1 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:02,620 Previously on L .A. Law. 2 00:00:02,860 --> 00:00:06,620 After a very brief deliberation, the partners here would like to express 3 00:00:06,620 --> 00:00:11,140 unanimously their feeling that you would represent a significant asset to this 4 00:00:11,140 --> 00:00:15,120 firm. We would like to extend to you an invitation to join our firm. Should 5 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:17,600 there be any doubt, the offer is an offer of partnership. 6 00:00:19,580 --> 00:00:24,180 It just takes so much courage for you to be this honest in front of a couple of 7 00:00:24,180 --> 00:00:25,180 strangers like this. 8 00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:28,480 I'm really not surprised to see how brave you are. 9 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:31,940 Because that's what it took to give your baby up for adoption, didn't it? 10 00:00:32,759 --> 00:00:34,020 She loves us, Tammy. 11 00:00:35,020 --> 00:00:37,720 She's just a little baby, but we feel her love and her trust. 12 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,400 She knows we're her mommy and dad. No, I'm her mama! 13 00:00:43,740 --> 00:00:48,360 I hereby find the circumstances of Tammy Harris' life too significantly changed, 14 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,500 making reasonable the withdrawal of her consent. 15 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:54,520 I further grant her petition for habeas corpus. 16 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,520 Bailiff, please deliver the baby to Miss Harris. 17 00:01:03,530 --> 00:01:05,450 We can't find a way to avoid this trial? 18 00:01:05,690 --> 00:01:08,690 I don't see how, Your Honor. Miss Heverton adopted this little girl more 19 00:01:08,690 --> 00:01:09,690 two years ago. 20 00:01:09,790 --> 00:01:13,450 Mr. Connolly's attempt to assert his parental rights at this late date we 21 00:01:13,450 --> 00:01:16,870 as both self -serving and wholly inimical to the best interests of this 22 00:01:17,070 --> 00:01:19,850 Your Honor, the fact that we're doing this when we are isn't because of my 23 00:01:19,850 --> 00:01:23,290 client. It took him a year and a half to find this child, and having done that, 24 00:01:23,350 --> 00:01:26,890 we've met with delay after delay engineered by Miss Heverton and her 25 00:01:27,130 --> 00:01:30,790 The delays were not engineered, Mr. Angeletti. We want to resolve this every 26 00:01:30,790 --> 00:01:32,890 as much as you do. Is there any possibility... 27 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:34,039 For shared custody. 28 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:36,320 My client feels that that would only confuse the child. 29 00:01:36,780 --> 00:01:40,240 It's time for the little girl to come home to her father. That's what we want. 30 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:41,059 Miss Kelsey? 31 00:01:41,060 --> 00:01:43,500 Your Honor, Emily is my daughter. 32 00:01:44,060 --> 00:01:46,180 I am not willing to share custody of her. 33 00:01:47,300 --> 00:01:50,780 Mr. Conley, I assume your lawyer is speaking for you when he says the same 34 00:01:50,780 --> 00:01:53,440 thing? Yes, Your Honor. I'm not willing to share custody either. 35 00:01:53,940 --> 00:01:56,360 Look, this woman might have named her, but that doesn't mean that she has the 36 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:57,259 right to raise her. 37 00:01:57,260 --> 00:01:58,480 She's my daughter. 38 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:00,300 I want to raise her. 39 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:01,800 All right. 40 00:02:02,140 --> 00:02:03,680 We'll start at 2 o 'clock this afternoon. 41 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:09,340 I would ask both sides to refrain from making any inflammatory statements to 42 00:02:09,340 --> 00:02:12,800 press. I don't want this to be any more public than it absolutely has to be. 43 00:02:13,290 --> 00:02:16,810 Your Honor? How much of an issue is going to be made about the respective 44 00:02:16,810 --> 00:02:20,050 characters of Miss Heberton and Mr. Conley? We've been specifically 45 00:02:20,050 --> 00:02:22,650 by the judge in this case not to make any statements that inflame the 46 00:02:22,650 --> 00:02:25,550 proceedings, and I'm going to abide by that. I think my adversary is being 47 00:02:25,550 --> 00:02:28,770 overly fastidious. The truth is, before we get down here, both these people's 48 00:02:28,770 --> 00:02:30,090 pants are going to be down around their ankles. 49 00:02:30,330 --> 00:02:34,510 You yourself adopted a child, didn't you, Miss Kelsey, a little girl? 50 00:02:34,830 --> 00:02:36,850 Thank you. I don't have anything more to say. Laura? 51 00:02:38,470 --> 00:02:41,910 I'm just wondering if that experience led you to taking this case. I'm not 52 00:02:41,910 --> 00:02:42,910 answering any questions. 53 00:02:52,180 --> 00:02:53,180 Dr. 54 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:08,680 Parr, do you feel as a member of... 55 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:41,700 I think we ought to show some fiscal responsibility. 56 00:05:41,940 --> 00:05:45,220 Haven't you heard, Douglas? Eat, drink, be merry, for tomorrow you die. 57 00:05:45,660 --> 00:05:46,860 Wow, what's this about? 58 00:05:47,100 --> 00:05:50,200 A little skirmishing, preliminary to the partnership meeting. 59 00:05:50,620 --> 00:05:54,640 Ah. Yeah, we're voting on how to split up the profits this quarter. The 60 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,100 renovations took a big chunk out of our first quarter earnings. 61 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:01,600 The renovations are finished, Douglas. Why do we work like dogs if we can't 62 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:02,880 enjoy the fruits of our labor? 63 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:04,580 We can discuss this later. 64 00:06:05,110 --> 00:06:09,270 Haberton versus Conley. Laura Haberton is a single mother who adopted a baby 65 00:06:09,270 --> 00:06:12,730 girl two and a half years ago, and now the birth father is suing for custody. 66 00:06:12,990 --> 00:06:16,270 Tough one to win, no? If a judge's primary concern is the best interest of 67 00:06:16,270 --> 00:06:18,490 child, I'm okay. If it's the rights of the father, we're dead. 68 00:06:18,770 --> 00:06:20,590 What inspired the father to be doing this? 69 00:06:20,830 --> 00:06:23,570 Part of it is that he wants to have a daughter, and part of it is that he's 70 00:06:23,570 --> 00:06:26,410 the birth parents network behind him. What is that? 71 00:06:26,630 --> 00:06:30,010 It's an organization dedicated to asserting the rights of the birth 72 00:06:30,010 --> 00:06:31,010 the adoptive parents. 73 00:06:31,530 --> 00:06:35,350 They are urging him on, providing legal counsel, and covering whatever other 74 00:06:35,350 --> 00:06:36,350 expenses are involved. 75 00:06:36,510 --> 00:06:38,710 So this encompasses more than just the parties of interest. 76 00:06:39,050 --> 00:06:40,210 You might say that, yeah. 77 00:06:40,690 --> 00:06:45,770 Churchill versus Bowles. Madeline Churchill works for the main branch of 78 00:06:45,770 --> 00:06:46,770 .A. City Library. 79 00:06:47,090 --> 00:06:51,450 She's been repeatedly harassed by a fellow librarian she's suing. How does a 80 00:06:51,450 --> 00:06:52,690 librarian harass somebody? 81 00:06:52,930 --> 00:06:53,930 Very quietly. 82 00:06:54,810 --> 00:07:00,710 This is a rather unusual case. Madeline faints any time she hears vulgarity or 83 00:07:00,710 --> 00:07:05,790 sexual innuendo. Most of the other employees have been quite considerate in 84 00:07:05,790 --> 00:07:10,830 accommodating her situation, but the defendant has chosen to make sport of 85 00:07:11,070 --> 00:07:12,070 She faints? 86 00:07:12,270 --> 00:07:13,270 She faints. 87 00:07:13,430 --> 00:07:15,010 So this is a mental condition? 88 00:07:15,650 --> 00:07:19,050 I wouldn't call it a mental condition. I prefer to think of it as a heightened 89 00:07:19,050 --> 00:07:21,030 sensitivity. How heightened is it? 90 00:07:21,270 --> 00:07:22,270 What do you mean? 91 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:26,660 How vulgar a vulgarity, how sexual a sexual innuendo does it take? 92 00:07:27,180 --> 00:07:28,360 I don't know, Arnold. 93 00:07:28,780 --> 00:07:31,460 Hey, if anybody could make her faint, you could. 94 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:36,000 However eccentric Madeline may seem, the fact remains that someone has made her 95 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:37,180 workplace intolerable. 96 00:07:37,420 --> 00:07:41,100 I think the basis for the lawsuit is legitimate, and I expect to win. 97 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:48,820 Yeah, okay, I'll see you later. 98 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:51,640 Conference room's all booked up. 99 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:55,880 Where are we going to go? To the safe room. Is it set up? Well, set up. 100 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:58,120 What is the safe room? 101 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,000 It's the place we're supposed to go when we're under attack. 102 00:08:01,740 --> 00:08:02,960 They've got a phone in here. 103 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:05,840 Come. 104 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:11,280 Can I talk to you? 105 00:08:11,460 --> 00:08:12,900 Sure. What's up? 106 00:08:14,420 --> 00:08:15,560 About the partners meeting. 107 00:08:16,060 --> 00:08:17,060 Ah. 108 00:08:17,940 --> 00:08:21,480 The... First time you passed me over for partnership, you said it was because of 109 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:22,480 finances. 110 00:08:22,620 --> 00:08:23,620 Mm -hmm. 111 00:08:23,860 --> 00:08:26,980 It was. You asked me to be patient, and I was. 112 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:30,420 Since then, you've taken on two new partners ahead of me. 113 00:08:30,660 --> 00:08:33,120 Well, they both had been partners at other firms. 114 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:34,760 I've been here seven years, Leland. 115 00:08:35,020 --> 00:08:39,120 I've made more than my share of rain. I've handled more than my share of high 116 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:41,559 -stakes cases, and I don't think I've been found wanting. 117 00:08:41,820 --> 00:08:42,739 You're right. 118 00:08:42,740 --> 00:08:44,720 Far from it. I think I'm due. 119 00:08:45,380 --> 00:08:47,680 Well, I can't make you any promises. 120 00:08:48,970 --> 00:08:50,310 But I will bring the matter up. 121 00:08:51,330 --> 00:08:52,330 Thanks. 122 00:08:57,790 --> 00:09:02,630 So, Miss Halliday, since when does Mackenzie Brackman get involved with 123 00:09:02,630 --> 00:09:03,630 like this? 124 00:09:03,670 --> 00:09:04,670 Harrisman isn't nonsense. 125 00:09:05,130 --> 00:09:08,950 Did I ever lay a hand on you? You repeatedly and deliberately made her 126 00:09:08,950 --> 00:09:12,510 intolerable, Mr. Bowles. Miss Churchill is completely within her rights to seek 127 00:09:12,510 --> 00:09:14,890 damages. Let me be a pragmatist for half a minute. 128 00:09:15,250 --> 00:09:16,310 Let's say that you're right. 129 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:20,000 Let's say that this poor woman was harassed. What do you think you're going 130 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:20,779 come away with? 131 00:09:20,780 --> 00:09:23,020 My client has $73 in the bank. 132 00:09:23,220 --> 00:09:25,960 You're aware of our demands. If he finds another job, we'll drop the suit. 133 00:09:26,140 --> 00:09:29,880 Forget it. These are fascist mind games, and I'm not giving in to them. Ever 134 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:33,420 since you came to work at the library, your every intention has been to debase 135 00:09:33,420 --> 00:09:36,680 me. Untrue. And poison the atmosphere I'd come to love. 136 00:09:36,900 --> 00:09:40,180 Look, profanity is part of lingua franca. You know what I mean? At this 137 00:09:40,180 --> 00:09:44,320 history, that is the way people talk. It isn't the way I talk, Mr. Bowles. 138 00:09:44,750 --> 00:09:47,510 Well, that may be because you are something of a tight ass. 139 00:09:47,770 --> 00:09:48,649 Oh, dear. 140 00:09:48,650 --> 00:09:53,510 Mr. Peters, due to the fact that my client has somewhat of a delicate 141 00:09:53,510 --> 00:09:55,810 would ask that your client control his language. 142 00:09:56,110 --> 00:10:00,370 She has a delicate nature. She wants to rule the world. And if we're not careful 143 00:10:00,370 --> 00:10:03,630 in the 21st century, she and women like her will. Carver. 144 00:10:04,030 --> 00:10:07,430 Please, let's try to return to the business at hand. We are not androids, 145 00:10:07,430 --> 00:10:11,890 Madeline, nor are we pure thought. We are all of us raging, devouring sexual 146 00:10:11,890 --> 00:10:16,750 carnivores. Mr. Peters, once again, I would ask that you put a muzzle on your 147 00:10:16,750 --> 00:10:21,370 client. Put a muzzle on me? She's suing me, and you want to put a muzzle on me? 148 00:10:22,030 --> 00:10:23,050 F*** you. 149 00:10:23,550 --> 00:10:24,550 F*** the both of you. 150 00:10:26,650 --> 00:10:27,650 Look at her. 151 00:10:29,010 --> 00:10:30,010 Great. 152 00:10:30,790 --> 00:10:33,910 Mr. Conley, would you please tell the court who Maureen Booker is? 153 00:10:34,350 --> 00:10:35,750 She's the mother of my little girl. 154 00:10:36,110 --> 00:10:39,390 Objection. Ms. Booker has waived her parental rights. Let the record reflect 155 00:10:39,390 --> 00:10:42,770 that the witness's response is taken to mean biological mother only. 156 00:10:43,090 --> 00:10:46,690 Had you and Ms. Booker made arrangements regarding the custody of this child? 157 00:10:46,950 --> 00:10:49,950 After she got pregnant, we agreed to get married. 158 00:10:50,550 --> 00:10:52,270 Then she changed her mind. 159 00:10:52,890 --> 00:10:56,010 So we agreed to split up and share custody when the baby was born. 160 00:10:56,290 --> 00:10:57,290 And then what happened? 161 00:10:57,470 --> 00:10:59,810 Well, just before the baby was due, Maureen disappeared. 162 00:11:00,699 --> 00:11:02,780 I tried to find her, but nobody knew where she was. 163 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:06,020 Then six months later, she showed up and told me that the baby had died. 164 00:11:06,260 --> 00:11:07,260 Did you believe her? 165 00:11:07,380 --> 00:11:10,360 Yeah, I believed her. I couldn't imagine that anyone would lie about something 166 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:11,139 like that. 167 00:11:11,140 --> 00:11:13,380 What, if anything, happened to change your belief? 168 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,940 One night, one of her friends called me up and told me that the baby didn't die, 169 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:18,960 that Maureen had put it up for adoption. 170 00:11:19,340 --> 00:11:20,159 And what did you do? 171 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:21,300 I hired a private investigator. 172 00:11:21,680 --> 00:11:24,700 He looked for her for about six months, but when I ran out of money, he stopped 173 00:11:24,700 --> 00:11:25,700 looking. 174 00:11:25,940 --> 00:11:27,820 Then I read about Birth Parents Network. 175 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:29,340 I made a phone call. 176 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:33,100 Went to a meeting, and suddenly I had this whole organization that was willing 177 00:11:33,100 --> 00:11:36,420 to help me. I mean, they paid for good private investigators. They paid for 178 00:11:36,500 --> 00:11:37,500 Mr. Angeletti. 179 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:39,440 They're the reason that I found my daughter. 180 00:11:39,660 --> 00:11:44,320 What steps, if any, have you taken in anticipation of being awarded the 181 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:45,320 of your daughter? 182 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:49,140 Well, I enrolled myself in a substance abuse program and got myself straight. 183 00:11:49,300 --> 00:11:50,300 That's the first thing. 184 00:11:50,900 --> 00:11:55,900 Then I got a job, I got a decent place to live, and I made arrangements with my 185 00:11:55,900 --> 00:11:58,200 mother to take care of my daughter while I'm at work. 186 00:11:58,640 --> 00:11:59,640 Mr. Conley. 187 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:03,800 If two years ago you'd been asked to waive your parental rights, would you 188 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:04,639 done so? 189 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:05,640 No. 190 00:12:05,700 --> 00:12:06,700 No, I wouldn't have. 191 00:12:07,020 --> 00:12:09,080 I wouldn't have waived them then, and I don't waive them now. 192 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:10,360 I have nothing further. 193 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:17,180 Mr. Connolly, is it your desire to act in what would be considered the best 194 00:12:17,180 --> 00:12:18,180 interests of your daughter? 195 00:12:18,460 --> 00:12:19,460 Of course it is. 196 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,820 You are of the belief, are you not, that her best interests are served by being 197 00:12:22,820 --> 00:12:23,820 given over to you? 198 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:24,920 That's correct. 199 00:12:24,940 --> 00:12:28,320 But it's safe to assume that the biological mother of this child felt 200 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:29,900 Objection. Speculation. 201 00:12:30,460 --> 00:12:33,040 Sustained. Were you drinking while Miss Booker was pregnant, sir? 202 00:12:33,820 --> 00:12:35,080 I was then. I'm not now. 203 00:12:35,340 --> 00:12:36,560 Were you using amphetamines? 204 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,900 I was then. I'm not now. Did you ever become physically violent with her while 205 00:12:40,900 --> 00:12:42,320 she was pregnant? It happened once. 206 00:12:42,900 --> 00:12:45,420 She might have even had something to do with it. In other words, it was 207 00:12:45,420 --> 00:12:46,420 justified. 208 00:12:49,620 --> 00:12:53,760 No, it wasn't. You would agree, would you not, that placing a child in the 209 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:58,200 custody of an individual who has a drinking problem, who has a drug 210 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:02,420 is prone toward physical violence, in all likelihood, would not be in the best 211 00:13:02,420 --> 00:13:03,420 interest of that child? 212 00:13:03,620 --> 00:13:05,900 Objection. Yes, I would agree. Overruled. I do not like that anymore. 213 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:07,120 That's right, I'm not. 214 00:13:07,700 --> 00:13:09,040 I'm also that child's father. 215 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:10,920 I have no further questions. 216 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:12,200 I'm her real father. 217 00:13:12,420 --> 00:13:15,200 Mr. Conley. And I'm the one who should be raising her, too. Mr. Conley, I'll 218 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:16,500 have to ask you to step down now. 219 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:18,760 Yes, Your Honor. 220 00:13:29,680 --> 00:13:32,360 would you tell us about your relationship with Brian Connolly? 221 00:13:33,680 --> 00:13:35,760 We were together about six months. 222 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:37,640 It didn't work out. 223 00:13:37,980 --> 00:13:38,980 Why not? 224 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:40,620 A lot of reasons. 225 00:13:41,860 --> 00:13:43,920 He's got a temper. He drinks. 226 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,600 When I got pregnant, we were going to get married. 227 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:54,080 But I thought about what my life would be like and what my kids' life would be 228 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:55,080 like. 229 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:57,080 And I said, no way. 230 00:13:57,500 --> 00:13:58,880 Why did you put your baby up for adoption? 231 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:00,440 I was just out of high school. 232 00:14:00,820 --> 00:14:02,820 I wasn't ready to be a mother. 233 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:07,100 I met Miss Heberden and decided to do what was best for my kid. 234 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:09,540 Did you know that Mr. Conley wanted custody? 235 00:14:09,940 --> 00:14:11,440 That's not what he said then. 236 00:14:11,980 --> 00:14:15,080 He wanted me to raise it so he could come and visit once in a while. 237 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:17,040 He didn't want the responsibility. 238 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:19,760 I couldn't even get him to chip in for medical expenses. 239 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:21,660 Did you consider having an abortion? 240 00:14:22,060 --> 00:14:24,200 I don't really believe in abortion. 241 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:30,340 On the other hand, if I thought the alternative was to have Brian raise her, 242 00:14:30,340 --> 00:14:32,280 probably would have considered it. Why? 243 00:14:32,620 --> 00:14:35,700 He wasn't any more ready to raise a kid than I was. 244 00:14:36,220 --> 00:14:37,900 Thank you. I have nothing further. 245 00:14:40,020 --> 00:14:44,140 Ms. Booker, the time of your breakup with Mr. Conley, were you seeing other 246 00:14:44,380 --> 00:14:45,640 I was seeing another man. 247 00:14:45,940 --> 00:14:46,919 One man. 248 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:47,920 Did he have money? 249 00:14:48,060 --> 00:14:49,060 Objection. Irrelevant. 250 00:14:49,420 --> 00:14:51,950 Sustained. Laura Heberton has money, doesn't she? 251 00:14:52,530 --> 00:14:55,790 Objection. Sustained. How much did Laura Heberton pay you, Ms. Booker? 252 00:14:56,330 --> 00:15:01,350 She paid for my medical expenses. That's it. You say that Mr. Conley refused to 253 00:15:01,350 --> 00:15:02,490 pay for your medical expenses. 254 00:15:02,850 --> 00:15:04,930 That's right. You disappeared before the baby was due. 255 00:15:05,150 --> 00:15:07,830 And then you didn't get in touch with him again for six months. And when you 256 00:15:07,830 --> 00:15:09,190 did, you said that the baby was dead. 257 00:15:09,490 --> 00:15:12,150 Did you really give him a chance to pay for those medical expenses? 258 00:15:12,850 --> 00:15:14,050 It wouldn't have mattered. 259 00:15:14,530 --> 00:15:15,530 How do you know? 260 00:15:15,870 --> 00:15:16,870 I know Brian. 261 00:15:16,990 --> 00:15:19,010 Isn't what happened was that you wanted to hurt Brian? 262 00:15:19,450 --> 00:15:22,450 And you wanted to leave yourself unencumbered? And what better way to 263 00:15:22,450 --> 00:15:26,350 both those things than by denying him the child that was his? I care about 264 00:15:26,350 --> 00:15:28,290 child as much as anyone in this room. 265 00:15:29,090 --> 00:15:31,990 I gave her up because I thought it was best for her. 266 00:15:33,070 --> 00:15:34,610 She could be loved. 267 00:15:35,090 --> 00:15:37,170 She could have someone to take care of her. 268 00:15:38,130 --> 00:15:43,090 And as painful as it was, I don't regret it for a second. 269 00:15:44,570 --> 00:15:46,310 I did what was right. 270 00:15:47,470 --> 00:15:49,230 Have you visited your child, Miss Booker? 271 00:15:51,670 --> 00:15:56,430 No. The truth is, you have no idea what kind of a parent Laura Heberton is, do 272 00:15:56,430 --> 00:15:57,430 you? 273 00:15:57,650 --> 00:15:59,130 I think she's a good parent. 274 00:15:59,350 --> 00:16:01,310 I'm sure it's comforting for you to think that, isn't it? 275 00:16:01,630 --> 00:16:03,530 Objection. Withdrawn. I have nothing further. 276 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:13,920 Before we begin the deposition, I would like to remind Mr. Bowles that certain 277 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:18,100 words and phrases are extremely discomforting to my client, and I don't 278 00:16:18,100 --> 00:16:19,300 to subject her to them. 279 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:25,340 In the interest of expediting the matter, my client has agreed to refrain 280 00:16:25,340 --> 00:16:29,120 vulgarity. When did you start working at the library, Mr. Bowles? 281 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:30,360 Last November. 282 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:31,960 Would you describe your duties? 283 00:16:32,430 --> 00:16:36,670 I put the books back on the shelf, I worked the checkout desk, balanced the 284 00:16:36,670 --> 00:16:39,550 homeless people that got too stinky, general library duties. 285 00:16:40,010 --> 00:16:43,870 Were you ever told about Miss Churchill's sensitivity to language? 286 00:16:44,390 --> 00:16:49,490 I was told she fainted. Having been told that she fainted, did you ever act in 287 00:16:49,490 --> 00:16:51,330 such a way as to cause her to faint? 288 00:16:51,710 --> 00:16:53,110 Well, apparently I did. 289 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:54,720 Did you do so deliberately? 290 00:16:55,100 --> 00:16:56,140 No, I did not. 291 00:16:56,460 --> 00:16:59,840 Did you ever use profane language when speaking to Miss Churchill? 292 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:04,500 I'm a human being. I speak in the colloquial vernacular of the age. 293 00:17:04,500 --> 00:17:05,500 is a pain in the ass. 294 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:09,359 In other words, you resented her. Every day there was a new rule. One day there 295 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:13,640 was no jeans. The next day there was no gum. The next day was a memo about the 296 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:15,079 proper forms of salutation. 297 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:19,780 I was seeking a certain minimal level of decorum. Is that why you told me I 298 00:17:19,780 --> 00:17:21,560 couldn't handle any 19th century additions? 299 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:26,089 I told you. I told you that because your fingernails were ill -kept. More rules. 300 00:17:26,230 --> 00:17:31,170 Rules of conduct, Mr. Bowles, are in the end what define us as a civilization. 301 00:17:31,690 --> 00:17:32,750 Let me tell you something. 302 00:17:33,030 --> 00:17:36,510 Rules and repression start with the genitalia and they work their way 303 00:17:36,510 --> 00:17:39,830 until they imprison the mind. Could we get back to the deposition, please? 304 00:17:40,050 --> 00:17:42,170 Read Fahrenheit 451 sometime. 305 00:17:42,430 --> 00:17:46,110 Read Philip K. Dick. I thought that we had agreed on something. 306 00:17:46,330 --> 00:17:50,930 It's a name. That's his name. Philip K. Dick. Did you not taught her on a daily 307 00:17:50,930 --> 00:17:55,340 basis, Mr. Bowles? Did you not do everything in your power to make 308 00:17:55,340 --> 00:17:58,920 work utterly intolerable for her? I used words. 309 00:17:59,140 --> 00:18:01,740 At first, I used them in the course of ordinary conversation. 310 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:06,280 Then, when the philosophical ramifications of her repressive attitude 311 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:08,940 language sunk in, I used them deliberately. 312 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:12,040 I used words to describe the human excretory function. 313 00:18:12,360 --> 00:18:16,480 I used words to describe the human sexual function. I used words to 314 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:17,680 define human existence. 315 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:20,240 It was intolerable for her to hear them. 316 00:18:20,980 --> 00:18:25,400 Intolerable to me to be prohibited from using it. Oh, yeah. Every now and then I 317 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:26,560 would come up to her. 318 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:28,640 I'd lean in and I would whisper. 319 00:18:29,300 --> 00:18:30,300 Madeline? 320 00:18:31,340 --> 00:18:33,160 Well, she beat me to it that time. 321 00:18:35,900 --> 00:18:41,560 Something has come up we have to discuss before we can proceed. 322 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:42,459 What's that? 323 00:18:42,460 --> 00:18:44,740 Jonathan Rollins approached me this afternoon. 324 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:46,960 He thinks it's time we made him a partner. 325 00:18:47,340 --> 00:18:49,420 Partnership decisions are made in June. This is February. 326 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:50,640 I realize that. 327 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:52,640 Jonathan would like a decision now. 328 00:18:52,900 --> 00:18:57,160 That's a little cheeky, isn't it? Douglas, we told him two years ago he 329 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:00,280 being passed over because the firm was in financial straits. 330 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:02,400 Clearly, that's not the case anymore. 331 00:19:02,660 --> 00:19:05,980 How do you define financial straits? Do we have more money than we need? I don't 332 00:19:05,980 --> 00:19:09,700 think so. He's also young. He hasn't been an associate for a terribly long 333 00:19:09,860 --> 00:19:13,720 He also took a year off. Jonathan is one of the best litigators in the city, and 334 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:16,300 everybody in this room knows it. I don't think anyone's arguing that. 335 00:19:16,540 --> 00:19:18,320 The truth is, that's not an appropriate criteria. 336 00:19:18,620 --> 00:19:21,460 This would have a negative financial impact on everyone in this room. 337 00:19:21,700 --> 00:19:26,120 Well, that's true whenever you take on a new partner, Douglas. Does that mean we 338 00:19:26,120 --> 00:19:29,860 should never do it? It means we do it as dispassionately as possible. 339 00:19:30,380 --> 00:19:31,380 Let's put it to a vote. 340 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:33,160 Blind ballot. 341 00:19:37,980 --> 00:19:40,680 Given that I don't feel comfortable being part of this decision, I'm just 342 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:41,680 to listen. 343 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,540 I can't thank you enough for all the trouble you've taken, Miss Halliday. 344 00:20:03,220 --> 00:20:06,920 I'm truly sorry to be such a burden. You're not a burden, Madeline. You're a 345 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:08,940 client. It's just the same. 346 00:20:09,420 --> 00:20:12,180 All these scenes, all this fainting. 347 00:20:12,580 --> 00:20:13,780 It's quite embarrassing. 348 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:16,380 I'm sorry that you're embarrassed. You needn't be. 349 00:20:18,220 --> 00:20:21,280 Okay, we have mints. Apple, Earl Grey. 350 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:22,660 Have you any valerian root? 351 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:26,760 No, I don't see any. 352 00:20:27,100 --> 00:20:28,340 Um, chamomile. 353 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:31,180 Chamomile will be fine. Sugar? Please. 354 00:20:31,700 --> 00:20:32,700 Madeline Churchill. 355 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,580 Yes. Arnold Becker. How do you do? 356 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:38,520 Very well, thank you. I've been following your case. 357 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:42,480 Have you? Yes, I have. We like to afford our clients the benefit of various 358 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:46,940 points of view here, notwithstanding that Jane is as capable as any attorney 359 00:20:46,940 --> 00:20:47,819 here. Yes. 360 00:20:47,820 --> 00:20:51,900 Miss Halliday is doing a wonderful job, and under rather difficult 361 00:20:51,900 --> 00:20:52,900 circumstances. 362 00:20:53,790 --> 00:20:57,730 As you may or may not know, our opponent is something of a cad. 363 00:20:57,950 --> 00:21:00,550 He keeps using those upsetting words, doesn't he? 364 00:21:00,750 --> 00:21:01,750 Yes, he does. 365 00:21:02,110 --> 00:21:04,450 We should probably get back to work. 366 00:21:04,670 --> 00:21:05,670 But just one second. 367 00:21:06,570 --> 00:21:08,530 I find you to be a fascinating woman. 368 00:21:09,290 --> 00:21:11,210 I'm sorry, was that too forward? 369 00:21:11,410 --> 00:21:16,050 No. The relations between the sexes is my bailiwick, so to speak, hence my 370 00:21:16,050 --> 00:21:21,310 curiosity. So I find myself wondering, is it the word or the... 371 00:21:21,870 --> 00:21:24,410 implication of the word that gets you upset. 372 00:21:24,670 --> 00:21:26,930 Arnie, I really need to get Madeline going here. 373 00:21:27,130 --> 00:21:31,230 I'm not sure I know the difference, Mr. Becker. Some words are exclusively 374 00:21:31,230 --> 00:21:37,150 sexual. They either refer to genitalia or various sexual acts, whereas other 375 00:21:37,150 --> 00:21:41,140 words... acquire their sexual meaning from the context in which they're used. 376 00:21:41,380 --> 00:21:43,320 Arnie. A restaurant chain is called Hooters. 377 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:48,420 Now, if you infer that that name refers to the waitress's breasts rather than to 378 00:21:48,420 --> 00:21:50,280 Al's, would that cause you to faint? 379 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:54,540 Contrary to what you may think, Mr. Becker, I am not a knave. 380 00:21:54,820 --> 00:21:57,940 I know to what the name of these restaurants refers. 381 00:21:58,300 --> 00:22:01,850 And while I choose not to patronize... Such an establishment. 382 00:22:02,470 --> 00:22:06,570 Neither would the name cause me to faint. If a man told you that he was 383 00:22:06,570 --> 00:22:10,850 go home to polish the bishop... Okay, Arnie, that's all we have time for. One 384 00:22:10,850 --> 00:22:11,850 more, one more. 385 00:22:12,290 --> 00:22:16,330 A woman walks into a room full of men and asks, which one of you is Eric? Now, 386 00:22:16,330 --> 00:22:20,910 if you were to hear this as which one of you is erect, thereby conjuring up 387 00:22:20,910 --> 00:22:25,410 images of orgiastic behavior, multiple penetration and so forth, would that 388 00:22:25,410 --> 00:22:26,410 cause you to faint? 389 00:22:29,610 --> 00:22:30,830 My God, it works. 390 00:22:32,230 --> 00:22:35,470 Your Honor, once again, I would argue this witness is not qualified to testify 391 00:22:35,470 --> 00:22:36,369 as an expert. 392 00:22:36,370 --> 00:22:38,490 She's a psychologist, Your Honor, board certified. 393 00:22:38,830 --> 00:22:41,490 She's been associated with the American Birth Parents Network since its 394 00:22:41,490 --> 00:22:44,430 inception, Your Honor. She's here as an advocate... And I'm sure you'll cross 395 00:22:44,430 --> 00:22:47,030 -examine her accordingly. The witness may testify. 396 00:22:48,830 --> 00:22:52,870 Dr. Farr, would you please state for the court your field of specialization? 397 00:22:55,370 --> 00:22:59,410 I deal with families who have suffered through the trauma of adoption, either 398 00:22:59,410 --> 00:23:03,650 parents who have lost their children or children who have lost their parents. 399 00:23:04,190 --> 00:23:07,490 Characterize for us, if you will, the effect of such loss. 400 00:23:07,770 --> 00:23:11,590 Objection. Counsel is dealing in meaningless generalities. The issue of 401 00:23:11,590 --> 00:23:13,110 per se should be considered here. 402 00:23:13,310 --> 00:23:14,650 The objection is overruled. 403 00:23:15,010 --> 00:23:16,050 Witness can answer. 404 00:23:17,770 --> 00:23:22,110 Most children who have been adopted spend their lives trying to puzzle out 405 00:23:22,110 --> 00:23:25,070 identity in a way that other people can't understand. 406 00:23:25,410 --> 00:23:30,750 No matter how much their adoptive parents love them, these children grow 407 00:23:30,750 --> 00:23:33,310 feeling like a part of themselves is missing. 408 00:23:33,730 --> 00:23:39,410 Adopted children live with a sense of having been abandoned by their parents. 409 00:23:39,450 --> 00:23:41,370 It's a tremendous burden to carry. 410 00:23:41,590 --> 00:23:42,750 And how do these children respond? 411 00:23:43,110 --> 00:23:45,830 Objection, excessively broad, excessively vague. 412 00:23:46,190 --> 00:23:47,190 Overruled. 413 00:23:47,580 --> 00:23:51,420 Adopted children can respond in any number of ways. Some are more effective 414 00:23:51,420 --> 00:23:57,060 others. But the range of response includes behavior that is quite 415 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:02,040 whether it be eating disorders or drug abuse or criminality. 416 00:24:02,580 --> 00:24:09,020 The healthiest solution for an adopted child is to seek out his or her birth 417 00:24:09,020 --> 00:24:13,020 parent and establish a relationship with them. In your opinion, Doctor... 418 00:24:13,420 --> 00:24:18,000 At what age is it better to let things be? At what age is it better for a child 419 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,600 not to be taken from its adoptive parents? 420 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:26,940 If a birth parent stands ready, willing and able to make a home for that child, 421 00:24:27,140 --> 00:24:33,860 I believe that child is better off with their birth parent at whatever 422 00:24:33,860 --> 00:24:35,380 age. Thank you, Doctor. 423 00:24:38,350 --> 00:24:43,430 Would you concede, Ms. Farr, that at the present time, Brian Connolly is in fact 424 00:24:43,430 --> 00:24:44,570 a stranger to this child? 425 00:24:44,810 --> 00:24:49,290 First off, Ms. Kelsey, I would ask that you refer to me as doctor, as I have in 426 00:24:49,290 --> 00:24:50,390 fact earned that credential. 427 00:24:51,450 --> 00:24:55,950 And as to your question, no, I would not concede that Mr. Connolly is a 428 00:24:55,950 --> 00:24:57,710 stranger. He is anything but a stranger. 429 00:24:57,970 --> 00:25:01,470 And yes, I think a two -year -old child would sense that. 430 00:25:01,730 --> 00:25:06,550 And how would she sense that, Dr. Farr? I have seen pictures of little Emily. 431 00:25:07,980 --> 00:25:11,860 She has her father's eyes and her father's chin. 432 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:17,240 If I can recognize that, so can she. Have you ever met little Emily, Doctor? 433 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:19,460 No, I haven't. 434 00:25:19,740 --> 00:25:21,700 Have you ever interviewed Laura Heberton? 435 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:23,380 No, I haven't done that either. 436 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:27,980 And yet you're up here as an expert witness, testifying as to what's in the 437 00:25:27,980 --> 00:25:29,020 interest of this child. 438 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:31,620 Don't you find that a little odd, Doctor? 439 00:25:32,020 --> 00:25:36,680 No, Miss Kelsey, I don't find it in the least bit odd. You see, I myself was 440 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:37,680 adopted. 441 00:25:37,820 --> 00:25:43,380 I was rejected by my birth parents, not once, but twice. The first time, when I 442 00:25:43,380 --> 00:25:44,259 was born. 443 00:25:44,260 --> 00:25:47,900 The second time, 28 years later, when I finally located them. 444 00:25:48,140 --> 00:25:51,880 Is it ever harmful to the child when the birth parents make contact? 445 00:25:52,340 --> 00:25:54,680 I'm 38 years old, Miss Kelsey. 446 00:25:55,100 --> 00:26:00,200 Every year on my birthday, I wait for a card from my birth parents. 447 00:26:00,500 --> 00:26:05,240 Is your expertise based on being a psychologist or on the fact that you 448 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:06,240 adopted child? 449 00:26:07,150 --> 00:26:08,150 It's based on both. 450 00:26:10,150 --> 00:26:11,410 I have no further questions. 451 00:26:17,250 --> 00:26:18,250 Come in. 452 00:26:21,630 --> 00:26:24,310 I'm afraid the vote did not go as I had expected. 453 00:26:26,490 --> 00:26:30,870 I may have made a mistake by insisting that the vote be taken at this time. 454 00:26:31,270 --> 00:26:35,510 There were some who thought we should wait until June when partnership 455 00:26:35,510 --> 00:26:36,510 are usually made. 456 00:26:36,830 --> 00:26:38,650 You think the results will be different in three months? 457 00:26:39,070 --> 00:26:40,370 I think so, yes. 458 00:26:41,830 --> 00:26:42,970 Who voted against me? 459 00:26:43,510 --> 00:26:44,830 It was a secret ballot. 460 00:26:45,410 --> 00:26:46,410 I don't know. 461 00:26:47,310 --> 00:26:49,270 Then how do you know they'll vote differently in June? 462 00:27:09,070 --> 00:27:10,610 Hey, Jonathan, how you doing? 463 00:27:11,630 --> 00:27:12,630 Okay. 464 00:27:12,870 --> 00:27:15,090 Yeah, I spoke to Barry Glassman this morning. 465 00:27:15,310 --> 00:27:17,430 Oh, yeah? Yeah, he and Faith said hi. 466 00:27:19,070 --> 00:27:21,050 You know, we should all get together sometime. 467 00:27:22,470 --> 00:27:24,450 Sure. Have dinner? Yeah. 468 00:27:31,710 --> 00:27:32,910 Stuart Markowitz. 469 00:27:34,070 --> 00:27:35,070 What? 470 00:27:35,470 --> 00:27:36,950 You voted against him. 471 00:27:38,090 --> 00:27:40,970 Can we not talk about this here? How could you vote against him? 472 00:27:41,190 --> 00:27:44,790 Because I think occasionally we have to exercise a little fiscal conservatism 473 00:27:44,790 --> 00:27:45,589 around here. 474 00:27:45,590 --> 00:27:47,150 Fiscal conservatism? Yeah. 475 00:27:47,390 --> 00:27:50,990 Partnership decisions are made in June. There's a reason for that, Anne. We have 476 00:27:50,990 --> 00:27:54,230 rules around here for a reason. I can't believe I'm hearing this. What are you 477 00:27:54,230 --> 00:27:55,450 all, Douglas MacArthur? 478 00:27:55,830 --> 00:27:59,510 Anne, the fact is it's better for Jonathan this way. It's better for his 479 00:27:59,510 --> 00:28:02,610 situation. It's better for his buy -in situation. I see. So you're just looking 480 00:28:02,610 --> 00:28:03,710 out for his best interests. 481 00:28:03,930 --> 00:28:06,630 Yeah, your sarcasm notwithstanding. I feel totally justified. 482 00:28:07,040 --> 00:28:09,800 He saved your best friend's life, and you feel totally justified. 483 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:17,420 Let me tell you what you did yesterday. 484 00:28:17,900 --> 00:28:22,180 You caused a perfectly innocent, rather fragile woman a tremendous amount of 485 00:28:22,180 --> 00:28:25,960 embarrassment. After your little performance yesterday, Madeline spent 20 486 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:27,320 minutes in the ladies' room weeping. 487 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:31,660 That woman is a client of this firm. That entitles her to your protection as 488 00:28:31,660 --> 00:28:32,660 well as mine. 489 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:34,200 You're right. 490 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:35,019 I'm sorry. 491 00:28:35,020 --> 00:28:38,320 Whatever sexual games you might play with me, Arnie does not give you the 492 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:39,880 to involve an innocent bystander. 493 00:28:40,260 --> 00:28:42,220 Do it again and I'll gouge your eyes out. 494 00:28:45,620 --> 00:28:46,620 Wow. 495 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:57,120 Miss Churchill, how long have you worked at the public library? 496 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:02,460 Four years at the Wilshire branch and ten years now at the main branch 497 00:29:03,370 --> 00:29:04,209 Fourteen years. 498 00:29:04,210 --> 00:29:08,950 And in that time, have you ever had any trouble getting along with other 499 00:29:08,950 --> 00:29:10,770 employees? Not at all. 500 00:29:11,730 --> 00:29:12,729 You're right. 501 00:29:12,730 --> 00:29:17,750 Well, there are occasional misunderstandings, but for the most 502 00:29:17,750 --> 00:29:21,610 librarians are diligent and considerate workmates. Isn't it true, Miss 503 00:29:21,610 --> 00:29:24,670 Churchill, that you've had three other employees fired for nothing more than 504 00:29:24,670 --> 00:29:25,690 offending your sensibilities? 505 00:29:25,930 --> 00:29:26,929 Absolutely not. 506 00:29:26,930 --> 00:29:30,390 Oh, well, I've got a letter here from Miss Melody Weagle. 507 00:29:30,620 --> 00:29:33,580 A terrible laggard. She was routinely late for work. 508 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:35,880 Right. She said only helping a couple of times. 509 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:39,600 Punctuality, Mr. Peters, is not an occasional virtue. 510 00:29:39,820 --> 00:29:40,820 What about Mr. 511 00:29:41,100 --> 00:29:42,900 Kirk Dauphinese? 512 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:44,760 That man was a drunk. 513 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:46,560 He'd have a beer at his lunch. 514 00:29:46,860 --> 00:29:48,460 He stank of liquor. 515 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:55,320 Kathy Twill. Miss Twill engaged in illicit activity in the library stack. 516 00:29:55,620 --> 00:29:56,880 She was kissing her boyfriend. 517 00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:59,380 They were doing more than kissing. 518 00:29:59,930 --> 00:30:03,610 Mr. Bowles. Isn't it true that you cost these people their jobs, Miss Churchill? 519 00:30:03,750 --> 00:30:05,610 And I think you're trying to do the same thing to my client. 520 00:30:05,850 --> 00:30:08,210 Your client is not a gentleman, sir. 521 00:30:08,410 --> 00:30:11,730 Well, that happens not to be a crime, Miss Churchill. You see, this is not 522 00:30:11,730 --> 00:30:13,830 century England. It's 20th century Los Angeles. 523 00:30:14,050 --> 00:30:16,290 And you may not like it, but this is where you live. 524 00:30:16,490 --> 00:30:18,070 I beg to differ with you, Mr. Peters. 525 00:30:19,070 --> 00:30:22,530 Time and culture are not a place, but a state of mind. 526 00:30:23,070 --> 00:30:27,570 In fact, I do not live in the 20th century, nor do I have any intention of 527 00:30:27,570 --> 00:30:28,570 doing so. 528 00:30:28,610 --> 00:30:29,610 Fine. 529 00:30:30,500 --> 00:30:32,220 Uh, I have no other questions. 530 00:30:33,100 --> 00:30:34,100 Let's go to trial. 531 00:30:35,180 --> 00:30:38,360 With all due respect, Miss Halliday, your client's a lunatic. 532 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:39,700 We'll see you in court. 533 00:30:40,340 --> 00:30:42,800 Why am I a lunatic, Mr. Peters? 534 00:30:43,140 --> 00:30:46,180 Madeline, we're finished now. You don't have to talk to him anymore. No, Jane, 535 00:30:46,260 --> 00:30:47,260 I'm curious. 536 00:30:47,740 --> 00:30:52,640 I go to work every day. I perform my duties valiantly and well. 537 00:30:52,940 --> 00:30:55,540 I treat my fellow man with kindness. 538 00:30:56,080 --> 00:31:01,040 My standards of behavior are rigorous, I admit, but I'm never mean -spirited 539 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:03,760 about the failure of my employees to meet those standards. 540 00:31:04,620 --> 00:31:08,460 What is it about my behavior which suggests mental instability? 541 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:11,480 Well, look at you. Look at the way you're dressed. 542 00:31:12,060 --> 00:31:13,060 Excuse me, Jane. 543 00:31:13,480 --> 00:31:15,520 Jane, they need the room. 544 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:17,780 Tell them that we're running a little bit late. 545 00:31:18,100 --> 00:31:19,100 Okay. 546 00:31:19,220 --> 00:31:20,220 Mr. Bowles. 547 00:31:20,990 --> 00:31:25,890 I hardly think we are sufficiently familiar with one another so as to 548 00:31:25,890 --> 00:31:28,110 a conversation about the way in which I dress. 549 00:31:28,350 --> 00:31:32,050 Miss Churchill, you can't force other people to live like you. 550 00:31:32,390 --> 00:31:36,590 You don't have that right. Do you have the right to force me to live like you? 551 00:31:37,250 --> 00:31:42,770 In a world where violence is as common as the common cold and common decency is 552 00:31:42,770 --> 00:31:43,770 all but obsolete? 553 00:31:44,770 --> 00:31:48,370 In this world, your world, Mr. Peters. 554 00:31:49,070 --> 00:31:53,390 The sins of the flesh have nearly annihilated the life of the mind. 555 00:31:53,930 --> 00:31:57,770 Even the discussion of spirituality has become an embarrassment. 556 00:31:58,650 --> 00:32:01,210 People's very souls have shrunk. 557 00:32:01,670 --> 00:32:05,270 Am I the lunatic because I will not embrace this world? 558 00:32:06,510 --> 00:32:12,050 Perhaps the Victorians were fragile creatures whose mistakes were as grand 559 00:32:12,050 --> 00:32:12,989 their achievements. 560 00:32:12,990 --> 00:32:17,850 But they bowed before beauty. They yearned for grace. 561 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:21,700 They struggled for intellectual integrity. 562 00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:24,300 And they had manners. 563 00:32:24,660 --> 00:32:30,600 I beg your pardon if I am reluctant to exchange their values for yours. 564 00:32:40,980 --> 00:32:41,980 Ms. 565 00:32:43,300 --> 00:32:45,540 Heberton, could you tell the court how you met Ms. Booker? 566 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:49,720 I had placed advertisements with several adoption agencies. 567 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:54,140 I paid an attorney who specializes in adoptions. 568 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:59,680 Maureen contacted me when she was seven months pregnant. I flew to Ohio to meet 569 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:00,179 with her. 570 00:33:00,180 --> 00:33:04,280 When did you first learn about Mr. Connolly? About two weeks before Emily's 571 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:05,280 first birthday. 572 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:08,940 Maureen called me to tell me that she had heard through friends that he was 573 00:33:08,940 --> 00:33:10,280 actively looking for the baby. 574 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:12,880 Did you try to contact Mr. Connolly at that time? 575 00:33:13,100 --> 00:33:14,660 No. Why didn't you? 576 00:33:14,970 --> 00:33:16,870 I was in a complete panic, that's why. 577 00:33:18,390 --> 00:33:20,530 I couldn't imagine what I would say to him. 578 00:33:21,010 --> 00:33:23,430 And as soon as he contacted me, I hired you. 579 00:33:23,670 --> 00:33:28,170 In contesting Mr. Connolly's suit, do you believe that you're doing what's 580 00:33:28,170 --> 00:33:28,969 for your child? 581 00:33:28,970 --> 00:33:30,790 To the core of my being. 582 00:33:32,390 --> 00:33:35,610 I was there when Emmy started to crawl. 583 00:33:36,130 --> 00:33:38,390 I was there when she learned to walk. 584 00:33:38,950 --> 00:33:41,130 I make her breakfast every morning. 585 00:33:41,430 --> 00:33:42,830 I color with her. 586 00:33:43,230 --> 00:33:46,230 I pat her back at night until she goes to sleep. 587 00:33:47,730 --> 00:33:49,450 I am her whole world. 588 00:33:51,610 --> 00:33:55,990 I'm sorry if Brian Connolly feels that his rights have been violated. 589 00:33:56,670 --> 00:33:58,930 Quite frankly, he is not my concern. 590 00:33:59,270 --> 00:34:00,270 Emily is. 591 00:34:01,130 --> 00:34:02,710 Thank you. I have no further questions. 592 00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:08,199 How much did you pay the lawyer who arranged this adoption? 593 00:34:08,679 --> 00:34:10,179 Objection. Irrelevant. Sustained. 594 00:34:10,380 --> 00:34:12,280 How much did you wind up paying Maureen Booker? 595 00:34:12,679 --> 00:34:14,179 Objection. Irrelevant. Sustained. 596 00:34:17,139 --> 00:34:19,420 Are you able to have a child of your own? 597 00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:20,920 Objection. Irrelevant. 598 00:34:22,159 --> 00:34:23,159 I'll allow it. 599 00:34:24,420 --> 00:34:27,080 I have a child of my own, Mr. Angeletti. 600 00:34:27,780 --> 00:34:28,780 I have a daughter. 601 00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:31,380 Are you able to have children by giving birth to them? 602 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:33,000 No. 603 00:34:33,409 --> 00:34:37,190 Is it fair to say, ma 'am, that this is a source of great frustration to you? 604 00:34:38,449 --> 00:34:39,449 Yes. 605 00:34:39,590 --> 00:34:42,730 And thanks to your financial resources, you've been able to overcome this 606 00:34:42,730 --> 00:34:47,570 frustration, haven't you? I assure you, sir, that regardless of my financial 607 00:34:47,570 --> 00:34:54,050 resources, I would have found the money to try and stop you people from taking 608 00:34:54,050 --> 00:34:55,050 Emily away from me. 609 00:34:57,310 --> 00:34:58,410 Does Emily have a nanny? 610 00:34:59,330 --> 00:35:01,510 Yes, she does. How many hours a week does she spend with her? 611 00:35:01,850 --> 00:35:03,430 I don't keep track week to week. 612 00:35:03,670 --> 00:35:06,850 60? 70? I try to keep my work week to 40 hours. 613 00:35:07,130 --> 00:35:09,950 Occasionally, I can't. Does Emily call the nanny mommy? 614 00:35:10,270 --> 00:35:14,030 Not that I know of, no. Emily's seeing a child psychiatrist right now, isn't 615 00:35:14,030 --> 00:35:14,908 she? 616 00:35:14,910 --> 00:35:19,510 Yes. Why would a two -year -old need to do that? This trial has taken a toll on 617 00:35:19,510 --> 00:35:22,450 her. I'm upset, and she senses that. 618 00:35:22,730 --> 00:35:25,110 You're upset, so your child sees a psychiatrist. 619 00:35:25,910 --> 00:35:29,570 Emily was taken to the emergency room at Cedars -Sinai nine weeks ago. Was she 620 00:35:29,570 --> 00:35:30,570 not? 621 00:35:30,710 --> 00:35:35,530 Her arm was burned. She reached up to the stove while I was making dinner and 622 00:35:35,530 --> 00:35:37,330 spilled hot water on herself. 623 00:35:37,670 --> 00:35:40,890 Do you think you're a good mother, Miss Everton? Yes, I do. 624 00:35:41,130 --> 00:35:42,550 Would you acknowledge it if you weren't? 625 00:35:42,910 --> 00:35:45,810 Would you acknowledge that it might not be in the best interests of this child 626 00:35:45,810 --> 00:35:50,130 to remain with you rather than be returned to her real parent? Objection! 627 00:35:50,130 --> 00:35:51,270 her real parent. 628 00:35:51,970 --> 00:35:54,090 I'm real because of what I do. 629 00:35:54,470 --> 00:35:59,290 I'm real because I am the only mother that Emily has ever known. That, Mr. 630 00:35:59,450 --> 00:36:02,970 Angeletti, is real. I wonder if Emily will agree with you when she finds out 631 00:36:02,970 --> 00:36:03,970 she's adopted. 632 00:36:04,150 --> 00:36:07,390 Objection! Sustained. You do intend to tell her, don't you? 633 00:36:07,750 --> 00:36:08,750 Yes. 634 00:36:09,430 --> 00:36:10,670 When she's older. 635 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:13,940 I intend to tell her everything. 636 00:36:16,900 --> 00:36:17,900 I have nothing further. 637 00:36:27,860 --> 00:36:31,280 Laura, I think we should discuss this. I don't want to discuss it, Anne. If we 638 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:33,000 discuss it, you're going to talk to me. 639 00:36:33,720 --> 00:36:35,400 What is it you want to do, Miss Heberden? 640 00:36:35,620 --> 00:36:37,020 I want to make an offer, Laura. 641 00:36:38,940 --> 00:36:39,940 Until now. 642 00:36:40,230 --> 00:36:42,850 I've been unwilling to agree to any kind of visitation. 643 00:36:43,710 --> 00:36:47,790 I was concerned that Emily was too young, that it would be upsetting for 644 00:36:48,870 --> 00:36:49,870 I'm still concerned. 645 00:36:51,850 --> 00:36:54,730 Okay, that said, I'm willing to try it. 646 00:36:55,310 --> 00:36:58,890 I'm willing to see how some sort of structured visitation goes. 647 00:36:59,230 --> 00:37:00,230 Is that it? 648 00:37:00,430 --> 00:37:04,490 If it's not upsetting to her, we can increase it. Forget it, Miss Hebert, and 649 00:37:04,490 --> 00:37:05,490 what you're offering is nothing. 650 00:37:05,690 --> 00:37:08,730 Do you think it's nothing, Brian? Don't talk to my client, Miss Kelsey. Talk to 651 00:37:08,730 --> 00:37:10,790 me. I was hoping to get custody. 652 00:37:11,250 --> 00:37:13,650 Do you know what that would do to her, Brian? 653 00:37:14,430 --> 00:37:18,990 You would be taking her away from the only home that she's ever known. 654 00:37:19,210 --> 00:37:20,370 Yes, we would, Miss Hepperton. 655 00:37:20,650 --> 00:37:24,030 I'm sure the transition period would be somewhat difficult, but we believe that 656 00:37:24,030 --> 00:37:27,990 Emily, assuming that Brian decides to continue calling her that, would get to 657 00:37:27,990 --> 00:37:32,690 know a new home. We think that in time, she'd come to barely remember either you 658 00:37:32,690 --> 00:37:33,690 or your home. 659 00:37:34,830 --> 00:37:35,830 Let's go, Brian. 660 00:37:49,009 --> 00:37:50,009 Leland. Yes. 661 00:37:50,490 --> 00:37:52,310 I want to talk to you about that partnership issue. 662 00:37:52,750 --> 00:37:56,030 You know, of course, if it was up to me, you'd be a partner by now. 663 00:37:57,030 --> 00:38:01,410 What I'd like more than anything is just to do it by executive fiat and be done 664 00:38:01,410 --> 00:38:05,010 with it. But this firm doesn't work that way. I realize that. There are limits 665 00:38:05,010 --> 00:38:08,350 to what I can do unilaterally. With all due respect, Leland, I don't care. 666 00:38:08,850 --> 00:38:10,090 I don't care about your limitations. 667 00:38:10,510 --> 00:38:12,950 I don't care about your good intentions anymore, Leland. 668 00:38:14,370 --> 00:38:15,670 This is about business now. 669 00:38:16,270 --> 00:38:17,390 I have to take care of business. 670 00:38:17,870 --> 00:38:21,370 I would like to stay here at McKenzie Brackman, but I won't if you're not 671 00:38:21,370 --> 00:38:22,370 to make me a partner. 672 00:38:23,490 --> 00:38:25,250 You have until 5 o 'clock today to make a decision. 673 00:38:29,030 --> 00:38:30,030 Jonathan, 674 00:38:30,050 --> 00:38:33,150 ultimatums are really not appropriate here. 675 00:38:33,530 --> 00:38:35,450 I expect to hear from you one way or another, Leland. 676 00:38:44,090 --> 00:38:45,090 Hey, 677 00:38:45,390 --> 00:38:46,390 how you doing? 678 00:38:57,930 --> 00:38:58,930 I like you here. 679 00:38:58,970 --> 00:39:00,310 How do you get it to do that, Pins? 680 00:39:02,750 --> 00:39:06,610 It's a great look. It kind of reminds me of... What's her name? Kathy from 681 00:39:06,610 --> 00:39:07,610 Wuthering Heights. 682 00:39:07,790 --> 00:39:08,790 Kathy Earnshaw. 683 00:39:09,430 --> 00:39:10,830 I think of her often. 684 00:39:11,850 --> 00:39:13,070 You've read Wuthering Heights? 685 00:39:13,410 --> 00:39:14,410 Oh, it's a book? 686 00:39:16,010 --> 00:39:17,010 Yes. 687 00:39:22,390 --> 00:39:26,010 I was surprised to receive your call, Mr. Peters. I didn't think we had 688 00:39:26,010 --> 00:39:27,010 more to talk about. 689 00:39:27,480 --> 00:39:28,480 Did I? 690 00:39:28,680 --> 00:39:31,160 However, my client seems to have had a change of heart. 691 00:39:31,900 --> 00:39:35,620 I was impressed by what you said yesterday, Miss Churchill. For the first 692 00:39:35,660 --> 00:39:39,860 I glimpsed the mind and the soul that lay behind your visage. 693 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:44,100 I want to apologize for whatever pain I may have caused you by the grossest of 694 00:39:44,100 --> 00:39:45,280 my behavior. 695 00:39:45,620 --> 00:39:50,300 If this is some kind of ploy, Mr. Bowles... It's not. I realized that what 696 00:39:50,300 --> 00:39:55,520 Churchill said was true, that I have not been a gentleman, and to my surprise... 697 00:39:56,270 --> 00:40:00,170 This realization was extraordinarily painful to me. 698 00:40:00,850 --> 00:40:02,530 I'm willing to accede to your demands. 699 00:40:03,050 --> 00:40:04,050 Anything you want. 700 00:40:04,390 --> 00:40:06,290 I'll quit. I'll give you money. 701 00:40:06,530 --> 00:40:10,490 You don't have any money, Carter. Miss Churchill has suffered grave distress in 702 00:40:10,490 --> 00:40:11,710 my hands. I've been a brute. 703 00:40:12,050 --> 00:40:13,110 You want some kind of medication? 704 00:40:13,590 --> 00:40:16,630 Miss Churchill, last night I went home and I read Bleak House. 705 00:40:16,970 --> 00:40:17,970 Mr. Bowles. 706 00:40:18,030 --> 00:40:19,110 I couldn't put it down. 707 00:40:19,490 --> 00:40:21,510 Joe's death destroyed me. Oh, yes. 708 00:40:22,310 --> 00:40:23,470 Yes, of course it did. 709 00:40:23,830 --> 00:40:25,150 I had no idea. 710 00:40:26,030 --> 00:40:30,670 I'll draw up the papers. I realize that I have given you great pain. If you 711 00:40:30,670 --> 00:40:36,430 could see into your heart and forgive me, forgive a wretched, foolhardy man 712 00:40:36,430 --> 00:40:39,890 me, perhaps we could have tea? 713 00:40:41,250 --> 00:40:45,030 This is quite sudden, Mr. Bowles. 714 00:40:49,570 --> 00:40:52,770 Are we ready to proceed with summations, Counsel? 715 00:40:53,090 --> 00:40:54,090 Ready, Your Honor. 716 00:40:55,760 --> 00:40:59,520 We start from the premise that children are best served when they're raised by 717 00:40:59,520 --> 00:41:00,720 the people who brought them into being. 718 00:41:01,280 --> 00:41:05,100 We have here two people, both claiming the right to be awarded custody of a two 719 00:41:05,100 --> 00:41:09,140 -year -old child. Her father and the woman who adopted her. Your Honor, I'd 720 00:41:09,140 --> 00:41:12,600 to stop this. Mr. Conley, your attorney's in the middle of his 721 00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:15,460 Your Honor, I want to withdraw my claim for custody. 722 00:41:15,880 --> 00:41:18,540 Your Honor, I would like a minute to talk to my client. 723 00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:20,680 I want to see both sides in chambers. 724 00:41:24,080 --> 00:41:26,500 Your Honor, before anything gets said here, I would like an opportunity to 725 00:41:26,500 --> 00:41:27,660 consult with my client alone. 726 00:41:28,040 --> 00:41:30,000 Do you want to talk to your attorney, Mr. Conley? 727 00:41:30,300 --> 00:41:31,420 No, I do not, Your Honor. 728 00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:33,820 He doesn't want to talk to you, Mr. Angeletti. 729 00:41:34,060 --> 00:41:38,080 Are you formally withdrawing your petition for custody, Mr. Conley? No, he 730 00:41:38,080 --> 00:41:39,080 not. Mr. 731 00:41:39,260 --> 00:41:40,260 Conley? 732 00:41:41,860 --> 00:41:42,860 Yes, Your Honor. 733 00:41:43,340 --> 00:41:46,380 If Miss Heberton is still willing to let me see her once in a while, I'd 734 00:41:46,380 --> 00:41:47,380 appreciate that. 735 00:41:47,690 --> 00:41:48,690 I'm willing, yes. 736 00:41:48,950 --> 00:41:52,490 Brian, in the name of God, can you be doing this? My daughter is not a cause, 737 00:41:52,570 --> 00:41:54,630 Mr. Angeletti. She's a two -year -old little girl. 738 00:41:55,050 --> 00:41:57,890 And I think the best thing for her right now is for her to stay where she is. 739 00:41:58,210 --> 00:41:59,210 I think that. 740 00:41:59,870 --> 00:42:03,170 I know that you and the birth parents network don't, but I do, and I'm her 741 00:42:03,170 --> 00:42:06,470 father. Do you understand, Mr. Conley, that if you withdraw this action, you 742 00:42:06,470 --> 00:42:09,810 will, in all likelihood, be precluded from reinstituting it? Yes, I do. 743 00:42:10,310 --> 00:42:12,350 Your daughter will never forgive you for this. 744 00:42:12,870 --> 00:42:14,450 Maybe she will, maybe she won't. 745 00:42:17,100 --> 00:42:18,920 Why are we meeting in here? Space shortage. 746 00:42:19,140 --> 00:42:21,960 Business is booming. Conference room is booked till June. We need to build a 747 00:42:21,960 --> 00:42:25,180 second conference room. We could knock out a wall in one of the old offices. 748 00:42:25,500 --> 00:42:26,620 No more renovations. 749 00:42:26,880 --> 00:42:30,160 I also think it's appropriate we divvy up the spoils in a room that was 750 00:42:30,160 --> 00:42:32,340 to withstand attack from those outside. 751 00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:34,600 Arnold. 752 00:42:35,160 --> 00:42:36,098 Thank you. 753 00:42:36,100 --> 00:42:38,600 Stuart. Thank you very much. And this is Fran. 754 00:42:38,860 --> 00:42:40,040 She thanks you very much. 755 00:42:40,320 --> 00:42:43,300 We have some business to take care of before we distribute checks. 756 00:42:43,540 --> 00:42:44,540 What kind of business? 757 00:42:44,670 --> 00:42:49,590 Jonathan Rollins has said that if we don't make him a partner, he'll leave 758 00:42:49,590 --> 00:42:52,750 firm. He wants a decision by 5 o 'clock today. 759 00:42:53,130 --> 00:42:57,110 Seriously? If the answer is no, he'll be gone by tomorrow morning. He's 760 00:42:57,110 --> 00:43:01,410 bluffing. We must also assume that if he leaves, a considerable number of his 761 00:43:01,410 --> 00:43:02,590 cases will go with him. 762 00:43:03,069 --> 00:43:06,130 Basically, he's blackmailing us. He's not doing anything of the kind, Douglas. 763 00:43:06,190 --> 00:43:07,930 He's just forcing us to make up our minds. 764 00:43:08,150 --> 00:43:11,170 Yeah, but we did make up our minds. We said no. And now he's telling us the 765 00:43:11,170 --> 00:43:12,810 consequences that we don't change our minds. 766 00:43:13,010 --> 00:43:14,430 I can't believe he'd stoop to this. 767 00:43:14,690 --> 00:43:15,690 Why not? You would. 768 00:43:16,730 --> 00:43:18,570 Does he want to stay? He says he does. 769 00:43:18,790 --> 00:43:20,250 Then it seems to me we have no choice. 770 00:43:20,690 --> 00:43:23,990 Frankly, I don't like the fact that we're being forced into it. Neither do 771 00:43:24,050 --> 00:43:27,990 This is not the way to take on a partner. I would very much have 772 00:43:27,990 --> 00:43:29,950 decision based on mutual respect. 773 00:43:30,560 --> 00:43:31,840 and affection among colleagues. 774 00:43:32,120 --> 00:43:36,580 Since that option has passed us by, I suggest we take this one. 775 00:43:45,120 --> 00:43:49,260 You should know that if the day ever comes when Brian Conley decides to seek 776 00:43:49,260 --> 00:43:52,740 custody again, our organization will be there in support of him. Dr. Farr, 777 00:43:52,820 --> 00:43:55,540 neither my client nor I have anything to say to you. We will be there in support 778 00:43:55,540 --> 00:43:58,300 of him if he attempts to make contact with his child. 779 00:43:58,970 --> 00:44:02,270 We will be there in support of him if he decides to go back into court. I don't 780 00:44:02,270 --> 00:44:06,110 want to stand here, Anne. We will be there in support of the birth mother if 781 00:44:06,110 --> 00:44:08,910 ever attempts to make contact with her child. Let's take the stairs. 782 00:44:09,270 --> 00:44:13,250 Do you understand that the little girl that you call your daughter is not your 783 00:44:13,250 --> 00:44:16,830 daughter? That she has a place in this world with people whose daughter she is? 784 00:44:17,190 --> 00:44:22,110 Dr. Farr, I think you should stop this. Do you understand that I am this little 785 00:44:22,110 --> 00:44:23,110 girl? 786 00:44:23,670 --> 00:44:24,670 No. 787 00:44:57,550 --> 00:44:58,550 Congratulations.