Harry's Law (2011) s01e01 Episode Script
Pilot
They say the moral of the story comes at the end.
But ask me, sometimes it comes at the top, in the middle, and you just don't get it till the end.
your aim was to try to tame me! Oh, sir, um, no, wait.
What's up, Doc? A lot of times, I don't get it at all.
In less than a month, you have gone from being one of the best patent lawyers in the country, much less Cincinnati, and now what the hell has happened? Well, what's happened is after 32 years of rather dedicated practice, I've come to the unfortunate, if not altogether surprising, conclusion that patent law is as boring as a big bowl of steaming dog Shut the door, Jenna.
It's dull, Robert.
I lead a dull life with dull partners.
I'd sooner look into a mirror and watch my teeth rot than do one more case involving patent law.
As always, I value your feedback.
I'm afraid this is the end, Harry.
The end of what? You're fired.
Hit the road, Jack Somebody obnoxious once said, "Every knock is a boost.
" -Maybe not.
-Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Somebody call an ambulance! Somebody call 911! Help! Please don't die.
Please don't die.
Please don't die.
Come on please You sure you're really okay? Doctor says I am.
Nothing broken, no concussion.
I'm missing a sock.
You weren't wearing socks.
You don't feel lightheaded, even, or maybe delusional? I'm telling you, one second I'm walking down the street, and the next I'm so sorry.
Where, exactly, did you come from? I jumped off a building.
It's, uh, you leap onto awnings and you roll off.
It's kind of an urban sport thing.
I never saw you.
What's your name, son? Malcolm.
You're not being truthful with me, Malcolm.
That building is six stories high.
The sport you were playing is called "Extreme suicide.
" You were trying to kill yourself, weren't you, Malcolm? Why? Maybe the question is: Why not? Maybe there's a better world somewhere, one without people.
Or maybe it's just across the street.
All of a sudden, it was the first day of the rest of my Oh, my God.
Oh, my God! Is she dead? Oh, my God, is she dead?! She looks dead.
Somebody, uh, mouth-to-mouth! You! Big guy.
Is she dead? Help! How could you not be dead? Or at least have broken bones? I told you: I landed on a mattress these movers were unloading.
Right, but the car struck you.
Mostly soft tissue.
She's like a big stuffy.
There you go, a diagnosis Big stuffy.
Can I go now? Let me first check the X-rays one more time.
Are you okay? Fine.
This is the man who hit me.
Man who hit me, meet Jenna.
Where's my other shoe? Wait a second.
I know you.
You're Harriet Korn.
I did a big patent case against you.
I was one of the associates on the Firestone case.
I argued the class consolidation, remember? You called me an Arrogant little snot.
I remember.
Were you aiming for me with your car? What? You hit me on purpose, didn't you? Of course I didn't.
You stepped off the curb, and What were you even doing there? I work in that neighborhood.
Excuse me? Excuse me? At least I will.
She's not herself.
Before you hit her, a black man fell from the sky onto her head.
Well, it doesn't make any medical sense to me.
But there's nothing broken.
You can go.
Okay.
Okay.
We can make it work.
It just needs a little love.
Jenna, I can't afford to pay you.
What's with all the shoes, though? Uh, previous tenant.
Got evicted, left all this stuff behind.
Prada.
Jimmy Choo.
What's wrong? White satin stiletto sandals with horsehair and crystal straps.
Is that good? Is it good? Good? It's a Gold leather, five-inch woven, wicker wedge heel.
Ms.
Korn? I was trying to kill myself.
Okay.
Why? I'm facing prison.
I got arrested on a drug charge third offense and, uh I got a cocaine problem.
I'm working on it, but Anyway, I was thinking, everything happens for a reason.
And I figured, I landed splat on you 'cause I wasn't meant to die.
Will you represent me? Please? Son I'm not a criminal lawyer.
I-I Googled you.
You're supposed to be really good.
At patent law.
Harry, you need clients.
It's not as if you have any.
And this this is a deep blue patent leather with a peep-toe.
Ms.
Korn, I know it sounds crazy, but I really do think I fell on you for a reason.
I mean I suddenly don't want to die anymore.
That's because you gained perspective.
Near-death experiences can do that.
Maybe.
Maybe it's something about you.
She was involved in some sort of overhead collision.
She was being released from the hospital.
That's when you subsequently collided with her.
Would you like me to do a background check? I don't need to do a background check on Harry Korn.
My sources at Sterling & Fremont say she was becoming increasingly insubordinate.
God, when I was on that case, I loved watching her work.
I remember even saying to myself, "Please let me run into this lady again.
" Not with a car.
She's really working in that neighborhood? Still looking to get confirmation on that.
Well, we're movin' on up Movin' on up To the East Side Movin' on up To a deluxe apartment in the sky We're moving on up Movin' on up To the East Side Movin' on up We finally got a piece of the pie Fish don't fry in the kitchen Beans don't burn on the grill Took a whole lot of trying Just to get up that hill Now we're up in the big leagues Gettin' our turn at bat As long as we live, it's you and me, baby There ain't nothin' wrong with that We're movin' on up Movin' on up To the East Side Movin' on up We finally got a piece of the pie! There's always something a lawyer can do.
Malcolm, you were caught buying from an undercover agent.
This is your third offense.
You're gonna have to do some time.
Oh, here we go.
I'm a freshman in college.
I'm the first one in my family who ever made it You have no idea how many people I'm gonna be letting down.
Uh, let me talk to the DA.
See if he's willing to consider a plea.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Okay, okay, okay.
How we doing? I'll take that desk, Jen.
Is it Jen? I would love some coffee.
Wait, let me guess: "It's a bird! It's a plane!" Little tip for the future.
You want to jump? Okay.
But not on lawyers.
You on drugs? Track my finger left, right, left, right.
Coffee? What are you doing? I'm temping.
I took a little leave until you land on your feet.
Least I could do, af No, no.
You're not working here.
Why not? We can be a team.
Me and you, you and me.
Happy together.
I'm not getting coffee, am I? Get out.
Harriet.
Come on.
We clicked.
We did not click.
You think you can do this alone? Maybe you can.
But I'd like to help you, just the same.
The chance to pick your nose for two weeks meant to say "Brain" There it would be a dream.
I mean, of all the people I could've mowed down with my high-performance vehicle it was you.
Hey, ladies.
How we doin'? How you doin', Slick? May I speak to the manager? Who are you? My name is Damien Winslow, and I'm CEO of Winslow Security, I-N-C.
We provide privatized security to the local merchants in the neighborhood, which is necessary 'cause Cincinnati's finest ain't too quick to respond sometimes.
You know what I'm sayin'? 'Sup, sweets? 'Sup, Slick? Anyway, I'm sure you'll find $200 a month to be very reasonable.
Are you the manager? I am.
And I pass.
Ma'am, I don't think that's a wise decision.
Look, Bub Can I call you Bub? 'Cause I sense a connection.
She passed.
It's just the merchants who choose not to engage the services of Winslow Security, I-N-C tend to be burglarized, vandalized, and plagiarized at an alarming rate, and police don't really respond to alarms in this neighborhood, you know what I'm sayin'? Yes.
Thank you again, but I already have protection.
I won't be needing Winslow Security, I-N-C.
Oh, you got protection, do you? Who that be? It be this.
Are you serious? Tell you what, Damien.
You can smash my windows, beat me up, God forbid, plagiarize my loved ones.
But I'm a lawyer who's used to working with P.
I.
's, DA's and police, some of 'em honest, others not so much.
I have the means to find out all about you, your mother, your sister, and your wife, should you have them.
Say hello to my iPhone.
Just took your picture.
You got family, Mr.
Winslow? 'Cause if anything should happen to me, my people will find you and yours.
Now, here's a deal I will make: You protect me and my place.
And as long as I stay safe, if and when you get arrested I'm figuring when my law firm will defend you for free.
Isn't that funny? You walked in here offering to save me.
It looks like I could be saving you.
Don't you just love how life can take unexpected turns? What do you mean, let him go? You kidding me? You kidding me? I'm not saying let him go without consequences.
Yeah, just without jail.
Let me tell you, counsel, jail is the only consequence these people understand.
"These people"? Oh, please.
You're gonna make it a black thing now? Gonna make it a black thing? Give me a break.
Give me a break.
Third offense, I'll give you a year.
Best I can do, best I can do.
Yeah, the thing is, if he gets any time, he'll get expelled from college.
Well, wish I could help you.
It doesn't really sound like you wish you could help me, Mr.
Peyton.
In fact, it sounds like you wish I'd bugger off.
Is that what you really wish? What, you want to make sport of me now, that it, that it? 'Cause I got to tell you, you're a slightly bigger target at the moment.
You think I don't know the book on you? Hotshot corporate lawyer suddenly goes cartoon happy, now you're in here defending drug addicts? What's that, what's that? How you doing, Sal? Hey.
What's that? Mr.
Peyton, this boy needs a break.
Yeah, well, don't we all? Let me tell you, you think you're gonna get no time for a three-time loser? Not gonna happen.
Not gonna happen.
Look, I'm no expert on criminal law, but more times than not, trials come down to which lawyer a jury likes more, and my feeling is they'll take a look at me and they'll look at you, and they'll tumble to something you know all too well.
Which is? You're an asshole.
I love it, I do, but it's a bit pricey.
And this one I also like, and it's half the cost, right? Well, yes, but can I be honest? Of course.
Prada.
Not Prada.
Prada.
Not Prada.
Prada.
Not Prada.
What are you doing? Harry, hi, um, one sec, I'm with a customer.
Never mind "One sec.
" Get rid of these shoes.
Harry Oh, one sec.
Harriet's Law and Fine Shoes.
What did she just say? What? Oh, okay, um, hold, hold, please.
It's that Damien person.
He said something about a shooting.
He sounds a little hysterical.
That didn't take long.
He's at the Chinese Laundromat two blocks down, at the corner of Beacon and Middlesex.
Okay.
Adam, Damien's all yours.
What? You said you want to work here; you need a case.
Go.
Malcolm, sit.
I can ring you up.
Yeah? Get rid of these shoes.
I got nowhere with the DA, which means you got two choices: take the deal for one year Thanks.
or go for jury nullification, which basically is, "We know he did it, but wink, wink we let him go anyway.
" Does that work? Almost never.
Take the deal.
No, I I want to go for it.
In which case you could get three years.
Please, look, I know it's a long shot, but one year is as bad as three years as far as college I fell on you for a reason.
You want some advice? I'm not sure it's technically legal, but things rarely happen for a reason.
Most things in life make absolutely no sense, and what makes the least sense of all is for you to roll the dice with some slam-dunk loser I'm trying this case.
You bailing, or you still with me? Thank you.
All right, man, chill out, man.
You gonna be cool, you gonna be all right, man.
You gonna be all right.
What the? You gonna be all right, man.
I must have hit a vein or something.
Get a tourniquet on.
Call 911.
He needs a tourniquet.
Hey, man, give me your tie.
Are you calling? Hurry up, man, give it to me! All right, all right, stick your finger in there.
What? Do it, man.
Oh, my God! Just press down hard as you can.
I am! I think I got it.
I think I got it.
Did you call 911? Okay, okay, okay, it stopped, it stopped, it stopped.
Hang on, bro, we cool, we cool.
We cool.
You shot this man? Allegedly, okay? Allegedly.
I'm telling you, I was not a witness.
I got here after the fact.
The only thing I saw was the one in handcuffs saving the life of the wounded guy.
What's your relationship to Mr.
Winslow? I'm his lawyer, which means I need to be talking to him, not you.
Excuse me.
Hey, man, what's going on? I asked for the old lady.
Well, you didn't get her.
Excuse me, I'm his attorney.
Give me a second.
Forget it.
Self-defense, Columbo.
Damien.
Allegedly.
Don't be saying a word.
You hear me, Damien? Not a word.
I will see you at the police station.
In the meantime, shut up.
Do you hear me? Shut up.
I asked for the old lady.
Isn't it looking great? No, it looks like a shoe store.
Well, there's no reason we can't be both a law firm and a shoe store.
No.
Harriet Korn, listen to me.
I know footwear.
I can make this work.
I will make it work.
Okay? Now are you all set for court? Am I all set? I'm about to try a case with no defense.
Does that sound all set to you? Adam, what the? I'm okay This is somebody else's blood.
- Do we have running water? - Back room.
What happened? Damien shot a guy.
He evidently came to the aid of a Laundromat owner he protects.
Was anybody killed? No.
You'd better make sure the victim is tested.
You got blood all over you.
Ugh, right.
Are you okay? I'm a little shaky, but Where's Damien? The police took him.
Once I get cleaned up, I'll go down there.
You sure you're not hurt? I'm sure.
I thought you were in trial.
I'm going now, God help me.
I was working undercover, presenting myself as a drug dealer.
I was approached by the defendant.
He expressed his interest in purchasing cocaine.
A transaction ensued.
We then placed the suspect under arrest.
And Officer, you're certain that the man who purchased the cocaine, the man who gave you money for the cocaine, is the man seated right there That man, this man, that man? Positive.
Thank you.
I have nothing further.
Nothing further.
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon, Your Honor.
Good afternoon.
Excellent, now that we have established that the afternoon is in fact a good one, perhaps we can move on.
First, Officer Tate, speaking as a citizen, I should start by saying thank you for all the good work you do.
I remember once I got a flat tire in a very bad neighborhood; I thought I might even get killed.
A policeman came along, probably saved my life.
I apologize, I do realize that this is counsel's first time in a criminal courtroom, but the scope of cross-examination does not include the sharing of personal anecdotes, however touching.
I was just thanking him.
Ms.
Korn, maybe you can do that out in the corridor after we're done.
Oh, okay.
Tell me, Officer, I read a lot in the papers these days how the police budgets have been cut and there have been layoffs and the department is undermanned.
Objection assuming facts not in evidence.
I'll remind counsel that her role is to elicit testimony, not provide it.
Sustained.
Is it true that the department is currently undermanned due to recent budget cuts? Yes.
Well, I'm a little curious with everything on your plate, are you really targeting nonviolent drug users? I can understand dealers maybe, but We actually are targeting the dealers.
I was doing so that night.
We arrest users in the hope they'll flip their suppliers.
Ah, so Malcolm he's not really the guy you're after, then? Objection the only question before the court is: did the defendant commit the crime with which he is charged? This is not about departmental policy.
Not about that.
Not about that.
I'll sustain it.
You aren't at all troubled that this kid is being used like a pawn to get somebody else? The boy was in a clinic, trying to get treatment.
It closed.
Objection! Step up, please.
Did I do something wrong again? You're very clever, Ms.
Korn.
I'm not sure I know what you're referring to.
I think you do.
The adorable old lady routine bumbling around the courtroom as she accidentally sneaks in inadmissible evidence, back-dooring that this kid wasn't the target, that he was in a clinic.
Well, Your Honor, I'm still familiarizing myself with the criminal rules of evidence.
I suspect you know the rules of evidence just fine.
Here's the deal, Ms.
Korn.
The tricks you pull as a patent lawyer don't be pulling them in my courtroom.
We good with that? Well, I thought you did great.
I don't know.
My only real choice is to put the boy on the stand.
Isn't that risky to let the defendant testify? I mean, they never do that on Law & Order.
Harry, you've taken impossible cases before, and you usually always win them.
Well, there's no winning this one, Jenna, and by having him testify, his priors will come in So it is true.
You are a shoe store lawyer.
It didn't seem to go that well today.
Mrs.
Davies, I'm afraid our case is You think maybe I should testify? Well, you could, but the testimony of a loving mother rarely carries the day.
Is he going to prison, Ms.
Korn? I don't know.
I'm gonna try my best to prevent that.
But the likelihood This is a good boy.
His failings are This You need to win this.
No, man.
If I plead, I go to jail.
Jail, man.
Damien, you run an illegal enterprise.
You carry concealed weapons and shoot people.
Did you really not see jail coming? You shot a guy.
Hey In self-defense.
Yes.
Even if I could sell that, your gun wasn't registered.
What kind of lawyer are you? You shot a guy! And if I hadn't, that guy would've robbed that store.
He might've killed innocent people.
Are you telling me that don't count for something? Look No, you look.
Your problem is, you see me as a criminal and only a criminal.
I do good.
I help people.
I got into this to protect, not to steal.
The people I serve are grateful; ask them.
I help all of them.
And right now I need you help me.
Okay, Damien.
I hear you.
And I get it.
I'll fight the fight.
You will? I will.
Thank you.
Thank you.
No chance the old lady No, she's in trial.
I gotta say, Malcolm, as drug addicts go, you seem like such a swell kid.
Swell kid.
And you're the victim.
I mean you had no choice but to buy the cocaine.
Am I right? Am I right? I'm not the victim.
I know that, sir.
Oh, but there are victims here.
Aren't there, Malcolm? See here's the thing about being a junkie It's expensive.
It costs thousands of dollars a week to get the fix, and the only way most drug addicts can swing that is by stealing, and whose houses do you think they break into, whose cars get hijacked, whose innocent children get killed in the crossfire of their turf wars? Did it ever occur to you, Malcolm, that every time you buy cocaine, you help fund a billion-dollar illegal drug trade that is bringing this country to its knees, a drug trade that is killing innocent people? It's a billion-dollar trade because it's illegal.
Objection.
Maybe we should decriminalize, if your goal Wait, did you actually just say that? Did you actually just say that? I believe I did.
I believe I did.
What, do you want to just pass drugs out on the street? Is that That's where they're passed out now, at a thousand times the pharmaceutical cost.
Move to strike.
And if we legalize drugs, addicts would need less than two cents on the dollar to support their habits.
They'd hardly have to break into homes or cars or We have something called "Values" In this country And they should coincide with saving the innocent lives you were carrying on about.
You're seriously saying we should legalize drugs is the solution? Everybody commissioned to study the problem has said it.
Who? Everybody who? If we legalize them, we treat the disease instead of punishing it away.
Great, then you want to pass out needles, too? Perhaps, if you're against the spread of AIDS.
Are you? If we were to legalize drugs We could neutralize the gangs, take the drug business out of the shadows.
And do what? Celebrate it? How about regulate it? Tax it? Yes, and then every liberal in America could just light up and say, "Hallelujah, legalized drugs!" The idea was first raised by conservative Republicans.
Oh, please.
When? When the party had thinkers.
Before it was hijacked by the likes of Rush Limbaugh.
Here we go.
A drug addict, himself.
Ancient history.
Who somehow fared much better in our justice system.
I wonder why.
The race card.
There it is.
Oh, if I wanted to play the race card, I'd talk about the disparity in sentencing.
Objection.
But I'm not doing that.
I'm keeping it about one kid only.
He's sitting right there, and he's getting screwed! Objection! All right, that's enough.
Are we done with this witness? 'Cause if so, we can proceed to closing arguments, which it seems we've begun anyway.
You can step down, son.
Mr.
Peyton, you're up.
I can make this quick.
This isn't about the color of the defendant's skin.
And it isn't about whether drugs should be decriminalized, what laws we should or should not have.
We have to deal with the laws that are on the books today.
It is illegal to buy and use cocaine.
That's the law.
The defendant broke it.
He's admitted doing so.
He-He offered no defense.
He did it.
No dispute.
Did it.
The only question is, do you abide by your oath to uphold the law, or not? It's that simple.
It really is.
To be honest, I'm not sure about decriminalizing drugs.
It sounds kind of radical.
But I do know that study after study after study has shown that when you take kids like Malcolm and you stick them in jail, you increase the likelihood that they'll remain addicts, or wind up homeless, or, worst of all, become more hardened and career criminals.
When it comes to drug abuse, treatment is seven times more cost-effective than incarceration seven times.
It's an indisputable fact.
Malcolm broke a law, yes.
He should be held accountable.
But this young man never harmed anybody.
He's in college.
He was in a clinic.
It closed.
Somebody said to me the other day there's no justice in the law.
Well, the dirty little secret is we're not in the justice business, not really.
Judges and politicians are mainly in the reelection business.
Lawyers, like Mr.
Peyton and myself, we're in the "Win" Business.
If there's anyone, I suppose, truly and purely in it for the justice, it would be the jury.
You.
I've always felt that intrinsic to justice is humanity.
Humanity couldn't call for this young man to be locked up.
It simply couldn't.
I've sat with this kid.
He's a good kid.
He's Malcolm Davies is a bright young man with a future.
He also has a drug problem.
He needs help.
He can get it and go on to do wonderful things.
That won't happen if you find him guilty.
'Cause he'll go to a place that neither treats, nor trains, nor rehabilitates.
By the time he gets out, it's These are the kids we're losing.
We throw them away.
One "Not guilty" Vote buys me a hung jury.
Which, in turn, might net a plea of a suspended sentence.
And Malcolm gets to stay in college.
All I need is one vote to save his life.
One.
They say it takes a village.
We're always hearing that.
It's time for the village to step up.
What are you doing here? Well, truth be told, I wanted to see if you were any good.
All rise.
Case number 1138: The State of Ohio vs.
Damien Winslow.
Be seated.
Morning, Your Honor.
Defense waives reading; asks that all charges be dismissed, in that my client was acting out of necessity.
He was coming to the aid of Mr.
Fung Lao, whose Laundromat was in the process of being robbed - at gunpoint.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Guilty or not guilty.
Those are your two choices.
Not guilty, Judge.
Okay.
Question And I ask that all charges be dismissed, in that my client was acting as a Good Samaritan.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
First case, counsel? No, Your Honor.
As if.
Well, the way this works is we go through a little fact-finding process The facts aren't in dispute.
My client walked in on an attempted armed robbery.
The legal defense of "Necessity" Hold on.
Your Honor, sometimes in the interest of judicial economy, and convenience to the witnesses, cases can be expedited.
Counsel Trials are expensive.
They can bankrupt rich people.
As for the poor, forget it.
This could cost Damien Winslow his house, if only he had a house, which of course he never will.
Why? 'Cause he's poor.
Counsel.
As for the witnesses, they're here today.
We can get this thing over with.
How many here for this case? Look at that.
Unbelievable.
Is that not unbelievable? Am I to understand All these people? Every last one of them.
All clients of Damien Winslow.
They're not witnesses to the crime.
There's no They certainly bear witness to the need for the services being rendered by my client.
Without him, their places of business get robbed.
Oh, for God's sake.
Counsel, this is an arraignment hearing.
Yes, but these people are here now, Judge.
They're not relevant "Not relevant"? Is that what you just said? Oh, come on.
'Cause that's the real issue, Judge.
Poor people are not relevant.
Give me a break.
Break? How about we give the disenfranchised a break? These people get nothing.
Not even respect.
Why? Maybe 'cause they don't seem to be relevant.
Well, they are to Damien Winslow.
You want to lock him up, then what? Who's going to protect Fung Lao and Melissa Gove, Martina Sanchez, Willie Abrams Look at them all, Judge.
They've come crawling out like ants at a picnic.
Who knew these people even existed? Damien did.
Add to that, he cares.
We're talking about basic human services.
They don't get health care.
They don't get education.
They can't even get adequate police protection, and when someone tries to help them, watch out.
Mr.
Branch, you're out of order.
These people are Americans.
You're out of order.
You're out of order.
This whole thing is out of order! Something is really wrong! Mr.
Branch! Guilty or not guilty? Not guilty.
Just one question.
What drug are you on? Sorry.
Once I get going What was the point of that, really? Well, to be honest which I'm not always it was to show you this will be a war, if necessary.
I actually believe in this guy.
No, you don't.
I really do.
Look, we should win on the shooting.
It was justifiable defense of others.
He shot a guy that was committing an armed robbery.
As for the weapons charge, I'll plead to that.
That's really the right result here.
So let's just get there.
Can we? Okay.
She's at least open to discussing a plea, which is a very good thing.
You told me the old lady was in trial.
I saw her sitting in the back.
She is in trial.
She just Did you not hear me? The DA is open to a plea.
You could skate here with no jail time.
Yeah, I heard you, man.
Thanks.
We done for now? Done.
Cool.
Hey, man.
Watch where you're going.
What the? But you took off, you left.
Does it look like I left? I don't get the right to come back? What's up with that? That ain't right, Slick.
Did you forget something? Maybe I did, okay? I just wanted I've been arrested before, you know what I'm saying? Had my share of lawyers, but none of them ever fought for me like that.
Ever.
I just wanted you to know that.
Okay.
Oh.
Be cool.
One year in jail give it to you right now.
Right now.
Well What's to think about? It's his third offense.
He could get three years, maybe more.
The thing is, he's in college.
If he gets any time, he's going to get kicked out.
You still want no time? You kidding me? As I said to you before, I'll say it again.
This kid needs a break.
Counsel, look, I realize you have limited experience in the criminal justice system.
And I'd really appreciate it if you'd cut the condescending crap.
It makes you come off bald.
This is how you ask for a favor? No, I asked for a favor rather nicely, and you responded with some patronizing bull.
Look, I offered you one year.
That was a gift.
Your client has no defense.
He's going to be found guilty.
And I'll tell you this, if you don't take this deal, if you don't recommend it to your client, he'll likely have a claim of malpractice against you.
Piece of advice.
In your new line of work, kids like Malcolm Davies dime a dozen.
As soon as you're done with him, another one walks through the door.
And with all your cases, you need to not only safeguard the client, but yourself.
Otherwise, you're a casualty.
Trust me on that.
A casualty.
A big carcass that the victims in the system will pick at.
Mr.
Peyton, if I ever surrender to that kind of cynicism, then I'm already a casualty beyond measure.
One year.
Take it or leave it.
Yeah? Take it or leave it fast.
Jury's back.
Leave it.
Suit yourself.
Madam Forewoman, the jury has reached a unanimous verdict? We have, Your Honor.
What say you? In the matter of the State of Ohio v.
Malcolm Davies, on the charge of possession of an illegal controlled substance, we, the jury, find the defendant Malcolm Davies Please, please, please.
guilty.
What? I'm sorry, Malcolm.
We knew this was a long shot.
Malcolm Davies, you have been found guilty by a jury of your peers of a class-two felony.
It is the order of this court Wait, wait, wait, Judge.
If you're about to sentence my client, I certainly wish to be heard.
The defendant is sentenced to two years in state prison.
Your Honor Said sentence to be suspended in its entirety, pending Mr.
Davies's successful completion of a drug rehabilitation program.
Your Honor, this is his third offense.
You kidding me? You kidding me? Ms.
Korn check with probation, then your client is free to go.
Son do not let me down.
We're adjourned.
W-What What does it mean? No jail.
It means no jail.
Really? You can't mess this up, Malcolm.
He's giving you another chance.
You need to make this work.
I will.
I will.
All right.
I'm-I'm not a hugger.
I'm not a hugger.
Okay.
Oh.
Okay.
Okay.
No jail at all? How do you figure? Well, as I said to the jury, all I needed was one.
The one I got was the judge.
Wow.
JENNA: Okay.
They look stunning.
You don't think they make my feet look too fat? Oh, my God.
No.
They are to die for.
Is everybody done with the pizza? Yes, and then you can help Adam box up his stuff.
That'll be your first official assignment as our new paralegal.
What do you mean? I mean, I've finally landed on my feet.
You can go back to your cushy, shiny firm and Are you kidding me? I don't want to go back.
Why would I want to go back? This is the most fun I've ever had.
Yesterday, I stuck my finger in a guy's leg.
I want to stay.
Permanently.
Oh, don't be an idiot.
You have a brilliant future at any firm you want.
Don't squander it.
I want to be here.
The answer is no.
Look I'm gonna just say this.
I never had a mother.
She died during childbirth, when she had my older brother.
I never I I suppose I look at you as my dead, crippled mother.
Oh, yeah, she was crippled, too.
She died during childbirth when she had your older brother? Let's go with younger brother on that, yeah.
Better.
We'll keep "Crippled.
" Harriet, look every day I go to work in that big firm, I see the deadened eyes of all the partners that I sit at my desk, and I say to myself, "This ain't it.
" "This can't be it.
" From the moment I walked into this stupid I just knew.
This is it.
I really want to stay.
The thing is you really do bug me.
Harry, you said things don't happen for a reason.
But they do.
When Malcolm jumped off that building, bounced off that awning, and landed on you, and when Adam hit you with his fully-loaded Mercedes, it was to bring the four of us together.
Help you, gentlemen? Yeah We're looking for a lawyer.
Damien Winslow told us about you.
We invented a I don't know, a kind of doohickey.
A doohickey? Yeah, it could open, like, any car.
Originally used for criminal purposes, but Damien said if we just get a patent, we wouldn't need to be robbing cars.
It's a door-opener doohickey.
Jenna will take down all your information.
Great.
Um, can I get for anybody any tea, coffee, perhaps? Look at that.
Three more clients.
You'll have a full caseload by the end of the week.
This is home, Harry.
We're home.
You're gonna need to fill out your time sheets every day.
Time sheets?! Whoa, I never said anything about working for you.
Actually, you should probably only have one.
And right now, we're offering Like hell, we will.
You'll be a junior associate.
No, no, no, no, no.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Or there's the door.
Harriet, life is richer with a partner you can really share your successes with, right? I guess the moral of this story did come in the middle.
As Jenna and Malcolm said, sometimes things do happen for a reason.
You could say that I didn't just get it till the end, except this really wasn't the end at all.
For the four of us, this new and ridiculous firm, perhaps even my life, I have a feeling we're only at the beginning.
But ask me, sometimes it comes at the top, in the middle, and you just don't get it till the end.
your aim was to try to tame me! Oh, sir, um, no, wait.
What's up, Doc? A lot of times, I don't get it at all.
In less than a month, you have gone from being one of the best patent lawyers in the country, much less Cincinnati, and now what the hell has happened? Well, what's happened is after 32 years of rather dedicated practice, I've come to the unfortunate, if not altogether surprising, conclusion that patent law is as boring as a big bowl of steaming dog Shut the door, Jenna.
It's dull, Robert.
I lead a dull life with dull partners.
I'd sooner look into a mirror and watch my teeth rot than do one more case involving patent law.
As always, I value your feedback.
I'm afraid this is the end, Harry.
The end of what? You're fired.
Hit the road, Jack Somebody obnoxious once said, "Every knock is a boost.
" -Maybe not.
-Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Somebody call an ambulance! Somebody call 911! Help! Please don't die.
Please don't die.
Please don't die.
Come on please You sure you're really okay? Doctor says I am.
Nothing broken, no concussion.
I'm missing a sock.
You weren't wearing socks.
You don't feel lightheaded, even, or maybe delusional? I'm telling you, one second I'm walking down the street, and the next I'm so sorry.
Where, exactly, did you come from? I jumped off a building.
It's, uh, you leap onto awnings and you roll off.
It's kind of an urban sport thing.
I never saw you.
What's your name, son? Malcolm.
You're not being truthful with me, Malcolm.
That building is six stories high.
The sport you were playing is called "Extreme suicide.
" You were trying to kill yourself, weren't you, Malcolm? Why? Maybe the question is: Why not? Maybe there's a better world somewhere, one without people.
Or maybe it's just across the street.
All of a sudden, it was the first day of the rest of my Oh, my God.
Oh, my God! Is she dead? Oh, my God, is she dead?! She looks dead.
Somebody, uh, mouth-to-mouth! You! Big guy.
Is she dead? Help! How could you not be dead? Or at least have broken bones? I told you: I landed on a mattress these movers were unloading.
Right, but the car struck you.
Mostly soft tissue.
She's like a big stuffy.
There you go, a diagnosis Big stuffy.
Can I go now? Let me first check the X-rays one more time.
Are you okay? Fine.
This is the man who hit me.
Man who hit me, meet Jenna.
Where's my other shoe? Wait a second.
I know you.
You're Harriet Korn.
I did a big patent case against you.
I was one of the associates on the Firestone case.
I argued the class consolidation, remember? You called me an Arrogant little snot.
I remember.
Were you aiming for me with your car? What? You hit me on purpose, didn't you? Of course I didn't.
You stepped off the curb, and What were you even doing there? I work in that neighborhood.
Excuse me? Excuse me? At least I will.
She's not herself.
Before you hit her, a black man fell from the sky onto her head.
Well, it doesn't make any medical sense to me.
But there's nothing broken.
You can go.
Okay.
Okay.
We can make it work.
It just needs a little love.
Jenna, I can't afford to pay you.
What's with all the shoes, though? Uh, previous tenant.
Got evicted, left all this stuff behind.
Prada.
Jimmy Choo.
What's wrong? White satin stiletto sandals with horsehair and crystal straps.
Is that good? Is it good? Good? It's a Gold leather, five-inch woven, wicker wedge heel.
Ms.
Korn? I was trying to kill myself.
Okay.
Why? I'm facing prison.
I got arrested on a drug charge third offense and, uh I got a cocaine problem.
I'm working on it, but Anyway, I was thinking, everything happens for a reason.
And I figured, I landed splat on you 'cause I wasn't meant to die.
Will you represent me? Please? Son I'm not a criminal lawyer.
I-I Googled you.
You're supposed to be really good.
At patent law.
Harry, you need clients.
It's not as if you have any.
And this this is a deep blue patent leather with a peep-toe.
Ms.
Korn, I know it sounds crazy, but I really do think I fell on you for a reason.
I mean I suddenly don't want to die anymore.
That's because you gained perspective.
Near-death experiences can do that.
Maybe.
Maybe it's something about you.
She was involved in some sort of overhead collision.
She was being released from the hospital.
That's when you subsequently collided with her.
Would you like me to do a background check? I don't need to do a background check on Harry Korn.
My sources at Sterling & Fremont say she was becoming increasingly insubordinate.
God, when I was on that case, I loved watching her work.
I remember even saying to myself, "Please let me run into this lady again.
" Not with a car.
She's really working in that neighborhood? Still looking to get confirmation on that.
Well, we're movin' on up Movin' on up To the East Side Movin' on up To a deluxe apartment in the sky We're moving on up Movin' on up To the East Side Movin' on up We finally got a piece of the pie Fish don't fry in the kitchen Beans don't burn on the grill Took a whole lot of trying Just to get up that hill Now we're up in the big leagues Gettin' our turn at bat As long as we live, it's you and me, baby There ain't nothin' wrong with that We're movin' on up Movin' on up To the East Side Movin' on up We finally got a piece of the pie! There's always something a lawyer can do.
Malcolm, you were caught buying from an undercover agent.
This is your third offense.
You're gonna have to do some time.
Oh, here we go.
I'm a freshman in college.
I'm the first one in my family who ever made it You have no idea how many people I'm gonna be letting down.
Uh, let me talk to the DA.
See if he's willing to consider a plea.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Okay, okay, okay.
How we doing? I'll take that desk, Jen.
Is it Jen? I would love some coffee.
Wait, let me guess: "It's a bird! It's a plane!" Little tip for the future.
You want to jump? Okay.
But not on lawyers.
You on drugs? Track my finger left, right, left, right.
Coffee? What are you doing? I'm temping.
I took a little leave until you land on your feet.
Least I could do, af No, no.
You're not working here.
Why not? We can be a team.
Me and you, you and me.
Happy together.
I'm not getting coffee, am I? Get out.
Harriet.
Come on.
We clicked.
We did not click.
You think you can do this alone? Maybe you can.
But I'd like to help you, just the same.
The chance to pick your nose for two weeks meant to say "Brain" There it would be a dream.
I mean, of all the people I could've mowed down with my high-performance vehicle it was you.
Hey, ladies.
How we doin'? How you doin', Slick? May I speak to the manager? Who are you? My name is Damien Winslow, and I'm CEO of Winslow Security, I-N-C.
We provide privatized security to the local merchants in the neighborhood, which is necessary 'cause Cincinnati's finest ain't too quick to respond sometimes.
You know what I'm sayin'? 'Sup, sweets? 'Sup, Slick? Anyway, I'm sure you'll find $200 a month to be very reasonable.
Are you the manager? I am.
And I pass.
Ma'am, I don't think that's a wise decision.
Look, Bub Can I call you Bub? 'Cause I sense a connection.
She passed.
It's just the merchants who choose not to engage the services of Winslow Security, I-N-C tend to be burglarized, vandalized, and plagiarized at an alarming rate, and police don't really respond to alarms in this neighborhood, you know what I'm sayin'? Yes.
Thank you again, but I already have protection.
I won't be needing Winslow Security, I-N-C.
Oh, you got protection, do you? Who that be? It be this.
Are you serious? Tell you what, Damien.
You can smash my windows, beat me up, God forbid, plagiarize my loved ones.
But I'm a lawyer who's used to working with P.
I.
's, DA's and police, some of 'em honest, others not so much.
I have the means to find out all about you, your mother, your sister, and your wife, should you have them.
Say hello to my iPhone.
Just took your picture.
You got family, Mr.
Winslow? 'Cause if anything should happen to me, my people will find you and yours.
Now, here's a deal I will make: You protect me and my place.
And as long as I stay safe, if and when you get arrested I'm figuring when my law firm will defend you for free.
Isn't that funny? You walked in here offering to save me.
It looks like I could be saving you.
Don't you just love how life can take unexpected turns? What do you mean, let him go? You kidding me? You kidding me? I'm not saying let him go without consequences.
Yeah, just without jail.
Let me tell you, counsel, jail is the only consequence these people understand.
"These people"? Oh, please.
You're gonna make it a black thing now? Gonna make it a black thing? Give me a break.
Give me a break.
Third offense, I'll give you a year.
Best I can do, best I can do.
Yeah, the thing is, if he gets any time, he'll get expelled from college.
Well, wish I could help you.
It doesn't really sound like you wish you could help me, Mr.
Peyton.
In fact, it sounds like you wish I'd bugger off.
Is that what you really wish? What, you want to make sport of me now, that it, that it? 'Cause I got to tell you, you're a slightly bigger target at the moment.
You think I don't know the book on you? Hotshot corporate lawyer suddenly goes cartoon happy, now you're in here defending drug addicts? What's that, what's that? How you doing, Sal? Hey.
What's that? Mr.
Peyton, this boy needs a break.
Yeah, well, don't we all? Let me tell you, you think you're gonna get no time for a three-time loser? Not gonna happen.
Not gonna happen.
Look, I'm no expert on criminal law, but more times than not, trials come down to which lawyer a jury likes more, and my feeling is they'll take a look at me and they'll look at you, and they'll tumble to something you know all too well.
Which is? You're an asshole.
I love it, I do, but it's a bit pricey.
And this one I also like, and it's half the cost, right? Well, yes, but can I be honest? Of course.
Prada.
Not Prada.
Prada.
Not Prada.
Prada.
Not Prada.
What are you doing? Harry, hi, um, one sec, I'm with a customer.
Never mind "One sec.
" Get rid of these shoes.
Harry Oh, one sec.
Harriet's Law and Fine Shoes.
What did she just say? What? Oh, okay, um, hold, hold, please.
It's that Damien person.
He said something about a shooting.
He sounds a little hysterical.
That didn't take long.
He's at the Chinese Laundromat two blocks down, at the corner of Beacon and Middlesex.
Okay.
Adam, Damien's all yours.
What? You said you want to work here; you need a case.
Go.
Malcolm, sit.
I can ring you up.
Yeah? Get rid of these shoes.
I got nowhere with the DA, which means you got two choices: take the deal for one year Thanks.
or go for jury nullification, which basically is, "We know he did it, but wink, wink we let him go anyway.
" Does that work? Almost never.
Take the deal.
No, I I want to go for it.
In which case you could get three years.
Please, look, I know it's a long shot, but one year is as bad as three years as far as college I fell on you for a reason.
You want some advice? I'm not sure it's technically legal, but things rarely happen for a reason.
Most things in life make absolutely no sense, and what makes the least sense of all is for you to roll the dice with some slam-dunk loser I'm trying this case.
You bailing, or you still with me? Thank you.
All right, man, chill out, man.
You gonna be cool, you gonna be all right, man.
You gonna be all right.
What the? You gonna be all right, man.
I must have hit a vein or something.
Get a tourniquet on.
Call 911.
He needs a tourniquet.
Hey, man, give me your tie.
Are you calling? Hurry up, man, give it to me! All right, all right, stick your finger in there.
What? Do it, man.
Oh, my God! Just press down hard as you can.
I am! I think I got it.
I think I got it.
Did you call 911? Okay, okay, okay, it stopped, it stopped, it stopped.
Hang on, bro, we cool, we cool.
We cool.
You shot this man? Allegedly, okay? Allegedly.
I'm telling you, I was not a witness.
I got here after the fact.
The only thing I saw was the one in handcuffs saving the life of the wounded guy.
What's your relationship to Mr.
Winslow? I'm his lawyer, which means I need to be talking to him, not you.
Excuse me.
Hey, man, what's going on? I asked for the old lady.
Well, you didn't get her.
Excuse me, I'm his attorney.
Give me a second.
Forget it.
Self-defense, Columbo.
Damien.
Allegedly.
Don't be saying a word.
You hear me, Damien? Not a word.
I will see you at the police station.
In the meantime, shut up.
Do you hear me? Shut up.
I asked for the old lady.
Isn't it looking great? No, it looks like a shoe store.
Well, there's no reason we can't be both a law firm and a shoe store.
No.
Harriet Korn, listen to me.
I know footwear.
I can make this work.
I will make it work.
Okay? Now are you all set for court? Am I all set? I'm about to try a case with no defense.
Does that sound all set to you? Adam, what the? I'm okay This is somebody else's blood.
- Do we have running water? - Back room.
What happened? Damien shot a guy.
He evidently came to the aid of a Laundromat owner he protects.
Was anybody killed? No.
You'd better make sure the victim is tested.
You got blood all over you.
Ugh, right.
Are you okay? I'm a little shaky, but Where's Damien? The police took him.
Once I get cleaned up, I'll go down there.
You sure you're not hurt? I'm sure.
I thought you were in trial.
I'm going now, God help me.
I was working undercover, presenting myself as a drug dealer.
I was approached by the defendant.
He expressed his interest in purchasing cocaine.
A transaction ensued.
We then placed the suspect under arrest.
And Officer, you're certain that the man who purchased the cocaine, the man who gave you money for the cocaine, is the man seated right there That man, this man, that man? Positive.
Thank you.
I have nothing further.
Nothing further.
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon, Your Honor.
Good afternoon.
Excellent, now that we have established that the afternoon is in fact a good one, perhaps we can move on.
First, Officer Tate, speaking as a citizen, I should start by saying thank you for all the good work you do.
I remember once I got a flat tire in a very bad neighborhood; I thought I might even get killed.
A policeman came along, probably saved my life.
I apologize, I do realize that this is counsel's first time in a criminal courtroom, but the scope of cross-examination does not include the sharing of personal anecdotes, however touching.
I was just thanking him.
Ms.
Korn, maybe you can do that out in the corridor after we're done.
Oh, okay.
Tell me, Officer, I read a lot in the papers these days how the police budgets have been cut and there have been layoffs and the department is undermanned.
Objection assuming facts not in evidence.
I'll remind counsel that her role is to elicit testimony, not provide it.
Sustained.
Is it true that the department is currently undermanned due to recent budget cuts? Yes.
Well, I'm a little curious with everything on your plate, are you really targeting nonviolent drug users? I can understand dealers maybe, but We actually are targeting the dealers.
I was doing so that night.
We arrest users in the hope they'll flip their suppliers.
Ah, so Malcolm he's not really the guy you're after, then? Objection the only question before the court is: did the defendant commit the crime with which he is charged? This is not about departmental policy.
Not about that.
Not about that.
I'll sustain it.
You aren't at all troubled that this kid is being used like a pawn to get somebody else? The boy was in a clinic, trying to get treatment.
It closed.
Objection! Step up, please.
Did I do something wrong again? You're very clever, Ms.
Korn.
I'm not sure I know what you're referring to.
I think you do.
The adorable old lady routine bumbling around the courtroom as she accidentally sneaks in inadmissible evidence, back-dooring that this kid wasn't the target, that he was in a clinic.
Well, Your Honor, I'm still familiarizing myself with the criminal rules of evidence.
I suspect you know the rules of evidence just fine.
Here's the deal, Ms.
Korn.
The tricks you pull as a patent lawyer don't be pulling them in my courtroom.
We good with that? Well, I thought you did great.
I don't know.
My only real choice is to put the boy on the stand.
Isn't that risky to let the defendant testify? I mean, they never do that on Law & Order.
Harry, you've taken impossible cases before, and you usually always win them.
Well, there's no winning this one, Jenna, and by having him testify, his priors will come in So it is true.
You are a shoe store lawyer.
It didn't seem to go that well today.
Mrs.
Davies, I'm afraid our case is You think maybe I should testify? Well, you could, but the testimony of a loving mother rarely carries the day.
Is he going to prison, Ms.
Korn? I don't know.
I'm gonna try my best to prevent that.
But the likelihood This is a good boy.
His failings are This You need to win this.
No, man.
If I plead, I go to jail.
Jail, man.
Damien, you run an illegal enterprise.
You carry concealed weapons and shoot people.
Did you really not see jail coming? You shot a guy.
Hey In self-defense.
Yes.
Even if I could sell that, your gun wasn't registered.
What kind of lawyer are you? You shot a guy! And if I hadn't, that guy would've robbed that store.
He might've killed innocent people.
Are you telling me that don't count for something? Look No, you look.
Your problem is, you see me as a criminal and only a criminal.
I do good.
I help people.
I got into this to protect, not to steal.
The people I serve are grateful; ask them.
I help all of them.
And right now I need you help me.
Okay, Damien.
I hear you.
And I get it.
I'll fight the fight.
You will? I will.
Thank you.
Thank you.
No chance the old lady No, she's in trial.
I gotta say, Malcolm, as drug addicts go, you seem like such a swell kid.
Swell kid.
And you're the victim.
I mean you had no choice but to buy the cocaine.
Am I right? Am I right? I'm not the victim.
I know that, sir.
Oh, but there are victims here.
Aren't there, Malcolm? See here's the thing about being a junkie It's expensive.
It costs thousands of dollars a week to get the fix, and the only way most drug addicts can swing that is by stealing, and whose houses do you think they break into, whose cars get hijacked, whose innocent children get killed in the crossfire of their turf wars? Did it ever occur to you, Malcolm, that every time you buy cocaine, you help fund a billion-dollar illegal drug trade that is bringing this country to its knees, a drug trade that is killing innocent people? It's a billion-dollar trade because it's illegal.
Objection.
Maybe we should decriminalize, if your goal Wait, did you actually just say that? Did you actually just say that? I believe I did.
I believe I did.
What, do you want to just pass drugs out on the street? Is that That's where they're passed out now, at a thousand times the pharmaceutical cost.
Move to strike.
And if we legalize drugs, addicts would need less than two cents on the dollar to support their habits.
They'd hardly have to break into homes or cars or We have something called "Values" In this country And they should coincide with saving the innocent lives you were carrying on about.
You're seriously saying we should legalize drugs is the solution? Everybody commissioned to study the problem has said it.
Who? Everybody who? If we legalize them, we treat the disease instead of punishing it away.
Great, then you want to pass out needles, too? Perhaps, if you're against the spread of AIDS.
Are you? If we were to legalize drugs We could neutralize the gangs, take the drug business out of the shadows.
And do what? Celebrate it? How about regulate it? Tax it? Yes, and then every liberal in America could just light up and say, "Hallelujah, legalized drugs!" The idea was first raised by conservative Republicans.
Oh, please.
When? When the party had thinkers.
Before it was hijacked by the likes of Rush Limbaugh.
Here we go.
A drug addict, himself.
Ancient history.
Who somehow fared much better in our justice system.
I wonder why.
The race card.
There it is.
Oh, if I wanted to play the race card, I'd talk about the disparity in sentencing.
Objection.
But I'm not doing that.
I'm keeping it about one kid only.
He's sitting right there, and he's getting screwed! Objection! All right, that's enough.
Are we done with this witness? 'Cause if so, we can proceed to closing arguments, which it seems we've begun anyway.
You can step down, son.
Mr.
Peyton, you're up.
I can make this quick.
This isn't about the color of the defendant's skin.
And it isn't about whether drugs should be decriminalized, what laws we should or should not have.
We have to deal with the laws that are on the books today.
It is illegal to buy and use cocaine.
That's the law.
The defendant broke it.
He's admitted doing so.
He-He offered no defense.
He did it.
No dispute.
Did it.
The only question is, do you abide by your oath to uphold the law, or not? It's that simple.
It really is.
To be honest, I'm not sure about decriminalizing drugs.
It sounds kind of radical.
But I do know that study after study after study has shown that when you take kids like Malcolm and you stick them in jail, you increase the likelihood that they'll remain addicts, or wind up homeless, or, worst of all, become more hardened and career criminals.
When it comes to drug abuse, treatment is seven times more cost-effective than incarceration seven times.
It's an indisputable fact.
Malcolm broke a law, yes.
He should be held accountable.
But this young man never harmed anybody.
He's in college.
He was in a clinic.
It closed.
Somebody said to me the other day there's no justice in the law.
Well, the dirty little secret is we're not in the justice business, not really.
Judges and politicians are mainly in the reelection business.
Lawyers, like Mr.
Peyton and myself, we're in the "Win" Business.
If there's anyone, I suppose, truly and purely in it for the justice, it would be the jury.
You.
I've always felt that intrinsic to justice is humanity.
Humanity couldn't call for this young man to be locked up.
It simply couldn't.
I've sat with this kid.
He's a good kid.
He's Malcolm Davies is a bright young man with a future.
He also has a drug problem.
He needs help.
He can get it and go on to do wonderful things.
That won't happen if you find him guilty.
'Cause he'll go to a place that neither treats, nor trains, nor rehabilitates.
By the time he gets out, it's These are the kids we're losing.
We throw them away.
One "Not guilty" Vote buys me a hung jury.
Which, in turn, might net a plea of a suspended sentence.
And Malcolm gets to stay in college.
All I need is one vote to save his life.
One.
They say it takes a village.
We're always hearing that.
It's time for the village to step up.
What are you doing here? Well, truth be told, I wanted to see if you were any good.
All rise.
Case number 1138: The State of Ohio vs.
Damien Winslow.
Be seated.
Morning, Your Honor.
Defense waives reading; asks that all charges be dismissed, in that my client was acting out of necessity.
He was coming to the aid of Mr.
Fung Lao, whose Laundromat was in the process of being robbed - at gunpoint.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Guilty or not guilty.
Those are your two choices.
Not guilty, Judge.
Okay.
Question And I ask that all charges be dismissed, in that my client was acting as a Good Samaritan.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
First case, counsel? No, Your Honor.
As if.
Well, the way this works is we go through a little fact-finding process The facts aren't in dispute.
My client walked in on an attempted armed robbery.
The legal defense of "Necessity" Hold on.
Your Honor, sometimes in the interest of judicial economy, and convenience to the witnesses, cases can be expedited.
Counsel Trials are expensive.
They can bankrupt rich people.
As for the poor, forget it.
This could cost Damien Winslow his house, if only he had a house, which of course he never will.
Why? 'Cause he's poor.
Counsel.
As for the witnesses, they're here today.
We can get this thing over with.
How many here for this case? Look at that.
Unbelievable.
Is that not unbelievable? Am I to understand All these people? Every last one of them.
All clients of Damien Winslow.
They're not witnesses to the crime.
There's no They certainly bear witness to the need for the services being rendered by my client.
Without him, their places of business get robbed.
Oh, for God's sake.
Counsel, this is an arraignment hearing.
Yes, but these people are here now, Judge.
They're not relevant "Not relevant"? Is that what you just said? Oh, come on.
'Cause that's the real issue, Judge.
Poor people are not relevant.
Give me a break.
Break? How about we give the disenfranchised a break? These people get nothing.
Not even respect.
Why? Maybe 'cause they don't seem to be relevant.
Well, they are to Damien Winslow.
You want to lock him up, then what? Who's going to protect Fung Lao and Melissa Gove, Martina Sanchez, Willie Abrams Look at them all, Judge.
They've come crawling out like ants at a picnic.
Who knew these people even existed? Damien did.
Add to that, he cares.
We're talking about basic human services.
They don't get health care.
They don't get education.
They can't even get adequate police protection, and when someone tries to help them, watch out.
Mr.
Branch, you're out of order.
These people are Americans.
You're out of order.
You're out of order.
This whole thing is out of order! Something is really wrong! Mr.
Branch! Guilty or not guilty? Not guilty.
Just one question.
What drug are you on? Sorry.
Once I get going What was the point of that, really? Well, to be honest which I'm not always it was to show you this will be a war, if necessary.
I actually believe in this guy.
No, you don't.
I really do.
Look, we should win on the shooting.
It was justifiable defense of others.
He shot a guy that was committing an armed robbery.
As for the weapons charge, I'll plead to that.
That's really the right result here.
So let's just get there.
Can we? Okay.
She's at least open to discussing a plea, which is a very good thing.
You told me the old lady was in trial.
I saw her sitting in the back.
She is in trial.
She just Did you not hear me? The DA is open to a plea.
You could skate here with no jail time.
Yeah, I heard you, man.
Thanks.
We done for now? Done.
Cool.
Hey, man.
Watch where you're going.
What the? But you took off, you left.
Does it look like I left? I don't get the right to come back? What's up with that? That ain't right, Slick.
Did you forget something? Maybe I did, okay? I just wanted I've been arrested before, you know what I'm saying? Had my share of lawyers, but none of them ever fought for me like that.
Ever.
I just wanted you to know that.
Okay.
Oh.
Be cool.
One year in jail give it to you right now.
Right now.
Well What's to think about? It's his third offense.
He could get three years, maybe more.
The thing is, he's in college.
If he gets any time, he's going to get kicked out.
You still want no time? You kidding me? As I said to you before, I'll say it again.
This kid needs a break.
Counsel, look, I realize you have limited experience in the criminal justice system.
And I'd really appreciate it if you'd cut the condescending crap.
It makes you come off bald.
This is how you ask for a favor? No, I asked for a favor rather nicely, and you responded with some patronizing bull.
Look, I offered you one year.
That was a gift.
Your client has no defense.
He's going to be found guilty.
And I'll tell you this, if you don't take this deal, if you don't recommend it to your client, he'll likely have a claim of malpractice against you.
Piece of advice.
In your new line of work, kids like Malcolm Davies dime a dozen.
As soon as you're done with him, another one walks through the door.
And with all your cases, you need to not only safeguard the client, but yourself.
Otherwise, you're a casualty.
Trust me on that.
A casualty.
A big carcass that the victims in the system will pick at.
Mr.
Peyton, if I ever surrender to that kind of cynicism, then I'm already a casualty beyond measure.
One year.
Take it or leave it.
Yeah? Take it or leave it fast.
Jury's back.
Leave it.
Suit yourself.
Madam Forewoman, the jury has reached a unanimous verdict? We have, Your Honor.
What say you? In the matter of the State of Ohio v.
Malcolm Davies, on the charge of possession of an illegal controlled substance, we, the jury, find the defendant Malcolm Davies Please, please, please.
guilty.
What? I'm sorry, Malcolm.
We knew this was a long shot.
Malcolm Davies, you have been found guilty by a jury of your peers of a class-two felony.
It is the order of this court Wait, wait, wait, Judge.
If you're about to sentence my client, I certainly wish to be heard.
The defendant is sentenced to two years in state prison.
Your Honor Said sentence to be suspended in its entirety, pending Mr.
Davies's successful completion of a drug rehabilitation program.
Your Honor, this is his third offense.
You kidding me? You kidding me? Ms.
Korn check with probation, then your client is free to go.
Son do not let me down.
We're adjourned.
W-What What does it mean? No jail.
It means no jail.
Really? You can't mess this up, Malcolm.
He's giving you another chance.
You need to make this work.
I will.
I will.
All right.
I'm-I'm not a hugger.
I'm not a hugger.
Okay.
Oh.
Okay.
Okay.
No jail at all? How do you figure? Well, as I said to the jury, all I needed was one.
The one I got was the judge.
Wow.
JENNA: Okay.
They look stunning.
You don't think they make my feet look too fat? Oh, my God.
No.
They are to die for.
Is everybody done with the pizza? Yes, and then you can help Adam box up his stuff.
That'll be your first official assignment as our new paralegal.
What do you mean? I mean, I've finally landed on my feet.
You can go back to your cushy, shiny firm and Are you kidding me? I don't want to go back.
Why would I want to go back? This is the most fun I've ever had.
Yesterday, I stuck my finger in a guy's leg.
I want to stay.
Permanently.
Oh, don't be an idiot.
You have a brilliant future at any firm you want.
Don't squander it.
I want to be here.
The answer is no.
Look I'm gonna just say this.
I never had a mother.
She died during childbirth, when she had my older brother.
I never I I suppose I look at you as my dead, crippled mother.
Oh, yeah, she was crippled, too.
She died during childbirth when she had your older brother? Let's go with younger brother on that, yeah.
Better.
We'll keep "Crippled.
" Harriet, look every day I go to work in that big firm, I see the deadened eyes of all the partners that I sit at my desk, and I say to myself, "This ain't it.
" "This can't be it.
" From the moment I walked into this stupid I just knew.
This is it.
I really want to stay.
The thing is you really do bug me.
Harry, you said things don't happen for a reason.
But they do.
When Malcolm jumped off that building, bounced off that awning, and landed on you, and when Adam hit you with his fully-loaded Mercedes, it was to bring the four of us together.
Help you, gentlemen? Yeah We're looking for a lawyer.
Damien Winslow told us about you.
We invented a I don't know, a kind of doohickey.
A doohickey? Yeah, it could open, like, any car.
Originally used for criminal purposes, but Damien said if we just get a patent, we wouldn't need to be robbing cars.
It's a door-opener doohickey.
Jenna will take down all your information.
Great.
Um, can I get for anybody any tea, coffee, perhaps? Look at that.
Three more clients.
You'll have a full caseload by the end of the week.
This is home, Harry.
We're home.
You're gonna need to fill out your time sheets every day.
Time sheets?! Whoa, I never said anything about working for you.
Actually, you should probably only have one.
And right now, we're offering Like hell, we will.
You'll be a junior associate.
No, no, no, no, no.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Or there's the door.
Harriet, life is richer with a partner you can really share your successes with, right? I guess the moral of this story did come in the middle.
As Jenna and Malcolm said, sometimes things do happen for a reason.
You could say that I didn't just get it till the end, except this really wasn't the end at all.
For the four of us, this new and ridiculous firm, perhaps even my life, I have a feeling we're only at the beginning.