Original subtitles

LADICH : My partner and I were in Los Feliz. . .

. . .traveling westbound on Franklin.

We observed a late-model Ford pickup with a loose muffler.

I activated the overhead lights and initiated a vehicle stop.

What happened when you approached?

I asked the driver, who we later identified as Hector Morales. . .

. . .for his license and registration. He became hostile.

Did you say why you stopped him?

LADICH : I informed him of the muffler violation.

He still refused to provide his license or registration.

I asked him to exit the vehicle, and he started cursing me in Spanish.

-What happened next? LADICH : For officer safety. . .

. . .due to his failure to comply, I physically removed Mr. Morales. . .

. . .from the vehicle and placed him under arrest. He resisted . . .

. . .so I used my baton to compel his cooperation.

Were your activities consistent with Use of Force policy?

LADICH : Yes, they were. At all times.

CHRIS: Thank you. Nothing further. -Mr. Wyler?

I' m a little confused, officer.

You say that you didn't use excessive force, yet Mr. Morales suffered . . .

. . .a fractured cheekbone and three broken ribs.

He sustained those injuries resisting arrest.

Now, in the past two years. . .

. . .complaints of unnecessary force have been filed against you. . .

. . . by Carlos Beccera, Reuben Ortiz, Alyssa Escobar. . .

. . .and now Mr. Morales.

Any pattern there, officer?

These people know how to work the system, counselor.

Suing the city's better than the lottery.

"These people. " These people being?

People who sue the city over cops trying to do their job.

Speaking of your job. . .

. . .the day before the incident with Mr. Morales, was there a list of officers. . .

. . .who passed the exam, being promoted to sergeant. . .

-. . . posted in your station? -Objection. lrrelevant.

The people intend to demonstrate relevance.

I'll allow it.

-Yeah, a list was posted . -Was your name on that list?

-No. WYLER: But officers Cepeda, Sandoval . . .

. . .and Gonzalez, who were in your division. . .

-. . .their names were on that list. -So?

So isn't that what you were so angry about the night you stopped Mr. Morales?

All those Latino officers making the grade, and you didn't?

And here comes Mr. Morales, another vato giving you attitude.

-Objection. Baiting the witness. -Sustained .

Officer Ladich, you said earlier that you used a baton. . .

. . .to subdue Mr. Morales. . .

. . .instead of some other form of control, because you have a bad back.

-Yeah, I got a slipped disk at L-5. WYLER: Was the department aware. . .

-. . .of your condition? LADICH : Yes.

They became aware of your condition, did they not. . .

. . . because you filed a workers' compensation claim in 1 995?

-That's right. -Trying to work the system, Mr. Ladich?

-The workers' comp lotto? -Objection, Your Honor.

WYLER: Withdrawn. -Ask that the counsel . . .

. . . be instructed to step away.

Sorry, Your Honor.

Officer Ladich, one of the other medical conditions you cited . . .

. . .in your claim was stress-related impotence.

-Correct? CHRIS: Objection.

-Relevance. -Where are you going?

Almost there, Your Honor.

Let me ask you, sir, when you beat Mr. Morales with your baton. . .

. . .was it because of your own personal baton problem?

Objection, Your Honor!

BISHOP: Prosecutor, you' re crossing the line.

GUARD: Hey, hey! Oh, knock it off!

Get over here!

The people rest, Your Honor.

I could've sworn we were at the old Olympic Auditorium, Jimmy.

Except no one would've caught you with a right.

You gotta know when to take one for the team, Artie.

So if you' re not too winded, champ. . .

. . . how about a quote on Roger Garfield appointing Liz Myers. . .

. . . head of Major Crimes this morning?

Liz Myers is a fine lawyer, I' m sure she'll do a great job.

Excuse me.

HUDSON : Mr. Garfield, the latest field poll . . .

. . . has you 1 2 points behind Tom Van Allan in the race for governor.

-ls this ground you can make up? -Absolutely.

I have to stick to the issues and trust in the wisdom of the people of California.

HUDSON : What do you say to critics who charge your platform is dictated . . .

. . . by principal financial backer, Malcolm Dietrich?

Malcolm Dietrich is a friend . Malcolm Dietrich is a supporter.

But Roger Garfield is, and will always be, his own man.

-Thank you, Roger. -Any time, Mallory. Thank you.

Were you gonna tell me about Liz Myers' appointment?

Or was I gonna find out on the can reading the Metro section?

-What happened to your nose? -Major Crimes is mine. You know it.

This is a long conversation. I don't have time.

I' m late for a speaking engagement in Pomona.

I handed you a big win with the Ferris case. That alone gets me the job.

Want to talk about the case? Let's talk about the press conference.

-You' re still stewing? -A press conference to which. . .

-. . . I was not invited . -Guess so.

I' m still the DA, you work for me. That was a victory for us.

-We should've shared the glory. -So what?

This is payback because I deprived you of a photo op?

You screwed me, buddy boy. I wanted you to know how it feels.

That press conference was five minutes, most of which. . .

. . .was spent praising your inspirational leadership.

Now, if I was insensitive to your media needs, I'll apologize one more time.

But I deserve Major Crimes, Roger, and you know it.

That ship has sailed . Take comfort in one thing, Jimmy:

I get elected governor, you won't have to put up with me.

I've seen the polls.

You get elected governor, and I'll kiss your ass in Macy's window .

NEWSCASTER ION TV] : THis was the scene four years ago, , ,

, , ,as Tom Van Allan was elected governor of California,

THis was the shocking scene just hours ago, as the coroner's office removed, , ,

, , , Van Allan 's body and that of a female victim from a Palis es Beach house, , ,

, , , owned by actor Dean Lancaster,

Both the governor and the second victim, , ,

, , , 20-year-old Marlee Donovan of Van Nuys, , ,

, , , were found in an upstairs bedroom, apparently shot and kill , , ,

, , ,by an intruder around midnight, Monday,

IPHONE RINGING]

Hoffman and Associates.

I' m sorry, Mr. Hoffman is out of the country.

I can put you through to Arnold Spivak if you like.

Oh. Well, if Mr. Hoffman calls in for messages, I'll tell him that you called .

VARGAS ION TV] : THe governor, , , , -Client?

I tried steering him your way, you heard me.

Hey, I wanna hear this.

Police sources say a woman now identified as Sharon Rooney, , ,

, , ,a 26-year-old former school teacher and a worker in Van Allan 's campaign, , ,

, , ,has been arrested,

Some trial lawyer's gonna have their name in lights because of her.

VARGAS: THe governor's wife remained in Sacramento, , ,

, , , while he spoke at a fundraiser last night at the Century Plaza, , ,

, , , for his re-election bid against Los Angeles DA, , ,

, , ,Roger Garfield, , ,

, , , who ironically will w be charged with prosecuting this case,

You believe that?

How did it go?

Greg Ladich was convicted of felony assault on Hector Morales.

Jury was out less than 40 minutes.

Beating the O.J . jury, which I thought impossible.

Fortunately for me, it's a tree falling in the forest with this Van Allan thing .

-Any calls? -Mostly for Ted .

Why are we maintaining that Ted's coming back?

It's better than confronting that without him, we have no firm .

Lisa had the right idea, jumping over to Rohner Wallerstein.

Entertainment law isn't your cup of tea.

One power lunch with Gary Blondo, you'd be screaming for mercy.

Well, if a citizen calls who needs my help getting justice. . .

. . . I'll be in my office doing the crossword puzzle.

I heard you got the Van Allan case.

Truth is, this one should have been yours, Jimmy.

Roger didn't think I was right for that one, either.

Miriam had words with him about that. I think his ears are still ringing .

Detective Biggio. You know Mark.

-Jimmy Wyler. -Sure.

GRASSO: So, what's up, detective?

Bad news is we got the GSR reports back on Rooney's hands.

She came up clean. But we found a box of latex gloves in the apartment.

Eleven pairs in the box, one pair missing . No stretch to figure. . .

. . .she wore the missing pair to whack Van Allan.

Which puts us well on the way to premeditation.

Make my day, find the murder weapon.

We haven't found it yet, but casings tell us. . .

-. . .we' re looking for a . 22 automatic. -Ladies' gun.

Hell hath no fury, gentlemen. Toodles, Jimmy.

GUARD: She's asked for a public defender, Jimmy.

You want me to lose my job?

-Eddie, trust me. -That's what my first wife said .

WOMAN IOVER lNTERCOM] : Deputy Mill , call Main Control,

Good afternoon, Ms. Rooney, I' m James Wyler.

And the guard said you were from the DA's office.

I was with the DA's office. I resigned earlier today.

I want to represent you.

They' re giving me a public defender.

Listen to me, because what I have to say to you is very important.

You can roll the dice and go with the court-appointed lawyer.

Jails are full of people who went that way.

If I were in your situation, and my life was on the line. . .

. . . I would want the best legal representation I could get.

Somebody who's highly skilled, who knows the DA's office. . .

. . .and can handle anything they throw .

Now, I've been a prosecutor for 1 2 years.

I've tried 43 murder cases and I've never lost one.

Let me help you, Ms. Rooney.

-I don't have any money. -Money is not the reason I' m doing this.

Look, I know you' re scared . . .

. . . but now is the time to think clearly, to work with someone that you trust.

And if you go with me, I promise you I will not let you down.

Okay.

Good .

Good . I'll go and get things rolling . . .

. . .and I'll come back and see you in the morning .

Don't you want to know if I did it?

Only if you want to tell me.

I did it, Mr. Wyler.

I shot Tom Van Allan and that girl .

That is the last time that you say that to anyone.

You understand?

Sharon Rooney, you' re charged with two counts of murder in the first degree. . .

. . .a violation of California penal code 1 87.

I see Mr. Wyler is present.

-Can I assume you've been retained? WYLER: Yes, Your Honor.

We waive reading and we enter a plea of not guilty.

We'd also like to be heard on the issue of bail .

The people may seek the death penalty, Your Honor.

-We vigorously oppose bail . -The fact that the people can't decide. . .

. . .on the penalty serves to underscore the weakness of their case.

Your Honor, my client has no criminal history.

The only evidence against her is her arrest several miles. . .

. . .from a crime she didn't commit.

Have we leapt to opening statements?

Ms. Grasso opposes bail because of the public notoriety of the case.

You know me, you know my reputation.

I personally guarantee that my client will be available to stand trial .

HORTON : I may know you, Mr. Wyler. . .

. . . but I am a stranger to your client and her mental state.

We' re looking at double homicide, the grim circumstances. . .

. . .of which impress me more than your professional r�sum�.

Bail is denied . Pretrial is set for September 3rd .

Preliminary hearing is set for September 1 0th.

Everything's gonna be okay. Okay, just stay calm .

Hey, Wyler.

You are?

Aaron Mosely. The public defender you screwed over to get this case.

I didn't screw anyone, Mr. Mosely.

I gave Sharon Rooney a choice, she took it.

That's a load of crap. Sharon Rooney was going to be my client. . .

. . .and you unethically solicited her.

Look, Aaron, you' re a talented guy. I've checked you out.

But how many felony cases have you tried . . .

-. . .in your three years in the PD's office? -Over thirty.

Thirty-one to be exact, 1 2 of which you pled out.

Now, Sharon Rooney could be facing life in prison, even the death penalty.

She can't afford to underwrite your learning experience with her life.

As opposed to what? Your experience of zero cases as a defense attorney?

This is the one I've been waiting for, Wyler.

If you' re as good as we both think you are. . .

. . .you'll get another chance.

I don't care about down the line. This was my chance.

I didn't slog my way through all those drive-bys. . .

. . .and second-degree burglaries to have you swipe my ticket to a career.

So you think this case would have made your career?

-Well, maybe it stilI can. -Yeah? How?

You come and work for me.

You think about it and get back to me.

REPORTER 1 : Mr. Wyler! REPORTER 2: Just one question!

NEWSCASTER ION TV] : Ms, Rooney, looking pale and withdrawn, , ,

, , ,appeared in court today for arraignment,

She was accompanied by her lawyer, former prosecutor James Wyler, , ,

, , , whose request for bail was denied following strenuous objections, , ,

, , ,by District Attorney Miriam Grasso,

Ms, Rooney will main in custody at Sybil Brand Institute, , ,

, , , until the commencement, , , ,

If you' re here to take a poke at me, out of courtesy, limit yourseIf to body blows.

My nose is just starting to knit.

-How about we call a truce on that? -Fine by me.

After the Ladich trial, nothing about you should surprise me. . .

. . . but snagging the Rooney case first time out for the defense?

I' m impressed .

Well, before you get too impressed, let's see how I do.

If you haven't already assembled your team, I'd like to offer you my services.

-You speaking as a free agent? -On behaIf of Justine Appleton. . .

. . .and Arnold Spivak.

We can offer you the bodies and facilities you need . . .

. . .to run a major case like this one. You need us.

-And we need you. -Keep talking .

We' re good . But you know that.

But with Ted Hoffman gone, we need a marquee player. . .

. . .who can bring heavyweight cases through the door.

You' re the guy who can do that.

Well, I' m flattered .

If you' re envisioning some kind of four-way arrangement. . .

. . . I ought to tell you, I run my own ship.

We don't have a problem with Wyler and Associates. . .

. . .for now .

What's the lease situation?

Paid through the end of the year, courtesy of Ted .

Which is not to say that the rest of our finances are rock-solid . They' re not.

We win this one, and we'll be turning them away from the door.

Does that mean you' re interested?

Yeah, I' m interested .

But there's a situation I gotta play out before I can give you an answer.

Can I get back to you?

Mr. Wyler, I can't be optimistic about the loan committee. . .

. . .giving you a second mortgage.

You' re kidding . I' m sitting on 1 50,000 in equity.

But property values have fallen, and your equity along with it.

In addition, the PITl in your housing ratio is unsatisfactory. . .

. . .your Fair lsaac score is below par. . .

. . .and you' re nearly upside down in loan-to-value.

-Well, nobody's perfect. -We' re not looking for perfection.

We' re looking for collateral and sustainable earnings.

If that's the hang-up. . .

. . . I represent the woman accused of killing the governor.

Now, a high-profile case like that will generate a lot of income.

Then you' re no longer employed by the district attorney's office?

Private practice now . Sky's the limit.

Gentlemen. How we doing?

Well, I was just explaining to your Mr. Bluth here that a recent change. . .

. . .in my professional circumstances allows me to now realize. . .

. . .a greater financial upside.

He seems to have trouble seeing the broader picture.

The broader picture being you quit your job, and don't have an income stream .

And one day everybody's gonna die, but let's not accentuate the negative.

Success in anything, business, finance, the law . . .

. . . requires that we use our imagination. Envision the possible.

The shareholders of this bank don't pay me to have visions, Mr. Wyler.

But I will refer your application to the loan committee for review .

Ms. Crimmins, I need that loan.

If I can't get it today, could you at least up the limit on my credit card?

-How much? WYLER: As much as I can get.

Twenty-five hundred's the best we can do.

How long will the review take?

We'll get back to you just as soon as we can.

As soon as you can is not soon enough, damn it.

My back's against the wall .

Keep your shorts on, Mr. Wyler. You'll live longer.

-May I help you? -Yes, I' m James Wyler.

They've been expecting you.

-Jimmy. -Hey. Nice digs.

Welcome to free enterprise.

Come in, I'll introduce you to everybody.

-Say hello to Angela Rosetti . -Hello, Mr. Wyler.

-Hello, Angela. Call me Jimmy. -I will .

James Wyler, I think you know Arnold Spivak.

-How do? -Justine Appleton.

-Pleasure. -Nice to meet you.

So here we are.

Let me just start by saying that I think we need to be realistic about this.

It's a blind date, and there's gonna be a learning curve.

What I do know is you' re extremely talented . . .

. . .and highly capable people, or Hoffman wouldn't have hired you.

It's gonna take more than the sum of our abilities. . .

. . .to provide the best defense possible for Sharon Rooney.

-It's gonna take teamwork. -Not to get hung up on details. . .

. . . but how is Sharon Rooney paying for her defense?

I took the case pro bono.

Uh-huh. Now, that could cause some difficulties with cash flow .

lnasmuch as we have none.

Chris and I have talked, and I'll tell you what I told him .

I'll keep the doors open.

Again, not to be a stickler, but can we be certain of that?

Well, there are never any guarantees.

And I'll understand if anybody wants to walk.

I will say this, with all due respect to Ted . . .

. . .if we can make this work, I promise you. . .

. . .there will be more opportunities here than ever before.

Now, where can I pitch my tent?

Let me introduce you to Louis. He'll get you settled in.

I didn't know you could see the Hollywood sign from here.

One of the office's many amenities.

Ted really knew how to do it in style.

-How is he, by the way? -Taking it slow .

Trying to reintroduce himself to his family.

His first priority is his marriage. Everything else is up in the air.

As someone who lost a marriage to a career, I can sympathize.

With Ted's future still unsettled, I find myseIf without a plan of my own. . .

. . .so in the event you' re not bringing your own person in, I' m available.

Appreciated, Louis.

I have an offer out to my former secretary. . .

. . .who may or may not be able to extricate herself.

I understand completely. . .

. . .and I have no problem continuing on a week-to-week basis.

-If there's anything you need . . . . -Thank you.

Actually, I need a reservation at the Bel-Air. . .

-. . . Friday night at 7:00. -Certainly.

It's my mother's 75th birthday. We'lI need a cake.

Will a single candle get the job done?

That'll be fine. I wouldn't want to start a fire.

-You got a second? -Sure, come in. Grab the desk.

-Excuse me? -I don't like furniture. . .

. . . between me and the client. Grab the desk.

-Weighs a ton. -Probably cost a ton.

Now, what can I do for you?

Uh, if I' m not being too premature. . .

. . . I'd like to talk about second chair on the case.

This way.

I' m the person you want.

I' m not much older than Sharon Rooney, and as a woman. . .

-. . . I can build a rapport. -That's good .

I've won several cases involving reasonable doubt. . .

. . .and police mishandling of evidence, which I assume is how . . .

. . .you' re going to frame Rooney's defense. So. . . .

Beyond that, I' m a quick study and hit the ground running .

Fine.

I know there are other choices, but on balance. . .

-. . . I really-- -I said, fine.

-Just like that? -Sure.

Should I go home and agonize over it and tell you tomorrow?

-No. No. -Okay.

Tomorrow morning, we' re gonna interview Sharon Rooney at Sybil Brand .

-Clear your schedule. -I will .

And let me just say that--

-Tomorrow morning, Sybil Brand . -All right.

I mean, who am I kidding?

I don't have a clue in hell what I' m doing .

And I walked away from a steady job.

You know, I made a decent living .

Now I got a hinky client. . .

. . . no income. . .

. . .and a bunch of associates who probably hate my guts.

Not to mention the fact that I am in hock up to my eyeballs.

But the good news is, my loan was approved today. . .

. . .so at least I can finance the case.

Well, that's what happens when you keep your shorts on.

Now let's see what happens when you take them off.

When Ted was here, there was the unfortunate tendency to think of me. . .

. . . merely as a briefs and memos man, " Mr. Hard Copy. "

While I was pleased to do it. . .

. . . I believe I have a strong, even commanding courtroom--

-Morning, Angela. ANGELA: Morning, Mr. Wyler.

I' m not Clarence Darrow, but I do have an analytical quality.

WYLER: Morning, Louis. -Gentlemen.

Not that analysis is essential for a courtroom lawyer. . .

. . . because we know spontaneity is. I can be spontaneous. . .

. . .whenever it's called for.

Spontaneous, and if you'll pardon me, charismatic in a muted sort of way.

Which seems, I admit, contradictory on its face, however. . .

. . .it didn't this morning when I prepared these remarks.

Let me emphasize, I could have dropped the preparation. . .

. . .and spoken to you spontaneously and have been just as. . . .

Should I stop?

Arnold, you' re an excellent lawyer. You wouldn't be on board otherwise.

-But? -As for who stands up in court. . .

. . .you' re not the guy I' m gonna choose.

Now, if you need to be that guy, this is not the place for you.

There are other ways to realize your potential .

Oliver Wendell Holmes reached the Supreme Court. . .

. . . became one of the most respected justices in history. . .

. . .and he never tried a case.

Actually, Holmes tried over two dozen cases.

Temple v, Turner, Woodward v, City of Boston--

Okay, okay. So he made a pit stop in the courtroom on the way to greatness.

My point is this, you' re the best at what you do in this firm .

Nobody does it better than you. If you focus on that. . .

. . .then maybe someday the rest of us will be arguing our cases. . .

. . .in front of the honorable Arnold Spivak.

You can see me on the bench someday?

Well, can't you?

Well, I suppose.

Dream, Arnold . Dream .

Why confine yourself to a single path to success.

Now, in the meantime. . .

. . . I need a brief on the evidentiary value of gunpowder residue.

-Can you handle that? -Yeah, yeah.

-No problem . -You ready?

-Thanks for stopping by. -Yeah, thank you.

Let's go.

Where did you meet Tom Van Allan?

My roommate Sally worked on the campaign.

So I tagged along to this fundraiser one night. . .

. . .sometime last spring . Tom was there, he asked me to dance.

-He came up to you out of the blue? -Yeah.

I thought maybe he'd get bored and find someone more interesting . . .

-. . . but he never did . -When did you become sexually involved?

Not that night.

The next weekend, Tom came to L.A. . .

. . .and he called me. . .

. . .and asked me if I'd meet him at Dean Lancaster's beach house.

I knew he was married, but I went anyway.

And after that, I just saw him anytime he was in town.

Did you always meet at the beach house?

Mr. Wyler, does any of this really matter?

WYLER: Sharon, if I' m going to represent you properly. . .

. . . I have to know everything, from the first time that you two met.

If the prosecution gets up and says XYZ happened on such and such a date. . .

-. . . I have to know that it did . -The only thing you have to know . . .

. . .is that I went to the beach house that night, went inside. . .

. . . I saw Tom in the bed with another woman and I killed him .

I thought that you and I agreed you were never gonna say that again.

Where'd you get the gun?

I bought the gun. . .

. . .after I moved to L.A. , after the riots.

What'd you do with it?

Threw it somewhere. I don't really remember.

-Were you wearing gloves? -No.

The police report said that a box of latex gloves was found in your apartment.

-Do you know anything about that? -No.

Did you know the girl that was with Van Allan? Marlee Donovan?

-No. WYLER: When did he break up with you?

The end of June.

He sent Larry White over.

-And who is Larry White? SHARON : He worked on the campaign.

He said Tom's wife had found out about us. . .

. . .and told him to break it off.

Tom said after the election, we'd get back together. . .

. . . but until then, they'd give me a job. . .

. . .at campaign headquarters out in the Valley.

Okay, let's. . . . Let's go over this again.

There you go.

-Hey. -Hope you don't mind me dropping by.

Oh, not at all . Not at all . Justine Appleton, this is Aaron Mosely.

-Sure, you' re from the PD's office. -Right.

Well, let's go talk in my office, huh?

-Nice meeting you. -You too.

-So, what did you decide? -Among other things. . .

. . .that I was uncomfortable with the notion of being bought off with a job.

Well, that's not exactly how I would characterize the offer.

Besides, it's not important how you get the job, it's what you do with it.

I want to be second chair on the case.

That position's been filled .

But if you come on board, I promise you will be heavily involved .

You know, downtown, with the possible exception of Miriam Grasso, of course. . .

. . .you were regarded as the straightest, toughest prosecutor in the office.

Now, I don't think you got that reputation by accident. . .

. . .so my reservations notwithstanding, I'll take the job.

Welcome aboard .

-When can you start? -You tell me, man.

I quit the PD's office this morning .

Come on.

Louis, this is Mr. Mosely. He'll be starting with us today.

-Will you get him situated, please? -Of course. And Miriam Grasso called .

She wants to see you in her office at your earliest convenience.

Voluntary manslaughter, midterm, six years served .

With the low end on gun enhancement. . .

. . .your client will get nine years, four and a haIf actual .

For allegedly killing the governor and his girlfriend?

I can't see you letting her go that easily, Miriam .

You' re a defense lawyer now .

You don't have to concern yourself with my motives.

Come on, Miriam, talk to me.

The temperature in this room dropped 30 degrees when I walked in.

I thought we had a relationship, Jimmy.

-We did . We do. -And you chose to betray it.

I can understand why you want Roger's head on your wall .

I've wanted to redecorate my office the same way.

But what I can't fathom . . .

. . .is why you eavesdropped on a prosecution team's conference. . .

. . .when you weren't a part of this office.

When that discussion happened, I hadn't decided to take the case.

But we gave you enough to make your decision.

Look, Miriam, a few minutes before you saw me. . .

. . . I resigned from a job I had for 1 2 years.

If I wasn't thinking straight, or if l violated our friendship, I apologize.

Be honest with yourself, Jimmy. You went for the bucks.

What if I did?

I got sick of looking across the aisle. . .

. . .at those guys in their $2000 suits and their expense accounts.

Maybe I got sick of resenting the fact that my ex-wife. . .

. . .drives her BMW to a paneled law office, and pulls in $400 an hour.

The irony is that there is no money in sight.

I had to refinance my house or I'd be out of business before I started .

Maybe you ought to keep that information to yourself.

You might be giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

I don't want to lose your friendship, Miriam .

What can I do? Short of withdrawing from the case.

That works for me.

In for a penny, in for a pound .

Then we know where we stand .

We' re just on different sides of the desk, that's all .

-Good luck, Jimmy. -I'll talk to my client.

The offer's only good till the end of the day.

ls it a good offer?

It is. If I were prosecuting, I wouldn't offer it.

-Then we should accept? -As your lawyer, I' m advising you not to.

I did what I did, I' m willing to pay the consequence.

Listen, Sharon. You are gonna be in a jail cell for 60 days no matter what.

We can always plead guilty later.

In the meantime, the state has a responsibility to prove its case. . .

. . . beyond a reasonable doubt. There is no reason for you to help.

Trust me, despite what Grasso says, this offer will still be good in 60 days.

Okay, tell them I said no.

LOUIS: I'lI have to take a message.

Yes, I am . One moment please.

There's a Kyle Rooney waiting in your office.

-Sharon's father? -Husband .

When I got back to town, my neighbors said the police were looking for me.

I thought I should contact you first.

Where have you been, Mr. Rooney?

Baltimore. I' m a fourth-year medical student.

I was interviewing for residency at Johns Hopkins.

When you heard she had been arrested for the governor's murder, you what?

Decided to stay in Baltimore and sample the crab cakes?

Look. . .

. . . my wife dumped me for this guy, so as far as I was concerned . . .

. . .they both got what they deserved .

Do you think your wife could have killed him?

I don't know .

I know she felt betrayed when Van Allan ended their relationship.

I guess I' m not surprised she's under arrest.

-You do think she could have killed him? -Where is this headed?

You' re pretty angry, aren't you, Mr. Rooney?

Wouldn't you be?

That would depend if I was still in love with her.

Do you love her?

Yes.

Yes, I do.

Well, then consider this:

Your wife could be facing the gas chamber. . .

. . .or at least the rest of her life in a jail cell .

When you' re speaking to the cops is a lousy time to settle the score.

Okay, yeah.

Good .

Louis, get me Detective Biggio.

When was the last time you two spoke?

A week ago. Maybe 1 0 days.

-How did she seem? -Distant.

You didn't get any sense she was upset or angry. . .

. . .about the way the governor broke it off?

Well, I'd only be speculating there, detective.

He wasn't someone we talked about much.

BIGGIO: Understandably. Kyle, here's what I' m wrestling with:

I have your pretty young wife, or ex-wife, or whatever--

-We' re separated . BIGGIO: Right. You told me that.

She's in custody on a double homicide.

Never been in trouble, teaches kids.

She seems all wrong for this kind of thing .

ls she capable of doing this?

I've never known her to be violent in any way, or to want to hurt people.

-She's got a good heart. BIGGIO: Although you split. . .

-. . .you stilI have feelings for her. KYLE: Yes.

Not to say we haven't had our differences.

Marriage, it's an endless series of disputes. . .

. . . held together with a whole lot of love and community property.

But not everybody would stick by someone in a situation like this. . .

-. . .the way you' re doing . -Yes, well, she stuck by me.

Until she didn't.

Okay, Mr. Rooney, thank you very much.

If there's anything you can think of, no matter how small . . .

. . . I'd appreciate it if you'd get in touch with me.

Okay. Let's go.

Thank you.

Counselor? Moment, please.

You prepped him pretty good .

I was just doing my job.

What's up with you, Jimmy?

He asked me to come down here and help him, and I agreed .

You know what I' m talking about.

Every cop in this department feels gut-punched by what you did .

You think Garfield left me much choice?

You had choices.

lt used to be us against them, now you' re them .

-Come on, Vince, you' re just hot-- -Don't wait for me to cool off, Jimmy.

Don't wait for anybody in this place to cool off.

From now on, you' re just another lowlife mouthpiece.

We' re done.

I put Malcolm Dietrich in your office.

-Mal Dietrich. How are you, sir? -Okay.

Your fellow was nice enough to let me in.

-Louis. -Trend that's passed me by. . .

-. . .that type of secretary. -What can I do for you? Sit down.

I wanted to congratulate you on entering the private sector.

Thanks a lot.

I assume that Roger Garfield's mistake gave you cause.

-Maybe I' m just a sore loser. -Oh, no.

People who work for you have to know they' re valued .

Anyway, you landed on your feet. First-rate law firm .

I gather your personal loan was approved .

How in the hell do you gather that?

I want to put you on retainer.

-I' m a lightning rod for litigation. -How do you know about my loan?

Maybe it was in the paper.

I control the bank.

Maybe your application came across my desk.

-In the ordinary course of things. -As an item of interest.

We' re not gonna act like grade-schoolers, are we?

Thanks for the loan.

-Happy to help. About that retainer? -lt would be a conflict.

How so?

I represent Sharon Rooney.

Roger Garfield could be an alternative suspect.

-Are you serious? -And he's your whore.

I' m afraid you have me mixed up with your boy out there.

I don't have you confused with anybody, Mr. Dietrich.

And I don't want your business.

But you don't mind my reaching in to help you get your loan.

Well, approving a loan for an unqualified applicant. . .

. . .sounds like a felonious breach of a fiduciary.

All right.

All right.

Got a second?

Come on in.

The reason we solicited you to come here was to bring in new clients. . .

-. . . not new associates. -You' re referring to Aaron Mosely.

I am .

Given the ethnic makeup of L.A. juries, I think he's a man we need on our team .

-Besides, he's smart and he's hungry. -He's another mouth to feed .

You can't pay for the mouths you've got.

If he doesn't generate the hours, I guarantee his salary.

-We should've been consulted . -I told you in the beginning . . .

. . . I don't like conducting business by committee.

You' re not interested in other people's input?

No, I welcome input. But this isn't about paychecks or new associates.

This is about the fact that I gave Justine the second chair ahead of you.

I think I deserved a chance to at least make a pitch. . .

-. . .given my work on the Avedon case. -You lost the Avedon case in court.

The only reason that kid is on the street. . .

. . .is because Teddy flushed out a videotape.

Chris, when you came to me, it was with the understanding . . .

. . .that there were no preconditions. You wanted a rainmaker. . .

. . . I needed a team of associates.

If you' re having misgivings or second thoughts about this arrangement. . .

. . . I understand if you want to move on.

I got on board this train.

I' m willing to see where it takes me.

They' re not bringing in a damn cake, are they?

-Mom, I promised . No cake. -If they do. . .

-. . . I'll just get up and walk out. -Finish your Scotch.

Why is it I have no confidence that you' re telling me the truth?

-I' m past having to fib. -No male is past fabrication.

I' m the head of the firm, we got the Rooney case--

If she did it, she was driven.

I have no respect for the victim, with his false pieties and his wandering eye.

Better the open connivers who did your father in.

He came into my office today.

Dietrich?

-I'll disown you if you spoke to him . -Only to throw him out.

Oh, God .

Oh! There is a damn cake. You lied to me.

What do you want? I' m a lawyer.

Your name's not out of my Rolodex, Jimmy, or your loved ones' birthdays.

-Mom, you remember Roger Garfield . -And Pearl Harbor.

I' m going to impose on your good nature for 1 5 seconds.

-You turned down Miriam's offer. -Yeah.

Not enough limelight in the plea?

I' m a cockeyed optimist, Roger. I always think things are gonna get better.

-Would you get the hell out of here? -Of course. Sorry to intrude.

It's enough that I have to watch your whorish countenance on my television.

Oh, don't you rule him out. He's hypocrite enough for murder.

You have a call, Mr. Wyler.

-Please wheel this thing out of here. -Yes, ma'am .

Out.

WYLER: How'd it happen? GUARD: Bed sheet.

If the guard hadn't found her, it would've been over.

I assume she'll be on suicide watch from now on.

When she's released from the infirmary, we'll move her to special confinement.

Hey, how you doing?

I just want it to be over.

You' re tired and you' re frightened .

These feelings will pass if you just give it a chance.

Why does this matter to you?

What, do you need me as a client or something?

Sharon, I meant it when I said that you can trust me.

I won't let you down.

Let it be in my hands now .

Let me take care of it.

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