Original subtitles

Let her go.

Hey.

Thank you.

Are you all right?

Yeah, I think so.

You sure?

Yeah.

Brian, you took a big risk for me.

I really owe you.

Please, it was nothing.

What do you mean? I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come

Excuse me. Sure.

Oh, Jason, hi.

Yeah?

Are you kidding? That much?

Wow, that's great.

Yeah, sure.

Count me in. Okay.

Thanks, Jason. You're the best.

Well, my day's looking up.

Is that your boyfriend?

A former, but we're still good friends.

He's an investment broker.

After we split up, he offered to invest for me.

Been making a lot of money.

You want some more coffee?

No, no.

I've really got to get back to work. Oh, me too.

Listen.

Thanks for the coffee.

Brian, thank you.

You're welcome.

Madeline.

I'm interrupting.

No, no, no, no. Come on in.

I didn't think I'd ever see you again.

How are you? Well, I couldn't be better.

What's this?

I told you, I invest in the market.

I added a few dollars for you, and the stock went up 22 points.

They announced a merger yesterday morning.

You knew?

Me? No. I don't know a merger from a takeover.

It's enough that Jason knows.

He knows about mergers before they happen?

Mm -hmm.

Your friend's involved in inside trading.

Well, I don't know that.

All right, maybe I do know it, but the important thing is that every time he

invests my money, he doubles or triples it.

You ever lose?

Once.

Would you do it for me?

I don't know. I could call him.

But I don't want you to risk your own money.

Taking a risk is how I met you.

You have a problem.

What?

What is it?

It's very serious.

What are you talking about?

How are you going to spend $2 ,500 of pure profit?

You're a kid.

You're wonderful.

Not only that, I'm rich.

Richer than I was yesterday.

$9 ,000.

That friend of yours, Edmonds, he knows what he's doing.

Has he got anything else?

I don't want to call him again.

You know you could lose.

Accountants know that.

Well?

There's going to be another major takeover in the next few days.

Jason says the stocks could jump 20 to 30 points.

I want in.

Why not?

I could get together 25 ,000.

I'll go to the bank tomorrow morning. Get the money.

Meet you here at noon.

Sounds like a plan.

Takes care of tomorrow.

What about tonight?

That's up to you.

Well, that's strange.

Where's the reception of Tina?

Well, maybe she's at lunch.

Come on.

Jason, it's me, Maddie.

Jason.

I thought he knew we were coming.

Somebody call the police.

We got to get out of here.

We can't leave him here.

Madeline, insider trading is illegal.

You want the police to come in here and find you standing over Jason's body with

$75 ,000 in cash?

Come on, let's go.

Okay, so I'll take the opposite to the right. Come on, there.

Here, let me have that.

What are you doing? The police are outside.

We'll meet about a place later.

I told you I want to see Jason. I'll do it later.

Get your stuff. I want to see him now.

I'm not getting out, so why don't you just drive?

Let's go.

I told you I'd meet you later.

But, baby, I wanted to see you.

I told her to get her stuff out of the apartment before she came here, but she

couldn't wait.

Lay off her, Jack.

Maddie knows what's important.

We are good together, aren't we? Classic. The best.

She gave him a little thrill or two, didn't you, Maddie?

It's only business, baby. You know that.

Please. Save it for the motel.

Come on, let's get on with it.

Okay, $25 ,000, right?

Plus $3 ,000 for the mark.

That's $1 ,000 for the boys at age 21.

That's a piece for us.

God, he was easy.

Okay, pay attention.

Tomorrow afternoon, Yvonne, between 3 .30 and 4, I'm going to bring the mark

here.

You conned me.

Yeah, we did.

You took me for $25 ,000. I want it back.

You invested it with someone you thought was an inside trader.

Shame on you, Davis.

Huh? What would your clients think?

Remember them?

The people who trust you to handle their money?

You can't cheat an honest man, Davis.

There's six thieves at this table.

I'm going to get you, Edmund.

I'm going to get all of you.

I don't know how. I don't know when.

But this isn't over yet.

I've never done anything illegal in my life. Forget it. Think of all the money

you're going to make.

That's why I'm here.

Jason.

I'll be on the phone.

Huh.

Uh, maybe we should wait outside.

No, no, he's probably just stepped out for a minute.

Oh, no.

Come on. We've got to get out of here.

Yeah.

There's got to be cops outside.

What if they see this?

They'll be killed before it. Don't! Don't!

Call the police.

This doesn't square things, Manny.

This is only a down payment.

Jason, get up. We blew it.

Jason.

Jason.

Give me the police.

Didn't it seem odd that you were taking cash to a stockbroker?

Sure. But I kept making money.

But your father left you plenty of money. Well, I made out the will.

Ben, it wasn't so much the money. I know, I know. Good -looking woman.

Easy money.

Just enough risk to increase your heartbeat.

Exciting, wasn't it?

They suckered me, Ben.

But I didn't kill Edmonds.

I hope not.

Unfortunately, security at Jason Edmonds' building has you on tape

that building at 2 .30.

That's an hour and a half before Madeline saw you in the stairwell. Where

you for 90 minutes?

I was waiting.

They said they'd be there between 3 and 4.

Here's something else you're gonna like.

Madeline Medford has turned state's evidence.

She's been given full immunity for her testimony, and she's a believer.

What? She believes you killed Jason Edmonds.

Who's going to believe a con artist anyway?

If she's good, everybody.

All right, we're covered.

Hey.

Oh, Bob, you finding anything?

I've been afraid not.

Victim was stabbed. Looked like he was sitting in his chair when it happened.

Yeah.

Boy,

you spent a lot of money.

Yeah, not really.

A lot of empty cubicles out there. In fact, the machine doesn't work. It's all

show.

Computer work.

It's plugged in, that's all. It's not piped into the Dow Jones.

What's all this?

Well, your stock symbols. I guess Edmonds wanted to make it look like he

following some stock.

Yeah.

And there have been some.

Excuse me. What can I get you? Yeah, I'm looking for Jack McCarthy.

Don't know him.

I'm told he frequents this place.

Don't know him.

It's okay.

I was expecting, Mr. Matlock.

Oh.

Nice suit.

Oh, thanks.

So, how's the investigation going?

Well, it's not easy.

There's too many people with motives.

Dozens of them all over the country. Matter in hell if you and your

colleagues... Well, what do you expect? I mean, we're con men, after all.

You act like you're proud of it. I do what I do, and I'm very good at it.

The way I hear it, you and Ms. Medford have worked together for years.

Maybe you figured you could do it better without Jason Edmonds.

A three -way split is harder than a two -way.

No, no, I don't kill people.

Oh, you don't? No, I don't believe in it, first of all. Secondly, you know, in

some states, You kill someone, they catch you, they kill you.

I mean, where's the percentage in that?

Where were you before you showed up at Mr.

Edmund's office?

With my mark, Kenneth Roberts.

For two hours.

Honest.

Do you know anyone in here owns a blue Lincoln?

Nope. What about it?

Well, I hid it.

It's just a small dent, but I wanted to alert the owner.

Yeah,

well, could be worse.

Oh, Mr. McCarthy, I can't believe I did this.

How's your car?

Not a scratch.

Look, if it's all the same with you, I'd rather keep my insurance company out of

this.

Look, why don't you buy me a drink? We'll call it even.

Miss Medford, I appreciate your seeing me.

Just so you know, I don't like turning state's evidence.

It's just that the D .A. convinced me I wouldn't like prison.

Yeah, well, that's new.

I understand you and Jason Edmonds were close.

Very close.

I'm sorry. This must be a bad time for you.

You know what you can do with your sympathy, Mr. Medlock?

Wrap it up and send it to the federal prison where your client will be serving

life sentence. I'm going to get up on that stand and I'm going to bury him.

Ms. Medford, you amaze me.

You make a business out of breaking the law and then get mad when you think

somebody else might have.

If you've got a handbook with your code of ethics, I'd like to read it.

Yes. We have a very firm code of ethics.

We don't kill anybody.

The coroner has established the time of death as being between 2

and 3 o 'clock.

I don't suppose you were in Mr. Edmund's office between two and three?

It was more like four.

You can ask the police what time I called them.

And for three hours before that, I was at the 8th Street bar, and you can ask

half a dozen people.

I'll see you in court, Mr. Matlock.

Oh, we'll have dinner tomorrow, yeah?

No.

I'm not having dinner with you. Yeah, of course you're having dinner with me. I

already made reservations.

Well, you're sure of yourself, aren't you?

Well, you owe me. You banged up my car.

I'll pay the damage.

Forget it. That's not why you're having dinner with me.

You're going to have dinner with me because you want to.

Don't you?

You know, this... McCarthy is very

kind of, um... Captivating?

Yeah, in a way.

Yeah, he's a con man.

He has to be captivating.

He won't get to work. Not getting to work's hard on a person. Even a con man?

I guess so.

Did you find out anything about him?

No, nothing.

Phone's unlisted, and the company said they never registered a telephone to

McCarthy.

An alias, maybe.

Oh, yeah.

Well, how about a home address?

Nope.

Mr. Roberts?

Mr. Roberts?

I'm Ben Matlock, and this is Michelle Thomas.

We'd like to ask you some questions about Jack McCarthy.

It's private property. I want you to leave.

We just want to talk, Mr. Roberts. That's all.

I didn't do anything illegal.

Nobody's accusing you of anything.

We represent Brian Davis. Maybe you read about him in the newspaper and we just,

we need your help.

I'm sorry.

You must think I'm pretty stupid.

You're not the first person to fall for that con.

I knew it was wrong.

I never had a shot at easy money before.

It didn't seem like it was hurting anyone.

Jack McCarthy said that you and he were together for more than two hours before

you visited Jason Edmonds.

Yeah, I think so.

Except when I went to the bank to get the money.

And McCarthy didn't go with you? No.

No, we met back here before going over to the office.

How long were you here alone?

I don't know.

Half hour, maybe 45 minutes.

It has to be Chattanooga.

I cannot take my eyes off you.

The beautiful ring.

Is it?

Yes.

Where'd you get it?

I took it from a mark in Seattle.

You stole it.

Oh, no, no, no. It's nothing like that.

It takes something personal from a mark. It's like owning a piece of it.

It's just part of the game. That's all.

Huh.

You make it sound so harmless.

Who knows?

Nothing in life is harmless. Anybody at any time can

turn against you.

Life's one long surprise, Rochelle, as you're finding out tonight.

What do you mean?

Well, you're here, aren't you?

I mean, you know this is wrong.

And here you are.

If you're like me, you don't want this night.

I have coffee at your place.

I have a house guest.

That's what I said. I have coffee at my place.

No.

I've got a 40 -year -old bottle of brandy.

It saved me for a very special occasion. You can tell me if it lives up to its

reputation.

Did you steal it?

No.

I bought it.

I've got to go home.

You know that.

What does wanting have to do with anything?

No, I'm not like you. I can't just take whatever I want.

No, look.

I'm a lawyer. I work with Ben Matlock.

Yeah? So what? I know that.

How do you know that?

It's not important.

I know that.

Why didn't you say something before?

Because she would leave.

The game will be over.

I want you to take me home.

Evening, with the gas company.

Are you Jack McCarthy?

No, McCarthy's next door. I'm his landlord.

He isn't home.

Oh, that's okay. You can help me. I'm gonna have to check Mr.

McCarthy's premises, so I guess if you'll accompany me... What's the

Well, we have a report of a gas leak. A leak? What kind of leak?

Well, actually, we don't know.

Could be extensive, but we'll have to check it out and see.

You mean the house could blow up?

We at the gas company prefer not to think negatively, sir.

Helen, get out here. We're going for ice cream.

Thank you.

Helen, now!

Having a good time?

Yeah.

I'm hungry.

I'm so hungry I couldn't think.

How about you?

Uh, no.

I'm not that hungry.

That means you're having a good time.

Oh, I'm having a great time.

I just had this huge plate of waffles, smothered in fresh peaches, served up by

this sweet thing named Mary.

Investigation's going great.

What did you find out?

Well, our friend McCarthy, he makes his bed, he reads Elmore Leonard, and he

eats takeout Chinese.

That's all?

Yeah.

Except for, according to his phone bill, he calls San Francisco every Wednesday

at 6 p .m.

What do you think about that?

I think that's a long ways to call for Chinese takeout.

Now, what was your job in this particular con?

Well, my job is to retrieve the briefcase after they've left the

you do that?

I tried to, but when I got there, Brian Davis was holding it.

And what happened next?

I tried to take it from him, but I couldn't.

He was very angry, and I was afraid he might kill me.

Object. Move to strike.

Sustained. The witness's last remark will be stricken from the record.

Ms. Medford, you will refrain from speculating on the state of mind of the

defendant.

Do you remember what he said?

Yes, he said that taking the briefcase didn't square anything.

It was only a down payment.

No further questions.

Cross -examine, Mr. Matlock. No questions.

You may step down.

Call your next witness.

Prosecution rests, Your Honor.

Mr. Matlock, call your first witness.

Defense calls Jack McCarthy to the stand.

Mr. McCarthy, would you say that you and Jason Edmonds were close?

I'm not sure I understand the question.

Did he know your real name?

McCarthy is my name.

Well, yeah, now it is. But how about up in San Francisco where you were

arrested for a series of crimes?

Weren't you known as Leonard Mathis?

Objection, Your Honor. No relevance.

Improper impeachment.

Mr. Matlock, you should know better.

Rephrase the question.

Objection sustained.

Yes, sir.

Isn't it true that in the San Francisco area you were known as Leonard Mathis? I

don't know what you're talking about. Do you know a Sergeant Edward Higgins of

the San Francisco Police Department?

I can't say that I do.

That's very odd.

Sergeant Higgins says that you call him...

Every Wednesday at 6 o 'clock. That is the deal you made with the San Francisco

Police Department, isn't it?

Well, I guess I can't dispute both you and Sergeant Higgins.

Well, good.

Good. Good. How about this?

Jason Edmonds found out your real identity and threatened to turn you in

Atlanta police unless you gave him most of your share.

Of the con games the three of you were pulling.

No, Jason couldn't do that.

Because they were your best friends?

Friends.

Jason would sell his mother.

No, Jason couldn't blackmail me because the Atlanta police already know who I

am.

I'm famous.

According to the coroner's testimony, Mr.

Edmonds was killed between two and three.

And you showed up at his office with Mr. Roberts around four. Where were you

between two and four?

With Mr. Roberts the entire time. You were never out of each other's sight?

Never at all.

You know, since I got involved in this case, I've done a lot of reading

about the confidence game.

And there is a universal language.

among con men.

Have you ever heard the expression, the send?

Yeah, I've heard that expression.

Would you tell them what it means?

The send is when you send the mark to the bank to pick up the money to invest

the scam.

And when did you send Mr.

Roberts?

Mr. McCarthy?

Mr. Roberts?

is prepared to testify that between 2 and 2 .45, the day of the murder,

you sent him to the bank to get the cash for your phony investment deal. For 45

minutes, you were out of his sight. Where did you go?

Mr. McCarthy, you have no alibi for the time of the murder. I have to believe

that you killed Jason Edmonds.

You want an alibi, huh?

Okay.

During that 45 -minute period, I was in the office of the venerable police

sergeant, Harold Marks.

You're a police informer?

It's a deal I made with the DA's office.

They would pretend that San Francisco never happened if, in return, I would

them posted on the activities of...

various underground figures that they were interested in.

I think he just calls me that job.

And that's where you were for that 45 minutes, at the Atlanta Police

How's that for an alibi?

The best.

Cause examined?

No questions, Your Honor.

You may step down.

Due to the lateness of the hour, This court will stand in recess until 10 a

Monday morning.

Court is adjourned.

Good morning, the police.

I didn't think he had an alibi and the damn thing jumped up and bit me.

What do we do now?

I'm damned if I know.

Sergeant Mark said you're willing to help me.

Yeah, well, he didn't exactly give me much choice, did he?

I guess I am your Mark, Mr. Matlock.

Look at these.

Yeah.

It's Jason, looking very dead.

You notice anything unusual, even a small thing?

It's my business, Mr. Matlock.

to notice unusual things, maybe even especially small things.

Are you talking about this pale line here around his wrist?

Yeah.

He had a pocket watch.

What was he wearing on his wrist?

It's an ID bracelet.

His own, or did he steal it from somebody?

Well, I wouldn't know that, would I?

This was taken...

From the computer screen in Jason Edmonds' office. It's supposed to be a

stock samples, and they all are.

Except for this last one.

Any idea what that might be?

Beats me.

Whatever it is, it has to do with the con that you and Jason Edmonds were

pulling. I haven't a clue.

Somebody's initials, maybe?

Thanks.

You've done a world of help.

Anytime, Mr. Matlock.

After all, I am here to serve.

Well, Mr. Roberts, you're fairly new to Atlanta, aren't you? Yes, sir. I moved

here about three months ago.

Where from?

Denver, Colorado.

Oh, that's a pretty big change from Denver to Atlanta.

What prompted the move?

You ever spend a winter in Denver? Up there, these old bones never thawed out

until August.

So you're here permanent?

Oh, you bet. You know, from what I hear, you didn't buy a home

here. You're renting.

A nice little two -bedroom on Morgan Street.

And your furniture's rented, and so is your car. Everything about your life

is...

Temporary, disposable. It's hard to believe that you plan to stay in

Man, my age has to be careful.

I didn't want to invest a lot of money here in case things didn't work out.

I can understand that.

Do you remember the day you met Jack McCarthy?

I'm afraid so.

Where was it?

It was Narrowhead Park.

I was jogging.

His car broke down, and I gave him a lift.

Well, that's neighborly of you. I never was able to turn down somebody who was

in trouble.

Yeah, but what about this?

What if you drove up there to find Jack McCarthy?

You knew who he was, didn't you?

Well, that's not true.

I believe you knew Jack McCarthy was a con man, and you deliberately set

yourself up to be taken by him, didn't you, Mr. Roberts?

Well, why would I do that? For two reasons.

One, to get Jason Edmonds, that's the man you were after, and two, to give

yourself a perfect alibi.

Objection. No foundation.

Assumes facts, not an evidence yet. Your Honor, give me three minutes, and I'll

lay the foundation and place the facts and evidence.

Three minutes, Mr. Madlock.

Objection overruled. Thank you.

Now, the police believed that you were the innocent victim, and when you told

about this, 45 minutes that you and Jack McCarthy were apart, I immediately

focused on Jack McCarthy. You knew I would, didn't you?

I was just answering your question.

But you know, then, it occurred to me, if during that 45 minutes

you couldn't see Jack McCarthy, he couldn't see you either.

You conned the con man, didn't you?

Your Honor.

Two minutes and counting, Mr. Medlock. Time flies, Your Honor.

On the day of the murder, you went to the bank and withdrew $20 ,000 to give

Jack McCartney. You're right? That's right.

You went to the bank, withdrew the money on the day of the murder? Yes. Okay.

Now, I'm showing you this document, which we subpoenaed from the Atlanta

Crestmore National Bank.

and ask if you recognize it.

That's my bank statement. It shows the $20 ,000 withdrawal.

Yeah, it shows the $20 ,000 withdrawal, but not on the day of the murder.

See, look right here.

The money was withdrawn on March 17th, the day before the murder.

That must be a mistake. In Jason Edmonds' office, there's a computer

with a lot of symbols and initials on it. And this is

a computer printout of those symbols.

And would you just tell us what they mean?

Well, they're New York Stock Exchange symbols. That's why I knew he was

legitimate. Right, right.

Look to your right at the bottom. See that book? See the initial P -M -R.

See that?

P -M -R.

Your son's name?

Peter. Peter Michael Roberts.

P -M -R. Now, that's just a coincidence.

Mr. Roberts, how is your son?

He passed away.

No, sir.

He committed suicide, didn't he?

He committed suicide because he had lost thousands of dollars to a con man,

Jason Edmonds.

And your son's death broke your heart.

And you lived for revenge.

You went to Jason Edmonds when Jack McCarthy thought you were at the bank.

Maybe Mr.

Edmonds asked who you were, what he could do for you. Maybe you told him

something about your son.

Anyway, you introduced yourself as Peter Roberts' father, and you killed him.

No, I wasn't at the office at that time. I didn't go there.

Mr. Roberts, this is the police photograph of

the murder scene.

At first, nothing seems...

Unusual. But if you look at his right wrist, there's a little light line

his wrist. Like he'd run on a wristwatch.

But the police say that Mr.

Edmonds carried a pocket watch.

What do you suppose caused that white line on his wrist? Well, how would I

Well, Jack McCarthy tells me that con men like to steal

something personal off them. People they've conned.

Doesn't matter why, they just do it.

And Mr. McCarthy and I have spent a good bit of time talking. And he

is now willing to testify that Jason Edmonds

took something personal off your son.

A gold I .D. bracelet.

And on the back was inscribed,

You have made me so proud.

Then the word, Dad.

Mr. Roberts, I notice that you're wearing an ID bracelet. Would you mind

it off?

Mr. Roberts, I appreciate how you feel, but I must see the bracelet.

Conman swindled him out of everything.

Savings.

House. Car.

He was so ashamed. He couldn't tell me.

I found out when I read the letter that was lying next to his body.

Those people are scum.

They don't just prey on the people.

Nothing further

Michelle

Since I'm a

police informer now having turned state's evidence. I'm going to have to

the con for a while.

Go straight, I guess.

But I, uh... For starters, I want you to have this.

Please.

No, I did not steal it.

My father gave it to me.

How do I know you didn't steal it?

I guess you don't.

But you want it.

And so, from now on, wherever you go, you have a little piece of Jack

Hungry? Dark.

Tell you what, you'll guess which hand this coin is in, and I'll buy.

Deal?

Okay.

But you know how much I eat when I win.

We'll see, we'll see.

Oh, wait, wait, wait a second.

What's that?