The Practice (1997–2004): Season 8, Episode 13 - Going Home - full transcript

(vomiting)

(sobs)

(breathing heavily)

(music playing)

MAN (over TV):
The liberal media

hates traditional pro-God,

pro-country,
pro-family values--

PAUL: God...

MAN (over TV):
--because, frankly,

they don't believe in them.

MAN (over TV):
That's not true. Hold on.



MAN (over TV): It is true.

And it's why
liberal media types,

especially in New York City
and Hollywood,

hate the US military,
hate the president,

and, frankly,
hate me and guys like me.

Look what
they've done to Rush.

MAN (over TV): Nobody hates
the US military, I'm just...

MAN (over TV): Bottom line
is liberals in this country

want to pursue their big
government socialist policies,

they hate any free enterprise,
they hate capitalism,

and they hate...

(music playing)

(engine revving)

(tires screeching)



(music playing)

A retreat?

SHORE: Yes, a company outing

where we all get to know
our inner selves.

Do people ever get
to your core, Jimmy,

or do they stop short
at the mantle?

Did you hear that?

Fat joke.

SHORE: I'm actually being
quite serious here.

We all work too hard.
WILSON: Young, Frutt, Berluti.

How about Tahiti?

WILSON: Alan,
Paul Stewart.

He says
it's an emergency.

Paul?

PAUL (over phone): Alan,

I need you to get down
to my office now.

Did I miss a check-up?

I've got an emergency.

I have detectives
in my waiting room.

I need you to get down here.

You need to come
through my private entrance

so they don't see you.

Hurry, Alan.

I'm in trouble.

(elevator bell dings)

(music playing)

(knocks on door)

Alan.

What is going on?

Come in, please.

They're still
waiting out there.

In a second, Cheryl.
They're about to just--

I'll be out in a second.

Just tell them
I'm finishing a procedure.

Listen, I've been having
an affair.

Brenda Wilbur,
who I believe you know.

Brenda Wilbur.
PAUL: Ah, yes.

I've been wanting to have
an affair with Brenda Wilbur.

PAUL: Can you shut up?

Can you just shut up, please?

She's dead.

What?
Somebody bludgeoned her

or something.
I saw the body.

I was there last night.

I walked in--
Whoa, wait. Slow down.

PAUL: I can't slow down.
The police are out there.

I was there,
I had made love to her earlier,

and now they're here
to ask me questions.

Okay.

Do I talk to the police now?

Do I tell them I was there?

What should I do?

They're coming.

PAUL: Just get out.

(door closes)

What do I do?

It's gonna look suspicious
if I have a lawyer.

How do I even explain you
being here?

CHERYL: He said
he'd be right out.

He's in a procedure!
We've been here an hour.

We don't have time for this.

So you keep saying.

I'm sorry, doctor,
but this is urgent.

PAUL: Would you give me
10 more seconds, for God's sake?

This patient could sue me.

He's a lawyer.

Do you know a Ms. Brenda Wilbur?

PAUL: Why?

This needs to be
a private conversation, doctor.

PAUL: You need to go back
out there and wait.

What about Brenda?

She's dead.

Do you know her?

What do you mean she's dead?

She was killed.

Look, we really need to have
this discussion in private.

I need to ask you some things.

Hold on.

(spits) Sorry,

but as a lawyer,
I get suspicious

when detectives barge
in asking questions

about dead people.

This doesn't involve you, sir.

Actually, it involves me more

than you could ever imagine.

I'm not only this man's friend,

I was a friend
of Brenda Wilbur's.

How did she die?

Head trauma.

Your car was seen parked outside
her place yesterday afternoon.

SHORE: Wait a second.

Are you questioning this man
as if he were a suspect?

Certainly not. We j--

SHORE: Paul,
when a detective says,

"Certainly not,"
you can be certain--

MAN: Sir--

It's Alan Shore.

I'm sure my client
would love to cooperate,

but not before
I get a little more information.

I don't mind talking, Alan.

But I do mind, Paul.

I know you have
his best interests at heart.

Just the same--
Mr. Shore--

He's not talking.

Perhaps you'd like to.
You've said nothing so far.

I think he did it.

Look, counselor,
this is how it's gonna go.

He's either gonna
talk to us here,

or we're gonna take him
into custody

and walk him right out
that front door.

This is a small town.

This man's family has quite
a legacy in this small town.

I don't think
he wants to be seen handcuffed

in connection
to the murder of a woman

that he had a mysterious
relationship with.

Do you?

My God, You're Kevin McCarley.

Alan Shore.

We went
to middle school together.

How are you?
Look at you.

Wow.

You're still the same

pain in the ass
you were then.

Take him.

Alan.

SHORE: Just a second.

Let me tell them
what I know.

Terrible idea.

We don't know what he knows.

He is going to arrest me.

SHORE: Look at me.

First of all, try not to look
so much like a suspect.

Can you put something other
than panic on your face?

You were having an affair
with the victim.

You were witnessed
at the scene.

Dodging arrest
isn't the goal here.

It's about preventing
a conviction.

A conviction?

You cannot give
any statement to the police.

There's a reason
for that little jingle,

"What you say can and will
be used against you."

What about Wendy?
What about the kids?

SHORE: I'll go talk to them.

In the meantime,
you talk to nobody.

I cannot believe
this is happening to me.

McCARLEY: Look, if I have to
arrest him right here, I will.

Shouldn't you first do
that other thing that police do?

What's the word?

Investigate.

Maybe I should bring you
in on aiding and abetting.

SHORE: Kevin, it's me, Alan.

We played
on the same soccer team.

We've showered together.

You had
a very small penis then.

Has it--

Take him.

Say nothing.

Let's go.

Do we Mirandize here, Kev,
or is that not done in Dedham?

They took him into custody.

They didn't make
an actual arrest.

Do they plan to?

SHORE (over phone):
I don't know.

It may just be
about coercing a statement.

Where are you now?

SHORE (over phone):
At the scene.

I figure I'll just try

and see whatever I can.

All right.

You again?

What are you doing here?

I thought you were
with my client.

We're giving him time
to think about cooperating.

I'm happy to advise him
to cooperate.

But I got to have some idea
what we're dealing with here.

I'd like to view the scene.

View the scene?

Why not?

McCARLEY: Because we don't give
tours to civilians.

SHORE: I'm not gonna contaminate
the crime scene.

McCARLEY: We haven't even
positively ID'd her yet.

SHORE: You want my guy
to cooperate.

I can ID her.

As I told you,
I knew Brenda Wilbur.

McCARLEY: She's been ID'd.

Oh. Listen, you wanna talk to
Paul Stewart.

I wanna let him talk to you.

Let me just get a glimpse

of what we're dealing
with here first.

Help me help you.

You don't want me
saying in court

you refused to let me see
the crime scene.

(camera flashes)

MAN: Yeah, the room is covered.

Right.

You got...

She, uh...

Was found like that?

Yes.

I, uh, knew this woman.

You okay?

Uh, yeah.

For God's sake.
Get him off.

Get him off!

MAN: Pick him up.

You fainted?

SHORE: Shh. No.

Please, don't make fun of me,
Eugene.

I wasn't prepared
for what I saw.

Right on the dead body?

I'm asking you for advice,
not ridicule.

Do I let the man speak or not?

Not if he's the suspect.

But assuming he's innocent--

YOUNG: We never assume.

SHORE: I've known him
since childhood.

He's--

It's the childhood friends
you can never trust.

VICTORIA: Alan.

SHORE: Victoria.

VICTORIA: What's being done?

Victoria,
this is Eugene Young.

Hello.

What's being done?

SHORE: At this point, there's--

Is there a place for privacy?

Yes.

Excuse us.

There's been no arrest yet.

They can place him at the scene

several hours before.

I'm assuming
they can establish--

The affair?

Paul told me about it.

Really?

I would think his mother
would be the last person

he'd want--

what else has he told you?

You were extorted
by the victim?

Paul, if I'm gonna help you,

you need to share with me
at least as much

as you tell your mother.

Brenda contacted
a lawyer who--

Tried to shake you down?

PAUL: It was veiled.

I confronted her over it.

She apologized,
admitted it was a stupid idea.

It was no longer an issue.

SHORE: No longer an issue?

It transpired a week

before her head
was pounded to mulch.

It wasn't
a coercive quid pro quo.

But you perceived
it as extortion,

and she's currently dead.

(sighs)

SHORE: Okay.

Attorneys are divided

over whether
this next question

should ever be posed
to a client.

But as a childhood friend
who grew up with you,

did you commit this crime?

For a childhood friend
to have to ask me,

the answer is no,

I did not.

CATHERINE: Hello.

SHORE: Hello.

CATHERINE: Are you his lawyer?

Sorry?

Paul Stewart,
are you his lawyer?

Mrs. Piper,
Alan Shore.

I grew up here in Dedham

just three streets
over from you.

Well, you used
to trick-or-treat at my house.

SHORE: Yes.

Hello.

Hello!

Aah.

Ugh!

You once lit a paper bag
on my porch.

It was full of dog crap.

I stomped it out

and got stool
on my fleece slippers.

It never came out.

You were a crazy old bitch then.

I can see nobody's
adjusted your medication.

Funny you should mention that.

This new Medicare package
is gonna strap me.

I need money, Alan.

So much so I sometimes see it
in my dreams.

In fact, I see it
almost everywhere.

I especially saw it
at 10:30 last night

when I saw Paul Stewart
coming out of Brenda's house.

I refer, of course,
to dead Brenda,

the slut all you boys wanted
to screw in high school.

Many of you went on to do it,
I'm sure.

I have yet to go
to the police.

Tell Victoria

if she pays me $1.3 million,

I won't put her
precious little baby in jail.

(music playing)

I told you I went back.

I understand,

but the police couldn't
place you there at night,

only during the afternoon.

This is much more
damaging, Paul,

to have you spotted leaving
at 10:30.

You're not suggesting
that we pay her off, are you?

No.

But things
aren't getting any better.

We've got to prepare ourselves.

I'm sorry,
this is a lawyer-client meeting.

Nothing personal.

No, I thought
you'd like to know

that we're officially charging
your client

with the murder
of Brenda Wilbur.

He'll be arraigned tomorrow
in Dedham Superior Court.

(music playing)

SHORE: I'm sorry.

There's nothing

that I can really say
at this point

other than...

you'll get through this.

Did you know?

About?

Her.

No.

SHORE: I haven't
really kept in touch

with Paul the last few years.

You and me both.

Melissa,

Michael,

when you were very young,

I told you a story

about my first day
at kindergarten.

You probably don't remember.

I was so scared,

to the point of tears.

And then this little boy
I didn't even know

came up to me
and took ahold of my hand

and told me everything
would be okay.

Your dad...

has held on to my hand

through much of our childhood.

He was then,
as he remains today,

the most compassionate,

gentle person I know.

He did not commit this crime.

He did not commit this crime.

Okay.

We'll see you then.

He's still out in Dedham.
He'll be here in the morning.

And then he's going back
to Dedham for the arraignment.

This was really
his best friend?

Evidently.

He doesn't seem the type.

I'm sorry?

Alan to have a best friend.

Eugene,

a lot of values may
have passed him by,

but friendship,

and the loyalty
that goes along with it,

he lives by that.

(music playing)

VICTORIA: Here you are.

May I ask why?

Just thought
I'd get a look at the room,

see if it's how I remember.

What are you doing here?

Will he be granted bail?

Well, he's a trusted,

lifelong member
of the community,

which his family half-built,

strong roots,

doctor,

poses no threat to society.

That and a million dollars
should get him bail.

I'm gonna be candid.

There's a switch.

However accomplished
you are as a civil attorney,

your criminal experience...

would I be wise to look
for another lawyer, Alan?

Please do not be offended.

Victoria, you will micromanage
whoever tries this case.

Best to go with someone
who won't be thrown

by your interference.

And if you don't like
what I'm doing,

you can always pull down
my pants like old times

and give me a spank.

As I remember, you liked that.

Did he do this?

You know Paul.

He could never be capable

of bludgeoning the life out
of a human being.

People change.

If he only knew
what I've become.

When you were 16,

you slept
with your best friend's mother.

How have you changed, Alan?

I'd like to have Ellenor
join me.

Tara, too.

That should be enough for now.

As we get closer to trial,

we may need to add more.

I know I can't monopolize
the whole firm, but--

Can he pay for all this?

His mother can.

This is a check
for 750 as retainer.

I told her
it'll likely go higher.

Seven hundred
and fifty thousand?

SHORE:
We should obviously hire

a private investigator
immediately.

Since you used
to be a PI, Eugene,

it would be great if you were
able to oversee

that end of it.

Jimmy, did you use
to be anything?

FRUTT: When's the arraignment?

SHORE: This afternoon.

Jamie, maybe you should head up
the legal research.

We may be filing various motions
in limine.

The exclusionary rule could be
optional with these people.

I'm sure it's good.

We should get going.
It's a schlep to Dedham.

Can I make one observation?

Certainly.

You seem nervous.

Ellenor has criminal experience.

Maybe she should first-chair.

I'm fine.

Shall we?

WOMAN: The arraignment itself
figures to be short.

Basically a reading
of the charges,

WOMAN: Possibly the setting
of a trial date.

MAN: What we know
about the defense attorney,

his name is Alan Shore,

a prominent civil attorney

primarily known
for his antitrust work.

WOMAN: Hearing now that
he grew up with the defendant.

That they, in fact,
were childhood friends.

Commonwealth
vs. Paul Stewart,

charging one count
in violation of general laws,

Chapter 265,

Subsection 1,

murder in the first degree.

(gavel bangs)

WINNAKER: Quiet down.

(gavel bangs)

Quiet down!

You people will have to calm
yourselves this very instant.

Let me tell you
members of the media,

I don't have much use
for the media.

I let the media in only
so you can get your pictures

and be done with it,
now I can be done with you.

I won't have the media

spew their toxic waste
in my room.

Mr. Shore,

I understand you have waived

a formal reading
of the charges?

SHORE: That's correct,
Your Honor.

I'd also like
to enter my appearance

along with Ms. Ellenor Frutt's
at this time.

So noted.

Is there a question of bail?

CLARKE: Yes, Your Honor.

The Commonwealth opposes bail.

Dr. Stewart has no prior record,
Your Honor.

He's never even been
charged with a crime.

Well, he sure picked a beaut
to start out with, didn't he?

He poses neither a safety
nor flight risk.

He has extremely strong roots
in the community.

WINNAKER:
How many times have you appeared

before me, Mr. Shore?

Why?

Does it get old?

Is that an insult?

Sounds like
he may have insulted me.

Read that back.

"Why? Does it get old?"

SHORE: Objection
to the reading, Judge.

It lacked nuance.

Read that back.

WOMAN: "Objection
to the reading, Judge.

It lacked nuance."

SHORE:
Renew my objection, Judge.

The reporter is flat tonally.

WINNAKER:
He sounds like a smartass.

Is he an ass?

SHORE: Your Honor,

my client poses no danger.

He's not going anywhere.

Two million, cash.

We'll conference
on Wednesday at 10:00

to set our schedules.

(gavel bangs)

WINNAKER: We're adjourned.

(overlapping chatter)

(camera shutters clicking)

MAN: Mrs. Stewart, this is--

Mrs. Stewart, I'd like to get
a (indistinct)

(music playing)

CHOIR:
(singing in foreign language)

We, of course, will have
a formal memorial service,

soon to be scheduled,

but considering the enormity
of this tragedy,

many of you wanted
to convene today.

And I support that.

Brenda Wilbur was a beloved
member of this community,

a lifelong resident.

And it's at times like these

that we as a community...

come together.

The first thing
we need to discuss is venue.

Is Dedham the best place
for this trial?

Why wouldn't it be?

Well, everybody here
knows your son.

SHORE:
That's a good thing, Ellenor.

His reputation is impeccable.

FRUTT:
It can't be impeccable, Alan.

He had an affair.

SHORE:
They know him to be gentle,

caring, incapable of.

And the other potential problem

is that everybody here

seems to know you.

Meaning?

You're not
the most upstanding citizen

on the eastern seaboard.

My life of indiscretion
started after I left Dedham.

VICTORIA:
The trial will be here.

Everyone who knows Paul

knows that he couldn't
have committed

that kind of violence.

That has to inure to his
benefit with the jury pool.

FRUTT: Thirdly,

people like to see
the high and mighty fall.

It's human nature.

If anything,
Paul comes off as meek.

But you don't.

I don't mean to sound rude,

but from my cursory check
on the pulse of this town,

the dislike of you runs deep.

I'd hate for the jury
to convict Paul

to vicariously get back at--

What's your name again?

Ellenor.

You're discharged, Ellenor.

SHORE: That's not
a good idea, Victoria.

VICTORIA: I don't want her part
of the defense team.

Paul, this is your defense.

VICTORIA: I'm paying for it.

I won't pay for her.

You're welcome to stay
and observe pro bono,

but the sound of your voice,

that would be a deal breaker.

Mom.
VICTORIA: No, I know

what the people of Dedham
respond to, Paul.

That's how I built my fortune,

and they will not
respond to this...

Ellenor.

You're discharged.

May I speak to you in private?

VICTORIA: No.

You can either leave with her

or stay without her.

I'll see you back at the office.

One of the best
criminal-defense attorneys

in this state
just walked out that door.

The only reason...

I don't walk out
with her is because of Paul.

That's nice.

Let's turn to the
most pressing matter,

Catherine Piper.

How are we arranging
to pay her off?

We aren't.

Mom, that will come back to--

If she testifies that
she saw you leave the house

at 10:30 in an agitated state--

I cannot bribe this witness.

Alan, who do you think
you're kidding?

Look, this woman--

This is one of your
most dear friends.

Victoria.

I'm not letting
my only child go to prison.

If you wanna walk out now,

do it,

but Catherine Piper
will not be testifying

as to what she saw...

the night Brenda Wilbur
was killed.

I can see
you've found great success

in holding your own with her.

I don't want you committing
any crimes on my behalf.

I wanna make that clear.

Yes, you just didn't
want to make it clear

in front of your mother.

She's still a force.

What can I say?

How about "No?"

I don't mean to judge you.

Yes, you do.

(music playing)

Excuse me, sir.
I'm looking for God

and the men's room.

Could you point me
in the right direction?

DUGAN: It's true,

you're really back.

Still in the sin business,
I see.

As are you, I'm sure.

Ah, it's good to see you.

Although not under
these circumstances.

He's in terrible trouble, Tom.

Are you gonna be able
to help him?

SHORE: I hope so.

I haven't kept in constant
touch the last few years.

Am I missing anything?

Is it possible--

Paul?

God, no.

Of course not.

There are many people
who probably

had it in for that woman.

Which is why I'm here.

Sorry?

You were her priest.

DUGAN: Uh-hmm.

I'm assuming
she practiced confession.

Did she ever
mention anything?

I can't talk about anything
said in confession, you know--

She's dead.

The seal survives death.

I think you know that.

Paul's on trial
for his life here.

If you know something
that can help him.

I can't break...

the confessional seal.

Perhaps something you thought
she said in confession,

something she
actually said...

here or...

just outside
the confessional.

You'd be able to share that,
wouldn't you, Tom?

This isn't about skirting
a rule, Alan.

I have an obligation to God.

If you know anything

you can share, Tom,

now's the time.

And I'm the person
to share it with.

It's good to see you again.

You too.

(music playing)

SHORE: Both rule 13 and rule 14.

Make sure you get
a bill of particulars.

And ask them for any evidence
in their possession

that supports
any affirmative defense,

be it insanity, intoxication,
alibi, anything, Jamie.

Right. Make it
as far-reaching as you can--

(dog barking)

Yeah. Uh...

I'll get back to you.

Thank you.

VICTORIA: Alan!

I believe you've met
Catherine Piper.

What is she doing here?

Why, I'm here to suck on

one of Victoria's shriveled
nipples, of course.

Is that why you're here, Alan,

or is it just to drop some
dog crap off at the door?

Victoria, I need to have
a word with you now.

Would you excuse us, Catherine?

Why, of course, honey.

You cannot do this.

I've already made the deal.

That woman
is extremely unstable.

She absolutely
cannot be trusted,

and if this ever gets out--

VICTORIA: If it gets out,

we simply say she's lying,

or like you say,
she's unstable.

SHORE: This is so dangerous.

What's dangerous...

would be her testimony.

SHORE: Victoria, this could...

bury your son in the end.

VICTORIA: You know,
I've made my life trusting--

This is Paul's life.

You seem
to keep forgetting that.

You can stay...

or you can go.

I thought I heard words.

Were you two having words?

You will also
be available to testify

that you saw Paul
leave at 5:00 PM

and that you saw neither him
nor his car after that.

Victoria,
that would be perjury.

The price goes up
for perjury.

You will do it
for this price, Catherine.

It must be awful
to be at the mercy

of one of the little people.

Imagine, Victoria,

if I passed you on the street,

you wouldn't so much
as make eye contact

for fear of brushing
with a commoner.

And now I'm in your dining room,

drinking from your China.

And you have to look at me.

Look at me, Victoria.

This is what can happen
to vicious,

soulless people
such as yourself.

Little people lay in wait
to screw you over.

You walk around this town
like you own it.

And I suppose much
of it you do.

Well...

I guess you don't own
its people, do you?

Don't be silly, Catherine.

I'm buying you right now.

And that'll be your legacy,
won't it?

Catherine Piper...

for sale.

(music playing)

Mr. Shore, Mr. Shore,

could you give us
a brief statement or two

about what's going on--

SHORE:
He never pitches past seven,

it was insane to let him return

for the eighth
and everybody knew it,

and it is equally insane
for any of us

to ever,
ever get sucked in again.

Maybe I should stay
at my mother's for a while.

I'm sure she'd love it.

Did you know she's paying off
Catherine Piper?

If she insists on interfering,

you're the only one

with the authority
to banish her.

If I say do that, Paul,
you must.

Wendy's leaving.

I beg your pardon?

She's leaving me.

She's planning to--

Where is she?

In the kitchen.

I tried to talk to her.

You need to wait until
after the trial is over.

WENDY: Why?

Because it might and probably

will negatively
influence the jury.

You need to be by his side,
at his side.

I can't do that.

SHORE: If not for your husband,

then for your children's father.

I'm not speaking
as a marriage counselor, Wen--

the dish is dry.

Look at me.

Believe it or not,

wives don't statistically

leave their husbands
over infidelity.

With the remotest possibility
that you walking out

could be perceived
as you thinking

he's guilty of murder,

and there is that possibility,

you cannot walk out
that door now.

Maybe I do think
he's guilty of murder.

You haven't asked
my opinion on that, Alan.

PAUL: Let me ask.

Do you think I'm guilty, Wendy?

I don't know.

What, I'm supposed to assume

that I know you, that--

You know I'm not capable
of violence.

I didn't think
that you were capable--

I'll tell you
what I'm not capable of,

walking into a courthouse

day after day by your side,
pretending.

SHORE: If you don't pretend,

he could be
going to prison for life,

for a crime he didn't commit.

No matter how angry
you are with him...

right now,

you can't possibly want that.

Will she stay?

SHORE: For now.

Hopefully,
her anger will subside,

and they'll work it out.

Victoria,
I know how desperately

you wanna save your son,

but you must, you must

let me handle the defense.

You're gonna end up
hurting him,

I promise you.

Just tell me you'll win.

SHORE: I can't do that
at this point.

It's too soon
to predict anything yet.

The case thus far
is circumstantial.

I work for perhaps

the best criminal-defense firm

in the Commonwealth.

We have every reason
to be optimistic.

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln,
how was the play?

Catherine Piper is a petty,

vicious woman,

and I'm sorry.

People like Catherine Piper
can only shoot spitballs.

Spitballs sting.

You know, Alan,

I've always believed
that people regret

more the things
they don't do

than the ones they do.

But one thing I did,

which I've long regretted,

was sleeping with you.

I'm sorry to hear that.

I wasn't a virgin,
if it makes you feel better.

Oh, it was quite clear
at the time

that you weren't a virgin.

No, it isn't that

or even that you were young

or even that you were
Paul's best friend.

What is it, then?

I suspected that you'd fallen
in love with me.

Did I hurt you?

Victoria, I was 16.

Can a boy even
be capable of love?

What I remember most...

was your kiss.

16-year-olds tend to kiss

like they're
eating chicken fingers.

How many teenagers
have you been with?

Yours...

were so...

soft,

gentle.

Loving, I guess.

It's late.

And I have a long drive.

Yeah.

Good night, Victoria.

Night.

(music playing)

(music playing)

WOMAN: You stinker.

(music playing)