Original subtitles

HI.

HEY.

I'M TESSA, 4-C.

HI. UH, ELI. UH, PENTHOUSE "A."

I JUST MOVED IN OVER THE WEEKEND FROM BUFFALO.

OH, YEAH? UM, WELCOME TO THE BUILDING

AND THE WEST COAST.

THANK YOU. YEAH, IT'S BEEN KIND OF A WHIRLWIND--

A NEW JOB, NEW APARTMENT, NEW LIFE.

I DID THE NEW LIFE THING MYSELF LAST YEAR.

REALLY? SO YOU'RE AN EXPERT THEN?

AH, HAPPY TO SHARE MY INSIGHTS.

IT'S THE LEAST I COULD DO.

I THOUGHT THEY GOT THESE THINGS FIXED.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I SAID I THOUGHT THEY FIXED THESE THINGS!

WHAT?

IT'S A VISION. IT'S A VISION. IT'S A VISION. IT'S A VISION.

IT'S A VISION. VISION!

UM...

IT WAS REALLY NICE MEETING YOU.

YEAH.

I'M GOING CRAZY. WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?

WELL? YOU COULDN'T JUST LET ME HAVE MY ENGLISH MUFFIN FIRST?

THAT MAN IS DRIVING ME OUT OF MY MIND. WHICH MAN EXACTLY IS BEHIND THE PATTI-GO-BONKERS WHEEL?

JIM NORRIS, ANNOYING ACCOUNTANT,

THE GUY, YOU KNOW, THAT JORDAN, IN HIS INFINITE STUPIDITY,

DECIDED TO RENT OUT OFFICE SPACE TO.

WE NEED THE MONEY, PATTI.

RECENTLY, THE FIRM'S BEEN HEMORRHAGING WORSE THAN, UH,

MY BRAIN.

YOU'RE GONNA REPRESENT ME AFTER I KILL HIM, RIGHT?

BECAUSE I'M GONNA NEED ONE HELL OF A LAWYER TO GET ME OFF

AFTER THE JURY HEARS THE GORY DETAILS OF WHAT I DID TO HIM.

THE GUY PAYS HIS RENT ON TIME AND IN FULL. HE WON'T STOP BOTHERING ME, ELI.

"PATTI, THE COFFEE MACHINE IS OUT OF FILTERS.

"PATTI, THE COPIER IS JAMMED.

PATTI, THE MEN'S ROOM IS OUT OF T.P."

I DON'T DO T.P. YOU MADE THAT MEMORABLY AND TERRIFYINGLY CLEAR

THE DAY WE MET.

LET ME BE CLEAR, TAYLOR.

THE ODDS OF JORDAN WETHERSBY

WINNING THE JOEL T. BELMONT AWARD THIS YEAR

ARE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN "WHEN PIGS FLY"

AND "WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER."

HOLD ON. ROOM SERVICE.

YOU DO REALIZE I PLACED THIS ORDER OVER AN HOUR AGO?

MY APOLOGIES, SIR. THE KITCHEN'S BACKED UP.

SWEETHEART, WITH THE FIRM'S PRECARIOUS FINANCIAL SITUATION,

I'M NOT SURE WE SHOULD BE SPENDING MONEY BUYING A TABLE

AT AN AWARDS DINNER WHERE I AM NOT GOING TO WIN AN AWARD.

UH, UH, FINE.

IF IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO YOU, THEN PURCHASE THE TABLE.

I-I'LL BE AT THE OFFICE SOON.

I ORDERED AN EGG WHITE-ONLY OMELET.

THIS IS THE THIRD ORDER YOU PEOPLE HAVE SCREWED UP

ALREADY THIS WEEK. HOW TERRIBLE FOR YOU.

EXCUSE ME? OH, I WAS JUST EXPRESSING SYMPATHY

FOR YOUR WHOLE OMELET TRAGEDY.

HOW TERRIBLE TO HAVE TO EAT YELLOW EGGS. I'M REALLY SORRY. DON'T LEAVE.

I'D LIKE THE NAME OF YOUR SUPERVISOR. SO YOU CAN GET ME FIRED?

I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE,

BUT YOU CAN'T TALK TO PEOPLE LIKE THIS.

YOU JUST TALKED TO ME "LIKE THIS."

YOU THINK 'CAUSE YOU LIVE IN A HOTEL ROOM,

YOU WEAR $5,000 SUITS, YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME?

IF ANYTHING, THAT MAKES YOU WORSE.

IT MAKES YOU JUST LIKE THE REST OF THEM. THE REST OF WHOM?

WHAT DO YOU CARE? YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY.

WHY DON'T YOU SAY IT?

THEM...

IS GUYS LIKE YOU--

MODERN DAY ROBBER BARONS THAT ARE SUCKING THIS COUNTRY DRY.

AS IT HAPPENS, I'M AN ATTORNEY,

AND I USED TO REPRESENT MANY OF THOSE ROBBER BARONS.

WELL, I USED TO... WORK FOR THEM.

WHY'D YOU STOP?

WE HAD A MUTUAL PARTING OF THE WAYS.

YOURSELF?

I DECIDED TO TRANSITION INTO FOOD SERVICE. YOU WERE FIRED.

I THINK THE FASHIONABLE TERM IS "DOWNSIZED."

YOU WERE FIRED FOR CAUSE? IF BY THAT YOU MEAN, DID THEY HAVE A REASON? YEAH.

YEAH, THEY HAD TO GIVE CLAYTON WELLS, THE EX-C.E.O.,

A $43 MILLION SEVERANCE.

SO TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY,

THEY LAID OFF ME AND 300 OF MY COWORKERS.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED SUING TO GET YOUR OLD JOB BACK? THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT OF BEFORE I REALIZED

THERE PROBABLY WEREN'T TOO MANY LAWYERS

WILLING TO WORK FOR FREE. WELL, AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT,

YOU BROUGHT THE WRONG EGGS TO THE RIGHT LAWYER.

COMPLETE AND TOTAL VICTORY.

THINK APPOMATTOX, MR. ROLLINS. UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.

MAKE THE BASTARDS RUE THE DAY

THEY DARED SUE A CLIENT OF POSNER-KLEIN.

UH, NOT TO WORRY, SIR.

CHAYKIN TECHNOLOGIES WON'T PAY A DIME IN DAMAGES.

YES, MS. DEKKER?

WELL, I-I THOUGHT MATT DOWD WAS HANDLING CHAYKIN.

MR. DOWD HAS LEFT US

FOR THE DECIDEDLY "UNGREENER" PASTURES

OF WETHERSBY, STONE & ASSOCIATES.

SALLYING FORTH, OH, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE

TO ANNOUNCE THAT, ACCORDING TO INSIDE SOURCES,

ONE OF OUR VERY OWN HAS AT LONG LAST BEEN NOMINATED

FOR THE CALIFORNIA BAR'S JOEL T. BELMONT AWARD--

ME.

THE FIRM HAS PURCHASED A HALF DOZEN TABLES AT THE AWARDS.

BANQUET ATTENDANCE AND APPLAUSE IS MANDATORY.

SIR?

WHAT'S THIS? UH, LISTENING TO JORDAN WETHERSBY

ACCEPT THE LAST SIX BELMONTS,

I'VE HAD OCCASION TO JOT DOWN A FEW STRAY MUSINGS OF MY OWN.

AND I'D BE MOST GRATEFUL IF YOU TWO POOLED YOUR LITERARY TALENTS

AND TYPED THEM UP INTO A BOFFO ACCEPTANCE SPEECH.

FEEL FREE TO BE BRILLIANT.

I THINK I SPEAK FOR US ALL WHEN I SAY HOW HAPPY WE ARE

THAT MR. DOWD HAS RETURNED TO OUR SOMEWHAT EMPTY NEST.

THANK YOU, SIR. IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK, AND, UH, I'M NOT ALONE.

BEFORE I LEFT POSNER-KLEIN, I DROPPED A LINE IN THE WATER

TO SEE IF ANY OF THEIR CLIENTS WOULD CONSIDER LEAVING WITH ME. DID ANY?

H.C. CLEMENTS-- IF YOU WANT 'EM, THEY'RE YOURS.

H.C. CLEMENTS WON A NO-BID CONTRACT

TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSES IN NEW ORLEANS AFTER KATRINA.

EXACTLY HOW MANY OF THOSE HOUSES DID THEY END UP BUILDING? THEIR BOARD ISN'T EXACTLY MADE UP OF SAINTS, KEITH.

SHOW ME THE COMPANY WHOSE IS. I DON'T SEE HOW THIS FIRM, WHICH IS DEDICATED

TO FOSTERING SOCIAL JUSTICE, CAN REPRESENT A COMPANY

THAT GOT RICH NOT HELPING VICTIMS OF A NATURAL DISASTER.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT CLEAR CONSCIENCES.

IT'S ABOUT CLEAR CHECKS. I-I THOUGHT YOU GUYS

WERE HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON. I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER IT.

H.C. CLEMENTS IS

A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY WITH PROFITS IN THE BILLIONS...

WHICH DOESN'T EXACTLY

LIVE UP TO THE REPUTATION WE'VE BEEN CULTIVATING.

I WON'T REPRESENT 'EM. THIS'LL MEAN A WALK FOR ME. AND WE'RE ALL RIGHT BEHIND YOU

IF THIS FIRM DOESN'T BEGIN TAKING CASES

THAT END IN GETTING PAID. H.C. CLEMENTS CURRENTLY HAS THE LEGAL REPRESENTATION

IT DESERVES. JORDAN.

AND IN ANY CASE, I'VE ALREADY BEEN RETAINED BY A NEW CLIENT

WHO REQUIRES OUR ATTENTION. WHO?

A GENTLEMAN IN HIS MIDDLE YEARS

WHO LOST HIS JOB DUE TO CORPORATE GREED. AS A GENERAL RULE,

MIDLIFE CRISES DON'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT WHAT'S MONEY COMPARED TO A GOOD CAUSE?

ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?

I'M AWARE OF THE FIRM'S PLIGHT, ELI.

BUT WE BEGAN THIS ENDEAVOR OF OURS WITH A CLEAR IDEA

OF THE KIND OF CASES WE WANTED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH.

THIS SUIT AGAINST EVERTON--

IT'S ABOUT BASIC RIGHT AND WRONG.

IF IT IS TO BE OUR LAST CRUSADE,

THEN LET THAT CASE BE SOMETHING WE CAN ALL BELIEVE IN.

TO END OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE TO COMPLETE OUR QUEST WITH GRACE.

SHOULD I TAKE THE LOOK ON YOUR FACE TO MEAN YOU DON'T AGREE?

NOT AT ALL. I JUST--YOU SAID "GRACE."

MADE ME THINK OF... GRACE.

AH. THE WOULD-BE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE.

PATTI GOSSIPS.

SO SHE'S IN AFRICA?

KENYA.

WELL, LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE,

SHOULD OUR FIRM CLOSE ITS DOORS,

YOU'LL HAVE THE TIME TO VISIT HER.

WELCOME ABOARD KEY STAR AIRLINES FLIGHT 212

OUT OF SAN FRANCISCO WITH STOPS IN NEW YORK AND ROME

BEFORE CONTINUING ON TO OUR FINAL DESTINATION--NAIROBI.

NAIROBI?

THIS PLANE IS GOING...

KENYA.

AS I SAID, YOUR PLANE TO KENYA DOESN'T TAKE OFF

UNTIL AFTER OUR FIRM CRASHES AND BURNS.

MM-HMM.

EVERTON FINANCIAL FIRED MY CLIENT ON FRAUDULENT GROUNDS.

THEY CLAIMED HE HAD TO BE LAID OFF

BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD HIS SALARY

AND YET SOMEHOW FOUND ENOUGH MONEY

TO PAY ITS DISGRACED EX-C.E.O. CLAYTON WELLS

A $43 MILLION GOLDEN PARACHUTE.

IT WASN'T A GOLDEN PARACHUTE. TRUE. AT $43 MILLION,

IT WAS MORE LIKE A DIAMOND-ENCRUSTED PARACHUTE.

IT WAS A SEVERANCE PACKAGE WHICH WAS PAID TO MR. WELLS

AFTER HE WAS FIRED HIMSELF.

IT WAS HIS BOTCHED MANAGEMENT THAT NECESSITATED THE LAYOFFS

IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND YOU DON'T FIND IT PERVERSE THAT AFTER BEING PAID

$220 MILLION TO DO A BAD JOB,

HE GOT REWARDED WITH A $43 MILLION BONUS?

DOESN'T MATTER WHAT I THINK.

THERE'S ZERO BASIS IN CALIFORNIA STATUTE

OR CASE LAW FOR THE PLAINTIFF'S CLAIM. HE'S RIGHT, MR. WETHERSBY.

YOUR CLIENT WAS AN AT-WILL EMPLOYEE.

UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW, THAT MEANS HE COULD BE FIRED AT ANY TIME.

I-I'M SORRY, YOUR HONOR.

ARE YOU ARGUING OPPOSING COUNSEL'S CASE? JUST STATING THE LEGAL FACTS AS I SEE THEM.

BEING A JUDGE AND ALL, I DO THAT SOMETIMES.

YOU HAVE FAILED TO STATE A VALID LEGAL CLAIM.

I HEREBY GRANT EVERTON'S 12 MOTION TO DISMISS.

MR. LEBAKOWSKI?

"LEBAKOWSKI"? THAT'S THE BEST NAME YOU COULD COME UP WITH?

FRANK LEBAKOWSKI IS MY GIVEN NAME.

"CHEN" IS MY... NOM DE NEEDLE.

UH, LOOK, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO TALK WITH A CERTAIN LAWYER,

I CAN'T HELP YOU, FRANK.

ACTUALLY, I'M LOOKING TO TALK WITH A CERTAIN DOCTOR.

TALK ABOUT WHAT?

AH... OKAY, HOW LONG HAS YOUR THROAT BEEN HURTING?

UH, A FEW DAYS.

MM-HMM.

HOW'S ELI DOING?

WELL, HE WAS DOING GREAT WHEN HE KICKED YOU AND ME

OUT OF HIS APARTMENT, SAID HE NEVER WANTED TO TALK

TO EITHER ONE OF US AGAIN, HMM? ANY FEVER?

NO. YOU TWO WILL WORK THINGS OUT. YOU'RE BROTHERS.

HMM. BROTHERS WITH A, UH, SINGULAR ABILITY

TO PISS EACH OTHER OFF AND LET EACH OTHER DOWN.

TALK TO MY BROTHER SOMEDAY.

I KNOW THAT ELI BELIEVES THAT SOMEHOW YOU WERE--

I DID.

I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR FATHER'S DEATH, NATE.

LOOK, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS DARK TRUTH STUFF,

BUT THE MEDICAL TRUTH IS THAT MY FATHER'S HEART DISEASE

WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF HIS DRINKING,

NOT SOME VOODOO ACUPUNCTURE.

YOU DIDN'T KILL HIM, FRANK.

WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN TRUTHS, NATHAN,

AND WE HAVE TO LIVE BY THEM,

JUST AS WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES

OF BELIEVING IN THEM.

WHAT IS ELI GONNA DO WITHOUT YOU, HMM?

THIS IS FOR AMOXICILLIN... UNLESS YOU, UH,

WANT TO STICK WITH ACUPUNCTURE AND EYE OF NEWT.

YOU'RE JOKING, RIGHT? WHY DON'T YOU DO THE TYPING?

BECAUSE YOU TYPE FASTER THAN I DO,

MAGNUM.

DIDN'T YOU TAKE SOME SECRETARIAL CLASSES AS A BACKUP

IN CASE THE LAW THING DIDN'T WORK OUT?

THE QUICKER WE GET THIS OVER WITH,

THE FASTER I CAN GO BACK TO NOT WORKING WITH YOU.

FAIR ENOUGH, MAGNA CARTA.

OH, AND STOP GIVING ME THE CUTE NICKNAMES.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF I CALLED YOU... PAULIE?

MY GRANDFATHER STILL CALLS ME PAULIE.

HE PHONES ME EVERY WEDNESDAY.

"HEY, PAULIE, HOW ARE THINGS GOING AT THE OFFICE?"

THAT'S WHEN I KNOW SOMETHING'S OFF WITH HIS DIABETES.

THEN HE...

THEN HE CALLS ME PAUL.

DEKKER.

DOWD, DON'T YOU HAVE A SINKING SHIP TO JUMP ON?

YOU KNOW, PAUL, I AM REALLY GONNA MISS BUMPING INTO YOU

IN THE MEN'S BATHROOM.

I HAVE NEVER FELT SO SUPERIOR TO ANOTHER LAWYER.

HEY.

HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL ME YOU WERE LEAVING?

I THOUGHT YOU AND I WERE, YOU KNOW,

CO-STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND.

WHO AM I SUPPOSED TO VENT TO WHEN THIS PLACE DRIVES ME CRAZY?

YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL...

OR BE SOMEWHERE THAT WON'T DRIVE YOU CRAZY.

I CAN'T GO BACK, MATT,

BECAUSE THERE, I'LL ALWAYS JUST BE MAGGIE.

HERE, I'M A RESPECTED ATTORNEY.

YO, AUTO-MAG!

FOR THE MOST PART.

JERK.

I'M SORRY I DIDN'T TELL YOU ABOUT THE COPY OF DAD'S JOURNAL.

I MEANT YOU'RE A JERK FOR BEING THE FIRST ONE TO APOLOGIZE

FOR BEING THE BIGGER MAN.

WELL, THE TALLER, BETTER-LOOKING ONE FOR SURE.

CAN WE JUST SKIP THE HUG

AND GO STRAIGHT TO TALKING ABOUT SPORTS?

SURE. YOU KNOW WHO ELSE WOULD LOVE TO TALK ABOUT SPORTS? DON'T.

I SAW FRANK TODAY. WE JUST GOT COOL. YOU REALLY THINK I WANT TO HEAR

THAT YOU'VE BEEN CHILLING WITH THE MAN WHO KILLED OUR FATHER? HE DIDN'T. BESIDES, I KNOW HOW IT FEELS

TO HAVE CONVINCED YOURSELF OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS

THAT YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF JEREMY STONE. YOU WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS HEART GIVING OUT.

MAYBE NOT, BUT I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT WHATEVER JUJU FRANK DID

IS WHAT KILLED HIM EITHER.

I AM CONVINCED THAT HE'S YOUR FRIEND,

AND YOU NEED HIM, ELI.

WHAT HAPPENS THE NEXT TIME YOU HAVE A VISION, HUH?

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

I HAD A VISION. I WAS ON A PLANE LEAVING TOWN.

GUESS WE SHOULDN'T HAVE BOTHERED TO PRINT UP

ALL THAT WETHERSBY, STONE STATIONERY, HUH?

WOW, I-I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BAD YOUR FIRM WAS HURTING.

MM.

BUT FRANK'S HURTING, TOO, ELI.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED?

I WANT DAD TO BE ALIVE, AND HE TOOK THAT FROM ME--

FROM YOU, TOO.

HELL, IF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HADN'T PASSED

YEARS AGO, I WOULD SUE HIM FOR GURU MALPRACTICE.

I'M FAIRLY CERTAIN THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS GURU MALPRACTICE.

EXECUTIVE MALPRACTICE?

YEAH. PEOPLE SUE THEIR DOCTORS WHEN THEY BOTCH A PROCEDURE.

THEY SUE THEIR LAWYERS WHEN THEY BOTCH A CASE.

WHY SHOULDN'T THEY ALSO BE ABLE TO SUE THEIR BOSSES

WHEN THEY SCREW UP? SO WHAT ARE YOU SUGGESTING?

WE SUE CLAYTON WELLS, THE EX-C.E.O.,

FOR SCREWING UP THE COMPANY. LATELY I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT

HOW I'M PERCEIVED IN THE EYES OF MY PEERS.

THEIR ESTIMATION OF ME HAS BEEN LOWERED, IN PART,

BECAUSE OF MY ASSOCIATION WITH YOU.

BUT IT'S MOMENTS LIKE THIS WHICH AFFIRM THAT PARTNERSHIP.

SO YOU'RE GONNA CALL OUR CLIENT?

NO. I'M GOING TO CALL OUR CLIENTS.

I SEE NO REASON WHY EVERY EMPLOYEE

WHO LOST THEIR JOB AT EVERTON

SHOULDN'T AVAIL THEMSELVES OF YOUR BRILLIANT THEORY--

ALL 300 OF THEM.

FIRST, MR. STEMPLE SUED EVERTON.

NOW HE'S HERE SUING EVERTON'S FORMER C.E.O.

I HAVE A FEW EVERTON SHARES IN MY 401.

SHOULD I EXPECT A SUBPOENA, TOO?

YOU DIDN'T PUT 300 PEOPLE OUT OF WORK.

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY ZERO PRECEDENT

FOR EX-EMPLOYEES OF A COMPANY SUING ITS EX-C.E.O.

FOR NEGLIGENCE. IT'S-- INNOVATIVE, I ADMIT.

MAYBE IF CLAYTON WELLS HAD BEEN MORE CREATIVE HIMSELF,

HE AND MY CLIENTS WOULD STILL HAVE JOBS.

THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN A CLEVER CROWD-PLEASER, JUDGE.

C.E.O.s OWE A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO THEIR STOCKHOLDERS.

WHY SHOULDN'T THEY OWE THE SAME TO THEIR EMPLOYEES?

IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED,

CLAYTON WELLS WAS JUST AS FIRED AS YOUR CLIENTS. WITH ONE SLIGHT DIFFERENCE--

MR. WELLS LEFT EVERTON WITH A $43 MILLION CONSOLATION PRIZE.

THOUGH I AM LOATH TO ACCEPT IT,

THE PLAINTIFFS HAVE STATED A VALID, IF NOVEL, LEGAL CLAIM.

YOUR HONOR-- I'M SORRY, COUNSEL.

I AM CERTIFYING THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT

AGAINST CLAYTON WELLS FOR EXECUTIVE MALPRACTICE.

IT ISN'T FAIR. WHAT ISN'T FAIR?

THE VIEW FROM MY OFFICE? YEAH, IT'S PRETTY SPECTACULAR.

YOU CAN SEE WHAT EXACTLY FROM YOUR CUBICLE?

I DON'T HAVE A CUBICLE, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT POSNER'S SPEECH.

WHAT'S WRONG? I THINK WE KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK. THERE'S NOT A WORD OF MINE IN THIS.

WHAT DO YOU CARE? YOU DIDN'T WANT TO WRITE THE THING ANYWAY. EVERY ASSIGNMENT I'M GIVEN GETS MY BEST,

WHETHER I THINK IT DESERVES IT OR NOT.

WHICH IS WHY YOU WROTE YOUR OWN DRAFT, HUH?

I DID, BUT UNLIKE YOU,

I ACTUALLY INCLUDED SOME OF YOUR MATERIAL. PRIEST/RABBI/LAWYER JOKE?

COULDN'T HAVE DELETED IT FASTER.

WHILE I GREATLY RESPECT YOUR PREVIOUSLY HIDDEN CAPACITY

FOR ONE-UPSMANSHIP,

THIS IS NOT A CREATIVE WRITING SEMINAR, MAGAMUFFIN.

THIS IS A LAW FIRM, AND I AM A PARTNER

WITH A VERY FUNNY PRIEST/RABBI/LAWYER JOKE

AND VETO POWER.

YOU KNOW WHAT? POSNER SHOULD USE YOUR SPEECH.

I'M SURE HE'D RATHER BE READING A SPEECH

WRITTEN BY HIS VERY OWN MINI ME. ARE YOU SURE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE

ISN'T THAT YOU'D RATHER BE WRITING A SPEECH

FOR JORDAN WETHERSBY? WHAT I'D RATHER BE DOING, PAUL, IS PRACTICING LAW,

THE JOB I WAS ACTUALLY HIRED FOR AT THIS FIRM,

NOT THE JOB YOU MISTAKENLY THINK I HAVE--

BEING A SUBORDINATE FOR YOU TO KICK AROUND

JUST SO YOU CAN FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOUR OWN EMPTY LIFE.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

WE MADE SOME BAD BETS,

EXPANDED INTO MARKETS MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE STAYED OUT OF,

MADE INVESTMENTS IN R & D THAT DIDN'T PAY OFF.

THE PLAINTIFFS SAY YOU'RE GUILTY OF EXECUTIVE MALPRACTICE,

THAT YOU SHOULD BE HELD

TO THE SAME STANDARD OF CARE AS DOCTORS.

DO YOU AGREE?

NO. DOCTORS OPERATE IN STERILE, PREDICTABLE ENVIRONMENTS.

RUNNING A DIVERSIFIED MULTINATIONAL CONGLOMERATE

IS LIKE--IT'S LIKE WAKING UP EVERY MORNING

AND TRYING TO DRINK FROM A FIRE HOSE. WHAT ABOUT LAWYERS?

SHOULD YOU BE HELD

TO THE SAME STANDARD OF LEGAL LIABILITY AS, SAY, ME?

WELL, NO, BECAUSE WHEN THOSE GOOD PEOPLE OF THE JURY BOX

COME BACK WITH A VERDICT, THIS TRIAL'S OVER.

AS FAR AS MY STEWARDSHIP OF EVERTON GOES,

WELL, THE JURY'S STILL OUT. COULD YOU ELABORATE?

WELL, I'M STILL DAMN BULLISH

THAT MY DECISIONS ARE GONNA PAY OFF.

I'D GIVE ANYTHING TO STILL BE C.E.O. OF EVERTON

AND TO STEER THAT COMPANY INTO PORT. THANK YOU.

SO BASICALLY...

YOU DIDN'T GET FIRED BECAUSE YOU MADE BAD DECISIONS.

EVERTON'S BOARD MADE A BAD DECISION WHEN THEY FIRED YOU.

THE BOARD WANTED TO MOLLIFY PANICKY STOCKHOLDERS.

THEY TOOK THE SHORT-TERM VIEW.

I WAS FOCUSED ON THE BIG PICTURE.

THESE ARE, UH, PRINTOUTS OF E-MAILS

SENT TO YOU BY RUSSELL COVEY,

EVERTON'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

WHEN YOU WERE C.E.O.

COULD YOU PLEASE DESCRIBE THE CONTENTS OF THOSE E-MAILS

TO THE JURY? I'D HAVE TO REREAD 'EM FIRST.

OR READ THEM AT ALL.

UM, ACCORDING TO EVERTON'S I.T. DEPARTMENT,

YOU DELETED THESE E-MAILS AND MANY OTHERS

WITHOUT READING THEM.

"FINANCIAL SHORTFALL EXPECTED-- YOUR ATTENTION REQUIRED,"

FOLLOWED DAYS LATER BY,

"PLEASE CALL A.S.A.P. FINANCIAL SHORTFALL,"

FOLLOWED JUST A WEEK LATER BY, "URGENT. DO NOT DELETE"--

THAT'S IN ALL CAPS, BY THE WAY-- "YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION NECESSARY

MERGER INTEGRATION PROBLEMS."

I'M--I'M SENSING A PATTERN HERE. I WAS TOO BUSY DOING MY JOB TO BE READING E-MAILS.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS DOCUMENT?

IT'S A SNAPSHOT OF MY VirtualDuffer.com HOME PAGE.

IT'S A WEB SITE THAT GOLFERS USE TO TRACK THEIR HANDICAP.

YOU ENTER YOU SCORE AFTER EACH ROUND YOU PLAY.

WOULD YOU CARE TO TELL THE JURY HOW MANY ROUNDS OF GOLF

YOU PLAYED WHILE YOU WERE C.E.O.? I CLOSED A LOT OF KEY DEALS ON THAT GOLF COURSE.

REALLY? UH, NAME ONE.

I FORGOT. YOU DON'T DEAL IN SPECIFICS.

YOU'RE A "BIG PICTURE" GUY.

GIVE ME YOUR WALLET. IF YOU'RE GONNA HOLD UP PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH,

YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GO WITH A SKI MASK AND A GUN.

YOU TOLD ME TO TAKE CARE OF JIM NORRIS.

HE DOESN'T LIKE THE SOAP IN THE MEN'S ROOM.

HE WANTS HYPOALLERGENIC SOAP, ALSO KNOWN

AS "WHITE PEOPLE CAN'T DO ANYTHING THE EASY WAY" SOAP.

AND SINCE OUR FIRM CANNOT AFFORD A PETTY CASH JAR ANYMORE...

OKAY, BUT AFTER YOU'VE DONE THIS, DO ME A FAVOR--

FIND OUT HOW MUCH THE FLIGHTS ARE FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO KENYA.

PLANNING A TRIP? NO. WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

I-I JUST NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST. IT'LL COST YOU YOUR ASSISTANT.

WHAT? THIS PLACE IS HANGING ON BY A THREAD, ELI.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GO GAZELLE HERDING WITH GRACE.

WELL, THE VISION I GOT SENT BY THE NOTORIOUS G.O.D.

SAYS OTHERWISE. WHAT DID YOU SEE THIS TIME?

THAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT TO GET

A NEVER-ENDING SUPPLY OF VACATION DAYS. MAYBE YOU MADE THE WRONG INTERPRETATION.

WHY DON'T YOU LET ME MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DR. CHEN? I DIDN'T NEED CHEN. I JUST-- I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TICKET.

I THOUGHT THINGS WERE GOING WELL.

ELI SAID HE SCORED SOME POINTS TODAY. AND SO HE DID.

THEN WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'VE ALREADY LOST?

ANXIETY.

IT'S STRESSFUL ENOUGH REPRESENTING

A MAN I CONSIDERED MY "PATH NOT TAKEN,"

AND NOW HAVING THE RESPONSIBILITY

OF REPRESENTING 300 OF THEM?

YOU SHOULD BE 300 TIMES MORE PROUD OF YOURSELF. I KNOW I AM.

IT WASN'T SO LONG AGO

THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEFENDING THE RUTHLESS C.E.O.

IRONIC, THAT BACK THEN, I SLEPT SOUNDLY.

AT LEAST THERE WILL BE NO SUCH ANXIETY

ASSOCIATED WITH TONIGHT'S AWARDS DINNER.

YOU DON'T KNOW YOU WON'T WIN THE BELMONT. IN FACT, I DO.

MY OPPOSING COUNSEL ON THE WELLS CASE

IS ALSO ON THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE.

DOUG, DID WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED?

YOU DON'T KNOW? KNOW WHAT?

AND, OH! HAVE YOU HEARD THE LATEST

ABOUT EVERTON, FOLKS? LOVELY EVERTON.

OUR SOURCES IN THE BOARDROOM TELL US THAT EVERTON FINANCIAL

IS IN FINAL STAGE TALKS

TO REHIRE CLAYTON WELLS AS ITS C.E.O.!

BA-BA-BA-BA-BA--WHAT?

CAN'T BELIEVE IT? BELIEVE IT.

TAKE IT TO THE BANK AND...

SMOKE IT! THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE THE C--

CAN THEY DO THAT? JUST HIRE HIM BACK? YES.

BUT WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD THEY WANT TO? THAT'S WHY--E.N.F.

THE CONTINUED MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE TRIAL

HAS CAUSED EVERTON'S STOCK PRICE TO FURTHER ERODE.

SO THEY THINK IF THEY--THEY REHIRE WELLS,

THEIR STOCK WILL GO BACK UP? OBVIOUSLY, BUT THAT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM.

IF EVERTON IS WILLING TO REHIRE WELLS...

THEN HOW NEGLIGENT COULD HE HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST PLACE?

I WANT YOU TO TRY AND GET AS MUCH OF YOUR HOMEWORK DONE

AS YOU CAN ON THE PLANE.

WHAT?

Y-YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE MY NAME?

PEOPLE KNOW ME PROFESSIONALLY BY MY MAIDEN NAME,

AND I LIKE IT.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE

IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME THAT BEFORE THE WEDDING.

WHAT THE HELL WERE THE REPUBLICANS THINKING?

DID ANYONE HONESTLY THINK THAT CROTCHETY OLD VETERAN

COULD BEAT MR. YOUNG, HIP AND COOL?

I GUESS EXPERIENCE DOESN'T COUNT FOR MUCH THESE DAYS. HUH. NOT AGAINST A ROCK STAR.

THIS ISN'T MY FUTURE. IT'S THE PAST.

SIR, CAN I HELP YOU FIND YOUR SEAT?

WHAT? NO. NO, I'M OKAY.

DAD.

IT'S KIND OF IRONIC.

YOU KNOW, WE'D NEVER GET DAD TO--TO SHOW UP FOR BALL GAMES

OR--OR SCHOOL PLAYS, PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES... NOW HE'S A SERIES REGULAR IN MY VISIONS.

HMM. THIS ONE WAS FROM ABOUT A DECADE AGO.

DID YOU REMEMBER HIM TAKING A TRIP ABOUT THAT TIME?

NO. BUT EVEN IF I DID, HE WOULDN'T HAVE FLOWN.

DAD HATED FLYING.

WHY DO YOU THINK WE ROAD-TRIPPED FOR ALL OUR FAMILY VACATIONS?

I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING ON THAT PLANE.

WELL, THERE IS... ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.

COME ON, ELI. DON'T YOU THINK NOW MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME

TO BURY THE ACUPUNCTURE NEEDLE?

WE DON'T NEED FRANK. WE NEED GOOGLE.

ALL RIGHT.

I SAW THE CARRIER NAME AND THE FLIGHT NUMBER--

KEY STAR AIRLINES, FLIGHT 2-1-2.

LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING WEIRD-ISH

OR DAD-ISH.

WHOA. THAT PLANE...

BUT DAD-- HE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN ON IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MEANS?

MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT.

NOW THAT MY CLIENT HAS HIS JOB BACK, THIS CASE IS OVER.

THE JURY REACHED A VERDICT? DID WE WIN?

NO, YOU LOST.

I HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE A PLAN "B."

I'M THINKING OF KILLING THE JUDGE. LET'S LEAVE THAT FOR A PLAN FURTHER DOWN THE ALPHABET.

JUDGE BORTZ'S WIFE WOULD MISS HIM TERRIBLY. LUCKY GIRL--GETTING TO TRADE IN HER MAIDEN NAME

TO BECOME MRS. BORTZ.

ALL RISE.

"IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF YOU TOLD ME THIS

BEFORE THE WEDDING." WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

SIR, CAN I SEE THE LIST OF EVERTON SHAREHOLDERS?

COUNSEL, I HAVEN'T GOT ALL DAY.

COME ON.

ALL RIGHT, THE DEFENSE HAS APPARENTLY MADE A MOTION

FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. BASED ON IRRELEVANT DEVELOPMENTS, YOUR HONOR.

TO USE YOUR DYING PATIENT ANALOGY,

THE PATIENT HAS HIRED BACK HIS DOCTOR.

THIS ENTIRE CASE IS PREMISED ON CLAYTON WELLS' TERMINATION.

THAT TERMINATION HAS BEEN RESCINDED.

THEREFORE, THE CASE MUST BE DISMISSED.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

ACTUALLY, I CAN.

WATCH AS I SLOWLY RAISE THE GAVEL

AND SAY "MOTION GRANTED. CASE DISMISSED."

ARE YOU ENTIRELY OUT OF YOUR MIND?

THE FACT THAT EVERTON'S BOARD

WANTS TO HIRE CLAYTON WELLS IS IRRELEVANT.

THIS CASE IS NOT ABOUT EVERTON'S BOARD. IT'S ABOUT ITS EMPLOYEES,

ITS SHAREHOLDERS... ENOUGH, MR. STONE.

EVEN THEIR SPOUSES. BUT I THINK THAT YOU ARE JUST THE JUDGE

TO TAKE US ON OUR MAIDEN NAME-- I MEAN, VOYAGE.

YOU, UH,

RAISE AN, UH, EXCELLENT POINT,

MR. STONE.

AHEM.

ON FURTHER REFLECTION,

EVERTON'S DECISION TO REHIRE CLAYTON WELLS

SHOULD NOT PRECLUDE THE JURY FROM RENDERING JUDGMENT

ON HIS PREVIOUS TENURE AS C.E.O.

MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT DENIED.

DID YOU... JUST BLACKMAIL THE JUDGE?

NOT THAT I'M COMPLAINING. SOMETHING YOU SAID REMINDED ME THAT BRENDA HUDSON

OWNS 7,500 SHARES OF EVERTON STOCK IN HER RETIREMENT FOLDER.

WHO'S BRENDA HUDSON?

BRENDA BORTZ, ACTUALLY. HUDSON WAS HER MAIDEN NAME.

JUDGE BORTZ HAS HIS RETIREMENT TO WORRY ABOUT.

AND NOW FOR THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.

THE JOEL T. BELMONT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN JURISPRUDENCE

IS THE HIGHEST HONOR THE CALIFORNIA BAR ASSOCIATION

CAN BESTOW ON ONE OF ITS COLLEAGUES.

IT IS MY DISTINGUISHED PLEASURE TO PRESENT

THE 2009 JOEL T. BELMONT AWARD TO MARTIN POSNER.

THANK YOU, NEIL.

THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU ALL,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY.

AN OBSCURE 19th CENTURY AMERICAN LAWYER

YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF--ABRAHAM LINCOLN--

SAID... "THE LEADING RULE FOR THE LAWYER

"IS TO LEAVE NOTHING FOR TOMORROW

WHICH CAN BE DONE TODAY."

LINCOLN'S CHALLENGE TO HIS FELLOW ATTORNEYS

HOLDS AS TRUE NOW AS IT DID A CENTURY AND A HALF AGO.

WINE, PLEASE.

...IN THE FUTURE. TOO CONCERNED WITH WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN...

NICE JOB WITH THE SPEECH.

HOW DID YOU KNOW IT WASN'T POSNER'S JOB?

NOTHING SAYS "MAGGIE DEKKER"

MORE THAN AN OBSCURE HISTORICAL QUOTE.

YOU'LL BE INTERESTED TO KNOW I ONLY COWROTE IT. WITH PAUL ROLLINS?

HOW DID YOU KNOW? OH, IT WAS A LUCKY GUESS.

I KNOW YOU TWO HAVE BEEN SPENDING SOME TIME TOGETHER.

DID YOU... HAVE A VISION ABOUT ME? ABOUT ME AND PAUL?

LET'S JUST SAY I, UH, I SAW YOU TOGETHER.

I KNOW IT'S NONE OF MY BUSINESS. NO KIDDING.

MM. SO THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON WITH YOU TWO? YOU KNOW WHEN I SAID LAST WEEK THAT WE WERE FRIENDS?

I DIDN'T MEAN THE KIND OF FRIENDS

WHO COULD HAVE THIS KIND OF CONVERSATION.

OH.

THANK YOU.

MARTIN, CONGRATULATIONS.

IT'S A WELL-DESERVED HONOR.

WHY, I HAVE TO CONFESS A BIT OF SURPRISE.

I WOULDN'T HAVE EXPECTED YOU TO BE THE BETTER MAN.

WELL, THAT WOULD EXPLAIN OUR PARTING OF PROFESSIONAL WAYS.

EXCUSE ME.

BEFORE WE WIND THINGS UP TONIGHT,

WE HAVE ONE MORE COLLEAGUE TO HEAR FROM--

TAYLOR WETHERSBY.

GOOD EVENING.

THIS YEAR, THE CALIFORNIA BAR ASSOCIATION

IS INTRODUCING A NEW ACCOLADE

TO RECOGNIZE COMMITMENT TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM

BEYOND THE COLLECTION OF COURTROOM

AND BOARDROOM VICTORIES.

AND WHILE MOST OF US ARE JUST TRYING TO FIND OUR WAY

IN THIS WORLD AS LAWYERS, THERE ARE VERY FEW OF US

WHO USE THE LAW TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER.

AND SO IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT I'VE BEEN ASKED TO PRESENT

THE FIRST ANNUAL ACKERMAN HUMANITARIAN AWARD

TO JORDAN WETHERSBY.

WOW.

YOU REALLY DO HAVE YOUR OWN OFFICE.

AND I HAVE AN ACTUAL LAW DEGREE TO GO WITH IT.

I THOUGHT POSNER GAVE A PRETTY GOOD SPEECH THE OTHER NIGHT.

I THOUGHT SO, TOO, SINCE I WROTE IT.

YEAH, NO NEED TO THANK ME ABOUT THAT, BY THE WAY.

WHAT DO YOU NEED, PAUL?

I, UH, I MINORED IN THEATER IN UNDERGRAD.

SO YOU WOULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB DELIVERING THE SPEECH?

THE PAUL ROLLINS YOU WORK FOR-- IT'S A PART I PLAY.

IT'S A--IT'S A CHARACTER.

NOW TRUTH BE TOLD, THE OTHER LAWYERS IN THIS FIRM

ARE THE SAME WAY-- THEY'RE PLAYING ROLES,

SO THAT WHEN THEIR-- THEIR ALTER EGOS CUT CORNERS

OR--OR BREACH ETHICAL BOUNDARIES

OR SPEAK INAPPROPRIATELY TO HIGHLY TALENTED SUBORDINATES,

IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE BAD BEHAVIOR,

BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REALLY DOING IT.

THIS IS THE WEIRDEST APOLOGY EVER.

OKAY, MY POINT IS...

DESPITE MY CONSIDERABLE INTELLIGENCE,

IT HAS TAKEN ME A WHILE TO SEE THAT

IN THE PRODUCTION KNOWN AS POSNER-KLEIN...

THE PART OF MAGGIE DEKKER IS BEING PLAYED BY HERSELF.

WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME THIS, PAUL?

BECAUSE I SUSPECT THAT YOU'RE A--

YOU'RE A PRETTY GOOD JUDGE OF CHARACTER.

THIS WEEK...

I SUDDENLY FOUND MYSELF

WANTING YOU NOT TO, UH...

JUDGE ME WITHOUT ALL THE FACTS.

I'LL SEE YOU...

MAGGIE.

ELI STONE IS A CLEVER LAWYER.

MAIN STREET IS FURIOUS WITH WALL STREET LATELY,

AND FOR VERY GOOD REASON.

PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS

WHILE THE HEADS OF THESE CORPORATIONS

CONTINUE TO COLLECT 7 AND 8-FIGURE BONUSES

AND GOLDEN PARACHUTES.

IT'S A PATENT UNFAIRNESS THAT THE PLAINTIFFS ARE HOPING

THEY CAN CONVERT INTO A FINANCIAL WINDFALL.

AND IT ALL SEEMS SO PERFECTLY REASONABLE, DOESN'T IT?

WHY SHOULDN'T C.E.O.s BE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD AS DOCTORS?

WELL, HAVE YOU BEEN TO A DOCTOR LATELY?

THE HIGH PRICES, THE NEEDLESS TESTS,

THE BUREAUCRACY--

THAT'S ALL TO SHIELD THEM FROM LAWSUITS.

AND NOW THEY WANT CORPORATE EXECUTIVES

TO BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME SECOND-GUESSING.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT WILL DO TO AMERICA'S ABILITY

TO COMPETE IN THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE?

IF YOU TAKE AWAY THE GOLDEN PARACHUTE,

HOW WILL WE ATTRACT QUALIFIED MEN AND WOMEN

TO RUN THESE CORPORATIONS THAT GIVE US OUR JOBS?

MR. STEMPLE AND HIS COWORKERS-- THEY LOST THEIR JOBS,

AND THAT IS A TRAGEDY--

ONE THAT HAPPENS FAR TOO OFTEN THESE DAYS.

BUT TO GIVE THEM WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR

COULD COST YOU YOUR JOB.

MS. MILLER'S ARGUMENT HAS A-A FAMILIAR RING TO IT.

C.E.O.s HAVE TO MAKE BILLIONS BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM,

THERE ARE NO JOBS FOR THE REST OF US.

"GREED IS GOOD."

"A RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS."

"PROSPERITY TRICKLES DOWN."

"DON'T TIE OUR HANDS WITH REGULATION."

WELL, WE SEE HOW THAT WORKED OUT.

DOUG STEMPLE AND HIS COWORKERS DIDN'T "LOSE" THEIR JOBS.

CLAYTON WELLS "LOST" THEIR JOBS FOR THEM,

AND NOT BECAUSE ANYONE "SECOND-GUESSED" HIM

OR "TIED HIS HANDS."

HE RAN EVERTON INTO THE GROUND,

THEN RAN AWAY WITH A GOLDEN PARACHUTE.

BUT MS. MILLER IS RIGHT ABOUT ONE THING--

THE VAST MAJORITY OF US DEPEND

ON C.E.O.s LIKE CLAYTON WELLS FOR OUR LIVELIHOODS.

SO WHY SHOULDN'T THE LAW

HOLD THEM TO THE SAME STANDARD OF CARE

AS DOCTORS AND STOCKBROKERS?

AS ACCOUNTANTS AND ATTORNEYS?

WHY SHOULDN'T THEY BE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD

OF BASIC COMPETENCY

THAT YOU'RE HELD TO

IN YOUR JOB?

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING.

WE'RE IN A BIT OF A DELAY HERE, BUT WE SHOULD BE CLEARED

TO PUSH BACK IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, SO PLEASE... CHAMPAGNE, SIR?

SIT BACK AND RELAX.

NO.

CHAMPAGNE, MA'AM?

CHAMPAGNE?

EXCUSE ME.

COULD EVERYBODY JUST STOP WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR A MINUTE?

PLEASE, COULD EVERYONE JUST LISTEN FOR A MINUTE?

THIS PLANE IS GOING TO CRASH.

I-I-I'M--I'M TRYING TO IMAGINE

WHAT--WHAT YOU MUST BE THINKING, LOOKING AT ME,

THE WHACKED OUT GUY IN A DIRTY WORK JACKET,

TELLING YOU THAT THIS--THIS PLANE,

THE PLANE THAT YOU'RE ON IS... GONNA CRASH

AND THAT YOUR LIVES WILL END TODAY.

BUT I SAW IT.

I SAW YOU...

AND YOU AND YOU...

AND YOU AND YOU ALL...

LOOK, I NEED YOU TO IMAGINE SOMETHING ELSE.

I NEED YOU TO IMAGINE BEING IN YOUR HOMES TONIGHT, SAFE,

WATCHING TV, WATCHING THE NEWS,

WATCHING STORY AFTER STORY ABOUT THIS PLANE GOING DOWN.

AND THEN IMAGINE YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR FAMILY

CALLING IN A PANIC, AND THEN IMAGINE ANSWERING...

BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T ON THIS PLANE.

YOU LISTENED TO THE NUT IN THE DIRTY JACKET,

AND YOU GOT OFF AND YOU LIVED. YOU LIVED.

SIR, I NEED YOU TO COME WITH US. YOU DON'T HAVE TO--

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BELIEVE IN THE MESSENGER

TO BELIEVE IN THE MESSAGE. HEY, GET HIM OUTTA HERE!

COME ON, SIR.

GET YOUR STUFF.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

YES, I AM. WE ARE NOT FLYING ON THIS PLANE.

GRACE.

THIS IS SO WEIRD.

HAS THE JURY REACHED A VERDICT?

"IN THE MATTER OF STEMPLE et al vs. CLAYTON WELLS,

"WE, THE JURY, FIND IN FAVOR OF THE PLAINTIFFS

"AND AWARD DAMAGES IN THE AMOUNT OF $300.

"FINDING GROSS NEGLIGENCE TO EXIST,

"WE FURTHER AWARD PUNITIVE DAMAGES

IN THE AMOUNT OF $220 MILLION."

WHOA!

THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS.

SURPRISE!

YOU'VE ONLY MISSED OUR BIRTHDAYS

BY FOUR MONTHS AND EIGHT MONTHS, RESPECTIVELY.

WELCOME TO WS&A's FIRST "WE JUST WON A GAZILLION DOLLARS

AND SAVED THE FIRM" PARTY. JUST SAY THIS WON'T NEED TO BECOME AN ANNUAL EVENT.

WHO ARE THESE GUYS? OH, THESE ARE THE MOVERS I HIRED TO CLEAR OUT JIM NORRIS' OFFICE.

I WAITED A FULL MINUTE AFTER HEARING THE JURY VERDICT

BEFORE TOSSING HIS ANNOYING ASS OUT THE DOOR.

COME ON. TASTE THESE MUSHROOM CAPS.

THEY'RE DIVINE.

WHAT IF THE VERDICT HADN'T GONE OUR WAY? IT'D BE A WAKE.

SO LONG AS IT'S NOT A GOING AWAY PARTY.

DON'T WORRY. I KIND OF MISINTERPRETED THE VISION.

TRY TO IMAGINE MY GALLOPING SHOCK.

YOU'RE NOT PLANNING ON JUMPING, ARE YOU?

IT'S ONLY ONE STORY.

I'M NOT SURE A BROKEN LEG WOULD LIFT MY SPIRITS ANY.

LONG TIME NO VISIT.

WHAT BRINGS YOU TO CHINATOWN?

THERE'S A GREAT DIM SUM PLACE AROUND THE CORNER.

FROM THE FIRST TIME YOU WALKED INTO MY SHOP,

I KNEW ONE DAY THE TRUTH WOULD COME OUT

ABOUT HOW YOUR DAD DIED.

I'D PRACTICE MY GRAND SPEECH ABOUT HOW YOUR DAD

BEGGED ME TO DO IT AND HOW I...

I WAS NOW BEGGING YOU FOR FORGIVENESS.

FRANK--

DID YOU KNOW YOUR DAD'S NAME JEREMY

IS A DERIVATION OF JEREMIAH?

GOD TOLD JEREMIAH, "YOU WILL GO TO THEM,

BUT THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO YOU."

HOW'S THAT FOR A MIND-SCREW?

THEY DID LISTEN, FRANK--

THE VISION THAT HE HAD, UM,

WHY HE DESPERATELY NEEDED THE DARK TRUTH...

HE SAW A PLANE CRASH,

PEOPLE DYING, AND...

HE SAVED THEM...

SOME OF THEM, AT LEAST.

UM, HE CONVINCED THEM TO GET OFF THE PLANE.

ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WAS GRACE.

SHE WAS ON THAT PLANE.

HE SAVED HER, TOO.

YOU HELPED SAVE HER.

I'M SORRY.

I'M SO SORRY I TOOK YOUR FATHER FROM YOU, ELI.

YOU DIDN'T, AND IT WAS--

IT WAS WRONG OF ME TO ACCUSE YOU LIKE THAT.

YOU HAD EVERY RIGHT TO BE ANGRY. YOU'RE HIS SON.

YEAH.

WELL, THAT'S THE THING.

I, UM...

FINALLY REALIZED THAT...

SO WERE YOU.

YOU WERE A SON IN THE WAYS THAT MATTERED.

WHEN ME AND NATE COULDN'T GET FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM HIM,

YOU WERE THERE...

BEING WHAT I NEVER WAS.

HE LOVED YOU, ELI.

I KNOW. I KNOW THAT.

BUT I-I DIDN'T KNOW HIM.

YOU KNOW?

AT LEAST NOT THE HIM

NOT STINKING OF ALCOHOL AND FAILURE.

BUT YOU, EVEN FOR THE BRIEFEST MOMENT,

YOU KNEW HIM FOR WHAT HE COULD BE--

SOMEONE WHO COULD CHANGE THE WORLD.

SO WHAT I CAME HERE TO SAY IS THANK YOU...

FROM THE BOTH OF US.

THANKS.

HEY, SIT.