I really enjoyed the December 19th episode of LA Law. I have been looking forward to seeing something happen with CJ all season. For those of you who would like to see more gay and lesbian positive images on tv, I strongly recommend writing to the producers of LA Law. The address is: L.A. Law Twentieth Century Fox Studios P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, CA 90213 The transcription of the portions of the show with lesbian content follows. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ It's season 6 in LA Law land. As Amanda Donahoe had promised, she would not let the bisexual issue drop. Michelle Greene left the show, so something new had to be introduced... The Dec14th-20th issue of tv guide described the CJ story as follows: CJ (Amanda Donahoe) takes a personal interest in a case involving her friend (Elizabeth Kemp), a divorcee whose lesbian affair forments a custody battle for the kids. [opening scene] Arnie: I'd like to help, but I've got this tv thing. You should be talking to Anne Kelsey. CJ: Arnie, this woman needs a killer. She needs YOU. Arnie: CJ, I am flattered, but my plate is pretty full right now. Excuse me. CJ: It's not your run of the mill custody case. When they were divorced two years ago, the father was drinking. He never contested the mother getting the kids. But now, he's AA, a church goer, and about to be married. Arnie: He's cleaned up his act and he wants custody. CJ: Arnie, it is more complicated. Evidently, he has been thinking about this for some time. He hired an investigator and found out Maggie was involved with someone. Arnie: She's been divorced for two years, right? CJ: The relationship started during the marriage. Arnie: If the husband didn't bring it up during the divorce, he'll have a hard time now. She's a good mother, right? CJ: The best! Arnie: Okay! So the affair is nothing to worry about. If Anne has the time, this is a piece of cake. CJ: Arnie, the lover is a woman. [funny look on Arnie's face] The children are six and eight. The father claims they're better off with him. On Friday, Maggie fired her lawyer. He said David would probably win. Arnie: Not necessarily. In California, homosexuality isn't grounds for denying custody. CJ: Yuh, but we both know it happens. Arnie: Yuh, okay, okay, there's judicial bias. But according to the law, being gay is only relevant if the woman is promiscuous, if she's bringing the wrong kind of people home to her kids. What's this other woman like? Do we know anything about her? CJ: A lot, actually. It's me. [LA Law liscense plate... Show credits... Opening scene, lawyer's meeting] Douglas: Next up! Barnes vs. Barnes, petition to modify a custody order. This is yours Arnold? CJ: I brought it in. Leland: Mrs. Barnes is a friend? CJ: No, Leland. Um, she was my lover, which is why her husband is trying to take her children away. Leland: Seems to me there's a conflict of interest here. CJ: We don't see each other any more. Arnie: Mrs. Barnes is aware of the possible conflict. She still wants my representation. It's her call. Leland: I make no judgements about anyone's personal life. But, what if there's publicity? What does this say about the firm? Stuart: It says we don't discriminate on the basis of race, gender or sexual orientation. Right? Tommy: Absolutely! Bill: It's a given. Jonathan: Right! Leland: Ya, right. [In Arnie's office] Maggie: He's wasting his time. David won't drop this. CJ: Hey, look. Arnie is very good. He and David's attorney will work something out. Maggie: You're not a great liar, but thanks for trying. I miss you. CJ: I just thought it would be easier. Maggie: Easier for who? CJ: [CJ answers the phone.] Yes! Thanks Gwen. [Hangs up phone.] Pavlok just left. Maggie: Twenty minutes is not a good sign. CJ: Hey. [CJ rubs Maggie's shoulder.] Arnie: [Arnie enters the office.] Sorry. They won't budge. They want to take it to court. According to Pavlok, David insists that your new lifestyle is, quote, damaging to his children, unquote. CJ: You want to talk damage? He didn't see Tim and Jenny for a year after the divorce. Maggie: That doesn't count. All that counts is who I've slept with. Arnie: The worst thing you can do is let your emotions take over. David is going to play hardball. He is going to bring up the incident at your son's school. That may help them prove psychological damage, and they will drag in anything to may make you look like an unfit mother. Now if you're going to the bars, you should stop. Maggie: I've never been to a gay bar. CJ: Arnie, this isn't necessary. Arnie: I don't want them to have anything else to use against you. Now, to be absolutely safe, I wouldn't spend the night with anyone. Above all, I wouldn't bring anyone home. Maggie: [Maggie looks painfully at CJ.] You don't have to worry. Arnie: Good. I'll see you here at 9:00 tomorrow to go over your testimony. Maggie: Thank-you. [CJ gets up to show Maggie out.] That's okay, I can find my way. [CJ sighs.] [In court] David: My marriage had problems. And I admit, some were my fault. I'm an alcoholic. I'm recovering now, but, before I was divorced, I was still drinking. Pavlok: Did your drinking affect your children? David: I'm sure it did. They were probably confused and scared. And I'm very sorry for that. But, I uh, I never hit my kids, or even yelled at them. Pavlok: What about your wife? David: Yes, we had fights. I thought it was because of my drinking. Pavlok: You say you thought the fights were about drinking. Wasn't that the case? David: That was Maggie's excuse. The fights were really about sex. Arnie: Objection! Move to strike. Your honor, how far off the track are we going to get? Pavlok: It's directly relevant, your honor. Mr. Barnes' drinking during the marriage was partly in response to being deceived about his wife's sexual preference. Arnie: That's ridiculous your honor! Judge: I'm overruling you, Mr. Becker. I think Mrs. Barnes' behavior is relevant. Pavlok: Do you feel your wife lied to you, Mr. Barnes? David: Yes, I do. She never admitted to me that she didn't like men. Our marriage was a lie! And I think that hurt Tim and Jenny, far more than my drinking. Pavlok: Why do you want custody or your children, sir? David: I am not the same man I was two years ago. I don't touch alcohol. I am very active in my church. I'm about to be married to a wonderful woman. And I believe that I can make a happy, normal home for my kids. Pavlok: Thank-you. Arnie: Mr. Barnes, three years ago when your daughter was five and having difficulty learning to read, didn't you call her stupid? David: I'm so sorry about that. I had a hangover. Arnie: Your son is six. He plays peewee soccer. Three months ago, didn't you force him to finish a game when he had a sprained ankle? David: We didn't know it was sprained. And he wanted to play. Arnie: Because you pressured him. You told him to act like a man. David: What's wrong with that? He needs a real male role model, not women pretending to be men. Arnie: Move to strike. Judge: So ordered. Arnie: Isn't it true sir, that when you and your wife were divorced, you showed no interest whatsoever, in getting custody of the children? David: My wife had convinced me that I was a bad parent. Arnie: Weren't you? Didn't you spend Saturday with your friends, Sunday sleeping off binges? Didn't your wife have to explain to Timmy, that uh, Dad was too sick to come to the school played because you were passed out drunk? David: Yea, I admit all that. I did terrible things when I was drinking. Arnie: And you need to make up for the past, so you want your kids back. David: I love my kids! I always have, and they know that. I am just trying to do what is best for them. Arnie: Like trashing their mother's personal life in open court? To you that's being a good father? Pavlok: Objection! Argumentative! Arnie: Withdrawn. I'm done here. [Later in court] Arnie: Mrs. Barnes, in your opinion, is your ex-husband a good father? Maggie: He loves Tim and Jenny. But when he was drinking, he was never there. He'd promise to take the kids to Disney Land or Magic Mountain and then get home six hours late. I couldn't stand it. I was relieved when David decided to move out. Arnie: Is that the only reason? Maggie: No. We didn't have a marriage anymore. We never talked. Arnie: And after the divorce, how often did your husband see Tim and Jenny? Maggie: That first year, twice. David didn't start taking the kids on weekends till he got sober. Arnie: And you work as a commercial artist. How much time do you spend with the children? Maggie: I'm there when they come home, and I have them every weekend they're not with David. Arnie: And you help support your children financially, is that right? Maggie: Yes. When we were divorced, we agreed to split everything fifty-fifty. Arnie: Did your ex-husband make his payments promptly? Maggie: No. That first year I always had to beg him for the checks. Arnie: Thank-you Mrs. Barnes. I have no more questions. Pavlok: Mrs. Barnes, has your husband ever missed a child support payment? Maggie: No, but there were many times... Pavlok: And even when he was drinking, David Barnes never lost his job and he contributed equally to the family's support, didn't he. Maggie: Yes. Pavlok: You had lesbian affairs during your marriage. Isn't that true Mrs. Barnes? Maggie: I had one relationship. It wasn't an affair. I fell in love. Pavlok: And you were unfaithful to your husband. You started sleeping with this woman, Cara Jean Lamb, and you didn't tell him about it. You let him go on believing he had a normal wife. Arnie: Objection to the implied characterization of Mrs. Barnes' sexual behavior as abnormal. Judge: Sustained. Pavlok: Mrs. Barnes, have you ever kissed or fondled your female lover in front of your children? Maggie: We've ended the relationship. Pavlok: Please, answer the question. Maggie: No. I have never fondled my lover in front of my children. Pavlok: Did you kiss her? Maggie: Yes. And I don't believe it traumatized my children. Pavlok: Did you ever talk to them about Ms. Lamb? Maggie: I explained to them that CJ and I loved each other, and that uh, some people might not understand. Pavlok: Don't you think that confused them Mrs. Barnes, maybe even frightened them? Maggie: I think if anything frightens them it's what David is doing now. Pavlok: Your son physically injured another child because that child said you were a lesbian. Maggie: My son was shoved up against a wall by some older boys who were teasing him. He hit one of them back and gave him a bloody nose. I am not sure Timmy even understood what the teasing was about! Pavlok: Mrs. Barnes, your personal life seems to be in constant turmoil. First you're married. Then you decide you're gay. Then you end that relationship. How can you possibly provide a stable home? Maggie: My personal life is my business, Mr. Pavlok! It has never kept me from loving my children or being there for them. Pavlok: And you honestly believe that being raised by a lesbian mother is better than a heterosexual environment? Maggie: If I'm the mother, yes. Pavlok: I have nothing further. [Later in court.] Pavlok: Dr. Lattimer, you're the psychologist assigned by the court to evaluate the Barnes children. Is that correct? Lattimer: Yes. And Jenny seems to be a normal, outgoing eight year old. She's bright and well socialized. Pavlok: But doesn't your report refer to a certain sadness when Jenny feels she's not being observed? Lattimer: Yes, and I felt that was because of her family situation. Pavlok: Jenny's situation includes a lesbian mother who brought her female lover home. Could that be the cause of Jenny's sadness? Arnie: Objection. Speculation. Judge: Overruled. Lattimer: Yes, I think Jenny's feelings are related to her mother's sexual preference. Pavlok: What were your observations about Timothy Barnes? Lattimer: Tim is six. He's also bright, but he's developed behavior problems which seem to be getting worse. He's been acting out. He's been fighting at school. Pavlok: And this aggressive behavior is directly related to his confusion over his mother's homosexuality? Lattimer: In my opinion, yes. Pavlok: Do you feel that psychotherapy is indicated for Timmy Barnes? Lattimer: I think it would help. What he's been through would be disturbing for any six year old. Pavlok: Thank-you. Arnie: Dr. Lattimer, isn't it possible Timmy Barnes has problems because his father is an alcoholic who never paid much attention to him before he sobered up? Lattimer: It's possible, yes... Arnie: And isn't it also possible that it's his father's hostility toward his mother that might be the cause of Timmy's aggressive behavior? Lattimer: Again, it's possible, but I... Arnie: And there's no clinical evidence that having a gay parent damages a child, is that right? Lattimer: No, but clinically... Arnie: Or that the children of gay parents grow up to be gay? Lattimer: Well, we're not sure how that imprinting takes place... Arnie: In fact, isn't it true that most homosexuals are raised in heterosexual families? Lattimer: Yes. Arnie: So if a straight family doesn't guarantee a straight child, why should a gay family guarantee a gay child? Lattimer: Well it doesn't necessarily. Arnie: No more questions. Judge: You might step down doctor. If there are no more witnesses... Pavlok: We would like to call one more witness, your honor, Miss Cara Jean Lamb. [CJ and Maggie look at each other. Later in the court room.] Pavlok: Miss Lamb, when you were sexually involved with Mrs. Barnes, did you ever have relations with Mrs. Barnes in their home? CJ: No, never. Pavlok: But you did visit her home when the Barnes children were present? CJ: Yes. Pavlok: Did you ever openly display affection for Mrs. Barnes in front of the children? CJ: I may have put my arm around her. I probably kissed her, in a non-sexual way. The children didn't seem to pay any attention. Pavlok: Didn't Tim Barnes once tell you he hated you? CJ: His father called that morning and cancelled a trip to Dodger Stadium. Tim also told his sister he hated her, and the family dog. Pavlok: Ms. Lamb, how many sexual relationships have you had in the past five years? Arnie: Objection, your honor. That is completely irrelevant! Pavlok: It goes to the best interest of the children, your honor. We believe Miss Lamb to be sexually promiscuous, which is both a health risk to the Barnes children and a bad moral example. Judge: Objection overruled. Pavlok: During the time you were involved, Mrs. Barnes wasn't your only sexual partner. How many others were there? CJ: Two. Pavlok: Have you ever been tested for AIDS, Miss Lamb? Arnie: Your honor, this is offensive! Judge: I said, I'd allow it, Mr. Becker. CJ: Yes, I was tested for the HIV virus three years ago. The result was negative. Pavlok: And why were you tested Miss Lamb? CJ: Because I felt it was the responsible thing to do. Pavlok: I have nothing further. Arnie: Miss Lamb, do you love Maggie Barnes? CJ: Yes. Arnie: And what about Tim and Jenny, do you care about them? CJ: Yes, very much. Arnie: According to Mrs. Barnes, you know her better than anyone. Do you feel that her children belong in her custody? CJ: Oh yes. Yea, Tim and Jenny are great kids, and she raised them. David: What are you asking her for? She encouraged my wife to lie to me. Judge: That'll do Mr. Barnes. David: I'm sorry, your honor. Arnie: I have no further questions. Judge: You may step down Miss Lamb. Arnie: Your honor, since this concerns the Barnes children most directly, the respondent requests the court hear from them personally. Judge: Well, I think the six year old is too young. But I would like to talk to the eight year old. I'll meet with Jennifer Barnes at ten AM tomorrow in my chambers. We're adjourned. [In the judge's chambers.] Judge: Do you know why we're here, Jenny? Jenny: Mm hmm. If me and Timmy are going to live with my mom or my dad. Judge: How do you feel about your mom? Do you love her? Jenny: Yes. Judge: What's she like to be with? Is she happy most of time? Jenny: Uh-huh. She likes to do stuff. Go shopping on Melrose and hiking in the mountains so she can draw. She listens to us too, even if Timmy is acting like a weenie. Judge: What about your dad? Do you like to be with him? Jenny: Yuh, he doesn't yell at us anymore. He takes us places too. Judge: And Cara Jean Lamb? How do you feel about her? Jenny: Oh CJ's way cool! She shows us how to whistle through our teeth. And she had a cat one time that didn't even have a tail! Judge: How do you feel when CJ and your mother are together? Jenny: They don't fight like my mom and my dad. CJ makes her laugh. Judge: Did you ever see them hug or kiss each other? Arnie: [Jenny looks apprhensively at Arnie.] It's okay. You can tell. Jenny: Well, one night, I got up for a drink of water and my mom didn't know it. CJ was going home, and I saw her and my mom kissing. Judge: Did that bother you? Jenny: Yea, but I told my mom, and we talked for a long time. She said if I didn't like her, CJ wouldn't come over anymore. But I said I did. Judge: Well, do you still feel that way about CJ? Do you still like her? Jenny: Yea, but she can't come over anymore. My dad doesn't want her to. Judge: Why do you think that is? Jenny: Cause my mom loves CJ and not him. [In Tommy's office] Tommy: Okay! So far, you've straightened my books, you've adjusted my lamp, you've played with the toy, now you've picked up my sofa pillows. Do you want to talk about Maggie? CJ: I still haven't heard anything yet. Tommy: No, I didn't mean the custody case. CJ: It's so bloody stupid! I called it off, you know! The third time in two years. You think I could let go. Tommy: Maybe you don't want to. Maybe that's why you got her a lawyer and you stuck by her. CJ: Tommy, she wants a future. I have trouble committing to next week. I love her kids, but I don't want the responsibility. Tommy: So you write her off! She's just out of your life! CJ: Better to hold on like you and Zoey? I'm sorry. I am sorry. That was a low blow. Tommy: Yea, that was. CJ: I think I should leave before I spread anymore Christmas cheer. Tommy: Hey CJ, I didn't take offense. You're right, I held on to Zoe for too long and it killed me to lose her. But Zoey and me, we'll always know each other, because what we had between us... We don't just throw that away. [In a court conference room] Maggie: I thought if we talk to each other, face to face instead of through our lawyers... David: What, you think that's going to soften me up? That you'll get around me like you did during the divorce? Maggie: I tried to tell you what was happening. You wouldn't listen. David: So it's my fault. You cheat on me with women, and that's my fault. Arnie: Look, blaming her is only going to punish your kids. David: What do you know about it? Arnie: I'm divorced too. Mine was my fault. I wanted to punish myself. You want to punish everybody else! David: Look, she is the one that's been sleeping around. Arnie: That's not the point! The point is, I still had feelings for my wife, and so do you. My marriage was over. There wasn't any hope, and it didn't make any difference. I still loved her. And a part of me always will. Maggie: I didn't mean to hurt you, David. But, I can't change what happened. David: I don't understand. I don't understand how you can prefer a woman to me. Maggie: I did love you, when I married you and for a long time after that. But, I stopped. And that was way before I met CJ. David: I thought if I got sober, if I stayed on the wagon, that you would want me back. Maggie: Well, a few years ago, I might have. But it's too late now. We both just need to move on. Please, stop using Tim and Jenny to hurt me back. [At the MacKenzie/Brackman Christmas party] Arnie: CJ! She gave him more visitation. He dropped the petition. The kids are home with their mother. CJ: Yay Arnie! Oh thank-you! [She hugs him.] Thank-you! Bye-bye! Arnie: [To Roxanne] I didn't want it to end that way. I had a hell of a closing! [With "I Can See Clearly" sung in the background, CJ goes to Maggie's home. As Maggie opens the door...] CJ: Merry Christmas! [Maggie and CJ hug and go inside. The "Executive Producer" credit comes on. End of episode.] ==> Beverly Schwartz BBN Corporation <== ==> e-mail: bschwart@bbn.com Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 <==