Does anyone have any good ideas on how to get the other side to agree to a continuance for trial?

I had an attorney I hired for my foreclosure case but never filed anything to defend my case in three months. It took another six weeks to finally get him to file a Motion to Withdraw and have a hearing; which wasn't until a week before the Trial. I filed a Motion for Continuance, but there was no time to get a Hearing. At the Withdraw Hearing the Judge refused to hear my motion because of "ex parte". He said if I can get the other side to agree then he will grant it, otherwise he will hear it the day of the Trial and decide. The other attorney "prejudiced" me due to his postponement of his withdraw (& never filing anything). Does anyone have any good ideas on how to get the other side to agree to a continuance? Please help! Thank you very much.