Bull (2016) s02e06 Episode Script
The Exception to the Rule
1 BULL: That happy-go-lucky looking kid is me.
I was the smartest person I had ever met, and I was convinced I would grow up to be an astronaut and the first man on Saturn.
This is me the summer after my first year in college.
I was on my first car, third girlfriend, and second fake ID.
I had come to the conclusion that space travel probably wasn't in my future and that psychology was for losers and weaklings.
You can figure out what this is.
The point being we move through our lives shedding skins, kissing older versions of ourselves good-bye and new ones hello.
(SIGHS) MARISSA: Oh.
Uh, Bull? Mind if I join you for your 9:00? Huh? What 9:00? Wh That big-deal attorney from upstate that you told me to fit into your schedule this morning.
What are you talking about? Were you drinking last night? Was it a day that ends in "Y"? You don't remember me calling you.
Calling me what? I smell a setup.
Do you want me to walk in first? I'd love that.
Mr.
Burnam? So sorry to have kept you waiting.
Dr.
Bull just arrived.
Mr.
Burnam? Dr.
Bull.
Uh, thank you so much for seeing me.
You're a big deal attorney? I-I am an attorney.
How old are you? 24.
25 in March.
I get this all the time.
Okay.
I'm gonna walk around my desk here and put myself in that chair and hope that in the time it takes me to walk from here to there, I start to remember who you are and why you're here.
(CLEARS THROAT) I got nothing.
You know, now that I think about it, maybe I never did call you about this meeting.
Okay.
Somebody want to tell me what's going on here? Well, don't be angry with Zack.
He really is a lawyer, and he really has been trying to reach you for several weeks.
I just knew that when you heard his story you'd want to meet him.
Because? Because I, uh, I have a case that could really benefit from your involvement.
Is that the line that's supposed to hook me? Where are you from? Danville.
It's-it's a little town about 40 miles north of here.
40 whole miles.
I am incredibly impressed and flattered.
You have one more chance to say something, anything, that will make me want to talk to you more than to check my e-mails.
It's a toxic tort case.
Okay.
That's pretty heady stuff for a young attorney.
Somebody was exposed to chemicals that did them harm? Yeah.
My mom.
And five other people.
Your mom? That's a lot of responsibility.
You with a big firm? No, it's kind of just me, myself and I.
A-Actually, it was-it was my mom's idea to reach out to you.
I don't understand.
Is your mom an attorney? My mom's Allison Burnam.
But when you knew her she was Allison Campbell.
Allison Campbell? (CHUCKLES): Huh.
Ally Campbell.
Day in, day out, I do mostly DUIs, small claim cases, personal injury that sort of thing.
But when my mom got sick I-It took us a while to realize she wasn't the only one.
And do you have a theory about why this is happening? The biggest employer in our town is a company called Warwick Furniture Manufacturing.
All my clients are near the factory, and they've all got something wrong.
Thyroid disease, cancer, heart problems, bladder issues.
Doesn't the fact that different have different maladies make it difficult to prove causation? Well, I have an expert who will explain it all stems from a chemical Warwick uses as a flame retardant on their furniture.
Trichloroethylene.
CHUNK: The company's gonna have their own expert.
And their job is gonna be to shoot down whatever theories your expert tries to float.
I know this is gonna be an uphill battle.
That's why I'm here.
BULL: Ally Campbell.
She was my first real girlfriend.
We went out senior year.
Took her to the prom.
She could throw better than I could, but I could rap better than she could.
Both highly important skill sets in the adult world we were about to enter.
We were quite the couple.
I feel terrible about your mother, and I wish there was something I could do to help, but, uh, you don't even have a settlement offer.
Actually, I do.
So then what's the problem? My clients won't accept.
And it's not because they're greedy.
It's just not a very good offer.
They want to get enough at least to cover their medical expenses.
They also want the company to install water extension lines to bypass the contaminated wells.
Seems like a pretty reasonable ask.
Who's representing the company? Bartlett & Dunn.
It's a local firm, but they BULL: Yeah, we've heard of 'em.
They're good.
And big.
And if you go to trial I'll get beaten badly.
Which is another reason I'm here.
A man with a plan.
40 miles, huh? Well, maybe I'll run up to Danville with you, see what's what.
Say hi to your mom.
I'm not sure I can be of much help, but, uh Can you rearrange my day? Already did.
And arrange for a car to bring me back into the city around 7:30 tonight? ALL: Already did.
(QUIET CHUCKLE) So your mom knows I'm coming? Not really.
Uh I couldn't be sure you'd say yes and I-and I didn't want to make a promise I couldn't keep.
Aha.
What about your dad does he know about me? He know you're talking to me? Dad died when I was 12.
He worked for Warwick.
Regional Sales Manger.
He was driving up to Buffalo one night, hit some ice, and Well I'm sorry.
Long time ago.
Full disclosure: what I'm hoping to do is maybe review the settlement with you and your mother and then try and broker a meeting with the other side, see if we can get 'em to sweeten it.
Anything to avoid court.
Yeah.
That sounds good.
It ma-make it makes makes sense.
Although there was a part of me that was really looking forward to the trial.
You like court? You spend a lot of time there? Um, this would actually be my first time.
In court? Uh-huh.
But that's okay.
When it's meant to be, it's meant to be.
Uh-huh.
Hey, Mom? I'm home.
Also, I found this nice stranger hitchhiking just before the Tappan Zee Bridge.
Can I keep him? She, uh, may be resting.
Let me go look.
(CHUCKLES QUIETLY) (CHUCKLES) How weird is this? You hunt me down to tell me you've decided - not to go away to college after all? - Oh, boy.
Okay.
- Time to go.
- Oh, no, no, no.
Get over here and give me a serious hug.
Hey.
I won't break.
(BOTH GRUNT, CHUCKLE) (SIGHS) Mmm.
Hey.
We're still a pretty good fit.
Your son is standing right next to us.
Oh, please.
I've peeked at his computer.
He's seen lots worse than this.
Oh, figures I'd have to get deathly ill to see you again.
I'm so, so, sorry.
Well, the good news is you got a great kid there.
I know.
Tell me about you.
Kidney cancer.
Not a lot to tell.
On the plus side, uh, haven't been this skinny since you last saw me.
On the minus side this is not the life I planned for myself.
At 45, it's not the ending I imagined for myself.
I'm taking targeted medication, and I'm doing immunotherapy.
And for a couple of hours, I'll feel great.
And then, all of a sudden, trying to get out of a chair, or walking across the room will require more energy than I can muster.
But I'm-I'm alive, so, beats the alternative, right? How can I help? Honestly? I need you to talk to the others.
This case, this-this disease is bankrupting us.
I lose the house next month.
Zack has emptied his savings.
I need you to convince them.
Just get them to accept an offer.
Please.
- We already talked about this.
- It's absolutely not what we're (INDISTINCT, OVERLAPPING CHATTER) (LOUD, OVERLAPPING CHATTER) (WHISTLES) Everyone just stop.
Now, I know you're upset.
Upset? I-I have cancer, Dr.
Bull.
At the very least, I'm owed an apology for what they've done to me.
I hear you.
And I agree.
But that's never gonna happen.
Let me be clear.
In a civil case, the only good that can come is financial.
No one is gonna say they're sorry.
No one from Warwick Furniture Manufacturing is going to jail.
And no one can take away your cancer.
All you can hope to win is money.
And that's what's on the table.
It's just not right.
You brought this guy from New York City to tell us that, - huh? - Doesn't it matter that what they're offering us is ridiculous? (SIGHS) Ally? Oh.
Ooh.
Oh.
Here.
Here.
There.
(QUIET, INDISTINCT CHATTER) - You okay? - I'm okay.
I'm okay.
Zack, sweetie, I need my pills.
You know the ones I mean, in in my bathroom? Well, I don't think we changed any minds down there.
Not even with the encore from An Officer and a Gentleman.
Actually, you changed mine.
I think we should go to trial, and I think we should squeeze those bastards because of what they did to you, squeeze 'em for everything they've got.
We? If you'll have me, Counselor.
I'm gonna send that car downstairs back into the city, get my clothes and my laptop.
Maybe you can point me to a hotel that's near by? There's a room for you right down the hall.
But Jason Zack, why don't you go downstairs and tell your clients we're going to court? - (SIGHS) - Jason? You haven't seen me in 25 years.
I really never expected you to drop everything and make my problems your problems.
Problems? You have problems? You think spontaneously bleeding from a facial orifice is a problem? Where I come from, that's the ultimate party trick, lady.
- (LAUGHING) - It is lady, isn't it? Now, I am gonna go downstairs and try and talk a little more sense into your happy band of co-plaintiffs, make some phone calls, and then I'm gonna hit the bed in that room you offered me, and I mean hit it hard.
And I want to be really clear.
If you try and sneak in in the middle of the night and pull any funny stuff, all bets are off, okay? I'm just not that kind of boy.
Now, see, that's what I'm talking about.
You got to work on your impulse control.
- So what now? - So, today I'm hoping Zack and I get to meet with opposing council.
But before I sit at the table, I'd like to know what kind of cards I'm holding.
Well, it turns out the flame retardant Warwick uses is technically legal in the United States, but it's banned in most of the rest of the world because of concerns that it's bioaccummulative and carcinogenic.
Be careful with that, though, okay? Those findings are derived from experiments with rats.
Benny's right.
Rat models are far from perfect when predicting toxicity in humans.
They're only accurate about 43% of the time.
Okay, but the science isn't junk, right? No, it's not junk.
In fact, it's terrifying.
And if I were on the jury, I'd go full Erin Brockovich on their ass.
- Mm, that's quite an image, Cable.
- (TEA KETTLE WHISTLING) Wait a second.
Mm.
I smell food.
Nothing personal.
Later.
(LAUGHING): Wow.
What is all this? Are there lumberjacks coming for breakfast? Yeah, I know.
I kind of overdid it.
No.
It's great.
Just maybe we should offload some of this onto Zack.
No, he's already gone.
He left for work an hour ago.
He's trying to set up that meeting with the other side.
Well his loss.
Mmm.
So just you and me here.
Listen, I know it's been a long time, but I've actually been thinking about this a lot, so, if I asked you to do something with me, would you at least think about it? Give it some thought? For relationship there's just room To hit it, how many brothers out there Know just what I'm getting at? Who think it's wrong 'Cause I was splitting and co-hitting that? Well, if you do, it's O.
P.
P.
And you're not down with it But if you don't, here's your membership You down with O.
P.
P.
? Yeah, you know me - You down with O.
P.
P.
? - Yeah, you know me - You down with O.
P.
P.
? - Yeah, you know me Who's down with O.
P.
P.
? Every last homey You down with O.
P.
P.
? Yeah, you know me You down with O.
P.
P.
? Yeah, you know me - You down with O.
P.
P.
? - Yeah, you know me You down with O.
P.
P.
? Well, for the ladies, O.
P.
P Hello.
Zack, good to see you again.
Mr.
Dunn.
And you must be Dr.
Bull.
I am indeed.
Preston Dunn of Bartlett & Dunn.
Have a seat, please.
So what can we do for you gentlemen? Well, Mr.
Burnam and I wanted to see if we could have a conversation with you about our pending court action.
What about it? Well, the proposal on the table, is, in our opinion, exceedingly modest.
It doesn't even speak to the request for extending water lines that would bypass the polluted wells so that our clients could use clean water in their homes.
We were hoping we might be able to convince you to sweeten the offer and maybe avoid court altogether.
And why would we do that? Yeah.
Sense of fair play? Your client's sense of remorse? You don't want to be publicly humiliated in a court of law? Tell me when to stop.
I got a million of 'em.
Dr.
Bull, we have no reason to fear court.
Our clients firmly believe they've done nothing illegal.
The fact that there is an offer on the table is solely a function of their commitment to being a good neighbor and trying to help friends who have fallen on hard times.
Wow.
You said that like you almost meant it.
Preston, let me explain something to you.
Yes, you have money on your side, and a small gaggle of attorneys, but your gaggle all specialize in one thing.
Keeping your clients out of court.
And court is where I live every single day.
I have more experience in court than all of Bartlett & Dunn put together.
So if that's where you want to work this out, so be it, but if you wake up in the middle of the night and change your mind that's my cell number.
I need ten times what's on the table, and those extended pipelines.
That should get it done.
Though, if I were to get this case in front of a jury, I think it'd be a lot more expensive than that.
Ladies.
Gentlemen.
Don't get up.
I wouldn't for you.
Was that how it was supposed to go? Fear's a weapon.
We just weaponized you.
And yes, that's how it was supposed to go.
A trial is a piece of theater.
It's not just the events that shape the outcome, but often the order of events.
My suggestion is we put the scientific experts on first, then our whistleblower, and then finish with the plaintiffs.
That makes sense.
Save the most emotional testimony for last.
Mm.
The problem is, if the science doesn't land, the opposition is gonna argue that there's no reason to hear from the plaintiffs because their argument is immaterial.
Well Look, okay, we can't do that.
That's the whole reason I'm in this thing.
I mean, I I want my mother to have a chance to talk to these guys.
- What guys? - The company.
Warwick Furniture Manufacturing.
I want them to hear what they've done to her, what they've taken from her.
First her husband, now her life? Even if we get nothing, she has to have that moment.
She's entitled to that moment.
Zack, she's entitled to do whatever helps us win.
I mean, there are five other plaintiffs.
I don't foresee any reason why she wouldn't be able to testify, but let's keep our eyes on the prize.
You understand? Great.
ZACK: Now tell me about voir dire.
(ROLLING THUNDER) Well, the judge will automatically eliminate anybody from the jury pool who works for Warwick, or is related to anybody who works for Warwick, or is related to anybody who used to work for Warwick.
But that is not the problem.
The problem is, in a town like this, that even if you don't work for Warwick, you come to believe your prosperity is tied to theirs.
Mm.
Yeah.
I hadn't thought of that.
So we find the outliers, the anomalies, people who live in Danville who are suspicious of big business.
And maybe people who feel cheated in their lives.
That's interesting.
What do you mean? Well, folks who have been lied to in the same way that Warwick lied to the plaintiffs.
(ROLLING THUNDER) BULL: You sure you've never been in a courtroom before? (MURMURING) BULL: Big team, huh? Kind of intimidating.
Little bit.
You've got a big team, too.
You just can't see 'em.
MARISSA: We're right there with you, Zack.
From lawyer to lawyer, you're gonna kill it, kid.
We're here for you, Zack! Go get 'em.
The town you live in is on fire.
No water lines, no hydrants.
Only way to stop the fire is for everyone in town to form a human train and pass buckets of water from person to person.
Finally, the fire's put out, but three of your neighbors complain that, while they were part of the human train, people dropped buckets of water on their feet, and now they have broken toes.
They're suing the town.
What do you think? About? About the three people.
(CHUCKLES) I know where you're going, and And? I think it's a ridiculous story.
We move to strike this juror, Your Honor.
Who would you say are some of your favorite sports teams? Favorite? Well, for baseball, I like the Yankees.
Football, Cowboys.
And for basketball, I'm a Golden State guy.
Good God.
This guy's never met a Goliath he didn't like.
He won't be happy until the underdog is spayed and neutered.
We move to strike, Your Honor.
So, who's next? Uh, juror 43.
Her name is Madeline Fox.
She's 29.
She's a project manager, and she works in software development.
A management position, huh? In a typically male-dominated field.
She might be someone who can potentially lead a room.
Jury forewoman material.
We like that.
And she just filed for divorce.
Infidelity? Uh, Cable says yes.
Him or her? I just got a nonverbal "him.
" Excellent.
Woman's already of a mind that the world and its institutions are corrupt, that vows and promises are worthless.
Shouldn't be hard to convince her that Warwick is just one more in a line of big institutions built to let people down.
Do you have any questions for this juror? No, Your Honor.
We find this juror acceptable.
Mr.
Dunn? We, too, accept this juror, Your Honor.
FRANKLIN: Good.
We'll begin tomorrow morning, 9:00 a.
m.
(GAVEL BANGS) (INDISTINCT CHATTER) That was weird.
They seemed almost as happy to have that last juror as we did.
I know.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY) Something's wrong.
I need to know why the other side's okay with that juror.
Just doesn't make any sense.
I don't know what to tell you, Bull.
She's an introvert.
She's anti-big business.
There's nothing in her motivational matrix that would seem to make her attractive to the defense.
Which means we don't fully understand their strategy.
Maybe I put too much weight on the juror's divorce.
I thought for sure we could use her anger at her ex-husband's cheating and channel it towards Warwick.
- What am I missing? - BENNY: Just a thought, but maybe they like her for the same reasons we do.
I don't follow that at all.
Well, maybe they think that someone on our side is cheating, being less than truthful.
No, that's crazy.
Who's cheating? Who's being less than truthful? I swear, I can vouch for every plaintiff.
I can vouch - for every witness.
- I can, too.
Be that as it may, here's what we need to do.
I want everyone at TAC to double-check everyone on our side.
The whistleblower, the expert witnesses everyone.
(QUIETLY): Look, I'm not sure Benny's right, but it's the most plausible explanation I've heard.
Look for any inconsistencies, anything that can be painted as a lie.
And I need it done tonight.
Okay.
I think we should shake things up, do anything we can to throw the other side off-balance.
Tomorrow, in court, let's lead with the victims.
Save our whistleblowers and expert witnesses for last.
(SOFT CLANGING, SCRAPING) (SIZZLING) Oh.
If I had known that making breakfast was part of the package, I might have followed you to that college.
Okay.
Here's something you don't know.
Those 16 times I came by your house that summer to say good-bye, what I really wanted to do was get you to run away with me, make a baby with me, live over a store with me in some town where nobody knew us.
I was completely prepared to get a job at a gas station or a pizza parlor whatever it took.
But college was this thing I was supposed to do.
You were this thing I had to do.
Every Bruce Springsteen song I ever heard told me that was true.
I just couldn't get the words to come out of my mouth.
You're forgiven.
That was a long time ago.
God.
Ugh.
What are you doing up so early? Well, I'm glad you asked.
I got a call.
From someone who works for me.
They think they know what the defense has up their sleeves, who the cheater is.
Well, fantastic.
Who? They think it's you.
I got an e-mail with a copy of your great-grandfather's death certificate.
(CHUCKLES) Okay You aware that he died of lung cancer? 1939.
Houston Plaza Hospital.
I don't think I even remember the guy's first name.
The man had died over 30 years before I was even born.
The problem is, on your insurance application, you indicate no history of cancer in your family.
And that matters why? I-I mean, I wasn't lying.
I-I forgot.
If I even ever knew.
It's not like I have lung cancer.
I have kidney cancer.
Allison, I believe you.
But the defense, if they get you on the stand, they will use that and they will tear you apart.
You're not gonna let me testify.
No.
That's not what I'm saying.
I'm just not gonna put you on the stand and give them that opportunity.
Now, if they want to question you, they can call you.
But that'll take a couple of days, and we can figure out what they're doing, where they're going.
Mm.
And what if they don't call me? Allison, whatever you're gonna say Don't say it doesn't matter.
You got to make your little "Born to Run" speech to me.
I don't get to give one to them? To the jackals who took my husband? Telling him he had to make his numbers, even during a blizzard.
To the greedy pigs who dumped poison in my water.
I don't get my turn? (SIGHS) You're not gonna be dead in 12 to 16 months.
(DOOR OPENS, SHUTS) ZACK: What'd you say to my mom? I told her that life court isn't fair.
You don't think she knows that? I told her we weren't gonna put her on the stand.
I wish you hadn't done that.
Why? Were you gonna tell her? People are entrusting you with their futures, their family's futures.
They've got to count on the fact that you will do the hard things, the tough things.
Even though it's no fun.
Aren't you glad you asked? Mr.
Burnam.
- Your first witness.
- Yes, Your Honor.
The plaintiffs would like to call Brian McCannon.
Morning, Brian.
How you feeling? Today's a good day.
I get both kinds, but today's a good one.
That's great to hear.
Now, you live on land that has its own well, do you not? I sure do.
Quarter mile from the factory.
And speaking of bad days, you've been sick a lot lately, - haven't you? - Yes.
Just over the past year.
And what were your initial symptoms? Well, truth be told, I hadn't felt well for a while, but it wasn't until my first seizure that I realized something was very wrong.
You want to tell us what happened? I was grocery shopping.
Standing in the bread aisle, and I just picked up a loaf of white bread, and I was gonna put it in my cart - when I felt this thing.
- BULL: I know you can't see it, but our lady's leaning in.
I thought there was maybe an earthquake.
Series of explosions, vibrations or something.
And then I realized it was me.
I was vibrating.
I was shaking.
My hand.
The bread.
And I remember just kind of deciding, I'm gonna sit right down here on the floor of this grocery store until whatever this is passes.
And I started to bend down to do that, and I somehow must have hit my head on the floor.
And they called 911.
DANNY: Bull, can you hear me? Danny, what is it? I'm kind of busy.
Bull, you need to call for a recess.
Whatever you do, do not let the other side - cross-examine.
- And that's when Dr.
Cartwright started the battery of tests.
What kind of tests? A bunch on me, and a bunch on my water.
And what did they reveal? That my water was sick and that I was sicker.
You can read it all for yourself.
It's all there in black and white.
Your witness.
Your Honor, we'd like to call for a recess.
What? JUDGE: I'm confused.
Are you the attorney of record? No, Mr.
Burnam is.
And can't you speak for yourself? Yeah, of course I can.
(CLEARS THROAT) The plaintiffs would like to request a short recess.
Request denied.
We've barely gotten started here.
Mr.
Dunn, would you like to cross-examine this witness? I certainly would.
Mr.
McCannon Just I'd like to ask a few questions about your physician, Dr.
Wallace Cartwright.
Okay, sure.
How long has Dr.
Cartwright been your primary care physician? Oh, at least a couple years.
Our records say 22 months.
Whatever.
But you wouldn't take issue with the fact that he became your doctor after news of the lawsuit was on TV? The Internet? In the papers? Objection.
Relevance.
Seriously? No, I wouldn't take issue with that.
Now, isn't Dr.
Cartwright also a personal friend of yours? Someone you grew up with? Again, Your Honor.
Relevance.
PRESTON: Oh, I guarantee you, there's abundant relevance, Your Honor.
JUDGE: Overruled.
The defense believes this witness, with the help of his friend, has falsified his medical record in order to profit from this lawsuit.
And to prove it, we would happily pay for an independent exam from a mutually agreed upon physician.
Mr.
McCannon would you be open to such an exam? W-What do I do? Do I object? What's the point? Look at her.
She's already made up her mind.
She knows a liar and a cheat when she sees one.
Dr.
Bull, maybe it's not as bad as you think.
Zack, I appreciate you've never done this before, but believe me when I tell you, it's absolutely as bad as I think.
- Really? - Really.
This case revolves around one juror.
One.
And right now she thinks that Brian and, by association, your clients all of them are liars and cheats, just like the man she used to call her husband.
But the defense can't prove that Brian or his doctor actually falsified those records.
Only that he won't agree to take another exam.
And you don't find that damning? So what do we do now? You know the answer to that.
We have to cut him loose.
We're okay here And we have to let that jury and particularly that juror know that we find that kind of dishonesty even more repugnant than she does.
- And what do we say to Brian? - I don't know.
How about, "Thanks for screwing up our case.
" Or "I really liked the supermarket story, but how about if you're sick the next time you use it?" Oh, I've got one.
"You still have to pay us.
" We'll pick and choose, mix and match, but it'll be one of those.
I can do this.
The hard stuff, the tough stuff.
I'll do it.
Hey, um (PEBBLES CLATTER ON GLASS) Can Ally come out and play? I don't think that's wise.
I'll be your best friend.
- Jason - Allison - No.
- Okay.
I'm coming up.
What? No, stop it.
Okay.
I'm coming down, damn it.
Just give me a minute.
- (WINDOW CLOSES) - (CHUCKLES) I know I was the one who said you shouldn't, but I'd like you to testify.
Tomorrow.
First thing.
Something really bad must have happened today.
I was wrong about who they thought cheated.
Your son handled it masterfully, by the way.
We're gonna lose, aren't we? There's no way you would let me anywhere near that stand if you thought we had a shot at winning.
I don't know what's gonna happen.
I know we have our experts, they have their experts, but the bottom line is we can't prove what they did caused what happened to you and your neighbors.
And they can't prove it didn't.
The chemicals they used aren't illegal, although the way they disposed of them was reckless, which means it all comes down to what a jury thinks.
And right now that jury thinks that we are not shooting straight with them.
And I would like to know that somebody got something that they wanted out of this.
So, as a favor to me if you're not doing anything happen to be in the neighborhood don't have an issue putting your hand on a Bible - would you mind speaking your piece - (CHUCKLES) in court? Call your witness, Mr.
Burnam.
The plaintiffs would like to call Allison Burnam.
Hey, Mom.
Hey, kiddo.
How long have you lived in Danville? Over a quarter-century.
Virtually my entire adult life.
And what brought you here? Warwick Furniture Manufacturing.
My husband we were newlyweds got a job with Warwick as a salesman.
And your husband my father is no longer with us, correct? He died in 2004.
He was driving up to Buffalo on a sales call.
There was a blizzard and a bad traffic accident on the thruway.
11 cars So given all that time, and all that you've been through all that you're going through now, you must have some strong feelings about Danville and Warwick.
I do.
Objection.
Relevance.
Objection overruled.
Please continue.
ZACK: You were saying I love Danville.
You were born here.
Our house is here.
We had all those Halloweens, all those everythings.
Magical things happen in this town.
I even had an old boyfriend show up out of the blue to try and help me today.
And how do you feel about Warwick? PRESTON: Objection, Your Honor.
What possible relevance could the plaintiff's feelings - for the defendant have? - JUDGE FRANKLIN: Counselor.
Sit down and be quiet.
ZACK: You were saying.
Warwick I am so grateful to them, for so many things.
You listening to this? Did you prep her? Tell her what to say? No.
It's all her.
ZACK: So explain this to me.
You have kidney cancer.
You lost your husband.
This trial today has wiped you out financially.
And yet you're saying you're grateful? I'm not grateful for the cancer, of course.
And I would trade anything to have my husband back.
And there are days when I'm really bitter.
But I know, in my heart, that Warwick didn't put the ice on the highway that made my husband's car hit the car in front of him.
They pushed him to sell, sure.
But he was a big boy and he would have pushed back if he wanted to.
He loved his job.
And that's the reason he was on the road that day.
That's the reason we lived here.
It's the reason we're all here today.
As far as the cancer I know that no one put poison in the ground knowing that it would do this.
They couldn't have.
They're my friends, they're my neighbors.
And I know that the company stopped doing it as soon as they realized that it was seeping into the wells.
So if you're okay with everything, why are we here? I guess we're here because when bad things started happening to the people who depended on that water, and we went to Warwick for help, instead of saying, "How can we help you?" they said, "Prove it.
" And I think we were all just stunned.
It was as if our friends, our neighbors our town no longer cared for us.
This town is Warwick.
I mean, if my dog got out of my backyard and bit the little boy who lives next door to me, I would run over there and I would say, "What can I do to help? "Can I drive you to the hospital? Can I pay for the doctor?" I wouldn't say, "Those don't look like my dog's teeth marks.
" ZACK: And how much did you and the others ask for? Enough to cover our medical bills and time lost from work.
And also that they re-pipe our wells to a safe water source.
ZACK: And how much did they offer? Nothing, as far as the wells go.
And about a tenth of the money we needed to be made whole.
And still you're not mad? I have my moments, but no.
It would be like being mad at myself.
If that makes any sense.
It does to me.
No further questions.
Is the defense prepared to cross? Absolutely, Your Honor, if I could just beg the court's indulgence for a brief recess.
We'll take a 15-minute recess.
(GAVEL POUNDS) (QUIETLY): That was amazing.
Thank you.
Did I just just make a total fool out of myself up there? Not even close, Mom.
How you feeling? Pretty good.
Thanks for making it happen.
(PHONE BUZZES) Hmm.
If you folks will excuse me for a moment - Thank you, sweetie.
- Yeah, of course.
20 times our original offer.
And we'll take care of the piping.
Let's just end this now.
That's very generous.
You have to get her her house back from the bank.
In fact, for all her pain and suffering, you have to pay it off.
Come on.
I'm doing your work here.
Trying to keep you out of court.
Done.
(CAR DOORS CLOSING) Hey, you guys wait out here.
I'll go and get my mom and Dr.
Bull.
Um, but give me a minute.
She might be resting.
There's no room for relationships There's just room to hit it How many brothers out there know just what I'm gettin' at? Who think it's wrong 'Cause I was splittin' and co-hittin' that? Well, if you do, that's O.
P.
P.
and you're not down with it But if you don't, here's your membership (ALLY LAUGHING NEARBY) - You down with O.
P.
P.
? - Yeah, you know me You down with O.
P.
P? Yeah, you know me You down with O.
P.
P? Yeah, you know me Who's down with O.
P.
P? (SIGHS) She coming out? No.
I don't, I don't think so.
Um, she's kind of down for the count.
And Dr.
Bull? Him, too.
But I'm thinking picnic in the park! - You down with O.
P.
P? - Yeah, you know me You down with O.
P.
P? Yeah, you know me You down with O.
P.
P.
? Yeah, you know me Who's down with O.
P.
P? - You down with O.
P.
P? - Yeah, you know me You down with O.
P.
P? - Yeah, you know me - You down with O.
P.
P?
I was the smartest person I had ever met, and I was convinced I would grow up to be an astronaut and the first man on Saturn.
This is me the summer after my first year in college.
I was on my first car, third girlfriend, and second fake ID.
I had come to the conclusion that space travel probably wasn't in my future and that psychology was for losers and weaklings.
You can figure out what this is.
The point being we move through our lives shedding skins, kissing older versions of ourselves good-bye and new ones hello.
(SIGHS) MARISSA: Oh.
Uh, Bull? Mind if I join you for your 9:00? Huh? What 9:00? Wh That big-deal attorney from upstate that you told me to fit into your schedule this morning.
What are you talking about? Were you drinking last night? Was it a day that ends in "Y"? You don't remember me calling you.
Calling me what? I smell a setup.
Do you want me to walk in first? I'd love that.
Mr.
Burnam? So sorry to have kept you waiting.
Dr.
Bull just arrived.
Mr.
Burnam? Dr.
Bull.
Uh, thank you so much for seeing me.
You're a big deal attorney? I-I am an attorney.
How old are you? 24.
25 in March.
I get this all the time.
Okay.
I'm gonna walk around my desk here and put myself in that chair and hope that in the time it takes me to walk from here to there, I start to remember who you are and why you're here.
(CLEARS THROAT) I got nothing.
You know, now that I think about it, maybe I never did call you about this meeting.
Okay.
Somebody want to tell me what's going on here? Well, don't be angry with Zack.
He really is a lawyer, and he really has been trying to reach you for several weeks.
I just knew that when you heard his story you'd want to meet him.
Because? Because I, uh, I have a case that could really benefit from your involvement.
Is that the line that's supposed to hook me? Where are you from? Danville.
It's-it's a little town about 40 miles north of here.
40 whole miles.
I am incredibly impressed and flattered.
You have one more chance to say something, anything, that will make me want to talk to you more than to check my e-mails.
It's a toxic tort case.
Okay.
That's pretty heady stuff for a young attorney.
Somebody was exposed to chemicals that did them harm? Yeah.
My mom.
And five other people.
Your mom? That's a lot of responsibility.
You with a big firm? No, it's kind of just me, myself and I.
A-Actually, it was-it was my mom's idea to reach out to you.
I don't understand.
Is your mom an attorney? My mom's Allison Burnam.
But when you knew her she was Allison Campbell.
Allison Campbell? (CHUCKLES): Huh.
Ally Campbell.
Day in, day out, I do mostly DUIs, small claim cases, personal injury that sort of thing.
But when my mom got sick I-It took us a while to realize she wasn't the only one.
And do you have a theory about why this is happening? The biggest employer in our town is a company called Warwick Furniture Manufacturing.
All my clients are near the factory, and they've all got something wrong.
Thyroid disease, cancer, heart problems, bladder issues.
Doesn't the fact that different have different maladies make it difficult to prove causation? Well, I have an expert who will explain it all stems from a chemical Warwick uses as a flame retardant on their furniture.
Trichloroethylene.
CHUNK: The company's gonna have their own expert.
And their job is gonna be to shoot down whatever theories your expert tries to float.
I know this is gonna be an uphill battle.
That's why I'm here.
BULL: Ally Campbell.
She was my first real girlfriend.
We went out senior year.
Took her to the prom.
She could throw better than I could, but I could rap better than she could.
Both highly important skill sets in the adult world we were about to enter.
We were quite the couple.
I feel terrible about your mother, and I wish there was something I could do to help, but, uh, you don't even have a settlement offer.
Actually, I do.
So then what's the problem? My clients won't accept.
And it's not because they're greedy.
It's just not a very good offer.
They want to get enough at least to cover their medical expenses.
They also want the company to install water extension lines to bypass the contaminated wells.
Seems like a pretty reasonable ask.
Who's representing the company? Bartlett & Dunn.
It's a local firm, but they BULL: Yeah, we've heard of 'em.
They're good.
And big.
And if you go to trial I'll get beaten badly.
Which is another reason I'm here.
A man with a plan.
40 miles, huh? Well, maybe I'll run up to Danville with you, see what's what.
Say hi to your mom.
I'm not sure I can be of much help, but, uh Can you rearrange my day? Already did.
And arrange for a car to bring me back into the city around 7:30 tonight? ALL: Already did.
(QUIET CHUCKLE) So your mom knows I'm coming? Not really.
Uh I couldn't be sure you'd say yes and I-and I didn't want to make a promise I couldn't keep.
Aha.
What about your dad does he know about me? He know you're talking to me? Dad died when I was 12.
He worked for Warwick.
Regional Sales Manger.
He was driving up to Buffalo one night, hit some ice, and Well I'm sorry.
Long time ago.
Full disclosure: what I'm hoping to do is maybe review the settlement with you and your mother and then try and broker a meeting with the other side, see if we can get 'em to sweeten it.
Anything to avoid court.
Yeah.
That sounds good.
It ma-make it makes makes sense.
Although there was a part of me that was really looking forward to the trial.
You like court? You spend a lot of time there? Um, this would actually be my first time.
In court? Uh-huh.
But that's okay.
When it's meant to be, it's meant to be.
Uh-huh.
Hey, Mom? I'm home.
Also, I found this nice stranger hitchhiking just before the Tappan Zee Bridge.
Can I keep him? She, uh, may be resting.
Let me go look.
(CHUCKLES QUIETLY) (CHUCKLES) How weird is this? You hunt me down to tell me you've decided - not to go away to college after all? - Oh, boy.
Okay.
- Time to go.
- Oh, no, no, no.
Get over here and give me a serious hug.
Hey.
I won't break.
(BOTH GRUNT, CHUCKLE) (SIGHS) Mmm.
Hey.
We're still a pretty good fit.
Your son is standing right next to us.
Oh, please.
I've peeked at his computer.
He's seen lots worse than this.
Oh, figures I'd have to get deathly ill to see you again.
I'm so, so, sorry.
Well, the good news is you got a great kid there.
I know.
Tell me about you.
Kidney cancer.
Not a lot to tell.
On the plus side, uh, haven't been this skinny since you last saw me.
On the minus side this is not the life I planned for myself.
At 45, it's not the ending I imagined for myself.
I'm taking targeted medication, and I'm doing immunotherapy.
And for a couple of hours, I'll feel great.
And then, all of a sudden, trying to get out of a chair, or walking across the room will require more energy than I can muster.
But I'm-I'm alive, so, beats the alternative, right? How can I help? Honestly? I need you to talk to the others.
This case, this-this disease is bankrupting us.
I lose the house next month.
Zack has emptied his savings.
I need you to convince them.
Just get them to accept an offer.
Please.
- We already talked about this.
- It's absolutely not what we're (INDISTINCT, OVERLAPPING CHATTER) (LOUD, OVERLAPPING CHATTER) (WHISTLES) Everyone just stop.
Now, I know you're upset.
Upset? I-I have cancer, Dr.
Bull.
At the very least, I'm owed an apology for what they've done to me.
I hear you.
And I agree.
But that's never gonna happen.
Let me be clear.
In a civil case, the only good that can come is financial.
No one is gonna say they're sorry.
No one from Warwick Furniture Manufacturing is going to jail.
And no one can take away your cancer.
All you can hope to win is money.
And that's what's on the table.
It's just not right.
You brought this guy from New York City to tell us that, - huh? - Doesn't it matter that what they're offering us is ridiculous? (SIGHS) Ally? Oh.
Ooh.
Oh.
Here.
Here.
There.
(QUIET, INDISTINCT CHATTER) - You okay? - I'm okay.
I'm okay.
Zack, sweetie, I need my pills.
You know the ones I mean, in in my bathroom? Well, I don't think we changed any minds down there.
Not even with the encore from An Officer and a Gentleman.
Actually, you changed mine.
I think we should go to trial, and I think we should squeeze those bastards because of what they did to you, squeeze 'em for everything they've got.
We? If you'll have me, Counselor.
I'm gonna send that car downstairs back into the city, get my clothes and my laptop.
Maybe you can point me to a hotel that's near by? There's a room for you right down the hall.
But Jason Zack, why don't you go downstairs and tell your clients we're going to court? - (SIGHS) - Jason? You haven't seen me in 25 years.
I really never expected you to drop everything and make my problems your problems.
Problems? You have problems? You think spontaneously bleeding from a facial orifice is a problem? Where I come from, that's the ultimate party trick, lady.
- (LAUGHING) - It is lady, isn't it? Now, I am gonna go downstairs and try and talk a little more sense into your happy band of co-plaintiffs, make some phone calls, and then I'm gonna hit the bed in that room you offered me, and I mean hit it hard.
And I want to be really clear.
If you try and sneak in in the middle of the night and pull any funny stuff, all bets are off, okay? I'm just not that kind of boy.
Now, see, that's what I'm talking about.
You got to work on your impulse control.
- So what now? - So, today I'm hoping Zack and I get to meet with opposing council.
But before I sit at the table, I'd like to know what kind of cards I'm holding.
Well, it turns out the flame retardant Warwick uses is technically legal in the United States, but it's banned in most of the rest of the world because of concerns that it's bioaccummulative and carcinogenic.
Be careful with that, though, okay? Those findings are derived from experiments with rats.
Benny's right.
Rat models are far from perfect when predicting toxicity in humans.
They're only accurate about 43% of the time.
Okay, but the science isn't junk, right? No, it's not junk.
In fact, it's terrifying.
And if I were on the jury, I'd go full Erin Brockovich on their ass.
- Mm, that's quite an image, Cable.
- (TEA KETTLE WHISTLING) Wait a second.
Mm.
I smell food.
Nothing personal.
Later.
(LAUGHING): Wow.
What is all this? Are there lumberjacks coming for breakfast? Yeah, I know.
I kind of overdid it.
No.
It's great.
Just maybe we should offload some of this onto Zack.
No, he's already gone.
He left for work an hour ago.
He's trying to set up that meeting with the other side.
Well his loss.
Mmm.
So just you and me here.
Listen, I know it's been a long time, but I've actually been thinking about this a lot, so, if I asked you to do something with me, would you at least think about it? Give it some thought? For relationship there's just room To hit it, how many brothers out there Know just what I'm getting at? Who think it's wrong 'Cause I was splitting and co-hitting that? Well, if you do, it's O.
P.
P.
And you're not down with it But if you don't, here's your membership You down with O.
P.
P.
? Yeah, you know me - You down with O.
P.
P.
? - Yeah, you know me - You down with O.
P.
P.
? - Yeah, you know me Who's down with O.
P.
P.
? Every last homey You down with O.
P.
P.
? Yeah, you know me You down with O.
P.
P.
? Yeah, you know me - You down with O.
P.
P.
? - Yeah, you know me You down with O.
P.
P.
? Well, for the ladies, O.
P.
P Hello.
Zack, good to see you again.
Mr.
Dunn.
And you must be Dr.
Bull.
I am indeed.
Preston Dunn of Bartlett & Dunn.
Have a seat, please.
So what can we do for you gentlemen? Well, Mr.
Burnam and I wanted to see if we could have a conversation with you about our pending court action.
What about it? Well, the proposal on the table, is, in our opinion, exceedingly modest.
It doesn't even speak to the request for extending water lines that would bypass the polluted wells so that our clients could use clean water in their homes.
We were hoping we might be able to convince you to sweeten the offer and maybe avoid court altogether.
And why would we do that? Yeah.
Sense of fair play? Your client's sense of remorse? You don't want to be publicly humiliated in a court of law? Tell me when to stop.
I got a million of 'em.
Dr.
Bull, we have no reason to fear court.
Our clients firmly believe they've done nothing illegal.
The fact that there is an offer on the table is solely a function of their commitment to being a good neighbor and trying to help friends who have fallen on hard times.
Wow.
You said that like you almost meant it.
Preston, let me explain something to you.
Yes, you have money on your side, and a small gaggle of attorneys, but your gaggle all specialize in one thing.
Keeping your clients out of court.
And court is where I live every single day.
I have more experience in court than all of Bartlett & Dunn put together.
So if that's where you want to work this out, so be it, but if you wake up in the middle of the night and change your mind that's my cell number.
I need ten times what's on the table, and those extended pipelines.
That should get it done.
Though, if I were to get this case in front of a jury, I think it'd be a lot more expensive than that.
Ladies.
Gentlemen.
Don't get up.
I wouldn't for you.
Was that how it was supposed to go? Fear's a weapon.
We just weaponized you.
And yes, that's how it was supposed to go.
A trial is a piece of theater.
It's not just the events that shape the outcome, but often the order of events.
My suggestion is we put the scientific experts on first, then our whistleblower, and then finish with the plaintiffs.
That makes sense.
Save the most emotional testimony for last.
Mm.
The problem is, if the science doesn't land, the opposition is gonna argue that there's no reason to hear from the plaintiffs because their argument is immaterial.
Well Look, okay, we can't do that.
That's the whole reason I'm in this thing.
I mean, I I want my mother to have a chance to talk to these guys.
- What guys? - The company.
Warwick Furniture Manufacturing.
I want them to hear what they've done to her, what they've taken from her.
First her husband, now her life? Even if we get nothing, she has to have that moment.
She's entitled to that moment.
Zack, she's entitled to do whatever helps us win.
I mean, there are five other plaintiffs.
I don't foresee any reason why she wouldn't be able to testify, but let's keep our eyes on the prize.
You understand? Great.
ZACK: Now tell me about voir dire.
(ROLLING THUNDER) Well, the judge will automatically eliminate anybody from the jury pool who works for Warwick, or is related to anybody who works for Warwick, or is related to anybody who used to work for Warwick.
But that is not the problem.
The problem is, in a town like this, that even if you don't work for Warwick, you come to believe your prosperity is tied to theirs.
Mm.
Yeah.
I hadn't thought of that.
So we find the outliers, the anomalies, people who live in Danville who are suspicious of big business.
And maybe people who feel cheated in their lives.
That's interesting.
What do you mean? Well, folks who have been lied to in the same way that Warwick lied to the plaintiffs.
(ROLLING THUNDER) BULL: You sure you've never been in a courtroom before? (MURMURING) BULL: Big team, huh? Kind of intimidating.
Little bit.
You've got a big team, too.
You just can't see 'em.
MARISSA: We're right there with you, Zack.
From lawyer to lawyer, you're gonna kill it, kid.
We're here for you, Zack! Go get 'em.
The town you live in is on fire.
No water lines, no hydrants.
Only way to stop the fire is for everyone in town to form a human train and pass buckets of water from person to person.
Finally, the fire's put out, but three of your neighbors complain that, while they were part of the human train, people dropped buckets of water on their feet, and now they have broken toes.
They're suing the town.
What do you think? About? About the three people.
(CHUCKLES) I know where you're going, and And? I think it's a ridiculous story.
We move to strike this juror, Your Honor.
Who would you say are some of your favorite sports teams? Favorite? Well, for baseball, I like the Yankees.
Football, Cowboys.
And for basketball, I'm a Golden State guy.
Good God.
This guy's never met a Goliath he didn't like.
He won't be happy until the underdog is spayed and neutered.
We move to strike, Your Honor.
So, who's next? Uh, juror 43.
Her name is Madeline Fox.
She's 29.
She's a project manager, and she works in software development.
A management position, huh? In a typically male-dominated field.
She might be someone who can potentially lead a room.
Jury forewoman material.
We like that.
And she just filed for divorce.
Infidelity? Uh, Cable says yes.
Him or her? I just got a nonverbal "him.
" Excellent.
Woman's already of a mind that the world and its institutions are corrupt, that vows and promises are worthless.
Shouldn't be hard to convince her that Warwick is just one more in a line of big institutions built to let people down.
Do you have any questions for this juror? No, Your Honor.
We find this juror acceptable.
Mr.
Dunn? We, too, accept this juror, Your Honor.
FRANKLIN: Good.
We'll begin tomorrow morning, 9:00 a.
m.
(GAVEL BANGS) (INDISTINCT CHATTER) That was weird.
They seemed almost as happy to have that last juror as we did.
I know.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY) Something's wrong.
I need to know why the other side's okay with that juror.
Just doesn't make any sense.
I don't know what to tell you, Bull.
She's an introvert.
She's anti-big business.
There's nothing in her motivational matrix that would seem to make her attractive to the defense.
Which means we don't fully understand their strategy.
Maybe I put too much weight on the juror's divorce.
I thought for sure we could use her anger at her ex-husband's cheating and channel it towards Warwick.
- What am I missing? - BENNY: Just a thought, but maybe they like her for the same reasons we do.
I don't follow that at all.
Well, maybe they think that someone on our side is cheating, being less than truthful.
No, that's crazy.
Who's cheating? Who's being less than truthful? I swear, I can vouch for every plaintiff.
I can vouch - for every witness.
- I can, too.
Be that as it may, here's what we need to do.
I want everyone at TAC to double-check everyone on our side.
The whistleblower, the expert witnesses everyone.
(QUIETLY): Look, I'm not sure Benny's right, but it's the most plausible explanation I've heard.
Look for any inconsistencies, anything that can be painted as a lie.
And I need it done tonight.
Okay.
I think we should shake things up, do anything we can to throw the other side off-balance.
Tomorrow, in court, let's lead with the victims.
Save our whistleblowers and expert witnesses for last.
(SOFT CLANGING, SCRAPING) (SIZZLING) Oh.
If I had known that making breakfast was part of the package, I might have followed you to that college.
Okay.
Here's something you don't know.
Those 16 times I came by your house that summer to say good-bye, what I really wanted to do was get you to run away with me, make a baby with me, live over a store with me in some town where nobody knew us.
I was completely prepared to get a job at a gas station or a pizza parlor whatever it took.
But college was this thing I was supposed to do.
You were this thing I had to do.
Every Bruce Springsteen song I ever heard told me that was true.
I just couldn't get the words to come out of my mouth.
You're forgiven.
That was a long time ago.
God.
Ugh.
What are you doing up so early? Well, I'm glad you asked.
I got a call.
From someone who works for me.
They think they know what the defense has up their sleeves, who the cheater is.
Well, fantastic.
Who? They think it's you.
I got an e-mail with a copy of your great-grandfather's death certificate.
(CHUCKLES) Okay You aware that he died of lung cancer? 1939.
Houston Plaza Hospital.
I don't think I even remember the guy's first name.
The man had died over 30 years before I was even born.
The problem is, on your insurance application, you indicate no history of cancer in your family.
And that matters why? I-I mean, I wasn't lying.
I-I forgot.
If I even ever knew.
It's not like I have lung cancer.
I have kidney cancer.
Allison, I believe you.
But the defense, if they get you on the stand, they will use that and they will tear you apart.
You're not gonna let me testify.
No.
That's not what I'm saying.
I'm just not gonna put you on the stand and give them that opportunity.
Now, if they want to question you, they can call you.
But that'll take a couple of days, and we can figure out what they're doing, where they're going.
Mm.
And what if they don't call me? Allison, whatever you're gonna say Don't say it doesn't matter.
You got to make your little "Born to Run" speech to me.
I don't get to give one to them? To the jackals who took my husband? Telling him he had to make his numbers, even during a blizzard.
To the greedy pigs who dumped poison in my water.
I don't get my turn? (SIGHS) You're not gonna be dead in 12 to 16 months.
(DOOR OPENS, SHUTS) ZACK: What'd you say to my mom? I told her that life court isn't fair.
You don't think she knows that? I told her we weren't gonna put her on the stand.
I wish you hadn't done that.
Why? Were you gonna tell her? People are entrusting you with their futures, their family's futures.
They've got to count on the fact that you will do the hard things, the tough things.
Even though it's no fun.
Aren't you glad you asked? Mr.
Burnam.
- Your first witness.
- Yes, Your Honor.
The plaintiffs would like to call Brian McCannon.
Morning, Brian.
How you feeling? Today's a good day.
I get both kinds, but today's a good one.
That's great to hear.
Now, you live on land that has its own well, do you not? I sure do.
Quarter mile from the factory.
And speaking of bad days, you've been sick a lot lately, - haven't you? - Yes.
Just over the past year.
And what were your initial symptoms? Well, truth be told, I hadn't felt well for a while, but it wasn't until my first seizure that I realized something was very wrong.
You want to tell us what happened? I was grocery shopping.
Standing in the bread aisle, and I just picked up a loaf of white bread, and I was gonna put it in my cart - when I felt this thing.
- BULL: I know you can't see it, but our lady's leaning in.
I thought there was maybe an earthquake.
Series of explosions, vibrations or something.
And then I realized it was me.
I was vibrating.
I was shaking.
My hand.
The bread.
And I remember just kind of deciding, I'm gonna sit right down here on the floor of this grocery store until whatever this is passes.
And I started to bend down to do that, and I somehow must have hit my head on the floor.
And they called 911.
DANNY: Bull, can you hear me? Danny, what is it? I'm kind of busy.
Bull, you need to call for a recess.
Whatever you do, do not let the other side - cross-examine.
- And that's when Dr.
Cartwright started the battery of tests.
What kind of tests? A bunch on me, and a bunch on my water.
And what did they reveal? That my water was sick and that I was sicker.
You can read it all for yourself.
It's all there in black and white.
Your witness.
Your Honor, we'd like to call for a recess.
What? JUDGE: I'm confused.
Are you the attorney of record? No, Mr.
Burnam is.
And can't you speak for yourself? Yeah, of course I can.
(CLEARS THROAT) The plaintiffs would like to request a short recess.
Request denied.
We've barely gotten started here.
Mr.
Dunn, would you like to cross-examine this witness? I certainly would.
Mr.
McCannon Just I'd like to ask a few questions about your physician, Dr.
Wallace Cartwright.
Okay, sure.
How long has Dr.
Cartwright been your primary care physician? Oh, at least a couple years.
Our records say 22 months.
Whatever.
But you wouldn't take issue with the fact that he became your doctor after news of the lawsuit was on TV? The Internet? In the papers? Objection.
Relevance.
Seriously? No, I wouldn't take issue with that.
Now, isn't Dr.
Cartwright also a personal friend of yours? Someone you grew up with? Again, Your Honor.
Relevance.
PRESTON: Oh, I guarantee you, there's abundant relevance, Your Honor.
JUDGE: Overruled.
The defense believes this witness, with the help of his friend, has falsified his medical record in order to profit from this lawsuit.
And to prove it, we would happily pay for an independent exam from a mutually agreed upon physician.
Mr.
McCannon would you be open to such an exam? W-What do I do? Do I object? What's the point? Look at her.
She's already made up her mind.
She knows a liar and a cheat when she sees one.
Dr.
Bull, maybe it's not as bad as you think.
Zack, I appreciate you've never done this before, but believe me when I tell you, it's absolutely as bad as I think.
- Really? - Really.
This case revolves around one juror.
One.
And right now she thinks that Brian and, by association, your clients all of them are liars and cheats, just like the man she used to call her husband.
But the defense can't prove that Brian or his doctor actually falsified those records.
Only that he won't agree to take another exam.
And you don't find that damning? So what do we do now? You know the answer to that.
We have to cut him loose.
We're okay here And we have to let that jury and particularly that juror know that we find that kind of dishonesty even more repugnant than she does.
- And what do we say to Brian? - I don't know.
How about, "Thanks for screwing up our case.
" Or "I really liked the supermarket story, but how about if you're sick the next time you use it?" Oh, I've got one.
"You still have to pay us.
" We'll pick and choose, mix and match, but it'll be one of those.
I can do this.
The hard stuff, the tough stuff.
I'll do it.
Hey, um (PEBBLES CLATTER ON GLASS) Can Ally come out and play? I don't think that's wise.
I'll be your best friend.
- Jason - Allison - No.
- Okay.
I'm coming up.
What? No, stop it.
Okay.
I'm coming down, damn it.
Just give me a minute.
- (WINDOW CLOSES) - (CHUCKLES) I know I was the one who said you shouldn't, but I'd like you to testify.
Tomorrow.
First thing.
Something really bad must have happened today.
I was wrong about who they thought cheated.
Your son handled it masterfully, by the way.
We're gonna lose, aren't we? There's no way you would let me anywhere near that stand if you thought we had a shot at winning.
I don't know what's gonna happen.
I know we have our experts, they have their experts, but the bottom line is we can't prove what they did caused what happened to you and your neighbors.
And they can't prove it didn't.
The chemicals they used aren't illegal, although the way they disposed of them was reckless, which means it all comes down to what a jury thinks.
And right now that jury thinks that we are not shooting straight with them.
And I would like to know that somebody got something that they wanted out of this.
So, as a favor to me if you're not doing anything happen to be in the neighborhood don't have an issue putting your hand on a Bible - would you mind speaking your piece - (CHUCKLES) in court? Call your witness, Mr.
Burnam.
The plaintiffs would like to call Allison Burnam.
Hey, Mom.
Hey, kiddo.
How long have you lived in Danville? Over a quarter-century.
Virtually my entire adult life.
And what brought you here? Warwick Furniture Manufacturing.
My husband we were newlyweds got a job with Warwick as a salesman.
And your husband my father is no longer with us, correct? He died in 2004.
He was driving up to Buffalo on a sales call.
There was a blizzard and a bad traffic accident on the thruway.
11 cars So given all that time, and all that you've been through all that you're going through now, you must have some strong feelings about Danville and Warwick.
I do.
Objection.
Relevance.
Objection overruled.
Please continue.
ZACK: You were saying I love Danville.
You were born here.
Our house is here.
We had all those Halloweens, all those everythings.
Magical things happen in this town.
I even had an old boyfriend show up out of the blue to try and help me today.
And how do you feel about Warwick? PRESTON: Objection, Your Honor.
What possible relevance could the plaintiff's feelings - for the defendant have? - JUDGE FRANKLIN: Counselor.
Sit down and be quiet.
ZACK: You were saying.
Warwick I am so grateful to them, for so many things.
You listening to this? Did you prep her? Tell her what to say? No.
It's all her.
ZACK: So explain this to me.
You have kidney cancer.
You lost your husband.
This trial today has wiped you out financially.
And yet you're saying you're grateful? I'm not grateful for the cancer, of course.
And I would trade anything to have my husband back.
And there are days when I'm really bitter.
But I know, in my heart, that Warwick didn't put the ice on the highway that made my husband's car hit the car in front of him.
They pushed him to sell, sure.
But he was a big boy and he would have pushed back if he wanted to.
He loved his job.
And that's the reason he was on the road that day.
That's the reason we lived here.
It's the reason we're all here today.
As far as the cancer I know that no one put poison in the ground knowing that it would do this.
They couldn't have.
They're my friends, they're my neighbors.
And I know that the company stopped doing it as soon as they realized that it was seeping into the wells.
So if you're okay with everything, why are we here? I guess we're here because when bad things started happening to the people who depended on that water, and we went to Warwick for help, instead of saying, "How can we help you?" they said, "Prove it.
" And I think we were all just stunned.
It was as if our friends, our neighbors our town no longer cared for us.
This town is Warwick.
I mean, if my dog got out of my backyard and bit the little boy who lives next door to me, I would run over there and I would say, "What can I do to help? "Can I drive you to the hospital? Can I pay for the doctor?" I wouldn't say, "Those don't look like my dog's teeth marks.
" ZACK: And how much did you and the others ask for? Enough to cover our medical bills and time lost from work.
And also that they re-pipe our wells to a safe water source.
ZACK: And how much did they offer? Nothing, as far as the wells go.
And about a tenth of the money we needed to be made whole.
And still you're not mad? I have my moments, but no.
It would be like being mad at myself.
If that makes any sense.
It does to me.
No further questions.
Is the defense prepared to cross? Absolutely, Your Honor, if I could just beg the court's indulgence for a brief recess.
We'll take a 15-minute recess.
(GAVEL POUNDS) (QUIETLY): That was amazing.
Thank you.
Did I just just make a total fool out of myself up there? Not even close, Mom.
How you feeling? Pretty good.
Thanks for making it happen.
(PHONE BUZZES) Hmm.
If you folks will excuse me for a moment - Thank you, sweetie.
- Yeah, of course.
20 times our original offer.
And we'll take care of the piping.
Let's just end this now.
That's very generous.
You have to get her her house back from the bank.
In fact, for all her pain and suffering, you have to pay it off.
Come on.
I'm doing your work here.
Trying to keep you out of court.
Done.
(CAR DOORS CLOSING) Hey, you guys wait out here.
I'll go and get my mom and Dr.
Bull.
Um, but give me a minute.
She might be resting.
There's no room for relationships There's just room to hit it How many brothers out there know just what I'm gettin' at? Who think it's wrong 'Cause I was splittin' and co-hittin' that? Well, if you do, that's O.
P.
P.
and you're not down with it But if you don't, here's your membership (ALLY LAUGHING NEARBY) - You down with O.
P.
P.
? - Yeah, you know me You down with O.
P.
P? Yeah, you know me You down with O.
P.
P? Yeah, you know me Who's down with O.
P.
P? (SIGHS) She coming out? No.
I don't, I don't think so.
Um, she's kind of down for the count.
And Dr.
Bull? Him, too.
But I'm thinking picnic in the park! - You down with O.
P.
P? - Yeah, you know me You down with O.
P.
P? Yeah, you know me You down with O.
P.
P.
? Yeah, you know me Who's down with O.
P.
P? - You down with O.
P.
P? - Yeah, you know me You down with O.
P.
P? - Yeah, you know me - You down with O.
P.
P?