Original subtitles

The following is based on a true story.

Certain names have been changed and certain characters are composites.

Warm you up, Walter?

Boy, you're up early. What are you doing, showing houses to insomniacs?

Barb's sick.

Mom, you busy tomorrow about 6 a .m.? How you doing this morning, Mr. Squire?

Glazed a little greasy this morning, now that you ask.

It's a good thing you didn't eat more of it.

What business do you like better, Gail, selling chow or houses?

At this hour of the morning, whichever one I'm not at.

Wilbur Squire claims my restaurant serves greasy donuts.

Yesterday, Cyril had a bug in it.

Tomorrow, he's going to want the cholesterol taken out of his eggs.

Want one, Mom? They're fresh.

Want one?

I'd kill for one, but am I going to?

No way.

Hey, you okay?

He's going to be a soccer player.

Have a couple with the Squires.

On me.

How about something to go with that coffee, Bob?

Well, you know how cops feel about donuts.

Mom, could you take over the counter?

Not a chance. I've got to get to the office.

He's not going to wait out the breakfast rush.

Oh, my God.

Look, you're an aunt.

Is he the cutest thing?

He's beautiful.

Congratulations, you guys.

It was a piece of cake for Michelle.

Pressure was all on me.

Rubbing her back, cutting the cord, holding the video camera steady.

Oh, my goodness.

The cross is at the end there.

When can I hold him? In a little while.

He's getting hungry again.

Michelle's going to nurse him some more. Okay.

Well, I'll be back later.

Wait till I get my hands on you, cutie.

Bye -bye.

How many acres were you looking for?

Well, does the trout stream have to begin and end on the property?

Well, let me make a few calls. I'll get back to you.

Harvey Kleindienst on four about his escrow, and Brian Furman's on five about

the place in Sardinia. You need something, Bob? That's a great question.

Furman's in his car.

Now, go ahead. Take it.

Know any farms with a trout stream?

Gail Wolfer. Mrs. Wolfer, are we still on for tonight? Oh, yeah, I talked to

owner. His girlfriend doesn't get home until later, but he thinks he can be

there around 7.

Well, that's a little early for me. I'll be coming in from Ohio.

Okay.

What's good for you?

Well, how about 930? No, better make it 945.

Fine, I'll give you directions.

No, no, no, no, no. I have the address. I'll see you there.

Right, bye.

You call this professional conduct?

The boss made a pass at me. How professional is that?

You want to quit?

I was thinking more along the lines of an early dinner during which I show the

boss how a pass is converted into a touchdown.

I got to show the Sloan house.

Not till 9 .45.

And I want to get back to the hospital.

Go to the hospital at 6 and meet me at 8 at that motel on Plank Road. It's on

your way to Sardinia.

Sounds more like a punt than a touchdown.

Why don't we just go home?

Your kids are less likely to call the motel.

Are you aware you are speaking to a grandmother?

I put a premium on experience.

Harvey says this call is taking longer than his escrow.

Hold on, Harvey. I'm looking for your paperwork.

I'll get to the Sloan's early.

What if we grab a bite around 10 and then go home and take the phone off the

hook? Fine.

Just don't make any plans for Saturday morning.

Granny.

Hi. Hi, Gail.

Is that my client's car?

I guess so. I just got here.

It's early.

I figured you guys came together.

No, he's from out of state.

This is the first thing I've shown him. Well, let's hope we all get lucky.

What's that?

Motion detector out by the barn.

Ted must be starting out there. Oh, okay. I'll go find him.

Mr. Furman.

Mrs. Wolfer. Hi.

Hi. You didn't do this place justice. You two have never met.

No, my business is in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

I'm expanding into Buffalo.

What kind of business are you in, Brian? Travel agency.

You wouldn't be interested in trading your house for, say, a couple hundred

trips to the meter, would you?

I'm a simple guy. Cash will be fine.

Well, let's show him around.

I already have.

He's interested.

Ted told you the price, $229 .50. Yeah, I'm also interested in some of this

stuff. We're talking kind of a package deal. The blower, the snow machine,

chainsaw. Wonderful.

Oh, business is real good right now.

Great. Well, let's go up to the house.

My checkbook's in the car.

Load circuit.

Motion detectors.

Security light.

What do you keep in here, Ted? The crown jewels?

I'm in trucking.

Lots of times I park a loaded rig outside and I want to be able to keep an

on it.

Here's a form we use, but an offer's been made. You guys want to take a look

it? Uh, yeah.

Do you mind if I use the bathroom before we get to the fine print?

Oh, sure. It's right through there.

Thank you.

You guys have a deal?

I don't know.

You think he's good for it?

Why wouldn't he be good for it?

We've got $250 ,000 just lying around.

Maybe he robbed a bank.

Because he's black?

Nice, Ted.

It was a joke, okay?

Freeze!

Now, put your hands above your heads.

The hell is this?

What we're doing is taking things nice and easy. If we do that, then nobody

hurt.

Now, get down on the floor.

Face.

Why don't you just tell me what you want?

You know what I want, Ted.

Who are you?

Face down.

Get up.

Get up!

Continue our negotiations.

Up there.

Where's this guy?

Right on your feet.

Can you reach?

Yeah.

Not going to hurt her.

Yeah, sure.

That's all I got.

$2 ,600.

Uh -huh.

Let's take a walk out to the bar and tell you something.

There's nothing out there, man.

Just humor me, okay?

Now, let's see what's in the camper out there.

Pretty fun, isn't it?

Can you do it?

If you can stand.

Where's the phone?

It's on the counter of the stove.

Let me help you.

Are you there?

Operator?

Operator, send the state police.

It's an emergency.

What is your location, please? Where are you?

They're coming back.

Oh, God.

Send an officer.

There's a man with a gun.

Phillips Road and Madison Corners in Sardinia.

I'm sorry to leave you down there, but I have to keep you tied up.

Would you be more comfortable on one of the beds?

No, I'm fine down here with Susan.

No, I think you'll be more comfortable in one of the bedrooms.

We'll take it nice and easy, okay?

Come on.

Good. Now, can you hop?

Come on.

That's good.

There.

No. I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to roll over onto your stomach.

Yeah.

And we'll get those cuffs off you.

Would you like a pillow?

You're not going to hurt me.

Oh, no.

No, no, no.

I'm not in the hurting business.

Attention major crimes duty personnel. We have a shooting in Sardinia,

intersection of Phillips Road and Madison Corners. Two victims at the

Assailant is fleeing north in a dark...

Using

brain function, we gotta move.

Can he talk?

Let's get him in the Y, Dan. Did he say anything when he first... Later. Just

back. They're coming out.

Did he say anything about the shooter? A name?

His brain's full of lead.

There's nothing left up there to talk with.

We've got two more inside.

One isn't even shot. The other one's bad.

It's me, Bob Browning.

Is he gone? He's gone. Who was he, Gail?

I should have met him in the office.

We called Medivac. They're meeting us at the hospital.

Let's get her out of here. Who was he?

We got to move her, sir. She's lost a lot of blood. Clear, please.

Okay, what?

I'll call the girls.

Tell them I love them.

And Bob.

You might get a tie. Hold on, Bill. You're gonna make it.

Why didn't you just hit the panic button on the security system?

Because it wasn't connected.

It's got power.

We were moving.

Ted wasn't paying for monitoring anymore.

Captain needs you, Detective.

Any idea who the shooter was?

I've never seen him before in my life.

Gail.

Gail. How can we find this guy? I must have a number back at the office.

He never gave me a number.

Come on, Captain. We've got to leave.

Hang in there, Gail.

Hang in there.

Hello?

Yes?

Nice house, full of expensive toys.

These cars have got to be worth a fortune.

What does that say to you?

Sloan was into drugs?

We're checking it out.

If somebody wants to rip off Sloan, why do it with Gail around?

Maybe she was the way in.

Maybe she wasn't even supposed to be here.

Just Sloan?

Shooter had plenty of time to do Sloan before Claridge and Gale got here.

He was looking for something.

Maybe drugs, maybe cash.

Claridge said he got $2 ,600.

Chicken scratch.

A drug hit for $2 ,600?

It doesn't track.

Maybe robbery was an afterthought.

Maybe somebody just wanted Sloan wasted.

And Claridge ought to know who that somebody could be.

Let's go over it one more time.

You and your boyfriend have got this drug business. I told you it was Ted's

business.

I had nothing to do with selling drugs.

You said you went with him to Florida.

You said he brought back drugs in your car.

I went along for the ride.

Excuse me. I stand corrected.

Ted wanted to get out of the business. He'd sold off his customers.

He promised me we were going to move to the Adirondacks and start over.

Which meant selling the house. Only the house wasn't selling.

But the drug business was.

Did he keep his money in the house?

He owed a lot of people money. He was paying it out as fast as it came in.

on, Susan.

Ted had cashed out. Where was his start over money? The house.

Maybe he didn't tell you what he had stashed away.

Maybe you were just his mule.

I was not his mule.

I love him.

And he loves me.

Then help us find the guy who shot him, Susan.

Who bought the business?

Who knew there was money in the house? We need a name.

How did you get out of there without a scratch, Susan?

I love Ted.

I was not part of this.

Then who was?

The guy who bought Ted's business. He thinks Ted...

Ripped him off for like $90 ,000.

What's this guy's name?

You never heard it from me, right?

Benny Lazara.

Thank you.

Where's the room?

They won't let us see her. But she's okay?

Nobody's told us anything.

Did you call Michelle?

She wanted to come. I told her not to be stupid.

I was at the office with the state police.

She had nothing in her files on this character, Furman.

Are you Mrs. Wolford's family?

Yes. I'm Dr. Walker.

She's just come out of surgery.

She's still under sedation. Is she going to be okay?

It's too early. She's lost a lot of blood.

One of the bullets cut through the nerves on the right side of the neck.

is partially shattered. We know it's bad, Doc, but... There is the risk of

neurological damage.

She might be paralyzed?

It's too soon to tell.

Look, Doc, we've been here for hours. Now give it to us straight. Is she going

to live?

It's too close to call.

Hey, what are you doing?

State police, Lazaro.

Derry County Sheriff's Department.

McLaughlin. That's certainly an unusual name for a cop.

What are you, Lebanese?

What do you two junior G -men want? You want to go have these on a set of used

wheels or what?

Real classy operation you got here, Benny.

Might even earn you a few in Auburn State.

Vito, pink slips.

Okay. Since when is it illegal for me to work on my own cars?

You cut up brand new foreign cars because you want to get Detroit back on

feet. Let's get into why you wanted Ted Sloan off his feet.

Sloan? Sloan?

Did he buy a used car from me or what?

You bought his little black book, Benny.

His drug customers.

Oh, and this is, of course, something that you can prove?

We're going to stay on your case until we can. Well, good, because I got a real

expensive lawyer that loves the good harassment case.

Listen, Slope, don't.

You want harassment?

You're in violation of the motor vehicle code, the fire code, the building code,

the occupational safety code.

Plus, your teeth haven't been cleaned since the fall of Saigon.

Fine, the next time you want to discuss my dental hygiene, we'll do it at my

attorney's office, okay?

do this to me, Tweeter.

We had a date. I'm holding you to it.

I know you can hear me.

Squeeze my hand.

Tell me we're still on.

Claridge worked with the artist.

You get this to the FBI?

Yeah, but we're not sure he took off after the shooting.

If he is still around, he may have lost the beard.

He sure as hell wasn't supposed to leave any witnesses.

If he screwed up, why would he stick around?

We ran down the handcuffs we took off Claridge.

They were sold in Buffalo 12 years ago.

Sold to who?

A company that's out of business.

How'd Furman get them, if he's not local?

If he's local, beautiful. We got him to roll on Lazaro.

Right. After we find him.

Your mom's the lady that got shot?

She was just showing a house.

Trash. Lots of trash in the world.

They think he was a hired killer.

A lot of us at my church, we're praying for your mother. You tell her that when

she wakes up.

Some water.

Let me have a closer look. Oh, are you cute.

Now, listen. Stop this. I'm trying to get her inside. I am not cold. I am not.

No, get out of the way.

I just want to get in the house so I can hold that baby.

This is what got me out of the hospital.

I would have thought we'd heard something from the cops by now.

I can't call every day.

They might have to give us a private report.

What do you want? They said they'd drive by every couple of hours now and she's

home. Why wouldn't they want to give us the progress report?

Want some pie?

He didn't eat anything.

Why are they driving by?

Because of him. I made cherry. Michelle brought apples from the restaurant.

Because of Furman?

Terrific, Bob.

Her first day home.

There's nothing to worry about. If the guy's a professional hitman, he's at the

bottom of the lake by now.

The bottom of the lake?

Can we drop this?

Because he screwed up. That's what you're talking about. The cops don't

it's over.

Gail. They can't find him.

Mom, don't get all excited, okay? They think he's coming back.

Lock the doors on a police car.

Down here, I do.

We're just grasping at straws.

We've been in and out of barbershops all day long. How many more have we got?

Last one, I promise.

VA's meeting us down here. Just late, I guess.

Can I help you?

Have you seen this guy?

Maybe he had his hair done or something.

Anybody in here look familiar?

No.

Mine put it up someplace.

You that real estate lady that got shot?

Yes.

I found a place to put it up.

Thank you.

Dude lost that comp the next day, you know.

How do we find him?

After a month.

Five weeks.

Me, I get on with my life.

We want you to meet Tim Franzik.

Is that him?

Trust me.

He's tried all kinds of cases.

Well, there is no case yet, is there?

Gail, this is Assistant DA Franzik.

Mr. Franzik, are you getting anywhere with this case, yes or no?

Well, we're working on the link between Lazara and Furman. Can you prove there

was a link?

We've been to every gin mill and topless joint in town.

We've heard from all kinds of snitches that Lazara had it in for Sloan.

What good is that if we don't have Furman?

I mean, we're down to looking into barbershops.

These things take time.

My business is down 50%.

I can't force myself to show a house. I can't hear in my left ear. I can't feel

in my right arm. My insurance does not cover physical therapy.

We're not going to give up on you, Mrs. Wolford.

All I was trying to do was sell a lousy house.

We need a break on this one.

Bob?

Oh. Oh, Red.

Oh, silly thing.

Good evening.

Some afternoon nap.

Ed Mildred called.

Told her you were asleep.

Why don't you try to call her back at 4 a .m.? You'll be awake.

Trust me, honey, I checked it already. There's nobody there.

Look at this shot.

Not that angle from the blimp.

This is what you're going to look like if you don't stop tossing those down

instead of eating dinner.

Where were you this afternoon?

I went to the driving range with Matt.

I went to the store. I expected you to be here when I got back.

Maybe you ought to post a sketch of Bob's sentry duty. I was afraid to walk

my own house. I thought he was here.

I'm sorry, Gail.

I think you know that. I gave you the afternoon off because I thought you'd be

here when I got back.

I want to be here because I love you, not because my boss tells me to.

Oh, you don't want to work for me anymore. Fine.

You haven't sold a house in months anyway.

Because I'm always driving you to the hospital or the DA's office or the

station.

You don't sleep at night.

You drink too much.

You can't be in a house alone and it's all for nothing because this guy's not

coming back.

I'm sorry I was such a bitch.

I'm sorry I wasn't here when you got home yesterday.

Did you reach great -aunt Mildred?

She's my great -aunt.

What's that supposed to mean?

It means I'll call her when I'm ready.

Okay. I don't need to be reminded to talk to my family.

I don't need to be reminded to talk to my family. Okay.

Don't start with that tone. We're not going to fight today.

Good. I'll get dressed. We can go to the nursery and look for azaleas. I can't

today, honey.

Well, it's the weekend. We'll go tomorrow.

I won't be back tomorrow until late in the afternoon.

Remember?

I'm taking Marcy to Toronto to see the Yankees.

It's not your weekend.

We switched. It's a twilighter. I told you about this.

You didn't tell me you'd be spending the night.

Well, it'll be too late afterward for a six -year -old. It's a long drive.

We're going to stay in a hotel. She's never done that before.

You could come with us.

Two consecutive games of baseball.

Do I get Novocaine?

to give being a little bit unreasonable.

You can do one of two things about this.

You can call Bob and have her come over and spend the night with you.

Or you can come with us to Toronto, stay in a hotel and have room service.

What you can't do is knock my daughter out of something I promised her a month

ago.

Get out of here.

What?

I said get out.

I never want to see you again.

Honey, you're having problems right now.

Right. I'm having problems, not Marcy.

You're lazy, you're broken, you're just sticking around to sponge off me.

Yeah, right.

If my legs were better, I'd go after Donald Trump. You walk out, you're not

coming back.

God, I'm sorry.

Hey, come back, please.

Please? Come on.

What I really like about you is your hands.

Oh, I mean it. Look at it.

So little and pretty.

That's not what you said when we were 12.

She can't play ball with us. How's she gonna catch with those twigs?

That's what you said.

9 -1 -1. Stay on the line, please.

Randy Travis, singing at the county fair.

I know you like him.

I want to try this next.

Not me.

We've got almost an hour. You want to see if Tom Johnson's showing his horses

here? Yeah, sure.

Oh, do I get cotton candy?

Today, you get anything you want.

Well, if

I can't finish this, we can always heat the house with it.

Insulation. Insulation, yeah.

Did Tom win a prize last year?

Oh.

Cannot, huh?

Michelle and Terry should bring the baby out here.

We could meet them out here with mercy.

And a bald eagle!

Oh, my

God.

He's a cop.

How can you be sure that this was the man?

He held a gun to my head. I'd know him anywhere.

But you said he was wearing a helmet. It was the same man.

Maybe all blacks just look alike to you. They don't. Or maybe it's just men,

period. Your ex -husband, for instance.

I never told you anything about him.

Then why do you make Bob's life such a hell? I'm getting out of here.

Getting a little paranoid, Gail?

Who locked all the windows?

This session is over.

Why are you...

Touch a bit, Gale. I'm not a bit.

Honey?

Honey?

Nobody's ever going to believe me.

Morning. You okay?

I saw him yesterday.

Who?

The man who shot me.

Where was this?

At the county fair.

Bob got his name.

You just walked up to him and asked his name?

He was wearing a name tag.

His name is Sanford Carver.

Yeah, right. And then Bob sold him a building lot in Arizona.

I'm serious.

Gail, you've been through a lot in the last few months. I did.

I saw him.

Killers don't wear name tags.

Cops do.

Who's his watch commander?

Yeah, I know him. We used to ride together.

He says that?

Got it.

Listen, don't say anything about this till I get back to you, okay?

Thanks.

We got a guy in the mountains who's black.

She didn't get the name right, though.

Samuel Carver.

But it doesn't sit right. This guy's as straight as they come.

Sure as hell doesn't sit right with me.

I get nervous when a gift drops into my lap.

Gail is 100 % positive this is the guy.

Captain, I know she's a friend of yours, but a cop did this. Come on. A part

-time cop.

He volunteers because he likes horses.

Has he ever been in any kind of trouble? Not that we know of. He owns his own

private security company, good military record, wife and kids. He lives on a

horse farm. He volunteers for the United Way.

He's on the board of the Studio Arena Theater.

He used to be the head of security for a grocery company.

Any drug activity?

Absolutely not. The man's a citizen.

How does a guy like this get to know a germ like Lazara? Or even if somehow he

knows Lazara, why would he take a contract to pop Ted Sloan? That's my

doesn't compute.

I still believe Gail Wolfer.

Captain, I'm not saying she's lying, but this is a cross -racial I .D. They're

notorious.

Whites make mistakes.

Blacks make mistakes.

Witnesses, black or white, see what they want to see.

I've got to tell you guys, the sheriff's department will cooperate, but we're

not going to end up with egg on our faces.

If we hassle a black guy because of one cross -racial ID and it blows up in our

faces, we're going to all be back squinting through radar guns.

What if we had two IDs?

I don't get it. We're just looking for them?

Like at random?

Everybody comes to the fair sooner or later.

Just look around.

Yeah, okay.

But I'd like to get back to work sometime this afternoon.

Hey,

there's a couple of guys I know.

How about some popcorn?

Hey, how you guys doing?

All right.

I'm Conrad Marley from Major Crime.

How you doing?

Well, any excitement today?

Well, it depends on how you feel about girls under 12 dressed eyes.

I know what you mean.

I'll tell you something, though.

My daughter would sure get a kick out of coming out here and seeing all these

horses. Well, we'll be out here for another week.

Why don't you bring her on down? I'll give her a ride.

You got a deal.

Hey, Mac.

Take my picture with the guys who have all the fun.

Take off your helmet.

My gorgeous.

And they put this up on the office wall.

Susan? What do you think?

His hair's shorter, and he doesn't have a beard, but he still gives me the

creeps. Can we get out of here?

Yeah, but is he the guy?

On a scale of ten, I'd say he's a seven or eight.

I'll meet you in the car.

How's it going?

Where it is with all this candle power, we may have light planes landing out

here.

That's fine.

As long as Carver's not in one of them.

He didn't see you at the fair.

I know.

I know.

Your great aunt called again. She wants to see you. It's nearly a week and they

haven't arrested him yet. What are they waiting for?

It's out of your hands.

Until he's in jail, nothing's out of my hands.

You want to arrest this man or search his home and office?

Both, Your Honor.

Look, just between our chickens, are we okay on this?

We got three victims here, Your Honor. One can't talk. The other two say this

the guy.

On a scale of ten, I'd say he's a seven or an eight.

I'd say you've got certainty on Gail Wolfer and something less than certainty

Susan Claridge.

Sounds like probable cause to me, Judge.

Say, I just let you search.

I'd say there's a good chance he'll run.

Why? Because I saw the look in Clary's eyes when this guy took off his helmet.

She knew it was him.

I've been doing this for 30 years, Judge.

No, Miss Bendix.

Sir, how you doing?

Got a minute?

Hey, Conrad, right?

We were investigating a shooting out in Sardinia last March.

Remember that one?

You know, there's a funny thing about that one.

I had a case of my own out there a couple of months ago.

This friend of mine says if it's a good thing you weren't out here a month ago,

they would have arrested you.

What do you mean?

That I look like the composite you guys put out.

Of course, everybody knows we all look alike.

Ever have reason to talk to any of the victims, sir?

Ted Sloan?

Gail Wolfer?

Susan Claridge?

No, no, no. Can't say that I have.

Where were you on the evening of March 25th?

Right off the top of my head, I can't say.

But I could have Farrah check my record.

How about Benny Lazaro?

Do you know him?

He came by a couple times.

Found out. He was just trying to unload a pickup for me to manage a piece of

work, I'm telling you.

You've been a big help, Sam.

Oh, good.

Just take a look at this for us, please.

This shall authorize the arrest of Samuel Carver.

This is a bad joke, guys.

Put your hands on your head, Sam.

Search Team A, seal the building, and move in. Team B, suspect is in custody,

move into the house.

You have the right to remain silent.

You have the right to an attorney.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I want to call him.

You know, I thought you guys were kidding about that composite thing.

You guys are only making one mistake.

What's that?

Huh, you got the wrong guy.

Okay, give him the dialogue.

I'm not in the hurting business.

What's that word, man?

Business.

I'm not in the hurting business.

business number

three are you sure

100 % it was Carver wasn't it

any

motions on bail gentlemen your honor In view of the viciousness of the crimes

involved in this matter, the people move that the defendant be held without

bail. Your Honor, my client poses no threat to the community.

He has an unblemished record. Indeed, he's a civic leader.

He's never been arrested.

He has a business to oversee, a family to take care of.

There's no question of flight.

We move he be released on his own recognizance.

In view of the defendant's roots in the community, bail is set at $75 ,000.

We're adjourned.

Judge Kubiniak said a low bail. That means Carver shouldn't have any trouble

meeting him. You mean he can just go home?

I understand how you feel. That man tried to kill me. Doesn't anybody here

that? In the eyes of the law, he's innocent until proven guilty.

If he's innocent, then I'm a liar, is that it? He was indicted, Gail. That

there will be a trial.

Great. He goes to trial for something he did to me, and I can't even be in the

room. Only because I'm going to call you as a witness.

I may call Bob, too, but the girls are free to be in there. If Mom and Bob

be inside, how come he can? Because he's the accused.

Mr.

Condon.

Well, Kavinyak doesn't seem to think my client poses much of a threat, does he?

You ought to think about dropping this case.

Save the taxpayers a lot of money.

Taxpayers pay me to put shooters in jail, John, and you and I both know this

time your guy's the shooter.

I don't know any such thing.

We've got people who testify he was somewhere else the night of the

We've got experts who will destroy the voice identifications.

We'll just show Mrs. Wolfer targeted the wrong man.

Is this your opening, John?

Because if it is, it's terrific.

I'm not opening.

My client is.

What? Excuse me?

Sam is assisting in his own defense to me.

Gail can't even be in the courtroom.

But he can get up and call her a liar. Get to put a few questions to her,

all. Why did he get to do that?

We'll show how implausible these charges are.

Sam's a very impressive speaker.

For a killer, you mean.

Gail. He held a gun to my head.

I know it was him.

There's a man in a car outside my house.

Yes, I will.

Tell him to hurry.

What's going on?

Turn out that light.

Get down!

He might see you.

Who is it? Him.

Police should be here any minute. They have a car in the area.

How do you know it's him? Did you see him? Yes.

You saw a gun?

Yes.

That's a false alarm. It's not him.

Sorry, Ron.

That's all the lights. I said all the kids drive by to see him.

If I could just get her to sleep, this wouldn't keep happening.

It was Joey Falcone and Teresa, isn't that, King?

Burnett told them to move.

So... Tweet her.

Like a reject from an Undertaker's convention.

Nothing a good night's sleep won't fix. You can't sleep with him out there.

He's not coming for you, Twitter.

No, I know. He's decided to dress up in a suit, be impressive, and play mind

games in court.

Get off Carver, okay?

Carver is not the problem here.

You mean I'm seeing things?

That's it, isn't it? Carver's not the guy? I think you think he's the guy. I

know he's the guy.

You're just like all the Reds and they think I'm just another hysterical woman.

You never understood what that man did to me and you don't care.

It's the biggest thing that ever happened, are you right?

It's the biggest thing in the history of this little hick town.

What? So Carver shot you.

Big deal.

You bastard.

What are you going to do, throw me out again? I gave you the day off so you can

stay home and help me count my bruises. The bruises have healed, Gail. Don't you

tell me about bruises. You're one tough lady.

You can go in that courtroom and take Conlon apart and spit Carver out on the

floor. Just the way you kicked the son of a bitch in the gut when he tried to

hurt you. He did hurt me.

And you nailed him for it.

Now just stop being a basket case and let the courts handle it.

What if they screw up?

You think your life is over if Carter walks?

Bull, nothing can stop you.

You're a locomotive. Look at me.

The sky's on your face.

Some bullets got in.

But what's precious about you, what's strong and sexy and smart, that couldn't

leak out.

Carver took you on and you kicked hell out of it.

Now get up and walk away.

Is that how you think of me?

A locomotive?

Hmm?

Has it started yet?

They're still picking the jury.

I'm Mrs. Wolfer. Where can I wait?

Miss Moore, are you a high school graduate?

I dropped out of school when I was 16.

What have you read recently?

TV Guide and...

There's this book I've got on how to start a vegetable garden.

And, oh,

The Shell Seekers. Except I haven't finished that yet.

Do you think you know what a black voice sounds like?

Have you ever been falsely accused in your life?

I did not accuse you falsely, Mr. Carver. I had my helmet on.

I did not fit the description you gave the police.

Ms. Claridge, who was far closer to me at the fair, could not say with

that I was the man who had done the shooting.

You had to be there.

You mean because the police weren't coming up with any leads?

No, because... Well, I...

Come on, Mrs. Wolfer, there are three quarters of a million people in Buffalo.

What were the chances that you would just happen upon your assailant?

The number of 40 -year -old black men is much smaller.

So you were looking for a black man who looked like the man who shot you?

Yes. No, I mean, I, well, I didn't just go out looking. Come on, Mrs. Wolfer,

you see them everywhere.

You see killers lurking in the parking lot.

You see them under the floodlights at your home, at the county fair. No. You

dangerous black men everywhere you go, don't you, Mrs. Wilford?

Honey? Are you okay?

You want some coffee or something?

No, thanks.

My sister told my mom that I broke her doll.

It was my brother who did it.

It's no fun being a scapegoat, is it?

No.

Counsel, approach.

Not you, sir.

Life

is

too short for this, Counselor.

Your Honor, a client has a right to represent himself.

He doesn't have the right to massage his ego in my courtroom, not to mention

trying his case in voir dire.

I'm not giving you this kind of rope.

Are you instructing me, Robert? Just giving the defense a friendly warning.

The ship is sinking before she gets out of port.

We're ready for you.

It'll just be Condon on cross -examination. The judge told Carver he

line.

She's doing great.

But she's not taking any crap from him.

Is it fair to say that in the months following the shooting, there was a

disconcerting lack of progress in coming up with a suspect?

I wasn't disconcerted.

Weren't you?

Four months after the shooting and still no one in custody?

I would have been.

I knew the state police would find him.

Oh, yes, of course. You knew a lot about the state police, didn't you? After

all, a lot of them ate at your restaurant.

Did they ever discuss with you what a high -profile case yours was, Miss

No, sir. About the publicity it got.

About the pressure it put on the law enforcement authorities to come up with

suspect.

No, sir.

We never discussed anything but the progress in the case.

Of course you didn't.

And then this incredible coincidence occurs.

You went to the fair and you saw a black man.

My client, Mr. Carver, who somewhat resembled the man who shot you. I didn't

somewhat.

Well, you thought it was really him.

I would have thought you'd have gone directly to the police. But you

here that you waited until the next morning...

before telling Captain Browning about this amazing piece of luck.

He waited until he came to your restaurant for breakfast. Does he have a

question, Your Honor?

I have a lot of questions about this case, Mr. Counselor, but I'll ask an

obvious one.

Now, you testified that you identified my client's voice in the vocal

lineup, did you not?

I know voices. He was very well -spoken.

I talked to him eight or nine times on the phone.

Now, just answer yes or no, please.

Is it possible that someone else, someone well -spoken like my client,

have telephoned you?

It's possible, but... Thank you, Mrs. Wolfer.

And isn't it also possible that the man who shot you, Furman...

The man with the long red hair was hired precisely because he looks a lot like

my client.

No, sir, that is not possible.

Because Furman and your client are the same man.

But if that's not true, Mrs. Wolfer, you've made quite a mistake.

for coming down, Benny.

What do we have, gentlemen?

Read this for Mr.

Forensic, Benny.

1983 Plymouth Duster.

Purchaser's name, Benny Lazaro. Price, $2 ,800.

Odometer, $42 ,961. I mean, I remember that crate and the differential was

together with, like, aluminum.

I don't know why.

Now read this one.

1983 Plymouth Duster.

Seller's name, Benny Lazaro.

Price, $3 ,800.

So I made a lousy ground on that deal. That broad couldn't tell a differential

from toe jam.

But what was the odometer reading when you sold it, Benny?

Copy machines from hunger.

31 ,004.

That's 12 ,000 miles less than when you bought it.

You're right, McBenny.

Haven't you guys got better ways to waste the taxpayers' money?

Maybe not just on one car, but we've been searching for eight months.

We've got 131 documented rollbacks, each one good for at least a year in prison.

Come on, you guys.

This is nothing.

131 years is a lot of time to do for nothing.

Bring me in a booking form.

All right.

I'm hurting.

So?

Cut me some slack.

Tell us what you know about Sam Carver, Benny.

Heavens, Aunt Mildred, what are you doing out on a day like today?

I'm trying to embarrass my great niece.

See? No leprosy yet.

I was going to come and see you as soon as the trial was over.

At my age, we don't wait for the legal system, Gail.

Everything's been so up in the air.

I've been thinking about the trial.

Barb's been thinking about her wedding.

Kyle's thinking about college.

What are you talking about? He's just a baby.

Are you sure?

When was the last time you held him on your lap?

Okay.

I'm not spending enough time with the family.

When I feel up to it, I go through my drawers.

Now, this belonged to my mother.

I want you to have it.

Thank you.

Pretty.

Is it a diary?

In her day, it was called a commonplace book.

It's for making lists and jotting things down that you want to remember.

It's blank.

She was like you.

Busy.

I can use this.

Car phone numbers.

I've been looking. Don't waste it on car phone numbers.

My life revolves around telephone numbers.

When you get to be my age and you look at your dresser drawer, is that what you

want to find?

Somebody's car phone number?

Put pictures in it.

Snapshots.

People.

Write your thoughts.

You've always been my favorite, Gail.

Because you've got guts.

When the girl's father left, you trained yourself to be a businesswoman.

You brought those kids up.

You got up in a high wire, and you never looked down.

Till Carver knocked me off.

And when he's convicted, you'll get back up again?

Right? I have to.

What if he gets off?

He can't get off. He damn near killed two people.

That could happen, Gail.

That's why I have to put him away.

What you did in that court was simple, to tell the truth.

Now, what you have to do in there is a lot harder.

Make lists of things you really want to hold on to.

Sam Carver gave you a gift.

He showed you what a great thing it is to be alive.

That's all I wanted to say.

Mr. Lazara, do you know the defendant, Samuel Carver?

Yeah, I went to see him with his broad. I knew about some private eye work.

He was a player. You could see it in his eyes.

So I went back to see him about doing a job for me.

Did this job have anything to do with Ted Sloan? Yeah, Sloan ripped me off

than $90 ,000.

I told Sam about that, and I told him that Ted's house was up to sale.

And I told him that if he went in there and got my money back, that he could

keep half of it.

Did you tell him to kill Ted Sloan?

Definitely not.

Your witness.

You are testifying here today because you made a deal with Mr. Fancy, right?

I have to make amends to society for some odometer tampering.

Offer drug dealing.

I'm not a drug dealer.

I'm a used car salesman.

How did you come to know Ted Sloan?

He sold me certain names.

Drug customers.

How much did you pay for each customer?

Three. Four thousand?

And yet, Mr. Fransick's office isn't charging you with any drug offenses,

The deal is, I plead guilty to five counts of odometer tampering, and the DA

tells the judge how cooperative I've been.

Now, right after Ted Sloan was shot, the state police came to see you, right?

Yeah, we had tea and crumpets.

So you were then, and always have been, a suspect in this case.

You think I'm up here because I like rolling over on a guy?

Why should the jury believe anything you say, Mr.

Lazara?

Feels no good if I lie, pal.

Okay, Aunt Mildred.

I give up.

No phone numbers.

My thoughts.

Things worth remembering.

Barbara's wedding.

Just days away.

Now, let's go back to the evening of March 25th, 1988.

Did you go bowling that night?

Yes, we did.

And did your boss, Mr. Carver, stop by that night?

Yes, he did.

What time was that, approximately?

Between 10 .30 and 11.

Was he wearing a trench coat and a blue button -down collar shirt?

No. He was wearing a dark blue suit with a purple shirt and a purple tie.

Now, the police telephone log revealed that Susan Claridge called in...

At 10 .32 p .m.

Now, is there any conceivable way that Mr. Carver could have left the Sloan

house in Sardinia shortly before 10 .32, drive 30 miles, change his clothes,

and arrive at the Bowler Roll by 11 o 'clock?

No, sir. No way.

Your witness.

Miss Bendix, what were you wearing that night at the bowling alley?

I don't remember.

And the other four girls on your team, do you remember what any of them was

wearing?

No.

And yet you remember exactly what Mr. Carver was wearing right down to his

purple tie.

He had worn it at the office that day, too.

I see.

Uh, Miss Bendix, are you aware...

That Samuel Carver took out various loans to get SCC investigations off the

ground? Objection, Your Honor.

The witness is only an office manager.

She keeps the books, Your Honor.

Overruled, you may answer.

There were loans.

About $90 ,000?

I'm not sure.

Were checks bouncing, Ms. Bendix? A few. It was no big deal.

Were you not also aware that Samuel Carver was behind in his personal loan

payments on his motor home, on his car? He didn't try to kill anybody.

Thank you, Ms. Bendix.

Mr. McBain, tell us how you know the defendant.

We worked together in the security department at Sunbright Markets.

Sam trained me.

Three years ago, he left Sunbright to start his own private security company,

Consultants Investigations. Why was that?

Sam told everybody SCCI was spun off so he could take more outside business.

And in spinning off the company, Sunbright sold him a few of its security

customers and also some items of police equipment. Is that right?

Yes, sir, that's right.

I found an inventory on what he took.

I show you a pair of peerless handcuffs.

Serial number 609 -4177.

These are the cuffs that were taken from the wrists of Susan Claridge on the

night of the shooting.

And I show you this slip of paper. Can you identify it?

Yes, sir. This is the equipment sign -out sheet that I found in our files. By

our, you mean Sunbright.

That's right.

It's dated 1976, just after the company purchased six pairs of handcuffs from

United Police Supply.

And the various pairs of handcuffs are signed out by serial number, are they

not? Yes, sir.

And will you read out the name beside the three pairs of handcuffs with serial

numbers 609 -4177 to 609 -4179?

Sam Carver.

Why do you stay with me?

Young chicks are all taken.

Seriously.

I keep you up at night.

I threaten people with letter openers.

I've been drinking too much.

And I've broken every rule about keeping our business and private life separate.

But on the other hand...

I've met a heck of a lot of interests in hoods over the last year.

Is that worth putting up with a crazy lady?

Yeah, crazy's okay.

Sexy's more than okay.

Dull is what we try to avoid.

We?

Me.

Ted Turner, Warren Beatty, guys like us.

Don't worry about the words. If you make a mistake, I'll help you.

I never tell you I love you.

You tell me all the time.

I would never have gotten through this without you.

I love you, Bob.

Sam Carver is a scapegoat.

Because he's black.

And because he's successful.

Now, bear in mind the testimony you've heard.

This man is trusted by a large corporation.

to protect supermarkets where he had ready access to huge amounts of cash.

Now, would he have run the risk that perhaps Ted Sloan

had a large amount of money in his house?

Carver is an expert with firearms.

Indeed, trained in the military. He's a hunter.

If he had wanted to kill anybody...

Would he have bungled the job?

Twice?

Mr. Carver, ladies and gentlemen, is many things, but he's not stupid.

He's just unlucky.

My client had the bad luck to have Benny Lazara walk into his office

and see that he resembled another black man, one who was

desperate enough.

to carry off Benny Lazara's dirty work.

Now, who had a motive to rip off Ted Sloan?

Benny Lazara.

Who did the police target within hours of the crime?

Benny Lazara.

Who knew that Ted Sloan's house was listed with the realtor, Gail Wolfer?

Now, in order for you, ladies and gentlemen, to find my client guilty, you

do so beyond a reasonable doubt.

Now, you're all reasonable people.

Surely, you must have some doubts about this case.

Sam Carver was trying to make it on his own, and he was failing.

He was sinking under a mountain of debt.

From Benny Lazara, he heard about a hoard of cash and maybe drugs at Ted

house. A plan started forming in Carver's mind, but there was one

He had heard that there was an elaborate security system in the house, and he

needed a way around it.

That's why he contacted Gail Wolfer, because she could get him in the door.

Then he thinks to himself, why should I give half to Benny Lazaro? Lazaro was

certainly in no position to go to the police.

Sloan and Clarence were going to be dead.

That left Gail Wolfer as the one person who might be able to identify him, and

Mr. Carver took great pains to make sure that she would never see him.

On the night of the shooting, Sam Carver was waiting for Susan Claridge to come

home because when she did, he planned to hold a gun to her head and force Ted

Sloan to give him the money.

Then it would have been a simple matter to kill the only two witnesses.

But all of his meticulous planning went south

because Susan Claridge was out picking up dinner and came home late.

And Gail Wolfer came early.

You heard what happened.

Mr. Condon is right.

Benny Lazara did give Sam Carver the idea about Ted Sloan's house, but it was

Carver who went in that night and Carver who pulled the trigger.

You're terrible.

You should have heard what she said about your cousin's dress. Mom, who

it? Klaus, girls.

Great timing. The jury's finally coming back in. It's on TV.

No, it's over.

It doesn't matter anymore.

You sure?

How many times does my daughter get married?

I know, it's just... I want him to pay for what he did to you.

And if he walks?

You go ahead, watch it if you want.

Don't you look at me that way.

Go get some champagne, you look like you need it. Not me.

Oh, goodness, what a day.

Absolutely. Are you holding up okay?

Yeah, how about you?

Okay.

And so the trial that has held Western New York's attention comes

to a conclusion today with the jury's decision.

Tell me.

Oh, yeah, they're just now coming back in. You can see the strain on the jury

members' faces after two long days of deliberation.

The last person in should be the jury foreman with the verdict.

Oh, you did it, tweeter. We did it. We did it.

Guilty.

I'm so glad for you. I hope they throw away the keys. Now you can get a picture

of all of us together.

The champagne's getting flat.

Now we have two things to celebrate.

And I know the one that makes us all the happiest.

To Barb and Joe and Knights of Bliss.

To good doctors and good cops. To Randy Travis.

To families and friends and more champagne.

To cheese.

Cheese. One more, one more.

Gail Wolfer remains partially deaf in one ear. She and Bob Sprague eagerly

the arrival of Barbara and Joe's first child.

Ted Sloan remains disabled by his head injuries.

The man portrayed as Samuel Carver is serving a sentence of 29 to 75 years in

the New York State prison system. He insists that he is innocent and is

an appeal.