Barry Newman: Frank Askoff

Quotes 

• Arnie Becker : Frank, I want to propose something. Your wife is holding up with the threat to make public, you're going to prostitute. I'd like to take an aggressive position in response.

  Frank Askoff : What do you mean?

  Arnie Becker : Number one: I deny it.

  Frank Askoff : I'm in the book.

  Arnie Becker : Maybe you are, maybe you're not. Meantime, we haven't seen the book. We don't know the book exist.

  Frank Askoff : Look, she had me tail to Camilla's house, Arnie, she knows that I went there.

  Arnie Becker : What she knows in which she can prove are not necessarily wanted the same. Now assume... assume that she can prove it. What are the damages?

  Frank Askoff : The damages are catastrophic.

  Arnie Becker : Are they?

  Frank Askoff : I answer to a board of directors made up a very conservative, very Midwestern man.

  Arnie Becker : Right, right. None of whom have never once in their life paid for it.

  Frank Askoff : I also answer to the shareholders.

  Arnie Becker : Frank, I'm not saying you wanted to come out. I'm saying it's not the end of the world.

  Frank Askoff : [sighed]  I want. I have been incapable of functioning sexually with my wife... for over 5 years. We went to therapists, separately together. Nothing helped. It became a source of almost indescribable pain to me.

  [sighed] 

  Frank Askoff : I finally saw out prostitutes. And see what prostitute, I could function or not. Arnie, I don't want people to know anything about that. It's a source of way embarrassment to me to even... be sitting here and telling you.

  Arnie Becker : You really needn't be.

  [Frank gets up] 

  Frank Askoff : I would only ask that you do everything possible so that this does not become public.

• Arnie Becker : I think the literature shows impotence to be a fairly complex condition, I wouldn't presume to ascribe it to one thing or the other.

  Vivian Askoff : I don't think it's in the least bit complex. My husband wasn't physically attracted to me. He clearly was to prostitutes. From the number of times, he visited them, one can safely assume that he was not impotent with them.

  Arnie Becker : Again, assuming that's true. Isn't it possible that your bear some of the responsiblity?

  Vivian Askoff : No, it is not possible.

  Mrs. Askoff's Atty. Cecily : That's holy irrelevant for the purpose...

  Arnie Becker : Was it not you who over the past 5 years, suddenly, and continuously belittle them berated husband?

  Vivian Askoff : I did not do that!

  Mrs. Askoff's Atty. Cecily : Come on.

  Vivian Askoff : I supported my husband! I encouraged to get a physical examination. I encouraged him to get psychological help. We even went to therapy together, which I might tell you, was not easy thing for me to do. But I did it. I stood by, I was faithful to him.

  Frank Askoff : I was desperate, Vivian. I was desperate, now, I didn't know what else to do.

  Vivian Askoff : Your desperation doesn't move me anymore, Frank.

  Arnie Becker : May I ask a purely, practical question? What do you hoping to accomplish here? Have you make these claims in your pleadings, if you argue them in court? Whether it's true or not, it's gonna get out that a big executive went to whores. Your husband short term possibly as long term financial picture worsens. You're on board for lifetime support, I assume, why would you want a Poison the Well?

  Mrs. Askoff's Atty. Cecily : Because, Arnie, we're not looking for support. We want the money up front.

  Arnie Becker : What you're asking for is unconscionable.

  Vivian Askoff : Mr. Becker. I was betrayed by this man, I was lied to, I was frozen out, I was exposed to a life-threatening disease. Since all I can get from him now is money. I want to get all the money I can. And I suggest that you don't appeal to my conscience. My conscience is clear.