All language subtitles for Boston Legal [5x04]

- Previously on Boston Legal.
- I'm just trying to get an erection!

Who knows? Maybe it's the mad cow.

My penis has Alzheimer's.

- Phoebe.
- Alan.

Why drag this out beyond a time
we're still attracted to each other?

- I'm not attracted to you now.
- Fine. Let's go with that.

- Phoebe.
- What happened?

- I was in love with her.
- That'll kill the moment.

And she loved me.
Just... not enough.

- Maybe it's not too late.
- She's happily married with children.

[Pounding]

[Snoring Softly]

[Knocking]

[Pounding]

- [Squeaks]
- [Recorded Voice] Denny Crane.

[Pounding Continues]

[Both Screaming]

- What are you doing?
- I got scared.

- Of what?
- I heard banging.

- What banging?
- [Knocking]

- That banging.
- That's a knock. Answer it.

- Me?
- You heard it.

- You live here.
- [Pounding]

[Gasps]

Never mind. We'll both answer it.

[Pounding]

[Doll Squeaks]

[Pounding]

[Pounding Continues]

- Phoebe.
- Can I talk to you, Alan? It's important.

- What's going on?
- The police just arrested my husband.

They showed up
in the middle of the night.

I tried to call you, but I guess
your phones are turned off.

- Arrested him for what?
- Murder.

- [Gasps]
- Murder?

- [Whispering] Murder.
- You're the best lawyer that I know.

- So will you help?
- Who is he accused of killing?

One of his nurses.

I'm sorry, Alan,
but this is my family here.

L- I need you.

This is gonna be a good one.

- [Funk]
- [Man Vocalizing]

[Man]
Uh-huh

- All right
- Boom.

Come on

[Lips Pop]

Come on
All right

Well, yeah

Well, yeah

Outlaw

So he's in custody now?

Yeah. They're arraigning him first up.

It's my opinion they purposely
arrested him at night.

The district attorney involved
loves gamesmanship...

- so you'll have your work cut out for you.
- [Rooster Crows]

Can we talk about the case itself?

Well, my husband is one of the leading
cardiologists at Boston General.

Well, isn't he special?

- Sorry.
- Uh, the victim...

is one ofhis former nurses.

She was found poisoned to death.

They claim that he was having
an affair with her. He wasn't.

He had, briefly in the past,
but it was long over.

[Rooster Crows]

I'm sorry. Could you excuse us for a second?

I'll be right back. Denny.

- What the hell is that?
- What?

The rooster noise.
And don't pretend-

- I don't know what you're talking about.
- It's coming from you.

What the hell is it?

Well-

You remember that little,
uh- uh, blood-flow issue I had?

- Yeah.
- The doctor has hooked me up to a monitor.

I'm supposed to keep a journal.
Any kind of blood flow-

- I'm supposed to, uh, make a note.
- A monitor?

- Yeah.
- Connected to-

- Shh. Yeah.
- One that sounds like a rooster.

That's just my ringtone.
You can choose from many.

Look. Obviously
this is a serious case.

- That's why the doctor wanted-
- I'm talking about the murder.

I do not want to be
hearing from that thing.

- Are you listening to me?
- I'll put it on vibrate.

Sorry. So, uh-

- The arraignment's tomorrow morning?
- First up.

The thing is, Alan,
they found evidence...

of him being present at her house.

He was there a week ago,
but not on the night of the murder.

Which was when?

Two nights ago. I'm surprised you
haven't heard about it.

It's been all over the news. He is
the top cardiologist at Boston General.

Yes. You mentioned that. You say
he once had an affair with the victim?

A while ago, yes.
But it was over.

If it was over, why was he
at her house a week ago?

He said that she was distraught,
and he went there to calm her down.

- And you believe that?
- I do.

- Okay.
- Plus, he has an alibi.

- Which is?
- Me.

He never left the house
two nights ago.

Ah. You're sure?

Positive.

- Hello.
- [Buzzing]

- [Squeaks] Denny Crane.
- [Buzzing Continues]

- [Elevator Bell Dings]
- [Clamoring]

- Please excuse us. I have absolutely no comment.
- I have a comment.

If you go to dennycranelaw. Com-

- Please, I will ask you to respect my privacy.
- You'll find candid photos-

This is obviously
a very difficult time.

- I can say unequivocally
that my husband is innocent.
- If you'll excuse us.

- [Chattering]
- I'd advise you not to talk to the press.

The D.A. Is trying this case in the media.

Even so. I mean,
will you look at this?

It's very high profile.
My husband is the leading cardiologist-

All right, already. Sorry.

All rise. This court is now in session.

The HonorableJudge Beacon presiding.

Let's be clear right now.

This is a courtroom, not a circus.

Anyone breaking its decorum is
going to get spanked by me personally.

- [Buzzing]
- The clerk will call the case.

[Man] Number 32859,
Commonwealth v. Robert L. Brooks...

on the felony count
of murder in the first degree.

Good morning, Your Honor.
Alan Shore for the defense.

My goodness,
what a splendid turnout.

We'll waive reading of the charges
and enter a plea of not guilty.

I'd ask that you release my client
on his own recognizance pending trial.

My client is a respected doctor.
In fact, I'm told he's the top cardiologist-

Stewart Betts representing the State,
Your Honor. Good morning.

We do not typically afford bail
to first-degree murderers.

My client has well-established
roots in the Boston community.

He's certainly not a flight risk.
He has no prior criminal record.

His being at large poses
no real risk to society.

[Betts]
I don't know about Mr. Shore, Your Honor...

but I think that the rest of the public
would consider a murderer-

any murderer, especially
this murderer...

a devious murderer- to be a risk.

I'm sorry. Did you use
the word "murderer"...

four or five times in that sentence?

- I'd hate to misquote you.
- Mr. Shore, would you like to be disciplined?

[Buzzing]

Given the sophisticated
methodology of this murder...

making it appear like
a heart attack, I'm persuaded...

that the defendant possesses
the requisite craftiness to indeed escape...

this jurisdiction with little effort
ifhe so chooses.

- Gee, that sounded impartial.
- Bail is denied.

The defendant shall return to custody.
We're adjourned.

- [Gavel Raps]
- I'll be back to meet with you shortly.

In the meantime,
please do not speak to anyone.

Well done on bail.

He can be a bit chilly at first, but-

- Shall we go and meet him?
- I like to sit with him alone, please.

- Why?
- Because I would.

I like to get a feel
for those I defend.

Denny, you need to stop
your penis from humming.

[Gate Clanks]

[Buzzer Sounds]

Thank you.

- You want me to stay?
- I think I'm good.

You don't plan to kill me, do you?

We'll see how it goes.

[Door Clangs Shut]

So, is it "Robert" or "Bob"?

Robert.

So what can you tell me, Bob?

I'm innocent.

I did have a short-lived
relationship with her...

which I broke off, to her
less-than-concealed dismay.

When you say short-lived-

Seventeen days, last autumn.

She was your nurse?

One of my nurses, yes.

What occasioned
the end of the affair?

You're not curious as to what
precipitated the beginning?

I've seen a picture of her.
I can fill in that blank.

Well, the affair's end
was occasioned...

by Ms. Goulet's
emotional instability.

She was becoming
increasingly erratic...

causing an unacceptable
distraction for me at work.

I severed the relationship
and I sought to create a distance.

She was persistent.

I never saw her
romantically again...

I most certainly did not go
to her home the evening of her death...

and I played no role whatsoever in her death.

Questions?

According to the incident report...

you were seen by a neighbor
at her house that night.

Neighbor's mistaken.

I was there several days
before the murder.

I'd gone in an attempt
to diffuse her emotions.

I was not there
on the murder night...

which my wife will confirm.

Well, wives have been known
to lie for their husbands.

The jury will find my wife
very persuasive.

Don't you find her
impressive, Mr. Shore?

Denny, if this case
comes down to his testimony-

[Exhales]
He's incredibly unlikable.

All worked out then, didn't it?

What do you mean?

Alan, you didn't really
wanna like this guy, did you?

- No, but I do wanna win the case.
- Really?

Of course "really."

What, do you think I'd purposely lose
so I could be with his wife?

- I would.
- You would not.

Your true love is your undefeated record.

And your true love is her.

You know, Denny...

I must admit...

from time to time
through the years...

in... various cases...

I've secretly fantasized that she
was in the back of the room...

- watching.
- [Chuckling]

Everything we do is all about
impressing the girl-

Even when the girl isn't there.

But here, she will be there watching me.

Relying on me, even.

Alan, look at me.

At first I thought
this would be fun.

Exciting.

Now I'm telling you
as your best friend, get out.

In defeat, you lose...

disappointing the one woman
you really loved.

In victory...

she walks away with her husband-

which isn't you.

Okay, at first the coroner ruled
natural causes...

and you can pretty much see why.

- Not a mark on her.
- Except for this mole here.

It's spectacular.
Can I touch it?

But once they tumbled
to the affair...

they decided to look again.

That's when they found this.

You could see the needle mark here
on the thigh. Succinylcholine.

The beauty is, it basically disappears
from the system within minutes.

And best of all,
the symptoms mimic a heart attack.

- And it kills you immediately?
- First paralysis, then death.

It's likely she woke up when
she gotjabbed, but going into paralysis-

Nothing she could do- except
watch her killer walk out the door.

- Any semen?
- Not yet.

[Buzzing]

No semen was found.

- Saliva or hair?
- Nothing found on the body.

Almost the perfect crime.

Whoever did this was one smart guy.

Neighbor's house is here,
meaning his sight line is this way...

which basically means
he'd see cars from the front...

given the curve of the street.

What's the lighting like?

Streetlamp here.
So it's not great.

If we can shake this witness, everything else
is completely circumstantial, right?

Phoebe, they can place him
at the scene with forensics.

- Not that night.
- Well, the neighbor does that.

Your husband had a romantic history
with the victim.

- The victim's mother will testify
as to threats he made-
- She's lying.

Yes, according to your husband.

Whoever did this clearly
has medical expertise. Add to that-

Add to that what?

The jury will hate him.

Meaning you hate him.

- My feelings aren't relevant.
- Oh, come on, Alan.

Your feelings aren't in play here?

[Exhales]

I think that if you look
at this case clinically...

you will appreciate that
the prosecution's case is very weak.

The evidence is all circumstantial...

- the victim had other affairs-
- Which we can't prove.

And my husband has an alibi.

Testimony of a devoted wife
is rarely winning.

I don't think the jury will believe you.

Do you believe me?

No.

I know you.

You would never forgive him
for having the affair.

In fact, if memory serves me, you can be...

quite punishing on that subject.

It's different when you have kids.

Yes, and your children
need their father around.

So you're willing to do whatever
you can to keep him out of jail...

including lie for him
in the witness chair.

- You're wrong.
- I don't think so.

Well, clearly I need
to get another attorney.

- If we agree to plead to manslaughter-
- Absolutely not.

That's your husband's decision.

And I know exactly
what that will be.

There will be no guilty plea.

This wasn't a heat
of passion crime, Phoebe.

It was...

calculated, cold.

Do you trust this man?

How about around your children?

He would never hurt the children.

And he did not commit this crime...

however much you're determined
to believe otherwise.

You still love me, Alan.

As do I you.

You-

You don't think that I want to believe
that he's guilty sometimes?

It would be so easy to.

I am still angry over the affair.
Of course I am.

And sometimes I think
it would just be easier if l-

if I just ditched everything, in-

including him-

and took off to some island with-

with an old boyfriend that I've nev-

- Don't.
- Mmm.

Do not make that mistake.

You need to protect yourself, Alan...

because when this trial is over...

I will be walking away with him.

My family is my life.

I know she was afraid of him,
because she told me so.

She was in a very excitable state
when she did so.

She said, "Mom,
I'm scared to death ofhim."

Why did your daughter
fear the defendant, Mrs. Goulet?

She threatened to tell his wife
that they had resumed the affair.

- [Murmuring]
- What else did your daughter tell you?

She said he said,
"If you do tell her...

you will pay for it."

Very dramatic.

Probably see it on the news.
You like being on the news?

Oh, you think I enjoy talking
about my daughter's murder?

- I see you a lot on TV.
- Almost as much as him.

- Not that much.
- You're right.

- [Gavel Raps]
- [Buzzing]

Uh, Phyllis- May I call you Phyllis?

[Buzzing]

- [Mouthing Words]
- Uh, when your daughter...

told you that she feared my client,
were you worried?

- Of course I was.
- Did you tell anybody? Surely you told somebody-

- A friend, a relative,
a mental health specialist.
- Objection.

- Overruled.
- Phyllis, did you make up this little story?

No, I did not. You disgusting person.

I don't like being called disgusting.

- Did you ever call your daughter disgusting?
- Of course not.

I have a copy of a letter here
that you wrote to your daughter...

shortly before her death.

The prosecution has the letter...

and they mistakenly forgot
to produce it during discovery.

Oversight.

Would you read
the highlighted section, please?

And don't forget to project.
There's a camera back there.

Objection.

The highlighted section, please.

"You never call.

"You're too busy running around
with all your married men.

"You're disgraceful...

disgusting, a whore."

[Murmuring]

...no evidence of anybody else
being present in the home...

except for the victim
and the defendant.

Sounds like sloppy work for the defendant
to leave his prints behind.

He didn't. Not really. We only found
a few old prints here and there.

The crime scene was otherwise
conspicuously meticulous.

It causes cardiac arrest,
ventricular dysrhythmia...

it quickly degrades.

It's very difficult
to detect after a few hours.

Sounds like the perfect drug, if you're
looking to get away with murder.

It is.

She never told me she was
afraid of him, but she did say...

she was thinking about
telling his wife about the affair.

- Were there other men, to your knowledge?
- There were rumors of others.

She, of course, never brought them
around the hospital.

[Man]
I'd seen his car many times.

And you saw it the night of the murder?

Yes. I'd gotten up
to go to the bathroom.

I looked out the window. I saw it.

You first told the police
you weren't sure.

[Man]
Well, it had happened a few days earlier...

and I had to think back.

I did, and I am sure
I saw it that night.

Ever see any other cars go into
that driveway on other nights?

Oh, many times.

Ms. Goulet had a very...

diverse recreational life.

What do you mean,
I shouldn't testify?

My feeling is it would be a disaster.

Prosecution would
pick you apart over the affair...

and all you can do, really,
is say that you didn't...

go to the victim's house that night,
and we have Phoebe to say that.

Well, I'm not an attorney,
but I would think...

at a minimum, a defendant
need take the stand...

- to deny the crime for which he is charged.
- You would be wrong.

[Denny]
Come on, you're guilty as sin. You don't fool us.

You won't fool a jury.
Stop being such a baby.

Tell me, Bob, had you
resumed the affair?

Just a yes-or-no question.

No.

I think we'll skip your testimony.

Are you in love
with my wife, Mr. Shore?

Just a yes-or-no question.

He strikes me as
a very difficult man to love.

Well, that seems to be my curse.

I fall for difficult men.

- It doesn't look good, does it?
- It looks terrible.

We've still got reasonable doubt.

Phoebe, our entire defense is you.

You have to persuade
the jury tomorrow.

And I'm sorry,
but I have to say this.

You need to do a much better job
persuading them...

than you have so far
of persuading me.

Or me.

The Robert Brooks trial
winds down today...

with the defendant's wife,
Phoebe Prentice, taking the stand.

She is, of course, expected to say
that her husband never left the house...

- on the night of Isabel Goulet's murder.
- [Elevator Bell Dings]

- Denny Crane. Step aside.
- Mr. Crane-

Not wearing underwear.
Not pretty. No comment.

You swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth...

- and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
- I do.

Be seated.

Ms. Prentice, you're married
to the defendant, Dr. Robert Brooks?

- I am.
- And how long have you been so?

Sixteen years.

I imagine this has been
quite an ordeal for you.

- Yes.
- Do you love your husband?

Very much.

So in the interest of fairness,
it should be said...

you have a strong bias here.

I do.

Notwithstanding that bias,
you understand...

that your testimony today is subject
to the pains and penalties of perjury?

I do.

Then let's cut right to the chase, shall we,
because we're all dying to know: :

Where were you on the night
Isabel Goulet was murdered?

Well, I arrived home from work...

a little after 7:00,
which was my routine.

We like to have dinner as a family.

It's a ritual we're
very conscientious about.

- You, your husband and your two children?
- That's right.

- And after dinner?
- My kids did their homework.
It was a school night.

And Robert did some work in his den...

and I think that I did
some laundry or something.

Then, at about 10::00...

my kids went to bed,
and Robert and I had a glass of wine.

We watched some news...

and then he took a sleeping pill...

which he invariably does.

And we went to sleep.
It was pretty uneventful.

- You stayed in all night?
- That's correct.

Did your husband leave the house?

Ms. Prentice, did your husband
leave the house?

I'm sorry, Your Honor.
Could I please take a short break?

[Judge Beacon] No, I think you should
answer the question, ma'am.

Did your husband
leave the house that night?

- Yes.
- [Crowd Murmuring]

- Your honor, I'd like a short
recess to confer with-
- Not gonna happen.

When did he leave?

I don't know. I, uh-

I woke up after midnight.

- Your honor, I need to confer with my client.
- Mr. Shore, be quiet.

Do you know where he went?

No, I did not know.

When did he get home?

- Some time after 3:00.
- [Mouthing Words]

- Your Honor, this is unfair surprise.
- It's your witness.

I don't care. We're fast
approaching grounds for a mistrial.

You need to give me a recess.

All right. We're gonna take
a one-hour break.

- What the hell was that?
- I am so sorry.

If your intent was to bury him,
why'd you hire me?

To reconnect, so you'd be there for her
when her husband went off to jail.

- That isn't true.
- Yes, it is. You love Alan.

Do you deny it?

I hired Alan to secure
my husband's freedom.

That was my intent.

I wanted to preserve my family
at whatever cost.

So what changed?

I suddenly thought-
If- If I commit perjury-

What if I go to jail?
Who raises my kids then?

They could be faced with losing
both their father and their mother, and-

- Plus, l-
- Plus what?

I really believed
that the affair was over, Alan.

I did. But it wasn't.

Now, how am I supposed to lie for
somebody who's not even faithful to me?

[Buzzer Sounds]

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

So, Bob, we need to talk.

You okay?

- Fine.
- You want me to take this?

I'll take it.

First of all, I admire your honesty-

To give testimony against
somebody you love-

We all witnessed
an extraordinary thing.

Of course, you didn't
have to give that testimony.

While it's true
you were under oath...

you also enjoy a privilege
as the defendant's spouse...

to not give evidence against him.

Well, as I said, I didn't plan to...

but once I took the stand...

I felt that I'd effectively
waived that privilege.

Ah.

I guess the other conclusion
would be that perhaps...

you really did want
to testify against him.

Did you?

You know I didn't.

Ms. Prentice, have you undergone...

any psychiatric treatment of late
for a personality disorder?

I've never been diagnosed...

with any personality disorder.

That wasn't my question. I asked whether
you've been treated recently for one.

My medical history is private...

but I will repeat that I've never been
diagnosed with a personality disorder.

Would you consider yourself to be
a violent person, Ms. Prentice?

- No.
- Have you ever been violent?

Well, I'm sure everyone
has lost his or her temper, but-

Ever lost yours with a knife?

Am I being too vague?

Have you ever lost your temper with a knife,
with your nine-year-old daughter?

- No.
- No? Gee.

For someone with such
a strong obligation...

to tell the truth under oath,
that answer surprises me.

Did you not threaten
your nine-year-old daughter...

with a knife after
she spilled grape juice...

on your new living room carpet?

I snapped at her while
I had a knife in my hand.

Wasn't it more like
you were watching television...

she spilled the juice, you flew
into a rage, went into the kitchen...

returned with paper towels...

and the knife, and threatened her?

- Wasn't it more like that?
- I never threatened her with a knife.

A few minutes ago
in that witness room...

you indicated to me that you
had now reached the conclusion...

that your husband had resumed
his affair with Ms. Goulet, did you not?

- Yes.
- In truth, you reached that conclusion...

a week before the murder, when Ms. Goulet
told you the affair was back on, right?

This time you picked up the knife
and threatened your husband.

- No.
- You told him you would kill him, didn't you?

- No.
- Then you said you'd think of something...

- even better than killing him, didn't you, Phoebe?
- No.

You testified that Robert
took a sleeping pill that night.

Did he unknowingly take two
or three extra, maybe in his wine?

- That's ridiculous.
- You were driving the car...

that pulled into Ms. Goulet's
driveway that night...

and you gave her the injection
that killed her...

knowing full well
the police would suspect him.

- Your Honor, this is-
- Sit down, Mr. Betts.

And you didn't just frame him
and bury him at trial...

you added the indignity of having
an old boyfriend be part of the equation.

One might find that
to be a little sick.

You know, he is the sick one.

And he has concocted
this fantastic tale...

to get away with murder.

You don't look well, Phoebe.

You're diabetic.

How do you get your insulin?

- Injections.
- Pretty good with needles then.

Spectacular performance...

but I must say, I'm not surprised.

Mr. Shore is legendary
for his stunts...

and spellbinding maneuvers
that no doubt dazzle his audiences-

I object to my sex life
being introduced.

Mr. Shore.

[Betts]
You see? This is what he does.

He distracts. He uses sleight of hand.

He manipulates,
but all of these ploys-

They come from desperation.

All the physical evidence
points to the doctor...

and it took the expertise
of a doctor to make it...

Iook like a heart attack, didn't it?

The doctor was romantically
involved with the victim.

The doctor is the one
who threatened the victim.

Mr. Shore had no choice
but to reach...

into his magic hat
and grope for something...

that he could pass off
as reasonable doubt.

Well, there's desperation,
and there is...

desperation.

Let's all get real.

I wouldn't even know
where to begin to get real.

It's so hard to believe...

that any of this
could possibly be real.

It's so implausible, so fantastic...

so utterly...

Phoebe.

Whether she suddenly chose to bury
her husband while on the stand...

or whether it was part
of some master plot, I don't know...

but she buried him.

There is no disputing that.

This crime was executed
with Machiavellian efficiency...

by a woman who not only had
plenty of motive...

but is also quite handy
with needles and-

True, there was
no forensic evidence to prove...

she was at the scene,
but you heard the detective.

He said the house was
"conspicuously meticulous."

It had been cleaned up.

Could Phoebe Prentice have known
about the drug succinylcholine? Why not?

Her husband is a doctor.
Their house is full of medical books.

There's all kinds of evidence against her,
but the truth is, it doesn't matter...

because you saw all you needed
to in her testimony.

You saw it in her eyes,
you heard it in her voice...

and you know...

she did it.

Phoebe Prentice killed the woman
her husband was sleeping with...

and framed her cheating husband
in the process.

Perfect crime.

Almost.

Almost.

Okay.
[Clears Throat]

Madam Foreperson-
The jury has reached a unanimous verdict?

- We have, Your Honor.
- The defendant will please rise.

- What say you?
- In the matter of...

the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...

v. Robert L. Brooks,
on the charge...

of murder in the first degree,
we find the defendant, Robert Brooks...

not guilty.

[Crowd Murmuring]

[Clamoring]

My advice to you, Dr. Brooks-

if you have out-of-town
relatives, the press here...

does not figure
to let up for a while.

No doubt your wife has left town.

Well, I suppose a huge thank you
would be in order.

- I suppose.
- Thank you.

Can't say that you were everything
Phoebe built you up to be...

but, uh, you were close.

Did you really not suspect
that she'd left the house that night?

I never left the house, Alan.

When you told me that
I was the whole defense...

and that I wasn't persuasive...

I decided on another tack-

incriminating my husband in a way...

that would make me seem guilty.

Do you really think that I would
threaten my own child with a knife?

Come on.

We had to make up a few things-

Give you something to get her with.

I never got the call from the victim
telling me about the affair.

I never told Robert
I was gonna kill him.

And I never left
the house that night.

You were very convincing.

You might have been too convincing.

You're now almost certain to be arrested
and charged with the crime.

I can risk that, since there's...

no evidence of me committing it,
because I didn't.

And if need be...

Robert can always
set the record straight.

He's protected now
by double jeopardy.

- There's still perjury.
- Who committed perjury?

He never testified,
and I never lied.

You'll remember that I denied
all of your accusations.

In fact, the only one who tried
to introduce false evidence...

was you.

It was never my intent
to play it this way.

My plan was simply
to be his alibi...

but then, when you said
that I wasn't persuasive-

I'm sorry.

You should leave now.

- Come on.
- The truth is, I never deceived you.

- You told me he was innocent.
- But you weren't deceived, were you?

Two other things I told you-

Keeping my family together,
whatever the cost...

was everything to me...

and that, at the end, I would be
walking away with Robert.

I was very clear on that.