Because of who you are, not where you’re going
That title came from a line from a TV show of which this blog post was inspired by…
I wasn’t really sure what to write about tonight. I was thinking of doing an idea (I haven’t done one in a while) or posting just a topic about music that I tweeted about last week (my enjoyment of guy and girl duo singer bands like the hush sound, which by the way is an awesome band). But the topic that I decided on is inspired by the season finale of a TV show.
In short the topic is basically this: would you sacrifice your personal goals or career to do the right thing? Or would you brush the right thing under the rug and continue on your way to further your career?
This is what the main character of the show had to face in this episode and her choice made me absolutely adore not only the character but the writers of the show. It was really a… umm… what’s the word… I guess a riveting episode, and I suppose so much that it not only captivated me for the duration of the show but it also inspired me to write this post. So here goes!
I decided to make a late dinner and pop on some Netflix and enjoy my err… umm… shall we say… guilty pleasure (Drop Dead Diva). I was finally on the last episode of season one of the show. I guess this just wasn’t at all what I was expecting to see. I mean, the show has definitely dealt with some interesting issues before in previous episodes, but this issue is one of morality and ethics and really seemed almost like outside the norm for a popular TV show to address. But this is why I enjoy the show so much! It’s funny, it’s witty, and it addresses some serious issues as well. It’s like a complete package in show form.
So I’m not going to go through the entire episode or the entire backstory of the show. I’ll just give a quick little setup:
So, Jane (she’s a lawyer chick in a law firm in LA played by Brooke Elliott) has just won a BIG case that is supposed to help her get partner in her firm. Everyone is celebrating with the client sipping some champagne over winning the case. The client is this minor league baseball player who had a surgery mess up his arm and he would never be able to pitch again. So he sued the doctor for medical malpractice and as well the hospital. He won the case and all was bright and cheery until they zoom in on Jane and she starts speaking out loud about one piece of evidence that was used to win the case.
The piece of evidence she was referring to was that the doctor messed up the surgery because she had only gotten 45 minutes of sleep that night. I’ll explain the case real quick: the last day of trial went something like… She did 3 surgeries prior and then went to a benefit and then home at 11pm. At least, that was her claim. So she was on the stand saying that she got a full nights rest. Then Jane submits a document that is a speeding ticket showing her caught by a traffic camera running a red light at 4:30 AM. She was to be IN surgery at 6:30 AM. This was a “oh snap” moment in the show because as the viewer at that moment you are all about the baseball player winning his case against the hospital because he’ll never be able to make it to the major leagues. That’s when the trial ends and you see the faces of the winning team just kind of all smiles and knowing they just tipped the case in their favor to win.
Ok, So back to the champagne celebration. Jane says something like “That ticket…. It wasn’t anywhere near where she lives or the hospital… it wasn’t even on the way”. Her assistant says, “so? Who cares we won the case!” But you can just see the look of… hmm…. Consternation would probably be the best word… to describe the look on her face. There’s something not right.
She leaves the party and makes her way secretly back to her office. At the office she starts to review that evidence. Then she does some more sleuthing. She discovers something very grave…
The firm and as well her helped to defraud the hospital out of 15 million dollars. Turns out the doctor and the baseball player were in it all along and had been planning this for 6 months. They also were an item… so that made it even juicier. The location of the speeding ticket issued was a traffic light near where the baseball player lived... yep. She was coming from his place. But she ran the light on purpose knowing that they would find that evidence and knowing she would lose the case... and knowing that her and the bball player would split the 15 million half and half... that was the plan. So she did the surgery and cut a little too deep on purpose and then he filed the suit... and they were in it together all along.
This is where the show absolutely grabbed my attention.
Jane approaches her boss who also is owner of the firm. She shows him everything and says they have to do something about it. That the truth needs to come out and they have to tell the District Attorneys office and the court system and everyone.
Her boss says absolutely not. No one will say a word. Jane is taken aback and demands “why not?!?!”
The boss leans in and says “if we go public with this, there will be no more clients for us.”
You can see in Janes face that she can’t deal with this… she pushes the issue… and he slams it shut. Making it final that no one will speak about it at all. Everyone seems ok with it but Jane isn’t. There’s more dramatic dialogue that makes you nearly tear up. Seriously I was on the verge of tears!
Ok well basically Jane goes back to her office and is just kind of contemplating at her desk and staring at the skyline of the city just thinking about what to do. Her assistant walks in and she confesses to her assistant that she can’t let this go.
Oh real quick the whole entire episode her assistant had been talking about the “new” office if she made partner on a recurring basis. This new office means her assistant would also get a new desk and view etc. etc.
So her assistant says well… I mean think about the new office… and then she says “kidding”
Jane kind of looks at her and just apologizes again but she can’t just let this go… but to come clean with it to expose the truth would jeopardize not only her own career… but her assistants as well. She’s torn.
The assistant says to her… “I started working for you because you were going places… but now I’m working for you because of who you are, not where you are going.”
They exchange this moment of I support you no matter what. Jane does decide to gather the evidence needed (including a deposition from the doctor… although I don’t agree with the way she went about getting that deposition) and mail it off to the DA’s office. She also writes a letter of resignation.
She chooses the right thing to expose the truth over furthing her career. In fact, she kills her career and will now be under investigation by the LA law board of something somethings… (they threw in some fancy legal stuffs and I can’t remember exactly what they said)… basically… she won’t be able to practice law ever again in LA is what they are trying to tell the viewer.
She compromised her entire however many years of schooling, and practicing law to do the right thing.
I’m absolutely in awe of this character and show. I can’t tell you any more attractive quality in a person than that. It was admirable and honest and right.
The truth no matter what the consequence is ALWAYS the best way. No matter what.
If I were faced with an issue like this even if it meant hard times financially… there is NO way I could ever continue to do what I was doing knowing that I turned the other way on what was right.
I hope that I was able to describe the show in a way that made the point this episode was trying to make. I do recommend checking out the show, or at least this last episode. Although, it’s tough to really follow everything without watching it from the beginning… but isn’t that every show?
I’m all about TV shows that tackle serious issues but do it in a way that can really grab your attention. This one REALLY inspired me to write and really absolutely I guess if it’s possible made me fall for that character. Is that possible? Does anyone else ever totally fall for a character? Even from a book, or a play? This happens to me all the time. Sometimes I absolutely abhor certain characters and then sometimes I’m head over heels for others.
Maybe a topic for another blogpost? Perhaps… well I’m off to get some slumber.
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