Chapter 7 of The Firm has been much anticipated over the last few weeks as I wait with baited breath to see how the 2 time frames will be handled as we get closer and closer to the events I call "climax".
Chapter 7:
We start in the future with the detective interrogating our hero Mitch and in the end throwing him in a cell under what I like to call the "24 hour rule". Many criminal dramas remind us of the fact that a suspect can be held without charge for 24 hours before they are either charged or released. The detective is banking on some evidence that is more solid than a hotel room and Mitch running away from said hotel room.
Case of the Week: Brother vs. Brother
Mitch is called to help a young man who works as a delivery boy for the deli down the street from the office. They are the only law firm he knows and calls them when he's arrested for armed robbery and felony murder (all conspirators in the felony act are equally accountable for the murder if they pull the trigger or not).
The kid, Nate, has a learning disability and seems to be developmentally challenged. His brother (Shawn) was the brains behind this operation.
The US Attorney wants one of the brothers to testify against Ed, who pulled the trigger and killed the shop owner. There is only one golden ticket and the lawyers are told it's first come first serve. Nate is honourable and says that he won't go against his brother. He is convinced that his brother won't take the deal and that it should be both of them or neither of them. Shawn is selfish and thinks that a way out is worth his brother going to prison.
The US Attorney wants each lawyer to highlight the value of each one for the witness stand. Who deserves the 2nd chance more, and they have 48 hours to get ready to pitch.
The McDeere clan start researching Nate. They find that Shawn has used him to get away from an official record before. Nate has taken the fall for Shawn before and is the reason he's in this position in the first place.
When the pitch off happens, Mitch puts down his cue cards and tells a very compelling story about a young boy who needed someone to believe in him and help him to be his own man rather than follow his brother into mischief. The brother went to jail and the boy (Mitch) went to Harvard... awwww! The point is, Mitch wants the US Attorney to be the one that believes in Nate and gives him the chance to be the man he can be. If Shawn is given the deal, he'll end up in jail beside Nate eventually.
The US Attorney chooses Shawn because he'll be more reliable on the stand, not because he deserves the 2nd chance more. Mitch talks to Nate about the crime, to build the fact that he can testify, that Nate could be a good witness. When talking, Nate reveals details that incriminate Shawn in other nefarious acts. The nature of the testimony agreement means that Shawn has to reveal everything. If these extra crimes are not disclosed, Shawn's agreement can be revoked. Mitch starts plotting.
Mitch and Ray go looking for Shawn's car (the switch car) and the guns that are supposed to be inside. They end up at an impound yard, where the car was towed, only to find that they are moments too late as the car was claimed and it driving off the lot as they speak. They give chase (why not?). When they catch up to the car, they find Shawn's lawyer behind the wheel (naughty, naughty).
Mitch, Nate and the US Attorney meet for the re-pitch. The Attorney starts asking Nate questions really fast and a little bit meanly. Nate cracks a bit but Mitch gives him a pep talk. Nate then starts talking through the crime and we learn that Ed shot the owner because Shawn told him to do it or get shot himself (woah, shocker!).
This leads the US Attorney to announce to the judge in court that he'll be entering into an agreement with Nate. Shawn's lawyer starts spouting about "we had an agreement" and then the US Attorney tells the judge about the further charges regarding sale of guns and the lawyer's involvement in the activity and/or covering it up... "oooops" says the judge "agreements are such tenuous things".
Family Drama: Family Tree
The family drama is that Claire is working on a family tree for school. There is a very awkward conversation with Abby about her parents. Abby then talks to Tammy about it. She is considering contacting them again.
She talks to Mitch about it. Should she, shouldn't she.....
In the end, Tammy has found the address and phone number for Abby and then Ray comes over with the same information because Mitch had asked him to find it for her. Mitch loves Abby and only wants her to be happy.
Abby isn't ready and can't make the call. Maybe someday in the future. *yawn*
Conspiracy Case
Tammy takes on the task of getting Mr. Sniffles to talk to the McDeere clan about The Document.
She approaches Sniffles in a parking garage. She has a flat tire and needs a man to help her. Sniffles says he's not handy and then says it doesn't look flat. Tammy then tells him who she really is any what she wants. She wants Sniffles to meet Mitch at a hotel on Friday at 2pm (since he can't talk there or meet 'tomorrow').
Tammy then pops up behind Sniffles at a coffee cart (Stalker much?). She says she'll stop stalking if he agrees to the meeting.
Tammy tells Mitch she just got the call that Sniffles is waiting at the hotel. She said Mitch would only need 5 minutes so Mitch better hurry. As Mitch leaves the courthouse, we see he's being followed. Chase ensues through the recognizable landmarks of tourist Washington DC. Mitch stumbles down the steps in front of a monument and dashes through the reflecting pool (all from first episode). We get the fast tracked and flashing version of the future scape from all the episodes to date up to Mitch in the interrogation room and then the cell.
Mitch sits in the jail cell and says "here we go again"
what will happen in Chapter 8? we've caught up, the future is now, what's next? we'll have to wait for Chapter 9 to find out.
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