Original subtitles

Thank you, Briggs.

Hey, cop. What the hell is that?

Donnie Roberts.

Donnie Roberts?

Iceman. Former Iceman.

He ain't nothing now.

What the hell happened to him? He looks like he came up on the wrong end of a

hockey stick. Wrong end of a nightstick.

He was so crazy drunk he took five of us just to get in there.

Bar fight?

Not the usual.

He beat up some guy and then he tossed him through a window.

If he survives, it'll be a miracle.

I gotta help get King Kong down to his cell.

Get him back!

James Allsburg died two hours ago of massive internal injuries inflicted by

Donnie Roberts. It's at least manslaughter, maybe murder too.

Yeah.

That's a shame.

I'm sure James Allsburg's widow shares your sentiment.

Roberts was a good hockey player, Gold.

He wasn't a bad guy.

I know he killed someone.

I've never been to a hockey game in my life, but this...

Roberts, wasn't he supposed to be some kind of thug? He was the enforcer.

Every team has one.

Protects the star.

Start fights.

That's what a lot of fans come to see, Tess.

Very civilized. It seems that Donnie Roberts could no longer distinguish

between the hockey rink and the real world.

He saved a woman's life once.

Who? Someone on my beat six years ago.

Pulled her out of a burning car.

Almost got smoked himself.

You were there? I was there afterwards.

I asked him to put on a benefit for some kids at the south side.

He got some teammates to kick in.

Seemed like he really cared.

Nothing to do, Tess.

I was just wondering where would he wire, that's all.

It is never going to fit. It will if you help me.

There. Push.

Push.

You can squeeze it in, can't you? Yeah, but I'm never going to get it out again

and I need it.

Maggie, you were supposed to clear out some space for me. I did.

I mean, I don't need much. It's not like I'm moving in or anything, but this is

ridiculous. I only have this much.

Think of it as a metaphor.

And rather not.

Rather not what?

Think of it as a metaphor.

I'll make some more room for you, I promise.

Thank you. Do you want me to do it now? Later.

Hey, when am I getting out of here? Look, why don't you just relax once your

lawyer gets here?

I don't want to get yourself any deeper than you already are.

Crap.

You know who I am?

I'm Mr. Roberts' attorney. Anything that's been said in my absence is

inadmissible. We'll be filing an immediate action charging police

brutality.

He late.

As for police brutality, one officer is hospitalized with a concussion. Another

one is on sick leave with a broken rib.

And more to the point, a man is dead.

Would your client like to comment on that?

I didn't do anything.

A man is dead.

He was messing with me. I had to protect myself.

You're contending this was self-defense?

He was messing with me.

Twelve eyewitnesses state that you exchanged words with Mr. Allsburg and

then that you went berserk. Would you like to explain to us how Mr. Allsburg

represented a threat to you?

I got a right to protect myself.

He shouldn't even been messing with a guy like me. He wants to mix it up, he's

got to pay the consequences.

And so, Mr. Roberts, do you?

Mervis is an idiot.

Donnie Robertson. He's stupid.

Yeah. Great team, huh?

You're going to throw the book at him, aren't you? Why not?

I guess I feel sorry for the guy.

No, not because he's an athlete.

Because he had something going for himself.

He had talent.

He gave people pleasure.

I know that it doesn't change anything, Tess.

Don't get me wrong.

I don't want to let the guy off, Tess.

But he can't help himself.

And his lawyer's a moron.

Okay, okay.

So if he can't understand what he's doing...

Isn't that what you call mitigating circumstances?

Yeah, same to you.

Maggie.

Not now, Bruce. I'm busy. So am I. And I need some advice on the Arlene Peters

case. The ape?

It's a gorilla, actually.

A fine point of law, I'm sure.

I don't know anything about gorillas, Bruce.

Though I suppose a few have passed in my office. I need to talk strategy, Maggie,

a subject about which you do know a great deal.

If this is your baby, Bruce, you found it.

Just go.

Show your stuff.

There's some things I'm researching which I haven't quite gotten all

together yet.

Are you saying you're not prepared to go to court?

Then I believe a continuance is in order.

But what do I? Bruce, just turn on the charm. You'll be fine.

I can't believe I left a nice quiet cell for this aggravation.

Bye, Bruce.

Beating up on poor old Bruce again. I don't know what it is about him. It just

brings out the worst in me.

Hi.

It's not often you see Hunan beef on the same menu with chicken.

Molay.

Tell me, is either one of them actually edible?

Ah, don't bother.

She's gonna be having the same thing I'm having.

Thanks.

Let me ask you something.

What do you know about somebody by the name of Donald Mervis?

He's a new guy. Public defender's office. Did it occur to you that I might

not be in the mood for a cheeseburger? Sure. Sure it did.

Did it occur to you that...

I might like to eat this meal sometime this century.

I've heard Donald Mervis is incompetent, unqualified, and worst of all,

oppressively dull.

Why do you want to know?

Uh, Tess going up against him for the first time.

She'll grind him into hamburger meat like that.

Three, four, five, four is nine, nothing underneath.

Do you ever feel sorry for all the poor saps with no money that have to use the

PD's office?

Frequently.

You're accused of some horrible crime and you really need a good lawyer, and

you end up having to settle for whoever you get.

S-chatology?

Eschatology. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12... 50 points for using all of

my letters. Triple word.

113 points. Oh, yeah. I had my throat examined by an eschatologist one time.

Oh, really?

I thought you didn't like sports.

I don't?

You like sports.

And I like you.

Why would I watch this when I could sit here and watch you?

Hey.

I would take you over the bulls anytime.

I have a few remaining illusions.

That is not one of them.

I know the limitations of my allure.

Your allure has no limitations, Maggie.

You have just overplayed your hand.

Now, let me review this evening.

Some defendant with no money has touched your heart, and you want

me to take the case pro bono because the poor schlub is being defended by Donald

Mervis, a travesty of justice that offends your soul.

I didn't mean to hurt him.

He just kept on at me, you know, saying that I was all washed up and that he

could take me himself.

So I grabbed him.

And it was like... It was like the hair on my neck just stood up, you know, and

I wanted to, like, hurt him really bad.

And I knew I had to get him out of my hands.

So you threw him through a window.

I guess I did. The bartender says you drank at that bar five nights out of

seven.

I got a hard time sleeping at night, so I used a booze to try to knock me out.

Does it work?

No.

Hey, can you get me out of here?

I gotta practice, and I can't practice in here.

I might be trying out with the maple leafs and I gotta be sharp.

A continuance.

What would you like, Kaufman, a year?

There's no need to be sarcastic, Milton. We're ready, you're not. Looks like a

break for me.

Docket number 736H.

The Honorable Judge Melvin Oreck presiding.

No problem.

Chicago Zoo versus Professor Arlene Peters.

Are we ready? Your Honor, some important research documents essential to the

defendant's case have been delayed in transit, and we request a continuance

until they arrive.

And when would that be, Mr. Kaufman?

Uh, a week.

Plaintiff's ready, Your Honor.

That's nice, Mr. Kronish.

The matter in dispute is... a misappropriated gorilla?

It belongs to the zoo. Dr. Peters has it and won't return it. Is it in any

immediate danger?

It is indeed. Gorillas are very sensitive creatures.

Mr. Kaufman? Your Honor, Dr.

Peters is a distinguished researcher.

And the, um, ape, well, the... Your Honor, I've had Roxy with me for four

years. And he, uh, she is healthy?

Yes.

She's, she's blooming.

I'll give you 48 hours, Mr. Kaufman.

Or until you run out of bananas.

Your Honor.

Yes, Mr. Mervis? Your Honor, at this time, I wish to withdraw myself from

this case.

And why is that, Mr. Mervis?

Donnie Roberts has retained Maggie Zombrow as his counsel.

I'll plead you client, Ms. Zombrow.

I'm not guilty, Your Honor.

Bail, Ms. Kaufman?

Given the seriousness of the crime and the fact that we consider the defendant

a flight risk, we request bail of $100,000.

Your Honor, this was a crime of passion and the moment. It's unlikely the events

will be reproduced. Until the next time he's drunk. Mr. Roberts' service to the

community is well documented.

And he would like to see his name cleared.

There's no danger he'll run.

We request he be released on his own recognizance.

The defendant's celebrity status should not sway the court, Your Honor.

On the other hand, it should not be ignored.

Bail is set for $10,000.

I didn't do anything to you.

I asked her to look into it, Tess.

It's nothing against you. You were behind my back.

What, now I gotta check with you on everything that I do? Yes. Bull.

Bull, Tess.

Donnie needs a good lawyer.

Maybe Maggie can help him.

Well, get up.

No, not get up. Help him.

I don't think I can help that much.

Tess has an open and shut case.

Where was she headed to?

I want to discuss a deal for Donnie Roberts.

Hey, I'm just here as interpreter.

You're damn right I'm interested.

I'm your investigator.

No, Doc, you forgot. Look, look, this is not about us. This is about Donnie

Roberts.

I'll discuss this with you in my office after lunch.

And I want Ben Douglas to interpret.

That'll be four dollars a day.

Yes.

What?

Saw you with Maggie.

Dealing with that woman is enough to put anybody in a bad mood.

You should try working with her.

I don't see how Cobb puts up with it.

Amiri, what do you want?

Sorry.

Tessie, I've got a case. One of my own.

I thought Maggie would help me out, but she took on that jock and... I

really needed a continuance out of Orek. But he only gave me two days.

So?

Will you talk to him? He likes you.

It's not ethical.

Look, it's a difficult case.

Arlene, my client, will be crushed if she loses custody of Roxy.

Family, are you?

Actually, Roxy is a gorilla.

No. Tess, a gorilla's emotional well-being is at stake here.

Involuntary manslaughter, three years maximum.

Mr. Roberts' regret is...

non-existent the man i met was blaming the victim then we must have met two

different men voluntary manslaughter no

donnie roberts was arrested three times for drunken disorderly and assault

twice the charges were dropped even though people ended up in the hospital

the third time he got off with a misdemeanor fine each time roberts

Skated, if you'll forgive me. Because he was a sports star.

Well, he's out of the NHL now.

And his glory days are past.

He's not skating this time.

Not there, the other side.

Here? Yeah, perfect.

That's the side where I keep my sweatshirts. No, I've seen where you

keep your sweatshirts.

On the backs of chairs, on the floor, in the refrigerator.

Now, I know you have probably never actually closed these doors before.

But you don't mind, do you?

Your clothes need privacy?

I don't trust your dog.

I think he feels the same way about you.

John, listen up.

You've got to try to understand my point of view here.

I like you.

And I like her.

It's a very different kind of like.

And I'm gonna hate it a whole lot if you make me choose.

So help me out here, okay, bud?

Dickie. Yeah.

I'm sorry you've gotten caught in the middle between me and Tess.

That test is not what I had in mind.

Okay.

Hello?

I just need to make one stop before we eat, okay?

Mr. Kaufman, hello. Come in.

Tess, this is Arlene Peters.

Hello.

That's Roxy, the gorilla, who needs no introduction.

I told Arlene you were a good person.

I can't talk to the front.

Roxy. Quiet.

Okay. If you're a good gorilla.

Come in, please.

You can sign?

Yes.

I've taught Roxy 300 words in American Sign Language.

So you see, if she goes back to the zoo, she'll have no one that she can talk to.

What did she say? She wants to be tickled.

Tickle her. She loves it. Go ahead.

Come on.

That's okay.

I promise she's not going to hurt you. I do it all the time.

Nice gorilla.

Easy.

Animals.

Whatever you say.

Doing some research, huh?

What do you mean I'm not helping?

I interviewed all the witnesses.

And you've got Donnie Roberts to have the rights.

I don't know what Maggie's doing.

And Maggie doesn't know what you're doing, Tess.

I don't discuss the case.

With her.

You know, your case was a slam dunk yesterday, and it's still a slam dunk

today.

All I wanted is for Donnie Roberts to get a lawyer who cares.

That's not your job. Really?

Hmm.

Well, I thought that our job was to look at everyone as individuals.

Isn't that what you're always telling me?

I'm not trying to win his case for him.

He killed someone, and he has to pay.

You have stuck up for defendants plenty of times.

Maybe Donnie Roberts is a dumb jock.

Does that mean that we gotta stop looking at him as a human being?

Huh?

I'm tending bar when Donnie comes in around 10.30.

And boom, right away he notices I got Price's picture up.

Which Price would that be?

Rookie defenseman from Toronto.

See, I like to hang pictures of new stars, guys who are hot.

Mr. Roberts reacted to the new picture?

How?

Before I can get a drink down in front of him, Donnie's ragging on me about it.

He's better, he's tougher.

You know, telling everybody.

Trying to relive the glory days.

Your Honor, the witness's editorial asides are prejudicial and irrelevant.

Refrain from going beyond the scope of the question, Mr. Messina. You don't get

points for being colorful.

Did Mr. Roberts continue behaving in this manner? He kept drinking, getting

louder and louder.

And then all hell broke loose.

What happened exactly?

Alsberg made some joke.

And then...

All of a sudden, Donnie gets this weird look in his eyes.

And then he grabs Jimmy, hits him really hard a bunch of times, and then throws

him through the window.

So you're testifying that the defendant attacked and killed James Allsburg

without provocation? Hey, Jimmy didn't do nothing to deserve the death penalty

from that goon.

Nothing further.

Mr. Messina, what was the...

Mr. Allsburg made to Donnie Roberts.

You know, something about Donnie not being so tough.

Can you be more specific?

I don't remember the exact words, if that's what you mean.

Did he say, I could probably take you myself?

Yeah, I think so.

Did he also say, you'll never play again? You're all washed up?

Yeah. Did Mr. Allsburg say to Donnie, bring it on?

Yeah, yeah.

And among manly males, isn't that considered an indication that they want

to fight?

Objection. The decedent is not on trial here. I have no further questions.

Mr. Alsberg died from a combination of severe internal injuries, the result of

powerful blows to the body and blood loss from lacerations.

Thank you, Doctor.

Your witness.

Dr. Gordon, was there alcohol in Mr. Allsburg's system?

Objection. Irrelevant. If Mr.

Allsburg was drinking, it's possible he contributed to provoking this brawl.

Answer the question, please.

Yes, there was alcohol in the system.

Thank you.

Redirect, Your Honor.

Was the level of alcohol sufficient to render Mr. Allsburg drunk?

No.

Thank you.

Hi, Tess.

How's it going?

Why did you call?

Normally, I would have called.

You know, Arlene is really hoping you'll help out with Roxy.

There ain't nothing I could do. So I took the liberty to get this subpoena.

For me?

To appear at the trial. To translate what Roxy is saying.

Why me?

Because you know the same language.

Black people do.

The judge likes you.

And you have a special rapport with Roxy. She doesn't sign to just anybody.

She never signs to me.

See you tomorrow

Well

here we are great

Make yourself at home.

I'll be right back.

Easy, mister.

This is like your first big test, John.

You can't behave yourself here.

You may never get the chance to come back again.

Things keep going the way they've been going.

I'm gonna be spending a lot of time here.

I'd like to have you with me, buddy.

I really would.

But I'll leave you at the neighbor's if I have to.

company, John. Oh, get off the couch.

You

want

some coffee?

You fed the dog in this?

Mm-hmm.

Do you know what this is?

I have a feeling you're gonna tell me. This is Crown Darby.

Mm-hmm.

Not even Queen Elizabeth feeds her dogs out of Crown Darby.

Ready to proceed, Ms. Zombrow?

Yes, Your Honor. The defense calls Guy Lepant.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,

so help you God?

I do.

Mr. Lepant, for the record, what is your profession?

I'm a hockey player.

You were a teammate of the defendant?

Before he got traded, yeah.

Would you say that you know him well?

Yeah.

I'm sure that Mr. LaPond's friendship with the defendant is deep and abiding,

but I fail to see what this has to do with the heaving of James Allsburg

through a plate glass window.

Mr. LaPond is here to speak to the character of Donnie Roberts.

I believe character witnesses are proper.

Indeed they are, Ms.

Zombroso, without further delay.

How would you describe the character of the defendant?

Donnie Roberts is the meanest, most out of control son of a bitch I ever run

into, on or off the ice.

Thank you.

I know that you are the smartest lawyer in town, Meg, and that I am just a very

dumb flatfoot. But I do not see how Guy Lepant calling Donnie Roberts a

psychopath in court is going to help his case.

Read some Machiavelli.

Not a sports writer, right?

You're a flatfoot, Dickie, but you're my flatfoot.

You're starting to sound a lot like Tess.

This situation is not very comfortable for me, Meg.

Well, at the risk of sounding cold and uncaring, it's not my problem.

That's my problem.

I don't think he's going to make it through this trial.

That man is in severe pain.

I've got to run.

Bye.

Mrs. Roberts, you divorced Donnie two years ago.

Is that correct?

Yes. Would you tell the court why?

I was afraid of him.

Afraid he would hurt you?

Yes. And afraid he might hurt himself.

Or someone else.

Did he ever physically hurt you?

No. But he threatened me.

He was so volatile.

I, uh...

I knew it was only a matter of time.

And there were other things as well.

Such as?

He went out drinking all night with his friends, and he came home and ran his

car into a tree in the driveway.

And?

Objection, Your Honor. I fail to see the relevance in this line of questioning.

If the court will bear with me, the relevance will become painfully clear.

Soon it would be the best, Miss Zombrow.

Please continue.

One time I found a hole in his shirt and he flew into a rage and broke the

furniture. Was he often this angry?

I never knew what to expect.

When I finally told him that we needed to talk about it, he put his fist

through the wall.

And then he broke down and cried like a little boy.

Mrs. Roberts, was Donnie exhibiting these behavior characteristics when you

married him?

No.

He changed completely.

And research has documented that steroid use can lead to major psychiatric

disturbances. And how do these psychiatric disturbances manifest

themselves? Serious mood swings between depression and mania, delusions of

grandeur, acts of extreme aggression while in a paranoid rage.

Why do steroids cause these mental disorders?

Steroids are artificial testosterone, which is the hormone that produces

aggression. So increasing the level of testosterone also raises the level of

aggression. Dr. Nagle, did you examine Donnie Roberts?

Yes, I did. And he shows both the physical and emotional effects of

prolonged and massive steroid use.

Thank you, your witness.

Doctor, is there any outward difference between rage

induced by steroids and alcohol induced rage?

No, not really.

So Donnie Roberts could have been merely drunk that night.

It's possible, yes.

The jury should be aware that voluntary intoxication is not a defense.

And I will remind them of that, Miss Kaufman, at the appropriate time.

Your Honor, I repeat my objection.

You cannot take evidence from a gorilla.

The gorilla is not giving evidence, Mr. Kronish. The gorilla is evidence, which

Miss Kaufman will help us understand. It amounts to the same thing.

Then if you like, we'll swear the gorilla in.

Ms. Kaufman, please ask Roxy how

she feels about Dr. Peters.

Roxy.

Watch.

Do you like Arlene?

She says she...

loves Dr. Peters and loves to be tickled. Tickling?

I can vouch for that, Your Honor.

Ask Roxy how she feels about the zoo.

Do you like... Do you

like the zoo?

Oh, my... God, this is a breakthrough.

What did she say?

Well, Roxy used her sign for the zoo and then

used the sign for feces.

Well, no, that's the word I use in her toilet training, but now she's used the

word in a totally new context.

She's using it as an adjective.

She's saying the zoo is... Um, a crappy place.

The gorilla is swearing? You cannot give credence to the testimony of a foul

-mouthed gorilla.

A minute ago, you were saying it was incapable of testifying. Now you're

saying its testimony is too expressive.

This animal belongs to the Chicago Zoo.

Where, we've heard from other witnesses, its health declined when separated from

Dr. Peters.

It's a trained animal. Its answers could have been rehearsed. Then cross-examine,

Mr. Cronish. See if you can break her story.

Ask her if she wouldn't like to be with other animals.

Do you want to be with animals?

She says she is with animals.

Amen to that.

And she's repeating that she loves Arlene.

Arlene loves Roxy.

Miss Peters, can you raise the funds to purchase Roxy?

Yes, Your Honor, I can.

Then I hereby order the zoo to sell her to you.

Congratulations. Thank you.

So what are you doing, tailing me to make sure I don't kill anybody else? No,

nothing like that.

Maggie's concerned about you.

She's nice.

Yes, she is nice.

I remember when I was that age.

Hockey was a lot of fun back then.

Yeah?

So what?

You start playing in the minors.

Guys are as big as you are. Some of them are quicker.

You start to wonder if you're ever going to make it.

So what if you don't? You can't think that way.

Hockey was all I knew. I didn't have anything else.

Hey, when you're 21, you're immortal.

When you're a cop, you learn nobody's immortal.

You know, the funny thing is, I've been thinking that, you know, somehow if I

get out of this mess, I'd like to go back to the game.

Look, it's none of my business, but if I were you, I think I'd trade that

dream in on a new one.

You don't remember me, do you?

I thought you looked familiar, but no.

You brought some teammates down for a benefit I put on for some Southside

kids.

You brought each one of them a hockey stick.

I still remember the way their faces lit up.

Right. I remember that.

Oh, man.

That was a lifetime ago.

Donnie wanted to play hockey more than any kid I ever met.

He just wasn't quite big enough.

Suggestions were made about what he needed to do. How to lock down his job

as enforcer.

Donnie ignored the pressure until it became clear that he might get cut.

Things didn't change.

So he came to me for advice.

Yes?

He wanted to play hockey, ma'am.

I told him to do what was necessary.

He came back the next season with a whole new body.

I came into Donnie's hotel room one night to wrap his ankle.

He was crying because he couldn't get the needle in. And he begged me to help

him, but I didn't want to do it.

I mean, he was having so many problems with his blood pressure because of all

the steroids he was taking. And he had to cut way back on the juice.

But because he wasn't taking so much anymore, he had lost some bulk.

And the pressure was on.

If he didn't stay big and mean, he was going to get canned.

A lot of fans came just to see Donnie fight.

Donnie's job was to look out for me.

Take the lumps so I could score.

Eventually he got so crazy he was spending more time in the penalty box

than on the ice.

Do you use steroids?

No. Have you ever been pressured to take them? Look, I don't need them. I have a

lot of talent and drive.

Donnie had a lot of drive too.

He just didn't have a lot of talent.

He pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter and accepts a term of

hospitalization.

When the doctors think he's ready, then he can petition court for release.

Probation?

Three years.

Two.

Okay.

Tess, Dickie thinks the world of you.

Do you want me to leave?

He can't do his job properly if he's more concerned about your cases than

mine. He's a professional, Tess.

Has he ever talked to you about me?

Not much.

He almost never talked to me about you either.

I guess he's trying to keep his personal feelings separate from his professional

obligations.

Maybe we should give him room to do that.

You understand, Mr. Roberts, that this is not an exoneration of your actions?

Yes, Your Honor.

I'm just grateful for the help.

Then upon the District Attorney's Office recommendation, the plea bargain is

accepted and entered.

Thanks. I think his ombre did the work. Not that.

For yesterday, for setting things straight.

Dreams are fine, Donnie. You just gotta know when to let go of them.

Yeah.

Good luck to you.

It's the only dream I had.