Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law.

We both have got blue -chip matrimonial practices.

I've got a burgeoning entertainment practice as well.

And you're suggesting that we merge?

Right now.

Is leaving here what's best for me?

Breaking in on the ground floor of a new venture?

Being an administrator instead of a secretary? Being with me? All you have

is shake hands and walk off whistling.

I'm Kimberly Dugan.

Hi. Are you singing too?

No, I'm just a dance coach. Oh, dance coach. Good.

Yeah. You want to dance?

Number three.

Are you sure?

I said number three.

Those people at the rape treatment center, they all say the same thing. We

to confront this thing together. You got to include me.

A man...

Threw me down on the floor and rammed himself inside me.

What are you looking at, man?

I

feel

like a thief.

I'm only taking what belongs to me.

Then why do it before anyone gets here?

Why do it before anyone gets here?

Because it's cleaner. It's a done deal.

I'll have to sit through everybody trying to talk me out of it.

Are you afraid that they will?

No, I'm not.

No, I'm not.

You can't believe I'm not going to be working here anymore.

Look, I have certain conflicts, yes, but I don't want to dwell on them. This is

business, Rox.

I want to act businesslike. I don't want any emotional scenes.

Hey, Benno.

You want me to help you? No, that's okay. We got it. Where are you going?

I went to bring some stuff down to the car.

Should I help you? No, it's okay. We'll be right back.

I got the bialis this time, Arnie.

Oh, good, Benny. Good.

Anyone see Arnold?

I don't think he's come in yet. Great.

All right, let's get started.

What's wrong with your mouth?

I got fitted for a small appliance. It's nothing.

An appliance?

Where'd you get a toaster?

Sunlit.

You got braces.

Yes, I got braces.

Why? Something called overjet. Also a stress -related malady known as temporal

mandibular joint dysfunction.

I grind my teeth.

My dentist felt it was time to take steps.

Shall we proceed?

Cowan versus Casella, associate.

Yeah, that's the guy with Tourette syndrome.

Trial starts today.

Are you okay to handle this, Jonathan?

I'm fine.

What's Tourette syndrome?

It's a physical condition that makes people twitch in various ways or yell

inappropriate remarks at people. Tin grin. Metal mouth. Like that. And so the

mockery begins.

Anyway, my guy was fired for it. I'm not surprised.

You can't fire people for having physical handicaps if they're doing

We're going for back pay with interest.

Oh, excuse me.

I'm going to need a little personal time. The preliminary hearing is this

afternoon. Take as much time as you need.

How's Allison holding up?

I don't know.

Excuse me. This just came.

Please be advised that I'm here by tendering my resignation from the

known as McKenzie, Brackman, Cheney, and Cusack.

Said resignation shall in no way constitute a waiver of any monies owed,

shall it constitute a relinquishment of any future monies owing. It is

anticipated and intended that this settlement be arrived at following

negotiations to be held at a future date. Yours, etc.

Arnold Becker.

That bastard.

How did he do this?

We need to find out what clients he's spoken to.

Douglas, I want all the paralegals on this.

I want phone records and I want bank transactions.

Better check the file room, see what's missing.

Why don't you oversee that? I should have seen this coming.

I want a partner's meeting and I want it tonight.

Rosalind, are you available? I'll make myself available.

Is there any way Ann can make it in? Oh, God.

I'm going to fall on Arnold Becker like the wrath of God.

Did you know the defendant, Miss Gottlieb?

No.

I really didn't know any of the crew that much since I'd come in as a

replacement director.

And yet you let this man give you a ride home? He was giving several of us a

ride home, including Marcy Poulin, who I did know.

And I just assumed that she knew him since she was the one who had hired him.

Okay.

So what happened next?

He drove us all home, and I was the last stop.

He asked if he could use the phone. He wanted to call his wife.

What happened after he entered your house?

He made his call.

At least I thought he did.

And then he, uh... He made an advance at me.

How did he make an advance, Miss Gottlieb?

He, um, put his hand on my shoulder and told me I was beautiful.

And what did you do when he did this?

I got, uh...

really nervous and I asked him to stop. I asked him to leave.

Did he?

No.

What happened then?

He grabbed me and he said,

why can't pretty girls be nice?

He kept calling me a pretty girl.

And what did you do?

I tried to push him away, but he was too big.

He knocked me on the floor and, um, got... He

got on me, and he said that, uh,

he said that if I didn't do what he wanted, he would kill me.

Allison, I want you to tell the court what happened next, and I need for you

be specific.

He yanked my skirt up, and he ripped my underwear off.

And then he started to pry my legs apart with his knees.

I tried to fight back, but he was too strong.

And then what?

All of a sudden, he was pushing himself inside me.

And when you say he was inside you...

You're saying that his penis was penetrating your vagina?

Yeah.

Allison, is the man who did this to you sitting in the courtroom today?

Yeah.

Could you please point him out for the court?

He's over there.

Allison, could you please look at him and point him out exactly for us?

That's him.

There.

He's the one that did this to me.

Thank you, Allison.

I have nothing further.

How long had you worked for Gothela Associates at the time of your

Mr. Cowan? Six years.

Oh, boy.

Why'd you just make that sound?

I have Tourette's Syndrome.

Would you tell the court what that is?

It's a neurological disorder.

It causes me to make sounds or say words or twitch in different ways.

Sometimes I do it more, sometimes I do it less.

Can you control it? No.

Not for any length of time.

What reason were you given for being discharged, Noah?

They said I was disruptive.

Were you disruptive?

I do market research, and the office I work in... Oh, boy!

...is in the back, and there are only a few co -workers around to hear me. Did

they consider you disruptive?

I don't believe so, no.

Nigger, nigger!

Why'd you say that, sir?

It's all part of Tourette's. Noah, would you tell the court what it's like to

have Tourette's? What it's like?

Yeah.

Uh, well...

The tics and grimaces start pretty soon after you wake up in the morning.

Oh, boy.

And then you go about your business when you're alone, you know, hollering and

spitting, barking.

Oh, boy, bitch.

It's pretty weird if you're not used to it, I guess.

Oh, boy.

Anyway, Tourette's is part of me, and there's nothing I can do about that.

that? What?

Nothing further.

Nothing you can do about that.

Tell me, Mr. Cowan, have you ever heard of the drug haloperidol? Of course I've

heard of it.

How about the drug clonidine?

I prefer not to take either of them.

Why? They're both frequently used in the treatment of Tourette's.

Haloperidol, it makes me forget things. It makes me feel totally spaced out.

And clonidine, it doesn't work too well with me. Or slut. Bitch!

Tell me, Mr. Cowan, did you ever call any of your female co -workers bitch?

I wasn't calling them bitch. I was saying bitch.

How do they know the difference, sir? If they know me, they know the difference.

So the burden of your behavior should be on them, not on you.

Objection. Burden? Bitch.

Let me tell you about burden.

A burden is not being able to go into a restaurant or a movie.

A burden is...

is not being able to find a woman to love you or an employer to hire you. Mr.

Cowboy, your attorney has made an objection. A burden is being the kid in

who everyone pointed at, the nut, the weirdo. I am a guy with a funny disease,

all right? That's all it is. So stop pointing at me and stop treating me like

am crazy.

Cowboy, Cowboy, just stop it.

We played hardball with him?

He played hardball with us. This isn't hardball, Ann. It's deceit. He stole

clients. He set up his own practice.

Yeah, but do we know this?

Yes. John Stanley wouldn't take my call.

Larry Gilson wouldn't take my call.

These are major corporate retainers, and Beck has got them both.

I've also found out that Saul Rosen called.

He's asked that we return his entire file and two -thirds of his retainer.

Get a restraining order.

It'll put the brakes on his venture in a hurry if he can't take clients. We have

to prove irreparable harm.

If they're big corporate clients, I'm sure we can.

Let me ask another question.

Do we need him? Do we need him?

Or do we need a matrimonial practice?

Oh, we definitely need a matrimonial practice. Right now it's responsible for

% of our income.

Does it have to be Arnold Becker that brings that 20 % in? Right now it is

Arnold Becker. We lose him, we lose those clients.

When Saul Rosen comes by to pick up his things...

I'm going to try to find out just what Arnold Becker said to him. We should

talk to Roxanne.

And?

She's not going to tell us anything.

She will, if you approach her right.

Chances are, you're the only one here she really trusts.

Why don't you work some angle and pump her for what she knows?

I'm not working any angles, Douglas. I've dealt with her straight in the

I'll deal with her straight now.

Just do it fast.

And make sure you get something we can use.

If we wait too long, those clients he took will be his for good.

That would represent a major financial loss to us and a major coup for Arnold

Becker. I don't want that to happen.

Ms. Gottlieb, I'm Susan Jenkins, the attorney for Mr. Morris.

I'd like to ask you a few questions about yesterday's testimony, and I'll

not to keep you up here too long.

Prior to your leaving the bar with my client, what did you have to drink? I

the bar with three people, one of whom was your client.

I apologize if I suggested otherwise.

What did you have to drink?

I had a margarita.

That would be tequila?

Yes. And as you left this drinking establishment, did you communicate to my

client that you regarded him as physically attractive?

I did not. You did not comment that Mr. Mores and Mr. Mayer were better looking

than the male models used in your commercial?

I said something like, these two guys are better than the models, yeah.

It was light banter. Was it flirtatious banter? No.

Okay.

Now, after you brought Mr.

Morris into your home and he first put his hand on your shoulder, you say you

told him to stop.

Isn't it true what you really said was, I don't think so?

Maybe. What's the difference?

Well, there's nothing ambiguous about stop, Ms. Gottlieb, but...

Soft giggle coupled with an, I don't think so.

There was nothing ambiguous about my response.

I told him flat out no.

That I was involved in a monogamous, exclusive relationship and that I wasn't

interested. This monogamous relationship is with who?

Objection. She opened the door, Your Honor.

I'll allow it. She can answer.

Who is this exclusive relationship with, Ms. Gottlieb?

His name is Victor Cifuentes.

I see.

Ms. Gottlieb, is it possible my client thought you wanted to have sex with him?

This was not sex, Ms. Jenkins. This was violence.

Move to strike. And no, it is not possible that he thought I wanted it.

Overruled. Ms. Gottlieb, have you ever had sex with a member of your crew? What

is this?

Objection. Past sexual history is not admissible. It is when she raises the

issue. The objection is overruled.

What about it, Ms. Gottlieb?

Have you ever had sex with a member or plural members of your film crew? In the

past, I have had two relationships with men who have been in my crew.

Two. When you say relationships, do you mean exclusive, spend the holidays

together, celebrate birthdays and so forth, that sort of thing?

Or do you mean extremely short -lived physical encounters?

They were two short affairs.

Do you make room for the possibility, Ms. Gottlieb, that my client, knowing

propensity to be sexually promiscuous... I object.

Get to it, Ms. Jenkins.

Isn't it possible he thought you wanted it? He threw me down on the floor and

ripped my clothes off. Moved to strike. He pinned my legs back, stuck his thumb

into my throat, and he raped me. Ms. Gottlieb... There is no way in hell that

any person could think that any woman would want done to her what he did to

Ms. Gottlieb, that's enough.

I have nothing further.

We're done for the morning.

Have you anything more, Ms. Van Owen?

No, Your Honor. Ms. Jenkins, will you be putting on any witnesses?

Yes, Your Honor.

I'll be calling Victor Sepuente to the stand.

Saul, come in, please.

I appreciate you taking the time to sit down with me, Saul.

Why wouldn't I sit down with you?

I'm sure you know.

that we were all unhappy to hear that you were leaving us.

I'm leaving.

Someone else is coming. Life goes on.

Am I wrong?

You're not wrong.

I'm curious, though.

When did you first hear that Arnie was leaving?

To tell the truth, I don't remember.

Did he ask you to come with him, Saul?

He didn't have to ask.

Did he give you any indication that a meeting would be held with other members

of Mackenzie Brackman and you? What for? So that we might persuade you to stay

here.

Who's your orthodontist?

What difference does it make?

I've got a grandson who needs braces.

What's the matter? Arnold Becker never suggested that you meet with us, did he?

Arnold Becker was in the trenches with me. You understand that? Did he ever

suggest a meeting with us prior to his leaving the firm? I'm getting a little P

.O.'d here.

We've never had so much as a cup of coffee together in all these years.

And you come in from your guyish country club with your steel -rimmed glasses,

and suddenly I'm supposed to answer to you. You want me to get a subpoena? I

do that. You think you can muscle me, my friend? You should live so long.

Dr. Towle, would you state your qualifications for the court?

Court, court, court, court.

I've been a practicing neurologist for 12 years.

I have extensive clinical and child development experience.

In addition, I myself have been diagnosed as having had Tourette's since

of 14.

Your Honor, I object to this witness testifying as an expert, regardless of

credentials. The fact that he himself has this affliction creates an inherent

bias. The jury can take all that into consideration, Ms. Stritch. The witness

can testify.

Doctor, would you characterize Tourette's syndrome as a mental or

condition? Oh, boy.

Tourette's is a neurological motor disorder.

That's all it is. It might look like a mental condition, but it isn't.

Tourette's doesn't respond to psychotherapy any more than a limp

Based on your examination of him, would you attribute all of Noah Cowan's

abnormal behavior to anything other than Tourette's?

Tourette's? Tourette's?

Tourette's? Tourette's? No.

Multiform phonic and motor tics such as displayed by Mr. Cowan are wholly

symptomatic. Coprolalia, or compulsive swearing.

Pallolalia, or repeating oneself.

And copropoxia, or compulsive obscene gesturing, are also typical.

Echolalia, or the imitation of the last thing heard, is the symptomology

manifested in my case. Yet you're a practicing neurologist. I was fortunate

enough to find myself in a nurturing environment, Mr. Rollins.

Tourette's didn't stand in my way.

Other people didn't stand in my way either.

I have no further questions.

You have shown us a great deal of determination, Doctor. Tell me, how do

patients respond to you?

You, you,

you, you.

I believe my patients respond to me as they would any other physician.

What if they didn't? What do you mean?

Oh, boy.

Oh, boy. What if...

Your patients weren't comfortable with a doctor who repeated everything they

just said.

What if they were just a little bit put off by a doctor spitting and cursing

and... Objection, Your Honor. What's the point? The point is, Your Honor, that

to this man, all that's important is that he and the plaintiff get to do

what they want, oblivious to those around them. He's not testifying as a

expert. He's testifying as another individual who suffers from Tourette's.

don't suffer from Tourette's.

I suffer from intolerance.

I suffer from small -minded aversion to anything strange, anything out of the

norm. That's what I suffer from.

I suffer from the likes of you.

You swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth to help

your guy? I do. Be seated.

Please state your name for the record, sir.

Victor C. Fuente.

And do you presently have an exclusive romantic relationship with the

complainant, Alison Gottlieb, as she so testified in this courtroom this

morning? I do.

Do you love this woman?

Yes, I do.

Seek to treat the witness as hostile, Your Honor. Granted. Continue.

What was the date when you first met this woman, sir?

It was January of 1989. I don't know the exact date.

And when was the first time you went out with her on a romantic basis?

Objection, Your Honor.

Overruled.

Ms. Gottlieb put this in issue. I'm going to allow it, but speed it up, Ms.

Jenkins. Your first date, sir, when was it?

I don't know the exact date.

I think it was the day after we met.

And how many days after you met did you first have sexual intercourse?

Objection. I'm sorry, Your Honor, but the complainant has characterized

as a chaste, monogamous woman, and I'm entitled to explore this. You're not

scoring any points with me, Ms. Jenkins.

I respectfully request the right to examine my witness.

Your Honor.

The objection is overruled.

How long did this woman wait before going to bed with you? Your Honor, this

ridiculous. Sit down, Ms. Van Owen.

How long? I don't know. A week? A month?

Asked and answered. I said I don't know. Maybe less than a week?

Asked and answered.

That's enough, Ms. Jenkins.

Sorry, Your Honor.

Grace?

Yeah? Can I talk to you for a second?

Sure. Honey, do you mind waiting?

You don't think that you could have cut off a couple of those questions in

there?

I tried, Victor. Not hard enough, you didn't. For a prelim?

Come on.

I appreciate the free discovery.

I do not appreciate the fact that Allison comes off looking totally

Anil, like some cheap kind of slut.

This is not about preserving her reputation.

It's about getting a rapist bound over for trial, which I'll do. I'm not so

about that.

You know what they're doing. They're going to be as rough as possible to

discourage her from sticking this out. You've used the same strategy yourself a

zillion times. Yeah, well, look, I'd like to see a witness list, plus the

and the medical reports. I mean, did you run a cross -state probation check on

this guy? Hey!

You asked me to take this case. I took it. Now let me do my job. Don't you tell

me how to prosecute. I'm not doing that. You are doing it and I'm telling you

right now. Stop it, Victor.

I've got a 95 % conviction rate. I'm good. And what I don't need is a

getting in my way. Are we clear?

I just don't want this guy walking, Grace.

He won't walk.

Trust me.

This guy is not going to walk.

How the hell could this have happened?

I got a piece of brittle caught in the damn braces, and I couldn't get it out.

So you stuck a clinky in your mouth?

I was using the flat edge, sort of like a toothpick, and I got stuck.

Ow!

Oh, it got stuck all right. Here, I don't want to push down too hard because

don't want to tear the gum.

Come over into the room.

Michael? Kimberly.

Come on in.

Michael.

I'm looking for Roxanne. I have a videotape of her performance.

Roxanne doesn't work here anymore.

You're kidding.

Michael.

Oh, excuse me.

Kimberly Dugan, Douglas Brackman.

Kimberly was Roxanne's dance coach.

Hello? Hi.

You have a slinky in your mouth.

Excuse me.

Long story.

What about Roxanne?

Well, that's a long story, too. You see, her boss formed his own practice and

she went with him. But I think I can get the tape to her.

Oh, great. She's going to love it.

Well, it was good to see you again.

Yeah, you too.

Michael, would you like to have lunch with me tomorrow?

Tomorrow?

Yeah, that'd be fine.

Great. One o 'clock, I'll make reservations.

Actually, I hate lunches.

It's just less forward than if I'd asked you to dinner. But since we're on for

lunch and dinner isn't such a big leap from lunch, let's make it dinner.

Okay.

Eight o 'clock, I'll make the reservation.

Your Honor, I would submit there is not enough evidence to hold my client over

for trial.

Yes, they had sexual intercourse.

But Enrico Morris had reason to believe she consented. They knew each other.

They had drinks. He took her home. She invited him into her house.

She let him know she found him attractive.

And this is a woman who'd slept with members of her crew before.

A woman who was known by her crew to be sexually aggressive. She was known to

have affairs.

She customarily dresses very provocatively.

She says she resisted and that this was violent, but there were no bruises, no

property damage.

They will never get a conviction on this one, Your Honor, and I would

respectfully request that we not waste the taxpayers' money by chasing a

conclusion that'll never happen.

If she wasn't raped, what possible motivation could she have to say

she was so she could experience the fun of an ER room?

getting probed by speculum so he could furnish vaginal fluid to crime labs and

enjoy the thrill of a police lineup, not to mention what a good time it is to

come into these courtrooms and be portrayed as a whore by the defense

I won't be wasting the taxpayers' money, Your Honor.

The taxpayers pay me to get people like Enrico Moraes off the streets, and

that's exactly what I'm going to do.

Thank you, Bob.

I find probable cause, and I will hold the defendant over for trial.

Same bail.

Let's set a scheduling conference for the week of February 12th.

That's all. We're adjourned.

I'm ready to talk to Lee Grace when I get lunch.

Lunch it is.

Okay, Allison.

We got our file.

Hi. Thanks for coming.

How's Matthew?

Oh, he's great.

Growing bigger every day.

I'm going to have to see him pretty soon.

We'd love for you to.

Roxanne, no one here is blaming you.

Why did you want to see me, Ann?

We have reason to think that Arnie might have been luring clients away.

I don't know what went on between Arnie and his client.

They're not his clients.

Whosever clients they are.

Did he have you photocopying files for him? No.

But he was having it done?

Why are you putting me in this position?

Roxanne, you left here to go with Arnie.

Arnie turned on each and every one of us by doing what he did.

So now you're asking me to turn on him?

I'm asking you to tell the truth.

I told you the truth.

You asked me to come here, so I came. I've told you the truth.

Now I want you to honor our relationship and not ask me anything more.

No promises.

All the years of working here don't matter.

All the attachments I have here don't matter.

The only thing that matters here is money.

It's the one thing that counts, isn't it, Ann?

The one thing that really counts.

She wasn't in the room when he talked to the clients.

What about the files?

I don't think she knows anything about the files.

What do you mean you don't think?

Does she or doesn't she? What are you going to do, Leland? Would you really

force Roxanne to testify against Arnie? In a second.

I don't think that'll be necessary.

How much do we need for an injunction?

We'll find out this afternoon.

Judge Lobel is going to hear our motion in chambers.

If you want to spare Roxanne, you better hope that we don't come out of there

empty -handed.

Mr. Casella, why did you discharge Noah Cowan? Because I just couldn't put up

with it anymore.

Look, I like Noah. He's a good guy. He's a good worker.

I know there's a problem he can't help, but it's tough walking clients through

my office with him calling me a douchebag. Oh, boy.

The cursing is disruptive.

It upsets the co -workers and the clients.

I think he scares them. Oh, boy.

There you go. Whop!

You see, people just don't understand that kind of thing.

It's been hurting my business. I... I had to fire him. I just had to, Noah.

Thank you, Mr. Casella.

I have nothing further, Your Honor.

My client's market research was always satisfactory, was it not?

It was better than satisfactory.

It was great.

And social skills were never a function of his employment. Isn't that right, Mr.

Casella? Look, I'm not talking about a good personality here. I'm talking about

him yelling kike all day at my assistant. But his co -workers

affliction, didn't they?

Some did, some, you know, didn't.

You didn't?

Did you ever take time to really get to know Noah Cowan? I don't know him that

well, but I do know him. Mr. Casella, the only problem you have with Noah

and the only reason you fired him, was because of his handicap, right?

Look, I've been dealing with this for six years, and it's hurt my

I fired Noah because of his handicap, but the way I see it, I didn't really

a choice.

Thank you, sir.

Nothing further.

You can't be serious.

I'm not saying we have to take it.

Felony assault?

The man raped me. How can you plead down to assault?

Because by doing so, we make sure he's put away.

Grace, are you telling me this guy could actually be acquitted?

No. I'm telling you...

That he is a first offender with no record. No oral cop, no weapons. Even

conviction, this is what we call a straight low -term rape.

The best that we'll get is three years.

So with parole, he's back on the streets in a year and a half.

God.

Now, they're willing to go for four years, out in two, if we cop to assault.

Basically, he's willing to do an extra six months to avoid a rape conviction.

And, Allison, you also have to consider that there is a chance of a not guilty.

Now, I'm not saying that'll happen, but it is your word against his, and all he

needs is a reasonable doubt.

You're telling me to take this.

As a district attorney, there's nothing more that I want than to nail this

bastard for rape.

But as your friend, I can't ignore the fact that a trial could take up to a

year.

Hey, you want a trial, you got it.

People look at me differently.

Ever since this happened to me, people look at me differently.

What does that say about me, Grace?

It says nothing about you.

Allison, I can get this guy. I can.

But this plea, it allows us to put him away for a little longer, and it allows

you to put this behind you a lot sooner.

Okay. Okay.

First of all, I object to this private motion session.

We're on the record, Counselor. There's nothing private about it. With all due

respect, Your Honor, it's a little unusual to be hauled down here for an

hour hearing after the close of business day. You got your notice?

Let's get on with it. Your Honor, as stated in our papers, Mr. Becker

severed his partnership with McKenzie Brackman and breached his fiduciary

responsibility owed to our firm. Upon information and belief, he knowingly

solicited McKenzie Brackman clients and caused certain corporations to

discontinue business with us.

Untrue. We have affidavits from three clients that were approached by Mr.

Becker. Which clients... chose not to go with him. Nevertheless, they do confirm

that said solicitation did take place while Mr. Becker was still a member of

partnership. I can also confirm that three corporate clients, Saul Rosen and

Associates, Taft Industries, and Berkshire Petrovic, have all suddenly

firm and are believed to be with Mr. Becker's new firm. Did they go with you?

Yes, on their own volition.

I'm restraining you from doing any work for Saul Rosen, Taft. Your Honor, that's

crazy. Those are my clients. Yell at me, Mr. Becker, and you will be in jail

very quickly.

There is no proof of inappropriate solicitation. There is no proof of any

of fiduciary responsibility.

He snuck files out in the middle of the night.

You can't force clients to go back to them. I'm not forcing the clients to do

anything. They can go anywhere they want except to Arnold Becker. This is

depriving me of my livelihood.

Look up the definition of partner, Mr. Becker. It means you don't plan late

-night coups to stab your co -workers in the back. I object to that

characterization. The restraining order is granted.

Those are my clients.

Well, if you want to keep your clients, and if you want to keep them, then you

people will have to get back together.

Hearing in ten days, that's all. We're done.

I can't believe you're doing this. You steal from me, you answer to me. I said

we're done.

I suppose we can all laugh at Tourette syndrome.

The way my client swears or spits or makes funny sounds.

And Noah Cowan certainly understands that people can be shocked by his

He grew up being stared at in restaurants, being laughed at on buses,

ridiculed by strangers because the things he does strikes people as funny.

you know what's not funny?

A society that's unwilling to tolerate someone's handicap.

This man became a highly qualified professional whose work was beyond

and he still got fired.

Because he made people uncomfortable.

There's nothing so damn amusing about that, ladies and gentlemen.

Because that kind of intolerance, that kind of prejudice, that's our handicap,

not his.

Sal Casella says people look at this man and see a weirdo.

I see a man, a man who's battled a nervous disorder every day of his

life and has beaten everything, everything except public

perception. He deserves to beat that today.

Oh, boy.

Sal Casella liked Noah Cowan. He hired him, trained him, promoted him, and he

didn't want to lose him.

But Noah cost him co -workers. He cost him clients.

A racial slur, a couple of whoops, a spit.

And Sal Casella's business takes it on the chin.

Oh, boy.

The law says it's all right to fire someone because of their handicap if it

affects their performance.

I'm telling you, Noah's did.

It put people off.

Now, maybe that is society's problem, as Mr. Rollins has said.

But Sal Casella shouldn't have to pay for it.

Oh, boy.

Boop!

Boop!

Case number 89723.

People versus Enrico Morris.

Your Honor, the parties are prepared to enter into a plea bargain. After

consulting with both defense counsel and the victim, we feel that the interests

of justice will be best served by a reduced plea to felony assault coupled

a joint recommendation of four years in state prison.

Defense counsel so recommends?

I do.

Mr. Morris, you've discussed this plea with your lawyer and you understand the

consequences? Yes.

You understand that you are pleading guilty to a felony crime and that you

spend four years in a state prison as a result of this conviction?

This is your own free decision?

Yes.

Very well.

It is therefore the decision of this court... No!

Excuse me.

I can't let this happen. I'm sorry, Your Honor. I can't do this.

Your Honor.

The parties have already agreed to the plea.

No, Your Honor, I expressly stated that my recommendation was based on the

consent of the victim.

If the victim withdraws her consent, I withdraw my recommendation.

Miss Gottlieb, are you fully aware of the consequences of your decision?

Yes, I am. You are aware that the final disposition of this matter could take up

to two years?

I don't care if it takes ten years, Your Honor. They can do whatever they want.

They can't scare me off.

This guy has definitely picked the wrong girl to rape.

Your Honor, the people stand ready for trial.

So, if you can't have him, I can't have him. Is that the way it's gonna be?

Got any suggestions as to how it could be otherwise?

Yeah.

Let me take the clients and I'll cut you in for a piece.

You got any other suggestions?

No, that was it.

What about you? You're the paterfamilias around here. What suggestion have you

got?

Douglas, would you mind excusing us?

No. Not at all.

You've got something to say to me. What makes you think I've got anything to say

to you? I can only assume a man needs a reason to betray people who trust him.

Oh. So I betrayed you.

Yes. Me and every other person who works here.

You think maybe you played a part at all in this, Leland?

I got in the way of your all -consuming greed.

That's what I did.

What you did was hang me out to dry with the videotape. I was totally reasonable

there. Shaft me with Rosalind Shays. I had no choice. And you get behind

Cusack each and every time. Never once do you get behind me.

Is that what this is about?

Hey, it's there. It's always there. Cusack's the principled one. I'm the

Cusack's the one you're proud of. I'm the one you tolerate just to keep the

money coming in. You're the one chasing the money, Arnold.

The people here, including you, will always matter more to me than money. And

that's the difference between us.

Yeah?

Well, I don't get that.

I built this firm. I spent my life building it. And I will not allow you to

reduce my investment here to dollars.

This firm is part of me.

Fine. But don't expect it to be a part of me.

Unless you're prepared to give something back.

What do you want?

I want my name added to the firm's name.

You want more loyalty out of Arnold Becker? Then stencil in Arnold Becker on

glass door.

Is that it?

Yeah. That's it.

Has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

What say you?

We fine for the plaintiff and award the sum of $150 ,000 in back pay.

We award front pay in the amount of $100 ,000.

I'd like to dismiss the jury with the thanks of the court. We're adjourned.

Great.

Oh, boy.

Oh, boy. Oh, boy is right, Noah.

Oh, boy is right. You happy?

Happy, happy, happy, happy.

Oh, boy.

Jonathan.

Can we talk to you guys for a minute?

No hard feelings, I hope.

Bastard. Not at all, Noah.

Why don't we find a room?

Sure.

I was wondering if there might be a more constructive resolution to this

dispute.

Like what?

Like Noah gets his job back.

Really? I've yet to find a market research analyst as good.

And has this job offered in lieu of the judgment?

Here's the package. $50 ,000 up front, a new car, and Noah gets promoted to

research director.

How come you think now it's okay for me to work there?

There? A modem and a fax machine.

That's how it comes.

What do you mean? A modem lets us hook up his home computer to our office

computer, and a fax machine lets us shoot documents back and forth. We'll

provide everything.

Well... That sounds pretty good, Mr. Casella. Oh, boy.

Noah, I think this is something we need to talk about a little.

Please do.

You know what, Noah?

I know we're going to work this out.

You want to be out in the world, Noah. I thought that's what this trial was all

about.

Look, in all this time, I haven't been able to find another job.

A quarter of a million dollars will let you look for more.

It won't matter.

I should just stay home and work.

Damn it, Noah. I hate that you're saying that. It's okay. I mean, this way,

nobody will have to hear me.

Oh, boy.

Nobody will have to hear me.

Hi, Grace.

Victor.

Sorry for the intrusion.

Put your phones off the hook.

I knew you'd be here.

Hi.

Hi.

It made the news. Did you see it?

Yeah, I know.

Someone else who saw it came to my office tonight.

Who?

A woman by the name of Rosanna Graham.

A woman who, until tonight, never had the courage to tell anyone that she had

been raped by a man named Enrico Moraes.

We've got him now, Allison.

I mean, he is facing a rape conviction for sure.

Oh, God.

He's looking at at least eight years.

I just wanted you to know.

Good night, guys.

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