NEW COUNSEL

Attorney Olsen dialled Prosecutor Gupta's number. "Hi, it's Louis Olsen."

"Ah, Bing's defence attorney!" Gupta said good-naturedly.

"I have a favour to ask of you."

"You've already asked a favour of me, which I graciously accepted. Surely you haven't forgotten the guilty plea?" the prosecutor teased lightly.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Bing's wife rejected the plea-bargain." Attorney Olsen said tersely.

"Hang on, we had a deal. I've been building this case on the basis that Bing pleads guilty to aggravated assault, and now you're backing out?" Gupta demanded.

"The wife ended my services, I'm not Bing's attorney anymore." Olsen said through gritted teeth.

"She fired you? Well that's news," Gupta smirked.

"She's a crazy bitch. I pity the next lawyer who takes her on." Olsen muttered.

"Now now, no need to get testy. I'll tell you what. No hard feelings from me even though I'm gonna have to start over," Gupta smiled.

Olsen raised his eyebrows, "It's not like you to be easy-going."

"Well hey, you were fired. It's the least I could do," Gupta smiled.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Olsen grumbled.

"Lighten up, a little setback is good for you. Consider it a lesson in Humility," Gupta chuckled.

Olsen glared at Gupta, "I'm glad my failings are so amusing to you. Now that you're duly informed, I'll be on my way."

"Hi, Pheebs, it's me," Phoebe recognised the tense, tightly-wound voice immediately.

"Mon, are you ok? You sound pretty upset…" she asked tentatively.

"I'm fine, Pheebs. I need you to persuade Mike to represent Chandler." Phoebe's eyebrows shot up into the air.

"My Mike?" Phoebe asked, bewildered. She sure didn't expect that request.

"Yes."

"Mon, he's not a lawyer anymore, he's a musician now. I mean, I love him to pieces, but he plays piano at an old folks home, so I'm not sure why you're interested in him," Phoebe replied, confused.

"I did my research, and from what I can tell, he's the best Defence Attorney in New York. All the legal journals, firms and High Court justices recommend him. He is uncannily talented at jury-selection, and he has the highest ratio of wins, appeals, overturned judgements and shortened sentences of any American Defence Attorney for the last 15 years."

"Wow Jeez, I had no idea he was such a shark… Although I did get a glimpse of that side of him when we played table tennis in Barbados years ago..." Phoebe said awestruck.

"Look, I know he hasn't practiced in years, and I know there's a multitude of other lawyers I could choose from, but I can't settle on anything less than best, what with Emma's testimony hanging over our heads," Monica pressed.

"I thought you had the best, what's wrong with your current lawyer?"

"Our current lawyer is judgemental, arrogant, half-assed douche. He doesn't even believe in Chandler's innocence. Pheebs, he tried to shove aggravated assault down my throat. I can't let Chandler plead guilty to that."

"Mon, I don't know if I should… you're all my friends. I really believed Chandler was innocent, and on most days I still do; but ever since Emma's testimony, I'm really confused. I just don't wanna take sides," Phoebe struggled.

"Sounds like you are taking sides," Monica muttered.

"Mon, please don't be mad. I love you. I love both you and Chandler, but I also love Ross and Rachel, and I don't know what to believe anymore," Phoebe whispered.

Ever since Emma's testimony, 'torn' did not begin to describe how both she and Joey felt. She longed so badly for the good old days, when they were all one big friendship group. Now that the group was fractured into two camps, Phoebe and Joey were at a loss as to what to do. Who was lying? Chandler or Emma? She wished she knew.

"I'm not mad, I'm just grasping at straws here. Look, I'm not going to ask Mike to represent us if you don't want him to. That's why I called you first, instead of going straight to Mike. I didn't want to do this behind your back."

"And I appreciate it, I do, I just-"

"Phoebe, don't. Don't answer just yet. Sleep on it, talk to Mike. Just… tell me you'll think about it, please." Monica pleaded.

"I will, Mon, I promise," Phoebe whispered earnestly.