The Practice (1997–2004): Season 1, Episode 4 - Part IV - full transcript

Previously on The Practice.

He strangled her for a full
seven minutes, Pam. How is
that temporary insanity?

Bobby, you got the civil claim.
Leave the criminal
prosecution to me.

You have heard
doctor after doctor
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.

Dr. Braun, I am both
mindful of your presence
in the courtroom every day...

and of your loss.

- Why don't you die?
- I used to be a lawyer,
remember?

A terrible lawyer.
Jimmy, you never won a case.

Bobby's one of my best friends.
I made the loan on their
office expansion...



'cause I-- I couldn't
figure any other way
without you asking questions.

Pack up your office.
You're fired.

You'll come work with us.
You can't afford to pay you.

How do you pay me?
I'll work it out.

- Ms. Dole.
- Professor?

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.

The tobacco case--

I want you to try it.

I think you're more
prepared on it than me.

Bobby, I-- I've never even
done a jury trial before.

You've done
all the discovery.
I think you're ready.

Good morning,
ladies and gentlemen.
My name is Lindsay Dole.



[ Clears Throat ]
Good morning.

My name is Lindsay Dole.
I represent the plaintiff.

Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury, good morning.

My name is Lindsay Dole.
I represent the man
seated over there.

[ Line Ringing ]

[ Cell Door Opens, Closes ]

[ Sirens Wailing ]

[ Judge ] Mr. Pearson,
do you have any additional
questions of this juror?

Uh, I have a few questions,
Your Honor,

if I may be permitted.

Anybody in your family smoke
cigarettes, Mrs. Stokes?

Oh, almost everybody
at one point or another.

Anybody have
any health problems connected
with cigarette smoking?

Let's see.
Well, my father had emphysema.

And my sister had a baby
with birth defects.

Two of my uncles
had heart attacks,

and my aunt had a leg cut off
'cause her veins shriveled up.

And the doctors say it was
all caused by smoking tobacco.

And you believe
you could be impartial
on a case about cigarettes?

I believe I could.

- This is nuts!
- I don't think so.

Four witnesses, the whole case.
Look, we can't match experts
with the tobacco industry.

If we parade up scientists
on addiction or dopamine
or whatever, we lose,

'cause whatever guns we got,
they got bigger ones.

So how does putting up
nobody help us?

Because we make
our weaknesses our strength.

Let them do
their dog and pony show.
Let them call their scientists.

With us, it's the unglamorous
but simple truth.

She smoked, she died.
She smoked, she died.

She smoked, she is dead.
This case is a long shot
to begin with. Why are we--

Which gives us the right
to take chances. Lindsay,
where are you with your opening?

- I have a draft.
- Make copies for everybody.
Pick it apart.

Ellenor,
you prepare Emerson Ray.
Eugene will take the doctor.

Where are we on the photos?
They'll be here tomorrow.

- Jimmy.
- Don't give me the dog work.

Anderson Pearson's
opening arguments in his...

three previous tobacco cases,
all of which he won.

I want you to devour
these pages. Highlight his
pet arguments or phrases.

Anything he likes to say,
I want Lindsay to say first.

[ Door Opens ]
Found her. Ex-girlfriend
of Ronald Martin,

and he beat the hell out of her
for two years.
What?

He even tried to strangle
her once. Martin's family
paid her to keep quiet.

- Eugene, the jury
is already deliberating.
- It's still not too late.

Uh, bring her back here.
Got it.

Your Honor, this is ridiculous.
The evidence
in this case is closed.

The jury is
in deliberation.
We can suspend deliberations.

Certainly the precedent exists.
This is newly discovered
evidence brought to light.

If you drag the jury
back in and tell them,

"By the way, we have discovered
a new witness-- a woman Ronald
Martin tried to strangle,"

we might as well just
save the time and declare
a mistrial right now.

The jury is free to disregard
the witness. That's your
specialty, Mr. Goode--

convincing people
to ignore the truth.

- Gee, you know, I thought
we were friends here.
- [ Judge ] All right, look.

Ms. Morris, why is it that
you didn't go to the police?

Um, three hundred
thousand dollars.

And I wouldn't be here, except
he said he would subpoena me.

All right, look.
Given the fact that
she didn't go to the police...

and she accepted money
in exchange for her silence,

I got some
reliability problems.

That reliability can be
the object of Mr. Goode's gifted
skills of cross-examination.

Too kind, Your Honor.
Too kind.
Now quiet.

Moreover, the probative value
of her testimony...

is grossly outweighed
by the prejudicial impact.

If Ms. Morris gets up there
and says that the defendant
tried to kill her,

well, that's a bell
you just can't un-ring.

I'm not going to admit
the testimony.

Thank you, Your Honor.

You don't like it.
No, I do. I do.

Bobby said it's
important for the jury
to feel they know me.

I understand your strategy.
I do.

But, uh, your--
your high school
field hockey record...

isn't exactly gonna
make our case.

And, uh, whether or not you
still have an appendix isn't
really a burning question.

This guy talks good.
Pearson-- good talker.

Well, that's a big help, Jimmy.
Anything, say,
slightly more specific?

Yeah.
Uh, all three cases...

he tells the jury the biggest
asset to the defense
is their common sense.

Verbatim, all three openings
he says,

"More than all
our expert testimony,

more than all
our un-convoluted"-- I'm sorry.
"uncontroverted evidence,

"what the defense is going for,
more than anything else,

"is your common sense,

the seat-of-the-pants wisdom
of the reasonable person."

That's good.
What else?

Well, he goes on a lot
about, uh, free society,
personal choice.

You know, we're America.

People are free to make
their own decisions.
Red, white and blue.

Then, you know, the usual.
He goes over his high school
field hockey record.

- [ Laughing ]
- Ha, ha. You're all
such a big riot.

I'd say she's
feelin' some pressure.
Some.

I just don't understand.
He tried to kill another girl.

This directly contradicts
his insanity story.

Now, how can the judge
not let the jury hear this?

It'll be too prejudicial.
Like he said, it would
guarantee the guy a new trial.

They've reached a verdict.

Will the defendant
please rise?

Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,

have you reached a verdict?
We have, Your Honor.

- [ Judge ] What say you?
- [ Man ] On the charge
of first-degree murder,

we find the defendant
not guilty by reason
of temporary insanity.

On the charge of
second-degree murder, we find
the defendant not guilty...

by reason of
temporary insanity.

On the charge of voluntary
manslaughter,

we find the defendant not guilty
by reason of temporary insanity.

[ Chuckles ]

Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,
this completes your service,

and I thank you
for your time.

And I want to also caution you
that when you leave this room,

you may be subject
to second-guessing.

I want to emphasize to you
that aside from the parties
and attorneys and myself,

you are actually
the only people who heard all
the relevant facts of this case.

Liar!
They know less about
Ronald Martin than anyone!

- Get him out.
- You withheld the truth
from this jury!

Dr. Braun.
The truth that he tried
to kill somebody else!

- That judge wouldn't
let you know that!
- Put him in lockup.

You withheld the truth!
You withheld the truth!

You-- You're filth!
You should die!

- Jerry!
- You should die!
You should die!

You're filth!
You're filth!

Filth!

Since the defendant
was judged on the basis
of temporary insanity,

and since the psychiatric
reports attest to no such
continuing condition,

I have no choice
but to release him.

The defendant
is free to go.

This matter is adjourned.
[ Gavel Raps ]

[ Crying ]

No, there are
no victories here.

My heart is with
the Braun family.

But I think the jury realized
that to punish Ronald Martin...

is only a pointless continuation
of an already tragic situation.

I don't know what I'd tell him.
I can't explain.

If God himself appeared
and offered an explanation,

I doubt any of us
would find it satisfactory.

This is such a perversity.
That's enough.
That's enough. Thank you.

[ Woman ] Are you going
to be speaking to Mr. Braun?
I said, that's enough.

Are you okay?
He gets to have children.

What?
Ronald Martin, he--
he gets to have a life.

He can--
He can have children.
He can-- He can--

He can buy a boat
and take them sailing!
All right, Danny, Danny.

Take a breath.
Donna can't have any
of that. She's dead.

Listen--
Donna can't have a child.

Danny, listen to me.
Gerald needs you now.

You gotta go back there,
and you gotta be with him.

You're the man's rabbi.
He needs you now.

Bobby.

You are so very
above all this, aren't you?

I wish that I could tread
on your moral high ground.
Get out of my face, Leonard.

No, no. Because you get 'em off
just the same as I do.
But I don't have as much fun.

But you do it just the same,
don't you, Bobby?

I said get out of my face.

[ Reporters Clamoring ]

Yes.

Margaret Ray became addicted.

Did she want to quit smoking?
Of course.

But she couldn't.
She tried--
Wrong.

- What "wrong?"
- Don't make her out helpless.

We should say
she's to blame too.
Pearson's gonna say it.

If we say it first,
we undercut--
We can't admit liability.

I mean, that'll play
right into his contributory
negligence defense.

[ Eugene ]
Millions of people
quit smoking every year.

Margaret Ray could have too.
Let's just admit it.

She's a little to blame,
but they're to blame more.

Eugene's right.

[ Sighs ]

We will be introducing evidence
that will establish--
Look at the jury.

You want to do the case, Eugene?
Why don't you do it?

[ Bobby ]
Lindsay, are you not ready
to do this?

We'renot ready, Bobby.
You'renot ready.
Who are we kidding?

This whole streamline strategy?
It isn't strategy.
We have no choice.

We don't have experts
lined up because we couldn't
afford to hire any.

We don't have the-- the--
the science on addiction because
we didn't do the legwork.

We're going with nothing
because that's what we have.

Nothing. And you're
throwing me this case,
not because of any confidence,

but because you don't want
to be the one to take the fall.

I'm sorry.
I'm just nervous.

I'm sorry.
Listen, I--
I can do the case.

No. No.

I'm ready.

I'll be fine.

I apologize.

It's all right to be nervous
tomorrow, Lindsay.

In fact, I think you might be
more effective seeming nervous.

But if you're
gonna come undone--

I won't.
I'm ready.

I'll be fine.

I'll be fine.

[ Phone Rings ]

Donnell and Associates.

What?

[ Chattering ]

Okay. Take it in.
[ Indistinct ]

[ Chattering ]

Attorneys.

[ Police Radio, Indistinct ]

[ Chattering ]

[ Man ]
That's Ronald Martin.

Hey, you!
Beat it.

I represent the accused.
Where is he?
In the backseat.

Did this man get Miranda?
Yeah, he did.

Nobody says anything to him,
Detective. We clear?

Yeah, we're clear.

Dr. Braun, we'll talk
down at the precinct.

Until I get to you, don't say
a single word to anybody.

[ Clerk ]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
versus Gerald Braun.

Murder in the first degree.

Waive reading, Your Honor.
Plead not guilty.

- Bail?
- Your Honor, Dr. Braun cannot
be considered a flight risk.

He's a health risk.
Goes about shootin' people
in the head.

I submit Dr. Braun's violence
is obviously limited
to Ronald Martin,

the man who murdered
his daughter.

I don't agree with that,
Your Honor. I feel my life
is endangered by this man.

How so?

The defendant harbors
a fair amount of animosity
towards me, insofar as--

This proceeding doesn't
concern you, Mr. Goode.

Thank you, counsel.
But since your client
has a very nasty habit...

of discharging firearms
into the brains of people
who displease him,

- I'll reserve
my right to be concerned.
- Your Honor, may I be heard?

- And who might you be?
- My name is Daniel Warner.

I'm Gerald Braun's rabbi,
and I can represent
to this forum...

that he is not a threat
to this community.

Might we have the first grade
teacher of the defendant
as well, Your Honor?

[ Danny ]
The synagogue of B'nai Zion will
vouch for Dr. Braun's character.

He has no prior record.
He's a very respected
heart surgeon.

He has devoted private time to
community service, Your Honor.

- Loner.
Keeps to himself.
- Keep talkin'.

Bail is set. One million.
250 bond.

Slightest provocation,
Dr. Braun, and it'll be revoked.

That's all.
[ Gavel Raps ]

What the hell are you doing?

I'm tryin' to help Jerry.
He shouldn't be treated
like some common criminal.

In here, you don't speak.
I do. Are we clear on that?

Looks like you got
yourself one now, Bobby.
Go ahead. Keep talkin'.

I don't know how you
live with yourself--
Go ahead.

representing people
like that.
Hey, please! Hey, hey, hey!

[ Bobby ]
Walk away.
Come on!

All right, now I want that
wonderful brain of yours
to check every single--

[ Inhales ]

[ Exhales ]

All rise.

Case number 42132, theEstate
of Margaret Ray versus
T.L. Michaels Corporation.

- Mr. Donnell?
- Ready for trial, Your Honor.

Mr. Pearson?
Ready for trial, Your Honor.

Let's bring in the jury.

They probably will be
tied up until after lunch.

We wait.

Is there anything you need?

- What is it you could provide
for me, Ms. Washington?
- Jerry.

Stop it! I'm not asking you
to hold my hand.
I'm sick of you.

I'm sick of everybody.

Just... leave me--

For the last year,

everybody looks at me.

"How sad.
How-- How sorry.

What can we do?
Anything we can do?"

There's nothing
anybody can do.
Nothing!

But I'm not
a victim anymore.

- Okay.
- No, no. I'm not.

I shot him.

I shot him,

and I watched
his neck explode.

And then I heard him gurgle.

And it was joyous.

He suffered.

And I thank God above...

he had time to know
why he was dying.

So there's really nothing
I need from you.

Today, I'm at peace.

The sound--

It was joyous.

We'll hear the plaintiff's
opening statement.

[ Lindsay Clears Throat ]

Good morning.
My name is Lindsay Dole.

I'm the attorney representing
Mr. Emerson Ray,

seated over there,
beside Bobby Donnell,

who I know you have
already met.

We will be setting out to prove
that cigarettes manufactured
by the defendant, T.L. Michaels,

caused Mr. Ray's wife, Margaret,
to develop lung cancer
and vascular disease,

which then caused
her death in 1994.

I was instructed
not to do that--
to drink water.

Mr. Donnell told me
since none of you have water,

it's possible you could
resent me for having it.

So I was determined
not to drink it.

But, well, this is
my very first jury trial.

And as soon as I stood up,
my mouth went dry.
Sorry.

The opening statement,
as you know, is not evidence.

Instead, it's sort of
a preview of the evidence
we intend to show you.

I'm sure you're aware that
product liability cases can
potentially drag on forever.

And you might be worried
about that.

There's medical information,

scientific evidence,
technical data with respect
to cigarettes.

Are they addictive?
Do they cause cancer?

Did they cause
Mrs. Ray's cancer?

Was that cancer the exact
cause of her death?

To prove all of this
to an exact certainty,

we would have to be putting up
expert witnesses for weeks.

We are not gonna do that.
We don't need to.

Emerson Ray will tell you...

how his wife smoked cigarettes,
on and off, for 52 years.

Cigarettes manufactured
by the defendant.

Her treating doctor will tell
you that they killed her.

Rabbi?
Where's the funeral?

Prime Watch,that news
magazine show-- they've invited
me and Bobby to go on.

What?
Tonight. They're doing
some case about Gerald.

Leonard Goode is going on.
So is Father O'Brien.

Where's Bobby?
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

They're in the middle
of opening arguments.
You're not going in there.

No, the show is tonight.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Well, well,
you just wait for us
back at the office.

You ain't goin' in there.

Her doctor will talk
about this photograph,

which shows her lungs
corroded by the carcinogens
of cigarettes.

And you will
believe Dr. Clark...

because he's the only
doctor who actually
treated Margaret Ray.

As for whether cigarettes
cause lung cancer,

we will not be calling witnesses
to prove that either.

We will show you what's printed
on the cigarette packages
themselves.

"Smoking causes lung cancer.

Cigarette smoke contains
carbon monoxide."

These are the warnings
of the surgeon general.

"Smoking causes lung cancer."

We will present evidence that
cigarette companies manipulate
the levels of nicotine.

We will be presenting evidence
of a two-year investigation
conducted by the F.D.A.,

in which it found
nicotine to be addictive.

So much, in fact,
that the F.D.A.
now regulates cigarettes...

as drug delivery devices.

But this trial is not
about whether cigarettes
are addictive.

So we won't be calling
witnesses to prove
that proposition.

Addictive or not,

we're not gonna stand before you
and declare Margaret Ray...

was a helpless victim
who had no choice but to smoke.

We won't be saying
she was blameless.

In fact, maybe she's
a lot to blame.

T.L. Michaels didn't
force her to smoke.

We're not even arguing that
cigarettes should be banned.
We live in a free society.

That's one of the things
we're proud of in this country.
Now, it's a slippery slope...

once you start arguing that
people shouldn't have the right
to make personal choices.

And Margaret Ray chose
to smoke cigarettes.
Make no mistake.

She bears responsibility.
Of course she does.

All we're saying is
so does the defendant.

Not all of it.
But some of it.

You see, unlike automobiles
or alcohol or even guns,

this is a product,
even when you use it carefully,

it can still kill you.

They put out a product,
when used as directed,
causes cancer.

It's the plaintiff's
contention...

that when their product
does kill somebody,

they should bear
some responsibility.

Just a little.

Sorry.
I was doing pretty well.

We will only be putting on
three, maybe four witnesses.

Unless they're cross-examined
in perpetuity, we expect
to rest our case by Friday.

It's possible the defendant
will put up 60 witnesses.

That's how many
are on their list.

I don't know,
or really care.

You see, in the end,
the strongest part
of our case will be you.

Your common sense.
Your seat-of-the-pants wisdom.

And when their umpteen experts
tell you cigarettes...

are non-addictive
or don't cause cancer,
you'll know better.

We won't have to tell you.

Lastly,

this lawsuit is about
compensating Mr. Ray...

for his loss.

I think we all know
you can't really do that.

He lost his wife
of 43 years.

Her death was slow,

and it was painful.

As Mr. Ray's lawyer,
I suppose I should attempt...

to tap into his grief,
so you people can feel it.

Well, that's another thing
I won't be doing in this trial.

I would never presume to be able
to articulate his pain.

Nor would I presume your ability
to truly feel it,

unless you've
been through it.

What I will try to tap into,
however, is his anger.

The woman he loved died from
smoking their cigarettes.

And he received no apology,
no condolences,

not even the slightest
admission...

that they are
at all blameworthy.

Maybe corporations,
if they're big enough,
don't have to apologize.

Maybe corporations can put
advertisements like this...

on billboards all across
the country--

or like this--

enticing people to use a product
that could give them cancer,

probably will give them cancer,

and feel no remorse.

The defendant, T.L. Michaels,
generates revenues exceeding
$28 billion a year.

They make more than
$76 million a day. A day.

- Objection.
This is totally irrelevant.
- Overruled.

He just asked us to believe
that the money they make
has no relevance.

Gee.

You will also be hearing
from a scientist
who formerly worked...

for the World Health
Organization.

He will testify that
three million people a year...

die from smoking.

One person every 10 seconds.

One person
every 10 seconds.

This case is only about
Margaret Ray.

This case is only about
her suffering and his.

And yet,
I still cannot bring myself
to call it "irrelevant"...

that in the short time
I've been delivering
my opening statement,

they took in another
million dollars or so...

and 50 more people died.

There's something wrong
with that picture.

And that one.
And that one.

And if a corporation makes
billions and billions
of dollars...

while its product continues
to kill and kill and kill--

If we just chalk that up
to free society,

well, there's something
wrong with that picture
as well.

No, no, no, no.
We are not going on TV
with a case pending.

Then who speaks up for Gerald?
Let me do it. If you don't
want to appear, I can--

You? Leonard Goode
is a professional advocate.

He'd chew you up like
a breath mint. No offense.

[ Danny ] I won't debate him.
I'll just say Jerry shouldn't
be automatically condemned.

He lost his daughter.
He shouldn't be vilified.
That's all.

It's too dangerous.
Better that than let
Leonard Goode go unopposed.

-Jerry will get hung out to dry.
-Bobby, there is
some truth to this.

Public opinion
is gonna count big,
especially if we try to plead.

Little spin wouldn't hurt.

If we do, we just
offer perspective.

We don't get
argumentative, Danny.

I promise.
[ Rebecca ]
Bobby?

Bobby. Bobby.

- Rebecca?
- I have Anderson Pearson
on three.

He wants to discuss settlement.

Okay, when?
Their office, tonight,
7:00.

Tell him yes.
But don't sound too excited.

I am not going to
sound excited.

Please.
Just pick it up.

Hello? Yes.
7:00 would be fine.
Thank you.

It's a trick.
It's an ambush.
I feel it.

- What ambush?
How are they gonna ambush us?
- Okay, look, look, look.

We gotta--
First off, we are all going.

They got an army.
So do we.

Second, we gotta pick a number.
High and a low.

- Uh, how about anything?
- No, forget it. We're ahead.
Her opening was brilliant.

Look, I say nothin' short
of half a mil.

- What, are you crazy?
- [ All Arguing ]

- What is that?
- Hold it.

[ Rebecca ]
Hear what they have to say.
It's just a meeting.

- How can you go to a meeting?
You're supposed to go on TV.
- Oh, damn.

- I can't miss that meeting.
- You want me to do it alone?

Jimmy.

- Oh, God.
- Just give me some
number two pancake. I'm ready.

All you say--
All either of you say is,

"Don't hasten to prejudge
until all the facts are in."

Do we have
an understanding on this?

Yes.
Pancake.

Pancake.
Let's pick our numbers.

High and low.

I'll do the talking.

Let me do the talking.
Whatever number they throw,
don't anybody's eyes bug out.

No eye bugging.

- We'll just play this easy.
- Forget easy, Bobby.

Let's hard-line.
You don't hard-line
the tobacco industry.

- They'll try the case just to
drive it between our cheeks.
- Shh!

[ Door Opens ]

[ Door Opens ]

On condition of secrecy,
signed confidentiality
statements,

no admission of liability,

T.L. Michaels is prepared
to offer $425,000...

structured over two years.

That offer is rejected.

That offer is only being made
because sometimes it's cheaper
to shoo away a mosquito...

rather than
to slap it dead.

Look, I'm not gonna pretend
that we measure up here
on legal talent,

but let's be honest.

You wouldn't be making
any settlement if you
weren't anxious.

Anxious to avoid
a protracted trial.
That's all.

I understand.
But we have taken away
your defense.

Your strategy of blaming
the victim? Gone.
We already blamed her.

Your scientific assault on
nicotine being addictive? Gone.

We're not arguing addiction.

Your medical-technical wizardry
saying that cigarettes
don't cause cancer?

We want you
to argue that one.

You know, we might be crazy,
but there's a climate
out there right now.

States are suing tobacco
companies for health costs
associated with smoking.

We are taking the gamble that
the public, and those jurors--

they already know
that you're the bad guys.

You've already lost one.

Just a matter of time
before a jury in Massachusetts
is gonna want to pinch you.

And if we get them there,
to the point where they
want you to feel a sting?

Even a little sting?
Imagine.

A million dollars
is no pinch to you.

Ten million
isn't even a pimple.

You rake in
76 million a day.

A day.

What if they think for killing
Margaret Ray, you should forfeit
just one day's proceeds?

Or even half a day.

And here's the biggest
thing of all.

Most victims don't
bother to sue because you're
just too big a windmill.

What if you should ever lose
a jury trial to a plaintiff
who puts on so simple a case?

Four witnesses,
no autopsy needed?

We'd be profiled in every
legal journal. Mike Wallace
would be in my office.

And plaintiffs would suddenly
be coming out of the woodwork.

Well, you just have it all
figured out, don't you?

No, Mr. Pearson,
we don't.

We're just guessing.
I admit that. But...

suppose we guess right.

Can you really afford
to take that kind of chance?

Can you?

With your contingency fee,
you're turning down $150,000.

Now, it's just a hunch,
but I suspect you could
use that money.

We reject your offer.

Let's go.

[ Door Closes ]

Are you crazy?
Four hundred thousand?

We were authorized to take
anything over three, Bobby.

I was authorized
to reject it too.
[ All Arguing ]

I know what I'm doing.
Excuse me, but did you forget
that we were broke?

[ All Arguing ]

[ Elevator Bell Dings ]
[ Door Opens ]

I'm gonna attach these
to your lapels.

You don't have to speak
directly into them.
Is my forehead sweating?

Uh, this way, gentlemen.
It sweats easy.

[ Bell Ringing ]

Good evening, and welcome
to Prime Watch.
I'm Suzannah Riley.

Tonight, the stunning events
surrounding the Martin trial...

and the renewed debate
over the question of revenge.

They're gonna make
another offer.
When? Tonight?

Maybe.
What makes you think that?

They offered four.
He turned it down.
What?

- Et tu, Rebecca?
- Damn right, et tu! We were
hoping for three, et tu.

Listen to me, all of you.

They have a huge interest
in settling this before
the actual trial starts.

As soon as a witness takes
that stand, they're in trouble,
and they know it.

- [ All ] Why?
- Because if they can
get rid of it now,

they can sell it publicly
as a nuisance settlement.

As soon as the trial's
in progress, any settlement
is perceived as a defeat.

That's why they had
this meeting tonight.

- They wanna make this go away
before the trial gets started.
- But you turned it down!

Four isn't enough.

- They're gonna make
another offer.
- You hope.

Yes, I hope.
I hope.

- I hope, I hope, I hope.
- Ah, look!

Here they go.

[ Riley ]
...both of you attended every
session of the Martin trial.

Oh, God, help us.

Strange to find
two religious leaders
embroiled in a murder case.

But even more strange
that each of you seems to be...

embracing the respective
murderer, if you will.

I neither embraced nor condoned
what Ronald Martin did.

I simply
offered him forgiveness.

Okay. Why?
He murdered a girl.

For which he was judged
to be insane at the time.

But there was no suggestion
of insanity at the time
Father O'Brien forgave him.

Easy, Danny.

I refer to the Old Testament,
which demands total forgiveness.

Yes.
It also talks about
eye for an eye,

which is about avenging evil.

Truth be told,
Dr. Braun's crime...

was far worse than
Ronald Martin's.

- What?
- Ronald Martin's act
was of an insane impulse.

Dr. Braun's, however,
was deliberate, premeditated...

and therefore
more repugnant.

An opinion you would quickly
change, of course, should
Dr. Braun put you on retainer.

I take exception to that,
Rabbi.

You're hardly an arbiter
of what's repugnant.
Ronald Martin was a murderer.

You celebrated the night
you freed him.
As did you celebrate, I suspect,

when Dr. Braun
was granted bail.

Right now, an admitted killer
is out walking on the streets.

Well, who put who
back on the streets, Mr. Goode?

Oh, no.
His cheeks are flushing.

If someday you are charged
with a crime, Rabbi,

would you hire somebody
who feels more responsible
for society's fate or your own?

That's one way
of looking at it.

Another way is,
if I were murdered,
you'd be standing...

first in line
to get my killer off.
Oh, please.

Please.
This guy's good.

[ Riley ]
Certainly, Rabbi, you believe
that all accused criminals...

are entitled to a defense.

A truthful defense.
But that's not what he offers.

The jury never
got to hear the truth
in Ronald Martin's trial.

They never knew
that he previously tried
to kill another girl,

because he suppressed
that information.

Your problem is with
the Constitution.

No, no. His problem
is with lawyers like you...

who use the Constitution
to get off scum
like Ronald Martin.

He's not scum.
Stop slandering this young man.
He's dead.

There's nothing wrong with
slandering dead murderers.
I read the Bible.

[ O'Brien ]
That's ridiculous.
Gentlemen, please.

What if everybody who was
unhappy with a verdict...

took it upon themselves
to exact revenge?

A lot of injustice would occur,
but this isn't such a case.

And Jerry Braun shouldn't be
crucified because of what might
hypothetically happen...

if you don't condemn him
on some legal principle,

when morally,
it's not so simple.

- No.
- If Gerald Braun came
to you before and said,

"Oh, by the way, I'm going
to kill Ronald Martin,"

I hardly think you'd give him
your moral blessing.

Well, you would be wrong,
Mr. Goode,

because Dr. Braun
did come to me,

and I did
give him my blessing.

- What?
- [ Riley ]
Wait a second.

You told Gerald Braun that it
was okay to shoot Ronald Martin?

He-He never said that.

I said between Ronald Martin
going free and Ronald Martin
being dead,

it was more moral
for him to be dead.

- Mother of God!
- Page Jimmy as soon
as they go off the air.

Tell him to drag
Danny's ass in here.

I don't believe this.
That's not in the Torah.

- [ Phone Rings ]
- [ Bobby ]
Hello?

Yes, this is Mr. Donnell.
Oh, hi.

Listen, I don't--
I don't mean to be impolite.

Well, sure.

That was Anderson Pearson.

He's on his way over.

What?
Here?

- Yes. Here.
- Please. Whatever he offers,
just say yes.

- Thank you, Rebecca.
- Here?

Yes, here.

Bobby's very upset.
Very, very upset.
Why?

Why?
You encouraged Dr. Braun
to commit a homicide.

This is not an appropriate thing
rabbis should do with
their congregants.

Mr. Warner?
Yes?

Detective Robert Belle,
Boston Police.

Would you place your hands
behind your back please, sir?
What? Why?

Accessory to murder?

All right, all right, all right,
all right. Let-- Let's get him
arraigned tonight.

If we do it tomorrow,
the press'll be all over it.
Can you handle the arraignment?

Of course I can do it.
What kind of a question's that?

Okay. I can't imagine
they'll ask bail.
Plead not guilty.

Oh, thanks. You know,
I was gonna plead him guilty
and get him a life sentence.

He's got such great faith.

Tell him not to worry,

this is bogus,
it's just showtime and that
I'll take care of it, okay?

- [ Bobby ]
Not guilty, Jimmy.
- You're a stitch!

Can you believe it?
They arrested him.

- What a night.
- [ Knocking ]

I'm not going to
preface anything
or do a big sell.

This check has
already been signed,
so there's nothing to negotiate.

You either take it
or leave it.

But this will be
our final offer.

It's designed to be preemptive.
After this, we will take
our chance with the jury.

Even one which happens
to find you adorable.

What's the number?

If you never believe
anything I ever say,

believe that this is
the last and final offer.

What's the number?
One point seven million.

Accepted.

No admission of liability,
confidentiality,
the usual language.

You have full
power of attorney?
I-- I do.

Sign.

We'll make copies.

This is yours.
Tell your client
congratulations.

And please tell him
that I'm--

that, uh, we're very sorry
about his loss.

You-- You--

- This is good.
- Yeah.

Can we get
a conference table now?

[ Chuckling ]

Yeah.

I don't know, but, um,
maybe we should tell the client.

[ All Laughing ]

Tell him we settled
for 400.

[ All Laughing ]

And Jimmy.
We gotta tell Jimmy.

Oh, God. Jimmy.

James L. Berluti
representing the defendant.
We waive reading, Your Honor.

And pursuant
to my authority as counsel,
I enter a plea of not guilty.

Bail?

We'd be requesting an immediate
trial date, Your Honor.

My client feels scorned
by these horrible charges,

and would like an opportunity
forthwith to clear his name.

Forthwith.

Two weeks, Monday.
Is that "forthwith" enough?

Oh, this would be suitable.
Thank you, Your Highness--
Honor.

Personal recognizance.
See Probation. Next.

[ Gavel Raps ]

That went very well.
Very, very well.

All right!
I don't know what to say!

Every law firm
said to me, "No way!"

You people said, "Maybe."
And you backed it up.

- Well, that's mainly because
of Miss Awesome here.
- And Bobby with his game plan.

- Ah, which only I supported,
by the way.
- Oh, get out of here.

- [ Ray ] Say, where is Bobby?
- Oh, he'll be here.
He and Rebecca are locking up.

But they'll be here.
Good. Here's to Bobby.

Hey, Beck.

Hey.

Guess we should
get goin'.

Yeah.

It's okay to cry a little.

Ah, it's just--

just money.

Just a settlement.

Okay.

Then I'll cry.
[ Crying ]

You should call your dad.

Yeah.

[ Woman ]
You stinker!