Lindsay: (standing) I'm sorry, but we've wandered a little off the path, haven't we?
Wieland: (pointing to her) You went into tail wind.
Camp: All right. (Lindsay sits down) Mr Wieland.
Wieland: (pacing) Journalism is like every profession. Some of it's good, some of it stinks. But for it to be good, it has to be unflinching. Yes, there was a representation made here that the article would be favourable, but that was based on the assumption that the kitchen was not bug infested. Should we have written a puff piece anyway? The place is crawling in germs, but we promised to be nice. Is that the kind of press we all want? What if we found body parts? Promised to be kind, don't enter it. Who are we kidding? They made a discovery and it was news. They (points to Bobby and Lindsay) would have you made that some kind of deal was made here. A deal that should be prioritised over the truth. Who are we kidding? When news is uncovered, reporters report it. That is the essence of a free press. We don't clear it through publicists. What if you bit into a cockroach one night and then found out that we sat on that story? (he pauses for effect) Yes, send us a message. (he sits down)
Cut to another courtroom.
Jones: I was showing off in front of some friends, like I was cool, and I did a terrible thing. I know that it was cruel, and I know that it was stupid. (turning to Ms Tyler) I'm so sorry. (turning back to the judge) I'm sorry.
Watson: What were you thinking?
Jones: Just that my friends were all laughing, daring me, and I guess I just thought... They were all looking at me like wow, you're crazy...
Watson: You know that woman over there? Ms Tyler?
Jones: Yes.
Watson: She your neighbour?
Jones: Yes.
Watson: You knew that was her cat, her pet?
Jones: Yes.
Watson: Counsel, statements?
Helen: (standing) I'd like to address the court briefly, yes.
Watson: Tomorrow morning, ten o'clock.
camera shows Watson, then Billy, then Helen before cutting to a night, exterior shot of a building, then inside to Bobby and Lindsay walking into the Donnell, Young, Dole and Frutt offices.
Lucy: Hey, how'd it go? (she's all dressed up)
Bobby: Okay, I think. Wow, look at you.
Lucy: I have a date with a Celtic.
Bobby: (amazed) A Boston Celtic?
Lucy: Yeah, they're getting paid again, and looking to date. (she walks out)
Bobby: (he walks over to Lindsay, who is standing at her desk) The closing was good.
Lindsay: (looking up) Thank you.
Bobby: So... we're still fighting?
Lindsay: Bobby, I wasn't putting you down. I was talking about styles.
Bobby: I know
Lindsay: And you called me dry. You said I give dry closings.
Bobby: I didn't say that.
Lindsay: Yes, you did. Don't deny....
Bobby: Lindsay, as arguments go, this is a silly one. Maybe my feelings got hurt a little, then I hurt yours, whatever, but this really isn't worth a grudge.
Lindsay: Okay.
Bobby: (smiling happily) Let's go home, get some sleep. (making a face) That summation made me drowsy.
Lindsay: (smiling) Funny.
They kiss, but are interrupted by Rebecca, who comes out of one of the other offices.
Rebecca: Hey. How's things?
Bobby: (turning around) Jury's deliberating, can't really tell.
Rebecca: When are you gonna deal with Ellenor?
Bobby: I'll get to her.
Rebecca: Bobby, she is still reeling from losing the asbestos client. She learned how much Lindsay makes, okay, that was my fault. She's now urging Jimmy to make a play for partner so you two won't be able to control the votes. We have a little cancer growing here. I think you need to get to her now.
Bobby: Let's schedule a meeting, I want everybody.
Rebecca: (nodding slightly) Okay.
Bobby and Lindsay walk out of the office.
Bobby: (to Lindsay) I'm so sick of this.
-------------------- Commercial --------------------
We see the conference room, with all the lawyers seated around the table.
Bobby: I guess we should just open it up.
Jimmy: I'm not a partner, I don't think I should be here.
Bobby: This is more like a team meeting, Jimmy, I want you here. (camera shows Ellenor looking discontented) Ellenor, let's begin with you.
Lucy opens the door.
Lucy: Bobby, sorry. Um, Steven Wieland's here.
Bobby: (getting up) Uh, excuse me a sec... Lindsay? (Lindsay follows him out of the conference room. Ellenor looks insulted. Lucy sits down and smiles chirpily at everyone)
Rebecca: (after a very long, uncomfortable pause) Um, how was your date with the Celtic?
Lucy: Slam dunk. I'm seeing him again.
Ellenor: You're dating a basketball player?
Lucy: (defensively) They're the most law abiding of all professional athletes, Ellenor.
Ellenor: Yeah, but doesn't your head come up to his... you know, knee?
Lucy: Nice. You know, if someone makes the slighted remark about your weight, you're quick to jump, but it's okay to make fun of the short-statured. (she gets up and walks out)
Ellenor: (calling after her) I was making fun of the tall-statured.
Inside Bobby's office.
Wieland: Absolutely sealed, no admission of liability, not even a hint of it.
Bobby: I think my client's going to want a public apology, otherwise....
Wieland: Your client's going to turn down four hundred thousand dollars?
Lindsay: They put him out of business.
Wieland: Which means he must need money. Four hundred thousand. Something tells me he's gonna take it.
Bobby: We'll bring it to him.
Wieland: Quickly. Jury's out.
Cut to a courtroom.
Helen: Yesterday, I just wanted to plead this out and get to a spa and have some Swedish sex god rub the cellulite out of my [I have no idea what she said here] (Watson raises his eyebrows). But then I met Mrs Tyler, over here, and suddenly I became horrified at my not being horrified over this. That young man (motions Jones) grabbed her pet and hurled it out of a car going sixty miles an hour on a highway. Imagine. And imagine you, me and Mr Merino not even batting an eye. It was somebody's pet. And if he gets to just throw on a tie, stand contrite, say he's sorry and that's the end of it then... well, who are we? What he did was depraved, it was sick. And if we don't punish him, well, maybe we get the society we deserve. I'm not saying lock him up forever, Your Honour, but, for everybody's sake, even his, lock him up some. (she sits down, and Billy rises)
Billy: I'm not gonna stand here and defend what Brent Jones did. It was sick. And we should be horrified, but, as Miss Gamble admitted, she changed her mind, and decided against probation, only because she met the owner of the pet. And suddenly this case has a human face on it. But, let's be honest, this is not a case of a crime against a person, it was an animal. I don't mean to sound cold, and again, let me reiterate my own personal condemnation for this young man's act of cruelty, but this is about killing an animal. And the killing of animals - we slaughter cows, pigs in cruel ways, nobody gets arrested. A cat is an animal. Yes, a companion animal, one that's more loved by humans. If this was a bobcat, caught and tortured in a spring trap, we wouldn't be here. But a domestic cat? We have to recognise the hypocrisy, don't we? We're here, not because of some unusual act of cruelty, but because it happened to a person's pet. However much we might want to look at this as a crime against humanity, it isn't. This is a good young man. No record, honour student, from a good home. But he did something very stupid, for which he is hugely sorry, but we have to keep things in perspective.
Cut to the conference room, where the lawyers are meeting again.
Ellenor: Two hundred and forty-two thousand dollars. That's my problem.
Bobby: You know the pay structure, percentage of the business brought in.
Ellenor: I know that we take her clients, not mine. I know that.
Bobby: We voted on that asbestos client.
Ellenor: Right, three hands for, two against, and since yours count double...
Bobby: Is that why you went to Jimmy? To put a hand in your pocket?
Ellenor: Two hundred and forty-two thousand dollars.
Lindsay: Since when did you take such a strong interest in math, Ellenor?
Ellenor: Certain equations fascinate me.
Lindsay: Try adding two plus two. You couldn't do that with your asbestos clients.
Ellenor: What is that supposed to mean?
Lindsay: (mockingly) They're good people, they didn't know their stuff was killing people... That's crap. They knew at the turn of the century that asbestos kills, but if they pay their legal bills we'll just ignore it and pretend they're saints...
Everyone begins talking at once. Bobby and Eugene calling order and Ellenor objecting. Lucy opens the door.
Lucy: Bobby?
Everyone: What?
Lucy: Hey! You know, it's a small head, and you can all bite it off, but there's just not enough to go round. (less severely to Bobby) The Jacobs family's here. (she closes the door behind her)
Bobby: (beginning to stand) Let's pick this up in ten.
Eugene: I'm not picking this up. I'm sick of this.
Bobby: (sitting back in surprise) What's your problem?
Eugene: The problem is this partnership. We used to be lawyers just taking the cases we felt like taking. Ever since we became partners, splitting up pieces of the pie, it's all about that. All about money...
Lindsay: Nobody's forcing you, Eugene. You can divest.
Eugene: But the rot is already in the wood.
Lindsay: So you may as well take your cut.
Ellenor: You pissy little bitch.
Bobby: Oh, come on...
Eugene: You know what, Lindsay? I've been trying to defend you, but it's getting harder and harder-
Lindsay: Defend me against what? Her? Help someone who needs it.
Ellenor: (to Bobby) Is this what happens to women when you insert your penis? I'm just curious....
Lindsay starts up, climbs across the table and lunges at Ellenor, whose chair falls backwards onto the ground. In the background we hear everyone shouting. Camera shoots from behind Ellenor and we see Lindsay with her hands around Ellenor's throat. Eugene pulls Lindsay off of Ellenor and Jimmy pulls Ellenor up, but him and Eugene are pushed back onto the conference room table as Ellenor lunges at Lindsay. Jimmy is shown gasping for breath. Cut to the outer office, where the chaos is clearly heard. The conference room door rattles as someone is pushed against it. The Jacobs look shocked.
Lucy: (reassuringly) It's fine, they're just strategising.
The door bursts open as Ellenor pushes Lindsay through it, but they are separated by Jimmy, and are reaching around him, trying to get to each other. Lindsay turns them around and pushes Jimmy and Ellenor onto her desk, while Eugene tries to pull her off. Jimmy is still stuck in the middle. A lamp is broken. They all fall off her desk and onto the floor. Bobby comes running out of the conference room, with a shoe in his hand. The phone starts ringing in the background. Bobby and Eugene try desperately to pull Lindsay and Ellenor off of each other and off of Jimmy. Throughout all this the Jacobs look stunned.
Lucy: (trying hard to be heard over the racket) Donnell, Young, Dole and Frutt. (she listens for a moment) Hey! (no one pays her any attention, so she shouts louder) Hey!! (they all stop and look at her) Verdict.
Everyone gets up, dishevelled, and begins to recompose themselves.
Bobby: (straightening his tie and still holding Lindsay's shoe) C'mon, there's an offer on the table. We can discuss it on the way, let's go.
Jacobs: (still looking shocked and very uncertain) None of my business, but you got a big morale problem here.
Lucy turns around and looks at the rest of them with a disgusted look on her face.
-------------------- Commercial --------------------
We see an exterior shot of the courthouse before the camera cuts to inside.
Watson: Mr Merino's point is well taken. We drop live lobsters in hot, boiling water, we chop off chicken's heads and then happily enjoy the meal. To actually put a person in jail for killing an animal... But I agree with Miss Gamble. This was an act against decency. And to trivialise it would be an crime against humanity. There has to be a consequence. For the sake of society, for the sake of Miss Tyler, for the sake of an innocent cat. I sentence you to one year in county, nine months suspended, the remaining three to be served, starting now. Bailiff, take the defendant into custody. Adjourned.
Helen turns to look at Ms Tyler. She looks happy, and mouths `Thank you'. Helen turns back, looking satisfied. The camera shows the floor as the jury marches back into another courtroom. Cuts to the plaintiff's table, where they are all looking uncomfortable.
Bobby: (whispering) It's still not too late. The offer's still-
Jacobs: I said no.
Mrs Jacobs: Joseph, it's four hundred thousand dollars. Take it.
Jacobs: I want them to say that they were wrong.
Bobby: They won't do that.
Jacobs: Then we don't settle.
Camp enters and sits.
Camp: Members of the jury, you've reached a verdict?
Foreperson: We have, Your Honour.
Wieland: Your Honour, one second to confer with counsel, one second.
Camp: Hurry up.
Wieland leans to whisper to Bobby and Jacobs.
Wieland: One point five, still no admission.
Jacobs: No. I want the admission.
Bobby: (to Wieland) Unsealed.
Wieland: Okay.
Bobby: (to Jacobs) If it's unsealed the public sees the amount. That's the same as an admission. (persuadingly) One point five, Joe, take it.
Jacobs: They're afraid it'll be more.
Bobby: Maybe, but that kind of money....?
Jacobs: No.
Camp: Counsel?
Bobby lifts his hands helplessly before leaning back and running his hand over his eyes.
Wieland: Go ahead.
Camp: Thank you. (to the jury) What say you?
Foreperson: Jacobs versus WYPR Broadcasting Company, on the grounds of fraud, we find in favour of the plaintiff and order the defendant to pay damages in the amount of two hundred thousand dollars. (The defence breaths a sigh of relief.) We further order the defendant to pay punitive damages in the amount of eighteen million dollars. (the courtroom breaks into an uproar, and the plaintiffs table look at each other in shocked happiness)
Jacobs: What? Did she say eighteen million?? (his wife and son nod excitedly)
Camp: (banging his gavel) Order!! Order!! Order!!! (the courtroom quiets down and Camp speaks to the jury) You gotta be kidding me. You jackasses. (the jury looks shocked)
Bobby: (standing and speaking carefully) Your Honour, I'm not sure if that's.. appropriate.
Camp: (motioning for him to sit down and still speaking to the jury) Eighteen million dollars, what the hell is that? You find for the plaintiff, okay. Personally I disagree, but I was prepared to let it stand. But eighteen million? That's sounds to me like there's bias going on. You seem like very nice people but... I'll let the verdict stand, tempted as I am to vacate it. But I'm cutting the damages to two million. (to Jacobs) You, sir, should accept it and smile. Now, I'm going to go for a walk. Any luck, I'll get nicked by a bus, sprain a knee, file a claim, get rich and (throwing his arms up into the air) retire to the Bahamas. Adjourned.
The courtroom breaks into excited talking. Mr Jacobs hugs Bobby, laughing ecstatically. Night, an exterior shot of buildings is shown. Camera cuts to the office, where everyone's celebrating.
Jacobs: Two is nice. Eighteen is better, but two is nice.
Bobby: Sure is.
Jacobs: We can open up a new restaurant. With mahogany tables, curtains-
Lucy: (walking past, meaningfully) Bug spray.
Mrs Jacobs: I don't know how to say thank you.
Ellenor: (to Lindsay) Congratulations, Lindsay
Lindsay: (uncertainly) Thank you.
Jacobs: A toast! Wait wait wait wait! Can we take a picture? I'd like to take a picture of us with our lawyers. Miss Washington, please?
Rebecca: Sure.
Jimmy: (to Eugene) Two million, unbelievable.
Eugene: Tell me about it.
Jimmy: That's almost seven thousand to the firm on contingency, you realise that?
Ellenor: (dryly) Wow.
Jimmy: And Lindsay's client too. She could make over a million this year.
Ellenor: (dryly again) Yep. (she opens another bottle of champagne and it pops. Everyone laughs)
Rebecca: Smile (she takes the photo)
Lindsay looks at Ellenor and smiles slightly and uncertainly, Ellenor returns the smile stiffly and only for a second. The smile leaves Lindsay's face and she just looks uncertain.
---------END OF EPISODE--------------------