All language subtitles for 163_-_god_is_my_co-counsel

Previously on L .A. Law.

Mr. Becker, am I correct in assuming
that you're interested in entering into

some sort of romantic relationship with
me?

Possible inappropriateness of such
candor notwithstanding, interested would

far too mild of a word.

Please understand something.

I don't believe in recreational sex.

Do not deprive each other so that you
may devote yourselves to prayer, 1

Corinthians, chapter 7. Paul's letter to
the Corinthians was referring to

married couples.

I'm a virgin.

I'm a virgin by choice, and I will
remain a virgin until the night of my

wedding.

The night of my... The answer is yes.

Can I look now?

No, not yet. Please.

Okay.

Now you can look.

I stopped on the way to work this
morning. We should do that before we're

married. Oh.

Well, we have to see if they fit.

Right.

Hold the judge. In

fact, me. The wedding vows.

So... If you want, we could practice
before Saturday.

Wow.

Those are a lot of words.

Yeah. Last time, I just said, I do.

What do you mean?

Well, when I got married before, we just
said, I do.

You got married before?

I told you that, Benny.

Didn't I?

No.

I thought I did.

I guess I didn't.

But it doesn't matter now. It was a long
time ago.

How long were you married?

About three days. Then my parents found
out, and I haven't seen them much after

that.

Did your parents make you get a divorce?

We didn't tell them we got married.

How did you get a divorce?

I guess we didn't.

Do you think that that would be a
problem?

Rosalie forgot to mention she was
married.

Yeah, she was in high school. She and
another retarded kid ran away to Reno.

They got married, lived in a motel for a
few days.

Neither one of them told their parents
about the wedding. So Rosalie figured

since they didn't really live together,
they weren't really married.

How do you get a divorce finalized by
Saturday?

I'm not going for a divorce. I'm going
for annulment.

They were both underage. Neither one had
parental consent. All I have to do is

get the husband to sign a declaration to
that effect. Walk it past the judge. No

big deal.

Well, I hope you're right. Let's get
started.

Joyce versus Westland City School Board,
wrongful termination.

That's mine.

Michael Joyce is a high school biology
teacher.

School board fired him for including a
discussion of creation science in a

senior honors biology class. Good, let's
continue.

Alvarez versus National... Wait a
minute, wait a minute. I'd like to hear

little bit more about Jane's case, if
you don't mind. What would you like to

know? Tell me that we're representing
the school board.

No, we're not. We're representing
Michael Joyce.

Why? That's who approached us. Well, he
didn't exactly approach us, Leland. No,

that's right. He approached Jane. Jane
came to me, and I approved. Wait a

minute. Jane, this guy teaches
creationism in public schools? In a

class, no less. He teaches both
evolution and creationism in a

designed to permit the students to make
up their own minds. So now we are

opposed to the separation of church and
state. Is that right? We are lining up

against the First Amendment. I don't
believe what Michael did was violative

the First Amendment. Leland, at the very
minimum... Should this not have been

discussed among the partners prior to
taking the case? I wasn't aware that we

had to be in ideological agreement with
every client we represent.

With all due respect, Leland, I think
that's a little disingenuous. This isn't

your garden variety adversarial contest.
This dispute is entirely ideological.

Yes, it is. And there are attorneys here
with differing ideological as well as

religious persuasions. I don't think
that Michael Joyce deserved to be fired

teaching his students that one
explanation for how the world came into

that God created it. Nor do I. Oh.

Nor do you. And are you going to favor
us with a biblical citation? No, I'm

I'm simply going to say that each one of
us at different times has represented

clients or causes that others have found
odious. That's not the point. This

young woman is entitled to the same
latitude now that we've afforded each

in the past. And as far as biblical
citations, Stuart, I believe that which

writ large in the book of Job, chapter
33.

The Spirit of God hath made me.

The breath of the Almighty hath given me
life.

With that, it is done.

Jane, don't hesitate to let me know if
you need any help with this case.

Dad?

Hi, baby.

What are you doing here?

I came to see the trial.

Why didn't you call me and tell me that
you were coming? Because you have enough

on your mind without worrying about me.

Uh, Arnold, this is my father, Reverend
Halliday, Arnold Becker.

How do you do, Mr. Becker? Very nice to
meet you. Likewise, Reverend.

I'm sure I don't have to tell you, your
daughter is a great pleasure to have

around. No, you don't, Mr. Becker. If it
had been up to me, she'd never left

Oklahoma. Well, I have to get to court.

Reverend, maybe the three of us can go
out and have lunch while you're in town.

Oh, I don't think so.

How about tomorrow?

Oh, tomorrow I have to come back here
and have lunch at my desk. We could join

you. No, no, I have to work.

Well, Reverend, you and I should go out
then. Get me a tuna sandwich on rye, and

I'll be here at 1 o 'clock.

Should we go?

Nice to meet you. Bye -bye.

What sort of academic credentials do you
have, Dr.

Joyce? I have a Ph .D. in biology.

My thesis was in evolutionary theory.

And how long have you been teaching
biology at Westland High?

Nine years.

In that time, what kind of evaluations
have you gotten from your supervisors?

Only good ones.

In fact, last year I was offered a
promotion to an administrative position,

which I declined.

Why did you decline?

Because I love to teach. That's all I've
ever wanted to do.

In your discussions of the origins of
life on Earth in your senior honors

science class, did you teach your
students about evolution?

Absolutely. Did you teach it as the
dominant scientific theory regarding the

origin of life?

Yes, I did.

Did you also teach your students the
theory of creation science?

Yes, I did. Why'd you do so?

Because creation science is another
explanation for the origins of life.

if anything, did the school board do in
response?

They instructed me to cease and desist
to teach anything to do with creationism

in my classroom.

Did you comply?

No, I did not.

Why didn't you?

Because as a teacher, I believe in the
right to explore alternative theories.

I want my students to challenge and
question and...

I want them to learn to think for
themselves and not just absorb

And I'm doing what I'm doing because I
believe it's right.

And as far as I'm concerned, that, that
is the most important lesson I can teach

them. Thank you. I have no further
questions.

Are you a Christian, Dr. Joyce?

Objection irrelevant.

We're trying to determine whether this
man is teaching science or religion. His

own religious beliefs are relevant.

It's what he does, not what he believes
that's relevant.

Objection is sustained.

Did you ever make your students aware of
your religious beliefs, sir? I never

hid it from them.

I also never took class time to discuss
them. Oh, did you talk about them other

than during class time?

Objection irrelevant.

Your Honor, the way in which his
students perceived this man is directly

relevant. Objection overruled. Witness
may answer.

Sir?

I ran a Bible study class on weekends.

Some of my high school students
attended.

So it's fair to say, is it not, that the
students in your biology class knew

that you yourself were a Christian? Is
that bad?

Ask that the witness be instructed to
answer the question. Yes, they knew I

a Christian.

They knew, did they not, that to you,
creationism was not just another theory.

Creationism was the way it happened.

Creationism was the word of God. That is
not what I teach. My religious beliefs

do not dictate what I do in my science
class.

What I taught my students was
appropriate curriculum for biology

taught. Didn't. Did not your principal
inform you there was, in fact,

inappropriate... Yes. ...that the
curriculum was not to include the

creation science? Yes, he did. Yet you
went right on teaching it. Yes. Thank

you. Nothing further, Your Honor. What
are you all so afraid of? You may step

down, Mr. Joyce. Well, what is so
threatening about a teacher uttering the

of God? Mr. Joyce.

Let me walk you through this, Tim.

I've prepared the papers.

Once you and Rosalie sign the papers,
I'll file them with the court, and it'll

be as though you two were never married.

It's as easy as that.

An annulment is quicker than a divorce.
It's simpler. It's also way cheaper.

Yeah, plus it'll let them get married on
Saturday.

Right.

Are you going to invite me to the
wedding?

No. You want to come?

Maybe I do.

Naturally, you are free to hire an
attorney, although this is all pretty

straightforward. Why don't you read it
over? If you have any questions, I'll

explain it.

If you want to, you can take it home and
show it to someone else. You can do

that, too. The only thing I ask is that
we get this done by tomorrow.

How come you never call me back,
Rosalie?

I don't know. It was a long, long time
ago. I don't remember.

I called you every day for two weeks,
and you never returned my call.

My mom didn't want me to.

You always do what your mom wants? No.

Then why didn't you call back?

Arnie, might I suggest that we stick to
the here and now?

First you walked out on me.

Then you ignored me.

Now you call me, after all this time, to
sign this paper so you can marry

somebody else? Tim, we're all men of the
world here. We've all loved and lost.

Admittedly, it's no fun.

But when the game is over...

And the game is over here.

It's time to sign the papers and move
on.

Do you still have those blue cowboy
boots?

No. I love the way you looked at them.

I remember you wore them on the bus to
Reno. What are you going to do?

Are you going to sign that paper or not?

Not?

Tim, we're supposed to get married on
Saturday.

You cannot prevent them from getting
married, Tim.

Eventually, we will get an annulment or
a divorce, whether you agree to it or

not, and Rosalie will be free to marry
whoever she wants.

Well, maybe she'll change her mind by
then and decide to stay married to me.

That's him there.

Hey, Tim.

You can't come back here. I told you,
boss, I'd only keep you a minute. Why

don't you come over here?

Listen,

I think we may have all gotten a little
carried away by emotion yesterday. What

do you think?

I don't know.

What are you talking about? I thought I
owed it to you to come by here and make

sure you understand the realities of the
situation.

Rosie and me are still married. That's
reality.

Well, as far as it goes, yes, but...

You want to marry Benny, and you can't
stop her from divorcing you.

You said divorce could take a year.

It can, but so what?

In the end, you still won't be married
anymore.

Maybe yes, maybe no.

Tim, there's also the possibility of a
criminal investigation.

What do you mean? Taking a minor across
state lines is a crime.

Encouraging her to lie about her age on
a marriage license, sex with a minor,

that could be statutory rape.

Did the Rosenstein rape her?

It doesn't matter what she says.

She was under 18.

You know what? I think you're trying to
scare us, so I signed a paper.

I just want you to understand what might
happen.

That's all I'm doing here, Tim. I'm not
going to sign the paper. I don't care

what you do.

Tracy, could you tell the court how you
know Mr. Joyce?

I was in his senior honors science
class.

Approximately how much of that class
would you say was spent discussing the

origins of life?

Out of the 15 -week semester, I'd say we
spent about three weeks on it. And what

did you talk about during those
discussions?

We talked about evolution theory, and we
talked about creation science theory,

and then we discussed the strengths and
weaknesses of both.

Did Mr.

Joyce encourage debate among the
students on those ideas?

Oh, absolutely.

More than half our grade depended on
class participation. Did Mr.

Joyce ever tell you that evolution was
wrong and creation science was right?

No. What did you believe in before you
took Mr. Joyce's class, Tracy?

I believed in evolution.

And what do you believe in now?

Evolution. I've questioned it on
occasion, but I still believe that's

how life on Earth came into being.

I have nothing further.

Tracy, when Mr. Joyce taught
creationism, did he do so critically?

I'm not sure I know what you mean.

Did he place it in any historical
context?

Did he mention, for example, the
scientific impossibility of the world

into being in six days?

He said there were things in both
evolution theory and creation science

that don't have scientific explanations
yet. Did Mr. Joyce give as much

credibility to creationism as he did to
evolution?

Yes. Were there any students who
objected to that?

Objection calls for hearsay. I'll allow
it.

Tracy?

Yes, there were students who objected.
And how did Mr. Joyce respond to those

objections?

He said any students who felt
uncomfortable could go to the library.

Anyone take him up on that?

No. Why do you suppose that is?

Objection calls for the witness to
testify to the operation of another

mind. I am asking the witness for an
opinion about her peers, Your Honor.

Objection is overruled.

Witness may answer. Tracy, why do you
suppose no one left the class?

I don't know.

Maybe it didn't seem so bad after all,
or maybe they wanted to be exposed to a

different point of view. Do you think
it's possible they just didn't want to

stand out from their peers, no matter
how uncomfortable they felt?

Objection. Sustained. Do you like to
stand out from your peers, Tracy?

No. No.

Thank you. I have nothing further.

Witness may step down.

Tell me that I'm dreaming.

This is unbelievable.

How could she make us wear these?

Well, she's not exactly Coco Chanel,
Denise.

This is Beyond, not Chanel. This is
Beyond's queen.

Don't come in.

Laugh and you're a dead man.

Did Rosalie describe these ensembles to
you beforehand?

She told us she would order things that
we would wear again.

Excuse me while I change.

No, it's...

It's not so bad. Are you kidding? I feel
like Little Bo Peep.

It's a bridesmaid's outfit. I don't
care, Stuart. I don't want to go out in

public looking like this.

It's no big deal.

What do you mean? I mean that everybody
will primarily be looking at the bride

anyway. Will you primarily be looking at
the bride?

No, but it doesn't matter to me what
you're wearing.

Uh -huh.

I said the wrong thing.

Forget it. No.

It's not that I don't care what you're
wearing.

It's that what you're wearing has no
effect on me.

No, what I mean is it doesn't change the
way I think about you. You know, I know

that you're capable of looking good.

I mean, you do look good.

In that dress, you look good. You know,
not everybody can get away with wearing

a dress like that, but you...

Eli, I'm changing.

Why are you changing in here?

Because the ladies' room is fully
occupied. Now, can you please close the

Eli, close the door from the outside.

Oh. I'll just be a minute, okay?

Should I take my briefcase or leave my
briefcase? Eli! I'll leave my briefcase.

Okay, I'm leaving.

You know, I find that certain
theological questions come to mind

Is that right?

Well, I wonder about the nature of
things.

Sin, the revelation of God, Satan.

The Bible has a good deal to say on all
those subjects, Arnold. I find myself

thinking Thessalonians says one thing,
Obadiah says something else. What's the

story? Tell me something, Arnold.

Have you always been such a keen student
of the Bible?

No, sir, I haven't. To tell you the
truth, your daughter has awakened in me

real hunger for spiritual direction.

Look, I have to get some work done
before I go back to court.

Lunch is here. Ah.

You like meatball sandwiches?

Excuse me? Place not far from here makes
great meatball sandwiches.

I wanted to buy you from them. Ben says
you like this place, so we went there

instead. By the way, Dominic knows you.

How do you do?

Dominic, this is Jane's father, Reverend
Holiday.

Reverend, how do you do?

Fine. Nice to meet you.

How's the plans for the wedding coming,
Benny?

Not so good.

Hey, don't worry, Benno. We'll get
there. Be good, everybody.

Thank you.

You know I'm surprised Jane has never
mentioned you to her mother or me.

You seem to know each other very well.

Not as well as I'd like to.

Mr. Osborne, as president of the school
board, is it your policy that once you

hire a teacher, he or she can teach
their students anything they want?

No, it's not.

The curriculum for each area of study is
laid out by the State Board of

Education.

If a teacher wants to augment that, we
look at the additional materials, and

then we make a determination as to
whether or not it's appropriate.

I see.

And is creation science part of the
established curriculum?

No, it is not.

According to the State Board of
Education, creationism, or creation

you will, is a religious and not a
scientific explanation for the origins

life. And as such, it has no place in a
public high school science class.

But don't the students have the right to
hear and discuss a variety of points of

view? In a science class, students have
the right to hear and discuss science.

Mr. Joyce was not teaching science. He
was teaching religion.

And in your opinion, was that alone
sufficient grounds for termination?

Absolutely. He'd been given numerous
warnings.

and willfully ignored them.

I think those grounds are eminently
sufficient.

I have nothing further.

Mr. Osborne, are there circumstances
under which you deem the discussion of

religion permissible?

Yes, there are. In social studies class,
literature class, but not...

in a science class why not in a science
class because when you teach biblical

explanations of historical events under
the heading of science the tacit

implication is that they are true is it
possible mr osborne that for some people

they are true what is true for some
people does not constitute science are

true for you

I don't take the Bible literally, no.

And you want to make sure that nobody
else does either. Objection. I want to

make sure we're not allowing a high
school biology class to be used to

fundamentalist Christian point of view.
Does a belief in the Bible make one a

fundamentalist Christian, Mr. Osborne?

No.

I did not mean to suggest that it did.

I have nothing further.

Witnesses excused.

You want I should talk to him?

What would you say to him?

I'd straighten him out. Don't worry
about what I'd say.

Arnie already talked to him. He won't
sign.

Hey, Benny, all due respect, Arnie's a
lawyer.

This situation calls for a different
approach.

Arnie goes in with the briefcase, the
big words. I go in with a bing, with a

bang, it's done.

Hey,

Benny, did Arnie give him his sign?

No. What are we going to do?

I don't know.

The place has been reserved because the
food, the dresses, the invitations have

been sent.

What's the band? I got a six -piece band
coming.

I've got to talk to you, Benny.

What? Oh, you want a little privacy?

Fine.

Let me know if you want me to take care
of it, Ben.

I don't want you to be mad at me
anymore.

Ever since I told you about that guy,
you've been mad at me. I don't want you

be mad at me anymore.

Do you still love him? I never loved
him.

Then why did you marry him?

I thought that would be fun.

Anyway, you had someone who you did
love. You told me that yourself.

And not the same.

I told you about her.

Tim is not a secret.

I forgot about him.

I do that sometimes. I forget about
things.

Maybe you'll forget about me.

I could never forget about you, Benny.

I love you.

How do you gentlemen feel about your
firm being placed in the service of

Jesus?

Pretty good.

Some of us. Our little girl may be the
standard bearer, but it's you people who

are making it possible for her to go
forward.

Daddy. Well, Reverend, we have nothing
but the highest regard for your

She's done nothing but great work since
she got here. When Jane told us she was

going to work as a lawyer in Los
Angeles, we said, dear Jesus.

Give her the strength to keep the devil
under her feet. Keep old Slewfoot from

snatching our little girl away. And I
can't tell you how happy we are that

living here and still doing the work of
the Lord.

Dad, we need to get to court.

I'll see you gentlemen at the wedding.

You're going to the wedding?

Benny asked me to officiate.

Yikes. Well, there's Goyim and there's
Goyim.

Never mind.

Tim?

Go away.

I want to talk to you.

You can't scare me. Your friend already
tried.

I'm not trying to scare you. I just want
to talk to you.

Come here.

What do you want?

I want you to sign that paper.

I don't want to. I want to marry Rosalie
this Saturday.

She's already married.

She wants to be married to me.

Oh, yeah? How come you're so great?

I'm not so great.

You think you're smarter than me? No.

You think you're better than me because
you work in the office and I work in the

kitchen? No. Then how come you get to
marry her? How come you get everything

want?

Because she loves me.

She could love me, too.

She wants to love me.

That was a long time ago.

I don't care.

I want a wife, too.

You can have a wife. It just can't be
Rosalie.

I don't know anybody else.

I got to get back to work.

Dan, would you please sign that paper?

Would you please tell the court your
occupation, sir? I'm a research

and an advisor on science curriculum for
the State Board of Education.

My specialty is origins of life theory.

Now, in your view, does the biblical
explanation for the origins of life

as science?

No, it does not. Why does it not?

In science, one bases one's conclusions
on scientific methodology, on empirical

observation. Now, how does this differ
from creationism, doctor?

Creationism starts with a conclusion.

as set out in the Bible in Genesis.

Then goes about finding data and ways to
interpret that data to support the

conclusion. I think I'm safe in saying
that the body of scientific knowledge

our civilization, draws on does not
support the notion that the world as we

it was created in six days.

No further questions.

You believe in the theory of evolution,
isn't that right, Doctor?

It isn't a theory, Miss Halliday.

It's an observable fact.

Like the shape of the Earth, the speed
of light? Is the origin of the first

forms found on Earth an observable fact?

Not yet, no, but there are various
theories that seek to explain it. Is the

development of DNA an observable fact?

Not yet, no, but again, there are a
number of theories.

But those are just theories, isn't that
right, Doctor? They are scientifically

grounded, but yes, they are theories.

That would lead one to conclude, would
it not, Doctor, that there are things

about the universe that can't be
explained with observable scientific

Not yet, no.

So not yet, but definitely not God.

Miss Halliday, if we pointed to the
existence of God every time we came up

against something that we couldn't
explain, we'd still be living in the

Ages. Isn't part of not living in the
Dark Ages that we are free to consider a

wide array of ideas and beliefs? You can
consider whatever you want, Miss

Halliday. What you can't do...

is place religious mythology on the same
pedestal as evolutionary science. In

other words, you want the pedestal all
to yourself.

Objection. Nothing further.

You're still brooding. Why are you still
brooding?

I'm not brooding. Yeah, you are.

Ever since I said whatever it was I said
about your dress, you've been in a full

-on brood.

It was a painful thing to hear, Stuart.
Why?

You know that I still have desire for
you, don't you?

I guess I don't know it as much as I
used to know it.

Yeah, well, there's a lot of things that
aren't the way they used to be, huh?

Like what else?

Like one's desire doesn't come to the
fore as often as it used to.

We work hard all day.

We've got a kid at home. We're tired.

Our stamina isn't what it used to be.

I don't want to require stamina, Stuart.

I don't want our marriage to be
something that we endure.

Why do you read these vast, gloomy
passages in everything I say?

There will be periods of time when the
fire is out, yes.

But that doesn't mean I don't love you.
It doesn't mean I don't desire you. It

probably just means that I'm tired.

Fine.

And now she says fine.

And now she is not going to let up on
me.

Because I haven't demonstrated the
requisite amount of sympathy or passion

whatever the hell it is I'm supposed to
demonstrate.

I'll tell you something, honey.

Demonstrations of passion are supposed
to arise spontaneously.

And it doesn't help matters that I live
in fear of offending you all the time.

That I think you're going to jump down
my throat every time I might make an

inappropriate remark.

Think about that.

And think about what you might have done
if the fire is out to put it out.

What do you want, Arnie?

He said he wanted to see you.

What do you want?

I came to sign the paper.

You did?

Yeah, I didn't do it because of you.

And I didn't do it because of you
either. I did it because of Rosalie.

That's okay.

But I want you to give this to her
before the wedding.

May I inquire as to what is in there?
No.

And you can't...

Look at what's inside there, either.

You gotta promise not to look.

Oh, okay.

You also gotta promise that you'll give
it to her.

Okay.

So you promise?

I promise.

Where do I sign?

Right there.

You're getting married.

Yeah.

You may proceed with your closing, Ms.
Halliday.

Michael Joyce is a teacher.

His job was to prepare a group of
students to go out into the world, to

them. That's what he loved to do.

That's what he did.

What he refused to do was put blinders
on his students to tell them to ask

questions, but only these questions.

to look for answers, but don't look over
there. Don't even look over there.

When he didn't comply, when he refused
to narrow his students' vision, he was

fired. Michael Joyce is not the first to
refuse to be bound by convention, to

refuse to adhere to a set of ideas and
beliefs held out to him as the one and

only truth.

That's what Galileo did, that's what
Charles Darwin did, and that is also

John Scopes did.

In Dayton, Tennessee in 1925, those in
power would permit only the teaching of

creationism. In Los Angeles, California
in 1994, those in power permit only the

teaching of evolution.

In both cases, those in power have
sought to cut off the field of inquiry

forcibly impose their view of the world
onto everyone else. The greatest service

that we can do, Michael Joyce's
students, is to permit them to make up

minds. We ask... that you reinstate
Michael Joyce with full back pay and

allow him to resume teaching.

Michael Joyce's job was to teach science
to high school students.

When he signed his contract, he agreed
to an authorized curriculum and he

to follow the directives of his
principal and his school board. He has

either of those things.

Now, the plaintiff contends that the
authorized curriculum was unreasonably

narrow, that those directives were
without justification.

They're wrong, ladies and gentlemen. The
fact is that the United States

Constitution requires the separation of
church and state.

Despite plaintiff's claims to the
contrary, what Michael Joyce did was in

violation of that. He was teaching
religion as if it was science.

He was using his authority and his
influence as a teacher to propagate his

religious views, and he can't do that.

Now, it doesn't matter that his students
want him to continue. It doesn't matter

that he himself is utterly sincere in
his beliefs. What matters here is that a

school board is upholding its
responsibility for keeping religious

of the public school because the First
Amendment requires them to.

I ask that you find for the defendant.

How do you respond to charges that your
client represents an encroachment on

public education by members of the
religious right? I would categorically

it. Are you in favor of the
constitutional separation of church and

I would prefer to try my case in the
courtroom rather than the corridor.

Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the full
armor of God and take our stand against

the devil's schemes. Are you connected
to this case, sir? He is not. Come on,

Reverend, let's go. We have to be
willing to speak the word of God

are, Jamie. My Redeemer liveth. This is
what he commands me to do.

What is it you're so afraid of, Doctor?

I'm afraid of religious zealots like
you, Reverend. Praise God, that must

I'm doing my job. Whenever I see the
power of Satan lined up against me...

Whenever I see the eyes of
schoolchildren turned upward so that the

revealed and that truth is not revealed
and that truth is hidden and perverted

and denied, then I have only to turn to
the nail -scarred hands of Calvary for

my strength. And you, Doctor... Now
we're going to lead off with a miniature

seared ahi, then we go to the miniature
lasagna, then the miniature panini, and

then the miniature bellini. Now, is
everyone aware of that?

Yes, ma 'am.

Have you seen Rosalie?

She's getting dressed.

Where? Upstairs in the bedroom. Why?

Well, I've got to give her something.

Oh, no, Benny, that's not possible.
You're not permitted to see the bride

the wedding.

Well, I don't.

Dominic, how many times are you going to
tell her that you paid for the band? I

wasn't aware I told you. Hello, Denise.
Don't you look wonderful?

Thanks. Hello, Dominic.

Hello. I can't see Rosalie before the
wedding? Of course not. It's bad luck.

Would you give this to her?

What is it?

Oh, I don't know. I promised Tim I'd get
it to her before the wedding, and I

promised him I wouldn't look inside.

I'll give it to her right now.

I wonder what it is.

It's in an envelope, so chances are it's
a letter.

You think that's a letter?

What are you worried about, Benny? She's
marrying you.

They tell me I can't get a drink before
the ceremony. What is this? They told me

the same thing. It's the mother.

Barney, you think I should have looked
in that envelope?

For what?

I don't know.

See what he said or... Benno, do
yourself a favor. Don't start looking

rocks. You've got a past.

She's got a past.

You start delving into it, you're only
going to cause yourself a lot of

unnecessary anguish. In other words,
forget about it. Exactly.

Meanwhile, have you seen the band?

No. I hired a six -piece band. I haven't
seen Musician One.

Don't worry about what came before the
wedding.

Start worrying about what comes after.

Don't tell me you're never going to talk
to your old father again.

I'm sorry if I stepped on your toe
yesterday.

You're not the least bit sorry.

You saw the opportunity to preach, and
you preached.

Preaching's what I do, daughter. I was
put on this earth so I would preach.

And I was put on this earth to be a
lawyer. And from what I can see, you're

doing a fine job as a lawyer, as well as
being a decent young Christian woman.

Why wouldn't you stop yesterday when I
asked you to? Why did you embarrass me?

Because some things are more important
than your embarrassment. This is where I

work.

You showed up unannounced and uninvited
and proceeded to take over. I left

Oklahoma so you wouldn't be able to do
that to me.

Is that why you left?

Among other reasons, yes.

Can we talk about this?

I'm due in court.

Has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor. What say you? On
the claim of wrongful termination, we

for the defendant.

The jury is dismissed with the thanks of
the court.

I'm sorry, Michael.

We knew it was a long shot.

We can appeal.

I think I'd rather just teach someplace
else, maybe in a private school.

God's been bragging on you, Michael.

I know you're not going to walk away
now.

We have to go to a wedding, Dad, and
this is something that Michael needs to

decide for himself.

I'll call you.

Thank you.

Why not?

Please?

I just don't think it's a good idea that
you open it now.

But he asked me to. Well, he had no
right to ask you to.

Mom. All right, go ahead.

Open it.

What does it say?

I love you then, and I love you now.

Tim.

This is all I needed.

Fran, why don't we... Would you help me
with this sleeve? I'm having trouble.

Sure.

You okay?

Yeah.

Benjamin, do you take Rosalie to be your
wife, to love and to cherish from this

day forward, for better or for worse,
until death do you part?

I do.

And do you, Rosalie, take Benjamin to be
your husband, to love and to cherish

from this day forward, for better or
worse, until death do you part?

I do.

Rings, please.

With this ring, I thee wed.

With this ring, I thee wed.

You're supposed to put on my finger.

With this ring, I thee wed.

With this ring, I be wed.

I now pronounce you husband and wife.

You may kiss the bride.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr.

and Mrs.

Benjamin Stoller.

What is it about weddings?

They're monumentality.

Is that what it is?

Two people in transversely seemingly
impenetrable golf found one another,

in love, and changed their lives
accordingly.

It's amazing that it ever happened,
isn't it?

It is.

You know, the wildest I've ever been was
at a wedding.

What do you mean by wild?

Let's just say I did things I don't
ordinarily do.

What kind of things?

Well, I drank a little too much, got
carried away, I took off with the

best man, lost several articles of
clothing, you know, things like that.

Done that?

Uh -huh.

Uh -huh.

Me too.

Say, you still seeing that dead?

Oh, yeah.

Why didn't you bring her?

I think there were going to be a few too
many lawyers here for her.

Oh, hey, Jonathan. Tommy. I heard you
became a partner.

Congratulations.

Well, are congratulations in order?

By all means.

Well, hold on, Occupy.

Hey, I...

Happy together?

I...

Don't

ever tell me the fire's out.

Well, I was wondering what was in the
envelope Kim sent you.

It was a picture.

What kind of picture?

The picture means him.

There was no letter in there?

No, he just wrote something on the
picture.

Would you show it to me if I asked you
to?

Yes.

S -T -U -L -W -I -C -Z.

S -T -U -L -W -I -C -Z.

That's nice.

Did the band get here?

I don't know, Dominic. I can't find them
anywhere.

Oh, Denise.

Sometimes I look at you and I think of
the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.

Eli.

I don't think it a lot.

I allow myself to think it a lot.

We've known each other for a long time.

We work together. We're friends.

We've never been anything other than
friends.

And every now and then the thought
crosses your mind, right?

It's okay.

It crosses mine too.

It's an impulse though, isn't it?

Everyone has impulses. Some you act on,
some you don't.

I think I'll interrupt this dinner party
by sitting on my food.

No, I won't do that.

I think I'll...

Ask a complete stranger to loan me $50
,000.

No, I won't do that.

Oh,

my

God.

I've been looking for you.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Well, you're out here all by yourself.
Something is wrong.

Of course something is wrong. Your
father's been out here.

So my father's been out here so long.

So ever since he arrived, you've been
reminded of all the reasons you left

Oklahoma in the first place.

The sense of yourself as an attorney has
been undermined.

The sense of yourself as a woman has
been conflicted.

You don't know the first thing about me.

I think I do.

And I'm telling you, you don't.

I don't want to be psychoanalyzed, and I
don't want to be preached to.

Believe it or not, I am not some empty
vessel waiting to be filled.

I know what I want.

I know what I need.

And I am perfectly capable of deciding
how I want to live my life.

Now I'm go