Original subtitles

Come on, I know you got it, Bill and Bill. Keep it up.

Keep it up.

Huh? Huh?

What's the money?

Come on!

I want to check that movie. I think she tried to kiss me.

Hot, buddy.

I'll show you. I'll show you, buddy. Kick it a hill.

It'll be a malehood in your old mind.

Yeah, right.

Whoop, whoop.

You got nothing on me, buddy. So I think she likes my eyes.

She likes something else, buddy.

Get your head down or I'll blow it off.

Okay, punk, give us your money.

Whatever you got.

Now!

You heard the man. Now cough it up. I don't have nothing.

Give it to me.

Give it to me.

Where's it at?

Come on.

Now get out of here.

Now, what are you waiting for?

So where's the stuff?

Where's the stuff? Where are you keeping it? Come on, this is bullshit.

Put your head down.

Get your head down or I'll blow it up. Get your face in the dirt.

Come on. Come on, get out of here. Come on.

It was too dark. I couldn't see their faces.

Plus, they had his face down on the ground. What amount of shotgun? I saw

bow right near my head. Did anybody get a good look at their faces? No. One of

them stuffed his hand down my shirt looking for money and stuff, but I

see his face. It was too dark. I couldn't see anything.

I did.

I saw him.

What's your name?

Jimmy O 'Neal.

You think you could identify him?

Yeah. Maybe.

Is he dead?

Somebody's in the house.

Hey, there.

What the hell are you doing?

Hey, Dad.

Bobby, it's 3 o 'clock in the morning. I was ready to take your head off here.

Bobby, what happened?

I guess I'm a little bit drunk. I forgot where I lived.

Carol, go upstairs.

Jeff and Timmy.

Mom, why don't you just let Bobby sleep here? No way.

This is the very reason he moved out in the first place.

That was a joint.

This is beer and bourbon.

What do you think?

You think you're very cute, huh?

How do we know what you messed up on?

Dad, let me get dressed and I'll drive Bobby home. You will not. Go to bed, all

of you.

Jeez, lighten up, Dad.

I'll lighten you up. Go to bed.

You sit down.

Are you listening to me, son?

If you want to mess up your life, we can't stop you. What kind of an example

you think you're setting for Carol and Jeff?

Even Timmy thinks you're a big shot with your carousing and boozing. Dad, right,

you're sorry you ever took me in this family in the first place. I never said

that. I heard you say it. I never said anything. Don't make me sorry.

Oh, to hell with it. You want to throw your life away, fine. Just don't do it

this house.

You can have the couch tonight. I'll get you a blanket.

Mom, somebody shot Spooky Halstead tonight in Marine Park.

He's dead.

Oh, my God.

I just...

The brutal murder of young Robert Spooky Halstead in Marine Park last night, the

result of what police are calling a drug -related holdup. We'll have more

details for you as the case unfolds.

A warehouse fire... We were on the radio this morning about Spooky Halstead.

Oh, God.

I just can't believe it. Right here in Marine Park.

It's late. We got to go.

Say, Ma, can you lend me 20 bucks till next week?

Why don't you get a job?

I got a job.

I mean a real job. Delivering pizzas is no job.

You were going to ask Jim's brother about getting you into the union.

I already told you I don't want to be a plumber.

Well, what do you want to be?

I don't know. I'm just not a plumber. You know, when I was your age, I went

service. It straightened me right out, and I had no doubt it would do the same

for you. Don't start this again.

It's not enough that your mother catches you with drugs in this house.

One joint.

So I moved out.

You always got to throw that in? I'm just saying, you have no high school

diploma. You spend all your time hanging out with your friends getting high.

The chances for you to do something with your life are passing you by. Yeah,

well, I sure as hell am not going to spend the next 30 years of my life

for the phone company. Bobby.

Fine.

Spend the next 30 years of your life being a bum, which is what you are.

I'll wait for you.

Why does he always got to start in on me like that? I don't want to fight.

You've been out of high school a couple of years.

It just worries.

Ma, I've got time. I'm 20 years old.

Spooky Halston wasn't much older than you.

Here.

And don't forget, you still owe me 10 from last week.

I won't. I always pay you back.

Don't I?

Don't I get a kiss for 20 bucks?

Use a glass.

And if you spend that money on drinking and dope, I'm going to make you wish you

were never born.

I love you too, Mom.

Glass! You!

What are all these computers for?

This is a catch unit. It stands for Computer Assist Terminal Criminal Hunt.

You tell the computer what the guy looked like, and it starts showing you

pictures of guys who've been arrested for the same crime.

All right, you've got the best look at the guy in front of you face to face,

right? Yeah. So, what do you look like?

About 5 '9", maybe 5 '10". I don't care.

Weight?

He's wearing a coat. About 150, 160.

Find him, and we can name him.

That's him.

You sure? Yeah, this is the guy.

Is this the guy?

Yeah, that's him.

What about the other guy? Do you recognize him?

Yeah.

Do you recognize this guy?

Yeah, I think so.

He was arrested with Farrell before.

Yeah,

yeah, it's him.

That's the guy with the shocker.

Good. You nailed him.

Yeah?

Good.

I got a photo ID on the Marine Park murder.

No kidding. I talked to a dozen people who were there. They all said it was too

dark to see anything.

Well, you know, Neal Kidd picked this guy Farrow off the catch unit, then he

ID'd this guy as the accomplice.

Yeah?

He's only 15.

You sure he's not trying to be a hero?

No, he's sure.

Hey, look.

It's your first homicide.

Eyewitness IDs are always shaky.

Don't be too eager.

If you can pick him out of a lineup, I'm going to go with it.

Robert McLaughlin?

Yeah? We're taking you in on the Marine Park murder. Let's go.

Why?

Very simple.

All you got to do is point out the guy you picked in the photo.

Okay, go.

So how'd I do, boy? Did I pass? Can I go home now?

You're under arrest.

You're kidding, right?

No.

Hello? Come on.

Look, I'm in trouble.

I only got a minute, so you better put Dad on the other phone.

Harold? Yeah?

Pick up in the hall. It's Bobby. He says he's in trouble.

What's the matter, Bobby?

This thing's crazy.

I got arrested for that Marine Park murder thing. They think I shot Spooky

Halstead.

Mom, Dad, come on. You gotta help me here.

Did you do it, son?

No, of course not.

Then why did they arrest you? I don't know. They must have got me mixed up

somebody else because I was with Rob and David and Brad LaRosa at the time. You

can ask them. I was with them the whole night.

Okay, listen.

I'm being arraigned tomorrow morning.

8 o 'clock at the courthouse. Right, so can you get a lawyer or something?

My time's almost up, all right, so I'll see you tomorrow.

Bobby?

Bobby?

Good Lord.

How could he get involved in something like this?

He says he's not. Yes. That's what he says, but everybody knows you only go to

Marine Park at night for one reason, buying or selling drugs. So he could

easily have been there.

And it's not the first time he's been arrested.

Honey, that was a fight in a bar, for God's sakes. This is murder.

Poppy could never kill anyone.

No mother wants to believe her child could kill anybody, but people do it all

the time, and all of them had mothers.

Harold, you're talking like he's guilty. My God, we have to at least give him

the benefit of the doubt. We've given him everything.

Mary, that kid breaks my heart. He's been in trouble all his life, ever since

brought him in here.

I never thought I'd say this, and God forgive me, but at this very moment, I

glad that he's not our real son.

Bonneville, Stuckey, Harrison. Did we do these?

Not yet.

All right.

Next case.

McLaughlin and Farrow.

Robert McLaughlin's bail will be set at $75 ,000.

Do you have your own attorney?

All right.

No, not yet.

What about you, Farrow? No.

You are free to retain your own counsel, but in the event that you are unable to

do so, I am appointing Beverly Rosen as your attorney, Mr.

McLaughlin, and John Corbett for Mr. Farrell.

Excuse me, sir. May I speak with my parents just for a minute, please?

You'd better talk to your lawyer.

Next case.

There's been a mistake here, mate. You got the wrong man.

I'm Beverly Rose, the court -appointed attorney.

How do you do? You have to talk to Bobby. Oh, I'm afraid that's not

a while.

No, no, you don't understand. We've got to talk to him so we can get to the

bottom of this and find out what the hell's going on here.

Oh, well, I'll talk to him. Give me your phone number, and I'll call you.

McLaughlin. No, no, our name is Honey, please.

We're Bobby's foster parents.

Oh, I see.

Have you decided whether you're going to hire a new attorney or stay with the

court appointment?

Not yet.

Well... Call me if you have any questions.

Thank you.

Miss Rosen, where do they take Bobby?

Right this aisle.

Have a nice day.

Give me your shoes.

No.

I said give me your shoes.

Break

it

up, break it up. What's the problem here? Nothing. You let me fight just one

them. Oh, yeah?

Which one do you want?

This one. You got it, kid.

I'm telling everybody.

No, what's your name?

Billy. Farrell. Farrell. Hey, you were in court with me, right? You got

for this Marine Park murder thing?

Mm -hmm.

Where you from?

Canarsie.

Canarsie. I ain't never been to Canarsie. What the hell do these cops

people don't know each other, walk into the park, decide they're gonna kill

somebody? Hey, who knows what cops think?

Yeah, well, one thing's for sure.

I sure as hell hope you did this thing because I didn't.

Did that lawyer say if he did it or what?

Miss Rosen just said he's pleading innocent.

Does she believe him?

I don't know.

I asked around about her.

Some of the guys at the office know her. They say they were lucky to get her.

She's won a lot of murder cases. Who the hell is this guy Farrell? I never heard

of him. Have you?

No. Bobby know anybody named Farrell?

Not that I know of.

I've called a half a dozen lawyers.

The cheapest is $150 an hour.

I don't see how he can afford it. How did they ever put Bobby and this Farrell

guy together?

I don't know.

Maybe we should use Beverly Rose.

She sounded very optimistic when she called. She says we have a strong case.

What kind of evidence they got against Bobby? I mean, why did they arrest him

the first place?

Beverly says they have a kid, 15 years old. What? One of the victims of the

robbery. He says Bobby was one of them. He says he saw him. My God, how could he

do such a thing?

We don't know that he did it. You said the kid saw him.

He could be wrong. It was dark.

You don't know what old Bobby could have gotten mixed up with here.

I'm not going to listen to any more. Well, look, maybe things got out of

Mary, listen to me.

Maybe they didn't mean for anybody to get hurt. They had guns.

What are you talking about?

Sit down, Carol.

I'll get Jeff and Timmy.

We need to talk to you kids.

Is Bobby in trouble?

Yeah, sweetheart, Bobby's in trouble.

Bobby's in big trouble.

And for Bobby McLaughlin.

Attention, please.

There will be a general lock -up after visiting hours.

There will be a general lock -up after visiting hours.

Bobby, you look terrible. What happened?

What do you think I am, mom? College?

Well, can't you tell the guards?

No, Mom, just please get me out of here. You've got to get me out of here.

You should have thought of that before.

What are you talking about?

How could you have done something like this?

I told you on the phone I didn't do anything.

Man, well, the police don't generally arrest people for nothing.

Look, I'm telling you, I was with Brad and David and Rob. Ask them.

The kids have been covering for each other since third grade.

Dad, I swear to God I didn't have anything to do with this.

They got a kid that says he saw you.

And why would he lie? I don't know, but it was not me.

Mom, please.

We want to believe you. Get me a lie detector test.

We're working on it. You're working on it.

Do you really think that I took a gun, stuck it to Spooky's head, and blew his

brains out?

No. Harold, stop it. We saw you there. He was falling down drunk. He couldn't

even find his own bed, for God's sakes. I don't know what kind of drugs you're

on or what happens when you mix them with booze. I don't hurt my friends.

All right, maybe I like to party a little bit, but I'm not a criminal.

Using drugs is a crime, son. Carrying drugs on your person is a crime. Fine.

And I am a criminal. One stupid joint, you're going to let me rot in this

No. You chose this place. You put yourself here.

This is for Bobby.

Doesn't conform to regulations.

You're only allowed to bring in what's on that list.

What are you doing?

I'm going through some of Bobby's stuff from his apartment and from his room.

He always writes down phone numbers on little bits of paper like this.

What are you looking for?

I'm looking for Farrow's phone number.

You're looking for proof that he's guilty.

I have to be sure. I have to know.

Bobby needs us on his side.

That kid has had bad breaks from the very beginning. He needs us to believe

him now.

Don't you think I know that? Don't you think I want to believe him? Mary, this

makes me sick. I can't sleep. I keep thinking about him in that awful place.

The lie detector test is in just a few days. I know.

I don't need a machine to tell me.

I know Bobby didn't do it.

I know Bobby.

I believe him. I wish I could.

I wish I could just believe him like that. I swear to God I do, Mary, but I

can't. And I can't live with myself thinking what I'm thinking about my own

Have you ever used a gun before?

No.

Have you ever hurt anyone seriously before?

No.

Did you sleep well last night?

No.

Were you in Marine Park on the night of December 29th?

No.

Were you involved in the shooting of Robert Halstead? No.

Had you ever met William Farrow before you were arrested?

No.

Do you own a gun? No.

Are you 100 % sure?

Well, polygraph lie detector tests are never 100 % accurate.

But I've personally tested hundreds and hundreds of people, and I believe your

son is telling the truth.

I knew it.

You see?

It's all right.

He didn't do it.

You saw the lie detector test?

Yeah. Yeah, right.

Courts don't accept them, so why should you?

Would you sit down, please, Bobby?

What do you want from me?

Do you want the truth about every lie I ever told?

Fine.

I dropped out of high school because they were going to kick me out anyway.

That fight at Wayland's Bar I got arrested for, I wasn't just there.

I threw the first punch.

I've been having sex since I was 14 years old, but I never got nobody

I have bought drugs before, but I've never sold any. I stole stuff when I was

kid, you know, candy, cigarettes, but I never robbed nobody.

I never touched a gun.

And I sure as hell never killed nobody.

Look, I know that you think that I'm a loser.

And maybe I am.

But I did not do this.

I know you didn't.

I should have known all along.

What the hell kind of man is it that needs a lie detector test to believe in

own kid?

We're going to get you out of there, you hear me?

I promise you.

We're going to get you out of there as soon as possible.

We'll bring you home where you belong.

Can you forgive me?

The pre -trial hearing was really a victory for us. The judge threw out the

lineup.

Apparently, O 'Neal was told to pick the guy he identified in the photo instead

of the guy from that night in Marine Park. It's a small slip, but it might

us. Does that mean Bobby can come home?

No, there's still going to be a trial. It's not as simple as that. Only O 'Neal

will have to testify based only on his memory of the night in Marine Park.

But I don't understand. How is that a victory?

Look, you people have nothing to worry about. The assistant D .A., Lynn Panza,

never tried a murder case in her life.

The word is she's annoyed at getting assigned to this case because everyone

there knows it's a loser.

So how can you be so sure about that?

Because they have one kid who says he saw Bobby. We have a dozen who say it

too dark to see a gun in front of your face and another half dozen who swear

Bobby was with them that night.

I've won a lot of murder acquittals with a lot less to go on than this.

Just relax.

Sit back and let justice take its course. This will all be over in a few

So what do you think? Can we make bail?

I don't see how.

He'll be out in just a few weeks, Beverly said.

and we'd get him out now. I gave him my word, honey.

We don't have that much savings.

Just take the house.

It's all we have.

Good God.

How do we tell him he is?

I bought you a new suit to wear to court.

Yeah?

I bet it's really preppy, too, huh, Ma?

You finally get to dress me the way you want.

Well, it wouldn't hurt for you to look a little preppy in court.

Ma, I can't wait until the trial. It's going to be in weeks. You have to get me

out of here now.

You're innocent, son. You'll be home before you know it.

Dad, I'm scared all the time.

I can't sleep at night.

Why didn't you get the bail together?

Well, we've been trying to figure this out for days now, son. And, uh,

you know, your mother and I haven't gotten much sleep either.

Uh, you know, we've worked two jobs for 25 years, but the

fact is that we just don't have enough savings.

All we got is the house. It won't lose it. I promise you, I'm not going to

We have four children.

We have to think about what's best for all of you. It won't be that much

You know, the trial starts in a couple of weeks and then you'll be coming home.

You don't know what two weeks means in this place.

I know it's tough, but you're a tough kid. You can get through it. You're

talking like this is some sort of character building experience.

This is not the army here.

Bobby, this is not easy for us. No?

Well, at least you can sleep at night without being afraid that somebody's

to knife you because they like your shoes.

You got to get me out of here, Mom, please.

I'm sorry.

You don't trust me.

Oh, come on. If this was Tim or Jeff, they'd be out of here already.

Hey, take me away. This business is over. Oh, wait a second. Hey, Bobby, you

know that's not true. Wait a second, Bobby.

Bobby.

Hey, you know that's not true, son.

Come on.

See you in court, McLaughlin.

Hey, wait a minute. Where are you going, Farrell?

I made bail.

What?

Mrs. Halstead.

Harold, Mrs.

Halstead's sitting over there. Who?

Spooky's mother.

Oh.

Oh, he's dead.

Judge Sybil Cooper draw near and you shall be heard.

Court is in session.

Be seated.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, you're not going to see a lot of witnesses point

fingers at Mr. McLaughlin and Mr. Farrell because the witnesses were told

keep their heads down and stay on the ground or something would happen.

And something did happen because Mr.

Halstead said, I'm not going to take this anymore.

He jumped up. He ran after them.

And Mr. Farrow shot him in the head.

Shortly thereafter, Robert Halstead died.

The evidence will leave very little doubt in your mind that Mr. McLaughlin

Mr. Farrow robbed and killed Robert Halstead.

Mrs. Rosen.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my client, Robert McLaughlin, says he

there. He is going to have friends of his who are going to testify that he was

with them at the time.

I ask you to keep an open mind.

Did you have occasion to be in Marine Park on the night of December 29th? Yes.

About what time was that?

About quarter to nine.

My friend Tom DeLosso and me were going to Rockaway to see the Led Zeppelin

movie, but it was getting too late to make the movie, so we decided to go to

house to cut through the park.

How dark was it in the park that night?

It was pretty bright.

There were spotlights all around. The moon was out.

What happened as you cut through the park?

Two guys approached us with guns and...

Told us to empty our pockets.

Could you describe these men?

Yeah, one was about 5 '9", 160 pounds.

He was wearing an army jacket and dark hair.

I ask you at this time, Mr. O 'Neill, to look around the courtroom and see if

you recognize anybody that you saw on that night.

Yeah, the man sitting over there with the beige tweed jacket on.

Indicating the defendant, Farrow. Could you describe the other person that

approached you?

Yeah, about six feet. He weighed about 185, 90 pounds.

He had on a denim jacket and jeans.

Could you look around the courtroom and see if you recognize the man that you

just described?

Yeah, the man sitting to his right.

Indicating the defendant, McLaughlin.

Can you tell us what happened?

Mr. Farrell and Mr. McLaughlin approached us, told us to empty our

Mr. Farrell emptied my pocket, and then Mr. McLaughlin went over to Tommy and

threw him down and took his money.

And while this was happening?

What did you see in Mr. Farrow's hand and Mr. McLaughlin's hand?

Mr. Farrow had a pistol and Mr. McLaughlin had a shotgun.

Thank you.

No further questions.

Miss Rosa?

Miss Rosa?

Excuse me, listen.

Why can't Bobby have his own trial separate from this Farrell guy? Just

next to him is making Bobby look guilty. It's one crime, one witness. The state

doesn't want the added expense of two trials.

But don't worry. Like I told you, it's a shoe -in, and acquittal is practically

in the bag.

I hope so.

I sure hope so.

And you were living at home with your mother at this time?

Yeah.

Did you work at any kind of job?

No, I don't think so.

What did you do for money?

I don't need that much money.

I live in a home.

And when you did need money, where did you get it?

Sometimes my old lady would give me some.

And other times?

I don't know.

I bought a few bucks off my friend.

Are you all right?

Yeah.

I'm fine.

Maybe we made a mistake.

What do you mean?

Maybe we should look for another lawyer.

No. He would delay things for months while they prepared the case. And Bobby

would be sitting in prison all that time.

That's true.

Oh, come on. What are we worried about? This is America, right?

The kid is innocent. He'll be acquitted.

The thing I still can't figure out is how they got Bobby involved in the first

place. I mean, why him?

It doesn't make sense.

Mr. LaRosa, do you recognize that young man in the gray suit?

Yes, that's Bobby McLaughlin. And how long have you known him?

Since the eighth grade.

I guess that's seven years now.

And you were with him on the night of December 29th? Yes.

At approximately what time?

We picked him up at about 8 .30.

And for how long was he with you that night?

About two and a half hours.

You indicated that you were sitting in the car.

What were you doing in the car?

We were drinking.

Were you smoking pot?

We might have been. I don't remember.

Would you say you were high?

Fairly high, yes.

Do you use pot regularly?

Yeah. Did you smoke pot that night?

A little bit.

In the car and then drinking later in the bar.

Is that the regular Saturday night practice your kids have?

It used to be, yeah.

Don't I have to testify?

No.

Doesn't that make me look guilty? I mean, like those guys that take the

Amendment, you always figured that they'd done it.

You saw how she made your friends look.

Yeah, like a bunch of losers.

Exactly, like alcoholics and drug addicts. They don't testify that you

them. You don't really have anything to add, do you? No, except that I didn't do

it.

You testified to that when you pleaded not guilty.

Look, I've got to do something.

Everybody thinks that I'm guilty. They all think that I'm Billy Farrow's

partner, and I have never seen this guy before in my life. Even that judge

thinks I'm guilty. I know it. Look, you're just going to have to trust me. I

know this is very frustrating, but I promise you everything's going to work

I still have a card or two up my sleeve.

It is very strange that for O 'Neill there is a different world than for the

other 15 people who were robbed in the park that night.

The others say, we can't see, it was too dark.

The moon didn't shine for them. The spotlights didn't shine for them.

But for O 'Neill, the lights are coming in all directions.

Then I put my witnesses on. I don't choose my witnesses.

So if there are people who drink and take part, who like to go out on a

night to the local bar, well, they're just the people who happen to be in the

right place that night.

Let me ask you this.

This whole case is based solely on O 'Neill's testimony, the only eyewitness.

Why is it that O 'Neill was permitted to get a look at the perpetrators when

other people are getting killed for looking at them?

He is allowed to stand up when everyone else is forced to lie down. Why?

Was O 'Neill perhaps one of them.

Maybe the smart young O 'Neill says to his associates, I'll fix it.

I'll give them a phony description.

Don't worry, fellas. I'll fix everything.

What the hell is she trying to do? Make them think O 'Neill did it?

Someone is lying, ladies and gentlemen.

And it is your job to decide who.

Who has a reason to lie?

It is not easy to be robbed with a shotgun in your face.

Well, it is even harder to get on that witness stand and point a finger at two

murderers.

It is not easy for a kid of 15.

To walk in here and face the people who did it.

There is no reason for him to point a finger at

Mr. Farrow and Mr.

McLaughlin except that they did it.

This one witness is the most reliable and credible witness that you are going

see in a very long time.

He has no axe to grind.

Ask yourself, why would he come in here and say those two did it?

Because they did, ladies and gentlemen.

Because they did.

I wish you were on our side.

Should have hired our own lawyer at the very beginning.

You know what I keep thinking about?

All the times Bobby went back to his real parents.

Each time I was afraid, they decided to keep him and we'd lose him.

It was such a hard thing for a little boy to go through.

Thinking his own parents didn't love him.

Oh, they're taking so long.

They've got to have some doubts.

Probably. You know, I sit there and I look at that Farrell kid with that smug

look on his face, and then I look at Bobby and I wonder, how could I have

thought of him as a bad kid?

Has the jury reached a verdict?

Yes. And is your verdict unanimous?

Yes. Under the first count, charging William Farrow with murder in the second

degree of Robert Halstead.

Guilty.

As to the defendant, Robert McLaughlin.

Under the first count, charging Robert McLaughlin with murder in the second

degree. What is your verdict?

Guilty.

Oh.

I want to thank the jury for fulfilling its obligations.

You are dismissed.

This trial is adjourned until the date of the sentencing.

Can I say just one thing?

Your Honor, I did not do this.

Someday everybody will know that I did not do this!

I did not do this!

Come on.

Yeah, I'll be all right. Bobby, we're not through yet.

We're going to fight this thing. Do you hear me, son? We're going to fight this

thing.

happened here?

What the hell happened here?

Defendant William Farrow is hereby sentenced to a minimum of 25 years

life.

The defendant Robert McLaughlin is hereby sentenced to a minimum of 15

a maximum of life.

Sentences to begin forthwith at the State Penitentiary at Sing Sing.

beat you down. It's not over yet.

He's in a penitentiary. That just means we have to fight all that much harder

now.

How?

What can we do?

They said they won't grant us an appeal unless we can come up with new evidence.

So we just have to come up with it. Okay?

We gotta hold on, kid. We're all he's got left.

If we fall apart, he's gonna be all alone in there.

All right?

Yes. That's my girl.

I can't believe it.

All I hear for months is, trust me, it's a shoe -in.

You got nothing to worry about.

They got no evidence.

Not a hair.

One kid testifies, and the next thing you know, I'm pulling 15 years minimum.

I'll be 35.

Unbelievable. How could I be so stupid?

I just sat there. I just let it all go down.

Who's the kid who testified?

I know some people in Brooklyn.

They can make him real sorry.

No.

No, don't do that.

He could be my chance out of here.

Hey! Excuse me.

Oh, I knew I should have stayed home tonight.

Can I talk to you for a second, please?

Look, man, it's my birthday, right?

You let me off this one, I promise I'll stay out of your precinct from now on.

Hey, relax, will you? I'm not a cop.

What the hell are you saying?

I'm saying I'm not a cop. I just want to talk to you for a second, please.

You get your kick -scanning hairs off of people. Wait a second, fella. Look, I

just want to ask you a couple of questions, all right?

No luck, man.

I don't know nothing about nothing. Well, how do you know? I haven't even

you. I just want to know if you know anything about the night that the

took place over there, the night that Spooky Halstead got shot.

I ain't even here now, man. Yeah, well, maybe you were one of them. Maybe they

should have arrested you instead of my kid. What's your name? Look, man, I told

you. I don't know nothing about nothing.

Spare a second.

Excuse me, can you show me how to work this thing?

Yeah, sure.

Now just type in the description.

Can I go backwards, like put a name in and pull a photo up?

Yeah, just type it in. All right, thank you.

All right, this is the guy I'm looking for. What do I do now?

Hold the card.

Huh? The card?

Oh, all right.

Who are you?

I'm Harold Honey.

Joe, what are you doing letting this guy in here?

What, he's not a cop? Get him out of here now. I'll just leave him. Thanks.

catch you in here again, I'll nail your butt to a wall. Yes, sir.

I got your message.

This whole thing stinks to high heaven. Sit down.

What did you find out? Plenty.

I found this guy Billy Farrell's card, and on the back it said he was

arrested with Robert I. McLaughlin. He was arrested before with Bobby? No, no,

not our Bobby. Look, Robert I.

McLaughlin. Different middle initial, different spelling of the last name. M

-L -O -U -G -H -L -I -N, which gives it a slightly different pronunciation. And

look, this Robert McLaughlin has a totally different I .D. number.

See, obviously, there are two Robert McLaughlins, and it's got something to

with how Bobby's mixed up in this thing.

If I could figure out how to get back into that precinct without getting

I might be able to straighten everything out.

And you might get locked up, too, so never mind that.

Why don't you contact Jerry Duffy? No, no, this is too far out of his

jurisdiction. Harold, don't go any farther on your own.

Go to Manhattan and talk to Jerry.

see anything.

Hey, excuse me, Jerry.

Adam? Yeah, it's me. What the hell are you doing here this time of night? I got

to talk to you about Bobby. Sorry about Bobby, but there's nothing I can do. The

case is closed.

No, no, wait a second. Get those people out of here. Jerry, I found out some

stuff over at the Brooklyn precinct. It doesn't make any sense.

You're walking around on my evidence here.

Oh, excuse me. I'm sorry.

Jerry, look, I know I'm on to something that can get him out.

Just give me a few minutes, will you?

All right. Okay, wait to me. That's behind the tape.

All right.

I'll wait all night if I have to.

Two coffers, please.

How'd you get this ID number?

I copied it from the back of Pharaoh's arrest card.

How the hell did you ever get your hands on Pharaoh's arrest card? I just walked

into the Brooklyn precinct and asked for the detective's room. They thought I

was a cop.

I always told you you looked like a cop.

Every Irishman looks like a cop.

Hey, I resemble that be, Mark.

So what do you think?

Well, I'm going to look into it, I guess.

Look, Harold, I'll nose around out there. I'll see what the word is.

All right, thanks, Jerry. I appreciate it.

I would have come to you before, but I didn't want to put you in a bad light,

you know, with the department.

Now, of course, there's nowhere else I could turn.

Harold, I don't want to mess up a 20 -year friendship here, but are you sure

there's no way Bobby could have done it?

No way.

I'm positive.

Can't you just talk to O 'Neal? Tell him about the lie detector test. Tell him

he was wrong. I can't do that, son. They'd say I was harassing the witness.

Then if he decided to change his testimony, they'd never believe him. I

stay in here any longer. You have to get me out now.

Hey. Your dad's doing everything he can.

I start thinking.

And I get the sweats.

It feels like I can't breathe.

And I keep thinking.

I keep thinking I'm going to die in this place.

Bobby, if we had any idea, they kept

saying two more weeks.

The tapes kept changing.

Forget about it.

If we had known it'd take nine months of jail before we even went to court, or

how it would all turn out after, we'd have put up the house.

Sure. We'd have posted bail and got you out.

The way things were going, I probably would have skipped anyway.

Come on, son.

It won't be much longer. A few weeks, a month.

You've got to hold on.

I ain't got no choice.

You hear about that guy you was busted with?

What about him?

What's his name?

Billy Farrell.

Yeah.

He OD'd.

Yeah.

Walked around the yard stone blind for a couple of hours. Died in his cell.

God, I can't believe he's dead.

What are you moaning about?

You should be glad. He's the reason you're in here, right?

Yeah. Maybe he could have been my ticket out of here.

Yeah.

Ain't likely to say nothing now.

I need something to make. Can I have a cigarette?

Get a doctor. See him in the morning. I can't wait until the morning. I might be

dead in the morning. I think I'm having a heart attack or something.

What'd you take?

Nothing.

Mañana, baby.

No! Wait!

Wait!

Just came from the Brooklyn precinct.

So what'd you find out?

I tell you, I just can't.

I'm stunned. I didn't believe this could happen in this day and age, not in this

country. You didn't believe what could happen? Every time I brought up Bobby's

case, they'd say things like, oh, that was a shaky idea. The kid got a bum rap.

You mean the cops think he's innocent?

Yeah, all of them. So why the hell is he still in prison?

Things go wrong.

First of all, I found out that O 'Neal, the kid who testified against Bobby?

Yeah. Well, he's not the Boy Scout. The prosecutor made him out to be. What do

you mean? A couple of weeks after the trial, he was arrested for stealing a

What? Yeah.

You know, the guys in the force, they started to realize that maybe this

a good conviction.

And they're starting to talk about it. D 'Angelo, the cop who arrested Bobby?

That was his first homicide case.

Same thing for Lynn Panzer, the DA. It was her first murder case.

A conviction wouldn't have hurt either of their careers.

What about the name on Pharaoh's car? I think that you stumbled onto the key in

this whole mess.

Yeah? D 'Angelo was probably in a hurry.

He grabbed the first Robert McLaughlin photo he came to. He showed it to O

'Neill and said, was this the other guy? So why don't we go after this other

McLaughlin? If he's the real perpetrator, then they got to let Bobby

Except it wasn't him either. All the witnesses said the guy with the shotgun

maybe 5 '11", 6 feet. This guy's 5 '4". So who knows about this

other guy?

Only Farrow.

And he's dead.

Where does that leave us, Jerry?

I think we should go talk to D 'Angelo.

Hey, you.

You.

You look familiar. Don't I know you from somewhere?

He's with me. This is official.

Come in.

Yeah, okay. Let me get back here. Yeah, somebody's here.

Detective D 'Angelo? Yeah.

I'm Jerry Duncan, Manhattan 17 Precinct. This is Harold Honey. How do you do?

Yeah, I know who Mr. Honey is.

We want to talk about how Jimmy O 'Neill happened to pick Bobby.

Simple. They showed him a spread. He picked him.

How big was the spread?

I don't know. You don't know?

I know how big it was. It was one picture.

You don't know anything, pal.

Maybe you picked Bobby because Billy Farrell was previously arrested with a

Robert I. McLaughlin. Different spelling, different ID number, different

There were two Bobby McLaughlins. You picked the wrong one.

Look, O 'Neal said he recognized Bobby.

He was sure, so we went with that. Did you let O 'Neal think they'd been

arrested together before?

I don't know.

He might have thought that. He might have seen the name on the back of the

I don't know.

Excuse me, Mrs. Panzer. Can I talk to you, please?

It's not appropriate for us to talk to each other, Mr. Honig. I know. The

is still pending. I know that. I just got to ask you one question, please.

Did you ever tell Jimmy O 'Neill that they showed him a picture of the wrong

Bobby McLaughlin? I can't talk to you, Mr. Honig. Did you?

Did you let him go through the whole trial thinking that Bobby and Farrow had

been arrested together before? It is not my job to inform or influence a

witness. It is my job to ask him questions. What are you talking about?

is supposed to be about winning justice, not about just winning. Look.

If some key witness is stuck with this colossal misconception of the truth, do

you just let him keep it so he can win the case, even if it means throwing some

innocent kid in the penitentiary for the best years of his life? Mr. Hone, if

they did arrest the wrong man, I didn't know it. Yeah, but you know about it

now, Mrs. Panzer.

What about Bobby McLaughlin? You ever think about him?

It was your first case, and you've gone on from case to case since then.

But Bobby's still sitting right there in that cell where you helped...

Dear Bobby, we got him by the short hairs now.

Everybody we've been talking to believes you're innocent.

Hold on to these for me.

Fifth row, right behind home plate. All the hot dogs you can eat.

Next month, kiddo, we're going to see the New York Yankees.

How many candles did you put in this thing?

However many were in the box.

I don't think there's enough, honey.

Who's down here?

I'll make a wish. Yeah, make a wish, Mom.

Go ahead.

Hey!

Perfect!

Congratulations, son.

Mom, Bobby sent this.

You want me to give it to you right after you block the door?

What is it, huh?

It's his high school diploma.

He swore us to secrecy.

He really wanted to surprise you.

Oh, come on, honey. You don't think the water works?

No. Come on.

He's coming home, love. He'll be here by Christmas.

Mom, we're going to have the best Christmas ever.

That's right.

I've already talked to personnel about the possibility of Bobby working with me

at the phone company.

Oh, honey.

Come on, Mom.

You're getting salt water all over the cake.

I'm crying because I'm happy.

But whose party is it anyway?

Let me see that.

Counsel, as you know, we are not here to decide whether or not Robert McLaughlin

is guilty.

We are only here to decide whether or not he got a fair trial.

In order to reverse his conviction or give him a new trial, he must provide

evidence that could not have been discovered during the trial.

After both sides have argued, the court will deliberate.

The decision will be forthcoming in a few days or, as in some cases, a few

in the office of the court clerk.

Morning. Good morning.

You're up early today. Yeah, I took the morning off. I got a feeling.

Knock wood. Well, the decision came in. All right.

Thank you.

Oh, no.

No, this can't be. It's not possible.

I didn't read it. What?

I'm sorry.

Listen.

Listen.

How could your people turn down our appeal?

I'm sorry, Mr. Honey.

The conviction was brought about based solely on O 'Neill's memory of the night

of the incident. And he hasn't changed his testimony.

And there was no new evidence brought forward that your attorney could not

found during the trial.

You really had no choice.

Wait a minute. For God's sake, you're a judge. How can you tell me you have no

choice? Bobby is innocent. Everybody that's ever had anything to do with the

case knows he's innocent.

Are you going to throw his life away based on a technicality? He may be

innocent. But you haven't brought us anything we can use to overturn the

conviction. They got the wrong picture.

The cops all know they picked up the wrong Bobby McLaughlin. Mistaken

It happens all the time.

Mr. Honey, the identification was not based on photographs, but solely on the

witness's memory of the events of that night.

We have to work within the system here. Well, I've tried to work within the

system, Your Honor. I sat there through the whole trial, trusting that the

system would somehow accomplish justice, only to see my son sent to prison for

something he did not do.

And I have spent every waking hour of the past five years gathering new

information, Your Honor. And my son has spent every hour of the past five years

in prison because of one kid's testimony. And that one kid turns out to

thief. Now, what kind of system is that, Your Honor? You tell me.

Your son is in prison not because one kid says he's guilty, but because a jury

says he's guilty.

I'm sorry.

we yet, Bobby?

Yeah.

Dad, listen.

You did everything you could.

I just gotta do it, son.

Bobby, you can't give up hope.

Mom, I don't want hope.

Hope only makes the time go harder.

Hey, come on, kid. I know. This was a hard one to lose, but you can't stop

fighting. No more.

I'll be okay.

I'll stay alive.

I'll do it for him.

I'll get out.

I'll be 35.

I'd still be able to have some kind of life.

You know, one good thing came out of this.

I wasn't such a good kid.

And you took me on without knowing how much trouble there'd turn out to be.

And all the time that I was growing up, you always gave me birthday presents.

And you told me that.

That you loved me.

And stuff.

I guess I never really believed it until all this happened.

I just want you to know.

Nobody could have done better by their kid than you done by me.

I just never thought anything like this could happen to my kid.

The truth is it could happen to anybody's kid.

You have to hold on, Harold.

Is that what you told me?

For Bobby's sake.

I used to believe in something.

I used to think that no matter what, things would come out right in the end.

That the system of justice worked. That somehow the guilty get punished.

Now I don't know what I believe.

Harold, are you all right?

I think I'm having a heart attack or something here.

Hang on. Hang on.

Hang on.

Hang on. Come here.

That's it.

Keep breathing.

It's all right. It's all right.

It's all right.

Hang on, Harold.

Just keep breathing.

Hang on, honey.

Just keep breathing.

It's going to be all right.

You're a lucky man.

I am?

It wasn't a heart attack.

Good. But it was a warning.

Your blood pressure's as high as the Christ in the building.

You gotta change a few things.

You mean like my diet?

No more salt, fat, stuff like that?

Yeah, yeah, that too.

What I'm trying to tell you is you gotta quit beating your head against the wall

trying to free Bobby.

If you keep fighting like this, it's gonna kill you.

You would kill me to stop fighting, Doc.

You got no choice, Harold.

You got to make some kind of peace. You got to find a way to accept things.

All right?

I'll stop back in this afternoon.

a boy was killed in Marine Park during a robbery.

My foster son, Robert McLaughlin, was wrongfully convicted of the crime.

Bobby is present. My son passed a lie detector test in May of 1980.

Somehow, somewhere, there has to be a person who has... I have made a vow

to rest until Bobby is free. Please, I'm praying for help.

Sincerely, Harold Holman.

What do you think?

Send it.

All right.

I hope to God this works.

I've spelled out all the evidence and all the mistakes very clearly.

Someone has got to respond.

If this don't do it, I don't know what will.

We've followed every lead to a dead end.

How many does this make?

Eighty.

One of the McDonald's we heard. I want to get these, of course, off the slate

clothes. Let me have those, too.

I'll be right back.

You holding up?

I'm all right.

I just worry about him.

How's he doing?

He tries to stay busy, and that helps, but...

How's Bobby?

I tried to call him.

Got into a fight in the dining hall.

He won't let me talk to him.

Our office does not have the authority to interfere.

We sincerely regret your dad, etc., etc. They're all the same. This one's from

the guy who's off.

Unfortunately, it does not appear that there is anything the governor is

empowered to do under the law which may be of assistance to your foster son.

I'm going to turn down just about every politician, judge, lawyer, radio,

television, magazine, newspaper in the state of New York. We just have to keep

writing, keep calling, keep pounding on doors. Make as much noise as possible.

Now, you know, Duff, I'll never stop fighting.

It's just getting harder and harder to believe we can win.

Excuse me. Are you Richard Emery?

Yeah. A friend of mine sent you a letter about his foster son in prison, Bobby

McLaughlin. Did you get it?

Yeah, I think I did. I haven't read it carefully, but it's on a stack that I'll

get to eventually.

I think you should pull it out and look in for it. Look, I get these kind of

requests from parents of convicted prisoners every day. My son's innocent.

brother didn't do it. For the most part, there's nothing we can do. And probably

nine times out of ten, they're really guilty anyway.

Not this time.

What makes you so sure? I'm a homicide detective.

Look, ask anybody down at the precinct. They'll tell you. It was a shaky ID. The

kid never should have been arrested, let alone convicted.

Well, you've got my attention, Detective.

Duffy. Sergeant Jerry Duffy.

Sergeant Duffy.

In New York City, most cops think the Civil Liberties Union is dedicated to

making their lives miserable. So when a cop comes to me, tell me the police have

got the wrong man.

I'm interested.

Come in.

Could I have a moment of your time, Judge Mullen?

What can I do for you, Mr. Emery?

I had a very unusual conversation with a New York homicide detective.

What was unusual about it? He was disturbed about an innocent boy he felt

wrongly convicted.

Bobby McLaughlin?

I remember it.

He couldn't grant an appeal because there were no grounds.

I really had my doubts, but we had no legal recourse.

Do you think he might have been innocent?

I'll tell you the truth, Counselor.

There's some concern as to whether or not there was a miscarriage of justice

this case.

It may be that the wrong man is in jail.

Judge, would you be willing to go on record with that statement?

Now that the appeal is over and I'm not connected to the case,

yes, I'd go on record with that.

I know how much courage it takes for someone in your position to do this.

I just hope it helps.

Bobby McLaughlin may have been victimized by the law, but so were we in

case.

Our hands were tied.

I guess you already know how sorry I am that I couldn't be there to give it

right away.

It just looked good.

Looked beautiful.

Joe's a lucky guy.

You've done a tremendous job gathering the facts, Harold, really. If anything

going to get this case opened up again, it's cool, logical facts, but we could

also use some heat.

Yeah, well, you know, we're down to our last straw here, so we'll do whatever

you say. Great. I've asked a friend of mine to meet with you. Who's that?

His name's Jack Newfield. He's a reporter for the Village Voice. Didn't

him a letter? Yeah, but we never heard from him. Well, I think Jack's going to

be very interested in what you have to tell him.

I'm also talking to John Miller.

On the television news?

Yeah. We're going to see if we can't launch a real campaign for Bobby.

That'll all be coming in here in a minute. You okay?

Yeah, I'm okay.

That's what I'm supposed to say.

Just talk to him.

Now, before they get started, I just want you to know I'm proud of you.

Now you're proud of me?

Now I'm in a penitentiary for murder, you're proud of me?

Yeah, I'm sorry that that's what it took.

If I hadn't been such a stubborn bastard, I'd have been proud of you all

But I'm proud of you now.

I'm proud of the person that you've run into.

You've done terrific, Bobby.

Bobby. How do you feel about everything that's happening to you?

Sometimes I think that who are these people to tell me that I did this thing

to keep me here?

It's like a bad dream.

I guess you're glad they don't have the death penalty anymore.

If they did, I would be a bunch of ashes in a vase on my mother's mail piece.

It's my boy.

Hey, it's my son.

Here, I'll take a dozen of them.

Keep the change.

I guess you're glad they don't have the death penalty anymore.

Yeah.

If they did, I would be a bunch of ashes in a vase on my mother's mantle.

It's hard enough doing time for something that you did, but it's twice

doing time for something that you didn't do.

You know, man.

Hey, McLaughlin, can I borrow your old man to get me out of here?

I was always a knock -around guy.

I had my fights with my father.

He was always by the book, you know.

Straighten up.

Don't drink.

But when it came to this problem here...

My dad was behind me 100%, and...

I realized how much he loved

me.

Can you shut this thing off?

The only evidence against McLaughlin was the eyewitness testimony of one 15

-year -old boy named Jimmy O 'Neill.

The assistant DA convinced the jury they should put their complete faith in his

testimony. She painted him a courageous and honest young man.

But three weeks after the McLaughlin trial, this same Jimmy O 'Neill was

arrested for stealing a car.

So much for courage and honesty.

They're making it look like I'm a criminal, like I set him up.

I didn't do anything.

The wrong guy was convicted. It wasn't my fault. What do you want to do? Want

sue him for life?

Everybody's talking about me like I'm a murderer or something.

I don't think you have a case for life. The report didn't say anything that

wasn't true.

This is a nightmare.

I wish the whole thing would go away.

Well, it probably won't do that. I know Richard Emery. I think this is just

beginning.

Richard Emery.

Richard, Garrett Adams.

Hello, Garrett. What can I do for you?

I have somebody in my office I think you might want to talk to.

Oh, who?

Jimmy O 'Neill.

I'll be there in ten minutes.

Jimmy, this thing is not going to go away until you tell the truth.

You've had to live under a terrible burden these last few years. I'm glad

finally came forward.

You're making it sound like I set him up.

It wasn't my fault. I know that. You were 15 years old. You'd never been in a

police station before in your life. Cops were people you respected.

You know what the truth is. The cops showed you pictures of Farrow and of

McLaughlin, who they said had been arrested with Farrow before.

That's why you picked Bobby's picture.

You know it and I know it.

He's not prepared to make a statement to you here today.

That's fine.

That's fine, Jimmy.

Just go home, think about it, and then tell the DA what really happened in the

police station that morning.

Just tell him the truth.

You recognize this guy?

Yeah, I think so.

He was arrested at Faroe before, huh?

Yes, operator, I'll accept.

Dad. Listen, Richard says we're going to court next week, and a new judge is

going to decide if we can get a new trial. How about that?

It's always next week, next week, next week, next week.

Something's always going to happen next week. I hate those words.

I know that, Bobby, but just hang in there a few more days. If this works,

going to get you a new trial, son, and then we'll get you out.

Who's he?

The assistant DA, Mark Friedman.

Where's O 'Neill?

I don't know.

Well, how's he supposed to change his testimony if he's not here? Maybe he'll

still show up. Just hold on. Pray for a miracle.

All rise. Who is now in session?

Judge Ann Feldman presiding.

Receded.

All right.

Is the witness here?

No, Your Honor.

He promised to be here at 10 o 'clock, but we can't locate him.

No miracles today.

Your Honor, in view of the fact that James O 'Neill has now made statements

the district attorney's office that cast grave doubts on the accuracy of his

original testimony, the district attorney would not oppose a motion to

the conviction.

I so move, Your Honor.

I have read all of the material on this case, and there has been a lengthy and a

detailed reinvestigation.

An enormous amount of evidence was gathered by Mr.

McLaughlin's foster father.

It seems to me that Bobby McLaughlin has been given more dark nights in the

course of his 26 years than anyone should have to bear in a lifetime.

But on the day when he was placed in the home of Harold and Mary Honey, the sun

shone on him.

I hereby set aside the conviction.

And I overturn the indictment.

Take about five minutes or so to clear up the paperwork and then you can

go home.

Just glad that the nightmare's over. Now I can get on with my life. How about

you, Harold?

Got my boy back. I got my family back.

How you feeling now, Bobby? Great. I owe it all to my dad. He never stopped

fighting for me. And now...