Drink to Me Only
by Ira Wallach, Abram S. Ginnes

The Wall Street law firm of Wheelock, Wendell, and Farrington is engaged in defending its most important client, playboy Jimmy Porterman, who has shot his seventh wife.

Because of an expert's testimony, a successful defense hinges on proof that a man can drink two bottles of whiskey in twelve hours and still remain conscious.

Miles Pringle, a young idealistic attorney in the firm, undertakes the task.

In so doing he becomes indispensable, and he uses his new position to demand large sums of money and a senior partnership, much to the horror of his girl-friend, Vicky.

Before he swallows the last of the whiskey he demands that he be permitted to conduct Porterman's defense himself.

Mr. Wheejock, head of the firm, is forced to agree.

Pringle conducts the defense and delivers the summation despite the whiskey.

When the verdict comes in he discovers that he has lost the case, but he has won something more important; the new found freedom to become the kind of attorney he has always dreamed of being.

In order to keep from the public the machinations of his highly reputable law firm, Mr. Wheelock has no choice but to finance Pringle in his new career.