L.A. Law (TV Series)

Bound for Glory (1990)

Corbin Bernsen: Arnie Becker

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Quotes 

• Abby Perkins : 2 grams. Simple procession. I could probably plead him out and get 6 months minimum security. Of course, if we go to trial and lose, we're talking a year easy.

  Arnie Becker : State prison?

  Abby Perkins : I doubt it, but it's their defense. It's possible.

  Abe Lassen : Take the plea.

  Abby Perkins : No. Just a minute. Don't forget the motion to dismiss. We have a real shot at getting it kicked.

  Arnie Becker : Right.

  Abe Lassen : In which case he just walks?

  Abby Perkins : Exactly.

  Abe Lassen : Take the plea. Let him do the 6 months.

  Abby Perkins : Excuse me?

  Abe Lassen : My son is a drug problem, Ms Perkins. Nothing we tried has ever worked - programs, clinics. This is the third time he's been arrested. Every time, he goes free. Every time, he goes back to drugs. Maybe jail is just the thing he needs.

  Abby Perkins : That may be, Mr. Lassen, but Joel is the client, at least technically. And it would have to be his decision.

  Abe Lassen : If Joel were capable of making tough decision, we wouldn't be standing here right now, would we? This... this is me son - my only son. If something drastic doesn't him shake him out of this, I'm gonna lose him.

  Abby Perkins : You're asking a defense attorney to deliberately put her client in jail when there's a chance of getting him off.

  Abe Lassen : That's the way you see it. The way I see it is I'm asking you to help me save his life.

  [Arnie will find out and Abby will do her best] 

• Abby Perkins : He's the client. Not Abe. If he doesn't want to plead guilty - I can't be...

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Come on. Abby, he's a drug addict.

  Abby Perkins : He wasn't on drugs when he was here, Douglas, I have no reason to question his capacity to make this decisions.

  Arnie Becker : OK, Abby, technically, you're right. Joel is the client, you're... you're supposed to do what he says. Look if we do get this thing kicked, that kid go straight back to drugs. Hey, are you gonna feel good about that just because technically you're ethically correct? Let me tell you something else. If we get the case dismissed, we'll lose Abe Lassen as our client.

  Abby Perkins : I can't let that be a factor.

  Arnie Becker : Look, Abby, I'm gonna be perfectly honest with you here.

  [Arnie closed the door and have private at Douglas' office] 

  Arnie Becker : If I lose Abe Lassen as a client, I lose a big chunk of my clout. The balance of power tilts even more heavily in Rosalind Shays' favor. She already has to be as client bases, she already been made Senior Partner. Losing Abe Lassen is going puts her one step closer to having unfettered control to do whatever the hell she wants.

  Abby Perkins : Why don't you take me off the case? Cut the plea yourself.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : If we did that, Joel would smell a rat, and get a new lawyer, and the results for here will be the same.

  Arnie Becker : You know the kid is better off doing the 6 months, Abby, you know it. All we're asking you to do is steer him in the direction would best help him give up drugs. Yes, I'm asking you to do it for Abe, yes, I'm asking you to do it for me, but I'm asking you to do it for Joel. Maybe his only chance, for God's sake.

  Abby Perkins : OK, I'll see if I can convince him.

  Arnie Becker : Thank you.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Thank you.

  [Abby will give it a shot and a try to help save her client Joel Lassen] 

• [the first day of a new incoming Senior Partner as the first woman to be in charge in the law offices meeting is Rosalind Shays since she was elected last week] 

  Stuart Markowitz : Ann.

  Rosalind Shays : Douglas, I think everybody's here. Why don't you get started?

  [And every people seated. Douglas bring his coffee and opened his time on his pocket watch, beginning the meeting of today in the morning] 

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Okay. People vs. Lassen.

  Abby Perkins : Joel Lassen's been busted for possession again. Arraignments tomorrow.

  Rosalind Shays : Why are we in this?

  Arnie Becker : Because he's Abe Lassen's son.

  Rosalind Shays : Say no more.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Breecher vs Wynn.

  Jonathan Rollins : That's mine. Our client packages county fairs. The main event of one of them is a frog-jumping contest. There was prize money involved, and one enterprising entrant, got himself something called an African Goliath frog.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : An African Goliath frog.

  Jonathan Rollins : Yeah. It was ruled ineligible hence the suit.

  Rosalind Shays : I understand that there's appeal in things novel and strange. I also understand that as an attorneys, we need to amuse ourselves. But quite frankly, what I can't countenance are the sort of indulgences that hurt us.

  Victor Sifuentes : How does this hurt us?

  Rosalind Shays : It costs us. It makes us look foolish. What I'm saying, Jonathan, is that I think you're to have to be more selective of the kinds of cases he take on.

  Leland McKenzie : Actually, he didn't take on the case, Rosalind. I did.

• [Rosalind is waiting. Move on the next quorum. Arnie looked quiet. Leland is waiting, too] 

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Moving along. Jackson vs. Haas.

  Ann Kelsey : That's mine. A young black boy was kicked to death by a skinhead. We're suing the skinhead's parents.

  Arnie Becker : Why?

  Ann Kelsey : Why? Because a kid doesn't become a racist thug in the vacuum.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : But suing the parents? To me, this utter litigiousness. It's... it's looking to the courts for a payday.

  Jonathan Rollins : It's looking to the courts to fight bigotry, like... like Brown vs. Board of Education. Was that utter litigiousness?

  Rosalind Shays : What was the age of the defendant's son at the time of killing, Ann?

  Ann Kelsey : He was 15, Rosalind.

  Rosalind Shays : I think that's young enough to infer parental liabilities. Good luck.

  [Stuart is next soon] 

  Rosalind Shays : Move along, Douglas.

  [Douglas is waiting, Leland holding his address note book] 

  Rosalind Shays : I said, why don't we move along?

  [Meeting is adjourned] 

• Abby Perkins : What was I suppose to do? The DA went for. I suppose to say...

  Abe Lassen : Because you pushed for it.

  Arnie Becker : Listen, Abe, this was a difficult call...

  Abe Lassen : Where the hell were you? You're supposed to be taking care of me.

  Arnie Becker : I thought Abby would.

  Abby Perkins : Thanks, Arnie.

  Arnie Becker : I - I agree with Abe. Jail time is what Joel needs.

  Rosalind Shays : [Opening the door]  Sorry I'm late.

  Abe Lassen : Who the hell are you?

  Rosalind Shays : I'm Rosalind Shays, Mr. Lassen, I'm the new Senior Partner here. Douglas has explained to me what's happened.

  Abe Lassen : Good. Explain to me what you got to do about it.

  Rosalind Shays : Well, under the circumstances...

  Abe Lassen : I don't want any circumstances. I want her fired today.

  Rosalind Shays : Now, why would I do that?

  Abe Lassen : Why? Because she ignored my instructions, that's why.

  Rosalind Shays : Ms. Perkins was bound by an attorney's code of ethics, and she behaved appropriately. This firm stands behind her.

  Abe Lassen : [Pointing the finger at Mr. Becker and Mr. Brackman]  These two don't seem to stand behind her.

  Rosalind Shays : As I said I'm the Senior Partner.

  Abe Lassen : I'll have somebody here to pick up my files. You just lost yourself a client, Senior Partner.

  [Abe Lassen walks out of that door, exit, and leave Arnie's office] 

• Arnie Becker : I appreciate that, Rosalind. That was my client you just encouraged out the door.

  Rosalind Shays : How dare you hanging associate out like that, both of you! Abby have no choice but to do what she did, and for you not to support her here is reprehensible!

  Arnie Becker : [Yelling]  Abe Lassen is good for about 500,000 a year!

  Rosalind Shays : There was no price tag on our ethics when Leland was in charge, and there isn't now.

  [Rosalind leaves and slams the door closed. Arnie and Douglas are in big trouble]