Erin Brockovich (film)/Transcript

Um... you have no
actual medical training?
No. I have kids.
Learned a lot right there.
I've seen nurses give my son
throat cultures, and what is it?
 
You stick a giant Q-tip
down their throat and wait.
Urinalysis: You take that dipstick
to see if the white count's high.
- Yes, I understand.
- Yeah.
I'm great with people.
You'd have to observe me
to know for sure. Trust me on that.
I'm a fast learner.
Show me in a lab once...
...and I've got it down.
I always wanted to go
to medical school.
That was my first interest.
Then I got married...
...and had a kid too young
and blew that.
Out of high school, I got a job...
...with Fleuer Engineers in Irvine.
 
I fell madly in love with geology.
- Geology?
- Yeah.
I learned how to read maps.
Yeah. But I lost my job because...
...my boy got chickenpox,
104 temperature.
My ex-husband was useless, so...
That didn't really work out.
You got a really nice office.
Thanks.
Look...
Oh, fuck!
Goddamn it!
Good morning, Mr. Masry.
- Morning, Rosalind.
- How are you?
- I'm fine. And you?
- Very well. Thank you for asking.
Good morning.
How you doing?
Donald.
Did you see it last night?
I taped it.
Don't tell me what happens.
It was so good.
Your nine o'clock's here already.
- Remind me.
- Erin Brockovich.
Car accident.
Not her fault, she says.
She was referred.
- Erin, hi.
- Hi.
Ed Masry. Sorry you had to wait.
That's okay.
Here, sit. Sit down.
Thank you.
I never thought standing
could take it out of you.
Ever since that shithead hit me...
...it's like my body's
put together wrong.
You poor thing.
Did anyone ask if you wanted coffee?
- Yeah. I'm fine.
- Good.
Listen, whoever did this to you
made one hell of a mistake.
And you and me, we're gonna
make him pay for it.
So, uh...
...why don't you
tell me what happened?
I was pulling out real slow,
and out of nowhere...
...his Jaguar comes racing around
the corner like a bat out of hell.
They took some bone from my hip
and put it in my neck.
I don't have insurance...
...so I'm about $17,000
in debt right now.
I couldn't take painkillers. They made
me too groggy to take care of my kids.
Matthew's 8,
and Katie's almost 6.
And Beth's just 9 months.
I just wanna be a good mom...
...a nice person, a decent citizen.
I just wanna take good care
of my kids.
Yeah. Yeah, I know.
Seventeen thousand in debt?
Your ex-husband helping?
Which one?
There's more than one?
Yeah, there's two. Why?
You must have been feeling
desperate that afternoon.
What's your point?
Broke, three kids, no job.
- Doctor in a Jaguar is a meal ticket...
- Objection.
- Sustained.
- He hit me!
So you say.
He came tearing around the corner,
out of control.
An ER doctor, who spends his days
saving lives, was out of control?
That asshole smashed in
my fucking neck!
Open and fucking shut?!
- Exactly the language...
- It was over before that!
I told you he might get personal.
- You said I was set.
- I never said that.
You told me I had a good shot!
- Let's settle down.
- Fuck "settle down"! I've got $74.
- I can't afford to settle down!
- I'm sorry, Erin.
Do they teach lawyers to apologize?
Because you suck at it.
Hello?
- Hi.
- Hi, Erin.
You're back so soon.
Were you a good girl?
You're my little baby.
What is that? A little cough?
She's got a cough.
I sat in the steam with her
to try to loosen it up.
- I think I've got cough medicine.
- Bueno.
Listen.
I didn't wanna tell you before.
- With your worries.
- What?
My daughter bought a big house
with a room for me.
I'm moving in with her.
- When?
- Next week.
- Next week?
- I know. But it's good for me.
Now I can help
take care of my grandkids.
It's good for you.
Now with money, you can hire
a good babysitter.
Not the old lady next door.
Thanks.
Matthew?
- Katie, you back here?
- Yeah.
Come on in, would ya?
- Hey, get in the house. No dripping.
- Okay!
Sweetie. Please don't
get sick on me, please.
Let's fix dinner.
Yes, look.
Look at the water.
Goddamn it!
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Matthew! Katie! We're going out!
You go ahead and order.
I'm gonna have a cheeseburger
deluxe with a Coke.
Mommy, can I have a cheeseburger
deluxe with no cheese and no bread?
Did you get that?
And she will have a cup of chicken
broth and a few crackers, please.
- And for you?
- Just a cup of coffee.
You're not eating?
My lawyer took me out to a fancy lunch
to celebrate, and I'm still stuffed.
How about that?
Yes, I'm calling about
the job ad in the paper.
I'm calling about the job ad.
The great personality, good voice.
I don't have any actual
sales experience.
I don't really have a resume,
but I can...
I don't have any computer skills.
Oh. Well, I thought it was
the local store.
Okay. Thanks anyway.
Okay, bye.
Ed Masry, please.
Yes, I'm holding for Ed Masry.
Is he ever in the office?
No, but I've called
about a dozen times.
I'd like to leave a message.
Brockovich, B-R-O-C-K-O-V-l-C-H.
I'm a client. I want him to call.
It's that simple.
Okay.
Goddamn it!
- Brenda! Brenda!
- Yeah?
Who put that there?
The files you asked for.
I didn't ask you to put it
in the middle of the floor.
Get a towel, will you?
Hey, hey...
- Hey, what's she doing here?
- Who?
Donald.
What's she doing here?
She works here.
Erin.
How's it going?
You never called me back.
I left messages.
You did? I didn't know that.
Donald seems to think...
There's two things that aggravate me:
Being ignored and being lied to.
- I never lied.
- You said things'd be fine.
They're not. I trusted you.
- I'm sorry.
- I don't need pity.
I need a paycheck.
And I've looked.
When you spend 6 years raising babies,
it's hard to get a job that pays.
Are you getting this down, honey?
Or am I talking too fast for you?
I'm sorry about that.
But we have a full staff now...
Bullshit. If you had a full staff,
you'd return a client's damn call.
I'm smart and hard-working.
I'm not leaving here without a job.
Don't make me beg.
If it doesn't work out, fire me.
Don't make me beg.
No benefits.
What we do in here is file
all of the cases.
That way, at any time,
we can tell the status of a file.
Where it is in the office and stuff.
Here's where we organize
all the files alphabetically.
- Simple enough.
- Okay.
- And here is your desk.
- Okay.
I want to show you where
the Xerox machine is.
Everybody has a code.
- Do I get to pick my own code?
- We'll see.
Can you tell me who I talk to about
getting an advance on my paycheck?
Just for the weekend.
Rosalind's the office manager.
She handles the payroll
and petty cash.
She's gone already.
She leaves early on Fridays.
- Okay, thank you.
- Oh, for Pete's sake, here.
I've only got hundreds.
I don't want your money, Mr. Masry.
Where do you think
your paycheck comes from?
- Have a good weekend.
- Thank you.
- See you.
- All right, see you.
See you Monday.
Hi, my sweetie. Hello.
How are you?
Matthew, Katie.
- Hey, Mom.
- Hi, sweetie.
How are you?
- Thanks a lot.
- You're welcome.
Hey!
Hey!
Hello.
What are you doing
making all that goddamn noise?
Introducing ourselves
to the neighbourhood, I guess.
Well, I am the neighbours. There.
We're introduced.
So shut up.
Wait. Hold on there.
Let's start over, okay?
My name's George.
What's yours?
Just think of me as the person
next door who likes it quiet.
Don't be like that.
Look, we live next door.
I feel bad.
I'm sorry.
Will you accept my apology?
We're living right next door.
If you need a cup of a sugar...
- I don't need sugar.
- You don't.
Why don't I take you
out to dinner to apologize?
Give me your number.
I got your address...
...so you can't get away.
I'll call you up proper
and ask you out.
You want my number?
I do. I do want your number.
Which number do you want, George?
I like the way you say that.
How many numbers you got?
I got numbers coming out
of my ears. For instance, 10.
- Ten.
- Yeah.
That's how many months old
my baby girl is.
- You got a little girl?
- Yeah.
Sexy, huh? How about this? Six.
That's my other daughter.
Eight is my son.
Two is the times
I've been married and divorced.
$16 is what I have
in my bank account.
850-3943, that's my phone number.
I'm guessing zero is the number
of times you're gonna call it.
Hey, how do you remember
your bank balance?
See, that impresses me.
You're dead wrong about that zero.
How long has she been crying?
She's got that tooth coming in.
Give her a cold washcloth to suck on.
I'll check back later.
Where's Anna?
She's out to lunch with the girls.
I have to open a file.
Real-estate thing, pro bono.
- Okay.
- Know how to do that?
Yeah, I got it. No problem.
You're a girl.
Excuse me?
Why aren't you out to lunch
with the girls? You're a girl.
I guess I'm not the right kind.
Look, you may want to...
Now that you're working here...
You may want to rethink
your wardrobe a little.
Why is that?
Well, I think some of the girls
are a little uncomfortable...
...because of what you wear.
Is that so?
Well, it just so happens,
I think I look nice.
As long as I have one ass
instead of two, I'll wear what I like...
...if that's all right with you?
You might wanna rethink those ties.
With real-estate stuff, could you
remind me? I'm a little confused.
Why are there medical records
and blood samples in real-estate files?
You've been here long enough.
If you don't know how to do your job
by now, I'm not gonna do it for you.
Hello?
Hello?
Matthew? Katie?
Matthew? Katie?
Matthew!
What happened?
- Hi, Mom.
- Hey. Hungry?
Am l...?
They're here?
I went to pick them up.
She came by an hour ago. Something
came up, she dropped them off.
Something came up?
Why didn't she call?
I don't know. She, I was, she...
I don't know why.
- That stupid bitch.
- Mom!
I just can't believe she dumps
my kids off when nobody's home.
I was home.
We're fine. We cooked
burgers, had some milk.
You want a hot dog? There's one.
- Or a cheeseburger?
- But this mustard is slippery.
Mom, what do you think
about me getting a tattoo?
One, two, three.
I got all these kings.
You win, you got a joker.
King.
Joker.
You stole a joker!
You cheat.
What do you mean?
You cheat!
Get another one.
Time to go to bed.
Get ready for bed.
Brush your teeth.
- Play tomorrow?
- Yeah.
Good night, buddy.
What's that?
This is a Harley-Davidson,
the best motorcycle ever.
And if I ever catch either one of you
near one, knock you silly.
Brush. And keep it down,
the baby's asleep.
You got great kids.
Well, I'm sure
I'll fuck 'em up eventually.
Why?
I'm not a good judge of character,
or I wouldn't have left them...
...with that idiot, who cost a lot
and smelled like chicken fat.
And after I find her and kill her...
...I don't know what I'm gonna do.
If you need help with them,
I could do that.
- I'm not leaving my kids with you.
- Why?
- I don't even know you.
- What do you wanna know?
- Thanks for today...
- You're welcome.
It was my pleasure.
How many decks did you have?
We had more than enough.
Got so many friends
you can't use one more?
If you need someone to look after your
kids after school, or whatever...
...I don't have a job now.
Oh, that's a great recommendation:
"I'm unemployed."
By choice.
I work when I need to.
What do you do?
Live off your trust fund?
I do construction, which pays good,
and I make it last by living cheap.
Is that supposed to impress me?
Hey. Bed.
Your little ghosts.
You always this hard on people
who try to help you?
I'm out of practice.
Well, let me remind you then.
The polite thing is to say thank you.
I'd start it off with that.
Then, " Hey, that's
a really nice offer.
I don't mind taking you up on that."
Why do you want to watch my kids?
- I like kids.
- Right.
I like hanging out with them.
They keep it simple.
You're home every afternoon?
I'm usually working on my bike.
If it doesn't work out, you can always
send them back to the chicken-fat lady.
This isn't gonna get you laid.
Get in bed.
Good, because I don't
find you attractive either.
Then we're even.
I'm so glad we got that
out of the way.
I feel much better.
I do too. Because now I can
just look after the kids...
...and I don't have to worry
about you coming on to me.
Bring the phone into the changing room.
Of course they won't.
Mrs. Masry, don't be such a tease.
Hold on, just hold on. Yeah?
Sorry, would you mind
if I investigate this?
Investigate what?
This real-estate thing
with the Jensens. The pro bono.
I wanna make sure I understand
what I'm reading.
- Yeah, yeah, sure.
- You don't mind?
Okay, great. Thanks.
Donna Jensen?
I'm Erin Brockovich,
with Masry and Vititoe.
Oh! You're a lawyer?
Hell, no. I hate lawyers.
I just work for 'em.
Do you have a minute?
I don't mean to be a pain to PG and E
after all they've done for Hinkley...
...but if they want this place,
they're gonna have to pay for it.
You didn't put the house up for sale.
They just wanted to buy it?
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Oh, I don't wanna move.
Uproot the kids?
I've got a couple of girls.
Honest to God, I don't know
if I have the energy.
You know, I've been sick.
Me and Pete both have.
The idea of selling, if they're
not gonna pay us properly...
...I don't see the point.
Yeah, yeah, I can see that.
I guess the only thing
that confused me...
Not that your medical problems
aren't important.
How come those files are in
with all the real-estate stuff?
There's just so much correspondence,
I just keep it all in one place.
I'm sorry, I just don't see why you're
corresponding with PG and E...
...about your medical problems
in the first place.
Well, they paid
for the doctor's visit.
They did?
You bet. Paid for a checkup
for the whole family.
Not like with insurance, where you pay
and maybe you see some money in a year.
They just took care of it.
Just like that.
We never saw a bill.
Wow. Why'd they do that?
The chromium.
- The what?
- The chromium.
Well, that's what
kicked this whole thing off.
- What kind of chromium?
- There's more than one?
There's straight-up chromium,
it does good things for the body.
There's chrom three,
which is fairly benign.
There's chrom six,
hexavalent chromium...
...which, depending on the amounts,
can be harmful.
Harmful how? What would you get?
With repeated exposure
to toxic levels, anything...
...from chronic headaches to respiratory
disease, liver failure...
...heart failure, reproductive failure,
bone or organ deterioration.
Plus, of course, any type of cancer.
So that stuff, it kills people.
Yeah, definitely.
Highly toxic. Highly carcinogenic.
It gets into your DNA, so you pass
the trouble to your kids. Very bad.
Well, what's it used for?
A rust inhibitor.
The utility plants use piston engines
that get hot, they run water through.
Chromium's in the water
to prevent corrosion.
How do I find out what kind
of chromium they use in Hinkley?
- Been to their water board?
- What's that?
Every county has one.
They keep records of anything
in their jurisdiction.
- You should find something there.
- County water board.
- Alrighty. Well, thanks.
- Good luck.
I wouldn't advertise
what you're looking for.
Incriminating records have a way of
disappearing when people smell trouble.
I'll remember that. Thanks.
This guy's too smart.
It's only a matter of time
until he makes his move.
He positions women employees
in such a way...
... that they have no choice
but to respond or lose their jobs...
- That's a heavy door.
- Let me give you a hand.
Thank you very much. Aren't you
a gentleman, Mr?
- Scott.
- Mr. Scott.
Pleased to meet you.
I'm Erin.
Erin. Erin. Cool.
What can I do for you, Erin?
Believe it or not, I'm on the prowl
for some water records.
You come to the right place.
I guess I did.
Just tell me what you wanna look at,
and I'd be glad to dig 'em out.
I wish I knew. It's for my boss.
He's in this water dispute...
...and he wants me to find all kinds
of papers, from all kinds of places.
You know,
it would probably be easiest...
...if I squeezed back there
and poked around myself.
- Would that be all right with you?
- Come on back.
- I'm gonna need you to sign in here.
- Oh, sure.
- "Pattee," is that your middle name?
- No, maiden.
Oh, you're married?
Not anymore.
- Can I just?
- Yeah.
I love your pants.
Oh, well, yeah, thanks.
Well, this is it.
It's impressive.
I'll call you if I need anything.
- All right.
- Okay.
- Thank you.
- Okay.
Where's my stuff?
Where have you been?
Where the fuck is my stuff?
Don't you use language
like that with...
Someone took my stuff.
- Nice to see you.
- I had photos of my kids...
Toothbrush, toothpaste,
mousse and deodorant.
What's going on?
This isn't a job where you
can disappear for days at a time.
You don't do the work,
you don't get to stay.
All I've been doing is working.
Ask Mr. Masry.
You ask Mr. Masry. He fired you.
You said to fire me?
I'll call you back.
You've been gone for a week.
I left a message. I was gonna
write a whole damn report.
That's not how we work. You don't
leave a message and take off.
- Want me to check in every second?
- It's called accountability.
I'm not talking to you, bitch!
That's enough!
Look, Erin, this incident aside,
I don't think this is the right...
...place for you.
So I'm gonna make a few calls,
find you something else.
Don't bother.
I'm trying to help.
You're trying not to feel guilty
about firing someone with 3 kids.
Fuck if I'm gonna help you do that.
Get back to work!
What the hell are you doing here?
I'm fixing the leak.
Damn it, I don't ask you
to do things like that.
Look at this mess that you've made.
- I'm not done with that yet.
- Well, get it out.
- Relax.
- Shit! Where did it go?
Where is it?
Back there.
Behind your foot.
- Going up your leg now.
- Jesus!
Who fucking lives like this, George?
Who lets their kids run around in a
place with bugs the size of house cats?
All you have to do
is call an exterminator.
I can't call an exterminator.
I can't afford one.
I can't even afford my phone.
I got fired.
What?
What do you mean, you got fired?
You're working so hard.
Doesn't matter.
Doesn't make one fucking bit
of difference.
I don't know what happened to me.
I mean...
God, I was Miss Wichita,
for chrissake.
Did I tell you that?
You are living next door to a real,
live fucking beauty queen.
I still have my tiara.
And I thought it meant I was gonna
do something important with my life.
That it meant I was someone.
You're someone to me.
Are you gonna be something else
that I have to survive?
Because I'll tell you the truth...
...I'm not up to it.
I get up in the centre of the stage...
...and I have the big
bouquet of flowers.
I had my foot out like this,
and I said:
"I will devote my entire reign
as Miss Wichita...
...to bringing an end to world hunger.
And to the creation
of a peaceful earth...
...for every man, woman and child."
- How long were you Miss Wichita?
- One year.
By the time I got through
opening new supermarkets...
...I only had a few weeks left
to work on hunger...
...and world peace.
- World peace.
I don't know what I was thinking.
What about you, huh?
What about me?
Let me tell you something.
Let me get that out of your hair.
- Thank you.
- Nice.
You're a very special lady.
Don't be too nice to me, okay?
Why?
Makes me nervous.
It's some slim pickings here, baby.
Maybe that's Ed McMahon.
Let's go see.
Wrong Ed.
What are you doing here?
I had an interesting call
this afternoon from Dr. Frankel...
...from UCLA.
- Oh, yeah?
He wanted you to know that the " legal
limit for hexavalent chromium...
...is.05 parts per million...
...and at the rate you mentioned,
.58, it could be...
...responsible for the cancers"
in that family you asked about...
...the Jensens.
Well. Wasn't that nice of him?
Funny how some people help people,
and others just fire them.
I'm sorry. You were gone.
I assumed you were off having fun.
Why the hell would you assume that?
Maybe you look like someone
who has a lot of fun.
By that standard,
I assume you never get laid.
I'm married.
Look, what is this... What's the story
on this cancer stuff?
You wanna know, you have to hire me
back. I got a ton of bills to pay.
Fine.
Fine.
Donna just put in these new cabinets,
stained the wood and all...
...when she gets a call from PG and E,
saying a freeway's gonna be built...
...and they wanna buy her house
for an off-ramp.
The husband's sick with Hodgkin's.
She keeps getting tumours...
...believing one has nothing
to do with the other.
Because PG and E told her
about the chromium?
They had a seminar.
They invited 200 people
from the area...
...had it at the plant...
...about chromium three
and how good it is...
...when they're using chromium six.
That document you found
at the water board...
...the one that says
about the bad chromium...
You didn't happen to make a copy,
did you?
Of course I did.
Could I have a look?
I want a raise.
And benefits, including dental.
It's not how I do business.
- What way is that?
- Extortion.
A 5% raise, we'll talk
about benefits later.
Ten. There are lots of other places
I could get work.
10% raise and benefits, but that's it.
I'm drawing the line.
He's drawing the line.
This the only thing you got?
Well, the place is a pigsty.
There's probably more.
I know how those things are run.
What makes you think
you can just walk in there...
...and find what we need?
They're called boobs, Ed.
Yes, I'm sure it is.
I understand.
I agree. I agree. I'm going to.
Right now.
I'm almost done. Look.
How are we doing?
We're doing great.
Good.
Well, you've got quite a lot
done already. So...
Sorry, we need to have
those records back now.
No.
These papers are public record.
I'm not leaving...
...until they're copied.
Fax these to this number, okay?
- All of them?
- All of them.
An on-site monitoring well?
- That means it was...
- It's on the PG and E property.
And you say that this stuff,
this hexavalent chromium...
- Well, it's poisonous.
- Yeah.
It's gotta be different than what's
in our water, because ours is okay.
The guys from PG and E told me.
They sat right in the kitchen
and told me that it was fine.
I know. But the toxicologist
that I've been talking to...
...he gave me a list of problems that
come from hexavalent chromium exposure.
Everything you all have
is on that list.
No, no, no.
That's not what...
That's not what our doctor said.
He said that...
Well, that one's got absolutely
nothing to do with the other.
But PG and E paid for that doctor.
Ashley!
Shanna!
Get out of the pool!
- How come?
- I said so, that's why.
The minute Brenda sent that fax...
...I'm saying, the second she
pressed the "send" button...
...PG and E's claim department
was on the phone to me...
...scheduling a meeting.
So you think that...
Let me do it.
You're driving me nuts.
You think we scared them?
Taking the trouble to send someone...
...sounds like they're
sitting up and taking notice.
Mr. Foil?
In the interest
of putting this to rest...
...PG and E is willing to offer
the Jensens $250,000 for their home.
$250,000?
In terms of land value in Hinkley...
...we feel that's a more
than fair price.
How about in terms
of medical expenses?
$250,000 isn't gonna come close to what
this family's gonna spend on doctors.
I understand they've had bad luck,
health-wise.
They have my sympathies.
But that's not PG and E's fault.
You're kidding, right?
Look at these readings.
PG and E's own technicians documented...
...toxic levels of hexavalent chromium
in those wells...
...on numerous occasions.
Everything the Jensens have had...
...is proven reaction to exposure to
hexavalent chromium. They have had...
They have had...
Breast cysts, uterine cancer,
Hodgkin's, immune deficiencies...
...asthma, nosebleeds...
A million things could
cause those problems.
Poor diet, bad genes,
irresponsible lifestyle.
Our offer is final
and more than fair.
Wait a minute.
I thought we were negotiating here.
$250,000 is all
I'm authorized to offer.
I'll present your offer to my clients.
I doubt they'll accept.
Before you go off on a crusade...
...remember who you're dealing with.
PG and E's a 28 billion
dollar corporation.
28 billion dollars?
I didn't know it was that much!
Wow! Twenty-eight billion!
Holy cow!
They made an offer.
No, a million would have been
an offer. They send that...
...mail clerk down to jerk me off,
waste my time.
Why?
You heard what that kid said.
They have 28 billion dollars.
They can afford to waste time.
- You can't?
- Am I made of money?
- Why are you yelling?
- I'm pissed.
- Fuck you!
- Fuck you back!
I really hate you sometimes.
No. You love me.
You've been reading for hours.
I'm a slow reader.
Excuse me.
- Are you Erin Brockovich?
- Yeah.
I'm Tom Robinson.
This is my wife, Mandy.
We used to live across
the street from the Jensens.
I think you know Donna.
PG and E bought our house last year.
Well, the vet said they had
a bunch of tumours and stuff.
Well, you can see
they couldn't really walk.
How many were born like this?
Twelve or 13 or so.
When Donna told us what
you told her about the chromium...
...we figured it might have
something to do with this.
Yeah, it might.
Really, may I keep these?
- Yeah.
- Okay, great.
Thank you so much.
I really appreciate it.
There's something else too.
What?
Mandy, here, has had...
...five miscarriages.
I'm so sorry.
I figured it was something I did.
Like, when I smoked marijuana,
maybe...
...or took birth control pills...
...but then Donna
said that you thought...
...this chromium might be
to blame for her problems.
So I figured maybe...
...it wasn't just me.
I have to take a bath.
You should go in.
They're not asleep?
Beth and Katie are.
- How was school?
- Fine.
- Did you do your homework?
- Yeah.
Any problems?
I know you're upset,
but the way this job is...
...things come up at the last minute.
Things that I gotta deal with.
Fine!
Please don't be mad at me.
I'm doing this for us. I know
it's hard for you to understand...
...but don't you want Mommy
to be good at her job?
I don't miss dinner all the time.
We all ate together last night.
You were reading the whole time.
There's something about this thing
I don't understand, Mr. Masry.
If PG and E messed with our water...
...why would they say anything
about it to us at all?
Why not just keep quiet about it?
To establish a statute of limitations.
In a case like this,
you only have one year...
...from the time you learn about
the problem to file suit.
So PG and E figures...
..."We'll let the cat out of the bag.
Tell them the water isn't perfect.
If we can ride out the year
with no one suing...
...we'll be in the clear forever."
But they told us more than a year ago.
- That's okay. We're not suing.
- Not yet.
All we're doing
is using this information...
...to get you a nice purchase
price on your house.
And you two, a comparable
retroactive bonus on your sale price.
PG and E still looks good
to their shareholders.
They're not in a lawsuit.
All they're doing is buying property.
Doesn't say how much
this thing's gonna cost us.
My fee is 40% of whatever
you get awarded.
Boy, do I know how you feel.
The first time I heard that number,
I said, "You're kidding me."
Forty goddamned percent?
I'm the one that's injured, and
this joker sits at a desk all day...
...and he wants
almost half of my reward?
- Erin, can I...?
- But then...
...I asked him...
...what he makes
if I don't get anything.
Then I don't get anything either.
Plus, he's out all the costs.
So I realized...
...he's taking a chance too.
You got a pen, honey?
All right, then.
Oh, I made a bundt cake.
Who would like coffee and cake?
- I do.
- Thanks, but we have to get back.
Have a fucking cup of coffee, Ed.
Coffee will be great. Thank you.
- All right.
- I'll help you.
My wife makes really good bundt cake.
I love bundt cake.
Well, it seems like everybody in
the family ended up with a rash somehow.
It seemed like no matter what
we did, it always came back.
Over what kind of period of time?
Oh, long time, you know, years.
I never did keep track of it.
Kids are sick.
Animals need to be fed.
Just couldn't get rid of it.
Well, Mrs. De Soto said...
...that she wasn't
exactly sure what you had.
We know what it is.
- It's gastrointestinal...
- Gastrointestinal cancer.
- She got sick about nine months ago...
- Nine months ago.
And they operated on her
about six months ago.
- The intestine.
- Right.
- Hi. I'm Erin Brock...
- I know who you are.
Donna called me.
Can I come in?
We're not interested
in getting involved.
Can I ask why?
What's the point?
Donna told me that you've been sick
and that your kids were sick...
You people don't give a shit.
Anything to get what you want.
Thanks for having me...
It's a good day to come by.
She's feeling good.
Well, Mike Ambrosino had remembered...
...that he had seen
you folks at the hospital.
That's what brought me out here.
Yeah, we've been there
from time to time.
And you! Wooftie!
Ain't you a beauty?
You drive all the boys
crazy, don't you?
I can see it in your eyes.
You drive them wild.
You do, don't you?
Torture them.
It's good for them.
Don't teach her anything too early.
Yeah, she can't wait
to get on her new dress.
She wants to go to school.
We're trying to do that,
in a few months.
Yeah, get her out
of her nightgown here.
She's gonna do it.
Absolutely not.
- Why not?
- Because I said no.
The reason PG and E even talks to us...
...is because this is a quiet
real-estate dispute.
We add plaintiffs, we're in
the middle of a toxic-trot...
...with a statute problem,
against a massive utility.
No, thank you.
Okay, so here's what I'll do.
I'll go to the Daniels'
the nicest people you'll ever meet...
...who watch their girl fight
like a dog against cancer.
I'll tell them...
...we can't help them, because you
just don't wanna work that hard.
Work hard?
Let me tell you something.
I've worked all my life.
I've built a firm and kept it alive
through lawsuits and injunctions.
I've survived
a quadruple bypass, cancer...
...being born with one
kidney and diabetes.
I personally managed
to save a million dollars...
...over 30 years, getting
clients 10 times that.
Don't tell me I don't work hard!
Don't tell me I can't stop,
take a breath and enjoy life.
What the hell do you know
about any of this?
Something like this, Erin,
it could take forever.
They're a huge corporation!
They'll bury us
in paperwork for years.
I'm just a guy with
a small, private firm!
Who knows they poisoned
people and lied about it.
We can get these people.
With a little effort, I think we
can nail their asses to the wall.
With your legal expertise,
you believe that?
- Don't you ever just know?
- Do you know about money?
They settle due to lack of money.
You know what toxicologists
and geology experts cost?
We're looking at $100,000 a month.
- I've already spent some of my savings.
- We'll figure it out.
I don't know shit, but I know the
difference between right and wrong!
- Lovers' quarrel?
- Bite my ass, Krispy Kreme.
I feel you looking at me.
I'm sorry.
How many families are we talking about?
Four more. Eleven people so far.
There's more?
I found a document at the water board,
a toxic test well reading from 1967.
More people have lived
there since then.
This is a whole different ball game.
A much bigger deal.
Kind of like David
and what's -his-name.
Kind of like David and what's -
his-name's whole fucking family.
Here's the deal.
If, and only if, you find all the
evidence to back this up, I'll do it.
You're doing the right thing.
Remind me of that when
I'm filing for bankruptcy.
Of course, gathering
evidence is a big job.
Hell of a lot bigger than just filing.
I'll be working a lot harder...
...taking on a lot
more responsibility.
- I don't believe this.
- A raise wouldn't hurt.
I'll spend more time in my car...
...so I'll probably be needing
one of those cell phones.
- I don't believe this.
- Just a little phone.
Thank you!
Whoever is behind you.
Just play.
Go, roll the dice and play.
Come on, aren't you gonna play?
Roll the dice.
Come on.
Hello.
Is this the Erin Brockovich that's
been snooping around the water board?
Yeah. Who's this?
You should watch your step.
A young lady with three young
children really should think again.
Who is this?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Who is it?
It's okay.
I'm not gonna quit because of
one creepy phone call, George.
Come on, Erin.
A job shouldn't put you in danger.
I'm not in danger.
- The phone might be tapped but...
- What?
That's usual. We've got a dead
bolt, it's not a big deal.
You don't think you're
a little out of your league?
That's what those PG and E
fucks want me to think.
But they're wrong.
Erin, there are plenty
of jobs out there.
How would you know?
What that's supposed to mean?
You got a problem with me caring
for your kids instead of a job?
I can get a job.
You can leave the kids with
the chicken-fat lady again.
I said I'm sorry.
Keep your voice down.
I know what these kids can
sleep through, better than you.
Scott, tell me something.
Does PG and E pay you
to cover their ass?
Or do you just do it out
of the kindness of your heart?
I don't know what
you're talking about.
Nobody calls me Pattee.
That sicko that called could've
only found out about me from you.
People are dying, Scott.
You've got document after document...
...that says why, and you
haven't said one word about it.
I wanna know how the hell
you sleep at night.
I'm about to drive off the road,
I'm so tired. Keep me awake.
What do you want, a joke?
No, I don't want a joke.
Tell me about what went on back there.
Come to think of it,
we had a big event around here.
Beth started talking.
What?
Beth? My Beth?
We were sitting around...
...and she pointed
at a ball and said:
"Ball."
Out of the blue like that.
It was pretty intense.
You know, seeing
somebody's first word.
Of all the words in her life,
that's the first word she says: "ball."
She pointed her little finger...
... with her beautiful, soft,
chubby little arm...
... and her cheeks.
It's like she'd been
looking at it for months...
... and couldn't get it out,
but knowing what it was.
She didn't look away or anything.
She was just sitting
there with her arm out.
You should've seen
Matthew and Katie and me.
Our jaws just dropped.
We must've stood there for three or
four minutes and just looked at her.
She just had her arm out
like that. "Ball."
And, you know, her little
lips wrapped around it.
It was great.
It was intense.
I brought some stuff that
you might be interested in.
My name's Erin, and
I'll be here all day.
Let's go over to these
nice ladies. Hi.
- How are you?
- Good.
I brought some information today,
if you wanna have a look at it.
If you have any
questions, let me know.
Hi. Excuse me, ladies, I'm Ed Masry.
I'm the lawyer involved in the case.
You might like to read these.
If you have questions,
I'm here all day.
- Sounds good. Thank you.
- Thanks so much.
Is your phone number in this?
There's more important
information than that in there.
I'm bored.
So are the kids.
I'm a little busy, honey.
We invited these people.
Ed and I have to...
I'm sorry. You know what?
Please, I have an idea.
Can you take her?
She's getting heavy, and I'll
work faster if you take her.
Got a knee for me?
- Hello.
- Hello, sweetness.
- Guess what?
- What?
I would like to go home.
Everything's done?
We got a lot done.
Did you? I think
I ate three watermelons.
Piggyback!
Let's go, brother. Get on.
Careful.
Here, get on me, now.
Erin, excuse me.
This is Nelson Perez, he works
at the compressor station.
- Hi, nice to meet you.
- PG and E.
Oh, hi.
- I've come at a bad time.
- No.
- Can you just give me one...?
- Of course. Sure.
Thank you.
You know what?
Why don't you guys go ahead without
me, and I'll get a ride with Ed.
- No, Mom.
- No, sweetie, I'll be right behind you.
I'll be right behind you, all right?
- I really... This is so...
- Fine. Go, go, go.
Get down, bud.
Hang on tight there.
Help your sister
with her shoes. Let's go.
This is so helpful.
Is it okay if I write this down?
I have so many questions.
I wanna know about how the plant works
and the cooling towers, just everything.
They use the hexachrome here, in these
cooling towers, as an anticorrosive.
Then they dump the excess
water into these ponds.
I don't remember seeing
any ponds up there.
They've been covered over,
and not too carefully.
If you dig one inch
under the surface...
...dirt's as green
as a fucking shamrock.
And that's what
caused the contamination?
It didn't help, but no.
The problem started on the bottom.
According to...
...this...
...in most cases you would
line these ponds...
...so the shit didn't seep
into the ground.
- But guess what?
- They skipped that step?
Here are the ponds,
the plume comes down...
...and Hinkley is down here...
...it's 14 years of hexachrome
flowing into the groundwater.
Jesus.
This guy just offered
all this information?
Well, yeah. Nelson cares
what's in those ponds.
He used to spend time wading
around them. That was his job.
Shit.
What's the matter?
I don't know if we can pull this off.
This is a monster case.
We're up to 411 plaintiffs.
We've taken 162 declarations.
Probably hundreds more
out there have moved away.
We have to find them,
it's taking time.
Money's going out,
nothing's coming in.
I have to take a second mortgage.
- So?
- So!
I have to tell you.
I've been making inquiries
with other firms...
...bigger firms to share
some of the cost.
They all said no,
said they don't have it.
We got PG and E by the balls.
PG and E Hinkley, but nobody'll get rich
unless we pin this on Corporate...
...in San Francisco.
- What do you mean?
PG and E Corporate claims they
didn't know about Hinkley.
They knew. They had to know.
Show me the document to prove it.
Then they didn't know. If so, we
can't hit them with punitive damages.
With punitive damages,
it's a sum of money that can...
...have some effect
on these people's lives.
So what do we do now?
Let's assume there are documents
connecting PG and E Hinkley and Corporate...
...and they know about them.
We take our 400 or so plaintiffs
and everything you've dug up...
...we file a lawsuit
to provoke a reaction.
See if they offer a reasonable
settlement, or throw more paper at us.
Sounds great. Let's do that.
There's a downside.
PG and E will submit a demurrer.
A list attacking each complaint...
...claiming that each cause
of action has no merit.
And if the judge agrees with them...
...he'll dismiss our case.
PG and E will have no reason to settle.
Then it's all over.
So basically it all comes down to...
...what this one judge decides.
Basically, yeah.
Jesus.
Well, I'd got so used
to having them come up benign.
Guess I just didn't expect it.
I sure wish I would've had longer
to get used to the idea.
You think if you got no uterus...
...and no breasts...
...you're still technically a woman?
Sure you are.
Yeah, you just...
You're actually a happier woman.
No need to worry
about maxi-pads and underwire.
We're gonna get them, aren't we?
You gotta promise me
that we're gonna get them.
I have before me
a complaint on behalf of residents...
... of Hinkley, California, who
have filed against PG and E.
For damages, medical expenses
and personal trauma...
...due to contamination of the ground
water in their area by the defendant.
And I have here 84 motions
to strike and demurrers...
...submitted by representatives
of Pacific Gas and Electric.
Each one attacking
the validity of this complaint.
I have reviewed all of
the information carefully.
I'm ready to give my decision.
Before I do, is there
anything anyone wants to say?
- No, Your Honour.
- No, Your Honour.
Very well.
In the matter of the plaintiffs
of Hinkley, California vs. PG and E...
...it is the order of this court that
each of the 84 motions to strike...
...and demurrers are denied.
And the causes of action against
Pacific Gas and Electric are upheld.
On a more personal note...
...as a resident here in Barstow,
which is not far from Hinkley...
...I am disturbed by reference...
...to evidence that suggests that not
only was hexavalent chromium used...
...but that your clients
actually sent these residents...
...pamphlets telling them
that it was good for them.
Tell your clients
they're going to trial.
Jesus. They look
like the Secret Service.
Intimidation.
Let the games begin.
Show them into the conference room.
Donald, Anna...
...I wanna talk to you for a minute.
Counsellors.
Counsellors.
Let's be honest.
$20,000,000 is more than
these people have ever dreamed of.
Now that pisses me off.
First of all, since the demurrer,
we have more than 400 plaintiffs.
Let's be honest, we know there's more.
They may not be sophisticated,
but they can divide...
...and $20,000,000
isn't shit after splitting it.
Second of all...
...they don't dream of being rich.
They dream about
watching their kids in a pool...
...without worrying that
they'll have a hysterectomy at 20.
Like Rosa Diaz, our client.
Or have their spine deteriorate, like
Stan Bloom, another client of ours.
So before you come back here
with another lame-ass offer...
...I want you to think real
hard about what your spine is worth.
Or what you expect someone
to pay you for your uterus.
Then take out your calculator
and multiply that number by 100.
Anything less than that
is a waste of our time.
We had that water brought
in special for you folks.
Came from Hinkley.
I think this meeting's over.
Damn right it is.
What the fuck? Did a bomb blow up?
You letting the kids run wild?
What's that?
I saw them in a mall one day.
I said, " Damn...
...they'll look good on
those beautiful ears."
I bought them and I said, "When Erin
does something nice, I'll surprise her."
You know how long ago that was?
Six months ago.
- I'm sorry, I've just...
- And so what I'm thinking is...
Either you gotta find
a different job or a different guy.
I mean...
There may be many men out there
who don't mind being the maid...
...and getting nothing.
But I ain't one of them.
I can't leave my job, George.
Yes, you can.
People do it all the time.
How can you ask me to do that?
This job...
For the first time in my
life, I got people respecting me.
Up in Hinkley...
...I walk into a room, everybody shuts
up to hear what I have to say.
I never had that before, ever.
Please, don't ask me to give it up.
What about your kids?
I'm doing more for them now
than I did living with my parents.
One day they'll see it.
- Well, what about me?
- What about you?
You think the men
who gave me those children...
...asked me what I
wanted before walking away?
All I've ever done
is bend my life around...
...what men decide they need.
Well, not now.
I'm sorry. I won't do it.
Well...
Erin, I'm not them. So...
What more can I do
to prove that to you?
Stay.
What for?
I mean, you got a raise.
You can afford daycare.
You don't need me.
Hi.
We can get them, Pamela.
We can.
I don't wanna feel it all over again...
...and then not have it come out right.
I don't know if I could handle that.
Put the kids through that.
The thing is, it doesn't matter
whether you win, lose or draw here.
You were lied to. You're sick and your
kids are sick because of those lies.
You all have to come together...
...to stand up in
a courtroom and say that.
I'd bring the kids
into the hospital...
...with towels soaked
from their nosebleeds.
They called County Services because
they assumed the kids were abused.
Am I gonna get the best
behaviour in the office?
No.
What's with the attitude?
I just need cool, I need quiet.
Hello. Am I alone in the car? Yes?
- I don't understand why...
- I don't wanna talk about it now.
- The other moms gave permission.
- I don't care.
- So when can I get a friggin' answer?
- Don't talk to me like that!
Randy's mom said yes.
Goddamn it, Randy's mom doesn't
work, and his dad didn't leave her!
Figuring out who
takes him to roller hockey...
...is probably easier at
Randy's house. Now cool it.
I'll be as quick as I can.
Matthew, can you watch your sister?
- Matthew.
- All right, fine. Come here, Beth.
- Can I come with you?
- No, baby, I'll just be a second.
Thank you. I'm only
sorry you couldn't meet Erin.
- I will.
- You will.
We have a lot of work to do together.
Thanks for coming.
Erin, I was just talking about you.
Meet our new partner, Kurt Potter.
He'll handle Hinkley.
I see what you mean
about a secret weapon.
Erin, it's great to meet you.
You've done a fabulous job.
- I'll be seeing you.
- Thanks, I appreciate you coming over.
What?
Our new partner?
When was I gonna hear about this?
Just listen. Did I ever tell
you about that airline case?
What the fuck are you talking about?
A few years back, I was
trying this airline case...
...and I got my ass kicked by this
guy. He buried me in paper, brutal.
He's the toughest
I'd ever been up against.
Make a point!
It was Kurt Potter.
After the judge's decision, I asked
him to partner, he didn't hesitate.
He wouldn't hesitate now, we did
all the work. Where was he before?
Will you listen to me?
It doesn't matter.
You wanna win this?
He gave me this check.
It covers all our expenses to date...
...and he's got more toxic
tort experience than anyone.
This is good news!
I got Pamela Duncan.
I'll open, Mommy.
You wanna open the can for
Mommy? Well, here, I'll help you.
You turn it?
- Hi, George.
- Hi, George. Let's go see.
Erin Brockovich?
Package from Masry and Vititoe.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
- What's in here?
- Baby.
There's no baby in here.
- What is it?
- A dolly.
It's a dolly? It's...
Lookit.
"Lookit" is right.
Do you see that?
- I want that.
- I want that too.
It's our lucky day.
Matthew, Katie!
PG and E has requested that we
submit to binding arbitration.
What's that?
That's where we try the case
without a jury, before a judge.
It's called a test trial.
The judge's decision
is final. There's no appeal.
- How many plaintiffs do you have?
- 634.
They'll never try
that many all at once.
So we need to get them together
in groups of 20 or 30.
Worst cases, the most life-threatened,
the sickest first and so on.
Each one gets a go before
the judge to determine damages.
PG and E proposes that they're liable...
...anywhere between
50 and 400 million.
So wait a minute. Let
me just get this straight.
If we went to trial...
...PG and E could stretch this over
10 years with appeal after appeal.
- Those people would...
- These people expect a trial.
That's what we told them, you
and me. They won't understand this.
Kurt thinks it's the best way to go.
Look, I promise you that we'll
be very sensitive on this point.
We'll make sure they see...
...that this is the only way
we can go forward at this time.
But we have a lot of work to do...
...before we even broach that subject.
I'll take Erin down the hall...
...so we can start on this stuff,
and I'll fill her in on the details.
- Those are my files.
- Yeah. We had them couriered over.
Listen, good work.
They're a great start.
We'll just spend some time
filling in the holes in your research.
Excuse me... Theresa, is it?
There are no holes in my research.
There are things we need
you probably didn't know to ask.
Don't talk to me like I'm an idiot.
I spent 18 months on this case...
...and I know more about
the plaintiffs than you ever will.
You don't even have phone numbers.
Whose number do you need?
Everyone's. We need to be
able to contact the plaintiffs.
I said whose number do you need?
You don't know 600 numbers by heart.
Annabelle Daniels.
Annabelle Daniels. 714-454-9346.
Ten years old. Lived
on the plume since birth.
Wanted to be a synchronized swimmer,
so she spent every minute in the pool.
They detected a tumour in her brain.
An operation shrunk it,
with radiation after that.
Her parents are Ted and Rita.
Ted's got Crohn's disease. Rita has
headaches and underwent a hysterectomy.
Ted grew up in Hinkley. His
brother and his wife and their kids...
...Robbie Jr., Martha, Ed, Rose
and Peter also lived on the plume.
Their number is 454-9554.
You want their diseases?
I think we got off on the wrong foot.
That's all you got, lady, two
wrong feet in fucking ugly shoes.
- She insulted me.
- Bullshit. It was a misunderstanding.
Instead of being polite and
treating her with respect...
Why should I respect her?
Just because she's not supporting kids
with no husband, she's not an idiot!
Just because she
dresses like a lawyer...
...doesn't mean she didn't
work her ass off in law school.
Excuse me for not going to law school.
Law school? At this point,
I'd settle for charm school!
Mr. Linwood!
Bob?
6086 Ridge Road...
...Hinkley, California. 714...
...455...
Okay, now, if you
could walk me through...
...all of the elements
of Annabelle's illnesses.
Specific details...
...when the symptoms began,
prior to the first medical visit.
If you could reserve sentimental
embellishments, I'd appreciate it...
...because they won't
help you in court.
I just need facts, dates, time.
I know Theresa isn't real
warm, but she's a good lawyer.
She asks the same questions
you did. I told you everything.
I don't want her coming to the
house again. She upsets Annabelle.
Okay, if you don't like
Theresa, that's okay.
You know how important
Annabelle is to me.
Ed and I are still here for you.
I called Ed two days ago, Erin.
He still hasn't called me back.
Now, I hate to say this, but...
...everyone's upset
about this arbitration thing.
What?
Pamela has written a letter...
...telling everybody
to get new lawyers.
That we've been lied to.
- Is it true?
- No.
Did you?
I'm telling you the truth, and
I'll get to the bottom of all of this.
Don't lie to us.
I will take care of this.
- Now, we're trusting you here, so...
- Thanks.
I'll talk to you soon, okay?
I'm not saying
it's not a strong case.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have dropped
the demurrers. I wouldn't be here.
What I am saying is, we
don't have a smoking gun...
...that ties San Francisco to Hinkley.
Something that
proves that prior to 1987...
...PG and E Corporate knew the water was
bad there and did nothing about it.
- Erin, I thought you took a sick day.
- So did I.
- What's going on in there?
- Meeting about the PG and E thing.
- Are you sure?
- Yep.
We can find it, or
we don't have a big win.
Can I take a brief
break here for a moment?
I'll be right back.
- You told me you weren't feeling great.
- Bullshit!
If I was on my deathbed, if it
helped you, you'd drag me out of it!
How could you take this away from me?
- Nobody's taking anything.
- Bullshit! You stuck me in Siberia!
Dictating to some goddamned clerk
so you could finish this without me.
They screwed up, Erin!
They screwed up and they admit it.
The arbitration proposal...
...could've been written in Sanskrit,
for all the sense it made.
I know. I spoke to Ted. Pamela Duncan
wouldn't even get on the phone with me!
Pamela made everybody
mad with that letter.
She called us thieves.
- The whole thing's falling apart.
- Why?
Because before we go to arbitration,
the plaintiffs must agree!
- How many?
- Usually they require about 70%.
PG and E is demanding 90.
In other words, everybody.
Do you understand? This is serious.
And, what, Ed? I'm not serious?
You're emotional, you're erratic.
You say anything, you make
this personal, and it isn't.
Not personal?
That is my work!
My sweat! My time away from my kids!
If that's not personal,
I don't know what is.
Hey, come on.
Come on.
Go home. Get well.
Because you're no good to me sick.
I need you, all right?
This case needs you.
Did you tell them that?
Binding arbitration isn't
that different from a trial.
It's overseen by a judge. Evidence
is presented in much the same way.
And then a jury decides?
Sorry, I forgot to mention that
there's no jury in binding arbitration.
No jury and no appeal.
What option do we have if
we don't like the result?
None. The judge's decision is final.
Not a good answer.
No, but we don't
anticipate that being a problem.
As I already told you...
...it's definitely between
50 and 400,000,000 dollars.
Well, which?
There's a big difference.
I wouldn't like to speculate.
- Well, how does it get divided?
- Yeah, who gets what?
My medical bills started two years ago,
before some of the other people here.
My daughter was in and out
of hospitals more than his.
It shouldn't matter when it started.
People, listen, please!
The point we have to address
tonight is getting everyone to agree...
...that binding arbitration
is better than a trial...
...that could go on for
10 years before you see any money.
Maybe some of us
wanna wait 10 years!
Everyone has to agree,
or no one has a chance!
Those of you about to leave, I'd like
you to keep this date in mind: 1978!
That's the year of
the Love Canal controversy.
They're still
waiting for their money!
Think about where
you'll be in 15 or 20 years.
Now, look, everyone.
Is this a big decision?
Absolutely! But I do not
believe this is a sell-out.
This is the best shot
to get everyone some money now.
You and I both know...
...there are people in this
room who can't afford to wait.
To take that chance.
Are you gonna make them wait?
So how many altogether?
We got just about everybody that came
here, but it leaves us about 150 short.
Oh, shit.
We'll have to go door-to-door.
I gotta go pick up my kids.
- You need a hand with that?
- No.
You did good.
We'll see.
Thanks for coming.
Don't take them anywhere on your
bike. I'll give you money for a cab.
I got money.
So how long is this gonna take?
I don't know. A few days.
Got your own room.
I am really sorry, George.
Have the kids eaten?
No.
Wanna get some pancakes?
Come on, let's go.
Everybody up today.
All right.
Come on, baby.
- What time is it?
- It's early.
We're taking your
car to go get breakfast.
- No, I need my car.
- We'll be back in a minute.
Get some sleep.
Matt, buddy.
Put that down. Let's go.
I'll be there in a minute.
Let's go get some
pancakes, girly. Come on.
Don't play with that.
It took me so long to get organized.
Would you put that back, please?
This girl's the same age as me.
Is she sick?
She is, but that's
why I'm helping her.
We'll make her feel better.
Why can't her own mama help her?
Because she's real sick too.
I'll bring you back some breakfast.
You want eggs?
Eggs would be great.
Eggs would be perfect.
- Hey, Matt.
- Hey, Erin. How are you?
- You been at this all day?
- Yeah.
- You want some coffee?
- I'd love some.
- I'll make a fresh pot.
- Thanks.
Don't I know you?
I don't think so.
Sure, you were at the barbecue
in Hinkley.
And at the town meeting.
I was watching you.
I had my eye on you.
Nice.
You were talking to everybody
and writing down a lot of stuff.
When I saw you, I said to myself,
"There's something about her.
I really like that girl."
- Matt, can I get that coffee to go?
- Sure thing.
I feel like I can talk to you too.
Like you're the type of person
I could say anything to.
- Here you go.
- Great.
What do I owe you?
- There's no charge.
- Thanks, Matt.
Well, nice talking to you.
Would it be important if, when I worked
at the plant, I destroyed documents?
Maybe.
What's your name?
Charles Embry.
Charles. Erin.
Nice to meet you.
Can you excuse me for a quick...
I'm just gonna run to the...
Oh, come on.
Oh, you fucking piece of crap
with no signal!
Fuck!
Ed. Ed, oh, my God.
This guy said he destroyed records.
He worked there.
Slow down.
I'm trying to relax.
This Charles Embry...
- Who?
- Charles Embry.
I thought he was trying to kill me
or pick me up...
... but why would he use that,
say that? It's crazy.
Shit. Go back and see if he'll
make a declaration.
A declaration.
But be careful.
Don't scare him off.
And stay calm. Stay calm.
If it weren't for you,
I'd be in Palm Springs now.
You're good at talking people
into things.
Don't pepper him with questions.
Don't do that. Just...
People wanna tell their story.
Just let him talk. Let him...
... do all the talking. All right?
Oh, sorry.
Would you like another beer, or...
My cousin passed away yesterday.
He had kidney tumours...
...no colon, his intestines
were eaten away.
Forty-one years old.
I remember seeing him
over at the plant.
He'd be cleaning
the cooling towers, wearing...
What do you call them?
- A mask?
- Yeah, doctors' masks.
And it'd be soaked in red
from the nosebleeds.
I was working in the compressor.
The supervisor calls me
up to the office and says:
"We'll give you a shredder...
...and send you to the warehouse
to shred the documents we stored."
He say why?
Nope. And I didn't ask.
Did you look at the stuff
you destroyed?
It was a lot of dull
vacation schedules and stuff.
Then there were memos about
the holding ponds, the water in them.
And readings from the test wells,
stuff like that.
You were told to destroy those?
That's right.
Course, as it turns out...
...I wasn't a very good employee.
- Good morning!
- Morning.
Ed. Erin, what's this?
- May I?
- Yep. Go ahead.
Well, you know what, Mr. Potter?
We completely forgot
your birthday this year.
Seeing as how you've been so good
to me, it's a terrible oversight.
So Ed and I have been putting together
a present for you.
Six-hundred and thirty-four.
They're signed, every one.
Holy shit.
Now, don't go
getting jealous, Theresa.
We have something for you.
Internal PG and E documents,
all about the contamination.
The one I like best says...
...I'm paraphrasing here, but it says,
"The water's poisonous...
...but it's best if this wasn't
discussed with the neighbours."
It's to Hinkley
from PG and E headquarters.
Stamp received March 1966.
How did you do this?
Seeing as how I have no
brains or legal expertise...
...and Ed was losing all faith.
Completely. No faith.
I went out there and performed sexual
favours. 634 blowjobs in five days.
I'm really quite tired.
Oh, thank you.
Why did you want me to come?
I wanna show you
what you helped to do.
- How are you feeling today?
- Good.
- It's a good day.
- Oh, I'm glad.
Well, come on in.
What a nice surprise this is.
Donna.
I wanted to come out here
instead of calling...
...because the judge
came back with a number.
For the whole group, or for us?
Both.
He's gonna make them pay 333 million.
- And...
- Oh, my God.
He's gonna make them give
5 million of that to your family.
Five million dollars?
Five million dollars.
I don't even know
how much money that is.
Well, it's enough. It's enough
for whatever you could ever need...
...or what your girls need, or your
girls' girls. It'll be enough.
Oh, Erin. Oh, God.
Thank you so much.
It's okay.
I don't know what I'd have done
without you.
It's a good day.
This is too much.
Masry and Vititoe, can l...?
Shoot!
Delivery for Ed Masry.
Last office down the corridor,
on the right.
Thank you.
Masry and Vititoe...
Damn it!
Does anyone know anything
about these phones?
Everybody loves the desk...
...you picked out for me.
It's great.
Guess who's on the cover
of Los Angeles Lawyer magazine?
Talk to you later, baby. Bye.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
I'd rather walk her through this
in person, to show her...
...visual aids, documents and stuff.
Tell her I won't take up
too much of her time.
It's a little more complicated
than Hinkley, so let me do that.
Say I'm not a lawyer.
That may help.
Great.
Why don't you give me the address now?
Just in case.
All right. Thanks so much. Bye.
What's up?
I have your bonus check.
I want you to be prepared.
The figure's not exactly
what we discussed.
Why not?
Because, after careful consideration,
I felt...
...that figure was not appropriate.
Although you may not agree...
...you have to trust my...
Trust? You want me to trust you?
Don't use big words
you don't understand.
- It's a complicated issue...
- I did a job.
You should reward me accordingly.
It's not complicated.
All you lawyers do is complicate
situations that aren't complicated.
Do you know why people think
lawyers are scumbags?
Because they are. I can't believe
you're doing this to me...
...when I'm up to my ass
in Kettleman plaintiffs...
...which looks to be
double the amount of Hinkley.
You expect me to leave my kids
with strangers, knock on doors...
...get these people to trust you,
and you're screwing me!
I want you to know,
it's not about the number!
It is about the way
my work is valued.
No matter what I do, you're not...
As I was saying...
...I decided that the figure
you proposed...
...was inappropriate.
So I increased it.
Do they teach beauty queens
how to apologize?
Because you suck at it.
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