Arthur Edens is a brilliant attorney at a high priced law firm who is representing a shady chemical company in a multi-billion dollar lawsuit. He is also a manic depressive-schizophrenic and when he fails to take the medication he has a breakdown during a meeting where he strips naked. He then decides to build a case against the company he was representing and becomes a danger to the law firm and the chemical company. Arthur calls one of the plaintiffs in the case to help her in the lawsuit against the company and his law firm finds out since they are tapping his phone. He disappears and they send Michael Clayton, the company's "fixer", problem solver and Arthur's long time friend, to find him and get him to reason.

In this scene, Michael Clayton, after looking for him for a few days, finally spots him on the street and confronts him. Michael Clayton urges him to seek help and listen to him. Arthur is surprised about how much Michael Clayton knows about what he is doing and figures out they are tapping his phone. He decides to keep building his case and tells him he can't do anything about it. They can't have him committed in a mental hospital because he knows the ins and outs of the laws in the state of New York regarding involuntary incarceration...

The scene is very interesting given the background of the story, the intensity and the dialogue. Arthur is a manic depressive so is a challenging character to play because that has to show in a subtle way. Michael Clayton is a very charismatic character and is also under a great deal of stress because his financial situation and the problem with Arthur who is not only his collegue but also a long time friend. The end of the scene is very cool with Arthur deciding he is against everything and everybody, even his friend, and shows his knowledge about the laws of New York regarding involuntary incarceration. Nobody can stop him.