All language subtitles for L.A.Law.S05E13.Dances.With.Sharks.1080p.DSNP.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-NTb_track4_[eng]

[panting]

[engine revving]

Was I going over
the speed limit, officers?

Man 1: Let's see some ID.
- I don't have my wallet...

Look, I-- I don't usually
carry it with me when I run.

Will you please step
towards the car, slowly.

Wait a minute, I'm an attorney.

I live two miles from here.

Yeah, sure. Move.

What's your reasonable
suspicion?

You don't belong here,
you don't fit

the profile of the neighborhood,
that's my suspicion.

We asked you to step
towards the car.

- Get your hands off me.
- Shut your mouth!

Hey, hey, hey!

[grunting]

[screams]

Happy now smart guy?
You happy now?

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Alright. Let's get going,
shall we?

Arnie: Where's Roxanne?

Attending to other matters
this morning.

She may join us later.

First up,
revenues for McKenzie Brackman

you'll be pleased to know
rose 22%

for the month of January.

Excellent work, people.
Let's keep it up.

Next, on
a truly disastrous note,

I'm the object of libel
in this weeks "Inquisitor."

I show you page one.
"Vanna Dumps Bald Bore."

- Nice picture.
- Yeah, what's...

What's the deal on that,
Douglas? She got married?

Yeah, she told me
she was going skiing.

Oh, well. Anyway, it's filled
with malicious lies.

I want immediate action.

Ann, you've beat
these tabloids before,

call their lawyers,
make some heads roll.

Moving on,
the Barkley prenup.

Yeah, me. I'm meeting alone
with them tomorrow.

Her lawyer isn't even coming.

But I've got to get
a secretary, Douglas.

We've sent you nine
this past week.

- You fired every one of them.
Arnie: Yeah.

Because you send bimbos,
I'm telling you, Douglas,

Roxanne's got a lot to learn
about personnel recruitment.

I'm also telling you,
that this Barkley prenup

could be very complex,

and it is inconceivable for me
to take this meeting

without a qualified,
able assistant.

Douglas: I'm assigning
Gwen Taylor. She's excellent--

- No way.
- She's mine.

Stuart, you no longer need
two secretaries.

Yeah, well,
fine, give him Mary Beth.

- But I need Gwen.
- You do not need Gwen.

Arnie: I don't need her,
I don't want her.

- I don't like her.
- Well, you're getting her.

At least until
the Barkley deal is done.

This is
a million-dollar client.

- My decision is final.
- When are his six weeks up?

Jonathan Rollins is calling in.
He's in jail.

- Why?
- He was arrested.

He left a message last night
on Victor's answering machine.

- I didn't get it.
Brackman: What happened?

Well, he didn't say,
he just said that

he's being arraigned
this morning

and he needs you or Victor.

- I'll take it.
- No, you both take it.

Get down there right now.
See what he needs. Move.

Grace, put in a call to Rogoff,
maybe he can help.

- Sure.
- Let's adjourn.

We'll cover
the other items later.

Grace: I wonder what happened.
- I'm gonna get my coat.

[indistinct chatter]

CJ: Hey, it's okay.
Settle down.

Just tell me what happened.

Okay. Uh...

Jim took Josh for the weekend.

You know, he gets him
every other weekend.

I know. And?

- He's not bringing him back.
- What?

His lawyer just showed up
this morning.

And, uh,
he says he's bringing a new

petition for custody
in Indian Court.

- CJ, can they do this?
- Where is Josh now?

He's still with Jim
on the reservation in Arizona.

Okay, uh, look...

I'll go into court
and get an order.

- When?
- This afternoon.

Leland McKenzie
can get me in with

Judge Lobel,
we'll jump all over this.

And then they'll, they'll
bring him back, right?

They can't just
keep him, right?

I don't know.

I know the law, Janice, but
I have to be honest with you,

I don't know the first thing
about Indians.

Number 9-3-5-7-1.

People vs. Jonathan Rollins.

Disorderly conduct,
resisting arrest,

aggravated assault on
a police officer, two counts.

Waive reading.
Defendant pleads not guilty.

Question of bail?

Your Honor, the accused
is a respected attorney,

no criminal record,
we'll be looking for OR.

There's a police officer
in the hospital

with a broken jaw, judge.

Michael: Which officer attacked
Mr. Rollins without provocation.

He was resisting arrest.

Your officers
wouldn't be pressing this

to avoid brutality charges,
would they, Mr. Graphite?

The defendant assaulted
a police officer, Your Honor.

We ask for a preliminary hearing
at the earliest possible date.

So that we can
refute these ridiculous charges

and spare further damage
to Mr. Rollins' reputation.

Tomorrow morning,
I'll do it myself.

The defendant is released OR.

Mr. Graphite,
sit down with your officers.

If they made a mistake,

I don't want them compounding
it in this courtroom.

Next case.

Man 2: Case number 5-0-9-7-2,
State vs. Bowcher.

I find that acrimony,
if properly channeled,

can result
in excellent productivity.

Now, since you two
don't get along,

let's simply
set some ground rules,

so we can at least be clear
on needs and expectations.

Arnold, you first.

- This won't work, Douglas.
Douglas: Tell her your needs.

Now.

Alright, first and foremost,

I need someone who realizes
that she is support staff,

not somebody
to second guess me,

not somebody to burden
with problems or questions,

but a person who will help me
be a productive lawyer.

Now, if that means getting me
coffee, you get me coffee.

If it means
picking up my dry cleaning,

you get my dry cleaning.
You don't bitch.

You don't even throw a
resentful look in my direction.

You'll come in early some days,
you'll stay later others.

You'll bring enthusiasm
to your work.

You will bring effort
to your work.

And most of all,

you will offer up
total subordination.

Those are my ground rules.

Very simple.

[sighs] Very good. Gwen.

I type 90 words per minute.

I take excellent shorthand,

and I write
a pretty good letter.

I will get you coffee
on an occasional basis

as a function of courtesy,
not employment.

I will not go
near your dry cleaning.

I come in at 9:00,
I leave at 6:00.

If I have a question,
I'll ask it.

If I have problems,
I'll address them.

As far as your notions
of subordination go,

I will be treated with respect
at all times.

You'll keep your
sexist delusions to yourself.

Your grabby paws
will not even brush against me,

and if you mentally undress me,

I will feed your groin
into the shredder.

Those are my ground rules.
Very simple.

Douglas: Well. Looks like
we're all clear.

I think we have a team.

CJ: What Mr. Long did
amounts to kidnapping.

We have already
had a custody hearing,

which custody
was awarded to my client.

Wauneka: In your courts.
Now we go to ours.

Counsel, the order
of this court stands.

Your Honor,
the Indian Child Welfare Act

is federal law
that gives the tribe

exclusive jurisdiction

over the placement
of Indian children.

Judge Lobel: It's not exclusive.

And that act exempts
final divorce decrees

in our courts,
including custody decisions.

Yes, but the ruling here
prejudiced my client,

I am ordering you right now
to bring back that boy.

That's not going to happen.

I will lock you up for contempt.

I'm not the one
disregarding your order.

Ms. Long, I would send
the police if I could.

But I am afraid that I have
no enforcement power

on the Navajo reservation.

What does that mean?

Judge Lobel: What I'm saying is,
I can't do anything.

If you want your son back
anytime soon,

it looks like you'll have
to go to Tribal Court.

My client is White, Your Honor.

Mr. Long is an Indian.

How can we expect
to get an impartial hearing

in a Navajo court?

I don't know, Counsel.

Mr. Wauneka,
you tell your client

that if this is the way
he wants to play,

he better hope to hell he wins.

Because if she
does get her son back,

I'm cutting out
all unsupervised visitation.

I'm sorry I couldn't be
of more help, ma'am.

You'll have to take your case
to the Navajos.

[instrumental music]

Problem is, it's not just
the best interests of the child.

These people factor in the
welfare of the tribe as well.

Then how can I possibly win, really?

Well, I'm told
that Navajo tradition

does favor the mother.

Not White mothers, they don't.
Trust me.

Hey, listen,
whatever your attitudes are,

you have
to show respect in there.

If you alienate that court,
we will lose before we begin.

Now, the only thing
I want them to see in you

is a loving mother.
Okay?

Josh!

Hi.

Ooh! [Josh cooing]

Oh!

Oh, I've missed you so much.

How have you been, sweetheart?

I just wanted to let you say,
"Hi."

How can you do this to me?

Can you take him back
to his grandparents, please?

[crying]

You're not taking away
my little boy. [crying]

You're not going to do this.
He's all I have.

[sighs] I didn't wanna do it
this way.

Officer Jansen,
why did you detain

Mr. Rollins on February 10th?

We had a serial rapist
working the area.

An hour earlier he beat
and raped

a 60-year-old woman
half to death.

The defendant
matched that description.

And what happened
when you stopped Mr. Rollins?

Jansen: After identifying
ourselves as police officers,

we asked
for some identification.

The suspect refused, and then
became abusive and belligerent.

Graphite: Verbally
or physically?

He called my partner a bastard,

and then attempted
to flee the scene.

When Sergeant Cobb
moved to detain him,

the suspect assaulted him
in the face.

At which point,
I then subdued the suspect

and placed him under arrest.

Thank you, officer.

So you thought my client
was the rapist?

He matched
the general description.

I'll show you a printout copy
of the APB report

giving a "General description"

of the suspect.
Could you read it?

"Black male, height '6"3,
weight 225."

Victor: Mr. Rollins is '5"11
and he weighs 170.

He is four inches shorter

and fifty pounds lighter
than your rapist.

It was dark.

And he was Black
in an all-White neighborhood.

- Objection.
- Withdrawn.

Did you direct racial slurs
to my client?

Nobody made any racial slurs.

Did you tell him
that he didn't fit

the profile of the neighborhood?

He didn't, this was

a White neighborhood,
your client is Black.

We've questioned White people
in Black neighborhoods too.

Do you put them in choke holds
and punch them in the kidneys?

Graphite: Objection!
Jansen: I didn't punch him.

When he broke my partner's jaw,
I tried to

restrain him
and he fell against the car.

[laughs] That's your testimony?

Mr. Rollins
fell against the car?

Yeah, that's what happened.
Were you there?

- I'm done here, Your Honor.
- You may step down.

Judge 1: Anything further,
Mr. Graphite?

No, Your Honor.

Defense requests
immediate ruling,

so I'm going to give it.

Unfortunately,
it's not what you want to hear.

Given Officer Jansen's
testimony,

the signed statement
of Sergeant Cobb,

and their exemplary records
as police officers,

I find sufficient evidence

to bind Mr. Rollins over
for trial.

I'll hear scheduling motions
tomorrow.

We're adjourned.

Good.
Why don't we all just sit.

Now, before we start drafting,

we just want to get
a general idea

as what you would want
this prenuptial to accomplish.

John: Well, basically
this is coming from my family.

They just want to protect
my inheritance.

Anything I already have
or anything I make,

Sarah can have.

Is this okay with you, Sarah?

Fine. Whatever makes
the uncles and aunts happy.

- I just want John.
- That's sweet.

But if I may, though,
I'd like to ask you,

and I don't mean
to sound contentious,

I'd like to ask you both,
before I start drafting,

to give some
very serious thought

as to what
this agreement represents.

Meaning what?

Arnie: Meaning that
there is the possibility,

in fact, the probability,

that in the State of California,
this marriage will fail.

Mr. Becker, this marriage
is not going to fail.

Arnie: I certainly hope
it doesn't. I mean...

You both outwardly
seem very committed,

but let's at least recognize
the seed of doubt

that's giving rise
to this very meeting.

We don't have
any doubts, Arnie.

I wouldn't be doing my job
as a lawyer, John,

if I didn't play
a little devil's advocate.

Now, we're here planning
for a contingency.

Should that contingency
become a reality,

neither of you
are gonna be feeling

as charitable as you do
at this moment.

Sarah, suppose he sleeps around.

- Arnie.
- What is this?

Arnie: Oh, I'm not saying
we do it willingly, John.

But God forbid
you could fall ill.

Recent studies show a rising
occurrence of satyriasis,

as well as sex addiction.
If this--

Arnie, I think
that's a little remote.

Excuse me, are you an attorney?

What happens
if you have children, Sarah?

Are you gonna wanna
snatch the kids

from the fruits
of their inheritance

as well as the love
of their father?

This is ridiculous.

It's not ridiculous.

You two have to see marriage
as the plank walk that it is.

Statistically speaking, you two

could end up
hating each other.

And it's with an eye
for that hatred

that you should
draw up this agreement.

We'd only been back
on the reservation

eight months when she left.

She filed for divorce in LA.

Wauneka: Where she was
afforded full custody

and you got visitation rights.

But this last time you took him
for a visit

you decided to keep him.

My son's a Navajo, Mr. Wauneka.

In the White world he'll be
raised to be ashamed of that.

You don't think
he could be raised

to appreciate his culture
in Los Angeles?

I lived there.

Do you think all White men
hate the Indian?

There are two kinds.

The ones who dismiss us
just because our skin is red.

And the others who welcome us
and encourage us to be White.

Do you have any reason
to believe that your ex-wife

would be guilty
of this kind of discrimination?

She will make him
forget his Navajo culture.

Objection. This man does
not know my client's intent.

I know her,
I know she'll raise him

with White man's dreams,
chasing White man's success.

And he'll end up
with White man's contempt

for the Indian.

Wauneka: I have nothing further.

You yourself were brought upon
an Indian reservation,

yet, ten years ago you left

to pursue
"White man's success,"

is that right, Mr. Long?

- I made a mistake.
- Yes.

But the truth is,
growing up on a reservation

doesn't prevent one
from chasing Western dreams.

- Does it?
- May be not.

CJ: And the only reason you
came back to the reservation

is because
your painting business

in Los Angeles went bankrupt.

- Is that right?
- So?

So, you came back to a place

where you could feel safe.

And you're sitting here today
looking to get custody,

not so you can pass
on your hopes to Joshua,

but rather your fears.

Your fear and hatred
of the White world.

You don't know
the first thing about me.

I know that you lying
to this court.

Objection!

Why do you call this man
a liar?

Is it true
when you married my client

you told her you wanted
opportunities for your son?

Chances you never had
growing up on a reservation?

I said I was mistaken.

I show you a picture.

A picture you yourself drew
for my client.

This is a drawing
of your reservation.

- Do you remember this?
- [sighs] Yes.

Did you draw these coyotes
and owls around it?

Let me see that.

- Did you draw this?
- I'm sorry, Your Honor.

[speaks Navajo]

[speaks Navajo]

For the record,
could you tell us

the symbolism
of the coyotes and the owls.

They're messengers of...
illness and bad luck.

And death.

This picture,
in your opinion, means that

the Navajo reservation
is dying.

Is that right, Mr. Long ?

I have nothing further.

Come along. Right here.

Graphite: Alright, look,
this is the situation.

Upon a closer look
at the events,

we agree that it's possible,

possible that the officers
were a little reactive.

- Reactive? I don't think you--
- Jonathan. And?

But nevertheless,
you did resist,

and a policeman got hurt.

We can't dismiss.

But we'll plea it out
to misdemeanor battery.

You're just looking
for a conviction to insulate

the department
from a civil suit.

That's not gonna happen.

Then we got another problem.

See, the grandmother
that was raped,

we showed her your picture,

with others, of course.

And while she couldn't
conclusively ID you

as the rapist, she couldn't
rule you out either.

- Come on.
- What the hell is this, Rogoff?

Rogoff : Hey,
I don't suspect him.

At least not with what
I've seen so far.

But you were in the area
of the rape

at the time of the rape.

The victim's fingered you
as a possible.

Bastards. You won't
get away with this.

Graphite: We're not
accusing you, Mr. Rollins.

We're just trying to apprise
you of all the circumstances.

Look, let's get
to the bottom line here.

What the hell is your message?

Let's get rid of this.

The fact that she said
it could be you.

Well, those officers
will be screaming that

as loud as they can if they're
forced to defend themselves.

Take the plea,
the book on this gets closed.

Refuse the plea,
everything stays open-ended.

There's your message.

[intense music]

Sons of bitches.

[instrumental music]

What do you mean
I have got no case?

They said
I slept with my stepmother.

Well, you had that affair
with Rusty, Douglas.

And she did give birth
to your half brother.

While she may not technically
be your stepmother,

we won't make libel here.

What about the part saying
I like sex

with senior citizens
and prostitutes?

Well, Rusty was in her 60s,
and, uh, Marilyn,

even though
she's a legitimate surrogate,

basically engages in sex
for money.

What about this one?

This was in "Stargazer."

"His shiny head hurts my eyes."

I'll uh, I'll look it over.

You rang? Oh, sorry.

John Barkley
wants to leave the firm.

- What happened?
- I don't know.

The guy's an egg shell.
I just pointed out--

He stands to inherit
his father's company.

This could potentially be
one of our biggest clients.

- I'll get him back, Douglas.
- A simple prenup!

And you end up
costing the firm--

I said I will get him back.

So just lay off.

Do you hear me, Senior Partner?

Lay off.

Landale: In addition to being
a Doctor of Psychology,

I'm also
a Professor of Anthropology.

- And you're a half-breed.
- Yes, I am.

So I feel I can tell you
both, personally

as well as professionally,
raising Indian children

in White families
does not work.

Because they are raised White,
with absolutely

no sense
of their Indian culture.

Wauneka: What's so wrong
with that?

Landale: When they hit
adolescence, they run

head-first into a society
that will be

telling them
they're not White.

And since they have
no Indian heritage

to fall back on,

they virtually become
nonpersons.

This type of situation
is extremely destructive.

But, doctor,
what if Mrs. Long were careful

to make Joshua
aware of his culture?

Landale: Well, that is
a very nice idea,

but the reality is
if you assimilate this child

into a totally
White environment

he's still gonna grow up
with a White social identity.

His identity will eventually be
stripped away

no matter what Mrs. Long does.

It is in any child's
best interest

to see their race preserved.

The American-Indian
is facing extinction.

So whenever you take
an American-Indian child

off the reservation
and assimilate them

into a White society,

you're fostering
cultural genocide.

It's certainly not
in Joshua Long's best interest

to see his people wiped out.

Thank you, Dr. Landale.
That's all.

You never made an examination
of this particular child

to determine which parent he'd
be better off with, did you?

And, doctor, what would happen
to a boy's ability

to bond and trust should he
be taken away from his mother?

Landale: It'd be compromised.
CJ: Compromised?

CJ: The damage could be
irreparable, couldn't it?

A separation for a child
more than six months old

rarely causes long-term harm.

But it could.

Severing the boy's ties
to the American-Indian tribe

could be just as devastating.

What is the leading
cause of death

on the Navajo reservation?

Alcoholism.

CJ: And what's
the life expectancy of

an Indian male
on the reservation?

It is approximately
45 years of age.

Did any of this factor
into consideration

of Joshua's best interest?

Medically, may be the Indian
is not that advanced.

- Yes. But--
- What about education?

What about unemployment?

What about the fact
that half the Indian

population
lives below the poverty line?

You're raising the subjective
standards of the White man.

CJ: I'm talking about
the threat of hunger,

the threat of poverty,
illiteracy and death

being greater
in the Indian world

than it is in Western society.

Are those subjective standards
to you?

It is the White man's
obliteration

of American-Indian
that has caused this.

I'm not asking
what did the damage, doctor.

I am just asking you
to admit the damage.

It is my professional opinion
that this child

is better off
in the Indian community.

Yes, your opinion
is very clear.

And where do you live,
Dr. Landale?

- Objection.
- No.

Where do you live?

Phoenix.

Thank you.

I have nothing further.

Come on, we got to be
able to do something.

Are you sure
they didn't say anything

that we could go public with?

No. It was all scripted.

They were careful
to paint the threat

without crossing
the line of extortion.

But the message was there,
if Jonathan fights,

they put it out
he's a rape suspect.

I don't like to give in
to this kind of crap.

But I don't know
what else to do.

I'm not pleading out, Michael.
I can't.

I make that deal
and those two cops walk away,

heads high, totally vindicated.

Jonathan, if you don't plea

the stain of that woman
ID-ing you--

She didn't ID me.

Grace: As a possible, she did.

I don't care how inconclusive

or tainted the make was.

Do you realize
that all they have to do is say

that there is evidence
against you,

but insufficient to prosecute.

Your career...
it'll be dead forever.

Not to mention your reputation.

I can't take a plea here.

I would never be able
to live with myself.

Victor, man, come on.

You have to know
what I'm saying.

I know exactly
what you're saying, Jonathan.

But if we fight here...

you get hurt worse.

[scoffs]

Oh, for God's sake, people,
we're all smart lawyers here.

We've got to be able
to come up with something.

We can't just let him
die on the vine.

John, can we please
just talk a little?

Forget the talk.
Just give me the check.

You tried to sabotage
the whole wedding,

for God's sake. I don't--

- If you'll just hear me out.
- No.

One thing I will not do
is hear you out.

The things you said...
My God!

How can anybody spew out
that kind of crap

to two people about
to get married? Thank you.

I was just being honest,
if I offended--

You did. Good-bye.

Um, if I could be so blunt,
Mr. Barkley,

I think you're being
a little silly.

- Gwen.
- That's okay.

- Why am I being silly?
- Well...

A lawyer is supposed to protect
the client from disaster,

not play emotional cheerleader
in praise of marital bliss.

That's the minister's job.

Now, as for Arnie,
specifically... come on.

He doesn't know the first thing
about what it takes

to build a relationship
of any kind.

- Excuse me?
- No offense, Arnie.

He just came out
of a failed marriage

which he himself wrecked.

He has no concept of fidelity.

He's devoid of any ability
to trust,

and he wouldn't share
a stick of gum,

much less his feelings.

But...

when it comes to the breakdown
of relationships

and all the legal consequences
that are involved,

that he knows.

That, Arnold Becker knows
better than anybody.

So I guess the question here is
are you looking

for a guidance counselor
or a divorce lawyer?

Well, I'm looking for someone
a little less destructive

to the welfare of the marriage.

Did he say anything
that even remotely

threatened your relationship
to Sarah?

- No.
- No.

- No, but he tried.
- It's his job to try.

Gwen: To look for the seams
and to build a prenup

that will protect you if those
seams should ever split.

Give me back the check
Mr. Barkley,

let's put that money
to good use.

Sweetheart.

Baby.

- Mmm.
- Hi.

- Hi.
- Mmm.

- How much?
- No.

I don't need any money
this time, I promise.

Oh, God.

The last time you showed up
unexpected,

not wanting any money,
you proposed.

Please, let me write you
a check.

I need a favor, kiddo.
It's a big one.

- Uh-oh. The tone.
- Yeah.

Name Jonathan Rollins
mean anything?

[sighs] Come on, Tommy

the whole department's
talking about that one.

He works in my firm.
And he's a friend, Zoe.

- You know what's going down?
- Yeah, I hear some things.

Tommy: He's innocent.

And you know that, too,
don't ya?

Look, honey, I don't mean
to get you in trouble.

But your people here
are making him take a fall

for somethin' he didn't do.

Now, that kind of stuff don't
sit with too good with you...

Tommy: We both know this.
- What do you want from me?

I want you to get involved,
if you can make it go away,

I want you to make it go away.

[sighs]

I can't help you on this.

This isn't just the police

protecting
a couple of reckless cops.

- This is bigger.
- How much bigger?

[sighs]

Well, word around the office
is that

Rogoff owes the police
some serious

political payback. They've come
collecting on this.

Dig it up for me, Zoe. You've
gotta give me something I can--

I don't have anything
you can use!

You can't win this, Tommy.
Don't try to be a hero.

- The kid needs a hero.
- Tommy!

Look, Zoe, I'm sorry.

I know I got no right
putting you in the middle.

But this thing, it's just
a little hard

to walk away from.

I wish I could help you. I do.

Yeah. Me too.

Cindy?

Never mind. Cindy, wait.

Uh, get me
the Brian Chisolm file.

All of it. Right now.

Janice: I don't doubt
Jim's ability

to be a good father,
and I know he loves his son

very much.

But I've taken care of Joshua
all his life.

I've been with him every day.
I can't...

He should be with me.

CJ: I think the fear
is if Joshua lives with you

he will lose out
on his Indian culture.

I don't intend to make him
forget he's an Indian.

And maybe I can't give him some
of the things you talk about.

Some of the Indian ways.
But I'm his mother.

And I'm the only one
that can give him that.

Whatever any little boy
may need growing up

in any society or culture.

My God,
he has to have his mother.

Thank you, Mrs. Long.
I have nothing further.

You yourself rejected the
Indian way of life, didn't you?

I rejected living on
a reservation, yes, I did.

What's a Healing way,
Mrs. Long?

- I'm not sure. It's Navajo--
- It's an Indian ceremony.

- What's a Flintway?
- Objection.

Wauneka: Your Honor,
the witness suggests

that she won't cause the child
to abandon his heritage,

when it's clear
that she herself

doesn't know anything
about how we live.

Well, let me tell you
about how I lived

on your reservation,
Mr. Wauneka.

I had to chop wood
and lug water every day.

Move to strike.

No. I want to hear her answer.

I was ostracized
because I couldn't herd sheep

or speak Navajo.

I had to live in a hogan
without electricity,

without running water.

And as a White person...
I was the enemy.

And none of you can deny that.

I was treated as an outsider.

If I rejected you, Mr. Wauneka,

it's because
you rejected me first.

My son is Indian

and I want him to know that.

And I want him
to be proud of that.

But more than anything else
I want to

try to teach him
that people are people

are people.

Race doesn't matter.

At least not to me.

Are you telling us that
his Indian race doesn't matter?

Oh, it matters.

It matters.

But what matters more
is that I'm that boy's mother.

I gave birth
to that little boy.

And he shouldn't lose me...

just because I'm White.

I don't think
there's much doubt

that both parents
love Joshua very much.

But under
the Indian Child Welfare Act,

the federal law, as passed
by the United States Congress

you also have
to take into account

what's best for the tribe.

The Indian culture
is faced with genocide.

Thirty percent of our children
are taken away.

Ninety percent of those
going to White families

who cause these children
to abandon their heritage.

You heard Janice Long...

she rejects us.

How can any child
raised under her influence

grow to love
or even respect what we are?

The only means
of saving our world

is the child.

And with every one
that slips away,

our race is one step closer
to extinction.

It's a desperate thing,
I suppose,

to cling to children as
a means of propagating a race.

But genocide
is a desperate thing.

I understand your pain, ma'am.

I hope that one day you will
come to understand ours.

They call America
a melting pot.

A place where all cultures
come together as one.

The trouble
with the American Indian is

we're trying to melt
the entire race.

We took your land.

We assimilated your people.

As Mr. Wauneka says,

your tribe is being eroded away
and that should stop.

But this isn't the way.

You cannot attempt
to serve your heritage

at the expense
of a two-year-old boy.

And that is what
they're asking you to do.

He has lived
all his life with her.

When he cries,
she's the one he runs to.

When he's happy, she's the one

he wants
to share his joy with.

This woman is that boy's life.

There is no one he trusts more

and there is no one
he loves more.

He lives in Los Angeles.

Let him go home.

Let him go home
with his mother.

Last chance, Jonathan, you sure
you wanna go through with this?

Guess I have no choice.

Woman 1: Case number 9-3-5-7-1.

People vs. Jonathan Rollins.

Your Honor, the parties
are prepared to offer a plea.

All assault counts dropped.

Mr. Rollins agrees
to plead guilty

to misdemeanor battery
on the resist.

Joint recommendation
for 60 days probation.

- Defense so agrees?
- Your Honor, Zoey Clemmons,

Assistant District Attorney.
If I may be heard.

Approach.

Your Honor, I have information
which calls into question

the legality
of this prosecution.

- What are you doing?
- Shut up, Billy.

What's going on?

Your Honor, several months ago

this office prosecuted
a police officer

by the name of Brian Chisolm,

who was charged
with the fatal shooting

of a Black teenager.

Ironically,
it was Mr. Rollins himself

who defended this officer.

Judge 1: I remember. So what?

Your Honor,
because of the racial tension

surrounding this event,
Mr. Rogoff

was faced
with a tremendous backlash

at a time when he needed
the Black vote

to win his re-election.

It is widely believed
within the department

that Mr. Rogoff prosecuted
Brian Chisolm for

the sole purpose of appeasing
his Black constituency,

in turn to secure
that re-election.

- That's a bald-faced lie!
- Mr. Rogoff, be quiet.

Clemmons: Further,
upon information and belief,

Police Chief Kevin Vance

was prepared
to publicly condemn Mr. Rogoff

for what he believed to be
the political sacrifice

of one of his officers.

Chief Vance and Bruce Rogoff
then struck a deal,

whereby the chief agreed
to stay silent

on the Chisolm issue,
Bruce Rogoff, in exchange,

agreed to back
the police department

at every turn
after he was re-elected.

Vance is sticking Rogoff
for the payback in this case.

Your Honor,
this isn't about politics.

The fact is Mr. Rollins
committed a crime.

Nobody believes
that Mr. Rollins is a criminal.

This is about ass-covering.

Your Honor,
it is also widely believed

within the department
that Mr. Rollins

is being blackmailed
into accepting today's plea.

If he does not capitulate,

the department is prepared
to cite him

as a possible rape suspect,

despite a total absence
of good faith belief

that he committed
any such crime.

Did they hang rape
over your guy?

- Yes, Your Honor, they did.
- You can't prove any of this.

Clemmons: I am in that office,
Billy.

I know what's going on.
Everybody knows what's going on.

This is one of our
top ADAs, Judge.

Why would he be assigned
a simple felony?

Why is Bruce Rogoff
monitoring this case?

Why is he in this room
for a plea bargain?

I guess I should ask...
why are you here?

I am coming forward
as an officer of the court

to prevent what I believe
to be a gross violation

of the judicial process.

Bruce Rogoff abused his power.

Jonathan Rollins
is an innocent man.

I am here in what could be
my last act as an ADA...

asking the court to remedy
an extremely unjust situation.

Thank you.

[murmuring]

Well, I don't know
where that came from--

Shut up.

Don't worry, Mr. Rogoff,
I only believe every word.

A warrant is hereby issued
for your arrest

for obstruction of justice.

You don't have
the authority to do that!

Watch me, a court officer
will place

Mr. Rogoff into custody.

And be thankful, Mr. Graphite,
I don't lock you up as well.

The complaint
against Jonathan Rollins

is hereby dismissed
on all counts.

This is a complete farce.

Judge 1: Put that man
in lock up now.

And don't forget to read him
his rights.

Shut up.

- What?
- Listen, uh, Rox, I, uh...

[sighs]

I'm kind of messed up.
I, uh...

I acted out all my hostilities
the other day

over this Corrinne thing
and I nearly lost a client.

And I've been
dumping secretaries.

I fired you.

[sighs]

I want you to come back, Rox.

I'm working for Douglas now.

Arnie: I know, and I hear
you're doing great.

I-- I'll-- I'll match
whatever he's paying.

I think I'll just stick
where I am for a while.

I can't take, Gwen. I can't.

Well, according to John Barkley,

Gwen's the reason
he stayed with this firm.

Arnie: I don't care. Do you know
what she's been saying?

She-- she says that I have
no concept of fidelity,

that-- that
I'm not to be trusted.

An... I-- I'm not even capable
of having a relationship.

You should hear
some of the stuff

that's coming out of her mouth.

I need you, Rox.

No. For 12 years
I've done nothing

but nurture your esteem, Arnie.

I loved you.
I-- I was in love with you.

Admired you.

It must have been so great

for you to come
into work every day

and, and look at yourself
through my eyes.

I'm sure Corrinne gave you
the same thing.

What you need,
Arnie, is to see yourself

for who and what you really are.

Gwen may be the best thing
that can happen to you.

I'll just fire her.
You can't stop me.

You're right. I can't.

Hi, I brought you some coffee.

As a function of courtesy.

Parties approach.
Lawyers too, please.

As a Navajo, I bring to
the bench my subjective belief

that the White man is a nemesis
who destroys the land

and he will eventually bring
ruin to himself.

I also believe
that since Congress

has trusted me
to protect the tribe...

I'm authorized to fight
the White man's dominance.

The genocide
that Mr. Wauneka speaks of,

we've all seen it happen,

and we all desperately
want to stop it.

But steeped even more
in our traditions

is the protection
of the child's relationship

to his mother.

And without any evidence

that this mother is unfit
to raise her son,

I am not going to strip her
of the custody.

Your Honor, please.

Judge 2: Bring in the boy, please.

Mrs. Long, just as you prayed

that I would not
overlook the truth

that this child is your son,

I pray that you will not
overlook the other truth...

that he is a Navajo.

The order of the California
Superior Court is upheld.

Give the boy to Mrs. Long.

Please. Let me hold him first.

[baby cries]

[speaks Navajo]

[instrumental music]

District Attorney Bruce Rogoff,
meanwhile,

is steadfastly
denying all allegations.

Assistant District Attorney
Mark Sheer

will become acting DA
for the duration

of the investigation.

[knock on door]

- Hi.
- Hi. [sighs]

I got somebody here
who wants to meet you.

[sighs]

I'm sorry that you had
to go through such an ordeal.

I don't know how I can
ever repay you, Ms. Clemmons.

Zoey. [laughs]

Zoey.

Nobody's ever went out
on the limb for me

as much as you did today.

Ever. And you
don't even know me.

It's him. [chuckles]

He makes me do crazy things.

That's why I had to leave him.
[laughs]

Yeah, well, I owe him too.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Give me a minute,
would you, Jonathan?

- We'll be right out.
- Yeah, sure.

Are you going
to be okay here?

It's a little scary.

If Rogoff's out, I'm okay.

If he comes back into power,
I go into private practice.

It's about 50-50 right now.

You know,
sometimes it's hard to believe

that you were
such a God-awful wife.

'Cause you are still
the greatest person

that I ever met.

[sighs]

Can I quote you on my resume?

Absolutely.

- You are such a bad influence.
- Oh.

I know.

I know. [chuckles]

[theme music]