08x01 - Book Of Renovation, Chapter 1

[bunniefuu]

Ah, well, thank you very much, Mr. Garabedian.

We are interviewing a number of people,

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

Before I leave, I want to say two words to you:

Class action.

Whether we're talking about negligently manufactured pacemakers,

or defective farm machinery,

I believe that multiple plaintiff lawsuits

will generate heap big moolah.

And...

I am just the boy to do it.

Ah, thank you.

Thank you.

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

Five more.

I can't do this.

You guys hire whoever you want to hire,

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

-Hello? -DOUGLAS: Uh, you are?

Jane Halliday.

I'm Douglas Brackman.

This is Ann Kelsey, Jonathan Rollins,

and Arnold Becker.

Hi.

Arnold, are you staying?

ANN: Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself.

I'm from Oklahoma.

Went to Harvard Law School.

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

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

in Oklahoma City for two years.

JONATHAN: What made you want to relocate out here?

Well, I have family out here.

Also, I felt I could benefit

by broadening my horizons a bit.

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

At this point in my career,

I'd just as soon be guided by what needs present themselves.

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

It says on your resume that you attended

-Bob Jones University. -Yes.

ANN: That's a religious school, isn't it?

Yes, it is, it's a Christian college.

A fundamentalist Christian college.

Yes.

Are you a fundamentalist Christian?

Yes, I am.

Well, forgive me for saying this,

but this firm seems an unlikely setting for

a fundamentalist Christian to want to be in.

Perhaps it is.

But I made a decision to pursue a career,

and to work and live in a more mainstream environment

than the one I grew up in.

Your firm is very well regarded in the legal community.

I think I could benefit from working here.

And I also think that I could make a contribution.

Miss Halliday, you might find us

something of a godless bunch.

I think you'll find that

I'm really pretty accepting of people, Mr. Rollins.

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

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

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

"Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me,

"thou preparest a table for me before mine enemies.

"Thou anointest my head with oil.

"My cup runneth over.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

"all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Amen.

Well...

It was very nice meeting all of you.

And it was nice meeting you, Miss Halliday.

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

Thank you.

What?

♪♪ [theme]

♪♪

[indistinct chatter]

When is the table gonna be ready, Douglas?

They said another week.

-Unbelievable. -Yeah, dust.

-Everywhere is dust. -Hi.

-Is this it? -Yeah.

This renovation is taking on epic proportions.

When are they telling us now it's gonna be done?

-End of the month. -End of which month?

Fellas, could you hold it down?

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

Folks, if we could get down to business.

Interviews are ongoing for new associates.

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

-if possible. -I think it's safe to say that

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

I trust that what we witnessed was momentary infatuation

and nothing more than that.

ARNIE: We'll see all the candidates,

we'll make a decision, like everyone else,

I want whoever is best qualified for the job.

-What are you looking at? -What am I looking at?

I'm looking at the prize in the cr*cker Jack box,

I'm looking at the big brass ring in the merry-go-round of life.

What are you looking at?

The Bentley Continental R.

-You're getting a Bentley? -Yes, I am.

-How much? -List is ,.

-Ah! -You're spending $, for a car?

-You think that's excessive? -[laughs]

DOUGLAS: Folks, as compelling as this conversation is,

I'd really like to get some work done

before the sounds of hammering drives me completely crazy.

You're running the meeting, Douglas. Run the meeting.

Kincaid vs. Owens, Pierce, McIntyre and Reynolds.

That's mine. Judith Kincaid is suing her law firm

for sexual discrimination under Title VII

for their failure to make her a partner.

There but for the grace of God go we.

There are no female partners at Owen Pierce, Douglas,

not even one, like there is here.

Can this case be settled?

The offers we received were insulting.

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

as a repository for litigious and embittered females,

-shall we, Ann? -DOUGLAS: Moving on.

-[knocking] -WOMAN: Excuse me.

-Eli. -Is this a bad time?

No, it's a very good time. Everybody, this is my cousin,

-Eli Levinson. -How do you do?

-How do you do? -DOUGLAS: Stuart told us you're involved in

that case of the, uh-- the social worker who was k*lled.

The parents of the accused are old friends of my family's.

I'm out here on their behalf.

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

-please let us know. -Thank you.

DOUGLAS: Uh, there's a vacant office you can use,

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

ELI: Oh, please don't worry about it.

You're being extremely gracious.

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

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

I don't know.

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

I have no dependants.

Who should own a Bentley if not me?

Will it make you happy?

Yes, it will.

Then you should own it.

A wise man arrives from the east.

-Nice to meet you, Eli. -Nice to meet you.

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

My God, with the trouble he's in,

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

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

[buzzing]

-Oh, Sandy. -[door closes]

How are you doing, son?

Who's that?

This is Eli Levinson,

an attorney who's come with us from New York.

-What for? -ED: Because you need an attorney.

Because you have a little bit of difficulty here.

You, uh, still have my Beatles album,

"Yesterday and Today"?

We probably do.

I haven't thrown anything of yours away,

certainly not your record collection.

Well, it's the album cover with the Beatles in butcher coats.

See, I steamed off the album cover it was sold with

'cause it's got the original one underneath.

It's probably worth a fair amount of money.

Should we send for it? Do you want to have it here?

No, I'm thinkin' you should sell it.

-[knocking] -I want to go back now.

-Ed, Rae-- -[buzzing]

Why don't you give us a minute by ourselves?

I'll see you soon, son.

Sandy.

Sandy.

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

You've been charged with m*rder.

That means you need to have someone

paying very close attention to what happens to you.

Do you have a cigarette?

I don't smoke.

I didn't ask you if you smoke.

I asked you if you had a cigarette.

I don't.

Sandy,

there's a preliminary hearing scheduled for tomorrow.

Do you have any problem with me representing you at that hearing?

-No. -Good.

Is there anything you can tell me about

the crime you're being charged with?

No.

Okay.

Can I go now?

Sure.

[buzzing]

ELI: See you tomorrow.

Who are you again?

I'm your lawyer, kid.

[door closes]

ANN: How long did you work at

Owen, Pierce, McIntyre and Reynolds, Miss Kincaid?

KINCAID: Eight years.

I was hired right out of law school.

What were you told about your performance during that time?

I was told that my analytical skills were first rate.

As were my briefs.

As was my performance as a litigator.

As was my ability to supervise other associates.

Were any conversations held with reference to your being made partner?

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

-ANN: What were you told? -KINCAID: I was told that

while my work as an attorney was outstanding,

my, quote, unquote, people skills needed some adjustment.

I was told that I could be abrasive,

I could be terse.

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

ANN: How did you respond?

KINCAID: I said that I would work on it.

-ANN: Did you work on it? -Yes, I tried to be

a little more patient in dealing with associates;

tried to explain myself more.

Even tried telling an occasional joke.

Would you tell the court what happened the next time

you came up for partnership review?

I was told that I wasn't on the partnership track. Period.

Did any of the partners at Owen, Pierce, McIntyre and Reynolds tell you why?

Steve Bullock did.

I went into his office and asked him point blank

why I wasn't being considered for partner.

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

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

ANN: I have no further questions.

Would you say that one's ability to get along with other people

was in any way significant evaluating one's performance as an attorney?

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

Do you? February , ,

an associate by the name of... Robin Michael,

after working hour days for two weeks straight,

was leaving the office at p.m. to attend a hockey game.

Now, you stopped him at the door,

told him you'd have him fired if he went.

I was waiting on research he was responsible for.

It couldn't have waited 'til the following day?

-No. -MCCAFFERTY: December , ,

you initiated a confrontation with Bob Connelly,

a senior member at the firm, because of an imagined slight,

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

It wasn't imagined.

I felt as though Bob Connelly had addressed me

in a condescending tone of voice.

MCCAFFERTY: Well, would you tell us, Miss Kincaid,

what you hoped to accomplish by initiating a confrontation

in front of a client?

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

I did it because I found Mr. Connelly's behavior intolerable.

-Do you fit in at Owen, Pierce, McIntyre and Reynolds-- -Objection!

-JUDGE: Sustained. -I wasn't allowed to fit in.

I'm not sexy. I'm not funny.

And I don't know the secret handshake.

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

Well, I think in a manner of speaking,

that's what they did, isn't it, Miss Kincaid?

I put my heart and soul into that job.

I held back nothing.

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

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

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

I'm finished, your honor.

♪♪

[horn honking]

-Eli. -ELI: Hi, Denise.

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

I can't believe you're driving.

Hey, if you're gonna have a car, have a car.

Good to see you.

ELI: So, you and Jeffrey are finished?

DENISE: Yeah, we're divorced.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Eh, it's for the best, anyway,

believe me, we would have k*lled each other

if we would have stayed together.

How's his health?

Mentally, he's terminal. Physically, he's fine.

-How's Sydney? -Good.

-Charlie? -Good.

Everybody's just where they were when you left.

You know, I think about you guys a lot.

-Yeah? -Yeah.

So, what have you been doin' since you're out here?

Ah, you know, little bit of this, little bit of that.

You know, looking for a job, meeting people.

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

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

It's not anything like New York.

It's clean, sunny all the time,

nobody jaywalks, nobody knows how to dress.

Other than that, I love it.

[chuckles]

You wanna work for me while I'm in town?

-You need somebody? -Yes, I need somebody.

Oh, I would love to work for you.

In addition to everything else,

I could use some help getting around town.

-What do you mean? -I don't drive.

What do you mean, you don't drive?

I've lived in New York City all my life, Denise,

I never learned to drive.

I'll be your driver.

Great.

You know, you don't know how much easier it is

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

I mean, it hardly ever rains,

you never ever have to fight for a cab.

People are courteous, they're more relaxed,

you know, they're not always trying to k*ll each other.

♪♪ [car radio]

What are you lookin' at?

I'm looking at you.

And I'm liking what I see.

-Oh, really? -MAN: That's right.

Give me your telephone number.

-Drop dead. -Give me your telephone number.

-DENISE: Let's go. -Come on!

Court will come to order, Judge Shays presiding.

Be seated.

People vs. Sandy Morrison.

Thomas Mullaney for the prosecution, your honor.

The defendant is charged under section of the California penal code

with m*rder in the first degree.

ELI: My name is Eli Levinson, your honor,

I'm an attorney licensed to practice in the state of New York.

My appearance on Mr. Morrison's behalf

ispro hac vice.

Do you have supporting papers for apro hac viceappearance?

-I do. -Approach.

Is your client prepared to enter a plea?

At this point, your honor, I really haven't had

an adequate opportunity to confer with my client.

I beg the court's indulgence that he might enter a plea at a later date.

I'll set it down for Thursday. Is that all right, Mr. Mullaney?

-Yes, it is, your honor. -At this time, your honor,

I'd also move for Mr. Mullaney's disqualification.

-On what grounds? -On the grounds that

my appearance in the state of California

is in association with the firm of McKenzie, Brackman,

Becker, Kelsey, Markowitz and Morales,

a firm of which I believe Mr. Mullaney was a member.

Your honor, I haven't been a member of the firm

for more than a year.

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

I'm going to have to take this matter under advisement, gentlemen.

I am not prepared to rule on this now.

Your honor, in that I sense this is

little more than a delaying tactic,

I'm prepared to withdraw from the case.

My office will appoint another prosecutor.

-Very well. -I would assume that

all evidence related to this case

be made available, be it inculpatory or exculpatory.

I would also ask that at Thursday's hearing,

the court entertain an application for bail.

I believe that when Mr. Levinson looks over the evidence,

inculpatory and exculpatory,

he will decline to pursue his application for bail.

Why is that?

Mr. Morrison confessed.

[indistinct chatter]

I'll see you back at the office.

Excuse me.

You're Sandy's parents?

Yes, we are.

I'm Jonah Burgee. It was my wife who was k*lled.

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

in all of this,

and I certainly don't want you to feel as though

I'm going to be sitting here in court

looking at you, or your son, for that matter,

with hatred.

This is a tragedy.

It's a tragedy for all of us.

Yes, it is.

Thank you for saying that.

If Gail were here, she would have said it,

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

Overall, I was pleased with yesterday.

-What about you? -I thought it went well.

McCafferty got to me.

A little. That's okay, though.

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

From the jury's perspective,

it'll probably work to your advantage that he did.

Sylvia.

Hello, Judith.

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

I am a member of the firm.

They're using you as window dressing, Sylvia.

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

I believe I'm serving a useful function.

May we join you?

I'd rather that you didn't.

Okay.

Would you tell us why an offer of partnership

wasn't made to Judith Kincaid?

MCINTYRE: I'd say it was a combination of things.

Her work was good, albeit not exceptional.

She demonstrated no real potential for generating business,

and, uh, her personality most definitely hurt her.

In what way did it hurt her?

MCINTYRE: Those of us who worked with her

found her to be rather severe,

cold, even.

And she had a low flash point.

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

Not a lot of fun to be around.

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

Was this determination influenced by the fact that she's a woman?

Absolutely not.

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

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

We're in law schools recruiting,

and we have more women associates at the firm now

than at any time in the past history.

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

Oh, I assure you, we want a woman,

we just didn't want this one.

MCCAFFERTY: I have nothing further.

How any attorneys are there in your firm, Mr. McIntyre?

Forty-three.

How many partners?

Ten senior partners, junior partners.

How many senior partners are women?

None.

ANN: How many junior partners are women?

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

We are in need of the humanizing influence

a woman would bring.

The right woman just hasn't come along.

ANN: The truth is, she doesn't exist.

The attributes you want in a woman,

and the attributes you want in a lawyer are mutually exclusive.

-MCCAFFERTY: Your honor-- -ANN: What you've done is

nothing more than to construct an elaborate pretext--

-JUDGE: Miss Kelsey-- -For never having to allow a woman

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

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

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

Every time you don't get what you want

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

It's the glass ceiling, whatever that is.

Well, you know what?

I'm a little sick of all your whining.

Sick of all whose whining, Mr. McIntyre?

Forgive me, your honor,

I didn't mean to speak in generalities.

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

Whose whining were you referring to?

I was referring to the plaintiff,

and only the plaintiff.

ANN: Your honor, at this time I'd like to announce

my intention to call Sylvia Reiner as a witness.

I object. Your honor, Sylvia Reiner is a member of

the defense team in this case.

ANN: Your honor, I insist on being able to

examine the policies of this firm

as they pertain to women.

I believe the jury is entitled to determine for themselves

who it was Mr. McIntyre was referring to.

JUDGE: Given the lateness of the hour,

we'll adjourn for today.

Uh, when we convene again tomorrow morning,

you may call Miss Reiner to the stand.

The witness is excused.

Court is adjourned.

My firm specializes in environmental law,

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

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

-Yes, I do. -Very impressive.

I appreciate you saying that,

uh, but before I'd consider joining this organization,

there are a few things we'd have to address.

-Like what? -The air in this building is bad.

There has to be significantly better circulation.

I require ergonomically correct seating for myself and my assistant,

as well as radiation shielding for all the video display terminals.

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

where deep-pocket defendants are involved.

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

In other words, are you prepared

to walk it like you talk it?

I don't believe we have a resume.

Forget the resume, I haven't been working for the last three years.

What have you been doing?

I've been in jail.

I was convicted of mail fraud.

I served months,

now I'm out and I'm raring to go.

How are you able to practice law

if you were convicted of mail fraud?

I'm not able to practice law.

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

in commercial real estate syndication.

What I need is a base of operations

from which to do it.

[sighing]

I guess I'd like to start off by asking about maternity leave.

[footsteps approaching]

Miss Kelsey.

Yes. Hi.

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

Come in.

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

really, by calling me as a witness?

Exactly what I said I hope to accomplish;

to demonstrate that the way my client was treated

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

I have no complaints about how I was treated.

I understand that.

Then why call me as a witness?

My testimony isn't going to affect

the outcome of this case one way or another.

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

You're a partner here, Miss Kelsey?

-Yes. -You're a partner.

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

You two are bright, successful young women.

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

Why is it necessary to humiliate me?

I'm not trying to humiliate you, Miss Reiner.

That's what you're going to do.

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

who's worked her entire adult life

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

I don't want to be depicted that way.

Can you understand that?

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

♪♪

[sighs]

ANN: Are you married, Miss Reiner?

MCCAFFERTY: Objection. Irrelevant.

ANN: Your honor, I think the jury's entitled to view

the totality of circumstances affecting this woman.

I'll allow it.

I'm divorced.

Do you have children?

I have three grown children.

How long have you been divorced?

Since .

Who provided most of the income

that you and your children lived on, Miss Reiner?

I provided all the income.

What year did you come to work for

Owen, Pierce, McIntyre and Reynolds?

.

And you remained there ever since as an associate,

-is that right? -Yes, I have.

Now, as time went on, one of your responsibilities

was to train other associates, wasn't it?

Yes.

Yet, there were a variety of perquisites and privileges

extended to other associates

that weren't extended to you, weren't there?

I really have no complaints about the way I've been treated.

ANN: Were you given your own office?

REINER: No, I wasn't.

-ANN: Your own secretary? -No.

ANN: Isn't it a fact, Miss Reiner,

that you make less money

than associates whom you yourself have trained?

I wouldn't know the answer to that question.

Isn't it also a fact, Miss Reiner, that until this trial,

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

As I said, I have no complaints.

Have you seen the evaluation that was made

when you first came up for partnership review, Miss Reiner?

-No, I haven't. -ANN: I have a copy of it here.

I ask that it be admitted into evidence

as plaintiff's exhibit number five.

Objection. This evaluation is ancient history.

Attitudes towards women across the board

were totally different then.

I would maintain, your honor,

that what we're here to determine is

just how different they are.

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

the degree of subterfuge those attitudes are concealed behind.

I'll allow it to come in.

I quote,

"Sylvia is, like most women, good with details,

"but utterly lacking in fire or leadership potential.

"Loyal as a Saint Bernard.

"Keep her chained to the dog house,

"feed her once a day,

"and she'll follow us anywhere.

"Definitely not partnership material.

Not even close."

Would you agree with that characterization?

I have no complaints about the way I was treated.

ANN: Is it possible, Miss Reiner,

that having to raise three children on your own

taught you to have no complaints?

You have no right to do this.

This is supposed to be about your life.

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

I apologize, Miss Reiner.

Nothing further.

[knocking]

-I'm looking for Beverly Halleran. -You found her.

I was told that you're assigned to the Morrison case.

-Who are you? -I'm Eli Levinson,

I'm representing Sandy Morrison.

Sit down.

I assume you know we're dealing with

someone who's quite ill.

Are we?

Have you studied his file?

-Yes. -What's the question?

He's been institutionalized half a dozen times.

He's been diagnosed as a clinical bipolar depressive.

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

A factor in what?

A factor in Morrison having k*lled Gail Burgee.

Assuming, of course, that he did.

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

I'm not interested in his clinical diagnosis.

I am interested in getting him off the street.

Me, too. But the truth is,

he never should have been on the street.

-Well-- -And if you force me to try this case,

I will subpoena ever shrink and hospital administrator

this kid ever saw.

Anyone who had anything to do with

putting him on the street will be called as a witness.

I'll make this trial about how Sandy Morrison got to be a k*ller,

not whether or not he was one.

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

whether you succeed or not depends on the judge.

You're right.

And I'm more than willing to take that chance.

What is it you're looking for?

Not guilty by reason of insanity.

Long-term commitment to a secure mental hospital.

Come on, that should satisfy your need

to get him off the street.

And my need to get him some help.

I have your assurance you won't fight me on

the issue of confinement.

Absolutely.

Okay.

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

and we'll schedule a commitment hearing.

He also remains in custody until such time as

he can be transferred to a mental hospital.

Agreed.

Okay.

Well, nice doing business with you, counselor.

Nice doing business with you.

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

They've got a great selection.

Thank you, no, I don't drink.

"Everything God created is good and nothing is to be rejected

if it's received with thanksgiving."

Timothy, chapter .

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

I was very impressed with you the other day.

I was hoping I could interest you in

the field of matrimonial law,

working directly under me.

So to speak.

Does that mean I have the job?

Well, the partners still have to vote on it,

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

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

Are you involved with anyone at the present time?

No, I'm not.

Well, praise the Lord. As it happens, neither am I.

Um, Mr. Becker, am I correct in assuming that

you're interested in entering into some sort of

romantic relationship with me?

The possible inappropriateness of such candor notwithstanding,

interested would be far too mild of a word.

Please understand something.

I don't believe in recreational sex.

"Do not deprive each other

"so that you may devote yourselves to prayer.

"Come together so that Satan will not tempt you

because of your lack of self control."

Corinthians, chapter .

Paul's letter to the Corinthians

was referring to married couples.

But the principle still obtains, does it not?

No, Mr. Becker, it does not.

I'm a virgin. I'm a virgin by choice,

and I will remain a virgin until the night of my wedding.

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

I'd like to go.

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

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

should I get the position,

to one strictly professional in nature.

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

My God, and she's a virgin.

[shudders] Ooh.

There are those who will tell you that

Judith Kincaid is in here asking for special treatment.

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

has come into this courtroom

is that she's already gotten special treatment.

She has been judged not as an attorney,

but as a woman attorney.

She found herself being punished

for the very same behavior for which male associates were rewarded.

They were assertive, she was abrasive.

They showed leadership, she was bossy.

They were business like, she was cold.

Nobody told her when she first interviewed with the firm

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

but how much fun she was to be around.

Nobody told her that her failure to smile

or lack of interest in sports would represent

an insurmountable obstacle to advancement.

And the reason nobody told her

was that the men who interviewed her

wanted her to work for them.

They knew that this was a bright, driven attorney

who could be depended upon to work her tail off.

They knew that it would be six or seven years

before they'd have to tell her that

she wasn't gonna make partner.

They knew what a good deal they had in her.

They had only to look at the deal they had with Sylvia Reiner.

Now, I have no doubt that

the men of Owen, Pierce, McIntyre and Reynolds

are made somewhat uncomfortable by Judith Kincaid.

I have no doubt that they are more comfortable

having as partners other men like themselves.

We ask that you consider the cost of that comfort.

We ask that you look at the lives that are expended

without recognition or reward.

We ask that you do something about it.

When Judith Kincaid came to work

at Owen, Pierce, McIntyre and Reynolds,

what did she have a right to expect?

She had the right to expect to be paid fairly,

and be given the same opportunities

as other associates at the firm.

The fact that she was judged and found wanting

does not translate into an act of discrimination.

Her work was satisfactory, her demeanor less so.

Given the range of candidates, the senior partners chose

who they felt were best qualified,

they made a decision.

So long as there were legitimate reasons for that decision,

they were wholly within their rights to make it.

Now, if you decide otherwise,

if you compensate Judith Kincaid for this alleged wrong,

by extension, you will hurt the prospects of all women who work.

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

that they can't compete on the basis of their own abilities,

that they need attorneys shepherding their progress.

Now, I believe that hard work and talent

will result in women taking their rightful place

alongside men in all strata of society,

but in order for that to happen,

they must be permitted to fail.

Now, all of us who work for a living

stand on our own two feet.

We all vie for promotions,

we are all subject to the judgment of others.

We get knocked down, we get back up,

brush ourselves off, get back into the ring.

We learn from our failures,

we learn from our mistakes.

Let Judith Kincaid do the very same thing.

-MAN: You like this place? -DENISE: Yeah, it's nice.

-I know the owner. -Oh, yeah?

-Yeah. -Hm.

Where you from in New York?

-Queens. -Get outta here.

Yeah. Why?

Can't believe I'm sittin' here in L.A.

-with a chick from Queens. -And why is that?

Where you think I'm from?

I have no idea where you're from.

-I'm from Bayside. -Get outta here.

-Yeah. -[laughing]

Excuse me. You just got ticketed.

What do you mean you just got ticketed?

-They're givin' out tickets. -Well, uh, send Matty in here.

What's goin' on?

I'm, uh, handling the parking here.

What do you mean you're handling the parking?

Well, I have a valet parking service.

Among other things. I mean, last week,

I did parties at Eddie Van Halen's,

Mickey Rourke's, and at Stallone's.

-Hm. I'm impressed. -Yeah, I know.

Sometimes I can't believe it myself.

I don't know what's goin' on, Anthony,

suddenly, they're handing out parking tickets.

What, do I have to do everything myself?

No, you don't. Excuse me for the interruption here.

Hey, Matty, just give the meter maid $

or, uh, park it somewhere else.

$-- Only when I win a jackpot I give 'em $.

Then you win a jackpot. Go ahead.

All right, I'll take care of it.

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

-Yeah, you do. -Hey.

-What? -I'm sittin' here

entranced and entrapped

by a gorgeous woman from the borough of Queens.

So it's just a coincidence that we came to this restaurant?

-Well, what do you think? -What do I think?

I think I'm remembering all the reasons why

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

Hey, how'd you like to meet Sly?

-Anthony. -What?

I hate to bother you but Matty's gettin' arrested.

Yeah? For what?

He offered money to the meter maid.

This is what I get for bringing these meatballs out here.

Go ahead. Huh?

Listen. Give me five minutes, all right?

I'll straighten everything out.

I come back, we finish the meal,

we head out to Nicky Blair's,

and we'll hang out with Sly.

-All right, gorgeous? -All right.

All right. Be right back.

God.

[sighs]

[laughter]

[indistinct chatter]

[laughter]

-Phil Garabedian. -Too green.

I agree. Lloyd Hassock.

-Prima Dona. -I agree with that, too.

-Jane Halliday. -Pass.

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

Wait a second. All we know is that

she's a young woman who happens to believe in God.

Is that all we know?

She went to Bob Jones University.

Yeah?

Ask her her position on freedom of choice for women.

Ask her her position on h*m*.

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

We're looking for a first year associate.

Wait a minute. Whatever the relative merits of this woman,

I think the fact that Ann is as adamantly opposed to her as she is

should account for something.

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

I'm saying we shouldn't consider her.

If we can dismiss those other people out of hand,

we can dismiss her out of hand.

ARNIE: Tell me something, Stuart.

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

-Not the same thing. -ARNIE: Not the same thing?

Exactly the same thing.

This woman hasn't said one word about abortion

or h*m* or anything else.

What you're doing is exactly what all those

white shoe downtown firms do when they sit around

and refuse to consider tainting themselves

by allowing a Jew in their midst.

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

It appears that since we started interviewing,

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

And we need to hire someone.

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

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

-I vote we hire her. -So do I.

-I vote no. -Me, too.

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

I vote to hire her.

-Four to three, right, Arnold? -Four to three.

-LELAND: You'll let her know, Douglas. -DOUGLAS: Yes, I will.

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

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

with this renovation.

Tell me, Arnie, is it possible you would have made

a slightly less impassioned speech

if you hadn't wanted to go to bed with her?

-I resent that. -Are you saying you have

no interest in going to bed with her?

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

[sighs]

-[construction noise] -[indistinct chatter]

Have you tasted these things?

-What? -These, California bagels.

Look at this, raisin, blueberry.

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

Blah! It's like cotton.

I hate to tell you, Eli, but not everybody likes hard bagels.

H&H they are not. Cosars bialys they are not.

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

-Eli. -What?

I have somethin' to tell ya, that's what.

Last night, I was at this restaurant,

and the husband of the woman who your client was charged with k*lling was there.

-Yeah? -Well,

it looked like the mourning period was over.

What do you mean?

He was with this hot tomato and they were all over each other.

They were drinkin', grabbin', kissing,

I mean, it was, like, nauseating already.

-Huh. -I mean, if it was me who d*ed,

I wouldn't want my grieving husband

doin' what this guy was doin'.

Good morning.

Leland, this is my secretary, Denise.

Well, how do you do, Denise?

Hey, Leland, how you doin'? Okay if I call you Leland?

Uh, of course.

Cool. See ya.

Cool.

I need to talk to you, Sandy.

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

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

-Don't ask me. -I've gotta ask you.

It's you who's accused of m*rder.

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

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

Do you understand the nature of these proceedings?

Took away my cereal. Wasn't done with it yet.

Sandy, do you understand?

What you have to understand, Mr. Levinson,

that I don't care.

Did you confess because you didn't care?

Court will come to order. Judge Rona Shays presiding.

First case on the docket, People vs. Morrison.

Please be seated.

Where do we stand on this case, Miss Halleran?

Uh, Mr. Morrison has indicated through counsel

that he is interested in entering a plea of insanity.

The People are prepared to agree to such a plea,

provided the defendant's confinement to a secure facility

remains continuous and unopposed.

Mr. Levinson?

JUDGE: Mr. Levinson.

The defense will not be entering a plea of insanity, your honor.

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

-Excuse me? -JUDGE: Set down for trial October st.

The defense would like to make an application for bail, your honor.

Denied. The defendant's remanded to custody.

Next case.

-CLERK: Next case on the docket-- -Can I go now?

Yeah.

Hey.

Here.

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

-I had a change of heart. -Oh, did you?

Well, in the future, I would appreciate it

if you wouldn't go through the pretense of giving me your word.

Since, quite apparently, it's worthless.

You'll forgive me if my client's future

is of somewhat greater significance to me

than remaining in your good graces.

You think you have a sh*t at an acquittal?

Good luck.

You also thought getting Tommy Mullaney off this case helped your chances?

Well, I think you may have miscalculated there as well.

Has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, your honor.

How say you?

We find for the plaintiff

and award the sum of $. million.

JUDGE: On the issue of specific performance,

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

is hereby compelled to make an offer of full partnership

to Judith Kincaid.

With that, we are adjourned.

[gavel bangs]

[sighs] I don't want this thing to drag out.

-Get with her as soon as you can. -Fine.

Sylvia.

I'm sorry to have put you through testifying.

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

I never would have done it.

Given the outcome of the case,

it's a good thing you didn't think about it.

We should schedule a meeting, Miss Kelsey.

For what purpose?

For the purpose of determining how much more time and effort

is going to be consumed by this law suit.

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

to waive the partnership offer,

we would consider foregoing any appeals

and paying her the money damages in full.

Judith?

I think I'd probably agree to that.

I thought you might.

Come on, Syl, let's go.

♪♪

[knocking]

Hey. So?

Looks like we're going to trial.

I don't think my client's guilty.

What about his, uh-- his confession?

I think he signed it because he was nuts.

And I think I have another suspect.

Who?

The husband.

So, it, uh, looks like you're gonna be around for a while.

Looks that way.

Good, good.

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

It was my grandmother's funeral.

We went back to Aunt Ida's sit shiva,

and you and I went upstairs to play Risk.

Aunt Ida, ooh.

-You remember all that? -Yeah.

Good.

It's odd the things we remember, isn't it?

This guy that I came out here to represent,

he sits there in a psychotic haze,

and remembers these seemingly trivial events

that appear to have no relationship to

what's going on around him.

And everyone sits there and looks at him

as though he were on another planet.

Two years ago, I had a nervous breakdown, Stuart.

And that's the way everyone used to look at me.

Looks like you've recovered.

[chuckles]

About percent of the time, I feel like I have.

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

Thanks, I don't think so.

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

but we have some very good restaurants in Los Angeles.

Let's do it another night.

I got some files to read through,

and when I get done with that,

I think I'm gonna go for a walk.

A walk? Eli, this is L.A. Nobody walks in L.A.

I think I'm going to anyway.

Listen, uh, I-I-I--

I just want to tell you that, uh,

whether you're here for a week or a month or whatever,

uh, Ann and I are your family.

And happily so.

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

See ya.

♪♪

♪♪ [theme]