Raising the Bar (2008) s01e08 Episode Script
Out on the Roof
[siren blares.]
[Richard.]
Deondre Curtis has a club foot, OK? A thick shoe maybe.
He limps into arraignment and Yank My Chain winces.
It's painful to watch.
- "Yank my Chain?" - Judge Yankershane.
Nightmare.
Clerk says robbery in the second degree.
The ADA gets up with a straight face and says Deondre's been ID'd in a series of purse snatches on Madison Avenue.
So I say my guy can barely walk.
How's he gonna grab a purse and run with it? And "Yank my Chain" says, "Considering Mr.
Curtis' prior convictions, I'm sure he can find a way.
" Now ask me what Deondre's priors are.
Possession.
Yeah.
- You believe that? - Wow.
- Huh.
- What? Rich, when was the last time you - Got laid? - What are you talking about? The blonde that just threw herself at you.
- She didn't.
- [Jerry.]
You're a blind man.
She got a good look at your résumé.
But since we have the night off, by all means, tell us more about Deondre Curtis and his club foot.
All right, I didn't notice the girl.
Truth is, I don't notice most women.
I've got a confession to make.
I got a thing for Roz.
- Roz? - Big time.
To the point where everyone else just kind of fades into the background.
- You think that's bad? - Roz is a head turner, but, brother, she's your boss.
[cell phone rings.]
- Hello.
- [man.]
Blanco? Hold on.
Excuse me.
Rafael? I didn't want to call you like this.
- What's going on? - They arrested me for dealing.
Me! Can you believe it? I gave an undercover cop a couple of tabs of - Whoa.
- He was begging me for it, I swear.
The whole thing was a set up and now the cops are telling me I'm going to jail for, like, years.
This is really screwed up.
I need you to help me fix this.
- I can't help you.
- Please.
I'm talking about jail here.
Serious time for something that I didn't do.
I can't deal with this by myself.
I know you care about me, even though it scares you.
Blanco, are you there? You're in the system now.
We can't see each other, can't talk to each other.
In the courtroom don't even look at me.
OK, I get it.
What are you gonna do? I'm gonna get you a lawyer.
- Blanco? - He's the best one I know.
OK.
[woman laughs.]
[dialing.]
[sighs.]
I've got to make a call.
Dude.
How much have you had to drink? - How much have I had to drink? - Jerry.
I don't know.
A beer and a half.
What's going on? I have a friend who's about to be arraigned.
- He needs a lawyer.
- You want me to handle it? I know you worked all day.
I'm asking for a favor.
I definitely owe you one.
What friend of yours needs a public defender? Part of this has got to be that you don't ask why.
Charlie.
Can you live with that? [siren blares.]
[Rafael.]
I don't know how the guy found out I had the tabs.
I don't even know why he cared.
I mean, it's the Nico Fumiyoro afterparty.
Hello! The whole place was rolling.
Even Nico was out of his mind.
That big old queen.
Were you passing the ecstasy around? I gave a couple to the friends I came with.
An hour later we're sitting in the back, this guy comes up to me, he's sweating me so hard for a hit, half a hit, saying he's gonna pay me whatever I want, but I tell him no.
I'm not selling, I don't even have any.
But he's like, " No, you're lying, I know you do.
" And he starts begging me.
So stupid me, I start to feel bad.
I mean, it's pathetic how desperate he is.
I'm like, " Here, just take a couple.
" All of a sudden he's showing me his badge.
I'm looking at him like, "What?" He's telling me that he's an undercover cop and that I'm under arrest.
It's like entrapment or something.
- I wasn't even selling.
- Giving qualifies as dealing.
Unqualify it.
'Cause I don't want Blanco thinking - I'm a dealer, 'cause I'm not.
- Blanco? Charlie.
He says you're an amazing lawyer.
Hopefully we can plead it to misdemeanor possession, but you have a felony conviction on your record.
- Wait.
That's a paper felony.
- Rafael.
It was a bad check on a used car and I paid it back so it doesn't count.
It was, like, seven years ago.
They gave me a slap on the wrist.
It counts.
All felonies count.
You don't understand.
I cannot do time.
I know what will happen to me in prison.
I'll kill myself before I go through that.
Time served, surcharges waived.
Let's keep it going.
[man.]
Docket ending 6287, People v.
Rafael de la Cruz.
Charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth degree.
Jerry Kellerman for the Office of the Public Defender for Mr.
De la Cruz.
Mr.
De la Cruz has a prior felony and with the sale there's a mandatory state prison sentence of at least two years.
We're asking for $3,500 bail.
My client is an up and coming fashion designer.
There was no sale.
And you in dungarees, Mr.
Kellerman.
Make your case to the grand jury.
Bail is set at $2,500, over $2,500.
Case is adjourned for grand jury action.
Part Nine Judge Kessler.
Next! We just caught a break here.
Sit tight.
Hey.
Tell me this is good news, 'cause now Kessler is all we got going for us.
- I wish I could.
- She won't do you a favor? Not without asking questions that I can't answer.
Charlie.
Can you post bail if I pay you back right away? Can I post bail for my client? Of course not, never mind.
I'd do it if my name wasn't on the notice of appearance.
No, no, I get it.
Ask the CO's to hold him for a couple of hours instead of sending him straight to Rikers? - I can do that.
- OK.
Good.
I don't care how you're involved with this guy.
Do you hear me? If you're thinking about posting bail for a defendant in your courtroom, don't.
Just work your magic with the CO's.
Come on, man, talk to me.
Don't worry about me.
I'll be fine.
- Good news? - Whatever suits you.
What we have is the liquor store owner who says you were holding the gun.
But since the gunman was wearing a hoodie and sunglasses, the ID is based on height and build.
It's flimsy.
- Plus your record's clean.
- I'm 18.
I'm a youthful offender with no predicate.
That makes me eligible for probation.
Eligible, but the more likely scenario because of the shotgun And the fact the liquor store also sells weed.
Right.
Probably looking at a six month split.
Four months at Rikers.
And the balance of five years on probation.
You been talking to your jailhouse lawyer? Something like that.
Can you get me the split, Roberta? I'm gonna do my best.
I'll do the four months.
Docket ending 6322, People v.
Timothy Nolan.
Charged with robbery in the first degree.
Roberta Gilardi, Public Defender for Mr.
Nolan, - waive readings, not rights.
- Defendant used a shotgun to rob a liquor store.
People ask for $50,000 bail.
For an 18-year-old kid with no prior? Hardly a flight risk.
You could say the same for armed robbery, yet here we are.
Bail is set for 50,000, over 50,000.
Case is adjourned for grand jury action Part Six, which would be me.
Fifty large? I must be dangerous.
This will count against my time, right? Then all is well.
You just get me my split.
Posting bail for Rafael de la Cruz.
De la Cruz, Rafael, $2,500.
Write your name and address where you want your bail sent back to.
He'll be coming out of the of the courtroom.
Appreciate you guys coming in.
Always a pleasure to pay a visit.
You ever get jungle fever? You're pretty clever for a fat guy.
You're pretty black for a guy named McGrath.
Since I know you won't be making an intelligent contribution.
- I'm the grand jury.
Go.
- All right.
Timmy Nolan The report says we got the call at about 10:30.
Mmm.
Cream.
Good.
We found the liquor store owner and his wife waiting at the scene.
She was working the register.
He was in the back during the robbery.
Wife described the perp as a white male, 5'11", 165 pounds.
He wore a green hooded sweatshirt.
Took her and her husband for a ride in the neighborhood next day and she saw the defendant crossing 10th Avenue and 52nd Street and identified him as the individual in question.
- Boom.
We good? - Your partner's good.
You got schmutz on your face.
One last question so we're not tripped up.
The original description has the suspect as a white male in his early 30's.
- Yes.
- Timmy Nolan's 18.
He looks old, though.
Life of crime.
It'll do that to you.
Savvy.
When she ID'd the kid he was wearing the sweatshirt.
She said she was sure.
- She's not good with ages.
- He did the thing, OK.
- He's a Nolan.
- So? The whole family's bad.
The grandfather, father, uncle, brother Kid's got Irish scumbag in his blood, McGrath.
Thanks for the donut.
What happened to you guys last night? Something very wrong with the yams came on quick.
I got an easy adjournment over in Jacowitz's Part.
Cover it? Uh I'm kind of buried.
What time? Clients like familiar faces.
Got a conflict? Trying to pull a rabbit out of the hat for Rafael de la Cruz.
Undercover cop begs him for drugs so he gives him a couple of his extra tabs.
They arrest him for distribution and the DA wants two - which they're gonna get.
- His word against the cop.
Kid's not a dealer.
He's just I don't know.
Club queen.
I can't figure it out.
Can I see the complaint? - The chemical name for ecstasy? - Methylenedioxymethamphetamine.
Shouldn't it be on there? Facial insufficiency.
I can run with that.
And you can take care of the Jacowitz adjournment yourself.
Timmy Nolan's older brother is Adam.
Same height and weight, same build and two shotgun robberies on his record.
Both neighborhood weed spots like the liquor store.
Where there's weed there's cash.
Big bro taught little bro how to get ahead.
Maybe, but the owner's first description said the gunman was in his early 30's.
Adam's 31.
Timmy's 18.
I think Zuicki and Damiglio got the wrong guy.
The kids wants to deal.
Probably the family tells him to.
Adam would be looking at 25 to life if he'd been pinched.
But it's the luck of the Irish and they grab the kid instead.
The brother, father, uncle, they all done time.
They tell the kid forget about trial and bend over.
They know the most he's gonna do being 18 and clean is a couple of months.
Mm-hmm.
Wow.
You're good.
This must have come to you in a dream or something.
It adds up, Nick.
Timmy Nolan doesn't.
That's for the cops to worry about.
We got a bird in the hand, and he wants to deal.
Make a deal.
So Adam can reload and go again, maybe shoot somebody next time? All right.
Dig around if you want to.
But not on my time and you're not cutting this kid loose.
Unless they charge the older brother.
Ain't gonna happen.
How much do I hate Michelle Ernhardt right now? This much? Darryl Brooks has been in jail for almost two years waiting for her.
- How many chargeable days? - 165.
Eighteen more, they gotta dismiss.
Speed trial clock.
She just filed a statement of readiness which stops the clock.
She's not ready to go to trial.
She's trying to buy more days.
You know what? I'm ready.
Brooks is grand larceny.
You don't want to risk going to trial.
She doesn't have a case.
She knows that.
She's trying to stall.
I'm tired her manipulating the system.
She says she's ready, she can saddle up.
- Hola, Ricky.
- Lisa.
- Everything OK? - Yeah.
- What's going on? - Uh, paperwork.
[Lisa.]
Fun.
- Yeah.
- Thanks.
Um Hey, just because I visited you at your place of employ doesn't mean you need to return the favor.
Our interaction should have ended when your case did.
- Wendell begs to differ.
- Who's Wendell, your cat? Are you thinking about my cat, Ricky? Wendell is my Ethics professor.
He said that certain relationships between a client and attorney are perfectly ethical.
I need help in criminal procedure.
I'm on the cut line for the Barry Award.
Barry Award.
Constitutional law, criminal law And ethics.
I'll pay you.
- You're not gonna pay me, Lisa.
- You'll do it? Listen, I'm not sure that I'm Qualified? You couldn't be more qualified.
And I really need the help.
Come on.
What's the problem? [cars honking.]
What do you think? I don't know.
You're questioning our police work.
Like Damiglio said, woman ID'd Timmy Nolan, case should be closed.
It should be closed, but no.
Shaft here had to ride up on the scene.
Somewhere inside your tiny mind what I'm saying makes sense.
All right, you got a theory.
What do you want us to do? Pull Adam in, see if he'll talk.
Oh, that won't be a waste of time.
I'm asking for a favor here.
All right, Marcus, one time.
One pick up.
We're bringing him to you.
Perfect.
Consider yourself owed.
I hate you, McGrath.
Is this a bad time to tell you I'm dating your sister? [Kessler.]
Motion to dismiss? This ought to be good.
If you look at the complaint it asserts that Mr.
De la Cruz offered, I quote, "Ecstasy to undercover number 6734.
" And? I'm confused about what happened.
Webster defines ecstasy as "joy.
" Or "exaltation" or "bliss.
" - Maybe he meant "bliss.
" - Yeah.
Maybe.
Are we talking about attempted solicitation? If we are, that's a misdemeanor, not a felony.
[Jerry.]
At the least, we'd have to revisit bail.
Chemical name of the drug was left out.
[Michelle.]
We'll fix it before grand jury.
The complaint is facially insufficient.
There's no real controlled substance and no real assertion that my client did anything illegal.
It's grounds - for immediate dismissal.
- Please.
I happen to think this is an excellent motion.
- Well done, Mr.
Kellerman.
- Thank you.
Now write it up and I'll consider it.
I'll give you a week.
I'll have it in this afternoon.
People have two weeks to respond.
Two weeks? She said it herself.
The complaint will be corrected - and my motion will be moot.
- I made my decision.
- [Jerry.]
No.
- Excuse me? You're not screwing me.
You have to dismiss.
Judge Kessler, it is unconstitutional to hold someone under a defective complaint.
You are violating his rights.
You must dismiss.
You are pushing just about all of my buttons, Mr.
Kellerman.
Not the one that makes you a decent judge.
Enough! Let it go! I'm sorry.
What the hell was that? - I'm sorry.
- You had to come to my defense? No.
At the end of the day I could care less what Kellerman says to me.
- I was just - What you did was actually damaging because it undermined my authority.
Totally unacceptable.
I know.
I'm sorry.
It was inappropriate.
Yes, it was.
[door shuts.]
Travesty of justice.
My little brother would never hit a liquor store.
Too green for a sophisticated job like that, right? - Ain't really his style.
- But it is your style.
I'm just a citizen who abides by the law, detective.
That's funny, 'cause I see here you like to rob, what do you know, liquor stores.
So said the jury.
It doesn't make it true.
Besides, I was home that day.
- Of course you were.
- June 4 is my ma's birthday.
We had a party for her.
Tea and cake.
It's a Nolan family tradition.
You gonna let little Timmy take the fall? My hands are tied, detective.
You don't expect me to confess to a crime I didn't commit, do you? We've got to bring back the woman who made the ID.
- Let her get a look at him.
- Whoa whoa.
We? I love these ADA's.
They all want to be Kojak as long as we do the work.
We're not bringing in the witness.
He just gave you a nothing alibi.
You gotta keep pressing him.
Guys.
We're done.
You got your favor.
We're going back to playing straight.
If you still got a hard-on for this guy you're on your own.
- You rang? - Come in, have a seat.
- So, Lisa Landis.
- Lisa Landis.
- Your client.
- My tutee.
- Your tutee? - Yeah.
You remember she's a law student at Fordham? She needs help on criminal law.
So she asked you? - Yes.
- Hmm.
There's a reason we don't get involved after their cases end.
Because they usually end up as return customers.
The question of what we were thinking when they were clients.
We're not involved.
Lisa asked me to help her with her studies Please tell me you're not this blind.
I'm not blind, Roz, honestly.
She's smart and motivated.
She's young and impressionable and she's got some issues.
Burlesque is a legitimate form of artistic expression.
She's got some issues.
I've seen what she wears when she comes to see you.
- She wore a sweater.
- Do you not see these things or do you just choose not to? Her point is to make an impression that has nothing to do with her GPA.
By the way, I've seen you respond to it.
Lisa and I get along.
That's it.
I went out of my way to clearly define the boundaries in our relationship.
Good.
It would reflect badly on this office if it were otherwise.
I think you've got this all wrong, Roz.
Well, I hope so.
Yeah.
[telephone rings.]
Michelle.
Bobbi.
Got your statement of readiness for the Brooks trial.
- Great.
- So let's do it.
I'm ready.
My client's more than ready, you're ready, let's go pick a jury.
- I'm gonna get back to you.
- So you're not ready? I just have to get back to you.
I don't get it.
Why say you're ready if you're not? - Enough, all right? - Enough? The third time you tried to stop the clock on this? My client is rotting in prison, you can't get your act together.
Get it together or cut your losses and get out.
I've been trying to get in touch.
Timmy Nolan wants to make a deal.
Yeah, we should go for a walk.
Maybe not the spitting image of Timmy, but the same height, weight, just older.
Adam matches the original description.
- Yep.
She sees Timmy wearing the same hoodie and makes the bad ID.
- Marcus, you gotta dismiss.
- Not that simple.
- You got the wrong guy.
- Not according to Timmy Nolan.
Timmy Nolan wants to make a deal, remember? He's just following a script.
He's got to give us Adam.
Then I let him walk.
- Marcus.
- That's where we're at, Bobbi.
Timmy's going to jail for his brother.
No way he'll rat him out.
Is he willing to go to jail for five years? Five years? Are you out of your mind? He's a youthful offender.
Not in my book.
He should get a six month split.
So he can let his hoodlum brother off the hook? No, thanks.
Either he does the right thing or he does the whole indictment.
- You know this isn't right.
- I've done what I can.
Talk to your client.
- What's up with your friend? - My friend? Gilardi.
Bobbi? I'm trying to stop the clock on this case and she's being a total pain.
Her client deserves a speedy trial, Michelle.
Come on.
You and I both know she doesn't want to risk a trial.
Trying to call my bluff.
Stop bluffing.
You got a case, try it.
- If not, drop it.
- I have a case.
I'm just not ready yet.
- Can you talk to her? - And say what? That she should consent to an adjournment.
Which I've asked for, like, five times.
Come on, Jerry.
I can't count how many times you've asked me for a favor.
- I'll see what I can do.
- You rock.
If we can talk about Rafael de la Cruz.
Did I say rock? I meant suck.
What about him? [electric buzz.]
Roberta.
You couldn't stay away.
But you look sad.
DA isn't willing to reduce charges.
The best we can do is five years.
Five years? - How much of that is probation? - None.
You plead to the entire indictment you get a straight five years.
Otherwise we go to trial and you gamble against five to 25.
The odds are against us.
What happened to my six month split? You said you'd get that.
Five years was never part of the plan.
Whose plan is that? Your brother's? Timmy, I'm your lawyer.
Anything you say is between you, me and nobody else.
You got fingered for a crime your brother did.
Since he figured your sentence would be light he asked you to do time for him.
That's a hell of a story, Roberta.
But the way I tell it, the older brother doesn't have to ask.
It's a family decree.
Time for the boy to sacrifice for the family that's done so much for him.
Time for the boy to be a man.
You should be in school.
Let me help.
What's the cost? - Cost? - What do I have to do? Tell the truth about Adam.
- Well, this discussion is over.
- Just listen.
You don't understand my family.
I know what it's like when the word "family" makes you feel powerless.
I know what it is to feel lost.
But that's just a mirage, you know? Your life is your life, no matter what they think.
I love what you're saying, Roberta, I do.
But I'm just not sure it's true.
[man talking on TV.]
Say your last name for me again.
Gilardi.
Mmm.
For Pete's sake, Frank, you could turn off the TV while we have company.
[groans.]
- Oh, no.
- American chop suey.
I raised my boys on this.
So, Timmy didn't tell us he had such a pretty lawyer.
Have either of you spoken to Timmy recently? Not in a couple of days.
Then you haven't heard the DA won't go any lower than five years in prison.
- Five years? - Brilliant.
There you go.
Pipe it.
But Timmy's a good boy.
He should be getting a better deal.
The deal he should be getting is freedom, considering he's innocent.
Isn't that your job? Are you a lawyer or just a pair of tickets? Maybe if you stop looking at my tickets, Frank, you'd see Timmy getting raked over coals because of you.
You don't know what you're talking about.
I know Adam was the one who robbed the liquor store.
Watch your mouth.
You best be careful what you say.
[woman.]
What are you doing? Don't threaten me.
When's the last time you begged for mercy? Shut up! Get out! - Ma! - Get out! Go! Go! Take your food and get out.
Here.
Eat in the street like the animals you are.
Go! Move it! Both of you! Go on! I'm sorry.
They're not used to company.
Timmy's 18 years old, Mrs.
Nolan.
He's got nothing but opportunity staring him in the face.
Five years in jail takes it all away.
I know my son.
- He'll be OK.
- He'll survive.
Maybe.
But he'll lose every ounce of the optimism and innocence that makes him such an amazing kid.
You have any children, sweetheart? - No.
Adam spent half his adult life in the penitentiary.
What kind of mother would I be if I let him do 15 more? Hmm? And for what? So Timothy can run around begging for change with his guitar? And meanwhile, my oldest is behind bars when I die? It's the toughest job in the world.
And we do what we have to.
You'll see.
- Hey.
- [sighs.]
Bad time to ask for a favor? It's never a bad time, Jerry, because I am made of Teflon.
The world can throw crap at me for a week and it just slides right off.
Wow.
OK, I'll get back to you.
- What do you need? - You sure? I need you to give Michelle Ernhardt an adjournment on the Darryl Brooks case.
You're kidding me, right? Suddenly I kinda wish I was, but no.
That girl consistently shows nothing but contempt for me.
Meanwhile, she's screwing my client six ways to Sunday.
I'm not gonna tell you you're wrong.
Good.
She's not getting squat from me.
But I'd still like you to give her the adjournment as a favor to me.
- I bust my ass for my clients.
- I know.
I don't appreciate my work being reduced to leverage - so you can make a deal.
- You're saving somebody from years in a state pen.
Does that make it better? Is that somebody Timmy Nolan? No.
Sorry.
Me, too.
The proposed disposition is misdemeanor possession and time served? - Yes, Your Honor.
- Which is all of three days.
Nice to see the District Attorney's office bringing the hammer down.
Further review by the People revealed some flaws in the evidence, Your Honor.
See to it your work's more professional in the future.
Yes, Your Honor.
And Mr.
De la Cruz, I assume you agree to plead guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree? I agree.
Sweet freedom.
You are the most amazing lawyer ever.
Congratulations.
- I'm gonna give you a hug.
- Come on.
Hi.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Get me out of here.
Oh, my God.
You saved my life.
You don't even know.
I'm saying goodbye.
Right.
You're scared.
You're not ready.
You know where this all leads.
Us going like this.
And bad things happening.
I'm not making that mistake again.
This girl's sticking to you.
- Rafael, listen.
- Be still, honey baby.
Don't make me take this to the next level.
You don't have to.
[sighs.]
You are unbelievably sexy.
And you know it and You're comfortable with it.
I envy you that.
But you can't seem to stay out of trouble.
- Look, Blanco, it wasn't - And it's never your fault.
It's always somebody else.
You don't take responsibility.
Gay or straight, I can't have that in my life.
My friends, people I'm close to, would bend over backwards for me, as I would for them.
They make me feel safe.
I don't think you can do that.
I can try.
I'm a better person with you in my life.
But I'm worse.
And I'm not willing to live with that.
Take care of yourself.
You're really not gonna back off? Client agreed to the plea.
Marcus, it's a ridiculous deal and you know it.
I hate this case, Bobbi, but Balco is not giving me any wiggle room.
Plus, I'm not doing my job if I let these people work the system.
Tell me you're here to turn yourself in.
For what? [man.]
Number five.
People of the State of New York v.
Timothy Nolan.
- Robbery in the first degree.
- We have a disposition.
- What would that be? - Defendant pleads to robbery 1st, robbery in the second degree, possession of a weapon second, possession of weapon in third degree, criminal possession of stolen property.
Five years.
- The entire indictment? - That's correct, Your Honor.
Does this represent your wishes? - You don't have to do this.
- Mr.
Nolan? Do me a favor and hold my hand again.
I'll take the five years, Judge.
Mr.
Nolan, by entering this plea you admit that on June 4 at approximately 5:36pm you attempted [fades out.]
We're all going over to the bar if you want to join us.
Probably be talking about, I don't know, work.
- Really? - Yeah, for a change.
Thanks, but I'm gonna make my way home soon.
I was thinking about what you said the other day, about me being blind.
- I was rude.
I'm sorry.
- No, you were right.
You see, when it comes to the arena of women, um I have a blind spot where I just kind of miss stuff.
- Richard - So, it occurred to me that I might have missed something when we were talking about Lisa Landis.
- Like what? - Like that you were jealous.
Don't be ridiculous.
I'm just throwing it out there.
Well, reel it back in.
OK.
Well, just in case I'm still right, I want you to know something.
If you said you were available no other woman in the world would exist.
I'll see you tomorrow.
[distant siren blares.]
[soft rock music plays.]
[women laugh.]
Thank you.
- Keller Boy.
- Still mad? Maybe a little.
Seems like you got a new best friend.
She bought me a drink.
She's not a monster.
- I guess you'd know.
- Meaning what? Something between you two.
I can't believe it took me this long to see it.
- There's nothing between us.
- Yes, there is.
I lost sleep thinking about why she's been so bitchy to me.
Because she's an ambitious ADA.
That, and you're dating her.
[chuckles.]
- Categorically false.
- Then you two dated recently.
Jerry, I'm a woman.
I know the signs when I see them.
Uh, excuse me.
Come on.
Where? Out of a sticky situation.
Somewhere where we can talk.
[cars honking.]
Is this sticky situation called life, Jerry? 'Cause you might want to go higher than six stories.
Spoken like a true expert.
Career suicide.
You're on the brink.
- Tell me why.
- Why was not part of the deal.
But I don't care.
The deal ended when you bailed out a defendant you were adjudicating.
You're gonna lose your job anybody finds out.
Your law license will be suspended.
Insane.
Then I guess we have to hope that no one finds out.
Come on, brother, talk to me here.
I have nothing to say.
Fine.
But you know what? I'm gonna say it for you.
Your career.
Everything you've worked for since high school.
The chance to be a judge.
You jeopardize it all because you don't want anybody to know you're gay.
But we love who we love, Charlie.
We all have secrets.
But what pisses me off about your secret is that it is so damn unnecessary.
Drumbowski, Fintenielo, Schneidman.
I can name ten judges in Manhattan.
You can be a gay judge.
That's acceptable.
But what you can't be in this world is a liar.
Are you done? I think so.
I guess so, yeah.
Burlson, he's another one.
I didn't bail Rafael out.
Who did? Deondre Curtis.
Who? Richard's client with the club foot.
I found his address in the system, signed his name when I posted.
They'll get the refund in the mail, which his family can then use to post his bail.
I will take your motion under advisement.
It's the best I can do.
OK.
Good.
[whimpering groan.]
Rip by spyderspyder
[Richard.]
Deondre Curtis has a club foot, OK? A thick shoe maybe.
He limps into arraignment and Yank My Chain winces.
It's painful to watch.
- "Yank my Chain?" - Judge Yankershane.
Nightmare.
Clerk says robbery in the second degree.
The ADA gets up with a straight face and says Deondre's been ID'd in a series of purse snatches on Madison Avenue.
So I say my guy can barely walk.
How's he gonna grab a purse and run with it? And "Yank my Chain" says, "Considering Mr.
Curtis' prior convictions, I'm sure he can find a way.
" Now ask me what Deondre's priors are.
Possession.
Yeah.
- You believe that? - Wow.
- Huh.
- What? Rich, when was the last time you - Got laid? - What are you talking about? The blonde that just threw herself at you.
- She didn't.
- [Jerry.]
You're a blind man.
She got a good look at your résumé.
But since we have the night off, by all means, tell us more about Deondre Curtis and his club foot.
All right, I didn't notice the girl.
Truth is, I don't notice most women.
I've got a confession to make.
I got a thing for Roz.
- Roz? - Big time.
To the point where everyone else just kind of fades into the background.
- You think that's bad? - Roz is a head turner, but, brother, she's your boss.
[cell phone rings.]
- Hello.
- [man.]
Blanco? Hold on.
Excuse me.
Rafael? I didn't want to call you like this.
- What's going on? - They arrested me for dealing.
Me! Can you believe it? I gave an undercover cop a couple of tabs of - Whoa.
- He was begging me for it, I swear.
The whole thing was a set up and now the cops are telling me I'm going to jail for, like, years.
This is really screwed up.
I need you to help me fix this.
- I can't help you.
- Please.
I'm talking about jail here.
Serious time for something that I didn't do.
I can't deal with this by myself.
I know you care about me, even though it scares you.
Blanco, are you there? You're in the system now.
We can't see each other, can't talk to each other.
In the courtroom don't even look at me.
OK, I get it.
What are you gonna do? I'm gonna get you a lawyer.
- Blanco? - He's the best one I know.
OK.
[woman laughs.]
[dialing.]
[sighs.]
I've got to make a call.
Dude.
How much have you had to drink? - How much have I had to drink? - Jerry.
I don't know.
A beer and a half.
What's going on? I have a friend who's about to be arraigned.
- He needs a lawyer.
- You want me to handle it? I know you worked all day.
I'm asking for a favor.
I definitely owe you one.
What friend of yours needs a public defender? Part of this has got to be that you don't ask why.
Charlie.
Can you live with that? [siren blares.]
[Rafael.]
I don't know how the guy found out I had the tabs.
I don't even know why he cared.
I mean, it's the Nico Fumiyoro afterparty.
Hello! The whole place was rolling.
Even Nico was out of his mind.
That big old queen.
Were you passing the ecstasy around? I gave a couple to the friends I came with.
An hour later we're sitting in the back, this guy comes up to me, he's sweating me so hard for a hit, half a hit, saying he's gonna pay me whatever I want, but I tell him no.
I'm not selling, I don't even have any.
But he's like, " No, you're lying, I know you do.
" And he starts begging me.
So stupid me, I start to feel bad.
I mean, it's pathetic how desperate he is.
I'm like, " Here, just take a couple.
" All of a sudden he's showing me his badge.
I'm looking at him like, "What?" He's telling me that he's an undercover cop and that I'm under arrest.
It's like entrapment or something.
- I wasn't even selling.
- Giving qualifies as dealing.
Unqualify it.
'Cause I don't want Blanco thinking - I'm a dealer, 'cause I'm not.
- Blanco? Charlie.
He says you're an amazing lawyer.
Hopefully we can plead it to misdemeanor possession, but you have a felony conviction on your record.
- Wait.
That's a paper felony.
- Rafael.
It was a bad check on a used car and I paid it back so it doesn't count.
It was, like, seven years ago.
They gave me a slap on the wrist.
It counts.
All felonies count.
You don't understand.
I cannot do time.
I know what will happen to me in prison.
I'll kill myself before I go through that.
Time served, surcharges waived.
Let's keep it going.
[man.]
Docket ending 6287, People v.
Rafael de la Cruz.
Charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth degree.
Jerry Kellerman for the Office of the Public Defender for Mr.
De la Cruz.
Mr.
De la Cruz has a prior felony and with the sale there's a mandatory state prison sentence of at least two years.
We're asking for $3,500 bail.
My client is an up and coming fashion designer.
There was no sale.
And you in dungarees, Mr.
Kellerman.
Make your case to the grand jury.
Bail is set at $2,500, over $2,500.
Case is adjourned for grand jury action.
Part Nine Judge Kessler.
Next! We just caught a break here.
Sit tight.
Hey.
Tell me this is good news, 'cause now Kessler is all we got going for us.
- I wish I could.
- She won't do you a favor? Not without asking questions that I can't answer.
Charlie.
Can you post bail if I pay you back right away? Can I post bail for my client? Of course not, never mind.
I'd do it if my name wasn't on the notice of appearance.
No, no, I get it.
Ask the CO's to hold him for a couple of hours instead of sending him straight to Rikers? - I can do that.
- OK.
Good.
I don't care how you're involved with this guy.
Do you hear me? If you're thinking about posting bail for a defendant in your courtroom, don't.
Just work your magic with the CO's.
Come on, man, talk to me.
Don't worry about me.
I'll be fine.
- Good news? - Whatever suits you.
What we have is the liquor store owner who says you were holding the gun.
But since the gunman was wearing a hoodie and sunglasses, the ID is based on height and build.
It's flimsy.
- Plus your record's clean.
- I'm 18.
I'm a youthful offender with no predicate.
That makes me eligible for probation.
Eligible, but the more likely scenario because of the shotgun And the fact the liquor store also sells weed.
Right.
Probably looking at a six month split.
Four months at Rikers.
And the balance of five years on probation.
You been talking to your jailhouse lawyer? Something like that.
Can you get me the split, Roberta? I'm gonna do my best.
I'll do the four months.
Docket ending 6322, People v.
Timothy Nolan.
Charged with robbery in the first degree.
Roberta Gilardi, Public Defender for Mr.
Nolan, - waive readings, not rights.
- Defendant used a shotgun to rob a liquor store.
People ask for $50,000 bail.
For an 18-year-old kid with no prior? Hardly a flight risk.
You could say the same for armed robbery, yet here we are.
Bail is set for 50,000, over 50,000.
Case is adjourned for grand jury action Part Six, which would be me.
Fifty large? I must be dangerous.
This will count against my time, right? Then all is well.
You just get me my split.
Posting bail for Rafael de la Cruz.
De la Cruz, Rafael, $2,500.
Write your name and address where you want your bail sent back to.
He'll be coming out of the of the courtroom.
Appreciate you guys coming in.
Always a pleasure to pay a visit.
You ever get jungle fever? You're pretty clever for a fat guy.
You're pretty black for a guy named McGrath.
Since I know you won't be making an intelligent contribution.
- I'm the grand jury.
Go.
- All right.
Timmy Nolan The report says we got the call at about 10:30.
Mmm.
Cream.
Good.
We found the liquor store owner and his wife waiting at the scene.
She was working the register.
He was in the back during the robbery.
Wife described the perp as a white male, 5'11", 165 pounds.
He wore a green hooded sweatshirt.
Took her and her husband for a ride in the neighborhood next day and she saw the defendant crossing 10th Avenue and 52nd Street and identified him as the individual in question.
- Boom.
We good? - Your partner's good.
You got schmutz on your face.
One last question so we're not tripped up.
The original description has the suspect as a white male in his early 30's.
- Yes.
- Timmy Nolan's 18.
He looks old, though.
Life of crime.
It'll do that to you.
Savvy.
When she ID'd the kid he was wearing the sweatshirt.
She said she was sure.
- She's not good with ages.
- He did the thing, OK.
- He's a Nolan.
- So? The whole family's bad.
The grandfather, father, uncle, brother Kid's got Irish scumbag in his blood, McGrath.
Thanks for the donut.
What happened to you guys last night? Something very wrong with the yams came on quick.
I got an easy adjournment over in Jacowitz's Part.
Cover it? Uh I'm kind of buried.
What time? Clients like familiar faces.
Got a conflict? Trying to pull a rabbit out of the hat for Rafael de la Cruz.
Undercover cop begs him for drugs so he gives him a couple of his extra tabs.
They arrest him for distribution and the DA wants two - which they're gonna get.
- His word against the cop.
Kid's not a dealer.
He's just I don't know.
Club queen.
I can't figure it out.
Can I see the complaint? - The chemical name for ecstasy? - Methylenedioxymethamphetamine.
Shouldn't it be on there? Facial insufficiency.
I can run with that.
And you can take care of the Jacowitz adjournment yourself.
Timmy Nolan's older brother is Adam.
Same height and weight, same build and two shotgun robberies on his record.
Both neighborhood weed spots like the liquor store.
Where there's weed there's cash.
Big bro taught little bro how to get ahead.
Maybe, but the owner's first description said the gunman was in his early 30's.
Adam's 31.
Timmy's 18.
I think Zuicki and Damiglio got the wrong guy.
The kids wants to deal.
Probably the family tells him to.
Adam would be looking at 25 to life if he'd been pinched.
But it's the luck of the Irish and they grab the kid instead.
The brother, father, uncle, they all done time.
They tell the kid forget about trial and bend over.
They know the most he's gonna do being 18 and clean is a couple of months.
Mm-hmm.
Wow.
You're good.
This must have come to you in a dream or something.
It adds up, Nick.
Timmy Nolan doesn't.
That's for the cops to worry about.
We got a bird in the hand, and he wants to deal.
Make a deal.
So Adam can reload and go again, maybe shoot somebody next time? All right.
Dig around if you want to.
But not on my time and you're not cutting this kid loose.
Unless they charge the older brother.
Ain't gonna happen.
How much do I hate Michelle Ernhardt right now? This much? Darryl Brooks has been in jail for almost two years waiting for her.
- How many chargeable days? - 165.
Eighteen more, they gotta dismiss.
Speed trial clock.
She just filed a statement of readiness which stops the clock.
She's not ready to go to trial.
She's trying to buy more days.
You know what? I'm ready.
Brooks is grand larceny.
You don't want to risk going to trial.
She doesn't have a case.
She knows that.
She's trying to stall.
I'm tired her manipulating the system.
She says she's ready, she can saddle up.
- Hola, Ricky.
- Lisa.
- Everything OK? - Yeah.
- What's going on? - Uh, paperwork.
[Lisa.]
Fun.
- Yeah.
- Thanks.
Um Hey, just because I visited you at your place of employ doesn't mean you need to return the favor.
Our interaction should have ended when your case did.
- Wendell begs to differ.
- Who's Wendell, your cat? Are you thinking about my cat, Ricky? Wendell is my Ethics professor.
He said that certain relationships between a client and attorney are perfectly ethical.
I need help in criminal procedure.
I'm on the cut line for the Barry Award.
Barry Award.
Constitutional law, criminal law And ethics.
I'll pay you.
- You're not gonna pay me, Lisa.
- You'll do it? Listen, I'm not sure that I'm Qualified? You couldn't be more qualified.
And I really need the help.
Come on.
What's the problem? [cars honking.]
What do you think? I don't know.
You're questioning our police work.
Like Damiglio said, woman ID'd Timmy Nolan, case should be closed.
It should be closed, but no.
Shaft here had to ride up on the scene.
Somewhere inside your tiny mind what I'm saying makes sense.
All right, you got a theory.
What do you want us to do? Pull Adam in, see if he'll talk.
Oh, that won't be a waste of time.
I'm asking for a favor here.
All right, Marcus, one time.
One pick up.
We're bringing him to you.
Perfect.
Consider yourself owed.
I hate you, McGrath.
Is this a bad time to tell you I'm dating your sister? [Kessler.]
Motion to dismiss? This ought to be good.
If you look at the complaint it asserts that Mr.
De la Cruz offered, I quote, "Ecstasy to undercover number 6734.
" And? I'm confused about what happened.
Webster defines ecstasy as "joy.
" Or "exaltation" or "bliss.
" - Maybe he meant "bliss.
" - Yeah.
Maybe.
Are we talking about attempted solicitation? If we are, that's a misdemeanor, not a felony.
[Jerry.]
At the least, we'd have to revisit bail.
Chemical name of the drug was left out.
[Michelle.]
We'll fix it before grand jury.
The complaint is facially insufficient.
There's no real controlled substance and no real assertion that my client did anything illegal.
It's grounds - for immediate dismissal.
- Please.
I happen to think this is an excellent motion.
- Well done, Mr.
Kellerman.
- Thank you.
Now write it up and I'll consider it.
I'll give you a week.
I'll have it in this afternoon.
People have two weeks to respond.
Two weeks? She said it herself.
The complaint will be corrected - and my motion will be moot.
- I made my decision.
- [Jerry.]
No.
- Excuse me? You're not screwing me.
You have to dismiss.
Judge Kessler, it is unconstitutional to hold someone under a defective complaint.
You are violating his rights.
You must dismiss.
You are pushing just about all of my buttons, Mr.
Kellerman.
Not the one that makes you a decent judge.
Enough! Let it go! I'm sorry.
What the hell was that? - I'm sorry.
- You had to come to my defense? No.
At the end of the day I could care less what Kellerman says to me.
- I was just - What you did was actually damaging because it undermined my authority.
Totally unacceptable.
I know.
I'm sorry.
It was inappropriate.
Yes, it was.
[door shuts.]
Travesty of justice.
My little brother would never hit a liquor store.
Too green for a sophisticated job like that, right? - Ain't really his style.
- But it is your style.
I'm just a citizen who abides by the law, detective.
That's funny, 'cause I see here you like to rob, what do you know, liquor stores.
So said the jury.
It doesn't make it true.
Besides, I was home that day.
- Of course you were.
- June 4 is my ma's birthday.
We had a party for her.
Tea and cake.
It's a Nolan family tradition.
You gonna let little Timmy take the fall? My hands are tied, detective.
You don't expect me to confess to a crime I didn't commit, do you? We've got to bring back the woman who made the ID.
- Let her get a look at him.
- Whoa whoa.
We? I love these ADA's.
They all want to be Kojak as long as we do the work.
We're not bringing in the witness.
He just gave you a nothing alibi.
You gotta keep pressing him.
Guys.
We're done.
You got your favor.
We're going back to playing straight.
If you still got a hard-on for this guy you're on your own.
- You rang? - Come in, have a seat.
- So, Lisa Landis.
- Lisa Landis.
- Your client.
- My tutee.
- Your tutee? - Yeah.
You remember she's a law student at Fordham? She needs help on criminal law.
So she asked you? - Yes.
- Hmm.
There's a reason we don't get involved after their cases end.
Because they usually end up as return customers.
The question of what we were thinking when they were clients.
We're not involved.
Lisa asked me to help her with her studies Please tell me you're not this blind.
I'm not blind, Roz, honestly.
She's smart and motivated.
She's young and impressionable and she's got some issues.
Burlesque is a legitimate form of artistic expression.
She's got some issues.
I've seen what she wears when she comes to see you.
- She wore a sweater.
- Do you not see these things or do you just choose not to? Her point is to make an impression that has nothing to do with her GPA.
By the way, I've seen you respond to it.
Lisa and I get along.
That's it.
I went out of my way to clearly define the boundaries in our relationship.
Good.
It would reflect badly on this office if it were otherwise.
I think you've got this all wrong, Roz.
Well, I hope so.
Yeah.
[telephone rings.]
Michelle.
Bobbi.
Got your statement of readiness for the Brooks trial.
- Great.
- So let's do it.
I'm ready.
My client's more than ready, you're ready, let's go pick a jury.
- I'm gonna get back to you.
- So you're not ready? I just have to get back to you.
I don't get it.
Why say you're ready if you're not? - Enough, all right? - Enough? The third time you tried to stop the clock on this? My client is rotting in prison, you can't get your act together.
Get it together or cut your losses and get out.
I've been trying to get in touch.
Timmy Nolan wants to make a deal.
Yeah, we should go for a walk.
Maybe not the spitting image of Timmy, but the same height, weight, just older.
Adam matches the original description.
- Yep.
She sees Timmy wearing the same hoodie and makes the bad ID.
- Marcus, you gotta dismiss.
- Not that simple.
- You got the wrong guy.
- Not according to Timmy Nolan.
Timmy Nolan wants to make a deal, remember? He's just following a script.
He's got to give us Adam.
Then I let him walk.
- Marcus.
- That's where we're at, Bobbi.
Timmy's going to jail for his brother.
No way he'll rat him out.
Is he willing to go to jail for five years? Five years? Are you out of your mind? He's a youthful offender.
Not in my book.
He should get a six month split.
So he can let his hoodlum brother off the hook? No, thanks.
Either he does the right thing or he does the whole indictment.
- You know this isn't right.
- I've done what I can.
Talk to your client.
- What's up with your friend? - My friend? Gilardi.
Bobbi? I'm trying to stop the clock on this case and she's being a total pain.
Her client deserves a speedy trial, Michelle.
Come on.
You and I both know she doesn't want to risk a trial.
Trying to call my bluff.
Stop bluffing.
You got a case, try it.
- If not, drop it.
- I have a case.
I'm just not ready yet.
- Can you talk to her? - And say what? That she should consent to an adjournment.
Which I've asked for, like, five times.
Come on, Jerry.
I can't count how many times you've asked me for a favor.
- I'll see what I can do.
- You rock.
If we can talk about Rafael de la Cruz.
Did I say rock? I meant suck.
What about him? [electric buzz.]
Roberta.
You couldn't stay away.
But you look sad.
DA isn't willing to reduce charges.
The best we can do is five years.
Five years? - How much of that is probation? - None.
You plead to the entire indictment you get a straight five years.
Otherwise we go to trial and you gamble against five to 25.
The odds are against us.
What happened to my six month split? You said you'd get that.
Five years was never part of the plan.
Whose plan is that? Your brother's? Timmy, I'm your lawyer.
Anything you say is between you, me and nobody else.
You got fingered for a crime your brother did.
Since he figured your sentence would be light he asked you to do time for him.
That's a hell of a story, Roberta.
But the way I tell it, the older brother doesn't have to ask.
It's a family decree.
Time for the boy to sacrifice for the family that's done so much for him.
Time for the boy to be a man.
You should be in school.
Let me help.
What's the cost? - Cost? - What do I have to do? Tell the truth about Adam.
- Well, this discussion is over.
- Just listen.
You don't understand my family.
I know what it's like when the word "family" makes you feel powerless.
I know what it is to feel lost.
But that's just a mirage, you know? Your life is your life, no matter what they think.
I love what you're saying, Roberta, I do.
But I'm just not sure it's true.
[man talking on TV.]
Say your last name for me again.
Gilardi.
Mmm.
For Pete's sake, Frank, you could turn off the TV while we have company.
[groans.]
- Oh, no.
- American chop suey.
I raised my boys on this.
So, Timmy didn't tell us he had such a pretty lawyer.
Have either of you spoken to Timmy recently? Not in a couple of days.
Then you haven't heard the DA won't go any lower than five years in prison.
- Five years? - Brilliant.
There you go.
Pipe it.
But Timmy's a good boy.
He should be getting a better deal.
The deal he should be getting is freedom, considering he's innocent.
Isn't that your job? Are you a lawyer or just a pair of tickets? Maybe if you stop looking at my tickets, Frank, you'd see Timmy getting raked over coals because of you.
You don't know what you're talking about.
I know Adam was the one who robbed the liquor store.
Watch your mouth.
You best be careful what you say.
[woman.]
What are you doing? Don't threaten me.
When's the last time you begged for mercy? Shut up! Get out! - Ma! - Get out! Go! Go! Take your food and get out.
Here.
Eat in the street like the animals you are.
Go! Move it! Both of you! Go on! I'm sorry.
They're not used to company.
Timmy's 18 years old, Mrs.
Nolan.
He's got nothing but opportunity staring him in the face.
Five years in jail takes it all away.
I know my son.
- He'll be OK.
- He'll survive.
Maybe.
But he'll lose every ounce of the optimism and innocence that makes him such an amazing kid.
You have any children, sweetheart? - No.
Adam spent half his adult life in the penitentiary.
What kind of mother would I be if I let him do 15 more? Hmm? And for what? So Timothy can run around begging for change with his guitar? And meanwhile, my oldest is behind bars when I die? It's the toughest job in the world.
And we do what we have to.
You'll see.
- Hey.
- [sighs.]
Bad time to ask for a favor? It's never a bad time, Jerry, because I am made of Teflon.
The world can throw crap at me for a week and it just slides right off.
Wow.
OK, I'll get back to you.
- What do you need? - You sure? I need you to give Michelle Ernhardt an adjournment on the Darryl Brooks case.
You're kidding me, right? Suddenly I kinda wish I was, but no.
That girl consistently shows nothing but contempt for me.
Meanwhile, she's screwing my client six ways to Sunday.
I'm not gonna tell you you're wrong.
Good.
She's not getting squat from me.
But I'd still like you to give her the adjournment as a favor to me.
- I bust my ass for my clients.
- I know.
I don't appreciate my work being reduced to leverage - so you can make a deal.
- You're saving somebody from years in a state pen.
Does that make it better? Is that somebody Timmy Nolan? No.
Sorry.
Me, too.
The proposed disposition is misdemeanor possession and time served? - Yes, Your Honor.
- Which is all of three days.
Nice to see the District Attorney's office bringing the hammer down.
Further review by the People revealed some flaws in the evidence, Your Honor.
See to it your work's more professional in the future.
Yes, Your Honor.
And Mr.
De la Cruz, I assume you agree to plead guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree? I agree.
Sweet freedom.
You are the most amazing lawyer ever.
Congratulations.
- I'm gonna give you a hug.
- Come on.
Hi.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Get me out of here.
Oh, my God.
You saved my life.
You don't even know.
I'm saying goodbye.
Right.
You're scared.
You're not ready.
You know where this all leads.
Us going like this.
And bad things happening.
I'm not making that mistake again.
This girl's sticking to you.
- Rafael, listen.
- Be still, honey baby.
Don't make me take this to the next level.
You don't have to.
[sighs.]
You are unbelievably sexy.
And you know it and You're comfortable with it.
I envy you that.
But you can't seem to stay out of trouble.
- Look, Blanco, it wasn't - And it's never your fault.
It's always somebody else.
You don't take responsibility.
Gay or straight, I can't have that in my life.
My friends, people I'm close to, would bend over backwards for me, as I would for them.
They make me feel safe.
I don't think you can do that.
I can try.
I'm a better person with you in my life.
But I'm worse.
And I'm not willing to live with that.
Take care of yourself.
You're really not gonna back off? Client agreed to the plea.
Marcus, it's a ridiculous deal and you know it.
I hate this case, Bobbi, but Balco is not giving me any wiggle room.
Plus, I'm not doing my job if I let these people work the system.
Tell me you're here to turn yourself in.
For what? [man.]
Number five.
People of the State of New York v.
Timothy Nolan.
- Robbery in the first degree.
- We have a disposition.
- What would that be? - Defendant pleads to robbery 1st, robbery in the second degree, possession of a weapon second, possession of weapon in third degree, criminal possession of stolen property.
Five years.
- The entire indictment? - That's correct, Your Honor.
Does this represent your wishes? - You don't have to do this.
- Mr.
Nolan? Do me a favor and hold my hand again.
I'll take the five years, Judge.
Mr.
Nolan, by entering this plea you admit that on June 4 at approximately 5:36pm you attempted [fades out.]
We're all going over to the bar if you want to join us.
Probably be talking about, I don't know, work.
- Really? - Yeah, for a change.
Thanks, but I'm gonna make my way home soon.
I was thinking about what you said the other day, about me being blind.
- I was rude.
I'm sorry.
- No, you were right.
You see, when it comes to the arena of women, um I have a blind spot where I just kind of miss stuff.
- Richard - So, it occurred to me that I might have missed something when we were talking about Lisa Landis.
- Like what? - Like that you were jealous.
Don't be ridiculous.
I'm just throwing it out there.
Well, reel it back in.
OK.
Well, just in case I'm still right, I want you to know something.
If you said you were available no other woman in the world would exist.
I'll see you tomorrow.
[distant siren blares.]
[soft rock music plays.]
[women laugh.]
Thank you.
- Keller Boy.
- Still mad? Maybe a little.
Seems like you got a new best friend.
She bought me a drink.
She's not a monster.
- I guess you'd know.
- Meaning what? Something between you two.
I can't believe it took me this long to see it.
- There's nothing between us.
- Yes, there is.
I lost sleep thinking about why she's been so bitchy to me.
Because she's an ambitious ADA.
That, and you're dating her.
[chuckles.]
- Categorically false.
- Then you two dated recently.
Jerry, I'm a woman.
I know the signs when I see them.
Uh, excuse me.
Come on.
Where? Out of a sticky situation.
Somewhere where we can talk.
[cars honking.]
Is this sticky situation called life, Jerry? 'Cause you might want to go higher than six stories.
Spoken like a true expert.
Career suicide.
You're on the brink.
- Tell me why.
- Why was not part of the deal.
But I don't care.
The deal ended when you bailed out a defendant you were adjudicating.
You're gonna lose your job anybody finds out.
Your law license will be suspended.
Insane.
Then I guess we have to hope that no one finds out.
Come on, brother, talk to me here.
I have nothing to say.
Fine.
But you know what? I'm gonna say it for you.
Your career.
Everything you've worked for since high school.
The chance to be a judge.
You jeopardize it all because you don't want anybody to know you're gay.
But we love who we love, Charlie.
We all have secrets.
But what pisses me off about your secret is that it is so damn unnecessary.
Drumbowski, Fintenielo, Schneidman.
I can name ten judges in Manhattan.
You can be a gay judge.
That's acceptable.
But what you can't be in this world is a liar.
Are you done? I think so.
I guess so, yeah.
Burlson, he's another one.
I didn't bail Rafael out.
Who did? Deondre Curtis.
Who? Richard's client with the club foot.
I found his address in the system, signed his name when I posted.
They'll get the refund in the mail, which his family can then use to post his bail.
I will take your motion under advisement.
It's the best I can do.
OK.
Good.
[whimpering groan.]
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