The Judge Page #5

You can't afford me, so...

I have to do it for free.

Fortunately, I'm a bit light on

the pro bono quota this year.

This's my standard service contract.

Check, sign and date...

HP services / yes / no / missing time

offer expires in a business day.

I'll give it a think.

The artist is at work...

Hey Hank, I'm splicing film.

- I see.

- You can help, if you want.

No...I'm Just watching.

You know what's funny,

when you said that the old

man was playing chess

every Wednesday with...

- Who was it? / with Dr. Morris.

- Yeah, 'Cause he doesn't play chess.

In fact, the only thing he detests

more than board games is doctors.

He does so play chess.

I'll show you. I have it.

It's not really ready yet but...

That's a Greco. They're

a real nuisance.

There's the lake.

Here's the porch....

See? He's playing chess.

Stop.

It's a nice frame.

Thanks...

- What else you got? - Well, if you wait to see what I got, a

body's recovered there. Figure the impact right here. 630.2

- Yeah. I don't see any skid marks.

- Ok, hey, here it's. Lawyer to client...

Did you recognize Blackwell?

I don't remember, er...

/ I can't have...

No, no, no, no. / can't have?

Stick with that.

Look...We both know you did not

intentionally hit that guy but

that's where they're Gonna spin it.

A few shot of Jack's, Just the

right amount of extra gripe,

that's what I thought... but you

haven't been drinking, have you?

- No...

- Are you sick, pops?

You might say that

I'm sick, yeah.

Yeah, cancer...In my

plumbing...Colon.

A few more chemo

sessions, it'll be in...

In uh...Remission. Nothing I

can't handle, nobody knows,

your mother knew, that's all.

They need an attempt for

murder, that is our case.

We build on diminished ability

for defense due to chemo.

If we can gain some sympathy from

the jury, they'd never convict you.

Wait, wait, hold on!

Native son, public servant,

for over 40 years?

No...Back up! Look what

it does to all the cases

I'd heard over the last year.

You had last year?

Everybody that I sentenced

will challenge the rule.

Strangers, who give a sh*t?

you're Gonna die in prison!

I'd rather die in prison than

be remembered like that.

- oh boy.

- An incompetent old man on the stand.

oh, I'm not letting you

anywhere near the stand.

now, listen, listen to me.

Ulysiss. Grant held

this country together,

now what is he remembered for?

Being a drunk!

Ronald Reagan never saw the fall of the

Berlin wall that ended the cold war

but any discussion of his legacy

ends with jellybeans, naps

and Alzheimer.

Reagan? Wow...With all

due...I'm Gonna say this as

professionally and as

gently as I possibly can...

you're a civil servant in a corn

belt, Bible-banging battle.

Nobody, nobody...Gives a

rat ass about your legacy!

But I do, son, I do.

I sat on the bench in

that court for 42 years.

People in this

community trusts me.

They trust the law. now this...

This accident is a legal

iron ball, Henry.

You can't screw it up.

So don't.

And only guilty people

refuse to take the stand.

- Got me?

- You tied my shoelace together.

I can't help you if you

don't let me do my job!

Unlock the car, come on,

let's go, I want to go home.

Damn it!

oh, this is cool!

F*** me!

I only own the one black dress.

Hank, there is someone I'd like you

to meet, this is my daughter Carla.

Well, like I imagined, hold my hair back...

This is your Hank?

God, Just try not to

embarrass me, okay?

- You, you two met?

- Nope. / yeah, / yes.

- At the bar...Right?

- What's up with you, turn around.

Huh, I see that

t- shirt survived.

The night Hank Palmer

vanished from Carlinville.

- Since when you have a daughter?

- February, 1990.

She was home for summer break.

- Er...Were you married?

- Negative, no.

Um, I am the unplanned but happy

result of a wash back river boat trip,

Kool-Aid and ever clear.

- And now Carla goes to Georgetown.

- D.C., Georgetown? Wow!

Have you ever...Washington, Mr.

Palmer?

Never. What're you studying?

Law.

Always, on grass, never on pavement,

you won't splash your shoes that way.

I don't know what my problem is.

Personally invest in your client,

putting their lives in your hands.

It'll pass, trust me.

I hope not.

So sir, you're telling me you're

not even a little bit swayed

by the fact that you're

familiar with the defendant

and his stature

in the community?

- No...

- What exactly is our target juror?

Intelligent people who will

listen to instructions

and follow the evidence.

Crackpots, those that can be persuaded

to swallow their own tongues.

Anyone who has seen a sasquatch,

moon-landing deniers, those are our people.

Mr. Palmer.

Subtly, Henry...A velvet touch.

Bumper stickers? Anyone got one on

their car, truck, Harley? Show a hand.

And er...What do they read?

Exact word, please.

It Just spells out "tolerance",

with religious symbols.

Willie Nelson, for president?

Really? Does he seem

a likely candidate?

They never got him on a felony.

Certified breast

inspector, have Them out.

Gun control in using both hands.

Honor roll students on board?

Wife and dog missing?

Reward for dog.

- Thank you.

- Thank you!

I missed you, baby.

This is Gonna be

such a fun weekend.

Unless I drop you

on the escalator!

Lauren...Uh...

I feel like I should prep you

before you meet grandpa Palmer.

"Cause he's nothing

like grandpa Schneider,

grandpa Schneider is

kinda, you know...Nice and

half a bowl, maybe take

you for ice cream,

maybe he will read to you, grandpa

Palmer does not do any of that.

If you ask him to read to you,

he might throw the book at you.

But anyway, don't worry about it, I mean

he's not evil, he's Just a dirty old mummy

and he can't hurt you,

because you're special.

oh god, there he is, look.

He's usually wrapped in gauze,

and whooshing and shuffling.

He has come outside...To feed.

Who are you?

- Lauren...

- And who I am? / grandpa.

Yeah.

You are my granddaughter?

Let's go, come on with me.

Glad to be here?

It has been a long time, I've

waited a long time for this.

you're my sweetheart.

I'll show you the

house, come on.

I think grandpa is sweet.

Yeah, he isn't but I'm

glad you see it that way.

This is super comfy, there you

go, do you want a second pillow?

- Yes.

- Good, put your head down.

There you go.

And now...Oops, oh, maybe I'm

Gonna have a little fun now...

Feel good? Okay, this goes here.

I'm Gonna leave you alone now.

Whose room is this?

It was your uncle Glen's.

Why are there so many trophies?

Because he was a really

good baseball player,

- really good.

- Did he play on TV?

He probably would've

been on a big team

but when Glen and I

was in high school,

we got into a really

bad car accident,

then his hand got messed up.

oh, I'm sorry.

Why didn't he take his

trophies to his own house?

They were more important

to his father.

kinda touchy subject,

go to sleep.

- Good night, baby.

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