Original subtitles

Appearing in numerous high -profile Hollywood films, the body was discovered

a Santa Barbara motel room.

Our field reporter, Anne, is coming to us live from the scene. What can you

us about this?

We are live outside the Pacific View Motel in Santa Barbara, where stuntwoman

Paula McCarthy, just hours ago, was found beaten to death in her room.

What we can tell you at this point is that shortly after the body was

discovered, Ms. McCarthy's husband, Barry McCarthy, returned to the motel,

he has been undergoing police questioning since that time.

They're coming out now. Let's see if we can get a statement.

Excuse me.

Officer, are you arresting Mr. McCarthy?

Are you arresting him for murder?

No comment. Mr. McCarthy, is there anything that you'd like to say?

When's the last time you saw your wife alive?

Yes, sir.

Give me Debbie Gardner, please.

Could you please tell Miss Gardner to return one of my phone calls sometime

today? It's Dr.

Eric Spindler calling from Los Angeles.

I've left my number several times already.

Just leave the IV on top of it.

Dental.

On my count. One, two, three.

You guys take the green.

What IV is running?

IV B5W.

Can you check the vitals? What do we got?

Car accident, 38 -year -old male.

BP is 90 over 60.

Respirations are 8.

Depressed skull fracture.

Okay, where?

Parietal occipital region.

Jeez, he's swelling up like a balloon.

Let's get him upstairs.

I'll call the OR.

Who's on call?

David's operating.

Accomplished shot.

Is he conscious?

Bleeding out of the ear.

Do an MRI, Jesse. There's no time. Let's get him out of here.

No. What do you mean no? Take a look at that x -ray. How much fluid do you need

to see? If we don't release the pressure inside his cranium, he will suffer

severe brain damage.

You're risking that by going in and not knowing where the full insult to the

brain is.

Just do an MRI.

No. Let's intubate him and get him to the OR.

I will not let you cut him open. It's not your call to make, Eric.

Chris, Matt, please get Dr. Spiller away from my patient.

Now, I said get him out of here.

You're making a mistake.

Don't do it.

No, I'm fine.

You look wiped out.

I heard Travis's patient is partially paralyzed.

It wasn't Jesse's fault.

He should have done those tests.

He never should have cut him open.

He had no business doing what he did. I was there, Eric. I assisted.

Jesse had to open him up to relieve the cranial pressure.

It was the right thing to do.

Yeah.

I didn't ask you to dinner to talk about Jesse.

You and I, Dr. Spindler, are pregnant.

You were using birth control.

Not that time in the Pacific Ocean I wasn't.

Ah, man.

Okay.

I can get you through this.

Actually, I do know somebody.

You think I'm getting an abortion?

Of course you're getting an abortion.

No, I am not.

What did you think I was going to do, Jerry?

Marry you?

No, but you don't have to act like that. It's such a disgusting thought.

Just give us a minute, will you?

I know what this is about. This is about money, isn't it?

That's why you got pregnant.

Well, I got a newsflash for you. I am not supporting you or your child.

Hold on!

Hi. You Jesse Travis?

It depends. Is that a bill?

Hardly. Are you Jesse Travis?

Yes, I'm Jesse Travis.

Nice chatting with you.

the world did you find my Little League picture?

I found them in the closet under my old manual typewriter.

That's the game I remember. You hit a two -run homer and won for your team

day. Actually, I struck out three times and was hit by a pitch. That was... Man,

I'm toast.

Cooked. Done.

You know what he's talking about?

I think it means he's having a bad day.

That's great. You guys go ahead and make some jokes, but my career might be

over. You're being sued.

You remember that accident victim I operated on in an emergency last week?

-hmm. It's his family.

Oh, boy.

They're suing Bojessic and the hospital for medical malpractice.

Well, why does his family think he did something wrong? Because Eric Spindler

told him I did.

Eric, what did he have to do with it? He's testifying against me. He's running

around telling everybody that I screwed up. I can't believe that. You won't

believe it. He's their chief witness.

Mark, you gotta help me find a lawyer.

Oh, you're gonna need a good one.

Hey, you're going to Atlanta this weekend for that convention. Maybe you

talk to that friend of yours, that guy. What's his name? He lives there.

Well, who are you guys talking about? Please, Mark, my practice is at stake

here. Jess, I don't think he takes that kind of a case. Well, maybe you could

just call him.

Who are you talking about?

He's very busy.

I'm not even sure he remembers who I am, and I think he hates L .A.

Mark, please, my career, my life is on the line here. Could you just call him?

I appreciate it.

I sure hope you remember our deal. For every hot dog you eat, you promise to

walk a mile.

Oh, my Lord.

Hold on to your cash, Regis, Charlie.

Money seems to disappear when this man's around.

Hello there.

Still mad, huh?

Probably not to be.

How are you, Ben?

Okay.

Hungry.

How much is this man's tab?

$3 .75.

Don't think for a second that makes a statement.

Boy, you can carry a grudge, can't you?

Why are you here?

Ben, I need your help.

Help? I haven't even told you what it is yet.

I know that way you can get an earlier flight back to Los Angeles.

I'm going back Wednesday after the medical convention.

Ben, I need you to defend a resident of the community general who's been charged

with malpractice.

No, busy.

No, you're not too busy. I spoke to your daughter. She says your schedule's

light.

This can't be about the money, can it?

I didn't make light.

No, I'm not going to make light.

Ben, when you were back at Harvard Law School, what if something had happened

jeopardize your whole future?

Something you didn't do.

Wouldn't you reach out to someone with the power to help you?

You flew all the way from Los Angeles to Atlanta, probably paid first class

because you got plenty of cash, and that's the best pitch you can come up

I thought you might want to sit up front with me in first class when we fly

home.

First class, round trip.

Dr. Travis made his decision on the basis of an x -ray.

I felt it improper to perform surgery without the support of other tests.

And you told this to the defendant before he went ahead and operated?

That's correct.

Without being able to pinpoint the exact location of the damage, Dr. Travis

exposed his patient to severe risks.

Your Honor, objection.

Unless I'm misinformed, Dr. Spindler is not an expert in craniology. While his

opinions are interesting, it seems pretty irrelevant.

Overruled.

Why?

Because Dr.

Spindler witnessed the patient when he was admitted.

He witnessed the patient's symptoms. He was nowhere near the operation.

I said overruled.

Excuse me a second, Your Honor. Why don't you explain to the judge that a

medical resident is not an expert and therefore not qualified to give expert

testimony? That's what I said. No, it isn't. Who's trying this case, Your

Mr. Matlock or Dr. Sloan?

I'm trying the case, jackass.

Hey. Mr.

Matlock, that kind of language doesn't fly in my courtroom. One more outburst

and I'll cite you. I apologize, Your Honor, but I just don't understand why

man's allowed to testify.

Well, I don't know how it works in Atlanta, Mr. Matlock, but here in

when a judge says overruled, that means tough luck and sit down.

Well,

that's it.

I hope you don't have any plans for tonight, Mr. Matlock, because you're

to a slumber party.

Whoa.

Stop pushing.

I was just going to knock on Eric's door. I fixed my sprinkler head so it

stop squirting on his driveway.

Are you all right?

I hate him.

Did you have a fight?

He's out of control. I have to get out of here.

Jerry.

What's the matter?

And look at me!

What were you thinking, Jerry?

I wasn't thinking. I just snapped. I don't know.

You said you broke up with him.

Why'd you go back?

He accused me of getting pregnant so that I could go after his money.

Can you imagine that?

But why did you go back to his house, Jerry?

I didn't go back there to kill him, if that's what you're asking.

You understand that that answer is going to have a lot to do with what happens

to you.

After I left his house earlier today, I went home.

I started drinking.

You were drinking.

Jerry, you're pregnant.

You know better than that.

I have never done anything like that before. I was so angry.

Some point later, I just had to talk to him, so I called.

I don't think I was on the phone for more than 30 seconds before he hung up

me.

And then later on, when I went to his house, he was lying there on the couch,

listening to music, so unconcerned by all this.

I just lost... Do you have a lawyer?

No.

Actually, there's a very good one in town.

As a matter of fact, he's in the building as we speak.

Hi.

Go away.

Oh, I come all the way down here to spend your last hour in jail with you,

this is the thanks I get.

It's your fault.

I'm not the one to call the judge a bonehead. I didn't call the judge a

bonehead. I said it was a bonehead ruling.

Thank you, officer.

I'll try to see he doesn't make a break for it.

I'll let you keep your patience and stitches.

How you doing, Ben?

This mattress is two inches thick.

I chipped a tooth on something called cream chicken salad.

And if you haven't noticed, it stinks in here.

Well, you got 40 minutes left.

Thank God.

Ben, I got another little favor to ask you. Oh, come on. A nurse at the

hospital's been accused of murder.

What is it with your hospital? Do you have to be a criminal to get a job

There is a little ironic twist to this case. The guy that was murdered was the

resident who was testifying against Jesse.

That's been the fella? Get out of town.

So, Ben... No, I've got a case.

Hey, look how long can it take you? I mean, she's pleading guilty.

It's a crime of passion.

Huh? It was a snap.

That's when I hit Eric over the head with the lamp.

Good news is, if there is any, you won't be charged with murder.

Most of it is manslaughter.

No, it won't.

You're not going to believe this, but it's my job to tell you you are free to

go. Free to go where?

Wherever she pleases.

The charges have been dropped.

How can that be, Steve?

I killed Eric.

Apparently, you didn't.

Eric Spindler's toxicology report just came in.

He was killed by an obscure poison called monocaine.

When you hit him, he was already dead.

She's not going to be charged with anything?

They might get her for defacing the corpse. That'd be about it.

This guy needs to quit smoking.

You'd think in this day and time they could get a clearer picture.

That looks like a baseball glove.

Yeah. Yeah, it kind of does.

What happened to the malpractice suit against Jesse? Eric Spindler was the big

witness against him. Well, I imagine it'll be dropped.

Without this Spindler, the case doesn't have much weight.

Well, I believe we'll call the airlines. Maybe I can get a flight to Atlanta

tonight. What's your big hurry?

I want to go home.

It'd be nice to make a little money for a change.

But we haven't had a chance to spend any time together.

I'll try and find a way to get over that.

All right, you've got to at least let me give you a physical while you're here.

On the house.

On the house? Yeah.

Get your shirt off. We'll start out with a chest X -ray.

You better not find anything wrong.

You wanted to see me, Phil?

Yeah, come in.

Steve, we had to change gears in the Spindler case now that we know he was

poisoned. Look, I wanted to talk to you about that. I heard you signed it to

Rogers. Now, I have no problem staying on the case.

Actually, I have a problem with it.

You have a problem with me staying on the Spindler case?

We needed to re -examine who else might have had a motive to kill Spindler, and

someone pretty much jumped out.

It's Jesse Travis.

Jesse Travis?

Oh, come on, Phil, you gotta be kidding.

Jesse's one of the most...

non -violent, least vindictive people I know.

He also could have lost his license that Eric Spindler lived to testify against

him in a malpractice action.

Look, Phil, you gotta listen to me on this one.

There isn't even a remote chance that Jesse had anything to do with Eric

Spindler's death.

You know the bottle of wine we took from Spindler's house?

It had monocaine in it.

I know that.

It also had Dr.

Travis's fingerprints all over it. Plus...

We found traces of monocaine on the porcelain around the sink of Dr.

bathroom.

It's a rare poison, Steve.

I figured you'd want to be the one to bring him in.

Then I want you off the case.

Before I go, I wanted to show you this coloring book that someone gave me. See,

all these wonderful pictures in here. But, you know, as a doctor, I don't have

much time to do coloring. So maybe one of you can help me.

What's your name?

Harmony. Harmony. What a pretty name. Maybe you can just give it a little tap

there and then get some coloring done.

Maya, you might have hit a little too hard there. See that?

She kind of made them all disappear.

Maybe you can help. What's your name?

Kelsey. Kelsey. Maybe you give it a little soft tap.

Oh, gentle and nice. And I think that everything worked out nicely there, huh?

Thank you very much. So nice.

Hey, look at this.

The grand magician of all, Dr.

Sloan. If we're nice enough, maybe we can get him to do a little trick, huh?

Thank you very much, Jesse.

Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to show you a little piece of prestidigitation

involving this little lavender fluff.

I'm going to poke it into my fist.

And I'll tell you in advance, I'm going to make it disappear into thin air. We

simply shove it into the fist there until it's as tiny as we can get it.

Now, would you blow on that, please?

And poof.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.

There's a good activity outside. Yeah, sure. Okay, everyone back to bed. Get a

little rest. And if we're nice enough, maybe Dr. Sloan will do another trick

tomorrow.

In the bed. In the bed.

Sorry, Jesse.

Let's take a walk, Jess.

Mark, it's insane.

I know it.

Man, I want you to do something for me.

Hey, uh, Steve.

What's going on?

I can't believe I'm doing this, Jess, but...

I have to read you your rights.

What?

I can't believe it. It's really you.

Oh, well, yeah.

I'm Amanda Livingston, and I work with Mark Sloan, and I was so afraid I'd miss

meeting you. I'm a huge fan of yours.

That's very nice. Thank you.

I'm not taking Jesse's case.

Well, was I that transparent?

Yeah. I practiced the whole way over here, too.

Well, I know a couple of good lawyers here in Los Angeles, and they'll do

Well, don't just throw your stuff in the suitcase.

They're going to get all wrinkled. Look at them. I'll take care of that.

So where'd you meet Mark?

Oh, I just met him one time.

You're putting my socks in my shoes.

Yeah, it saves space.

In college?

No.

Where?

Well, I was just starting out in law, and I had a case here in Los Angeles,

I ate a piece of bad fish.

Mark was the resident in charge of the emergency room.

And that's it?

Yeah.

Whenever your name comes up, you act so weird. None of us can figure out why.

He didn't say anything to you?

About what?

We don't call it taxi.

My plane needs a little over an hour.

You know, I wasn't kidding when I said I was a huge fan of yours. Now, I

followed a case of yours years ago.

It was about a magician's assistant who was murdered. Yeah. And you convinced

the judge to move the jury to Magic Mansion so that you could go on stage

act out how the murderer committed the crime.

Yeah. Any of your L .A. lawyer friends do something like that?

No.

Jesse needs you.

I'm not above begging.

Bail is denied.

The defendant will be remanded into custody until trial, which will commence

March 4th at 9 .30.

This court is dismissed.

All right.

Am I going to jail?

I'm going to jail. Jesse, I warned you this would probably happen.

Bail's almost always denied in a state of a murder charge. That's why we got

him. Let's go.

I can't go to jail.

Jesse, don't worry. We'll take care of everything. Don't worry.

Because you guys got to get me out.

Yeah.

I thought Captain Brian took you off this case.

He did.

I'm just spending the day with my father, who also happens to be a police

consultant. A police consultant?

That's what I told you.

A doctor, a lawyer, and a police consultant.

Boy.

Amanda. What?

I knew you guys were here.

I just looked through the window. I didn't go in.

According to Jerry, this is where Eric Spindler's body was lying when she hit

him with the lamp.

These earphones are broken.

Why do you suppose Eric would be using earphones if it didn't work?

Maybe Jerry broke them when she threw the lamp back.

I can't tell you what an honor it is to be working side by side with one of the

greatest lethal minds in this country.

Thanks.

You already took the case, Amanda.

I was just cementing the deal.

You guys, come here and take a look at this.

It's mud.

Fresh mud.

Well, do you think someone's been here since the murder?

Actually I was wondering if they were here now.

Well, at least we know whoever was here drives a black pickup.

Maybe we'll get lucky and find some fingerprints on the door. Yeah.

Where's Ben?

There you are.

What are you looking for?

You see any toothpaste or a toothbrush anywhere?

Maybe Mr.

Spindler packed them up because he was going someplace.

Hey, you're good.

the bag. It's not here.

You know, maybe he packed it in front of the car already. I saw his car out in

front. Let's go.

Well, that's why I am a police consultant. At least now we know he was

somewhere the day he died. Does anything say where?

Santa Barbara.

Montecito Hotel.

Maybe he called somebody up there.

We should get his phone bill.

I'm on it.

Look at that.

A lot of sap on the hood of this car.

What's wrong?

Oh, nothing. I just... There's a lot of sap on the hood of this car.

God, you're here.

Well, I got 12 phone messages from you. I'm losing my mind here. I mean, this is

a pretty scary place.

I know it's hard, but you gotta get a hold of yourself.

You're a lucky man, Jesse.

See, you've got a lot of really good friends out there, and they're doing the

very best they can to find out whoever did this.

Look, I know that, and I appreciate it, but I just want to get out of here,

okay?

Have you got anything?

We have a couple of leads.

As soon as I have something concrete, I'll let you know.

Look, Ben, I know that you were all set to go home and that you didn't really

want to take this case.

Well, I'm on it now.

I've got everything riding on you.

Jesse, if I couldn't give you 100%, I wouldn't be here.

I'm glad to see you here today.

Thank God, a friendly face.

How does it feel being at work?

Oh, work's okay, but the people... Well, I guess just thinking I tried to kill

Eric scares them. It's hard to blame them, really.

I guess it just takes time.

How's Jesse holding up?

He could be better.

Ben, I knew Eric better than anyone. If there's anything I can do... There's one

thing. Do you know if Eric knew somebody named Debbie Gardner?

No, I don't think so.

Why? Well, Steve found out that he called her at the Montecito Hotel in

Barbara six times the day before he was killed. He was all packed and ready to

go up there when he died.

Hmm.

Well, it doesn't ring a bell.

Oh.

That's why Amanda went up to Santa Barbara.

What?

It's only an hour and a half away.

She drove up for the weekend with the baby.

Looks like you've run out of real estate.

Cut! Cut!

Debbie, you moved again.

Sorry, Hal.

All right, let's try and get this one right.

Everybody back to one.

What is wrong with that woman?

I mean, how tough is it to stay under friggin' Mark?

Stunt doubles, they drive me nuts.

Okay, people.

One more time. Let's set it up.

Okay. Reset.

Check the line here.

Pretty amazing, huh?

Why'd you come all the way up here?

Well, do you honestly believe I could sit around L .A. while Jesse's in jail?

While I have this incredible opportunity to crack his case alongside the

greatest defense attorney in the world?

How big a fool do you think I am?

Is that Debbie Gardner?

Man, you really don't know what's going on here, do you?

Should I start guessing?

Well, Debbie Gardner wasn't Ellen Tracy's original stunt double.

Debbie's sister, Paula McCarthy, was.

What happened to her?

Paula? Well, she was found dead a couple of months ago in a motel room.

Apparently, her own husband killed her.

Oh, boy.

Let's roll it.

Quiet, please.

Listen to this. Would you please hold it down back there?

Looks like you've run out of real estate.

Let's go, darling.

Cut. Print.

Unbelievable.

No change. None.

There's not enough money in this world to make me do something like that.

Sweetheart. How'd I do, Jack?

Hey, you did great.

Thanks. I got to get out of these wet clothes.

You cold?

You did good. Thanks.

Well, looks like she's on her way back to the trailer.

I won't come to her. You stay here.

back in a couple minutes. I'd appreciate that. Yeah.

Who are you?

You look familiar to me. My name's Ben Matlock.

And you want to talk to me?

Well, I'm investigating the murder of a doctor in Los Angeles named Eric

Spindle. The guy who was calling me?

Yeah.

He's dead?

Was he a friend of yours?

No. I didn't know him.

He called six or seven times, but I never called him back.

I lost my truck.

Why was he caught?

I don't know. I never spoke to him.

I kind of wish I had now.

What happened to him?

He was poisoned.

Some world.

Three months ago, my sister was found beaten to death in a motel room.

I know. I'm sorry.

What did she say?

She said she didn't know Eric and never spoke to him. Oh, she's lying.

You think so? Yep.

There was sap on the hood of her truck.

Like the sap on Eric's car?

Maybe. You know, Steve said whoever broke into Eric's house was driving a

truck. Yeah.

Why are you here?

I told you, I like watching you work. That's not why you're here.

Mark's worried about Jesse. That's why you're here. Mark told you to be here.

What'd he say? I'm old and feeble and can't take care of myself?

No, he didn't say that. Sure.

You want to make yourself useful?

Of course I do. Call Steve and tell him to find out what he can about Debbie.

Did you see Dr. Rice?

Look, my ulcer's gone.

It's a miracle, you know, having a baby.

You be sure and take good care of yourself.

Dr. Sloan?

Hmm?

You know, I was practically living with Eric.

Well, it's not a big secret.

Well, the problem is a lot of my clothes and jewelry are still at his house.

How long are the police going to keep everyone out?

I could ask Steve.

There are some things there, like the earrings my father gave me, that I

like. Yeah.

Well, I have some pull with the police department. I'll see what I can do.

Thanks.

And action.

Okay, come across the other side.

Terrific, terrific.

Grab her arm, pull her underneath.

Underneath.

I need more splashing.

That's great.

Well, it looks like the sap on Debbie's truck may have come from outside Eric's

house. How do you know? Take a look at that.

Steve faxed me Debbie's phone bill.

Cut! Okay, print that.

Let's get it up for the next shot. I'm going to talk to her right away.

I'm coming with you. No, you're not.

Uh, Debbie?

Debbie? What? What is it, Mr. Matlock?

I'm so sorry to bother you. I thought I'd already answered your question.

Well, something else has come up.

Oh, look, if I don't get out of these clothes, I'm going to catch pneumonia.

I can come back.

No, just be quick about it. Okay, maybe you can explain this to me.

How'd you get a copy of my phone book? Look at that call down here.

On January 9th, 310 -555 -2134.

That's Eric Spindler's number.

I told you, I don't know Eric Spindler. I never spoke to him.

Now you see why this is so puzzling.

Somebody called Eric Spindler on your phone and talked for 12 minutes.

If it wasn't you, maybe I'll talk to your husband.

Jack left for Banning, New Mexico to visit his parents, but I don't think

he talked to this guy in L .A.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to get out of these clothes.

Oh, wait.

One more.

Do you usually drive a truck?

No, it's Jack's.

We just brought one car to the location, though.

I've really got to go.

My father gave me those earrings.

They were my mom's.

Did you look in the bathroom?

My wife always left her earrings on the sink. It's the first place I looked at.

Maybe Eric put them in the safe.

What safe?

They're the floor safe somewhere in the house.

I'd like to see what's in it.

Let's see what we got.

Passport.

I think it was those car letters.

Well, looks like it's your lucky day.

That is great.

It says community general.

It is.

You recognize that guy?

No, never saw him before.

Me neither.

I better get a copy of this to Ben.

There you are. Hungry? Oh, ravenous.

Listen to this.

I was poking around in Jack's truck.

When? After I spoke to Ted. You'll never believe what I found on the floor.

It's all about Paul McCarthy's murder and the arrest of her husband.

Well, what's in the tape?

I don't know.

Sure makes you think it was Jack that broke into Eric's house, doesn't it?

Any message?

1407? 912?

Yeah, thank you.

Mark wants me to meet him at the pool in two hours.

I don't want to come all the way up here.

I'm going to have to tell him about a new invention called the telephone.

I've got to go.

Something wrong? The hotel sitter called, thinks the baby's running a

I'll talk to you later. Okay.

Give me your hand.

Oh

my

God.