All language subtitles for [TorrentCounter.eu].Marshall.2017.720p.x264.[774MB]

[needle crackling
in record groove]

[blues guitar playing]

[man]
♪ Oh, honey ♪

[full band:
blues continues playing]

A confession.

Is that what they call it?

Billy Lyons
was thrown in jail
for three days

without cause.

In the case of Inez Washington
v. the CR&L Bus Company,

gentlemen, I have reviewed
all the papers and briefs
in my chambers

and I am prepared
to rule.

The court finds that service
of the complaint was in fact
made at the wrong address,

as Attorney Friedman
has argued.

Therefore, the defendant's
motion to dismiss

is granted.

[gavel raps]
Thank you, Your Honor.

Great work, Friedman.

[sobbing]

And to get
their confession,

Special Agent
Cheatwood,

sent by
the governor himself,

took this club--

his "nigger beater,"
he called it.

He tied Billy Lyons
to a chair...

and he pounded Billy Lyons
in the head with it.

And still
Billy Lyons insisted

he had not committed
these murders.

We had this one
pegged as a loser.

You've got a real knack
for spotting technicalities.

Thank you,
Mr. Sprague.

[sobbing, gasping]

I'll be sending
some more files your way,
if you've got the time.

I will make the time.
Good.

They forced him
into their car

and hauled him off
to the murder scene.

The bodies had been burned
and were decomposing.

They took some of the bones
of these dead bodies,

put them in a pan
and placed them
in Billy Lyons' hands.

They admitted this.

Delirious
with exhaustion and pain,

Billy Lyons
confessed to a crime
he did not commit.

And it is based upon
that confession alone

that they now seek to hang
Billy Lyons by the neck...

until he is dead.

[woman] You'll get them
the next time, baby.
There may not be a next time.

We needed this one.
All right.

When you coming home?
I'll be on the next
train to Knoxville.

I should be home
by midday Wednesday.

Okay. Be safe.
I love you.
I love you too.

Bye, baby.
See you soon.

[coin drops in phone]

Hey, boy.

Boy, what do you think
you're doing here?

[conductor making
announcement, indistinct]

What you gonna do,
nigger?

[train whistle blows]
[conductor]
All aboard.

I'll see you boys
another time.

That son of a bitch.
Let's go scare him.

Shoot him.

[woman]
NAACP.

Please hold.

Good morning,
Mr. Marshall.
Good morning.

Welcome back.
Thank you.

[scoffs]

Thurgood,
you're going to Bridgeport.

What? Now?

No, I swore to Buster
I would--

How many Thurgoods are there?
Five or 10? There's only one.

And that one
is gonna get his ass
on the train tomorrow.

Why?
Why?

"Nightmare in Greenwich."
That's why, Thurgood.

"Wife Attacked
by Negro Driver."
That's why, Thurgood.

How about,
"Fear Grips Connecticut"?

What's the reaction?
Fear.

Getting calls
from all over the country.
Negroes getting fired.

White families afraid
to have us in their home.

If we can't work as domestics,
Negro families
are going to starve.

And this is a hell of a time
to lose half of our staff.

It's got everything,
doesn't it?

"Eleanor Strubing,

fair-haired
Greenwich socialite,

was the victim
of a beastly attack
in her own bedroom."

Yes, and the boy
that they're holding
is straight out of Native Son.

Look at that.

Wow.

"Joseph Spell.

Uneducated Negro servant
with a criminal past."

A fable that
the New York City press is gonna
feed on to the last morsel.

Yeah. They're starving
for this one.
So are we.

We win this thing,
our big donors are coming
right back, Thurgood.

There's only 13 million Negroes
depending on you.

Irwin said
I would find you here.

[spits]
What?

Your brother
said I would find you here.
You know, swimming.

Nice swimsuit.

Who the hell are you?
Tad Lancaster.

Bridgeport High.
Remember?

Trombone?
Yeah!

Still blowin' it too, man.
What are you
doing here, Tad?

Oh, I am, uh, working
with the Bridgeport NAACP.

Actually, I am
the Bridgeport NAACP,
and I need a little favor.

Do you know
that Spell case?

The guy who attacked
the girl from Greenwich?
Yeah.

Now, National is sending
a lawyer from the city
to handle his defense,

and we need a local guy
to get him admitted.

[wheezing laugh]
[chuckles]

Uh, sorry, no.
I'm not gonna do that.

-There's nothing else required.
-I'm not interested.

Think about the publicity.
That's exactly
what I'm thinking of.

-Your brother seems to think--
-My brother is
an absolute idiot.

Listen, Tad,
thank you so much
for thinking of me.

Honestly,
I'm grateful.

But I don't handle
criminal cases. Okay?

Find someone who wants
that kind of attention.

Irwin already filed the papers
with the court.

He did what?

[radio: announcer]
...scattered over
many parts of the country.

Nazi aircraft were reported over
the south coast, the midlands--
Paper, please.

as well as over
the London area.

Thurgood Marshall.

National Association
for the Advancement
of Colored People.

Sam Friedman.
Um, Friedman and Friedman.

Good to meet you,
Sam.

Give me a hand with these,
would you?
Sure.

What have you got in here?
Cement?

Guns.

Books, Mr. Friedman.

My law library.

It goes where I go.

Look, I told Tad Lancaster
I'll get you admitted,
as a favor.

But I can't get involved
with a case like this.
Yeah? Why not?

Well, I do insurance defense.
You know, accident cases.

I've got a reputation
to think of.

Ah.

That must be
difficult.
What?

Having a reputation
to think of.

You meet our client yet?
Your client.
And no, I was waiting--

Well, come on then.
Let's get to it.

[siren wailing]

Got another one
coming in.
Okay.

University of Maryland
Law School.

Was walking distance
from home.

But they didn't accept colored,
so I had to go to Howard.

An hour and a half
each way by bus,

and well-known
as a school for failures.

That's too bad.

No. No, it was the best thing
that ever happened to me.

They'd just
brought in a new dean,
Charles Hamilton Houston.

Turned that place around,
taught me everything I know,

including how to sue
the University of Maryland.

You sued them?

You bet your ass I did.
Soon as I passed the bar.

And?

Supreme Court
ordered the bastards
to integrate.

[coughs, clears throat]

You argued
in the United States
Supreme Court?

What?

No, the Maryland
Supreme Court.

I didn't argue in front of
the US Supreme Court
until last year.

Your boy
is ready for you.

Spell.
Lawyer's here to see you.

[door locks]

Mr. Spell,
I'm Thurgood Marshall
with the NAACP.

You heard of us?

-You a lawyer?
-I am.

This is Sam Friedman.
He's a lawyer too.

You can go.
Got no money for lawyers.

Anybody ask you
for money?

Did you rape that woman,
Joseph?

No.

Why does she
say you did?
I don't know.

-She says you raped her
and tried to kill her.
-She's lying.

I was up in White Plains,
at a club.

Come on, Joseph.
All night long?

No, not all night.

I was at the house
but couldn't sleep,
so I went to play cards.

Got back
maybe 6:00, 6:30.

Anybody see you
at the club?

Yeah, but I don't know
their names or nothin'.

For an alibi defense,
you need witnesses, Joseph.

Otherwise
it's her word
against yours.

And who do you think
they're gonna believe?

There was a cop.

A cop?
Stopped me in Port Chester
on the way to the club.

Looked at my license,
then let me go.
What time was that?

I don't know.
Maybe 3:00 in the morning.

I'm telling you this
up front.

The NAACP,
we're not like most lawyers.

We only represent
innocent people,

people accused
because of their race.

That's our mission.
You understand?

So I need to know this--
Look at me now.

Did you do
what they said you did?

I never touched that woman.

Okay, Joseph.

You got lawyers now.

[car radio:
classical music playing]

[classical music
continues, stops]

[tuning frequencies]

Go ahead.
Change the station.

[radio: jazz playing]

What do you know
about the prosecutor?

Lorin Willis.

Graduated Yale
the day he was born.

Unless you came over
on the Mayflower,
you're nothing to him.

They're grooming him
to be senator, I hear.

What do you know
about the judge?
Judge Foster?

Former law partner
of Willis's father.

[chuckling]

[engine, radio off]
I'll move your admission
Monday morning, and then--

Back to fighting off
those insurance claims.

Yeah, I know.

[grunts]

[piano: jazz playing]

Ah. So you like
Langston Hughes, huh?

Of course.
Don't you?

I don't give a damn
about no poetry.

[chuckles]
Come on.

I actually went to school
with Langston.

I just wish he'd do
something more worthwhile
with his time.

Another bourbon,
Mr. Marshall?
Sure. [sighs]

You know,
Tad's got a law degree too.
From Fordham.

You told me
you were a driver.
Yep.

The state of Connecticut
decided to not allow me
a license to practice law.

They were generous enough
to give me
a driver's license, however.

I see.

What about you,
Irene?

What are you gonna be
when you grow up?
A nurse like your mother?

No.
A lawyer then?

No.
A fighter pilot.

[mother chuckling]
A fighter pilot?

Well, I feel a whole lot
more safe knowing that.

[Tad]
All right, say good night
to Mr. Marshall, Renie.

Good night.

You got kids?

Uh, Buster and I
have been trying
for a while.

Buster is my wife.
Sometimes people think
I'm talking about my dog.

You should get a dog
and name it "Mrs. Marshall."
Ah!

So, you think
this boy did it?

Hey, whose side you on?

Women don't just go around
lying about being raped,
Mr. Marshall.

You're going to
have to figure out
why she'd do such a thing.

Burden of proof
is on the State.
Is it now?

Hey there.

So what can you tell me
about this Friedman guy
anyway?

Sam and me
played trombone together
in the high school band.

You trust him?
Sam? Oh, yeah.
Yeah, yeah.

If you dropped a nickel
while kicking him in the balls,
he'd return it to you.

Mmm.
[both laughing]

Couldn't play trombone
for shit though.

[reporters clamoring]
Gentlemen!
Can I have a minute, please?

Just a minute!
Who is this,
a relative of Spell?

I'm Mr. Spell's attorney.
Thurgood Marshall.

I thought you were
Spell's lawyer,
Mr. Freeman.

It's Friedman.
Sam Friedman.

Of Friedman
and Friedman.
Local counsel. That is all.

-The defense team, huh?
-Is your boy innocent,
Mr. Friedman?

He is not my--
Let me state this to you all
clearly and unequivocally.

Our client, Joseph Spell,
is an innocent man.

[reporter] Well, let's get
a picture of you two.

[spectators chattering]

All rise.

Superior Court
is now in session.

The Honorable Carl Foster
presiding.

[clears throat]
You may be seated.

The State of Connecticut
v. Joseph Spell.

Are the parties
ready to proceed?

[Willis]
The State is ready,
Your Honor.

[Foster] Ah, Mr. Willis.
Good morning.

How's your father
doing?

He's better. Thank you.
That's kind of you to ask.

Uh, the defense
is ready as well,
Your Honor.

Well then,
let's get on with it.

Mr., uh--

Mr. Friedman.

You filed
an application to admit
an out-of-state attorney?

Yes, Your Honor.
Attorney Thurgood Marshall
of the Maryland Bar.

I have the application
in front of me, Mr. Friedman.

Uh-huh.
[clears throat]

Why do we need to
admit this lawyer,
Mr. Friedman?

Does he have
a long-standing relationship
with the defendant?

Uh, no, Your Honor,
uh, but--

-How long has he known him?
-Not long, Your Honor, but--

Exactly how long?

Well, he met him
for the first time
a few days ago.

However--
[spectators laughing]

[Foster]
A few days ago?

Well, then what possible reason
could there be to admit him?

You're a perfectly
capable attorney,
are you not, Mr. Friedman?

You have tried cases before,
haven't you?

Only civil cases, Your Honor.
But Mr. Marshall
is with the NAACP.

And they are concerned
that their defendant
receive a fair trial.

So are we all,
Attorney Friedman.

So are we all.

But he's not a member
of our bar, is he?

No, he's not.

However, Your Honor,
Mr. Marshall
is a respected attorney.

He argued
in the United States
Supreme Court.

That has no bearing
on this case.

Your Honor,
may I be heard?

No, you may not.

The court has heard enough
and will rule.

[clears throat]

The court sees
no legal requirement

to admit out-of-state counsel
in this case.

But, Your Honor--
However,

the court
not only wishes to be fair
to all of the parties,

but to maintain
the appearance of fairness
as well.

Therefore, the court
will allow Mr. Marshall

to enter his appearance
for the defense--

Respectfully--

His written appearance,
Mr. Willis.

Mr. Marshall
may sit at counsel table.

However, he may not speak.

Your Honor,
I must speak for the client.

He may not speak, argue,
or examine witnesses.

If he violates this ruling,
he will be held
in contempt of court.

And you as well,
Mr. Friedman.

You will conduct this case.

Me?
Yes, you.

The trial will begin
a month from today

at 10:00 a.m.

Court adjourned.
[gavel raps]

[bailiff]
All rise.

What the--

What the hell
just happened?

What just happened here?
[whispers] Shut up and
be quiet. Let me think.

I can't do this.
You know that.
Shut up.

Excuse me?

That son of a bitch.

I've tried cases before judges
who were Grand Dragons
of the Ku Klux Klan,

who forced me to enter
through the back door,

but this horseshit
is a first.

I cannot get involved
in a case like this.

Are you listening to me?
It would destroy my practice.

This is not
my problem.

The hell it isn't.

No, you heard the judge.

Until we can find
somebody better,
it's you and me.

It's our problem
now.

Uh, Mr. Marshall...

[brake sets]
[engine idling]

[door opens, closes]
[whimpering]

According to
Eleanor Strubing's account,

Spell rapes her at home,
ties and gags her,
then drives up here.

He stops approximately 60 feet
onto the bridge, like so--

[screaming]
Joseph! Please!

[Thurgood]
Takes her out of the car--

No! No!
[sobbing]

then pushes her
over the guardrail,

into the reservoir,
right about here.

He throws rocks at her,
then drives away.

Somehow she gets to shore.

Dripping wet.

Then climbs up to the road.

[gasping, panting]

Ah.

Awfully scary down there
though.

Go take a look
where she climbed out.

Me? These are
my best shoes.

Please try to
make yourself useful.

[gasping, panting]

Stop. Stop!

[horn honks]

Stop.

This is where
the truck driver found her.

What do you want
with those?

It's an old
Negro superstition.

Always take a little piece
of the earth with you.

Really?

[door closes]

Mr. Friedman, your picture's
on the front page
with Mr. Marshall.

Oh.
Not a bad picture.

Of me, anyway.

-Also, your wife called.
-Oh, Sam. Perfect.

-Where you been?
-Out getting the cutlery I need
to castrate you.

You must be Irwin.
I am.

Mr. Marshall.
Pleasure to meet you.
Pleasure.

Sam, listen,
I have great news.

I made some calls.
Harry Gruber,
he wants the case.

Harry Gruber.
The Communist.

Sam, at least he handles
criminal defense.

Can you get Gruber
on the line, Ruth?

Sure thing.
Thank you.

This is not
a cut-and-dry case.

You should really consider
whether or not this is something
you want to commit to.

You want
the Communist Party
taking over?

They'll martyr Spell
for their own cause.

Not my problem.

You think he did it.
That's for a jury
to decide.

You think he raped this woman
and drove her to the reservoir
to kill her?

People have done
stranger things.

That's right. People do
all sorts of strange things,
horrible things.

But throw a woman
over the bridge, into the water,
not check to see if she's dead,

then drive back
to her house?

You've gotta have
a pretty dim view
of Negroes

to think any one of us
would do anything
so goddamn stupid.

The papers say
he was dishonorably discharged
from the army.

This isn't
a court-martial.

He was fired
from his last job
for stealing.

No charges were brought.

He left behind a wife
and two kids in Louisiana,
Thurgood.

Yes, he's got baggage.
Criminal defendants
usually do.

They're not perfect citizens
like you and me.

But none of that
makes him guilty
of this crime.

I got Gruber on the phone.
What do you want me
to tell him?

I don't know.
Tell him he's a schmuck.

-Sam, come on.
-Irwin! Genug, huh?

[sighs]

Why me?

I need someone
who will do
as I say.

What makes you think
I will do as you say?

You have no choice.
You don't know
what you're doing.

You're quite a salesman.

[Thurgood]
There's no time
for that.

You want me
to try this case.

No, I need you
to try this case.

"And the Lord commanded Moses
to enlist his brother's help.

He shall speak for you
to the people."

[both, in unison]
"He shall be your mouth,

and you shall be
as God to him."

Tell Gruber
to go fuck himself.

All right.

And find the cop
who stopped Spell.
We need a witness.

Okay. I'm on it.

What is this?

You say you've never tried
a criminal case before, right?

Yeah, that's right.

You'd better
start reading then.

You've got one month.

Hey, look who's back.
You coming tonight?

No, not tonight.

Oh, man, I was
really looking forward
to catching up with you.

All right, you need to
stop feeling sorry
for yourself.

I am the one
who's been sick...

every morning...

for the past month.

What?
[laughing]

You better not
be lying.
Look at the bump.

Oh! I see it.

You see it?
Mmm!

Mmm, mmm.
[laughs]

I'm not going anywhere
after this.

Hmm.

What?

You don't
believe me.
No, I don't.

I swear.

You swear.

I swear I swear.
Nowhere, nowhere.

I swear.
Mmm!

[band: jazz playing]

♪ Trouble in mind ♪

♪ Guess I'm blue ♪

♪ But I won't be blue always ♪

♪ Sun is gonna shine ♪

♪ In my back door someday ♪

Langston, he swore
on his mother's life

that he wouldn't be going
anywhere anytime soon.

My mother's name
was never mentioned.
[Buster giggles]

Well, this case
is all anybody in this city
is talking about.

Which only means that
the inevitable loss will be
that much more devastating.

Don't bet against me.
You're not even
trying the case, baby.

Every single word that man
utters in that courtroom
will be mine.

I'm just making the point
that a Negro
charged with ravishment

by the Greenwich
gentility

should probably save himself
the time and unpleasantness
of a trial.

Langston, maybe you should
just go back to Spain.

Or back to Russia.

Write your little poems,
explore big ideas
with your comrades.

I was fighting Fascists
in Spain.

Well, you were writing
about fighting Fascists
in Spain.

[laughs]
Listen, by the time
the baby comes,

Thurgood's gonna be
out of a job.

Do none of you
have any confidence in me?

I'd say you have
enough confidence
for us all,

misplaced as it may be.

[Buster giggles]

[man laughs]
Great to see you!

[Langston]
God, here comes Zora.

Probably leaving dinner
with Charles Lindbergh.

-Don't you dare--
-Zora!

[man shouts]
Sit down!

[Thurgood]
Come on over here.

Zora Neale Hurston!
Hi!

How y'all doin'?

Langston Hughes.
Zora.

Mmm.

[kisses]

[Zora]
And who is this?
I'm August.

I've heard
so much about you.
Huh.

That's funny,
'cause I haven't heard
a thing about you.

Huh, Langston?

♪ Oh, trouble in mind ♪

[vocalizing]

[song ends]
[applause]

[man]
You had it now, girl!

Okay, guys.
We ready to go?

You're still
not talking to me.

It's--
It's not my fault.

You have no idea
how persuasive
this guy can be.

[door opens]

[congregation murmuring]

Shh.
[whispering]
Stella.

What on earth
is Sam thinking?

With all
that's going on
in the world today,

we don't need
this kind of attention
focused on us.

Well, he wasn't
looking for it, Rose.
Irwin got him involved.

Well, you tell him
that everybody is terrified
by what this man did.

Sophie Gittelson
fired her girl today.

She's been with them
for 11 years.

They fired Gladys?
Why? She's lovely.

Yeah, she's lovely.

But what if
one of her relatives
comes to visit?

They have their daughter
to think of.

I would've done
the same thing.
[organ playing]

[rabbi singing
in Hebrew]

[clears throat]

Well, if it isn't
Mr. Friedlansky.

Mr. Weisman.

Dora and I couldn't remember.
Were you born here or in Minsk?

We, uh-- We came over
when I was one.

That's what
I thought.

So you feel like
a really big shot, I bet,
defending that schvartze.

What do you think
your father would say?

I could not tell you.

I think he'd say
he was proud.

For the defense.

Don't mention it.

To anyone.

[engine starts]

[boy]
Eew!

[Foster]
Jury selection, gentlemen.

Clerk, call the first
venire person.

Lester Gilman
of Norwalk.

-Mr. Gilman.
-[clears throat]

Mr., uh, Gilman,

um, in this case
a colored man is accused
of raping a white woman.

Could you be fair
in deciding such a case?

I think so.

No further questions.

Accepted by the defense.

To tell you the truth,
I don't know much about them,
the colored.

We don't have too many
in Stratford.

Excused.

I'll be honest with you.
I don't like the colored.

Seems to me
they're always getting into
some sort of trouble.

I don't think much
of Hebrews either.

Excuse me?

Well, you're one of them...
I figured.

Thank you for your candor,
Mr. Wright.

Uh, no further questions.

[whispers]
Excuse for cause.

Counselor?

Your Honor,
we move to have Mr. Wright
excused for cause.

On what grounds?

[whispers]
Bias.
[whispers] I know.

He just admitted
he's biased.

Mr. Wright, you are
a law-abiding citizen.

Wouldn't you say?
That's right,
Your Honor.

If I instructed you
that the law requires
that you set aside your bias,

would you obey
my instruction?

Guess I'd have to.

The challenge for cause
is overruled.

You may use
the peremptory challenge.

-Your Honor,
with all due respect--
-I've made my ruling.

[clears throat]

Excused.

Mr. Ellis,
you agree, do you not,

that as a colored man
you could not fairly
pass judgment on Mr. Spell.

No, sir.

You agree
you could not be fair.

No. What I mean is,
yes, if he's guilty,
I'd have to convict him.

I'll use a challenge.

[whispers]
Object.

On what basis?
Just do it.

Uh, Your Honor,
I object.

Grounds?

[Thurgood whispering]
He can't use the challenge
to discrim--

I heard that,
Mr. Marshall.

It's a peremptory challenge,
Mr. Friedman.

The State may use it
for whatever reason it wants.

Mr. Willis,
you have four left.
The defense has one.

[whispering]
What was the point of that?

Every single time
they discriminate,
we're going to object.

Recognize it.
Now.

[Willis]
Mrs. Richmond,
do you reside in Greenwich?

Yes, Mr. Willis.
I do now.

And if the State
proves its case,

you could convict
the defendant?

Yes, of course I could.

Thank you, Mrs. Richmond.
That's all I wanted to know.

Mrs. Richmond,
I notice you have
an accent.

Really? Here I thought
you were the one with
the accent, Mr. Friedman.

Fair enough.

Mrs. Richmond,

where did you live
before moving here?

Raleigh,
North Carolina.

But now you live
in Greenwich.
Yes, that's right.

So if you live in Greenwich,
you must have heard
about this case.

It's all
anybody talks about.

I assume, then, that you've come
to some sort of conclusion

regarding
the defendant's guilt
or innocence?

You assume incorrectly.

I don't have all the evidence,
now, do I?

Have you met
Mrs. Strubing?

In passing, at parties
and community events.

I believe we belong
to the same club.

Do you really think then,
Mrs. Richmond,

that with
all of these connections--
the club, the parties--

that you could really
just set all of that aside?

I don't see why not.

Thank you.
No further questions.

The State accepts
Mrs. Richmond.

Your Honor--
[whispering]
What?

No. Absolutely not.

-Mr. Friedman.
-[clears throat]

Your Honor,
may we have five minutes,
please?

Fine with me,
Your Honor.

The court will recess
for exactly five minutes.

But we're not gonna
make a habit of this,
are we, counselor?

No. No, of course not.
Thank you, Your Honor.

[gavel raps]

We have one challenge left.
It was made for this woman.

Just trust me
on this.

She's a Southerner.
Lives in the same town.

Take her.
I'm not
your goddamn puppet.

I'm getting rid of her.

She's smart, she's confident,
she resists authority.

Did you see the way
she talked back to you?

The other jurors
will listen to her.
Which is exactly the problem.

She knows Mrs. Strubing.
They run in
the same social circles.

And she doesn't
put her on a pedestal.

Maybe Mrs. Strubing
is a drinker.

Maybe she has
a boyfriend in town.
This woman may know things.

You are stabbing
in the dark.

Maybe,
but this I do know.

The one thing
Southerners like her hate
more than the colored--

arrogant Yankee pricks
like Willis.

Were you watching her?

She folded her arms
and sat back
when Willis spoke.

When you began,
she opened up,

leaned forward,
removed her glasses.

These are signs.

Signs of what?

She likes you.

No, my gl--
my glasses!

I need my glasses.

[whispers]
Well, it's about time.
Yeah.

Mr. Friedman?

The defendant
accepts Mrs. Richmond.

[whispers]
Am I missing something?

Mrs. Richmond,
you've been accepted
by both of the parties

and will serve as
our 12th and final juror.

The evidence will begin
tomorrow morning at 10:00.
[gavel raps]

Hey, hey!
Hey, hey! Mr. Friedman!
Mr. Friedman.

What do you have to say
about today's comments
by the NAACP?

-What comments?
-The press release
by Walter White?

He says that, "The Spell case
will show the world

that a colored man
cannot get a fair trial in
the United States of America."

Do you agree, Mr. Friedman?
I have nothing to say
about that.

What about you,
Mr. Marshall?

Hasn't it been proven
in this courtroom already?

[reporters clamoring]

How can a man have a fair trial
when he's denied counsel
of his choice?

When the members of his race
are eliminated from service
on his jury?

When fear and bias against
his race are the central points
of the case against him?

[reporters shouting]
In Europe right now,

the forces of tyranny
have mobilized

behind the vision
of a so-called master race.

But here in America,
our differences
aren't supposed to matter.

Here we're promised
equal protection under the law.

Separate
but equal!

Nothing complicated
about that.

That promise
has not been realized,
not even close.

Not in Birmingham, Alabama,
nor in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,

and certainly not here
in Bridgeport, Connecticut--

[reporters shouting]

where your bigotry
is simply covered
by a northern accent.

But a fair jury can always
render a just verdict.

That's what we're striving for
here today.

The Constitution
was not written for us.
We know that.

But no matter what,
we're gonna make it
work for us.

From now on
we claim it as our own.

[shouting, jeering]

What's bothering you?

Sam.
Not now.

What's bothering me?

You insulting the judge
on the courthouse steps.
That's what's bothering me.

[scoffs]
Just relax.

Excuse me?

I have to live in this city
after you're gone. Understand?

No more public statements
until this trial is over,
or I'm gone.

Let me make this clear.

My people will decide
what to say to the newspapers
and when to say it.

The newspapers should have
no place in this trial.

But they already do.
People are losing their jobs
because of these stories.

Those people
are not my clients!
Well, they are mine!

My jury isn't just
the 12 people in that jury box.
It's the whole goddamn nation.

You just focus on this case,
try your best not to screw it up
and leave the big picture to me.

[clears throat]
Sam.

What is it, Irwin?
Don't you have
something to do?

There's someone
waiting for you
in my office.

Yes?
And who is this someone?

Uh, Officer McCoy.

And who the hell
is Officer McCoy?

The cop
who pulled Spell over
that night.

I just did
what you said.

I drove around Port Chester,
pulling over police cars,
and I found him.

Attaboy, Irwin.
Attaboy.

What time
did you pull over
Mr. Spell?

Did you hear the question?

3:37 a.m.,
according to my notes.

Why'd you stop him?

It didn't look like...

a man like that
would drive that car.

Was anyone with him
in the car?

No. He was alone.

You're willing to
testify to that in court?

If I have to.

Irwin, get a sworn statement
from Officer McCoy,
then escort him out.

Officer.

Wow.

An honest policeman.

[crowd shouting, jeering]

See what your publicity
stirs up?

No, it just brings 'em out
where you can see 'em.

Give us justice!

That doesn't look
anything like me.

Does it?

The State of Connecticut
v. Joseph Spell.

Are counsel
ready to proceed?

Ready for the State.

We are, Your Honor.

Mr. Willis, you may call
your first witness.

The State calls Greenwich Police
Captain Burke to the stand.

Would you
identify these photos,
Captain Burke?

Yes, sir.
That's the Kensico Reservoir.

Did you find any evidence
at the scene

that pertains to
this case?

Yes, sir, we did.

We found Mrs. Strubing's
sealskin coat
floating in the reservoir,

under the bridge,
about here.

Then about here,
on the guardrail,
we found some strands of fabric.

I believe they were stuck
to some bird droppings.

Were you able to
identify the fabric?

Yes, sir. It matched the fabric
from Mrs. Strubing's
sealskin coat.

Thank you.
Nothing further.

[Foster]
Your witness,
Mr. Friedman.

[whispering]

Bird droppings.

Sorry?

Uh, bird droppings,
Captain Burke?

Yes, that's right.

Were you able to
identify the bird?

[spectators chuckling]

May I?

Thank you.

Now--
[clears throat]

on one side of the bridge
is the reservoir,
placid as a lake.

On the other side
is a 30-foot drop
onto a jagged rock bed.

-Is that correct?
-You could say that.

And the fabric
that you found
was on the lake side,

right about here,

around 60 feet
onto the bridge.

[Burke]
Sixty-seven feet,
four inches.

Okay.

Did you conclude, then,
that Mrs. Strubing fell
or jumped off the bridge?

I concluded
that she was pushed.
Pushed?

To murder her.

[Burke]
That's right.

As a trained
crime investigator, Captain,

did you ever ask yourself,

if someone wanted
Mrs. Strubing dead,

why not push her onto the sharp,
jagged rock bed rather than
the still lake water?

Object.
Asking for speculation.

Sustained. The jury will
disregard the question.

Now-- [clears throat]
Mrs. Strubing told you

that after pushing her
into the water,

Joseph threw rocks at her
from the bridge.

Is that correct?
Yes.

Mm-hmm.
Were there any rocks
on the bridge?

I don't know.
There may have been.

But there were rocks
in the area around the bridge.
Is that correct?

Yes, there were.

About how big
were they?

I really
couldn't say.

[pebbles shaking]

Were they...

any bigger than this,
Captain?

I can't say they were.

This... This is a pebble,
isn't it, Captain?

You could call it that.

What would you call it?

A pebble.

[spectators laughing]

A pebble.

So, in summary, Captain,

it is your belief
that this man

threw Mrs. Strubing
into a placid lake,

then gathered pebbles
to toss at her

while she waited patiently
under the bridge.

Object.

Withdrawn.

No further questions,
Your Honor.

Captain Burke,
you are excused.

Court is adjourned.

[bailiff]
All rise.

Mr. Friedman.

Well done.

Well done.
Let's go.

Why are you smiling?

I think we scored
some points there.

This isn't
a sporting event.

A man's life
is on the line.

A word with you,
Friedman.

Yes, of course.

Alone.

Or to you both.

The doctor who examined Ellie
is testifying tomorrow.

It's rather personal,
of course.

These are
private people--

Please
get to the point.

Excuse me?

I've spoken with John Strubing,
and he's willing
to consider a plea.

It's my decision,
of course,

but plead your boy
and I'll recommend
a sentence of 20 years.

Otherwise,
he gets life.
No.

-No deals.
-[exhales]

Mr. Friedman?

Not my call.

Of course. You have to
speak to your client.

I'll expect
a different answer
in the morning.

[Thurgood]
Even with good behavior,

you'd be locked up
at least 14 years.

I could maybe do that.

They don't know
we found the cop,
Joseph.

We don't even know
if Strubing will show up.

-You could walk out of here
a free man.
-But if she does--

If you wrong--
[Sam]
Listen.

The decision is yours.
Sam.

I need to talk
to Joseph.

Are you asking me
to leave?
Of course not.

He's your client.

I'm asking you
to listen.

When we first met,

I told you I'd only defend you
if you were innocent, and
you told me you were innocent.

You remember?
I remember.

Did you lie to me?
No, I didn't lie.

So I'm gonna ask you again.
Did you commit this crime?

No.
But you're willing
to say you did.

If I got to.
For the deal.

If you "got to"?

My great-granddaddy
was a slave.

Were your people slaves,
Joseph?

When we were slaves
we had to do
what the master said.

But... we're not slaves now,
are we?

No, we ain't slaves.

You say that
like it's nothin'.

We ain't slaves
because we rose up and we fought
and we fought and we fought

till we got our freedom.

Isn't that right?

My granddaddy escaped
when he was 15.

Fought off four men
and an attack dog,
my mama said.

Okay,
then you tell me this.

After what your granddaddy did
to get his freedom,

you're just gonna
give it right back
for nothing,

for something
you didn't even do?

Understand this.

If you want your freedom,
you're gonna have to
fight for it.

But you don't have to
fight alone.
That's why I'm here.

We've got weapons now,
Joseph.

Our people do.

Weapons
we didn't have before.

We've got the law.

And you've got Sam,

one of the finest young
trial lawyers in this country,
on your side.

You really think
we can win?

I wouldn't be here
if I didn't think
we could win.

Dr. Sayer,
please tell the jury
your field of specialty.

I specialize
in the field of gynecology,

and I deliver babies.

[spectators] Aww!
On the morning she was
discovered in the reservoir,

did you have occasion
to examine
Mrs. Eleanor Strubing?

Yes.

She was brought to my home
by the police at, uh...

Let's see.
6:30 in the morning.

Did she tell you
what had happened?

Objection. Hearsay.

Overruled.

[Willis]
Doctor?

I've forgotten
the question.

What did Mrs. Strubing
tell you?

She told me
that she had been raped

by a colored man
who worked for her.

What was her mental state
during all of this?

[Sayer] She was
severely distraught,
weeping.

She kept repeating,
"Am I pregnant?
Am I pregnant?"

Did you then
examine her?
Yes.

My wife assisted
by removing her clothing.

It was torn,
wet, and muddy.

I noted bruises
on her arms and legs

and numerous abrasions
and contusions
on both extremities.

I then performed
an internal exam.

Do you have an opinion,
based upon reasonable
medical certainty,

as to whether or not
she had been raped?

Beyond question,
Mr. Willis.

It was all consistent
with rape.

Thank you.

Your witness.

[whispering]
Get the records.

Medical records.
Get them.

Your Honor, may we please
see the medical records
of Dr. Sayer?

Object.
These are personal.

Overruled.

I'm sorry, Mr. Willis,
but the witness
referred to them.

They must be
turned over.
Thank you, Your Honor.

[clears throat]
May I?

[whispering]

Abrasions and contusions.
Those are scrapes and cuts,
aren't they, Doctor?

Yes. Scrapes,
scratches, bruises.

Right.

Well, the fall from the bridge
and the climb
through the pine forest

could be responsible
for cuts and bruises,
could it not?

It's possible.

[tapping]

You did an internal exam
and you found...

"edema, swelling,
traces of blood."

-Yes.
-Mm-hmm.

And it was based on this
that you determined
that she was raped?

Indeed.

But those same findings...

are equally consistent
with a woman who took a lover

and engaged
in vigorous sexual intercourse
over the course of an evening.

Objection. How dare you.
There is no evidence
of any lover.

[Foster]
Sustained.

There's no place for that
in my courtroom,
Mr. Friedman.

Um, of course, Your Honor.

[door closes]
I-I'm sorry.

-Hello?
-Hey, baby.

No, they just pulled me
out of proceedings.

The baby...

didn't make it.

And it was just
so much worse this time.
The bleeding was just...

It wouldn't stop.
[sighs]

I'm so sorry.

[slams wall]

I should be there.

Buster?

Buster,
are you there?

Yeah, I'm...

I'm here.

Where are you?

Do you have
any further questions,
Mr. Friedman?

Mrs. Strubing told you
that she resisted her assailant?

Yes, she did.
Mm-hmm.

And you looked
under her fingernails
too, didn't you,

to see if you could find
any traces of skin?

I did.

What did you find?

Splinters,
dirt in some--

Any skin, Doctor?
[murmurs]
No, Sam.

Yes. I was just
about to get to that.

Excuse me?

There was skin.

Wh-Where...

Where in these records
does it say anything
about finding traces of skin?

It's not in the records.

My wife took the notes.
She did not write down
that bit of information.

Why not, Doctor?
Why would she not record that?

Out of respect
for the patient's privacy,
Mr. Friedman.

It was the skin
of a colored man.

[Sam]
No further questions.

It wasn't in the records.
They got a doctor
to lie under oath.

How do we fight
against that?

You asked
the exact question

Willis wanted you
to ask.

-What were you thinking?
-Where the hell were you? Hmm?

Getting instructions
from Walter White?

See what happens
when I don't hold your hand?
You panic like an amateur.

You should have let him
take the deal.

Goddamn it, would you
shut up about the deal?
We have an alibi witness.

What don't you get?

They will have McCoy
change his testimony.
Just watch.

Let them.
We'll take his sworn statement
and shove it up his ass.

No, tomorrow morning
I'm asking Willis if the offer
is still on the table.

The NAACP
isn't taking any deals.

-The NAACP isn't the one
with its life on the line here.
-Yes, it is, goddamn it.

[exhales]

You're using him.

That's all this is.

Just like you said
the Communists would.

We're giving him
the best possible defense
under the circumstances.

Mmm. Yeah.
[clicks tongue]

I'm sure he'll feel really lucky
as he sits in prison
for the rest of his life.

Let's not act like
it's Joseph Spell you're
concerned for all of a sudden.

What is that
supposed to mean?

From the moment you got
involved in this, you've
been looking for a way out.

Play nice with the DA,
earn yourself a favor,

maybe they'll let you
in their neighborhood
or their club one day.

Well, get this
through your head.

The only way to
get through a bigot's door
is to break it down.

Must be easy
for you to say, huh?

See, it's my life
that is on the line here.

My family, my practice,
my future.

What do you have?
You have nothing to lose.

No, you just sweep
through town, stirring up
all kinds of ugliness,

then move right on.

No one will ever
even remember you were here.

Oh, fuck you, Sam.

Fuck you.

Hey.
You two okay?

[Foster]
Please take the stand,
Mrs. Strubing.

Mrs. Strubing,
you reside in Greenwich?

Yes. My husband John and I
moved from Philadelphia
about a year ago.

Is your husband here
in the courtroom today?

Of course.

Sitting in the front.

Mrs. Strubing,
do you remember the night
you were attacked?

Mr. Willis, I assure you,
I will never forget it.

Please tell the jury
what happened.

My husband
was away on business,

as he is often, I'm afraid.

I had dinner with friends--
the Moores.

And I arrived home
around ten o'clock

and then I decided
to shower before bed.

And I was fixing my hair.

And he came in the room.

He came after me
and started chasing me.

He had a knife.

The knife was pointed
at my throat,

and I--

I thought of screaming,
but...

I couldn't.

He-- He penetrated me.

I couldn't make him stop.

His body was crushing me.

What happened next,
Mrs. Strubing?

He said he wasn't finished
with me.

[sniffles]

And then he did it again.

Did what?

Raped me, Mr. Willis.

[Willis]
And then what happened?

When it was over, he said,
"We're going for a ride,
Mrs. Strubing."

After all that,

he still called me
"Mrs. Strubing."

Then he tore my dress
with his hands...

and gagged me.

I show you Exhibit "H."

-Is this the dress?
-Yes. That's it.

And is this, Exhibit "I,"
taken from that dress,

similar to the gag
he used on you?

-Identical.
-Then what happened?

We started driving.

I had to lay down on the floor
so that I wasn't seen.

He came around,
pulled me out of the car.

And I remember
feeling weightless.

Suddenly I was freezing.

Rocks were hitting around me.

Mrs. Strubing,

do you see the man
who raped you

in this courtroom today?

[sighs] Yes.

He's right over there.

The colored man.

For the record, Mrs. Strubing,
which colored man?

The one in the brown suit.

Thank you.

One more question,
Mrs. Strubing.

Did you encounter anybody else
during your time with Mr. Spell?

Yes, as we were driving
toward the reservoir,

the car suddenly filled
with red light.

It was the police.
I thought, at last,
I was saved.

And then Joseph said
to get down back there

and if I made a sound,
that he would cut my throat.

Then I heard the policeman.

And I thought,
please, please, just look.

But he didn't.

He-He spoke with Joseph
and then he left.

[sniffling]

I'm so sorry.
I did not want to cry.

I'm so sorry.

You've been very strong,
Mrs. Strubing.

[Willis]
She certainly has,
Your Honor.

No more questions.

Hi there.

Name, sir?
Sam-- Friedman.

Sam Friedman.
Friedman.

I don't seem to have
your name here, sir.

Actually,
I'm a friend of--

Hold onto this for me.

Sir, you can't
go back there.

Gentlemen,
you must leave now!

Marshall, this is not
the kind of place
you want to make a scene.

I know.
I used to work in a place
just like this.

That's exactly
what my father said.

If we just let the Reds
and the Nazis fight it out,

they'll take care
of each other beautifully.

This club is
for members only, boy.

Lorin, it appears that you have
some rather unique admirers.

[clears throat]

-This is a private club.
-She wasn't in the car, Lorin.

-Excuse me?
-You had her lie
on the stand today.

Are you accusing me
of a crime?

Yeah. That's exactly
what I'm doing.

Who do you think
you are?

We have a sworn statement
from an Officer McCoy that
Spell was alone that night.

I don't care
what you have.

Ellie Strubing
told the Greenwich
police everything

when she first recounted
the crime.

If she wasn't in the car,
how could she have known the car
had been stopped, hmm?

Here.

Read it.
What is this?

Another sworn statement.

This from Ellie Strubing
the morning they found her.
Dated, timed, notarized.

Everything she told
the Greenwich police.

This is fraudulent.

Get out of my club.

I've had better.

[man clears throat]

[piano: jazz]

[woman singing: jazz, faint]

Are you okay, sweetie?

You look blue.

And a man as good-looking as you
has no cause to be blue.

[chuckles]

Where is he?

Attorney Friedman.

I'm not much
of a conversationalist
tonight.

It's okay. I am.
I'm Jen.

Thurgood.
Pleasure.

I've never
seen you here before--

Attorney Friedman.

Attorney Friedman,
hold on a minute.

What do you want?

We're just eager
to introduce ourselves.

To you
and the nigger lawyer.

You don't want
to have anything to do
with this man, miss.

Excuse me.

You gentlemen
are making a big mistake.

There's no mistake.
We know who you are.

Bet you wish you had
your nigger lawyer friend now.

[grunting]

Get out of here.
Get out of here.
Hey!

Hold him up.

[Jen] Let him go!
Hold on.

You liking this?
You kike!

Let him go!
Let him go!

Let him go!

[horn honking]

-Go, go!
-Kike bastard!

Sam!

[shotgun cocks]

This here
is Mr. Thurgood Marshall.

This man is an attorney.

You'll be showing Mr. Marshall
all the respect he deserves.

Understand?

Sit down
and finish your bourbon.

Say something!

You're late.

[groaning]

What happened?
Huh?

I didn't mean
to start trouble.

It's not your fault.

Here.

It's okay.

Listen.

Men are men...

and women are women.

Right?

[chuckles]

Right.

[Roosevelt on radio]
The Nazi masters of Germany...

have made it clear
that they intend

not only to dominate
all life and thought--
[door closes]

in their own country,

but also to enslave
the whole of Europe.

There's flanken.
[clears throat]

Why are you so--

My God, Sam.
What happened to you?

I-- I could use some ice.

Hey.
What is it?
What's wrong?

I got in the first punch.

Wh-What's wrong?
What is this?

You've been crying.

No. Not now. Let's--

Tell me.

My cousin Anna,
in Kraków.

They took her?

[speaking Yiddish]

[knocking]

Who is that?
I don't know.

Stand back.

Yeah.

[knocking]

Who is it?
It's me.

Thurgood.
Your cocounsel.
Open up!

What happened to you?

Did I come at a bad time?
What do you want, Thurgood?

[baby crying]
I have thoughts
about tomorrow.

[whispers] Tomorrow?
Get out of my house.

No.

Not until I tell you
why I'm here.

Hear me out.

You were right.

I had it all wrong
all along.

Spell was with her
all night.

Spell lied.

This is
your big epiphany?

Eleanor Strubing lied too.

Neither of them have
been telling us the truth.

Thurgood, you have just
broken this case wide open.

My God, you really
are a legal genius.

Men are men
and women are women.

Men are men
and women are women, Sam.

You think
it was consensual.

It's the only explanation
that makes sense.

How can we be certain?

We need to talk.
Talk about what?

Listen to me
carefully now.

Did you have
sexual intercourse
with Eleanor Strubing?

No. Why you
keep asking me that?

I never asked you that
before.

Did you have sex with her?

Speak, goddamn it.
I told you I didn't.

She says she was in that car
when it got stopped.

You hear her
say that in court?
I heard, but she's lying.

No, she's not lying.

-You're lying.
-Why are you taking her side?

The cop--
The cop never
searched the car.

She was in the back seat,
wasn't she?

No. Look, I'm telling you--

Get this
through your head.

She gave
a statement to the police
early that morning.

She knew then the car
had been stopped.

Okay.
Okay, she was there.

And did you have sex
with her that night?

Mmm.

Answer me.
Answer me now!

Yes.

How many times?

Two times.

So, you're guilty.

-You've been lying all along.
-No!

It wasn't rape.

What about
the skin under her nails?
The doctor lying too?

When we got to the reservoir,
I parked the car.

But she starts screaming,
opens the door to run out.

So I grabbed her
just to keep her there.

That's when
she scratches me.

-You lying to me again?
-No.

It's the truth.

Why didn't you
tell me the truth
in the first place?

Because I-I was confused.

That's not good enough,
Joseph.

Willis is gonna ask you
why you lied, sure as
you're standing here.

He's gonna ask you
in front of everyone.

The jury's gonna
be studying you
with all 24 eyes.

And you're just gonna say
you were confused?
I couldn't think straight.

That's not gonna swing it.

You lied
in a sworn statement.

Why would you do that?

Because I was scared.
All right?

I was scared
what they's gonna do to me
if they find out.

[people clamoring]

[shouting, faint]

My father told me once,

"If anybody calls you nigger,

you not only
got my permission
to fight him,

you got my orders
to fight him."

Your father say anything
about being called a kike?

No.

Not to me anyway.

You look like
a real fighter now, Sam.

Like a Jewish Joe Louis.

Nah.

Barney Ross is my guy.

Barney Ross it is.

-Good morning.
-Good morning, Mr. Friedman.

Mrs. Strubing,

you're originally
from Philadelphia,
is that correct?

Yes.

College grad?

Bryn Mawr,
Mr. Friedman.

And you were an athlete,
I understand?

Yes, I was on the swim team.

Ah.

You and your husband
moved to your estate
in Greenwich

last spring,
is that correct?

I don't know
if I'd call it an estate.

I'm sorry. A mansion?

John and I moved here,
to Greenwich, rather,
last May.

Mm-hmm.

But your husband was away
on the night of this incident.
Is that right?

Yes, as I said, on business.

You've testified
that you went out
on the evening in question.

That is correct.
To the Moores'.

Did you, um-- Did you drink
at the Moores' home?

As I recall,
I drank some wine.

How many glasses,
would you say?

I don't remember.

But it was
more than one.

I didn't say that.
I said I didn't remember.

Mm-hmm.

When you drove home,
were you tipsy?

I never drink enough
to get tipsy.

Okay. So you went straight up
to your room to shower.
Is that correct?

Yes.

And when you came out
of the shower,

you say Joseph
was waiting for you.

I didn't see him at first.

I had no reason to believe
that I wasn't alone.

But then...

he was there.

You were attracted to Joseph,
weren't you, Mrs. Strubing?

-Objection!
That's an absurd accusation!
-What?

You invited him
into your bed, didn't you?
Your Honor!

He attacked me!
Strike the question and answer
from the record.

Mr. Friedman,
no more of this.
You understand me?

[Sam] Yes, Your Honor.
Yes, of course. I'm sorry.

Now, your bedroom
is just below the room
where the maid slept?

Yes.

Did you scream for help?

I couldn't.
He had a knife.

Did he hold the knife
as he removed his clothing?

He must have.

So he removed his pants, belt,
zipper, whatever, with one hand?

Apparently so.

You told Mr. Willis

that you fought him,
but he overpowered you.

-Is that right?
-Yes.

There was a phone
right next to your bed.

-Did you attempt to use it?
-No. I was terrified.

Afraid to use the phone
or scream for help,
but not afraid to fight back?

You have no idea
what it feels like
to be so afraid.

But at no point--
at no point

during the hours and hours
that the two of you
were together

did you ever attempt
to make any calls, to escape,
to raise your voice for help?

-Object. This is argument.
-I was scared for my life!

Sustained.
The jury will disregard
the question.

You knew you had been unfaithful
to your husband.

You were terrified
of what he would do to you
if he found out.

And you wanted
to get away.
He is badgering the witness!

That is not true!
I was forced to leave the house.
He bound me!

He gagged me
and he dragged me to the car.

The police stopped the car?

Yes.
But still
you did not scream?

-He had a knife!
-Right. Right. The knife.

As you testified,
you were afraid that he was
gonna slash your throat

from the front seat
of the car, was it?

I couldn't make a sound.

-Because of the gag?
-Yes.

Mrs. Strubing,

this Exhibit "I"
is identical to the gag
that he used?

Yes.

Let's just show the jury
what he did then.

Mrs. Strubing,
please, please instruct
Mr. Marshall, if you would.

The gag was between your lips.
Is that correct, Mrs. Strubing?

Yes. That's correct.

Is this about right?

[sighs]
No, it was a bit tighter
than that.

How 'bout this, ma'am?

Yes, that's about it.

[screaming]

Now, you could have
done that, Mrs. Strubing.

He would have killed me.

-Who would have killed you?
Your husband?
-Objection!

-Quiet, Mr. Marshall.
-How dare you speak
to me that way.

There was a policeman standing
not three feet away from you.
You did not call out for help.

-Instead, Joseph
drove on to the reservoir.
-I'm warning you. No speaking!

You bolted from the car
because you were ashamed
of what you had done

with another man,
with a colored man!
Objection!

One more word out of you and
I will hold you in contempt!

You were afraid of what
your husband would do to you
if he found out.

Afraid that you were pregnant
with a colored child.

-Objection!
This is argument!
-Sustained.

-Jury will disregard.
-You jumped into that water.

-You wanted to end it all.
-Jumped? I was thrown.

I was thrown.
My hands were tied.
He tried to kill me!

Your hands were not tied,
Mrs. Strubing.

You were able
to remove your coat

and let it float in the water
as you swam to shore.

That's not true. That's a lie.
He gagged me. He tied me.

Raped me.

I am so... so sorry
for your unhappiness,
Mrs. Strubing.

No more questions.

-Mr. Willis?
-I have no questions.

How can we
put Spell on the stand
with all this baggage?

The jury needs
to hear him deny it.

And you bring out
all the bad stuff yourself.

Don't leave anything
for Willis.

What happens
to the organization
if we lose?

I don't even want
to think about it.

You could blame me.
[chuckles]

You're one of us now, Sam.

Haven't you noticed?

In the papers they write,
"Sam Friedman and Thurgood
Marshall of the NAACP."

Joseph, please tell the jury
where you were raised.

Louisiana.

-You have a wife
and two children, right?
-Uh-huh.

Even though you have a wife,
you have another woman
in White Plains, is it?

Yes.
What's he doing?

-Ever served in the army,
Joseph?
-Yes, sir.

Fort Benning, Georgia,
six years. Discharged.

That was
a dishonorable discharge?

Yes.

Then you moved north?
That's right.

Before working for
the Strubings, you worked for
another family in Greenwich?

Yes, sir.

They accused you of stealing
and fired you.

Yes, sir.

And when you worked
for the Strubings,

did you run into
any other difficulties?

-No, sir.
-Did the Strubings
treat you well, Joseph?

She was always
real nice to me.

What about Mr. Strubing?

Was he mean to you?

He was mean to everybody.

It is what you did.
Don't lie to me.

Watch where
you're standing.
Yes, sir.

Just a second, Joseph.
I'm sorry.

That's quite all right,
ma'am.

On the night
of this incident,

why did you go into
Mrs. Strubing's room?

To ask her for money.
I had to pay a man
I'd been playing cards with.

What happened
when you got to the room?

I knocked on the door.

Come in.

[Joseph]
I could tell she'd been sad.
She was crying.

-Are you okay, ma'am?
-What do you want, Joseph?

It can wait, Mrs. Strubing.

[Joseph]
But she told me to stay,
ask my question.

I told her I needed some money.
She asked what for.

There's a man I owe.

Ah.

[Joseph]
So she went to the bureau.

She said, "Is this
enough for you, Joseph?"
I said, "Yes, ma'am. Thank you."

But she didn't give it to me.
Then she asked me---

I'm not awful like him,
am I, Joseph?

No, ma'am.

Joseph.

She asked me not to
leave her alone that night.

And, uh... I didn't.

[Sam] Then what happened?

Well, we went down
to the living room,
me and her.

-We had a drink together.
-What did the two of you
talk about?

She told me he beats her.

Who beats her?

Who did that?

My husband.

Did she ever resist you,
Joseph?

No, she didn't.
Not at all.

What happened next?

[exhaling shakily]
We were lying on the sofa.

[moans]

[dog barking]
[gasps] Oh, God.

[Joseph] And she heard
some dogs barking.
Joseph.

She was convinced somebody
was gonna come to the house
and find us together.

Get up. Get up!

[dog barking]
Nobody gonna wake up.

[Joseph] She started panicking.
I told her there's no one
coming. Everything's fine.

But she was insisting on,
"We gotta get out of here.

We gotta get out
of here right now."
So we left the house.

We go down to the car,
and we drive around for a bit.

She sat in the back,
so it don't look wrong.

Then the cop car
come up from behind.

She get real scared.

She say--
Why don't you lie down
and keep quiet?

I can't be seen
with a colored man.

I say, "You lie down
and keep quiet then."

Don't move. Shh. Shh.

Oh.
Shh, shh.

Where'd you get
this car, boy?

I'm a chauffeur, sir.
Belongs to John Strubing.
Greenwich, Connecticut.

Identification.
Yes, sir.

Drive slower, boy.
Yes, sir.

Get your ass
out of Port Chester.

On my way right now, sir.
Thank you.

[Sam] What happened next?

We get to the reservoir,
and, uh, she scream at me.

Joseph, stop the car.
Stop the car!

Joseph, stop the car!
[tires screech]

What's the matter?

She keeps shaking her head
and saying, "What have I done?"

Everything's
gonna be fine,
Mrs. Strubing.

Just take a deep breath,
okay?
No, no, no, no.

No, you don't understand.
[crying]

Maybe we should just
go back to the house, huh?

You don't understand.
You don't understand.

She keeps saying,
"I'm gonna get pregnant."
"No, you ain't," I said.

-You're not gonna get pregnant.
-I can't have a colored child.

You're not gonna have
no babies at all, okay?

I say,
"Just let me take you home."

And she screamed at me.

Let me out of the car!

I'm gonna tell everybody
you raped me!

She go to open the door,
and I grabbed her.

Let me go!
Just to keep her there.

That's when
she scratches my arm.
Mrs. Strubing.

Hey. Hey!

Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Mrs. Strubing,
what you doing up there?

I yell at her
to come back, but...

Come on down right now.
Let's get in the car
and go home.

She just turned away.

Mrs. Strub--

Joseph, did you rape
Mrs. Strubing?

No. I did not.

Thank you, Joseph.

Your witness.

Not bad.

You wouldn't lie to the jury,
would you, Joseph?
Not bad at all.

No, sir, I wouldn't.

But the fact is,
you are a liar, aren't you?

Objection!
Argumentative.

Overruled.
It's cross-examination.

He's okay.

When you married
your first wife, Hattie,

you swore to God
you'd be faithful to her,
did you not?

-Yes, sir.
-But you weren't.
It was a lie.

You could say.

You told her you'd take care
of your children, didn't you?

Yes, sir.
But you haven't, have you?

Not so much as I should.

Then you were in the service
and you swore to honor
your country.

But that was a lie too.
No.

Then you came north
and you stole from
your first employer?

When the police picked you up,
you lied to them about your
whereabouts the night before.

-Didn't you?
-Yes, I did.

You gave a statement
under oath that you were
in a bar all night.

Yes.

So you lied to your wife,
you lied to
the State of Louisiana,

you lied to the police,
you lied to God.

Why should anyone
believe you now?

I don't know why they should,
except it's the truth.

The truth?
If it's the truth, why not
tell it from the beginning?

If you're an innocent man,
why lie?

Why lie, Mr. Spell?
Answer the question.
Tell him, Joseph.

If you were an innocent man,
why would you lie?

I tell the police
I was with her,
it was what she wanted?

If it's the truth.

In Louisiana, you know
what they do to me for being
with a white woman like that?

If they don't kill me
right then and there,

soon enough the others come,
they drag me off,
they tie me up,

they cut off my manhood.

And then I'd be swingin'
off the branch of some tree.

So... why'd I lie,
Mr. Willis?

Because the truth
gets me killed.

That's why.

I move the answer
be stricken.

[sighs]

The answer will stand.

Mr. Willis?

Nothing further, Your Honor.

[radio: jazz band]

You know what?

It finally looks
like a respectable
law office in here.

[laughing]

[knocking]
Come in.

There's someone here
to see you, Mr. Marshall.

Walter?

What are you doing here?
Can we talk?

I'll just move
to Irwin's office.

[door opens]

Come on, Walter.
[door closes]

What is this?

Fourteen-year-old boy
in Mississippi.
They say he killed a cop.

He needs a lawyer.

And I have to
leave tonight?
Uh-huh.

He ready
with the summation?

Sam? He will be.

Then there's no reason
for you to stay.
I'll take care of everything.

You get the picture
Renie left you?

Ah, yes.

Now, what kind
of plane is this?

She said
it's supposed to be you.

Those are ears,
not wings.
Ah!

She's quite a talent.

You were right, you know.

About what?
"Why would she lie?"

Mmm.

That is the question
we needed to answer.

Well...

I'm thankful Renie
got to see there's men
like you in the world.

I don't understand
how you can leave
before closing arguments.

Doesn't do anyone any good
having me sit around
waiting on a verdict.

What if something comes up?

The case is in, Sam.

Walter will represent
the NAACP.

And you'll be there
for Spell.

[chattering]

Sam, did you know
I only have one testicle?

Um... no.

Yeah.

In my college years,
I found myself running
from a gang of bigots

in a part of town
they didn't believe
I should be in.

My buddies,
they're ahead of me
in a truck.

I jump for the back,
and I'm pulling myself up,

but there's a jagged spike
of metal I don't see.

It slashes
right through my sack.

Yeah.

Why am I telling you this?

Well, I want you to know

that even sitting
in the back of that pickup,

my scrotum torn,

every bump sending shocks
of pain down my leg,

even that wasn't
as excruciating
as sitting there

watching you argue this case
these past few weeks.

[wheezing laugh]

[hits table]

But I did
learn something.
Huh?

I need an army of lawyers
just like you, Sam.

Lawyers who don't even know
they want to make a difference,

who with
just a little bit of training
can be just as capable as me.

Well, almost as capable.

And until then what?

You just travel
around the country
on this crusade?

Putting out fires
in Mississippi,

Oklahoma, Bridgeport?

It's not really fires
I'm after, Sam.

It's fire itself.

Get out your pen now.

Here's the closing argument
you're gonna give.

Who is telling the truth?

A woman from a fine family
with an unblemished background,

or a depraved man,

a repeat criminal
with no morals,

a man whose whole life
has been composed
of a series of lies?

Did this decent,
church-going,
intelligent woman,

the graduate
of a top college,

engage in voluntary
sexual relations
with her Negro servant

and then jump
into the water, for what?

For pleasure,
as the defense would
have you believe?

Of course not.

Joseph Spell raped
Eleanor Strubing.

Then he hurled her
over the bridge to kill
the only witness to his crime.

Acquit him, and you will
set a wild panther loose
in our midst

to stalk more victims,

to threaten the safety
and security

of each and every woman
in the State of Connecticut.

As a jury,
you have been exposed

to the darkness
of a sinister man's soul.

But you're also
in a position
of great privilege.

Because you...

you have the power

to do justice
on behalf of all of us.

[whispers] Bullshit.
Thank you.

And God bless.

Mr. Friedman.

Why would a woman
like Eleanor Strubing

consent-- no, encourage--
sexual relations

with a man
like Joseph Spell?

Let me tell you why.

Eleanor Strubing's story
is nothing less than tragic.

She is a respectable woman
from a fine family.

She attended
the best schools.

She went to church
each and every Sunday.

As the good book says,
she was "spotless
as the lamb of God."

She was "spotless
as the lamb of God."

She and her husband John
move to Greenwich.

Oh, he travels frequently,

leaving her alone
in a new town,

away from her friends
and family,

in a vast, empty house.

The pangs of loneliness
hit hard.

She has some drinks.

A knock at the door.

-Joseph.
-Joseph.

She was not expecting this.

A young man, a handsome man.

In a moment of weakness,
her judgment impaired

by the alcohol
of the evening--

Consumed by loneliness,

she invites him
to share her bed
to ease her pain.

As the evening goes on,
she becomes panicked

that they will be discovered.

She must leave the house,
must escape her sin.

-What if she is pregnant--
-And with a colored child?

What if her husband
were to find out?
What would he do to her?

She cannot live
with the fear, the shame.

So then there they are,
at the reservoir.

An opportunity to escape
her life, her despair.

Joseph tries to hold her back,
but she wrangles free,
runs from the car.

[Thurgood]
And she plummets into the water.

Only as soon
as she hits the surface,

her years of training
take over.

See, she is a swimmer.

And she simply cannot drown.

With the zeal
to end her life gone,

her only escape--

She must accuse him.

And so a story is created.

A web of...

desperate lies

filled with inconsistencies,
absurdities,

reasonable doubts.

The State must prove its case
beyond a reasonable doubt.

[Sam]
It must be a clear case.

No scream for help
all night long.

Doubt.

No call on
the four family phones.

Doubt.

No cry to the officer
just a few feet away.

Doubt.

No rocks on a bridge.

Doubt.

Doubt, doubt, doubt.

The doubt, my friends,

is overwhelming.

This is why you must find
Joseph Spell not guilty.

Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,

you've heard the arguments
of counsel.

You may now retire
to the jury room
to begin your deliberations.

Court is in recess.

[crossing bell ringing]

[knocking]

Who is it?

[Thurgood] It's me.

Mmm!

You're supposed
to be on a train.

I have a little time.

I heard you were
looking for me.

Well, Friedman,
it seems you have
beginner's luck.

John Strubing
just called me.

This whole thing has been
a terrible strain on Ellie,
as you can imagine.

They want it over, now.

I'm prepared to offer
one final deal.

What is it?
Five years.

He'll have to enter
a guilty plea right away
and admit he lied on the stand.

I'll speak with him.
Do it now.

If the jury comes back in,
the deal is off.

You'd be out
after three years,
with good behavior.

Possibly sooner.
You think
I should take it?

I don't know
what the jury will do.

It's a good deal.

And if they convict me?

Most likely you'll spend
the rest of your life
in a prison cell.

And I got to decide
right away?

What I gotta do
for the deal?

Admit that you raped her
and that you lied
on the witness stand.

Can I talk
to Mr. Marshall?

He's on a train
probably somewhere
in Tennessee by now.

I would never be able
to reach him in time.

What do you think
he would say?

[footsteps]

Ah.

So, give me
good news.

No deal.

You did advise him
to accept, hmm?

I told him
it was a good offer.

I told him
what the alternative is.

I told him if it was me,
I would take it.

And I told him that no man
should ever confess to a crime
he did not commit.

I thought Jews
were supposed
to be smart.

But you sound
just like the Negro.

Why, thank you, Lorin.

That's possibly
the greatest compliment
you could've given me.

There's a verdict.

[Foster]
Will the foreman
please rise.

I'm the forewoman,
Your Honor.

Very well.

Have you reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

Mr. Spell.

Rise and face the jury.
[whispers] It's time.

Madame Forewoman,
what is your verdict?

We, the jury, find,
on the charge of rape,

that the defendant,
Joseph Spell,

is not guilty.

[spectators cheering,
applauding]

[hits table]

[gavel rapping]

Order.

Is this your verdict,
so say you all?

[all] We do, Your Honor.

That's it, Joseph.

We did it.

Mr. Spell, the jury
has found you not guilty.

You are released
from custody.

Jury is dismissed.
Court is adjourned.

[bailiff] All rise.
[applauding]

Congratulations,
Mr. White.
Thank you.

[sighs]

Mr. Spell.

Hi.
I'm Tad Lancaster.

Mr. Marshall thought
you might need a place
to sleep tonight.

[laughs]
Oh, Mr. Marshall.

[phone ringing]
[snoring]

Hello?
[clears throat] Hello.

Sam.

Sam, I can barely hear you.

-Is there a verdict yet?
-Yeah. Yeah, it's me.

[heavy static]
Sam, are you there?
Yeah.

Yes, can you hear me?
Sam?

Not guilty! We did it!

-What?
-Not guilty!

Not guilty!

Not guilty.

[static]
Not guilty!
Sam!

Yes!
Oh!

Yes. We won!

Sam, I told you.
I told you.

I told you
you could bring it home.
I told you.

Yeah! Yes, we did it!

[laughing]

[static]
Ah.

Thurgood,
I'm having trouble
hearing you.

Sam, are you there?
Are you there?

Thurgood!
[line: dial tone]

[chuckles]

[inhales]

[water running]

Oh, Luis.
Marshall!

Your wife still
putting up with you?
Look at me.

She dress me
from head to toe.

Got me looking
as sharp as you.

God bless you.
We really need your help.

I promise you I'll do
everything in my power
to help him.

Thank you for coming,
Mr. Marshall.

We really need you
in Mississippi.
My pleasure.

Let's get going.

Are you hungry?

You know, I very nearly
ate my briefcase on that train.

[woman]
Well, when we get to the house,
I'll fix you a nice supper.

[Thurgood] That'll be nice.
You can fill me in on everything
that's going on down here.

[woman]
Can you slow down a little?
I got my good Sunday shoes on.

[laughing]

[woman]
♪ You can have all the money
In your hands ♪

♪ All the possessions
Anyone can ever have ♪

♪ But it's all
Worthless treasure ♪

♪ True worth is only measured
Not by what you got ♪

♪ But what you got
In your heart ♪

♪ You can have
You can have everything ♪

♪ What does it
What does it mean? ♪

♪ It all means nothing ♪

♪ If you don't stand up
For something ♪

♪ You can't just talk the talk ♪

♪ You got to walk that walk ♪

♪ Yes, you do ♪

♪ It all means nothing ♪

♪ If you don't stand up
For something ♪

♪ And I stand up for you ♪

♪ And I stand up for you ♪

♪ Yes, I will, yes, I will ♪

♪ You do the best that
Do the best that you can do ♪

♪ Then you can look
In the mirror ♪

♪ Proud of who's
Looking back at you ♪

♪ Define the life
You're living ♪

♪ Not by what you take
But what you're giving ♪

♪ And if you bet on love ♪

♪ There's no way
You'll ever lose ♪

♪ Take a stand, make a stand ♪

♪ For what's right ♪

♪ It's always worth
Always worth the fight ♪

♪ It all means nothing ♪

♪ If you don't stand up
For something ♪

♪ You can't just talk the talk ♪

♪ You got to walk that walk ♪

♪ Yes, you do ♪

♪ It all means nothing ♪

♪ If you don't stand up
For something ♪

♪ And I stand up for you ♪

♪ Stand for respect, dignity ♪

♪ If that's all you got
Then you got all you need ♪

♪ And without that
You don't have a thing ♪

♪ Oh, no, no ♪

[man rapping]
♪ Rise up
Love, lift your hands ♪

♪ I stand with you
'Cause I understand ♪

♪ Ain't here to judge
Just to take a stand ♪

♪ The greater plan's
The creator's plan ♪

♪ Let's all rise
Like the day began ♪

♪ Reach out and touch
With the savior's hand ♪

♪ On rock, we stand
Like this native land ♪

♪ Let the ways of love
Be the ways of man ♪

[woman]
♪ And it all means nothing, oh ♪

♪ If you don't stand
For something ♪

♪ You can't just talk the talk ♪

♪ You got to walk that walk ♪

♪ Yes, you do ♪

♪ It all means nothing ♪

♪ If you don't stand up
For something ♪

♪ And I stand up for you
Oh, yeah ♪

♪ I stand up for you ♪

♪ And I stand up for you ♪

♪ Stand up for you ♪

♪ Yes, I will, yes, I will ♪

[song ends]

[Thurgood Marshall's voice]
You know, there's
so many people--

indeed, my own sons, at times--

look at me with an expression
on the face

that they don't believe
what happened in the past.

There are movements
by the different branches
in this government

that are set to push back.

Oh, now it's being done,
you know, cleverly.

♪ Mm-mm-mm ♪

♪ Mm-mm-mm ♪

♪ Mm-mm-mm ♪

♪ Mm-mm-mm ♪