06x01 - Something Old, Something Nude

[bunniefuu]

Last season on "L.A. Law"...

Grace, we're going to be parents.

We owe it to the child to be living
-
-

You've never even told me you love me,

but now you suddenly want to make

this lifetime commitment.

That was a betrayal.

To go to the others behind my back,

that was a betrayal, you son of a bitch.

I got two choices here.

Either I can walk away from this firm,

or I can stay here and fight for it,


-I chose the latter.
-You chose to screw me.

These are our respective resignations.

Michael Kuzak has opened up a law office,

and the four of us have decided to go with him.

JUDGE: Given the severity of your violations,

it is my decision that you hereby be suspended

from the practice of law for a period of three months.

[screaming]

Arnold!

I was
-
- I was working with the electricians.


-Oh, me, too.
-I took of my pants because I didn't want them


-to get soiled.
-We were helping the electrician.

Leland, we have to face reality.

When Victor and Michael left, litigation fell off.

When Jack Sollers went, it nosedived.

Now Abby's leaving and taking more business with her.

All right, the situation is serious,


-but it's not critical.
-I disagree.

The bank is so nervous, they're reviewing our line of credit.

Oh, that's ridiculous. They're overreacting.

It gets worse.

I got a letter this morning from Perry Littlefield.

Because of the Shays' claim,

Ballantine is doubling our liability premium.

Because of Ann Kelsey's suspension,

malpractice is going up to half a million.

Over my dead body. We'll take our business elsewhere.

I'll make a loan if I have to.

You can't keep propping up the firm with Rosalind's money.

We have to consider alternatives.

I will not consider renting space to Susan Bloom.

Her practice is phenomenal.

She represents half of Hollywood,

and she's willing to pay top dollar.

They call her Jaws, Douglas.

A rumor.

And printed in the same rag that called me a bald bore.

Susan Bloom is everything I hate about entertainment law;

cheap, phony, utterly devoid of ethics.

[whispering] Shh. You don't even know her.

She's dynamic.

She
-
- She's cutting edge.

She's a litigator anyone would be proud to share space with.

Why are you whispering, Douglas?

She's in my office.

She's taken the trouble to stop by

on her way to a very important screening.

Bloom is here? Now?

Susan Bloom, Leland McKenzie.

Hiya, Leland.

I hear you need someone to save your ass.

♪♪ [theme]

♪♪


-Great hair.
-Thanks.

Uh, before we start, I have an announcement.

For those of you who don't know,


-Abigail Perkins is no longer with the firm.
-You're kidding?


-Is she okay?
-She got a huge offer from McCann Jones.

We couldn't match it, she resigned her partnership last night,

and frankly, she couldn't have picked a worse time.

Doug, her father had a stroke, she put him in a nursing home,

which is gonna cost God knows how much.


-She needed some security.
-You knew about this?

Uh
-huh.

DOUGLAS: Since there's nothing we can do,

I suggest we move on.

I'd like to introduce our new associate,

Bill Castroverti.

Some of you are familiar with his talents as a litigator.


-Familiar, he k*lled me.
-JONATHAN: Welcome to our side.

Thanks. It's weird to be here.

DOUGLAS: He'll be moving into Victor's old office.

Second, a heartfelt welcome back to Ann Kelsey.


-Believe me, you were missed.
-CJ: Here, here.

JONATHAN: All right. It's about time.


-It's good to be back.
-Too bad Stuart can't say the same.

He's with Matthew. Amalia quit two days ago,

and we've been going crazy trying to replace her.

What is this crap, Douglas? I come in, I'm running late,

my messages haven't been picked up, my mail hasn't been opened,

and there's some bimbo sitting outside my office

telling me that Gwen is serving jury duty.

I thought you were gonna get her excused.

She didn't want me to.

You'll just have to survive with a temp.

I have special needs, Douglas.

Personnel is Roxanne's department.

Use your influence.

Jonathan has the Lunsford deposition,

CJ starts People vs. Manheim,

I meet in the Powell trust. Anything else?

Ah, one more note.

We may be renting out our extra office space.

That's isn't settled yet.

Then we're adjourned.


-Grace.
-Leland.

Oh, it's good to see you.

You, too.

I know I should have made an appointment.

Oh, now don't be silly.

I'm
-
- I'm sorry.

I'm sorry about the baby.

I got your note. Thank you.

How is Victor?

Victor and I
-
-

Victor and I are separated.

Uh, I'm no longer practicing with him and Michael.

Well, I
-
- I don't know what to say.

I'd rather not talk about it now, Leland.

I'm here because I took the Chandler case with me.

We impanel today.

I cannot conduct an effective defense

out of my house.

I would like to move in here, temporarily,

and pay you a percentage.

Well, now, Grace, this has all happened so quickly.

You've had a lot to deal with.

Maybe you should move for a continuance.

I've had two.

And Elsa Chandler is being tried in the press.

The Ice Queen who k*lled her husband.

The judge is not gonna go for another delay.

Well, certainly a couple of weeks
-
-

The DA would fight it as well.

I'm up against a wall, Leland.

Yeah.

Yeah, I see.

You know,

we sure could use your name on our letterhead just now.

What if you were to come back to the firm of counsel?

After the way I left, this is very generous of you.

Oh, not at all, no, no.

It benefits us both.

You'd be bringing in something high profile,

we would supply the second chair.

I
-
- I'm not sure that's necessary.

No, I insist.

It's a capital case, you'll need someone.

It's the least we can do.

Have you read, seen or heard

any of the publicity surrounding this case?

I saw one news report on TV.

Did it cause you to form an opinion

about the guilt or innocence of Mr. Diamond?


-No.
-Juror's acceptable to the People, your honor.

How do you feel about sex, Miss Taylor?

Objection. What on Earth does that have to do with anything?

Your honor, some people consider my client a p*rn.

He is one. He admits it.

ATTORNEY: But he's not on trial for it.

Weapons and as*ault charges

have nothing to do with p*rn.

I want to know if Mr. Diamond's occupation

damns him in the eyes of this juror.

All right. I'll allow it.

But watch yourself, Mr. Kittredge.

I repeat, Miss Taylor,

how do you feel about sex?

Safe sex between consenting adults,

I'm for it.

What about explicit sex in movies?

I don't go to see it, but I don't think it should be censored.

Should they censor magazines like Mr. Diamond publishes,

ones that show, for example, oral sex?

I've never read one of Mr. Diamond's magazines.


-Does that disgust you?
-Objection.

You're out of line, sir, put that away.

I was simply trying to get this juror's reaction.

I know exactly what you're doing, and it won't work in my courtroom.

Now go on to something else.


-And apologize to the young lady.
-KITTREDGE: Your honor,

your feelings about p*rn are well known.

They're obviously coloring what you see here.

If you're accusing me of bias, Mr. Kittredge,

be careful.

Be very careful.

I can bury you in sanctions.

I didn't mean to offend you, ma'am.

You didn't.

I wouldn't buy one of Mr. Diamond's magazines,

but I believe in the First Amendment,

he has every right to publish them.

Defense accepts this juror.

TOMMY: Now, if they get in your way, you just stop.

We'll do all the talking.

WOMAN: I can
-
- I can handle anything but the cameras.

Yeah. But they have a right to be here.

You look pleasant, don't smile too big,

and we'll get you in court as fast as we can.

WOMAN: I'm sorry to be such a pain, Mr. Mullaney.

You've been very kind.

You ready?

No.

But let's go.

MAN: How did it feel to sh**t your husband?

Is it true your husband's business is worth over $ million?

A case of long term abuse, we're confident Mrs. Chandler

will be found not guilty.

Elsa Chandler is a m*rder*r.

She put a g*n in her purse,

she took it to her husband's office,

and she k*lled him with it.

It was not self
-defense.

It was not the desperate act of a wife who's been abused.

The evidence will show that it was a well
-planned,

cold
-blooded execution,

carried out so that Elsa Chandler could inherit

her husband's multi
-million dollar estate.

It was m*rder for financial gain.

m*rder committed solely for the purpose

of making Mrs. Chandler a rich woman.

When you hear the facts, when you weigh the evidence,

you will reach the only possible conclusion;

that Elsa Chandler is guilty of m*rder with special circumstances

beyond a reasonable doubt.

Thank you.

Ralph Chandler battered his wife for years.

A number of times,

including the morning of his death,

he forcibly r*ped her.

I'm not talking about a wife reluctant to make love,

and an insistent husband.

I am talking about violent forced sex.

I am talking about a husband

who had to control his wife's every move.

A husband who enjoyed his wife's pain.

A husband who was aroused by humiliating her.

This was the man that Elsa Chandler sh*t

in self
-defense.

A man who tortured her for years,

whose abuse she couldn't survive any longer.

Ralph Chandler swore that he would k*ll her that night,

ladies and gentlemen.

She took the g*n with her because she believed him.

MAN: I worked my way through Cal

taking care of my advisor's kids.

The first day, I didn't think I was going to make it.

They locked me in the bathroom,

and had a food fight.

It was Beefaroni wall to wall.

Well, I gotta warn ya, Matthew is seriously into Beefaroni.

Uh, well, gotta go.


-[chuckles]
-So anyway, uh,

my advisor moved to Berkeley, and, uh,

I got a fellowship in clinical psych,

but it doesn't really pay for much more than my rent.

All right, well, we've got your number,


-we'll be in touch.
-Great.

Well, thanks for your time.


-Bye, thanks.
-Bye.

Oh, that's okay, I can find my way out.


-All right, goodnight.
-Goodnight.

Bye
-bye.

[door opens]

[door closes]

I'll tell ya, he could be my first choice.

You're not serious.

What? A man can't make a good nanny?

Of course, he can, but Marta has more experience.

Which one was Marta?

The Greenblats'au pair?

You've met her a hundred times.

Maybe twice. Isn't she a little flaky?

Jennifer says she's a free spirit,

but she's very responsible.

If they weren't moving, they'd never give her up.

The kids love her.

Well, Matthew thought Ned was great.

His references are terrific.

I think we should at least see 'em both again.

Honey, we know the Greenblats.

This is a personal recommendation.

And we've gotta hire somebody now.

Yeah, I guess a male nanny would be a little strange.

Will you stop? It has nothing to do with that.

Marta just happens to be the best person, that's all.

Okay. We'll go with the girl.

[knocking]

Hi. Got a minute?

For you, I've got five.

I just wanted to let you know

how happy I am to have you back.

Well, it's mutual.

Grace, I know you an Victor are none of my business,

but if there's anything I can do
-
-

I'm fine, Leland. Really.

When Rosalind
-
-

When I lost her, uh...

I thought that I was fine,

and... went about my work.

I was in control, there was no problem,

except, uh...

there was no joy.

I was just going through the motions.

Leland, I'm sorry but it's been a long day.

Sure, sure. I'll let you get back to work.

I'm here if you need me. Goodnight.

Goodnight.

[door closes]

So Mrs. Chandler called

and asked you to come to Ralph Chandler's office.

What did you find when you got there, detective?

Well, Mr. Chandler's body

was face down on the floor by the desk.

There was a g*nsh*t wound in his chest.

Mrs. Chandler was sitting in a chair by the body.

She was holding a . caliber handgun.

Did she tell you whose it was?

Said it was hers, she brought it from home.

The g*n was registered to her husband.

When you first saw her,

did Mrs. Chandler seem upset,

was she crying?

No, she was very calm, very quiet.

What did Mrs. Chandler say

when you found her beside her husband's body?

Said Ralph Chandler deserved to die and she'd k*lled him.

No further questions.

Did it appear to you that Mrs. Chandler was in shock?

Objection. Witness isn't qualified to make that judgment.

He's been a police officer for years,

he's seen people react to severe trauma.

Overruled.

GRACE: You have seen shock

look like extreme composure, haven't you, detective,

the same composure Mrs. Chandler showed


-the night of her husband's death?
-Yes.

And she had good reason to be in shock, didn't she?

I have no idea.

You took a statement from Mrs. Chandler.

Didn't she tell you

how her marriage was a nightmare?

Didn't she say that her husband

had forced her to come to his office that night,

and didn't she tell you exactly why she k*lled him?

She said he r*ped her, but not that night.

But didn't she tell you that he had r*ped her

as recently as that morning?

And physically abused her for years;

that he had b*rned her with cigarettes,

held her head under water
-
-


-Objection!
-JUDGE: Overruled.

Didn't she say those things, detective?


-Yes, but I had no way of
-
-
-And didn't Mrs. Chandler

tell you how terrified she was of her husband;

how when he ordered her to the office

she became frantic?

She was afraid that if she went, he would k*ll her,

and if she didn't, he'd come home and do it.


-That was her story.
-And didn't she say that

if she ran, if she hid, he would find her,

and that was why she found her husband's g*n

and took it with her to protect herself,

because she didn't know what else to do.

Wasn't that part of her statement to you?

Yes.

Thank you, detective.

Did you see any evidence of abuse that night?

Was Mrs. Chandler's clothing torn?

Did she have any broken bones or bruises?

Were there any signs of a struggle in her husband's office?

No, nothing like that, just a body on the floor.

Oh, no, no, this
-
- this can't be right.

DOUGLAS: She's been calling insurance companies for two days.

Only one would even consider us.

Their quote was for over a million.

You're telling me Ballantine is a bargain.

ROXANNE: Well, not exactly.

Today, they dropped the other shoe.

They want a lump sum premium up front.

Well, I can't believe that.

I've known Perry Littlefield for ten years.

Times are hard.

The insurance business isn't what is used to be.

Yeah. And neither is the law business.

Don't worry. We'll find somebody.

Uh, Susan Bloom called today.

I don't want to hear it.

She was worse than I even imagined.

You spent five minutes with her.

Yes, and in that time, she managed to be vulgar,

crass, and insulting.

Leland, she's negotiating with a top litigator, a k*ller.

If he's her associate, then we'd have access
-
-

Smoke and mirrors, Douglas.

Hollywood hype.

I doubt if there's a litigator.

She probably made him up to pressure us,

but it won't work.

Look, we've got Grace back.

We'll get insurance or we'll go bare.


-Other firms have done it.
-As a last resort.

The exposure's monumental.

My father would spin in his grave.

Yeah, then we'll find another way.

But I won't be moved on this.

Susan Bloom is not an option.

Benny?

Oh, I was thinkin'.

About Abby.

Yeah, she told me she called you.

She's worried about her new job.

She's gonna do great.

I mean, it's always difficult starting someplace new.

And it hurts when people leave.

You know, nobody likes change.

It's hard.

It's an ass
-kicker, love.

We both still see Abby but it's not the same, is it?

I miss knowing I can just pop into her office any time.

I really miss that.

Yeah.

She was a P for Perkins,

and Victor was an S, so when they left,

it didn't really change everything,

but Casta
-
- Castroverti is a C,

so all the mailboxes have to move down one,

and I have to remember that

Kelsey's where Kuzak used to be.

And I have to put Van Owen back in.

Exactly.

It's all a bit off.

We're just gonna have to adjust.

We'll be fine.

Benny, will you help me with the Xerox machine?

I think it hates me.

Sergeant, when you were dispatched to

Mr. Diamond's mansion in Bel Air on June th,

what was the complaint?

MAN: Mr. Diamond's neighbor called us, Mr. Seldes.

He was scared out of his mind.

He'd complained about party noise.

Mr. Diamond responded by strafing his yard with an as*ault r*fle.

Objection. Hearsay.

Sergeant Myrow did not see the sh*ts fired.


-Sustained.
-What happened when you

got to the mansion, sergeant?

Mr. Seldes said the sh*ts came from the backyard,

I got there in time to see Mr. Diamond

throw the as*ault w*apon into the pool.

ATTORNEY: And what else was Mr. Diamond doing?

Screaming at Mr. Seldes over the fence.

ATTORNEY: So you saw Mr. Diamond throw the g*n into the pool,

he was verbally abusing Mr. Seldes,

and someone sprayed Mr. Seldes yard with b*ll*ts.

Objection. She's going for pure speculation.

Sergeant Myrow did not see the w*apon fired.

Sustained.

But you did see the w*apon in Mr. Diamond's hands.

Yes.

Your witness, counsel.

Mr. Diamond was giving a party.

There were upwards of people around the pool,


-weren't there?
-I had some nut f*ring sh*ts.

I wasn't counting heads.

You were at the shallow end of the pool, right?

And the g*n was retrieved from the deep end?

Yes.

So the entire length of the pool

and most of the guests were between you and the g*n.

How could you possibly have seen

Mr. Diamond throw the g*n in the pool?


-I have / vision.
-Then you must have noticed

that most of the party guests were women,

very attractive women,

a number of whom were topless,

and you still say you clearly saw

Mr. Diamond throw the g*n in the pool?


-Yes.
-Really, sergeant?


-Through all those breasts?
-ATTORNEY: Objection.

Asked and answered, he's being totally argumentative.

KITTREDGE: I'm legitimately questioning the witness' perception.

He claims not to have noticed beautiful women

dressed like this.

Mr. Kittredge, what is going on here?

KITTREDGE: I'm proving my point, your honor.

A bailiff's been standing by the door

for most of Sergeant Myrow's testimony.

Without looking, sergeant, can you tell me if it's a man or a woman?

Don't answer that, sergeant.

Put those coats back on now. I want those women removed.

Your honor, this is interference with the defense.

Perception is fair game with any trial,

except, apparently, this one.

You're in contempt, Kittredge.


-I move for a mistrial.
-JUDGE: Denied!

You're getting a hearing when this is over,

and probably a jail cell.

You're a grandstander with no respect for the law.

You have no respect for my client, your honor.

You disapprove of sex, and you disapprove of him because he sells it.

If you don't sit down, I'll have you thrown out of here, too.

I continue this trial under protest.

So noted. Now shut up.

The jury will disregard Mr. Kittredge's outburst,

and his bad manners.

We're adjourned until p.m.

Marta?

Marta?

Marta?

Oh, my God.


-Oh, please.
-Oh, my God!


-Oh, please.
-ANN: Where's my son?

Where's Marta?

Marta!

Oh, it's all right. Everything is fine.

Everything is not fine. Where's Matthew?

He's fine, he's upstairs taking his nap.

Oh, this is Kumar.


-ANN: Kumar.
-Please.

He teaches me Hindustani.

You get dressed and get him out of here.


-You're fired.
-It was mistake?

If you're not gone in five minutes,

I'm calling the police.

You were the Chandler's accountant.

What happened when you went to their home

a week before Mr. Chandler was k*lled?

Your honor, I renew my objection to this witness.

Once again, your honor, she goes to motive,

behavior of the defendant

with regard to her husband's money.

Overruled. Witness will answer.

[clears throat]

We had to, uh, work out a tax problem.

When I arrived,

Elsa and Ralph had been arguing.


-Violently?
-Oh, no, no.

Ralph never raises his voice.

But he was pretty upset.

Uh, Elsa had written over $, worth of checks

on their joint account.

Who were the checks made out to?

WOMAN: Some were to cash,

and the rest were made out to Waring Antiques.

Ms. Vosburgh, did Mrs. Chandler tell her husband

what the money was for?

VOSBURGH: She said she bought things with it;

Chinese vase and some paintings.

Ralph didn't believe her, though.

GRAPHIA: Thank you. Nothing further.

This was a joint account, wasn't it?

I mean, legally, the money belonged to both of them.

Uh, yes, but Ralph never liked Elsa to write checks

without his approval.

In other words,

Ralph Chandler wanted to have total control.

Yes.

And when Mrs. Chandler told her husband about the Chinese vase,

what did he do?

He took a hammer and what did he do, Mrs. Vosburgh?

He destroyed the vase.

Thank you.

Nothing further.

JUDGE: Witness may step down.

Who's next, Mr. Graphia?

Your honor, the People call Mr. Steven Waring.

Objection. Witness is not on their list. What possible
-
-

His testimony also goes to motive, your honor.

How? He was her antique dealer.

In the last hours, we've uncovered

an intimate relationship between Mr. Waring and the defendant.

GRACE: Objection, your honor.

This is a blatant attempt to blindside defense.


-I move to exclude every word
-
-
-Take it easy, Miss Van Owen.

If he didn't know about the witness, he didn't know.

Mr. Graphia will provide you with all his investigative reports.

But to be fair to your client,

I'll give you 'til tomorrow afternoon.


-It's not enough.
-In my opinion, it is.

GRACE: Then I move for a stay, your honor.

I want time to get a writ on that ruling from the court of appeals.


-Don't do this.
-JUDGE: You've got to be kidding?

They'd throw you out on your ear.


-Stay denied.
-Your honor, if you
-
-

I've ruled, Miss Van Owen. We're adjourned.

Just take a deep breath, okay?

I met him at a charity auction.

Sometimes Ralph would let me go to those without him.

Anyway, Steven and I had lunch together,


-and we became friends.
-But that wasn't all.

No.

I care for Steven.

But we were never ever involved.

Then why didn't you tell us about him?

There was nothing to tell.

The DA says that you spent the night with Waring.

They have a security video from his garage.

You came in at : a.m. and you left at :.

Three months before your husband was k*lled.

Well, you see, that night, um,

Ralph got drunk, um...

when he drank, he used to play this game.

He called it...

"How should I k*ll Elsa?"

Um, should I b*at her to death?

Should I cut her throat?

Maybe I should strangle her.

And it would go on for hours

until he would finally pass out.

So I needed someone to talk to,

and Steven said that I could call him at any time,

so I did, I called him and he persuaded me to come to his apartment.

Where you slept with him.

ELSA: No, we just talked,

and he tried to get me to leave my husband,

but I couldn't.

Because, you see, I still believed that Ralph needed me.

So, after a few hours,

I was frightened that he would wake up

and find me gone, so, um...

I went home.

And that was it.

That is the truth.

Still gonna be hard for a jury to swallow.

It's none of their business.

Look, um, Steven is the only good thing in my life.

Ralph had me convinced that, um
-
-

that I couldn't love anybody, and Steven changed that.

I had started to feel...

something that I hadn't done for a long time.

And if the jury sees it, you'll probably go to the gas chamber.


-Grace.
-They see a woman in love,

they're gonna believe the prosecution.

They're not gonna look at you as the abused wife

who defended herself against a habitual r*pist,

they're gonna see you as the cheating bitch who k*lled her husband for money.


-I think you made your point.
-Not telling us about Waring was a lie.

If you lie to us again, we drop the case.

[door opens]

[door closes]

♪♪

He's got play group at :, and Gymboree at :.

And if Laura next door is taking Chelsea,

they love each other, they can carpool.

Am I going too fast?

Play group at :, Gymboree at :,

try to get a date with the girl next door.

I can do that. I can do that.

Oh, great. We have to get my car.

Junk food is out but yogurt's okay if it's low fat.

And I hate to be a dictator,

but I'm really gonna have to insist on no visitors.


-I hope you understand.
-That's no problem.

You ready? Come on.

If he goes into the sun, sometimes he gets a rash.

There's cream for it in the diaper bag.

I think we covered that, honey, come on.

Oh, and if you read him "My Little Pony,"

he goes right to sleep, but he won't go in the bathtub


-without Kermit.
-STUART: Gotta go, gotta go.

You've got all the emergency numbers by the phone,


-both ours and the car.
-See you tonight.


-NED: Bye.
-Don't hesitate to call,


-even if you think it's stupid, we'd rather
-
-
-STUART: Ann!

We could have walked by now.

By e
- b y e .

Okay, I talked to a friend and two guys he works with.

Waring is okay.

He's divorced but he loves his kids,

he doesn't fool around.

His child support is always late,

his ex wife is not a fan,

and his business is in deep trouble.

Okay, so it ain't gonna be a picnic.

No.

Maybe I should take it, huh?

The judge could still be mad at you for
-
-


-Come on, I had to hit back.
-Not with the writ.

Grace, you lost your temper.

I had every right, they were walking all over us.

Chandler wasn't. She made a mistake,

you didn't have to slap her around.

Well, I just told her the truth.

You scared the hell out of her.

That's just what her husband did and it made her shut down.

She does that on the stand, we're dead.

I don't have time for this, okay?

I have to be ready for Waring in two hours.

Grace, this isn't like you.

Give yourself a break. Let me cross Waring,

let Green have a chance to cool off, huh?

It's my call, I can handle it.

Just be there to back me up.

MAN: Please come to order.

This court is now in session.

Come here, Mr. Kittredge.

I'm placing you on notice.

Any breach of decorum, even the slightest,

will land you in front of the state Bar.

Your honor, it's clear that you hate my guts and my client.

Keep your voice down.

That's exactly what I'm talking about.

KITTREDGE: You're hamstringing me, judge.

You're blocking any effective defense.

I've reached my limit with you, counsel.

I will not let you demean my courtroom.

Your honor, I'd like to say something.

You can't, you're a member of the jury.


-I have to talk to you.
-Objection.

Miss, the jury doesn't address the court.

You have the discretion to let me, your honor.

People vs. Gates upheld on appeal,

', Cal
-App third, .

All right, what's your problem?

Mr. Diamond isn't getting a fair trial.

We're supposed to concentrate on the facts here and we can't.

All we can hear is you two yelling at each other.

I instructed you to ignore Mr. Kittredge.

And if you have complaints about me,

you can take them to the Judicial Performance Commission


-after we're finished.
-Judge,

this juror has obviously formed an opinion.

Wrong, she's trying not to.

Put a sock in it, Frank.

She should be excused.

Well, then, you'll have to excuse the whole jury.

We all feel the same.

You've discussed the case among yourselves?

Not testimony, not anything we might deliberate,

but when you're watching World w*r III,

you can't just ignore it.

Do you know what you're saying?

We took an oath, your honor,

to give you verdict based only on the evidence,

and I am telling you that right now, we can't do it.


-You are a stubborn old fart!
-[door closes]

Well, of all
-
- Get outta here!

Don't sputter at me, Leland, this is too important.

We can do each other a lot of good.

I would rather swim in nuclear waste.

[chuckles] Get over it, honey.

This place is in deep financial doody,

and everybody knows it.

Hold on, just listen to my proposal.

If you don't like it, then you can throw me out.


-You have two minutes.
-I only need one.

I'm a cash cow. I have more money than God.

I will agree to pay anything you want for office space,

refer you my litigation overflow,

plus anything my clients need outside the industry,

and I will even get you a deal with my insurance company.


-In return for what?
-Your downtown connection.

Your sterling reputation.

You need a sh*t in the arm, I'm lookin' to branch out.

Together we're Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

She had the sex, he had the class.

If you mean a merger, that's out of the question.

I like to co
-habit before I get married.

We, uh, share space, see what happens.

Trust me, nothing will.

But you like my offer.

We have the right to terminate at any time

on a month's notice.

You pay for office services and the use of the library.

Any joint clients, /.

My name goes on the door, we issue a press release,

and agree to talk closer ties in six months.

A year. And this will all have to be approved by the partners,

it isn't final.

Small strokes, baby. Paperwork. We got a done deal.

[clicks tongue]

[door closes]

Once again, Mr. Waring,

Mrs. Chandler visited your apartment regularly.

Three times over eight months.

And at least one of those times she spent the night with you.

Not the way you mean, no.

An attractive woman who loves you

comes to your apartment at a.m.,

stays 'til dawn and you don't sleep with her?

Objection, he's badgering.


-GRAPHIA: Witness is hostile, your honor.
-Overruled.

GRAPHIA: Are you denying that you had a sexual relationship

with Elsa Chandler before her husband was k*lled?

Yes. We were friends. I was trying to help her.

GRAPHIA: Help her leave her marriage?

Help her funnel Ralph Chandler's money into your failing business?


-Objection.
-JUDGE: Sustained.

He was b*ating her. For God's sake, he was raping her.

According to her. But the truth was

Elsa Chandler desperately wanted to be rid of her husband

so that she could be with you.


-GRACE: Objection.
-No, no, no, she had to get out.

GRAPHIA: She wanted out because of you,


-and you needed cash.
-Wait a minute, wait a minute,


-we weren't the criminals here
-
-
-No further questions.

WARING: The way he treated her was psychotic.

What happened to Ralph Chandler was his own fault.

That'll do, Mr. Waring.

Not sure about him, yet, you gotta build up sympathy fast.

You knew Elsa Chandler was married, didn't you?

Yeah, she told me when we met.

But she didn't tell me the kind of monster she was married to.

Objection, non
-responsive, move to strike.

The jury will disregard the answer.

When did you realize that Elsa Chandler

was being abused by her husband?

Objection, no foundation. He didn't see any abuse.

GRACE: He was with the defendant

right after she was brutalized.


-This man is an eyewitness.
-GRAPHIA: After the fact.

I'll allow you some latitude, but don't push it.

GRACE: I repeat, Mr. Waring,

when did you realize that Elsa Chandler

was being abused by her husband?

WARING: The night she came to my apartment.

At a.m.

[sighs] She was
-
-

She was white and, uh, shaking.

Under her raincoat, her blouse was torn.

Her
-
- Her cheek was bruised,

and there was blood all over everything.

And, uh
-
-

And there were cuts.

Cuts on her neck.

And on her breasts.

Who did she say inflicted those cuts?

Ralph Chandler.

With a butcher Kn*fe.

Did Mrs. Chandler tell you these things easily?

Oh, no, no.

Uh, she couldn't talk for
-
- for quite some time.

It was hours before she told me what had happened.

When it finally came out, I wanted to k*ll him myself.

GRACE: Had she ever said anything about her husband

abusing her before this?

She tried so hard not to.

I
-
- I knew something was wrong,

but I could never get her to say what.

After all the sick things he did to her,

she was still loyal.

Mr. Waring, from what you witnessed that night,

from the physical evidence, do you have any doubt that

Elsa Chandler was severely abused?

She was bleeding. She was terrified.

You can't fake that.

Of course, she was abused.

Thank you, sir.

You don't know that Elsa Chandler was abused by her husband.

In fact, Mr. Waring, you don't know that she was abused by anybody.


-Objection.
-GRAPHIA: I'll rephrase.

Couldn't Elsa Chandler have inflicted

what were really minor injuries on herself

in order to gain your sympathy?

It's possible, but she didn't.

GRAPHIA: The two of you were very close.

Maybe you agreed to back up Mrs. Chandler's story

to help her fabricate an excuse for murdering her husband.


-Objection.
-Sustained.

You're in love with Elsa Chandler, aren't you, Mr. Waring?

I don't see what that has to do with what I'm telling
-
-

Answer the question, please.

Are you in love with Elsa Chandler, yes or no?


-Yes.
-Would you lie to save her life?


-No.
-Objection, this is argumentative.


-JUDGE: Overruled.
-According to phone company records,

Ralph Chandler called your store

from his office on July , .

Did he ask you if his wife was there?


-Yes.
-And Elsa Chandler was there, wasn't she, Mr. Waring?


-WARING: Yes.
-Did you tell that to her husband?

He would have gone crazy, he would have
-
-

GRAPHIA: Did you tell Ralph Chandler his wife was there?


-No.
-So you lied.

To protect Mrs. Chandler.

Yes.

No further questions.

I have a confession, Stuart.


-Now?
-ANN: You were right about Ned.

He's wonderful with Matthew.

I was being a chauvinist.

I had a... knee
-jerk reaction to a male nanny.

Well, you got over it.

Matthew likes him, turned out fine.

Except for the Marta fiasco.

That was all my fault, I just rushed into hiring her.

Come on.

What's really going on?

I love being back at work, Stuart.

This may not be exactly the kind of law I want to practice,

but I wake up every morning,

I can't wait to get to the office.

And this is bad?

Maybe it's not fair to Matthew.

After three months, he's used to having me home.

So he'll get used to Ned.

Honey...

you hated taking him to Gymboree, right?


-Oh...
-Ned loves Gymboree.


-And Matthew knows the difference?
-Absolutely.

I mean, you can discuss it with him,

but I'll bet you the happier you are,

the happier he is, and if coming in here

and going to work is what you want,

Matthew would say go for it.

If he could talk better.

I love you.

Me, too.

Wyles.

Are you able to render a verdict in this case

based solely on the evidence?

No, your honor.

CLERK: Zinmeister?

JUDGE: Are you able to render a verdict in this case

based solely on the evidence?

No, your honor.

I have never seen anything like this

in years on the bench.

Since he jury considers itself incapable of an impartial verdict,

I have no choice but to declare a mistrial.

Ladies and gentlemen, you're excused.

I hope I never have the pleasure again.

[crowd murmuring]

Thanks.

You're the reason I won.

It was a mistrial.

Which I'll claim resulted from judicial misconduct.

In this state, I can argue double jeopardy,

I win, Mr. Diamond walks.

He should be tried again.

Absolutely.

But he has a very good lawyer.

And he had you.

Roth would eventually have persuaded

one of the party girls to testify.

She'd have convicted on as*ault with an a*t*matic w*apon,

and our friendly judge would have slapped Mr. Diamond with a six year max.

We made it all go away.

You had no case.

Those fights were deliberate, you used us.

I couldn't get the judge to bite.

But you were a dream come true.

You slimy son of a bitch.

I'll go to the judge, I'll tell him exactly what you did.

He already declared the mistrial.

And you have no proof.

You're out of your league, Miss Taylor.

This is no place for an amateur.

You were great, but the boyfriend hurt us.

Anyway, they rest tomorrow,

and we put Elsa on no later than Thursday.

Well, she does worry me.

She could get up there and check out.

She could protect herself so much

she sounds like the phone book.

You got another choice?

No, she's the only way we prove abuse.

But we gotta hit hard on the temporary insanity.

She wasn't herself,

he made her do things she never would have done.

No, I'm going with self
-defense.

And insanity, file both.

I'm not using both, I want a clean acquittal.

Oh, the odds are against us.

She took the g*n with her,

we can't prove immediate thr*at.

We gotta have insanity to fall back on.

Look, hey, it's still not guilty.

There's been too much publicity.

The judge would have to commit her.

We'd end up victimizing her again.

Grace, you don't want to go for broke here.

I don't want Elsa Chandler in a mental ward,

possibly for the rest of her life.

At least she'll have a life, with straight self
-defense,

you're takin' too much of a gamble.

Don't second guess me, Tommy, I know what I'm doing.

So do I, you're actin' out,

you got an awful lot of anger about the baby,

and you're lettin' it cloud your judgment.

Now, as your friend, I know it's gotta be killin' ya,

and I'm sorry, but on behalf of our client, I think it stinks.

This is a mistake. You're not comfortable with second chair.

I'll ask Jonathan.

Great, you dump me, railroad the client,

do your very best to screw things up.

You know what? What's hurtin' ya is still gonna be there.

♪♪

I was accepted at Loyola but I never went.

I've always
-
- always talked myself out of going back.

But do you want to be a lawyer?

I must. I can't seem to get away from them.

And I've covered for enough to think I'd be good,

in spite of what happened today.


-Then do it.
-It's not that easy.

Law school at night and a full time job.

Well, it'll be hell. You might not make it.

But if you don't try, you'll never know.

I'll need more flexible hours,

but I'll make sure Arnie's covered.

If you want help convincing him,

just let me know.

Thanks, you've been really great.

Oh, watch that! Careful.

This painting is worth more than your company.

Hey, Leland, I'm glad we caught you.

Wait by the door.

Frank Kittredge, my new associate.

I promise a hired g*n, I deliver.

The imminent Leland McKenzie.


-Pleased to meet you.
-Oh, damn!


-This is Gwen Taylor.
-We've met.

Can you believe it? I am paying these yutzes golden overtime.

I'll see ya tomorrow.

Now, these offices are really tacky,

but they have huge possibility.


-They are moving in?
-Regrettably, yes.

Oh!

Where are you when I need you?

♪♪

♪♪ [theme]