L.A. Law (TV Series)

Parent Trap (1993)

Blair Underwood: Jonathan Rollins

Quotes 

• Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Anybody know the whereabouts of our Mr. Morales?

  Gwen Taylor : He had a pro bono arraignment this morning.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Then let's begin. First, People vs. Emory Lewis and Gary Stubbs. I should hope those animals who beat you will finally get convicted.

  Stuart Markowitz : Unfortunately, the eyewitness backed out. She's afraid of reprisals from neighborhood kids if she testifies.

  Ann Kelsey : That shouldn't affect our case. Stuart was really convincing at the prelim. He'll do even better at trial tomorrow.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Next, Marciante vs. Bernheimer Memorial Hospital.

  Jonathan Rollins : That's mine. Anthony Marciante's girlfriend is brain dead after an automobile accident. She's also 18 weeks pregnant.

  Gwen Taylor : And being used as an incubator to bring the baby to term. I caught the story on the news. That's grotesque.

  Jonathan Rollins : We're seeking a court order to keep her body functioning long enough to deliver the baby. However, the girlfriend's mother wants to pull the plug and bury her daughter.

  Arnie Becker : I agree. The woman's dead, for God's sake.

  Jonathan Rollins : Arnie, we're talking about a potential human life. Mr. Marciante wants to be a father.

  Gwen Taylor : He should have thought about that before driving himself and his girlfriend off the road, drunk.

  Ann Kelsey : He killed her and now he wants to...

  Jonathan Rollins : It was an accident.

  Stuart Markowitz : He's still has rights.

  Arnie Becker : So had the girl's mother.

  Melina Paros : What about the baby?

  Leland McKenzie : All right, folks. We're all on the same team.

  [But Daniel Morales has arrived late in the meeting] 

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Mr. Morales. Honored that you can join us. How was the arraignment?

  Daniel Morales : Um, People vs. Alejandro Cruz. He's charged with shooting a news vendor who refuse to pay protection money?

  Leland McKenzie : Any extenuating circumstances, Daniel?

  Daniel Morales : No, Leland, not really. I'm trying to have Cruz tried in Juvenile Court, but right now, that's looking doubtful.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Well, if there's no other business, we're adjourned.

  [Douglas closed his gold hunter case from the pocket watch that the time is up] 

• Jonathan Rollins : Anthony, if you would, tell the court about the events leading up to your... your accident.

  Anthony Marciante : Karen and I had been up in the mountains above San Bernadino. We've been fighting a lot, so we... decided to spend the weekend together, alone, to see if we could work things out. Driving home. I had a few drinks. More than a few. I fell asleep at the wheel. I came away with a cuts and bruises. Karen was badly hurt. She went into a coma.

  Jonathan Rollins : When did you first learn that Karen was pregnant?

  Anthony Marciante : Just after the accident, in the emergency room. When I heard...

  [sighs] 

  Anthony Marciante : It was a shock. I'm still trying to take it in. But, uh, Karen's gone. And now there is a new life. When the doctors told me that they might be able to save the baby, I told them to try.

  Jonathan Rollins : Do you want to be a father?

  Anthony Marciante : More than anything. I owe this to Karen... and my daughter. The OB did in ultrasound. I wanna name the baby Michelle.

  Jonathan Rollins : Are you ready to be a father, Anthony?

  Anthony Marciante : I think so. I stopped drinking. And, uh... I've been working very hard. I just received a promotion. I have a lot of support from friends and... the staff at the hospital.

  Jonathan Rollins : No further questions, Your Honor.

  [Mr. Rollins ready to return to his seat. The opposing counsel James Pavlik will give some question to Anthony Marciante] 

  Judge Richard Fiorello : Mr. Pavlik.

  Lawyer James Pavlik : Mr. Marciante, at the time of the accident, you blood alcohol level was .15, is that correct? Nearly twice the legal limit.

  Anthony Marciante : I already pled guilty. I have no excuse. As I've said, I've stopped drinking.

  Lawyer James Pavlik : Your abstinence is admirable, right in time for sentencing, but too late for Karen.

  Anthony Marciante : I have to live with this forever.

  Lawyer James Pavlik : According to obstetricians at Bernheimer, the fetus is only 18 weeks old. Just midway through its second trimester. To your knowledge, can that fetus be brought to term before the mother's body begins deteriorating?

  Anthony Marciante : I was told there was no way of knowing.

  Lawyer James Pavlik : Were you also told that even if the fetus survives, there is a 50% chance it will be grossly premature with a real possibility of brain damage?

  Anthony Marciante : There's an equal chance that she will be born perfectly healthy.

  Lawyer James Pavlik : You were charged with DUI and vehicular manslaughter. Should you be set jail, who will care for your child?

  Anthony Marciante : I will face that when the time comes. Right now, what's important is rescuing my baby. Look, I've... The woman I love is dead. That doesn't mean that our baby should die, too.

  [Mrs. Coleman felt terrible about her daughter Karen]