Original subtitles

Come on, it isn't every day that Jonathan Brooks gets an A on a chemical

examination. That's right. You got an A, too?

That's right.

How'd you do it?

He cheated.

What do you think, Bill?

John! Are you calling me a cheat?

John. Are you calling me a cheat?

Damn you!

Want to know something?

I'll tell you anyway.

The study of law is something new and unfamiliar to most of you, unlike any

other schooling that you have ever known before.

yourselves the law, but I train your minds.

You come in here with a skull full of mush, and if you survive,

you leave thinking like a lawyer.

Before we conclude this morning, one point regarding the midterm examination

that will commence precisely at 10 a.m. on Thursday.

Anyone unfortunate or foolish enough to be so much as half a minute late will

not be admitted.

Now, are there any questions?

Miss, uh, Ogden?

Professor Kingsfield.

I don't suppose you'd care to give us some guidelines as to the scope and

parameters of the test material.

It would be a great help to us.

You are quite right on both counts, Mrs. Hogden.

Any more questions?

Mr. Ford?

Sir, may we safely assume that... How many times must I say it?

In my class, you may safely assume nothing.

Mr. Bell?

Question about landmark cases, sir. Ones that set important legal precedents.

They will make up the bulk of the exam material, won't they, sir?

Absolutely not.

Any further questions?

Uh, Professor Kingsfield. Ah, Mr. Brooks.

This is a pleasant surprise.

In more than three months, you have not raised your hand once. Now, to what do I

owe this rare pleasure?

Uh... Sir, you say that the landmark cases would not make up the bulk of the

exam material?

You have excellent recall, Mr. Brooks.

But, sir, I've been breaking my back over the famous cases.

And you say you're not going to test us on those?

Perhaps I have not made myself perfectly clear, Mr. Brooks. In my class, you will

study everything, because I may test you on anything.

Famous cases, as you call them, Mr. Brooks.

obscure cases, even hypothetical cases.

That is because I intend to test minds, not memories.

You'll have to analyze if you intend to pass my examination.

Analyze and apply if you ever propose to practice law.

He could test us on anything.

You know, Jonathan looks like Kingsville sends him to death.

Jonathan! Hey, Jonathan!

Who cares about him? Let's get back to the Dorman study every second counts.

Look, Bell, he's still a member of this study group.

Then why isn't he preparing for midterm exams with us? I don't know. Frankly, I

don't care.

Right now, Bell.

Why should I? After the outline he gave us on criminal law?

Look at this thing.

It's not an outline.

It's a felony.

It's not bad. I guess you won't need it, huh? Hey!

Give me that, Ford.

A little bit helps.

Oh, let me talk to him.

Thomas,

this is Brooks.

Yeah, how you doing? Uh, look, Kingsfield says he's not going to test

us on the famous cases.

Yeah, I know you warned me. Look, I'm going to need even more of your time

now. Yeah.

Please.

Look, look, I'll pay you double.

Yeah, double.

Oh, okay.

Okay, thanks.

was overturned on appeal. Let's compare decisions.

Yeah, let's analyze the lower court first. Okay.

Morris!

Help me!

Bill! Morris, help me! Get out! We're trying to study! I found a great case

off an old Kingfield exam. Help me and I'll share it with you. Why don't you

say so?

just a bit boy did we luck out i

got two adjoining rooms

Has Mr. Hart checked in yet?

The house phone.

Who is it?

Logan. Ford.

Oh, this isn't bad for $85.

How long do we have it? 17 apiece. Three days.

Mr. Hart, please.

Guess who?

Right.

I'll take the couch.

Room service!

Room service!

Why didn't you say so?

Here, I'll take it. May I remove all the dirty dishes, sir?

Uh, later.

Uh, sir, I have instructions from Mr. Slaughter, the assistant manager.

No more room service until I receive all the dirty dishes.

Sir, we're running out of plates in the kitchen.

We don't mind using paper plates.

Paper plates?

In the Winston Arms?

I'm sorry, sir, there isn't a single vacancy left in the hotel.

Are you sure? Quite sure. I rented the last suite yesterday.

A decision I may live to regret.

Look, I'll take anything.

Even a tiny room.

Apparently, you've never stayed with us before, sir.

There are no tiny rooms at the Winston Arms.

Good day.

Sir, where do you think you're going?

904. You can't bring that in here. This is the Winston Arms.

And this is a king-size all-American with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms,

onions, holding ham hocks and collard greens, and I got 10.50 coming to me.

Well, contracts isn't our only midterm.

Maybe we should start on criminal law.

Oh, great. We covered Brooks' outline in about 30 seconds.

Well...

your pizza bell pizza's welcome you're not bell sorry about that johnson

uh i got your message at the dorm heart well thanks well you're just in time

we're about to get started on criminal law can i speak with you what's your

come on in alone oh sure listen you guys go ahead and get started we'll be right

back you better be

I suppose you've all been wondering why I haven't been studying for the midterm

with the rest of the group.

It's crossed our minds.

I panicked.

So I hired a 3L to tutor me.

I should have known it was something like that. How's it going?

It's not.

The jerk quit on me.

Why? What's the difference?

Look, Hart.

I'm in serious trouble now.

All this time I've been concentrating on the wrong cases.

And now without the tutor...

I don't know what I'm going to do. You're cram like the rest of us. I'm not

like the rest of you, Hart.

I can memorize just about anything.

But I just can't handle the analysis.

Of course you can.

Maybe if I had someone to spoon feed me.

Hart, will you tutor me?

You're kidding.

You've got it down cold.

There's no way you can miss an A.

But me, if I flunk this exam, it's all over.

That's not true. Even if you do fail this midterm, and I don't think you

will, you can make it up on the final. No, Hart.

If I don't pass this exam, I'm going right down the tubes. I know it. I just

know it.

Hart, you've got to help me. I wish I could, but with my job and everything,

if we had a couple of extra days, maybe.

Jonathan, you've got to understand, I'd like to, but I can't.

at least come back to the study group. We're spending a lot of time on

contracts. They don't want me there.

Of course they do. Wait here. I'll go talk to them right now.

No way, Hart.

You let him move in here, I'm liable to suffocate him with this skimpy criminal

law outline.

Shh. I hear you.

James, it is not our fault that this tutor dumped him.

Look it. He is desperate.

He needs our help. And just slow us down.

What is the matter with you people? Haven't you ever heard the word empathy?

You're right.

We should let him back in.

Ford?

Anderson? Yeah.

Would you mind going over the Harrison case again? I still don't understand it.

I don't believe you, man.

You went over that case three times last night and you still don't have it. Let's

get with it, huh, Jonathan?

I'm really sorry.

Sorry doesn't help, Jonathan.

Quit bickering. We are wasting time.

I couldn't agree more.

What does that mean, Bill?

You know exactly what I mean. You're a jerk, Bill.

Yeah, maybe, but this jerk's gonna pass contract law.

which is more than I can say for you.

Don't be so sure.

You haven't got a chance. Will you guys stop it? Look, why beat around the bush?

We all know I'm right. Even Jonathan knows I'm right. Right, Jonathan?

Jonathan.

Jonathan. Jonathan, come back.

Happy now?

Bet you didn't have to say that.

I know, I'm sorry.

Jonathan! I've been looking all over for you. Where have you been?

Wandering around, trying to sort things out.

Look, Val's really sorry about the stupid things he said.

It's okay.

I won't be bothering you guys anymore.

Jonathan. Forget about it.

Besides, you're the only one in the group who cares what happens to me.

That's not true.

Look, it's the pressure. Sometimes it makes people do horrible things.

You're really a special person, Hart.

You care about people, don't you?

I won't forget that.

Jonathan, I'm here to say I'll help you. We'll help you.

I think it's too late.

It's not too late. Look, come back to the hotel with me and we'll get to work.

We'll study as many old Kingfield exams as we can.

You do need help with case analysis, but that's your only weakness.

I... I can't ask you to do that now.

I'm volunteering.

And the study group is, too. Come on. No, I can't right now. I have to meet

someone.

But... in about a half an hour?

Okay?

Okay.

Good to have you back.

Hey, you want to make ten bucks? Sure.

At midnight, bring this to suite 904 and ask for Mr. Brooks. That's me. And

deliver this.

That's an easy ten bucks.

Yeah. If anyone asks you where you got it, saying Mr. Tullis asked you to

deliver it. Tullis, right? Right.

Okay, here's another.

Corrigan, an infant, was contracted to receive a bed with electric blankets

from his guardian, Foley, who then died before the bed

was delivered.

That's Britain's Spring Bed versus Corrigan.

1948, Richmond, Virginia.

Very good, Jonathan. I think you're going to make this after all.

Who is it?

Mr. Brooks, sir.

I've been expecting that.

Oh, good.

What is it?

Some old Kingsfield exam questions for my tutor.

I thought he gave up on you.

He did.

I told him I'd give him 500 bucks if he could come up with some rare Kingsfield

exam questions.

Jonathan, can I see those?

Sure.

Hey, these aren't that rare.

Wilbur versus Marshall Mining. We've got that one. Greenberg versus Stanford

Publishing. Covered.

Tyler versus General Tabacco.

Covered that one.

Hey, wait. Now, here's one I haven't seen.

Flowers versus Bowling Green Funeral Home.

I never heard of it.

This note says that the material was on a 1948 Kingsfield midterm.

Now, that's interesting.

A lot of good it does me.

Why not?

The facts are here, but there's no analysis.

Well, we can all work out the analysis.

One more case and I'll need a seeing eye, Doug.

Hart, you really think we need to cover that?

Any case Kingsfield is interested in is worth studying.

That's right.

What could we lose?

Well, let's go.

Take a hike.

This is Mr. Slaughter, the assistant manager.

Thanks, but we don't want any.

I have asked politely to have the dishes removed.

Take a hike.

Mr. Huck...

What is

going on here?

in the carpet. That's just the remains of a bran muffin.

Oh, no.

No. Okay, three or four bran muffins. Excuse me, Mr. Slaughter, I can explain.

Mr. Hart, who are all these people?

I rented this suite to you alone.

Well, you didn't say I couldn't have visitors.

You have exactly five minutes to vacate the premises.

This room is paid for through tomorrow, and we will remain here until then.

Oh, no, you won't.

For two days and three nights, you have refused to admit a maid.

Practically every cup, saucer, and plate in the hotel is in this room. You have

violated at least a dozen health ordinances. Leave immediately, or I will

summon the police.

If you kick us out of here, we'll flunk our midterm exams. We'll lose everything

we've worked for. You'll ruin our lives.

Yes, hi.

You're students.

Would you please connect me with the Herald? Mr. Hart, you said you were a

salesman. Get out.

We won't get out. And if you try to kick us out, we'll sue you for unlawful

eviction. That, madam, of course, is your privilege.

What if I burn this flea bag to the ground, boy? Be serious.

The Herald?

Can I speak to one of your police reporters?

Yeah, I'd like to report a drug ring operating out of the Winston Arms.

What do you think you're doing?

I thought the Herald would like to know about the drug ring operating out of

your hotel.

Drug ring? What drug ring?

Oh.

You think you're very clever, don't you?

Yes, sir. My name is Brooks.

I'm at the Winston Arms Hotel, and I... All right.

But you will be out tomorrow at the stroke of noon.

Very nice place you have here, Mr.

Slaughter. I really hope to come back sometime.

Arnie, we'll see the premises by 12 noon tomorrow.

Every crummy thing I ever said about you, you are very clever.

Thank you, thank you.

Let's get back to work.

Such a deal.

Flowers versus Bowling Green Funeral Home, I think.

That's right.

Okay.

Mr. Emanuel Flowers employs Bowling Green Funeral Home to cremate his wife.

Before the funeral home could incinerate Mrs. Flowers, the building burned to the

ground. Three months later, Bowling Green Funeral Home sent Mrs. Flowers a

bill for the cremation of his wife.

Only Kingsfield could come up with a case like that.

Come on. Come on. Let's get into it. All right.

Okay.

Some people believe examinations to be... cruel, inhuman,

and falsely revealing.

These relics of a sterner past, they argue, may cause ulcers, drug

addiction, and psychosis.

I do not go that far.

As you may have noticed, I do not subscribe to the permissive school of

learning.

Someday you may be defending a human life.

You must be prepared.

The meek may inherit the earth, but they seldom do well in my

examinations.

Now, for all of you who have wasted your valuable review time attempting to

second-guess me, I have sad news.

This exam will consist solely of one hypothetical case.

the tragic fate of Mrs. Emanuel Flowers in the Bowling Green funeral.

You may now begin.

I'd say we were incredibly lucky. I think we owe that tutor a case of beer

each. I just can't believe that Kingsfield gave us a case and used it on

an old exam.

It's not like him. It doesn't make any sense.

Logan, it was a very old case.

1948.

Kingsfield is the weirdest, man.

That case came straight out of left field.

I'm sick.

Studied every Kingsfield exam going back to 1950, and I never came across

anything like Flowers vs. Bowling Green Funeral.

I want you to go back a couple more years because I feel fine.

I think I did great. Me too. How about you, Logan? Yeah, I think I did pretty

good.

It feels great to post it. Now, come on.

Uh, 779K.

Where's 779K?

I don't have a grade!

Oh, take it easy, Val. Of course you have a grade. How can I take it easy?

Kingsfield must have lost my exam. He did not, and I just looked more careful

at him.

I don't know.

Oh, sorry.

There, Anderson, that's you.

Got a name!

would get anything else?

Hart, you got an A!

Oh, Hart. Jonathan!

Jonathan, 427J!

Yes? Jonathan got an A! I don't believe it. Hey, I'm as entitled to an A as the

next guy.

Right, Hart?

Absolutely.

Hey, Gary, wait up.

Hi. How'd you do on the exam?

Not as well as you and your friends.

Yeah, I guess we did all right.

All right. Hart, you're a master of understatements.

You guys did so well, you raised the curve for the whole class.

Sorry about that.

I'm not blaming you. I mean, everybody knows you have one of the best study

groups on campus.

Anderson, Ford, Logan, Bell.

Hey, they're all pretty bright.

What about Jonathan?

Yeah, what about Jonathan?

He got an A, too.

Hard to believe, isn't it?

Hey, I'll see you, okay?

To our great futures in the practice of law.

More ale, innkeeper, more ale.

Your wish is my command, your greatness.

You ought to bring him in here more often. Maybe I can retire early. Another

toast, another toast.

No more toast.

This is the most important one of the evening.

To James T. Hart, a friend who came through when I really needed a friend.

James!

Hart, you all right?

Yes, why shouldn't I be?

Hart, what about the exam?

What about it?

Well, don't snap at me.

But there is something about it that bothers me.

Look, Logan, it's over, and I'm sick of hearing about it. Hey, you guys,

congratulations on your grades.

How'd you do it?

It's easy when you know the answers.

And even easier if you know the question.

Don't say anything.

a revocation of an offer.

What is the general rule, Mr.

Hart? The general rule is that an offer is revocable even if the offer expressly

promises not to revoke or gives a definite period within which an

acceptance may be submitted.

Good. Now, what are the exceptions, Mr.

Brooks?

When, uh... We are waiting, Mr. Brooks.

I'm not sure, sir.

You are not sure, Mr. Brooks.

Here you are, one of a handful of students who managed to score an A on my

midterm examination, and you are not sure.

I'm sorry, sir.

Indeed.

I do not subscribe to the theory that students of a professional school are

entitled to let down after a period of examination.

You may sit down.

Nothing I do pleases that man.

He's been getting an A on his exam.

Well, I've got to go.

See you all later. Yeah.

All right, I've got to talk to you.

Oh, I'm going to be late for work. Sorry.

Ford? No, I've got to go somewhere. I'm waiting for a meeting at the cafeteria.

I'll go grab a show.

Helps me relax.

What's this emergency meeting stuff, Logan? I got a lot of work to do. Yeah,

me too.

Have you felt the suspicion everywhere you go on campus?

Where's Hart and Jonathan?

I didn't invite them, but I think you know why.

Oh, come on.

Even when we walk through the halls, everyone stops talking.

They're uptight.

Our grades raise the curve so high they're all hurting.

Whenever you're successful at anything, you're bound to make enemies.

Ford, you know there's more to it than that.

All of you do, and you just don't want to face it.

I don't know what I know anymore.

But I do know we worked our tails off for that exam, and it is not our fault

if everybody in this school thinks we... Well, go ahead and say it, because that

is what everyone's thinking.

I did not cheat. None of us did.

Didn't know there was a study group meeting today. It's an emergency

meeting.

But why wasn't I notified?

I think you know why, Hart. Hart, did we cheat on the exam?

Real subtle, Bill.

Now, what makes you think that?

You've heard the rumors around campus.

Since when do we listen to rumors? When rumors begin to make sense.

Hart, we had the exam question.

Sure, and it came from an old Kingsfield exam.

But do you know that for a fact?

What are you trying to say, Logan? Are you trying to say Jonathan cheated?

It's a possibility.

Do you have one shred of evidence?

No. Then why have you convicted him? I'm not trying to convict him. I'm just

asking questions. But obviously they're questions you don't want to hear.

Only Jonathan can answer.

So why don't you ask him? I think you should.

Why me?

Because you're the one that asked him back into the study group.

You're a lot closer to him.

Yeah?

Now the rest of you have the stomach for it.

Hey, Hart.

Jonathan, thanks for coming. Sure.

But why here?

It's private.

Listen, Jonathan, I need a straight answer about something.

Shoot. Anything for a friend?

Uh... Who is your tutor?

What do you mean?

I mean, what was his name?

Woodrow Tellis.

Why?

Because he gave us the exact question that was on the exam.

Doesn't that bother you?

We were lucky.

I'm not so sure.

Ford and Logan and the others aren't either.

What exactly are you trying to say, Hart?

You know.

Are you calling me a cheat?

John, I... Are you calling me a cheat?

Hey. Mr. Murray got trouble?

Anything I can do?

Yeah, unless you know a guy named Tullis.

You don't mean D. Woodrow Tullis, do you?

You know him?

Haven't I always told you to come to me first?

Do you know him? Yeah.

He's right around the phone over there.

Thanks, Ernie.

Tullis?

The one and only. I'm looking for a tutor.

Hey, man, if you want help, call me at home. No, no, that's not what I mean.

I'm looking for a guy that tutored a friend of mine, Jonathan Brooks.

With friends like him, you don't need enemies.

Hey, babe.

Listen, I've got to talk to you.

Beat it, man. I'm busy.

How did you steal the Kingfield exam for Brooks?

I'll be right back, babe.

Hey, man, are you crazy?

You're the guy that gave him four old Kingsfield exam questions, right?

Paid for my trip to L.A. They were supposed to be from old tests.

They were.

What about Flowers versus Bowling Green Funeral Home?

I never heard of it.

Oh, come on. You know that was on the test.

It's ridiculous.

Kingsfield never repeats an exam question.

Oh, wow.

I don't believe it.

He actually went through with it.

You didn't sell him the test?

No, man.

Your pal asked me if I knew how to get him a copy of it.

I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid.

That's why I quit tutoring him.

Well, excuse me.

Okay, but who's gonna tell him?

Something to say.

So do we.

Maybe we were wrong about Jonathan.

You're right.

He cheated.

Which means we all cheated.

Jonathan, I don't want to talk either.

I know the truth.

What do you know about truth?

I talked to Tullis.

Jonathan, I thought we were friends.

Get out of here.

You know, it's one thing when a guy goes out and buys a test. Then he's just a

cheat.

But when a guy cons his buddy in a covering for him, that is Louis.

Why did you do it to me, Jonathan? Have I ever dumped on you? Have I ever

anything but fight with you?

Jonathan, I'm talking to you.

Oh, God.

Oh, heart.

Oh, man, I'm sorry.

My nose is bleeding.

I'm really sorry. God.

I'll be sorry. Get me a towel.

Yeah.

Oh, man, you're all right.

I tried hard not to do it.

I didn't want to do it.

But after that blow-up with Belle, I knew I didn't have a chance.

Tell us it mentioned some guy who had access to exams.

He said he was kidding, but I knew he wasn't.

I just took it from there.

Why?

The way I saw it, I had no choice.

We were trying to help you.

Too little, too late.

You don't know what it's been like for me, Hart.

I envy you.

You not only know exactly where you're going, you know why.

I've never known why I was here in the first place.

Because you wanted to be a lawyer.

I never wanted to be a lawyer.

My father-in-law wanted me to be a lawyer.

My parents wanted me to be a lawyer.

My lawyer brother wanted me to be a lawyer.

Hart, you're here because you've earned it.

You pay your own way. You change your mind. You can walk anytime.

Me?

I'm here to please everyone else.

I've been doing that my whole life.

I thought I was pretty good at it, too.

Until I ran into Kingsfield.

Well, what are you going to do now?

Pack.

Pack and get the hell out.

Well, what about me and the rest of the study group?

I am sorry that I involved you all in this.

I had the case.

But I couldn't handle the analysis.

When you offered to help, I couldn't resist.

If there was anything I could do to change things, believe me, I would.

You're gonna have to face Kingsfield and explain.

I can't do that.

No, then you have to. If you cheated, then we've all cheated.

Not a chance.

I'll just write a letter of resignation.

And disappear.

Jonathan, you can't disappear from yourself.

I'm really gonna try hard.

I'm sorry.

Please.

Jonathan!

If he won't tell the truth, we have to. According to the canon of ethics... I

don't need a lecture on the canon of ethics.

Poor Jonathan.

It's a lousy cheat.

Well, Jonathan is going through the worst hell of his life. You think this

is easy for him?

No, I guess not.

You know, I remember when we first started here, somebody said, look to the

left and look to the right, because one of you won't be here by the time the

year's over.

I never thought it would be one of us.

I do feel bad about Jonathan.

But our futures are on the line. One of us has got to go to Kingsfield.

Excuse me. Hart, the telephone call for you.

Okay, thank you.

I'll meet her in Kingsfield's office in half an hour.

Oh, can I help you, Mr.

Hart? No, I'm here to see Mr.

Brooks. Thank you.

Hi. Thanks for coming, Hart.

I'm sorry I've made everything so hard for you.

The rest of the group must hate me.

I can't say I blame them. They don't hate you.

They actually understand.

Yeah, they think it took a lot of guts for you to come down here, and I agree

with them.

I tried to disappear last night.

I just couldn't do it.

I'm glad.

I'm scared.

Yes, Professor.

I see.

And Mr. Hart and the others had nothing whatever to do with it.

No, sir.

Are those all the facts, Mr. Brooks?

No, sir.

I want you to know the reasons why I cheated.

Those are not facts, Mr. Brooks. You have to understand.

You have to understand.

You have given me the relevant facts.

That is all I am concerned with. That is all that matters.

That is not all that matters.

Doesn't it matter that I've been in a state of panic since the first day I

walked into your class?

I've been well aware of that, Mr. Brooklyn.

Then why couldn't you have taken it easier on me?

Because fear is not something one runs away from.

One confronts it and overcomes it.

You think it's that easy?

It is never easy, Mr. Brooklyn.

You want to know something?

I'll tell you anyway.

When I first walked in here, I was scared, really scared.

But I don't think I'm afraid of you anymore.

Excellent. Then your brief experience in law school has not been all wasted.

I hate myself for being pushed into law school in the first place.

I never wanted to be a lawyer.

There are a lot of things I could have been good at.

You see, Professor Kingsfield, I am not stupid.

I was aware of that, too.

We never do well at things that we're not interested in.

To be a lawyer requires great design.

Maybe all this has been the best.

Maybe now you'll find what you wish to do in the world.

the first years are hard years much more than we know with good

friends to love us we'll feel every blow stay open

to all things and one day we'll all say hey look