The Practice (1997–2004): Season 2, Episode 4 - Dog Bite - full transcript

Previously on The Practice.
Restrain his father--

Permission
to smack him, Judge?
Hey! Don't intimidate me!

- What are you doing?
- Cowards make me crazy!

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

- I used to be a lawyer.
Remember?
- A terrible lawyer.

- Jimmy, you never won a case.
- I'm right for this one.

You gave the tobacco case
to Lindsay even though
she'd never done a jury trial.

You had a feeling
and you went with it.

I don't have...
that feeling here.

Oh. Okay.

Hundred bucks says you lose.
You want to bet on it?



You took this
court-appointed, right?
Mm-hmm.

That means your fee tops
at 700.

Now, I am just giving you
the chance to make 800.

You sit here today remembering
the placement of lampposts,

the color of
the surrounding cars,

the exact time
to the minute,

but as for what
the suspect looked like,
"black," "big head."

Small bills only.
Mm-hmm.

There is no case,
ladies and gentlemen.

They bring up two officers
from the vice squad...

who say they saw a woman
they believe
to be a prostitute...

give money to my client.

And then they automatically
leap to the conclusion...

that Kenny Tripp is a pimp.



What kind of evidence
is that?

[ Prosecutor ]
Now, what kind of story
was his?

"She was paying off
on a football bet."
That's what Kenny Tripp says.

A woman is observed
orally copulating a man.

The man is then seen
remunerating the woman.

The woman is then seen
giving money to the defendant--

a man
with two previous convictions
for running a prostitution ring.

And he says
she was paying him...

because the Dolphins
didn't cover against
the Patriots.

No offense, but I liked
his closing better than yours.

Look, this case is
completely circumstantial.
We have a very good shot.

Plus, we have grounds
for an appeal.
Let's not forget that.

Yeah, but I still think
if we put in I got a girlfriend,

it would have made me look
loving and caring.

We were limited by the
fact that you don't have
a girlfriend, Kenny.

Yeah, but if you had put it in,
I would have got one.
How'd it go?

Great for the D.A.
I gotta pee.

Listen, they're not gonna
follow me in there and, like,
give me a urine test, are they?

- I think you're safe.
- Okay.

Oh, Eugene?
Don't tell me.

[ Chuckles ]
Oh, yes. Me.

Look, I got that file.
You asked for the file.

Oh, damn right I did.

The thought of beating you
in court is just too hard
for me to resist. Hey, Ellie.

- How you doin', Renee?
- But you won't beat me.

All you got again
is one eyewitness.

Well, we... could bet again,
couldn't we?

Same rider?
Mm-hmm.

You got it.
You're on.

Pardon me... one second.
[ Clears Throat ]

Did you just make a bet
on the Maynard trial?
I did indeed.

Um, I know you're excellent
defending armed robbers,

and you love cross-examining
eyewitnesses, but--
Mm-hmm.

Uh, don't bet him,
Lindsay.
No, no, no.

The woman was held up
by a one-legged man.

She I.D.'d our client,
who happens to have one leg,

who was also picked up hopping
three blocks from the scene
with the victim's wallet.

Don't bet him.
Don't bet him?

Mm-mmm.
Don't bet him?

I'd just be
taking your money.
Another hundred. Same rider.

Accepted.

As we speak.

Am I late?

Cuttin' it close, Teddy.
Oh! Huge line downstairs.

Some guy was tryin'
to sneak in a staple gun.

He said it was 'cause
he had thick pleadings.
Thick pleadings, man.

You believe that?
The judge is coming
in, Eugene. Let's go.

- Ah.
- Uh, Teddy Maynard. Hello.

[ Scoffs ]
She's the D.A., Teddy.

Oh. I'm single and innocent
and allowed to date on bail.

[ Scoffs ]

[ Line Ringing ]

[ Cell Door Opens, Closes ]

[ Sirens Wailing ]

[ Sighs ]
A dog bite?

I ask for my first real
assignment, and you give me
a dog bite.

A lot of our cases
are small, Jimmy.
Right.

It may not go to the Supreme
Court, but I take it seriously.

Bobby, my sinuses are acting up
from all the dust on this file.

It hasn't been touched
in a year.

Just cover the depositions.
Can you do that, please?

Fine.

Dog bite.

[ Sighs ]

Excuse me. Uh--

This is completely out of line,
but you're a very beautiful
woman.

Do I know you?

No. Uh, that came
from nowhere. I'm sorry.

Oh, well, thank you.

Hey, listen, you guys have
nothin' to worry about.

There's no way they're gonna
convict your client.

- Oh, you were in the courtroom?
- So much for you noticin' me,
I guess. I'm on the jury.

I'm sorry. I--
I can't talk to you.

What, exactly, did he say?

Exactly what I said he said.

There's no way
he'll be convicted.
[ Groans ]

All right. And what,
exactly, did you say?

Nothing. I told him
I couldn't talk to him,
but it's still communication.

I had a communication
with a juror. I gotta go
to the judge.

- But you didn't
communicate with him.
- But even so,

technically, under the rules,
we have a mistrial.

But this isn't fair--
not to Kenny.

He's gonna-- He's gonna forfeit
an acquittal because some horny
juror tries to hit on you?

The case is closed.
All the evidence is in.

What are you suggesting--
that we don't tell?

It's not like the process
has been tainted.

It's not like we were trading
on inside information.

I mean-- Okay. Did you try
to influence him in any way?

- Of course not!
- Did you discuss the case,
or did you try--

I said nothing. As soon
as I learned he was a juror,
I shut him down.

I don't see how
it has any effect.

I say we don't tell.

Ellenor?

[ Woman ]
I had just left
the A.T.M. machine.

I was putting the money into
my wallet when he hopped up.

He being--
That man.
The defendant.

Now, had you ever
seen this man before,
Ms. Bancock?

Yes. About two minutes before.
I passed him on the sidewalk.

He asked for change.
Did you give him
any money?

No. It's not my practice.
I just kept walking.

Then, like I said,
after I left the A.T.M.,
there he was again.

Hmm.
And what happened then?

He told me if I
didn't give him my wallet,

he'd knock me down
and hop up and down on my head,
ball to heel.

Then he just snatched it out of
my hand and went bounding down
the street.

And did you see him again
after that?
The next morning.

I came down
to the police station.
They had him in custody.

Where in custody
did you see him?

In a lineup.
He was just standing there,
like a flamingo.

Ms. Bancock,
are you absolutely sure...

that that is the man
that robbed you?

Of course I'm sure.
I'd recognize him anywhere.

That's the man.

If anybody threatens
to assault me or my client,

there will be repercussions.

I will not be intimidated.
I will assert myself
at all times,

possibly to the detriment
of others.

- I'm here on
the dog bite matter.
- Oh, that's me.

James Berluti.

Nice to meet you.

I was here when, uh,
Eugene mugged your client.
I don't do that.

I'm heartened.

Look, uh-- I think
that you would agree...

that this case is
hardly worth our time.

And I was hoping
we could settle this amicably...

without having to conduct
the depositions.

Of course I do reserve the right
to remain assertive.

82,000.

I deeply beg your pardon?

I did the, uh,
jury verdict research.

A bite on the lip,
residual scarring.

Eleven stitches,
and she provoked the dog.
She went to pet him.

Mr. Berluti,
my time is valuable.

Your time is valuable.

My client is an oncologist.
His time is exceptionally
valuable.

Do you really think
we should proceed with two
time-consuming depositions...

over 11 stitches
and a dog bite?

It would seem so.

The insurance company
has authorized 24,000.

Well, let's split
the difference and go,
uh, 75,000.

And I will see you and
your client this afternoon.

Have you booked
a court reporter?
Three o'clock?

Mm-hmm. Until then.

Ms. Bancock, as I read
the police report,

you described the area
of the assault,
the conditions.

You knew the exact time.
You provide a lot of detail.

Well, there's nothing routine
about being mugged, Mr. Young.
Things tend to stick.

[ Eugene ]
Yes. Uh, I see.

But when it came time
to describing the suspect,

you just said,
"Black," "one leg."

That's it.

I think that description limits
the field, Mr. Young.
Yes.

But you don't describe
anything about his face,
except the color.

Just black,
and one leg.

When a man hops out at you
in the dark on one foot,

you don't tend to notice
how long his sideburns are.

I can appreciate that,
Ms. Bancock,

more than you know.

We do nothing and we say
nothing. What that guy said
has absolutely no effect.

Technically--
I know technically.
Technically, it's a mistrial.

If we were using
the information in any way,
that would be one thing.

But we're not.
We are doing nothing
but waiting for a verdict.

Ellenor.

Hey, Frank.
How's it goin'?

Weak-kneed.

Look, if, uh,
you plead guilty,
I'll offer six months.

What?
On Tripp.

What? You look as if
you'd seen a ghost.
This is like a gift.

Six months. You should be
jumpin' on that.

Yeah, well, I'm, uh--
I'm not.

We're, uh-- We're all feeling
really good about the trial,
aren't we?

Oh, great.
Yeah.

Yeah, well,
take it to your client.
Somethin' tells me he'll dance.

Great.

Mr. Donnell said
that this would settle.

It will. There's no way
they're gonna bother over
small potatoes like this.

They'll settle.

And why isn't Mr. Donnell
bothering to do
these depositions?

Well, he's got
a big murder trial
startin' up next week.

And, uh, he didn't want you
shortchanged. So, he put me
on full-time.

Susan? Honey?

Hi.
My name is Jim.

Just gonna ask you some
questions about what happened.
That's all.

Nothin' too hard.

This should be
pretty easy, okay?
Okay.

I'll be right beside you
the whole time.

Okay.

- Ellenor--
- Hey, Ellie, they still out?

Yep. Still.

Look, can you, uh,
just give us a few seconds?
And then, uh, we need to talk.

How can we not tell him?
No, we just present
the D.A.'s offer.

Ellenor, he's the client.
Yes, I know.

But if we tell him, then the
information comes into play. And
then we have to go to the judge.

So, what are we gonna say?
[ Exhales ]

All right.
We are going to convey
the D.A.'s offer.

If he turns it down,
then what that juror said
is still meaningless.

And then if he accepts the
deal, then it's an entirely
different story.

We should just go
to the judge now.

All right.
In which case,

Kenny loses his acquittal
because of some stupid
rule that doesn't--

- [ Door Opens ]
- What's goin' on?

Nothin'.
Nothing.

What's... going on?

Just... a girl thing.

Can you send, uh, Kenny in?

Sure.

- Why can't we tell Bobby?
- Because if he knows,
then he's incriminated.

Lawyers have a duty
to report, remember?
I know.

[ Footsteps ]
Kenny.

Why don't you
have a seat.
Something's wrong.

Got this gland thing.
It works like radar
when something's wrong.

Sit.

Well, were they like
big loping hops,

or just little hops?

They were hops, for God's sake.
How many ways
could there be to hop?

Well, forgive me
for being a nuisance.

But your description
was only "black," "one leg."

Is it your testimony
that all hops look alike?

Objection, Your Honor.
Here he goes again,

making this about race,
when he knows this case--
I'm not doing that.

- Counsel!
- I'm just talking
about his hopping.

Please.

[ Scoffs ]

Is this for real?
Oh, I assure you,
Your Honor.

This is very real
and very serious.
He robbed her.

And I object as much
as you do to what
Mr. Young here is doing.

Your Honor, I'm going
somewhere with this.

Hurry up and get there.

Step back.

Double or nothin'?
Absolutely.

And I just went up
to pet him.

And he growled real fast
and bit me.

All right, Susan.

Now, do you remember
what direction
you approached him from?

Was it from the front?
Was it from the back?

Was it from the side?
From the front.

Do you think maybe
you scared him a little?

He was practically bigger
than me.

[ Colson ]
Well, maybe "scared"
isn't the right word.

Do you think maybe you
surprised him a little?

I just put my hand up
to pet him.

Well, is it possible
that you put it too close?

He's makin' it out my fault.

Susan, he's just askin'
questions to find out
what happened.

I just went up to pet him.
I understand.

It's okay.

Susan, how many inches
did you put your hand
up to his mouth?

I don't know.

Let's pretend
you're the dog.

Did you put
your hand up about...
this close?

- I don't know.
- Was it possibly this close?

- I said I don't know.
- Was it maybe this close?

- Ow!
- Susan!

Ow! Ow!
[ Jimmy ]
Move to strike!

Geez!

Was that your fault?

[ Groans, Mutters ]

Uh, let's break.

[ Ellenor ]
Look, we really need
an answer, Kenny.

The jury could come back
any second now.

Six months.
Six months.

I'm gonna take the offer.

- [ Exhales ]
You are?
- What the hell's goin' on here?

- What's going on is this case
just became a mistrial.
- I beg your pardon?

A juror told me in the elevator
there's no way
you'd be convicted.

A juror? On my trial?
Yes.

- Told you that?
- Yes.

Uh-- Am I missing something
here? I mean, shouldn't
we all be celebrating?

Kenny, communication
with a juror is pretty much
an automatic mistrial.

The reason why we didn't tell
you is because if you didn't
have the information,

well, then you couldn't
trade on it.

And what that juror said
was kind of irrelevant.

The bottom line is--
[ Exhales ]

we gotta go to the judge.

And she's probably gonna
throw the case out,

and we're gonna have to try
the whole thing over again.

Are you saying...

that if we keep
our mouths shut,

I'm looking at the big
"N.G."?

And you're plannin'
to go back to the judge
and get this case kicked?

And I have to stand trial
all over again?

That's the rules.

That's the rules.

I'm looking
at an acquittal here.
We don't know that for sure.

The guy was hitting on me.
He could have been saying that
stuff to make an impression.

He might have had no clue
as to what the other jurors
were really thinking.

Fine. We, uh, chalk it up
to flirtatious banter. You
ain't gotta go to the judge.

You don't understand, Kenny.
We have a certain ethical--

Ellie, please.

I'm a free man.

I'm your client.

You're askin' me to risk jail
on a technicality?

I can't even believe
you're thinking about this.

- Our hands are tied, Kenny.
- Ellie, your hands
are not tied.

Okay? They're not tied.
It's not as if
you bribed a jury.

Okay, we're waiting--
we're waiting for them
to come back with a verdict.

Are you saying that I should be
punished because one of them let
the cat out of the bag early?

Huh? That's ridiculous.

You can't do this
to me, Ellie.

Uh, you can't.

If this were
to ever get out--

It won't.
I promise it won't.

[ Groans ]

You tell them
just like you told me.

I'll ask the questions,
and you just tell the truth.
And don't get rattled.

It was good?
What I told ya, huh?

'Cause, I mean,
I can change it if you think
I need somethin' better.

What do you mean,
you can change it?

You didn't tell me
the truth?
Well, of course not.

You practically
warned me not to. You said
you'd get stuck with it.

But I didn't mean
I wanted you to lie to me.
Your story, it's a lie?

Certainly.
You did rob that woman?

Of course.
Oh!

But, I mean, she was rude.

She didn't just not
give me the change, all right?

She gave me one of them looks
like, "How dare you be
in my eyeline.

- How dare you belittle my day."
- Oh, God.

I'm a very good liar,
Mr. Young.

Look, I can't put you
on the stand
if I know you're gonna lie.

Why not?
Well, it's against the law
for me to do that.

If a lawyer knows
his client's gonna lie,

he has an ethical obligation
to talk him out
of testifying.

Well, it's the truth then.
I was lyin' about it
bein' a lie.

Look, Mr. Young,

if I don't testify,
I'm gonna get convicted.

- Would I be wrong on that?
- No.

So, I'm testifyin'.

Okay.

Just so you know the rules
I gotta play by.
Uh-huh.

I can't suborn perjury,
which means that you'll have
to testify in the narrative.

What's-- What's that mean?
Well, it means
I can't ask you questions.

- You just gotta get up there
and tell your story.
- Oh, that's all right.

See, 'cause I do better
when I get a flow anyways.
It just comes.

Great.
[ Exhales ]

Mr. Young.

Look, you don't have to worry.
I'm very good at this.

Maybe we should just take
the 24,000.

We can do better,
Mrs. Stevenson.
I really believe that.

Um, honey, can you go
see Rebecca for a sec?

Yes.
Okay.

I'm sorry I bit the man.

He knows that, honey.

Go ahead, sweetie.

I really don't want
to put her through this.

She doesn't have to be here
for the doctor's deposition.

If I can make a dent here,
then maybe we can push
this settlement up some.

I think we should keep going.

May I ask you a question?

Um, when did you
take over this case?

I-- I don't mean to criticize.
I'm just curious.

When was this
passed on to you?
This morning.

Mrs. Stevenson, this is just
the discovery part of the case.
It's standard fact-finding.

I told you that I didn't
want to go to trial.

I know. But your case
is in very capable hands
with Jimmy here.

Yeah, and I've been readin' up
on, uh, animal behavior
and stuff.

I think we'll be able
to up the settlement. I do.

Okay. Okay. Yeah.

Thank you.

And thank you.

If this ever gets out,
we're disbarred.
It won't get out.

Suppose the juror talks.
Suppose he tells somebody
he did me?

- Members of the jury,
have you reached a verdict?
- We have.

Then he's in as much
trouble as us.
Shh.

- Look surprised.
- On the matter of the
Commonwealth vs. Kenny Tripp,

on the charge of 3213,

operating prostitution
services for fee,

we find the defendant...
guilty.

[ Judge ]
Sentencing next Tuesday,
9:00.

- Please take the defendant
into custody.
- [ Gavel Raps ]

I thought you said
it was coming back "N.G."?

Kenny, whatever you do,
just stay tight.

Tight? You wanna see tight?

"Look surprised."
Do I look surprised enough?

Don't say anything.
I'm coming right back
to talk to you, okay?

Just don't say anything.
I've got a plan.
[ Man ] Let's go.

Now what?
What's the plan?

[ Exhales ]

- You want to repeat that?
- It won't sound any better.

No, but at least
I can be reassured
I didn't hear wrong.

A juror told us
they were acquitting.
We told the client.

The client turned down
a plea bargain because
of this information.

And now please tell me why
the two of you shouldn't be
thrown in jail?

Your Honor, we didn't come
in here to defend ourselves.

We came in here to say that
Kenny should not be penalized
for our misconduct.

Throw us in jail if you want,
but not Kenny.

Just for my own education,
why on earth would you take
such a risk for this client?

Is he related by blood?

No, we just thought
it seemed unfair for him
to forfeit an acquittal...

because of some
juror's big mouth and--

Obviously, we made
a considerable misjudgment.

- For which we feel the client--
- I'm not overturning
the conviction.

Your client participated
in this dishonesty.

And I'm certainly not going
to reward him for it.

The guilty verdict stands.

So as not
to punish him unduly...

for the blatant and illegal
action of his attorneys,

I'll sentence him
to six months--

the same term that the D.A.
was offering.

Thank you.
As for the two of you,

I'll be referring you to
the Board of Bar Overseers.

And I'll be recommending
immediate disbarment.

Don't you-- Don't you think
that's a little severe?

Not a bit.

That's all.

The defense calls
Theodore Maynard.

Your Honor, may I approach?

Your Honor,
as an officer of the court,

I have to let my client
testify in the narrative.

Did you try to dissuade him
from testifying, counsel?

I did.
Yeah, right.

I did!

- He insisted.
- Step back.

Members of the jury,
a little departure
from the norm.

Mr. Maynard,
instead of testifying
in the usual "Q" and "A" form,

is simply going to state
his version of the events
in the narrative form.

Now this is done sometimes.
It's just a different style.

Okay, sir.
Please state your name
for the record.

And then you may begin.

My name's Theodore Maynard,
though everybody that knows me
just calls me Teddy.

Shall I tell 'em now
about how I lost my leg,
or just stick to this case?

- The case.
- Oh. All right.

It was a cold, dark night.
Kind of a clammy night.

Kind of night where
you just knew somethin' bad
was gonna happen.

[ Jimmy ]
Just a couple questions,
Dr. Manheim.

I appreciate
you taking the time.
Certainly.

Your dog,
his name is Ross?
Yes.

I had an Uncle Ross once.
Dead.

Got the gout.
It isn't relevant to this here.

He's a rottweiler?
[ Dr. Manheim ]
Yes, he is.

[ Jimmy ]
Beautiful dogs,
if you like the big kind.

Now, when your rottweiler
bit Susan Stevenson, did you
actually see what happened, sir?

Well, I was talking to somebody
else in the park, so my eyes
were going back and forth.

Mm-hmm. Who would this
other person be, sir?

It was a woman.
Someone I just met,
actually.

She was walking her dog
as well. Both animals were
on a leash, by the way.

I see.
Uh, you say you just met?

Uh, you wouldn't have gotten
her name, would you?
Maybe a phone number?

- Actually, yes, I did.
- Oh, good.

That makes things easier.
I'll get that later.
Uh, her dog.

What kind was that?
I think it was a shar-pei.

Shar-pei?
An old girlfriend told me
I looked like a shar-pei.

Personally, I didn't see it.

It isn't relevant
to this here.

Perhaps... since we're all
busy people, you could stick
to what is relevant here.

Of course.
Uh, you said, uh, you were
looking back and forth.

What did you see,
if you remember?

Well, I noticed a young girl
looking at Ross.

I think she then
made a sudden movement,
as if to pet him.

And I think she startled him.
That's when he nipped her.

Is, uh, your dog fixed?

Or, uh, you know,
are you planning puppies?

Neither.
When did you get
this dog, Doctor?

About three years ago.

That's in the interrogatories,
as are all the answers
to these questions.

I know. Uh, sorry.

I was doing some checking,
and I noticed your condo
on the North End...

got robbed a week before
you got this rottweiler.

Would that be
a coincidence?
Not exactly.

[ Jimmy ]
You got this dog for some kind
of security thing.

In part. Also as a pet.
Ever take it to any
dog obedience school?

No, I trained him myself.
Oh.

So, uh, you would be aware on
the behavior of these animals?

- Come on, counsel.
- Well, I-- No, I don't mean,
like, you're an expert.

Just some basic things.

Are you aware
that rottweilers are
an aggressive breed?

More aggressive
than average, yes.

And you'd know that males,
especially un-neutered males,
are most aggressive.

I don't think I knew that,
but I believe you
if you say it's so.

Now, you said
you saw the little girl
looking at the dog.

Did you know that looking
into a dog's eyes...

is likely to be interpreted
by the animal
as an aggressive challenge?

No, I didn't know that.
Okay.

Uh, what kind of, uh, food
do you give him, generally?

Dog food! Scraps
from the table sometimes.

High on protein?
I haven't any idea.

Do you know
that a high protein diet...

for these kinds of animals
can make 'em more aggressive?

No, I didn't
know that, counsel.

This is kind
of a dangerous animal
you got, Doctor.

I'd think you'd check up
on some of these things.

Could we just please
ask questions?

The woman you met at the park--
By the way, did you ever
see her again?

Yes, we had dinner
a few times.

I think I'll take her name
and number now.

Hey. How'd it go?

How'd it go?
[ Door Closes ]

What? Oh, uh,
Kenny got six months.

He's, um--

He's out, pending appeal
on the probable cause issue.

With any luck, uh,
we'll get him out altogether.
Ah, cool.

We, on the other hand, uh--

What?

Things didn't go
so good for us.

What happened?

We're getting disbarred.
And it's her fault.

- What?
- I should have never
listened to you.

- What?
- You know, "Don't tell!
Don't tell!"

- We were both
in on this, Lindsay.
- You kept saying, "Don't tell."

[ Ellenor ]
Don't put the whole thing
off on me!

- Hey!
- You're the one
who talked to the juror!

There's a deposition
goin' on in here.
What's goin' on?

You tell him.
No, you tell him.
That way you can allocate blame.

I was saying from the start
we shouldn't take the chance.
You could have recused yourself.

- You could have gone forward
on your own accord.
- Hey!

Let's go to my office...
now.

It's not that she wouldn't
give me the change.

I get rejection every day.

But the way she wouldn't
even look at me,

like it would bring her down
to acknowledge I was there.

Now, I joke about things
all the time.

In fact, that's how I get by.
I make jokes.
[ Chuckles ]

See, usually I can make
everything a joke.

But this one
kind of stuck with me.

Anyway, I went around
the corner on Tremont,

where we all kinda hang out.

You know, panhandler central.
And Joey Free, the guy
I told you about earlier?

He's also got one leg.
He starts yellin' at me
for bein' a victim.

Sayin' feelin' sorry for myself
was my worst problem.

And I just snapped back, "Easy
for you to say, Mr. Crutch.
I can't even afford crutches!"

And Joey, he just jumps up,
throws his crutches
to the ground and hops off.

About a minute later,
he comes back, throws a wallet
at me and says, "See?

I'm no victim."

The man had jumped up and
snatched that woman's wallet.

Now, I had it
when the police came.
I certainly did.

But I didn't take it.
It was Joey Free.

'Cept Free is not
his real last name. I kinda
don't want to turn him in.

There's certain codes
we gotta live by.

But I'll be honest about this,

though I'm sure my lawyer
will probably berate me
for it later.

I wish it was me.

I wish I was
the guy that jumped up
and took that woman's money.

I'd be sittin' here prouder
today if I hopped up to that
woman and said, "I exist!"

Now, I don't believe
in stealin'.

But if she was keepin' in her
wallet the idea that some people
are less worthy than her,

then I'm glad she lost it.

Now, I didn't take it.

But I'd be proud to sit here
and say that I did.

And that's the truth.

Why didn't you come
to me with this?

Because you would have gone
along with it. And then you'd
be in the same trouble we are.

I wouldn't have gone along!
I would have told the judge!

- Oh, please, Bobby!
You never would--
- It was jury tampering!

- We didn't tamper.
We only withheld--
- Ellenor, for God's sake,

communication with a juror,
you go straight to the judge!

- No question.
- Even if we're gonna forfeit--

No question!

This is--
This is beyond stupid.

You risked your careers.
You completely jeopardized the
reputation of this entire firm.

What the hell could
you have been thinking?

- "The reputation of this firm."
- What?

- Nothing.
- Hey!

The reputation of this firm
doesn't matter to you?

Bobby, all we did
was live up to your example.

You just sold out a client--
Lyle Roberts.
Let's not forget that.

You just finished arguing
jury nullification.

You got a murderer off
on the moral integrity...

of his cold-blooded execution.

What exactly do you think
our reputation is here, Bobby?

I mean, who are you kidding?

We are reasonable doubt
for a reasonable fee.

We are a bottom-feeding,

do-whatever-you-can-
to-get-your-client-off law firm.

That is exactly what we are.

And what Lindsay and I did
may not have been ethical,

it was completely
in the spirit and the tradition
of Bobby Donnell.

You want to fire me?

Go right ahead.

But please, please, Bobby,

do not lecture me.

Were you here all night?

- Yep.
- Why?

[ Door Opens, Closes ]
I don't know, Beck.

[ Door Opens, Closes ]

You heard what
Ellenor said?

It escaped a little
through the walls.

Bobby, I think
the problem is this place
isn't just you anymore.

There's also them.

And I think they got
a good leader in you...

for not great leadership,
you know?

Maybe it's time for a meeting.
[ Jimmy ]
There's the door!

Nobody's stoppin' you.

- Is he in there with somebody?
- I didn't see anybody else.

You walk out of here,
I'll see you in court!

Oh. Hi.

Well, what are you doin'?

I got a settlement conference
in half an hour
on the dog bite case.

I'm not a good closer.
I come off too nice.

I gotta be strong,
you know?

I'm gonna come on strong.
And since I don't
shift gears good,

I'm gettin' ready.

I gotta be tough!

Got it.
Sorry to bother you.

[ Door Closes ]
You're gonna regret it!

You're definitely
gonna regret it!
You walk out of here--

[ Groans ]

She's not I.D.'ing
the man who held her up.

She's identifying the man
she saw in police custody.

She sees a one-legged man
in the lineup,
she figures it must be him.

She wants it to be the guy.

We all do,
so that we can feel safe--

that the bad guy
is off the street.

What are the chances
there could have been
somebody else...

there that night
with just one leg?

Of course she was going
to conclude that the man
they had must be the guy.

But remember,
she really couldn't identify
the man's face.

She didn't give the police
any description other than
"Black, one leg." That was it.

- Objection. This is too much.
- Counsel, get up here.

I'm sorry, Your Honor,
but this goes
way over the line.

I mean,
to recruit black amputees...

to walk into the room
in the middle of
his closing argument?

I mean, that--
that's unbelievable,
even for him.

I'm shocked.

Did you enlist those
one-legged black people?

Your Honor, my client is
in an amputee support group.

- His friends came to his trial.
- Oh, right.

What do you think of me?

- Counsel--
- They could have used crutches.

Or, I don't know,
maybe a wheelchair?

He deliberately
had them hop.

I'm not sure this is something
you can appeal.

Now, let him finish
his closing. Please.

Step back.

200,000? Yesterday,
you said 75,000.

- Well, today I got more facts.
- Oh, you've got more facts?

I've got more facts.
Let's hear your "facts."

The facts are your guy
bought a security dog--

a dangerous instrument
he took no steps to train
or even learn about.

Either he didn't know
the risks of this animal,
which makes him negligent,

or he did, which
makes him reckless--
your pick.

So, 200,000--
I'm not finished
with my facts.

Oh. Oh, well, go ahead.
You want me to go ahead?

I said, "go ahead."
This was preventable.

Dogs like this need
to be socialized.
This one wasn't.

Dogs like this need to be
taught submissive behavior.
This one wasn't.

Dogs like this should
be fed low protein.
This one wasn't.

If he chooses to dispense
with these precautions, fine.

It's his choice.
He takes the risk.

But if he's
gonna go to a park--
a children's park--

and hit up on women
and not even pay attention...

when he knows a child
is two feet from
his security rottweiler,

he puts the child
at risk too.

She lost her face.

He got a phone number
and a couple of dinner dates.

That's what
the jury's gonna hear.

Is that right?
That's right.

200,000. Nothing less.

I'll see you in court.

I doubt it.

What is this?

Um, hi.
Yes, hi.

[ Sighs ]
One alternative offer.

What? What? What?

150,000 and whatever
it takes to fix her face.

Excuse me?
Your client's a doctor
at Mass General.

I'm sure he's got lots
of colleagues.

And I'm not talking
about one operation.

It's whatever it takes
to make her the pretty girl
she was pre-rottweiler.

That could turn out to be
cheaper than 200,000
if he gets the right doctors.

150,000 and her smile.

Final offer.

Tell Eugene he can wait here.
He doesn't have to
wait down at court.

Bobby, he expects
the jury back any minute.

This doesn't even
involve Eugene.
This does involve Eugene.

This is a meeting
about this firm. Eugene
is a member of this firm.

Fine.
Ellenor!

Look, let's just start.
He gets here when
he gets here, okay?

Okay, first,
the disbarment proceeding,
I will represent both of you.

We shouldn't
get independent counsel?
We probably should,

but on this, I think
I can be more persuasive.

Okay, now,

let's clear the air
about all this being
in the spirit of my tradition.

Ellenor.
I cleared my air
yesterday, Bobby.

We bend, we fold, we mutilate
all the rules around here.
It's like our motto.

Would you agree with that,
Lindsay?

Well, pretty much.

Jimmy?

I don't know.

Truth is,
I don't know what we are.

I think what we are
and what we could be
are two different things.

- Meaning?
- Meaning we've been a firm
that'll represent anybody.

Financially, we've had to.
And the clientele we have--
You know, let's face it.

The "reputation"
that we're honorable,
that we play by the rules,

that would cost us
our clients.

The Kenny Tripps which make
up this practice, they rely
on us to cheat a little.

To stick up for them first,
the rules second.

You know, they might love us,
but to the legal community,

we're the lawyers
who give lawyers a bad name.

The bread and butter
that's kept us afloat,

it's mainly been
the drug dealers,
the Kenny Tripps.

How do we just abandon them?
[ Ellenor ]
Look, we abandon them...

because there are plenty
of other lawyers who are
desperate to do that work.

We're not that
desperate anymore.

Or maybe you're more desperate
than you could ever know.

And what's that
supposed to mean?

It means maybe you like
it here in the trenches.

You know, maybe you
don't want to climb out.

But if so, be honest about it
so we can get out while
we still have the chance.

In the matter
ofCommonwealth versus
Theodore Maynard,

on charge 62434,

we, the jury,
find the defendant...

not guilty.

- [ Man ]
All right!
- [ Maynard Laughing ]

Thank you, Mr. Young.
You were awesome, man.

- I'm even gonna pay you.
- Oh, that's nice,
but, Teddy--

Look. Look, I know, all right?
I'm gonna stay clear
from this kind of crap.

I need to grow up.
I'm gonna.

[ Renee ]
Does it ever bother you...

getting all these guys
off on acquittals
when you know they did it?

[ Eugene ]
Sometimes.

But am I all torn up over
the idea of Teddy Maynard
out there--

Hopping free?
[ Chuckles ]
Oh.

Come on. Let me, uh,
pay off some of this debt
by taking you to dinner.

I'm... married, Renee.

You're... separated, Eugene.

Y-Yeah. Well, I--
I got a kid...

who's not ready
for his dad to be
out with a--

a D.A... just yet.

Otherwise, I would--

It's--

[ Chuckles ]

Hey.

Anyway, congratulations, again,
on your wonderful victory.

Thanks.

[ Sighs ]
So--

Um, I'll...
see you in court?

Yeah.

[ Door Closes ]

I don't--
I don't believe it!

I'm still in
a little shock myself.
$140,000!

Plus as many operations
as it takes
to fix her smile.

I-- I don't know
what to say.

- Well, you gotta say "yes"
before I go--
- Oh, well, yes! My God, yes!

I-- I-I--
I'd like to go tell her.

Oh, and they know that I--
I don't have medical
insurance and--

No hospital costs,
period.
I'll get it in writing.

We can make appointments
for her to meet with the plastic
surgeon as soon as we close.

Well, I owe you all
a big apology because...

you don't know what
I was thinkin' of you all.

This is really true?

- All true.
- [ Laughs ]

Thank you.

Am I to understand that
instead of accepting 200,000,

you settled on 140,000,
plus hospital care?

- Yeah.
- You realize we can't take a
contingency on a girl's smile?

If you had settled for 200,000
on a straight cash deal,

this firm would have made
an extra $16,000.

You do know that?
It crossed my mind.

Jimmy, you said
you don't know
what this place is.

What you just did,

I'd like to think that's...

exactly what this place is.

Good job.

Thank you.

[ Woman ]
You stinker!