L.A. Law (TV Series)

Beauty and Obese (1988)

Richard Dysart: Leland McKenzie

Quotes 

• Leland McKenzie : I'm told you did not appreciate what happened last night?

  Jonathan Rollins : Not true. I think I fully appreciate last night. Everyone acting in concert to scare and embarrass me.

  Leland McKenzie : You know what they say Jonathan. A peacock that struts with its feathers out makes for an easy target.

  Jonathan Rollins : I didn't do anything to cause that kind of resentment, Leland. The resentment was already here when I first walked through those doors to work here.

  Leland McKenzie : You didn't do anything? You pranced around telling everyone that you were making more money than the other associates. You defied my direct instructions on how to try cases... several times. You connived to steal a client from Stuart. You set off a smoke bomb during a deposition and now you mocked us on national television. That stunt you pulled on TV yesterday accounts for something, Jonathan!

  Jonathan Rollins : I intend to be aggressive because as a black man I feel I have to prove myself in this white man's world. People look at me and see affirmative action! Nobody is gonna accept me, Leland! They think I'm just part of an equal opportunity program!

  Leland McKenzie : We accepted you the day we hired you and I think you know that.

  Jonathan Rollins : And I suppose last night's cruel joke was just a way of saying "welcome to the club".

  Leland McKenzie : Actually, it was a lot more then that. It was a way of knocking you down a peg. You need our help, Jonathan and our friendship. But you have been too arrogant and too self-important to accept it. It has nothing to do with the color of your skin, my friend. That joke last night served two purposes: to let you know how angry we were and to invite you to have a laugh with us at your expense and I think you missed the point... on both counts.