All language subtitles for LA Law s08e02 Leap of Faith

Previously on L .A. Law. Hello.

Ah, you're?

Jane Halliday.

I'm Douglas Brackman.

This is Ann Kelsey, Jonathan Rollins,
and Arnold Becker.

You've been charged with a murder.

That means you need to have someone
paying very close attention to what

to you.

Last night I was at this restaurant, and
the husband of the woman who your

client was charged with killing was
there.

Yeah? He was with this hot tomato, and
they were all over each other. They were

drinking, grabbing, kissing. I mean, it
was like nauseating already.

Huh.

Do you mind that I'm here?

You've got to be here, right?

Sort of.

How often have you been seeing Gail?

Once or twice a week.

You saw her the day she was killed?

Yeah. And you had a fight with her of
any kind?

You're from New York?

Yeah. There's a lot of crazy people in
New York.

It's like they're all talking at the
same time.

Or arguing.

Or crying.

Or praying.

Sandy. The seat opens up on the subway,
so I sit down.

And the lady next to me is standing. She
starts crying because she wanted to sit

down. Sandy, I need your help. I need
you to stop thinking about crazy people

New York and start thinking about the
crime you've been charged with.

Oh, I hate these patterns.

What patterns?

Patterns on the floor.

The linoleum.

Keep dividing and subdividing. There's
lines and there's quadrants and

hemispheres, and it's not that restful
to have to look at that. I prefer to

plain floors.

Plain walls.

Although these walls are pretty plain,
but there's too much going on with those

floors. Did you kill anybody, Sandy?

What the hell would you do if I said I
did? I'd be your lawyer. The same thing

I'd do if you said you didn't.

What's the difference?

It might affect the way I try the case.

Yeah, but it shouldn't, though.

Try and get me off no matter what,
right?

If that's what you want.

That's what I want.

Let me begin this morning by welcoming
our newest associate, Ms. Jane Halliday.

You're here.

Welcome. How do you do? Hi.

I appreciate you giving me the
opportunity to work with you. I do hope

of some service.

Also, I would like to thank everyone in
advance for all of the help I'm sure I

will be asking for. Ask and it shall be
given you.

Seek and you shall find.

Knock and it shall be opened unto you.

Matthew 7.

Well, I don't know the appropriate
biblical passage for new business, but

whatever it is, this young lady is
responsible for bringing some with her.

versus the Department of Veteran
Affairs, Miss Halliday. David Kerry is a

veteran of the Gulf War.

Like hundreds of others, he's come down
with a debilitating illness.

as a result of exposure to chemicals in
Kuwait. I heard about that. They have

all kinds of strange symptoms, like hair
loss, immune system problems.

Well, until recently, VA doctors
routinely dismissed this condition as

psychosomatic. How did you come to
represent him? He's a member of my

Great. Religious organizations, I
believe, are a terrific and largely

source of referrals.

Would that more of us were trolling in
those waters.

Next up, Bannister versus the American
Buying Network.

That's mine. We represent the Buying
Network.

The plaintiff is a guy who's suing them
for selling to his wife. He claims she's

got an obsessive compulsive shopping
disorder that they took undue advantage

You're kidding. Yet another theory for
avoiding personal responsibility.

Those channels do play to people's
compulsions. Oh, come on. She's weak.

extravagant and she's weak. Compulsions
like this are a sign of weakness.

That wouldn't apply to your desire to
own a $275 ,000...

Bentley, would it?

No, it wouldn't.

I'm expecting that if we're successful
in this matter, then the American Buying

Network may tap us for a variety of
other services.

Eli, what's happening with your case?

I'm preparing for trial, interviewing
witnesses, going over police reports,

kind of thing. I do need to hire a
private investigator. If you've used

who you'd recommend, I... Jinx Belder,
sorry.

You've used her?

Yes, I have.

Look out, look out!

I'll call an ambulance.

How much is this one going to cost us,
Douglas?

Not a dime.

Are you sure? First of all, the contract
is primarily liable. Second of all,

those stilts are illegal in the state of
California.

Assumption of risk, comparative
negligence, we've got nothing to worry

Excuse me, how many do you see there?

Mr. Bannister, how long has your wife
been shopping with the American Buying

Network? Since March of 1992.

What kinds of items did she purchase?

Clothes, power tools, kitchen
appliances, a radio transmitter dog

mind that we don't have a dog.

Stuffed animals and dolls. Never mind
that we don't have any children.

The stuffed animals and dolls are
collectible. Ms. Bannister, please. The

ceramic ducks wearing galoshes are also
collectible?

Yes, they are.

Folks, for the purposes of this trial,
you two are on the same side. I don't

want to hear any arguing.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

Mr. Bannister, is your wife currently
under treatment for any kind of mental

disorder? She's under treatment for
obsessive -compulsive shopping.

Did you inform the American Buying
Network of that fact?

By registered mail.

How did they respond?

They responded by continuing to sell her
anything and everything she wanted. Mr.

Bannister, what has been the result?

The result has been that I'm facing
bankruptcy.

I have no further questions.

Mr. Bannister.

Let's talk about those ceramic ducks.
Your wife has collected ornamental birds

for some time, hasn't she? Birds,
rabbits, souvenirs, spoons. She collects

everything. But your wife started
collecting before she started watching

American Buying Network, didn't she?

In a limited capacity, I suppose she
did. $1 ,500 worth of glass wands your

bought in 1989 at the Crystal Palace
boutique. Is that a limited capacity?

All I know is that since they have been
broadcasting, a day doesn't go by when a

delivery truck does not come to my
house. You claim your wife suffers from

shopping compulsion. Is there anything
about your wife's voice that would

indicate this compulsion?

No. Anything at all that would, in your
opinion, indicate to a phone operator at

the American buying network that your
wife was compulsive? Well, how about the

fact that she calls 50 times a day?

So you're saying that based on the
frequency of your wife's calls, an

should have been able to diagnose her as
having a psychiatric disorder?

That's right. And furthermore, based on
the diagnosis, they should have refused

to sell her anything?

That's right.

You don't have an American booze network
selling to drunks, an American dope

network selling to junkies. By the same
token, you should not have an American

buying network selling to my wife.

Mr. Carey, when did you first experience
symptoms related to your current

condition? During Operation Desert
Storm. My unit secured the albacro oil

which the Iraqis had set on fire.

The smoke was so thick that you could
taste it. And that week I got a skin

headaches, and I...

I coughed black fluid from my lungs. And
how was your health after returning to

the United States?

I experienced fatigue, pain in my
joints, and some hair loss, as well as

headaches whenever I smelled anything
chemical. But I didn't realize how bad

I was until I failed my annual physical
performance test that August.

What happened after you failed?

I was discharged.

What? If any, medical treatment did you
receive after your discharge?

Well, I went to the Veterans Hospital
maybe a dozen times over a period of six

months, but the doctor said they could
never find anything wrong with me. Dr.

Kreuter asked me if I was malingering,
right to my face.

In the end, he just wrote me down as
being depressed and gave me some pills.

How has your illness affected your life?

Two years ago, my wife and I had plans
to buy a house and start a family.

Today... I have no job, no savings, $100
,000 in medical bills.

My wife divorced me, and my career in
the military is over. Why are you suing

the Department of Veterans Affairs?

I served my country, and I don't regret
that for a second, but the deal was, if

I got hurt, that the VA was supposed to
take care of me.

And instead, they just watched me fall
apart.

I have nothing further.

Mr. Carey, according to your hospital
file, you were seen by nine

VA specialists who conducted no fewer
than 23 diagnostic tests on you. Blood

panels, bone marrow biopsies, EMGs,
EKGs, CAT scans.

Is this your idea of doctors just
watching you fall apart?

They never tested me for chemical
poisoning.

Let me ask you something, Mr. Carey. How
do you explain the fact that of the 120

men in your unit, you're the only one
claiming to be permanently harmed by oil

fires? Maybe I breathe more smoke. I
don't know. Look, there are hundreds of

guys from other units who came back just
as sick as me. Nobody disputes that you

and other vets are sick, but you're
accusing VA doctors of negligence.

Do you have any reason for believing
that Dr. Kreuter and his staff were less

than diligent in their attempts to
diagnose and treat you? Yes, I got hurt

there.

Just as sure as if I'd taken a bullet.

And Dr. Kreuter, he told me it was all
in my head. I mean, he let me get worse

and worse to where I'll never recover.

To me, that's being less than diligent.
To me, he was just being a government

bureaucrat when what he should have been
was a doctor.

I don't like what's happening. Ray, I
entered a plea of not guilty because I

think there's a chance of getting him
off.

I hate to say this, but I don't think
that's necessarily what's best for him.

What are you talking about?

Ed, face it. For once in your life, look
at things the way they really are.

Our son is incapable of living outside
of an institution. We have known that

since he was a teenager. I don't accept
that. I know you don't accept it, but

whether you accept it or not, it's the
truth.

Eli, I want you to change the plea to
insanity.

I won't do that.

What do you mean you won't do that?

Just what I said.

You hired me to be your son's attorney.

That doesn't make you my client. That
makes him my client. And I'm going to do

it in his best interest.

Do you think it's in his best interest
for him to be on the street?

I think it's in his best interest to be
in a controlled therapeutic environment.

That doesn't mean locking him up.

Particularly when he's innocent of the
crime with which he's been charged.

Dr. Anson, as a specialist in
environmental medicine, have you

Carey? Yes, I have.

Mr. Carey is suffering from chemical
sensitivity due to petroleum exposure.

I might also add that I've personally
diagnosed 27 Gulf veterans with the same

condition. On what do you base your
diagnoses?

On chemical response tests.

Normally harmless concentrations of
petroleum triggered violent reactions in

Carey, indicating a past exposure to a
damaging dose of chemicals.

What treatment, if any, exists for this
condition?

Patients are injected with tiny amounts
of petroleum derivates to rebuild their

tolerance. Now, if Mr. Carey had
received such treatment early on, I

would have fully recovered.

Doctor, in your opinion, should a
physician who isn't trained in your

like Dr.

Kreuter, be expected to know about
chemical sensitivity?

Generally, no. But two years ago, when
the first vet showed up with these

symptoms, I contacted Dr.

Kreuter to alert him about chemical
sensitivity.

I sent him case studies, treatment
protocols.

If he would have used him, he could have
saved David Carey, untold suffering.

I have nothing further.

Doctor, isn't it true that the American
Board of Medical Specialists rejects

environmental medicine as a specialty
because they find your methods

inconclusive? Yes.

Naturally, I disagree.

Naturally. Now, these response tests...

You spoke of assuming they're accurate.
They show that Mr. Carey is sensitive to

chemicals, correct?

Yes, and such sensitivity indicates
chemical poisoning in the past.

But assuming that's true, how do you
know that chemical poisoning and not

something else is behind Mr. Carey's
fatigue, joint pain, and weight loss?

research shows that those symptoms are
consistent with chemical exposure.

Are you aware that there are other
theories that have been proposed for

wrong with these vets?

Some doctors say they have a rare
bacterial infection.

Others say the culprit is a parasite
transmitted in the bite of a Middle

sand flea. I know that I have been
treating these vets and getting results.

After a year of your treatments, Mr.
Carey still appears to be quite ill.

because Dr. Croyder has allowed his
condition to progress to an irreversible

stage. That's one explanation. Another
is that your diagnosis is wrong and your

treatment's ineffective.

Objection. That's all right. I'm done
with the doctor.

What is your position at the American
Buying Network, Mr. Atkins?

Founder, president, chief cook and
bottle washer. It's pretty much my baby.

Could you describe for us the kind of
interaction that would have likely taken

place between Philomena Bannister and
the various operators she would have

orders with?

Generally, there would have been an
exchange of pleasantries.

We'd take her name, address, daytime
telephone number and a major credit

She'd place an order and that would be
that. Mr. Atkins.

Why did the American Buying Network
continue to sell to Philomena Bannister?

It's not our role to decide for our
customers how much they should spend or

they should buy or how often they should
shop any more than it's the role of

Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom's or Bob's
Big Boy. As long as Philomena Bannister

wants to be our customer, it's not up to
me to say she can't be.

Thank you. Nothing further.

Mr. Atkins, do you have any idea how
much Philomena Bannister purchased from

American Buying Network?

No, actually, I don't. Would it surprise
you to learn that she averaged over $1

,500 a week in the past few years?

No. Would you say that sounds a little
excessive?

I'm in no position to say anything of
the kind. What's excessive for one

is moderate for another.

Does the fact that these two people...

face the prospect of the bank
foreclosing on their mortgage, suggest

their case might not be moderate?

Again, I don't presume to tell someone
how to spend their money. If a shelf

of figurines or a strand of faux pearls
and matching earrings brings joy and a

sense of well -being to someone's
existence, who am I to tell them they

shouldn't have those things?

Tell me, Mr. Atkins, do you have any
familiarity with compulsive shopping

disorder?

Not really, no. Well, let me put it this
way. Did it ever occur to you that

Philomena Bannister might not need any
more shelves of figurines or strands of

faux pearls with matching earrings?

If I thought that way, I'd be out of
business.

Spoken like a true visionary.

Objection. Withdrawn.

Nothing further.

Eli?

Eli, this is Jinx Baldessari.

How do you do?

Hi. Can I get you something?

A bottle of water would be great.

Thanks for coming over.

You're representing that guy who's
charged with killing a social worker.

Right. From what my friends in the DA's
office tell me, you've got your work cut

out for you.

That I do.

What can I do for you?

I have reason to suspect the husband's
not all he seems.

You think he killed his wife?

I don't know.

Is this an exercise in wishful thinking,
then? It's a little bit more than that.

The husband's been seen around town with
a woman he seems to know quite well.

I'm led to believe their behavior is on
the libidinous side. I can put a tail on

him 24 hours a day. I can find out who
the girlfriend is and put a tail on her.

Sounds good. I charge $750 per eight
-hour day.

Overtime and out -of -pocket expenses
are extra.

You come very highly recommended. I'm
sure you're worth whatever you charge.

Excuse me.

Here's your water.

Thanks. Sure. I love your outfit. Oh,
thank you. Really fabulous.

Thank you. Is that a Tadalton vest?

Actually, it's a Comme des Garcons.

Oh. Really?

Glass. Oh, I'm sorry. I'll break that.
I'm sure people tell you all the time

you don't look like a private
investigator.

Yes, they do.

Yeah, I figured they did.

Is that something you were planning on
saying?

Me? No.

Good.

Why don't we start going over the file?

Right.

Dr. Kreuter, during your examination of
David Carey, what evidence of physical

illness did you find?

Despite extensive diagnostic testing, I
found no evidence of anything physically

wrong with Mr. Carey. And what did you
conclude was the cause of Mr. Carey's

symptoms? At the time, I concluded the
cause was clinical depression.

Mr. Carey's fatigue, weight loss, mood
swings, and loss of appetite fit the

criteria. I prescribed medication
accordingly.

Do you recall during this period having
a conversation with Dr.

Anson on chemical sensitivity?

Yes, and I received and read his
materials.

Do you consider treating Mr. Carey for
chemical sensitivity?

No. I found the theory speculative, and
I wasn't about to experiment on my

patients with treatment whose efficacy
and safety was unproven.

Dr. Kreuter, is there anything you know
now that might cause you to revise your

diagnosis of Mr. Carey? The truth is,
nobody knows what's causing these

symptoms. But having seen more cases of
Gulf veterans with these sort of

problems... We have a basis for
concluding that some sort of

condition does exist, so I might very
well revise my diagnosis.

I have nothing further.

Dr. Kreuter, in your mind, does it
indicate a prudent standard of care when

patient is allowed to deteriorate to the
point where he can't walk unassisted? I

watch Mr.

Carey's decline with great frustration
and sympathy.

But I did everything I could for him
based on accepted medical practice.

Well, given that accepted medical
practice had failed, Mr. Carey, how

dismiss Dr.

Anson's approach?

I received my training at Johns Hopkins,
Miss Halliday.

I was taught not to subject my patients
to the risks of unproven treatments.

You never told me a treatment existed.

How could you know and not tell me?

I mean, it should have been up to me.
How could you know and not even tell me?

David.

Dr. Kreuter, the treatment for chemical
exposure is virtually risk -free. Didn't

you owe it to David Carey to at least
give it a try?

We see hundreds of veterans a day, Miss
Halliday.

We do not have the time or the funds to
try every non -conventional treatment

that comes down the pike.

So to be cost -effective, you gave this
man a handful of happy pills and shoved

him out the door. Objection. The fact
that he laid down his life... For his

country didn't matter.

Objection. His country was through with
him, and you weren't about to expend the

time or money to treat him. Objection.
Is it possible, Doctor, that had you

tried Dr.

Anson's treatment two years ago, David
Carey would be well by now? Is it

possible that had you been of the mind
to try, you could have done something to

help David Carey when he asked you for
help?

I don't know the answer to that
question.

I have no others.

Thank you, Doctor.

If you go to war and get hit by a
bullet, they give you a medal, and

wants to see the scar.

But when you're hit with a bolt of toxic
chemicals, they tell you it's all in

your head.

Like hundreds of other Desert Storm
veterans, David Carey came home sick,

to face skepticism and denial from those
charged with making him well.

It was Dr.

Kreuter's job to do everything in his
power to relieve David Carey's

Not only did he fail to do so, but by
choosing to ignore a promising therapy

heaped enormous and needless amounts of
suffering onto his patient.

If not for Dr.

Kreuter's inaction, David Carey would be
able to walk right now without using a

cane. He would be able to climb a flight
of stairs without gasping for breath.

David Carey deserved better.

All of the men and women who risk their
lives in service of our country deserve

better.

Dr. Kreuter got the physician's credo
mixed up.

Instead of first do no harm, he heard
first do nothing.

And by doing nothing, he caused David
Carey a great deal of harm.

Harm from which he will never recover.

Standard of care.

That's the guideline you look to when
judging whether a doctor acted

negligently. And Dr. Kreuter acted no
differently in caring for Mr. Carey than

any responsible physician would have.

The fact is, nobody could pin down this
disease two years ago.

And they can't pin it down now.

All we have are theories.

Against these odds, Dr.

Kreuter and his staff worked diligently
to try to find out what was wrong with

Mr. Carey.

The fact that Dr. Kreuter had read some
literature about a non -traditional

method of treatment in no way obliged
him to experiment with it, especially

he had such serious doubts about its
efficacy and safety.

Dr. Kreuter is not an incompetent or a
negligent physician.

He is a kind and caring doctor who
treated his patients as best he could.

Don't ignore me, man.

Hey, I'm a human being.

An excuse?

Don't you pretend to be a husband and
wife?

You know, I could be wrong, but somehow
I don't think this woman's going to be

all that interested in our marital
status.

You're Pamela Reisenfeld?

Yes, I am. We'd like to talk to you
about Jonah Berge.

Who are you? I'm a private investigator.
My name is James Baldessari. This is

Eli Levinson. He's an attorney.

Hi. I really have nothing to say about
Jonah, and if that's what you're here to

talk to me about, I'd like to ask you to
leave.

You don't want to talk to him?

No, I don't want to talk to you.

If I get a subpoena issued, you'll have
to testify in court. If you talk to us,

we may find there's no reason to put you
through that.

Look, I don't know anything about Gail's
death.

I'm sure you don't. What I'm looking for
is just a little background

information.

What kind of background information?

What kind of shape was Jonas' marriage
in?

I don't know what that means.

Was he planning on getting a divorce?

I wouldn't know.

How long had the two of you been
sleeping together when his wife was

I can't believe you're asking me that.

That 1993 Jaguar you're driving is
registered to him. You're trying to hide

nature of your relationship.

You're not doing a very good job.

This discussion is over. I want you both
to leave.

There's a murder trial, Ms. Reisenfeld.
There are no secrets anymore.

Come on.

Be seated.

Your Honor, at this time, defense would
like to call Philomena Bannister.

Ms. Mitchell, where's your client?

Your Honor, I apologize.

She said she'd be right back.

Your Honor, she's... She's what?

Are you kidding?

I love the fit. I love the color. I love
the material.

And I'll bet you love unicorns, don't
you?

Yvonne, I love those unicorns. Excuse
me, Your Honor. Case closed. We got

Exhibit A right here. Your Honor, I want
this excluded from the proceedings. I

do not want the jury told about this.

Oh, there'll be one minute. Never mind
telling the jury. Just bring them in

here. Let them take a look for
themselves.

There will be no mention of this in
front of the jury.

I want everyone back in that courtroom.
I want to continue this trial in an

orderly fashion. Now get out of my
chambers.

Ms. Bannister, would you tell the court
if you are currently in therapy for

treatment of an obsessive compulsive
disorder?

Yes, I am. And it's a fact, is it not,
that when you talk to your husband and

your therapist and others about shopping
via this television channel, you didn't

just refer to the merchandise you
ordered.

Oh, there's more to it than the
merchandise. I acknowledge that. You

each of the on -air hosts by name.

You referred to feeling a sense of
physical exhilaration each time they

announced a price reduction by tooting a
bicycle horn.

I know I'm a compulsive shopper.

And I know that some people might find
me ridiculous or pathetic.

But no matter what my therapist says, I
don't shop because there's something

missing in my life or because I'm
secretly angry with my husband.

I'm sorry, Howard. I look at your face
and I know you're trying so hard to do

what you think is best for us.

I shop.

Because I love to.

I love everything about it.

I love picking up the phone and placing
the order.

I love standing at my window every
morning watching the truck arrive right

schedule. Asking the delivery man about
his kids while I sign for my package.

I love slicing open the packing tape and
opening the box and seeing what I got

new today.

I'm a housewife.

I've been married to the same man for 20
years, lived in the same house for 15.

The basics of my life don't change very
much from day to day, and I don't expect

they ever will, but that's okay.

I'm not looking for a lot of excitement,
so I call the American Buying Network.

And I chat with the hosts, and then I
buy something.

Maybe a piece of jewelry or a blouse or
even something silly like a ceramic

duck. But at that moment, I feel
sustained.

I feel happy.

I have something new.

Please be seated.

Clerk will read the verdict.

In the matter of Kerry versus the United
States of America, the jury finds for

the defendant.

Jury is dismissed to the thanks of the
court.

We are adjourned.

I'm sorry, David.

Well, we gave it a shot, right?

We'll appeal.

Right.

Come on. Why don't you let me give you a
ride home? No, I can get home by

myself. I think I'll just sit here for a
little while.

Sure?

Yeah.

I'd like to see Eli Levinson.

You want?

Jonah Bergen. Do you have an
appointment?

No, I don't have an appointment.

What's with the attitude? I just asked
the question.

I don't have an appointment.

Well, then how did you get past
reception?

I lied.

Oh.

Let me see if Eli's available.

Eli?

Yeah, there's a Jonah Berge here.

I have no idea.

Yeah.

What can I do for you, Mr. Berge? You
can honor a very simple request.

If you're interested in me, you come to
me.

Don't violate the privacy of other
people.

Are you willing to answer a few
questions?

What is it that you would like to know?

How long have you been going out with
Pamela Reisenfeld?

I don't know what you mean by going out.
We've been friends for a number of

years. Were the two of you having an
affair while your wife was alive?

I assume that the import of that
question is that if we were, I killed my

I'm just trying to get a picture of who
everyone is in all this.

You know, whenever I've had dealings
with lawyers, I'm always struck by how

utterly amoral they are.

Really? You're willing to go into court
and spread absolute falsehoods.

You're willing to impugn me.

You're willing to encroach on the lives
of innocent people, not because you

actually think that I'm guilty of
anything, but as a way of manufacturing

about whether or not your client is
guilty.

It's amazing. You're totally unconcerned
with what actually happened.

I don't know what actually happened.

Okay.

I'm not going to answer any more
questions.

If I'm cold to the stand, I'll testify,
but I don't want to answer any more

questions voluntarily.

I find what you're doing deeply
offensive.

I'm not going to cooperate with you. I
didn't really expect that you would.

By the way, someone told me that you're
a patient of Max Binderman's.

What someone was that?

I don't know who it was.

They said that you had a major breakdown
a couple of years ago. Now, you've been

under Max's care.

The reason I mention it is that Max and
I were in graduate school together.

I didn't realize you were trained in
psychology.

One of my doctorates is in psychology.

I just never practiced.

Uh -huh.

Can we say hi to Max for me?

When you talk to him.

Compulsive shopping disorder.

It sounds like a joke.

I assure you, ladies and gentlemen, to
those facing bankruptcy, it is no joke.

An addiction to shopping is just like
any other addiction.

It robs you of your free will and it
takes over your life.

This particular addiction is a little
different, though. This addiction is

actively encouraged by a powerful
broadcast network that lures in people

Philomena. They get them and they don't
let them go.

Gerard Atkins claims he is not familiar
with this disorder.

The truth is, he is all too familiar
with it. He's made a fortune exploiting

The American Buying Network is designed
to extract every dime they can from

people like Philomena Bannister.

They came into her home, they pretended
to be her friend, and then they

systematically drove both her and her
husband to the brink of financial ruin.

We ask that damages be assessed in the
amount of half a million dollars to make

these two whole and to tell this
corporation its behavior isn't justified

fact that it made the sale.

Philomena Vanston loves to shop.

We all heard her testimony.

Howard Bannister thinks his wife shops
too much.

Do I think she shops too much?

Maybe I do.

But the truth is, whatever anybody
thinks about how much Philomena

shops, it's none of anybody's business.

And if you doubt that, ask yourself
this.

Is it anybody's business how much you
shop?

Philomena Bannister is seeing a
therapist who says she has shopping

disorder. Now, the fact is, there's no
listing for this disorder in the

Psychiatric Association's diagnostic
manual.

Howard Bannister couldn't tell us one
identifying characteristic.

Yet he expected the American Buying
Network to take his word for it and act

the capacity of a surrogate parent by
refusing to sell to this woman what she

asked to buy.

Was the American Buying Network
negligent?

No.

No, the American Buying Network is a
business, and they do make a profit.

But that does not make them responsible
for the personal choices of their

customers. It does not make it their
responsibility to decide who can and

shop. And frankly, ladies and gentlemen,
I'm glad they don't have that power.

I'm glad that each and every one of us
is free to make our own choices.

As you see, the minute we make someone
else responsible, we give our freedom

away.

Hi. Hi, Sandy.

Hi, Mom.

I got you some reading material. I
didn't really know what your current

are, so I picked out some stuff that I
like.

Larry McMurtry, Jim Harrison, some
mysteries, magazines.

Yeah, it's a little too much.

Pick out what you like, and I'll bring
the rest back.

No, it's all too much. There's too much
coming in. I can't keep track of other

people's stories and plots and
characters and some magazine article

something different and advertisements.

I can't keep track of all that.

Okay.

Is there something that we need to
discuss today?

There are a couple of things I wanted to
ask you. Come on, Ed, let's go.

Is it necessary that we go? Sandy, do
you mind if we stay?

Do what you want.

What do you want to ask me?

Did you ever meet Gail's husband?

No. He was never in the office when you
were there?

I don't know what he looks like.

You have no way of knowing whether or
not he was in the office when you were

there.

Right. Okay.

Is that it?

Sandy, can you tell me where you were in
the morning Gail was killed?

Yeah, within my room.

Can you think of anybody who might have
seen you in your room?

No. No one came by?

No. Did you go out to eat?

Okay.

Next week we start picking a jury.

Then we go to trial.

Right.

You need clothes for your trial.

Do you have clothes?

Yeah.

Back in your room?

Yeah. Well, go get them.

If I'm found guilty, they won't keep me
here, right? Don't be thinking about

being found guilty.

Well, excuse me, I'm sorry, but I am
thinking about it. And the question I

is whether or not they're going to keep
me here or move me someplace else.

They'll move you someplace else.

Okay.

So nobody smokes around here, huh?

No, I don't think anyone here smokes.

We had a temp who used to blow a reefer
in the stairwell. Other than that, I

don't think anybody smokes.

So if I want to smoke, I have to go up
to the elevator or to the ladies' room,

huh? Yeah, unless you want to risk
incurring the wrath of your co -workers.

Damn, if there was a nun pounding on the
door, I'd feel like I was right back in

high school. Let me help you with that.

You're Jane Halliday, right? Yes. You
have a call. Line two.

Here.

Hello.

I'll be down in front of the building.

What's wrong?

My client's about to jump off a freeway
overpass.

How

long

has he been there?

About an hour. We can't get close to
him. I thought maybe you could.

David!

I'm just coming a little closer.

I'm just going to sit right here.

Okay?

They made me think.

Like one of those guys with the signs
that's sent by the freeway entrance.

David, you never asked for anything you
didn't deserve.

You know, when I was 24 years old, I was
the youngest staff sergeant at Fort

Sills. I was responsible for 40 men.

I led my minutes of battle and I
distinguished myself in combat.

I've already filed a notice of appeals.
I intend to pursue this. I'll never be a

soldier again.

I'll never get my wife back again.

I'll never be able to walk up a flight
of stairs without having to sit down.

That's no reason to end your life.

Are you going to give me some article of
religious faith?

Are you going to quote me some
scripture?

I can, if you want me to.

Sure.

You tell me what the Bible says I should
do.

The Bible says, wait for the Lord.

Be strong and wait for the Lord.

If God is for us, who shall be against
us? Who shall separate us from the love

of Christ?

And that does it for you, huh?

Praying does it for me.

When I feel confused or depressed, I
pray.

I asked God to guide me. I asked him to
show me the way. Well, I asked God to

guide me, but I haven't heard back from
him yet.

You don't know any more than I know what
the future holds.

You could find things that make you
grateful for every year of life you're

given.

Is this God talking?

No, it's me talking.

David, I want you to take my hand and
come down from here.

I want you to take my hand.

I just want to have someone care about
me.

Stay ready.

You have someone who cares about you.

You have me.

Has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor. What say you? In
the matter of Bannister versus the

American buying network, we fine for the
defendant.

The jury is dismissed with the thanks of
the court.

We are adjourned.

Don't think this is over. I'll appeal.
Mr. Bannister, Mrs. Bannister, I'd like

to discuss an idea I had.

Is there someplace we can talk?

Sure.

What are you proposing?

We're proposing a job. What?

I was watching you testify, Mrs.
Bannister, and I wasn't visualizing you

witness stand.

I was visualizing you being broadcast
into 43 million homes.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about offering you a
position at the American Buying Network

on -air product host.

Oh, no.

We have the technology. What we don't
want to lose is the humanity, and that's

you, Mrs. Bannister.

That's me?

I believe you embody all the qualities
that'll keep us grounded, all the

qualities our customers can relate to.

I believe you are the American Buying
Network customer.

Really? We'd be willing to negotiate a
substantial salary plus a signing bonus.

Plus you forgive the debt?

Plus we'll forgive the debt. And you
agree not to sell her anything?

Done.

Gosh, I don't know what to say.

Say yes. Now, wait a minute, wait a
minute. I'm going to stop being a lawyer

here just for a second and ask a
question. Just as someone who's watched

throughout the trial, is it a good idea
for you to be surrounded by this much

temptation? Oh, Mr. Rollins, I'm
surrounded by temptation every day of my

I'm in therapy. I realize the effect my
extravagances have had on my husband,

and I know that in order for our
marriage to survive, I must learn to

them. So, if I succumb to temptation, I
will quit.

Okay. So right now I'm going to go home
and figure out what to wear.

We'll give you help with that. We'll
give you a complete orientation before

go on the air.

Wonderful.

I believe that you and I are going to
have a lot of fun together.

I heard there was a little excitement
today.

Well, I guess you could call it that.

I'm glad to hear he's all right.

He's alive.

I wouldn't say he's all right.

Let me get to the point. I understand
you intend to move forward with an

I'd like to see if we can avoid that.
What do you propose?

$250 ,000.

Full and final payment.

Only condition being absolute
confidentiality.

Suicidal veterans make for bad press,
don't they? As do overly eager young

attorneys with a great deal of time on
their hands.

Mr. Highgate, just so you know, I'm not
overly eager and I don't have a lot of

time on my hands. What I have...

He's a client whom I believe in. I'm
prepared to pursue his case for as long

necessary until he feels he's been
adequately compensated. And I think a

of a million dollars qualifies, wouldn't
you?

I'll talk to my client.

I appreciate that.

We'd like this to be over.

Let's take what there is to take and go.

It's like a cell.

What all I can know is how I was able to
pay for it.

Still, I know cell costs money.

I don't know how he paid for it.

It wasn't working.

He's paid for it through the end of the
month.

Where'd he get the money?

Should we at least fold his things so
they don't get all wrinkled?

I think we're best off just buying him
something to wear, Ed. I know, but he

should hang his things up.

He's got a closet. He's got hangers. He
should hang his things up when he takes

them off so when he puts them back on
again, they don't get all wrinkled. Then

he wouldn't have to send them out to be
dry cleaned as much. And they wouldn't

look like hell when he puts them back
on. Hang them up. You get into the

When you take them off, you hang them
up. Stop talking about him as though

well, as though he's normal.

He's not well. He's not normal.

Okay, assume he's not.

What should we do, Ray? Should we just
forget about him? Should we write him

and let him die? Is that what you want
to do? Folks, you can't turn on each

other. You know, sometimes I get the
feeling that she'd just rather be done

him. I get the feeling that it's too
much trouble, that she'd rather not be

bothered. The way he pays for this room
is that I send him money.

You do?

Yes.

So you've known where he's been? I send
a money order to a post office box.

I knew he was in L .A. That's all I
knew.

Why didn't you say something, Ray? Why
didn't you tell me? Because I knew you'd

try to find him. What would have been
wrong with that?

Didn't you want to find him? No!

No! I wanted him to have a roof over his
head. I wanted him not to starve.

Beyond that, I stopped wanting anything.

Oh, God, help me.

I never wanted to see him again.