06x22 - Say Goodnight, Gracie

[bunniefuu]

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

We really put each other through a lot.

The infidelities, the counter infidelities.

The public tantrums.

Want to hear something strange?

Those fights in public always aroused me sexually.

Really?

Zoey, come on, don't make a big deal out of this,

I already feel like I'm being pulled in six different directions.

And I'm just another thing pulling at you?

No. Of course not.

Yes, I am.

This won't be the last dinner.

It's not gonna get any easier to bring me along.

Your job is going to be pulling us apart

and I don't want to be the only one

trying to put us back together.

Next up, Bob Steinlage vs. Florence Leach,

a.k.a. Madame Eldemira.

I'm afraid to ask.

Madame Eldemira, psychic to the stars?

That's the one.

It has something to do with... a man.

Tall, dark.

Is he Latino?

This is crazy. I'm sorry.

Thanks anyway.

He's coming back.

Do you think Alex is really looking forward to coming home

at the end of treatment?

You heard him, he's counting the days.

Fortunately, he has us to help him.

You are something, Douglas.

What?

You should have seen yourself, sitting there in group,

holding hands with strangers.

Caring, sharing.

I mean, that stuff is not exactly up your alley,

and yet, you were doing it.

Well, it's never too late for me to start being a father to my son.

It meant a lot to Alex having you there.

Speaking of caring and sharing,

do you have any idea how great you look today?

Thanks for the lift.

Sheila?

Have you noticed that after we visit Alex,

we always end up in bed?


-Really?
-Really.

Shall we keep our record spotless?

It's not a good time.

You know, it gets me crazy when you make me beg.

This is not foreplay, Douglas.

It really isn't a good time.

I'm expecting someone.

[sighs] Well, then let's go in the house

and just not answer the doorbell.

He has a key.

Whoa.

This someone sounds serious.

Serious enough so that when I'm with you,

I feel like I'm cheating on him,

I don't mean to make this your problem, Douglas,

but we promised each other in group

that we'd be open and honest from now on.

And here he comes.

The pool man?

He said I needed a new pump.

Next thing I knew, he was servicing me twice a week.

♪♪

♪♪

I want to thank you for meeting me.

I know how much you hate early mornings.

It's okay, I haven't been sleeping much anyway.

Me neither.

Flying dreams, only I keep getting

tangled up in the powerlines.

Probably the new job.

Performance anxiety.

Well, I didn't make things any easier

jamming you the other day about commitment.

Oh, no, no. Listen, you didn't do anything wrong.

You told me clearly what you needed.

Zoe...

We've reached a point

where we should be getting engaged or something.

But I'm not there yet.

Wait a minute.

I want us to be together emotionally,

but I never said anything about getting married.

But that's where we're headed.

I don't want to string you along, so...

You're breaking up with me, aren't you?

What I'm saying

is that I don't want to be the one to make you unhappy.

Why can't you just admit that you don't want a white woman

on your arm because you're afraid

it will hurt your political career?

Oh, girl, are we gonna dance with this
-
-

Look me in the eye and tell me it's not true.

I think that maybe we shouldn't see each other.

For a while.

Okay.

I better go.


-Zoey
-
-
-Please, don't.

Times up.

There were a lot of Q
-words.

I always have trouble getting my pinky up to the Q.

I'm sure you did fine.

Mr. Becker will be making a decision

about a new secretary by the end of the week.

Great!


-Thank you.
-You're welcome.


-Bye
-bye.
-Bye
-bye.

Here's a schedule of assets for Bromberg vs. Bromberg.

the status conference for the Meterman divorce

is set for Thursday

and your lunch is canceled.

Roxanne, it is great having you back at the helm again.

Are you sure I can't entice you back in a more permanent basis?

We're ex
-lovers.

I couldn't come in every day and be this close to you.

Paige Dietrich called.

She wants to know if you can squeeze her in this afternoon.

Paige Dietrich?

Whoa, now there's a chapter.

She went through a nasty divorce.

I was her attorney, her shoulder to cry on.

It was the first time I ever broke the unwritten rule,

but God, Rox, if you could have seen

how beautiful this woman was.

I guess that means squeeze her in.

Is she getting another divorce?

No, she said it was a personal matter.

Well, let's duck her, then.

I don't like revisiting the past.

That's why I don't collect antiques.

In other words, I guess there'll come a day

when you won't take my calls either because

I'm some ancient artifact in your life?

Okay, okay, work her in.

Jeez, if you're going to take everything so personally,

maybe I don't want you back.

How are the interviews coming?

Lulu, who just left,

doesn't take dictation,

isn't computer literate, types words a minute,

and leaves out the letter "q".

But seeing the way you drooled over the rest of her resume
-
-

You don't really think I've evolved at all, do you?

You know, even I understand that using women

to decorate the workplace objectifies them in

the most demeaning way.

I'll keep interviewing.

Good.

But why don't you let me have Lulu's number?

The least I can do is give her a call and let her down easy.

Gonna take a pro bono federal case,

at least take one you have a sh*t at winning.

I think I will win.

You are suing on behalf of an ex
-con who claims

his constitutional rights were violated

because he got AIDs in prison.

Now, even if you could prove

deliberate indifference on the part of the state,

which is doubtful, the jury's sympathies

are never going to be with your boy.

Not to the tune of two million in damages.

Wait a minute, he can argue

that his client was a r*pe victim, that ought to evoke

plenty of sympathy.

Any chance that the state will settle?

No, they want to go all the way with this one.

And why wouldn't they? They know they're going to win.

Well, I must admit, I don't see how

the department of corrections can be held responsible

for prisoners who contract AIDs.

Who else are you going to hold accountable?

Between the IV drug use and the high rate of h*m* activity,

the majority of inmates are probably at risk.


-Now those are flowers.
-Whoa!

Good god.

Jeez, what, did a float escape the Rose parade?

They're for Grace.


-Who from?
-Somebody rich and ostentatious.

[gasps]

It's blank.

Somebody rich and ostentatious who can't write.

Who'd be stupid enough to spend all that money

and not take credit?

I guess we can assume it wasn't you.

Yeah.

[sneezes]

Here come my allergies.

Are we about finished, Douglas?

Adjourned.

Gesundheit.

[sneezes]

Mr. Meacham, will you tell the court why you were

sentenced to Bolsa Verde state penitentiary

in May of ?

I was convicted of armed robbery.

Where were you housed in Bolsa?

Cell block C in a two man cell.

Was there another man in that cell?

John Smithy.

Mr. Meacham, can you describe for us

what happened after you were placed in the cell

with Mr. Smithy?

[clears throat]

After the first night, uh...

I was r*ped.

And pretty much every night for six months.

Did you tell anyone what was being done to you?

I yelled for help once.

Guard came, he didn't do nothing.

And why did these att*cks eventually stop?

Smithy got sick.

They put him in the hospital.

What was the nature of his illness?

They found out that he had AIDs.

Then he d*ed.

Subsequently, you learned you, too, had AIDs,

isn't that correct?

Yeah.

Your Honor, I'd like to submit stipulated medical records

from County USC hospital

where the plaintiff was treated for wounds

suffered in his arrest

which show he was HIV negative before his incarceration.

Mr. Meacham, after learning you had AIDs,

did the prison doctors put you on any medication,

such as AZT?

No.

After you were paroled, were you provided with any treatment?

My parole officer told me

about a county program for people with AIDs.

But there was a wait list.

So what do you do?

Well, um...

after a while, I got pretty desperate.

You know, I wasn't living too good.

I, um... I wasn't eating.

I was sleeping on the street.

I figured my only chance was to go back to the joint.

So, uh, next time I went to see my PO...

I hit him.

Figured that'd get me thrown back in for sure.

What'd your parole officer do?

Well, he said he was going to file charges with the district attorney.

Two days later, he dropped them.

Did he tell you why?

Yeah, he said I was a headache that the system didn't need.

And what did you take that to mean?

That the department of corrections didn't want me back inside

because they didn't want to take care of me.

Thank you, I have nothing further.

The truth is, Mr. Meacham,

you don't actually know you got AIDs from John Smithy, do you?

I know.

How? You have no way of proving

that you didn't contract this disease

from sh**ting dope, do you?

Objection, assuming facts not in evidence.

Sustained.

Now, Mr. Meacham,

you say you called an officer for help,

but he did not intervene.

When he came to your cell,

did you tell him what was being done to you?

I couldn't.

Smithy had a Kn*fe.

But it's not like the screw didn't know what was going on.

And you never reported it again after that.

Smithy said he would've k*lled me if I did.

So you only complained once about these heinous acts

that you supposedly had to endure?

Isn't it a fact, Mr. Meacham,

that you're making these allegations as a way

of concealing the embarrassing truth?

With no other sexual outlet,

you, like many men in prison

consented to a physical relationship


-with another inmate?
-No.

You voluntarily engaged in high
-risk sexual activity,

you got AIDs and now you want

to make that someone else's problem.


-No!
-Objection, argumentative.

Mr. Keck.

I'll withdraw the question, Your Honor.

I have nothing more at this time.

[phone beeps]

Paige Dietrich here to see you.

You want to show her in?

Paige.

Thanks for seeing me on such short notice, Arnie.

Hey, anything for an old friend.

Please, have a seat.

It's, uh...

It's been a long time, huh?

.

Right, I took you to see Carl Lewis win all those gold medals

at the Summer Olympics.

[coughs]

Here.

Thank you.

What's wrong?

I have AIDs.

I need to draw up a living will.

My God.

I know what you're thinking, Arnie.

You can relax.

I'm pretty sure who I caught the virus from,

and it was long after you and I had our summer games.

[coughs]

I've had shingles.

I've had a blood disease nobody's ever heard of.

I have tumors.

I've had pneumonia three times,

last time on a respirator.

days with a tube shoved down my throat

and for what?

I mean, it's not like I'm ever going to get well.

I don't want any more heroic measures.

I want it to be over now.

Can you take care of it for me?

Paige, you know a living will

really isn't in my area of expertise.

But from what I understand, it's not all that complicated.

Yeah, but still, you ought to have the best,

and I'm kind of underwater right now.

Ah, I see.

You're frightened because I have AIDs.


-No.
-Forget it, Arnie.

No, wait, Paige, if you want me to take a run at this,

I'll see what I can do.

Really.

Well, I've jotted down some instructions.

If you could make it legal, you know,

render it dense, impenetrable.

Nobody does dense better than I do.

I'll have a draft together in a day or two.

I think I can last that long.

Listen, uh, Paige, if money is a problem...

Thanks to the divorce agreement you got me,

it's not necessary.

But you're sweet to offer.

[sighs]

Yeah, hi, this is Arnold Becker again.

I called yesterday about making an appointment for an HIV test.

Arnie...

You were supposed to be at Malamute and Pottinger

five minutes ago.

Cancel it. Yeah, I can hold.

I can't cancel.

The client flew in from New York for this conference.

Roxanne, this is an emergency.

Just handle it.

Okay.

What's wrong, Arnie?

This woman sails in here yesterday, tells me she's got AIDs,

and I'm not supposed to worry about it because

she thinks she got it after we slept together.

That's what's wrong.

Arnie, you told me when we were first getting together

that you had had an AIDs test.

And that it was negative.

Did I?

Do you think that I would have slept with you otherwise?

Don't you hate it when they stick you on hold

and they forget about you?

Did you or did you not have an AIDs test?

I think what happened was I had an appointment

but I couldn't make it for some reason.

So basically, you lied to me?

I didn't lie, I just didn't get around

to actually having the test

because I didn't think there was any reason to be concerned.

And there's probably no reason to worry about this, either.

Look, why don't I make an appointment for both of us,

put both of our minds at ease.

Yeah, hi.

Look, can you test another person, too?

Warden Keough, what are the circumstances

under which you would segregate a prisoner

from the general population?

Medical or behavioral problems which

pose a risk to other inmates.

Did the plaintiff's cellmate John Smithy

fall into either of those categories?

Based on his prison record and his inmate profile,

I would have to say no.

Now, sir, when Mr. Meacham was diagnosed with AIDS,

would it be your opinion

that he received adequate treatment from the prison medical staff?

Absolutely.

When he had meningitis, we even brought in a specialist

to evaluate him.

After that he was paroled,

and we were no longer responsible for him.

Thank you. No further questions.

Warden, you want us to believe John Smithy didn't pose

any kind of medical risk,

but you were aware that this man had been arrested twice

for possession of heroin, weren't you, sir?

Yes.

And didn't a history of intravenous drug use

put Mr. Smithy in a high risk category for AIDs?

He was never convicted of either charge.

So you didn't even bother to perform a simple HIV test?

We're precluded by law from mandatory random testing.

So you ignored the medical thr*at?


-Objection.
-Sustained.

It's your testimony, Warden,

that John Smithy wasn't a behavioral problem, right?

Yes.

His prison file contains several reports

of sexual as*ault against younger inmates.

Those were accusations.

We could never substantiate them.

So you chose to ignore that thr*at, too.

Prisons are overcrowded.

I deal with men,

many of whom make John Smithy look like Captain Kangaroo.

That might be a plea for prison reform, Warden,

but the fact is your deliberate indifference

is why Mr. Meacham is going to die from AIDs.


-Objection.
-Withdrawn.

I have nothing further.

Thanks for stopping by.

The judge in Alexander's case

is asking us to file a declaration with the court

certifying that Alex is in a substance abuse program.

I need your signature here.

I'm sorry about, um... Rex coming by yesterday.

it was bad timing.

Not a problem.

I don't want you to think

that I'm falling back into my old pattern

of waving lovers in your face

just to t*rture you.

I don't think that.

Because that's not what you were doing.

In any case,

Rex and I have decided not to see each other anymore.

Just when you were getting your algae problem under control.

Every time Rex and I made love,

I found myself fantasizing about you.

Really?

And when you make love with someone like that

under false pretenses,

well, it didn't seem fair to Rex.

Or to me.

Or to you.

I'm flattered.

What are you doing tomorrow night?

Ugh...

I have plans.

Are they plans that can be broken?

I've been seeing someone too, and...

we had a date for tomorrow night.

Too bad, though.

We could have had some fun.

Of course, I could always see Sandra

another time.

Where should we get together, your place?

My building's being tented for termites.

What about the house?

Not with Jeffrey there.

Why don't I make some arrangements?

You do that.

I am writing in response to your letter

dated April , re: People vs. Walberg securities. Period.

Mr. Walberg will be available for deposition, comma...

Hello, Grace.

Thanks for the flowers.

Hmm.

How did you know they were from me?

A fortune teller told me.

What's the occasion?

Last Tuesday of May.

What's that?

That's the first time we made love, Grace.

I was hoping that maybe we could have dinner tomorrow

to mark the anniversary.


-No.
-Why not?

Because you're playing with my head.

I'm not...

playing with your head.


-I need to talk.
-Then talk.

But don't expect me to relive a romance

that we don't have anymore.

[sighs]

Well, the things I have to say

can't be said here.

Grace...

please have dinner with me.

All right.

: at Metro?

I can come over and pick you up.

I'll take my own car.

Okay.

Well, I'll see you there.

Mr. Cruz, after the plaintiff hit you,

why did you decide not to press charges?

I made a judgment call.

I felt that by lashing out at me,

Ray was just testing out the strength

of my commitment to him.

So I decided not to turn my back.

When Mr. Meacham was waitlisted

as the AIDs treatment center you referred him to,

why didn't you take steps to see to it

he went to another agency?

Ray never told me that there was a problem.

Mr. Cruz, do you know of any reason why the plaintiff

would make up these allegations of deliberate indifference?

Or why he would be asking for damages

in excess of two million dollars?

Objection.

Your Honor, the witness is Mr. Meacham's parole officer,

someone intimate with his patterns of behavior.

Overruled.

The witness may answer.

Ray could've finished school while he was doing his time.

And he didn't.

He could've learned a skill. He didn't do that, either.

I think it's just easier for him to be mad at the system

then to have to go out there and try to make something of himself

and risk failing.

Frankly, I think he's lazy.

No further questions.

Isn't it possible, Mr. Cruz,

that my client's not lazy, but rather sick

from a debilitating and fatal disease?

I suppose.

Now, you say that after Mr. Meacham

smacked you in the face,

like the good book tell us,

you decided to turn the other cheek, is that right?

That's exactly what I said.

I realized that Ray needed my help.

Oh, come on, Mr. Cruz.

Didn't you drop the charges

because you were under orders to do so?

Because your supervisors in the department of correction

didn't want to put an AIDs patient back into prison

due to the high cost of his treatment?

Objection, compound and assuming facts not in evidence.

Sustained.

Mr. Cruz, you said you didn't know

that Mr. Meacham was waitlisted at the county center.

Why didn't you ask?


-I would have, eventually.
-Eventually?

Early treatment is this man's only hope.

I've got to worry about parolees.

Oh, admit it you let Ray Meacham fall through the cracks.

And he'd be better off back in prison?

He doesn't want to go back to prison, Mr. Cruz.

He just wants the care he deserves.

No further questions.

I know lawyers don't make house calls,

but the trip to your office yesterday

really took it out of me.

Thanks for coming.

No big deal.

Uh, would you mind if we say in the other room?

No problem.

It's easier for me to breathe near the vaporizer.

Pull up a chair.

Can I have Jeanie get you something?

Uh, no thanks, I've got a lunch.

Oh.

Let me get this out of your way.

Now, based on our conversation yesterday,

I've put together what's called

a durable power of attorney for health care.

It allows you to designate someone to issue instructions

to the doctor if you're no longer able to make informed consent.

So they can pull the plug when the time comes.

Basically.

[coughs]

Mmm.

What about withholding food if I'm unable to feed myself?

We can request that nourishment be withheld

if that's what we want,

but we would have to spell it out in there.

Then do it.

Okay.

Oh...

Almost.

It's a favorite of mine.

I'm thinking about having my ashes put in it.

Well, uh...

Okay. I will, um...

I will start to work on those changes

and if everything else is okay,

I can have this ready for your signature tomorrow.

Listen, we didn't get a chance to chat yesterday.

What's going on with you?


-Eh.
-You happy?

Yeah, everything's okay.

You in love?

No, nobody special right now.

Look, I would love to visit,

but I'm running a little late.


-So...
-Well, thanks for everything.

Hey, no problem.

Look, don't get up.

I can show myself out.

♪♪

Z?

How ya doing?

Whenever my life is in the toilet,

you show up to brighten my day.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, just call me Mr. Sunshine.

Mr. Sunshine, look, let's not do this.

Not that I'm not grateful.

But for once let's do something different.

Like what?

Anything but talk about my screwed up life.

Okay.

Want to talk about my screwed up life?

Yeah.

I'm thinking about quitting McKenzie
-Brackman.

Why?

Why not?

Fact is, this corporate kiss ass law bit

is starting to wear thin.

See, I'm not a team player, I speak my mind,

that ruffles feathers.

Good. Whose?

This time, DePalma's.

He's all pumped up about some constitutional case he can't win.

But he doesn't want to hear that.

Well, he should listen, you're usually right.

How many juries are gonna listen to an ex
-con with AIDs

whose nuts enough to punch his parole officer

to get back into the pen?

I know that one. That landed on my desk.

The P.O. was ordered to drop those charges

because the department of corrections didn't want the guy

dying on their nickel.

Are you sure?

That's what he told me.

Would you be willing to testify to that?

Tommy...

Well, you could help DePalma in a big way.

I thought you weren't a team player, and no.

No, don't get me involved.

I have enough on my mind already.

It's okay.

I'm not dead yet.

I'm just too weak to get out of bed.

Let me get you to sign these, and, uh...

I'll be out of your hair.

And you can get back to sleep.

Sorry I was a little late.

Traffic was m*rder.

Oh, Arnie.

Is it so hard for you to be in the same room with me?

What?

My neighbor called.

Said there was a guy in a Porsche

parked in front of the house for the last hour.

I told her not to call the cops

because I knew it was you.

I was on the phone.

I had to return phone calls.

I can remember a time

when you'd do anything to get into this bedroom.

Come on, Paige.

I also remember what you told me when we broke up.

You said the first love after a divorce

isn't meant to last, but to heal.

But that you'd always be there for me.

Guess I made the mistake of believing that wasn't just

an exit line from a slick lawyer.

I am here for you.

Well, don't be.

Just makes me feel more alone.

More afraid.

Show me where to sign so you can get out of here.

Here.

[knocks]

What's up?

I just heard you're going to be subpoenaed to testify in federal court.

Oh, man, I asked Mullaney not to get me involved.

Well, according to the assisting attorney general handling the defense,

what you have to say would impeach the testimony

of the parole officer and that might give credence

to the plaintiff's overall claim.

Are we just chatting or are you going somewhere with this?

I just wanted to say that from where I sit,

there's no reason for you to extend yourself

to help the plaintiff.


-You want me to lie?
-No.

I'm just suggesting you don't embellish your testimony

in such a way that the defense suffers.

I'm going to tell the truth.

You take the stand and tell your "truth",

it's going to sound like this guy was smart

to hit his parole officer.

Send out a message like that,

and we'll be inviting every indigent

in California to commit a crime

so they can go to the joint and get

free health care and housing.

That's a lot of crap, Ruby, and you know it.

I know what's going on in your private life, Zoey.

Do you want to jeopardize your work life, too?

That sounds like a thr*at.

I've always respected you for being tough and fair.

But you also have to be smart.

This is the attorney general's office calling.

People with a lot of influence

who can help your career.

You're in line for assistant head deputy D.A.

This is not the time for you to get a reputation

as someone who doesn't know how to play.

[door opens]

Douglas?

Hello?

What a wicked idea, to meet in a hotel.

Flowers were on my mind, too.

Remember our trip to Maui? We never left the hotel?

All I wore for three days was a plumeria lei.

Holy holly hokula.

Mind if I take this off?

I'm hot.

You always were my biggest fan.

Nice catch.

Hi.

Hi.

Would you like something to drink?

Yeah, glass of water, plenty of ice.

Thanks.

You look very pretty.

Thank you.

What do you want to talk about?

Look, I understand. You have every right to be leery.

A few months ago, I needed to go my own way, right?

And you let me.

And how do I pay back that understanding?

I disappear.

No phone calls, no letters, and then here I am, right?

All that I can say, Grace,

is that I was...

really confused.

I was scared.

It was a tough time for me.

And I just kind of dropped out.

But I started seeing therapist.

You?

In therapy.

Mm
-hmm.

Mr. Paddle Your Own Canoe.

Mr. Shrinks are a Rip
-off.


-Yeah, well
-
-
-Good evening.

Tonight's special we have a grilled John Dory served in
-
-

Could you just give us a couple of minutes, okay?


-No problem.
-Thanks.

Somehow, I don't see you, um...

Lying on a couch, dissecting your dreams.

It's opened up a whole new world for me.

I mean, I'm dealing with emotions

that I never knew I had,

and I'm finally letting myself go after

the things in life that make me happy.

We've been talking about you a whole lot, Grace.

And I see how much you mean to me

and how much I want us to be together.

So...

I've been offered this job in New York City

which I'm going to take

because it's a great opportunity.

And I really would like you to come with me.

Yeah, I know this is a whole lot

to throw at you all at once.

But you take your time. I don't need an answer
-
-

You really are something, you know that?

You, uh, you go into therapy

and you work out your feelings,

and then you expect me to follow you across the country

like a trained dog.


-Come on, Grace.
-No, you come on.

How do I know six months down the road

you won't decide that you need your space?

And leave me hanging, again?

Because I'm telling you I won't.

The point is, Grace, we both love each other.

You love me. I know it, you know it, too.

Yeah, I love you, Victor.

But if it takes me years to get over you,

I'll get over you.

I don't think it'll be easy as all that.

You are the most self
-absorbed,

preening macho man I have ever met.

And you can go fornicate yourself

and the caballo you rode in on.

Your Honor, new evidence has come to light

which we believe materially advances the plaintiff's case.

We'd like to call another witness.

Go ahead, Mr. DePalma.

Call to the stand Zoey Clemmons.

Miss Clemmons, you were the deputy district attorney

assigned to handle the as*ault charges

brought by parole officer Richard Cruz

against Ray Meacham, isn't that right?

Yes.

When Mr. Cruz subsequently told you

he wanted to drop the charges, did you ask why?

Yes, I did.

And how did Mr. Cruz answer?

He said that he decided to give Mr. Meacham another chance.

Is that all he said?

To the best of my recollection.

Are you sure he didn't say anything about

pressure brought to bear upon him

by others who might have wanted

to keep Mr. Meacham out of prison?

Yes.

Do you know a Tommy Mullaney, Miss Clemmons?

Yes.

Didn't you describe to him event entirely different

from those you've just testified to?

I don't recall that I did.

May I remind you what the penalty for perjury is?

Objection, Miss Clemmons is a deputy district attorney.

She knows perfectly well what the penalty for perjury is.

Your Honor, earlier, this woman
-
-

The objection's sustained, Mr. DePalma.

I have nothing further.

I have nothing to ask this witness, Your Honor.

You're dismissed, Miss Clemmons.

Yeah, hi, I'm calling for the results of my HIV test.

Becker, Arnold.

[sighs]

Oh, thank you. Thank you.

Uh, look, can I put you on hold a sec?

I'm going to put Roxanne Melman on for her results.

Roxanne, it's Dr. Fiscus' office on line one.

[sighs]

[sighs]

Thank you, doctor. Bye.

Everything okay?

Clean as a whistle.

Great. Ditto for me.

Look, Rox, um...

I've behaved badly, I was thoughtless and selfish

and there's no excuse for what I did.

By not being completely honest with you about my blood test,

I put you through a lot of needless worry,

and I'm sorry.

I hope you can accept my apology.

I don't know if I can do that, Arnie.

The fact is, you value your own pleasure

more than anything or anyone.

That's how little other people really matter to you.


-That's not
-
-
-Maybe some day

I'll be able to forgive you.

Right now, I can't.

In the matter of Meacham vs. the State of California,

on the claim of deprivation of constitutional rights,

we find that the defendant is not liable.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

thank you for your time.

We're adjourned.

You haircuts, huh?

Found a way to save the state a few bucks, huh?


-Bailiff.
-Easy.

What the hell am I supposed to do, huh?

Go find a palm tree to die under?

Come on. Ray, take it easy.

I'm all right, I'm all right.

Easy. I got him.

I got him.

You did the right thing.

No, I didn't.

I did the absolute wrong thing.

And I'm gonna recant.


-What?
-I lied.

Because my life is a mess right now,

I let you convince me to lie.

Tell the court you perjured yourself, you could be disbarred.

You know, since I took this job,

I've been asked to compromise a little on the law here,

shade a little there

until pretty soon the line between right and wrong

doesn't mean anything.

If it's going to cost me my ethics and my dignity,

maybe I don't want this career.

I'm going to the judge.

He's got a g*n!

[g*nf*re]

[screaming, clamoring]

[screaming]

Ah!

Now you gonna put me back in prison?

Get down. Don't move!

Oh, God, no.

I said don't move.

[panting]

[sirens blaring]

Is there anything we should do?

Like what?

Give blood? I don't know.

Jonathan just phoned in.

She's at County,

and they're operating on her now.

Well, County's good, they have the best trauma unit in the city.

I just heard.

Poor Zoey.

I just keep thinking...

I just... I saw her for lunch the other day.

None of it makes any sense.

No, it doesn't.

One minute, you're thinking about breakfast,

all of a sudden you're fighting for your next breath.

Carpe diem.

Which is why I've decided to get married.

To who?

The former Mrs. Brackman.

Sheila?

We've recently rekindled our passion,

and discovered there was still a lot there.

Well, don't everybody congratulation me at once.

Is it possible that Douglas is having a nervous breakdown?

Oh, yeah.

[knocks]

Douglas, I'm sorry if no
-one seemed jubilant

about your very good news.

Given today's tragic events, it's understandable.

Yeah. Congratulations.

Thanks.

I wish you and Sheila the best.

I couldn't reconnect with someone after so much pain,

no matter how much I love them.

Life is short, Grace.

If you love someone, that's all that matters.

The rest of it, the doubts, the jealousies,

the anger and backbiting, you gotta let go of that.

Once Sheila and I realized we were both still in love,

we shut up and forgave each other.

[knocking]

Yeah, yeah.

What are you doing here?

I had to see you.

I'd like to come in.

What, was there some remark you forgot from last night?

Some name you forgot to call me, maybe?

No.

That's not why I came.

Okay, well, make it quick.

Because I'm watching the news.

Okay.

Whoa, whoa.

Am I skipping a b*at here or something?

Shh.

Don't say anything.

Mmm.

Grace...

Grace...


-Grace
-
-
-Shh.

We'll talk about everything when we get to New York.

Arnie?

Hey.

How are you doing?

What are you doing here?

Oh, came by to keep you company.

Uh
-oh.

Now I got you feeling sorry for me.

Not possible.

I'm way too self
-absorbed.

Well, I'm warning you,

not much of a conversationalist these days.

And sex is out.

That's okay, I, um...

I brought a book.

I thought you might like me to read to you.

What's in it for you?

I get to listen to the sound of my own voice.

Fair enough.

What are we gonna read?

Tales of Nights.

I'm not sure I have that much time.

Well, let's see how far we can get.

"Chapter :

"The Merchant and the Genie.

"There was a certain merchant who had great wealth.

"And traded extensively with surrounding countries.

"One day, he mounted his horse

"and journeyed into a neighboring country

"to collect what was due to him."

♪♪ [theme]