All language subtitles for LA Law s03e16 His Suit Is Hirsute

Previously on L .A. Law.

I'm going to file for divorce.

Because of what he did last night?

Because of all of it.

I understand. You have this other
relationship.

Yeah. I don't want to break it up. Not
that I think I could.

But I am attracted to you.

I'm just going to lay this out and cut
to it.

A friend of mine, Mark Ross, is
currently residing in division lockup

cocaine with intent.

I want to get him out and I need your
help.

Is he guilty? Very much so.

I hope that doesn't end our
conversation.

Still listening.

You understand we're looking for an
intern.

An extra pair of hands for the scut
work.

Mackenzie Brackman is top -heavy with
partners. We're not looking to groom

another one.

I'm not looking for that either.

My interest is public policy law. But
before I get too tracked, I'd like to

a close look at a private firm.

The birth mother wants her baby back.

What? She changed her mind and... She
signed the consent form. What are you

talking about?

She's petitioning the court to have the
consent withdrawn.

Why the hell can she do that? Stuart?
No, no, no.

The consent form is signed, Arnie. This
is a done deal.

No, it's not a done deal. The adoption
isn't final yet.

And until it is, she has the right to
withdraw the consent or at least the

to try.

Melanie. Hi. They changed courtrooms on
us. We're over here now.

Listen, thanks for letting me observe
you in action.

No problem.

I've never played a lawyer before.

I'd like the result to be somewhere in
the realm of the possible.

It's a role you helped me get, you know.

Well, remember, this is civil, not
criminal.

It could be deadly. Don't expect any
fireworks.

We were just sitting around watching the
TV when all of a sudden I hear this...

hissing sound.

I look at my wife and I go, you hear
that?

And she says, you mean that?

And I go, yeah, you hear it?

Of course, she had to have heard. How
else could she imitate it? What happened

next, Mr. Hillbar?

Boom happened next.

A huge explosion ripped out the wall of
our den.

What part of the wall?

Objection!

I want to object to that.

I'm objecting now. I say now. I mean
right, right, right, right,

right now.

Praise the Lord.

Why don't you step up, Mr. Pastorini?

What the hell was that?

Your Honor, my client and I have
discussed this, and we feel our case

more effective if I sing my objections
as well as some of the arguments and

procedural issues.

Counselor, you will not sing in my
courtroom.

You get me?

Very well, Judge, but I'd like an
instruction to the jury informing them

being denied my right to incorporate
music into my defense.

Fine, I'll tell them. Step back.

Our members of the jury, Attorney
Pastorini, will no longer be singing

the course of this trial.

He'd like you to know he's stopping
only...

At my urging.

Continue, Mr.

Cusack. What part of the wall exploded,
sir?

Over the heating vents.

All three of them blew out.

It was a huge boom. I mean, I'm lucky to
be alive.

Objection to the term boom, Your Honor.
On grounds of violence.

Overruled. Sidebar.

Approach.

The motion to suppress on Greco is
pending.

If we lose on that...

Probably come to trial sometime around
the end of the year. In other words,

there's no problem with my being out of
the country for a while.

Business trip you're taking, Frank?

Business. Pleasure.

I always manage a little of both.

Lucky you.

Frank! We have no drug agents. Keep your
hands where we can see them. What is

this? Shut your mouth and put your hands
on your head. Keep your hands behind

your back, Frank. I'd like to see a
warrant. Your attorney wants to see a

warrant, Frank.

Here's your warrant.

You're under arrest for the... Get your
hands back up!

Conspiracy to sell a... We're under
arrest too? Get your hands back!

Stop intimidating a federal witness. You
guys should try out for Geraldo Rivera.

You're very tough.

That man is in handcuffs. You don't have
to do that.

Just give me a reason, Frank.

Hillbar versus Bradley.

Michael? Hillbar's heating system blew
up.

Bradley put it in, but it turns out that
Bradley wasn't even certified, so we're

suing for compensatory and punitive.

It's like trying a case on the gong
show. Moving on.

Maya versus Meyer.

Yeah, it shouldn't be too difficult.

After the obligatory name -calling and
breastfeeding, I'm sure we'll settle

In the matter of Markowitz versus
Harris... We are due in court in an

Children's Services has rendered its
opinion in our favor. For the record,

though, they usually come down against
withdrawal of consent, and the judge is

free to disregard their recommendation,
but...

It is a plus.

Are you going in too, Arnie?

No, Victor thinks that if we're going
with an army of lawyers, it's only going

to end up making the girl look more
sympathetic.

On a personal note, Ann Stewart, we wish
you the best.

And our hearts are with you, Ann.

Little Kelsey.

Here, here.

Thank you, Douglas.

Thanks.

Finally, our payroll snafu has been
rectified, our accounts are current, and

income tax pressures notwithstanding...

I'm waiting on your billables for the
month of March, people. In short, we are

back to business per usual. Now, if
there's nothing else, we're adjourned.

Good staff meeting, Douglas.

Quick, to the point. I like it. Good to
have you back in the driver's seat,

Douglas.

Okay, Mickey, let's talk numbers. Let's
talk about yesterday.

What the hell was that?

Having a little fun, that's all.

You look like a candidate for the rubber
room, Frankie.

Exactly. And you know what?

When those jurors went home last night,
you think they were telling their

families about what an awful thing the
defendant did to the plaintiff?

No way.

They were saying, you should have seen
the crazy lawyer we saw today.

And they'll be laughing.

And with each little giggle, the idea
that this is a serious thing gets

away. And that translates into a lighter
verdict.

Gotta be kidding. Hey, counselor, you
need to get them outraged and worked up

order to get your punies. But they're
having too much fun to be mad.

We may lose, but we won't lose big.

Trust me.

75 ,000.

That's the damages plus 10. No chance.

Your guy lied about being certified.

He all but blew up my client's house.
They had to live in a hotel for two

months. No.

You are not sliding out of this with
just compensatories.

Any more than 75, my guy has to sell his
house.

He won't. Well, I guess we have to go
back into court. Okay.

But I gotta warn you, I'm feeling pretty
funny.

And I really hate to beat up on such a
humorless guy.

I'll see you tomorrow, Frankie.

I'll be the one dressed like Evita.

In the matter of the United States of
America versus Frank Wylan Ray Bale.

Counsel?

Terrence Flaherty for the government.
Ready, Your Honor.

Abigail Perkins for the defendant.

Ready, Your Honor.

The government asks the defendant be
held without bond, Your Honor.

We have information linking this man to
the sale of millions of dollars worth of

cocaine and linking him to the murders
of Tyrone Weeks and Clifford Bagley.

What's the source of all this
information?

A reliable informant.

You just can't say who.

Well, ask your client why that is, Miss
Perkins. Better than that, ask Cliff

Bagley's parents. They ID'd his body
just before he was supposed to testify

against one of Frank Weiland's
lieutenants. Mr. Flaherty, you're asking

court take your word that
confidentiality is necessary here. Is

Only long enough to go to trial, Your
Honor. Given the opportunity, I am

confident we can prove guilt beyond any
reasonable doubt.

I would ask that the identity of the
informant be revealed.

I would ask that a reasonable bond be
set and a hearing pursuant to Rule 5 .1

scheduled as soon as possible.

Reasonable bond.

He has no flight risk, Your Honor. He's
lived here his whole life. He has no

criminal record.

All his current incarceration does is
interfere with him assisting in the

preparation of his own defense.

I believe Miss Perkins made the same
speech for Mark Ross several weeks ago,

Your Honor. He skipped 24 hours later.

What does that have to do with it? All
right, that's enough.

I'm setting bond at a million dollars or
$100 ,000 cash equivalent.

With the following conditions. Mr.
Weiland is to surrender his passport.

He's to keep the United States Marshal's
office informed of his whereabouts.

And he is to avoid all contact with any
potential witnesses.

Suppression hearing will be Thursday
morning at 10 a .m.

That's all.

You might have caved a little fast on
the passport, Chancellor.

Don't tell me I've got the ball, French.
Sentiment is loud and clear. We're

going after the big shots now, not just
the flunkies.

You talk a good game, Terrence. You're
going to be out here holding a press

conference when the case is dismissed?

It's not going to happen this time,
Frank.

You're the scum of the earth, and I'm
going to prove it.

You do that in court, Mr. Flaherty, not
in the hallway.

You coming?

I guess at first I was afraid to keep
her because I didn't have any money and

wasn't married or anything, but now Rick
and I are engaged and we know we could

take care of her.

Tammy, why did you sign the consent form
two weeks ago?

Well, everybody kept telling me to, but
it was wrong.

Look, I'm sorry to be hurting you like
this, but there are lots of babies you

can go out there and adopt.

See, she's got my blood, my genes. She's
part of me.

I can't go out and adopt that.

This is non -responsive, Your Honor. No
matter what that contract says, I'm her

mama.

I have nothing further.

When are you getting married, Tammy?

I don't know.

Soon. Soon.

And have you found a place to live yet?

Well, Rick says we're going to take care
of that as soon as we're married. How

much money does Rick make?

He earns $320 a week.

And do either you or Rick have any kind
of health or life insurance?

Well, we're going to get that. Yes or no
questions, Tammy.

Do you have medical or life insurance or
not?

No.

Now, Rick never graduated from high
school, has he? You don't need a college

education to be a committed parent, Mr.
Cervantes.

No, you don't, Tammy. Where is this
committed parent today?

That's not fair.

Rick couldn't afford to fly out here to
California. That is not fair.

You think it's fair to snatch a baby
from a loving home when you have no

to live, no insurance... Objection!

...withdrawn? No, no, no, I want to
answer that.

There's no question before you. Now,
he's got to make his speech, and I want

make mine.

The witness can make her statement.

No, we don't have money. We're not rich.
This baby is not going to get swimming

pools and private schools.

But there are things they can't give her
neither.

One day this baby is going to grow up
and wonder who her real mom is. And

going to wonder why she doesn't get to
live with the people who made her. And

that is when she's going to feel
deprived, Mrs. of Wednesdays. That's

going to look around at her friends and
wonder why she doesn't have what they

have. And that is a hurt that they can't
make go away with money.

Well, if you thought she would be so
deprived, why did you give her up for

adoption in the first place?

I changed my mind.

Yes, you did, Tammy. And what happens to
this child when you change your mind

again? No, that's not going to happen.

Because you love her so much, right?

Have you ever tried to visit this child
in the last three months?

Well, no, but... Have you ever tried to
at least call these people?

To at least find out, how's she doing?
Well, no, because I didn't think they

would talk to me. Well, did you talk to
them before giving up the baby for

adoption? To at least satisfy yourself
that these are good people here.

No, it was to pay it for me. I couldn't.
So you put your own feelings above the

best interests of the child, then? To be
with me is in our best interest.

1984, you were arrested and convicted
for selling marijuana, weren't you?

Objection! Overruled. I made a mistake.

You gonna smoke a little dope around
this baby too, Tammy? Oh, that's not

I don't do drugs. You just shut up. I do
not do drugs. Let the record reflect

that the witness is hysterical and
imbalanced. You don't listen to me. I

done this to anyone. Let the record
reflect that the witness is hysterical

imbalanced. I am her mama.

I have nothing for you.

Why was it necessary to meet here?

Tables in restaurants are too close
together.

My house and your office are both
probably bugged.

You think my office is bugged? I think
it's possible.

They play dirty when it comes to dope,
Counselor.

You might also be just a little bit
paranoid.

That doesn't mean I'm wrong.

What is it you want to tell me?

The Fed's informant is a whacked -out
junkie named Luis Perez who used to work

for me.

How do you know?

I know.

Don't worry about how.

Well, just knowing his name isn't going
to help you.

We have to prove he's unreliable for it
to make a difference.

I got rid of him because he's
unreliable.

If he worked for you, he's in a position
to know about you.

He's got a record a mile long.

Most informants do.

Look, unless I can discredit him or he
personally recants, the indictment will

probably hold up.

We need to start thinking about what
kind of deal we can strike.

Not yet, we don't.

Frank, there's a lot that you can tell
them. They might be inclined to reduce

your jail time accordingly.

Hey, that's the wrong way to think. You
understand?

Now, Luis Perez does not send me to
jail.

This case will never come to trial. This
indictment will be dismissed.

Play to win, Counselor.

Otherwise, you never do.

She was fully aware of all the terms
when she signed the consent.

In addition to me, she had independent
counsel advising her. Then there is no

question in your mind, sir, that she
knew what she was signing?

None whatsoever.

Thank you, Mr. Burnett. Nothing further.

How much did the Markowitz's pay you for
this baby? I was paid for legal

services rendered in connection with the
adoption. How much, Mr. Burnett?

$10 ,000.

And if they now lose this baby, they get
that money back, don't they? This isn't

about money, Mr. Iserman. Don't insult
me, Mr. Burnett. This is entirely about

money. You sell babies for a living, and
you're in here now trying to protect a

commission. Objection! All those rules.
My job is finding good homes for

unwanted babies.

State adoption agencies do that, sir.
The only difference is you get rich off

it. I'm a professional, Mr.

Iserman.

I placed that baby with the Markowitz's
because they presented an ideal match

for Tammy Harris's requirements.

An ideal match.

The night the Markowitz's took custody,
that baby was being shipped from

Arkansas to a Mr. and Mrs. Arthur
Rowland, correct?

Yes. So what happened to them?

They split up at the last minute.

Gee, it sounds like you were ready to
drop this child into a real stable

environment. Objection.

Sustained. And so what happened next,
Mr. Burnett?

Did you return the child to Arkansas and
begin anew your exhaustive research for

the perfect parents?

I placed the baby with the Markowitz's.
I spoke to Tammy Harris at every joke.

In fact, sir, you called three other
perfect couples, none of whom happened

be home.

And when the Markowitz's answered their
phone, they suddenly became the ideal

parents, didn't they? It wasn't like
that. It was exactly like that. All of

talk about your detailed process.

And it comes down to you standing in an
airport, dialing numbers on a payphone,

and the first couple to say hello gets
the kid.

Objection. This man is not on trial
here. His credibility is very much on

He was doing everything he could to
close the deal, and he has a financial

interest in seeing that the Markowitzes
get custody.

Tammy Harris said yes to them. Based on
your recommendation to her. The

recommendation was based on the fact
that I believe they would provide an

excellent home.

True or false, Mr. Burnett, you spent
less than 45 minutes matching this baby

and that birth mother with this couple,
didn't you? I spent hours with Tammy

Harris. I spent hours with the
Markowitzes. But you matched Tammy

daughter with the Rowlands.

And less than 45 minutes after it all
falls apart, you hand the kid to the

Markowitz's, didn't you? It may have
worked out that way, but... Thank you,

Burnett. I have nothing further.

Believe me, nobody feels worse about
this disaster than me. I remember seeing

their den before it blew up. Let me tell
you, it was lovely.

Now, Mr. Bradley, did you tell the
plaintiff that your company was licensed

install these heating units?

Mr. Bradley?

Well, we gave them that impression, but
what we actually said was there was no

licensed contractor more qualified than
us. And that really is true. Thank you,

sir. I have nothing further.

Now, this was a forced air heating
system, was it not?

Yes, it was.

And when you installed the new furnace,
did you take out the old gas feeds? No,

we didn't. Well, isn't it true, sir,
that the kind of gas feeds used in this

house have a known tendency to become
corroded or brittle?

Your Honor, due to the unusual dullness
of this line of questioning, I'd like

permission to tell a joke.

Objection. Denied. In the alternative, a
short riddle, a limerick. No.

Shut down again.

Mr. Pastorini.

Not now, Judge.

Get in my chambers.

Now.

Hi,

Michael. Grace.

Meet Melanie Hayes, Grace Van Owen.

Hi. Hi.

Nice to meet you.

I don't want to interrupt.

I've got a call to make before the
afternoon session.

Sit here.

Thanks.

Are you free to get away this weekend?

Some R &R would be good for us.

You really think that's going to make
everything okay?

Are you seeing her?

No, I'm not seeing her.

We had dinner together. It was fun. It
was relaxing. It's the kind of thing you

and I should be doing a lot more of. I'm
sorry, the fun is in short supply. I'm

a little exhausted, you know. Oh, yeah.
Yeah, I know.

This relationship is 100 % voluntary,
Mickey.

That's right.

That's what makes it so fragile.

Grace, when we first met, we had
passion.

I want to know where that went.

I have a client to meet.

So do I.

I'm willing to be late for mine.

I can't.

Grace, I want to know why two people who
care so much spend so much time beating

each other up.

And at five months, the baby knows no
other parents than Mr. Markowitz and

Kelsey.

And, Doctor, in your expert medical
opinion, what would be the effect of

removing this baby from the market with
this custody?

Well, to start with, she could
experience serious psychosocial

making it extremely difficult for her to
form new attachments with other people.

Her motor skills could regress. Her
intellectual development might be

She might even experience the
suppression of her immune system.

Would any of this damage be permanent?

It's very possible.

A separation like this could shatter the
child's sense of trust to the point

where she might never go back to
developing it. She could grow up

indifferent to human attachments.

Now, Doctor, based on your medical
training and your observation of the

you have an opinion as to whether she
should be taken away from the

It's my opinion that such a separation
would be extremely detrimental to the

child. Thank you very much, Doctor.

Nothing further.

There's no scientific evidence to...

support your view that a separation of
this type would cause any long -term

to a five -month -old child, is there?
There may be no scientific evidence, but

there's plenty of anecdotal information.

But anecdotal information is
insufficient to support a definite

conclusion, right? My opinions are based
on years of research, Counselor, as

well as my specific findings that Tammy
Harris would provide an environment of

instability for the child.

You ever meet Tammy Harris, Doctor?

Well, not personally, no, but I've read
the social worker's report.

But you've never met Tammy Harris, have
you?

No, I haven't.

Thank you.

Dr. Nagel, you testified that you
observed a bond between the baby and

Kelsey, isn't that right?

Yes. And you also observed a bond
between the baby and the Markowitz's

Stella Lee, didn't you?

Yes. And you didn't see any noticeable
difference between those two bonds, did

you? The fact that the child also bonded
with the nanny does not undermine the

attachment to Miss Kelsey.

I see.

And what would happen if the Markowitzes
replaced this nanny, as they did the

last one?

What effect would that have on the
child?

It could cause a disruption.

In fact, it could cause all of those
things you were talking about.

Loss of trust, insecurity, damage to
self -esteem. All of that could happen,

couldn't it?

It's possible, but I don't think it
could. And, Doctor, in your opinion...

A baby is generally better off with one
primary caretaker rather than a rotating

mother -nanny system, right? Well, in
general, one primary caretaker is

preferred, yes. Thank you, Doctor.
That's all.

Redirect, Your Honor.

Specifically, Dr. Nagel, who is this
baby better off with?

The Markowitz's.

Thank you, Doctor.

How much are you being paid for today's
testimony, Dr. Nagel? $3 ,000.

And who's paying you?

The Markowitz's.

Thank you.

Did you want the Truex file? I dug it
out last night.

Great. I wasn't going to start on it
till the weekend.

They're not paying you overtime, Dinah.
Don't go giving them your nights. I like

it here.

And home isn't that great these days.

Daryl and I have separated. We're
divorcing.

I'm sorry that's sudden.

No, we've been talking about it since
Christmas.

Now appears to be the time.

He's found someone to share a place
with.

and I'm getting a paycheck, so I can
handle the rent on my own. Well, sounds

like you got a plan.

You seem fine about it. Are you?

No.

There's got to be something to do here.

Let's cheer you up. You want to go
roller skating?

We'll drive to El Monte, see if
Mississippi Burning is less obnoxious,

Spanish.

I shouldn't have said I wasn't fine. I
am.

I'm functioning. I'm fine.

Okay.

The Truex file is on the deck on top of
the box.

Oh, okay.

Thanks. Sure.

Let's hear it, Miss Perkins.

Your Honor, I have reason to believe
that the informant in this case is an

individual by the name of Luis Perez,
also known as Luis Cato, also known as

Rosario Cruz.

I also have reason to believe that he is
wholly unreliable, and the government's

reliance upon him as a witness should
serve to dismiss the indictment against

client.

Mr. Flaherty? Your Honor, it is the
policy of the United States Attorney's

Office to neither confirm nor deny the
identity of a confidential informant.

When to do so would compromise their
security.

Judge, there's a guy named Louis Perez
out there. He says he wants to testify.

You knew he was going to show up, didn't
you? I didn't know anything of the

kind.

Mr. Perez.

Earlier this week, an individual
appeared before a federal grand jury and

accused Frank Weiland of bringing more
than 500 kilograms of cocaine into this

country and of ordering the murders of
Tyrone Weeks and Clifford Bagley. Are

that individual?

Yeah, I'm him.

Were those charges true?

No. Why'd you make them? I got picked up
for possession.

Two stinking rocks.

Mr. Flaherty said I got eight to ten, so
I gave him what he wanted and he let me

go. Why are you changing your story now?
Believe it or not, I got kids.

And one thing I always tell them, I say,
what goes around comes around.

I've been getting high for 20 years.

All I want to do is go straight and not
burn nobody no more.

I have no further questions.

Did I ever tell you what to say to that
grand jury, Mr. Perez?

The cop that was beating the crap out of
me told me. I didn't get his name.

Where'd this beating take place?

An alley off of Hope Street.

Did you get any medical attention?

No. Any marks you can show us?

Cops don't leave marks.

Dark alley, a nameless cop, and no marks
of bruises.

Hey, look, I was sick.

You guys had me scared to death.

Well, who's scaring you now, Louie?

Objection! Sustained.

Did Frank Weiland contact you at all
prior to this hearing?

No. What? No.

Did he threaten to kill you?

No, nobody threatened me.

What about your kids?

What about my kids?

Did he threaten to kill your kids?

No, nobody threatened to kill my kids.

Anything else, Mr. Flaherty?

Not at the present time, Your Honor.

That being the case, I'm prepared to
rule.

I find this informant to be wholly
unreliable.

Mr. Flaherty, I believe you actually
sought to conceal that fact. I find your

conduct reprehensible and an abuse of
the grand jury process.

Accordingly, this indictment is
dismissed.

The defendant is free to go.

One thing you have to know about trial
lawyers, ladies and gentlemen, they love

to perform.

And if all the world's a stage and all
the people are merely players...

then counsel for the defense is one of
the best.

He tells jokes.

He sings songs.

I can't even carry a tune, and I have
never been very good with jokes.

I got the old gorilla suit out of the
closet this morning.

But I have to tell you that on a stage,
I'm no match for my

opponent. But I wonder how
entertaining...

His jokes would be if someone had been
killed or maimed. I wonder how

we'd find his musical numbers if we had
been forced to hole up in a hotel for a

month. Well, the fact of the matter is
that all the world is not a stage, and

all the men and women are not players.

And this man, this man really lied.

He really endangered the lives of people
who trusted him. These people were

really hurt by him.

Now, let's not enjoy ourselves at their
expense.

All the funny bits in the world are not
going to change the fact that these

people really suffered or relieve us of
our obligation to take it seriously.

And do you feel you see evidence of this
bonding in the way the baby behaves?

She doesn't like to be held by
strangers.

She cries, and when she's given back to
me or Stuart, she stops.

Miss Kelsey.

Do you really think this child knows
you?

It's so hard to prove my relationship to
a person who can't really communicate.

All I can say is, when she sees me, she
sees a person who will take care of her.

A person who will love her forever.

She feels comfort.

She feels safe.

The kind of safe that a baby feels with
her mother.

Thanks. I have nothing further.

How's your relationship with your
mother?

Objection. Studies show that a
relationship with a parent directly

the relationship with a child.

I'll allow it. You didn't invite her to
your own wedding last year, did you?

She was at my wedding.

That's because she showed up uninvited,
right?

My mother and I have had some difficult
times, but we've worked them out.

Thank you.

How many hours do you work each day, ma
'am?

I'm in the office about five hours a
day.

Well, according to your firm's billing
records, you've been averaging 39 .7

hours a week for the last two months.

That's 7 .9 hours a day.

I take work home.

Yes, well, the point is, you represented
to Mr.

Burnett, and derivatively to Miss
Harris, that you'd be putting in half

after you got the baby. Standard work
day is eight hours. You've been putting

7 .9.

Big cutback. Those figures are
misleading.

Sometimes... You mean you've been
billing clients for hours not really

I mean, some of those hours are spent
reading at home with Kelsey on my lap.

Oh, yes, that's right.

You have no aversion to bringing work to
the baby or baby to the work, do you?

What's that supposed to mean? I mean,
you've sometimes brought this child into

the law firm to be babysat by
secretaries. That happened in a couple

when we were between nannies.

And did you once use this baby as a
device to frustrate an opponent's

deposition? What?

I have here a motion for cost filed
against you by attorney John Bryanson,

which he claims you deliberately used
this baby...

to protract the discovery process.

That motion is ludicrous, and so are you
for trying to take advantage of it. Let

the record reflect the hostility of the
witness.

I took the baby to work two days.

Most of the work I do at home is after
she's asleep.

Miss Kelsey, what religion do you intend
for this child?

We haven't decided yet. You haven't
decided whether this person shall be

as a Christian or a Jew? We will decide.
We just haven't yet.

In fact, ma 'am, you and your husband
cannot agree on this issue, can you?

Answer the question, Miss Kelsey.

No, we don't agree.

Well, that's okay.

It's just religion.

As long as you can concur on the big
things like what depositions to use her

for.

Objection! Withdrawn.

You're divorced from a previous
marriage, are you not?

Yes.

Mm -hmm.

I have nothing further.

I don't like this. I think I just got
killed.

You held up okay, Ann. We knew this guy
was going to come after you.

You put me up there, Victor. I'm ready
for Mr. Eisenman. I am not putting you

the stand, Stuart.

What are you talking about? How can you
not? If I let you testify, Eisenman's

going to grill you the same way.

Victor, how's the judge going to know
what I am if I don't testify?

She'll know because you're doing the
closing.

What? What?

You are an attorney of record, Stuart.
There is no problem. I'll just inform

court. This way we get to put you up
there before the judge with no risk of

cross -examination.

Victor, I... I don't... You've never
done a closing?

Stuart, this thing is too damn close.

We have used every advantage that we can
get. I think a plea from a parent is

going to be a lot more powerful than any
argument from counsel.

He may be right, Stuart.

I'll do the closing if you want.

But right now, I think that you're our
best shot.

Then I'll do it.

You sure?

I'm very sure.

In the matter of Hillbar v. Bradley, we
the jury find in favor of the plaintiff

and order the defendant to pay
compensatory damages in the amount of

and punitive damages in the amount of
$125 ,000.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, thank
you for your time. Your service is at an

end. This court is now adjourned.

Well done, Michael.

Melanie, about this trial, it was
absolutely typical.

Uh -huh, uh -huh. Well, you were
wonderful.

I hope we can do this again sometime.

Me too.

Congratulations.

Yeah, I almost managed to snatch defeat
from the jaws of victory.

The gorilla suit was a great idea.

Oh, a desperate act by a desperate man.

I fell in love with you in that monkey
suit.

And judging by the look on Melanie
Hayes' face during your closing, she did

You have nothing to be jealous about,
Grace. Yes, I do.

That's the problem.

If we were really happy together, if we
really were in love with each other,

there'd be no reason to be jealous.

I love you, Cusack.

I do.

I always will.

But I think we should take a break from
each other.

Grace, don't you think we should work on
this?

We've done nothing but work on it.

I love you too, Grace.

you do so if we love each other so much
why is this

happening I don't know maybe maybe maybe
some

time apart

I promised myself I wouldn't cry.

I have never loved you more.

They may want her judge.

But the Markowitz's do not present an
ideal household.

Their fundamental differences in
religion can only breed instability.

Their work schedules are prohibitive.

Miss Kelsey comes from a failed
marriage, a failed relationship with her

mother. Some question exists as to
whether she's capable of sustaining any

loving relationship.

Tammy Harris may not be able to pay
experts and psychiatrists to testify for

her. But she's ready to be what her
child needs most.

A full -time mother.

Not somebody who squeezes in quality
time between depositions and partners'

meetings. Not somebody who, as she holds
the child on her lap at night, reads

trial transcripts. But somebody to be
there.

Every day.

All day.

Tammy Harris's daughter deserves that.

Tammy Harris's daughter deserves Tammy
Harris.

We'll probably let her choose her own
religion when she's old enough.

And whereas Anne and I may not share the
same underlying tenets in our

respective faiths, we both know that any
religion starts with the love of God

and commitment to family.

And we have that, Your Honor.

We have that big.

As for this woman's ability to sustain a
loving relationship, let me tell you

that the last two years have been the
most loving and most meaningful time of

life.

And if this little baby gets half of
what I've gotten from this wonderful

person, then her life will be very rich
indeed, believe me.

Look, you've heard from us, you've...
Excuse me.

heard from us, you've heard from the
psychiatrists.

I just wish you could hear from her.

She would say that her name is Kelsey
Markowitz and that

she lives at 495 Kenter Avenue in
Brentwood, California.

And that this is her mother and I'm her
father.

And we would all just like to go home
now.

Are you eating with anybody? Just
picking up. I want to talk. Grab that

What are you going to do with that?

Have it for dinner.

Listen.

I was dense yesterday. There's a very
obvious way for me to help.

Let me represent you in the divorce.

Jonathan, no.

We're just going to do it ourselves.

There's nothing to split up.

Sure there is.

Furniture? A car?

You want him running off with the
dishes?

This is a no -frills marriage. It's
going to be a minimalist divorce.

Besides, Daryl and I have been very
careful to keep this clean.

I don't want him to think I'm taking
advantage of him by rolling in the heavy

artillery. I'm flattered.

Okay.

Promise me two things. Number one,

you let me go over everything before you
sign it.

Two, if it gets at all sticky, you come
get me.

Okay. And a third thing.

What? Talk to somebody about this.
Because if you don't, you're going to

walking into doors.

All right.

All right.

Ten thousand, huh?

Ten thousand.

Tell you what.

Here's the ten you're asking for.

And here's another ten I just feel like
giving you.

Just pay me my fee, Frank.

If I wanted to work for tip, I'd still
be a waitress.

Counselor, counselor.

I really think you could kill children,
you know that? What are you talking

about? You threatened Louis Perez.

I didn't have to threaten him.

No, I can't represent someone that I
can't bear to look at. Go find yourself

another lawyer, Frank.

Abby?

Abigail Perkins?

Yes? I'd like you to leave everything
exactly the way it is, please. Stand up,

put your hands on your head.

What? I have a warrant for your arrest,
ma 'am.

You're being charged with engaging in a
monetary transaction involving

criminally derived proceeds.

Now I'm going to ask you once again,
stand up, put your hands on your head.

Would you please stand with your legs
apart?

You do this to every lawyer who beats
you, Terrence?

Your lawyer broke the law, Frank.

I'm just doing my job.

Since when is it against the law to be
paid?

To be paid in drug money?

Ever since they passed the Money
Laundering Control Act.

And it's always been against the law to
threaten a federal witness.

You think I threatened a federal
witness? I know somebody did.

I just can't prove it.

As far as you're taking drug money,
though, that I can prove.

Whenever I get a case like this, I
secretly hope one of you will turn out

a monster or at least unfit so as to
make my decision an easy one. That

didn't happen here.

Miss Kelsey, Mr. Markowitz, Miss Harris,
you're all worthy parents, and I have

no reservations about any of your
respective abilities to love and care

child.

Which makes this decision all the more
difficult.

Economically, the Markowitz's are better
positioned.

There's no question.

Nor is there any doubt that a change at
this time will traumatize the child,

though there is no proof it will cause
any long -term harm.

I'm a working woman.

My children had successive nannies, yet
they were loved by their mother and they

knew it.

But when I consider the essence of
parenting,

then I must consider who's most likely
to provide continuous emotional support.

Who's most likely to be there for the
child and be with the child during these

very crucial formative years.

Mr. Markowitz, Miss Kelsey, I know this
will cause you devastating

pain. Oh, no.

Unfortunately, that pain cannot factor
into my judgment here.

I hereby find the circumstances of Tammy
Harris' life too significantly changed,

making reasonable the withdrawal of her
consent.

I further grant her petition for habeas
corpus.

Bailiff, please deliver the baby to Miss
Harris.

Your Honor, could we...

At least have another day to say
goodbye.

I'm sorry. No.

You have to say your goodbye now.

My honey.

I love you.

Goodbye, Kelsey.

Be good.

I'm

never

going to tell you before.

Hi, Carol.

Oops. Hi, Carol. It's your mama.

I'm back with Mama.