All language subtitles for L.A.Law.S05E04.Armands.Hammer.1080p.DSNP.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-NTb_track4_[eng]

I was reading in my bedroom...

when all of a sudden,
I heard it.

At first, I thought backfire,

but then I heard two more
and I knew it was gunshots.

Then what did you do, Mrs. Russ?

I got up and went over
to the window.

And that's when I saw my son
lying in the street.

Ms. Fusco: You knew immediately
that it was him?

Yes, ma'am.

By his gold jacket.

And what did you do then?

I ran out to him.

He had blood
coming out of his back.

And then, I turned him over...

there was blood
in his mouth, too.

His eyes was open,
but he wasn't there.

Ms. Fusco: Your son was dead.
- Yes, ma'am.

Mrs. Russ, did you
see anyone else in the alley?

I saw that man.

Ms. Fusco: Let the record
reflect that the witness

has indicated the defendant,
Brian Chisolm.

What was he doing, Mrs. Russ?

He was standing there
with his gun.

And then, he came over to us,

But then he ran away,
he just ran away.

Thank you, ma'am.
I have nothing further.

[murmuring]

How long did it take you
to get to your son

from the time
you first heard the shots?

Fifteen-twenty seconds.

Jonathan: It would be fair
to say, as you were running

toward him, the only place
you were looking,

the only thing you saw at that
time, was your son, William.

- Isn't that probably true?
Mrs. Russ: Probably.

Jonathan: So, Mrs. Russ...

it could've been maybe
20 to 30 seconds

between the time
you heard those shots

and the time
you looked around to see

anything else or anybody else.

I don't know
how many seconds it was.

No, no, no. Of course not.

You-- you were
concerned about William.

But it could have been
20 to 30 seconds.

Well, ma'am, you're sitting
in this courtroom suggesting

my client was the only
other person in that alley.

When, in fact,
there was plenty of time for--

No, I'm sitting
in this courtroom

because my boy is dead.

I'm sitting in this
courtroom because

he was shot in the back
by that man!

- Objection! Move to strike.
- Mrs. Russ, that'll do.

Mrs. Russ: That's why
I'm here, Mr. Rollins!

Can you tell us why you're here?

- Mrs. Russ.
- He shot my boy!

But it was an accident!

The bullet hole
is in my boy's back.

How can that be an accident?

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[theme music]

People versus Chisolm.

Prosecution's
supposed eyewitness

takes the stand today.

- How's it going?
- It's tough.

Anything we can do
to help, let us know.

Moving along.
Totten tax audit.

- How's it coming, Stuart?
- It's not.

I think I persuaded
the IRS to call off the dogs.

Wonderful.
And how are you feeling?

- Fine. Fine.
Douglas? Fine.

Well, I'm not so fine.

August Oberzan
of Oberzan Development

is in my office right now
and he is very unhappy.

The king of the Mini-malls?

Evidently an
outspoken student

has been gathering up
signatures,

trying to block
his zoning variance,

and the movement's
beginning to pick up steam.

Stuart, Douglas, I'd like
you both at the meeting.

- See what we can come up with.
Stuart: Okay.

And last but not least,
Lowens versus

America's Most Embarrassing
Practical Jokes.

Couldn't settle. Looks like
we're gonna have to try it.

Are you kidding, don't you think
this guy's taking

this a little too seriously?

He had his toupee lifted off
on national television.

Douglas: How would you feel?
- Can't relate, Doug.

Arnie: How would you feel?
- Well, I think he has a case.

These television shows make
money from embarrassing people,

why not share the profits
with the victims.

- Alright, are we done?
Douglas: Done.

- Best of luck, Victor.
- Thanks.

If I don't get that variance,
I can't build the mall.

Now, I am not gonna be
run into the ground

by some little
"Save The Trees" activist.

Offer the kid nuisance value.
$10,000.

Oh, great, what's to keep
everyone else

from lining up for their money?

Oh! Come on!

You have got to do
better than that,

I am set to break ground
next month.

Why don't we hit them
with a SLAPP suit?

- Excuse me?
- Well, uh, SLAPP suit.

Strategic Lawsuit Against
Public Participants,

i.e., SLAPP.

Basically, what you do is sue
the protestors for harassment.

You tie 'em up in court,
make 'em spend

all their money on lawyers.

An-- and the thing is,
you do it publicly.

And that intimidates
other would-be protestors.

- They don't dare speak up.
- I like it.

How soon
can we file a complaint?

By the end of tomorrow.

Well, I'm not sure we wanna--

August: Oh, it's perfect!

You add every count
you can think of,

we'll tie that little bastard up
till his junior year.

SLAPP suit. [laughs]

[door opens]
Great job, Stuart! Way to go.

[sighs] Thank you.

Well, what did you think
you were taping, Mr. Lowens.

I thought I was taping
a rebuttal to a news editorial.

I'm a professor
of Soviet history,

they asked for my views
on perestroika,

I thought the whole thing
was legitimate.

And, sir,
when did you first discover

that your hair...
had left your head?

Mr. Lowens: When I saw it
on television,

along with 20 million
other people.

The defendant's never told you
they were going to air this?

Yes, but I didn't know
what had actually

happened until I saw the tape.

Sir, could you tell the court,
and I know this is difficult...

But could you tell the court
what it was like

to see yourself become bald
on national television?

I can't really describe it.

I was held up to ridicule,
my friends snicker at me...

- I even lost my job.
- Because of this?

Mr. Lowens: Yes. The dean told
me he couldn't have a professor

who the students didn't take
seriously. He fired me.

Victor: And have you been
able to find other

employment since then, sir?

After a couple of months,
I found another teaching job,

but at less pay and with
virtually no shot at tenure.

This thing
has just devastated me.

Thank you, Mr. Lowens.
I have nothing further.

You gave my clients
a signed release

authorizing them
to air the tape, didn't you?

I didn't know my toupee
had been dislodged

when I signed the release.

[laughing] Oh, come on,
Mr. Lowens,

they yanked your rug off
your head and you had no idea?

- Objection to the term "Rug."
- Overruled.

Mr. Lowens: I didn't feel
the fishhooks in my hairpiece.

But when they lifted it off,
how could you not feel that?

Yes, I did feel a draft.

But I put my hand up
and everything felt okay.

I thought some of the wires
might have moved it a little.

- Don't you... glue it on?
Mr. Lowens: No, I use tape.

But I didn't use tape
that day because I knew

I was gonna be under hot lights

and heat sometimes
makes the tape gooey.

Plus, when I sweat,
the thing smells.

Judge 1: I see, alright, look,

I don't know how far this joke
went or how humiliating it was.

- I want to see the tape.
- Oh, my God.

Judge 1: We'll set up some video
monitors, take a look at it

tomorrow so we can all
see for ourselves.

Your Honor, my client
would request that

the courtroom be sealed.

I think not.
We all able to take it.

That's tomorrow, two o'clock.
We're adjourned.

[indistinct chatter]

[traffic bustling]

And you were walking
in the next alley?

Yes, and when I heard the shot
I ran around the corner.

And what did you see?

I saw this kid running
straight at me and...

cop was right behind him,
maybe 30 feet.

Do you see that cop
in this courtroom?

- The defendant.
- And what did you see next?

Well, the cop was screaming
at the kid to stop or something.

And when he didn't,
he... shot him.

He just shot him!
[indistinct chatter]

Ms. Fusco: And what did you do?

I just stood there
like in disbelief.

Then, I just took off.

You didn't go
to the boy's aid?

I was afraid
I might get shot, too.

Ms. Fusco: Mr. Bailey,
you didn't come forward

for almost two months.

[sighs] I didn't think
it'd do any good,

telling on the police, I was
afraid they'd come after me.

Ms. Fusco: Well, why have you
come forward?

Well, Mr. Holloway
convinced me.

He said I had a responsibility
to my community

and if I saw something,
I should say what I saw,

and that's what I'm doing now.

Ms. Fusco: Thank you, sir.
I have nothing else.

Mr. Holloway tell
you what it was you saw?

Ms. Fusco: Objection!
Judge 2: Overruled.

Jonathan: Did he tell you
what to say?

Or would you like to confer
with him before answering?

He didn't, he didn't tell me
what to say, I saw it.

Mr. Holloway's your lawyer now,
isn't he?

Ms. Fusco: This has
no relevance.

Judge 2: Sit down, Ms. Fusco.

Is Mr. Holloway your lawyer?

- Yes.
Jonathan: Yes. Now...

Mr. Bailey,
you said you just stood there

as Officer Chisolm
was shooting at William Russ?

Yeah, th-- that's right.

Well, now since you testified
that the boy

was coming right at you,
that means

you were in the line of fire.
What, you just stood there?

Don't look at Mr. Holloway,
you look at me.

You just stood there while
he was shooting right at you?

Well, [stammers] it wasn't
right at me,

it was more like to the side.

Now, wait a minute,
just a minute ago

you said under oath
that he was coming right at you.

- Did you lie?
- I made a mistake.

Jonathan: A mistake? Oh, okay.

The night of the shooting you
told the police you saw nothing.

Was that a mistake, too?

I told you, I was-- I was afraid
to tell the police what I saw.

- Are you afraid of your mother?
- What?

Jonathan: According to
your mother's statement

you never told her
you saw anything.

Come on, Jerome,
two months go by,

you don't tell a single friend.
You don't tell anybody!

Are you afraid of your friends
and relatives, too?

Why are looking at him?

Ms. Fusco: Objection.
Judge 2: Overruled.

Why didn't you tell anybody
what you saw?

I don't know.

Jonathan: Because
you saw nothing.

Holloway, got to you
and you're here lying.

You're the one telling lies.

Judge 2: Mr. Holloway,
get yourself down now.

Mr. Rollins,
don't badger the witness.

Now, do you have anything more?

Nah, I don't think so.

[murmuring]

[mechanical whirring]

I really don't think
this was smart.

Well, it's too late
to reconsider, now.

I'm aware of that.

But I've lost the feeling
in my hands.

Yeah, well maybe you
should unclench them a little.

No. No. No. [laughing]

Oh, man, look!

Look, you can see
the whole park from up here.

Isn't that incredible!

It's beautiful,
it's beautiful, it's beautiful.

[screaming]

- Wasn't that incredible?
- Uh-huh.

- I'm not having fun.
- C'mon, don't suppress so much.

- Let it out. Yeah! Come on!
- Really?

[screaming]

You know, our first date
was a four-star French cuisine.

- Now, we're down to hot dogs.
- Oh, yeah.

But they're great with mustard
and they're cheap, too.

But the problem is,
I'm not getting any better

at figuring out the real you.

Who is it, this power lawyer or
the kid on the roller coaster?

You know the kind of person
who is really great

at career stuff, but not
too good at life stuff?

- Yeah, me.
- No, no, me.

Oh no, you seem to be
pretty good at the life stuff.

You... you seem to know
how to have fun.

Yeah, well, the truth is,
I've probably had more fun

in the last four days than I've
had in the last four years.

Come on, you're supposed
to say "Me too."

Well, four years is a long...

Okay, okay, okay, okay.
Two years.

- Two years?
- Two years.

Alright, me too.

- What time you got?
- Uh, 4:15.

4:15? Okay, we can either
go back to work right now

or we can ride the Dragon.

I vote for the Dragon.

I think I like you.

I think I like you, too.

[indistinct chatter]

[mechanical whirring]

Stuart : Hi, Benny.
- What's that?

It's a treadmill.
It's good exercise.

I can walk three miles a day
and never leave my office.

That's 'cause
you had a heart attack?

Yeah. Yeah, it's exercise
for my heart.

And for everything else
for that matter.

You should try it sometime.

Arnie says heart attacks
can make you croak.

I'm not gonna croak, Benny.

I just had a little tiny
heart attack.

Stuart, Dennis Brayton,
the tree activist,

hired a lawyer to defend
against our SLAPP suit.

Solo practitioner, coming in
this afternoon for a meeting.

I want to get
as many of our lawyers

as possible into that room.

I want to send the message that
they are up against an army.

Good. I-- I'll be there.

Woman 1: Why hasn't there been
any White public outcry?

The reason there's
no White public outcry

because it was
just a Black life that ended.

Cheaper market value,
don't you know?

Maybe 'cause some of us
get bought so cheap.

But not you, counsel,

I'm sure you're just leased
with an option.

Can I talk to you a minute?

Hadn't you better clear this
with Mr. Kuzak first?

No, you and me alone, or maybe
you don't talk to people

unless there's
a microphone around.

Excuse us.

Woman 2: Mr. Rollins...
Man 1: Mr. Holloway...

[indistinct chatter]

I wanna say this just once,
for the record,

there has been nobody,
no lawyer anyway,

I've admired more than you,
Mr. Holloway.

I can't tell you
how many times over the years

I've looked in the mirror
wanting to see some reflection,

some-- some hint of
what I've always seen in you.

But after watching you

and listening to you
for the last three weeks,

I don't think there's anybody
I'm more sickened by.

This your closing summation?

You talk about the system,
y-- you talk about the process,

then you stand in front of
cameras and film crews

and willingly pervert it.

The perversion is the system.

The system was gonna free that
man on involuntary manslaughter.

You don't know that
it wasn't that!

Nobody knows, because the system

wasn't even gonna
ask the questions.

Now you get sick over me
as much as you want to,

but get more sick
by the fact that that system

was gonna let that man walk
without even a trial.

I mean the only reason
you've seen witnesses,

the only reason jurors
are weighing evidence right now

is because of those cameras,

because of those microphones
and because of me.

And if that kid had been White,
you wouldn't be here right now.

Oh, man.
Where have you been?

If that kid had been White,
I wouldn't have to be here.

But-- but when that day comes,
when society cries

for Black children
with the same passion

that it does for Whites...

When the senseless death
of an African-American

is just as unacceptable,
then I'll stop!

I'll stop, but the truth is,
Mr. Rollins,

that racism is gonna outlive me.

What sickens me is to think
that one day

my dream will then rest
in the hands

of Black lawyers like you.

The unification of Germany
has to be considered

not simply urgent, but utmost to
the economic future of Europe.

Judge 1: Uh, do we have to
fast forward?

No, it comes up pretty quickly,

as soon as he starts in
on Gorbachev.

If Gorbachev succeeds in his
reform policies, the Soviets

can easily participate
politically...

Let the record reflect
that the sound effects

were added by the defendant.

[laughter]

[crowd laughing]

[laughter]

Objection.

- Move for a mistrial!
- Oh, come on.

- Um, shut it off.
- Okay.

The...

[laughter]

Your Honor!
[crowd giggling]

Your Honor, this is prejudicial.

[laughing]
Come on! No, it's not. It's not!

The fact that
we laugh is not the issue.

It's of no relevance.

The jury should
give no consideration

to my reaction,
nor should they give...

uh... [laughs]

- Objection!
- It's a ten-minute recess.

We're adjourned.

[laughter]

[knock on door]

Hi.

- Hi.
- You ready?

We're not going out.

We're gonna have lunch
right here.

- We are?
Grace: Yeah.

You got my stomach
on the roller coaster.

So I'm going after yours
with Moo Goo Gai Pan.

Oh, boy, I don't know.

What's the matter?
You don't like Chinese food?

Unh-unh. You're gonna
shut up and eat.

Oh, I'll eat.

It's just that I don't know

how personally
I should take all this.

What do you mean?

In the Amazon rainforest,

if a blonde lawyer

takes the hunter
into her lodge for lunch,

that means that she just
likes him as a friend and will

never feel waves of passion
equal to a thousand waterfalls.

- Napkin?
- Thank you.

So, I was just wondering how
personally I should take this.

Egg roll?

[indistinct chatter]

Ms. Lamb.

- Leland McKenzie.
- Hi.

- This is Ann Kelsey.
- Hi.

- And Stuart Markowitz.
- Hi. Wow.

I was only expecting
one attorney.

Sit.

Ms. Lamb, as innocent as your
client's protests may seem,

they're generating
a backlash against our client

and that's not acceptable.

This meeting is to inform you
that Oberzan Development

is filing today
a one-million dollar lawsuit

against Mr. Brayton
for interference

with economic advantage,

interference with contract
and defamation.

As always, an easy settlement
is preferable.

Stuart : But, should your client
persist in making

public statements derogatory
of our client's plans

to develop the shopping mall,

then this firm
intends to avail itself

of all its resources
in protracted litigation.

Protracted?

Meaning paper wars, court
appointments, make work,

all the stuff that can bury
a solo practitioner.

Okay, look,

this is a SLAPP suit
and I'm a little disappointed.

Bringing in four lawyers,
trying to scare me,

that isn't very nice.

I bet at least one of you
doesn't even know

the facts of this case.

And it's probably... you.

May I? Excuse me.

See, if you'd done
your homework, you'd have known

you stood a much better chance
with a pretty boy,

trying to flirt me
into settling.

What's his name?
Becker? Mm.

Saw his video.

Anyway...

ganging up on me was a mistake.

File your suit.

Uh, will all of you
be coming to court

or should I say
some of my good-byes now?

You're making a big mistake.

I'm young.

And what happened after
the boy got out of the car?

Brian: He started to run away,
and then I got out

of my unit and went after him.

When I came around this corner,
I saw two Black males

engaged in what appeared to be
a drug transaction.

Jonathan: And what did you do?

Well, I didn't have
time to do anything.

One of them just pulled a gun
and shot at me.

I dropped to my knee
and returned fire.

Then what happened?

The two males
ran down a side alley.

I got up and started
to go after 'em...

And that's when I saw the boy.

Jonathan: The boy being
William Russ?

Yeah. He was-- he was face down.

Jonathan: Did you know
what had happened?

Uh... Yeah.

I knew it had to have
been one of my bullets.

The other guy
was shooting towards me,

so it had to have been
my bullet.

What did you do?

I... I... I froze for a minute.

And then the mother came out.

I ran to my unit
and radioed for an ambulance.

Mr. Chisolm...

why did you shoot back
when William Russ

was in your line of fire?

I don't know.

I made a mistake.

[murmuring]

I'm sorry. I screwed up.

But I didn't shoot your son
on purpose.

I know you can never forgive me,
but please know

that that was an accident.

Please know that.

Jonathan: I have
nothing further.

Do you have any explanation
why nobody else

ever saw these two
Black drug dealers?

Any explanation as to why
we could never find the bullets

from the gun of the guy
who shot at you?

When you radioed for help,
you said

"Suspect down," didn't you?

Brian: I'm not sure.
- Yeah, you did.

Here's the transcript,
you didn't say "Bystander down,"

you said "Suspect down,"
suggesting

that your bullet
hit the one you shot at.

- Objection, argumentative.
- Sustained.

You didn't say anything
about drug dealers,

you didn't say anything
about "Tragic mistake."

- You just said "Suspect down."
- Yeah. An-- and then I said...

Then I said "Send help, send
an ambulance," over and over.

I was panicked, the only thing
I was thinking about

was get-- getting an ambulance
for that kid.

Yeah, the ambulances come faster
if you say "Citizen down",

fastest if you say
"Officer down."

You said "Suspect down."

Move on, Ms. Fusco.

Last year, you asked
to be reassigned

to a different partner,
didn't you?

What was the problem
with Officer Kenneth Sims?

Personality differences mainly.

I see.
What was Mr. Sim's race?

- Objection!
- Overruled.

- What was his race?
- He was Black.

- But that has nothing to--
Ms. Fusco: Thank you.

Ever been investigated for
police brutality, Mr. Chisolm?

I was totally cleared.
That was just--

You were investigated
for committing

an unprovoked assault
on a teenage suspect.

Investigated and cleared.

Yes, by other
police investigators.

What was the race
of that suspect, Mr. Chisolm?

- Objection!
- Overruled.

What was the boy's race?

He was Black,
but that has nothing--

Thank you.
I have nothing further.

Judge 2: Mr. Chisolm,
you're dismissed.

Does the defense
have anything more?

Where are we?

I don't know, Jonathan,
but she just did some damage.

You think I should
put him up there?

Michael: You think
you can take him?

I think we should take
the risk.

Then do it.

Your Honor, the defense
calls Derron Holloway.

Ms. Fusco: Objection.
No foundation, no relevance.

The defense submits this man
is relevant to this proceeding.

- He has no information--
- Overruled, Ms. Fusco.

Judge 2: The defense
wishes to call a witness,

the defense can call a witness.

Tomorrow, 10:00 A.M.,

Mr. Holloway
will take the stand.

[murmuring]

[traffic bustling]

How can Mr. Lowens
act surprised?

- Didn't you get his permission?
- He signed the release.

We were fully authorized
to air it.

Man 2: He claims he didn't know
what you'd done.

Well, we're certainly sorry
about the misunderstanding.

But believe me,
we would never put anything

on our television show
without the consent

of all the participants.
And here we had it.

Thank you, Mrs. Eagan.
Nothing further.

You didn't bother
to show my client the tape

before airing it, did you?

- No, we don't do that.
- You don't do that?

And so, my client had no reason
to know that you'd also be

putting in these little sound
effects that you do, did he?

Those are creative choices
we make in post-production.

You profit off of other people's
misery, don't you?

Listen to the lawyer here,
who takes train wrecks

on a contingency.

You don't ever profit off
people's misery?

- We don't willingly inflict it.
- No!

You're all here to
make the world a better place.

- Objection!
Judge 1: Alright.

Touchés all around. Go on.

Why, why would you pull off

a man's hairpiece
and embarrass him like that?

- Why?
- Again, we though he okayed it.

Well, I mean, would you yank
the false teeth

from the mouth
of a senior citizen?

Would you pull the
prosthesis off an amputee?

Of course not.
That wouldn't be funny.

Victor: But it's funny
to victimize this man.

The Judge laughed.

And as Executive Producer
of this top-ten show

how much
do you personally make?

- Objection.
- Overruled.

How much?

I make $45,000 per episode.

You got paid $45,000 to have
his hair go up like a rocket?

Ms. Eagan: Not just for that,
there were three other gags.

Victor: The point is, Ms. Eagan,
the point is you got rich

and Mr. Lowens lost his job.

- We're sorry about that.
- You're sorry about that?

Nothing further.

Mr. Holloway, I'm curious...

the day after
William Russ was killed,

you went on record publicly,
calling it a murder.

What information could
you have possibly had that fast

that allowed you to conclude
this was a murder?

A White man has a gun,
a Black kid is running away,

the Black kid ends up face down
with a bullet in his back,

that to me is murder.

[indistinct chatter]
Quiet! Please!

So, the fact that Mr. Chisolm is
White influenced your thinking?

Well, yes.

And what is that, sir,
if not racism?

[chuckles] Well,
if I'm a racist, Mr. Rollins,

and, you know, I suppose I am,

but it's by necessity.

To combat a much larger
White racism

built into the framework,
not only of society in general,

but specifically
a judicial system

which does not render fair
treatment to Black Americans.

[cheering]
Quiet!

Now, I don't want to
warn you people again!

So, the system is not fair?

The only reason this criminal
was even brought to trial here

was because I generated
enough public pressure

to stop
the District Attorney's office

from blindly looking
the other way,

which otherwise
it would've done.

You admitted that your
presumption of my client's guilt

was directly influenced
by the color of his skin.

This is a speech...

If William Russ had been White,

you would not have
publicly come forward.

If he had been White,
you would not have staged

that rally to produce
Jerome Bailey, isn't that right?

If the victim had been White

there would have been
no need for me to make noise.

Answer my question,
Mr. Holloway!

You're under oath.

If William Russ had been White,

Derron Holloway would
not be involved here today.

Isn't that what
you told me, sir?

Isn't that what you told me,
yes or no?

Yes or no?

Yes, I told you that.

[murmuring]

Then how can this trial
be anything

but a product of your bigotry?

I have no doubt
that you hurt him.

The question is,
will it count for anything.

Benny: Help!
- What the hell?

Benny: Help! Help!

- Help me!
- Benny, hang on.

- Keep going, Benny.
- Stop it! Stop it!

Where's the button?
Where's the stop button, Mike?

- Help me. Help me.
- Let's pull the plug.

[screams]

Benny! Oh, my God.

- Okay, okay, okay!
- Are you okay? Are you okay?

St-- Stuart, he said I could!

- It's okay, Benny. It's okay.
- Are you alright?

Grace: Oh, what happened?

Jonathan: Oh, it was
just a little accident.

- Are you okay, Benny?
- I cut myself.

Michael: Well, it's just
a scratch, Benny.

Jonathan: Come on,
let's, let's go wash it off.

[panting]
Stuart, he said I could.

I'm sure he did, Benny.
It's okay.

You'll be okay, Benny.

[sighs]

Wow!

Oh, [laughs]

I'm going to this
black-tie thing tomorrow

and I had to try it on.
Do you like it?

- [chuckles] You look fantastic.
- Thanks.

This thing is with Jack Sollers?

Yeah.

You like this guy, huh?

Well... yeah.

Uh, you look great.

Thanks.

[indistinct chatter]

Ms. Lamb.

- Hi, how are you?
- Good. Fine.

Leland: We weren't
expecting you.

Well, I was
in the neighborhood.

- Here.
- What's this?

It's a complaint
in federal court

alleging civil rights
violations,

abuse of process, harassment,
and punitive damages.

You have McFadden Arps
as co-counsel?

Yeah, Jay McFadden owed me.

I got his daughter
Madonna tickets.

Plus, which the civil rights
claim provides for attorney fees

so they were happy to jump in.

Uh, "Protracted" to them
means more money.

It's so thick.

I think they put 12 lawyers
on it.

Okay, well, you have it.
Tell Ann I'm sorry I missed her.

Leland: This is awful.
- Good going, Stuart.

- SLAPP suit. Great idea.
- You liked it, too, Douglas.

- I never liked it.
- Alright, that's enough!

Now, look we've gotta make
this thing go away and fast.

- Set up a meeting.
- You know...

- We could add another claim.
- No!

Leland: Get that woman
back here tomorrow.

In the meantime,
I've gotta figure a way

to break this
to Aug Oberzan. God.

If Jerome Bailey had seen
what he said he saw,

don't you think he would've told
his own mother

or his best friend? Come on!

Jerome Bailey came forward
two months later

only after being addressed
by that man, Derron Holloway.

A self-admitted racist,
who by his own testimony,

established that the only reason
we're here today,

and the only reason
Brian Chisolm is on trial

is because he's White
and the victim's Black.

The boy's mother admitted that
it could've taken 30 seconds

for her to look around
that alley

after hearing the shots.

That's plenty of time
for the drug dealers

who shot at my client
to run away.

There's been no evidence,
ladies and gentlemen,

other than Jerome Bailey,

to controvert
Brian Chisolm's testimony

that he was shot at that night.

No evidence other than
a liar influenced by a racist.

And no motive.

No motive.

The prosecution is here
before this court

not only without
any physical evidence

or any real
testimonial evidence,

but they have
no motive whatsoever.

They're asking you to believe
that Officer Chisolm

just suddenly turned
into this psychotic killer.

Where is this coming from?

The prosecution has no case.

Yes, we have a tragedy here,

and yes, it was a horrible,
horrible mistake.

But that's all it was...
a mistake.

For all the prejudice
and the outrage

and the hurricane of anger
surrounding this trial...

the facts will tell you
that Brian Chisolm is innocent.

Thank you.

The facts.

Two witnesses swore under oath

they saw no one else
in the alley.

Can the defense offer
any evidence of drug dealers,

any evidence
of bullets being fired? No.

So those two Black men are not
a factual part of this case.

Officer Brian Chisolm

was the only other person
seen in that alley.

Ballistics reveal
it was Chisolm's bullet

found inside the boy's body.
Those are the facts.

The question is whether
you're gonna let him go

simply because he's White?

The question is whether
we're gonna let hate crimes

continue to go unpunished
in our courts?

A White police officer
shot and killed an unarmed boy.

You can do
something about that...

or I guess
you can choose not to.

Imagine if you will,
ladies and gentlemen,

the humiliation...

the shame that my client
must have felt that night

as he sat there
and watched his hair

just go up to the sound
of twin booster engines

and then the way it sputtered
before it came crashing down.

[chuckles] My client was
wronged, ladies and gentlemen!

They snatched it right off
with a fishhook.

[laughing]

- Your Honor.
- Yes?

I'd like to do my own closing.

Judge 1: It's his right,
Mr. Sifuentes.

[groans]
Go ahead, sir.

It's okay to laugh.

[laughing]

No, really, it's okay.

[laughing]

I know that by wearing a toupee
I set myself up for that.

[sighs] But the issue here

isn't whether my hairpiece
is funny,

or-- or that tape was funny.
We all know it was.

This is about respect. [sighs]

It's about people showing
other people simple respect.

Now, these shows, this one
and that home video one,

they reward individuals for
capturing

the embarrassing
misfortunes of others,

and people like me,

occasionally
we get caught in it.

But no matter
how humorous it is,

or how clever, it's disrespect.

If you watch these shows
you know

that the more
embarrassing it is,

the more it hurts...

the funnier it is.

When you go back to
the jury room and laugh at me,

I hope you'll remember that.

And I hope you'll remember
that all the giggles

caused by these people in here
have been at my expense.

Thank you.

We're gonna make it away,
Aug, don't worry.

Aug: How?

We'll bring a motion to dismiss,

starting with subject matter
jurisdiction--

Oh, for God's sake, I'll be
tied up in court for months,

I'll lose the financing.

I'm sorry, am I early?

No, come in, come in.

Ms. Lamb... Mr. Oberzan.

Hi.

[clears throat]

Uh, let's get rid of this.

I'll give your client ten grand

to keep his mouth shut
and to drop

this ridiculous federal claim.

Ten won't do it,
sixty-five will.

There is no way
in this world's hell

I will ever pay your client--

No, no, no.
You don't pay, they do.

- Excuse me?
- Okay, this is how it works.

Officially,
we dismiss the complaint.

You pay Mr. Brayton nothing,

then you hire me
to represent your corporation.

- Now, hold on a moment.
- What? Pardon me.

Since I'm all by myself
I will need help

in servicing all your needs,
so I in turn

would have to refer
your business

out to a bigger firm,
say these guys.

For that, I hit them
with a referral fee

of $65,000, $50,000
of which I pay to Mr. Brayton.

- Yeah, but you can't do that.
Ms. Lamb: Yes, I can.

And if you don't want to pay the
$65,000 to keep his business,

plenty of other firms who would,
including McFadden.

Wait, wait, wait,
just a second here.

Are you telling me
that this would all go away,

they would still be
my lawyers, and I pay nothing.

- Yeah, exactly.
- But you can't do that!

You keep saying this,
but we can.

The only other thing
I ask is that

you give Dennis Brayton
an audience,

'cause all he really wants
besides the $50,000

is to be heard.

And you agree to provide him

with pro bono
legal services.

- Done! I said done.
- Oh, Aug!

But that kind of referral
arrangement is unethical--

No, no, no, no,
not with disclosure,

come on, you know better.

It's done. It accomplishes
everything I want, Leland.

I like you.
Let's draw up the papers.

Oh, I love it
when things work out.

In the matter of Lowens versus

America's Most
Embarrassing Practical Jokes,

we find in favor
of the plaintiff,

and order the defendant
to pay damages

in the amount of $45,000.

Judge 1: Thank you, ladies
and gentlemen of the jury.

This matter is now adjourned.

- Congratulations.
- Thank you, thank you!

Look, I'm sorry I sort of...

[indistinct chatter]

It was unprofessional,
I'm sorry I started to laugh.

You don't have
to apologize, Victor.

It's permissible
to laugh at bald people.

Maybe because society doesn't
think it's so bad to be bald...

Maybe we're just insensitive
to it because it's no big deal.

- You think I'm being silly?
- No, no!

I think you sued these people
because you felt

your dignity was assaulted.

But I also think,
every time you put that on...

you're saying you don't
like yourself the way you are.

You wear an earring.

My wife likes her girdle.

We all do what we can
to make us look better

to make us feel better.

So why can't the bald guy
indulge himself?

I like myself just fine, Victor.

I just like myself better
with the hair.

Okay.

Okay. [chuckles]

Has the jury
reached it's verdict?

- We have, your Honor.
Judge 2: What say you?

In the matter of People
versus Chisolm,

criminal complaint
number 8-2-1-2,

the jury finds
the defendant guilty

of murder in the second degree.

[cheering]

Quiet!
This trial is not over!

I want everybody quiet now.
I have something to say.

Sit down!

I think it's important
for all of you to listen.

Last year I saw one of
my courtrooms erupt in a riot.

Mr. Rollins,
you were here, too.

And it was also a case of White
America trampling Black America

and the hatred rose up
and took that room.

And I've seen that hatred
in this room, too.

And as a Black man,
I understand that hatred.

I grew up
in a poor neighborhood.

I've seen innocent Black people
shot dead by White policemen.

I've seen it.

And every day as I sit up here,
I carry that baggage.

But first, and foremost...

I sit up here as a judge.

And as a judge my job
is not to effect race relations,

but to effect justice
in this courtroom.

The only evidence
that incriminated the defendant

was the testimony
of Jerome Bailey.

A witness that I find, as a
matter of law, is not credible.

I know I failed
to instruct the jury

to disregard his testimony,

the reason being I wanted
to avoid an eruption here.

But if my choice
is between another riot

and an unjust verdict,
I have to opt for the riot.

I find, as a matter of law,

that no reasonable jury
could have reached this verdict

on the basis
of the evidence presented.

I hereby set aside
the jury's verdict,

the defendant is free to go.

[indistinct chatter]
We are adjourned.

[indistinct chatter]

You, uh, you wanna keep me
in the dark all night

or let me know what's going on?

Well, I guess I'll tell you.

I wanna hire McKenzie Brackman.

Excuse me?

Besides Oberzan,
I've got a lot of commercial

litigation I can't keep up with.

Your trial lawyers
have good reputations,

I'd love to farm
some of my stuff over.

- You give me 40% of the bill--
- I've got a better idea.

Why don't you
come to work for me?

- Excuse me?
- The same deal.

You take 40%
of the business you bring in.

We supply you with space,
administrative support,

the ability to quadruple
your work output.

Wait a minute,
you're offering me

more than
I came here asking for.

What's in it for you?

The right to call you ours.

- I loathe law firms.
- Yeah, so do I.

I'd only work in a place that
would allow me to be myself.

McKenzie Brackman
is that kind of place.

I'd have to think about it.

You are interested?

Yeah, I'm interested.

I'm this way.

- Okay, see you tomorrow.
- Jonathan.

Great job.

Incredible job.

- Thank you.
- Go home.

Get yourself some sleep, don't
let it go to your head, huh?

[chuckles]
Okay. Goodnight, Mike.

I guess this makes
you the winner, huh?

I was expecting some shouting,

noisy press conference, something.

Maybe I'm just tired.

Or maybe there's nothing
to shout about.

You really handed it to me,
didn't you?

Hm, on the stand?

You gave me what I needed.

Let's just say that I think
justice was done here.

If you didn't believe
Chisolm was guilty...

why'd you go after him?

[chuckles]

Yeah, I thought
I had explained that.

I didn't know for sure whether
he was guilty or not guilty.

But I knew if we didn't
put him on trial,

we'd never find out.

Did you tell Jerome Bailey
to lie?

Nope. I didn't totally
believe him either,

not after
your cross-examination.

That's when I knew it,
the DA had no case.

So, so what now?
You'll just lay off?

- Let it be?
- Lay off?

Couple of weeks from now,
maybe sooner,

another Black lad will
be dead by a White cop's gun,

and I'll be there,

making the same noise
all over again.

Making sure questions get asked.

Maybe I'll meet you there.

That would be my pleasure.

[instrumental music]

[theme music]

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