All language subtitles for Law.and.Order.S11E10.Whose.Monkey.Is.It.Anyway.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

In the criminal justice system
In the criminal justice system

the people are represented

by two separate
yet equally important groups:

the police,
who investigate crime

and the district attorneys,
who prosecute the offenders.

These are their stories.

Since when are you such a financial
wizard?

Because I have
a 401-K.

I have
a savings account

I have life insurance

and my brother-in-law
just put me in a mutual fund.

I don't want to hear
about anything else.

When it comes
time to retire

you're going to be
crying in your beer.

What the hell is this?

There's one of them.

But where are
the rest of them?

Oh, God.

Who is he?

According to his I.D.,
his name is Ronald Lee.

He's a molecular biologist.

Any idea what
he died from?

Not really.

All I can see is

the one bite mark
on his hand.

Must have bitten
clear through the glove.

Forcible entry?

Not to the doors,
not to the cages.

The monkeys were infected
with something, right?

They weren't here
to learn how

to ride unicycles.

According to what
the lab people said

half of them were infected
with a recombinant AIDS virus.

Any sign of them?

Only the one.

This the perp?

Yeah, two guys
who work here

got him back in the cage.

And what's your
story, huh?

They said when one
of them gets out

they fight like hell
to not get put back in.

So would I.

[Captioning sponsored by
STUDIOS USA TELEVISION

and NBC]

17 monkeys
were taken.

Eight of them
were infected

with a strain of simian
immunodeficiency virus

that's been
genetically modified

with human AIDS virus.

How likely is it

that they'll infect
anybody else?

Suffice it to say that anyone who gets
near them

is at risk of being bitten
and infected.

We have no idea

where these monkeys are?
Not as of yet.

At this point I think

it's inadvisable to go public

with the fact that the Center
for Disease Control is involved.

All it's going to do is
create unnecessary panic.

Agreed.

If we don't manage

to locate these monkeys
in a reasonable period of time

I'm derelict in my
responsibilities

if I don't go public.

What's reasonable?

72 hours.

We'll do
the best we can.

I'll want updates.

Yes, sir.

Uh, Dr. Tong.

If you could stick
around for a minute

we need to ask you
a few questions.

Sure.

Thanks.

Have we heard
from the M.E.?

Well, they put
the preliminary

cause of death as
anaphylactic shock

probably brought on
by an allergic reaction

to something in
the monkey's saliva.

Well, if the guy
was allergic to monkeys

what was he doing
working in the lab?

According to the M.E.,
anaphylactic shock

doesn't require
a preexisting allergy.

Well, what are you thinking
for motive?

The monkeys go for

between 5,000 and
8,000 per

and there were
18 of them.

Robbery would be
a possibility.

Another possibility

is if they were
making progress

on an HIV vaccine,
it could have been a case

of industrial
espionage.

Well, has anyone received word

of an animal rights group
being involved?

Not so far.

Because there was a fatality

most groups that would do
this sort of thing

might not be quick
to claim responsibility.

Has this particular research
facility

been the target of protest?

We'll let you know.

Soon.

People find out we use primates, we catch
heat.

Well, what kind
of heat?

Oh, protests, nasty letters, some threats.

Any, uh, threats against
specific people?

Oh, yeah.

I had someone call

and say were going to
stick a needle in me

like we do
to the primates.

Sounds like you don't
take it too seriously.

I just lost
a close friend

and a gifted biochemist.

I also lost, potentially,
years worth of research.

I take that very seriously.

What I won't do is be
intimidated by these people.

Can you give us any specifics

on who these people are?

Talk to my head of security.

He knows who they are.

Last demonstration we had was in
September.

Like, 20 people
walking around

in front of the entrance
with signs.

A couple of them
got inside

and poured blood
on the floor.

My guys detained them
until the cops got here.

We pressed charges

for trespassing
and criminal mischief.

What kind of a security
system do you have in place?

Electronic key access
to this wing of the building;

separate access to where
the monkeys are kept.

Any history

of electronic keys falling into the wrong
hands?

Well, it's been known
to happen.

Computer hackers figure out
how to replicate the code

they can fabricate something
that fools the scanner.

Did it ever
happen here?

It happened
at a research facility

in Wisconsin.

From what I understand,
they had a break-in

some files were destroyed

and they never apprehended
who did it.

This last protest

where they broke in
and poured the blood--

what was the name
of the organization?

They called themselves
All Living Creatures United.

We really take no satisfaction
in Mr. Lee's death.

Oh, I'm sure that'll be of great comfort
to his family.

Unfortunately, his job

put him in the front lines
of a struggle.

We're not asking for a sound bite here,
Ms. Perlow.

We just want to know who in your
organization

was present at
the facility.

I wouldn't have
that information.

You encourage your members

to break into animal
research labs?

We encourage our members
to follow their consciences.

So, as long as their conscience
tells them to

you'd support an action
like this?

I-I'm not saying that.

You refuse to give us a list of
your members.

There is no list of members.

There are 17 diseased animals

unaccounted for,
Ms. Perlow.

If you think you're
going to be able

to protect anybody's
identity

you're very much
mistaken.

The two detained
at the demonstration

one of them is Maxine Walden, 21, dean's
list

the other one is
Barry Pratt

previously arrested
for assault, burglary

and possession
of burglary tools.

I'll take care
of number two.

So, what's the difference

between Veggan
and Vegetarian?

Vegan.

It's no animal products
of any kind.

So, what, no milk,
no eggs, no cheese... ?

That's right.

It's kind of restrictive

isn't it?

Well, if you're
really interested

I can get you some
reading material.

I was just making conversation.

Do you know anything

about this research
lab that got broken into?

No.

Any idea where monkeys
hole up

when they're on the lam?

No, I have no idea.

You were arrested
in a demonstration

at this lab
a few months ago.

That's right, I was.

You been back
there since?

No.

Where were you
last night?

I was playing
basketball at the Y.

Anybody we can call
to verify that?

Well, I have
the team roster

on my Palm Pilot.

You want to see?

Yes, we do.

You're here because
I have a record, right?

It isn't for the food.

His alibi checks out.

He hasn't been talking

to animal rights groups
in Wisconsin?

None that we
can identify.

And his e-mails
tell us nothing?

The only name that means anything is
Maxine Walden.

Who's that?

The other protester who was detained at
the demonstration.

Might be worth a visit.

The day of the demonstration

was the last time
you were at the lab?

Yes.

So, what, it was
just a passing fancy?

I'm involved
in various actions

related to animal rights.

That was the last time
I was at that

particular location.

So, how come you didn't get
arrested that day at the lab?

I was let go.

I think the question is
why you were let go.

I think I was late
for a doctor's appointment.

A security guard
took pity on me.

You expecting intruders?

No.

Then, what are you doing

with a stun gun?

There were some incidents
with women being attacked

on their way back
to the dorm.

I got it for that.

Where'd you get
it from?

A friend of mine
got it for me.

I'm not going to tell you who that friend
is

'cause I don't want to get him in trouble.

You know, these are illegal
in New York City.

We're going to have to
take this away from you.

Take it.

We're also going to
have to contact

the D.A.'s office.

You could be
in a lot of trouble.

You know, the more
cooperative you are

the more likely
they are to let it go.

I'll take my chances.

What are your security officers
armed with?

A night stick
and a stun gun.

And who was supposed
to stay with the demonstrators?

If I remember
correctly, it was

Peavey and Castellano.

And they were
supposed to wait

with the demonstrators
until the cops showed.

Peavey decided to let
one of them go

'cause she had
a doctor's appointment.

He came to me with
a whole sob story

about how she was
just an innocent kid

got caught up in things.

Is Peavey working today?

Day off.

Do you have an address
where we can find him?

Mm-hmm.

He lives with his mother.

He likes it here.

He could afford
his own place.

Well, with rents
in the city

being what they are

time enough when
he gets married, huh?

I hope I live that long.

What, no prospects?

None that he tells
me about.

Do you have any idea

where we can find him,
Mrs. Peavey?

Well, is-is he in
some trouble?

No, no, we just need to ask him

a couple of questions.

Oh.

His friend, Alsie, has
a boat on City Island.

I think he said
he was going there.

Thanks.

N-now you're sure h-he's not
in any kind of trouble?

I ain't seen him.

His mother said
he was coming over here.

I ain't seen him
in over a month.

He's coming over here,
it's news to me.

You two have
a falling out?

Nah.

His mother gave us
the impression

you were best friends.

What can I tell you?

I ain't seen him.

What do you go for on this thing?

Ah, fluke, weakfish.

The blues are running

we go for them.

George go out with you?

Hey, used to.

We used to go out
together all the time.

What happened?

I don't know what happened.

He, uh, he lost his
interest in fishing.

Said it was the same
thing as hunting

which he also don't
want to do anymore.

He say why?

Ah, it was taking a life.

I said, I ain't exactly
up nights worrying

about the life of a fluke.

What did he say to that?

He got mad at me--
he says, uh, there's

enough other protein
sources on the planet

so we don't need
to slaughter animals.

And I know he didn't
come up with that on his own.

Turns out,
he's seeing some girl.

She's into all that no meat,
no leather kind of thing.

Anyway, that was the last time
he came around here.

Whoever did it

do you actually think
they meant to kill anyone?

Letting diseased animals
out of their cages?

That could be considered
a little risky.

They're diseased because
they were injected with a virus.

Where can we
find George?

I have no idea.

Do you realize that interfering
with a criminal investigation

is a felony?

I'm not interfering
with anything.

If you're helping him,
you're interfering.

Are you guys trying
to intimidate me?

'Cause if you are,
it's not working.

When's the last time

you saw George?

I don't know

last week sometime.

Are you two
romantically involved?

That's none
of your business.

If you'll excuse me,
I'm late for class.

Hey, Ms. Walden... if people start getting
bit by these animals

your friend's going to go to the top of
the FBI's most wanted list.

I don't know what friend
you're talking about

but anyone who cared enough about those
animals to rescue them

would make sure they're
not running around loose.

They'd make sure
they were safe.

Well, we'll pass along
your assurances

to the people
in Washington.

He's not showing up
for work

his mother doesn't
know where he is

or at least that's
what she says.

Well, Maxine's the key.

We sit on her,
he'll show up.

I'll talk to the DA
about a wire tap.

We're thinking he might've tried to
place the monkeys

in a refuge
of some kind.

Well, we're going
to check the tri-state area

for any complaints
involving nondomestic animals.

Great, that might
at least tell us

who'd be willing
to take them.

Vietnamese pot-bellied
pig breeder.

Oh, now doing time
for mail fraud.

Faye Ireland.

Who's that?

One of the queens of the tight sweater
movies.

She's running an animal
refuge in Putnam County.

Had a tiger get out and terrorize the
neighborhood.

You want to meet her,
Lennie?

I was thinking she might know something
about the monkeys.

I had a chimp that got
rescued from a circus

but he died last year.

And that was it
for the primates.

Well, we thought maybe
somebody contacted you

looking to place
some spider monkeys.

These were the monkeys
that were rescued

from the lab?

That's right.

I'm sorry,
I can't help you.

Well, where would somebody
who rescued monkeys go?

If they were responsible

they'd find
an animal refuge

run by someone who knew
what they were doing.

How many places are there
like that in this area?

Not enough given
how many animals

are out there
needing rescuing.

Could you provide us
with a list of names?

These people do
what they do

because of their love
for animals.

Now, w-we're all vulnerable
to problems with neighbors.

We don't really like to call attention to
ourselves.

You found me.

I'm not going to help you
find anyone else.

Ms. Ireland...

unless we find these monkeys
by tomorrow morning

there're going to be

men from Washington

standing right where
I'm standing now.

They're going to turn
your place upside down.

They're going to
quarantine your animals

and they're not going
to take no for an answer.

You're in a world of trouble
here, guys.

I have no idea what you're talking
about.

All we were told was
the monkeys needed a home.

Where were you told they came from?

From an animal trainer.

Is this the animal trainer
that called you?

It was someone who got them
away from the animal trainer.

Then they were stolen.

No, no, no

they were rescued.

We didn't delve into
where they came from.

We were told they needed
at least a temporary home.

We agreed to provide them
with a temporary home.

We quarantined them away
from the other animals.

We had them examined
by a vet.

We were taking

care of them.

We know something about
taking care of HIV infections.

Who brought
them here?

Oh, he-he didn't
give a name.

What did he look like?

Ordinary-looking.

I wouldn't know him again
if I fell over him.

You two better

get your things together.

We're going to take a little ride into
Manhattan.

Why?
Receiving stolen property.

Listen, all we do is take care
of sick and abused animals.

You can tell all that
to the DA.

Right now you're
under arrest.

No, no, we can't leave without
providing care

for the animals.

We can't help you
with that.

No?

Well, then I hope
you're prepared

to subdue me by force

because I'm not
leaving my animals.

We can do that.

Uh, damn it.

What is it that
you want from us?

We just want to know

who brought you
the monkeys.

His name's George.

Where's George, Mrs. Peavey?

Did you ever
stop and think

that-that maybe

somebody left
those cages open

by accident?

You know, you're not
helping your son

by concealing
where he is.

He's a grown man.

He don't tell me
where he's going.

Mrs. Peavey...

lying comes naturally

to some people.

You're not one
of those people.

He's so mixed up.

We're not going
to hurt him.

He's at his friend Alsie's.

George Peavey

this is the New York
City Police Department.

Please come out with your hands above your
head.

If you do not
come out

the boat will
be boarded

and you'll be
taken off by force.

Put your hands behind your back.

It's a lousy day for
a boat ride, anyway.

How tough do you think
it's going to be

to prove that you were the one
that broke into the lab?

I don't know. You ought to consider it,
don't you think?

Whoever broke into the lab
caused Ronald Lee's death.

Maybe by accident
they did.

I don't think
the DA's going to

see it that way.

The more cooperative, whoever
broke

into the lab is, the better it's going to
be for them.

I don't think I

should say anything.

And the better
it's going to be

for Maxine.

What does this have
to do with Maxine?

Come on, George.

No, uh...

no, she didn't break
into the lab.

She didn't plan it
with you?

No!

She didn't put the idea
into your head

that these monkeys needed
to be freed from these cages.

That they needed
to be rescued

from the experiments
that were being done to them.

Oh, she never said that.

We think she did.

She's a committed
animal rights activist.

And we can prove the two of you
were romantically involved.

From there it's just
connect the dots

until we charge her
with conspiracy.

No, I don't want you
to charge her with anything.

She didn't do anything.

Are you saying
you did this

all on your own?

Yeah.

Yeah, that's what
I'm saying.

We'll want a full written statement to
that effect.

We have a confession

that he broke
into the lab

with the intention
of freeing

the monkeys.

What are we
charging him with?

Man Two. Isn't that a little steep?

He had knowledge of the
health hazard they posed.

He knew one got loose.

He did nothing
about it.

I think it's the
correct charge.

Can we make it stick?

I think we can.

If you're talking about pleading
to, uh, Burglary Three

Trespassing, I'll even throw in
Criminal Mischief

we're all ears.

Bring in culpability
for the death of that researcher

forget it.

A researcher working on
developing an AIDS vaccine

dies as a direct result
of your client's actions.

Are you really that confident
about taking that to a jury?

Oh, you're a long way
from establishing

the result was anything
like direct.

Monkey is let out of cage,
monkey bites man, man dies.

How much more direct
do you want it?

That's not the way
the jury will see it.

How will the jury see it?

George Peavey's heart was in the right
place.

If his head was a little slow
in catching up

that's no reason to send him

to prison.

Criminally negligent homicide--
going once...

going twice...

Pass.

See you in court.

Did you perform the autopsy

on Ronald Lee,
Dr. Rodgers?

I did.

What did you determine
was the cause of death?

Anaphylactic shock

brought about
by a reaction to an antigen

carried in the saliva
of a monkey.

Were you able to determine

how Dr. Lee came to be exposed
to this saliva?

He was bitten.

Were you able to determine
which monkey bit him?

The bite marks matched
those of the monkey

found at the scene.

Thank you, Dr. Rodgers.

I have nothing further.

Is a monkey bite
always fatal, Doctor?

No.

What made it fatal this time?

Dr. Lee had
a reaction

to something
in the saliva.

It would seem to be
an odd choice of employment

for him to be working
with monkeys if he was allergic

to them,
would it not?

Objection.
Irrelevant.

I will allow it.

He didn't
have to have

a preexisting allergy
to have the reaction he did.

Were there any signs that
the monkey attacked Dr. Lee?

No.

In fact, a single
bite on the hand

would suggest

that it was Dr. Lee
reaching for the monkey

when he was bitten,
isn't that correct?

I don't know enough
about primate behavior

to comment on that.

So, had Dr. Lee
not been trying

to grab the monkey

and had he not been allergic
to the degree that he was

we probably wouldn't be here
today, would we, Doctor?

Probably not.

In that case, we're done.

Redirect, Your Honor.

Dr. Rodgers

according to your familiarity
with the crime scene

was the monkey in or out
of its cage

when Dr. Lee was bitten?

Out.

Nothing further.

You were

Mr. Peavey's supervisor,
is that right?

Yes.

Had Mr. Peavey worked
in the immediate vicinity

of where the monkeys
were kept?

Yes, he had.

Are there signs saying

that the monkeys are
biologically hazardous?

Yes, there are.

Had you ever
brought it

to Mr. Peavey's attention

that some of the monkeys
were infected

with a highly virulent strain

of the AIDS virus?

I brought it
to the attention

of every man I had
working for me.

I never wanted them
to forget it.

Why'd you do it, George?

Well, the monkeys
had been given

this experimental
AIDS vaccine

and they were starting
to inject them

with the AIDS virus.

Now, nobody knew
if the vaccine would work

and everybody
expected

that probably

most of the
monkeys would die

and I didn't think
that was right.

Did you make

any kind of arrangements for the monkeys

after you took them
out of the lab?

Uh, I arranged

with this animal refuge place
to take them.

What did those arrangements
entail?

I gave the two guys
with the refuge

uh, $15,000 to cover the cost

of caring for them.

Where did you get the money?

I had a '64 Impala
that was my dad's.

Uh, one owner,
always garaged.

Uh, I sold it.

When, uh, my dad was dying

and it got so my mom couldn't
take care of him anymore

uh, we put him in a hospice

and so they could
take care of him...

uh, and they made it easier
on him.

And I wanted some place
that would do the same

for the monkeys.

Did you know Ronald Lee, George?

Yes.

How'd you feel about the fact
that he died?

Objection. How
the defendant feels

is irrelevant.

Sustained.

Okay, Mr. McCoy,
if that's the case

I have no
further questions.

What did you do after that
monkey escaped, Mr. Peavey?

I tried to
catch him.

For how long did you try?

Oh, I don't know.

Um, 15 minutes, 20 minutes.

I imagine you were fearful
of being caught

if you stayed too long

were you not?

Yes, sir.

So, after 15 or 20 minutes,
you left.

Yes, sir.

Did you call
the authorities

and alert them

there was
a monkey loose?

No.

You told no one
that a monkey infected

with a deadly virus
was out of its cage

and that anyone
entering that lab

was vulnerable

to being bitten
and infected?

Objection.

Asked and answered.

I know I should have.

I... you know, I didn't think
the monkey would bite anyone.

I... you know,
I-I looked at his face

when he was out
and jumping around

and you know, he-he just seemed
so happy to be out of that cage.

If he was so happy

what kept you
from catching him

and taking him with you
to the animal refuge?

Your Honor, there's an objection

before the court.

Was it fear
of being bitten?

Move on, Mr. McCoy.

At what point did you inform
the authorities, Mr. Peavey?

Never.

I have nothing further.

What's the, uh, sympathy factor
for the defendant

going to amount to?

Hopefully less than for a victim

who dedicated his life
to AIDS research.

So, we're feeling
fairly confident, are we?

Yes, we are.

Oh, thanks.

Peavey's moving for a
substitution of counsel.

It's the defendant's desire

to present a defense
with which I don't agree

and am not competent
to prepare.

As such,
I'm asking the court

to relieve me
as counsel.

You've been around
a long time, Howard.

What's the defense that
you're not competent to prepare?

I think Mr. Oyler is in
a better position to explain it.

Well, simply put,
Your Honor

it's essentially an expansion
of self-defense.

Give me that again.

A justification defense
is available

when someone uses force

under the reasonable belief

it was necessary
to defend themselves

or others.

Other persons.

Mr. Peavey was of the belief
the circumstances required him

to take the actions he did.

Tell me, Counselor,
that you're not asking me

to be the first judge in history

to rule that monkeys
are persons.

Well, much as it's my feeling
that such a position

would be entirely
well-founded morally

that's not
what I'm asking.

Good.

Since a defense of justification

turns on reasonableness
of belief

not objective criteria,
the only question is

whether or not the defendant

was reasonable in his beliefs
that the monkeys

were entitled to be saved.

Your Honor,
the law of justification defense

does not pertain
to the defense of monkeys.

The reasonableness

of the defendant's belief
is irrelevant.

135 years ago

justification defense
didn't pertain

to the defense of slaves.

The law, Your Honor... evolves.

I want to go on record as saying
that I do not believe

the word "others"
in the statutory language

"defense of others"

refers to monkeys.

What I believe,
however

does not provide
a conclusive basis

for dismissing
the argument.

That said, I'm going
to leave it to the jury

to decide whether or not
the defendant's actions

were reasonable.

You've got your forum,
Counselor.

I trust you'll use it
to serve your client...

and not your cause.

Who's picking up
the tab for this?

A defense committee
was established

by a few animal rights
organizations.

For them it's
a test case.

What do we know
about the lawyer?

He clerked
for Harry Blackmun.

He made partner
at Stroock.

He took
a major pay cut

to do animal rights law
full-time.

He's going after a lot
of legitimate people

with this.

It has to be
taken seriously.

Your honor, I renew my objection

to this witness being qualified
as an expert.

Mr. Oyler?

He's a full professor
of bio-ethics

at a major university.

He's published over 20 books.

His field of expertise is
irrelevant to this case.

His field of expertise
is central to our case.

Due to the nature of this case

I'm going to allow for
a more liberal set of criteria.

The witness can testify.

Are you familiar, Professor

with the experiments being
performed on the monkeys

at the lab
where Ronald Lee worked?

I am.

What's your
view of them?

My view is

that acts of unspeakable cruelty
were being committed.

Is it not
a well-settled principle

that animals are necessary
to scientific research?

It's a well-settled principle
that they're available.

Objection. What does
any of this have to do

with the defendant's
actions in this case?

Your Honor,
the witness is here

to challenge
the underlying assumption

whereby animals are held captive and made
to suffer.

Now, unless we're given a credible basis
with which to challenge that

the defendant's actions
cannot possibly be justified.

I'll allow it... to a point.

Dr. Serafian

would you change your position

if the research done
on the monkeys

produced an AIDS vaccine?

I believe there are other ways
of conducting research

that don't require

the torture and slaughter
of animals.

If I told you
we could cure cancer

by sacrificing ten infants
for research

would you approve?

I'll make it easier--

ten convicted
murderers.

In either case,
as a society

we wouldn't allow it.

The life and liberty
of a human being is inviolate.

On what basis are the lives
of animals deemed less so?

The underlying belief

that animals are not possessed
of a soul has provided it.

How do you view the actions
of George Peavey ethically?

I view the death of Mr. Lee
as regrettable and tragic.

I view the actions of Mr. Peavey

as courageous and
profoundly moral.

No further questions.

I'd like to ask you

a few questions
about your writings, Professor.

"One commits
a greater offense against nature

by killing a healthy primate
than a severely retarded child."

You've taken that
out of context.

Put it in any context you like.

What I'm attempting
to put across

is that a healthy primate

can experience both pain
and the anticipation of pain

more acutely than
a severely retarded infant.

Hence the primate suffers more.

And to you,
the suffering of the primate

is more offensive than
the suffering of the infant.

They're both offensive to me.

I'm not opposed to one
and indifferent to the other.

"In an enlightened time

"the liberation
of animal experimentation labs

"will be viewed as having
the same moral imperative

as the liberation
of Buchenwald."

The moral imperative
is to end suffering.

In that, they are the same.

And so, there is
as much justification

for the killing of an
AIDS researcher in a primate lab

as there is
for the killing of a guard

in a concentration camp.

I can think
of circumstances

where that would be
the case, yes.

Thank you, Professor.

I have nothing further.

I started talking to George

about animals being more
than just property.

I told him how Gandhi said

you judge a civilization
by how it treats animals.

You could tell
it was the first time

he ever heard
that kind of thing.

Did it seem to have an effect
on him?

It's hard to say.

I knew he liked me.

I kind of figured

he was telling me
whatever he thought

would do him
the most good.

Did there come a time

when you felt
that the effect was genuine?

It was when I told him
about the pigs.

Would you tell the court
what that was.

Experiments were conducted

on how severe burns
affect pigs' appetites.

The pigs were tied down
fully conscious

and burned with blowtorches.

I showed him
a videotape of it.

He hasn't been the same since.

Ask to admit said videotape into
evidence.

Objection. May we approach?

Counsel may approach.

This is irrelevant.

It's prejudicial.

It's pandering by
the use of shock value

with no possible relation to the case at
hand.

We're trying
to demonstrate

the defendant's state of mind,
Your Honor.

By showing pigs being burned with
blowtorches.

It's what he saw.
That's what was being done.

It's not what was being done to these
monkeys at this lab.

It's collateral evidence,
Mr. Oyler.

It doesn't come in.

Step back, please.

No further questions.

You had discussions
with the defendant

about the welfare
of these monkeys in specific

did you not?

Many of them.

And is it fair to say that
the gist of these discussions

was that these monkeys
would be better off

pretty much anywhere
other than where they were?

I think you could say
the same thing

about anyone who's locked in
a cage and injected with AIDS.

In the course
of these discussions

was mention ever made
of the hazards to human beings

if these monkeys
were released from their cages?

I'm sure George didn't intend

for any humans
to be exposed to them.

Was it ever
discussed?

No.

It didn't occur to you

that if these monkeys
were released or transported

there was at least a chance

that something would go wrong
and someone would be exposed?

No, it didn't. It didn't occur
to either one of us.

Do you think
maybe it should've?

Sustained.
Objection.

Nothing further.

Dr. Tong

take us through what happens to the
monkeys in your lab.

Take us through

if you will,
how you obtain them

what you do with them

what happens
when you're done with them.

We obtain them from large
commercial breeding colonies.

We inoculate them
with the vaccine.

We then inject half of them
with an active AIDS virus

and keep half of them
as a control group.

What happens to the monkeys
injected with the virus?

Thus far we've had some
reasonably promising results.

There was substantial
T-cell production

in response to the virus,
which would indicate

that the animals
were fighting off the infection.

Has it ever happened

that some of these animals

notwithstanding
this wonderful vaccine

have succumbed to the infection?

Yes, it has.

What's been your response
on those occasions?

Well, once it's clear that
the animal has contracted AIDS

it's our policy
to put the animal down.

When you say "put the animal down"

you mean kill
the animal?

That's right.

How do you do that?

We inject them

with a lethal mixture
of ketamine and pentobarbital.

And you do this
so they won't suffer.

That is exactly
why we do it

and if they don't exhibit symptoms of AIDS

we care for them
until they live out their lives.

Now, this may come as a surprise
to you, Mr. Oyler

but the people who work
with these monkeys

do everything possible
to minimize their discomfort.

Everything, that is, short of not giving
them AIDS.

Objection. Counsel is arguing
with the witness.

Sustained.

Are you aware
of the fact

the primates such as
the ones used in your lab

are capable of
highly advanced communication;

that they organize
themselves

into families
and communities?

Sustained.
Objection. Irrelevant.

When you obtain these animals

from these
large breeding colonies

you frequently obtain brothers
and sisters and cousins.

Is that not a fact?

It's possible.

And when
your experiments

call for uniformity of genetic material,
you will, on occasion

obtain a mother
and its offspring

is that not correct?

When that's what
we're looking for, yes.

Then you're also
probably aware

that when one of these monkeys

begins to exhibit
symptoms of the AIDS virus

which you injected them with,
these mothers, brothers

sisters and cousins
are there to see it.

Objection. Speculation.

Sustained.

If it's not also objectionable
speculation

I'd like to ask you, Doctor

when you put one of these
suffering monkeys down--

when you kill it--
does that ever seem to register

on the mothers or the brothers
or the sisters?

Animals are never put down in
the same room as other animals.

So they're taken out
of the room, never to return.

Yes.

Do you think that registers?

It's possible that it does.

I have no further questions.

Based on the number of jurors
ordering hamburgers for lunch

I'd say we have
more than a sporting chance.

Unless the meat-eaters
start to feel guilty.

Well, we're there
on the law

we're there on the facts.

I don't think they'll let him
go on guilt.

Excuse me.
I'm May Peavey.

I'm here to talk
to you about my son.

Come in, Mrs. Peavey.

Thank you.

I don't want to take up
too much of your time.

I know you're very busy.

How can we help you?

Well... I'm very worried

that the people my son
is listening to...

they maybe don't have
his best interests in mind.

Have you talked
to your son about this?

No, he... he thinks
I'm just overly protective...

or that I got something

against this Maxine,
which I don't.

I'm just so worried about him.

I thought maybe... if you made
him some kind of offer

he'd-he'd come
to his senses.

We made him an offer.

That was before
the trial started.

If anything,
the attorney he has now

will be less receptive
than the one he had before.

I'm asking, won't you just try?

If you're convicted
of second-degree manslaughter

you'll be sentenced
to five to 15 years.

Eligible for parole
in five.

If you plead guilty

to criminally
negligent homicide

you'll be sentenced
to one to three years.

George?

Oh...

I thought you were the one
who was supposed to answer them.

It's a reasonable offer

and I think you should
consider taking it.

Could I talk to Maxine?

I'll get her.

George has asked
to speak to you.

Where is he?

He's in
the conference room.

You can come with me.

Apparently, he looks
to you for guidance.

George actually knows
his own mind pretty well.

Does he?

If I take their offer

I could be out
in as little as a year.

If we go to the jury,
we don't know what'll happen.

Isn't that right?

Pretty much.

I think you should
take their offer.

Well, that doesn't do much
for this being a test case.

There'll be other test cases.

This was supposed to be
a perfect one, though.

You've done enough

for the cause of
animal rights, George.

No one's going to hold it
against you if you want

to take
their offer.

She told me about this guy,
John Brown

who made this raid
at Harpers Ferry

to steal guns

to free slaves.

You ever hear of him?

Apples and oranges.

Pretty brave guy.

Yeah, he was.

What would he do?

You've got to make this decision
for yourself.

Thank you for your offer,
Mr. McCoy.

I'll stand trial.

There can be no argument

but that what George Peavey did,
he did out of conscience.

This was not a crime
of vengeance or greed.

His action was motivated solely
by the compassion he felt

for the suffering
of another living creature.

We're not accustomed
to worrying about suffering

when it's other
than human suffering.

We think nothing
of killing animals

to mount their heads
over our mantles

or to test for hair spray

and when objections are raised

the people raising them
are mocked as kooks

hopelessly outside
the mainstream

because the basic
unassailable principle

that allows for us
to take animals

and do whatever we want
with them

is that they're property.

Much like a lump of coal
or a plank of wood

or a truck or a shovel
or a hammer or a nail

belongs to its owner

so, too, does an animal.

I'd like to remind you of a time

in the not too distant past

when that same distinction
was drawn

based on the color of one's skin

when Africans were packed
into ships like cordwood

and brought to this continent
as property of their owners

and they had no rights

and their suffering
did not matter

and anyone who objected
was a kook

and outside the mainstream.

My client is one such person.

He saw suffering

and he sought to end it.

That his efforts brought
about the unanticipated tragedy

in the death of Ronald Lee

should not force us
to criminalize his intent

because his intent
was good and decent.

It was his belief

that to save an animal
from suffering and death

would be an action
held reasonable

by any enlightened society.

I believe one day our society
will be so enlightened.

I hope and pray
that day is today.

In the middle
of the 14th century

there was a plague in Europe

that killed
some 25 million people--

about a third of the population.

It was carried by fleas

who were infected
with a bacteria

that was carried by rats.

We call those animals pests
or vermin

and we take considerable pains
to see to it

that their populations
are kept in check.

We do this whether it results
in their suffering or not

because to allow
their population to go unchecked

risks another bubonic plague.

What does this have to do
with a monkey confined in a lab?

The answer is
that they both represent

how we as a society

value human life
above nonhuman life

and proceed accordingly.

Does that mean

that we have no compassion
for nonhuman suffering?

Not at all.

I believe the men and women
in this lab

care deeply
about these monkeys.

It's just that they care
for the men, women and children

who suffer and die
from AIDS more.

But, all of that--

all of it--
is beside the point.

How we treat animals,
whether or not animals suffer--

that is not the issue.

The nobility
of the defendant's motives--

that is not the issue.

The only issue in this case

is whether the defendant
is criminally responsible

for the death of Ronald Lee.

There is no question
the defendant willfully

knowingly broke into that lab

and took those virally infected
monkeys out of their cages.

It was that action that created
the potential for harm.

It was that action that caused

the death of Dr. Lee.

And so now...

I ask you to do
what the law requires.

Has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

What say you?

We find the
defendant guilty.

Oh...

George...

George, I'm so sorry.

Man's dominion
over the animals remains intact.

And a jury decides
to follow the law.

And a hero is born.

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