

- At least let's admit it in
the privacy of this table.

We're accessories to a m*rder.

- Look, the man says he's sorry.

He swears he'll be a good boy.

What do you want me
to be, a mind reader?

I thought we were
cutting a humane deal.

- Oh, right. We
all felt so guilty.

We were so overcome with
the depth of our moral outrage,

we lost sight of the damn law.

- Look, if you're gonna
bleed, don't do it all over me.

My job is to
represent my client.

You start "what-iffing"
yourself on every deal,

then you wind up paralyzed.

- Well, maybe we should have

"what-iffed"
ourselves on this one.

He did, but neither of us
paid any attention to him.

You were angry that he
wasn't backing your play,

and I was so busy
playing politics,

we redressed one
m*rder with another.

- So, what, one more?

- I'm going home.

After this fiasco, I'll
probably be in traffic court

for the rest of my life.

I don't need a hangover
to add to my list of woes.

- Speaking of which,

I've had a little
too much myself.

Could you give me a lift?

- Victor can take you.

- Mm-mm. I think I'm
gonna stay a while.

Or I'll take a cab home.

Or whatever.

- Let's go.

You didn't need a lift.

You hardly had
anything to drink.

- You're right.

I just wanted to spend a
little more time with you.

And you're a very good driver.

- This isn't going to work.

- Why not?
- Because. That's why.

The thing is I'm engaged.

I'm getting married
in three weeks.

- Oh.

Who's the lucky fellow?

- His name is Kevin Contrell.

- The media guy?
- Mm-hmm.

- Oh, I suppose he's
gonna run your campaign.

- As a matter of fact, yes.

- Well, that doesn't mean
you have to marry him.

- Mr. Kuzak.

- Do you love him?

- Of course I do.

- No. What I'm asking is,

are you in love with him?

- Mr. Kuzak, I have been
in love more than once.

It has its charms,
no doubt about it,

but it also has its downside,

and, frankly, I'm getting
too old for rollercoasters.

- How old are you?

- Would you stop?

Just go away.

- What about passion?

- Not that it's any
of your business,

but I enjoy his
company very much.

- Not exactly a
ringing endorsement.

- We have lots in common.

I care deeply for him.

- But you're not
in love with him.

- Being in love with someone

is only a stage you
pass you through

on your way toward feeling
lovingly to that person.

- Well, I guess you've got it
all figured out, haven't you?

- I think so, yes.

And, honestly, I'd appreciate it

if you got out of the car,
closed the door behind you,

and left me alone.

- But what about these
feelings that we have?

- It's the nice thing about
being a grownup, Mr. Kuzak.

Having them doesn't mean
we have to act on them.

Good night.

- Good night, Gracie.

Sweet dreams.