The Guardian (2001–2004): Season 1, Episode 13 - Privilege - full transcript

PREVIOUSLY ON
"THE GUARDIAN"...

CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES.
I WANT TO VOLUNTEER.

DO YOU THINK MY FATHER
IS GONNA APPROVE?

HE LETS YOU DO IT.

IF I HADN'T RUN UP
SUCH HUGE SCHOOL LOANS,

I'D BE WORKING
IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

MY FATHER ALWAYS TOLD ME NOT
TO WORRY ABOUT MAKING MONEY,

BUT TO WORRY ABOUT
MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

WE WILL OFFER YOU
A BETTER FUTURE HERE
AT KIRK & McGEE.

ARE YOU USING--

YOU THINK--YOU THINK
BECAUSE I LEAVE THE FIRM,



I'M USING? BECAUSE
I HAVE A LEGAL DISAGREEMENT

WITH YOU,
YOU THINK I'M USING?

DO YOU UNDERSTAND I MIGHT
BE A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED

WHEN I SEE YOU THIS WAY?

YOU GOT A PROBLEM?

YEAH, YOUR BREATH.

WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON HERE?!
GET AWAY FROM HIM!

DAD, I JUST SCREWED UP.

I KNOW, I KNOW.

I'M A SCREW-UP.

I CAN HELP YOU.
COME ON.

LET ME HELP YOU.
GET UP.

WE GOTTA GET
OUT OF HERE.

[GROANS]



[SIGHS]

[WHISTLING]

OHHH!

HUNGRY?

YEAH. THANKS.

[GRUNTS]

SO, WE, UH, GOT A LITTLE
BEAT UP LAST NIGHT, HUH?

YOU KNOW,
I'VE BEEN THINKING.

I THINK YOU BETTER...

COME BACK
TO WORK FOR ME.

[GROANS]

WORKING FOR McGEE WAS
NOT THAT GREAT AN IDEA

IN MY OPINION.

YOU NEED A LITTLE
STRUCTURE IN YOUR LIFE.

YEAH.

WHAT ABOUT SYRUP?

THANKS.

HERE YOU GO.

SO IF YOU WANT...

I COULD CALL McGEE
TODAY AND JUST, UH,

EXPLAIN
THE SITUATION.

NO. I'LL DO IT.

OK.

OOH.
EAT UP, SON.

WE'RE LATE
FOR A FUNERAL.

Burton:
I WATCHED SUSAN GROW UP.

PRETTY GIRL. RAISED SMART.
WE ALL HAD HIGH HOPES FOR HER.

Nick:
WHAT HAPPENED?

SHE MARRIED RAY HARPER--
COLLEGE PROFESSOR.

HE TURNED HER AGAINST
HER FAMILY.

YOU THINK HE HAD A HAND
IN HER DROWNING?

POLICE ARE STILL
INVESTIGATING.

RAY WAS THE ONLY ONE
ANYWHERE NEAR.

WHAT'S
THE ESTATE WORTH?

11 MILLION,
GIVE OR TAKE.

WENDY.

SORRY ABOUT
YOUR SISTER, HONEY.

THANK YOU, MR. FALLIN.

OK.

BRACK, I'M SO SORRY
ABOUT SUSAN.

I'M NICK.
I'M--I'M BURTON'S SON.

I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

[CLEARS THROAT]

EXCUSE ME.

DAWN,
I'M SO SORRY.

THANK YOU
FOR COMING.

IT MEANS SO MUCH
TO HAVE YOU HERE.

I'M SORRY ABOUT
YOUR WIFE, RAY.

I'M SO SORRY.

THANK YOU,
MR. FALLIN.

I WANT YOU
TO MEET MY SON, NICK.

NICK, NICE
TO MEET YOU.

THIS IS RAY HARPER.
HI, RAY. I'M SORRY.

IT WOULD MEAN
A LOT TO SUSAN

TO SEE SO MANY
OF HER FATHER'S
FRIENDS HERE TODAY.

I'M SURE IT WOULD.
YEAH.

EXCUSE ME.

FRANK WANTS
TO TALK TO US.

[CELL PHONE VIBRATES]

CAN YOU JUST HOLD
A MINUTE, JAMES?

NICK, ARE YOU SERIOUS
WITH THAT THING?

I NEED TO TAKE THIS.

NO, NO. YOU DON'T.

I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.
I NEED TO TAKE IT.

IN HERE.

JAMES. UH, YEAH,

I NEED YOU
TO COVER FOR ME.

9-YEAR OLD GIRL,

HER MOTHER'S
BEEN HOSPITALIZED.

THE SHELTER HEARING
TAKES PLACE TODAY

IN JUDGE BRIGHT'S
COURTROOM.

OK, I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT.

OH, I'M SORRY. I--

I'M NOT
GONNA KILL MYSELF,

IF THAT'S
WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.

Judge: I AM SENTENCING YOU
TO 1,500 HOURS

OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

USING YOUR SKILLS
AS A CORPORATE ATTORNEY

TO WORK AS
A CHILD ADVOCATE.

Dawn: BURTON.

RAY KILLED MY BABY.

THAT MONSTER...
KILLED MY BABY.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

HE DID IT.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

I'M SORRY.

AFTER SUSAN MARRIED
FRANK,

SHE GAVE UP HORSES,
SHE GAVE UP PIANO.

SHE TURNED HER BACK
ON EVERYTHING
SHE LOVED.

I FIGURED THAT RAY
WAS AFTER HER MONEY,

SO I GOT A WILL
DRAWN UP LEAVING
HER WEALTH

TO THE FAMILY TRUST.

6 MONTHS AGO,
SUSAN HAD THIS DRAWN UP.

IT, UH--

IT LEAVES EVERYTHING
TO RAY.

THEY FOUND A LAWYER
IN A MALL--

BYRNES & BROWN--

PAID $200 FOR
AN $11 MILLION ESTATE.

Burton: WELL,
WE'LL LOOK INTO THIS.

CAN YOU GET IT THROWN OUT?

WELL, THE INVESTIGATION
IS STILL OPEN,

BUT IF RAY
WERE CONVICTED,

THEY'D THROW THAT OUT
IN A SECOND.

WELL, WHAT IF THE POLICE
CAN'T MAKE A CASE?

WE COULD MAKE A SETTLEMENT
OFFER TO MR. HARPER

BEFORE THE POLICE
MAKE UP THEIR MINDS.

NEVER.

ACTUALLY, I, UH...

I THINK NICK
HAS A POINT.

WELL, FIRST,
LET US JUST...

TAKE A LOOK
AT THIS, FRANK.

MR. FALLIN?

YEAH.

I HAVE TO WRITE
THIS ESSAY

ABOUT MY CAREER INTERESTS
FOR SCHOOL.
MM-HMM.

I WAS WONDERING, UM,

COULD I STOP BY
YOUR OFFICES

AND ASK SOME QUESTIONS
ABOUT LAW?

SURE, YOU COULD. YEAH.
WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT SEEMS FASCINATING.

IT IS. MM-HMM.

SO MANY SECRETS.

OK. ANYTIME.

THANKS.

BYE-BYE.

GOOD MORNING.

MORNING. UH, YOU KNOW,

THAT, UH, THING
THAT I SAID,

UH, LAST NIGHT.

THE THING I SAID
ABOUT YOU AND ME.

NICK, WITH THE--

I HAD A FEW DRINKS,
AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO--

TO--TO--TO--I WASN'T--
I WAS NOT IMPLYING

THAT WE SHOULD EVER--

I MEAN, 'CAUSE
I'M A PROFESSIONAL

AND WE WORK TOGETHER.

I KNOW. IT'S--
IT'S REALLY OK.

OK.

SO WE'RE OK ON THAT?

YEAH. WE'RE OK.

ALL RIGHT. WHAT ARE
YOU DOING FOR DINNER?

JUST KIDDING.

[LAUGHS]

James: RIGHT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT,

BUT IT CLEARLY SAYS IT
ON DOCKET 6087.

YOU GOT A SECOND?

NOT REALLY.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT KIDS
THAT CUT THEMSELVES?

HOLD ON.

WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?

RAZOR BLADES.

CUTTERS? YEAH,
WE'VE HAD OUR SHARE

COME THROUGH HERE.

CUTTERS.
ARE THEY SUICIDAL?

DEPENDS. SHRINK SAYS THEY'RE
INFLICTING PHYSICAL PAIN

TO COVER UP
EMOTIONAL PAIN.

TEENAGE GIRLS, MOSTLY.

WHO IS IT?

JUST A KID.

WELL, SHE SHOULD
GET SOME HELP.

YEAH. YEAH.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

VOLUNTEERING.
HEY, NICK,

WHAT HAPPENED
TO YOUR FACE?

I WALKED
INTO A DOOR.

DOES MY FATHER
KNOW YOU'RE HERE?

UH, WELL, WE HAVE
TO DO PRO BONO WORK.

THIS IS HOW
I'M DOING MINE.

HE DOESN'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD
GET BACK TO THE FIRM.

DON'T YOUR CLIENTS REALIZE
THAT THEY'RE PAYING
FOR ALL OF THIS STUFF?

THIS WILL YOUR WORK?

YES.

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE CLIENTS?

OF COURSE.

WATER?

PLEASE.

WHO DID
ALL THE TALKING?

[LAUGHS]

THEY BOTH DID.

TAKE A SEAT.

[CLEARS THROAT]

YOU REALIZE THAT THE MAN
IS UNDER INVESTIGATION
FOR THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE?

I READ THE PAPERS.

YOU DIDN'T THINK
IT WAS UNUSUAL

THAT YOU WERE BEING
ASKED TO DRAFT A WILL

ON AN
$11 MILLION ESTATE?

WHY?

[LAUGHS]

THAT'S A NICE AD.

HOW MANY WILLS
HAVE YOU WRITTEN?

A FEW.

I'VE DONE
OVER A THOUSAND.

TOMORROW, YOU'LL BE
SERVED A SUBPOENA

TO TURN OVER
ALL THE NOTES

YOU USED
IN PREPARATION.

AND WE WILL
CONTEST THE WILL.

A GOOD LAWYER CAN WORK
OUT OF A MALL, MR. FALLIN.

I'LL PIT MY $200 WILL

AGAINST ANYTHING
YOU CARE TO THROW AT IT.

THE $200
WILL LOOKS SOLID.

RIGHT. SO, UH,

WHAT'S NEXT?

WE EITHER SETTLE OUT

OR WE TRY
TO LOOK FOR EVIDENCE

THAT SHE WASN'T COMPETENT
TO SIGN A WILL.

WELL, NICK, I MEAN,

YOU CAN BE HALF
OUT OF YOUR MIND,

WRITE A WILL
ON A HAM SANDWICH,

AND STILL HAVE IT
HOLD UP IN COURT, SO--

RAY'S NOT A LAWYER.
HE DOESN'T KNOW THAT.

AND WHAT WOULD
YOU DO, NICK?

SCARE HIM
INTO A SETTLEMENT.

YEAH.

YOU AND
YOUR FATHER, MAN.

WHY DON'T YOU JUST SEE
IF THE FAMILY TRUST

PROVIDES A WAY
AROUND THE WILL.

LOOK, LAST WEEK, YOU WERE
AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS.

YOU STOOD RIGHT HERE
AND YOU QUIT.

AND--AND NOW IT'S
LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED.

NOTHING HAPPENED.

AH, LOUISA ARCHER,
AMANDA BOWLES.

AMANDA WORKS WITH NICK
OVER AT FALLIN.

AH, LULU.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

HI.

SHE WANTS TO GIVE US
10 HOURS A WEEK.

GREAT. YOU WANT
TO START RIGHT NOW?

REALLY?

YEAH.

HAVE FUN.
THANKS.

SO, HER NAME'S
RUTH STERN,
SHE'S 87 YEARS OLD,

AND HER DOCTOR IS
SUING HER FOR $34,000
IN UNPAID MEDICAL BILLS.

MISS STERN?

MRS. STERN.

I WAS MARRIED
FOR 52 YEARS.

MRS. STERN.

MY NAME
IS AMANDA BOWLES.

I'M YOUR ATTORNEY.

YOUR LEGS ARE THIN.

THE COLOR OF YOUR HAIR
IS BEAUTIFUL.

IS IT DYED?

UH...

MAY I FEEL
YOUR WAIST?

OH, IT'S FIRM.
GOOD.
MRS. STERN.

YOU KEEP IN SHAPE.

I HEAR YOU HAVE A PROBLEM
YOU NEED TO DISCUSS.

YES. DR. ETTINGER.

HE'S MY SPECIALIST
FOR MY BACK.

HE TELLS ME I HAVE SPURS
AND HERNIATED DISCS.

YES.

BUT HE SAYS
I DON'T HAVE

TO LIVE
WITH THE PAIN.

HE TELLS ME HE HAS
A PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINIC.

OK.

SO I START TO GO
3 DAYS A WEEK.

AND THE PAIN GOES AWAY
FOR A WHILE,

BUT THEN
IT ALWAYS COMES BACK.

SO I KEEP GOING TO HIM
FOR A YEAR,

AND SOMETIMES
I GO 5 DAYS A WEEK.

AND THEN HE SENDS
ME THIS BILL--

$34,000.

THEY SAY I HAVE TO BE
IN COURT ON FRIDAY.

I'M GOING TO LOSE
EVERYTHING I HAVE.

EVERYTHING.

OK, MS. STERN.

LET ME REVIEW THIS.

OH. OH. WELL,

WHEN SHALL
WE TALK AGAIN?

CALL ME. ANYTIME.

OH.

MR. HARPER?

THIS IS A NEW LOW.

DO YOU KNOW
HOW I SPENT MY MORNING?

CALLING OLD FRIENDS.

ONE AFTER ANOTHER
I HAD TO BREAK THE NEWS.

MR. HARPER, YOU GOT SUSAN
TO CHANGE HER WILL

SO THAT EVERYTHING COMES
TO YOU, AND THEN SHE DIES.

I DIDN'T KILL MY WIFE.

YOU SHOULD SETTLE.

IF, UH--
IF THEY FILE CHARGES,

CHANCES ARE YOU'LL
WIND UP WITH NOTHING.

THERE'S A CHANCE
I COULD BRING
FRANK NEWBURG DOWN WITH ME.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA
THE THINGS I KNOW.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

WHAT WAS SUSAN'S
STATE OF MIND WHEN, UM,

WHEN THE WILL
WAS DRAWN UP?

Frank: WHY? DO YOU WANT
TO SUGGEST SHE WAS INSANE?

LEGALLY INCOMPETENT...

TO COMPLETE A WILL.

CAN YOU WIN
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

I DID ONCE...
11 YEARS AGO.

SOME MAN THOUGHT
HIS WIFE WAS SATAN

AND THAT HE WAS JESUS
WHEN HE SIGNED THE WILL.

WE GOT IT THROWN OUT.

LOOK, SUSAN WAS TROUBLED.

BUT I MEAN, BRINGING
ALL THIS INTO COURT

WOULD BE LIKE KILLING HER
A SECOND TIME.

DO IT.

I'LL CONTEST THE WILL.

YOUR SISTER SUSAN
PREPARED HER WILL
IN JUNE 2001.

DID YOU SEE HER OFTEN
THAT SUMMER?

OH, SURE.
ALL THE TIME.

DID SHE SEEM HAPPY?

SUSAN WAS NEVER HAPPY.

CAN YOU GIVE ME
SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES?

ONE TIME--I THINK
IT WAS LAST JUNE--

SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS
THE VIRGIN MARY.

THE VIRGIN MARY?

FROM THE BIBLE.
JESUS' MOTHER.

AND SHE TOLD ME

RAY WAS
THE ANGEL OF DEATH.

[SIGHS]

Nick: THANK YOU.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

YOUR FATHER SET UP A TRUST
FOR YOU AND YOUR SISTER?

I GUESS.

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT THAT TRUST?

NOT A LOT.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE MONEY
THAT YOUR SISTER HAD

COMPRISES EXACTLY HALF
OF THAT TRUST?

I GUESS.

AND IF YOU
AND YOUR FAMILY

WERE TO TAKE
YOUR SISTER'S MONEY
AWAY FROM MR. HARPER,

WHO DO YOU THINK
WOULD GET THAT MONEY?

I DON'T KNOW.

CARE TO GUESS?

MY MOM AND DAD?

CARE TO GUESS AGAIN?

ME?

BINGO.

WELL, THAT
WAS A DISASTER.

WELL, WE CAN APPEAL IT
TO ANOTHER TRIAL JUDGE.

YOU THINK THAT'S
GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

DEPENDS ON--
SORRY I MISSED IT.

I WAS--I GOT CAUGHT UP
IN--SORRY.

YOU WANT TO SHOW ME
YOUR OFFICE?

YEAH. WHY DON'T
YOU DO THAT, SON?

GIVE HER A LITTLE TOUR
OF THE WHOLE PLACE.

SURE.
YEAH.

DAWN?

GOD.

I COULD REALLY
USE A DRINK.

TAKE CARE OF THAT.

YES, MR. FALLIN.

DID I SHOW YOU MY, UH...

MY NEW NECKLACE?

WHAT?

EVERYTHING
THAT YOU SAID--

I SAID WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED
TO SAY, MR. FALLIN.

ARE YOU ANGRY WITH ME?

YOU CAN TELL ME
THE TRUTH.

NO, I CAN'T.

THERE'S THIS THING CALLED
ATTORNEY/CLIENT PRIVILEGE.

I'M NOT YOUR CLIENT.
MY DAD IS.

YOU ARE AS WELL.

IN REGARDS TO THIS WILL
AND YOUR TRUST,

YOU'RE MY CLIENT.

SO WHAT DOES
ATTORNEY/CLIENT
PRIVILEGE MEAN?

YOU CAN TELL ME THE TRUTH,
AND NOT ONLY CAN NO ONE MAKE
ME TELL THEM WHAT YOU SAID,

I'M PROHIBITED BY LAW.

OH.

SO, YOU MEAN, LIKE,

IF I TELL YOU A SECRET
AND THEN YOU TELL ON ME,

YOU COULD GO TO JAIL
OR SOMETHING?

OR LOSE MY LICENSE
TO PRACTICE. YEAH.

LAST SUMMER...

I STOLE A BOAT
WITH MY FRIENDS.

I GOT DRUNK

AND I CRASHED IT
INTO MY NEIGHBOR'S DOCK.

AND THEN, LIKE,

3 MONTHS AGO,

I STOLE
SOME MAKE-UP.

I SHOVED IT
DOWN MY PANTS.

AND UNTIL
LAST MONTH,

I HAD
A 28-YEAR-OLD BOYFRIEND.

AND YOU CUT YOURSELF.

YEAH.

WHY DO YOU DO THAT?

[LAUGHS]

I'M JUST BORED,
MR. FALLIN.

IT'S NOTHING TRAGIC.

I'M JUST REALLY,
REALLY BORED.

AND YOUR SISTER?

MY SISTER WAS CRAZY,
BUT SHE DIDN'T THINK
SHE WAS THE VIRGIN MARY.

BELIEVE ME.
NEITHER OF US ARE THAT.

YOU KNOW
YOU PERJURED YOURSELF?

ARE YOU GONNA
TELL ON ME?

THANK YOU.

MRS. STERN.

DR. ETTINGER CALLED ME
LATE LAST NIGHT.

HE SAID HE WOULD
DO ANYTHING TO GET
THE MONEY FROM ME.

I'M SCARED.

ALL RIGHT. THIS IS
WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

WE NEED
EVERY DOCUMENT.

WE NEED
ALL YOUR MEDICAL BILLS
AND MEDICARE STUBS.

WELL, THEY'RE
ALL IN SHOE BOXES
IN MY APARTMENT.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S IMPORTANT
AND WHAT'S NOT.

I'LL COME WITH YOU.
I'LL BE BACK IN AN HOUR.

Burton: COME IN.

HEY THERE. I, UH,
PLAY IN A HOCKEY LEAGUE,

AND THE GOALIE ON MY TEAM
WORKS IN THE D.A.'s OFFICE.

GAVE ME THIS.

SUSAN NEWBERG.
AUTOPSY REPORT.

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING,
MURDER OR ACCIDENT?

THEY'RE CALLING THIS
A SUICIDE.

SHE HAD, UH, 3 TYPES
OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS
IN HER BLOOD,

UH, .17 ALCOHOL,
AND, UH,

THERE WAS PAST EVIDENCE.
SHE HAD, UH,

SCARS ON HER WRISTS
FROM 2 PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS.

SHE WAS A PRETTY
MESSED-UP GIRL.

WELL,
IT'S NOT MURDER.

IT DOESN'T HELP
WITH HER WILL.

EXCUSE ME.

Nick: I NEED TO DESCRIBE
A SITUATION--

HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION.

FAMILY, 2 DAUGHTERS.

THE YOUNGER DAUGHTER
IS 16.

THE OLDER DAUGHTER
IS 24.

SHE COMMITS SUICIDE.

IS SHE LIVING AT HOME?

NO. NO.

THE YOUNGER DAUGHTER
IS COMPLETELY CONTROLLED
BY HER FATHER.

SHE LIES FOR HIM,
SHE FOLLOWS
HIS EVERY COMMAND.

IN RETURN,

HE LAVISHES GIFTS
ON HER.

WHAT ELSE?

THIS GIRL...

CUTS HERSELF

WITH A RAZOR BLADE.

HAS SHE EVER
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE?

NO. NO.
JUST CUTS HERSELF.

THE CUTTING
OBVIOUSLY INDICATES
AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM.

SOME KIND
OF PERSONAL VIOLATION.

SEXUAL ABUSE?

IN MANY INSTANCES,
YEAH.

WELL, HOW WOULD
YOU KNOW FOR SURE?

I'D ASK THE CHILD.

WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?

YOU TELL ME.

YOU HIDE IN BATHROOMS
CUTTING YOURSELF,

YOUR SISTER ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
A COUPLE OF TIMES,

THEN FINALLY SHE SUCCEEDS.

AND NO ONE IN YOUR FAMILY
IS DOING ANYTHING

EXCEPT BLAMING RAY HARPER.

WE WENT
TO THE BENEDUM CENTER

LAST WEEK,
ME AND MY DAD.

WE SAW LENA TROEB'S
MODERN DANCE COMPANY.

THEY'RE
VERY PROGRESSIVE.

THEY EVEN
TOOK OFF THEIR TOPS
FOR THE LAST PIECE.

DAD GOT ME THIS.

YEAH, THAT'S VERY NICE.

MY FATHER'S
A REALLY BIG DONOR.

SO...

WE GOT TO GO BACKSTAGE
AND MEET LENA PERSONALLY.

THEN WE DROVE HOME
IN THE RAIN.

I FELT A TINGLE
UP MY BACK.

I HAD THIS REALLY GOOD
TALK WITH MY DAD ABOUT
HOW NUDITY IS COOL.

HE TALKED ABOUT
HOW TASTEFUL IT ALL WAS

AND THE SHAPE
OF THEIR BREASTS.

HOW IT'S
ALL PERFECTLY NATURAL.

HOW SEX
IS PERFECTLY NATURAL.

DO YOU OFTEN TALK LIKE THIS
WITH YOUR FATHER?

ARE YOU ASKING ME
AS MY ATTORNEY?

DOES YOUR--
DOES YOUR FATHER--

DOES HE WHAT?

[TALKING INDISTINCTLY]

OH, EXCUSE ME,
MR. FALLIN.

I DON'T KNOW
IF NICK TOLD YOU,

BUT I VOLUNTEERED
OVER AT LEGAL SERVICES.

I THOUGHT I COULD USE IT
AS MY PRO BONO WORK.

NO, WE ASSIGN THAT,
AMANDA.

YOU DON'T CHOOSE.

BUT I THOUGHT
SINCE NICK WAS--

NO. NICK HAS
TO BE THERE.

SO I CAN'T DO IT?

WELL, I CAN'T STOP YOU,

BUT I'D PREFER
YOU DIDN'T, ALL RIGHT?

[CLEARS THROAT]

YOU WANT TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE?

DO DRUGS,
GET ARRESTED.

Burton: WELL, THE M.E.
RULED THE--THE DEATH

A SUICIDE, YOUR HONOR.

THAT'S THE PRIMA FACIE
INDICATOR OF MENTAL ILLNESS.

THEY'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF A TRAGIC SITUATION

TO TAKE MONEY AWAY
FROM A MAN

WHO JUST
LOST HIS WIFE.

IT IS A TRAGIC SITUATION,
BUT IF WE CAN PROVE

THAT SHE WAS NOT COMPETENT
TO SIGN A WILL--

YOU GREEDY SONS
OF BITCHES.

MR. HARPER!

YOU CAN'T WAIT
TO GET YOUR HOOKS

INTO HER MONEY,
CAN YOU?

YOU KILLED
MY DAUGHTER!

OH, SHUT
THE HELL UP, FRANK!

YOU KILLED
MY DAUGHTER!

YOU GOT AWAY
WITH IT,

AND NOW
YOU WANT THE MONEY!

GENTLEMEN!

FRANK, SIT DOWN.
SIT DOWN.

I'M SORRY,
YOUR HONOR.

THE SUICIDE BY ITSELF

DOES NOT PRECLUDE COMPETENCE
TO SIGN A WILL.

UNLESS I AM PRESENTED

WITH COMPELLING EVIDENCE
BY FRIDAY,

I WILL ACCEPT THE 2001 WILL
AS AUTHORITATIVE.

LOOK, WHEN I TRANSFERRED
THE SHARES TO SUSAN,

I HAD A BUY-BACK OPTION
AT THE ORIGINAL PRICE

AS LONG AS THE SHARES
TRANSFERRED OUT
OF THE FAMILY.

WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU
MENTION THIS EARLIER?

BECAUSE I THOUGHT
WE WERE GONNA WIN.

I HAVE THE DOCUMENTS
BACK AT MY PLACE.

WHY DON'T YOU COME
AND TAKE A LOOK?

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

I'M GOING DOWNTOWN.

I'LL BE GONE
FOR MOST OF THE DAY.

THE REST OF THE BOXES
ARE IN THE STUDY.

OK. WELL, THEN,
I'LL SEE YOU THEN.

[LAUGHS WEAKLY]

I CAN IMAGINE
WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.

IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN
WHAT HAPPENED.

I WAS VERY SICK BACK THEN,
VERY--VERY TROUBLED.

YEAH.

LOOK, I'M NOT
GOING TO, UH,

BORE YOU
WITH MY LIFE STORY.

SUFFICE TO SAY THAT
MY CHILDHOOD WAS NOT
A PARTICULARLY HAPPY ONE.

YEAH, YOU MOLESTED
YOUR DAUGHTER.

I WOULD TRADE
ALL THE MONEY

AND ALL THE SUCCESS
IN THE WORLD

TO CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED.

IT WAS A BRIEF AND
TERRIBLE PERIOD IN MY LIFE.

IT'S IF AS SOMETHING...

CAME THROUGH ME,
AND THEN IT PASSED.

WHY ARE YOU
TELLING ME THIS?

BECAUSE IT HAS
TO DO WITH OUR CASE.

OR BECAUSE
YOU'RE AFRAID

THAT WENDY WOULD
TELL ME FIRST.

YOUR FATHER HAS WORKED
FOR ME FOR 20 YEARS.

WE'RE LIKE FAMILY.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET
THINGS OUT IN THE OPEN.

YEAH, AND NOW
IT'S COVERED
BY PRIVILEGE.

OH, WELL, I HADN'T
THOUGHT OF THAT.

I JUST THOUGHT IF, UH...

WE WERE GONNA
WORK TOGETHER,

IT WAS IMPORTANT
THAT YOU BE PREPARED

TO, UH, PROTECT ME
IN CASE THINGS GOT BAD.

THERE'S ABUSE GOING ON
AT THE NEWBERG HOUSEHOLD.

WHAT--WHAT KIND
OF ABUSE?

SEXUAL.

HE MOLESTED SUSAN
WHEN SHE WAS A GIRL,

AND I THINK
IT MAY BE OCCURRING
WITH WENDY AS WELL.

WELL, HOW--HOW DO
YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?

I SAW PICTURES.

PICTURES?

YEAH, AND THEN
FRANK NEWBERG TOLD ME.

HE TOLD ME.

YOU WERE ON THE CLOCK?

YES.

DID HE TELL YOU
HE'D DO IT AGAIN?

NO, JUST THE OPPOSITE.

THAT SON OF A BITCH.

I HAD DRINKS WITH HIM
A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO,

AND HE WAS JOKIN' AROUND
AND TALKIN' ABOUT WOMEN.

AT ONE POINT,
HE SAYS, "NOW YOU CAN'T
TELL MY WIFE THIS.

THIS IS PRIVILEGED,
RIGHT?"

NOW I THOUGHT
HE WAS JOKIN'...

AND THEN HE STARTED
ASKING QUESTIONS
ABOUT PRIVILEGE--

WHAT WAS PRIVILEGED,

WHAT
WASN'T PRIVILEGED...

AS IF OUT OF A,

YOU KNOW,
NORMAL CURIOSITY.

WELL--

WELL, EVERYTHING HE
TOLD YOU IS PRIVILEGED

UNLESS HE TOLD YOU
HE'D DO IT AGAIN.

SHE'S LIVING WITH A MAN
WHO HAS A HISTORY--

NICHOLAS.

WE CAN'T DO
A DAMN THING HERE.

YOU LEAK THIS AND THEY
FIND OUT ABOUT IT,
YOU COULD BE DISBARRED.

IN MARCH OF 1998,

YOU BEGAN TO SUFFER
FROM EXTREME BACK PAIN.

OH, IT WAS TERRIBLE.

I BENT DOWN
TO GET THE KUGEL
OUT OF THE BOTTOM OVEN--

I HAVE 2 OVENS, YOU KNOW--
AND I COULDN'T STAND BACK UP.

I LAID ON
THE KITCHEN FLOOR--

MRS. STERN,
YOU JUST HAVE
TO ANSWER THE QUESTION

LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT.

IN MARCH OF 1998,
YOU BEGAN SUFFERING
FROM BACK PAIN?

YES.

AND YOU SOUGHT TREATMENT
FROM DR. ETTINGER?

TREATMENT
IS WHAT HE CALLS IT.

AND WHAT WAS
HIS DIAGNOSIS?

HE SAID THE PAIN
WAS IN MY HEAD.

DID HE RECOMMEND
A COURSE OF TREATMENT?

YES, TALK THERAPY.

TALK THERAPY,
FOR BACK PAIN?

Mrs. Stern: YES.

HOW OFTEN DID YOU GO?

OH, SOMETIMES EVERY DAY.

HOW MUCH
DID THIS COST?

YOU HAVE IT THERE.

PLEASE READ IT.

$34,516.74.

Amanda: DID THE PAIN...

GO AWAY?

NO.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS,
YOUR HONOR.

Lawyer: MRS. STERN,

DID DR. ETTINGER
PERFORM ANY TESTS?

YES.

AN M.R.I. AND 4 SEPARATE
MOTION EXAMINATIONS?

YES.

BUT YOU REJECTED
HIS RECOMMENDATION

OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
DRUGS?

WELL, THE PILLS
MADE ME ALL RUMBLY.

HE RECOMMENDED
SURGERY AS WELL.

SURGERY, I CAN'T DO THAT.

Lawyer: YOU REJECTED
HIS ADVICE,

AND YET YOU KEPT
COMING TO SEE HIM?

WELL, DR. ETTINGER
WAS ALWAYS VERY
WELCOMING TO ME.

YOUR HONOR,
I WOULD LIKE TO ENTER
INTO THE RECORD

THE 9 SEPARATE LETTERS

REQUESTING
MRS. STERN TO LEAVE
DR. ETTINGER ALONE.

DID YOUR CLIENT
CHARGE MRS. STERN
FOR THESE VISITS?

ONLY WHEN SHE
TOOK UP APPOINTMENTS

THAT LEGITIMATE
PATIENTS NEEDED.

AND HOW MANY TIMES WAS THIS?

Zeve: FROM,
UH, AUGUST OF 1999
TO SEPTEMBER 2001,

MRS. STERN CAME
TO DR. ETTINGER'S OFFICE
ON 203 OCCASIONS.

YOUR HONOR.
YOUR HONOR...

DR. ETTINGER IS WILLING
TO WAIVE THESE BILLS.

IN RETURN, HE SIMPLY
WANTS A PROMISE
FROM MRS. STERN

THAT SHE
WILL LEAVE HIM ALONE.

Audrey: YOUR HONOR.

I'D LIKE
A MOMENT TO CONFER
WITH MY CLIENT.

[CHURCH BELLS RING]

I DIDN'T THINK
YOU WERE THE TYPE

TO HANG AROUND
CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS,
MR. FALLIN.

I KNOW THE TRUTH
ABOUT YOUR SISTER.

YOUR FATHER TOLD ME
WHAT HAPPENED.

[SIGHS]

IS IT
HAPPENING TO YOU?

IT'S NOT.

WENDY, I WANT TO
HELP YOU.

DO YOU THINK I WANT THEM
TO TEAR THE ROOF OFF MY LIFE

AND MAKE ME TELL EVERY
BAD THING THAT EVER HAPPENED

TO A BUNCH OF STRANGERS
WHO WANT TO CURE ME?

WENDY, I--
MY SISTER WENT...

TO EXPENSIVE
PSYCHIATRISTS AND CLINICS.

SHE HAD EVERY KIND
OF TREATMENT,

AND LOOK
HOW SHE WOUND UP.

Amanda:
IS THAT THE TRUTH?

YOU WERE
JUST LONELY?

I HAD PAIN, BUT NOBODY
WOULD LISTEN TO ME.

SOME OF THE WOMEN
IN MY BUILDING
PLAY CARDS TOGETHER.

SOME OF THEM HAVE
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN...

PICTURES IN THEIR WALLETS.

I DON'T HAVE THOSE THINGS.

I LIVED MY LIFE
FOR MY HUSBAND,
AND THEN HE DIED...

AND I WAS LEFT
WITH NO ONE...

AND THE PAIN.

SOME DAYS, I CAN
HARDLY GET OUT OF BED.

WILL YOU
PROMISE TO LEAVE
THAT DOCTOR ALONE?

COME ON. LET'S GO
TELL THE COURT.

NICK.
RAY. HAVE A SEAT.

THANKS.
SCOTCH, ROCKS.

FRANK'S DECIDED NOT
TO CONTEST THE WILL.

I KNOW...

ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
TO SUSAN. I...

I KNOW.

AMAZING WHAT
HE CAN GET AWAY WITH.

WHAT ABOUT WENDY?

IS HE RAPING HER?

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT YOU SUSPECT.

WELL...

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I'LL GET YOU THE TICKETS,
AND THEY'RE ON ME. SHH.

HA HA.

HOW YOU DOIN', FRANK?
SIT DOWN.

[CLEARS THROAT]

AH.

SO WHAT'S, UH,
WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?

WELL, I HAVE SOME,
UH, SENSITIVE BUSINESS

I--I WANT TO
TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

YEAH?

NEWBERG BREWING
SPONSORS A, UH,
AMERICA'S CUP YACHT.

RIGHT.

SO WE'RE GONNA NEED
SOME HIGH-LEVEL HELP.

YOU'RE GONNA
BE ABLE TO TRAVEL ON
THE, UH, "BEER JET."

THAT'S WHAT
WE LIKE TO CALL IT.
[CHUCKLES]

THAT'S IT?

THAT'S IT.

YEAH, WELL, UH,
WE'LL LOOK IT OVER.

LOOK IT OVER?
BURTON,

I'M GIVING YOU
FREE MONEY HERE.

FRANK, I'M NOT SO SURE

WE CAN DO
ANY OF THIS ANYMORE.

YOU'RE NOT
IN THE BUSINESS

OF REPRESENTING
SAINTS, BURTON.

Burton:
I'M NOT JUDGING YOU.

THEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

WE GOT A LITTLE PROBLEM.

A POTENTIAL CONFLICT
BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER.

SINCE YOU'RE
BOTH CLIENTS OF OURS.

YOU REPRESENT ME,
NOT MY DAUGHTER.

Burton: NO,
THAT'S NOT EXACTLY TRUE.

WE REPRESENT YOUR FAMILY,

AND WE CAN'T BE ADVERSE
TO ANY OF YOU.

WHAT DID SHE TELL YOU?

DON'T MAKE ME
SAY IT, FRANK.

WE BOTH KNOW
WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT.

WHATEVER SHE SAID
TO YOU, IT'S NOT TRUE.

I'LL BE GLAD
TO RECOMMEND
ANOTHER FIRM

TO SEE YOU
THROUGH THIS, UH,
TRANSITION, UM...

SO YOU READY
TO DO THIS?

DO WHAT?

CALL
SOCIAL SERVICES.

I JUST
WASHED MY HANDS OF HIM.

I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE.

HE'S ADMITTED IT.

WHAT HE SAID IS PRIVILEGED.

HE WILL DO IT AGAIN.

YOU CAN'T PROVE--

YOU KNOW WHAT HE IS.
HE WILL DO IT AGAIN.

WE BOTH TOOK AN OATH, OK?

WE BOTH ACCEPTED
THE TERMS OF OUR PROFESSION.

WHAT IF I MAKE
AN ANONYMOUS CALL?

HE'D FIND OUT.
HE'D FILE A COMPLAINT.

HE'D CALL
THAT TIP INTO COURT

AND WE'D BOTH
BE DISBARRED.

SO YOU'RE
COMFORTABLE DOING
NOTHING ABOUT WENDY?

NO.

WELL?

SO GO AHEAD.

DO WHAT YOU
THINK IS RIGHT.

LAURIE.

I THINK
AN IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP

EXISTS BETWEEN WENDY NEWBERG
AND HER FATHER.

YOU'VE GOTTA
GIVE ME SOMETHING
TO POINT TO,

SOME KIND
OF EVIDENCE.

CAN YOU GET ME
A STATEMENT
FROM WENDY?

SHE'LL NEVER ADMIT IT.

I SAW PHOTOS,
BUT YOU'LL NEVER SEE THEM.

ALL I CAN GIVE YOU
IS MY WORD.

CALL THE CHILD ABUSE
HOTLINE.

IT'S ANONYMOUS.

ONCE THERE'S A TIP,
WE CAN TAKE HER
OUT OF THE HOUSE

FOR
AN INVESTIGATION.

GOD HELP US
IF YOU'RE WRONG, NICK.

THANK YOU.

AFTER CAREFUL
CONSIDERATION,

WE'VE DETERMINED
THAT THIS CHILD

SHOULD BE PLACED
IN A TEMPORARY
SHELTER,

THE LOCATION
TO BE CONCEALED
FROM THE PARENTS.

WHY THE CONCEALMENT?

YOUR HONOR,
THIS IS A 4302
INVESTIGATION.

SUSPICION OF INCEST.

DOES THE CHILD CONCUR
WITH THE RECOMMENDATION?

NO, YOUR HONOR.

MISS NEWBERG,
YOU DISAGREE WITH YOUR
COUNSELOR'S RECOMMENDATION?

YES.

WHY?

NOTHING HAPPENED.

Judge:
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

NOTHING HAPPENED.

I SHOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE.

ALL RIGHT.
WHAT IS GOING ON?

I HAD A CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMANT ALERT

ABOUT
A PROBLEMATIC SITUATION.

A C.I.?

YOU'RE TEARING
THIS FAMILY APART ON A TIP?

ABSOLUTELY NOT, MISS SOLT.

IT WAS A VERY
TRUSTWORTHY SOURCE.

YOUR HONOR--
THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

THIS HAS BEEN A VERY
DIFFICULT TIME FOR US.

YOU'RE THE ONLY
VOICE OF REASON

THAT WE'VE ENCOUNTERED.

YOUR HONOR--

MISS SOLT,
I WILL NOT REMOVE THIS CHILD

ON THE BASIS OF A PHONE CALL

THAT COULD HAVE
BEEN MADE BY ANYONE.

Miss Solt:
JUDGE DAMSEN--

I MADE THE CALL.

I MADE THE CALL.

MR. FALLIN,

PLEASE APPROACH
THE BENCH.

I'M SO SORRY.

WENDY, PLEASE
COME WITH US.

MRS. NEWBURG,
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED
TO FOLLOW--

I'M SO SORRY,
SWEETHEART.

IT'S GOING TO
BE ALL RIGHT.

YOU'LL BE FINE.
I LOVE YOU.

7 HOURS AFTER
YOU WERE FIRED
BY MY CLIENT,

YOU MADE
AN ANONYMOUS CALL

TO A SEXUAL ABUSE
HOTLINE.

THAT'S RETRIBUTION,
SLANDER,

AND A BREACH
OF CONFIDENTIALITY.

WE'RE GOING TO SUE
YOU ON ALL COUNTS.

THERE WAS IMPENDING HARM.

YOU CAN'T PROVE THAT.

FRANK.
I WILL.

I'LL DEPOSE YOUR DAUGHTER,
I'LL DEPOSE YOUR WIFE.

I WILL SUBPOENA EVERY DOCTOR
WHO EVER TREATED WENDY,

HER BEST FRIEND,
HER SCHOOLTEACHERS.

TO WHAT END?

THE ONLY
LEGAL QUESTION LEFT

IS WHETHER
INCESTUAL PEDOPHILIA

RISES TO THE STANDARD
OF IMPENDING HARM,

BUT MY GUESS IS MR. NEWBERG
DOESN'T WANT TO FIND THAT OUT.

YOU SON OF A--

THANK YOU.

MR. FALLIN.

I WANTED TO APOLOGIZE
FOR VOLUNTEERING
WITHOUT ASKING YOU.

WELL, YOU KNOW
HOW I FELT ABOUT IT.

I'M SORRY.

YOU WORK HERE,
MISS BOWLES. HERE.

NOT THERE.

YOU LET NICK DO IT.

MISS BOWLES,
WHY DON'T YOU, UM...

WHY DON'T YOU FINISH
THOSE BRIEFS FOR ME, OK?

YOU FAVOR YOUR SON.

YOU IGNORE EVERYONE ELSE.

I MEAN, NICK QUIT,
TOOK HIS CLIENTS WITH HIM,

THEN JUST DECIDED
TO COME BACK,

AND THERE ARE
NO REPERCUSSIONS AT ALL.

ALL I DID WAS SPEND 15 HOURS
WORKING ON SOMETHING,

TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND YOU TREAT ME
LIKE I'M THE ONE AROUND HERE

THAT COMMITTED A CRIME.

WHAT IS IT YOU WANT,
MISS BOWLES?

TO BE MORE THAN
A GLORIFIED PARALEGAL.

THAT'S WHAT A FIRST
YEAR ASSOCIATE IS.

YEAH. WELL, I QUIT, THEN.

WELL.

WELL.

WELCOME BACK, SON.

DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT.

LIKE I'M SOME KIND OF VICTIM.

'CAUSE I'M NOT.

OK?

I'M NOT.

DON'T YOU GET IT?

I'VE PUT IN MY TIME.

2 MORE YEARS,
AND I WOULD HAVE
BEEN IN COLLEGE.

2 MORE YEARS,
I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO PUT THIS ALL BEHIND ME

WITHOUT ANYONE KNOWING.

WHAT DO YOU
WANT TO DO?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I MEAN,
LOOK AT MY CHOICES.

I CAN GO LIVE
WITH FOSTER PARENTS,

LEAVE MY SCHOOL,
AND SPEND HALF MY DAY

TALKING TO SOME SHRINK
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.

OR I CAN GO BACK HOME

AND KEEP MY LIFE,

KEEP WHAT'S MINE.

WHAT I'VE EARNED.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

I'D LEAVE.

WHY?

IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED.

YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY.

IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED,

AND I'VE LEARNED
TO DEAL WITH IT.

WHAT MORE CAN I SAY?

IT'S JUST
THE WAY IT IS.

YOU DESERVE BETTER.

I DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS.

OK. I'LL BE AROUND
IF YOU NEED ANYBODY.

ANYBODY TO HELP YOU
WITH ANYTHING, I--

I'LL BE AROUND.