All language subtitles for L.A.Law.S03E11.Izzy.Ackerman.or.Is.He.Not.1080p.DSNP.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-NTb_track4_[eng]

Les: Thank you, Charlotte.

You're welcome.

Thank you, Wanda. Thank
you, Karen. Looking good.

[giggling]

Thank you, Roxanne. Thank you.

Well, how'd we do
this week, Gretchen?

[crying]

Sorry, girls, my
aerobics class ran late.

Here's my work book, Les.

Les: How was
your trip to Cancun?

Fabuloso. I got a tan all the
way up to here.

I see you lost six more pounds.
Congratulations, Tammy.

Thank you, Les. But
I'm still way overweight.

Right here.

Les: Would that we were
all as disciplined as Tammy.

Thank you, Les.

But I'm sure we're all trying
our darnedest.

- Aren't we, girls?
- Sure we are.

Roxanne, I see you've
gained two pounds.

I'm holding water.

According to your
Thursday night log,

you're holding more than water.

I can't help it.

It's my husband's poker night.

He brings home pizza,
and ice cream and cake.

If you want my
opinion, it sounds as

if your husband is
subtly encouraging

you to stay obese as a way of

suppressing your
sexual attractiveness.

What are you,
the world's foremost

authority on my sex life?

Well, it doesn't
take an authority

to see that your husband is
expressing

a lot of latent hostility
towards you.

Tammy, why don't you
mind your own business.

- You see, you're doing it, too.
- Doing what?

Dumping all your
hostility on me instead

of on your husband
where it belongs.

Excuse me, that
wasn't hostility.

This is hostility.

[wham]

[thudding]

[groans]

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Alright, getting started.

Meister versus Prime
Location Tickets.

Yeah, that's me.

Restraint of trade
and breach of contract.

I'm going to be in
depositions all week.

Dillard versus Richmond
School District. Ann?

You met yesterday?

- We slid to Thursday.
Brackman: Why.

A little nanny crisis.
I, uh, spent yesterday home.

- And so it begins.
- What begins?

The domestic emergencies
taking precedence over work.

We all understand, I'm sure,

although some of us have
assumed you'd be a bit more

resistant to the pull
of maternal gravity.

Don't talk with your
mouth full, Douglas.

Ackerman versus Lewis Mortuary.

- What's this?
- A disaster.

Mrs. Ackerman
called me last night.

Yesterday was her
husband's funeral

and it all fell apart.

They mishandled the body,
he still hasn't been buried,

and we're rushing
in to get a court order.

Th-they mishandled
the body? How?

You don't want to know.

Yuck.

Davis versus Eastland Hospital.

Trial starts today.

You know, I still
can't believe that the hospital

is letting it go to a jury.

Their exposure's less
than you might think.

The woman made how much a year?

The most was 17-5.

They refuse to admit a woman
because she has no insurance,

she dies less
than 24 hours later.

A jury can always find a way
to make them pay.

Loss of love and affection,
that's the key.

Just out of curiosity, what is
the hospital suppose to do?

Fill up their beds with
non-paying patients?

If non paying patients
are sick and dying, yeah.

They're supposed
to fill up their beds

with whoever
needs to be in them.

And then who's supposed
to pick up the tab? Me?

You ever get sick
and then not go to

a doctor because
you couldn't afford it?

You ever not get
a prescription filled

because you
couldn't afford it?

You ever watch your
sister's baby die

because she came home
from the hospital

before she should have?

Who's gonna pick up the tab?

I got mine, right. I got mine.

I hope you nail
these bastards, Mike.

- You nail them to the wall.
- Yeah.

Excuse me, where's
Roxanne Meyers?

- Over there.
- Thank you.

Roxanne Meyers?

Meyer. Yes.

We have a warrant
for your arrest.

What?

Could you step away
from your desk, ma'am.

Roxanne: What are
you talking about?

Is this some kind of joke?

- Do you know a Tamara Jacobs?
- Tamara?

She's filed battery
charges against you.

For God's sake.

Would you please step
away from the desk, ma'am.

Female cop: You have
the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will be

held against you
in a court of law.

You have the right
to have an attorney.

Hey, hey, hey, what's
going on out here? Roxanne?

Roxanne: Arnie.
- Arnie, make them stop.

Hey, would you just
cut it out for a second.

I am an attorney. Do you,
do you have a warrant?

That's for real alright.

Do you understand
each of these rights?

Look, look, is it
really necessary

to cuff her for a misdemeanor?

Female cop: I'm
sorry, counselor.

Everything's going
to be alright. Okay?

Jonathan will be
right behind you.

You'll be back at
your desk before lunch.

Do you understand
each of these rights

as I have presented them to you?

Yes.

Do you wish to wave your right
to remain silent?

Do wish to have an
attorney appointed to you?

[instrumental music]

Aside from reviewing
the Adams file

one more time, I
think we're covered.

Okay. I'll get it to you
this afternoon.

Hi.

- Guess what?
- What?

Turns out you didn't have
to come down here at all today.

There's a few last minute things
we didn't get to this morning

and the judge decided
to start the trial tomorrow.

I'm glad I didn't take
the whole day off.

Well, as long as you're here,

do you want to
go over the lineup?

Sure.

Dr. Brian McKenna testifying as
an expert as to cause of death,

followed by Hector Corvalis,
a former resident at Eastland,

followed by Kate Adams,
former ER nurse,

followed by Cornell Geisler,
our insurance expert,

followed by you.

Sounds good.

I also have another
offer to tell you about.

Ray: Yeah?

A 100,000 payable
over two years.

No, thank you.

Believe me, I'm not
recommending it.

But, you are still open to
considering offers, aren't you?

To tell you the
truth, not real open.

Well, the point may
come when you should be.

What are you telling me, Mike?

Just that we should be smart

about what we're doing here.

Now, this may not be
a particularly good offer,

but one may come in that is.

The fact that your wife
didn't earn very much

will in all likelihood be
considered by the jury.

The fact that she
didn't earn very much

is the reason why she's dead.

Now I want to go to court.

[sighs] Well, you don't
have to fight us.

We're going to go to court.

Just understand that Dorothy
and I wouldn't be doing

our jobs if we didn't make
you aware of all the risks.

I have to be able to
say what they did, Mike.

You don't send a dog out to die
the way they did, Jackie.

If they want to give
me some money,

tell me, what am I
gonna buy with it?

This is only the second
funeral I ever taped.

Usually I stick to
weddings and bar mitzvahs.

Well, I figured this would
be the ultimate tribute to Izzy.

Objection.

Uh, just tell us the relevant
facts, Mr. Greenberg.

Okay.

Alright, here.
They're lifting the coffin.

Alright. Now keep your eye on
the big guy turning the corner.

Fat Morty. We call that
affectionately, he loves it.

Alright, I'm going
to freeze frame here.

Alright, you can
already see on his face,

Morty's in trouble here.

Double hernia last year.

Why he's up there
can anybody tell me?

That's Milton behind him,
he's not really lifting.

Alright, now I'm going
to run this in slow motion.

Okay, there. Morty's
starting to drop,

the coffin's starting to flip.

Whoop.

Here's Izzy. Right
out of the box.

They're falling like duckpins.

Listen, listen,
everybody's screaming.

I tried to zoom in on him,
but I lost focus here.

Okay. But, a little better, huh?

- Alright, now.
- Okay, okay.

I get it. Stop the tape.

But we didn't get
to the best part.

When we see that
the body isn't Izzy's.

What do you mean, it isn't Izzy?

They stuck the
wrong guy in the box.

Look at this.

Okay, another
close up of the guy.

Look at this. Isn't this great?

Some of my best work.

Hold it, hold it, hold it.

Turn that thing off.

Who was that in the box?

I don't know,
but it wasn't Izzy.

They chopped him into bits!

- Sylvia!
- Objection!

They sent his body
to a research lab

and they diced him.

Mrs. Ackerman!

They diced my Izzy!

The hospital mis-tagged
the bodies, judge.

Everybody quiet.

You were supposed to bury him.

Instead you sent
him to the butcher

to be chopped up like celery.

Everyone stop talking now!

Am I to understand that
the bodies were switched

and the real Izzy
was dismembered?

To bits!

Yes, and we
would like this court

to order the defendant
to retrieve

every last piece of my client's
late husband

as well as issue
restraining orders

to the various
hospitals who have him

so he's not
dissected any further.

These hospitals
are out of state.

I don't know
if I can do anything.

[crying]

I'll, uh, take this all
under advisement

and try and give you a ruling
as fast as I can.

In the meantime, Mr. Braunstein,

I would suggest that your client
start taking

immediate steps to collect
the deceased.

Unbelievable.

[elevator dings]

Sorry.

We had to negotiate
Dave out of coming along.

Hey, he would have been welcome.

Speak for yourself.

Criminal complaint number 8847,

People versus Roxanne Meyer.

Jonathan Rollins for the
defendant, Your Honor.

William Riley for the
City Attorney's office.

Ms. Meyer is charged
with assault after attacking

a fellow student
in her diet class.

I'd be looking to
continue O.R., judge.

Ms. Meyer has no criminal record

and this was an
isolated outburst,

provoked by the
victim's derogatory slurs

regarding my
client's physicality.

I told her she looked good, for
God sake and she punched me!

And this would be
the victim, I take it?

Civilian complaint, Your Honor.

Mm-hm and by any chance,
would the victim's attorney

be at all accessible
at this very moment?

I'm right here, Your Honor.
Roland Burnet.

Surprise, surprise.
Step up, Mr. Burnet.

You wouldn't be urging
criminal prosecution

to bolster your civil cause
of action, would you?

Oh no, Your Honor.

Oh, no.

Tell you what, I'm continuing
this matter for one week,

during which time I
think the attorneys

should get together
and work things out.

If you do, I'll dismiss.

Is that okay with
you, Mr. Riley?

- Fine.
- What?

You're just gonna put
her back on the streets?

Call me crazy.

Settle this counsel,
it'll make me very happy.

If you can't, well,
I'll still be your judge.

That's all. Next case.

Come on.

Uh, uh, uh, uh.

It's going to be a
tough week for lunch.

Let's give ourselves a running
start for a change.

How about dinner? An evening.

A night.

A night, a night, um...

Eric's got a birthday party
to go to on Thursday.

I bet I can arrange
a sleep over for him.

One for him and one for me.

Thursday night's out.
I'm on duty.

I just don't want to bend
Eric's routine out of shape.

Sure. Sure. How
about lunch tomorrow?

- Can't.
- Friday?

I'm going to be in Van Nuys.

Can you imagine how impossible

scheduling a menage
a trois would be?

What about today?
Now. Are you busy?

Oh, I've got to be
in Whittier at 2:30.

And I... I should
really...

[laughs]

I can't, really. Let's go.

[laughs]

Dr. McKenna, you examined
Eastland Hospital's

records of Jackie
Davis' visit, right?

I have.

Can you tell us what they say?

They say that on June 14, 1984,

she went to the emergency room

complaining of nausea
and fatigue.

She also had a severe rash.

- And what was done for her?
- Objection.

Dr. McKenna wasn't present

and isn't in a position
to testify

what was or wasn't done.

He is a trained
forensic pathologist

who studied the
records and the body.

If Mr. Spitzer wants to refute
his testimony, he can try.

Objection overruled.
The witness can answer.

They took a pregnancy test.
They took her blood pressure.

They took her temperature.

Then they sent her on her way.

And in your best
medical opinion,

what should have
been done for her?

At a minimum,

they should have
checked for protein

after they took
a pregnancy test.

That right there would have
told them something was wrong.

There are simple blood tests
for creatinine and urea.

They cost about $10 each.
They didn't do either one.

Had they done them, could Jackie
Davis' life have been saved?

Objection. I don't
think Dr. McKenna

is trained as God, is he?

He's being asked his
medical opinion, Mr. Spitzer.

Sit down, please.

Any one of the procedures
I've suggested

would've shown Jackie Davis
to be suffering

from acute renal failure

brought on by
undiagnosed lupus nephritis.

In other words, her kidneys
stopped working.

She could've been dialyzed
and put on medication.

In my opinion, she stood

an excellent chance
of full recovery.

Kuzak: Thank you, doctor.

I have no further questions.

Tell us, doctor, what
does expression,

"When you hear hoof-beats,
think horses, not zebras" mean?

It means that in diagnosing
a patient

you start
by attributing symptoms

to more common rather than
less common causes.

So when Jackie Davis came in

complaining of nausea
and fatigue,

would you be more likely to
attribute it

to a stomach virus,

or acute renal
failure brought on

by undiagnosed lupus nephritis?

A stomach virus... initially.

Which is exactly
what the physician

on duty at Eastland
Hospital did.

The problem lies
in what he didn't do.

Thank you, doctor.

Isn't it a fact that hospitals
transfer and release patients

who are unable to pay,
all the time?

Not patients who are dying.

Spitzer: But Jackie Davis
didn't appear to be dying,

she appeared to be stable.

And a simple battery of
basic diagnostic

procedures would have shown
that she wasn't.

Which at the time didn't appear
to be necessary.

You ever misdiagnose
a patient, doctor?

Not because
they weren't insured.

Spitzer: Do you
treat patients for free?

I sure as hell
don't kick them out

the door because they're poor.

I didn't become a doctor so I
could stand behind a turnstile

and watch people die
on the other side.

I'm ruling that injunctive
relief is warranted here

and I'm ordering the
defendant to retrieve

the body parts of
Isadore Ackerman.

We've already got a lot back,
Your Honor.

Mr. Ackerman's torso is due in
from Cleveland even as we speak

and this morning we located
his pancreas in Detroit.

There is still the issue
of the head, Your Honor.

What issue?

It went to a teaching
university in Miami

and they refuse to give it back.

And why is that?

They purchased it from
U-Cal Medicai and they claim

it's a valid contract for goods

under the Uniform
Commercial Code.

Now, if you nullify it on
the grounds of public policy,

we can take that order
and try and get

the contract voided under
some reciprocity, maybe.

You want me to render an opinion

on the Uniform Commercial Code

as it applies to
the conveyances

of a human head?

I know, sounds crazy,
but we're getting desperate.

The police don't regard it
as foul play

so they won't get involved.

My client's only chance
of getting

her husband back
is through a court order.

Well, I'll give you the
order, Mr. McKenzie,

but I don't know what good it's
going to do

in a Florida court.

Oh, I'll never see Izzy again.

Oh, my God, my sweetheart
is gone forever.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Ackerman,
but I'm afraid

the only real remedy here
is money damages.

I don't want money!

I want my Izzy!

How can I bury him
without his head?

I'm sorry, ma'am.

We can try, but
I just don't know.

[crying]

I know... alright, alright.

[instrumental music]

Woow.
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Meyer.

Our reservation is at 8:00.

I thought you were
going to meet me at home.

I was in the area, I thought
we'd drive home together.

Let me just go to
the lady's room.

- Dave Meyer.
- Nice to see you, Douglas.

Dave Meyer. Have
you got a minute for me?

Yeah, sure.

I want you to know how much
I admire your work, Dave.

Considering your
success with Arnold,

I was hoping you would
indulge me for a minute,

while I propose
another videotape.

Well, uh, I'm always looking
for new titles.

- Have a seat.
- What's it about?

[door closes]

I'm calling it "Office
Management To Win."

As a matter of fact,
I've been working on a script.

- May I?
- Yeah, sure.

It's rough, but I think
it's in the ballpark.

"They've called
me bean counter.

"They've called me
pencil pusher.

"I don't get insulted.

"I don't get defensive.

When the dust settles,
they call me manager."

Very punchy.

"Staff people can
stare into space

"when there's a lull in the work

"or they can oil chair casters

"so plexiglass rug
protectors don't get scuffed.

"They can comb moribund files

"for paper fasteners
and dividers--

I'm not all together sure
what the market is here, Doug.

I think it's vast.

Uh-huh.
Well, it might very well be.

Could we, uh, discuss
this some other time.

Any time.

I'll be in touch.

Thanks.

- Is it okay?
- Perfectamoondo.

Ewww, you people
have my sympathy.

Why's that, Dave?

I just had to listen
to an endless

Douglas Brackman schpiel.

I think I'd rather
have root canal.

This guy is insufferable.

Mike, I gotta tell ya,

whatever you paid McKenna
to testify was money well spent.

That's why you're here, Russell.

That's why we're here.

Now, having made the
necessary concessions,

how about we talk
some arithmetic?

Talk.

We're willing to sweeten
the original offer

to the tune of $300,000.

Payable immediately.

For the death of an
unemployed speech therapist

it ain't a bad day's work.

I don't know. Maybe
it is, maybe it isn't.

Mike, the guy's a day laborer.

He hasn't seen this much money
in his whole life.

Right.

And if you could have,
you would have sent him home

with a handshake
and a $100 bill.

Well, you can't do that with me.

So what'll it take
to buy you off?

I think this discussion's
over, gentlemen.

Why not be honest about it?

This is just greed.

You got a deep pocket to pick,

and you want to come
away with all you can.

You throw a dying
woman out of a hospital

because she doesn't
have enough money

and you talk to me about greed?

Get this guy out of
my sight, Russell.

[ominous music]

How did it go?

Well, they upped the offer.

Yeah? How much?

300,000. Payable up front.

Whoa.

Now, it's possible
that we can do better.

But as I told you before,
there are no guarantees.

I still feel like we're letting
them off the hook, though.

Look, in the end

they are going to
pay you some money

and they will be off the hook.

What we have to decide
is whether this is enough.

You're the lawyer.
What do you say?

Well, this offer isn't
going to go away.

And the truth is, if
they're this worried now,

I'd like to see what they put
on the table after you testify.

So let me testify.

I'll put you on the
stand tomorrow

while McKenna's
still fresh in their mind.

Alright.

Are you ready for this?

If you tell me to be
ready, I'll be ready.

Good man.

- Madame?
- Not for me.

I'll have
another mineral water.

It seems a shame that on

the occasion of
your 39th birthday,

you can't even enjoy
one small glass of bubbly.

David, this is a very
difficult time for me right now.

I feel that if I
go off this diet,

I won't have the strength
to go back on.

Happy birthday.

You're a lusty wrench
regardless of curb weight.

Thank you.

So. You've, uh, been on
this diet four weeks now.

Is it worth it?

I think so.

I've lost seven pounds.

Seven less pounds of
Roxanne Meyer

is not something to be devoutly
wished for in my book.

Though dropping down from
cruiser weight to middleweight

didn't take anything
away from your right cross.

It doesn't make it
any easier for me

knowing that you're
not on my side.

Roxanne, center of my
being, I am on your side.

But at the risk of momentarily
appearing self absorbed,

I would like to point
out that our sex life

has withered on the vine,

under the gloom of your
perpetual depression.

Every time I feel amorous,
you're not in the mood.

Every time I
want a little snack,

I have to drive myself
to the all-night deli.

Roxanne, isn't
there another way?

What are you saying?

That I should quit my diet?

That's an option.

Another option would
be to fast one day a week.

Another might be, just as
a suggestion, to join a gym.

Instead of eating less,
exercise more.

David, I want to feel
good about myself.

And I can't feel good about
myself when I'm overweight.

All I know is
once we were happy.

We went out. We frolicked.

We made love with
abandon. Life was full.

In other words, you can't
be happy unless I'm fat.

I can't be happy when
you're depressed.

And if you don't mind an
observation,

you're more depressed now
than you were before the diet.

- Sir.
- Ah, the souffle.

Roxanne: David, what is this?

Your chocolate birthday souffle.

Why did you order this?
You know I can't eat it.

Why not? For one moment
give in to your appetites.

You're a vibrant female
in the full bloom

of mature womanhood. Celebrate.

- I can't. No.
- You can.

- No!
- Yes.

David, please.

Don't make me do this.

She doesn't mean it.

Go ahead, dish it out.

One bite.

One bite just to commemorate
what is arguably

the happiest day in my life,

the day of your birth.

Put some whip cream
on there, would you?

Huh? Huh? Huh?

Go ahead, one more for the road.

You know you'll love it.

Go ahead.

That a girl.

[instrumental music]

Okay, now, given the extent
of my client's pain

and suffering and the severity
of the attack...

What attack? All I did was punch
her in the nose.

I told you she was hostile

I think you'll find Ms. Jacobs'
proposal more than reasonable.

This traumatic confrontation

has destroyed my
client's appearance.

You can see for yourself,
her injuries necessitate

reconstructive rhinoplasty.

- To be paid by your client.
- Nose job.

And the additional
cosmetic surgery to restore.

Ms. Jacobs' eyes and chin,
to be paid by your client.

I never touched her chin.

Just listen
to the proposal, Roxanne.

Plus liposuction limited to
the thigh and buttocks area

and two weeks
recovery at La Costa,

double room occupancy.

I broke her nose
and gave her a shiner.

I am not paying from
the neck down, Arnie!

My client was a beautiful woman.

Her body image
has suffered greatly.

Two weeks at La
Costa hardly begins

to heal Ms. Jacobs'
battered self-esteem.

Sit down, Rox. Sit.

All herbal wraps,
waxing, manicures

and daily shiatsu massage
to be paid by your client.

- That's it. This is outrageous.
- Yeah?

You're lucky I don't put
your jealous fat ass in jail!

You come sashaying into the
meeting

wearing a skin tight outfit

complaining about four pounds,

you're lucky I only
broke your nose!

Ladies, enough!

Becker: Is that it?

One more small item. An apology.

In front of our System 21 class.

- You're delirious.
- Delivered by you in person.

- I'd rather be in jail!
- Good.

No more Mr. Nice Guy.
Get a court date, Roland.

I'm out of here.

The settlement is fine.
Everything but the apology.

That'll be a deal breaker.

I think I can sell it to my
client without the mea culpa.

You'll draw up the papers?

I'll have them on your
desk tomorrow morning.

Come on, this is ridiculous.

This is a worthless bluff.

My hospital doesn't mis-tag

bodies and you
are just trying to...

- The mortuary said you did.
- Well they're lying.

This whole thing is
the mortuary's fault,

and U-Cal Medical.

We thought we were
sectioning off Zuckerman.

We didn't know it was Ackerman.

The paperwork on
Zuckerman said he was 43.

You took your chainsaw
to some 72 year old sick guy

that any first year medical
student would've recognized.

The paperwork said
we had Burt Zuckerman

and we reasonably
believed it was

Burt Zuckerman
we were dismantling.

Well, I'm leaving.

My hospital
is not getting sucked

into this lawsuit and...

You're both getting
sucked in, believe me.

I'm cross claiming you

and I'm cross claiming
U-Cal Medical as well.

I'll get a demurrer.

You'll also get about
two hundred pages

of interrogatories in
the next few weeks.

And you'll both get a
lot of negative publicity

you could do without.

Now, either you
cooperate with me now,

or brace yourselves for
a nasty public nightmare.

What? What do you want us to do?

I figure a big hospital
and a state university

have certain connections,

maybe influences even with

other hospitals or universities.

Am I right?

Okay.

What's the point?

You want to be completely
left out of this lawsuit?

Bring me the head
of Izzy Ackerman.

And bring it to me fast.

Our seafood special
today is a langoustine

in a light cream sauce
with fresh basil fettucine.

It's excellent. We also have
the medallions of veal.

I want the chicken.

We have a paillard
of free range chicken

in a tarragon
and mustard sauce...

Broil it. No sauce. No butter.

And a small salad, no dressing.

I'll have the lobster.

Just because you're
in a lousy mood,

don't take it out on the waiter.

I can't help it.
I want the lobster.

Then have the lobster.

I'm on a diet.

Which so far has put you
in a permanently lousy mood

and gotten you arrested
for assault and battery.

You think I like
feeling this way?

Rox, the only diet that's
going to make you feel better

is the one where you lose
a 170 pounds of Dave Meyer.

Thank you, Arnie, for being
such an understanding friend.

As your friend,
I have to tell you

your problem isn't your diet.

And you're...

And you're going to tell
me what my problem is?

Yeah.

It's called displacing
your anger.

The last person who said
that to me got her nose broken.

[sighs]

Look, Rox,

you know that I love you.

And even if I didn't think
marrying Dave was a great idea,

no one rooted for you
to succeed more than I.

But your marriage
is in trouble, kiddo.

Now if you want to
take a swing at me

for telling you the
truth, go ahead.

Thank you, Dr. Freud.

What are you, my shrink?

Hey, don't knock therapy.

I lose a lot of
business by sending clients

to a good marriage counselor.

I don't know what's
happening to me.

I'm desperate.

I can't sleep at night, I
cry-I cry all the time...

Can you imagine me
punching somebody?

I never punched anybody
in my entire life.

I don't know what's going on.

[crying] Help me.

Look, I'm going to put you
in touch with Jeanne Rubens.

She's a first rate therapist.

Fine. Anything.

Will Dave go?

Dave will do anything
I tell him to do.

How long had you and Jackie been
married

at the time she died?

Four years, three months.

I was in the service stationed
in El Paso when we met.

The day she got her divorce
papers, we got married.

Kuzak: What was it
that made you take

her to the hospital, Ray?

She hadn't bee feeling well
for a few weeks.

She couldn't hold down her food.

She was tired all the time.

At first we thought
it was just a bug

but then it seemed
to be getting worse.

I was always on her
to go to a doctor

but she put it off
and put it off.

Finally, she wanted to go.

Could you tell us
in your own words

exactly what happened
when you got there?

First, we filled out some forms.
Then we waited.

I guess we were there
about two hours when a nurse

came over and asked us
how we intended to pay.

I said I had a $100 with me

and I would have
to owe them the rest.

She said it didn't
work that way.

She said they'd look at her

but they didn't admit anyone
who didn't have insurance.

Did they look at her?

For about ten minutes.

A doctor took her
behind a curtain

and then told us to wait
for the results.

About an hour or so
later he came back

and said, "Go home,
honey. You've got the flu."

Tell us what happened then, Ray.

We took the bus home
and I put her to bed.

The next morning
she couldn't even

lift her head off the pillow.

I sat by her all day.

I tried to get her
to have a little soup

or something but
she didn't want it.

It was starting to get dark...

when she grabbed my hand

and just like that she was gone.

That was five and
a half years ago?

- Yeah.
- Do you still miss her?

Objection, Your Honor.
Inflammatory.

Kuzak: Strictly relevant.

Overruled.

Ray?

Miss her?

Um, I still feel like
I'm married to her.

Most Sundays I sit by her grave.

A day doesn't go by that
I don't think about her.

I have no further questions.

Mr. Spitzer,

I'm sure you don't
mind beginning

your cross examination
tomorrow morning.

No, Your Honor. I-I don't mind.

Her clothes are still
hanging in the closet.

People say I should
get rid of them,

but how am I going to just pack
them in some cardboard box?

How am I going to do that?

[buzzing]

Yes.

Intercom: They're here.

Well, send them in.

Is it true? Can
it really be true?

Arrived this morning.

It's packed in dry ice.

I should get it to a
mortuary or something

as soon as possible.

Oh, Izzy. Is it
really finally you?

We should probably
check this time to be sure.

Oh, it's him. Trust me.

We trusted the mortuary.

I want to see him.

I don't think you...

I'm going to look.

[sighs]

[whimpers]

It's Izzy alright.

He looks good.

Why shouldn't he look good?

He just came back from Florida.

Okay, close the box.

He's got that little smile he
always used to have, you know?

Close it, Morty, please.

Oh, my honey.

My dear sweet man.

You are finally back with us.

Take your uncle.

It was always his wish that you
carry him to his resting place.

And don't drop him.

Okay, let me get this
now. Come on, Morty.

Okay. Alright. Go slow. Go slow.

Sylvia, come on, move up.

Come on. Very good.

Excuse me. Alright, Morty.

Come on. Morty, slow down.

Milton. Come on,
Milton. Move it.

Okay. Very good. Very good.

Let's go. Slowly. Good.

Uh-huh.

Milton: Look out.

[groans]

Oh, no. Oh, my God.

Oh, my God!

[screams]

[screaming]

[engines revving]

Mr. Davis, was your wife
an American citizen?

Yes, she was.

And did she live
here all her life?

Yeah.

Tell me, sir, can you
identify her handwriting?

Ray: Sure.

Please tell the court
if that's her signature?

What is this?

Sir, is that your
wife's signature?

It looks like her signature.

Your Honor, that
hasn't been marked.

Your Honor, I
have here a certified copy

of Jackie Davis' divorce decree

and I offer it
for identification.

What's the point?

The point, Mr. Kuzak,

is that this divorce decree

was issued in Juarez, Mexico,

right across the border
from El Paso.

The certificate signed
by Jacqueline Davis,

then Jacqueline Baker, attesting

to Mexican domicile
is fraudulent .

We got married by a Justice
of the Peace in El Paso.

Did you know that
the divorce was obtained

in Mexico, Mr. Davis?

Yeah, I knew.

We were in love with each other.

Her husband wouldn't give her
a divorce.

Everyone said it
was the fastest way.

Your Honor, request a recess
so I can talk to my client?

I'm not granting any recesses
right now, Mr. Kuzak.

You should have known
your marriage was void, sir.

Void?

Sidebar, Your Honor.

She was my wife, Judge.

I don't care what
the paper says.

Go ahead, Mr. Spitzer,
make your motion.

I move to dismiss based on

the plaintiff's lack
of standing to sue.

Based on what?

A photostatic copy of some

divorce papers from Mexico?

Mr. Kuzak, these papers
may be all he needs.

Mr. Davis, I'm sorry.

Pending the submission
of written memoranda

I have no choice but to grant
defense counsel's motion.

The jury is excused.
This court is adjourned.

[indistinct chattering]

So we appeal, right? The judge
is wrong, right? She's wrong.

I don't think she is, Ray.

But one thing has nothing
to do with the other.

If the hospital was wrong,
they were wrong.

- There's more to it than that.
- No there's not.

No there's not,
a hospital's suppose

to take care of you
if you're sick.

Ray...

You don't have standing, Ray.

You weren't legally married,

and you knew about
the Mexican divorce.

That means that no
matter what the hospital did

to Jackie, according to the law,
you can't sue.

I don't care about the law.

I thought all we'd have to do
is tell what happened.

That's all it would take.

A jury would say, "They
can't do this to you.

They can't treat you
like you're nothing

like it doesn't make
a difference

whether you live or die."

Damn.

[slams]

I'm sorry, Ray. I shouldn't
have let it happen.

You didn't know about it, Mike.

I can't blame you.

You were the only one
who was on my side.

I could have done better.

She's gone, Mike.

It isn't fair.

It isn't right.

No.

No, it isn't.

What kind of law firm did
you used to work for, Dorothy?

What do you mean?

We just got dismissed
in the Davis case.

Why?

Jacqueline Davis
got a bogus divorce,

which voids her marriage to Ray.

Ray is now out of court.

I saw the marriage
license and I stopped there.

I know you did. If you hadn't,

we might've come
away with something.

I would have kept
him off the stand.

I would have
accepted their offer.

I would have done
something besides

get torpedoed in open court.

It was my responsibility.
I let you down.

You bet you did.

I'm sorry about this, Michael.

I'm sorry, too.

It was both of our
responsibilities.

- Is there anything we can do?
- I don't know.

If you think of
something, let me know.

[door closes]

He never even told us his wife
had been married before.

Douglas, I really don't think
we have anything to worry about.

No? Trust me, the legal
malpractice sharks

are going to be
salivating for this one.

You think this was malpractice?

I don't but you can be
damn sure Ray Davis

is going to find himself
someone who does.

When I left him
he was a little too devastated

to be
formulating a battle plan.

Believe me, that won't last.

In about five days this is
all going to be your fault

and he'll come after
us like the wrath of God.

Well, he oughta
go after somebody.

Hey, Mike, that somebody is us.

Well, maybe it should be us.

How else is he going to get any
compensation for this disaster?

Uh-oh, this attitude worries me.

I have a distinct
feeling that in

an attempt to offer compassion

you served up admissions
of negligence.

Doesn't compassion
enter into this at all for you?

So long as it doesn't
cost us money.

Oh, the old refrain.

The ultimate consideration.

The linchpin upon
which all issues turn.

Don't get all high-minded
on us, Michael.

- You're the one who screwed up.
- Careful, Douglas.

You better not acknowledge
that outside of this office.

It might cost us money.

[door closes]

I never saw a head
without a body before.

Chances are you
never will again.

I am not reneging.

I'm just wondering
whether there might be

a better way of addressing
our marital woes.

There isn't and can we not talk

about this right now, please.

Okay, just consider this
as an alternative.

We cancel the appointment, catch
the next flight

to St. Louis and I'll show you
the house where I was born.

How can you take
that which belongs

in the sanctum sanctorum
of our life together

and put it in full
view of others?

[elevator dings]

Whatever you do,
I'm begging you,

just don't tell her about the
videos I made of you in Vegas.

She'll pick me apart.

[instrumental music]

This poor bastard
trusts me to get him some

pitiful excuse for compensation,
some money and I blow it.

He gets screwed by the doctors,
he gets screwed by the lawyers,

and in the end we all
have a million reasons

why were not to blame.

Michael, he never mentioned
his wife's divorce.

Now, that's not
the kind of thing

you can be expected to discover.

Well, Spitzer discovered it.

Well, he played out
a lucky hunch.

That any good lawyer
would have had.

You know, I've
always told you when

I thought you were to blame.

This is not one of those times.

Your associate was supposed
to dig up stuff like this.

I was the one asking
Ray the questions.

I had two years to ask him
the right ones and I never did.

You can't blame
an associate for that.

Anyway, I, I like
this guy, you know?

I hate like hell to see
him wind up like this.

Come on, Mickey, let's go home.

[inaudible]

Detective Ringstrom.

Ms. Van Owen.

You know Michael Kuzak?

The Whitey Holland shooting.

Right.

Hi.

Oh, I'm sorry, uh, Ms. Van Owen

from the D.A.'s office

Mr. Kuzak, this
is my wife, Sally.

Well, enjoy your evening.

- Thank you.
- Thanks. You, too.

Nice meeting you.

So, here we are.

Here you are.

Here to explore
the marital terrain.

Yes.

I hope you have
four wheel drive.

I'm not sure I know
what you mean.

Just a little quip.

I have to say, in all honesty,

that I was a little reluctant
to come here.

Were you?

Not to impugn the process,

but

self-examination,

introspection,

delving into why
we do what we do

this has never been my forte.

What made you decide to come?

Simple recognition
that a mid course

correction may be indicated.

I'm not unaware that there
may be trouble in paradise.

Nor am I oblivious to the fact

that Roxanne is unhappy.

Jeanne: Are you
unhappy, Roxanne?

- Yes.
- Do you know why?

Correct me if I'm wrong here,
Roxanne, but I think

it is mostly a matter of
faulty communications.

An innocent comment
is misconstrued,

a supportive gesture
is misinterpreted

suddenly you have this
domestic Bermuda Triangle

where every attempt at forging
a bond gets lost.

Roxanne?

I have no idea what
that means, David.

Lack of communication.

This is our problem
in a nutshell.

Excuse me.

The problem in a nutshell

is that I don't love you.

I have never loved you.

And I am afraid that I will
never be able to love you.

That is our problem
in a nutshell.

[crying]

Well,

I think we have
a lot of work to do.

[theme music]