Original subtitles

May I help you?

Hey, wait a minute.

Excuse me. I said may I help you? This is Congressman Pete McGinnis.

Mr.

Gerard.

No.

Not Gerard. Gentry.

Craig Gentry. What are you... I know for a fact your name is Gerard. Son of Sam

Gerard. One of the biggest prime lords on the eastern seaboard.

Get out of here.

I'm Pete McGinnis, U .S. Congressman.

This is a subpoena.

You are hereby summoned to appear at the hearing I'm conducting to investigate

the infiltration of organized crime within the Atlanta business community. I

said get out of here!

Detachment, Salton Batter.

I'll see you at the hearing, Mr. Gerard.

This is very awkward.

The congressman is right.

Sam Gerrard is my father.

But I haven't seen or spoken to him in ten years.

I don't approve of what he does any more than you do.

It's why I changed my name, and it's why I'm on my own.

I'm sorry to put you through this, but I...

project is very important, not just to me, but to a lot of people, and I just

hope that what happened here today won't adversely affect your decision to go

forward with this development.

I'm afraid we're going to need a little more time to consider your proposal.

Am I correct?

Gentlemen, I will go and see the congressman.

I'll give him my full cooperation, and I will ask that my name, this company,

and this development be kept out of it.

Well, we need more time to think about it.

Sam Gerard?

One and only.

That's big -time underworld.

Your father?

I'm talking big -time underworld.

How come you never told me? I never told anybody.

All through your divorce trial, you never told me.

Ten years ago, I made a deal with my father.

I don't ask him for anything, and he doesn't ask me for anything.

Hell, I never even told Diane.

He never told you why?

No.

I'm sorry I didn't level with you. It's just that as far as I'm concerned, Sam

Gerrard isn't my father.

Oh.

I guess I get the picture.

Well, we better go talk with that congressman.

looking for Congressman McGinnis? In here.

Oh, yeah.

Congressman Ben Matlock, we spoke on the phone. Mr. Matlock. Oh, yeah.

My client and I are not clear just what it is you're working on,

Congressman.

Mr. Matlock, we believe that syndicate money has been finding its way into

legitimate businesses down here.

And the congressional committee that I chair finds that very disturbing, so

been checking into it.

And guess what?

According to background checks of the key personnel of some of the businesses

around here, it's no rumor.

Well, what does that have to do with my client? He's a legitimate businessman.

That may be.

But he doesn't exactly do business under his birth name, does he? We're just

checking. That's all. A man changes his name. I don't see why that...

So Sam Gerrard's my father.

But the reason I changed my name is because I'm sick and tired of being

persecuted by wimps like you. Wait a minute, wait a minute. He didn't mean

Congressman, my client has done all in his power to divorce himself from

his family and its reprehensible activities.

He himself is very legitimate. He has nothing to hide.

Then what better way to prove it than by showing up at that hearing? Mr. Gentry

is prepared to cooperate with you fully. He asks only in return that you not

make his appearance and testimony public.

Part of our purpose here is to send a message.

The more we make public, the better.

My client is involved in some very sensitive negotiations concerning a

housing development, which could mean that thousands of families... Pete, we

made the news. Channel 7.

No deals, Mr. Matlock.

Sorry. Congressman Pete McGinnis, armed with a subpoena, went into this office

building today and confronted Craig Gentry. I knew Seven was there, and

what happened. You are hereby summoned to appear at the hearing I'm conducting

to investigate the infiltration of Atlanta's business community by

crime. I said get out of here.

Damn you!

Damn you!

Hey, hold it! Get out of here.

He's threatening me, Counselor. I'm going to get you, I swear!

You want to just go somewhere and cool off, call me tomorrow?

Pete? Yeah.

I'm going home.

You need anything else?

No, thanks, Ken.

You have a good one.

You too. Good night.

Good night.

Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're ready.

That's right, Gary. We're coming to you live from the office building at 15589

Peachtree Avenue. We're investigating an unconfirmed report that Congressman

Pete McGinnis has been involved in some kind of assassination attempt or maybe

even worse.

The police are arriving now. Maybe they can tell us more.

Officer.

Officer.

Sir, any idea what's happened up there?

What

was

he doing in the building?

Must have been working late.

He always worked late. He was the hardest worker I've ever seen.

Morning, Lieutenant.

Morning.

Is this building locked at night?

Yes.

Night watchman is the only one who can let you in after 8 .30. That's when he

locks up.

And when is the door unlocked?

Seven in the morning.

Then whoever did this either checked out with the night watchman or left this

morning. Well, they're still in the building.

I think you should search the whole place right now and talk to everyone.

Someone might have seen the killer.

Yes, sir.

Morning. Lieutenant.

There's a file missing.

Craig Gentry's.

So where'd you go after you left the congressman?

I, uh... I just got in my car and I drove.

Finally ended up in a bar.

Had several nice stiff drinks.

Oh.

What was that?

It's around 9 .15, 9 .30.

Congressman was killed between 8 and 10 a year, 9 .15, 9 .30. They'd put you at

the bar right in the middle.

Talked to anybody there?

The place was practically deserted. I talked to the bartender.

I'm a regular, and we've gotten to be friends.

Well, that's good.

That's good that might be a help, friends.

That's good. What's his name?

Michael Patrick Xavier Morrison.

Most people call me Mickey.

Occupation?

The bartender at the Blue Moose Lounge.

You know a Craig Gentry?

Yeah. He's a regular customer.

Did he come in last night?

No, not last night.

You sure?

Hey, if he'd have been there, I'd have seen him.

So what time did you leave the Blue Moose?

11 .30, I guess.

Where'd you go then?

I just went home. I got undressed, I did a little reading, and I went to sleep.

You didn't go anywhere else just for a drive to the bar and home?

Yeah. That's right.

I saw him going to 15589 Peachtree Avenue.

What time was that, Mr. Filvers?

820, 825.

You think you'd recognize him if you saw him again?

I got mugged by a fair one, and they never caught the guy.

After that, I've always made it a point of giving people a real good look. I

never forget a face.

See you in there?

Bingo.

That's the guy.

All right, Mr. George. Come with us.

Uh, excuse me.

I'm Ben Matlock, Mr. Gentry's lawyer. Where are you taking me? We're booking

for first -degree murder.

What's your evidence?

About two hours ago, we got a warrant to search his home.

We found a blood -stained knife in the trash can.

Just got the lab report. It's the murder weapon.

And we have a witness that can place him at the scene of the crime at the time

of the murder.

Come on.

I guess this one stabbed right to the heart, huh?

Yeah.

So, when does the coroner put the time of death?

How's that?

When does the coroner put the time of death?

Sometime between 8 .35.

That's when one of the congressman's co -workers last saw him alive, and I

believe it was 10.

Well, do you think I should go find the night watchman?

Who?

The night watchman.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

The thing is, if we can get over and find this guy.

You go back to the station and take care of this thing right here. Okay, I'll

have a lab report for you at around 4 p .m. All right.

Hi.

Hi, nice to see you again. I'm sorry, I didn't get your name.

It's Weber, Lieutenant Weber. Ben Matlock. Uh -huh.

Are you new to homicide?

I was the liaison between the department and the congressman's investigation.

I know the ins and outs of his operation, so I guess it just made sense

reassign me temporarily.

Oh, yeah.

About the ins and outs of the case... Excuse me. Ken?

This is Ben Matlock. This is Ken Long.

Ken was the congressman's right -hand man. How do you do? I'll help.

I have something to take care of. Yeah.

As I say, I'm Ben Matlock. I'm Craig Gentry's lawyer.

Yes, I know.

Yeah.

So, all these files, surely you're investigating people

other than Mike Lyon.

Yes, a lot of people.

My client was the only one who came in here and made threats.

Yes, you could say that.

Well,

Carl Benedict.

He's supposed to be pretty big in organized crime.

Yeah, we were looking at him pretty closely.

And the Martinez family, too.

From South America, drugs, very violent. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Three -quarters of what you see around here has to do with those two families.

But none of their files were stolen.

Just your clients.

Let me ask you something. Does it seem odd that my client would come in here,

kill the congressman, and only take just his own file?

Doesn't that seem kind of stupid?

Yeah. Pretty dumb.

Maybe it should tell you something.

What time was it when you locked the front door last night?

8 .30.

Just like always.

So then what happens when someone wants to get into the building after you've

locked the door?

I have to let everyone in or out.

Even the people who work in the building?

Nobody has a key to that door except me, and it's on my person at all times.

And you didn't let anybody in or out the whole night?

No, I didn't. Okay.

What time did you open the door this morning?

At 6 .50.

I let in Kenneth Long. He's the one who found the body. And then when the police

showed up, I unlocked the door again and left it open.

And there's no other way someone could have come in or out of the building?

Not without setting off an alarm.

Well, maybe the killer spent the night in the building and then slipped out

after you opened the door for the police.

Hmm.

I appreciate you letting me come in early like this. Yeah, well, you won't

if I continue working.

I gotta open up in a half an hour. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. You go right ahead.

So... So that's pretty much where you were that night of the murder, behind

bar, working.

Yeah, that's right.

So would you have a pretty good crowd that night?

No. It's real slow.

When Craig Gentry comes in, where does he usually sit?

Just about where you're sitting.

But you didn't see him that night?

No.

I didn't see him because he wasn't here.

As square as he was.

Yeah, well, then he's lying.

You know, something doesn't make sense.

A man's going to kill somebody, like Craig's supposed to have killed this

congressman. And he comes up with an alibi that won't hold water.

And he knows that it won't hold water before he comes up with it.

Like Craig said, he was at the bar here with you.

And if he wasn't, then he has to know that you know that.

Does that make any sense?

Ask your client.

Well, maybe I'll ask him.

Mr. Morrison!

I'm Ben Matlock.

We know.

Yeah!

That's possible, right?

Mr.

Matlock? Yes, sir.

Carl Benedict.

Oh, that was a nice catch.

Thank you.

Why haven't we met before, Mr. Matlock? I don't know. I hear you're in court

almost as much as I am.

I was just looking at your cars.

Anybody drive a blue sedan?

No.

Are you here to talk about cars or Congressman McGinnis?

Oh, yeah.

I understand he was scrutinizing your activities.

Yes, of course.

Did that bother you?

I'm always under scrutiny.

Paul.

Where was I on the night Congressman McGinnis was murdered?

You were here, sir, the whole night.

Would you like to step inside?

Yeah.

Well,

hey.

So,

uh, how are you getting along with Sam Girard?

He has his business, I have mine.

How can I best put this?

Yeah, if Congressman McGinnis' investigation was getting to you,

what better way to put an end to it than to just kill him and frame the son of

my worst enemy?

No.

If Sam Gerard ever got that idea into his head, it would mean serious

for a lot of people.

I guess so. Some people say that you're working for the Gerard family now.

Oh, no, that's not true. I work for Craig Gentry.

Let me presume to give you a piece of advice.

This is a potentially explosive situation.

Treat it very carefully for all of our sakes, including yours.

Oh?

I'll see myself out.

That'll be fine.

How long am I supposed to stay here? Just until things calm down.

Thank you.

Tyler.

Yeah.

How long have you been a private eye?

Well, I've been working for Ben Matlock a couple years now. Why?

Because that man's got the drop on you.

Outside.

You follow.

You're dead.

I'd like you to meet someone.

Tyler Hudson, this is Sam Gerrard.

How do you do?

You tell me.

Mr. Matlock?

Yeah? Over here, please. This car will take you directly to the penthouse.

Oh?

Hands against the wall, please.

What? It's just a formality. Put your hands against the wall.

Please.

Should I feel honored, or is this treatment everybody gets? No exception,

Thank you for your cooperation.

This way, please.

Mr.

Matlock. I'm an admirer of yours.

Elliot Atkins. I'm Mr. Gerard's in -house counsel.

Oh. I'll be coming over to your office later on with all the information we

on the Benedict Martinez business.

Where is Tyler Hudson?

He's around somewhere.

Would you like a drink?

I want to see him.

You're concerned that he's not okay?

I assure you he's fine.

After he called you, he and a couple of our men ordered some lunch.

Where is Sam Gerard?

Mr. Gerard is in conference at the moment.

Hey, I'm not through.

Hey!

Can you understand? I want you out.

I want you out of that courtroom. I want you out of Atlanta.

I want you out of my life. I'm doing this for you.

This isn't about me.

This is about your pride.

This is about your family name. This is about your honor.

This is between you and Carl Benedict and nobody else, least of all me.

But you're a Gerard. Nobody does this to a member of my family.

So what are you going to do?

Start a good old -fashioned war?

Kill a couple dozen people? Not for me. Please.

Once more, I am not a Gerard.

I am not a member of your family.

Just go home.

Mr. Medlock?

Oh, Mr. Gerard.

How's his defense coming?

Well, we've only just started.

Have you found out who planted the murder weapon in this house?

No, not yet.

Do you know who told the cab driver to lie about seeing him enter that

Or the bartender about not seeing him in his bar?

No, we're looking into that.

It's the Benedicts, Mr. Matlock.

They're the ones who framed my son.

The Benedicts.

Oh, do you have proof of that?

I'll leave that to you.

I'll stay out of this and give the legal system a chance.

But if you fail, it's my turn.

I'd like to say a couple of things. Of course.

I, of course, know who you are.

And I work for, um... I'll go ahead and say it.

Your son.

And if you really want to help your son, you'll... Go back to New York.

I'm not going anywhere until this matter is settled.

I really hope you won't do anything to prejudice this jury.

And one other thing.

I'm going to overlook that little stunt your men pulled with my friend today.

But if you do anything like that again, I will file charges for kidnapping.

Now, have someone take me to Tyler Hudson.

Mr. Matlock.

Good luck.

Next time, I'm going to teach you a game where only one eye jacks the wild.

They're placing the body of Congressman McGinnis into the coroner's wagon now.

Again, he died of some kind of chest wound.

There's no official word yet as to how that wound was inflicted.

Apparently, no weapon was found in the scene. Right.

Hi.

Ben said you might...

Need a little help.

Well, I was hoping that somebody inadvertently got a shot of the killer

out of the building that morning amid all the chaos.

Mm -hmm.

That's all we have to report at the moment to repeat.

Moment to repeat. We have a definite confirmation that United States... Let

see. That's all we have to report... Or that limo driver was in an awful hurry

to get out of there once he realized he was on camera.

I can see why.

You recognize him?

That is Rene Morales, one very bad dude. Works for the Martinez outfit.

What outfit is that?

Well, they're the kind of people that would slaughter pen to get back at two.

Somebody's going to have to go ask this Morales guy what he was doing outside

the building that morning.

Oh,

you learn so fast.

Susie.

Bartender, killing line.

Oh, what the hell?

He says, occasion like what?

Renee Morales' birthday!

He says,

it's not his birthday.

Is that a...

He says yes.

Well, I am glad to hear that, because this is the sixth bar that I've been to,

and it's the first one that really knows who he is. So why don't you tell him to

come on over here, because old Tyler Hudson is prepared to buy him a drink.

Or something.

Think with me.

And

what

do you want with Renee?

I just want to talk with her.

Tyler Hudson, private investigator.

Are you aware your driver's license has expired?

You're kidding.

Two months ago.

Damn.

Whatever questions you have for Rene Morales, you can ask me.

Who are you?

Juanita Martinez.

You run the Martinez gang?

There is no such thing as a Martinez gang, Mr. Hudson.

But as an attorney, I am looked upon by many as a leader in my community.

And at this moment, I certainly speak for Rene Morales.

So tell me what the hell you want, and tell me quickly.

I had worked for Ben Medlock. He was representing Craig Gentry.

Rene Morales was seen parked outside of Congressman McGinnis' office the morning

after the murder.

I was just wondering... If he had anything to do with the murder? Well, he

didn't. He was there because I had him drive me there.

Oh, you were in the limo.

Congressman McGinnis subpoenaed me to testify at his hearing.

I went there to reason with him.

That is all I care to discuss.

You are free to go.

That sounds like a good plan.

Oh, thank you.

You owe $25 for the drinks you bought.

Wish Rene Morales a happy birthday for me.

Whenever he has one.

There you are.

Everything you've always wanted to know about the Benedicts, but were afraid to

ask. Let's get one thing straight right here and now.

It's Elliot.

Elliot Charles Atkins.

Magna Cum Laude, Colgate University, Columbia Law School, Law Review.

Graduated top ten of your class.

Draped from law school to one of the largest firms in New York.

You've done your homework.

So have you. Do the Benedicts know this much about you?

Not if I have anything to say about it.

Tell me, Elliot.

Why give up the law to work for the Gerards?

I got to Colgate.

even though my family was very poor because I worked eight hours a day and

carried a full class load. I got a scholarship to law school because I

hard for it, and I quit that big law firm because I didn't want to become an

indentured servant to some legal corporation.

These were the only two alternatives.

I'd love to do that.

So, Craig Gentry is like a brother to you.

Actually, I hardly knew him.

If a war broke out between the Gerards and the Benedicts and the Gerards won,

you'd have a whole new territory, wouldn't you?

The Gerard family would, yes.

And you're the heir apparent.

You're flirting with the idea that I framed Craig Gentry in order to start a

war.

It's more than a flirtation. It's a real possibility, isn't it?

Where to?

I'm gonna buy you a drink.

You're welcome.

I'll have a club soda and... Two club sodas with lime.

Coming up.

Now, you think the people I work for, the Gerards, you think they're nothing

a bunch of gangsters, right?

Right. Nothing could be further from the truth.

It's a business.

Very rich, very successful, very powerful business.

Take Sam Gerrard, his son, being framed for murder.

He knows it.

He's very upset about it.

Now, in the old days, there'd be at least three bodies swinging from meat

But today, Sam's come.

Why?

Again, all he wants is to be a businessman.

For instance, Craig Gentry was in this very bar at the time of the murder. This

man here knows that.

Yet he told the police Craig wasn't here.

Someone paid him to lie?

Craig knows it.

I know it. Sam knows it.

Yet, he's still breathing.

Nobody's tied him up, shot a bullet through him, have they? No, of course

He's in the 80s.

As a matter of fact, do you have a subpoena on you?

Yeah. Sign it and let me have it.

How much do I owe you?

Four bucks.

That's fine.

And? This is a subpoena.

I'll see you in court.

Now, in the old days, he would have been tossed into the Chattahoochee with a

pair of cement overshoes. Today, that's the last thing Sam Girard wants to do.

Business.

Did I, uh, think with you?

No. Just for a moment.

It's a nice day for it, isn't it?

He's my son. I have a right to be here. That's correct.

But you're not here just for the boy.

You're here to intimidate those witnesses.

And if the court catches on to that, believe me, it's all over. Those men

witnesses. They're paid liars.

Well, that's my problem.

Getting the truth out of them is my job.

Now, it's a free society.

I can't tell you to stay or go.

But those men who are with you, I'd get them out of the courtroom before they

destroy everything we've got going for us.

Which isn't much right now.

I'm asking you to give me a shot at this.

Will you?

My name is Dick Silvers.

I live at 560 North Eaton.

And I worked for the Black and White Cab Company. Were you in the vicinity of

15589 Peachtree Avenue the night Congressman McGinnis was murdered?

Yes, I was. My dispatcher sent me over to pick up a fare.

About what time did you arrive, do you recall?

Yes, that was around 825.

You certain?

I got my trip sheet right here.

It shows the fare got in my cab at 828.

She only kept me waiting a couple of minutes.

While you were waiting...

How did you occupy your time?

The way I usually do.

I people watch.

So you were watching people going in and out of the office building.

But it was getting late. Most people were coming out of the building.

But I did see one person going into the building.

Who was that person, do you know?

Yes. That person sitting right over there at the table.

You mean the defendant, Craig Gentry?

That's right.

And yes, sir.

That's the man who entered the building where Congressman McGinnis has his

offices around 825, the night the congressman was murdered.

Absolutely, no doubt in my mind.

Thank you, Mr. Silvers.

Nothing further?

No questions, Your Honor.

Ben? Yeah?

Perkins. Oh. Only thing they had left.

Oh, they were still open. Good.

Oh, no, I had to bribe the counterman. I gave him my phone number.

At least he thinks it's my phone number.

Oh.

What's all this?

They're law books.

Oh, sometimes when I'm stuck and can't do anything, I open a lot of books and

makes me feel like... Like you're doing something. Doing something, yeah.

I'll tell you the truth.

Unless we have a rabbit pop up out of a hat, and pretty quick,

Craig Gentry could be convicted.

I wish there was something I could do to help.

Well, you have help.

No, I haven't. Yes, you have.

You looked at all that tape. You kept the office running, went to law school,

and gave the counterman your wrong number. Otherwise, my stomach would have

me awake all night.

You know, Ben, maybe you should go home. This isn't really the kind of case that

you should be working on alone late at night in a deserted building.

These people are professional criminals.

Ben Matlock's office.

May I tell him who's calling?

All right.

It's for you. Won't say who it is.

I don't think you should take it.

Hello?

Yeah.

Yeah, you don't say.

I'll be right there.

Be right where? Who was that?

That was that bartender.

He's decided he wants to talk.

Maybe he's a... A rabbit. Yeah.

Martin?

Mr. Martin?