All language subtitles for Criminal.Law.1988

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(RAIN PATTERING)

(CRYING)

(SIREN WAILING)

Okay, keep it moving.
Keep it moving.

We all wanna
get home tonight. Okay.

(POLICE RADIO CHATTERING)

Okay, down the alley
and turn right.

Come on. You're clear.

Come on. Keep coming.

That's it. Right there.

This was a horrible crime.

A tragedy for those involved.

A terrifying enigma to us
who view the aftermath.

I don't even know
how such things happen.

But if we did not
have a responsibility

to see justice done,
we would look away.

For to comprehend such an act
would be to plunge

into the darkest waters
of the human heart.

Fortunately, our task here
is much simpler.

It is as simple
and as clear as,

as...

It is as simple and as clear

as this glass

of pure water.

In order to prevent
another tragedy,

the destruction
of yet another life,

you need only decide
whether the right man
stands accused of the crime.

Now to help you
with that decision,

I will show you.

I will show you that
the prosecution's case

rests almost entirely
on eyewitness identification.

Well, that sounds pretty good,
doesn't it?

Eyewitness identification.

But in the course
of this trial,
I will demonstrate something

that the prosecution
will not mention.

That eyewitness
identification is generally

the most
unreliable form of evidence.

And that this
particular identification
is totally unreliable.

So that
when we are done here,

your decision
will be perfectly,

perfectly

clear.

Bunnies.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

Disposable diapers?

Yes.

I picked up
some orange juice
while I was there.

For breakfast, you know.
Yeah, but you went
for diapers.

At that hour?

Yes. I needed them
right away.

Why?

Objection, Your Honor.

If Mr. Chase doesn't know
why a mother
would need diapers...

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

Mr. Chase, you are coming
to a relevant point,
are you not?

Mrs. Monroe,

don't you usually buy them
before you need them?

Yes, but I ran out.
I could have sworn...

I mean, I was sure I saw them
in the hall closet, but I...

But?

I was wrong.

You were wrong

about something as familiar

and recognizable as
a box of your baby's diapers.

But you are absolutely sure
you are not wrong

about a man you saw
for one moment

through the rain,
across the street,

in the poor light
at the head of an alley?

(CRYING)

PARKS:
Your honor, I object to this
entire line of questioning.

There is no connection

between the witness'
inventory of diapers

and her identification
of the defendant.

JUDGE:
Sustained.

Mr. Chase,
do you wish to rephrase

the question
regarding the identification?

BEN:
No, Your Honor.

That's all.

The witness may
step down.

We will adjourn
until tomorrow morning
at 9:00 a.m.

Members of the jury,
do not discuss this case
among yourselves.

Good evening.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

Why is the district attorney
like a diaper?

BOTH:
Because they're both
full of shit.

(CHUCKLES)

This is very funny.

I'm going to owe my freedom
to disposable diapers.

And to you.

(SIREN WAILING)

BEN: I'll give it
to you tomorrow.

Just be sure you leave
the flap on the envelope loose

so it's easy to open, okay.

(CHUCKLES)

Yeah, good.

Yeah, I'll meet you
a half an hour early

and we'll run through it
once more.

Yeah, okay.
See you then. Yeah, bye.

MAN:
I don't know about you.

You've asked for
two adjournments already.

Morning, Jean.

That good, huh?

We're supposed
to hold this kid...

I came to look at you.

You used to be
a good prosecutor.

So now
I'm a good defender.
I just switched teams.

Is this
about the eyewitness?

We did the ID procedure
by the book.

She was sure all the way.
She's still sure.

I thought
that meant something.

Yeah, it did mean something.
It was the point to win.

So, you think
the jury doubts her?

Sure.
Yeah, me, too.

I can't take
any chances.

Come in and watch.

Ben.

She sees the body every time
she tells her story.

So do I.

BEN: Me, too.

I saw the pictures.

You saw the pictures.

Come on, Jean.
You know better than that.

How can you be certain
she saw my client,

not somebody who looks
a lot like him?

Certain enough to be judge,
jury and executioner?

You're just pissed

because your marbles got
knocked out of the game.
We're not playing marbles.

A woman was raped
and butchered, remember?

And I'm not even sure
which came first.

CLAUDIA: Ben.

I got a job to do.

So do I.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

The last witness
for the defense
is Mr. Hobart Jackson.

Please raise your right hand.

JUDGE: Do you swear
to tell the truth,

the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth,

so help you God?
I do.

CLERK:
State and spell your name
for the record.

Hobart Jackson.
J-A-C-K-S-O-N.

Mr. Jackson,

the crime in question
here was committed

on the night
of September 12th
of last year.

Now, where were you
on that day?

In the State Penitentiary
at Cradduck.

And why were you there?

I was serving
a life sentence for murder.

Your honor,
if this man was incarcerated
at the time of the crime,

I don't see the relevancy...

JUDGE:
Cut to the point,
Mr. Chase.

You were tried, convicted
and sentenced to life.

Life without possibility
of parole.

But you're a free man now?

Yeah. They got the right guy.

This guy.

PARKS: Your honor,
this is an outrage.

JACKSON: The eyewitness
was wrong about me.

I move that it be stricken.

JUDGE: Mr. Chase,
this is highly irregular.

(PEOPLE CLAMORING)

(DOOR OPENING)

Well, I got off
with a warning.

(CHUCKLING)
Congratulations.

I thought you were
gonna be in here with me.

It was worth the risk.
Well calculated, obviously.

I'm fascinated by all this.

I thought about
law school once. Mmm-hmm.

A long time ago.
It's a good thing
I decided against it.

I couldn't do
what you do.

It's more perspiration
than inspiration.

I couldn't deal
with all the rules,
all the technicalities.

But you really do love it,
don't you?

Well, it beats
lifting heavy objects.

(SCRIBBLING)

(DOOR OPENING)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Nice going.

We did it, by God,
we did it.

That is, you did it.

It helps to have
an intelligent client.

(LAUGHING)
You handled it
very well.

You had a strong case.

Well, that's the kind
that counts.

Thank you, Mr. Chase.

I'm very grateful.

My pleasure.

Thank you, Ben.

Okay.

How does it feel to have
somebody say that to you?

Average. It happens
all the time.

(BRAKES SCREECHING)

(GRUNTS)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(CAR TIRES SCREECHING)

(HONKING)

(SNIFFS)

(GASPS)

(LAUGHING)

Good morning, Isabel.

Did you behave yourself
last night?

BEN: No, I did not.

I was as drunk as a skunk.

Me, too.

Way to go, kid.

Good morning, Isabel.

Another one.

I don't have
anything for you yet.

The case of the bagel bandit.

Alleged bagel bandit,
Claudia.

Now this thing is over,
I want to tell you again

how much help you were.

So, now's a good time
to hit you up
about a
pro bono
case?

BEN: Shoot.

The defendant's name's Potter.

The charge is assault
with a deadly weapon.

He has a record, but he says
this was a fair fight.

The other guy claims
potter attacked him.

Go to it.

Uh...

It may take
a fair bit of my time.

And I want
full responsibility.

Heh, you want to try
the real thing, huh?

(WHISPERING)
It'll blow your love life
all to hell.

You should know.

Full responsibility doesn't
mean I don't want any advice.

NEWSCASTER ON TV:
Crime, according
to an independent survey

commissioned by
US law enforcement agencies,
is on the upswing.

Statistics, compiled by
a group of criminologists

from several
American universities,
show that crimes of violence

have almost doubled in number
in the past five years.

Law enforcers have
been calling both

at the local
and national level

for more personnel
and more
sophisticated weapons.

On the local crime blotter,
police authorities
issued a warning today

to women
in the Westfield area

where a brutal murder
occurred last night.

A spokesman said indications
of a possible serial killer

included the probability
that the victim was raped,

mutilation of the body,
and an additional
bizarre touch.

She had been gagged
with a disposable diaper.

Now this...

(MUSIC PLAYING ON TV)

(CHATTERING ON TV)

MAN ON TV:
The human eye focuses faster.

With Minolta Maxxum
you even get

unexpected shots
that would have...

...have no leads yet
in last night's murder

of 29-year-old Phylis Gilder
in Westfield.

Certain aspects
of the case, however,

suggest that a serial killer
may be at work.

And police tonight issued
a warning to women
in the neighborhood...

NEWSCASTER:
...AIDS, Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome.

Doctors from several states

have petitioned
the Surgeon General's office

to release fact sheets...

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTS)

(SCREAMS)

(PANTING)

Mr. Fischer?

Right.

I'm Ben Chase.

Right.

You play hard.

Right.

I've admired your work
for a long time.

I've learned a lot
from your cases.

It shows.

I've got too many cases.

Challenging,
precedent setting,
important cases.

When you get tired of being
a big frog in a little pond,

you give me a call.

Right.

(RAIN PATTERING)

(TRAFFIC HUMMING)

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

(KNOCKING ON WINDOW)

Telephone.

(SIGHS)

(ENGINE STARTING)

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

Yup.

MARTIN:
Ben, I need you.

What do you mean?

I thought about you
last week

when the news reports
mentioned the diaper.

Martin, what do you want?

I want to retain you.

I think I'm about to continue
my education in criminal law.

You mean
you're under investigation
in that Westfield case?

No. Not yet.

Meet me in the park
at River Point at 11:00
at the picnic area.

Tonight? Are you nuts?
It's pouring.
This can't wait.

(PHONE DISCONNECTS)

Shit.

Shit.

(DOG BARKING)

Martin!

Martin!

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(FOOTSTEPS)

Martin!

(GRUNTING)

(GASPING)

(SCREAMING)

(CONTINUES SCREAMING)

(DOG BARKING)

Anybody home!
Hello! Hello, please,
I have to talk to you.

ELLEN:
Who is it?

I have to use your phone.

Please, this,
this is an emergency.

What emergency?

I just... There's a woman
been murdered!

She's been murdered
in the park.

Please. Please... No!

(DOG BARKING)
Shut up.

I have to use your phone.
Just get the phone.

Just a second.
There's one right here.
Dial 911.

(PANTING)

(CONTINUES PANTING)

Let me do that.

Tell them it's a woman.

She's been murdered.

Where?

Where?

(STAMMERING)
Uh, in the park.

She's a Caucasian.

In her early 20s.

Very long black hair.
Or dark, anyway.

Janet.

MESEL:
Miss Falkner said the victim
left for the night shift

at her usual time.
10:15, 10:20.

She left her car
in the usual place.

Now, you pulled up here
about 10:55.

That's about
40 minutes later.

And we need
to fill in that time.

Now, what about the man
walking his dog?

Running. Running with
his dog. That's all.

Was the man black
or white?

(SIGHING)
White, I think.

You think?

It was dark.
Raining, you know.

How the hell
should I know.

Was he tall or short?

I--I didn't notice.

Well, he probably
lives around here.

What's his dog look like?
I mean, roughly.

I don't know.

Like a German Shepherd,
or more like a poodle?

For Christ's sake!
It was a peeing dog!

I don't know.
Stake out the lamppost!

I've done worse, Chase.

You any better on cars?

Any parked near here
when you arrived?

(SIGHING)

Uh, there--there were two
over there.

The VW was there, right? Yeah.

What'd the other one
look like?

Bigger, darker.

That's it? Bigger. darker.

Well, that's great.

Do you know
when they left?

I wasn't looking.

I was thinking
about that girl.

Yeah.

Let's go over there.
The girl's gone.

(ENGINE REVVING)

Get over here, will you?
We need somebody

who can drive
the goddamn thing.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

Last week, I heard
about a woman murdered
in Westfield.

She was also gagged
with a diaper.

The report said mutilated.

Was she burned?

Why?

(SIGHING)

This is madness.

But there was
some method, maybe.

The burning obliterated
any pubic hairs,
traces of semen.

The autopsy probably
won't even prove
she was raped.

Let alone provide
identifying evidence.

You're pretty sure
she was raped.

Come on, Mesel.

We both know
about cases like this.

More or less.

I know why Carl's here,
and I know why I'm here.

He found the body.

I've got one more
question for you

you kind of skipped
over it before.

What were you
doing here?

Taking a walk.

I used to jog here.

I like it.

In the rain?
11:00 at night?

And why'd you keep
checkin' your watch?

I don't know.

Doesn't seem to be
a whole hell of a lot
you do know, is there?

Sonny,

it would please me mightily
to see you sweat for once.

And you will.

You will if you don't start
remembering something useful
real quick.

(SIREN WAILING)

(WATER RUNNING)

(WATER FLOWING)

(GLASS BREAKING)

Ben.

Here. Give me a hand,
and we'll let Peggy
get back to work.

He's a hard master.

You're telling me.

You're giving these away?

Your collection
of quotations?

"I hate quotations.

"Tell me what you know."
Emerson.

"The power
of the quotation

"is as dreadful
a weapon as any which

"the human intellect
can forge."

Chapman.

I don't need weapons anymore.

I'm disarming.

Besides, some of these books
can't be much good,
they quote me.

I quote you all the time.

It's the only immortality.

Remember when I told you
I was going into defense?

You said
it was a lot tougher
than prosecution.

Instead of just trying
to get the bad guys,

I'd have to defend
all sorts of people.

Some with
very dirty hands.

I was never afraid
of disillusionment.

I enjoyed the game too much.

Sometimes I worried
about burning out.

Not about my conscience.

I always thought
I was so damn smart.

You are.

I never held it against you.

Now I'm going to do something
that's not so smart.

We were meant to act,
even if we make mistakes.

That's why we put
a sharp point on a pencil

and why we put an eraser
on the other end.

This might be indelible.

There's no other course
of action that will satisfy
your conscience?

No.

Then you don't need the advice
of an old man in a library.

Who said that?
About the pencil?

I did. Just now.

It'll be in here
next edition.

What do you think of her?

BEN: It's beautiful.

A bit cramped
for me, maybe.

It's like a little island.

Even in the shadow
of the city,
a boat is very private.

Away from everything.

You should try it.
You can afford it.

Um, it may take
several generations

to work up a full
appreciation of boats.

I've only got
as far as the snazzy car.

You should come out
with me sometime.

I'm sorry about last night.

Sorry?

The police gave you
a hard time.

You could've just left.
You know,
you didn't have to call them.

I think I did.

But I didn't tell them
why I was there.

Well, they'll come
to me anyway.

I need a good lawyer.

Even innocent people
need good lawyers.

The price has gone up.

The retainer is twice
what it was last time.

Don't disappoint me, Ben.
This isn't about money.

Take my professional advice,
Martin.

You should formalize
our relationship.

(DOOR CLOSING)

(DOOR OPENS)

It's got a few spots
on it.

They'll cash it anyway.

Wait till you taste
the basting sauce.

That's my secret.

What we say here
is between attorney
and client.

I can't reveal it.

So my recipe is safe.

Anything you tell me.

I need to know why
you're taking this case.

It's important to me to know
what people really care about.

I think I can win.

So far, I don't see
they have a case.

Is that all that
matters to you? Winning?

Aren't you interested
in justice?

There's no system of law
that guarantees
the correct result.

My job is to use
the system we have
for the benefit of my client.

That's admirable,
but rather narrow.

Well, my friend,
I am interested in justice.

My job is not advocate.

It's avenger.

MARTIN:
Anyway, you're right.

I have an alibi.
They're not gonna
find any evidence.

And no one saw me there.

(BOAT ENGINE WHIRRING)

Not even me.

Not even you.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

WOMAN:
Yes, you want the number?

It's okay.

Been to Alaska?

A couple of times.
I'd like to retire there

today.
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
tough day, boy.

I spent the morning
talking to cops.

Especially that one
from Sex Offenses.

Boy, she really got me going.

You know, I told her not only
everything I know about Janet,

but everything I know
about myself.

She's good.
Yeah, she's good.
She is good.

I'm here because of something
they told me.

The guy from Homicide
told me, actually.

I thought you were just
some innocent passerby.

Some--Some--Some loon
who liked to walk
in the rain.

And I really thought
you were upset
at what you found.

So, I was kind of surprised
to hear you're a lawyer

who just tried a case,
a whole lot like this one.

That the number one suspect
is a man you put back
on the street.

Here's another surprise.

As of an hour ago,
I'm representing him again.

Uh, actually, that doesn't
surprise me one bit.

I thought I was angry

but I'm just sick.

So long, scumsucker!

(GRUNTS)

Let me out of here! No!

Now, listen to me!
You listen to me!
No!

Okay, come over here
and listen to me
for one minute!

One minute.

For Janet's sake!

(BOTH PANTING)

Goddamn it!
Give me a chance.

Huh?

You're sick, huh?

I just ate lunch
with the son of a bitch
who did that thing last night.

He did it?
Yes, damn it! He did it!

He did it last year,
last week, last night

and he will do it again soon,
if he isn't stopped!

I'm representing him again,
so I can find something
that'll hang him.

Wait a second.

You worked with this guy
all the way through a trial.

You went over
all the evidence,

and you never got
a hint he did it?

You were totally clueless?

It is not my job
as an attorney
to look into his heart.

What about
as a human being?

Oh, man.

Why did he get you out there?

I wish to Christ I knew.

And what makes you think

you can get something
the police can't?

Eventually,
he'll say too much.

How many lives
does "eventually" equal?

That's not fair.

None of it's fair.

(SIGHING)

Did Janet know Doreen Clark
or Phylis Gilder?

Mesel asked me that.

They're the others, right?

No, she never
mentioned them.

I just moved back to town.

We've been friends
since we were kids.

While I was away,
she inherited
her parents' house

and it seemed perfect
for the two of us.

So, a couple of months ago...

God, was it just last night?

I know.

If you think of anything
at all, call me, okay?

Oh, I'm trying to play!

Stop it.

Oh, get down.
Right away,
do you hear me?

(TIRES SQUEALING)

STILLWELL:
It's also painted,
so that it's easy to spot

with the words "Police"
in big letters.

That's so you can find it fast
when you need it.

The same is also true
about the men and women
inside the police cars.

Don't let their uniforms
scare you.

They wear a special uniform,
because they do a special job.

But they're ordinary people.

There's one thing
you must remember:

Policemen and women...

(SIREN BLARING)

(IMITATING ENGINE WHIRRING)

Oh, no!

Why don't you come back
in about 10 years?

(CAR TIRES SQUEALING)

(CHILDREN CHATTERING)

You're talking
about an attorney selling
his client down the river.

I'm talking hypothetically.

He won't be
an attorney long. Maybe.

But he's
going ahead anyway.

He's got an inside line
that can't be wasted.

Hold it.

This lawyer is also
a potential witness.
He found the body.

He'll be challenged.

But his testimony's
not essential

and his client has
a right to counsel
of choice.

While that's being
sorted out,

the lawyer could find
something definitive.

Slip it to the cops
anonymously.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Carl said you get
a copy of this.

I'll have the set of pictures
for you later.

All right. Thanks, Eddie.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Your hero's pretty dumb
if he tries to do
police work on his own.

He could use some help

from someone who really wants
the bastard stopped.

So, now
you're gonna be judge,
jury and executioner?

MAN:
Well, keep trying.

Okay. What do you got,
not hypothetically?

He called me out there
and instead of him,
I found her.

That's it.

And the minute I say that,
on the record, I'm out of it.

(SIGHING)

Inviting me, was a test.

And mentioning him
means failing.

That would be the game
right there.

Games again.

Well, he certainly
picked the right guy
to play with.

It's the only way
I can make something
out of this shit.

Are you playing or not?

Yeah.

(CLOCK TICKING)

Dr. Thiel won't be
much longer.

(RUSTLING)

(CREAKING)

(THUDDING)

Shit!

DR. THIEL: Mr. Chase

my son doesn't allow
anyone in his room,

let alone his closet.

I'm sorry.

It's such
an extraordinary room...

Nobody.

I haven't been in here
since he built it.

Martin did this himself?

We'll talk upstairs.

BEN: This is exactly the kind
of thing I need to know about

if I'm going
to defend him again.
Defend him?

Nothing's happened.

The police asked me
about last night,
that's all.

No matter what they told you,
Mrs. Thiel,
he's in serious trouble,

very serious
and I can't help him
unless you help me.

Mr. Thiel should've come
to the trial.

He'll have to show support...
There's not going
to be another trial.

As I have told you,
Martin's father prefers
the house on the island

and his dogs.

His son was on trial
for his life.

Simon thinks only the Thiels
can judge the Thiels.

Or anything else,
for that matter.

How does Martin
get along with him?

Better than anyone else.

It can't have been easy.

We fought about
which came first:

Medical school for me
or an heir
to the family name.

The wound never healed.

Maybe that explains
Martin's resistance

to marriage
or anything near it.

He's really Martin Thiel IV,
you know.

I doubt
there'll be a fifth.

What about last night?

I was in the file room,
working late.

As you can see,
if he'd come out of
the basement,

I would've known.

Who's this?

(SCOFFS)

He's one of the Thiels,
the first Martin.

We call him "the pirate."

He built this house.

The family
always had money?

He's the one
who made them wealthy.

There was some question
as to his means,

rumors of smuggling
and so on.

(DOOR OPENING)

Goodbye, Mr. Chase.

(DOOR CLOSING)

I'll be in touch.

I hope
that won't be necessary.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(DOG BARKING)

(GRUNTS)

(DOORKNOB RATTLES)

(DOORKNOB RATTLES)

(DOOR CREAKING)

(TAPPING)

(THUDDING)

(GRUNTS)

(PANTING)

(WATER PIPES RATTLING)

(BEN SCREAMS)

(GASPS)

I've been waiting
for you.

Score one for Ben.

You were right
about my alibi.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

You should've told me
about this.

You did a fine job
on your own.

So will the cops...
Maybe.

Yeah, maybe shit.

They're pros.

You're not gonna hide
a goddamn secret
passage forever

and you can't dispose
of a tunnel.

This isn't conclusive.

It's just something I found,

and played around with
for a while.

Yeah, and what else
are they gonna find?

Someday you'll know
all my secrets.

I wonder if
we'll still be friends.

(SIREN WAILING)

(DOG BARKING)

Well, well, look at that.

Chase, is your client
being questioned
in the Westfield case?

(JOURNALISTS CHATTERING)

Mr. Chase, is there
another eyewitness?

Mr. Chase,
what about Phylis Gilder?
Is there any connection?

Well, well, look who's here,
super-shyster.

Where's Stillwell?

Well, it's funny
you should ask.

Tony, where's Jean?

Out somewhere.

Like the man says, "Out."
But don't let me stop you.

You've got to get
that crazy murderer out

on the street again,
free as a bird.

You've got someone to watch.
What more do you want?

What I want for your friend
would amaze and sicken you.

Just prove he did it.

I'm gettin' there.

Just found
what you might call
"a hole in his alibi."

Mesel, I warn you.
Don't take this to court yet.
You'll lose him.

You will lose.

Look, I've had it with you.

First, you stand over
a barbecued body,
and you tell me a story

that my sweet old mother
wouldn't piss on.

And now you're representing
the man I think did it,

the same man
you defended before
on the same charge.

He was defended
in a fair trial,
he was acquitted.

That case is irrelevant.
Mesel, you have to keep up.

Irrelevant, immaterial,
inadmissible!

Jesus.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

What the fuck happened?

Come on. Take it easy.

First, tell me
what took you so long?

I had to enumerate
every good deed
your ancestors ever did,

not to mention
every piece of property
the family owns.

What about my reputation?
I was a model prisoner
last time around.

Last time around
was not an argument
in your favor.

They're gonna be
watching you closer
than ever.

Can't you argue harassment
or something?

BEN:
I'll do everything possible.
Just go out to the island

stay away from everybody,
and sit tight.

For how long?

They can afford to wait.

There's no statute of
limitations on murder.

Somebody doused the place
with gas from a lawn mower.

Did a very thorough job.

Took it right down
to the mouth of the tunnel...

Look, I don't care
if it was a proficient,
painstaking pyromaniac.

Why last night?

And only the two of us knew
how sensitive it was.

MAN: You're the one
that's got to do it.

I got to stay here.

Martin,

I didn't burn that pavilion.

I know, I did.

We really
are partners now.

What charge...

Mr. Chase, I'd like
to ask your client:

Do you have anything to say
about last night's fire?

My attorney will make
a statement. Ben.

I'm glad you're here.
Uh, the people have
a right to know

how police harassment
can grow from a simple case
of mistaken identity.

How a law-abiding citizen
who happened once to be

in the wrong place
at the wrong time,

must suffer
repeated attacks
on his reputation.

(JOURNALISTS CLAMORING)

(ALL SHOUTING)

Mesel got an anonymous
phone call last night.

It seems that firemen
were swarming all over
the Thiels' backyard.

Temporarily and legitimately
breaching their privacy.

Don't get ahead of me.

The tip was that
the fire would reveal

something relevant
to the murder.

But the call came in late,

and when Mesel got there,
the firemen were gone.

Re-establishing Martin's
right to privacy.

Mesel was excited.

Maybe he was thinking
exigent circumstances...

Maybe he wasn't thinking
at all.

Drink your milk.

(CHILDREN LAUGHING)

Anyway,

Mesel found the tunnel

and he went through it
to Martin Thiel's room.

He what?

I know.

(SIGHS)

Hey, why not?

Once he searched
their property

and found the tunnel
without a warrant,

anything in the tunnel
could be excluded.

Yeah, that's what Parks
tells us.

Parks, hell.

(SIGHING)

You wouldn't have
stepped into this, would you?

I wasn't there.

Mesel thinks
he was suckered, by you.

I wish.

I can't hold him back, Ben.

He's going to Parks

and he's asking that you get
disqualified from the case

because you're
a material witness.

Well, Parks won't do that
on his own hoof.

It'll take a few days
at least.

Days, huh?

Meanwhile, we're back
to square one.

Minus one, no, minus two.

The alibi's out of it,
and now Mesel's trying
to put me out of it.

Hasn't he got anything
better to do?

Organically grown,

no artificial fertilizers,
and no pesticides.

No, thanks.

This guy, he's developing
a style as he goes.

Gagging them
with a diaper before,

burning them with
a blow-torch after...
Blow-torch.

It's no more amazing
than raping
and killing them.

But he works clean, Ben.

He hasn't left us
a thing to go on

except bodies in the rain,

(SIGHING)
always in the goddamn rain.

(SCREAMS)

I-- I'm sorry, I didn't mean
to frighten you.

I did call the house first.

How'd you find me?

I've got connections.

So, you're a photo editor.
Not exactly...

What the hell
do you care?

What do you want?

Can I give you a ride?

All right,

Mesel's gonna come to you
with questions about me.

He already has.
I kept your crazy secret.

I'll be damned if I know
why I should help you

pussyfoot around
that son of a bitch,

when the only thing
that makes any sense
is to blow the bastard away!

You think this is
the way I want it?

This is the way it is
and I can't fucking
believe it!

I'm hanging on
because sooner or later

he'll let me
see something!
Me and only me!

I don't know,
some little thing!
And then I'll nail him!

It won't bring her back.

Nothing's going to
bring her back.

(CRYING)

They had that animal
locked up,

and I let him out
to kill again.

Every time
the phone rings,

every time
the news comes on,

I hold my breath.

I'll take you home.

(DOG BARKING)

How about getting
something to eat?

Can't leave the dog
too long.

She's gotten really neurotic
since Janet just walked out

and never came back.

We could eat here,
with the dog.

With the dog?

Yeah.

Right,
I'll cook something.

What?

Hey, just stand back
and watch.

(CAR DOORS CLOSES)

(TIRES SQUEALING)

(DOG BARKING)

(DOG CONTINUES BARKING)

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

(BLOWTORCH BUZZING)

Messy, but necessary.

First you scrub away
the scum, then you purify.

You didn't come out here
to see me scrape paint.

I came to see
what you really
care about.

Come on, then.

This is Fancy.

She was disqualified
for shows,
so now she's my crew.

BEN: Looks fine to me.

MARTIN:
She looks fine to me, too.

Standards don't allow
enough for character.

MARTIN:
They're so stupid.

I could lose them
in half an hour here.

Slip into these reeds
and turn up anywhere.

BEN: You just said
you love it out here.

Don't play lawyers' games
with me, Ben.

I do love it.

I wish I could stay forever,
just drifting, but...

I have things to do.

Sure.

Tunnels to dig.

Why are you mocking me?

Martin, you've done nothing
but ridicule me.

You say we're partners,
but you never
tell me anything.

There's no trust here.

The tunnel...

The tunnel was a legacy
of the first Martin Thiel,
the real Martin Thiel.

My God, there was a man!

He moved freely, he knew
how to clean out scum,
how to...

Purify.

You should appreciate this.

He believed in
the
lex talionis,
the law of retaliation.

An eye for an eye,
a tooth for a tooth...
A life for a life!

He did it and no lesser law
trammeled him.

He saw a man whipping a dog,

he seized the whip
and used it on the man,
who cried:

"But it's not your dog!"
And my forefather said:

"It's God's dog
and I'm here
to avenge it!"

Do you see the beauty in that?
The purity?

There you are,
you know, that's what I hate.

You show me scenery,
you tell me history

and dog stories,
but not about you.

I am telling you about me.

Avenger.

That's the role
I was destined for,

that's what makes sense
of my coming
into this world of suffering,

wh-why my tiny spark
was not snuffed out

before it had
a chance to blaze.

MARTIN: I was spared
for a reason.

Spared?

(BIRDS CALLING)

MARTIN:
You know, you're right.

Anything is justified.

(BIRD CALLING)

O-B-G-Y-N.

(CLOCK TICKING)

DR. THIEL:
Come to my office.

I'll see you
in the morning, Ann.

I knew you were
an obstetrician.

It never occurred to me
it was relevant.

You do abortions.

My practice
is family planning,
birth control,

sterilization
and pregnancy termination.

Do you discuss
your work with Martin?

No, and I won't discuss it
with you, either.
Why are you here?

Last time we talked,
you insisted Martin was home
the night of the murder.

Now we know
he could have been out.

He says that can't
be held against him.

That's a technicality.
I'm talking about the truth.

Martin knows about
your work, of course?

Of course.

And he also knows
that you wanted

to terminate
your own pregnancy.

You wanted
to terminate Martin.
He didn't tell you that.

You should have told me.
I told you
what was relevant.

You want brutal frankness,
Mr. Chase, go to Simon.

He was the one who told him
the whole story,
his version of the story

when Martin was 14.

He wanted to tear him away
from me.

It didn't matter.

He was already lost to me,
had been since he was eight.

You and I are the only ones
close to Martin.

He wants to tell me
this himself,

but he can't.

(SIGHING)

I had an emergency case.

It was in this room.

The woman had
left it too late

and then tried
to do it herself.

She was in bad shape.

My nurse and I were
working desperately

trying to save her
and we forgot the door.

The open door.

I turned to put the fetus...

It was dead
before she got here.

I had it in my hands
to put it in the tray,
and I saw...

I saw Martin
standing there watching.

I shall never forget his eyes.

I tried to explain.

But I couldn't get him
to talk about it.

The therapist couldn't either.
Except once when
she got him upset somehow

and he told her
that his mother...

He said that his mother
killed babies.

(WHISTLES)

Yeah, come on.

Peanut oil, soy sauce,
garlic, ginger.

Now, you're cooking.
I have garlic.

You know I have garlic.

You always need
more garlic.

(WHISTLES)
Come on, boy.

First, I'm gonna bestow
a gem of wisdom.

And then I'm gonna ask
for a piece of information.

Fair enough?

Life is weird.

You know, never underestimate
how weird life is.

Yesterday I almost
killed Martin.

It seemed like
the only solution.

Today I've got him
neat and tidy,

if Janet had an abortion.

Yeah, yeah, while
I was in California.

Her boyfriend,
Hal something.

I never met the guy.
He was living here.

Janet got pregnant
and she wanted a baby.

Hal didn't.
They fought over it.
Broke up over it.

What's that got to do
with all this?

I'll tell you
when it's a done thing, okay?

But you were right.

What?

Everything is personal.

Now, what about you?

Huh?

How come you're alone?

Well, maybe I never
met the right guy.
Met the right guy.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

(LAUGHING)

We gotta talk. Now.

This has got to be
the dumbest thing
you've ever done.

And "this" is?

The motion to seal
Dr. Thiel's medical files.

I wish you'd have
let me see it
before it went through.

Gary, don't you
read the journals?

That motion gives us
a piece of one of the
legal issues of our day.

The battle of police...

It's a battle we shouldn't
even be fighting!

If you hadn't
made the motion,

they might not have
thought to ask for it.

But now the prosecutor's
not only going to ask for it,
he'll want to examine them.

He already has.

It's Parks.

Heh, he took his offer
of proof to Judge Ailman,

who was a prosecutor
for a mere 30 years.

He'd love to give Parks
the stuff.

If he can justify.

Well, there you are.

Where?

Come on, Ben.

Ailman will examine
the files himself,
in camera.

So?

So, if the names
are in there,

he'll spill those files
all over
the courthouse steps.

So?

For Christ's sakes.

If the prosecution can
show the personal files

of otherwise
unrelated victims

were in your client's
mother's office,
in his own house,

he won't see daylight
until Judgment Day.

And justice will be done.

He's guilty.

(DOOR CLOSING)

The nightmare
of all defense attorneys
caught up with me.

I did everything
I knew to spring
a guilty man,

and he did it again.

What do you mean "guilty?"

I mean he did it.

Most of our clients
did it.

That's how most defendants
become defendants.

They did it and
a lot of people
know they did it.

But making sure
it's proved they did it,
establishing why they did it

and getting
a reasonable penalty,
that's work for attorneys.

Guilty is for juries.
And justice is for God.

You have to do the best
for your client.

If your sense of his guilt
prevents you from that,

then you withdraw
from the case.

There's no other course.

I had to retrieve my error.

Parks.
What about the names?

Nothing at all. Not one.

Ailman examined the files
in camera
and found nothing.

He threw my motion
for access out of court.

He threw me out of court.

None of the names?
I'm sorry, Carl.

I really thought
I had something
for you this time.

But damned if I know
why Chase wanted
that stuff sealed.

It doesn't make sense.

I told you what
to do about him.

Yeah. It's already
in the works.

(SQUASH BALL POUNDING)

(PANTING)

(PANTING)

(GRUNTING)

(BOTH MOANING)

(GRUNTING)

(BOTH PANTING)

(SCREAMING)

(SCREAMING)

(GRUNTING)

(SCREAMS)

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTING)

(GRUNTING)

(SCREAMS)

(PANTING)

I'm not a signatory.
Yes, yes.

I have no stake
in the lengthy...
Yes, but what do you think?

I just say,
pick up the option.

Stu? Done.

And done.
Just sign here, Ben.

And this whole thing
will be behind us,
until next time.

Well, let's get back
to it, Joan.

Carol, will you call
Mrs. Corbet and tell her
I can't make it tomorrow.

And, uh, Mr. Burgess
called about the preliminary
hearing tomorrow.

It's at 4:00.

Call back to confirm.

(BARKING)

Quiet, it's just the mailman.
Hi.

Here you go, ma'am.

Come on.

(DOG CONTINUES BARKING)

(ENGINE WHIRRING)

ELLEN: Hal!

Hal!

Yeah?

I'm Ellen Falkner.
I was Janet's friend.

So, how'd you know
I was here?

Your new girlfriend told me
at the apartment.

So?

I wanna know
about the abortion.

Janet said you had
some kind of a...
Fuck you.

Yeah, okay. Fine.
I'll ask your girlfriend.

So, the woman whose
apartment I subletted
recommended her clinic.

But I'm not sure
this is the right one.

Could you check
and see if a Janet Wallen
comes here?

I'm sorry, you'll have
to ask her.

We don't
give out information
about our clients.

Of course, I understand.
But you can tell me
about the doctors, right?

(DRAWER CLATTERING)

This is a list
of all our doctors,

with their credentials
and affiliations.

Mrs. Baker? Room Three.

This Dr. Thiel.
I've heard of her.
She's very good?

There's no guarantee
of seeing a specific doctor.
They're all good.

My last question,
how late are you open?

Normally till 5:30.

We're running
a little late today.

Great. Thanks. I'll be back.

(PHONE RINGING)

BEN ON ANSWERING MACHINE:
Hello, this is the recorded
voice of Ben Chase.

Please leave
your name and number
when you hear the beep.

(BEEPING)

Ben, this is Ellen.
I think I found
the right files.

The Women's Medical Clinic,
corner of Pine and Pearl.

ELLEN: And I think
I have a chance
to make sure.

It's almost 5:30.
I'll call you back.

(PHONE DISCONNECTS)

(TRAFFIC HUMMING)

(DOOR CLOSING)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(ANSWERING MACHINE CLICKS)

MALE VOICE:
Hi, Ben. It's me.

I've been trying to get you
all week at your office,

but your secretary's
too smart.

ELLEN:
...the Women's Medical Clinic,

corner of Pine and Pearl.
And I think...

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

Ellen?

It's Sybil Thiel.
I called you earlier.

Um, uh, I didn't
get a message.

This is not a matter
for employees, Mr. Chase.

I talked to Martin.
I told him about the files.

Why didn't you tell him?

When was that?

Before the motion
in the first place.

No, when did you
talk to Martin
and where was he?

Early this afternoon.

(RAIN PATTERING)

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

(SCREAMS)

(TELEPHONE CONTINUES RINGING)

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

BEN ON ANSWERING MACHINE:
Hello, this is the recorded
voice of Ben Chase.

Please leave
your name and number
when you hear the beep.

(BEEPING)

Dammit, where are you?
I don't know
what to do with these files.

They're all here:
Doreen Clark,
Phylis Gilder, Janet.

They all had abortions here.
Now, Dr. Thiel never
treated any of them,

but she had access
to the files...

(SCREAMS)

I see you know who I am.
That's only fair,
since I know who you are.

You're Janet's friend
and you must be
Ben's friend, too.

His little helper.

I should have known.

Poor, unfaithful Ben.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

(SCREAMS)

(LATCH CLOSING)

(SCREAMING)

(PANTING)

This is all Ben's fault.

You know that.

(YELLING)

(BOTH GRUNTING)

(GRUNTING)

(GROANING)

(GRUNTS)

No!

No! No!

Ellen!

Ellen. It's me! It's Ben!

Please.
Ellen!

Ellen! Ellen!

Ben!

(BOTH PANTING)

(CLOCK TICKING)

(GASPS)

Martin, you frightened me.

Is Mother here?

She's in her office
working late again.

Thanks.

You're back.

Busy now?

Killing babies?

(SNIFFING)

(SNIFFING)

Dr. Thiel!

Dr. Thiel!

(SCREAMING)

(OBJECTS CLATTERING)

(CONTINUES SCREAMING)

(TELEPHONE RINGS)

BEN: Yes?

(BEN PANTING)

Martin?

MARTIN:
You betrayed me, Ben.

Where are you?

You have no one to blame
but yourself.

Are you at your mother's?

I have no mother.

Martin, what does that mean?

It means there's only
the two of us, you and me.

I need to see you.

9:00 tomorrow night
at River Point.

You and no one else.

Promise me that, Ben.

Promise me, Ben.

I promise.

(PHONE DISCONNECTS)

That was him, wasn't it?

I've gotta kill him.

It's not worth it.

It is to me.

(POLICE RADIO CHATTERING)

(POLICE RADIO CHATTERING
CONTINUES)

Ben, I saw the look
in your eyes back there.

I know that look.

I have seen it
on so many husbands,
and mothers and fathers.

And on the worst nights,
I've looked in the mirror

and seen it
in my own eyes.

But when the light
comes up,

I always know
that you've got to
let the law have it.

That's exactly
what he's counting on.

You'll arrest him.
Read him his rights.

Let him make a phone call
to call the best lawyer
money can buy

and the whole thing
will start over.

What's the alternative?
Murder?

It'll be self-defense.

Or I'll make it
look that way.

It's not how it'll look.
It's how it'll feel.

It'll feel good.

Ben, you'll be
just like him.

Ben.

Over here.
Follow the wires.

I'm breaking
the rules.

You didn't bring
any flowers, either.

You're pretty
goddamn chipper.

What have I got to
worry about? I'm dying.

I didn't know.

Last time we talked,
I didn't know.

Sure you did.
We're all dying,
all the time.

Don't remind me.

It's good to be reminded.

It's the only thing
the dead can do
for the living.

Well, in the meantime,
what can I do for you?

Got any new quotes?

I thought
you gave that up.

Too late
to break the habit.

Hmm.

I've been thinking
about an old one.

"There's no such thing
as justice,
in or out of court."

Clarence Darrow.

And what do you think
he meant?

That law and justice
are two different things.

They're not the same.

At least not here and now.

Not anywhere, not ever.
They're never the same.

Where does that leave you?

When I was just
out of law school,
I went to Washington.

And the only thing
I wanted to see

was a Justice
of the Supreme Court.

I couldn't imagine
what such an exalted being
would look like.

I went to the Court,
and waited outside.

I saw Louis Brandeis.

It was like seeing Zeus.

I held my breath.

Then, he stepped
on a patch of ice
hidden in a shadow

and did the most perfect
pratfall I ever saw.

I rushed forward
and helped him up.

He wasn't hurt.
He wasn't embarrassed.

(CHUCKLING) I was.

He just thanked me,
and left me standing there.

Then I looked up

and saw that
the shadow fell

from one of the
gleaming statues.

The figure that represents
abstract justice.

Brandeis was just
a human being.

Trying to keep his balance
in pursuit of an ideal
that is always above us.

The law is the dark shadow
of justice.

It does not shine.

It's not even the same shape,
but it is connected.

We know what casts the shadow,
and it's as close
as we can get.

(SNIFFLING)

I've gotta go.

So do I.

(TRAFFIC HUMMING)

LAWYER 1:
...court will grant us time.

LAWYER 2:
Your Honor,

defense would have
no objection, of course.

But I assure the court
that the facts are simple.

And the rule clearly...

Your Honor,
this is the most technical

and insignificant violation
of the man's rights.

No fucking way. No way.

BEN: You've got
no choice, Mesel.

It's me he wants.

Anybody else shows up,
he won't be there.

Why didn't you tell us
this last night?

I have to do this.

Do what, Ben?

I'm here. I'm gonna
let you have him.

But you gotta
let me be part of it.

Why should we?

Have to be on the record.
Everything you've been up to
is gonna come out.

I'm past worrying
about that, Jean.

Way past.

Liberating, ain't it?

What do you say?

We say yes,
if it makes sense.

I wanna wear a bug.

You're still his lawyer.

I won't be after
the first minute.

I'll return his retainer,
and tell him
I no longer represent him

and try to get him
to talk about
his mother's death.

If you're not his lawyer,
why should he
tell you anything?

I know him.
I know him well enough.

We have a rather
special relationship.

If he tumbles to the wire,
he'll kill you.

Let me worry about that.

Look, sonny.

Don't think for a second
that I give a damn
what happens to you.

But this is our business.
If there's one thing
we can tell you it's this:

A crazy killer is crazy.
And he will kill you.

I know.

(SIGHING)

Okay.

9:00. The park
at River Point.

Come by the office
at 6:00.

We'll rig the equipment.

You bastard!

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

You bastard! You promised!

Come on!

You son of a bitch!

You promised me!

You promised me!

(PEOPLE SCREAMING)

(DOOR CLOSES)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

I love the rain.

After the purifying fire,
the cleansing rain.

I'm glad
we've come back here, Ben.

It was a good time for us.

Get me the hostage unit,
the SWAT team,

and the paramedics!
Clear the building!

Keep your men back
from there.

It's good to know
how things really are.

Even if I have
to be alone.

Even if
you're not with me.

What did you want me
to do?

Hold them down?
Find innocent women...

(SCREAMING)
Innocent women?

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

What about their babies?

More innocent than angels.

That's all over now.

But it was never
the point between us,
Ben. Never.

You've missed the heart
of what I've been trying
to tell you.

And what is the heart
of it?

That you must judge
for yourself.

And you must act
on that judgment,
whatever the cost.

You were great.
You were so great
in here, Ben.

You saved my life.

And I haven't forgotten that.
I'll prove it.

MARTIN:
I have your life here
at the end of my finger.

I can take it,
or spare it.

But what difference
does it make,

if you don't save
your own soul?

You think I should
be stopped,

just as I know
my mother had to be stopped.

But I acted on my belief.

Can you?

Can you?

What if I was to tell you
that I'm going to put up
a sham insanity defense,

so I can be free again
in a few years?

Would that make you see
that you must judge
for yourself?

What if I gave you the gun?

(GUN CLICKING)

What if I asked you
what the punishment should be
for attacking Ellen?

I would have raped her.
I would have killed her.

I would have burned her.

What is your judgment?

Show me
what I've taught you, Ben.

Save yourself.

Save me.

(CLICKING)

Poor Ben.

Drop it!

(DOOR CLOSES)

(SNIFFLING)

(DOOR SLAMMING)