Original subtitles

You're starting a big trial today, aren't you?

How'd you you know that?

You're always a tiger before an important case.

ls that right?

Remember the Paxton trial?

l remember.

You're wearing your red tie...

...which is always a tip off to something big.

l'm prosecuting Pearl Gerard.

The Wedgewood Madam?

That's what they're calling her.

You can't.

Why not?

lt's a great case.

Lots of news coverage and a slam dunk conviction.

lt's a publicity stunt...

...for the District Attorney's re-election campaign.

She broke the law, and l'm a Prosecutor, okay?

Must be nice for you.

And this one is so cut and dried...

All l have to do is show up and smile for the cameras.

She's being unfairly singled out.

She's a hooker. lt's against the law.

What's unfair about that?

Just because her client list includes...

...the richest, most powerful men in the country.

You play with fire, you are going to get burned.

And what about the men?

Are you going to prosecute the men?

Don't be ridiculous.

Are you going to at least drag their names through the mud...

... like you're doing to her?

That, l can do.

But don't feel sorry for Pearl Gerard.

She'll have her own fragrance and a line of clothing out...

... by the end of the month, believe me.

Well, at least we know she has a decent attorney.

What do you mean?

l'm representing her.

You're what?

l'm her lawyer.

Nora!

l'm asking the voters to re-elect our team because of...

... our outstanding conviction rate of eighty-seven percent.

lsn't that because you're always dropping the charges

... at any chance of an acquittal?

l'm glad you asked that question. You see...

There's Pearl!

ls it true that some of your clients are well-known figures?

You ears are gonna burn.

No comment.

Are you going to name names?

You betcha.

No comment.

Are we gonna see the infamous black book?

Hey, you're kind'a cute.

No comment.

Do you like my outfit?

lt's from my new ''Safari'' collection.

Hear ye, hear ye...

Court is now in session.

The Honorable Judge Winthrop Madsen presiding.

All rise.

You're late.

You're out of order.

l should have never let you go back to law school.

Let me?

l should have insisted you stay at home.

And do what?

Take care of the kids.

We don't have any kids.

l can fix that.

Good move. An all guy jury.

Thank you.

Are we gonna break for lunch?

Do you like ribs? l love ribs.

Nothin' better than suckin' the meat off a big ol' bone.

Easy, girl!

Besides, this case is gonna be over before lunch.

Well, l don't know about that.

By the looks of that prosecutor over there he seems like...

He's a bit of a sour puss. But he's kind'a cute.

He's got a nice ass.

l wouldn't mind doing a little bit of that thing.

Pearl, that's my husband you're talking about.

Attorneys approach the Bench.

ls this that madam l've been seein' on TV?

l object to the characterization, Your Honor.

That's her.

How many hookers she runnin'?

Nothing has been established yet, Your Honor.

Dozens.

Let's keep it clean and fast.

Try her, hang her, we'll move on, okay?

- Yes, sir.

- Your Honor! - Back!

Prosecution will call its first witness.

Your Honor, l move that you remove yourself from this case.

No, no! l think he's kind'a cute.

Motion denied.

Good.

Call your first witness, counselor.

Miss Brigitte Delphane, Your Honor.

Do you swear to tell the truth...

...the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help you God.

l do.

Would you state your full name and occupation, please?

At this time l choose to invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege...

... and respectfully decline to answer that question...

... based on the grounds that it might tend to incriminate me.

You won't give your name?

Honey, l'm whoever you want me to be.

And your occupation?

At this time, l choose to invoke my Fifth Amendment...

Your Honor!

This is your fault.

She's entitled to exercise her rights.

She agreed to testify. She should be held in contempt.

She has the right not to incriminate herself.

By telling us what her job is?

She's a prostitute.

lt's against the law, remember?

We're not gonna prosecute her for that.

Fine. Put it in writing. Give her immunity.

When hell freezes over.

Then she's not gonna testify. And you have no case.

Give her immunity. Give all the little cuties immunity.

Go after the big fish. We'll sort out the guppies later, OK?

- Yes, sir. - Good.

l've got a campaign to run.

Miss Delphane, what do you do for a living?

l am a recreational pleasure facilitator.

You are a prostitute, aren't you?

Now, now, you be nice.

Miss Delphane, did there come a time when you offered...

... your services to a one General Sydney Arbuckle?

Yes, l did facilitate the General.

And how was that for you?

The General likes it as close to basic trainin' as he can get it.

And he was definitely standin' at attention.

Uncle Sam needed me.

He wanted me to be all that l could be.

All and all...

l'd say the General got more before breakfast...

...than most people get all day long.

Now, Brigitte, if that is your real name...

- Objection! - Overruled.

Miss Delphane, under grant of immunity...

...would you kindly tell us...

...who hired you for this illegal act?

Objection!

What's wrong with that?

That Grant of lmmunity language is so prejudicial!

lt is not!

lt makes her sound like some sort of a criminal.

- She's a hooker! - You see what l mean?

Nora, give me a break.

lf you weren't so full of yourself.

What?

Hey, hey, hey! Counselors!

Are you gonna peck away at every little issue over and over?

And do you have to make everything seem...

... like some big evil conspiracy?

Are you gonna object to every single word that l say?

l object.

Objection overruled! Proceed.

Objection!

Sit down and shut up.

Proceed.

Miss Delphane...

Do you work for the defendant, Miss Pearl Gerard?

l'm self-employed.

She refers you to clients, doesn't she?

Collects the fees for your services? Pays you?

Um, sometimes.

No further questions, Your Honor.

Your Honor, l'd like to move to recess, please.

What?

Good idea.

Court is now adjourned to nine A. M. tomorrow morning.

And you?

l'll see you in my chambers.

Don't worry. That was nothing.

Oh, no, baby. That was definitely somethin'.

Some of my people have their boxers all in a bunch...

... because of Pearl Gerard's little black book.

ls that so?

Well, l'm really not much of a reader myself.

Some very important people would like to get their hands on it.

You know, l really don't care.

l'm just a lowly Assistant Prosecutor...

...working for in idiotic Prosecutors' office...

... in a small little town.

lt's just really one big joke.

l mean, if l was a Federal Prosecutor...

... maybe in the Justice Department in Washington...

That can be arranged.

l'll have your black book tonight.

Good. Make sure, no slip ups.

Yeah, right.

l know l've been a very bad girl.

l should be severely reprimanded.

Severely?

l think l deserve a spankin'.

Yes. Unfortunately, that's no longer permitted in this state.

What are you doin'?

BRlGlTTE: Too bad.

That's the judge's chamber.

JUDGE: Thank you, state legislature.

l know.

Curiosity killed the cat.

lsn't there some other way that l could throw myself...

... upon the mercy of the Court?

l bet l could think of something.

Oh, Your Honor! Oh! Oh! l do not object.

You were lookin' pretty sexy in that court room this morning.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

You weren't lookin' so bad yourself.

You like a good fight, don't you?

So do you.

You were playin' pretty rough in there, weren't you?

You looked like you can handle yourself.

l would rather handle you.

You're out of order, counselor.

l'm gonna have to hold you in contempt.

You can hold me any way you want.

You could do the hard time.

No kiddin'.

l'm gonna eat you alive in that courtroom.

You're dreamin'.

l am gonna lock that little whore up and throw away the key.

That's it.

She's a human being and deserves to be treated as such.

Nora.

You're not gonna touch me until...

... you drop the charges against Pearl Gerard.

- Nora! - Forget it!

Oh! Mr. Hemmings.

l didn't see you there.

l'm waiting to see lverson.

Oh, uh, l think he went home.

What are you still doing here?

l needed to get some papers for him.

Oh, l see.

Maybe if you'd turn on a light, it'd be a little easier.

Silly me.

Why don't we both come back when he's in the office?

Oh, right.

Have you had dinner yet?

ls that a yes or a no?

No way, mister.

Not until you drop the charges against Pearl.

She's a madam. Prostitution is still against the law.

Save it for the D.A.'s campaign speeches.

l'm not interested.

All right, what if this were just a news item in the paper?

Would you be making such a big deal out of this...

... if you weren't defending Pearl Gerard in court?

Of course, l would.

The fact that her clients are the rich and powerful...

... is no excuse to single her out for harsh punishment.

This isn't fair.

Drop the charges.

Nora...

The D.A.'s office already has...

... a miserable record of dropping charges.

Quit whining.

lf you ever want to play with these again, drop the charges.

Couldn't l play with those first, and then we'll talk about it?

No!

Hear ye, hear ye, Court is now in session.

The Honorable Judge Winthrop Madsen presiding.

All rise.

Prosecution, you may call your first witness.

The People call Miss Vicki Howard, sir.

Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth...

...the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

l do.

State your full name and occupation, please.

Under grant of immunity, you are compelled to answer.

- Objection. - Overruled!

We have been over this, counselor. Proceed.

Your name.

My name is Vicki Howard.

And your occupation?

l'm a fantasy therapist...

... specializing in real time entertainment.

You're a prostitute, right?

l didn't call you a lawyer.

Miss Howard, did there come a time...

...where you made a professional visit to Senator Wainstock?

Miss Howard? The question?

What question?

Did there come a time...

Oh, the Senator. Okay, well, this is what happened.

The Senator was in town for some sort of fund raiser.

He was so nice to me.

He treated me just like a member of his staff.

ln fact, l considered that man presidential material right off.

Miss Breast! l mean, Miss Howard.

l can tell you have rich fantasy potential.

Never mind about that.

l'm sensitive about these things, you know?

Please.

Don't sell yourself short.

You know, a strong component of make believe...

... can really enhance your life experience.

Your Honor?

The witness will answer the question.

He hasn't asked me one.

He's so blocked.

Miss Howard, this is not a joke.

lt's not?

No.

l think you could use a little therapy yourself.

Counselor?

Did she send you on this filthy mission?

Objection!

Actually, the Senator was remarkably clean...

Considering what he does for a living.

Your Honor?

Overruled. Proceed.

Answer the question.

Who sent you on this despicable journey...

...to corrupt the very foundations of our democracy... .

Boy, what's he got up his butt?

Just his head.

l guess it was Pearl who called me.

He's gonna blow a gasket.

Lookin' good.

Was it Pearl Gerard who collected the money from the Senator?

That's the usual procedure.

l object! He's going for the death penalty here.

l've got him right where l want him.

You ain't had 'em at all, baby.

And wasn't Pearl Gerard, the so-called ''Wedgewood Madam''...

...who paid you for your vile, heinous acts?

Okay, now he's gone too far.

l've seen it a million times.

Answer the question.

Objection!

This Prosecutor's in need of a major adjustment...

... if you know what l mean.

Well...

l'll take care of him, next break.

Thanks.

Overruled! Proceed.

And how long did you entertain the Senator in his hotel room?

The whole time. Believe me.

l mean, how many minutes were you inside?

Don't you mean, how many minutes was he inside?

No, wait.

Didn't his staff member come...

What's wrong? No further questions, Your Honor.

Witness is dismissed.

Court is adjourned until one o'clock.

Once and for all, l want to put the issue of drop cases to rest.

l have here in my hand...

...the complete public record of the disposition of every case...

...this office has handled in the last two years.

This should vindicate me, my coll and every thing...

There she is!

Can you give us some more names of your clients?

Are there other Senators?

This is a faux skin.

l have had no animals killed in the making of this dress.

No comment! No comment.

As l was saying...

Oh, why do l even waste my breath?

He's off his rocker.

- He's my boss. - So?

The wife is supposed to support her husband in his career.

The wife, that's what l am to you? The wife.

You know what l mean.

Yeah. l know exactly what you mean.

Oh! Um, hello, uh, Mister, uh, Prosecutor, uh person...

Yes?

You know, l'm so glad l caught you.

You're one of Pearl Gerard's employees, aren't you?

Well, don't hold that against me, please.

This is very improper.

Oh, proper has nothin' to do with it.

Come on,it's part of your ongoing investigation...

You got it?

You didn't forget what we talked about?

The job in the Justice Department?

Prosecutor of the Justice Department.

Right, right, right, right. Where's the book?

Here it is.

That's somebody's goddamned Christmas card book!

Pearl Gerard's book! With the list of her clients.

How long is this gonna last?

Don't worry. l'm gonna get this case thrown out.

l hope so.

l mean, l've got a business to run here.

You know, you wouldn't believe what this situation has created.

You know, let me tell you.

l really don't wanna know.

You know, you're pretty good lookin' for a lawyer.

l don't know what you're makin' do with this legal garbage.

Pearl, not now.

Well, think about it.

l'm gonna try not to.

l think you're overdoing it.

All right.

So, are you ready to throw out the case now?

Why don't you drop the case?

Plead guilty, and this all goes away.

l can't do that...

... because what you're trying to do here is an injustice.

lsn't it bad enough that this case is already all over...

...the TV and the papers and the scandal sheets?

Do you have to make into a battle of the sexes, Nora?

l didn't do that.

Listen, Nora...

A marriage can never be a democracy.

There are only two people.

One vote is always gonna cancel out the other vote. A tie.

Now, it just doesn't work.

Oh, so you're in charge of everything...

And you make all the decisions.

Now, that works.

Forget it.

Here ye, hear ye! Court is now in session...

The Honorable Judge Winthrop Madsen presiding. All rise.

Your Honor, l have a motion.

Oh, boy. What is it?

l move that the testimony of the current witness be...

... disallowed and stricken from the record.

What l have here are receipts indicating that...

...the witness was being paid out of the Senator's campaign funds.

Therefore she has acted as a de facto employee...

...to a political campaign...

... protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution.

That's right.

So she was campaigning.

No, not exactly.

Getting out the vote, was she?

No, but nevertheless her actions fall under...

...the right of free association.

Nice, try, counselor...

But l don't think that's what the founding fathers had in mind.

Motion denied.

Additionally, Your Honor...

... because of her employment by the Senator... .

...this court has no jurisdiction.

Only the Federal courts have standing to obtain this evidence.

She's good, isn't she?

l repeat, motion denied.

The witness will take the stand for cross-examination.

May l remind the witness that she is still under oath?

Gotcha.

So, tell me, did the Senator complain?

Complain?

Did he call the Better Business Bureau, the police, ...

...the Consumer Protection Agency?

l doubt it.

The F.D.A.?

l think he was fully satisfied with the level of service.

Was the Senator arrested for soliciting a prostitute?

What?!

lt is against the law.

lt's also against the law to take the tag off your mattress...

But you don't see anybody going to jail for that, do you?

But people do go to jail for providing pleasure, don't they?

lt's happened to me on several occasions.

And how many times did you go to jail for providing...

... a little ray of sunshine in the dark lives of lonely men?

Several times.

And were these pleasant experiences?

No, they weren't. They were horrible!

You were humiliated, weren't you?

Yes!

And teased and made fun of and harassed!

Yes!

l have no more questions, Your Honor.

All right. Court is adjourned till nine A. M. tomorrow morning.

Do you like?

You're getting a little weak, aren't you?

Drop the charges...

And we'll have more fun than you can possibly imagine.

Robert?

What is wrong with you?

l thought men needed this?

l thought men would do anything for this.

l thought l married a man. Forget it.

Maybe my mother was wrong...

... or maybe she just underestimat men and their stupid naps.

But that's no excuse to ignore me.

Fine. l'm going for a walk.

What are you doing?

Oh, l...

What are you doing here?

Oh, Mr. lverson, l can't hold it back any longer.

l love you.

You do?

Yes.

Damn it.

Go ahead and sleep.

Who cares about my feelings?

Wait! Wait, wait, wait, wait.

l was wrong. lt was a mistake.

Let's go back to the way things were.

l don't think that's a good idea.

What? - No.

l don't think we should make love...

... until after this case is finished.

No, Robert. l was wrong. That was stupid.

No! Now, don't sell yourself short.

Taking a little break from sex is a good thing for both of us.

l mean, l've never felt better in my whole life.

l think my sinuses are starting to clear up, too.

l gotta go get dressed.

l have something very important to say to you.

You're gonna have to forget about me.

Now, l know it's not gonna be easy...

And l know how hard it's gonna be...

...what with me working right beside you everyday.

But you have to be strong.

l'm a happily married man...

And as nice as it was last night...

l never want to do anything to hurt Nora.

l just want you to know l think you're a very special person...

And l'm never gonna forget what we had together.

Would you accept this as a token of my appreciation?

l've convinced Hemmings to make you my permanent assistant.

l appreciate loyalty.

We have to talk.

l'm not accepting a plea.

lt's too late at this point.

We have to talk about us.

Hear ye, hear ye, Court is now in session...

The Honorable Judge Winthrop Madsen presiding. All rise.

Your Honor, l have a motion.

Counselor, there are twenty-six amendments to the Constitution...

... and so far you've based motions on three of them.

Are we going to go through the remaining twenty three?

lf l have to, Your Honor.

She's tenacious, Your Honor.

She'll use any weapon at her disposal.

What is it this time?

l move that this case be dismissed.

Motion denied! No way l'm dismissing this case.

l haven't had this much fun in years.

Oh, please.

Defendant will remain silent.

Winthrop?

Proceed.

The Prosecution calls Miss Erika Johansen.

Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth...

... and nothing but the truth, so help you God.

l do.

State your full name and occupation, please.

Erika Johansen. l'm a prostitute.

How refreshing.

Thank you.

Miss Johansen...

Did there come a time when you paid a visit to Mr. Willy Barnes...

... president and C.E.O. of Microstuff Technologies?

- Miss Johansen? - What?

Did there come a time when you paid a visit to Mr. Willy Barnes?

Oh! Oh, yeah. Well, it was like this.

He seemed distracted.

l knew it was gonna be difficult competing with all that cyberspace

But that's what l intended to do.

They didn't call him the King of Software for nothin'.

But l've seen worse...

And l was determined to network with his hard drive.

Hit the road information superhighway.

He was just shy.

Once l started interfacing with his peripherals

... and downloading his laptop...

We were just fine.

ln fact, underneath that geeky exterior

...was a hundred megahertz...

... and a thousand gigabits of solid manhood.

Res... Recess.

l'll see you in my chambers.

What? Okay, that does it. This is war, Precious. Yes.

With the evidence mounting against your client...

... are you ready to accept a plea?

No comment.

Can a woman compete in the good- old-boy network of the courtroom?

- No comment. - ls it true...

...that you and the prosecutor are getting a divorce?

No!

You are turning that courtroom into a circus!

l am? No, it's you. You're doing that!

- Am not! - Are to!

Will you listen to yourself? You're acting so childish.

- Oh, l am not. - Are to.

All l'm saying is, if l get a case...

... you excuse yourself from the same case.

l've got a better idea.

How about when l'm on a case, you excuse yourself from the case?

l can't pick and choose like that.

l have my career to think about.

And what about my career?

Ohhh, it's all about you, isn't it?

You're the jury foreman?

That's me.

You're wanted in another room. Come with me.

l'll be right back.

Can't we just conduct ourselves in a professional manner...

... and not get so emotional?

My mother always said you were a cold fish.

Do you think you could leave your mother out of this for a minute?

l need a coffee.

What do you think's goin' on in there?

l don't know.

And l'm telling you, the Fair Employment and Practices Act...

Oh, my God.

That's jury tampering.

Yeah, it's really a shock at all the tampering goin' on in there?

That's a felony.

What are you going to do?

Well, l have to prosecute them. The woman and the jury foreman.

And Pearl Gerard, too, if l can prove she's behind it.

No.

l have to. lt's the law.

The judge will declare a mistrial.

Ah, damn it!

l can't go through this again. l can't stand this.

Me, either.

l'm not cut out for this celibacy thing.

l'm not like you. l can't do without.

You're right. This has all gone too far.

Robert, it has.

l can't just drop the case.

Hemmings is already taking too much heat for dropping cases.

l need a conviction.

Wait. l have an idea.

Do it!

l'm sick of the whole thing anyway!

How the hell am l supposed to run an election with all this noise?!

The blue bloods hate me! The hookers hate me!

The johns think l'm some kind of a patsy!

Where's the percentages?! Where's the vote?! Who cares?!

Get on with it!

Do what you gotta do and keep me informed.

Ah, hell. You're big kids.

Make your own decisions.

Your Honor?

Yes?

The defendant would like to change her plea.

Oh, no.

Pearl Gerard pleads guilty to operating a business...

...without a license.

What?

The People accept this plea, Your Honor.

You settled out of court.

Yes, Your Honor.

- Plea bargain? - Yes, Your Honor.

No more trial?

No more trial.

Your Honor, may l approach the Bench?

Sure. Come on.

May l please the Court?

This is highly irregular.

l hereby find Pearl Gerard guilty...

... of operating a business without a license.

And fine her 100 dollars, payable to the Clerk of the Court.

Yes!

The jury is hereby dismissed.

This court is adjourned. All rise.

What? No more hookers?

Miss Gerard, to show there's no hard feelings...

l'd like to give you this little gift.

Thank you!

Don't get too excited.

lt's just one of those stupid little address books...

... he's always handing out.

lt's a good gift. People like them.

l think it's very nice. Thank you.

Pearl!

Okay.

lf you really wanted to give her something, why didn't you...

...just give her her little black book with her client list?

Oh, l never had that.

You never had it?

Um, well, l got rid of that about a week ago.

That's destruction of evidence.

Robert.

You're right. l'll forget about it.

- Come on. Let's go home. - All right.

Do you remember what we did after the Paxton trial?

Yes. And there's no way.

Spicy sauce.

- Hello?

Hi. This is the Bubster.

l got your little present, and l want to thank you.

You're very welcome. l don't need it anymore anyway.

l got a book deal, a TV movie and a chain of underwear stores.

What do l need with a ratty old address book.

l heard your people been lookin' for it everywhere.

Well, you got me on that one.

l told them old Pearl wouldn't let me down.

l want to thank you for that, too.

Not mentioning me during your little legal troubles and all.

Man, if l'd had these names before...

... l could have run for another two terms...

... and we'd all have national health insurance...

See you around.

Hot sauce.