All language subtitles for L.A.Law.S01E18.Becker.on.the.Rox.1080p.HULU.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-BurCyg_track3_[eng]

And saving the best for
last, it is my profound pleasure

to congratulate Mike Kuzak
on landing this firm's

first Fortune 100 client,
Northland Pharmaceutical.

[applause]

They were sufficiently
impressed

with Mike's performance
in the Stacey Gill case

that they've engaged us to
handle a $100 million dollar

products liability suit,
a suit brought by five people

who suffered serious
neurological impairment

as a result of taking Cold 20.

I take that sometimes.

Well, these people were also
taking a drug called Benedol.

It's prescribed
for the treatment

of severe schizophrenia.

That, I don't take.

And a combination
of the two is what did it.

Aren't they going after the
makers of the Benedol as well?

Well, unfortunately,
that company's

gone into receivership
following a rash of lawsuits

over another drug it
was manufacturing,

which just leaves Northland.

Anyway, no pressure, Mike.

But a trial like this could
kick us into lunar orbit.

Well, I'm not quite ready
to conclude that a trial

is what's indicated here.
Who knows?

This may be one to settle.

Well, we should have
a better idea this afternoon

when we meet with
Northland's chief house counsel.

And two people
from a consulting firm

they used called
the Taggert Group?

- What's to consult?
- Jury selection, I guess.

What points to hammer on,
what points not to.

I thought that's
what they hired us for.

Well, I don't now exactly
what they have planned.

But what's wrong with
getting a little help?

You didn't need any help
on the Stacey Gill case.

I mean, you won that on
your instincts and the facts.

As I recall, my instincts
told me to settle

before the verdict came in.

Why don't we just
keep an open mind

and see what they
bring to the table?

We're adjourned.

Stuart, you got a minute?

- I need to ask you a big favor.
- Yeah, what's up?

I think I'm gonna need
some help with my taxes.

- Ann? I'm honored.
- You mean it?

Sure. Just give
a couple of weeks.

Let me get my desk cleared.

- Oh.
- That's a problem?

The thing is,
I'm a little strapped.

I was hoping to get
my refund back early.

Okay, no problem.

You're the best.
You know that?

- Mm-hmm.
- I'll make it up to you.

Yeah, well,
I'm very expensive.

I was thinking maybe
you could take it out in trade.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[upbeat music]

Sorry I'm late, Arnie.

It's 10:30!

My car broke down.
I had to have it towed.

It's the second
time this month!

As if I didn't know.
What are you looking for?

One lousy fresh pencil.
Is that too much to ask?

Thank you.

[sigh]

Points?

How old's your car?

In dog years?

You want my advice, you're
throwing good money after bad.

You wanna tell me
exactly what's my alternative?

Get a new car.

Rox, I want you
to read through this

and make sure it's coherent.

I need it typed up
before Landetta comes in.

[sighs]

Arnie, we need to have a talk.

- What about?
- A raise.

Rox, can't this
conversation wait 'til later?

- No.
- What'd you get last year?

Cost of living, but
that won't do it this time.

- What will?
- $100.

$100 a week?

I don't eat in
restaurants, Arnie.

I don't buy clothes
that aren't on sale.

I have a 10-year-old car
that spends more time

in the shop that it
does on the streets.

And with all of that,
I've still gotta worry

about my rent check bouncing!

Rox, I gotta tell you.

This is not the year to
be pushing for a big raise.

I'm underpaid as it is.

Plus which, I probably average
four to six hours a week

extra doing your personal chores
for which I receive nothing.

Nothing?

You call my love and
appreciation nothing?

Will it buy me a new car?

[sighs]

Okay. Okay, look.
I will talk to Brackman.

- I'll see what I can do.
- Thank you.

Landetta. Tick-tock.

[sighs]

[knocking on door]

- Hi.
- Hi.

This criminal
case of mine? Stulwicz?

I was hoping to kick it
around with you a little.

- How come?
- I value your opinion.

Benny Stulwicz walks
into a shoe repair store,

beats up the proprietor
and takes off with over $200.

All true.

What's also true
is that Benny's IQ

hovers around the
mid two-figure range.

Some low-life he knows told
him that the shoe repair guy

stole the money and asked Benny
to get it back. Key question.

Could Benny form the criminal
intent necessary to convict?

Interesting question.
Good luck.

Yeah.

Thing is, this case has been
assigned to Judge Forstenzer.

Very bad blood there from
when I was in the PD's office.

I hate to see it
all turn on that.

Forget it.

If you are looking for
another trial lawyer,

you're in the wrong office.

Isn't it a little early
in your career

to be making those
kind of pronouncements?

After what happened
the last time out,

I say it's staring me
in the face.

The thing is, you can't
let it stare you down.

I wouldn't even dream of
asking you to go into court

on this if I wasn't
sure in my own mind

that you could handle it.

I mean, I'm not about to try
to build up your confidence

at the expense of
a poor sap like Benny.

You could do the job, Abby.

I'm telling you.

What we've done, Mike,
is to assemble a focus group

that should
substantially approximate

the real jury you wanna have
at the trial.

The people will also be
representative of those

you're most likely to draw
from the jury pool.

Aren't we being
a little premature here?

How so?

Well, I still haven't
seen a file on this case

and you're getting
ready to pick a jury.

Mike, that's my fault.

I was in court all
morning getting rulings

on a set of interrogatories.

You'll have the file this
afternoon without fail.

I also need to talk to
some of your technical people

about safety testing
and FDA approval criteria.

We have five plaintiffs
with serious injuries.

I need to see medical reports.

Believe me, everything's
at your disposal.

Let's just run through this now.

When you've had a chance
to read through the file,

we'll get into a huddle,
fill in the blanks

and see where we're going.
Fair enough?

- Alright.
- Bridget?

[machine whirrs]

This juror, we call
the former experiential,

or ex-pothead for short.

37 years old, earns $40,000
a year, married, one child.

Manages a muffler
franchise in Encino.

Traits would be low
organizational loyalty

tending toward cynicism.

Although he can be
counted on to identify

with the corporation's
objectives,

their power and size.

Whatever previously held
antiestablishment leanings

he may have had
got more or less lost

in the conservative shift
precipitated by aging,

family responsibilities,
and the feeling of betrayal

by his peers.

Now he's a long way
from compassionate.

So you don't have
to be afraid to portray

the plaintiffs as
whiners with this one.

Bridget?

This individual we call
martyred and loving it.

53 years old, housewife,

husband's income
in the low $50s.

Heavy association with
fictional television characters.

High personal
bitterness quotient.

Her psychological
pivot is greed.

She can be expected
to respond well

to the notion that
the plaintiffs' attempt

to collect big bucks is
nothing but a chance to cash in

on the kind of unfortunate
tragedy life is full of.

She's also gonna
love your looks.

[chuckles]

I couldn't budge him. When I
brought it up, he freaked out.

Rox, I went to the mat for you.

But he said, if he gives
it to you, he's gotta give it

to every other
secretary in the firm.

How much will he give?

Cost of living like last year.

Rox, I swear I'm not
gonna let him off this time.

We'll stay on him.

And if I have to,
I'll even go to Leland, okay?

- I guess.
- Attagirl.

Hey, we're gonna shake it
out of him eventually.

It just may take some time.

Thanks for trying, Arnie.

Rox, you kidding?
You're my girl, okay?

- Okay.
- Okay.

The thing to remember
is that there's more

to finding Benny guilty
than whether or not

he took the money.

Benny's never been
in any kind of trouble

before, Miss Perkins.

I'm scared to go
in front of a judge.

Everybody's nervous
when they go to court, Benny.

You're not nervous.

Of course, she's not nervous.
She's a lawyer.

The main thing
is to just listen

to the questions
and answer them.

Listen to the questions. Okay.

Uh, short answer is usually
better than a long one.

Alright.

And we have a good case.
So I think we'll do okay.

I ain't never been in
any kind of trouble before.

- It's true.
- I know it.

You just get
a good night's sleep

and try not to worry about it.

Put on a jacket
and tie for court.

- It would be better.
- Okay.

See you in the courtroom.

You have the address
and the room number?

- 210 West Temple, 409.
- Right.

You'll meet us
at the courtroom?

- I'll be there.
- Okay.

Thank you, Miss Perkins.

Um...

Do you really think that
things look good for Benny?

There's no guarantee.

But I think we have a good case.

He'd die in prison,
Miss Perkins.

He'd just die.

Come on, mom.
We're at a meter.

I'm coming, Benny.

[sighs]

- Mike, good morning.
- Hi.

- Good morning, Mike.
- Hi. What's all this?

Oh, not to worry. Just
some tricks of the trade.

Ready for a little
transformation?

Well, what I'm ready for is
that huddle you promised me.

It looks like we have
a very reasonable

settlement proposal
on the table.

- Uh, Joe?
- Yeah.

Look, Mike, you've got quite
a bit of ground to cover here.

Maybe if we just get started,
then you and I can sit down

on that later this afternoon.

Wait a minute.

Now I don't know
what all this is for.

But it seems to me
we gotta sort through

some of the hard
facts in this case

before we get
down anything else.

I'm not necessarily
disagreeing with you.

Northland's not just
looking for the quickest way

out of this thing
nut what I wanna suggest is,

we've got Malcolm
and his people here.

They've gotta be
in Chicago tomorrow

and we don't have a lot of
time before the mock trial.

Well, what about the five people
who suffered

massive motor function
impairment and memory loss?

I am every bit as aware
of the gravity

of this situation as you are.

We're not adversaries,
but let's avail ourselves

of the help we're being
provided with today

if only for scheduling purposes.

And if settlement's in
the cards, so be it.

Okay?

Alright, let's do it.

- We on track?
- I'm outta here, Mike.

I'll call you right after lunch.

Mike, that's Shelley
and Candy, our stylists.

And basically, what we're all
here for today is to see

if we can't sharpen
up your instrument a bit.

And, believe me,
the adjustments are minor.

You see, by polling
the Stacey Gill jury,

we've uncovered a
few minor weaknesses.

They're all subject
to easy correction.

You polled the
Stacey Gill jury?

Well, that was the basis
of our recommendation

that Northland engage you.

You were quite a hit, but
you could have been stronger.

Really?

A few of the jurors felt you
were a bit smug and aloof.

But, hey, we can knock
out those characteristics

one, two, three.

May I?

Yeah, okay.

Now this to me reads sincere.

And physical
and self-reliant. No.

Let's see.

Hm, I think we can
start accessorizing.

Mike?

Yeah, let's get some pictures.

There was one other read
we got from the Gill jury

and that was youthfulness.

Which isn't necessarily bad.

Unless it impacts
negatively on credibility.

There's a way of
nipping that in the bud

that's real fast and dirty.

That band of gold.

[camera shutter clicks]

- [knocking on door]
- Come.

This is not gonna
work, Leland.

What's not going to work?

I am not going to
put my conscience

and my professional
responsibility as a lawyer

on hold in order to serve as
Northland Pharmaceutical's

equivalent of the
Pillsbury Dough Boy!

Oh, back up a little bit.
I think I missed something.

I was here until
2:00 in the morning

last night going over
the Northland file.

The plaintiffs in this case

have suffered
catastrophic injuries.

Due to Northland's negligence?

Approximately due?

Approximate enough so
that the settlement proposal

made by the
plaintiff's attorneys

makes a hell of a lot of sense.

This isn't a game, Leland.

These people suffered
devastating injuries.

And you couldn't find
12 people in America

to sit in a courtroom

and give these
people any less than

they're already asking for.

You've taken up the settlement
proposal with Northland?

Well, who am I
supposed to take it up with?

The people I've been
dealing with think in terms

of how many buttons
there are on my coat.

What about Zweibel?

The consummate
corporate game player.

We go to trial and we win,
he gets the credit.

We go to trial and we lose,
we get the blame.

Look, I know that this
is a very big client for us.

But either I get to function
as an attorney in this case

or Northland can
put an ad in Variety

and find themselves
another spokesman.

Well, before you
do anything rash,

might I suggest that
you do what you have to

to make your feelings known.

And if that means marching
into Baldred Townsend's office

and talking directly to him,
that's what it means.

[knocking on door]

Are you very busy right now?

Just getting my tax stuff
together. What's up?

It's the Stulwicz case.

In the long run, you know,

you're gonna be
happy you took it.

You should meet him.
He is so sweet and trusting.

Ann, if I blow it for him,

I swear to God I'll kill myself.

Maybe that's a little extreme.

Don't worry.

The first few are
always the worst.

I've been roughing out some
notes on my closing argument.

Do you think you could
stand to listen to it?

Shoot.

[clearing throat]

Our system of juris prudence
recognizes the element

of Mens Rea, or guilty mind,
to be essential

to a finding of guilt.

But where was the guilty mind
in Benny Stulwicz?

The prosecution hasn't
shown any to have existed.

And what you have before
you now, Your Honor,

is a simple man, a man
given to trust, not cunning.

For Benny Stulwicz,
there was only

one possible response when
asked for a favor by a friend.

- Is this too preachy?
- Sounds good.

This doesn't sound like a
law school moot court brief?

No. It sounds
thoroughly professional.

I'm gonna go work on it.
Thank you.

- Hi, Stuart.
- Morning. You ready for me?

Yeah, I brought everything
with me.

You sure you don't
mind this, Stuart?

Let's do it.

You have all your receipts
in a shopping bag, huh?

Is that all right?

That's the way I always
used to bring it in to Irwin.

- Who's Irwin?
- My accountant.

Ann, if you have an accountant
and he knows your history,

why don't you just
send it over to him?

Well, that's the problem.
Um, Irwin is in New Zealand.

And I don't think
he'll be coming back

unless they extradite him.

I won't ask.

Stuart, when it comes to
managing my own finances,

Stuart, I admit it.
I'm just not too sharp.

Look, if this is
too much trouble,

I'll try to find
another accountant.

No, no, no. It's fine.

I was just afraid you
weren't gonna be organized.

What I would like from you,
Mr. Townsend, is authorization

to settle this case for
between $5 and $6 million.

Joe?

Mike, I can't help
but feel

you're throwing in the towel
a little early.

Well, I don't consider
it throwing in the towel

to recognize that Northland
has an accountability

for what it does.

Now there are five
people with 100% disability

as a direct result
of taking Cold 20

together with other medication.

I'm not about to
sit here and tell you

that your corporation
ought to ignore that

because it's what
you wanna hear.

Mr. Kuzak, sounds
to me like you bought

the other side's argument.

Do you think I've
got a responsibility

to cross-check my product
with every other substance

on the face of the earth?

Because, if that were
true, a bottle of aspirin

would cost about $50, assuming
you could buy it at all.

People assume some
risks in this world.

I'm not about to sit
still and take a direct hit

because of some
freak occurrence.

Well, you go to court
on this issue

and you could be
faced with a jury award

that makes this settlement
proposal look like chump change.

Taggert seems to
feel differently, Mike.

Well, Taggert, for all of
his dog and pony shows,

doesn't know juries.

Let me tell you something,
as far as I'm concerned,

there's nothing magical
about a jury.

It's 12 American consumers
waiting to be sold.

Joe: In addition, Mike,
the mood of the country

seems to be shifting away
from big awards to plaintiffs.

I mean, besides the fact
that that's an excellent case

to be made for all the good
Northland does,

we've got five plaintiffs that
were diagnosed chronic schizos.

Well, you could punch holes
in the other side's case...

- ...with that alone.
- Oh, that's great.

I'll just march into court and
say as long as the plaintiffs

were nuts anyway, they might as
well be paralyzed too.

Come on, Mr. Kuzak. Get in there
and fight, will you?

That's what we're
paying you for.

You're paying me
to be your lawyer,

which is exactly
what I am doing.

Since we've already got
this mock trial scheduled,

why don't we wait to
see what the outcome is

before we make our
decision on how to proceed?

That's what I've had
in mind right along.

We're not locked into anything.

Yeah, well, whether
this trial is mock or not,

I've only had
the file for one day.

I'm not exactly prepared
to go to court on this.

Don't worry about it.

Taggert's got your
script all written.

Kuzak: Yeah, forget
meaning and substance.

They're lost forever.

A juror in a courtroom,
a voter in an election booth?

They might as well be
standing in a supermarket aisle

deciding what brand of
mouthwash to gargle win.

Hi. I'm Mike Kuzak, attorney.

I eat Cold 20 with every meal.

- Oh, my God.
- You believe this?

A sports jacket
to go into court?

Oh, they want me
to be my own man.

To dispel the corporation
image of slick uniformity.

Kind of like one of those
giant wine companies

pretending to be two
bumpkins sitting on a porch.

I, uh...

I think, I think you look great.

This is packaging,
you understand?

- That's all it is.
- So what?

So you're telling me
that all you're drawn to here

is the package?

[instrumental music]

Just what was it
that drew you to me?

Seems like the skirt
and a pair of high heels

had something to do with it.

Huh!

Package, huh?

Yeah, but I get to unwrap it.

[upbeat music]

Abby: Benny Stulwicz believed
that Ron Shaw was his friend.

We may disagree with that.

But in Benny's mind,
there was no doubt.

Nor was there any doubt that,
when asked to do a favor

by a friend, he did it.

Rox, it's Wednesday.
Where are my shirts?

At the laundry.

Roxanne, I have wall to
wall meetings through dinner.

I don't have time
to get my shirts.

Neither do I.

Would you come on?
What is the problem?

The problem is, I can't just
accept

another cost of living raise,
not and live with myself.

I understand
you're disappointed.

But do you have
to take it out on me?

Who else is there?

Rox, come on. I sympathize.

But what can I do?

Arnie, don't you think I'm worth
another $100 a week?

If it were up to me, you'd be
worth another $1,000 a week!

But do you want me to pay you
out of my pocket?

That's like me taking a pay cut.

- Is that fair?
- I could live with it.

Could you give us a minute?

You want me to take a pay cut?

Arnie, you spend $100
on flowers every week.

What's going on here? I've never
heard you so, I don't know.

- Assertive?
- Try hostile.

I am finally starting to
take responsibility for my life.

I can't be your doormat anymore.

I can't let you wipe
your feet on me

and then say thank you, Arnie.

Thank you for letting me
be your slave.

Thank you for letting me take

your dirty shirts to the
laundry!

- Rox, this is not you talking.
- Oh, yes, it is me.

With a little help from my
therapist maybe, but it's me.

- You're unhappy?
- Yes!

What do you
need with a shrink?

When you don't have a life?

When you let people
walk all over you?

When the only man
you ever want to be with

is totally unavailable?

When you start dating
18-year-old boys?

It is time to take a good
hard look at yourself!

Rox?

Did it ever occur to
you that, if you weren't

seeing this shrink, you wouldn't
need such a big pay raise?

What I do with my
raise is my business.

Do I get it or not?

I'm gonna have
to think about it.

Tick-tock, Arnie.

You wanted to see me?

Sit down for a second,
would you?

[sighs]

Ann, I have to tell you,
I'm very concerned

about the state
your finances are in.

Look at this.

Um do you have any idea how much
you spent on clothes last year?

Over $7,000.

That's what clothes cost.

You don't think
that's a trifle excessive?

Well, that's why
you're 36 years old

and you have $540 to your name.

For example, you spent
over $5,200

in various charitable
contributions last year.

Now the Coalition for
the Homeless, I understand.

But the Fund for Rare Welks?

Ann, you can't afford
to be that magnanimous.

Irwin didn't think
it was a problem.

Yeah, well, Irwin must
have been on drugs.

Because I just went back and
reviewed

your '83 and '84 returns.

And?

And I can't believe
what this guy did.

Worse, what you
allowed him to do.

Like what?

Like taking a depreciation
allowance on a car you paid

for 10 years ago.
Ann, you can't do that.

Like deducting the sofa
in your living room

as office furniture.

- I work there sometimes.
- Yeah?

Well, I hope
you aren't audited.

Because my idea of relationship
isn't driving 200 miles

every Saturday to visit you
at the women's penitentiary

at Lompoc, you know.

What is the point of
this little diatribe, Stuart?

Okay, the point is,
I want you to sit down

and do some long-term
financial planning.

- I want you on a budget, Ann.
- Stuart--

Look, I've taken the
liberty of putting together

some investment
options for your perusal.

Hold on a minute. I did not ask
you to do all of this.

Well, if you didn't revert
to infancy the minute

you started thinking about
managing your money,

- I wouldn't have to.
- Excuse me!

How I choose to manage my money
is my business and not yours!

I should have known
better than to think

you were capable of having
a professional relationship

with me without
letting it become

a forum for your
personal feelings.

Hey, wait a minute! I actually
spent two hours putting

that stuff into little piles.

Well, it's my tax return.
I'll file it.

Fine! Go get indicted!
See if I care!

- I will! Fine!
- Fine!

[machine whirring]

Oh, that's fantastic!

Yeah, now that reads
pure JFK to me, young JFK.

Oh, I did take the liberty
of making one change.

I hope you don't mind.

I asked someone to play
the lawyer for the plaintiffs.

- What? A different actor?
- A lawyer.

A lawyer?
What about the script?

Well, I thought we
might get a truer reading

if we had someone who
wasn't working from a script.

[clearing throat]
I'm troubled by that.

It shouldn't make any difference
as long as

you don't deviate
from the script.

Absolutely not.

Speaking of which,
take a look at this guy.

This is supposed to
be the plaintiff's attorney?

It is totally wrong.

Totally.

Mr. Stulwicz, how old are you?

Benny Stulwicz, 38.

My birthday's the day
after the Fourth of July.

And where do you live, Benny?

On Orange Grove Street.

With your mother?

And Hogan. He's my dog.

Are you presently employed?

Do you have a job, Benny?

Sometimes I do the grass
and leaves for Mrs. Ratner.

She's a lady down the block.

And once I had a paper route.

Only the man said it took
too long getting them there.

Do you know Ron Shaw, Benny?

Sure. He's my friend.

He lets me go
to the liquor store for him.

And do you remember
the day you were arrested

by the police?

Sure.

Did you go somewhere
with Ron that day?

I went to a store
where they fix shoes.

Can you tell us why?

Ron told me the man in there
had stole money from him.

Ron said he wanted
his money back

only he wasn't strong enough.

So what did you do, Benny?

I went in there and I said
give me Ron's money.

And the guy just looked at me.

So I said it again.

"Give me Ron's money!"

Then the guy picked up
this hammer

and he looked like
he was gonna hit me with it.

So I went like this
and I pushed him.

Then I took the money
and I gave it to Ron.

And what happened then?

Ron told me to
walk home, so I did.

And when I got to my house,

there was two policemen
there waiting for me.

I never seen Ron
again after that.

Did they arrest you, Benny?

Yeah, they did.

My mom was crying when
they put me in the police car.

I'm sorry, mom.

Thank you, Benny.

I have nothing
further at this time.

Mr. Berenbaum?

[clearing throat] When Ron Shaw
asked you to steal money,

you agreed to do that,
didn't you?

He wouldn't ask me to do that.

Mr. Berenbaum: You agreed to get
the money for him

when he asked you
to, though, didn't you?

Sure. Ron's my friend.

I have nothing further.

Witness may step down.

You can return to your
seat now, Mr. Stulwicz.

Have you any further
witnesses, Miss Perkins?

No, Your Honor.

I am prepared to begin
my closing argument.

I don't believe that
will be necessary.

From testimony presented,
expert and otherwise,

it is my opinion that the
defendant was incapable

of forming the requisite
intent to commit this crime.

Accordingly, I find
the defendant,

Benny Stulwicz, not guilty.

Does that mean you don't wanna
hear any closing arguments?

How not guilty do
you want me to find him?

You won, counselor.
Case dismissed.

Miss Perkins, you were
really something in there.

I can't tell you how
much I appreciate

what you done for Benny.

Well, I'm just glad that
everything worked out.

And if that bastard
shows up here again,

I want you to stay away
from him. Do you hear?

Mr. Shaw's all right, Ma.

What am I gonna do?

Well, good luck, Benny.

Thank you.
Thank you very much.

You're welcome and
you take care, okay?

[instrumental music]

Doctor, how common
is the use of Benedol

for the treatment
of schizophrenia?

Sifuentes: Objection.

Outside the witness's
stated expertise.

I'll allow it.

It's quite uncommon.

Hmm. Have you yourself ever
prescribed the drug, doctor?

Oh, yes, I have.

Do you continue
to prescribe it?

No. I haven't prescribed it
in four or five years now.

Why is that?

Well, because there
are other drugs that attain

the same if not better results
without the side effects.

Kuzak: Uh-huh.

To the best of your
knowledge, is that opinion

shared by the medical
community at large?

- Yes, it is.
- Thank you.

Oh, by the way, doctor, what
is your opinion of Cold 20?

It's one of the better
over-the-counter

cold remedies available.

No further questions.

Counselor?

Dr. Schwartz, before you
would prescribe Benedol

or any other drug, for
that matter, do you inquire

as to what other medications
a patient might be taking?

If a patient is under my
care, I expect to know exactly

what medication
that patient is taking.

What about
over-the-counter medications?

I like to know
about those too.

Do you have your patients
keep logs recording every time

they take a cold pill
or an antacid?

Schwartz: No, I don't.
Sifuentes: Why not?

Well, it seems
excessive, unnecessary.

Isn't it because you assume the
over-the-counter medications

to be safe, doctor
or it wouldn't be on the market?

I would assume
them to be safe, yes.

Isn't it a fact that the reason
that you assume

these over-the-counter
remedies to be safe to be taken

with other medications
is that there would be

a warning printed on
the label if they weren't?

That would be one way to tell.

The other being your faith
in a major pharmaceutical

company like Northland,
isn't that right?

Well, I've placed
my faith in Northland

for more than 35 years.

What would it do
to your faith, doctor,

if five of your patients were
rendered permanently disabled

by one of Northland's products?

- Objection.
Sifuentes: Withdrawn.

By the way, doctor,
how much you receiving

to testify here today?

My rate is $3,500 per day.

No further questions.

Pretty good.

Kuzak could blow
him away in summation.

He wears an earring,
for God's sake.

It would be easy to
think of this case as being

five innocent and
unfortunate people

against a huge,
profit-hungry corporation.

But it wouldn't be true.

Northland Pharmaceutical
is working men and women,

chemists, secretaries,

factory workers, truck drivers.

All working toward providing
the public with the most

recent advances in
pharmacological research.

All doing their part
as healthcare providers.

Now keep in mind,
ladies and gentlemen,

that it was risk-taking
by drug companies

that brought us such
modern-day miracles

as insulin, penicillin,
tetracycline.

That gave us vaccines for polio,

small pox, whooping cough.

And Northland is proud
to be part of an industry

that accomplished all of that.

The reaction of five plaintiffs
to Cold 20,

a cold remedy that has
been used safely by millions

for more than 18 years,
were freak occurrences

that no amount of
research or planning

could have been
expected to predict.

Now we are all familiar
with the human desire

to find a villain,
particularly a villain

with a great deal of money.

But each of you as jurors
has a moral obligation

to weigh the facts.

We may feel for
the plaintiffs' pain.

But if the facts indicate
that Northland could not have

reasonably expected
that Cold 20 would be used

in conjunction with Benedol
to the detriment of the user,

then you as jurors
have an obligation

to find in favor
of the defendant.

I wish to thank you
in advance for your lending

a careful eye and ear
to the arguments

raised in this courtroom.

- How's the basal skin response?
- Excellent.

Plus a rough body
language analysis shows

that we're hitting
on all cylinders.

Jurors 5 and 10 look like
they'd give it up to Kuzak

on the first date.

Let's just get through
Clarence Darrow's summation

and we've got what we need.

Sifuentes: Kevin O'Neal,
Ruth Hodges,

Corbin de Genowitz, Quan Tan Yu,

Mildred Hipolitto.

Not long ago, all five
were struggling mightily

to overcome their mental
illness and succeeding.

Their friends and their
families were proud of them.

Happy to have them back.

Then one winter,
they along with millions

of other people caught colds.

Each of them went to a
drugstore looking for the pill

that they had seen
advertised countless thousands

of times on television,

the cold remedy
that promised fast,

effective relief
without drowsiness,

without side effects,

safely and instantly
and without a doubt.

They each bought a bottle
of Cold 20, went home.

Took it without a second
thought and had their lives

shattered like a wine glass
thrown out of a window.

They will never work again
nor will they be able

to walk through a park,
go to a movie.

Their existences will be
maintained only by elaborate,

enormously expensive
and intrusive care.

All semblance of independence
and spontaneity gone...

...forever.

Now Northland Pharmaceutical
has told you

that this was a freak
occurrence.

They have told you
how careful they are,

how sorry they are.

How, despite their
massive advertising

and promotion to have
people buy their products

and ingest them
into their systems,

they owe these
five people nothing

but a shrug of their shoulders.

But the simple fact
is that these five lives

might very well have
not been destroyed

if Northland would have
given them a simple warning.

A little extra ink is all
it would have taken.

While it is true that
money will never make

these lives whole again,

tragically, money is all

that Northland now has to give.

At least let it give them that.

Alright.

By my read, earring
was close, but no cigar.

What do you think?

- How's the basal?
- Huh?

- How is he tracking?
- I'm not sure.

What do you mean,
you're not sure?

All right, juror number six,
could you give us

some of your immediate
impressions, please?

Particularly about Mike Kuzak
and how you would vote?

It's a tough one.

I mean, well, you can't
expect the company

to baby-sit everyone
that takes one of their pills.

Kuzak seems like
a straight shooter to me.

I don't know. I mean, you know,

if they'd have received
a warning,

I'd say it was a tough break.

But without a warning,
maybe give 'em

a couple million dollars
apiece and call it a day.

Juror seven?

I thought the
doctor was very good.

I thought Mr. Kuzak
was terrific, but fair is fair.

These people can't even work.

What are they supposed
to do, go on welfare?

I'd make the company pay.

And, excuse me,
but $2 million each

is nothing for people who
have suffered the way they have.

I think they deserve at least
$5 million apiece.

Juror number eight?

Juror #8: I thought Mr. Kuzak
was very sincere.

And I don't mind saying
I think he is gorgeous.

It's just that, well,
what are you gonna do?

I mean, you have to give
these people some money

for what happened to them.

It's not like Northland
can't afford it.

I'd give them maybe
$20 million altogether.

Mr. Kuzak? Can I see you
for a minute?

Uh, thank you very much.
We'll pick this up in a moment.

Mike, you've got your
authorization to settle.

Malcolm, I'm not going
near a jury with this one.

Well, hold on a second.
This is one focus group.

The data we're
getting is very raw.

Kuzak: It seems to me that
I recall your saying

this was a representative
sampling, Malcolm.

Don't tell me your
methods are anything less

than fully accurate.

Well, perhaps the delivery
wasn't all it could have been.

I mean, the script
is only as strong

as the one speaking the lines.

That's not where
the problem lies.

We've got an exposure.
Why not just accept it?

Pay the $2 like the man
says and be done with it.

It's your $2. I'm just here
to pinpoint your options.

And you do a damn good job
of it.

Gentlemen?

[sighs] Someone will be around
to pick up the clothes tomorrow.

[sighs]

'Night.

[sighs]

Rox? This isn't any fun.

For either of us.

Look, if you're unhappy,
if you can't live with things

the way they are, maybe you
oughta think about another job.

Maybe that's a good idea.

I'm gone all next week
anyway for jury duty.

You can start interviewing then.

- [sighs] In my office.
- What's the point?

Can we talk about
this in my office? Please?

Look, I'm sorry.

I was way out of line, that
business about replacing you.

- It's your option.
- Rox, nobody can replace you.

Then pay me what I'm worth.

You are absolutely refusing to
see this thing through my eyes!

I'm sorry, Arnie. I'm worth
what I'm worth.

And if I can't get it here,
then I'll get it somewhere else!

I thought we were friends.

I thought, I thought that we
could count on each other.

Your idea of friendship is
a little uneven if you ask me.

You are driving a skewer
through my heart, Roxanne.

I've never been so hurt
in my entire life.

Will you please
don't say that?

I am not trying to hurt you!

Ever since Carolyn Glasband
shot her husband,

never mind that I could have
been killed,

I have been living
with a nightmare.

I have had to wrestle with
the question of whether or not

I was responsible for
what happened in there!

It has been the worst
two weeks of my life!

Plus which, I have just moved
into a new house.

I am financially
on the ropes myself.

Roxanne, I thought
that we loved each other!

But to find out that you
have reduced our relationship

into nothing more than
a couple of lousy dollars?

And all I am to you
is a paycheck?

- Arnie, please.
- No!

[mellow music]

Hi.

[breathes heavily]
Hi.

Can we just pretend that
this whole thing never happened

and be friends again?

What about your taxes?

I'll figure something out.

Actually, I could
forward all your docs over

to Alan Duke at Crosgrove,
Climan. You'd like him.

He's your basic everything
in a shopping bag kind of guy.

[chuckles]

Ann, I really feel like I have
to get to the bottom of this.

I mean, don't you care what
happens to you after you're 65?

Maybe I don't wanna retire.

Maybe I just plan
to work until I drop.

What if you got sick,
God forbid?

Okay, when I talk to Alan Duke,

I'll ask him about setting
up a retirement plan, okay?

Can we stop
talking about it now?

And go have some dinner?

- One more thing.
- Stuart...

It'll help for next year's
taxes, okay?

- Sell your condo.
- What?

Given your situation
and property values

in your neighborhood,
it's really the best time.

I mean, the market's
absolutely topped out.

Interest rates have
got to go back up.

Stuart, it's my only asset.

Right, so convert it and make a
quick $60, $70,000 profit.

You remember what I told
you about capital gains taxes?

Got all that money to play with.

Great, if I wanna live
under a park bench.

Well, Ann, the whole
thing doesn't make sense

unless you move in with me.

Whoa. Back up.

Are you saying I should move
in with you for tax purposes?

No, not primarily.

I mean, you're there
most of the time anyway.

[chuckles]

Certainly not the most
romantic proposition

I ever imagined.

Well, I was gonna propose
you move in because...

because I love you

and because you
give my life meaning

and joy

and because the thought
of waking up next to you

is my profoundest happiness.

But I thought, if I did
that, I might scare you off.

It's a big step.
Can I think about it?

Absolutely.

Okay, I thought about it.

And?

Let's go home.

[theme music]

[music continues]