The Practice (1997–2004): Season 2, Episode 14 - The Pursuit of Dignity - full transcript
PREVIOUSLY ON
THE PRACTICE...
THIS LAW FIRM
DOESN'T ADVERTISE.
LOTS OF LAWYERS
DO COMMERCIALS.
YEAH, THE SHYSTERS.
I WANT TO CONTRIBUTE HERE.
I WANT TO BRING IN
BUSINESS.
AT LEAST
GIVE ME THE CHANCE.
THINK NOBODY'LL
FIGHT FOR YOU?
YOU'RE JUST A GRUNT?
I'M A GRUNT.
JUST DIAL THE NUMBER:
555-GRNT...
AND ASK FOR JIMMY.
I'LL GET YOUR MONEY.
DOING A COMMERCIAL,
IT EMBARRASSES THIS PLACE.
THERE'S LITTLE PEOPLE
OUT THERE--
HACKS WITH SMALL-CLAIMS
THE SIZE OF A BLACKHEAD
YOU'D GO RUNNING
TO YOUR DERMATOLOGIST
TO HAVE REMOVED.
I'M HAPPY FOR YOU
THAT YOU DON'T FIT
INTO THAT CATEGORY.
I DO, AND I'M SELLING
WHAT I GOT TO SELL.
JIMMY...
I'M SORRY.
BOBBY SAYS
I GOT THIS COMPLEX
THAT I WANT TO BE
THE LAW FIRM
ACROSS THE STREET.
I REALLY AM SORRY
FOR SAYING WHAT I SAID.
OK, EVERYBODY,
LISTEN UP.
EXCUSE ME.
WHAT WE DO IS A LOTTERY.
NOW, ONLY 6 OF YOU WILL
ACTUALLY GET IN TO SEE
JIMMY THE GRUNT.
THE REST OF YOU--
EXCUSE ME.
I'M SORRY--WILL EITHER HAVE
TO SEE OTHER LAWYERS
OR COME BACK TOMORROW
AND RE-ENTER THE...
[YELPS]
LOTTERY,
OR--OR YOU CAN, UH...
WAIT FOR OUR CALL.
YOU HAVE INFORMATIONAL
SHEETS TO FILL OUT.
UM, PLEASE INDICATE
THE NATURE OF YOUR PROBLEM,
UM, ON LINE NUMBER 3.
VERY IMPORTANT,
LINE NUMBER 4....
I'M SORRY, MA'AM.
MY DAUGHTER HAS
TOURETTE'S SYNDROME.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
SHE GOT EXPELLED
FROM HER SCHOOL.
WE NEED A LAWYER.
WELL, UH...
I THINK WE'LL EXEMPT YOU
FROM THE LOTTERY.
COME ON IN.
UH, EXCUSE ME.
HI.
WHAT IF YOU'RE NOT HERE
TO SEE JIMMY THE GRUNT?
DO YOU STILL HAVE TO GO
THROUGH THE LOTTERY?
WELL, WHO ARE YOU
HERE TO SEE?
BOBBY DONNELL.
OH, WELL,
HE STEPPED OUT--
SHARON?
HI.
WOW.
IT'S BEEN
A LONG TIME.
YEAH.
ANOTHER
EX-GIRLFRIEND?
SH-SHE WAS
MY SENIOR PROM DATE.
WHAT--WELL, HI.
HI.
WELL, YOU LOOK...
SO DO YOU.
SO DO YOU.
COME ON IN.
ANYBODY ELSE HERE USED
TO DATE ATTORNEY DONNELL?
THEY SAID HER OUTBURSTS
WERE TOO DISRUPTIVE.
THE TEACHERS?
YEAH.
SEE, THESE ARE TICS.
WHAT HAPPENS IS
SHE TRIES TO CONTROL THEM
BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T WANT
TO DISTRACT THE CLASS,
BUT THE MORE
SHE HOLDS THEM IN,
THE BIGGER THE OUTBURSTS
WHEN THEY HAPPEN.
ELLENOR...
THIS LITTLE GIRL
WAS TOSSED OUT OF SCHOOL
BECAUSE OF
A DISABILITY--
TOURETTE'S SYNDROME.
ELLENOR FRUTT, THIS IS
LISA AND WILLIAM WRIGHT.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
HI, IT'S, UH, LISA?
YEAH.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
HI.
BEEN READING ABOUT YOU
IN THE PAPERS...
SEEING YOUR FACE
ON THE NEWS.
YOU'VE BEEN BUSY.
WELL, SO HAVE YOU, HUH?
2 KIDS.
I HAVE PICTURES.
RIGHT. HERE IS, UH...
MELISSA.
SHE'S 13 GOING ON 20,
AND THAT'S JUSTIN.
HE JUST TURNED 5.
AH, THEY'RE GREAT.
WHAT ABOUT, UH,
YOUR HUSBAND?
OH, LONG GONE.
UH, I MARRIED YOUNG.
HE WAS IN LAW SCHOOL,
FULL OF IDEALISM.
I WAS SWEPT AWAY.
WHAT HAPPENED?
HE BECAME A LAWYER.
SO...
YEAH...
SO...
UH, THIS IS
THE HARD PART.
UM...
I'M--I'M
IN SOME TROUBLE.
WHAT KIND OF TROUBLE?
I'VE BEEN ARRESTED.
WHAT?
UH, BOBBY...
MY ARCHITECTURAL CAREER
DIDN'T EXACTLY, UM...
TAKE OFF...
SO I STARTED
SUPPLEMENTING
MY INCOME...
UH, AS A CALL GIRL.
OH.
WELL, YOU KNOW, IT...
WHAT?
YEAH.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT
THE LAST PERSON ON EARTH
I WOULD WANT TO FIND OUT
ABOUT THIS,
YOU'RE CERTAINLY
ON THE SHORT LIST.
UM...
THE 2 PEOPLE
THAT WOULD BE LAST
ARE IN THIS PICTURE.
I CANNOT HAVE THEM
FIND OUT.
UH, AS FAR AS I'VE READ,
YOU SEEM LIKE
A GOOD LAWYER,
AND, UH, I NEED SOMEONE
I CAN TRUST.
TAKE IT EASY.
I WON'T TAKE IT EASY!
IT KEEPS EATING
MY EXHIBITS.
YOU HIT IT.
IF I HIT IT,
IT'LL BE DEAD.
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
THE MATTER IS
I'M IN TRIAL AT 2:00.
THIS DAMN MACHINE
IS BROKEN AGAIN.
I MEAN, WHY CAN'T
WE GET A NEW ONE?
WE BEAT THE STUPID
TOBACCO COMPANY.
WE HAVE THE MONEY.
WHY CAN'T WE GET
A NEW MACHINE?
I MEAN, IS THIS
A BOSTON THING?
DOES EVERYTHING
HAVE TO BE
A RELIC
PAUL REVERE USED?
TRIALS MAKE YOU NERVOUS,
DON'T THEY?
WHAT'S THAT?
OH...
THE COMMERCIALS ARE
GOING GOOD, YOU KNOW,
SO THE MARKETING PEOPLE
CAME UP WITH THIS.
IT'S JUST A PROTOTYPE.
ARE YOU A GRUNT?
I'M A GRUNT.
CALL ME.
I'M NOT SURE
IT'S CLASSY.
Ellenor: IT'S A BLATANT
DISCRIMINATION.
I WOULD AT LEAST THINK
THEY WOULD TRY
TO DISGUISE IT.
YOUR HONOR, THE SCHOOL
FEELS TERRIBLE.
THEY DON'T WANT
TO EXPEL HER,
BUT THERE ARE
A LOT OF STUDENTS
WHOSE INTERESTS--
I HAVE SEEN NO SUGGESTION
THAT THE INTERESTS
OF THE STUDENTS
HAVE BEEN
COMPROMISED BY THE--
SHE YELLS OUT
DURING CLASS.
SHE JUMPS UP AND DOWN.
[LISA YELPS]
I SUSPECT THAT DESPITE
LISA'S OUTBURST RIGHT HERE,
THE COURT WILL CARRY OUT
AND CONCLUDE ITS BUSINESS.
I ALSO SUSPECT
THAT THE TEACHERS
COULD CARRY OUT AND
COMPLETE THEIR BUSINESS
IN THE CLASSROOM.
THIS IS AN INTELLIGENT
YOUNG GIRL.
IS THIS THE WAY
WE'RE GOING
TO DEAL WITH HER?
Judge: I WANT TO CONDUCT
AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING,
AND I WANT TO HEAR
FROM THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
I WOULD THEN LIKE
TO TALK TO LISA.
WE COULD START
THIS AFTERNOON.
3:00.
[JUDGE BANGS GAVEL]
OK, THANKS.
THEY'RE WILLING TO DEAL,
BUT OPEN-ENDED.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
IT MEANS IF YOU GIVE THEM
ENOUGH TO HELP CRACK
THE PROSTITUTION RING,
YOU'LL BE OFF
WITH NO FINDING--
MORE IMPORTANT,
NO RECORD.
BUT FROM WHAT
YOU'VE TOLD ME,
I--I'M NOT SURE YOU GOT
ENOUGH TO GIVE THEM.
I TOLD YOU
EVERYTHING I KNOW.
NO, I UNDERSTAND,
BUT IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH
TO--TO SECURE CONVICTIONS
AGAINST THE ESCORT SERVICE.
SO WHAT DO WE DO?
WELL, WE MIGHT
AS WELL TRY.
WE GOT
NOTHING TO LOSE.
SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS
ARE INADMISSIBLE,
SO IF WE DON'T LIKE
WHAT WE GET,
WE CAN STILL
GO TO TRIAL.
OK.
LOOK, IT--
THIS MIGHT NOT...
BE MY--
MY BUSINESS, BUT--
I HAD NO MONEY.
I WAS FACING EVICTION,
SO I DID IT ONE TIME.
JUST ONCE...
THEN TWICE--
JUST 2 TIMES--
AND NOW EVERY TIME
IS MY LAST TIME.
AND I'VE BEEN
SAYING THAT FOR 3 YEARS.
WELL, SHARON, I MEAN...
THERE'S OTHER WAYS.
NOT FOR THAT KIND
OF MONEY.
I KEPT THE CONDO
AFTER THE DIVORCE.
THE MORTGAGE PAYMENT...
MY KIDS...
PRETTY MUCH
LOST THEIR FATHER,
AND I--
I DIDN'T WANT THEM
TO LOSE THEIR HOME.
BOBBY, I DON'T NEED
TO BE TOLD
HOW STUPID I WAS.
ALL RIGHT, LOOK.
LET'S--LET'S TALK
TO THE DETECTIVE.
OK.
I REMEMBER THEM SAYING
THEY HAD TO OPERATE,
THEN THEY PUT ME OUT.
AND YOU CONSENTED
TO THE OPERATION ITSELF?
BUT I NEVER AGREED
TO THE MAGGOTS.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST
REALIZE, MRS. BLAKE,
THAT THE DOCTOR HAD SEWN
MAGGOTS INTO YOUR LEG?
WHEN I CAME OUT
OF SURGERY,
HE SAID IT WOULD HELP
HEAL THE WOUND. HA.
I BEG YOUR PARDON?
HA.
OBJECTION.
JURY WILL
DISREGARD "HA."
I HAVE A--A PHOBIA
WHEN IT COMES TO...
WORMS AND SNAKES
AND SO FORTH.
I HAVE HAD
ONGOING NIGHTMARES,
INSOMNIA...
WEIGHT LOSS, ANXIETY...
EVEN DELUSIONS
SOMETIMES.
WHAT KIND OF DELUSIONS?
DELUSIONS
THAT THEY ARE...
STILL IN ME, THESE...
FAT ALBINO WORMS...
INSIDE MY SKIN,
CHEWING MY DEAD TISSUE,
SQUIRMING AROUND,
EXCRETING THEIR LARVAE
INTO MY VEINS,
SPEWING THEIR PUTRID
LITTLE BACTERIAL GERMS
INTO MY BLOODSTREAM.
M-MAGGOTS--
BIG, FAT...
VICIOUS...
MAGGOTS. I--
I HAVE DELUSIONS
THAT MY ENTIRE PERSON
IS BEING INFECTED
AND INVADED
BY BIG, FAT
WHITE CHEWING
VICIOUS MAGGOTS.
HOW'S YOUR LEG TODAY,
MA'AM?
THIS ISN'T ABOUT MY LEG.
YES, MA'AM,
BUT MY QUESTION IS,
HOW'S YOUR LEG?
IT'S FINE.
FULLY RECOVERED?
YES.
SUFFER ANY INFECTION?
NO.
DID YOU CONSULT WITH
OTHER DOCTORS OR SURGEONS
AFTER YOUR OPERATION,
MRS. BLAKE?
YES.
ANY OF THEM SAY YOU WERE
LUCKY TO KEEP YOUR LEG
AFTER THE CAR ACCIDENT?
I'M NOT CRITICIZING
HIS SURGICAL SKILLS,
SO LET'S NOT TWIST IT.
YOU'RE SUING HIM, MA'AM.
HE SAVED YOUR LEG,
AND YOU'RE SUING HIM.
THAT'S THE TWIST.
HAVE YOU SOUGHT
PSYCHIATRIC HELP
AFTER THIS INCIDENT?
YES, I HAVE.
IN FACT--
OBJECTION.
OBJECTION, OBJECTION.
HOLD ON.
SIDE BAR?
YES. SPEED IT UP.
I'M ATTEMPTING
TO SHOW
SHE WAS GETTING
PSYCHIATRIC HELP
BEFORE THIS--
EGGSHELL DOCTRINE
DOESN'T MATTER.
YOU TAKE YOUR PLAINTIFF--
I'M CERTAINLY ENTITLED
TO PURSUE THIS LINE
OF QUESTIONING.
IT'S IRRELEVANT.
NO, IT ISN'T, COUNSEL.
YOU CAN REDIRECT
AND REHABILITATE,
BUT HE CAN ASK.
STEP BACK.
JUST ONE SECOND.
I DON'T WANT
THE JURY TO THINK
I WALKED UP HERE JUST
TO GET QUICKLY REBUFFED.
IT'LL MAKE ME LOOK WEAK,
SO I'M GOING TO STAY
RIGHT HERE
POINTING MY FINGER AT YOU
FOR A SECOND.
[MURMURS]
BECAUSE IF I'M UP HERE
LOSING THIS POINT,
I'M AT LEAST GOING TO LOOK
AUTHORITATIVE IN DOING SO.
THANK YOU.
I'M FINISHED.
NOW I'LL STEP BACK.
DOES SHE HAVE
TO BE THERE?
WELL--
IT'S A STRESSFUL ROOM.
SHE'S GOING
TO TIC WORSE, AND
IF THE JUDGE SEES THAT,
YOU KNOW...
I'D ABSOLUTELY WANT YOU
THERE, MR. WRIGHT.
OH, OK.
UM, CAN SHE WAIT HERE?
OH, SHE CAN STAY
WITH ME.
REALLY?
NO PROBLEM.
SHE'S NOT GOING TO BREAK
ANY DECORUM IN HERE.
TRUST ME.
THANKS.
Sharon: I WOULD GET $600
FROM THE ESCORT SERVICE,
AND THEN...
WHATEVER EXTRA
WOULD BE DETERMINED
DURING THE DATE.
YOU'D HAVE SEX
WITH THE CLIENTS?
ABOUT 60 TO 70%.
INTERCOURSE?
YES.
ORAL SEX?
DOES IT MATTER?
SHE ADMITTED SHE DID.
ACTUALLY, IT DOES.
SOME KINDS OF SEX ACTS
ARE ILLEGAL
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
IT'S PROSTITUTION OR NOT.
THERE WAS NONE OF THAT.
AND IT WAS A CONDITION
UPON YOUR EMPLOYMENT
WITH THIS ESCORT SERVICE
THAT YOU HAD SEX
WITH YOUR CLIENTS?
IT WAS UNDERSTOOD.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WELL, THEY NEVER SAID
THAT YOU MUST HAVE SEX
WITH THE CLIENTS.
THEY, UH...
ONLY SAID THAT WHATEVER
HAPPENED DURING THE DATE
WOULD BE PRETTY MUCH
UP TO US.
BUT IT BECAME CLEAR
THAT IF YOU REFUSED
TO OBLIGE THE CLIENT,
YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T
WORK MUCH.
WHAT ABOUT THE MONEY
YOU GOT DIRECTLY
FROM THE CLIENT,
THE NEGOTIATED PART
OF THE DATE?
DID ANY OF THAT GO
TO THE ESCORT SERVICE?
UH, NO.
THIS IS A WASTE
OF MY TIME.
BUT WE ALL KNEW THAT
IT WAS PART OF THE JOB.
IF--IF YOU DIDN'T--
BUT YOU'VE GIVEN ME
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
I CAN USE
TO GET THIS
ESCORT SERVICE, HAVE YOU?
I DON'T KNOW.
YOU DON'T KNOW?
SEEMS TO ME YOU DO KNOW.
SEEMS TO ME YOU WERE
THE PERFECT EMPLOYEE
OVER THERE.
HEY.
HEY, WHAT?
HELP ME OUT HERE, COUNSEL.
YOU'RE A LAWYER.
JUST WHAT THE HELL HAS
SHE BESTOWED ME WITH HERE?
REMORSE?
I'M SUPPOSED
TO SAY NEVER MIND
BECAUSE SHE LOOKS SAD?
MR. MORRISON,
YOU DON'T KNOW ME.
I HAVE NO RECORD.
MY CRIME HERE IS
PRETTY MUCH VICTIMLESS,
BUT I HAVE 2 CHILDREN
WHO WILL VERY MUCH
BE VICTIMS IF--
YOU SHOULD'VE THOUGHT
ABOUT THAT BEFORE, MA'AM.
I KNOW THAT.
AND I ALSO KNOW THAT
YOU HAVE A JOB TO DO.
I GUESS, UH...
I'M ASSUMING
THAT YOU HAVE
SOME DISCRETION...
AND I'M PLEADING
THAT YOU USE IT HERE...
KNOWING FULL WELL
YOU OWE ME NOTHING.
MAGGOT THERAPY
IS NOT HOCUS-POCUS,
AND I TAKE EXCEPTION
TO THAT SUGGESTION.
IS THIS THERAPY COMMON,
DR. KLOVES?
NOT COMMON, MAYBE.
CERTAINLY EFFECTIVE,
SOMETIMES SUPERIOR.
WHY?
WELL, MANY DRUG THERAPIES
COMBAT BACTERIA,
BUT MAGGOTS NOT ONLY HELP
TO DESTROY BACTERIA,
THEY ALSO HELP
DEBRIDE THE WOUND.
MOREOVER, THEY ACTUALLY HELP
STIMULATE LIVE TISSUE.
DID YOU INFORM
MRS. BLAKE
THAT YOU WERE GOING
TO SEW MAGGOTS
INTO HER LEG?
I COULDN'T AT THE TIME.
SHE WAS STILL UNCONSCIOUS.
I SEE. AND IT'S CHEAPER
TO USE MAGGOTS
THAN SULFUR OR OTHER
COMMERCIAL DRUGS,
ISN'T IT?
THIS WASN'T
ABOUT THE COST.
IT WAS ABOUT THIS THERAPY
BEING THE BEST.
LET ME SEE IF I GET IT.
WHAT HAPPENS IS,
YOU PUT THE MAGGOTS
INTO THE WOUND
TO EAT AT
THE PATIENT'S TISSUE.
YES.
THE MAGGOT SOMEHOW KNOWS
TO EAT ONLY THE DEAD TISSUE.
AND, IF I UNDERSTAND IT,
IT CAN ALSO
KILL BACTERIA
EVEN WITHOUT EATING IT.
YES, IN THEIR
EXCRETIONS,
THERE'S A COMPOUND
THAT'S LETHAL TO BACTERIA.
AND HOW DOES THE MAGGOT
HELP THE LIVE TISSUE?
BY MASSAGING IT,
STIMULATING IT.
YOU MEAN BY...
CRAWLING OVER IT?
YOU KNOW,
SQUIRMING AROUND?
YES.
SQUIRMING AROUND
INSIDE THE PATIENT.
YES.
WHILE IT EATS TISSUE.
YES.
AND WHILE IT EXCRETES
ITS FECES.
YES.
AND WHAT EVENTUALLY
HAPPENS TO THE MAGGOT,
DR. KLOVES?
IT EVENTUALLY
METAMORPHOSES INTO A FLY.
[PEOPLE MURMUR]
E-C-H-O-L-A-L-I-A.
ECHO, WHAT?
ECHOLALIA.
IT MEANS REPEATING A WORD
OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
IT'S PART OF TOURETTE'S.
YEAH, WELL, YOU'RE NOT
GETTING CREDIT FOR IT
UNTIL I LOOK IT UP.
LET'S SEE.
ECHO...
MM-HMM.
IT SEEMS TO BE
A REAL WORD.
OOPS.
SORRY.
YEAH, YOU DID THAT
'CAUSE I'M WINNING.
SHE'S
A WONDERFUL GIRL.
SHE'S VERY BRIGHT,
AND WE'D LOVE
TO KEEP HER,
BUT WE HAVE TO BALANCE
HER INTERESTS
AGAINST THOSE OF
THE OTHERS IN HER CLASS.
AND HOW EXACTLY DOES LISA
COMPROMISE THOSE INTERESTS,
MR. GILBERT?
WELL, UM...
SHE LETS OUT
THESE LITTLE YIPS.
LIKE THIS--YIP, YIP.
AND, UH, WHEN
SHE GETS NERVOUS,
SHE'LL STOMP HER FEET
ON THE FLOOR
OR--OR STAND UP
AND TWIRL AROUND,
AND THIS HAPPENS A LOT
DURING EXAMS.
AND THIS IS WHY
SHE WAS THROWN OUT,
FOR STOMPING HER FOOT
OR MAKING YIP SOUNDS?
I'M THE PRINCIPAL.
I HAVE TO MAKE
THE SCHOOL WORK.
AND DID YOU TALK
TO THE OTHER STUDENTS
TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND
LISA'S DISORDER?
YES, BUT I CAN'T MANDATE
TO A STUDENT BODY
THAT THEY NOT BE
DISTRACTED BY SOMETHING
THAT DISTRACTS.
I COULD TELL YOU
NOT TO JUMP WHEN
A CAR BACKFIRES,
BUT A BOOM IS A BOOM.
YES, BUT IF A CAR
KEPT GOING BOOM,
I'D EVENTUALLY
GET USED TO IT,
AND WHAT'S TO SAY
THAT LISA'S CLASSMATES
WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN USED
TO HER TICS IF--
I'M--I'M TELLING YOU
THEY DIDN'T.
DO YOU KNOW
WHAT THE PHENOMENON OF
HABITUATION IS, MR. GILBERT?
YES, IT'S A FANCY NAME
FOR SAYING "YOU'LL GET
USED TO IT,"
BUT I'M TELLING YOU
THE PROBLEM WAS ONGOING.
THE PROBLEM WAS ONGOING,
IN PART, BECAUSE
THE IGNORANCE WAS ONGOING.
DID YOU EVER EXPLAIN
TO LISA'S CLASSMATES
WHAT TOURETTE'S IS
OR ONLY THAT
SHE HAD IT?
DOCTORS DON'T EXACTLY
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS.
NO, THERE IS A LOT
THAT IS UNDERSTOOD,
MR. GILBERT,
AND THE TRUTH IS,
YOU DIDN'T MAKE ANY EFFORT.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU SET FOOT
INTO AN URBAN
PUBLIC SCHOOL, COUNSEL?
PLEASE JUST
ANSWER THE QUESTION.
THE ANSWER IS, WE'D LOVE
TO TAKE TIME OUT
TO TEND TO
SPECIAL NEEDS,
BUT WE'RE UNDERFUNDED,
UNDERSTAFFED,
AND OVERPOPULATED.
THERE'S A NAME FOR IT.
IT'S CALLED
PUBLIC SCHOOL,
AND LIKE IT OR NOT,
WE'RE NOT ABOUT
INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION.
WE'RE ABOUT TEACHING
LARGE GROUPS--
THROWING THE EDUCATION
AT A BUNCH OF STUDENTS
ALL LUMPED
INTO ONE BIG GROUP
AND HOPING TO HELL
THE LEARNING STICKS
WITH MORE KIDS THAN NOT.
MM-HMM, AND IF
ONE KID IS DIFFERENT,
JUST THROW HER OUT.
IF SHE'S
ADVERSELY AFFECTING
EVERYBODY ELSE,
YES.
HMM.
SO, BASICALLY,
I'M SUNK.
WELL, IT ISN'T OVER YET.
HE SAID HE'D THINK
ABOUT IT.
LET'S--LET'S JUST WAIT.
BUT YOU DON'T HOLD OUT
MUCH HOPE.
THIS DETECTIVE
ISN'T ONE OF THE MORE
COMPASSIONATE ONES.
WE COULD STILL
GO TO TRIAL, THOUGH.
THIS CASE
ISN'T A SLAM DUNK.
IF WE GO TO TRIAL,
HOW WILL MY KIDS...
NOT FIND OUT?
I MEAN, THAT'S
THE WHOLE POINT.
I CAN'T.
ALSO, WITH A RECORD,
IF MY HUSBAND EVER
CHALLENGES FOR CUSTODY...
I KNOW.
I MADE MY BED HERE.
WELL, THANKS
FOR WALKING ME.
YEAH.
DO YOU REMEMBER
THE FIRST TIME
YOU WALKED ME TO THE DOOR?
I REMEMBER IT TOOK ME
20 MINUTES
JUST TO WORK UP
THE COURAGE TO KISS YOU,
THEN JUST AS
I STARTED TO,
YOUR FATHER
OPENED THE DOOR.
YEAH, AND HE SAID,
"WHOOPS, SORRY,"
THEN HE CLOSED
THE DOOR,
AND IT TOOK YOU
ANOTHER 20 MINUTES.
YEAH.
[DOOR OPENS]
Child: MOM?
HI.
WHERE DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE GOING?
[SARCASTIC]
HELLO.
I'M GOING TO SUZIE'S
TO EAT, REMEMBER?
YEAH.
THIS--
AHEM--
IS MY DAUGHTER
MELISSA.
THIS IS MR. DONNELL.
HI.
HI.
MOM...
MOM, STEVIE PEABODY HIT ME
IN THE EYE WITH A STICK.
I CAN SEE THAT.
IT'S ALL RED.
Melissa:
HE HIT STEVIE FIRST.
YOU WEREN'T THERE.
BYE, MOM.
BYE. DID YOU HIT STEVIE
FIRST, SWEETIE?
WELL, HE LOOKED
AT ME FUNNY.
ARE WE SUPPOSED
TO HIT PEOPLE
WHO LOOK AT US FUNNY?
NO.
WELL, DO YOU THINK
MAYBE I SHOULD JUST
KISS THAT EYE?
DO YOU THINK
THAT WOULD HELP?
YEAH.
YOU KNOW,
I THINK IT MIGHT.
THEN WHY DO YOU THINK STEVIE
LOOKED AT YOU FUNNY?
MAYBE 'CAUSE HE KNEW
I WAS ABOUT TO HIT HIM.
I'M SUPPOSED TO
SECOND CHAIR FOR LINDSAY.
I'M OK.
THEIR LAST WITNESS
IS JUST ON THE SURGERY.
THERE'S NOTHING
IN DISPUTE.
IT'S ONLY
FOR THIS MORNING.
Ellenor:
HEY, YOU ALL SET?
THANKS.
THAT'S WHAT YOU GET
FOR KNOWING THE COMPUTERS.
Lindsay: SPEAKING OF WHICH,
SEE IF YOU CAN RETRIEVE
MY CLOSING.
COPY-THING
OVER THERE ATE IT.
I COULD SECOND CHAIR
FOR YOU, LINDSAY.
MY MORNING'S CLEAR.
OH, THAT'S OK.
ACTUALLY, I'D SORT OF
ENJOY IT.
I HAVEN'T BEEN TO COURT
IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
I--I'M FINE, REALLY.
YOU KNOW,
IT'S NO PROBLEM.
UH, ACTUALLY, I'M--
YOU KNOW, IT CAN THROW
THE JURY IF A NEW LAWYER
SUDDENLY APPEARS.
I'D RATHER NOT RISK IT.
EXCUSE ME.
UH, IS BOBBY HERE?
YEAH. RIGHT HERE.
CAN I TALK TO YOU
IN PRIVATE?
SURE.
HOW COME LINDSAY DOESN'T
WANT ME AT HER TABLE?
CASE IS JUST
ABOUT OVER, JIMMY.
NO REAL POINT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
HE--HE CALLED YOU?
JUST WHAT I SAID.
BOBBY, WHAT DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT THIS DETECTIVE?
NOTHING MUCH
AND NOTHING GOOD.
YOU MEAN TO TELL ME
HE CALLED YOU?
AT YOUR HOME?
HE BASICALLY OFFERED ME
A QUID PRO QUO.
I GET OFF
IF I GET HIM OFF FIRST.
COULD THIS BE
SOME KIND OF STING?
WHY WOULD HE STING YOU?
HE'S ALREADY GOT YOU.
THAT'S WHAT I FIGURED.
YOU--YOU GOT ANY WAY
OF PROVING THIS?
NO.
ALL RIGHT.
TELL ME EXACTLY--
AND I MEAN EXACTLY--
WHAT DID HE SAY?
EXACTLY...
HE SAID...
THAT HE IS
A LONELY MAN,
AND IF I WOULD
KEEP HIM COMPANY FOR
A HALF AN HOUR OR SO,
HE WOULDN'T FILE.
DETECTIVE MORRISON
SAID THIS?
HE ALSO SAID THAT IF I
REITERATED THIS TO YOU,
HE WOULD DENY IT,
AND THE DEAL WAS OFF.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, HOW--
HOW DID YOU LEAVE IT?
HE SAID HE'S COMING TO
MY CONDO TOMORROW NIGHT,
AND I'M EITHER TO SAY,
"WHAT A SURPRISE.
COME IN,"
OR "I'M BUSY,"
DEPENDING ON
WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
NO OTHER DISCUSSION,
OR THE DEAL'S OFF.
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS.
SO WHAT SHOULD I DO?
I GOT TO THINK. JUST--
JUST LET ME THINK.
LISA...
I'VE HEARD FROM YOUR DAD,
AND I'VE HEARD
FROM YOUR LAWYER,
BUT I'D REALLY LIKE
TO HEAR FROM YOU.
Ellenor: CAN I JUST
SAY ONE THING
BEFORE WE BEGIN?
OF COURSE.
AS YOU TALK ABOUT HER
TWITCHING OR TICCING,
SHE'S MORE LIKELY
TO DO IT.
POWER OF SUGGESTION.
I UNDERSTAND.
LISA...
I'VE HEARD YOUR TICS
DISTRACT THE OTHER STUDENTS.
DO YOU THINK
THAT'S TRUE?
SHE'LL BE BACK.
DOES SHE DO THAT
IN CLASS?
SOMETIMES.
DO YOU THINK
IT'S FAIR THAT--
IF YOUR BEHAVIOR...
MAKES IT HARDER FOR
THE OTHER STUDENTS
TO LEARN
OR HARDER FOR
THE TEACHERS TO TEACH,
IS IT FAIR FOR YOU
TO WANT TO BE THERE?
I GUESS IT DEPENDS
ON WHAT'S BEING TAUGHT.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
YOU GO TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL
RATHER THAN A SPECIALIZED
PRIVATE ONE?
YES.
WHY?
BECAUSE WHEN I GROW UP,
I'M GOING TO LIVE
MY LIFE OUT IN THE OPEN.
WE MIGHT AS WELL
START GETTING USED
TO EACH OTHER NOW.
DO THE LAWYERS
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
NOT ME.
UH...
JUST A COUPLE.
LISA...
WHEN YOU MAKE
SOUNDS OR NOISES,
DOES THE TEACHER HAVE
TO REPEAT THINGS OVER AGAIN
FOR THE CLASS?
YES.
DO YOU THINK SOMETIMES
YOU SLOW THE CLASS DOWN?
MAYBE SOMETIMES,
BUT NOT MUCH.
HMM.
NOW, THERE ARE MEDICATIONS,
AREN'T THERE,
THAT WOULD HELP CONTROL
YOUR TICCINGS?
[YELPS]
YES, BUT I DON'T
LIKE THEM.
THEY MAKE ME
FEEL SLUGGISH.
WHAT IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO
IS FORESEEABLITY.
WAS IT FORESEEABLE
THAT THIS WOMAN
MIGHT HAVE A NEGATIVE
PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTION
TO THOSE GROSS,
DISGUSTING THINGS
SQUIRMING AROUND INSIDE HER?
LOOK AT THAT.
IMAGINE THEM BITING,
GNAWING AWAY AT YOUR TISSUE
EXCRETING THEIR
REPULSIVE LITTLE
MAGGOT FECES INSIDE YOU.
THERE WERE OTHER
ALTERNATIVES--
DRUGS.
NOT AS CHEAP AS MAGGOTS,
I GRANT YOU,
AND WE DO HAVE TO BE CONCERNED
WITH RISING HEALTH COSTS.
ABSOLUTELY.
BUT THIS IS A HUMAN BEING
SITTING HERE.
MY CLIENT PERFORMED
A VERY DIFFICULT PROCEDURE.
HE HAD TO REATTACH ARTERIES.
HE HAD TO PIECE TOGETHER
PIECES OF BONE,
AND THEN HE HAD TO COMBAT
A SEVERE RISK
OF BACTERIAL INFECTION,
AND HE TREATED THAT THREAT
WITH THE BEST THERAPY
AVAILABLE TO HIM,
AND IT WORKED.
IT WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS.
MRS. BLAKE WALKS TODAY
ONLY BECAUSE
OF DR. KLOVES'
SUPERIOR
MEDICAL PERFORMANCE,
AND SHE'S SUING HIM.
YOUR HONOR, COULD I ASK
THE PLAINTIFF--
MRS. BLAKE,
IF YOU COULD REFRAIN
FROM SCRATCHING
DURING DEFENSE
COUNSEL'S SUMMATION.
WILL IT BE LONG?
I COULD GO TO HIS SUPERIOR,
OR I COULD--I COULD TRY
TO BACK HIM DOWN
BY REVERSING THE THREAT.
IF HE--
HE SAID
IF I EVEN TOLD YOU.
BOBBY, UNLESS YOU HAVE
SOME KIND OF GUARANTEED PLAN,
I DON'T WANT YOU
GOING TO HIM.
OK, UM, MAYBE
IF YOU WORE A WIRE.
THAT'S WHY HE SAID
NO DISCUSSION.
HE'S ALREADY PREPARED
FOR THAT.
BOBBY, EVEN IF WE
COULD TRAP HIM,
I'M NOT SURE...
IF WE EXPOSE HIM,
IT'S NEWS.
THAT WOULD BE
IN THE PAPERS FOR SURE.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO TELL YOU, SHARON.
I MEAN, I KNOW YOU DON'T
WANT ANY OF THIS GETTING OUT,
BUT YOUR ONLY OPTION HERE
SEEMS TO BE
TO ROLL THE DICE
WITH A TRIAL OR PLEAD.
THAT'S NOT
MY ONLY OPTION.
MAYBE THE SMARTEST THING
IS TO JUST GIVE HIM
WHAT HE WANTS.
YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS.
IF IT'LL MAKE IT
ALL GO AWAY.
BOBBY, I'M A PROSTITUTE.
WHAT WOULD I BE DOING
THAT I HAVEN'T DONE
BEFORE?
SHARON...
DO YOU HAVE A BETTER PLAN?
WELL, WE COULD TALK
TO THE D.A.,
TURN STATE'S EVIDENCE
AGAINST MORRISON.
IN WHICH CASE,
HE SAYS IT'S MY WORD
AGAINST HIS.
SHOULD THEY BELIEVE ME,
THIS BECOMES
AND EVEN BIGGER SCANDAL.
WELL, AS YOUR LAWYER,
I AM CERTAINLY NOT
GOING TO COUNSEL YOU
TOWARDS PROSTITUTION.
RIGHT.
AS YOUR FRIEND...
AND AS MY FRIEND...
YOU HAVE TO ADMIT
THIS MAY BE THE BEST WAY
TO MAKE THIS
WHOLE THING GO AWAY.
I MEAN, THIS COULD BE
MY ONLY WAY.
I'VE DONE IT FOR MONEY.
WHY AM I
SUDDENLY TOO PROUD
TO DO IT FOR MY KIDS?
[DOOR OPENS]
TRUTH IS I CAN SEE
THEIR SIDE OF IT.
IT HAS TO BE DISTRACTING
IF SHE DOES IN CLASS--
SHE HAS THE RIGHT
TO AN EDUCATION, EUGENE.
I'M NOT SAYING
THAT SHE DOESN'T,
BUT THIS MAINSTREAMING
THING CAN GET
CARRIED AWAY.
LINDSAY,
COULD I HAVE A SECOND,
PLEASE?
SURE.
YOU WANT TO GO
INTO THE CONFERENCE ROOM?
NO. IT'S OK.
I'D JUST LIKE
AN HONEST ANSWER
AS TO WHY YOU DIDN'T
WANT ME WITH YOU IN COURT.
OH, THAT. WELL...
AND I'D APPRECIATE
YOU NOT INSULTING
WHAT LITTLE
INTELLIGENCE I HAVE
WITH SOME STORY ABOUT
JURIES GETTING SPOOKED
BY NEW FACES.
I'D LIKE THE TRUTH.
OK.
I HAVE A CLIENT
WHO COULD BE PERCEIVED
AS, UM...
A LITTLE TOO QUICK TO SUE.
I'M WORRIED ONE OR MORE
OF THE JURORS
MIGHT HAVE SEEN
YOUR COMMERCIAL.
AND?
AND, UM,
WITH A LITIGIOUS PLAINTIFF,
I DON'T THINK
IT HELPS OUR CAUSE
TO BE ASSOCIATED
WITH JIMMY THE GRUNT.
GO TO HELL.
JIMMY...
SHE'S NOT WRONG.
YOU GO TO HELL, TOO.
OH, HI.
HI, MELISSA. IS, UH,
IS YOUR MOM HOME?
ARE YOU TWO, LIKE,
GOING TOGETHER?
NEVER MIND, HONEY.
GO GET YOUR COAT.
WE'RE RUNNING LATE.
HERE, TOAST.
CAN I TALK TO YOU?
SHARON, WHAT YOU'RE
CONSIDERING HERE--
BOBBY, THIS IS NOT
THE PLACE FOR THIS DISCUSSION.
I CANNOT JUST SIT BACK
AND WATCH YOU DO THIS.
I WILL GO TO YOUR OFFICE.
WE ARE NOT
DISCUSSING THIS HERE.
FINE.
I'M READY.
MM-HMM. OK.
LET'S GET YOUR BROTHER.
SEE YOU AT YOUR OFFICE.
OK.
IT WOULD BE NICE,
YOUR HONOR,
IF WE COULD MAINSTREAM
ALL THE CHILDREN LIKE LISA,
AND IT WOULD BE GREAT,
WOULDN'T IT,
IF WE COULD ERADICATE
IGNORANCE AND INTOLERANCE
WITH ONE WAVE OF A WAND.
WAVE IT ONCE MORE
AND MAKE EVERYBODY NORMAL,
BUT TODAY WE'RE STUCK
WITH REALITY.
AND LIKE
PRINCIPAL GILBERT TOLD US,
THE REALITY
OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS UGLY:
OVERCROWDED, UNDERFUNDED,
UNDERSTAFFED.
IT'S ALL WE CAN DO
TO MAKE IT FUNCTION.
I MEAN, FORGET ABOUT
INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION.
IT'S EDUCATION
FOR THE MASSES.
AND AS REMARKABLE
AS LISA WRIGHT IS--
AND SHE IS...
SHE IS ALSO A WRENCH
IN A SYSTEM
THAT IS ALREADY
LIMPING BADLY.
YOUR HONOR, THERE ARE 400
OTHER KIDS AT WHEATON EAST.
THEY COUNT, TOO.
YOUR HONOR,
REBECCA WASHINGTON
FROM MY FIRM
IS AGAIN WITH US.
SHE'S NOT A MEMBER
OF THE BAR,
BUT WOULD IT BE
ALL RIGHT FOR HER
TO ADDRESS THE COURT?
IF THE CLIENT
DOESN'T OBJECT.
THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.
AHEM.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY
EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE
BALANCING LISA'S INTERESTS
AGAINST THE INTERESTS
OF THE OTHER STUDENTS,
BUT FROM WHERE I SIT,
THEY DON'T CLASH.
AFTER KNOWING HER
EVEN FOR ONE DAY,
ANY CHILD SHOULD BE
SO LUCKY AS TO GO TO SCHOOL
WITH SOMEBODY
LIKE THIS GIRL.
EVEN SO,
MS. WASHINGTON,
TO KNOW HER
IS NOT THE SAME
AS HAVING
TO ATTEND SCHOOL
WITH HER.
BUT A SCHOOL NEEDS TO BE
MORE THAN JUST READING
AND WRITING.
SCHOOL IS THE FIRST
REAL WORLD FOR A KID,
AND IT SHOULD BE A PLACE
THAT SAYS,
"GEE, YOU KNOW,
WE'D LIKE TO BE TOLERANT,
BUT ORDER AND DECORUM
HAVE TO COME FIRST."
MAYBE THE SCHOOL
SHOULD TEACH CHILDREN
NOT TO DISCRIMINATE,
NOT TO BE PREJUDICED
AGAINST PEOPLE
WHO ARE DIFFERENT
AND THEN GET AROUND
TO PHONICS AND ARITHMETIC.
YOU RAISE SOME
INTERESTING IDEALS,
BUT THE ORDER OF THE DAY
IS TO MAKE THE SCHOOLS
FUNCTION.
NO, THE ORDER OF THE DAY,
AS I'VE BEEN LISTENING,
IS TO DO WHAT'S BEST
FOR THE STUDENTS
AT WHEATON EAST.
NOW YOU'VE MET LISA WRIGHT.
YOU'VE SEEN HER TICS
INTERRUPT YOUR COURTROOM.
BALANCE ALL THAT,
AND YOU'RE GLAD YOU MET HER.
YOU'RE BETTER OFF.
GIVE THOSE STUDENTS
THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT,
THAT THEY CAN LEARN
TO TOLERATE LISA.
IN THE END, IT'S LIKE
WHAT LISA HERSELF SAID--
YOU CAN LET HER STAY,
OR YOU CAN KICK HER OUT.
ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT IT IS
YOU'RE TRYING TO TEACH.
THANK YOU.
Judge: MR. FOREMAN,
HAS THE JURY
REACHED ITS VERDICT?
WE HAVE, YOUR HONOR.
WHAT SAY YOU?
WE FIND IN FAVOR
OF THE PLAINTIFF
AND ORDER THAT
THE DEFENDANT PAY DAMAGES
IN THE AMOUNT
OF $62,000.
Judge:
THE JURY IS DISMISSED
WITH THE THANKS OF THE COURT.
WE'RE ADJOURNED.
THAT ISN'T VERY MUCH.
Lindsay:
HEY, WE WON,
AND IT'S TAX-FREE.
THIS IS
A GREAT RESULT.
I DON'T KNOW.
WAY TO GO, LINDSAY.
THANKS.
ONLY COMES TO 1,200
PER MAGGOT.
SEEMS LOW.
I'D APPRECIATE
YOU NOT COMING
TO MY HOME LIKE THAT.
YOU WOULDN'T RETURN
MY PHONE CALLS.
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?
YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT,
AREN'T YOU?
I DON'T KNOW.
OH, MY GOD, SHARON,
HOW CAN YOU EVEN THINK
OF IT?
TELL ME ANOTHER WAY,
BOBBY.
GIVE ME
THE SUREFIRE PLAN.
YOU THINK THIS HELPS
YOUR CHILDREN
FOR YOU TO DO THIS?
OF COURSE IT HELPS THEM.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW
DEVASTATED THEY'D BE?
THEIR FATHER
WALKED OUT ON THEM.
IN TERMS OF ROLE MODELS,
I AM IT.
THOSE KIDS NEED A MOTHER
WITH SOME KIND OF SELF-ESTEEM,
AND IF YOU DO WHAT
YOU'RE THINKING OF DOING,
IT'LL CATCH UP WITH YOU.
THAT RIGHT?
BEING A WHORE
CATCHES UP.
I'VE REPRESENTED
ENOUGH OF THEM TO KNOW.
YOU'VE ALSO REPRESENTED
RAPISTS AND MURDERERS,
BOBBY.
WHAT'S THAT
SUPPOSED TO MEAN?
IT MEANS
WE MAY HAVE GONE DOWN
DIFFERENT PATHS,
BUT WE BOTH ENDED UP
DOING DESPICABLE THINGS
FOR A FEE.
DON'T TELL ME
YOU FREE CHILD MOLESTERS
TO GRATIFY YOUR SOUL.
YOU THINK MY JOB
IS WHORING?
I THINK WE BOTH
MADE COMPROMISES.
THE ONES I'VE MADE
HAVE BEEN MORE STUPID,
BUT THEY HAVE BEEN MADE
TO PROVIDE FOR MY KIDS.
WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE?
HEY, YOU KNOW NOTHING
ABOUT ME.
YOU KNOW NOTHING
ABOUT ME!
SO WHY DON'T WE JUST
CALL THIS EVEN?
I AM NOT
GOING TO JUDGE YOU,
YOU DON'T JUDGE ME!
LISTEN, I CAN BRING MYSELF
TO UNDERSTAND
YOU DO THIS CALL GIRL THING
ONCE OR TWICE
TO DIG YOURSELF OUT.
IT CONTINUES AND THE MONEY...
BUT WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW,
IT'S MORE REPULSIVE.
IT'S WORSE.
PLEASE DON'T DO IT.
I DON'T WANT TO DO IT.
I HOPE I DON'T.
MAYBE I WON'T.
LOOK...
ALL I'M GOING TO SAY IS
FROM EVERY HOLE,
YOU--YOU CLIMB OUT.
THAT GIRL I KNEW
IN HIGH SCHOOL...
THIS ISN'T--
THIS ISN'T YOU, SHARON.
THIS ISN'T YOU.
WE BOTH KNOW THAT.
I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE
HE ALLOWED THE VIDEO.
EXCUSE ME.
WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?
BOBBY'S NOT
TALKING MUCH.
YOU WON, HUH?
62,000.
GOOD RESULT.
LISTEN, UH,
I'M SORRY FOR WHAT
I SAID YESTERDAY.
FORGET ABOUT IT.
NO, UH,
I WAS OUT OF LINE.
YOU SEE THIS?
KEEPSAKE.
I'VE HAD IT 10 YEARS.
"WE ARE PLEASED
TO INFORM YOU
"THAT YOU HAVE
SUCCESSFULLY PASSED
THE BAR EXAMINATION
OF THE COMMONWEALTH
OF MASSACHUSETTS."
YEAH. I REMEMBER
WHEN MY LETTER CAME.
I FAILED MY FIRST 2 TRIES,
YOU KNOW.
NO, I DIDN'T KNOW.
YEAH.
WHEN I FINALLY PASSED,
I CRIED FOR AN HOUR.
I WAS SUDDENLY A LAWYER,
SOMETHING.
HMM.
WHAT I'M TRYING
TO SAY IS
I--I THINK I GOT
SOME KIND OF COMPLEX
THAT I USED TO THINK ENDED
WHEN I GOT THAT LETTER.
ONLY MAYBE IT DIDN'T.
JIMMY, ALL THIS IS
IS A PIECE OF PAPER
THAT GIVES YOU
THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PRACTICE LAW.
I KNOW THIS.
YOU KNOW,
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH,
LINDSAY MADE
THE SAME MISTAKE.
SHE THOUGHT THERE WAS
SOME AUTOMATIC DIGNITY
IN BEING A LAWYER,
THAT IT CAME
WITH THE DEGREE.
IT DOESN'T.
AND WHEN SHE FIRST
CAME HERE, SHE HATED IT
'CAUSE SHE THOUGHT
THE CASES WE TOOK
WERE A REFLECTION
ON HER,
AND NOW
SHE KNOWS BETTER.
SHE CAN GO IN COURT
AND ARGUE OVER MAGGOTS
AND STILL BE DIGNIFIED
IN DOING IT.
JIMMY, THE CASES
DON'T MAKE YOU.
YOU MAKE YOU.
WHAT'S THE PUNCH LINE?
I NEVER GOT
THE TRUE MEANING OF NOTHING
WITHOUT THE CLIFF NOTES.
YOU GOT TO DECIDE
WHAT YOU REALLY
WANT TO BE.
UH...
FALLEN AND YOU CAN'T
GET UP?
CALL A GRUNT.
IS THAT IT?
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE--
I DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHEN--
PRAGMATISM BECAME
A GOOD THING
IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE NOW CELEBRATE THE MAN
WHO STARTS OFF WITH
"SEEMS TO ME..."
THEN SPUTTERS OFF
A PIECE OF FOLKSY WISDOM
DROOLING WITH
PRACTICALITY...
AND WE'VE HAD THAT HERE,
HAVEN'T WE?
"IT'S GREAT TO BE TOLERANT.
"WOULD LOVE TO HELP
THE REMARKABLE LITTLE GIRL,
BUT WE HAVE
A SCHOOL TO RUN."
SOUNDS SO DAMN LOGICAL--
IF ONE APPLE
HURTS THE BUNCH,
REMOVE THE APPLE.
THAT'S THE PRACTICAL
AND PRAGMATIC THING TO DO.
ONLY PROBLEM IS
PRAGMATISM, WHERE WE
USED TO SETTLE FOR IT
WHEN IDEALISM
COULDN'T BE ACHIEVED,
IS NOW THE TARGET GOAL,
AND THAT'S LOUSY.
THIS SCHOOL DIDN'T TRY
HARD ENOUGH.
IT JUST MOVED ALONG
IN ITS PRACTICAL,
EFFICIENT WAY,
AND THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
MR. GILBERT, YOU GO BACK THERE
AND TRY TO MAKE IT WORK,
AND IF IT DOESN'T,
TRY AGAIN.
THEN TRY AGAIN.
AND IF YOUR SCHOOL STILL
CAN'T ACCOMMODATE THIS GIRL,
THEN MAYBE I'LL HAVE
TO ACCOMMODATE YOU...
BUT FIRST,
I'M GOING TO MAKE ROOM
FOR THE REMOTEST
OF POSSIBILITIES
THAT IT'S YOU THAT
HASN'T GOT IT RIGHT YET.
PLAINTIFF'S
PETITION GRANTED.
THANK YOU.
YOU JUST STUDY HARD,
LISA.
THANK--THANK--THANK--
THANK YOU, REBECCA.
YOU DID IT.
YEAH, WELL, I'M GOOD.
CONGRATULATIONS.
SEE YOU AT SCHOOL.
THANK YOU. OK.
CONGRATULATIONS, LISA.
THANKS.
SORRY.
THANK YOU.
YOU STINKER!
THE PRACTICE...
THIS LAW FIRM
DOESN'T ADVERTISE.
LOTS OF LAWYERS
DO COMMERCIALS.
YEAH, THE SHYSTERS.
I WANT TO CONTRIBUTE HERE.
I WANT TO BRING IN
BUSINESS.
AT LEAST
GIVE ME THE CHANCE.
THINK NOBODY'LL
FIGHT FOR YOU?
YOU'RE JUST A GRUNT?
I'M A GRUNT.
JUST DIAL THE NUMBER:
555-GRNT...
AND ASK FOR JIMMY.
I'LL GET YOUR MONEY.
DOING A COMMERCIAL,
IT EMBARRASSES THIS PLACE.
THERE'S LITTLE PEOPLE
OUT THERE--
HACKS WITH SMALL-CLAIMS
THE SIZE OF A BLACKHEAD
YOU'D GO RUNNING
TO YOUR DERMATOLOGIST
TO HAVE REMOVED.
I'M HAPPY FOR YOU
THAT YOU DON'T FIT
INTO THAT CATEGORY.
I DO, AND I'M SELLING
WHAT I GOT TO SELL.
JIMMY...
I'M SORRY.
BOBBY SAYS
I GOT THIS COMPLEX
THAT I WANT TO BE
THE LAW FIRM
ACROSS THE STREET.
I REALLY AM SORRY
FOR SAYING WHAT I SAID.
OK, EVERYBODY,
LISTEN UP.
EXCUSE ME.
WHAT WE DO IS A LOTTERY.
NOW, ONLY 6 OF YOU WILL
ACTUALLY GET IN TO SEE
JIMMY THE GRUNT.
THE REST OF YOU--
EXCUSE ME.
I'M SORRY--WILL EITHER HAVE
TO SEE OTHER LAWYERS
OR COME BACK TOMORROW
AND RE-ENTER THE...
[YELPS]
LOTTERY,
OR--OR YOU CAN, UH...
WAIT FOR OUR CALL.
YOU HAVE INFORMATIONAL
SHEETS TO FILL OUT.
UM, PLEASE INDICATE
THE NATURE OF YOUR PROBLEM,
UM, ON LINE NUMBER 3.
VERY IMPORTANT,
LINE NUMBER 4....
I'M SORRY, MA'AM.
MY DAUGHTER HAS
TOURETTE'S SYNDROME.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
SHE GOT EXPELLED
FROM HER SCHOOL.
WE NEED A LAWYER.
WELL, UH...
I THINK WE'LL EXEMPT YOU
FROM THE LOTTERY.
COME ON IN.
UH, EXCUSE ME.
HI.
WHAT IF YOU'RE NOT HERE
TO SEE JIMMY THE GRUNT?
DO YOU STILL HAVE TO GO
THROUGH THE LOTTERY?
WELL, WHO ARE YOU
HERE TO SEE?
BOBBY DONNELL.
OH, WELL,
HE STEPPED OUT--
SHARON?
HI.
WOW.
IT'S BEEN
A LONG TIME.
YEAH.
ANOTHER
EX-GIRLFRIEND?
SH-SHE WAS
MY SENIOR PROM DATE.
WHAT--WELL, HI.
HI.
WELL, YOU LOOK...
SO DO YOU.
SO DO YOU.
COME ON IN.
ANYBODY ELSE HERE USED
TO DATE ATTORNEY DONNELL?
THEY SAID HER OUTBURSTS
WERE TOO DISRUPTIVE.
THE TEACHERS?
YEAH.
SEE, THESE ARE TICS.
WHAT HAPPENS IS
SHE TRIES TO CONTROL THEM
BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T WANT
TO DISTRACT THE CLASS,
BUT THE MORE
SHE HOLDS THEM IN,
THE BIGGER THE OUTBURSTS
WHEN THEY HAPPEN.
ELLENOR...
THIS LITTLE GIRL
WAS TOSSED OUT OF SCHOOL
BECAUSE OF
A DISABILITY--
TOURETTE'S SYNDROME.
ELLENOR FRUTT, THIS IS
LISA AND WILLIAM WRIGHT.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
HI, IT'S, UH, LISA?
YEAH.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
HI.
BEEN READING ABOUT YOU
IN THE PAPERS...
SEEING YOUR FACE
ON THE NEWS.
YOU'VE BEEN BUSY.
WELL, SO HAVE YOU, HUH?
2 KIDS.
I HAVE PICTURES.
RIGHT. HERE IS, UH...
MELISSA.
SHE'S 13 GOING ON 20,
AND THAT'S JUSTIN.
HE JUST TURNED 5.
AH, THEY'RE GREAT.
WHAT ABOUT, UH,
YOUR HUSBAND?
OH, LONG GONE.
UH, I MARRIED YOUNG.
HE WAS IN LAW SCHOOL,
FULL OF IDEALISM.
I WAS SWEPT AWAY.
WHAT HAPPENED?
HE BECAME A LAWYER.
SO...
YEAH...
SO...
UH, THIS IS
THE HARD PART.
UM...
I'M--I'M
IN SOME TROUBLE.
WHAT KIND OF TROUBLE?
I'VE BEEN ARRESTED.
WHAT?
UH, BOBBY...
MY ARCHITECTURAL CAREER
DIDN'T EXACTLY, UM...
TAKE OFF...
SO I STARTED
SUPPLEMENTING
MY INCOME...
UH, AS A CALL GIRL.
OH.
WELL, YOU KNOW, IT...
WHAT?
YEAH.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT
THE LAST PERSON ON EARTH
I WOULD WANT TO FIND OUT
ABOUT THIS,
YOU'RE CERTAINLY
ON THE SHORT LIST.
UM...
THE 2 PEOPLE
THAT WOULD BE LAST
ARE IN THIS PICTURE.
I CANNOT HAVE THEM
FIND OUT.
UH, AS FAR AS I'VE READ,
YOU SEEM LIKE
A GOOD LAWYER,
AND, UH, I NEED SOMEONE
I CAN TRUST.
TAKE IT EASY.
I WON'T TAKE IT EASY!
IT KEEPS EATING
MY EXHIBITS.
YOU HIT IT.
IF I HIT IT,
IT'LL BE DEAD.
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
THE MATTER IS
I'M IN TRIAL AT 2:00.
THIS DAMN MACHINE
IS BROKEN AGAIN.
I MEAN, WHY CAN'T
WE GET A NEW ONE?
WE BEAT THE STUPID
TOBACCO COMPANY.
WE HAVE THE MONEY.
WHY CAN'T WE GET
A NEW MACHINE?
I MEAN, IS THIS
A BOSTON THING?
DOES EVERYTHING
HAVE TO BE
A RELIC
PAUL REVERE USED?
TRIALS MAKE YOU NERVOUS,
DON'T THEY?
WHAT'S THAT?
OH...
THE COMMERCIALS ARE
GOING GOOD, YOU KNOW,
SO THE MARKETING PEOPLE
CAME UP WITH THIS.
IT'S JUST A PROTOTYPE.
ARE YOU A GRUNT?
I'M A GRUNT.
CALL ME.
I'M NOT SURE
IT'S CLASSY.
Ellenor: IT'S A BLATANT
DISCRIMINATION.
I WOULD AT LEAST THINK
THEY WOULD TRY
TO DISGUISE IT.
YOUR HONOR, THE SCHOOL
FEELS TERRIBLE.
THEY DON'T WANT
TO EXPEL HER,
BUT THERE ARE
A LOT OF STUDENTS
WHOSE INTERESTS--
I HAVE SEEN NO SUGGESTION
THAT THE INTERESTS
OF THE STUDENTS
HAVE BEEN
COMPROMISED BY THE--
SHE YELLS OUT
DURING CLASS.
SHE JUMPS UP AND DOWN.
[LISA YELPS]
I SUSPECT THAT DESPITE
LISA'S OUTBURST RIGHT HERE,
THE COURT WILL CARRY OUT
AND CONCLUDE ITS BUSINESS.
I ALSO SUSPECT
THAT THE TEACHERS
COULD CARRY OUT AND
COMPLETE THEIR BUSINESS
IN THE CLASSROOM.
THIS IS AN INTELLIGENT
YOUNG GIRL.
IS THIS THE WAY
WE'RE GOING
TO DEAL WITH HER?
Judge: I WANT TO CONDUCT
AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING,
AND I WANT TO HEAR
FROM THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
I WOULD THEN LIKE
TO TALK TO LISA.
WE COULD START
THIS AFTERNOON.
3:00.
[JUDGE BANGS GAVEL]
OK, THANKS.
THEY'RE WILLING TO DEAL,
BUT OPEN-ENDED.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
IT MEANS IF YOU GIVE THEM
ENOUGH TO HELP CRACK
THE PROSTITUTION RING,
YOU'LL BE OFF
WITH NO FINDING--
MORE IMPORTANT,
NO RECORD.
BUT FROM WHAT
YOU'VE TOLD ME,
I--I'M NOT SURE YOU GOT
ENOUGH TO GIVE THEM.
I TOLD YOU
EVERYTHING I KNOW.
NO, I UNDERSTAND,
BUT IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH
TO--TO SECURE CONVICTIONS
AGAINST THE ESCORT SERVICE.
SO WHAT DO WE DO?
WELL, WE MIGHT
AS WELL TRY.
WE GOT
NOTHING TO LOSE.
SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS
ARE INADMISSIBLE,
SO IF WE DON'T LIKE
WHAT WE GET,
WE CAN STILL
GO TO TRIAL.
OK.
LOOK, IT--
THIS MIGHT NOT...
BE MY--
MY BUSINESS, BUT--
I HAD NO MONEY.
I WAS FACING EVICTION,
SO I DID IT ONE TIME.
JUST ONCE...
THEN TWICE--
JUST 2 TIMES--
AND NOW EVERY TIME
IS MY LAST TIME.
AND I'VE BEEN
SAYING THAT FOR 3 YEARS.
WELL, SHARON, I MEAN...
THERE'S OTHER WAYS.
NOT FOR THAT KIND
OF MONEY.
I KEPT THE CONDO
AFTER THE DIVORCE.
THE MORTGAGE PAYMENT...
MY KIDS...
PRETTY MUCH
LOST THEIR FATHER,
AND I--
I DIDN'T WANT THEM
TO LOSE THEIR HOME.
BOBBY, I DON'T NEED
TO BE TOLD
HOW STUPID I WAS.
ALL RIGHT, LOOK.
LET'S--LET'S TALK
TO THE DETECTIVE.
OK.
I REMEMBER THEM SAYING
THEY HAD TO OPERATE,
THEN THEY PUT ME OUT.
AND YOU CONSENTED
TO THE OPERATION ITSELF?
BUT I NEVER AGREED
TO THE MAGGOTS.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST
REALIZE, MRS. BLAKE,
THAT THE DOCTOR HAD SEWN
MAGGOTS INTO YOUR LEG?
WHEN I CAME OUT
OF SURGERY,
HE SAID IT WOULD HELP
HEAL THE WOUND. HA.
I BEG YOUR PARDON?
HA.
OBJECTION.
JURY WILL
DISREGARD "HA."
I HAVE A--A PHOBIA
WHEN IT COMES TO...
WORMS AND SNAKES
AND SO FORTH.
I HAVE HAD
ONGOING NIGHTMARES,
INSOMNIA...
WEIGHT LOSS, ANXIETY...
EVEN DELUSIONS
SOMETIMES.
WHAT KIND OF DELUSIONS?
DELUSIONS
THAT THEY ARE...
STILL IN ME, THESE...
FAT ALBINO WORMS...
INSIDE MY SKIN,
CHEWING MY DEAD TISSUE,
SQUIRMING AROUND,
EXCRETING THEIR LARVAE
INTO MY VEINS,
SPEWING THEIR PUTRID
LITTLE BACTERIAL GERMS
INTO MY BLOODSTREAM.
M-MAGGOTS--
BIG, FAT...
VICIOUS...
MAGGOTS. I--
I HAVE DELUSIONS
THAT MY ENTIRE PERSON
IS BEING INFECTED
AND INVADED
BY BIG, FAT
WHITE CHEWING
VICIOUS MAGGOTS.
HOW'S YOUR LEG TODAY,
MA'AM?
THIS ISN'T ABOUT MY LEG.
YES, MA'AM,
BUT MY QUESTION IS,
HOW'S YOUR LEG?
IT'S FINE.
FULLY RECOVERED?
YES.
SUFFER ANY INFECTION?
NO.
DID YOU CONSULT WITH
OTHER DOCTORS OR SURGEONS
AFTER YOUR OPERATION,
MRS. BLAKE?
YES.
ANY OF THEM SAY YOU WERE
LUCKY TO KEEP YOUR LEG
AFTER THE CAR ACCIDENT?
I'M NOT CRITICIZING
HIS SURGICAL SKILLS,
SO LET'S NOT TWIST IT.
YOU'RE SUING HIM, MA'AM.
HE SAVED YOUR LEG,
AND YOU'RE SUING HIM.
THAT'S THE TWIST.
HAVE YOU SOUGHT
PSYCHIATRIC HELP
AFTER THIS INCIDENT?
YES, I HAVE.
IN FACT--
OBJECTION.
OBJECTION, OBJECTION.
HOLD ON.
SIDE BAR?
YES. SPEED IT UP.
I'M ATTEMPTING
TO SHOW
SHE WAS GETTING
PSYCHIATRIC HELP
BEFORE THIS--
EGGSHELL DOCTRINE
DOESN'T MATTER.
YOU TAKE YOUR PLAINTIFF--
I'M CERTAINLY ENTITLED
TO PURSUE THIS LINE
OF QUESTIONING.
IT'S IRRELEVANT.
NO, IT ISN'T, COUNSEL.
YOU CAN REDIRECT
AND REHABILITATE,
BUT HE CAN ASK.
STEP BACK.
JUST ONE SECOND.
I DON'T WANT
THE JURY TO THINK
I WALKED UP HERE JUST
TO GET QUICKLY REBUFFED.
IT'LL MAKE ME LOOK WEAK,
SO I'M GOING TO STAY
RIGHT HERE
POINTING MY FINGER AT YOU
FOR A SECOND.
[MURMURS]
BECAUSE IF I'M UP HERE
LOSING THIS POINT,
I'M AT LEAST GOING TO LOOK
AUTHORITATIVE IN DOING SO.
THANK YOU.
I'M FINISHED.
NOW I'LL STEP BACK.
DOES SHE HAVE
TO BE THERE?
WELL--
IT'S A STRESSFUL ROOM.
SHE'S GOING
TO TIC WORSE, AND
IF THE JUDGE SEES THAT,
YOU KNOW...
I'D ABSOLUTELY WANT YOU
THERE, MR. WRIGHT.
OH, OK.
UM, CAN SHE WAIT HERE?
OH, SHE CAN STAY
WITH ME.
REALLY?
NO PROBLEM.
SHE'S NOT GOING TO BREAK
ANY DECORUM IN HERE.
TRUST ME.
THANKS.
Sharon: I WOULD GET $600
FROM THE ESCORT SERVICE,
AND THEN...
WHATEVER EXTRA
WOULD BE DETERMINED
DURING THE DATE.
YOU'D HAVE SEX
WITH THE CLIENTS?
ABOUT 60 TO 70%.
INTERCOURSE?
YES.
ORAL SEX?
DOES IT MATTER?
SHE ADMITTED SHE DID.
ACTUALLY, IT DOES.
SOME KINDS OF SEX ACTS
ARE ILLEGAL
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
IT'S PROSTITUTION OR NOT.
THERE WAS NONE OF THAT.
AND IT WAS A CONDITION
UPON YOUR EMPLOYMENT
WITH THIS ESCORT SERVICE
THAT YOU HAD SEX
WITH YOUR CLIENTS?
IT WAS UNDERSTOOD.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WELL, THEY NEVER SAID
THAT YOU MUST HAVE SEX
WITH THE CLIENTS.
THEY, UH...
ONLY SAID THAT WHATEVER
HAPPENED DURING THE DATE
WOULD BE PRETTY MUCH
UP TO US.
BUT IT BECAME CLEAR
THAT IF YOU REFUSED
TO OBLIGE THE CLIENT,
YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T
WORK MUCH.
WHAT ABOUT THE MONEY
YOU GOT DIRECTLY
FROM THE CLIENT,
THE NEGOTIATED PART
OF THE DATE?
DID ANY OF THAT GO
TO THE ESCORT SERVICE?
UH, NO.
THIS IS A WASTE
OF MY TIME.
BUT WE ALL KNEW THAT
IT WAS PART OF THE JOB.
IF--IF YOU DIDN'T--
BUT YOU'VE GIVEN ME
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
I CAN USE
TO GET THIS
ESCORT SERVICE, HAVE YOU?
I DON'T KNOW.
YOU DON'T KNOW?
SEEMS TO ME YOU DO KNOW.
SEEMS TO ME YOU WERE
THE PERFECT EMPLOYEE
OVER THERE.
HEY.
HEY, WHAT?
HELP ME OUT HERE, COUNSEL.
YOU'RE A LAWYER.
JUST WHAT THE HELL HAS
SHE BESTOWED ME WITH HERE?
REMORSE?
I'M SUPPOSED
TO SAY NEVER MIND
BECAUSE SHE LOOKS SAD?
MR. MORRISON,
YOU DON'T KNOW ME.
I HAVE NO RECORD.
MY CRIME HERE IS
PRETTY MUCH VICTIMLESS,
BUT I HAVE 2 CHILDREN
WHO WILL VERY MUCH
BE VICTIMS IF--
YOU SHOULD'VE THOUGHT
ABOUT THAT BEFORE, MA'AM.
I KNOW THAT.
AND I ALSO KNOW THAT
YOU HAVE A JOB TO DO.
I GUESS, UH...
I'M ASSUMING
THAT YOU HAVE
SOME DISCRETION...
AND I'M PLEADING
THAT YOU USE IT HERE...
KNOWING FULL WELL
YOU OWE ME NOTHING.
MAGGOT THERAPY
IS NOT HOCUS-POCUS,
AND I TAKE EXCEPTION
TO THAT SUGGESTION.
IS THIS THERAPY COMMON,
DR. KLOVES?
NOT COMMON, MAYBE.
CERTAINLY EFFECTIVE,
SOMETIMES SUPERIOR.
WHY?
WELL, MANY DRUG THERAPIES
COMBAT BACTERIA,
BUT MAGGOTS NOT ONLY HELP
TO DESTROY BACTERIA,
THEY ALSO HELP
DEBRIDE THE WOUND.
MOREOVER, THEY ACTUALLY HELP
STIMULATE LIVE TISSUE.
DID YOU INFORM
MRS. BLAKE
THAT YOU WERE GOING
TO SEW MAGGOTS
INTO HER LEG?
I COULDN'T AT THE TIME.
SHE WAS STILL UNCONSCIOUS.
I SEE. AND IT'S CHEAPER
TO USE MAGGOTS
THAN SULFUR OR OTHER
COMMERCIAL DRUGS,
ISN'T IT?
THIS WASN'T
ABOUT THE COST.
IT WAS ABOUT THIS THERAPY
BEING THE BEST.
LET ME SEE IF I GET IT.
WHAT HAPPENS IS,
YOU PUT THE MAGGOTS
INTO THE WOUND
TO EAT AT
THE PATIENT'S TISSUE.
YES.
THE MAGGOT SOMEHOW KNOWS
TO EAT ONLY THE DEAD TISSUE.
AND, IF I UNDERSTAND IT,
IT CAN ALSO
KILL BACTERIA
EVEN WITHOUT EATING IT.
YES, IN THEIR
EXCRETIONS,
THERE'S A COMPOUND
THAT'S LETHAL TO BACTERIA.
AND HOW DOES THE MAGGOT
HELP THE LIVE TISSUE?
BY MASSAGING IT,
STIMULATING IT.
YOU MEAN BY...
CRAWLING OVER IT?
YOU KNOW,
SQUIRMING AROUND?
YES.
SQUIRMING AROUND
INSIDE THE PATIENT.
YES.
WHILE IT EATS TISSUE.
YES.
AND WHILE IT EXCRETES
ITS FECES.
YES.
AND WHAT EVENTUALLY
HAPPENS TO THE MAGGOT,
DR. KLOVES?
IT EVENTUALLY
METAMORPHOSES INTO A FLY.
[PEOPLE MURMUR]
E-C-H-O-L-A-L-I-A.
ECHO, WHAT?
ECHOLALIA.
IT MEANS REPEATING A WORD
OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
IT'S PART OF TOURETTE'S.
YEAH, WELL, YOU'RE NOT
GETTING CREDIT FOR IT
UNTIL I LOOK IT UP.
LET'S SEE.
ECHO...
MM-HMM.
IT SEEMS TO BE
A REAL WORD.
OOPS.
SORRY.
YEAH, YOU DID THAT
'CAUSE I'M WINNING.
SHE'S
A WONDERFUL GIRL.
SHE'S VERY BRIGHT,
AND WE'D LOVE
TO KEEP HER,
BUT WE HAVE TO BALANCE
HER INTERESTS
AGAINST THOSE OF
THE OTHERS IN HER CLASS.
AND HOW EXACTLY DOES LISA
COMPROMISE THOSE INTERESTS,
MR. GILBERT?
WELL, UM...
SHE LETS OUT
THESE LITTLE YIPS.
LIKE THIS--YIP, YIP.
AND, UH, WHEN
SHE GETS NERVOUS,
SHE'LL STOMP HER FEET
ON THE FLOOR
OR--OR STAND UP
AND TWIRL AROUND,
AND THIS HAPPENS A LOT
DURING EXAMS.
AND THIS IS WHY
SHE WAS THROWN OUT,
FOR STOMPING HER FOOT
OR MAKING YIP SOUNDS?
I'M THE PRINCIPAL.
I HAVE TO MAKE
THE SCHOOL WORK.
AND DID YOU TALK
TO THE OTHER STUDENTS
TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND
LISA'S DISORDER?
YES, BUT I CAN'T MANDATE
TO A STUDENT BODY
THAT THEY NOT BE
DISTRACTED BY SOMETHING
THAT DISTRACTS.
I COULD TELL YOU
NOT TO JUMP WHEN
A CAR BACKFIRES,
BUT A BOOM IS A BOOM.
YES, BUT IF A CAR
KEPT GOING BOOM,
I'D EVENTUALLY
GET USED TO IT,
AND WHAT'S TO SAY
THAT LISA'S CLASSMATES
WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN USED
TO HER TICS IF--
I'M--I'M TELLING YOU
THEY DIDN'T.
DO YOU KNOW
WHAT THE PHENOMENON OF
HABITUATION IS, MR. GILBERT?
YES, IT'S A FANCY NAME
FOR SAYING "YOU'LL GET
USED TO IT,"
BUT I'M TELLING YOU
THE PROBLEM WAS ONGOING.
THE PROBLEM WAS ONGOING,
IN PART, BECAUSE
THE IGNORANCE WAS ONGOING.
DID YOU EVER EXPLAIN
TO LISA'S CLASSMATES
WHAT TOURETTE'S IS
OR ONLY THAT
SHE HAD IT?
DOCTORS DON'T EXACTLY
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS.
NO, THERE IS A LOT
THAT IS UNDERSTOOD,
MR. GILBERT,
AND THE TRUTH IS,
YOU DIDN'T MAKE ANY EFFORT.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU SET FOOT
INTO AN URBAN
PUBLIC SCHOOL, COUNSEL?
PLEASE JUST
ANSWER THE QUESTION.
THE ANSWER IS, WE'D LOVE
TO TAKE TIME OUT
TO TEND TO
SPECIAL NEEDS,
BUT WE'RE UNDERFUNDED,
UNDERSTAFFED,
AND OVERPOPULATED.
THERE'S A NAME FOR IT.
IT'S CALLED
PUBLIC SCHOOL,
AND LIKE IT OR NOT,
WE'RE NOT ABOUT
INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION.
WE'RE ABOUT TEACHING
LARGE GROUPS--
THROWING THE EDUCATION
AT A BUNCH OF STUDENTS
ALL LUMPED
INTO ONE BIG GROUP
AND HOPING TO HELL
THE LEARNING STICKS
WITH MORE KIDS THAN NOT.
MM-HMM, AND IF
ONE KID IS DIFFERENT,
JUST THROW HER OUT.
IF SHE'S
ADVERSELY AFFECTING
EVERYBODY ELSE,
YES.
HMM.
SO, BASICALLY,
I'M SUNK.
WELL, IT ISN'T OVER YET.
HE SAID HE'D THINK
ABOUT IT.
LET'S--LET'S JUST WAIT.
BUT YOU DON'T HOLD OUT
MUCH HOPE.
THIS DETECTIVE
ISN'T ONE OF THE MORE
COMPASSIONATE ONES.
WE COULD STILL
GO TO TRIAL, THOUGH.
THIS CASE
ISN'T A SLAM DUNK.
IF WE GO TO TRIAL,
HOW WILL MY KIDS...
NOT FIND OUT?
I MEAN, THAT'S
THE WHOLE POINT.
I CAN'T.
ALSO, WITH A RECORD,
IF MY HUSBAND EVER
CHALLENGES FOR CUSTODY...
I KNOW.
I MADE MY BED HERE.
WELL, THANKS
FOR WALKING ME.
YEAH.
DO YOU REMEMBER
THE FIRST TIME
YOU WALKED ME TO THE DOOR?
I REMEMBER IT TOOK ME
20 MINUTES
JUST TO WORK UP
THE COURAGE TO KISS YOU,
THEN JUST AS
I STARTED TO,
YOUR FATHER
OPENED THE DOOR.
YEAH, AND HE SAID,
"WHOOPS, SORRY,"
THEN HE CLOSED
THE DOOR,
AND IT TOOK YOU
ANOTHER 20 MINUTES.
YEAH.
[DOOR OPENS]
Child: MOM?
HI.
WHERE DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE GOING?
[SARCASTIC]
HELLO.
I'M GOING TO SUZIE'S
TO EAT, REMEMBER?
YEAH.
THIS--
AHEM--
IS MY DAUGHTER
MELISSA.
THIS IS MR. DONNELL.
HI.
HI.
MOM...
MOM, STEVIE PEABODY HIT ME
IN THE EYE WITH A STICK.
I CAN SEE THAT.
IT'S ALL RED.
Melissa:
HE HIT STEVIE FIRST.
YOU WEREN'T THERE.
BYE, MOM.
BYE. DID YOU HIT STEVIE
FIRST, SWEETIE?
WELL, HE LOOKED
AT ME FUNNY.
ARE WE SUPPOSED
TO HIT PEOPLE
WHO LOOK AT US FUNNY?
NO.
WELL, DO YOU THINK
MAYBE I SHOULD JUST
KISS THAT EYE?
DO YOU THINK
THAT WOULD HELP?
YEAH.
YOU KNOW,
I THINK IT MIGHT.
THEN WHY DO YOU THINK STEVIE
LOOKED AT YOU FUNNY?
MAYBE 'CAUSE HE KNEW
I WAS ABOUT TO HIT HIM.
I'M SUPPOSED TO
SECOND CHAIR FOR LINDSAY.
I'M OK.
THEIR LAST WITNESS
IS JUST ON THE SURGERY.
THERE'S NOTHING
IN DISPUTE.
IT'S ONLY
FOR THIS MORNING.
Ellenor:
HEY, YOU ALL SET?
THANKS.
THAT'S WHAT YOU GET
FOR KNOWING THE COMPUTERS.
Lindsay: SPEAKING OF WHICH,
SEE IF YOU CAN RETRIEVE
MY CLOSING.
COPY-THING
OVER THERE ATE IT.
I COULD SECOND CHAIR
FOR YOU, LINDSAY.
MY MORNING'S CLEAR.
OH, THAT'S OK.
ACTUALLY, I'D SORT OF
ENJOY IT.
I HAVEN'T BEEN TO COURT
IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
I--I'M FINE, REALLY.
YOU KNOW,
IT'S NO PROBLEM.
UH, ACTUALLY, I'M--
YOU KNOW, IT CAN THROW
THE JURY IF A NEW LAWYER
SUDDENLY APPEARS.
I'D RATHER NOT RISK IT.
EXCUSE ME.
UH, IS BOBBY HERE?
YEAH. RIGHT HERE.
CAN I TALK TO YOU
IN PRIVATE?
SURE.
HOW COME LINDSAY DOESN'T
WANT ME AT HER TABLE?
CASE IS JUST
ABOUT OVER, JIMMY.
NO REAL POINT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
HE--HE CALLED YOU?
JUST WHAT I SAID.
BOBBY, WHAT DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT THIS DETECTIVE?
NOTHING MUCH
AND NOTHING GOOD.
YOU MEAN TO TELL ME
HE CALLED YOU?
AT YOUR HOME?
HE BASICALLY OFFERED ME
A QUID PRO QUO.
I GET OFF
IF I GET HIM OFF FIRST.
COULD THIS BE
SOME KIND OF STING?
WHY WOULD HE STING YOU?
HE'S ALREADY GOT YOU.
THAT'S WHAT I FIGURED.
YOU--YOU GOT ANY WAY
OF PROVING THIS?
NO.
ALL RIGHT.
TELL ME EXACTLY--
AND I MEAN EXACTLY--
WHAT DID HE SAY?
EXACTLY...
HE SAID...
THAT HE IS
A LONELY MAN,
AND IF I WOULD
KEEP HIM COMPANY FOR
A HALF AN HOUR OR SO,
HE WOULDN'T FILE.
DETECTIVE MORRISON
SAID THIS?
HE ALSO SAID THAT IF I
REITERATED THIS TO YOU,
HE WOULD DENY IT,
AND THE DEAL WAS OFF.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, HOW--
HOW DID YOU LEAVE IT?
HE SAID HE'S COMING TO
MY CONDO TOMORROW NIGHT,
AND I'M EITHER TO SAY,
"WHAT A SURPRISE.
COME IN,"
OR "I'M BUSY,"
DEPENDING ON
WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
NO OTHER DISCUSSION,
OR THE DEAL'S OFF.
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS.
SO WHAT SHOULD I DO?
I GOT TO THINK. JUST--
JUST LET ME THINK.
LISA...
I'VE HEARD FROM YOUR DAD,
AND I'VE HEARD
FROM YOUR LAWYER,
BUT I'D REALLY LIKE
TO HEAR FROM YOU.
Ellenor: CAN I JUST
SAY ONE THING
BEFORE WE BEGIN?
OF COURSE.
AS YOU TALK ABOUT HER
TWITCHING OR TICCING,
SHE'S MORE LIKELY
TO DO IT.
POWER OF SUGGESTION.
I UNDERSTAND.
LISA...
I'VE HEARD YOUR TICS
DISTRACT THE OTHER STUDENTS.
DO YOU THINK
THAT'S TRUE?
SHE'LL BE BACK.
DOES SHE DO THAT
IN CLASS?
SOMETIMES.
DO YOU THINK
IT'S FAIR THAT--
IF YOUR BEHAVIOR...
MAKES IT HARDER FOR
THE OTHER STUDENTS
TO LEARN
OR HARDER FOR
THE TEACHERS TO TEACH,
IS IT FAIR FOR YOU
TO WANT TO BE THERE?
I GUESS IT DEPENDS
ON WHAT'S BEING TAUGHT.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
YOU GO TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL
RATHER THAN A SPECIALIZED
PRIVATE ONE?
YES.
WHY?
BECAUSE WHEN I GROW UP,
I'M GOING TO LIVE
MY LIFE OUT IN THE OPEN.
WE MIGHT AS WELL
START GETTING USED
TO EACH OTHER NOW.
DO THE LAWYERS
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
NOT ME.
UH...
JUST A COUPLE.
LISA...
WHEN YOU MAKE
SOUNDS OR NOISES,
DOES THE TEACHER HAVE
TO REPEAT THINGS OVER AGAIN
FOR THE CLASS?
YES.
DO YOU THINK SOMETIMES
YOU SLOW THE CLASS DOWN?
MAYBE SOMETIMES,
BUT NOT MUCH.
HMM.
NOW, THERE ARE MEDICATIONS,
AREN'T THERE,
THAT WOULD HELP CONTROL
YOUR TICCINGS?
[YELPS]
YES, BUT I DON'T
LIKE THEM.
THEY MAKE ME
FEEL SLUGGISH.
WHAT IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO
IS FORESEEABLITY.
WAS IT FORESEEABLE
THAT THIS WOMAN
MIGHT HAVE A NEGATIVE
PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTION
TO THOSE GROSS,
DISGUSTING THINGS
SQUIRMING AROUND INSIDE HER?
LOOK AT THAT.
IMAGINE THEM BITING,
GNAWING AWAY AT YOUR TISSUE
EXCRETING THEIR
REPULSIVE LITTLE
MAGGOT FECES INSIDE YOU.
THERE WERE OTHER
ALTERNATIVES--
DRUGS.
NOT AS CHEAP AS MAGGOTS,
I GRANT YOU,
AND WE DO HAVE TO BE CONCERNED
WITH RISING HEALTH COSTS.
ABSOLUTELY.
BUT THIS IS A HUMAN BEING
SITTING HERE.
MY CLIENT PERFORMED
A VERY DIFFICULT PROCEDURE.
HE HAD TO REATTACH ARTERIES.
HE HAD TO PIECE TOGETHER
PIECES OF BONE,
AND THEN HE HAD TO COMBAT
A SEVERE RISK
OF BACTERIAL INFECTION,
AND HE TREATED THAT THREAT
WITH THE BEST THERAPY
AVAILABLE TO HIM,
AND IT WORKED.
IT WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS.
MRS. BLAKE WALKS TODAY
ONLY BECAUSE
OF DR. KLOVES'
SUPERIOR
MEDICAL PERFORMANCE,
AND SHE'S SUING HIM.
YOUR HONOR, COULD I ASK
THE PLAINTIFF--
MRS. BLAKE,
IF YOU COULD REFRAIN
FROM SCRATCHING
DURING DEFENSE
COUNSEL'S SUMMATION.
WILL IT BE LONG?
I COULD GO TO HIS SUPERIOR,
OR I COULD--I COULD TRY
TO BACK HIM DOWN
BY REVERSING THE THREAT.
IF HE--
HE SAID
IF I EVEN TOLD YOU.
BOBBY, UNLESS YOU HAVE
SOME KIND OF GUARANTEED PLAN,
I DON'T WANT YOU
GOING TO HIM.
OK, UM, MAYBE
IF YOU WORE A WIRE.
THAT'S WHY HE SAID
NO DISCUSSION.
HE'S ALREADY PREPARED
FOR THAT.
BOBBY, EVEN IF WE
COULD TRAP HIM,
I'M NOT SURE...
IF WE EXPOSE HIM,
IT'S NEWS.
THAT WOULD BE
IN THE PAPERS FOR SURE.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO TELL YOU, SHARON.
I MEAN, I KNOW YOU DON'T
WANT ANY OF THIS GETTING OUT,
BUT YOUR ONLY OPTION HERE
SEEMS TO BE
TO ROLL THE DICE
WITH A TRIAL OR PLEAD.
THAT'S NOT
MY ONLY OPTION.
MAYBE THE SMARTEST THING
IS TO JUST GIVE HIM
WHAT HE WANTS.
YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS.
IF IT'LL MAKE IT
ALL GO AWAY.
BOBBY, I'M A PROSTITUTE.
WHAT WOULD I BE DOING
THAT I HAVEN'T DONE
BEFORE?
SHARON...
DO YOU HAVE A BETTER PLAN?
WELL, WE COULD TALK
TO THE D.A.,
TURN STATE'S EVIDENCE
AGAINST MORRISON.
IN WHICH CASE,
HE SAYS IT'S MY WORD
AGAINST HIS.
SHOULD THEY BELIEVE ME,
THIS BECOMES
AND EVEN BIGGER SCANDAL.
WELL, AS YOUR LAWYER,
I AM CERTAINLY NOT
GOING TO COUNSEL YOU
TOWARDS PROSTITUTION.
RIGHT.
AS YOUR FRIEND...
AND AS MY FRIEND...
YOU HAVE TO ADMIT
THIS MAY BE THE BEST WAY
TO MAKE THIS
WHOLE THING GO AWAY.
I MEAN, THIS COULD BE
MY ONLY WAY.
I'VE DONE IT FOR MONEY.
WHY AM I
SUDDENLY TOO PROUD
TO DO IT FOR MY KIDS?
[DOOR OPENS]
TRUTH IS I CAN SEE
THEIR SIDE OF IT.
IT HAS TO BE DISTRACTING
IF SHE DOES IN CLASS--
SHE HAS THE RIGHT
TO AN EDUCATION, EUGENE.
I'M NOT SAYING
THAT SHE DOESN'T,
BUT THIS MAINSTREAMING
THING CAN GET
CARRIED AWAY.
LINDSAY,
COULD I HAVE A SECOND,
PLEASE?
SURE.
YOU WANT TO GO
INTO THE CONFERENCE ROOM?
NO. IT'S OK.
I'D JUST LIKE
AN HONEST ANSWER
AS TO WHY YOU DIDN'T
WANT ME WITH YOU IN COURT.
OH, THAT. WELL...
AND I'D APPRECIATE
YOU NOT INSULTING
WHAT LITTLE
INTELLIGENCE I HAVE
WITH SOME STORY ABOUT
JURIES GETTING SPOOKED
BY NEW FACES.
I'D LIKE THE TRUTH.
OK.
I HAVE A CLIENT
WHO COULD BE PERCEIVED
AS, UM...
A LITTLE TOO QUICK TO SUE.
I'M WORRIED ONE OR MORE
OF THE JURORS
MIGHT HAVE SEEN
YOUR COMMERCIAL.
AND?
AND, UM,
WITH A LITIGIOUS PLAINTIFF,
I DON'T THINK
IT HELPS OUR CAUSE
TO BE ASSOCIATED
WITH JIMMY THE GRUNT.
GO TO HELL.
JIMMY...
SHE'S NOT WRONG.
YOU GO TO HELL, TOO.
OH, HI.
HI, MELISSA. IS, UH,
IS YOUR MOM HOME?
ARE YOU TWO, LIKE,
GOING TOGETHER?
NEVER MIND, HONEY.
GO GET YOUR COAT.
WE'RE RUNNING LATE.
HERE, TOAST.
CAN I TALK TO YOU?
SHARON, WHAT YOU'RE
CONSIDERING HERE--
BOBBY, THIS IS NOT
THE PLACE FOR THIS DISCUSSION.
I CANNOT JUST SIT BACK
AND WATCH YOU DO THIS.
I WILL GO TO YOUR OFFICE.
WE ARE NOT
DISCUSSING THIS HERE.
FINE.
I'M READY.
MM-HMM. OK.
LET'S GET YOUR BROTHER.
SEE YOU AT YOUR OFFICE.
OK.
IT WOULD BE NICE,
YOUR HONOR,
IF WE COULD MAINSTREAM
ALL THE CHILDREN LIKE LISA,
AND IT WOULD BE GREAT,
WOULDN'T IT,
IF WE COULD ERADICATE
IGNORANCE AND INTOLERANCE
WITH ONE WAVE OF A WAND.
WAVE IT ONCE MORE
AND MAKE EVERYBODY NORMAL,
BUT TODAY WE'RE STUCK
WITH REALITY.
AND LIKE
PRINCIPAL GILBERT TOLD US,
THE REALITY
OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS UGLY:
OVERCROWDED, UNDERFUNDED,
UNDERSTAFFED.
IT'S ALL WE CAN DO
TO MAKE IT FUNCTION.
I MEAN, FORGET ABOUT
INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION.
IT'S EDUCATION
FOR THE MASSES.
AND AS REMARKABLE
AS LISA WRIGHT IS--
AND SHE IS...
SHE IS ALSO A WRENCH
IN A SYSTEM
THAT IS ALREADY
LIMPING BADLY.
YOUR HONOR, THERE ARE 400
OTHER KIDS AT WHEATON EAST.
THEY COUNT, TOO.
YOUR HONOR,
REBECCA WASHINGTON
FROM MY FIRM
IS AGAIN WITH US.
SHE'S NOT A MEMBER
OF THE BAR,
BUT WOULD IT BE
ALL RIGHT FOR HER
TO ADDRESS THE COURT?
IF THE CLIENT
DOESN'T OBJECT.
THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.
AHEM.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY
EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE
BALANCING LISA'S INTERESTS
AGAINST THE INTERESTS
OF THE OTHER STUDENTS,
BUT FROM WHERE I SIT,
THEY DON'T CLASH.
AFTER KNOWING HER
EVEN FOR ONE DAY,
ANY CHILD SHOULD BE
SO LUCKY AS TO GO TO SCHOOL
WITH SOMEBODY
LIKE THIS GIRL.
EVEN SO,
MS. WASHINGTON,
TO KNOW HER
IS NOT THE SAME
AS HAVING
TO ATTEND SCHOOL
WITH HER.
BUT A SCHOOL NEEDS TO BE
MORE THAN JUST READING
AND WRITING.
SCHOOL IS THE FIRST
REAL WORLD FOR A KID,
AND IT SHOULD BE A PLACE
THAT SAYS,
"GEE, YOU KNOW,
WE'D LIKE TO BE TOLERANT,
BUT ORDER AND DECORUM
HAVE TO COME FIRST."
MAYBE THE SCHOOL
SHOULD TEACH CHILDREN
NOT TO DISCRIMINATE,
NOT TO BE PREJUDICED
AGAINST PEOPLE
WHO ARE DIFFERENT
AND THEN GET AROUND
TO PHONICS AND ARITHMETIC.
YOU RAISE SOME
INTERESTING IDEALS,
BUT THE ORDER OF THE DAY
IS TO MAKE THE SCHOOLS
FUNCTION.
NO, THE ORDER OF THE DAY,
AS I'VE BEEN LISTENING,
IS TO DO WHAT'S BEST
FOR THE STUDENTS
AT WHEATON EAST.
NOW YOU'VE MET LISA WRIGHT.
YOU'VE SEEN HER TICS
INTERRUPT YOUR COURTROOM.
BALANCE ALL THAT,
AND YOU'RE GLAD YOU MET HER.
YOU'RE BETTER OFF.
GIVE THOSE STUDENTS
THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT,
THAT THEY CAN LEARN
TO TOLERATE LISA.
IN THE END, IT'S LIKE
WHAT LISA HERSELF SAID--
YOU CAN LET HER STAY,
OR YOU CAN KICK HER OUT.
ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT IT IS
YOU'RE TRYING TO TEACH.
THANK YOU.
Judge: MR. FOREMAN,
HAS THE JURY
REACHED ITS VERDICT?
WE HAVE, YOUR HONOR.
WHAT SAY YOU?
WE FIND IN FAVOR
OF THE PLAINTIFF
AND ORDER THAT
THE DEFENDANT PAY DAMAGES
IN THE AMOUNT
OF $62,000.
Judge:
THE JURY IS DISMISSED
WITH THE THANKS OF THE COURT.
WE'RE ADJOURNED.
THAT ISN'T VERY MUCH.
Lindsay:
HEY, WE WON,
AND IT'S TAX-FREE.
THIS IS
A GREAT RESULT.
I DON'T KNOW.
WAY TO GO, LINDSAY.
THANKS.
ONLY COMES TO 1,200
PER MAGGOT.
SEEMS LOW.
I'D APPRECIATE
YOU NOT COMING
TO MY HOME LIKE THAT.
YOU WOULDN'T RETURN
MY PHONE CALLS.
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?
YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT,
AREN'T YOU?
I DON'T KNOW.
OH, MY GOD, SHARON,
HOW CAN YOU EVEN THINK
OF IT?
TELL ME ANOTHER WAY,
BOBBY.
GIVE ME
THE SUREFIRE PLAN.
YOU THINK THIS HELPS
YOUR CHILDREN
FOR YOU TO DO THIS?
OF COURSE IT HELPS THEM.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW
DEVASTATED THEY'D BE?
THEIR FATHER
WALKED OUT ON THEM.
IN TERMS OF ROLE MODELS,
I AM IT.
THOSE KIDS NEED A MOTHER
WITH SOME KIND OF SELF-ESTEEM,
AND IF YOU DO WHAT
YOU'RE THINKING OF DOING,
IT'LL CATCH UP WITH YOU.
THAT RIGHT?
BEING A WHORE
CATCHES UP.
I'VE REPRESENTED
ENOUGH OF THEM TO KNOW.
YOU'VE ALSO REPRESENTED
RAPISTS AND MURDERERS,
BOBBY.
WHAT'S THAT
SUPPOSED TO MEAN?
IT MEANS
WE MAY HAVE GONE DOWN
DIFFERENT PATHS,
BUT WE BOTH ENDED UP
DOING DESPICABLE THINGS
FOR A FEE.
DON'T TELL ME
YOU FREE CHILD MOLESTERS
TO GRATIFY YOUR SOUL.
YOU THINK MY JOB
IS WHORING?
I THINK WE BOTH
MADE COMPROMISES.
THE ONES I'VE MADE
HAVE BEEN MORE STUPID,
BUT THEY HAVE BEEN MADE
TO PROVIDE FOR MY KIDS.
WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE?
HEY, YOU KNOW NOTHING
ABOUT ME.
YOU KNOW NOTHING
ABOUT ME!
SO WHY DON'T WE JUST
CALL THIS EVEN?
I AM NOT
GOING TO JUDGE YOU,
YOU DON'T JUDGE ME!
LISTEN, I CAN BRING MYSELF
TO UNDERSTAND
YOU DO THIS CALL GIRL THING
ONCE OR TWICE
TO DIG YOURSELF OUT.
IT CONTINUES AND THE MONEY...
BUT WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW,
IT'S MORE REPULSIVE.
IT'S WORSE.
PLEASE DON'T DO IT.
I DON'T WANT TO DO IT.
I HOPE I DON'T.
MAYBE I WON'T.
LOOK...
ALL I'M GOING TO SAY IS
FROM EVERY HOLE,
YOU--YOU CLIMB OUT.
THAT GIRL I KNEW
IN HIGH SCHOOL...
THIS ISN'T--
THIS ISN'T YOU, SHARON.
THIS ISN'T YOU.
WE BOTH KNOW THAT.
I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE
HE ALLOWED THE VIDEO.
EXCUSE ME.
WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?
BOBBY'S NOT
TALKING MUCH.
YOU WON, HUH?
62,000.
GOOD RESULT.
LISTEN, UH,
I'M SORRY FOR WHAT
I SAID YESTERDAY.
FORGET ABOUT IT.
NO, UH,
I WAS OUT OF LINE.
YOU SEE THIS?
KEEPSAKE.
I'VE HAD IT 10 YEARS.
"WE ARE PLEASED
TO INFORM YOU
"THAT YOU HAVE
SUCCESSFULLY PASSED
THE BAR EXAMINATION
OF THE COMMONWEALTH
OF MASSACHUSETTS."
YEAH. I REMEMBER
WHEN MY LETTER CAME.
I FAILED MY FIRST 2 TRIES,
YOU KNOW.
NO, I DIDN'T KNOW.
YEAH.
WHEN I FINALLY PASSED,
I CRIED FOR AN HOUR.
I WAS SUDDENLY A LAWYER,
SOMETHING.
HMM.
WHAT I'M TRYING
TO SAY IS
I--I THINK I GOT
SOME KIND OF COMPLEX
THAT I USED TO THINK ENDED
WHEN I GOT THAT LETTER.
ONLY MAYBE IT DIDN'T.
JIMMY, ALL THIS IS
IS A PIECE OF PAPER
THAT GIVES YOU
THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PRACTICE LAW.
I KNOW THIS.
YOU KNOW,
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH,
LINDSAY MADE
THE SAME MISTAKE.
SHE THOUGHT THERE WAS
SOME AUTOMATIC DIGNITY
IN BEING A LAWYER,
THAT IT CAME
WITH THE DEGREE.
IT DOESN'T.
AND WHEN SHE FIRST
CAME HERE, SHE HATED IT
'CAUSE SHE THOUGHT
THE CASES WE TOOK
WERE A REFLECTION
ON HER,
AND NOW
SHE KNOWS BETTER.
SHE CAN GO IN COURT
AND ARGUE OVER MAGGOTS
AND STILL BE DIGNIFIED
IN DOING IT.
JIMMY, THE CASES
DON'T MAKE YOU.
YOU MAKE YOU.
WHAT'S THE PUNCH LINE?
I NEVER GOT
THE TRUE MEANING OF NOTHING
WITHOUT THE CLIFF NOTES.
YOU GOT TO DECIDE
WHAT YOU REALLY
WANT TO BE.
UH...
FALLEN AND YOU CAN'T
GET UP?
CALL A GRUNT.
IS THAT IT?
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE--
I DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHEN--
PRAGMATISM BECAME
A GOOD THING
IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE NOW CELEBRATE THE MAN
WHO STARTS OFF WITH
"SEEMS TO ME..."
THEN SPUTTERS OFF
A PIECE OF FOLKSY WISDOM
DROOLING WITH
PRACTICALITY...
AND WE'VE HAD THAT HERE,
HAVEN'T WE?
"IT'S GREAT TO BE TOLERANT.
"WOULD LOVE TO HELP
THE REMARKABLE LITTLE GIRL,
BUT WE HAVE
A SCHOOL TO RUN."
SOUNDS SO DAMN LOGICAL--
IF ONE APPLE
HURTS THE BUNCH,
REMOVE THE APPLE.
THAT'S THE PRACTICAL
AND PRAGMATIC THING TO DO.
ONLY PROBLEM IS
PRAGMATISM, WHERE WE
USED TO SETTLE FOR IT
WHEN IDEALISM
COULDN'T BE ACHIEVED,
IS NOW THE TARGET GOAL,
AND THAT'S LOUSY.
THIS SCHOOL DIDN'T TRY
HARD ENOUGH.
IT JUST MOVED ALONG
IN ITS PRACTICAL,
EFFICIENT WAY,
AND THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
MR. GILBERT, YOU GO BACK THERE
AND TRY TO MAKE IT WORK,
AND IF IT DOESN'T,
TRY AGAIN.
THEN TRY AGAIN.
AND IF YOUR SCHOOL STILL
CAN'T ACCOMMODATE THIS GIRL,
THEN MAYBE I'LL HAVE
TO ACCOMMODATE YOU...
BUT FIRST,
I'M GOING TO MAKE ROOM
FOR THE REMOTEST
OF POSSIBILITIES
THAT IT'S YOU THAT
HASN'T GOT IT RIGHT YET.
PLAINTIFF'S
PETITION GRANTED.
THANK YOU.
YOU JUST STUDY HARD,
LISA.
THANK--THANK--THANK--
THANK YOU, REBECCA.
YOU DID IT.
YEAH, WELL, I'M GOOD.
CONGRATULATIONS.
SEE YOU AT SCHOOL.
THANK YOU. OK.
CONGRATULATIONS, LISA.
THANKS.
SORRY.
THANK YOU.
YOU STINKER!