L.A. Law (TV Series)

Ex-Wives and Videotape (1990)

Corbin Bernsen: Arnie Becker

Photos 

Quotes 

• Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Moving on. Michael, where are we on the Earl Williams' appeal?

  Michael Kuzak : Earl on arguments before the Supreme Court of California tomorrow 11 o'clock. Victor will be second chair.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Are we still doing the mood for it in preparation?

  Michael Kuzak : This morning. You, Victor and Stuart is the judges, I hope you just look over the briefs.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : I studied them.

  Michael Kuzak : Good. I want you be as tough as you can. I'll be giving you a list as the issues that I believe the judges will be coming at me with, so whatever questions, you can call up with very helpful.

  Arnie Becker : I think you really got a shot?

  Michael Kuzak : Yeah.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Moving on. Major Kudos to Rosalind Shays. She's officially landed Anderson Industries as a client. This is the second largest steel distribution company in the country and potentially, the biggest client we've ever had.

  Stuart Markowitz : That's terrific.

  Arnie Becker : Way the go, Ros.

  Rosalind Shays : [laughing]  Thank you. I have a meeting with the CEO on Wednesday and I suspect that he'll put us right to work.

  Leland McKenzie : That's fantastic.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : It certainly is. And moving from the fantastic to the incredible, Arnold, you have a case involving Rochelle Peters?

  Arnie Becker : Yeah, I'm representing her ex-husband.

  Leland McKenzie : Is that the Rochelle Peters of the Evening News 7 o'clock?

  Arnie Becker : Very one. And this is good. Evidently, Miss Peters did some anchoring before different kinda camera.

  Abby Perkins : Don't tell me.

  Arnie Becker : Home videos. Between she and her husband when they were just newlyweds in the act. The other act in a simultaneous acting we cut to 5 years later, husband becomes ex-husband, he has something all the adult film entertainment companies would like to have you, he wants to sell, she slapped him with a restraining order.

  Ann Kelsey : That's despicable.

• Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Have you got the tape?

  Arnie Becker : He'll be bringing it and we've got a meeting this morning.

  Ann Kelsey : How can you involve yourself with something like this.

  Arnie Becker : Because it's perverted, it's sorted, it's what I live for.

  Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Keep us surprised, Arnold. And on that titillating note, we're adjourned.

  [the meeting is dismissed] 

• Lawyer Barney Dowe : In 23 years of practice, Your Honor, I've never been as outrageous I am at this moment. This woman stands to have her entire career ruined because that man wants to take moments of intimacy between a husband and wife and make them into pornography.

  Arnie Becker : Your Honor, the tape is what it is, my client is not making it into anything.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : He is making it public, Mr. Becker, and I have agreed to seal this courtroom for the reason that to reveal the very existence of this tape could cause irreparable damage.

  Lawyer Barney Dowe : Your Honor, that's exactly what Mr. Vogel wants to do is vehement in spitefulness for his former wife were matched only by his greed.

  Arnie Becker : Your Honor, that's just nonsense, the property settlement between these two people itemizes everything that goes to Miss Peters, it gives all rights in the remainder to my client.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : Mr. Becker, is there any indication that Miss Peters would have knowingly authorized the distribution of this tape?

  Arnie Becker : My client's an accomplished photographer, he took a great many pictures of his wife, in each case, she authorized their use.

  Lawyer Barney Dowe : Mr. Becker, we're not talking about photographs here. We're talking about videotape footage of marital acts.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : Without getting overly graphic, gentlemen. Can you give me a sense of what is in this tape?

  Lawyer Barney Dowe : [sighs]  Several variations quotas.

  Arnie Becker : Compared to what's out there is pretty wholesome stuff.

  Lawyer Barney Dowe : It won't be any to wholesome some guy standing and apply the booth, slamming quarters into the damn thing to see it.

  Arnie Becker : This would be intended for home video market only.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : OK, I have heard enough. Mr. Becker, your client is enjoying from exhibiting this tape commercially. Miss Peters retains the right to determine how her name and likeness are to be used. Nothing in this divorce agreement anticipated this. Nothing in it gives him the right to do it.

  Lawyer Barney Dowe : Your Honor, we also requested that Mr. Vogel turnover all extra copies now under his control.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : That I cannot order. The agreement clearly grants all possession of the tape to Mr. Vogel and I simply don't have the authority to supersede it.

  Rochelle Peters : What about private screenings for, um, 50 or 60 of his closest friends?

  Lawyer Barney Dowe : Your Honor, what's going to happen when this tape starts to circulate privately among friends, party to party.

  Arnie Becker : That's not going to happen.

  Lawyer Barney Dowe : Please, Mr. Becker. Who among us has not seen the Rob Lowe tape? Anyone? Anyone?

  Judge Grace Van Owen : Listen, I have done all I can do. And in fact, given my relationship with Mr. Becker's firm, I may well be forced to recuse myself before this matter comes to trial. Which by the way would be just fine with me.