Harry's Law Episode 1.12 Last Dance

Harry, Adam, Malcolm and Jenna talk over a drink at McNichol's Bar. They're arguing because Harry plans to skip an annual black-tie trial lawyers' event that Adam insists could be an opportunity to bring in business. Jenna tries to hold Malcolm's hand, but he quickly removes it. Harry is saved by a phone call. Harry visits ADA Josh Peyton in his jail cell to ask what happened. Peyton explains that when he was growing up, he had a dream house, which he saw when he was driving around earlier. Peyton couldn't stop himself - he walked up the path to the front door and tried it. It was unlocked, so he went inside. Then he went to the master bedroom and sat on the bed. That's when he realized there was a woman sleeping in the bed. He stared at her for a few minutes until she woke up, which didn't go so well.

At the shop the next morning, Harry reports that she's representing Peyton on breaking and entering and assault charges. Apparently Peyton's lost his mind. When Malcolm greets Jenna, she storms off into the storage room. A new client, Nancy Jones, walks into the shop. She's looking for someone to represent her son and it's urgent, because he's been sentenced to death. Adam is on the case. Malcolm confronts Jenna in the storage room. She calls him out on yanking his hand away when she went to hold it, accusing him of being embarrassed by engaging in a public display of affection with her. Malcolm claims he felt self-conscious in front of Harry. Jenna announces that Malcolm is going to conquer his fear by kissing her in front of Harry.

Adam speaks with Nancy about her son, who was convicted three years ago based on his confession and the testimony of a friend. Nancy claims her son was coerced. The conviction was appealed by a young lawyer from Shipley, Winningham last spring, but Nancy's been waiting for the ruling ever since. She recently learned that the lawyer left the firm and moved to Arizona, and the appeal was denied in the meantime. Nancy understands she can file a second appeal, which is why she's come. She's heard that people at Harry's firm care and fight, and she needs someone to fight for her son.

Adam finds Rachel in the courthouse. She's skeptical about his request for help, but he assures her this isn't a pretext - a shoe-store law firm cannot carry a death-penalty appeal alone. He needs the resources of a big firm like Rachel's. Adam admits it doesn't have to be her firm, but he's anxious to get back to being good friends... and his client is scheduled to be executed in a month. Adam and Rachel meet with defendant Brian Jones, who claims he didn't commit the murders. Rachel says there's a question as to whether Brian was too drunk to even remember what happened that night. According to Brian, the cops lied, saying witnesses saw him with a gun, then convinced him that he blacked out and committed the murders. Rachel gets a phone call. The appeal has been rejected because the filing period has expired.

Adam and Rachel meet with ADA Kim Mendelsohn to request a filing extension for Brian's appeal. Kim gossips with Rachel about her new haircut, then drops a bomb: she heard Rachel and Thomas got engaged. That's news to Adam. Kim feels badly for a minute - she didn't realize Rachel and Adam were exes - then gets down to business. Kim claims she doesn't have the power to waive filing deadlines. Adam promises to challenge this in federal court, and wonders how Kim can let a kid die because of a clerical error. Kim points out that Brian isn't being executed for a clerical error, but for shooting two men.

As they await arraignment, Harry instructs Peyton to let her do all the talking and remain calm, reminding him that he's an asshole. Harry asks Judge Coulis for special treatment for Peyton, referencing his longtime commitment to the community. Of course, Peyton speaks up in his own defense, earning a glare from Harry. Harry argues that Peyton had a tough week and likely had a small nervous breakdown - he got lost in his "American dream." When Judge Coulis asks Peyton to elaborate, the innocent story about wandering into the house to live the dream for a minute escalates into a full-blown rant at the societal position, or lack thereof, of public servants. Peyton tells Judge Coulis that he had to borrow his expensive suit, the wearing of which perpetrates a lie. He strips off his clothes and is removed by security.

Afterwards, Harry tries to find a silver lining in Peyton's courtroom antics - at least he contributed to his diminished capacity defense. Peyton says he's not crazy, he's just had it. He used to be more fun - the life of the party - and now he's divorced, alone, and wound too tight. Harry tells him it's not too late to start over, pointing to herself as an example. Peyton declares that he's always wanted to sing, or tell a joke and make people laugh with him, not at him. Harry thinks that if they can convince the woman whose house Peyton entered not to press charges, there still might be a way out of this. Peyton thanks Harry for being a good friend.

Rachel and Adam bicker about the brief they're drafting until Adam passive-aggressively brings up Rachel's engagement. Rachel claims she was going to tell him, she just didn't think the time was right - it only happened three days ago! Adam accuses Rachel of lying by omission so she counter-accuses him of lying by saying he just wants to be friends. Adam clarifies: he never said he just wanted to be friends, he said he'd settle for that. When Rachel gathers the brief to go back to her office, Adam apologizes, then asks how Thomas proposed. Rachel confesses - she was the one who proposed. Adam tries to continue working, but he can't, telling Rachel he's not ready to be friends. After this case, they need to lose contact for a while.

Harry returns to the office to find a tense environment. Jenna presents Harry with a letter of resignation, which Harry rejects. Jenna explains that her private and professional lives are in conflict. Harry's sorry to hear it, and tells Jenna to get back to work - and everyone else better snap out of it, too! Just then, Tommy walks in and asks Harry to be his date to the black-tie trial lawyers' event that night. This is going to take some convincing...

Kim stops by as Peyton is packing up his office. She asks if there's anything she can do, but he sees through her, asks what she wants. Kim cuts to the chase. She wants to know if Brian Jones is really guilty, because Peyton's the one who tried his case. Peyton tells Kim he would never, ever try somebody for murder if he weren't convinced of his guilt. Kim doesn't doubt that, but also knows that sometimes you can convince yourself of the merits of the case in the heat of the moment, and then later, upon reflection... Peyton explains that Brian had motive, opportunity and a prior history of violence; Peyton has no doubt he did it. Kim asks once more if Peyton's okay, commenting that she's sorry she missed seeing him get naked in court.

Adam and Rachel meet with Nancy and Brian to explain that the hearing will be about the filing deadlines, so there won't be much, if any, argument about Brian's innocence. Nancy promises she'll be there, and Adam tells Brian he's having a suit sent over for him to wear to court.

Back at the shop, Jenna apologizes to Malcolm, explaining she tends to do crazy things at the beginning of a relationship as a way - she thinks - of testing it. Malcolm's convinced she's nuts, but reassures her that she hasn't driven him away. As he kisses her, Harry walks in and yells at them to get a room. Jenna tells Harry that the woman whose house Peyton broke into is on her way over, then Jenna points to four dresses on a rack for Harry to choose from for the trial lawyers' gala. When Harry insists she's not going, Jenna lectures her - when a friend needs you, you answer the call. Malcolm kisses Jenna again, much to Harry's disgust.

Harry tries to convince Sarah Green not to press charges against Peyton, explaining he was in the middle of a nervous breakdown of sorts when he entered her home. Harry appeals to Sarah's compassion. Adam and Rachel appear before federal Judge Sandra Killiam to ask her to waive the filing deadline. They argue that the clerk's office should have called the law firm once the notice of the appellate court's decision was returned unopened. Kim argues that the sheer volume of cases makes this kind of accountability infeasible, but Judge Killiam isn't buying this argument. When Kim explains that the clerk's office doesn't guarantee fairness, just due process, the Judge challenges her. Can Kim live with this? Kim argues that a system has to have rules in order to function. Mr. Jones got a trial and an appeal and lost both.

As Adam and Rachel discuss the hearing in the corridor, Kim comments that they make quite the team. Adam asks Rachel if she proposed to Thomas as a kind of pre-emptive strike, to prevent a relapse with Adam. Rachel denies it, but she's not very convincing. She gives Adam a kiss on the cheek and leaves. Harry, Peyton and ADA Kepler meet in Kepler's office. Kepler offers felony trespassing. After a brief argument, Peyton agrees to take it. Outside Kepler's office, Peyton thanks Harry, then mentions he was thinking of going to the trial lawyers' gala. Will Harry to be his date? Harry winces, then tells Peyton she's already going with Tommy Jefferson. He may be a banana, but he's a nice banana.

At the gala, Kim compliments Rachel on her argument, then asks if Adam's coming. Rachel says she doesn't know as Thomas approaches with drinks. Across the room, Kim sees Harry and Tommy arrive. When Tommy tells Harry how sensational she looks, she comments that Tommy really knows how to make a date feel special. Back at the shop, Adam is staring at a photo of himself and Rachel when he's interrupted by a phone call that causes him to put his head in his hands. Back at the ballroom, Kim has just received the same news. She tells Rachel that she and Adam just lost. Peyton takes control of a microphone. Tommy yells at him to strip again, but instead, Peyton picks up a guitar and sings a song he loves. "Is It Okay If I Call You Mine?" is a soft, gentle song that, as played by Peyton, is also heartbreaking for Harry and Kim.

Rachel stops by the shop to check on Adam, still dressed in her gown to promise they'll file for a stay in the Supreme Court tomorrow. Adam's really hurting so Rachel puts her arms around him in encouragement - they'll keep fighting. Then she confesses that she proposed to Thomas in part to keep herself from doing something stupid with Adam. Rachel loves Thomas, but she loves Adam more. They kiss, break apart, then kiss again. Harry walks in on the second kiss, wonders if everybody is kissing everybody. Rachel leaves to "take care of something."

Harry asks Adam if he and Rachel are back together, but he has no idea. Harry came back to the office because she heard about Adam's case. She also heard he was good in court. "Not good enough," Adam says. Harry opens some beers, reminds Adam that as much as the job sometimes sucks, on its worst days, it's at least better than patent law. Harry reminisces back to the day they started the practice at the shoe store. She's proud of Adam; he's a good man and a good lawyer, even if he's still a pain in the ass. When Adam asks how the gala was, Harry explains that Peyton sang, fully clothed, and Tommy left with someone else. Adam reports that Jenna and Malcolm are on a date. Harry and Adam continue to banter about love and other topics as the lights go down on another day at Harriet's Law & Fine Shoes.