Original subtitles

IT'S A REASONABLE SETTLEMENT OFFER--

$1.5 MILLION PLUS $500,000 SEVERANCE. PLUS YOU SIGN A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT.

THAT MIGHT PUT A LITTLE CRIMP IN MY PLANS. TO PEN A TELL-ALL BOOK?

WITH AT LEAST FIVE CHAPTERS ABOUT HOW MY ZYRE MOTORS EXPOSé

COST ME MY ANCHOR DESK.

WELL, THAT'S THE THING.

MY COMPANY DIDN'T FIRE HIM.

I KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE THE E-MAIL HE WROTE RESIGNING.

HE QUIT. SO WHY DID I JUST OFFER HIM $2 MILLION?

BECAUSE IT'S STILL LESS THAN WHAT A TRIAL

WILL END UP COSTING YOU.

SAM RUSSELL WON'T SETTLE. ELI WON'T LET HIM. HOW DO YOU KNOW?

I KNOW ELI.

PERSONALLY, I THINK YOU SHOULD REJECT THIS OFFER

AND GO TO TRIAL, IF FOR NO OTHER REASON

THAN I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ALL THIS STUFF DOWN. HOPEFULLY AMONG ALL THAT STUFF

THERE'S A WAY TO GET AROUND THAT E-MAIL I SENT. I'M NOT INTERESTED IN GETTING AROUND IT.

YOU DIDN'T RESIGN, SAM.

YOU SIMPLY FORMALIZED THEIR DE FACTO FIRING OF YOU. IT'S CALLED CONSTRUCTIVE TERMINATION.

BASICALLY, THEY'RE ARGUING THAT DEMOTING SAM

WAS TANTAMOUNT TO FIRING HIM. EXCEPT I DIDN'T DEMOTE HIM.

MY NEWS DIRECTOR MOVED HIM TO ANOTHER TIME SLOT.

WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED YOU TO SAY ON THE STAND. I DON'T HAVE TIME TO TAKE THE STAND.

I HAVE A COMPANY TO RUN. FIND THE TIME, MR. BUCKLEY.

LOOK, NO JURY WILL FIND BAY WEST MEDIA SYMPATHETIC

IF IT'S OWN C.E.O. CAN'T BE... BOTHERED

TO TELL ITS STORY. YOU HAVE A COMPELLING STORY.

YOU TRIED TO TELL THE TRUTH TO CORPORATE POWER,

AND YOU ENDED UP 00 A.M.

WENT FROM COVERING MAYORAL RACES

TO REPORTING ABOUT FENDER BENDERS ON THE 101.

YOU'RE ANGRY, SAM, AND YOU HAVE EVERY REASON TO BE.

BUT IF THE JURY SEES THAT ANGER... WE'RE DEAD.

DON'T WORRY. I WON'T COME OFF ANGRY,

BECAUSE I'M NOT. I'M CONCERNED.

THEY BANISHED ME BECAUSE OF A STORY THEY THOUGHT

WAS CRITICAL TO THEIR ADVERTISERS.

YOU THINK I'M THE ONLY ANCHOR IN THE COUNTRY WITH THAT PROBLEM?

I'M NOT DOING THIS BECAUSE I NEED THE MONEY.

I'M DOING IT BECAUSE MY ENTIRE CAREER HAS BEEN ABOUT

BRINGING THE TRUTH TO LIGHT.

THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY MY ANCHOR DESK? FINE.

I'LL DO IT FROM THE WITNESS BOX. ALL RIGHT, BIG DAY TOMORROW.

GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP. IS THAT WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING?

NO, I'LL BE WRITING VOIR DIRE QUESTIONS

AND AN OPENING STATEMENT

WHILE... DRINKING A LOT OF... COFFEE.

ELI? WILL YOU EXCUSE ME FOR A MOMENT?

I THINK I'M ABOUT TO CAMEO IN MY OWN SWORDS AND SANDALS MOVIE.

I HEARD YOU HAD YOUR ECCENTRICITIES,

BUT THIS ISN'T EXACTLY MAKING ME SWELL WITH CONFIDENCE.

DON'T WORRY. I WON'T BILL YOU FOR THE TIME.

THAT REPUTATION YOU GOT FOR ECCENTRICITY

MIGHT BE A LITTLE UNDERSTATED.

YEAH.

DON'T TELL ME. YOU WANT ME TO START LOOKING

INTO CIRCUS-RELATED WORKMAN COMPS CLAIMS.

NO, JUST FIND OUT WHAT GLADIATORS OR ANCIENT ROME

OR LATIN, MAYBE, HAVE TO DO WITH THE RUSSELL CASE.

OH, SURE, THAT'LL BE A CINCH. E PLURIBUS, YOU NUMBSKULL.

DO YOU WANT ME TO CALL DR. CHEN FOR YOU? NO.

WHY NOT? YOU HAVE THE VISION, HE INTERPRETS.

ISN'T THAT HOW IT WORKS? WHEN WE'RE SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER, WHICH WE'RE NOT.

J-JUST TELL ME WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU--ANCIENT ROME,

TWO GLADIATORS AND MORE GORE THAN "AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH." HERE'S AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH-- I DON'T DO VISION VOODOO.

CHEN IS THE ONE YOU TAKE THAT STUFF TO.

IT'S BAD ENOUGH YOU MAKE ME DO ALL THIS PAPERWORK. FINE.

ANY LUCK GETTING THOSE DOCUMENTS

MAGGIE HIGHTAILED OUT OF SONOMA WITH? AND A GOOD MORNING TO YOU, TOO.

IT WOULD BE A GOOD MORNING IF WE HAD BAY WEST'S

INTERNAL MEMOS ABOUT OUR CLIENT.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE GOING TO TRIAL TODAY.

NO, WAIT, WE ARE. I HAVE A MOTION TO COMPEL LOCKED AND LOADED.

IT SHOULD BE A SLAM DUNK. THEN WHY ISN'T MAGGIE PLAYING BY THE RULES HERE?

I HAVE NO IDEA. MAGGIE IS USUALLY VERY BIG WITH THE RULES. SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO HER?

OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, DO YOU FORESEE GLADIATORS

HAVING ANY SIGNIFICANCE TO OUR CASE? DON'T YOU HAVE AN ACUPUNCTURIST ON RETAINER

FOR THIS SORT OF THING? I'M NOT SPEAKING TO HIM.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR BROTHER? HIM NEITHER.

WELL, YOU SHOULD. YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK

TO YOUR ACUPUNCTURIST, FINE,

BUT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS TALK TO FAMILY. MORNING, ELI, TAYLOR.

GOOD MORNING. I JUST, UM... I JUST NEED A MUFFIN.

UH, THERE ARE NO MUFFINS, SIR.

AH. WELL THEN, I'LL JUST, UH...

IT'S FINE. I WAS JUST LEAVING ANYWAY.

EVERYTHING OKAY?

JUST A LITTLE FAMILY SPAT. WE'LL BE FINE.

OKAY.

WELL, I'M HERE, SHOULD YOU FEEL THE NEED TO...

MUCH AS I APPRECIATE YOUR OFFER TO BE MY PERSONAL DR. PHIL,

ELI, RIGHT NOW WHAT YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT

IS YOUR CASE. YES, OF COURSE.

WHAT HAPPENED TO "YOU HAVE TO TALK TO FAMILY," HMM? I MEANT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

MY CIRCUMSTANCES ARE DIFFERENT. DIFFERENT, HOW?

HEY, SWEETIE. READY FOR TRIAL? READY FOR DOCUMENTS.

THEFT OF EVIDENCE IS A FELONY. AND REFUSAL TO PRODUCE IT TO OPPOSING COUNSEL

IS AN ETHICS VIOLATION. RIGHT, 'CAUSE YOU REALLY WANT TO LECTURE ME ON ETHICS HERE.

WHAT DID STONE DO TO PISS HER OFF? NO IDEA, BUT SHE'S THE ONE WHO ABSCONDED WITH OUR DOCUMENTS.

WELL, TECHNICALLY, THEY'RE MY DOCUMENTS.

ACTUALLY, NOT EVEN TECHNICALLY. THEY BELONG TO MY CLIENT.

WHICH YOUR CLIENT IS REQUIRED TO LET ME SEE.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S NO SECRET THAT YOU'RE SLEEPING

WITH THE ENEMY, HUH?

NO, THE SECRET IS I MADE A BABY WITH HER. MM. YOU THINK?

OH, RIGHT. WHICH REMINDS ME TO REMIND YOU THAT WE'VE GOT A 3-D ULTRASOUND

30 SHARP. YOU KNOW, IN 3-D, I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO TELL THE GENDER.

WE AGREED TO WAIT. AND BESIDES, WHATEVER IT HAS,

IT'S GONNA BE ABOUT A MILLIMETER BIG.

NOT IF IT TAKES AFTER ITS DADDY.

LEAVING SONOMA WITHOUT SAYING GOOD-BYE WAS ONE THING.

NOT RETURNING MY CALLS, THAT'S ANOTHER, AND I GET ALL THAT.

I'M SO VERY GLAD. THINGS ARE AWKWARD BETWEEN US.

IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE OF...

IS THAT AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE FOR SLEEPING TOGETHER?

MY POINT IS, FREEZING ME OUT, THAT'S ONE THING.

BUT WITHHOLDING EVIDENCE? THAT'S TOTALLY SOMETHING ELSE.

THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED HERE. RIGHT, MY CLIENTS, AND THEY HAVE AN ATTORNEY

WILLING TO FIGHT TO PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS.

LOOK, BOTTOM LINE--I'LL SHOW YOU THOSE FILES OVER MY DEAD BODY

OR WHEN A JUDGE ORDERS ME TO, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. THEN LET'S GO SEE THE JUDGE,

AND WE'LL TABLE THE DEAD THING FOR LATER. LET'S.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THE DOCUMENTS WE'VE REQUESTED

ARE TOTALLY RELEVANT, BUT MISS DEKKER HAS REFUSED

TO COMPLY WITH THREE DOCUMENT REQUESTS AND A MOTION TO COMPEL. THAT'S TRUE, YOUR HONOR.

THEN WHY HAVEN'T YOU PRODUCED THE DOCUMENTS AS REQUESTED,

MS. DEKKER? OH, I'M SORRY. I MEANT IT'S TRUE I HAVEN'T COMPLIED

WITH MR. STONE'S DISCOVERY REQUESTS,

BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING IN THEM THAT REQUIRES ME

TO GIVE HIM THE DOCUMENTS. YES, THERE IS. IT'S CALLED THE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE.

IF WE ACTUALLY HAD PRODUCED THE DOCUMENTS, YOU'D HAVE SEEN

THAT JENNIFER CONTINO, WEST MEDIA'S IN-HOUSE COUNSEL,

WAS COPIED ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. WHICH MEANS THEY'RE PRIVILEGED,

WHICH MEANS WE HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO LET MR. STONE

OR ANYONE ELSE SEE THEM. YOU CAN'T RETROACTIVELY MAKE SOMETHING PRIVILEGED

BY C.C.ing COUNSEL AFTER THE FACT. THERE'S NOTHING RETROACTIVE ABOUT IT.

ALL THE DOCUMENTS WERE DATED BEFORE SAM RUSSELL

00 A.M., WHICH IS THE EVENT MR. STONE CLAIMS

WAS TANTAMOUNT TO FIRING RUSSELL. YOUR HONOR--

SHE'S GOT YOU, MR. STONE. SHE DOESN'T HAVE ME...

NO KIDDING. IN THAT THE ATTORNEY/CLIENT PRIVILEGE DOES NOT AP--

SAVE IT, MR. STONE. UNLESS YOU CAN PROVE MS. CONTINO'S

NOT AN ATTORNEY, NOT WEST MEDIA'S ATTORNEY

OR THAT THE MEMOS WERE WRITTEN TO HER

AFTER RUSSELL GOT FIRED OR QUIT, SHE'S GOT YOU.

SO... ANY OTHER PRETRIAL MOTIONS?

I HAVE ONE, YOUR HONOR. I MOVE TO DISQUALIFY MR. STONE.

YOU WHAT? ON WHAT GROUNDS? WHAT?

HE THINKS HE'S A PROPHET.

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, MR. STONE STOOD IN YOUR COURTROOM

AND TOLD YOU HE RECEIVED MESSAGES FROM THE ALMIGHTY. I BELIEVE MY EXACT WORDS WERE, "HIGHER POWER, PERHAPS DIVINE."

AND LAST YEAR HE PREDICTED THE SILVER TERRACE EARTHQUAKE

TO SOME PUBLIC NOTORIETY. WHICH ACTUALLY SUPPORTS THE IDEA THAT I COULD BE,

YOU KNOW... SPECIAL. WHICH IS AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IN A JURY TRIAL.

WHAT JUROR WOULDN'T BE SWAYED BY THE FACT

THE PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL COUNTS GOD AS ONE OF HIS CLIENTS? SHE'S RIGHT.

SHE IS? SHE IS?

INSOFAR AS THE PERSONAL DETAILS OF THE TRIAL ATTORNEYS

MAY PREJUDICE THE JURY. YOUR HONOR--

SO WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T FIND OUT

THAT MISS DEKKER AND I SLEPT TOGETHER LAST WEEK. THAT IS TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE AND PREJUDICIAL!

YOU DOG! I KNEW IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. COME TO THINK OF IT, SHE'S ALSO SLEEPING WITH OPPOSING COUNSEL.

THAT'S IRRELEVANT! AND NOW SHE'S CARRYING HIS UNBORN CHILD.

AND DID I MENTION THAT MISS WETHERSBY AND I

USED TO BE ENGAGED? SO BASICALLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS,

I'M THE ONLY PERSON IN THIS ROOM

WHO'S NOT HAVING SEX WITH ONE OF YOU. AND THAT MISS DEKKER'S MOTION MIGHT BE MOTIVATED

MORE BY PERSONAL ISSUES THAN LEGAL ONES. YOU WISH.

ENOUGH. SAVE IT FOR YOUR INEVITABLE REALITY SHOW.

IF MR. STONE DOES WORK FOR GOD,

I'M NOT GONNA CHANCE DAMNATION BY DISQUALIFYING HIM.

BUT IF I HEAR ANY OF YOU UTTER ONE MORE WORD

ABOUT PROPHETS, PROPHECIES

OR ESPECIALLY WHO'S SLEEPING WITH WHOM,

I WILL HOLD YOU IN CONTEMPT, I SWEAR...

TO MR. STONE'S BOSS.

I'VE WORKED AT KNIB FOR 12 YEARS.

UNTIL RECENTLY,

WE HAD THE NUMBER ONE NEWS SHOW IN SAN FRANCISCO.

WE DID ABOUT AN 18 SHARE. WHAT ABOUT AROUND THE TIME

YOU OFFERED MR. RUSSELL THE MORNING SHOW?

DOWN TO AN 11.3. WE WERE HEMORRHAGING VIEWERS

AND RANKED THIRD AMONG THE AFFILIATES. SO YOU FIRED HIM.

NO. I OFFERED HIM THE MORNING NEWS.

IT'S A LESS COMPETITIVE TIME SLOT.

FRANKLY, I THOUGHT SAM WOULD BE GRATEFUL.

THANK YOU.

YOU, UH, "OFFERED" SAM THE MORNING NEWS

THE DAY AFTER YOU KILLED ONE OF HIS STORIES--

AN EXPOSé ON UNSAFE WORKING CONDITIONS

AT A LOCAL ZYRE MOTORS PLANT. I DIDN'T KILL ANYTHING.

WE'LL GET TO THAT. WHAT RELATIONSHIP, IF ANY,

DOES KNIB HAVE WITH ZYRE MOTORS? ZYRE'S ONE OF OUR ADVERTISERS.

NEARLY EVERY MAJOR AUTO MANUFACTURER IS.

BUT ZYRE IS YOUR STATION'S THIRD LARGEST ADVERTISER.

HOW UPSET WOULD YOU SAY ZYRE WAS

WITH MR. RUSSELL'S EXPOSé-- SCALE OF ONE TO TEN? I WOULDN'T KNOW.

BUT YOU PULLED THE PIECE ANYWAY, JUST IN CASE. I DIDN'T PULL IT.

IT GOT BUMPED BY STORIES I DEEMED MORE IMPORTANT.

WHAT WAS THE MORE IMPORTANT PIECE YOU RAN THAT NIGHT?

I DON'T RECALL. I HAD A FEELING YOU WOULDN'T, SO I LOOKED IT UP.

UH, YOU REPLACED THE ZYRE MOTORS REPORT

WITH A PUBLIC SAFETY STORY--

"BILINGUAL BANDIT STRIKES THE BAY AREA."

WE FELT IT WAS THE MORE COMPELLING STORY.

I'VE NEVER BEEN HELD UP IN TWO LANGUAGES,

SO I'LL TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT. WHY DIDN'T YOU AIR

THE ZYRE MOTORS REPORT THE NEXT NIGHT?

DID THE BILINGUAL BANDIT STRIKE AGAIN? NO, BUT NEWS CYCLES ARE GETTING SHORTER AND SHORTER.

WE CAN'T STAY COMPETITIVE WITH CABLE AND INTERNET

BY AIRING YESTERDAY'S NEWS. OH, I FORGOT. HAZARDOUS WORKING CONDITIONS ARE SO LAST YEAR.

ALL RIGHT, FOR RUSSELL,

I THINK WOULD SHOULD SEND IN THE MAGSTER.

AFTER WHAT SHE DID TO STONE YESTERDAY,

WE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO USE THE LITTLE PIT BULL.

PLUS THE JURY EATS HER INNOCENT ACT RIGHT UP.

YOU KNOW I'M--I'M SITTING RIGHT HERE, DON'T YOU?

SORRY. I SHOULD TAKE THIS.

HI, SWEETIE. YEAH, TAKE ALL THE TIME YOU WANT.

UM, IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE IN TRIAL HERE OR ANYTHING. Look, I can't find my keys. I'm gonna be late, all right?

TELL THE NURSE WHEN YOU GET THERE, THOUGH,

SO SHE CAN SIGN US IN. LISTEN, WE, UH, HAVE A STRATEGY MEETING.

WELL, SO DO I, BUT I'M NOT GOING.

I mean, we only get to see our fetus in 3-D once.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

I AM, IT'S JUST A BAD TIME. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD LEAVE.

LISTEN, I-I-I AM REALLY, REALLY SORRY.

I JUST CAN'T MAKE IT TODAY. I'M ONE OF TWO LAWYERS ON OUR SIDE.

YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO FIELD A BASEBALL TEAM,

BUT SOMEHOW I CAN MAKE IT, YOU KNOW,

BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, TOO. I HAVE TO TRIAGE.

I can't move this meeting,

but you can get the nurse to burn me a DVD.

RIGHT. I FORGOT HOW BABIES CAN BE TIME-SHIFTED.

THE MEDIA HAS CHANGED. THE NEWS DIVISION

USED TO BE A PUBLIC SERVICE, SOMETHING THE BROADCASTER DID

IN EXCHANGE FOR USING THE PUBLIC AIRWAVES.

NOW IT'S JUST ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE A BUCK. OBJECTION.

SHE'S ABOUT TO POINT OUT HOW THAT DOESN'T SEEM RELATED

TO YOU LEAVING THE STATION. IT'S RELATED, BECAUSE NEWS HAS BECOME A PROFIT CENTER,

AND I THREATENED THE STATION'S PROFITS. WITH THE ZYRE MOTORS PIECE?

I WAS DEMOTED 00 A.M. DRIVE TIME

ONE DAY AFTER THEY KILLED THAT STORY,

SO YOU TELL ME, MR. STONE.

WHAT'S A Q SCORE? IT'S A WAY OF MEASURING AN ON-AIR PERSONALITY'S

FAMILIARITY AND APPEAL. WOULD IT SURPRISE YOU TO LEARN THAT YOUR Q SCORE

HAS BEEN IN DECLINE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS?

I'M ASSUMING, SINCE YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT LESS FAMILIAR

TO PEOPLE, IT WAS BECAUSE YOU BECAME LESS APPEALING. OBJECTION.

WELL, I'LL-- I'LL PUT IT ANOTHER WAY.

WHAT'S MORE LIKELY-- A CONSPIRACY TO KEEP SAM RUSSELL

AWAY FROM AN ANCHOR DESK OR A DESIRE TO REPLACE HIM

WITH SOMEONE WHO CAN PULL IN A LARGER AUDIENCE? YOU MADE MY POINT FOR ME, MS. DEKKER.

IN THE DAYS OF CRONKITE AND MURROW,

DECISIONS WERE NOT MADE BASED ON Q SCORES AND SHARE POINTS.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

MURROW'S SHOW WAS CANCELED BECAUSE IT LOST ITS SPONSOR.

IT'S LIKE SHE WENT BACK TO LAW SCHOOL

WHEN I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION. DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE AMBITION OF A WOMAN SCORNED.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? ARE YOU KIDDING?

OH, YOU THINK SHE'S OUT TO GET ME BECAUSE I, UH...

GOT HER, YEAH. YOU MOTIVATED HER TO BEAT YOU IN WAYS THAT GO

WAY BEYOND THE NORMAL COURTROOM ASS-WHUPPING.

SO ALL LAST YEAR I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

HOW TO MAKE HER A BETTER LAWYER, AND THE WHOLE TIME

I SHOULD HAVE JUST SLEPT WITH HER.

MY LOYAL FOOT SOLDIERS. HOW'D IT GO TODAY?

GREAT. NOT GREAT.

SHE'S RIGHT. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN GREAT AND NOT SO MUCH.

SAM'S TESTIMONY

WASN'T EXACTLY THE GRAND SLAM WE WERE COUNTING ON. MM.

THAT'S, UH, UNFORTUNATE.

YOU MAKE "UNFORTUNATE"

SOUND SO MUCH WORSE THAN "UNFORTUNATE."

IT'S NOTHING--SOMETHING WE CAN DISCUSS AFTER THE TRIAL.

SIR, WE'RE PARTNERS. I'M NOT SURE KEEPING SECRETS

IS GONNA DO EITHER ONE OF US ANY GOOD.

I DIDN'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING TO EITHER OF YOU.

WE'RE ALREADY OPERATING UNDER ENOUGH PRESSURE.

WHAT'S WRONG? I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH OUR ACCOUNTANTS.

WE WERE TREADING WATER BEFORE THE FINANCIAL CRISIS

MADE GETTING A LINE OF CREDIT DIFFICULT. WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

THAT IF WE DON'T WIN THE RUSSELL CASE, AND WIN BIG,

WE'LL BE JOINING MR. RUSSELL ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE.

MATT?

HI.

I MIGHT STILL BE SLEEPING, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE

YOU DIDN'T STAY HERE LAST NIGHT. I LET MYSELF IN. HOPE YOU DON'T MIND.

I WANTED TO SURPRISE YOU. WITH BLUEBERRY PANCAKES?

YEAH.

MMM. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY GOOD-SMELLING APOLOGY.

TASTES EVEN BETTER.

MMM.

I AM SORRY. I WANTED TO BE THERE.

I SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE.

I JUST FELT WEIRD BAILING OUT ON MY TEAM, YOU KNOW?

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD SERIES. I GET IT.

THEY'RE THE YANKEES, AND I'M PLAYING FOR THE RED SOX.

WELL, NOT EXACTLY, BECAUSE THE YANKEES AND RED SOX

COULD NEVER PLAY EACH OTHER IN THE WORLD SERIES.

BUT ANYWAY, IT'S JUST A TRIAL. YEAH.

YOU DO KNOW YOUR CLIENT'S NOT FACING

THE DEATH PENALTY HERE, RIGHT? NOT MY CLIENT--MY FIRM.

YOU CAN'T USE THIS, OKAY?

THIS IS BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND CONFIDENCE, OKAY?

TWO PEOPLE WHO MADE A BABY TOGETHER PRIVILEGED.

I MUST HAVE MISSED THAT CLASS IN LAW SCHOOL.

WHAT'S GOING ON? THE NEW FIRM IS SINKING.

WE'RE IN MASSIVE DEBT. WE CAN'T GET CREDIT.

WE NEED AN INFUSION OF CASH, AND--AND THE ONLY WAY

WE CAN DO THAT IS A HUGE WIN IN THE RUSSELL CASE,

A.K.A, A MIRACLE.

JEEZ. YOU OKAY?

YOU MEAN ASIDE FROM BEING PREGNANT

AND ABOUT TO BE UNEMPLOYED? YEAH. I'M SO SORRY.

LOOK, I WASN'T GONNA MENTION THIS,

BUT SINCE YOU'RE KIND OF OPENING THE DOOR HERE,

P&K's GOT AN OPENING FOR A FAMILY LAWYER.

WHEN WETHERSBY, STONE GOES DOWN...

IF IT GOES DOWN, THERE ARE ABOUT A HUNDRED OTHER FIRMS

I COULD WORK AT THAT DON'T EMPLOY THE FATHER OF MY BABY.

BUT THEY PROBABLY WON'T HIRE YOU IN YOUR CURRENT CONDITION...

WHICH WOULD BE SEXIST AND DETESTABLE. WHEREAS POSNER-KLEIN IS JUST DETESTABLE.

NO, I'D RATHER BE A STAY-AT-HOME MOM.

HEY, I WORK FOR THAT DETESTABLE FIRM, REMEMBER?

YEAH, I KNOW. I SPEND MOST DAYS TRYING TO FORGET THAT.

IT'S AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION.

WHAT THE INTERNET AND 24/7 CABLE NEWS STARTED,

THE RECESSION AND CREDIT TSUNAMI IS THREATENING TO FINISH.

HARD CHOICES HAVE TO BE MADE IF EVENING NEWS

OF ANY STRIPE IS GOING TO SURVIVE.

INCLUDING PANDERING TO ADVERTISERS?

NEITHER BAY WEST NOR ITS AFFILIATES

HAVE EVER PANDERED TO ANYONE, INCLUDING ZYRE MOTORS. WHICH PAID BAY WEST MEDIA

$3 MILLION LAST YEAR ALONE. IN AD REVENUE, WHICH BUYS THE RIGHT

TO ADVERTISE, NOT EDITORIALIZE.

SO SAM RUSSELL'S CONTENTION THAT THE EVENING NEWS

IS DRIVEN BY CORPORATE INTERESTS-- IS OFFENSIVE

AND COMPLETELY UNFOUNDED. WHAT ABOUT MOVING HIM 00 A.M.

TRAFFIC AND WEATHER SLOT? ONE OF THE HARD CHOICES I ALLUDED TO EARLIER.

BUT EVENING NEWS RATINGS HAVE GONE UP 5 POINTS SINCE,

SO IT'S NOT ONE I REGRET.

IT MUST HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO FIND A WORTHY REPLACEMENT

FOR 3-TIME DuPONT,

2-TIME PEABODY AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST SAM RUSSELL?

IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE,

BUT WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF CONFIDENCE IN KIMBERLY CHAVEZ.

I'VE SEEN A FEW OF HER SEGMENTS. I CAN SEE WHY.

CARDIFF FAINTED FROM TOXIC CHEMICALS

DURING A SUNLESS SPRAY TAN SESSION

BECAUSE THE SPRAY GUN'S TUBES WEREN'T PROPERLY CLEANED.

BUT ASHLEY DIDN'T LET THAT STOP HER FROM ATTENDING

THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS FOUNDATION BENEFIT

AT THE SAN FRANCISCO ZOO. WELL, I KNOW I'M GONNA CANCEL

MY SPRAY TAN APPOINTMENT THIS AFTERNOON.

ALL LOCAL AFFILIATES FILL THEIR LINEUP WITH SOME FLUFF PIECES.

IT'S NOT THAT HARD TO FIND THEM. NO, BUT WHAT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY HARD TO FIND

AT YOUR NEWS STATION IS ANY REAL NEWS.

WHAT'S CONSIDERED "REAL NEWS" IS A MATTER OF OPINION.

YOU'RE RIGHT. LET'S USE A CLEAR STANDARD.

HOW MANY INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS HAS KIMBERLY CHAVEZ DONE

ON YOUR CORPORATE SPONSORS SINCE REPLACING SAM RUSSELL?

OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I-I DON'T REMEMBER. THAT'S SURPRISING,

SINCE ZERO IS A PRETTY EASY NUMBER TO REMEMBER.

YOU ALSO PROBABLY DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE TOP STORY WAS

ON YOUR COMPETITORS' PROGRAMS THE NIGHT KIMBERLY AIRED

HER HARD-HITTING SPRAY TAN EXPOSé.

IT WAS A STORY ABOUT HOW YOUR PARENT COMPANY'S C.E.O.

WAS INDICTED FOR STOCK FRAUD. YOU WERE BRILLIANT.

THANK YOU.

YOU TOTALLY SUPPORTED THE EMERGING THEORY

THAT IF I SLEEP WITH SOMEONE,

IT ENDOWS THEM WITH SUPERIOR COURTROOM SKILLS.

THINK I'M BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

YOU HAVE WITH WOMEN.

CIAO, BELLA...

EXCUSE ME.

IS THIS, UH...

AM I IN ROME?

S , ROMA, ROMA!

BUT LA BELLA RAGAZZA FOR ME, EH?

MAGGIE?

HEY! UHH!

ELI, WHAT ARE YOU...

SO WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT? ANOTHER VISION? IT WAS ROME AGAIN,

MODERN DAY THIS TIME, AND MAGGIE WAS THERE,

AND I COULDN'T GET TO HER. MAYBE BECAUSE YOU ALREADY DID BACK IN SONOMA.

OKAY, I SHOULDN'T HAVE SLEPT WITH HER,

BUT THERE WAS WINE, AND, UH,

I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH SOME STUFF, AND-- AND YOU LOVE HER.

OKAY, MAYBE IT'S NOT LOVE YET, BUT IT'S SOMETHING.

YEAH, IT'S CALLED PLATONIC AFFECTION.

WHAT? ELI, WHY ARE YOU THE ONLY PERSON WHO DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AWARE

THAT YOU FEEL SOMETHING FOR MAGGIE?

OKAY, MAYBE IT'S NOT LOVE,

BUT IT'S DEFINITELY NOT PLATONIC AFFECTION.

YOU TWO BELONG TOGETHER.

IT'S OBVIOUS TO EVERYBODY ELSE EXCEPT YOU.

OKAY.

MAYBE.

BUT WHAT IF...

WHAT IF MAGGIE WAS JUST AVAILABLE?

I'VE BEEN FEELING VERY ALONE LATELY, YOU KNOW?

LIKE THERE'S-- THERE'S NO ONE

FOR "THE GUY WITH THE DIVINE CALLING."

I THINK THERE IS, ELI.

I THINK SHE'S BEEN RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU THE ENTIRE TIME.

YOU JUST HAVEN'T SEEN IT.

IT'S LIKE THE ANEURYSM WOKE UP EVERY PART OF YOU

EXCEPT YOUR HEART.

SO WHAT DO I DO?

TALK TO HER.

CAN WE TALK? ALL RISE.

APPARENTLY NOT.

BE SEATED.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT WITNESS?

THE DEFENSE CALLS JESSE BATES.

UH, YOUR HONOR, JESSE BATES IS NOT ON THEIR WITNESS LIST.

I LISTED THREE FORMER KNIB EMPLOYEES AS JOHN DOE WITNESSES.

MS. BATES WAS A PRODUCER AT N-I-B FOR 13 YEARS.

YOUR HONOR-- OVERRULED, COUNSEL.

I'LL GIVE YOU MORE TIME TO PREPARE, IF YOU WANT.

YOU'RE HERE UNDER SUBPOENA, AREN'T YOU, MS. BATES?

YES, I ENJOYED THE SHERIFF'S VISIT TO MY HOME VERY MUCH,

THANK YOU. SEEK TO TREAT AS HOSTILE?

GRANTED.

DID YOU PRODUCE SAM RUSSELL'S PIECE ON ZYRE MOTORS?

YES. SO YOU WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO KNOW WHETHER THAT PIECE

HAD ANY RELATIONSHIP TO THE DECISION

TO MOVE MR. RUSSELL TO THE MORNING SHOW? I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

BEST GUESS THEN.

THE NEWS DIRECTOR MR. CHURCH MOVED SAM THE NEXT DAY.

BUT DIDN'T MR. CHURCH PROPOSE TO SAM

A MOVE TO THE MORNING SHOW A FULL SIX MONTHS EARLIER--

BEFORE THE ZYRE PIECE WAS EVEN INVESTIGATED?

IS THERE A POINT HERE?

WELL, ONLY THAT IF SAM RUSSELL REALLY BELIEVED

00 A.M. WAS THE SAME AS GETTING FIRED,

HE WOULD HAVE STOPPED SHOWING UP FOR WORK SIX MONTHS EARLIER.

BUT HE DIDN'T, DID HE?

YOU'RE NOT AN ATTORNEY, SO YOU PROBABLY

DON'T KNOW WHY THIS WOULD BE IMPORTANT,

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL?

KNOWING THAT THE THING THAT WE RESTED YOUR ENTIRE CASE ON--

THE IDEA THAT MOVING YOU 00 A.M.

WAS AS GOOD AS FIRING YOU-- WAS DISCUSSED A GOOD SIX MONTHS

BEFORE YOU QUIT! BEING DISCUSSED IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN IT BEING DONE.

SEMANTICS. LAWYERS AND JUDGES AND APPARENTLY NEWS ANCHORS

CARE ABOUT THEM, BUT JURORS DON'T.

TO THEM, IT JUST LOOKS LIKE YOU QUIT,

WHICH IS A LITTLE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR CLAIM THAT YOU GOT FIRED.

RIGHT, I FORGOT. A JURY'S JUST 12 PEOPLE TOO STUPID

TO GET OUT OF JURY DUTY,

INCAPABLE OF PARSING DISTINCTIONS,

INCAPABLE OF THINKING FOR THEMSELVES.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SOUND LIKE, ELI? A TRIAL ATTORNEY TRYING TO WIN.

BAY WEST MEDIA. "SORRY, SAM. THAT STORY'S JUST GONNA GO

"RIGHT OVER THE PUBLIC'S HEAD.

"SORRY, SAM, BUT THEY'RE JUST NOT GONNA UNDERSTAND THAT.

SORRY, SAM. IT'S JUST TOO DARN CONFUSING, SAM."

I HAVE A THEORY. YOU CAN SAY I'VE BET MY WHOLE CAREER ON IT.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE ONLY AS DUMB AS WE TREAT THEM.

I THINK PEOPLE ONLY ACT LIKE MORONS

IF THEY'RE TREATED LIKE MORONS. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I THINK TAYLOR AND I HAVE A LONG NIGHT AHEAD OF US.

I'LL LET YOU GET TO IT, THEN.

THEY COULD HEAR YOU ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

I WOULD TELL YOU THAT BERATING CLIENTS IS BAD FOR BUSINESS,

BUT THAT WOULD IMPLY WE HAVE ANY BUSINESS.

SORRY. WE HAD A SETBACK.

OH. MAYBE I CAN HELP BRAINSTORM A SOLUTION,

PERHAPS BRING A FRESH PERSPECTIVE.

WE'RE FINE. THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

RIGHT. OF COURSE.

DON'T WORRY.

WE'LL FIND A RABBIT TO PULL HERE.

MM. A LITTLE MORE OF THAT ARCTIC WIND,

AND THE POLAR BEARS MIGHT HAVE A HOME AGAIN.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, OKAY?

WHAT COULD BE SO BAD FOR YOU TO TREAT HIM LIKE THAT

WHEN HIS FIRM IS ABOUT 3 INCHES FROM BELLY-UP? HOW ABOUT CHASING MY MOTHER OUT OF TOWN

AND LYING TO ME ABOUT IT FOR 20 YEARS? OKAY, THAT'S BAD ENOUGH.

I'M SO SORRY. ARE YOU OKAY?

I FLUCTUATE. LUCKILY, I'VE GOT MATT TO TAKE IT OUT ON.

WELL, I-I GUESS YOU'RE RIGHT TO BE ANGRY.

I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT SOMEONE WAS RESPONSIBLE

FOR MY DAD'S DEATH.

IT'S BEEN A LITTLE HARD TO GET OVER.

WHY DO I SENSE A "BUT" COMING ON?

BUT... MORE THAN ANYONE I KNOW,

JORDAN'S BEEN TRYING TO CHANGE WHO HE WAS.

WELL, THE PHRASE "TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE" COMES TO MIND.

YOU KNOW, IF HE HAD JUST TOLD ME ALL THIS YEARS AGO,

WHEN I STILL NEEDED A MOTHER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN FURIOUS,

BUT AT LEAST THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN TIME

TO FIX THINGS, YOU KNOW? AND NOW?

MY MOTHER LIVES 1,000 MILES AWAY.

IT'S BEEN DECADES.

I THINK THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY HAS CLOSED.

THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY.

CARE TO RUN THAT BY ME AGAIN? HAPPILY, YOUR HONOR.

THE OTHER DAY YOU RULED THAT WE COULDN'T REVIEW

THE BAY WEST DOCUMENTS THAT WE REQUESTED

BECAUSE THEY WERE PROTECTED BY ATTORNEY/CLIENT PRIVILEGE. BECAUSE THEY ARE.

BECAUSE YOU SAID THAT ALL THE DOCUMENTS WERE DATED

BEFORE SAM RUSSELL 00 A.M.

BUT YESTERDAY, MS. BATES ALTERED THAT TIME LINE.

NOW IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE DOCUMENTS WERE WRITTEN

00 A.M. MOVE WAS PROPOSED. WE REALLY SHOULD BE THANKING YOU, ACTUALLY.

THE DOCUMENTS WERE STILL COPIED TO IN-HOUSE COUNSEL. AFTER, APPARENTLY, THE WHEELS WERE PUT IN MOTION.

MISS WETHERSBY WAS RIGHT WHEN SHE SAID

YOU CAN'T RETROACTIVELY MAKE SOMETHING PRIVILEGED.

MAKE SURE THOSE DOCUMENTS

ARE DELIVERED TO WETHERSBY, STONE & ASSOCIATES

BY END OF BUSINESS TODAY. NOW GET OUTTA HERE.

THIS IS HUGE.

EASY, KILLER. WE DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN THERE

THAT'S GONNA HELP US. IF THERE WASN'T, MAGGIE WOULD HAVE JUST PRODUCED 'EM

IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN TO WASTE OUR TIME REVIEWING THEM. POSNER & CRIME JUST DELIVERED YOUR DOCUMENTS.

THAT WAS FAST. I KNOW. I THOUGHT IT WOULD TAKE 'EM FOREVER

JUST TO UNLOAD THE TRUCK. UNLOAD THE TRUCK? HOW MANY DOCUMENTS COULD THERE BE?

WHAT WAS THAT YOU SAID ABOUT WASTING OUR TIME? I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD DO THIS.

LET ME GUESS-- YOU GOT THE BOXES.

THE JUDGE ORDERED YOU TO PRODUCE THOSE DOCUMENTS.

Which we did. NO, YOU HID THEM IN A TON OF CRAP.

WELL, THAT'S ONE INTERPRETATION. And that's just more crap, you know?

Is this how your new firm does business, Matt?

IS THIS HOW YOU DO BUSINESS?

WE'RE IN TRIAL, TAYLOR. IT'S JUST TACTICS. Circumventing a court order to hide evidence

ISN'T A TACTIC. IT'S ILLEGAL, AND AS MORALLY AMBIGUOUS

AS YOU PRETEND TO BE, THERE WAS A TIME YOU KNEW THE DIFFERENCE. OKAY, THAT'S FAIR. I'LL OWN THAT.

But? BUT--AND I WOULDN'T BE FLOATING THIS

IF I WEREN'T SAFELY EIGHT CITY BLOCKS AWAY--

THIS ANGER'S A BIT OF AN OVERREACTION.

IS IT POSSIBLE SOME OF IT'S DAD-RELATED?

YES, IT IS DAD-RELATED. YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT'S RELATED TO THE KIND OF DAD YOU'RE GOING TO BE,

which is related to the kind of person you are. THAT'S NOT FAIR.

I DON'T THINK YOU'VE GOT MUCH CREDIBILITY RIGHT NOW

WHEN IT COMES TO FAIRNESS, MATT.

WHAT ARE WE EVEN LOOKING FOR, ELI,

THE BOX THAT SAYS "SECRET SMOKING GUN DOCUMENT IN HERE"?

IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY WERE THAT OBVIOUS ABOUT IT.

WE NEED SOME KIND OF SYSTEM AND SOME MORE MANPOWER--

PERHAPS HIRE SOME TEMPS.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA BE NECESSARY.

THIS IS THE ONE.

DO YOU RECALL

WRITING AN E-MAIL TO RYAN CHURCH?

HE'S THE NEWS DIRECTOR OF ONE OF MY AFFILIATES.

I RECALL WRITING HUNDREDS OF E-MAILS TO HIM.

HOW ABOUT THIS ONE?

IF YOU COULD READ IT ALOUD, PLEASE?

"CHURCH--HEARD ABOUT RUSSELL'S AUTO PLANT STORY.

"NEEDLESS TO SAY, ZYRE'S NOT THROWING HIM A PARADE.

AHEM. TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. D.B."

I GUESS SINCE ZYRE MOTORS ONLY PURCHASED

THE RIGHT TO "ADVERTISE, NOT EDITORIALIZE,"

YOU JUST THREW IN THE PROBLEM SOLVING FOR FREE.

MR. BUCKLEY,

CAN YOU READ THE PORTION OF THIS E-MAIL

WHERE YOU SPECIFICALLY ASK MR. CHURCH TO FIRE MR. RUSSELL?

NO, BECAUSE I NEVER DID.

SO WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM WITH ZYRE MOTORS

THAT YOU WANTED MR. CHURCH TO FIX?

IF IT WOULD HELP, I COULD HAVE THE JUDGE REMIND YOU

WHAT THE PENALTIES ARE FOR PERJURY.

THE PROBLEM WAS SAM.

WHAT ABOUT HIM, SPECIFICALLY?

ZYRE WANTED ASSURANCE SAM WOULDN'T KEEP PUSHING HIS STORY.

AND I GUESS SAM WOULDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A REASON TO

00 A.M. TRAFFIC REPORT, HUH?

ELI, DON'T LET YOUR WINDOW CLOSE.

WHAT?

YOU THINK IT'S OPEN NOW?

SHE CAN'T BE TOO HAPPY WITH ME AFTER WHAT I DID BACK IN THERE.

WHICH IS WHY YOU NEED TO DO THIS NOW,

BEFORE SHE'S GROWN TOO MUCH SCAR TISSUE OVER HER WOUNDS. YOU KNOW I SLEPT WITH HER, RIGHT?

I DIDN'T HIT HER WITH A BASEBALL BAT. GO.

COME ON. HEY!

COME HERE. WHAT?

OW! MY WRIST IS FINE, THANKS.

SORRY, BUT, UH, W-WE HAVE TO TALK.

NO, YOU WANT TO TALK. SLIGHT DISTINCTION.

YEAH, RIGHT. I WANT TO TALK. SO ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS LISTEN.

OKAY?

FIRSTLY, I AM...

LOOK, I'M SORRY ABOUT SONOMA.

I JUST...

WHAT WE DID, IT WAS...

IT WAS WONDERFUL. IT WAS GREAT.

AND I'M GLAD WE DID IT.

AND THE NEXT MORNING, I JUST...

I HAD TO THINK ABOUT MY FEELINGS,

ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF YOUR FEELINGS,

WHICH YOU TOLD ME...

ARE SUBSTANTIAL.

WERE SUBSTANTIAL.

WHAT?

I TRIED EVERY CONCEIVABLE WAY TO GET OVER YOU.

I GOT ENGAGED. I LEFT THE FIRM.

NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS WOULD I THINK

THAT SLEEPING TOGETHER WOULD ACTUALLY HELP ME GET OVER YOU.

SO THANK YOU.

YOU GAVE ME CLOSURE.

S--

SO WHY HAVE YOU BEEN SO, UM...

WHY HAVE THINGS BEEN SO PERSONAL WITH THE CASE?

NO, IT'S NOT PERSONAL. I'M TRYING TO WIN, ELI.

I CAN'T BEAT YOU AND BE FRIENDS WITH YOU AT THE SAME TIME.

I-I CAN'T MULTITASK LIKE THAT.

BUT AFTER I BEAT YOU, WE--WE CAN GO FOR COFFEE,

CATCH UP.

YEAH. AS FRIENDS.

YEAH.

EXACTLY.

IN A MINUTE,

BAY WEST'S LAWYER IS GONNA STAND HERE,

AND SHE'S GOING TO REMIND YOU

HOW SAM RUSSELL QUIT HIS JOB.

BUT THE REALITY IS,

YOU CANNOT QUIT A JOB THAT'S ALREADY BEEN

TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU.

SAM RUSSELL WAS REMOVED FROM HIS JOB

ANCHORING THE "BAY AREA EVENING NEWS."

THAT'S INDISPUTABLE.

IT'S UNCONTESTED.

BUT THE FACT IS

THAT SAM LOST HIS JOB MUCH EARLIER THAN THAT.

HE'S BEEN LOSING IT BIT BY LITTLE BIT FOR YEARS--

WHEN THE NEWS DIVISION AT BAY WEST MEDIA

BECAME PART OF THE ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION,

WHEN THE WALL BETWEEN THE BOARDROOM AND THE NEWSROOM

GREW SO THIN AS TO BECOME NONEXISTENT,

AND WHEN TELEVISION JOURNALISM

BECAME JUST SOMETHING ELSE

TO FILL TIME BETWEEN COMMERCIALS,

AND YES, WHEN HIS CORPORATE BOSSES

DECIDED THAT IF THEY COULDN'T SHUT HIM UP,

THEN THEY WOULD FORCE HIM OUT.

AND THEY DID.

SAM RUSSELL HAS BEEN SILENCED.

AND NOW THE ONLY ONE

WHO CAN TELL BAY WEST MEDIA THAT THE MEDIA NEEDS TO START

LIVING UP TO ITS RESPONSIBILITIES...

IS YOU.

YOU KNOW, HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THE NEWS MEDIA HAS LOST ITS MORAL CENTER.

IT'S BECOME DOMINATED BY CORPORATE INTERESTS.

KATIE COURIC WENT ON RECORD SAYING THAT SHE FELT

CORPORATE PRESSURE TO CAST THE IRAQ WAR

IN A POSITIVE LIGHT.

EVEN PRESIDENT BUSH'S FORMER PRESS SECRETARY

IRONICALLY REFERS TO THE "LIBERAL MEDIA,"

BECAUSE IT'S BECOME SO FOCUSED ON ADVANCING REPUBLICAN POLICIES

WHICH BENEFIT... GUESS WHO.

CORPORATIONS.

THE JOURNALISTIC SPIRIT THAT ENDED McCARTHYISM

AND EXPOSED WATERGATE HAS BEEN CO-OPTED

INTO MAKING THE CASE FOR W.M.D.s IN IRAQ

AND IGNORING CALAMITY IN NEW ORLEANS.

AND THAT'S WHEN IT'S NOT PREOCCUPIED

BY LINDSAY LOHAN AND BRITNEY SPEARS.

AND WHEN YOU CONSIDER HOW CRITICAL A FREE PRESS IS

IN A DEMOCRACY LIKE OURS, IT'S-- IT'S PARTICULARLY LOATHSOME.

BUT YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S REALLY LOATHSOME?

TRYING TO CONVERT YOUR JUSTIFIABLE OUTRAGE

INTO A PERSONAL FINANCIAL WINDFALL.

IF SAM RUSSELL WERE REALLY THAT CONCERNED

ABOUT THE STATE OF THE MEDIA, HE WOULDN'T HAVE QUIT.

HE WOULD HAVE STAYED ON

AND WORKED TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM FROM THE INSIDE

RATHER THAN RUNNING TO YOU FOR A HANDOUT.

IT COULD GO EITHER WAY. THEN IT WON'T INCONVENIENCE THEM TO GO OUR WAY.

EVEN IF THEY RULE FOR US-- FOR SAM--

THERE'S LITTLE GUARANTEE OF A MONEY JUDGMENT

SUFFICIENT TO KEEP OUR LIGHTS ON. THANK YOU, MR. OPTIMIST.

I'M JUST BEING TRUTHFUL.

BUT ALONG THOSE LINES... YOU TWO MADE ME VERY PROUD.

I COULDN'T FATHOM TWO ATTORNEYS I'D RATHER PRACTICE WITH.

SO YOU'LL BE RETIRING, THEN?

HELLO?

YOU WANT ME TO... WHY?

OKAY.

UM, I'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT.

GET IN HERE. WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU...

OKAY, I'M NOT GONNA BOTHER TELLING YOU HOW WEIRD THIS IS.

I HAVE A SETTLEMENT OFFER.

WHICH YOU FELT THE NEED TO MAKE IN A CLOSET?

DOES THE OFFER INVOLVE US MAKING OUT? 'CAUSE NO OFFENSE,

BUT I JUST-- ITS QUITE POSSIBLE THE REST OF MY TEAM

DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS OFFER, BUT MY CLIENT DOES,

AND HE'S WILLING TO PAY SAM $5 MILLION.

DOES SAM HAVE TO MAKE OUT WITH YOU?

THIS IS SERIOUS.

IT'S A PUBLIC PERCEPTION THING. SAM'S STILL GOT A FEW FANS.

$5 MILLION BUYS AN END TO THE SETTLEMENT

AND A PUBLIC STATEMENT SAYING HE RESIGNED.

SAM'S GONNA HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

NOT AS BIG A PROBLEM AS YOU'VE GOT.

ONE-THIRD CONTINGENCY ON $5 MILLION.

IT'S WETHERSBY, STONE'S LIFE RAFT,

OKAY?

DON'T GO UNTIL, LIKE, A MINUTE AFTER I'M OUT THE DOOR. OF COURSE.

OKAY.

SHOULD I EVEN CONSIDER THIS?

IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. ENOUGH TO START OVER, PUT ALL THIS BEHIND YOU.

BUT I WANT THEM TO ADMIT THAT WHAT THEY DID WAS WRONG--

NOT JUST WRONG

BUT DISRESPECTFUL, MERCENARY TURPITUDE.

SORRY, SAM, BUT THAT KIND OF ADMISSION

JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE REAL WORLD--

CERTAINLY NOT IN THE WORLD OF CORPORATE AMERICA.

YES, THEY MIGHT TAKE A HIT FROM THE JURY,

BUT THEY ALSO MIGHT NOT.

AT LEAST THIS WAY, YOU'RE GUARANTEED SOMETHING,

AND AFTER THEY PAY YOU $5 MILLION,

BAY WEST IS GONNA THINK TWICE

ABOUT TRYING TO SILENCE ANOTHER REPORTER. I SEE YOUR POINT.

SO YOU'LL TAKE IT?

DO I HAVE A CHOICE?

OF COURSE YOU HAVE A CHOICE.

SAM, YOU WERE WRONGED.

THE STATION FORCED YOU OUT. WE ALL KNOW THAT.

AND BY ALLOWING THEM TO GET AWAY WITH IT,

WE ARE ALLOWING CORPORATE GREED

TO ROLL OVER JOURNALISTIC ETHICS,

TO NEUTER THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

YOU NEED TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.

BUT THERE IS A COST TO THAT.

YES, TO YOUR CONSCIENCE.

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND ANXIOUS MORNINGS

WHEN THE REALITY OF YOUR MISTAKES

PLAGUE YOU THE MOST, WHEN YOU REALIZE

THAT YOU'VE COMPROMISED YOUR PRINCIPLES,

THAT YOU'VE DONE THE WRONG THING.

BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU-- LIVING WITH REGRET

IS MUCH HARDER THAN LIVING WITH DEFEAT.

YOU'VE COME THIS FAR.

IF YOU SETTLE NOW, I'M AFRAID YOU LOSE SOMETHING

FAR WORSE THAN A TRIAL.

HE'S RIGHT.

I KNOW IT.

NO DEAL.

I'LL GO TELL MATT.

MAGGIE!

CIAO, MIA BELLA RAGAZZA.

CIAO.

WE, THE JURY, IN THE MATTER

OF SAMUEL RUSSELL vs. BAY WEST MEDIA INCORPORATED

FIND IN FAVOR OF...

THE DEFENDANT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

GOOD JOB. GOOD JOB. THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS.

NOT ONLY IS THERE A NICE PAYCHECK IN IT FOR US,

BUT WE GOT TO NAIL WETHERSBY, STONE & ASSOCIATES

WHERE IT REALLY HURTS-- THE WALLET.

ALL RIGHT!

AND I WOULD ESPECIALLY LIKE TO THANK MAGGIE DEKKER...

ALL RIGHT! GOOD JOB!

MAGGIE!

WHOSE SWEET VOICE AND PLACID DEMEANOR

BELIE HER INNER ANIMAL.

SHE WAS A PANTHER OUT THERE, PEOPLE.

MAGGIE! RIGHT ON, MAGGIE.

ALL RIGHT, UNLESS YOU CAN FIGURE OUT A CLIENT TO BILL

FOR EATING CUPCAKES, GET BACK TO WORK.

DOWD, A WORD?

ACTUALLY, IT'S, UH, TWO WORDS--

NEVER AGAIN.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M REFERRING TO?

I'M PRETTY SURE I'VE GOT AN IDEA.

YOU'RE LUCKY THEY TURNED DOWN THAT OFFER,

AND YOU'RE LUCKY OUR CLIENT WON.

NOW I DON'T SEE YOU GETTING LUCKY THREE TIMES IN A ROW.

DO YOU?

YOU'RE A BIT OVER YOUR WORD LIMIT THERE.

WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?

WELL, THERE ARE STILL SOME PAINTINGS I CAN SELL,

SOME BILLS WE CAN DEFER PAYMENT ON.

MAYBE BUY US SIX MONTHS... MAYBE A LITTLE LESS.

YOU'RE NOT ALONE IN THIS, DAD.

WHY ARE YOU SMILING?

JUST NICE TO HEAR YOU CALL ME "DAD."

HEY. MATT?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

I HEARD KEITH GOT MY OLD OFFICE.

THAT'S JUST AN UNACCEPTABLE SITUATION...

AND SO IS POSNER-KLEIN.

AT LEAST, THAT'S WHAT IT'S TURNED OUT TO BE.

SO YOU'RE...

WELL, YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING ON ABOUT HOW YOUR DAD SAYS

IS ABOUT, UM... MAKING UP FOR PAST MISTAKES.

I THOUGHT I'D GIVE THAT A TRY.

NOT TO RAIN ON YOUR PARADE, BUT...

HAS ANYONE ACTUALLY OFFERED YOU A JOB HERE?

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A JOB HERE?

NOT TO SOUND UNGRATEFUL,

BUT WE CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO PAY YOU MINIMUM WAGE.

AH, NO. TAKE STONE'S NAME OFF THE DOOR, WE'LL CALL IT EVEN.

NICE TRY.

UM... YOU WERE RIGHT.

I WANT TO SHOW THE LITTLE DOWD

OR DOWDETTE

WHAT IT MEANS TO STAND UP FOR THE THINGS YOU CARE ABOUT.

SHE'S GONNA BE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AS A DAD.

SHE? I COULDN'T HELP IT. WHEN I WENT TO THE DOCTOR

THE OTHER DAY, I JUST-- I HAD TO KNOW.

I HOPE YOU'RE NOT MAD.

NO, I'M NOT MAD. I'M HAVING A GIRL. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

UH, YEAH, IF YOU JUST CALL UP TO THE OFFICE,

SHE'LL LET ME IN. IT'S MAGGIE DEKKER, TWO K's.

YOU LOOKING FOR MAGGIE? YOU JUST MISSED HER.

SHE'S PROBABLY OUTSIDE.

THANK YOU.

MAGGIE! MAG--

HERE.

I THINK, UH...

I THINK MY WINDOW CLOSED.