The Practice (1997–2004): Season 8, Episode 5 - The Heat of Passion - full transcript
BERLUTI: Previously
on The Practice.
WILSON: Massachusetts
is a no-fault state.
Your wife's infidelity
is a non-issue.
She didn't just cheat on me,
Ms. Wilson.
She did so
with my best friend.
I have two young kids.
I'll represent you, Roland.
Sheila...
And I don't think
we should just file
a claim against her.
I think we should prosecute
that best man, as well.
ROLAND: Richard and my wife
were having intercourse
in my house,
in my bed.
And then what happened?
Well, they looked at me,
they stopped,
and they started up again.
With you in the room?
ROLAND: Yes.
They didn't even have
the decency to stop.
NANCY: Little news flash
the kids aren't yours.
They're Richard's.
Nancy.
What?
NANCY: So drop this case,
or you'll never see them again.
(door bell dings)
Roland.
I think I need a lawyer.
I don't wanna go to jail.
You shot two people.
They were fornicating
in my bed again.
YOUNG: I understand,
but it's very important
that you don't talk
to anybody but us.
I still love her, you know.
I shot her,
but I love her.
You think you're clever,
Counsel.
Hey, Judge, if you think
I crossed a line,
call a mistrial.
Is that what's going on?
You want a mistrial?
You told me
what I couldn't argue.
You got any problem
with me now,
then it must be personal.
I take my courtroom
very personal. And if...
If I crossed a line,
call a mistrial.
I'm able to have a relationship
outside of work.
When's the last time?
I believe I'm having one now.
Eugene, I'm a person
who believes
in admitting my wrongs,
but is it really,
really such a big deal
that I mistakenly used
your toothbrush?
First, we've had this
conversation before,
so how do you mistakenly use
my toothbrush?
Second,
it is my toothbrush,
used to clean my mouth,
and I like the bristle dry.
Third, I never said
it was such a big deal.
I can promise you
that your bristle
won't be getting wet tonight.
Oh, really?
(telephone rings)
Hello?
Now? I mean,
it's half past 7:00.
Fine.
Judge Fox wants to see me
in her chambers.
Now?
I'm an early riser.
I can see you're not.
What's going on?
FOX: You have a new client,
Mr. Young.
His name is Jonathan Macklin.
His trial begins next week.
Hence, time is of the essence.
Jonathan Macklin,
the one in the news?
The very one.
File's been sent over
to your office.
We'll schedule
a conference for...
I pass.
I'm not giving you that option.
Jon Macklin is a racist.
Also a defendant.
YOUNG:
And a white supremacist.
The victim was black.
Is that why you picked me,
because I'm black?
I picked you because
his current lawyer
is over his head,
and you're one of the best
criminal defense attorneys
I know.
And you're black.
Mr. Macklin asked for you
by name.
He asked for me?
I don't much like
being the judge on this any more
than you enjoy
being the attorney.
Let's just give him
the fairest trial we can
and eliminate at least one
possible grounds for appeal.
Your Honor sounds biased.
Your Honor will remain impartial
and guarantee the defendant
a fair trial.
Speaking personally,
I hate the bastard.
Meet your new client,
and let's get going.
(music playing)
You took the case?
I was ordered to take it.
It's not like I had a choice.
Jimmy, I want you with me.
No, no, no.
YOUNG: Ellenor, can you
cover for me on Roland Huff?
Actually, I can't. I have--
Alan, get the file from Tara.
If you need help, get it.
This is a murder case.
Jimmy, let's go.
If I need help...
WILSON: Jamie,
Melissa Kenner.
STRINGER:
Who is Melissa Kenner?
You inherited her
from Rebecca Washington.
She's been on your schedule.
Oh, that.
Where is she now?
I put her in Eugene's office.
SHORE: Tara, I'll need the file
on Roland Huff please.
Why?
Why? Because I'm now
handling it.
Is that a problem?
I'll get the file.
SHORE: I'm assuming
it won't be a problem.
We're both adults.
We should be able to...
suppress our respective urges.
Would I be wrong?
I find an urge
to be much like a thirst.
Suppression is best achieved
by quenching.
Hmm.
(chuckles)
You'll bring me the file
personally?
Would you like it personally?
We were on our way to Kingston
to see my parents.
Amanda's never met
her grandparents.
Amanda's your daughter?
Ms. Washington didn't tell you
any of this?
Uh, well, she did,
but it was a while ago,
and I should get it
from you anyhow.
KENNER: Okay.
Well, we had just boarded
here at Logan.
I'd been on the plane
maybe 10 minutes
when suddenly
airport security comes
and tells me I have to get off.
Why?
Because I was too fat to fly.
Rebecca didn't tell you
that part?
Oh, she did. She did.
Uh, who, specifically,
asked you to leave?
The flight attendant.
I was encroaching.
That's the word she used.
She said I was invading
the seat next to me.
The flight was full.
They needed the space.
Voices got raised.
It was awful.
And this happened in front
of the other passengers?
Never mind other people.
In front of my daughter.
And then people started yelling
for me to get off.
I paid for my ticket
like everyone else.
I told her
I wasn't going anywhere.
So they had security
drag me out.
You were physically removed?
You don't know my case at all.
No. I do. But...
KENNER: Ms. Washington
barely returned my calls.
Then she fobs it off on you.
And now you don't know
the first thing about it.
I should make a complaint.
That's what I should do.
Melissa...
It's not like I'm asking
for much, just my fare back,
plus maybe a little something.
But you people
can't be bothered, can you?
Melissa, I'm on the case, okay?
(music playing)
Jon Macklin?
Jonathan.
Thank you for coming.
This is James Berluti.
He works with me.
Well, thank you both so much
for taking my case.
We were ordered to.
Yes, well,
I understand your reluctance.
Please sit.
You're aware
that the prosecution intends
to paint me
as a racial extremist?
By hiring you,
I hope to undercut
that assertion.
As accurate as that may be.
I'm an educator, Mr. Young,
nothing more.
My mission is to help people
to improve their lives.
White people.
Yes.
My people.
I run a youth outreach program
to help troubled teens.
I help the unemployed
reverse their misfortune.
My church exists, you see,
to aid the disenfranchised.
To restore to them
what is rightfully theirs.
BERLUTI: Even if it means
committing murder to do it.
I am not involved
in any murder,
Mr. Berluti.
I would encourage you
to study my teachings.
I'm not a violent man.
The shooter says
you ordered him to kill.
The shooter,
Mr. Daniel Grant,
came to us as a runaway.
We gave him work,
a sense of purpose.
Now, evidently,
he's finding some purpose
in implicating me in a crime
I had no part of.
His motive being?
Well, I have many enemies,
Mr. Young.
The FBI taps my phone.
State police track
my people everywhere.
My beliefs
have made me a target.
And I think I've been set up.
They couldn't get
to me legally,
so they've done it illegally,
using Mr. Grant.
Now, you can believe
what you want to about me,
Mr. Young,
but if you look at the evidence,
you won't believe
that I committed this crime.
I'm asking for your help.
Will you help me?
Is there a reason
all of Rebecca's cases
have been dumped on me?
First of all, they didn't all
get dumped on you.
Yes?
Uh, no, I'm waiting
for Mr. Ashford.
Is there a reason
I have to place
all my own calls?
Does Tara not work here?
She's meeting with Roland.
And for what it's worth,
the case you refer to
as being dumped on you
sounds like a good one.
Jamie, the airline
just threw her off
with her daughter.
Yes? Uh, Mr. Ashford,
my name is Jamie Stringer.
I represent Melissa Kenner.
Kenner.
Melissa--no.
My name is Jamie.
Roland, I want you
to tell me
everything that happened.
You entered the house,
then what?
One second.
Is that wise?
Whatever he tells us,
we're stuck with.
Suppose we should want
to argue the elements.
Better for him
not to tell us?
That may be true, but...
I'm dying to know,
aren't you?
Okay. Look--
We're arguing insanity.
For that, we need, uh--
we need to know
what happened...
exactly.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Now, you came through the door,
then what?
Well, I heard this sound,
the same sound.
Which sound was that?
ROLAND: Well, the bed.
Uh, I knew what they were doing,
so I went up there.
This time they didn't see me
at first.
They just kept going.
And then I saw her look.
She looked at me
like she expected me
to walk in on them,
and she was doing it all
for my benefit.
She had this look in her eye,
till she saw the gun.
Then I can't remember
what happened.
They started saying something,
but I couldn't hear it.
Their mouths were moving,
but I don't remember
hearing anything.
I just kept seeing
the look in her eye
when she saw me,
watching me watch her.
Then I guess...
I shot the gun,
twice.
Then the bed stopped squeaking.
Everything stopped.
May I ask?
Where did the gun come from?
I kept it locked in a den.
When I heard the bed,
I knew,
and I grabbed it.
I loved her too much,
I guess.
I had to shoot her.
STRINGER: Look,
I don't think your client
really wants the publicity.
Big airline physically removes
a peaceful passenger,
who paid her fare,
because she's fat.
Well, I could argue
the merits.
You have them?
Actually, yes.
She was...
taking up another
passenger's seat,
a passenger
who was also peaceful
and had also paid full fare.
The reason my client
was encroaching
probably had more
to do with you
making the seats smaller
to serve the bottom line.
Well, as I said,
we could argue the merits.
But since you bring up
the bottom line, Ms. Stringer,
why don't we just get to that?
Fine.
You missed
your filing deadline.
What?
The statute of limitations
for suing us has expired.
Our claim
would be emotional distress.
For that,
we have three years to file.
In Massachusetts,
but your client
was on an international flight.
That means it was governed
by the rules
of the Warsaw Convention.
You had two years,
which were up last month.
I, I really should report
this oversight to the bar,
truth be told.
But you seem like a...
conscientious young woman.
I'm going to pretend
we never had this meeting.
Tara, we missed
the deadline.
The what?
The filing deadline.
The statute of limitations
tolled on the airline case.
We can't sue.
Well, why didn't
anyone tell me?
Slow down.
Did Rebecca never file
a complaint?
I was brought
into this late, Jamie.
I don't...
SHORE: What's going on?
This is private.
Well, it sounds
like a crisis.
I so enjoy that.
Alan, Jamie said
this is private.
What am I going to do?
The first thing,
you're not going to panic.
This case is dead.
I missed a deadline.
It's malpractice.
Calm.
Are we calm?
Let's talk to Eugene.
No.
Jamie.
STRINGER: No.
He is the last person
I want to know about this.
We're not being calm.
What's up?
What's up is our man
may be innocent.
What?
I say "may".
The case is circumstantial,
Jimmy, uh,
but I've been going through
all his published articles,
and he's right,
none of them advocates violence.
Why would the kid say
he was ordered if...
I don't know.
Maybe to cut a deal.
I want you to talk to him.
The shooter?
Well, he's been talking
to the press.
His lawyer can't stop him.
He might speak to you.
I'm going to continue
going through Macklin's papers.
You really think
he could be innocent?
Talk to the shooter.
SHORE: She just seemed
so upset.
Maybe I can help.
It's private, Alan.
I'm sorry.
Come on.
Throw me a bone.
I'll throw you one.
Where are you going anyway?
Off to see Roland.
He wasn't looking so good.
Whoa, you're not going
to visit Roland.
Uh, he was coming unraveled.
Did you not see that?
I did.
And unraveled is in
his best legal interests.
He's meeting with
the court's psychologist today,
who hopefully will find
some diminished capacity.
Let's talk about Jamie.
Might it occur to you
that I could help her?
She missed a filing deadline.
Big case?
Not terribly,
but if you were to ask
the client--
any suggestions?
Well, not that Jamie
would ever do such a thing,
but if it were me,
I would just tell the client
that we settled,
pay them out of my own pocket,
and avoid
the whole malpractice thing.
That's fraud, Alan.
I said, "If it were me."
Is there anything
that you wouldn't do?
For example?
Alan, what are you doing?
I was only trying to bed Tara.
I promise.
GRANT: Mr. Macklin
saved my life.
I would never betray him,
Mr. Berluti.
But, see, you're saying
he ordered you to kill a guy.
GRANT: Well, first,
that's what happened.
And, second, I don't...
He claims he never told you
to execute anybody.
Mr. Macklin is a man
of great principle.
He's a man
who is profoundly honest.
And I believe,
on a fundamental level,
he's taking pride
in my truthfulness.
That having been said,
it would be understandable
for him to be fearful
during this very trying ordeal.
You are saying
this profoundly honest man
is lying?
I think we need to pray for him.
Pray for him?
Mr. Berluti, uh, I would agree.
Mr. Macklin's teachings
have never called for murder.
Perhaps, consumed by anger,
he became lost.
But I have always been
very clear,
specifically in
my devotion to him.
I've never wavered.
I killed Arnold Coleman
because Mr. Macklin told me to.
Out of my own pocket?
I'm not advising it.
It's just something
that Alan sort of proposed.
Jamie, this is malpractice,
black-and-white.
You missed a filing deadline.
Sometimes judges forgive
late filings,
and I'm not going to cover up
one offense with another.
Are you kidding?
WILSON: As I said,
I'm not advising it.
Is she in there?
With a snarl on her face.
Melissa, hey.
KENNER: This is my daughter,
Amanda.
Hi, Amanda.
Hi.
KENNER: I was thinking,
since she got thrown off
the plane too,
maybe we could amend
our complaint
and add her
for extra sympathy.
Uh, that's, uh--
Melissa, I have something
to tell you.
What?
For some, uh...
well, sometimes...
what I'm trying to say...
is that, incredibly,
the defendant
has offered to settle.
They have?
Yes.
They are going to refund
your full fare.
Yours too, Amanda.
And get this--
this is the best part.
They've agreed to pay you
$10,000.
What?
Yes.
I met with them, I got tough,
and they just folded.
It's fantastic.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Tell them no.
What?
I've thought about it.
What they did
can't be fixed with money.
Melissa, everything
can be fixed with money.
I want my day in court.
Your day? Whoa. Hold on.
I want to put the word out.
We could lose in court.
I think you should take
the money, don't you, Amanda?
KENNER: My mind is made up.
STRINGER: Okay. Okay.
Clients sometimes let emotion
govern their decisions.
It's my job to step in
as objective...
I'm not...
Okay. Take the money.
She's yelling at us.
I just--
I just want you to be happy.
I want my day in court.
If they're offering $10,000,
there's got to be more.
The way they treated me,
we're going to trial.
The news isn't good, Roland.
ROLAND: What's the matter?
Well, the state psychologist
finds you competent
to stand trial,
which we anticipated.
But, moreover,
in his judgment,
you fully understood
the nature and quality
of your actions.
Basically...
he won't support
our insanity defense.
Did you expect him to?
SHORE: Well, I was hopeful.
Now, listen,
I've hired our own expert.
Very expensive,
highly pedigreed.
He could be an enormous part
of our case.
It's important
when you meet with him
to act nutty.
Alan.
SHORE: I'm certainly
not suborning
false testimony
or demeanor.
Be yourself,
but that little
fist-tapping thing you do,
do that.
Alan.
SHORE: Also, the part
where mouths were moving
but you didn't hear words
coming out,
be sure to include that.
And, if true, of course,
don't forget to mention
you have no memory
of squeezing a trigger.
You're a lovely,
sweet man, Roland,
but our whole case rests
on you coming off as a loon.
Now, I have a duty
to report you.
I prefaced everything
with "if true".
You just coached a witness
to act crazy.
Nonsense.
I said, "Be yourself."
Alan.
Tara.
Did you hear the part
about "sweet, lovely man"?
That's true.
Do you want
that sweet, lovely man
to go to prison
for the rest of his life?
I'm not talking
about observation in a hospital
until he's cured.
I'm talking about prison
for the rest of his life.
That's not what this is about.
I'm talking--
That's exactly what it's about.
That's what it's always about.
You're not here
to serve a process
or an adversarial system
second to none in the world.
If you're lucky,
you'll have the opportunity,
every once in a great while,
to defend a decent human being
who really doesn't belong
in prison.
You've got one here.
You know what you do
in those situations, Tara?
Whatever you can.
Nothing more, but nothing less.
FRUTT: You lied to her?
Yes.
And she turned down the offer.
And now she wants
to go to trial,
and I don't know what to do.
Jamie, how did...
I know it was stupid,
but I--
FRUTT: Oh, my God.
So this woman
thinks the airline
offered her $10,000?
When we're barred
from even suing,
because I missed
the stupid deadline.
This is Rebecca's fault.
No, it's yours,
and one you've
compounded unbelievably.
Look, just help me.
Can you do that?
I'm not really sure how.
I think we have to tell Eugene.
No. I cannot look at myself
through his judgmental,
unforgiving, intolerant,
vicious eyes.
Forget it.
This, the man you sleep with?
I've come to you...
not him.
Please.
Okay. First...
we all commit and get sued
for malpractice.
It's why we have insurance.
Uh, I've only been out
of law school for two years.
Uh, I didn't want it
on my record.
It would be the only thing
on my record.
Second, to lie to a client--
I know. I didn't plan it.
It just came out.
FRUTT: Well, Jamie,
the only thing you can do now
is correct it.
Tell your client the truth.
Ellenor, she was ready
to call the bar on me before.
This woman will hold
a press conference.
Trust me.
When she feels wronged--
that's why
I'm in this trouble.
Can you please talk to her
and convince her
it's in her best interest
to take the $10,000?
No.
I can't do that.
I could lose my license
over this.
If she makes a thing about--
I could get disbarred.
Jamie...
you have made
a horrible mistake.
The best advice I can give you
is don't make it worse.
GRANT: Once he got a hold
of the building,
he immediately moved
to evict Mr. Macklin.
We're talking now
about the man you shot?
Yes.
Mr. Macklin had gone to court
to oppose the eviction.
And upon suffering defeat,
a very public defeat,
that's when he told me
of my mission.
BERLUTI: Okay.
You used the word "mission",
did Mr. Macklin ever use
the word "kill" or "execute"?
He used the word "eliminate".
He said my mission
was to eliminate Mr. Coleman.
Did you question it?
Did you say, "Hey, hold on.
That's murder.
We don't do that"?
No.
Why not?
Because, as I said,
it was a mission,
Mr. Berluti.
Well, suppose Mr. Macklin said
it was your mission
to kill your own mother?
He would never say that.
Why not?
He had a great love for me,
and still does I believe,
just as I continue
to have great love for him.
A gay thing?
I'm telling you.
Not everything's
a gay thing, Jimmy.
Don't make me out
a homophobe, Eugene.
I'm telling you.
Let's just ask him.
Do you need time
to think it over?
No, I do not, Mr. Berluti.
My silence is meant
to connote offense.
Homosexuality is against God.
It is evil.
Is it possible this boy
has homosexual feelings
towards you?
No. That is not possible.
Who is telling you this?
I just detected.
Danny Grant
is kind of effeminate.
He speaks of you
with great...
affection.
Danny Grant is a loyal member
of my church
who became misguided.
He acted unilaterally.
I'm sure he did so
under the false assumption
that he was serving me
or my church.
He's neither expressed
nor manifested
any evil homosexual intentions.
Look...
this could be something
to go with.
The victim defeated you
publicly in court.
The boy was in love
with you,
so he avenges your loss.
Then maybe
feeling rejected by you,
he decides to say
you ordered the hit.
There's no homosexuality
in my church, Mr. Young.
If you suggest as much,
I will discharge you.
Was he enraged? Yes.
Heat of passion? Certainly.
But insane?
I don't think so.
SHORE:
Did he tell you the part
about seeing mouths move
and not hearing words come out?
Yes. And he tapped his fists
per your instructions.
Look, your problem goes
to everything
that transpired before he went
into the bedroom.
He says he knew
what was going on
when he retrieved the weapon.
He likely formed intent
down in his den.
Did he say that?
Well, why else would he get
the gun? To clean it?
What are you, a profiler, now?
No. I'm a psychologist
who is on your side,
and I am advising you
not to go with insanity.
WILSON: What about automatism?
Isn't it possible
that he got the gun
to scare them,
to threaten them,
maybe even shoot them,
but once he went into the room
and he saw his best friend
screwing his wife,
everything after that
was involuntary?
MAN: So you're saying he
retrieved the gun downstairs...
I'm saying that even if he had
a general intent
to assault or kill
when he was downstairs,
that once he went into the room
and he saw what he saw,
he then went on automatic pilot.
Isn't that possible?
Well...
I suppose...
That's what happened.
I can feel it in my heart.
That's precisely
what happened.
Wonderful.
Tara, you've been holding back.
HARROD: I can't let this proceed
with you, Ms. Wilson.
You're not yet a member
of the bar.
I'm sure Mr. Shore
will be here imminently.
Well, that's not good enough.
Take Mr. Huff back into custody.
Call the next case.
(door opens)
SHORE: I'm terribly sorry.
Did I miss anything good?
Mr. Shore, I run a punctual,
crisp courtroom.
SHORE: I appreciate that,
Your Honor. I apologize.
And I can make
this very short.
We only seek
to change our plea.
It's a formality.
Should take about two seconds.
Hello.
HARROD:
You're changing your plea?
To what?
Not guilty by reason
of automatism.
What did you say?
Automatism?
It's actually one word,
Your Honor.
It basically
means my client
was not in control
of his actions.
Well, I won't let you
argue that.
I beg your pardon?
HARROD: You'll not make
a mockery of this court,
Counsel.
On what factual basis do you--
SHORE: Your Honor,
if you walked in on your wife
with your best friend,
wouldn't you go a little blooey?
(music playing)
The last lawyer before me
from your firm
insulted the integrity
of this room.
I will not let it happen again.
I'm not liking you so far.
How about this?
Deny my defense,
I'll get you tossed for abuse
of judicial discretion,
and we can be done
with each other.
Does that work for you?
Oh, you won't be done with me,
Mr. Shore.
I assure you.
Are you attracted to me,
Judge?
WILSON: (chuckles)
Our plea is not guilty
by reason of automatism.
Deal with it.
Uh, this could be--
well, uh...
there's something
you need to know, Melissa.
I already know.
You do?
Yes, I do.
And all I can say...
is thank you.
Mr. Torrance came to my house
this morning.
He actually drove
right to my house.
Uh, Mr. Torrance?
From the airline.
He told me how relentless
you've been.
He also told me
you even offered to put up
some of your own money
if they'd match it.
Oh. Uh...
Mr. Torrance told you that?
And then he offered $25,000
and something else,
an apology.
He said they were wrong.
He looked me right in the eye
and told me how sorry he was.
Then he did the same
with Amanda.
Said he knew what
his employees forgot,
that we're human beings.
Anyway...
I accepted his offer.
Probably should have called,
run it by you first,
but the truth is,
I got all I wanted,
so I said yes.
Thank you, Ms. Stringer.
I'll never forget this.
Conspiracy to commit murder,
we'll agree to 10,
accessory, another 10.
Served concurrently.
Mr. Young?
It's a start.
A start?
Your client
ordered an execution.
The most he will serve
is 10 years.
It seems like a fair offer,
Mr. Young.
It is, but I can't recommend it.
Why not?
Because I got
a better-than-even chance
of getting a not guilty.
FOX: Mr. Young,
for everybody's sake,
and I do mean everybody,
a trial would be best avoided.
I'm not following.
Are you asking me to tank this?
FOX: No. I'm endorsing
the district attorney's offer
as a reasonable one.
Ten years for murder
is a bargain,
and the cost of going
to trial would be immeasurable
for all the players,
not to mention
the City of Boston.
Those factors aren't relevant,
not to my...
Are you kidding?
The reason I plucked you
in the first place
is because of the racial
ramifications.
The city is rife--
This is a case
I think I can beat,
given that I will not recommend
to my client
he plead guilty.
You plucked me, Judge.
You got me.
Are you sure
this is what you want,
Counsel?
WILSON: I still can't believe
that he didn't lock you up.
I wish he had.
It'd be easier
to get rid of him.
Next step,
tap into your network,
find me a British medical expert
on automatism.
Why British?
The Americans think
the English are smarter.
Jamie.
Hey.
Did you tell Alan
about my little predicament?
I'm sorry?
Is it Alan Shore,
by the way,
or Torrance?
I've never been good at riddles.
It had to be you.
Who else?
He went to Melissa Kenner
and pretended to be somebody
from the airline
and settled the case.
You put up your own money?
All she really wanted
was the apology.
Why would you do this?
You barely know me.
Well, any chance
I get to break a law.
I don't know...
whether to thank you
or to curse you
for getting me
in even deeper.
But I'm gonna go
with thank you.
You put up your own money?
What's going on?
Meaning?
Meaning that you're not
that nice a fellow.
You know, I like to fantasize
when I go to bed,
helps me sleep.
I've been having
wonderful sessions with you
in mind, actually.
But with Jamie,
I keep hitting a block.
Sex isn't all...
body parts for me, Tara.
It's mental.
I've been sensing...
Jamie's repelled by me
for some reason.
Now that I've perhaps
courted her favor,
I'm hoping
that my fantasy could...
have a life.
Tara, whether I'm committing
random acts of kindness,
or impersonating
an airline executive,
or even talking back
to a judge,
it's always
about getting the girl.
Even if it's only
in your mind?
The one place
I'm never disappointed.
You know what I love
about your talk, Alan?
SHORE: Hmm?
Is it makes me feel safe.
Does it, now?
WILSON: Uh-hmm,
because men who talk
never do anything.
Would you like me
to be a doer, Tara?
I never make the first move.
It's beneath me.
I always make
the first move,
but I'm not going to here.
Happy to make the second,
perhaps the third,
but you need to go first...
Alan.
It needs to be you.
I think not.
Oh, it will be.
Oh, it won't.
I'm waiting, Tara.
Things are beginning
to tingle.
I'm right here,
Alan.
Your instincts were correct.
That offer is unacceptable.
YOUNG: Look, uh, I don't mean
to sound too confident.
In the public's mind,
you already stand convicted.
And 10 years...
it's not a bad deal.
I would not last one day
in prison, Mr. Young,
much less 10 years.
Not exactly my demographic.
Sorry?
I don't mean to disparage you.
You think prisons
are full of black people.
We don't need to get into this.
Oh, I got time.
Eugene.
Mr. Young.
In this country, there are
more black men in prison
than there are in college,
Mr. Young.
That is not
a white-supremacist opinion.
It is a fact.
And you don't think
that has anything to do
with the white society
that has...
Uh, all right.
Let's just stick to the case.
The offer of 10 years
is officially rejected.
I did not kill anybody.
There won't be any plea.
Mr. Young...
you and I need to get
on the same side now.
My trial begins in six days.
Mr. Macklin,
I will give you
the best defense I can,
but you and I will never be
on the same side.
I am a human being.
I need you to see me
as a human being.
Certainly you're capable
of doing that.
(music playing)
(music playing)
WOMAN: You stinker!
(music playing)
on The Practice.
WILSON: Massachusetts
is a no-fault state.
Your wife's infidelity
is a non-issue.
She didn't just cheat on me,
Ms. Wilson.
She did so
with my best friend.
I have two young kids.
I'll represent you, Roland.
Sheila...
And I don't think
we should just file
a claim against her.
I think we should prosecute
that best man, as well.
ROLAND: Richard and my wife
were having intercourse
in my house,
in my bed.
And then what happened?
Well, they looked at me,
they stopped,
and they started up again.
With you in the room?
ROLAND: Yes.
They didn't even have
the decency to stop.
NANCY: Little news flash
the kids aren't yours.
They're Richard's.
Nancy.
What?
NANCY: So drop this case,
or you'll never see them again.
(door bell dings)
Roland.
I think I need a lawyer.
I don't wanna go to jail.
You shot two people.
They were fornicating
in my bed again.
YOUNG: I understand,
but it's very important
that you don't talk
to anybody but us.
I still love her, you know.
I shot her,
but I love her.
You think you're clever,
Counsel.
Hey, Judge, if you think
I crossed a line,
call a mistrial.
Is that what's going on?
You want a mistrial?
You told me
what I couldn't argue.
You got any problem
with me now,
then it must be personal.
I take my courtroom
very personal. And if...
If I crossed a line,
call a mistrial.
I'm able to have a relationship
outside of work.
When's the last time?
I believe I'm having one now.
Eugene, I'm a person
who believes
in admitting my wrongs,
but is it really,
really such a big deal
that I mistakenly used
your toothbrush?
First, we've had this
conversation before,
so how do you mistakenly use
my toothbrush?
Second,
it is my toothbrush,
used to clean my mouth,
and I like the bristle dry.
Third, I never said
it was such a big deal.
I can promise you
that your bristle
won't be getting wet tonight.
Oh, really?
(telephone rings)
Hello?
Now? I mean,
it's half past 7:00.
Fine.
Judge Fox wants to see me
in her chambers.
Now?
I'm an early riser.
I can see you're not.
What's going on?
FOX: You have a new client,
Mr. Young.
His name is Jonathan Macklin.
His trial begins next week.
Hence, time is of the essence.
Jonathan Macklin,
the one in the news?
The very one.
File's been sent over
to your office.
We'll schedule
a conference for...
I pass.
I'm not giving you that option.
Jon Macklin is a racist.
Also a defendant.
YOUNG:
And a white supremacist.
The victim was black.
Is that why you picked me,
because I'm black?
I picked you because
his current lawyer
is over his head,
and you're one of the best
criminal defense attorneys
I know.
And you're black.
Mr. Macklin asked for you
by name.
He asked for me?
I don't much like
being the judge on this any more
than you enjoy
being the attorney.
Let's just give him
the fairest trial we can
and eliminate at least one
possible grounds for appeal.
Your Honor sounds biased.
Your Honor will remain impartial
and guarantee the defendant
a fair trial.
Speaking personally,
I hate the bastard.
Meet your new client,
and let's get going.
(music playing)
You took the case?
I was ordered to take it.
It's not like I had a choice.
Jimmy, I want you with me.
No, no, no.
YOUNG: Ellenor, can you
cover for me on Roland Huff?
Actually, I can't. I have--
Alan, get the file from Tara.
If you need help, get it.
This is a murder case.
Jimmy, let's go.
If I need help...
WILSON: Jamie,
Melissa Kenner.
STRINGER:
Who is Melissa Kenner?
You inherited her
from Rebecca Washington.
She's been on your schedule.
Oh, that.
Where is she now?
I put her in Eugene's office.
SHORE: Tara, I'll need the file
on Roland Huff please.
Why?
Why? Because I'm now
handling it.
Is that a problem?
I'll get the file.
SHORE: I'm assuming
it won't be a problem.
We're both adults.
We should be able to...
suppress our respective urges.
Would I be wrong?
I find an urge
to be much like a thirst.
Suppression is best achieved
by quenching.
Hmm.
(chuckles)
You'll bring me the file
personally?
Would you like it personally?
We were on our way to Kingston
to see my parents.
Amanda's never met
her grandparents.
Amanda's your daughter?
Ms. Washington didn't tell you
any of this?
Uh, well, she did,
but it was a while ago,
and I should get it
from you anyhow.
KENNER: Okay.
Well, we had just boarded
here at Logan.
I'd been on the plane
maybe 10 minutes
when suddenly
airport security comes
and tells me I have to get off.
Why?
Because I was too fat to fly.
Rebecca didn't tell you
that part?
Oh, she did. She did.
Uh, who, specifically,
asked you to leave?
The flight attendant.
I was encroaching.
That's the word she used.
She said I was invading
the seat next to me.
The flight was full.
They needed the space.
Voices got raised.
It was awful.
And this happened in front
of the other passengers?
Never mind other people.
In front of my daughter.
And then people started yelling
for me to get off.
I paid for my ticket
like everyone else.
I told her
I wasn't going anywhere.
So they had security
drag me out.
You were physically removed?
You don't know my case at all.
No. I do. But...
KENNER: Ms. Washington
barely returned my calls.
Then she fobs it off on you.
And now you don't know
the first thing about it.
I should make a complaint.
That's what I should do.
Melissa...
It's not like I'm asking
for much, just my fare back,
plus maybe a little something.
But you people
can't be bothered, can you?
Melissa, I'm on the case, okay?
(music playing)
Jon Macklin?
Jonathan.
Thank you for coming.
This is James Berluti.
He works with me.
Well, thank you both so much
for taking my case.
We were ordered to.
Yes, well,
I understand your reluctance.
Please sit.
You're aware
that the prosecution intends
to paint me
as a racial extremist?
By hiring you,
I hope to undercut
that assertion.
As accurate as that may be.
I'm an educator, Mr. Young,
nothing more.
My mission is to help people
to improve their lives.
White people.
Yes.
My people.
I run a youth outreach program
to help troubled teens.
I help the unemployed
reverse their misfortune.
My church exists, you see,
to aid the disenfranchised.
To restore to them
what is rightfully theirs.
BERLUTI: Even if it means
committing murder to do it.
I am not involved
in any murder,
Mr. Berluti.
I would encourage you
to study my teachings.
I'm not a violent man.
The shooter says
you ordered him to kill.
The shooter,
Mr. Daniel Grant,
came to us as a runaway.
We gave him work,
a sense of purpose.
Now, evidently,
he's finding some purpose
in implicating me in a crime
I had no part of.
His motive being?
Well, I have many enemies,
Mr. Young.
The FBI taps my phone.
State police track
my people everywhere.
My beliefs
have made me a target.
And I think I've been set up.
They couldn't get
to me legally,
so they've done it illegally,
using Mr. Grant.
Now, you can believe
what you want to about me,
Mr. Young,
but if you look at the evidence,
you won't believe
that I committed this crime.
I'm asking for your help.
Will you help me?
Is there a reason
all of Rebecca's cases
have been dumped on me?
First of all, they didn't all
get dumped on you.
Yes?
Uh, no, I'm waiting
for Mr. Ashford.
Is there a reason
I have to place
all my own calls?
Does Tara not work here?
She's meeting with Roland.
And for what it's worth,
the case you refer to
as being dumped on you
sounds like a good one.
Jamie, the airline
just threw her off
with her daughter.
Yes? Uh, Mr. Ashford,
my name is Jamie Stringer.
I represent Melissa Kenner.
Kenner.
Melissa--no.
My name is Jamie.
Roland, I want you
to tell me
everything that happened.
You entered the house,
then what?
One second.
Is that wise?
Whatever he tells us,
we're stuck with.
Suppose we should want
to argue the elements.
Better for him
not to tell us?
That may be true, but...
I'm dying to know,
aren't you?
Okay. Look--
We're arguing insanity.
For that, we need, uh--
we need to know
what happened...
exactly.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Now, you came through the door,
then what?
Well, I heard this sound,
the same sound.
Which sound was that?
ROLAND: Well, the bed.
Uh, I knew what they were doing,
so I went up there.
This time they didn't see me
at first.
They just kept going.
And then I saw her look.
She looked at me
like she expected me
to walk in on them,
and she was doing it all
for my benefit.
She had this look in her eye,
till she saw the gun.
Then I can't remember
what happened.
They started saying something,
but I couldn't hear it.
Their mouths were moving,
but I don't remember
hearing anything.
I just kept seeing
the look in her eye
when she saw me,
watching me watch her.
Then I guess...
I shot the gun,
twice.
Then the bed stopped squeaking.
Everything stopped.
May I ask?
Where did the gun come from?
I kept it locked in a den.
When I heard the bed,
I knew,
and I grabbed it.
I loved her too much,
I guess.
I had to shoot her.
STRINGER: Look,
I don't think your client
really wants the publicity.
Big airline physically removes
a peaceful passenger,
who paid her fare,
because she's fat.
Well, I could argue
the merits.
You have them?
Actually, yes.
She was...
taking up another
passenger's seat,
a passenger
who was also peaceful
and had also paid full fare.
The reason my client
was encroaching
probably had more
to do with you
making the seats smaller
to serve the bottom line.
Well, as I said,
we could argue the merits.
But since you bring up
the bottom line, Ms. Stringer,
why don't we just get to that?
Fine.
You missed
your filing deadline.
What?
The statute of limitations
for suing us has expired.
Our claim
would be emotional distress.
For that,
we have three years to file.
In Massachusetts,
but your client
was on an international flight.
That means it was governed
by the rules
of the Warsaw Convention.
You had two years,
which were up last month.
I, I really should report
this oversight to the bar,
truth be told.
But you seem like a...
conscientious young woman.
I'm going to pretend
we never had this meeting.
Tara, we missed
the deadline.
The what?
The filing deadline.
The statute of limitations
tolled on the airline case.
We can't sue.
Well, why didn't
anyone tell me?
Slow down.
Did Rebecca never file
a complaint?
I was brought
into this late, Jamie.
I don't...
SHORE: What's going on?
This is private.
Well, it sounds
like a crisis.
I so enjoy that.
Alan, Jamie said
this is private.
What am I going to do?
The first thing,
you're not going to panic.
This case is dead.
I missed a deadline.
It's malpractice.
Calm.
Are we calm?
Let's talk to Eugene.
No.
Jamie.
STRINGER: No.
He is the last person
I want to know about this.
We're not being calm.
What's up?
What's up is our man
may be innocent.
What?
I say "may".
The case is circumstantial,
Jimmy, uh,
but I've been going through
all his published articles,
and he's right,
none of them advocates violence.
Why would the kid say
he was ordered if...
I don't know.
Maybe to cut a deal.
I want you to talk to him.
The shooter?
Well, he's been talking
to the press.
His lawyer can't stop him.
He might speak to you.
I'm going to continue
going through Macklin's papers.
You really think
he could be innocent?
Talk to the shooter.
SHORE: She just seemed
so upset.
Maybe I can help.
It's private, Alan.
I'm sorry.
Come on.
Throw me a bone.
I'll throw you one.
Where are you going anyway?
Off to see Roland.
He wasn't looking so good.
Whoa, you're not going
to visit Roland.
Uh, he was coming unraveled.
Did you not see that?
I did.
And unraveled is in
his best legal interests.
He's meeting with
the court's psychologist today,
who hopefully will find
some diminished capacity.
Let's talk about Jamie.
Might it occur to you
that I could help her?
She missed a filing deadline.
Big case?
Not terribly,
but if you were to ask
the client--
any suggestions?
Well, not that Jamie
would ever do such a thing,
but if it were me,
I would just tell the client
that we settled,
pay them out of my own pocket,
and avoid
the whole malpractice thing.
That's fraud, Alan.
I said, "If it were me."
Is there anything
that you wouldn't do?
For example?
Alan, what are you doing?
I was only trying to bed Tara.
I promise.
GRANT: Mr. Macklin
saved my life.
I would never betray him,
Mr. Berluti.
But, see, you're saying
he ordered you to kill a guy.
GRANT: Well, first,
that's what happened.
And, second, I don't...
He claims he never told you
to execute anybody.
Mr. Macklin is a man
of great principle.
He's a man
who is profoundly honest.
And I believe,
on a fundamental level,
he's taking pride
in my truthfulness.
That having been said,
it would be understandable
for him to be fearful
during this very trying ordeal.
You are saying
this profoundly honest man
is lying?
I think we need to pray for him.
Pray for him?
Mr. Berluti, uh, I would agree.
Mr. Macklin's teachings
have never called for murder.
Perhaps, consumed by anger,
he became lost.
But I have always been
very clear,
specifically in
my devotion to him.
I've never wavered.
I killed Arnold Coleman
because Mr. Macklin told me to.
Out of my own pocket?
I'm not advising it.
It's just something
that Alan sort of proposed.
Jamie, this is malpractice,
black-and-white.
You missed a filing deadline.
Sometimes judges forgive
late filings,
and I'm not going to cover up
one offense with another.
Are you kidding?
WILSON: As I said,
I'm not advising it.
Is she in there?
With a snarl on her face.
Melissa, hey.
KENNER: This is my daughter,
Amanda.
Hi, Amanda.
Hi.
KENNER: I was thinking,
since she got thrown off
the plane too,
maybe we could amend
our complaint
and add her
for extra sympathy.
Uh, that's, uh--
Melissa, I have something
to tell you.
What?
For some, uh...
well, sometimes...
what I'm trying to say...
is that, incredibly,
the defendant
has offered to settle.
They have?
Yes.
They are going to refund
your full fare.
Yours too, Amanda.
And get this--
this is the best part.
They've agreed to pay you
$10,000.
What?
Yes.
I met with them, I got tough,
and they just folded.
It's fantastic.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Tell them no.
What?
I've thought about it.
What they did
can't be fixed with money.
Melissa, everything
can be fixed with money.
I want my day in court.
Your day? Whoa. Hold on.
I want to put the word out.
We could lose in court.
I think you should take
the money, don't you, Amanda?
KENNER: My mind is made up.
STRINGER: Okay. Okay.
Clients sometimes let emotion
govern their decisions.
It's my job to step in
as objective...
I'm not...
Okay. Take the money.
She's yelling at us.
I just--
I just want you to be happy.
I want my day in court.
If they're offering $10,000,
there's got to be more.
The way they treated me,
we're going to trial.
The news isn't good, Roland.
ROLAND: What's the matter?
Well, the state psychologist
finds you competent
to stand trial,
which we anticipated.
But, moreover,
in his judgment,
you fully understood
the nature and quality
of your actions.
Basically...
he won't support
our insanity defense.
Did you expect him to?
SHORE: Well, I was hopeful.
Now, listen,
I've hired our own expert.
Very expensive,
highly pedigreed.
He could be an enormous part
of our case.
It's important
when you meet with him
to act nutty.
Alan.
SHORE: I'm certainly
not suborning
false testimony
or demeanor.
Be yourself,
but that little
fist-tapping thing you do,
do that.
Alan.
SHORE: Also, the part
where mouths were moving
but you didn't hear words
coming out,
be sure to include that.
And, if true, of course,
don't forget to mention
you have no memory
of squeezing a trigger.
You're a lovely,
sweet man, Roland,
but our whole case rests
on you coming off as a loon.
Now, I have a duty
to report you.
I prefaced everything
with "if true".
You just coached a witness
to act crazy.
Nonsense.
I said, "Be yourself."
Alan.
Tara.
Did you hear the part
about "sweet, lovely man"?
That's true.
Do you want
that sweet, lovely man
to go to prison
for the rest of his life?
I'm not talking
about observation in a hospital
until he's cured.
I'm talking about prison
for the rest of his life.
That's not what this is about.
I'm talking--
That's exactly what it's about.
That's what it's always about.
You're not here
to serve a process
or an adversarial system
second to none in the world.
If you're lucky,
you'll have the opportunity,
every once in a great while,
to defend a decent human being
who really doesn't belong
in prison.
You've got one here.
You know what you do
in those situations, Tara?
Whatever you can.
Nothing more, but nothing less.
FRUTT: You lied to her?
Yes.
And she turned down the offer.
And now she wants
to go to trial,
and I don't know what to do.
Jamie, how did...
I know it was stupid,
but I--
FRUTT: Oh, my God.
So this woman
thinks the airline
offered her $10,000?
When we're barred
from even suing,
because I missed
the stupid deadline.
This is Rebecca's fault.
No, it's yours,
and one you've
compounded unbelievably.
Look, just help me.
Can you do that?
I'm not really sure how.
I think we have to tell Eugene.
No. I cannot look at myself
through his judgmental,
unforgiving, intolerant,
vicious eyes.
Forget it.
This, the man you sleep with?
I've come to you...
not him.
Please.
Okay. First...
we all commit and get sued
for malpractice.
It's why we have insurance.
Uh, I've only been out
of law school for two years.
Uh, I didn't want it
on my record.
It would be the only thing
on my record.
Second, to lie to a client--
I know. I didn't plan it.
It just came out.
FRUTT: Well, Jamie,
the only thing you can do now
is correct it.
Tell your client the truth.
Ellenor, she was ready
to call the bar on me before.
This woman will hold
a press conference.
Trust me.
When she feels wronged--
that's why
I'm in this trouble.
Can you please talk to her
and convince her
it's in her best interest
to take the $10,000?
No.
I can't do that.
I could lose my license
over this.
If she makes a thing about--
I could get disbarred.
Jamie...
you have made
a horrible mistake.
The best advice I can give you
is don't make it worse.
GRANT: Once he got a hold
of the building,
he immediately moved
to evict Mr. Macklin.
We're talking now
about the man you shot?
Yes.
Mr. Macklin had gone to court
to oppose the eviction.
And upon suffering defeat,
a very public defeat,
that's when he told me
of my mission.
BERLUTI: Okay.
You used the word "mission",
did Mr. Macklin ever use
the word "kill" or "execute"?
He used the word "eliminate".
He said my mission
was to eliminate Mr. Coleman.
Did you question it?
Did you say, "Hey, hold on.
That's murder.
We don't do that"?
No.
Why not?
Because, as I said,
it was a mission,
Mr. Berluti.
Well, suppose Mr. Macklin said
it was your mission
to kill your own mother?
He would never say that.
Why not?
He had a great love for me,
and still does I believe,
just as I continue
to have great love for him.
A gay thing?
I'm telling you.
Not everything's
a gay thing, Jimmy.
Don't make me out
a homophobe, Eugene.
I'm telling you.
Let's just ask him.
Do you need time
to think it over?
No, I do not, Mr. Berluti.
My silence is meant
to connote offense.
Homosexuality is against God.
It is evil.
Is it possible this boy
has homosexual feelings
towards you?
No. That is not possible.
Who is telling you this?
I just detected.
Danny Grant
is kind of effeminate.
He speaks of you
with great...
affection.
Danny Grant is a loyal member
of my church
who became misguided.
He acted unilaterally.
I'm sure he did so
under the false assumption
that he was serving me
or my church.
He's neither expressed
nor manifested
any evil homosexual intentions.
Look...
this could be something
to go with.
The victim defeated you
publicly in court.
The boy was in love
with you,
so he avenges your loss.
Then maybe
feeling rejected by you,
he decides to say
you ordered the hit.
There's no homosexuality
in my church, Mr. Young.
If you suggest as much,
I will discharge you.
Was he enraged? Yes.
Heat of passion? Certainly.
But insane?
I don't think so.
SHORE:
Did he tell you the part
about seeing mouths move
and not hearing words come out?
Yes. And he tapped his fists
per your instructions.
Look, your problem goes
to everything
that transpired before he went
into the bedroom.
He says he knew
what was going on
when he retrieved the weapon.
He likely formed intent
down in his den.
Did he say that?
Well, why else would he get
the gun? To clean it?
What are you, a profiler, now?
No. I'm a psychologist
who is on your side,
and I am advising you
not to go with insanity.
WILSON: What about automatism?
Isn't it possible
that he got the gun
to scare them,
to threaten them,
maybe even shoot them,
but once he went into the room
and he saw his best friend
screwing his wife,
everything after that
was involuntary?
MAN: So you're saying he
retrieved the gun downstairs...
I'm saying that even if he had
a general intent
to assault or kill
when he was downstairs,
that once he went into the room
and he saw what he saw,
he then went on automatic pilot.
Isn't that possible?
Well...
I suppose...
That's what happened.
I can feel it in my heart.
That's precisely
what happened.
Wonderful.
Tara, you've been holding back.
HARROD: I can't let this proceed
with you, Ms. Wilson.
You're not yet a member
of the bar.
I'm sure Mr. Shore
will be here imminently.
Well, that's not good enough.
Take Mr. Huff back into custody.
Call the next case.
(door opens)
SHORE: I'm terribly sorry.
Did I miss anything good?
Mr. Shore, I run a punctual,
crisp courtroom.
SHORE: I appreciate that,
Your Honor. I apologize.
And I can make
this very short.
We only seek
to change our plea.
It's a formality.
Should take about two seconds.
Hello.
HARROD:
You're changing your plea?
To what?
Not guilty by reason
of automatism.
What did you say?
Automatism?
It's actually one word,
Your Honor.
It basically
means my client
was not in control
of his actions.
Well, I won't let you
argue that.
I beg your pardon?
HARROD: You'll not make
a mockery of this court,
Counsel.
On what factual basis do you--
SHORE: Your Honor,
if you walked in on your wife
with your best friend,
wouldn't you go a little blooey?
(music playing)
The last lawyer before me
from your firm
insulted the integrity
of this room.
I will not let it happen again.
I'm not liking you so far.
How about this?
Deny my defense,
I'll get you tossed for abuse
of judicial discretion,
and we can be done
with each other.
Does that work for you?
Oh, you won't be done with me,
Mr. Shore.
I assure you.
Are you attracted to me,
Judge?
WILSON: (chuckles)
Our plea is not guilty
by reason of automatism.
Deal with it.
Uh, this could be--
well, uh...
there's something
you need to know, Melissa.
I already know.
You do?
Yes, I do.
And all I can say...
is thank you.
Mr. Torrance came to my house
this morning.
He actually drove
right to my house.
Uh, Mr. Torrance?
From the airline.
He told me how relentless
you've been.
He also told me
you even offered to put up
some of your own money
if they'd match it.
Oh. Uh...
Mr. Torrance told you that?
And then he offered $25,000
and something else,
an apology.
He said they were wrong.
He looked me right in the eye
and told me how sorry he was.
Then he did the same
with Amanda.
Said he knew what
his employees forgot,
that we're human beings.
Anyway...
I accepted his offer.
Probably should have called,
run it by you first,
but the truth is,
I got all I wanted,
so I said yes.
Thank you, Ms. Stringer.
I'll never forget this.
Conspiracy to commit murder,
we'll agree to 10,
accessory, another 10.
Served concurrently.
Mr. Young?
It's a start.
A start?
Your client
ordered an execution.
The most he will serve
is 10 years.
It seems like a fair offer,
Mr. Young.
It is, but I can't recommend it.
Why not?
Because I got
a better-than-even chance
of getting a not guilty.
FOX: Mr. Young,
for everybody's sake,
and I do mean everybody,
a trial would be best avoided.
I'm not following.
Are you asking me to tank this?
FOX: No. I'm endorsing
the district attorney's offer
as a reasonable one.
Ten years for murder
is a bargain,
and the cost of going
to trial would be immeasurable
for all the players,
not to mention
the City of Boston.
Those factors aren't relevant,
not to my...
Are you kidding?
The reason I plucked you
in the first place
is because of the racial
ramifications.
The city is rife--
This is a case
I think I can beat,
given that I will not recommend
to my client
he plead guilty.
You plucked me, Judge.
You got me.
Are you sure
this is what you want,
Counsel?
WILSON: I still can't believe
that he didn't lock you up.
I wish he had.
It'd be easier
to get rid of him.
Next step,
tap into your network,
find me a British medical expert
on automatism.
Why British?
The Americans think
the English are smarter.
Jamie.
Hey.
Did you tell Alan
about my little predicament?
I'm sorry?
Is it Alan Shore,
by the way,
or Torrance?
I've never been good at riddles.
It had to be you.
Who else?
He went to Melissa Kenner
and pretended to be somebody
from the airline
and settled the case.
You put up your own money?
All she really wanted
was the apology.
Why would you do this?
You barely know me.
Well, any chance
I get to break a law.
I don't know...
whether to thank you
or to curse you
for getting me
in even deeper.
But I'm gonna go
with thank you.
You put up your own money?
What's going on?
Meaning?
Meaning that you're not
that nice a fellow.
You know, I like to fantasize
when I go to bed,
helps me sleep.
I've been having
wonderful sessions with you
in mind, actually.
But with Jamie,
I keep hitting a block.
Sex isn't all...
body parts for me, Tara.
It's mental.
I've been sensing...
Jamie's repelled by me
for some reason.
Now that I've perhaps
courted her favor,
I'm hoping
that my fantasy could...
have a life.
Tara, whether I'm committing
random acts of kindness,
or impersonating
an airline executive,
or even talking back
to a judge,
it's always
about getting the girl.
Even if it's only
in your mind?
The one place
I'm never disappointed.
You know what I love
about your talk, Alan?
SHORE: Hmm?
Is it makes me feel safe.
Does it, now?
WILSON: Uh-hmm,
because men who talk
never do anything.
Would you like me
to be a doer, Tara?
I never make the first move.
It's beneath me.
I always make
the first move,
but I'm not going to here.
Happy to make the second,
perhaps the third,
but you need to go first...
Alan.
It needs to be you.
I think not.
Oh, it will be.
Oh, it won't.
I'm waiting, Tara.
Things are beginning
to tingle.
I'm right here,
Alan.
Your instincts were correct.
That offer is unacceptable.
YOUNG: Look, uh, I don't mean
to sound too confident.
In the public's mind,
you already stand convicted.
And 10 years...
it's not a bad deal.
I would not last one day
in prison, Mr. Young,
much less 10 years.
Not exactly my demographic.
Sorry?
I don't mean to disparage you.
You think prisons
are full of black people.
We don't need to get into this.
Oh, I got time.
Eugene.
Mr. Young.
In this country, there are
more black men in prison
than there are in college,
Mr. Young.
That is not
a white-supremacist opinion.
It is a fact.
And you don't think
that has anything to do
with the white society
that has...
Uh, all right.
Let's just stick to the case.
The offer of 10 years
is officially rejected.
I did not kill anybody.
There won't be any plea.
Mr. Young...
you and I need to get
on the same side now.
My trial begins in six days.
Mr. Macklin,
I will give you
the best defense I can,
but you and I will never be
on the same side.
I am a human being.
I need you to see me
as a human being.
Certainly you're capable
of doing that.
(music playing)
(music playing)
WOMAN: You stinker!
(music playing)