All language subtitles for MacGyver.S05E20.Rush.To.Judgment.1080p.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-squalor-NHI

We're outside
the county courthouse

on day 14 of the murder
trial of Curtis danby.

This is Jake baron with
an update on the case

that's cut a swath of rage
and fear throughout the city,

ever since that horrible
night when Lisa Robins,

wife of former gold
medallist Wyatt Robins,

was brutally shot
and left to die

on a filthy slum street corner

In the arms of her
critically wounded husband.

Another sacrifice to the
rising tide of street violence

that's lit the
fires of prejudice

on both sides of the color line

in this racially troubled city.

Free danby,
free danby, free danby.

Adding fuel to the fire is
the reverend Roy Thatcher

and his committee for
African-American justice.

Free danby,
free danby, free danby.

Reverend Thatcher.
Reverend Thatcher,

Wyatt Robins has positively
identified Curtis danby

as the attacker who killed
his wife and wounded him.

How can you claim
he's being railroaded?

If danby had been a white
man accused of killing a black,

would there even be a trial?

You make danby
sound like a victim.

He's not only charged with
killing a helpless young woman,

he is also an ex-convict
with a long criminal record

of violent assault
and armed robbery.

Danby paid for
his past in prison.

And he's not the first one
forced to commit crimes

To survive in a ghetto
made for him by white society.

And that's exactly why

I'm not in that kangaroo
court right now.

Reverend, aren't you just
taking advantage of this trial

to promote your own
brand of racial hatred?

I see no reason to answer
that inflammatory statement.

So, a dark cloud
of bitter racism

hovers over this trial,

threatening to unleash a storm

Such as this city
has never seen.

This is Jake baron. I'll have
full details on the news at 6:00.

Ok. We're off the air. Nice job.

Nice?

Nice doesn't get ratings.

Defense,
please continue.

Thank you, your honor.

Now Mr. Robins,

prior to the night in question,

were you familiar with
the infamous reputation

of the greenwood heights area

for its high rate of
violent street crime?

Yes, sir, I was.

Well, then, would you
please tell the court

why you and your
wife would decide

at the last minute to drive into

The greenwood heights
area? Especially at night.

Objection.

Your honor, we've been
through all of this on direct.

Mr. Monroe, do
you plan to introduce

new information through
this line of questioning?

Yes, of course, your honor.

Then you may answer
the question, Mr. Robins.

We, uh, got a phone
call from Sandra masters.

That's my wife's best friend.

Uh, she asked us to a charity
dinner at the halfway house.

That's the
masters halfway house

sponsored by miss masters'
chain of department stores?

Uh, yeah.

I've helped them
raise money in the past.

Sign autographs,
shake a few hands.

Yes, yes, Mr. Robins.

We're all well
aware of your fame

As an olympic swimmer
and local sportscaster.

Objection,
argumentative.

Sustained.

Let the witness answer in
his own way, Mr. Monroe.

Go ahead, please.

Anyway, Lisa and I figured
it was for a good cause.

So why not?

Even when it meant
driving through

the most dangerous part of town?

Objection.

Overruled.

But I am waiting, Mr. Monroe.

Yes, your honor.

Now Mr. Robins, you testified

that you stopped for the
light at the intersection

of main street and olive
boulevard. Is that correct?

That's right.

And that's when the man
with the gun appeared

at the open window on
your wife's side of the car.

That's right.

The next thing I knew,
uh, Lisa screamed,

and this guy, he, uh,
freaked. He started shooting.

Did you
see the man run away?

No.

No, I got hit in the
arm trying to help Lisa.

And I don't remember
anything after that.

Now, Mr. Robins,
you heard detective Larson testify

That the street lamp on
this corner was broken.

So it was dark.

That is correct.

All right. It was dark.

You saw the man for an instant

from the opposite
side of the car.

And yet 3 days later

you were able to identify
him in a police line-up.

Yes. I recognized him.

Is there a chance
your memory improved

when you saw my client's
picture in the t.V. News?

Objection.

He's being argumentative again.

I withdraw
that, your honor.

Thank you, Mr. Robins.
No further questions.

Redirect,
Mrs. Bigalow?

Yes, sir.

Mr. Robins, isn't it true

that there was a
working street light,

a short distance away?

Yes, there was.

And the man who
murdered your wife,

did you pick him out
of a police line-up?

Yes.

And is he in this courtroom?

He is.

Would you point him out, please?

That's the man.

That's a lie! I didn't
do it! The man's lying!

Order!
Order in this courtroom.

- Quiet!

I will
have order in this court,

Or I'll have it cleared!

Counsel, I warn you
to restrain your client.

We apologize, your honor.
It won't happen again.

Let the record reflect

that Mr. Robins has
identified the defendant,

Curtis danby.

And I have nothing
further, your honor.

Thank you.
You may step down, witness.

I guess this is as good a
time as any to call it a day.

Now I remind the
jury and the alternates

that you will remain
sequestered in the hotel,

so that you will not be
influenced in any way

by the extensive media
coverage of this trial.

I also remind you

that you are not to discuss
this case with anyone,

nor amongst yourselves.

Now this court stands in recess

until 9:00 tomorrow morning.

Somebody's
got to believe me.

Excuse me, please.

This sequester
stuff, what a joke.

As if lockin' me up's gonna change
my opinion of that punk, danby.

You're not supposed
to make a decision

Until after all the evidence
is presented, Mr. Potter.

Isn't that right, MacGyver?

We're also not supposed
to be talking about the case.

Yeah?

Well, the police
say danby did it.

Even the victim's
husband says he's guilty.

That's enough for me.

I just wish they'd taken
us to the crime scene,

or at least shown us some
photos of the intersection.

When you got a dead bang case,

why bother with all that stuff?

Then the defense attorney
should have asked for it.

That's a very good point.

Waste of time.

It'd only drive another
nail in danby's coffin.

Or not.

Even the victim's
husband says he's guilty.

That's enough for me.

I just wish they'd
taken us to the crime scene,

Or at least shown us some
photos of the intersection.

No chance of readin' a
newspaper, I suppose, huh?

Ha, nope.

Too many stories
about the trial.

Man, that was all
my change, too.

Those things are
real crooks, huh?

Maybe I can keep it honest, huh?

You want one?

Sure. Sounds great.

Justice prevails, huh?

Catch.

Thanks.

Good night.

Sorry. I knocked
it off by accident.

How'd my geranium take it?

Better than the pot.

Bring it up, will you, sweetie?

I'm in 2-b.

Pretty bird,
pretty bird, pretty bird.

It's open.

I got bad wheels.

Here you go.

Arlo says thanks.

This is his favorite flower.

You spend a lot of
time at this window?

Should think not.

Got better things to do.

Did you see what happened

the night that lady was
shot down on the corner?

Nope.

Arlo gave me all the details.

Arlo?

He's a real snoop.

He loves to gossip.

Did Arlo see the shooting?

Nope.

He only heard the shot.

But he did get a good
look at what happened after.

So what happened?

He saw a man running
like the devil knew his name.

Did Arlo...

Did Arlo say what
the man looked like?

Arlo says he was
African-American.

He saw the streetlight
shine real bright on his head

when he took off his hat.

The man was bald?

Yeah.

Arlo saw that shiny head of his

when he bent over
and tossed some things

Down the storm
drain across the street.

Did the police ask you any
of this after the shooting?

Yeah.

They came bangin' on
doors and kickin' up a fuss.

I tried to tell them
what Arlo saw,

But they didn't want to bother
to hear what he had to say.

Can you believe that?

No, ma'am.

Uh, d-do you have a
flashlight I could borrow?

Yeah. Right there on the shelf.

The brutal
murder of Lisa Robins

shocked and appalled every
member of this community.

Black and white, rich and poor.

Yet one more victim of
that crime is Sandra masters,

heiress to the masters
department store fortune,

and lifelong friend
of Lisa Robins.

Miss masters,

you asked the Robins'
to attend a dinner

in the greenwood
heights area that night.

Yes, to raise funds for
the masters halfway house.

Isn't it ironic that
Curtis danby was living

at the same facility after
being released on parole?

Yes, I guess it is a bit ironic.

Tell me, miss masters,

Has this tragedy changed your
opinion of the death penalty?

I'm not sure I understand
the nature of your question.

Who's there?

- It's me.
- MacGyver!

What are you doing here?

Aren't you still
under jury sequester?

I need

a big favor.

You gotta call danby's lawyer.

Danby's lawyer?

Tell him to search the storm drain
across from 500, olive boulevard,

just east of main.

Well, why? What's there?

A gun.

Same caliber as the one
that killed Lisa Robins.

And a witness who
saw a man put it there

lives in the building,
apartment 2-b.

Now wait a minute. Hold it.

Would you mind telling
me how you know all this?

I was just there.

Are you telling me that
you broke jury sequester

- To go out and dig up evidence?
- No, no.

This sounds an
awful lot like it.

No! I just wanted to
see the area for myself.

I didn't know I was
gonna find anything.

I did. Now I've got
to deal with it, ok?

Yeah.

MacGyver, you can't
do this kind of thing!

Jurors are put under
sequester for a reason.

It's against the rules.

Pete,

The spirit of the law
is to find the truth.

The system and all those
rules are working against that.

Well, what makes you so
sure that danby's not guilty?

I'm not!

But I don't think Robins
could have identified him.

Well, what do you mean?

Grab your coat. I'll show you.

Come on.

Yeah, just stop here.

All right.

You stay in the car. I
want to try somethin'.

Robins said the man approached
the passenger side of the car

where his wife was sitting.

Now say I'm the
guy with the gun.

I come toward the car.

What do you see?

Nothing. I can't
make you out at all.

That's because the
only working streetlight

was behind the killer.

So how could Wyatt
Robins pick Curtis danby

out of a police line-up?
That's what you're saying.

You think he was lying?

Or confused.

The lady in that apartment
said the man was black.

But he was also bald.

Danby's not bald.

No, sir, he's not.

Pete,

you got to get danby's
lawyer to talk to that lady.

Let her lead him
to the storm drain.

Then see where
the gun leads him.

Oh, boy.

You're the only one
who can do it, Pete.

All right.

Thank you for
your Patience, your honor.

I asked for this delay

because of some
important new evidence

which I received last night.

Mrs. Bigalow, are
you aware of this?

My office knows nothing
about this, your honor.

What evidence, counsel?

- A new witness.

Who I believe will exonerate
my client of all guilt in this matter.

Objection. This
is unconscionable.

Counsel's testifying.

Sustained.

Jury will disregard that.

Well, bring your
witness up, Mr. Monroe.

Raise your right hand.

Do you swear to tell the truth,

the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth?

I never lie.

Put her
answer down as yes.

And what's that you
have on your lap?

My friend Arlo.

He's the one you
want to talk to.

Excuse me, your honor.

Does counsel intend to introduce

The bird's testimony
as evidence?

Will both counsel please
approach the bench?

Would you mind explaining
all this, Mr. Monroe?

Yes, your honor.

This is an elderly woman

living on welfare in an area

With one of the highest
crime rates in the country.

Naturally, she's
afraid to step forward

and admit what she knows

and for some reason, feels safer

communicating her
knowledge through the bird.

The bird?

I know this is
irregular, your honor,

but let's humor her.

It's her way of
protecting herself.

Well, this is a first in my
30 years on the bench.

But I'll allow it.

Thank you, your honor.

Would you please
state your name?

Belinda Jones.

Most folks call
me the bird lady.

I don't mind.

Now you and Arlo reside

At 500, olive boulevard,
apartment 2-b.

- Is that correct?
- Yeah.

Been there 40 years.

and does the window
of your apartment

look down over the corner
where Lisa Robins was killed?

Yeah, but, uh, like
we told the police,

Arlo didn't see that happen.

Did Arlo tell the police

what he did see the
night of the shooting?

They never asked.

What did Arlo see that night?

He saw a man at the corner.

This man, did Arlo
see him clearly?

Clear enough.

And what did Arlo see him do?

Arlo said he stopped,

bent over

And threw some things
down the storm drain.

At this time, your honor,

I would like to Mark
as defense exhibit 6,

a police report which reflects

What was found
in that storm drain.

Ms. Bigalow, will you
stipulate to its admission?

Yes, your honor.

It states that
pursuant to a tip,

the police recovered from
the storm drain in question,

a woolen cap, gloves, and a gun.

A .25 caliber regency special.

The same caliber gun

That was used to shoot
Lisa and Wyatt Robins.

Now, miss Jones,
was the man black?

Arlo prefers African-American.

Do you see the man
in this courtroom?

Nope.

Is this the man?

Not by a long shot.

Too much hair.

Arlo says he was bald.

Order, order.

I will have order here.

Your honor, in light
of this new testimony,

I move for the immediate dismissal
of all charges against Curtis danby.

Opposed.

The people seek a continuance

to allow a proper investigation
of counsel's assertions.

And to evaluate the credibility

of these assertions, your honor,

We ask counsel to explain
how he came upon this witness.

Mr. Monroe?

Your honor, I learned

about the whereabouts
of miss Jones and the gun

from Mr. Peter Thornton
of the Phoenix foundation.

Peter Thornton?

Phoenix? What?

This gentleman, your honor.

Mr. Thornton, will
you tell the court

how you knew about miss Jones

And the storm drain where
the evidence was found?

Mr. Thornton?

I'm sorry, your honor, I
can't divulge my source.

Oh, yes, you can, Mr. Thornton.

Or I will hold you in contempt.

Your honor, you have a witness

Who has led you to the
gun and other evidence.

How that happened
is not what's important.

I will decide what's
important in this court.

Now I'm giving you one more
chance to answer my question.

I can't.

Then you give me no
choice but to hold you in contempt, sir.

Bailiff, will you take
Mr. Thornton into custody?

No, no, hold it. Wait a minute.

What is this?

Your honor.

What's going on here?

I showed him where
to get the evidence

- And the witness.

Mr., uh, uh, MacGyver.

You went out to the crime scene?

Yes, sir.

In so doing you went directly
against the mandate of this court.

Do you understand that?

Yes, sir, I do.

Well, I'll try to
avoid a mistrial here if I can.

Mr. MacGyver,

Did you relate any of
this to the other jurors?

No, sir, I didn't.

Very well.

One of the alternates can
take your place on the jury.

Yes, sir.

And you, Mr. MacGyver,

you are remanded to the
custody of the marshal,

pending a contempt hearing
to take place in 3 days.

Bail is set at $2500.

Bailiff, take custody
of Mr. MacGyver.

This court is adjourned.

Just yesterday,

the case against Curtis
danby appeared solid as a rock.

But that rock crumbled

when danby's lawyer
produced a surprise witness

Whose testimony virtually
cleared danby of all guilt.

And then led police to
a gun that ballistics tests

have proved is
the murder weapon.

This reporter has also learned

that the police have traced
the serial number of that gun

to the sporting goods counter

Of the Sandra masters
department store.

Hey, MacGyver.

If they got no case against
me like this guy says,

How come I'm still in here?

I guess the d.A.'S office
needed time to review the case.

They sure didn't waste no
time layin' charges against me.

After seeing
last night's broadcast.

Can you tell us why?

Yeah, well, like I said,

I... i saw this Sandra
masters on t.V.

And you recognized her,
but not as Sandra masters?

Yeah. She's been
checking in here a lot,

But using another
name. Uh, sue Edwards.

And was she alone?

She always checked into
the motel with her husband.

Uh, at least they said
they were married.

I don't ask any questions.

And when did you realize

Who this husband really was?

Uh, when I saw
Wyatt Robins on t.V.

The same Wyatt Robins?

The former gold medallist?

The man who claimed his
marriage couldn't have been happier?

Yeah, I only know what I saw.

And so, there you have it.

A motive for murder?
That's for you to decide.

But when I went to school,
2 and 2 added up to 4.

So what does the murder
weapon that was traced

to the masters department store,

and an ongoing affair
with the victim add up to?

And what's the d.A.'S
office doing about it?

I told 'em he was lyin'.

Maybe they'll believe this guy.

I don't know, Curtis.

Yesterday this guy wanted
to put you in the gas chamber.

MacGyver.

Yeah?

Your bail's been met.

The deputy d.A. Wants
to see you pronto.

Hey, man.

Whichever way it goes,

thanks for doin' what you did.

Nuh-huh, don't thank me, Curtis.

I was just looking
for the truth.

It could still lead back to you.

If anybody ever does
get to the truth, MacGyver,

it won't lead to me.

This is getting out
of hand, Sandra.

Well, what can they do, darling?

We haven't broken any laws.

I knew it was a mistake.

We should never
have gotten involved.

We fell in love.

Is that a crime?

Haven't you been
watching the news?

Ever since that gun
was traced to your store,

They've been making
us look like monsters.

Hundreds of people
come in this store.

Any one of them could
have stolen that gun.

It's not just that.

What that bird lady
said on the stand

made it look like I
was lying about danby.

As if I had something to hide.

We know the truth, Wyatt.

Why should we care
what anyone else thinks?

I'd like to see you tonight.

Sandra, when I said
we were through,

I meant it.

But don't you see, darling?

All of this will be over soon.

We can be together and...
and forget it ever happened.

I can't forget about
what happened to Lisa.

I'm sorry, Sandra.

Goodbye.

That bird lady?

She's gonna put us
both on death row.

No, she won't.

This time, make it
look like an accident.

I'll see to it she
flies like a bird.

Mr. MacGyver.

You made bail, I see.

Yes, sir.

You know what you did undermines
the very fabric of our legal system.

The right to trial
by an impartial jury.

Yes, sir.

I must admit that
you did uncover

vital evidence

That might possibly keep an
innocent man from being convicted.

I cannot condone what you did,

but, uh, off the record,

I am grateful for the results.

Yes, sir.

This is the true test
of our legal system.

Now that the suspects are 2
white, wealthy, respectable people,

will the d.A. Be so
quick to press charges?

Or is there a different
kind of law for Curtis danby

and all others who are
guilty of only one crime,

being born with the
wrong color skin?

Yes, Mr. Mayor.

Yes, sir.

I've been watching it.

Well, the district attorney's instructed
me to move as fast as we can.

So I'll be asking the
court this afternoon

To issue a warrant for
the arrest of Wyatt Robins.

No, sir, we don't have enough
evidence yet to implicate the woman.

But we're working on it.

Yes, sir. I'll keep you posted.

You're welcome. Goodbye.

They, uh, said you
wanted to see me?

Yes.

I wanted you to know

That I filed for a
restraining order.

And when I get it,

if you come even
within a mile of this case,

I'll make sure you
stay behind bars.

What is it with you people?

Why are you so afraid of
going after the truth, huh?

Oh, we do, Mr. MacGyver.

We just don't do it your way.

We have a legal
system with rules

that people have to obey.

What about danby?

Don't you think he
has a right to be judged

based on the facts

instead of what shows
up on the evening news?

Now, come on, admit it.

You let public opinion force you into
bringing danby up on murder charges.

And now you're about to
do the same thing to Robins.

We go where the evidence leads.

No, that...

You're goin' in the
wrong direction.

You heard what
belinda Jones said.

She saw a bald black man

put the evidence
into a storm drain.

The woman talks through a bird.

Now how much credibility do you
think that a jury is going to give to her?

Well, why don't you
let the jury decide that?

Now come on, I believed her.

And now you've got
the murder weapon.

Bigalow.

When? How did it happen?

I'm on my way now.

The bird lady is
no longer a witness.

She's dead.

5, 4, 3, 2, go.

Until yesterday, belinda Jones

was an old lady struggling
just to get by in the world.

Then overnight,
she became famous.

The only eyewitness to
the murder of Lisa Robins.

Now she's dead as
the result of a 2 story fall

from her apartment window.

A tragic accident?

Or a sinister attempt
to conceal the truth?

Just a minute. Here
comes the d.A. Over here.

Deputy d.A. Bigalow, is it true that
the police are questioning Wyatt Robins

- in connection with his wife's murder?
- No comment.

Was the bird lady killed
just to keep her quiet?

No comment. Excuse me.

There you have
it, ladies and gentlemen.

The district attorney has no comment
whatsoever on this terrible crime.

Anybody see what happened?

No witnesses.

- So what else is new?

Hopefully, we'll learn more
when the police arrest Robins.

Still with Robins.

You really think
Wyatt Robins did this?

He had a motive.

All right, if not
Wyatt Robins, who?

Well, the bald man the
bird lady saw, of course.

Yeah, it may be.

But how did he
manage to get the gun

From masters department
store without buying it?

Pete, I'll bet if we
check the records

of the masters halfway house

against the state employment
records for the department store,

we might just come
up with something.

Well.

According to this,

only one ex-convict
from the halfway house

Works at masters
department store.

Lawrence groden.

Well, matches the description.

Yeah. And that's not all.

According to his m.O.,

Groden always
changed his appearance.

And ditched his weapon
near the scene of the crime.

So he'd be clean if he
was picked up later on.

Sounds like our guy.

Yeah.

How do we prove it?

Well, if groden did
kill the bird lady,

it's because he was
afraid of being identified.

What if somebody
else could identify him?

Who?

Wyatt Robins.

♪♪

I need to talk to you.

Look, mister, I may
have one arm in a sling,

but I got another one that's plenty
strong enough to punch you out.

So I'd get out of
here if I were you.

All right, settle down,
settle down, will you?

Did you know
belinda Jones is dead?

The bird lady? How?

Murdered.

Oh, my god. Do
they know who did it?

Well, the d.A.'S getting
a warrant for your arrest.

They think I did it?

Look, I'm no killer, MacGyver.

I believe you.

Yeah, you and no one else.

This is a nightmare.

I wish I'd never seen
that police line-up.

Yeah, but why did
you pick out danby

if you weren't sure?

I was sure.

His picture was all over the
news when he was arrested.

Don't you think there's a chance

that you might have
been influenced?

Ok, maybe I saw him on
t.V. Maybe I was influenced.

But the police seemed
so sure it was him.

He was in the area.

He has a record
as long as your arm.

Even the d.A. Said it was him.

And now the d.A.'S
accusing me of setting him up.

Well, I think you were set up.

Yeah, by who?

Sandra.

Sandra? No way, it can't be.

Wyatt?

Today when I talked to her,

She acted as if Lisa's murder was the
perfect way for us to get back together.

Maybe that was
her plan all along.

Robins, I'm sorry,

but I think she hired
somebody from the store

to kill your wife

and make it look like a robbery.

I want you to help
me prove that.

How?

I didn't see him, remember?

He doesn't know that.

This is
crazy, MacGyver.

You've got me
looking for somebody

You've already
proven I can't identify.

Yeah, I know.

But if we find him, I want you to
act like you've seen him before.

Let's try the loading area.

I think we got a nibble here.

Let's call the police.

Don't bother.

It wasn't supposed to
happen like this, darling.

Sandra.

I loved you, Wyatt.

So you hired groden
to kill his wife, is that it?

I wanted him for myself.

And it would have worked

if you hadn't
stuck your nose in.

Come on, it's over, Sandra.

Lose the gun, ok?

Don't listen to him.

Go! Get 'em!

Give me your coat, quick.

Get 'em!

Get 'em!

It's over.

Yeah. It's over.

I'm just happy
to be a free man, that's all.

Mr. Danby, do you
plan on suing the state

for malicious prosecution?

Ok, people, that's
enough for now.

Let's give these men a chance to
get their lives back to normal, all right?

Excuse me.

Mr. Danby, Mr. Danby.

Despite all the
smiles and the handshakes,

the questions remain.

How did our legal
system go so wrong?

And what were the
mistakes that nearly led

to the conviction, and indeed,

Almost the execution of
an innocent man for murder?

One man who might be
able to answer that question

Is MacGyver, the rogue juror
who helped solve the case.

MacGyver, how does
it feel to be a hero?

Well, I wouldn't know.

Well, it was your evidence
that cleared danby.

Isn't it ironic that
the killer turned out

To be a black man after all?

And a white woman.

A very rich white
woman, I might add.

One who tried to buy
the death of her best friend

for pieces of silver.

Tell me, MacGyver,
is she responsible

for the gross miscarriage of
justice that occurred here today?

Or does the d.A. Deserve
to share some of the blame?

Man.

No, actually, I think
you're to blame.

I beg your pardon?

People like you
who rush to judgment

Or make snap accusations
before you get all the facts.

Who gets hurt doesn't
seem to matter to you people

As long as you get a
few more rating points.

Sounds like you're against
a free and Democratic press.

No, sir.

Just people who abuse it.

Like you, Mr. Baron.

Well, all I can say is

I'm glad the rest of america
doesn't think like you.

You never know.