Fairly Legal (2011–2012): Season 1, Episode 1 - Pilot - full transcript
Although her dad, a leading law firm's founder, recently died, Kate Reed's hard to please stepmother prods her mercilessly to keep up the pace in her extraordinary section, out of court arbitration. Kate's ex, public prosecutor Justin Patrick, is crucial in obtaining information, which she handles with conscience, trying to do right for tycoon client Charles Pease and the innocent good son in the car that hit his succession-destined son Doug's. The unexpected full truth proves surprisingly relevant to all. Judge David Nicastro exacts revenge on her by simultaneously imposing a rather absurd pro bono mediation with a 24 hour deadline.
Hey, what time is it?
Oh, no.
Oh, no-no-no. You're not
supposed to be here.
Oh, that's not the deal.
- Come on, K, we don't have a deal.
- We have a deal.
We most definitely have a deal.
- There is no sex, ever.
- Oh, come on.
And though we do have sex
doesn't spend the night.
All right, you know what? As much as I'd love
to stay and discuss the final points of our deal,
I have to go.
I have a huge meeting.
- Hey, have a great first day back.
- I hate you.
I'll call you.
Oh, you're such a lawyer.
Sorry.
Didn't want to sneak in unnoticed.
Mission accomplished.
Hi! Can I help you with something?
Is that your boat in slip 41?
It is now. It was my dad's,
Terry Reed.
Did you know him?
- My wife and I, we're new here.
- Oh, yeah?
Sorry. Well, even if you weren't,
you know,
he didn't sail it very often.
If you don't wanna give people a wrong
impression, you really should change the name.
What's the bad luck to change
the boat's name?
Bitch.
- Did you just call me...?
- Anyway, I like it. You know, it was my idea.
He was lonely, and then he met
somebody,
and then the boat was lonely.
So... Anyway, have a good day!
Welcome aboard.
Hey, Spencer.
Lauren's been trying to call
you all morning.
Really? I just turned my phone on.
Kate, if she's called me, she's
probably called you at least 10 times.
You know, what if
there is an emergency?
I'm a mediator, I don't have emergencies.
At least, not professionally.
Look, she's calling me again on the other
line. Could you, please, call her back?
She's a bit obsessive, our stepmother,
don't you think?
That's what dad loved.
- I thought it was her ass.
- That, too.
I'll just give her some time.
It's only been a week.
Now, what about you? Are you sure about
going back to work already?
Well, I kinda owe it to dad.
You know, it's his firm, but
it's your life.
Yeah, but those things are really
connected.
Look, I gotta go to Debbie's crime.
Good luck today.
- All right.
- Don't forget to call Lauren.
- Oh, you know me. Hi.
- Hi.
- Coffee, black, please.
- Sure.
- Gimme the money.
- Okay.
Gimme the money!
Okay, okay, yeah,
yeah, yeah. Come on!
Screw you, pal!
Screw me? Screw you!
Okay. Hold on a second.
Just take it easy. Take it easy.
Just put the gun down, 'cause you
don't wanna hurt anybody, all right?
How's that coffee comin' along?
Um...You seem like the kinda guy
who knows what he's doing.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
Yeah. Okay, so, uh...
We're not gonna have any
problems here, right?
Yeah. No.
Right. Okay, good.
So just tuck the gun
back under your shirt,
'cause you don't want
someone to walk by,
and then they see you and...
Right?
How we doing on that coffee?
Good. Now, educate me.
What do you get when
you rob a store?
You...You know, money.
Right. How much? Gimme a number.
- 500 bucks?
- Yeah, right! 5... Forget it, man!
Let's just say 100. All right?
You get shot...
The emergency room is
gonna cost you a grand.
So just give the guy 100 bucks.
- I'm gonna give him something.
- Wait, wait, wait.
Hold on a second.
Hold on, hold on.
What are you gonna
buy with the money?
Beer.
And, uh... beef jerky.
Beer and jerky. Nice.
That's a balanced meal.
So how much does...
Let's say 50 bucks of
beer and jerky cost you?
- 17.50.
- 7... 17.50?
Are you kidding me?
- Who's robbing who?
- Hey, come on!
All right, fine, fine, fine.
So how does 50 bucks of
beer and jerky sound to you?
I mean, I assume you're
gonna be running, right?
- So that's all you can carry.
- That's... Yeah, okay.
Okay, good. So...
17.50 wholesale...
And we go on with our day.
- Yeah.
- Yes?
And my coffee, right?
You're gonna get my coffee.
- Yeah, yeah.
- Great.
Okay, good.
Black.
Okay. There you go. And, uh...
How 'bout this? Good. Okay?
- Ha ha!
- All right.
You're welcome.
Hey, hey, hey, that... that's 5.75.
For coffee and a cookie?
Those are organic.
- Spencer.
- Did you call Lauren?
- Nope. I got held up.
- Kate...
- Gotta go. Love you!
- Kate!
Ah...Leo, my Leo. Good morning.
Welcome back. You look great.
Oh, what can I say?
Grief suits me.
Yeah. Oh, you should try this.
It's apple chai tea infusion.
Eew. I hate those
girly drinks, Leo.
Your loss. It's appletastic.
Uh, Judge Nicastro's
office called.
You're expected in
his court at 11:30.
- He's got a case for you.
- Doesn't Judge Nicastro know
I'm not a practicing
attorney anymore?
It's a mediation.
You were specifically requested.
Okay, that's weird. He hates me.
Yes. Yes, he does.
You're supposed to say, "No,
he doesn't, he loves you."
- Any other calls?
- Lauren.
That bitch just
can't help herself.
- I mean, it's my first day back.
- Kate.
My father is not even
cold in the ground.
- We can't all be obsessive-compulsive...
- Kate!
- Anal retentive...
- Ah!
She's right behind me, isn't she?
Kate. I need you. Now.
Yes. Right. I was just going
over my schedule
here with Leonardo.
- You need me back...
- ASAP.
S-a-p. You have a
tendency to panic.
You have a tendency not to.
Um, now that dad's gone,
are you still my evil stepmother
or just the evil managing partner?
Have you been
to Masa's lately?
- What?
- Boulevard.
Aqua. Gary Danko.
No. I haven't done
much dining out lately.
I've been mourning the
death of my father. You?
Hey. I miss my husband.
Every minute.
But instead of sulking,
I am trying to protect
the firm he loved.
By running up your
expense account?
Oh, grow up, Kate.
Every law firm in San Francisco
is wining and dining our clients,
telling them to jump ship...
and it's working.
Ortho West left for
Morrison Foerster,
the Rixton Group
for Wilson Sonsini,
and Tinker Connelly,
Third Pallbearer, right side,
dropped us the day...
Of the funeral.
I called his son from the limo
and over drinks at
the Morgan tonight,
I will get that business back.
Teddy Reed is dead.
Reed & Reed is on life support.
I will do whatever it
takes to keep it alive.
What can I do?
You know Charles
and Douglas Pease.
Yeah, sure. Pease, inc.
Women's clothing. They're a big client.
Well, as you know,
they've agreed to
be bought out by a
Canadian company.
Douglas will be in charge.
His father retires with
a generous severance.
So what's the problem?
Well, they were supposed
to sign the contracts today,
but the old man called me this
morning and tried to back out.
No deal for them, no fees for us.
Now, I convinced Charles to come
in and talk it out with Douglas,
but we need those
contracts signed.
Get them on the same page.
That's what I do.
Pastels. Primaries.
Stripes. Solids.
- You have no idea, do you?
- That's not the point, is it?
- Gentlemen...
- You don't know what to think
unless somebody graphs it for you.
- Gentlemen...
- Are you gonna run the company?
No. You're gonna
let bean counters...
Gentlemen...
You know Kate Reed.
Hey, Charlie, Doug.
I'm sorry about your father.
He was a good man. I'll miss him.
Thank you.
- I'll miss him too.
- Thank you so much, Doug.
That's my boy.
Never an original thought.
Since we seem to
be at an impasse,
I thought it might be helpful
if Kate got involved.
We don't need a mediator.
Thanks anyway, Kate.
- I've made my decision.
- Right. I've heard.
It took 14 months to
put this deal together.
He was with it every
step of the way.
This is his deal,
and he won't sign it.
Well, he doesn't have
to if he doesn't want to.
- That's not...
- But...Do you mind just telling me,
Charlie, because this
is so not like you:
What's the story?
Where's your head at?
Spring 1993.
I ordered Capri pants.
Everyone else... the Gap,
the Limited...
They're all thinking bells.
I cleaned their clocks.
All of them.
That was a fantastic time,
Charles.
What has that got to do with...
The business is
not in your blood.
You don't feel it.
I built the company on
instinct, intuition.
And that's your strength,
Charlie.
And I'm sure that
Doug has his own.
I have my MBA from Stanford.
I make decisions based
on statistical analysis,
- trend-spotting.
- Pie charts.
We've had ten consecutive
losing quarters.
We blame the economy,
and so far everyone believes us.
But it's been a long time, dad,
- since you've cleaned anyone's clock.
- Okay
okay, clearly you two
approach things differently,
but here's the part
that I don't understand.
That was true 14 months ago
when you started
negotiating this buyout.
It was true a week ago,
and it was true yesterday.
So what changed?
- Tell her about last night.
- It has nothing to do with...
- It's about judgment, Douglas.
- Please, dad.
Okay, hold on. Hold on, Charlie.
What happened?
I was coming home from
dinner with clients.
I was on the 280 heading south.
I'd just got on the bridge.
A red sedan crossed over
the line and bumped me.
What the hell?
Whatcha gonna say now?
Whatcha gotta say?
I don't remember the impact.
It was instinct, you know,
turning away from the gun.
I didn't...See them at all.
- It just happened so fast.
- Did anyone I.D. the sedan?
Well, a good
samaritan called it in,
and there's a second witness.
The driver and gunman
are in custody.
Now, if we go
through this buyout...
We have to disclose the details
of any pending legal action.
Well, someone
pointed a gun at him.
- He's blameless.
- He was drunk.
Douglas had a blood alcohol
level that was elevated.
- .09.
- Drunk.
I had two glasses of wine.
That's not why I crashed.
The courts aren't
gonna see it that way.
- Of course they're not.
- And that's exactly why
you don't want this
to go to court.
So how do we put these thugs in
jail and clean up Doug's mess?
Charlie, I was an
attorney for five years.
I quit to become a mediator.
You wanna know why?
In court, somebody wins,
but there's always a loser.
And it doesn't necessarily
have to do with
who's right and who's wrong.
Now, if we go to court,
this is gonna limp through
the system for 18 months
and all the while, Doug's DUI
is gonna become public record,
which is exactly
what you don't want.
I'm not just gonna
stand by and do nothing.
Okay, the kids in the car...
that's an open and shut case.
The system's gonna
take care of them.
They'll probably be offered
some kind of plea bargain.
Our only concern is Doug's DUI.
We handle that, the deal
can move forward, right?
Absolutely.
Charles?
Great. So we're all
back on the same page.
Win-win. And you know what?
Kate has a unique connection
to the D.A.'S office.
I am sure she'd be
happy to use it.
Especially for such
important clients like you.
Lauren, may I have a
word with you, please?
Excuse us, gentlemen.
My father would never
ask me to do this.
No, you're right. He wouldn't.
He'd ask me to ask you.
It's business, Kate.
We use what we have.
Our clients can go anywhere
for legal services.
Hell, they can get half of what
they need off the Internet.
They come to us for
our connections.
You have one. We're using it.
Just do something with
my father's ashes.
- Coffee. Black, three sugars.
- You're forgiven.
- Where ya goin'?
- Hell.
He wasn't driving erratically
or over the speed limit.
In fact, the legality
of a sobriety test,
given the circumstances,
is questionable at best.
- You missed me.
- That's not why I'm here.
Well, you could have called.
- Lauren asked me to...
- Yeah, I know.
But you could have called.
Instead, you came over.
Because it's important.
Because you feel
guilty about last night.
Why would I feel
guilty about last night?
Oh, you're saying you're not
here because you feel guilty?
Yes. That's exactly
what I'm saying.
- So you miss me.
- You're such a dick.
All right.
You're gonna like this.
Your gunman's got
an extensive record.
Pointing a firearm at another driver
from a moving vehicle's
a class a felony.
- He's gonna do ten years.
- Can I see?
No, no, no. Ha.
Attorneys only. Sorry.
The driver's also looking
at ten reducible to five.
Well, those are stiff sentences.
- My client will be happy.
- Pretty standard stuff, actually.
There's the possibility of
catastrophic loss of life.
The vehicle itself is a weapon.
The gun compounds the threat.
The law was designed
to keep gangbangers
from taking their
beefs on the road.
And what about my guy's DUI?
Well...He's got no priors.
Given the circumstances,
a good lawyer should get it thrown out.
Let's assume he has a good lawyer.
Ha. Cute.
Okay. We're done.
This wasn't just business,
was it, huh?
Come on, be honest, Kate.
This was about us.
Justin... I'm always honest.
It's my greatest flaw.
Well, it's one of them. Yeah.
Remind me again why our
marriage didn't work.
Ah. Just did.
I was joking, Kate.
I was kidding.
Kate.
I was kidding. Wait.
Okay, I get it.
You're angry. I'm sorry.
This looks familiar.
I apologize.
- Not accepted. Nope.
- I'm sorry, Kate. I apologize.
Really familiar.
Could you get her
on the phone, please?
Talk to me, Leo.
Hey, don't be late
for Judge Nicastro.
- He hates to be kept waiting.
- Oh, give me a little credit.
We'll get right outside
of his courtroom.
Taxi!
[]
Sorry! I'm sorry.
Judge, I am so sorry.
Really sorry about this.
No, you're not.
You're Kate Reed.
You have nothing but
disdain for the law.
Okay, well, that's
not entirely true, sir.
- You quit the profession.
- I'm still in the system.
It's just a...
different part. Ha ha.
- Mr. Brian Michaels...
- Yes, sir.
Is suing the three
parties involved
in his meticulously
planned marriage proposal.
The proposal went awry, and his
grandmother's wedding ring,
appraised at $11,500, was lost.
So Mr. Michaels is requesting
of one unemployed actor,
one singing waiter,
and one cupcake maker...
Damages totaling...
$10 million. Really, Mr. Michaels?
Yeah. I just want what's fair.
- So do we, your honor!
- Your honor, I have...
Now, as much as I would love to
have this case in my courtroom,
I thought that it might be
better served elsewhere.
So...
Sit down.
So we're going to try
something a little different...
Alternative dispute resolution,
also known as mediation.
Bailiff.
- Kate Reed is not...
- Thanks.
A lawyer. She is a mediator.
A mediator is kind of
a referee in a game with no rules,
except those agreed to
by the parties involved.
Ms. Reed handles all
sorts of disputes,
some even bigger than yours.
Earlier this year, she was
called in by the United Nations
to settle a border dispute
between Colombia and...Paraguay.
Colombia and Nicaragua, sir.
And it was their embassies
here in San Francisco.
They border each other
on Market Street,
and they share a common wall.
But the U.N. did call.
- They did call.
- Ms. Reed.
- Yes, sir. - Find a way to keep
this case out of my court.
- Okay.
- You've got two days.
Two days?
Judge...There are
three defendants,
and this guy's asking
for $10 million.
Two days doesn't seem exactly...
Okay. How about
tomorrow morning at 9:00?
Would you like to try for
later on this afternoon?
- No.
- Find a resolution
or you will be sent to
prison for contempt of court.
Yes, I can do that.
- I'll see you tomorrow.
- Yes, sir.
Bailiff, call the next case.
Kate Reed's office.
Judge Nicastro
really does hate me.
No, he doesn't. He loves you.
That's right. I forgot.
Okay, so why does he hate me?
Well... there's
the Fineman debacle.
- Yes. Right.
- And the examiner interview.
- Okay. That was bad.
- And the joke you made
about his wife and the horse
that his wife overheard.
So you're saying
it's not random.
Oh. I never said that.
I like you more every day, Leo.
Okay, um...The complainants
that Nicastro dumped on me
will be there at 2:00,
so...Set 'em up for me
in the conference room.
Done. What about the Pease case?
Solved. I'm amazing.
I'll be back in 20.
Next. Hey.
Wake up.
- Where is he?
- Out.
- Lunch.
- That son of a bitch!
- Did you not read the file?
- Which file, Kate?
The file you couldn't
possibly have read
because I didn't give it to you?
The file that would be illegal for
you to have in your possession.
Justin, Justin,
the driver! The driver!
Look, I'm in a meeting, Kate.
I'm gonna have to call you back. Sorry.
Hi...
- How'd you know where I was?
- It's Monday.
He'll have a polish with
onions and a peach Snapple.
- This kid is going to Yale.
- I'm sorry.
Isn't this the same kid you
just asked me to put in jail?
Yeah. But that was before
I knew the full story.
Thank you.
- Justin. Don't do this!
- It's my heart.
- You don't have a heart!
- Hey, hey, hey!
- God! Read the damn file!
- Hey, I wrote the file!
And if you read it,
that's a crime.
I'm gonna go talk
to those kids. Taxi!
Go ahead. What do you think
they're gonna say, huh?
They're gonna say what they
always say... "I'm innocent."
I did you a favor.
You asked me to do this.
Certain things have been
put in motion... Hey, Kate!
Sir, can you put your arms out?
Thank you.
- I'm guilty.
- You realize that means...
- I'll do the time.
- D'Sean,
this is a class "A" felony.
Nah. Gun wasn't loaded.
It doesn't matter if
the gun was chocolate.
You were in a moving vehicle.
You threatened another driver.
The D.A.'S gonna
offer you ten years.
I woulda pulled the
trigger if I knew that.
And ten years for Nathan.
Well. He might only
have to do five.
For what?
He was driving.
He's an accessory.
No...
Nathan didn't do nothing,
he... my cousin...
- My cousin, he's...
- I know, but listen to me.
- He's clean.
- Listen to me.
- It doesn't work like that.
- Let me do his time.
He doesn't have to go
down for what I did.
The courts are not
gonna let you do that.
Give it to me!
He didn't do nothin'!
He didn't do nothin'!
He didn't do nothin'!
Say it! Say he's innocent!
He didn't do nothin'!
He's innocent!
That's my homie!
You wanna take him away?
That's my boy!
"National Honor Society.
"Big Brother.
All-State Marching Band."
Wow. You're an
impressive kid, Nathan.
Tell me what happened.
We were heading home.
Just...Driving.
Listening to the radio.
And all of a sudden...
Ha ha ha... yeah, whatever.
What's up? Don't y'all
know how to drive?
What are you doing,
man? He took his piece out.
- You don't know how to drive?
- Yo, D'Sean!
- Yo, man...Yo, relax!
- It's on, man!
No! We gonna get pinched!
He wasn't gonna shoot
or anything, he just...
That's just D'Sean.
- Chill! It's all right!
- No, man!
The lady in the car,
she saw the gun, I think,
and freaked.
You said there was a
woman driving the car?
- Yes.
- Did you see a man
in the passenger
seat or in the back?
I barely saw her.
Okay. Why did D'Sean have a gun?
Everyone I know's got a gun.
'cept me. I'm the good boy.
So what kind of time am I facing?
Ten years.
Five if you plea out of it.
Or you could insist
that you go to trial.
Um, you've got no priors.
Roll the dice. Take my chances?
Well...Yeah.
From the ghetto to Yale.
Just that right there...
Getting in.
I think I used up all my luck.
I don't believe that.
And you shouldn't either.
Why not?
There was definitely a
woman driving the car?
Definitely.
Okay.
You've still got some luck left.
It's black and white, Kate.
Nothing is ever black and white.
The guy had a woman in the car.
That... that's not a crime.
The kids... they pulled a gun.
- That is.
- One. One kid pulled a gun.
- There's no legal distinction.
- Okay. But there should be.
What does any of this have
to do with your mediation?
Why would Doug lie?
Why would he cop to a DUI
when he wasn't even driving?
Because if a guy's
gonna lie about anything,
it's gonna be about a woman.
Your Doug
would rather face a judge
than face his wife.
Speaking of...
When's yours coming back?
- Terry's up in Seattle.
- Uh-huh.
Pitching a new account.
But coming back tonight...
For date night.
- Yeah, date night!
- Ooh!
- Ooh.
- Special.
- You got that?
- I thought you hated it
- when dad worked all the time.
- I did.
That's why I quit the firm.
Lila's gonna know her father.
Well, that's good.
At least she'll know
one of her parents.
So...Good work there, dad.
Did you come here to tell
me that my marriage sucks?
- No, no, no, I...
- But you think it does.
Look, I just...
I think it's different
than what you said you wanted.
I thought mediators were
supposed to solve problems.
Sometimes. And then...
Sometimes they just
like to point 'em out,
you know...No charge.
♪ If I were king of the forest ♪
- I don't believe you.
- Talk to me, Leo.
The people from
Judge Nicastro's court
are waiting for you in
the conference room.
- Ooh, God damn it. Oh...
- Nice.
- Oh. Okay.
- Oh...
Aunt Katie's got a potty mouth!
Uh...I gotta go.
I love you. Bye.
- Love ya.
- I'll call you later.
All right.
Leo, something's not right
with this Pease thing.
I need to head over there first.
But what about the people
in the conference room?
Yeah. Just tell
them I'm running late.
- Oh, no! Wait, wait!
- Okay. Soon as my hearing comes back.
Wait! Wait! Please! Ah!
Uh, taxi!
- Totally obsessive!
- O-oh, obsessive?
Y-you were drunk!
Ms. Reed's running late.
- You guys need anything?
- Boom!
I'd like to hear you say,
Brian...
You were crying!
So you're all good then.
Okay, then.
I've got some good news
and some better news.
I'm comin' in.
All right, well,
I talked to the D.A.
The government's
looking at ten years,
and there is no interest
in pursuing Doug's DUI.
Terrific. That's everything.
I believe it is, yes.
What about the other punk,
the driver?
Well, here's the thing.
There's two versions
of the accident.
Wrong. There was one accident.
Two parties involved.
One party of criminals,
the other my son.
That's one version.
Do you know who was in the car?
Yeah. Scumbag one
and scumbag two.
D'Sean has a record,
but Nathan the driver doesn't.
In fact, he's quite
the model citizen.
He's got a full
scholarship to Yale.
- He starts in the fall.
- Not anymore.
Nathan Henry's a good kid,
Charles... he's smart.
Smart kids choose smart friends,
not gun-carrying gangsters.
Well, maybe in the suburbs.
If Douglas grew up
in Hunter's Point,
he'd have friends with guns.
Oh, please.
I'm sick of hearing about
how getting spanked
when you were four
gives you license to rob a
grocery store when you're 40.
It's an excuse,
and I don't buy it.
It is easy to be judgmental
when you grow up with wealth.
The children of privilege
aren't allowed to fail.
- It's not their fault.
- No, it's not their fault.
- That's right... exactly right.
- So whose fault is it
that when you grow up
in a lousy neighborhood
you study your ass off
to make straight A's,
you get the crap kicked out of
you for not being in a gang?
I grew up poor.
I'm not a criminal.
Neither is Nathan Henry.
He not only survived
and stayed clean...
He got a full scholarship to Yale.
Now, the gunman,
he'll do his time.
He knows it's coming.
But you've gotta let
Nathan off the hook.
You lack your father's clarity.
It troubles me.
It troubled him, too, sir.
Dad, maybe we're pushing
a little too hard on this.
Does it...Really matter if
this Nathan goes to jail?
Yes.
Again, Douglas, judgment.
- Let's not lose sight of...
- When I asked if you knew
who was in the car,
I was talking about Doug's.
There was a woman driving his car.
Both boys saw her,
and in the police report,
a woman's purse was
found on the floor.
Now, I don't suppose
that your wife ran
from the scene of an accident.
Carol-Anne was in L.A.
I'm sure she was.
No I.D. in the purse.
Cheap makeup.
Was she a rental?
Uh, I met her in the
bar at the restaurant.
Oh!
What? What?
Oh, yeah, wake up!
She had a room
at a hotel nearby.
Never made it there, tough.
What was her name?
- Oh, I don't know.
- You don't even know her name,
and you let her drive the Beemer?
That's the part
that bothers you?
You pick up hookers a lot?
Well...
What's a lot?
Jesus, Douglas.
What's the point of all this?
Well, facts change.
Positions should too.
Everything's not
so black and white.
All right, gentlemen,
I, uh, have another
meeting to go to.
I'm gonna let you two talk.
Call me later...
And we'll wrap this up.
$10 million!
Do you know how much of a waste
of time this is for me right now?
Oh, hey, I need Kate.
Oh, you know what? She is busy.
She's got a
court-ordered mediation.
All right, well,
tell her I'm looking for her.
You know I will.
Leonardo!
Leo!
Hey.
Come here.
You know I would never
ask you to do anything
that comes even close to
the border of illegality.
- Oh, I know.
- And I'm not asking you now.
Especially from your
Dungeons & Dragons buddies
over at the police
department or the DMV.
You've not asked
me many times before.
Exactly. This is just
like one of those times.
The license plate number
for Doug Pease's car.
Find out everything you
can about him, the car,
the night of the accident...
everything.
Why? What are you...
What are you looking for?
I don't know.
Something just doesn't
seem right yet.
- Okay, then.
- Yeah.
Conference room.
I read their file.
What do you think, like...An hour?
Ugh. Dinner and a pillow.
Ooh. Fun. Ha.
Hello, everyone.
My name is Kate Reed,
and I will be your mediator today.
- Hi, Kate.
- Can you please talk
- to that idiot?
- These morons...
- I gotta get out of here.
- A million doll...
Better. Thank you.
Okay, uh... Brian Michaels,
you wanted to make a
memorable wedding proposal
to your girlfriend.
- Hello.
- Hi.
- Quite a complicated plan.
- Actually, it was very simple.
Oh, please!
- Yeah, like d-day.
- Psycho!
Jessica and I
ordered a cable car,
which is where we
met three years ago.
I hired three people,
each one representing one
year in our dating history,
to board the cable car at
three consecutive stops...
The first to read my first
love letter to Jessica.
The second to sing,
Time of My Life.
And one was to present
us with cupcakes
with our faces in the icing.
- Oh, that's sweet.
- I know.
- Okay, so what happened?
- Well, the actor was drunk,
the singing was terrible,
and the cupcakes...
They looked nothing like us!
I wasn't drunk. I had vertigo.
- I have talent!
- It doesn't matter.
I proposed anyway. All right?
I presented Jessica with my
grandmother's engagement ring.
She'd given me her father's watch.
He passed away last year.
He loved Brian.
I wanted to give her
something just as special.
But their incompetence
made us lose the ring.
- We never lost anything.
- You were going crazy!
- He attacked me.
- You murdered our song!
Don't make me...
Whistle again...Please.
She dropped the ring.
I may have been
technically drunk but...
- It's not my fault.
- Well, then whose fault is it?
- Yours!
- All right, Jessica,
Brian proposed.
He gave you the ring.
And then what happened?
Well, I was about to put it on,
and then everyone started yelling
and someone was trying to pass me,
and the cupcake with Brian's
face fell in this woman's lap
and she screamed, and it...
It was gone, it was just gone.
There was nothing that
you could do about it?
No!
I mean, you could
have held on to it.
Oh!
I-I'm not saying
it's your fault.
- Okay. What are you saying?
- N-nothing.
I mean, I-I'm saying it could
have happened to anyone.
- It's like you said.
- Exactly.
Could it have
happened to you, Brian?
No. I would have held on to it.
Oh, my God, you really
do think it's my fault!
I didn't say that.
Actually, you did.
That's not what I meant!
- Okay, what'd you mean?
- N-nothing.
I just... oh, forget it. I...
I-it's just it's really
hard for me to understand.
That's all.
I mean, I would never
lose your father's watch.
It's too important to me.
You think I lost the ring
because I don't care about it?
That's... eh...
All right. I'm gonna
send you folks home.
- Yes!
- Okay? So just be in court
- tomorrow morning at 9:00.
- 9:00? I'm not even awake.
Actually, you know,
I'd like to stay
- and watch this for a bit.
- Yeah. No.
He's got some...issues.
Let's just get this
all out right now.
Harrington.
Beware the one who
whispers in the night.
He stokes the fire
that never dies...
Oh. Thanks. Appreciate that.
And walks the endless circle.
What filthy
creature of the night
dares call by day?
Hey, it's Leonardo.
I need some information.
Open. Close.
Open. Close.
It's easy now.
- Open...Close.
- In here.
Without my maniac
fianceé screaming at me
and people there freaking out!
It's one hand on the rail,
one on the ring.
My leg is free.
Nobody's getting near this!
Nobody!
All right!
I think we got it all out, right?
Most of it.
A lot of it.
Let's just take a break.
Ooh. Hot date?
Hmph. Tim Connelly.
Yikes. Once again,
glad I'm not you.
I just got off a call
with Charles Pease.
Thought you had
everything handled.
- He's calling off the deal.
- But that's absurd,
because when I left
their office earlier...
You met with Charles
and Douglas without me?
Yes. Well, I-I got some
information about the accident.
See, the boy driving
the other car...
- Wait. He's not our client.
- I know that.
But the boy driving the
other car is innocent.
But he's not our client.
Aw, Kate...
I call you in to help,
and now I've got to
clean up your mess.
Wow, I'm... I'm sorry.
I-I should never let
an innocent kid's life
stand in the way
of our legal fees.
You know, is it me you hate?
Or lawyers in general?
Maybe it's the fact that I
married your beloved father.
You know what?
He was beloved to me too.
My father was a lawyer.
My ex-husband is a lawyer.
My brother is a lawyer,
and I was a lawyer.
And even though I carry around
more than a small
amount of self-hatred,
if I really hated lawyers,
I wouldn't work at a law firm.
And as for marrying
my father, yes...
I hate you for that.
I thought my mother
made him happy...
Until I saw him with you.
And I don't know what
to think about that.
So I hate you.
It's simpler that way.
Is that you, the dwarf?
I'm the gnome. In wintergrasp.
- Well, what is he doing?
- Defending the keep.
- It looks like he's attacking.
- I'm taking out the towers.
Even when you're playing defense,
you've got to attack.
- Interesting.
- Mm-hmm.
Focus on the wrong thing,
you get killed.
- I have learned much from you.
- Well, I am the master.
And you've taught me well.
Anything on Doug's car?
Not yet.
Okay. Go home.
How's it going with
the loving couple?
Good.
Yeah. I, uh...
I feel a breakthrough coming.
Well, I-I'll stick around.
Still got some, uh, work...To do.
Okay.
You didn't see that
coming at all, did ya?
That it was her brother, right?
Oh...I did not, no.
'Scuse me. 'Scuse me.
Oh, no, no, no, Tim, I am done.
I have another meeting.
I don't think you do.
You're so funny.
Oh...Ha.
I get that a lot.
What do you want?
Oh.
It's...Gratifying
to know that I have
your company's support.
Reed & Reed will continue to
provide the level of service...
Blah, blah, blah,
blah, blah, blah.
Look...I'm easy, okay?
You guys do good work.
I got no complaints.
The old man was just
trying to shake ya down
for a better rate, the prick.
Don't worry... I'm not gonna let
him pull our business away.
Thank you. Thank you.
I appreciate the loyalty,
and you can be sure
I will go the extra mile
to make sure you're happy.
What's that?
Extra mile.
Actually, it's more like
an extra couple of floors.
I told ya I was easy.
- Thank you both.
- Our pleasure.
Oh, Tim...
I think we, uh...
Overindulged.
Thank you so much
for the business.
Good night.
What, am I too young
for you, Lauren?
You'd rather have
drinks with my dad?
Hey, Lauren,
I want my extra mile, okay?
Can I see your watch?
My watch?
Hmm-hmm. The one Jessica gave you,
her father's watch.
You know what, Brian?
I don't think you're ever
gonna forgive Jessica
for letting go of your
grandmother's ring.
It's kinda hard to understand.
I'm just saying.
So...
The only way for you
to get past this
is to destroy something
important to Jessica.
- Smash the watch.
- What?
- No!
- It's the only way.
And then you'll be even.
- Y-you're crazy.
- Brian.
- It's the only way.
- Brian, no!
- I-I won't do it.
- Oh, come on, do it.
- No!
- Just smash it.
- What's wrong with you?
- I'm not gonna smash the watch.
- Smash the watch.
- No. It was her father's watch.
She gave me the watch.
It's too important, I'm not...
- Aah!
- Oh...Oh!
Oh, my God, I can't
believe you just did that.
I'm so sorry!
What kind of mediator are you?
I loved that watch.
I loved how special it was to you
that you wanted me to have it.
But that's how I
felt about the ring.
Brian, I was devastated.
I'm sorry I made you
feel worse on top of that.
Sorry that I made you feel
the way that I do now.
I feel... Oh, my God.
It's just a watch.
It's just a ring.
They're symbols.
We have the real thing.
I love you, Jessica.
- You, I hate.
- Ditto.
Oh...
Buffy the vampire slayer.
Wrong watch.
Sleight of hand.
It's easy to lose sight
of what's important.
You focus on the wrong thing,
you get killed.
I stopped breathing for a while.
No, don't do that.
Don't ever do that.
Brian, are you dropping
the charges and moving on?
Moving on.
Excellent.
I'll see you in court tomorrow.
I'm awake.
And that's not funny.
Go home.
I haven't heard
anything about the car.
It's okay. Maybe tomorrow.
Definitely. All right.
- I'm going.
- Okay.
- Oh, Leo?
- Yep.
Uh, you know that
Buffy the vampire
slayer watch you have?
- Yeah.
- Well, I wanted to get one for a friend.
Where'd you get it,
like Toys R Us?
Oh, no. That's one of only three
inscribed by Sarah
Michelle Geller herself
to commemorate the 100th episode.
That's why I keep it
locked in the desk drawer.
Oh.
Okay. Uh...
Well, I guess I'll just have to
track down one of
the other ones then.
Good luck with that.
It's gonna cost you a fortune.
He's worth it.
Hi, dad.
It's late.
- Yes.
- You home?
No. You?
What do you think?
Tomorrow morning
Nathan's public defender
is gonna recommend
that he cop a plea.
Why? He didn't do anything.
I'll offer five years,
and he'll take it.
- It's a good deal.
- It's a death sentence, Justin.
Look, I did what
you asked, Kate.
He's not going to trial.
You're welcome, by the way.
For what? He's going to jail.
Yeah. Could have been worse.
This thing gets in
front of a judge,
- the law says a weapon...
- The law, the law, the law!
God, what about the boy whose
life is gonna be ruined?
Does he even matter in this?
Go you're just like my dad,
you know that?
You make these laws up,
and then you hold them up
like they're sacred or something,
like they're from God,
like there's nothing higher.
But guess what, Justin. There is.
There is justice
and there is truth.
And who gets to
decide what's true... you?
Five years, Kate.
It's a good deal.
For who?
You know what would
be a perfect wedding?
- To elope?
- You're kidding, right?
Because I've already
done the seating chart.
It's alphabetized and everything.
Your uncle asked to sit...
It's very late.
Tomorrow Nathan Henry's
gonna accept a deal
that sends him to
prison for five years.
Well, I'm sorry to hear that.
Sorry is meaningless, Doug.
Call the D.A.
He has discretion
with the sentence.
Tell him that you don't
want Nathan charged.
My father...
Your father doesn't
make any sense.
You were in the car.
This is your decision.
I can't.
Why?
It looks like I've
lost the job I wanted.
If I go against him,
I'll lose him,
and if I lose him,
I lose the job that I have now.
I lose my house.
I lose...Everything.
Oh, Doug...Please.
This is so much bigger than you.
Stand up for Nathan.
Save his life.
Do the right thing.
I envy you.
You always seem to
know what that is.
You've reached the
cell phone of Teddy Reed.
I'm not currently available.
Leave a message, and I will
return your call promptly.
Thank you. I'll take it to her.
It's mine. Sorry.
Uh...You want me
to toss it back?
No, hold on to it.
I'll come by tonight
and pick it up.
Oh, will you?
I'm Andrew, by the way.
Kate.
Kate, I'm taking the boat out.
Sailing under the bridge.
Wanna come out for a sail?
God, you know what, that
just sounds like a great idea.
But, uh, I've got this little
thing called a job, you know?
Actually, I don't.
Mm. Hi.
Hi.
Oh, my God. Hold on. Hey!
It was a messenger.
He... he said it was important.
- I was just...
- Psh, psh, psh...
this is amazing. This is epic.
Thank you so much.
This is exactly what I wanted!
Um...I gotta go. I can't be late.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
You have a fantastic day!
Leo, I've got the picture.
Oh, my God... Okay.
Uh...Nathan's supposed
to make his plea today,
so tell Doug Pease I'm coming
over right after court.
Judge Nicastro.
Good news. Great news!
Mr. Michaels is
dropping the lawsuit,
and further, he agrees to
drop all future lawsuits
regarding the failed
engagement plans
and the loss of his
grandmother's ring.
Mr. Michaels, is that true?
- Yes.
- Yes!
As long as I can still sue
if something goes wrong
with the wedding.
We're gonna have a hot air
balloon dropping rose petals...
Enough? Okay?
You're driving yourself crazy.
- Makin' me crazy.
- I just want the wedding
to be everything that
the proposal wasn't,
you know, unexpected
and surprising.
Me too.
Why don't we just get
married right now?
W-eh... here?
I mean, why not?
We have everything we need.
We have witnesses and a judge.
I mean, come on!
- Are you surprised?
- Y-yeah!
It's unexpected.
I didn't expect it.
Brian, now or never.
- Now.
- Judge.
By the power vested in me
by the State of California,
I now pronounce you man and wife.
- That's it?
- There's some paperwork.
Yay!
Okay.
Picture time. Smile.
Aw! Congratulations!
- Thank you so much.
- You're very welcome.
When I have any future
conflicts, can I...
15-minute recess.
Newlyweds, meet me in my chambers.
I'm gonna need some signatures,
and then you can begin
your lifetime of happiness.
- You three are free to go.
- Whoo!
Ha ha! Thank you.
I really love my watch.
- Later.
- Bye.
Bailiff, take Ms.
Reed into custody.
What? Why?
Because I took a picture?
You were four minutes late.
God. Everything's
a technicality.
- I hate courts.
- I know you do.
Wait, wait, you can't
be serious about this.
I mean, does justice
look like this?
I knew you'd recognize
it when you saw it.
What? Hold on!
♪ If I were king ♪
♪ Of the forest ♪
Leo. Hey,
are the new contracts in?
They're being messengered
over to the Pease building.
Lauren's on her way
to see Charles,
and Douglas is expecting you.
- Are you almost there?
- I'm walking into the lobby.
Sure, you are.
Hello! Hello! Excuse me! Sir!
Somebody!
Oh! Justin! Justin!
Hey! Hi! Did you get
the message I left?
Yes. And I moved Nathan's
plea to the end of the day.
Oh! Thank you, thank you,
thank you, thank you.
- I really gotta run.
- Okay, wait, wait, wait.
Hold on! Hold on! Wait,
wait, wait!
Wait... Hold on.
I need a teeny, tiny favor.
Justin!
Is there something specific
that's bothering you?
I-is there a deal point
that can be improved on?
Maybe the share valuation.
It's just not going
to happen, Lauren.
- Why?
- Because I said so.
Please, I just have a
couple more thoughts.
Put them in an email.
I'll do that.
We need to look past
the third quarter.
Doug! Doug, hey.
...Can we... can we talk in private?
- No.
- No?
Okay. Well...
It's amazing technology,
these photo cameras.
Uh, go on ahead.
Crystal clear picture,
don't you think?
Yep.
What do you want?
I want you to do
the right thing.
I'll be in your father's office.
- Kate!
- Excuse me.
What do you want?
I want what I've always wanted,
what's best for you,
what's best for Doug,
and what's best for Nathan Henry.
That young man
is not my concern.
No, he's mine.
I was driving. It's my decision.
I'm gonna ask to have
the charges dropped.
I'll let the D.A. know
that he'll be hearing
from you this morning.
W-what are you doing?
Why are you here?
- Our business is done.
- No, it's not.
Don't contradict me, young lady.
Oh, I always finish
what I start, Charlie.
My father taught me that.
He taught me a lotta things.
I'm sure he tried, but I doubt
you were really listening.
God, you're just
like my dad! My gosh.
You don't wanna retire
because you're afraid you're
gonna disappear, but...
Oh, save the psychobabble...
You keep trying to hold
on so tightly, Charles,
that that's exactly
what's gonna happen.
You will disappear,
because when you die,
everything you know
will die with you.
But it doesn't have to.
It can live on.
Is this your way
of pushing me out?
- Is this all your idea?
- No.
Douglas's idea is that
you stay on as chairman.
Oh, I-I think that is
an idea with some merit.
- So now you're on her side.
- No, no, no, no.
I'm on your company's side,
Charles, always.
Douglas runs the
company as president,
and you keep an eye
on the big picture.
You mentor him.
You pass down what you know.
That way, you'll have a legacy.
And it'll be around
even when you're not.
Douglas has his own ideas.
He doesn't wanna listen to mine...
He never did.
I can try.
You're gonna make me read
those damn pie charts, aren't you?
- No.
- Liar.
It's a smart move, Charles.
If I see the word emeritus
or acting next to chairman,
- the deal's off.
- No, you'll be the real chairman, dad.
- That's right!
- Charlie.
Are you and Doug on
the same page now?
Excellent.
Great. Well,
we'll need to amend the deals.
- I'll have our contractor...
- Hold, please.
I took the liberty.
New contracts.
Now, gentlemen...
If you will...
Just... initial at the Xs.
Have you started thinking
about next year's summer line?
- Yeah. A little.
- A little is not good enough.
- We need designs by next month.
- I know. We'll have them.
A little.
Nice work, boys.
Great. Well.
Look at that.
Win-win.
You blindsided me.
I got the job done.
- How?
- Trade secret.
No. I don't think so.
There was no woman in the car.
See, everyone was
telling the truth.
There was a woman driving...
And Doug was the only
person in the car.
- Hey, yo!
- What the hell?
- You don't know how to drive?
- Oh, God! Ah!
Yo, put the piece away, man!
Yeah, that's right!
Oh, my...
Why can't you use your desk?
No privacy.
Didn't think you were coming in.
Ohh. Yeah. Me neither.
Leo, have you been working out?
Let's not play
that charade today.
What?
I gave up my Planeswalkers
to get that picture.
Dungeons & Dragons?
- It's magic cards.
- Magic cards.
Planeswalkers...Travel
through planes of existence.
And they're very hard to get.
Interesting.
Just...
Just say thank you.
Is that a new sweater vest?
You never say thank you.
That's not true.
Thank you.
Kate.
Hey, Lauren.
What?
You wanna give me a raise?
Oh! No, you are willing to admit
that lawyers burn bridges
and mediators build them.
You wanna congratulate me on
turning the Pease situation
into a win-win. Oh, Lauren...
Your father's ashes are missing.
Really?
You lost the Connelly account
and my father's ashes?
Lose-lose!
Kate?
Hello! It's me.
Hi.
Uh...lt's late.
Did I wake you?
Hold on.
Hey.
So you must have really put
the screws to Douglas Pease.
He pushed me really
hard to let that kid go.
What'd you have on him?
Sometimes people just
do the right thing.
No, they don't.
Not until you make 'em.
You know, you don't have
to live out here, Kate.
You took a bad settlement.
Mm.
I don't like conflict.
Well, I'm just saying,
I could spot you a year's rent.
You know, you can move
back in the neighborhood.
No! No, no.
I-I like it here.
- Really.
- Yeah.
I have friends.
Hi.
How are you this evening?
Oh... well, they're shy friends.
Can I, uh, you know,
come onboard?
- We could talk.
- I have company.
Wow. Hmm.
New tin man?
Sorry.
No, I'm sorry. It's not my place.
You know, uh,
maybe another time.
You know what,
coffee or something.
- Coffee...
- Maybe. Okay.
Yeah.
We'll do that.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Good night.
- Yep.
Hey, Justin?
Yeah?
Dad thought that you were great.
Maybe even a little
too good for me.
Well, he was half-right.
Good night.
Good night.
Okay. Um...
Let's focus on...
What we have in common.
We...Both have the
same sense of humor.
And nobody has my sense of humor.
We, um...
Ah, yes.
We agree on the important stuff.
And that's important.
Um...
We both have strong beliefs.
You believe in the
letter of the law.
It's absolute. It's always right.
And I believe that laws
were made by people...
And that people are often wrong.
♪ Drivin' in the rain ♪
God, I can't believe
I'm saying this to you...
for the first time.
♪ Oh, just as they say ♪
But you know,
the world needs both of us.
♪ Fly away ♪
♪ you and me. ♪
♪ below the window ♪
But really, it all
worked out, didn't it?
I mean, it's not how
you would have done it
with, uh...With motions
and briefs and arguments
but...just look at the results.
As our wings
the guilty paid a price.
The innocent went free.
And all was right with the world.
Talking about the friends?
♪ We made the birds that left and ♪
♪ the ones that stayed ♪
♪ and all these feathered days
that sing and laugh and cry ♪
♪ and fly away. ♪
Oh, no.
Oh, no-no-no. You're not
supposed to be here.
Oh, that's not the deal.
- Come on, K, we don't have a deal.
- We have a deal.
We most definitely have a deal.
- There is no sex, ever.
- Oh, come on.
And though we do have sex
doesn't spend the night.
All right, you know what? As much as I'd love
to stay and discuss the final points of our deal,
I have to go.
I have a huge meeting.
- Hey, have a great first day back.
- I hate you.
I'll call you.
Oh, you're such a lawyer.
Sorry.
Didn't want to sneak in unnoticed.
Mission accomplished.
Hi! Can I help you with something?
Is that your boat in slip 41?
It is now. It was my dad's,
Terry Reed.
Did you know him?
- My wife and I, we're new here.
- Oh, yeah?
Sorry. Well, even if you weren't,
you know,
he didn't sail it very often.
If you don't wanna give people a wrong
impression, you really should change the name.
What's the bad luck to change
the boat's name?
Bitch.
- Did you just call me...?
- Anyway, I like it. You know, it was my idea.
He was lonely, and then he met
somebody,
and then the boat was lonely.
So... Anyway, have a good day!
Welcome aboard.
Hey, Spencer.
Lauren's been trying to call
you all morning.
Really? I just turned my phone on.
Kate, if she's called me, she's
probably called you at least 10 times.
You know, what if
there is an emergency?
I'm a mediator, I don't have emergencies.
At least, not professionally.
Look, she's calling me again on the other
line. Could you, please, call her back?
She's a bit obsessive, our stepmother,
don't you think?
That's what dad loved.
- I thought it was her ass.
- That, too.
I'll just give her some time.
It's only been a week.
Now, what about you? Are you sure about
going back to work already?
Well, I kinda owe it to dad.
You know, it's his firm, but
it's your life.
Yeah, but those things are really
connected.
Look, I gotta go to Debbie's crime.
Good luck today.
- All right.
- Don't forget to call Lauren.
- Oh, you know me. Hi.
- Hi.
- Coffee, black, please.
- Sure.
- Gimme the money.
- Okay.
Gimme the money!
Okay, okay, yeah,
yeah, yeah. Come on!
Screw you, pal!
Screw me? Screw you!
Okay. Hold on a second.
Just take it easy. Take it easy.
Just put the gun down, 'cause you
don't wanna hurt anybody, all right?
How's that coffee comin' along?
Um...You seem like the kinda guy
who knows what he's doing.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
Yeah. Okay, so, uh...
We're not gonna have any
problems here, right?
Yeah. No.
Right. Okay, good.
So just tuck the gun
back under your shirt,
'cause you don't want
someone to walk by,
and then they see you and...
Right?
How we doing on that coffee?
Good. Now, educate me.
What do you get when
you rob a store?
You...You know, money.
Right. How much? Gimme a number.
- 500 bucks?
- Yeah, right! 5... Forget it, man!
Let's just say 100. All right?
You get shot...
The emergency room is
gonna cost you a grand.
So just give the guy 100 bucks.
- I'm gonna give him something.
- Wait, wait, wait.
Hold on a second.
Hold on, hold on.
What are you gonna
buy with the money?
Beer.
And, uh... beef jerky.
Beer and jerky. Nice.
That's a balanced meal.
So how much does...
Let's say 50 bucks of
beer and jerky cost you?
- 17.50.
- 7... 17.50?
Are you kidding me?
- Who's robbing who?
- Hey, come on!
All right, fine, fine, fine.
So how does 50 bucks of
beer and jerky sound to you?
I mean, I assume you're
gonna be running, right?
- So that's all you can carry.
- That's... Yeah, okay.
Okay, good. So...
17.50 wholesale...
And we go on with our day.
- Yeah.
- Yes?
And my coffee, right?
You're gonna get my coffee.
- Yeah, yeah.
- Great.
Okay, good.
Black.
Okay. There you go. And, uh...
How 'bout this? Good. Okay?
- Ha ha!
- All right.
You're welcome.
Hey, hey, hey, that... that's 5.75.
For coffee and a cookie?
Those are organic.
- Spencer.
- Did you call Lauren?
- Nope. I got held up.
- Kate...
- Gotta go. Love you!
- Kate!
Ah...Leo, my Leo. Good morning.
Welcome back. You look great.
Oh, what can I say?
Grief suits me.
Yeah. Oh, you should try this.
It's apple chai tea infusion.
Eew. I hate those
girly drinks, Leo.
Your loss. It's appletastic.
Uh, Judge Nicastro's
office called.
You're expected in
his court at 11:30.
- He's got a case for you.
- Doesn't Judge Nicastro know
I'm not a practicing
attorney anymore?
It's a mediation.
You were specifically requested.
Okay, that's weird. He hates me.
Yes. Yes, he does.
You're supposed to say, "No,
he doesn't, he loves you."
- Any other calls?
- Lauren.
That bitch just
can't help herself.
- I mean, it's my first day back.
- Kate.
My father is not even
cold in the ground.
- We can't all be obsessive-compulsive...
- Kate!
- Anal retentive...
- Ah!
She's right behind me, isn't she?
Kate. I need you. Now.
Yes. Right. I was just going
over my schedule
here with Leonardo.
- You need me back...
- ASAP.
S-a-p. You have a
tendency to panic.
You have a tendency not to.
Um, now that dad's gone,
are you still my evil stepmother
or just the evil managing partner?
Have you been
to Masa's lately?
- What?
- Boulevard.
Aqua. Gary Danko.
No. I haven't done
much dining out lately.
I've been mourning the
death of my father. You?
Hey. I miss my husband.
Every minute.
But instead of sulking,
I am trying to protect
the firm he loved.
By running up your
expense account?
Oh, grow up, Kate.
Every law firm in San Francisco
is wining and dining our clients,
telling them to jump ship...
and it's working.
Ortho West left for
Morrison Foerster,
the Rixton Group
for Wilson Sonsini,
and Tinker Connelly,
Third Pallbearer, right side,
dropped us the day...
Of the funeral.
I called his son from the limo
and over drinks at
the Morgan tonight,
I will get that business back.
Teddy Reed is dead.
Reed & Reed is on life support.
I will do whatever it
takes to keep it alive.
What can I do?
You know Charles
and Douglas Pease.
Yeah, sure. Pease, inc.
Women's clothing. They're a big client.
Well, as you know,
they've agreed to
be bought out by a
Canadian company.
Douglas will be in charge.
His father retires with
a generous severance.
So what's the problem?
Well, they were supposed
to sign the contracts today,
but the old man called me this
morning and tried to back out.
No deal for them, no fees for us.
Now, I convinced Charles to come
in and talk it out with Douglas,
but we need those
contracts signed.
Get them on the same page.
That's what I do.
Pastels. Primaries.
Stripes. Solids.
- You have no idea, do you?
- That's not the point, is it?
- Gentlemen...
- You don't know what to think
unless somebody graphs it for you.
- Gentlemen...
- Are you gonna run the company?
No. You're gonna
let bean counters...
Gentlemen...
You know Kate Reed.
Hey, Charlie, Doug.
I'm sorry about your father.
He was a good man. I'll miss him.
Thank you.
- I'll miss him too.
- Thank you so much, Doug.
That's my boy.
Never an original thought.
Since we seem to
be at an impasse,
I thought it might be helpful
if Kate got involved.
We don't need a mediator.
Thanks anyway, Kate.
- I've made my decision.
- Right. I've heard.
It took 14 months to
put this deal together.
He was with it every
step of the way.
This is his deal,
and he won't sign it.
Well, he doesn't have
to if he doesn't want to.
- That's not...
- But...Do you mind just telling me,
Charlie, because this
is so not like you:
What's the story?
Where's your head at?
Spring 1993.
I ordered Capri pants.
Everyone else... the Gap,
the Limited...
They're all thinking bells.
I cleaned their clocks.
All of them.
That was a fantastic time,
Charles.
What has that got to do with...
The business is
not in your blood.
You don't feel it.
I built the company on
instinct, intuition.
And that's your strength,
Charlie.
And I'm sure that
Doug has his own.
I have my MBA from Stanford.
I make decisions based
on statistical analysis,
- trend-spotting.
- Pie charts.
We've had ten consecutive
losing quarters.
We blame the economy,
and so far everyone believes us.
But it's been a long time, dad,
- since you've cleaned anyone's clock.
- Okay
okay, clearly you two
approach things differently,
but here's the part
that I don't understand.
That was true 14 months ago
when you started
negotiating this buyout.
It was true a week ago,
and it was true yesterday.
So what changed?
- Tell her about last night.
- It has nothing to do with...
- It's about judgment, Douglas.
- Please, dad.
Okay, hold on. Hold on, Charlie.
What happened?
I was coming home from
dinner with clients.
I was on the 280 heading south.
I'd just got on the bridge.
A red sedan crossed over
the line and bumped me.
What the hell?
Whatcha gonna say now?
Whatcha gotta say?
I don't remember the impact.
It was instinct, you know,
turning away from the gun.
I didn't...See them at all.
- It just happened so fast.
- Did anyone I.D. the sedan?
Well, a good
samaritan called it in,
and there's a second witness.
The driver and gunman
are in custody.
Now, if we go
through this buyout...
We have to disclose the details
of any pending legal action.
Well, someone
pointed a gun at him.
- He's blameless.
- He was drunk.
Douglas had a blood alcohol
level that was elevated.
- .09.
- Drunk.
I had two glasses of wine.
That's not why I crashed.
The courts aren't
gonna see it that way.
- Of course they're not.
- And that's exactly why
you don't want this
to go to court.
So how do we put these thugs in
jail and clean up Doug's mess?
Charlie, I was an
attorney for five years.
I quit to become a mediator.
You wanna know why?
In court, somebody wins,
but there's always a loser.
And it doesn't necessarily
have to do with
who's right and who's wrong.
Now, if we go to court,
this is gonna limp through
the system for 18 months
and all the while, Doug's DUI
is gonna become public record,
which is exactly
what you don't want.
I'm not just gonna
stand by and do nothing.
Okay, the kids in the car...
that's an open and shut case.
The system's gonna
take care of them.
They'll probably be offered
some kind of plea bargain.
Our only concern is Doug's DUI.
We handle that, the deal
can move forward, right?
Absolutely.
Charles?
Great. So we're all
back on the same page.
Win-win. And you know what?
Kate has a unique connection
to the D.A.'S office.
I am sure she'd be
happy to use it.
Especially for such
important clients like you.
Lauren, may I have a
word with you, please?
Excuse us, gentlemen.
My father would never
ask me to do this.
No, you're right. He wouldn't.
He'd ask me to ask you.
It's business, Kate.
We use what we have.
Our clients can go anywhere
for legal services.
Hell, they can get half of what
they need off the Internet.
They come to us for
our connections.
You have one. We're using it.
Just do something with
my father's ashes.
- Coffee. Black, three sugars.
- You're forgiven.
- Where ya goin'?
- Hell.
He wasn't driving erratically
or over the speed limit.
In fact, the legality
of a sobriety test,
given the circumstances,
is questionable at best.
- You missed me.
- That's not why I'm here.
Well, you could have called.
- Lauren asked me to...
- Yeah, I know.
But you could have called.
Instead, you came over.
Because it's important.
Because you feel
guilty about last night.
Why would I feel
guilty about last night?
Oh, you're saying you're not
here because you feel guilty?
Yes. That's exactly
what I'm saying.
- So you miss me.
- You're such a dick.
All right.
You're gonna like this.
Your gunman's got
an extensive record.
Pointing a firearm at another driver
from a moving vehicle's
a class a felony.
- He's gonna do ten years.
- Can I see?
No, no, no. Ha.
Attorneys only. Sorry.
The driver's also looking
at ten reducible to five.
Well, those are stiff sentences.
- My client will be happy.
- Pretty standard stuff, actually.
There's the possibility of
catastrophic loss of life.
The vehicle itself is a weapon.
The gun compounds the threat.
The law was designed
to keep gangbangers
from taking their
beefs on the road.
And what about my guy's DUI?
Well...He's got no priors.
Given the circumstances,
a good lawyer should get it thrown out.
Let's assume he has a good lawyer.
Ha. Cute.
Okay. We're done.
This wasn't just business,
was it, huh?
Come on, be honest, Kate.
This was about us.
Justin... I'm always honest.
It's my greatest flaw.
Well, it's one of them. Yeah.
Remind me again why our
marriage didn't work.
Ah. Just did.
I was joking, Kate.
I was kidding.
Kate.
I was kidding. Wait.
Okay, I get it.
You're angry. I'm sorry.
This looks familiar.
I apologize.
- Not accepted. Nope.
- I'm sorry, Kate. I apologize.
Really familiar.
Could you get her
on the phone, please?
Talk to me, Leo.
Hey, don't be late
for Judge Nicastro.
- He hates to be kept waiting.
- Oh, give me a little credit.
We'll get right outside
of his courtroom.
Taxi!
[]
Sorry! I'm sorry.
Judge, I am so sorry.
Really sorry about this.
No, you're not.
You're Kate Reed.
You have nothing but
disdain for the law.
Okay, well, that's
not entirely true, sir.
- You quit the profession.
- I'm still in the system.
It's just a...
different part. Ha ha.
- Mr. Brian Michaels...
- Yes, sir.
Is suing the three
parties involved
in his meticulously
planned marriage proposal.
The proposal went awry, and his
grandmother's wedding ring,
appraised at $11,500, was lost.
So Mr. Michaels is requesting
of one unemployed actor,
one singing waiter,
and one cupcake maker...
Damages totaling...
$10 million. Really, Mr. Michaels?
Yeah. I just want what's fair.
- So do we, your honor!
- Your honor, I have...
Now, as much as I would love to
have this case in my courtroom,
I thought that it might be
better served elsewhere.
So...
Sit down.
So we're going to try
something a little different...
Alternative dispute resolution,
also known as mediation.
Bailiff.
- Kate Reed is not...
- Thanks.
A lawyer. She is a mediator.
A mediator is kind of
a referee in a game with no rules,
except those agreed to
by the parties involved.
Ms. Reed handles all
sorts of disputes,
some even bigger than yours.
Earlier this year, she was
called in by the United Nations
to settle a border dispute
between Colombia and...Paraguay.
Colombia and Nicaragua, sir.
And it was their embassies
here in San Francisco.
They border each other
on Market Street,
and they share a common wall.
But the U.N. did call.
- They did call.
- Ms. Reed.
- Yes, sir. - Find a way to keep
this case out of my court.
- Okay.
- You've got two days.
Two days?
Judge...There are
three defendants,
and this guy's asking
for $10 million.
Two days doesn't seem exactly...
Okay. How about
tomorrow morning at 9:00?
Would you like to try for
later on this afternoon?
- No.
- Find a resolution
or you will be sent to
prison for contempt of court.
Yes, I can do that.
- I'll see you tomorrow.
- Yes, sir.
Bailiff, call the next case.
Kate Reed's office.
Judge Nicastro
really does hate me.
No, he doesn't. He loves you.
That's right. I forgot.
Okay, so why does he hate me?
Well... there's
the Fineman debacle.
- Yes. Right.
- And the examiner interview.
- Okay. That was bad.
- And the joke you made
about his wife and the horse
that his wife overheard.
So you're saying
it's not random.
Oh. I never said that.
I like you more every day, Leo.
Okay, um...The complainants
that Nicastro dumped on me
will be there at 2:00,
so...Set 'em up for me
in the conference room.
Done. What about the Pease case?
Solved. I'm amazing.
I'll be back in 20.
Next. Hey.
Wake up.
- Where is he?
- Out.
- Lunch.
- That son of a bitch!
- Did you not read the file?
- Which file, Kate?
The file you couldn't
possibly have read
because I didn't give it to you?
The file that would be illegal for
you to have in your possession.
Justin, Justin,
the driver! The driver!
Look, I'm in a meeting, Kate.
I'm gonna have to call you back. Sorry.
Hi...
- How'd you know where I was?
- It's Monday.
He'll have a polish with
onions and a peach Snapple.
- This kid is going to Yale.
- I'm sorry.
Isn't this the same kid you
just asked me to put in jail?
Yeah. But that was before
I knew the full story.
Thank you.
- Justin. Don't do this!
- It's my heart.
- You don't have a heart!
- Hey, hey, hey!
- God! Read the damn file!
- Hey, I wrote the file!
And if you read it,
that's a crime.
I'm gonna go talk
to those kids. Taxi!
Go ahead. What do you think
they're gonna say, huh?
They're gonna say what they
always say... "I'm innocent."
I did you a favor.
You asked me to do this.
Certain things have been
put in motion... Hey, Kate!
Sir, can you put your arms out?
Thank you.
- I'm guilty.
- You realize that means...
- I'll do the time.
- D'Sean,
this is a class "A" felony.
Nah. Gun wasn't loaded.
It doesn't matter if
the gun was chocolate.
You were in a moving vehicle.
You threatened another driver.
The D.A.'S gonna
offer you ten years.
I woulda pulled the
trigger if I knew that.
And ten years for Nathan.
Well. He might only
have to do five.
For what?
He was driving.
He's an accessory.
No...
Nathan didn't do nothing,
he... my cousin...
- My cousin, he's...
- I know, but listen to me.
- He's clean.
- Listen to me.
- It doesn't work like that.
- Let me do his time.
He doesn't have to go
down for what I did.
The courts are not
gonna let you do that.
Give it to me!
He didn't do nothin'!
He didn't do nothin'!
He didn't do nothin'!
Say it! Say he's innocent!
He didn't do nothin'!
He's innocent!
That's my homie!
You wanna take him away?
That's my boy!
"National Honor Society.
"Big Brother.
All-State Marching Band."
Wow. You're an
impressive kid, Nathan.
Tell me what happened.
We were heading home.
Just...Driving.
Listening to the radio.
And all of a sudden...
Ha ha ha... yeah, whatever.
What's up? Don't y'all
know how to drive?
What are you doing,
man? He took his piece out.
- You don't know how to drive?
- Yo, D'Sean!
- Yo, man...Yo, relax!
- It's on, man!
No! We gonna get pinched!
He wasn't gonna shoot
or anything, he just...
That's just D'Sean.
- Chill! It's all right!
- No, man!
The lady in the car,
she saw the gun, I think,
and freaked.
You said there was a
woman driving the car?
- Yes.
- Did you see a man
in the passenger
seat or in the back?
I barely saw her.
Okay. Why did D'Sean have a gun?
Everyone I know's got a gun.
'cept me. I'm the good boy.
So what kind of time am I facing?
Ten years.
Five if you plea out of it.
Or you could insist
that you go to trial.
Um, you've got no priors.
Roll the dice. Take my chances?
Well...Yeah.
From the ghetto to Yale.
Just that right there...
Getting in.
I think I used up all my luck.
I don't believe that.
And you shouldn't either.
Why not?
There was definitely a
woman driving the car?
Definitely.
Okay.
You've still got some luck left.
It's black and white, Kate.
Nothing is ever black and white.
The guy had a woman in the car.
That... that's not a crime.
The kids... they pulled a gun.
- That is.
- One. One kid pulled a gun.
- There's no legal distinction.
- Okay. But there should be.
What does any of this have
to do with your mediation?
Why would Doug lie?
Why would he cop to a DUI
when he wasn't even driving?
Because if a guy's
gonna lie about anything,
it's gonna be about a woman.
Your Doug
would rather face a judge
than face his wife.
Speaking of...
When's yours coming back?
- Terry's up in Seattle.
- Uh-huh.
Pitching a new account.
But coming back tonight...
For date night.
- Yeah, date night!
- Ooh!
- Ooh.
- Special.
- You got that?
- I thought you hated it
- when dad worked all the time.
- I did.
That's why I quit the firm.
Lila's gonna know her father.
Well, that's good.
At least she'll know
one of her parents.
So...Good work there, dad.
Did you come here to tell
me that my marriage sucks?
- No, no, no, I...
- But you think it does.
Look, I just...
I think it's different
than what you said you wanted.
I thought mediators were
supposed to solve problems.
Sometimes. And then...
Sometimes they just
like to point 'em out,
you know...No charge.
♪ If I were king of the forest ♪
- I don't believe you.
- Talk to me, Leo.
The people from
Judge Nicastro's court
are waiting for you in
the conference room.
- Ooh, God damn it. Oh...
- Nice.
- Oh. Okay.
- Oh...
Aunt Katie's got a potty mouth!
Uh...I gotta go.
I love you. Bye.
- Love ya.
- I'll call you later.
All right.
Leo, something's not right
with this Pease thing.
I need to head over there first.
But what about the people
in the conference room?
Yeah. Just tell
them I'm running late.
- Oh, no! Wait, wait!
- Okay. Soon as my hearing comes back.
Wait! Wait! Please! Ah!
Uh, taxi!
- Totally obsessive!
- O-oh, obsessive?
Y-you were drunk!
Ms. Reed's running late.
- You guys need anything?
- Boom!
I'd like to hear you say,
Brian...
You were crying!
So you're all good then.
Okay, then.
I've got some good news
and some better news.
I'm comin' in.
All right, well,
I talked to the D.A.
The government's
looking at ten years,
and there is no interest
in pursuing Doug's DUI.
Terrific. That's everything.
I believe it is, yes.
What about the other punk,
the driver?
Well, here's the thing.
There's two versions
of the accident.
Wrong. There was one accident.
Two parties involved.
One party of criminals,
the other my son.
That's one version.
Do you know who was in the car?
Yeah. Scumbag one
and scumbag two.
D'Sean has a record,
but Nathan the driver doesn't.
In fact, he's quite
the model citizen.
He's got a full
scholarship to Yale.
- He starts in the fall.
- Not anymore.
Nathan Henry's a good kid,
Charles... he's smart.
Smart kids choose smart friends,
not gun-carrying gangsters.
Well, maybe in the suburbs.
If Douglas grew up
in Hunter's Point,
he'd have friends with guns.
Oh, please.
I'm sick of hearing about
how getting spanked
when you were four
gives you license to rob a
grocery store when you're 40.
It's an excuse,
and I don't buy it.
It is easy to be judgmental
when you grow up with wealth.
The children of privilege
aren't allowed to fail.
- It's not their fault.
- No, it's not their fault.
- That's right... exactly right.
- So whose fault is it
that when you grow up
in a lousy neighborhood
you study your ass off
to make straight A's,
you get the crap kicked out of
you for not being in a gang?
I grew up poor.
I'm not a criminal.
Neither is Nathan Henry.
He not only survived
and stayed clean...
He got a full scholarship to Yale.
Now, the gunman,
he'll do his time.
He knows it's coming.
But you've gotta let
Nathan off the hook.
You lack your father's clarity.
It troubles me.
It troubled him, too, sir.
Dad, maybe we're pushing
a little too hard on this.
Does it...Really matter if
this Nathan goes to jail?
Yes.
Again, Douglas, judgment.
- Let's not lose sight of...
- When I asked if you knew
who was in the car,
I was talking about Doug's.
There was a woman driving his car.
Both boys saw her,
and in the police report,
a woman's purse was
found on the floor.
Now, I don't suppose
that your wife ran
from the scene of an accident.
Carol-Anne was in L.A.
I'm sure she was.
No I.D. in the purse.
Cheap makeup.
Was she a rental?
Uh, I met her in the
bar at the restaurant.
Oh!
What? What?
Oh, yeah, wake up!
She had a room
at a hotel nearby.
Never made it there, tough.
What was her name?
- Oh, I don't know.
- You don't even know her name,
and you let her drive the Beemer?
That's the part
that bothers you?
You pick up hookers a lot?
Well...
What's a lot?
Jesus, Douglas.
What's the point of all this?
Well, facts change.
Positions should too.
Everything's not
so black and white.
All right, gentlemen,
I, uh, have another
meeting to go to.
I'm gonna let you two talk.
Call me later...
And we'll wrap this up.
$10 million!
Do you know how much of a waste
of time this is for me right now?
Oh, hey, I need Kate.
Oh, you know what? She is busy.
She's got a
court-ordered mediation.
All right, well,
tell her I'm looking for her.
You know I will.
Leonardo!
Leo!
Hey.
Come here.
You know I would never
ask you to do anything
that comes even close to
the border of illegality.
- Oh, I know.
- And I'm not asking you now.
Especially from your
Dungeons & Dragons buddies
over at the police
department or the DMV.
You've not asked
me many times before.
Exactly. This is just
like one of those times.
The license plate number
for Doug Pease's car.
Find out everything you
can about him, the car,
the night of the accident...
everything.
Why? What are you...
What are you looking for?
I don't know.
Something just doesn't
seem right yet.
- Okay, then.
- Yeah.
Conference room.
I read their file.
What do you think, like...An hour?
Ugh. Dinner and a pillow.
Ooh. Fun. Ha.
Hello, everyone.
My name is Kate Reed,
and I will be your mediator today.
- Hi, Kate.
- Can you please talk
- to that idiot?
- These morons...
- I gotta get out of here.
- A million doll...
Better. Thank you.
Okay, uh... Brian Michaels,
you wanted to make a
memorable wedding proposal
to your girlfriend.
- Hello.
- Hi.
- Quite a complicated plan.
- Actually, it was very simple.
Oh, please!
- Yeah, like d-day.
- Psycho!
Jessica and I
ordered a cable car,
which is where we
met three years ago.
I hired three people,
each one representing one
year in our dating history,
to board the cable car at
three consecutive stops...
The first to read my first
love letter to Jessica.
The second to sing,
Time of My Life.
And one was to present
us with cupcakes
with our faces in the icing.
- Oh, that's sweet.
- I know.
- Okay, so what happened?
- Well, the actor was drunk,
the singing was terrible,
and the cupcakes...
They looked nothing like us!
I wasn't drunk. I had vertigo.
- I have talent!
- It doesn't matter.
I proposed anyway. All right?
I presented Jessica with my
grandmother's engagement ring.
She'd given me her father's watch.
He passed away last year.
He loved Brian.
I wanted to give her
something just as special.
But their incompetence
made us lose the ring.
- We never lost anything.
- You were going crazy!
- He attacked me.
- You murdered our song!
Don't make me...
Whistle again...Please.
She dropped the ring.
I may have been
technically drunk but...
- It's not my fault.
- Well, then whose fault is it?
- Yours!
- All right, Jessica,
Brian proposed.
He gave you the ring.
And then what happened?
Well, I was about to put it on,
and then everyone started yelling
and someone was trying to pass me,
and the cupcake with Brian's
face fell in this woman's lap
and she screamed, and it...
It was gone, it was just gone.
There was nothing that
you could do about it?
No!
I mean, you could
have held on to it.
Oh!
I-I'm not saying
it's your fault.
- Okay. What are you saying?
- N-nothing.
I mean, I-I'm saying it could
have happened to anyone.
- It's like you said.
- Exactly.
Could it have
happened to you, Brian?
No. I would have held on to it.
Oh, my God, you really
do think it's my fault!
I didn't say that.
Actually, you did.
That's not what I meant!
- Okay, what'd you mean?
- N-nothing.
I just... oh, forget it. I...
I-it's just it's really
hard for me to understand.
That's all.
I mean, I would never
lose your father's watch.
It's too important to me.
You think I lost the ring
because I don't care about it?
That's... eh...
All right. I'm gonna
send you folks home.
- Yes!
- Okay? So just be in court
- tomorrow morning at 9:00.
- 9:00? I'm not even awake.
Actually, you know,
I'd like to stay
- and watch this for a bit.
- Yeah. No.
He's got some...issues.
Let's just get this
all out right now.
Harrington.
Beware the one who
whispers in the night.
He stokes the fire
that never dies...
Oh. Thanks. Appreciate that.
And walks the endless circle.
What filthy
creature of the night
dares call by day?
Hey, it's Leonardo.
I need some information.
Open. Close.
Open. Close.
It's easy now.
- Open...Close.
- In here.
Without my maniac
fianceé screaming at me
and people there freaking out!
It's one hand on the rail,
one on the ring.
My leg is free.
Nobody's getting near this!
Nobody!
All right!
I think we got it all out, right?
Most of it.
A lot of it.
Let's just take a break.
Ooh. Hot date?
Hmph. Tim Connelly.
Yikes. Once again,
glad I'm not you.
I just got off a call
with Charles Pease.
Thought you had
everything handled.
- He's calling off the deal.
- But that's absurd,
because when I left
their office earlier...
You met with Charles
and Douglas without me?
Yes. Well, I-I got some
information about the accident.
See, the boy driving
the other car...
- Wait. He's not our client.
- I know that.
But the boy driving the
other car is innocent.
But he's not our client.
Aw, Kate...
I call you in to help,
and now I've got to
clean up your mess.
Wow, I'm... I'm sorry.
I-I should never let
an innocent kid's life
stand in the way
of our legal fees.
You know, is it me you hate?
Or lawyers in general?
Maybe it's the fact that I
married your beloved father.
You know what?
He was beloved to me too.
My father was a lawyer.
My ex-husband is a lawyer.
My brother is a lawyer,
and I was a lawyer.
And even though I carry around
more than a small
amount of self-hatred,
if I really hated lawyers,
I wouldn't work at a law firm.
And as for marrying
my father, yes...
I hate you for that.
I thought my mother
made him happy...
Until I saw him with you.
And I don't know what
to think about that.
So I hate you.
It's simpler that way.
Is that you, the dwarf?
I'm the gnome. In wintergrasp.
- Well, what is he doing?
- Defending the keep.
- It looks like he's attacking.
- I'm taking out the towers.
Even when you're playing defense,
you've got to attack.
- Interesting.
- Mm-hmm.
Focus on the wrong thing,
you get killed.
- I have learned much from you.
- Well, I am the master.
And you've taught me well.
Anything on Doug's car?
Not yet.
Okay. Go home.
How's it going with
the loving couple?
Good.
Yeah. I, uh...
I feel a breakthrough coming.
Well, I-I'll stick around.
Still got some, uh, work...To do.
Okay.
You didn't see that
coming at all, did ya?
That it was her brother, right?
Oh...I did not, no.
'Scuse me. 'Scuse me.
Oh, no, no, no, Tim, I am done.
I have another meeting.
I don't think you do.
You're so funny.
Oh...Ha.
I get that a lot.
What do you want?
Oh.
It's...Gratifying
to know that I have
your company's support.
Reed & Reed will continue to
provide the level of service...
Blah, blah, blah,
blah, blah, blah.
Look...I'm easy, okay?
You guys do good work.
I got no complaints.
The old man was just
trying to shake ya down
for a better rate, the prick.
Don't worry... I'm not gonna let
him pull our business away.
Thank you. Thank you.
I appreciate the loyalty,
and you can be sure
I will go the extra mile
to make sure you're happy.
What's that?
Extra mile.
Actually, it's more like
an extra couple of floors.
I told ya I was easy.
- Thank you both.
- Our pleasure.
Oh, Tim...
I think we, uh...
Overindulged.
Thank you so much
for the business.
Good night.
What, am I too young
for you, Lauren?
You'd rather have
drinks with my dad?
Hey, Lauren,
I want my extra mile, okay?
Can I see your watch?
My watch?
Hmm-hmm. The one Jessica gave you,
her father's watch.
You know what, Brian?
I don't think you're ever
gonna forgive Jessica
for letting go of your
grandmother's ring.
It's kinda hard to understand.
I'm just saying.
So...
The only way for you
to get past this
is to destroy something
important to Jessica.
- Smash the watch.
- What?
- No!
- It's the only way.
And then you'll be even.
- Y-you're crazy.
- Brian.
- It's the only way.
- Brian, no!
- I-I won't do it.
- Oh, come on, do it.
- No!
- Just smash it.
- What's wrong with you?
- I'm not gonna smash the watch.
- Smash the watch.
- No. It was her father's watch.
She gave me the watch.
It's too important, I'm not...
- Aah!
- Oh...Oh!
Oh, my God, I can't
believe you just did that.
I'm so sorry!
What kind of mediator are you?
I loved that watch.
I loved how special it was to you
that you wanted me to have it.
But that's how I
felt about the ring.
Brian, I was devastated.
I'm sorry I made you
feel worse on top of that.
Sorry that I made you feel
the way that I do now.
I feel... Oh, my God.
It's just a watch.
It's just a ring.
They're symbols.
We have the real thing.
I love you, Jessica.
- You, I hate.
- Ditto.
Oh...
Buffy the vampire slayer.
Wrong watch.
Sleight of hand.
It's easy to lose sight
of what's important.
You focus on the wrong thing,
you get killed.
I stopped breathing for a while.
No, don't do that.
Don't ever do that.
Brian, are you dropping
the charges and moving on?
Moving on.
Excellent.
I'll see you in court tomorrow.
I'm awake.
And that's not funny.
Go home.
I haven't heard
anything about the car.
It's okay. Maybe tomorrow.
Definitely. All right.
- I'm going.
- Okay.
- Oh, Leo?
- Yep.
Uh, you know that
Buffy the vampire
slayer watch you have?
- Yeah.
- Well, I wanted to get one for a friend.
Where'd you get it,
like Toys R Us?
Oh, no. That's one of only three
inscribed by Sarah
Michelle Geller herself
to commemorate the 100th episode.
That's why I keep it
locked in the desk drawer.
Oh.
Okay. Uh...
Well, I guess I'll just have to
track down one of
the other ones then.
Good luck with that.
It's gonna cost you a fortune.
He's worth it.
Hi, dad.
It's late.
- Yes.
- You home?
No. You?
What do you think?
Tomorrow morning
Nathan's public defender
is gonna recommend
that he cop a plea.
Why? He didn't do anything.
I'll offer five years,
and he'll take it.
- It's a good deal.
- It's a death sentence, Justin.
Look, I did what
you asked, Kate.
He's not going to trial.
You're welcome, by the way.
For what? He's going to jail.
Yeah. Could have been worse.
This thing gets in
front of a judge,
- the law says a weapon...
- The law, the law, the law!
God, what about the boy whose
life is gonna be ruined?
Does he even matter in this?
Go you're just like my dad,
you know that?
You make these laws up,
and then you hold them up
like they're sacred or something,
like they're from God,
like there's nothing higher.
But guess what, Justin. There is.
There is justice
and there is truth.
And who gets to
decide what's true... you?
Five years, Kate.
It's a good deal.
For who?
You know what would
be a perfect wedding?
- To elope?
- You're kidding, right?
Because I've already
done the seating chart.
It's alphabetized and everything.
Your uncle asked to sit...
It's very late.
Tomorrow Nathan Henry's
gonna accept a deal
that sends him to
prison for five years.
Well, I'm sorry to hear that.
Sorry is meaningless, Doug.
Call the D.A.
He has discretion
with the sentence.
Tell him that you don't
want Nathan charged.
My father...
Your father doesn't
make any sense.
You were in the car.
This is your decision.
I can't.
Why?
It looks like I've
lost the job I wanted.
If I go against him,
I'll lose him,
and if I lose him,
I lose the job that I have now.
I lose my house.
I lose...Everything.
Oh, Doug...Please.
This is so much bigger than you.
Stand up for Nathan.
Save his life.
Do the right thing.
I envy you.
You always seem to
know what that is.
You've reached the
cell phone of Teddy Reed.
I'm not currently available.
Leave a message, and I will
return your call promptly.
Thank you. I'll take it to her.
It's mine. Sorry.
Uh...You want me
to toss it back?
No, hold on to it.
I'll come by tonight
and pick it up.
Oh, will you?
I'm Andrew, by the way.
Kate.
Kate, I'm taking the boat out.
Sailing under the bridge.
Wanna come out for a sail?
God, you know what, that
just sounds like a great idea.
But, uh, I've got this little
thing called a job, you know?
Actually, I don't.
Mm. Hi.
Hi.
Oh, my God. Hold on. Hey!
It was a messenger.
He... he said it was important.
- I was just...
- Psh, psh, psh...
this is amazing. This is epic.
Thank you so much.
This is exactly what I wanted!
Um...I gotta go. I can't be late.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
You have a fantastic day!
Leo, I've got the picture.
Oh, my God... Okay.
Uh...Nathan's supposed
to make his plea today,
so tell Doug Pease I'm coming
over right after court.
Judge Nicastro.
Good news. Great news!
Mr. Michaels is
dropping the lawsuit,
and further, he agrees to
drop all future lawsuits
regarding the failed
engagement plans
and the loss of his
grandmother's ring.
Mr. Michaels, is that true?
- Yes.
- Yes!
As long as I can still sue
if something goes wrong
with the wedding.
We're gonna have a hot air
balloon dropping rose petals...
Enough? Okay?
You're driving yourself crazy.
- Makin' me crazy.
- I just want the wedding
to be everything that
the proposal wasn't,
you know, unexpected
and surprising.
Me too.
Why don't we just get
married right now?
W-eh... here?
I mean, why not?
We have everything we need.
We have witnesses and a judge.
I mean, come on!
- Are you surprised?
- Y-yeah!
It's unexpected.
I didn't expect it.
Brian, now or never.
- Now.
- Judge.
By the power vested in me
by the State of California,
I now pronounce you man and wife.
- That's it?
- There's some paperwork.
Yay!
Okay.
Picture time. Smile.
Aw! Congratulations!
- Thank you so much.
- You're very welcome.
When I have any future
conflicts, can I...
15-minute recess.
Newlyweds, meet me in my chambers.
I'm gonna need some signatures,
and then you can begin
your lifetime of happiness.
- You three are free to go.
- Whoo!
Ha ha! Thank you.
I really love my watch.
- Later.
- Bye.
Bailiff, take Ms.
Reed into custody.
What? Why?
Because I took a picture?
You were four minutes late.
God. Everything's
a technicality.
- I hate courts.
- I know you do.
Wait, wait, you can't
be serious about this.
I mean, does justice
look like this?
I knew you'd recognize
it when you saw it.
What? Hold on!
♪ If I were king ♪
♪ Of the forest ♪
Leo. Hey,
are the new contracts in?
They're being messengered
over to the Pease building.
Lauren's on her way
to see Charles,
and Douglas is expecting you.
- Are you almost there?
- I'm walking into the lobby.
Sure, you are.
Hello! Hello! Excuse me! Sir!
Somebody!
Oh! Justin! Justin!
Hey! Hi! Did you get
the message I left?
Yes. And I moved Nathan's
plea to the end of the day.
Oh! Thank you, thank you,
thank you, thank you.
- I really gotta run.
- Okay, wait, wait, wait.
Hold on! Hold on! Wait,
wait, wait!
Wait... Hold on.
I need a teeny, tiny favor.
Justin!
Is there something specific
that's bothering you?
I-is there a deal point
that can be improved on?
Maybe the share valuation.
It's just not going
to happen, Lauren.
- Why?
- Because I said so.
Please, I just have a
couple more thoughts.
Put them in an email.
I'll do that.
We need to look past
the third quarter.
Doug! Doug, hey.
...Can we... can we talk in private?
- No.
- No?
Okay. Well...
It's amazing technology,
these photo cameras.
Uh, go on ahead.
Crystal clear picture,
don't you think?
Yep.
What do you want?
I want you to do
the right thing.
I'll be in your father's office.
- Kate!
- Excuse me.
What do you want?
I want what I've always wanted,
what's best for you,
what's best for Doug,
and what's best for Nathan Henry.
That young man
is not my concern.
No, he's mine.
I was driving. It's my decision.
I'm gonna ask to have
the charges dropped.
I'll let the D.A. know
that he'll be hearing
from you this morning.
W-what are you doing?
Why are you here?
- Our business is done.
- No, it's not.
Don't contradict me, young lady.
Oh, I always finish
what I start, Charlie.
My father taught me that.
He taught me a lotta things.
I'm sure he tried, but I doubt
you were really listening.
God, you're just
like my dad! My gosh.
You don't wanna retire
because you're afraid you're
gonna disappear, but...
Oh, save the psychobabble...
You keep trying to hold
on so tightly, Charles,
that that's exactly
what's gonna happen.
You will disappear,
because when you die,
everything you know
will die with you.
But it doesn't have to.
It can live on.
Is this your way
of pushing me out?
- Is this all your idea?
- No.
Douglas's idea is that
you stay on as chairman.
Oh, I-I think that is
an idea with some merit.
- So now you're on her side.
- No, no, no, no.
I'm on your company's side,
Charles, always.
Douglas runs the
company as president,
and you keep an eye
on the big picture.
You mentor him.
You pass down what you know.
That way, you'll have a legacy.
And it'll be around
even when you're not.
Douglas has his own ideas.
He doesn't wanna listen to mine...
He never did.
I can try.
You're gonna make me read
those damn pie charts, aren't you?
- No.
- Liar.
It's a smart move, Charles.
If I see the word emeritus
or acting next to chairman,
- the deal's off.
- No, you'll be the real chairman, dad.
- That's right!
- Charlie.
Are you and Doug on
the same page now?
Excellent.
Great. Well,
we'll need to amend the deals.
- I'll have our contractor...
- Hold, please.
I took the liberty.
New contracts.
Now, gentlemen...
If you will...
Just... initial at the Xs.
Have you started thinking
about next year's summer line?
- Yeah. A little.
- A little is not good enough.
- We need designs by next month.
- I know. We'll have them.
A little.
Nice work, boys.
Great. Well.
Look at that.
Win-win.
You blindsided me.
I got the job done.
- How?
- Trade secret.
No. I don't think so.
There was no woman in the car.
See, everyone was
telling the truth.
There was a woman driving...
And Doug was the only
person in the car.
- Hey, yo!
- What the hell?
- You don't know how to drive?
- Oh, God! Ah!
Yo, put the piece away, man!
Yeah, that's right!
Oh, my...
Why can't you use your desk?
No privacy.
Didn't think you were coming in.
Ohh. Yeah. Me neither.
Leo, have you been working out?
Let's not play
that charade today.
What?
I gave up my Planeswalkers
to get that picture.
Dungeons & Dragons?
- It's magic cards.
- Magic cards.
Planeswalkers...Travel
through planes of existence.
And they're very hard to get.
Interesting.
Just...
Just say thank you.
Is that a new sweater vest?
You never say thank you.
That's not true.
Thank you.
Kate.
Hey, Lauren.
What?
You wanna give me a raise?
Oh! No, you are willing to admit
that lawyers burn bridges
and mediators build them.
You wanna congratulate me on
turning the Pease situation
into a win-win. Oh, Lauren...
Your father's ashes are missing.
Really?
You lost the Connelly account
and my father's ashes?
Lose-lose!
Kate?
Hello! It's me.
Hi.
Uh...lt's late.
Did I wake you?
Hold on.
Hey.
So you must have really put
the screws to Douglas Pease.
He pushed me really
hard to let that kid go.
What'd you have on him?
Sometimes people just
do the right thing.
No, they don't.
Not until you make 'em.
You know, you don't have
to live out here, Kate.
You took a bad settlement.
Mm.
I don't like conflict.
Well, I'm just saying,
I could spot you a year's rent.
You know, you can move
back in the neighborhood.
No! No, no.
I-I like it here.
- Really.
- Yeah.
I have friends.
Hi.
How are you this evening?
Oh... well, they're shy friends.
Can I, uh, you know,
come onboard?
- We could talk.
- I have company.
Wow. Hmm.
New tin man?
Sorry.
No, I'm sorry. It's not my place.
You know, uh,
maybe another time.
You know what,
coffee or something.
- Coffee...
- Maybe. Okay.
Yeah.
We'll do that.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Good night.
- Yep.
Hey, Justin?
Yeah?
Dad thought that you were great.
Maybe even a little
too good for me.
Well, he was half-right.
Good night.
Good night.
Okay. Um...
Let's focus on...
What we have in common.
We...Both have the
same sense of humor.
And nobody has my sense of humor.
We, um...
Ah, yes.
We agree on the important stuff.
And that's important.
Um...
We both have strong beliefs.
You believe in the
letter of the law.
It's absolute. It's always right.
And I believe that laws
were made by people...
And that people are often wrong.
♪ Drivin' in the rain ♪
God, I can't believe
I'm saying this to you...
for the first time.
♪ Oh, just as they say ♪
But you know,
the world needs both of us.
♪ Fly away ♪
♪ you and me. ♪
♪ below the window ♪
But really, it all
worked out, didn't it?
I mean, it's not how
you would have done it
with, uh...With motions
and briefs and arguments
but...just look at the results.
As our wings
the guilty paid a price.
The innocent went free.
And all was right with the world.
Talking about the friends?
♪ We made the birds that left and ♪
♪ the ones that stayed ♪
♪ and all these feathered days
that sing and laugh and cry ♪
♪ and fly away. ♪