WinkLingo
Log in

Win Win · 2011 — Chapter 14 of 19 · 2'23" · B2

Cindy Brings a Lawyer to Mike's Office, Explained: a tough position

Cindy arrives at Mike's office with a lawyer and wants to take her father back to Columbus. It looks like a family decision, but it's a legal move: Cindy is the presumed guardian, while Mike has custody of Leo's affairs. "We hope to avoid litigation," her attorney says — a polite way of putting him on notice.

What happens

Cindy, Leo's estranged daughter, comes to Mike's office with an attorney. Cindy says she wants a more active role in caring for her father and plans to move him back to Columbus, where her support network is. Mike, Leo's guardian, points out that Leo has dementia and may not want to leave. The attorney notes that Cindy is the presumed guardian and says they hope to avoid a lawsuit.

NegotiationConfrontingPersuadingRivalsB2slowamericanClean
IMDb ↗

Listen for

sort outa tough positionavoid litigationretain

00:00 / 02:23
Space play · ← → lines · R repeat
Now
  30. ❝ MonologueMike's careful no4 linesPractice page ↗
Tap a line to replay it

Phrase of the scene

a tough position

为难的处境；两头难做

迈克说辛迪要接走父亲的要求让他夹在中间，处境很为难。

Cancelling last minute put me in a tough position.

Also in this scene

  • sort out

    理清并解决；收拾妥当

  • avoid litigation

    避免诉讼；不打官司

  • retain

    正式聘请（律师、顾问）

Everything marked in this scene

24 notes across 42 lines

SoundGreat to meet you

elision

Eleanor Cohen. Great to meet you.
Phrase · C1be represented by counselWell, I didn't realize Cindy was represented by counsel.
Phrase · C1retain someoneOh, yeah, she retained me last week to help sort out the situation with her father.
Phrase · B2sort out somethingOh, yeah, she retained me last week to help sort out the situation with her father.
Soundsort out

liaison

Oh, yeah, she retained me last week to help sort out the situation with her father.
Phrase · B2settle inUh, Cindy wanted a little time to settle in and spend some time with her father.
Phrase · B1spend time with someoneUh, Cindy wanted a little time to settle in and spend some time with her father.
Phrase · B1how can I helpSure, yeah. Um, so how can I help?
Soundhow can I help

liaison

Sure, yeah. Um, so how can I help?
Phrase · B2take a more active roleCindy's decided to have a more active role in her father's care.
Grammar · B2Cindy's decided to have a more active role

decide to do something

Cindy's decided to have a more active role in her father's care.
Phrase · B1move here- Uh, do you wanna move here? - No.
Phrase · B2support networkThat's where my support network is now.
Soundsupport network

elision

That's where my support network is now.
Phrase · B2my only concern is ...My only concern is that that may not be what Leo wants.
Phrase · B1like the ideaHe seemed to like the idea.
Phrase · B1in a long time...you know, you haven't seen Leo in a long time...
Phrase · C1battle an illness...and he's battling dementia now.
Phrase · B2put someone in a tough positionSo it kind of puts me in a tough position here, you know?
Grammar · B2it kind of puts me in a tough position

kind of as a softener

So it kind of puts me in a tough position here, you know?
Phrase · C1avoid litigationBut seeing that she is the presumed guardian, we hope to avoid litigation.
Grammar · C1seeing that she is the presumed guardian

seeing that for reason

But seeing that she is the presumed guardian, we hope to avoid litigation.
Phrase · B1so do ISo do I. And I know that we can. Absolutely.
Phrase · B1set up somethingBut we should set up another time to talk about this, definitely, okay?

Cindy Brings a Lawyer to Mike's Office, explained

What's really going on

The scene is a negotiation disguised as a friendly visit. Cindy hasn't seen her father in years, but she arrives represented by counsel, which instantly turns a family matter into a legal one. Every line is polite and every line is a move. Mike's worry is personal and legal at once: "My only concern is that that may not be what Leo wants." He even concedes he wants to avoid litigation, only for the attorney to remind him that Cindy is the presumed guardian — the stronger legal position. Mike's solution is to stall, promising to set up another meeting. The scene shows how quickly kindness turns into leverage, and how the person who stands to inherit is never the one being asked.

Theme

Family conflictA daughter who's been absent for years returns with a lawyer to move her demented father away, and the person caring for him is told to stand down.
PowerThe scene is about who gets to decide: the presumed guardian with the legal edge, or the acting guardian who has been doing the actual work.

What you'll learn

  • Use represented by counsel for having a lawyer
  • Hear avoid litigation as a legal warning
  • Catch presumed guardian as pressure
  • Stall politely by setting another time

Listen for

  • Great to meet you — elision
  • sort out — liaison
  • how can I help — liaison
  • support network — elision
My only concern is that that may not be what Leo wants.

The objection is framed as concern for Leo rather than turf, but it's also a warning that moving the old man may not actually be best for him.

...you know, you haven't seen Leo in a long time...

A pointed reminder that Cindy's claim to care is new. It undercuts her position without attacking her directly, which is how lawyers argue politely.

So it kind of puts me in a tough position here, you know?

The reply admits being caught between cooperating and protecting the client, softening a firm objection with "kind of" and "you know" so it doesn't sound like a threat.

But seeing that she is the presumed guardian, we hope to avoid litigation.

It sounds friendly, but it's leverage: the lawyer reminds the room that Cindy has the stronger legal standing and that a lawsuit is the alternative to agreeing.

Questions about this scene

Why does Cindy bring a lawyer to see Mike?

Cindy wants to move her father to Columbus, and Mike is his guardian. Bringing counsel signals that she's prepared to fight legally if Mike doesn't cooperate, turning a family talk into a negotiation.

Who is Eleanor Cohen?

Cindy's attorney, who says Cindy retained her the week before to sort out the situation with her father. She does the talking for Cindy's legal position.

What is a "presumed guardian"?

It means Cindy, as Leo's daughter, is treated as the natural next guardian under the law. The lawyer uses the term to argue Cindy has the stronger legal claim to make decisions for Leo.

Why doesn't Mike just agree to move Leo?

Mike is already Leo's guardian and believes the move may not be what Leo wants, especially since Leo has dementia and hasn't seen Cindy in years. He stalls instead of saying yes or no.

What does Mike want to avoid?

Litigation. He tells the lawyer he also hopes to avoid a lawsuit and to set up another meeting, buying time rather than fighting in the room.

Win Win · 19 chapters

All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 15a pillar of the communityMike Weighs Giving Cindy an Exit
Chapter 1more like itMike's Family BreakfastChapter 2Tell me about itMike Stalls on a Broken BoilerChapter 3loadedMike Wants to Be Leo's GuardianChapter 4prints moneyMike's Panic Attack on a RunChapter 5spread too thinMike Volunteers as Leo's GuardianChapter 6the right thing to doLeo's Grandson Shows Up at the DoorChapter 7worried sickMike Picks Up the Runaway KyleChapter 8switch it upKyle's First Wrestling PracticeChapter 9wrestle offKyle Wrestles Off for the SpotChapter 10leading by exampleKyle's First Dual MeetChapter 11got thrown offKyle Confesses Why He Got Kicked OffChapter 12Tough it outStemler's First Match Goes BadlyChapter 13These things happenKyle's Mom Meets the FlahertysWatching · Chapter 14a tough positionCindy Brings a Lawyer to Mike's OfficeChapter 15a pillar of the communityMike Weighs Giving Cindy an ExitChapter 16lay all the cards on the tableMike Reveals Leo's WillChapter 17return the favorMike Confronts Cindy After the MatchChapter 18whatever you think is bestCindy Shows Kyle the TranscriptChapter 19make money offKyle Brings Leo Home
Chapter 14 of 19 · about 10 min to go