David E. Kelley's "The Practice" crossed over with Boston Public this week.  Kevin went to the law firm and asked Ellenor Frutt to represent him in his case against the school.  She agrees to be his lawyer, because she is a friend, and they meet with the school board.  Frutt questions their decision in an attempt to solve the matter before going to court.  Her arguments fall on deaf ears as the school board and superintendent Shinn are already in Harper's corner.  As a result they stick to their decision and force a trial.  Harper and Guber seem very short tempered and certain of themselves in this scene as they condemn Kevin for his actions. Frutt visits Harper at the school and tries to get him to reconsider, but he won't.  

Kevin in Court

Kevin meet with the lawyers, (from "The Practice" episode),  and tells them that he has no problem getting "ugly" with the whole situation.  He's quite happy to "take Guber down" if it means getting his job back.  Harper stops by Guber's office the night before the hearing and finds Guber there working on information for the court hearing.  He informs Guber that it's midnight and he should go home.  Harper tells Guber that he wanted to be informed of the Kevin situation before he went ahead and fired him.  The discussion escalates and Harper tells Guber that he has overstepped his bounds as a vice-principal on more than this one occasion recently.  They get into an argument and several accusations and angry statements are made toward each other.  They are obviously are getting testy about the whole firing issue.  A hearing takes place to determine if a court session is needed.  The judge hears both lawyers and decides he cannot make a ruling without an evidentiary hearing.  The hearing is scheduled and the lawyer, Ellenor Frutt, (Camryn Manheim of the practice), subpoenas Lauren and Harvey in case she needs them for witnesses. Guber and Harper are again having words with each other, in front of their lawyer, when Frutt walks into the office.  The lawyer is exasperated with them and wants them to say nothing to Frutt.  Frutt tells them about the subpoenas and asks the two to rescind the firing in their own best interests.  Harper refuses, as does Guber, and Frutt stares Harper down.  He tries to intimidate her, in his usual fashion, but it seems that he has met his match.  She in no way will step down and claims that she will hang them out like dirty laundry.  

     Frutt questions Guber on the stand.  She grills him with questions of other incidents that have taken place in the school and asks why no one was fired then.  He has no real answers and she goes into his exposure to a prostitute and his "sexual harassment" of Lauren Davis making him look bad and feel extremely frustrated.  Guber later accuses Harper of telling people he was sexually harassing Lauren.  The lawyer tells them to work out their problems like grown-ups so that it won't show up in the court room.  They grudgingly talk it out and Harper admits that he feels guilty about firing Kevin.  He does, however, put some blame on Guber for overstepping his authority.  Scott tells Steven that he feels bad because Steven is the popular one and he always has to be the heavy, making everyone hate him.  He's sick of it.  He doesn't want to do that anymore.  He doesn't wan to be hated.

     Kevin takes the stand.  He is questioned about his part in the relationship.  He tells the court that he tried to make them end it.  He pleaded with both of them, yet continued to cover it up "for his friend".  He feels that his friendship has to count for something.  (In the meantime, Marla is circulating a petition to get Kevin back) 

     When Lisa takes the stand she tells the court that her parents have blessed the relationship.  She also tells them that Kevin tried to get them to stop seeing each other, but did cover up for them.  Once the lawyer hears that her parents aren't upset about the affair anymore she suggests that they reinstate Kevin because a major portion of their case has been eroded.  Harper still refuses and after some consideration the lawyer suggests that they may still be able to win if he gives the closing statements, using his emotional speech tactics as a weapon.   Frutt makes the first closing arguments, stating that with all the other incidents in the school, this should be considered one of the least plausible excuses for termination.  His termination was not proportionate with the crime.  The punishment must fit.  Steven gives his statement (2.7 mbs), saying that Kevin LIED. He lied to the principal and a principal must be able to trust his teachers.  That basic trust is what makes us all, students included, safe.

     Outside the courtroom, while waiting for the judge's decision, Kevin accosts Steven and calls him a hypocrite.  He feels he has betrayed him and their friendship.  It's obvious that there's no love lost between them at this point.  Once court reconvenes, the judge admits that his decision was not easy.  He, however, rules on the side of the school and will not reinstate Kevin.  The group of teachers meet in the school lobby to see Milton and Kevin off.  It is a sad, touching moment for the crew and Guber sees their emotion from a distance and seems a little guilty for it.  They all give their hugs and kisses and see them off.  Harper watches them go from the office window and is obviously second guessing himself and depressed about firing a friend.  

Milton and Lisa on their own

Milton and Lisa discuss the trial together over coffee.  We can see that the relationship is still going strong even through all this.  Milton asks Lisa to testify on Kevin's behalf, which she eventually agrees to.  He also asks her if she wouldn't mind letting him visit her parents. She is reluctant, but he manages to persuade her.  When Milton visits the parents he asks for their blessings on the relationship, assuring them that his intentions are good  and that he loves her.  When Lisa takes the stand in court she relays to the jury that her parents have blessed the relationship.  (So what's next?)...........

Valentine's Day X

English teacher Jenna Miller has an interesting discussion with her students about the smart ones getting the girls with nice "backsides".  It certainly got the attention of a few boys in the class who think she's hot.  Lauren walks in to the lounge where teacher Jenna and the cheering coach Tina Knowles are discussing the court situation.  Jenna brings up Harry's past situations and Lauren overhears.  She asks what's going on, but in Jenna leaves in her snooty fashion and Tina says she's a b***h, but okay to hang out with.   Lauren later tells Jenna that that's no way to teach a class.  (You start to get the idea here that the two of them are like "good Lauren" vs "bad Lauren").  Harry, in the lounge later, tells Lauren that he once slept with Jenna years ago.  Lauren is now even more angry at Jenna and tension is beginning to build between the two lovebirds.  Harry and Lauren fight at their house, on the day before Valentine's, and Lauren accuses him of never showing any emotions.  Harry talks to Jenna the next day about the tension he's feeling with Lauren.  In her now characteristic snooty fashion, she tells him that Lauren's probably just "jealous".   Harry ends up buying Lauren a funny little jack-in-the-box gift, trying to show some emotion and she finds it humorous.  Another crisis narrowly averted for the dueling lovebirds.

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