Harry's Law (2011–2012): Season 1, Episode 2 - Heat of Passion - full transcript

You're fired.

What's with all the shoes?
Previous tenant. Got evicted.

Isn't it looking great?
Looks like a shoe store.

When Malcolm jumped
off that building,

bounced off the awning
and then landed on you,

and then Adam hit you with
his fully-loaded Mercedes...

Okay, okay, okay.

What are you doing? I'm temping.

It was to bring the
four of us together.

You protect me and my place,

my law firm will
defend you for free.



Cut the condescending crap.

It makes you come off bald.
This how you ask for a favor?

The tricks you pulled
as patent lawyer?

Don't be pulling
them in my courtroom.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down.

Just take a breath.

Fung. He's not slowing down. Hey!

This is Fung Lao,
the owner of the Laundromat

where Damien... Fung,
come on. Stop it!

You can't just charge
out into the street

barking a foreign
language like that.

I'm sorry.

My father is very upset.

We've just been sued by a
former employee, and...



He saw you through the window.

He said you defended Damien.

Can you help us?

I can and I will.

I actually specialize in labor law.

Adam Branch, single.

Listen, employees, when fired,

threaten to sue all the time.

They almost never win.

Tell your father not to worry.

Why was this man discharged?

It's a she.

And she was fired for
getting pregnant.

And this is against
Laundromat policy, is it?

Well, she already has a child.

We have a "One-child" Policy.

Oh, how interesting.

Just like, uh...

What's the word? China.

You're lovely.

Adam.

Your name?

It's a legal restraining order.
Read it for yourself!

That don't mean you can tie him up.

Man, I know that,
and you know that, but...

Damien! We got a situation.

He's in a state. He's volatile.

Look, I'm afraid he's
gonna hurt his wife.

She's the one who got
the restraining order.

It doesn't matter. Listen to me.

I need you to explain
to him in legal talk

that he got to abide by this...
I'm not a lawyer.

Man, Jenna says you're like a
paralegal. Just tell the man.

We got a situation. He is volatile.

Sir, this is a valid,

legally-enforceable
restraining order, understand?

If you do not comply with
this court order, sir,

it is a punishable offense for
which you might be imprisoned.

I have advised Damien
to keep you restrained

until you become less volatile

and are willing to comply with
the terms of this court order.

You got it?

I think he got it.

Hey, Harry. Adam.

Got a situation.

I know.

Oh, I don't think
you have any idea.

In the storage room. Now.

Aiding and abetting, false
imprisonment, maybe kidnapping.

Harry, I get it.

Not to mention the
potential liability.

You never, ever give
legal advice to anybody.

Look, Harry, it's just that

Damien said the man was a threat.

I don't care. And rule number two,

you will not be taking
your cues from Damien.

Okay.

Hello. Hi. Hello. Look, Jenna,

she followed me home.

Just as you left,
we got served with these papers.

She's going into court tomorrow.

They're going for a
declaratory judgment.

Basically, they're asking
a judge to say the grounds

for firing her are unlawful.

They can do that without a trial?

A judge can just rule against us

without even hearing our defense?

Look, it's really not a big deal.

We'll simply appear in court...

That was Harry.
We keep her in storage.

Oppose this motion, and...

She's represented
by Thomas Jefferson.

The guy feeds off of cases
where he can self-promote.

And he's yelling again.

Let me take a meeting with the guy.
If I don't like

what he has to say,
we just go into court,

simple as that.

Everything will be fine.

He doesn't believe you.

Look, Steve.

Is it Steve?

Why won't you tell me your name?

It's Chunhua.

Chunhua.

That's really beautiful.

Fung, listen to me.

One way or another,
I will make this go away.

That's my promise.

It's no big deal, Paul.

You write these
policies in your sleep.

Excuse me,
most malpractice policies

don't contemplate a
prospective client

being subject to death
by stabbing or gunshot.

You work in a high-risk
neighborhood.

The bad section is at least
a block over. Ours...

Yes, well,
murderers have been known

to take the occasional stroll.

I've had a homeowner's policy
with you people for years.

Harry, you leave your
cushy practice for...

What are you doing?

Paul, if I knew, I'd tell you.
It's possible I've lost my mind.

The good news is I can still
practice law as a lunatic,

perhaps even more effectively.

But I can't do it legally
without malpractice insurance.

Harry.

Much better tone.

The neighborhood is
a little dangerous,

but it just got a huge windfall
that will make it less so.

The windfall being...?

Me.

Done?

I had to promise to sleep with him,

but yeah, we got our insurance.

We're off and limping.

What's with him?

The Laundromat case he took...

the other lawyer
is Tommy Jefferson.

That clown with the TV commercials?

He'll make such a
meal of this case.

And a snack of me.

What are you doing?

Rachel. Hey. Hi.

Harry, this is, uh, Rachel Miller.

Uh, Jenna, Malcolm.

Yeah, hi, hi, and hi.

So, this is what you do?
I break up with you

and you commit... I don't even know

what this is you're committing.

I switched jobs. What?

I'm the first person to do that? Adam,
don't be a dope.

You are running out on
a life you're mad at.

No, I'm only mad at you,
actually, so...

Okay. Whatever.
Look, go get your real job back

before it's too late.

This is my real job.

Oh, my God.

Harry, we have a rat.

Harry! The hell was that?

Not anymore. Malcolm,
you're on dead-rat duty.

Alert PETA.

I'm sorry,
I didn't catch your name.

Rachel Miller.
That is a lovely gun,

I'm sure you've been told.

Rachel, it was so
nice to see you again.

Adam, don't do this.

Who in the hell do
you think you are?

Coming in here, opening up

a fancy law office, in one of
your la-di-dah shoe stores?

I'm sorry.
You seem really mistaken.

And sweet. I think
you want gun-lady.

Are you coming or not?

Not.

Can I help you?

Are you Harry A. Korn?

Et. Harriet Korn.

Well, you can help by
clearing your fat ass

out of this neighborhood,

Harriet.

Yes, I'm terribly sorry,

but, for moving purposes,

my fat ass requires advance notice.

Would there be anything else?

Don't you condescend me, either.

People like you move in.
People like me get pushed out.

You drive up our rents.

You're just a dirty
block-buster is all.

Yes, and I'm happy

to discuss the relative
merits of gentrification if...

Oh, dear, what's this?

I can feel my fat ass

continental drifting to the door.

I must be going to let you out.

It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms...

Do you have a name,
or do people simply refer

to you only with adjectives?

As a matter of fact,
I need a lawyer.

Do you, now? Kids trying
to commit you again?

I'm in a trial.

My public defender
says I got to do time,

which is the one thing I ain't got.

The D.A. Is

that Peyton fellow they
tell me you just beat.

Well, I need you
to beat him for me.

$26 in that.

It's all I got.

What are you being charged with?

Armed robbery.

Armed robbery? Are you serious?

I need to eat.

So sit your ass down

so we can talk.

Listen, Ms. Armed-Robber.

Nicholson. Anna Nicholson.

You want to be a lawyer in
this neighborhood, child?

Then you can start out

by being a lawyer in
this neighborhood.

Sit your ass down.

If the trial's already begun,

how could you possibly...

The robbery was
caught on video tape.

It's not like you have a defense.

I have the "She's an 87-year-old
grandmother" Defense,

which, by the way,
is one of my favorites.

And she's back.

Is Adam here?

He's not, at the moment.
Copies of these, please.

Could I be of help?

Well, I-I don't know what you knew

about him before you hired him.

I didn't hire him.
He came here and hired himself.

The thing is, Adam is
a serial overreactor.

He once stubbed his toe on a lamp

and he wanted to move.

It's just who he is.

He either runs away
or reinvents, or...

I'm sensing he's running from you?

I work at his old firm.

We broke up, like, a month ago.

I'm on the 28th floor.
He was on the 27th.

I mean, I was told he was
taking the stairs just to avoid

seeing me in the elevator,
so I have a good idea...

Can I stop you one second?

'Cause this might be important.

I've stopped listening.

Well, if you could convince him

to leave, I will make sure
he gets his old job back.

Maybe I don't want him to leave.

He's a good lawyer.

Did you know that?

The, uh... the book on you...

Never read it.

Well, you are a great attorney.

But, you know,
you're a horrible mentor.

I mean, you've never counseled
or tutored a younger associate,

so the chances of... Yes,
and if you'd bothered

to do your homework,
you'd know the simple reason why.

Which is?

I hate young lawyers.

All they want is to get somewhere.

Which, if they knew
where they were headed,

they wouldn't be in such a rush.

Ms. Korn, all I'm saying is

Adam has done something rash here.

And I want to help him undo
it before it's too late.

I've got a little flash for you.

Adam doesn't want to go.

He likes it here.

First, let me say thank
you for meeting me.

I've always been a-a big fan,
huge fan.

As you should be.

Look, kid... Can I call you kid?
'Cause you look like a kid.

Well... What are you
doing on this case?

This thing is a bus
that will run you over.

China? That's not the way you
want to begin your career.

Going to bat for
Communist Chinese China,

lead-paint export capital
of the world, China.

The evil empire.

Add to that my client.

Could she be any more sympathetic?

She wants to have a baby.

China, baby. China, baby.

Gee, I wonder who the
jury's gonna side with.

Plus, there's me. I never lose.

Well... I'm Tommy Jefferson, kid.

I chew lawyers up and spit 'em out,
and I do it publicly.

In the spotlight.
Look at my office here.

It's pre-lit for press
conferences. On, off.

On, off. On, off.
Run away as fast as you can.

I'm not running, sir.

Then you're a dope.

I have a slam-dunk against a dope.

Where's the challenge?
Are you flexible, kid?

Am I flexible? Yes.

Can you bend over and kiss
your legal career good-bye?

Because that's what'll happen

if you even bother
to show up tomorrow.

Who do you work for?
I work for Harriet Korn.

Harriet Korn?
The Harry Korn? Mm-hmm.

Wow. Heard she went
off the deep end.

That must have made
a hell of a splash.

Tell you what.
You want to settle this case?

Come back with the big Kahuna.
I don't deal with kids.

We'll talk. Look at the wall.

Something to show your
grandkids. Now beat it.

I offered the lady three years.
She turned it down.

I understand, but come on.

Is society really served by
locking up an 87-year-old...?

Society is served by
locking up armed robbers.

The same rules apply
to the old ones.

It must be nice to see
everything in black and white.

Counsel, look, for what she did,

she'd probably get
six to eight years.

You know it. I know it.
You know it.

I'm offering three.

Three years for a woman of that age

is the equivalent
of a life sentence.

She robbed the guy at gunpoint.
Three years is a gift.

You want to make me an
ogre or a-a bogeyman

or, uh... What did
you call me before?

Asshole. Yeah.
Want me to be that? Fine.

But why don't you
poll 50 other D.A.S

and 50 defense attorneys?

They will all tell you
exactly the same thing.

You will not do better
than three years.

You really want to help this lady?

Make her understand that.

So where are we?

Still at three. Mm.

That's what the public
defender got me for free.

Well, I only got a
sock full of quarters.

It's not like I shot somebody.

Anna, look at me now.

Aggravated robbery...

which this was...
nets you three-to-ten.

The fact that you showed a gun

gets a separate,
gun-specific charge.

That alone brings another three.

You could possibly
get 13 years here.

More likely six. Less than that...

Cincinnati takes gun
charges very seriously.

Which is why,
with an offer of three,

I think you need to accept it.

I can't.

I can't die in prison, Ms. Korn.

There are a lot of ways
to go out, but not that.

Anything but that.

I'm told he likes
to make an entrance.

If he doesn't make it in
the next 15 seconds...

He'll be here. Okay, then.

Harriet Korn.

Wow. Tommy Jefferson.

It's an absolute pleasure.

What do you know about me?

I think enough. Well, you know

I'm famous for
winning with nothing.

I can walk into a courtroom

shooting blanks,
and still win the battle.

Yes. I can picture you
shooting blanks, actually.

That was good. China. Baby.

China. Baby. He likes to say that.

The issue isn't whether I win here.

We both know I do.
The real question is how much.

How punitive will a
jury be to a foreigner

from a Communist country

who fires a young woman
for wanting to give birth?

I have in my hand... A number.

It is a non-negotiable number.

You and your client need to look

at this number for what it is...
an opportunity.

An out. Because let's face it.

Were this case to go public,

the wrath your client would
incur from the media,

the citizenry... his doors
will be closing, Harriet.

His doors should close.

They would close, but for...

this opportunity which I'm
about to present you with.

You have presented us
with an opportunity

of one-point-two million dollars.

I've got a homerun here, Harry.

It's a contingency
lawyer's wet dream.

Thank you for your time.

It's a pass. Adam?

Harry.

Many lawyers have dismissed me

as just a full-of-crap
cartoonish buffoon.

I can't imagine.

Those lawyers paid for that.

They paid dearly.

It would be a big mistake for
you to dismiss me, Harry.

Thank you for the opportunity,
Mr. Jefferson.

We'll leave you alone
to enjoy your wet dream.

You can see quite clearly
the gun in her hand

pointed at my head.

And the defendant, that woman...

Well, there...
the woman who robbed you...

did she say anything to you,
sir, as she trained

the loaded weapon at your head?

Oh, she sure did. She said,

"Empty the register,

or I'll blow your head right off."

And at this point,
you gave her the money?

I did, and then she walked off.

Thank you, sir.

Nothing further.

I have no questions.

The hell was that?

I can't cross-examine a videotape.

That was for crap,
that's what that was.

I want my sock back.

I've never tried a
case against him.

But you co-counseled one.

Just tell me.

What should I do?

Okay, um...

Look, the thing about Tommy

is he's gonna treat you
like you don't exist,

so your best bet is,
just interrupt him at every turn.

If he tries to shout you down,

just keep going right back at him.

I mean, he's got a temper,
and he's been known

to completely blow when
people take him on.

Oh. Okay.

Now, can we talk about your case?

China's one-child policy? Really?

Well, as controversial
as it may be...

She's pretty.

The Chunhua girl.

She's pretty, isn't she?

This is so you.

To go seek affirmation
in the eyes of a...

I'm not doing that.

Okay.

Um... I'm going to offend you now,

but according to the
ex-girlfriend's handbook,

I'm allowed to do that. Hmm.

Now, my bet is,
you're gonna leave this...

I don't know... what was it,
a law firm,

or a shoe store? I couldn't tell.

Whatever it was,
you'll leave this place,

to the detriment of
others counting on you.

And as for this Chunhua girl?

Adam, you need to grow up.
You really mean

to sit here and lecture me
about how I live my life?

You left a well-paying job
to go work in a ghetto.

You're in crisis.

And your parents called me,
by the way.

They're worried, too.

Hey, come on.

This is me here.

I'm fine. Okay?

I'm fine.

Are you seeing anybody?

Well, actually, I'm between
therapists right now, but...

That's not what I meant.

Are you seeing anybody?

Well, actually,
I've-I've met someone.

Yes. That's great.

Here you go.

I'm happy for you.

That's great.

I should go.

I got to get back to...

Court.

Court, yes.

Thanks.

I was barely squeezing
by as it was.

Get some from Social
Security, not much.

My son, he lives in California,
he had been sending me money,

but then he lost his job.

And then I got sick.

I ain't got no healthcare.

Next thing I know, I'm broke.

And starving.

I had no money, not even for food.

So what did you do?

Uh, first, I wrote my Congressman.

Asked him for a little
of that stimulus money.

He sent back some kind of
form letter asking me to give

to his campaign... asshole.

Sorry.

Then I asked neighbors.

They helped for a while,
but most of them was broke,

so then, I resorted to
what they call self-help.

You robbed a store.

Not just a store. That store.

The liquor store. Damn right.

I was sick of their asses
selling to underage kids.

Drug pushers is what they are.

And he knows it. Don't you?

Objection. Sustained.

Ms. Nicholson, you certainly know

that what you did
was against the law.

Sure, I know.

But I'll tell you
what else is wrong.

People are starving, dying,

and the government
bails out Wall Street,

the ones who caused this mess.

Well, what about us?

Where's mine?

So, you were starving.

Your Congressman wouldn't
send you any stimulus money.

So you did the next best thing...

you knocked over a liquor store.

Well, I hope I made it
sound better than that.

Well, actually, you did.
You made it almost

sound adorable.
You did a terrific job.

I'm just having a hard time

reconciling your rendition of it

with the footage I
saw on the monitor.

Well, that's 'cause
you're a douchebag.

You know, I actually am.

You got me there.

I can be a bit of a douchebag,
I'll admit it.

And you're an armed robber.

Aren't you? And not just that.

You seem to be a proud one.

No apologies whatsoever.

You put a gun to an innocent man.

You threatened to
blow his head off.

And you sit there a proud,
proud woman.

Mr. Peyton...

I assure you,
I am not a proud woman.

I had to beg my
neighbors for money.

Then I take to begging
in the street.

The things I've had to do
these last 12 months to...

I'm anything but proud.

What? Oh.

Chunhua, can you sit for a second?

I think I've been guilty
of misleading you somewhat.

How so?

When I said I could win this case.

This, um...

You took this case because you
wanted to have sex with me.

Oh, no.

Actually, much more
old-fashioned than that.

I wanted a dinner.
A movie, a walk in the park.

Maybe at some point, leading to...

Look, I'm gonna go in
there and do my best.

But...

I had no right to give you
or your dad the impression...

Anyway...

Adam?

What do you think of
China's one-child policy?

Case number 3261.
Diana Kremp v. Fung Lao.

Tommy Jefferson appearing for
the plaintiff, Your Honor.

How are you this fine day?

Adam Branch for the defendant.
Oh, great.

Your Honor, I think... Hold on.

Before we start, Mr. Branch,

you will respect the
decorum of this court.

If I hold up my finger,

you stop talking.

Do we understand each other?

Yes, Judge.

Go ahead, Mr. Jefferson.

Thank you.

Nobody loves the practice
of law more than I do.

The more novel the case,
the better.

But I have to be honest.
This one scares me.

The one-child law in China
epitomizes the oppression

practiced on the Chinese citizenry

by the Communist regime.
Imagine a government

dictating whether or not a
family can have children.

I remember when I first heard of it.
I thanked God I live

in the United States of America.

Because that could
never happen here

in the United States of America.

And yet here we are. Here we are.

I'm sorry, small point,
but I see local rules

favor judicial economy.
Does this mean we

should skip over the obvious?

Like, you know, "Here we are,

in the United States of America"?

Good to review...

May I continue, please?

Of course. I apologize.

There are certain
freedoms we hold precious

in this country.
The right to procreate,

to have a baby,
it is the most cherished

of all civil liberties
safeguarded by the Constitution.

I'm sorry, again small point,

but are we talking
about our Constitution?

'Cause there's actually nothing in

our Constitution about the
right to have children.

I'm happy to consider others,
if that helps.

The right is so inferred
by the Supreme Court,

as an extension of
our right to privacy,

a right... Also not mentioned
in the Constitution,

but whatever, go for it.

Counsel? Hmm?

And every lower court

to address the matter has
repeatedly and unanimously held

that the government cannot
deny the right to have children

without violating the
fundamental principles

of liberty and justice.
Here we have a young woman

who, together with her husband,
wants to have a baby.

And these people,
who have immigrated here

from Chinese China, say no.

China, a country which,
until recently, was on the list

of top ten human rights violators.

That China. How dare
they try to impose

their Chinese, Communist,

totalitarian, oppressive regime...

All right, Mr. Jefferson.

I kind of get where
you're going here.

Mr. Branch.

What do you say? This is America.

Your Honor...

And I want short sentences.
To the point.

Or I'll sit you down.

Yes, Your Honor.

The Constitution guards
against state action.

It says what the
government can't do.

It's silent on Laundromats.

She entered into a contract

at a private business.
His business.

Nobody's trying to dictate
her family planning.

She's free to work someplace else

and have as many kids as she wants.

But if she chooses to
work at this Laundromat,

these are the terms
which she agreed to.

But there are certain liberties
that even a private company

is not allowed to trample.

Unless the trampling

satisfies a compelling
state interest.

And what would be yours?

Humanity. Of all the things
threatening to doom our world...

global warming,
nuclear proliferation, BP,

Tommy... the biggest threat

is overpopulation. Too many people.

We've got eight billion now.
By 2050,

we're projected to
add another billion.

You can drive around
in your little Priuses,

use the curly-cue light bulbs,

recycle all you want. None of it...

none of it... will make a dent.

What we have to do
is curb population.

Say what you want about
Chinese, Communist,

totalitarian, oppressive China.
Did I get them all?

But their one-child policy program

is the most historic,
most meaningful step

taken by any country to improve
the well-being of society.

And we all love to
preach that every person

should do his part, don't we?

Fung Lao is doing his.

And in so doing,

he obliterates one of
the very principles

that defines us as... Oh, please.

We toss out principles
left and right.

We shelve civil
liberties all the time.

We've been doing it for 200 years.
I don't know what

kind of history you're talking about, kid.
The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798

which outlawed criticism of the president.
But the history I know includes the Bill of Rights.

It includes freedom.
During the Civil War, we censored the press.

- This is not about the Civil War.
Don't talk about... - Honest Abe did that.

- In World War I, Woodrow Wilson
approved the Espionage Act,
- Or Woodrow Wilson.

- This is about a one-child policy that
won't let that woman have a baby.
- which banned criticism of the war.

- In World War II, we locked people up
because of their race!
- And overpopulation is not our fault...

Their race! Not our fault?
Are you on drugs?

We're maybe the worst offenders.

We may make up 5% of the world's population,
Just because a policy is needed in Chinese China,

- but we account for 35% of the consumption.
- doesn't mean there's a place for
it here. God bless America.

Genocide!

Okay. You got me with that one.

Did you say, "Genocide"?

You're damn right.

This one-child policy

is contributing to the
female genocide in China.

Because couples can
only have one child,

and Chinese couples want boys,

girls are not being born.

Okay. He made a valid
point there, Judge.

First one since "Here we are."

Credit where it's due,

but female genocide
wouldn't happen here.

People want girls just as
much as they want boys.

For those who have met Tommy,

I bet they prefer girls.
I could be wrong there.

You little snot!
Don't call me little.

All right.

You both raise a lot
of interesting points,

but I'm afraid this one's a
little above my pay grade.

I'm going to certify this issue...

whether a private company
has the right to impose

a one-child policy
on its employees...

to the Ohio Supreme Court for
immediate Appellate review.

As for now, you two can
finish your business

in the parking lot.
We're adjourned.

Did you say, "Ohio Supreme Court"?

I did.

Awesome!

I will close for all I'm worth,

I give you my word.

I'm not taking prison.

I don't blame you.
I'm not recommending prison.

Then what is it you're telling me?

Well, there are certain
things I can't tell you, Anna.

We talk a lot about
attorney/client privilege

and we make it seem like we're
such faithful servants to...

We're servants to the system.

That's what lawyers are.

For example,
if the client's best chance

of avoiding prison is to
tell a big lie on the stand,

we can't advise that.

Lawyer rules.

If you had a murder
weapon in your bag,

we couldn't tell you to ditch it.

Even though...

Lawyer rules.

Ms. Korn, what in the hell
are you babbling about?

What I can tell you is...

if we lose here, they'll
take you right into custody.

And that'll be it.

You wouldn't have time,

for example, to go visit
your son in California

to say good-bye.

If you cared about that,
the time to go see him

would be right now.

You're telling me to flee.

Oh, I could never tell you that.

Lawyer rules.

Well, I appreciate what
you're not telling me.

But I've lived my whole life here.

Right here in this neighborhood.

This is my home.

I should probably
work on my closing.

See you at the courthouse.

It's a really big deal to go
to the Ohio Supreme Court.

That's where law is made.

New precedents get established.
It's-It's a big, big deal.

You happy with that little
performance in there?

Let me tell you what that was.

First, it was rude.

Second, you just gave me a
bigger stage to play on.

The Ohio Supreme Court.

The bigger the stage,
the better I am.

I came here today to swat
you away like a gnat.

But now I can see
you're not a gnat.

You're more like a... tick.

You like to puff
yourself up like a tick.

You know what happens
to ticks, tick?

Somebody comes along,
squeezes them, and they go pop.

That's what I'm gonna
do to you, tick.

Just a matter of time.

Listen to the clock.
Tick, tick, tick, tick. Pop.

I got to tell you.

It isn't easy going
through life a douchebag.

That's what the
defendant called me.

And I guess I'm actually
a professional douchebag.

My job is to go after some
very nice people sometimes,

sympathetic people
who do bad things.

This nice, sympathetic person?
She did a very bad thing.

She robbed a man at gunpoint.

She did it, so she says,
because she was poor.

Needed to eat.

Problem is, a lot of
people are hungry.

We have 45 million people in
this country living in poverty.

What, we send them all the message,

"Go get a gun.
Go out and do what she did"?

Really? 45 million people?

You want to feel bad for
this woman, please do.

I know I do.

After all, she's poor.

He was poor.

So was he. And him. Him, too.

Objection. All armed robbers.

Objection!

Overruled. Are you kidding?

Ms. Korn?

Want to let her go?

What do we tell those that
got prison for their crimes?

You look too mean?

We judge the act, not the person.

She committed the
same act they did.

And lest you think,

"Hey, she's old.

Let's cut her some slack."

Elderly crime is on the rise.

We've all read about the
80-year-old woman selling crack.

The woman who sold her
grandchild for money.

And she's not the only
adorable person out there

with a deadly weapon.

And if you happen to be a
victim of a violent crime,

I can tell you, it's no consolation

that the perpetrator was old.

I say all this because I know...

A part of you must
want to let her go.

How could you not?

But... she stuck a loaded gun

in a man's face and robbed him.

That isn't cute.

It isn't adorable.
It isn't excusable.

Do I ask you to hate her? No.

I only ask

that you abide by your duty

to uphold the law.

That's all.

There is a legal defense
known as necessity.

Basically, it means,
if a defendant commits a crime

to prevent a greater harm,

the test is what's the
lesser of the evils.

I would submit,

Anna Nicholson starving to
death is a greater harm...

Your Honor, necessity is
an affirmative defense.

It must be raised prior to trial.

Here, it was not.

I wasn't around prior to trial.

The defense is denied, Ms. Korn.

You know better than that.

Sorry.

Okay.

For technical reasons,
I'm not allowed

to argue what we all know this was.

Objection! Ms. Korn.

Sorry.

Look, you can certainly
choose to put her away.

It's probably the
reasonable thing to do.

After all, it's not as if

Anna Nicholson should expect
anybody's compassion, right?

As Mr. Peyton said, 45 million

Americans live below
the poverty line.

What he left out is,
we really don't give a crap.

You saw what happened
when we went about

passing healthcare.

We had a revolt.

We are free market kind of folks.

We're capitalists.

People should get what's
coming to them in America,

nothing more.

And the poor, the elderly...

well, they seem to get

what's coming to them every time,
don't they?

I thought it was very
clever of Mr. Peyton

to lump my client
into the same category

with all those mean-looking
villains, didn't you?

But there is a difference.

She was starving.

And she's a little old to
go into the labor market.

And she has no prior
criminal record,

which I'm guessing is not the case

with all the leading men featured

in Mr. Peyton's slideshow.

She's been law-abiding
her whole life.

And where did it get her? Starving.

Unable to pay her rent.

And pretty damn pissed off.

With good reason, if you ask me.

We're the richest
nation in the world,

and one in seven of
us lives in poverty.

Tell me how that can happen.

Somehow, somebody needs
to get a wakeup call here.

I'm thinking you can send it,

not by putting Anna in prison.

But rather, if you don't.

It should also be said,

a guilty verdict for
an 87-year-old woman

is a death sentence.

Objection!

Sustained. Ms. Korn?

You know better than that.

Clearly, I don't, Judge.

I'm not allowed to argue necessity,

which this was,
I'm not allowed to argue

reality, which this is.

Ms. Korn, you are one
step away from contempt.

Oh, I'm already at contempt.

We let our poor starve,
we let them get sick.

This isn't Third World.

This is America. We're supposed
to be the country that cares.

We also care about law and order.
We are a nation

built on law and order.

Okay. I see we've reached
the rebuttal portion

of closing arguments.

Mr. Peyton.

Look, I'm new at this
criminal law thing.

I'm told it's primarily about
rehabilitation and retribution.

Do you really feel the need to
rehabilitate Anna Nicholson?

Really?

As for retribution,

she sits here in shame,
having to endure...

Trust me.

There's nothing you can
really do to this woman

that the government
hasn't already done.

They certainly didn't take long.

They probably figure
you'll be dead soon.

Maybe so.

Will the defendant please rise?

Madame Forewoman,

has the jury reached
a unanimous verdict?

Yes, Your Honor.

What say you?

We, the jury,

in the matter of The State of Ohio v.
Anna Nicholson,

on the charge of armed robbery,

hereby find the defendant,

Anna Nicholson... not guilty.

You have got to be kidding me!

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury...

That's what I call a fine verdict.

That's what I call a lucky verdict.

If not preposterous.

Sometimes it's a
single-justice review.

Sometimes it's a
three-judge tribunal.

It'll take a while.

The parties have to submit briefs.

It's kind of a big deal.

This is my place here.

Adam?

My father and I really
appreciate your efforts, but

I don't feel comfortable,
you doing this for free.

I'm gonna tell you something
I've never told anybody before.

When I was in high school,
I had this fantasy.

Playing quarterback for
the varsity football team

with the most beautiful girl
in the world up in the stands,

watching me lead the
team to victory.

I never made the football team.

Truth is, I was too
chicken to even try out.

I was captain of the debate team.

Whether I ever have
dinner with you or not,

the idea of arguing before
the Ohio Supreme Court,

with you watching?

I'd do that for free anytime.

I don't know what to say.

You don't have to say anything.

Just... see you in court.

I'll say thank you.

And... see you in court.

Good night, Adam.

Did you kiss her?

Of course I didn't kiss her.
I just met her.

But did you let it be known
that you'd like to kiss her?

Yes, I sent her an e-mail.

Adam, it's good to go slow,
but she needs to know

it's out of respect,
not disinterest.

Thank you.

Are you okay, Harry?
You should be celebrating.

I don't know.
I wonder what the hell

I've gotten myself into.

Last week I'm a patent lawyer,

making almost $600,000 a year.

Now I'm defending armed robbers

for dirty socks...

Did you say $600,000?

Never mind.

Harry, in all your years

as a patent attorney,
did you ever have

one single client who
truly needed you?

In a week, you've had two.

Wait.

Don't tell me. You just
rolled somebody in an alley.

I didn't say a proper
thank you before.

To be honest,

I didn't think you
were all that get out.

But you were good enough, I guess.

Thanks.

Can I offer you a beer?
Glass of wine? Your sock?

I also came back 'cause I
wanted to tell you something.

And this here I hope you get.

Welcome to the neighborhood.

Okay, is it just me,

or did that feel really good?

I think we're staying
around for a while.

Maybe.