Original subtitles

OH,MY GOD.

THAT'S NOT GOOD.

AMANDA BECHTEL,MISSING FOR TWO DAYS,NOW FOUND--

ON CATALINA ISLAND

JUST 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LOS ANGELES.

AMANDA BECHTEL WAS THE WIFE

OF MAVERICK DOT-COM ENTREPRENEUR WILL BECHTEL,

FOUNDER AND C.E.O.OF THE POPULAR SEARCH ENGINE ZinkLink.

WILL AND AMANDA WERE RETURNING FROM A YACHT TRIP TO CATALINA

WHEN SHE DISAPPEARED. EARLIER TODAY,POLICE SEARCHED WILL'S YACHT

AND HAVE ARRIVED AT HIS CORPORATE OFFICEWITHIN THE LAST HOUR.

DID WILL BECHTEL MURDER HIS WIFE

AND DUMP HER BODY IN THE OCEAN TO COVER UP HIS CRIME?

THAT IS WHAT POLICE ARE NOW ASKING.

MY CONTACT AT THE L.A.P.D. SAYS THE POLICE ARE HERE

HELL OF A LOT OF PRESS JUST FOR A SEARCH.

EXECUTIONS DON'T GET THIS KIND OF PRESS.

UH,MR. TROTT,I-I'M THE ONE WHO CALLED. WHERE'S WILL BECHTEL?

HE'S WITH THE POLICE.

HE'S BEEN TALKING TO THEM ABOUT AN HOUR.

THEN HE'S AN IDIOT. NEVER TALK TO THE POLICE

UNTIL YOU TALK TO CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS FIRST,

AND EVEN THEN,NEVER TALK TO THE POLICE.

I TOLD HIM NOT TO,BUT HE WOULDN'T LISTEN.

HE'S TOO UPSET TO THINK STRAIGHT.

THEY JUST TOLD HIM THIS MORNING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO AMANDA. AND YOU ARE?

I'M A FRIEND OF WILL'S. WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON?

WE'RE CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION.

THESE ARE THE CRIMINAL LAWYERS I CALLED,WILL. TNT&G.

WHO TOLD YOU TO DO THAT,ROBERT?

I DON'T NEED CRIMINAL LAWYERS. I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

TAKE IT EASY. JUST SHOW US THE ARREST WARRANT.

WHAT? DON'T YOU HAVE ONE?

ARE YOU INSANE? NEVER GO WITH THEM VOLUNTARILY,

AND NEVER AGREE TO LET THEM HANDCUFF YOU.

IT'S OKAY. I WANT TO COOPERATE.

THEY TOLD ME I'M NOT UNDER ARREST,

IN CUFFS SO IT

*****

LOOKS LIKE YOU ARRESTED HIM.

UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE HAULED IN FRONT OF THE POLICE COMMISSION,UNCUFF OUR CLIENT NOW!

WHAT WERE YOU TELLING THE POLICE EXACTLY?

THE TRUTH...

THAT I LOVED MY WIFE.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE WOUND UP IN THE WATER.

WE'D BEEN DRINKING THAT NIGHT--

UM,ME,AMANDA,ROBERT.

WAIT. ROBERT WAS THERE,TOO?

YEAH. HE SAILED THE BOAT BACK FROM THE ISLAND.

GET ALDEN AND TOM TO TALK TO ROBERT ALONE NOW.

WE NEED TO SEE IF ROBERT'S AND WILL'S STORIES LINE UP.

ROBERT WILL BACK UP WHAT I'M SAYING.

HERE,I'LL HAVE HIM COME IN. (slams down receiver)

THIS ISN'T SOME BOARD MEETING WHERE YOU GET TO CALL THE SHOTS.

YOU THINK IF YOU TELL THE POLICE A STORY

THEY'LL JUST BELIEVE YOU AND WALK AWAY? THEY WON'T.

WILL AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS SINCE SCHOOL.

HE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING AFTER ME.

AMANDA I KNEW SINCE NINTH GRADE.

WE MET IN HIGH SCHOOL. AMANDA WAS A CHEERLEADER.

I WAS... NOBODY.

BUT YOU WORK FOR WILL?

YEAH,I'M THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENTNT OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

SO HE'S YOUR FRIEND AND YOUR BOSS.

YOU DO AND SAY WHAT HE WANTS.

NO. I'M--WILL DOESN'T MAKE ME DO ANYTHING THAT I DON'T WANT TO DO.

(Ron) WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT,WILL?

THE THREE OF US HAD DINNER ON CATALINA.

WE DRANK.

AMANDA LEFT BEFORE US TO GO FOR A WALK.

I WENT BACK TO THE YACHT TO GET SOME SLEEP IN THE CABIN BEFORE WE...

HEADED BACK TO L.A.

AND THEN WENT BACK TO THE BOAT.

UH,I--AMANDA WAS SUPPOSED TO GO BACK,TOO.

- DID YOU SEE HER ON THE BOAT?- NO.

(Ron) THINK. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

WHAT--AT SOME POINT,I WOKE UP,

AND I REALIZED THAT WE WERE SAILING BACK TO L.A.

I WENT UP ON DECK.

ROBERT WAS AT THE HELM,AND AMANDA WASN'T AROUND.

- SO YOU DON'T KNOW HOW SHE ENDED UP IN THE WATER?- NO.

BY THE TIME WE REALIZED THAT AMANDA WASN'T ON BOARD,

WE TRIED TO RADIO SOMEONE FOR HELP,

BUT WE COULDN'T GET THE DAMN RADIO TO WORK,

AND THERE WASN'T ANY CELL PHONE COVERAGE.

SO HOW WAS YOUR MARRIAGE,WILL?

YOU EVER FIGHT?

EVERYONE FIGHTS NOW AND THEN.

- DID YOU FIGHT THE NIGHT SHE DIED?- YEAH,BUT IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL.

THE COPS'LL MAKE IT A BIG DEAL.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE THAT HE DID ANYTHING TO HER,DO THEY?

I DIDN'T KILL HER,YOU SON OF A BITCH!

HEY,RELAX! RON WAS MAKING A POINT.

THE POLICE HAVE A WAY OF TWISTING YOUR WORDS.

YOU ARE NOT GOING OUT TO TALK TO THE COPS.

-YOU'LL TALK YOURSELF INTO A CONVICTION.- I CAN TAKE CARE OF THIS MYSELF!

THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM,WILL.

YOU'RE SO ARROGANT,YOU ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT.

LISTEN TO ME. IF YOU TALK TO THE POLICE,WE WON'T DEFEND YOU.

LOOK,YOU SOUND LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING,

AND I REALLY WANT TO KEEP YOU ON MY TEAM,

BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO LET ME GO

AND TALK TO THE POLICE

AND AT LEAST TRY AND CLEAR THIS UP.

I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF MILLION DOLLARS TO STAY ON THE CASE.

LETTING YOU TALK TO THE COPS WOULD BE LEGAL INCOMPETENCE.

WE WON'T COMMIT THAT FOR ANY PRICE.

FINE.

THEN,UH,I'LL SAVE YOU THE TROUBLE OF QUITTING.

YOU'RE FIRED.

(Alden) AT LEAST HE'S NOT OUR PROBLEM ANYMORE.

CAN YOU IMAGINE HAVING TO PUT THAT GUY ON THE STAND?

I'M PROUD OF YOU,RON,THE WAY YOU GAVE UP MONEY FOR PRINCIPLE.

I DIDN'T GIVE UP ANYTHING. THIS CASE IS TOO HOT TO PASS UP.

WE'RE STILL WILL'S LAWYERS.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WILL JUST FIRED US

HE ONLY THINKS HE DID.CONGRATULATIONS,ROBERT.

- WE NOW REPRESENT YOU.- what?

****

THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE ON A YACHT.

ONE ENDS UP DEAD,THE OTHER TWO ARE GONNA BE BLAMED.

IT'S ALMOST A MATHEMATICAL CERTAINTY.

BUT THEY HAVEN'T EVEN ARRESTED WILL.THEY'RE JUST TALKING TO HIM.

THEY WILL ARREST HIM,ESPECIALLY AFTER HE TALKS TO THEM.

AND I CAN ALREADY TELL YOU WHAT THE D.A.'s STORY WILL BE--

YOU OR WILL KILLED AMANDA.

OUR STRATEGY IS THIS-- NOBODY TALKS,EVERYBODY WALKS.

THE D.A.'s PLAN IS TO GET YOU TO START POINTING FINGERS AT EACH OTHER.

THAT'S WHY THEY SPLIT YOU UP.

TODAY THEY CAME FOR WILL. TOMORROW THEY'LL COME FOR YOU.

NO,WILL AND I ARE FRIENDS.

HE WOULD NEVER BLAME ME FOR MURDERING AMANDA.

ROBERT,I'VE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME.

THE POLICE HAVE A WAY OF TURNING BEST FRIENDS AGAINST EACH OTHER.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT OUR FEES. WE'LL DEFEND YOU FOR FREE.

I'M GOING TO MAKE WILL PAY FOR BOTH OF YOU.

HE'S NOT GONNA REHIRE YOU. ONCE HE'S DONE WITH SOMEONE,HE'S DONE WITH THEM.

OH,HE'LL REHIRE ME.

*****

YOU DON'T KNOW RON. COME ON.

(Ron) 100% INNOCENT.

(Ron) LIKE I ALWAYS SAY,

WE'VE GOT THE GREATEST LEGAL SYSTEM IN THE WORLD.

BAD NEWS.

THE PROSECUTOR ON THE CASE-- ANDREW REYES.

OH,DAMN.

REYES IS GOOD,VERY GOOD.

THIS MUST BE WHY WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET

ANY DETAILS ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION.

REYES NEVER LEAKS.

AND HE LOVES TO GO AFTER RICH DEFENDANTS,

GUYS LIKE WILL BECHTEL.

OR THE D.A.'s OFFICE

TO TELL HIM WHAT WILL HAS BEEN SAYING TO THE POLICE.

WILL HAS BEEN WITH THE POLICE FOR HOURS. WHAT'S GOING ON?

THEY'RE TAKING TURNS INTERROGATING HIM.

THEY TRY TO LOCK HIM INTO A STORY,

THEN THEY'LL TRY AND POKE HOLES IN IT

SO THEY CAN IMPEACH HIM WITH IT

IN ORDER TO MAKE HIM LOOK LIKE A LIAR.

THEY'LL CONFRONT HIM WITH KEY PIECES OF EVIDENCE--

AUTOPSY PHOTOS...

DIAGRAMS OF THE YACHT...

TIMELINES--

ANYTHING THAT MIGHT PUT HIS VERSION OF EVENTS INTO QUESTION.

AND IF THEY AREN'T HEARING WHAT THEY WANT FROM WILL,

THEY MIGHT MAKE HIM SOME KIND OF PLEA OFFER.

NOW WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT?

SO HE CONFESSES OR BLAMES YOU.

NO. HE WON'T DO THAT.

EVER SINCE WE WERE KIDS,PEOPLE SAY THAT WILL HAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF ME.

HE DOESN'T. HE'S BEEN LIKE A BROTHER TO ME.

HE HAS GIVEN ME MORE THAN MY WHOLE FAMILY HAS.

WE DID A QUICK BACKGROUND CHECK ON WILL,ROBERT.

WE FOUND OUT THE POLICE WERE CALLED OUT

TO WILL AND AMANDA'S HOUSE THREE MONTHS AGO

ON A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALL.

THAT WAS NOTHING,ALL RIGHT? THEIR MAID CALLED.

SHE HEARD AMANDA THROW A VASE AGAINST A WALL

DURING AN ARGUMENT WITH WILL.

THE POLICE NEVER CHARGED WILL WITH ANYTHING.

YOU SAID WILL'S MARRIAGE WASN'T IN TROUBLE,ROBERT.

******

AMANDA HATED THAT WILL WAS SUCH A WORKAHOLIC,

AND HE HATED THAT SHE SPENT SO MUCH OF HIS MONEY.

THEY WEREN'T BREAKING UP OVER IT.

WILL SAID HE AND AMANDA FOUGHT THAT NIGHT. DID YOU SEE IT?

YOU KNOW,WORK,MONEY...

EXCEPT THAT AMANDA WAS DRUNK,

AND SHE THREW A GLASS OF WINE IN WILL'S FACE,

AND THAT'S WHEN SHE GOT UP AND LEFT THE RESTAURANT.

I KNOW IT SOUNDS BAD,BUT I'VE SEEN THEM FIGHT LIKE THAT BEFORE.

LOOK,THEY'RE PASSIONATE PEOPLE,ALL RIGHT?

****

IS THAT TRUE,OR IS THAT JUST SOMETHING WILL CONVINCED YOU OF?

OH,NO. IT'S THE TRUTH.

EVEN IF WILL DOES REHIRE US,

I'M NOT SURE WE SHOULD REPRESENT BOTH HIM AND ROBERT.

- WHY?- WHY? ISN'T IT OBVIOUS?

A WIFE ENDS UP DEAD,THE HUSBAND USUALLY DID IT.

WILL AND AMANDA WERE FIGHTING THAT NIGHT.

HE WAS ANGRY AND DRUNK. I THINK WILL KILLED AMANDA,

AND ROBERT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

SO WHAT MAKES YOU SO SURE ROBERT WASN'T INVOLVED?

BECAUSE HE CALLED US IN TO DEFEND WILL.

HE'S MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WILL THAN HIMSELF.

AND YOU BUY THAT?(scoffs)

THAT SOMEBODY COULD CARE MORE ABOUT A FRIEND THAN THEMSELVES?

YEAH,RON,I BUY THAT. THE GUY'S LOYAL.

ROBERT WANTS TO PROTECT WILL

BECAUSE HE GAVE HIM A JOB AND TOOK CARE OF HIM.

I RESPECT THAT. IT'S THE KIND OF GUY I WANT TO DEFEND.

FINE. SEEMS NAIVE TO ME,BUT YOU'RE ENTITLED TO YOUR OPINION.

I WON'T ARGUE IT. LOOK,IF YOU REALLY THINK ROBERT IS INNOCENT,

THEN THE BEST WAY TO DEFEND HIM IS TO REPRESENT BOTH HIM AND WILL.

IT KEEPS WILL FROM POINTING THE FINGER AT ROBERT

AND ALSO FROM HIRING A HIGH-PRICED LAWYER

WHO WILL CUT A PLEA DEAL THAT MAKES ROBERT THE FALL GUY.

DEFEND A GUILTY CLIENT TO GET AN INNOCENT ONE OFF.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT EITHER ONE OF THEM DID IT.

THEY BOTH DENY IT,AND I'D RATHER HAVE WILL IN THE TENT

WITH US PISSING OUT THAN OUTSIDE THE TENT PISSING IN.

THEY HAVE ARRESTED AND CHARGED WILL WITH MURDER.

AND THEY'VE JUST GOT A NEW WARRANT TO ARREST ROBERT.

WE'RE GONNA DEFEND YOU,ROBERT. DON'T WORRY.

WILL WANTS A LAWYER. YOU WERE RIGHT,RON.

- HE'S ASKING FOR YOU- OF COURSE HE IS. HE'S ARROGANT,NOT STUPID.

HE KNOWS WE'RE THE BEST FIRM TO HANDLE HIS AND ROBERT'S CASE.

YOU'RE DEFENDING BOTH OF US? CAN YOU DO THAT?

I WANTED TO REHIRE YOU FOR MYSELF.

NICE YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT ROBERT LIKE THAT.

A LAWYER CAN REPRESENT TWO DEFENDANTS AT THE SAME TIME

AS LONG AS BOTH OF THEM HAVE THE SAME DEFENSE.

LIKE IN THIS CASE,YOU AND ROBERT AGREE THAT

NEITHER OF YOU HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH AMANDA'S DEATH,RIGHT?

YEAH. YEAH,I TOLD THE COPS

I NEVER EVEN SAW AMANDA GET BACK ON THE YACHT.

THEY CHARGED YOU AND ROBERT,WILL.

I DIDN'T. I JUST TOLD THEM I DIDN'T KNOW HOW AMANDA DIED,WHICH IS TRUE.

GOOD. THEN SIGN THAT. IT'S CALLED A WHEAT WAIVER.

IT SAYS BOTH YOU AND ROBERT ARE WAIVING

CONFLICT OF INTEREST CLAIMS BASED ON OUR DEFENDING YOU.

ROBERT'S ALREADY SIGNED IT.

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM,WILL? IS THERE A CONFLICT?

DO YOU WANT TO BLAME ROBERT FOR THIS? DID YOU TELL THE POLICE THAT HE KILLED AMANDA?

NO. HE IS MY BEST FRIEND.

I'M JUST WONDERING IF TWO SETS OF LAWYERS MIGHT NOT BE BETTER,YOU KNOW?

TWO AGAINST ONE?

WE DON'T LIKE TO CO-TRY CASES,

BUT FEEL FREE TO GO ELSEWHERE FOR COUNSEL,WILL.

IF YOU DO,YOU'LL BE HANDING THE D.A. TWO CONVICTIONS--

YOURS AND ROBERT'S.

YOU'LL END UP BLAMING ONE ANOTHER,

AND THE JURY WILL CONVICT YOU BOTH.

YOU CAN'T REPRESENT BOTH GUYS. IT'S A CONFLICT.

THEY BOTH HAVE A RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY. THEY'VE CHOSEN ME.

WITH MY FIRM'S RESOURCES,TALENT AND RECORD,

CAN YOU BLAME THEM?

WHEN HE TALKED TO THE POLICE,

WILL BECHTEL BLAMED ROBERT JONES FOR AMANDA'S MURDER.

I CALL THAT A CONFLICT.

YOU'RE NOW ETHICALLY OBLIGATED

YOU DON'T REALLY BELIEVE ROBERT KILLED AMANDA ON THE BOAT.

YOU BELIEVE WILL DID,RIGHT?

YOU WANT ROBERT TO KNOW WHAT WILL SAID

AND YOU'LL GET YOURSELF TWO EASY CONVICTIONS

WHEN THEY START TO POINT FINGERS AT EACH OTHER.

I'LL GIVE ROBERT A GOOD DEAL IF HE TESTIFIES AGAINST WILL.

TELL HIM THAT. YOU CAN'T REPRESENT BOTH CLIENTS,RON.

DROP WILL. SAVE ROBERT.

YOU HAVE AN HOUR TO DECIDE.

FOR A MURDER HE DIDN'T COMMIT?

I JUST TOLD THE POLICE THAT ROBERT MAY HAVE KILLED AMANDA.

WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?

BECAUSE THEY ASKED ME IF IT WAS POSSIBLE.

- WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO SAY?- NOTHING.

YOU SHOULD HAVE KEPT YOUR MOUTH SHUT LIKE I TOLD YOU TO. .

I WAS EXHAUSTED

- THE D.A. WAS THERE-- - REYES?

YEAH. YEAH,HE OFFERED ME A PLEA DEAL.

I THOUGHT I SHOULD AT LEAST LISTEN TO HIM.

LOOK,I DIDN'T TAKE THE DEAL.

I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT ROBERT DID THIS.

SO WE'RE CLEAR,

IF YOU SAY ANOTHER WORD ABOUT THIS CASE TO ANYONE,

WE'LL DROP YOU AS A CLIENT.

MAYBE IT'S TIME I FOUND MYSELF A NEW LAWYER ANYWAY.

YOU DO THAT,AND I PROMISE WE'LL BURY YOU.

WE'LL SAY YOU KILLED AMANDA.

WHO DO YOU THINK THE JURY'S GONNA BELIEVE DID IT?

YOU'RE THE ONE WHO GOT

YOU'D BETTER LISTEN TO US,OR WE FIRE YOU AS A CLIENT,

AND YOU GO DOWN FOR THIS.

HOW COULD WILL SAY THAT I KILLED AMANDA?

YOU KNOW,I-I-I WANT MY OWN LAWYER.

WILL'S BEEN PAYING YOUR FEES. YOU WANT TO PROTECT HIM,NOT ME.

NO,THAT'S NOT TRUE. WE'RE STILL YOUR LAWYERS.

HE SAID THAT I DID IT.

YEAH,WELL,WE TALKED TO WILL.

LOOK,WHAT HE SAID DOESN'T MATTER.

BY A LAWYER AT THE TIME,

HE TOLD US HE WAS ENGAGED IN PLEA NEGOTIATIONS,

WHICH MEANS THAT THE D.A. CAN'T USE WHAT HE SAID AGAINST HIM.

THE STATEMENTS ARE ALSO HEARSAY,

SO THEY CAN'T BE USED AGAINST YOU EITHER.

LOOK,I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU GO DOWN FOR ANYTHING WILL DID,

AND I'M GONNA MAKE SURE THAT HE DOESN'T DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO YOU AGAIN.

ALDEN,WHAT DOES THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S REPORT SHOW?

HE DETERMINED THAT THIS BRUISING RUNNING ALONG AMANDA'S BACK

WAS CAUSED BY BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA--A BEATING.

IS THERE ANY WAY SHE COULD HAVE FALLEN

AND HIT HER BACK AS SHE WAS GOING INTO THE WATER?

I DON'T THINK SO.

THE BRUISING PATTERN SUGGESTS SHE WAS BEATEN BADLY.

BUT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY ON THE BOAT--

NO BLOOD,NO SIGNS OF STRUGGLE.

I LOVE IT. THE D.A. HAS NOTHING.

THE D.A.'s GOT TWO THINGS GOING FOR HIM,RON--

THE FIGHT BETWEEN WILL AND AMANDA AT THE RESTAURANT,

AND THE FACT THAT WILL IS RICH. JURIES HATE RICH PEOPLE.

SO? WE'VE GOT TWO THINGS GOING FOR US--

NO FORENSIC EVIDENCE LINKING AMANDA'S DEATH TO THE BOAT.

WHAT'S THE OTHER THING WE'VE GOT?

SHARKS.

SHARKS?

SHARKS.

SHARKS DIDN'T KILL HER,RON.

YEAH,BUT THEY ATE HALF OF HER.

WE NEED SOMEONE TO TESTIFY ABOUT SHARKS.

I DON'T SEE THE RELEVANCE.

NEITHER DO I RIGHT NOW. FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT RELEVANT.

WHY? BECAUSE PEOPLE LOVE SHARKS.

SO LET'S GIVE THE JURY WHAT THEY WANT--

A GOOD SHARK DEMONSTRATION. EVEN IF IT'S IRRELEVANT?

A GOOD TRIAL LAWYER CAN MAKE ANYTHING RELEVANT.

FINE. I'LL CALL AN ICHTHYOLOGIST.

A WHAT? A FISH EXPERT.

ON THE STAND,LIKE DR. SHAW. LET'S USE HIM.

HE'S NOT AN ICHTHYOLOGIST.

BECAUSE HE'S A TOP-NOTCH CRIMINALIST,

HE CAN TESTIFY ABOUT ANYTHING RELEVANT TO ANY CRIME.

HE'S OUR HENRY LEE-- ONLY BETTER LOOKING.

I JUST FOUND PROOF THAT WILL HAD A MOTIVE FOR KILLING AMANDA.

FINANCIAL AND LEGAL DOCUMENTS.

I MEAN,YOU CAN'T IMAGINE THEIR ESTATE PLANNING.

THEY HAD A WEB OF INVESTMENTS THAT INCLUDED

HUNDREDS OF TRUSTS,REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES,

TAX-DEFERRED STOCKS AND BONDS--

THEY HAD A LAWYER AND A BANKER WORKING FULL-TIME ON JUST THEIR HOLDINGS.

THEY EVEN HAD A BANK VAULT TO KEEP ALL THEIR DOCUMENTS IN.

THEY HAD ALL THEIR BASES COVERED.

EVEN THE DOG WAS PROVIDED FOR IN THE WILL.

RON,LISTEN TO THIS.

****

A PRENUP,BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ONE.

HAD THEY SPLIT UP,IT WOULD HAVE COST WILL A FORTUNE.

KILLING HER WAS A GREAT BUSINESS PLAN. IT SAVED HIM MILLIONS.

HAD THEY MET WITH DIVORCE LAWYERS?

WE DON'T THINK SO. MAYBE WILL WANTED TO GET RID OF HER

BEFORE THE DIVORCE STAGE.

OR NOT. I LOVE YOUR COMMITMENT TO PROVING OUR CLIENT IS GUILTY,TOM.

*****

I'M TRYING TO ANTICIPATE THE D.A.'s GAME PLAN

SO THAT VWE CAN DEFEND AGAINST IT.

NO,YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO SHOW WILL DID IT

SO WE DROP HIM AS A CLIENT AND DEFEND ROBERT ALONE.

*****

OH,YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MANY CASES INVOLVING WATER

I'VE TESTIFIED IN-- DROWNINGS,BOAT CRASHES.

THE RESEARCH I DID INDICATES TWO TYPES OF SHARKS BIT INTO YOUR VICTIM--

BLUE SHARKS,LIKE THIS GUY HERE,AND HORN SHARKS.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

WELL,BLUE SHARKS ARE BIG. THEY GET UP TO 12 FEET.

HORN SHARKS ARE A LOT SMALLER AND LESS FIERCE.

THESE GUYS USUALLY HIDE OUT DURING THE DAY

AND COME OUT ONLY AT NIGHT. AND UNLIKE BLUE SHARKS,

WHICH ARE DEEP-SEA FISH,HORN SHARKS ARE FOUND MOSTLY IN SHALLOW WATER.

LIKE NEAR THE SHORE.

THAT'S RIGHT. THAT HELP YOU?

IS THERE ANY WAY TO TELL WHETHER THE HORN SHARKS

GOT TO AMANDA'S BODY BEFORE THE BLUE ONES DID?

THESE,UH-- THESE DEEP BITES HERE WERE MOST LIKELY MADE BY A BLUE SHARK.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT BIT INTO FLESH THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN WORKED OVER BY A SMALLER SET OF TEETH.

- LIKE A HORN SHARK?- YEAH.

IT'S LIKE IF,UH,

SOMEONE BIT INTO AN APPLE AND LEFT A BITE PATTERN,

THEN IF SOMEONE WITH BIGGER TEETH BIT INTO THAT PATTERN,YOU'D KNOW IT.

SEE,I'D SAY THE HORN SHARKS GOT TO YOUR VICTIM FIRST.

IF WE CAN PROVE THAT SHE WAS KILLED ON THE ISLAND,

THEN DRAGGED TO THE BEACH AND DUMPED IN THE WATER,

WILL AND ROBERT AREN'T THE ONLY MURDER SUSPECTS.

EVERYONE ON THE ISLAND IS A MURDER SUSPECT,TOO.

"SHE WAS KILLED ON THE ISLAND BY SOMEONE ELSE."

THAT'S OUR STORY.

LOOK AT WHETHER THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS WHO LIVE ON THE ISLAND.

FOCUS ON THOSE CLOSEST TO THE RESTAURANT WHERE OUR GROUP HAD DINNE

THEY'RE PRIME SUSPECTS.

BUT YOU STILL CAN'T RULE OUT THAT WILL MAY HAVE KILLED AMANDA,

AND THAT ROBERT HELPED COVER IT UP.

ROBERT HAD A RECKLESS DRIVING CHARGE WHEN HE WAS A KID.

THAT'S A COMPLETE POLICE REPORT OF THE INCIDENT.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHO'S IN THE CAR WITH ROBERT.

WILL MADE YOU TAKE A RECKLESS DRIVING CHARGE

WHEN YOU WERE A KID,DIDN'T HE,ROBERT?

WE LOOKED AT THE POLICE REPORT.

IT SAID THAT ROBERT SIDESWIPED THREE CARS WHILE DRIVING YOUR CAR,WILL.

YOU WERE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT WAS YOUR NEW CAR.

****

I WAS DRUNK.

ALL RIGHT,WE WERE CELEBRATING.

I WAS ABOUT TO LAUNCH THE WEB SITE,AND...

I DECIDED TO GO FOR A DRIVE.

IT WAS STUPID. ROBERT TOLD ME NOT TO,

BUT... I DIDN'T LISTEN.

AND YOU GOT INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT BEFORE THE POLICE SHOWED UP?

YEAH. A DRUNK-DRIVING CHARGE WOULD HAVE RUINED WILL,

HIS COMPANY--I MEAN,HE WAS ABOUT TO GET FINANCING FOR IT.

AND WHOSE IDEA WAS IT FOR YOU TO TAKE THE BLAME--WILL'S?

DID WILL KILL AMANDA? ARE YOU COVERING FOR HIM AGAIN?

I WOULDN'T DO THAT,NOT FOR THIS.

LISTEN,I SCREWED UP BY GOING TO THE POLICE.

I SHOULD'VE LISTENED TO YOU GUYS,AND,ROBERT,

I AM SORRY I BLAMED YOU. THAT WAS SO WRONG.

BUT YOU GOTTA BELIEVE ME. I DIDN'T KILL AMANDA.

I DIDN'T KILL MY WIFE. I-I SWEAR I DIDN'T DO IT.

******

IF WE CAN PROVE THAT AMANDA WASN'T KILLED ON THE YACHT

AND DUMPED AT SEA LIKE THE D.A. SAYS,

WE CAN SHOW THAT SHE WAS ACTUALLY KILLED NEAR THE SHORE AND DEPOSITED INTO SHALLOW WATER.

THE SHARK BITES PROVE IT.

****HAVE WE FOUND ANY? - MAYBE.

THOSE DOTS REPRESENT THREE CONVICTED FELONS

WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THE AREA WHERE AMANDA WAS LAST SEEN.

THIS GUY WAS CONVICTED OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.

HE WAS WORKING AS A WAITER IN A CAF\ACROSS THE STREET

FROM WHERE AMANDA,WILL AND ROBERT HAD DINNER.

HE'S A MURDERER WHO WORKS IN A HOTEL DOWN THE STREET.

HE'S AN ARMED ROBBER WHO RUNS A BAR FURTHER DOWN.

*****

THAT'S WHO WE'RE GONNA POINT TO AS THE KILLER.

OKAY,ROBERT HAS LIED TO COVER FOR WILL IN THE PAST,

BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S DOING IT NOW.

GOOD. THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE OUT THERE. IT MIGHT BE REAL OR NOT.

WHAT IS IT?

I GOT A CALL FROM A REPORTER AT THE "TIMES."

HE WANTED ME TO CONFIRM WHETHER WILL WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR.

WILL? I DON'T LIKE THE GUY,BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE HE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR.

BUT,RON,IF WILL WAS CHEATING ON AMANDA,

THE MARRIAGE IS OVER,AND HE WAS LYING TO US.

IF THAT'S TRUE,WE'RE DROPPING WILL FROM THE CASE. AGREED?

*****

AMANDA DID A LOT OF TRAVELING THIS LAST YEAR--

EUROPE,ASIA,SOUTH AMERICA. SHE'S THE RED LINE.

NOW IN JANUARY,SHE WAS IN LONDON,PARIS AND PRAGUE--

APRIL,HONG KONG AND SYDNEY.

NOW THE BLUE LINE SHOWS WILL'S TRAVEL.

THEY BOTH DID A LOT OF TRAVELING TO DIFFERENT PLACES.

IT'S HEALTHY FOR MARRIED PEOPLE TO GET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.

THIS COMING FROM A MAN WHO'S BEEN MARRIED THREE TIMES?

WERE WILL'S TRIPS BUSINESS OR PLEASURE?

BUSINESS. AMANDA'S WERE ALL PLEASURE.

-WHO'S THE GREEN LINE?-ROBERT.

TOOK A LOOK AT HIS TRAVEL PLANS,TOO.

SAME AS AMANDA'S.

THEY WERE TRAVELING TOGETHER?

****

WILL WASN'T THE ONE HAVING THE AFFAIR. AMANDA WAS.

YOU WANT MOTIVE FOR WILL KILLING AMANDA?

HOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT SHE WAS CHEATING ON HIM WITH ROBERT?

LET'S HOPE THE PROSECUTION DOESN'T FIND OUT.

BREAK IT UP!

FINISHES IT WITH ME,UNDERSTAND?

THESE TWO YOUR CLIENTS,RON?

-YEAH,THEY'RE BEST FRIENDS.- THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING.

SHE'S GOING TO HELP US MAKE YOU PRESENTABLE FOR TRIAL.

BLACK EYES AND BROKEN JAWS WON'T HELP US.

YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND,ROBERT!HOW COULD YOU SLEEP WITH MY WIFE?

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY,WILL,I'M SORRY?

IT JUST HAPPENED,ALL RIGHT? YOU TOLD ME TO COVER FOR YOU WHEN YOU CANCELED PLANS.

TAKING CARE OF AMANDA BECAME MY JOB.

SLEEPING WITH HER WASN'T YOUR JOB!

IT WASN'T SERIOUS TO HER,ALL RIGHT? SHE WAS IN LOVE WITH YOU.

- SHE WAS NEVER GONNA LEAVE YOU! - WAIT A MINUTE.

DID YOU HURT HER? DID YOU KILL AMANDA?

I'M THE ONE THAT WANTED TO RADIO FOR THE POLICE

THE SECOND WE REALIZED THAT SHE WASN'T ON THE YACHT.

YOU'RE THE ONE THAT SAID NOT TO.

YOU'RE THE ONE THAT SAID,"WAIT TILL WE DOCK."

YOU NEVER TOLD US THAT,WILL.

YOU LIED TO US,WILL. YOU SAID THE RADIO WASN'T WORKING.

IT'S BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO TELL THE TRUTH.

I DIDN'T RADIO BECAUSE I FIGURED SHE WAS STILL ON THE ISLAND.

WHEN SHE LEFT THE RESTAURANT,

I FIGURED SHE WASN'T GOING BACK TO L.A. WITH US.

SHE'D STAYED ON THE ISLAND BEFORE WHEN WE'D FOUGHT,

SO... IT REALLY JUST-- IT WASN'T THAT BIG A DEAL.

I DIDN'T RADIO RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK THAT SHE WAS IN TROUBLE.

OKAY? I DIDN'T KNOW THAT SHE HAD...

BEEN KILLED.

******

ROBERT AND WILL HAVE TO SIT NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN COURT.

THE JURY'S GONNA BE WATCHING THEM EVERY SECOND.

IF THEY SEE HOW ANGRY WILL IS AT ROBERT,

THEY'RE GONNA THINK IT'S BECAUSE ROBERT KILLED WILL'S WIFE.

IT'S BAD FOR YOU.

SO WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?

GET WILL OVER IT.

GET THEM TO BE FRIENDS AGAIN OR DON'T DEFEND THEM BOTH.

IT WON'T WORK. LOOK,I'LL TALK TO THEM. GET THEM READY.

IT'S WHAT YOU PAY ME FOR,RIGHT?

YOU'RE NOT REALLY GOOD AT SMOOTHING THINGS OVER.

KYLE BROWN. CONVICTED MURDERER.

KILLED A WOMAN 20 YEARS AGO.

AND DUMPED HER BODY OFF OF A RAVINE.

HE LIVES ON THE ISLAND?

YES. SINCE BEING PAROLED A YEAR AGO,

WORKS NIGHTS ON THE CLEANING CREW IN A HOTEL

NEAR THE RESTAURANT WHERE OUR GROUP ATE.

ALSO HAS AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST

I LOVE IT. THIS GUY'S A GREAT MURDER SUSPECT.

WE'RE GOING TO DEFEND THIS WITH AN EMPTY CHAIR.

WE'RE GONNA BLAME THIS ON SOMEONE WHO ISN'T EVEN IN COURT,

******

WHY NOT? WE'LL SAY KYLE BROWN KILLED AMANDA.

WE'RE GOING TO SAY THE POLICE RUSHED TO JUDGMENT

BECAUSE THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE ON THE BOAT.

THEY NEVER EVEN LOOKED FOR ANYONE ELSE.

KYLE BROWN'S NOT GONNA LIKE BEING CALLED A MURDERER.

THEN HE SHOULD STOP KILLING PEOPLE.

SUBPOENA HIM. LET'S GIVE HIM THE CHANCE TO DEFEND HIMSELF.

HE'S GOT A WARRANT ON HIM NOW,RON.

YOU SUBPOENA HIM,HE'S GONNA RUN.

WE CAN ONLY HOPE SO. IN THE MEANTIME,SEE THIS?

IT'S A MOTION TO SEQUESTER THE JURY.

I'M GOING TO ASK REYES IF HE'LL JOIN ME IN FILING IT.

WAIT. YOU'RE MOVING TO SEQUESTER THE JURY?

IF THAT HAPPENS,THE JURY CAN'T WATCH THE NEWS,

READ THE PAPERS OR ANYTHING.

RELAX. THE JUDGE WILL NEVER GRANT MY MOTION.

THE POINT IS GETTING REYES TO OPPOSE IT.

THAT'S FINE. LET'S TALK THIS EVENING.

RON,NOT NOW. I'M BUSY. I DON'T CARE.

THE SEQUESTERING MOTION IS IMPORTANT TO OUR CASE.

THE MEDIA REPORTING IS KILLING US. IT'S A MATTER OF FAIRNESS.

FORGET IT.

I'M NOT GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SEQUESTERING 12 JURORS

TO AN ECONOMY MOTEL FOR TWO WEEKS WITH NO TV AND NO FAMILY.

IF WE DON'T FILE IT TOGETHER,

THE JURY WILL HATE MY CLIENTS FOR IT. YEAH,I KNOW. THAT'S MY POINT.

GO FILE YOUR MOTION. I'M OPPOSING IT.

REMEMBER,YOU'RE FRIENDS.

SAY SOMETHING TO WILL,ROBERT,AS A CONDOLENCE.

THE JURY'S PASSING PHOTOS OF HIS DEAD WIFE.

WILL,NOD IN APPRECIATION.

WHAT DID AMANDA BECHTEL'S AUTOPSY PHOTOS SHOW?

THAT SHE WAS SEVERELY BEATEN.

THE FORCE AND NUMBER OF BLOWS SUGGESTED HER MURDER WAS COMMITTED IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT

*****

******

YEAH.WITNESSES SAID IT WAS BAD.

WILL BECHTEL AND HIS WIFE WERE DRINKING.

HE TOLD HER HE WAS SICK OF HOW MUCH OF HIS MONEY SHE WAS SPENDING.

THAT'S WHEN SHE THREW HER WINE IN HIS FACE AND LEFT.

TWO DAYS LATER,WE BELIEVE WILL BECHTEL KILLED HIS WIFE

IN A DRUNKEN RAGE WHILE THEY WERE AT SEA,

AND THAT HIS FRIEND ROBERT JONES ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE CRIME

AND HELPED COVER IT UP. COVERED IT UP HOW?

BY LYING.

THEY DIDN'T REPORT AMANDA BECHTEL MISSING

UNTIL THEY DOCKED IN L.A.

THE RADIO WASN'T WORKING ON THE BOAT.

WE TESTED THE RADIO. IT WAS WORKING FINE.

THANK YOU.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS,YOUR HONOR.

FIRST OF ALL,JUST TO BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR,

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY REAL EVIDENCE

THAT EITHER ONE OF THESE MEN

******

WELL,THAT'S NOT EVIDENCE. THAT'S A THEORY.

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE THAT AMANDA BECHTEL

EVEN BOARDED THE YACHT AFTER LEAVING THE RESTAURANT,DO YOU?

I MEAN,NO ONE ACTUALLY SAW HER GET ON THE BOAT,RIGHT?

NO. LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT KYLE BROWN.

WHAT DID HE SAY WHEN YOU QUESTIONED HIM ABOUT AMANDA BECHTEL?

OBJECTION. RELEVANCE.

I'M GETTING THERE. THIS IS A CROSS-EXAMINATION.

MY CLIENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONFRONT THIS WITNESS

ABOUT WHAT HE DID OR DIDN'T DO

DURING THE INVESTIGATION OF THIS CASE.

OBJECTION OVERRULED.

I DON'T KNOW A KYLE BROWN.

YOU DON'T KNOW KYLE BROWN?

THE ONE CONVICTED OF BLUDGEONING A WOMAN TO DEATH

AND DUMPING HER BODY IN A RAVINE?

KYLE BROWN,WHO LIVES ON THE ISLAND,

YOU NEVER QUESTIONED HIM? .

NO,I DIDN'T

AND YOU DIDN'T KNOW,UP UNTIL THIS MOMENT,

******

ON HER WAY BACK TO THE YACHT FROM THE RESTAURANT?

NO.

OR THAT HE HAD OUTSTANDING WARRANTS FOR HIS ARREST?

I MEAN,HE WASN'T THAT HARD TO FIND.

OUR INVESTIGATORS FOUND HIM,SERVED HIM WITH A SUBPOENA.

HE'S A CONVICTED MURDERER.

AND YET,OUR CLIENTS ARE ON TRIAL FOR MURDER.

YOUR HONOR,OUR NEXT WITNESS IS KYLE BROWN.

BUT AT THIS TIME,WE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COURT

OUTSIDE THE PRESENCE OF THE JURY. VERY WELL.

THIS WAS A STUNT. THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU OBJECT?

BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T PUT ANYTHING ON THE RECORD,THAT'S WHY.

EVERYTHING WAS DONE WITH HAND SIGNS AND LOOKS. YOUR HONOR,WE'VE GOT PROOF OF SERVICE.

WE SUBPOENAED KYLE BROWN. YOU CAN'T PUT A WITNESS ON THE STAND

TO CLAIM THE FIFTH AMENDMENT PRIVILEGE

IT'S TOO PREJUDICIAL. THE JURY WILL THINK HE COMMITTED THIS MURDER.

WE'RE NOT PUTTING KYLE BROWN ON THE STAND TO TAKE THE FIFTH.

WE'RE NOT PUTTING HIM ON AT ALL.

****

APPARENTLY,KYLE BROWN FLED THE JURISDICTION. YOUR HONOR,

THEY ISSUED THE SUBPOENA KNOWING IT WOULD CAUSE BROWN TO FLEE.

WHAT ARE WE,FORTUNE TELLERS? HOW WOULD WE KNOW THAT?

I HAD A GOOD FAITH BELIEF HE WOULD SHOW.THE LAW COMPELLED HIM TO.

AND WHEN WE'RE DONE HERE,MR. TROTT IS GONNA GO OUT THERE

AND ANNOUNCE TO THE PRESS THAT KYLE BROWN FLED.

HE KNOWS THE JURY WILL SEE IT ON TONIGHT'S NEWS.

I RESENT THE SUGGESTION THAT I'VE ENGAGED IN GAMESMANSHIP.

I WAS THE ONE WHO REQUESTED

THAT THE JURY BE SEQUESTERED TO START WITH.

THE PROSECUTION OPPOSED OUR MOTION.

HOW DARE HE ACCUSE ME OF MANIPULATION?

MR. REYES,YOU MAY REDIRECT YOUR WITNESS IF YOU LIKE.

MR. NICHOLSON SUGGESTED

THAT YOU MISHANDLED THE INVESTIGATION.

(quietly) WAIT A MINUTE. WHAT IS REYES DOING?

WHEN DID YOU CLOSE THE INVESTIGATION?

WHEN WILL BECHTEL TOLD US HE BELIEVED

ROBERT JONES HAD MURDERED HIS WIFE ON THE BOAT.

******

I HAVE A GOOD FAITH BELIEF THAT MR. TROTT AND MR. NICHOLSON

OPENED THE DOOR TO THIS QUESTIONING

WHEN THEY SUGGESTED IN COURT THAT DETECTIVE LUHAN

HAD MISHANDLED THE INVESTIGATION. THIS IS AN IMPROPER LINE OF QUESTIONING

CONCERNING THINGS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN SAID

DURING PLEA NEGOTIATIONS. MR. REYES.

I'LL WITHDRAW THE QUESTION,YOUR HONOR.

REYES JUST PAID US BACK.

YOU SAID WILL'S STATEMENT WOULDN'T GET INTO TRIAL.

YOU PROMISED IT COULDN'T BE USED!

THE JURY JUST HEARD THAT HE SAID I KILLED AMANDA!

LOOK,TRIALS AREN'T PERFECT.

WHAT WILL SAID,IT SHOULDN'T HAVE COME IN,ALL RIGHT?

NOW THE D.A.'s PLAYING HARDBALL,JUST LIKE WE ARE.

HE WANTS TO WIN THIS AS BADLY AS WE DO.

WELL,CAN WE APPEAL WHAT HE DID

O-OR GET A MISTRIAL AND START OVER? NO.

THE JUDGE INSTRUCTED THE JURY TO DISREGARD THE QUESTION.

DISREGARD? HOW CAN THEY DISREGARD IT?THEY JUST HEARD IT!

LOOK,I'M SORRY.

IT WAS A BUSH-LEAGUE MOVE BY THE PROSECUTOR. IT HAPPENS.

WE'VE GOT THE REST OF THE TRIAL,ROBERT. WE CAN STILL WIN THIS.

(quietly) YOUR BODY LANGUAGE IS PROJECTING ANGER.

MOVE CLOSER TO WILL.

A FRIENDLY SMILE.

WHAT DO THESE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW?

THE SHARK BITE PATTERNS INDICATE THAT THE VICTIM WAS KILLED ON LAND

AND DUMPED NEAR A SHORELINE.

THESE FIRST BITES ON THE BODY WERE MADE BY HORN SHARKS.

YOU ONLY FIND THOSE SHARKS IN SHALLOW WATER.

AMANDA BECHTEL WAS LAST SEEN

ON THE SOUTHWEST PART OF CATALINA.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW,IF SHE WAS DUMPED AND KILLED

IN THAT AREA,HER BODY WASHED UP MILES AWAY

ON THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THE ISLAND?

YES. I BELIEVE TIDAL CURRENTS CARRIED HER BODY

FROM ONE PART OF THE ISLAND TO THE OTHER.

AFTER SHE WAS DUMPED NEAR THE SHORE,

A RIPTIDE COULD HAVE CARRIED HER OUT TO SEA,

WHERE TIDAL CURRENT MOST LIKELY PICKED HER UP

AND DEPOSITED HER ON THE BEACH WHERE SHE WAS FOUND.

THE PROSECUTION IS ARGUING THAT AMANDA BECHTEL

WAS KILLED ON A BOAT WHILE OUT IN THE OCEAN.

SO WE'RE CLEAR,AS AN EXPERT CRIMINALIST,

YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THAT?

NO,I DON'T. IT'S NOT SUPPORTED BY THE EVIDENCE.

I BELIEVE THAT AMANDA BECHTEL WAS KILLED ON THE ISLAND.

THANK YOU. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

SHARKS.

AWESOME.

I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.

EVEN IF AMANDA BECHTEL WAS KILLED ON THE ISLAND,

THAT DOESN'T CLEAR THESE TWO DEFENDANTS OF THE CRIME,DOES IT?

I MEAN,THEY WERE ON THE ISLAND,TOO.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS,YOUR HONOR.

ALL RIGHT. COURT IS IN RECESS.

WE'VE GOTTA PUT ONE OF THEM ON THE STAND. NOT ROBERT.

IF THE D.A. KNOWS ABOUT HIS AFFAIR WITH AMANDA,

HE'LL BURY HIM WITH IT.

HE'LL SAY IT WAS ROBERT'S MOTIVE TO KILL HER.

MAYBE THAT'S WHY REYES HASN'T BROUGHT UP THE AFFAIR.

HE'S WAITING FOR US TO PUT ROBERT ON THE STAND

SO THAT HE CAN SANDBAG HIM WITH IT.

THEN WE'VE GOT TO PUT WILL ON THE STAND.

THE JURY HAS TO HEAR FROM ONE OF THEM.

WELL,NOW IS WILL'S CHANCE TO MAKE GOOD.

YEAH,WELL,WILL BETTER COME THROUGH,

*****

SIT UP.

YOUR BODY LANGUAGE SUGGESTS THAT YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS.

THIS IS THE ADVICE THAT I'M PAYING FOR?

I'M ON TRIAL FOR MURDER,

AND YOU'RE GIVING ME ADVICE ABOUT MY POSTURE?

SHE'S TRYING TO HELP PREPARE YOU FOR TRIAL

SO THAT YOU DON'T GET KILLED ON THE STAND. LISTEN TO HER.

(quietly) ARE YOU GOING TO LET MIRANDA DO HER JOB?

(quietly) I CANNOT BELIEVE WE ARE BASING OUR ENTIRE DEFENSE

ON THIS GUY'S TESTIMONY. IT'S CRAZY.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE POLICE?

WILL COULDN'T EVEN HOLD IT TOGETHER.

PLUS,I'VE BEEN SAYING TO YOU ALL ALONG...

*****

WE DON'T KNOW THAT HE'S GUILTY. OUR JOB IS TO PUT ON

PUTTING WILL ON THE STAND IS OUR BEST HOPE.

PEOPLE DON'T LIKE YOU,WILL,BECAUSE YOU'RE RICH...

AND ARROGANT AND ACT LIKE YOU'RE ABOVE THE LAW.

AS A RESULT,PEOPLE ARE PREDISPOSED TO CONVICT YOU.

AND DON'T HAVE THE DECENCY TO PRETEND YOU AREN'T,

YOU FEEL ENTITLED.

THE WAY YOU'RE SITTING IN THAT CHAIR,FOR EXAMPLE,

SHOWS A LACK OF RESPECT.

I HAVE RESPECT FOR PEOPLE. YOU DON'T KNOW ME.

AND I AM SO SICK OF PEOPLE JUDGING ME

BECAUSE I'M SUCCESSFUL.

SINCE WHEN DOES THAT MAKE ME A MURDERER?

I DIDN'T KILL MY WIFE! UNDERSTAND?

I NEED A MOMENT ALONE WITH WILL.

SURE.

THAT NIGHT ON THE ISLAND,

SHE HAD A TEMPER. SO WHAT?

YOU'RE AVOIDING THE QUESTION. WORSE,YOU'RE BLAMING AMANDA.

YOU'RE ALSO PRETENDING IT DIDN'T HURT.

THE JURY WON'T BELIEVE YOU.

THEY'LL WONDER WHAT ELSE YOU'RE LYING ABOUT.

IT HURT,DIDN'T IT? I WAS EMBARRASSED.

"EMBARRASSED"?

YOU WERE HUMILIATED,

AND GUYS LIKE YOU DON'T TAKE PUBLIC HUMILIATION LIGHTLY,

DO YOU?IT MADE YOU... ANGRY.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I WOULDN'T KILL HER OVER THAT.

I DON'T THINK YOU HAD EVER BEEN ANGRIER.

ISN'T THAT TRUE?BECAUSE YOU REALIZED,AT THAT MOMENT,

*****

YOU GAVE HER EVERYTHING--

ALL THE MONEY SHE COULD HAVE SPENT.

BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH,WAS IT?

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?

I'VE BEEN MARRIED THREE TIMES.

SHE KEPT THROWING IT BACK IN YOUR FACE.

ADMIT IT. YOU WERE ANGRY.

I DIDN'T KILL HER.

THAT'S THE REASON YOU WAITED TO RADIO THE POLICE.

YOU WERE HAPPY SHE WAS GONE.

NO.WHY DIDN'T YOU RADIO THEN?

SHE WAS YOUR WIFE. IT WAS DARK.

SHE WAS ON AN ISLAND BY HERSELF.

WHY NOT RADIO IN,WILL?

YOU CAN ADMIT IT.

YOU WERE PISSED OFF,THAT'S WHY.

YOU LIED ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF HOW BAD IT MADE YOU LOOK TO THE POLICE

AND HOW BAD IT MADE YOU FEEL INSIDE.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THESE THINGS?

(sighs) A LOT OF PEOPLE,INCLUDING MY PARTNER TOM,

THINK YOU'RE GUILTY OF MURDERING YOUR WIFE.

PERSONALLY,I TRY NOT TO HAVE AN OPINION ON IT.

WHAT MATTERS IS THAT WE MAKE SURE THE JURY KNOWS

YOU'RE GRIEVING,NOT BECAUSE YOU KILLED YOUR WIFE,

BUT BECAUSE YOU FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHER REASONS.

I THINK YOU REALIZE YOU MAY HAVE FAILED TO SAVE

THE WOMAN YOU REALLY LOVED BY NOT RADIOING SOONER,

AND I THINK...

YOU'VE BEEN LIVING WITH THAT GUILT EVER SINCE.

I DIDN'T RADIO RIGHT AWAY

BECAUSE I WAS STILL ANGRY

OVER WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE RESTAURANT.

I'LL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

WHAT IF I'D RADIOED?

MAYBE SHE MIGHT STILL BE WITH ME.

DID YOU KILL HER?

NO.

NO,I DIDN'T.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

YOU'RE A LIAR.

A LIAR?

YES.I AM.

I LIED TO THE POLICE ABOUT THE RADIO NOT WORKING

BECAUSE I WAS ASHAMED OF WHAT I DID.

IN MY WIFE'S MURDER.

I BLAMED MY BEST FRIEND BECAUSE I WAS SCARED.

I FAILED HIM,

AND I FAILED MY WIFE.

BUT I DIDN'T KILL HER...

AND NEITHER DID ROBERT.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED IN MY WHOLE LIFE.

******

YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VERDICT.

"ON THE SINGLE COUNT OF MURDER "IN THE FIRST DEGREE,

"AS TO DEFENDANT ROBERT JONES,

WE THE JURY FIND THE DEFENDANT NOT GUILTY."

"ON THE SINGLE COUNT OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE,

WE THE JURY FIND THE DEFENDANT NOT GUILTY."

THANK YOU...

FOR EVERYTHING.

YOU GUYS SAVED MY LIFE. I OWE YOU.

NO,YOU DON'T. WE JUST DID OUR JOB.

WHAT'S THE MATTER,RON?

NO PRESS CONFERENCE?

YOU JUST GOT TWO INNOCENT CLIENTS OFF.

YOU THINK THEY DID IT NOW.

THREE PEOPLE ON A YACHT,TOM.

ONE OF THEM TURNS UP DEAD.

******

*******