L.A. Law (TV Series)

Hand Roll Express (1988)

Susan Ruttan: Roxanne Melman

Photos 

Quotes 

• Arnie Becker : It's almost 10 o'clock, Roxanne!

  Roxanne Melman : Sorry.

  Arnie Becker : Did you bring your financial files?

  Roxanne Melman : No.

  Arnie Becker : No?

  [Kuzak closes the door] 

  Roxanne Melman : Look, I appreciate both of you taking the time that you have. But I've changed my mind. I'm going to take the fifth.

  Michael Kuzak : Roxanne, once they've granted you full immunity, you have no right to take the fifth.

  Roxanne Melman : But they can't keep me in jail once I see that it won't make me change my mind.

  Arnie Becker : Did your boyfriend tell you that?

  Roxanne Melman : Isn't it true?

  Michael Kuzak : Oh, yes... but a judge can keep you in jail for up to a year before he decides that it won't change your mind. What's more, the U.S. Attorney's Office could withdraw the immunity agreement and prosecute you for insider trading and mail fraud. Now why go through all of that?

  Roxanne Melman : Because one day this is going to be over. One day I'm going to say goodbye to McKenzie/Brackman and make a life with Jimmy. So whatever else happens, I can't do anything to hurt him.

  Arnie Becker : Doesn't it bother you at all that those brokerage accounts were in your name?

  Roxanne Melman : No, it doesn't. Jimmy was in the middle of a divorce and he didn't want his wife to find out about them.

  Arnie Becker : Why didn't he tell you that?

  Roxanne Melman : He was going to tell me... as soon as the divorce became final.

  Arnie Becker : Well, that sounds real convincing coming from a straight arrow like him.

  Roxanne Melman : Michael, please, tell the federal prosecutor that the immunity deal you made is off.

  Michael Kuzak : Absolutely not. If you're intent on putting yourself through this kind of a ringer, I want you to march into open court tomorrow and tell him and the judge yourself. Maybe between now and then, you'll come to your senses.

  Arnie Becker : He's got her too twisted for that. She's set.

• Roxanne Melman : Arnie, you don't know the first thing about Jimmy. You've never even met him!

  Arnie Becker : Oh, Roxanne, I've met this guy. I've met him a thousand times. His wife hires me, I make him look bad. He hires me, I'll make him look good. Either way I know him for what he is the minute I see him. He comes on like a romantic but he's only in business for himself. I know this guy, Roxanne. Hell, I've been this guy!

  [Roxanne turns to Michael] 

  Roxanne Melman : Thanks for the legal advice!

  [Roxanne heads out of the door and slams it shut] 

• Roxanne Melman : [Here in jail, the Jail Guard bring Roxanne to the visitor room to meet someone and sits down]  They told me my attorney was here to see me. Who are you?

  Gay Halloran : My name's Gay Halloran.

  Roxanne Melman : How did you get in here? They only allow lawyers.

  Gay Halloran : I'm a legal secretary at Tecowsky and Goldfarb. I presented our letterhead to the guard. And told them I was a lawyer.

  Roxanne Melman : Why?

  Gay Halloran : Because I want to tell you something about Jimmy Markham that you obviously don't know.

  Roxanne Melman : [scoffs]  You're his wife.

  Gay Halloran : I'm his girlfriend.

  Roxanne Melman : [thrown off guard]  Oh, my God.

  Gay Halloran : I'm who he wants to make a life just as soon as his divorce becomes final. I'm who he reaches for in the middle of the night. Or maybe you thought that was you.

  Roxanne Melman : Something like that.

  Gay Halloran : I read about you in the newspapers this morning, probably with the same dumb expression on my face that you have in yours right now.

  Roxanne Melman : [trembling]  My God. I can't believe this is happening.

  Gay Halloran : Yeah, well, I didn't come here for us to cry on each other's shoulders. I was involved in Jimmy's stock deals, too. The same way the Feds come after you, they gonna come after me. Only I don't want to give back the money I made, I don't want to hire a lawyer, and I don't think you want to spend another night here in jail. So why don't you save us both the trouble and stop protecting him?

  Roxanne Melman : I trusted him. How could he lie to me when I trusted him?

  Gay Halloran : I guarantee you he never lost any sleep over it. So now you're here in jail, I'm expecting a subpoena any minute, and we've both had our hearts stomped on. You stand fast, they come after me, I'm gonna send that bastard up without a second thought. Nothing heals like vengeance.

• U.S. Attorney Donald Kelly : [Arnie has arrived in the courtroom and take a seat and listening to Roxanne's testimony]  Please state your name and address?

  Roxanne Melman : Roxanne Melman, 1509 Cheremoya.

  U.S. Attorney Donald Kelly : And do you acquainted with the defendant, James Markham?

  Roxanne Melman : Yes.

  U.S. Attorney Donald Kelly : Miss Melman, have you ever sold or bought stocks?

  Roxanne Melman : Yes.

  U.S. Attorney Donald Kelly : And has the defendant ever offered you any advice as to which stocks to buy and sell?

  [Roxanne pause and looking at Jimmy. Michael listen to Roxanne's testimony] 

  U.S. Attorney Donald Kelly : Miss Melman?

  Roxanne Melman : I refuse to answer on the grounds that it may tend to incriminate me.

  Michael Kuzak : Your Honor, may I have a short recess to confer with my client?

  Roxanne Melman : Your Honor, I don't need to confer.

  Judge Cyril Hodges : Approach the bench.

  [Mr. Kuzak and Mr. Kelly approached the sidebar of Judge Cyril Hodges. Stanley Niles talk to his client Jimmy Markham] 

  Judge Cyril Hodges : Miss Melman, as I would hope your attorney has advised you since the U.S. Attorney's Office has offered you full immunity from prosecution, you're in no danger of self-incrimination. As such I'm ordering you to answer.

  Roxanne Melman : With all due respect to the court, Your Honor, I refuse to answer anyway.

  U.S. Attorney Donald Kelly : The prosecution asks that the witness be held in contempt.

  Michael Kuzak : Your Honor, I insist on speaking to my client.

  Roxanne Melman : No, Michael, there's nothing to say.

  Judge Cyril Hodges : Do you understand that you'll be taken to the Sybil Brand Institute for Women and held there until you do decide to cooperate?

  Roxanne Melman : That day will never come.

  Judge Cyril Hodges : Tell me that again after you've been in jail. Take the witness into custody.

  [the Court Security Officer of the United States Marshals Service takes Roxanne Melman as a witness into custody for contempt of court and refuses to testify against the defendant Jimmy Markham. Arnie is seeing Roxanne off to jail. The Court Security Officer takes Roxanne Melman and escorted her out of the courtroom. Jimmy seeing Roxanne heading into custody. Michael Kuzak dealing with Jimmy Markham. Arnie Becker sits for a while] 

• Stanley Niles : Your Honor, the prosecution having failed to make a prima facie case against the defendant. I would move that all charges be dismissed against him.

  Judge Cyril Hodges : Mr. Kelly?

  U.S. Attorney Donald Kelly : Your Honor, prior to the court's disposition of Defense Counsel's motion, I would ask to recall Roxanne Melman to the stand.

  Judge Cyril Hodges : Proceed.

  [Jimmy Markham as the defendant turned that the Court Security Officer of the U.S. Marshals Service opened the door and having Roxanne Melman entered the courtroom and return to the witness stand and testify, escorted by another Court Security Officer of the U.S. Marshals Service since her release from jail for contempt of court. Jimmy Markham sees Roxanne. Stanley Niles stands at the microphone at the rostrum. Roxanne take a seat] 

  Judge Cyril Hodges : Miss Melman, does your presence here suggest that you're now ready to discharge the contempt citation against you and testify?

  [Roxanne will testify and be release] 

  Roxanne Melman : Yes, I am.

  [Jimmy is hearing Roxanne's testimony. Mr. Kelly will now take a seat and Mr. Kuzak is now listening of Roxanne testifying in court] 

• Jimmy Markham : Come on, baby, it's not the end of the world.

  Roxanne Melman : No, I heard this prosecutor wants to be governor. He's supposed to be tough as nails.

  Jimmy Markham : My attorney is no pussycat. I mean a lot of things can happen. We could make a deal. We could beat him cold.

  Roxanne Melman : I'm sure not helping you any by testifying.

  Jimmy Markham : Now listen to me, it's the only thing you can do. You don't have a choice, you have to testify.

  Roxanne Melman : You really think that?

  Jimmy Markham : Absolutely. I don't want you to go to jail for contempt.

  Roxanne Melman : But my sentence wouldn't be as long as your sentence if you got convicted.

  Jimmy Markham : Rox, I don't want you to go to jail for one single hour. This trial and divorce I'm going through, it's, it's all just a temporary thing. When they're all over, and the dust settles, you're gonna be my wife. Now, that's forever. You want to know something else? Who knows how much your testimony is gonna hurt me, huh?

  Roxanne Melman : They're not offering me immunity for nothing.

  Jimmy Markham : I don't want to see you go to jail, period.

  Roxanne Melman : Listen, there's no guarantee I won't see you go to jail, is there?

  Jimmy Markham : Rox, I'm not gonna lie to you. The sentencing guidelines for this kind of white-collar crime, they come down pretty hard on it. I think it makes me look even handed or something, if I do go, I don't think I'm looking at more than 18 months.

  Roxanne Melman : It's a year and a half.

  Jimmy Markham : It'll be a minimum-security prison, probably be a bunch of lawyers in there with me.

  Roxanne Melman : They'll disbar you.

  Jimmy Markham : Listen to me. The hardest thing that we may have to endure... you know what scares me the most?

  Roxanne Melman : What?

  Jimmy Markham : Waking up at night and not having you there.

  Roxanne Melman : Me, too.

  [Roxanne and Jimmy kissed together] 

  Roxanne Melman : I'll be late for work.

  Jimmy Markham : Be late. We both may need the memories.

• [Roxanne Melman and Jimmy Markham are outside the courtroom. Arnie Becker is in the telephone booth] 

  Arnie Becker : She's here.

  [Hangs up the phone] 

  Arnie Becker : Roxanne! Roxanne, where have you been? You're supposed to be here at 9 o'clock!

  Roxanne Melman : Jimmy's lawyer called and said the trial was put till 11:00.

  Arnie Becker : [scoffs]  Ask your boyfriend if it's all right if you consult with your lawyer.

  Jimmy Markham : I got a name, Ace.

  Arnie Becker : I wasn't talking to you.

  Roxanne Melman : Come on, Jimmy, let's go.

  Jimmy Markham : You do pretty good job of talking about me. Why don't you say something to my face?

  Arnie Becker : I'm interested in her.

  Jimmy Markham : Well, I'm in love with her. What's between us doesn't concerned you.

  Arnie Becker : [Yelling]  You're gonna tell me what's concerns me?

  Michael Kuzak : [enters]  Whoa, whoa, we're gonna have a fistfight right here in the corridor?

  Jimmy Markham : Roxanne, everything's gonna be fine.

  [Roxanne kisses Jimmy] 

  Jimmy Markham : I love you.

  Roxanne Melman : Where will you be?

  Jimmy Markham : Attorneys' lounge.

• Michael Kuzak : So have you thought anymore about what you're gonna do in there?

  Roxanne Melman : Yeah. I've thought a lot about it, and there's no way I'm going to testify against him.

  Arnie Becker : This guy got himself a slave girl.

  Michael Kuzak : Arnie, maybe you ought to get a cup of coffee or...

  Arnie Becker : You know something I don't give a damn about the insider trading. But for him to let you take this kind of rap, we've got to be talking about a world-class slug.

  Roxanne Melman : For your information, he doesn't know anything about and he wants me to testify.

  Arnie Becker : What a guy. Did he tell you that?

  Roxanne Melman : Why is it you need to poison my love for him, Arnie? He never did anything to you.

  Arnie Becker : Yeah, but he sure as hell is doing something to you.

  Michael Kuzak : Arnie.

  Roxanne Melman : Forget it, Michael! There's nothing I want to discuss with either of you.

  [Roxanne walks away] 

  Michael Kuzak : Well, that was helpful.

  [Arnie sighs] 

  Michael Kuzak : Come on.

• [Arnie find out what does Roxanne doing in the morning] 

  Arnie Becker : What are you doing in today?

  Roxanne Melman : I just came in to pick up my check.

  Arnie Becker : Why don't you stay home tomorrow?

  Roxanne Melman : Home will feel just as bad as any place else.

  Arnie Becker : I know that you loved him, Roxanne.

  Roxanne Melman : But you know he was a bad guy anyway, right?

  Arnie Becker : That's not what I was going to say.

  Roxanne Melman : But it's great to be right, isn't it, Arnie?

  Arnie Becker : Do you think that I like seeing you hurting?

  Roxanne Melman : [Sobbing]  When did you ever notice?

  [Roxanne got upset and walk away from Arnie. Ann Kelsey and Stuart Markowitz are in the way] 

  Roxanne Melman : Excuse me.

  [Roxanne heads to the ladies room to be alone. But Ann Kelsey wants to see Roxanne. Arnie and Stuart find out what's going] 

• Ann Kelsey : Come here.

  [Roxanne sobbing in pain and was comforted by Ann Kelsey] 

  Roxanne Melman : Thank you. I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm sorry.

  [Roxanne is looking at herself in the mirror. So does Ann] 

  Ann Kelsey : Just so you know, when the suggestion was made to fire you, Arnie said, "If she goes, I go."

  Roxanne Melman : Oh, yeah. He just wants to keep me around so he can rub my nose in it.

  Ann Kelsey : I think he wants to keep you around because he needs you and values you. Look, Roxanne, tell me to shut up if it's none of my business, but the fact is you brought this on yourself. It doesn't mean you're a bad person, it doesn't mean you're a criminal. But I think all of us are gonna have to accept the consequences for what we did.

  Roxanne Melman : I lost my boyfriend. I'm broke. I used my old car as a down payment on my new car. So now I don't have any car at all. Why am I the only one taking the consequences? Why not you or Abby? Or... or Elizabeth? You all profited from Jimmy's tips as much as I did. So what's your consequences?

  Ann Kelsey : I'm not sure, but like it or not I think I'm gonna have to find out. Roxanne, I'm sorry for your pain. Maybe self-interest blinded me from the risks you were taking.

  [Ann blames Roxanne for what she's done for insider trading] 

  Roxanne Melman : No. It's not your fault. Or anybody else's.

  [Ann should forget an apology. Ann Kelsey should leave Roxanne alone in the Ladies' room]