This "pestilent dust" has appeared only three times.
It was found to be limestone... Messy, but innocuous.
- Innocuous? - Harmless.
I know what it means. May I?
Your Honour...
Imagine how the neighbourhood children feel.
The pounding of construction ringing in their ears.
This skyscraper, a tribute to mankind's greed, grows daily.
It casts a shadow over their lives and surrounds them with toxic dust.
Kendall Construction is rebuilding this neighbourhood.
Granting a restraining order here will throw 753 people out of work.
You cannot validate this groundless example of rapacious litigation.
- It is a threat to our society. - Let's not go off the deep end.
You have made a compelling case, Mr. Miller.
- But there is no irreparable harm. - Not yet.
- Is that you? - Yeah, it's me.
- A client of yours? - Funny!
Excuse me, sir...
I went to a restaurant the other day and ordered coffee.
The waiter asked, "Would you like sugar or Sweet & Low?"
I said, "Do I look like I should be on a diet?"
- Andy. - Hi, Doc.
Your blood work came back. When I return, we'll discuss it.
I'll be right here.
- Hi, how are you feeling? - Pretty good.
Make a fist for me.
We're gonna have to start looking for veins in your feet.
- Terrific job on the Kendall case. - Thanks, Kenneth.
Anthea, just the paralegal extraordinaire I was hoping to see.
- The answer is no. - Dinner at Felicia's...
- I've got a class. - My briefs need proofing.
Exploit somebody else. Since you've asked...
- Your exam! - 98.
98! Congratulations!
- Let's talk about the Hansen case. - Yeah. Thank Amy for the painting.
Here are the numbers. The copy's on your desk. Do you need me?
No. It's 6:30. Go home.
Hello? Hi, darling. What a surprise. How are you?
- Good. - What does Dr. Gillman say?
She says I am fine. My blood work is excellent.
- How about my platelets? - Even my platelets look good.
Mom, more importantly, how are you?
- I'm fine. Your dad is fine. - What are you doing?
- Andy, am I interrupting you? - In a word, Bob.
Charles wants to see you upstairs.
I was just about to take a break. You' re sure I'm not underdressed?
Andy has expressed a keen interest in Highline versus Sander Systems.
- The participants interest me. - It's an anti-trust action.
Is it? Sander Systems copies Highline's spreadsheet program.
For me, the legal principle involved is copyright infringement.
Tell me this, Andy. Which side would you like to see emerge victorious?
Don't be influenced by my friendship with Sander's CEO Bill Wright.
- I'd like to see Highline win. - Why, Beckett?
If Sander Systems wins, an energetic young company is destroyed.
Copyright laws were enacted to stop exactly what Sander are doing.
- You know who reps Highline. - Rodney Bailey.
He couldn't find his way around copyright law with a map.
Apparently the fellas at Highline agree with you.
Therefore, as of 9:03 this evening, right after the dessert course, ...
- they're now represented by Wyant, Wheeler, Hellerman, Tetlow & Brown.
Outstanding!
And more specifically, senior associate Andrew Beckett.
- Thank you, Robert. - Start on Highline right away.
- I'm right on it. - We have to file within ten days.
- Tokyo on line four, Bob. - Walter, thank you.
- Thank you, Kenneth. - Congratulations.
- What's that on your forehead? - Where?
That, right there on your forehead.
I got whacked with a racquet ball... Excuse me.
Charles... I sincerely appreciate your faith in my abilities.
Faith is a belief in something for which we have no evidence.
It does not apply in this situation.
Go home. No... go back to work!
- Thank you, Charles. - No sweat, buddy.
Tommy, how are you?
The complaint is on my desk, Shelby. Tell Jamey to get on top of it.
Anything else?
No, I'll be working out of the house for the rest of the afternoon.
Bye.
You want to apply the foundation as evenly as you can.
It shouldn't look like you threw it on with a spoon.
You don't think this is a little too orange for me?
It's Tahitian Bronze. That works best on these lesions.
- Say you've been to Aruba. - I've called in sick for four days.
Now they'll think I was on a cruise.
- Fax. - Thank you, Bruno.
We could try this Light Egypt...
- What? - Andy?
Excuse me.
Just like my cousin Fredo.
Hi... Does anybody want a bagel?
Are you okay, Andy?
I need to go to the hospital.
- It's all right. - I'm getting out of here.
- One more. - Thank you for driving me here.
I told Dr. Gillman to take a day off and she took a day off!
- Did they take a specimen? - Blood... I'm empty.
You have a fever, baby.
- This is my guy. Excuse me... - Just one second.
I ran to the bathroom. I almost lost it in front of everybody.
- It's nothing to be ashamed of. - It's just...
- Any news on my blood work? - No. We'll do a colonoscopy.
- It sounds delightful. - Wait. Why do that?
- Who are you? - Who are you, Doctor...
This is my partner.
- He records all my hospital visits. - I'm Dr. Klenstein.
A colonoscopy will show us if it's the K.S. causing the diarrhoea.
- It could be an infection... - A reaction to AZT.
That's possible...
He's not having this until we cancel out everything else.
I'm trying to help your partner. You're not a member of his family.
- I could have you removed. - He's upset. He's sorry.
- No, don't apologize for me. - Okay, he's not sorry.
Let's see what the blood work tells us. I'll give a specimen.
Maybe we'll hear from Dr. Gillman. Everybody happy?
- I'll check on the blood work. - Sorry...
- That's the third time. - Dr. Klenstein...
I have to call the office. I want you to relax.
- I am relaxed. - Good. Is there a phone around?
If you have been injured, you may be entitled to a cash settlement...
Good Lord!
- Mr. Beckett's office. - Shelby, it's me.
- Jamey beeped me. - I'm glad you called.
It's about the Highline complaint. Jamey is going ballistic!
- Calm down. Put him on. - One second.
- Where's the Highline complaint? - Wait! Slow down.
It was supposed to be here this morning.
I left it in my office last night. I put the corrected copy on my desk.
- I'm telling you, it's not here. - AII right, try my hard disk.
You'll have to print it out yourself.
- What did you file it under? - HL1.
You know that there's a statute of limitations on this.
It runs out...
in 75 minutes.
- It's not here. Andy. - It's not there? I'm on my way!
Every problem has a solution.
Push, baby.
It's a girl!
- Take a picture, Joe. - I can't get the film in there.
Help me, baby.
Look at her. A sweet little...
She's perfect.
Go down to the deli. Get a pound of Scotch salmon.
Rolls, bagels... Give me a call.
- And some champagne. - You're that TV guy.
Dom Perignon.
$100? No, get a nice Californian.
Get it over here, she's starving. No, not the baby... Lisa!
- Iris... anybody call? - Yes, an Andrew Beckett.
- Who's Andrew Beckett? - Hey, Joseph!
Explain it like I'm a six-year-old.
The entire street is clear except for a large hole under construction.
It's marked and blocked off.
You decide to cross the street and fall down the hole.
- Now you want to sue the city. - Yes. Do I have a case?
- Yeah, of course you do. - Great.
Go with my assistant Iris. Sort out the fee arrangement.
We take no cash unless we get justice.
- How's your back? Any pain? - Now that you mention it...
- Iris, take good care of him. - I will. Mr. Beckett's here.
Mr. Beckett.
Come in.
Good to see you again, counsellor. Judge Tate. Kendall Construction.
"Innocuous!"
- What happened to your face? - I have AIDS.
I'm sorry.
- Can I sit down? - Yeah.
Look at this... you have a new baby.
Yeah, a little baby girl.
- "It's a girl." Congratulations. - Yeah, one week old.
- Kids are great. - Yeah, I'm real excited about it.
- What can I do for you? - I've been fired by Wyant Wheeler.
I want to sue them for wrongful termination.
You want to sue Wyant, Wheeler, Hellerman, Tetlow & Brown?
- Yes. I'm seeking representation. - Continue.
I misplaced an important complaint. That's their story.
Do you want to hear mine?
- Have you been to other lawyers? - Yes, nine.
Continue.
The night before it was due, I left a copy of the complaint on my desk.
The next day the complaint vanished. No hard copy.
AII traces of it mysteriously gone from my computer.
Miraculously, a copy was found just in time to get it to court..
But the next day I was summoned to a meeting with the part. ners.
Hel lo, Andy. Come on in. Hit the windows.
- Thanks. Come on in. - Hel lo, everybody.
Thanks for coming in.
Before we begin, I'd like to say that everyone here is your friend.
- I know that, Charles. - More than your friend. Family.
Charles... I must apologize again for the Highline mishap yesterday.
That was some scary moment around here.
Thank God that no damage was done.
- This time. What about next time? - There won't be a next time.
Something's come over you lately. I don't know...
- A kind of stupor or fogginess. - You have an attitude problem.
Really?
- Who thinks that? - I do.
Excuse me... Am I being fired?
Let me put it this way: Your place at this firm is no longer secure.
It isn't fair to keep you here when your prospects are limited.
- I don't want to rush you... - We've got a committee meeting.
This is preposterous. It doesn't make any sense.
- You do have an attitude problem. - Take it easy.
Why did you ever give me Highline?
You nearly blew the entire case. It could have been a catastrophe.
You concealed your illness.
That's correct.
Explain it like I'm a two-year-old. I can't seem to grasp this.
Weren't you obliged to tell your employer you had AIDS?
That's not the point.
I always served my clients with absolute excellence.
If they hadn't fired me, I'd still do that.
They couldn't fire you for being sick, ...
- so they tried to make you look imcompetent.
Correct. I was sabotaged.
I don't buy it, counsellor.
- That's very disappointing. - I don't see a case.
I have a case.
- If you don't want it... - That's correct. I don't.
Thank you for your time.
Mr. Beckett...
I'm sorry about what happened. It's a bitch.
- Have a nice day, Mr. Beckett. - What's the matter with that guy?
Iris, get me Armbruster.
I want to see Armbruster sometime this afternoon.
Right away, Iris.
HIV-virus can only be transmitted by the exchange of bodily fluids.
Blood, semen, and vaginal secretions.
But they're finding out new things about this disease every day.
Today you tell me there's no danger.
But six months from now you may know different.
Maybe you can carry it on your shirt or your clothes.
What are you doing?
- We' re gonna draw blood. - Why?
Joe, I've known you a long time. Your private life is your business.
I don't need an AIDS test. Just send the bill to my office.
Thanks for the information.
- You have a problem with gays. - Not especially.
- Do you know any gays? - Do you?
- Yes. - Who?
Karen Berman. My Aunt Teresa.
Cousin Tommy in Rochester. Eddie Meyers from the office.
- Stanley, who fixed the kitchen. - Aunt Teresa is gay?
That beautiful, voluptuous woman is a lesbian?
- Since when? - Probably since she was born.
I admit it, okay. I'm prejudiced. I don't like homosexuals.
The way they do that thing. Don't they get confused?
"Is this yours or mine?"
I don't want to be in bed with anybody who is stronger than me.
You can call me old-fashioned and conservative, but I'm a man.
Any man will tell you how disgusting that whole idea is.
- Little cave man of the house. - You damn skippy.
- Stay away from your Aunt Teresa. - Don't say that to her.
Guys trying to be macho and faggot at the same time.
- I'm being totally honest with you. - Yeah, you are.
Would you accept a client if you were constantly thinking:
"I don't want this person to touch me or even breathe on me?"
- Not if I was you, honey. - Exactly... What?
Merry Christmas.
- Thank you. - Happy New Year.
- You' re the... - TV guy.
This is the supplement.
You' re right. There is a section on HIV-related discrimination.
Thank you very much.
We do have a private research room.
- I'm fine right here. - I'm looking for the Murdoch case.
Just a moment.
Wouldn't you be more comfortable in a research room?
No... would it make you more comfortable?
Beckett, how are you doing?
Counsellor.
Whatever, sir.
Excuse me.
Who did you get? Did you find a lawyer?
I'm a lawyer.
- How's your baby? - She's... wonderful.
- What's her name? - Larice.
- That's a beautiful name. - We named her after my sister.
Look...
How did they find out you had AIDS?
One of the partners noticed a lesion on my forehead.
But how..?
How do you go from that, which could have been anything, ...
- to deducing that you had AIDS and terminating you on that basis?
That's a good point.
The partner who spotted the lesion, Walter Kenton, ...
- worked for Walsh, Ulmer & Brahm in D.C.
A paralegal there, Melissa Benedict, showed lesions on and off.
It was common knowledge that she had AIDS.
- But they didn't fire her. - No, they did not fire her.
Have you got a relevant precedent?
The Arline decision... Supreme Court.
"The Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973,...
- prohibits discrimination against handicapped persons...
- if they can perform the duties required of them."
"Though the ruling did not specify AIDS discrimination..."
"... subsequent decisions have held that AIDS is a handicap...
- because of the physical limitations it imposes...
- and the prejudice surrounding it, which exacts a social death...
that proceeds the actual physical one."
"This is the essence of discrimination."
"Formulating opinions about others not based on their merits, ...
- but on their membership in a group with the same characteristics."
- Charles Wheeler. - Julius Erving. Glad to see you.
Ken Starr.
It'll only take a minute.
Charles Wheeler. How are you doing? A summons for you.
Take a look at it. Dr. J., you're the best.
If you ever need a lawyer, just give me a call.
See you in court.
You're the TV guy.
What's up?
I want to know everything about Andy's personal life.
Does he frequent those pathetic bars?
What other homosexual facilities does he go to?
What deviant groups does he secretly belong to?
- What is it, Bob? - Let's make a settlement offer.
Andy brought AIDS into our offices, into our men's room.
He brought AIDS to our annual family picnic!
- We ought to be suing him. - Show some compassion.
We gave him Highline.
Did Beckett say, "I won't be able to function to the best of my ability?"
Now, discarding the trust I conferred upon him, ...
- Andrew Beckett proposes to haul me into court.
To sling accusations at me. To call me a bigot...
in full view of the Philadelphia judicial establishment.
Beckett doesn't want to go to court.
- A jury might side with him. - Wait a minute...
He was fired for incompetence, not because he has AIDS.
- Did you know he was sick? - Did you, Bob?
No... not really.
Everybody, this is the house that I grew up in.
Right here in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.
Here's proof.
There. My hand prints from when I was a cute little boy.
Today is the 40th wedding anniversary of my mom and dad.
- A tough life in all that poverty. - Those can be some mean streets.
Here's the front door. I once broke this finger in this door.
- Where's my brother? - There's my sister Jill.
- Say hello, Alexis. - Mommy's pregnant again.
Are you really?
- Hello, Meghan. - Uncle Andy.
- Where's Dad? - Fixing the snowblower.
It snows once in seven years, and Dad buys a new snowblower.
- How are you? - Today's a good day.
Meghan, you' re doing a great job. I've got to say hello to my sisters.
Put me down!
Parts of the trial will be hard for you to hear, ...
- about my personal life. And there's going to be publicity.
- Do you want me to take her? - No, she's fine.
I think it's great you' re asking... but this is really your call.
Thanks, brother.
You're my kid brother. That's all that matters, okay?
To be honest, I'm worried about Mommy and Daddy.
They've been through so much, and there are some tough times ahead.
Andy, the way that you've handled this whole thing...
you and Miguel... with so much courage...
There's nothing that anybody could say...
- that could make us feel anything but incredibly proud of you.
I didn't raise my kids to sit in the back of the bus.
You get in there and you fight for your rights.
I love you guys.
Ladies and gentlemen...
Forget everything you've seen on TV and in the movies.
There will be no surprise witnesses or tearful confessions.
You're going to be presented with a simple fact.
Andrew Beckett was fired.
You'll hear two explanations for why he was fired.
It is up to you to sift through the facts...
- until you determine what you think to be the truth.
Certain points must be proven. One: Andrew Beckett was...
is a brilliant lawyer.
Two: Andrew Beckett, has a debilitating disease.
He made the legal choice to keep this fact from his employers.
Three: His employer discovered this. The illness here is AIDS.
Four: They panicked.
They did what most of us would like to do with AIDS.
Get it and everybody who has it as far away from us as possible.
Such behaviour may seem reasonable to you. It does to me.
AIDS is an incurable disease.
But no matter what moral judgement you make upon his employers, ...
- the fact that Beckett was fired because he had AIDS...
means they broke the law.
Fact:
Andrew Beckett's performance on the job varied from competent...
to, often times, mediocre...
to sometimes flagrantly incompetent.
Fact:
He claims he's the victim of lies and deceit.
Fact:
It was Andrew Beckett who lied about his disease to his employers.
Fact:
He was successful in his duplicity.
The partners at Wyant Wheeler did not know...
- that Andrew Beckett had AIDS when they fired him.
Fact:
Andrew Beckett is dying.
Fact: Andrew Beckett is angry.
His lifestyle and reckless behaviour have cut short his life.
In his anger and rage he is lashing out.
He wants someone to pay.
Thank you.
Andrew Beckett represented your firm in 1990, is that correct?
- That's correct. - Were you pleased with his work?
We were satisfied with the outcome of the litigation.
Satisfied.
Mr. Laird, you gave me sworn testimony in your deposition.
- Is that correct? - Correct.
You said you were impressed and delighted with Beckett's work.
Do you recall saying that?
In all honesty I was delighted with aspects of Andy's efforts.
But in general, I found the work to be merely satisfactory.
Do you agree...
that a baloney sandwich is a satisfactory meal?
Whereas, caviar and champagne, roast duck and baked Alaska...
might be considered delightful?
We object. These gastronomical comments are irrelevant.
Five months ago you characterised Andrew Beckett as caviar.
Now he's a baloney sandwich.
What powerful force caused this change of mind?
He hasn't changed his mind. He's amplified his answer.
Objection sustained.
Mr. Laird, explain this to me like I'm a four-year-old.
Did Andrew Beckett win your lawsuit for you?
- Yes, we won. - Congratulations. What a...
satisfactory experience.
Ready, Mr. Beckett.
Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!
Do you see this as a gay-rights issue?
I am not political. I just want what is fair.
You are gay?
That's none of your business, but yes, I am.
Do homosexuals deserve special treatment?
Hell no!
Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love.
The Declaration of Independence was signed here.
That document says:
"All men are created equal."
Give me a break.
- We scorn discriminatory practices. - Thank you, Mayor.
You' re not getting a I ittle I ight in the sneakers, are you, pal?
Yeah, I am, Filko. I'm changing.
I'm on the prowl.
And I'm looking for a hunk. A real man... Iike you.
You know what we do. You want to play sailor?
- Columbus and the first mate. - That's not funny!
These people make me sick... but the law's been broken.
You remember the law, don't you?
- At least we agree on one thing. - What's that?
Tutti-fruttis make me sick, too.
Ms. Benedict, you worked for Walsh, Ulmer & Brahm.
- At the same time as Walter Kenton? - That's correct.
He knew the lesions on your face and arms were caused by AIDS?
Definitely, I told all the partners.
How did Walter Kenton treat you after that?
Every time we met, he'd get this look on his face.
The "Oh God!" expression. As in, "Oh God, that woman has AIDS."
Thank you. No more questions.
Ms. Benedict, how did you contract AIDS?
Through a transfusion just after childbirth.
So it was not your behaviour which caused you to be infected.
You were unable to avoid it.
I guess.
Thank you.
But I don't consider myself different to anyone else with AIDS.
I'm not guilty. I'm not innocent. I'm just trying to survive.
Thank you, Ms. Benedict. No further questions at this time.
You may step down, Ms. Benedict.
Apart from the marks on his face, were there other things...
- that made you suspect he had AIDS?
He was thin and he seemed tired, but he was working so hard.
Something was wrong.
They' re trying to pretend that they didn't notice anything.
- Objection. - Just answer the question.
Have you ever felt discriminated against at Wyant Wheeler?
- Yes. - In what way?
Mr. Wheeler's secretary Lydia...
- said that Mr. Wheeler had a problem with my earrings.
Apparently Mr. Wheeler felt that they were too "ethnic".
She told me he'd like something a little less garish...
- Something more "American". - What did you say?
I said, "My earrings are American. They're African-American."
- Let's have order, please. - No more questions.
Ms. Burton, weren't you recently promoted?
Yes, I'm in charge of the paralegal department.
Congratulations on your unfettered success at Wyant Wheeler.
Unfettered?
I don't understand this.
The promotion of an obviously intelligent, articulate...
qualified African-American woman...
- in a firm which practices wanton discrimination.
- That is what's claimed here. - I can't explain it.
Could it be that these instances of discrimination...
- are in fact misunderstandings that have been blown out of proportion?
I think counsel tends to oversimplify the issue.
Thank you, Ms. Burton, I'll take that into consideration.
How's the trial going?
I saw you on TV. I'm a law student at Penn.
You saw me on TV? It's a good school, Penn.
I'm in my second year. I just wanted to tell you...
- this case is extremely important. You' re doing a fantastic job.
When you graduate, call me.
Thank you very much. Listen, Joe...
- Would you like to get a beer? - No, my wife is...
I don't pick up people in drug stores every day.
- Do you think I'm gay? - Aren't you?
- Do I look gay to you? - Do I look gay to you?
- Relax. - I ought to kick your faggoty ass.
Take it as a compliment.
That is exactly the kind of bullshit that makes people hate your...
faggoty asses.
- You try and kick my ass, asshole. - No, you're the asshole, buddy!
Continue, Ms. O'Hara.
We were going crazy looking for this complaint.
Mr. Beckett was screaming. He looked so freaky.
Mr. Kenton kept saying, "You lost the Highline complaint!"
AII of a sudden, Jamey comes in with the complaint.
- He says "It was in Central Files!" - Central Files?
That's where files are sent when cases are closed.
Jamey got to the court just in time. Everybody was completely wasted.
Mr. Beckett just kept saying, "I'm sorry. I don't understand."
Thank you.
No further questions.