The Rainmaker

Rudy feels nervous and outnumbered in court. He sits alone at his table, whereas Leo F. Drummond is surrounded by four high-caliber colleagues. The fifth and youngest representative for Tinley Britt has more experience and prestige than Rudy.

The day after Kipler took office, Tinley Britt filed a motion to have the case tried in federal court. Kipler takes this as an affront against him and denies both that motion and all other motions filed by Tinley Britt. He does pass the motion for the case to be fast tracked. Drummond and his colleagues try and postpone the trial date, but Kipler won’t allow them to get away with any tricks.

Deck and Rudy, after a month in business, have achieved few results and earned no money. They keep expenditures to a minimum. Rudy only wants to take on ethical cases, which upsets Deck, who argues that such cases don’t pay the bills. Rudy takes small jobs as a court-appointed lawyer that only pay $100 per case. He hands out business cards. Deck wants to begin advertising as soon as they have enough money. Rudy doesn’t like it, but he does what he has to.

Rudy researches Drummond and sends Deck to Atlanta to get information on Miss Birdie’s money. Deck discovers there is only roughly $42,000 in Miss Birdie’s trust fund.

On the day of Donny Ray’s deposition, Judge Kipler attends, which is unusual. He doesn’t want Drummond to use any tricks to nullify the proceedings. The deposition is held at the Blacks’ home. Rudy arrives an hour early to help set everything up. Donny Ray is weak and needs a lot of help getting over to the tree. The deposition goes well.

Rudy comes home to find a woman in his apartment. Miss Birdie’s son, Delbert, and Delbert’s wife are visiting. Word has gotten out that Birdie is wealthy. Rudy gets into an argument with Delbert, who says that Rudy is taking advantage of his mom. Miss Birdie says nothing, watching TV the whole time.

Rudy likes to get to the office early. Deck arrives later; on Monday, Deck arrives after 10 o’clock. He and Rudy chat. Deck informs Rudy that Bruiser wants Deck and Rudy to do him a favor. Bruiser and Prince stashed a lot of money away and they want Rudy and Deck to bring them the money. Deck doesn’t have any more details than those at the moment. Rudy argues it’s too risky and won’t do it. Deck agrees, but Rudy suspects Deck will do it without his help.

Back home, Rudy notices more cars in the driveway. Birdie’s other son and wife, Randolph and June, have arrived. All of them are on the patio talking, and the tone is more cordial. Randolph talks to Rudy about how he and Delbert haven’t been good sons, but they want to make amends and begin taking care of her. They don’t want any trouble from him, Rudy. Rudy doesn’t want any trouble from them either. Rudy goes up to his room, smiling, knowing Miss Birdie got what she wanted: attention from her boys.

Dr. Kord, wary of lawyers, has provided an affidavit. Rudy thanks him but asks for Dr. Kord’s deposition. For Donny Ray’s sake, Dr. Kord agrees, and Rudy schedules an appointment. When Rudy arrives back at the office, Deck is talking to a potential client: a woman seeking a divorce.

Rudy later receives a phone call from another attorney: Roger Rice. Rice is tasked with writing her will now and is calling to ask Rudy for information. Rudy tells Roger what he knows. After hanging up, Rudy laughs to himself, imagining how Miss Birdie’s family rallies when they think she has money.