Episode 27

<--   23 November 2005   -->

Elliot arrives at a neighbourhood park after waking up to an urgent call from Caitlin Flannery (from Episode 14). Woody Gallagher (from Episode 24), a homeless man and a client of Elliot's, defends his squat from a group of angry neighbourhood residents who are trying forcefully to dismantle it. Caitlin argues with neighbours, who claim that Woody's presence is an invasion of their neighbourhood. When Mitchell makes a move for his tent, Woody hits him with a stick. Sheila lunges for the tent and Caitlin jumps on her. Elliot stands amidst the fighting trying to break it up as the police arrive.
Ronnie and Alice walk towards their office as Ronnie shares some information she found on a "women in peril" website. Alice says she appreciates the advice but prefers not to think of herself as a woman in peril. They reach the office and see Anil and Zona moving into the room across the hall. Zona is frustrated by Anil's enormous desk - which he refuses to part with - and fears she has made a big mistake.
Nancy discovers that James' office is empty and runs out to tell Alice and Ronnie. Ronnie reveals she helped him pack the night before. She explains that he plans to be a well digger in Tanzania, but can be reached at a local number for emergencies for now. Nancy takes the number and leaves in search of him. Ronnie suggests finding a replacement for James.
Alice meets with Chris and Jill McDonald. Chris is charged with assault for knocking over an orderly while trying to run from the hospital with his baby. The McDonalds took their little girl to the hospital after she had a seizure. Jill insists the incident is all her fault, having urged Chris to "do something" about what she saw as the mistreatment of their child by a nurse.
Ronnie visits her nephew Jack Angel, who is living in a seedy motel, winning a round of drunken closed-circuit bikini bingo when she shows up. He has just been reinstated to the bar after getting himself into some legal trouble in the States somewhere. Ronnie convinces Jack to consider filling in for James at the firm.
In Trial Court, Menon questions Ruth Blainey, the ER nurse who was tending to the McDonalds' baby. Ruth explains that she was taking the baby’s temperature when Jill started screaming at the nurse to stop hurting her. When Chris took the baby and ran, Ruth called for assistance and the orderly tried to stop him. On cross examination, Alice points out that the nurse ignored Jill's instructions on how to take the baby's temperature, causing excessive crying that could have brought on another seizure.
Back at Zona and Anil's new office, Anil meets with a group of similarly dressed thugs, which forces Zona to meet with her client in the hallway. Anil's clients leave and Anil follows, excited: "I've got a gang... I've got a gang!"
Caitlin and Woody appear before JP Kraneyk in Bail Court. Despite her reluctance to leave without Woody, Caitlin is released to her “long-suffering husband” Jake. She offers to act as surety for Woody – even to renovate her garage for him – but Crown Kaye disapproves, as they are each other’s co-accused.
Nancy follows Bucky Puck to an old corner grocery store where James now works stocking shelves for Bucky’s aunt. She tries talking him into coming back to the firm, but James insists that the store is the best thing for him. Nancy disagrees, saying he needs to confront his demons. James replies, “I don’t want to confront my demons. I want to put these tiny donuts on this shelf.”
As the McDonalds’ trial continues, Chris is let off with a conditional discharge, and Alice tells them not to let anyone make them feel bad about being young parents.
Woody is released with Jake acting as his surety. Providing a solution to Woody and Caitlin’s co-accused issue, Caitlin decides to pitch her own tent in the park. As her way of “bucking the establishment,” she wants to see if the police arrest her for staying there. Woody and Jake head back to Jake’s for a barbeque.
Nancy is agitated as Jack sips bourbon on the couch in their office. She doesn’t want Jack representing their clients: “You look like a criminal yourself.”
Elliot, Anil and Zona walk to their offices. Zona is still unhappy about sharing an office with Anil, who does his best to reaffirm her. Elliot is in his office going through the mail when Jack sneaks up behind and tickles him, mocking Elliot’s stutter and calling him Ellie. Elliot is obviously disturbed when he learns Jack is filling in for James – Jack has always picked on him.
Alice visits James. James tells her his plan to help improve the store and that he’s seen a doctor and he might be dying.