Original subtitles

Previously on The Practice.

Ellenor? You know anything about this? Yeah?

"Single white female, attorney, 30-ish--" Where'd you get this?

Podiatrist, 40-ish, loves movies and Maine.

Spoke to him for an hour on the phone last night.

I am not gonna lie. I was so nervous about meeting you.

You're rejecting him because of his looks?

You had no right to do that.

It just wasn't there, Rebecca, the chemistry. It's got nothing to do with rights.

You look fantastic. You seein' anybody?

Chris, we've been there, and we had fun,

but we don't wanna go back there, do we?

Well, I-I was only thinking about maybe sleeping together.

Andrea, have you been paying attention? We're losing.

It's still all circumstantial. Two lovers last seen with a dead husband?

I wanna ask this witness questions now, before she has time to think up answers.

- Move to strike that. - What the hell is going on here?

You are cocounsel. Your client's story doesn't serve the interest of my client.

She's gonna think I betrayed her. Your only chance here was this.

I had to turn against her.

Interesting move, ambushing your cocounsel like that in open court.

[ Woman ] Douglas Forsythe: not guilty.

Mary Jane Wiggins: guilty.

You love her. You don't believe she could do this,

- but maybe she did. - Stop it!

You can't know. How could she have carried the body to that bathtub?

She would have had to drag it, in which case there would have been carpet fibers...

all over his clothes. There was nothing introduced about carpet fibers.

Doug, did you go back to that house?

All I'm telling you--

Mary Jane didn't.

[ Knocking ] [ Door Opens ]

Ellenor.

- George Vogelman, remember? - Of course I remember.

- How are you? - I'm fine. Yourself?

I'm fine. I'm, uh-- I'm fine. [ Door Closes ]

This is the place where you work, huh?

Where you litigate. Yep.

This is, uh-- This is it.

So, uh, what brings you here, George?

Actually, I'm going into litigation too.

Oh. I'm representing myself, so I'm a little nervous, but--

Well, you remember my ad. I like to take chances.

Ah. Yeah. Uh--

I'm sorry. Have you been sued?

[ Chuckles ] Heavens no. I'm the plaintiff.

I'm doing the suing, and I'm actually getting excited about it.

Well, that's great. That's really great.

Uh, maybe I can come down, and I'll catch you in action some time.

I'm sure you will. Here's the summons.

I'm suing you.

What? Me? What for?

Fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress.

It's all in there. Be seeing you.

[ Door Opens, Closes ] Wha--

[ Line Ringing ]

[ Cell Door Opens, Closes ]

[ Sirens Wailing ]

[ Knocking ]

Bobby. Hey, Joel.

How you doin'? Good. Why don't you set up in the conference room?

I'll be right in. Okay.

Jimmy, uh, I can go with you on this.

No. I'm ready.

Wind valve is just pinched off a little.

I don't need anybody's help.

I don't want you goin' down for the count if I can help. I'll be fine.

[ Gasping ]

If you calm down, Ellenor,

I'll tell you why you should calm down. This is ridiculous.

It has gotta be against public policy.

He can't sue me for not wanting to date him.

It's a straight rule 12-- failure to state.

What's goin' on? She's gettin' sued by the podiatrist. Uh--

What's with him? [ Bobby ] Jury trial.

I wanna file a 12b6. I wanna get it kicked now, Eugene.

-We'll go in this morning. -You can't sue somebody for not wanting to go out with you.

No. You can't.

I mean, it's outrageous. Yes. It is.

Maybe you should see a doctor.

Oh, I'm okay.

Hmm. I think I'm just hungover.

Hey, maybe I can't drink wine anymore.

[ Groans ]

Or maybe I'm nauseous over-- [ Groans ]

I promised myself I wouldn't get back involved with this guy, and--

You got weak. I don't know what came over me.

I mean, I didn't even use protection.

I just-- Oh, maybe I'm pregnant.

Maybe this is morning sickness.

Lindsay, it doesn't work that fast. I'm going to the doctor.

[ Joel ] Did you put the Seconal in his wine?

[ Doug ] Yes.

Was Mr. Wiggins unconscious when you carried him to the bathtub?

Yes.

Did you kill Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman? No.

Did you kill John Wiggins? Yes.

Did his wife help you? No.

Does Mary Jane Wiggins know that you killed her husband?

No.

Are you in love with Mary Jane Wiggins?

Yes.

I've been with the paper almost nine years.

Nine years. And all this time as, uh, the film critic?

Sometimes I'd even do copy work in a pinch.

There was nobody more loyal.

And when he fired you, completely without cause, did your boss--

- Objection. - What?

I think your question might have contained a legal conclusion, counsel.

Those conclusions are for them to draw.

Oh. Forgive me, Your Honor.

I'd like to take this opportunity

to apologize to the jury...

if my question in any way usurped their authority.

The jury system is what makes the American system of justice the best on Earth,

- and I would never give any-- - Let's just move forward.

Thank you.

Mr. Papp, did your boss, Mr. Holt, offer you...

any reason for terminating your employment after so many years of loyal service?

- He did. - What was his stated reason, sir?

He said I looked like a monkey.

[ Spectators Chuckling ] [ Jimmy ] A monkey?

[ Papp ] This is what he said.

And it's hard for me to relive it here...

in this courtroom, in front of relatives.

Did he criticize your job performance in any way?

No, he did not. He just said I had too much body hair,

and that I made him uncomfortable.

It was very painful for me.

Couple of colleagues started leaving bananas at my desk.

- And this caused you great emotional distress? - Objection.

- What? - It's that "legal conclusion" thing again.

Oh.

What feelings, if any, did, or do you have...

as a result of these previous events...

you just, uh, previously testified to?

[ Papp ] Like I said, it caused me pain.

So much so, it was hard for me to get other work 'cause of what he said.

Hard for me to even go on interviews,

'cause every time I look in the mirror now, I see it.

See what, sir?

A monkey. A big monkey.

[ George ] The law of deceit is intended to protect people...

from relying mistakenly on willful fraud, lies and misrepresentations.

[ Eugene ] Excuse me, counselor, but deceit is a common-law tort...

that applies only to commercial transactions.

Yes, but as I understand it, if I rely to my financial and emotional detriment...

on Miss Frutt's false advertisement, that constitutes--

A personal listing in a newspaper is not an advertisement.

I assume you have a citation?

My client's listing was a statement of her social availability.

It in no way constituted an offer for goods or services.

That's not true. Here. This is from her ad.

"Attractive, 30s, lawyer. Loves Maine and horseback riding."

Here we go. "Not afraid to explore beyond looks and first impressions.

Eager to discover life beneath the surface."

She was saying, "This is who I am," and it was a lie.

How do you know it was a lie?

The moment she saw me, she turned green,

and 13 minutes later our dinner date was canceled.

- Oh, and she's never been horseback riding. - Not once?

Your Honor, there is no known cause of action...

that compensates someone for social rejection.

As I'm sure this court has more pressing issues-- Not so fast.

I'm not sure whether Mr. Vogelman here has a cause of action or just a bruised ego.

On the other hand, the law recognizes many forms...

of tortious behavior, and before I go dismissing anything,

I wanna take a little discovery.

- You can't be serious. - Oh, but I can. Take your depositions.

I'll give you 24 hours. We'll see what comes out.

[ Knocking ] It's open.

Again?

People are going to think there's something going on between us.

Well, it'd be good for my image.

Mine too.

What are you doing?

Paper dolls.

[ Laughing ] I'm making them for my granddaughter.

So what is it?

[ Sighs ]

It's bad.

I gotta do the big hypothetical wind-up.

Oh, no.

What if a defense attorney came to know--

how he came to know, he can't reveal--

that a person was about to go to jail for a crime she or he did not commit?

What if he knew they absolutely have the wrong person,

but he can't implicate the right person for various reasons?

[ Grunts ] Damn it, Bobby. I didn't know till after.

This is what happens when you start pulling stunts like--

Oh, God.

He's not making this up, is he, just to spring his girlfriend?

[ Sighs ] He passed a lie detector.

[ Exhales ]

[ Lindsay ] What?

Are-Are you sure about this, Cindy?

Could you fax me that result? Thanks.

- What's up? - Nothing.

Okay, Lindsay, what's the matter?

The, uh-- My doctor did a blood test.

Put a rush on it 'cause, uh--

I don't believe this.

- You pregnant? - No.

They found traces of G.H.B.

G.H. what? It's gamma hydroxybutyrate.

- It's also known as Liquid "X." - Liquid "X"?

The more popular name is "Easy Lay."

What are you talking about? Liquid "X," Rebecca-- It's that date rape drug.

That-That's why I was so--

Chris must have drugged me.

[ Man ] Well, he was an okay worker.

Not a great journalist by any means, but a good guy.

Why did you discharge him, Mr. Holt?

He looked like a monkey. There were...

other reasons than that, were there not, Mr. Holt?

Oh. Sure.

Uh, like I said, he wasn't this great journalist--

And he was always complaining.

You gotta understand. The Hub is a small paper.

We need morale. Harry didn't have it. You didn't, Harry.

Mr. Holt, don't address the plaintiff.

- I've been addressin' him for nine years, Judge. - We don't do that in here.

Well, that strikes me as silly.

People should go face to face with problems.

I went straight to him and told him to shave his neck.

- Didn't I, Harry? - I won't ask you again, sir.

Sorry. Look, like I was saying, we're a small paper,

and everybody's gotta pull loads for each other,

even sell ad space.

Fact, that may be our biggest job.

We don't sell ad space, we don't get to sell papers.

And the plaintiff wasn't selling advertising space?

Who would buy anything from him?

Hair coming out of his collar, climbing up his neck like a vine.

He looks like a monkey.

Did you leave bananas on his desk, sir?

Of course not, and I didn't encourage it.

And what he didn't tell this court...

is after he'd get all hurt by these bananas, he'd eat them.

Move to strike. That isn't relevant.

He started turning into this negative person.

I can't keep hearing complaints from somebody with a hairy neck.

- Objection. - [ Judge ] Sustained.

Why don't we take our break?

You admit it? Lindsay, what's the big deal?

The big deal. The big deal? Shh! Come on.

You drugged me. You slipped an illegal drug into my wine without telling me.

You then sleep with me while I'm under the influence.

The big deal is called rape. [ Scoffs ]

First of all, it was such a minimal dosage.

"Minimal"? You can't regulate it with any accurate-- Second of all,

I've always drugged you one way or another and you've always known about it...

without wanting to know about it, so let's not pretend.

- What are you talking about? - You know exactly what I'm talking about.

Have you ever known anyone more uptight about sex than you?

- That's not the point. - No, the point is you liked it...

when I slipped a little something in the brownies.

- You were glad when I didn't tell you about it-- - That went on in college,

and has nothing to do with this. I am talking about you...

being incapable of enjoying sex without something to take away your inhibitions.

I'm talking about how we both know you loved it more the night of,

and felt less guilty the day after,

if you could pretend you didn't know I was loosening you up.

Wine is one thing. Last night you slipped me an illegal drug.

Okay, the stuff might have been stronger. If so, I apologize.

But I didn't do anything we didn't do before,

and you know that.

When you described yourself in your ad as someone...

"eager to discover life beneath the surface,"

what did you mean?

I think it's pretty obvious what that means.

So when we spoke on the phone of my first marriage, about my kids,

that was you trying to discover the life below the surface?

I suppose.

Do you recall telling me you'd never felt so comfortable...

talking to a man as you felt with me?

I may have said that.

And when we spoke on the phone, didn't we mutually share our respective hurt...

at being rejected on physical appearance alone?

We talked about a lot of stuff, George. I don't see--

And didn't we talk about that?

Yes. And yet,

as soon as you saw me you became uninterested.

I just didn't think things would work out.

Why not? Because--

I just didn't think so.

Why not?

Asked and answered.

Was it because I'm losing my hair?

Don't have the physique? Bad skin?

It's not just physical appearance, George.

It was--

I don't know. It was demeanor as well.

"Demeanor." What was my demeanor?

A demeanor that didn't attract me.

That's all I can say.

One of the things that attracted me to you...

was your incredible ability to articulate...

what you think and feel.

So what was it about my demeanor?

You struck me as--

as kind of a loser.

"A loser"?

All that self-deprecating charm on the phone--

In person, it just wasn't that charming.

It was immediately sad,

even a little pathetic.

And you think--

And you think that you deserved better?

I never said that.

Well, why don't you say it?

Please.

Okay. I wanted more.

I didn't wanna play the fat girl by the punch bowl...

who leaves with the nerd.

I wanted more than that.

I'm sorry.

It seems we have two options.

- Reopen the case-- - [ Pratt ] It won't help.

Look, we always knew she couldn't have done it alone.

We had two theories: Either he did it, or they did it together.

We were kind of hoping if he had acted solo, she would have turned state's evidence.

I still think they did it together. They didn't.

- Can you prove that? - We could stipulate to the polygraph.

- Oh, right. - Keith, I got nothin' vested here.

My guy's free. She wasn't in on it.

- The jury says she was. - Come on. What are we doin' here?

Okay.

Look, I'll consider-- And I mean consider here.

We can bring federal criminal claims, plus perjury.

He agrees to plead guilty to both.

No double jeopardy challenges from you. Thirty years.

He won't do that. He's not goin' to jail.

Then we have nothing to talk about, Bobby.

I'm not letting them both go free.

This is a solved and closed case, and I'm very happy to keep it that way.

Your Honor?

I'm afraid I have to agree with the district attorney here.

Without new and conclusively exculpatory evidence,

there are no grounds to reopen.

- Her conviction has to stand. - We do nothing then?

We proceed to sentencing.

Mr. Holt, you think it's okay to fire somebody just 'cause of the way they look?

- I do. - Looks alone, period?

I wouldn't fire somebody because of the color of their skin, if that's what you're thinking.

But for looking like a monkey? Absolutely.

One can't be a successful film critic if he's not attractive?

What about Gene Shalit?

[ Laughs ] I knew he'd say that.

Gene Shalit is an exception. He's always saying insipid things.

What comes out of his mouth goes with looking like a monkey.

Isn't it true, sir, you fired another employee for being too fat?

Sandra Boyd. I don't have a problem with fat.

But with Sandra-- She wore sleeveless dresses,

so whenever she would reach up or wave,

this part would wiggle for a full minute.

- I found it distracting. - And Wayne Keppler?

- Midget. I'm afraid of 'em. - You're scared of midgets?

I'm not proud of it, but for whatever reason, I get nervous around 'em.

You also fired Kim Orent for having doughnut breath.

I tried a diet. She comes in smelling like crullers.

It's bad for my discipline.

I can't tell whether I'm winning or losing here.

Look. There's a reason for all this.

- What's that, sir? - It's my paper.

One of the reasons I hustled up investors to start my own company...

is so it could be mine--

so I could choose the people I wanted to be around.

I could have gone to work someplace else and gone by other people's rules,

but I didn't want that.

So I walked the plank and started my own business.

And now you're trying to tell me who I gotta hire and who I can't fire?

No, I'm trying to say you can't discriminate against people...

on account of looks alone.

Oh, please. That kind of discrimination goes on all the time.

The only difference here is, I admit it.

Harry is a negative guy who looks like an ape,

and I don't want him working for my company.

There's a juror over there-- I won't say which one-- who looks like a possum.

I wouldn't hire him either.

I'm terribly sorry, but I really think it's time for another break.

So what are you going to do?

What can I do? File charges?

Does this drug knock you out? It could, but it didn't.

It just kind of made me giddy, and incredibly--

Horny?

Yeah.

Lindsay, how do you go about proving...

that you wouldn't have consented?

I mean, you have with this guy before.

There were rumors flying around about scratches on the conference table.

But I know I wouldn't have this time.

I regretted having to Lemon Pledge the conference table.

Trust me. I'd made up my mind never to be anything but platonic with him again.

Then why'd you go out with him, drink wine and-- Rebecca.

Wait. I'm just asking questions that are definitely going to get asked.

There are rape shield laws in Massachusetts. They can't attack me.

Lindsay, this morning, over the toilet bowl, you told me you enjoyed it.

Yeah, but it was only because of the drug.

I know myself, Rebecca. I'm not capable of good sex.

Did you tell him how good it was?

Maybe.

- You told the D.A.? - Gentlemen's agreement. It stays sealed.

Maybe I should just come out in public.

Wouldn't that put some political pressure on them to let her go?

You don't rank too high in the credibility polls right now.

You lied on the stand.

They'll just think you're lying now.

The polygraph is inadmissible.

Why would I say I did it? What would be my motive?

To free your girlfriend, to get the money--

which right now, you don't get.

If Mary Jane is cleared, she suddenly qualifies for the insurance proceeds...

and the inheritance, which is millions of dollars--

Money you get to play with if you stay together.

You think she'd stay with me after learning what I did?

Look, you can do whatever you choose to do.

As your lawyer, let me give you this piece of legal advice.

A public confession does not help Mary Jane.

I do think it exposes you to federal criminal claims,

as well as perjury.

She'd still be goin' to jail, and so would you.

[ Knocking ]

Hi, Andrea. Hi.

What's goin' on?

What do you mean?

There's rumors of ex parte meetings-- you, Pratt, the judge.

What's goin' on?

I, uh-- I went to Judge Hiller...

and told her how I really did ambush you at the trial,

and that she and Pratt should consider...

giving Mary Jane a new trial, but...

they refused.

Why didn't you bring me in on this?

Anything you said would have been self-serving.

I thought I could be more persuasive alone.

Andrea, does Mary Jane--

Does-Does she think I turned on her?

No. She knows it was him.

I think it's goin' well, but-- But what?

Well, even though he was saying what I wanted,

I couldn't tell if I was gettin' him or he was gettin' me.

It was a paradox.

Wh-What's next? Well, Harry's been recalled, and he takes the stand again.

You want me there? No. I can do this. It's okay.

Jimmy, this case should be kind of a slam dunk, you know.

I'm doin' fine, Bobby. Okay.

Mr. Papp, you weren't a negative person?

I had my gripes, like everybody else,

but it's not like I walked around oozing pessimism.

And how would you describe your journalistic skills? I'd describe them as good.

And did the other reporters at The Hub appreciate your skills?

Look, everybody knows the discrimination that goes on against the film critic.

Why don't you fill us in on that, Mr. Papp?

They don't think we're real journalists.

They're jealous 'cause we get to interview celebrities.

In fact, the other reporters at your paper object to you even being called a journalist.

Isn't that right? So what?

You think Tom Brokaw invites Janet Maslin to his parties, or Gene Siskel?

They're all considered jokes. This doesn't bother us.

We know in our hearts if we weren't there,

the general public wouldn't be able to decide whether they like the movie or not.

Oh, but it does bother you, Mr. Papp...

to know that your kind of work isn't really respected by your peers.

- I don't see the relevance in this. - I am trying to show...

that this is an embittered man who only finds gratification in attacking others.

That is why he is attacking my client today.

He fired me for looking like a monkey.

For looking like a brooding monkey...

who was casting a negative pall over the entire office.

- This wasn't ever said. - I'll say it now.

- Hey! - Mr. Holt, you're not on the stand, sir.

Please remain seated and quiet.

Have you been looking for other jobs, Mr. Papp?

I will. It's too painful right now.

Hmm. Prior to your discharge,

didn't my client repeatedly ask you to shave the hair on your neck,

and to trim the fuzz coming out of your ears?

I did sometimes, but he wasn't giving grooming tips to the other reporters.

You were too lazy to comply with these requests. Isn't that the truth?

Objection. That's a legal conclusion.

No, it isn't, but I'll sustain the objection anyway.

Well, on what grounds?

I just ruled in your favor, counsel.

I have here the last review prior to your discharge.

It's on The Island of Dr. Moreau. Did you write this review?

I did. Could you please read it for the court?

[ Sniffs ]

"It stinks."

Would you consider that a lazy review?

I would consider that succinct.

You wanna repeat that? You heard me, Chris.

Resign from the D.A.'s office, or I file charges.

Whatever drug you're on now, Lindsay, it didn't come from me.

If this file came across your desk, you'd prosecute.

Maybe I exercised poor judgment. "Poor judgment"? Is that what you call it?

The sex was consensual. I didn't have the capacity to give consent.

I was under the influence. You had capacity. You initiated it.

Because of the drug.

Lindsay, think about this.

I have thought about it all night,

and I can't live with letting you get away with it.

I will not resign my job,

and if you file charges, I'll fight,

and I'll use anything I can.

I don't want to ruin your reputation, Lindsay,

but I will not let you ruin mine.

I'll do whatever it takes.

Mr. Vogelman, how many personals had you responded to prior to Miss Frutt's?

Around five or six.

And based upon your experience, is it your expectation...

that whatever you read in a personal...

is going to be accurate? I hope so.

When you and Miss Frutt met, did she seem...

to live up to whatever expectations you had?

Actually, she exceeded them... at first.

So you formed a subsequent opinion based upon your meeting her personally?

Well, I suppose I did.

Yet you don't feel Miss Frutt was free to form a subsequent opinion?

- Not on sight, no. - You would consider it unusual...

for a person to be rejected on sight?

I was expressly led to believe that she wouldn't.

Have you been rejected on sight before, Mr. Vogelman?

Many, many, many times. Did you take these women to court?

This woman made false representations.

Ah! So you weren't hurt by the rejection,

you were hurt by her representations?

You're doing a tricky lawyer thing now.

I'm just trying to get at the root of your pain and suffering.

Other women have rejected you who you didn't sue. Miss Frutt, you do sue.

Was it just because she ran an ad,

or were you somehow hurt more here?

Both.

Okay.

And why did Miss Frutt's rejection hurt more?

I won't be subjected to tricky lawyer questions.

There's nothing tricky about this, Mr. Vogelman.

You filed a lawsuit here over a broken date.

I'm asking you why did this hurt more than the other times you've been rejected?

First, I was set up for a bigger fall.

She led me to believe she wasn't like the others.

And second?

Is there a second?

Second, she's not like the others.

How so?

I plead the fifth.

You can't do that at a civil deposition, sir.

How is she not like the other women who have rejected you?

She's not pretty.

I mean, she is to me, but not in a conventional--

When attractive women say no, I guess I've been able to rationalize...

that they either have a boyfriend...

or at least lots of choices.

With you,

I knew for a fact that you had no other choices.

You led me to believe you were somewhat desperate.

Then upon one look at me, you evidently said to yourself, "Not that desperate."

Imagine--

Imagine what it feels like to be the nerd...

that can't even get the fat girl by the punch bowl.

She deserves to die.

I realize that Massachusetts doesn't have the death penalty, Your Honor,

but I feel that she would warrant it...

for what she did to my brother.

It wasn't enough that she disgraced...

and devastated him with an extramarital affair.

Afraid of losing money,

she poisoned him.

This is a man who never hurt anybody,

who never treated her with anything but love...

and kindness.

He would probably even find some way to forgive her,

but I can't.

You murdered a wonderful man.

Please address your remarks to me, Mrs. Clark.

I would ask that you punish this woman...

in a manner commensurate with her crime.

- Mr. Pratt, anybody else? - No, Your Honor.

Counsel?

Your Honor, I would only say that my client maintains her innocence of this crime.

Yes, well, for this proceeding, I must presume her guilt.

I understand. I would only add that the crime for which she was convicted,

though not technically one of passion,

was one the state claims to be motivated by passion.

She has no previous record.

I would also ask Your Honor to take into account...

the circumstantial nature of the prosecution's case in sentencing.

Thank you.

All right. I'll take this under advisement.

Your Honor, I'm an attorney of record on this case,

and I'd like to make a brief statement.

I'm not interested in any statement attorney Donnell has to make.

I'm not interested in directing my statement to you.

I'll hear you, counsel.

We all have roles to play in this process.

My role was, and still is, to protect that man sitting right there.

Your role is to evaluate all the evidence,

all the circumstances surrounding the evidence...

and all the facts that you may find to mitigate this matter.

I know what my role is, counsel. Thank you.

I would ask that, Your Honor, when you take this under advisement,

that you let yourself be guided not only by the law,

but by your wisdom... and your conscience.

As you've said many times,

you're the one who gets to wear the robe.

I would ask...

that you wear it proudly.

Where does it end?

You fire somebody because he's fat or little...

or 'cause of a toupee or 'cause he looks like a monkey?

It's shameful. It's not a decent way to treat people.

There's an implied covenant of good faith in every contract, ladies and gentlemen.

There's an implied agreement: You perform your job, you do good work,

you don't get fired for looking funny.

This man gave himself to that newspaper for nine years,

then he's suddenly cut loose...

'cause his boss doesn't feel like seeing his face.

It's mean. It's unfair.

Harry Papp deserved better.

Where does it end?

Where does it end? Well, it begins and ends with the law.

The law says you cannot discriminate on skin color...

or gender or ethnicity or handicaps,

but it provides no special protection to people who look like monkeys.

Now, of course,

there is an implied covenant of fairness.

But please-- One rule of fairness must be...

that if a man takes the personal and financial risks to start his own company,

he must be allowed to control that company.

And if he wants to cater to his personal aesthetic taste, he should be allowed to.

It is his company.

And let's remember, it wasn't just that Mr. Papp looks like a monkey.

He was an unhappy monkey,

which made The Hub a less fun place to work.

And there are other reporters and workers at The Hub too.

What about them?

And by his own admission, Mr. Papp wasn't terribly skilled.

He wasn't popular among his coworkers.

And not to make too much of this film critic business,

but let's consider the job he does.

Well, truth be told, he doesn't do anything.

He doesn't walk planks. He doesn't take risks.

He just sits back and watches--

watches what other people do, and then gives his opinion.

I mean, is it any wonder that Harry Papp has grown to be so embittered?

He goes to the movies and writes about whether he likes it or not.

That is his life's work.

How could he not end up embittered?

How could he not feel that his life is a big waste?

Now, Harry Papp may be a nice man, but he's angry--

angry that his profession is not taken seriously by his peers or by anybody,

and he's looking to take it out on Mr. Holt.

And he is lazy.

He has shown almost zero initiative,

harbors no ambition to be anything other than a watcher.

And on top of all of that, ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

he looks like a monkey.

Hey. [ Sniffs ] Hey.

Are you okay? Sure.

I went to the police.

I was going to report him. I was, but I--

I mean, what good--

I didn't go in.

I just drove there, but, uh--

I was going to go in, but, I mean, what good--

I'm okay.

I'm fine.

[ Whispering ] I'm fine.

George. Ellenor. I was on my way up to see you.

I've decided to drop the lawsuit.

Oh, really? That's--

I think I was just needing to--

I guess, strike back.

I'm sorry I hurt you like that.

Yeah, well--

I wish you well in life, Ellenor.

Thank you.

I wish you well too, George.

[ Man ] All rise.

Be seated.

The crime of murder certainly speaks for itself.

That it was motivated by love for another man...

is hardly a mitigating factor.

That it was motivated by greed doesn't occasion me...

to be more compassionate either.

It is the order of this court...

that Mary Jane Wiggins be sentenced to a life term...

with no possibility of parole...

at the Framingham Correctional Facility.

This matter is now adjourned.

[ Spectators Murmuring ]

She doesn't want any visitors. Tough.

Counsel-- How the hell do you live with yourself?

Get out of here. I'm saying what I came to say.

I'll have you arrested. Go ahead and do it,

and as soon as I get out I'll be right back.

Go. Close the door behind you.

I'll talk first.

I don't get to consider up there that she might be innocent.

By law, I accept the jury's verdict,

and the sentencing was statutory.

- You have some discretion as the judge. - No, I didn't.

Then why even listen to arguments?

You could have set aside the verdict, reduced it to murder two--

The judge can always find a way.

It's not that simple. When are you going to see that?

We don't get to make up the rules as we go along, Bobby.

The law is meaningless if it isn't consistent in its application.

You stood in this room last week, and you called me lost.

You just gave life with no parole to a person...

you know could be innocent.

If you are so myopic over the black letter law...

that you can't even see what you're doing,

then you are the most lost person I know.

- Get out! - You know what I think?

You just clutch at the idea you gotta follow the law without exception...

because that is the only way you can survive.

- If you don't leave now-- - The only way that you can live with knowing...

you put a killer back on the street who then murdered a four-year-old child.

And how do you survive, Bobby?

You helped put that man back on the street.

Your bread and butter is helping criminals walk.

How do you survive?

I'll tell you.

You do your job.

You do your job. You do your job.

Your granddaughter know your job?

Take him away.

A lot of times we're trapped.

This was one we could have fixed.

Is it a good sign that they came back this quick?

It's a very good sign if we win, but not if we lose.

That was helpful.

It's important, what I'm doing, you know. He was wrong.

I understand. Am I sweating?

We're cultural watchdogs. We do important work.

Members of the jury, you've, uh, reached a verdict?

- We have, Your Honor. - What say you?

On the matter of Papp versus Hub News,

we find for the plaintiff, and order the defendant...

to pay compensatory damages in the amount of $82,000.

I won! I won.

You won. We both won.

Members of the jury, this concludes your service.

The court extends its thanks for your commitment.

And, Your Honor, I, too, would like to take this opportunity...

to thank the jury, which I feel demonstrated...

considerable excellence in a forthwith manner.

Thank 'em in the hall. We're done in here.

- Lindsay. Wh-What's goin' on? - I went to the police station to file charges.

What? Oh, I didn't do it. I know you could never be convicted.

Part of me didn't want your whole career ruined over one stupid mistake--

And it would be ruined-- you know, possession of that drug alone--

But the thought of you getting away with it all smug, you know--

I couldn't-- I couldn't live with that either.

- Have you been drinking? - No, this is the way rape victims get, Chris.

And I'm sitting there in my car outside the police station thinking,

"He should at least limp over this a little.

Maybe-- Maybe he shouldn't lose his job."

But you should at least limp.

That's why I came over to shoot you in the leg.

- I'll say it went off by accident. - Are-Are you--

Crazy? Yeah. And it feels good.

You could file charges, but the truth would come out,

and you'd probably get in more trouble than me.

It would be in your best professional interest...

- to agree with me that the gun went off by accident. - Lindsay--

Don't!

Truth is, I have been drinking. I might vomit any second, so I better get this over with.

Would you prefer the right leg or the left? Lindsay--

- Or the head? - This isn't you.

Sure, it is.

I just needed to shed some of my inhibitions.

This is me.

Right leg or left? Or should I choose?

Lindsay, you will end up in jail. I'm counting to three.

- One-- - Lindsay!

- Two-- - My God!

- Three. - The left.

Just kidding. [ Door Opens ]

Sue me. [ Man ] What happened? I heard a shot.

[ Man #2 ] Where'd it come from? Oh, by the way, you wet your pants.

Everybody okay in here? [ Whispering ] He loved it.

[ Man #3 ] You guys see what happened?

Uh-- Practical joke.

E-Everything's fine. Just a joke.

[ Exhales ]

It was gratifying that they came back quick, you know?

My first victory with a jury.

If I had to wait, I think the sweating would have come back.

Congratulations, Jimmy.

And, uh, here's to you too, Ellenor.

- I heard "Dr. Bunion" dropped his lawsuit. - Yep.

Hey, it was a good month for everybody. Bobby got the big N.G.--

And how was your week, Linds? Oh, same old.

Great. Great. Well, to happy times.

Oh, I'll tell ya, I was nervous.

I think the defendant blew it, though, when he called one of the jurors a possum.

You can't predict how things are gonna go, but insinuating...

that one of the jurors is a member of the rodent family-- it's not an accepted tactic.

I tell ya, this is a high.

People don't think the practice of law is a high--

They don't know. They can't know.

[ Woman ] You stinker!