Previously on 'Boston legal'
Claire Simms, this is Clarice Bell, our client.
Are you kidding me? It's a big black man in a frock.
This is Dolce & Gabbana, you pissy little bitch.
I'm Alan Shore, Clarice's lawyer.
Yeah, uh...
Clarice went to the market.
And you would be?..
Clarence.
You gonna hit me, Brad?
One of my goals in life is to go to all the places you've gone, and...
Just don't go to Shirley.
She's mine.
- Don't talk to me about appointments, - It's just that without a scheduled appointment
- my husband didn't have an appointment with death! - there's no one that I can get you in to see.
I am not leaving until I meet with a lawyer!
What seems to be the matter?
This skinny little thing here won't take my business because I'm black.
That's what's going on.
I'm sure that's not the case.
Well how would you know, were you here?
What's going on?
Evidently her husband was struck and killed by lightning.
She wants to sue God.
Your talking about me, don't think I don't know you are talking about me.
- Mrs. uh... - I am not leaving!
You gonna have to bring in a bulldozer and plow me out.
I'm sure that won't be necessary.
Let me just speak with her.
Absolutely not, anybody but you.
What is that supposed to mean?
I know you, Denise. You'll probably wind up taking this case.
And what is that supposed to mean?
Where is my lawyer? Ten seconds and I scream.
No, Please don't do...
One!
OK. Meet with her, but that's it.
Brad, go with Denise, make sure she does not take this case.
Alan!
Shirley, I was just thinking of you.
Were you now?
Well, not you specifically, your doll.
I thought I aught to put in some hard hours practicing with her in preparation
for finding you under the mistletoe at the Christmas party
and stemming your yuletide with my skilled and darting tongue.
You are coming to the Christmas party, aren't you, Shirley?
I wouldn't dream of missing it.
What's that?
Oh, that's just a case I'm assigning.
Something senior partners tend to do on occasion.
This is one of Edwin Poole's cases.
It seems to have slipped through my crack.
So I thought you'd find it especially tasty.
Ah. What kind of case?
A woman is trying to get custody of her sisters' twins.
Evidently the little girls are budding country music stars and
the woman feels that this is no way to raise children.
You can't be serious. She's trying to get custody because the girls sing?
The sister it seems is a bit protective.
Anyway, we represent the mother and father.
The trial starts tomorrow and you need to meet the clients.
What's my motivation?
- I beg your pardon? - My characters' motivation?
I can't just jump cold into a case Shirley. I need incentive.
Such as?
Well...
Let's say if I win,
you have to dress up as a playboy bunny for the Christmas party.
Think of morale, Shirley.
And if you lose, you dress up as the bunny?
Even better.
Fine then.
You have a bet.
What am I missing?
- How is everything, guys? - Wonderful.
Wonderful Sophia, I have a feeling this was a happy cow.
Mr. Crane may I speak with you for a minute?
Absolutely, is it sexual?
I need more butter.
No it's a legal thing, and it's personal.
I'll get the butter.
Sit, sit, sit, sit, sit.
It's about my daughter Claire.
She's sixteen and I'm losing her.
Drugs?
No, she's got anorexia.
We've been fighting about it for months.
She says nothing's wrong and then she starts screaming at me
and I start screaming back.
Last week she moved out, she's staying with her girlfriend
and today I got served with this.
Looks like a legal thing. A document.
She wants to be emancipated.
I'm really scared, Mr. Crane.
Sophia, bring her into my office and I'll talk some sense into her.
Failing that, maybe a couple of cupcakes.
What exactly are you gonna say?
Well, I'll tell her, man needs to eat.
Excuse me.
It wasn't me.
You must know that any judge is going to laugh at a claim like this.
Anabelle...
what's really going on?
I'm angry.
My husband was not meant to die
and I'm angry that people just seem to flick it off like...
What do you mean they flick it off?
Like somehow because he got struck by lightning, it was meant to be.
You get cancer, you die in a car crash, it's tragic.
But a lightning bolt...
his number was up, accept it. Well, I can't accept it.
And suing somebody, maybe even God...
I just want to give voice to my rage. That's all.
He was the only man I ever loved.
How can God just take him away?
Don't even think about it.
I was talking to him when it happened, you know.
He was on the golf course.
I called him on his cell.
I heard the crack and he was gone.
I'm sorry. I can't just sit home and grieve.
I just have to do something.
- Mrs. Carruthers. - Denise...
I'm going to take your case.
They're beautiful, well behaved...
We home school, on the road as well.
My sister has issues.
She's suing for custody because of what they sing?
Basically she thinks the songs and our values are too conservative.
Would you like to hear them perform Mr. Shore?
Delighted.
Rise up and shine, America's sons and daughters,
Rise up and shine, you've got to fight to part those waters.
When we swim in the light,
all will be okay.
The black, yellow and brown man will wash away.
Yes, the black, yellow and brown man will wash away.
Rise up and shine, Americas sons and daughters,
Rise up and shine, you've got to fight to part those waters.
When we swim in the light all will be okay.
- My sister thinks we're racist. - Got it.
The black, yellow and brown man will wash away.
Yes, the black, yellow and brown man will wash away.
Shirley.
Yes, Alan.
You didn't mention that the clients were white supremacists.
Didn't I? That doesn't seem right. Does it?
No, it doesn't, Shirley,
and I've always considered you such a beacon of fair play.
Well, look on the bright side.
You'll look great in that bunny outfit. Think of morale, Alan.
Motivated yet?
Okay, you are all here for the assistant position.
I will be interviewing you one by one.
Each of you will have about three minutes.
I do not care about your dreams for world peace.
You will not impress me with your concerns for whales,
AIDS babies, or greenhouse emissions.
And if you're religious, for God's sake, keep it to yourself.
All I want to know is how fast you type,
what's your experience, level of education and...
Clarice.
Don't look at me like that.
You're applying for the assistant position?
I have skills.
Okay, wig off.
You first, Ho.
Clarence, wig off!
What's going on?
I quit the other job.
It wasn't the same after they took me back.
And what makes you think that you could be a legal secretary?
I went to law school.
And Clarice has good people skills.
You went to law school?
I never practiced.
But... but Clarice knows everything I know and...
Okay, I am not hiring Clarice.
I don't even like Clarice.
I will hire you
on a trial basis.
I don't think I...
It's too high pressure. I have to be her.
The offer is extended to Clarence, not Clarice.
I thought we were just gonna talk.
We are, but since you got a lawyer, I thought I should have one, too.
- Shelley Ford. - Denny Crane.
Where did you come from, and how is she paying you?
We met on my web site.
I'm a supporter of the pro-ana movement
and an attorney with Yannetti, Bauer & Lewis.
I took this case pro bono.
And what the hell is pro-ana?
It's short of pro-anorexia.
Now wait a minute. You're in favor of a disease?
Pro-ana is not a disease, Mr. Crane. It's a lifestyle choice.
It's like being gay or an atheist.
We're out of the closet. We're not ashamed of it.
We're tired of all the nasty labels. And we're proud of the way we live.
You're going to starve to death!
I don't know how to be more clear.
And once again, you heard nothing.
Liver failure, muscle loss!
- Stop it! - You stopped your period a year ago.
- Do you want to have children? - Stop it!
Mrs. Wilson, you indicated you had something to say. What is it?
You're too skinny.
Snap out of it.
I guess we'll see each other in court.
Not if you turn sideways.
What?
You did what?
If we can just get past summary judgment...
You won't get past it. Suing God?
Have you lost your mind? And you...
I told you to prevent this from happening.
- I tried. - You tried!
What's up?
Brad and Denise have decided to represent a woman suing God.
I didn't decide. She...
You both bear responsibility for taking this case.
You both will figure out a way to beat summary judgment.
That shouldn't be too hard.
Do you know the facts of this case, Mr. Coho?
No, but anybody can get a case past summary judgment.
Maybe not.
Okay. All three of you will bear responsibility.
- Whoa, whoa, no. - No, no!
You just got yourself assigned.
You can take this opportunity to further your bond with Mr. Chase.
I was raised the same way they were.
Our parents told us the same stories.
About there being no holocaust,
the blacks mongrelizing the pure white race, the whole deal.
But I was able to come out from under it.
And now you're trying to put your stamp on our children.
Ms. Shaw, Ms. Monroe, regardless of my personal feelings about this case.
I can assure you of one thing,
you have no legal standing to challenge custody here.
The court wouldn't dare take children away from their parents
because of said parent's political beliefs.
Mr. and Mrs. Tanner are extremists,
and they are hazardous to their own children's welfare as well as society.
And we are prepared to prove
that this custody battle is not only a matter of child welfare,
but of national security.
She actually cited national security
as grounds for taking children away from their parents.
White supremacists are hate cells.
Hate cells are a breeding ground for terror. It's a fact.
If seeing Shirley in pink ears weren't incentive enough,
I think I actually might have to fight this one on principle.
So basically, we've both got mothers trying to hang on to their daughters.
Maybe we should critique each other's closings.
What?
You... you don't think I can do this?
I most certainly didn't say that.
Oh, yes, you did.
You don't trust me.
- Denny... - I know you too well, Alan.
You don't think I can handle this solo.
I'm simply saying, given the enormity of the stakes,
it can't hurt either of us to get feedback.
Right.
I'm getting sick of having to prove myself to you.
Clarence, one of your duties would be to pick up the phone
when it makes noises like that.
I... I can't.
Can you at least let me be her on the phone?
Okay.
I will let you be her on the phone at the beginning,
but you will not be calling our clients "Hos".
And after a month, you will have to be you all the time,
including when you are on the phone.
Thank you.
Claire Sim's office.
This is Clarice Bell speakin'.
Yes, yes, indeed.
This summer we sang at a Patriot's day picnic in Richmond
and at the solstice festival in Tampa.
Also, we got to do the national anthem at an anti-immigration rally in Ft. Payne.
Katey, do you ever wish that,
instead of having to perform at those kinds of gatherings,
that you could do fun things like other kids... summer camp, Disneyland?
Performing is fun for us, and it's important.
We're standing up for something.
And what exactly are you standing up for?
White pride.
I mean, other groups are allowed to be proud of themselves, right?
Objection. Katey, sweetheart, you weren't asked a question.
I'd like to hear from Katey.
It used to just be, like, blacks with their marches and history month and stuff.
Now it's everyone, like the Mexicans.
They illegally cross our borders then say they want to become Americans.
But at their rallies, they just wave their Mexican flags and talk Spanish.
With our songs, we're saying that whites need to stand up and fight back,
because the minorities, they're winning.
Winning what?
The race war.
Not, like with gun, with babies.
The Mexicans, the Chinese,
they're all having as many kids as they can so they can take over.
Whites are already a minority in California, Texas and New Mexico.
We've pretty much lost those states already.
And who told you that?
I learned it in school.
Your home school?
The one that your mother teaches?
Yes.
Katey, have your parents ever hit you?
Hit me? No.
How about Lauren?
To your knowledge, have they ever been violent with her?
No, they love us.
Do the two of you always get enough to eat?
Um, yeah.
How about your health?
Any aches or pains not being attended to,
perhaps a sore throat from all that singing?
No.
Okay. Now, Katey,
Ms. Monroe mentioned that your mother is your teacher.
Given all that time you spend traveling and performing,
does she ever let you slide a little when it comes to school?
I wish. We do way more homework
and get better test scores than kids in regular schools.
And whenever we take a trip somewhere,
our dad always turns it into a total history lesson.
I can imagine.
So, you're safe and well fed, healthy and successful.
Let me ask you.
As long as you and your sister could be together,
and if it were up to you, with whom would you want to live?
We want to live at home with our family.
Sue the Church?
Why not? A lightning bolt is an act of God.
The church holds itself out as an agent of God.
Let's slap the Episcopalians.
It's ridiculous.
You got a better idea?
You're the one that's supposed to have the better ideas,
because you said we could beat this in summary judgment.
Okay, here's an idea.
Why don't we tell the judge to kiss my ass?
That can work pretty nicely if you say it just right.
Let me practice.
Kiss my ass. What do you think?
No, no! No, no, no. no!
Uh-huh. That's enough.
I don't do drugs, and I don't drink.
I take AP classes, and I get all straight A's.
And you're graduating early?
With honors.
You also have a web site, don't you?
It's called Thinspire.
It's a support community for goal-oriented young women.
We post articles and suggestions on how to live a more thinspirational life.
And how do you plan to support yourself financially?
I model.
Well, I'm just getting started, really.
I've done fashion shows for a few local department stores,
but recently I've gotten a lot of catalog work.
It's pretty steady, and I make about $125 an hour.
It sounds to me like you're doing pretty well for yourself, Ms. Wilson.
Yes, I am.
What did you have for breakfast this morning?
I had a diet soda and a cracker with some butter spray on it.
And lunch?
I didn't eat lunch.
I can't eat when I'm stressed out.
So, how many calories have you had today?
Sixteen.
Are you aware that the daily required number of calories
for someone of your age and height is somewhere between 1,800 and 2,500?
And are you aware that two out of three Americans are overweight?
No one's calling them sick.
I'm healthy. I watch what I eat and I exercise.
You can ask any fat girl at my school if she'd want to trade places with me.
Now don't go knocking fat girls.
I love chubby sex and I'm sure your honor does.
Mr. Crane!
Ms. Wilson,
are you aware that the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders"
defines anorexia nervosa as a mental illness?
Thirty years ago they said the same thing about homosexuality.
Exactly!
No further questions.
I don't understand.
Why does he need to hear closing statements? It's a simple decision.
What is wrong with this judge?
Well, maybe he's just prejudiced against, you know, skinheads.
Do I look like a skinhead, Mr. Shore?
I'm told they can take on various forms.
Hey, if you're prejudiced against us,
Rise up and shine, America's sons and daughters.
Quiet!
Listen, as much as I enjoy the company of you, show people,
I have a closing to prepare, so
I'll see you and your full heads of hair at the courthouse.
We are not bigoted. Our message is simply...
It's good to be white. I'll meet you at the courthouse.
Case going well?
It isn't over yet, Shirley.
We haven't even gotten to the part where I deliver my politically biased
but compelling closing argument.
Now, how cute is that?
We've heard testimony from your daughter
that at her new, lower weight, her social life's improved.
- She's being asked out on dates. - That's true, but...
She's getting more involved in school activities now that her self-esteem is up.
We've heard she loves theater and dance.
At her previous weight, she was getting supporting roles,
- and now she's got the lead in "Grease", correct? - Yes.
Wouldn't you say your daughter, is blossoming at her new weight?
But that's not the point.
So because Claire has chosen a pro-ana lifestyle,
her life has improved.
She's now working professionally.
She's completely capable of living on her own and this is a threat to you, isn't it?
No, that's not it at all.
And under your care, you'd want her to gain weight,
which would make her lose her self-esteem, her career would suffer,
but you'd still have control over your little girl's life.
Objection! She's being, uh...
objectionable.
Sustained.
I have my daughter's best interests at heart.
You're a forty year old single mother working in a steakhouse.
The only good thing that you have going for you is your daughter.
You want to hang on to her as long as you possibly can...
- Objection! - so you don't have to examine your own empty life.
- Your honor! - Ms. Ford, that's enough.
Ms. Sims?
You can call me Claire.
Claire, uh, the, uh, the case that Mr. Coho and Mr. Chase are working on...
I, uh... I pulled up some research.
The cell phone?
Evidently, he was talking on it when he got struck by the lightning?
Those studies linking cell phones and lightning have been completely debunked.
Well...
Go ahead, Clarence.
Clarence.
The... The studies have been, uh, mainly discounted, but not totally.
And conflicting studies... it... becomes a question of fact, not law.
Which means the case can't get kicked at summary judgment.
Can I see those studies, please?
Interesting, I could run with this.
I'll run with it.
Guys...
How are they supposed to seriously function in this world as adults
if they've been brought up as white supremacists?
Many seem to do just fine.
Your honor, is that an environment that you would subject your children to?
And this is a physical danger as well.
White supremacists are more likely to become involved in violence.
They're hate groups,
Mr. Shore can deride me for pulling the national security card,
but do not tell me that the Timothy McVeighs of this world
and the Christian Identity Organization and the like,
which support violence and are antigovernment,
you can't tell me that they don't pose a threat to this country.
For God's sake, these two little girls are being taught to adhere to a whites-only,
immigrant-bashing, Jew-hating ideology.
You heard them.
And their performances are being used to recruit other people to join in with the prejudice.
How can this court not step in and rescue them?
Benjamin Franklin is often attributed with the quote,
"Those who would give up essential liberty
to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither."
And he certainly knew what he was talking about.
He ate lots of red meat and invented the swim fin.
When our current president, who, by the way, has invented nothing,
signed the Patriot Act into law in 2001,
not a single member of congress could be found
who had read the bill all the way through.
And yet, they couldn't wait to hand over our rights.
"Al Queda's coming. Where's my pen?"
Anything to feel safe.
Like a parent who dangles car keys to distract a child,
our government whips out national security to grab our attention
whenever they deem it necessary.
And that's what opposing council is doing here.
But this case is not about national security.
It's about a family.
Granted, a family that is so filled with spite
and ignorance and shockingly untutored ideas that it beggars the imagination,
but still a family.
And as long as Lauren and Katey are well fed and well cared for,
a family the law cannot and should not touch.
Now I think we would all agree
that we'd prefer these children to be raised in a different way.
Certainly Mrs. Tanner's sister thinks so.
But she knows legally that is not possible,
so she and her lawyer are
wheeling out our latest favorite rights-squashing mechanism, national security.
And who can blame them? It's all the rage.
If you want to look at people's bank records,
tap their phones, read their e-mails, go ahead, do it.
Just say it's a matter of national security.
And now we're claiming the Tanner family is a threat.
If that is the case, if there is any actual evidence linking them to a crime,
by all means, be my guest, please, have at 'em, arrest them.
But if there is no cause to arrest them,
then leave this family alone.
Where's my mom? Is she all right?
She's in here, still alive.
- You lied to me. - No, I didn't.
I told you your mom was in the hospital, and you had to get down here immediately,
and she is still alive.
Only this young woman unfortunately, is not doing quite so well.
Ms. Murr, Claire Wilson.
My daughter Cathy has complications due to anorexia nervosa.
Claire.
You really thought that that after school special "O. C." crap was going to work on me?
- Cookie? - That girl has what you have.
No, she doesn't.
- A true pro-ana wouldn't fail like that. - Are you serious?
- Chips? - Stop offering me food.
What the hell is going on here?
My mother and Mr. Crane are trying to scare me by showing me a girl who's dying.
You're going to die, Claire.
Can't you get that? You're going to die.
You had the nerve to call my client down here
and show her that without my knowledge?
This is outrageous.
I'll notify the court. I'll notify the BAR.
Congratulations, you've just lost your daughter.
Oh, Alan.
Sophia, hello.
Come in.
Can I ask you, um...
Is Denny Crane any good?
Why do you ask me that?
Well, he's been a bit of a clown in court,
and he orchestrated this ridiculous stunt at a hospital.
And I'm gonna...
I am gonna lose my daughter.
Is there any way you could take over?
Ooh, that would be...
I'm not sure Denny Crane knows what he's doing.
Sophia, what's going on?
Sophia and I were just discussing the case, Denny.
She mentioned your creative stunt at the hospital this morning.
Brilliant.
I just finished my closing. Would you like to read it?
Sure.
My office.
I'm gonna have to hire somebody else.
Don't do anything yet, Sophia. Let me work on this.
This is a situation that touches two deep emotional chords in all of us.
The sanctity of the family on the one hand,
the distaste we feel for hatemongering on the other.
But the law is clear.
Mr. and Mrs. Tanner may be questionable as human beings
but they are loving parents.
The petitioner's motion for removal is denied.
Michael, row the boat ashore, hallelujah.
Michael, row...
Michael was a gay Jew from Mexico. You know that, of course.
Let's go, girls.
Just let me lead, and then you follow.
I'll lead. It's my case. I took it.
She took it.
Under my supervision as partner.
Guys, you're both partners. I'm not.
So why am I the only one acting like an adult?
Okay, let me just say something before we go in here.
I have tried to have patience with him,
but I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle.
You ever win any battles, Brad?
Okay, let's go in.
Good morning, thank you for agreeing to see us.
I am Denise Bauer. This is Brad Chase and...
I'm Jeffrey Coho.
I know how busy you are, so I thought we'd cut right to it.
We represent a woman by the name of Annabelle Caruthers whose husband was regrettably killed
after being struck by lightning while talking on a cell phone
manufactured by your client Cybus Technologies.
Yes.
Why don't you cut right to the part where we should be held liable?
- Certainly... - You see, when lightning strikes,
the human skin offers some protection, significant, in fact.
What happens is electricity is conducted over the skin rather than through the body.
It's a phenomenon know as flashover.
Conductive material in direct contact with the skin,
especially something metallic such as a mobile phone,
can negate the flashover effect,
cause the voltage to go right through the body.
We've brought three studies that speak to liability.
As for the issue of foresee-ability, there have been other cases.
In Australia, they now issue warnings.
England is considering doing so.
The fact is using a cell phone in a thunderstorm is potentially lethal.
And can result in death.
It resulted in the death of our client's husband.
Look, you're gonna have your experts. We'll have ours.
But in the meantime, the cost of negative publicity alone...
Not to mention, of the billions of dollars generated from cell phone usage,
hundreds of millions come from people talking on the outside in inclement weather.
You don't want people putting their cell phones away during storms, do you?
You should both be embarrassed, for God's sake.
Do you have anything to say for yourself?
- I won. - You did not.
Oh, shut up, both of you!
God!
Obviously I have to keep you apart,
since you lack the maturity to conduct yourselves as adults.
We got an offer.
What do you mean, you got an offer?
$75,000. Its not a lot, but as far as a lightning-bolt case goes...
- Told you I'd get something. - I got it.
Shut up!
Who's this?
I'm Alan Shore. Mr. Crane was unexpectedly called to court.
I'm filling in. I'll make this very brief.
What's this?
This would be an arrest warrant.
Don't be concerned.
They won't execute it unless I give them the word.
An arrest warrant for whom?
You.
Me?
Yes, Ms. Wilson.
It turns out your web site gives other teenagers' advice on
how to acquire diet pills with or without a prescription.
That's not against the law.
It is if she is contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
You've got all kinds of little tips in there
that could expose you to both criminal and civil liability.
What's going on? I could actually be arrested?
I can make this go away. Do not worry.
Yes, you can certainly have your day in court,
possibly prevail, though I doubt it.
And in the meantime,
word of your arrest will undoubtedly make it to the modeling agencies,
and there goes your livelihood. A scandalous scandal.
And then the civil lawsuits can begin.
Will you be representing her for free in those, Ms. Ford?
My suggestion would be to go to rehab and get the help you need. But
I suppose you could go to jail
and add two new photos to your portfolio, front and side.
This is so pathetically desperate.
Well, finally we agree on something.
I'm desperate.
How about the lawyer's leave?
And you can have a conversation with your mother.
This isn't exactly the image I had in my mind,
but I'm still aroused.
I'm glad to hear it.
Maybe I could throw my costume on,
and we could go do what rabbits like to do best.
Don't make me hit you.
Hit me?
You wouldn't be standing under mistletoe unless you wanted to kiss me.
I'm not standing under...
Hey!
Okay! The slobber you just got came from his mouth.
Quite the party, I see.
I assume I was invited.
It goes without saying.
Which is why it did.
Dance, Denny?
She made it sound like I have a choice.
That leaves you and me.
And him.
- Jerry? - Merry Christmas, my friend.
Thank you.
- Open it. - Okay.
I paint.
One of my hobbies is to supplant the faces of people
I care about on famous personalities that match up well.
I see.
Oh. Jerry...
It's amazing.
Wow.
Do you like it?
I love it.
I guess we should work this out.
Does it have to be tonight?
Well, it is the season.
Peace on Earth, good will toward men.
What was that?
Good will toward men?
No right before that.
Peace on Earth?
I knew it.
A liberal.
Aren't you coming out to join the party?
Maybe in a minute.
Well, I have somebody who wants to say hello to you.
I just want to thank you.
I was told you were the one who came up with the idea to sue the phone company.
And $75,000, that's a lot of money to me.
And, um, I just want to thank you.
Okay.
He's cute.
Yes, he is.
You pass the BAR, Clarence?
Yes, but I could never practice.
Why not?
I... I could never.
I think we're gonna work on that.
Handicapped.
- Excuse me. - Coming through.
Out of my way!
Handicapped.
We had our first three-way tonight.
I'm not sure that Shirley enjoyed it as much as we did.
It was fabulous for me.
She didn't quite taste the same as I remember.
She tasted more like...
Me. That was my slobber, Denny.
We finally exchanged bodily fluids.
Did I tell you my case worked out?
Sophia's daughter decided to come home after all.
Fantastic.
Got a call from the clerk's office to come to court for the summations.
Turns out it was a mistake.
And, uh, by the time I got back,
Sophia was on the phone with the good news.
Well, you must've somehow reached the girl, Denny.
Congratulations.
Of course, the warrant didn't hurt.
I may miss a lot, Alan,
but I don't miss everything.
I just...
came up with the idea
and I thought you'd object to any kind of assistance.
So you decided to keep the truth from me?
Sophia came to you.
She didn't trust that I was winning.
But I was, Alan.
I believe you.
I'm not sure you do.
But I know your heart's in the right place.
And how can I be mad at anyone who can get Shirley to dress like a rabbit?
She is a goddess, isn't she?
Oh, boy.
Denny, maybe for Christmas...
You can't have her.
- How about... - No!
Well, Merry Christmas just the same, my friend.
Merry Christmas.