All language subtitles for Matlock s01e03 The Judge

I tell you something, Carter.

If I didn't have white hair before this
case, it's getting there now.

Every time we think we got something, it
slips right through our fingers.

But I really don't think the boy did it.

I'll tell you one thing. If I was
keeping a young, good -looking woman and

started stepping out on me, especially
with a younger man, I'd be madder than

hell. I don't know if I'd be mad enough
to kill her, but somebody was.

What do you think?

Lobby Hobson speaking.

Get up to 1102 right away. There's a
woman screaming for help. Something

terrible has happened.

Hurry.

That's it.

Charlene!

Charlene!

You've organized my desk again.

Looking for me?

Yeah, yeah.

I guess when you get a certain age,
that's it, huh?

Yeah.

I've been going over our books.

Good. We're doing very well.

You on a raid?

Nope. Vacation?

Nope.

Remember... Telling me about when you
were a kid and that boy lost his

Yeah. And you gave him yours?

Yeah. Why don't we do that again?

Charlene, it's summertime.

What I'm trying to say is that I think
we should take a case for nothing every

now and then.

We do.

When? Every now and then.

Dad, you've heard about this boy, Kevin
Meredith, who was arrested for killing

his girlfriend?

I just had a long talk with his mother.

Charlene, the public defender's office
will do a fine job. I used to be one of

them. I can speak for them.

You'll get a great defense.

His mom said he was advised against even
trying to go to college.

They said he wouldn't make it.

Well, he's been holding down two jobs,
and he's an honor student.

She said she hoped it wasn't true.

But she heard the Matlock office only
worked for money.

She said he never owned an overcoat.

So tell us what happened.

He'd been making love.

I went into the bathroom to take a
shower.

When I came out, there was a knife.

I picked it up and...

Joanne was dead.

Did you see anybody?

Hear anybody?

Anybody hate her?

She was wonderful.

Everybody liked her.

Somebody didn't like her.

And right now the police and the DA
think that's you.

I loved her.

I'm sorry, Kevin, but that's not a
defense.

Then what the hell is?

Did Joanne have some money? I mean,
judging from her address.

Her family was rich. Why?

Did she help you out now and then?

I never took anything from her.

She was the best thing that ever
happened to me.

I loved her.

And if you think anything else, you can
just get out of here.

Some temper you got there.

I hope it won't be the death of you.

Joanne believed in me.

She believed I was going to make it.

Be somebody.

That's part of why I loved her so much.

She believed in me when nobody else did.

She believed in me.

Well, come on, son.

Your arraignment's in half an hour.

Well, good morning, Lloyd. How's
everything in your life? Morning, Ben.

always up, aren't you? Well, I'm in a
trade I like, and I got another winner.

Your client's ever guilty? Not if I can
help it.

Superior Court 3 is now in session.
Honorable Judge Carter Addison

All rise.

We'll start with the private counsel
cases.

The state versus Meredith.

Benjamin Matlock for the defense, Your
Honor.

Defendant has been advised of his
rights.

Waves reading of the indictment. Please
not guilty. Request to jury trial. Time

is waived.

How would September 28th, 9 a .m. be,
Counselor? Fine with me, Your Honor.

Agreed.

Oh, Mr. Matlock.

I'd like to see you in chambers when I'm
finished here.

Of course.

Thank you so much for defending my son.

We'll give it our best shot.

I know.

Phil, I know, but the cat is now out of
the bag.

What?

Look, so it's not a surprise.

I'll tell you what, I'll act surprised.

All evening, I promise.

All right, I'll see you then.

I'm sorry, Ben.

Some of the boys were going to surprise
me with a party at the Windsor

celebrating my 10th year on the bench.

My clerk just let it slip.

10 years?

Has it been that long?

Has left tomorrow.

Boy, the years go by.

Too fast.

I remember when we both had brown hair.

That's right.

Well... Oh, the old Law Society picture
from school.

I remember a lot of those guys.

You never did join, did you?

No, I never was much of a joiner.

I remember you were a hard worker.

Would you hold down a couple of jobs?

Well, it was either hold down a couple
of jobs or not go to school.

I always admired you, Ben.

Yeah, I never knew that.

Sit down.

I wanted to talk to you, off the record.
Yeah.

You know, uh, Paul Devereaux's boy,
Dale, passed the bar last year, and

naturally, Paul's gonna take him into
the firm.

Oh, I'm a strong believer in nepotism.
So is my daughter, Charlene.

Well, anyway, Dale doesn't have a lot of
courtroom experience, and it occurred

to me this, um, Meredith case might be a
good practice for him.

Well, he's very bright. I mean, he'll do
a good job.

You're asking me to step aside?

Well, just to help Paul's boy out.

Oh.

Well, Carter, um... I feel I have an
obligation.

I know it would be good practice for
Paul's boy, but... I've already accepted

the case.

I know Paul's boy would do a good job,
but I just... I feel like I should stay

on.

Well, just a thought. Ah, sure, sure.

Hey, listen.

Happy 10th.

It's strange.

It's very strange. I mean, if it had
happened on the street, it would be

strange.

But in his chambers, it's very strange.

You're talking to yourself again.

Get this.

Connor Addison calls me into his office
and asks me to step aside on the

Meredith case and give it to Paul
Devereaux's boy.

Dale. Yeah.

Dale?

Isn't that strange?

I've never heard of a judge doing
anything like that.

Hello, people.

Tyler,

I've been looking for you all morning.
I've been busy getting my fall wardrobe

together. You just got a new wardrobe.

A man in my position cannot afford to be
five minutes out of style.

What position is that?

I have been nominated Young Atlanta
Businessman of the Year.

Who nominated you?

Me. You?

Yeah. Oh.

And it's within the rules. And if I win,
the local financial community will open

its doors and its checkbooks to me.

Now, what's the case?

Kevin Meredith.

Pro bono.

There's no fee?

Well, look at the publicity.

Young Atlanta businessman of the year
with a heart of gold. Anyone ever tell

that you owe me? Absolutely.

Coming? Wouldn't miss it.

Lieutenant. Hello, Ben. Hello, Rupert.
Arlene, we're about done here, Ben.

Oh, good.

You want to visit with the building
manager?

Don't you trust our lab, Ben?

Well, they're good. They're just not
looking to help Kevin Merritt.

Hey, Tyler.

There's no fingerprints in the bedroom
to speak of. They're all smudged.

Look at that.

It burns spots.

Look at that ashtray.

Isn't that a pipe smoker's ashtray?

Yeah, you can see where the bowl fits
right in there.

Check that for prints, huh?

Look around and see if you can find some
tobacco.

There's a cognac bottle in the kitchen.
See if it's got any prints.

You got it.

Ben, the building manager was reasonably
cooperative.

Now, he said Joanne Lee lived here for
six months, paid for the whole year in

advance. $32 ,000.

Now, I'm wondering how a student could
afford $32 ,000.

Kevin said her people have money.

Manager told me her mother's been
calling in here. Wanted to get Joanne's

she could sell it.

Sell it? She lives over in Hastings. She
works as a chambermaid in a hotel. He

said she's the only family Joanne had.

He also told me that when Joanne first
moved in here, she got two sets of keys.

Then about two months ago, about the
same time she started seeing Kevin, she

asked for another set of keys.

So if Kevin Meredith didn't kill her,
then somebody came in while he was

a shower and did.

Maybe whoever got that other set of
keys.

You know, I can't get over Carter
Harrison asking me to step aside on

I mean, I can understand a lawyer asking
a judge to step aside because of

prejudice.

But a judge asking a lawyer, don't you
think that's odd?

Yeah, it is.

Ben, I didn't find any fingerprints on
that cognac bottle. I did find this, a

pipe cleaner and some tobacco.

Oh, no.

This city kills me.

Here's a street where absolutely
nothing's happening. You can only park

an hour.

I told you to read the signs.

How many parking spaces did Joanne Lee
have?

She was assigned two, but there was some
construction going on in the garage, so

she was down to one.

So whoever was visiting her had to park
on the street.

Kevin Meredith doesn't have a car.

Check all the parking tickets issued
around here in the last two or three

months.

Parking tickets?

Yeah.

All of them?

Yeah. If somebody was keeping Joe Anley
and didn't want to be seen, he might

have been parking around here. He might
have been like somebody else I know and

gotten a lot of tickets.

Ben, you got any idea how long that's
going to take?

For the young businessman of the year,
probably a heartbeat.

Want to drive over to Hastings and visit
the girl's mama? Yeah.

You drive.

Why?

Because I'm the senior partner and I
just got a ticket and everything.

Keep your eyes on the road, stay in the
speed limit, and no rock and roll on the

radio.

I'm taking you back to the office.

I don't think you understand my anger,
how I feel, or anything

at all.

I'm sure you've had a terrible loss,
Mrs. Lee.

My loss happened a long time ago.

You mean when your daughter left home?

I was glad she wanted to go to school.

First she'd come home on vacations, and
then she stopped coming home at all.

She'd go home with her friends.

She never liked it here in Hastings.

Hated it.

So she left.

Can I sell her car?

I'll see what I can do.

We'll need you to testify at the trial.

You're working for the boy who killed
her.

We think somebody else may have done
that, Mrs. Lee.

It seems that there was someone else in
Joanne's life.

Oh, you mean the man who was keeping
her?

Did she say who it was?

No, no. And I never asked.

All I know is that he was some sort of
big shot.

He paid for his school.

We'd like you to tell the court about
this.

You mean go to Atlanta?

That's right.

Well,

maybe, maybe I could do that.

I got expenses if I do.

travel, a place to stay.

How much?

Five.

Five thousand.

It's not our policy to pay people for
telling the truth, Mrs. Lee. I'm sorry.

This is your subpoena.

Requires your presence in court.

Hi, Ben.

What do you make of her?

She's tough.

But I think she was really hurt when her
daughter left her.

Yes,

Sarah.

Okay.

For you on one.

I'll take it in the office.

Ben, I went through all the parking
tickets for Joanne Lee's neighborhood.

I got a couple singles, a few doubles,
but nobody had a lot of parking tickets.

Nobody, huh?

And you were wrong about it taking me a
heartbeat.

It took me a lot of heartbeats.

Well, whoever was keeping her had to
park on the street, and he had to have

gotten some parking tickets.

I don't know what to tell you.

You know, if a person's got the juice,

he could fix a ticket and make it
disappear.

As though it never existed.

Did you know that?

Yeah, I knew that.

I don't know the details about it.

Come on, fellas. We haven't got much
time.

Evening, Carter.

Well, hello, Ben. What are you doing
here? Oh, sometimes I get the

Buy you a drink.

Ah, well, it's a little late.

Oh, just one.

I got something here very special. Two
Languan Apollyon Cognacs.

Well, let me say good night. Okay.

Well, here's the dandelion season or
whatever season it is.

Yeah,

I used to come here a lot.

Used to have jazz in here. Oh, yeah.

Remember those great dance bands used to
come through and play dances at school?

Remember the name of that one small band
with the funny name Snooki something?

Snooki, Sandwich, and the Slippery
Seven.

Yeah, yeah.

You used to be a good dancer. I did
okay.

You still step out once in a while? Once
in a while.

Good, huh? Mm -hmm.

Interestingly enough, I found a bottle
of this in Joanne Lee's pocket.

Uh, who?

Joanne Lee, that murdered girl.

Oh, yes, yes.

I really am glad I didn't step aside on
this case. It's fascinating.

It really is.

There's a lot I don't know, but I got a
lot of things I think.

I think she was being kept by an older
man.

I think he smoked a pipe and drank this
same cognac. I don't know that he killed

her, but he could have.

Felt threatened over her relationship
with this Kevin Merritt. Mm -hmm.

We're checking parking tickets around
her building.

Around 23rd and Highview.

In fact, I got one there myself.

You did?

I don't suppose you could fix it?

I think not, man.

I was just joshing.

Well, I better get home. My wife's by
herself.

Big day tomorrow. For me, too, Carter.
For me, too. Thanks, man. Good night.

Anything? Nothing good.

No blood?

No blood.

Yeah.

Thought we were gonna get him tonight.

Well, it's not strange that Carter
Addison has to just step aside anymore,

it? No.

I'll tell you one thing. He thinks he's
covered his track pretty good.

He's as cool as the center seat of a
cucumber.

Ben?

The judge's tobacco from the restaurant
matches the blend I found at Joanne's

apartment. Good.

No blood in the car, huh?

No blood.

Well, maybe he cleaned up before he
left.

Cleaned up? Where?

I don't know.

But he would have had to have done it
before he even got in his car.

You know, there's a...

There's an apartment building.

It's just across the street from
Joanne's.

And maybe, when he first suspicioned
that she was stepping out on him, or

is, having somebody in, he might have
gotten the use of a place there.

Well, that would explain why the parking
ticket stopped.

The police said her shutters were open.

Oh, Dad.

You mean he got a place in that building
so he could watch Kevin and Joanne make

love, maybe for weeks?

Well, let's just say that maybe he was
checking to see if what he thought was

happening was happening.

You better find it.

Find what?

The apartment he was using, if there was
one.

Ben, there's probably 50 or 60
apartments with a view of Joanne's

Now, you can bet Addison didn't use his
real name. Maybe he didn't even rent the

place himself.

Were you at your security desk when the
phone call came in?

Yes, sir, I was.

To the best of your recollection, would
you tell the court what the man said?

I believe he said, get up 1102 right
away.

A woman's screaming for help. Something
terrible is happening.

What did you do?

Well, I got up there right away and rang
the bell. When no one answered, I let

myself in.

Was anyone there?

Joanne's young friend.

I call your attention to People's
Exhibit 3.

Do you recognize this?

Yes, he was holding it when I came in.

Was anyone else in the apartment?

No, sir, just him.

And is that man presently in the
courtroom?

Yes, sir, he is.

Would you identify him?

He's right over there.

Let the record show.

Let the witness identify the defendant.

There's no further questions.

Any cross -examination?

Mr. Hobson, how long have you worked at
your apartment building?

Ten years, since the day they opened the
doors.

You know all the tenants?

Every last one of them, down to the kids
and the dogs.

I bet they know you.

Yes, sir, they do.

You know, something seems strange to me.

You testified that a man phoned you and
said, get up to 1102 right away.

But he didn't call you by your name. He
didn't say, Harry, get up to 1102.

Did he?

No, he didn't. But Harry is your first
name, isn't he? Yes, sir.

Did you recognize the man's voice?

No, I didn't.

Mr. Hobson, are there house phones in
your building?

Yes, sir, there are.

Is there one on every floor?

That's right.

So, someone could have called from a
house phone rather than one of the

apartments, isn't that correct?

Objection.

Relevancy.

Your Honor, I'm attempting to show that
to call the security guard, a person

does not necessarily have to be a
tenant. Anyone could have come in off

street and done it.

Sustained.

But, Your Honor, if someone other than
Kevin Merida killed Joanne Lee,

then that person could have used the
house phone in the hall.

Mr. Bedlock, don't make me repeat
myself. The objection is sustained.

Your Honor, may I approach the bench?

Counsel.

Your Honor.

Defense is attempting to show that
someone else had access to the dead

apartment and that phone.

Counsel for the defense is indulging in
totally unjustified speculation. This is

a capital crime, and I ask for the
widest possible latitude for my client.

Mr. Matlock, you've made your point. I
will say for the last time, you will

confine your examination to the issues
at hand.

Now, may we get on with this, please?

Something else, Counselor?

Not yet.

Is defense ready to proceed?

Yes, Your Honor. I call Claire Lee to
the stand.

Is Claire Lee present?

Your Honor, this witness may not have
answered our subpoena. May we take a

recess while we try to learn of her
intentions?

Court is recessed for 30 minutes.

We haven't met. I'm Joanne Lee's mother.

They're waiting for you in court, Mrs.
Lee.

Well, I thought we should talk first.

Why is that?

Joanne told me all about you.

That's not possible. I didn't know your
daughter.

Look, you and I don't have time to play
games here.

In a few minutes, I'm going to be on
that stand.

And I know plenty about you, Joanne.

Better keep my mouth shut if you make it
worth my while.

If you think I'm bluffing, you're going
to be real sorry.

Real sorry.

Okay.

Mrs. Lee, you were Joanne's mother.

Yes. And you're a woman of modest means.

I worked hard all my life.

But your daughter lived very well here
in Atlanta.

She had a wonderful apartment and lots
of pretty clothes.

I was real proud of how well my Joanne
had done for herself.

Would you explain to the court how a
student with no family support Could

all this luxury.

Well, she worked for it, of course.

How did she support herself?

As a model.

She was very beautiful.

I have scrapbooks full of her pictures
at home.

But modeling wasn't the only way she got
money, was it?

Yes.

But I know.

Are you telling this court...

That your daughter paid for this luxury
apartment herself by modeling?

Yeah. Mrs. Lee, you're under oath.

Objection. Counsel is harassing his own
witness.

Sustained. Your Honor, I'm allowed to
examine my own witness any way I choose,

especially if I'm surprised by her
testimony, and right now I can guarantee

I'm flabbergasted by it.

Mr. Medlock, may I remind you that in
this courtroom you may not harass a

witness under any circumstances.

Now, you may proceed. I urge you to use
caution and restraint.

Thank you for your advice, Your Honor.

Mrs. Lee.

Do you recall having a conversation with
my daughter a few days ago?

Yes, I do.

Do you recall stating then that your
daughter was being kept by a powerful

No. Isn't it true you said this man made
it possible for your daughter to live

very well?

You're trying to trick me. Didn't you
say this same man made it possible for

your daughter to come to school in
Atlanta?

Why are you telling these lies?

My baby would never, never take money
from a man like that. She was a sweet,

wonderful girl. And I just did.

Court is adjourned until tomorrow
morning, 9 a .m.

All rise.

Is counsel ready?

Your Honor, may I approach the bench?

What is it, Mr. Medlock?

I'll get right to it, Your Honor.

Defense intends to call his honor as its
next witness.

I have no information relevant to this
case.

Mr. Medlock, do you realize the
implication of your intention?

I'm afraid I do, Your Honor.

But I have an obligation to present
evidence that I believe will be helpful

my client's defense.

I think this is a complete waste of the
court's time and the state's money.

Your honest testifying could mean a
mistrial.

Then we'd have to start this whole trial
all over again. That doesn't make any

sense.

I have a sincere belief that your honor
may have knowledge of facts that may

shed some light on this case.

My duty is to Mr. Meredith, not to the
state treasury.

I'll see both counsel and the court
reporter in chambers.

I don't...

believe that I have any information to
help your client.

But I understand your position.

And we all appreciate what a mistrial
will cost us in terms of time and money.

Now, Judge Cooksey is available.

If you and Mr. Burgess will agree to
Judge Cooksey presiding over my

examination, I think we can put this
matter to rest, Mr. Matlock.

If you can show that I know something
important here, then I'll agree to step

down and a mistrial will be declared.

If you can't.

Then I will retake the bench tomorrow
morning. We'll finish this case and send

it to the jury.

Mr. Burgess?

It's unusual, but the state agrees if
Mr. Matlock does.

Defense goes along with your proposal.

Your Honor, defense has just been
presented with new evidence that's

to our case. May we take a brief recess
to prepare for our next witness?

All right. This court will recess until
2 .30 this afternoon.

The truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, so help me God.

Please be seated.

Mr. Addison, do you know Mrs.

Clare Lee?

Are you referring to Defense's witness?

Yes, I am.

I don't know her personally, no.

You are aware that she is the mother of
the deceased Joe Anley?

I believe that was her testimony.

Have you had any occasion to discuss
this case with Mrs. Lee?

Absolutely not.

Isn't it true that you met with her this
morning after she testified in your

court? No, I did not.

And at that time, didn't you give her an
envelope containing $15 ,000?

Objection. The witness already
testified. He never met with the woman.

Sustained.

Did you know Joanne Lee?

No. Never met her?

No.

Mr. Addison, let me ask your opinion
here.

If there were a condominium and its
ownership were in question,

that is, it were in a lawsuit, could
that condominium be

impounded by the court?

Yes.

So that neither party involved in that
lawsuit could enter that condominium?

Yes. Now, if this condominium...

were impounded by the court, would it be
difficult for someone in the

court, say a judge like yourself, to
obtain a key to that impounded company?

This is getting a little hypothetical
for me, Mr. Matlock. Is counsel about to

come to a point?

Well, Your Honor, I'm just trying to
establish that it would not be

In fact, it would be quite simple.

for a judge to obtain a key to an
impounded condominium. Now, are you

with a condominium building at 437
Highview Street?

No, I am not.

Let me refresh your honor's memory.

This condominium building is directly
across from the apartment building where

Joanne Lee lived.

Mr. Madlock, I have already stated I am
not familiar with this building. Now, I

agreed to testify based on your
assurances that I would be a material

So far, you have demonstrated nothing.

Maybe this might clarify.

From this condominium building, with a
pair of binoculars, a person can look

right into Joanne Lee's apartment, which
is what the killer did.

while he watched and waited for his
chance to murder her.

Would Mr. William Bryan please rise?

This condominium building is occupied
primarily by retired people.

Mr. Bryan is a former member of the
Atlanta Police Department. Do you

him? No, I do not.

You didn't see Mr. Bryan there this
morning when you were in that building?

I have never been in that building.

I suppose we could have Mr. Bryan
testify that he saw you in that

then that wouldn't prove that you killed
Joanne Lee, would it?

Order! Order in the court!

Matlock, I warn you, making these
unsubstantiated charges is contemptible.

Addison, I don't make unsubstantiated
charges.

You see, this morning,

When you went back to that condominium,
when Mr. Bryant saw you,

to remove your clothes that you had left
there till this whole thing was

over, you didn't remove your clothes.

They were replacements that were placed
there by my associate, Mr. Tyler Hudson.

These are your clothes.

This is your raincoat.

See Joanne Lee's blood?

These are your gloves.

Your hat.

Your shoes.

Which I placed into evidence.

Now.

Carter.

You were one of the best and one of the
brightest.

I'm truly sorry it's come to this.

No further questions.

Your Honor, rather than a mistrial,
prosecution moves for dismissal. Case

dismissed.

Congratulations.

Thank you very much.

Good job.

We can't thank you. If you want to thank
someone, thank her.

Your daughter would be very proud.

Well, shall we dance?

Where to?

Back to the office. Somebody around
here's got to make the money.