02x07 - No Good Deed

[bunniefuu]

- (SCHOOL BELL RINGS)
- (INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

Okay, okay, please, please,
take your seats.

Leave your booklets closed

and your pencils down
until I tell you to begin.

(DOOR OPENS)

(SCHOOL BELL RINGS)

Principal MacDonald?

Yeah, come on in.

These are the exams from first period.

Thanks, Lacey. Uh, any irregularities?

What?

Tyler Young.

I got him admission and a scholarship

up at Hudson College next year.

It's contingent upon these scores, and...

if he fails...

Is there any way
I could look at his test?

By law... I have to certify

that I've locked these tests in a safe

no later than ten minutes

after the conclusion of the exam.

No one can see them

or touch them

until the courier
from the testing service

picks them up in the morning.

But what happens

after I leave for the day...

well, I wouldn't know about that.

♪ ♪

Can I help you?

No.

Yeah, um...

I need one test.

Tyler Young.

BULL: I must say, Marissa,

you look absolutely beautiful.

But I'm sure Kyle's
already told you that.

Yes. He told me I looked
beautiful in the shower.

Told me I looked beautiful
in my underwear.

And then he told me
I looked beautiful in my dress.

I couldn't help but notice his

sense of conviction diminishing
the more clothes I put on.

Hmm, men. What's our problem?

Bull. Dr. Jason Bull.

Why are we here again?

I thought you swore last year
you were never coming back.

And I meant it. Oh, wait a second.

Is this the mayor's annual
"You Scratch My Back,

I Have No Idea Who You Are
Fundraising Gala"?

Don't you think you've had enough?

- Astonishingly, no.
- EMCEE: Come on, folks.

- I can still hear this guy's voice.
- ...into our kids' college funds.

Now here's a truly New York experience:

a private carriage ride
through Central Park

- with Mayor Hopkins herself.
- (APPLAUSE)

What do you say we kick this one off

at $ , ?

$ , , anyone?

Oh, God.

Hey, what are you doing?
Someone's got to have $ , .

It's worth two grand to shut this guy up.

It's practically a steal.

$ , , from the gentleman

- in the glasses. Now do I see three?
- Ta-da.

- Auction over.
- $ , ?

$ , , in the back.

Now do I hear four?

Do I hear four? Do I hear four?

- Hey, what are you doing?
- I know when

to bow out, I'm just
gonna run the price up.

$ , , from the man in the glasses.

- (SCOFFS)
- I can't believe this.

$ , in the back, now. Do I hear six?

We've got six.

Thank you, Clark Kent.

Is there a seven to be had?

Do I hear seven?

Seven. Do I hear eight? $ , ?

- Bull, stop.
- Trust me, I know when to get out.

- This is my last bid.
- Eight, anyone? $ , !

Can I get nine? In the back.

$ , . $ , once,

$ , twice, sold to the man in the back

for $ , .

- See?
- (APPLAUSE)

Do I know what I know
or do I know what I know?

I don't know.

EMCEE: Ladies and gentlemen,
Your Honor the mayor

was so moved by this
outpouring of generosity

that she has agreed to take time for two

carriage rides.

One to the man in the back for $ , ,

and to the gentleman
in the glasses for eight.

(CHUCKLING): Oh, yeah...

MAN: Dr. Bull.

Dr. Jason Bull? (CHUCKLES)

Dr. Bull?

John Powers. Chief of staff
for Mayor Hopkins.

Thanks so much for jumping in out there.

Page Six would've had
a field day if we couldn't

sell a stroll through the park
with Her Honor.

(CHUCKLES)

Happy to do it. In fact,

nothing gives me greater
pleasure than writing a check

for something I really don't need.

(LAUGHS)

Truth is, I was wondering

if I could impose on you for, uh,

one more thing? You've heard about

the cheating scandal in the Bronx?

Oh, yeah, last summer...
the teachers fixing tests?

The, uh, teachers union
is representing the only teacher

who's been charged so far.

She's a passionate young
educator, who, in our opinion,

is being railroaded by the
district attorney's office.

Any way I could entice you
to take a meeting

with the teacher and her lawyer?

The mayor would be extremely
grateful for your help.

I'm sure she would.
There are far more teachers

who vote in elections
than district attorneys.

(LAUGHS)

Just e-mail me where to go
and when to be there.

Um, and say hi to the mayor for me.

Even though she probably
couldn't tell me from Adam.

Uh, just say yes, Bull.

Yes, Bull.

Dr. Jason Bull?

So, what can I do

for you, Dr. Bull? Mayor's office said

you'd be stopping by.

You know who I am?

I read The New York Times.

You're a trial scientist.

It's hard to tell...
the way you said that...

just how you feel about it.

Does the expression "third teat"

clear it up for you?

- Mmm.
- (KNOCKING ON DOOR)

It's open.

Hi. Um... am I interrupting something?

I was told to just knock.

No, no. You're fine.

Lacey Adams, Dr. Jason Bull.

Doctor.

Ms. Adams. It's nice to meet you.

I'm a trial scientist.

I assist lawyers and legal teams

with challenging cases.

The mayor's office wanted me to come by

and meet you and your lawyer,

see if I could be of any help.

- He can't.
- (PHONE RINGS)

Gwen here.

Mm-hmm.

GWEN: Mm-hmm. Sure.

So...

what'd they tell you

- about me?
- Nothing.

I just know what I've read...
you and five other teachers

are accused of altering more
than standardized tests.

I changed one answer...

on one test.

One.

For one kid.

Wow. That must be one special kid.

He's one of those kids everyone says

is a lost cause.

Terrible grades,

attendance issues,

no dad.

And I think the mother
has a heroin problem.

But in class?

I can see the gears turning.

I spent three years working with him...

before school,

after school... I brought him up
from a D to a B-plus.

I even talked the admissions
counselor at Hudson College

into accepting him.

All he had to do was
get a on his test.

And it shouldn't have
been a problem, but...

So let me get this straight...

they could place all six of you
at the scene,

and all of you were arrested, but...

you are the only one being charged.

- Mm-hmm.
- Why?

Because I confessed.

That was the district attorney's office.

They're offering a deal.

They certainly are. You plead guilty,

testify against the other five teachers,

the ADA will give you probation.

You'll serve no time.

But she'll still have
a felony on her record.

Which means they'll take away
your teaching license.

What's the alternative?

- You go to jail.
- The alternative

is we go to court.

We explain to a jury why you did

what you did, and maybe, just maybe,

you walk away from this, doing what

you're meant to do.

Which is obviously teach.

And you'll be there?

Part of the team?

Absolutely.

Can't have too many teats.

Can you, Gwen?

- What?
- Nothing.

MARISSA: Lacey Adams, age .
Graduated from Yale,

did a one-year stint
with Teach for America.

She has been at Woodrow
High School, in the Bronx,

for the last three years.

Went to Yale and works in a public school

in the Bronx; that's commitment.

Oh, it gets better. She works

-hour days, nets less than $ a week,

and buys school supplies
with her own money.

I need to leave now so I can go
home and rethink my entire life.

BENNY: A group of teachers

changes thousands of answers
on hundreds of tests.

And supposedly this girl
only did it once.

MARISSA: That's what she says.

BENNY: Uh-huh.

- And we believe her?
- Bull believes her.

He thinks she's a good teacher.
He thinks she's a good person.

And he hates that she's
facing a decade in prison.

He said,

"In Lacey's mind, what
she did was justified.

We just have to get the jurors
to accept that justification."

Well, that's all, huh?

You grew up around here?

Uh, I grew up in Switzerland.

Ah, I was close.

My father works in international finance.

Uh, they live in Massachusetts now.

I mean, I am American.

I was born here.

But it wasn't until I went to Yale

that I fell in love with the place.

What about teaching?

Did you get the notice?

There's no money in it, Lacey.

(CHUCKLES) Yeah, I know.

But, um, some of the most
important people in my life,

growing up, were teachers.

I remember when we moved to Europe.

I was five years old.

They speak four languages in Switzerland.

None of them English.

So the only person who understood me

and the only person I could talk to,

other than my mom and dad,
was my teacher.

My fate was sealed.

I'm in a lot of trouble,
aren't I, Dr. Bull?

Yes.

- And no.
- (CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY)

I mean, you did do something
that was wrong.

But it seems fairly obvious

you did it for a very good reason.

In fact, it seems pretty clear

you did it to help someone else.

God, I miss it.

(CHUCKLES)

God, I miss them.

I know.

BULL: Knock, knock.

How do you feel about necessity?

I feel very strongly

that it's the mother of invention.

Ah. I mean as a trial strategy.

I just spent the morning
with our mutual client

and I think necessity
gives us what we need.

You want to present a necessity defense?

I do.

Think about it.

We're stuck with Lacey's confession.

I mean, we can't claim she's not guilty.

But we can turn a weakness
into a strength.

We can demonstrate that Lacey's
cheating was a necessity.

She did it to prevent Tyler's life

from becoming a greater tragedy
than it already was.

Okay.

Dr. Bull, I know you're not a lawyer,

but the necessity defense is intended

for people trying to save lives.

That's what Lacey was doing.

An intruder breaks into your home

and tries to kidnap your child,

so you sh**t him.

That's necessity.

That's why people mount
a necessity defense.

It's not used to defend against
an allegation of fraud.

And there's no precedent.

Then let's make some precedent.

- You're serious.
- Mmm.

Well, that's all well and good,

but I've already decided.

We're going to argue that
standardized testing

without regard to
socioeconomic inequality

is just bad public policy.

That's our defense.

I want to put the entire notion

of standardized testing

on trial.

- You do?
- Damn right.

You ever get out of here?

From under this mountain of paperwork?

Why don't you come by my office?

I'll show you what we do,

and why I think our defense
is such a winner.

The jurors we should be looking for

are those who understand

it's sometimes acceptable
to do something wrong

in pursuit of something right.

You're talking about Machiavellianism,

as in Niccolo Machiavelli?

BULL: Exactly.

Machiavelli, th century

politician and philosopher,
who believed it was absolutely

fine to do the wrong thing, if
it was for the right reasons.

Our task is to identify the jurors

with the most Machiavellian tendencies

and get them seated on that jury.

Our task is to prove Lacey

was put in an impossible situation

by forces beyond her control,

and did her best to navigate it.

The rest of this is...

Wait a minute. Is this a test?

It's the Mach IV test
for Machiavellianism.

Question number one: "Agree or disagree?

Honesty is the best policy in all cases."

Mmm, I certainly agree with that.

I don't.

I don't believe you do either.

MARISSA: Kids, no fighting at the table.

We have a guest.

(BENNY SIGHS)

BULL: Everybody ready to share?

Remember, the higher the score,
the more Machiavellian you are.

Well, I got a .

Confirms what we already know.

Save for your perverse talent
for violating people's privacy,

and reading their most secret

and intimate documents online,
you're fundamentally

trustworthy and ethical.

I hate that. Sounds so boring.

- I got a .
- BULL: Spoken like a true Machiavellian.

And right up there with my .

- What'd you get?
- Uh, .

- I guess we are a den of thieves.
- BULL: Hmm.

And Mr. "Honesty is the best policy"?

. I'm not sure I even trust this test.

. And I trust it completely.

Ms. Kinsey?

. Not that it matters.

Well done, group.

Is anyone else hungry?

Yeah.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Here are the questions I'd love
you to ask potential jurors.

In addition, it's extremely important

that you weave the word "necessity"

into the conversation. I want the jurors

to become very comfortable with that word

and to start understanding
that that's what they need

to measure Lacey's behavior against.

(GAVEL BANGS)

Do me a favor and raise your hand

if you agree with the following:

"Most people are basically
good and kind."

The defense would like to excuse
and thank jurors two and nine.

"The best way to handle people

is to tell them what they want to hear."

Juror number five is acceptable
to the defense, Your Honor.

(WHISPERS): Necessity.

Again, raise your hand if you agree.

"Generally speaking,
most people won't work hard

unless it's an absolute necessity."

Juror is acceptable
to the defense, Your Honor.

Raise your hand if you believe

there should be uniform
educational standards

whether you live in Alaska or Wyoming,

whether your child is rich or poor.

She's going off script.

GWEN: So, then, I take it
you believe standardized tests

are a necessary part of the curriculum?

I do.

Defense would like to thank
and excuse this juror.

(SIGHS)

So ordered. And let me remind the defense

that you have now exhausted
all your challenges.

(SIGHS)

Mm.

What? I said the word "necessity."

You're not happy?

I thought we had a plan.

I thought we were working together.

No.

You had a plan.

And you thought I was working for you.

And now you know better.

Rather Machiavellian, wouldn't you say?

(PAPERS RUSTLING)

Tell me you are not going
through my personal papers.

Sorry, can't do that.

That's exactly what I'm doing.

Okay, I need you to stop right now.

I need you to get up,
get your clothes and leave.

Are you mad at me?

I am going to count to three,

and if you are not out of that chair

and getting your clothes,
I'm calling the police.

Out of the chair.

But I was just looking through this stuff

because I'm worried about you.

Marissa... I'm a money guy.

That's what I do.

And, uh, you won't let
me take care of you.

Half the time, you won't let me
pay for dinner, and I get it.

That's what works for you,

but I am who I am and I need
to know you're okay.

That you're set for the future,
and you're not.

That's my business.

You're halfway through your working life

and you have nothing put away.

Less than a hundred grand.

And I know, I see, that you're
paying for your mom

to live in that nice place
in Massachusetts.

You've got this great apartment.

You're running some credit card debt.

I need you to leave.

I will leave in two minutes.

I just, I want you to know...

I can make room for you
in my Queens project.

Push some of the Chinese money
aside and make room for you.

Take your grand and turn
it into in months.

And it would give me

enormous pleasure to do that, it would.

'Cause I care about you.

Wow.

This is impressive.

I didn't know something
like this even existed.

I'm very proud of this.

By the way, we finally
made contact with Tyler.

Turns out he is the prosecution's

first witness tomorrow.

He's coming in tonight to get prepped.

That's great.

Um, how is he?

Um, is he okay?

Did he get some kind of job?

I mean, I feel terrible

that I'm putting him
through all this trouble.

That's funny. He was worried about you.

He said if he, uh, had done better

on the test, none of this
would have happened.

So...

you mind if I ask you a question?

You can ask me any question
you'd like, Dr. Bull.

You come from money.

Is that a question or an accusation?

Just a fact.

It makes your choice of
profession even more laudable,

but it does beg the question...

why do you have a union lawyer?

Hmm? Why aren't you being represented

by some high-priced firm

that has the DA's
private cell phone number

and can maybe make this
whole thing go away?

Are your parents unwilling to help you?

Do they understand...
do you understand...

you could go to prison for ten years?

The ADA is looking to make
an example out of you

and those five other teachers.

He is not fooling around.

My parents didn't walk into that room

and change the test question.

I did.

And I'm sure you won't
be surprised to hear

that they were not too thrilled

at the idea of me becoming a teacher.

A public school teacher...

in New York, in the Bronx.

I'm an adult, Dr. Bull.

I make my own choices, I pay my own way,

and I'm willing to pay
for the consequences.

I meant what I said

when I told you I was
grateful for your help.

But I understand if you feel
that this is a fool's errand.

Not at all.

I'm just trying to figure out

if you're a saint or
a misbegotten martyr.

CHUNK: Mr. Young.

What did you offer to do in return

for Ms. Adams changing your test grade?

I didn't offer to do anything.

I didn't even know she was gonna do it.

She didn't even tell me she
was gonna change that answer.

I didn't even find out
until she got arrested

and the school called to tell me
my scholarship was no good,

and that I couldn't go there anymore.

And when that happened, were you mad?

I was really...

confused.

Never mad. Sad.

'Cause I had it all in my
head, going to college.

No one in my family's
ever been to college.

I don't even think I know anybody

who's ever been to college.

So I was really sad, but also worried.

Because I thought Ms. Adams
got in a lot of trouble,

and I keep kind of thinking
it's my fault...

That's a lot of words, Tyler.
Remember what I said before?

Right.

Just answer the question.

Right.

So try it again.

When you found out what
she had done, were you mad?

No, sir, I wasn't mad.

You like Ms. Adams, don't you?

(SCOFFS) I think
she's a really good teacher.

Nice answer.

Do you think she... liked you?

I think you'd have to ask her that.

Good answer.

Do you think the reason
why she did what she did for you

and the reason you weren't mad

is because the two of you
liked each other?

No. Don't just stare at me.

That-that looks like a yes to the jury.

- But it's not.
- So,

what do you say?

Sir, I'm happy to answer
any questions you have

about the facts of the case.

But now you're just making stuff up.

I don't have to answer any questions

about things you make up.

Nice answer.

I think you're gonna do great.

NEWHALL: Tyler, when
you started tenth grade,

what was your letter grade average?

A "C" or a "D," I think.

According to your school
records, it was a C-minus.

But by your senior year,
your average soared to a B-plus.

Any idea what happened in
those three years to make

such a dramatic difference
in your grades?

Well, I think a big part of it
was Ms. Adams.

She spent a lot of time tutoring me.

Simple as that, huh?

Just spend some time with your teacher

and you get right on the honor roll.

Objection. Argumentative.

- Ask a question, Mr. Newhall.
- Sure.

Here's a question.
How do we know the defendant

wasn't changing your test scores

starting all the way
back in the tenth grade?

How do we know she hasn't been
cheating for you all along?

Objection. Calls for speculation.

Assumes facts not in evidence.

- Sustained.
- NEWHALL: Okay.

Let me ask it another way.

Are you certain your teacher

hasn't been cheating for you

these last three years?

- Yes.
- Really?

How can you be so sure?

I mean, it's possible,

- isn't it?
- GWEN: Objection!

- Anything is possible!
- NEWHALL: Exactly!

So how many tests

did she really help you with? Ten?

(QUIETLY): I don't have to
answer questions about things

you make up. I don't have

- ?
- to answer questions...

- ...about things you make up.
- ?

- I don't have to answer questions...
- I told you, one.

NEWHALL: One? Really? (CHUCKLES)

How can you be so sure?

GWEN: Objection! He's
badgering the witness. Please.

NEWHALL: The truth is, you can't,

can you? You don't know.

You have no idea.

You're right.

I have no idea. I don't know.

I don't. I don't know.
What do you want me to say?

Just stop talking. I don't.

- CONWAY: Don't say anything.
- I don't know.

CONWAY: Objection is sustained.

CHUNK: I'm sorry, Bull.

I really did try to prep him.

(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

BULL: That drink better be for me.

Sorry, this one's spoken for.

You upset about the trial?

No, it's only just begun.

That was a serious swallow.

Want to tell your Uncle Bull
all about it?

What is it about what we do

- that makes it so hard to trust people?
- Oh.

Hmm.

We're gonna have that conversation?

Marissa, give yourself a break.

We spend the whole day figuring out

if people are lying to us or not.

And when we're not doing that,
we're figuring out

how to convince strangers

that our clients are telling the truth.

Of course we don't trust anybody.

Kyle offered to do something
for me the other night.

Something really nice.

Really thoughtful.

And what did you do?

I threatened to have him arrested.

(CHUCKLES)

Ain't love grand?

I think I'm gonna go home
and call him and apologize.

Oh.

Well, I'm glad
I could help you work through

this little crisis of the heart.

Don't hesitate to call me
if you need any more ad...

(GRUNTS SOFTLY)

You're welcome.

(GAVEL BANGS)

At the request
of the State Board of Education,

I reviewed the tests.

And what did you find?

They all shared a similar
pattern of eraser marks.

- GWEN: How do you mean?
- The vast majority

were in the history section,
between questions and .

This is a copy of Tyler Young's test.

There are three erasure marks,

one of which Ms. Adams admits to making.

They are all wrong
to right answer changes.

What number questions are those?

, , and .

None are in the history section.

- Correct.
- And none are

in the question

to question range.

Correct.

Sounds like Tyler's test

is very different from the others.

Objection. Leading.

Sustained.

I'll put it another way.

The test Lacey admits to changing

is different
from all the other tests.

It doesn't fit the pattern, right?

Right.

Nothing further.

Talk to me, Marissa. Well, yesterday was

a train wreck. No green
on the screens anywhere.

But today we have seven greens back,

three yellows, and two reds.

So even though the two of you
hate each other,

it seems like you're making progress.

Hmm.

Hey, can I talk to you?

Talk fast. I got a car waiting.
What are you offering?

What makes you think
I'm offering anything?

'Cause it's my job to know
whether I'm winning or losing

and by how much.

And right now, I'm winning. By a lot.

I'll drop the charges against Lacey.

I'll even make sure she gets
her teaching credentials back.

And my boss will call
the dean of students

at Tyler's college, get him reinstated.

In exchange for...?

I need those five other teachers.

I get it. Your client's
a nice lady who did

a bad thing for a good reason.

But those other five...

Come on. You're asking her
to decide between her colleagues

- and her student.
- Her student

and her career.

Tyler can quit his dead-end job
and go to college.

And Lacey can get back in the classroom.

Wow.

So, is, um, this why
you wanted me here early?

So you could triple-team me?

GWEN: It's a good deal,

Lacey.

I'd go so far as to say
it's a great deal.

And I am not in the business

of throwing other teachers to the wolves.

But I will be here for them,
just as I was for you.

It sounds like you've
already made up your mind.

You heard what I thought
when I called you last night.

Gets you everything you want.

Tyler gets to go to college.
You get to continue teaching.

And as for the other teachers,

they get their day in
court, just like you did.

BENNY: My two cents... I worked

in the DA's office a long time.

Deals don't get much better than this.

So it's unanimous.

You want me to sell out
the people I work with.

I wouldn't call it a sellout.

The ADA already knows who they are.

He already knows what they did.

But he can't prove it without me.

Today.

But maybe tomorrow he can.

And maybe tomorrow,
one of the five goes to him

and cuts a deal.

And then you have nothing.

Nothing but jail time.

BULL: It's your decision, Lacey.

We just want you to
understand what's at stake.

But whatever you decide,
we'll go along with it.

I want Tyler to go back to school.

And... I want to keep my job.

But I couldn't live with myself knowing

I destroyed the lives of others
to make it happen.

You called it.

How did you describe her?

- The architect of her own destiny.
- Mm.

(BULL CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

We are all here for you, Lacey.

Now, I will call the ADA's office,

let 'em know that you
have made your decision,

and... we can plot our next move.

You know what,

I just plotted my next move.

I'm withdrawing from the case.

Wait, you're what?

GWEN: Our union is happy to come
to the aid of our members

when they've been
wrongly accused of a crime.

We're even happy to help when
they've admitted to a crime,

when we think there are
extenuating circumstances

that will impact the lives
of working teachers.

But I am not about

to spend our very limited time
and resources

on what I now realize
is a su1c1de mission.

I'm sure Dr. Bull
can help you find someone

to get you through the remainder
of the trial.

I did not see that coming.

Did I just make a huge mistake?

(CHUCKLES) I actually
think you traded up.

Oh. Yeah.

I bet you say that to all
the second-string lawyers.

(CHUCKLES)

What's the game plan, Doc?

Well, we have a little less than an hour

to get young Ms. Adams ready.

For what?

We're putting you on the stand.

Lacey, you already testified

that the second you saw Tyler
the morning of the exam

you knew that he was going to struggle.

What was that based on?

Well, to begin with,
he was already a half hour late.

But more than that, I know
how complicated his life is.

How do you mean?

Well, first of all,

he's got a little brother
he's got to feed

and get off to school every morning.

Plus, his mother, um, has a drug problem,

and sometimes she brings men
to the apartment

in the middle of the night
to, uh, support her drug habit.

On these nights, I-I know
Tyler doesn't get any sleep.

I'm fairly certain that's what
happened the day of the test.

Objection. Hearsay.

Right on cue.

It's not hearsay.

During school vacations,
I would go to his apartment

and tutor him in the morning
and then again in the evening.

I know what I'm talking about.

I'm going to allow it.

Thank you, Your Honor.

So let me ask you a question.

Was this your plan?

Tyler takes the test.

If he doesn't make the grade,

you figure out a way
to doctor his answers?

No. It didn't even cross my mind.

Tyler is a solid "B" student.

But that morning, you knew
he wasn't getting a "B."

I didn't know...

but-but I sensed.

I just wanted to look at it, the test.

That's all I really wanted to do,

is just put my mind at ease
that he had passed,

and that he'd be going to college.

But then I walked in,

and I realized that all I had
to do was change one question,

and he could have a future.

You and Tyler prepped for the exam,

is that correct?

You gave him practice tests?

Yes, three times.

And how did he do?

s. Low s, every time.

That's how I know him failing
is an anomaly.

One last question.

If you could do anything
you wanted to in life...

okay, a-a-anything at all,
money's no object...

what would that be?

Objection. Relevance.

Overruled.

This.

Uh, teaching, not testifying.

Showing people who think they
know where their boundaries are

that there's so much more.

No further questions, Your Honor.

Cross-examination.

One question.

Did you or did you not change an answer

on Tyler Young's exam?

BENNY: Objection.

Asked and answered, Your Honor.

Overruled.

Yes or no? I need to hear.

Did you alter, in any way,
Tyler Young's exam

after it was completed?

Making you guilty of tampering
with a government record.

As well as perjury,

since you warranted the results
by virtue of your role

as the official proctor of record.

And fraud...

since your intent was to deceive.

Yes or no.

Yes.

Uh, yes, I did.

No more questions.

(NECK CRACKS)

Okay. How we doing
with closing arguments?

- MARISSA: Uh...
- BENNY: Not good.

We've already run six different versions.

Yeah, I just let the
last group of mock jurors go.

We were just throwing away
good money after bad.

I don't understand. What's the problem?

The problem is she did it, Bull.

That's always been a problem.

They're just not buying
the necessity defense.

They want more evidence
to support Lacey's choice.

If you want to win an acquittal,

we need something tangible,

something definitive,
something objective.

Then that's what we'll give them.

You want the boy to take the test again?

Here? Today?

I have the testing service standing by

with a fresh version of the exam.

And I am happy to have Your Honor,

and the ADA here, proctor it,

so everyone can be sure

that there's no funny business going on.

Give him the test and two hours later,

we will know where we stand.

NEWHALL: Your Honor,

this is completely irrelevant
and unduly prejudicial,

not to mention an obfuscation.

(SCOFFS) Judge Conway, I disagree.

Our client has never denied what she did.

What's relevant here is why she did it.

(CLOCK TICKING)

It's unorthodox,
but I agree it's relevant.

And I'm going to allow it.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

In the nd percentile,

ladies and gentlemen.

That's what Tyler Young scored

when he retook his
college placement exam.

%.

Now, why does that matter?

Well, because it proves why Lacey felt

what she did was necessary.

Against the rules,

but necessary.

She knew what her student was capable of,

and didn't want that student's
future compromised

because of circumstances
that were beyond his control.

Lacey Adams confessed

to changing a single answer,

bringing Tyler's test
to the th percentile,

allowing him to attend a local college,

where he hoped to study architecture,

and perhaps be the first person
in his family

to earn a college degree.

Is changing answers wrong?

Yes, absolutely.

But is it, is it worse than...

taking away a bright young man's
opportunity to better himself,

change his future?

Well, I guess that's why you're here.

I guess that's why we'll leave
it up to you to decide.

Thank you for listening.

CONWAY: Madam Foreman,
have you reached a verdict?

JURY FOREMAN: Yes we have, Your Honor.

We, the jury,

find the defendant, Lacey Adams, guilty

on one count of tampering
with a government record,

one count of perjury,

and one count of fraud.

(GAVEL BANGS)

I'm sorry. I'm, uh...

No. I did it.

I did.

MARISSA: Bull?

Is she okay?

Are-are you okay?

I am so, so sorry.

I'll fix this, I will.

Somehow, I promise.

Okay.

MAN: You're here.

You actually showed up.

Hey. You're not the mayor.

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTS) She sends her regrets.

She really wanted to be here tonight.

(CHUCKLES)

No, she didn't.

I was surprised when you
called to schedule it.

I mean, most people
just give the money and...

let the carriage ride go.

Well, the truth is, I need a favor.

And I was hoping I could
ask the mayor directly.

Happy to carry your water, Dr. Bull.

You remember the case you asked

for my help on about a month ago?

I do.

We lost.

I'm aware, but... it all worked out.

The judge liked her;
gave her no jail time.

Not the worst ending.

But she's got a felony on her record,

and, uh, now she can't teach.

I just... (SIGHS)

I think we lost one of the good ones,

maybe even one of the great ones.

Thing about teaching is,
if you're meant to do it,

you're gonna do it.

Maybe not in a classroom.

Maybe not in the
State of New York, but...

I just have a feeling
she's gonna be fine.

Probably end up in
a private school somewhere.

Massachusetts, maybe.

You seem to know an awful lot about her.

I'll let you in on a little secret.

The reason I sought you out that night?

Her father is a bigwig in the party.

Major contributor,
especially in New England.

He knew his daughter would never
accept any help from him,

so he asked our office to intervene.

(LAUGHING): He called the mayor himself.

- (LAUGHS)
- (HORSE SNORTS)

In any event,

your client's gonna be fine.

Was that your favor?

What is it about what we do

that makes it so hard to trust people?

Excuse me?

Agree or disagree:

Honesty is the best policy in all cases.

I don't think I understand.

I'm sure you don't.

I need the mayor, or someone
from the mayor's office,

to get on the phone and find a place

for Tyler Young to go to a city college.

That would be highly irregular

for the mayor to use her influence

to gain admission for any individual...

It could even be construed as unethical.

Like the way the mayor twisted my arm

to get me to work for free
so she could curry favor

with a party bigwig?

You ever heard of Machiavelli?

Very successful politician.

I think he and the mayor would
have gotten along really well.

Get the Tyler Young
college thing done for me.

Shouldn't be a problem.

Great.

Driver, I'm gonna hop off.

I got what I came for.

Thanks for the ride.

♪ ♪

♪ You feelin' all right ♪

♪ Uh-huh ♪

♪ Ah ♪

♪ Feelin' all right ♪

♪ Whoa... ♪