Very well indeed.
Mm-hmm.
Got one tellin'in' to hold down much.
You.
Hey.
Mm-hmm.
Hey, are you okay?
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
I'm just checkin' in on you.
I'm still allowed to do that.
Yes, ma'am.
That's good.
I could not be happier with this day.
The well-being of this man's life depends on y'all.
Can I just talk simple to y'all?
Mm-hmm.
Plain, ordinary talk.
Because I think they tryin' to talk over y'all here.
We not gon' allow that.
Now, I got some secrets about my client.
And I'ma tell ya right now.
My client ain't no good.
Yeah?
My no good client called us tubs on the day of the accident.
What's drunk?
That's right.
Drunk.
Tight.
Waste to toe up from the floor.
Matter of fact, you wanna check the numbers?
The numbers say 0.4% blood alcohol in.
That's right.
A knee break.
If you wanna say a big word.
Not only that.
We're goin' through mental things.
He said he was suppin' from depression.
Some would say that he was suicidal and we have the proof of that
because when he was talkin' to his therapist,
he told his therapist, I'm feelin' so bad,
I wish I could get in my car and ride straight into a tree.
But he couldn't do that.
My no good client couldn't do that.
You know why?
His license is revoked.
And he even got a license.
So what'd he say?
I'ma get me a bicycle.
And I'ma do it that way.
And that's exactly what he did.
He get on his bicycle and rode over there to Alvin and Fine.
Y'all ready to look us over there, huh?
And he got my big old bottle of scotch and he down it.
And what'd he do?
Get on that bicycle and he rode straight towards the highway towards traffic.
And then, here comes Mr. 18-Wheeler.
Fitchin' company.
Not payin' no attention.
Turnin' up, comin' down, Alvin.
What'd he do?
He hit close.
He hit it.
He should be there.
Y'all know that song of,
I'm lookin' forward, man, look up.
That's a miracle right here.
That's why we askin' for you to look in your hearts and your soul.
and award him that mere 75 million dollars.
You know why?
They got it.
They got the bank to do it.
But they know they be tryin' to step on the small man.
And then he said, well, why 75 million dollars, Willa, Gary, I'ma tell you why.
Because we have the evidence.
The evidence will prove that there was negligence.
Because no good promise had one thing going good for him at that time.
Even though he was drunk, tanked, tore up from the floor up,
depressed and suicidal,
my no good client closed his tubs.
Had him a green light.
I rest my cage down.
I'm Willa Gary.
Y'all, come on in.
Listen, I apologize for keepin' y'all waitin' at that solo.
Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Gary.
I'm Jeremiah O'Keefe.
Jeremiah, I like that.
That's the biblical.
Isaiah, Jeremiah, let me taste it.
That's biblical.
Now, who's this?
Hey.
Because you and your counsel here are my darkness.
Well, how's wine?
It's an honor, Mr. Gary.
You're young to be a lawyer, and they grow up.
I thought you was this foster child.
Really?
Come on now, I'm just kidding me.
Listen, this is my partner, Reggie Douglas.
He runs my point.
So, what y'all got for Willa Gary?
P.I.?
The big important?
P.I., personal henchmen.
Y'all got some personal henchmen?
Been y'all seein' the sign outside?
So we got a lot.
We breakfast around here?
Well, yes and no.
I guess we sort of have a P.I. case, but with a bit of a twist.
Bit of a twist?
Okay.
What kind of twist?
What kind of case is it?
It's a contract law case.
Contract law?
Oh, come on, man.
We'll do no contract law, hey.
Y'all know how to sound like a nap waiting to happen.
Yeah, yeah.
We'll do no contract law.
Right, but look, we understand it's not necessarily
your field, but perhaps you could just hear him out.
I think you'll find the case compelling.
I am a funeral director from Biloxi, Mississippi.
I have a business there.
Well, actually I have several businesses there.
I have eight funeral homes and one burial insurance company.
We are a family business who have been for over 100
years and we are not about to lose that without a fight.
After I returned from the war, my father passed the
business to me, which I consider a sacred trust.
Annette and I were blessed with 13 children, and we
intend for them to carry the business into the future.
But about a year ago, I ran into some financial trouble.
Good afternoon, gentlemen.
How can they help you?
We are here on behalf of the state insurance commission.
Mr. O'Keeff, as a registered burial insurance
broker in the state of Mississippi, I'm sure
you're aware you're required to maintain a certain
minimum funds in your account at all times.
Well, yes, of course I'm aware.
The insurance regulators, you got to be kidding me.
Well, they say they want exactly.
Truth is, I may have gotten myself into about a trouble.
Trouble?
Jerry.
I've been your lawyer what?
Coming up on 30 years.
What's your friend even before that?
You and I both know it.
I've been in debt after my neck for years trying to make this business strong.
Make it last so I have something to think about.
Children?
There's no panic just yet.
I get how stressful this is, but I'm pretty sure we can find a way out of it.
Hold up a second.
Excuse me, son.
You want another drink?
No.
Whenever you get a chance, can I get another bourbon over here?
Yeah.
So look, if you consider selling off part of the business.
No.
Just part of it, okay?
Well, I'm not saying I won't do, but if I did, where would I find the buyer?
Canada?
Actually, they made an inquiry.
Lower and greater are you?
They've been on a pre-significant acquisition spree going all across the country.
Find up every independently on one funeral chain that can get their hands on.
These guys are really big players.
You know how I feel about these big corporations now?
Yes, I do.
But all I'm saying is it's an option and it's out there.
It might be a way out.
You'd think about it.
Jerry, perfect timing.
Hey, you need a hand with that?
Oh, no, I got it.
Hey, so listen, you're sure about this, right?
No, I'll give this a lot of thought and I'll
leave this right thing and do it for my family.
All righty then.
Next up, Vancouver, you ready to go inside?
I only got to wait for Hal.
Who?
I told you about Hal.
He's a friend of my son from college.
Very bright young man.
Just getting started out as a lawyer and what hell?
Here he comes now.
Recently passed the bar exam.
I'm in for experience.
Who which one?
That talk kid?
Hey, sorry.
So sorry, Mr. O'Keefe.
My taxi's just dropped me off with the wrong terminals.
Oh, don't worry about it.
Halbert Dockins, I want you to meet my co-read.
Really great to meet you, Mr. Holred.
I'm very excited to be a member of the team.
Hi there.
Nice to meet you too.
So you're a lawyer?
Yeah.
Well, that's just great.
Good for you, son.
I'll see you guys inside.
Come on.
We're going to Canada.
Or for Ray Lowen, if you're really looking forward to meeting you.
As I'm sure you can gather, raise the very hands-on kind of guy.
One of the only CEOs in the industry who likes to meet with every seller perching.
Hey, Ray.
Allow me to introduce Mr. Jeremiah O'Keefe and his colleagues.
It is a pleasure to meet you, Jerry.
Some boys.
I don't like the way we do business up here in Canada.
Come on on, boy.
Get your drink.
At present, we own 1,115 funeral homes, 427 cemeteries, 354 insurance companies.
My strategy is simple by as many funeral homes
as I can and put myself in a position for
what I like to call the golden era of death.
Sorry.
It's when all the baby boomers across the U.S. fund reach their age of demise.
Resulting in a minimum 60% increase in death rates nationwide.
Do you have any idea how many people are living in the U.S. right now?
Over the age of 65?
51 million.
That sounds kind of cynical to me.
Aren't you worried about losing sight of your customer?
My customer.
What customer?
My customers are dead guys.
I'm just kidding.
I'm just kidding, Jerry.
Look, the more funeral homes I own, the more
money I make, the more I am able to meet the
demands of my customer and provide for his growing needs.
Maybe it's time that we drop all this chit-chat, start talking about a deal.
What do you say, gentlemen?
I'm interested to hear what you have in mind, right?
My understanding is that you're having a bit of
trouble with the state regulators down there.
How'd you come to that understanding?
You own what?
Nine homes across the state?
An old eight funeral homes across the state.
And nine insurance lenders, of course.
So, what about this?
You sell me three of your homes.
But if there are market value to be agreed upon later, then not only do you get to keep the bulk of
your assets, but it would also provide you with more than enough fresh cash to deal with the regulators.
There's something else I want out of this deal.
I make most of our profits from selling burial insurance.
There's no way I can survive if you have a monopoly on that too.
So, what I propose is that I sell you three of my funeral homes, fair market value.
But you're going to have to promise here now that no
longer sell burial insurance in southern Mississippi.
Okay.
So, this means we have a deal.
I got my lawyers to drop the contracts and we can get it done immediately.
What the hell is taking so long?
We closed on this deal.
Coming up on four months now.
They keep trying to re-trade the terms.
When we left Vancouver, they said it would take 30 days Max.
It just doesn't make sense.
I don't know. It makes perfect sense to me.
Why?
Have you considered the possibility that loan
has no intention of closing this deal at all?
Son, we all do respect.
You don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about.
I think I do.
Think about it.
The longest also works your screwed.
First, the insurance commission takes your
license effectively destroying your livelihood.
Until sooner or later, you have no choice but to file for bankruptcy.
Now, not only does the loan get the three homes you can actually
buy your entire business out from under you at a yard sale prices.
You really think he's trying to bankrupt me?
Hell, he can't do that. I got a signed contract.
It was only signed on our end.
With no closing date attached.
And by the way, I heard Mr. Lowens actually still selling insurance in the region.
Oh, come on. Stop with the conspiracy theories.
Son, I'm sorry, but you really are paranoid.
Okay.
Would you mind doing me a favor?
Would you mind stop calling your son?
I am not your son, Mike.
Whoa. Just take it easy, okay?
You really want to be taken seriously as a lawyer in this town?
Who says I'm not?
Never that, y'all.
Do you really think Mr. Lowens has the intention of running me into the ground?
I do. Why the hell should he be on our clock anyway?
Well, that's it. I'll go to sue him.
You've never sued anybody before in your whole life.
Well, I'm liable to you just about any minute now.
Yeah, will you think 75 years of age is a good time to start some people?
Oh, man, don't file lawsuits.
The way I see it, if somebody tries to take advantage of you
and you know it's wrong, it don't matter how old you are.
This fellow tried to bully me out of business.
And I don't think I should be expected to stand for it.
I'm here to file a lawsuit.
Is that the complaint right there?
Massey, please?
Jeremiah J. O'Keefe, senior, verse, the little group LLC.
Ooh. Sounds juicy.
Who do you think is going to win?
Excuse me?
Oh, goodness. What are you doing here? You know what time it is?
Look, I know it's late. I'm really sorry about that. I
found something I think would be really useful for a case.
But thrills continue with another opulent
episode of The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.
You won't believe the amazing journey of
famed personal injury lawyer, Willie E. Gary,
a man who refused to accept a life sentence of
poverty because he believed in the American dream.
Born to a family of migrant sharecroppers working the sugar cane fields of Florida,
life wasn't always a bet of roses for Willie Gary.
I just always had this burden of desire to be something,
you know, and I knew I was going to make something myself.
And make something of himself he did, as now
Willie regularly wins multi-million dollar cases.
Just in the heart of this guy's one of my lawyers.
It seems like a crazy idea, but this guy wins cases.
You know, it only owns his own private 737 jet called Wings of Justice.
He also lives the high life in a 50-room mansion along the luxurious Florida coast.
Though Willie can't take credit for the decorating,
as that job belongs to Willie's childhood sweetheart,
his gorgeous and alluring wife, Gloria.
One thing that I always try to remind Willie
of is to never forget where he came from.
Stay humble.
Yeah, humble is Willie Gary's middle name.
Don't never let nobody tell you you can't do something,
okay? Will it dare tell you that? Give it back.
Never forgetting his roots.
Believe it or not, he's got an absolutely flawless trial record.
He supposedly hasn't lost the case in over 12 years.
What does he know about contract law? This is a contract law case.
The case was filed down in Heinz County.
That's a three to one black white ratio. That means
there's a 70% chance we're going to black judge.
And if we do go to trial, likely a black jury as well.
So what? With all due respect, you can't put a
guy like Mike already in front of a black jury.
Why the hell not? He has been my attorney for 30
years. He knows contract law better than anybody.
You're really going to make me spell this out.
He literally reeks, self-satisfied good old boy, southern bigotry.
I mean, a black jury sees a guy like that coming.
The idea of us pandering to a jury like that, Harry, this is not a discrimination.
So you and I both know that Ray says nothing to do with this.
I happen to know for a fact that Mr. Gary's trying to case down in Florida this week.
What if? What if?
You and I went down there just for the day and tried to meet him in person.
Essentially, we just want to hold the loan group responsible for their actions.
No, not very much wrong, but you want to make pay.
Make a money, make pay.
So how much money are you trying to get?
$6 million.
That's full fair market value plus damages.
And I've already filed a civil claim in high-end scary.
That's it.
Paul?
What do you think, Mr. Gary, do you like the case?
I didn't need my personal opinion.
Honestly.
Look, Mr. O'Keefe, I'm sorry for what this law guy did.
Do you sound like he's a big asshole and everything like that, but...
This ain't a Willy-Gerry case.
You just say, it ain't a Willy-Gerry case.
Wait, what do you mean, why not?
It ain't a Willy-Gerry case, because it ain't a Willy-Gerry case.
No, but I'm sorry, what is a Willy-Gerry case that I don't...
In other words, what he's saying is a Willy-Gerry
case is a type of case where I have the upper hand,
where I feel that I can take this case to trial.
You understand?
Oh, wait.
And once I get him in that trial, I mean, y'all see my tape,
but I get him in in front of, especially in front of people
that look like me, I'm gonna play him like a symphony.
Mopza.
A Willy-Gerry case is where I can take that judgment and push it all the way up
to the heavens if I need to, and get as much money as I can for my client.
What he's saying is, a Willy-Gerry case is a case we know we can win.
This case, not so much.
Matter of fact, the case is a little bit iffy.
And the other thing is this, and I'll take this the wrong way, but...
He's your wife. He's white.
And I don't have white clients. I've never had any.
So, no offense to anything like that, but this is just unusual for me.
No offense taken, Mr. Gary.
I guess too rich and famous for us, Albert.
You know, Mr. Chief, just give me one second.
Where are you going? I'm gonna talk with him one more time.
Give me five minutes, okay?
The green light scenario, when I was talking to the one juror,
what's she having?
I don't maybe look that a little bit longer.
You know, give us some high contact.
Sometimes you got the romance on.
That's the thing.
I don't know what it's... So, sorry to come back in here like this.
I really am, but I just need a minute every time.
You lost your mind?
I lost your mind.
How did you know?
Okay, yeah, maybe so.
But listen, I just need a minute of your time.
You need one minute. That's all that's all you got.
Because we busy now.
I mean, Jerry's a dream client.
He's got a great narrative.
He's a war hero.
A decorated war hero.
He served in World War II.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for service for his country.
So, you got...
That's it?
Well, it's been about 50 years ago.
Yeah, I don't know if I give shit to you.
Oh, no, it's not good.
All right. All right.
How about this? Okay.
In 1976.
Jerry was serving as a two-term mayor in his hometown of Biloxi.
The KKK tried to organize a march.
And he stopped him from buying white sheets.
He's supposed to be all white shit.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I feel like you in love with me.
No, that's not my point.
I'm saying we're hopefully trying the case of Heinz,
because it's a really wonderful... Hold on, let me stop you.
Now, listen.
I like you.
I think you come from good stuff.
But you can understand how we work here.
One, we don't do contract law.
Two, we don't have no white class.
Two, and three, that ain't enough money.
Not enough money.
It ain't enough money, how?
I love you, man, but it ain't enough money for us.
Brother, look around.
You see where you are.
You don't see where my hogging in wood.
Gold finish.
That is pretty.
Big town.
Baby, we're doing cases for 50 million, 30 million,
80 million dollar cases monthly.
Okay.
But how do you know this case can't be something bigger?
When?
We don't know.
You know something we don't?
Ray Lowen happens to sit at the top of one of the biggest industries in this country.
I'm talking about the 20 billion dollar a year death care industry.
There are two huge corporations moving in and taking over everything,
and the Lowen group is one of them.
Now, what they did to Jerry is truly terrible, but...
I have a feeling it's just...
No, I know.
It's the tip of the iceberg.
Can I keep going?
That's what you should have started.
You guys try all these 80 million dollar cases,
and you have your private jet and all that I get it.
That's fine.
Well, these are just great.
Look, you know as well as I do.
As far as the more elite legal community in this country goes,
you're nothing more than a glorified ambulance chaser.
No offense.
Yeah, and they don't even move your ass now.
Disrespectful.
What if, what if, what if this case is the one that puts you on the map?
What if this case takes you on a nationwide level?
I'm talking...
William Counselor.
Clarence Darrow.
Thurgood Marshall.
I'm talking Johnny, motherfucking cock.
Well, I've never heard of it.
Was this your idea by the way, Mr. Dawkins?
No.
It was not his idea.
It was mine, and I realized, Mike, if I piss you off,
me bring in on additional counsel like this.
Piss me off?
Not at all.
Doesn't piss me.
Do I seem pissed off?
I'm not pissed off.
Hell, it's your money.
You can do what you want to with it.
I just think you're making it big.
I am trying to put us in the best possible position in the event.
We end up going to try.
Got it.
Except we're not going to try.
Seriously, what's so special about this guy anyway?
Hell, I went over to Florida and watched him try a case in front of a jury,
and I want to tell you this man can absolutely positively galvanize the jury.
Yes, sir.
Well, if you believe in him that much, then sure, okay, I'll work with him.
I've partnered up before.
Just as long as it's clear, I'm still lead attorney.
Appreciate you being a good sport about this, Mike.
No problem.
That's what times he's supposed to get here anyway.
You know, actually, I think this is them now.
Now.
Yeah, I'll never tell you how you do it.
Good to see you.
Hey, what you doing over here?
You getting young only, man?
I'm what you want some Dorian Gracie?
Well, let me introduce you to my car real, right here.
Mike.
No, I understand.
We're working together, huh?
So I understand.
How you doing, Mr. Gear?
I look like I'm doing it.
You look like $10,000,000, really?
That's what I'm talking about.
I feel good.
It's your war room here, huh?
Well, we got the conference room, you know?
I like these over there.
I like these books.
I like all those.
It's nice, though.
But before we get to work, though,
I hope this doesn't make you feel uncomfortable,
but, uh, I got some questions I got to ask.
Oh, sure.
Feel free to ask me anything.
I'm all ears.
Good.
Question is, uh, how do you feel about working with Black folk?
I had to, man.
Is there any other way?
No, sir.
You want an honest answer?
I need that.
All right.
Well, if you want an honest answer,
truth be told.
I suppose I have a little precedence.
Mm.
I'm not saying I'm proud of it or anything.
I appreciate you.
I just didn't work in real hard trying to overcome it.
Well, you should.
I'm glad you worked on it.
But, yes.
Did you meet my team?
Hi.
I'm Chris.
Hi, Chris.
Yes, the shot.
The shot.
Mm.
It does.
Gentlemen.
Okay.
Uh, now that that's all cleared up,
why don't we all just head over to the conference
room where the rest of the team is waiting out?
Sure.
It will work this out.
All right.
Yeah.
He's going to be okay.
All right.
Afternoon, gentlemen.
How you feeling?
You good?
Huh?
Good.
For all of y'all that don't know who I am, my name is Willie Garrett.
Oh, y'all.
Now, I done brought a couple of partners of mine
from my firm up here from Florida to help y'all win this case.
And for all of y'all who are unfamiliar with the Willie Garrett style of litigation,
let me break it down to you.
We've got to go to war.
Because that's what I think litigation is.
Litigation is war.
It's a battle.
A battle to the death.
And I'm not talking about no bullshit either.
I'm talking about some Jean-Claude Van Damme ass kicking shit.
Now, I know y'all are going to be crazy, but that's how I like to get.
And if we don't get crazy with these motherfuckers,
I'm telling you, this long route, they're powerful.
Got a lot of money.
Got a lot of influence.
They have everything that we don't.
But we're not going to let them intimidate us.
Because I'm not intimidated.
Now, it ain't no secret.
For the past 12 years, I have not lost the case.
And why is that?
Can you tell me why?
Because I hate to lose.
I hate it.
I'd rather somebody pull a gun on me and blow my head off than lose the case.
Now, that being said, one thing I'm going to tell you I'm not going to bend on.
I do not plan on settling this case.
Excuse me.
Anyone in mind if I say something here?
Where am I?
Mr. Gary.
When it comes to the matter of settling up,
afraid that's not at all the strategy we've developed here.
In fact, I've already drafted a letter to
Mr. Lowen offering to settle at eight million.
Though just between us here in this room, we probably will drop to seven if need be.
Well, Mike, thank you for the update.
Appreciate that.
But unfortunately, thanks for changing.
When I said that.
No matter what you said, the discussion is still on the table
and will remain so until I've decided what the best course is.
To you, does that, huh?
What's going on here, Mike?
Who's in charge?
No, seriously, who's in charge?
Because you don't have Willa Gary coming down here to take over the case.
Now he telling me what you're going to do.
I said when I settle in the case and that comes from the leave of turning.
Coming in?
Coming in what?
What's the matter?
You need your ears checked or something?
Excuse me, sir.
Mike, you raised the door.
No, you're not.
Leave me, Mr. Gary.
I know you are not leaving the attorney.
Then what am I saying?
I remind you you you are in my town.
Don't tell.
Sitting in my town.
I'm going to talk to Mike.
You're going to talk to Mike.
Come on, good y'all.
Let's temperature down.
Let him down.
I didn't come in to fight you right there.
What?
I said I didn't come in to fight you.
I came here to get a job done.
Then Mr. O'Keefe.
Last I checked.
He wants to win this case.
Not toot his ass up in the air for a fucking little eight million dollars.
Like a bitch.
Jesus Christ, Jerry.
What's going on?
I think we ought to give him a chance.
And you hear that speech you just gave?
He has no idea what he's doing.
He hadn't lost a case in 12 years.
Propersonal injury cases.
He clearly has no idea about real law, about contract law.
What about lead attorney?
You're not considering giving him lead attorney.
Yeah.
I am.
Good?
Yeah.
Mikey good?
All right, since we're all good.
Does anybody here mind taking some dictation?
Cynthia, would you mind taking dictation from Mr. Gary?
All right, sir.
I shall appreciate it.
All right.
Addressed to Mr. Ray Lorn, Chairman.
Lorn group.
Dear Mr. Lorn, my name is Willie E. Gary.
I've just been appointed lead counsel.
And the suit brought against you, I Jared my old key.
And regards to the prize settlement,
the offer you received of $8 million,
I hereby rescind that offer.
As the date of this new letter we have,
the new offer is in the amount of $100 million.
That's what I'm talking about.
Did he just say $100 million as an $80 million?
It's literally $94 million more than our original claim.
The original claim was about $94 million.
Sure.
Yeah, Mr. Gary, perhaps you could have a question.
$100 million?
It's absurd and you know what you're trying to do to destroy this case?
Mike, anybody have to tell you you got balls the size of a gun, sir?
Willie, I'm afraid that I agree with everybody's concerns.
That's a hell of a lot of money.
We throw out a number like that.
We're going to humiliate ourselves.
Listen, I understand how you feel, Chair, but you have trust me, okay?
Okay?
Everybody's got a trust.
All right?
Now, Cynthia, whoa, whoa.
Starting as of the date of this letter,
our new settlement demand is now $100 million.
$100 million?
Where the hell are you?
$100 million?
Is he crazy?
Did you count that?
He's here.
No, no joke.
That is a joke.
It looks like a fucking dozen eggs.
No joke.
Jesus Christ, this is a piece of work now.
Who's this clown he's hired as a lawyer?
Certainly some guy by the name of William Gary.
Thank you, Bob.
I also read the letter.
But my question is, who is he?
What's his story?
Where did he keep finding?
From what we could take out, he's this kind of
flashy personal injury lawyer out of Florida.
And if you want to exchange the injury, this is a contract dispute.
Why the hell would he hire a personal injury lawyer for a contract dispute?
Maybe they don't have any regular lawyers down in backwater, Mississippi.
You should talk like that one more.
Turns out the case was filed in some remote county
in the lower region of the state called Hines County.
Yeah, so?
So, Hines County also happens to be one of the poorest and about 70% black.
Oh, so that's why he was hired.
Because he's black.
Gary's black.
He's an African American man.
We're here tonight.
I'm Trim Newby!
Like I said, like, around my grandfather.
He's a cool and so-evanate.
I'm an African American man.
I'm an African man.
Sorry to interrupt.
We just got the info you requested on who low and appointed as lead council.
Who is he?
You know him?
She.
What are you talking about, she?
Yeah, what does that mean?
She.
She isn't like a mother.
My name is Maine Downs.
She graduated from B.A. from Howard University.
Oh, that means she just ain't no woman.
She's a black woman.
What do you know, we ain't got out black and out woman.
All the one goes.
He graduated top of her class from Harvard to Los Angeles.
Jesus Christ.
He went on to clerk two years for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Dale Connor.
Three years associate Paul Weiss and now currently
the youngest partner ever at Cranston Brown in Outlaw.
A friend of mine used to work with her over at CBNA.
And, well, he told me they had a nickname for her around the office.
Oh, what?
I'm right.
The python.
I count her particular style during cross.
Yep.
Yes, yeah.
Now she used to strike when you least expect it.
Mm-hmm.
You know what?
I'm the boke's district.
Let's see what she got.
I think we may need to call the cable company.
Every time I try and turn on turn a broadcast it's just some weird empty screen.
I think there's something wrong with it.
There's nothing wrong with it.
I cancel the subscription.
What do you mean you canceled it?
Any of those insurance regulators came by again the other day.
They suspended my license this time.
I've had to shut the business down for a while.
What?
What are you talking about?
It's only temporary since we get this trial over with.
Lola makes his restitution.
We don't want to be up there.
Jerry, Jerry, you hear yourself?
As soon as Ray Lohan makes restitution?
You really know for sure that's even going to happen?
You still haven't told me how we're paying for all this.
That fancy new lawyer you just brought in from Florida?
You don't have to worry about him.
Well, I just don't understand why you're continuing with this ridiculous lawsuit.
You can find another buyer for those three homes.
You know that.
Clearly this is about something else for you.
Maybe it is.
Maybe I just don't want to see him get away with it.
Who?
Ray Lohan?
My God, Jerry.
What is your obsession with this man?
What do you expect me to do, honey?
Just lay back and let him walk all over me.
Let him walk all over our family.
What I expect you to do is to think of me at some point.
You don't think we can win?
If you want to know how I'm paying for what I took out a third mortgage on this house,
tell me, really, how do you wind up being a lawyer?
Hmm.
I had to pay him.
You want to yell along with a short story?
What's up to you?
Well, I was a young husband.
Your father.
Me and my wife, we had a little money, so we had a little last game for business.
Real nice to you.
You know, kept all the yards.
Fantastic.
And my wife was like, you know what?
I want to move it to a bigger place.
I said, well, let's do that then.
So, got the paper, saw this ad.
Three bedroom apartment, man.
Real nice.
Nice new complex.
Over there in the white neighborhood at a rain tree.
So, I said, yeah, that's what we need.
So, I called on.
I said, hey, man, me and my family are looking for a new place.
We want to come to where you are.
I said, do you have any vacancies?
He says, yeah, I've got plenty of vacancies.
You know, we've got to pay.
At the end of the month, you can move in.
Get your lease.
We're all looking forward to that date, man.
I mean, we're just excited.
You know, just brand new beginnings, if you would.
So, when the day comes, I pack everybody in the car.
I got the boys in the head.
I got my wife.
I even got my dog in there, man.
We just have you, man.
We happy.
And we listen to the gospel music.
You know, sang and rocking and rolling.
But, too, when we get there,
God comes out.
I said, how you doing?
He barely speaks.
He says, what do you need?
I said, I'm the one that I called about to Vegas.
He said, what Vegas?
I said, I'm with the gear I called you about to Vegas.
He said, oh, we don't have no more Vegas.
What did you do?
I'll tell you what I wanted to do.
I wanted to hurt him.
I mean, disrespect me like that in front of my boys, man.
My boys look up to me.
I'm near everything.
What would I tell him?
That they daddy ain't good enough to be in the apartment.
What'd I tell my queen?
That we're not good enough?
But I didn't act out.
What I did was I went back to that hotel.
And I opened up the phone.
But I hadn't even thought about being a lawyer until this happened.
I opened up my first law school.
So I said, I'm going right there.
I did it.
I enrolled.
I worked hard.
I graduated.
I passed the bar.
And I got more in practice.
And the first thing I did was went down to rain tree apartments
and bitch-lapped them with a five-count discriminatory practices lawsuit.
Ha-ha-ha-ha.
Take that for your vacancies.
We are fighting.
Yeah.
I'm a fighter.
You are too, Jim.
You're a fighter, man.
You know what I say?
You're a fighter.
Going up against this big, long group, man.
Small business only, man.
That's something, Doc.
That's why we connect.
What made you want to do it?
Because you tried to mess with the one thing that means the most to me in life.
You know, it leaves something behind for my children, my grandchildren, when I go.
They have a legacy, Willie.
And I do mean to pass it on to them.
Let's play some music.
Oh, right.
Music, Willie.
Steve, we're going to go up there and turn on some music.
So, that ain't boss.
That ain't that particular thing you want to hit?
You know what my jam is, man.
Tony, Tony, Tony.
Why?
I choice my brother.
I like that.
You know what's crazy about Tony?
Tony, Tony, Tony.
Ain't no other name Tony.
Oh, that is.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
I like that.
You like that, there?
Yeah, you like that?
Yeah, it's good.
You feel good?
Yeah.
Oh, no.
You feel good?
No, come on outside.
Oh, you feel good?
Oh, man, that's nice.
Come on, man, that's nice.
Hey, hey.
Hi.
Welcome to Hotel Intercontinental.
Hey.
I have a reservation for Gary.
Willa Gary.
Absolutely.
And welcome to Jackson, Mr. Gary.
If you have a credit card, you'd like me to run.
I can go ahead and get you all settled in.
Thank you.
All right.
Thanks a lot.
Now, but that's over there.
That's the Sloane's legal team.
Wait a minute.
Oh.
Jesus Christ.
It's like a who's who of every prominent black lawyer in the country.
You actually recognize all of it?
Okay.
So, I got you over there.
That's Howard Pfeiffer.
It's a former state representative and current president of the DC bar.
That gentleman there, that's Richard Mayfield.
He's one of the leading experts in antitrust and complex business litigation.
That gentleman right over there, that's Walter Bell.
He's a former Supreme Court justice of Mississippi.
Fuck.
And no one misses an unfortunately student's.
You know what?
She don't actually look as bad as I thought she was father.
What's the name of that?
Mammy.
Mammy now.
Seriously, is that all you have to say?
Yeah.
So, I got to say, feel the old leg chumps with me.
Matter of fact, could you do me a favor?
Could you send your finest bottle above?
Champagne or whatever that take?
Certainly.
Do you have a preference?
Would you have?
Don.
No way.
Christal.
That's what we need.
System Christal or whatever that makes sure that you say that it's a compliment to Mr.
Willa Garrett.
Hey, seriously, ma'am.
Please don't do that.
Seriously.
Have.
Shut up.
Listen.
How is this?
You see me fighting the bear?
Pull honey on me.
Please go pull the honey.
Well, we keep the strategy simple.
Firmly cementing the validity of the document has a contract in the jury's mind.
That's definitely going to be the defense strategy too.
Except they'll be focused on proving how it's not a contract.
Okay, look, we got to be honest about this.
So, likely going to be a lot better at this than
we are considering this is their area of expertise.
I say we just forget about all that contract.
Mumbo jumbo.
Bog jury down.
With a whole bunch of information that we know they ain't interested.
Personally, what I think we got to do, what we got to prove rather, is motive.
We center our arguments squarely on the issue of lone group
stall and on closing and show what they had to gain from.
I'm not so sure.
I did.
What happened?
What?
What do you want to show about?
What I mean is I'm not so sure we can actually prove that the lone group had motive.
Unless we have some kind of internal company memo or someone just openly admits it.
Look, how do you actually prove that the stalling was intentional?
Well, we're obviously never going to be able to prove that.
Truth is we don't have a snowballs chance in hell or win in this case.
Hey, don't.
I'm good, Max.
How about you give me the strongest ginger milk?
Sure thing.
Come right up.
I took bad living.
Strongest ginger ale, Mrs. Smith.
Yes, not too bad.
She's been here for a while.
I believe it's Ms. Downs, isn't it?
I'm Will Gary.
You look better on TV.
Bob, sit down.
You know, I've actually never did this before.
Where it's sitting down with the opposing council
and drinks and things like that, you know?
Music, candles.
It's like we almost stuff on the date.
Well, maybe not.
You say you're from Compton, but I'm trying to
understand why you're taking all these fancy white cases.
I can ask you the same question. Good night.
Yeah, Bob. I actually believe in my case, Ms. Downs.
Well, I actually believe in mine too, Mr. Gary.
Well, that puts us in a very precarious situation.
Does it?
Because one of us is going ahead and one of us is going loose.
I think that's how this goes, yes.
But it's different in my situation because I'm actually black and blond.
See, I don't work for the man.
I work for Will Gary, which is myself.
I'm employed.
Tell me, tell me.
For myself.
Where should I be working?
Huh?
You tell me.
Come on, school me.
What with tiny little piece of the pie?
Would you be comfortable aligning to someone like me?
What should I be working pro bono?
Or maybe I should be in some shitty DA's office trying eviction cases.
Would that make you comfortable?
Would you be more happy with me?
Hold on a second.
Oh, hold on.
We might have a trial right now.
You said you were trying to school me, so come on now.
How school me?
I don't know how much you know about me, but I'm a son of a sharecropper.
I was eight years old.
Out there in them sugar cane fields, you know?
Working.
Me.
But now, you know, I got, you know, bad children.
Rose Ross and bedleys.
My own private place.
I mean, what it sounds like is we're both living
our own little version of the American Dream.
A little less red, white and blue, a little more caramel stripes.
Although I do believe that the black American Dream is
quite different than the white American Dream case at point.
Oh, Jake's right.
It's going to be trial and center.
It's a circus.
You want to go there?
No, that's murky territory.
What you mean then is, is the innocent, is the guilty.
It doesn't matter.
Because only there's not the one that's on trial right now.
White Frontier Justice.
That's what's on trial.
Mm.
I hear that.
Gun to your head though.
Gun to your head.
Oh, no, no.
Gun to your head, Ms. Downs.
Come on.
I'm going to go into my head.
Did anyone hear this?
Gun to your head.
Oh, hell no.
Oh, that's, that's a tricky one.
I know that's tough to talk.
Defense.
His ass is guilty.
And I've never defended someone who I knew was guilty before.
You know what they say.
Oh, you just got to try that at least once.
Remember these words.
If it doesn't fit, you must have quit.
Yeah.
I have this reoccurring dream.
That I'm prosecuted.
I guess that's slick ass.
John Cook.
Him and all them fancies.
He's not dead.
Okay.
Well, how does this dream end?
I wiped a flow with him.
I wiped a flow with his ass.
Oh, let me get there.
Oh, I absolutely not.
You were so kind and generous to send me a bottle.
What was that called?
Of course not.
Allow me to return the favor, just as once.
Although I wouldn't get too used to me being kind to you, Mr. Gary.
Okay.
Once we begin that trial.
I think I will destroy you.
Have a good night.
Good morning, Jets and Mississippi.
Seventy-three degrees going up to a high of seventy-eight.
No rain in the forecast for the next few days.
Sir, this is my night.
It's not all my saying, this is the case.
She's about to hear.
This is the case.
Really?
This trial deals with the oldest said don't make point to it.
It's one to the point.
Don't make point to it.
Hold tight.
Don't let this woman get away. Hold tight.
Hey, hey, hey, hey. Where is this pushyy?
I can't put the pole, man. Come on. Hey, come on.
Hey, no. He's holding us in our left.
All rise, all rise! The court is now in session
pursuant to the adjournment. Hear ye, hear ye,
all persons having business with this honorable
court, draw near. Give your attention and
you shall be heard. The honorable Judge James E. Graves, Circuit
County Judge for the First Judicial District of Hines County, Mississippi Presiding.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, how y'all doing? Thank you for being here. This case
him is really about the oldest saying on the
main. Contracts, plain and simple. Now Mr.
Gary would have you believe that this case is about greed. Then while that
sounds entertaining and dramatic. We know for a fact that the deal had already
been approved by law and this board. They crafted every single aspect, outlined it,
and put it down and writing. That's contract. How can it be a binding contract
between two parties if one of the parties didn't sign the contract? Y'all these
people lied. That's what it boils down to. So why did Mr. O'Keefe have such a
panic, such an urgency, such a desperation for this deal to close? Why? Well because
everything in his life hinged on his deal,
everything, for the lower group not so much.
If they had one goal in mind, stall him out,
stall him out. It wasn't personal. He just
got impatient. In fact, there is such a thing
as an anticipatory breach of contract. And this
is when, though the actual breach has not yet occurred, one of the involved parties,
heretofore referred to as the soon to be breaching party, will not fulfill their
obligations set forth by the terms of the agreement. When a situation like this
arises, it is my opinion that it is well within the means of dispute for this
contract. Wake up! What are we doing? We sit up in these books, talk about
contracts every single day. But what? We're putting them to sleep. We don't
lost our connection, lost our edge. But what I get from now, nothing. I got to make
decision. I'm gonna put Jerry on. I'm gonna
put Jerry on. You hard of hearing? I'm putting
mode. We got to shake it up. And plus, he's
a great witness. You said it yourself. He's a
good witness. He's honest. He's a family man. He's a war hero. It's a civil, civil
rights. Everything you did for black folk, we
put him in front of the jury, he's gonna play.
It's much too soon to put Jerry on the sentence.
It's much too early in the trial. We don't have
any information yet. It ain't never too soon
with me, Mike. It's never too soon with me.
Wait, we know nothing about Maine yet. We've only
seen her interview. What? Technical witnesses?
We know nothing about a real cross-examination
style. Nor know how actually dangerous she
is. Y'all don't know y'all asked from holding
the ground. Now I made a decision. You can get on board, you can get the fuck out.
Let's talk about some of your values. Because
if I'm not mistaken, Jerry, you were eight
times decorating human. You got the air metal,
the Navy metal. You got the flying cross. And
you did all of that in the sacrifice for your
country. I don't think war is anything to
be celebrated. But I didn't serve my country and quite proud of me.
Thank you for your service. But you didn't
stop there. You came back to your county. You
took over the family business. And then you did what I call you. You jumped out the
frying pan into the fire, man. You wanted to be in politics, didn't you? You ran for
me in your hometown in Bilox. I ran twice to
serve two terms as mayor of 1974 until 1982.
And I understand in one of those terms that
a very friendly group of people came to visit
you, the Ku Klux Klan. Objection your honor.
What is the relevance to this line of questioning
that we're in a case about concepts, your
honor? You may answer that question. I denied
them a permit to demonstrate in Bilox. You told
the Ku Klux Klan. In Bilox and Mississippi.
That's it. Nope. Now, flying, war planes is
one thing. But to tell the Klan, no, at that
time, that's a tip type of break. Jerry, I've
got an opportunity to know you, you and your
family, but these good folks here. Have not.
I just want to ask you, what are your values?
What is important to you? Mr. O'Keefe. Good day. How are you?
Good. I'm doing well. Thank you. You are.
Good. I can just listen to the testimony you
gave. I think it's fair to say that the real
material substance centered on character. Would
you agree? Yes. I couldn't hear that. Can you
speak up? I said, yes ma'am. I agree. Okay,
character. Let's talk about character. Well,
the overall insinuation being made is that while
you are a man of honor, of strong moral
principles, according to you, my client is not.
I think Mr. Lowen and I have very different
approaches as to how to deal with people in business.
Ah, in business. Yes. Right. Okay. I don't think
I'm curious about how did you end up needing to
sell those for your homes to Mr. Lowen? Well, I
had run into a little bit of financial trouble.
What kind of financial trouble? Because I'm pretty
sure the actual reason you so desperately needed
to sell at the time that you did is because the
Mississippi State Insurance Commission was about
to revoke your license. Is that correct? As a
matter of fact, your license to sell insurance
in the state of Mississippi is currently under
suspension. Can we agree that that is a true statement?
Mr. O'Kee? No, we cannot because it's a lot more complicated than that.
Enlighten me. How's it more complicated? Was your license suspended or was it no?
Objection, your honor, on the simple fact that she's just angry.
Oh, we already know that he was in financial trouble
overruled. Well, the real truth here is that.
you lost your license because you got involved
in some shady savings and loans business deal
with a man that if I'm not mistaken is currently
in jail right now. There are objects. This is not
money that you used to finance this deal. That
money yours? I was responsible that money. You used.
other people's money. Actually, you used your
client's money to finance your involvement in
said business deal with a now convicted felon. Am I
correct? Am I correct, Mr. O'Kee? This has nothing
to do with this case. Overrule. Am I correct? That's
not how I would characterize this. Is it possible
that this entire case stems from jealousy?
Objection, y'all. We're talking about emotion,
jealousy, overrule. Mr. O'Kee, you said yourself
that you and Mr. Lowen have very different ways of
doing business and it might be the truth statement
you said all day long because like you, Mr. Lowen
inherited the business from his father. However,
unlike you, he was able to build that business into
a multi-million dollar empire. Meanwhile, what has become of your father's legacy?
Jerry. Hold up now. Jerry. Wait up. Where are you? Jerry. Why the hell was that?
So what you talking about? I don't understand.
You angry with me? Am I angry with you? You're
supposed to protect me up there. You're supposed
to make sure I was safe on the cross-examination
and all of that. Daddy, my fault. I didn't know she was going to ask you all that.
Your job? You know what she's going to ask me.
You tell me all of the shit. You told me about
the, the sabers of the law. You told me about the
money, but you didn't tell me nothing about him
going to jail. When I made the deal with him, he
was not a felon. I had every reason to believe
that that was a good, solid, but I can't read
your mind. That's not my fault. Of course it is.
Since the first day I hired you, you have been
trying to turn this case into your own personal
one-ring circus. I've done everything I can to
try to save your ass. I put every time I have
it in this deal and you're still fucking around.
I understand. I'm not fucking around listening.
That ain't bad. You don't have anything on
the line here, Willie. When this case is over,
win, lose and draw, you're going to get your
airplane and fly away. I'm going to be here. I got
plenty on the line. I got my damn life on the line
and I don't know how much of that's left. I know
that, Jerry. I'll make you do a decision. A
decision for what, Jerry? I'm going to replay
this to you as we need an attorney. Well, Mike,
that's what you doing? Huh? I'm telling you
right now, Jerry. That's a huge mistake. Shit. Hey. Hey, baby. What you doing?
Just done a little bit of reading. You, you
sound a little dumb, baby. Is everything okay?
No, I'm, I'm, I'm good. I don't know. Okay. No,
no. No, I, I got replaced. I said I got replaced.
They replaced me. What? Yeah, Jerry. What place do you, baby? What does that mean?
It means that they want, they want somebody else
to be Lee Counseling. So, so they replaced me.
Honey, really? But wait, I don't understand. Why would he do that? Why?
I screwed up, screwed up, screwed up. I screwed up. I screwed up. I screwed up.
I, I put Jerry on the stand and I didn't, I
didn't have him to bad enough when they did the
process examination. They, they're not in,
they, it was bad. It's got me upset. I'm upset.
I didn't, the reason that I'm upset is because I,
I seen, seeing Jerry sort of said it, it's got me
upset, so I'm just, I'm upset about it. You sound like you really care about this man.
Jerry? Yeah. Yeah, I care. Jerry's cool now. I, pardon
me. Are you by any chance Mrs. Lorraine McGrath?
Well, well, yes, but I, I'm sorry. I don't, I don't mean
to be rude at, it's just, I was kind of expecting a lawyer.
Yeah, I am a lawyer. I'm the guy you spoke with on the phone, Hal Dawkins.
Oh, I'm so sorry. I, I hope I didn't offend you.
It just, well, to be honest, you look very young.
Here y'all go. Here y'all go. I worked at a low and own funeral home for 13 years.
And all that time I saw a lot, you know, about how that company operates.
Before we go any further, I just have to ask you, would you be willing to testify?
Ms. McGrath, how are you doing this afternoon? Very well, thank you.
That's fine. That's just fine. Ms. McGrath, would you mind telling us how long you
work as an employee for the Durbinans son's funeral home in South Haven, Mississippi?
I worked at that funeral home for about 13 years before I quit.
Mm-hmm. And did you witness any transfer of ownership during this time period?
Um, a Durbinans son was bought by the Lowen Group
sometime around 1990. I was there during that time.
And did you notice any changes in the way the
company was run after the Lowen Group took over?
At the most significant was how they implemented this policy of raising
prices on certain items in areas where they didn't have any competition.
Mostly this turned out to be poor areas where there was a lot of poverty.
Could you give us an example of this type of selective pricing?
There was this one casket in particular. I remember the the Wilbert Copper Tribune.
It was supposed to retail for $750, which it did in some places like St. Madison.
But then in other places like Corinth, which, as you know, is very poor.
Yes, of course.
Over there they hiked the price up to something
crazy, like three times what it was supposed to cost.
Just because they could. They knew customers didn't have anywhere else to go.
So basically, if I understand you, the Lowen Group
was involved in a form of selective price gouging.
Of what? Objection. You're on our how could the witness possibly
know the intentions of people she's never even met before?
It's just a thing.
All right, Ben. Let me ask you this. In your time at Durbin and Sons,
will you ever left with the impression that the Lowen Group might
have been specifically targeting minority communities in Swarth?
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
Speculation, Mr. R. Red. What is the basis for this line of questioning?
Star Red.
You know what? I apologize.
No basis. It was just speculation as all. Please consider it stricken.
But John, I do take exception to Ms. Town's tongue.
She got it.
My tongue.
No, her tongue.
Oh, man.
No further question.
I would note it, all right.
Come on, Jerry.
Well, what the hell are you?
I guess you're still mad at me, huh?
It was a very bad day when we just leave with a tad.
All right, here we go.
Look, I messed up in there.
Okay, I did the wrong thing and I blew it in Durb.
I just want to say I'm sorry and I apologize.
Very well.
I apologize, except.
Good. I haven't got that over there.
This is the first time you ever apologize to somebody like that.
Be honest with you, my wife.
She helped me with the phrase.
Mm-hmm.
When she did a very nice job, I want you to thank her for me.
And you know what I can't stand about that, man.
What?
His face.
I don't know what you mean.
It's, uh... You know what I'm talking about?
In the expression.
No, it's generation upon generation of white entitlement and privilege, all of it.
Unfortunately, the jury did seem to eat it up.
Yeah, that is a problem, isn't it?
I see his name.
Or the witness list at some point.
I suppose it like Gary was planning on calling it.
Calling him as a material witness to the agreement between O'Keefe and Lowey.
Which means I will have him on cross.
Which means you're going to have him on cross.
Hey, I mean, if you guys read about this deal that the Lowey
group made was something called the National Baptist Convention.
The National Baptist Convention?
What? What is that?
It's like, you know, like, an arm of the black church.
But a really big one.
Probably the biggest, actually.
Sorry, did you just say that the Lowey group has a deal with the black church?
The National Baptist Convention, but yeah.
How does that make any sense?
I don't know.
It's all right here.
Apparently they created some sort of partnership about a year ago.
Hard to say why though.
Okay, can you get me some more information about this?
Yes, sir.
Are the plaintiffs ready to call that next witness?
Yes, actually, Your Honor.
We'd like to call Mr. O'Keefe's longtime attorney, Michael Alred to the state.
Your Honor, seriously?
Well, you're going with this, Mr. Douglas.
Your Honor, we recognize how this might seem a little unusual.
However, Mr. Alred was with Mr. O'Keefe as his
attorney the entire time he was dealing with Lowey.
And we feel like this testimony would be essential.
Michael Alred.
Who the hell we friends on?
I'm going to call you Mike.
You better educate.
So Mike, in your 30 years of practicing law,
specializing in contract law, did it ever occur to you
when you were drawing up the contract between Mr. O'Keefe and Mr. Lowey.
There could be any kind of misunderstanding as to what that document actually was.
You know, sir, it was extremely clear to everyone exactly what it was.
It was a contract.
A contract?
A contract.
There was anything that suggested in the language that the
agreed upon time for the deal to close would be open ended.
How's it feel to be sitting in that chair?
It's a little uncomfortable yet.
Imagine we haven't even gotten started yet.
You've been Mr. O'Keefe's attorney.
Quite some time now, yes?
I have.
For 30 years.
Nearly 30 years.
Mmm.
And would you say you and Mr. O'Keefe are good friends?
Jerry's one of my closest friends.
Hmm.
Yeah, we share a lot in common.
I admire him.
Mr. O'Keefe, would you say this is a case about race?
Objection.
Over ruled.
Would I say this is a case about race? No.
I would not say this is a case about race.
Really?
Okay, well, the subject of race does seem to keep coming up, doesn't it?
Almost exclusively from your side.
For instance, this whole heroic narrative about Mr. O'Keefe
supposedly having some sort of civil rights record and denying the KKK a permit.
Explain to me what relevance that has to a case about contracts?
About Jerry's character.
It's more about his integrity and his decency.
He does such great things for black people, huh?
Objection.
I would not say this.
I would not allow this line of question, Ms. Down's this thing.
Another thing that's been made quite clear in this case is.
how important family, family legacy is to Mr. O'Keefe.
Is that something you share?
Family important to you as well?
Well, it's not just important to me.
It's everything to me.
It's everything.
Well, that's something you and Mr. O'Keefe have in common.
Objection.
The witness can answer the question, but let's try and get to the point.
Absolutely, it's something that we share in common.
Is this really what you want to be asking me, Ms. Down's?
It is.
Actually.
But thank you.
You love your family.
Yeah?
You're a tennis family, you're an immediate family.
You love all of your family, yes?
I can't remember my family.
Yeah?
So, there's no one that you secretly wish you could disown,
someone that you're made with.
She doesn't matter what you feel.
She doesn't know what to do.
I know I have some family members.
I would love to disown, but you don't.
I'm going to take care of you.
No, you don't.
No.
Say, for instance, your grandfather.
My grandfather?
Yes.
Your grandfather.
Here's my grandfather.
What does that have to do with this case?
Remind me.
How long was your grandfather, a member of the Ku Klux Klan?
Objection.
Your honor.
That's right now.
This is wrong.
Objection.
Did you bond with your grandfather?
About the KKK?
Did you share some love about the birdie cross?
You go to any KKK rallies with your grandfather, Mr. Allred?
No, this is not a lie.
It has nothing to do with this case.
Objects.
Overall, Mr. Gary, answer the question, Mr. Allred.
That's nothing to do with the case.
Answer the question.
What question are you asking me?
Was I aware that my grandfather was once a member of the KKK?
You don't have to answer that question.
Objection.
I heard you the first time.
Is that Gary?
Yes, I was asking that question.
I am no longer asking that question.
No further questions.
What's his grandfather has done?
You know where the law is?
That was completely out of line, Mr. Allred.
Oh, the hypocrisy.
The hypocrisy is quite outrageous, your honor.
Well, you're going to pull the brothers right now.
They're now, she'll grandad.
Say it, Mike.
Say it.
Oh, it's easy.
Come on, Mike.
Do not.
Yeah.
You know what?
I'm sorry.
All right?
I'm sorry.
Her behavior was unconscionable.
You cannot hold someone responsible for the mistakes of their ancestors, Mike.
You'll grandad is a racist, land-stealing, slave-braping piece of shit.
Oh, come on.
Now, Reggie Douglas, that's not right.
That's not right.
He's still my grandad.
He's still my grandfather.
Stop.
Oh, Leo.
Mike, we're not finna crucify you.
But what happened in the past?
He can't fix his grandpa or anything else.
But you know what we can fix?
This case.
Hold it.
Hold on, man.
This is what you're, you're, you're, you're finna give him a pass?
That's what this is?
I'ma give him a pass because you didn't know enough
about his pass, and that's why you got your ass kicked.
Fuck this case, man.
Oh, man, I'm going back to Florida.
No.
Doin' exactly what we should've did it again.
I got a question for you, Reggie.
What's taking you so long to get out the door?
Wow.
We'll have to tell me twice.
Have fun with these white folks.
Reg.
You wanna go to?
No one.
I'm out.
You tired of this shit?
I'm out too.
I miss home anyway.
Willie, I'm getting too over this shit, man.
Mike, I'm sorry.
I'm truly, truly sorry.
Me too.
You didn't have this?
Yeah, what?
We got a case?
To win?
I should probably...
I should probably recuse myself.
I'm not like that.
Yeah, I probably should.
Mike, you can't do that.
I'm not sure.
We can win this case.
If I even dare to step foot in that courtroom again, the jury's never gonna see me.
They're just gonna see a guy with a sheet on his head.
I said, we dug a hole.
We dug a hole, but we didn't dig out of it.
I'm sorry, Willie, I can't do it.
Because we both know by staying on my presence
it's just gonna hurt the case more, and I can't
do that to you, and I sure can't do that to Jerry.
Mm-hmm.
All right.
We'll have to let him enhance you.
You good, man?
Albert, be good.
Well, there you are.
I've been looking for you.
Mm-hmm.
This trial is not going the way I wanted it to.
I feel like I made a bad mistake.
You know, I ought to be cutting my losses.
I thought justice was blind.
And I could hold Ray Long to his word in the court of law.
Making bad, but hell, I just want to turn that blind.
I am sorry for putting you through all this.
You don't need to say sorry, Jerry Ma.
Not to me, anyway.
I know who you are.
Have you told Willie yet?
No.
I think he goes home to Florida on the weekends.
I feel like they'll tell him in person.
I think that would be the right thing to do.
Hey, sorry.
Wait, what's in this one again?
Is that info you requested on Lowens Deal with the National Baptist Convention?
Actually, would you mind leaving the mountain here with me?
You really think it's over, boss?
I don't think there's any way we can move this case.
And I guess it's Jerry's, so I can see it that way as well, so.
You must be Miss Gary.
Yes.
I hope you'll forgive me for just showing up like this, but I'm Jeremiah O'Keefe.
Oh, you mean Jerry?
Yes, ma'am.
See, Jerry, that my husband keeps going on and down.
It's Willie's home, by the way.
Oh, I'm not afraid he's not.
He's over at his mother's in Indian town where he usually goes on Saturdays.
Hey, I'll tell you what.
You give me a minute to grab my car keys.
I'll drive you there myself.
Oh, no, please, no.
I don't want to impose.
Jerry, absolutely not.
You family now.
Come on now.
Just since we're in Indian town now.
This where Willie's from?
Where we're both from.
Willie and I have their differences.
I want you to know I think he's a remarkable man.
I'm glad that I don't have any.
I'm not here.
I'm super.
I'm a man.
Everybody's going to down.
That's it.
Oh, my goodness.
Willie ever tell you he's one of 11 siblings?
Mm-hmm.
Number 6 out of the... I have 13 children of my own.
Oh, my God.
You know.
I do.
I say, ooh.
I don't have 26 kids.
Well, then, you know.
There's always that one baby.
Then no matter what you do, it's always clinging to you for dear life.
Wrapped around the bottom of your leg and can't let go.
That's my Willie.
And look at where all that long men and desperation for love has gotten him now.
My grandfather was a sharecropper.
A paternal grandfather, my name.
My namesake.
I was eight-year-old.
I didn't have sugar cane fields, you know.
Working.
Me.
Four-thirty months you wake me up, man.
Give me out here.
I want to talk to this grads, man.
That's how it all got started out in the sugar cane.
The reason I came all the way out here, Willie's because I... Listen, listen, listen.
Before you even get up, I know.
You don't drop the case.
I know it's got to be a disappointment.
But if there was any way that I thought... Listen, listen, listen.
You don't understand that.
Look at it.
I know you got to do what you got to do.
But at the same time, you just got to know that I have no...
I'm deep in my heart that me and you together.
We could have did it.
We could have took that company down, man.
I just hope you know how much I've enjoyed getting to know you.
Listen, it didn't roll our way.
But getting to know you was a highlight.
What's that noise?
Listen.
Hey.
How?
Harry, I can barely hear you.
Hey, are you with Jerry right now?
Yeah.
Good.
Yes.
Okay. Do not let him drop the case.
Hello?
Yeah. Can you hear me?
It's bad connection.
I said, do not let him drop the case.
Just trust me. Okay.
I may have found something.
Okay.
Good.
I have to speak with us.
It's just us.
Everyone.
What can you tell us about the deal the lone
group made on the National Baptist Convention?
Well, nothing good ever come out of it.
At least not for black folks.
That's the truth.
About a year back, the lone group connected with some of
the top leadership of the NBC National Baptist Convention.
Yes.
One of the largest single branches of the black church.
They represent over 33,000 churches and more than 8 million members.
Anyway, they made a proposal to the NBC.
Told them that if they could convince the black church to
endorse that lone group as their death care provider of choice,
then they turned some of his members in the salesman.
Like teach them how to sell everything from graves to crips to
headstones and burial insurance straight to their own people.
And for every product they sold, they could keep the commission.
Wait a minute.
So the lone group was taking public people, having them sell
their funeral products to other public people for a commission.
Of course they said it was all win-win.
It helped people out of poverty, boost economic empowerment.
But it never did much for anybody except the lone group of course.
Yeah.
They were just trying to find another way to exploit
black folks in their most vulnerable moments.
You know what this right here is?
I'm not sure what it is.
It's a cemetery.
You can't tell from looking at it on the
counter the fact that there's no headstones.
What is that?
That's causing us a different kind of cemetery.
It's an old slave burial ground.
Everybody knows slaves didn't have no money their own
to have a buried their loved ones with a headstone.
Oh, you can't really tell by looking at it?
Our entire history.
History of black people in the South.
History of black people in America.
Our slave ancestors.
It's all buried everywhere out here.
Deep on the ground.
Pretty much everywhere you look that's where our history is.
In these vast empty fields.
In some places.
They put up all these statues.
You know, like all these confederate monuments and statues you see everywhere.
All of them is put up right on top of the slave burial field.
It's like taking one history and putting it right on top of another.
It's like taking one man's legacy.
Putting it on top of another.
Till one day it get pushed down so deep.
Buried so deep.
Can't no one ever find it no more.
Some of the members came to me and told me that the actual cost of burying my
father was going to be much more than what they said when I bought the policy.
When I told them that I didn't have the extra money
and I didn't know how long it would take me to get it.
They happily said they'd keep the body on ice.
Rather than give me any comfort, the Deacon assigned to be counselor.
Used it as an opportunity to shove a bunch of brochures
in my face and try and recruit me as a low in sales rep.
And suddenly this man from the NBC shows up asking if I made funeral arrangements.
If I'd be interested in a law and Bury package, he said I'd
get a much better deal if I paid up front before my son died.
Once my husband finally passed, that's when they said that the package
that I bought didn't cover the cost of embalming or removing the body.
I ate the coffee and I bought my mom, was at least a specific one.
Coming to find out, the one they sold me was three times more than average.
Your own preacher come to you telling you you
need something and your religious, you believe it.
Now, I understand that you are one of the analysts for the law and group.
You deal with some of the high-level deals.
Is that correct? Yes, that's correct.
Also, that you were one of the architects of this latest deal that
you had between the long route and the National Baptist Convention.
Is that right? Yes, I was.
Yeah, yeah. You Baptist? No, not Baptist.
No, Christian. Yes.
Yeah, we are Christian, right? We all believe in God, amen, amen.
One group project to make from this deal of them and the NBC.
And remember, you're under oath.
Our original long-term projections for that deal
were somewhere around one, maybe $1.2 billion?
$1.2 million? $1.2 billion?
$1.2 billion?
$1.2 billion? That's good money for the long group, correct?
That's good money. That's good money. $1.2 billion? I
thought you said million, but you said billion dollars.
How much did you pay? I'm sorry.
I said, how much did you pay? How much did the
long group pay the National Baptist Convention?
As compensation as a result of the deal.
I believe we made about a $200,000 donation.
If you already heard it, we didn't have a defense for it.
Oh, my fucking mess.
I don't have to go alone.
Dealing with people, honestly, is something that's always been important to us.
Do we seek to be tough competitors in an increasingly volatile market?
Yes. But we don't cheat people. It's not how we operate.
No further questions, Your Honor.
You owe witness, Mr. Gary? All right.
It's long how you doing?
I'm very well thinking, Mr. Gary.
In that suit like this, I don't mind it. I can tell that and mile away.
Listen, I just want to thank you for coming down here.
I know you're really busy and we appreciate it, but it's good to have a big man here.
Because, you know, we want to shine some
light on some of these dark places and that.
I'll just start right off with it. I want to know, from your perspective,
what was the deal that you had between you and Mr. O'Keefe?
I believe it was roughly a year ago when we received
an inquiry from a representative of Mr. O'Keefe's.
In fact, I'm pretty sure it was his lawyer, Mr. O'Brien, who contacted us.
My understanding is they were very anxious to sell.
So, we started looking into the deal.
So, I'll say, you know, trying to determine if it was
something that would be a good fit for our business.
So, after that, I invited Mr. O'Keefe and his associates up to Vancouver.
If I recall, they came for dinner at my boat and we discussed things.
After that, hard to say.
Normally, at that stage, I turned things over to my acquisitions team.
Well, that's pleasant. I mean, that really is.
And lucky for you, Mr. Lone, I don't have a lot of follow-up questions.
I just have one thing I want to ask you, what kind of boat?
Come again.
Oh, I said, what kind of boat?
You said earlier that you guys were all on the boat together and
you're always eating, having a good time, having the best fish.
And I just wanted to know what kind of boat is?
I don't understand. Are you asking about the particular make?
Or, matter of fact, I was asking, can I read from this?
It says, nine, son and Dex.
Six elegant state rooms of fire.
I don't use the relevance of witnesses' boat.
I just want to recognize and let everybody see that it's a very nice boat.
You've got a helicopter, helicopter fan. You
can land a helicopter on that thing, huh?
That's something else right there. That's how it goes.
How much does this boat of yours cost?
I really don't know.
I think you're not understanding the question.
Let me frame it again so you can understand it better.
I'm asking you, how much did you pay for your boat?
I don't know.
I'm just asking.
Forget about that. Let me ask you this, how much you pay for your plane, huh?
Since you can remember some things and you forget
other things, how much you pay for your plane?
How much do you pay for your plane, Mr. Gary? I saw it on the runway.
You know what? We can talk about how much I paid
for my plane because I know exactly how much it was,
but we're not talking about my plane right now. We're talking about your boat.
So, let me ask one more time so everybody can hear and
understand what I'm saying to Mr. Lohan, the billionaire,
who doesn't know the price of his own boat that he had dinner on with his colleagues.
I want to ask you again, how much did you pay for your boat?
I don't know.
I think he's not hearing what I'm saying.
I'm going to ask you one more time, Mr. Lohan. How much did your boat cost?
What is your point?
What's my point? What is my point?
Why are you sitting there suiting on that $25
million boat, eating your $30 a head lobster?
Didn't it ever bother you that it was all being paid for by
all the poor people and destitute people that your company
were systematically taking advantage of and profiting from every single day?
Not only that, but with taking advantage of them
at their worst time when they're downtrodden,
when they lost somebody, when they mourned somebody, and now who has to pay for it?
The small business man like Jeremiah O'Keefe, the small business
man in this country who works so hard to pay for everything
and stay on top and keep afloat by these
greedy corporations through everything they can and you know what?
Sit your ass down.
You'll sit your ass down.
Until I finish what I'm saying, because I'm not done.
I'm not done getting written by a long shot.
Language of that nature will not be tolerated in my court.
Mr. Lohan, you may not leave the witness stand unless you're excused by me.
Do you understand?
You may continue, Mr. Garrett, but I warn you to tread lightly.
I just want to know what did it ever bother you at all.
It's all I need.
Motherfucker!
What was that?
I was scared out there!
Where else this is so?
What you got there?
Well, you know we've come to a decision.
We have and what have we decided?
Well, in light of reason events, it does feel that it would be
best for all parties involved to reopen a settlement discussion.
In other words, we are...
We are prepared to make your client a very generous offer.
I know it's hard for you to get out, but how generous we talk.
I mean, work with me, Willie. It's not going to be odd, but you don't.
I mean, needless to say, it's going to be in the range in which neither Jerry
nor his kids nor his grandkids would ever have to worry about anything again.
That's not good. That's not good.
I'll tell you what.
Why don't we meet in your room in a couple hours?
Make sure you get your best negotiator, you know what?
Your last gone needed.
Generally, damages and tort are awarded simply to restore the
plaintiff back to the position he or she was in before tort occurred.
However, given how protracted this whole matter has become, we believe
that it is in all our best interest to resolve this once and for all.
We'd like to make you what we consider a very generous offer.
Obviously, should you decide not to take it, we can all go back into court tomorrow.
You can roll the dice with the jury.
But frankly, the chances that you will win will come anywhere
close to this number is a risk I doubt you wanted to.
Okay.
Here's our offer.
The answer's no.
Are you serious?
No, I've said dances, no.
You mean to tell me you are really going to turn that down?
You sure you don't maybe want a little more time to think it over?
I thought it over a night.
I think we both know that's more money than you'll ever see in your lifetime.
You're going to get down to business so y'all don't keep wasting that time.
Yeah, I've said no.
Okay.
You sure?
Yes.
That's the final.
The answer's still no.
Well, this is just fucking unbelievable.
What the hell's your problem, okay?
You can't honestly tell me that is not enough.
It's more than enough for me.
It's just not enough for you.
For me.
As in enough to put you out of business.
No.
Come on.
Let me tell you something pal.
The amount of money it would take to put me out of business the real actual amount.
It's a number you can't even calculate.
Take the money.
Jerry, you're 80 years old.
Simply firm.
Can you please talk to your client?
Talk to him about what?
About the fact he just turned down.
Oh, he said no.
Last I'd say the no means no, right?
What does it feel like to be some small-time nobody,
funeral director on the verge of bankruptcy
who just passed on as one and only chance at.
75 million dollars.
What does it feel like?
It feels good.
That's it.
He's saying no, we see y'all already walking along now.
It feels good.
It's so good.
It's good.
It feels good.
It's good.
It feels good.
Can you do it even?
What you doing?
I thought you could use some company.
Oh, ladies.
So much.
You know how.
I don't trust you now.
I do appreciate it.
Dad, what kind of bad is it?
Oh, you.
Oh, it gives you that taste.
Ah! Ah.
Close the language, Mr. Mike.
You think that'll be all of that?
I don't have big cases.
But...
there's a particular one is...
A lot of people's lives are mine, and I think
I kind of feel that a little bit, you know,
especially when I come to jail.
So, I don't want to lose an adult, and I think what
if I don't win, and I let all these people down?
Well, you're not going to let them down, so you don't need to worry.
You know that forefact. That's glory.
I don't know your forefact. I know you forefact. I know men I marry you.
You help her.
Yeah. Oh, but, one suggestion though, baby?
Yeah. What's that?
When you're up there in court tomorrow, doing your thing,
just try not to refer yourself in the third person.
Okay.
What did you tell my girl?
No. Yeah. You do. Just a little.
I don't think I'll do that.
Girl, get ready. Willie Garrett coming upstairs now.
Trust me. You do.
I guess Willie Garrett doesn't do that anymore.
Ladies and gentlemen, the jury, I just have one small question to ask.
Do y'all mind if I keep thanks to him?
Just playing an ordinary talk?
Has the jury reached the verdict?
After careful consideration, we the jury encased number 9661 of the Hines County District Court, Mr. Jeremiah
J. O'Kee versus the Lowen Group LLC, have decided to side and favor the plaintiff, Jeremiah O'Kee.
We have further decided to award a verdict of $100 million in compensatory damages to be paid to Mr. O'Kee by defendant
Lowen Group LLC, and a verdict of $400 million in punitive damages to be paid to Mr. O'Kee by defendant Lowen Group.
Ladies and gentlemen, come on.
I have one two million dollars, chair.
I know it, Willie.
Hey, Willie.
Hey, man. What you do you got? Come down here for your last look?
Oh, my last look? No. I actually just wanted to congratulate you.
Hey. Yeah. Badly.
Mm-hmm.
Hey, come on. You mean that?
Listen, I hate things.
Well, it was a well earned victory. I can be honest about that.
Well, I'm patient with that, so five hundred million dollars.
No. So many inside. I know you think that's way too much.
Yeah, maybe there's a part of me that thinks it's not enough.
I do know.
Good luck to you, Willie Gary.
Give it a touch.
Hope to see you on the trail.
Huh? Hey, man.
I got to tell you something.
You're one of the toughest lawyers I've ever had to go against.
You too.
No doubt Johnny would be impressed.
And you feel alone?
But hold on.
It can be rough in this world.
It ain't easy, but hang on in there.
Mm-hmm.
You sing good. You sing bad.
You've been hungry and sad.
But just remember,
it's a better day.
It's a better day.
It's always good. Just a little bit.
Mm-hmm.
We'll leave you home.
I'll buy yourself, but don't cry.
I'll take better days.
Better days.