Will: There is a lengthy legal precedent, Your Honor, going back to 1789, whereby a defendant can claim self-defense against an agent of the government if that act is deemed a defense against tyranny, a defense of liberty. Your Honor, Henry Ward Beecher, in Proverbs from the Plymouth Pulpit, 1887, said, quote-
Lawyer: 1887?
Will: Excuse me.
Lawyer: This is the 20th century. He's gonna make a mockery.
Will: I am afforded the right to speak in my own defense, sir, by the Constitution of the United States.
Lawyer: Don't tell me about the Constitution.
Will: This guarantees my liberty. "Liberty," in case you've forgotten, is a soul's right to breathe. When it cannot take a long breath, laws are girded too tight. Without liberty, man is a syncope.
Lawyer: Man is a what?
Will: Ibid. Your Honor.
Judge: Son, my turn. I've been sitting here for ten minutes now lookin' over this rap sheet of yours. I just can't believe it. June '93, assault. September '93, assault. Grand theft auto, February of '94. Where, apparently, you defended yourself and had the case thrown out by citing "free property rights of horse and carriage" from 1798. Joke. January '95, impersonating an officer. Mayhem, theft, resisting. All overturned. I'm also aware that you've been through several foster homes. The state removed you from three because of serious physical abuse. You know, another judge might care, but you hit a cop. You're going in. Motion to dismiss is denied. $50,000 bail.
Will: Thank you.
Woman: Rise.
Skylar: Hello?
Will: Uh, Skylar?
Skylar: Yep.
Will: Hey, uh, it's Will.
Skylar: Who?
Will: It's Will. You know, the really funny, good-looking guy you met at the bar the other night.
Skylar: I don't recall meeting anyone who matches that description. I think I'd remember.
Will: Oh, all right, you got me. It's the ugly, obnoxious, toothless loser who got hammered and wouldn't leave you alone all night.
Skylar: Oh, Will! I remember. How are you? I was wondering if you'd call me.
Will: Yeah, look, I was wondering—
Herve: Yo, what's up, baby?
Will: Hold on one second.
Herve: What you doing? Want some of my ass?
Will: Herve, I remember you from juvie. How’re you doing? Oh, yeah, sorry about that. I was wonderin' maybe we could get together sometime this week. Sit out at a cafe. Maybe have some caramels.
Skylar: Oh, that sounds wonderful. Yeah? Yeah, sure. Where are you?
Will: Uh, well, actually, this is, this is just a shot in the dark, but, uh, there's no chance that you're pre-law, is there?
Officer: Have a seat.
Will: Thank you.
Gerald: Nice talking to ya.
Will: What the fuck do you want?
Gerald: I'm Gerald Lambeau. Professor you told to fuck himself.
Will: Well, what the fuck do you want?
Gerald: I've spoken to the judge, and he's agreed to release you under my supervision.
Will: Really?
Gerald: Yeah. Under two conditions.
Will: What are those?
Gerald: First condition is that you meet with me every week.
Will: What for?
Gerald: Go over the proof you're working on, get into some more advanced combinatorial mathematics, finite math.
Will: Sounds like a real hoot.
Gerald: And the second condition is that, that you see a therapist. I'm responsible to submit reports on those meetings. If you fail to meet with any of those conditions, you will have to serve time.
Will: All right. I'll do the math, but I'm not gonna meet with any fuckin' therapist.
Gerald: It's better than spending that time in jail, isn't it?
妙语佳句,活学活用
1. make a mockery
这个片语本来是“to make a mockery of something”,意思是“嘲弄,把……作笑料”,这里那个律师是说Will 在“嘲弄法庭”。
You're making a mockery of the court here!
2. rap sheet
美国俚语中指的是“a police arrest record 公安部门的刑事犯登记表”。
3. Assault. Grand theft auto. Impersonating an officer. Mayhem. Theft. Resisting.