Previously, on The Practice: Lucy counsels an eleven-year-old girl after a man who lives in the girl's building raped her. (The girl, not Lucy.) The DA's office sends in Helen "Skinny Plissken" Gamble to ask if the victim is strong enough to take part in a police line-up. Amanda McGowan, the young girl, resists. She doesn't want to see her attacker, and I don't blame her. Lucy posits that the girl simply is not strong enough to see him, because she's a Rape Counselor and She Knows. Helen and Lucy discuss the case sans Amanda's father because They Both Know. The eyewitness is presented as a drunk from the wrong side of the tracks. This fact concerns Helen outright. Not only that, but Ms. Tritter had had two beers by the time she watched the attack! All of the worrisome details are presented to Mr. McGowan, Amanda's father, who is in a wheelchair. Apparently, "it" doesn't look good. Could they tug any harder on our heartstrings -- oh wait, that's the weight of an eighty-pound anvil tugging on my chest, my mistake.
Helen's Office, Where They Encase People In Pain. Mr. McGowan wheels over to Helen "Bring It On!" Gamble and burst out, "What do you mean, plea?" Helen responds, "He backed out of the deal. He wants to go to trial." How can he do that? Well, until the plea is entered with the judge, the defendant can revoke the agreement at any time. Helen is wearing a red sweater. It makes her shoulder blades look mountainous. In fact, her head is so skinny that you'd think it might slice her in two, right down the line between these bony, harrowing shoulder blades that are threatening to go their separate ways after spending the last thirty years on a hunger strike. Mr. McGowan is horrified: "Does this mean she has to testify?" Helen bobs her head, slowly, carefully, so as to ensure it doesn't snap right off: "It means she might." The father insists that Helen has to use the other witness. The DA replies that she can't make the case with Michelle Tritter, a.k.a. "Drunken Whore From The Wrong Side Of The Tracks," alone. Helen believes that Amanda will probably have to take the stand, but she assures the father that she "will do everything [she] can to protect her." The Cries of Desperation Sonata in D Minor strike a chord as Howard McGowan drops his head into his hands. Helen continues, "Maybe if Michelle Tritter's testimony is compelling enough, we could reintroduce the idea of a plea, to spare Amanda." Pause. Swelling violin. Un-pause: "Look, Howard. I don't want to be a killer DA here. Do you want to call this off?" Mr. McGowan quivers, "We can't." He takes a deep breath: "He lives in our building." Another, even deeper, breath: "If he goes free, she's gonna see him every day!" His voice cracks: "He could rape her again!" He waits for the music to catch up with him, blathers something about Helen needing to do what she needs to do to "get him," and asks her to spare "his little girl."
Someone dry-roasting me, salting me, and then rolling me on a spit would be less painful than having to listen to these damn credits.
The Firm Of Unrelenting Pain. Eugene busts out of his office and hollers, "Jimmy!" Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. "Michaelson?" Jimmy "The Lump" Berluti puts his hand forward, an attempt to ward off Eugene I'm sure, and informs his senior partner that he's worked out an installment plan. Eugene: "I know this, but his first payment was due last Friday." The Lump says he'll call him. Eugene says he'd appreciate it if Jimmy would "call him today." His associate nods in fake "I'm scared of you so I'll do what you say" agreement. The door opens, and a tallish woman with a severe French roll hairdo slams her way into the office. An extremely misdressed Lucy wanders over as the woman insists she's here to see Robert Donnell. The woman is wearing Jackie O pearls and a black pseudo-Chanel suit. Lucy must look confused, because the Lady in Pearls steps forward and says, "Kate Littlefield." Oh! Yes, The Emperor Rod is expecting her, and does she want any coffee or anything? As Lucy leads Littlefield into Bobby's office, Jimmy posits, "I'll bet she's stopped some traffic once or twice." Whatever. The woman looks as cold as the fish they sell on the streets down in Chinatown. A surprisingly mobile Rebecca asks, "Who is she -- " Rebecca is interrupted by Ellenor falling into the shot, exclaiming, "Whoa. Whoa. Whoa!" Rebecca lunges forward: "Are you okay?" Ellenor holds her stomach: "Yeah. But that was no kick, though." Eugene pipes in: "Are you all right?" Ellenor nods and makes her way over to her desk to rest.
Bobby's Office Of Freedom From Pain. Kate Littlefield thanks Bobby for meeting with her, then she explains that her husband is "Raymond Littlefield," and I half expect her to add, "Of the Boston Littlefields." This woman looks strikingly like Victoria Principal, as Carole pointed out in the forums. So, I'm going to call her Non-Victoria Non-Principal; she doesn't know if Bobby reads the papers or not, but her husband has been charged with murdering her daughter. She pauses: "But he didn't do it." The Emperor just sits there with his mouth slightly agape. It's not an attractive look for Bobby. He catches the drool about to land on the floor like the kid in that horrible Adam Sandler film Big Daddy, and clarifies: "Your daughter, so his stepdaughter?" Yes. Correct. "Our attorney, who I consider to be excellent, well, I'm convinced he no longer believes in my husband's innocence." Blah dee blah it's not a good idea to go into trial with a lawyer who thinks you're guilty blah. Bobby's hands jump to attention: "May I stop you?" The hands move around like spawning salmon: "For the most part, the lawyer's personal belief about his client's guilt or innocence, it rarely matters much." What? Kate Littlefield is taken aback: "You don't care?" Welcome to Emperor's Ethics 101, lady; get used to it. Of course he doesn't care. He's The Emperor; he only cares about himself. Where have you been all these months? Strangely, both actors are alliterating insanely well in this scene, and I feel every consonant, every vowel, hitting my face like snow in January. Mrs. Littlefield thinks that lawyers perform better when they believe in their clients. Good point. Bobby shuffles in his seat, shifts his weight from cheek to cheek, and responds, "Tell me about the case." He leans forward: "I've. Read. A. Little. But." Honestly, I don't understand why they are talking like robots. Anyway, her daughter was bludgeoned last October. The Waltz Of The Non-Wilting Mothers rises up and into the moment. Some of the daughter's blood was found on one of Raymond's golf clubs. Bobby asks if that's the extent of the evidence. Non-Victoria Non-Principal responds, "That and they claim he had an affair with her." But he didn't do that either. Bong. Bong.
Ellenor's Desk of Slight, But Still Manageable, Pain. Eugene asks if it's getting worse. Ellenor takes a deep breath: "It's not sharp but it's not going away either." He wants her to go to the doctor "just to be safe." She pauses and then nods her head slightly: "That's a good idea." Lucy looks woefully after the two as they get up to leave the office. I think she was attempting to look worried, but the look just didn't come out right. Damn, that's what happens when you hire a twenty-year-old actress to play a wisecracking receptionist and then attempt to "flesh out" her character.
A Therapist's Office Where They Talk About Pain. Helen's hair is scraped back into one of those horrible buns the hair and make-up people seem to favour. She and Amanda are sitting on an ugly floral couch surrounded by coral walls while being supervised by the therapist. Damn. No wonder the kid doesn't want to talk; they keep forcing her to sit on the ugliest couch in the universe while encased in four walls that are sure to incite a riot because they're just so darn plain. Okay, and to top it all off, Helen's blouse is the same peachy-coral colour they've painted the office. Who decorates this badly? Honestly, where did they find that couch? The flowers are almost as obtrusive as the ones Carrie wore all last season on Sex and the City. Helen coddles the young girl and tries to goad her into conversation: "Amanda. You're looking so much better." Helen glances over at the psychologist before she continues, "You know, we might need you to come tell what happened in court." The musical version of "Contrived Tragedy" echoes the girl's sentiments: "You said I didn't have to." The DA responds that it's possible she still might not have to testify, but they aren't sure just yet. Is the "man" going to be there? Okay, someone needs to break into ABC's lot, bust open the wardrobe trailer and remove every single BLUE EYELINER PENCIL from the premises. They've even enclosed Amanda's eyes in the stuff. Both she and Helen look like they've rolled onto the set after a night of heavy drinking; in LFB's case, I wouldn't be surprised, but I hardly think this young actress is out pulling Drew Barrymore-style all-nighters. Helen assures Amanda that although her rapist will be in the courtroom, there will be a lot of court officers and policemen (gender bias DEK's -- of course) present to protect her. The girl turns to face Helen: "What if nobody believes me?" Aw. Helen insists that Amanda doesn't need to worry about that, because making "them" believe the story is Helen's job: "You just have to tell them what happened." The piano dribbles: "Can you do that?" Amanda looks straight into the coral abyss and doesn't answer the question. Okay, people, we haven't even finished running the credits and we've already heard three different symphonies. Enough already.
Helen and the psychologist step outside the office. "She's so fragile right now. Is there anyway to get a continuance?" Helen tells her the judge is a "nightmare," and she can't see him giving them any more time. The psychologist insists that even a week would do Amanda some good: "She's in bad shape, Helen." The DA will try, but if Amanda has to testify, can she do it? Blah dee blah psychologist speak, blah dee blah the question is should she, blah bad guy in a nice suit blah, she'll be attacked by the defense lawyer crap blah. Helen nods in agreement, and then says, "I understand." Pause. Arm cross. "But is she ready to do it?" The therapist thinks Amanda is probably ready to testify, but Helen should really try to get her more time. Well, time is just not on their side, no, no it isn't, whoa. Oh.
Bobby "King of Pain's" Office. He's scribbling on a legal pad as Mrs. Littlefield explains that all the evidence of the affair came from her daughter. She told her friends, and she told her sister. "And you think she was making it up?" Rod furrows his brow. Shh, he's concentrating. Apparently, the daughter was "troubled." Kate explains that Fiona would say things just to get attention (okay, but for what other reason do you talk except for people to pay attention to you?). Two years ago, Raymond wouldn't let the girl go to a party, so she threatened to tell everyone he molested her. Her daughter was getting counseling: "She was pathological, Mr. Donnell." Mrs. Littlefield looks wistfully over her shoulder as Bobby asks about the blood on the golf club. Well, they believe the club was planted. Of course it was. Planted by whom? Raymond had some "enemies." Oh, those mysterious "enemies." You'd better watch out or they might kill your stepdaughter just to frame you for a mysterious reason or two. How ridiculous is this? Apparently, Fiona had gotten herself into some drug problems, perhaps one of her "enemies" killed her and then framed Raymond: "Or perhaps somebody just wanted to frame Raymond to..." Bobby prompts her; she finishes: "To get even." Who would want to do that? Exactly. For once, Rod is making all kinds of sense. Mrs. Littlefield continues, "He was having an affair with a woman which ended last summer." Does she think this woman might have killed Fiona? Well, she doesn't know her, but both Raymond and the police think not. How old was your daughter? Without flinching, Kate Littlefield replies, "Sixteen."
Hospital For The Prevention Of Pain. Ellenor is in a hospital gown being seen by an obstetrician. The doctor feels around Ellie's belly for a minute, flips open a chart, and postulates, "It could be pre-eclampsia. Your BP's a little high." Ellenor says the paternity suit really stressed her out. The doctor continues her examination; there are trace amounts of protein in Ellenor's urine. Wow. That's not good, and Ellenor knows it. Has she been feeling sick? Has she had the flu? A cold? No. Why? Because she's got an elevated white blood-cell count, which is normal in pregnancy, but "you are high." She wants to run some more tests. Ellie exclaims, "Now you're freaking me out!" The doctor reassures her, and then tells her she'd like for Ben Gideon to see her. Apparently, he and Ellenor are "friends." Is the baby in danger? The doctor asserts, "Not at all, but I want Ben Gideon to see you." Ellenor looks upset, shakes her head to the left, and then back at the doctor in a sort of silent submission. Damn. I hope nothing's wrong with the baby. Wait, what am I saying? We're in the middle of the Crossover Snore, of course there's something wrong with either mother or baby. I mean, we didn't have any of this drama with Lindsay, right, except for the whole "twenty-pound baby being born in the courtroom" part, no, no drama at all. Someone should remove DEK's baby trump card. We've had enough already. Thank goodness both Camryn and Kelli have had their babies now, and we might be able to put these storylines behind us.
Courthouse Of Pain. All rise. The Honorable Abraham Betts is presiding. The judge comes in and grumps, "No need to get comfortable. This isn't going to take very long." He sits his robed ass down on his bench. Mr. McGowan looks on. The camera flashes by the rapist. He looks a lot like the kid that Rebecca defended against a hit-and-run charge last season (in "Losers Keepers"). The judge denies Helen's motion for a continuance. She tries to speak, but he interrupts, "I told you probable cause on this is thin. The defendant does have the right to a fair and speedy trial, Ms. Gamble. Have you forgotten that?" Don't answer that! Don't answer that! It's a rhetorical question! Don't -- ah, argh -- Helen pipes up, "The rape wasn't that long ago." Oh, that is the wrong answer. The judge snaps back, "The longer you wait the less fresh the memories of your witnesses." Helen snarks, "Thank you for your concern." Ha. She wants him to rule on her motion to let the child testify via closed-circuit television. It's denied. The trial starts after lunch. Now it's Helen's turn to stand with her mouth agape. The judge gets up off his bench. She insists she'd like to be heard on her second motion. He snaps, "You've been read." She argues that the victim is an eleven-year-old girl. And forcing her to sit in the same room with the man who raped her, well, that's just mean. Betts insists that is the defendant's right: "Confrontation clause. Face-to-face confrontation if she testifies." Helen insists it doesn't need to be in the courtroom, but that they could do it with the closed circuit. The defense counsel weighs in: "It's not done that way in Massachusetts." It could be! The judge shuts Helen down. There will be no closed circuit, the law is the law, the motion is denied and the trial will start in one hour: "Get your witnesses." Damn. What an asshole. Helen just stands there looking mad. Instantly, Mr. McGowan wheels up to her and they meet in front of the prosecution's desk: "Why is he being like that?" Well, the giant pickle lodged up his ass can't be comfortable, for one thing. For another, Helen claims, it's because he's a judge who cares more about his docket than the emotions of an eleven-year-old rape victim. We, the audience, tense up as The Serenade For Sabotaged Motions rises into the scene. Mr. McGowan wants to know what happens . Maybe Helen can still get a plea? But if you can't, Mr. McGowan holds back the tears: "You gave me your word!" She just wants to "see how it goes." And with that, we fade into commercials.
Amanda's Trial. Helen has the emergency doctor up on the stand. He explains that they found evidence of vaginal penetration, legions, and bruising: "The hymen was broken." With her arms crossed over her barren chest, LFB asks, "Doctor, were you able form an opinion as to what happened?" She lays out her hands for his answer. Based on his examination, the findings are consistent with forcible penetration. The defense lawyer asks if there was any evidence of semen. No. Was there any other physical evidence? The doctor says, "No, but --" but the lawyer doesn't let him continue, effectively ending his testimony.
Bing. The elevator dings. Helen walks briskly up to Michelle Tritter and snaps, "You're up . You've got twenty minutes." The young woman pulls her hair behind her ears and exclaims, "Oh! God!" Helen sits down, tells her to relax, and then claims that she "smells beer." Michelle claims that she had one, "that's all." Helen starts hyperventilating as she sees her case floating away on an alcoholic haze: "Ms. Gamble. I was trembling. My hands were shaking. Just to calm me down. I'm fine." Helen looks the woman straight in the eye and threatens, "You need to be strong up there." Okay! Sheesh. Michelle could have afforded to wash her hair for the proceedings; it's really, really dirty. Helen explains the defense is going to come after her, but she must remember that she's standing up there for a young girl; Michelle takes a deep breath, and the DA insists, once again, that she be strong up there. You'd think they were about to jump into battle on St. Crispin's Day or something.
Fancy Lawyer's Office With A Painful View. The Emperor saunters in suggesting that he "hates" to be "plundering." Ah! The lawyer guffaws; his wife was on his case to take a vacation anyway: "The files are in good shape." He slaps some paper on his desk. "The investigative reports. You can use all my exhibits. I could have them messengered over." As if Rod doesn't have a car that could carry a couple of files, and one of those horrible overblown headshots they use in all the fake trials on this show. Rod just stands there, looking at the other lawyer, until the other lawyer is forced to ask, "What's the matter?" Bobby's hands are holding his coat up and away from his suit: "Losing a high-profile case one week before trial, one would think you'd be a little more upset." The other lawyer claims there will be other cases. Bobby's office looks so drab compared to this one. A light bulb appears over Rod's head: "He told you he did it!" No, he didn't. He did! He didn't! He did! They arm-wrestle. Rod continues, "You can't put him on the stand and say he didn't because you know the truth, so he needs a lawyer who doesn't know the truth." Oh, Rod's just so S-M-R-T. Isn't he? The lawyer admonishes him: "Bobby!" But Rod's on a roll: "You know too much!" Right, but the dude insists that Raymond has denied his guilt the whole time. Bobby's timely response: "Uh-huh!" Go get him, Rod! Get him!
Amanda's Trial. Michelle is on the stand. Again, why didn't they wash her hair? Given her a pretty bow or something to wear? It's just hanging there looking like twice-boiled spaghetti. She does give strong testimony, though. Her voice is clear and her story seems to hold up, in the eyes of the fake jury anyway. She witnessed the rape, Amanda's attempt to flee her captor, and his flight, and she points straight at the defendant, Bruce Wilson, claiming he was the man who committed the crime: "He was running after Amanda. And she was crying. You know?" What did you do? Michelle ran down to help: "I don't know her real well but I know her dad's cripple." She got downstairs but "Wilson was already gone," so she calmed Amanda down. But the girl was crying, she was upset and she was holding herself...Michelle looks toward her midriff: "Down there." The defense objects to Michelle repeating what Amanda said exactly, and Betts sustains. Helen asks what happened . Michelle took Amanda to see her dad, but he doesn't have a car, so they took a bus to the emergency room, "so she could see a doctor." Then Helen brings up the drinking; Michelle explains that she drinks a lot, so the two beers she had that morning didn't really affect her that much. "Are you sure you saw what happened that morning?" Yes.
The defense attorney attempts to break Michelle's resolve, but fails. Even when he's pounding her about being an alcoholic, she asserts that she saw what she saw; Wilson raped the young girl: "He did it." The Melody Of Michelle whips to attention: "I saw it." Blah dee alcoholic haze blah, do you ever lie about how much you've had to drink? Michelle: "Does your client ever lie about raping children?" Move to strike! Sustained. Blah dee you were drunk blah, you have a car, why didn't you drive them to the hospital, blah safety blah, have a drink today? Michelle admits she had one beer. Has she ever been convicted of a crime? Yes. Public drunkenness. With tears in her eyes, she admits to being found passed out on a sidewalk. Oh, Helen looks so very unimpressed. Her pout is being to fade, and the music is overpowering just about every other aspect of the scene.
The Hospital Where They Try To Find Ellenor's Source Of Pain. Eugene wants to know what the doctors have told her. She replies, "Just that I could have some mysterious infection." Is the doctor holding anything back? Ellenor insists, "He's an old friend, Eugene. He's not going to lie to me." Andre Braugher steps into character and steps in to her room to quip, "I might! If there was money involved." He walks over to Eugene and introduces himself as "Benjamin Gideon." Ellenor snaps, "All right. Cut the small talk. Just tell me." Andre: "We still don't know." Ellenor: "Did I tell you he was funny?" Eugene gives her the stink-eye. Gideon explains that her ultrasound was "clean," there were no stones and the "ducts were clear." Okay, so they are comparing Ellenor's body to a house. She seems nonplussed: "So, more tests?" Ben suggests she might have an infection of the amniotic fluid. He's going to schedule an amniocentesis. Is it serious? The Sestina Of The Unborn jumps into bed with Ellenor. It could be. She snaps, again, "Ben. Just tell me, dammit. Is it anything serious?" Andre barely cracks; he's not hiding anything. They simply don't know what's wrong with her. Ellenor does not like that answer. Not one little bit.
Holding Cell Of Pain. Bobby is facing Mr. and Mrs. Littlefield: "What was your relationship with her?" Raymond grips a chair with a heavy -- almost too heavy -- hand and claims: "At first, she hated me because I wasn't her real father. She called me Step-Thing." Ha. "But then our relationship improved." Rod wants to know how old Fiona was when they got married. Non-Jackie Non-O replies, without looking at Rod: "Thirteen." She's still wearing the pearls, but her hair has been released from captivity. Over time, their relationship became more of a "typical father-daughter" relationship. Yeah, except for the whole part where you SLEPT with her. Bobby notes this very exception. Raymond reminds Bobby that "she had a history of lying, Mr. Donnell. The more exotic, the better." Non-Victoria Non-Principal insists that there was no evidence of the affair other than her daughter's word. Rod bites his lip: "You said she was getting counseling? Has anyone spoken to this counselor?" Apparently, the prosecution plans to call him as a witness, but Raymond insists, "She lied to him too." Rod explains his game plan -- tomorrow he's going to bring a motion in limine to suppress Fiona's statements. Can they win? If they do win, there's a chance the affair -- "the alleged affair," Mother of The Year insists -- would never be introduced in court. If the motion is denied, the chances of them keeping the affair/non-affair out of court get much worse. The You-Know-He's-Lying-About-The-Affair Song plays as Bobby just has to ask: "Did the police ever consider you a suspect?" He turns his steely blues on Non-Victoria. She responds, "You're asking me if I killed my own daughter." Well, you had access to both the victim and the murder weapon; I'm wondering if the police ever asked. In her clipped, short manner, Kate insists she has an alibi; conveniently, she was at her daughter's school at a board meeting the night of the murder. Oh, re-e-e-a-l-l-y. She snots, "And whether or not the police checked, you'll have to ask them." An eyebrow cocks. An Emperor stares. A writer reaches to cover her head as a hundred-pound case of Liar Liar Pants On Fire candy comes crashing from above.
Helen's Office Of Surefire Pain. With black lacquered nails, Helen grips the pen she's using to take notes at her desk. Ms. Tritter opens the door, and Helen greets her warmly. The woman apologizes. Why? "Because I'm a drunk." She steps forward: "And I didn't do that girl much good today." Helen disagrees. Michelle insists that she saw the jury "looking at [her]." The DA replies, "You stuck to what you saw and you were incredibly brave." Is Amanda going to have to testify? Probably. Michelle apologizes again, and then walks out of the room. Now there's a scene for the "makes no sense and there's absolutely no need for it" file.
Commercial break.
Now I need a beer. Or two. Or three. Or a shot of Jack Daniels. Or a margarita. Aw, hell, you get the idea.
The Rod Home Of Plenty O' Pain. Rod is pacing, and complaining, and pacing, and complaining. His wife is breastfeeding their child. Who is huge! Who must be teething already, he's so big. Who must have already celebrated his first, second, and third birthdays by the time they shot this episode. Lindsay asks, "What's her motive? To kill her own daughter?" He hasn't worked all that out yet: "Insurance? Frame her husband? I don't know. I'll find out." Mrs. Rod thinks he's got a slight conflict of interest; after all, Mrs. Black Death is the one who hired him. No, Bobby insists, the husband is the client. Lindsay isn't so sure: "They both seem to be the clients." She rubs the baby's head: "If you're going to undermine her, maybe you should get outside evidence counsel to tell you what to do." He wraps his hands around his nimble hips and says nothing.
The Courthouse For The Providence Of Pain. Helen, Amanda, the therapist, Mr. McGowan, and Lucy are practicing. Amanda asks where her dad will be sitting after Helen explains she'll be up in the witness box. For some Godforsaken reason, Lucy weighs in: "And I'll be here too, Amanda." Whatever, Wall Candy, now shut up. Helen wants to ask her "a few easy questions" so the young woman can get used to talking from the box. "Where is he going to be?" Helen thinks Amanda means her father, but she really means Wilson. Apparently, Helen can't answer that question; she's not allowed to, but she does say he'll be in the courtroom, "and you never have to look at him except when I ask you to point at him." Can you do that? Amanda doesn't answer; she lets the music speak for her. Which translates to "I'm probably going to choke on the stand so why don't you just leave me alone."
Helen's Office Of Unremitting Pain. Amanda's psychologist and Lucy "Rape Counselor Extraordinaire" Hatcher take the seats in front of Helen's desk. The DA strides over to stand in front of her chair: "I can still call it off." She places her hands on her desk in front of her. They look like tiny spiders. "Look. I won't lie. I think they guy will do it again. But Doctor, if you're telling me it would be too detrimental for Amanda..." Lucy, after racing around getting her doctorate in post-rape traumatic syndromes, insists that it's too soon. Mr. McGowan explains that he can't afford to move. If Wilson isn't convicted, he's back in the projects and he's back in their building. Helen addresses the therapist. She's worried about the trauma, but she's also concerned with the "lasting effects." Amanda would end up feeling responsible for "his freedom should he rape again." The DA wants to put her on: "You have my word. If it gets too rough I will call this whole thing off." Now, didn't Helen just give the man her word that she wouldn't let Amanda testify in the first place? I'd say Helen's word was about as worthy as a confidence man selling a cure for cancer.
A Bright And Sunny Day Of Oh, So Much Pain. Bobby is in court arguing for his motion. Susan Alexander is up for the prosecution; she thinks Fiona's statements are an exception to the hearsay rule. How? Bobby is so snotty. It's not just that he interrupts and turns to practically spit on her, it's his tone; he has such an awful, haughty, condescending way of speaking sometimes. Judge Hiller is presiding. Rod argues that there is no "bragging exception to the hearsay rule." Hiller wants to know if the prosecution has independent evidence, beyond the girl's claim, of the affair. They do not. Susan argues that the statements are, in fact, excited utterances, and therefore an exception. Bobby claims that the affidavit by the therapist states Fiona was emotional, and that doesn't mean she was "excited." The judge wants to know whom the daughter told about the affair. Susan offers up the sister, the therapist, and several friends. After Judge Zoey asks about "the tenor" of Fiona's statements, Susan has to admit that she was boasting. This bodes well for Rod. Damn. I'd love for him to be wrong just once.
Outside the Courtroom, Bobby explains what's going on to Non-Victoria and her other daughter. The woman is now wearing a snakeskin print scarf wrapped around her neck. They might as well brand her "daughter-murderer" while they're at it, or Sybil, or maybe "Snake" after the whole Adam and the apple incident. She wants to verify that her daughter's statements are in fact hearsay. Rod says yes, but things don't always go the way you want them to in the courtroom, and they should be prepared: "Jenny. I'd like to talk to you about your sister. Can I do that?" Other Daughter nods. He continues, "And I have some more things to go over with you. Can you come by after lunch?" They'll be there, and with that Mrs. Littlefield slithers off with one arm around Jenny. They are going to see "Daddy." Jimmy lumbers up. He just talked to Rebecca. According to the probate, when Fiona died, Kate Littlefield became the sole beneficiary of a two-million-dollar family trust. Oh, Rod is so not shocked. He deadpans, "Gee. What a surprise." Jimmy thinks she is the client because she signed the retainer agreement. That could present a problem if they want to go after her both in and out of court.
In Another Part Of The Pained Courthouse, there is no holiday. Helen bursts open the door: "We're ready." She holds out her hand and says, "You can walk in with me, Amanda." The Song For Little Girls clasps onto her other hand, trying to hold her up. Helen coaches her, "You just look at the floor and nowhere else. Nobody is going to hurt you in there." Let's go. The entire pack of them -- Lucy, Mr. McGowan, Helen, Amanda, and the therapist -- walk slowly into the courtroom. The little girl looks around. She sees the jury, the witness box, and then, just before she actually gets up to the stand, she looks over at Wilson. And then she freezes. She stares at him. He looks back at her. Helen asks, "Amanda?" The judge barks, "Ms. Gamble! Are you calling this witness?" Defense counsel takes off his glasses and stares at the girl. Helen tells Amanda she needs to step up to the witness chair. Betts snaps, "Ms. Gamble!" Helen: "Amanda." Judge: "Ms. Gamble." Finally, after about a hundred plunks of a sordid piano, Helen looks straight at the judge and says, "The Commonwealth rests." Defense counsel screams, "Your Honour!" Betts grumbles, "You're not calling this witness?" No. Chambers!
...where defense counsel is arguing that he should be allowed to cross-examine Amanda because she simply stood in the courtroom staring at Wilson. Helen argues back that she didn't call Amanda to the stand. Blah dee she just gave testimony blah, blah dee she did no such thing blah, blah identification blah dee, she didn't take the stand so there, she waltzes the girl in there to stare without being sworn! She made an identification! Helen screams, "I didn't plan what was going to happen in that room!" Defense counsel wants a mistrial. Helen scoffs, "Oh, right, then you'll argue jeopardy was attached because we caused a mistrial." She steps forward and throws the morality card on the table. She doesn't think Betts wants to be responsible for setting Wilson free to rape another sixth grader. The judge doesn't like her tone, and he doesn't fall for her argument: "If what just happened in there was planned, he's right, you are totally unethical." Huh. Well, I could have told you that already. "And if you were surprised, you are grossly incompetent, even for a government lawyer." Ouch. Then he says Helen's to blame for a mistrial. Ouch, again. Helen's rebuttal: "We pushed that girl before she was ready. You, especially, Your Honour, this is what happens." Betts doesn't take kindly to her accusations, throws around his robe for a minute, and then throws them both out.
Bobby's Office. He is interviewing Jenny, Fiona's sister. Did she believe her sister at all? No. She liked to shock people, and this had "great shock value." And you told this to the police? Yes. Does your dad have a temper? No. He never could have killed her. No way. Bobby rolls his eyes, throws his pen on his desk, and says for the four-hundredth time in his career, "I have to ask...what about your mother?" What about her? Blah blah blah murdercakes. Jenny pauses for a minute, looks completely guilty like she's hiding something, and affirms that she couldn't conceive of her mother harming Fiona. Bobby wants to know if there's "anything" she's not telling him. Jenny offers, "My mother loved my sister. She would never hurt her." Rod takes a deep breath. Methinks she doth protest too much, um-hum.
Courthouse Of Amanda's Pain. Betts addresses the jury. He tears Helen down by calling her "reprehensible" and a couple of other choice words. Then he lumbers on, "Ms. Gamble's arrogance and stupidity should have been apparent to everyone in this courtroom. Now. The defendant has moved for a mistrial." He waits for his accompaniment, The Chorus Of Contrivance And Colossal Overkill, before denying the motion. He then instructs the jury to ignore Amanda's presence in the room and tells them they need to decide on the evidence presented by Ms. Tritter and Dr. Inwood. He slams the gavel and adjourns the court for twenty minutes before defense counsel can start his closing arguments.
The Firm. Again, a reasonably recovered Rebecca is sitting with Rod and Jimmy, talking about whether or not they have a conflict of interest. She claims that who they "think" committed the crime doesn't matter: "You're simply trying to establish that Raymond Littlefield didn't." Jimmy says they might "Plan B" the wife; she hired them, and he's thinking she's the client. Rod doesn't know, can they? Rebecca responds, "Here's where it gets murky. If you tip her off that you might be going after her, that undermines the interest of Raymond." Bobby snipes that he knows it's murky. He just wants an answer. Rebecca says, and I quote verbatim, "Don't snap at me. I just got out of a coma." That's right, people, DEK is actually calling attention to the fact that he's totally inconsistent -- some coma Rebecca was in, she's up and walking around two days later. Bobby asks about Raymond's mistress. Jimmy says he's meeting with her today, and then Eugene interrupts their conference. They discuss Ellenor and how scared she is for her baby. Crossover snore.
Amanda's Trial. The stupid closing statements: blah dee blah the prosecution has the testimony of an alcoholic, blah no physical evidence blah, not even a fingerprint blah. Oh, reasonable doubt, how do they love you? Let me count the hundreds of millions of ways/times I have typed you. Helen: blah dee blah the horror of the crime, blah dee blah eleven-year-old girl, blah dee blah rapists back on the street, blah dee blah one eyewitness blah. This rapist was seen. Blah brave Tritter blah. The medical evidence, plus the eyewitness's testimony, is enough to convict. Go do your job. Go now, you fake jury! Go decide the fate of a fake man in this fake trial -- go!
Ellenor's Hospital Of Pain. This scene is just so stupid I can't even bear to type it for you. Lindsay is visiting. Ellenor claims that her daughter, the one that's in her womb, is "already bigger than this little guy." Whatever that means...continuity anyone? Baby Rod is almost as tall as I am. Ben comes in, Ellenor tells him Lindsay can stay, Baby Rod makes his presence known, and Gideon says, "You really want to know?" The lab results are normal, and he kicks her out. He gives her some steroids for the baby's lungs and everything's okay! Hooray!
The Littlefield Trial; Oh, So Much Pain. Judge Zoey rules in favour of the defense. The girl's statements are in fact hearsay. Hear ye, hear freaking ye. Legal blathering about "our justice system" and "out-of-court declarations." Whack. Court is adjourned. Bobby stands up and addresses Raymond: "Congratulations. You now have an excellent chance at freedom." He thinks the DA will want to strike a deal. All they have is the blood on the golf club, and that's not enough to convict. Raymond tries to look pleased before they cart him away back to the holding cell...of PAIN.
Jimmy's Lunch, Where He Confronts The Mistress Of Pain. Jimmy not-so-subtlely accuses Raymond's mistress of killing the daughter. She doesn't bite; she's a lawyer too. The woman gets slightly hysterical, shoots down The Firm, claims Jimmy wants to point reasonable doubt at her for Raymond's sake, and then says over and over and over again, "I think anybody's capable of swinging a golf club in a fit of rage." Meaning that she doesn't think Raymond killed Fiona, but Kate most certainly might have.
Oh, final commercials, I am so happy to see you! That means this farce of an episode is almost over.
Amanda's Trial. Judge Betts asks the defendant to "please rise." The Song Of Spending The Rest Of Your Life In Jail stands up as well. He asks if the foreman has reached a verdict. Of course he has; they have unanimously found Bruce Wilson guilty. Damn. Justice is sweet. Betts dismisses the jury, asks that the defendant be taken into custody, and adjourns the trial. Helen is vindicated. She walks over to Mr. McGowan; she's breathless: "We'll need a victim impact statement from you and Amanda." He tries to thank her, but she insists he go "see his daughter." Michelle looks like she's going to crack open a cold one right there in open court.
Susan's Office Of DA Specialty Pain. Bobby knocks, entering the office, where Susan looks like she's concentrating very hard on balancing a pen above her head. Rod: "You look ready to dance." Whatever that means. Susan: "Actually, I am. As blown away as I feel." He moves into the office and closes the door. Susan explains that when she called Bobby, she was prepared to offer manslaughter, but then -- there was some contaminated blood on the victim near the vagina: "We've identified the contaminate. It was a trace of semen. It genetically matches your client." The crushing sounds of guilt and defeat swell as Bobby opens the file to read the results for himself. Apparently, Susan is as shocked as Bobby is, and they'll agree to a continuance. Well, that's Murder, She Wrote.
The Holding Cell Where Bobby Threatens A Lot Of Pain. He's screaming at Raymond, as he is apt to do when someone says they didn't have sex and is then presented with evidence that disputes that very fact. Okay, did no one see or read Presumed Innocent? And how the hell did they get a genetic match to the semen without Raymond's permission for a blood test? Raymond tugs on his hair. Bobby wants to know how the semen got there. Raymond claims he didn't kill her. Bobby screams, "How did that semen get there, Raymond?" And then he bends forward onto the table: "Aside from being sick, you're screwed!" Rather calmly, Littlefield reasserts that he didn't kill his stepdaughter, despite whatever else "might" have happened between them. Ew. Gross. Double gross. Triple gross. Quadruple gross.
Hellenor's. Jimmy is visiting. He's explaining to Helen, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, and Ellenor about the little semen issue. Ellenor asks how old the stepdaughter was. Jimmy replies, "Sixteen." Helen: "What a pig." And she should know from pigs. Then, in a strangely anti-maternal, unfriendly tone, Helen says to Ellie, "Are you ready for your soup? You have to eat now." In fact, she sounds like the witch trying to entice Hansel and Gretel into the stockpot. They bicker back and forth about Helen's soup needing more salt. And I'm thinking any store-bought soup you heat up in a pot comes with plenty of salt -- like Helen actually cooks. Right. Ellenor gets up to go to the bathroom before she eats some lunch. Jimmy and Helen walk out of Ellenor's room, leaving her to go to the bathroom. Helen bitches about the state of the union and then the two of them hear a loud crashing sound from inside Ellenor's bedroom. They race back to find Ellenor collapsed, unconscious, on the floor. Jimmy calls 911. Helen makes a pale attempt to revive Ellenor. They scream for an ambulance, and we fade to black. Oh. The. Suspense. Will she be okay? Is the baby in trouble? Are we past caring? I thought so.
week on The Practice: Bobby and The Firm run their own DNA test on the semen found on the body. It is conclusively Raymond's. His response: could the police have planted it on the body? Yeah, everyone's out to get him, including the law. It's the Alamo, people -- guns, blood, and a little incest. Jimmy, for some reason, humours Raymond: "Let's assume for a minute that it was planted. Who had access?" TO HIS SEMEN? Quick cut to Non-Victoria Non-Principal screaming, "I don't want to help him!" My, what a not-so-twisted-unravelling-boring-repititious-insidious web we weave.