All language subtitles for Twilight of honor (1963, Boris Sagal)

Twilight of honor

Stand back!
Stand back, now!

Hey, look at me.

Excuse me, sir.
Watch that cable.

What do you think
will happen to Ben Brown?

Man: well, they'll give him a
trial and then the gas chamber.

Oh, I don't see why we ought to
waste time and money on any trial.

Any rat that would kill a man
like Cole Clinton ought to die.

Uh, pardon.
What's your name, sir?

A friend of Cole's is all you got to
know, like the rest of these here folks.

A better man never lived, right?

You bet! That's right.

You mean to say, sir, that a man
like Brown ought to be executed

before he's had a fair trial
and been found guilty?

Oh-ho! he's guilty.

Four months, that weasel hid out

before his own wife
finally turned him in.

Besides, he signed a confession,
anyway, didn't he?

What more do you need?

The quicker you get rid of him,
the better.

Better for him, too.
Why is that, sir?

Well, any man whose own wife would
turn him in is better off dead.

Man: hey, here they come!
Over there!

Here's the plane landing now.

Watch it!

Man: there he is.
There he is.

Come here!

There he is.
There he is.

Woman: kill him!

Okay, buck!

Over here!

Hi!
Let's go!

Man: here!

Mr. Brown, Mr. Bixby.

You two should
get to know each other.

David, come take a look.

Well, that's quite a show.

Oh, Mr. Crispin, isn't
that Norris Bixby

down there with the
sheriff and the prisoner?

I guess so.

Funny.

I wonder what he's doing
with them.

I'm sorry to interrupt, but,
uh, judge Tucker's on line four.

Mr. Crispin.

It's for you, David.

For me? You sure?

Okay.

Hello, judge Tucker?

Yes, sir, this is David Mitchell.

Uh, no, sir.

I didn't go to the airport
for the, uh... reception.

Well, I, I had, um, some research
to do on a brief I'm writing, sir.

Yes.

Well, no, sir.

Of course I'm not too busy
to see you.

At your office?
Yes, sir.

Right away.
Yes, sir.

Judge Tucker wants to see me.

Then I guess
you'd better go see him, son.

yeah, I guess I'd better.

Reporter:

How long... How long do you think it'll
be before Brown actually comes to trial?

Gentlemen, in a case like this, I'd
say justice will be swift and sure.

When justice is swift, you can bet
your life it won't be very sure.

Now, son,
if old man Tucker sent for me,

I wouldn't be standing around the
courthouse steps dispensing platitudes.

No, sirree. I'd get me
up there right away fast.

Yes, I would.

Uh, Mr. Bixby,
[Clears throat] One more...

One more question, please.

Come in.

Young man,

if it hadn't been considered
undignified and unjudicial,

I'd have gone down to the airport
and attended that reception myself.

Clinton was a fine man...

A great man, in his way.

Nobody knows that better
than I do, sir.

I went through law school
on a Clinton scholarship.

Oh, yes.
Yeah.

Well...

Uh, did you want to see me, sir?

Yes.

About this Brown case,
Mr. Mitchell.

Well, I've heard talk about
appointing a special prosecutor,

some people being critical
of Paul farish.

Oh, Paul's a good enough district
attorney, just a little too slow

to suit some people
in this case.

What's the rush?

If Brown's guilty today, he'll
be guilty two months from today.

Well, sometimes, a judge has to
take the public temper into account.

Well, anyhow, sir,
i don't think I'd fill the bill.

I haven't even tried a case
in more than three years.

Not since your wife died.

Even before that, the few cases
I did try, I was never a prosecutor.

Yeah, that job's
already filled, son.

Norris Bixby...

Appointed him last night.

Oh...

So that's why he was riding
in that caravan.

Old Bixby
never misses a trick, does he?

You don't approve
of Mr. Bixby, hmm?

Don't think he's big enough
for the job.

Oh, he's big enough,

if you can measure a man
by the size of his ambition.

There's nothing Bixby would have
liked more than to take art Harper's

place as the best defense lawyer
in this part of new Mexico,

but even now, with art sick,
Bixby couldn't shine his shoes.

Think you could?

And think fast, son,

because I've just appointed you
Ben Brown's defense counsel.

Appointed me?

I couldn't give him
any kind of defense.

I haven't even touched a criminal case
since I went to work for Mr. Crispin.

Why, I can't even
remember where to begin?

You begin by getting a copy
of the indictment.

Look, judge, this man's on trial
for his life. Give him a chance.

You can't do this to him or to me!

It's already done, so from this minute
on, you're wasting time... Mine and yours.

And you've got work to do, son...

because your client's gonna
have to plead day after tomorrow.

Day aft...

I demand an extension of time to plead.

Denied.

Then I insist on a
change of venue since

my client cannot get
a fair trial in this city.

Denied.
Anything else, Mr. Mitchell?

In case you don't remember,

you get a copy of the indictment
from the district attorney.

Here, Davey.

Art.

Art, I'm in trouble.

Good,

if that's what it took to bring
you back here after so long.

Now, I've been appointed
to defend this man Ben Brown.

Oh?

I'm not good enough.
I'm gonna need help.

They're asking for the limits.

Murder in the first...

no lesser charges.

They want this man dead, and they're
not gonna let anything stop them.

Clint was a big man
in this city...

A hero, and rightly so.

Now, no self-respecting prosecutor

would dare ask for anything less than
the gas chamber for Clint's killer,

just as his lawyers...

wouldn't dare ask for less than
the killer's freedom...

right, David?

Look, art,
i know that theoretically...

"Theoretically?"

Is that all you learned watching
me try cases in that courtroom?

Now, the prosecutor Special
prosecutor, if you please...

is going to use every trick
in the book

just to put Ben Brown in the gas chamber,
as you're going to use every legal trick...

to keep him out.

And I mean every trick.

And if you're not...

then you get the hell off this
porch and never come back here.

Art, that must have been
a very good speech.

Now come on in to supper.

Susan.

How are you?

Hello, David.

I didn't know you were back
from Chicago.

How could you? You never call.

Why, it's...
It's good to see you again.

Damn it,
i was just getting up steam.

I had him going, didn't I, David?

Oh, he had me going...
Home.

Yeah, well, you stay
and have supper with us.

Then we can talk.

David?

Oh, sure. Sure.

Good.

Well, come on in.

Oh, not a word about
the Brown case till I get back.

How did she know about that?

Unless you knew about it
even before I did.

- Drink, David?
- Art?

You were expecting me here.

I bet right now, there are
three places set on that table.

Well, we weren't exactly
expecting you.

We just hoped.

How about a drink, boy?

The doctor let you drink again?

You pour yourself one.

A big one.

Now drink it.

Mmm, it's beautiful.

Beautiful.

Pour yourself another, slugger.

This is enough.

Wonderful. You know, that's how
I have to drink these days...

Vicariously.

I get someone plastered,

then I stagger up to bed
and sleep it off.

You ever get sick
the next morning?

Awful.

Awful.

You know, some days,
i promise I'll give up...

Smelling altogether.

Go on.

Attaboy.

Mmm, for the gods.

For the gods.

Presumption of innocence,
even if I could assume it,

that jury,
whoever they're gonna be...

is gonna know only one thing

what they've
been reading the newspapers day after day.

Ben Brown is the confessed
murderer of Cole Clinton.

Sure they will...

If you let them.

Talk to Brown.

Get his story.

Art, eat.

Without saying grace?

Dear lord, we thank you for this
food we are about to receive.

Amen.

And for the canon of defense

of the American bar association,
lord, quote,

"it is the right of the lawyer
to undertake the defense

"of any person accused of crime
regardless of his personal opinion

"as to the guilt of the accused.

"And, having undertaken
such defense,

"the lawyer is bound by all fair
and honorable means

"to present every defense that the
law of the land permits to the end

"that no person

"may be deprived of life or Liberty

"without due

"process of law."

Thank you...

"Lord

Amen.

Tomorrow night, lord,

a little section

on picking juries.

Trouble is,
I'm just not good enough.

A lawyer like you
is what Brown needs.

Well, as a matter of fact...

It's not true.

Oh, all right.

I called judge Tucker,

and I just happened to mention
that I was feeling fit again.

That's all I did.

Art?

You didn't also happen
to mention my name, did you?

I did not.

He did.

And you didn't stop him?

Stop him?!

Hell, no.
I was all for it.

But why?

Why me?

if you want Brown to to have a
fair trial, to be well-represented?

Because I cannot.

So, I sat here asking myself, "who?"

"Who?"

And there was only one answer...

The kid who used to tag along
behind me at the courthouse steps,

sat in court watching me
day after day,

who was always underfoot
every time I turned around,

and always handy to run out
for hot coffee

or a sandwich or a law book

when I needed one,

the kid whose face
i used to sneak a look at

to see how I was doing.

Did you know that, David?

No?

Well, it's true.

Art, do you have any idea?

What you've done to me?

I've already been kicked out
of Crispin's office.

There aren't gonna be any jobs
or clients in this city

for the man
who defended Clint's murderer.

I wasn't thinking of jobs or clients.
I was thinking about that poor slob...

Ben Brown...

without a friend, a lawyer...

nor a defense to his name.

Defense?!

They're looking for a pushover,
and you let them pick one.

Sure, they figure
to push you around.

One man standing in the way
of a conspiracy this size?

Why, they'll cut you down like a
stalk of dry wheat in summer...

If you let them.

Now, mind you, i don't even know if I could
have won this one, even in my prime.

And why did I get you into it?

Well, you can cast me out
along with the rest

and say I'm part
of the frame up or...

you can figure I did it
for Ben Brown and for you.

To keep you out
of that damn library.

You'll have to decide which.

Art.

Art, if...

If I could come here...

use this place as my office.
I'll need an office now.

Use your books and your help,

It might not be so bad.

And what if it turns out
to be tougher than you think?

Well...

guess I'll have to watch you
for reactions.

If I see you looking like that,
I'll readjust.

Attaboy!

David...

if I thought you could stand
it, I'd have another drink.

That's how good I feel.

I, guess, I better get to bed.

Good night.

Good night.

I love that man.

I'm glad you have feelings left
for someone.

It's true.

It has been ever since
Lillian was killed.

It's as though if you, felt again...

you might be hurt again.

Guess I'll have to get used to
feeling all over again, then?

I'll try.

David.

Let me help you.

I mean, with this case.

I could do all your typing
and help with witnesses, if any...

take down depositions.

After all,
being art Harper's daughter,

I'm a pretty competent
legal secretary.

Well, if there's one thing
I've always wanted,

it's a "pretty" competent
legal secretary.

I wasn't asking for compliments.

Oh, well, with me,
you have to ask, Susan.

I'm a little rusty about
those things.

Anyway, it's...

It's nice to see you again
after so long.

Good night.

Mr. Mitchell.

Things have changed since
you've been here, in there.

Fancy, huh?

yeah.

What's the name
of your prisoner, Mr. Mitchell?

Brown

Here's your party, Mr. Mitchell.

Who are you?

Come in, Mrs. Brown.

Who are you?

Thanks, Gannon.

Thanks very much.

David Mitchell's the name.

What are you, another policeman?

Lawyer.

oh.

Ben's lawyer.

You wouldn't want Ben to die,
would you?

I hope he croaks.

Look, Mrs. Brown...

I hate the name Brown.

Call me Laura Mae.

All right, Laura Mae.

Now, the reason you're here is
because gannon made a mistake.

But even under the law, you gotta
talk to me sooner or later, so...

please, huh?

Well...

I got nothing else to do.

I'm through
with all my comic books.

Cigarette?

Oh.

How long have you and Ben
been married?

Two years too long.

If you feel that way about him, why
did you marry him in the first place?

He made me.

How could he make you?

Beat me up real good.

Or real bad, I mean.

Well, you should have seen.

We'd been traveling,
we were in Louisville...

and Ben picked a fight
with this fella...

this jockey friend of mine...

and we all went to jail.

Did you know about the reward
when you turned him in?

If you think I'm doing this for a reward,
there ain't gonna be much left.

I got to pay my lawyer.

After all, I could be tried
as an accomplice.

And of course, the divorce is extra.

Well, there won't be much need for a
divorce if Ben, uh, croaks, will there?

Tell me how it happened,

the day Mr. Clinton picked
you and Ben up on the highway.

You must have read my story
in the newspapers.

Well, I know that he gave you both a
lift, found you a motel to stay at...

but why did he go inside
the motel with you two?

Tired, he said.

Driving most all day
from a cattle auction, drinking.

Just how did it happen?

The killing?

Oh.

Well...

they was in the other room.

You see, this was a two-room suite.

First watching the fights on TV...

then talking about a job for Ben.

Then Ben went out to fix the old man's
car while I was getting ready for bed.

And Ben comes back steaming.

All his big talk, but no job, huh?

Mm-hmm?

Well, I'll fix him.

Did you take that out of his car?

Well, put it back.

We're gonna live high off the
hog with a wad like he toting.

Ben!

Shut up.

Ben!

Ben!

Ben, no, please!

Now, you say anything

and I'll kill you, too,
you hear?

Now, let's go.

Then Ben cleaned up...

and we beat it
in Mr. Clinton's car.

Where did you split up?

Saint Louis.

He gave me some money and told me to
wait for him at my uncle's in Lansing.

He went up to Springfield...
Mass, that is...

to his cousin's.

And that's what you put in your written
statement for the sheriff and the prosecutor.

I can't tell it exactly every time.

Oh, they've had you tell it
over and over again, have they?

Till I'm sick of it!

One thing you ought to know
about Ben.

He'll lie about what happened.

In fact, he'll lie about most anything.

I'll tell you something else, too.

Gannon didn't goof.

Mr. Bixby wanted me
to talk to you.

So he can let everybody know,
including the jury...

and they'd all assume Ben
was getting a fair trial.

Well, that's great.

Can I have another one?

Sure. why not?

You've got nice hands.

A man who ain't got
nice hands...

I can't stand
for him to touch me...

even in the dark.

They asked me to have this man
on tap for you.

Was that her?

Laura Mae? Was it?

Yeah, come on in, Brown.

Well, how... how is she?

In here.

It's okay. I'm your lawyer.

Never mind that, I want
her to have a good lawyer.

Well, uh...

First of all,
i don't like those sideburns.

Down here, only riffraff and tramps wear
them. We'll cut them off for the trial.

You got a blue suit?

Any white shirts?

Any money to buy them?

Well, you got any relatives
who could provide these things?

What do you have, Mr. Brown?

Well, I got... I got a cousin...

cousin Vera in Springfield.
Vera Driscoll, only relative I know.

She a decent housewife type?

I reckon so.

Good, it'll help to have a
woman like that sitting beside you

in court day after day.
You write her, make her come.

I, I'll sure try.

Now, whatever I ask you,
i want you to tell me the truth...

because if you hold out on me
and the state surprises us...

you're...
you'll be committing suicide.

Sir, i ain't no liar.

Ben, when they...

arrested you in Springfield,
did you sign this confession?

Um...

Not at first, sir, so...

they kept pushing me.

All day.

Through the night, too.

They feed you?

No, sir.

And, uh...

just before dawn,
they sent in this here officer

who come up there
with sheriff Wheeler and...

he said...

"son, I come a long ways for what
I want, "and I aim to get it so...

"you sign or I'm gonna stomp
your guts out."

And, uh, he started grinding me.

Grinding? what's that?

Stands on my feet so...

and does it like this.

Were there any other threatening
statements or actions?

Not when i signed this one.

Do you mean you signed
another confession?

Yes, sir, yesterday,

the sheriff and a redheaded
man come here, a mister...

Bixby, the special prosecutor.

Yes, sir, that's him.
That's the one.

He, they asked me questions,
and I answered them.

And, uh, uh, Mr. Elliot...

- Oh, he was here, too?
- Yes, sir.

And he had a typewriter and
kept putting most of it down.

How do you know
he didn't put it all down?

He read it back to me, and
there were some things missing.

Such as?

Well, uh, um...

they put in about how we stopped
at palomino bar and all, but...

left out how I seen Mr. Clinton
goo-balling Laura Mae all afternoon.

You saying he what?

Goo-balling,
don't you know?

You know, you know...

grabbing at her and somehow getting her skirt
pulled up all the time and feeling her.

Well, she'd feel pretty good
if you seen her, you know that.

Yeah...

yeah, I know that. Listen, Ben...

have you ever been
in new Mexico before?

No, sir.

Do you know anything
about new Mexico law?

No, sir. Why?

I just wondered.

Chapter 40, section 24-14.

"Any person who kills another,

"who's in the act of having carnal
knowledge of such person's legal wife

"shall be deemed justifiable provided

that said husband and wife are
not living separate but together

"as man and wife."

So,

the state of new Mexico has an
unwritten law that's written down.

But did Brown know about this?
Or was he telling the truth?

Of course, even if
he was telling the truth,

you saw the jury room.
It's stacked.

Every name on there
is a friend of Clint's.

Yeah, i was surprised to see that they
didn't have Amy Clinton's name down there.

So this may be the surest way of
putting Brown in the gas chamber.

Or the only way to keep him out.

You found a defense?

Brown killed Clinton because Clinton
was committing adultery,

with Laura, Mae, Brown.

Mr. Clinton?!

You see?
There's your jury reaction.

Oh, why, that girl is no older
than Alice Clinton.

And besides,
if you know Mrs. Clinton...

Well, you hate to think
of her being mixed up

in something as scandalous
and as painful as all this.

Of course, she's right.

To save everybody's tender feelings,
we ought to let the poor slob die.

Art,
i wasn't saying that, but...

But what?

How are you gonna plead a defense
without saying it out loud,

and at the right time?

If that's why Brown killed Clint,
why didn't he say so to somebody?

Maybe he did.
Never said it to me.

Ah!

Proving that he doesn't know
this section of the law.

Which brings us to the confessions.

Why, in a case that looks
so open and shut,

did they, did they want
several confessions?

Unless maybe something
was left out of the first one.

Or put in that they didn't like.

Right.

They just wanted
to ram this through

as a routine robbery murder
without mention of adultery,

so the prosecutor...

A special prosecutor...

which finally explains why Paul farish
isn't handling this case himself.

Nobody could bribe Paul
to hide the adultery angle.

Of course,
there could be connivance.

The husband's connivance
in or ascent to the adultery,

deprives him of a defense.

It's old common law,
way back to blackstone.

Well, that's not the case here.

No matter.

You plead 24-14, they'll hit
you with it, you can bet on it.

And you haven't got
a single witness.

Except Brown.

Not worth a damn...

without corroboration.

Art...

if Brown is telling the truth,

I should be able to prove it
with the state's witnesses.

Attaboy! Art!

The doctor said you were
to avoid undue excitement.

The doctor's never been mixed up
in an adultery murder case.

How does he know
what undue excitement is?

David...

do something for me, will you?

Well, sure.

Congratulate Ben Brown.

I think that poor slob has
finally got himself a lawyer.

Good night, David.

Oh, good night, Sue.
Thanks for supper.

Oh, oh, Sue, there is...

there is one thing.

Yes?

Would you mind picking out
a dark blue suit

and some white shirts
for Ben for the trial?

No, of course i wouldn't mind.

Oh, and...

about Clint and that girl...

David, I'm a big girl now.

I know about things like sex,
and adultery

and what men and women do.

So don't treat me like a child, okay?

No, I...

you know,
Lil used to say, when I...

That's another thing, don't tell
me what Lillian used to say.

I'm sorry.

You know...

the day you married Lillian
was the saddest day of my life.

I cried and I cried.

And if Art knew,
he didn't say anything.

But if you remember, he didn't
insist i go to the wedding, either.

That's right, you weren't there.

David, it's the wrongest thing in the
world for a woman to say to a man...

But I loved you then.

And I love you now.

Sue...

Sue, wait a minute.

Some other time, maybe...

when it's your idea.

Good morning, Mrs. Driscoll.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

They're waiting for you, Mr. Mitchell.

- Howdy, sheriff.
- Hi.

- Hi, David.
- Paul.

David, you know our
assistant special prosecutor,

Jud Elliot.

- Howdy.
- Hi, there.

And...

Norris Bixby.

Hi.

Something wrong, Sonny?

Oh, i just wanted to see what was so
special about a special prosecutor.

All right, gentlemen.

Let's get
the ground rules settled.

We have a venire of about 500 names.

There shouldn't be any trouble
picking a jury, should there?

No, sir.

I'm waiting for your answer,
Mr. Mitchell.

Oh, just one
small legal point, sir.

Yes?

Do we need a jury at a lynching?

I mean, is it necessary
to have those possemen

swarming all over
this courthouse in uniform?

This isn't a trial.
It's a drumhead court-martial.

Drumhead court-martial?

You're talking about
the citizens of this community,

friends of the deceased.

They're here not to tamper
with justice, but to observe it.

And if the day ever comes when
the average citizen's prevented

from witnessing our courts,

in operation, then I say we've
seen the last of freedom.

You can use that speech no
matter what office you run for.

Your honor,
I'm not gonna stand by here

and allow this young
squirt to cast aspersions...

I hereby rule that the citizens
of this community,

have the right
to be anyplace they please

and to wear whatever they please
so long as it's decent.

Now, gentlemen,
see you in five minutes in court.

So it's true, Mr. wilden,

that you are a member
of the following organizations

of which the deceased,
Mr. Clinton,

was also a member...

The shriners, the possemen,

the odd fellows, and the legion.

That don't mean
i wouldn't be a fair juror.

I ask that this juror
be removed for cause.

Sufficient cause not having been
shown, the juror remains.

We will now recess for
lunch and reconvene at 2:00

to finish picking a jury.

Adjourned.

Is it fair?

Any jury selected here will
be made up of Clint's friends,

but I'll do my best.

I mean her.

Should she be talking
with prospective jurors?

- May I buy you a sandwich?
- Love to.

Who is she?

Tess Braden, Laura Mae's mother.

She hates Ben.

She always has.

Well, come on,
we better go to lunch.

Extra, extra!
Read Brown's confession!

Extra, extra!
Read Brown's confession!

Extra, extra!
Read Brown's confession!

Damn it, Paul, how could you
do a thing like this?

I don't care how guilty he is.

Every prospective juror's
gonna see this

before they come back
into court this afternoon.

You didn't do it, did you?

David, I agreed to a special
prosecutor and gave him a free hand.

Isn't there anything
they won't pull?

Uh, Bixby, you did this.

The way you say that, Sonny,
sounds like you expect me to deny it.

Well, sure, sure, I did it.

Why, if it wasn't impossible
to pick a fair jury before,

it will be now with this.

Does winning this case mean so much?

What do you want to be, president?

Mr. Mitchell...

you're defending one person.

I'm defending
an entire community,

protecting them
from the likes of Ben Brown.

One of the best ways I know to
protect people is to inform them.

With a phony confession.

We have every reason to believe that
confession to be true and accurate,

and that it will be sustained
by the court.

Yeah, I'll bet.

Mr. Elliot...

did anyone exert any pressure
on the defendant,

Brown to procure this confession
i show you now?

No, sir.

Thank you.

Ain't that Clint's family?

Hey, there's
Amy Clinton, Clint's widow.

Excuse me.

I told you Amy Clinton
would show up.

Thank you so much for coming.

Didn't you forget something?

76 trombones.

Mr. Elliot, what signatures
do you see on that confession?

Mr. Benjamin Brown,

witnessed by Mr. Norris Bixby
and sheriff b.L. Wheeler.

Thank you.

Your honor,
may I offer this confession,

state exhibit number one,
in evidence at this time.

Mr. Elliot, how long did
the meeting in creative

writing last that resulted
in this so-called...

Young man, how dare you
start your cross-examination

while the court
is looking at an exhibit!

Oh, I'm sorry, your honor.

I just assumed that, like the jury
and everybody else in this city,

you had read the confession
in the newspapers.

Now, Mr. Elliot...

did you tell the defendant
that some of what

he said was being left out because
his confession ran too long?

I did not.

Would you know, Mr. Elliot,

if the defendant made and signed any
previous statements or confessions?

In Springfield, Massachusetts,
where he was apprehended.

As an attorney, are you aware that if
one confession is given involuntarily,

all subsequent confessions
by the same defendant

must be regarded as involuntary?

I am.

Mr. Elliot...

if the defendant were forced
to answer questions all day and night

without sleep, food, or water,

and if a 200-pound law officer from
the sunshine state of new Mexico

stood on his feet,
causing him pain and fear,

and if that officer threatened to stomp
out his guts if he didn't confess,

would that be considered
undue persuasion?

That was not the case here.

Your honor, we object
to this confession

on the grounds that it was made
subsequent to a statement

which was coerced
from the defendant

through hunger, thirst,
and fear of bodily harm.

Overruled.

There is no evidence
of such undue pressure.

This confession is, here and
now, admitted into evidence.

Continue, Mr. Bixby.

Now, tell me, Mr. mcwade,

do you see in this courtroom
either of the two people

who arrived at your palomino bar,

in the company of Mr. Clinton on
the afternoon of 19 February 1963?

That fella sitting right there,
the defendant.

Very well.

After they arrived and you
and Clint greeted each other,

tell me,
just what happened.

Well, then I remarked
how tired Clint was looking.

He said he'd been driving two days
and two nights up and back,

to his cattle sale in Montana.

He was headed home now,
and he'd picked these two up.

About that time, he notices
the girl looking at the jukebox,

so he digs down in his pocket,

and he pulls out a
whole fistful of money.

Go ahead, if you like music.

Thank you.

Well, what will it be, Clint?

Oh, the usual... double.

Right, and you?

Um, a-a beer, both of us.

Ah, say, Clint,
I'm sure glad you stopped by.

I got this appaloosa mare I'd like to
trade you for one of your quarter horses.

Oh, lord, Mac, I'm too tired
and overworked to talk trades today.

Just bring them drinks.

Oh, my throat feels
like I hit a dry well.

Oh, what'll these kids
think of next, Mac?

It beats me, Clint.
Cut that out!

Oh, she's just having fun.

She don't mean...
Laura Mae!

I said cut that out!

Now, you sit down and
don't attract attention to yourself.

You ought to have better sense.

Now, get! Come on!
You hear! Get!

Go on!

Now, Mr. mcwade...

did you notice anything
particular or peculiar

about the defendant's conduct
at that time?

He wanted Clint's money
so bad he could taste it.

That's why he got angry
with his wife.

Her dancing
was attracting attention,

which would make both of them
easier to identify later on,

since he was planning
to Rob Clint.

Objection!

That's a conclusion
on the part of the witness,

and a rather involved one, at that.

I'm thinking maybe he had
some help in figuring it out.

Strike the answer from the record.
Continue, Mr. Bixby.

Ah, no, no.

I'm... I'm all through
with this witness, your honor.

Now, Mr. McWade,

you said that Clint ordered
his usual double.

What did that mean?

Bourbon sours the way I make them.

Which is?

Two ounces of bourbon
instead of one.

I'm famous for it
in that part of the state.

So, Clint had about
four ounces of whiskey.

He could hold it.

Now, this dance
that Mrs. Brown did.

What sort of a dance was it?

Was it a waltz, a hula,
a hoedown?

Well, she just sort of danced around.

What parts of her body
would you say she moved?

- All of them.
- She move her legs?

- Of course.
- Pelvis?

- Huh?
- Her hips?

- Yeah.
- Her breasts?

Them, too.

Now, remember the scene
as you saw it,

would you say her dance
would have been

sexually stimulating
to a healthy man

under the influence of bourbon,
like Mr. Clinton?

I object, your honor!

I object! I object
to this line of questioning!

I object strenuously!

Counsel,
repair to my chambers at once!

Then I am to understand,
Mr. Mitchell,

that you are going to plead
section 24-14 as your defense.

Plead it and prove it.

And frankly, if I had any doubt
about my client's story,

I don't anymore...

- Not after the way they reacted.
- All right.

You plead section 24-14,
and we'll prove

that Ben Brown consented
to the adultery.

Well, gentlemen, one thing is sure.

The fat's in the fire.

Art, you...
You could feel it.

Yes.

Those wonderful moments in the
courtroom when, by design or accident,

the truth breaks through.

Of course, knowing...
Is far from proving.

Yeah, now you've exposed
your real defense.

Then they'll get tougher
and trickier.

Mm-hmm.

How I'd love to get
in that courtroom!

Mr. Harper.

Yes, all right, I know.

"The doctor said,"
and "it's past your bedtime,"

and...

"take your pills."

David...

it's an old rule but a good one,

when there's nothing to be said
for the defendant...

Try the deceased.

It works...

sometimes.

Which reminds me,

I wonder who registered them
at that motel.

What is the name
on this registration card?

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Brown.

But with a common name
like that, it could be false.

But wasn't in this case, indicating no
premeditated plan to commit any crime.

Object!

Sustained.

Mr. Phillips...

how did you happen to give,

the party a two-bedroom
suite like number nine?

Well, Mrs. Brown asked
for two bedrooms.

Was the defendant present
when she asked?

No, sir, he was not.

So, he might not have known
about two rooms.

- What?!
- Thank you, Mr. Phillips, that's all.

So, that, uh, Mr. Phillips
called you to the office

and asked you to show the party
to number nine.

And the ageable gentlemen,
he... he give me a tip.

Uh, the defendant here...
Was he present at that time?

Oh, yes, sir.

He helped me pick up
the spilt money.

Spilt money?

Well...

Whiles the ageable gentleman
was giving me the tip,

he dropped a bunch of
money on the floor.

And he helped me pick it up.

Now, did you notice the...
denominations of the bills?

I mean,
the... the size or the value?

Oh, yes, there was,

hundreds and fifties,

fives and tens, just like confetti.

The defendant saw that, too?

He must have seen it.
He was picking it up.

Did you see him again
after that that night?

Yes, sir.

Right after 10:00,
he sent for me.

Wanted to borrow a screwdriver.

I went to get it, and when
I come back, he was outside...

near the boss' car.

Oh, thanks.

You... you know anything about
starters automobile starters?

No, sir,
but I'm willing to learn.

Oh, boy.

Hold that, sir.

Hey, there's a good mechanic
in the garage down the road.

In the morning, i could get him.

No, I... I want
to fix it myself now.

What the hell's going on out there?!

Oh, just... just tinkering around, boss.
That's all.

You leave that car alone!
I'll get it fixed in the morning.

Well, I guess we better do
like the boss says, huh?

Mr. Simmons...

did you quote the ageable
gentleman correctly before?

Did he say to the defendant,

"leave that car alone.

"I'll get it fixed in the morning"?

Yes, sir, he did.

Well, what did you interpret
that to mean?

- Object!
- To what?

To the natural assumption
from his own words

that Mr. Clinton intended,
from the start,

to spend the night
in number nine?

Object, your honor.

The question calls for conclusion,
and a farfetched one at that.

Strike it.

Farfetched?!

No other conclusion can be
reached from Mr. Clinton's words.

Now, as to why he wanted

to spend the night
in number nine and with whom,

we intend to show,

that he had one purpose
and one purpose only.

We intend...

Good evening, Mr. Mitchell.

You...

you liar.

You filthy liar!

Alice.

Mr. Mitchell.

Won't you please come in here?

Sit down, won't you?

Can I get you a drink.

Mrs. Clinton,
why did you want to see me?

To beg a bargain.

Not for myself...

I'm strong.

Not for my son.

He's strong.

But Alice...

You just met Alice.

She's been so sheltered
and so protected.

If you could consider
what it means...

to a girl who was in love
with her father...

who idolized him, really...

to hear sewer gossip involving
him and a girl her own age.

And he dead and unable to be concerned
about her future and her safety.

Mrs. Clinton, I'm sorry about that...

but my client happens
to be fighting for his life.

I've got to think of him first.

I can help him.

Your suspicions about what
happened that night are true.

Mrs. Clinton, you shouldn't
tell me these things.

I want to so you'll believe me.

Yes.

Clint was different
these last two years,

He was worried.
He was drinking too much.

He was talking to Dr. eastland
about his sexual abilities.

Mrs. Clinton, please...

Old stallion...

That's what he called himself.

"The old stallion is not so old."

That may be a crude expression...

but Clint was crude
about a lot of things.

But...

the fact of the matter is that...

It was true.

He was getting old.

I know.

Every man's first defense
of his impotency is,

"my wife...

"doesn't appeal to me any longer."

And then he has to prove it,
if he can...

in any way every time
the opportunity presents itself.

Well, he tried.

You're shocked.

And you didn't, even know him.

What do you think it's like for Alice?

I understand that you'll be
satisfied if Ben Brown doesn't die,

if he gets a life sentence.

I will help you save him,

if you drop your defense under
section 24-14 for Alice's sake.

I'll go to the jail...

and I'll see him...

and then I'll come to the courthouse

and I'll make a plea
to the jury for mercy,

for a life sentence.

It would be possible,

legally, I mean.

Who would stop us?

Judge Tucker...

Bixby, Farish?

You mean they've already agreed?

I made them agree.

You give your whole life to a man,

and then he desecrates it in his
last few moments with some...

prostitute,

in a motel.

And you have to live
your time out remembering that.

That's bad enough if you're my age.

But if you're only 17...

like Alice...

and your whole life is ahead of you.

I'd do anything...

to prevent that.

So that's the deal.

Well, I'm sorry, Mrs. Clinton.

And I'm sorry too,

that you told me things
you never should have.

Mr. Mitchell?

Doctor...

did you perform an autopsy

on Mr. Clinton's body
that day or any other day?

Well, cause of death
being so obvious,

no autopsy was necessary.

Sir, are you the county coroner?

No.

Then how did you happen
to be called in to examine

Mr. Clinton's body
and not the coroner?

He was my patient,
had been for years.

When was the last time

you examined Mr. Clinton
before he died?

Oh...

about three weeks.

And what advice
did you give him?

Object!

Immaterial to the issues in the case.

I will allow the question.

Doctor?

Didn't you tell him...

that his restlessness and his
sudden appetite for liquor

were symptoms of an emotional
upheaval due to advancing age?

No.

Isn't it a fact that you told him
to stop worrying about his virility?

No, I did not.

Doctor...

if an autopsy had been made
on Mr. Clinton's body,

would it have revealed
if he were engaged

in an act of sexual intercourse
just before he died.

You shut your dirty mouth
or I'll shut it for you!

Get him out of here!
Come on. Come on.

Well, doctor?

The witness will answer.

Yes, it would have...

If it were true,

which is wasn't!

How did you know all that?

Shut up, damn it.
Just shut up.

Your honor...

the state calls
Mrs. Amy Clinton to the stand.

Your honor,
before this witness is sworn,

I demand to know the purpose
of her testimony.

Gentlemen, you will retire
to my chambers at once.

You elected to try the deceased.

You brought section
24-14 in as your defense

by your own cross-examination.

Well, we got the right to prove
connivance by your client.

With a witness who wasn't even
there, who wouldn't know.

She knows enough.

- Bixby, I warn you...
- Warn me?!

I know things about Clint and
about her that even you don't know.

Now, don't put her on.

I don't sacrifice her
to your political ambition.

Well, Mr. Bixby?

My next witness is Amy Clinton.

I know this isn't gonna be easy

for you, Mrs. Clinton, but,

questions have been raised,
accusations made.

They must be answered.
They must be denied.

Will you repeat,
the question, please?

Certainly.

Mr. forrester, would you read
back that last question, please?

"Was it your husband's custom
to sleep in the nude?"

Yes, it was.

Could you just speak up a little
bit, please, Mrs. Clinton?

Yes.

Yes, it was.

He didn't even own
a pair of pajamas.

And it was not unusual for him
to stop overnight at a motel

on the way back from,

a cattle auction or a rodeo?

No, he did that
more and more recently...

More and more frequently,
in recent years.

He seemed to tire more easily.

Mm-hmm.

So that you attach no...

ulterior significance
to the fact that...

That your husband was found
naked in a motel room?

Absolutely none.

These disgraceful accusations
made against him...

are vicious lies.

Thank you, Mrs. Clinton.

Mitchell.

Mrs. Clinton.

Mrs. Clinton, what...

Due to the lateness
of the hour...

No questions.

Your honor, despite
the lateness of the hour,

I wish to call one last witness...

who will complete the case
for the state.

I'm sure defense counsel
will have no objection.

Proceed.

Thank you, your honor.

State calls therese Braden
to the stand.

No matter what he was like,
he was Laura Mae's husband.

So... so I felt I had
to take him in...

you know, give a place to sleep,
money, things like that.

I even tried to get him jobs.

And did he cooperate with you?

Him?

Always want it the same way.

Oh, what way was that?

Well, he...

he kept saying
there's no reason for him

to work as long as he had Laura Mae.

And just what did he mean by that?
Did he say?

He certainly did.

More than once, he said,

"why should I break my back as...

"as long as Laura Mae can make
me a good living with her body?"

Tess!

Tess!

You lie! I never said that!

I never said that, Mr. Mitchell.

I never said that.
It's your witness.

Mrs. Braden,

did your daughter serve a term

in a detention home in Phoenix
for cohabiting with men?

She may have.

Yeah, I guess so.

How often did you visit your daughter
while she was serving this term?

Well, I was working hard
at the time.

Did you visit her at all?

Well, she wasn't there very long.

Why?

She got out.

Who got her out?

Ben.

Ben got her out.

He left his base, went awol,
came clear to Phoenix,

and got Laura Mae
out of that detention home.

I wouldn't know about that.

Then tell me this,
if you know...

Why you wouldn't drive
halfway across Phoenix

to see your daughter then,

but you've come all the way
to new Mexico

to be with her now?

'Cause she needs me.

Or is it because
you want to share

in that $10,000 reward money
she'll get if Ben Brown dies?

That's a lie!

I think the jury knows the answer.

Mrs. Braden, just so there's
no mistake about this,

will you tell the jury once more

what Ben Brown said to you
about your daughter?

I certainly would.

He said...

"Why should I break my back
as long as Laura Mae

"can make me a good living
with her body?"

The state rests.

You may step down,
Mrs. Braden.

Your honor,
before we recess for the day,

I'd like to bring a motion
before the court,

if the jury can first be removed.

Mr. Rains,
take the jury upstairs.

Your honor, I demand to know
what this motion is all about

and if it has any bearing
on this case.

You will.

Quiet in the court!

Laura Mae.

Your honor, any motion made
at this time in relation

to this codefendant
is highly irregular.

Young man,
I have presided at this court

since before you were born,

and decide what is regular
or irregular here.

The court will hear the motion.

"The state of new Mexico
vs. Laura Mae Brown.

"To the honorable judge of the court,

"further investigation discloses that
the evidence against this defendant

"is insufficient to support the
prosecution to a successful conclusion.

"Wherefore,
the district attorney asks

"that his motion
to dismiss this case be granted.

"Signed, Paul farish,

"district attorney, 93rd district."

Motion granted.

The court will now adjourn
until tomorrow morning.

Well, at least...
At least they let her go.

Don't be a fool.
They've got a reason.

Well, I don't care,
as long as she's free.

You'll wish she wasn't.

I'll see you tomorrow, Ben.

Yeah.

I'm not blaming you, David.

They jobbed you real good.

Yeah.

They couldn't call Laura Mae
as their witness

because a wife can't testify
against her husband.

And you couldn't call her as
long as she was the codefendant,

which was fine, but now you can.

And Mr. Bixby will challenge you
and challenge you.

"Call the only eyewitness
to the crime."

Now, if you fall
into that trap...

She'll lie Brown right
into the gas chamber.

You haven't said anything
about Amy Clinton.

You wouldn't have let her go,
would you?

Why didn't you cross-examine her?

Art, I, I,

I just couldn't.

I'll never blame you
for letting her go.

Good night.

There is such a thing as wanting
to be too much like art.

In a courtroom, art can be a killer.

But not you.

The kind of man you are,
art's not and never could be.

Sue, don't tear him down
just to make me feel better.

Well, you only want to be
as good as he is.

I want you to be better,
and you can.

Are you kidding?

You saw what they did to me
in that court today.

They... they pushed me
around and...

Made you look inept, took advantage
of your gentleness... all that.

And if you quit now,
they were right.

But if you don't...

I'm sorry.

Here's your papers.

No.

Go on.

I didn't mean to get angry.

I'm glad you did.

When you get angry,
your eyes turn...

blue, very deep blue.

I kind of like deep blue.

You didn't mind?

i didn't mind.

Would you like some coffee?

Sure. why not?

So, sergeant, you agreed
to come here and testify

on Ben Brown's
behalf at your own expense.

This man served under me
in the air force.

If the truth can help him,
I'd like to tell it.

Sergeant, tell us about,
the defendant's record as a soldier.

The record shows that in his first
hitch, he was a good soldier

and acquitted himself
while in action in Korea

and awarded the purple heart.

And his second hitch?

Moody.

Didn't seem to be able
to obey the simplest order...

always asking for leave
so he could see his wife.

And did you
Grant him leave each time?

Oh, that was impossible.

So a couple of times,
he went a.W.O.L.

I'd find out where he was,

send him the fare...

so he could come home, and I...

I wouldn't put him on report for it.

Sergeant, was it your decision

to send the defendant to
the air force hospital for observation?

My initiative, not my decision.

Why did you take that initiative?

Well, one day, it was...

September the 16th last year.

He asked for a 72,

so he could look for his wife.

I had to deny it.

Then, about an hour
after he left my office,

maybe a little more...

Sarge, quick!
It's Brown again.

What did he do this time?

Come and see. He's wild.

He tried to hang himself.

Let me alone!

- Brown!
- Let me alone!

Let me alone! Let me alone!
Let me alone!

Leave me alone!
Let me alone!

Brown!

Oh, sarge!

Tell these fellas
to let me finish what I started.

Ben, what did you want
to do that for?

Laura Mae.

Laura Mae, she's gone to Denver.

She's... she's gone.

Laura Mae...

Okay, Ben.

Hold on.

Come on with me, Ben.

Are you a psychiatrist,
sergeant?

No, sir.

Yet you took it
upon yourself to make

several important decisions
concerning the defendant,

such as not putting him on report
a few times when he went a.W.O.L.

I was trying
to straighten him out.

And if you hadn't...

bent the rules a little
to accommodate him,

with his record
of repeated desertions,

he would have spent a few years
in a military prison, wouldn't he?

It's possible.

But if you had reported him,
as was your duty,

he would have been in prison
on February 19th

instead of being free
to murder and Rob Cole Clinton.

In fact, sergeant, if you knew
then what you know now,

would you still have defied
military law

to shield and shelter
this defendant?

Would you?

Well, I imagine I'd have handled
the problem differently.

Well, i should hope so.

Dismissed.

Ben...

I've got to know now.

Are you gonna tell it all, everything?

Well...

ain't there no way except
to make Laura Mae look so bad?

Look, Ben,
legally, she's in the clear.

You got to think about yourself.

I'm not gonna put you up there
unless you tell me now

that you're gonna tell
the truth.

Ben?

Well, I'll...
I'll do my best, Mr. Mitchell.

I'll do my best.

Ben,

where did you first
meet your wife, Laura Mae?

Phoenix.

It was after I was out
of the air force,

first time.

How did you happen to be there?

Well...

my cousin Vera,

seen an advertisement
in the papers

for work with
on-the-job training, so...

we wrote...

and I got a job...

and went out there.

I had this room in a fleabag
joint, and there was...

this bar down the block.

Dance?

So I said, "nobody,

"not even my own man,
talks to me that way."

What did he say?

Blew his top,

threw me out.

Closing time.

It's the law.

What are you gonna do?

Where you gonna go?

Where are you gonna go?

I got this room down the street.

All right.

You're a funny kid.

So why ain't you laughing?

You some kind of kook?

Maybe.

Kooky enough to get married?

I mean, to me, I mean.

We'll see.

Huh?

If we hit it off,
we'll get married...

Some time.

And she finally did marry you?

Six months later
in Louisville, Kentucky.

Ben, you heard
sergeant Kelly testify that,

you tried to hang yourself
while in the air force.

Yes, sir.

Was it just because Laura Mae
had gone to Denver?

Ben...

tell us why,
when your wife was missing,

you went to look for her in Denver.

Ben?

Well...

whenever she gets sore at me,
she says she's gonna run off to Denver,

be a hustling woman.

What did she mean by that?

You know, a girl who hustles men.

A prostitute, is that what she meant?

Yes, sir.

Ben, tell us what happened after you
were discharged from the air force.

I set off to Phoenix
to see my wife.

And where did you find her?

A house of detention.

On what charge?

Some cops caught her
in a rooming house.

On what charge, Ben?

They call it "cohabiting with a man."

I got her out and decided

that we was gonna leave
that part of the country,

so we headed east,

hitchhiking.

Was that the trip
on which you meant Cole Clinton?

Yes, sir.

Ben...

I want you to tell us,
as exactly as you can remember it,

all the events leading up
to Mr. Clinton's death.

We started out of Phoenix,
Laura Mae and me,

on an orange truck
I helped to load.

That took us as far as Albuquerque.

Then we hitched some rides
all the way through El cajon.

Then we was stranded there.

Laura, honey, we... we...
We get east and I get a job...

Oh, shut up.

Well, I couldn't let you go on
doing what you were doing...

I was better off
than I am right now.

Look around.

Go on. Look.

Laura, honey, there's a car!

See?
We're gonna die out here.

Well, heading east, young fella?

Heading any way but west.

You don't like the west, huh?

I ought to leave you out here
for the lizards.

You ever drive
a big rig like this?

No, sir.

Would you care to?

Sure.

All right, come on.
Get in.

Just put it right there, honey.

Just remember one thing, Sonny.

Don't turn off that ignition,
I got starter trouble.

Outside of that, just rear
her back and let her eat.

I'm in a hurry to get home.

Come on! Come on,
I said I'm in a hurry.

What's the matter,
you scared or something?

Well, there ain't no need to be.

Take a gander at that.

So don't worry about no tickets.

Or anything else, for that matter.

No need to be scared, here, look.

Hey! you're good, you hit two posts.

Oh, I'm better than you think, honey.

Oh, this is the place, come on.

We'll get a little touch
of the old creature

and we'll feel better.

Oh, thank you.

Right over there.

Be right with you, folks, all right.

Sit down over here, Laura...

Oh, you like music?

- Yeah.
- All right.

Help yourself, go ahead.

- Thank you.
- All righty.

Well, boys, what's it gonna be?

Clint!

Hello, Mac.

This is the damndest thing.

You know, I was just
thinking about you yesterday.

I was saying, "now, here I got
this new young appaloosa filly,

"and I just know
that once Clint sees her,

"he's gonna want to trade her
for one of his own."

About that filly, Clint.

Oh, she broke?

Yeah, she's got tricks that mares
twice her age are trying to learn.

Oh, I'll bet.

You got time to look at her now?

All right,
then what's it gonna be?

Oh, uh, the usual.

What about your...
your friends?

What'll you have, Sonny?

Beer.

And your girlfriend?

My wife will have a beer, too.

- Two beers.
- Mm-hmm.

And one usual.

A double.

You know it.

Laura...

Laura Mae, honey?

Cut that out, honey.

Stop making a show of yourself.

Laura, honey.

Please, honey.
Sit down, honey, please.

- There.
- There you go.

Oh, my. Here we go!

Man can't stretch his legs
three in front that way.

Here. come on in.

She rides with me.

What are you doing?

Come on.

Okay, okay.

Knock it off.

Just giving your wife a little tip
on how to stay healthy and happy.

Just knock it off and then stop
goo-balling around her.

- Goo-balling?
- Yeah, goo-balling.

Ooh, that's a new one.
Goo-balling.

It's not funny.

Through the teeth
and over the gums.

Look out, stomach, here it comes.

Ben, I want you to tell us everything
that happened later that night.

Ben, you've got to tell.

I'd been watching some movie
on the TV, and I guess i sacked out.

And then,

I waked up and the TV
was still going on, so I...

Laura?

Laura Mae?

Get your hands off her!

You dirty little...

Put it down! Put it down!

No!

Ben,

all that blood.

Ben!

Got to,

got to get out of this state.

You know what they do
to someone that kills a cop?

Fill her up?

No, five gallons, please.

Fill her up.

We ain't got enough money.

Fill her up.

Ben...

did you tell the whole story
to these gentlemen

when they questioned you?

Yes, sir, I did.

And did they include it all
in the confession you signed?

No, sir.

Did they say why?

Mr. Elliot said they...

couldn't put it all down
or it'd run too long.

Ben...

do you know who
turned you into the police?

My wife, they said.

And do you also know that
she's applied for the reward?

And knowing that, do you bear
any ill will toward Laura Mae?

No, sir.

She's my wife...

and I still love her,
I can't help it.

Thank you, Ben.

That's all.

Brown.

You recognize this document?

It's my confession?

And isn't it the truth that those
claims are not in that confession

because at the time you signed it,

you just hadn't yet thought them up?

That ain't true!

There were three people in that
bedroom that night, correct?

Yes.

One of them's dead.
One of them's on trial,

and the third one's your wife.

Now, would you like us
to call her up here

so she can tell us
what really happened

now that she's eligible to testify?

Objection!

That's a rotten stunt,
putting before this jury

something
they can't legally know.

Sustained, strike that last.

Mr. Brown,

isn't it a fact that on February 19th,

you offered to sell your wife
to Cole Clinton for the night?

I did not!

And when he refused to buy her,
you decided the only way

to get his money was
to murder him?

That's a lie, lie, lie!
Object!

The prosecutor has no right

to keep badgering the witness
with false suppositions.

False suppositions?!

I have here the words
of the only eyewitness to this case,

but because
of a legal technicality,

I can't call her to the stand,
but you can.

Now that she's eligible to testify.

Your honor...

if he can tell the jury that Mrs. Brown
is eligible to testify as a witness,

then I can tell them
that he deliberately dismissed

the murder indictment against her so
that he could pull this stunt today.

Mr. Mitchell,
i have only one thing to say.

The truth in this case

is just as far away from this
jury as your choosing to say,

"I now call Laura Mae Brown
to the stand."

And I defy you to do that.

Mr. Mitchell.

Your honor, I...

I can't get
the truth out of this witness.

I'm...

I'm willing to let the jury
make their own decisions.

Pass.

Mr. Mitchell?

No further questions.

What do you say now, Sonny?

Hmm?

Or do you have to talk
to art Harper first?

I call Laura Mae Brown
to the stand.

Due...

Due to the lateness of the hour,

we will adjourn
until tomorrow morning,

at which time, Mr. Mitchell,
your witness,

Mrs. Brown, will take the stand.

Oh, you.

Mrs. Brown.

Your husband's life depends
on what you do and say tomorrow.

I've already told you
everything I know.

When they slam
that gas-chamber door on Ben,

you're not gonna have any time
for second thoughts or regrets.

Who said I have any?

No, I guess you wouldn't.

Probably the only time
she ever said "no" to a man.

And it had to be you.

That was supposed to be a joke.

You know, Ben says she doesn't
like to drink, I wonder who does.

Susan, why don't you
take the car on back.

I'm gonna wait around here
and find out.

Find out what?

That's what I'm wondering.

Mrs. Brown...

Oh, I'm sorry.
I know you don't like that name.

Laura Mae.

Do you love your husband?

I did, once.

But you don't love him now?

'Cause he's mean, vicious,

beat me up all the time,

killed that nice old man.

But you didn't turn him in
right away, did you?

I was afraid
of what he might do to me.

What made you finally decide?

I just couldn't live with myself,

knowing what Ben did and
not doing anything about it.

So you went
to the Lansing police

on June 7th
and told them all about Ben.

I don't remember the date.

Well, would it refresh your memory

to see this news photo
from the Lansing, Indiana, times

dated June 10th,
which shows you and Mr. Elliot

boarding the train for new Mexico?
It says it was the 7th.

Well, if you say it was the 7th,
that's okay with me.

You don't like this photograph
of yourself, do you, Laura Mae?

Is it because
of what you did to Ben?

No.

Or because you're ashamed
of the way you look in it?

I am not.

Well, then would you mind
showing the jury

how you looked on that day?

Why, I don't mind at all.

Remove your jacket, please.

Your honor,
I protest this method of...

Mr. Mitchell, examine the witness,
don't undress her.

Laura Mae, i now show you this clipping
and ask you to read the headline.

"Reward posted
in new Mexico killing."

I never saw this.

The newspaper and date,
Laura Mae.

The Lansing, Indiana, times.

And the date?

June 6, 1963.

The day before you turned Ben in.
Thank you, Laura Mae.

Laura Mae...

as the only witness to the crime for
which your husband's on trial for...

I...

I think we can,
slip the jacket back on.

The only witness for the crime
which your husband's

on trial for his life,
would you tell...

Your honor,
I regret to interrupt,

but a matter has come up which calls
for the meeting of counsel at once.

Excuse me, your honor.

What the devil's going on here?

If this matter is of such urgency,

surely it shouldn't be kept
secret from the court.

Counsel will retire to chambers.

What the hell does this mean?

And bring that pad with you.

Now, let me have that.

Mr. Mitchell,

what is the meaning of this?

I want Mr. Bixby to know that
if he cross-examines Laura Mae,

I'll bring out
this whole rotten story.

What rotten story?

I saw you go to Laura Mae's
cabin last night,

and she was expecting you.

Eagerly, I might add.

Well, of course i went there.

I wanted to go over her testimony
so she'd be ready today.

Sure he went there.
I sent him there.

Oh, stop it, Bixby.

He's lying.

I know it,
and you ought to know it.

- Tell him where you got that.
- Got what?

That.

It's a gift.

From whom?

Uh...

from Laura Mae Brown.

That's the money clip
off Clint's bankroll.

Bothered me from the beginning,

that story of hers.

If Brown robbed Clint...

how come she wound up with this?

Mr. Elliot.

Any comment to make upon your lady
friend's macabre taste in gifts?

Well...

Oh, you damn fool.

With a wife and four kids,
you got to go knocking off

every piece of fluff
you can lay your hands on.

I disown you.

I denounce your actions in this case,
and I shall so inform the press.

Jeopardizing my reputation,

my career.

You stupid fool!
Get out!

Well, gentlemen?

You know my terms.

Examine her, let her lie,

and I'll bring out this whole story.

I'll expose the kind
of prosecution this has been.

Okay.

Okay, here's the deal.
I won't cross-examine her.

I'm sorry, Paul.
Call it blackmail if you like.

I'm just trying to get
that poor boy a break.

Break? he's gonna need more
than a break.

Now hold it, Bixby.
Just hold it a minute.

David...

I think what we ought to do,

is to make some kind
of a reasonable compromise, hmm?

No. No, no.
No compromise.

I'm the special prosecutor
in this case,

and I've been appointed
to handled this case.

Then you handle it.

I want nothing more
to do with it.

Good!

'Cause I didn't take on
this case to lose.

Let's go, boy.

I got a jury out there
just chomping at the bit

to put that poor boy of yours
right into the gas chamber.

When I finish my summation,

they may not even leave
the jury box to deliberate.

You watch me, Sonny.

Just watch me.

Your honor, that about concludes
my remarks at this time.

The prosecutor, having finished
his preliminary summation,

are you ready, Mr. Mitchell?

What the devil is going on here?

Order, order in the court!

Bailiff! Bailiff!

Not down there, down here.

Art, what happened?

Oh, it's just for effect,
you damn fool,

now wheel me down that aisle.

Oh, like a pallbearer.

This court is always a little better

for the presence here of this
distinguished and able lawyer.

Art.

Jim.

Now, Mr. Mitchell.

Ladies and gentlemen...

since the prosecutor
addressed you so briefly

in his opening summation,

I must assume that he's saving
his big guns for his rebuttal.

Well, if he is,

I'd like him and you...

to answer one question for me.

This defendant,

is on trial for his life.

But who is acting like the guilty
party in this case the defendant...

or the state?

Who decided...

that no coroner was to be
called in and no autopsy made?

Who decided that one confession
was not enough?

Not the defendant,

the state.

Why?

What are they trying to hide?

One...

single, guilty fact.

Adultery.

Now, it isn't pleasant to say
that about a man as fine as Clint,

but I didn't say it.

The state's witnesses said it.

They told you that Laura Mae

did a provocative dance
at the palomino bar,

and that it was Ben
who stopped her.

They told you that she registered
at that motel, not Ben,

and that she asked
for two bedrooms, not Ben,

and that Clint himself didn't want
that motor started until morning

because he planned to spend the night,

and that he was found
in that bed naked.

Yes, examine the facts
in this case and you'll see

that they make sense
only if there was adultery.

Now, they will try
to tell you that this...

defendant connived in that adultery,

but can you believe that,

of this man
who tried to hang himself,

when he found
that his wife had run off

and might be practicing
a prostitute's trade somewhere?

No, no, not...

not of this man who, for whatever
reason, loves this...

this girl.

We can't blame him for that.

Pity him, yes.

Because Ben...

never got much out of life.

Certainly he got damn little
when he got Laura Mae.

But whatever she was,
she was his.

She belonged to him,

not to Cole Clinton or anybody else.

Even the law,

of the sovereign state
of new Mexico says so.

Mr. Bixby,

The state's summation in rebuttal.

Your honor.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the only rebuttal the state needs

is this piece of paper,

Ben Brown's confession.

His own vivid, sordid description,

of how he brutally murdered

the Cole Clinton
that we all knew so well.

And this confession was made,

before he desperately started
seeking a defense, so this...

this is the truth.

Now, is there a word, a hint...

of anything at all in here about...

about adultery...

or section 24-14?

No.

No, because at the time
this confession was made,

the malicious lying defense
hadn't been planned yet...

by him.

When you go into the jury room,
you're not gonna have to decide

if the defendant killed Mr. Clinton.

We already know that
Ben Brown himself,

he already admitted that.

No.

You're gonna have to decide
if Mr. Clinton was a...

lecherous old man,

a seducer of teenage girls,

or was he the Cole Clinton
that we knew.

Because you can't find him innocent
without convicting Cole Clinton.

And if you let him go free,

how are you ever gonna face
Mr. Clinton's family again...

huh?

Or face any of us, for that matter,
for the rest of your natural lives?

I want you to think about that.

When you go into the jury room,

and you come back,
bring the verdict we want to hear,

the verdict we are entitled
to have under law...

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

The jury will now retire
to begin its deliberations.

Any questions?

Your honor,

can we have that confession?

It will be sent in to you.

Bailiff,

escort the jury.

How does it look?

It'll take hours, David.

I mean, he's asking
for that confession.

Well, you made as much of that
confession as Mr. Bixby did.

Of course, we don't know
what they're thinking.

David, you were just fine,
just fine.

Thanks, Sue.

Oh, and thanks for...

all the driving and the typing
and the waiting...

and the listening.

I enjoyed it.

Did you?

Davey, boy, there's something
we ought to talk about.

Sure, Art, what is it?

Well, you've been seeing Susie
every night for the past five weeks.

You've been eating her cooking,
you must admit it's pretty good eating,

ogled her figure, and you've
been out with her half the night.

Now, as the father of this girl,

I have a right to ask.
What are you intentions, boy?

Susie, we can't take any chances.

After all,
you're not getting any younger.

And the lord only knows how long
that jury's gonna be out.

Come on, Davey,

Susie, let's get out of here.

Quiet!

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

I'm informed
that you've reached a verdict.

Read the verdict.

"We, the jury, find the
defendant, Benjamin Brown,

not guilty."

Boy!
Oh, boy, oh, boy!

Order in the court!

How about a statement?

Mr. Mitchell, congratulations.

Laura?

Laura Mae?

So long, governor.

Well, I guess the people
of this good community

will have to get along with only god
and the constitution to protect them.

Bixby...

I don't know when he's gonna get
into a courtroom again, but...

Hold it!

Thank you, Mr. Mitchell.

Cheer up, David.

This is only the beginning.

I played a dirty trick on you.

You know, getting him off

was as close to a miracle
as any lawyer can come.

Now, that makes you famous,

so from now on,

any poor slop in this state
or in the whole southwest

who gets himself
into real trouble...

He's gonna come to you
and beg for help.

And you...

You damn fool,
you're gonna help him,

and that's great,

because now, I can rest and...

play with my grandchildren.

Oh, Art, Art, there is one thing
we ought to talk about.

Sure, David, what?

For the past five weeks,
I've been seeing your daughter,

eating her cooking,
ogling her figure,

and you must admit
it's pretty good ogling.

Now, I have a right to ask you...

What are your intentions?

Are you gonna try to run my life?

Because if you are, there's one
thing we ought to get straight.

I do my own ogling,

my own courting,
and my own proposing.

And if there are gonna be any
grandchildren, I'll let you know.

Understand?

Understand.

Yes.

And if you try to interfere,
I'll give up drinking.

Oh, son, you wouldn't do that,
would you?

I might, so watch it.

Watch it?

You be sure I'll watch it.

Give up drinking?

Why... I'd rather give up smelling.

The End

Total retiming zundertaker.