Original subtitles

How'd he get... Who?

That federal agent, Paul Davies.

He said that it was absolutely imperative that I plead guilty.

He said that the investigation he was spearheading would clear me, and he

promised me that I wouldn't spend a day in prison.

What's the matter with you? He can't promise that. Nobody can. The system

made to work that way. Why didn't you consult with me before you agreed?

He said not to discuss it with anyone. He said it was a matter of national

security.

Well, maybe that's what he said, but that's not why you complied.

He promised you an exclusive, didn't he?

He told you you could break the story as soon as his investigation was over.

You weren't thinking about national security. You were thinking about a

Prize.

You lied.

And if this investigation comes up dry or loses its funding or just plain

you just made the biggest mistake of your life.

Yeah, Kyle. Did you find him? Oh, yeah.

Paul Davies? Yep, and he wants to talk to you, too. Yeah.

Paul Davies.

Section Chief.

Special Projects.

Now, what's this all about?

You don't know anything about a secret investigation?

No, and furthermore, no one in this office is conducting any investigation

involves you.

The IDs these guys were flashing didn't come out of a cereal box.

Did anybody quit your staff recently?

No one fit into the description of the men you saw.

Damn. Impersonating the federal agents is serious offense, Mr. Matlock. I

you, we will look into this immediately.

I've got a client who just confessed to murder in open court.

Unless I find who talked her into that, she could go to prison for the rest of

her life.

And you think the person that killed this Karen Weiler is behind all this?

Yes, got to be. And I think it's one of the men my office has been

investigating. Lambert Crawford, for one. Lambert Crawford?

Senator Lambert Crawford? Yes.

That's who Karen Weiler was working for at the time she was murdered. She

believed that he, Michael Fitzmarsh, Robert Irwin... Robert Irwin, the

And that whiz kid who ran the senator's re -election campaign, Jed Palmer.

She told my client... who worked for the newspaper, that they were up to

something involving a lot of money and a lot of secrecy. Now, doesn't it stand

to reason that's why she was murdered?

What kind of proof did she have?

She didn't.

And neither do I.

He told her she'd be helping her country, Your Honor. She was tricked

making that confession.

Your Honor, I was approached and fooled by these same men. My client is

innocent. I want to clear her of these charges as soon as possible, but I need

the time to find these phony federal agents.

Your Honor, I'd like a continuance.

Denied. Next suggestion.

Then I'll move for a mistrial.

I'll deny that, too.

Well, how'd it go?

He couldn't be removed from the bench. He should be removed from the planet.

That well, huh?

Cheer up.

Remember the car that followed Michelle and Jed Palmer to his apartment? The one

that belonged to those alleged G -men?

Yeah. Well, I traced the license plate and found out who it's registered to.

Who? The Leland Group.

Who's the Leland Group?

It's some kind of giant holding company. But the most interesting thing here is

the legal counsel that they've retained here in Washington.

Who?

Robert Irwin.

Oh.

How about getting together with Jed Palmer?

See what he knows about this Leland group and Robert Irwin.

Is there a problem?

No. No problem.

I've got some espresso.

It'll be ready in just a minute.

Oh, no, none for me, thank you. No, it's no problem.

I need to talk to you.

I've got nothing against talking.

It comes in pretty handy sometimes.

You never know where it might lead.

I wasn't exactly forthcoming with you last time about who I am.

You're not Michelle Thomas?

I am, but I'm also an attorney.

I work with Ben Matlock.

Defending Melinda Stewart?

That's right.

You're very good.

Thanks. You, um... You set me up.

Set you up? Yeah, you had me completely fooled.

I didn't lie to you. No, but you kept certain things from me.

When I look at you, I see a bright, interesting woman.

Someone I can relate to. Someone I can be comfortable with.

A woman I can spend special time with.

You set me up.

What did you want from me? Just someone to answer your questions?

I'm really sorry.

I apologize.

But I need to ask you a couple more.

Why not?

Ever hear of the Leland Group?

Sure, some big conglomerate. Principal interest for oil, headquarters in

Houston, I think. Ask Michael Fitzmaurice. He used to work for them.

What's Robert Irwin's connection to them?

Afraid you'd have to ask him that.

What about his connection to Karen Weiler?

He ever have an affair with her?

Again, you'd have to ask him.

What about Crawford?

Have to ask him, too.

What about you?

Of what possible relevance is any of this?

Whoever actually killed her was very familiar with the burglar alarm system

her apartment, and I imagine very familiar with her.

Which rules me out.

I was at the Brazilian embassy that whole evening with 150 other people.

She told Melinda that your relationship with Senator Crawford went beyond being

a media consultant.

What's that supposed to mean?

I was hoping you'd tell me.

I wish I could, but I can't.

Too bad you can't ask Karen.

Yeah, too bad.

Well, thanks for the talk.

Anytime, Michelle.

And listen, next time you have a question to ask me, just ask.

Don't set me up.

Well, if it's information you were looking for, Mr. Matlock, you have

come to the right place.

You know, many people, my husband included, regard me as nothing but a

garrulous old fool.

Well, not only do I have eyes in my head, I have a brain as well.

Oh, I could tell that the instant I met you.

In fact, I said to Michelle, I said, Michelle, there is a smart woman.

You know what she said?

What? I know it.

Oh, she is such a wonderful girl. Oh, isn't she?

You are a very, very lucky man. I know. I know.

Now, what do you know about your husband's connection with the Leland

Well, more than I'm supposed to, I can tell you that. You know, I knew

was up when Robert started to lock the door of his study whenever they'd call

him at home.

Well, I mean, that only served to pique my desire to learn more.

Oh. So, did you?

Are you sure that you won't have one of these? They are quite... Delicious.

Oh, no, thank you, Mrs. Irwin. Oh, please.

Please, Clarissa.

You know, whenever anyone calls me Mrs. Irwin, I tend to look over my shoulder

expecting to see Robert's mother.

Which is a little disconcerting as she died seven years ago.

Oh.

Did you, uh, did you find out?

Oh, about what?

The Leland Group.

Oh, the Leland Group.

Excuse me. Mr. Matlock, you have a phone call from a Mr. Davies.

Which one?

All I know is he says it's an emergency.

Oh, please go ahead and take it. I'm in no hurry.

Uno mas.

This has been Matlock.

Hello?

Hey, Clarissa!

I'm telling you, there's a conspiracy afoot, and my client is innocent.

Is this the same client who confessed in open court? She was tricked into that

by the same people who kidnapped Clarissa Irwin.

Lieutenant, what is this all about?

Sorry to bother you, but Mr. Matlock here claims that your wife has been

kidnapped. Kidnapped? Do you have any idea where she is right now?

I know precisely where she is right now.

She's down in Texas at a spa called, uh, the Springs.

Call a place to get Mrs. Irwin on the line.

I know I had lunch with her, at least tried to. I really don't have time for

this. Call the maitre d' at Rex's.

We did. He says while you were on the telephone, Mrs. Irwin got up and left

two gentlemen.

Those gentlemen are impersonating federal agents.

Lieutenant, line one.

Mrs. Irwin?

Hello.

This is James Norris from the Washington, D .C. police.

Fine, thank you.

More to the point.

How are you, Miss Irwin?

Oh, sorry, Larissa.

Larissa? Ben Matlock, what in the world's going on? I do apologize for

up and leaving like that, but I'd entirely forgotten that I'd booked

for a stay down here.

And this fall is just dreadful about no -show.

I'm sorry, Ben, I have to go.

Whatever it is you're trying to pull, I advise you not to cry it again.

Think of it coming down and helping us clear this up.

I apologize.

Okay.

The Springs.

Yeah. Some kind of spa in Texas.

Well, what am I supposed to do when I find her? Talk to her.

We've got to find out what her husband's connection is with the Leland group.

Now, she was kidnapped.

I thought so.

Well, if she was... What if the people who did it don't want her to talk to me?

Find a way. You always do.

Their identification looked real.

It looked real. I honestly believed that they were federal agents.

So I did what they asked me to.

I confessed.

Melinda, did you shoot Karen Watt?

No.

That's all. Thank you.

Just tell me this, Mr. Stewart.

Were you lying the other day, or were you lying just now, or were you lying

times and have yet another tale to tell us?

Um, approach the bench, Your Honor.

Your Honor, I submit that you're impugning the credibility of my client

with your every word.

gesture, and expression.

And if you continue, I'll have no choice but to move to have your honor

disqualified for prejudice.

Lack of impartiality is probably the most serious charge that can be leveled

against someone in my position.

Are you certain that your observations are not colored by your own partiality,

Mr. Matlock?

Your honor, I'm supposed to be partial. I'm the defense.

Mr. Hobbs, are you aware of any demonstrations of prejudice on my part?

No, Your Honor, no.

Then I suggest not only that you reconsider your options, Mr. Matlock,

you bear this in mind as well.

I have never been removed for cause, but I have cited many, many lawyers for

contempt.

Do I make myself clear?

Should I repeat the question, Miss Stewart?

I lied before I admit that.

But I did not kill Karen Weiler. Let me point out that it doesn't excuse her

because she was lying before.

Mr. Matlock, I asked Miss Stewart the question.

Your Honor, I am this woman's defense attorney. I have the right to speak.

she confessed, she was not on the road.

She is under oath now. Her statement that she did not kill Karen Weiler is

the record.

Mr. Matlock, sit down.

Believe me, Mr.

Davenport, if discretion and results are what you want, the Springs is

unsurpassed. Good, because that's exactly what I'd heard.

And we are particularly adept at meeting the needs of people who are... Well

-heeled.

Well, since we seem to understand each other.

What exactly is your wife's problem?

She is, um... Fat.

Well, a weight problem is no problem for us.

Look, why don't I take you on a little tour, and I'll show you how we deal with

our food dependency.

as soon as I answer this call.

Please, why don't you have a seat outside, and I'll be right with you.

very much.

Yes, this is the manager.

No, we have not received those orders yet, and I would like you to check on

for me.

I don't know. I just... I just locked myself out.

Tyler, you've got to get back in there and get Clarissa out. Whoever we're

dealing with might decide to make her stay permanent.

Do you understand?

Okay, okay.

I'll be in touch.

Clarissa Irwin is at that spa in Texas under heavy sedation.

Well, the Springs is owned by the Leland Group.

I'm going to listen to the tapes that Melinda made of her interviews with

See if there's anything on them that might tell us something Melinda may have

overlooked. As usual, you're two steps ahead of me.

Where are you going?

Once you get a fire started, you've got to stir the pot.

There's always work to be done. That's why I love this job.

This country never stands still. It's always moving.

Growing. Changing.

I have helped clean up after World War II.

Done my damnedest to prevent World War III.

Come through missile crises, oil crises.

Overseen aid to our schools, aid to our farmers.

Never the same thing twice.

I like to think that means that we must have been doing something right.

I admire people.

public office. I really do.

Didn't you become chairman of the Senate committee that polices the activities

of big oil companies about the time of the oil crisis? That's right. I have

reason to believe that the Leland Group, you're familiar with the Leland Group,

are you? Yes, of course. It's a conglomerate which owns several oil

I have reason to believe that the Leland Group is somehow involved.

in Karen Weiland's murder.

Why would they want to murder my secretary? I don't know.

I don't know, but I do know that Michael Fitzmaurice, your legislative

assistant, used to work for them.

Mike, step in here, please.

It could be that it's just a coincidence, or it could be that he's

watchdog who's supposed to make sure that a certain elected official...

holds up his end of whatever deal, was struck with this Leland group.

I don't think I like what you're implying, Mr. Matlock.

What's going on?

I was just sounding out a couple ideas on the senator here, asking if he thinks

maybe a person who thought he was facing retirement might have gotten a little

greedy and allowed himself to be bought off. After all, 40 years is a long time

to remain idealistic, isn't it, Senator?

What the hell are you suggesting?

Well, nothing.

Nothing. Just shooting off my mouth, I guess. It comes from sitting in a

courtroom all day.

Oh, um... I spoke with that security guard about your

being up here working with the senator at the time of the murder.

He said that he saw you around 8.

And the murder occurred at Karen's apartment.

I'm not.

Mrs. Irwin.

Mrs. Irwin, wake up.

You're being released.

You can change in the truck.

Truck? Oh, yeah, and we're all out of wheelchairs, so you can ride.

Truck?

Wait a minute. Hey, wait a minute. Let me give you a hand there, pal.

Jeez,

what you got in here, a dead cow?

That's it.

I'll be insulted no more.

Did you sleep with the senator?

Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. Karen, I need details.

Telling you all this is making me feel... Maybe this is a mistake. No,

Please, keep going.

What about Jed Palmer?

You get anything?

Anything usable?

Not so far, but maybe.

Sid Palmer.

He can make you feel like somebody special.

He said I was a bright, interesting woman.

Somebody he could relate to.

Somebody he could be comfortable with.

Somebody he could spend special time with.

Well, I guess it was special he got what he wanted.

I slept with him for a while.

Then it was over.

And on the off chance that there are still women in this town he hasn't slept

with, somebody ought to warn them.

He's a user, and he's got more lines than Shakespeare.

I don't believe it.

He makes me feel like a louse for not being totally honest with him, and then

turns right around and looks me straight in the eye and gives me the same line.

Boy, he's in for it.

Wait a minute. You can't go over there. He might be the one who killed Karen.

Then he's really in for it.

I think we should freeze frame, right?

Here, on the kid's eye.

Super the client's name here.

And have a voiceover say, let's start tomorrow today.

Vote for Hal Rice, that kind of thing.

Yeah.

I need to see you, Mr. Palmer.

Take five.

Mm -hmm.

I heard what Karen Weiler said about you.

I listened to a tape of an interview she did with Melinda.

Guess what?

She said we had an affair.

You could say that, yeah.

I also checked with the Brazilian embassy.

Guess what?

Now, wait a minute. I was there. You arrived around 10.

Karen was murdered around 9.

Are you saying I'm a suspect?

You, Senator Crawford, Michael Fitzmaurice, and Robert Irwin.

Michelle. I didn't kill her.

Just like you didn't sleep with her?

All right, I lied. I was trying to be discreet.

In my profession, it's called perjury.

I just didn't want to say something that might jeopardize our... our

budding relationship.

Budding relationship?

You say I'm a bright, interesting woman, someone you can relate to, someone you

can be comfortable with.

That's the same line you used on Karen.

All you were trying to do is get me where you got her.

Truth and lies are the same with you, something you just edit in or out.

You either wave it around like a flag or you shove it in a drawer, whichever

happens to suit your professional or sexual needs.

One woman is dead.

And another faces life imprisonment and all you're worried about is our budding

relationship?

Well, don't.

Because there ain't one.

Oh.

I feel like I've been asleep for days.

You have been.

There's a thermos of coffee on the floor.

Oh, you dear thing. What foresight.

Any idea why your husband would do this to you?

I know precisely why he did this to me.

It was because of what I was about to tell Ben.

What?

Thorold Flatt.

Who is Thorold Flatt?

I thought it was a who at first, too.

To be honest, I thought it was one of Robert's mistresses.

Something he was hiding from me out of etiquette.

It's funny, I realized he was hiding it from me because he really didn't want me

to know.

But of course I made it my business to find out.

He must have known I would.

Mrs. Irwin, what is Sorrow Flat?

Oh, please, please call me Clarissa. Whenever anybody calls me Mrs. Irwin, I

just, I feel so terribly uncomfortable.

Clarissa, what is Sorrow Flat?

A tank farm.

A tank farm.

Where they store oil.

Only there isn't any oil at Sorrel Flat.

There isn't.

No, my husband and his friends have been selling the government oil that doesn't

exist.

You sure?

Are we in the middle of nowhere?

Not anymore.

We're heading for home.

Hello, Michelle.

Now, before you get excited, this is not an apology.

Then what is it? Another come on?

Crawford, Fitzmaurice, Irwin, and I, we were all taking payoffs from the Leland

Group.

Actually, mine was more of an annuity, money they promised me when I agreed to

run Crawford's re -election campaign.

What was it for the others?

I don't know.

They'd pull me over to Crawford's office every couple of months.

Fitzmaurice would pass out the cash he got down in Houston.

Then we'd all go our separate ways, no questions asked.

Who was calling the shots?

Irwin. The night of the murder, too?

In fact, he called me that night.

He said that Karen had stolen a ledger from Crawford's desk. There was nothing

incriminating in it, but it proved that she was the one leaking information to

Melinda at the Trib.

He said the others were at Crawford's office discussing the situation.

He asked me if I had any ideas. I said no, and finally hung up.

That still doesn't explain why you were late to that reception.

I was in bed with a married woman.

How do I know this is the truth?

Sure as hell isn't a come on.

No, absolutely not. No way.

He's not signing anything.

Not till we get the release. That's what we agreed on, and that's the way it's

going to stand.

You can tell him I'm sorry.

Are you busy, Mr. Irwin?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.

Too busy to say hello to your wife?

That's right, Robert, darling.

I escaped from that hellhole that you packed me off to.

If you're responsible for this, you're through.

Any number of doctors, uh...

will testify that my wife's mental health is precarious at best. He knows

Sorrel Flats.

You know those big waterlogged oil tanks that belong to all those rich friends

of yours?

Now see what you've done. She's totally mad.

You're drowning.

And if you think I'm going to keep lying about where you were when that pathetic

creature was murdered, then you're the one who's mad.

Clarissa... He was not home having dinner with me that night. In fact, I'll

damned if I know where he was.

I know about the Leland Group.

I know about the fraudulent oil sales.

I know about your meeting in the senator's office after Karen stole that

Is there anything else I should know about?

Get out.

It's all coming unraveled.

Yeah.

It's going to be every man for himself.

So it was Robert Irwin that killed her?

Well, I'm not certain it was him.

What are we looking for?

I don't know.

Maybe the police overlooked something. I mean, they had Melinda. Maybe they

missed something.

Yeah, but the only fingerprints they found belonged to her. Yeah.

Whoever did it did a pretty good job of cleaning up.

Well, we know he set the burglar alarm before he ran.

And he had to have deactivated it before he entered.

He must have wiped off the panel. There weren't any prints found at all, not

even hers.

Yeah.

Yeah, he did a pretty good job of cleaning up.

I

wonder

if Karen had big hands.

I don't know.

It's like a medium or a large.

You think... Well, it might be.

Somebody used these to clean up after the murder and then put them back in the

bucket where he found them.

Now, that is a good theory.

Why don't we take them down to the lab and have a technician turn them wrong

side out real careful?

You want... Yeah, let's take the whole thing.

You got it.

My name is Lambert Crawford. I'm a United States senator.

I reside in San Antonio, Texas, and I also have a residence in the District of

Columbia. Thank you, Senator.

For the past ten years, you've been chairman of a Senate committee that

monitors, among other things, federal oil purchases. Is that correct?

Yes, it is.

And the oil the government purchases from an oil company called...

The Leland Group is stored at a place called Sorrel Flats. Is that correct?

I don't recall offhand. I'd have to check my records.

And I have to ask of what possible relevance is any of this? I'm

foundation, Your Honor.

The defense contends that Karen Wilde was killed because she was convinced

that you and three other men were part of a conspiracy. Are you aware of that,

Senator? I've heard that rumor, yes.

Now, isn't it true that this Leland group made substantial contributions to

last campaign?

Again, I don't recall offhand, but I'm sure if they did, they were legitimate.

Isn't it true they did that because they were extremely eager that you maintain

your post as chairman of that Senate committee?

All my political supportees were interested in my keeping my Senate post.

Isn't it true that this Leland group...

has sold millions of dollars of non -existent oil to the government.

Not to my knowledge, no.

And isn't it true you would warn them whenever government officials were going

to make spot checks of their storage tanks so they could move the existing

around, making 3 ,000 barrels look like 300 ,000?

I have no knowledge of anything like that. And isn't it true that you and

other men

accepted payoffs for your part in this very lucrative conspiracy. And isn't it

true that Karen Wyler was on the verge of finding out about it? And isn't it

true that's why she was killed?

Objection. No foundation. No relevancy.

Speculation. Sustained.

Mr. Matlock, you are out of order. You aren't establishing foundation here.

You're using this witness as an excuse to speculate, and I won't have it.

Either you provide this court...

with proof of what you're saying, or you move on to a legitimate line of

questioning.

Yes, sir.

We're checking into your Swiss bank account.

That's not a question. Mr. Matlock, I instruct you to move on with your

questions. Yes, sir.

Was Karen Weiler your mistress?

She was my secretary. Now, careful, Senator.

Remember those department store charge cards you gave her?

The bills would come into the office each month, be paid out of office

I don't know anything about this. She must have done it behind my back.

How often did you go to her apartment? Once a week? Twice a week? That's not

true. Did you tell her it was over? Did you cut it off? Is that why she went to

Melinda Stewart with what she knew of the conspiracy? Maybe to get back at

No. Is that why you decided it'd be best for all concerned if she were dead?

No, that's not true. I swear it.

I cared about Karen.

I could never kill her.

Never.

That's it for this line of questioning, Mr. Matlock.

You and your client may revel in gossip and scandal, but I assure you this court

does not.

We're going to take a recess for lunch now, Counselor. And when we return at 2

.m., you will begin to elicit relevant testimony. And only relevant testimony.

Is that clear?

You had to do it.

I know it.

I sure wish he hadn't gotten involved in all this.

I guess what the old folks used to say is right.

You want to catch a fellow doing something he's not supposed to, let him

himself.

I didn't think it would work.

I figured he'd come in here, find somebody else at the burglar alarm,

something was up, and turn right back around.

Well, desperation.

Desperation and opportunism. Mr.

Fitzmaurice here saw an opportunity to cash in on what I did to Senator

in court today.

You saw an opportunity to frame him real good.

You weren't about to let that go by, were you?

Time clasp.

Elsie Lambert Crawford slept here.

He didn't sleep here.

He wasn't having an affair with Karen. You were.

That's how come you have a key.

That's how come you know the code to the burglar alarm.

That's absolutely not true.

That's not real proof.

Well, combined with your fingerprints in those kitchen gloves,

the kitchen gloves you used to clean up after the murder cast a long

shadow on you.

Has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor. We find the defendant, Melinda Stewart.

Not guilty.

Great. Thank you.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury.

I would expect the United States Attorney to conduct a full investigation

this conspiracy.

This court is adjourned.

Thanks. You are wonderful.

Thank you. Thank you.

I've got to get to the paper. Thanks again. Goodbye.

Bye.

Congratulations. Thank you.

And thanks for leveling with me before.

Maybe I was wrong about you.

No, you weren't.

Just got a phone call from some people at the Leland Group asking me to help

prepare some of the damage this trial has done to their corporate image.

Guess what I said.

Good luck.

Mr. Matlock.

I'm in trouble.

The trial's over, Ben. Well, not till he has his last word. You go ahead.

Yes, sir?

Matlock, you use me.

I don't know what you mean.

Oh, yes, you do.

You knew I'd stop your examination of Lambert Crawford, didn't you?

Well, I figured you would.

And you knew the killer might take this opportunity to plant new evidence at the

scene of the crime?

Yes, I hoped you would.

And it was all dependent on me, wasn't it?

Yes.

You're using me.

I suppose.

Matlock, I could hate a man for knowing me that well.

Or you could think a person like that was such a fine lawyer you'd let him buy

you a drink.

You're way out of line.

Well, it's been a long day.

Hasn't it?