Original subtitles

It was raining.

One of those scary, pounding rains

where the wind makes it sound

like a locomotive is right outside your window.

We were all asleep.

But even with the sound of the winds howling,

there was all of a sudden this boom.

I thought that a helicopter or a plane had fallen

into the building.

My friends Claire and Finn were lying in bed together

when they were crushed by the weight of the beam

as it crashed through the ceiling.

This building was built in the 1870s.

It was a cigar factory for 75 years.

Then it was a sweatshop

for another 20 or so.

Then a import-export warehouse, I think.

Then about five years ago,

the city came around and told the owner

that he'd have to make a lot of improvements

if he wanted to keep leasing the space.

Indoor plumbing, for one thing.

Decent heat and electric.

Owner said no.

Apparently, he lives in Asia somewhere.

So they've been in a standoff ever since.

CHUNK: And no one ever noticed

a dozen squatters living in here?

Lily...

did you know that your friend Claire

came from a wealthy family?

I had no idea.

I looked at the court papers.

You're the only one named.

The only one being sued.

Any idea why Claire's mother would single you out?

I guess because I found the place,

told everybody else about it.

Nah. I think there's got to be more.

I'm worried that... it's about something else.

Sometimes when people can't convince the district attorney

to bring criminal charges, they'll file a civil suit.

Think of it as a dress rehearsal,

a way that a plaintiff can convince a D.A.

that there's a case worth trying here.

So what are you saying?

I'm saying that if we don't win this first case,

we might be looking at a second one,

one where you're facing up to ten to 15 years in prison.

She was... she was 19 years old.

She had her whole life in front of her.

Forgive me, Ms. Waters,

but clearly, you and your family do all right.

How did your late daughter wind up living

in a rough neighborhood like Chinatown?

My daughter and I were in a period of, uh, estrangement.

She...

she had decided to leave college in her sophomore year,

and I decided that was not something I could support.

She wanted to be a painter.

She thought that college was a waste of time.

- I see. - Her mind was made up, and...

so was mine.

I cut her off financially.

I-I wasn't trying to hurt her.

I was trying to... shock her into reconsidering.

(SCOFFS SOFTLY)

(QUIETLY): S-Stupid.

And the young man who died,

Finn Danford, was he a boyfriend?

I suppose.

Probably a big part of the reason she left school.

But as I say...

we were not speaking by that point.

Is this it?

DRIVER: Yes, ma'am.

BENNY: The fire department

gave me a key to the padlock, so...

EVELYN: I don't see

any padlock.

Oh, my goodness.

Chunk?

What are you doing here?

I'm here with my client.

Lily Knowles.

Oh, my... (SIGHS)

I think we may have a problem here.

This is my client,

Claire Waters's mother, Evelyn Waters.

Oh, my God, M-Mrs. Waters, I'm so sorry. I...

No, no, no, that-that's enough. That's enough.

Ms. Waters, I have to tell you something.

Mr. Palmer here and I are not just friends.

We're colleagues.

We work at the same firm.

I don't understand.

- Neither do I. - Well...

the short version is...

I'm afraid we might be staring at a conflict of interest.

Who might be?

All of us.

BENNY: In my 20-some-odd years of doing this for a living,

I can honestly say that I have never,

ever been as professionally embarrassed

as I was this morning.

I-I... I truly did not know what to say to that woman.

Just tell her that you're sorry for wasting her time,

but your esteemed colleague got there first. Case closed!

Chunk!

BENNY: All I know is, I got a call last night

from an attorney friend of mine.

He has a very wealthy client whose daughter died

in a tragic accident.

They went to the D.A.'s office

hoping to file some criminal charges.

The D.A. demurred, suggested they file a civil suit

and recommended me and this firm

as the right folks to get the job done.

Ah. I like the sound of that.

Mr. Palmer?

I was just doing what you told me to do.

And what was that?

Remember? You said to me,

"I'm thrilled to add you to the roster as an attorney,

"but, uh, no one's walking in the door asking for you.

"No one knows you exist.

"So for the foreseeable future,

"I'm gonna assign you some cases,

"I'm gonna throw you some pro bono work.

"But what you really should do is get out there and hustle.

"Anything to get in a courtroom.

"Anything to help

the legal community see you in action."

And that's your hustle?

A squatter who basically led a young couple

to their death by allowing them to live in a building

that the city declared wasn't fit for occupancy.

I thought the idea was to bring in cases we can win.

That "squatter" has a name.

Lily Knowles... was referred to me

by an organization called New York Artists for the Future.

I did some work for them in the law clinic at school,

so when the situation came up, they asked if I could help.

A-And by the way,

this is exactly the kind of case you were talking to me about.

And I happen to think that this is a completely winnable case.

The girl is being set up.

She has no legal culpability for those two deaths.

Well, that's for the jury to decide.

And you seem

to be forgetting: My client is the aggrieved party here.

First of all, you don't have a client.

Neither one of us does until this man

says so.

And as far as aggrieved goes,

that woman is worth a couple hundred million dollars,

and she's suing a kid who doesn't have a pot to...

Her daughter is dead!

And since you're bringing up her money,

this is probably as good a time as any to remind everyone

that she's actually prepared to pay for our services.

Something I strongly suspect your client is not.

The man makes a particularly cogent point.

Look, I'm worried that if I don't defend this girl

and get her acquitted, she's gonna be facing

a lifetime of debt... Not to mention what happens

if they decide to bring criminal charges.

Do you honestly think

you're the only person that can possibly represent her?

No.

But I do believe that I can get her acquitted.

I believe in her. And I believe

she's being unfairly prosecuted.

Come on. That warehouse was a death trap.

She had no business enticing people to live there.

She was trying to foster a community of artists.

She was trying to live

rent-free with her friends in a place she had no claim to!

Man, you are so cold!

I'm cold? You're naive!

This isn't legal aid.

People are supposed to pay for the privilege

of having us represent them.

And it's actually good for business if they're innocent.

Enough!

I have no idea what to do here.

Chunk, how much work have you done on this?

We talked on the phone briefly

a couple of times earlier this week.

Short calls. Finally met face-to-face this morning.

I spoke with Evelyn for the first time two hours ago.

Well, then I have no choice... We have to go with Chunk,

otherwise we're conflicted out.

Here's a crazy idea. I mean, what if...

TAC did represent both clients?

Benny, you know as well as I do the likelihood of the court

going along with something like that is one in a million.

You don't know until you ask.

More importantly, your client is never gonna go for it.

Why should she pay you, knowing we are representing

her opponent and doing it for free?

All excellent arguments.

I'm just asking for permission to try.

Fine. If you can get the courts and all the principals to agree,

then TAC will be happy

- to represent both sides. - Could happen.

Right after that blizzard in hell.

Hey, did you see that pig just fly by?

Synced & corrected by -robtor- www.addic7ed.com

I would feel like a fool going into court

under these circumstances.

I know how it sounds.

I know how it feels.

But... I would be remiss if I didn't point out to you

that there are certain... benefits going to court

with someone who knows the other side so well,

someone who can predict their every move before they make it.

Be that as it may...

See, the first thing that will happen is,

the defense will file a motion to sever.

That means they'll try and force you to have

three separate trials... One against the city,

one against the property owner,

and one against Lily.

And then there's the Friday trick.

What's the Friday trick?

Chester Palmer... he's the attorney representing Lily...

Will say he has a scheduling conflict.

He'll ask for the trial to commence on a Friday.

- So? - Worst day

for a plaintiff, for you to start.

You'd much rather start on a Monday.

That way, you have five days to build momentum.

You want to rest your case on a Friday,

so the jury has all weekend to think about it.

Then they'll be more likely to form an opinion

that's favorable to your side.

Chester Palmer sounds like a very smart man.

Well, he learned from the best.

Oh. One more thing.

The other side will try to maneuver so that the case

appears in front of a defense-friendly judge,

someone more inclined to rule in their favor,

give them the benefit of a doubt.

Now, I'm thinking Judge Tessa Hudson.

We've stood before her many times, and...

I happen to know she's up in the rotation.

Judge Tessa Hudson.

- (GAVEL BANGING) - Good morning.

Just so everybody understands how the COVID of it all

works in my courtroom,

I am behind plexiglass and I am socially distanced

from everyone, so please don't let the fact that I am

not wearing a mask cause you any concern.

Witnesses are also seated behind plexiglass

and are socially distanced.

We feel it's important for the jurors

to see their entire faces.

Jurors are behind plexiglass and are required

to wear masks because even though

they are socially distanced,

they are in a congregant group.

And we are determined to keep them as safe

as is humanly possible.

As for the defense and plaintiff tables,

whether or not you wear a mask is

totally up to you and your clients.

You are far enough away that proximity should

not pose an issue.

The only other rule for you is

no more than two people at the table...

Presumably the principal attorney and the client.

All right, let's see if we can come to some kind

of consensus on a trial date.

If it pleases the court,

Your Honor, my schedule is

pretty tight this week.

I'd ask the court's indulgence that I be able to impanel

on Thursday and begin the trial on Friday.

HUDSON: All right.

There's no objection from the plaintiff, I assume?

Well, actually, we'd prefer to start earlier in the week.

Speak plainly, Counsel. Are you not available on Friday?

- I am, but... - Okay, Friday it is.

Splendid. Now, does the defense wish to be heard

on the motion to sever?

Your Honor...

obviously my client's defense is in direct conflict

with the other two defendants...

The building owner and the city.

One is basically an impoverished individual with

no direct responsibility for the condition of the building,

whereas the other two are substantial entities

with access to abundant resources.

Holding all three trials together

would absolutely pose undue prejudice.

I would agree with you, Mr. Palmer.

The motion to sever is allowed.

Very well then.

Our next order of business...

Uh... excuse me?

Ms. Waters, where are you going?

This is your trial.

We're all here because of you.

I'm sorry, Judge Hudson.

Uh, please feel free to continue.

I have to make a phone call.

HUDSON: Okay run this by me again.

You want to change counsel

- one day in? - I do.

- And you want? - BENNY: I am seeking

the court's permission to file an appearance.

- Uh-huh. - As you well know,

I'm employed by Dr. Jason Bull

of the Trial Analysis Corporation,

and so is Mr. Palmer,

- who is representing the defendant. - Ah.

Isn't this cozy?

A little, perhaps, yes,

but I just want to state for the record

that I've had no contact with Mr. Palmer's client.

I've not done any work on her case.

In fact, I didn't even know

that anyone from my firm had ever even spoken

to the defendant until after I agreed to represent Ms. Waters.

BULL: Your Honor,

our firm is prepared to avoid any

and all conflicts of interest.

We will happily divide up our resources and our staff,

and if necessary, even the office space itself.

In addition, pursuant

to the New York Rules of Professional Conduct,

Section 1.7, I have informed my client of her rights,

and she has signed a notice of informed consent.

And my client has signed a similar document.

Miss Knowles,

while you cannot select

who represents Ms. Waters,

you are entitled to a lawyer free of any potential conflict.

Your Honor, I-I want Mr. Palmer to be my attorney.

I trust him.

He gets me.

And plus, he's working for free.

Oh.

Ms. Waters,

what was wrong with the lawyer

who accompanied you in court yesterday

at the motions hearing?

Nothing. He's just not the best,

and Mr. Colón, in my opinion, is.

Uh-huh.

That was subtle.

Well, if, uh, everybody's in agreement,

I'm not gonna stand in your way.

The motion is allowed.

BULL: In order for this to work,

it's absolutely crucial

that there be no sharing of information. Marissa,

I need you to figure out a way to firewall the console

so each team will only have access to their data.

I can do that.

Each side'll have their own password,

and I'll make it so everyone

can log in remotely from their laptops and tablets

so no one's huddled around the monitors in the war room.

Great. Benny, since you are the...

more experienced attorney,

I'm assigning myself to Chunk's team.

Fine. I'll take Marissa and Danny then.

Sorry, Taylor.

It's fine. I like hanging with the boys.

BULL: And, Chunk, if you're good with it,

we'll make my office our workspace?

Room with a view? Solid.

Benny, if you don't mind working down here?

Works for me.

All right.

♪

♪

All right, Chunk, it's your party. How do you want to start?

Well, obviously, voir dire is the first order of business.

Since you've done that a thousand more times than I have,

what do you think the play is?

We need to find jurors who are open to the idea

that what happened was simply beyond Lily's control.

Which it was.

That's right. In a perfect world,

I'd want to seat intentionalists and deselect consequentialists.

One more time, for those of us who don't speak PhD?

We want people who will focus not on what happened,

but Lily's intent.

Which was to create housing for her fellow artists

and build a sense of community.

So I have a question.

Claire's boyfriend died in the accident, too.

Why aren't his parents part of this lawsuit?

That is an excellent question.

On it. (CLEARS THROAT)

BENNY: We are suing for wrongful death,

which means we have to prove

Lily knowingly brought Claire into a dangerous situation.

If I know Bull, he is gonna convince Chunk to argue

that Lily was no different than any of the other squatters,

that she's no more culpable than the rest of them,

that in fact, she could have just as easily

been underneath that beam as Evelyn's daughter.

Of course that's what he's gonna do.

You know what my grandmother used to say?

"Be careful when you point a finger at someone.

You'll discover there's three fingers pointing back at you."

Come to think of it, we need jurors like your grandmother.

People who think this Lily girl set everything into motion

by breaking into that building and inviting others to join her.

Breaking the law and inviting others to join her.

People who take responsibility for their own actions

- and expect others to do the same. - Yup.

We need to get rid of anyone who plays the blame game.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

Okay. Let me ask you a question.

Anybody here unhappy at work?

All right. Juror number three,

let's start with you.

So, you are unhappy at your job?

Well, let's just say I made some bad choices when I was younger.

I was too interested in partying, having fun.

I should have focused more on school.

She's self-aware, takes responsibility for her flaws.

I like her.

Not blaming anyone else, for where she is in life.

Sounds like just the person we are looking for.

This juror is acceptable to the plaintiff, Your Honor.

She's exactly who they're looking for.

Your Honor, with your permission,

we would like to thank and excuse juror number three.

♪

Who here has ever offered to water your neighbor's plants,

maybe take in their mail while they're on vacation?

Juror number 17.

Neighbor of the year. Tell us your story.

No story. I just agreed to feed my neighbor's cat

when he went to the Jersey Shore a few weeks ago.

That was awfully nice of you.

So let me, uh, ask you this hypothetical.

You're-you're in the apartment, you're feeding the cat.

You accidentally break a vase.

What would you do?

Well, I don't know.

I mean... does he know I did it?

Maybe the cat knocked it over.

Great. We got a comedian. Taylor,

talk to me.

He's a dentist, sole practitioner.

And an avid mountain climber.

Okay. That helps clarify things.

He's an individualist, which means

he'll be more likely to buy Benny's theory

of personal responsibility.

We'd like to thank and excuse this juror.

And what about you?

Let's say you broke the vase.

Well, then, I'd certainly offer to pay for it.

Now, would it make me a bad person if I secretly hope

my neighbor says, "Don't worry about it"?

No. As long as you're willing to step up.

This juror is acceptable to the plaintiff, Your Honor.

I'll kick her.

Let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater.

I liked her answer.

She was being honest almost to a fault.

Taylor,

tell me something I don't know about this lady.

Well, her Insta's filled with pictures of gifts she sends

to her kids and grandkids for their birthdays.

Everything's homemade,

everything individual and personalized.

I knew it.

Sounds like she's an intentionalist.

What is that again?

Someone for whom the intention of the deed is more important

- than the outcome. - It could also mean she's a cheapskate.

CHUNK: Your Honor,

this juror is also acceptable to the defense.

She is?

What's he know that we don't know?

I don't know. He's Bull.

HUDSON: Ladies and gentlemen, we have our panel.

Juror number 30,

I am appointing you foreperson.

Testimony begins first thing in the morning.

She asleep?

Do you hear her crying?

No.

Well, that's usually the giveaway.

Do you have any idea why I haven't heard

from my brother all night?

I mean, I've texted and I've called.

It's as if he's off the grid.

He's up first tomorrow.

He's probably at the office putting together his case.

Really? It's after 11:00.

The law is a cruel mistress.

If he's at the office, then why aren't you?

Because I'm here with you. (LAUGHS SOFTLY)

HUDSON: Mr. Colón,

you may call your first witness.

Yes, Your Honor.

With the court's permission,

the plaintiff would like to call Reggie Craven to the stand.

(DOOR OPENS)

(QUIETLY): Who is this?

Remember what I said.

We have to prove that Lily knowingly brought Claire

into a dangerous situation.

Objection.

This is the first

that the defense is hearing about this witness.

His name does not appear on any witness list.

And, frankly, I've never even heard of him.

This is a clear violation of the rules of discovery.

Is this true, Mr. Colón?

Did you fail to provide defense counsel

with a complete witness list

prior to the start of proceedings this morning?

Your Honor, Mr. Craven has been extremely difficult to locate.

He doesn't have a permanent address,

and we weren't able to make contact with him

until about two hours ago.

(QUIETLY): What a complete load of...

That's my name. Don't wear it out.

- Shh. - I'm going to take you at your word

this time, Mr. Colón.

But let's not make a habit of this.

Mr. Palmer,

let's swear the witness in,

see what he has to say.

Then, if you feel you need extra time

to prepare after direct examination,

I promise,

I will make an accommodation for that.

Thank you, Your Honor.

BENNY: Now, Mr. Craven,

you were one of the squatters at the warehouse

where Claire Waters and Finn Danford lost their lives?

Yes, sir.

I lived there for about three weeks.

Uh, but just so everybody's straight,

I was there before the folks that died.

- So I never met Claire or Finn. - Okay.

Duly noted. But you lived there nonetheless.

Now, how did you hear about the place?

Uh, Lily.

She told me about it.

BENNY: And how did you know Lily?

Gallery shows. Openings.

I'd bump into her all the time.

Turns out we both liked events that featured art,

free wine and things you could eat.

BENNY: Now, after you moved in, did you...

see anything that gave you cause for concern?

A lot, actually.

I mean, there were extension cords

running between buildings, hanging out in the weather.

There was a rodent problem.

No bathroom, per se.

- It was pretty rugged. - Anything else?

Well, I mean, you couldn't miss the water stains on the ceiling.

Uh, there was actually a space where the ceiling was,

uh, bowing.

Like-like, dripping down.

And, uh, it looked like water or something else

had been collecting there for a long time.

And did you... share your concerns with anyone?

I-I told Lily.

Well, her bed was right underneath

where the bulge was the biggest.

So I just... didn't think it was safe.

Or smart.

So let me get this straight.

You told the defendant

you thought the ceiling might be a hazard?

I did.

(QUIETLY): No wonder they hid this guy from us.

BENNY: And what did the defendant do about it?

Nothing, as far as I could tell.

Uh, that's why, when I got enough money

to get out of there, I-I did.

Thank you, Mr. Craven.

No further questions, Your Honor.

LILY: I don't know what he expected me to do.

I didn't own the place.

I didn't have any money.

And, besides, for all I knew,

it could have been like that for a hundred years.

Mr. Palmer?

Are you prepared to cross-examine?

(QUIETLY): Should we ask for more time?

No.

Just ask him if he warned anyone else.

Be sure to use the word "warned."

Let's paint him with the same brush he's using on Lily.

CHUNK: Mr. Craven,

you said that you saw... Wh-what did you call it?

The-the bowing in the ceiling

and you warned

Ms. Knowles.

Yeah. That's correct.

Who else did you warn about it?

Excuse me?

Who else did you warn

about your concerns regarding the ceiling?

No one?

I need you to speak your answer for the record, sir.

No. I just told Lily.

I figured that would be enough.

And why would you think that?

If you thought there was imminent danger there,

why wouldn't you warn everyone you could?

Your other roommates.

Give them the same opportunity you took

to get out of there and find another place to live.

I don't know. I...

I told Lily.

I-I mean, she was in charge.

CHUNK: Was she?

I thought this was supposed to be an artists' cooperative,

a egalitarian commune,

where everyone was all in it together.

Nice.

Now quit while you're ahead.

Objection. Your Honor,

maybe I missed it, but was there a question in there somewhere?

Ask a question, Mr. Palmer.

Tell her you have no more questions, thank the witness and sit down.

Absolutely, Your Honor.

The truth is,

you thought that there was a problem with the roof,

but you didn't do anything else about it, did you?

Well...

Except leave. Seems to me

you're at least as culpable as my client.

Maybe even more so.

Objection! Your Honor!

No foundation. Badgering.

Again, I have to ask this question for the second time,

what is the question?!

Counsel is testifying!

Sustained. All sustained.

Mr. Palmer,

I will ask you one more time.

Stop making speeches, start asking questions.

Or I will dismiss the witness and hold you in contempt.

I do apologize, Your Honor.

As it happens, I have no further questions for this witness.

(EXHALES)

Let's take a 15-minute break.

I don't believe for a second

that he found that witness this morning.

Can you prove it?

Then it doesn't matter.

Didn't anyone tell you?

The law is a contact sport, too.

You got tackled. He took you down.

Now get up.

It's your ball.

Your Honor,

with the court's permission,

the defense would like to call Denise Danford.

Scuse me.

Objection, Your Honor.

We have no information regarding this witness.

Her name is nowhere on the witness list.

Clearly, defense counsel is playing fast and loose

with the rules of discovery.

Is this true?

Did you not share this witness's name with opposing counsel?

Unfortunately, Your Honor,

Mrs. Danford has been very, very difficult to locate.

But the good news is, after looking and looking,

we were able to make contact with her this morning,

shortly before trial.

Or I promise we would have given the opposing counsel

plenty of notice.

I do hope that my esteemed colleague

can find it in his heart to forgive me.

I'm sure he can.

Let's swear in the witness.

And as was the case

when the shoe was on the other foot, Mr. Colón,

if you need extra time to prepare

after direct examination,

we will make an accommodation.

Thank you, Your Honor.

DENISE: Finn and I tried to talk every Sunday.

FaceTime.

For a while, it seemed like,

every other call, he would mention this girl.

Claire.

And it was obvious from the way he talked about her

that... she was special.

Then...

at the end of his first semester junior year,

we were gonna have a conversation

about perhaps applying for another student loan.

And he told me not to worry about it.

That he was leaving school.

That he wanted to try living in New York.

And how did you feel about that?

It scared me.

New York scared me.

(SHUDDERS) The first time I came to New York

was to identify Finn's body.

This is my second time.

And I... (SHUDDERS)

I wasn't sure how he was gonna do it,

how he was going to pay for it.

But he kept telling me not to worry about it. (CHUCKLES)

So I...

I tried my best not to.

And I sensed that he was in love.

So...

I knew he wasn't here alone.

Mrs. Danford,

your son died.

But you're not a party to this litigation.

Can you please tell the jury why?

Because I don't think it's that girl's fault.

I'm sorry. I mean, I...

I know we've never met,

and I know we both lost our children.

But in my heart of hearts, I-I...

I just don't think that girl had anything to do with it.

Objection, Your Honor.

The witness is offering speculation as testimony

and is addressing the plaintiff directly.

Please, Mrs. Danford,

just answer the lawyer's questions

with the facts as you understand them.

And don't address the plaintiff directly.

I apologize.

CHUNK: So, Mrs. Danford,

who do you think is responsible for your son's death?

I'm not sure anyone's responsible.

It seems like it was an accident.

I mean,

if you're gonna hold anyone responsible, maybe...

it's the building inspectors.

But then they said the building was dangerous.

They ordered it locked. It was locked.

So maybe it's the politicians.

What do you mean by "the politicians"?

The government.

The people who are supposed to make sure

this city is a place where everyone can live,

not just rich people.

Your Honor, I have withheld my initial objections

out of respect for Mrs. Danford.

But, clearly, the defense is determined

to go down this road. So I have to ask

how any of this is relevant to the issue at hand.

Objection sustained.

Uh, Mr. Palmer,

anything else?

So, one last time, Mrs. Danford,

do you think that my client is responsible

for your son's death?

No.

In fact, I look at her

and I see my son.

She was in the same boat as the rest of them,

just doing the best she could.

Maybe making some unwise choices, but...

she meant no ill will towards anyone.

She was just trying to put a roof over people's heads.

Thank you, Mrs. Danford.

No further questions.

(QUIETLY): I feel them slipping away.

(EXHALES)

Is Danny en route?

20 minutes away.

CHUNK: So,

when Reggie Craven pointed out the bowing in the ceiling,

how did you react?

Honestly?

I thought...

"Okay."

And, "What would you like me to do about it?"

I didn't think that it was dangerous,

just kind of... ugly.

And truthfully, the whole place was ugly.

There were water stains everywhere.

The floor was uneven.

And you could feel the wind whip through every night.

I was much more worried that...

the neighbors would realize that we were stealing

their electricity,

and the space heaters would turn off.

I was much more worried

that the coffee shop and the hotel down the street

were getting smart to us

and would stop letting us use their bathrooms.

But, I mean...

it was free,

and we had space to paint

and sculpt...

and sleep.

Thank you, Miss Knowles.

No further questions.

Good afternoon, Miss Knowles.

Good afternoon.

You know, it never crossed your mind after Reggie Craven

pointed out what was going on above your head that maybe...

you know, you should get the hell out of there?

I guess I'm stupid.

No. It never occurred to me.

Maybe because I knew that none of us had anywhere else to go.

Mm-hmm.

Your Honor, with the court's permission,

the plaintiffs would like to enter into evidence

a series of text messages:

Part of a group text between Miss Knowles

and the two victims.

Your Honor, again?

This is trial by ambush!

Now, why is this not a violation

of the rules of discovery, Mr. Colón?

(SIGHS) Truthfully, this is all my mistake, Your Honor.

It did not dawn on me to ask to see

the late Miss Waters's cell phone until yesterday.

And it's taken from then until now

for my investigator

to unlock her phone and uncover the messages

I'm about to share with you.

I apologize, and I'm happy to go about it

in any way that pleases the court.

But I do think the jury's gonna want to hear

the evidence I'm about to offer.

(QUIETLY): He's good, isn't he?

CHUNK: And are we supposed to just take Mr. Colón's word for it

that these texts are genuine?

As I mentioned a moment ago, this is a three-way conversation

between Claire, her boyfriend Finn,

and Miss Knowles.

All counsel has to do is reach out

to his client and ask to see her cell phone.

Although I fully intend on asking her in a minute if she remembers

sending and receiving those messages.

HUDSON: Since I don't know where you're going, Counsel,

and since Miss Knowles is scheduled as our final witness,

I feel I have no real choice but to let you proceed.

But, Mr. Colón,

be forewarned,

if you stray outside the lines of legal propriety,

I will cite you so fast it will make your head spin.

Understood, Your Honor. Thank you.

Now, Miss Knowles...

(SIGHS) this here is a text message you sent

to Claire Waters and Finn Danford

before they moved into the warehouse.

Now, would you please read it to the court?

"Hey, Claire and Finn.

"I've decided I'm moving my bed to a different part of the loft.

"I want you to sleep where I've been.

"It's far away from everyone else,

and it will give the two of you some privacy."

You remember sending that?

Yeah. I do.

Let me try to understand this.

You'd been sleeping underneath the bulge in the ceiling,

but after Reggie Craven warned you about it,

you moved your bed and offered that spot

to my client's daughter and her boyfriend.

That's true, but...

But what?

You discovered your life was in danger,

and you protected yourself at the expense of two other people.

Objection. Counsel is badgering the witness.

Overruled.

- The witness shall answer. - That is what happened,

isn't it?

(CRYING): I made the move

because they were a couple.

And it was the sleeping space that was the furthest

from everybody else.

It was as simple as that.

I didn't know that there was gonna be

a torrential rainstorm.

I didn't know that the roof was gonna cave in.

I was just trying to be nice.

Maybe you did and maybe you didn't.

But that is for the jury to decide.

Nothing further, Your Honor.

Benny owned that courtroom.

He's been at it a long time.

All the theatrics, the timing,

the "we just found this witness,"

"we just found this evidence."

He made that what the trial was about.

Mm.

The job is to win.

Yeah, well...

It just doesn't seem right.

How do you mean?

If Evelyn loses, if his client loses,

practically nothing changes in her life.

She gets to go home to the same 800-thread-count sheet

she's been sleeping in for the past two decades.

But if Lily loses, if our client loses,

everything changes.

She's staring at a mountain of debt,

possibly a decade in prison,

and I will have profoundly failed her.

Welcome to a life in the law, Counselor.

_

BULL: Yes?

Any word?

Ask the lawyer.

Nope. Not a peep.

Three days.

What the heck could the jury be talking about for three days?

I'm concerned they're debating how much pain to inflict on Lily.

As in how many dollars?

As in how many millions.

Hard to deny a mother who's lost her only child.

Wow. You're a big up. Positively inspirational.

You know what they say.

"Expect the worst and you'll never be disappointed."

You allow this kind of behavior in your office?

I've been trying to talk sense into him all morning.

Look, we picked a good jury.

Foreperson looked like she was siding with us.

Judge instructed them to stick to the facts and the evidence.

Call me crazy, but I prefer to keep a good thought.

It's easy to find someone not guilty.

It's hard to find someone culpable,

particularly when there are deaths involved.

You know, many people take no pleasure

in ruining someone else's life.

That's why it takes juries a while to do it.

So you're pretty convinced they're gonna find Lily liable?

I can't imagine what else they'd be talking about

this whole time.

Wonder what Bull thinks.

Why don't you ask him?

Jury's behind closed doors.

Both sides of the case have rested.

We're allowed to talk to each other now.

Well, I know. I just... I think we both just felt like

the time to compare notes is after it's all over,

after there's a verdict.

You spoken to Bull?

Not yet.

I may walk upstairs in a little while.

(PHONE VIBRATES)

Ooh. Best laid plans...

Jury's back.

(GAVEL BANGS)

HUDSON: Madam Foreperson,

has the jury reached a verdict?

We have.

How do you find?

Your Honor, we wanted to avoid a deadlock,

so we reached a compromise agreement.

We feel for both sides in this case, and...

so both sides won a little,

and both sides lost a little, and...

Just render your verdict, please.

We find the defendant, Lily Knowles,

liable for the death of Claire Waters.

And we assess the following financial damages,

payable to Evelyn Waters,

in the amount of one dollar.

♪

(WHISPERS): This is good.

HUDSON: Ladies and gentlemen, the jury has spoken.

(WHISPERS): Loud and clear.

And we are adjourned.

(EXHALES)

A.D.A. Kiehl.

- You found me. - I've been in court all day.

My boss just gave me a message from my sister

that you were looking for me.

- (CLAPS HANDS) - I called your office, and they said

you were here. I literally

just got the verdict and ran right over here.

Is this the roof-collapsing thing?

The one where your firm is representing both sides of the case?

Oh, yeah, that's the one.

Your side win?

We did.

Jury found for the plaintiff.

Congratulations.

Oh, yeah.

Awarded her a whole dollar.

You working contingency?

Mm, mm-mm.

No, God, no.

The other side was pro bono,

so who knows how we'll make out at the end.

That sounds pretty nutty.

Yeah.

No.

It was kind of fun, actually.

It was the first time in a while I've flown solo,

no Dr. Bull flying the plane, just me, you know?

I kind of dug it.

Mm.

But that can't be why you wanted to see me.

Mm.

Right. So, I know we just had an election this year,

so this is gonna sound a little bit strange,

but, um, tomorrow morning

you're gonna read that my boss, our current D.A.,

is up to his ears in a campaign finance scandal.

It turns out he is the definition of dirty.

And so that means there's gonna be another election in April.

Oh, my God, I'm sorry, man.

Yeah, which, uh, brings me to the other thing.

Benny...

would you ever consider running to be the district attorney

for the City of New York?