PRACTICE, THE: BURNOUT (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramas about the idealistic attorneys at a struggling Boston law practice. In this episode, Jimmy and Ellenor defend a woman, Nancy Healy, accused of murdering her brother-in-law, Derek. The dead man's mother takes the stand and explains that Derek and his brother Kevin had been estranged ever since the car accident that killed Derek's son and paralyzed Kevin, adding that Nancy has been caring for Kevin full-time ever since and greatly resented Derek for not helping financially. She states that Nancy had been acting "increasingly erratic" and was heard to threaten Derek's life during an argument. Elsewhere, Jamie meets with a friend, a fellow lawyer named Andrea, who reveals that she was raped as a teenager and now cannot find a job as a result, having repeatedly explained the gap on her resume and believing that firms have an "industry bias" against hiring victims of crimes. Bobby discusses his marital problems with his therapist, who suggests that he craves solitude and cannot share his life easily. In court, Derek's widow Lori takes the stand and explains how Nancy returned home seeming "very disoriented" on the night of the murder, detailing how the stress of nursing her husband for several years has taken a toll on her. A.D.A. Walsh points out that Kevin will receive Derek's family trust payout now that he is dead, suggesting that Nancy murdered him for the money.
Andrea explains in court how she struggled to "outrun" and forget about her rape experience, but the opposing counsel argues that there is no clear evidence linking her victim status with her rejection from positions, adding that Massachusetts has "at-will employment" rules and that firms can hire at their discretion. Eugene is frustrated when Jamie wants to question another lawyer on the stand, telling her that he will admit nothing. McNeil explains that he selects employees based on his gut instincts, firmly stating that Andrea's rape had nothing to do with her not being hired. Kevin testifies that Nancy sometimes experienced blackouts, and Dr. Gabler explains that Nancy has "caregiver's burnout," which when coupled with her rage at her brother-in-law led to a psychotic break and amnesia, meaning that she unknowingly killed Derek and cannot remember doing so. Nancy then takes the stage herself and admits to feeling "loopy" and fatigued sometimes, stating that she never intended to kill Derek, although he was a "vile person." However, Walsh then forces her to admit that she had a one-time sexual encounter with Derek after her husband's accident, and Jimmy and Ellenor are frustrated at the setback. Ellenor reminds the jury that Nancy had no history of violent behavior and was overwhelmed by caring for Kevin, but Walsh declares that she simply murdered her ex-lover for financial gain.
Jamie prepares an extensive summation for Andrea's case, and when Eugene questions her about it, she finally admits that she herself was date-raped and opted not to report it because of the negative stigma. Bobby runs into an ex-girlfriend, Sarah, and they spend the afternoon together. She asks about his marriage and he states that he is faithful, but she tells him to spend more of his free time with his wife. Ellenor and Jimmy learn that the verdict is in, but they then catch Lori kissing Kevin and begin to put the pieces together. In Andrea's case, the opposing lawyer says that there is no proof of discrimination and crime victims are not a protected class anyway, but Jamie delivers an impassioned speech about the unfair, shaming attitudes towards rape victims, tacitly acknowledging her own attack as she explains how survivors must work to feel "whole" again. Ellenor confronts Kevin and Lori and states that Lori killed her own husband and framed Nancy with Kevin's help because of the affair and the money, taking advantage of Nancy's stress and drugging her to feign a blackout. Kevin objects to the "villainous" claim and says that Nancy will surely be found innocent anyway, but she is then declared guilty and taken off to prison. Ellenor threatens to tell the police, but Kevin retorts that they will not believe her. At Eugene's urging, Jamie attempts to tell Lucy about her rape, but they are interrupted by the news that Jamie has won her case, and she finds that she cannot yet explain the truth. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: March 24, 2003 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:11
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:77659
- GENRE: Drama, legal
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, legal
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1997-2004
- COMMERCIALS:
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- TV - Commercials - Axa financial planning services
- TV - Commercials - Bausch & Lomb PreserVision vitamins
- TV - Commercials - Botox cosmetic injections
- TV - Commercials - Burger King restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Claritin allergy medication
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- TV - Commercials - Nokia cellular phones
- TV - Commercials - Oust air sanitizer
- TV - Commercials - Sears stores
- TV - Commercials - Staples stores
- TV - Commercials - Toyota automobiles
- TV - Promos - "According to Jim"
- TV - Promos - "Alias"
- TV - Promos - "Basic" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "Dragnet"
- TV - Promos - "Eight Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter"
- TV - Promos - "Femme Fatale" home video
- TV - Promos - "George Lopez"
- TV - Promos - "Ghost Ship" home video
- TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
- TV - Promos - "Jimmy Kimmel Live"
- TV - Promos - "Life With Bonnie"
- TV - Promos - "Lost at Home"
- TV - Promos - "My Wife & Kids"
- TV - Promos - "Nightline"
- TV - Promos - "Phone Booth" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "Regular Joe"
- TV - Promos - "The Bachelor"
- TV - Promos - "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" home video
CREDITS
- John Tinker … Executive Producer
- Robert Breech … Executive Producer
- David E. Kelley … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Christina M. Musrey … Supervising Producer, Director
- Lukas Reiter … Producer
- Jonathan Shapiro … Producer
- Janet Knutsen McCann … Producer
- Pamela Wisne … Producer
- Joseph Berger-Davis … Producer
- Steven Lang … Co-Producer
- Tammy Ann Casper … Co-Producer
- Christopher Reeve … Writer
- Marco Beltrami … Music by
- Jon Hassell … Theme Music by
- Pete Scaturro … Theme Music by
- Dylan McDermott … Cast, Bobby Donnell
- Michael Badalucco … Cast, Jimmy Berluti
- Jessica Capshaw … Cast, Jamie Stringer
- Lisa Gay Hamilton … Cast, Rebecca Washington
- Steve Harris … Cast, Eugene Young
- Chyler Leigh … Cast, Claire Wyatt
- Camryn Manheim … Cast, Ellenor Frutt
- Marla Sokoloff … Cast, Lucy Hatcher
- Kelli Williams … Cast, Lindsay Dole
- Lara Flynn Boyle … Cast, Helen Gamble
- Bill Smitrovich … Cast, A.D.A. Kenneth Walsh
- Christopher Reeve … Cast, Kevin Healy
- Carolyn McCormick … Cast, Nancy Healy
- Jennifer Savidge … Cast, Lori Healy
- Richard McGonagle … Cast, Judge Patrick Wilcox
- Margaret Lovett … Cast, Margaret Healy
- Jim Jansen … Cast, Attorney Ryan Hall
- Ruth Williamson … Cast, Dr. Sharon Gabler
- Elisabeth Waterston … Cast, Andrea Cote
- Earl Boen … Cast, Dr. Broadman
- James Hornbeck … Cast, Judge Joseph Clarke
- Stephen Hornyak … Cast, Jason McNeil
- Teri Polo … Cast, Sarah Barker
- Meredith Vieria … Cast, Security Guard
- Elizabeth Ann Harris … Cast, Foreperson