The Practice (1997–2004): Season 2, Episode 6 - Sex, Lies and Monkeys - full transcript

Previously on The Practice.

Ellenor?
You know anything about this?
Yeah?

"Single white female,
attorney, 30-ish--"
Where'd you get this?

Podiatrist, 40-ish,
loves movies and Maine.

Spoke to him for an hour
on the phone last night.

I am not gonna lie.
I was so nervous
about meeting you.

You're rejecting him
because of his looks?

You had no right
to do that.

It just wasn't there, Rebecca,
the chemistry. It's got
nothing to do with rights.

You look fantastic.
You seein' anybody?

Chris, we've been there,
and we had fun,



but we don't wanna go
back there, do we?

Well, I-I was only thinking
about maybe sleeping together.

Andrea, have you been
paying attention?
We're losing.

It's still all circumstantial.
Two lovers last seen
with a dead husband?

I wanna ask this witness
questions now, before she has
time to think up answers.

- Move to strike that.
- What the hell
is going on here?

You are cocounsel.
Your client's story doesn't
serve the interest of my client.

She's gonna think
I betrayed her.
Your only chance here was this.

I had to turn against her.

Interesting move,
ambushing your cocounsel
like that in open court.

[ Woman ]
Douglas Forsythe: not guilty.

Mary Jane Wiggins:
guilty.

You love her.
You don't believe
she could do this,

- but maybe she did.
- Stop it!



You can't know.
How could she have carried
the body to that bathtub?

She would have had to drag it,
in which case there would have
been carpet fibers...

all over his clothes.
There was nothing introduced
about carpet fibers.

Doug, did you go back
to that house?

All I'm telling you--

Mary Jane didn't.

[ Knocking ]
[ Door Opens ]

Ellenor.

- George Vogelman, remember?
- Of course I remember.

- How are you?
- I'm fine. Yourself?

I'm fine. I'm, uh--
I'm fine.
[ Door Closes ]

This is the place
where you work, huh?

Where you litigate.
Yep.

This is, uh--
This is it.

So, uh, what brings you
here, George?

Actually, I'm going
into litigation too.

Oh.
I'm representing myself,
so I'm a little nervous, but--

Well, you remember my ad.
I like to take chances.

Ah. Yeah. Uh--

I'm sorry. Have you been sued?

[ Chuckles ]
Heavens no.
I'm the plaintiff.

I'm doing the suing,
and I'm actually getting
excited about it.

Well, that's great.
That's really great.

Uh, maybe I can come down,
and I'll catch you
in action some time.

I'm sure you will.
Here's the summons.

I'm suing you.

What? Me? What for?

Fraud,
intentional infliction
of emotional distress.

It's all in there.
Be seeing you.

[ Door Opens, Closes ]
Wha--

[ Line Ringing ]

[ Cell Door Opens, Closes ]

[ Sirens Wailing ]

[ Knocking ]

Bobby.
Hey, Joel.

How you doin'?
Good. Why don't you set up
in the conference room?

I'll be right in.
Okay.

Jimmy, uh, I can go
with you on this.

No. I'm ready.

Wind valve is just
pinched off a little.

I don't need
anybody's help.

I don't want you goin' down
for the count if I can help.
I'll be fine.

[ Gasping ]

If you calm down, Ellenor,

I'll tell you why
you should calm down.
This is ridiculous.

It has gotta be
against public policy.

He can't sue me
for not wanting
to date him.

It's a straight rule 12--
failure to state.

What's goin' on?
She's gettin' sued
by the podiatrist. Uh--

What's with him?
[ Bobby ]
Jury trial.

I wanna file a 12b6.
I wanna get it kicked
now, Eugene.

-We'll go in this morning.
-You can't sue somebody for
not wanting to go out with you.

No. You can't.

I mean, it's outrageous.
Yes. It is.

Maybe you should
see a doctor.

Oh, I'm okay.

Hmm. I think
I'm just hungover.

Hey, maybe I can't
drink wine anymore.

[ Groans ]

Or maybe I'm nauseous over--
[ Groans ]

I promised myself
I wouldn't get back
involved with this guy, and--

You got weak.
I don't know
what came over me.

I mean, I didn't even
use protection.

I just--
Oh, maybe I'm pregnant.

Maybe this is
morning sickness.

Lindsay, it doesn't
work that fast.
I'm going to the doctor.

[ Joel ]
Did you put the Seconal
in his wine?

[ Doug ]
Yes.

Was Mr. Wiggins unconscious
when you carried him
to the bathtub?

Yes.

Did you kill Nicole Brown
Simpson and Ronald Goldman?
No.

Did you kill
John Wiggins?
Yes.

Did his wife help you?
No.

Does Mary Jane Wiggins
know that you killed
her husband?

No.

Are you in love
with Mary Jane Wiggins?

Yes.

I've been with the paper
almost nine years.

Nine years.
And all this time as,
uh, the film critic?

Sometimes I'd even do
copy work in a pinch.

There was nobody more loyal.

And when he fired you,
completely without cause,
did your boss--

- Objection.
- What?

I think your question
might have contained
a legal conclusion, counsel.

Those conclusions
are for them to draw.

Oh. Forgive me, Your Honor.

I'd like to take
this opportunity

to apologize
to the jury...

if my question
in any way usurped
their authority.

The jury system is what makes
the American system of justice
the best on Earth,

- and I would never give any--
- Let's just move forward.

Thank you.

Mr. Papp, did your boss,
Mr. Holt, offer you...

any reason for terminating
your employment after
so many years of loyal service?

- He did.
- What was his
stated reason, sir?

He said I looked like a monkey.

[ Spectators Chuckling ]
[ Jimmy ]
A monkey?

[ Papp ]
This is what he said.

And it's hard for me
to relive it here...

in this courtroom,
in front of relatives.

Did he criticize
your job performance
in any way?

No, he did not.
He just said I had
too much body hair,

and that I made him
uncomfortable.

It was very painful
for me.

Couple of colleagues
started leaving bananas
at my desk.

- And this caused you
great emotional distress?
- Objection.

- What?
- It's that "legal conclusion"
thing again.

Oh.

What feelings, if any,
did, or do you have...

as a result
of these previous events...

you just, uh,
previously testified to?

[ Papp ]
Like I said,
it caused me pain.

So much so, it was hard for me
to get other work
'cause of what he said.

Hard for me to even
go on interviews,

'cause every time
I look in the mirror now,
I see it.

See what, sir?

A monkey. A big monkey.

[ George ]
The law of deceit is intended
to protect people...

from relying mistakenly
on willful fraud, lies
and misrepresentations.

[ Eugene ]
Excuse me, counselor, but
deceit is a common-law tort...

that applies only
to commercial transactions.

Yes, but as I understand it,
if I rely to my financial
and emotional detriment...

on Miss Frutt's
false advertisement,
that constitutes--

A personal listing
in a newspaper
is not an advertisement.

I assume you have
a citation?

My client's listing
was a statement
of her social availability.

It in no way constituted
an offer for goods
or services.

That's not true. Here.
This is from her ad.

"Attractive, 30s, lawyer.
Loves Maine
and horseback riding."

Here we go.
"Not afraid to explore beyond
looks and first impressions.

Eager to discover life
beneath the surface."

She was saying,
"This is who I am,"
and it was a lie.

How do you know
it was a lie?

The moment she saw me,
she turned green,

and 13 minutes later
our dinner date
was canceled.

- Oh, and she's never been
horseback riding.
- Not once?

Your Honor, there is
no known cause of action...

that compensates someone
for social rejection.

As I'm sure this court
has more pressing issues--
Not so fast.

I'm not sure whether
Mr. Vogelman here has a cause
of action or just a bruised ego.

On the other hand,
the law recognizes
many forms...

of tortious behavior,
and before I go
dismissing anything,

I wanna take
a little discovery.

- You can't be serious.
- Oh, but I can.
Take your depositions.

I'll give you 24 hours.
We'll see what comes out.

[ Knocking ]
It's open.

Again?

People are going to think
there's something going on
between us.

Well, it'd be good
for my image.

Mine too.

What are you doing?

Paper dolls.

[ Laughing ]
I'm making them
for my granddaughter.

So what is it?

[ Sighs ]

It's bad.

I gotta do the big
hypothetical wind-up.

Oh, no.

What if a defense attorney
came to know--

how he came to know,
he can't reveal--

that a person was about
to go to jail for a crime
she or he did not commit?

What if he knew
they absolutely have
the wrong person,

but he can't implicate
the right person
for various reasons?

[ Grunts ]
Damn it, Bobby.
I didn't know till after.

This is what happens
when you start
pulling stunts like--

Oh, God.

He's not making this up, is he,
just to spring his girlfriend?

[ Sighs ]
He passed a lie detector.

[ Exhales ]

[ Lindsay ]
What?

Are-Are you sure
about this, Cindy?

Could you fax me
that result?
Thanks.

- What's up?
- Nothing.

Okay, Lindsay,
what's the matter?

The, uh--
My doctor did a blood test.

Put a rush on it
'cause, uh--

I don't believe this.

- You pregnant?
- No.

They found traces of G.H.B.

G.H. what?
It's gamma hydroxybutyrate.

- It's also known
as Liquid "X."
- Liquid "X"?

The more popular name
is "Easy Lay."

What are you talking about?
Liquid "X," Rebecca--
It's that date rape drug.

That-That's why I was so--

Chris must have drugged me.

[ Man ]
Well, he was an okay worker.

Not a great journalist
by any means,
but a good guy.

Why did you discharge him,
Mr. Holt?

He looked like a monkey.
There were...

other reasons than that,
were there not, Mr. Holt?

Oh. Sure.

Uh, like I said, he wasn't
this great journalist--

And he was
always complaining.

You gotta understand.
The Hub is a small paper.

We need morale.
Harry didn't have it.
You didn't, Harry.

Mr. Holt, don't address
the plaintiff.

- I've been addressin' him
for nine years, Judge.
- We don't do that in here.

Well, that strikes me
as silly.

People should go
face to face with problems.

I went straight to him
and told him to shave his neck.

- Didn't I, Harry?
- I won't ask you again, sir.

Sorry.
Look, like I was saying,
we're a small paper,

and everybody's gotta
pull loads for each other,

even sell ad space.

Fact, that may be
our biggest job.

We don't sell ad space,
we don't get to sell papers.

And the plaintiff wasn't
selling advertising space?

Who would buy
anything from him?

Hair coming out of his collar,
climbing up his neck
like a vine.

He looks like a monkey.

Did you leave bananas
on his desk, sir?

Of course not,
and I didn't encourage it.

And what he didn't
tell this court...

is after he'd get all hurt
by these bananas,
he'd eat them.

Move to strike.
That isn't relevant.

He started turning into
this negative person.

I can't keep hearing complaints
from somebody with a hairy neck.

- Objection.
- [ Judge ]
Sustained.

Why don't we take our break?

You admit it?
Lindsay,
what's the big deal?

The big deal.
The big deal?
Shh! Come on.

You drugged me.
You slipped an illegal drug
into my wine without telling me.

You then sleep with me
while I'm under
the influence.

The big deal
is called rape.
[ Scoffs ]

First of all,
it was such a minimal dosage.

"Minimal"? You can't regulate it
with any accurate--
Second of all,

I've always drugged you one way
or another and you've always
known about it...

without wanting to know
about it, so let's not pretend.

- What are you talking about?
- You know exactly
what I'm talking about.

Have you ever known anyone
more uptight about sex than you?

- That's not the point.
- No, the point is
you liked it...

when I slipped
a little something
in the brownies.

- You were glad when I didn't
tell you about it--
- That went on in college,

and has nothing
to do with this.
I am talking about you...

being incapable of enjoying sex
without something to take away
your inhibitions.

I'm talking about how
we both know you loved it more
the night of,

and felt less guilty
the day after,

if you could pretend
you didn't know
I was loosening you up.

Wine is one thing.
Last night you slipped me
an illegal drug.

Okay, the stuff
might have been stronger.
If so, I apologize.

But I didn't do anything
we didn't do before,

and you know that.

When you described yourself
in your ad as someone...

"eager to discover life
beneath the surface,"

what did you mean?

I think it's pretty obvious
what that means.

So when we spoke on the phone
of my first marriage,
about my kids,

that was you trying to discover
the life below the surface?

I suppose.

Do you recall telling me
you'd never felt
so comfortable...

talking to a man
as you felt with me?

I may have said that.

And when we spoke on the phone,
didn't we mutually share
our respective hurt...

at being rejected
on physical appearance alone?

We talked about a lot
of stuff, George.
I don't see--

And didn't we talk about that?

Yes.
And yet,

as soon as you saw me
you became uninterested.

I just didn't think
things would work out.

Why not?
Because--

I just didn't think so.

Why not?

Asked and answered.

Was it because
I'm losing my hair?

Don't have the physique?
Bad skin?

It's not just
physical appearance, George.

It was--

I don't know.
It was demeanor as well.

"Demeanor."
What was my demeanor?

A demeanor that didn't
attract me.

That's all I can say.

One of the things
that attracted me to you...

was your incredible ability
to articulate...

what you think and feel.

So what was it
about my demeanor?

You struck me as--

as kind of a loser.

"A loser"?

All that
self-deprecating charm
on the phone--

In person, it just
wasn't that charming.

It was immediately sad,

even a little pathetic.

And you think--

And you think
that you deserved better?

I never said that.

Well, why don't you say it?

Please.

Okay.
I wanted more.

I didn't wanna
play the fat girl
by the punch bowl...

who leaves with the nerd.

I wanted more than that.

I'm sorry.

It seems we have two options.

- Reopen the case--
- [ Pratt ]
It won't help.

Look, we always knew
she couldn't have
done it alone.

We had two theories:
Either he did it,
or they did it together.

We were kind of hoping
if he had acted solo, she would
have turned state's evidence.

I still think
they did it together.
They didn't.

- Can you prove that?
- We could stipulate
to the polygraph.

- Oh, right.
- Keith, I got
nothin' vested here.

My guy's free.
She wasn't in on it.

- The jury says she was.
- Come on.
What are we doin' here?

Okay.

Look, I'll consider--
And I mean consider here.

We can bring federal
criminal claims,
plus perjury.

He agrees to plead
guilty to both.

No double jeopardy
challenges from you.
Thirty years.

He won't do that.
He's not goin' to jail.

Then we have nothing
to talk about, Bobby.

I'm not letting
them both go free.

This is a solved
and closed case, and I'm
very happy to keep it that way.

Your Honor?

I'm afraid I have to agree
with the district attorney here.

Without new
and conclusively
exculpatory evidence,

there are no grounds
to reopen.

- Her conviction has to stand.
- We do nothing then?

We proceed to sentencing.

Mr. Holt, you think it's okay
to fire somebody just 'cause
of the way they look?

- I do.
- Looks alone, period?

I wouldn't fire somebody because
of the color of their skin,
if that's what you're thinking.

But for looking
like a monkey?
Absolutely.

One can't be
a successful film critic
if he's not attractive?

What about Gene Shalit?

[ Laughs ]
I knew he'd say that.

Gene Shalit is an exception.
He's always saying
insipid things.

What comes out of his mouth
goes with looking
like a monkey.

Isn't it true, sir,
you fired another employee
for being too fat?

Sandra Boyd.
I don't have a problem
with fat.

But with Sandra--
She wore sleeveless dresses,

so whenever she would
reach up or wave,

this part would wiggle
for a full minute.

- I found it distracting.
- And Wayne Keppler?

- Midget. I'm afraid of 'em.
- You're scared of midgets?

I'm not proud of it,
but for whatever reason,
I get nervous around 'em.

You also fired Kim Orent
for having doughnut breath.

I tried a diet.
She comes in
smelling like crullers.

It's bad for my discipline.

I can't tell whether
I'm winning or losing here.

Look. There's a reason
for all this.

- What's that, sir?
- It's my paper.

One of the reasons
I hustled up investors
to start my own company...

is so it could be mine--

so I could choose the people
I wanted to be around.

I could have gone to work
someplace else and gone
by other people's rules,

but I didn't want that.

So I walked the plank
and started my own business.

And now you're trying
to tell me who I gotta hire
and who I can't fire?

No, I'm trying to say
you can't discriminate
against people...

on account of looks alone.

Oh, please.
That kind of discrimination
goes on all the time.

The only difference here is,
I admit it.

Harry is a negative guy
who looks like an ape,

and I don't want him
working for my company.

There's a juror over there--
I won't say which one--
who looks like a possum.

I wouldn't hire him either.

I'm terribly sorry,
but I really think
it's time for another break.

So what are you
going to do?

What can I do?
File charges?

Does this drug
knock you out?
It could, but it didn't.

It just kind of made me giddy,
and incredibly--

Horny?

Yeah.

Lindsay, how do you
go about proving...

that you wouldn't
have consented?

I mean, you have
with this guy before.

There were rumors
flying around about scratches
on the conference table.

But I know I wouldn't have
this time.

I regretted having
to Lemon Pledge
the conference table.

Trust me. I'd made up my mind
never to be anything
but platonic with him again.

Then why'd you go out
with him, drink wine and--
Rebecca.

Wait. I'm just asking questions
that are definitely
going to get asked.

There are rape shield laws
in Massachusetts.
They can't attack me.

Lindsay, this morning,
over the toilet bowl,
you told me you enjoyed it.

Yeah, but it was only
because of the drug.

I know myself, Rebecca.
I'm not capable of good sex.

Did you tell him
how good it was?

Maybe.

- You told the D.A.?
- Gentlemen's agreement.
It stays sealed.

Maybe I should just
come out in public.

Wouldn't that put
some political pressure
on them to let her go?

You don't rank too high
in the credibility polls
right now.

You lied on the stand.

They'll just think
you're lying now.

The polygraph
is inadmissible.

Why would I say I did it?
What would be my motive?

To free your girlfriend,
to get the money--

which right now,
you don't get.

If Mary Jane is cleared,
she suddenly qualifies
for the insurance proceeds...

and the inheritance,
which is millions
of dollars--

Money you get to play with
if you stay together.

You think she'd stay with me
after learning what I did?

Look, you can do
whatever you choose to do.

As your lawyer, let me
give you this piece
of legal advice.

A public confession
does not help Mary Jane.

I do think it exposes you
to federal criminal claims,

as well as perjury.

She'd still
be goin' to jail,
and so would you.

[ Knocking ]

Hi, Andrea.
Hi.

What's goin' on?

What do you mean?

There's rumors
of ex parte meetings--
you, Pratt, the judge.

What's goin' on?

I, uh--
I went to Judge Hiller...

and told her how
I really did ambush you
at the trial,

and that she and Pratt
should consider...

giving Mary Jane
a new trial, but...

they refused.

Why didn't you bring me
in on this?

Anything you said
would have been self-serving.

I thought I could be
more persuasive alone.

Andrea,
does Mary Jane--

Does-Does she think
I turned on her?

No. She knows it was him.

I think it's goin' well,
but--
But what?

Well, even though he was
saying what I wanted,

I couldn't tell
if I was gettin' him
or he was gettin' me.

It was a paradox.

Wh-What's next?
Well, Harry's been recalled,
and he takes the stand again.

You want me there?
No. I can do this.
It's okay.

Jimmy, this case
should be kind of
a slam dunk, you know.

I'm doin' fine, Bobby.
Okay.

Mr. Papp, you weren't
a negative person?

I had my gripes,
like everybody else,

but it's not like
I walked around
oozing pessimism.

And how would you describe
your journalistic skills?
I'd describe them as good.

And did the other reporters
at The Hub appreciate
your skills?

Look, everybody knows
the discrimination that goes on
against the film critic.

Why don't you fill us in
on that, Mr. Papp?

They don't think
we're real journalists.

They're jealous 'cause we get
to interview celebrities.

In fact, the other reporters
at your paper object to you
even being called a journalist.

Isn't that right?
So what?

You think Tom Brokaw invites
Janet Maslin to his parties,
or Gene Siskel?

They're all
considered jokes.
This doesn't bother us.

We know in our hearts
if we weren't there,

the general public wouldn't
be able to decide whether
they like the movie or not.

Oh, but it does
bother you, Mr. Papp...

to know that your kind of work
isn't really respected
by your peers.

- I don't see the relevance
in this.
- I am trying to show...

that this is an embittered man
who only finds gratification
in attacking others.

That is why he is
attacking my client today.

He fired me
for looking like a monkey.

For looking like
a brooding monkey...

who was casting a negative pall
over the entire office.

- This wasn't ever said.
- I'll say it now.

- Hey!
- Mr. Holt, you're not
on the stand, sir.

Please remain seated
and quiet.

Have you been looking
for other jobs, Mr. Papp?

I will.
It's too painful
right now.

Hmm. Prior to your discharge,

didn't my client repeatedly
ask you to shave the hair
on your neck,

and to trim the fuzz
coming out of your ears?

I did sometimes, but he wasn't
giving grooming tips
to the other reporters.

You were too lazy to comply
with these requests.
Isn't that the truth?

Objection.
That's a legal conclusion.

No, it isn't,
but I'll sustain
the objection anyway.

Well, on what grounds?

I just ruled
in your favor, counsel.

I have here the last review
prior to your discharge.

It's on
The Island of Dr. Moreau.
Did you write this review?

I did.
Could you please read it
for the court?

[ Sniffs ]

"It stinks."

Would you consider that
a lazy review?

I would consider that succinct.

You wanna repeat that?
You heard me, Chris.

Resign from the D.A.'s office,
or I file charges.

Whatever drug
you're on now, Lindsay,
it didn't come from me.

If this file
came across your desk,
you'd prosecute.

Maybe I exercised poor judgment.
"Poor judgment"?
Is that what you call it?

The sex was consensual.
I didn't have the capacity
to give consent.

I was under the influence.
You had capacity.
You initiated it.

Because of the drug.

Lindsay, think about this.

I have thought
about it all night,

and I can't live
with letting you
get away with it.

I will not resign my job,

and if you file charges,
I'll fight,

and I'll use anything I can.

I don't want to ruin
your reputation, Lindsay,

but I will not let you
ruin mine.

I'll do whatever it takes.

Mr. Vogelman, how many
personals had you responded
to prior to Miss Frutt's?

Around five or six.

And based
upon your experience,
is it your expectation...

that whatever you read
in a personal...

is going to be accurate?
I hope so.

When you and Miss Frutt met,
did she seem...

to live up to whatever
expectations you had?

Actually, she exceeded them...
at first.

So you formed a
subsequent opinion based upon
your meeting her personally?

Well, I suppose I did.

Yet you don't feel
Miss Frutt was free to
form a subsequent opinion?

- Not on sight, no.
- You would
consider it unusual...

for a person to be
rejected on sight?

I was expressly led to believe
that she wouldn't.

Have you been rejected
on sight before,
Mr. Vogelman?

Many, many, many times.
Did you take
these women to court?

This woman made
false representations.

Ah! So you weren't hurt
by the rejection,

you were hurt
by her representations?

You're doing
a tricky lawyer thing now.

I'm just trying to get
at the root of your pain
and suffering.

Other women have rejected you
who you didn't sue.
Miss Frutt, you do sue.

Was it just because
she ran an ad,

or were you somehow
hurt more here?

Both.

Okay.

And why did Miss Frutt's
rejection hurt more?

I won't be subjected
to tricky lawyer questions.

There's nothing tricky
about this, Mr. Vogelman.

You filed a lawsuit here
over a broken date.

I'm asking you why did this hurt
more than the other times
you've been rejected?

First, I was set up
for a bigger fall.

She led me to believe
she wasn't like the others.

And second?

Is there a second?

Second, she's not like
the others.

How so?

I plead the fifth.

You can't do that
at a civil deposition, sir.

How is she not like
the other women
who have rejected you?

She's not pretty.

I mean, she is to me,
but not in a conventional--

When attractive women say no,
I guess I've been able
to rationalize...

that they either
have a boyfriend...

or at least
lots of choices.

With you,

I knew for a fact
that you had no other choices.

You led me to believe
you were somewhat desperate.

Then upon one look at me,
you evidently said to yourself,
"Not that desperate."

Imagine--

Imagine what it feels like
to be the nerd...

that can't even get the fat girl
by the punch bowl.

She deserves to die.

I realize that
Massachusetts doesn't have
the death penalty, Your Honor,

but I feel that she
would warrant it...

for what she did
to my brother.

It wasn't enough
that she disgraced...

and devastated him
with an extramarital affair.

Afraid of losing money,

she poisoned him.

This is a man
who never hurt anybody,

who never treated her
with anything but love...

and kindness.

He would probably
even find some way
to forgive her,

but I can't.

You murdered a wonderful man.

Please address your remarks
to me, Mrs. Clark.

I would ask
that you punish this woman...

in a manner commensurate
with her crime.

- Mr. Pratt, anybody else?
- No, Your Honor.

Counsel?

Your Honor, I would only say
that my client maintains
her innocence of this crime.

Yes, well, for this proceeding,
I must presume her guilt.

I understand.
I would only add that the crime
for which she was convicted,

though not technically
one of passion,

was one the state claims
to be motivated by passion.

She has no previous record.

I would also ask Your Honor
to take into account...

the circumstantial nature
of the prosecution's case
in sentencing.

Thank you.

All right.
I'll take this
under advisement.

Your Honor, I'm an attorney
of record on this case,

and I'd like to make
a brief statement.

I'm not interested
in any statement
attorney Donnell has to make.

I'm not interested
in directing
my statement to you.

I'll hear you, counsel.

We all have roles to play
in this process.

My role was, and still is,
to protect that man
sitting right there.

Your role is to evaluate
all the evidence,

all the circumstances
surrounding the evidence...

and all the facts
that you may find
to mitigate this matter.

I know what
my role is, counsel.
Thank you.

I would ask that, Your Honor,
when you take this
under advisement,

that you let yourself
be guided not only
by the law,

but by your wisdom...
and your conscience.

As you've said many times,

you're the one
who gets to wear the robe.

I would ask...

that you wear it proudly.

Where does it end?

You fire somebody
because he's fat
or little...

or 'cause of a toupee
or 'cause he looks
like a monkey?

It's shameful.
It's not a decent way
to treat people.

There's an implied covenant
of good faith in every contract,
ladies and gentlemen.

There's an implied agreement:
You perform your job,
you do good work,

you don't get fired
for looking funny.

This man gave himself
to that newspaper
for nine years,

then he's suddenly cut loose...

'cause his boss doesn't feel
like seeing his face.

It's mean.
It's unfair.

Harry Papp deserved better.

Where does it end?

Where does it end?
Well, it begins
and ends with the law.

The law says
you cannot discriminate
on skin color...

or gender or ethnicity
or handicaps,

but it provides no
special protection to people
who look like monkeys.

Now, of course,

there is an implied
covenant of fairness.

But please--
One rule of fairness must be...

that if a man takes
the personal and financial risks
to start his own company,

he must be allowed
to control that company.

And if he wants to cater
to his personal aesthetic taste,
he should be allowed to.

It is his company.

And let's remember,
it wasn't just that
Mr. Papp looks like a monkey.

He was an unhappy monkey,

which made The Hub
a less fun place to work.

And there are other
reporters and workers
at The Hub too.

What about them?

And by his own admission,
Mr. Papp wasn't
terribly skilled.

He wasn't popular
among his coworkers.

And not to make too much
of this film critic business,

but let's consider
the job he does.

Well, truth be told,
he doesn't do anything.

He doesn't walk planks.
He doesn't take risks.

He just sits back and watches--

watches what other people do,
and then gives his opinion.

I mean, is it any wonder
that Harry Papp has grown
to be so embittered?

He goes to the movies
and writes about whether
he likes it or not.

That is his life's work.

How could he not
end up embittered?

How could he not feel
that his life is a big waste?

Now, Harry Papp
may be a nice man,
but he's angry--

angry that his profession
is not taken seriously
by his peers or by anybody,

and he's looking to
take it out on Mr. Holt.

And he is lazy.

He has shown
almost zero initiative,

harbors no ambition
to be anything other
than a watcher.

And on top of all of that,
ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,

he looks like a monkey.

Hey.
[ Sniffs ]
Hey.

Are you okay?
Sure.

I went to the police.

I was going to report him.
I was, but I--

I mean, what good--

I didn't go in.

I just drove there,
but, uh--

I was going to go in,
but, I mean, what good--

I'm okay.

I'm fine.

[ Whispering ]
I'm fine.

George.
Ellenor. I was on
my way up to see you.

I've decided
to drop the lawsuit.

Oh, really? That's--

I think I was just needing to--

I guess, strike back.

I'm sorry I hurt you like that.

Yeah, well--

I wish you well
in life, Ellenor.

Thank you.

I wish you well too, George.

[ Man ]
All rise.

Be seated.

The crime of murder
certainly speaks for itself.

That it was motivated
by love for another man...

is hardly
a mitigating factor.

That it was motivated by greed
doesn't occasion me...

to be more
compassionate either.

It is the order of this court...

that Mary Jane Wiggins
be sentenced to a life term...

with no possibility
of parole...

at the Framingham
Correctional Facility.

This matter is now adjourned.

[ Spectators Murmuring ]

She doesn't want
any visitors.
Tough.

Counsel--
How the hell
do you live with yourself?

Get out of here.
I'm saying
what I came to say.

I'll have you arrested.
Go ahead and do it,

and as soon as I get out
I'll be right back.

Go. Close the door
behind you.

I'll talk first.

I don't get to consider up there
that she might be innocent.

By law, I accept
the jury's verdict,

and the sentencing
was statutory.

- You have some discretion
as the judge.
- No, I didn't.

Then why even
listen to arguments?

You could have set aside
the verdict,
reduced it to murder two--

The judge can always
find a way.

It's not that simple.
When are you going
to see that?

We don't get
to make up the rules
as we go along, Bobby.

The law is meaningless
if it isn't consistent
in its application.

You stood
in this room last week,
and you called me lost.

You just gave life
with no parole to a person...

you know could be innocent.

If you are so myopic
over the black letter law...

that you can't even see
what you're doing,

then you are the most lost
person I know.

- Get out!
- You know what I think?

You just clutch at the idea
you gotta follow the law
without exception...

because that is the only way
you can survive.

- If you don't leave now--
- The only way that you
can live with knowing...

you put a killer back on
the street who then murdered
a four-year-old child.

And how do you
survive, Bobby?

You helped put that man
back on the street.

Your bread and butter
is helping criminals walk.

How do you survive?

I'll tell you.

You do your job.

You do your job.
You do your job.

Your granddaughter
know your job?

Take him away.

A lot of times we're trapped.

This was one
we could have fixed.

Is it a good sign
that they came back
this quick?

It's a very good sign
if we win,
but not if we lose.

That was helpful.

It's important,
what I'm doing, you know.
He was wrong.

I understand.
Am I sweating?

We're cultural watchdogs.
We do important work.

Members of the jury,
you've, uh, reached a verdict?

- We have, Your Honor.
- What say you?

On the matter
of Papp versus Hub News,

we find for the plaintiff,
and order the defendant...

to pay compensatory damages
in the amount of $82,000.

I won! I won.

You won.
We both won.

Members of the jury,
this concludes your service.

The court extends its thanks
for your commitment.

And, Your Honor,
I, too, would like
to take this opportunity...

to thank the jury,
which I feel demonstrated...

considerable excellence
in a forthwith manner.

Thank 'em in the hall.
We're done in here.

- Lindsay. Wh-What's goin' on?
- I went to the police station
to file charges.

What?
Oh, I didn't do it. I know
you could never be convicted.

Part of me didn't want
your whole career ruined
over one stupid mistake--

And it would be ruined--
you know, possession
of that drug alone--

But the thought of you
getting away with it
all smug, you know--

I couldn't--
I couldn't live
with that either.

- Have you been drinking?
- No, this is the way
rape victims get, Chris.

And I'm sitting there in my car
outside the police station
thinking,

"He should at least
limp over this a little.

Maybe-- Maybe he shouldn't
lose his job."

But you should at least limp.

That's why I came over
to shoot you in the leg.

- I'll say it went off
by accident.
- Are-Are you--

Crazy? Yeah.
And it feels good.

You could file charges,
but the truth would come out,

and you'd probably get
in more trouble than me.

It would be in your best
professional interest...

- to agree with me that the gun
went off by accident.
- Lindsay--

Don't!

Truth is, I have been drinking.
I might vomit any second,
so I better get this over with.

Would you prefer
the right leg or the left?
Lindsay--

- Or the head?
- This isn't you.

Sure, it is.

I just needed to shed
some of my inhibitions.

This is me.

Right leg or left?
Or should I choose?

Lindsay, you will end up
in jail.
I'm counting to three.

- One--
- Lindsay!

- Two--
- My God!

- Three.
- The left.

Just kidding.
[ Door Opens ]

Sue me.
[ Man ]
What happened? I heard a shot.

[ Man #2 ] Where'd it come from?
Oh, by the way,
you wet your pants.

Everybody okay in here?
[ Whispering ]
He loved it.

[ Man #3 ]
You guys see what happened?

Uh-- Practical joke.

E-Everything's fine.
Just a joke.

[ Exhales ]

It was gratifying
that they came back quick,
you know?

My first victory
with a jury.

If I had to wait,
I think the sweating
would have come back.

Congratulations, Jimmy.

And, uh, here's
to you too, Ellenor.

- I heard "Dr. Bunion"
dropped his lawsuit.
- Yep.

Hey, it was a good month
for everybody.
Bobby got the big N.G.--

And how was your week, Linds?
Oh, same old.

Great. Great.
Well, to happy times.

Oh, I'll tell ya,
I was nervous.

I think the defendant
blew it, though, when he called
one of the jurors a possum.

You can't predict
how things are gonna go,
but insinuating...

that one of the jurors is
a member of the rodent family--
it's not an accepted tactic.

I tell ya, this is a high.

People don't think
the practice of law is a high--

They don't know.
They can't know.

[ Woman ]
You stinker!