Making the Case: Creating the Lincoln Lawyer

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All right, Earl.

Next, come on, step right through.

-Looking good, Mick!

-Hey Lou.

Mick! Mick, I just called you...

Hey, I just called you at the office.

I... I gotta talk to you.

-Come on, stick with me.

-How long you gonna be in today?

Depends on the judge, calls my client.

See, what does this say about me that

I let you treat me like this, huh?

I'm giving you a big cashing whoop in

the world... help me man.

-My daughter's about to go to surgery.

-I've heard it all before, Val.

-You understand?

-Come on. Talk to me. What do you got?

Okay, I got something big for you.

This guy's gonna be the big money

to Inglewood.

But the problem is, if he goes up

before the judges,

-at noon, okay? You listening to me?

-I'm listening.

So, the client, his mother...

his mother who comes

to the office at 8 a.m in

the morning...

-and...

-Has he already got a lawyer?

Just listen.

Listen, it's not criminal.

It's just real estate, okay?

And I made them so crazy about you...

that they now wanna put up their

Malibu beach house against a million.

-The bail's a million?

-Yeah, yeah...

-What did they book this guy for?

-Well, I'd say it's romantic.

The cops are saying

he beat up the girl really bad,

they wanna sell assault with

a deadly weapon...

-throw in it the GPI's...

-The D.A filed yet?

Is he dead?

See, I take care of my friends.

I even take care of you, bubba.

Inglewood by noon.

You could do it, man.

Go through some red lights...

-Break the speed limits.

-How did it comes down? Is this real?

-Don't bullshit me, is this real?

-Of course it is, would I lie to you?

You're gonna take care of me, right?

Make them forget the beach house

and go for my bond?

What's the name?

Louis. Louis Roulet.

R O U L E T. Like the wheel.

Alright, spare the wheel,

but, you got it.

Roberto.

You mind checking that list? See if

our man uh... Harold Casey is on it?

Oh, don't go that low... I got a

case across town at noon.

I gotta get to.

You mind just bringing him down?

It'll only be a sec.

-Reynaldo.

-Pardon me?

My name's Reynaldo, not Roberto.

Us bailiffs all look alike, right?

-Your man white?

-Yeah, he's white.

I got blacks down here right now.

Alright, listen.

Reynaldo.

My bad on your name. I do a lot of

askin', I guess I was wrong.

But I didn't forget you at Christmas

time, did I?

Remember that giant

nut with the prizes

signed Happy holidays,

your friend, Nick?

I went through those pretty fast.

Alright, let's make it two this time.

Okay.

I'll bring your buddy down,

but you'd better make it quick.

Gracias, Reynaldo.

Harold Casey.

Yeah, bring him down.

Harold!

You shouldn't be running from

your lawyer. That's bad form.

You know what I wanna talk about?

In a minute,

Judge Powell's gonna call us down.

He's gonna wanna know

if we're ready for trial.

-We are?

-We are not.

And you know why not.

Rule one, I get paid.

Or I don't work.

Alright! Don't worry,

I got your money.

Exactly, you got it.

-I don't.

-It's coming, I talked to my boys.

Listen, Harold, I look down the list

of people I trust.

You're not on it.

The law says you can't just quit.

The judge won't let you.

I looked it up.

Pay close attention.

Michael Haller for the defense,

your honour.

If I may, I'd like to carry this over.

You have a reason, Mr. Haller?

Having trouble locating a witness,

your honour.

An indispensable witness, a Mr. Green?

How much time do you need?

That's hard to say.

Does the state object?

No, your honour.

Alright, we'll hold this over.

Pending notification from counsel.

That was some bullshit, man.

Oh yeah.

I expect to hear from you, Harold.

Inglewood, Earl.

Keep it on the suburb streets.

Earl, headphones.

This is Haller.

And this is your office.

Uh... actually, I'm in my office,

Ms. Lorna.

I'm on my way to

courthouse in Inglewood.

Listen, jot down and remind me to

give Reynaldo...

the bailiff over at San Fernando,

$200 for Christmas, alright?

Got it. Hey, did Val reach you about

his customer?

Yeah, 'I got something big

for you, Mick!'

Everytime. Any other calls?

No, just some odds and ends.

PDUI's, they just recruited some

house members.

Oh... Gloria Larson called from

county lock-up.

She got popped again?

The usual with the complications.

Cocaine possession. Her first

appearance is right after lunch.

Tell her, I'll try.

So, I was thinking, boss,

you know, uh...

when you get your licence back,

why not maybe uh...

you know, I could stay-on.

Like permanent things on me,

you know?

I got my licence back

Hey, boss. Want me to do

something about that?

'Cos I can.

Uh... keep doing what you're doing.

Boss?

Alright.

Pull over up there.

Councilor.

-Eddie.

-How's it hangin'?

Oh, a little to the left, my man.

How about you?

Not bad.

Your ride's a little messy.

Yeah, maid didn't come 'til tuesday.

What can I do for you, big man?

Our boy, Harold called from the pens,

said you're stalling his case

'til you see some more 'green'.

I don't get paid, I don't work.

We paid you, $5,000.

That's long gone, Eddie.

Look, I could tell you, the half of it

went to an aerial photo expert.

He's gonna blow the

state's case by showing

that the DEA violated the airspace...

over Harold's farm by flying too low.

I can also tell you that I gotta fly

that guy in from New York city...

get him to testify, put him up in

a hotel, and all that kind of stuff.

But you don't need to know that.

All you need to know is that

we had a deal.

It's time to refill the tank.

What? Another 5 grand?

Ten. He wants to fly business.

He wants first class hotel.

And we want Harold back on the farm.

He's our best farmer,

if you know what I mean?

I don't.

And I don't want to.

Now, look.

Either pay me.

Or go with the public defender.

He won't know much about

air space, but...

aren't you gonna count it?

I just did.

Keep that rubber on the road, Eddie.

Let's roll, Earl.

So, this expert flying

in from New York,

you want me to pick him

up at the airport?

There's nobody coming in.

The best camera experts in the world

are right here in Hollywood.

Nice, you know what?

You would've done alright

on the streets.

Sh*t... what do you think I am,

Earl?

Louis Roulet?

Yes.

I'm Michael Haller.

Mr. Haller. I called you because

I need someone.

This whole thing is a set-up.

I made a mistake with that woman

and she was setting me up...

Keep your voice down, hear me?

Don't say anything about the case,

until I get you out on bail.

I understand your family lawyer's

in court?

Yes, his name's Cecil Dobbs.

-He's here somewhere.

-I'll find him.

Tell me about yourself.

-How old are you?

-32.

Ties to the community?

Did you grow up here?

Yeah, Beverly Hills. Went to USC.

I worked for my mother's business.

What about your father?

He died when I was 2.

How much did you make last year, Louis?

My taxes said $600,000.

I want a lawyer too.

My name's Corliss two S's.

-You got a card on you?

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