The Practice (1997–2004): Season 8, Episode 12 - Avenging Angels - full transcript

BERLUTI: Previously
on The Practice...

Hi.

Hi.

It's just too phallic.

Do you mind?

You know, I've heard of this

faux flirtatiousness

being used to cover
the real thing.

Are you attracted to me?

You know what I love
about your talk, Alan?

SHORE: Hmm.
Is it makes me feel safe.



Does it, now?
WILSON: Hmm.

Because men who talk

never do anything.

I never make the first move.

I always make the first move.

But I'm not going to here.

(music playing)

(indistinct chatter)

(music playing)

Hey, last call
was five minutes ago.

Ah, really?

It's late, buddy.

Little boys' room?

Yeah, in the back
on your left.



Thanks.

Charlie Haden?

Yeah.

Who the hell are you?

(crashing)

(grunting)

(panting)

Call the cops.

(music playing)

What's his name?

Walter Josephson.

Assault
with a deadly weapon.

And attempted murder.

Assuming the victim
doesn't die.

Exactly.

HARTIG: Jimmy Berluti?

BERLUTI: Yeah.

Alex Hartig. Hi.

Jamie Stringer.

What can you tell me
about your client?

I can tell you
I've never even met him.

Other than that,

why should I tell you anything?

Well, let's start
with what I know.

Retired dockworker,

no criminal record,

not a blemish.

As for the guy he beat up,

Charlie Haden.

Who's Charlie Haden?

He's what you call
a bad guy.

Loan-sharking, extortion,

armed robbery,

he used to run
with the Tommy Moynihan gang.

Since you're volunteering
information,

why would my retired choirboy

assault somebody
from the Irish mob?

That's what I was hoping

you could tell me.

WILSON: May I help you?

Yes, I'm looking for Alan--

SHORE: Dwight.

HABER: Alan.

This is where you work?

It is. I know it's small
and depressing,

but at least
it's dark and damp.

Don't tell anyone.

Is there someplace
we could speak in private?

Of course.

Borrow your office, Ellenor?

Normally,
it'd be in my office,

but there aren't enough
to go around,

so we're taking turns.

What's up?

My wife and I
have recently split.

Oh, I'm sorry.

This is your second wife, Eve?

Yes.

The one who married you

for your money.

Clearly, that has turned out
to be the case.

Would that I had friends

who were candid
before we married.

Please...

how can I help?

In the same wave of stupidity

that caused me to marry her,

I neglected
to get a prenup.

Oh, Dwight.

I certainly realize
that equitable distribution

is the law, Alan.

But this woman
cheated on me,

she probably never loved me,

and under the heading
of morality

and basic fairness--

You want to screw her over.

I'm not, by nature,
a vindictive man

you know this.

But, Alan,

I earned all of it.

I put her through law school.

And my conscience
just mandates--

You screw her over.

Which is why I come to you.

I need you to turn

inward to your core here.

SHORE: Hmm. You don't mean that.

Yes, I do.

As petty as it sounds...

I want to get her.

No holds barred?

None.
I can be despicable.

Bombs away.

The man she's sleeping with
is Warren Holt.

He's her boss.

They both work in
the attorney general's office.

They meet twice a week
at the Dobson hotel,

same room, every--

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

What did you just say?

He's her boss.

No, no, no--after that.

They meet twice a week

in the same hotel.
Just before that.

They both work
in the A. G.'s office.

(sighs)

You're having
second thoughts now?

Oh, no.

(laughing) oh, no.

It was just a fight--

nothing more.

Just a fight?

I went into the bar
to go to the men's room,

and I got in a fight with him.

Charlie Haden.

Is that his name?

Well, what was
the fight about?

To be honest with you,

I don't know.

I guess he got upset

'cause I walked
into his office

or something.

Mr. Josephson--

Call me "Walter".

Walter, do you know
Mr. Haden?

No.

You walked into his office,

and, what,
he just attacked you?

Yeah.

Walter, anything you say to us

stays right here.

Your best opportunity

for a good defense--

This man is on life support.

He figures to die...

you're in trouble, Walter.

Look, I did it.

I didn't mean to, but...

I'm willing to serve time.

You're willing to do time?

For possible murder,

that's life.

I'm an old man.

I got no family,

except my sister in Plymouth.

I don't want to go through
a long trial.

I'll cut a deal if they'll--

they'll put me
in someplace tolerable.

I don't want to die

in some maximum hole
like Cedar's.

You get them
to put me someplace

near my sister,

where she can visit...

I'll plead guilty.

You got a defense.

If the guy attacked you--

If I killed a man,
Mr. Berluti,

they're not gonna let me off

without doing time.

No.

You get them to send me

to a medium-security
near my sister.

You get me that,

and, uh, I'll plead guilty,

it's simple as that.

(indistinct chatter)

It's just 1423
has a very specific

sentimental value
for us.

We honeymooned
in that room.

I understand,

but that room
is occupied.

We have guests
checking into it at--

Can't you put them
in another room?

I'm afraid they requested
it, as well.

It overlooks the park.

Please.

I wish I could help.

I really do.

SHORE: It's okay, honey.

We can get another room.

(voice breaking)
It's not the same.

I mean, how could
the travel agent make such

a monumental mistake?

We're not even booked
to the hotel at all?

We came all the way
from Detroit.

I'm sorry.

I'll tell you what,
is it Connie?

CONNIE: Yes.

How about--

could we have the room
for an hour...

if you know what I mean?

It's our anniversary, please.

Well...

can you promise
to be out by 2:00?

I give you my word.

I won't even take
my little blue pill.

(chuckling)

SHORE: I am entering the room
as we speak.

So, how long will it
take you to set up?

Well, let's get going.

All right.

The private investigator
and his camera crew

are on their way.

They'll be here
in 20 minutes.

And we know for a fact
that they always use

this room?

So says Dwight,

and you heard Connie.

This is illegal,
you know.

We could even go to jail.
Oh, come on.

People have no expectation
of privacy here.

This is America,

home of the P. A. T. R. I. O. T. Act.

So, Tara...

here we are in a hotel room

with 20 minutes to kill.

Gee, Alan,

that could almost
be construed as a move,

but not quite.

I'm still waiting.

So am I.

No deal?

My guy's willing to plead.

Yes, to medium security.

Things have changed a little

since this morning, Jimmy.

Like what?

Like we've now got motive

and premeditation.

Seven years ago,

your client's only daughter
was murdered.

She wasn't the target.

She was in the wrong place

at the wrong time.

Her house was next to the one

that was torched.

Guess who we picked up
for the crime.

Charlie Haden.

We couldn't make him,

and, eventually, he walked,

but we remain convinced
that he did it,

which your client knows.

So when he walked
into that bar--

He was planning to kill the man

who murdered his daughter,

that's premeditated...

and it's murder one.

STRINGER: Premeditated
with a tequila bottle?

The fire that killed
his daughter

was started
with a Molotov cocktail

made from a tequila bottle...

a little poetic justice.

(music playing)

SHORE: Hmm.

They must be really in love,

don't you think?

WILSON: So, now what?

Well, we show these
to Dwight,

then we schedule a meeting

with Eve and her lawyer,

and we extort them

with reckless abandon.

WILSON: This seems...

slightly despicable.

He hired me
to be despicable,

I promise.

Oh.
Mmm.

Well, that makes it
all right, then.

Silly me.

You know,

when I'd go
to the movies as a boy,

I'd always pretend
to be the leading man

on the screen.

I still like to do that
sometimes.

Hmm. How about you, Tara?

You ever like to pretend

to be the leading lady
on the screen?

You know,
you'd be quite something

if talk ever amounted to action.

SHORE: You surprise me, Tara.

Even a first-year
law student knows

that talk can be deemed
assertive conduct

and actionable.

Do you still fantasize

about me at night, Alan?

Giving you far too much
credit, perhaps.

You think?

I'm willing to be proved wrong.

This is unprofessional.

Ellenor.

I didn't hear
you come in.

What a shock.

This is why
you should have been

open with us.

Now they got a motive.

STRINGER: And premeditation.

I don't care.

You can get me
near my sister,

I'll still...

I just want to give up.

I'm tired.

There is some good news.

Charlie Haden pulled through.

He did?

BERLUTI: The doctors think
he's gonna recover now,

so no murder charge, at least.

That's great.

Oh. So, what do you think
I should do?

I certainly don't want to rush

into any deal.

We got the P. C.
Hearing today.

We'll have a better idea

what their case is after.

Are you telling me
I can beat this?

Let's just see what they put up.

Okay, yeah.

You beat this,

get me my life back...

please.

Let's do it.

Do I need to see them?

Not if you don't care
to be present

at the meeting.

But if you do,

it's important
you remain stoic.

As aggressive
as I intend to be, Dwight,

I'm acting as your agent.

Any softness
perceived in you,

therefore--
Let me see them.

Hold on.

It isn't necessary for you

to be in the meeting.

Yes, it is.

Let me see the pictures.

Dwight...

look at me.

They're graphic,

and they will be
hurtful to view.

I want to see
the pictures, Alan.

SHORE: Legally,
these photographs

have little or no relevance.

You do understand

this will be a tacit attempt
at extortion.

Our hope here is that

a professional woman

isn't going to want
these pictures

to get much circulation.

Okay, look up now.

I need you to take a breath

and consider
that you're currently

in the wake of a very
emotional trauma.

In time,

much of your pain will subside.

There's a chance you and Eve

could be friends down the road.

Now, you may not want that.

I don't.
But if you do, Dwight,

if you can make room

for the slightest possibility

that you might,

then you need to think twice

about employing this tactic.

This woman caused me

to fall in love with her,

when she had no
real love for me.

She hurt me.

In fact, she destroyed me,

and she did so with malice.

I hired you to get her.

I want you to play the card.

Dwight, given how much
you still love her,

maybe--
Play the card.

PRICE: Mr. Josephson
asked to use the bathroom,

then he went in the back.

There's an office there
Mr. Haden uses.

He's friends
with the owner.

I heard some noises,

like a crash
and someone fighting,

so I went back there.

What did you see?

Well, Mr. Haden was all bloody,

like he'd been beat up,

and Mr. Josephson
was sitting down.

He told me to call
the cops.

Was there anyone else
in the bar

besides Mr. Josephson

who could have attacked
Mr. Haden?

Probably, yeah.

HARTIG: You told
the police that--

I'm quoting--

"Josephson was the only

other person in the bar."

Objection--leading.

I'll allow it.

PRICE: There's a fire door
in the back.

I think someone might
have propped it open,

gone in and out.

You didn't tell this
to the police before.

It just came to me.

HARTIG: You did tell the police

that Walter Josephson

went into the back room

and just seconds later,

you heard the fight.

Yes, but it's possible

Josephson saw someone else
beating on Charlie

and tried to help out.

Someone else who?

I got no idea.

I'm just not sure
that old man did it.

Have you been asked

to change your testimony?

No, I'm just trying to do
the right thing.

Approach.

What's going on?

Haden must have ordered
this guy to flip.

Why would the victim
torpedo the case

against the man who beat him?

Haden's the main suspect
in the murder

of Walter Josephson's daughter

seven years ago.

It's possible he doesn't want it

dredged up at trial,

or he could be wanting
to exact his own justice.

Can Haden identify
his assailant?

He says he doesn't remember.

Your honor--
HARTIG: We still have

physical evidence.

BERLUTI:
What physical evidence?

No prints on the bottle
of tequila.

HARTIG: Josephson
was wearing gloves.

Come on. He was covered
in Haden's blood.

A jury could say he got it

trying to save Haden's life.

You got nothing.

Ms. Hartig, you get this
sorted out, great.

Bring the case again.

But I can't let you go forward

with no evidence
and no witnesses.

Everybody step back.

WEEKS: Due to the current

insufficiency of evidence,

the case is dismissed

without prejudice.

(gavel pounds)

It's dismissed?

For now.

They get more evidence,

they can refile.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you.

Walter, it's possible

Haden wants you back
on the street

so he can take you out.

I can ask for protective custody

not that I'll get it, but--

I can handle myself,
Mr. Berluti.

These people are bad guys.

I did a tour of duty
in Korea.

I can handle Charlie Haden.

Thank you.

Thank you both very much.

Is it just me,

or is our client
a dead man?

WOMAN (over PA):
Dr. Davis to the OR.

Dr. Davis to the OR.

WOMAN (over PA): Dr. Moresco
to nurse station on 2 west.

Dr. Moresco
to nurse station on 2 west.

Hey.

Will it be orange juice

or gasoline with your eggs?

Hey!

HADEN: Help!

Aah! Aaaaaaah!

Aaaaaah!

WOMAN: We got a fire
extinguisher ready.

Better check his temperature.

He's burning up.

What?

Okay, we're on our way down.

(receiver clicks)

Walter Josephson just set
Charlie Haden on fire.

This time, he's dead.

Oh, my god.

He's in custody.
Let's go.

Hello.

Eve.

I'm Alan Shore.

We've never met.

That's a lovely name,

Eve.

Is it short for "Evening"?

SELIG: Please,

don't address my client.

Oh, you look so bored.

I'm about
to change that.

Let's go in, shall we?

What's he up to now?

I have no idea.

Okay, let's get started.

This is my assistant, Tara.

Tara, this--well, actually,

I have nametags here
for all of us to wear.

Alan Shore,
that would be mine.

A. Selig,
obviously you.

Ah, lying,
cheating adulterer,

that would be yours, Eve.

Look, Mr. Shore,

we're more than familiar

with your reputation.

If you have
a proposal, make it.

But let's fast-forward
through the brinkmanship.

Brinkmanship,
is that a legal term?

SELIG: Counsel,

we're giving you
about 10 minutes.

Tara.

The proposal

is a marital
settlement

for $500,000.

The settlement--
Let's go.

Wait a second.

Don't be rude.

The marital estate

is worth over $17 million.

You're assuming
a valid union, Mr. Selig.

Tara.

Though rarely invoked,

the Commonwealth does
recognize adultery as a means

for annulling a marriage.
EVE: Is this your big plan?

SELIG: They've tried
so many times.

SHORE: Could she finish,
please?

WILSON:
Though public policy does frown

on vitiating marriage--

This is a virtual
no-fault state.

Justice Scalia's
dissent in Roma

opens the door
for overturning--

SELIG: If this is what
you called us up here for

to present us with,

this is ridiculous.

We have--
SHORE: She has worked hard

on this.
I refer you to the highlighted

you're being rude
by not letting her finish.

WILSON: ...which specifically
points out adultery and bigamy.

SHORE: Tara, maybe
we should just present

the facts.

The law can be so tedious.

Oh, here's a photo

showing how your client's
yoga lessons paid off.

Here's one for you, Eve.

Look how close your foot is

to your ear there.

Wow, I wish
I could do that.

(chuckles)

I'm sorry.

That's double-jointed,

don't you think?

Must be.

SHORE: Huh.

A woman of your talents
shouldn't be

limited to the small screen,

wouldn't you agree, Eve?

Now, this may be
very low, I grant you,

but the main point
to leave here with is...

it's not beneath me.

For an assistant
attorney general

with even the slightest
political ambition,

wouldn't it be awful

to see these images pop up

on the internet?

SELIG: How you got
these images

is gonna land you
in jail.

SHORE: Good point,

but if you're really
familiar with me,

you know I'm not
afraid to go there.

I might even enjoy
the change of pace.

You hurt a friend
of mine, Eve.

To err is human,
I'll admit,

but getting even,
that's divine.

(door opens)

SELIG: Mr. Young,

could you come
in here, please?

My question is,
do these tactics reflect

on your entire firm,

or merely Alan Shore?

Tara helped.

I just went in
to scare him.

Do you think
I'm that stupid?

Walter, you were all set
to go to prison.

Then once you heard

Charlie Haden
was going to recover,

suddenly, you want
your day in court.

Why?

So you could go kill him.

I guess you feel real guilty
about helping me get out.

I feel used, yes.

But you know
what I mainly think?

You'll spend the rest
of your life in jail.

Is it worth it?

I have no life,
Ms. Stringer.

That man took my life

when he killed
my daughter.

She was the only thing...

(breathing heavily)

What about your sister?

My sister
is no daughter.

Now, look,

I'm sorry
I got you involved.

It wasn't my intent.

If I'd killed him
the first time...

What do you
want us to do?

I really don't care.

I'll go to prison.

Just keep me out
of Cedar's.

Because you'd be killed there?

I did a little checking.

The fire that killed
your daughter--

the intended target
was an informer

against Tommy Moynihan.

Haden worked for Moynihan.

So?

STRINGER: Last year,
Moynihan was sentenced

eight to ten at Cedar's
for something else.

You're afraid
if you go to Cedar's,

you'll be killed.

I just want Plymouth

so I can be close
to my sister.

Right.

Look...

I don't want a trial.

Make whatever deal you can.

Let's just end this.

(music playing)

I'm confused about
whose turn it is to talk.

It's my turn.

Ah.

This firm has pulled
a lot of stunts

over the years.

All of them have been
within the bounds of the law,

even if barely.

You bugged a hotel room

to get illicit,
private pictures.

You then used
those pictures

to commit extortion.

You have stepped
way outside the law.

My bad.

I need to hear
why you would commit

such acts.

Eve Haber
is a beautiful woman

who used her sexuality
to dupe my client

out of $7 million,
$8 million,

maybe $9 million.

She caused him
immeasurable pain

and also broke his heart.

She turned a kind,
loving man

into something vengeful.

And the only way
to kill a vindictive beast,

believe it or not,
is to feed it.

Dwight will gain
satisfaction here,

albeit of a...

most hollow variety...

and he will heal.

He will go on.

But we need to go on,

and that's not gonna happen

if you continue
to do these kinds of things.

I promise, Ellenor,

only two or three more,
and then I'll stop.

Alan...

this isn't funny.

No, I suppose it isn't.

(music playing)

Eugene, I gave you my word

that I'd sooner
take myself down

than this firm,
I meant that.

Well, you're
taking yourself down.

Don't you get that?

And you're taking us down
with you.

Now what?

(door slams close)

(music playing)

Why such a short window
on this? Why?

BERLUTI: Because
the client wants it done, Alex.

Look, this is a gift.

The man commits
a first-degree murder,

goes to a medium-security
facility.

Who's getting
the gift here?

STRINGER: We have
a possible insanity defense,

not to mention
a potential self-defense--

Don't insult me, Jamie.

BERLUTI: This isn't open
and shut for you.

He is very sympathetic.

Yes, as vigilantes go,
he's adorable, but--

BERLUTI: We're offering you
a plea that takes him

off the street for life.

And suppose I find out later

that he's really
a professional hit man, who--

BERLUTI: Oh, come on.

If the facts change,

you can undo the plea
on grounds of fraud

and send him to trial.

Why are we wasting
time here?

The guy is willing
to go to prison.

He'd just like to be
near his sister.

If he goes to Cedar's,

Tommy Moynihan
will probably kill him.

And you'd be willing
to enter a plea today?

Yes.

You'll be transferred
within the hour.

Thank you.

Thank you both.

Can I ask you something?

Did it make
you feel better

when you killed him?

Did it bring you relief?

I don't think I'm capable

of feeling anything,
Ms. Stringer.

I suppose that's
what allowed me to survive.

I wish you well.

Thank you...

again.

DWIGHT: Thank you both.

I can't say I'm terribly proud
of our tactics,

but I'm glad
to have mitigated,

at least,
the financial damage.

As soon as the documents
are drafted,

we'll have you back in
for execution.

DWIGHT: Okay.

I don't know how you do
the things you do, Alan.

It's not with mirrors,
I assure you.

That I believe.

I'll see you both soon.

SHORE: Yep.

Here we sit
in triumph.

(sighs)

Shall we get drunk?

Winston Churchill said

that he would drink
in victory

because he deserved it

and in defeat...

because he needed it.

Somehow, I feel
that we qualify here

on both counts.

(sighs)

You're a very interesting
woman, aren't you?

I find victory to be

extremely lonely without--

what's the word?

Sex.

Would that be considered

assertive conduct?

Well, there's
nobody else here,

just you, me...

and this--

this big conference table.

Would you like
to have sex

on the table, Alan?

That would definitely be
considered a first move.

(music playing)

(inhales)

You see,
the thing is...

if you'd like to go
to a nice restaurant...

share a lovely
bottle of wine...

caress a little
in a taxicab

on the way back
to my place or yours,

I might enjoy having sex
with you tonight.

But you don't want that.

You want to do it
on a conference table

because it's debased.

It's commensurate
with your self-esteem,

which always seems
to nose-dive when you behave

as you did in this case.

You're not going
to find some twisted sense

of self-loathing
affirmation

on that table
with me.

I tell you what,
though...

get some help...

and then ask me out
to dinner sometime.

(music playing)

STRINGER: Yes, ma'am.

That's right.

Well, it won't be necessary now,

since--
that's right--

you can go
visit him now.

My pleasure.

Thank you again
for returning my call.

Walter's sister--

I finally made contact.

Oh.

Here's something weird--

she lives in Brighton.

Why would Walter say
she lives in Plymouth?

I don't know.

Maybe he just wanted

to go to Plymouth.

But why?

There are medium-security
prisons

which are softer
than Plymouth,

with better facilities.

Personally,
I'd go to Norfolk.

Give me your phone.

(music playing)

What?

Plymouth, Massachusetts,

Department of Corrections.

Thomas Moynihan.

Yes.

(music playing)

Transferred
three weeks ago?

Okay, look,

this man is in danger.

A prisoner by the name
of Walter Josephson

was transferred there today.

Josephson.

Tommy Moynihan?

Yes.

You need to find one
or the other or both...

now.

(music playing)

JOSEPHSON: It was on his orders

that Haden lit that match.

You knew he was here

all the time.

They can send me
to Cedar's now, Jimmy.

I've made my peace.

Hey, sexy.

Looking to party?

(chuckles)

What's your name?

Annie. What's yours?

Eugene.

Get in the car,
Annie.

It looks cold
out there.

So, do your parents know
you're out this late, Annie?

Ooh, Eugene, you're funny.

I love funny, sexy men.

Your place or mine?

My place?

Your place?

I thought maybe
we should just drive around

and see what happens.

ANNIE: Drive around?

All right, look...

the ones who want that

usually just want to talk.

I don't talk,

and I'm not
into wasting time.

Then, perhaps,
you should get out

of the car, Annie,

because although
I have no interest

in talking to you,

I've always
taken great pleasure

in wasting time.

(chuckles)

(car door closes)

(music playing)

BOY: Score, score!

WOMAN: Stinker!

(music playing)