Becker s03e24 Episode Script

Oh, good, good, good, I'm glad you're here.
Look, I made some notes that I think you should incorporate in your opening statement.
I, uh I covered legal precedent, medical background and some biographical information.
I also, uh, worked in some quotes from Churchill, Hippocrates and, heh, even a lyric from an old Beatles song, heh.
Great, since you did that, why don't I stay here and see some of your patients? Oh.
Look, you know, I'm I'm the one on trial here.
I I wanna be involved.
How much more involved could you be? You're the defendant.
Oh.
Look, all you need to do is show up, sit down, and this is key, shut up.
But you mean until I take the stand.
Yeah, about that, I don't think that's a good idea.
Not a good idea? Why the hell wouldn't you want me to take the stand? Don't you want the jury to have a chance to get to know me? I mean, how else are they gonna find out that I'm That I'm a competent, level-headed, calm? Well, it's all there if you need it.
I hope I'll be okay, Margaret.
My granddaughter's getting married next week, and I wanna go to the reception and really let the dogs out.
I'm sure you'll be fine, Mr.
Gordon.
I'll see you in court tomorrow morning.
And don't dress up.
Just look the way you always do.
It'll work for you.
Because I'll look sincere? No, because it'll invoke pity.
Just take this to this address, and they'll set you up with something called a Holter monitor.
What's that? It's a cardiac monitor that you'll wear for 24 hours.
I just wanna make sure your heart's not causing your dizzy spells.
Then tomorrow, I bring the monitor back here? Uh, no.
Because of my trial, Dr.
Klein's gonna be checking the results.
You're my doctor.
I want you to help me.
I don't care if you killed that man.
Oh, boy.
All right, all right, all right, I'll tell you what.
I'll, uh I'll look at your results myself, Mr.
Gordon.
Good.
Thank you, Dr.
Becker.
You're welcome.
Oh, you know, John, it's gonna be okay.
Thank you, Margaret, but no matter what happens to me, remember, no touching.
Oh, right.
Forgot.
You know, she's right, Dr.
Becker.
I'm sure that once you've had your day in court, everyone will know that you didn't do anything wrong.
Oh, well, thank you.
I I appreciate that.
Yeah, you ran an ad for a receptionist, and since my boss almost killed a guy, I'm gonna need a job.
Reg, just some coffee, please.
Actually, make that decaf.
I need to calm down before court.
Oh, that's right.
Today's the day.
Are you sure I can't make you something special? I've been coming here for years.
I'm positive.
I don't blame you for being nervous.
Twelve people who were pissed they couldn't get off of jury duty are gonna decide the course of the rest of your life.
Yeah, thanks Thanks for the pep talk, Jake.
Actually, my lawyer said everything's gonna be fine.
Speaking of your lawyer, when is that hot little piece of corpus delicti gonna get here? Oh, please, she'd grind you up like so much hamburger meat.
Hey, if she's grinding anything, let it be Bob.
Listen, Becker, all kidding aside, are you okay? You really do seem stressed.
You always seem stressed, but I'm not stressed, all right? I'm fine.
All I'm saying is, with all that you're going through, maybe you should consider talking to someone.
I know this therapist Then make yourself an appointment, Reg.
You know, why couldn't you have studied something quiet, like mime? Oh, yes, mime.
Where complicated thoughts are conveyed with a simple gesture.
Wanna see one now? Hey, Becker.
What are you doing here? I came to lend a little moral support.
And you, a little floral support.
Hey, you know, we're working here.
Yeah, you and me both.
Hey, Dr.
Becker.
How you doing? Oh, you know, good.
Except for the fact you're suing me.
I was afraid you'd take this personally.
Vinny, we're about to get started.
Just sit down and look pathetic like we rehearsed.
All rise.
The honourable Marion Reinhold presiding.
Case Number 1436, Deluca v.
Becker.
Is plaintiff's counsel prepared to present opening remarks? I am, Your Honour.
Ahem.
When I get through with you, there won't be enough left to put in a teaspoon.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm a simple man.
Like many of you, I was raised by good, honest, hard-working people that couldn't give me material things, God love them.
But they did give me a clear sense of right and wrong.
It comes down to this.
Vinny trusted this man, and it almost cost him his life.
Will money make up for almost losing his life? No.
Or to his wife and his children, for almost losing a husband and a father? No.
Or to his dear little mother, Sophia, who almost lived life's greatest tragedy: To bury a child? I love you too, Ma.
Is anyone really falling for this? And in closing, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to thank you for your patience.
And soon, I hope to be able to thank you for your good judgement in helping me to right this terrible, terrible wrong.
Butcher.
Miss Sonders? Vinny Deluca spent years abusing his body.
And when the inevitable happened, he looked for someone to blame.
Dr.
Becker is not that person.
That's it? His guy was up for, like, an hour.
That's all you've got? Unless you brought your Italian mother, yeah, that's all I've got.
Now, Vinny, if you had misgivings about going to the gym that day, why did you go? 'Cause I trusted Dr.
Becker.
And, uh, when you say Dr.
Becker, who exactly are you referring to? That man right there.
Oh, come on.
Who didn't know that already? I thought you said the jury would see Vinny for what he really is.
Yeah, and apparently, he's really nice.
Don't worry, they've only heard one side of the story.
Things will turn around.
Ah.
Hey, Dr.
Becker.
We're going out for some lunch.
You wanna join us? Has no one explained this to you? See you later.
Hey, Vinny, I'll catch up with you guys in a minute.
Hello, again.
Judging by the way things are going, you obviously have a thing for losers.
So why not make a day of it and have dinner with Bob.
Will you just get lost? I saw what that man did to you.
Are you all right? Yeah, I'm fine.
Wrong answer.
Call me.
I tell you, Vinny's sleazebag of a lawyer is making me sound like some arrogant, irresponsible bully with absolutely no regard for his fellow man.
I hope that fat sack of crap dies.
Becker, you really should consider talking to someone about this.
Therapy isn't the negative thing you Give it a rest, will you, Reg? Ruth said everything is gonna be fine.
And I have complete faith in her judgement.
Oh, Becker, there you are.
I have a riddle for you.
What's this tall and slept with your lawyer last night? Do you give up? It was me.
What was that you said about trusting your lawyer's judgement? You slept with Bob? I was tense last night after court.
Oh, my God, it's true.
Bob? Look, I need to stay focused on this trial.
How smart would it be for me to sleep with a man I was attracted to, respected or ever wanted to see again? Oh.
But Bob? John? Yeah, yeah.
I just got here.
Have I missed anything? No, the judge is just about to come in.
Is that your lawyer? Yeah.
Bob? And you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? I do, so help me God.
Mrs.
Wyborn, uh, you've worked with Dr.
Becker for some years now.
Is it common for him to antagonise or intimidate his patients? Was that a real Bible? I'm sorry, John, I have to tell the truth.
You know they can hear you.
Miss Gilbert, what exactly is your relationship with Dr.
Becker? I met him when I cut my hand, and he treated me.
By the way, he did that out of the kindness of his heart.
I never saw a bill.
So you would consider yourself to be a good friend of his? I would say so, yes.
Mm-hm.
Uh, one more question, Miss Gilbert.
Is it true you're a prostitute? I don't see what that has to do with What's the matter? Are you ashamed to admit you're a prostitute? No more ashamed than you should be to admit you're a lawyer.
No further questions.
Miss Kostas.
Mm-hm.
On the day in question, Dr.
Becker stopped by your diner.
Yes, he did.
Mm-hm.
And would you say he was angry about having to go to the gym? Well, he did say that he thought.
Mr.
Deluca tricked him into going.
Mm-hm.
So that's a yes.
He was angry.
No further questions.
No, in all fairness, you know, he did see a little person that day, and they really creep him out.
It's not like he hates them like he does cops, lawyers, religious people, civil servants Miss Kostas, you may step down.
Oh.
I've been begging him to see someone.
He really needs psychological help.
She said you could step down.
Actually, on that day, Dr.
Becker wasn't even at the gym with Mr.
Deluca.
He wasn't even in New York.
He was with me at a medical conference in Denver.
So you see, he couldn't possibly have had anything to do with this at all.
The defence has already stipulated that Dr.
Becker was at the gym with Mr.
Deluca.
Oh.
Well, I came in late.
I'm getting killed here.
What are you thinking? Maybe sleeping with Bob was a mistake.
Yeah, that's what's been bothering me too.
John? Yeah, Jake, over here.
How are you doing? I'm dead.
What are you talking about? Oh, come on, they're making it sound like I reached into Vinny's chest and ripped out his heart with my bare hands.
Which at the moment, I actually feel like doing.
You could always take him back to the gym.
Ha-ha-ha.
The worst part is my lawyer won't let me take the stand.
I gotta just sit there and listen to that guy destroy me.
I mean, you should see the looks the jury's giving me.
I could lose my practise, Jake.
Yeah? Well, take it from me, John.
You can lose a lot of things you think you can't live without, but life goes on.
What, are you guilting me with that whole blind thing? I thought it might give you a little perspective.
Look, even if you do lose, it doesn't mean you're not right.
It doesn't mean you're not a good doctor.
Thank you, Jake.
I appreciate that.
Ruth, sorry Bob hasn't been around, but I spent the day writing a letter to Penthouse.
I finally have one that's true.
Bob, last night, after we finished making whatever that was, what did I tell you? "I feel so ashamed"? After that.
"Hand me the remote and go.
" Before that.
"Come near me again, I'll kill you"? That's the one.
Oh.
Okay, we need a new strategy.
Yeah, does it involve my grabbing the bailiff's gun and blasting my way out of here? That's plan B.
John, I'm gonna put you on the stand.
Well, that's great.
You know, I'm finally gonna be able to say exactly what happened.
Okay, but listen, the jury genuinely likes Vinny.
Ah.
Now they need to like you.
So keep your answers short and to the point.
And remember, if you lose your temper, you lose this trial.
All right, all right.
Oh, and one more thing, smile.
You know what? Forget the smile.
John? Yeah? I'm sorry to bother you, but Mr.
Gordon is very upset.
It happened again, Dr.
Becker.
This afternoon, I got dizzy.
All rise.
Am I gonna be all right for my granddaughter's wedding? Be seated.
I've been starving myself so I can fit into my best suit.
Dr.
Becker, the court is back in session.
Yeah, yeah, wait a minute.
You ? You haven't been eating? Nobody mentioned this to me.
Dr.
Becker.
In a minute.
John.
You don't need a doctor.
You You need a cookie.
You know, you've got dizzy spells because your blood sugar is too low.
Oh? Yeah, do you have any candy in your purse? John, you know I'm dieting.
Come on, come on, come on.
Oh, all right.
I'm not going to tell you again.
Hey, hey, you know, I'm done.
Relax.
I mean, relax, Your Honour.
Dr.
Becker, I don't wanna hear your voice again.
Counsellor, call your next witness.
I-it's him.
So once his rhythms stabilized, I discontinued CPR and turned him over to the paramedics.
But you didn't leave him, then, did you? No, no, I rode with him in the ambulance to the hospital, and then stayed with him until he was out of danger so I could I could talk to the family.
I see.
So when you visited Mr.
Deluca in the hospital, what was it that he said to you? He said he owed me his life.
Thank you.
No further questions.
Mr.
Goler, your witness.
Behave yourself.
Dr.
Becker, why didn't you give Mr.
Deluca an echocardiogram, an angiogram or even a cardiac-enzyme test? I didn't give him a Pap smear, either.
Look, Vinny had no symptoms, you know, no family history of heart disease.
It would have been ridiculous to run all those tests.
Would have been ridiculous to run all those tests.
It wouldn't have made any difference.
Wouldn't have made any difference.
Who are you talking to? Who am I talking? I am talking to all the Vinny Delucas out there who depend upon their physician to save their lives.
Oh, you know something? Now you're just pissing me off.
You know damn well I'll admonish you to watch Oh, admonish this.
Your Honor, may I have a word with my client? No, you know, you may not have a word with your client.
You know something? I'm glad Vinny had that heart attack.
Dr.
Becker, I would strongly advise you to heed your counsel's advice.
Look, you know, if I'm gonna lose this thing, I might as well say what I wanna say.
You know, Vinny would've had that heart attack whether or not he went to the gym.
Matter of fact, if I hadn't been with him, he'd be dead by now instead of sitting there suing me.
Dr.
Becker.
You know something? I saw Vinny have a salad today at lunch.
Yeah, it's the first time he's seen a piece of lettuce that didn't come on top of a cheeseburger.
And look Look at his shirt pocket there.
That's the first time since I've known this bastard there wasn't a pack of cigarettes in there.
Yeah, he's finally learning how to take care of himself.
And if that's my fault, you know, fine.
I hope he lives long enough to sue lots of doctors.
All right, that's enough.
That's the world we live in.
You know, where a lawyer like that can twist the facts just to grab a quick buck.
You keep this up, I'm gonna find you in contempt of court.
And you.
Yeah, is this why you went into the law, so you could tie up legitimate doctors when they should be treating patients like Mr.
Gordon over there? Why? What's wrong with me? Oh, nothing.
Sit down, will you? No, you know something? The hell with this.
You wanna find me guilty, then just do it.
But remember, whether or not I'm a nice guy is not on trial here.
Whether or not I'm a good doctor is.
And if this court can't tell the difference, then to hell with this court.
Dr.
Becker, you're out of order.
No, you know something? You're out of order.
This whole system's out of order.
Okay, Pacino.
That's it.
You have no idea how much I hate that damn movie.
I'll be honest, this is the last place I thought I'd end up.
But my friend, Reggie, kept telling me to talk to a therapist.
You know, I told her I didn't want any part of it, but You know, I gotta admit, talking like this kind of makes me feel better.
I still can't believe I won that case.
I mean, since when do juries go for the truth, huh? I guess I also learned something about practicing medicine.
It's not just about healing.
It's also about covering your ass, heh.
You're right, you're right, I should have known that.
I should have also known not to piss off a judge.
Will you shut up? Oh, yeah? And who's gonna make me? You know, actually, I'm done.
I'm done.