The Practice (1997–2004): Season 7, Episode 6 - The Telltale Nation - full transcript
We're certainly prepared
to go to trial.
Don't misunderstand.
You just don't think
you can win?
It's not that we can't,
but nobody's ever won
this type of suit before.
There is a last-minute offer.
It's likely just
to avoid trial, but...
it's something.
How much?
It's, uh...
$8,000.
Eight thousand dollars?
Is that the going rate
for manual rape these days?
YOUNG: The thing is,
this case isn't against
the church or the priest.
It's against the fellow victim.
It's against someone
who could have prevented it
from happening to me,
and should have.
FRUTT: Like I said,
we're prepared to move forward,
but we need you to be aware,
we're not confident of victory.
I'm not walking away
for $8,000.
(music playing)
BALL: We saw the article
in the newspaper, um,
on the fat woman singing,
uh, and we thought...
maybe you're like
the specialist in nuisance law,
which is--
that's why we're here.
Uh, but you're suing her?
BALL: Yeah.
That's correct.
She's my neighbor.
And, uh--
well, neither one of us
could afford a big trial.
And we'd heard about this, uh,
alternative dispute resolution,
where, uh,
a lawyer, you know,
kind of, decides.
You know,
like a ref or something.
It actually
isn't that simple.
Each of you would have
to be represented
by your own attorney.
Oh.
Well, have you
got another one here?
DONNELL: I thought this
was supposed to settle.
They lowballed us.
You can't try this.
The jury will laugh at you.
Why the hell didn't you
just sue the church?
We did. We got lumped
into a class action on that.
We're pursuing
this defendant separately.
Why, because
he's a deep pocket?
YOUNG: Bobby.
This is a dog, Eugene,
and you know it.
A victim has no duty
to another victim.
It's tort law 101.
Without duty,
there's no breach.
Perhaps you'd like to argue
for the other side.
The other side,
at least, has merits.
Yes. Which has always been
a prerequisite
for taking a case here.
All right.
(doors opens)
HATCHER: Walk up.
I took the last one.
I'm in trial.
Jamie.
Excellent.
I'm sorry. None of you
find her too perky?
To answer your question,
a civil case should have merit
before you take it
on a contingency,
for God's sakes,
which you know.
I think another bias
is in play here.
FRUTT: Bobby.
Excuse me?
Are you talking
about my bias or yours?
Eugene.
YOUNG: The jury
will just laugh at us?
The man was raped.
What kind of bias
allows for a person
to see that as nothing?
You know what?
Good luck with your case.
I hope you win.
(door closes)
I mean, it's my apartment.
I should be allowed to make
ordinary household noises.
I see.
So you both
went to Lindsay Dole.
Yes. And she said
we needed separate attorneys,
and sent me over here.
Excellent.
And the nature
of the household noises?
Lovemaking.
Lovemaking?
Yes.
I guess...
I'm a little vocal.
(chuckles)
I can't believe I'm saying this,
Zeus in heaven.
So...
FARCHER: And, see, Albert,
he and I used to be a couple.
So it's difficult for him
to hear noises
that used to only get
made for him.
Ah.
I think that's
what this is really about.
He's just trying
to stop me from making love.
He's a very jealous man.
I was 18 years old
at the time.
I was having emotional problems
at school...
and at home.
And I knew that Walter
was being counseled by him,
so I thought that
I would try it.
Walter Beck
was a friend of yours?
My best friend.
In fact,
he was the only friend
that I confided my problems to.
It was because
of this I learned
that he was seeing
Father Brindle.
And later you met
with this priest.
GRAYSON: Yes.
FRUTT: And what happened?
GRAYSON: At first, he thought
that I was suffering
from depression,
and then he started to zoom in
on fear of intimacy,
physical intimacy.
FRUTT: And, at some point,
this went beyond talk.
GRAYSON: Yes.
After...
a couple of months or so,
he asked me...
to take my clothes off,
to be naked before God,
and to lie down on a sofa
that he had in his office.
For the next several sessions,
I would talk...
while naked.
And, uh, then it began
to progress
where he would lie down with me,
clothed...
and hold me,
to help me...
with my phobia
of physical intimacy,
as he would put it.
And then he would take off
his clothes
and lie down next to me
naked as well.
Soon after that,
he began to molest me.
FRUTT: Arvin...
did you ever talk
to Walter Beck about this?
I didn't tell him specifically
what was happening,
but I raised questions.
I asked Walter how much
he trusted this priest,
and Walter always spoke
incredibly highly of him.
So you continued
to have sessions
with father Brindle.
GRAYSON: Yes.
And then he began...
to penetrate me...
with his hands.
FRUTT:
Did you ever tell anybody?
GRAYSON: No.
Why not?
Embarrassment...
shame, fear.
(sighs)
He was a very
well-respected priest,
and I thought perhaps
I was the only one,
so I made a decision
to stay quiet.
FRUTT: And then?
GRAYSON: Then after
about a year...
I stopped.
My life went on.
Certainly not well.
For the next 20 some odd years,
I tried to get those
sessions out of my mind,
until the allegations came out
that he had done it to others.
And at that point,
you came forward?
I joined a class action lawsuit
against the church
and Father Brindle.
And as I was reviewing
the pleadings,
I came across the name
of an old friend of mine,
Walter Beck.
And I read
that he had been molested
by the same priest...
before me.
He spoke so highly of him.
He's the reason
I went to him.
You let me walk into
that room...
Objection.
...knowing exactly
what was waiting for me.
Your Honor.
PENDER: Mr. Grayson,
please don't address
the defendant, sir.
A deposition?
I would like to get
his account on record.
That way...
DOLE: Jamie,
this is just
a couple having a fight.
Ex-couple.
And I couldn't agree more.
But I think
that by formalizing
the proceedings
with a deposition,
it might cause them
to take a step back
and say, "Whoa."
There's no compliant filed.
I know. And maybe
there won't be if we do this.
The goal is to make this
go away quickly, right?
And you simply can't wait
to take your first deposition.
Does it show?
It's just that...
for it to be against you--
talk about irony.
You are such
a role model for me.
I am?
Yes.
Not on stuff
like anger management,
but professionally.
After you'd been molested
by Father Brindle...
Raped.
...did you tell anybody?
Not for 20 years.
And as you read the pleadings
in the class action complaint,
you saw that
many other boys after you
had also been molested,
is that correct, sir?
Yes.
Would those boys
have a cause of action
against you for not telling?
I didn't know
those other boys.
As I testified, I thought
that I was
the only victim, so...
Did you tell Walter
you'd been molested?
I told him that I no longer
trusted this priest
and that he should be careful
around him.
But you didn't tell Walter
you'd been molested.
No.
So he's expected to tell you
stuff you don't tell him.
GRAYSON:
He didn't just not tell,
he vouched for this priest.
I didn't do that with him.
ATTORNEY:
You've testified that...
one of the reasons
you didn't come forward
was because...
you thought
there was the possibility
that you were the only one
being victimized,
did you not say that, sir?
Yes.
Did you allow
for the possibility
that Mr. Beck also thought
that he was the only victim?
Even if he thought that,
you don't just sit by quietly
and let your best friend
fall into a sex pervert's
clutches.
He could have
and should have said something,
instead he endorsed the guy.
(overlapping chatter)
FRUTT: I thought
he held up okay.
YOUNG: I don't know.
This comes down
to a definition of friendship.
Slippery slope becomes a cliff.
(sighs) Are you ready
for the defendant?
Don't worry.
I'll get him.
FRUTT: You know, Eugene,
this thing with the priests
and the sex abuse,
it's made a lot of people angry.
It's clearly made you angry.
And?
Well, I'm just curious
as to why you seem
to be directing
that anger at Bobby.
He came at me
this morning, Ellenor.
No. He attacked
the merits of our case.
You responded
by attacking him.
I didn't mean for it
to come off that way.
Is something else
going on here?
I'm upset over the case.
If I acted out against him,
uh, it wasn't my intent.
And, again, he brought
it to me first.
It's just
about the case with me.
Okay.
(overlapping chatter)
BALL: Two, three,
sometimes four times.
A month?
A week.
Can I interject?
No. This isn't
a discussion.
Well, I'd like you
to ask him how he knows.
Zeus in heaven,
has he got his ear to the wall?
I don't need my ear
to the wall, Louise.
All right.
Let's not do this.
She's a slut.
STRINGER: Okay. Okay.
Time out.
I'm going to ask
the questions.
Mr. Ball, you'll answer.
Louise, you'll remain quiet.
Excellent.
So she would have
multiple sexual visits
during the week?
Sometimes, yes.
And these visits interfered
with the quiet enjoyment
of your property?
Yes.
STRINGER:
Because you could hear the...
activity through the walls?
Yes.
STRINGER: Excellent.
To the best of your ability,
I'd like you to describe
these sounds.
Oh, I don't have
to describe it.
I taped it.
I beg your pardon?
Right here on tape.
Shall I play?
Well, sure.
FARCHER (over recording):
(moaning)
That's what you sound like?
Zeus in heaven.
FARCHER (over recording):
(moaning)
Okay, Albert,
we've heard it.
As you can see...
it's quite disruptive.
I didn't seek out Arvin
and say to him,
"You should go see this priest."
Arvin came to me.
He asked me if Father Brindle
was helping me.
And you told him yes.
I really thought
he could help Arvin.
Also...
ATTORNEY: Also what?
Well, what the subsequent years
of therapy have taught me,
I was desperate to believe
that Father Brindle
was a good man.
And I was, perhaps, desperate
to have my best friend,
the person who I trusted most,
affirm this.
It makes it sound
like you were using
your friend a little.
Unconsciously, I suppose I was.
But I did believe
that he could help Arvin.
And I didn't think
that Father Brindle
would molest him.
I really thought
that I was the lone target.
And like Arvin,
I assumed it was all my fault.
Arvin, I am deeply,
deeply sorry.
Objection.
Objection.
Mr. Beck,
I'll ask you as well
not to address
the opposing party.
That's all I have.
Eugene...
be careful.
The jury seems with him.
YOUNG: First, Mr. Beck,
if I may ask...
how did Father Brindle
go about seducing you?
It was almost exactly
as Arvin described.
So as I understand it,
just like with Mr. Grayson,
he basically used
a pretext of emotional counsel
to eventually wind up
next to you naked
on the couch.
Correct.
YOUNG: Yet when your best friend
asked for your advice,
you recommended
this priest for counseling.
As I said, I didn't think
he'd be targeted.
YOUNG: But you knew the man
targeted his patients.
You're simplifying it,
Mr. Young.
Had you told anybody
about your abuse?
No.
That must have been hard,
not being able to talk about it,
being the only one.
You have no idea.
YOUNG: I bet it would have
been easier,
had there been
at least one other victim,
somebody to talk to.
I didn't send my best friend
to a rapist
so I'd have company.
You testified you were
desperate for affirmation.
I didn't do that.
Do you ever blame yourself, sir,
for what happened
to Arvin Grayson?
Of course, I do.
A day doesn't go by--
of course, I do.
Thank you, Mr. Beck.
How'd it go?
Not bad.
They upped the offer to 110,
so we must be
doing something right.
Did you take it?
The client turned it down.
What?
Bobby...
You should have jammed it
down the client's throat.
The client was adamant.
DONNELL: I don't care.
You guys are partners.
You see the books.
We have to start exercising
some discretion
on the cases we take.
And we have to steer clients
towards settlement
when it's indicated.
Do I really need
to tell you that?
(door closes)
Ellenor asked me last night
why I seemed
to be attacking you.
I didn't really think I was,
but the more I thought
about it,
this case,
it has made me angry
at you, Bobby.
Why?
You're not gonna like the answer
any better than I do.
Why?
You're Catholic.
There.
I said it.
Last thing
I ever wanna believe
is that I could
be guilty of bigotry, but...
(sighs) it's the Catholics
keeping the church
in business.
People like you
who make donations,
who go to the cathedrals,
and put the envelope
in the offering plate.
Those priests were protected.
They were given safe harbor,
allowed to go on raping kids
because their crimes
were kept secret
as policy--as policy...
in the Catholic Church.
I know that
most priests are good,
don't get me wrong, but...
what we're talking about here
has been going on
for 30, 40 years.
It's been systemic.
And it's not enough
for the Catholic people to say,
"Oh, isn't that awful?
And here's my check."
And what do you propose
we do, Eugene?
Shut the church down.
Start a different institution
of Catholic faith.
Hell, I might join myself.
I propose you stop
giving the current institution
the money.
I propose you be more angry.
Dozens of kids have been abused
in this state alone.
And the church knew
it was going on,
did nothing about it,
and let it continue.
I propose you
be as angry...
as I am,
and that you good
Catholic people
stop giving the church
the money.
Bobby?
What's wrong?
Um, there's been some shooting.
One of my clients.
I couldn't really follow,
but I can't--I can't go there.
Can you please go for me?
(overlapping chatter)
Oh.
(sighs)
Don't tell me--your client?
We think it might be Lindsay's.
We don't know which.
Well, (sighs)
dead one's over here.
Shooter's in the bedroom.
STRINGER: That's, um,
Lindsay's client.
So Louise...
In her bedroom.
(sighs)
I better go.
(hurls)
I'll, uh--
I'll go in.
Talk time's over, Mike.
She's represented.
By you?
Give us some privacy,
will you?
(door closes)
My name is Bobby Donnell.
I work with Jamie.
First of all,
what did you just
tell Detective McGuire?
The truth.
He came in with a knife.
He was going to kill me.
He said--
he said he was going
to stab me in the heart
so I would know the feeling.
He just kept saying it,
"I'm gonna stab you
in the heart."
He came at me...
and I shot him.
DOLE: Did they arrest her?
(sighs) Not yet.
Could be justified
self-defense.
She did call 911
when he first entered.
Did he break in?
STRINGER: No.
He let himself in
with his own key.
He also has two assault priors
and a history
of mental problems.
Did he ever indicate
to you that...
No. He never
gave any indication
that he was going
to do anything.
He was armed
with a kitchen knife.
From whose kitchen?
His.
DONNELL: Okay.
We'll talk to her again.
If everything checks out,
we let her give
a full statement.
In the meantime,
let's prepare
as if they're going to charge.
If Walter Beck
had simply told his friend
that Father Brindle
was a rapist,
Arvin Grayson
wouldn't have been raped.
But Walter Beck,
who was in the habit
of telling his
best friend everything,
decided not
to tell him this.
Instead he just let him
fall unknowingly
into the hands
of a depraved...
sex offender.
About 15 years ago,
a bunch of bystanders at a bar
did nothing...
while a woman was repeatedly
raped on a pool table.
A few years after that,
a little girl was murdered
in a Las Vegas casino restroom
while the killer's
friend did nothing.
The public became outraged,
and things started to change.
Laws started getting passed
criminalizing bystander apathy.
Doctors today have
to report injuries
that they think
are the results of crimes.
Witnesses to child abuse
have to report it.
We have laws now pending
saying people have
to report foreigners
taking flying lessons.
We have got whistle-blowing laws
to prevent stock fraud,
corporate corruption,
because the law
is finally starting
to catch up
to our sense of morality,
requiring people
to get the hell involved.
It's also starting to catch up
to our sense of reality,
that unless we all become
our brothers' keepers,
we're doomed.
Here, we're not asking
for Walter Beck
to have done all that much.
We're not even asking him
to help a stranger,
only his best friend.
If he could have said so much
to Arvin Grayson
as, "Hey...
be careful."
Instead, he continued
to endorse
this abusive priest
knowing he was a rapist.
He not only failed
to prevent a crime,
his silence, in fact,
facilitated one,
a horrible one.
To say that Walter Beck
should bear
no responsibility in this,
that kind of thinking,
it takes us back 15 years,
when it was okay
to sit back and laugh
while a woman got gang-raped
on a pool table.
ATTORNEY: I agree
with Ms. Frutt on this.
The world is changing.
We're seeing a rush
of Chicken Little legislation,
laws requiring everyone
to run around
telling on everybody else.
We're quickly becoming
the telltale nation.
But even should you
wanna go
where the law
has not yet gone,
imposing a duty on one friend
to help prevent
the molestation of another,
the molestation, at a minimum,
would have to be foreseeable.
Here, it wasn't.
As Mr. Beck testified,
he did not think
Mr. Grayson would be victimized.
Should he have known?
Should he have seen
more clearly?
Are we going to start imposing
that duty as well?
Victims of sexual abuse
should be required
to see and act clearly?
Please.
Privacy is rapidly
being eroded
in this country.
Public fear is certainly
winning out.
But today...
you're being asked
to impose a duty
on sexual-abuse victims
to come forward
and tell the world
what has happened to them,
or at least tell
their best friends.
(scoffs)
God help us.
So they're not gonna file?
They're still investigating,
but it doesn't look like it.
How's Jamie?
She's okay.
She plunged
into preparing
a defense just in case.
So she's occupying herself.
(sighs)
How are you?
I'm okay.
It's a little too much déjà vu
too early, I guess.
How are you?
I'm fine.
You talk to Eugene again?
No.
Listen, when I told you
what he said,
you didn't respond.
Is that because
you agree with him?
I don't blame
the Catholic people
for abusive priests.
I certainly
don't blame you.
But it seems like you're
withholding on the issue.
Are you?
DOLE: No.
Are you?
I don't really want to talk
about this now.
Lindsay, I'd like
to talk about it now.
Okay.
Every so often, you bring up
how we haven't christened
Bobby Jr. yet,
and we really need
to do that,
and I always find
a way to deflect it.
Well...
I'm just gonna say this.
There's no way I'm gonna
let him be raised Catholic.
It is not a faith
or an ideology issue,
but even with the remotest
of possibilities
that he could fall
into the hands
of the wrong priest--
That's totally prejudiced.
I don't deny it.
But I would rather be
a bigot than risk--
Let's talk about
other religions.
You don't think a minister
or a rabbi has ever--
Probably, but not
as many as priests.
Until you drop
the celibacy thing,
Catholic clergy--
I'm not gonna hear this.
Fine.
I mean, I can't believe
you'd be guilty
of such blatant bigotry!
I'm a mother,
and my son will never be walking
into any confessional alone.
I know that's a prejudice,
but the church has to accept
some responsibility
for my bigotry as well.
Oh, really?
Yes.
When somebody walks
through your door
and says, "One
of your priests raped me,"
you don't just reach
for the phone
and dial up your publicist.
When did
the jury go out?
About an hour ago.
I don't think we're gonna
hear anything today.
I'm thinking we should see
if that offer still stands.
You closed well, Ellenor.
Zeus in heaven.
Oh, my God.
I've been pulling up every case,
every clipping I can
with similar fact patterns
to see if anybody anywhere
used any new defenses on--
seven years ago
in Denver, same thing.
A woman shot her
ex-boyfriend
trying to kill her
with a knife.
Exact same thing.
So what's the problem?
STRINGER: Exact same woman.
What?!
STRINGER:
She had a different name,
different Social Security
Number, but that's her!
Well, was she charged?
STRINGER: No.
The police ruled it
justifiable self-defense.
She was so traumatized,
according to this article,
she left to start
a new life.
So she's done
this before.
And not just once.
Three years ago
in Cleveland,
again a boyfriend,
again justified
self-defense.
There's no picture here
but it quote,
"He just came at me
from nowhere, Zeus in heaven."
(music playing)
WASHINGTON:
What I don't understand
is if you could pull this up
in six hours,
why can't the police?
DONNELL: The police
aren't investigating.
Both shootings
were ruled justifiable.
They're not looking.
Well, how many boyfriends
does she have to kill
before they get
suspicious?
The same woman didn't do it,
as far as they know.
She's had three
different identities,
which, by the way,
is simple to do.
HATCHER:
So what do you do now
besides not date her?
(door opens)
Jamie.
(door closes)
Can I talk to you?
STRINGER: Sure.
Go in the conference room.
I'll be right in.
(door closes)
What do I do?
We stick to this case.
Why?
DONNELL:
Because what we don't know
could help us, Jamie,
should she ever get charged
on this case.
Oh, come on. We know.
We saw the newspaper.
We saw a woman
who looked like her, period.
So what's happening?
The police are still
investigating.
We're hoping
they rule it justifiable.
Good.
Listen, this whole thing
is obviously upsetting.
I can't continue
to live in that apartment.
In fact, I'm thinking
maybe it's best
if I leave Boston
altogether.
STRINGER: Oh?
I think maybe I should just try
to start a new life somewhere,
try to escape all this.
DONNELL: Certainly
you don't wanna leave
the jurisdiction now.
The police would
consider that suspicious.
After they decide not
to charge you,
that would be the time
to think about leaving.
I see.
Yes, of course.
Zeus in heaven,
I can't even begin to think
where I would even go.
Denver's nice.
So is Cleveland.
Why did you say that?
Oh, I visited Denver once.
It was beautiful.
And who doesn't love Cleveland?
Listen, I've been talking
to some potential
character witnesses,
and you've got plenty
of support, by the way.
But I found out
Albert actually
broke up with you,
not the other way around.
I never said it was
the other way around.
Well, it's just
in characterizing him
as the jealous ex-boyfriend.
Uh, also,
one of your lovers said
that he got the idea
that you were trying
to make Albert jealous,
you know, to punish him
a little.
Would I be the first
girlfriend to do that?
(chuckles)
No,
you wouldn't.
I expressly told you
not to confront her!
I didn't, I just--
"How about Denver
or Cleveland?"
What the hell was that?!
That's hardly
confronting her.
And the stuff
about the witnesses
was relevant
to this case, Bobby.
Don't play games with me.
You were fishing in waters
I asked you not to.
I threw out
one little cast.
Don't do it again.
Do I make myself clear?
Yes.
There is a pecking
order here, Jamie.
Let's not forget that.
I won't.
DONNELL: She's been hanging
around Lucy too much.
That's her problem.
Picking up
all that sassiness.
I think she's still
pushing to fit in.
Fit in? She challenges us
at every turn.
Do they teach that
at Harvard now?
Well, the last
Harvard grad worked out.
You married her.
That's not gonna happen
this time.
Listen, Jimmy, uh...
I do have something
I want to talk to you about,
Catholic to Catholic.
How are you handling
this priest thing?
I don't know.
Well, clearly,
you've thought about it.
Thought about it?
Bobby, a lot of nights,
I don't sleep.
I'm not
an abstract thinker.
You know,
when I think of God,
I kind of give him
a human image,
my priest.
In a way,
he's always represented
the face of God to me.
So to think of priests
doing what some of them did,
it's...
Have you ever thought about...
leaving the church over it?
No.
That would be like
leaving God.
Bobby, the church
is not just the priests.
It's you and me.
We are the church.
To leave would be like
walking away from ourselves,
who we are, people of God.
But as people of God,
how do we tolerate these...
Look, the media
has so overblown this.
They don't talk
about all the good
the church does,
and it's a lot.
Maybe he's right.
Who?
Eugene.
There isn't enough rage.
(music playing)
PENDER: All right, then.
Mr. Foreman,
I'll ask you to rise
and read your verdict
to the court.
In the matter
of Grayson versus Beck,
we the jury find in favor
of the plaintiff,
and we order the defendant
to pay compensatory damages
in the amount
of $1.4 million.
(overlapping chatter)
PENDER: This trial is completed.
Members of the jury,
your service is finished.
We thank you.
And this matter is adjourned.
(gavel bangs)
Thank you.
Thank you both.
Be prepared for an appeal,
and it's one we have to take
very seriously.
I know.
Congratulations.
GRAYSON: Thank you.
Thanks again.
(music playing)
Another?
STRINGER: I think so,
Calgary, Alberta.
She lived there for a year
after Denver.
That's her. See?
And she shot yet
another boyfriend?
All four had criminal records
for assault, battery.
I think
it's a prerequisite for her.
Uh, it helps her justify
her shootings.
And every time,
she's been cleared?
And then falls off
the face of the earth.
Four victims.
And counting.
That was Helen Gamble's office.
It's been ruled
justifiable self-defense.
We have to tell them.
Tell who?
The police.
There are going to be more.
She's serial!
You want to lose
your bar ticket?
So we say nothing?
We don't tell anybody?
(door opens)
We won, $1.4 million.
What?
You won?
The laws are changing, folks.
We're as shocked as you are.
Congratulations.
Really.
Thank you.
HATCHER: Uh, Eugene,
this came for you.
I did not accept service,
but he left it anyway.
What is it?
You know
a Marshall Hatsburg?
Marshall,
yes, he worked
at the church, too.
You and he were friends?
Friendly, played
basketball together,
but I wouldn't say
we were close, why?
He's suing you.
What?
For not telling him
about Father Brindle.
Seems he was raped
after you.
(music playing)
Louise?
(gasps)
Zeus in heaven,
you startled me.
Clearing out?
Yes.
Lucy called,
told me the shooting
was ruled justifiable.
So I thought
I'd pack and go.
The sooner,
the better.
Where to?
You know, I haven't
really decided yet.
I'm gonna go
see some friends,
move around,
pick a place,
I guess.
Any suggestions?
Well...
after Denver and Cleveland,
only leaves Calgary.
Never been there.
Maybe I'll try it.
Uh-huh.
Why are you here, Jamie?
Trying to get me
to say something?
It's almost as if you think
I'm a killer or something.
Of course,
if you did think that,
I doubt you'd come
here alone.
That'd be dangerous.
If you'll excuse me now,
I need to finish packing.
(bell tolling)
Bobby?
DONNELL: Hey, Father,
thanks for agreeing
to meet me here.
Oh, no problem.
I'm leaving
the church, Father.
Oh, uh,
what do you mean?
Leaving the church?
DONNELL: I have loved being
a part of this parish,
and specifically,
being your parishioner,
but the sex-abuse
scandal--
Bobby, let's sit down
and talk.
What can you say,
molestation gets a bad rap?
I can say
that the offending clergy
makes up
a microscopic portion
of the priesthood.
I know that,
but the church's
concealment--
it's enabling
these priests
to destroy
so many young lives.
We've made mistakes.
I believe that we're
acknowledging them.
Our new policy
is zero tolerance.
I know the litigation
tactics being employed
against the victims.
I also know that--
look...
this isn't
about vengeance.
Bobby...
when you have a crisis
of conscience--
well, any personal crisis,
for that matter,
where do you go?
I come to you.
But this isn't
about you or--
I'm not leaving the faith.
Just the church.
My son,
when you leave the church,
you leave the faith.
Can I give you the speech
about all of the good work
that we've done?
Do you have any notion
of the global
charitable work done
by the Catholic Church?
I do.
But I don't look
to the church
like it's the united way.
For me
it's about spiritual
and moral leadership.
Until you expel
every offending priest,
everyone involved
with protecting them
and concealing them,
there's been
no true penance.
When that day comes,
I hope to return.
FATHER: Bobby,
you can't just leave.
Goodbye, Father.
(music playing)
BERLUTI: Next on The Practice.
Why us?
MAN: Because Helen Gamble
is a DA.
Also you're
on the short list of lawyers
willing to defend scum.
What's the case?
Statutory rape.
I don't want it.
I didn't ask.
And you think to avoid a trial,
I'm going to put a child rapist
back on the street.
We think we could sell
minimum security.
And Mr. Orbis is going
to a maximum security prison.
BERLUTI:
There is a problem here.
We can win this.
(music playing)
WOMAN: You stinker!
(music playing)
to go to trial.
Don't misunderstand.
You just don't think
you can win?
It's not that we can't,
but nobody's ever won
this type of suit before.
There is a last-minute offer.
It's likely just
to avoid trial, but...
it's something.
How much?
It's, uh...
$8,000.
Eight thousand dollars?
Is that the going rate
for manual rape these days?
YOUNG: The thing is,
this case isn't against
the church or the priest.
It's against the fellow victim.
It's against someone
who could have prevented it
from happening to me,
and should have.
FRUTT: Like I said,
we're prepared to move forward,
but we need you to be aware,
we're not confident of victory.
I'm not walking away
for $8,000.
(music playing)
BALL: We saw the article
in the newspaper, um,
on the fat woman singing,
uh, and we thought...
maybe you're like
the specialist in nuisance law,
which is--
that's why we're here.
Uh, but you're suing her?
BALL: Yeah.
That's correct.
She's my neighbor.
And, uh--
well, neither one of us
could afford a big trial.
And we'd heard about this, uh,
alternative dispute resolution,
where, uh,
a lawyer, you know,
kind of, decides.
You know,
like a ref or something.
It actually
isn't that simple.
Each of you would have
to be represented
by your own attorney.
Oh.
Well, have you
got another one here?
DONNELL: I thought this
was supposed to settle.
They lowballed us.
You can't try this.
The jury will laugh at you.
Why the hell didn't you
just sue the church?
We did. We got lumped
into a class action on that.
We're pursuing
this defendant separately.
Why, because
he's a deep pocket?
YOUNG: Bobby.
This is a dog, Eugene,
and you know it.
A victim has no duty
to another victim.
It's tort law 101.
Without duty,
there's no breach.
Perhaps you'd like to argue
for the other side.
The other side,
at least, has merits.
Yes. Which has always been
a prerequisite
for taking a case here.
All right.
(doors opens)
HATCHER: Walk up.
I took the last one.
I'm in trial.
Jamie.
Excellent.
I'm sorry. None of you
find her too perky?
To answer your question,
a civil case should have merit
before you take it
on a contingency,
for God's sakes,
which you know.
I think another bias
is in play here.
FRUTT: Bobby.
Excuse me?
Are you talking
about my bias or yours?
Eugene.
YOUNG: The jury
will just laugh at us?
The man was raped.
What kind of bias
allows for a person
to see that as nothing?
You know what?
Good luck with your case.
I hope you win.
(door closes)
I mean, it's my apartment.
I should be allowed to make
ordinary household noises.
I see.
So you both
went to Lindsay Dole.
Yes. And she said
we needed separate attorneys,
and sent me over here.
Excellent.
And the nature
of the household noises?
Lovemaking.
Lovemaking?
Yes.
I guess...
I'm a little vocal.
(chuckles)
I can't believe I'm saying this,
Zeus in heaven.
So...
FARCHER: And, see, Albert,
he and I used to be a couple.
So it's difficult for him
to hear noises
that used to only get
made for him.
Ah.
I think that's
what this is really about.
He's just trying
to stop me from making love.
He's a very jealous man.
I was 18 years old
at the time.
I was having emotional problems
at school...
and at home.
And I knew that Walter
was being counseled by him,
so I thought that
I would try it.
Walter Beck
was a friend of yours?
My best friend.
In fact,
he was the only friend
that I confided my problems to.
It was because
of this I learned
that he was seeing
Father Brindle.
And later you met
with this priest.
GRAYSON: Yes.
FRUTT: And what happened?
GRAYSON: At first, he thought
that I was suffering
from depression,
and then he started to zoom in
on fear of intimacy,
physical intimacy.
FRUTT: And, at some point,
this went beyond talk.
GRAYSON: Yes.
After...
a couple of months or so,
he asked me...
to take my clothes off,
to be naked before God,
and to lie down on a sofa
that he had in his office.
For the next several sessions,
I would talk...
while naked.
And, uh, then it began
to progress
where he would lie down with me,
clothed...
and hold me,
to help me...
with my phobia
of physical intimacy,
as he would put it.
And then he would take off
his clothes
and lie down next to me
naked as well.
Soon after that,
he began to molest me.
FRUTT: Arvin...
did you ever talk
to Walter Beck about this?
I didn't tell him specifically
what was happening,
but I raised questions.
I asked Walter how much
he trusted this priest,
and Walter always spoke
incredibly highly of him.
So you continued
to have sessions
with father Brindle.
GRAYSON: Yes.
And then he began...
to penetrate me...
with his hands.
FRUTT:
Did you ever tell anybody?
GRAYSON: No.
Why not?
Embarrassment...
shame, fear.
(sighs)
He was a very
well-respected priest,
and I thought perhaps
I was the only one,
so I made a decision
to stay quiet.
FRUTT: And then?
GRAYSON: Then after
about a year...
I stopped.
My life went on.
Certainly not well.
For the next 20 some odd years,
I tried to get those
sessions out of my mind,
until the allegations came out
that he had done it to others.
And at that point,
you came forward?
I joined a class action lawsuit
against the church
and Father Brindle.
And as I was reviewing
the pleadings,
I came across the name
of an old friend of mine,
Walter Beck.
And I read
that he had been molested
by the same priest...
before me.
He spoke so highly of him.
He's the reason
I went to him.
You let me walk into
that room...
Objection.
...knowing exactly
what was waiting for me.
Your Honor.
PENDER: Mr. Grayson,
please don't address
the defendant, sir.
A deposition?
I would like to get
his account on record.
That way...
DOLE: Jamie,
this is just
a couple having a fight.
Ex-couple.
And I couldn't agree more.
But I think
that by formalizing
the proceedings
with a deposition,
it might cause them
to take a step back
and say, "Whoa."
There's no compliant filed.
I know. And maybe
there won't be if we do this.
The goal is to make this
go away quickly, right?
And you simply can't wait
to take your first deposition.
Does it show?
It's just that...
for it to be against you--
talk about irony.
You are such
a role model for me.
I am?
Yes.
Not on stuff
like anger management,
but professionally.
After you'd been molested
by Father Brindle...
Raped.
...did you tell anybody?
Not for 20 years.
And as you read the pleadings
in the class action complaint,
you saw that
many other boys after you
had also been molested,
is that correct, sir?
Yes.
Would those boys
have a cause of action
against you for not telling?
I didn't know
those other boys.
As I testified, I thought
that I was
the only victim, so...
Did you tell Walter
you'd been molested?
I told him that I no longer
trusted this priest
and that he should be careful
around him.
But you didn't tell Walter
you'd been molested.
No.
So he's expected to tell you
stuff you don't tell him.
GRAYSON:
He didn't just not tell,
he vouched for this priest.
I didn't do that with him.
ATTORNEY:
You've testified that...
one of the reasons
you didn't come forward
was because...
you thought
there was the possibility
that you were the only one
being victimized,
did you not say that, sir?
Yes.
Did you allow
for the possibility
that Mr. Beck also thought
that he was the only victim?
Even if he thought that,
you don't just sit by quietly
and let your best friend
fall into a sex pervert's
clutches.
He could have
and should have said something,
instead he endorsed the guy.
(overlapping chatter)
FRUTT: I thought
he held up okay.
YOUNG: I don't know.
This comes down
to a definition of friendship.
Slippery slope becomes a cliff.
(sighs) Are you ready
for the defendant?
Don't worry.
I'll get him.
FRUTT: You know, Eugene,
this thing with the priests
and the sex abuse,
it's made a lot of people angry.
It's clearly made you angry.
And?
Well, I'm just curious
as to why you seem
to be directing
that anger at Bobby.
He came at me
this morning, Ellenor.
No. He attacked
the merits of our case.
You responded
by attacking him.
I didn't mean for it
to come off that way.
Is something else
going on here?
I'm upset over the case.
If I acted out against him,
uh, it wasn't my intent.
And, again, he brought
it to me first.
It's just
about the case with me.
Okay.
(overlapping chatter)
BALL: Two, three,
sometimes four times.
A month?
A week.
Can I interject?
No. This isn't
a discussion.
Well, I'd like you
to ask him how he knows.
Zeus in heaven,
has he got his ear to the wall?
I don't need my ear
to the wall, Louise.
All right.
Let's not do this.
She's a slut.
STRINGER: Okay. Okay.
Time out.
I'm going to ask
the questions.
Mr. Ball, you'll answer.
Louise, you'll remain quiet.
Excellent.
So she would have
multiple sexual visits
during the week?
Sometimes, yes.
And these visits interfered
with the quiet enjoyment
of your property?
Yes.
STRINGER:
Because you could hear the...
activity through the walls?
Yes.
STRINGER: Excellent.
To the best of your ability,
I'd like you to describe
these sounds.
Oh, I don't have
to describe it.
I taped it.
I beg your pardon?
Right here on tape.
Shall I play?
Well, sure.
FARCHER (over recording):
(moaning)
That's what you sound like?
Zeus in heaven.
FARCHER (over recording):
(moaning)
Okay, Albert,
we've heard it.
As you can see...
it's quite disruptive.
I didn't seek out Arvin
and say to him,
"You should go see this priest."
Arvin came to me.
He asked me if Father Brindle
was helping me.
And you told him yes.
I really thought
he could help Arvin.
Also...
ATTORNEY: Also what?
Well, what the subsequent years
of therapy have taught me,
I was desperate to believe
that Father Brindle
was a good man.
And I was, perhaps, desperate
to have my best friend,
the person who I trusted most,
affirm this.
It makes it sound
like you were using
your friend a little.
Unconsciously, I suppose I was.
But I did believe
that he could help Arvin.
And I didn't think
that Father Brindle
would molest him.
I really thought
that I was the lone target.
And like Arvin,
I assumed it was all my fault.
Arvin, I am deeply,
deeply sorry.
Objection.
Objection.
Mr. Beck,
I'll ask you as well
not to address
the opposing party.
That's all I have.
Eugene...
be careful.
The jury seems with him.
YOUNG: First, Mr. Beck,
if I may ask...
how did Father Brindle
go about seducing you?
It was almost exactly
as Arvin described.
So as I understand it,
just like with Mr. Grayson,
he basically used
a pretext of emotional counsel
to eventually wind up
next to you naked
on the couch.
Correct.
YOUNG: Yet when your best friend
asked for your advice,
you recommended
this priest for counseling.
As I said, I didn't think
he'd be targeted.
YOUNG: But you knew the man
targeted his patients.
You're simplifying it,
Mr. Young.
Had you told anybody
about your abuse?
No.
That must have been hard,
not being able to talk about it,
being the only one.
You have no idea.
YOUNG: I bet it would have
been easier,
had there been
at least one other victim,
somebody to talk to.
I didn't send my best friend
to a rapist
so I'd have company.
You testified you were
desperate for affirmation.
I didn't do that.
Do you ever blame yourself, sir,
for what happened
to Arvin Grayson?
Of course, I do.
A day doesn't go by--
of course, I do.
Thank you, Mr. Beck.
How'd it go?
Not bad.
They upped the offer to 110,
so we must be
doing something right.
Did you take it?
The client turned it down.
What?
Bobby...
You should have jammed it
down the client's throat.
The client was adamant.
DONNELL: I don't care.
You guys are partners.
You see the books.
We have to start exercising
some discretion
on the cases we take.
And we have to steer clients
towards settlement
when it's indicated.
Do I really need
to tell you that?
(door closes)
Ellenor asked me last night
why I seemed
to be attacking you.
I didn't really think I was,
but the more I thought
about it,
this case,
it has made me angry
at you, Bobby.
Why?
You're not gonna like the answer
any better than I do.
Why?
You're Catholic.
There.
I said it.
Last thing
I ever wanna believe
is that I could
be guilty of bigotry, but...
(sighs) it's the Catholics
keeping the church
in business.
People like you
who make donations,
who go to the cathedrals,
and put the envelope
in the offering plate.
Those priests were protected.
They were given safe harbor,
allowed to go on raping kids
because their crimes
were kept secret
as policy--as policy...
in the Catholic Church.
I know that
most priests are good,
don't get me wrong, but...
what we're talking about here
has been going on
for 30, 40 years.
It's been systemic.
And it's not enough
for the Catholic people to say,
"Oh, isn't that awful?
And here's my check."
And what do you propose
we do, Eugene?
Shut the church down.
Start a different institution
of Catholic faith.
Hell, I might join myself.
I propose you stop
giving the current institution
the money.
I propose you be more angry.
Dozens of kids have been abused
in this state alone.
And the church knew
it was going on,
did nothing about it,
and let it continue.
I propose you
be as angry...
as I am,
and that you good
Catholic people
stop giving the church
the money.
Bobby?
What's wrong?
Um, there's been some shooting.
One of my clients.
I couldn't really follow,
but I can't--I can't go there.
Can you please go for me?
(overlapping chatter)
Oh.
(sighs)
Don't tell me--your client?
We think it might be Lindsay's.
We don't know which.
Well, (sighs)
dead one's over here.
Shooter's in the bedroom.
STRINGER: That's, um,
Lindsay's client.
So Louise...
In her bedroom.
(sighs)
I better go.
(hurls)
I'll, uh--
I'll go in.
Talk time's over, Mike.
She's represented.
By you?
Give us some privacy,
will you?
(door closes)
My name is Bobby Donnell.
I work with Jamie.
First of all,
what did you just
tell Detective McGuire?
The truth.
He came in with a knife.
He was going to kill me.
He said--
he said he was going
to stab me in the heart
so I would know the feeling.
He just kept saying it,
"I'm gonna stab you
in the heart."
He came at me...
and I shot him.
DOLE: Did they arrest her?
(sighs) Not yet.
Could be justified
self-defense.
She did call 911
when he first entered.
Did he break in?
STRINGER: No.
He let himself in
with his own key.
He also has two assault priors
and a history
of mental problems.
Did he ever indicate
to you that...
No. He never
gave any indication
that he was going
to do anything.
He was armed
with a kitchen knife.
From whose kitchen?
His.
DONNELL: Okay.
We'll talk to her again.
If everything checks out,
we let her give
a full statement.
In the meantime,
let's prepare
as if they're going to charge.
If Walter Beck
had simply told his friend
that Father Brindle
was a rapist,
Arvin Grayson
wouldn't have been raped.
But Walter Beck,
who was in the habit
of telling his
best friend everything,
decided not
to tell him this.
Instead he just let him
fall unknowingly
into the hands
of a depraved...
sex offender.
About 15 years ago,
a bunch of bystanders at a bar
did nothing...
while a woman was repeatedly
raped on a pool table.
A few years after that,
a little girl was murdered
in a Las Vegas casino restroom
while the killer's
friend did nothing.
The public became outraged,
and things started to change.
Laws started getting passed
criminalizing bystander apathy.
Doctors today have
to report injuries
that they think
are the results of crimes.
Witnesses to child abuse
have to report it.
We have laws now pending
saying people have
to report foreigners
taking flying lessons.
We have got whistle-blowing laws
to prevent stock fraud,
corporate corruption,
because the law
is finally starting
to catch up
to our sense of morality,
requiring people
to get the hell involved.
It's also starting to catch up
to our sense of reality,
that unless we all become
our brothers' keepers,
we're doomed.
Here, we're not asking
for Walter Beck
to have done all that much.
We're not even asking him
to help a stranger,
only his best friend.
If he could have said so much
to Arvin Grayson
as, "Hey...
be careful."
Instead, he continued
to endorse
this abusive priest
knowing he was a rapist.
He not only failed
to prevent a crime,
his silence, in fact,
facilitated one,
a horrible one.
To say that Walter Beck
should bear
no responsibility in this,
that kind of thinking,
it takes us back 15 years,
when it was okay
to sit back and laugh
while a woman got gang-raped
on a pool table.
ATTORNEY: I agree
with Ms. Frutt on this.
The world is changing.
We're seeing a rush
of Chicken Little legislation,
laws requiring everyone
to run around
telling on everybody else.
We're quickly becoming
the telltale nation.
But even should you
wanna go
where the law
has not yet gone,
imposing a duty on one friend
to help prevent
the molestation of another,
the molestation, at a minimum,
would have to be foreseeable.
Here, it wasn't.
As Mr. Beck testified,
he did not think
Mr. Grayson would be victimized.
Should he have known?
Should he have seen
more clearly?
Are we going to start imposing
that duty as well?
Victims of sexual abuse
should be required
to see and act clearly?
Please.
Privacy is rapidly
being eroded
in this country.
Public fear is certainly
winning out.
But today...
you're being asked
to impose a duty
on sexual-abuse victims
to come forward
and tell the world
what has happened to them,
or at least tell
their best friends.
(scoffs)
God help us.
So they're not gonna file?
They're still investigating,
but it doesn't look like it.
How's Jamie?
She's okay.
She plunged
into preparing
a defense just in case.
So she's occupying herself.
(sighs)
How are you?
I'm okay.
It's a little too much déjà vu
too early, I guess.
How are you?
I'm fine.
You talk to Eugene again?
No.
Listen, when I told you
what he said,
you didn't respond.
Is that because
you agree with him?
I don't blame
the Catholic people
for abusive priests.
I certainly
don't blame you.
But it seems like you're
withholding on the issue.
Are you?
DOLE: No.
Are you?
I don't really want to talk
about this now.
Lindsay, I'd like
to talk about it now.
Okay.
Every so often, you bring up
how we haven't christened
Bobby Jr. yet,
and we really need
to do that,
and I always find
a way to deflect it.
Well...
I'm just gonna say this.
There's no way I'm gonna
let him be raised Catholic.
It is not a faith
or an ideology issue,
but even with the remotest
of possibilities
that he could fall
into the hands
of the wrong priest--
That's totally prejudiced.
I don't deny it.
But I would rather be
a bigot than risk--
Let's talk about
other religions.
You don't think a minister
or a rabbi has ever--
Probably, but not
as many as priests.
Until you drop
the celibacy thing,
Catholic clergy--
I'm not gonna hear this.
Fine.
I mean, I can't believe
you'd be guilty
of such blatant bigotry!
I'm a mother,
and my son will never be walking
into any confessional alone.
I know that's a prejudice,
but the church has to accept
some responsibility
for my bigotry as well.
Oh, really?
Yes.
When somebody walks
through your door
and says, "One
of your priests raped me,"
you don't just reach
for the phone
and dial up your publicist.
When did
the jury go out?
About an hour ago.
I don't think we're gonna
hear anything today.
I'm thinking we should see
if that offer still stands.
You closed well, Ellenor.
Zeus in heaven.
Oh, my God.
I've been pulling up every case,
every clipping I can
with similar fact patterns
to see if anybody anywhere
used any new defenses on--
seven years ago
in Denver, same thing.
A woman shot her
ex-boyfriend
trying to kill her
with a knife.
Exact same thing.
So what's the problem?
STRINGER: Exact same woman.
What?!
STRINGER:
She had a different name,
different Social Security
Number, but that's her!
Well, was she charged?
STRINGER: No.
The police ruled it
justifiable self-defense.
She was so traumatized,
according to this article,
she left to start
a new life.
So she's done
this before.
And not just once.
Three years ago
in Cleveland,
again a boyfriend,
again justified
self-defense.
There's no picture here
but it quote,
"He just came at me
from nowhere, Zeus in heaven."
(music playing)
WASHINGTON:
What I don't understand
is if you could pull this up
in six hours,
why can't the police?
DONNELL: The police
aren't investigating.
Both shootings
were ruled justifiable.
They're not looking.
Well, how many boyfriends
does she have to kill
before they get
suspicious?
The same woman didn't do it,
as far as they know.
She's had three
different identities,
which, by the way,
is simple to do.
HATCHER:
So what do you do now
besides not date her?
(door opens)
Jamie.
(door closes)
Can I talk to you?
STRINGER: Sure.
Go in the conference room.
I'll be right in.
(door closes)
What do I do?
We stick to this case.
Why?
DONNELL:
Because what we don't know
could help us, Jamie,
should she ever get charged
on this case.
Oh, come on. We know.
We saw the newspaper.
We saw a woman
who looked like her, period.
So what's happening?
The police are still
investigating.
We're hoping
they rule it justifiable.
Good.
Listen, this whole thing
is obviously upsetting.
I can't continue
to live in that apartment.
In fact, I'm thinking
maybe it's best
if I leave Boston
altogether.
STRINGER: Oh?
I think maybe I should just try
to start a new life somewhere,
try to escape all this.
DONNELL: Certainly
you don't wanna leave
the jurisdiction now.
The police would
consider that suspicious.
After they decide not
to charge you,
that would be the time
to think about leaving.
I see.
Yes, of course.
Zeus in heaven,
I can't even begin to think
where I would even go.
Denver's nice.
So is Cleveland.
Why did you say that?
Oh, I visited Denver once.
It was beautiful.
And who doesn't love Cleveland?
Listen, I've been talking
to some potential
character witnesses,
and you've got plenty
of support, by the way.
But I found out
Albert actually
broke up with you,
not the other way around.
I never said it was
the other way around.
Well, it's just
in characterizing him
as the jealous ex-boyfriend.
Uh, also,
one of your lovers said
that he got the idea
that you were trying
to make Albert jealous,
you know, to punish him
a little.
Would I be the first
girlfriend to do that?
(chuckles)
No,
you wouldn't.
I expressly told you
not to confront her!
I didn't, I just--
"How about Denver
or Cleveland?"
What the hell was that?!
That's hardly
confronting her.
And the stuff
about the witnesses
was relevant
to this case, Bobby.
Don't play games with me.
You were fishing in waters
I asked you not to.
I threw out
one little cast.
Don't do it again.
Do I make myself clear?
Yes.
There is a pecking
order here, Jamie.
Let's not forget that.
I won't.
DONNELL: She's been hanging
around Lucy too much.
That's her problem.
Picking up
all that sassiness.
I think she's still
pushing to fit in.
Fit in? She challenges us
at every turn.
Do they teach that
at Harvard now?
Well, the last
Harvard grad worked out.
You married her.
That's not gonna happen
this time.
Listen, Jimmy, uh...
I do have something
I want to talk to you about,
Catholic to Catholic.
How are you handling
this priest thing?
I don't know.
Well, clearly,
you've thought about it.
Thought about it?
Bobby, a lot of nights,
I don't sleep.
I'm not
an abstract thinker.
You know,
when I think of God,
I kind of give him
a human image,
my priest.
In a way,
he's always represented
the face of God to me.
So to think of priests
doing what some of them did,
it's...
Have you ever thought about...
leaving the church over it?
No.
That would be like
leaving God.
Bobby, the church
is not just the priests.
It's you and me.
We are the church.
To leave would be like
walking away from ourselves,
who we are, people of God.
But as people of God,
how do we tolerate these...
Look, the media
has so overblown this.
They don't talk
about all the good
the church does,
and it's a lot.
Maybe he's right.
Who?
Eugene.
There isn't enough rage.
(music playing)
PENDER: All right, then.
Mr. Foreman,
I'll ask you to rise
and read your verdict
to the court.
In the matter
of Grayson versus Beck,
we the jury find in favor
of the plaintiff,
and we order the defendant
to pay compensatory damages
in the amount
of $1.4 million.
(overlapping chatter)
PENDER: This trial is completed.
Members of the jury,
your service is finished.
We thank you.
And this matter is adjourned.
(gavel bangs)
Thank you.
Thank you both.
Be prepared for an appeal,
and it's one we have to take
very seriously.
I know.
Congratulations.
GRAYSON: Thank you.
Thanks again.
(music playing)
Another?
STRINGER: I think so,
Calgary, Alberta.
She lived there for a year
after Denver.
That's her. See?
And she shot yet
another boyfriend?
All four had criminal records
for assault, battery.
I think
it's a prerequisite for her.
Uh, it helps her justify
her shootings.
And every time,
she's been cleared?
And then falls off
the face of the earth.
Four victims.
And counting.
That was Helen Gamble's office.
It's been ruled
justifiable self-defense.
We have to tell them.
Tell who?
The police.
There are going to be more.
She's serial!
You want to lose
your bar ticket?
So we say nothing?
We don't tell anybody?
(door opens)
We won, $1.4 million.
What?
You won?
The laws are changing, folks.
We're as shocked as you are.
Congratulations.
Really.
Thank you.
HATCHER: Uh, Eugene,
this came for you.
I did not accept service,
but he left it anyway.
What is it?
You know
a Marshall Hatsburg?
Marshall,
yes, he worked
at the church, too.
You and he were friends?
Friendly, played
basketball together,
but I wouldn't say
we were close, why?
He's suing you.
What?
For not telling him
about Father Brindle.
Seems he was raped
after you.
(music playing)
Louise?
(gasps)
Zeus in heaven,
you startled me.
Clearing out?
Yes.
Lucy called,
told me the shooting
was ruled justifiable.
So I thought
I'd pack and go.
The sooner,
the better.
Where to?
You know, I haven't
really decided yet.
I'm gonna go
see some friends,
move around,
pick a place,
I guess.
Any suggestions?
Well...
after Denver and Cleveland,
only leaves Calgary.
Never been there.
Maybe I'll try it.
Uh-huh.
Why are you here, Jamie?
Trying to get me
to say something?
It's almost as if you think
I'm a killer or something.
Of course,
if you did think that,
I doubt you'd come
here alone.
That'd be dangerous.
If you'll excuse me now,
I need to finish packing.
(bell tolling)
Bobby?
DONNELL: Hey, Father,
thanks for agreeing
to meet me here.
Oh, no problem.
I'm leaving
the church, Father.
Oh, uh,
what do you mean?
Leaving the church?
DONNELL: I have loved being
a part of this parish,
and specifically,
being your parishioner,
but the sex-abuse
scandal--
Bobby, let's sit down
and talk.
What can you say,
molestation gets a bad rap?
I can say
that the offending clergy
makes up
a microscopic portion
of the priesthood.
I know that,
but the church's
concealment--
it's enabling
these priests
to destroy
so many young lives.
We've made mistakes.
I believe that we're
acknowledging them.
Our new policy
is zero tolerance.
I know the litigation
tactics being employed
against the victims.
I also know that--
look...
this isn't
about vengeance.
Bobby...
when you have a crisis
of conscience--
well, any personal crisis,
for that matter,
where do you go?
I come to you.
But this isn't
about you or--
I'm not leaving the faith.
Just the church.
My son,
when you leave the church,
you leave the faith.
Can I give you the speech
about all of the good work
that we've done?
Do you have any notion
of the global
charitable work done
by the Catholic Church?
I do.
But I don't look
to the church
like it's the united way.
For me
it's about spiritual
and moral leadership.
Until you expel
every offending priest,
everyone involved
with protecting them
and concealing them,
there's been
no true penance.
When that day comes,
I hope to return.
FATHER: Bobby,
you can't just leave.
Goodbye, Father.
(music playing)
BERLUTI: Next on The Practice.
Why us?
MAN: Because Helen Gamble
is a DA.
Also you're
on the short list of lawyers
willing to defend scum.
What's the case?
Statutory rape.
I don't want it.
I didn't ask.
And you think to avoid a trial,
I'm going to put a child rapist
back on the street.
We think we could sell
minimum security.
And Mr. Orbis is going
to a maximum security prison.
BERLUTI:
There is a problem here.
We can win this.
(music playing)
WOMAN: You stinker!
(music playing)