L.A. Law (1986) s01e10 Episode Script

1
Previously on L.A.
Law.
There's a child matching Eric's general
description in St. Anthony's Hospital.
How sick?
This child is dead.
Mrs. Perkins?
I'm sorry, I just found out the body was
already sent to County Mork.
My apologies, Ms. Perkins.
Did you find him?
The baby John Doe was mistakenly cremated.
I have a missing child.
And if that little boy was my son,
then how am I ever going to know?
Age is 100% fatal.
There's no effective cure at this time.
Did you buy this gun with the intent to kill Mr. Gates?
Glenn was in horrible agony.
He didn't want to live any longer.
If I was dying and I'd lost all human
dignity and quality of life, I sure would
hope someone would love me enough to do it for me.
We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of
murder in the first degree.
Megamy, do you know how rare it is?
I mean, this is the divorce lawyer
equivalent of a hole-in-one.
This man that you all loved so much stole
everything you had.
And I'm not just talking about your property.
He stole your love.
You're no Cary Grant, you know.
You got 11 quite attractive, very wealthy
women to marry you.
I'm just curious how
The Venus butterfly.
What is the Venus butterfly?
I always felt that if it fell into the wrong
hands, it could sexually enslave a woman.
I have never, I mean never, in my entire life,
ever experienced anything like the Venus butterfly.
Whereas Norman I.
Stone did on March 11, 1986, murder
Roberta Johnson, and whereas Norman I.
Stone was found guilty of murder in the
first degree and was sentenced to death,
the Supreme Court upheld the sentence of death
to issue this warrant directly to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court upheld the sentence of
death to be executed.
The Supreme Court upheld the sentence of
death imposed on Norman Ellis Stone.
Executive clemency is not appropriate to
cause the sentence of death.
And was sentenced to death in accord with
provisions of law.
Guilty of murder in the first degree.
Caused the sentence of death in accord
with provisions of the law.
What is it, Mickey?
Is that one?
I wish you'd never take I wish
you'd never take in this damn case.
Yeah, well, I did.
You want something?
Some warm milk or something?
No, no, no, I'm okay.
U.S.
V.
Lindley is on hold.
Moving on.
Where is Troutman v.
Troutman, Troutman, Troutman at all?
We've annulled all the marriages,
and the ladies have agreed to drop all
criminal charges in exchange for a return
of the stolen property.
It's, uh, it's still a little sticky with
the IRS, but I think we'll be all right.
And I'm having dinner with his attorney
tonight, Lynette Pierce.
We just have to dot the I's and cross the T's.
Dirty work.
Somebody's got to do it.
What is that horrible noise?
I cannot hear myself think.
Sorry.
Um, I'll take care of it.
And what is people versus Lily White?
I want her to talk about that.
My client's accused of robbing a John.
A men's room?
No, a John.
She's a prostitute.
I can't help suggesting, Victor, that a firm of our
stature shouldn't be associating itself with prostitutes.
You mean like Harold Osborne?
I beg your pardon?
This firm's biggest client happens to be my client's alibi.
Explain, please.
She says she couldn't have robbed a John
on the date in question because she was
shacked up with Mr. Osborne in his Malibu condo.
He denies it.
What are you going to do?
I might have to subpoena him.
I don't know yet.
Well, there's a clear conflict of interest here.
I assume you'll withdraw from the case.
I haven't made up my mind about that.
There are only about 10 million other qualified
attorneys who could handle this matter, Victor.
I will think about it, and I'll let you know.
Victor and I will discuss this later.
What is going on?
I'm sorry, but I found him on the freeway
this morning coming in.
He has no collar.
Someone must have abandoned him.
I can smell him from here.
I'll have him cleaned up at lunchtime.
I'm, um, trying to find a place for him.
For God's sakes, call the pound.
Absolutely not.
Do you know what they do to them there if
no one claims them?
He'll be quiet if he's with me.
He'll just sit at my feet.
Come on, boy.
It's all right, Dadlin.
Michael, where do you stand with people versus Petrovic?
I'm arguing his appeal this afternoon.
You know, I still can't see why you took
this animal's case.
A, because the legal defense fund asked me to.
B, because I have seen the death penalty in action.
And C, because I happen to feel that
capital punishment is barbaric.
As opposed to raping a pregnant
woman and then executing her
and her husband while their
six-year-old son hides in a closet.
Arnold.
What if you get him off on a technicality?
How are you gonna feel if he's back out
walking the streets?
Whoa, what are you saying we should do, Ann?
Suspend the guy's constitutional rights because
you're offended by the crime he's accused of committing?
Convicted of committing.
Now, how would you feel if this was your family?
If he murdered your family, wouldn't you
want him put to death?
Executing a murderer may be viscerally
satisfying, but it's a disgrace to an enlightened society.
I disagree.
Thank you.
I disagree.
Now, now, now, now, that's enough.
Now, I enjoy a good debate as much as
anybody, but surely this is not the appropriate forum.
As we all have work to do, and as I'm sure we won't
settle this issue here and now, I suggest we adjourn.
Arnie, don't get your 11.30 with Mr. Herskovitz.
You've got to be all the way across town
for a 12.30 lunch with your mother.
Oh, God.
Better not be late.
Hey, puppy dog.
This way.
Come on.
Ann, a minute?
Yes?
About the dog.
I hope I can enlist your wisdom in search of a solution.
Leland, Abby is very fragile right now.
Oh, I'm mindful of her situation.
Nevertheless, what if the dog bites someone?
We could be liable.
You want me to talk to her?
You're close to her.
I'm sure you'll handle it far more tactfully than I could.
And you don't have the guts.
Does that?
Counselor, the factual record shows the
police found the gun in the defendant's
car, placed him under arrest at that time,
advised him of his constitutional rights,
and after waiving his rights, he confessed to the murders.
Assuming all of that to be true,
Your Honor, what I am arguing as a matter
of law is that the police had no right to
stop and detain Mr. Petrovic in the first place.
Accordingly, any search or confession
incident to that detention should not be admissible.
Factual record shows the police received a
radio call of a murder suspect.
It matched the description of the
defendant and the defendant's vehicle.
Yes, but if you examine the police
report carefully, something which Mr.
Petrovic's defense counsel unfortunately
neglected to do during trial, you will notice that the
radio transmission wasn't recorded until 11.32 A.M.
My client was stopped at 11.20.
Mr. Adler?
The officer simply made an error on the time.
All three arresting officers listed 11.20 on their reports.
I'm sure there's some explanation.
Your honor.
Of course there is.
We all know it.
Mr. Petrovic was snagged in one of the
police department's infamous dragnets.
Totally unfounded.
14 drug busts on this street have been
overturned on appeal.
The police stopped my client looking for
drugs, found a weapon in his car,
and coerced a confession.
Mr. Adler, if that call was not made until 11.32.
Your honor, this man raped and tortured a
pregnant woman while he forced her husband to watch.
Then he put a gun in her mouth.
Mr. Adler.
And blew her head off.
And then her husband's.
All the while, a little six-year-old boy
crouched in a closet, trembling,
hiding, listening to the anguished screams
of his mother and father.
How is this even remotely relevant to the constitutional
permissibility of stopping the defendant's vehicle?
The defendant is and was a deranged and
suspicious-looking individual,
Your Honor, observed in an area known to
be frequented by violent criminals.
You're telling this court, in effect,
that the defendant was subjected to a.
Because he didn't look nice?
These veteran officers have an instinct, Your Honor.
They reasonably suspected that
Mr. Petrovic Come on, Counselor.
Without that radio call, there was no
probable cause to stop him.
That means the gun and the confession are fruits
of the poisonous tree, and therefore inadmissible.
Now, it's our custom to take these matters under
advisement, and we shall do so accordingly here.
But start assembling your evidence,
Mr. Adler, because unless the Constitution
is repealed before we can adjourn to
chambers, this case is headed for a new trial.
That's all.
Are you sure?
People versus Appleton?
Ready to proceed for sentencing hearing?
As Mr. Appleton has been briefly hospitalized, Your
Honor, I would ask for a continuance until Thursday.
May I inquire as to the nature of his incapacity?
He has a bronchial infection, Your Honor.
He's due to be released later today.
Any objection, Ms. Van Owen?
No objection, Your Honor.
This matter is continued to Thursday,
3 P.M., in this courtroom.
Next matter, Mr. Dallas would request a continuance, Your
Honor, due to the unavailability of a witness to his matter.
Sure.
Witness being presently in Key West, Florida.
Hi, Mom.
How are you?
You're late.
You look great.
Another wreath of an inch.
In four years, you'll be as bald as your father.
It's before the transplant.
Great Dan.
Looks like desert life must be agreeing with you.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, major excitement, flying in the sun every day like
a lizard, just another one of your father's brainstorms.
How is Dad?
We're getting a divorce.
What?
What happened?
It's none of your business.
There are certain things you do not
discuss with your child.
Now, here are the bank accounts,
a list of all our stocks and bonds,
last 10 years tax returns.
Ballpark figure.
How much alimony do you think we can squeeze out of him?
Mom, stop.
I can't represent you in a divorce action
against my own father.
Well, I don't see why not, unless you love
him more than you do me, which is funny,
considering had it been left up to him,
you'd have never gone to law school.
Oh, the boy has no head on his shoulders.
Now, that is what this so-called father
said until the mother stood up for the son.
Mom, please, I don't want to get in the middle here.
After 40 years of hell on this earth,
I'm entitled to a little happiness.
I've been told that I'm still a very attractive
woman and he doesn't even function anymore.
I thought he still goes into the office.
As a man, in the bedroom.
Mom.
Always had his tootsies and his whores.
The only thing that would have made me
happier is if his business fell off altogether.
Mom, please.
What's this?
Well, you were late.
So I ordered for you.
I don't eat red meat anymore.
Well, who can keep up with you and your
fans, all this fussiness?
You're just like your father.
Okay, it's okay.
I'll eat it.
I am going through the most traumatic period of
my life, and there is no one there, no one to help me.
Mom, I'll take a look into it, okay?
I'll see what I can do.
I'll find someone else.
Oh, I said that I would do it.
Major D.
Major D.
Yes, ma'am.
I specifically ask for my steak charred, medium rare.
It's raw.
Cold as ice.
I'm very sorry.
Thank you.
Oh, this is my son, Arnold Becker.
He's one of the finest divorce lawyers in the city.
Are you married?
Very happily.
Well, you never know.
You may need a good lawyer one day.
Arnold, give the man your card.
I'm not blind, Mark.
I've read the editorials in the papers.
I've received copies of the jurors' letters to Judge Rubin.
And I know he's looking for a way out.
What about you?
I continue to believe deeply we cannot allow
individuals the right to determine for themselves.
Thank you, Grace.
I've already heard your closing arguments.
I'm sure you didn't invite me here to have
an instant replay.
I invited you here to tell you that my
heart goes out to Chris Appleton.
That's very humane of you.
I am not looking for a crucifixion here.
I was arguing a principle.
Right, right, and now you just don't have
the courage to be responsible for it.
You want it both ways, Grace.
You're rattling your saber in court, and then you try
to squirm out of your guilt by offering a backdoor deal.
I just find that reprehensible.
What's reprehensible here is that you didn't do your job.
Please, give me a break.
Have you ever heard of AIDS stress syndrome?
What about it?
It's a theory.
Advanced by Dr. Friedman, an expert on delayed stress.
He's willing to testify that under the
constant stress of caring for his dying
lover, Chris Appleton was incapable of
forming a specific intent to commit murder.
You should have raised it at the trial.
It might have supported a diminished capacity defense.
Diminished capacity only makes sense if you're
willing to settle for a conviction or reduce charges.
Yes.
I didn't want to let the jury off that
easily, especially since given Appleton's
situation, it still would have been a life sentence.
No, I firmly believe that under the
circumstances, I made the right choice.
You made the same choice as I made, to defend a principal.
Except you defended yours at the expense
of your client's best interests.
And you didn't.
He wasn't my client.
Why do I need to sit here and listen to this?
Wait, please.
Take this stuff.
Read it.
It might be grounds for a new trial,
and a new trial could buy you a year.
It's one doctor's completely untested theory.
Besides, it wouldn't do any good.
I didn't raise it at the trial.
It's waived.
How do you know until you try?
Grace.
And if that doesn't work, there's one
other thing you could try.
Yeah, what's that?
I think you know.
I'll take it under advisement.
Regarding Harold Osborne as a witness
in your trial, I want you to take a look at this.
What is it?
I'll just take a minute to go through it,
then we'll discuss it later.
Arnie, Arnie, wait.
There's someone in your office.
Someone?
Your father.
Oh, God.
Hi, Dad.
How are you?
So-so, but you, it's quite a palace you got here.
I didn't realize you'd never been here before.
You never invited me.
It's too bad it took something like this to get me here.
She told me she was having lunch with you.
Dad, this is crazy.
After all these years, isn't there something you can do?
She's your mother, you tell me.
Remember the time we went to Tahoe together?
She's still talking about it.
20 years later, she says I took you to whores.
I can go out to buy a newspaper.
She says I'm going with whores.
Dad, please.
I don't want to get in the middle here.
I told her that's what you were going to say.
I knew you couldn't go against your own
father in a court of law.
That is what you told her.
I tried to tell her.
Tried means you didn't.
Dad, come on, you know what she's like.
Who went with you to every little league game?
I'm not just talking about the home games.
I drove to Torrance, to West Covina, for God's sakes.
And who bought you your first car, huh?
Not to mention your first pack of latex protection.
You have to understand, this has nothing
to do with the way I feel about you.
You were smart never to have children.
You can't believe the pain.
It's like having your heart sliced up like a pimento loaf.
Dad, please, I never meant to hurt you.
Forget it.
It's probably a blessing in disguise.
What do you mean?
I wasn't gonna tell you.
What?
Well, no more after surgery.
Surgery?
Exploratory in the prostate.
Dad, I I feel terrible.
No, don't.
The truth is, I was actually worried up to this minute about
dying, but now to know that my own son has turned on me
Dad, I have not turned on you.
Okay.
I'll call her.
I'll tell her that I can't take her case.
I knew you wouldn't let your old man down.
Validate your parking ticket, Mr. Becker.
Thank you.
Arnie?
Call more pressmen.
Tell them I need to renew my valium prescription.
I brought you a burrito.
Great.
Sit down.
You get a chance to talk to the witness yet?
The star witness for the prosecution is
not going to be talking to anybody.
What do you mean?
She's a broccoli.
She had a stroke about three months ago.
Terrible thing, this stroke business.
My great aunt Teresa, one day healthy as
a horse, next day stroked out like a sidekick.
Well, is there any way she's going to recover?
Ah, dear God, no.
I keep telling Uncle Sal, send her back to Italy.
Well, Benny, I'm talking about this witness.
Oh, no, no, that poor woman.
She's got more tubes running out of her
than Goodyear's got tires.
It's not even something you want to talk
about while you eat.
Vinnie, is there any chance that this
witness is going to recover?
Not in this lifetime.
Look, I appreciate this on such short notice.
Anytime, Mr. K.
Uh, shall I leave my place?
Can I bill with you, gal?
That's fine.
Or if you want to recommend my work to
some of your colleagues, we could just run a tab.
Okay.
Run a tab.
In that case, the burrito's on me.
Enjoy.
How's it going?
Puppy down!
Um, it's going great.
I'm almost done with the Moriarty deposition,
and I'll have something for you by this afternoon.
Uh, what are you gonna do about the dog?
Well, I have signs up at the vets and the supermarket.
It's hard to find someone who wants a big dog.
If you don't find a place for it by tonight, uh,
you should probably leave it at home from now on.
My landlord doesn't allow pets.
Abby, unless he's got a law degree,
you can't keep bringing the dog to work.
Well, what do you want me to do, destroy him?
We're so obsessed with this crummy job and this
crummy office that we've lost sight of our values.
And if I try to do the humane thing, then
I don't think I should be persecuted for it.
Abby, no one is trying to persecute you.
Well, I'm under a lot of pressure these
days, and I would appreciate having a
little support and understanding around here.
You have it.
All I'm saying is that we should try to
find a home for the dog in the next few days.
Okay?
Okay.
Nice little trick, Leland.
All the dirt on Harold Osborne,
but since I've learned it from office
files, it's privileged information, and now I can't use it.
You want to sit down, talk about it?
It's a little late for that.
I could have killed his credibility with this stuff,
but now it's unethical for me to take advantage of it.
I have to withdraw from the case.
This way I can find another lawyer.
That's not the point, Leland.
You suckered me.
Victor Sifuentes does whatever he can to
protect his client.
So do I.
No good.
A client of mine is supposed to be a client of this firm's,
and my client just got screwed over by the senior partner.
Victor, Petromco is our biggest client.
We can't run the risk.
You couldn't have come to me and discussed it openly?
Well, it sounded to me like you'd already
made up your mind.
If it'd been Mike Kuzak, you would have called the
surrogate son in here and let him make the decision.
Me, you blindside.
Now, you listen to me.
I am the senior partner here, and one of my
burdens is to determine the best interests of this firm.
You're an associate, and one of your burdens
is to live with the decisions of the senior partner.
Well, I won't live with the decisions of
the senior partner.
I won't live with it, Leland.
You know, Andrew Taylor was right.
There are different shades of treatment around here.
I quit.
I'm going to ask for a continuance on the new trial.
I'd really appreciate your cooperation and waving time.
My caseload's pretty jammed up right now.
You lost the gun.
You lost the confession.
You got a witness who in all likelihood
won't even be able to testify.
You don't have a case.
I'm going to have to move it.
I'm going to have to move for dismissals.
How the hell can you want this guy back out on the street?
When I took this case, I wasn't looking to
get him back out on the street.
I was looking to get him off death row.
Like it or not, now that I'm into it, I have the legal
and ethical responsibility to make you prove your case.
You know damn well he's guilty.
The law says you have to prove it.
If you can't, don't blame me.
Well, I can get a continuance without your assent.
You need time to build a whole new case, counselor.
You tell the judge.
He just might dismiss this thing sua sponte.
You willing to run that risk?
All right, I'll agree to bail, but this guy is a time bomb.
If he explodes, the blood's on your hands.
I have to go to a meeting for about an hour.
I want you to be a good boy while I'm gone, okay?
I want you to be a real good boy while I'm gone.
No more peeing.
Here's your paper, okay?
Okay, that's a good boy, huh?
That's a good boy.
Okay, here's your chew toy.
Pursuant to our telephone conversation
10-5, I am confirming the MSC will go in.
Department 6 on 12-17 unless we trail, in which
case the IME will supplant said MSC preparatory to
Will somebody do something about that miserable dog?
Hello?
Ah-ha.
Bad dog.
Extremely bad dog.
Arnie?
Huh?
Lynette Pierce is here.
Should I tell her you're in a meeting?
Miss Pierce, I told you to wait in reception.
That's okay, Roxanne.
Thank you.
It's really I'm sorry to bother you, Arnie.
I was, uh I was I was meaning to call you anyway.
I just spoke to the DA.
He'll agree to probation as soon as I've got letters
from the wives that Foster's agreed to make restitution.
I'll talk to my clients.
No problem.
You're a prince.
Thanks.
Lynette.
Um, about last night?
Arnie, please.
There's nothing more to say.
You're making too much out of it.
These things happen to men.
Not to me.
You've been under a lot of stress.
Your mother, your father, all this Oedipal
drama stuff could drive anyone crazy.
I understand completely.
So you're not gonna hold it against me?
Of course not.
So how about Saturday?
Dinner catered at my place?
Actually, I was hoping to get Foster out by the weekend.
And once Foster's out, then
Arnie, you're a very sweet boy.
And I'm sure that you're very adequate
when you're not so distracted.
But Foster
I guess I'm kind of spoiled, if you know what I mean.
Uh-huh.
So, once you've had a chance to review with the ladies,
give me a call, and I'll take you out for a nice lunch.
Where is my prescription?
Why didn't my prescription come?
Mort Pressman's on vacation.
I told you.
I can't take this anymore.
It's dark.
I won't be able to sleep.
I just lie there all night, shaking.
So, you'll come home with me?
No, Alex, I can't.
When you were a little boy, and you stayed
home sick, did you ever have tomatoes?
Tomato soup with crackers all crumpled up on top?
Yeah.
And a big blue bowl so I wouldn't spill it on my bed.
And a glass of milk and Oreos.
I don't like that yucky white stuff in the middle.
I'll scrape it off for you.
And you'll be real warm and snuggly.
I have this soft blankie my grandma made.
It's feathers inside and fleecy cotton on the outside.
And we'll just watch old shows on TV until
you can fall asleep.
I have all the old Star Treks on cassette.
Even one with the triples where they start multiplying?
Yep.
Does that sound good?
I really don't like the Oreos, though.
Could we stop and get some Graham crackers
and maybe some chocolate syrup for the milk?
Remember the straws that bend?
Anything you want, Arnie.
What happened?
My dog is gone.
Mr. Brackman took it.
Where is he?
They said you took my dog.
We took a little walk to the pet shop.
He's not a bad dog, really.
He just gets anxious when you leave him alone.
Thank you, Douglas.
I really appreciate it.
You know, I brought Estre home once when I
was a boy, but my father gave him to the
gardener because he was always jumping on the furniture.
Where's his leash?
I'll take him back to my office now.
It occurred to me, since you're having a
hard time placing him, why don't I take him?
Do you want him?
I've always had a way with animals.
I prefer their company to some people in many cases.
I don't mean you.
I've taken the Liberty of giving him a name, Sparky.
I'm very grateful, Douglas.
But do you really think this is going to work out?
He'll have a nice backyard to run in.
It's better than destroying the office.
While he was in the file room, he made rather
a meal out of the Roaner versus Gradinger file.
Oh.
Bad dog!
He doesn't understand why you're yelling at him.
Unless you discipline him at the scene of
the crime, it just confuses the issue.
Isn't that right, Sparky?
Hmm?
Isn't that right?
And in addition to the evidentiary
errors, Your Honor, I would
ask for a new trial on the grounds of AIDS stress syndrome.
What?
Recent studies have shown that
psychological and emotional trauma
associated with AIDS might impact the
ability to act freely.
You're talking diminished capacity, Counselor.
You didn't raise it at trial, so it's waived.
Well, the thing is, these are new studies,
Your Honor, and I
Nice try, Mr. Gilliam, but you're not
gonna get another bite with that.
But the truth is, Your Honor, I didn't
raise it at trial because I didn't know about it.
I just learned of the AIDS syndrome defense yesterday.
Ms. Van Owen told me about it.
Ms. Van Owen counseled you on this?
Yes, Your Honor.
And in light of my complete lack of
knowledge of this vital defense,
I feel that I must, as an officer of the
court, move for a new trial on the grounds
that I was incompetent in my
representation of Mr. Appleton.
Ms. Van Owen, did you, in fact,
discuss these matters with Mr. Gilliam?
Yes, Your Honor, I did.
Well, I'm going to require briefs on this,
but my inclination is to Grant Mr.
Gilliam's motion.
Briefs due in 10 days.
The defendant to remain free on bail until my final ruling.
20-minute recess.
Thank you.
Ms. Van Owen, I owe you my gratitude.
You don't owe me anything.
I appreciate your seeing me as a person.
Not as a cause.
Not as a cause or disease or an issue, but a human being.
Good luck, Mr. Hamilton.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Who made my bail?
Your mother.
She put up her house as collateral.
Great lady, man.
Where are you going, Jimmy?
Places.
I got friends.
Your mother wants you to move in with her.
That way I can keep tabs on you for a while.
Oh, yeah, sure.
Eleven months on death row, and I'm gonna move in with Mom.
Well, I'd like you to consider a halfway house.
Hey!
You're my lawyer, man, not my social worker.
Albert.
I am also responsible for putting you back on the street.
Yeah.
Well, take a load off, counselor.
I'll take responsibility from here.
Jimmy.
I appreciate what you've done, Mr. Kuzak, but listen,
while I'm free, nobody's going to tell me what to do.
Nobody.
Don't make me regret this.
Life's full of regrets, man.
See you around.
What?
Nothing.
Do you have something to say to me?
You bet I do.
Well, why don't you say it instead of
slamming around like the dragon lady?
Now, I have tried to keep my mouth shut
about the Petrovic case.
I have tried not to let my
disagreements with your beliefs in
this matter get in the way of my personal feelings for you.
But getting this crazy animal out on bail,
it's unconscionable.
How could you?
The man was wrongfully convicted, Grace.
Are you saying he didn't do it?
I'm saying that his conviction was tainted.
Michael.
And he deserves a new trial.
He's innocent until proven guilty.
That's a principle you don't turn your back on just
because he's accused of committing a heinous crime.
It's one thing to stick up for a
principle, but you have carried this
anti-death penalty thing to the point
where you are jeopardizing innocent people.
In other words, if people are frightened enough,
it's okay to suspend certain constitutional rights?
The man is a crazed killer.
He did it.
He will do it again.
And when he does, it'll be on your hands.
Oh, you've got a hell of a nerve, Grace.
Why?
Because I dare to disagree with the great
civil libertarian.
Look, I don't punish you for your opinions.
Don't punish me for mine, okay?
Hello.
Yeah, this is Michael Kuzak.
When?
Yeah.
Great.
What the hell happened?
Your man knocked over a liquor store.
That's what happened.
And four plainclothes detectives just
happened to be there, ready to gun him down?
He pointed a pistol at them.
They were justified.
It was an ambush, and you know it.
That punk was sticking a gun in people's
faces less than 10 hours after he was shot.
Those cops executed Petrovic, and you set it up.
If you mean did I tell the police to
follow him, you're damn right.
Am I glad he got killed before he killed somebody else?
You bet.
You just bought yourself a wrongful death action.
Take your best shot.
You got about as much chance of that as I had
of keeping that sleaze locked up in the first place.
Arnold, what's this all about?
Summoning your mother to your office like a total stranger?
I had to break a 3 O'clock date with Louise
Swanson at the Polo lounge, for God's sake.
I had to break a 3 O'clock date with Louise
Swanson at the Polo lounge, for God's sake.
And this man tells me that my son is
representing him in a divorce proceeding?
Go ahead, Arnold.
Tell her that you're my lawyer.
How dare you do this to me?
Like father, like son.
Lucky for him, you'd have turned him into a
backbiting, bedwetting, flute-playing little fat boy wimp.
Enough, both of you.
Just sit down and be quiet.
Thank you.
Now, Ms. Melman is taking notes to reflect
that in the matter of Becker v.
Becker, both parties have requested that their
son, Arnold Becker, represent them as their attorney.
The record will further reflect that
Arnold Becker hereby refuses, upon pain of
death, to represent either party in a legal capacity.
In his capacity as son, however,
he would like to state that it's about
time both parties grew up and stopped using
the aforementioned son to bludgeon each other.
He would further suggest that in
recognition of 40 years, together,
the parties might at least attempt some counseling
before they decide to throw in the towel on this marriage.
In the event, however, the parties choose
to disregard this advice, they are,
of course, free to seek counsel,
get a divorce, and split up their property
any way they want, leaving their son totally out of it.
You see, Mom, Dad, your only child,
your baby boy, is 36 years old.
And neither one of you is going to get custody.
Is that clear?
If we have to sell the house, there won't even
be enough left for two lousy one-bedroom condos.
Social security goes down, too.
I guess if you really hate Palm Springs,
we can talk about moving back.
Al, a bill came from the proctologist for
a surgical consultation.
I didn't want to worry you.
Don Wallace's team went through the same operation.
He was in and out of the wake.
Arnie, it just came.
It's so beautiful.
Really like them?
I can't believe it.
It's nicer than the Christine Amorelli.
It's because it's the Roxanne Melman.
I told Ben as it was for the most special lady in my life.
Arnie, thank you.
No.
No, thank you, Rox.
Last night was, uh, was really, really special for me.
Would you, um, like to again?
I mean, come over?
No.
I don't think so, Rox.
Oh, you've got a date.
Oh, no.
Truth is, I'm just not so sure I could
trust myself to be such a gentleman again.
I love you.
You're the best.
It's a police state, Lester.
I was kidding, who?
A bunch of your boys got together.
They decided to take the law into their own hands.
Man shouldn't have been on the streets in the first place.
Oh, so it's my fault he's dead?
Is that what we're saying here?
We're saying it's his fault.
Unless they changed the law about holding up liquor
stores whilst I was believing myself in the men's room.
Yeah, well, he didn't deserve to be gunned
down by a bunch of fascist, gun-toting
cowboys who knew damn well they were gonna
get away with it.
To tell you the truth, counselor, the
deceased was not a righteous individual.
The deceased was a total fraud.
Freaking degenerate drug-humping killer who I,
for one, will not lose one minute's sleep over, huh?
Uh, well, what about the next guy these
hot dogs decide to blow away?
Is it gonna be because they don't like the color of his skin
and they figure their own department is willing to wink?
At what amounts to sanctioned murder, Lester?
Internal affairs will investigate the
shooting, all right, and if there's a
result of policy, the officers involved
will be dealt with accordingly, all right?
This is a recorded message, Lester.
Heh!
Hey, you looking for a fight, huh, sport, huh?
And I'm looking for a good night's sleep, all right?
Do you find it ironic, Lester?
I took this guy's case to prevent an execution,
and I did my job so well it got him killed.
Lenny, do not let this philosopher drive home, huh?
I'll call him a cab.
No, no, no cab.
Oh, here.
Uh, call this number.
And tell the lady that I need a ride home.
Bonnie.
One more till my ride gets here, huh?
No, Bonnie.
Come on, constable.
I'll walk you out.
Yeah, I'll do you good.
Evening, officers.
Everything all right?
All right, sir.
Oh, yeah, it's great.
Everything is just great.
I'm afraid we're going to have to ask you
to move along, sir.
Well, what if I don't?
Well, we'll have to arrest you.
Why don't you just gun me down right here in the street?
Well, why don't we just help you up, sir?
You touch me, you're going to be sorry.
I happen to be an attorney.
Oh, well, in that case.
I happen to be waiting for my ride.
Maybe you ought to wait in the unit,
sir, until your ride shows up.
Am I under arrest?
Not yet, sir.
Well.
Now, am I under arrest?
I'm DDA Van Owen.
Is that you, Gracie?
Yeah.
Uh, I'd take it as a personal favor if you'd
help me get Mr. Kuzak into my car, officer.
Oh, yes, ma'am.
I am not drunk.
Uh, no.
Oh, boy.
Oh, boy, come on.
I'm gonna get you into a cold shower and
some hot coffee and then into bed.
The truth?
I am glad the guy's dead.
And what if he'd done it again?
I couldn't have lived with myself.
So, tell me, does that make me a hypocrite?
No.
It makes you human.
Thank you, Gracie.
I love you.
And I feel terrible about everything that's happened.
And I'm going to feel like a jerk in the morning.
But I still think you're wrong about capital punishment.
When I become chief justice of the Supreme
Court, there are going to be some changes made.
Okay.
Come on, Mr. Chief Justice.
Come on.
Oh, that's cold.
Yeah, that's the whole idea.
No!
No!
No!
I love you, Grace.
I love you, too.