The Practice (1997–2004): Season 1, Episode 1 - Pilot - full transcript

[ Chattering ]
[ Traffic Passing ]

Okay. Knapp is sitting
second session.
He gave me the last continuance.

Not happy.
They're gonna get smacked.
I'll turn my best cheek.

Listen, I gotta stop
in B.M.C. first.
Hi. Mm-hmm.

"Free Willy" again.
I told Eugene I'd cover.
[ Sighs ]

[ Man ] All right. It seems
we're still going on Reynolds.
You go over her testimony?

Yeah. Grandmother's too.
They're due in at 11:00.

Hey, Jimmy. I'm gonna take
one more whack with Alexander,
see if I can't chip it.

Tell Knapp--
[ Together ]
Unforeseen circumstances.

[ Woman ]
I know. I know.

[ Man #2 ]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
versus Coleman.



Good morning, Your Honor.
You receive my supplemental?
Yes.

Notwithstanding
the mitigating circumstances,

I feel the heinous nature of
this murder, for which I've seen
little remorse, by the way,

compels me to accept
the State's recommendation.

- Judge, I think that when--
- I hereby sentence
the defendant, Roland Coleman,

to three life terms
at Cedar Junction
with no possibility of parole.

The defendant is to be
transferred forthwith.
Adjourned.

Next case.
Hold it.

We're certified to the S.J.C.
Don't be talking in the can
like it's over.

The guy in the next cell--
he's not your friend.

He's lookin' to trade up
just like you.
Look at me. Look at me.

Your own mother comes to visit
you, you check her I.D. first
before even saying hello.

Sue! Susan.

Go away.
Just hear me out.
I'll use small words.



I've got nothing else to say.
I am taking the heat
for hearing you out.

They're mad upstairs
that I copped to the 10.
You're a compassionate woman.

Oh, save it.
My bosses think we must be
sleeping together as it is.

Ten months.
I'm gonna get the N.G.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
What will
your bosses think then?

Well, fine.
You know what?
Get your acquittal.

But whatever you get
from now on, you don't get it
from me. See you in there.

Waive reading.
Plead not guilty.

- Mr. Somensky said
he won't oppose O.R.
- [ No Audible Dialogue ]

- This is your third time,
Mr. Holsten.
- It was an accident.

You exposed your penis
by accident?

Yes, I did.

I'll grant personal.
Psychiatric testing
pursuant to section 214.

Keep it zipped up,
Mr. Holsten.

Nobody's finding this cute.

Hey, Rachel, Mrs. Reynolds.
Give me two seconds.
I'll be right with you.

How's the back, Mr. Ray?
Worse.

I'm gonna send out a pillow
so you can prop yourself with
somethin' to keep your knees up.

They keep me waitin'.

Get Mr. Ray a pillow
and a stool, will ya?

They arrest me
'cause of my smile.

- [ Woman ] Any luck?
- She wouldn't budge. We're
goin' at 2:00. How'd you do?

Bought a week.
Judge Knapp says hi,
and Free Willy extends his best.

Not bad.
Where's Eugene?

No probable cause.
Case dismissed,
with prejudice.

[ Cheering ]
Mr. Wittier is very happy
and, uh, very free.

Yeah, we made it.
I'm buyin' at McCall's.

[ All Chattering ]

You can come in now.

[ Man ]
I knew you could do it, man.
You are the best.

Oh, Mr. Cruickshank,
step this way.

Oh, just one little bite
of this girl's behind.
I'm a respected client.

Well, she's not
on the menu yet.

One little snafu
with our defense, Warren.

You claim to have only cashed
the one counterfeit check
at the one bank.

That's it. Guy signed
a check over to me,
I tried to cash it--

next thing,
cops is humpin' all over me,
and I don't know nothin'.

Yes.
Well, here's my concern.

I subpoenaed
the bank videotapes.

Now, here, we got you
at Atlantic Security
on the day they got taken.

Shawmut?
There you go again.

Bank of New England--
I'm figurin'
it's Christmas time...

since you wearin'
the Santa's cap.

Commonwealth,
Cambridge Savings--

And look.

You seem particularly
delighted here, don't you?

I am very disappointed.

- [ Man ]
Sorry about the mess.
- You live like a big fat hog.

[ Chuckles ]
I know. It's-- It's--
It's awful.

Well, uh--
[ Sighs ]

Got the D.A.
down to 10 months,

and...

I think that
we should take it.

Ten months in jail?

The alternative is
15 years, Rachel.

But-- But I'm not guilty.
But the cocaine was found
in your room.

- It was my brother's.
- You had it
at the time of the raid.

Your brother jumpin' bail--

The prosecution
had to pinch somebody.
It wasn't mine.

Rachel, listen to me.
If you are convicted,

over 200 grams,
intent to distribute
is automatic.

The trafficking charge
is statutory.

That means
a mandatory sentence
of 15 years.

There is absolutely
no discretion.

- If we could
find your brother--
- If I knew where he was,

that boy wouldn't be
worryin' about the police.
Mrs. Reynolds,

I don't think
that we can win this case.

But I didn't do anything.
This isn't fair!

Yeah, but you did try
to hide the drugs.

Only 'cause
I was afraid for Jerome.
But that stuff wasn't mine.

Rachel, when you're 17,
10 months seems like
a very long time.

I'm not pleadin' guilty.

No. You're askin' me
to say I did somethin'
I didn't do.

It isn't like that, Rachel.
It is like that!

You're sayin' that I should
tell that judge I'm guilty
when I'm not. That's a lie.

Now, maybe that's what
you lawyers do, but--

But, Grandma,

you never asked me
to lie before.

I'm not pleadin' guilty.

I still don't get
why I have to go back there.
Here.

I told them everything.
The reason
they're deposing you again...

is they want to send
the message you're in
for the long haul.

We discussed this.
They want you to quit.

I know it's frustrating,
but this is a tobacco company
we're up against.

Ah, Mr. Holsten,
you've been freeing Willy again.
Don't let them intimidate you.

I show up in court,
I get this woman Ellenor--

Big thing just appears,
says she's representing me.

I know how you hate surprises.
I should be my own lawyer.
That's what I should do.

I can get myself off.
Yes, this we know.

[ Judge ]
Step up to the bench
for a second.

Am I to understand
you've rejected
a plea of 10 months?

I recommended
that she take it, Judge.

In fact, I want it on the record
that I advised her to take it.

Ms. Reynolds?

You are aware that if you are
convicted of these charges,

you will face
a mandatory 15-year sentence?

Yes, Your Honor.

The prosecution has
offered you a plea bargain...

to a reduced
charge of 10 months,

and you reject that offer?
Yes.

Your attorney has advised you
to accept this offer?

Yes, but I won't.

I see.

I'm tempted to remove you
as counsel, Mr. Donnell.

-Why?
-Because if you can't convince
your own client of the obvious,

how are you going to convince
a jury of the improbable?

- I don't
appreciate that, Judge.
- Well, educate me.

Am I missing something?
I mean, do you even
have a defense?

She says
that she's innocent.

You're going forward
on her say-so
that she's innocent?

I'm going forward
because I believe her.
Oh, boy.

I hope you know
what you're doing, Bobby.

Step back.

One hour recess,

then the court officer
will bring in the jury.

[ Gavel Raps ]
Oh, yeah.
We know what we're doin'.

[ Bobby ]
Shh. Shh.

[ Chattering ]

It's gonna be all right.

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

[ Sighs ]

Did your bookie die?

Coleman got triple life
without parole.

The D.A. won't budge
on Rachel Reynolds.

Dan Moriarty skipped bail,
which I put up personally,
and I could use...

'cause the landlord is
threatening to evict us again,
and it's-- it's 2:30.

Huh. Another day.

Is there a chance
we'll squeeze anything
on Emerson Ray's case?

Well, his depo's
in a half an hour.

I'm hoping if he's sympathetic
the tobacco company
will feel compassion...

and give us
what we want.

Are you okay, Bobby?

He's scared to death over
the Rachel Reynolds case.

You are.

Ellenor says the arresting cop
is as honest as they come.

He is. Jeffrey Stewart.
He's a good cop and a good man.

So, how do you go about
cross-examining a witness
like that?

Have you got anything
to trip him up with?
No.

You don't.

Well, what I'm gonna
try to do is ask him
a bunch of questions...

where he'll have to give me
the answers I want.

Soft questions,
but it'll let me get a rhythm,

give the jury the illusion
that I'm doing well.

Then somewhere
during this illusion...

that I'm making headway,
I've got to make headway.

That's-- See, that's the--
That's the part
I haven't figured out yet.

Hey, nobody cross-examines
like you.

- I don't--
I don't have a seam here.
- You'll find one.

What, in an hour?

You are scared.

[ Sighs ]
You think it's tough defending
the guilty, Lindsay?

Try the innocent.
It's terrifying.

Spit.

[ Bobby ]
I got nothin' on this cop.
Nothin' to cross him on.

- Bobby, would you please relax?
- I'm relaxed.

I don't, uh--
I don't usually smoke.

I actually quit.
It's just I'm, uh--

I'm nervous.
Are you better
when you're nervous?

Her parents were dead
when she was three.

I raised both Rachel
and her brother.

I didn't get it done
with Jerome,

but with Rachel,
this is a good baby.

I know.

I did get it done with her.

Now you've got to get it done.

[ Man ]
Well, congratulations.

[ Ray ]
It's 20 past.

I'm sure it won't be
too much longer.

Are they makin' us wait
on purpose?

Uh-- Hmm.
They might be.

[ Prisoners Shouting ]
How y'all doin'?
Playin' through.

Salutations.
You look familiar.

[ Chuckles ]
Harry, free these people
at once.

Hey, Roland.
Eugene Young.

I'm with Bobby Donnell.
We filed this brief
on your behalf with the S.J.C.

Oral arguments are next week.
Give it a read.

[ Prisoners Shouting,
Chattering ]

Bobby will be checking in.

[ Shouting, Chattering
Continues ]

Quiet down! Quiet down!

Just out of curiosity,

anybody here
who didn't do it?

[ All Shouting ]

I'm shocked.
[ Chuckles ]

They're ready, Ms. Dole.
Would you follow me, please?

[ Coughs ]

Ms. Dole.

Professor?

I suppose I should be flattered
that you've finally taken
an interest in tort law.

I would never have expected it,
given your fetish
for the Constitution.

Could we have
some water, please?
Wha--

Uh, y-you work here?
At Finley?

I've joined of counsel.

- Oh, you're looking
just splendid.
- Thank you.

I'm up against you?
Oh, you'll enjoy it.

Mr. Ray, a pleasure.
I'm Anderson Pearson.

I'll be conducting
today's deposition.
Hi.

I'm sorry to have
kept you waiting.

Come. We can begin.

[ Chuckles ]
Small world.

Yeah, puny.

And as we came into
the defendant's room,
there she was.

And what was she doing,
Lieutenant?

She was sweeping
what appeared to be
small packets...

of a white powder substance
into a pillowcase.

[ Susan ]
The defendant?
The defendant.

Where exactly was the
pillowcase, Lieutenant, when
it came into your possession?

It was in
the defendant's hands.

And was there anybody else
in the room with the defendant
when you came in?

- No, there was not.
- Thank you, Lieutenant Stewart.
That's all.

Lieutenant,
when you arrested my client,
did she say anything to you?

[ Susan ]
Objection.
Overruled.

Thank you.

- Overruled.
- You can answer
the question, Lieutenant.

Did my client
tell you anything?

She said the drugs belonged
to her brother, and when
she heard us coming,

she tried to hide them
to protect him.

- And you didn't believe her?
- No.

The warrant for the raid was
issued against the brother,
Jerome Reynolds?

Yes.
There was no warrant...

with respect to Rachel Reynolds,
was there?
No.

Had you ever met
Rachel Reynolds before, sir?
No, I hadn't.

- Did you know anything
about her before this raid?
- No, I did not.

You didn't have any reason
to think that she was
a dishonest person, did you?

- No, I did not.
- But even so, when she told you
these weren't her drugs,

- you chose
not to believe her?
- That's correct.

I'm sure all the people
you arrest have a story to tell,
don't they?

- They certainly do.
- And most of the time,
these people are lying.

- Would that be your experience?
- It would.

Your Honor, I have to object.
This trial is about
this case only.

Forgive me, but the witness
made a judgment about
the credibility of my client...

based in part
on his experience.

- I'm entitled to explore that.
- Quickly, please.

When Rachel Reynolds
told you the drugs
belonged to her brother--

when she told you
she was hiding them
to protect her brother--

when she told you these
weren't her drugs,

you basically
dismissed these denials...

because most suspects lie
in these situations.

I think that's fair, yes.
Thank you.

- You have two kids yourself,
don't you?
- Yes, I do.

Both boys-- 17, 14?
Yes.

They're both good kids?
Yes, they are.

You proud of 'em?
I am.

Okay. Suppose you walked into
your older boy's room one day,

and you suddenly surprised him,
and there were drugs there.

- Your Honor.
- Overruled.
- Latitude.

Suppose there were drugs there,

and your son maintained
that they weren't his,

that a friend of his,
through a series
of circumstances,

had brought them there
in fear that his own house
might be searched.

Truthfully, if there was
no evidence to dispute
your son's version,

would you have arrested him?

Probably not.

Thank you.
That was an honest answer.

I take it when your son tells
you something, you're likely
to believe it's true.

Is that a fair statement?
Yes.

Okay. Suppose you knew
Rachel Reynolds...

to be just
as honest as your son,

and there was nothing
to contradict her story,

would you place her
under arrest?

I-- I don't know.

[ Bobby ]
Again, I appreciate
your truthful response.

By the way, was there
any physical, testimonial,
circumstantial evidence...

to contradict
what Rachel Reynolds told you?

- No.
- So, if this had been
your son...

under the exact same
factual scenario,

same evidence,

we probably wouldn't be having
a trial right now, would we?

- Maybe not.
- Thank you, Lieutenant.

That's all I have.
Well, that was just a lovely set
of assumptions, Lieutenant.

Do you know Rachel Reynolds
to be as honest
as your own son?

- No, I do not.
- Did you believe her response
to be honest...

when she denied any involvement
with the cocaine?

No, I did not.

Based on the circumstances,
as well as your 20 years
of experience...

as an officer on the Boston
police force, did you form an
opinion as to her credibility?

- I believed she was lying.
- Thank you.

But under the exact same
circumstances, you wouldn't
believe your son to be lying.

You know what?
Maybe I misspoke.

If I caught my son
with drugs right in his hands,

I'd like to think
I'd believe him.

My own son, of course. But if
the drugs were in his hands,
I don't know, counsel.

Maybe I would think
he was lying too.

- Is your son an honest person?
- Yes, he is.

But if the stuff's in his hands,
then maybe it would be wrong for
me to automatically believe him.

I'd have to let the facts
speak for themselves.

Gee, I guess if you wouldn't
believe your own son,

well, then Rachel Reynolds
never had a chance with you,
did she?

That's all.

[ Spectators Murmuring ]

Okay. It now becomes stupid,
in my opinion,
not to jump on this.

You're still sayin'
I should plead guilty
when I didn't do anything.

Rachel, they're offering you
four months.
That is a summer vacation.

Integrity aside, we cannot
risk this. Listen to me.
If I say I did it--

if I say what they want me
to say when it's not true,

I'll never get over it,
Mr. Donnell.

It'll stick with me
for more than 15 years.
It will.

Honey.
Grandma, I'm sorry.

- Please don't be mad at me.
- Oh, I'm not mad at you, baby.

I'm not mad at you.

I'm just scared.

[ Pearson ]
Uh, when did your wife
stop smoking, sir?

The day she died
of a heart attack.

Oh, I see.
Uh, you claim your wife
smoked cigarettes for 30 years.

Were you with her
the day she began to smoke?

No. Were you?

Do you know anybody
that was with her
the day she began to smoke?

Well, that's somethin'
probably only she could answer.
I guess it's too bad she died.

-Mr. Ray, we've--
-I understand this is upsetting,
sir, and I apologize.

I'm just looking to obtain
a more detailed account.

The details are she's dead.

You dragged this thing out
hopin' she'd die, thinkin'
maybe this case would go away.

- Can we--
- You're probably hopin'
that I'll be dead soon too.

- Can we have a minute?
- No more minutes.

I won't die.

I'll live forever,
if for no other reason
than to see this through.

Your client's cigarettes
killed my wife.

And if I have to stick this out
till I'm 80, I'll do it.

I will never die.

The record will reflect
the witness refuses to die.

He, um, was afraid...

that my grandmother
would search his room,
so he stuck the stuff in mine.

And you took no steps
to remove these drugs,
did you, Rachel?

- Well, I asked my brother
to take them out.
- Yes. Other than that,

you took no steps to rid
your room of this cocaine?

Um, no.

You knew your brother sold
this cocaine on the streets,
didn't you, Rachel?

- Yes.
- And by keeping these drugs
in your room,

this helped him
to sell the cocaine
without getting caught.

Isn't that right?

Yes.

And when you were
sweeping this cocaine
into that pillowcase,

helping your brother again,
you were trying to
conceal the truth...

from the police, weren't you?

- Yes.
- And when a person
conceals the truth,

is that, in your opinion,
honest or dishonest behavior?

- I guess dishonest.
- And, Rachel, when your lawyer,
Mr. Donnell,

was questioning
Lieutenant Stewart on the stand,

he was asking him to suppose
that you were just as honest...

as his own boy
when he came into that room.

Do you remember
that line of questioning?
Yes.

You weren't being honest
when Lieutenant Stewart...

came into your room.
Bobby, object.

You were concealing the truth
to protect your brother.
No.

Yes.
Now, when you were
concealing the truth...

to protect your brother,
might you act dishonestly
to protect yourself?

- Bobby!
- I'm saying what happened.

The question I'm asking, Rachel,
is this:

If you would lie to protect
your brother, wouldn't you
also lie to protect yourself?

Objection.
The witness is being taunted.

- Overruled.
- Are you asking
this jury to believe--

-What are you doing?
-that you would lie to the
police to protect your brother,

but you wouldn't ever lie
to protect yourself?

- I'm not lying here.
- Ah.

So, on some occasions
you lie,

but this isn't
such an occasion.

Would that be fair?

[ Exhales ]
Yes.

Thank you.

I think we all got it.

What do you think you're doing
jumpin' up like that?
You can't sit on your hands.

I'm trying this case.
She was confusing
what Rachel was saying.

She was untruthful
hiding the drugs,
not with her story.

You should have been
flagging that distinction.
I don't want to be objecting.

I know your strategy.
I don't want the jury to think
we're hiding anything.

[ Arguing Over One Another ]

I think that's ridiculous!
How you doin', Frank?

- How ya doin'?
- If you ever do anything like
that again, I swear to God--

What? What? You gonna fire me?
Am I gonna have to face not
having a paycheck every week?

You got somethin'
to say to me, Ellenor?
Do you?

Let's keep this about the case.
You're second chair,
and you do what I tell you!

[ Sighs ]

I was protesting NAFTA.

I beg your pardon?

NAFTA.

I lost my job
when the plant downsized...

so they could go to Mexico
for the cheaper labor.

I-- I couldn't
stay silent on that.

Mr. Holsten,
in my experience...

genitalia rarely
collides with sunlight...

because of
a U.S. trade agreement.

- I won't do it again.
- That's what you said
the last time.

Last time I was
going through a divorce.
Yes.

Because your wife
finally had it when, in front
of your own grandchildren,

you exposed yourself
to Goofy at Disneyland.

I thought it was Pluto.

Look at me,
Mr. Holsten.

Do I look amused?

I have a lot of clients,
and some of 'em are good people.

And they count on me
to give them
effective representation.

To do that,
I need my credibility...

so that when I look
a judge or a probation officer
in the eye...

and say that
it won't happen again,
I gotta believe that it won't.

Is this going
to happen again?

Look at me.

Will... this...
happen again?

I don't know.

Okay.

Uh,

we gotta
get you some help.

I'm sorry
for all the animosity.

Mr. Ray has become
very frustrated.
You needn't apologize.

In your type of practice,
you're dealing with, uh,
an element.

You just try to be
the best lawyer you can
and navigate your clientele...

through a process
which is foreign to them.

That your case
is unwinnable...

no doubt compounds
the frustration,
both his and yours.

W-Well, uh, I-- I don't think
it's unwinnable.

[ Chuckles ]
Lindsay, you're butting heads...

with a billion-dollar
tobacco company.

I'm gonna tell you something
off the record.

Friend to friend, okay?
Okay.

Our defense strategy is not
just to prevail on the merits
of the individual case,

but to do so in such a manner
as to give pause...

to any future plaintiff,
if you follow me.

- I don't.
- I'm sure you do.

I should also tell you
that Michaels,
on principle alone,

refuses to pay anything.

The precedent is
just too dangerous.

Well, then I guess
we have nothing to discuss.

No, no. Not so fast.

I'm quite mindful
that spending dollars...

to defend against
nickels and dimes
defies economic logic.

No, what I would like
to do here...

is book the bet,
if you will.

I beg your pardon?
You give me a release,
I won't even file it.

I'll put it in my desk drawer.
I give you 18,000
from Finley, not Michaels.

It comes from Finley Hogue.

We recoup from Michaels later,
billing it under legal fees.

But i-is that even legal?

Yes.
And who does it hurt?

Your client gets money
otherwise he wouldn't see,

and my client makes the case
go away for far less cost...

with no precedent
to worry about.

Eighteen is kind of low.
[ Chuckling ]
Well,

that's all I'm gonna offer.

And that's
considerably more than nothing,
which is the only alternative.

I'll have to think about it.
Well, all right.
Fine. Fine.

Lindsay?

What are you doing?
I'm sorry?

Bobby Donnell is
a good practitioner,
don't misunderstand me,

but that's what he is,
a practitioner.

You studied to be a lawyer.

I-- I don't mean
to speak out of turn.

It's just,
I should hate to see you
waste your gift.

And you do have a gift.

I'll review your offer
with my client
and get back to you.

Thank you.

[ Judge ]
Do you want to run
that by me one more time?

I want to say in my summation
that she was offered four months
and turned it down.

He's on something.
I also want
the jury to know...

that a conviction means
an automatic 15 years.

I see. Any particular reason
why the rules of evidence
shouldn't apply to you?

Sometimes the rules
pervert things.

If plea bargain offers
become admissible,
D.A.'s won't make them.

She was good enough
to offer you four months.

Do you want to shove that
back down her throat?
The jury should know...

that Rachel had the integrity
to turn down four months--
Don't point your finger.

and that a conviction puts her
away until she is 30 years old!
They won't know that!

- What kind of fairness is this?
I don't understand!
- They won't know it!

You're putting the system
before a person's life here!

Damn right I am!
That's why I wear the robe.

[ Sighs ]
Okay. Suppose it just slips out.

I'm doing my closing,
stream-of-consciousness kind of
thing, and it just comes out.

Let me make this
easy for you.

Breathe so much as a word about
that 10 or four month offer--
Now you're pointing.

I'm the judge!
I get to point!

So much as suggest anything
about a plea bargain,

even hint at what the prison
term will be, you not only
buy yourself a mistrial...

but also a jail cell
of your very own.

Do you hear me, counsel?

Don't test me.

Sticking together.

Sticking together.
No, no, no.

Sticking-- She--

Rachel Reynolds,

only...

17 years old.

I-- If her brother--

She was-- She was
trying to help her brother.

Her only crime--

[ Sighs ]

Excuse me.

What are you doing?

I'm just--
I'm going over my closing.

- Don't you ever go home?
- No. Do you?

How'd it go with Emerson Ray?

Oh, fine. They want--
Eh, it's going fine.

Can I ask you something?
Hmm.

Do you have a girlfriend?

What?

No, I-- I don't mean for me.
I just--

Well--

Sometimes I get
insecure that, you know,

in, like,
seven or eight years or so,

I'll be alone,
pacing my office at night,
talking to myself and that--

Oh, I didn't mean that
the way it came out.
I really didn't.

Yeah. You're worried that, uh,
you'll wind up like me?

No. N-N-N-N-No. No, no.
I just meant that--

Not that it's any
of your business, but, uh,

I, um-- um--

I'm in between relationships.

And the reason
that I'm in my office
talking to myself is,

if I don't give the closing
of my life tomorrow,

a 17-year-old girl
loses hers.

Probably forever.

I really didn't mean it
the way it came out.

[ Sighs ]

[ Door Closes ]

- Did you type it out?
Is it-- Is it typed out?
- Double-spaced.

- Jury instructions?
- Jury instructions too.

Is my blue suit in there?
I need the blue suit.
I close in blue. Ow!

- Is it in there?
I'm relaxed.
- Relax.

Don't tell me to relax.
Why should I relax?

She's 17 years old.
[ Groans ]

[ Exhales ]

Relax.

I'm relaxed.

Spit.

[ Lindsay ] They're all
causation problems. I'm just
afraid of getting nothing.

Eighteen is low,
even for nuisance.

Here's the thing.
Their lawyer used to be
one of my law professors.

He told me off the record
Michaels refuses
to offer anything. It's policy.

But I think because
of our relationship,

he's willing
to throw me 18
paid by Finley...

and then bury the cost
in legal fees to Michaels.

What time's your meeting?

What?
I'm coming to the meeting.

I didn't accept it.
What time?

I said I'd think about it.
What time?

4:15.
I didn't accept!

We can't put
the drug dealers away.

We can't keep the streets
safe for our children.
Crime is winning.

Well, you know what?

It is hard
getting convictions.

But if we don't get this one--
caught with the drugs
right in her hand,

street value of $100,000--

caught stuffing cutoff baggies
of cocaine into a pillowcase.

If we can't even convict here--

Mr. Donnell says
that's all they have.

My poor client was arrested
just because...

she had the drugs
in her hand.

How awful.
That is like saying...

the police arrested the guy
for murder just because
when they heard the shots...

he was standing over the
dead body with a smoking gun,
and it just isn't fair.

Use your common sense.

She lied for her brother.
She admitted she was dishonest.

She was shoving
cocaine into a sack.

You know, there's a saying
among defense attorneys:

Juries are made up
of 12 people...

who are too stupid
to get out of jury duty.

So, hell, even if your client
is caught cold, don't give up.

You've got no case,
no defense,
you've still got a jury.

That woman facilitated
drug trafficking.
It's very simple.

You know what has to be done.

People today laugh at juries.

I hope they don't laugh
at this one.

You know, I--
I came back to my office
the other day,

and I found one of
my associates in tears.

She had just won
this suppression hearing,

and she was upset
over the career prospect...

of putting drug dealers
back on the street.

'Cause that's what we do a lot.

When you do
criminal defense work,

you spend a lot of time
trying to help guilty people.

And after a while,
it just--

it just wears on you
to the point where you think,

"Why the hell
do you do it?"

You want to know why
I do it?

That's why.

Because every once in a while,

you get one.

An innocent person.

Someone who's been accused
of something...

he or she didn't do,

and it becomes up to me
to fight their fight.

Rachel Reynolds's
only crime here...

was trying
to help her brother.

And who amongst us
can't understand that?

That may be the essence
of family, isn't it?

Sticking together,
sometimes beyond
the point of reason.

Now, you can choose
to disbelieve her.
I can't stop you.

You can give in to
the same kind
of jaded cynicism...

that Lieutenant Stewart did
and think,

"Hell, they all lie."

But if you do that,
the only thing
you prove here today...

is that you don't know
Rachel Reynolds.

I know her.

I... know her.

I know her.

You see, that girl there--

[ Sighs ]
You know, I tried to teach her
some things during this trial.

Some basic real truths.

And she ended up
teaching me.

She's got an integrity
bigger than this room.

And I see you--
I see you looking at her.

And if you would,

I'd like you now
to look at me.

See, you may not know this,

but lawyers have to--
have to play by certain rules
when they try a case.

You violate one of these rules
and boom, mistrial.
[ Snaps Fingers ]

A lawyer could even
be thrown in jail.

One such rule...

says a lawyer can't knowingly
put up false evidence.

He can't say something
to the jury
he knows to be untrue,

which means, believe it or not,
I can't stand here before you...

and say that my client
is innocent of the crime charged
if I know otherwise.

Oh, I can say other things.
I can say the State
didn't meet its burden.

It didn't prove guilt.
It didn't satisfy the standard
beyond all reasonable doubt.

I can say those things.

But I can't stand here
before you boldface and say,

"She didn't commit the act"...

if I know that statement
to be false.

That's the rules.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Rachel Reynolds...

did not commit the crime.

Rachel Reynolds is innocent.

Rachel Reynolds...

is innocent.

Thank you.

[ Pearson ]
That wasn't a negotiation.

It's a gift.

I was throwing you a bone.
It's just that,
um, well,

I was looking for
a bigger bone.

I see.

And tell me,
why have you brought along
Mr. Young?

Oh, I asked to come.

You sounded so good,
I just had to see for myself.

There a problem, sir?
Well,

trying to exploit an influence
over a former student...

goes a little
over the line.

I wasn't aware
your firm drew lines.

Ouch.

Let's not be silly.

Finley Hogue has 342 attorneys.

Mmm.
Our client...

has 10 more firms
on retainer...

ready to defend against
this kind of precedent.

- Liggett.
- We are not Liggett.

At a minimum,
this suit would cost you...

a quarter of a million dollars
to prosecute.

Who's gonna front that?
You? Mr. Ray?

For a case
that can't be won?

Who says it can't be won?

Well, you have
some secret strategy...

unknown to
any other law firm
in the world?

We cheat.

- Ah-ha-ha.
- [ Chuckling ]

Then there's the smell.

- Beg pardon?
- Well, the jury takes
a whiff of this,

whiff of that,
gets kind of a hunch
for the truth.

They're gonna
smell your client, smell ours,

smell you, smell me,
kind of like
scratch-and-sniff litigation.

You don't think we're up to you.
Figure we can't go toe-to-toe
with the big boys.

Maybe you're right.
But standing here right now--

[ Sniffs ]

Mmm.

Smells good.
Mmm, mmm, mmm.

Your offer is
rejected, Professor.

Thanks again for the bone.

Well, maybe over coffee--
[ Eugene ]
Lindsay!

[ Chattering ]
It-- It was
a great close, Bobby.

Mmm.
I mean, completely objectionable
arguing your own opinion,

but you pulled it off.
She couldn't object.
She would have looked bad.

It's gonna be quick.
It's gonna be
quick, quick, quick.

Which way?
On that,
I don't have a feeling.

[ Pager Beeping ]
Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

[ Ellenor ]
They're back?

Excuse me.
Excuse me. Excuse me.

[ Bobby ] Did you call her?
I did. I paged Rachel.

They're coming from Mattapan.
You figure 20 minutes.

Okay. Okay. Okay.
Make sure they know to hurry.

Relax.
I am relaxed!

They have a verdict?
Already?

Hour and 10 minutes
they were out.
Is that good?

Very good. Short deliberation
means acquittal, not guilty.
Quick verdict means guilty.

Unless they figure
she must be lying.
Unless they know she's innocent.

Then why deliberate?
Oh, God, she's dead.

Get the clerk's office, Beck.
555-0106--
Ask for John Powers.

Powers?
I want to know
as soon as they read it.

[ Line Ringing ]
Hour and 10 minutes.
Must be 'cause it's Friday.

[ Clears Throat ] Good evening.
I have Eugene Young
for John Powers, please?

What does it mean?
What does it mean?
We're gonna know in a minute.

Thank you.

Ms. Reynolds,
I'll ask you to stand, please.

Madam Foreperson,
has the jury reached a verdict?

- Yes, Your Honor.
- I'll now ask you...

to read your verdict.

On the charges
of unlawful possession...

with the intent
to distribute drugs...

pursuant to section 469...

Massachusetts criminal law,

we, the jury, find
the defendant, Rachel Reynolds,

- not guilty.
- Ohh!

[ Judge Hiller ] Members
of the jury, this completes
your service. Thank you.

[ Rachel ]
Thank you, Mr. Donnell.

[ Judge Hiller ]
You're free to go,
as is the defendant.

Adjourned.

[ Cheering ]

Whoo!

We did it.
Ohh.

I'm so proud of you.

♪ [ Singing, Indistinct ]

Hey, taxi?

- Mr. Donnell, thank you.
- Ah.

Not just for winning, but--
but for those words you said.

[ Ellenor ]
Hey! Hey!
I hope I'll live up to them.

What?

You already have, Rachel.
You just stay your course.
Taxi!

Your course.
I promise that.

Stop the car!
[ Tires Screech ]

[ Ellenor ]
Thank you.
[ Both Laughing ]

[ Bobby ]
See you later.

Thank you.
Congratulations.

Grandma, you coming?
Oh.

[ Ellenor ]
All righty.
[ Car Door Closes ]

[ Bobby Sighs ]

Rebecca, this is a motion
for production of police reports
in Bauer.

Now comes the defendant in
the above entitled matter...

and moves pursuant
to the Mass. Crim.
P-14-A-2-G-L-C-4-1,

subsection 98-F-N-T-O-C-4,
subsection 7, clause 26,

that this honorable court
direct the Commonwealth,

its agents or servants
make available for inspection...

any and all state, county
or local police reports...

having to do with matters
referred to this case,

as reasons, therefore,
these reports are essential
to the defendant...

in the preparation of
his case respectfully submitted
by his attorney,

Robert G. Donnell, Esquire.

End of tape.
[ Switches Off Recorder ]

[ Woman ]
You stinker!