Ryana's The Practice Page

201. "Reasonable Doubts"
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Saturday September 20, 1997
Written by: David E. Kelley
Directed by: Michael Pressman

In the season opener, Bobby makes a dangerous decision to mix his personal and professional lives when he becomes romantically involved with a sexy client charged with murder. She claims she shot the victim in self-defence while he was trying to rape her. There's just one problem with her story, she shot the guy five times.

202. "Betrayal"
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Tuesday September 23, 1997
Written by: David E. Kelley
Directed by: Thomas Schlamme

Responding to a client's call, Eugene and Ellenor walk into a city councilman's apartment, and find him stabbed to death and their client confessing to the murder. Meanwhile, Berluti tries to help a hooker he once represented get off the streets, only to have her betray him.

203. "The Blessing"
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Saturday September 27, 1997
Written by: David E. Kelley
Directed by: Lee Bonner

Bobby and Gamble are forced to deal with their respective stormy pasts when they go up against each other in an assisted-suicide case. Meanwhile, Lindsay goes head-to-head with her ex-boyfriend when she defends an elderly bookie.

204. "Search and Seizure"
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Saturday October 25, 1997
Written by: David E. Kelley
Directed by: Michael Schultz

Helen Gamble makes a pass at an unsuspecting Bobby during a Halloween party; Lindsay puts yet another drug dealer back on the streets; and Eugene and Ellenor represent Rebecca's friend, Michael Randall, who seeks a court-ordered injunction to force his wife to have a C-section.

205. "The Means"
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Saturday November 8, 1997
Written by: Todd Ellis Kessler
Directed by: Oz Scott

Against Eugene's advice, Bobby uses the race card when a black man is accused of manslaughter during a riot; Ellenor represents her obnoxious cousin, who's suing the Travel Company for ruining her honeymoon; Eugene closes against Bobby in the riot case.

206. "Save the Mule"
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Saturday November 15, 1997
Written by: Ed Redlich & Andrew Smith
Directed by: John Patterson

Lindsay refuses to represent drug-runners when a client almost dies during a bust; Jimmy takes the case of a neighbourhood inflicted by cancer, after their other lawyer drops them saying they have no case; Bobby ends a secret romance to concentrate on Gamble.

207. "Spirit of America"
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Saturday November 22, 1997
Written by: Ed Redlich
Directed by: Michael Schultz

Bobby and the firm are called in by the Capital Defenders Project to keep convicted murderer Randy Jefferson from facing death by lethal injection. The frantic process of trying to prevent his execution is caught on tape by a documentary crew.

208. "Line of Duty"
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Monday January 5th, 1998
Written by: David E. Kelley
Directed by: Robert Mandell

While in the heat of passion with Helen Gamble, Bobby overhears police plans to do a drug-raid on his client. However, his attempts toward the client of a result in charges of reckless homicide when the bust goes terribly wrong and three police officers are killed. Also, Berluti goes up against Boston's largest electric company in a seemingly unwinnable case, with Ellenor's support.

209. "Truth and Consequences"
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Monday January 12th, 1998
Written by: David E. Kelley & Joseph Telushkin & Allen Estrin
Directed by: Stephen Cragg

The case against the electric company grows as Ellenor and Berluti enlist Lindsay to help them with the next crucial step. Meanwhile, when Rebecca picks out a murderer in a police line-up, her own life is threatened by the convict's vengeful brother.

210. "Burden of Proof"
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Monday January 19th, 1998
Written by: David E. Kelley
Directed by: Daniel Attias

Even with everyone except Lindsay against him, Berluti sets out on his own in the increasingly-important trial hoping to prove that Boston power lines gave his clients cancer. Above all odds, he plows ahead, receiving a startling verdict, and an even more startling judgement.

211. "Ties that Bind"
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Monday February 2nd, 1998
Written by: David E. Kelley & Larry Mollin
Directed by: Mel Damski

Ellenor and Lindsay defend a porn star, accused of killing her husband during a bondage sex scene; Ellenor learns that the D.A.'s office has a professional vendetta against the firm of Donnell and Associates; Rebecca's identification of the murder suspect from "Truth and Consequences" is put to the test when the suspect's lawyer takes the line-up I.D. to court; Bobby and Helen's relationship is put to another test when Helen learns that Bobby has slept with Lindsay in the past.

212. "The Trial"
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Monday February 9th, 1998
Written by: David E. Kelly
Directed by: Dennie Gordon

When a fourth girl is killed by the serial killer calling himself "The Poet", Helen pounces, following the trail to a suspect immediately. The problem arises when that same suspect, Dr. Winslow, plunks a $1 million retainer in Bobby's lap. Meanwhile, Eugene is stuck on another case, that of Rebecca's uncle, who's being charged by the government for tax evasion. But, as the whole firm begins to work on Winslow's defence, Bobby and Helen's relationship is eradicated, as they go against each other in the courtroom, again. (Part One of Two)

213. "Cloudy with a Chance of Membranes"
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Monday February 16th, 1998
Written by: David E. Kelley
Directed by: Dennie Gordon

With Bobby and Helen both pushing ahead with the trial of Jeffery Winslow, they each enlist the full resources of their offices to get the desired verdict. The trial goes shaky, with Bobby seemingly in the lead, and most of Helen's key evidence being thrown out. But even before Helen plays her last ditch surprise card, Bobby figures it out, and blows her cover. In the end, the closing statements clench Helen's victory over Bobby, even though his client, Dr. Winslow, is innocent; and has been betrayed. (Part Two of Two)

214. "In Deep"
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Monday March 2nd, 1997
Written by: David E. Kelley
Directed by: Oz Scott

Rebecca is finally called to testify as the main witness and the whole case in the murder trial of the man whom she saw murder a gas station attendant. Ellenor pawns off one of her cases, that of a man with floating faeces, to Lindsay who has to go in front of a judge with whom she doesn't want a bad reputation. Ellenor's other case is that of a purse-snatcher, who Congress is targeting as a political pawn to send a message to the thieves in Boston to not commit crimes against tourists. Meanwhile, Eugene gets his shirt back from the cleaners a couple of sizes to small and when he goes to confront the cleaner, he must also confront his own bigoted behaviour.

215. "Another Day"
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Monday March 9th, 1998
Written by: David E. Kelley
Directed by: Arvin Brown

Joey Heric, the man who has previously killed one of his lovers, does it again, and again calls on Bobby to defend him. However, this time they're up against Helen and the resources of the entire D.A.'s office. Problems arise, when Joey decides to defend himself, and the court appoints Bobby to be his back up. Meanwhile, Lindsay gets a chance to fight back when her former professor tells her she's chosen the wrong path; and when Ellenor gets the case of a purse-snatcher being used as a political pawn, she takes it through to a dignified verdict; despite having to battle a brutal judge and entire United States Congress.

216. "Checkmate"
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Monday March 16th, 1998
Written by: David E. Kelley
Directed by: Adam Nimoy

Helen desperately attempts to outsmart Joey Heric, who continues to represent himself. But when she tricks him on the stand, he pulls another card out of his hat, changing his story completely. Meanwhile, Ellenor argues a case of discrimination against an overweight woman who was taunted by a circus clown. But when Bobby senses the case getting too close to home for her, he assigns Lindsay as second chair, much to Ellenor's chagrin.

217. "Trees in the Forest"
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Monday March 30th, 1998
Written by: David E. Kelley & Frank Renzulli
Directed by: Dwight Little

During a staff meeting, Lindsay causes uproar when she demands to be made partner in the firm. Meanwhile, Helen must defend the homeless when she prosecutes a Hit and Run where a rich man hit and killed a homeless man on the street. Also, Lindsay surprises Bobby with a personal confession of why she's staying at the firm; and Rebecca's Animal Protection award for saving Dog shelters may be in jeopardy when the awards committee find out she's killed a rat.

218. "Food Chains"
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Monday April 6th, 1998
Written by: Ed Redlich & David E. Kelley
Directed by: Stephen Cragg

Rebecca and Berluti go undercover in an attempt to break an insurance fraud ring after Rebecca is involved in a car accident she believes was a set-up. Meanwhile, Ellenor takes the case of a scientist who wants to stop a primate centre from selling a prized ape who is able to speak using sign language; and Bobby makes a crucial decision that involves the future of the firm and all it's employees.

219. "Axe Murderer"
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Monday April 27th, 1998
Written by: David E. Kelley & Todd Ellis Kessler
Directed by: Dennis Smith

While Rebecca and Jimmy continue to infiltrate the insurance scam ring, Lindsay realizes the doctor they're exposing is the same doctor Ellenor is falling in love with. Meanwhile, Bobby and Eugene assist Ally McBeal and Billy Thomas from the firm Cage & Fish, in a gruesome axe murder. This case, of a wealthy woman murdering her husband has the foursome using some unorthodox methods to get the client off. That is, until a surprise affair is revealed.

NOTE: This episode is the second part of a two-part Ally McBeal/Practice crossover. Part I was the Ally McBeal episode entitled "The Inmates" which featured appearances by Bobby, Eugene, Lindsay, Rebecca, and Ellenor.

220. "Duty Bound"
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Monday May 4th, 1998
Written by: David E. Kelley
Directed by: Elodie Keene

When a dead teenager is found in Jimmy's priest's office, Jimmy investigates. All evidence points to Father Ryan's guilt, but as Jimmy gets too close to the truth, he's shot at point blank range in the church parking lot. Meanwhile, the firm prays for Jimmy's life and attempts to find out who's responsible.

221. "Rhyme and Reason"
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Monday May 11th, 1998
Written by: David E. Kelley
Directed by: Jesus Trevino

When a seemingly good thirteen-year-old shoots and murders his mother after a typical argument, Bobby is called in to defend him as Helen asks the judge to try the boy as an adult. Meanwhile, turmoil reigns in the lives of all our lawyers, both in and out of the courtroom.