All language subtitles for The.Confession.1999.1080p.WEB.H264-DiMEPiECE_track3_[eng]

♪♪ [man singing prayer]

[blows match out]

[reciting Hebrew prayer]

Your Honor, I'd like
to make an application

for bail reduction.

My client,
Lieutenant Finello,

has 12 years
in the police department.

He's married 14 years.

Three children.

He has deep roots
in the community.

♪♪ [singing Hebrew prayer]

The defendant,
Mr. Finello,

has been arrested
on a serious charge,

and, if convicted, could face
a stiff prison sentence.

Your honor, we don't
believe the D.A.

has a very strong case.

Therefore, my client
has no reason to run.

[reciting Hebrew prayer]

[coughing]

Stevie?

I called Dr. Gottlieb
again today.

He says Stevie's
probably got that flu
going around.

After considering
the, uh,

defendant's work
and home record,

I, um-- I find that
he does have roots

in the community,

and I don't find
any threat of flight.

We will adjourn this
case for six weeks.

[gavel pounds]

Finello had
an impeccable record

as a police officer.

Two years ago, your
impeccable defendant

was busted
back to the bag

and ended up pounding
the pavement

for taking bribes
from drug dealers
in his precinct.

You hungry?
My treat.

Big spender.

How many?Four.

Sauerkraut and
mustard, please.

Well, if Finello
had been taking bribes,

he would have been
kicked off the force.

Give me a break.

Are you suggesting
that two years ago

your office made a deal
with a corrupt cop?

Here you go.
Look, Bleakie,

this time
it's different.

This time
Finello was caught

with an eightball
in one pocket

and $5,000
in the other.

The pocket
of his tunic,
for Christ's sake.

He was in uniform.

So make a tougher deal,
but make a deal.

[coughs]

When was
the last time
he had aspirin?

About four hours ago.
I'll get some.

If he's still running
a fever on Monday,

you should bring him
back to the doctor.

Yesterday, Herbie
came over for a play date.

Do you want to tell
Papa what happened?

You tell.

Herbie brought over a toy.

A tank.

After Herbie left,

I found it
in Stevie's pocket.

In your pocket?

Herbie forgot it.

Herbie's got lots
of action toys.

I don't have any.
It's not fair.

Tomorrow,
you give it back
to Herbie, okay?

I'll tell him
he forgot it.

Stevie, you tell him
the truth.

Mmm.

You think the corruption
stops with one precinct?

This is one thread.
You pull on it, you
unravel the whole fabric.

If they're all guilty,
they all should get
kicked off the force.

Spring cleaning?That's right.

Fifty, a hundred
dirty cops?
Nail them all?

That's right.With the mayor coming
up for reelection.

I didn't hear you.
Did you say
"That's right"?

Did you say "That's right"?

[scoffs]

Cunningham
doesn't give a fuck

about embarrassing
the mayor.

How about you?Roy.

Your boss...

you think he's gonna be
D.A. forever?

You think he's
gonna protect you?
He's out next November.

Oh, yeah? Who's gonna
run against him?

His own party's
gonna kill him,

and you are gonna be
out in the woods.

What am I
supposed to do?

You want to dodge
the bullet?

I was a prosecutor once.
I know what it takes sometimes

to track down witnesses.

Look, this is about
right and wrong.

No.

It's about the election.

What's the matter?

[sighs]

This is Worth Street.
I left my car here.
Right here.

Maybe it was towed.

No. It's
a legal spot.

Why would it
be towed?

You son of a bitch.

You goddamn
son of a bitch!

A vacation?

We'll see.

A full two weeks?

Two weeks? Sara.

It's not like when
we were first married.

I'm the chief
financial officer,

one of the vice presidents
of the company now.

The sun, the beach.

It'll be good
for Stevie.

It'll be good
for you.

Virgin Gorda.

Two weeks?

I'll make arrangements
on Monday.

Is it something
from work?

It's always
something from work.

Some problem.

It's nothing.

[Stevie, coughing]
Papa!

Mama!

Sweetie?

His coat!

We can get a cab
for the hospital!

He's burning up!

Here, put this
on first.

[horn honks]

We need the doctor.

So does everybody
in the room.

Fill out this form.
If you have insurance,

just write the name
of the company

and their
telephone number.

You don't
understand, mister--

Don't forget to put
the area code first.

This is an emergency.They're all emergencies.

Just fill out the form
and take a seat.

But my son.

Take a seat.

We'll call you when
your turn comes.

But--Harry.

They'll call us
when it's our turn.

Did you reach
Dr. Gottleib?

The answering service
can't find him.

Who's covering?

A nurse practitioner
named Shaw.

She said we should go
to the emergency room.

Tell her we did.

Harry.

Gets his car towed,

then all of a sudden
it's like--

Do you still play squash
with the guy on Tuesdays?

Yeah, why not?

Hey, Clarke knows
what's at stake.

He got his car towed.
What's the big fucking deal?

And if he doesn't
drop the charges?

He'll drop the charges.

You want odds?

This kind of stuff.

You want to be careful.

Evans.

[mutters]Evans!

Harry.

My son.

You Evans?

No, but my son--

Evans.

Please, miss.

Nurse Carrounbois.

Evans!

Please, if you'll just--Security?

Sit him down.

I have to see
a doctor.

Come on.

It's an emergency!

Harry.

How can you?

How can
you smoke?

Oh, I'm--
I'm trying to stop.

No, with people dying,

how can you smoke?

I'm sorry, it's just
we're so worried.

Mrs.--Fertig.

Fertig.

My name is Harry Fertig,

and this is my son.

Cute kid.He needs help.

Mr. Fertig,
I have been on duty

for 32 hours.

I haven't had two hours
with my own son

in the last three weeks,

not even when he
came down with the flu,

which is probably--Please.

Dr. Gillett,
you're here now.

Just look at him.

Mr. Fertig, the doctor's
on his break.

Please, can't you
just look at him?

[Carrounbois]
When it's your turn.I beg you.

When it's your turn.

He's burning up!

Baruch Hospital.

Stevie?

Stevie.

Stevie?

My God.

Sara, he's not breathing.

He stopped breathing!

Stevie!

Stevie! Stevie, please!

Stevie, please breathe!

Harry!

[whispering]
Oh, my God.

Oh, my God!

Parking illegally
at a hydrant?

Parking
in a hospital zone?

Too close to the curb?

Too far
from the intersection.

Church zone? School zone?

I spend more time at the pound
than I do at my kids' school.

How can you go along
with this?

What's with you?
You're whining about

a bunch of fucking
parking tickets.

I'm trying to tell you you're
gonna have worse problems

if Finello blows up
in the administration's face.

I'll take care of these.

[Man] Last weekend,
the long weekend.

Wife and kid are in Jersey
visiting her sister,

and our pal Clarke
is at loose ends.

You know, I half froze my ass
out on that fire escape.

By the time the bimbo arrives,
my fingers were so cold,

I could barely work
the camera.

Your insurance--

in case Clarke is thinking
of changing his mind.

He's not gonna
change his mind.

You know,

I figure O'Donnell
will be in court

makin' out your report card.

Mayor listens to O'Donnell.

I'll make you a bet.

Next year? You're
District Attorney.

You send these
things already?

To his office.

To his home.

Just like you told me.

Think it's worth it?

Well, let's talk about
what's gonna happen

if Clarke
doesn't play ball.

You think the mayor's
gonna wrap his arms
around him

and kiss him
on the cheek?

If Clarke
needs an excuse

to do what needs
to be done,

I'm happy
to give it to him.

The fucking guy
should thank me.

These pictures--

I don't go into court
to lose.

[Man] People of
the state of New York

versus Louis Finello,
docket number 95N427156.

Penal law 195.00.12.

Official misconduct.

Bribe receiving
in the first degree.

Compounding a crime.

Your Honor, the people
move to dismiss the charges

against the defendant,
Louis Finello,

on the grounds of
insufficient evidence.

That motion is granted.

Almost done.
Ten minutes.

[gunshots]

[gunshots]

[gun cocks]

[gunshot]

That's all for today,
Miss Brown.

First hearing
at 10:00?

Fine.

[receiver clatters]

On the, um,
Finello matter...

quite frankly,
I thought the state

had a strong case.

You sound unhappy that
Clarke dropped the charges.

Not unhappy.

Curious about why.

Perhaps he didn't
think the case

was as strong as you do.

You are aware
of the penalties

for obstruction of
government administration,

tampering,
official misconduct?

If it turned out there
was any impropriety...

You've got a real future,
Counselor.

Don't jeopardize it.

Because I care
about you.

[Man on TV]
Police still have no suspects

in the brutal slaying
of Dr. Mason Gillett

in the men's room
of Clement Hospital,

but sources close
to the investigation

say that authorities
are looking into

a possible connection
with the murders

of two other Clement
Hospital employees.

Janine Carrounbois,
a nurse,

and Eric Malabar,
a clerk,

were also shot
this afternoon.

Miss Carrounbois, 38,

was killed
in a compactor room

of her east side co-op.

Mr. Malabar, 47,
was found dead

outside his Upper
West Side apartment.

So far, police
have ruled out

robbery as a motive,

and investigations
are continuing.

When we come back,

more on the underground
steam pipe explosion

that brought Midtowntraffic
to a standstill.

Congratulations, Roy.

They told me
I'd find you here.

I was just leaving.

Well, look who's here.

The Bobbsey twins.

What the fuck's
the matter with you?

What is the matter
with you, anyway?

Let go of me!

Is that how you
get off, Roy, huh?

Is that how you get
your kicks, huh?

Hey, Roy, my wife
opens the mail!

My wife found
those fucking pictures!

Roy!

Oh, what
did you do, huh?

[Roy] I thought Clarke
gave up the booze.

[Man] Yeah, until
yesterday in court.

You got the power
to change lives, Roy.

Every time I've asked
for a favor,

like this business,

every time I've asked you
for something,

you come through.

What do you want now?

It's what you want, Roy.

What do I want, Cass?

You want a job.

I got a job.

You want a better job.

A job where you can
have some real effect,

make some changes.

Did you run that
by the mayor?

Mayor ran it by me.

What'd you have in mind?

Three years ago,

when Cunningham
was running for D.A.,

some guys mentioned
your name.

You said I wasn't ready.

You had more to learn.

How are those puppies
doing, Sean?

Wife doesn't want them
in the house.

Say you have a dog?

I'm not home enough.

Treat 'em right,
you don't have to carry a gun.

The gun's easier
to carry than a dog.

Everyone needs an edge.Sean's right, Roy.

I need a dog?

You need an edge.

Hold the sign
to your chest.

Look straight ahead.

I'm worried, Cass.
Worried about Clarke.

He isn't happy about
dropping these Finello charges.

That jerkoff,
the way he's hittin' the booze,

I don't think he cares.

Eh, I don't know.

I think he cares a lot.

What are you saying?

He's gonna ask
who wanted the favor?

Are you threatening me?

I'm making a point.

Cunningham
is a fucking hard-on..

Are you offering me
Cunningham's job?

Cunningham's a fucking hard-on.

[laughs]

Five minutes late.
I'm terribly sorry.

Roy, Jack Renoble.

Mr. Renoble,
Roy Bleakie.

So glad you could
make it, Mr. Bleakie.

Roy.
Roy.

Mr. Renoble,
nice to see you,
sir.

Good to see you, Kevin.

Perrier, no ice.

Do you gentlemen
need more time?

Uh, do you like
fish, Roy?

The salmon tartar
is excellent.

Three salmon tartar.

You'll like it.
Trust me.

I was tied up
in a meeting.

I'm putting together
a group

to sponsor expanded
library hours

for East Harlem and
Morningside Heights.

When I was a kid,
I practically lived

in the Bloomingdale
branch.

Did you use
the library much

when you were a boy?

The books I read
when I was a kid,

you couldn't find
them in a library.

Well, whatever
you read,

you obviously got
what you needed.

You've done very
well for yourself.

You understand
how things work,

but you've kept
your conscience...

better than most.

Some people would consider
that a liability.

Cass, here, probably
considers that
a liability.

Don't you, Cass?

I need your help, Roy.

You saw the papers
this morning?

This article about
the Clement Hospital
murders?

The suspect,

the man who
surrendered,

Harry Fertig.

Apparently,
he took his son

into a hospital
emergency room

and felt neglected
by the staff.

Tragically,
his son died.

And this crazy Fertig,

he goes on a rampage,

and he shoots a clerk,
a nurse, and a doctor.

He's lost a son.

My company is paying
for his defense.

He works for you.

He's my chief
financial officer.

I've know Harry
for nearly 20 years.

I would do anything
to help.

He needs
to be represented

by someone who
has the capacity

to understand a very
complex situation.

He shot three people
in cold blood.

Not very complex.

Given Fertig's motive,

the kid's death,

I don't think
the D.A.'s

going for
the death penalty.

And here you are.

Prison would destroy him.

He needs help,

not punishment.

He pleads
diminished capacity,

extreme emotional
disturbance,

and he goes
to a mental hospital.

Serve two to six, mm-hmm.

How's the salmon, Roy?

You were right.
It's excellent.

This the lawyer?Mm-hmm.

[praying in Hebrew]

I'm sorry to interrupt
your prayers.

The Vidui.

A confession.

I didn't know Jews
had confession.

I'm sorry
about your son.

Hope you don't mind
if we get down
to business.

You must be
the lawyer Renoble sent.

You're close
with Renoble?

I've worked for him
for 20 years.

You know what
the charges are?

I violated the sixth
commandment.

In court,
it's called homicide
in the second degree.

In court,
you can defend me.

Before God,
there's no defense.

I'd like to leave God
out of this for the moment.

That is impossible.

Mr. Fertig,
you plead guilty,

you get life.

You plead not guilty

by reason of
diminished capacity--

Meshuggener.

I'm sorry?

Crazy.

All right. Crazy.

The judge remands you
to an institution.

You get rehabilitated.

You're out in two,
three years at the most.

They gave me a...

psychiatric evaluation.

I read the report.

The psychiatrist
thought I was a--

Paranoid schizophrenic.

I want another evaluation.

I understand that
at your arraignment

you had
a court-appointed lawyer,

who, perhaps, did not
take you through this

as thoroughly
as I intend to.

Now, you say you want
another evaluation.

Or another lawyer.

How many lawyers do you
intend to go through?

As many as I have to

until I find one
who will represent me--

I'm trying--...as I want
to be represented.

Mr. Fertig, be realistic.

Realistic.

Realistically,
what sane man

would not want
to take revenge

on people who caused
his son to die?

What sane man would
want to serve hard time
if he didn't have to?

If I claim I killed
because I was crazy,

then I'm just
another murderer.

You will serve
some time, Mr. Fertig.

But not take
responsibility?

I want to take
responsibility

to honor my son.

They didn't care
about my son.

I'm sorry.

My son, Stevie...

he was only
five years old.

The day before he died,

he stole a friend's toy.

A tank.

He wanted to return it
the next day

to make amends.

He never got
the chance.

Do you have children,
Mr. Bleakie?

Mr. Fertig.

Do you have children?

No.

My parents
survived Auschwitz.

My grandparents,
great grandparents,

survived pogroms...

Egypt, Babylon, Rome.

Over 3,000 years,
my line, my blood,

we endured.

I wanted to see
my son grow up.

Learn the piano.
Play ball.

Watch him
read the Torah
on his bar-mitzvah.

Go to college.

Get married.

I'll never have
grandchildren, Mr. Bleakie.

Now it all ends...

...with me.

I murdered three people.

I want to make amends.

I want to plead guilty.

This is Judge Crossland.

Hey. It's me.

I just met
this guy, Fertig.

[Judy]
And?

Well, I got
a problem.

He wants
to plead guilty.

Roy, this is not
one to fuck up.

[buzzer]

Yes?

I'm Roy Bleakie.

I'm your
husband's lawyer.

Come in.

Oh. My cousins.

They were
just leaving.

Excuse me.

He was obsessed
with justice.

With people who were
not brought to justice.

Every day,
he'd take the newspaper

and find...
terrible stories.

Police corruption.

Political scandal?

Medical malpractice?

He wanted to know why
people had to suffer...

why God allowed evil
in this world.

He would say,

"Why did this
happen to Stevie?

Why didn't God take me?"

He talked to himself
all the time.

The other tenants,

they finally
got the super to...

keep Harry away.

Were you afraid of him?

Have you heard
from his family?

His mother
and father are dead.

He has no brothers
or sisters.

What about
his colleagues?

Have you heard
from Jack Renoble?

Mr. Renoble?

He sent flowers.

I'm very, very sorry
about your son.

He died of appendicitis.

If the doctor hadn't
turned us away--

Can you understand
my husband's...

Rage?

Despair.

I was going to say despair.

Did you know
that your husband

had killed them,
Mrs. Fertig,

before
he was arrested?

Not until he got home.

We called
the police then.

Are you ashamed
of what he did?

I'm not like Harry,
Mr. Bleakie.

No one's like Harry.

It's hard
to live up to him.

He killed three people.

And is ready to pay
for his crimes.

[Roy] A defendant
sits in your courtroom.

They got a shitty lawyer,
so he's convicted.

He decides to kill
everyone on the jury.

Kills you, too.

That's nutty, Judy.

That's got nothing
to do with God.

Do you
believe in God?

Judy?

Do you?

I'll tell you everything
I know about God.

There is a God.

And He or She

is about to give me
my shot.

Mmm.

Have you read
the newspapers lately?

"Clement Hospital Killer
Weeps For Slain Son."

Everyone who has ever been
ignored or mistreated

by a hospital
or any bureaucracy

understands
what Fertig did.

The defendant
is the only one

that wants
a guilty verdict here.

I get Fertig off...

I'm a hero.

Fertig...

the wife,

the little boy,

the dead doctor,

[laughs]
the nurse,

the clerk...

you know what they are?

All of them?

They're the District
Attorney's office. Mmm...

[Woman]
D.A. Cunningham's office.

Sorry, he's in a meeting.

[Assistant D.A.]
Lying in wait?

Multiple victims?

There's
every element here
of a capital case.

If a Puerto Rican
in the Bronx

shot up the staff
at Montefiore,

he'd get
the death penalty.

For crying
out loud.

Fertig was out
of his mind.

If you don't play
the death card
with Fertig,

you will never be able
to play it again.

Every black
and Puerto Rican
in the city will--

[Man] All right, Liz.
We've heard this already.

What do you say,
Elliott?

They killed his son.

Right?

[Radio reporter] We're here
live at the D.A.'s office,

moments away
from an announcement

on the Clement Hospital
triple-murder case.

I say no way he gets
the death penalty, man.

Rich Jew? No way.

He a man of color,
they'd fry his ass.

[Radio reporter]
Following D.A. Cunningham,

the mayor will
make a statement.

[Guard]
Sit your ass down.

Are you okay?

[sighs]

What's the matter?

Don't you know
what happened?

They're not going
for the death penalty.

I heard the guards talking.

I don't understand.
I thought that would
be good news.

Please go.

The D.A.
is not going for
the death penalty,

Mr. Fertig, because
you turned yourself in.

You showed remorse.

How long have you
been a lawyer?

How long?

20 years, maybe.

Something like that.

They tell me
you're a good lawyer.

What makes
a good lawyer?

You get
your clients off.

No matter what.

Yeah.

Have you ever wanted
two things at the same time?

You want to be free,
be with your wife,

and you want to
serve your sentence.

You think I like being
in prison, Mr. Bleakie?

I think you're a complex
man, Mr. Fertig.

I'm a very simple man,
Mr. Bleakie.

It's the world
that's complex.

And because we live
in a complex world,

we're forced
to make choices,

and sometimes,
the choices...

...the choices...

I wanted to avenge
my son's death. I...

...did not...

...want to, um...

Kill the three people
responsible?

Sometimes, I think the world
is nothing but sorrow.

The District Attorney
is surprised I feel remorse.

Of course I feel remorse.
Why wouldn't I feel remorse?

I'm sorry for you.

You're sorry for me?
Why?

You really want to do
what's right, don't you?

You really want to do
the right thing?

People think it's hard
to do the right thing.

It's not hard to do
the right thing,
Mr. Bleakie.

It's hard to know
what the right thing is.

Once you know...

Once you know
what's right...

...it's hard not to do it.

When you shot
those people...

you knew.

Murder two,
the death penalty--
you knew.

You knew.

I knew.

I get it.

They killed your son,
you killed them,

the state kills you.

Except the state
won't kill you,

so the state's more
merciful than you.
Is that it?

Please go.

Is that it?

You want to be a martyr?

I want to be a good man.

You murdered three people.

A good man is not without sin.

He admits...

and expiates his sin.

Please go.

Please go.

I'll tell you right now.

He's advertising.

You want to sell
the American public
on something?

Advertise.

And your client, Fertig?

That's all he's doing,
advertising.

He's got an idea
that he wants to sell.

Responsibility.

It may be an extreme
form of advertising,

but is it
in the American tradition?

Oh, yeah.

Going all the way back
to John Wilkes Booth.

A little extreme, yes.

Effective?

Well, your client's
been on the front page

every day.

Is he insane?

In fact, given
what he wants to do,

I'd say he's a genius.

Is that what you're
gonna say on the stand?

This retainer you sent me,

I assume that, uh,

whoever's paying your fee
is also covering this?

That's right.

$25,000.

You run a clinic.

Long-term
psychiatric care

for deprived
children.

You receive
no federal, state,

or...local funds.

In court,

I'd like to prove
Mr. Fertig not guilty

by reason of insanity.

Mr. Bleakie?

You're very persuasive.

[phone rings]

Roy Bleakie's office.

Hey, it's me.

What time
is Shabbos?

15, 20 minutes.

I don't think you have
time to convert.

What if I just...
dropped by?

[Assistant]
Just get there before
she lights the candles.

[buzzer]

[speaking Hebrew]

Blessed are You,
Ruler of the Universe,

who has sanctified us
with your commandments

and commanded us to kindle
the Sabbath lights.

[Sara]
When Stevie died,

it was like God had
turned away from me.

Just like Harry did.

Does Harry believe
that God turned away
from him, too?

Harry would never
believe that...

could never
believe that.

You're sure of that?

If he ever thought
God had turned away...

He was waiting
for a sign from God.

Silence was the sign.

God telling Harry
he had to right the wrong.

So Harry thinks he's
God's avenging angel?

I didn't say that.

You care about your husband
very much, don't you?

Since Stevie's death,
Harry won't let me near him.

I want
to hold him, but...

he won't touch me.

My aunt thought
I should leave him.

Why didn't you?

I went to our rabbi,
Rabbi Gordon,

who told me to pray,
but I couldn't.

When I met my husband,
I was only 22.

He wanted a family
more than anything.

In all the years
before Stevie was born,

Harry couldn't understand
why we couldn't have a child.

Did you think
about adopting?

Harry wanted
a child of his own.

There are other ways.

The doctor suggested
artificial insemination,

a donor, but Harry...

When the doctors gave up...

...I even thought of going
with another man...

...to have a child...

...secretly.

Excuse me.

Guard?

Guard?

Could I have a pen, please,
and a piece of paper?

♪♪ [piano]

[indistinct chatter]

I knew that that
little fuckin' weasel
Cunningham

wasn't gonna go
for the death penalty.

And Fertig?

He'll be
like the others?

The minute
they don't get
the death penalty,

they go for that
insanity tap dance.

Who'd want to spend
his life in jail?

[Cass] And that's
the beautiful part, Roy,

is your friend walks.

And we get to use
the D.A.'s decision
against him in November.

We're gonna beat him
with the stick he gave us.

And it works quite well.

Judy, when
we were out
in Bridgehampton,

what were you
telling me?

Uh, the legal
definition
of insanity?

Legally, to prove
somebody's crazy,

you have to show that
they did not understand

the consequences
of their acts.

You mean if he didn't know
the people he shot would die?

No. If he didn't
know it was wrong.

The Timessays he's
claiming it wasn't wrong.

Isn't that right, Jack?

It was wrong to get caught.

[laughs]

That's so cynical.

Cynicism is just reality
with the volume turned up.

A cynic is just an idealist
who's been disappointed.

But he wanted
to get caught.

Didn't he, Jack?

You worked with him, Jack.

Why would he want that?

Because he killed
those people.

I mean, maybe he is
sane, as he claims.

He killed three people,
he knows it's wrong,
he wants to accept

the consequences.

What are you saying,
Roy?

Fertig isn't crazy?
Is that what you're saying?

I hope that's not
what you're saying,
because if you are--

Cass, Cass, Cass.

Roy's just--

Harry Fertig is an
extraordinarily decent man,

so I'm not surprised
he feels that way.

He always did
the right thing.

After dinner,
it was just, um,

Meg Renoble,
Cass's wife, and me.

Meg started crying.

She has breast cancer.

She needs
a mastectomy.

6 weeks, I'll be 42.

It's my birthday.

Don't worry about Renoble.

You'll
get Fertig off.

Fertig doesn't
want to get off.

I mean, why-- why is
Renoble helping him?
What does he care?

What difference
does it make to him
if Fertig pleads guilty,

if he pleads not guilty?

'Cause they've known
each other for--

I think it's about
something else.

Don't complicate it, Roy.
This is a no-brainer.

Don't rock the boat.

Will you come up?

You don't have
to spend the night.

Just an hour...
so I can get to sleep?

I can't.

[ring]

[ring]

Hello.

[sighs] When?

Where are you now?

He attempted suicide
a couple hours ago,

and they brought him
here to the hospital

about an hour ago.

How is
my husband?

He's just down
at the end of the hall.

How is he?

They sedated him.

[weeps]

There's a guard
with him.

[crying]

You've got
to calm down.

Before you go in there
and see him,

you've got to calm down.

Listen to me.

What your husband
has done--

this may
sound awful--

but it could be
the perfect thing

for his defense.

Listen to me.
You don't want him

to spend the rest
of his life in jail.

You're the only one

who can make him
understand.

Harry?

Harry?Hmm?

Sara.

Who let her in here?

Darling.
Out.

Get her out!

[speaking Hebrew]

[speaking German]

[speaking German]

I don't want you coming here.

A moment of doubt.

A moment of doubt?

I tried to--

To what?

Tried to what?

To understand why
this happened to me.

To you?

Happened to you?

Stevie was my son!

Don't you think
I suffered, too?

This happened to us.

To us,Harry,

to us.

I loved him
as much as you did.

And what are we
left with, our grief?

No. With each other.

And then you go
and do this.

It was a sin against God.
I meant you no harm.

Against God?

Meant me no harm?
[snickers]

What's happening to me?

Mr. Bleakie?

That's right.

Are you
Mr. Fertig's lawyer?

Yes, I am.

They found this
in his cell.

Thank you.

I'll make
arrangements for him

to stay in the hospital
until the trial.

I should get us a cab.

Do you mind
if we walk a little?

I can't breathe.

No.

In Hartford,
where I grew up,

whenever a boy
wanted to take me out,

he'd have to come
to the house
for dinner first.

This was in the 70s.

I mean, the kids
I went to school with
were taking drugs.

They were going off
on weekends together.

[Sara] My parents
were afraid. They were
afraid of my friends.

They-- They were afraid
of everything.

I grew up afraid.

Even after my parents died,
I was afraid.

When I met Harry
at shule,

he had such...

certainty...

about the world,

about himself.

He made me
feel safe.

That's why
I married him.

He made me
feel safe.

And now...

I don't feel
safe anymore.

Are you all right?

I've talked
your ear off.

You've been
very patient,
very kind.

I don't get a chance to talk
like this very much.

Well, it's been
a long night.

Can I...come in
for a coffee?

I don't think so.

I don't...think so.

[softly]
I want to help you.

[Sara]
Coffee's ready.

Oh.

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

It's tickets
to the symphony,

the ballet,
the theater.

All the shows
you've seen.

No.

All the shows
we didn't see...

'cause Harry was
too busy working.

One birthday, I...

wrapped it up
and gave it to him.

Work was very
important to Harry.

Work and Stevie.

What about you?

What are you
gonna do...

now that
your son is gone?

Well, Harry thought
that we would--

Forget about Harry.

What about you?

What do youwant?

I don't know.

[crying]

I don't know.

It's all right.

What am I gonna do?

It's all right.

[softly]
What am I gonna do?

[whispers]
It's all right.

[draws tearful breath]

It's not your fault.

It's not...your fault.

[sighs]

Please...

...don't go.

It's okay.

It's okay.

Mmm...

[Sara]
There you are.

[chuckles]

So, do we pretend
this never happened?

I don't know.

What we did was wrong.

Yeah.

I'm not sorry.

What are you thinking?

I want to kiss you.

Aren't you rushing
the hour a little?

Been home yet?

Presbyterian?

Huh?

Bleakie.

That's
Scotch-Irish,
right?

I don't make you
for a Catholic,

so I figure you got
to be a Presbyterian.

My parents were.Mm-hmm.

You werebaptized.
Hmm?

They weren't religious, no.

Really.

It's funny.

Any Catholic
can baptize anyone.

With anything.

With, uh, bourbon
for instance.

If there's no water
and...

if it's emergency.

This is an emergency?

Yeah, I think
it is.

You're baptized,
you go to heaven.

You want
to go to heaven,
don't you, Roy?

No. Look--

Wait a minute.

What's the harm?

I mean, if there
is no heaven, all you
get is a little damp.

Okay. Okay.

You want to baptize me?

Baptize me.

Not what Iwant.

Do you want
to be baptized?

Is that
your true intention?

Yes.

Yes, I want to be baptized.

I baptize thee

in the name
of the Father
and of the Son

and
of the Holy Spirit.

Oh, uh, I forgot
to tell you.

Now that you've
been baptized...

you can also go to hell.

[water running]

[telephone rings]

[ring]

[message machine beeps]

[Sara] Roy,
are you there?

Roy, it's Sara.
Please call me.

[Sara]
When Stevie
was a baby,

I used to walk here
every day

past the Alice
in Wonderlandstatue,

the dairy,

the zoo.

I've always
loved the zoo.

The polar bear--
Gus--

all day,
he would swim

over and over
in the same pattern,

compulsively.

[laughs]

They finally
had to send him

to a bear
psychiatrist.

It's a true story.

So we get a bunch
of people to testify.
You know.

Roy.

This psychiatrist will
say that he's gotta be crazy

if he wants to go to jail
if he doesn't have to.

Roy.

What happened
last night?

I'm sorry.

Don't apologize.

Look at me.

No.

Look at me.

I'm 38 years old.

I'm not like Harry.
I'm not a saint.

I'm a woman.

I'm still
a young woman.

I've lost my son.
I've lost my husband.

And what do I
have left?

I don't want
my life to be over.

You should go home.

You don't want this...

really.

You think
I want to spend

the rest of my life
in prison?

Then don't.

If you get me off,
everything
that happened,

everything I did
has no meaning.
It's just murder.

Well, what do
you call it?Justice.

Revenge!

Justice.

They're responsible
for my son's death.

I'm responsible
for theirs.

You don't know
what it's like.

[sighs]

You think
you're the only one

that ever lost somebody
that you care about?

My father shot himself
when I was a kid.

He was younger
than I am now.

I was your son's age.

You deny me my right
to plead guilty,
you deny God.

I don't want to hear
any more about God.

If you don't
want to save yourself,

you don't have to.

I'll get a court order
to commitment.

You won't
even stand trial,

but you are
going to cooperate.

You are going
to plead not guilty,
and do you know why?

Do you know why?

Sara.

You want to go ahead
and sacrifice yourself,

go ahead, but you're
not gonna sacrifice her.

What right
do you have telling me

what I should
or should not do?

If you're in jail,
what's gonna happen to her?

What right do you
have to judge me?

Don't you think
she misses her son?

When my son was born...

...he was so small,
I held him in one hand.

This hand.

This hand.

And he looked up
into my face,
and he smiled.

And I felt
that this--

this is what
I was born for--

to be
this boy's father.

What about
being a husband?

Your wife...
she's lost her son.

And now she's gonna
lose her husband.

You...are her husband.

My wife. I never...

It's not that
I didn't love her.

I loved her,
Mr. Bleakie.

It's just
that being in love

and having
a successful marriage

are two different
things entirely.

I knew how
to be a father.

I didn't know
how to be a husband.

Mr. Bleakie,
please understand.
We go through life,

we have our losses,

and we all
suffer losses.

We all pray
for the same thing...

...that we don't
suffer the loss

that we cannot
put behind us.

What happened to my son,

I can never
put it behind me.

I wanted to die

because I can never
put this behind me.

But if this is
what God demands...

It looks that way.

What do you
want me to do?

[telephone rings]

[assistant]
Roy Bleakie's office.

Get me O'Donnell,
would ya?

Right.

[ring]

Roy Bleakie's office.
Can you hold, please?

I tracked down that cabbie
that drove Fertig
from the hospital.

Uh-huh. Yeah.

[intercom beeps]

[Woman]
O'Donnell on line two.

He's willing
to make a statement.

Really.

Cass.

Yeah.
Fertig agreed.

Right.
Couldn't be better.

I'll call Renoble.

Okay.

Hey, Mel, come on.
Congratulate me.

I'm gonna be
the next D.A.

Yeah. Look, Roy--

Hold that thought.
I gotta run.

[sighs]

♪♪ [jazz]

[Judy] Hello, Jack.
Isn't that lovely?

Good seeing you.

Timmy.
Nice to see you.

[British accent]
As I was saying,

before one
of the veterans...

I don't see Jack.

Don't see him.
Supposed to be here.

[Man]
Yo, Cass.

Hi, Andy, hi.

Andy Havighurst,
Roy Bleakie.

Roy, good to see you.

Monster state planner.
This guy's a genius.

Nice to meet you.

Fucked my ex-wife
big time.

[laughs]

Jacob?

Jacob, Roy Bleakie.Hi, Cass.

Jacob Federman.

Hi. Pleasure
to see you.

Excuse us.

Senior partner,
Federman, Swain.

Oh, hi. Hey,
Myra, Myra.

Sandy,
how are you?

Myra, this
is Roy Bleakie.

Myra's president
of the Neal Foundation.

Oh. Very nice
to meet both of you.

Nice to see you
again. Okay.

What's the Neal
Foundation?

Fuck, I don't know.

Roy?
Roy Bleakie?

I thought you'd
never get here.

Come here.Excuse me one moment.

I want to introduce
you to someone.

This is
Maynard Dubois.

Roy.

This is
your night, Roy.

[chuckles]
Thanks.

Stop by tomorrow
or the next day.

We got a lot
to talk about.

The mayor
just arrived.

Hi.
Hi.

Right in here.

I want to show
you where to...

Roy?

Can I have
a word with you?

Oh, yeah, sure.
I'm sorry.

I was a friend
of your dad.

Uh, Ozone Park
Democratic Club.

If he could only
see you tonight.

Your dad'd
be proud, Roy.

Real proud.

[doorbell
beeps]

[intercom]
Yeah.

Mel, it's Roy.

You got time
for a walk?

Sure.

20, 25 years in prison.

How old's her husband
now, 51, 52?

When he comes out,
do the math.

He'll be 75.

She'll be 60,
65 years old.

Is that what she wants?

She says to me,
"What do I have left?

I don't want my life
to be over."

If her husband
goes to prison,

her life isover.
I'm saving her.

I'm saving him.

I'm the one who's
gonna get him off.

People come up
to me at parties.

They congratulate me.

The mayor wants to meet me.

They want to put me
up for office.

I'm gonna be
fuckin' the D.A.

I'm gonna be a good D.A.

I'm gonna be
a goddamn good D.A.

What's the matter
with that?

What is wrong
with that?

Nobody said anything's
wrong with that.

Sorry to bother you.

The son of a friend
died recently.

I don't know any prayers.
I'm not Jewish.

I've never been
very religious.

I'm just here

visiting
my wife's grave.

She died
15 years ago.

She was
the religious one
in the family.

I see.

I'd like to help you.

It's right over here.

[saying prayer
in Hebrew]

[continues praying]

[hesitating]

That's all I can remember.

That's fine.

Thank you.
I appreciate it.

[Assistant]
Don't forget your 1:00
with Dr. Saperstein.

On the Fertig case?

Right.

[sighs]
You okay?

Yeah.

Anything I should know?

No.

What happened
to you last night?

I went to Elaine's.
I looked around for you.

You never showed up.

The mayor was there,
Renoble, other judges--

I've got an appointment.

Everyone, my friends,
colleagues.

They all wanted
to talk to you.

We've waited
for this.

We?

Oh. Oh, I get it.

Now the D.A.'s office
is in your hand,

you're gonna
cut me loose?

What are you saying?

That I had
to deliver Fertig

to get
the D.A.'s office?

Don't do this
to me, Roy.

[elevator rings]

I got a little
surprise for ya.

I just might
plead him guilty.

[scoffs]

In here, sir.

Glad you could make it.

My God.
[chuckles] Ah.

[Renoble]
Quite a view,
isn't it?

Mmm.

You like
that painting?

By Frederic Church,
Hudson River School.

Aurora Borealis,
1865.

My wife found it.

She trained as an art
historian at Smith.

When she graduated,
she spent a year
in Florence.

And the Violetta.

Length, 71 feet.

She was built
as a racer in 1978.

She sleeps eight.

What are you doing
in the middle of May?

We're taking
a little cruise.

You know George
and Sarah Patakos?

He owns the oil tankers.

They'll be coming along.

And Patsy Colbert.

And Mae Whitney.

Lovely girl.

26. Just got out
of a terrible
marriage.

We're trying
to cheer her up.

Maybe you
could help us.

Sounds lovely.

This is for you.

$100,000.

For your campaign...

...for District Attorney.

I don't think
I can accept this.

You're a good man,
a man of conscience.

Jack, in the Fertig case--

I heard you're
considering
a guilty plea.

How did you hear that?

Are you sure
it's in Fertig's
best interest?

It's what he wants.

He's a troubled man.

Did you see this?

The treasure
of my collection.

An unpublished
essay by Thoreau,

the only copy
in existence.

It took me six months

to check out
its provenance

to make sure it
was the real thing.

Ever thought
of publishing it?

When I bought it,
Columbia University
contacted me

and said I had
an obligation

to culture--
no, to civilization

to publish it,

to share it.

But I want
the only copy.

When I buy something,

I expect it to be
as advertised.

Cass O'Donnell assured
me that youwere...

The real thing.

Reliable.

You want your money back?

By the way,
this check is drawn

on your personal
account.

When I buy something,
it's mine--

Just like Fertig's
legal fees....to do with what I want.

You're planning
to plead Fertig guilty.

That's a mistake.

Jack, I don't think
you understand.

A mistake for him,

and a mistake
for you.

I'm paying you
$100,000

plus your regular
retainer

for Fertig's
not-guilty plea.

Not guilty

because he's insane.

You said you wanted me
to dig up some shit
on Renoble.

Here, this guy.

Some reporter
who was covering

Renoble's highway
beautification
projects.

A pro bono
up near Catona.

An internal memo
from the reporter
to the editor.

I got a friend
at The Times.

Now, that reporter,

he wanted
to investigate
that project,

but suddenly,
he gets too busy.

Some
journalism grant,

the Neeman Fellowship
at Harvard.

Renoble has
influential friends.

Fertig knows
something, Mel.

Something
about that project

that could hurt Renoble.

And a murder conviction
isn't enough

to taint Fertig
as a witness.

So long as he's sane,

Fertig's testimony
is acceptable.

Our Neeman fellow.

Jack Renoble.

Well, I know what most
people know about him.

He liked my work
at The Times.

[Roy] You're back
at The Timesnow, right?

Yeah. Editorial.

Did Renoble do that
for you, too?

H.L. Mencken, Liebling.

Great newspapermen.

I.F. Stone. They said
he couldn't be bought.

You've got a lot
of his books here.

He's one of my heroes.

Renoble's highway
beautification project.

Route 684, Catona.

Why did you drop
that investigation?

What investigation?

At the paper,
they said you were
checking the project out.

Right before you
got your, uh, Neeman.

You know, fellas...

I'm busy.

You got a lot
of awards here.
God.

National
Writer's Foundation,

American Society
of Science Writers.

Mmm.

Nothing since your, um...

Neeman.

[laughing]
I mean, Christ,
a Neeman.

A guy with your talent,
you shoulda held out
for at least a Pulitzer.

Get the fuck outta here.

What kind of shit
has he gotten into?

[knock on window]

What do you
want to know?

[Reporter] I got a tip
from a trucker up in Niag.

He owns his own company.

He sold the fill
for Renoble's project.

His name is William Defeo.

But you won't get much.

He's half dead.

[Defeo] What was it,
a couple, three years back?

Most of my work
was local,

but this once
I got a visit
from some lawyer.

I guess he was
from the city.

Said he represented
some company.

Wanted me to move
all his fill

for landscaping.

A company called...
what was it?

Anyway, two weeks
they give us.

I said,
"That's impossible."

They said,
"It don't matter.
We'll cover it."

They were willing
to pay a lot,

a lot of overtime.

I hired extra guys.

I never asked myself,
"What's the hurry?"

I found out the fill
was contaminated

with toxins,
pesticides,
P.C.B.s.

I saw a printout.

Must have been 15,
16 different kinds.

Five guys
workin' for me
that job.

We were
grading the fill,

breathing it in.

Three are sick...

dying.

Me, too.

Bone cancer.

Zarus Group.

That was
the company's name.

Coffee's ready.

And guess what.

The highway this fill
was being used to landscape

goes right through
the Crotin Reservoir.

The levels
of contamination
in the water,

it's not a lot.

Still, when it rains,

all that poison runs
into the New York City
water supply.

You subpoena documents,
they shred 'em.

You get soil samples,

and after
three years,

even if you
find toxins,

they say
somebody else

dumped them
on the site.

How are you gonna prove

Renoble is responsible?

Strange.

You don't hear it,
do you?

What?

Nothing.

No birds, no sounds.

Everything's dead.

Who is William Defeo?

Mr. Bleakie,
why do you--

Who is William Defeo?

Defeo?

Catona?

The highway
beautification project?

Catona...

What do you know
about Zarus Group?

Zarus Group?

I read that on a piece
of paper on your desk.

What were you doing
reading my papers?

"Numbers too high."
What did that mean?

What were you doing
at my desk?

"Numbers too high."

An accounting
discrepancy.
That's all.

It had to do
with fill

for some landscaping
on a highway.

It should have
cost us $340
per truckload.

Instead,
we were being paid
over $5,000 a load.

Probably
somebody punched
the wrong numbers

into a spreadsheet.

Tell me about
Zarus Group.

Mr. Bleakie,
I don't understand--

Please.

Zarus Group.

One of Renoble's
subsidiaries.

We ran a few
projects through it.

The highway
beautification project?Mm-hmm.

What else?

Alternate energy.

Refrigeration.

What else?

Well, uh,
Renoble wanted me

to do a...
feasibility study

for a filtration plant

to filter the city's
water supply.

If the city water
degrades any further,

the federal government
mandates filtration.

We don't filter now?

No. They only
treat the water.

They don't
filter it.
Why not?

We don't need it.

It's an extreme measure.

$8 billion
to build a system.

$8 billion?

And $500 million
a year to operate.

And you would
get that contract?

We're the only ones
big enough.

And Renoble
and the mayor
are friends.

So if the water supply
degrades enough,

the city is mandated
to spend $8 billion
in contracts?

For starters.

Why?

You really
don't know, do you?

You really don't know.

[man chuckles]

Let's go.

What's this?

Your suicide note...
to Sara.

They found it in your cell.
They gave it to me.

I didn't give it to her
because if I had, I...

You all right?

What was it you told me?

People think it's hard
to do the right thing.

It's not hard
to do the right thing.

It's hard to know
what the right thing is.

But once you know...

Once you know--

Once you know
what is right,

then it's hard
not to do it.

I slept with your wife.

I know.

She told me.

A good man
is not without sin.

He admits.

And expiates...
his sin.

I need you
to do something for me.

What do you want?

All my life,
I've been certain

that what I've done...

I've been sure
that I've done
what I had to do.

I guess in some ways,
I'm like your husband.

In some ways.

I can't help you.

Sometimes in life
we want something.

We want it
so badly...

...and we
don't get it.

We get something
else instead,
and we find out

that that's what we
needed all along.

You'd better go.

You have to go.

All rise.

Court is in session.

The honorable
Seth Dunbar presiding.

People of the State
of New York
vs. Harry Fertig.

Indictment number
2814-99.

Charge is murder
in the second degree.

Mr. Prosecutor, are you
ready to proceed
to a disposition?

Yes, Your Honor.

Application,
counselor?

Your Honor,
at this time,

my client has authorized me
to enter a plea of guilty

to three counts of murder
in the second degree.

Do you understand
that a plea of guilty

is the same
as a conviction
after trial?

Yes, I do.

You are charged

with three counts of murder
in the second degree

in that on, uh...
November the 3rd,

with intent
to cause the deaths

of Mason Gillett,

Janine Carrounbois,

and Eric Malabar,

you caused their deaths.

Are these charges true?

Yes, they are,
Your Honor.

[Judge Dunbar]
All right.

We will now
adjourn this matter

for a period of two weeks

for pre-sentencing
investigation.

Your Honor.

My client wishes
to waive the pre-sentencing
investigation.

[courtroom murmurs]

Defendant is ready
for sentencing?

Your Honor,
defense counsel

is free to argue
anything he wants
about sentencing,

but--Your Honor.

...these are
horrendous murders

for which there can be
no rational justification.Your honor--

The defense may try
to claim that--

Why don't we hear
what the defense
has to say...

beforeyou
object to it?

Proceed.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Your Honor,
my client would like
to make a statement.

Wouldn't you
rather wait?

Up until this time,
you apparently

haven't gotten
into any trouble.

Maybe the
pre-sentencing report,
testimony of neighbors

and fellow workers

could help you
reduce your sentence.

I would like
to make a statement.

Proceed.

Your Honor, I killed
Dr. Mason Gillett,

Janine Carrounbois,

and Eric Malabar.

I killed them
because they...

...they would not
help my son.

They were too busy.

They didn't care.

I killed them
to show the world
that they must care.

I know...what I did
was a crime.

No, worse than a crime.
It was a sin against...

God.

Against...God's law.

Pick up any children's Bible

like the one I used
to read to Stevie.

Remember how
I'd sit on his bed

and read from
his children's Bible?

[Judge]
Mr. Fertig.

Because
I wanted him

to grow up
to be a good man.

[tearfully]
A good man.

[Judge Dunbar]
Will the defendant
please rise?

Stevie, my son--

Please get up,
Mr. Fertig.

And in his children's Bible,
remember, Sara,

there were pictures of God
making the heavens,

parting the waters.

God, an old man,

a white robe,
with a white beard...

[Man]
Let's go, sir.

Make no images.

Remember the Sabbath.

Honor thy father
and mother.

Honor thy mother.Your Honor?

[Judge Dunbar]
Remove the defendant.

Thou shalt not
commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear
false witness.

Thou shalt not covet.

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not kill!

Forgive me. Sara!

[door closes]

We will adjourn till
2:00 this afternoon
for sentencing.

I don't know what to say.

You were magnificent!

You don't say
he's crazy.

You showhe's crazy.
[laughs]

He pleads guilty,
but he's crazy.

You had me
worried.

Now all we do is
bring in our psychiatrist
to testify.

That was quite
a performance.

Congratulations.

Not hungry?

No.

You want me
to wrap it up,
take it home?

I'm fine.

...scene in court today
when Harry Fertig,

the former
chief financial officer
of Renoble Enterprises

and the defendant
in the Clement Hospital
murders

of Dr. Mason Gillett,
Janine Carrounbois,

a nurse,
and Eric Malabar,
a clerk,

broke down in court today,
falling to his knees

and sobbing
in front of his wife...

[continues, indistinct]

[no vocal audio]

Yes.

And the toxins seeped
into the reservoir

so that Washington
would mandate filtration.

He put $8 billion
into his pocket initially

and then
$500 million a year...

...to run the plant.

Why are you
telling me this?

You just handed me
the election.

Renoble belongs in jail.

Everything you need to
prosecute him is here.

Is the defendant
ready for sentencing?

Your Honor,
I have a statement.

Proceed.

Thank you,
Your Honor.

As you can tell from
this morning's session,

my client is
distraught with grief.

He loved his son.

That's clear.

He loved his son.

And he talked
about his crime.

Crime is a matter
of legality,

something
against the law,

against human law.

Get a good enough lawyer,
and you can escape punishment.

I've been a lawyer
for a few years now.

Invariably, during a case,

I end up teaching my client
something about the law--

small "L"-- as
in New York State law.

This case has been
different, however,

in that Ihave
had the opportunity

to learn about the law
from a client--

law with a capital "L,"
as in God's law.

God's law.

The best lawyer
in the world

can't get you off,
plead you down...

cut a deal.

Very often in our work,

we satisfy
the letter of the law--

man's law--

but not the spirit
of the law,

God's law.

The case provides us with
the unique opportunity

for these two ideas

to come together.

Isn't it odd

that people who want
to tell the truth

during these proceedings
are often viewed as insane?

Usually, when someone
is arrested for murder,

the first thing
we expect them
to do is to deny it

or plead insanity.

Anything but to claim
responsibility

or to tell the truth.

My client

wants to tell
the truth.

He says,
"I shot three people--

"Gillett, Carrounbois,
Malabar.

"I shot them willfully
and deliberately.

I shot them
because they killed
through their neglect."

My client says that if you
want to hold the power

of life and death
in your hand,

if you choose to be
a doctor or a nurse,

if you choose
that terrible obligation,

you must be responsible.

That's what my client
believes.

That's why
he killed them.

And he admits it.

He admits
that he killed them.

The moment he says that,

the moment
he tells the truth,
everybody jumps back

and says,
"Whoa. He is crazy."

He tells the truth.
He must be crazy.

By pleading insanity,
you claim you're crazy.

By telling the truth,
you prove it.

Objection!

Overruled.

Let me take this
a step further.

Do I look crazy to you?

What if I
were to tell you

that I was hired
to defend my client

in order to persuade him
to plead insanity

so that any
subsequent testimony

he might give
in a courtroom
would be tainted--

Objection,
Your Honor!

...by his insanity plea.

Overruled!

And what if I told you

that if I succeeded

and he pleaded
insanity, certain

people would help me
to advance my career

to become D.A.?

Objection!

[murmuring]

Counsel,

approach the bench.

Your Honor,

defense counsel
has already demonstrated

that one of the people
at his table is insane.

Is he going
for two out of three?

Counselor,
you seem to be

headed down
an uncertain path.

Will it take you

where you
want to go?

Yes, Your Honor.

Objection overruled.

[murmuring]

Thank you, Your Honor.

Your Honor,
this afternoon,

District Attorney
Elliott Cunningham

will file charges
against Jack Renoble,

Renoble Enterprises,

and Zarus Group,

a Renoble subsidiary
in State Supreme Court

under article 71-2714

of the environmental
conservation law

endangering public health,
safety, or the environment

in the first degree,

a criminal charge,
a class "C" felony

that carries with it
a sentence of 4 1/2
to 15 years in prison.

My client Harry Fertig
will be called upon

to testify in that case,

something that certain people

have gone to great lengths
to prevent.

And because
no matter how distraught

my client has appeared,
he is not insane,

his testimony
will be valid.

My client
knows the difference

between right
and wrong,

understands the consequences
of his acts,

and he is prepared
to pay for his crimes,

as all of us should be
prepared to pay for ours.

Thank you.

Please stand.

The court finds you guilty
of all charges

and sentences you
to 25 years to life.

This court is adjourned.

Thank you.

[reporters shouting questions]

Bleakie! I want
to talk to you!

Hey!

[reporter]
The Renoble
allegations--

[second reporter]
...the District Attorney,
sir.

Schmuck.

Bleakie!

Do you plan to appeal?

[overlapping shouts]

Why did you
cop a plea?

You all right?

Yeah.

Why did you do it?

It's the one thing
I couldn't put
behind me.

See ya.

♪♪ [man singing prayer]