Eli Stone s01e07 Episode Script
Heal the Pain
Previously on "Eli Stone" Stone, senior associate at my firm, was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm.
I thought you'd changed.
All that's changed nowis that you're trying to clean up your record just in case there's a hereafter.
All-star catcher Jayson Turk hit a foul ball, which struck his third base coach in the head.
I didn't do anything.
Except find out your wifecheated on you with the guy you killed.
I weathered your hostilities when I was with eli, but now that I work here, I have got to know, what the hell is your problem? I don't like who eli becameafter he started dating you.
You know I've beenseeing things lately.
It's crazy, huh? I can't fire you, but I'm not obligatedto provide you with an office or an assistant.
We're done.
Looks good, Mr.
Stone.
Check it again, frank.
I'm telling you, I smell a gaseous substance.
Mr.
Stone, it's 3:00 in the morning.
I've been standing in your apartment for the last 45 minutes listening to you sniff.
Smells like smoke, but there's like A Fishy quality to it.
It's coming from the bedroom.
You have to smell that.
I really don't.
But I'll say anything to get back to my apartment.
Maybe something died in my closet.
Do you hear that? No.
I like this blazer.
Is it linen? - what the hell? - I'm sorry.
Sorry.
There was A thing in the - I tripped.
- Okay.
Word of advice-- do yourself a favor and buy a plunger, 'cause the next time your pipes back up, you're on your own.
Eli, what are you doing? I'm just making a few adjustments.
Well, you keep that up, you're gonna break your station.
It's not a station.
This is my office.
Well, your office is tilted to the right a bit.
Here And here.
You know, if Taylor finds out you're answering my phone and bringing me coffee Is that cinnamon? Nutmeg, and don't worry about Taylor.
I'd like to see her try and say something to me.
Peter johnson, peter johnson These--these are all from the same guy.
Confirming and reconfirming your lunch today.
Apparently, Mr.
Johnson is under the impression that you are much busier than you actually are.
I am busy--with scut work.
I'm like the world's highest-paid intern.
Stone? If, uh, I haven't said it already, I'm sorry about the whole aneurysm thing.
Tough break, man.
Does it affect your fine motor skls? No, not really.
- It's-- it's mostly- - good.
I'm gonna need this redline proofed and duplicated by noon.
Thanks, buddy.
That was a quick trip to the file room.
Wasn't it, though? We should I had another call go straight to voice mail while you were gone.
That happens.
And my schedule, patty-- I need to know when my meetings are.
You mean like the wednesday morning meeting that's going on right now? So hurry on.
Don't be late.
Was there anything else? No.
I think we're good.
First up, if you pay attention to nothing else this morning Pay attention to this--arvin solinsky.
Yes, there is somethingabout that name that quiets the room.
Dueto extenuating circumstances, we're going to needa new senior associate on the solinsky team.
You all have the file.
Become experts.
For one of you, it won't be a waste of time.
Next item-- people vs.
Jayson Turk.
Mr.
Dowd, Mr.
Bennett, what's happeningwith our baseball star? I saw espn covered his arraignment live.
And the late nightcomedy shows.
Everyone snickeringat the suggestion that jason Turk's a murderer 'cause he hit the foul ball that killed his third base coach.
Who happened to be havingan affair with his wife, who happens to bea celebrity ball player, who happens to be using steroids-- allegedly using, as in doesn't.
The adage "there's no such thingas bad publicity" doesn't applyto criminal matters.
Make this go away.
We've got a sit-downwith the A.
D.
A.
Scheduled for this afternoon to do just that.
God! I'm sorry.
Aneurysm time-out.
Sorry.
Mr.
Stone? Peter johnson.
Junior? Sorry, but if I toldyour assistant was 15 and wanted youto represent me, I don't think you would have shown up.
Only 'cause I don'tpractice pediatric law.
I googled you-- big settlements, big judgments-- your name's all overthe law blogs.
You're exactlythe kind of lawyer I need.
So What's the case? You suingthe school cafeteria to put french friesback on the menu? My mom died, and I want to suethe doctor who killed her.
Sorry, peter.
Last year, my mom laurawent in for minor surgery-- hernia operation.
The anesthesiologist, dr.
Agon, never botheredto check her charts, gave the wrong anesthesia, and They said she hada heart attack at the table.
It's all in the file.
Looks like you've been to a few lawyers already.
Six.
So you know what I'm about to tell you.
Malpractice is alwaysdifficult to prove.
What does your dad say? It was just and my mom-- now me and my grandma.
That's awful, peter.
I'm not lookingfor sympathy.
I've got cases in the file--about a dozen-- 7-figure settlements, $9 million, $10 million each-- and with the right kindof lawyer behind me, with the resources of a firm like yours, I-- well, you see, that's the thing.
I mean, my firm isn't exactly I've been kind of demoted, and, um, they won't let me take onnew cases right now, so I "dragon.
" No, his name's agon.
I guess I shouldget his name right if I'm gonna besuing him.
A single mom? And she diedon the operating table? You should meet this kid.
He's all alone.
It's tragic, really.
It is to those of us actuallyinterested in helping people.
I am interested in helping people.
Only becauseyou're afraid of dying, and you're tryingto suck up to god.
Maggie, I-I'm sittingin a cubicle.
I don't even havemy own stapler anymore.
Believe me, there arefar less humiliating ways I could be sucking upto god.
Besides, you're perfectfor this case.
No o else has the heart, the warm compassion-- now you're sucking up to me.
No, I'm not.
We work great together.
We're like a team.
Were like a team.
My suggestion? Go find yourselfanother peon to pee on.
Okay, fine.
Be pissed at me, but don't take it outon this kid-- this poor orphaned kid.
You are unbelievable.
It's like I'm a fishand you're using a kid and his dead mom as bait.
Is it working? First year associatescan't try cases alone.
It's firm policy.
It's inviolate.
Yes, but I wouldn't be tryingthe case alone.
Eli--Mr.
Stone is-- dead to me.
Improperly so, sir, but still alive enoughto remain a senior associate, at least, technically, and sincehe can still practice law, thanks particularly to you, sir-- flattery and judicious useof loopholes-- clearly, you knowthe fastest way to my heart.
Very well.
Have at it-- with the caveatthat you will first chair.
You realize that I've--I've never first chaired a dinner party, let alone a-- Mr.
Stone is on probation.
He is not to participate in this trial.
If he so much as sneezes in open court, you will be held responsible.
And by "responsible, "you mean I can't fire Mr.
Stone, but you enjoy no such protection.
Good luck with the case.
Wishing you nothing but the best.
+++ +++ +++ You're late.
And you're wearing two different shoes.
I am? Well, it's your fault.
I'm operating on zero sleep.
- I'm terrified, eli.
- Of what? Of losing this case, of getting completely and totally fired Your fiancée, who's been staring daggers at me ever since you and I went to hawaii together.
On a case, just like this one.
Besides that, she's my ex-fiancéE.
Besides that, the dagger's all in your head.
Helpful tip-- don't ever tell a woman, particularly the one who's a senior associate on your case, that she's paranoid Oh, yeah.
This isn't gonna get old.
First thing I want you to do is fast-track a trial date.
I did it this morning.
Great.
Excellent.
Then you can get to work drafting the subpoena for surgical records.
Uh, pre, during and post--done.
Okay.
Good.
Good job.
Um, agon's assets.
I got an internlooking into them.
What time is it? Oh, 9:20.
Okay, we have to getto a depo at the hospital where peter's mom died.
You noticed a deposition withoutrunning it past me first? I'm lead counsel.
You're right.
With your job in danger, of courseyou'd want to make all the decisions without any input whatsoever from me.
Well, scheduling that depo wasa smart idea.
Good initiative.
Okay, then, so now I'm going to Borrow a pairof matching shoes, grab your notes, back here in five.
Okay.
Guys, this has been going onfor too long.
Me being here--this seems like a mistake.
I pay you to talk to the D.
A.
I don't have to.
You want to give swerensome face time.
Show him that respect.
Respect? I did nothing wrong.
This feels like I'm looking for a favor.
No, that's why we've gothim traveling to us.
You're the reasonable citizenrespectfully pointing out the error of his ways.
Which is why we wantedyour wife here-- to show a little support.
Yeah, well, I guess she thoughtshe was supportive enough by sleepingth my third base coach.
She's kind of moved out.
That's tough.
I'm sorry.
Wasn't exactly her choice.
I kind of packed for her.
Pragmatically, Jayson, if you guys could reconcile, that wouldn't bethe worst thing, trial strategy-wise.
He's kidding, right? I thought the whole ideabehind meeting with this guy was to avoid a trial.
It is.
All I'm saying is-- this just got messengered overfrom the a.
D.
A.
's office.
Where is the A.
D.
A.
? He's not coming.
Put it in.
I bet you a thousand bucks you can't do that again.
- All right.
- All right.
Mikey, one right over the plate.
Well, guess we know why the A.
D.
A.
Didn't cometo our meeting.
He didn't have to.
Cause of that? Our defense was gonna be "who could hit a ballaccurately enough to kill somebody? " That tape's the answer.
He's gonna argue it provesmeans and premeditation.
That was mejust goofing around.
Believe me when I tell youit's not going to play that wayto 12 people in a jury box.
We need to talk about some options.
No, absolutely not.
We're going into the court with a straightnot-guilty defense-- nothing less.
- Jason, listen to me- - no.
We're done talking.
I was right the first time.
I should have stayed home.
You're the lawyers.
You fix this.
I'm not going to courtbecause I hit a damn baseball.
Why are you so intenton selling out our client-- dude, I know you got, like, a Jayson Turk lunchbox and everything, but wake up.
Intentionally killing a guywith a foul ball's obtuse, even for wyle E.
Coyote.
I don'tcare what's on that tape.
An opinion informed by, what, your two and a half weeksof criminal defense experience? He's your idol.
I get it, but all the jury's gonna seeis a black man who killed the guywho was banging his wife.
That video's a smoking gun.
We got a meetingwith the judge tomorrow.
If we can getthe smoking gun excluded, will you get behinda straight acquittal? That's a pretty huge "if.
" and in your capacity as administratorof cypress memorial, were you present for workon march 26th of last year? Are you really gonnaask me that question for every dayof the past year? Well, I-I liketo be thorough.
Ms.
Dekker, let me jumpto the bottom line.
When you have a patienttaking migraine medication, like ms.
Johnson was, and an anesthesiologistwho pushed opiates, like dr.
Agon did, you end up with whatwe call a serotonin storm.
It's preventable, and it's what killedyour client's mother.
And so you-- fired his ass, and then I tried to figure out why in the hellwe hired him in the first place.
Why? Is my favorite vowel.
Agon camevery highly recommended.
We didn't hear anyof the rumors until after laura johnson's death.
What rumors? Negligence, malpractice, a mortality rate15% higher than the norm.
The truth is, st vincent'sunloaded this guy on us.
They knew aboutagon's track record and covered it up because they were exposedall over the place.
You can't blameanother hospital for malpractice committed at yours.
You wanna sue us, go ahead.
Shut me down.
I haven'tslept in three years.
Of course, you'll bedepriving this community of the only E.
R.
In 20 miles.
I have a better idea.
- We drop our lawsuit against your hospital- - what? And you retain us as counsel.
Peter johnson will be your co-plaintiff.
I'm sorry, ms.
Brehe, but he's really notsupposed to be speaking.
Who are we all suing? St.
Vincent's.
My client and your hospitalboth suffered because st.
Vincent's lied by omission.
I like the sound of that.
I'm in.
What's our next step? I avoid getting killedby my brother.
St.
Vincent'sis his hospital.
Dude! What the hell? Uh, nate, did we have a-- you sue my hospital, my place of business, and you don't even tell me first? I was going to.
I was.
But then I knew thatyou would get really mad, and there would be yelling, and obviously I was wrong.
You want to know how I spent my morning? Golf? I heard thatdoctors like golf.
In the chief of staff's office, listening to him lose his mind because some jackassis suing our hospital for malpractice committed atsomeone else's hospital! Well, aren't youoverreacting a little? I mean, it's not like I named you in the suit.
That is not the point.
We don't need lawyersto keep us honest, eli.
Someone dies on the table, no one wants to find out what went wrongmore than us.
Now what we don't need is to be dragged into court because some Because someoneis looking to make a buck.
St.
Vincent's dumpedthis guy, nate, and a 15-year-old kid's mom died because of it.
So you can go back, and you can tell your boss that you tried your best, t the money-grubbing ambulance chaserthat you're related to just couldn't be swayed.
Videotape has no evidentiary value? Really? That's their argument? Not all videotape.
This particular videotape.
Well, someone should let the supreme court know, because this would certainly be news to them.
Look, now counsel's just being an ass.
Hey, I got an idea.
Why don't we exclude the entire baseball game during which coach quesada was killed? That was on video.
Mr.
Bennett, you were being premature.
Now the A.
D.
A.
's being an ass.
Your honor? You pin your case on anonymously sourced video.
Did you really imagine there wouldn't be a motion to exclude? No, but I Didn't imagine you'd actually grant it.
I haven't granted anything yet, but I am going to hear their argument.
Call me crazy.
Your honor, evidence is only admissible if it's more reliable than prejudicial.
- And here it's not reliable because it's digital.
- Bet you 1,000 bucks you can't do that again.
All right.
All right.
Mikey, throw it right over the plate.
You swing that lumberpretty good, paul.
Did you play college ball? It's a stunt.
True, but it's a good one.
Without the author of the tape, I can't determineits reliability.
The recording's out.
Defense motion granted.
My name is trevor snyder.
I'm chief administrator for st.
Vincent's hospitalin san francisco.
This is a copy of the 8-0-5health facility reporting form received by your counterpartat cypress memorial, already admittedas plaintiff's "B.
" Could you read the highlightedparagraph out loud? "It is with great regretthat I recommend jeffrey agon-- " regret not because I haveconcerns about his ability " but because a doctorof his unassailable record is impossible to replace.
" And now could youread it again Louder? Or Instead, could you Tell me whose signatureis at the bottom? That would be mine.
And when you wte in the letter That dr.
Agon's recordwas unassailable, what did you mean? It means that his recordcould not be attacked.
Why is it thatcypress memorial heard nothing about the Three patientswho died at your hospital? Wasn't dr.
Agonthe anesthesiologist in all three surgeries? He was clearedof any wrongdoing.
Dr.
Agon himself was calledto account for the incident at our morbidityand mortality conference.
Yes, the m&m conference.
- I thinkI'd like to see the transcript.
- Objection.
Under evidence code 1157, peer review conference transcripts are inadmissible.
Sustained.
Get at it another way.
So Three patients deadin two months.
I guess the only explanationwould just be what, bad luck? Those patients diedin my hospital, ms.
Dekker, on my watch.
I don't appreciatewhat you're implying, and I certainly don't approveof what you're doing to my colleague's reputation.
- You mean attacking his record? - Yes.
Well, if I'm doing that It's not exactlyunassailable, is it? How awesome was I today? You were awesomely awesome.
You signaled it.
I said it.
It was likeI was inside your head.
You know, I-I made up a littlesong about first chairing.
You want to hear it? Maybe later But, you know, probably not.
So we have dr.
Agon himselftomorrow.
Now he won't underestimate you.
You have to hammer him.
He'll say, "accidents happen.
" But he's had an above averagenumber of accidents.
Don't get into statistics.
The jury will tune out.
And keep peter in your eyeline.
Don't forget about him.
If you remember why you're there, the jury will, too.
I'm sorry.
And don't apologizebefore you've screwed up.
It's not encouraging.
No.
I meant I'm sorryfor how I reacted To your aneurysm.
Thanks.
But What does this haveto do with our case? You really care about it Not just about winning.
You care about winning itfor peter.
You're right.
You're an object of ridicule, a professional pariah reducedto barely practicing law.
Thank you.
I feel better.
If you're sucking up to god, there are better ways.
Yeah, well, god and I enjoy a prettycomplicated relationship.
At least nowI'm starting to believe in what he wants me to do.
It's like I see things now, you know? Things that were always there but that I just I never noticed before.
Like people who need help.
Including high-anxiety, borderline competentjunior associates.
Well, at leastI'm borderline now.
- How are you? - Good.
I'm good.
How are you? There's noay to ask thiswithout it sounding weird, but I have a surprise that I'm sure no one wouldappreciate more than you.
So I was hoping thatyou'd be free tomorrow night? Uh, tomorrow night.
Looking forward to it.
Me, too.
Medicine'sdirty little secret is that it's notan exact science.
I wish it were.
So if medicine isn'tan exact science, dr.
Agon, does that meanthat operational complications are never the doctor's fault? Not never, but in this instance I was cleared bya very thorough investigation.
This thorough investigationbeing the m&m conference, which is shrouded behind a veil of secrecy.
Objection.
I would actuallylike to answer that.
I petitioned the hospitalto release those transcripts.
It was my reputation on the line.
The hospital'spathology department attributed those deathsto "malignant hypothermia.
" What is that? On rare occasions, a patient will have an extreme and fatal reactionto anesthetic.
The body temperature will spike, and the heart fails.
And it's completelyunforeseeable, like Lightning.
That's right.
So what you're saying is thatthree of your patients just Happened to bestruck by lightning? Your metaphor belittles the very real human tragedyhere.
Your admittingand O.
R.
Privileges were suspendedfor six months last year.
Ist that right? Yes, because I wason sabbatical, not suspension.
I took six months offto finish my book, "principles of anesthesia, " which is now being taught in medical schoolsacross the country.
I'm sorry for your loss, son.
And more than anythingin this world, I wish I couldbring your mom back.
Was that as big a disasteras I think it was? No, it could have been worse.
It could still be going on.
Why didn't you tell me shewas gonna do all the talking? I hired you, not her.
Well, we're a team, and we'renot done fighting yet-- either of us.
Going to court was supposedto make it all better, but I feel worse now than I did before.
I'm gonna make you a promisethat I'm not supposed to.
There's no amount of moneythat we can win for you that's gonna make upfor what happened.
That's notwhy you're here anyway.
You want Justice, right? Well, that's the promiseI'm gonna make to you.
I won't stopuntil you get it.
Okay? I was just calling you.
Celebration dinner tonight--you, me and Turk.
You're paying.
No, I'm not, 'cause there'snothing to celebrate.
Sweren just deliveredan updated witness list.
First addition--carly Turk.
That's okay.
We roll with it.
She can't hurt us.
You're right.
She can kill us.
She's the murderer's wife, matt.
Think she doesn't havesomething to say? Listen to you--callingyour own client a murderer? You actually believe he killed this guy on purpose? When are you gonnaunderstand this? It doesn't matter what I believe.
They're not gonnaconvict Jayson Turk.
You You ever evenwatch a baseball game, keith? This guy's the greatestcatcher since johnny bench.
He-- he's a national treasure.
Open your eyesand be aawyer for a minute.
The D.
A.
Believes they havethe crime of the century here.
They're prosecutingan overpaid celebrity.
They got 100, 000 witnessesto the crime, and now they got his own wifetestifying against him.
It is time for usto earn our keep and come up with a strategy beyond "he didn't do it.
" Even if he didn't? Ask yourself this You want to be his friend, or you want to keep himout of jail? I'm glad you called.
Really? Love surprises.
At $3, 000 a ticket, you better.
$3, 000? Is jimi hendrix playing? It's for charity.
Don't worry.
My careertook a nice upturn today.
I think I'll be able to afford it.
What kind of upturn? - I got solinsky.
- You Are you upset? No, I could not be happier.
You seem disappointedthat I'm not disappointed.
Just surprised And maybe a little confused.
I-I don't know.
I was prepared for disappointed or jealous or even angry, but "couldn't be happier"throws me a little.
Well, I don't knowwhy it should.
I guessit wasn't that long ago when youwould have been upset.
Well I'm in a different placein my life now, I guess.
Different place from me.
Ladies and gentlemen-- george michael! Oh, not now.
Please.
Thank you so much for coming.
'Older'---George Michael this is incredible! Full circle.
Thank you for that.
Thought you mightenjoy the real thing.
Yeah, I thought I was nevergonna get to see george michael when he wasn't standingon my coffee table.
Turned out to be kindof appropriate, I guess.
George's house call marked the beginningof the end for us, so - listen, Taylor- - so I was thinking, maybe weshould give each other some breathing room at work Steer clear, you know, just untilwe get our bearings.
I'm sorry.
What were you gonna say? Same thing, you know? Breathing, steer clear, bearings, but just less concisely and with noneof the right words.
- Travel safe.
- You, too.
Nate? You're a knight.
No, no.
It--it is night.
It's, like, You know something, nate, and you're supposed to help me.
I had another vision! You meananother episode.
Okay.
So I sued your hospital'cause I was gettin' flybys from a dragon.
And now I'm gettin'nearly trampled to death by a knight on a horse.
Nate, the knight was you.
An hour ago, you were chasing a dragon down foster street on horseback.
An hour ago I was here asleep, and myorse hasn'tbeen ridden all night.
Can I please go to bed now? My client's mother was killedby dr.
Agon's malpractice.
Dr.
Agon.
D-r--agon.
Dragon.
Knights slay dragons, nate.
Do you have any idea howdelusional you sound right now? I mean, it's like watching charles manson on the "wheel of fortune.
"What--how did I know your patientwas gonna die last month, or--or about the songthat you and dad sang on the fishing trip? You believed me! I believed that they weremassive coincidences that totally blew my mind.
Yeah, oh, and I washammered at the time, so if you had told meI had a third arm growing out of my forehead, I would have believed you on that, too.
You know somethingabout my case! Now what is it? You wereat agon's m&m conference.
You meanthe confidential proceeding that I'm not allowed totalk about even if I was there? That m&m conference? I need to know what was saidat that meeting.
You can tell me.
No, I really can't.
That's what"privileged" means, eli.
I would think as a lawyer, you'd know that.
Were you part of the cover-up? No! God, no.
And, yeah, I thoughtthe guy was incompetent.
One of the nurses called him"a lawsuit in scrubs.
" But I had no idea that theyhad lied about his record.
Anyway, it doesn't matterwhat I think.
There is no judgein the known universe who will allow me to testify about what was said in that room.
You're right But youjust helped me anyway.
Do you understandyou're still under oath? I do.
Mr.
Snyder, you testifiedthat dr.
Agon had resigned from your hospital, that you didn't fire him? Yes, that is right.
Is thatclear enough this time? And just before dr.
Agon resigned, he lost a patient-- a man named eric shelby.
And by "lost, " I mean killed.
Dr.
Agon didn't kill anyone.
He was cleared ofany malfeasance or negligence.
At your hospital's morbidityand mortality conference, right? Spifically the one heldaugust 11th, 2006? Objection.
Perhaps ms.
Dekker'sforgotten what's said in these conferences is privileged.
I haven't asked Mr.
Snyderwhat was said at the conference.
Stay on the right sideof that line, counsel.
Objection overruled.
Are notes takenat these m&m conferences, specificallythe august 11th conference? Yes, there was alwaysa stenographer present.
We take detailed notes, but you must-- and don't those notesreflect testimony establishingsignificant negligence on the part of dr.
Agon? Did his nurse describe him as "a lawsuit in scrubs"? - Those transcriptsare privileged! - Is that a yes? Objection, your honor! - Is that a yes, sir? - Counsel hasn't produced thesetranscripts to the defense.
I haven't introduced any transcripts yet.
Objection overruled.
Answer the question.
Was theresignificant negligence? Yes.
And one lasthing--if dr.
Agon hadn't resigned, you were going to fire him, correct? Yes.
That might be something his next employerdeserved to know Don't you think? $500, 000, exchange of releasesand a confidentiality agreement.
$500, 000? that's Insulting.
I'm insulted.
I'm advisingmy clients to be insulted.
The malpracticeyour client's suing for wasn't committed at my client's hospital.
After what jushappened, I'm not sure the jury cares, but maybe I'm wrong.
to go any higher.
Too bad, 'cause you'regonna have to go higher.
Take it or leave it.
- I think we'll- - take it.
- Take it.
We'll take it.
- No! It's not enough.
Could we have the room, please? You promised.
This isn't justice.
of justice, peter.
You were right.
Money won't bring my mom back.
I want someone to saythat what they did was wrong.
I can't promise you that.
No lawyer can.
I don't knowwhat the jury's gonna do.
I guess I need to find out.
All right, peter.
If that's what you want to do, then We'll do it.
I am so sorry, tom.
No, no, no.
It won't happen again.
I-- I prom--hello? Patti? Patti! I just got off the phonewith tom rayvert from chaykin technologies-- a call, I mighadd, I had to pick up myself-- and he was furious that I hadn't returnedhis five previous phone calls.
I'm sorry.
I can't imaginewhat could have happened.
Look, I know you think I'mthe wicked witch of the west, but-- east.
She was worse.
They dropped a house on her.
But I am your boss now, patti.
You are on my desk, which means you have a choice to make.
I get a choice? Really? Well, it's been niceworking with you.
No, patti, you have a choice between workingat this firm or not.
When eli was demoted, they were gonna let you go.
I intervened.
Eli loves you, and so I wanted to protect youbecause of that.
So here's the thing--this is entirely in your hands.
You decide how youwant this to play ouT.
Because after this last week, I gotta be honest with you-- either way is fineith me.
Has the juryreached a verdict? We have.
In the matter of peter johnson and cypress memorial vs.
Saint vincent's hospital, we finin favorof the plaintiffs and award compensatory damagesin the amount of $28, 000.
Because ofthe institutionalizefraud on the part of st.
Vincent's, we further award punitive damagesin the amount of $8 million.
$8 million is Remember, you have to splitthat with cypress memorial.
Miss brehe said she was gonnaname a wing afr my mom.
That's cool, right? Seven lawyers later, glad you hung in there.
Your mom would beproud of you.
***** congratulations, counselor.
I have to go kill myself.
Good-bye.
Maggie, it's only weirdif we-- if this is how she reactswhen she wins a case, I do not want to be herewhen she los.
No, it's not about the case.
She's just You don't want to know.
Even if I did, my boss wouldn't approveof me wasting my time.
Speaking of which, have you seen ms.
Wethersby? "Ms.
Wethersby"? Yes.
Jordan wants tosee her in his office-- apparently, you, too.
The day started offso well.
Life is fullof disappointment, eli.
Are you all right? Yeah.
It's just It's it's no fun anymore.
Well, I guess that's whythey call it "work.
" Never used to feel like it.
Patti-- Taylor wethersby's office.
No, she isn't.
May I take a message? Temporary insanity? Are you kidding me? It's stilla "not guilty" plea.
Yeah, not guilty'cause I'm crazy.
What happened to not guilty'cause I'm not guilty? Your wife happened.
I thought wives couldn't testifyagainst their husbands.
We tell you your wife'scooperating with the D.
A.
, And that's your response? Man, what other kind of responseare you looking for? Uh, "she couldn't possiblyhave anything to tell the D.
A.
I never threatenedthat man.
" Something like that would be nice.
The dude was screwing my wife.
Of course I threatened him.
That doesn't mean I killed him.
But that's the way it looks, Jayson.
I don't care how it looks.
Look, we're notyour entourage, okay? You pay us to tell youwhat you need to hear, not what you want to.
This will work.
The lawsays you're not guilty if you weren'tin your right mind.
Steroids tendto have that effect.
I told you, I don't do that crap.
Bottom line--you admitto the steroid use, we can protect youon the murder charge.
You agree with him? Jayson, listen to me, man.
The day I passed the bar, you--you hit for the cycleagainst detroit.
The day I joined this firm, you--you caughtbalderrama's no-hitter.
I could chartmy entire adult life by the things you did in yours, and I'm tellin' you I'm not so sure you weren'taimin' for your coach, and I'm your biggest fan.
So you tell me What's a jury gonna think? If I say I'm juicin', that's it.
They'll kick meout of the league My sponsors hall of fame We're talkin'about your life here.
Baseball is my life.
I'll think about it.
You're not fooling anyone, Mr.
Stone.
Though ms.
Dekkerwas the attorney of record, courthouse insiders havealready been able to figure out who truly deserves the creditfor this afternoon's victory in the st.
Vincent's case.
I didn't do anything special-- this changes nothingbetween us.
I mention the courthouse gossiponly because it reached the ears of arvin solinsky.
Our high-profile client feels he needsa high-profile attorney, - and like it or not, eli's profile keeps-- - keeps getting higher.
Solinsky doesn't need me.
Taylor's a far better choice.
Believe me, I made that case, but he wants you.
And regardless of what he wants, it would be malpractice to entrust the casesolely to you.
Taylor, you'll stay onas co-counsel.
- What? - What? I recognize that the timingis not ideal, but-- sir, you have to tell solinskythat I'm unavailable.
Tell him anything.
Tell him I got hit by a bus.
Even if I got to drive it, I couldn't do that.
- The firm can't affordto lose solinsky.
- But-- make no mistake.
By the end of this meeting, you will beon the solinsky case.
So let's jump to the endof this meeting.
What is ityou're looking for here-- some of your privileges back? Your expense account? Your company car? Your old office? I don't want my office back.
You havethe right person in there.
All I want is four walls and a door - no more cubicles.
- Done.
And one more thing.
Eli stone's office, please hold.
Hello, sweetie.
I'm hereto see Mr.
Stone.
Oh, right this way.
Mr.
Johnson's here.
Nice office.
It's unorthodox.
Eh, kind of goes with my practice.
Is everything okay? The school cafeteria took french fries off the menu, so I'm thinking about suing.
My grandma told me I need to bring you a thank you gift, and the check hasn't cleared yet.
So I thought maybe I'd give you something else.
My mom used to read this to me all the time when I was little.
I know it's weird giving you a book, but It means a lot to me.
"MEDIEVAL TALES AND ADVENTURES" Peter, this is the biggest fee I ever got.
Wait until the $2 million check clears.
Anyway Thanks again, Mr.
Stone.
Bye.
I thought you'd changed.
All that's changed nowis that you're trying to clean up your record just in case there's a hereafter.
All-star catcher Jayson Turk hit a foul ball, which struck his third base coach in the head.
I didn't do anything.
Except find out your wifecheated on you with the guy you killed.
I weathered your hostilities when I was with eli, but now that I work here, I have got to know, what the hell is your problem? I don't like who eli becameafter he started dating you.
You know I've beenseeing things lately.
It's crazy, huh? I can't fire you, but I'm not obligatedto provide you with an office or an assistant.
We're done.
Looks good, Mr.
Stone.
Check it again, frank.
I'm telling you, I smell a gaseous substance.
Mr.
Stone, it's 3:00 in the morning.
I've been standing in your apartment for the last 45 minutes listening to you sniff.
Smells like smoke, but there's like A Fishy quality to it.
It's coming from the bedroom.
You have to smell that.
I really don't.
But I'll say anything to get back to my apartment.
Maybe something died in my closet.
Do you hear that? No.
I like this blazer.
Is it linen? - what the hell? - I'm sorry.
Sorry.
There was A thing in the - I tripped.
- Okay.
Word of advice-- do yourself a favor and buy a plunger, 'cause the next time your pipes back up, you're on your own.
Eli, what are you doing? I'm just making a few adjustments.
Well, you keep that up, you're gonna break your station.
It's not a station.
This is my office.
Well, your office is tilted to the right a bit.
Here And here.
You know, if Taylor finds out you're answering my phone and bringing me coffee Is that cinnamon? Nutmeg, and don't worry about Taylor.
I'd like to see her try and say something to me.
Peter johnson, peter johnson These--these are all from the same guy.
Confirming and reconfirming your lunch today.
Apparently, Mr.
Johnson is under the impression that you are much busier than you actually are.
I am busy--with scut work.
I'm like the world's highest-paid intern.
Stone? If, uh, I haven't said it already, I'm sorry about the whole aneurysm thing.
Tough break, man.
Does it affect your fine motor skls? No, not really.
- It's-- it's mostly- - good.
I'm gonna need this redline proofed and duplicated by noon.
Thanks, buddy.
That was a quick trip to the file room.
Wasn't it, though? We should I had another call go straight to voice mail while you were gone.
That happens.
And my schedule, patty-- I need to know when my meetings are.
You mean like the wednesday morning meeting that's going on right now? So hurry on.
Don't be late.
Was there anything else? No.
I think we're good.
First up, if you pay attention to nothing else this morning Pay attention to this--arvin solinsky.
Yes, there is somethingabout that name that quiets the room.
Dueto extenuating circumstances, we're going to needa new senior associate on the solinsky team.
You all have the file.
Become experts.
For one of you, it won't be a waste of time.
Next item-- people vs.
Jayson Turk.
Mr.
Dowd, Mr.
Bennett, what's happeningwith our baseball star? I saw espn covered his arraignment live.
And the late nightcomedy shows.
Everyone snickeringat the suggestion that jason Turk's a murderer 'cause he hit the foul ball that killed his third base coach.
Who happened to be havingan affair with his wife, who happens to bea celebrity ball player, who happens to be using steroids-- allegedly using, as in doesn't.
The adage "there's no such thingas bad publicity" doesn't applyto criminal matters.
Make this go away.
We've got a sit-downwith the A.
D.
A.
Scheduled for this afternoon to do just that.
God! I'm sorry.
Aneurysm time-out.
Sorry.
Mr.
Stone? Peter johnson.
Junior? Sorry, but if I toldyour assistant was 15 and wanted youto represent me, I don't think you would have shown up.
Only 'cause I don'tpractice pediatric law.
I googled you-- big settlements, big judgments-- your name's all overthe law blogs.
You're exactlythe kind of lawyer I need.
So What's the case? You suingthe school cafeteria to put french friesback on the menu? My mom died, and I want to suethe doctor who killed her.
Sorry, peter.
Last year, my mom laurawent in for minor surgery-- hernia operation.
The anesthesiologist, dr.
Agon, never botheredto check her charts, gave the wrong anesthesia, and They said she hada heart attack at the table.
It's all in the file.
Looks like you've been to a few lawyers already.
Six.
So you know what I'm about to tell you.
Malpractice is alwaysdifficult to prove.
What does your dad say? It was just and my mom-- now me and my grandma.
That's awful, peter.
I'm not lookingfor sympathy.
I've got cases in the file--about a dozen-- 7-figure settlements, $9 million, $10 million each-- and with the right kindof lawyer behind me, with the resources of a firm like yours, I-- well, you see, that's the thing.
I mean, my firm isn't exactly I've been kind of demoted, and, um, they won't let me take onnew cases right now, so I "dragon.
" No, his name's agon.
I guess I shouldget his name right if I'm gonna besuing him.
A single mom? And she diedon the operating table? You should meet this kid.
He's all alone.
It's tragic, really.
It is to those of us actuallyinterested in helping people.
I am interested in helping people.
Only becauseyou're afraid of dying, and you're tryingto suck up to god.
Maggie, I-I'm sittingin a cubicle.
I don't even havemy own stapler anymore.
Believe me, there arefar less humiliating ways I could be sucking upto god.
Besides, you're perfectfor this case.
No o else has the heart, the warm compassion-- now you're sucking up to me.
No, I'm not.
We work great together.
We're like a team.
Were like a team.
My suggestion? Go find yourselfanother peon to pee on.
Okay, fine.
Be pissed at me, but don't take it outon this kid-- this poor orphaned kid.
You are unbelievable.
It's like I'm a fishand you're using a kid and his dead mom as bait.
Is it working? First year associatescan't try cases alone.
It's firm policy.
It's inviolate.
Yes, but I wouldn't be tryingthe case alone.
Eli--Mr.
Stone is-- dead to me.
Improperly so, sir, but still alive enoughto remain a senior associate, at least, technically, and sincehe can still practice law, thanks particularly to you, sir-- flattery and judicious useof loopholes-- clearly, you knowthe fastest way to my heart.
Very well.
Have at it-- with the caveatthat you will first chair.
You realize that I've--I've never first chaired a dinner party, let alone a-- Mr.
Stone is on probation.
He is not to participate in this trial.
If he so much as sneezes in open court, you will be held responsible.
And by "responsible, "you mean I can't fire Mr.
Stone, but you enjoy no such protection.
Good luck with the case.
Wishing you nothing but the best.
+++ +++ +++ You're late.
And you're wearing two different shoes.
I am? Well, it's your fault.
I'm operating on zero sleep.
- I'm terrified, eli.
- Of what? Of losing this case, of getting completely and totally fired Your fiancée, who's been staring daggers at me ever since you and I went to hawaii together.
On a case, just like this one.
Besides that, she's my ex-fiancéE.
Besides that, the dagger's all in your head.
Helpful tip-- don't ever tell a woman, particularly the one who's a senior associate on your case, that she's paranoid Oh, yeah.
This isn't gonna get old.
First thing I want you to do is fast-track a trial date.
I did it this morning.
Great.
Excellent.
Then you can get to work drafting the subpoena for surgical records.
Uh, pre, during and post--done.
Okay.
Good.
Good job.
Um, agon's assets.
I got an internlooking into them.
What time is it? Oh, 9:20.
Okay, we have to getto a depo at the hospital where peter's mom died.
You noticed a deposition withoutrunning it past me first? I'm lead counsel.
You're right.
With your job in danger, of courseyou'd want to make all the decisions without any input whatsoever from me.
Well, scheduling that depo wasa smart idea.
Good initiative.
Okay, then, so now I'm going to Borrow a pairof matching shoes, grab your notes, back here in five.
Okay.
Guys, this has been going onfor too long.
Me being here--this seems like a mistake.
I pay you to talk to the D.
A.
I don't have to.
You want to give swerensome face time.
Show him that respect.
Respect? I did nothing wrong.
This feels like I'm looking for a favor.
No, that's why we've gothim traveling to us.
You're the reasonable citizenrespectfully pointing out the error of his ways.
Which is why we wantedyour wife here-- to show a little support.
Yeah, well, I guess she thoughtshe was supportive enough by sleepingth my third base coach.
She's kind of moved out.
That's tough.
I'm sorry.
Wasn't exactly her choice.
I kind of packed for her.
Pragmatically, Jayson, if you guys could reconcile, that wouldn't bethe worst thing, trial strategy-wise.
He's kidding, right? I thought the whole ideabehind meeting with this guy was to avoid a trial.
It is.
All I'm saying is-- this just got messengered overfrom the a.
D.
A.
's office.
Where is the A.
D.
A.
? He's not coming.
Put it in.
I bet you a thousand bucks you can't do that again.
- All right.
- All right.
Mikey, one right over the plate.
Well, guess we know why the A.
D.
A.
Didn't cometo our meeting.
He didn't have to.
Cause of that? Our defense was gonna be "who could hit a ballaccurately enough to kill somebody? " That tape's the answer.
He's gonna argue it provesmeans and premeditation.
That was mejust goofing around.
Believe me when I tell youit's not going to play that wayto 12 people in a jury box.
We need to talk about some options.
No, absolutely not.
We're going into the court with a straightnot-guilty defense-- nothing less.
- Jason, listen to me- - no.
We're done talking.
I was right the first time.
I should have stayed home.
You're the lawyers.
You fix this.
I'm not going to courtbecause I hit a damn baseball.
Why are you so intenton selling out our client-- dude, I know you got, like, a Jayson Turk lunchbox and everything, but wake up.
Intentionally killing a guywith a foul ball's obtuse, even for wyle E.
Coyote.
I don'tcare what's on that tape.
An opinion informed by, what, your two and a half weeksof criminal defense experience? He's your idol.
I get it, but all the jury's gonna seeis a black man who killed the guywho was banging his wife.
That video's a smoking gun.
We got a meetingwith the judge tomorrow.
If we can getthe smoking gun excluded, will you get behinda straight acquittal? That's a pretty huge "if.
" and in your capacity as administratorof cypress memorial, were you present for workon march 26th of last year? Are you really gonnaask me that question for every dayof the past year? Well, I-I liketo be thorough.
Ms.
Dekker, let me jumpto the bottom line.
When you have a patienttaking migraine medication, like ms.
Johnson was, and an anesthesiologistwho pushed opiates, like dr.
Agon did, you end up with whatwe call a serotonin storm.
It's preventable, and it's what killedyour client's mother.
And so you-- fired his ass, and then I tried to figure out why in the hellwe hired him in the first place.
Why? Is my favorite vowel.
Agon camevery highly recommended.
We didn't hear anyof the rumors until after laura johnson's death.
What rumors? Negligence, malpractice, a mortality rate15% higher than the norm.
The truth is, st vincent'sunloaded this guy on us.
They knew aboutagon's track record and covered it up because they were exposedall over the place.
You can't blameanother hospital for malpractice committed at yours.
You wanna sue us, go ahead.
Shut me down.
I haven'tslept in three years.
Of course, you'll bedepriving this community of the only E.
R.
In 20 miles.
I have a better idea.
- We drop our lawsuit against your hospital- - what? And you retain us as counsel.
Peter johnson will be your co-plaintiff.
I'm sorry, ms.
Brehe, but he's really notsupposed to be speaking.
Who are we all suing? St.
Vincent's.
My client and your hospitalboth suffered because st.
Vincent's lied by omission.
I like the sound of that.
I'm in.
What's our next step? I avoid getting killedby my brother.
St.
Vincent'sis his hospital.
Dude! What the hell? Uh, nate, did we have a-- you sue my hospital, my place of business, and you don't even tell me first? I was going to.
I was.
But then I knew thatyou would get really mad, and there would be yelling, and obviously I was wrong.
You want to know how I spent my morning? Golf? I heard thatdoctors like golf.
In the chief of staff's office, listening to him lose his mind because some jackassis suing our hospital for malpractice committed atsomeone else's hospital! Well, aren't youoverreacting a little? I mean, it's not like I named you in the suit.
That is not the point.
We don't need lawyersto keep us honest, eli.
Someone dies on the table, no one wants to find out what went wrongmore than us.
Now what we don't need is to be dragged into court because some Because someoneis looking to make a buck.
St.
Vincent's dumpedthis guy, nate, and a 15-year-old kid's mom died because of it.
So you can go back, and you can tell your boss that you tried your best, t the money-grubbing ambulance chaserthat you're related to just couldn't be swayed.
Videotape has no evidentiary value? Really? That's their argument? Not all videotape.
This particular videotape.
Well, someone should let the supreme court know, because this would certainly be news to them.
Look, now counsel's just being an ass.
Hey, I got an idea.
Why don't we exclude the entire baseball game during which coach quesada was killed? That was on video.
Mr.
Bennett, you were being premature.
Now the A.
D.
A.
's being an ass.
Your honor? You pin your case on anonymously sourced video.
Did you really imagine there wouldn't be a motion to exclude? No, but I Didn't imagine you'd actually grant it.
I haven't granted anything yet, but I am going to hear their argument.
Call me crazy.
Your honor, evidence is only admissible if it's more reliable than prejudicial.
- And here it's not reliable because it's digital.
- Bet you 1,000 bucks you can't do that again.
All right.
All right.
Mikey, throw it right over the plate.
You swing that lumberpretty good, paul.
Did you play college ball? It's a stunt.
True, but it's a good one.
Without the author of the tape, I can't determineits reliability.
The recording's out.
Defense motion granted.
My name is trevor snyder.
I'm chief administrator for st.
Vincent's hospitalin san francisco.
This is a copy of the 8-0-5health facility reporting form received by your counterpartat cypress memorial, already admittedas plaintiff's "B.
" Could you read the highlightedparagraph out loud? "It is with great regretthat I recommend jeffrey agon-- " regret not because I haveconcerns about his ability " but because a doctorof his unassailable record is impossible to replace.
" And now could youread it again Louder? Or Instead, could you Tell me whose signatureis at the bottom? That would be mine.
And when you wte in the letter That dr.
Agon's recordwas unassailable, what did you mean? It means that his recordcould not be attacked.
Why is it thatcypress memorial heard nothing about the Three patientswho died at your hospital? Wasn't dr.
Agonthe anesthesiologist in all three surgeries? He was clearedof any wrongdoing.
Dr.
Agon himself was calledto account for the incident at our morbidityand mortality conference.
Yes, the m&m conference.
- I thinkI'd like to see the transcript.
- Objection.
Under evidence code 1157, peer review conference transcripts are inadmissible.
Sustained.
Get at it another way.
So Three patients deadin two months.
I guess the only explanationwould just be what, bad luck? Those patients diedin my hospital, ms.
Dekker, on my watch.
I don't appreciatewhat you're implying, and I certainly don't approveof what you're doing to my colleague's reputation.
- You mean attacking his record? - Yes.
Well, if I'm doing that It's not exactlyunassailable, is it? How awesome was I today? You were awesomely awesome.
You signaled it.
I said it.
It was likeI was inside your head.
You know, I-I made up a littlesong about first chairing.
You want to hear it? Maybe later But, you know, probably not.
So we have dr.
Agon himselftomorrow.
Now he won't underestimate you.
You have to hammer him.
He'll say, "accidents happen.
" But he's had an above averagenumber of accidents.
Don't get into statistics.
The jury will tune out.
And keep peter in your eyeline.
Don't forget about him.
If you remember why you're there, the jury will, too.
I'm sorry.
And don't apologizebefore you've screwed up.
It's not encouraging.
No.
I meant I'm sorryfor how I reacted To your aneurysm.
Thanks.
But What does this haveto do with our case? You really care about it Not just about winning.
You care about winning itfor peter.
You're right.
You're an object of ridicule, a professional pariah reducedto barely practicing law.
Thank you.
I feel better.
If you're sucking up to god, there are better ways.
Yeah, well, god and I enjoy a prettycomplicated relationship.
At least nowI'm starting to believe in what he wants me to do.
It's like I see things now, you know? Things that were always there but that I just I never noticed before.
Like people who need help.
Including high-anxiety, borderline competentjunior associates.
Well, at leastI'm borderline now.
- How are you? - Good.
I'm good.
How are you? There's noay to ask thiswithout it sounding weird, but I have a surprise that I'm sure no one wouldappreciate more than you.
So I was hoping thatyou'd be free tomorrow night? Uh, tomorrow night.
Looking forward to it.
Me, too.
Medicine'sdirty little secret is that it's notan exact science.
I wish it were.
So if medicine isn'tan exact science, dr.
Agon, does that meanthat operational complications are never the doctor's fault? Not never, but in this instance I was cleared bya very thorough investigation.
This thorough investigationbeing the m&m conference, which is shrouded behind a veil of secrecy.
Objection.
I would actuallylike to answer that.
I petitioned the hospitalto release those transcripts.
It was my reputation on the line.
The hospital'spathology department attributed those deathsto "malignant hypothermia.
" What is that? On rare occasions, a patient will have an extreme and fatal reactionto anesthetic.
The body temperature will spike, and the heart fails.
And it's completelyunforeseeable, like Lightning.
That's right.
So what you're saying is thatthree of your patients just Happened to bestruck by lightning? Your metaphor belittles the very real human tragedyhere.
Your admittingand O.
R.
Privileges were suspendedfor six months last year.
Ist that right? Yes, because I wason sabbatical, not suspension.
I took six months offto finish my book, "principles of anesthesia, " which is now being taught in medical schoolsacross the country.
I'm sorry for your loss, son.
And more than anythingin this world, I wish I couldbring your mom back.
Was that as big a disasteras I think it was? No, it could have been worse.
It could still be going on.
Why didn't you tell me shewas gonna do all the talking? I hired you, not her.
Well, we're a team, and we'renot done fighting yet-- either of us.
Going to court was supposedto make it all better, but I feel worse now than I did before.
I'm gonna make you a promisethat I'm not supposed to.
There's no amount of moneythat we can win for you that's gonna make upfor what happened.
That's notwhy you're here anyway.
You want Justice, right? Well, that's the promiseI'm gonna make to you.
I won't stopuntil you get it.
Okay? I was just calling you.
Celebration dinner tonight--you, me and Turk.
You're paying.
No, I'm not, 'cause there'snothing to celebrate.
Sweren just deliveredan updated witness list.
First addition--carly Turk.
That's okay.
We roll with it.
She can't hurt us.
You're right.
She can kill us.
She's the murderer's wife, matt.
Think she doesn't havesomething to say? Listen to you--callingyour own client a murderer? You actually believe he killed this guy on purpose? When are you gonnaunderstand this? It doesn't matter what I believe.
They're not gonnaconvict Jayson Turk.
You You ever evenwatch a baseball game, keith? This guy's the greatestcatcher since johnny bench.
He-- he's a national treasure.
Open your eyesand be aawyer for a minute.
The D.
A.
Believes they havethe crime of the century here.
They're prosecutingan overpaid celebrity.
They got 100, 000 witnessesto the crime, and now they got his own wifetestifying against him.
It is time for usto earn our keep and come up with a strategy beyond "he didn't do it.
" Even if he didn't? Ask yourself this You want to be his friend, or you want to keep himout of jail? I'm glad you called.
Really? Love surprises.
At $3, 000 a ticket, you better.
$3, 000? Is jimi hendrix playing? It's for charity.
Don't worry.
My careertook a nice upturn today.
I think I'll be able to afford it.
What kind of upturn? - I got solinsky.
- You Are you upset? No, I could not be happier.
You seem disappointedthat I'm not disappointed.
Just surprised And maybe a little confused.
I-I don't know.
I was prepared for disappointed or jealous or even angry, but "couldn't be happier"throws me a little.
Well, I don't knowwhy it should.
I guessit wasn't that long ago when youwould have been upset.
Well I'm in a different placein my life now, I guess.
Different place from me.
Ladies and gentlemen-- george michael! Oh, not now.
Please.
Thank you so much for coming.
'Older'---George Michael this is incredible! Full circle.
Thank you for that.
Thought you mightenjoy the real thing.
Yeah, I thought I was nevergonna get to see george michael when he wasn't standingon my coffee table.
Turned out to be kindof appropriate, I guess.
George's house call marked the beginningof the end for us, so - listen, Taylor- - so I was thinking, maybe weshould give each other some breathing room at work Steer clear, you know, just untilwe get our bearings.
I'm sorry.
What were you gonna say? Same thing, you know? Breathing, steer clear, bearings, but just less concisely and with noneof the right words.
- Travel safe.
- You, too.
Nate? You're a knight.
No, no.
It--it is night.
It's, like, You know something, nate, and you're supposed to help me.
I had another vision! You meananother episode.
Okay.
So I sued your hospital'cause I was gettin' flybys from a dragon.
And now I'm gettin'nearly trampled to death by a knight on a horse.
Nate, the knight was you.
An hour ago, you were chasing a dragon down foster street on horseback.
An hour ago I was here asleep, and myorse hasn'tbeen ridden all night.
Can I please go to bed now? My client's mother was killedby dr.
Agon's malpractice.
Dr.
Agon.
D-r--agon.
Dragon.
Knights slay dragons, nate.
Do you have any idea howdelusional you sound right now? I mean, it's like watching charles manson on the "wheel of fortune.
"What--how did I know your patientwas gonna die last month, or--or about the songthat you and dad sang on the fishing trip? You believed me! I believed that they weremassive coincidences that totally blew my mind.
Yeah, oh, and I washammered at the time, so if you had told meI had a third arm growing out of my forehead, I would have believed you on that, too.
You know somethingabout my case! Now what is it? You wereat agon's m&m conference.
You meanthe confidential proceeding that I'm not allowed totalk about even if I was there? That m&m conference? I need to know what was saidat that meeting.
You can tell me.
No, I really can't.
That's what"privileged" means, eli.
I would think as a lawyer, you'd know that.
Were you part of the cover-up? No! God, no.
And, yeah, I thoughtthe guy was incompetent.
One of the nurses called him"a lawsuit in scrubs.
" But I had no idea that theyhad lied about his record.
Anyway, it doesn't matterwhat I think.
There is no judgein the known universe who will allow me to testify about what was said in that room.
You're right But youjust helped me anyway.
Do you understandyou're still under oath? I do.
Mr.
Snyder, you testifiedthat dr.
Agon had resigned from your hospital, that you didn't fire him? Yes, that is right.
Is thatclear enough this time? And just before dr.
Agon resigned, he lost a patient-- a man named eric shelby.
And by "lost, " I mean killed.
Dr.
Agon didn't kill anyone.
He was cleared ofany malfeasance or negligence.
At your hospital's morbidityand mortality conference, right? Spifically the one heldaugust 11th, 2006? Objection.
Perhaps ms.
Dekker'sforgotten what's said in these conferences is privileged.
I haven't asked Mr.
Snyderwhat was said at the conference.
Stay on the right sideof that line, counsel.
Objection overruled.
Are notes takenat these m&m conferences, specificallythe august 11th conference? Yes, there was alwaysa stenographer present.
We take detailed notes, but you must-- and don't those notesreflect testimony establishingsignificant negligence on the part of dr.
Agon? Did his nurse describe him as "a lawsuit in scrubs"? - Those transcriptsare privileged! - Is that a yes? Objection, your honor! - Is that a yes, sir? - Counsel hasn't produced thesetranscripts to the defense.
I haven't introduced any transcripts yet.
Objection overruled.
Answer the question.
Was theresignificant negligence? Yes.
And one lasthing--if dr.
Agon hadn't resigned, you were going to fire him, correct? Yes.
That might be something his next employerdeserved to know Don't you think? $500, 000, exchange of releasesand a confidentiality agreement.
$500, 000? that's Insulting.
I'm insulted.
I'm advisingmy clients to be insulted.
The malpracticeyour client's suing for wasn't committed at my client's hospital.
After what jushappened, I'm not sure the jury cares, but maybe I'm wrong.
to go any higher.
Too bad, 'cause you'regonna have to go higher.
Take it or leave it.
- I think we'll- - take it.
- Take it.
We'll take it.
- No! It's not enough.
Could we have the room, please? You promised.
This isn't justice.
of justice, peter.
You were right.
Money won't bring my mom back.
I want someone to saythat what they did was wrong.
I can't promise you that.
No lawyer can.
I don't knowwhat the jury's gonna do.
I guess I need to find out.
All right, peter.
If that's what you want to do, then We'll do it.
I am so sorry, tom.
No, no, no.
It won't happen again.
I-- I prom--hello? Patti? Patti! I just got off the phonewith tom rayvert from chaykin technologies-- a call, I mighadd, I had to pick up myself-- and he was furious that I hadn't returnedhis five previous phone calls.
I'm sorry.
I can't imaginewhat could have happened.
Look, I know you think I'mthe wicked witch of the west, but-- east.
She was worse.
They dropped a house on her.
But I am your boss now, patti.
You are on my desk, which means you have a choice to make.
I get a choice? Really? Well, it's been niceworking with you.
No, patti, you have a choice between workingat this firm or not.
When eli was demoted, they were gonna let you go.
I intervened.
Eli loves you, and so I wanted to protect youbecause of that.
So here's the thing--this is entirely in your hands.
You decide how youwant this to play ouT.
Because after this last week, I gotta be honest with you-- either way is fineith me.
Has the juryreached a verdict? We have.
In the matter of peter johnson and cypress memorial vs.
Saint vincent's hospital, we finin favorof the plaintiffs and award compensatory damagesin the amount of $28, 000.
Because ofthe institutionalizefraud on the part of st.
Vincent's, we further award punitive damagesin the amount of $8 million.
$8 million is Remember, you have to splitthat with cypress memorial.
Miss brehe said she was gonnaname a wing afr my mom.
That's cool, right? Seven lawyers later, glad you hung in there.
Your mom would beproud of you.
***** congratulations, counselor.
I have to go kill myself.
Good-bye.
Maggie, it's only weirdif we-- if this is how she reactswhen she wins a case, I do not want to be herewhen she los.
No, it's not about the case.
She's just You don't want to know.
Even if I did, my boss wouldn't approveof me wasting my time.
Speaking of which, have you seen ms.
Wethersby? "Ms.
Wethersby"? Yes.
Jordan wants tosee her in his office-- apparently, you, too.
The day started offso well.
Life is fullof disappointment, eli.
Are you all right? Yeah.
It's just It's it's no fun anymore.
Well, I guess that's whythey call it "work.
" Never used to feel like it.
Patti-- Taylor wethersby's office.
No, she isn't.
May I take a message? Temporary insanity? Are you kidding me? It's stilla "not guilty" plea.
Yeah, not guilty'cause I'm crazy.
What happened to not guilty'cause I'm not guilty? Your wife happened.
I thought wives couldn't testifyagainst their husbands.
We tell you your wife'scooperating with the D.
A.
, And that's your response? Man, what other kind of responseare you looking for? Uh, "she couldn't possiblyhave anything to tell the D.
A.
I never threatenedthat man.
" Something like that would be nice.
The dude was screwing my wife.
Of course I threatened him.
That doesn't mean I killed him.
But that's the way it looks, Jayson.
I don't care how it looks.
Look, we're notyour entourage, okay? You pay us to tell youwhat you need to hear, not what you want to.
This will work.
The lawsays you're not guilty if you weren'tin your right mind.
Steroids tendto have that effect.
I told you, I don't do that crap.
Bottom line--you admitto the steroid use, we can protect youon the murder charge.
You agree with him? Jayson, listen to me, man.
The day I passed the bar, you--you hit for the cycleagainst detroit.
The day I joined this firm, you--you caughtbalderrama's no-hitter.
I could chartmy entire adult life by the things you did in yours, and I'm tellin' you I'm not so sure you weren'taimin' for your coach, and I'm your biggest fan.
So you tell me What's a jury gonna think? If I say I'm juicin', that's it.
They'll kick meout of the league My sponsors hall of fame We're talkin'about your life here.
Baseball is my life.
I'll think about it.
You're not fooling anyone, Mr.
Stone.
Though ms.
Dekkerwas the attorney of record, courthouse insiders havealready been able to figure out who truly deserves the creditfor this afternoon's victory in the st.
Vincent's case.
I didn't do anything special-- this changes nothingbetween us.
I mention the courthouse gossiponly because it reached the ears of arvin solinsky.
Our high-profile client feels he needsa high-profile attorney, - and like it or not, eli's profile keeps-- - keeps getting higher.
Solinsky doesn't need me.
Taylor's a far better choice.
Believe me, I made that case, but he wants you.
And regardless of what he wants, it would be malpractice to entrust the casesolely to you.
Taylor, you'll stay onas co-counsel.
- What? - What? I recognize that the timingis not ideal, but-- sir, you have to tell solinskythat I'm unavailable.
Tell him anything.
Tell him I got hit by a bus.
Even if I got to drive it, I couldn't do that.
- The firm can't affordto lose solinsky.
- But-- make no mistake.
By the end of this meeting, you will beon the solinsky case.
So let's jump to the endof this meeting.
What is ityou're looking for here-- some of your privileges back? Your expense account? Your company car? Your old office? I don't want my office back.
You havethe right person in there.
All I want is four walls and a door - no more cubicles.
- Done.
And one more thing.
Eli stone's office, please hold.
Hello, sweetie.
I'm hereto see Mr.
Stone.
Oh, right this way.
Mr.
Johnson's here.
Nice office.
It's unorthodox.
Eh, kind of goes with my practice.
Is everything okay? The school cafeteria took french fries off the menu, so I'm thinking about suing.
My grandma told me I need to bring you a thank you gift, and the check hasn't cleared yet.
So I thought maybe I'd give you something else.
My mom used to read this to me all the time when I was little.
I know it's weird giving you a book, but It means a lot to me.
"MEDIEVAL TALES AND ADVENTURES" Peter, this is the biggest fee I ever got.
Wait until the $2 million check clears.
Anyway Thanks again, Mr.
Stone.
Bye.