Original subtitles

The dramatic murder trial of Mr. Frank Fernandez

has ended with his acquittal.

There was no body because there was no murder.

I'm gonna rip his face off!

Sergeant, what is your reading of the Fernandez verdict?

Means, motive and opportunity just weren't enough.

Hasn't there been enough killing?

Don't do anything to get yourself in trouble, okay?

You better start watching over your shoulder.

He may need more than a crucifix and a string of beads to protect him

in the real world.

Okay, you guys, get out of here.

Mrs. Fletcher, I saw everything.

I saw the murder. And I saw who did it.

Right here. Right here.

Go! Go! Right here!

Yeah!

Money!

In your dreams!

Hey, buddy, take that shot!

But what I don't get, Mrs. Fletcher, is,

where do you start?

Actually, Denise, one of the most effective ways

to build a mystery is to start with the ending and work backward.

But not always.

I wish I could give you a formula,

but the truth is that every mystery that I write is different

and about a third of the way into them,

I am invariably convinced that this is the one

I won't be able to pull off.

So, next week I'd like to see a three-page procedural scene,

where your detective tries to get information from someone

who'd rather not cooperate.

Have a good weekend.

Come on!

Come on, come on!

Come on, let's go. - Never mind that!

I'm going next time. Come on!

Yes!

Okay, game.

Aw, come on, Father, one more game, man.

We just got started!

Right. One more game and these legs are gonna be total mush.

Tomorrow, guys.

So, Jessica.

Have you thought any more about using a priest as a protagonist

for one of your novels?

Well, I suppose I thought that the Holy Father would have more

divine mysteries to solve.

Are you suggesting that Father Brown's mysteries don't work?

Or Father Dowling by Ralph McInerny?

Oh, of course not. I think they're wonderful.

And of course, there's the Brother Cadfael and Sister Mary Helen stories.

And don't forget Veronica Black's Sister Joan.

Mmm-hmm. Or Sister Mary Teresa by Monica Quill.

Cheating.

That's a pen name for McInerny and we had him.

Rabbi Small by Harry Kemelman!

Okay, okay, you win.

Anyway, they all go to show that a man or woman of God

can deal with a secular mystery.

People need to get rid of those dusty old stereotypes of the clergy.

Oh, I agree. The problem is, as a character in a novel,

who will believe that a doctor of philosophy

who built a very successful software company,

became a parish priest?

Hey, did I ever say it had to be about me?

Hey, Bro, the verdict's in.

What's up, Tony?

Oh, the verdict's in.

The jury's coming back after lunch.

I'll be there.

And so the dramatic murder trial of Mr. Frank Fernandez

has ended with his acquittal.

Although branded a slumlord and a killer by the District Attorney

the jury declared him not guilty

in the murder of City Councilman Roberto Galvan.

Galvan disappeared 11 months ago,

leaving behind a devoted family and hundreds of friends.

Galvan rallied for years against Fernandez and his real estate holdings.

He led a tenant's rent strike

which ended in several court orders,

forcing the cleanup and repair of Fernandez's numerous tenement buildings.

And since Galvan's body was never found

the case against Fernandez was never entirely completed.

There was no body because there was no murder.

I'm gonna rip his face off!

Whoa, whoa, hey!

Hey, cool it, all right?

Is that what your father taught you? To fight like a street punk?

Stay with him, Joe. Make sure he doesn't do anything crazy.

Okay, Ma.

Hey, Tony!

We're gonna be fine.

Well, Mrs. Galvan,

you won the first round when you persuaded the DA

to bring this ridiculous case against me.

But now it's over.

I don't have to deal with your fantasies anymore.

Fantasies, Mr. Fernandez?

We both know the truth, don't we?

I like the new twist ending, Mr. Demarco.

Thank you, Mrs. Fletcher.

And we'll work together on the grammar.

All right.

Very colorful characters, Denise.

My family. I took your advice and used the tape recorder.

I liked the way you introduce your suspects, Ruth.

Thanks.

How did I do?

I enjoyed it, Joseph.

A "C"?

Look, I know how difficult it is to write

when your mind is somewhere else.

But I felt that you weren't quite as into it as you usually are.

Yeah, you got that right.

Your protagonist,

the boy on the verge of becoming a man.

Would he be your brother, by any chance?

Tony, yeah.

You know, ever since the verdict,

he just seems to get angrier every day.

All right.

Today, we're going to talk about research.

And how it can add texture to your work.

Suppose you want information on stuff that's hard to get,

such as, say, rare poisons?

Well now, this is my personal bibliography of my favorite reference books

and articles that I've assembled over the years.

I've left a copy of it at the research desk

as a model,

so that you can begin to build your own.

Uh, Denise, you asked me about poisons.

Now,

the most complete, concise work on the subject is

The Toxic Handbook.

Denise, how do you plan to use poison in your story?

Well, it's about my Aunt Ethel from Scotland.

And she's, kind of, you know, round.

And she develops this intense hatred

for this gorgeous exercise lady in pink leotards on TV.

And decides to poison her disgusting protein drink.

How am I doing?

Well, I'm hooked!

Have you decided about the police academy?

Yeah.

It scares Ma, but she says if it's what I want, then just go ahead.

Ruth, I get the feeling that you're not entirely convinced.

Marrying a cop wasn't exactly one of my childhood dreams, Mrs. Fletcher,

but it's José's decision.

Hey, babe, let's go.

A piece of advice, my friend. Keep your family out of our business.

Sergeant Davis, isn't it?

That's right. Good to see you, Mrs. Fletcher.

Thank you.

José, Ruth.

Listen, about Raymond Fernandez...

It's nothing.

I would take him seriously if I were you.

He's a nasty piece of work.

Yeah, we know about him, Sergeant,

just like we know about his father.

And maybe if you spent a little less time giving out advice

and a little more time investigating,

we wouldn't have to worry about either one of them now, would we?

Well, I can't really blame him.

Sergeant, what is your reading of the Fernandez verdict?

Off the record?

Frank Fernandez is a bottom-feeder

who wouldn't lose five minutes' sleep over killing Roberto Galvan.

The truth is, with what little they had, the DA never should've gone to trial.

Means, motive and opportunity just weren't enough.

Not without a corpse or a smoking gun.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

Amen.

Amen.

I'm glad to see you here.

I just want to tell you that I'm proud of you all.

I know you're angry.

But so far you're showing your love for Roberto,

by sticking together as a family,

not by doing something crazy

that would get you on the wrong side of the law.

They know better than that.

Their father taught 'em how to fight a different way.

Through the community, using the system.

Yeah, and look where it got him.

Tony.

Your father helped a lot of people around here.

People that don't have the money or the power to stand up for themselves.

That was his crusade.

And I intend to carry on after him.

How do you mean that?

I'm gonna be running for his seat on the City Council.

Father, that's great!

Absolutely.

We'll back you up all the way.

Part of my platform will be to get Fernandez

to clean up his buildings and his act.

Then I've got some advice for you, padre.

You better start watching over your shoulder.

Those numbers aren't too shabby, are they?

Best cost-to-earnings ratio we've had in three years.

Well, I've got to admit, you gotta be doing something right.

Ah, it's nothing you didn't teach me, Pop.

Well, now that my legal distractions are over,

I'll be able to spend more time on the company.

What's the status on the Hudson Street buildings?

All four evictions completed.

But Building and Safety put clean up orders on three of them.

Have Delgado get us a restraining order.

Maybe we can get the system to work for us this time.

Have you heard the latest about Father Michael?

You mean about running for Galvan's seat on the City Council?

After what happened to Roberto, you think he'd know better.

Raymond, that's enough.

Hey, look, all I'm saying is that

he may need more than a crucifix and a string of beads to protect him

in the real world.

I don't ever want to hear that again. Got it?

Hey, save it for your tenants, okay.

I don't know, Jessica.

I think maybe I've finally bitten off too much.

Well, it never seemed to bother you before.

Yeah, but this is different.

I mean, the church needs a new roof, new plumbing,

a new heating system.

I feel like I'm losing the battle to keep our kids off the streets.

And what it all comes down to is,

I've got no business running for office.

Michael, if ever there was someone who was equal

to all of those challenges and more, it's you.

And you know it.

Hello, Father. I want to talk to you.

Oh, I was just leaving.

Don't bother, lady. It's nothing personal.

I want you to forget about this borough council business,

for your own good.

I'm touched by your concern,

but it's a bit late, don't you think?

I won't let you destroy what I've worked so many years to build.

What, an empire of substandard housing?

Like you, Father, I fill a need.

Only mine, at least keeps them warm in the winter.

It keeps the rain off their heads.

That's not exactly what I've heard.

All right, Michael, let me put it to you another way.

There are people who work for me

who seriously do not look forward to your interference.

You understand what I'm saying?

Tell me something, Frank.

This life you've chosen,

does it make you feel good about yourself?

I know I should pray for him.

And yet, a big part of me doesn't want to.

Michael.

You and Mr. Fernandez,

you're not exactly total strangers, are you?

No, Jessica, we're not.

He's my father.

Michael,

how old were you when you found out that Frank Fernandez

was your father?

10 years old.

But he knew about you?

Oh, yes. And he never offered to help,

financially or otherwise.

Not that she'd have accepted it.

My mother was, well,

a very determined woman.

She was still in her teens when I was born.

She put herself through college and became a teacher.

I can certainly see where you get your energy from.

She told me about my father just before she died.

She warned me to stay away from him.

She told me he could only hurt me.

He never even acknowledged her death.

When he was talking to you just now,

I had the feeling that he hadn't come just to threaten you.

How do you mean? Oh, for a moment, I sensed

genuine concern. Maybe even regret.

Perhaps.

It's difficult for me to get past all our personal baggage.

He's never even tried to contact me before.

He's always behaved as if I don't exist,

as if Raymond, my half-brother, was his only son.

That's right, Carmen. Just make a list of all of your complaints

and we'll present them at the meeting.

Good, I'll see you there. Bye.

Oh, Jessica, José said you might be dropping by.

Yes, he told me that the bromeliads have arrived.

Yeah. Right here, Mrs. Fletcher.

Oh, they're lovely.

Some people tried to buy them this morning

and Mrs. Galvan practically threw them out of the store.

Ruth, I didn't know you were working here.

I'm moonlighting while I get my degree.

In botanical science. Since her trip to the Caribbean,

we are stocking plants that no one else in New York carries.

Yeah, and she gets to keep her eye on me.

Oh, we've been busier than ever the last few days.

But I figure it's as much a show of support

as it is a sudden passion for potted plants.

I'm glad to see that José seems to be taking things in stride.

Are you, Maria?

Oh, I don't know, Jessica.

Before Roberto and I were married,

I didn't have any trouble making decisions.

But now I feel like I've got to relearn how to think for myself all over again.

That I can identify with.

One thing I know for sure,

Roberto isn't ever coming back.

And Frank Fernandez continues to be a slumlord

and make a fortune off people I grew up with.

Look, amigo, next week's not gonna do it.

You promised me two keys by Friday.

You deliver as scheduled or I take my business elsewhere. You understand?

What are you doing?

Taking care of business.

Narcotics are not my business.

Hey, lighten up, okay?

Don't you ever tell me what to do, culebra.

Is this the way you repay me?

Selling drugs right out from my home?

Killing children?

Oh, that's rich.

Big time slumlord gives his kid a morality lecture.

You want to see morality, Pop?

Here's your morality.

You think our deadbeat tenants are suddenly paying their rent on time?

I don't think so.

But they can always scrape together enough dinero for a vial of crack.

Well, it stops now! Understand?

You don't get it, do you, Pop?

You're in the crack-house business with both feet.

So you better learn to live with it.

I should call the police.

Yeah, but you won't.

Hello?

I thought you'd want to know, Mrs. Fletcher.

Roberto Galvan's body turned up this afternoon.

In the old west culverts.

The flooding last week must have moved it.

A sanitation crew found it.

Is there evidence that he was murdered?

He was shot in the head.

Ballistics has the bullet. They'll try and do a match on Fernandez's gun.

It looks like he was killed about the time he disappeared.

Thank you, Sergeant.

But I'm not sure why you called me about this.

I'm going to see the Galvan family in the morning.

Yes.

Look, I'm kind of concerned about how they're going to take it.

Especially the boys.

And well, they seem to listen to you, so I thought that maybe...

I'll be there, Sergeant.

8:00. Mmm.

Hmm.

Come on, Sergeant.

Now, did the bullet that killed my father come from Fernandez's gun?

Ballistics says yes.

Well, then we've got him, right?

I'm afraid not.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about double jeopardy.

Well, what the hell is that?

It's part of our constitution, Tony.

I mean, once someone has been tried for a crime

and found to be not guilty,

he can't be tried again for the same crime,

even if there's new evidence.

I don't believe I'm hearing this!

You mean, he goes free?

He's been acquitted. That's it.

Look, the DA wants Fernandez as much as you do,

as much as I do, but even if we can prove he's the shooter,

there's nothing that we can do about it.

Yeah, well, maybe there's something we can do about it.

Now, hold it. You listen to me and you listen good!

Any of you try to even this up and I'll come after you

as hard as I'd go after him!

You know, Jessica, it was all my fault.

Maria, this started with Roberto's murder.

You can't blame yourself for that.

No, but I'm the one who pushed for the indictment.

I stirred the neighborhood until the District Attorney

had no choice but to go to trial.

If he had waited,

Fernandez would have been convicted.

That's not necessarily true.

Even if he could be brought to trial now,

there's no guarantee that they could actually prove

that he pulled the trigger.

You know, it's ironic.

Robert always said to me, "It's always one person

"who can make all the difference."

And I certainly did do that. Only it was the wrong one.

None of it would have brought him back.

I guess that's what a lot of it was about, wasn't it?

Mmm.

No, come on, Ruth. Tell me, what? What's wrong?

I'm worried about you, that's what's wrong.

Tony does all the talking and you don't say anything!

I know inside you're all torn up.

What? About my father, Ruth?

That's not true.

And you don't think I know you so good?

Know the way you think?

José,

if you love me, please,

I beg you, just

don't do anything to get yourself in trouble, okay?

I won't, Ruth.

Now, you got it wrong, okay?

I promise.

Here you go.

Hey. Hey, Raymond.

What do you got, man?

Manny, let me ask you a question.

Yeah.

Suppose I told you, you could have anything you want.

The Galvan brothers?

Now, how did I know that?

Man, I thought you'd never ask me.

Come on, Ma, there's nothing we can do now.

José.

It's not good.

Keeping it all bottled up inside like that.

Okay, Ma, I'm angry!

Is that what you want to hear?

But it's too late.

Mrs. Fletcher's right. The law's the law.

There's nothing we can do now.

If we do something now, we are no better than Fernandez, Ma!

Is that what our father taught you?

You're just gonna sit there and take it?

Look, what I don't need from you, Rambo, is mouthing off.

Yeah?

Yeah, well, it's not all just talk, hermano.

I'll see you around.

Tony.

I don't want you going out. Not like this.

If there was ever a time when I needed my sons around me, it's now.

Go on upstairs and we'll have dinner in a few minutes.

Rambo? I got you, Rambo.

Oh, yeah, you're a big punk.

Cool it.

Nothing's gonna happen to you.

We just wanna talk to your boys. Where are they?

I don't know.

Don't let her move.

Hey, wait, wait, wait! You sure Ma's gonna be all right?

Yeah. You heard 'em. They want us.

Here, put this on. You're gonna freeze.

Look, I'm gonna go back and I'm gonna make sure that she's okay.

You stay out of sight. Okay.

And out of trouble. You understand?

Right. Go on.

They're gone.

Tell 'em if they're smart, they'll stay gone.

Hold it, Raymond.

Let me tell you something.

You touch either one of my boys and I will kill you myself.

They're busy, Father. Get off of me!

What are you doing here? I want you to call off your strong-arms.

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

The Galvan brothers made open threats against my father.

We have the right to protect ourselves.

You sent him after them!

They're just boys!

Don't you read the paper? Even ten year olds are packing guns.

Look. Hasn't there been enough killing?

Put it away, Raymond.

Raymond, put it away!

I promise you.

There'll be no more violence.

Explain yourself.

Hey, it's known as putting the fear of God into them.

You got a problem with that?

I mean, either one of them could get crazy enough to take a shot at you.

And even if they don't, what happens to our honor

if we let them go around badmouthing us?

Honor?

Where does a drug dealer get off talking about honor?

Get out there and call your hoods off. Now!

Before it's too late.

Take it. Find it. Find it. Go! Go! Yeah!

Church of Saint Julian. How can I help you?

This is your father. I want to come and see you.

Why?

I want to speak to my priest.

I want to confess my sins.

Can I come in an hour?

An hour?

Yes, I'll be here.

I thought you had gone home.

I was waiting for a phone call.

So, you're

gonna really let it all hang out, huh?

I have to make my peace

with God and with my son.

You think either one of them'll forgive you?

They'll have to decide that for themselves.

Raymond, I gave you everything you ever asked for,

love, money,

and what did you give me?

Shame and contempt.

God help me.

Tonight I finally looked into myself

and I hated what I saw.

Ah, who knows?

Maybe, in the few years I have left, I'll be able to make it up to Michael.

What I'm sure of is that I want you out of my sight

and out of my life.

When you go,

leave your key.

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.

Michael...

Forgive me, Michael,

for I have sinned.

Amen.

Michael.

I heard about it on the radio.

Are you all right?

He died trying to make his peace with God.

We were gonna meet in the confessional,

but I got an emergency sick call.

When I got here,

he was dying.

Father Michael,

when were you last in the confessional booth,

the one that your father would have used?

Uh, about 7:00 in the evening.

What's going on?

It was a heart attack, wasn't it?

Um, could you give me a minute?

Mrs. Fletcher.

Do you remember seeing that stain at 7:00 p.m.?

No.

All right. We'll get a sample and send it to the lab.

Thanks, Father.

What was that all about?

I think it's occurred to Sergeant Davis that your father

may not have died of natural causes.

Mrs. Fletcher.

Tony, no.

Give me that gun. Look, just stay away from me.

Look, you're only going to make things much worse!

Maybe, but I need protection.

Listen to me. Frank Fernandez died 45 minutes ago,

right here in this church.

He died? Or was murdered.

How long have you been here?

It wasn't a heart attack that killed Frank Fernandez.

Look, this is off the record for now,

but we hit pay dirt with the stain.

The lab managed to isolate traces of a couple

of alkaloid poisons from plants that grow in Jamaica.

The Lobel Leaf and Anacycla Wolfia.

Would you happen to know anything about 'em?

No. Only that in combination they're lethal,

and inhaled as a vapor,

they quickly paralyze the respiratory system.

And that the symptoms resemble a heart attack.

Yeah.

And according to the lab guys, they're virtually untraceable in the body.

Now, another thing.

Both plants can be bought at the Galvan's store.

Oh, but I'm sure it's sold in other plant stores.

Sure, but how many of 'em you figure have two sons and an employee missing?

Ruth Nelson.

Plus José and Tony.

Now, Raymond told us that his old man only made the date

with Father Michael about a hour before he died.

Well, then how could any of them have known

that Frank Fernandez was gonna be there?

Come on, Mrs. Fletcher.

They could've had him staked out and followed him to the church.

Tell me something.

Was exotic poisons ever one of the topics in your extension class?

Well, for the past several weeks, yes. I'd talked about poisons

in general. Well, the lab tells me

there are a half dozen books that cover poisons

pretty thoroughly. Did you happen to mention any one book specifically?

Yes. The Toxic Handbook by Milner.

It's available in the university library.

Thank you very much, Mrs. Fletcher. I'll be in touch.

Michael.

I brought you a gift.

For your church.

$25,000.

In memory of our father.

I can't accept this.

What, are you crazy?

This could help you save some kids from the streets, for God's sake.

Raymond, I know where this comes from.

It wouldn't be right.

You're making a big mistake, padre.

Maybe.

So our father dies in your own confessional

and you won't even accept a tribute to him.

Is this this Christian forgiveness you people are so famous for?

Christian forgiveness? No, it isn't, Raymond.

But I'm afraid there are some things I can't forgive!

Fine.

Yeah, over there.

Sergeant Davis?

Could I speak to you for a minute?

Of course. Come in, Mrs. Galvan.

Father Michael said that you were looking for Joe and Tony in church today.

That's right. Did they come home?

No.

He also told me that last night you thought maybe Fernandez

didn't have a heart attack.

Today we got proof that he was murdered.

What does that have to do with my sons?

Well, I don't know yet.

But Tony was seen at the church just after the murder

and José may have had access to... Excuse me.

I had my people check out a book over at the university library.

A book that Mrs. Fletcher recommended to her mystery-writing students.

It's called The Toxic Handbook and it describes exactly

the kind of poisons that killed Frank Fernandez.

According to this,

the only one of her students whoever signed it out

was your son, José.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Galvan, I'm gonna have to put out an APB.

Well, that won't be necessary.

That's what I came here to tell you.

While José had that book at home, I made some notes from it.

I killed Frank Fernandez.

Jessica, I'm so glad you're here.

I don't know what to do.

They picked up José early this morning.

Listen, Maria, what you tried to do was very brave.

But not very smart.

When Sergeant Davis asked me what poisons I had used, I could only guess

and I was wrong.

Well, have you spoken to José?

Yes. He'd been hiding out

in a bus-barn over in the Bronx.

Oh.

But he swears he hasn't been near that church.

Did anyone see him the night of the murder?

Not that he knows of.

But he insists he never checked that book out of the library.

But according to the police, he signed for it.

Unless... Excuse me, Maria.

What is it, Jessica?

I've got the sign-out sheet right here, Mrs. Fletcher.

But I thought the students used library cards.

Well, you know these kids.

Sometimes they forget their cards,

so we allow them to sign for the books instead.

Here we go. José Galvan.

That's what I showed the police.

Do you recall seeing him sign it?

No, not really.

We get hundreds of students a day in here.

Any one of us could have handled this.

But if a student didn't have a card,

you'd want to check to see that he was registered?

That's right. Galvan.

There he is.

Oh, so he is.

Thank you.

Oh, just one other thing.

Um, would you happen to know if The Toxic Handbook

has been returned?

We'll know in a minute.

Yes, it has.

May I borrow it?

I have my card.

Jessica,

Ruth has told me something in confidence.

I can't repeat it, of course.

But I've persuaded her to at least speak with you.

Ruth?

I knew it was in him to do something,

and I begged him not to.

He promised.

Mrs. Fletcher, I was in the church the night Frank Fernandez was murdered.

I can't... I...

Ruth.

Whether or not you say any more to me,

the police are certainly going to want to question you.

I mean, you can refuse to cooperate.

You can lie. But for how long?

Mrs. Fletcher, I...

I saw everything.

I saw the murder.

And I saw who did it.

It was José.

Oh...

I don't believe it. His own fiancée?

Maria, I hate to say this, but things seem to be going

from bad to worse.

Now, she admits that she never saw his face.

So why does she think it was José? What are you saying?

Well, according to Ruth, the killer was wearing José's jacket.

You know, the Saint Julian jacket with the "I" missing on the back.

Now, I saw Tony wearing that jacket not long after the murder.

Jessica, are you telling me that you think Tony killed Frank Fernandez?

Oh, of course not. All I'm trying to say is

that it's unfortunate that they're both under suspicion.

Oh, God in heaven, this is worse than my worst nightmare.

Look, Maria, I don't... I don't want to get your hopes up,

but things may not be as bad as they seem.

Tell me,

you carry the Lobel and the Anacycla Wolfia, don't you?

The Lobel... Yeah, it's there.

And I have the Anacycla over by the ferns.

Ruth found exporters for both when she was in Jamaica.

What does that have to do with anything?

Look, is it possible that you could identify someone

who might have purchased it here recently?

No, it's too inexpensive and common.

We don't keep records.

Well, what about the other plant stores?

The same. TONY: Ma!

Ma?

I just heard! Is it true? They arrest José?

Tony, I want the truth.

Did you kill Frank Fernandez?

Me? Hell, no!

I wanted to.

But nobody would sell me any bullets for that stupid gun.

Tony, have you been wearing that jacket all the time?

Yeah, why?

No, forget it. All of you.

Look, I've got Ruth's statement that she saw José.

José cannot account for his whereabouts at the time of death.

He hated Fernandez for killing his father

and he learned all about poisons in your class, Mrs. Fletcher.

The only thing I don't have is a confession.

And that's just a matter of time.

That's it, Sergeant!

What? What's it?

Confession.

Sergeant, Frank Fernandez was poisoned in the confessional.

But he died outside it, in the church, proper.

Yeah. So?

Yeah, but the newspaper reports never said anything about the confessional.

Oh, that's right. We never give all the details to the press.

Then, it couldn't have been José that Ruth saw that night.

Well, wait a minute.

Sergeant, I think I know who committed the murder.

I've gotta hand it to you, Sergeant.

You nailed José Galvan in record time.

Now, what can I do for you?

Well, Ray, Mrs. Fletcher thinks she's got an insight or two.

I didn't think you'd mind if she ran 'em past you.

Like I said, I think it's high time we got this community back together.

Anyone care for a drink?

No, thank you.

Oh, I think that the community will be celebrating,

Mr. Fernandez.

After you're behind bars for the murder of your father.

Wait a minute. This is some kind of joke, right?

No.

Unfortunately, it's not.

You concocted a rather elaborate plot to kill your father

and frame José Galvan.

Get her out of here.

Put a sock in it, Raymond. She's just getting into it.

You relied on two things to frame José.

First, there was the jacket José always wore,

the one with the missing letter.

The second element was my writing class, in which José was enrolled.

You're reaching, Mrs. Fletcher.

Am I?

You knew we'd been researching various methods of murder,

including the use of deadly exotic poisons,

the kind that are difficult to trace.

And how would I have known that?

By dating one of my students,

Denise Dillard,

who was terribly flattered by your interest in her and her writing

and didn't realize your sole purpose

was to stay on top of the subjects that we were covering.

Based on what she told you, you went to the library

and signed out The Toxic Handbook.

But you signed as José Galvan.

And that was your first mistake.

I remembered that he never used José on any of his papers.

Galvan.

Signing his work with the pen-name Joseph Galvan.

José had anglicized his name.

Which still has nothing to do with me.

It might not have except that you pointed the finger at yourself.

The police hadn't revealed that your father

was poisoned in the confessional.

But when you talked to Michael in the gym, you knew it.

So our father dies in your own confessional

and you won't even accept a tribute to him?

Only the killer would have been under the impression that that's where he died.

And we fished this out of your car trunk

along with a briefcase full of cocaine.

Hey, man, that's illegal search and seizure and...

Don't worry, we've got a warrant.

The jacket was your second mistake.

It's a duplicate of José's,

down to the missing "I" in "Julian."

You wore it when you murdered your father.

What you couldn't have known was that, that night

José had given the jacket to his brother Tony.

It's all... It's all circumstantial and you know it.

Besides, why would I kill my own father?

Because you knew that, sooner or later,

he'd admit that it was you who had murdered Roberto Galvan.

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! You're one crazy lady, you know that?

Your father couldn't be retried for it

but his testimony could convict you.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute. There's no way that you can prove that I did this.

Yeah, but we don't have to prove that you killed Galvan.

Forensics found your prints all over The Toxic Handbook.

You're goin' down for your father's murder.

Roberto Galvan

found out I was dealing drugs and came to my house.

Threatened to go to the cops

if I didn't stop.

I went after him to scare him off, but he started arguing.

That's when I did it.

With your father's gun.

Yeah, yeah.

He said he'd protect me.

But I knew that there were limits.

A man who was willing to spend the rest of his life in prison

just to save your worthless butt.

You're a hell of a son, Raymond.

How's the press release coming?

It's all done.

I'll get it copied.

Since Maria took over as my campaign manager, things have been going great.

Ma, we need some more envelopes.

You know, there's one thing that worries me about all this, Michael.

What's that? Well, when you're elected,

it'll make you even less believable as a fictitious character!