1 00:00:00,540 --> 00:00:01,880 Previously on L .A. Law. 2 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:08,380 You think she just likes me because she's retarded? 3 00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:11,460 She likes you, Ben, because you're a likable guy. 4 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:12,619 Uh -huh. 5 00:00:12,620 --> 00:00:13,980 Let me tell you something, Ben. 6 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:15,660 Women are different from men. 7 00:00:16,540 --> 00:00:18,500 Women know what they want and what they don't want. 8 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:20,280 Fine. 9 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:25,060 So, Benny, what's with the wandering eyes? I thought you were getting your 10 00:00:25,060 --> 00:00:26,060 wound with Rosalie. 11 00:00:27,470 --> 00:00:31,070 That doesn't mean I can't be friends with Denise, does it? Well, that depends 12 00:00:31,070 --> 00:00:34,130 what you have in mind. It also depends on whether you and Rosalie are getting 13 00:00:34,130 --> 00:00:35,130 serious. 14 00:00:35,390 --> 00:00:36,630 What do you mean, serious? 15 00:00:37,370 --> 00:00:40,330 Well, there's a variety of indicators. Let's see. 16 00:00:41,750 --> 00:00:43,510 Has she brought her toothbrush over yet? 17 00:00:44,290 --> 00:00:45,970 No. Lala! 18 00:00:46,510 --> 00:00:48,450 Now I don't have to use yours anymore. 19 00:00:48,870 --> 00:00:51,930 No, you can't bring that to my house. 20 00:00:52,210 --> 00:00:53,109 Why not? 21 00:00:53,110 --> 00:00:55,890 Because I don't want to get serious. 22 00:01:00,060 --> 00:01:01,580 I thought that you did. 23 00:01:05,620 --> 00:01:07,640 How long have you been juggling, Mr. Pettit? 24 00:01:07,860 --> 00:01:10,640 Since my grandmother bought me juggling bags for my 10th birthday. 25 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:12,520 When did you start doing it professionally? 26 00:01:12,960 --> 00:01:14,180 When I was 18. 27 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:18,320 Would that be about the same time you met Alfred Euler? Yes. As a matter of 28 00:01:18,320 --> 00:01:20,760 fact... Could you hold that a minute? 29 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,860 As a matter of fact, it was Alfred Euler who gave you your first job, wasn't it? 30 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:26,000 Yes, it was. 31 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,880 How long did you two work together? Off and on for 15 years. 32 00:01:29,100 --> 00:01:32,760 Did he teach you anything in that time? He taught me some things, but most 33 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:33,760 things I taught myself. 34 00:01:33,820 --> 00:01:37,480 You taught yourself nothing. I taught myself how to go beyond the sort of 35 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:40,680 birthday party, middle -of -the -road juggling I was doing when I was with 36 00:01:40,820 --> 00:01:44,260 Let's not get into any recriminations, okay? So you think you're too good for 37 00:01:44,260 --> 00:01:47,220 birthday parties? I'm not saying I'm too good for it. I'm saying I don't want to 38 00:01:47,220 --> 00:01:48,098 do it anymore. 39 00:01:48,100 --> 00:01:51,440 Mr. Pettit, the issue is not what type of venue you want to work in. The issue 40 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:53,960 is whether or not you stole Mr. Euler's juggling routine. 41 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:55,280 Can we get back to the deposition? 42 00:01:56,649 --> 00:02:00,310 Mr. Euler took ill at you, didn't he? Yes. Did he approach you after he had 43 00:02:00,310 --> 00:02:02,670 recuperated, asking to get back together again? 44 00:02:02,870 --> 00:02:04,410 Yes, he did. What was your response? 45 00:02:04,650 --> 00:02:06,250 I told him that I was working by myself. 46 00:02:06,530 --> 00:02:09,470 Did you tell him at that time you thought he lacked the physical skill 47 00:02:09,470 --> 00:02:10,470 present act requires? 48 00:02:10,530 --> 00:02:13,110 When I'm his age, I won't have the physical skills either. 49 00:02:13,450 --> 00:02:14,990 Juggling is a young man's game. 50 00:02:15,210 --> 00:02:16,210 Them's the facts. 51 00:02:16,310 --> 00:02:17,370 Hey, Junior, think fast. 52 00:02:17,590 --> 00:02:21,030 Hey, guys, do you think my physical... 53 00:02:21,700 --> 00:02:25,780 Skills are shot, huh? Yes, I do. Now, this is no way to resolve this. I think 54 00:02:25,780 --> 00:02:28,760 your physical skills are shot, and you don't have the simple grace to accept 55 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:32,220 that. I accept this, you little bitch. And everything you are, you owe to me. 56 00:02:32,420 --> 00:02:36,600 And when this lawsuit is over, I intend to get paid in full. 57 00:04:10,350 --> 00:04:12,310 Okay, first group, ready, add. 58 00:04:22,010 --> 00:04:25,670 Good. Second group, add a lot. 59 00:04:33,770 --> 00:04:35,510 Good. Much better, Leslie. 60 00:04:35,850 --> 00:04:38,070 Next group, add what? 61 00:04:40,469 --> 00:04:44,190 As per your request, I dropped the demand for money damages in return for 62 00:04:44,190 --> 00:04:48,010 releasing you from your contract. He refused to consider it. So we're going 63 00:04:48,010 --> 00:04:51,130 trial? As early as 2 o 'clock this afternoon, if the courtroom becomes 64 00:04:51,130 --> 00:04:52,130 available. 65 00:04:52,590 --> 00:04:53,590 Okay. 66 00:04:53,830 --> 00:04:54,830 Are you ready? 67 00:04:55,930 --> 00:04:56,930 I don't know. 68 00:04:57,030 --> 00:04:59,770 Let me put it to you this way. He's not leaving you much of a choice. 69 00:05:00,330 --> 00:05:01,650 Thanks for coming here in person. 70 00:05:02,110 --> 00:05:04,970 Do you want to get something to eat? The late breakfast, early lunch? 71 00:05:05,250 --> 00:05:08,230 Thanks. I'd rather do this until it's time to go to court. 72 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:13,820 First group, once again, please, from the corner. 73 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:16,360 Ready? 74 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:24,020 And... Hastings versus National 75 00:05:24,020 --> 00:05:25,020 Ballet Theater. 76 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:29,640 We represent Erica Hastings, who are suing Alex Vedder and National Ballet 77 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:30,640 breach of contract. 78 00:05:30,860 --> 00:05:31,719 What kind of breach? 79 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:35,280 He stopped using her as principal dancer, and he refuses to allow her to 80 00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:36,249 for anyone else. 81 00:05:36,250 --> 00:05:39,570 I remember seeing her dance at Symphony Hall in Boston. She is incredible. 82 00:05:39,970 --> 00:05:41,110 I went out with a dancer once. 83 00:05:41,890 --> 00:05:42,930 Boy, are they nuts. 84 00:05:43,470 --> 00:05:47,010 Nuts or not, I used to fall in love with them every time I'd walk past Lincoln 85 00:05:47,010 --> 00:05:49,670 Center. Euler versus Pettit. Yeah, that's me. 86 00:05:49,930 --> 00:05:53,890 Euler is accusing Pettit of stealing his act. We represent Pettit. What kind of 87 00:05:53,890 --> 00:05:54,890 act? Jugglers. 88 00:05:55,210 --> 00:05:57,770 Jugglers? You're not taking this one on the arm, Stuart. 89 00:05:57,970 --> 00:06:01,030 No, Ross Pettit's career is going places. He's a paying customer. 90 00:06:01,310 --> 00:06:04,390 How can you sue for stealing an act? You can't copyright a juggling routine. 91 00:06:04,710 --> 00:06:07,710 Euler's attorney is throwing anything he can at us. Trade secrets, 92 00:06:07,890 --> 00:06:12,190 misappropriation of professional property, the Lanham Act. He's a bit of 93 00:06:12,190 --> 00:06:15,070 hound, and he's hoping something will stick and he gets his name in the 94 00:06:15,210 --> 00:06:18,330 What kind of glory can there be in juggling? You kidding? I wish I could 95 00:06:18,490 --> 00:06:19,490 I can juggle. 96 00:06:19,610 --> 00:06:20,610 You can juggle? 97 00:06:20,650 --> 00:06:24,910 Are you serious? You can juggle? Just a little bit. If you can do this, I'll 98 00:06:24,910 --> 00:06:25,910 represent you. No, no, no. 99 00:06:26,610 --> 00:06:27,610 Come on. 100 00:06:29,690 --> 00:06:32,970 All right, but I'm not... That's it. 101 00:06:33,550 --> 00:06:37,290 Okay. I can't... I can't do it for that long. 102 00:06:37,570 --> 00:06:42,130 And I... Good! I can't do it while I'm talking. 103 00:06:42,470 --> 00:06:44,410 All right. Check this out. 104 00:06:46,570 --> 00:06:47,570 Hey! 105 00:06:51,010 --> 00:06:52,010 Yes! 106 00:06:53,230 --> 00:06:56,570 Anyone else with some special skill? 107 00:06:57,050 --> 00:06:58,430 Yeah. Does this count? 108 00:07:05,620 --> 00:07:07,960 So how much you figured they laid out for this renovation? 109 00:07:09,280 --> 00:07:10,280 I don't know. 110 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,960 A bundle, no doubt. You know what occurs to me? I have a friend with a tile and 111 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:14,960 terrazzo business. 112 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,480 If I could have got him the job doing the floors, we all could have made 113 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:21,520 All right. 114 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:23,060 I missed the opportunity. 115 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:25,420 No big deal. So what's with you? 116 00:07:25,980 --> 00:07:26,980 What do you mean? 117 00:07:27,180 --> 00:07:28,180 Do I mean? 118 00:07:28,340 --> 00:07:31,800 I mean, what's up with you? Every time I see you lately, all I get are short 119 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:32,920 answers. What are you, depressed? 120 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:37,890 No. Plus, you haven't been at DuPars in two weeks. Rosalie asks about you every 121 00:07:37,890 --> 00:07:41,070 time I see her. She's the reason I haven't been at DuPars. 122 00:07:42,790 --> 00:07:45,610 I don't really want to see her that much. Why not? 123 00:07:46,970 --> 00:07:50,530 Because she wants to live together. 124 00:07:50,910 --> 00:07:51,910 What's wrong with that? 125 00:07:52,350 --> 00:07:55,310 I don't know if I want to do that. What is it that you're worried about? 126 00:07:55,570 --> 00:08:00,110 I know a lot of people who got married and ended up getting divorced. 127 00:08:01,330 --> 00:08:03,330 And that may be the way it ends up for you. 128 00:08:03,660 --> 00:08:06,080 To which I say, better to have loved and lost. You know what I mean? 129 00:08:06,620 --> 00:08:09,640 You also are not exactly a catch. 130 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:11,400 You know what I mean? 131 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:12,560 You're a nice guy. 132 00:08:13,500 --> 00:08:16,560 We both know you're a taco or too short of a combination plate. 133 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:19,560 But you've got a good thing going with a girl who's similarly equipped. 134 00:08:20,100 --> 00:08:23,440 She ain't bad looking. Unless I miss my guess, she won't go out on you. 135 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,960 Plus, you'll be eating a hot meal every day for the rest of your life. So what's 136 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:28,960 the problem? 137 00:08:29,300 --> 00:08:30,420 Hey, Benny. Hi. 138 00:08:32,809 --> 00:08:35,390 Are you going to make the introductions, or do I have to do it myself? 139 00:08:36,590 --> 00:08:38,770 Oh, Denise, this is Dominic. 140 00:08:38,970 --> 00:08:39,970 Dominic, this is Denise. 141 00:08:40,230 --> 00:08:41,549 Dominic Nudzi. 142 00:08:41,929 --> 00:08:42,929 How do you do? 143 00:08:43,010 --> 00:08:45,490 Yours is a new face to these environments, am I wrong? 144 00:08:46,650 --> 00:08:47,810 I've been here about four months. 145 00:08:48,630 --> 00:08:52,090 Then I must not have been coming around, because you I would notice. 146 00:08:53,370 --> 00:08:54,730 Should I take that as a compliment? 147 00:08:55,090 --> 00:08:56,090 What else? 148 00:08:56,570 --> 00:08:57,570 Nice to meet you. 149 00:09:03,660 --> 00:09:06,460 How old were you when you started with the National Ballet Company? 150 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:09,600 I joined the company when I was 14. 151 00:09:09,980 --> 00:09:12,140 I was studying since I was 8. 152 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:16,580 Would you describe for us your relationship with Mr. Vedder? He's the 153 00:09:16,580 --> 00:09:18,960 choreographer. I was his principal dancer. 154 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:22,840 Did there come a point at which you ceased to be his principal dancer? 155 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:26,740 Yes. Would you describe the circumstances for us? 156 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:29,720 In Mr. Vedder's eyes, I had become increasingly difficult. 157 00:09:30,300 --> 00:09:31,440 Were you difficult? 158 00:09:32,190 --> 00:09:33,230 I didn't used to be. 159 00:09:33,530 --> 00:09:34,910 I was a quick study. 160 00:09:35,470 --> 00:09:36,750 I rehearsed endlessly. 161 00:09:37,310 --> 00:09:41,930 I starved myself to stay thin, and for years, nothing mattered to me but his 162 00:09:41,930 --> 00:09:46,130 approval. Would you describe for us the events that took place on January 4, 163 00:09:46,410 --> 00:09:47,410 1992? 164 00:09:47,930 --> 00:09:49,950 We were in rehearsals for Coppelia. 165 00:09:50,170 --> 00:09:51,590 There was a certain step. 166 00:09:52,170 --> 00:09:56,030 I wanted to do it my way. He wanted me to do it his way. 167 00:09:56,490 --> 00:09:59,230 I did it his way, and I broke my foot. 168 00:09:59,870 --> 00:10:02,850 As I was helped offstage, he turned his back and walked away. 169 00:10:03,290 --> 00:10:05,570 Would you tell us what happened after you returned? 170 00:10:06,010 --> 00:10:08,650 I told Mr. Vedder that I was fully recovered. 171 00:10:09,250 --> 00:10:13,690 He said that he had all his principal roles cast and that he wasn't sure when 172 00:10:13,690 --> 00:10:14,569 would get to me. 173 00:10:14,570 --> 00:10:15,710 How did you respond? 174 00:10:16,190 --> 00:10:20,110 I asked to be released from my contract and permitted to dance for another 175 00:10:20,110 --> 00:10:21,410 company. Did Mr. 176 00:10:21,610 --> 00:10:22,930 Vedder permit you to do this? 177 00:10:23,230 --> 00:10:28,650 No. Can you tell us what Mr. Vedder has effectively done to your career as a 178 00:10:28,650 --> 00:10:31,330 dancer? I haven't performed in more than a year and a half. 179 00:10:31,630 --> 00:10:36,050 Given the physical demands of dancing, given the age that I am, a year and a 180 00:10:36,050 --> 00:10:37,070 half is a very long time. 181 00:10:37,610 --> 00:10:38,710 I have nothing further. 182 00:10:41,790 --> 00:10:45,510 Would you tell us, Miss Hastings, is there a minimum number of principal 183 00:10:45,510 --> 00:10:46,930 per year specified in your contract? 184 00:10:47,430 --> 00:10:52,010 No. Since this is an issue of some importance to you, why isn't it 185 00:10:52,310 --> 00:10:55,870 At the time I signed my last contract, I wasn't thinking of a minimum number. 186 00:10:56,110 --> 00:10:57,490 I was dancing all the time. 187 00:10:57,690 --> 00:10:58,690 You were an adult. 188 00:10:58,890 --> 00:11:00,390 when you signed this contract, isn't that right? 189 00:11:00,770 --> 00:11:03,970 Yes. And you had an attorney or a manager representing you? 190 00:11:04,250 --> 00:11:08,330 Yes. So, really, what it comes down to, Miss Hastings, is that Mr. Vedder is 191 00:11:08,330 --> 00:11:10,950 choreographing with another ballerina, and you would like him to choreograph 192 00:11:10,950 --> 00:11:11,589 with you. 193 00:11:11,590 --> 00:11:16,870 Objection! Speech -making! That is not what it comes down to. What it comes 194 00:11:16,870 --> 00:11:22,450 to is that I refuse to be the wind -up ballerina in Alex Vedder's music box. I 195 00:11:22,450 --> 00:11:23,770 want to be treated with respect. 196 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:28,320 And since he won't do that, I want to dance for someone who will. Do you give 197 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:29,860 Mr. Vedder any credit for your success? 198 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:34,660 Of course I do. He has, after all, been choreographing principal roles for you 199 00:11:34,660 --> 00:11:37,060 since you were 17, hasn't he? Yes, he has. 200 00:11:37,420 --> 00:11:42,080 Is it not possible that when you were 17, there was another dancer who was the 201 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:45,920 same age you are now, who may have felt similarly displaced by you? 202 00:11:46,580 --> 00:11:48,060 You think I should be grateful? 203 00:11:48,380 --> 00:11:51,200 Ask that the witness be direct to answer the question. He is not God. 204 00:11:52,750 --> 00:11:55,110 He does not get to do whatever he wants with me. 205 00:11:55,730 --> 00:11:59,210 He does not get to keep me from dancing. I have no further questions of this 206 00:11:59,210 --> 00:12:03,290 witness. I was given over to you when I was a very little girl. Miss Hastings. 207 00:12:03,590 --> 00:12:08,370 I gave you everything I had. Miss Hastings, please. 208 00:12:08,970 --> 00:12:13,170 Why did you leave me for dead? Miss Hastings, I'm going to ask you to stop 209 00:12:13,170 --> 00:12:14,790 outburst. Sit down now. 210 00:12:15,130 --> 00:12:17,410 The fact that you're a genius doesn't let you do that. 211 00:12:18,870 --> 00:12:21,910 It doesn't let you destroy my life. 212 00:12:22,510 --> 00:12:24,310 Any more than you already have. 213 00:12:29,630 --> 00:12:31,390 Well, where do you want to go, Rosalie? 214 00:12:31,590 --> 00:12:35,050 We could go to Okie Dog and get a pastrami burrito. 215 00:12:35,710 --> 00:12:40,470 I have to be back by one o 'clock, Rosalie. I don't have time for a long 216 00:12:40,650 --> 00:12:42,050 Well, it won't take that long. 217 00:12:42,430 --> 00:12:43,450 It will, Rosalie. 218 00:12:43,970 --> 00:12:46,370 Well, then we could go someplace else then. 219 00:12:46,830 --> 00:12:48,750 Hi, Rosalie. Nice to see you. 220 00:12:49,030 --> 00:12:51,570 Um, Benny, did you have a chance to pick up Eli's prescription? 221 00:12:52,220 --> 00:12:53,420 Uh, I'll go now. 222 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:55,840 Can we still go to lunch? 223 00:12:56,100 --> 00:12:58,320 I'm not gonna have time today. 224 00:12:58,620 --> 00:13:01,600 You can go pick up the prescription on your way back from lunch, too, you know? 225 00:13:02,620 --> 00:13:05,200 Do you mind if we have lunch another day? 226 00:13:05,560 --> 00:13:06,620 No, I don't mind. 227 00:13:09,860 --> 00:13:11,580 You're his girlfriend, aren't you? 228 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:12,880 Me, his girlfriend? 229 00:13:13,140 --> 00:13:15,760 No. He never stops talking about you. 230 00:13:16,620 --> 00:13:20,260 Benny and I work together. We're friends. I mean, that's it. Believe me. 231 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:23,120 He thinks you're beautiful. 232 00:13:24,260 --> 00:13:25,800 He thinks you're beautiful, too. 233 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:31,620 No, he doesn't. He doesn't look at me the way he used to. He doesn't even want 234 00:13:31,620 --> 00:13:32,620 me around. 235 00:13:32,660 --> 00:13:34,180 How long have you guys been going out? 236 00:13:34,700 --> 00:13:35,700 Almost a year. 237 00:13:35,740 --> 00:13:38,260 I think you're probably going through a dry spell. 238 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:40,760 I mean, that happens when you've been going out for a year sometimes. 239 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:43,420 No, I don't think it's a dry spell. 240 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,160 I don't think that he loves me anymore. 241 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:55,480 Almost done. 242 00:13:55,820 --> 00:13:59,060 Thanks a lot for doing this for me, Denise. I gotta be back in court in half 243 00:13:59,060 --> 00:14:01,380 hour. Yeah, I was reading some of it. I hope you don't mind. 244 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:02,760 I don't mind. 245 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,000 These silly dancers worship this guy. 246 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:08,000 Well, there was a time when Erica Hastings worshipped him. 247 00:14:08,220 --> 00:14:09,179 Yeah, what happened? 248 00:14:09,180 --> 00:14:12,280 She changed. Her capacity for abuse changed. 249 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:16,300 I don't know how anyone could let themselves be controlled like that. He 250 00:14:16,300 --> 00:14:17,300 encouraged it. 251 00:14:17,500 --> 00:14:19,900 Yeah, but they... still had to let themselves be controlled. 252 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:21,099 I mean, would you do that? 253 00:14:21,100 --> 00:14:22,440 Not by a choreographer. 254 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:25,180 Would never happen to me. Doesn't matter who it was. 255 00:14:25,660 --> 00:14:27,440 Unless it was, you know, maybe Jesus Christ. 256 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:30,400 Did you ever think of what you would do if it was Jesus? 257 00:14:30,740 --> 00:14:32,780 You mean if he revealed himself to me? Yeah. 258 00:14:33,380 --> 00:14:35,360 Well, I guess I would do whatever he asked me to. 259 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:37,160 Yeah, but what if you didn't know it was him? 260 00:14:38,100 --> 00:14:40,780 Part of his being Jesus is that he lets you know. 261 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:42,100 Yeah, but it may not be that obvious. 262 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,980 I mean, if it's the guy with the toupee who comes to fix the Xerox machine, I 263 00:14:45,980 --> 00:14:46,980 know it would get by me. 264 00:14:48,430 --> 00:14:50,530 And God knows I've been wrong about men before. 265 00:14:53,650 --> 00:14:55,490 How did you learn how to juggle, Mr. Euler? 266 00:14:55,790 --> 00:14:56,790 I taught myself. 267 00:14:57,450 --> 00:14:59,450 Out of thin air? You never watched anybody? 268 00:14:59,790 --> 00:15:05,590 Oh, sure. I watched the greats. Francis Braun, Bela Cremo, Felix Adanos, Roscoe 269 00:15:05,590 --> 00:15:10,030 Zambini. But I never stole from them. What is it exactly that you think Mr. 270 00:15:10,150 --> 00:15:10,949 Pettit stole? 271 00:15:10,950 --> 00:15:14,670 Oh, his cascades. I haven't done the cascades in over a year. That's how up 272 00:15:14,670 --> 00:15:15,579 -date you are. 273 00:15:15,580 --> 00:15:18,520 Did you ever write down any of these routines, sir? No, of course not. 274 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:19,720 Did you copyright them? 275 00:15:20,100 --> 00:15:21,100 No, I did not. 276 00:15:21,220 --> 00:15:25,220 Did you and Mr. Pettit ever enter into any kind of non -competition contract? 277 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:26,520 We were partners. 278 00:15:26,540 --> 00:15:30,380 Isn't it a fact, Mr. Euler, that Mr. Pettit was responsible for a great many 279 00:15:30,380 --> 00:15:33,020 the routines you did during the time you were together? Absolutely not. 280 00:15:33,500 --> 00:15:37,480 Two, three routine tops. That's it. The rest was mine. But you experienced a 281 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:40,940 considerable gain in income during the time that Mr. Pettit was with you. Isn't 282 00:15:40,940 --> 00:15:41,479 that correct? 283 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:44,720 That had nothing to do with him. It had to do with people coming to the 284 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:45,720 boardwalk again. 285 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:50,420 When things were slim, and they were slim a lot in the early days, I always 286 00:15:50,420 --> 00:15:53,000 sure he had a hot meal. But isn't it a fact that Mr. 287 00:15:53,220 --> 00:15:54,360 Pettit drew the crowd? 288 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:55,640 No, it was not a fact. 289 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:56,940 And during the last two years? 290 00:15:57,610 --> 00:15:59,510 Wasn't he carrying you, sir? Carrying me? 291 00:16:00,010 --> 00:16:02,650 Nobody ever carried Alfred Euler. Nobody. 292 00:16:02,870 --> 00:16:06,770 You hung on to me until I got sick. And when I came back, you spit on me. 293 00:16:08,210 --> 00:16:11,490 Miss English, how long have you been dancing with the National Ballet 294 00:16:11,810 --> 00:16:12,709 Seven years. 295 00:16:12,710 --> 00:16:14,210 And what has been your experience with the company? 296 00:16:14,590 --> 00:16:17,590 I was the dancer in the corps. I am now a principal dancer. 297 00:16:18,070 --> 00:16:23,130 Are you acquainted with Erica Hastings? Yes, I am. Have you ever observed Mr. 298 00:16:23,250 --> 00:16:25,050 Vetter and Miss Hastings to argue? 299 00:16:25,350 --> 00:16:26,350 Many times. 300 00:16:26,750 --> 00:16:30,850 And what would they argue about? The interpretation of a role or the phrasing 301 00:16:30,850 --> 00:16:31,589 a step. 302 00:16:31,590 --> 00:16:34,050 Erica would argue about all kinds of things. 303 00:16:34,330 --> 00:16:38,090 Did you ever perceive Alex Vedder to be punitive towards Miss Hastings as a 304 00:16:38,090 --> 00:16:39,090 result of these arguments? 305 00:16:39,290 --> 00:16:42,010 I don't believe Mr. Vedder was punitive, no. 306 00:16:42,470 --> 00:16:47,210 We've heard testimony from Miss Hastings to the effect Mr. Vedder was abusive, 307 00:16:47,370 --> 00:16:51,390 that he was unfeeling, that he had, in effect, left her for dead. 308 00:16:51,870 --> 00:16:52,870 Has that been your experience? 309 00:16:53,030 --> 00:16:54,290 Objection. Irrelevant. 310 00:16:54,550 --> 00:16:56,730 The witness is a dancer in Alex Satter's company. 311 00:16:57,030 --> 00:16:59,030 Her testimony is directly relevant. 312 00:16:59,270 --> 00:17:00,450 Objection overruled. 313 00:17:00,770 --> 00:17:02,110 You may answer the question. 314 00:17:02,730 --> 00:17:07,490 I have never found Mr. Vatter to be abusive or unfeeling. 315 00:17:07,750 --> 00:17:13,069 I have found him to be a source of inspiration and encouragement, and I'm 316 00:17:13,069 --> 00:17:15,849 grateful for every word that he has ever said to me. 317 00:17:16,170 --> 00:17:17,170 No further questions. 318 00:17:19,589 --> 00:17:24,369 You have replaced Erica Hastings as Alex Vedder's principal dancer, have you 319 00:17:24,369 --> 00:17:25,430 not? Yes, I have. 320 00:17:25,690 --> 00:17:30,010 Is it fair to say that Mr. Vedder's approval is very important to you? 321 00:17:30,210 --> 00:17:34,690 Yes. Was it also fair to say that you wouldn't want to risk his disapproval by 322 00:17:34,690 --> 00:17:37,270 being anything less than totally supportive? 323 00:17:38,590 --> 00:17:42,790 I haven't said what I've said because I'm afraid of his disapproval. Did he 324 00:17:42,790 --> 00:17:43,790 you to testify? 325 00:17:44,190 --> 00:17:45,670 He didn't have to ask. 326 00:17:49,020 --> 00:17:50,020 Where are we, counsel? 327 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:52,940 Well, I'm afraid we're still miles apart, Your Honor. 328 00:17:53,180 --> 00:17:54,440 Looks like we're going to court. 329 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:59,300 And, I might add, we could be looking at setting a precedent here, sir. 330 00:17:59,540 --> 00:18:03,020 What I'd like to be looking at, Mr. Pembroke, is a settlement. 331 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:10,600 In my opinion, this is the kind of costly and time -consuming dispute that 332 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:13,940 should never be resolved by a judge or jury. The parties can't agree. 333 00:18:14,740 --> 00:18:17,360 Well, there is one thing they agree on. What? 334 00:18:17,950 --> 00:18:19,530 Roscoe Zambini. Who is? 335 00:18:19,790 --> 00:18:23,910 He's a very famous juggler, Your Honor, and he lives in Echo Park now, and he's 336 00:18:23,910 --> 00:18:28,630 revered by both Mr. Pettit and Mr. Euler. I think we could convince both of 337 00:18:28,630 --> 00:18:31,070 to submit to Mr. Zambini arbitrating this dispute. 338 00:18:31,350 --> 00:18:35,170 The best suggestion I've heard this morning, Mr. Margowitz. If both parties 339 00:18:35,170 --> 00:18:39,650 agree, the court will happily order this to binding arbitration in front of Mr. 340 00:18:39,770 --> 00:18:42,690 Zambini, and his decision will be final. 341 00:18:48,360 --> 00:18:51,420 Denise Ionello. Now, there's a name with music to it. 342 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:54,960 What do you want, Dominic? What, to come up to see Benny? Yes, sir. 343 00:18:55,500 --> 00:18:56,640 So? And he's busy. 344 00:18:58,160 --> 00:18:59,400 Is it all right I smoke in here? 345 00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:01,580 No, it's not all right you smoke in here. 346 00:19:01,780 --> 00:19:04,120 Well, how do I know? Because if I'd be smoking, I'd be smoking. 347 00:19:05,900 --> 00:19:09,180 Why don't you come downstairs with me and we'll have a supper? 348 00:19:09,620 --> 00:19:11,080 I was going to go down at 11. 349 00:19:12,020 --> 00:19:14,640 45 minutes from now, you could go down again. 350 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:17,560 All right, come on. 351 00:19:22,060 --> 00:19:24,840 See, we both smoke menthol, so we can bum off each other. 352 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:26,260 That's a comforting thought. 353 00:19:26,460 --> 00:19:27,480 Oh, come on, be nice. 354 00:19:28,460 --> 00:19:30,140 Dominic, what's with your friend Benny, huh? What? 355 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:32,200 Well, does he want to break up with this girl? 356 00:19:32,460 --> 00:19:34,780 Are you kidding? Not if he knows what's good for him. He doesn't. 357 00:19:35,060 --> 00:19:38,060 I know. He's just been pretty upset about the way he's been treating her. 358 00:19:38,060 --> 00:19:39,060 know, I mean, that's why I'm asking. 359 00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:40,360 I'll straighten him out. 360 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:44,060 I don't know that he needs to be straightened out. 361 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:46,860 A long -term relationship may not be what he wants, you know? 362 00:19:47,060 --> 00:19:50,220 Are you kidding me? They're perfect for each other. He should be thankful he's 363 00:19:50,220 --> 00:19:51,019 got her. 364 00:19:51,020 --> 00:19:52,020 Mm -hmm. 365 00:19:52,300 --> 00:19:55,160 But he shouldn't stay with her reluctantly, you know? I mean, he should 366 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:57,020 straight with her, tell her what he wants. Absolutely. 367 00:19:57,560 --> 00:19:58,860 All right, how's this for a concert? 368 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:01,200 We go out to dinner, the four of us, no pressure. 369 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:06,360 We just get him out, you know, and give him an opportunity to be with her under 370 00:20:06,360 --> 00:20:09,980 semi -festive circumstances, and then he can fall in love with her again, like 371 00:20:09,980 --> 00:20:13,300 that. Sounds good, but what do they need us for? Oh, we provide a little 372 00:20:13,300 --> 00:20:15,460 atmosphere. Plus, we can bill it as a double date. 373 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:20,900 Now, why would we do that, Dominic? Well, so nobody feels set up, you know? 374 00:20:21,820 --> 00:20:25,020 Not for nothing, but I don't want it to be like me and you went out on a date. 375 00:20:25,300 --> 00:20:27,900 Oh, what are you, worried you'll lose your head, huh? 376 00:20:28,580 --> 00:20:31,000 Afraid you might do something foolish and regret it the next day? 377 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:35,360 Hey, I won't let you do that. I won't permit that to happen. 378 00:20:57,100 --> 00:20:59,100 Can I talk to you for a second? Sure. 379 00:21:04,820 --> 00:21:07,740 I'm in the middle of a trial and I'm starting to second -guess myself. 380 00:21:08,300 --> 00:21:09,300 About what? 381 00:21:09,340 --> 00:21:11,320 About having gone to trial in the first place. 382 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:15,560 Was there an opportunity to settle? Sure, but they weren't offering very 383 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:19,500 money and they refused to release her from her contract, so I advised against 384 00:21:19,500 --> 00:21:21,440 it. So why are you second -guessing yourself? 385 00:21:22,460 --> 00:21:25,120 At one time, Erica wanted to drop this case. 386 00:21:25,770 --> 00:21:28,570 Not go to trial, not even settle. She wanted to just walk away. 387 00:21:29,010 --> 00:21:33,790 Why? Despite everything that Alex Vedder had done, in some corner of herself she 388 00:21:33,790 --> 00:21:34,890 was still devoted to him. 389 00:21:35,150 --> 00:21:38,330 She believed that it was possible that they could work together again. I 390 00:21:38,330 --> 00:21:39,750 disabused her of that belief. 391 00:21:40,570 --> 00:21:43,770 Bouncing me like that was your job. Well, maybe she would be better off if I 392 00:21:43,770 --> 00:21:44,770 hadn't done my job. 393 00:21:44,990 --> 00:21:48,930 If I had just left her to her dancer's world and her devotion, however 394 00:21:48,930 --> 00:21:50,850 it might be. She didn't come to you for that. 395 00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:55,100 She came to you because she thought she needed somebody to take this guy on. She 396 00:21:55,100 --> 00:21:56,340 thought she needed an attorney. 397 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:57,900 Was she wrong about that? 398 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:02,360 No. Then stop second -guessing yourself and do what she hired you to do. 399 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:08,140 What was your relationship with Erica Hastings, Mr. Vedder? 400 00:22:08,860 --> 00:22:10,180 She is one of my dancers. 401 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:13,560 Would you describe for us the process by which she became one of your dancers? 402 00:22:14,020 --> 00:22:18,600 I saw her in ballet class for the first time when she was 11. 403 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:20,320 I watched her work. 404 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:23,580 I saw what she was capable of. 405 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,140 She was asked to join the company when she was 14. 406 00:22:26,460 --> 00:22:28,060 What was it that you saw in her, exactly? 407 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:33,180 Well, I saw that hers was a great instrument. Long legs, long neck, 408 00:22:33,180 --> 00:22:34,180 high arches. 409 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:36,860 Was it strictly a matter of physical characteristics? 410 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:41,200 No, no, no, of course not. It was also her ability, her spirit, the way she 411 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:45,660 moved her arms, her elevation, her pirouettes. Here was someone who was 412 00:22:45,660 --> 00:22:47,020 become a great dancer. 413 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:48,239 Would you say... 414 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:50,240 That you were hard on her. Of course I was. 415 00:22:50,580 --> 00:22:51,780 She wasn't born a ballet dancer. 416 00:22:52,260 --> 00:22:53,260 She was taught. 417 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:57,780 She became the dancer she is because I was hard on her. 418 00:22:58,420 --> 00:23:00,180 Because I drove her in the way that I did. 419 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:03,660 Did there come a point in your relationship when it began to change? 420 00:23:03,980 --> 00:23:06,600 There came a point when Erica changed. 421 00:23:06,940 --> 00:23:09,260 Hence our relationship changed as well. 422 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:13,480 In what way did Erica change? She became argumentative, pointlessly so. 423 00:23:14,220 --> 00:23:18,180 She would question things that were quite inappropriate for her to question, 424 00:23:18,180 --> 00:23:22,600 when she failed to get her way, she would become petulant. I felt her work 425 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:23,780 suffered as a result. 426 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:26,420 Why did you replace Miss Hastings as principal dancer? 427 00:23:26,900 --> 00:23:31,080 She broke her foot. She claimed that after the foot was healed, you refused 428 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:32,820 restore her to her position in the company. 429 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:38,020 By the time she returned, there were other dancers I was choreographing for. 430 00:23:39,340 --> 00:23:44,380 As to her being restored to her previously held position in the company, 431 00:23:44,420 --> 00:23:48,560 that has as much to do with her as it does with me. 432 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:49,840 Not for the questions. 433 00:23:50,860 --> 00:23:54,820 Are you familiar with a drug by the name of butazolidin? 434 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:56,180 Objection. Irrelevant. 435 00:23:56,380 --> 00:24:01,760 I'll allow it. Mr. Vedder. I have heard of it, yes. You are aware that it is an 436 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:05,660 anti -inflammatory drug commonly administered to racehorses. 437 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:09,540 Well, I take your word for it. Are you aware that Erica Hastings has been using 438 00:24:09,540 --> 00:24:13,260 this drug to relieve the pain in her tendons since the time that she was a 439 00:24:13,260 --> 00:24:15,940 teenager? No, I was not aware of any such thing. 440 00:24:16,220 --> 00:24:20,340 I leave the personal regimen of dancers, be it... 441 00:24:21,490 --> 00:24:24,730 pharmaceutical, nutritional, or otherwise, to the dancers themselves. 442 00:24:25,110 --> 00:24:27,850 Is that why you turned and walked away when she broke her foot? 443 00:24:28,050 --> 00:24:32,230 I turned away because I could see that she was being adequately attended by 444 00:24:32,230 --> 00:24:34,370 others. I am not a physician. 445 00:24:34,730 --> 00:24:36,470 I am not an ambulance attendant. 446 00:24:37,230 --> 00:24:38,790 And I had a company to run. 447 00:24:39,050 --> 00:24:43,910 At a certain point, you found out that Erica Hastings was going to a dance 448 00:24:43,910 --> 00:24:45,950 outside of your company. Isn't that right? 449 00:24:46,430 --> 00:24:50,200 Yes. You threatened to fire her as a result of that, didn't you? 450 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:55,320 Yes, I did. Is it not a fact, sir, that you sought to punish Erica Hastings each 451 00:24:55,320 --> 00:25:00,160 and every time she had the temerity to in any way challenge your authority? 452 00:25:01,120 --> 00:25:03,680 Let me try to explain something. 453 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:07,860 Choreographing a ballet is a mathematical process. 454 00:25:08,900 --> 00:25:13,800 The manner in which each step is executed is that way for a reason. 455 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:18,880 As the choreographer, it is I and I alone who determine what that is to be. 456 00:25:19,820 --> 00:25:24,820 Ultimately, it is not, as Miss Hastings would want it to be, a collaborative 457 00:25:24,820 --> 00:25:29,900 process. You see, what dancers do is dance. 458 00:25:30,180 --> 00:25:36,020 Except that for the last year and a half, Erica Hastings hasn't danced, has 459 00:25:36,220 --> 00:25:37,400 Well, that's a matter of circumstances. 460 00:25:37,780 --> 00:25:41,740 Given that the circumstances are that you're not using her, why didn't you see 461 00:25:41,740 --> 00:25:42,740 fit to release her? 462 00:25:43,130 --> 00:25:47,610 She's under contract with me. My contract allows me to use her or not to 463 00:25:47,610 --> 00:25:49,090 as I think fit. 464 00:25:49,310 --> 00:25:54,690 Is it possible, sir, that the real reason is that you can't bear the 465 00:25:54,690 --> 00:25:58,650 her dancing for anyone else? That in the interest of breaking her will, you 466 00:25:58,650 --> 00:26:00,670 would lay waste to an entire career? 467 00:26:01,150 --> 00:26:02,470 Objection. Confirmed question. 468 00:26:02,750 --> 00:26:07,430 Sustained. Is it possible that you are doing what you're doing for no reason 469 00:26:07,430 --> 00:26:08,630 other than to punish her? 470 00:26:08,930 --> 00:26:12,530 I do that which is in the service of the ballet. 471 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:16,380 I have neither to apologize nor to explain. 472 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:19,280 I have nothing further. 473 00:26:25,220 --> 00:26:30,500 Don Zambini, please forgive us for imposing on you. As long as the check 474 00:26:30,500 --> 00:26:32,060 bounce, it's not an imposition. 475 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:35,800 Mr. Zambini, we really appreciate you doing this. 476 00:26:36,060 --> 00:26:37,060 Good. 477 00:26:37,980 --> 00:26:39,780 We thought you might sit over here. 478 00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:42,620 It's all right. I can see from here. 479 00:26:44,620 --> 00:26:47,080 I saw the film of you doing a ten -ball fountain. 480 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:48,239 Oh, yeah? 481 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:52,160 If I hadn't seen it, I'd have sworn it was impossible. It is impossible, but I 482 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:53,160 did it anyway. 483 00:26:53,620 --> 00:26:55,500 Now, can we get started here? 484 00:26:55,700 --> 00:26:56,700 By all means. 485 00:26:56,720 --> 00:27:00,520 You know what we're looking to have you determine here, sir? This man says that 486 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:02,300 this man stole his act, right? 487 00:27:02,620 --> 00:27:03,559 Right. Good. 488 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:05,140 Let's start with Mr. 489 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:06,480 Euler. 490 00:27:15,350 --> 00:27:21,070 You know, I had surgery last year, so I'm not really 100%, but I'm trying my 491 00:27:21,070 --> 00:27:25,530 best just to show you how it used to be, you know, the things here. 492 00:27:29,590 --> 00:27:31,090 Do you do hats? 493 00:27:31,669 --> 00:27:35,910 No, I don't. What are you showing me hats for when he doesn't do hats? 494 00:27:36,210 --> 00:27:40,490 Oh, I'm just warming up, sir. Commence with the relevant parts of the act, Mr. 495 00:27:40,610 --> 00:27:41,970 Euler. Please. 496 00:27:42,530 --> 00:27:43,530 Yes, sir, don't tell me. 497 00:27:46,710 --> 00:27:50,110 Here, this is behind the back. Here, then I go back. 498 00:27:52,670 --> 00:27:54,850 And here, it always got me a little giggle. 499 00:27:56,310 --> 00:27:57,490 And then the shower. 500 00:27:59,130 --> 00:28:00,130 And down. 501 00:28:04,750 --> 00:28:09,170 And then I used to catch it on this side, run it on this side, and catch it 502 00:28:09,170 --> 00:28:12,430 my neck. But, you know, since my problem is the neck, I can't do it. And 503 00:28:12,430 --> 00:28:14,410 finally, I finished up with this one. 504 00:28:15,350 --> 00:28:18,610 Let's have no demonstration of approval, please. 505 00:28:19,510 --> 00:28:20,510 Mr. Cadet. 506 00:28:58,350 --> 00:28:59,770 Uh, no, I have one more thing. 507 00:29:17,770 --> 00:29:19,610 I'll have my decision tomorrow. 508 00:29:21,470 --> 00:29:26,050 Only you come to my place, if you don't mind. No, no, we'll come to you. 509 00:29:26,970 --> 00:29:29,660 Elevators. upset my equilibrium. 510 00:29:30,820 --> 00:29:35,700 Ladies and gentlemen, very few dancers achieve the success or the fame of Erika 511 00:29:35,700 --> 00:29:41,000 Hastings. Very few have stood and received ovations on stages strewn with 512 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:42,620 flowers as many times as she has. 513 00:29:43,740 --> 00:29:49,600 And the man most responsible for her success, for her training, the man who 514 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:54,780 been choreographing for her since she was 17 years of age, that man is Alex 515 00:29:54,780 --> 00:29:56,600 Vedder, the man she is now suing. 516 00:29:57,050 --> 00:30:01,690 Whether or not Erica Hastings was entitled as a member of his company to 517 00:30:01,690 --> 00:30:03,830 challenge his authority is not at issue here. 518 00:30:04,510 --> 00:30:10,210 As artistic director of the company, he was wholly entitled to determine the 519 00:30:10,210 --> 00:30:15,270 extent of Miss Hastings' participation in the creative process. He was and is 520 00:30:15,270 --> 00:30:20,890 entitled to use or not to use her as he sees fit. 521 00:30:21,210 --> 00:30:25,370 There is not a separate body of contract law for ballet dancers. 522 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:30,740 Erica Hastings is an adult with adult rights and adult responsibilities. 523 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:36,940 And it is wholly appropriate that we treat her accordingly and deny her the 524 00:30:36,940 --> 00:30:38,440 relief that she is seeking. 525 00:30:43,220 --> 00:30:47,980 I think that Erica Hastings expects to be treated like an adult. 526 00:30:48,820 --> 00:30:53,440 The surest indication of that is that she's sitting here in this courtroom. 527 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:59,740 By doing so, she is standing up to the most powerful man she has ever known, a 528 00:30:59,740 --> 00:31:04,500 man who enjoys the adoration and blind devotion of legions of ballet dancers, 529 00:31:04,660 --> 00:31:09,000 who uses that position to remain wholly unaccountable. 530 00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:14,160 Erica Hastings is not in this courtroom because Alex Vedder was hard on her. 531 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:19,920 She is here because having signed a contract as a principal dancer, she had 532 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:22,080 right to expect that she would dance. 533 00:31:22,990 --> 00:31:27,290 She had the right to expect that a full year and a half of which she was capable 534 00:31:27,290 --> 00:31:30,950 of dancing would not be taken away from her for reasons having nothing to do 535 00:31:30,950 --> 00:31:35,710 with her ability, having nothing to do with legitimate, creative prerogative of 536 00:31:35,710 --> 00:31:40,070 an artistic director, but rather having to do with the desire of that director 537 00:31:40,070 --> 00:31:41,910 to control and punish. 538 00:31:42,530 --> 00:31:46,930 We would ask that Alex Vedder's refusal to use Erica Hastings as principal 539 00:31:46,930 --> 00:31:50,550 dancer be recognized as a material breach of contract. 540 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:55,920 We ask that consequential damages be set in the amount of a quarter of a million 541 00:31:55,920 --> 00:32:01,080 dollars. In addition, we ask declaratory relief of the court so that Erica 542 00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:03,060 Hastings is free to dance. 543 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:13,220 There. You can go through a car wash and it won't come down. 544 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:17,060 Do you think that'll like it? 545 00:32:17,380 --> 00:32:19,960 What's not to like? Look at you. You look fabulous. 546 00:32:22,210 --> 00:32:24,110 I hope Betty thinks so. 547 00:32:24,310 --> 00:32:27,290 Men like to see a little bit of an effort being made, you know what I mean? 548 00:32:27,510 --> 00:32:31,390 I mean, no matter what they say, they all like to see the makeup and they all 549 00:32:31,390 --> 00:32:32,390 like to see the shoes. 550 00:32:32,670 --> 00:32:35,050 I never wore shoes like this before. 551 00:32:35,890 --> 00:32:39,490 What do I do with it? What do I do with it? What's the matter with you? You 552 00:32:39,490 --> 00:32:40,770 never seen a collar pin before? 553 00:32:41,130 --> 00:32:42,950 No. Here, like this. 554 00:32:44,530 --> 00:32:45,530 What's it for? 555 00:32:45,570 --> 00:32:49,290 It's to afford you a certain take -charge quality, which might otherwise 556 00:32:49,290 --> 00:32:50,290 lacking. 557 00:32:50,890 --> 00:32:51,890 Because they do that? 558 00:32:52,270 --> 00:32:53,710 Absolutely. I'm nervous. 559 00:32:54,790 --> 00:32:58,530 Listen, Rosalie, you can't live or die based on Benny. 560 00:32:58,790 --> 00:33:01,130 If the guy's in love with you, he'll show it. 561 00:33:01,530 --> 00:33:04,930 And if he's not, dump him and find someone else. 562 00:33:05,190 --> 00:33:06,410 Now, what am I supposed to do again? 563 00:33:07,150 --> 00:33:10,930 Ben, look, I know you got reservations, but you're supposed to put on the dog a 564 00:33:10,930 --> 00:33:13,650 little bit. You're supposed to make her feel as if you desire her. 565 00:33:14,850 --> 00:33:17,550 Look, it's not that complicated. Tell her she looks nice. 566 00:33:27,270 --> 00:33:28,390 Look at you. 567 00:33:29,150 --> 00:33:30,310 Don't you look gorgeous? 568 00:33:31,410 --> 00:33:32,610 What do you think, Benny? 569 00:33:35,270 --> 00:33:36,490 You look nice. 570 00:33:37,290 --> 00:33:38,450 Do you like my hair? 571 00:33:40,110 --> 00:33:41,110 That's all. 572 00:33:41,490 --> 00:33:43,070 I like the total package. 573 00:33:43,390 --> 00:33:45,750 I feel like we're sitting here with a couple of real dolls. 574 00:33:46,070 --> 00:33:48,090 You are. Hey, right, Ben? Huh? 575 00:33:48,510 --> 00:33:50,210 Oh, they're playing Malasemina. 576 00:33:50,690 --> 00:33:51,790 You know Malasemina? 577 00:33:52,030 --> 00:33:54,710 Do I know Malasemina? My father's seen one. Be flat, Frankie. 578 00:33:55,420 --> 00:33:56,780 I feel like I'm at home. 579 00:34:39,020 --> 00:34:40,020 What's the matter, Benny? 580 00:34:41,540 --> 00:34:44,260 Nothing. You don't like the way that I look, do you? 581 00:34:45,199 --> 00:34:46,199 I don't know. 582 00:34:46,580 --> 00:34:47,659 You don't know? 583 00:34:47,900 --> 00:34:51,520 May I interject something here? You don't know whether or not you want to be 584 00:34:51,520 --> 00:34:55,639 boyfriend. Then you don't know whether or not you want me around. Guess what? 585 00:34:56,020 --> 00:34:59,120 You can just stop trying to make up your mind. 586 00:35:00,900 --> 00:35:01,900 Excuse me. 587 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:03,320 Where are you going? 588 00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:06,700 Berkeley, wait. Did you hear anything I said to you before? 589 00:35:07,500 --> 00:35:10,670 Yeah. Then why were you so completely without enthusiasm? 590 00:35:11,270 --> 00:35:14,170 Why did you say, I don't know, and she asked you whether or not you liked the 591 00:35:14,170 --> 00:35:16,430 way she looked? Well, I didn't know. 592 00:35:16,670 --> 00:35:21,270 You're a moron, Ben. You're, in fact, a moron. I'm not a moron. Stop calling me 593 00:35:21,270 --> 00:35:23,510 a moron, Dominic. Okay, okay, Ben, okay. 594 00:35:23,910 --> 00:35:25,110 Relax. You're not a moron. 595 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:46,800 How you doing? 596 00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:52,820 I just tried to call Rosalie. 597 00:35:53,760 --> 00:35:57,040 Her mother said she didn't want to talk to me. 598 00:35:58,200 --> 00:35:59,280 Can you blame her? 599 00:36:01,060 --> 00:36:02,060 No. 600 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:04,600 Fill me in here, Benny. 601 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:06,500 Do you want to be with this girl or not? 602 00:36:07,780 --> 00:36:08,780 I don't know. 603 00:36:08,820 --> 00:36:10,800 Do you think there's somebody better out there? 604 00:36:11,780 --> 00:36:15,040 I'm not really looking for somebody better. 605 00:36:15,740 --> 00:36:16,760 So you're tired of her? 606 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:19,340 No. Well, then what's the problem? 607 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:22,260 She wants to get married. 608 00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:27,560 And you know this? 609 00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:34,220 Well, I know she wants to move in together. 610 00:36:35,540 --> 00:36:39,520 And I wouldn't want to do that without being married. 611 00:36:39,980 --> 00:36:43,900 And you don't want to marry? I don't know what I want. I mean, only you know 612 00:36:43,900 --> 00:36:44,960 you want to marry her or not. 613 00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:48,020 I'll tell you this, though. You keep on treating her like you did last night, 614 00:36:48,100 --> 00:36:49,100 you're going to lose her. 615 00:36:54,600 --> 00:36:56,720 Members of the jury, have you reached a verdict? 616 00:36:57,080 --> 00:36:58,100 Yes, we have, Your Honor. 617 00:36:58,360 --> 00:36:59,360 What say you? 618 00:36:59,660 --> 00:37:01,120 In the matter of Hastings v. 619 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:06,620 National Ballet Company on the issue of breach of contract, we fine for the 620 00:37:06,620 --> 00:37:11,760 plaintiff and award consequential damages in the amount of $250 ,000. 621 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:16,480 The plaintiff's request for declaratory relief is granted. The contract is 622 00:37:16,480 --> 00:37:19,460 terminated. She's free to work for whoever she wants. 623 00:37:19,700 --> 00:37:21,900 The jury is dismissed with the thanks of the court. 624 00:37:23,860 --> 00:37:27,020 We did it. 625 00:37:27,820 --> 00:37:28,820 Erica, 626 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:32,080 can we speak to each other? 627 00:37:32,740 --> 00:37:36,000 Have your attorney call me, Mr. Better. He and I will speak to one another. 628 00:37:36,220 --> 00:37:38,060 Erica. What do you want to say? 629 00:37:38,420 --> 00:37:41,300 I want you not to leave me. To this end. 630 00:37:41,770 --> 00:37:46,330 I want to open our coming season with you dancing the lead in Giselle. 631 00:37:46,790 --> 00:37:49,950 And I'm willing to guarantee this to you in writing. I really don't feel that 632 00:37:49,950 --> 00:37:51,930 this is the time or the place to discuss this. 633 00:37:52,170 --> 00:37:54,570 Erica, will you think about what I'm saying to you? Let's talk about this 634 00:37:54,570 --> 00:37:58,170 another time. Look, neither of you understand what is happening here in the 635 00:37:58,170 --> 00:37:59,129 slightest, do you? 636 00:37:59,130 --> 00:38:01,270 I want to talk to this woman myself. 637 00:38:04,490 --> 00:38:06,450 Erica, what are you going to do? 638 00:38:07,310 --> 00:38:10,030 Find some choreographer who's nice. 639 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:11,600 I'll tell you what you want to hear. 640 00:38:13,780 --> 00:38:20,520 You're walking away from me and from our company to let some second -rate talent 641 00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:26,680 choreograph dances for you. I want you to think about what you and I have done 642 00:38:26,680 --> 00:38:30,480 together. Are you expecting me to give you an answer right this minute? 643 00:38:35,300 --> 00:38:37,280 No. Then let me die. 644 00:38:58,000 --> 00:38:59,000 Dump it. 645 00:38:59,300 --> 00:39:00,300 Dump it? 646 00:39:00,500 --> 00:39:01,600 Dump the whole thing? 647 00:39:01,960 --> 00:39:03,600 Come to me when you have something else. 648 00:39:05,040 --> 00:39:06,280 Here's my decision. 649 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:20,160 I don't think any penalty should be assessed. 650 00:39:20,640 --> 00:39:21,618 Why not? 651 00:39:21,620 --> 00:39:22,840 Because he didn't steal. 652 00:39:23,100 --> 00:39:25,700 His act is his act. 653 00:39:26,080 --> 00:39:30,260 With all due respect, Don Zambini, his act used to be my act. 654 00:39:30,500 --> 00:39:31,500 No. 655 00:39:32,440 --> 00:39:35,420 You never did what he is doing. 656 00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:37,220 Did he learn from you? 657 00:39:37,880 --> 00:39:40,120 Yes. He watched. 658 00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:42,040 He studied. 659 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:49,380 He absorbed your technique and your knowledge. 660 00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:53,540 And he left, went off on his own. 661 00:39:54,920 --> 00:39:55,920 That happened. 662 00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:00,820 Thank you very much for your time. 663 00:40:01,240 --> 00:40:02,340 I'm not done. 664 00:40:02,920 --> 00:40:03,920 Oh. 665 00:40:04,420 --> 00:40:08,020 What your client did is as bad as stealing. 666 00:40:08,480 --> 00:40:12,200 What did he do? He didn't show respect for his teacher. 667 00:40:12,860 --> 00:40:14,540 I think I have shown respect. 668 00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:16,700 And I tell you, you have not. 669 00:40:17,380 --> 00:40:21,300 You made him come to you when he got out of the hospital. 670 00:40:21,620 --> 00:40:25,020 You cut him out of your professional life. 671 00:40:25,710 --> 00:40:31,110 I think he deserves better than that from you, Mr. Pettit. 672 00:40:32,130 --> 00:40:38,610 I studied the defeat of the great Morris Levetsky, and I left, I went off on my 673 00:40:38,610 --> 00:40:39,610 own. 674 00:40:40,190 --> 00:40:44,910 But I always acknowledged the debt. 675 00:40:45,990 --> 00:40:49,750 With all due respect, Mr. Zambini, I think he had... It's okay. 676 00:40:50,470 --> 00:40:51,570 What should I do? 677 00:40:51,910 --> 00:40:54,910 By the next year, half the time you work, 678 00:40:56,010 --> 00:40:57,570 You work with him. 679 00:40:59,650 --> 00:41:01,790 Okay. I don't want it if it's pity. 680 00:41:02,050 --> 00:41:04,310 Is it pity, Mr. Pettit? 681 00:41:04,530 --> 00:41:06,050 No, no, it's not pity. 682 00:41:06,350 --> 00:41:08,110 It's not pity, Mr. Euler. 683 00:41:10,550 --> 00:41:11,550 Shake hands. 684 00:41:17,490 --> 00:41:18,490 Good. 685 00:41:21,010 --> 00:41:22,370 Is that Rosalie here? 686 00:41:22,750 --> 00:41:24,590 Yeah, she's in the back. You want me to get her for you? 687 00:41:25,950 --> 00:41:28,390 Rosalie, someone out here wants to see you. 688 00:41:32,350 --> 00:41:34,050 Eddie, what are you doing here? 689 00:41:35,790 --> 00:41:38,130 I wanted some pie. 690 00:41:40,550 --> 00:41:41,930 What kind of pie do you want? 691 00:41:44,510 --> 00:41:46,250 I don't want any pie. 692 00:41:47,370 --> 00:41:51,070 I came here to tell you I'm sorry for being mean to you. 693 00:41:53,450 --> 00:41:56,510 Well, you did make me feel real bad, Benny. 694 00:41:57,170 --> 00:41:58,170 I know. 695 00:41:58,530 --> 00:41:59,530 I'm sorry. 696 00:42:01,790 --> 00:42:05,370 Do you still want to move in together? 697 00:42:06,390 --> 00:42:07,490 I don't know. 698 00:42:08,670 --> 00:42:11,570 Well, I don't. 699 00:42:11,990 --> 00:42:17,270 Okay, then we won't. I think we should get married first. 700 00:42:19,970 --> 00:42:22,610 Are you asking me, Benny? 701 00:42:25,280 --> 00:42:30,840 Yeah. Well, then you have to ask me. Go on, say the word. 702 00:42:31,480 --> 00:42:32,540 Ask me. 703 00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:35,480 Believe me. 704 00:43:05,190 --> 00:43:06,190 Where is it? 705 00:43:16,550 --> 00:43:17,550 You're waiving the money? 706 00:43:17,810 --> 00:43:19,390 I know you don't agree with this. 707 00:43:19,590 --> 00:43:22,050 He's guaranteeing you this one role. What happens after that? 708 00:43:22,310 --> 00:43:25,890 I don't know what happens after that. Erica, why are you in such a hurry to do 709 00:43:25,890 --> 00:43:27,390 this? I need to work. 710 00:43:27,630 --> 00:43:29,750 You can go back to work with another choreographer. 711 00:43:30,110 --> 00:43:31,930 Not the same with another choreographer. 712 00:43:32,440 --> 00:43:35,580 Assume that it's not. Do I have to remind you of the things you said when 713 00:43:35,580 --> 00:43:39,980 first came to see me? I wasn't dancing when I first came to see you. Forgive me 714 00:43:39,980 --> 00:43:43,260 for what will no doubt sound like heresy, but I think that some things may 715 00:43:43,260 --> 00:43:44,460 more important than dancing. 716 00:43:45,400 --> 00:43:47,760 What did you play with when you were a little girl? 717 00:43:48,140 --> 00:43:52,340 What did I play with? Yeah, paper dolls, tea sets, stuffed animals. 718 00:43:52,920 --> 00:43:54,600 I'm sure I played with all those things. 719 00:43:54,980 --> 00:43:56,860 I don't remember playing with any of them. 720 00:43:57,520 --> 00:43:59,000 All I remember is this. 721 00:43:59,760 --> 00:44:04,460 The more curious I became about it, The less interested I was in doing anything 722 00:44:04,460 --> 00:44:09,760 else. I know that sounds horribly obsessive, and maybe it is, but I want 723 00:44:09,760 --> 00:44:16,680 you what I put into this work and what I get out of this work are the most 724 00:44:16,680 --> 00:44:18,340 important things in the world to me. 725 00:44:25,400 --> 00:44:28,000 Will you at least give yourself some time to think about this?