All language subtitles for LA Law s04e20 Forgive Me Father

Previously on L .A. Law.

Is Nelson going to become a client here?
I just opened some dialogue, that's

all. Like hell.

What are you saying, Victor?

I'm saying you sold out our client. I'm
saying you were bought, Rosalind. Do you

know for a fact? You mean, can I prove
it?

No. I never can with her. She's too damn
good.

I'm not sure how to put this, but the
quality of the work we've been getting

never been better than since Rosalind
Shays took over the account.

If she left the firm, they could... be a
problem.

Don't walk out on me, Michael.

It wouldn't be walking out on you,
Leland.

It'd be walking out on Rosalind.

I'm not stepping down.

Then I'll have to break you.

You want a war, Leland?

You've got one.

I think your father is losing touch with
reality.

In what way? He takes on the persona of
a television character.

I wanted to see where he was working.

What are you wearing?

Same thing I always wear.

Norton Palavine!

Let me take care of you.

No.

Thank you.

You're facing the deprivation of very
important rights. Your daughter has

petitioned for a conservatorship.

You're entitled to an attorney, sir.

It's okay, Judge.

I was always able to stand up for
myself.

And that's what I'm going to do here.

As you like.

Mr. Becker, you may call your first
witness. Yes, Your Honor.

We call Gut Nivens.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth,

help you God?

I do.

State your name.

Gus Nivens.

How do you know the respondent, Mr.
Nivens? Well, he had the unit next to

at the retirement home until they kicked
him out.

Did you spend much time with him? At one
time, we were best friends, but not

anymore. Why not?

I hate to say this with him sitting
there, but he ain't right in the head.

really believed that he was Ralph
Crandon.

Judge. Yes, Mr. Melman.

What is he going to say what it was that
I believed?

The witness will refrain from
speculating on the respondent's state of

How do you know that he wasn't just
having fun? What he talked about wasn't

funny. He'd say how his family didn't
want him around.

He'd say, Norton, you're all I got left.

Finally, I said, uh, my name ain't
Norton. How did he respond to that?

He grabbed me by the throat.

For a minute, I thought he was going to
kill me. Then, just like that, he lets

go and busts into tears.

Was that the last time you spoke with
him?

No, I spoke to him this morning, as a
matter of fact. I asked him how he was

doing, and he said that if they're not
going to let him drive a bus no more,

that he was going to throw himself
underneath one.

No further questions.

My turn?

Yes, Mr. Melman.

Hi, Gus.

You really think I'm crazy?

Well, you tried to strangle me, Murray.

Does that mean I'm crazy?

Look, I ain't no shrink.

Yeah, but you're sitting here saying
that I'm nuts.

What have I done?

Do I yell at strangers?

Do I drop my pants in public?

You're losing touch with reality,
Murray.

Reality?

Reality was a bunch of toothless old
farts sitting around discussing the last

thing they ate.

Mr. Mailman. I'm sorry, Judge.

Gus.

Do you still talk to your buddy
Mitchell? Well, you know I do, Murray,

day. Would you tell the judge where
Mitchell is right now?

Sure. Sitting right here on my shoulder,
where he always is.

Trudging forward, Victor, you start the
priest malpractice case today?

Yep. Priest malpractice?

Negligent confession.

Our client refused to absolve a 32 -year
-old woman who ended up having a

breakdown. Her husband is suing for
emotional distress and loss of

Whatever happened to the separation of
church and state?

The count against the church was
dismissed, but they're making it stick

our guy individually.

Why isn't the church defending him?

Father McNamara baptized me.

And when he asked me to personally
defend him, I said yes.

Well, just make sure the father pays his
legal fees.

Move along, Douglas.

Arnie, you're handling Roxanne's
conservatorship hearing? I am, and the

is representing himself, and he's pretty
good.

Glad to hear it. Now, as you all know,
because none of you could have possibly

forgotten, Benny's portrayal as the
cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz takes

place this Friday evening.

Incredibly, Abby has managed to get
tickets.

All right, all right.

Can we move along, please?

I think we're done. Hold on.

I have an announcement.

I'm seeking to reinstate my position as
senior partner.

A new vote will be scheduled for this
Friday.

Excuse me. You have no authority to call
that vote. The executive committee can

call the vote, Rosalind, and that's what
I'm doing. The executive committee

hasn't even discussed this. We're
discussing it now.

All committee members in favor of a new
vote, say aye. Aye?

Douglas, how do you vote?

I guess there's nothing wrong with
voting if, uh... That's two to one.

The committee has authorized a new vote.

Now we're adjourned.

We can still settle it, Walt.

It might make sense.

Penance isn't something you negotiate
for, Victor.

Yeah.

I just want you to remember that even
though the church is behind you, you're

the only one on the hook here.

I mean, if they win, any judgment comes
out of your pocket personally.

Wait a minute, Victor.

Personally, I'm a priest.

If I ignore God's law, then I've got to
face a whole different kind of judgment.

I wasn't wrong, Victor. I don't want to
settle.

She had always been a very devout
Catholic.

Church every Sunday.

She'd go to confession all the time. And
there were these counseling sessions.

What counseling sessions, Mr. Delahunty?
She'd have all these sessions with

Father McNamara.

Those are what usually upset her. But
this particular time, it was the

confession. Now, this was the confession
with Father McNamara on April 4, 1988,

correct? Yes.

She came back from church, and she
wasn't talking.

Did she tell you what was wrong?

Not right then.

But I sure found out the next morning.

What happened then, sir?

Well, she just went crazy.

Ranting and crying, you know, crying
that she was going to hell.

What else did she say?

She said that Father McNamara had
condemned her to eternal damnation.

Your Honor, that's totem pole here
today.

Overruled.

He said that since we used birth
control, she was committing a sin

and that because of that, God would not
forgive her. What effect did this have

on your wife?

Well, she was sedated that day.

And she was hospitalized for depression
after the breakdown.

And she really can't do anything now.
The doctors say that she's becoming

totally dysfunctional. Objection. Your
Honor, could we have counsel use

psychiatrists to present psychiatric
evidence?

Sustained.

What about your children?

She can't even talk to them or spend any
time with them.

He says that...

Her soul is damned, and that the kids,
for their own sake, should stay away

her. They're three and seven years old.

I have nothing further, Your Honor.

Mr. Cifuentes?

Sir, as I understand these medical
reports, your wife's depression was

on by severe guilt, which guilt was
caused by having violated her religious

faith. Is that correct?

It was brought on by him telling her
that she was going to burn in hell.

me, sir, but to your knowledge, did he
ever use those words?

He said he wouldn't forgive her.

She certainly knew what that meant.

And he also knows how seriously she
takes her religion.

As did you, sir.

And yet you repeatedly encouraged her to
go against her religious beliefs,

didn't you? I'd make love to my wife.

That's hardly... You'd wear a condom.

You'd insist to her that you use birth
control against her faith, didn't you?

Look, Catholics today use contraception.
Everybody knows it. Sir, your wife is a

foreign -born Irish Catholic, strictly
religious, and you'd insist on wearing a

condom, yes or no? We have two kids. I
make $31 ,000 a year. We could have...

Yes, thank you, sir.

Now, at the time of her breakdown, on
the morning of April 5th... Exactly what

were you two doing? She had the
breakdown because he condemned her. What

the two of you doing when she suddenly
started, as you say, ranting and crying?

We were having marital relations. You
were having intercourse.

You were using a prophylactic, weren't
you?

Yes. And the doctors concluded that it
was this particular event, it was the

intercourse that was the initiating
event of this breakdown, did they not?

That's what they say.

Thank you, sir.

Nothing further, ma 'am.

This is bad.

The clients Rosalind's brought in
currently account for 32 % of our

What's more, three of our biggest pre
-existing clients have indicated they'll

go with Rosalind if she leaves.

Who?

Petramco, Feldenkrantz.

Toll. Oh, God.

By my calculations, we stand to lose
over 50 % of our projected revenues.

How the hell can this be? She's been
winning over Leland's clients, that's

We gave her the big accounts because
they seemed to like her so much. And now

she's got them.

So what you're saying is if we vote
against her and she walks, this place

fold.

We let it fold.

We can all find other jobs. I mean, it's
better than being under Rosalind's

reign, right?

It's not as simple as that, Mike.

We've got a five -year lease here, $25
,000 a month.

If this place dissolves, the partners
are going to be on the hook for that

personally.

So they re -rent the space?

Don't bet on it. There's a lot of vacant
office space in downtown L .A. right

now. It's not going to be easy for them
to re -rent it. And if they don't, we're

going to have to fork over as much as
$200 ,000 apiece. What?

We also have an outstanding loan of half
a million, which will cost us another

$75 ,000 each.

This is unbelievable.

This can't be right.

It's right.

If we lose Rosalind and her clients, we
don't just make less money. Some of us

could be losing our houses.

...can be more empowered over a
confessing mental state than is your

psychiatrist. But, doctor, priests see a
great many parishioners.

Yes, but he saw this particular
parishioner over and over again in

sessions, which made his relationship
with her much more like doctor and

patient. So?

So, he knew her fragile emotional state
and how vulnerable she was with respect

to her religion. He had to know that
damning her soul would devastate her.

Doctor, why doesn't this woman...

simply find herself another priest.

She doesn't have the freedom of
conscience to choose another priest.

convinced by virtue of their counseling
sessions together that Father McNamara

specifically is her agent of God. If he
doesn't absolve her in her mind, she

goes to hell. Well, thank you, Dr.
Smithson.

I have nothing further.

Doctor, based on your psychiatric
examination of this woman...

What is the cause of her underlying
depression?

Guilt for having sinned against God.

That's right.

And is my client in any way responsible
for the commission of these sins?

No. But he's the one who exacerbated her
depression to the point of making her

delusional. How is she delusional, sir?
She's obsessed with the thought she'll

burn in hell.

Well, do you know for a fact that she
won't?

Well, that's a ridiculous question.

You're not Catholic, are you, sir?

Objection, Your Honor.

The expert is obviously making judgments
concerning the plaintiff's religious

beliefs. His own religious beliefs are
therefore relevant to his foundation as

an expert.

The objection is overruled.

Are you a Catholic, sir?

No, I'm not. I see.

And so, in the gospel, when St. Mark
claimed that a man who had been dead for

three days rose and ascended bodily into
heaven, was he delusional? I don't

consider religious beliefs to be
delusional, per se.

Do you think a dead body could rise up
and ascend?

No. If someone told you that they saw
this happening, would they be

When my client holds the wafer and wine
in his hand and believes it to be the

body and blood of Christ, is he
suffering from some psychiatric

happen to be his beliefs. If a woman
says she's pregnant but says she's never

had sex, is she psychotic?

You're talking about religious faith.

Exactly. You see, when you cut right
down to it, Doctor, if Kate Delahunty is

going to hell, if her soul is going to
burn,

And she is not delusional, is she?

Not if you make that kind of assumption,
no.

Thank you, sir.

I have nothing further.

He insists that people around him are
other characters from The Honeymooners.

gets very agitated when they tell him
that they're not.

Has he ever endangered himself?

He commandeered a city bus.

He didn't crash it only because the cops
got to him first.

Boss, you there, Charlie?

Are you making an objection, Mr. Melman?

No.

I'm just saying she wasn't there.

Of all the people who were there, no one
said a word about my driving.

How come she's so sure I would have
crashed?

The respondent's correct.

His driving ability isn't before the
court.

I'd like to ask you something, Mr.
Melman.

Isn't it possible that your father's an
eccentric and he's behaving this way

simply because he's bored?

In the beginning, that's all I thought
it was.

That's what I desperately wanted to
believe.

I've watched him go into these states,
though.

He's becoming someone who can't take
care of himself.

I'm afraid of what could happen.

All right, Miss Melman, thank you. I
have no further questions.

I wouldn't ever put him through this
otherwise.

Mr. Melman.

So, you think your old man can't flip
the flop tax anymore, huh? I think you

need help.

Your Honor, I ask that the witness be
addressed as a witness and the

conduct his cross -examination
appropriately.

All right, Mr. Becker, but I am giving
everybody a little latitude here.

Mr. Melman, you can only ask questions
for now.

Questions?

Hmm.

Uh...

When you got the call that your father
was being thrown out of the retirement

home, how long had it been since you
last paid him a visit?

Objection. Wholly irrelevant.

Really? I don't think so.

The witness said how concerned she is.

I'd like to judge the side for herself.

You may answer the question.

It had been about six months.

And how long before that?

It had been months. I don't know how
many.

How can you talk about what your father
was becoming when you have no idea what

he was to begin with?

That's not true.

Does the witness know that last year her
father underwent surgery?

For what?

An obstruction in his digestive tract.

Thought to be cancerous in nature.

Was it?

Apparently the witness knows nothing
about this.

Daddy, do you have cancer?

No. But you wouldn't have known about it
even if I did.

Why do you think I'm doing this, Daddy?
So you can forget all about me, honey.

So you can put me in that house and
forget all about me.

I have nothing further for this witness.

What's going on, Douglas? And why on
earth do we have to meet in the men's...

Because this is the one room Rosalind
won't come in. I have the solution.

What? Leland can't bear the thought of
her being in charge, and Rosalind can't

bear the thought of losing her power.

Leland would support me as senior
partner, however, and Rosalind might too

can convince her I'd still let her run
things. She'd never go for it. She

She's faced with losing, or if she wins,
a mass exodus, she's got to be willing

to compromise, and I might be the
perfect compromise.

And you'd be the senior partner.

Figuratively. Yes. Well, what about me
being the senior partner figuratively?

You. Come on. What do you mean, come on?
The only other vote you got was from

your wife. What does that tell you?

Douglas, you didn't even get your own
vote. What does that tell you? Hey, I'm

trying to make a good -faith effort to
solve a crisis here. No, you're not.

You're trying to wheedle yourself into
becoming senior. Wait a minute.

Typical short man's complex. Typical
bald man's complex. I used to have hair,

but you've never been taught. Shut up!
For God's sakes, you're both acting like

children.

I'm just trying to solve a problem.

Well, then do it. Fine.

Sorry I brought it up.

Meeting's over. Fine.

Mrs. Delahanty, you have agreed to
testify here on behalf of the man your

husband's suing.

Could you tell us why?

I don't think what the father did was
wrong.

He refused to grant you absolution.

I didn't deserve it. Do you think you
deserve to be condemned for using birth

control? I believe in one...

True church, Mr. Cifuentes.

Holy, Catholic, and apostolic.

I have sinned in thought, word, and
deed.

And birth control is a sin?

A mortal sin.

And you also believe that whoever dies
in the state of mortal sin is condemned

to hell?

Yes. It would seem that your belief has
caused you a great deal of pain.

That isn't important.

Kate, don't you wish that Father
McNamara could find it in his heart to

you? Father McNamara...

has been my strength since the day I
moved into his parish.

He's guided me and he's comforted me. He
didn't absolve me because he couldn't

absolve me.

Even now, he hasn't abandoned me.

And I never will, Kate. I never will.

That will do, Father.

Thank you very much.

Nothing further, Your Honor.

Aside... From what Father McNamara told
you, did you think what you did was so

bad? It's not what I think that matters.

It's what the church tells me. And is it
fair to say that Father McNamara knew

this about you? Of course.

He was my priest. Did you ever tell him
how hard it was to be a good wife

and a good mother and a good Catholic
all at the same time?

Yes. Did you tell him how desperately
afraid you were of having more children?

Yes. What was his advice?

To use natural planning and to follow
the teachings of the one true church,

holy, Catholic, and apostolic.

And if you strayed from the teachings of
the one true church, holy, Catholic,

and apostolic, did he tell you what
would happen?

If I remained in a state of sin, I would
spend an eternity in hell.

Did he paint a picture of what that
would be like?

Yes.

You would... Burned forever in a non
-consuming fire.

Hotter than a thousand suns.

My flesh gnawed by vermin and goaded by
spikes.

Never to be permitted into heaven.

Never to be allowed in the presence of
God.

Since Father McNamara confirmed that
this would be your fate, have you

been able to care for your children?

No. Have you been able to so much as
touch them?

No, sir.

Did Father McNamara know this?

Yes.

I have no further questions, Your Honor.

Let's take a 30 -minute recess.

What can I say, Judge?

How can I prove I'm not crazy?

How does anyone?

You'll concede, Mr. Melman, that your
behavior does raise the issue.

What am I doing that's so terrible?

Assuming that I fall into my own little
world.

Who am I hurting?

I think your daughter's fear is that you
might end up hurting yourself.

Please, Judge, tell her not to worry.

I can take care of myself.

Mr. Becker.

Are you aware of it when you assume the
role of...

Ralph Cramden, Mr. Melman? Sure, I'm
aware of it. Yet you told your daughter

that you weren't.

I was yanking a chain, that's all.

And so when you called the mentally
retarded clerk at McKenzie Brackman, Ed

Norton, you were just having fun with
him?

That's right.

Same as when you put on a uniform and
drove off with a city bus.

I was just trying to be funny, that's
all.

Come on, Mr. Melman. Listen, wise guy.

I'm telling you the way it was.

Maybe I don't dress as good as you do.
But I put on a clean pair of underwear

every morning. I eat three meals a day.

And I was doing just fine until you came
along.

Why Ralph Cramden, Daddy?

Miss Melman, you have an attorney here.

Your Honor, you said you were giving
some latitude.

I'd like to ask a few questions myself.

All right.

Daddy.

Daddy, you watched a lot of other
television shows.

Now, why didn't you become Jack Benny or
Sergeant Bilko?

Why Ralph Cramden?

Because he never gave up, that's why.

Because he was always looking for his
pot of gold.

He also never ran off and left his
family.

I think it's all a favor. You didn't.

I was always a failure in everything I
did, no?

You were a failure because you left.

Son of a bitch!

Promise me the pocket concession.

Mr. Melman, who are you referring to?
Frank. Everything he wanted, I did for

him. He needed tickets, I got him
tickets.

You wanted me to watch the store, ma
'am? I watched the store. Sir. I'm going

take care of you, Murray. I'm going to
give you a piece of the pie.

Where is it? When was the last time you
spoke with Frank, Mr. Melman? Just last

Friday. I said, Frank, Roxanne is going
to start high school next year.

Before I know it, she's going to be
thinking about college.

What are we talking about, huh? Do I get
the concession or not?

Who am I, Mr. Melman? Oh, come on,
Bernie.

What's the matter? You don't trust me
anymore?

All of a sudden, everybody decides
Murray's care, shall we?

Daddy. Well, it's nice to know who my
friends are.

I think maybe we should take a short
reset.

Ah, forget about it.

I can always make a buck.

As long as I got my strength, I can
always make a buck.

Who earns tickets?

Oh, thanks for coming in.

Listen, I'd like to represent to the
partners that the associates here fully

back me.

I have Victor.

I'd like to confirm the two of you.

Well, Leland, you know we both hope you
win.

I want your endorsement on the record.

Suppose you lose.

That makes our future here very tenuous.

Oh, well, Rosalind could certainly
forgive you for backing me.

She isn't the one who hired you.

I, on the other hand, did hire you.

You're putting us in a bad position,
Leland, and I don't think that we

Yes. Yes, I am. But this is a war, and
everybody has to take a side.

I'm simply asking you to make your call
now.

Okay.

You have my official support.

Good. In exchange for your unconditional
support when I come up for partner.

Me too.

I didn't call you in here to bribe you
with anything, and I don't think... Then

let's not call it a bribe.

Let's call it a threat, because that's
exactly what you just did to us.

Look, Leland, when we come up for
partnership, everyone is going to have

a side.

We're just asking you to make your call
now.

Okay.

Good.

We have a deal?

Yes, we do.

Good. Best of luck in the vote, Leland.

We're with you.

I'm sorry, I cannot break the
confessional seal to talk about this. I

that. But generally, and of course
hypothetically speaking, Father, if a

came to you and confessed to having used
birth control, would you grant

absolution?

If I felt the person were truly
repentant, yes, I would.

Again, hypothetically speaking, under
what circumstances would you not?

Well, like every priest, I would refuse
to grant absolution if I felt the

penitent was not sincere about his
confession.

And if a person had come to confession,
say, hundreds of times, and each time

confessed to having committed the same
sin, would a priest consider him or her

to be truly repentant? If a person kept
repeating the same sin and showed no

real intention of conforming his or her
moral behavior, no, no, I would not

consider the person to be repentant. And
would you condemn this parishioner to

burn in hell?

No, I would never say that.

I simply would no longer continue to
absolve that person for the same sin.

Thank you, Father.

What happens when a

person dies in a state of mortal sin?

It's God's will that the soul is damned
for eternity.

And if Kate Delahanty were ever denied
absolution, she'd understand that to

she'd burn in hell, right? Objection,
Your Honor. This witness had counseling

sessions with her. He knows her state of
mind. He knows how obsessed she was

with her afterlife.

The objection is overruled. In fact,
Father, you knew that by withholding

absolution, you'd shatter this woman,
didn't you?

I'm sorry. I cannot divulge the contents
of a confession.

Would the vast majority of Catholic
priests withhold absolution because of

control? That defendant was not sincere
yet.

Many Catholics today use contraception.
Are you saying... Yes, I know. Many of

them don't even come to confession at
all anymore. They might as well be

Protestants. Well, in his encyclical
letter of human life, Pope Paul VI

upon priests when dealing with this
issue to have consideration of the weak.

Now, did you think... I had
consideration, Mr. Laporte.

But paragraph 28 of that encyclical
letter calls for obedience to the

authority of the church. And that
encyclical letter also clearly states

birth control is against the law of the
church. In the Vatican II document, The

Church in the Modern World, it says that
the condition of the times should be

taken into account when dealing with
contraception, right?

But that paper also says...

that conjugal love is intended for the
transmission of life.

Hypothetically speaking, Father, would
you deny absolution to a parishioner

though you knew it would psychologically
devastate her?

All we can do, Mr. Laporte, is put our
trust in God.

No, Father.

Kate Delahanty put her trust in you.

Forget about the fact that he's a
priest, ladies and gentlemen. This case

nothing to do with God's law.

We're talking about a therapeutic
relationship where that man served as

woman's de facto counselor.

Now, Pope Paul VI, in his encyclical
letter, called upon the priest to act as

counselors.

Well, if they're going to hold
themselves out that way, people, they

assume the responsibilities of that
role.

They have to exercise ordinary care.

That man didn't.

A weakened, unstable woman came to him
seeking

compassion, and he crushed her.

Knowing her to be fragile, knowing
her...

to be emotionally infirm, this man, from
his own psychological vantage

point, devastated her. That made his
conduct negligent. That made it

reckless. Because of what he did, she
can't hug her own child.

She can't have sexual relations with her
husband.

Because of what he did, she has
nightmares every day about her flesh

In hell.

That man did that to her.

He did it knowingly.

And he wants you to excuse that just
because he wears a collar on his neck.

For her sake.

For God's sake.

Don't you forgive him.

Basically, they're asking you to find my
client negligent for suggesting that

Kate Delahunty would be going to hell.

But in order for you to find him
negligent, you'd have to find the whole

Catholic faith negligent.

Because it is the teachings of
Catholicism that say this woman will go

Despite what modern day practices, the
law of the Catholic Church is still...

that a penitent who is not sincere in
his confession shall not be granted

absolution. The law of the Catholic
Church is that if a person dies in a

of mortal sin, he will be damned for
eternity.

Now, you don't have to believe that.

You are all free to pick your faith,
just as Kate Delahunty picked hers. She

chose Catholicism. And my client acts in
strict accordance with the laws of that

religion. You condemn him, then you
condemn the Catholic Church.

And if you want to put his religion on
trial, look out.

Yours will be next.

Because the truth is, ladies and
gentlemen, the day you apply negligence

religion, the day you hold divine faith
up to standards of reasonableness,

that is the day you outlaw religion
altogether.

Thank you.

You may be seated.

There are few things sadder than the
deterioration of a human mind.

Most of us just stand and watch
helplessly as it becomes clear that a

no longer do what they've done all their
lives.

We may be powerless to prevent it or
reverse it, but we're not powerless to

minimize the consequences.

Based on the testimony presented and
what I myself have observed, I'm

the petition for conservatorship and
appointing Roxanne Melman as

Effective immediately, she's to have
full control over all of Murray Melman's

finances and affairs.

His pension and Social Security checks
will be mailed directly to her. I've

taken it upon myself to revoke Mr.
Melman's driver's license.

You're locking me up.

No, sir. I urge you, however...

To accept the fact that you need to be
taken care of.

That's all.

Okay,

this will simply be a forum for free
discussion, after which we'll convene at

the end of the day for final statements
from the two candidates, followed by the

votes. The floor is now open. If I may.

I would like to hear your specific
criticisms of my performance as senior

partner.

I assume that you do have reasons for
wanting me out.

Nothing. This stupid executive committee
thing.

Leland's idea, I simply put it into
effect.

What else?

You wanted to take on Anderson
Industries to directly do business with

Africa. Arnold Becker also wanted to
take on that client.

As did Douglas Brackman, as did Leland
McKenzie initially.

What about going to Victor's client
behind his back?

I asked Victor to go to the client.

When he refused, I had to fulfill an
attorney obligation.

There's no attorney obligation to accept
a bribe and sell out a client.

I did no such thing.

I challenge everybody in this room to
offer a single piece of evidence to the

contrary. Oh, look, Rosalind, nobody can
tell what goes on behind closed doors.

But you did go to the client behind the
back of a lawyer here.

You went behind my back to Scott Perot
with a deliberate attempt to undermine

me. Now, that is a breach of fiduciary
duty. And you did it. Maybe in an

to keep this firm together.

Is that where your interest lies,
Michael?

In staying together?

If so, I'd be very curious to know why
you're currently interviewing with a

on Wall Street.

Don't underestimate my network out
there.

I find out most everything.

Look, my future is not the subject
matter of this meeting. But the future

this firm is.

And I am the only one here that can
guarantee it. Keep in mind, with me in

charge, you have the freedom to leave.

But if I leave, I take 50 % of the
business with me.

And you lose that freedom.

Your only choice remains to stay and
work much, much harder for far less

or to leave, in which case the firm
dissolves, and you all incur staggering

partnership liabilities.

Come on.

I'm certainly open for more discussions.

As the jury reached a verdict... We
have, Your Honor.

What say you?

On the claim of negligence leading to
loss of consortium, we find for the

plaintiff, Kevin Delahanty, we award the
lump sum of $250 ,000 in damages.

This matter is concluded.

The jury is dismissed with the thanks of
the court.

Hey,

maybe we can sit down and work something
out here.

Excuse me a minute.

You want to work something out?

Here's what you tell your client.

Tell him I don't want his money.

Tell him I want my wife back.

He's not about to give in, Kevin.

Why don't you give me a couple of
minutes with him?

Sure.

All those people want from you, Walt, is
absolution.

I think you should grant it.

You've known me a long time, Victor.

Do you really think I could put a price
tag on the blessed sacrament of

confession?

No. Then why are you asking me to sell
it?

According to my reading of canon law,
what's required for absolution is

repentance. You really think she's
undeserving of mercy?

It's not enough, Victor.

She hasn't committed that sin in two
years, Walt.

That tells me that she's sincere.

Look at her, Walter.

Father McNamara, look at her.

Wait here, Victor.

Would you excuse us, please?

Through the ministry of the church, may
God grant you pardon and peace.

I absolve thee in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy

Spirit.

This vote isn't about Rosalind.

It isn't about me.

It's about all of you.

It's your standards, your priorities
that are on the line here.

Arnold, you said that if I put your name
on the door,

this firm would become a part of you.

Well, Arnold Becker was stenciled in on
that class.

This place is now a reflection of you.

With your vote, you get a chance to show
us what that means.

Ann, you once said that Rosalind Shays
embodied money and power, and you feared

this place would become her.

The question today is not whether the
firm has strayed from its moral center,

but rather, have you?

Stuart, when you campaigned for this
job, you said the main function of a

partner is to breed a sense of community
into an otherwise cutthroat business.

What kind of community feeling is
Rosalind giving you?

By far the most humbling part of this is
for me to have to lobby for your vote.

Your father and I started this firm.

flourished and floundered a hundred
times during those early years.

But whatever this firm was, it was
always us.

And then he passed on, and this firm
became you and me.

You and me.

If Rosalind Shays remains his senior
partner, Michael Cusack won't be the

one to leave.

One by one, you will all leave.

Because each of you... ultimately, will
choose to work at a place that just

doesn't help you make your mortgage
payment, but in a place that serves your

values, a place that makes you proud, a
place that personifies what you know

yourselves to be.

If I stay, you get that.

If I stay, this place remains what it's
always been.

Mackenzie Brackman, Cheney Cusack.

And Becker.

Isn't that something?

I'm asking you now. Don't you let that
get away.

Rosalind? Leland is beloved.

I'm not.

I know this.

Not without a few personality clashes.

But I've eradicated it.

Is there anybody here who wants to see
me remain a senior partner?

I don't think there's any need for a
vote, Douglas.

I resign.

So, what now?

Can I turn on some lights?

What are you asking me for?

You're going to do whatever you want
anyway.

I wish there had been another way to do
this, Daddy. Well, it's done now.

You want to tell me what I'm in for?

What kind of an institution?

Are there going to be bars on the
windows?

Straight jackets?

Shock treatments?

There's not going to be anything like
that.

Oh, no.

Well, what's it going to be like?

It can't be another one of those
retirement villages.

They don't want anybody who's a problem.

Listen, we haven't even started looking.

You're putting me in a home.

I'm not putting you anywhere.

We're going to find some place where
you're comfortable. If you don't want to

stay there, you won't.

I don't want to go in a home.

We ought to see some of these places
before you say that.

A home is a place where you go when
you're ready to die.

And the rest of the world doesn't need
you anymore.

When one day is just like the next.

I have to know that I have something
going for me.

Even though it's only handing out
handbills.

Placing a $2 bet on a horse.

You can live with me, Daddy.

It's not going to work.

Maybe it will.

You got a life of your own.

Now you're in it.

Come on.

Let's go.

I'll help you pack.

I'm paid up here till the end of the
week.

I'd like for you to come with me now.