Original subtitles

THE LATRELL CASE.

POLICE HAVE ARRESTED BASKETBALL GREAT, RICKEY LATRELL...

FOR THE MURDER OF LAS VEGAS STORM OWNER SANDY FORTAS.

GET ME OUTTA HERE.

HE'S PREPARED TO PUT UP ALL OF HIS ASSETS, INCLUDING HIS MOTHER'S HOME.

BAIL IS SET AT $10 MILLION.

THE RIVAL AGENT.

KEN'S BEEN TRYING TO REPRESENT ME SINCE I WAS IN COLLEGE.

SOME GUYS NEVER TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.

AND YOU'RE ONE OF THEM. I AM.

A CHANGING OF THE GUARD.

WOULD LEE MICHAELSON PLAY FAST AND LOOSE WITH PEOPLE'S MONEY?

OH, YEAH.

I HAVE NEVER STOLEN MONEY FROM A CLIENT,

AND I DIDN'T KILL SANDY FORTAS.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY BEST FOR ME IF I GOT SOMEONE ELSE TO BE MY AGENT FOR NOW.

AS OF TODAY, I'M RICKEY LATRELL'S NEW AGENT.

RICKEY NEEDS FOR US TO GET ALONG, JIMMY.

THE WIFE.

WERE YOU EVER ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED WITH SANDY FORTAS, MS. LATRELL?

YES, I WAS.

SO WHEN THE DEFENDANT MET WITH SANDY FORTAS ON THE DAY OF THE MURDER,

HE WAS AWARE OF THE FACT THAT YOU HAD HAD THAT AFFAIR.

YES.

A BOLD TACTIC.

THERE'S NO QUESTION BUT THAT THE JURY WANTS TO HEAR...

A DECLARATION OF INNOCENCE FROM RICKEY'S OWN MOUTH.

IF WE DON'T PUT HIM ON THE STAND,

WE'LL NEVER OVERCOME THE INFERENCE THAT HE'S GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE.

SANDY FORTAS INSULTED YOU BY NOT PAYING YOU WHAT YOU WERE WORTH.

HE THREATENED YOU WITH DISCLOSURE OF THE FACT...

THAT YOU HAD SHAVED POINTS OFF A GAME TO PAY A GAMBLING DEBT.

AND HE ADDED YOUR WIFE TO A VERY LONG LIST OF ATTRACTIVE AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN...

THAT HE HAD SLEPT WITH... TRUE OR FALSE? WAIT A SECOND, JIMMY.

I'M NOT GONNA WAIT A SECOND, AND DON'T CALL ME JIMMY.

ONCE AGAIN, SANDY FORTAS.

HE DIDN'T PAY YOU, HE THREATENED YOU,

AND HE HAD SEX WITH YOUR WIFE... TRUE OR FALSE? TRUE!

PUT ALL THOSE THINGS TOGETHER. DIDN'T THAT MAKE YOU WANT TO MURDER HIM?

IN FACT, DIDN'T IT CAUSE YOU TO MURDER HIM? YES!

WHAT? I HAD TO KILL HIM.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I DID. I SHOT THAT SUCKER.

MORNING, EVERYONE.

I GATHER, BY THE COLLECTIVE GLOOM,

THAT YOU'RE ALL CURRENT ON OUR CLIENT'S REVELATIONS OF LAST NIGHT.

- I FILLED EVERYONE IN. - ANY SUGGESTIONS?

OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T PUT HIM ON THE WITNESS STAND. THAT MUCH WE KNOW.

UH-HUH.

I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO AT LEAST SUGGEST AN ALTERNATE THEORY OF THE CRIME.

- ATTACK THE VICTIM? - ALWAYS IN GOOD TASTE.

DO OUR BEST TO CREATE A SYMPATHETIC VIEW OF RICKEY, EVEN KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW.

THEY'RE ALL SOUND APPROACHES. DOES ANYONE HERE THINK THAT ANY OF THEM WILL SAVE OUR ASS?

- ME NEITHER. - WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE?

- WE HAVE RICKEY. - WELL, YOU CAN'T PUT HIM ON THE STAND NOW THOUGH.

- THAT WOULD BE SUBORNING PERJURY. - ONLY IF YOU LIE.

IF HE TAKES THE STAND, THE QUESTION OF WHETHER HE PULLED THE TRIGGER IS GONNA COME UP.

- AND WHEN IT DOES, HE WILL TELL THE TRUTH. - AND CONFESS TO MURDER?

RIGHT.

- IS HE CHANGING HIS PLEA TO GUILTY? - NO.

I'M LOST. IT'S JURY NULLIFICATION.

WITHOUT REALLY SAYING IT, WE ASK THE JURY TO IGNORE THE LAW AND THE JUDGE'S INSTRUCTIONS...

AND COME BACK WITH A VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.

- ON WHAT GROUNDS? - ON THE GROUNDS THAT THEY WANT TO.

AS A RULE, JURIES TEND TO TAKE THEIR OATH PRETTY SERIOUSLY.

- YES, THEY DO. - THAT'S A HELL OF A GAMBLE YOU'RE TAKING, DON'T YOU THINK?

- ABSOLUTELY. - I DON'T WANT TO TRY OUT EXPERIMENTAL LEGAL THEORIES.

THEN GIVE ME SOMETHING ELSE.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE ASK OUR CLIENT TO COMMIT SUICIDE.

- THAT'S NOT WHAT HE'S DOING. - THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE'S DOING.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY, I SHOT THIS MAN IN COLD BLOOD.

BUT PLEASE, SOMEHOW, FIND IT WITHIN YOUR HEART TO FORGIVE ME. WHAT IS THAT?

IT'S ALL WE HAVE. IT'S AN ACT OF DESPERATION, AND IT WON'T WORK.

UNLESS YOU CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING BETTER, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING.

THEN YOU SELL IT TO HIM, BECAUSE I WON'T.

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA SUPPORT ME IN FRONT OF THE CLIENT?

I'M SAYING IF I WERE IN HIS SHOES, AND YOU TOLD ME THIS WAS MY ONLY CHANCE,

I'D HANG MYSELF.

HEY. HEY.

IS THIS A BAD TIME FOR A CHAT?

THIS IS NOT ABOUT JURY NULLIFICATION, IS IT?

OH, NO.

WELL, THEN FIRE AWAY.

REMEMBER I WAS TELLING YOU TOMMY AND I WERE THINKING ABOUT GETTING SERIOUS...

ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP?

UH-HUH.

WELL, LAST NIGHT HE GOT SERIOUS.

WOW.

CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO TYPE WITH THAT BOULDER ON YOUR HAND?

WELL, THAT'S THE THING.

THIS KIND OF MAKES MY WORK SITUATION...

A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED.

TOMMY WANTS TO GET MARRIED RIGHT AWAY...

BECAUSE HIS COMPANY IS TRANSFERRING HIM TO NEW YORK.

AH.

AND, AS A GOOD WIFE,

I SHOULD PROBABLY GO WITH HIM.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN SAY TO GET YOU TO CHANGE YOUR MIND?

MARRY ME, GWENNIE.

I'M REALLY, REALLY, REALLY GONNA MISS YOU.

I'LL CALL THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY AND SET UP SOME INTERVIEWS.

OKAY.

HEY. HOW YOU DOIN', MRS. LATRELL?

I'M JUST FINE, THANK YOU.

SHE'S GONNA BE GREAT. OH, YEAH.

HI. CAN WE TALK TO YOU FOR A MINUTE? SURE.

IS THERE A PROBLEM?

CEED WITH THE CASE IN LIGHT OF WHAT YOU TOLD US.

AND?

WE NEED YOU TO TESTIFY.

YEAH, I FIGURED ON IT.

EXCEPT WE NEED YOU TO TELL THE TRUTH. WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

WE WANT YOU TO ADMIT THAT YOU KILLED SANDY FORTAS.

YOU'RE KIDDIN' ME, RIGHT? YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICE.

YEAH, I HAVE A CHOICE. I GET UP THERE AND SAY I DID NOT KILL SANDY FORTAS.

YOU MEAN LIE. RIGHT.

THIS FIRM IS NOT GONNA SUBORN PERJURY, NOT TO GET YOU OFF, NOT FOR ANYTHING.

ARE YOU GUYS ON BOARD WITH THIS?

WE DISCUSSED IT, AND I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU IT WASN'T A HEATED DISCUSSION,

BUT IN THE END WE ALL AGREED IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GO.

WHAT IF I DON'T TESTIFY?

IF YOU DON'T TESTIFY, ALL WE'VE GOT ARE CHARACTER WITNESSES.

GIVEN WHAT THE PROSECUTION HAS, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

YOUR ONLY OPTION IS TO TELL THE JURY WHAT FORTAS DID TO YOUR WIFE AND WHAT HE DID TO YOU,

AND TO TELL IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT EACH AND EVERY JUROR UNDERSTANDS WHY YOU KILLED HIM.

THEN THEY LET YOU GO IN SPITE OF WHAT YOU DID.

SOUNDS LIKE A VERY INTERESTING EXPERIMENT, GUYS. TRY IT ON SOMEBODY ELSE, OKAY?

- RICKEY, IF THERE WAS A BETTER ALTERNATIVE... - THINK OF ONE!

THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE GONNA GET ME TO DO THIS.

MRS. LATRELL, UNTIL YOUR SON BOUGHT YOU A HOME IN CHEVIOT HILLS,

WHERE DID YOU LIVE?

SOUTH BUDLONG, OFF MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD.

THAT'S GANG TERRITORY, CORRECT?

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF VIOLENCE DOWN THERE.

DID RICKEY EVER JOIN A GANG OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE?

HE STAYED AWAY FROM THOSE PEOPLE.

WHY DO YOU THINK HE DID THAT?

HE SANG IN THE CHOIR...

AT COCHRAN AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH SINCE HE WAS 10 YEARS OLD.

HE WASN'T ASHAMED TO BELIEVE IN GOD OR FOLLOW HIS WORD.

AND HE FOLLOWED YOUR WORD TOO. MMM.

OR HE REGRETTED IT. HE KNOWS WHAT'S IMPORTANT.

HE LOVES HIS WIFE AND HIS CHILDREN.

HIS MONEY AND HIS FAME NEVER CHANGED HIM.

HE PUTS HIS FAMILY ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE.

WHAT DOES HIS WIFE MEAN TO HIM, MRS. LATRELL?

OBJECTION. COUNSEL'S ASKING THE WITNESS TO READ THE DEFENDANT'S MIND.

SHE HAS FIRSTHAND OBSERVATIONS UPON WHICH TO BASE AN OPINION, YOUR HONOR.

I'LL ALLOW IT.

MY SON TRULY LOVES CARLA...

AND TRUSTS HER.

SHE'S THE PERSON HE SHARES HIS DREAMS WITH.

I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I LOVE HER...

AND THAT COULDN'T BE UNLESS SHE WAS A PART OF RICKEY'S HEART.

THANK YOU, MRS. LATRELL.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

YOU CAN GO OVER IT. YEAH.

MRS. LATRELL, YOU SAY YOUR SON IS A LOVING HUSBAND WHO HAS A STRONG AVERSION TO VIOLENCE?

THAT'S RIGHT.

ON OCTOBER 18 OF THIS YEAR, TWO DAYS BEFORE SANDY FORTAS WAS KILLED,

YOU WERE IN LAS VEGAS VISITING YOUR GRANDCHILDREN...

WHILE YOUR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW WAS IN LOS ANGELES.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

WHEN SHE RETURNED, A DISPUTE ENSUED BETWEEN YOUR SON AND HIS WIFE,

DURING WHICH SHE CALLED THE POLICE.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

WAS THERE VIOLENCE INVOLVED IN THIS DISPUTE?

NO, THERE WAS NOT.

BUT CARLA TOLD THE POLICE THAT SHE HAD LOCKED HERSELF IN THE BATHROOM,

AND RICKEY HAD KICKED THE DOOR DOWN.

ISN'T THAT VIOLENT? I WAS DOWNSTAIRS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED.

- RICKEY NEVER HIT CARLA? - NO!

- AND YOU'RE TELLING US THE TRUTH TODAY? - YES, I AM.

MA'AM, DO YOU KNOW A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF KENNETH EISLEY?

HE WAS ONE OF RICKEY'S COLLEGE COACHES.

HE WAS ALSO A MAN WHO, TWO MONTHS AFTER RICKEY SIGNED A LETTER OF INTENT,

SOLD HIM A NEARLY NEW Z-28 CAMARO FOR $900.

ISN'T THAT RIGHT?

RICKEY WAS ONLY 18 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BOUGHT THAT CAR. HE DIDN'T KNOW BETTER.

HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT A CAMARO COSTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE THAN WHAT HE PAID FOR IT?

HE GREW UP POOR. HE WAS MISLED BY A MAN HE TRUSTED.

DID NCAA INVESTIGATORS COME TO YOUR HOUSE AND ASK YOU AND YOUR SON...

ABOUT THE OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR?

YES.

AND WHO DID YOU TELL THEM THE CAR WAS REGISTERED TO? ME.

- WAS THAT A TRUE STATEMENT? - NO.

RICKEY STOOD THE CHANCE OF LOSING HIS FRESHMAN ELIGIBILITY IF THE TRUTH CAME OUT,

SO YOU LIED TO PROTECT HIM, RIGHT?

- I DON'T THINK I LIED TO... - AND YOU'D LIE AGAIN IF YOUR SON WAS IN TROUBLE, WOULDN'T YOU?

EVERYTHING THAT I AM SAYING HERE TODAY IS THE TRUTH.

SO YOU'D LIE TO PROTECT YOUR SON FROM LOSING HIS FRESHMAN ELIGIBILITY,

BUT YOU WOULDN'T LIE TO SAVE HIM FROM GOING TO PRISON FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

MY SON NEVER HIT CARLA,

AND HE DIDN'T KILL MR. FORTAS.

WERE YOU PRESENT THE DAY SANDY FORTAS WAS MURDERED?

- NO. - SO YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOUR SON SHOT HIM OR NOT.

DO YOU?

NO.

LEE MICHAELSON IS HERE. SEND HIM IN.

I ASSUME, BY THE SUBPOENA, THAT YOU GOT WHAT YOU NEED TO ACCUSE ME OF MURDER.

I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT IT TO BE SAID THAT I WAS UNCOOPERATIVE.

NOBODY IS GOING TO ACCUSE YOU OF ANYTHING, LEE.

WHAT WE WANT IS FOR YOU TO TESTIFY ABOUT SANDY AND RICKEY.

WHAT ABOUT 'EM?

WE WANT THE JURY TO KNOW THAT SANDY WASN'T THE BENEVOLENT PATRIARCH...

AND RICKEY WASN'T THE UNGRATEFUL SON.

YOU WANTED SOMEBODY TO PUT THE KNOCK ON SANDY,

YOU COULD HAVE THROWN A DART IN THE PHONE BOOK.

AS FAR AS RICKEY'S CONCERNED, YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN HIS NEW AGENT.

YOU'RE TRYING TO SANDBAG ME. IF I WAS GONNA DO THAT, I WOULD HAVE DONE IT ALREADY.

I TOLD YOU THAT NO ACCUSATIONS WERE GONNA BE MADE UNLESS THEY COULD BE PROVEN,

AND I'VE BEEN TRUE TO MY WORD.

WE WANT YOU AS A WITNESS BECAUSE WE THINK YOU CAN DO US SOME GOOD.

AND THIS SHOULD MATTER TO ME WHY?

I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO SEE RICKEY IN PRISON FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE BECAUSE HE FIRED YOU.

I KNOW YOU'RE NEW AT DEFENSE WORK, COUNSELOR, SO HERE'S A QUICK REMINDER.

YOUR JOB IS TO GET RICKEY LATRELL ACQUITTED, NOT EXECUTED.

HOW I DEFEND MY CLIENT, MR. HICKS, IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

GETTING HIM TO CONFESS TO MURDER... THAT'S YOUR IDEA OF A DEFENSE?

I'M A LAWYER, JIMMY.

THE PRIVILEGE OF CONFIDENTIALITY APPLIES TO ME TOO.

OUR BEST SHOT IS TO TELL THE TRUTH...

AND THEN ASK THE JURY TO UNDERSTAND WHY RICKEY LATRELL DID WHAT HE DID.

OH.

BECAUSE BLACK PEOPLE ARE NEVER WRONGFULLY ACCUSED,

IT WOULD BE FUTILE TO TRY TO CONVINCE A JURY OTHERWISE.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

ACTUALLY, WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

I'VE MADE IT MY BUSINESS,

THE SAME WAY I'VE MADE IT MY BUSINESS TO KNOW WHAT'S OUT THERE...

THAT CAN HURT ME.

TOP OF THE LIST?

RICKEY LATRELL'S BUDDY, HILLY JACKSON, HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.

HE'S LOOKING AT 15 YEARS ON DRUG CHARGES.

THE D.A.'s OFFICE IS AT HIM DAY AND NIGHT.

WHERE DID YOU HEAR THIS?

I HEARD IT. TRUST ME.

WHY WOULD I TRUST YOU, KEN?

BECAUSE, JIMMY, I HAVE AS MUCH AT STAKE AT KEEPING LATRELL OUT OF JAIL AS YOU DO.

YOU SURE YOU WANNA KNOW?

I'M NOT GONNA TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT. IF THERE'S A SOURCE, I WANNA KNOW WHO IT IS.

PAIGE WEIKOPF.

THE DEPUTY D.A. IS SELLING OUT HER OWN CASE.

SHE WANTS TO BECOME A SPORTSCASTER, JIMMY.

I HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN, SHE TELLS ME WHAT I WANNA KNOW. OH, COME ON!

YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTED OUT OF THE D.A.'s OFFICE.

PAIGE WEIKOPF IS SELLING OUT HER OWN SIDE?

CONSIDER IT AN ASSET...

AND MAKE THE MOST OF IT.

PAIGE WEIKOPF WANTS TO DUMP HER CAREER TO BECOME THE NEW HOWARD COSELL?

IS SHE NUTS? WHO CARES?

SHE'S JUST GIVEN US THE PROSECUTION'S PLAYBOOK.

WELL, WE DON'T WANNA BE IN THE BUSINESS OF ABETTING PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT.

THE OLD TUG OF WAR BETWEEN ETHICS AND OPPORTUNITY.

WELL, ACTUALLY IT'S A CONFLUENCE BETWEEN ETHICS AND OPPORTUNITY.

WE TURN IN PAIGE WEIKOPF,

AND SCOTTO MAY PETITION THE COURT TO DECLARE A MISTRIAL.

AND THAT HELPS US HOW?

IT BUYS US SOME TIME. OUR MAN STAYS FREE.

WITNESS OR TWO COULD DROP OUT.

AND WE COULD MAKE A MEAL OUT OF WHAT THE D.A.'s OFFICE IS DOING TO HILLY JACKSON.

WON'T DOUBLE JEOPARDY ATTACH IF SCOTTO MOVES FOR A MISTRIAL?

ONLY THE JUDGE CAN DECLARE ONE SUA SPONTE.

AND IF SHE DOESN'T? WELL, THEN WE'VE STILL DONE THE RIGHT AND NOBLE THING.

NOT TO MENTION ROLLING A GRENADE INTO THE D.A.'s TENT.

YOUR INTERVIEWS ARE HERE.

IT SAYS HERE THAT YOU ARE A, UH, A CYBER-PSYCHIC.

WHAT IS THAT?

WELL, IT'S A NEW ENDEAVOR I'M INVOLVED IN...

WHICH MERGES TWO OF MY MOST MARKETABLE ATTRIBUTES...

MY FAMILIARITY WITH THE INTERNET...

AND MY GOD-GIVEN ABILITY...

TO INTUIT THE FUTURE.

AND THIS IS A HOBBY? WELL, ACTUALLY, NO.

SEE, I HAVE A WEB SITE.

CUSTOMERS LOG ON,

AND I GIVE THEM PROGNOSTICATIONS ABOUT THEIR FUTURE.

I MEAN, NOT TO APPEAR IMMODEST,

BUT I AM DEVELOPING SOMETHING OF A FOLLOWING.

HMM. MM-HMM.

AND WHEN WOULD YOU DO THIS?

OH, I ALWAYS MANAGE TO MAKE TIME.

I SEE. I SEE. YEAH.

SO, AT THE RISK OF SEEMING OVEREAGER,

ANY THOUGHTS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT I'D BE RIGHT FOR THE JOB?

YOU'RE THE PSYCHIC.

YOU TELL ME.

I HAVEN'T GOT A CHANCE.

YOU'RE GOOD. YOU'RE GOOD.

I CAN GIVE YOU THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS,

BUT THEN I'LL NEED FOUR MONTHS' MATERNITY LEAVE.

I'M A PERSON WHO SWEATS THE DETAILS. KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

I DO.

BY THE WAY, THE WORD "COURT" HAS A "U" IN IT.

IT'S TONY CHIN'S OLD OFFICE.

DOING QUITE NICELY FOR YOURSELF, PAIGE.

YOU KNOW THE DRILL, JIMMY... LONG HOURS AND ELBOW GREASE.

TELL ME SOMETHING.

WHAT'S YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH KEN HICKS?

ACQUAINTANCE. WHY?

WELL, I HAVE IT ON GOOD AUTHORITY THAT, UH,

YOU'VE BEEN FEEDING HIM CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE LATRELL CASE.

WHAT?

WHY WOULD I DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

DO YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN BEING A SPORTSCASTER?

YEAH. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT.

WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?

WELL, HAS KEN HICKS ASSISTED YOU IN PURSUING THIS INTEREST?

THERE IS NOTHING ILLEGAL OR UNETHICAL ABOUT KEN HICKS,

A NONPARTY TO THIS ACTION,

OPENING A FEW DOORS FOR ME.

THERE IS IF YOU ARE GIVING HIM CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT WITNESSES...

IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS HELP.

HE'S HELPING ME BECAUSE HE THINKS I HAVE TALENT.

COME ON, PAIGE.

I HAVEN'T GIVEN HIM ANYTHING THAT HE COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN ON HIS OWN.

THEN HE WAS JUST GUESSING WHEN HE FOUND OUT THAT HILLY JACKSON...

WAS BEING SKEWERED BY YOUR PEOPLE AT CENTRAL MEN'S.

I HAVEN'T HURT YOUR CASE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT,

I'VE HELPED IT.

PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO ME, JIMMY.

IF I LOOK THE OTHER WAY AND YOU GET CAUGHT,

THEN I AM IMPLICATED ALONG WITH YOU.

NOTHING'S GONNA KICK BACK ON YOU.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

I'LL DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THIS GO AWAY.

ANYTHING.

I'M SORRY, PAIGE.

I CAN'T HELP YOU.

WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS SANDY FORTAS, MR. MICHAELSON?

SANDY FORTAS ENJOYED CONTROLLING PEOPLE.

DIDN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU WERE HIS GIRLFRIEND OR PARKING HIS CAR.

IF YOU WERE UNDER HIM, YOU WERE REALLY UNDER HIM.

YOUR HONOR, WHAT IS THE RELEVANCE OF THIS TESTIMONY?

THE CENTRAL ELEMENT OF THIS CASE IS THE RELATIONSHIP...

BETWEEN RICKEY LATRELL AND SANDY FORTAS.

IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT THE JURY BE ALLOWED TO SEE THIS RELATIONSHIP FROM ALL SIDES.

I'LL ALLOW IT. GO AHEAD, MR. DOCKNOVICH.

YOU REPRESENT A FORMER STANDOUT FOR THE LAS VEGAS STORM NAMED ROMULUS KELLY.

- IS THAT RIGHT? - USED TO REPRESENT HIM. MR. KELLY RETIRED IN '93.

BECAUSE OF A SERIOUS INJURY, RIGHT? RIGHT.

COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THAT INJURY?

PLAY-OFFS WERE APPROACHING. ROMULUS WAS HURTING.

HE'D HAD TROUBLE WITH HIS ANKLE SINCE COLLEGE.

THE KID WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT DOCTORS TO REST IT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON.

WHEN SANDY FORTAS HEARD THAT HE WAS GONNA LISTEN TO THEM, HE FLIPPED OUT.

COULD YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC?

HE SAID IF ROMULUS CARED ABOUT HIS TEAMMATES, HE WOULD PLAY THROUGH THE INJURY,

THAT IF HE DIDN'T, THERE WOULD BE FALLOUT.

I REMEMBER HE USED THAT WORD... "FALLOUT."

WHAT DID YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WORD TO MEAN?

THAT IF ROMULUS SAT OUT THE PLAY-OFFS,

SANDY WOULD SEE TO IT THAT HE WAS BENCHED.

THEN HE WOULD PUT HIM ON WAIVERS.

WHAT DID ROMULUS KELLY DO?

HE IGNORED THE ADVICE OF HIS DOCTORS AND KEPT PLAYING.

NEXT GAME, HE RUPTURED A LIGAMENT IN HIS ANKLE AND THAT WAS IT: 24, CAREER OVER.

DID MR. FORTAS EVER ATTEMPT TO MAKE AMENDS TO ROMULUS KELLY THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF?

SANDY FORTAS DIDN'T MAKE AMENDS.

THE WORD IS NOT IN HIS VOCABULARY. THANK YOU.

NOTHING FURTHER, YOUR HONOR.

MR. MICHAELSON,

WEREN'T YOU ONCE DESCRIBED BY MR. FORTAS IN THE L.A. TIMES...

AS "THE MOST UNPRINCIPLED SNAKE I'VE EVER DEALT WITH"?

PROBABLY. SOUNDS LIKE SANDY'S STYLE.

YET YOU CLAIM TO BE GIVING AN ACCURATE, UNBIASED ACCOUNT OF THE MAN.

I HAVE TRIED TO OFFER AN HONEST IMPRESSION.

WELL, AS LONG AS WE'RE BEING HONEST,

ISN'T IT A FACT THAT THE DEFENDANT RECENTLY DISMISSED YOU AS HIS AGENT?

- YEAH. - HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST YOU NEXT YEAR IN COMMISSIONS?

IT DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF RICKEY'S NEXT CONTRACT, IF THERE EVER IS ONE.

BUT IT WOULD BE ACCURATE TO SAY, WOULD IT NOT,

THAT YOU HAVE DIRECT FINANCIAL INTEREST IN GETTING BACK INTO RICKEY'S GOOD GRACES...

BY PROVIDING TESTIMONY THAT WOULD HELP HIM, EVEN IF IT MEANS SPEAKING ILL OF THE DEAD?

I DON'T NEED A FINANCIAL INTEREST TO SPEAK ILL OF SANDY FORTAS...

OR TO STAND UP FOR RICKEY LATRELL.

THE QUESTION ISN'T WHETHER OR NOT YOU NEED ONE, MR. MICHAELSON.

IT'S WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE ONE.

I'M DOING WHAT I'M DOING BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE AN INNOCENT MAN GO TO JAIL.

PERIOD.

DO YOU KNOW THE DEFENDANT, MR. COOGAN? YES, SIR.

HOW DO YOU KNOW HIM, SIR?

I USED TO BE A PARK ATTENDANT AT THE SCHOOL YARD WHERE HE PLAYED BASKETBALL.

AND HOW LONG AGO WAS THAT?

I RETIRED IN 1986.

- HAVE YOU KEPT IN TOUCH WITH HIM SINCE THEN? - YES.

HAS HE EVER HAD OCCASION TO SEND YOU MONEY?

OBJECTION. IRRELEVANT, YOUR HONOR.

YOUR HONOR, WE'VE HAD TO LISTEN TO WITNESS AFTER WITNESS...

COME UP HERE AND, AT MR. SCOTTO'S PROMPTING,

IMPUGN THE OVERALL CHARACTER OF THE DEFENDANT.

NOW, I BELIEVE I AM ENTITLED TO PROVIDE WITNESSES WHO CAN PROVIDE FOR US...

AN ALTERNATIVE POINT OF VIEW.

THE OBJECTION'S OVERRULED. THE WITNESS MAY ANSWER.

IS THIS WHERE I TELL IT?

THIS IS IT.

RICKEY PAYS MY RENT...

AND MY MEDICAL INSURANCE.

WHY DO YOU THINK HE DOES THAT, SIR?

WELL, HE TOLD ME ONCE HE BELIEVES IN TAKING CARE OF HIS OWN.

AND IN WHAT WAY ARE YOU "HIS OWN," MR. COOGAN?

- I USED TO BE A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER. - WHEN WAS THAT, SIR?

I PLAYED FOR THE SHEBOYGAN REDSKINS IN 1949,

THE FORT WAYNE PISTONS IN 1950,

THE MINNEAPOLIS LAKERS IN 1951 AND IN 1953.

YOU KNOW, NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY'RE CALLED THE LAKERS...

ON ACCOUNT OF ALL THE, UH... ALL THE LAKES IN MINNESOTA.

OKAY.

HOW MUCH DID YOU MAKE IN THOSE YEARS, SIR?

MY BEST YEAR, I MADE $5,000.

AND DO YOU RECEIVE A PENSION FROM THE LEAGUE?

YOU HAD TO PLAY FIVE SEASONS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A PENSION, AND I ONLY PLAYED FOUR SEASONS.

AND SO RICKEY TAKES CARE OF YOU.

YES.

BESIDES RICKEY, YOU AND RICKEY'S ACCOUNTANT,

WHO ELSE KNOWS ABOUT THIS?

- UP UNTIL TODAY, NOBODY. - THANK YOU, SIR.

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

WERE YOU AT THE MEETING BETWEEN THE DEFENDANT AND SANDY FORTAS...

ON THE DAY THAT MR. FORTAS WAS KILLED?

NO.

- SO THEN YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN THERE? - NO.

THANK YOU, SIR. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

HOW YOU DOIN', MAN?

I BEEN BETTER.

IS THE D.A. LEANING ON YOU?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?

THEY'RE SAYING I DON'T OWE YOU TO SPEND 15 YEARS IN PRISON. YOU DON'T.

WE BEEN FRIENDS A LONG TIME.

I'D SAY I OWE YOU SOMETHIN'.

YOU'RE IN A TOUGH SPOT.

US BEIN' FRIENDS, USUALLY THAT'S THE BEST THING I GOT GOIN' FOR ME.

IT'S NO GOOD IN HERE.

I DON'T HAVE A BIG-TIME LAWYER LIKE YOU, RICKEY.

I GOT NOBODY LOOKING OUT FOR ME.

I CAN GET YOU A LAWYER, HILLY.

I REMEMBER A TIME I COULD KICK YOUR ASS PLAYIN' BALL.

I REMEMBER. REMEMBER THAT?

I REMEMBER.

I DIDN'T HAVE WHAT IT TOOK...

TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF IT.

THERE WAS A TIME...

I COULD KICK YOUR ASS.

YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

YOU HEAR ME?

I LOVE YOU, BROTHER.

I LOVE YOU, MAN.

HE'S GONNA GIVE YOU UP, RICKEY.

HE ALREADY HAS.

THERE THEY ARE!

- ARE YOU GONNA TAKE THE STAND? - WE CAN'T COMMENT RIGHT NOW!

- I WANT TO, YEAH. - YOU WILL TESTIFY, THEN?

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO HIDE. I'M INNOCENT. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

GUYS, YOU KNOW WE DON'T DISCUSS TRIAL STRATEGY WITH THE MEDIA.

FRANK, I WANT YOU TO SIT ON RICKEY AND KEEP HIM QUIET.

NO PROBLEM. I'LL TELL HIM ALL ABOUT MY DAYS AS A POINT GUARD IN THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE.

MS. GRASSO, HAVE YOU INVESTIGATED THIS CHARGE?

NO, YOUR HONOR. BEFORE I DO, I WANTED TO APPRISE YOU OF THE SITUATION.

MS. WEIKOPF, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? YES.

IT'S A COMPLETELY UNFOUNDED ALLEGATION.

IT'S A DESPERATE ATTEMPT ON MR. WYLER'S PART TO IMPUGN MY CREDIBILITY.

I RESPECT YOUR SKILLS AS A LITIGATOR, MS. WEIKOPF,

BUT I AM NOT IN AWE OF THEM SO MUCH THAT I NEED TO GET YOU REMOVED FROM THE CASE.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CASE.

I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT YOU DID TO ME AT THE D.A.'s OFFICE.

EXCUSE ME?

I WON'T BE INTIMIDATED, JIMMY. I WON'T KEEP QUIET.

QUIET? ABOUT WHAT, MS. WEIKOPF?

ABOUT MR. WYLER'S INAPPROPRIATE ADVANCES TOWARD ME...

OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL MONTHS WHEN I FIRST BECAME A PROSECUTOR.

PAIGE... THIS ALLEGATION IS A PREEMPTIVE STRIKE...

TO DISCREDIT ME FOR FEAR OF A SEXUAL HARASSMENT SUIT.

HAVE YOU FILED A SUIT AGAINST MR. WYLER?

I'M PREPARING ONE.

UNTIL I CAN INVESTIGATE BOTH OF THESE ALLEGATIONS FULLY,

I WANT ALL THE PARTIES IN THIS ROOM TO STEP AWAY AND THINK CAREFULLY...

ABOUT HOW THEY WANT TO PROCEED.

I'M PLACING EVERYONE UNDER A GAG ORDER.

I HEAR SO MUCH AS A WHISPER ABOUT ANY OF THIS,

YOU'LL ALL BE UP IN FRONT OF THE STATE BAR.

MIRIAM.

THAT STORY WAS A COMPLETE FABRICATION.

BUT MY DILEMMA IS,

I HAVE WORKED FOR FOUR YEARS WITH PAIGE WEIKOPF,

AND I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH AS A HINT OF IMPROPRIETY.

MIRIAM, COME ON. THIS IS ME YOU'RE TALKING TO.

JIMMY, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER.

YOU'RE MY FRIEND.

SO IS PAIGE.

THAT'S WHY RIGHT NOW I CAN'T TALK TO YOU.

MOMENT OF YOUR TIME?

BEING INAPPROPRIATELY PHYSICAL JUST GIVES ME AMMUNITION, DON'T YOU THINK?

HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO.

YOU'RE GONNA GO TO GRASSO AND BORNSTEIN AND TELL THEM...

THAT YOU FABRICATED THE WHOLE STORY TO GET YOURSELF OUT OF A JAM.

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, I AM GONNA SLAP YOU WITH A DEFAMATION SUIT FOR SLANDER,

AND I'M GONNA DRAG YOUR ASS IN FRONT OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION.

I'M GONNA STAND BY WHAT I SAID,

AND I'LL ASK YOU NOT TO MAKE UNWANTED REFERENCES TO MY ANATOMY.

YOU'RE A COLD SLICE.

THERE'S A REMARK THAT I COULD INTERPRET...

AS HAVING A DEMEANING AND OFFENSIVE SEXUAL CONNOTATION, JIMMY.

YOU'D BETTER BE CAREFUL. HARASSMENT ACTIONS ARE THE SUIT DU JOUR.

YOU ARE FROM MARS. JURIES ARE FROM VENUS.

YOU WANNA PLAY IT THE HARD WAY? IT'S YOUR CALL.

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT.

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING, MS. BROWN?

I RUN AN ESCORT SERVICE IN NYE COUNTY, NEVADA.

DID YOU KNOW SANDY FORTAS? YES. HE WAS A CLIENT.

OBJECTION. THE WITNESS'S TESTIMONY IS IRRELEVANT...

AND CALCULATED SOLELY TO INFLAME AND PREJUDICE THESE PROCEEDINGS.

WE WILL ESTABLISH RELEVANCE, YOUR HONOR.

AND AS TO WHETHER THIS WITNESS'S TESTIMONY IS PREJUDICIAL,

HOW CAN COUNSEL OBJECT TO SOMETHING HE HASN'T EVEN HEARD?

BELIEVE ME, I GET YOUR DRIFT.

THAT'S ENOUGH, MR. SCOTTO. THE OBJECTION'S OVERRULED.

WAS THERE ANY TRAIT OR CHARACTERISTIC HE PREFERRED IN THE GIRLS YOU SENT HIM?

SHE HAD TO BE BLACK. THAT WAS HIS ONLY HARD AND FAST RULE.

HOW MUCH DID YOU CHARGE MR. FORTAS FOR THESE ESCORTS?

BETWEEN $1,000 AND $2,000, DEPENDING ON WHAT HE WANTED THE GIRL TO DO.

DID HE PAY THESE GIRLS IN CASH?

IN THE BEGINNING, YES.

AFTER HE BECAME A REGULAR,

HE'D TELL THE GIRL THAT HE'D PAY 'EM LATER OR TO PUT IT ON HIS ACCOUNTS.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO HE WOULD HAVE SEX WITH THESE WOMEN AND SEND 'EM AWAY EMPTY-HANDED.

MOST OF THE TIME, YES.

I USUALLY HAD TO PAY THE GIRLS AND THEN TRY TO COLLECT FROM HIM.

BY PAYING THESE WOMEN YOURSELF, YOU WOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR QUITE A BIT OF MONEY?

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN HE OWED ME AS MUCH AS $35,000.

MR. FORTAS WAS AN EXTREMELY WEALTHY MAN.

IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, HAVE THERE EVER BEEN OTHER OCCASIONS...

WHERE A WEALTHY CLIENT DID NOT PAY HIS BILLS?

WELL, I'VE HAD CLIENTS WHO GET THEIR KICKS...

FROM GETTIN' A WOMAN TO PERFORM SEXUAL FAVORS FOR FREE.

IT'S A CONTROL THING, HAVING SEX WITH A GIRL AND THEN REFUSING TO PAY HER.

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE FACT THAT OTHER ESCORT SERVICES IN YOUR AREA...

ARE OWNED AND OPERATED BY ORGANIZED CRIME?

YES.

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, DID MR. FORTAS PATRONIZE ANY OF THEM?

I KNOW FOR A FACT HE DID.

HOW DO MOB-RUN ESCORT SERVICES GENERALLY DEAL...

WITH NONPAYMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF MONEY?

- WITH FORCE. - DEADLY FORCE?

SOMETIMES.

BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH MR. FORTAS,

IS IT YOUR TESTIMONY THAT HE BEHAVED IN A MANNER THAT MIGHT HAVE PUT HIS LIFE IN JEOPARDY?

OBJECTION. SUSTAINED.

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

DID YOU DROP MR. FORTAS AS A CLIENT...

AFTER THESE INSTANCES OF DEGRADATION YOU'VE ALLEGED?

- NO. - WHY IS THAT?

IF I DROPPED HIM AS A CLIENT, I'D NEVER SEE THE REST OF THE MONEY HE OWED ME.

OH, "THE REST OF THE MONEY." DOES THAT MEAN HE PAID YOU SOMETHING?

HE'D SEND ME A CHECK EVERY NOW AND THEN.

WELL, DID HE PAY YOU THE $35,000 YOU JUST TOLD US ABOUT?

EVENTUALLY.

SO IT'S NOT ACCURATE TO SAY HE STIFFED YOU FOR MONEY HE OWED. HE WAS JUST LATE IN PAYING YOU.

SANDY ALWAYS HAD TO PUT EVERYBODY THROUGH A LOT. LIKE I SAID, THAT WAS HIS SHOT.

FOR THE RECORD, WERE YOU PRESENT IN THE ROOM THE DAY SANDY FORTAS WAS MURDERED?

NO, I WAS NOT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE AS TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING HIS DEATH?

NO, I DON'T.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.

THE OTHER GIRLS WERE ALWAYS SAYING WHAT A FREAK SANDY WAS,

THAT CALLING US SLUTS AND WHORES WAS A BIG TURN-ON FOR HIM.

AND DID HE ADDRESS YOU IN SUCH A MANNER WHEN YOU ARRIVED AT HIS HOUSE?

OH, YEAH. THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

I TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS A THOUSAND FOR A FULL-SERVICE SHOW...

AND THAT I NEEDED THE MONEY UP FRONT, 'CAUSE WORD WAS OUT ON HIM.

DID HE PAY YOU? YEAH.

BUT HE WANTED THE MONEY BACK WHEN HE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE.

WHAT KIND OF TROUBLE? YOU KNOW.

WITH, UM, PERFORMANCE.

HE HAD BEEN DRINKING, AND HE GOT MAD AT ME, LIKE IT WAS MY FAULT.

TOLD ME TO GET THE HELL OUT OF HIS HOUSE.

DID YOU LEAVE AT THAT POINT? NO.

WHY NOT? BECAUSE HE GRABBED MY PURSE AND TOOK BACK THE MONEY.

HE SAID I DIDN'T DESERVE IT.

THEN HE DRAGGED ME TO THE FRONT DOOR AND THREW ME OUT.

I DIDN'T HAVE NOTHIN' ON, SO I WAS BANGING ON THE DOOR TILL HE FINALLY THREW ME MY DRESS.

ONCE AGAIN, YOUR HONOR, I MUST STRENUOUSLY OBJECT ON THE ISSUE OF RELEVANCE.

YOUR HONOR, WE'RE SIMPLY TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE...

THAT THE BEHAVIOR AND LIFESTYLE OF THE DECEASED...

EXPOSED HIM TO HARM FROM ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

- LIKE WHO? DID SHE KILL HIM? - THE OBJECTION IS OVERRULED.

SO, WHAT DID YOU DO NEXT?

I RAN BACK TO THE CAR...

WHERE CURTIS, MY DRIVER, WAS WAITING JUST OUTSIDE THE GATES OF THE ESTATE.

- I TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. - AND HOW DID HE REACT?

HE WANTED TO KILL HIM.

IF I HADN'T TALKED HIM OUT OF IT, THAT'S JUST WHAT HE WOULD'VE DONE.

THANK YOU. NOTHING FURTHER.

THE INCIDENT YOU JUST DESCRIBED...

WAS IT THE LAST TIME THAT YOU SAW SANDY FORTAS?

NO. I SAW HIM ONCE AFTER THAT.

SO IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN ALL THAT HORRIBLE IF YOU AGREED TO GO BACK A SECOND TIME.

HE WANTED A TWO-GIRL SHOW, SO I WENT WITH MY FRIEND.

BELIEVE ME, I NEVER WOULD HAVE GONE BY MYSELF.

AND WHEN WE GOT THERE, HE DIDN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHO I WAS.

HAVE YOU EVER MET RICKEY LATRELL?

NO.

BUT YOU RESPECT HIM AS A DISTINGUISHED AFRICAN-AMERICAN ATHLETE, DON'T YOU?

YEAH, HE'S ALL THAT.

SO IT WOULD BE ACCURATE TO SAY...

THAT YOU HAVE MORE SYMPATHY FOR A BLACK SPORTS HERO THAN AN OVERWEIGHT WHITE TRICK...

WHO YOU HAD AS MUCH CONTEMPT FOR AS YOU CLAIM HE HAD FOR YOU.

OBJECTION! WITHDRAWN.

- WERE YOU IN THE ROOM THE DAY SANDY FORTAS WAS MURDERED? - NO.

DO YOU HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING HIS DEATH?

- NO. - NO.

NOTHING FURTHER.

WELL, YOU SEEM TO BE EXTREMELY WELL QUALIFIED, MR. PRUITT.

THANK YOU.

IF YOU'RE THINKING OF HIRING ME, DON'T.

I'M SORRY?

JUST TELL THE AGENCY THAT I DIDN'T PAN OUT.

THEN I'LL JUST START WORK, AND YOU CAN AVOID PAYING THEIR FEE.

WOULDN'T THAT BE UNETHICAL?

IS THAT A LITTLE LAWYER HUMOR?

HELLO, ANGELA.

LUCKY LOUIS, AS I LIVE AND BREATHE.

- HOWDY, STRANGER. - HOW YOU DOING, MAN?

THERE SHE IS! GIVE ME A HUG, YOU BIG LUG!

SO, HOW WAS EUROPE?

HMM, THERE'S A DISNEYLAND IN PARIS,

A GAP MEGASTORE IN LONDON,

AND YOU CAN'T WALK SIX STEPS WITHOUT BUMPING INTO A GOLDEN ARCH.

FORTUNATELY, THE TINTORETTOS IN THE SCUOLA SAN ROCCO ARE AS MAGNIFICENT AS EVER.

CALL MY REFERENCES,

BECAUSE I THINK THEY WILL CORRECT ANY MISIMPRESSION THAT I MAY HAVE CONVEYED.

I DON'T HAVE ANY MISIMPRESSIONS, MR. PRUITT.

- THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING. - I JUST LOVE THE CHEESES.

HEY, LOUIS. HOW YOU DOING?

WELL, THANK YOU. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE AGAIN.

JIMMY, COULD I TROUBLE YOU FOR A MOMENT OF YOUR TIME? IT'S NO TROUBLE AT ALL.

AH.

I SEE YOU'VE DISPATCHED MOST OF THE FURNITURE FROM THE ANCIEN RÉGIME.

THOUGH I MUST ADMIT I DO MISS THE SMELL OF ALL THAT LEATHER.

MMM. TAKE A SEAT.

JUSTINE HAS TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF CALLING ME TO SAY YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW ASSISTANT.

GWEN'S GETTING MARRIED, AND SHE'S HEADING BACK EAST. THAT'S NICE.

AND QUITE FORTUITOUS, ACTUALLY.

I FIND MYSELF IN NEED OF A JOB, ASSUMING YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY FILLED THE POSITION HERE...

CAN YOU START TOMORROW?

ABSOLUTELY.

WELCOME BACK, LOUIS.

- GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. LATRELL. - GOOD AFTERNOON.

YOU A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT TESTIFYING HERE TODAY? UH, YES.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY TELL MY STORY.

THEN LET'S GET TO IT.

HOW LONG DID YOU KNOW SANDY FORTAS?

ABOUT FIVE YEARS. I MET HIM A FEW MONTHS BEFORE HE BROUGHT ME INTO THE LEAGUE.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM?

AFTER MY WIFE AND MY MOM, HE WAS PROBABLY CLOSER TO ME THAN ANYBODY ELSE ON EARTH.

I NEVER KNEW MY FATHER,

AND I FOUND WHAT I WAS MISSING IN MR. FORTAS.

I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST CAME TO LAS VEGAS, I STAYED AT HIS HOUSE WITH HIM,

AND I TOLD HIM THAT I FELT LIKE I WAS A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY.

HE SAID THAT I WAS NOT "LIKE" A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY.

I WAS FAMILY. PERIOD.

WAS THAT FEELING RECIPROCAL ON YOUR PART? VERY MUCH SO.

YOU WERE AWARE, WERE YOU NOT, THAT YOUR WIFE, CARLA,

HAD AN AFFAIR WITH MR. FORTAS PRIOR TO YOUR MARRIAGE.

MM-HMM. CARLA WAS SINGLE AT THAT TIME. SANDY WAS SEPARATED.

THEY HAD THEIR MOMENT TOGETHER, AND THEN THEY MOVED ON TO DO OTHER THINGS.

IT DIDN'T REALLY BOTHER ME AT ALL.

- YOU HARBORED NO ILL WILL TOWARD HIM? - NONE WHATSOEVER.

DID SOMETHING HAPPEN ON OCTOBER 18 TO CHANGE THAT?

YES. WOULD YOU TELL US WHAT THAT WAS, PLEASE?

I FOUND OUT THAT HE HAD TRICKED MY WIFE INTO HAVING SEX WITH HIM AGAIN.

- OBJECTION. ASSUMES FACTS - NOT IN EVIDENCE. - YOUR HONOR...

WAS THE DEFENDANT THERE TO WITNESS THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ALLEGED EVENT?

THE STATEMENT WAS NOT OFFERED FOR ITS FACTUAL ACCURACY,

- BUT FOR ITS EFFECT UPON THE WITNESS'S STATE OF MIND. - OVERRULED.

THE WITNESS WILL CONTINUE.

CARLA HAD COME BACK WITH A CASSETTE TAPE THAT SANDY HAD GIVEN HER...

SUPPOSEDLY OF ME TELLING SAL BATTAGLIO...

I'D SHAVE POINTS ON A GAME IF HE'D FORGIVE A GAMBLING DEBT.

- DID YOU EVER TELL SAL BATTAGLIO THAT? - NO, SIR, I DID NOT.

WHATEVER IT WAS HE FABRICATED, I NEVER AGREED TO SHAVE POINTS ON A GAME.

BUT SANDY HAD THAT TAPE, THOUGH,

AND HE TOLD CARLA THAT IF SHE DIDN'T PUT OUT FOR HIM, HE'D WRECK MY CAREER.

OBJECTION. HEARSAY. SAME ARGUMENT, YOUR HONOR.

I'M GOING TO ALLOW IT.

- WHERE IS THAT TAPE NOW, MR. LATRELL? - I BURNED IT UP.

- DID YOU LISTEN TO IT? - YES, I DID. IT WAS COMPLETELY MADE UP.

IT WAS A VERY CONVINCING FAKE.

DID YOU CONFRONT SANDY FORTAS ABOUT IT?

YES, I DID. WHAT WAS HIS REACTION?

HE ACTED LIKE IT WAS NO BIG DEAL.

HE SAID HE AND CARLA WENT WAY BACK.

HE SAID NOBODY PUT A GUN TO HER HEAD.

HE TOLD ME I SHOULD CONCENTRATE MORE ON MY REBOUNDS INSTEAD.

WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN HE SAID THAT?

I SHOT HIM.

REQUEST IMMEDIATE CONFERENCE IN CHAMBERS, YOUR HONOR!

ASK THAT I BE ALLOWED TO COMPLETE MY EXAMINATION OF THIS WITNESS WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.

THIS IS A DELIBERATE ABUSE OF THE PROCESS!

MR. SCOTTO, YOU'LL GET YOUR CONFERENCE AFTER THE DEFENDANT'S DIRECT.

NOW CONTINUE.

MR. LATRELL,

YOU LOVE YOUR FAMILY VERY MUCH,

DON'T YOU?

MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD.

MORE THAN MY OWN LIFE.

AND YOU WOULD DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY, WOULDN'T YOU?

YES, I WOULD.

DO YOU FEEL ANY REMORSE FOR WHAT YOU DID TO SANDY FORTAS?

YES, I DO.

MY MOTHER DIDN'T RAISE ME UP TO BE A KILLER.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

AND I'M GONNA HAVE TO ANSWER TO GOD.

YOUR WITNESS.

COUNSEL IN CHAMBERS.

IF WHAT THEY WERE DOING WASN'T READILY APPARENT BEFORE, IT SHOULD BE CRYSTAL CLEAR NOW.

COUNSEL KNEW THEIR CLIENT WAS GUILTY, YET THEY INTRODUCED EVIDENCE...

WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE WAS TO DENIGRATE THE VICTIM'S CHARACTER...

TO MAKE THIS MURDER SEEM JUSTIFIED.

IS MR. SCOTTO TELEPATHIC?

- HOW DOES HE KNOW WHAT WE KNEW AND WHEN? - COME ON, CHRIS!

YOUR GUY DID IT. HE TOLD US HE DID IT.

THERE'S NO ALTERNATIVE THEORY OF THE CRIME.

THEY USED IT AS A PLOY TO MAKE SANDY FORTAS OUT TO BE SOMEONE WHO SHOULD BE SHOT.

YOUR HONOR, WE DEMAND THAT THE TESTIMONY OF LEE MICHAELSON, MONIQUE LaSALLE...

AND ANNA MAE BROWN BE STRICKEN FROM THE RECORDS...

AND THE JURY BE STERNLY INSTRUCTED TO DISREGARD IT.

WE FURTHER ASK THAT THE STIFFEST POSSIBLE SANCTIONS BE IMPOSED UPON COUNSEL...

FOR KNOWINGLY PERPETRATING A FALSEHOOD IN THESE PROCEEDINGS.

YOUR HONOR, THE REASON THAT THE PEOPLE WANT TO EXCLUDE THE TESTIMONY...

IS BECAUSE IT BLOWS THEIR CASE FOR MURDER ONE ALL TO HELL.

THE JURY HAS EVERY RIGHT TO CONSIDER THE LESSER OFFENSE OF VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER...

OR EVEN REACH A FINDING OF JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE, IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO.

- THE LAW COMPELS YOU TO DENY THE PEOPLE'S MOTION. - DON'T LECTURE ME ABOUT THE LAW.

I AM GRANTING MR. SCOTTO'S MOTION TO COMPLETELY EXCLUDE THESE WITNESSES' TESTIMONY.

I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE DONE...

HAS BEEN ABOUT AS CYNICAL A MANIPULATION OF THE COURTS AS I HAVE EVER SEEN.

YOUR HONOR, IF I MAY BE HEARD...

YOU MAY NOT!

I WILL INSTRUCT THE JURY TO EXCLUDE THE EVIDENCE FROM THEIR DELIBERATIONS.

AND I AM IMPOSING SANCTIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,000.

I WISH IT COULD BE MORE.

BY WAY OF REVIEW,

A FEW MINUTES AGO YOU TOLD THIS JURY, UNDER OATH, THAT YOU MURDERED SANDY FORTAS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT YOU WENT TO HIS WESTWOOD OFFICE CARRYING A SPHINX .380 PISTOL REGISTERED TO YOU...

AND SHOT MR. FORTAS FOUR TIMES IN THE CHEST.

- IS THAT YOUR TESTIMONY? - I DON'T REMEMBER HOW MANY TIMES I SHOT HIM.

JUST TO BE CLEAR, AFTER SHOOTING MR. FORTAS,

YOU FLED THE SCENE, LEAVING HIM TO DIE ALONE IN AN EMPTY OFFICE BUILDING?

OBJECTION! COUNSEL IS GOADING MR. LATRELL.

JUST MAKING SURE WE ALL AGREE ON THE BRUTAL FACTS OF THIS CASE.

THE POINT'S BEEN MADE, COUNSEL. MOVE ON.

YOU DITCHED THE GUN, GOT ON YOUR PRIVATE JET AND RETURNED TO LAS VEGAS.

YEAH. I WAS SCARED.

- I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING. - YOU KNEW ENOUGH TO HIRE JIMMY WYLER'S FIRM.

- OBJECTION. - SUSTAINED.

SAL BATTAGLIO TESTIFIED HE MADE A TAPE OF YOU OFFERING TO SHAVE POINTS...

TO SETTLE A GAMBLING DEBT.

- IS IT YOUR TESTIMONY THAT HE WAS LYING? - LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH.

YET YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A TAPE RECORDING.

I ACKNOWLEDGE SOMETHING PUT ON TAPE MADE IT SOUND AS THOUGH I WAS SAYING THINGS I NEVER SAID.

- YEAH, AND WHO DID THAT? - I DON'T KNOW.

DO YOU SUSPECT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME C.I.A. INVOLVEMENT?

- OBJECTION TO COUNSEL'S SARCASM. - SUSTAINED.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU'RE ASKING THIS JURY TO BELIEVE...

THAT YOU MURDERED SANDY FORTAS TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY HONOR.

THAT'S RIGHT.

- MONEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. - RIGHT.

SANDY FORTAS DID NOT RETAIN A COPY OF THE TAPE AND THREATEN YOU.

- NO, HE DIDN'T. - YOU SAID MR. BATTAGLIO LIED ABOUT THE TAPE.

DID HE ALSO LIE ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU LIKE TO GAMBLE?

NO.

WAS HE LYING ABOUT THE FACT YOU HAD LOST A LOT OF MONEY? NO, HE WASN'T.

AND NONE OF THIS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE KILLING OF SANDY FORTAS.

NOT THE PRESSURE ON YOU FOR MORE MONEY,

NOT THE FACT THAT YOU HAD AN EXPOSURE THAT COULD HAVE ENDED YOUR CAREER.

- NOTHING MATTERED TO YOU BUT YOUR WIFE'S HONOR. - THAT'S RIGHT.

AND FOR THAT YOU KILLED A MAN IN COLD BLOOD.

OBJECTION. WITHDRAWN.

YOUR HONOR, IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE DEFENDANT HAS CONFESSED TO THIS CRIME,

THE PEOPLE HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

MILLIONS WERE STUNNED TODAY...

WHEN BASKETBALL SUPERSTAR RICKEY LATRELL TOOK THE WITNESS STAND...

AND CONFESSED TO THE MURDER FOR WHICH HE STANDS ACCUSED.

IT WAS AN ALL-OR-NOTHING TACTIC BY THE TRIAL'S DEFENSE TEAM,

WHO ARE COUNTING ON THE JURY TO LET EMOTION GOVERN...

HOW THEY APPROACH THE TASK BEFORE THEM AND RETURN A VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.

IT WAS A BOLD MOVE,

PERHAPS THE BOLDEST SEEN IN A COURTROOM IN RECENT MEMORY.

THE QUESTION TONIGHT IS, WILL THE GAMBLE PAY OFF?

WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO SAVE RICKEY LATRELL'S LIFE?

HEY, RICKEY! I HOPE YOUR NEW AGENT IS EXPLORING MOVIE DEALS FOR YOU.

I CAUGHT YOUR ACT IN THERE. YOU'RE A NATURAL.

COME ON, LEE. WHAT? I'M GIVING HIM A TIP OF THE HAT.

THIS IS A FANTASTIC ACTOR YOU'VE GOT HERE. WHAT DO YOU WANT, MAN?

LAST TIME WE SPOKE, I GAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT I WANTED YOU TO RECONSIDER FIRING ME.

I'D LIKE TO CORRECT THAT IMPRESSION. OKAY. DONE. LET'S GO.

I DON'T CONDEMN YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID TO SANDY. THAT WAS YOUR HEART, PASSION.

A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE HAVE BEEN OVERCOME BY THAT.

BUT THAT YOU WERE GONNA WATCH ME BE ACCUSED... THAT WAS YOUR HEAD, BABY, WHO YOU ARE.

YOU'RE A SCUMBAG, RICKEY.

I'D LIKE YOU ALL TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT WAS DELIVERED TO ME THIS MORNING.

HI, I'M PAIGE RINGO,

AND THIS IS MY AUDITION TAPE.

I WENT FROM BEING A TOMBOY TO BEING A JOCK...

TO BEING A FASHION MODEL TO BEING AN ATTORNEY,

AND NEVER HAVE I LOST MY LOVE OF THE GAME.

WHAT GAME, YOU ASK? ANY GAME.

WHETHER IT'S A PERFECTLY EXECUTED DRAW PLAY, A BUNT TO ADVANCE THE RUNNER...

OR A THREE-POINT JUMP SHOT AT THE FINAL BUZZER, I LOVE IT ALL.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US...

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS TAPE, MS. WEIKOPF?

OR SHOULD I SAY MS. RINGO?

I DON'T KNOW THAT IT HAS ANY SIGNIFICANCE, YOUR HONOR.

I HAVE SOME INTEREST IN PURSUING A CAREER IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM,

AND AN AUDITION TAPE IS A NECESSARY MEANS OF SELLING YOURSELF,

OF... DEMONSTRATING HOW YOU COME ACROSS ON CAMERA.

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH KEN HICKS?

I KNOW HIM. NOT WELL, BUT...

WERE YOU PROVIDING HIM WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CASE...

IN RETURN FOR HIS FOSTERING YOUR CAREER IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM?

NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I HAVE A SWORN AFFIDAVIT FROM MR. HICKS STATING THAT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE DOING.

HE'S LYING. MM-HMM.

ARE THE EXECUTIVES AT, UH...

CBS, UM,

ABC, FOX, ESPN,

WHO SAY THEY'VE BEEN APPROACHED BY MR. HICKS, ARE THEY ALSO LYING?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE ALLEGING, YOUR HONOR.

ALL I CAN SAY IS... SAVE IT FOR YOUR SUPERVISORS, MS. WEIKOPF.

IF THEY CHOOSE TO ACCEPT YOUR EXPLANATIONS, THAT'S THEIR PRIVILEGE.

AS FAR AS MY COURTROOM IS CONCERNED, YOU'RE OUT.

WELL, I ASSUME I'LL BE ALLOWED TO CONCLUDE MY DUTIES IN THE LATRELL CASE.

HONEY, YOU'RE OUT OF MY COURTROOM AS OF NOW.

JIMMY?

THIS PUTS THINGS IN A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT LIGHT.

WHAT THINGS?

I COULDN'T CURTAIL A SEXUAL HARASSMENT INVESTIGATION, JIMMY, NOT OUT OF HAND.

WHY NOT? DO YOU REALLY NEED ME TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION?

I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT IF I COME TO YOU AND TELL YOU SOMETHING, YOU WOULD BELIEVE ME.

WELL, I BELIEVE YOU NOW.

AND IF I HAD ANY DOUBTS ABOUT YOU BEFORE NOW, I'M SORRY.

THAT'S THE BEST I CAN DO.

SO, NO MORE PAIGE WEIKOPF.

NO MORE PAIGE WEIKOPF.

JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, WHEN YOU DECIDED TO TURN HER IN,

YOUR STRATEGY WAS WHAT, TO GIVE UP ALL POSSIBLE ADVANTAGES...

IN PURSUIT OF A MORE EVEN PLAYING FIELD?

WHATEVER MY STRATEGY IS, I DON'T DISCUSS IT WITH YOU.

OH, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

IT WOULD BE GROSSLY UNETHICAL.

IT ISN'T AS THOUGH I'VE BEEN KNOCKING MYSELF OUT...

TRYING TO HELP.

IT ISN'T AS THOUGH I'VE SAVED YOUR UNGRATEFUL ASS...

BY SUBMITTING A SWORN AFFIDAVIT AND GETTING A COPY OF THAT TAPE TO THE JUDGE.

JIMMY, DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THANKING ME FOR ANY OF THAT.

THAT WOULD BE HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE.

YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU'RE RIGHT.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

SO, HOW DOES IT LOOK FOR RICKEY? I HAVE NO IDEA.

THAT BAD, HUH?

YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, HAVEN'T YOU, MR. JACKSON? YES, SIR.

AND AT THAT TIME YOU HAD NO KNOWLEDGE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT...

THE DEFENDANT WAS CARRYING A GUN ON THE DAY HE MET WITH SANDY FORTAS.

- DO YOU RECALL THAT? - YES, SIR.

I'M GONNA ASK YOU NOW, MR. JACKSON... IS THAT STATEMENT TRUE?

NO, SIR, IT IS NOT TRUE.

WAS THE DEFENDANT CARRYING A GUN ON THAT DAY?

YES, HE WAS.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT, MR. JACKSON?

BECAUSE I GOT RID OF IT FOR HIM.

DID YOU DO SO AT THE DEFENDANT'S REQUEST?

OBJECTION. CALLS FOR HEARSAY.

IT'S AN ADMISSION BY A PARTY OPPONENT, YOUR HONOR.

OBJECTION IS OVERRULED.

MR. JACKSON?

- YES, I DID. - AND WHEN DID THE DEFENDANT MAKE THAT REQUEST?

WHEN I PICKED HIM UP AFTER HIS MEETING WITH MR. FORTAS.

DID MR. LATRELL SAY ANYTHING PRIOR TO HIS MEETING WITH MR. FORTAS...

THAT INDICATED WHAT HE INTENDED TO DO WHEN HE GOT THERE?

OBJECTION. IRRELEVANT. GOES TO PREMEDITATION, YOUR HONOR.

THE OBJECTION IS OVERRULED. THE WITNESS MAY ANSWER.

- YES, HE DID. - WHAT WAS THAT?

HE SAID THAT HE TOOK ALL HE COULD TAKE OFF SANDY.

HE SAID HE WOULDN'T LET HIM USE HIS GAMBLING DEBTS TO THREATEN HIM,

AND HE WOULD GET HIM FOR WHAT HE DID TO CARLA.

HE SAID THAT SANDY FORTAS WAS A DEAD MAN.

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL THE TRUTH THE FIRST TIME, MR. JACKSON?

- I DIDN'T WANT TO HURT MY BOY. - WHAT HAPPENED TO CHANGE THAT?

I GOT ARRESTED.

- SO YOU'RE LOOKING TO HELP YOURSELF UP HERE. - YES.

SO HOW DO WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT LYING AND TRYING TO HELP YOURSELF?

I MIGHT NOT BE A ROLE MODEL,

BUT I WOULDN'T SEND SOMEBODY TO PRISON FOR SOMETHIN' THEY DIDN'T DO.

NOTHING FURTHER, YOUR HONOR.

WHAT DID YOU GET ARRESTED FOR, MR. JACKSON?

POSSESSION OF CRACK COCAINE.

THAT WOULD BE A FELONY? YES, SIR.

DID THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE GIVE YOU ANY INDICATION AS TO WHETHER THEY INTENDED...

TO LINK YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY TO THE DISPOSITION OF THE CHARGES NOW FACING YOU?

THEY SAID THEY DID.

AND WHAT DID THEY PROMISE YOU IF YOU CHANGED YOUR STORY?

THEY DIDN'T PROMISE ME ANYTHING, SIR.

YOU'VE LEARNED YOUR LINES QUITE WELL, MR. JACKSON.

- OBJECTION. - SUSTAINED.

IT IS A FACT, IS IT NOT, THAT AS A RESULT OF YOUR TESTIFYING HERE TODAY...

YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN AVOID GOING TO PRISON?

YES, SIR. IS IT NOT ALSO A FACT THAT,

SUBSEQUENT TO YOUR ARREST, YOU WERE HELD IN THE MEN'S COUNTY JAIL,

ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE PRISONERS?

YES, SIR.

DURING THAT TIME, WERE YOU SPOKEN TO BY DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SCOTTO?

YES, SIR. IN POINT OF FACT,

YOU WERE SPOKEN TO BY MR. SCOTTO FOR HOURS AT A TIME, WEREN'T YOU?

OBJECTION. IRRELEVANT.

IT IS COMPLETELY RELEVANT, YOUR HONOR, THAT THIS MAN WAS SYSTEMATICALLY BROWBEATEN...

UNTIL HE WAS SO TERRIFIED THAT HE WOULD HAVE AGREED TO SAY ANYTHING.

THE OBJECTION IS SUSTAINED.

ARE YOU ADDICTED TO CRACK COCAINE, MR. JACKSON?

UH, YES, I AM.

HAS THAT ADDICTION EVER IMPAIRED YOUR JUDGMENT?

I'M SURE IT HAS.

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

MR. JACKSON, YOU MAY STEP DOWN.

DOES THE PROSECUTION HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL WITNESSES?

NO, WE DON'T, YOUR HONOR.

IN THAT CASE, THE PEOPLE MAY PROCEED WITH THEIR CLOSING ARGUMENT.

YOU KNOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

THE CLOSING ARGUMENT THAT I WAS WORKING ON THROUGHOUT MOST OF THIS TRIAL...

IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE CLOSING ARGUMENT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TODAY.

I WAS GONNA TAKE YOU THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE...

SHOWING THAT THE DEFENDANT WENT TO THE MEETING WITH SANDY FORTAS...

WITH THE MISSION TO COMMIT MURDER,

THAT HE LEFT HIS HOME WITH A LOADED GUN,

THAT HE SENT LEE MICHAELSON OUT OF THE ROOM SO THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE A WITNESS,

THAT SEXUAL JEALOUSY AND THE SENSE THAT HE'D BEEN BETRAYED BY A FATHER FIGURE...

PROVIDED MOTIVE,

WHO WAS ACCUSTOMED TO GETTING WHAT HE WANTED...

PROVIDED CHARACTER SUFFICIENTLY DEFECTIVE...

TO COLD-BLOODEDLY TAKE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.

I WAS GONNA TELL YOU THAT.

BUT THEN...

THE DEFENDANT DID IT FOR ME.

HE TOLD YOU...

THAT, UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS STATE, HE IS GUILTY,

AND THEN HE DARED YOU TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

HE DARED YOU TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE UNDER THE LAW.

WE ARE TOLD, IN EFFECT,

THAT HE WAS ACTING OUT THE RAGE OF A VIOLATED NEGRO SLAVE...

AGAINST AN EVIL PLANTATION OWNER...

WHO NOT ONLY KEPT HIM IN SERVITUDE...

BUT SAW FIT TO RAPE HIS SLAVE GIRL WIFE.

HE'S ASKED YOU TO JUDGE HIM AS YOU WOULD JUDGE A SLAVE...

WHO RISES UP TO SLAY HIS OPPRESSOR.

BUT THERE ARE A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THAT.

THE DEFENDANT IS NOT A NEGRO SLAVE.

HE'S A MULTIMILLIONAIRE...

WITH MORE POWER AND MORE RESOURCES THAN ANY OF US COULD EVER DREAM OF.

SANDY FORTAS WAS NOT A PLANTATION OWNER.

HE WAS A HUSBAND AND A FATHER AND A BUSINESSMAN.

THE DEFENDANT'S WIFE IS NOT A SLAVE GIRL.

SHE'S A SMART, CAPABLE, ASSERTIVE WOMAN...

WHO, PRIOR TO HER MARRIAGE, HAD AN AFFAIR WITH SANDY FORTAS...

AND WHO APPARENTLY AGREED TO REVISIT THAT AFFAIR WHILE SHE WAS MARRIED.

WAS HE ENTITLED TO COMMIT MURDER BECAUSE OF THAT?

NO.

NO, HE WASN'T.

YOU CAN'T DO IT.

I CAN'T DO IT.

HE CAN'T DO IT EITHER.

NOTWITHSTANDING WHATEVER OPERATIC PSYCHOLOGICAL PORTRAIT THE DEFENSE PAINTS,

THAT'S A MURDERER.

AND IN THIS STATE,

IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS SOCIETY,

MURDERERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PUNISHED.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

I'M ASKING YOU TO DO YOUR DUTY.

I'M ASKING YOU TO UPHOLD THE LAW...

AND ARRIVE AT THE ONLY LEGAL VERDICT POSSIBLE...

GUILTY AS CHARGED.

THE PROSECUTION HAS REPEATEDLY SUGGESTED...

THAT WHAT RICKEY LATRELL IS ASKING FOR IS SPECIAL TREATMENT,

THAT THIS STAR BASKETBALL PLAYER-MULTIMILLIONAIRE...

BELIEVES HIMSELF TO BE ABOVE THE LAWS THAT GOVERN THE REST OF US.

LET ME SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

WHAT RICKEY LATRELL IS ASKING FOR...

IS THAT YOU JUDGE HIM EXACTLY THE WAY YOU WOULD JUDGE ANYBODY ELSE,

THE WAY YOU WOULD JUDGE YOURSELVES.

BUT IN ORDER FOR YOU TO JUDGE HIM, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM,

UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO HEAR THAT YOUR WIFE, THE MOTHER OF YOUR CHILDREN,

HAD BEEN SUMMONED TO THE OFFICE OF YOUR EMPLOYER, A MAN YOU TRUSTED,

A MAN WHO, TO ALL OUTWARD APPEARANCES, TREATED YOU LIKE A SON.

AT FIRST, YOU SEE YOUR WIFE TRY TO CONCEAL FROM YOU WHAT HAPPENED,

THEN BREAK DOWN IN TEARS AS SHE TELLS YOU...

THIS MAN DECEIVED HER INTO THINKING THE ONLY WAY SHE COULD SAVE HER HUSBAND...

WAS TO PROSTITUTE HERSELF.

THIS MAN HAD A SEXUAL DESIRE,

AND HE WANTED IT FULFILLED.

AND SO HE TOOK THIS WOMAN,

THIS COLLEGE-EDUCATED,

CULTURED MOTHER OF TWO SMALL CHILDREN,

AND HE SO TERRIFIED HER THAT SHE WAS WILLING TO DO ANYTHING HE ASKED.

AS RICKEY LATRELL LISTENED TO HIS WIFE,

HE FELT EVERYTHING HE WAS, EVERYTHING HE HAD WORKED SO HARD TO BECOME,

DISAPPEAR.

AT THAT MOMENT,

THE ONLY SOUND HE HEARD WAS A SCREAMING IN HIS HEAD THAT TOLD HIM...

THIS MAN MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

HE MUST BE RESPONDED TO.

HE MUST BE MADE TO UNDERSTAND...

THAT THIS WOMAN, WHO RICKEY LOVED MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF,

CANNOT BE VIOLATED WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS THAT YOU JUDGE RICKEY LATRELL...

THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD JUDGE ANYONE ELSE.

IS THIS CASE ABOUT RACE?

WELL, ONLY AS MUCH AS OUR COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE IS ABOUT RACE.

ONLY AS MUCH AS OUR HISTORY IS ABOUT RACE.

LET'S NOT BE BASHFUL ABOUT IT.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS CASE IS PROFOUNDLY ABOUT RACE.

YOUR VERDICT, HOWEVER,

MUST BE ABOUT ONLY JUSTICE.

I SUBMIT TO YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

IF YOU USE YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR COMPASSION,

IF YOU REFUSE TO PERMIT THE PROSECUTION...

TO PUT BLINDERS ON YOUR EYES...

OR CHAINS AROUND YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS,

YOU WILL FIND RICKEY LATRELL...

NOT GUILTY.

THE POWER IS YOURS.

ALL RIGHT, RICKEY!

DO YOU THINK THE JURY IS GOING TO BE PERSUADED BY THIS EYE-FOR-AN-EYE DEFENSE?

HOW BAD DID HILLY JACKSON'S TESTIMONY HURT?

IT'S OUR HOPE THOSE 12 JURORS WILL LISTEN TO THEIR HEARTS AND DO THE RIGHT THING.

CAN YOU CONFIRM REPORTS THAT YOUR WIFE WAS PREGNANT WITH SANDY FORTAS'S CHILD?

HAS O.J. CALLED YOU TO WISH YOU LUCK?

I'VE SAID EVERYTHING I'M GONNA SAY ON THE WITNESS STAND. IT'S ALL IN GOD'S HANDS NOW.

HEY. DID YOU CATCH CHRIS'S CLOSING?

YEAH. HE WAS GOOD. HE WAS ACES.

AND NOW WE WAIT.

MMM. THAT'S ONE THING I'VE NEVER BEEN PARTICULARLY GOOD AT.

ME NEITHER.

AT ABOUT 4:00 A.M., I WILL FINALLY GIVE UP ALL PRETEXT OF GETTING ANY SLEEP.

I'LL GO AND WATCH A MOVIE, WHICH I WON'T BE ABLE TO FOLLOW BECAUSE I'M PREOCCUPIED,

SO I'LL GO DOWNSTAIRS, COOK MYSELF AN ENORMOUS BREAKFAST,

WHICH I WON'T BE ABLE TO EAT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE APPETITE.

MY VARIATION ON THAT SCENARIO IS BEAUTY NIGHT.

- BEAUTY NIGHT. - CONDITION MY HAIR.

FOUR DIFFERENT KINDS OF FACIAL MASKS.

A DETOXIFYING HERBAL SOAK, FOLLOWED BY A REHYDRATING COLLAGEN WRAP.

NONE OF WHICH WILL DO ANY GOOD AT ALL,

BECAUSE I'M GONNA LOOK LIKE CRAP TOMORROW FROM NERVES AND EXHAUSTION.

SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE BOTH IN FOR A LONG AND LONELY NIGHT.

JOINTLY OR SEVERALLY?

CARLA LATRELL IS HERE.

I'LL GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. SEND HER IN.

RICKEY'S GONE. WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

HE LEFT ME A NOTE SAYING HE'S GOING INTO HIDING.

DO YOU HAVE THE NOTE? YES.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE HE'D GO?

NO. HE NEVER TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT?

AFTER HILLY TESTIFIED AGAIN, HE TALKED ABOUT RUNNING.

BUT I NEVER... I NEVER THOUGHT HE'D DO IT.

HE'S PROBABLY IN CANADA OR MEXICO.

WHAT DO I DO IF HE CONTACTS ME?

TELL HIM NO MATTER WHAT THE JURY COMES BACK WITH,

IF HE'S HERE, WE CAN GO UP ON APPEAL.

BUT IF HE'S NOT HERE, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO.

TELL HIM HE WILL NOT SURVIVE AS A FUGITIVE. TELL HIM HE'LL GET CAUGHT.

YOU SHOULD ALSO TELL HIM THAT IF HE DOESN'T COME BACK, HIS MOTHER WILL LOSE HER HOUSE.

OKAY. I'LL TELL HIM.

CARLA?

DOES ANYONE ELSE KNOW ABOUT THIS?

NO.

WELL, LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY.

SHOULD I CALL SZYMANSKI?

RIGHT AWAY. AND CHRIS AND AARON?

LET'S KEEP THEM OUT OF IT. WHY?

WHEN THE JUDGE ASKS WHERE RICKEY LATRELL IS,

I DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE TO LIE.

IF THEY COME BACK WITH A GUILTY VERDICT,

OUR BEST SHOT ON APPEAL IS GOING AFTER BORNSTEIN'S RULING...

TO EXCLUDE THE TESTIMONY OF OUR LAST THREE WITNESSES.

- ANYONE HEAR FROM RICKEY? - NO.

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO RUNNING THIS MORNING, BUT I CALLED HIM AND CARLA SAID HE WAS OUT.

I STOPPED BY HIS HOUSE. NOBODY ANSWERED THE DOOR, AND HIS CAR'S GONE.

I'LL TRY CARLA AGAIN.

CARLA SAYS SHE'S UNDER INSTRUCTIONS FROM YOU...

NOT TO TALK TO ANYONE ABOUT RICKEY'S WHEREABOUTS.

IS THAT WHAT SHE SAYS? WHY ARE YOU HIDING ANYTHING FROM US?

FRANK SZYMANSKI IS HERE TO SEE YOU.

TELL HIM I'LL BE WITH HIM IN A MINUTE.

JIMMY, WHAT'S GOING ON?

- YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW. - WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? THIS IS OUR CASE.

YOU DON'T WANT ANY INFORMATION THAT'S GONNA HAMPER YOUR ABILITY TO DEFEND YOUR CLIENT.

OKAY. HE SPLIT, DIDN'T HE?

THE MEETING'S OVER, FELLAS.

MORNING, GUYS.

I CALLED IN A FAVOR, GOT RICKEY'S PHONES DUMPED.

IT TURNS OUT HE CALLED THIS EX-CHEERLEADER, UH,

CHRISTINE PHILLIPS, NINE TIMES YESTERDAY.

SHE TESTIFIED AGAINST HIM. WELL, MAYBE SHE HAD A CHANGE OF HEART.

IN ANY EVENT, I WENT OVER TO HER HOUSE. I TALKED TO HER FATHER.

HE CONFIRMED THAT HIS DAUGHTER DID, IN FACT, HAVE A LONGTIME...

CRUSH AND/OR RELATIONSHIP WITH RICKEY LATRELL.

THE FATHER WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU PERSONALLY.

WHERE IS HE? WAITING IN RECEPTION.

WELL, BRING HIM IN.

I KNOW CHRISTINE'S BEEN CARRYING A TORCH FOR THIS GUY,

BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE'D THROW HER LIFE AWAY ON HIM.

DO YOU KNOW IF SHE PLANS ON MEETING HIM SOMEWHERE? I DON'T KNOW.

I KNOW SHE TOOK OFF WORK YESTERDAY. I OVERHEARD HER CALLING IN SICK.

WHO WOULD SHE CONFIDE IN? HER SISTER.

WHERE WOULD WE FIND HER SISTER? SHE WORKS AT A COFFEE SHOP. I CAN GET YOU AN ADDRESS.

I THINK I'LL GO THERE MYSELF.

I CAN'T GET HER BACK. I KNOW THAT.

CHRISTINE WON'T TELL ME ANYTHING.

SHE'S SURE THE HELL NOT GONNA LISTEN TO ME.

IF SHE GAVE A DAMN ABOUT WHAT I THOUGHT,

SHE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN INVOLVED WITH THAT BLACK BASTARD IN THE FIRST PLACE.

HI. HI.

I THINK YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR BOSS IF YOU COULD TAKE THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES OFF.

WHO ARE YOU? I'M JAMES WYLER, RICKEY LATRELL'S ATTORNEY.

I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR SISTER.

ARE YOU CLOSE TO YOUR SISTER? I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS.

IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO HER, YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT SHE'S HEADED FOR.

MY SISTER'S 31 YEARS OLD. SHE'S CAPABLE OF MAKING HER OWN DECISIONS.

THAT MAY BE, BUT IS SHE CAPABLE OF SURVIVING AS A FUGITIVE?

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOUR LOVE LIFE INCLUDED HELPING SOMEBODY SKIP BAIL?

I DON'T KNOW THAT'S WHAT SHE'S DOING.

I DON'T THINK YOU'RE TELLING THE TRUTH, CORRINE.

I THINK YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SHE'S DOING, AND YOU'RE WORRIED SICK ABOUT IT.

EVERYONE'S ENTITLED TO LOSE THEIR HEAD ONCE.

AND EVERYBODY'S ENTITLED TO REACH OUT TO SOMEBODY WHO WILL PROTECT THEM.

CHRISTINE DOESN'T WANT TO BE PROTECTED.

SHE'S BEEN PROTECTED HER ENTIRE LIFE, AND SHE'S BEEN TOTALLY MISERABLE.

SO SHE'S GONNA RUN OFF WITH A FUGITIVE MURDERER?

SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT MISERABLE IS.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS.

YES, YOU DO.

AND IF SHE SAW FIT TO TELL YOU,

WHAT SHE'S DOING IS ASKING YOU TO HELP STOP HER.

MISS PHILLIPS?

I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU.

WHO ARE YOU? JAMES WYLER. I'M RICKEY'S ATTORNEY.

HOW COME I NEVER SAW YOU IN COURT? I'M NOT TRYING THE CASE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU BEFORE. YOU COULD CALL RICKEY IF YOU'VE GOT ANY DOUBT ABOUT IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE RICKEY IS. WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS. WHAT'S IN THE BAG?

YOU'RE NOT A COP. I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU ANYTHING.

WELL, WE COULD CALL A COP AND FIND OUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

WE COULD TELL THE COP THAT YOU'RE AIDING A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL...

IN FLEEING THE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

WE COULD ASK HIM TO LOOK IN THE BAG,

AND, IF MY GUESS IS CORRECT, HE WOULD NOTIFY HIS SUPERIOR,

WHO, IN TURN, WOULD NOTIFY THE MEXICAN FEDERALES.

HOW'D YOU FIND ME? YOU TOLD YOUR SISTER YOU WERE GOING TO MEXICO.

SHE WAS CONCERNED ENOUGH NOT TO KEEP IT TO HERSELF.

I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING.

I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING AND WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING TO DO, AND IT'S A BAD IDEA.

YEAH, AND SO IS GOING TO PRISON FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY GONNA HAPPEN. NUMBER ONE:

THE JURY COULD COME BACK WITH A VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY. FAT CHANCE.

THEY COULD TAKE IT UP IN APPEAL IF THEY DON'T.

RICKEY KNOWS ALL THIS, RIGHT? WELL, I ASSUMED HE DID BEFORE HE LEFT THE COUNTRY.

I DON'T TELL RICKEY WHAT TO DO. DOES HE TELL YOU?

NO. BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT HE COULD ASK YOU FOR.

RICKEY AND I GO BACK A LONG WAY... LONG BEFORE CARLA.

WE NEVER SAID ANYTHING TO ANYBODY...

BECAUSE AT THE TIME I COULDN'T DEAL WITH MY FATHER KNOWING I WAS SLEEPING WITH A BLACK BOY.

WE GOT TIRED OF KEEPING SECRETS, SO WE BROKE UP.

I NEVER STOPPED LOVING HIM.

I WATCHED HIM GO OUT WITH OTHER GIRLS, I WATCHED HIM MARRY ANOTHER GIRL,

AND I HATED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

IT WAS BECAUSE I TAUGHT MYSELF TO HATE HIM THAT I AGREED TO TESTIFY AGAINST HIM IN COURT.

I OWE HIM FOR THAT.

YEAH. YEAH, THERE'S THINGS HE COULD ASK ME FOR.

THEN IMAGINE THAT HE'S ASKING YOU TO USE A LITTLE COMMON SENSE.

HE'S ON THE LAM.

RICKEY CAN'T TAKE 100 STEPS IN ANY DIRECTION ANYWHERE WITHOUT BEING RECOGNIZED.

AND I PROMISE YOU,

HE'LL GET CAUGHT, AND HE'LL BE EXTRADITED TO THE UNITED STATES,

WHERE HE WILL NOT FIND A FRIENDLY JURY,

IF HE'S EVEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET ANOTHER TRIAL.

NOW, THAT'S HIM.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOU.

SO FAR, YOU'RE GUILTY OF FELONY AIDING AND ABETTING.

IF IT GOES TO TRIAL,

IN ALL LIKELIHOOD YOU WOULD BE SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON.

WITH TIME OFF FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR, YOU COULD CUT IT DOWN TO FIVE AND A HALF YEARS.

BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, ARE YOU WILLING TO SPEND FIVE AND A HALF YEARS...

IN A WOMEN'S PRISON IN FRONTERA?

DO YOU OWE RICKEY LATRELL THAT MUCH?

TELL ME WHERE HE IS, CHRISTINE.

HERE'S HIS ADDRESS.

I THINK MISS PHILLIPS IS READY TO GO HOME. THAT'S GOOD.

FIND A SAFE PLACE FOR THAT BAG.

WHAT WAS IT YOU COULDN'T TALK TO ME ABOUT OVER THE PHONE?

RICKEY'S GONE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, GONE? THAT'S JUST WHAT I MEAN... GONE.

HE'S HOLED UP IN SOME PLACE IN CUERNAVACA. HOW DO YOU KNOW?

THAT GIRL WAS ON HER WAY TO MEET HIM.

I ASSUME MY BEING HERE MEANS YOU WANT TO JOIN FORCES IN BRINGING HIM BACK.

RIGHT.

THE DIFFICULTY ENTAILED IN YOU SAYING THAT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED BY ME.

I KNOW YOU'D PREFER NOT TO BE INVOLVED WITH ME, JIMMY,

BUT THE FACT THAT YOU CALLED ME IN SHOWS ME THAT YOU HAVE RICKEY'S BEST INTERESTS IN MIND.

IT ALSO SHOWS ME THAT YOU'RE A LEADER.

ARE YOU COMING?

JIMMY CALLED EARLY THIS MORNING. HE'S LOCATED RICKEY.

LOCATED HIM WHERE?

- HE DIDN'T SAY. - DID HE SAY WHEN HE'D BE BACK?

NO. WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?

SIT TIGHT. THE JURY'S BACK.

SO MUCH FOR SITTING TIGHT.

- GOTTA BUY OURSELVES SOME TIME. - IT'S GOTTA BE A MEDICAL EXCUSE.

- WE NEED DOCTORS FOR THAT. - WE'LL GET DOCTORS.

WHAT KIND OF MEDICAL EXCUSE?

IT APPEARS TO BE GASTROENTERITIS, YOUR HONOR,

I'M SURE NOT UNRELATED TO THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

GASTROENTERITIS WOULD BE WHAT, EXACTLY, YOUR HONOR? A STOMACHACHE?

I WOULD ASK THAT THE PROSECUTION NOT TRIVIALIZE THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS OUT OF HAND.

IS HE BEING TREATED BY A PHYSICIAN, MR. DOCKNOVICH?

I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE.

ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT HE IS IN SECLUSION AND RESTING COMFORTABLY.

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE MR. LATRELL IS?

I DON'T. THE ONLY INFORMATION I HAVE IS WHAT HAS BEEN CONVEYED TO ME BY MY COLLEAGUE MR. WYLER.

- AND WHERE IS MR. WYLER? - DO YOU MEAN WHERE IS HE NOW?

NO, WHERE WAS HE LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME?

UH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW, YOUR HONOR.

IS IT POSSIBLE HE IS IN SECLUSION WITH MR. LATRELL?

I WOULD ONLY BE SPECULATING.

YOUR HONOR, THE PEOPLE WOULD ASK FOR A BENCH WARRANT TO ISSUE...

FOR THE DEFENDANT'S IMMEDIATE ARREST.

YOUR HONOR, ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR IS A CONTINUANCE...

UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR CLIENT IS WELL ENOUGH TO APPEAR BEFORE THIS BENCH...

TO HEAR THE VERDICT READ.

GIVEN WHAT MY CLIENT HAS BEEN THROUGH, I DON'T THINK THAT'S ENTIRELY OUT OF BOUNDS.

I WILL GRANT THE CONTINUANCE UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 A.M.,

AT WHICH POINT I EXPECT MR. LATRELL TO BE HERE IN THIS COURTROOM.

I'M GIVING YOU THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, MR. DOCKNOVICH.

IF I FIND MR. LATRELL HAS LEFT THE JURISDICTION, AND YOU HAD KNOWLEDGE OF SAME,

I WILL HOLD YOU IN CRIMINAL CONTEMPT OF COURT.

- IS THAT UNDERSTOOD? - YES, YOUR HONOR. THANK YOU.

WE ARE ADJOURNED UNTIL 9:00 A.M.

LET ME TALK TO HIM.

HOW'D YOU FIND ME?

WITH A LOT LESS EFFORT THAN THE F.B.I. IS GONNA BE WILLING TO EXPEND.

I'M NOT COMING BACK WITH YOU.

YOU CAN COME BACK WITH US, OR YOU CAN BE BROUGHT BACK IN CUFFS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

- YOU THINK YOU CAN OUTRUN THE FEDS? - I DON'T KNOW.

UNLESS YOU'RE WILLING TO SIGN ON AS MOAMMAR GADHAFI'S HOUSEBOY, IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF TIME.

- WHERE'S CHRISTINE? - NOT COMING.

- WHAT ABOUT MY MONEY? - IT'S NOT COMING EITHER.

- THAT'S MY MONEY! - DELIVERING IT TO YOU WHILE YOU'RE A FUGITIVE IS A FELONY.

- NOBODY'S GONNA COMMIT A FELONY FOR YOU, RICKEY. - BUT IT'S MY MONEY, JIMMY.

I GOT MONEY FOR YOU, RICKEY.

I'VE GOT A SOLID OFFER FROM ORLANDO IN MY POCKET...

FOR $66 MILLION OVER SEVEN YEARS.

THE ONLY CATCH IS, YOU GOTTA PLAY BASKETBALL TO GET IT.

YOU CAN COME BACK HOME, LET THIS MAN DO HIS WORK,

AND THERE'S A CHANCE YOU'LL BEAT THIS RAP.

THAT HAPPENS, YOU'RE BACK ON TOP, YOUR FAMILY'S COVERED, AND YOU'RE A STAR AGAIN.

YOU RUN AWAY, RICKEY, AND THERE'S NOT A CHANCE IN HELL YOU'RE GONNA BEAT THIS THING.

THEN ALL YOU ARE IS A NIGGER WITH A SUITCASE.

YOU CUT MY MONEY OFF.

THAT MEANS YOU'RE NOT ASKING ME TO COME BACK WITH YOU. YOU'RE TELLING ME TO, RIGHT?

THAT'S THE FIRST SMART THING YOU'VE SAID ALL DAY, SON.

ANYTHING TO DECLARE? NO.

SHORT VISIT. UNFORTUNATELY.

YOU'LL STAY WITH US NEXT TIME LONGER, I HOPE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

ANYTHING TO DECLARE, MR... ROWLANDS?

NO, SIR.

AND YOU GENTLEMEN ARE ALL TRAVELING TOGETHER? YEAH.

THEN I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU ALL TO PLEASE STEP THIS WAY.

WHAT FOR? USING A FALSE PASSPORT.

WHAT? THIS WAY, MR. LATRELL.

YOUR HONOR, WE'VE JUST RECEIVED WORD FROM THE POLICE...

THAT MR. LATRELL'S CAR WAS FOUND NEAR A PRIVATE TERMINAL AT L.A.X.

THAT FACT, COUPLED WITH THE DEFENDANT'S FAILURE TO APPEAR THIS MORNING AS YOU ORDERED,

STRONGLY SUGGESTS THAT HE'S A FUGITIVE.

ACCORDINGLY, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE L.A.P.D...

TO LOCATE MR. LATRELL AND TO PLACE HIM UNDER CUSTODY.

MR. DOCKNOVICH?

YOUR HONOR, WE WOULD ASK THAT THE COURT CONTINUE THIS MATTER UNTIL TOMORROW.

NOT IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS. NOT AFTER WHAT I JUST HEARD.

I HAVE THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE THAT MR. LATRELL WILL BE HERE TOMORROW.

FINE. THEN YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WHAT I'M ABOUT TO DO.

BAILIFF, TAKE MR. DOCKNOVICH INTO CUSTODY UNTIL SUCH TIME...

AS HIS CLIENT SEES FIT TO APPEAR.

SORRY WE'RE LATE, YOUR HONOR. NO DISRESPECT MEANT TO THE COURT.

BAILIFF, BRING IN THE JURY.

- MR. FOREMAN, IS THIS A TRUE AND CORRECT VERDICT? - YES, IT IS.

WILL THE DEFENDANT PLEASE RISE?

HOW SAY YOU?

"WE, THE JURY, IN THE ABOVE ENTITLED ACTION,

"THE PEOPLE VERSUS RICHARD HAYES LATRELL,

"IN THE CHARGE OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE,

"TO WIT, VIOLATION OF SECTION 187-A OF THE PENAL CODE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA,

"AS CHARGED IN COUNT ONE OF THE INFORMATION,

"THE PREMEDITATED AND DELIBERATE TAKING OF ANOTHER HUMAN LIFE,

FIND THE DEFENDANT, RICHARD HAYES LATRELL, NOT GUILTY."

- DO THE PEOPLE WISH THE JURY POLLED? - NO, YOUR HONOR.

THE COURT THANKS THE JURY FOR ITS TIME AND DILIGENCE. YOU ARE EXCUSED.

THIS COURT IS ADJOURNED. PLEASE CLEAR THE COURTROOM!

GOOD JOB.

I HOPE THERE ARE NO HARD FEELINGS.

ACTUALLY, THERE ARE PLENTY OF HARD FEELINGS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

WE DID OUR JOB.

YOUR JOB IS TO BE AN OFFICER OF THE COURT.

YOU JUST CONVINCED THIS JURY TO PISS ON THE COURT.

TELL ME HOW YOU DID YOUR JOB.

WE PLAYED BY THE RULES. I'M SORRY IF OUR TRIAL STRATEGY WASN'T TO YOUR LIKING.

IT'S NOT A MATTER OF TRIAL STRATEGY.

IT'S A MATTER OF BEING ABLE TO JUSTIFY ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING BY SAYING, "I WON."

CHRIS, I'M SURE YOUR PHONE'S GONNA BE RINGING OFF THE HOOK WITH A LOT OF NEW BUSINESS.

SO LONG AS YOU CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT, YOU GOT NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE VERDICT?

WHAT ABOUT YOUR CAR AT THE AIRPORT? WERE YOU, IN FACT, GOING TO FLEE?

UH, I JUST WANT TO THANK GOD FOR THE WAY THINGS TURNED OUT.

FOR NEARLY 400 YEARS, THE BLACK MAN IN THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN VICTIMIZED...

BY THIS AMERICAN SYSTEM OF JUSTICE.

HE'S BEEN UNFAIRLY ACCUSED, UNFAIRLY CONVICTED AND UNFAIRLY PUNISHED.

TODAY, A BLACK MAN RECEIVED SOME JUSTICE IN THAT COURTROOM, AND FOR THAT WE'RE ALL GRATEFUL.

THANK YOU. SIR, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

JIMMY. YOU'RE LETTING YOUR YOUNG TURKS HAVE A MOMENT IN THE SUN BY THEMSELVES.

I'D CALL THAT A GREAT GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT.

ACTUALLY, I WAS TRYING TO GET AWAY BEFORE THE END OF RICKEY'S "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH.

HE'S YOUNG, JIMMY.

DON'T BE TOO HARD ON HIM IF HE BELIEVES SOME OF HIS OWN PUBLICITY.

NOW THAT MY DUTIES WITH REGARD TO RICKEY HAVE BEEN FULLY DISCHARGED,

LET ME GIVE YOU A PIECE OF PARTING ADVICE THAT YOU MIGHT CONVEY TO HIM.

NO MATTER WHAT GOT SAID IN THAT COURTROOM,

NO MATTER WHAT GETS SAID IN THE ENDLESS COMMENTARY THAT'S BOUND TO ENSUE,

IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD, RICKEY GOT AWAY WITH MURDER.

I'D TELL HIM TO GO EASY ON THE RHETORIC.

MR. WASHINGTON, WHEN YOU CHARACTERIZE THE DECISION IN THE RICKEY LATRELL CASE...

AS "A BAD DAY FOR THE REPUBLIC,"

DON'T YOU RISK BEING ACCUSED OF HYPERBOLE?

NO. NOT AT ALL.

WHAT WE WITNESSED WAS A JURY RUN AMOK.

TWELVE PEOPLE WHO IGNORED THE JUDGE'S INSTRUCTIONS,

IGNORED THE LAW OF THE LAND AND SET A MURDERER FREE.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, EVERY CITIZEN IN THE COUNTRY IS IN TROUBLE.

THAT JURY WAS COMPOSED OF REASONABLE, RATIONAL MEN AND WOMEN.

YOU'RE A PROSECUTOR, MARK. WHAT'S GOT YOU EXERCISED IS THEY CAME BACK WITH AN ACQUITTAL.

WHAT'S GOT ME EXERCISED IS WHAT WE'RE LEFT WITH IS JURY-SANCTIONED MURDER.

WHERE IS EVERYBODY?

HI. HELLO.

CAN I, UH, HELP YOU WITH SOMETHING?

NO. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. I'M WAITING TO SEE JIMMY.

OKAY.

FROM WHERE I SIT, I FIND IT REASSURING TO KNOW THAT THE FINDERS OF FACT...

EXAMINED THE EVIDENCE AND FOUND THEY COULDN'T SUPPORT A CHARGE OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

THEY DIDN'T EVEN CONSIDER A LESSER OFFENSE, AS THEY WERE INSTRUCTED TO DO.

THEY DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS MERITED.

WHAT THEY DID FEEL WAS THAT LATRELL ACTED IN A KIND OF HYPER-ATTENUATED SELF-DEFENSE.

MS. CLEARY, THERE WASN'T A SPECK OF EVIDENCE THAT LATRELL ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE.

LET ME INTERJECT HERE AND ASK BOTH OF YOU...

TO WHAT EXTENT DID RACE PLAY A ROLE IN THIS VERDICT?

IT DID PLAY SOME ROLE.

NOT A DISPOSITIVE ROLE. ARE WE SITTING ON THE SAME PLANET?

THE DEFENSE KEPT UP A STEADY DRUMBEAT OF RACIALLY LOADED WORDS AND PHRASES,

ALL DESIGNED TO EVOKE IMAGES OF SLAVERY AND SEXUAL BONDAGE...

WITH THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF INFLAMING THE JURY.

MR. WASHINGTON'S TUT-TUTTING NOTWITHSTANDING,

THE IMAGES THE DEFENSE EVOKED WERE RELEVANT, AND THEY WORKED.

CASE CLOSED.

HI. HI.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS.

YOUR FORTUNES RISE WHILE MINE PLUMMET.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU, PAIGE?

COULD I BEG A MOMENT OF YOUR TIME?

LET'S GO TO MY OFFICE.

I NEED A JOB.

MY CAREER AT THE D.A.'s OFFICE IS CERTAINLY OVER,

AND I HAVE A BIG HOLE IN MY RÉSUMÉ.

I THOUGHT KEN HICKS WAS SETTING YOU UP IN THE WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS.

I SEEM TO HAVE LOST MY USEFULNESS TO KEN HICKS.

HE WON'T BE SETTING ME UP ANYWHERE. FEEL FREE TO GLOAT.

GLOATING IS OVERRATED. I PREFER TO LIVE WELL.

YOU NEED TO KNOW, JIMMY, THAT I WOULD NEVER HAVE GONE THROUGH WITH THE COMPLAINT.

MY BACK WAS TO THE WALL, AND I HAD NO OTHER WAY OUT.

I DON'T HAVE A JOB FOR YOU, PAIGE.

BUT FOR THE PRICE OF AN ASSOCIATE, YOU'D BE GETTING A SEASONED TRIAL LAWYER.

NO, THANKS. I KNOW THE ROPES, JIMMY.

THAT SHOULD BE COUNTING FOR SOMETHING. NOT ENOUGH.

DON'T GET PIOUS ON ME, JIMMY. YOU SWIM IN THE EXACT SAME SEPTIC TANK THAT I DO.

THAT MAY BE SO. THEN GIVE ME A CHANCE.

YOU DON'T KNOW ME. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAN DO.

I KNOW WHEN YOUR BACK'S AGAINST THE WALL, AS YOU PUT IT, I CAN'T TRUST YOU.

THAT'S ALL I NEED TO KNOW.

CONGRATULATIONS. WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING HERE?

I THOUGHT YOU'D BE OUT CELEBRATING.

BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, WE WANTED TO COME BY AND JUST THANK EVERYBODY.

RIGHT IN THERE.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PUTTING THIS DIFFICULT TIME BEHIND ME SO I CAN GET ON WITH MY LIFE...

AND, UH, HELP MY NEW TEAM INTO THE PLAY-OFFS.

- WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS OF THE NEW CONTRACT, KEN? - - SEVEN YEARS, $66 MILLION.

WHAT ABOUT COMMERCIAL ENDORSEMENTS?

I CAN'T COMMENT ON THE SPECIFICS. ALL I CAN SAY IS WE'RE VERY PLEASED.

- I BET YOU ARE. - EVERYBODY? RICKEY'S HERE.

I THINK HE HAS SOMETHING HE'D LIKE TO SAY TO YOU ALL.

CARLA AND I WANTED TO COME OVER AND JUST THANK YOU ALL...

FOR THE FACT THAT I'M A FREE MAN.

UM, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR EVERYTHING I PUT YOU THROUGH.

AND ALL I CAN THINK WAS, WHO WAS I KIDDING?

A BLACK MAN KILLS A WHITE MAN WHO HAD A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT OF FRIENDS.

NO MATTER WHY IT HAPPENED, I FIGURED THE BLACK MAN DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE.

I HAD MY BACK TO THE WALL, I PANICKED, AND I RAN.

SO, THANK YOU, JIMMY WYLER, FOR BRINGING ME BACK.

THANK YOU, AARON AND CHRIS, FOR TRYING THIS CASE.

I KNOW YOU PUT YOUR HEART AND YOUR SOUL INTO THIS, AND I OWE YOU MY LIFE.

AND, UH, THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

YOU FEEL PRETTY GOOD, CARLA?

GREAT, YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

HEY. I WANNA ASK YOU A QUESTION, MAN.

WHAT'S UP? I DON'T WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY.

YOU GOT A LOT OF CREDIT WITH ME, MAN. YOU CAN ASK ANYTHING YOU WANT.

THIS IS JUST US NOW, BROTHER. ALL RIGHT.

YOU THINK YOUR BEING BLACK WAS THE REASON YOU WERE PROSECUTED FOR MURDER?

IT WASN'T THE REASON. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'? THEN STOP TALKING LIKE IT WAS.

IT MATTERS TO A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE WHAT YOU SAY. DON'T LIE TO THEM.

PEACE OUT, MAN.

THANK YOU.

JIMMY?

I WANT TO TELL YOU I THINK YOU'RE A HELL OF A LAWYER.

- BOTH OF YOU. - I FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT YOU.

I DIDN'T ALWAYS SEE WHAT YOU GUYS SAW.

I DIDN'T ALWAYS WANT TO SEE IT. BUT YOU KNEW WHAT YOU HAD TO DO, AND YOU DID IT.

IN VICTORY, EVERYONE'S A GENIUS. TRUTH IS, WE GOT LUCKY.

ANOTHER JURY MIGHT HAVE SENT HIM AWAY FOR 99 YEARS.

YEAH, BUT YOU WENT WAY OUT ON A LIMB ON THIS ONE.

DOESN'T HURT THAT YOU WERE RIGHT, BUT I JUST ADMIRE THE FACT THAT YOU DID IT.

HOW 'BOUT WE ALL GO OUT FOR A DRINK?

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. YOU GUYS GO. I'M GONNA TAKE A RAIN CHECK.

SO, HOW DID YOU GUYS GET OUT OF CUERNAVACA?

CASH TRANSACTION.

YOU BRIBED THE FEDERALES? SHAMELESSLY.

THE MORE I GET TO KNOW YOU, THE CLEARER IT IS THAT YOU ARE ENTIRELY WITHOUT SCRUPLES.

I HAVE SCRUPLES. LIKE WHAT?

LIKE, UH,

I WOULD NEVER GET ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED WITH A COWORKER.

NEVER? NEVER EVER.

EVEN IF THERE WERE ONE THAT YOU WERE INCREDIBLY ATTRACTED TO?

NO MATTER WHAT THE LEVEL OF ATTRACTION,

NO MATTER WHAT THE LEVEL OF RECIPROCITY.

YOU COULD JUST SAY NO.

WELL, IF IT WAS A COWORKER, I'D HAVE TO.

THEN YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU DO HAVE SCRUPLES.

JUSTINE? HMM?

YOU'RE FIRED.