Rosalind Shays vs. All of us.
Obviously, she's winning.
Come on now, this thing is far from being over.
Grace took a big chunk out of Rosalind on the stand,
And we haven't even begun our defense yet.
Mr. Sollers, that is enough.
I founded that firm
and I was not going to let her ruin it.
You're a tired and scared old man,
scared of becoming obsolete.
I am not obsolete!
We find in favor of the plaintiff
and order the defendant
to pay punitive damages in the amount of
. million dollars.
Just follow me.
There he is, the heroic officer
who sh*t a black kid in the back.
-I move that you recuse yourself from this case.
-Opposed.
On what grounds?
On the grounds that you, like Rogoff,
are too politically scared to do the job here.
Your motion is denied.
You're making it impossible for us to get a fair trial here.
You're poisoning the process.
You assume that the process is poison free to begin with.
I don't.
Mr. Kuzak, you are in contempt.
This man cares nothing about justice.
All he cares about is getting re
-elected.
Bailiffs!
All he cares about is staying on Holloways' good side,
so he doesn't get scathed in the press.
You got to call a mistrial now, judge!
-Take him away.
-You've got no choice now.
I think you're going to make a great husband.
My history with women would indicate otherwise.
Arnie? Douglas?
You know this young lady, don't you?
Hello. Hi, Arnie.
Gwen, what brings you?
STUART: I just hired her.
Oh, great.
Rox, I need a huge favor.
I'm kinda busy.
Travel Times botched the trip.
We didn't get the Friday flight
and they didn't reserve Chloe a spot
in beginner snow bunnies.
Uh, call Liz Cohen, she handles Arnie's trips.
Travel agent from hell.
Arnie says you're the only one who can deal with her.
Corinne, Arnie needs his motion by :.
That's why I wrote it all down.
I didn't want to take up any more of your time than was absolutely necessary.
Gee, thanks.
Rox, what's the hold up, I've got to get these pages
filed by... Hi.
She's helping your busy wife so cut her some slack.
If you say so.
Honey, I got to help this poor slob
get out of his wife's clutches.
I'll see you tonight. I love you.
-Bye.
-Bye.
Corrine? It's me, Gwen.
Gwenny! Oh, God.
What are you doing here?
What has it been, , years?
Oh, longer, longer.
I had braces on the last time we saw each other.
I can't believe how you've grown up!
Yeah.
What are you doing here?
I work for Stuart Markowitz.
I didn't know this!
I married Arnie Becker.
Rox, Gus Brant's trying to call me from his car...
Arnie, you won't believe this.
Little Gwenny works here.
Little Gwenny?
Yeah, Susan Taylor's little sister.
Our high school mascot?
She followed us to the prom.
Right, hi.
We've met.
Listen, I've to to go.
Stuart's waiting for these.
Oh, it's so good seeing you!
Can we have lunch?
No. I mean, haven't you got a lot of stuff to do?
To... get ready for the weekend.
I'll make time for Gwenny.
I helped her buy her first bra.
Remember? You were so cute.
She was afraid she'd never grow breasts.
No.
♪♪
♪♪
This is ex parte, Grace.
I'm not the lawyer of record.
But your firm is.
That makes this meeting inappropriate.
I'm sorry, Michael, but look what's going on here.
The city is on the verge of a race riot.
The solution from the DA's office
is to convict an innocent cop
and the judge on the case is a total victim
of the hysteria.
Judge Stone has served with distinction for seven years.
He can't control Holloway.
He let the DA talk about a lie detector in front of the jury.
He wouldn't even declare a mistrial after putting
Kuzak into custody.
But he declared the mistrial.
Only after locking Rollins up.
Come on, Michael!
You can't ignore the stench on this one.
Stone can't do it.
You're the presiding superior court judge.
You have to take responsibility here.
Okay.
I'll get you a new judge.
Somebody who can take the heat, okay?
Somebody who can stand up the Holloway.
Just be sure your boys are ready.
If we stall on this one,
the public screams will only get louder.
That's not going to do you any good.
We're ready now.
Okay.
I'll get you a good judge.
Thanks, Michael.
First up, Shays vs. McKenzie Brackman post
-mortem.
Motion for remitted next Tuesday.
What do you have for appeal?
Nothing procedural.
A lot of case law saying a partner is not an employee,
meaning she may not have a claim for sex discrimination.
We tried that at summary judgment and lost.
Yeah, but I just pulled a case off of Westlaw,
th district, right on point.
It's worth a sh*t.
Okay, good.
In the meantime, I'm meeting with Rosalind tomorrow.
No Sollers, just her.
If I can crunch it down, I'll try to settle it.
Moving on, reminder, Leland, we have the Lowry dinner
Thursday night. People vs. Chisolm?
Judge Stone's off the case, so at least that's a start.
Expect a pre
-trial tomorrow.
Jonathan and I have decided that he will try the case
and I will second chair.
Are you comfortable with that, Jonathan?
Yes.
Well, let's try to stay out of jail, both of you.
In re: Slaeffer?
Hearing starts today.
This is the couple that want to return its adopted child?
Yes.
And we represent the parents.
I'm sorry, but I find this whole thing repulsive.
Returning a child to an adoption agency?
How can you represent people like that?
You've never met the people, Anne.
You've never met the child, and to my knowledge,
you've never seen the file.
Maybe not, but as a mother
-
-
I'm a mother, too.
And based on my view of the facts,
I accepted these people as clients.
And since this is my case,
I'll thank you to defer to my judgment as I do to yours.
I apologize.
Okay.
Good luck on this case, Abby.
We know it's a difficult situation.
Thank you.
And on that happy, happy note, we're adjourned.
Stuart?
How you feeling?
I'm fine, Arnie, thanks.
You taking care of yourself, I hope?
What can I do for you, Arn?
I was expressing genuine concern.
I don't always have an ulterior motive.
But now that you mention it, yeah.
There is something I'd like to talk to you about.
Come in.
It's Gwen, I think you should give some serious thought
to that whole situation
What situation?
I hate to say this, but she isn't appropriate.
McKenzie Brackman just is not that kind of firm.
What kind of firm? What are you talking about?
I'd rather slice my lips off than
have to tell you this but...
but you're my friend as well as my partner,
I think I owe it to you.
The week before I got married, she made a pass at me.
Really?
Now I was about to get married so of course, nothing happened
but still, she...
she came into my office ostensibly to have a drink.
Before I knew it...
she's on the sofa with all of her clothes off.
-Off?
-Off.
It was all I could do just to get her dressed
and get her out of there.
The problem is, she hasn't stopped.
Every time she comes around me I'm afraid she's going to pounce,
and Stuart, I don't think that I am the only one
that she is after.
What do you want me to do, fire her?
Look...
I'm just thinking about your reputation
as well as mine.
She's the best secretary I ever had.
She's the only one who understands my color coding system.
I know. You have every right to keep her.
If you want to take that risk.
Listen, I just wanted you to have this information.
No, no, I appreciate it. I really do.
He was six months old when he first came home
to live with us.
And at that time Billy appeared to be a normal baby?
Yes, he cried a lot.
But the doctor said it was probably just colic,
and he also stiffened when we held him, but...
well, they kept telling us everything was all right.
But at some point you realized
that Billy was not fine.
Just after his first birthday, he had a seizure.
They ran some more tests on his and this time
they found some neurological damage.
Was he diagnosed as being Ret*rded?
Oh, no. They said that he would probably
have some learning disabilities,
and that his motor skills could be affected.
And yet, knowing that Billy would never be...
normal, you nevertheless proceeded with the adoption.
He's our son.
The fact that he had problems
didn't make us love him any less.
But here you are today.
Almost five years later,
asking the state to take back custody of your son.
Yes.
Why?
Um...
We can't control him.
Uh... for...
um, for the last two years,
he's been having these rages.
He smashes things, he pounds his head
up against the wall. He just snaps.
Have you, um...
sought help for Billy?
Oh my God, yes.
Special schools, psychiatrists, medication.
We've spent out life savings trying to make him better.
But he's not going to get better.
So, now you're...
you're giving up.
We don't want to give up.
But, um...
he hurts our other children.
Last year there was an episode when
he knocked the baby down the stairs.
He's, um...
Even started two fires.
He's my son.
And I love him.
But I can't take care of him.
Thank you, Mrs. Slaeffer. I have nothing further.
Good afternoon, Mrs. Slaeffer.
I'm Jaime Rodriguez appearing
for the department of social services.
Money is a factor here, is it not?
No, this isn't about money.
Well, you talked about medical costs
and the depletion of your savings,
so I'm assuming it's a factor.
Well, we have three other children so,
yes, it's a concern.
Thank you, ma'am.
Those three other children are your natural children, am I right?
Yes.
How does Billy feel about his brothers and sister?
He loves them.
I would imagine he would miss them quite a bit.
We will miss him, Mr. Rodriguez.
I would like to focus on
what this does to Billy, Miss Slaeffer, not you.
Don't you think we've agonized over this?
If you have, then you must be aware of Billy's chances
of ever being adopted again
if he's put back in the system.
What are those chances?
Not good.
They're close to non
-existent.
This is hard enough without you doing this.
Forgive me ma'am, but it can never be hard enough
to do what you are doing.
Objection.
You're asking to strip
a six
-year
-old boy away from his family.
Your Honor, I made an objection.
Mr. Rodriguez.
I am sorry.
Just tell me this, with all his problems,
what else has Billy got but the love of a family?
What else does he have but you?
We don't know what else to do.
The question is, what will Billy do?
What will Billy do, ma'am?
Hi, I'm glad I caught you.
I'm going to lunch.
I've got a million things to do and
I'll never get to the dry cleaners in time to
pick up the ski jackets.
Could you do me a big favor? It's right down the street.
No, I can't.
It won't take a minute.
Would you step in here, please?
I work for Arnie, not for you.
And it's not fair to dump all this stuff on me.
Well, it was Arnie who suggested I ask you to help.
It's a family trip, Corrine.
It has nothing to do with me or with my job.
And I don't like being asked to handle
all of the pesky details.
I didn't realize you felt that way.
Well, now you do.
I'm sorry.
I guess I was being insensitive.
I know it's been hard for you, Roxanne.
You've been the anchor in Arnie's life,
and now he has Chloe and me.
What's that got to do with it?
Maybe nothing, but maybe
you feel a little abandoned and resent it.
I don't feel abandoned!
I feel taken advantage of,
and the only thing that I resent here is being analyzed.
How could you possibly know how I feel or who I am?
You've only known me a year.
I see. And I've only known Arnie a year too, is that it?
I mean how could I possibly understand him as, say, you do?
I never said that.
But if the shoe fits...
It doesn't.
But this has been an illuminating conversation.
Yes, very.
How in God's name do you plan to make this case?
There's enough there to proceed, Your Honor.
If we don't satisfy the burden
-
-
I've read through your papers, Miss Fusco.
You have no business going forward.
No witness, no physical or testimonial evidence.
Actually, Your Honor, we now do have a witness.
Excuse me?
A young man by the name of Jerome Bailey came forward last night.
Lives in the neighborhood.
Says he saw officer Chisolm sh**t the boy
with no
-one else in the alley.
And this guy just suddenly appears now?
Look, I'm not going to play games with you.
I had my doubts.
I had Mr. Bailey take a polygraph.
The results are inconclusive.
I have no proof he's making it up,
but I also know that Derron Holloway
held a town meeting yesterday
in that neighborhood,
imploring someone to come forward and be a hero.
Well, if this witness isn't credible, then
-
-
There's no determination he's not credible.
And Rogoff wants to use him if his story checks out.
Well, how do you check it out
if there was no
-one else in the alley?
I'm checking it out.
Okay, you get your unexpected witness in here tomorrow.
I want to have a little chat.
And get Rogoff in here, too,
and tell him I don't give a damn about his re
-election plans.
There will be no bogus prosecution in my courtroom.
I'll give him the message.
:.
Billy's condition is most likely the result
of drug use by the birth mother.
I'd like to say this is an uncommon thing,
but unfortunately, it's not.
Did my clients know anything about this drug abuse
-at the time of the adoption?
-No.
Doctor, based on your psychiatric examination of this child,
could you tell us Billy's prognosis?
Extremely Ret*rded social skills.
I don't think this child will ever bond,
either with the Slaeffers or anybody else.
It's extremely unlikely he'll ever have the capability
to experience adult love.
And these rages, and uncontrollable fits?
Do you think he'll grow out of this?
I see no indication that he will.
And doctor, in your expert opinion,
what effect would Billy's behavior have
on the other members of the family?
Well, obviously, it takes its toll on everyone,
but the most serious thr*at is to the emotional well
-being
of the other children.
And it appears there's even a physical thr*at here.
And doctor, do you have an opinion as to whether
Billy should remain in this household or not?
In my opinion, he should not.
Thank you, nothing further.
The chances of this boy being able to bond and trust,
do they go up or down if he's removed from the family?
Down.
In fact, the damage caused to this boy
would be totally irreparable, wouldn't it?
That's possible.
Mm
-hmm. And doctor,
does Billy loves his parents and his siblings?
Yes, he does.
Would it be fair to say that he loves them very much?
Yes.
So this child is quite capable of experiencing love.
I was talking about his capability
for experiencing adult love.
I understand that, but that's way off in the future.
Right now, today,
this young man is capable of loving, isn't he?
Yes.
What happens to that capability
once he's ripped apart from his family?
I have to balance the needs of the other children,
not just Billy.
This proceeding isn't about the other children,
it's about Billy.
I care about Billy, Mr. Rodriguez.
I care very much.
Are you telling me that this child is going to be
better off in a state agency than with his family?
Maybe not.
Then don't sit there telling us
how much you care about Billy.
Do you think I'm enjoying this, Mr. Rodriguez?
Move to strike.
-This is an impossible situation.
-Objection.
We're all just trying to use our best judgment.
All right, both of you.
Doctor, you testified that during the course of your practice,
you've had extensive experience with behavioral disorders
many with adopted children.
That's right.
Have any of these children suffered from behavior problems
as severe as Billy's?
Yes.
And in your experience, how many of these
adoptive parents other than the Slaeffers
have sought to give their children back?
How many, ma'am?
None.
I have nothing further.
Now, I don't listen to gossip, believe me,
and I am not a fan of innuendo.
But, um...
This is different.
When a partner in this firm comes to me with his concerns,
I have to consider them.
Which partner?
Well, I'm not at liberty to mention any names.
But, um... this partner
is concerned about your promiscuity.
My what?
Well, you know, your...
sexual adventure... ism.
Arnold Becker?
Well, I can't mention names.
Yes, Arnold Becker.
Stuart, this is what happened:
Arnie invited me to his office for a drink.
I didn't know at the time that he was getting married
and I guess he was freaking out.
I was there three, maybe four minutes
when he started taking my clothes off.
I won't say I wasn't willing.
But it was all his idea.
We did it that one time on the sofa in his office,
and never again, and now he can't even look at me.
I am not promiscuous, I do not sleep around,
and I do not want to lose my job because some jerk
can't deal with his own glands.
Okay, that's fine.
I'll bring it down to .,
but that's as fair as I get, Leland.
I'd go into bankruptcy rather than give you ..
No, you wouldn't.
How can you be so sure?
The reason you brought me in, the reason you stepped down
was to save what you love.
Well, if you understood that,
why did you do what you did?
I did what I was hired to do,
let's be honest about that, Leland.
Somebody had to be ruthless. Somebody had to play hard.
You didn't want to be that somebody.
You'd been too popular too long.
I can understand that.
What I can't understand
is that after I did all the dirty work
that you never gave me the chance.
To do what?
I was hoping that after all the hardball,
I'd be able to sit back and enjoy.
Enjoy what I'd helped build.
Cultivate some of that McKenzie loyalty.
Wouldn't have happened, Rosalind.
You can't grind up the people you work with
and then later expect their devotion.
You needed a little grinding here.
What you problem is,
you can't ever feel victorious
unless the other guy is devastated.
I was good for this place.
You saved this place, absolutely.
But so did I, by stepping back in.
. million, I can make that payment.
You can have it by end of business tomorrow
and you can walk away leaving me defeated.
But not fatally crushed.
. million.
I want you to at least limp.
. and it'll be over.
I can sell ..
Okay.
I'll have Jack draw up the settlement papers.
We can file the dismissal as soon as I get the check.
Deal.
Deal.
Billy, I promise this will be real short
and not very hard.
Ninja Turtles, that's a sharp t
-shirt.
Did you see the movie?
Twice. My father took me.
MY son took me.
And I hear you like baseball, too.
[clicks tongue]
Does your father ever take you to see the dodgers?
[clicks tongue]
Billy?
John gave me his glove.
Sounds like a pretty good brother to me.
Is John here?
No, he's not.
Where is he?
Well, I believe he's in school.
Listen, I understand
that sometimes you hit John.
And Carl, too.
[clicks tongue]
Do you know why you hit your brothers and sister?
Is John here?
Billy, do you know why you hit them?
No.
Do you know that it's wrong for you to hit them?
That it's wrong for you to start fires?
Yes.
Well, what I'm trying to understand
is if you know it's wrong,
why you do it?
Why can't I go home?
Well, while we're trying to figure all this out,
it'd be better if you live away from home.
With Mrs. Louis.
Are my parents going to come for me?
Well, that's what we're trying to decide.
♪♪
Just a second.
What are you doing here?
I represent Mr. Bailey.
You asked to interrogate him, he's entitled to counsel.
When did you become his lawyer?
That's privileged.
Not privileged.
Answer my question right now
or I'll lock you up for contempt.
Tuesday.
Mr. Bailey, have a seat.
According to your latest statement,
you saw the police officer sh**t the boy.
Yeah.
But on the night this happened you gave a statement
saying you saw nothing.
You only heard the sh*ts.
I was... I was scared to tell the cops what I saw.
Why?
Uh
-uh, I'm sorry, I'm not going to allow
free discovery for defense. This is
-
-
This is a surprise witness.
The defense is entitled to this information.
And if you interfere with me again
I'm going to add obstruction of justice
to contempt, throw you in a rathole for a week.
Now, young man, you tell me what you saw.
And I don't care what Mr. Holloway instructed you to say.
You look at me.
You don't want to lie in here, now.
The first sh*t, I didn't see. I only heard.
As I looked around the corner, I saw the second sh*t.
There was this kid running
and I seen the cop sh**t.
-Did you see anybody else?
-No.
How many sh*ts did you hear?
Two, three. I don't know.
Why haven't you said anything about this before?
'Cause it was the cops who done it.
I was scared if I told on them, they'd come get me next.
And you decided to come forward after
Mr. Holloway addressed a group of you and your neighbors
two days ago.
Did Mr. Holloway tell you to come forward?
He told me to say what I saw
and that's what I'm doing.
Okay, you can go.
Mr. Holloway, a minute please.
Now, if I find out that you manufactured this witness,
in any way or that you suborned perjury,
I will make it my personal purpose in life
to see you disbarred.
That robe only gives you qualified immunity, Your Honor.
You slander me with any accusations like that,
and you won't have to look for me,
because I'll be coming for you.
I don't like the way you do business, mister.
I didn't know I needed your approval.
Well, I don't know whether to believe the kid or not.
But it is a credibility question.
Oh, God.
They have a case, Mr. Kuzak, shaky as it is.
I have no discretion to kick it.
That is, if you choose to go forward.
The district attorney's office is prepared to prosecute.
For once, will you show me something?
The district attorney's office is prepared to prosecute.
We empanel tomorrow morning.
Well, we've been down this road before.
Yes, and you'll all go down it again.
This time, with me.
Taking this child away from his family
will ruin him.
The doctors can make all kinds of predictions
about this and that,
come on, we all know
his fate if he's returned to the agency.
Troubled six
-year
-old? He'll never be adopted again.
He'll grow up without a home or a family.
How can any of us straight
-faced
say this child will be better off?
Yes, he has problems.
Yes, he's tough to live with
and sure, he can be a burden.
You run that risk as soon as you decide to be parents.
Now, as for the child, any child,
but especially one who has problems,
he has to have the guarantee that
no matter what his parents will stick by him.
I know they have tried, Your Honor,
but for God's sake, tell them to try again.
And if it still doesn't work, tell them to try again.
Giving that child back should be the last resort.
They're not here with a receipt trying to return merchandise.
And let's be honest, they are the only people
in this room who really love that little boy.
The rest of us are only doing their jobs.
But they love him.
They love their son, but Billy is getting angrier.
Billy is getting worse.
He pushed their baby daughter down the stairs.
She could have been k*lled.
He put a hot iron against Carl's arm.
He smashes his own head against the walls.
He has cut him self for stitches over a dozen times.
My clients have made every sacrifice
and they have failed.
They would put him in a private institution,
but they have no money.
And right now, they're scared.
They're scared for Billy.
They're scared for their other children.
They are desperate people, Your Honor.
They are asking you for disparate relief.
I will try to make a decision by the end of the day.
This court is adjourned.
It's silly, Arnie there's nothing for
Corinne and me to talk about.
Rox, please don't be like that.
You're on her side. You always will be.
There are no sides.
There's a misunderstanding that needs to be gotten out
in the open to clear the air.
We're all friends, here, right?
We're caring individuals who try to treat each other
with decency and mutual respect.
You are the lowest slime on earth.
You have the sexual responsibility of a warthog
and the morals of a flea.
You would screw your own grandmother
and sell tickets to it.
And I only pray for one thing:
that when someone finally does m*rder you,
there is a hell for you to rot in.
You were talking about decency and mutual respect?
A wonderful evening.
Douglas, Leland, I'll call you tomorrow.
Very good.
Well, thank you very much, and I look forward to that.
Anybody need a lift?
We could have a nightcap in the limo.
Thanks, we both drove.
Actually, I'm going to visit the men's room
before I go so I'll say my goodbyes here.
Thanks again, Leland.
My pleasure.
Good night, Douglas.
-It went well.
-Yes.
Leland.
I just ate here as well.
It's good food.
Very good.
I just ordered the special.
Shark?
Well, I saw you, just wanted to make sure you got our check.
Yes, thank you.
That's why I decided to treat myself to a nice meal.
It's a lot of money.
You don't have to tell me that.
Any plans on what to do with it?
I thought I'd take a leave of absence
from the firm for a month,
slow down a little,
maybe get to know my grandchildren.
That sounds good.
Grace and Sollers will file the dismissal
in the morning.
Yeah, good to be done with it.
Yes.
Well, I'll...
You know, they have a great desert tray here,
and I'll bet you skipped it.
I did.
At least take a look.
If nothing grabs you,
you can join me for a cup of coffee.
I'd be happy to.
The judge says she needs the night.
Oh my God.
She promised she'd have her decision first thing tomorrow.
Let's call this off.
Carol...
Maybe he was right, Ben.
Maybe we should try again.
What could we try that we haven't tried?
What's wrong with us?
Shh, shh, shh.
If they take him back, then he won't be our son.
He just stops being ours.
The adoption of a child is an unqualified
and irrevocable bond.
And for anyone to treat it otherwise
is completely reprehensible.
I certainly am loath to encourage other such parents
to return their children.
And I'm especially concerned
that other adopted boys and girls
may suddenly fear being shipped back
to state agencies because they don't live up to
their parents expectations.
I also have to look at the individual consequences here.
Returning Billy to the state
would surely cr*pple him emotionally,
if not forever, for a long time.
How could any child get over this?
Even if he is readopted.
But according to the doctors, returning Billy to the family
offers no real hope for emotional improvement either.
And given that...
given that his return to the household threatens
the safety of the other children,
and given the fact that I trust the parents here,
not only to love their son but to act in accordance
with what they think is best,
-I'm hereby granting their petition.
-[Mrs. Slaeffer sobs]
In God's name I hope you're right,
because what I'm doing quite frankly
leaves me a little ill.
Billy Slaeffer will return to the custody of the county.
The clerk will draft the order,
and may I suggest that every one of us
say a little prayer tonight,
for a boy who has no comprehension
of what is happening to him
We're adjourned.
No, no, I'd start with the eyewitness parts.
Stronger opener.
So, what lose stuff on Holloway?
No, no, no, keep it, but open with the other.
Get the credibility question on its feet immediately.
Okay.
Let's go.
Jonathan, listen.
I probably don't have to tell you this,
but this trial's going to be like nothing
you've ever had before.
Microphones are going to be shoved
in your face everywhere you turn.
Packed courtrooms.
People are going to call you names.
I've seen it.
You've seen it from the second chair.
It's a lot different when it's coming
directly at you, Jonathan.
Now, I'm gonna be right there beside you,
I'm with you.
But to a certain extent,
you're going to be all alone in that courtroom.
I'm ready.
One other thing:
I gave you this case because you're black, yes,
but also because you're a hell of a lawyer.
Thank you.
Hi.
Don't suppose you're ready to offer a last minute plea on m*rder two?
Nope.
Well, listen, I have been a little less
than aggressive so far
and you know I'm conflicted about a lot of what's going on,
but I don't want to mislead you.
Once we start, I'm going for a conviction.
I'm going for it as hard as I can.
We know that, Marsha,
and we know what you're dealing with.
Yeah, well...
Good luck.
It's pretty scary, huh?
Yeah.
Look, Ralph, she treats him like a contagious disease.
She's got to expect to get reamed.
Arnie, this is a ton of work,
I'm gonna be in here forever.
We'll give you custody of the kids, but we want the boat.
With the trailer.
Ralph, I'm gonna have to call you back.
Can't hear you. I'm headed into a tunnel.
Get out of my way.
We have to talk.
In your dreams.
You're in my dreams every night.
It's tearing me apart.
Good.
Oh, is that what you want? You want to see me destroyed?
Well, take a good look because the indestructible Arnold Becker
is crumbling all because of you.
Please, please. Will you talk to me?
You have to know something.
When I went to Stuart, it wasn't malicious.
I wasn't trashing a secretary to save my own neck.
It was a...
wild defensive move by a desperate man.
Yes, desperate.
Don't you see it that if you stay around here
I'm terrified of what could happen between us?
And it's not just because you're a beautiful woman, I'm a married man.
Beautiful women don't affect me, but...
you are so much more than that.
Your poise, your self
-assurance,
your innate sensuality,
those things make you irresistible.
Stuart must be wondering where you are.
Oh, God, the deposition.
[phone rings]
Ralph?
Yeah, we must have got cut off.
It's all this damn construction.
Phew.
Oh, hello, woman who's on time.
Oh...
I thought we were going to lunch.
This is more important.
What is this Arnie?
A ploy to get us together.
Would you both please just sit down?
If you're not going to talk to each other,
you can at least listen to me.
Now, Roxanne, you are my best friend,
nothing can change that.
You're irreplaceable on so many levels,
I can't even list them.
You know my deepest darkest secrets and you still love me.
You'll never know how much that means to me.
You're my wife.
Nothing can change that.
You're the woman I swore to love and honor
as long as we both live
and I want to laugh with you and I want to fight with you
and I want to grow old with you.
And I'll never be able to tell you
how much that means to me.
But some things do change.
I'm married now, and that does make a difference.
You're going to have to share me.
That doesn't mean I love you any less.
And you're going to have to accept that Roxanne is
a very important part of my life and she always will be.
You're the two women that I care most about in this world,
and part of accepting me for everything I am
is for you two to accept each other.
Maybe I did overreact.
I guess I was pretty thin
-skinned.
The appellate court won't miss this,
not one little bit.
I'm surprised you had the sense to settle,
but no less delighted.
-Thank you, Your Honor.
-Thank you, Your Honor.
I'll most post
-trial motions off calendar.
She's a pain in the ass, but she's right.
[chuckles]
Hey, listen.
Before I lose my chance I'd like to say congratulations.
You are one hell of a lawyer.
Thanks. So are you.
No, I really mean it.
You're strong, you're fearless.
You go for the throat with the best of 'em.
Thanks, again, I think.
Besides that, you're one of the most beautiful women I've ever met.
Listen, now that I'm not b*ating your brains out,
would you consider having dinner with me?
Dinner?
Like a date?
Nah, see, that was too direct, wasn't it?
I'm always either too subtle or too direct.
Women never know what I mean, you know what I mean?
I'm not sure I know what I mean.
I'm a little confused.
Pretty interesting, huh?
Yeah, pretty interesting.
So, Friday at
If that was a yes.It was a yes.
All right.
Well, I guess that's it.
Billy would like to see you.
I don't know about that.
Where is he?
In the hall with the social worker.
Listen
-
-
We can't just walk away, Abby.
Let us say goodbye.
Hi, honey.
Remember when I explained about your going to live
in a different place with other children?
And you'll go to school?
You be good, okay?
[sobbing]
I wanna go home.
We have to say goodbye now, Billy.
I'll be good.
I promise.
I love you, buddy.
Billy, it's time to go.
No!
Don't leave me.
Mommy!
No, no...
Mommy, please, I promise I'll be good.
I want to go home.
Please, I promise! I'll be good!
I want to go home.
We don't know what William Russ
intended to do with the car he stole
on August th.
Strip it down, keep it? Joyride?
We don't know and we'll never know,
because as this
-year
-old fled from the car,
as he was running home to his mother,
that man right there sh*t him in the back.
-This is not in dispute.
-[audience murmurs]
What is in dispute is why?
And the defendant, police officer Brian Chisolm claims
he was suddenly confronted with black drug dealers who sh*t at him,
and fearing for his life, he returned fire,
accidentally k*lling William Russ.
There is no evidence of these drug dealers.
There is no evidence of any b*ll*ts fired
from the g*ns of these phantom drug dealers.
The reason for this:
there were no drug dealers.
We will place an eyewitness at the scene
who saw Officer Chisolm sh**t William Russ.
This witness saw no
-one else except
the victim and that man, the armed white police officer
who sh*t him and then stood over the body of
an unarmed boy and claimed self
-defense.
And then just expected everyone to believe him.
I don't believe him,
and after you've heard all the evidence,
neither will you.
A week ago, they had no eyewitnesses.
Then suddenly this man here, Derron Holloway,
pays a little visit to the neighborhood and a witness appears.
See, Derron Holloway represents the family of the victim.
Derron Holloway stands to make a lot of money
through a lawsuit.
A lawsuit which will be easier won if Brian Chisolm
receives a criminal conviction here.
The eyewitness is lying.
The eyewitness was never there.
Drug dealers were there.
They sh*t at this man, he fired back,
and yes, William Russ was accidentally k*lled.
That's what happened.
The evidence will bare out
that's exactly what happened.
While defense attorney Jonathan Rollins claims
the sh**ting was accidental,
prosecution plans to call its first witness on Monday.
In other news, police commissioner
-
-
What?
Nothing.
Nothing, mommy just had a bad dream.
I wanted to come and see you.
Go back to sleep, honey.
[sobs]
♪♪