Original subtitles

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Cold. That's how it was.

Cold and wet.

You know, why anybody would want to be president and live in Washington, D .C.

for four years is beyond me.

And they say it's a cross between a liberal and a conservative. I heard

calling me a libra -con. A libra -con?

How do you spell loser?

Yeah. Listen, I'll see you Tuesday.

Oh, that'll be fine. All right.

I'll see you then.

The police chief's on line one. The town engineer, Lorne Brinkman, he's on two.

And there's a John Smith on three. He says he's returning your call.

Well, tell the chief and Mr. Brinkman I'll be right with him.

Mr.

Mayor.

When did you get back in town?

Just now.

Got anything?

Yeah, but not much.

You know the Shunley Cafe at 8th and Lee in Atlanta?

Yeah. Meet me there tomorrow afternoon at 3 o 'clock.

But I don't have any proof.

Well, let's talk anyway.

I'm telling you, Dwight, that's the mayor of Willow Springs.

I saw his picture in the paper. He just got back from Washington.

Isn't it wonderful, honey?

He's just like plain folks, and I like that.

Dwight, get your camera.

Oh, Mona.

Honey, come on.

Okay.

He was caught right there at the scene, Arthur. His rifle, his bullets, his

fingerprints. Hell, he even confessed.

What more do you want? The man who paid him to pull the trigger. That's what I

want. Somebody paid him 25 grand like he claims. What happened to it? It wasn't

in his car. It wasn't in his apartment.

It wasn't in his bank. I think somebody stole it back from him. I think

somebody's trying to make it look like this man acted alone when in fact it was

a conspiracy.

Damn it, Arthur.

This commission was convened three weeks ago. We've all assembled in this room.

four hours a day, five days a week. We brought in Detective Bob Brooks from the

Atlanta PD to conduct an independent investigation.

We've all heard the same testimony. We've gone over the same evidence.

You, me, the police chief there, Director of St. Luke's Hospital, the

the League of American Voters. We all know this. Then why are you the only one

who believes this cockamamie conspiracy thing? Yes, I do. Jay Reynolds was a

disgruntled ex -city employee who believed it was the mayor's fault he was

fired. First he sent him letters, then he shot him.

We found the typewriter he used right there in his room. How did he know that

the mayor was going to be at the Shunley Cafe that day? He was stalking him.

We've established that it would have taken Jay Reynolds at least two minutes

get up to the roof to assemble that rifle. Yes, Arthur, but you can't deny

Well, why is it then that everyone who was at the cafe that day says the mayor

was there for less than one minute? Arthur. No, wait a minute. But if

had tipped off Jay Reynolds, which is what the man contends, he would have

up there waiting.

Maybe everybody in that cafe was just plain wrong.

Maybe Jay Reynolds overheard the mayor telling somebody where he was going.

Maybe a hundred other things. Why are you so eager to believe the rantings and

ravings of a confessed killer?

Because I am not sure, Leo, that justice is being served. That's why.

My client's in Denver.

He went there on an emergency and got snowed in.

This is the third time in eight days, no? He went there on business.

What's he to do, Your Honor?

We'd like another continuance.

No.

Excuse me?

I'm not going to grant your continuance and I'm going to charge your client with

failure to appear and I'm going to issue a no bail bench warrant for his arrest

so that the next time he shows his face in this jurisdiction, he will be

arrested and incarcerated and his trial will begin forthwith. Thank you. You

can't do that. I know this is just Willis Springs, Mr. Matlock, but I

that you don't tell me what I can and cannot do.

I'm not in the mood.

That is the dumbest, most pig -headed ruling I ever heard of. Call me pig

-headed and dumb. That's what I called your ruling. Bailiff, I hope you don't

have a lot of plans for tonight because you, sir, are going to be invited to a

slumber. Oh, no, Judge. Give me a break. Give me a break. I got somebody coming

down that I haven't seen in a long time. Pig -headed and dumb, huh? Yeah, yeah,

yeah. No, pig -headed. Pig -headed, dumb.

Pig -dumb -headed. Pig -headed. Get your dog out of my arms.

I was hoping to surprise you.

It's been a rotten day.

You want to talk about it?

No,

I think I'd rather do this.

Judge Eller?

Yeah? Sir, we have a warrant for your arrest.

What charge?

Attempted sexual assault.

I'm sorry, sir. Step outside, please.

Hi, Dad.

Hi.

You know, this could get me on Donahue.

That's not funny, Leanne.

Doing a hard time in the big house has just ruined your sense of humor.

Which says you call a jackass this time?

I didn't exactly call him a jackass. I just... Lost your temper.

Well, he is a jackass.

I don't want to get in. You shouldn't call him a jackass. I didn't.

I bet you've spent more time in jail for contempt than most of your clients have

for murder.

Why'd you let her in here? I used to work here, Dad. Some people still know

And they were happy to see me.

Well...

And I'm happy to be here.

Dad.

Wow.

You look great.

Healthy.

You too.

How's your husband?

Busy, and I'm not, so I thought I'd come home for a few days and visit you.

That's good.

Really good?

Yeah, yeah.

I'll get out tomorrow at 8, and I'll take you to Brennan's for breakfast.

have corn cakes and sausage and stuff.

I'll pick you up at eight.

Keep an eye on him, Frank.

He looks dangerous.

What's this all about?

It's a party to welcome you home from jail.

And to meet you.

How are you? I'm so... Leanne McIntyre. Leanne, hi.

I'm Julie.

Hi, Julie. Leanne. Hi.

Well, it's nice to meet all of you. It's nice to meet you, too.

Ben hasn't told us a lot about you.

He hasn't?

Well, we know you're his daughter.

And you're married, and you're a lawyer, and you're sure pretty.

Thank you. Yeah, like I was saying, there's nothing like a pretty girl.

So, Leanne, do you have any children?

No, I don't. Oh, that's too bad.

Well, come on, everybody. It's time to risk your lives.

I've baked breakfast.

I don't think I can eat anything.

I've had corn cakes and eggs and bacon.

I just hate that.

You don't have children? Oh, what a shame.

When are you going to have one?

When are you?

Dad.

Oh, nothing's changed.

Don't get mad at me.

I won't. It's just that things like babies are personal and should remain

that. Personal.

Yeah.

I'm gonna look around the old house.

Nothing's changed.

Haven't heard what happened to Judge Eller, have you?

No. Got arrested last night.

What? What? Some woman accused him of assaulting her.

He hit a woman?

Assault.

Rape?

He's a known womanizer, but jackass went too far that time, didn't he?

Oh.

So you're Leanne.

Yep, I'm Leanne.

And you're... Les.

Coffee? Just a tad.

Not too much now.

We've got to take care of the old bod.

So you're a married lady.

That's right.

You like it? You happy?

Well, yeah.

Ups and downs, you know.

Oh, I know ups and downs. I was married once.

She's gone now.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, she didn't die.

She ran off with a drummer from Ohio.

Oh. He sold hats and scarves and overshoes and stuff like that.

Interesting.

So you, uh...

You don't have any children.

No, lass, I don't.

Well, that's a shame.

Someone to carry on, look after you.

You know, Ben never talked about you much.

Well, maybe he didn't have anything to say.

Well, maybe not.

You know, you ought to spend more time with him. And you ought to give him a

grandchild. A man needs that.

Yes, I suppose so.

Do you have children and grandchildren, lass?

No. The wife left.

With that drummer who sold hats and scarves and overshoes and stuff. Do you

date, Les?

Me? Oh, sure.

I'm out there among them. Two, three nights a week.

Any regulars?

I got a little black book.

Lady's your own age?

Yeah, there's this one. She's my age.

How old is that?

Early 60s. Right in the prime.

Prime's the time.

I don't see her that much, though.

What do you talk about?

All different things.

Cemetery plots.

Do you have any younger ones?

Sure.

I got one in her 30s. 30 what?

Well, 30... What?

39. Now we're talking. What do you do with her?

Well, we bowl, play ping pong, miniature golf, all kinds of things.

But when it gets dark and you can't do those things, then what do you do?

We go back to her house.

And?

And what?

Do you and this 39 -year -old get down to business?

I don't know what you're getting at, young lady, but it's too personal. And

just wait and see. I want to tell your father.

I'm sorry about what happened yesterday.

I was wrong. I apologize. I was out of line.

The commission I'm on, it's making me crazy.

The way I hear it, what went around came around. Is that right?

I'm innocent, I swear.

You want me to defend you?

No way. Get out.

This is a jackass who threw me in jail.

Ben, I'm innocent. Just give me a minute. Hear my side of it, please.

The best lawyer I ever knew once told me to put truth beyond everything else.

He said principles before personalities.

Did I get that right, Dad?

Come on in.

Jerk.

I met her at a party two weeks ago.

We talked. We did exchange phone numbers, but that was it. Yeah.

Next thing I know, the police are at the door saying she's accusing me of having

attacked her two nights ago.

I never even phoned her.

Why would she lie, Judge Eller?

Yeah, Leanne, why would she lie?

Leanne Matlock. Of course. That's why you look so familiar. You used to be a

prosecutor. Actually, my last name is Leanne McIntyre now.

Prosecutor in Philadelphia. Why would she lie, Judge?

I don't know. I don't know. Maybe she's a fruitcake. You're not going to believe

what she said I did to her.

Try me.

According to her, I invite her up to my place for a drink, excuse myself to turn

five minutes later, dressed like a cowboy.

Then I tied her up and I attempted to rape her.

That's bizarre.

And it's a lie.

Why are you looking at me?

Throw me in jail, you could do anything.

Maybe I didn't assault that woman.

I don't know. Maybe she hates men. Maybe she hates judges.

I can't give you a definitive answer. I'm not a psychiatrist.

Psychiatrists will be our first expert witness.

Ours. Where were you on the night in question?

Well, I have a place up at Athens Lake. I often go there right after work.

Alone.

Could anyone have seen you there?

Well, not that I know of.

Took a walk on the beach. Somebody might have seen me there.

Ben, please, will you take my case?

When hell freezes over.

Please excuse us.

Dad?

Don't start up on me.

He could have done it. He could have done it. He put me in jail. Under the

he's entitled to the best defense he can find. His case has merit, Dad, and you

know it. I don't know. The man will womanize her.

Well, you could give him a shot.

All those lectures you gave me about the law, principles before personalities.

Dad, we could work together.

Come on, put up or shut up.

Do you like this guy?

Dad, I don't even know him.

But what if she's setting him up?

Let's give it a shot.

I don't know, Leanne. I just don't know. My heart's not in it.

I'm sorry, you guys. What do you think you're doing?

I'm sorry, I just wondered if you happened to be here three nights ago.

Wait, did the survey get lost?

No, wait, I really need an answer.

I met him at a party that a friend of mine was throwing for somebody who's

running for Congress.

He wasn't with anybody, and neither was I, so we talked.

I gave him my phone number, and he gave me his, and a couple of weeks later, he

called me and asked me to come to his place for a drink.

And you went.

Why? You barely knew the man.

Well, he was a judge, for Pete's sake.

I mean, how was I supposed to know he was a pervert?

Move to strike.

So ordered. The jury will disregard the witness's last remark.

What happened when you went to Judge Eller's house, Lydia?

We sat and had a glass of wine and talked for about a half hour. It was

nice. But then he excused himself, and when he came back a couple of minutes

later, he was dressed up like a cowboy, but he wasn't wearing any pants.

I mean, he had the guns, the lasso, everything else.

This is very difficult.

I know this is difficult, Miss Lewin. What happened next?

The next thing I knew, he had the rope around me and was tying me up.

And then he started to attack me. I struggled so hard to fight him off that

rope came loose and I managed to get free.

And then I kicked him where it hurts.

I ran out to my car as fast as I could and drove off.

Thank you, Lydia.

No further questions, Your Honor.

Miss Matlock?

Just one question, Miss Lewin.

The events you just described, when exactly did they take place?

On April 3rd at around 9 in the evening.

Thank you.

Prosecution rests, Your Honor.

You may step down.

Mr. Matlock, you may call your first witness.

Defense calls Mr.

Edward Price to the stand.

Where were you? between 9 and 10 the evening of April the 3rd, Eddie.

I was at Athens Lake.

Doing what?

Me and my girl were in my car.

Well, you know, making out.

Did you see anybody at the lake that night that you see in the courtroom

I saw him.

Let the record show that the witness is pointing to the defendant.

You sure you saw?

Judge Eller? He was walking on the beach. There was a full moon out, so I

see his face real good.

I knew who he was because he's a friend of my girlfriend's father.

How long does it take to drive from Willow Springs to Athens Lake?

About two hours.

So if a person left Willow Springs at 9 o 'clock, there's no way to get to

Athens Lake by 10. No way.

You sure you didn't see Judge Eller around 11 o 'clock that night?

Positive.

My girlfriend's got to be home by 10 .30.

Thank you.

Your Honor, may we approach?

Come forward.

Your Honor, we have just come in to photographic evidence that further

criminates the defendant.

The state would like to reopen its case in chief.

My chambers, Your Honor.

Court's in recess.

Where did these come from?

They were left on my secretary's desk about an hour ago.

Clearly the defendant dressed precisely the way Miss Lewin described.

Not good enough, Counselor. If Miss Lewin were in these pictures, that would

another matter. But as it stands, at best these photos show propensity.

But because we cannot verify their source, we therefore cannot even say

certainty that the man they depict is in fact Arthur Eller.

Your Honor.

They're inadmissible, Mr. Sadowski.

End of discussion.

Has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

What is the verdict?

We, the members of the Fulton County Jury, find the defendant, Judge Arthur

Eller, not guilty.

Ladies and gentlemen, you are excused and this court is adjourned.

Ben.

Thank you.

You bribed that boy.

Or blackmailed him. Or threatened him.

Somehow you got him to lie for you, didn't you?

You weren't up in Athens Lake.

You were at your house that night doing exactly what that girl said you were

doing.

No.

It's the local news.

You're interviewing some of the people on the Brodsky Commission. The one

rooting, tooting cowboy friends on.

Arthur Eller is not my friend, Dad. No one hates what he did to that poor girl

more than I do.

I sure wish you hadn't talked me into it. Dad, I got your point, okay?

Hello? In here.

Did I come at a bad time?

Oh, no. We're just discussing the Eller case. Hush. You're starting. Sit down.

Welcome to Fulton County Forum.

I'm Dale Lambert, and this morning I have with me three members from the

Commission. That's the commission formed to investigate the assassination last

month of Mayor Jeffries.

On the left, I have Police Chief Colin Young.

In the center, Judge Arthur Eller. And on the right, Councilman Leo Brodsky.

Gentlemen. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to be with me

this morning. Pleasure.

Judge Eller, that trial must have been particularly hectic and embarrassing for

you. Yes, but now it's over, I'm happy to say, and I'm very grateful to the

people and to the legal system that vindicated me.

And I understand that the investigation is still ongoing, but can you give us

some idea of what your findings are so far? Well, so far, everything indicates

Jay Reynolds acted alone. I can't. Jay Reynolds lost his job. He blamed the

mayor. So he shot him. And what about the other man? Because he was in the

Well, then why did he shoot him second? Come on.

You're referring to the videotape. Of course, that was shot by the tourists.

Yes, that's right. Jay Reynolds was paid. Oh, come on. I hate you, Arthur.

is not one shred of evidence. Get him.

Get him. There is not a shred of evidence that would... And we'll see you

next week.

And we're clear.

Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you. That certainly was a spirited show, to say

least. You fellas were great.

Especially you, darling.

Thank you, my dear.

Mrs. Brodsky.

See you both in the hearing room at one.

Chief Young.

Judge Eller.

right, Mr. Brodsky.

No.

His name is Arthur Eller.

I don't believe this.

I'll send you a bill.

Are you going to be okay?

I'm going to kill her.

I loved you.

What are you doing?

Oh, my God. What have you done?

I'd like to report a shooting.

Glass, what are you doing?

Oh, hi, Ben. I'm just returning your weed whacker. And thanks. It whacked

charm. Oh, good. Go on in the house.

Well, I don't want to keep you. I know you're busy.

Is Leanne still here?

Yeah, she'll be here for a couple more days.

Oh, that's a shame.

Why?

Well, when I first met her, first, mind you, she started getting nosy about my

love life.

She did?

Huh. Well, maybe she was curious.

Maybe she heard about your history.

Daddy?

Yeah, well, I'll see you.

Morning, Pop.

Coffee ready? Right there.

Les just left in the middle of a conversation.

What were you all talking about?

I don't know.

Something about women.

If he wasn't 20 years too old for a midlife crisis, I'd swear he was having

flashes.

Did you get on to him about women?

Well, he got on to me about my personal life, so I got on to him about his.

You know all about that, don't you, Dad?

Leanne.

Ben Matlock?

I'll be there in a minute.

What's up?

Are you nuts, Leo, or what?

Well, when I saw the pictures of them together, I just lost it. I went crazy.

She used to be such a nice little town.

I know it doesn't make any sense, but I love my wife, Ben. I didn't mean to kill

her.

Oh, what a mess.

What should I do?

Oh, pray.

Morning, Ben.

Well,

we dropped the charges. You're free to go.

What? According to the coroner, your wife was dead before you shot her.

Cyanide poisoning.

Suicide? I don't know for sure yet, but there was no note. And I found a cup

containing traces of cyanide -laced tea in the bedroom.

Had Arthur Eller's fingerprints all over it.

Well,

you're going to go or just sit there?

I'm not going to be charged with anything?

No.

They'll probably fine you for defacing a corpse.

But I did try to kill her.

I know, but she was already dead.

I don't understand.

It's factually an impossibility. You can't take the life of someone if

no life for you to take.

No, well, I... If it were up to me, I'd throw you out of the country. But the

truth is, your case will be thrown out of court.

Now stay if you like, but I'm leaving.

Tomato sauce? Are you making meatballs and spaghetti?

Special recipe.

That is so sweet of you.

What?

It needed more oregano.

No, it didn't.

Oh, I've offended you.

You didn't offend me.

You know where I got this recipe?

Straight from the mouth of the owner of a five -star restaurant.

I asked him, what's the secret to great spaghetti sauce?

You know what he said?

No, Dad, what did he say? Go easy on the oregano.

I need your help. Get off my porch. I don't blame you. I lied to you. You're

damn right you did. But I didn't kill Ava Brodsky.

Garbage. You were sleeping with her. Yeah, I slept with her. But I didn't

her. Somebody is trying to frame me. Get out of here.

Stay right there.

In my opinion, there's a good chance he didn't kill her. Oh, come on, Leanne. I

know, Dad. He's a womanizer and a pervert and a liar. You got that right.

smart liar. If he had killed her, he'd make sure he had three alibis all

airtight. Come on, Leanne.

You won't take his case?

No.

No matter how many times you quote things I've said.

All right.

That's your right.

Won't you come in?

I don't care what you say.

You took the case for spite.

I did not take the case for spite. Then why'd you take it? I don't think he did

it. And the worst person in the world deserves representation.

I don't know about that.

He already lied to me. He was sleeping with Ava Brodsky.

And you took it for spite.

Dad, we've grown apart.

We are alike and yet so different. And gradually we've grown apart.

I know it's hard for you to think of me as an adult, but I am.

I know that Anthony Eller is low and base, but something about the case

intrigues me, and you've got to let me have my head.

Some things don't have simple explanations.

Everything I know does.

Yeah? Yeah. When I was five, I asked you where babies came from, and you said,

go ask your mother.

Well, yeah, but... Things were difficult for her.

She told me about God and that babies came from heaven.

Well, they do.

Where are you going?

Room 335. I'm meeting whoever's prosecuting the case for discovery.

Mind if I go with you?

Why?

Here's the report filed by the detective who searched Arthur Eller's house

during which a container of cyanide was found in a cupboard beneath his sink.

Well, that doesn't make sense, does it?

He dumps cyanide in his lover's tea, then runs home past hundreds of

of garbage cans so that he can put the incriminating evidence in plain sight

under his sink.

Also, the police tracked down the messenger who left those photos of your

dressed, or should I say undressed, as a cowboy.

And according to his statement, he received a phone call from a woman.

Telling him to pick up the envelope containing the photos from the house at

North Star Drive.

Ava Brodsky's house.

Ava Brodsky sent those pictures?

My guess is that she and Judge Eller had a fight or something, and she sent them

in order to get revenge.

Only he found out, got mad, and killed her. Which gives us motive.

Did the messenger actually see Ava Brodsky when he picked up the photos at

address? No, she left them for him in the mailbox.

Anybody could have put them there.

And finally, I have the statement of one Curtis Bartholomew who lives across the

street from the Brodsky residence.

And he's ready to testify that he saw Arthur Eller enter Ava's house at

approximately 5 p .m.

the day she was murdered.

He said he wasn't there all day.

Okay, well, he probably did see me there.

Ava called, said Leah was going to be home for dinner.

I went there straight after work, stayed till about 6 .30.

You lied to me, Judge Eller.

Leanne, I'm a judge.

I've presided over literally hundreds of cases.

If the jury had found out that I went to Ava's house that night, that's all

they'd remember.

I had no choice but to lie.

What else have you lied about?

Nothing. That's it. Swear it.

Let's get this straight, Judge Eller.

You lie to me once more about this case, about what you had for breakfast, about

anything.

And I'll be history.

And believe me, so will you.

You got that?

Understood.

Now where is this videotape you want me to see?

Somebody sitting at the cafe reported this thing from start to finish.

Well, this is all very interesting, Judge, but what's it got to do with your

case?

I was the only person on the Brodsky Commission who believed that Jay

shot the mayor because he was paid.

That's why I've been framed, because somebody wants me off that commission.

Okay, now here's what I want you to look at.

All right.

See that guy standing there in a jean jacket? Mm -hmm. Stands there. He waits.

If I rolled the tape...

you'd see that he starts running around like he's freaked out or something. But

if he really freaked out, you'd think he'd leave.

Watch what he does.

Okay.

He's out of frame for a few minutes with all this general confusion. Then when

he reenters, who does he run into?

Killer Jay Reynolds.

It's almost as if he knew Jay Reynolds was coming out of that building and

wanted to make sure he got caught.

That's right.

Then he disappears into the crowd before the police can take his name. The man's

never heard of again.

I wonder who he is.

Yeah.

What do you want?

We got a little problem.

Nothing you and Judd can't have.

No, no, no, Dad. I just think we remember he wasn't on the Beverly

He was on Green Acres. Leanne, we used to watch those shows together.

Was the Beverly Hillbillies. Dad, the pig was on Green Acres. He even won an

award. The pig was on Beverly Hillbillies and his name was Jed.

His name was Arnold and he was on Green Acres.

Who was Jed? Jed Clampett.

Buddy Epson. Beverly Hillbillies. Oh, yeah, that's right.

I remember now. Every time we watched Green Acres, I got hungry for barbecue.

I'll make some tea.

He was framed because of that commission.

Mrs. Taylor, you're a genius.

Unless he's lying.

Ms. Tom, I don't think so.

You say this man paid you to kill the mayor.

What did he look like?

I don't know. Maybe mine. Maybe Bill's brown hair.

Only met him twice.

Where'd you meet him?

Parking garage at the mall.

I'd park in a particular spot and he'd walk up, we'd talk, he'd walk away.

Second time he gave me 25 grand and told me that the mayor would be at the Shun

Li Cafe at 3 that afternoon.

Told me to take out him and whoever he met.

Tell you why?

No.

Then what about this man?

The man who ran into you on the street.

You ever see him before?

I don't know.

Somebody hung you out to dry pretty good, didn't they?

Yeah. Who?

Who would have done this to you?

Come on, you must have some idea. Lady, I've been sitting here for more than a

month now.

I've been thinking about nothing else day and night.

I gotta tell you.

I don't have a clue.

Oh, Leanne Matlock.

Hi, Bob.

Actually, it's Leanne McIntyre now.

Yeah, that's right. You ran off with that prosecutor from Philly, right? Oh,

won't tell Dad you said ran off.

Well, you did.

Well, a lope, I think they call it. I think they call it that.

Have a seat.

Thanks.

I hear you're representing Arthur Eller.

Yeah, but I'd like to see your files on the assassination of Mayor Jeffries.

Why? I have reason to believe that if the mayor's death had been thoroughly

investigated, Ava Brodsky's death would never have occurred.

Is that right?

Oh, no offense, Bob.

I'll try not to take any.

I'd also like to see what you have on Dave Peters, the man who was also killed

with the mayor.

Okay.

Yeah, yeah, this is Brooke.

Bring me Dave Peters' personal effects.

Yeah, thanks.

report on dave peters he was an auto mechanic just your ordinary joe no

record no special ties to the mayor thank you no reason to believe he wasn't

anything but an innocent bystander i'd like to see for myself

you know you remind me of a fellow ben metlock

Dave's dad still hasn't come by to pick up his stuff yet. And I had to get it

out of the way, so I just kind of threw it in here.

How long were you two roommates?

About a year.

Nice guy.

Always paid his rent on time, never hassled me about nothing.

Did you ever talk about the mayor?

No, never.

Did he have a girlfriend?

He had one.

Carrie something.

I don't know, he met her at church.

Philip! Carrie Phillips.

Yeah, Dave mentioned her a lot there for a while. And then all of a sudden,

nothing. I guess they broke up.

What was she like?

Never laid eyes on her.

Dave was kind of straight and late. You know, he never brought any girls home.

Salvatore Productions.

These belong to Dave?

I guess.

They're not mine.

Guess Dave was a little kinky.

I guess.

You don't have it that anything.

Closet kinky.

Dad?

Yeah?

Hi. Oh, great.

Just the person I wanted to see. Hey, ma 'am.

What's that?

Well, these belong to Dave Peters. I was hoping you could track down the girl

with stars in them.

What's some porno queen got to do with the cat? I don't know yet, but I do know

that when he was shot with the mayor, Dave Peters had a necklace in his pocket

identical to the one she's wearing.

Candy stripe, huh?

Yeah, and if you don't have any luck with that, try Carrie Phillips.

Damn!

Carrie!

Carrie, dear!

I could have sworn I just saw her.

Are you sure she's the one you ran into?

She's usually wearing more clothes, but yes, that's Carrie.

All her things are gone.

You didn't find anything?

It's like she dropped everything and moved out ten minutes before I got

This is a complicated case.

Are you sure you went to the right house?

Yes, I went to the right house.

And you talked to the landlady?

Yes, I talked to the landlady. And she didn't know anything.

I think I'll go back and question her myself.

You don't have to... Conrad, could I have a moment with Leanne alone?

Sure.

I... I wish you had never gotten involved in this.

I mean, what if he's guilty? And he's lying, like he did with me.

He deserves what he gets.

Just let it go.

It's leading to pornography, and that's gangsters, and it's dangerous.

It's getting too big, Leanne.

He's not worth it.

Just let it go.

I know he's not much, Dad, and I know how you feel about my defending him.

I'm not crazy over him, either. I'm a woman, for heaven's sake.

But I have to do this.

The evidence against him just doesn't add up, not to me.

I'll work with Conrad.

We'll be careful.

But I have to do this.

I believe in it, Dad.

You understand?

No.

This isn't working, is it, Dad?

Remember, I said we were growing apart.

I didn't think we were.

Well, we have.

Every time I felt one way, you felt another.

Every time I wanted to do something, you wanted me to do something else.

I was just trying to open up possibilities.

This case is a possibility.

Whenever I didn't do what you wanted, you just became silent.

Like now.

Do you remember that?

In college, in law school, and after?

The silence between us just became deafening, Dad.

That can eventually cause all people, husband and wife, father and daughter,

to fall out of love.

You're silent, and I talk too much.

I think till this is over, I'll get a hotel.

Someplace in town. I'll call and let you know where.

Bye.

Yeah, looking for work.

Try Burger Bob's, two doors down.

Oh, hey, I just got in from Chicago.

Worked a lot of big Buddy Balzac films.

Doing what?

Everything, man. You name it, I did it.

I guess we can use another grip.

All right, I'm your guy.

So what do you want me to do? We need to put up a parallel over there.

Let's go.

Anyway, Judge Lockhart finally agreed to hear motions from Chambers.

He wants us there at two.

All right.

Says he'll bring the chips if we bring the bean dip.

Bean dip.

You haven't heard a word I've said, have you?

Ben, you know what you have to do, don't you?

What? Go over to that hotel and apologize to Leanne.

Apologize for what? For caring for her?

For whatever it is you argued about.

We didn't exactly argue.

Ben, you're her father and you love her.

And Leanne's very unhappy.

No. Well, you're right.

As soon as we're done here... As soon as we're done, I'll go over there and

set things straight.

Dick, tell her you love her.

Yeah, but it's just the minute I see her.

Better yet, do it right now.

Hello,

Michelle. Howdy. Hello, Dad.

Hi.

I've got jury selection. How about you?

Oh, we're just filing a couple of appeals.

How about those 76ers? Oh, great game, wasn't it? Yeah.

I won ten bucks off the bellhop. Hey.

I gotta go.

Yeah, yeah, we do too.

How about those 76ers?

She likes sports.

You go to tell your daughter how much you love her, and out of your mouth

how about those 76ers?

Well, it wasn't a good game.

All right, look, girls. First, you tie him to the bed, right? And then you

out the whips.

Yeah, hey, hey, hey, hold up the hammer, will ya?

Sorry.

Hi.

Hi.

Name's Conrad.

Just in from Chicago.

Big buddy Balzac Films.

Weather's better here.

Boy, no kidding. I'm glad to be out of that deep freeze.

Some of those outdoor scenes are near impossible.

Why didn't they shoot inside?

Realism, they said.

A damn near turned blue himself.

Yeah, you're friends with Candy Stripe.

I mean, Carrie Phillips.

Used to.

Used to be.

Kind of hard to carry on a friendship with somebody that's moved out of the

country.

There you go, Lisa. You're done.

When you should do that?

The day before yesterday.

Called out of the blue and says she's moving to Europe. La -di -da.

You know her?

I know her boyfriend, Dave Peterson.

Oh, she was nuts about him.

Afraid to tell him what she did for a living. Oh, it's something when he found

out. He found out?

Yeah, went berserk.

Found out where she worked so he could surprise her on her birthday. Went

totally bananas when he saw this place.

Greened at her? Hell, he even stormed into Matt Greenwood's office and swore

was going to close the place down.

Who's Matt Greenwood?

The guy who runs this place.

Where the hell is Louie?

I'm supposed to be shooting him.

He doesn't feel so hot. I think he went home.

Where are the kids? I'll shoot them.

They're not in till three.

Oh, this is great. This is just great. I have got nothing to shoot.

Hey, you, take off your shirt.

Me? Yeah, you.

Yeah, all right. The sponge bath thing.

Now, who's that?

Matt Greenwood.

Here's your costume.

I'll make you up as soon as you change.

Colin Young, the police chief?

Let's have a nice, cozy, secret little chat with this guy right here.

Matt Greenwood, owner of Salvatore Productions.

This guy uses minors, Ben.

He does?

And I'll bet you anything the police chief not only knew about it, but he was

taking a cut.

Now, what if Dave Peters was serious about shutting down Matt Greenwood? And

what if he went to the mayor?

And what if figuring...

That the police chief was somehow involved and that he and the mayor

their own private investigation.

That would explain why they were together that afternoon.

Yeah.

And why Jay Reynolds was told to kill Buffalo.

And why Matt Greenwood made sure that Jay Reynolds was caught and took the

rap. Huh?

Leanne should be told about this. Yeah.

Yeah, she's in court.

But if you hurry, you can catch him before she breaks the watch.

I should tell her?

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And listen, if she decides to go talk to Matt

you go with her.

Lieutenant, what did the forensic lab report indicate was found inside the cup

by the decedent's bed?

A commercial blend of black tea and a form of cyanide, more or less commonly

sold in jewelry supply stores.

And according to the lab report, what was on the cup?

Traces of lipstick identical to the lipstick Ava Brodsky was wearing at the

of her death.

One or two fingerprints belonging to her and several others belonging to the

defendant, Arthur Eller.

When the defendant, Mr. Eller, was arrested, a search was made of his home.

Please tell the court what you found.

A container of cyanide crystal identical in formulation to the cyanide found in

the cup was removed from beneath his kitchen sink.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

You're with me, Counselor.

You say the cyanide you found is sold in jewelry supply stores.

That's correct. It's used in the process of silver plating.

And your detectives canvassed all the jewelry supply stores in the area to see

if anyone remembered selling that cyanide to my client. Did they not?

Yes, they did.

Had anyone sold it to my client?

Not that we could find, no.

Thank you.

Witness may step down.

We'll break for lunch.

Then you can call your next witness, Miss March.

This court is in recess until 2 p .m.

Hi. Hi.

Can I talk to you about something?

A pornography ring involving the chief of police. That explains a lot.

Thanks, Conrad.

You know you're a lot like your dad?

I think so.

Oh, yeah, I think.

There's Matt Greenwood.

Hey, Mr. Greenwood!

Wait up a sec!

Why are you knocking? It's not locked. I know, but could you come outside for a

second? I'm reading.

Ben, it's your begonias. I think Ralph Twilliker's dog is in them again. If I

ever get my hand on that dog...

My

begonias look fine.

Hi. Hi.

We had to get you out of the house.

Why? We're pretty sure it's bugged.

Bugs? Your house and your phone.

Somebody put microphones in my house? Are you sure? Has to be.

Ben, we talk about Carrie Phillips in your kitchen, and when we go looking for

her, she's left the country.

Then we talk about Matt Greenwood in your living room, and he gets murdered.

Matt Greenwood's dead?

Somebody drove by and shot him right in front of us.

If this thing is as big as we think it is, bugging your house would not be a

problem.

For the time being, I think it's best not to let on you know.

You have an idea?

Yeah, I do.

Have Sergeant Robbins get right on it.

Colin, talk to you a minute?

Yes, of course.

How you doing, Bob?

Fine, fine.

Leanne McIntyre, this is Police Chief Colin Young.

How do you do?

How do you do?

Mrs. McIntyre is defending Arthur Eller.

Oh, yes, of course.

Shouldn't you be in court? We just recessed for the day.

Colin, I have to ask you a few questions. About what? What was your

to Matt Greenwood? Matt Greenwood?

The man who was killed this afternoon. Yeah, I know who he is.

What I don't understand is why you think I had some kind of relationship with

him and why you're asking me questions.

Because you were seen talking to him a little more than an hour before he was

shot.

Bob, I want to know why you're asking me these questions.

I'm still investigating the murder of Mayor Jeffries, and I want to know what

you were doing with Matt Greenwood today. My job.

The videotape we found of the mayor's assassination.

Matt Greenwood was in it.

He's the one who more or less nailed the shooter for us.

When we ID'd him, I paid him a visit and asked him a few questions.

What did he say?

I don't think I'm obligated to answer that. In fact, if you don't mind...

I'd like to get back to work. Oh, just one more question. Where were you on the

night that Ava Brodsky was murdered?

Now, what the hell do you want to know that for?

Well, because I'm convinced that the mayor's death and her death are somehow

connected and that you're the common denominator.

That's ridiculous.

Colin, just tell us where you were on the 19th and we'll be on our way.

On the 19th, I had a meeting at 5, which probably means I got back here around

6. Then, as I recall, I sat here and worked, got the evening news, got home

around 7 .30, ate a frozen dinner, read, and went to bed at 10 o 'clock.

You happy?

He's lying. He met Matt Greenwood more than once.

You know, he could even be behind the shooting of Greenwood. Well, I... If we

can find somebody at Salvatore Productions that saw him and Greenwood

before yesterday, you can bet that police chief is going to be in a whole

trouble.

You live right across the street from where Ava Brodsky lived with her

Is that correct, Mr.

Bartholomew? That's right, yes.

And where were you on the afternoon she died? Do you remember?

I was outside in my driveway working on my car.

Uh -huh. And while you were outside, did you happen to see anyone enter or leave

the Brodsky home?

Yes. Around five, I saw that man right there go inside.

Came out about an hour or so later.

Let the record show the witness pointed at the defendant.

Are you sure he's the man you saw?

Positive. I used to see him there a lot.

Thank you. Nothing further.

Your witness.

How long were you out there working on your car that day?

About four until it got dark.

That's a long time.

It was a classic, see?

A 54 Chevy convertible.

I was getting her cleaned up for a rally that weekend. Oh.

Tell me this, Mr.

Bartholomew. Did you see anyone else in this courtroom at Ava Brodsky's home

that evening?

Yeah.

I saw him.

Let the record show the witness pointed to Police Chief Colin Young.

Any idea what time you saw him?

About 15 minutes or so after Judge Eller left.

Thank you.

Prosecution?

Prosecution rests, Your Honor.

The witness is excused. Is the defense ready to present its case?

Yes, Your Honor, for my first witness, please call Police Chief Colin Young to

the stand.

Would you tell the court who Matt Greenwood is?

Matt Greenwood is, or was, a producer of pornographic films.

He died recently.

In point of fact, he was murdered, was he not?

Yes.

And this man, this pornographer, also happened to assist the police in

Mr. J. Reynolds in the minutes after Mr.

Reynolds had just assassinated Mayor Jeffries and Dave Peters, didn't he?

Ironically, yes, he did. In fact, the only contact I had with him was when I

questioned him on Just That Matter.

Objection. We'll fail to see relevancy to these questions.

Please bear with me, Your Honor. This line of questioning is crucial to my

defense. Get to the point and be quick about it.

Overruled. Were you a friend of Matt Greenwood's? No.

A business associate? Of course not.

Huh.

And if I tell you that four individuals who worked at Matt Greenwood's studio

identified you as the man they saw with Mr. Greenwood before the mayor was

murdered... I'd say you're a very naive young lady who should know better than

to believe the word of pornographers before she believes the chief of police.

Objection. This is nothing but a wild goose chase designed to distract and

confuse the jury.

I'm establishing motive, Your Honor.

For whose murder? Mr. Greenwood's, the mayor's, or Eva Brodsky's?

You're trying my patience, young lady.

I cannot control what this witness says, Your Honor, but the court's use of the

term young lady to me is inappropriate, demeaning, and unprofessional.

I apologize.

Here's the deal, Miss McIntyre.

You have exactly one minute.

to make this line of questioning relevant. If you fail to do so, you're

order. Understood?

Yes, Your Honor.

I am going to show you what we'll call Defense Exhibit D for identification.

This is a copy of the deed to a piece of property you own outside Jacksonville,

Florida, is it not?

Yes, it is.

When did you buy it?

A little less than a year ago.

I subpoenaed your bank records, and they show no indication of any transfer of

funds to purchase this property.

How did you pay for it?

I frankly don't remember.

Maybe your memory will improve when I show you Matt Greenwood's bank records.

I subpoenaed those two.

If you look right here, a little less than a year ago, at exactly the same

that that piece of property was purchased, Matt Greenwood withdrew $230

from one of his cash accounts.

$230 ,000 is exactly what this piece of property cost, is it not?

Matt Greenwood purchased that piece of property in your name, didn't he?

Objection! He was paying you off, wasn't he? Time's up, Miss McIntyre.

You have succeeded in establishing this witness's relationship with everyone in

this city but Ava Brodsky.

And it is this... Court's opinion that you have done this with the sole purpose

of confusing and misleading the jury.

I chastise you for that and am now instructing you to move on to something

else.

Your Honor, my client's freedom, if not his life, is at stake here. You have to

grant me a little leeway.

I have granted you acres of leeway.

Now move on and sit down.

Dave Peters was shot and killed along with the mayor because he found out Matt

Greenwood was playing footsie with the chief of police.

Objection. You're out of order. That's why they were killed. One more word and

I'll charge you with contempt.

Ava Brodsky was killed so that Arthur Eller would be arrested for the murder.

That's one day.

Don't you see? They wanted him removed from the Brodsky commission.

It was a cover -up. Two days, bailiff.

What is the matter with you?

How can you be so big at it? That's three days.

I don't feel like talking, okay?

You lost it in there.

I made an ass out of myself.

Well, that just shows you care.

There's nothing wrong with caring.

Caring can kill you, Dad.

Leanne, you said we've grown apart.

Is there some way we can grow together?

I don't know.

Is there something more to this than you and me?

Peter left me, Dad.

I never liked him.

I know.

Why did he leave you?

For somebody younger and probably a lot prettier.

You still want him?

I don't know.

Loved him the minute I saw him, and now I don't know.

Remember, all people can fall out of love.

Husbands and wives.

He's a bum.

He's a nice guy. He's making a fool of himself because his hair is getting gray

and he'll never make the Supreme Court.

And she makes him feel young.

You're sure more understanding than I'd be.

Yeah. And here I am. Lost my husband. I don't have any children.

I've pretty much failed.

Oh, no.

No, you're a fine lawyer.

An attractive, strong woman.

Strong's good?

Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Strong's good.

You know, Dad, I took this case because I think the man's innocent of the

crime.

But really, I wanted a reason to stay home for a while.

Yeah, I did.

I was looking for something, Dad.

I was looking for you.

You found me.

So what should I do?

have to stay here.

So rest up, sort things out.

Let me look after you like you'd look after me if I were having a

bad time.

to dad.

I love you, Leanne.

Your Honor, my daughter has asked that I apologize to the court on her behalf.

So noted.

And with the court's permission,

She has asked and the defendant has asked that I continue with the defense

this case.

Is that all right with you, Judge Eller?

Yes, Your Honor.

Okay, Mr. Matlock, what are we doing?

Defense will continue with the examination of Police Chief Colin Young.

I trust you'll make no attempt to pursue your daughter's ill -fated line of

questioning, Mr. Matlock?

Oh, my goodness, no.

Chief Young, come forward and take the stand.

The state contends that because my client was at the Brodsky residence, the

evening Abel was poisoned, that he poisoned her.

But you were also seen at that residence that night. And you left after my

client did. What were you doing there, Chief Young?

I stopped by to see Leo.

And not, but nobody answered.

So I left.

I never went inside.

How come you didn't tell any of the investigating officers this? Because it

wasn't and still isn't relevant.

If you weren't at the Brodsky residence, where were you? Went back to my office.

Worked.

Watched the evening news like I always do. Got home sometime after seven.

You went back to your office and worked.

You positive?

Yes. How could you, when according to your secretary and this receipt,

the Clean Sweep Carpet Company brought their equipment into your office at

6 o 'clock and were there busy cleaning your carpet till around 8 .30?

Want to try again?

Those workmen are prepared to testify that you were...

nowhere near your office that night.

When you went to see Leo and he wasn't home, Ava was, wasn't she?

And you stayed just long enough to kill her, didn't you?

No.

Nobody answered.

I went to see Judd Taylor.

Who's Judd Taylor?

Is there the right to recall this witness?

The witness may step down.

We'll break for lunch.

This court is in recess until 2 p .m.

Well, we've got two and a half hours to figure out who Judd Taylor is.

I'll tell you who he is.

He's a wiretapper. I put him away twice.

Oh.

In fact...

Chief Young probably paid Judd Taylor to give him an alibi.

No.

Now, if he was going to pay, he would have found somebody of some consequence,

not an ex -con.

You can bet Judd Taylor this is alibi.

Doesn't look good, cowboy.

Well, how do you know that Colin Young didn't go to Ava's, kill her, and then

see his friend Judd Taylor? Because Judd Taylor said they were together from

seven till nine. Well, then you're gonna believe him?

Arthur, proof.

You know that. Until we have proof to the contrary, we got to believe.

You got some nice stuff in here.

Thank you very much.

Well, if you didn't kill Ava...

Then whoever did had to have planted that poison in here. I keep this place

locked up tight, day and night. Even when I go out back.

And will you stop accusing me? I'm not accusing you. Yeah, you are.

Do you have an alarm system?

No. But the police didn't find any signs of forced entry.

No.

Somebody had to get in here some way.

You were the first person...

to be accused of your wife's murder. Is that correct, Mr. Brodsky? Yes.

Would you please explain to the court how that happened?

Well, about a week before her death, I began to suspect that she was cheating

me, so I hired a private investigator to look into it.

And when he showed me the pictures of my wife entering a motel room with Arthur

Eller, well, I just went crazy. I...

Went home, I got my gun, and in a fit of rage, I shot her while she was

sleeping.

At least I thought she was sleeping.

When the police discovered that she'd been poisoned and had died long before I

shot her, they released me and arrested Arthur Eller.

And before that night, you had no idea your wife was having an affair with my

client? No, I had no idea.

So up until then, you had a normal...

Happy marriage.

Yes, that's right.

Well, would you explain why the lady who comes in to clean your house, Margo

Church, is ready to testify that three months before your wife died, you had

pretty well taken up residence in the guest room?

Is that the way people act in a normal, healthy marriage?

No, but... You knew about the affair all that time, didn't you? For all that

three months?

No. But you didn't do anything until you realized your wife knew something

about you that could very well ruin you.

And so you pretended to shoot her in a fit of rage and

framed Arthur Eller.

so that no one would ever suspect that you had already murdered her with

cyanide.

That's not true.

Your Honor, at this time, as we discussed in chambers, I'd like to show

of the mayor's assassination.

Very well. Thank you.

Okay.

Go.

Now, this tape was made by Dwight Hutchinson.

at the Chun -Li Cafe.

And there's something on this tape that I don't think's been noticed before.

See there?

The mayor's down.

There's the other fellow.

People milling around.

There's a cop. Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,

wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Watch this. Watch this. Watch this.

Cops got him. Right there.

Right there. You see anything unusual there?

No. Well, let me help you out. We'll make it a little bigger.

There. You recognize that woman?

No. How about now?

That's your wife, Ava Brodsky, isn't it?

Somehow, she found out about the mayor's assassination.

Why she didn't tell my client you were a part of it, I don't know.

This is a complete fabrication.

Oh, no, it's not.

My daughter believes.

That you killed Abel Brodsky and framed Judge Yeller to get him off your

commission.

But you had a much deeper problem. Your wife knew that you were part of that

assassination. Maybe she didn't have the proof. Maybe that's why she didn't tell

my client.

But she got it.

She made, about a week before she died, several phone calls.

There's your phone, Jeff.

And some of those calls were made to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where you

bought that nice condominium and big yacht last year. I believe you paid cash

for it. Yes, last year was a particularly good year for me.

She also called the county tax collector down there, and

he sent her a copy of his copy of the check that was used to pay your property

tax. He sent me a copy, too.

Will you please read to the court the name of the man whose signature appears

the bottom?

Matt Greenwood. Matt Greenwood.

Matt Greenwood was paying you and Police Chief Colin Young off. No.

You were protecting him and his porno ring and his use of minors.

If the mayor ever found out, you would be ruined.

Not one word of this is true.

The problem you had was to get the police to believe my client had poisoned

wife and to get the cyanide into his house.

The first part was easy.

You just went in the kitchen, found a cup he had been using after one of their

rendezvous, put it where the police could find it.

The second part was easy, too.

All you had to do was find your wife's key ring.

And use the key my client had given her to his house.

I did not.

This is your wife's key ring, isn't it?

Yes. At this point, I'd like this key ring entered into evidence.

Because this key to my client's house has two

perfect fingerprints.

Obviously placed there by the...

Last person to use it.

Thumbprint and a forefinger.

And the person to whom those fingerprints belong is you.

Court is now in session.

The Honorable Michael Alden presiding.

Dad, good luck.

Come on up here. No, no, no. I need somebody that's prettier than me.

As the jury reached a verdict.

We have, Your Honor.

We find the defendant not guilty.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

You're excused.

This court is adjourned.

Well, what can I say?

If there's anything I can do... As a matter of fact, you can pay my daughter

$150 ,000.

Hang up your spurs and get off the bench.

Nice job.

Nice job.

I usually only have to say that to one Matlock.

I don't know if I can take this.

Julie, if you're not doing anything later, why don't you come over to Dad's?

Conrad, Michelle, you'll both come too. I'm cooking dinner.

Well, you don't have to do that. We could just go out.

No, I want to be with my dad at his house and have his friends over.