L.A. Law (TV Series)

Bound for Glory (1990)

Richard Venture: Abe Lassen

Quotes 

• Abby Perkins : 2 grams. Simple procession. I could probably plead him out and get 6 months minimum security. Of course, if we go to trial and lose, we're talking a year easy.

  Arnie Becker : State prison?

  Abby Perkins : I doubt it, but it's their defense. It's possible.

  Abe Lassen : Take the plea.

  Abby Perkins : No. Just a minute. Don't forget the motion to dismiss. We have a real shot at getting it kicked.

  Arnie Becker : Right.

  Abe Lassen : In which case he just walks?

  Abby Perkins : Exactly.

  Abe Lassen : Take the plea. Let him do the 6 months.

  Abby Perkins : Excuse me?

  Abe Lassen : My son is a drug problem, Ms Perkins. Nothing we tried has ever worked - programs, clinics. This is the third time he's been arrested. Every time, he goes free. Every time, he goes back to drugs. Maybe jail is just the thing he needs.

  Abby Perkins : That may be, Mr. Lassen, but Joel is the client, at least technically. And it would have to be his decision.

  Abe Lassen : If Joel were capable of making tough decision, we wouldn't be standing here right now, would we? This... this is me son - my only son. If something drastic doesn't him shake him out of this, I'm gonna lose him.

  Abby Perkins : You're asking a defense attorney to deliberately put her client in jail when there's a chance of getting him off.

  Abe Lassen : That's the way you see it. The way I see it is I'm asking you to help me save his life.

  [Arnie will find out and Abby will do her best] 

• Abe Lassen : Let's just see what the District Attorney offers. If it's reasonable...

  Joel Lassen : Let's cut the crap, dad, you want me to do times, so let's not pretend...

  Abe Lassen : I want you off drugs, Joel.

  Abby Perkins : Look, I don't even know what our options are yet. If we can get an offer for 6 months, Joel, we should probably...

  Joel Lassen : No! You're my lawyer, not his. You're supposed to be...

  Abe Lassen : We're all on the same sides.

  Joel Lassen : We are not on the same sides! You want me...

  [Abe grabbed and holding his son Joel] 

  Abe Lassen : Will you listen to me?

  [Joel is arguing and refuses to listen to his father Abe] 

  Abe Lassen : Will you listen to me? For God's sake, Joel, I'm your father, you're my son, I love you. But we got a problem here, we can't get seem to get by.

  Joel Lassen : Well, prison's not gonna do it, dad. Don't make me do this.

  Abe Lassen : It's the only thing left to try. 6 months is a good deal, probably the best we can do, ask your lawyer.

  Abby Perkins : Come on we better get in there.

• Abby Perkins : It's not like you're going to San Quentin, Joel.

  Joel Lassen : Jail is jail, they stick you in the cell.

  Abe Lassen : Listen to your lawyer. You don't plea, and you lose, and you could get 2 years in state prison. You want that?

  Joel Lassen : No, what I want is to be free.

  Abby Perkins : Look, I don't even know what our options are yet, okay? I've got to talk to the D.A. When the case is called, step up with me.

  Clerk : People vs. Steve Dollof. Disturbing the peace.

  Abby Perkins : [Abby Perkins heads to talk to the D.A. Jim Aoli]  Jim, I got Joel Lassen.

  D.A. Jim Aoli : Yeah, that's me. Are we dealing?

  Abby Perkins : I'm looking for next to nothing. He got a rookie cop searching in the trunk on a moving violation. There's no way...

  D.A. Jim Aoli : Yeah, yeah. What was it? 2 grams?

  Abby Perkins : No intent. You want a guilty plea? Let him go with probation.

  D.A. Jim Aoli : Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

  Abby Perkins : What?

  D.A. Jim Aoli : Well, we do it today. We roll the dice for a dismissal motion and I'm going for jail time.

  Abby Perkins : Okay.

  D.A. Jim Aoli : 6 months?

  Abby Perkins : Done.

• Clerk : People vs. Joel Lassen.

  [Abby wants Joel to come to the Judge's bench] 

  D.A. Jim Aoli : Jim Aoli for the People.

  [Joel Lassen is coming] 

  D.A. Jim Aoli : Straight possession, Your Honor, I think we can make this thing going away right now.

  Judge Richard Bartke : How delightful.

  D.A. Jim Aoli : Defendant agrees to plead guilty, Joint recommendation for 6 months probation.

  Judge Richard Bartke : Defense he'll agrees?

  Abby Perkins : We do.

  Judge Richard Bartke : You got it. Guilty. 6 months probation. Mr. Lassen, check with probation officer, please. Next case.

  Clerk : People vs. Robert Brown.

  Joel Lassen : Probation. That's it, I can go?

  Abby Perkins : Yeah.

  Abe Lassen : Way the go, Counselor.

  Abby Perkins : Look, Mr. Lassen, I did what the D.A. was going to...

  Abe Lassen : I don't talk to you anymore. I talk to your boss. Come on, Joel.

  [Abe takes his son Joel and left the courtroom. And Abby will be leaving, too] 

• Abby Perkins : What was I suppose to do? The DA went for. I suppose to say...

  Abe Lassen : Because you pushed for it.

  Arnie Becker : Listen, Abe, this was a difficult call...

  Abe Lassen : Where the hell were you? You're supposed to be taking care of me.

  Arnie Becker : I thought Abby would.

  Abby Perkins : Thanks, Arnie.

  Arnie Becker : I - I agree with Abe. Jail time is what Joel needs.

  Rosalind Shays : [Opening the door]  Sorry I'm late.

  Abe Lassen : Who the hell are you?

  Rosalind Shays : I'm Rosalind Shays, Mr. Lassen, I'm the new Senior Partner here. Douglas has explained to me what's happened.

  Abe Lassen : Good. Explain to me what you got to do about it.

  Rosalind Shays : Well, under the circumstances...

  Abe Lassen : I don't want any circumstances. I want her fired today.

  Rosalind Shays : Now, why would I do that?

  Abe Lassen : Why? Because she ignored my instructions, that's why.

  Rosalind Shays : Ms. Perkins was bound by an attorney's code of ethics, and she behaved appropriately. This firm stands behind her.

  Abe Lassen : [Pointing the finger at Mr. Becker and Mr. Brackman]  These two don't seem to stand behind her.

  Rosalind Shays : As I said I'm the Senior Partner.

  Abe Lassen : I'll have somebody here to pick up my files. You just lost yourself a client, Senior Partner.

  [Abe Lassen walks out of that door, exit, and leave Arnie's office]