seated (l-r)
Michael Tucker as Stuart Markowitz, Alan Rachins as Douglas Brackman;
standing, (l-r) Jill Eikenberry as Ann Kelsey, Michele Green as
Abby Perkins, Susan Ruttan as Roxanne Melman, Richard Dysart as
Leland McKenzie, Corbin Bernsen as Arnie Becker, Harry Hamlin
as Michael Kuzak, Larry Drake as Benny Stulwicz, Susan Dey as
Grace Van Owen -- NBC Photo: Paul Drinkwater
Synopsis:
Though
eight years have passed since audiences last saw the staff of
McKenzie-Brackman, many familiar faces remain at the high-powered
Los Angeles law firm. Esteemed patriarch Leland McKenzie (RICHARD
DYSART) has retired, leaving no-nonsense Douglas Brackman, Jr.
(ALAN RACHINS) in charge of the firm. Womanizing divorce attorney
Arnie Becker (CORBIN BERNSEN) is embroiled in his own nasty divorce,
while idealistic attorney Ann Kelsey (JILL EIKENBERRY) and her
husband, tax attorney Stuart Markowitz (MICHAEL TUCKER), have
embraced a spiritual guru. Roxanne Melman (SUSAN RUTTAN), once
Arnie Becker’s devoted secretary, is now an office manager at
the firm and single mother to 8-year-old Maddie (SARAH-ANNE HEPHER),
and Benny (LARRY DRAKE) remains the firm’s beloved office assistant.
It’s been
more than 10 years since attorney Michael Kuzak (HARRY HAMLIN)
left McKenzie-Brackman, disillusioned with the justice system
and his role in it. Now running one of L.A.’s hottest restaurants,
Kuzak is surprised when Stuart pays him a visit, telling him that
Raylene Hutchinson (BRUKLIN HARRIS), the daughter of a convicted
cop killer he once represented, is looking for him. While in rehab,
Raylene learned that Belinda James (CLAUDETTE MINK), the prostitute
and key witness who testified against her father, Albert (STEVEN
WILLIAMS), lied on the stand. With Albert sentenced to be executed
in two weeks, Raylene is desperately hoping that Kuzak will again
represent her father, and use the new information to free him.
Feeling morally
obligated to help his former client, Kuzak reluctantly re-enters
the legal arena. Douglas initially denies Kuzak’s request to have
the firm support him, but finally agrees after Leland intervenes.
Much to Douglas’ dismay, his son, Jason (JASON PECK) – now an
associate at the firm – is eager to help Kuzak out on the case
in any way he can.
Kuzak’s obstacles
are considerable, but the greatest one may be his opposing counsel
-- his ex-lover, District Attorney Grace Van Owen (SUSAN DEY),
who was the original prosecutor on the case. She is as convinced
of Albert’s guilt as Kuzak is of his innocence.
Meanwhile,
Ann and Stuart’s lives are turned upside down when they discover
their guru, Cyril (GEDDE WATANABE) – who they unwisely gave check-signing
privileges to -- has drained their bank account of all its funds.
And in the midst of their personal financial crisis, Ann discovers
that Chloe Carpenter (JOSIE DAVIS), a young, beautiful and overly
ambitious associate at McKenzie-Brackman, is trying to steal one
of her longtime clients, Max Bettancourt (KEVIN MCNULTY), away
from her.
As Arnie’s
divorce proceedings grow more acrimonious, he is stunned to discover
that the new lawyer hired by his wife, Lara (INGRID TORRANCE),
is Abby Perkins (MICHELE GREENE). Once an insecure, put-upon law
associate at McKenzie- Brackman, Abby is now a self-assured, high-powered
divorce attorney with her own firm and an ax to grind. Fiercely
determined to get her client the best settlement possible, Abby
is willing to go to any length necessary -- including turning
the firm upside down by going through all of McKenzie-Brackman’s
financial records from the last several years.
Roxanne is
also in for a surprise when her ex-husband, direct-marketing whiz
Dave Meyer (DANN FLOREK), reveals that he has terminal cancer
and asks Roxanne to let him stay with she and Maddie. Feeling
unable to adequately care for him, Roxanne declines his request,
but later gives in, allowing Dave to stay in their guest room
when his condition worsens.
Later, a
chance meeting at the firm between Cyril and a dying Dave has
an unexpected impact on Stuart and Ann’s financial state, Douglas
confronts Jason about why he’s avoiding following in his footsteps
at the firm, and Dave’s tragic fate has a sobering influence on
Arnie, who decides it might be wiser to try and amicably end his
marriage.
Meanwhile,
on the Hutchinson case, Kuzak’s request for a stay of execution
for his client is denied. With Albert’s execution date drawing
nearer, Kuzak races against time to prove that his client was
framed for a murder he didn’t commit. His best hope is Warren
Mytelka (HROTHGAR MATHEWS), an eyewitness to the murder who is
too frightened to come forward with the truth until Benny convinces
him to trust in and cooperate with Kuzak. Warren wanted to testify
at the original trial, but was quickly silenced by Larry Diebenkorn
(BRUCE DAVISON), the former district attorney and Grace’s old
boss – now a United States congressman.
Kuzak calls
Warren to testify, but during Grace’s cross-examination, it’s
revealed that Warren is mentally disabled, casting a shadow of
doubt over his testimony. Bolstering Kuzak’s case is Jason’s discovery
that Ronald Gervin (JERRY WASSERMAN), the partner of the policeman
who was killed, retired from the department facing charges of
planting evidence. A surprise witness later testifies that Ronald
was never fired from the force because he enjoyed the friendship
and protection of Diebenkorn.
With Stuart’s
help, Belinda blackmails Diebenkorn, and threatens to tell the
press the truth about his involvement in the cop’s murder unless
he meets her financial demands. Determined not to let Belinda
destroy his career as a congressman, he agrees to her demands,
unaware that Belinda is recording their conversation. Later Belinda
testifies in court that Diebenkorn threatened to take her child
away from her if she didn’t name Albert Hutchinson as the killer,
supporting her testimony with the tape. Diebenkorn is left with
no defense, and Grace has him taken into custody while Albert
Hutchinson leaves the courtroom a free man.
With the
trial behind them, Kuzak and Grace put the past to rest, welcoming
the chance to be friends again, and perhaps even more.
The Cast: Corbin Bernsen as Arnie Becker
Josie Davis as Chloe Carpenter
Bruce Davison as Lawrence Diebenkorn
Susan Dey as Grace Van Owen
Larry Drake as Benny Stulwicz
Richard Dysart as Leland McKenzie
Jill Eikenberry as Ann Kelsey
Dann Florek as Dave Meyer
Michele Greene as Abby Perkins
Harry Hamlin as Michael Kuzak
Bruklin Harris as Raylene Hutchinson
Jason Peck as Jason Brackman
Alan Rachins as Douglas Brackman, Jr.
Susan Ruttan as Roxanne Melman
Ingrid Torrance as Lara Becker
Michael Tucker as Stuart Markowitz
Gedde Watanabe as Cyril
Steven Williams as Albert Hutchinson
Production
Info:
Airdates:
It debuted on NBC on Sunday, May 12th, 2002 at 9:00PM (ET/PT)
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