All language subtitles for L.A. Law - S07E21 - Bourbon Cowboy

Previously on L .A. Law. I'm going under
and I really need some help. I will

help you. You will? Because tomorrow
night's soon enough.

Yeah. Good. I feel calmer now than I
have in the last few weeks. And now

a moment back there when I actually
pictured myself as a lawyer. It was

great.

I can't believe I did that.

You did some things that were not very
nice.

What kind of things?

You know.

Sex? Uh -huh.

Well, Rosalie, you gotta tell somebody.

Did you tell this man that you didn't
want to have sex with him?

Yes. Okay.

If that's what happened, I think we have
a case against him.

I've agonized over what happened to my
daughter that day. But presenting my

daughter not as a woman who was raped,
but as a helpless, retarded girl who is

incapable of making her own decisions.

I believe you'll be doing her far more
damage, and I won't let you do that.

I want to withdraw the complaint.

Come on, let's go.

Does this look okay?

Very pretty.

So you, uh, you bought all this stuff
with your own money, huh?

It's a basic trial strategy.

You want to look good in court.

You're going to feel good.

The clothes the county provides are
usually a bit threadbare.

Well, this isn't exactly my style, you
know.

It's for the jury.

So is Andy going to be there? Don't
worry about him.

Is he going to be there, though?

Yes, he'll be there to testify.

He used to say it was me and him until
the end of time.

He lied.

So what kind of deal did he make?

He promised him straight probation.

So he's going to walk.

The fact that he never got out of the
car means that the victim couldn't ID

which means that they have a stronger
case against you.

So if I lose, I get five years, right?

Possibly.

Maybe I should have made a deal.

Christine, if you really want to cop a
plea, I can see if the door's still

But you've been saying for months that
you want to go to trial.

And although there are no guarantees,
you do have a lawyer who believes in

Don't make me talk to him, alright?

People versus Rowan. What's this?

Christine Rowan was an unwilling
participant in an armed robbery.

Her boyfriend forced her to pose as a
prostitute, lure a John to a

position, then hold him up at gunpoint.

Sounds like you're pleading duress. That
we are.

Has my boyfriend made me do it really a
valid defense?

If this woman was threatened with grave
bodily harm, absolutely.

The threats were psychological.

Doesn't make them any less grave.

This guy kept my client a virtual
prisoner in his apartment.

demanded total submission, sexually and
otherwise, to the point where her will

became subsumed by his.

What kind of woman puts herself in that
position?

In this case, a teenage prostitute with
a history of abuse.

Sad story, but a tough sell. Very tough.

You couldn't plead this? She didn't want
to do time, and I didn't think she

deserved to.

Hopewell versus Payne. Yeah, Leland's
urging I'm representing Mason Payne. His

wife is suing him for divorce.

All I had to hear was that Mason Payne
was looking for an attorney. Why, who's

he? Who is he?

He's one of the great country music
singers and songwriters. That's who we

Country music?

Oh, God, Leland, you listen to country
music?

I know. It's hard to imagine, isn't it?
Get along, little Dougie. We don't have

to discuss this anymore.

Leland, I'm stunned that you listen to
country music. Some of the greatest

American poetry ever written is country
music.

You know what happens when you play a
country music song backwards?

What happens? You get back your wife,
you get back your dog, your pickup

fixed. And your mama's alive.

You're all very sophisticated, aren't
you? Well, I listen to country music.

And I am thrilled that Mason Payne is
our client. And as far as I'm concerned,

'all don't know nothing.

Mr. Bowling, would you describe the
nature of the event that took place on

evening of October 4th, 1992?

It was close to midnight. I was driving
down Las Palmas.

South of Sunset, looking for a female
companion.

Could you be more specific, Mr. Bowling?

A prostitute.

I was looking for a prostitute.

I saw that young woman over there
standing on the sidewalk near Las Palmas

Selma. I pulled over.

She asked if I wanted a date. I said
yes.

She got in, and away we went.

Where did you go? She told me to pull
into an alley just up the street for

privacy, she said.

So when I parked, a guy came up behind
me and blocked me so I couldn't back

That's when she pulled the gun. What, if
anything, did she say?

She told me to hand over my wallet or
she'd blow my head off.

Her voice is real calm and cool, like
ice, like she did this all the time.

Objection moved to strike.

I'll allow it. Your Honor, when the
witness claims that my client sounds

she did this all the time, he's engaging
in speculation, which is both wholly

improper and highly prejudicial. The
witness is stating his opinion,

I think the jury is capable of
interpreting it as such.

Proceed, Miss Tripp.

What happened next, Mr. Bowling?

She told me to hand over my watch, my
wedding band, and a gold chain that I

a thank -you for medallion on.

Then she drove off with my car.

Thank you.

I have nothing further.

Mr. Bowling, have you any training,
psychiatric or otherwise, that would

you interpret my client's behavior on
that night? No. For all you know, Ms.

Rowan was scared out of her wits, isn't
that right? She didn't look scared to

me. In the statement you made to
Believe, you said that the man in the

directed the action that night. Is that
description accurate?

He yelled some things at her, yes.

Such as?

Well, he told her to make sure to get my
watch and my ring. I remember that.

Did she obey his instruction?

Well, yes, she did, but... Thank you.
The question only requires a yes or no

answer. But he didn't tell her to hold
the gun at my head. She did that on her

own. Non -responsive move to strike.

Denied. Your Honor, I asked a yes or no
question. The witness is entitled to

finish his thought.

That little girl threatened to blow my
head off, and now she's trying to say it

wasn't her fault? Your Honor, I object.
I've ruled the witness can continue, Ms.

Paros, and I won't tolerate another
interruption. She lured me in, she

threatened me, she robbed me, and she
did it like she meant to.

She did it like a pro. The witness is
finished.

I have no more questions.

Mason, I'm not denigrating anything
you've done. In fact, the matter is I've

always thought you were a major talent.

Unfortunately, your marriage isn't
working and your wife wants to move on.

That's real showbiz talk, isn't it?
That's the way they talk out here in L

We're going to move on.

We've taken all there is to take. We're
tired of you. We're bored with you. So

now we're going to move on.

I'm just curious.

How much have you had to drink today,
Mason?

Just enough to get through this,
darling. Not one drop more.

Folks, we're here to see if we can come
to an agreement as to finances. I

strongly suggest... That's what we deal
with. Good idea.

Well, what's Mason's position on
Amanda's continuing to perform his

Mason says she can't. Mason, hold on a
second. Mason can't say she can't.

There's a compulsory license law that
entitles her to perform all published

work. Let's put it this way. I'm not
signing any divorce agreement that gives

her permission to sing those songs.

Well, we got a problem, Mr. Becker.

I mean, those songs and all the
royalties derived thereof are his only

significant contribution to the marital
estate.

And if he seeks to prevent his wife from
using what has become a substantial

portion of her repertoire, well, he
can't expect to share pari passu in that

selfsame estate.

Amanda, darling, if you understand what
he just said, I'd best abandon all hope

of winning you back.

I think you best do that anyway, Mason.

This matter is not going to be settled,
Mr. Becker. And it's certainly not going

to be settled today.

My suggestion is that tomorrow we just
start with the depositions. Amanda.

Don't say anything, Mason. Just please,
don't say anything.

I thought you were going to let me use
the songs to bargain with.

They're the only thing I've got that she
still wants. If I give them to her,

then you'll drop some papers, and just
like that, it'll be over. You realize

only thing you're holding on to are
divorce proceedings. I'll hold on to

whatever I can.

Mason?

Mason, I brought some of my albums in to
show you.

Look at that.

Hawkshaw Hawkins, The Hawk of the West
Virginia Hills.

That boy, Copus.

Bob Wills, Tommy Duncan.

Oh, Lefty Frizzell.

And Farron Young.

Leland. And Uncle Dave, Uncle Dave
Macon, he's doing wrap it in the pea

and keep my skillet good and greasy.

Leland, Leland, this probably isn't a
good time for that.

Oh.

Oh, okay.

Maybe later.

A presumption has no force or effect
when specific contrary evidence is

and admitted.

And how much contrary evidence is
necessary to overcome a presumption?

It depends on the case. Sometimes the
standard is enough evidence to support a

finding of the non -existence of the
presumed fact.

In other cases, the standard is just
substantial evidence.

You got it.

You know, you were right about a change
of scene. I couldn't remember any of

this until we got outside. Now it's all
coming back.

What are you doing?

What am I doing?

Making myself extremely vulnerable. When
this happened before, you said it was

an accident. You said it was a momentary
lapse in impulse control.

It was.

This wasn't.

No.

I am very attracted to you.

Are you at all attracted to me? I just
got out of a relationship, and I did

because I don't have the time right now
for anything.

Except passing the bar.

But you also thought that coming out
here would completely blow your

concentration, and what it did was clear
your head. So imagine how focused you

would be after a weekend at the San
Ysidro Ranch.

Tony. Please, don't say anything. Just
hear me out. This is an incredible

It's so quiet, you'd think you were in
the middle of nowhere.

Instead of a hundred miles from L .A.,
private cottages, horseback riding.

Not to mention this is the place Jack
Kennedy spent his honeymoon.

Tony, it sounds really great. Please,
just think about it.

That's all I ask.

Um, your assistant told me I could wait
in here.

I knew it was a reason I hired her.

Um, Tony, I, uh, I thought about your
invitation, and, uh, I'm going to have

say no.

It's not that I don't like you. It's
just that I need to keep my life as

as possible right now, and that means
not confusing relationships.

You're my teacher and my tutor, and I
want to keep it at that.

I couldn't sleep last night because I
kept thinking about you.

Tony, you're making me really
uncomfortable.

I am more than just interested in you,
Gwen.

I'm... I am overwhelmed by you, the way
you dress, the way you move, the way you

smell. It makes it impossible for me to
concentrate.

Look, Tony, I need to get back to
studying for the bar. I am sorry I have

effect on you, but you're an adult.

You'll get past it.

To pretend that I don't feel this.

massive attraction for you is more than
I can do, Gwen.

I'm sorry.

What do you mean?

I mean that I think I'm going to have to
end our private tutoring sessions, and

you can certainly continue to come to
class, but I would ask that you please

at the back, preferably behind someone
tall.

Don't ask any questions. Don't talk to
me before or after class, and if this is

not okay with you, I will gladly refund
your money.

What good's that going to do me?

I can't get into another review class at
this point. To hear you and see you and

know that I cannot get any closer to you
is just too painful for me. I'm sorry.

You're an adult, Gwen.

You'll get past it.

Well, Arthur Bryson is a pretty well
-respected judge.

Could you possibly have misread the
situation?

Leland, he invited an opposing witness
to vilify my client at length during my

cross -examination.

Well, what possible motive could he have
had for doing that? I have no idea.

How old is your client?

Twenty. Bryson's got a daughter around
that age. It's pretty well known she's

had some trouble, a couple DUIs, a
possession bust.

Rumor is the judge went out of his way
to make sure she got six months at Sybil

Brand. That's it.

Because I'm in there arguing that a
woman the same age isn't responsible for

actions. I'd say that's the wrong thing
to be arguing in front of the judge.

Do you think I have enough to disqualify
him?

You have speculation based on rumor.

Now, to win a recusal, you need evidence
of clear -cut bias.

So I do nothing.

This girl's headed for prison.

What you do is proceed with caution. You
gain some insight into the potential

bias of your judge.

You plan your case accordingly.

Don't forget, you don't need the judge
if you got the jury.

When was the last time you were in a
recording studio, Mason?

It's been a while.

As a matter of fact, you haven't
released an album since 1975, have you?

As a matter of fact, I haven't. How
about concerts? You given any concerts

lately? Tell me something.

How come he's asked me all these
questions he already knows the answer

Because I need a stenographic record of
your responses, that's why.

Let's just get through it, Mason. When's
the last time you performed?

Ten years ago. Last time you were
scheduled to perform was on the

Hayride show, wasn't it? Oh, I know
where this is going.

Wasn't it? Yes, it was.

Isn't it a fact that you showed up to
that engagement in an inebriated

and were not permitted to go on stage?
The reason I was not permitted to go on

stage is because I wouldn't put on a ten
-gallon hat and stand there telling

jokes with that grinning idiot they had
for an emcee. Jason, how many promoters

did you burn, Mr. Payne?

How many engagements did you show up to
drunk?

How many engagements did you fail to
show up to at all? My wife's the one

keeps track of things like that.

No, I'm not looking for an exact number,
sir.

I'd just like to know if there's anyone
out there who's still willing to take a

chance on booking you. That's an
improper question. Don't answer it. It's

improper question. It goes to the issue
of whether or not he rendered himself

unemployable. I say it's an improper
question. I'm instructing him not to

it. Fine, I'll get a ruling. Get a
ruling. I will get a ruling. Fine. My

this is what hell must be like, sitting
in a room with lawyers picking over your

bones. Well, what did you think getting
a divorce was going to be like, Mason?

I don't know. I didn't want to be
getting a divorce.

I wanted to stay married.

Amanda, you know what? Why don't you
take off? Can I? Absolutely.

Great.

You're gonna leave?

This is your deposition, not mine.

Now, this will be off the record.

All right, now, your wife won't say this
to you, but I will.

You're old, and you're in the way.

Amanda Hopewell has a fantastic career
ahead of her as a solo artist, and I'm

not gonna stand by and let him sandbag
that.

Now, his songs may be an asset, but he
himself is nothing but a liability.

You know it, I know it, and he knows it
best of all.

Frank, I already gave your guy time
served. Next thing he'll be wanting is

-to -wall carpeting. Come in.

The deal is, she pleads to involuntary
manslaughter or we go to court.

Come in!

Right, I gotta go.

I said come in.

Oh, Rosalie.

I couldn't understand what you were
saying.

Yeah, uh, well...

Sometimes I don't talk so clearly. Come
on in.

How are you?

I'm fine.

How are you?

Fine. Is Benny with you?

No. It's all right if I come here alone.

Of course it's all right.

Something wrong?

I'm not sure.

Is this about Clark Sims?

You've seen him.

Once yesterday, twice last week.

I think he's on the corner of my street
when I get off the bus.

And did he say anything to you?

He wanted to know why I hadn't been to
the swimming pool.

And he told me that I look pretty in my
bathing suit.

And did he say anything else?

He said we had to do sex again.

You don't have to do anything with him,
Rosalie. You understand that? You don't

even have to talk to him again.

And we will get a restraining order so
that he stays away from you.

Have you told your mother about this?

She gets so mad the last time.

Oh, she wasn't mad at you, Rosalie. She
was worried about you.

Do we have to tell her?

No, but if we press charges against
Clarkson, she's probably going to find

And if we go to court, I think you're
going to need her.

Mr. Barney.

How would you describe your relationship
with the defendant?

Well, about three years ago, I rescued
Christine from hooking off the streets.

I looked after her, I protected her, and
she was my girl.

And would you tell the court, please,
how the two of you supported yourself?

We stole.

Would you describe for us what, if
anything, took place on the evening of

October 4th, 1992?

The two of us robbed a guy. How exactly
did you do that? Well, Christine

pretended to be a hooker. The guy
stopped, and she got in the car.

I pulled up behind him. She robbed him.

Threw him out of the car. Mr. Barney,
did you force her to do this?

Absolutely not.

We were really living the life at the
time.

Doing a lot of drinking, a lot of
cocaine, right, Christine?

She was the one who came up with the
plan.

I never forced her to do anything.

Thank you. I have nothing further.

Mr. Varney, in return for your testimony
against Christine Rowan, the district

attorney agreed to recommend probation,
which is in fact what you expect to

receive, is it not? Hey, look, I was
willing to own up to my mistakes, and I

think it's too bad that Christine won't
do the same. Mr. Varney, are you

currently living with someone named
Yvonne Mallory?

Yeah. How old is she?

Like 22. I have a certified copy of Ms.

Mallory's driver's license.

Would you please read aloud her date of
birth?

Okay.

She's 17.

So what? Isn't it a fact that Ms.
Mallory was working as a prostitute when

met her?

Objection. This line of questioning is
irrelevant. Your Honor, Mr. Varney's

pattern of exploiting vulnerable young
women is entirely relevant. The only one

on trial here is your client, Ms. Paros.
The objection's sustained.

Isn't it a fact that four years ago, you
and a 19 -year -old woman were

convicted of robbing two men in the
exact same manner that Christine stands

accused of today? Yeah, and when I told
Christine about it, she said, hey, why

don't we give it a try? Mr. Varney,
wasn't it your idea to rob these men in

way? No, it wasn't. Didn't you, in fact,
threaten to cut Christine off and throw

her out in the street if she didn't
comply?

Hey, look, she is nothing but a coke
slut, man. And she got off on doing it.

lying son of a bitch! Miss Paros, if
your client can't keep her filthy mouth

shut, I'll order the bailiff to tape it
shut. Your Honor, I ask that counsel be

heard in chambers.

All right, Miss Paros, you brought us
all in here. What is it? Your Honor, I

move for a mistrial on the grounds that
your derogatory remark against my client

in front of the jury has irreparably
prejudiced my case.

Motion denied.

Is that it?

Your Honor, this remark is not an
isolated incident.

I believe you're biased against my
client.

Motion denied. With all due respect,
Your Honor, your rulings indicate that

prejudged this case.

My rulings are my rulings. They don't
indicate any such thing.

I think they do, Your Honor. The fact
is, I think that when you look at my

client, you see your own daughter. And I
think as a result of this, my client's

not getting a fair trial in there. Who
the hell do you think you are? My

relationship with my daughter has
nothing, nothing to do with this case.

is absolutely no business of yours.

You have no grounds for a recusal
motion. You have no evidence of error on

part. And there isn't a judge in this
building who'd argue otherwise.

Motion denied, Counselor.

You're stuck with me.

When Christine was six years old, her
mother's live -in boyfriend sexually

molested her. At the age of eight,
Christine was abandoned by her mother

left in the care of her maternal
grandparents.

The grandmother died the following year,
and Christine was raised by her

grandfather until his death when she was
14.

And what effect did these childhood
experiences have on Christine?

They left her with a diminished sense of
self and an abnormally dependent

personality. Meaning? Christine craves
the approval of others, men in

particular, and wants desperately to
attach herself to someone who will love

her. Once in a relationship, she'll do
almost anything to maintain it. Clearly,

this leaves her vulnerable to
victimization.

In your opinion, was Christine
victimized by her former boyfriend,

Varney? Yes. He isolated her from her
friends and kept her in a state of near

captivity. He assumed control over even
the most minor decisions in her life.

Gradually, Christine entered a state of
learned helplessness in which her own

will was subjugated to the will of Mr.
Varney. Doctor, in your opinion, was

Christine acting of her own free will
when she committed the robberies of

she stands accused?

No. Mr. Varney threatened to throw her
out if she didn't participate.

Christine's greatest fear was that she'd
be abandoned, as she was repeatedly

during childhood.

In her dependent state of mind, Mr.
Varney's ultimatum was like a death

Thank you, Doctor. Nothing further.

Doctor, didn't Christine choose to enter
a coercive relationship because she

wanted someone else making decisions for
her? It's possible she made that choice

initially, but prolonged mistreatment by
Mr. Varney eroded her will to the point

she felt she had no choice. Let's get
something straight. Was Miss Rowan

at the time of the robbery?

No. Could she tell right from wrong?
Yes. So she knew what she was doing was

wrong, but she went ahead and did it
anyway.

Yes, acting under the threat of
abandonment, which to her is the

death. And how do you know Mr. Varney
made this threat, Doctor?

Christine told me.

And I believed her.

Right.

Nothing further.

Mr. Mullaney, what are you doing here?

I didn't tell her you were coming.

What's going on? Can I come in? Please.

I'm sorry for this intrusion, but
something's been going on that I think

should know about.

You could sit down if you want.

Can I make you some coffee?

Oh, no, thank you, Rosalie. I'm fine.

What is it, Mr. Mullaney?

Clark Sims has been threatening your
daughter, Mrs. Hendrickson.

Why didn't you tell me?

I didn't want you to get mad.

When Rosalie came to my office, I had a
detective look into his background.

Two years ago, the guy was under police
investigation on five complaints for

sexual harassment and rape.

The complaints were filed by the Rootman
Rehabilitation Center on behalf of five

young women, all of them mentally
retarded.

Did they go to court? There were no
witnesses, no evidence of force.

and none of the girls could give
credible testimony.

See, I think Rosalie can.

I want to put Clark Simpson in jail so
he can't hurt anybody anymore, but I

you to help me do that.

I want to go to court, Mom.

How is it that you became a singer?

My husband played his guitar and sang
for me, and one day I joined in and sang

with him.

What did he say when he heard you sing?

He said when God handed out voices like
mine, he meant to hear them used.

So your husband, in fact, encouraged you
to sing, did he not?

Yes, he did.

He played me Carter Family Records,
Hazel Dickens, Kitty Wells, Patsy Cline,

of them. Your career has taken off,
hasn't it, Miss Hopewell?

I guess. Well, as a matter of fact, your
career has eclipsed that of your

husband's, hasn't it? What's your point,
Mr. Becker? The point is, Mr. Pelton,

she doesn't need him anymore.

Arnie. I don't need you anymore. Is that
what you think all this is about?

No, I don't. Let me tell you something,
Mr. Becker. The worst day of my life was

the day I decided to file for divorce.
Amanda, it really isn't necessary for

to defend yourself here.

Well, I'm going to say what I have to
say.

When it was good between us, it was as
good as life gets.

Those years we lived together in
Nashville, there was nothing I wanted

didn't have then.

What changed?

You changed.

You stopped writing songs. You stopped
performing.

All you do now is drink, play cards, and
complain.

Maybe you can live like that, but I
can't.

I remember what it used to be like, and
it makes me so damn sad.

If it's all the same to you, I would ask
to be excused.

You can ask me whatever you have left.
Ask me another time.

It's fine. Thank you.

By the way...

In case you're interested, Mason will be
performing tomorrow night. What? Yeah,

T -Tot's lounge on Lancashire Boulevard.
He'll be singing a whole bunch of new

songs. New songs?

You haven't said anything to her?

Uh, no.

He's been writing up a storm the last
few weeks. Really? Well, stop by, why

don't you?

Can he be persuaded to let Amanda record
any of these songs?

It's possible.

Well, maybe we will stop by.

What are you doing to me?

I'm representing you.

You're representing me? How are you
representing me? I haven't written any

songs, and I'm not scheduled to go on
stage tomorrow night.

Look, you've got more than 24 hours to
write the songs, and we represent the

owner of T -Tots.

How do you know I can write any new
songs?

And even if I could, what makes you
think I can put a band together between

and tomorrow night?

Look, you want to get your wife back? I
don't know if that's a possibility or

not, but before you give up on it, I
think you have to take a shot.

This won't get her back. Well, maybe it
won't, but what it will do is make her

stand up and take notice.

I used to think that Andy was the best
thing that ever happened to me.

He got me off the streets.

He told me how beautiful I was.

How much he loved me.

But I never realized that deep down it
was all pretty thick.

What do you mean by that? The drinking
and, um...

The drugs.

The way we lived like animals. Nothing
clean, nothing nice.

And he would say that it was only
temporary.

He'd sometimes say how we'd both get
jobs and a nice apartment and a nice

And I believed him.

Plus, he used to say that nobody else
wanted me.

Why did you stay, Christine?

Because.

He cared for me.

He was my family.

Whose idea was it for you to pose as a
prostitute to trap and rob men?

It was his. He owed the money to some
dealers, and they were going to kill

And I didn't want to do it. I hate
violence.

I hate guns.

Why'd you go through with it?

Because he said if I didn't, he'd leave
me.

Do you have any children, Christine?

Yes, I have a little boy.

Where is he?

I don't know. I gave him up for
adoption.

Did you want to give your baby up for
adoption?

No, I wanted to keep him. Why didn't
you?

Andy wouldn't let me.

I was pregnant when I met him, you know,
and he said that he really didn't want

another guy's kid around, that it would
only remind him that I had been with

somebody else, and he didn't want to be
reminded, so he told me to give the baby

up. And you did?

Yeah.

No further questions?

Mrs. Rowan, isn't the real reason you
gave your baby up for adoption that you

didn't want to take care of it? No, I
want to keep him. It's kind of hard

care of an infant when you're high on
coke all the time.

Objection. Sustained. Are you
responsible for your actions now that

are apart?

Yes. But for the entire three years you
were with Andrew Varney, you accept no

responsibility for any of your actions?
All I'm saying is that I would have

never robbed anyone if he hadn't forced
me to do it. Miss Rowan, you put a gun

to your victim's head. That suggests a
certain amount of conviction on your

part, doesn't it? I did what Andy told
me to do.

How do you get to the point where that
happened?

Excuse me? How do you get to that point?

How do you get to the point where a man
like that has so much influence over

you? I don't know.

Cheryl, you must have given it some
thought.

I mean, you didn't start out as a
prostitute, did you? You didn't start

drug addict, as a thief?

No, I didn't. Your Honor, I object to
this line of questioning.

Sit down, Miss Paros.

I'm not proud of myself, Your Honor.

Was there no one in your life who
offered you any guidance? Was there no

loved you?

My grandpa did. How do you think your
grandpa would feel if he could see you

today? If he knew that the little girl
that he held and played with and read

bedtime stories to and loved had sunk so
far beneath any

semblance of human decency?

Your Honor.

How would he feel?

I think he'd feel bad.

Miss Chip, do you have any further
questions for this young woman?

No, Your Honor.

You may step down, Christine.

You can go back to your seat.

Christine Rowan asks you to believe that
she is a vulnerable young girl so

submissive to the wishes of her
boyfriend, Andy Varney, that she has no

her own.

Well, the fact is, this vulnerable young
girl put a gun to Howard Bowling's

head, terrorized him, threatened to kill
him, and then stole his money.

Now, it doesn't take a psychiatrist to
tell you that the type of person who

commits this kind of violence is not the
type of person who is easily pushed

around by her boyfriend.

Christine Rowan is a dangerous criminal
who should be locked up.

To legally establish coercion, Miss
Rowan must prove to you that she

her crime under threat of death or grave
bodily harm.

We have heard no testimony that Andrew
Varney threatened her with either.

He never threatened to kill her. He
never threatened to even hit her.

Ms. Rowan's defense is nothing more than
a desperate attempt to evade

responsibility for her crime.

Do not let her do this.

Find her guilty.

Thank you.

It's almost impossible for any of us to
imagine the psychological effect of

living in a constant state of isolation
and submission.

But for three years...

Christine Rowan rarely left her
apartment. When she did, it was only in

company of Andrew Varney.

She became a woman without an identity
who gave complete control of her life to

somebody else.

She was told what to do, and she did it.
And whether that meant giving up her

child or putting a gun to a man's head,
she obeyed.

Now, there may not have been bars on the
window, but this, ladies and gentlemen,

was a prisoner.

What you as a jury are being asked to
determine is Christine's state of mind

the time of the robbery. What was her
intent? Did she rob Howard Bowling for

money? Or did she rob him in order to
survive?

The fact is, Christine Rowan committed
this act because Andrew Varney told her

that if she didn't, he would abandon
her. And to her, that was a death

Now ask yourselves this.

Will justice be served by sending
Christine Rowan to prison and allowing

that was her captor to go free?

Excuse me.

Oh, man, it's you, Mason.

I was looking for Arnold.

He's due back in a little while.

His secretary told me it was okay to
wait in here.

Oh, sure, sure.

I understand you're going on the stage
tonight.

Last night, I... I put a pot of coffee
on it.

I stayed up and I wrote some songs.

And then this morning, I looked at what
I wrote.

I don't know, you know. I don't know if
it's any good. I don't know if I can

still do this.

There's only one way to find out.

You don't understand.

The business has changed. Country music
has changed.

The ones selling records now are all
young. They've got big hats and long

I'm not like that.

No, you're not like that. So what am I
doing walking out on stage?

You're going back to work.

I make enough off royalties to get by. I
don't need to go back to work.

Forgive me if I'm being presumptuous
with someone I don't know all that well,

but I think you do.

Look, I appreciate what Arnie Becker
did.

I just don't think it's realistic.

My wife's not about to change her mind.

It's easy to think you've outlived your
time, isn't it?

That all that's left is a rubber donut
on an easy chair and an afternoon nap.

One old man to another, Mason.

That's not all there is left.

The world at large won't tell you that.

If you let go, no one's going to reach
out and pull you back.

That's why if you've got something to
hold on to, if you're lucky enough to

someone or something, then hold on to
it.

In the end, that's what keeps you alive,
whether your wife changes her mind or

not.

I told you I cannot talk to you, Gwen.

I have second thoughts about your
proposal.

What does that mean?

It means I have something for you.

Thanks, Leonard.

California law prevents me from giving
it to you myself.

What is this?

Summons and complaint.

Consider yourself served.

You're suing me? According to my reading
of Title VII, your behavior toward me

falls under the heading of sexual
harassment.

Oh, really?

You better hope that's not an essay
question on the exam. Title VII applies

solely to employer -employee
relationships.

I think it can be interpreted to
encompass teachers and students.

And if it can't, I'll sue you for
intentional infliction of emotional

Are you nuts?

I give you an innocent kiss, I ask you
out, and suddenly I am harassing you?

That is not what you did. What you did
was use a position of power to pressure

me into going to bed with you. I gotta
tell you, Gwen, if this is any

of your legal acumen, I don't hold out a
lot of hope for you passing the bar.

What happens to me in the bar is no
longer any of your concern.

So does this mean we're not going away
for the weekend?

Has the jury reached its verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

What say you?

In the matter of people versus Rowan,
one count of armed robbery, we find the

defendant not guilty.

The jury's dismissed with the thanks of
the court.

Do you have the number for the Magdalena
home?

Yeah.

Do you want a ride?

I can get there on my own.

I think I'd like to take a walk.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

What is it, Miss Paris?

Your Honor, I had no right to refer to
your personal life in the context of

case. I don't know anything about your
relationship with your daughter, and it

was inappropriate of me to bring it up.
I was only trying to understand why you

regard my client and me with such
evident contempt.

Evident, was it? Yes, sir.

Well, I didn't mean to disturb you.

Miss Paris, how old are you?

32. 32?

You actually believed in your case,
didn't you?

Yes. I've always believed a person must
be responsible for what she does,

regardless of her background.

I've seen young women rise above
depredations you would not believe and

Others start out with every advantage
and end up...

I have a terrible fear that I will never
see my daughter again.

And I cannot, for the life of me, figure
out what I've done wrong.

You'll have to excuse me, Ms. Barrows.

I'd like to thank you all for being
here.

Some of you might know me.

Some of you might not.

I've got a new song I'd like to play for
you all.

It's been a while.

Sing it.

I knew I should have had a drink before
I got up here.

There's a woman who it's been my
greatest pleasure to come home to.

And I don't know if she's here or not,
but if she is, I just want her to know

that I love her, whether I'm coming home
to her or not.

And I'd like to dedicate this song to
her.

If you're going to dedicate it to me,
why don't you ask me to come up and sing

it with you?

Is that you?

Yes, it's me. Who do you think it is?

Come on up here.

Y 'all can take my cotton out of yours
now. We got someone who can really sing.

Amanda Hopewell, ladies and gentlemen.

Is that the man?

Yeah, I guess I got the original damn
song last night.

Well, you know that I love you.

Darling, you know that I've always been.

Well, I know how bad you hurt me.

But I know how good you make me feel.

There's a part of me that wants to hold
you and believe.

That you'll never let me go.

But there's a heart of me in those days.

So I just gotta know.

Is this gonna hurt again?

Can I trust my heart with you?

But then I recall the good times too.

Last time forever didn't last that long.

It just let up.

Tell me, do I have a chance to win?

Or is this gonna hurt again?

Why didn't you come in? I didn't want to
bother you. I thought I'd bring back

your dresses.

No, I meant for you to keep them.

Oh, I wasn't sure. I didn't want you to
think I stole them or anything.

Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm okay.

You want to tell me?

I'm scared.

What are you scared of?

I'm scared of... I'm scared of... Being
on my own.

I'm scared of finding myself back on the
streets. I'm

scared of running into people I know.

I'm scared of everything.

Have you had dinner?

Mm -mm.

How about you and me getting something
to eat?

Yeah? Yeah.

What do you feel like eating?

Oh, anything.

Anything. Oh, God, anything at all.