The Practice (1997–2004): Season 3, Episode 14 - Of Human Bondage - full transcript

Why do you keep
defending this guy?

Because I like him.

Because he was
my first client ever.

Because he's innocent.

I also have the time

because I didn't get
the asbestos business.

Funny.

Uh, can I help you?

Delores Keplar.

I'd like to hire
an attorney,

the nastiest one
you've got.



That would be
Ellenor Frutt,
but she just left.

What's this regarding?

Divorce. I really
don't want a woman.

I want a...

Well, "dick"
is an offensive word,

but it's the only one
I can think of--

I know what exactly
what you're saying,
and Ellenor Frutt

is definitely what
you're looking for.

Lucy?

Bobby, hi, um,
this is Delores Keplar.

This is Bobby Donnell.
She's looking to hire--

I heard. Hello.

-Donnell.
You're the senior partner?
-Yes.

Yeah, but he's not
nearly as tough as--



Lucy.

We're not exactly
divorce attorneys here--

I know, you're criminal.
That's what I'm looking for:

down and dirty
street fighters.

My husband...

Well, let's just say
I want him to hurt

and I'm willing
to pay for it.

Danny.

Hey, Bobby.
Got a sec?

Kind of important.

-Uh, sure. Mrs...
-Keplar.

Um...

Uh, Jimmy, could you sit
down with Mrs. Keplar?

Sure.

He doesn't look
very mean to me.

You'd be surprised.

Danny.

Hi. Uh, James Berluti.

I'm in a little bit
of a jam.

What's up?

Attorney-client?
Of course.

Long story short.

Woman named Jenny Raines.

Girl, I should say,
she's 16.

Teenage hooker
charged with murder.

Murder? What,
are you slumming
in criminal law now?

You'll know why
in a second.

Jenny did not commit
this crime.

I know this because one of
my biggest corporate clients

was with her at the time.

Playing checkers?

Exactly.

He's not willing
to come forward,

instead, he comes to me.

Hires me to defend her,
evidently he feels bad for her.

Cut to, I'm headed into
trial today.

Lot of money in it.

Take a hand-off?

For a trial
starting today?

You'll get a continuance.

Danny...

I figure it's probably
unethical for me

to represent the girl
and my client anyway.

Oh, just now
you figure that out?

The case is circumstantial.

I thought for sure
it would go away.

And it didn't.

Like I said, I'm in a jam.

Bobby, for old time's sake,
bail me out.

She needs a real
criminal lawyer.

(telephone rings)

(cell door slams, locks)

(sirens wail)

How do you agree
to even represent her?

Because she'd been stuck
with some rookie P. D.,

and my client wanted her
taken care of.

Taken care of

would be getting her
an independent lawyer

who might track
your client down
as a witness.

Look, she's better off
with me than the P. D.

But you're the best I know.

-Who's sitting?
-Nelson.

Nelson? He's not gonna
give you a continuance.

If the D. A. agrees,
he might.

Who's the D. A.?

Helen Gamble.

I told him to meet me
over here at court.

All right, Lucy, if
he does show up there,

just tell him to get
his ass down here quick

before the judge
issues a warrant, okay?

Earl, hey.

Ellenor.

Uh-oh. You've
got that look.

What look?

The look of a defense attorney
who's missing a client.

Is he a no-show again?

He inserted his
little missile

into every orifice
on her body.

With me, he's
a little flaccid
piece of confetti,

and suddenly
with his secretary,

he becomes Stonehenge.

Could I stop you
one second?

Yes.

The thing about
no-fault divorce,

blame doesn't
become an issue.

I want it to.

Mrs. Keplar,
these things come down
to financial statements.

I want it to come down
to more.

Married 19 years. It has
to come down to more.

And by more you mean...

Pain. His.

He needs to hurt.

Your Honor, we'd be
asking for a warrant.

It's already 10:30,

and the defendant
is not present.

Ms. Frutt, any information

on your client's
whereabouts?

Well, Your Honor, um,

if you could hold this case
for just a few more minutes,

I'm sure Mr. Sowers
is on his way.

He has to take two buses,
and it's possible--

I think that
an hour and a half

is long enough to wait,

even taking the pitfalls

of public transportation
into account.

Last call for Sowers.

Leonard Sowers.

(groans)

Leonard?

I'm here.

Um, he's here,
Your Honor.

He's been here
all along.

Your motion is denied.

Your Honor, I just
got this case.

I don't care. Mr. Rogers has
had it for three months.

Mr. Rogers doesn't
specialize in criminal law.

Well, he should
have thought of that
before now.

Your Honor. Come on.

I'll give you the morning
to get up to speed.

After lunch, we go.

Adjourned.

Great.

Sorry, Bobby.

You should probably
meet with her.

(elevator bell dings)

What's going on,
Leonard?

I'm not feeling
too good.

I need to get
a continuance.

Well, that's not gonna happen.
We talked about this.

This is the third time
your case has been
set for trial.

Ellie.

Oh, God. I'm practically
getting a contact high
off your breath.

I needed to calm
my nerves.

Being a defendant
is stressful.

Well, being you attorney
is stressful.

And you know, I asked you
to tone down what
you wear for trial.

The last thing we need
is for a jury

to think you look like
a drug dealer.

I don't understand.

They got Denny Staples
for this.

Why they gotta keep
coming after me?

Because you were
in the apartment

when the police raided it.

And just because
a co-defendant
pleads guilty,

doesn't mean they dismiss
your case.

How many times do
I have to explain that?

You sound like you're
on their side.

I am on your side.

I have been on your side
for nine years, you big dope.

Leonard, listen to me.

With your priors,
if we lose here,

you are looking
at 20 years.

Do you get that?

Because I really need you
to get that.

Who am I talking to here?

We both heard
the scream.

And when we looked
out the window,
that's when we saw him.

The victim?

And somebody
running away.

The man I was with
just left.

He wanted to get
out of the area before
the police came.

And what did you do?

I went down the street

to check on the guy
who got stabbed.

And that's when
the police came

and arrested me,
saying I did it.

Okay, Jenny. Um...

Mr. Rogers has some
conflicts of interest
here, you know this.

Yes.

-The man I was with
was his client.
-Yeah.

And since Mr. Rogers
has to look out
for his client,

he won't tell you to
reveal this man's name.

He never told me
his name.

Just the same, we have
to try to find him.

Bobby.

I'm sorry, Danny,
I can't not tell her this.

The reason
I came to you--

Jenny, I'm gonna talk
to Mr. Rogers for a second,

and then I'll be back.

(knocking)

I told you what I told
you in confidence.

Are you nuts? Of course
she has to know this.

In a textbook world,
yes, but--

No, Danny, in this world.

She can't be protecting
the identity of her alibi.

She is up on murder.

Look at it
from our side.

My client...he has no
duty to come forward.

No duty to help out
getting her a lawyer.

So why should he be
punished for doing so?

Well, I doubt if he'll
get charged for--

It's not
the criminal charges.

He's a CEO, married,
four kids.

And by the way,
she's under-aged.

He would get charged.

Danny.

The girl can't be counseled
to conceal her alibi.

I know you know this.

She didn't get
his name anyway, so--

You know his name.

Attorney-client
privilege.

I couldn't give it
to you if I wanted to.

So you're willing to ignore
the rules for one client,

but not for the other.

That's not fair.

Look, we can debate
this all day.

Bottom line,
we both want to
help out that girl.

Let's do what we can.

Oh, no, you don't.

You've never done
a divorce case.

This will be
a good experience.

Sounds like a Lujack,
every Lujack is so
I can get experience.

Rebecca, you heard
that woman.

She wants somebody
nasty.

Now, do you think
that helped sway me?

How about we do it
together?

Having you by my side,

maybe it'll make me
nastier.

I didn't mean
how that came out.

Hey.

Hey, Kendall.

Is my dad here?

I think he's down
posting a bond.

He should be back
any second.

Okay.

You burn, you know that?

Excuse me?

Uh...

You like movies?

Good ones.

Maybe want to go to
the movies sometime?

With me?

You mean as friends?

Yeah. Yeah, as friends.

Well, um, sure.

Excellent.

Mrs. Keplar.
This is Rebecca Washington.

She's gonna do
this case with me.

Hi.

Hi.

Good. She looks meaner.

Much.

Then we entered
the residence

pursuant to
a search warrant.

And what did you discover?

Another subject,
Denny Staples,

was seated at
the kitchen table.

On top of the table,
right in front of
that subject,

was a large bag
of a white crystalline
substance

I believed to be
cocaine.

Did you discover anything else
in that kitchen area?

Yes. Also on
the kitchen table

there was a beam scale

and numerous empty
mini zip-lock baggies.

These are items
commonly used

to package
drugs for sale.

Anybody else present in
the apartment at that time?

I found Mr. Sowers,
the defendant,

lying down on a sofa
in the living room.

Did you notice anything
unusual about the defendant?

Yes. Lying on his chest
was a bag of cocaine,

packaged in the same
plastic packaging
material

that was recovered
from the kitchen table.

(snoring)

And what did you do
at the time?

I placed the defendant
under arrest,

and another officer

placed Mr. Staples under
arrest in the kitchen.

We recovered
the seized items,

then they were
inventoried
by Officer Terrell,

the suspect narcotics
were sent to
the crime lab

for testing
and analysis,

which proved positive
for cocaine.

Officer Smitko,
my client wasn't named

in the search warrant
you were executing, was he?

No, he wasn't.

In fact, the only person
named in the warrant

was Denny Staples.

That's right.

And who let you
into the apartment
that morning?

We entered forcibly.

You broke down
the front door.

Correct.

And how many officers

were involved with
that raid?

Eight altogether.

And did you
announce your office
when you entered?

Yes, we did.

So, the noise of the
door being broken down,

eight officers entering,

and you're saying
Leonard was just lying
peacefully on the sofa,

bag of drugs
in full view.

He appeared to be
passed out.

And did he wake up
when you entered?

No. I had to shake him
a little to wake him up.

So, you don't know
if he even knew

the drugs were
on his chest.

How could he not know?

Well, you didn't see
Leonard place the bag
on his chest, did you?

No. It was there
when I entered.

So, isn't it possible

that somebody placed
it on his chest

after he fell asleep?

Anything's possible, but--

You don't know who
put it there, do you?

No.

I have no interest
in hell.

But I'd sooner
go there to rot

before giving her
a penny,

not a dime, not
a nickel, but a penny
more than I have to.

Except if she agreed
to stick it up her ass.

In that case, I'd hold
out a silver dollar.

Am I being too subtle?

You see, this is
what I lived with.

All his anger over being
short, fat, and witless

he directs towards me.

All my misery
I take out on you

because you inspire it.

All right. Let's try
to be constructive here.

I didn't hire you
to be constructive.

I hired you to get even.

Could I interject
just for a second?

We are not talking about
a lot of money here,

and the division
is pretty statutory.

I'm quite happy
to give her what
she's entitled to,

as long as she spends
that much in legal fees
trying to get it.

Mr. Keplar, that remark
could come back to cost you.

Mr. Berluti, I can
understand how someone

could represent
murderers, rapists...

They're human beings, too.

Here's a tip. She isn't.

Deep down,
she's as much the pig

as she looks like
on the surface.

I dream of a meat hook
running up your rectum.

It's the only way
I can sleep peaceful.

I'm not comfortable
with this dialogue.

I know it had
to be around 10:30

because that's when
I left the restaurant,

which is maybe
a mile from there.

Can you tell us
what you saw?

Basically,
two people arguing.

The guy looked
kind of heated

and the woman
was dressed like
a prostitute.

As we turned the corner,
we saw a woman running

in the opposite direction,
away from the body.

What did you do then?

I let my partner out

to tend to the victim.

I then continued
my pursuit of the woman.

She ran down an alley.

I got out and
chased her on foot,

and eventually,
I caught up to her.

I then placed her
under arrest.

Do you see that woman in
this courtroom, officer?

I do. The defendant.

You never saw her do
anything to the victim.

No, I didn't.

You just saw her
run away.

Yes.

And when you
caught up to her,

did she say anything?

She denied stabbing the man.

See any blood
on her clothing?

No.

Find a murder weapon?

No.

Thank you, officer.

You have to testify.

Why were you seen
near the body?

Only you can answer
that question.

Okay.

Now, look,
I'll tell you again,

if we can just find
this guy you were with--

Mr. Donnell, even if I could
find out who this guy is,

I don't really want
to turn him in.

He's helped me
by giving me lawyers,

paying for them.

I'm not about
to betray the guy.

Well, that's admirable,
Jenny.

Are you ready to be
convicted of murder?

Mr. Rogers thinks
we'll win.

It's close enough
to get nervous.

What about calling
Rogers to the stand,

let him testify as
to the whole situation.

What do you mean?

Rogers can testify his
client was with the girl

at the time
of the murders,

but attorney-client
privilege

prevents him from saying
who his client is.

It would be hearsay.

Declaration against
interests.

The guy was with
an underage hooker.

My advice is
go to the judge now,

this is way too dicey,
Bobby, even for you.

Anonymous hearsay?

JIMMY: Is it ethical
to try that?

Well, I don't know.
But it seems...

Neither of them
is looking for
anything material,

they just want to be
satisfied the other
is miserable.

I'm not very good
at play acting.

I couldn't convince
my mother to let me
stay home from school

even when I had a fever.

We could start with
Delores. Then do James.

But it means kind of lying
to our clients.

Mr. Berluti, we're kind
of lying to them anyway,

pretending to be
sympathetic.

They're awful people.

Well, it's just an idea.
If you think...

No. Let's do it.

What do you mean
he asked you out?

He asked me to go
to the movies with him.

What did you say?

Well, um,
I meant to say no.

You meant to say no?

I did. Yeah. But it just
came out sort of...yes.

What?

He said let's go
as friends.

And, he's
a nice kid and--

You gotta
tell him no, Lucy.

I--I will.

But you better be
there to talk to him
afterwards

'cause if he's got
this big crush,

he's gonna be hurt.

He's 11.

Me testify?

Just tell it like it is.

You think Nelson
would go for it?

I don't know. He'd ask
for some offer of proof.

Are you willing to do it?

Well...

I'd have to convince
my client,

but I think he'd
go along.

Suppose Gamble
then subpoena's
my client list

and starts
an investigation?

Identity isn't
privileged.

I think we could make
an argument

that in this case,
it should be.

It's risky.

Let's first see how Jenny
does on the stand, all right?

And then...then we can
make a decision.

20 years?

Yes.

And I'd have to serve it?

Leonard, haven't you
been listening to me?

Okay. Look,

tomorrow Staples
is gonna testify,

if he does okay...

Hey, hey, hey. Hey, we haven't
lost yet. Come on.

I'm sorry.

All right,
all right, come on.

This is what we need.

You have to go home
and sleep.

You have to get
some rest.

We don't want you
falling asleep
in court anymore.

Okay.

Clean and sober
tomorrow, okay?

Can you do that,
Leonard?

Yeah.

Okay.

Denny, I thought you
were going to shave.

I'm a convicted
drug dealer, Ms. Frutt.

You really think people
are gonna think less of me

'cause I got a beard?

Well, they might think less
of you if you look like
Charles Manson.

Look, I owned up
to the truth

and pled guilty to this.

How can they be
going after Leonard?

Because they are and
you sticking up for him,

the way you look,
this could hurt us.

Denny, you promised
that you would shave

before they brought
you over.

What size jacket
do you wear?

42 regular.

(sighs)
Pick up, Lucy.

For once in your life,
do something useful
and pick up.

We heard
this awful scream.

By "we," you mean...

The man I was with.

-Client.
-Yes.

Do you know who this man is?

No. He was just some
businessman.

And as soon as we
looked out and saw...

Well, this man was
lying in the street,

and somebody was
running off,

it was obviously
a crime.

And my trick...

this man, he just wanted
to get out of the area

before the police came,
and so he took off.

And what did you do,
Jenny?

I went down the street
to help the man.

He was bleeding.

I was about to put
my hand on the wound

to try and stop
the bleeding,

but then I heard
the police cars coming

and I suddenly
thought...

This can't look
good for me.

They can help him.
So then I took off.

But you were caught.

Yeah.

But I didn't stab him.

You can't threaten custody.
He already has weekends--

Everything's subject to
changed circumstances.

We can re-file any time.

What's changed?

My mood.

And the presumption goes
to the mother. So if--

Wait a second.

Are you using the kids
as--as leverage?

I'll use whatever
I have to.

You know why,
Mrs. Pierce?

This isn't about
fairness here.

It's not about justice.

It's about money.
And hurt.

Your client's gonna
give till he hurts.

Or I'll walk into court
and call him unfit.

He'll not only be short
and fat and stupid,

he'll be an unfit dad.

You ask him how ugly
he wants this to be,

'cause with me,
there's no limits.

If I screw up
a few innocent kids
along the way, tough.

With him as their dad,

they're probably
screwed up already.

Sorry. I had to get tough.

That's okay.

I brought my trimmers, too.

I want to neaten his hair.

Are these 42 regular?

Uh, I brought one "long"--
they run different.

I want to pancake
these shadows under your eyes.

It'll come right off.

I appreciate
what you guys
are doing for Lenny.

Yeah, well,
after all you did for him.

I'm here now,
aren't I?

Yes, yes, you are.

You're gonna be handsome
when I'm done with you.

Well, I'll be out
in seven, cupcake.

Like, seriously,
no, thank you.

This client
was a businessman?

Yes.

Upon searching you and
your apartment that night,

the police found
only $42 in cash.

Do you work for $42?

He hadn't paid me yet.

Your clients
don't pay you in advance?

He was about to pay me.

This businessman?

Yes.

Could you describe
what he looks like,
this businessman?

He was kind of tall,
brown hair.

How old?

I think around 40
or something.

What color eyes?

Um, I think blue.

When the police
questioned you
that first night,

why didn't you tell them
about this businessman?

Well, I didn't want
to be arrested
for prostitution.

-So you lied
to avoid arrest?
-Yeah.

You lie when you have to?

Objection.

Sustained.

You say this businessman
was fortyish with brown eyes?

Yes.

See, actually you said
his hair was brown.

His eyes were blue.
What color were they?

-I'll give you two out of three.
-Objection!

Overruled.

What color were his eyes?

Blue.

And you never heard
from this businessman again?

No.

When the police
first apprehended you,

you said
you didn't stab him.

-Yes.
-How do you know
he was stabbed?

Well, he looked like
he was stabbed!

-You didn't see him
get stabbed?
-No!

You didn't see a knife
when you got to the body?

No!

So in the heat
of the moment,

you just happened
to guess correctly.

Objection!

Withdrawn. That's all.

(sniffles)

That didn't go well.

You seem to be
hiding something.

You were a little
hesitant, Jenny.

I was scared.

Look, you know
I'm telling the truth.

Well, I don't think
the jury does.

Danny...

I want
to put you up there.

We have to now!

You think the judge
will allow it?

If he doesn't,
we move for a mistrial.

You got to get on the stand

and tell them
about this client.

They'll fight it
with hearsay,

but we have to try.
Without your testimony,

I don't like the chances.

I think I'll lose
a meal ticket...

but okay.

What's up?

Well, uh, I was just,
you know, wondering...

about this movie
we're supposed to go to.

Even though we say,
"as friends," you...

Well, um, what exactly
are you thinking?

I don't know.

Go to a movie.
Talk and stuff.

Not like boyfriend and
girlfriend stuff, right?

Is that what you
were thinking, Kendall?

No.

Hey, Kendall,

I think you're
a really great kid.

I really do.

I--I got to go.
All right?

I heard.

Now you got to talk
to him, Eugene.

The drugs were mine,
not Leonard's.

Did Leonard have any part
in the packaging or sale
of the drugs?

No.

Well, he uses
from time to time,

but he doesn't deal.

The single bag the police
say they found on his chest,

had he bought that
from you?

No, no, no, no, he was
asleep the entire time

I was doing my business
in the kitchen.

And when he passed out,

there were no drugs
on his chest.

Doing business?

A few people stopped by.

And where were these people
when the police arrived?

They left
about 10 minutes before

the cops
came bustin' in.

Well, is it possible that
Leonard could have had

the bag of drugs
on him the whole time,

and you just didn't
know about it?

No, no, I saw him
when he passed out,

and it wasn't there.

If one of the other guys
that came by earlier

wanted to
drop it on him,

think he's doing him
a favor, maybe.

I don't know.

But if you weren't
in the living room

at the time the other people
walked through,

it's entirely possible

that Mr. Sowers
woke up long enough

to ask somebody
for the drugs.

I would have heard that.

The living room is
right off the kitchen.

And these other people
who stopped by,

they were your customers?

Yes.

And you're testifying
to all this

out of the goodness
of your heart.

I'm up here doin' this
'cause Leonard
is innocent.

He doesn't sell drugs.

(beeper beeps)

(beeper stops)

This is yet another
Bobby Donnell stunt.

It's not a stunt.

You want to call him
as a witness?

Yes, if she needs
time to prepare--

He represents her!

-I know it's out there,
Helen, but--
-Out there?!

Look, the truth is being
sealed up inside

attorney-client
privilege.

Which never
should have happened.

Mr. Rogers, for you
to take this case

is gross malpractice.

It's grounds
for disbarment.

Everything that was done here

was done to help this girl
get a better defense.

-I don't care.
-Look, at this point--

And you're no better!

You should have
reported this.

I learned what I learned
through privilege.
How could--

Then you should've
declined to step in.

Whatever mistakes
have been made,

we can't let them
prejudice the defendant.

He should be able
to testify.

Both of you look at me.

I like things
clean and orderly.

I don't like mess.

I hate mess.

You've made
a big mess here.

After this trial
is over,

you might
find yourselves

in one of your very own.

The drugs were found...

right on him.

But he didn't know
they were there, did he?

He was asleep.

And somebody else...

just dropped that cocaine
on his chest.

And, hey, we had
his friend's word, too.

Another drug dealer
serving time.

One pusher vouching
for the other.

I love loyalty.

Who are we kidding?

For the record,

nothing the state
has put into evidence

shows that Leonard Sowers
knowingly possessed drugs.

He was a guest in the home
of Denny Staples,

who told you
those drugs were his,

and in fact,

pled guilty
for possessing them.

As for the bag that
was lying on his chest,

he testified that
he did not know
how it got there.

And the state never proved
how it got there.

But, hey,
why believe this guy?

I suppose it's easy not to.

When his pager
went off during trial,

didn't we all think,
drug dealer?

And we see how he looks.

Half in the bag.

If he's on drugs,
he'd probably sell them.

And even if he doesn't,
so what?

He's a druggie.

What's the big deal
locking him up?

And you know what?
As his lawyer

and as someone
who cares about him,

and I do...

I've been thinking

maybe prison's
the best thing for him.

It'll help him go straight.

'Cause at
the rate he's headed,

he's gonna end up dead.

He might be better off
in jail.

Only problem...

that's not how this works.

He should only be found
guilty if he did the crime,

and he didn't, and they
can't prove he did.

As a matter of law,
the state did not
make their burden,

and that is
all there is to it.

Actually, that's not all
there is to it.

The reason I do this job...

there are people out there
who don't catch many breaks.

And the business of law
is pretty much like
any other.

You're gonna get
what you pay for.

And, well, a drug addict,
he's not going to get
all that much.

And that's too bad.

Especially when underneath
the glassy eyes

and the disheveled
appearance,

there's a good man.

Especially when underneath
all that visible wreckage,

there's an innocent man.

I don't have any illusions
about getting you to care
about Leonard.

I only ask that when you
go back into that room,

please do not be distracted
from your job

by the fact...

that you don't care.

It's not fair.

She deserves
a lot more than--

It's not gonna happen,
and you know why.

Unfitness
runs both ways.

You don't think
we'll go after her?

-Think again, tubby.
-Hey, you listen--

No, you! The best
interests of the kids

is for this fight
to be over.

Your client knows that.

That's why she'll take
this settlement,

even if it means
getting less money.

You think you're gonna
just steamroll--

There's the deal,
Mr. Berluti.

Call me when you sign off!

Come on, James.

Gee, she seemed
so peaceful.

Yeah, well--

Wait an hour, then call.

Got it.

Well, what was that?

Well, uh...

We kind of faked
these meetings.

Excuse me?

Both clients wanted
satisfaction that they
were getting beaten up.

So we gave it to them...

for a cheaper price than if
they got it for real.

Wait--wait a second.

You and this lawyer--

Play acting.

Well, you can't do that.

Bec, the property settlement
was statutory.

The amount
was gonna be fixed.

They were both looking
for psychological victories.

They both got them.

Jimmy, you're a lawyer,
not a psychologist.

Well, sometimes
we got to be both.

You'll learn this.

Winnin' is good.

Making the client
think he won...better.

He hired me to defend her,
I guess out of conscience.

Who is this man?

That I can't tell you.

Can you explain why?

He told me

in an attorney-client
relationship.

That precludes me from
divulging his identity.

Well, this is probably hard
for the jury to grasp,

and I'd like to ask some
questions that perhaps
they might have.

You went forward
to help this young woman

because you believed
you could offer

a better defense
than the public defender.

-Yes.
-And yet,
you would agree

the best possible defense
that Jenny could get...

would be for your other client
to come forward and back up
her alibi.

Right?

Yes, but that wasn't
going to happen.

Well, suppose
the public defender
hired investigators

and somehow tracked down
his identity.

He could have subpoenaed him
and made it happen, right?

Yes, but I guess
I didn't consider
that too likely.

Public defenders
are overworked as it is.

Excuse me, but
the public defenders I know

are not only pretty good,

but they tend
to try their best,

especially for murder trials.

Mr. Rogers, did you take
this case because your client
feared being tracked down?

I beg your pardon?

Well, it makes sense,
doesn't it?

Who better than
the girl's lawyer
could guarantee

that this man
doesn't get found out?

That's not
what happened.

And I'll assume
you're asking

what you think could be
a juror's question,

'cause I know you know
that didn't happen.

I do know...

because I also
have the benefit

of knowing you personally.

If there's
a more honorable lawyer,

I haven't met him.

Objection, assuming facts
very much not in evidence.

Sustained.

My problem, Danny,
knowing you as well as I do,

I can't believe that you
wouldn't fork over
this guy's name,

even if it means
losing a meal ticket.

I couldn't.
Attorney-client
privilege.

Yes, but balanced
against this woman

being wrongly convicted
of murder?

The Daniel Rogers I know
would reveal the name
of the alibi witness.

Well, I guess you don't
know me as well
as you thought.

Or I don't know
the true stakes.

It was you...

with Jenny Raines
that night, wasn't it?

What?!

I'm sorry
to sandbag you here,
but I couldn't let this go.

What are you talking about?
I wasn't--

Danny, wait for
my next question, okay?

Don't say anything yet.

I apologize
for doing this to you
on the stand,

but I needed the threat
of perjury.

Plus, I know how you value
that oath to tell the truth.

I know your
conscience, Danny.

It's that conscience
that made you come forward

to help Jenny
in the first place.

I'll ask one more time.

A lie will hurt her
and you.

You were the man
she was with.

You both heard the scream.

You both looked
out the window.

That's the truth,
isn't it?

Please answer
the question, Mr. Rogers.

I'm going to assert my
fifth amendment right

and refuse to answer...

On the grounds
that I might
incriminate myself.

The charges
are completely dropped? Yeah.

Sometimes even
the DAs can do
the right thing.

I heard that.

There are conditions.

Foster care program.
Counseling.

All stuff I think is good.

Can, uh...
you give us a sec?

Yeah.

Thanks.

How did you know?

I just suddenly figured.

Does he know I really didn't
tell you anything?

He does now.

Jenny...

how could you sit on
the truth and risk jail?

He came forward
to help me, Mr. Donnell.

And he said
if I got convicted,

he'd tell.

And I believed him.

You know, you're
a little too trusting

for a person
in your line of work.

You ever think about
changing careers?

Will the defendant
please rise?

Madam foreperson,
the jury has reached
a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

What say you?

Commonwealth versus
Leonard Sowers,

on the count of possession
of a controlled substance

with intent to deliver,

we find the defendant,
Leonard Sowers,

not guilty.

Yes!

On the count of possession
of a controlled substance,

we find the defendant,
Leonard Sowers,

not guilty.

The jury's dismissed with
the thanks of the court.

-You did it.
-We're adjourned.

It means nothing, Leonard,
if you don't get help.

I know! I know--

You keep saying it,
but you need to do it.

Will you let me
help you do it?

Why?

Because if you don't--

No, I mean,
why do you care so much?

I'm just...

Why?

I like you, Leonard.

It's not every day you get
to meet good people.

Yes, I know.

I'm sorry.

You did
what you had to do.

And I know that eventually
you would, too.

That's why
I took the chance.

I didn't come back
to represent her

just to protect me.

I really thought
I could help her.

I know.

I guess I better
go talk to my wife.

I am sorry.

I owe you a thank you.

For doing
what needed to be done.

In the end, you were
always stronger than me.

It's still unethical.

Even if you basically
give the client
what she wants--

At half the cost.

Yes, at half the cost,

not telling her
what you're up to.

You know what
your problem is, Bec?

I'm mean?

You hold what we do
up on some pedestal...

like it's some big thing.

And isn't it?

Sometimes it is.

Well, maybe
with experience,

one day I'll learn to be
as simple as the job.

That was one of those
ironic comments.

I'm not gonna analyze it.

(glasses clink)

RICHIE HAVENS:
♪ I can see clearly now ♪

♪ The rain has gone ♪

♪ I can see all obstacles ♪

♪ In my way ♪

♪ Mm-mm-mm ♪

♪ Gone are the dark clouds ♪

♪ That had me blind ♪

♪ Gonna be a bright ♪

♪ A bright ♪

♪ Sunshiny day ♪

♪ Sunshiny day ♪

♪ Bright, sunshiny day ♪

♪ Bright, sunshiny day ♪

♪ Oh, yes, it will ♪

You stinker!