The Practice (1997–2004): Season 1, Episode 2 - Part I - full transcript

Susan!
Go away!

Hear me out.
I've got nothing to say.

I am taking the heat for
hearing you out. They're mad
upstairs that I copped to 10.

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

Dan Moriarity 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.
Another day.

[ Men Clamoring ]
Come on!
Quiet down! Quiet down!

Just out of curiosity,
anybody here who didn't do it?

- [ All Shouting ]
- I'm shocked.
[ Chuckles ]

When you were concealing
the truth to protect your
brother,



might you act dishonestly
to protect yourself?

Objection. The witness
is being taunted.

Do anything like
that again, I swear to God--

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 are scared.
- [ Sighs ]

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

Try the innocent.
It's terrifying.

I did not exceed 60.
This I can say with
absolute certainty.

How can you be so sure
of that, Mr. Parks?

First off,
I have two small children.
Uh-huh?

And, uh, I am not
in the habit of driving
at excessive speeds.

But second, I just
picked up a cup of coffee.



Now I customarily
put my coffee in the little,
uh, holder on the door arm.

And how is that relevant?

Well, it's relevant
in that my car shimmies
if I go over 55.

And coffee would have been
splattering everywhere.

Now I'm sure that
the officer is, uh,
conscientious in his job.

But on this occasion,
he was mistaken.

Thank you.

You, uh, say anything
to the officer when
he issued the citation?

- Hearsay.
- Hey. Traffic court.

What did you say
to Officer Grody, Mr. Parks?

Well, I was upset at being,
uh, unjustly cited.

And, in addition,
he was making me late
for work, so, uh,

I likely communicated
my annoyance.

Did you tell him
Alan Dershowitz
was your lawyer,

and he would prove all cops
are trained to lie under oath?

I don't believe
I said he was
my personal attorney.

Did you call Officer Grody a...

"pus-infected donkey
with the moral fiber of
a disposable douche"?

I don't--
That's something
of a non sequitur.

- I don't believe
I would have said that.
- Well, did you opine...

that the reason women
and children were being
raped and killed...

is because fat donkeys
like him are too busy
pinching speeders...

- when they should be
fighting serious crime?
- I am a taxpayer. I'm--

- I have a right to my opinion.
- Is any of this
at all relevant?

No. Guilty. See Probation.
[ Gavel Raps ]

Next case.

Pay you? Why the hell
should I pay you?

This is my third
appearance without--
Yeah, and you're 0-for-3.

What kind of squat-head
do you think I am?

I'm gettin' sick
of your repeated--
You're sick? So go puke!

Listen, I'm the client.
Maybe your only one.

I'll garnish your wages.
I'll give you
something to garnish.

[ Scoffs ]
Taxi.

Hey, how ya doin', Jumbo?
Go get that doughnut.
Ah.

[ Scoffs ]
Garnish my wages.

Where to?

[ Sighs ]
I just want
to turn the corner.

Don't we all?

[ Line Ringing ]

[ Cell Door Opens, Closes ]

[ Sirens Wailing ]

A T.R.O.? For what?
To keep him away,

given the history
of physical abuse--
What history?

There's no documented
proof that he--

I like to talk
in whole sentences.

There's been no suggestion
of abuse in the pleadings.

Because we're in "no fault."
Plus, for the sake of the kid,
we wanted--

- Stop using the kid as a trump.
- I haven't finished.

-Is it in the interest of
the kid to restrain his father?
-Permission to smack him.

Hey! Don't intimidate me!

Mr. Colson, why don't you
let Mr. Young say
what he has to say...

before squealing like
a distressed little pig?

Would that be acceptable?

Fine.

We didn't allege violence
because we hoped that
this wouldn't get ugly.

- Mm-hmm. And now?
- It's ugly.

Your Honor, divorced couples
typically behave...

in an antagonistic manner
towards each other.

And it does not behoove
this court...

- to intervene by issuing rash
restraining orders--
- How long do we wait?

Until he beats her into a coma?
Who is interrupting me?

- I was behooved!
- Shut up!

- Mr. Colson!
- [ Sighs ]

Your Honor, he does this on
purpose. He goes to get my goat
and he gets it.

He gets it every time.
I understand. Mr. Young,

I'm not gonna allow
your client to revise the facts.

The pleadings will
speak for themselves.

He keeps physically threatening
her and you won't allow--

Mr. Colson, instruct your
client to stop with the threats
and the intimidation,

otherwise the T.R.O. will issue,
and he will not see his child.

Commonwealth versus
Kenneth Hanks.

Unlawful possession
with intent to distribute
controlled substances.

We'll waive reading,
what's left of it.

Plead not guilty.

I'd ask the court for
a probable cause hearing.

- You ready this afternoon?
- Uh, sure.

See if you can
get the officer in.

All right.
Great.

Oh, Lindsay?
Busy.

Oh, come on! One little
probable cause hearing.
You're done in an hour.

Sorry. I'm fighting
the tobacco industry this week.

You're the exclusionary queen
here, and I need you.

I've got cocaine,
vehicle search--
Oh, know what, Ellie?

My mother's birthday was Sunday.
I promised her...

I wouldn't put any crackheads
back on the street this week.

Otherwise--
Yeah, that's
very, very cute.

But I'm serious about this.
We have grounds,

and it's an extra five
if we squash it fast.

- Ellenor?
- Yeah?

You know anything about this?
"Single white female, attorney,
30-ish--"

Where'd you get this?
It was on the computer.

Oh. Oh, yeah.
No, I have, uh--

I have a client who's
suing a dating service.

I was just, uh, you know,
typing all the evidence in
for the file, that's all.

Mmm. Oh.

What? "Oh"? What,
do you think you know,

like, every little minute detail
that goes on in this office?

Evidently not.

- [ Door Opens ]
- I'm shutting down
the practice.

[ Door Slams ]
Get your résumés
out there.

I'll try to string out
three more weeks.

You have a suppression hearing
scheduled in 12 minutes.

You see this? Huh?
Eviction notice!

These are the kinds of things
that happen when you
can't make the rent.

Which is the kind of thing
you can't make
when clients don't pay.

Are we anywhere
close to a settlement on
the tobacco case? Tell me.

Ha.
Right.

We shuttin' down again.
Oh, that's nice.
Any decaf made?

I've had it. We can't
keep jugglin' like this.

You haven't had it.
Don't tell me you've had it.

I've had it with
your being had it.
Eugene? Ruth Gibson.

It's trouble.

[ Horn Honking ]

[ Chattering ]

Said he was looking
for his Social Security card.

Said he had
to look everywhere.

Couldn't leave
until he found it.

He touch you?
No, but--

[ Sighs ]
Oh, God.

Hey, son. Peter Pan.
I always liked him.

I'm Robin Hood.

Right.

Uh, how long was he here?
Long enough to do all this.

And look.

- He stabbed it.
- Uh, what?

My cervical cap.
He put a kitchen knife
through it.

All right, we're goin'
back to court.
Can I keep this?

It won't be
doing me much good.

Keep your doors locked.
Use your dead bolt. I'll
have somebody pick you up.

Uh, everything's
okay, Mike.

What if he hurts us?

I'm gonna make sure
that won't happen.

Now listen to me, Lyle.
Whatever happens,
you stay completely calm.

Well, how's it gonna go?
We'll make our arguments.

When the D.A.
is making hers,
you stay quiet, Lyle.

Then after, the judge
will either make his ruling
or take it under advisement.

Probably the latter.

Will we win?
We should.

And if we suppress
the videotape,
you're home free.

It's their whole case.
The victim couldn't make
you, so without the tape--

That's why we stay
completely calm.

I find the evidence
to be admissible.

Your Honor, given
the inflammatory nature
of that videotape,

I don't know how--
[ Judge ] It shows
what he did, counsel.

Putting a gun
to the temple of a person--
an elderly person--

robbing a grocery store,
that's what's inflammatory.

Your Honor, if the jury
views that tape--

They might get an idea
of what actually happened.
God forbid.

- The tape is admitted.
- You son of a--

You don't care
what you're doin'!
You don't give a damn!

Put him back in lockup!
Your Honor.

I'll now be asking that you
recuse yourself, given my
client's attack on your safety.

I am not recusing
myself, counsel.

I'm sure your client is very
distraught, and I promise
to be understanding.

I'll consider him misunderstood.
Trial's set for Wednesday next.

We've adjourned.
[ Gavel Raps ]

[ Chattering ]

So, are you ever
gonna tell me?
Tell you what?

About our new client.

The one placing
the personal ad.

Lawyer-client privilege.
[ Chuckles ]

Ellenor, there is nothing
wrong with it.

I know.

There's, uh, there's nothing
wrong with not wanting to
talk about it, either.

It's, uh--

It's embarrassing, okay?

My best friend met her
husband that way. I was
thinking about it, too.

It's no big deal.
Rebecca.

It's embarrassing. Okay?

Why am I here?
I told you.
To help me get this loan.

This guy's a buddy of mine.
This you told me.
Why am I here?

Shh. Just go along.
Hey, Jimmy.

70,000?
Come due in 90.

With the usurious rates, this
will help you get a promotion.
Cut me a small break.

- Do I ask for much?
- You ask all the time, Bobby.

And I give like a cow.
I'm growin' udders here.

We're very close to
settling the wrongful death
against T.L. Michaels.

My associate here, Lindsay Dole,
is handling the case.

Do I look like
I got a brain tumor?

You think I think you're gonna
squeeze a tobacco company?

Watch 60 Minutes, Jimmy?
I'm not as stupid
as he thinks.

Things are changing.
They'll settle.

If you got half a mil,
which you won't, that's
150 on the contingency...

divided by costs, fees--
You'd be lucky to clear 70,
much less pay it back.

You're a legal expert?
Maybe I should throw
you the case.

I know what this thing
is worth. I used to be
a lawyer, remember?

[ Chuckles ]
A terrible lawyer.

- Jimmy, you never won a case.
- Suck up to me. That'll help.

-Excuse me, are you two related?
-No, just friends. So I thought.

And this tobacco case?
I looked at the file clearance.

- The victim never had
an autopsy--
- Again with the legal opinions.

It was a stroke!
Caused by vascular disease,
caused by smoking.

There's a new craze, Jimmy.
It's called reading!

I read. Your expert doctors--
Maybe you should try
comprehending sentences--

Hey!
What is going on here?

He's askin' me
to loan out on a dog.
That's what's going on.

Forget it. All right, Jimmy?
Forget it.

I am still loathe to issue
a restraining order.

How can you be loathe?
He vandalized the house.
He threatened her again.

He stabbed her diaphragm
with a kitchen knife.
Look at this.

Can I see that?

I have seen
a diaphragm before.
My wife has one.

But this looks like
a thimble. He stabbed
a rubber thimble.

Are you tryin'
to confuse this court?
Your Honor,

uh, I believe that
is a cervical cap.

- It's different
from a diaphragm.
- How?

Well, the cervical cap is--
What difference does it make?
He stabbed the thing.

It's just lucky she wasn't
wearing it at the time.

Your Honor, Mr. Gibson
has promised to seek therapy.
He feels deep remorse--

Deep remorse?
He doesn't feel
the slightest thing.

This is his first act
of vandalism.
He's dangerous.

He represents a threat
to my client's safety.
He has promised to seek help.

- And this is going on--
- Quiet, please.

Does your client
wish to press charges
on the vandalism?

- What good would that do?
- You got to show imminent
threat of bodily harm.

Do I have to drag her
in here in a body sack
for you to find against this--

- Hey. Are you gonna hurt her?
- Absolutely, 100% no.

[ Sighs ]
Mr. Young,

show me a bruise, come in
with a couple of stitches,

something more than
a punctured cervical cap.

Now, Mr. Gibson,

you go in that house
without an invitation,
it's trespassing.

- It's my place too.
- No, it isn't. You stay out.

I've just been waiting
for a chance to paste you.

I don't think
you want to give it to me.

- Six years?
- If we can get it.

Armed robbery,
you could get life.

Six would be a great
result. Trust me.
For who? For you?

So you don't gotta
look at me no more?

- What's your problem, Lyle?
- My problem is,
I don't trust you.

[ Chuckles ]
You were assigned
to this case.

I'm just a piece of snot
you want to blow out your
left nostril and be done with.

Hey, don't flatter
yourself, all right?

You put a gun to
an 80-year-old lady's head.

If my snot sunk to your level,
I'd be on antibiotics,
and you can trust that.

You want to fire me?
Please do!

[ Sighs ]
[ Door Slams ]

But as long as
I'm assigned to your ass,

I have an ethical obligation
to present you with
your best legal options,

which is what I'm doing.

I haven't even got it
down to six years yet.
You should only be so lucky.

[ Sighs, Groans ]

Uh, excuse me?
It's 20 past.
We're not going till half past.

It might be nice to have
some hint of the facts before--

Look, we've got
vehicle search, we have
container in the trunk--

You've done this
in your sleep.
Why can't you take care of it?

I just don't have your gift
for constitutional analysis.

You owe me.
I owe ya.

I observed the vehicle
to be weaving
in an erratic manner.

I suspected the driver
to be under the influence
of alcohol...

or other substances,
and I pulled him over.

And when you went to the car?
I smelled the slight odor
of marijuana,

and I saw some marijuana seeds
on the console.

Mm. And what did you
do then, Officer Trimble?

I placed the suspect under
arrest, then I searched the
vehicle, incident to the arrest.

And that's when I found
the cocaine in the trunk
of the vehicle.

[ Prosecutor ]
Were there any other occupants
in this vehicle, sir?

No, there were not.

And did you check
the registration on
this vehicle, sir?

I did. The defendant
was listed as the owner.

Thank you.

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

- You pulled him over
on suspicion of D.U.I.?
- That is correct.

And you detected
a slight odor of marijuana?

- Yes, I did.
- Which told you what?

That he had
probably just finished
smoking some marijuana.

Then you opened the trunk,
saw the briefcase?
That's correct.

- And you opened the briefcase,
- discovering cocaine?
- Yes.

Is that what you were
looking for? Cocaine?

This was just
a general search,
incident to the arrest.

So, you didn't say
to yourself, when you
smelled the pot,

- "Boy, we got a big
drug dealer here"?
- No, I did not.

It was kind of an innocent
search, and you were surprised
to find that cocaine?

I was not looking to find
cocaine. That is correct.

When you opened that container,
did you say, "Oh, my"?

- Objection.
- Withdrawn. Nothing further.

Witness may step down.

So, what do you think?
What do we know
about this judge?

Well, Dukakis appointed him.
He's a strict constructionist.

Can we conference, Your Honor?

He had no right to go into
the trunk.Wimberly versus
Superior Court...

distinguishes casual users
from drug dealers.

This officer's testimony
was clear.

He concluded my client
was smoking pot in the car.
Casual use.

That entitles him to search
the car, but not the trunk.

First of all, she's citing
a California case.

California judges themselves
are casual users.
Funny.

You want more precedent?
U.S. versus Nielsen,
Tenth Circuit, 1993.

Officer smelled burnt marijuana.
Car search okay, trunk not okay.

U.S. versus Seals,
Fifth Circuit.

And here, you really wobble.
He not only went into the trunk,
he opened a container.

Chadwick?
We've all read that one.

Want me to reel off
the cases sayin' the search
is constitutional?

'Cause I can do that.
No, no, no.
Uh, I don't.

Look, uh, I've been
cut back to one law clerk.

And I'm not going to waste
two weeks of her time
researching this pimple.

I'll certify it to appeals,
you can draft your briefs.

Go upstairs and argue it,
if that's what
you really want to do.

But on such a small amount
of coke, I hardly think
it's worth the time.

So, what then?

Well, let's plead him to
the mis on the marijuana.

Also, uh, plead guilty
to the D.U.I.

I'll, uh, continue
the cocaine charge
without a finding for a year.

If he's a good boy,
then the count will
be dropped altogether.

I'm not thrilled
about junkin'
the cocaine possession.

I understand.
But let's be real.

Even Scalia might
squirm on this one.

You did no blood test,
by the way.

So you could even have
trouble with the marijuana.

Fine. Whatever.

No, that's fine.

Go, and be good citizens.

Unbelievable.

For somebody who hates
criminal law, you're
pretty good at it.

Gee, thanks.
I guess however
it pays, right?

[ Laughing ]
Ah, Ben, baby.

How's my favorite clerk
doin' today?
Tired.

Listen, I've got an ex parte.
I'm tryin' to garnish
a deadbeat's wages.

Can you slip it to Weaks?
He's sitting in third.
Legit?

Yeah, very. Martin Parks.
You remember.

The stiff in
the trademark injunction.
Oh, yeah. Sad.

Well--
Bobby's been in three times.

Last one, traffic court.
Guy hasn't
coughed up a quarter.

Hey, I'll take care of it.
Here.
You're a sweetheart.

Thanks. Oh, oh, oh, oh.
By the way.
All right.

Lyle Roberts, armed robbery,
we're tryin' to cop to six.
D.A.'s Susan Alexander.

Can you give her
a sniff for us?
See if she'll wiggle?

[ Sniffs, Laughs ]
[ Laughs ]

What was that?
Me doin' my part.

Now it's your turn
to do yours.
Excuse me?

Look, Susan Alexander.
We've been workin' her...

to get Lyle Roberts
cut down to six years.

No, but Bobby says she's more
responsive to female attorneys,

except for me
'cause we don't get along.

But she is gonna love you.
Lyle Roberts.

Yep.
Armed robbery.
You're gonna owe me again.

Uh, nope.
Bobby's gonna owe you
on this one.

You-You owe me.
Okay?

This is payday, Jimmy.
This--
No-- No.

I'm the piper.
I'm standin' right here!
No. No. No! You want me fired?

You're not gonna get fired,
because you're creative
and you're talented.

Your doors are closin',
aren't they?

I've had better months.

[ Sighs ]

You still got those blueprints?
You know, for takin' over
the empty space next to ya?

Yeah, somewhere.
Dust 'em off.

I can't loan out on this
tobacco case, but, uh,

I'll give you
a construction loan
for office expansion.

[ Groans, Sighs ]

The space next to us
is no longer empty.

I never heard that.

I never said it.

Seventy.
Ah!

Not a nickel more.
It's a point over prime,
and you pay this.

Thank you!

Thank you.
Why do you keep doing this?

[ Sighs ]
I mean, you could go
to any firm you want.

Ropes, Goodwin,
Sullivan-- they'd gobble.
Take a nice, fat paycheck.

You don't have to keep
lookin' over your shoulder
for creditors...

or clients who are
lookin' to kill ya.

Maybe I like lookin'
over my shoulder.

I've been listenin'
to your dream for seven years
and you ain't a step closer.

And I'll get back to that
dream tomorrow. Today,
I got people countin' on me.

I got associates
lookin' to be paid--

I can't bail.

I can't.

Eugene, she's advertising
in the personals.

- How could she not be honest?
- I'm not saying she should lie.

But you could have
put it more gently.
"Big" seems a little blunt.

What would
you have told her?
Uh--

I would have suggested...
"shipshape."

"Shipshape"?
[ Laughing ]
Shipshape.

You got a tape recorder?
Have a listen.

Honey, please.

[ Player Clicks ]

[ Gibson's Voice ]
Ruthie, honey?
I am just so concerned,

you bein' worried
about your safety.

And I started thinkin', hell,
you must be just really worried
livin' alone.

I mean, somebody could just
break in there and hurt you.

I don't blame you
for bein' scared.
I'd be scared, too.

But I just want you to know,
honey, that I sympathize.

I am very scared for you.

I-I got a premonition,
I guess, huh?

Maybe you should just
put up a sign that says,
"No Trespassin'."

- [ Player Clicks Off ]
- That man is gonna kill me.
I know it.

Oh, Bobby, you should
have seen her.

She was citing cases
off the top of her head.

State, not just federal.
Even the judge
was backpedaling.

She is a keeper.
Yeah, I had a hunch.

What the hell
is dyin' in here?
Jimmy.

- What's up?
- What? A friend can't,
uh, say hello?

One of your problems
as a lawyer, Jimmy, was
your lousy poker face.

What are you doin' here?
You're askin' my bank
to float you 70 G's.

I felt I'd better
take a glance at
the plank I'm walkin'.

Especially since your
T.R.W.'s growin' a fungus.

[ Bobby ]
You agreed to the loan.
We have an oral on this.

I ain't backin'
off the loan.

But I got superiors.
They're gonna be
askin' questions.

I felt I'd better
take a look-see.

What do you think you're doing?
I warned you.
You don't pay your bills.

You embarrass me
in my place of business,
having my wages withheld?

Oh, I did that.
Who the hell are you?

"Single, white, loves
horseback riding."

- Rebecca!
- Bunch of comedians, huh?

You're gonna regret
doin' this.

[ Sighs ]
Jimmy, come on.

Mr. Gibson.
Thank you for coming.

Yeah. I'd like to know
what this is all about.

[ Eugene ]
It's about settling this matter
in an amicable way.

Since Mr. Gibson is represented
by counsel, it'd be against
the canons of legal ethics...

for me to speak to him
outside the presence of counsel.

That's why I was
behooved to call you.

You are not
gonna get my goat.

I'll make this quick.
Most of my clients
are criminals.

Some are broke
and even have to pay in trade.

So much as go near
your ex-wife again,
drive by the house,

leave a funny message
on the machine, whatever--

I will be dispatching two
of my delinquent accounts...

to separate
the tops of your kneecaps.

[ Chuckles ]

- Ha, ha--
- Hey, hey, hey!

I'm glad you got
a sense of humor to help you
through the hard times.

Hey, what are you doing?
Who are you people, huh?
What is this?

Cowards make me crazy!

I'm gonna tell you something.
I'm gonna see you in jail.

Do what you gotta do.
I've got your address, too.

[ Gasping ]
[ Colson ]
Come on.

[ Door Opens, Closes ]
Is this the kind of practice
my bank is investing in?

Excuse me, Jimmy.
Eugene?

A moment.

You want to explain
what that was?

Self-help.
Husband threatens the wife.
The judge won't restrain.

I don't want to take chances.
The guy smells
like a bomb to me.

You're a lawyer, Eugene,
not a P.I. anymore.

You want to be taken
seriously as a lawyer.

This firm wants
to be taken seriously
in the legal community.

That kind of crap does not help
this practice. You got that?
[ Knocking ]

I got it.
Bobby, your hookers are here.

Clients, Rebecca.

Yeah, your clients.
They're here.
Send 'em in.

Hi, Bobby.

Hey, Eugene.
Salutations.

There's been
some anxiety concerning
last week's police sweeps,

together with recent
court decisions regarding
laws of entrapment.

Let's review.

[ Chuckles ] What is this?
Tag team? How many lawyers
does this Roberts guy have?

We all cover for each other.

It just seems,
in the interest
of judicial economy,

a joint recommendation
could save us all some time.

I'm all for
pleading this out,
but not to six years.

Listen, this guy is scum.
I won't pretend.

He could get two.
What if we get an acquittal?
Thought about that?

[ Chuckles ]
Not for a second.
Have you?

Six is a good compromise.
Get him off the street for
a long time, avoid a trial--

You're good.
I'll settle for 10.

Oh, and tell Ellenor
nice try, goin' to the clerk.
That was deft.

Wave to Benny over there.

You threatened
to break his kneecaps?
Uh, not break.

- Dislocate.
- Right in front of his lawyer?

It would have been unethical
to do it outside of counsel.
He threatened me too.

Your Honor, he vowed
that he knew where I lived and
he said it with vicious malice.

- As opposed to
affectionate malice.
- [ Chuckles ]

I saw that. You're finding
judicial amusement in this?

- I am absolutely astounded.
- Stop being such a mole.

I want that
put on the record.

"M-O-L-E,"

as in tiny little
annoying rodent.

Look, I heard
your client's tape, and
I'm sick of all this crap.

I am hereby restraining
Kevin Gibson from any contact
with Ruth Gibson for 60 days.

Any and all contact.

And I'm fining you $200.

You?
Hold out your hand.

- I beg your pardon?
- Hold it out!

- [ Slaps ]
- You get a slap on the wrist.

- [ Snickering ]
- Put it on the record.
He's mad.

Oh, excuse me. I--

- I'm looking for Mr. Donnell?
- Yeah, that's me.

Gary Newman. I'm sorry.
I did try to call first,

but a recording came on
saying service was disconnected.

- Well, only for an hour.
The phones are working now.
- Ah.

I'm assuming representation
of Martin Parks.

To be frank, Mr. Donnell,
this is most disturbing.

For a lawyer to bring
an ex parte motion
against his own client?

Former client.
Mr. Parks wouldn't
pay his legal fees.

Even so, did you send
a demand letter first?

Did you withdraw as counsel?
Did you bother
to give him any notice?

Believe me, I'm not comfortable
criticizing other attorneys...

but this goes
beyond unprofessional.

I think it's actionable.
You know what,
Mr. Newman?

You may be right.
Tell Mr. Parks he wins,
and he can take it all.

Rebecca, sign over
our entire law practice
to Mr. Parks.

Give him the office,
the files, the Chapter 7
application, everything.

- We got any petty cash?
- $32.60.

Give it to Mr. Newman,
please!
You think this is funny?

Do we look amused? First rule
for a plaintiff lawyer...

is to ascertain whether or not
the defendant is judgment-proof.

I am glad that Mr. Parks
is suing us. Now--

Now we get the counter-claim
without having to file
the $15.00 filing fee.

Tell your new client thanks.
And tell him
I'm gonna get him.

I'm gonna get him.
[ Phone Rings ]

See?
They're working.

Donnell and Associates.
What?

Oh, my God.

[ Siren Wailing ]

[ Man ]
Watch your backs, guys.
Some room.

[ Police Radio, Indistinct ]

He came in screaming.
The kid shot him.

You think that he was drunk?
These people are
represented by counsel.

There will be
no more discussion.
Ruth, listen to me.

They'll be taking you to
the precinct. You say absolutely
nothing until I get there.

Michael, same for you.
Michael?

- You don't talk.
- Okay.

Anders versus
Rhode Island, people.

You don't even ask
if they're thirsty.
[ Sobbing ]

[ Softly ]
No!

He kicked in the door.
He was a madman.

Said he didn't care
what the court said.

He started throwing things.

Next thing--

I saw his neck sort of...

exploded.

There was blood
spurting everywhere, and...

I turned around...

and there was Michael.
[ Sobbing ]

He shot his dad!

Did your ex-husband--

Did he say he was
going to kill you?

No, but he had that look.
He was-- He looked all crazy.

All right, listen to me,
Mrs. Gibson.

Listen to every word
I say to you.
Listen to me.

I don't know exactly
what happened, but let me
tell you what will happen.

If Michael is charged
with murder, he's gonna
be doing some time.

Somewhere.
But how could they do that?

Listen to me.

If it's self-defense,
that's fine.

If it's defense of others--
for example, if he was defending
you-- that's fine, too.

But it's only okay
if he thought Kevin was
going to kill either of you.

As I said,
I don't know what happened.

But if your ex-husband
wasn't posing some kind
of deadly threat,

then Michael is in
some serious trouble.

Do you understand
what I'm saying here?

Yes.

He was going to kill me.

[ Sobbing ]
All right.

Could have been me
that inflamed the guy.
I might've provoked him.

No, no, no, no, no.
This has been comin' on, Eugene.

Ruth even said her husband
was trying to kill her.
Let's not forget the tape, okay?

I mean, you did whatever
you could to prevent this.
You got the restraining order.

Alexander got the case,
I'm told. This could be good.

Yeah. She didn't
help us with Roberts.

Ah, she's--
She's a good lady, though.
Straight shooter.

Look, everything this
kid's been through, if he's
forced to go through a trial,

or if he's locked up in some
hole, then there's somethin'
seriously wrong with things.

[ Thunderclap ]

♪ [ Piano: Jazz ]

Well, I guess this one's
on the both of us.

Me more than you.
I pushed him over the edge.

No.

I knew how close
he was to it, so--

I'm gonna argue
self-defense.

This kid gets stuck
in some juvenile hall--

D.A. might look to you
for a bead on
the father's temperament--

I'll support self-defense.

♪ [ Continues ]

[ Sighs ]

My God.

Wh-What have we done?

I can't believe
it's that simple.

The threats were documented
in court.
No, actually, they weren't.

In the divorce pleadings,
there was no mention of threats.

That's what this whole
restraining order business
was about.

This guy was
trying to kill her.
I got all the backstory.

I still got a kid
in a Peter Pan suit--
Robin Hood.

Yeah.
who jumps up from behind the
couch and murders his father.

What was he doing
with real arrows?

He father used
to take him hunting.
Susan--

Bobby!
The boy is 11 years old.

He's already in a--
in a psychological wasteland.

If he has to go
to some facility,
his life is forever shot.

- What are we doin' here?
- He's a good kid.

Is he?
From what I understand,
he is the victim.

This isn't lawyering, Susan.
I promise.

Uh-huh.

Now, on Roberts, when
you try for six years
instead of 12,

that is lawyering,
isn't it?
That is not fair.

I'm just lookin'
for a point of reference
here, Bobby.

When you tell me
that I shouldn't let
this kid be charged,

are you saying that with
the same conviction you bring
to the Roberts case?

This isn't right.
And you know it.

It's a tough world.
I gotta go walk upstairs
to my superiors...

and tell them that I let
a juvie killer go scot,

and settle for six for
an armed robber who put a gun
up to a senior citizen's temple.

That's one
for you, one for me.
Take your pick.

This is completely unethical.
[ Sighs ]
You're right.

And I withdraw the offer.

And I'm dealing
with one case at a time.

Roberts is first.

[ Elevator Bell Dings ]

- Now you're tellin' me 10?
- Ten is good, Lyle.

It's the best
that I can do.
Yesterday, six was good.

Listen to me.
Judge White is tough.

There's a possibility
you could get life.
I don't think that will happen.

But what if he just
slaps you with 20?
What then?

Maybe I should roll
the dice and go to trial.

You're not gonna
beat the rap on this.

Would every lawyer
tell me that?

[ Door Creaks, Slams ]
Maybe not before
they got your retainer.

Look, Lyle, as I said,
you want to fire me, fine.
I won't be losing sleep.

But 10 is good.

One of the reasons
we're getting 10 is because
I got a dialogue with the D.A.

You want to play craps?

It's your choice.

But I think that--

I think that
you should take the deal.

Okay.
You take it.

But this sucks!

[ Softly ]
I know.

[ Buzzer ]

He'll take it.
Ten years.

Good.

Let's turn to our next case.

Michael, the little boy.

I talked to the officers,
read the reports.

I'm concluding
it's self-defense.

Good.

Oh, the psychologist wants
to see you both again
in the morning.

Okay.

Thank you.

I don't know how
we're gonna get through
this, but thank you.

As long as Michael's
not going to jail.
No, he isn't.

Hey, Mike?

This is gonna hurt
for a long, long time.

So, uh, you don't have to be
this brave Robin Hood or--
or any kind of hero.

You just got to talk
to the doctors.

I've got to take care
of my mother.

You did that, son.
Now, you got to let your mother
take care of you, okay?

- Okay?
- [ Elevator Bell Dings ]

Okay.

Uh, y-you go ahead.

I got some business here.

Thank you.

I lied to my client.
You didn't lie.

You told him 10 years
was a good deal. It is.

So it's--
It's coincidental.

Roberts wouldn't
have done better.

And this kid gets a chance.
We both know that.

[ Elevator Bell Dings ]
Yeah.

Come on.
Buy you a beer.

Next onThe Practice.
What's the problem?

People at the bank are asking
questions about the loan
we extended to you.

Somebody from Boston Fidelity
called inquiring about
our office expansion?

And you informed
'em that this office
was not expanding?

[ Gasping, Gagging ]

Talk about Ronald Martin--
how he was temporarily insane,
how he wasn't responsible.

Ronald Martin,
the man who strangled
Donna Braun for seven minutes.

Then your motion is denied.
Mr. Pearson, you may
resume the deposition.

You'll pay the court costs
for this hearing,

- and I'm fining you
$500 to boot.
- What?

There is definitely
some favorable treatment
going Pearson's way.

Intentional or not,
I don't know.
I don't care.

I don't like it,
and I don't like you.

[ Woman ]
You stinker!