All language subtitles for L.A.Law.S06E07.Lose.the.Boss.1080p.DSNP.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-NTb_track4_[eng]

Spotlights women this week
and I'm here

to focus on the working woman.

How does the law protect her?

What are her problems,
her goals--

Dammit, Gwen! Why do you always
make things so hard for me?

We'll talk about that
and more when we come back.

Jack Dearden just called me
on the car phone

and he raised holy hell.

What are you doing here?

You are never up
to speed anymore.

I told you I taped

my segment this morning,

I've got the meeting
with Dearden.

Oh, they never received

the third quarter
stock valuations.

- I sent them.
- Oh, how? Pony Express?

Did it ever occur to you

that the screw-up
might be on their end?

Until recently,
there were no screw-ups.

And there aren't any now.

Really?

Last week you lost
the Delahunt file,

my expense reports are late

and there is a giant stack
of mail sitting over there

that you haven't even begun
to answer yet.

That is your personal fan mail,
Arnie.

I will get to it when I can.

Or the station can handle it.

I want a personal touch.

You do ten a day, starting now.

I have a class tonight.
I am leaving at 6:00.

You know, I have been really
understanding, Gwen.

Yes, I have been understanding.

You are going to law school

and I am trying
to be supportive.

But, in the end,
I am the one who suffers.

There are a lot of other bosses
in the world, Arnie.

Some are even human

Don't push me too far--

Don't you push me!

You don't go to class
until you do ten letters.

And if things around here
don't start to improve

a lot you're going to
have to choose.

Either law school or this job.

First, I'd like to say

that I'm especially sensitive
to the concerns

of the working woman.

About the need to be
treated with...

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Sorry, I had a 6 a.m.
photoshoot.

The Station has me on
a brutal P.R. schedule.

Awww.

Next up, Kendrick vs. McArthur.

You're taking the trial?

I thought you lobbed it
to Billy.

Don't worry, Dougie.
Billy did the prep,

it's still a joint client.

This is the man who was nearly
crushed to death

over the health food shake?

Gave the term 'food fight'
a whole new meaning.

Susan: It was a diet shake.
This case is about weight.

I'm an expert, so I figure
I can wipe out the opposition.

Good luck.
On a semi-personal note,

Grace Van Owen's agreed to
handle Veronica Berg's hearing

which is supposed
to start today?

Veronica Berg?

Her son is developmentally
disabled.

She's fighting
with the school board

for the money
to educate him privately.

Oh, and I'd like
to thank the partners

for agreeing to take this
at a reduced fee.

Don't be silly, Douglas.

Ann: Glad to do it.
- Who's Veronica Berg?

Okay. That's it.
We're adjourned.

Who is Veronica Berg?

Douglas' ex-sister-in-law.

Hmm.

We probably should have taken
your case in the first place.

You referred me
to a good lawyer.

We won at
the administrative hearing.

I don't think he counted
on the school board appealing.

[knock on door]

Grace Van Owen,
Veronica Berg.

- Hello.
- Hi.

- It's very nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.

I've just read
your hearing transcripts.

Well, you've still got
an uphill climb,

but I guess you know that.

I've been climbing this mountain
for two years.

This appeal is just
another step.

The thing is, is that
even though federal law says

the states have to pay
for educating disabled children

even if it means moving them
to a private school.

In practice,
it hardly ever happens.

But I think that
with a continuance--

Veronica: No continuance.

If we don't do this today

the judge says we have to wait
another 6 months

for a trial date.

Your attorney dropped you
three days ago, Mrs. Berg.

I just got this case
this morning.

I don't see how I could
possibly represent you.

Ms. Van Owen,

my son can no longer
put on his own cloths

or respond
to a simple question like,

"Do you want some ice cream?"

I will do whatever you need me
to do to get ready.

Summarize the hearing testimony

or research the judge's cases
on education,

or iron your blouse for court.

But because my son
has to stay in that school

until this thing is resolved,

the one thing I cannot do
is wait another six months.

You've had your refreshment
concession

on Hollywood Boulevard
for how long, Mr. Kendrick?

Twenty-five years.

I'm a Hollywood fixture,
ask anybody.

And Mr. McArthur has been
patronizing you for the past 2?

He'd come over every day
and he'd have a Health Shake,

sometimes a veggie burger.

We'd talk sports,
all very cordial.

Which is why
it was such a shock.

Susan: The assault.

Yeah. I mean one minute,
I'm ringing up a sale,

the next minute
he's bearing down on me.

Floor's shakin'
with every step.

I thought I was in the middle
of the buffalo stamped

from "Dances With Wolves."

Object to the buffalo
characterization, Your Honor.

- Sustained.
- What did Mr. McArthur do next?

Lyle: Started yellin' at me.

Cursing, called me a liar
and a fraud.

He blamed me
for his weight gain.

I mean, he was crazy,
he was out of control.

Demanded his money back,
demanded an apology,

and then I just walked away.

And he reached over
and he grabbed me,

and he pushed me down.

And then he... sat on me.

- Excuse me?
- He sat on me.

And he wouldn't get up.

And all of a sudden
I heard a crack.

I thought my spine snapped.

It was a ballpoint pen
in my pocket,

and they had to
surgically remove

the ink cartridge
from my thigh.

How long did Mr. McArthur
keep you forcibly restrained?

About five minutes.
Till the police showed up.

And what injuries did you
suffer as a result

of this unprovoked attack?

I had a herniated disc,

which I may need an operation.

I can only stand for an hour,

it's killing my business,
all because of him!

Thank you, Mr. Kendrick.
No more questions.

Mr. Kendrick,

your ads say you offer
"Fast Food That Isn't Fast Fat.

Low-Calorie,
Nutritious Snacks and Shakes."

Yeah, and I've never had
a dissatisfied customer

until Namu over there.

- Move to strike "Namu."
- So ordered.

So you claim your Health Shake
is "low calorie"?

Absolutely.
Water, soy paste, skim milk.

70 calories.

But what you don't advertise
is the caloric content

of the flavorings you put into
this alleged Health Shake.

Pineapple, guava
and papaya juices,

a hundred calories a piece.

Dried coconut,
105 calories.

Banana puree, 168 calories.

So instead of 70 calories,

your basic health shake

is actually 670 calories,
isn't that right?

Hey, he didn't have to order
the flavorings.

Oh, come on, sir, we both know
that the plain stuff

tastes like coolant fluid.

- Objection!
- Sustained.

No one would drink
your so called Health Shake

if it didn't have
the flavorings, would they?

Absolutely false.

A lot of my customers drink
the plain shake.

I drink it myself.

Oh, really?

Really.

Your Honor,
both parties stipulate

that these are Mr. Kendrick's
basic 70 calorie Health Shake.

I'd like the jury
to sample them.

Your Honor, I renew
my objection to this.

Each juror's palate
is different.

- This is highly subjective--

Overruled.

- Get on with it, Mr. Dumphy.
Joe: Thank you.

Let the record show
that none of the jurors

turned handsprings
after tasting the evidence.

So as we've just seen,
the basic drink is undrinkable.

So to get customers to buy it,

like Mr. McArthur,

you had to sell them
on additives

that caused them
to gain weight.

And Mr. McArthur
did gain weight.

Nobody held a gun to his head.

You had him drinking six
or seven shakes a day!

That doesn't give him
the right to attack me!

Didn't you call him
a fat-ass pig?

Yeah, after he called me a liar

and he assaulted me
with a deadly weapon!

I don't think the State
of California classifies

a derriere
as a deadly weapon.

Oh yeah, well, he sure
as hell is.

Joe: It was your shakes
that were deadly, sir,

and you just kept pumping them
into Corliss McArthur.

You kept ringing up those sales
so you could make more money!

- Objection!
- Withdrawn. I'm done here.

- Hi.
- Hi.

Arnie told me what happened.

I didn't say
that I believed him.

Or that I'm taking sides.

I can read between
the lines, Gwen.

Roxanne, I feel uncomfortable
talking to you about this.

Don't.

I haven't forgotten
what he's like to work for.

He can be a complete swine.

Well, it's not just that
you're involved with him,

it's, you know, other things.

Listen, Gwen, what happened
between you and Arnie

is ancient history.

I'm just here to help.

[sighs] I never should have
taken this job.

He made it perfectly clear
what he wanted.

Complete subordination.

That word isn't even
in my vocabulary.

I'll talk to Arnie.

We'll redefine your job.

McKenzie Brackman work only.

He'll go through the roof.

Look, Gwen,
they don't want to lose you.

I mean, you're the only person
besides me

who's ever been able to stand
Arnie for more than a day.

He knows that.
He won't fire you.

No, he'll just work me
to death.

Listen. I had a talk
with Leland and Douglas.

You know, you're due
for a pay raise in March.

Well, we decided it was in
the best interest of the firm

to offer that to you now.

Even if I might bolt and run?

Yes.

Working for Arnie
isn't that great,

but this is a prestigious firm
and they want you.

I mean, as a secretary now,

but why not as a lawyer
when you finish school?

Just don't cut off
your options.

I hadn't thought of that.

Yeah. I'll talk to Arnie.

I think we can work
something out.

When Ricky was two,
he was diagnosed

as having mild cerebral palsy,
mild autism

and a severe auditory
learning disorder.

And what did the doctors say
this would mean in terms

of Ricky's ability to cope
in the world?

They said he'd never be able
to do something

as simple as button his shirt,
or ride a tricycle.

But you didn't believe 'em,
did you?

No, I sold my house
and used the money

to put Ricky
in a residential preschool

at the Logan Institute.

And what happened
at the Logan Institute?

At the end of three years,

Ricky could answer questions
in sentences.

He could recognize
written words

and identify
shapes and colors.

And he not only rode
a tricycle,

he steered it around
seven traffic cones.

Why didn't you leave him
at Logan?

I ran out of money.

And Woodrow Wilson,

my local public
elementary school,

assured me that they had

an appropriate program
for Ricky.

Grace: And did they?
Veronica: No.

My son was never violent.

After two weeks
at Woodrow Wilson,

he started having
outbursts of anger.

He hardly talks anymore.

He's lost ten pounds.

And he won't even go
near a tricycle.

Now, Mrs. Berg, would you
please tell the court

how Ricky spends his time
at Woodrow Wilson.

For fifteen minutes each day

he's with the other children
in the special education class.

The rest of the time
he's in a coat closet

in the back of the room
with an aide.

Grace: What is it
that you want, Mrs. Berg,

from the school district?

Veronica: The law states

that if a child can't receive
an appropriate education

at a public school,

then the state has
a responsibility to pay for one

at a private school.

I just want them
to obey the law.

Thank you, Mrs. Berg.

Mrs. Berg,

didn't you agree
that Ricky should be separated

from the rest of the class

because he couldn't handle
the stimulation

of being around other children?

The school kept calling me
at work.

Two and three times a week,

to come and get Ricky
because he was out of control.

Is that a yes or a no,
Mrs. Berg?

Veronica: Yes, I agreed.

I didn't know what else to do.

How much was Ricky's annual
tuition at Logan, Mrs. Berg?

Eighty-thousand dollars.

- And you couldn't afford that?
- No.

But an overcrowded,

underbudgeted
school district can?

What about the alternatives

the school district
offered you, Mrs. Berg,

such as the autistic classroom?

Ricky is only mildly autistic.

He needs an individualized
program

to address
all his disabilities.

A program
that includes hypnotism?

- Acupuncture? Faith healing?
- Objection, irrelevant--

Haven't you tried
all of these things

with your son, Mrs. Berg?

That's not what this is about!

That is exactly
what this is about.

You are not looking

for an appropriate education,
Mrs. Berg.

- You're looking for a miracle.
- Objection!

My son doesn't need a miracle,
Mr. Laporte.

All he needs is
the help he was promised.

My weight's gone up and down
all my life.

It took me three years
to get it down to one ninety

and I was determined
to keep it off.

And you thought drinking
Mr. Kendrick's "Health Shakes"

would help keep it off?

That's right. I mean, even after
I started gaining weight

I told him my troubles.

I mean, I thought the guy
was my friend,

and here he is pushing me
to drink more

and all the while he knows

how many calories
are in these things.

And how did you discover
the truth?

I gave one to a nutritionist,

he told me it had
over 600 calories.

Joe: And you confronted
Mr. Kendrick?

Corliss: I am not
a violent man, Mr. Dumphy.

But he provoked me

I just... snapped.

I mean, it wasn't like
he just ruined my diet,

he ruined my life.

After I started binging again,
I got so fat that...

my wife found me...

sexually undesirable.

My marriage collapsed.
All because of him.

His lies and his fraud.

I want him to pay for it.

Thank you, Mr. McArthur.
That's all.

Let me get this straight.

You watched my client
add juices,

fruit, purees and coconut
to your shake,

and you didn't think it might
add a few calories?

His sign says "fewer than
70 calories". That's fraud.

If you see a sale
advertising clothes

"as low as twenty dollars"
do you assume

that every item
is twenty dollars?

Now, isn't it possible that
you started putting on weight

because your wife left you?

That is not true.

Susan: And you still insist

that my client is responsible
for your weight gain?

He is and he damn
well knows it.

Your Honor, I would like
to introduce these photographs

into evidence.

Is this you, sir,
last Thursday night,

eating a large pizza

with everything
at Pepe's Pasteria?

- Objection!
Susan: Introducing to impeach,

- Your Honor.
- Overruled.

Is this you, sir?

I-- I-- I was under
a lot of stress,

you know,
this trial was starting--

- I didn't know where this--
- And here,

three months ago

were you under a lot of stress

when you ordered two buckets
of fried chicken,

half a dozen biscuits

and a tub of coleslaw
the size of Puget Sound?

Corliss: It's called binging,
Ms. Bloom!

It's a vicious cycle.

You get fat, you get depressed,

you eat to feel better
but you feel worse,

so you eat some more.

I know what it's like,
Mr. McArthur.

But no matter
how it gets started,

don't we all have
it in our power to stop?

Isn't it your own lack
of discipline

and willpower to lose weight---

I was like an alcoholic

and he's shoving drinks
into my hand!

Oh, come off it, Mr. McArthur.

You can't face
your weight problem

so you need something
or someone to blame it on.

And this time,
it's Lyle Kendrick, isn't it?

I've been
Director of Admissions

for Logan for 12 years.

Ricky's combination
of disabilities was unusual,

but his progress

was one of the most remarkable
I've seen.

And now, 18 months
after he's left Logan,

what is Ricky's condition?

It's almost as if
he never went there.

So to make lasting progress,

Ricky would have to stay
at Logan indefinitely?

No.

Our goal is to give these
children a solid foundation,

and then return them
to the public school system

as soon as possible,

provided, there's
an appropriate program

for the child to go back to.

What does a child get
for $80,000 a year?

No class has more than
eight students.

Along with the teacher
and at least one aide,

there's a speech pathologist.

Children who need it
receive occupational

and physical therapy on campus.

So, in your opinion,
Mrs. Raulerson,

what would become of Ricky

if he doesn't get this kind of
one-on-one education?

Ricky could end up living out

his adult life
in an institution.

And what would that cost
the state of California?

Up to two-hundred thousand
dollars a year.

Thank you.
No further questions.

Ms. Raulerson,

you said that if Ricky
leaves your program,

he may have to be
institutionalized as an adult.

Now, do you guarantee that
if he stays

in your program,
that won't happen?

Of course not,
but his chances of--

Isn't it true that
the earlier a disabled child

gets mainstreamed into
the public school system,

the better chance
he has at success?

Yes, assuming that the--

And yet of the 50 students

currently enrolled
at Logan Institute,

ten have been there
more than three years,

and four students

have been there more
than seven years, haven't they?

We're talking
about individuals.

We're a school,
not a sausage factory.

But the longer these children
stay in your school,

the more State funds
you get--

Objection! Irrelevant.

The witness
has a financial interest

in the outcome of this case,
Your Honor.

- I'll allow it.
Brian: Ms. Raulerson,

how many of your student.

attending Logan Institute
are on State funds?

Forty-seven.

Brian: Forty-seven
out of fifty.

The Education for
All Handicapped Children Act

has been quite
a gold mine for you.

- Objection!
Brian: Withdrawn.

No further questions.

Why didn't you tell me this
last night?

It would have ruined
a lovely evening.

I complain about
Gwen's competence.

Her attitude. Her hours.
And you give her a raise?

Stuart never had anything
but praise for Gwen.

Stuart Markowitz has a small,

quiet, back office practice,

his needs are completely
different from mine.

For me,
Gwen is a nightmare.

I never had these problems
with you.

Like hell.

Eleven years,
I had to fight tooth and nail

for every raise I got.

Did you ever think
about promoting me?

No! It took Douglas Brackman
to do that.

And, let's not forget,
you fired me.

When did this turn into a
conversation about you and me?

What is it you really want,
Arnie?

For Gwen to quit law school

so she can spend more
time sending out

your eight by ten glossies?

I am a partner in this firm.

Gwen is our employee.

As long as this firm benefits
from my exposure,

she will answer my fan mail.
Period.

This is your ego talking,
Arnie.

You're a legal segment
on a local news show,

not Tom Brokaw!

And you identify too closely
with the secretarial staff.

You're an office manager,
Roxanne,

you oughta be a little
more objective.

If I were more objective,

I probably
wouldn't be with you.

Overeating is a disease
much like alcoholism.

If Mr. McArthur were fighting
to stay sober,

and Mr. Kendrick had spiked
his drinks with liquor,

I doubt anyone would blame

Mr. McArthur
for losing control.

And, doctor,
what frame of mind

would a person have to be in,
to do what Mr. McArthur did?

An obese person's weight is tied
to their self-image,

self-confidence,
sexual assurance.

When someone promises to help
you get slimmer and healthier,

but instead they make you
heavier

that's traumatic enough.

But when it's compounded
by that same person

calling you a,
a fat pig or Namu,

you're looking at
psychological damage.

Joe: And you trace
all this back to what?

To Mr. Kendrick's
misrepresentations.

If not for him,
Corliss McArthur

might still be on a diet,

and a happily married man.

Objection, move to strike!
Speculative.

- Sustained.
- Thank you, doctor.

Nothing further.

If not for my client,
Mr. McArthur

might still be on his diet.
Or he might not.

Right, doctor?
Yes, but I--

And if my client had never been
born,

Mr. McArthur might have
been so overwhelmed

by the sight of a King Burrito,

he could have fallen off
the wagon

by himself, isn't that correct?

Philip: Maybe,
but Mr. Kendrick's actions

virtually assured it.

The obese
are especially vulnerable

to this kind of exploitation.

Really? All of us?

This is based on demographic
studies, profiles--

Profiles or stereotypes?

Are you saying, doctor,
that all fat people

are so psychologically unstable

that they are moved
to physical assault

more easily that thin people?

No, I am not. I was talking
about Mr. McArthur.

- Oh, so he's unstable?
- He was provoked!

Psychologically damaged,
emotionally devastated.

He sure sounds unstable to me.

- Objection!
- Sustained.

I have nothing further.

[instrumental music]

I'm leaving, I'll be out of
your way in a minute.

Relax. All I need is one book.

I'll get out of your way.

How's it going?

Great. This... just great.

Don't fall behind
in the reading,

you'll never catch up.

And you've got to join
a study group

or you'll never survive.

I guess by now you've been
called on?

No, no, I haven't been
called on to recite,

I haven't found a study group,

and I am way behind
in my reading.

I'm getting four hours
of sleep a night,

I'm carrying a full
course load

I'm not even sure
I can pay for,

and it's a very real question
as to whether

I've even got
what it takes to be a lawyer.

Satisfied?

Ah. Palsgraf versus
Long Island Railroad.

That brings back memories.

Two porters
stop a man from falling

as he tries to catch a train...

what was it he dropped again?

[sighs] A package.

Which turned out
to contain fireworks.

Right. The fireworks explode
on impact with the tracks,

causing a set of scales
to topple and fall

on dear old Mrs. Palsgraf
who happened to be passing.

I agree with the trial court,
not the appellate.

She should've recovered
from the railroad company.

How can you say that?

Cardozo's absolutely right

when he limits duty
to foreseeability.

Those porters had no way

of knowing what was
in that package

and they're not
the proximate cause

of Mrs. Palsgraph's injuries.

Proximate cause
is a convenience

used by the law
to refuse arbitrarily

to follow a chain of events
back beyond a particular point.

Oh, so if I leave a pair
of scissors on this table

and someone uses them
to murder someone,

I'm liable even though

I couldn't foresee
the intended use?

- I think that's off the point.
- It's on point.

The law requires
reasonable behavior,

not being able to predict
the weird chain of events

that you're talking about.

I'd say you have what it takes.

[instrumental music]

Okay, here's our offer.

You pay 1500 compensation
for the shakes, 3500 damages.

You're nuts.
What about my damages?

I agree.
You're in a hole, Joe.

I'd rather take our
chances with a jury.

Alright. 3000 total.

No, stop bargaining!

I never wanted to settle,
I let you talk me into this.

But I won't stand here and beg.

You should reconsider.

Joe'll tell you,
I carved up your expert.

I don't need an expert.
I'm in the right here.

Guess again.

What the jury sees is a guy

who's got a lot
of emotional problems,

who wants the world to pay--

And what about what you're
carrying around, Ms. Bloom?

What about your weight?

That's not the issue here,
Mr. McArthur.

The hell it's not
You're in denial.

You can't even admit
you've got a problem.

And instead of dealing with it,

instead of losing your weight,
you beat me up.

- That's garbage.
Corliss: Is it?

You know how I feel...

but you make jokes about me.

Well, whether you like it
or not, Ms. Bloom,

you're one of us!

You're just sleeping
with the enemy.

Dr. Leeson...

as the district's special
education administrator,

do you believe
you are providing Ricky Berg

with the legally-mandated
appropriate education?

Yes, Ricky has regular
sessions with speech

and physical therapists.

We've also started
a home tutoring program.

We've seen improvement
in his concentration

and his ability
to respond to direct questions.

The home-tutoring seems to be
helping his... interaction.

Do you care what happens
to Ricky Berg, Dr. Leeson?

Of course, I do. We all do.

I just wish
Mrs. Berg believed that.

I have no further questions.

Dr. Leeson,

if you're giving Ricky Berg
an appropriate education

why are so many of his skills
measurably lower today

than they were when he came
to Woodrow Wilson

a year and a half ago?

Part of the challenge of working
with kids like Ricky

is that no one knows what is
going to get through to them

from one day to the next.

Doctor, if Ricky Berg
were your son

would it be okay if he spent

most of his school day
in a closet?

- Objection!
- I'll allow it.

It's not a closet.

There are no hangers, no coats,
no coat racks.

Was it a closet
before you needed

a place to stick Ricky Berg?

- Objection!
- Was Ricky Berg's

private classroom
ever a closet?

Yes, but he's not there alone.

When Ricky's calm enough,

he and an aide work toward
specific goals using puzzles

and clay and picture books.

But he's not
with a qualified teacher.

He's not with other children,
is he?

No.

So, if you were
Ricky Berg's parent,

would you be satisfied

if he spent most of his
school day inside

a former closet
with a baby-sitter?

Knowing what I know about Ricky
and about Woodrow Wilson

yes, I would be satisfied.

No further questions.

If that's your last witness,
Mr. LaPorte,

Walter: I'll hear
closing arguments.

Your Honor, I request a delay
to produce a rebuttal witness.

Your Honor, either she has
the witness or she doesn't.

He's reluctant to testify
but I think he will.

You have 24 hours,
Ms. Van Owen.

Thank you.

Lyle Kendrick wasn't just
selling health food,

he was selling hope.

People like him prey on more
than their victims' wallets,

they prey on their dreams.

If Mr. Kendrick
ripped off old people,

by promising them relief
from pain or aging,

if he swindled
the handicapped or minorities

there'd be no question
as to his liability.

But fat people?
They're a joke.

How can you hurt them?

Well, you can...

and he did.

Corliss McArthur
has a serious illness.

Lyle Kendrick pretended
to be his friend,

he held out health and hope

and the promise
of a better life.

He betrayed
Mr. McArthur's trust.

That betrayal
should have a price

Lyle Kendrick
is not responsible

for Corliss McArthur's
problems.

He is not a therapist,

nor a nutritionist.

He's a businessman trying
to sell his product.

And Mr. McArthur chose
to buy that product

of his own free will.

How dare they?

How dare they suggest

that an entire class of people

are more gullible,
more suggestible,

and less able to look out
for their own best interests

simply because they are fat?

[chuckles]

They want you to believe

that all fat people are alike.

Why?

Because then they don't have
to deal with us as individuals.

They can claim that we're
all driven by the same demons,

that we are all so fragile
in our self-image...

so unstable,

that physical assault,

like the attack on my client,
is somehow justified.

There are good fat people
and bad fat people.

There are sloppy fat people
and neat fat people.

There are well-balanced
fat people

and there are
unstable fat people.

Corliss McArthur
is an unstable man

who battered my client.

It has nothing to do
with his being fat,

and if you decide that it does,

then you diminish us all.

Tell everybody
that we are people,

not profiles

and that each one of us
is different.

[instrumental music]

- Hi. Come on in.
- Hi.

Dan: Good Boy!

man: Ricky is the winner
this time.

Ricky's the winner. You won!

Hey! Alright.

You are a winner.

Ricky, this is Ms. Van Owen.

Hi, Ricky.

Look, there's an elephant here.

Do you see it?

That's neat.

Uh, Grace,
this is Dan Bardwell,

Ricky's favorite teacher.

This is Grace Van Owen,
my new attorney.

- Hi.
- Hi.

Uh, you sure you don't want me
to stick around,

help get Ricky to bed?

Oh no, it's okay,
I can take care of it.

But, um, Grace, would

Grace would like
to talk to you.

Ronnie, we've been over this.

Dan, I know. And I wasn't
going to ask you again, but...

[mumbling]

Oh, sweetie, come on.

Come on, let's go
brush your teeth, okay?

You like that, huh?

Come on, sweets.
That's a good boy.

Good boy.

Say good night, okay?

Bye.

Veronica tells me you think

that Ricky should move back
to Logan.

I need you to tell that
to a judge.

Did she also tell you

that if I testify against
the school district,

I'll lose my job?

They can't fire you
if you testify,

they can't do that.

So they'll come up
with some other reason.

Then we'll take them to court.

I'll represent you, no fee.

Will you feed my kids
when I'm on unemployment?

And the students
I leave behind, will you

finish teaching them
for the rest of the year?

I could subpoena you.

I won't be cooperative.

I won't lie
but I won't say anything

that'll help you either.

I don't need your help.

Ricky needs your help.

Do you think I'd come here
three nights a week

if I didn't want to help Ricky?

I want to.

I want what's best for him.

Then tell that to the court.

I care for them all,
Ms. Van Owen.

For Ricky, yes,
but also for John,

and Kara, and Billy,
and Rachel, and a dozen more.

And some of them are far more
disabled than Ricky.

I owe them something, too.

I'm sorry.

Your Honor,
counsel is supposed

to produce a witness,
not a media show.

I will produce a witness,

but this tape is relevant
to his testimony.

Objection overruled.

But let's get on with it,
Ms. Van Owen.

Your Honor, about two months

after this home movie
was made,

the little boy, Ely King,

was diagnosed
with cerebral palsy, autism,

and an auditory
learning disability

very much like Ricky Berg.

Now that was 11 years ago.

Your Honor, I would like you
to meet Ely King.

Where did you go
to, school, Ely?

I graduated from
Grover Cleveland High School.

And what about
when you were a little boy?

I went to the Logan Institute.

Grace: And today, do you have
a job at the Public Library?

Yes!

I put away books
and c-- c-- c-- c-- c...

You need some help, Ely?

Uh, yes, I do.

Catalogue.

Yes. I c-- c-- catalogue new,
new, new books.

Grace: Do you get paid
for your work?

Yes, and I just
got a raise, too.

Grace: Congratulations.

Thank you.

Do you support yourself?

My, my parents help.

But I do most of it.

Thank you, Ely.
No more questions.

Hi, Ely.

Who brought you here today?

Uh, Grace and Miss Raulerson.

How long were you at Logan?

Till 9th grade.

Eight years.

And then you went to
a public high school.

Yes.

Did you learn as much at the
public high school

as you did at Logan?

Yes! I did!

Brian: Thank you, Ely.

Walter: Has the jury reached
a decision?

We have, Your Honor.

On the claim of assault
and battery,

we find for Mr. Kendrick, and
order damages

in the amount of 5000 dollars.

And on the cross-claim
of fraud and false advertising

we find for Mr. McArthur,

and order damages in
the amount of 5,000 dollars.

Well, I'll be damned.

Well, it would seem the scales
of justice have balanced out.

Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury, thank you.

- We are adjourned.
- Sorry.

I know you called me unstable,

but I'd still like to
thank you for what you said.

Your Honor, have you ever had
one of those dreams

where someone
is talking to you,

but you don't understand them,

no matter how hard
you concentrate,

you cannot figure out
what the words mean?

Now imagine experiencing
the whole world like that.

Everything you see,
or touch, or smell

makes no sense to you,

it's all chaotic
and, and frightening.

Now, imagine that you only have

partial control
of your own body,

and the world is this
constant, clamoring jumble

that you're supposed
to navigate, somehow.

Well, that's what Ricky Berg
experiences every day.

But somehow
the Logan Institute

made contact with Ricky

and they helped him
to communicate.

They helped him
to recognize shapes and colors.

They helped him
to take a tricycle

and make it do
what he wanted it to do.

And what did Woodrow
Wilson Elementary school do?

They put him in a closet.

And because they cannot
provide Ricky

with an appropriate education,

they want you to believe
that no one can.

They want you to think

that this is unnecessary
spending, when the truth is,

the more we, the taxpayers,
spend on Ricky now,

the more we save
in the long run.

Ricky Berg can be
as independent as Ely King,

but until the public schools

can fulfill their obligations

to a child like Ricky,

sending him back to Logan

is not just the right thing
to do,

not just the legally correct
thing to do,

it is the responsible thing
to do.

Thank you.

Your Honor, in an ideal world,

every child would have
his own teacher,

his own computer,

the best textbooks,

and for a disabled child,

a whole battery of therapists.

In the real world,
the State of California

gets about 4,500 dollars
per child per year.

Now, if they're
going to have to pay

private tuitions out of that,

they're going to have
to cut a lot of services.

And I'm not talking about
intramural sports

and art supplies.

They lost those two
or three budgets ago.

I'm talking about
science equipment

and desks and books

and teachers.

The law says that the state

must provide
every disabled child

with an appropriate education,

not the best
that money can buy.

The school district can give
Ricky Berg an appropriate,

beneficial education
in a main-stream environment.

Let them do it.

Let Ricky Berg get on
with the business of learning.

On my desk.
Tomorrow. A.M.

Arnie, these depositions have
to be filed by 5:00 today.

So? I'm not tracking here.
Is there a problem?

- Yes. Another late night.
- Excuse me, Gwen.

I have to be on the air
in 40 minutes.

The last thing I have time
for are your problems.

There is no question that
public school funding

in this state is disgraceful,

and that cost is an appropriate

and necessary consideration
in these situations.

But, the bottom-line
is a beneficial education.

While it may be cost-effective

to put this child
in a closet with an aide,

I find it neither
educationally beneficial,

nor the least
restrictive environment.

I am upholding the finding

of the Administrative
Hearing Officer,

and order that Ricky Berg

be re-enrolled
at the Logan Institute

until a truly appropriate
public school program

can be found or
designed for him.

This hearing is adjourned.

- Thank you.
- No, my pleasure.

Nicely done.

Grace, Mrs. Berg,

the School Board will file
an appeal, of course.

Wish I could afford you
for the next round.

Well, you can.

Sure.

Thank you.

man: Fifteen seconds to floor.

- Here you go.
- Thank you.

- How do I look?
- Fabulous.

You've come
a long way in five weeks.

- You think so?
- Definitely.

You have mastered
the art of video foreplay.

And three... two... one...

We're back, with legal eagle,
Arnold Becker.

Arnie, what do you say
we go back to the phones?

We have time for one more call.

Agnes from City of Industry
is on the line.

She's got a problem at work.

Hi. This is Arnie Becker.
How can I help you?

Agnes: Mr. Becker, I have
a problem at work.

I feel like a slave.

I'm sorry to say
that's not unusual.

Agnes: My boss keeps giving me
more and more work to do.

Sometimes he threatens
to fire me unless I stay late.

That's really unfair.

Agnes: Well, I think so, too.

Isn't there anything I can do?

What do you think, Arnie?

It doesn't sound like she has
enough for harassment.

Now, if he had
propositioned her--

Agnes: Oh, oh, he's done that
several times.

Well, once he even seduced me.

Right in his office.

- You're kidding!
- Arnie, I certainly hope

she can sue this slime.

Absolutely. In fact,
you've got yourself

one hell of a lawsuit.

Agnes, at the very least,
I'd say

you're looking
at the high six figures.

Agnes: Wow!

That is, assuming that
he's got the money.

What does the creep do
for a living?

Agnes: Well, that's just it.
You'd think he'd know better...

Well, he's a lawyer.

- A lawyer?
- Right.

Someone who should be
able to sympathize

with someone
going to law school.

Arnie: Law school?

That's what I said, Arnie.

I think maybe you should try
talking to him again.

Forget talk.
Sue the miserable pig.

Can I include pain
and suffering?

Agnes. Let's not be too hasty.

People can change.

Now you sound like
an exceptionally

fair-minded person.

Why not avoid litigation?

Give him one last chance.
Negotiate.

Maybe you'll get everything
that you want.

Why, do you really think so?

I've got a very good feeling
about this.

Give it a shot.

And if that doesn't work,
then sue him.

Well, thank you
for the advice... Arnie.

Julie: And thank you all
for watching.

That's the news for now.

[theme music]