Harry's Law Episode 1.06 Bangers in the House

Damien stops by the shop to advise Harry to close down for a few days. Apparently, a couple of the local gangs - Linkwood and Boone Park - are "beefin'," and there might be some bullets flying. Later, Harry and Malcolm hook up with young Boone Parker Lewis to find out more. It seems Dewayne from the Linkwood crew broke up with his girl Shonda, who started running with C.K. from Boone Park. Thus Dewayne and his boys torched C.K.'s ride. Now C.K.'s demanding $12,000 in damages, and Dewayne be like, "No!" Harry's mostly concerned about Shonda, but Lewis assures her it's not about the girl anymore; it's about respect.

Harry can't believe the gangs would start shooting over a minor property dispute, but Malcolm explains that nowadays, they usually resort to street advocates for mediation. Sadly, the street advocate assigned to their area died after eating a bad peanut. Getting cocky, Harry decides to install herself as the new mediator as of right now. Both Damien and Malcolm protest, but Harry explains the alternative: she's going to sit in front of her store with her forty-four, and if anyone starts shooting, she'll assume they're shooting at her. That way the gangsters will either get shot up, or they'll murder an old white lady with friends in high places.

Rachel and Adam are in Tommy's office, tendering an offer for their client, a businessman accused of wrongful termination on the basis of ageism. Of course, Tommy's holding out for a giant settlement and riding Adam hard. Rachel's offering to settle for half of Tommy's dollar figure, but he won't hear of it. Later, Harry advises Adam to cut his losses and get out, but the trial is set to get underway that afternoon. Representatives from both gangs stop by the store, wanting to get a look at the "jew" aka the lawyer who's going to mediate their beef. Malcolm translates their slang, and Harry sets up a meeting for 8:00 that night, with the stipulation that everyone will be frisked at the door - no guns!

Tommy waits with his co-counsel Lisa in the hallway for the trial to start. As usual, he's feeling a little nervous, and as usual, she's talking him down, reminding him to be Tommy Big-Boy. Tommy's feeling irked by Adam, but when Lisa offers to try to rattle him, he tells her to focus on Rachel instead. Lisa immediately comes on to Rachel, whom she claims makes her panties damp. Startled, Rachel nevertheless focuses on the matter at hand. Her client has decided to up his offer - to which Tommy responds with one word: no. In court, Tommy's client, 76-year-old Gerald takes the stand. His boss and Rachel's client, Allan Meade was explicit when he laid Gerald off after 46 years, telling him it was time to make way for the younger employees.

That night, Damien frisks gang members as they enter the store. Harry presides over the head of a long table with her giant handgun and an air horn to blast when the conversation gets too loud. Needless to say, the gangbangers don't appreciate her methods much, but the negotiation gets under way. Meanwhile, Allan Meade takes the stand to explain that it broke his heart to fire Gerald, who'd been an invaluable employee. But when Allan was forced into layoffs, he based his picks on economic need - his younger employees have kids, and Gerald has financial security. Tommy points out that Allan chose to sacrifice the person who had given him the most.

Having had enough of Harry's grumpiness and her air horn, the gangs can only agree on one thing: Harry's out, and Malcolm's in as mediator. Afterwards, Harry has just gotten into her car when a hand reaches out of the backseat to cover her mouth. Lewis has been waiting, hoping to talk Harry into helping him get out of the Boone Park gang and into college. Harry doesn't understand why he needs her. What's the big deal - can't Lewis just quit the gang? Lewis knows that no one quits a gang; the only way out is in a pine box. The next morning, Malcolm flips out. Harry can't help Lewis out of the gang! This is a way beyond the expertise of a patent lawyer - she could get them all killed!

Rachel and Adam meet at her office, dejected that their case against Tommy's client Gerald isn't looking too good. Rachel admits Tommy's done a good job of framing they question: why fire Gerald just because he's old? Adam thinks they need to reframe the question. Why does Gerald get tenure just because he's old? Later that day, the gangs return to the shop to renew negotiations with a nervous Malcolm at the helm. When things get heated, C.K. pulls out his gun, so Harry immediately aims her gun at him. Malcolm insists that Harry put down her gun, then convinces C.K. to hand his over. Malcolm calls for a one-hour break, and in return receives a warning. If he doesn't make it work, there's going to be blood - and it's going to be on his hands.

Harry has another meeting with Lewis in her car, having just returned from CIRV, the Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence. Finally, she's understood what Malcolm has been trying to tell her all along - assisting Lewis in his escape is way over her head. At least CIRV could provide him with some protection. Harry tells Lewis that she can't help him, but somehow, he doesn't seem to hear it. Back at the store, Malcolm has C.K. talk about his relationship with Shonda. Despite the offhand way C.K. relates his story, everyone in the room knows that he had a real love connection with her. Meanwhile, closing arguments begin in Rachel and Tommy's case. Tommy goes first, and does a fantastic job, making his accusations of unfair ageism hit the jury's hearts.

In her closing argument, Rachel tries to put Gerald's layoff in perspective. The over-50 demographic actually controls more than 70% of America's discretionary income, makes up 82% of Congress, and 80% of CEOs. But for young kids coming out of college, it's a labor market depression. As for fairness, what would the jury do if they had to lay off one of two employees, knowing one wouldn't suffer real financial hardship, but for the other, the loss would be catastrophic? Isn't that the choice Allan faced? On her way back to her seat, Rachel licks her lips sexily for Lisa's benefit.

While Malcolm deliberates over his decision, Harry decides to give him a little unasked-for advice. Her father once told her that there comes a time in every man's life when he stops letting life happen to him and starts happening to it. Despite his fear, Malcolm just needs to look the gangbangers in the eye and tell them his ruling. When Malcolm claims he's not as brave as Harry, she points out that her recent status - getting fired, being fat, old and alone, and practicing law out of a shoe store - isn't brave. It's desperate. She may not have kids or grandkids, but she does get to project a little hope, and a lot of that hope is Malcolm. The upshot - Malcolm better not let her down, because they might kill her, too.

While waiting for the jury to reach a decision, Tommy sulks in the corridor. Rachel was better than him, and nobody gets to be better than Tommy Jefferson. Rachel must be a lesbian! And rather than rattle her, Lisa's flirting only bolstered Rachel's confidence! Back at the store, Malcolm calls everyone to announce his decision, finding in favor of Dewayne. C.K. will pay him the blue book value for his car, $8,000. However, Malcolm also finds that Dewayne has no claim whatsoever over Shonda, who can go back to dating C.K. if she wants to. Dewayne protests, and for a minute, things look real dicey, but Malcolm stands firm in his decision.

Malcolm is just about to adjourn the negotiation when Harry pipes up. She knows she's a little old white lady who doesn't get it, and it's true, she doesn't understand why the bangers have chosen the gang life. Maybe it chooses them. But the reality is, within a few years every single one of them will be dead or in prison. She knows that getting out of a gang is difficult, but if any of them choose to do so, she would hope the others would respect their decision. If any of them want out, her door is open. And if she hears that anyone who tried to get out winds up dead, she will personally hunt down the responsible party.

Just as the jury files into the courtroom with their verdict, Tommy tries to accept Rachel's offer, but she declines. The jury finds in favor of Tommy's client Gerald; however, the defendant Allan will only have to pay him $75. Rachel, Adam and Meade are thrilled. Tommy's not so happy, but as Lisa reminds him, he's still undefeated in court. Back at the store, Harry's delighted when Jenna tells her the news, especially since Allan is a paying client. Just then, Malcolm takes a call, and his face shows that it's bad news...

Harry finds Lewis in the hospital, badly beaten. Her devastation turns to shock when Lewis regains consciousness to thank her. He only got a bad beating; if it wasn't for Harry the gang would have killed him. He owes her his life - and even better - now he's going to go to college, just like Malcolm! Unable to see how Lewis' condition is in any way a good thing, Harry takes his hand and sits. Looks like she's going to be there for a while...