Original subtitles

[indistinct chattering]

People versus Gustavson.

Mr. Kopesky. Tell us please, the authority on which

the police searched the suspect's car.

Um, the search was conducted under the authority of

Carroll versus United States, where it was held that

a warrantless search is justified when there's a danger

of losing the evidence, as in the case of an automobile

which can quickly be driven out of the jurisdiction.

Where was Mr. Gustavson's car when the police searched it?

At the station.

Leland: They had the vehicle in their possession?

Leland: Then what danger was there that it could be quickly

driven out of the jurisdiction?

I guess it was pretty slight.

So then Carroll versus the United States doesn't apply.

Does it?

Well, uh, the underlying rationale for Carroll

was exigent circumstances and--

Sit down, Mr. Kopesky.

Ms. Moses? What justified the warrantless search?

Um... [clears throat] It was conducted

under an expanded application of Chimel versus California.

How does Chimel apply?

The, uh, search was incident to the arrest.

The suspect wasn't present, and the search took place

more than four hours after the arrest.

How could it possibly be incident to the arrest?

I don't think it was, actually.

Um, in my opinion, the search was illegal.

Then why did the court hold it valid?

I don't know.

Did you read this case, Ms. Moses?

- Yes sir, I read it. - Yeah, you read it.

You read it, but you didn't understand it.

I read it and I found it inconsistent

with the Vale ruling.

Oh, what about Chambers versus Maroney?

Did you read that case?

Um, I-- I-- I don't think that case was assigned.

No, it wasn't. But the holding in Gustavson

was specifically based on Chambers.

And anyone wishing to understand the Gustavson case

would have looked up Chambers.

What happens if and when you become a lawyer?

Do you intend to march into court and tell the judge,

"Gee, I didn't think that case was assigned?"

No, sir, I don't.

Sit down, Ms. Moses.

Between you, Mr. Kopesky,

we've wasted nearly five minutes here.

Mr. Aronowitz.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[sighs]

[door closes]

What is it you want to know?

Whether or not I'm making a mistake putting you up

on that witness stand.

Why would you be making a mistake?

Look, I know this hasn't been easy for you.

You don't know...

the first thing about how it's been for me.

Alright.

Don't you concern yourself with my state of mind, Mr. Kuzak.

Well, forgive me, Mrs. Williams, but I have no choice.

As long as I'm your husband's lawyer,

I'm the guy his life depends on.

Now if you're going to hurt him, I gotta know about it.

Do you think that because my husband was unfaithful to me,

I want to see him sent to the gas chamber?

No.

You just put me on that witness stand.

Trudging along. Leland, the Schneiderman meeting

is scheduled for tomorrow at 11.

Will that conflict with law school?

Well, my class is over at 10:30. Uh, well, I should be back.

Diana says you're pretty tough in there, Leland.

A law school professor should be tough.

What's your style?

- Strictly Socratic. - Oooh.

Douglas: Moving on. There's good news and bad on Dorothy Wyler.

The good news is, she's fully recovered from Epstein Barr

disease and stands ready to return to work.

- Good for her. Ann: Great.

The bad news is I fired her.

- What? - You fired her?

We had to write down her billables so often

we were losing money on her.

Wait a minute. Don't you think that's something

we should have discussed, get our input on it?

I did get your input. I read your evaluation forms

for associate review.

Douglas and I discussed this, and as unpleasant as it was,

the decision was warranted, let's move along.

Has anybody talked to Michael on the Williams case?

He's up against it. He expects to go to jury

by the end of the week, but, uh, they're struggling.

Arnold. Hammond versus Hammond.

Corrinne Hammond's coming in today

to sign the settlement papers.

Looks like a wrap.

I believe congratulations are in order.

I understand you worked a very favorable division of property.

Mrs. Hammond must be thrilled.

Yeah. Yeah. Sort of.

Douglas: That's it, people. We're adjourned.

[indistinct chatter]

- Mrs. Weedon? Hello. - Yes. Oh.

Thank you so much for seeing me.

No problem.

If you don't mind my asking, how'd you find me?

Well, I saw your name in the Martindale Hubbell book.

And I prefer young attorneys.

They're not so hard-bitten.

You're black, aren't you?

- [chuckles] Yes, ma'am, I am. - Doesn't matter to me.

Negroes can do anything, that's what I always say.

I appreciate that.

Have we reached the point where you're billing me,

or is this still introductory free time?

No, ma'am, this is all free.

No, we don't charge unless we accept you as a client.

But before I can do that, I need to know why

and for what you need an attorney.

Well, eight months ago I slipped on some spilled papaya juice

in Kendall's Food Mart.

I sprained my wrist in the fall.

The pain, you cannot imagine.

The store manager admitted it was their fault,

but the insurance people won't even take my calls.

My friend Gladys saw the whole thing, only she can't testify.

- Why not? - Dead.

Got sick in her sleep last summer

and drowned in her own vomit.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Mrs. Weedon...

I'm afraid I can't take your case.

Why can't you take it?

A sprained wrist, even with liability clearly established,

would be worth about ten thousand dollars tops.

And this firm doesn't take ten thousand dollar matters.

Why not?

Well, with our overhead and everything...

it'd be impossible for us to make any money

on a claim like this.

Don't you ever take a case just because

somebody needs your help?

Not really.

Never mind.

I don't know why I'm surprised.

Every lawyer has told me the same thing.

I just thought maybe you would be different.

I'm sorry to have taken up your time, Mr. Rollins.

Mrs. Weedon.

Let me make a phone call or two. But that's all I can do.

Oh, thank you.

Well now, this is the number for Kendall's.

And this is the name and number of the insurance adjuster.

Alright.

And this is all I have by way of evidence.

The shoes I was wearing at the time.

You can see, that's very good traction.

Okay. [chuckles] Yes.

Do I need to sign these copies here?

No. These are just for your records. We're all done.

Very good.

Thank you.

Arnold: Corrinne.

I was wrong.

- I'm sorry. - Okay.

Arnold: If you ever need any help with Chloe,

I'd like you to please let me know.

I've dealt with a number of first-rate

child psychologists over the years.

What is it, kind of a package deal?

You screw 'em up, they straighten 'em out?

Listen, I said I was wrong.

Let's try and remember, things were bad before I got involved.

And you just made them a little worse.

Yeah, I did.

Hey, uh... [clears throat]

I got this book for Chloe.

What is it?

"One Morning In Maine," by Robert McCloskey.

It was one of my favorites when I was a kid.

I guess I just...

I wanted her not to think I was just some

mean man with a briefcase.

Does that really matter to you all that much?

Yeah, it does.

- Why? - What do you mean why?

I behaved badly and-- and-- and that weighs on me.

Don't let it weigh on you.

Look, I, I really have to go. I'm already late.

[door opens]

I'd still like to be your attorney.

I don't know.

Don't you think that once the air clears that maybe

we can put what happened behind us?

- Like I said, I don't know. - Arnold.

Maybe we could have lunch tomorrow.

- We could talk about this. - Arnie.

Come on.

I'll think about it.

Good.

Tuesday, November 8, 1988,

between 6 and 7 p.m.

Would you please tell the court where you were?

I was home.

Michael: Were you alone? - No. My husband was with me.

Michael: How long had he been with you?

He got home around 5.

Michael: What do you remember about that day, Jackie?

[sighs] The kids were at the library.

Earl and I had the house to ourselves.

Nina Corry was killed between 6 and 7 p.m.

Was your husband with you then?

Yes.

Michael: Are you sure? - Yes.

Michael: Why are you sure?

Jackie: Earl and I watched the Nightly News with Tom Brokaw.

Tom Brokaw comes on channel four every weeknight at 6:30.

Thank you. I have no further questions.

Ms. Williams, do you consider your husband a violent man?

My husband is not a violent man, Ms. Flanagan.

Yet on September 5, 1984, the Inglewood Police Department

responded to a report of domestic violence

at your home, did they not?

Objection.

Offered to impeach, Your Honor.

Overruled.

Jackie: Things were different then.

Ms. Williams, please just answer the question you've been asked.

Earl and I have had our problems.

Margaret: Did the police come? - Yes.

Margaret: Did you sustain injuries about the neck and face

as a result of your husband having hit you?

I don't remember.

Would you like to see the police report?

Your Honor, the incident that Ms. Flanagan

is referring to took place more than five years ago.

You've made your point, Ms. Flanagan. Move on.

Did you know that your husband had had sexual intercourse

with another woman on the day in question?

No.

Did you know that he was carrying on

an affair with one of his students?

No.

Margaret: Well, forgive me, ma'am, but this does seem to

raise the question of just how well you know your husband.

I know him well enough to know he is not a killer.

And would you tell the truth if he were

or would you lie to save him?

I'm not lying now.

- But you would lie to save him. - Asked and answered.

What are you afraid of, Ms. Williams?

That your husband's going to take a baseball bat to you

if you don't testify for him?

- Objection. Roberta: Sustained.

Get something straight, lady.

The only thing I'm afraid of is that those 12 people

will believe you and not him.

Did my husband lie to me?

Yes, he did.

Do I feel betrayed by him?

Yes, I most certainly do.

Did he kill this young girl?

As sure as I know that I breathe, I know that he didn't.

Lester: We known each other almost 20 years.

And in that time have you ever known him to be violent?

Lester: Not really.

The answer's no.

Earl does have a temper, Mr. Kuzak.

Yeah, but the question is have you ever known him to be violent

and the answer to that is no.

Fine. No.

Good.

Erm, how would you characterize Earl Williams' relationship

with his students?

I think it depended on the student.

That's the wrong answer.

It did depend on the student, Mr. Kuzak.

Yeah, but I'm putting you on the stand as a character witness.

That means you have to make the jury like Earl Williams.

Mr. Kuzak, Earl Williams and I were in

graduate school together.

I consider myself his friend.

I resent your coaching me on how to express that.

Well, you can resent it all you want.

And I'm not asking you to lie.

But if you can't express your friendship

with some conviction, then...

I can't put you up there.

I teach literature.

I'm trained as an historian.

I see shades of gray in everyone.

Earl Williams is no saint.

Sir...

Excuse me.

I am trained as a trial lawyer.

Right now, history and literature don't interest me.

But if you care about this man, if you really want to help him,

then you will get up there and you will testify that

Earl Williams is a gentle and a caring individual.

And from everything you know about him going back 20 years,

he is utterly incapable of the brutality he's charged with.

Now can you do that or not?

Dr. Craig, would you say the defendant

was popular with his students?

Yes. Very much so.

- To what do you attribute that? - Earl loved to teach.

He's patient and enthusiastic, and I think his students

have always responded to that.

Have you ever seen the defendant outside of work?

Yes, many times.

We were graduate students together, and over the years

our families have become rather close.

Ever seen him to be violent or abusive?

No, sir. Never.

Now, based on your having known him for 20 odd years,

would you please describe him for the court.

Earl Williams is a gentle, caring individual.

I believe he's utterly incapable of the brutality

with which he's been charged.

Thank you, Dr. Craig.

I have nothing further.

You're on the tenure committee of the English Department.

- Is that right, sir? Lester: Yes.

That would make you Earl Williams' superior.

I think of us as colleagues.

Well, nonetheless, since you do evaluate his performance

and have a great deal to do with granting him tenure, it's fair

to say he understands the value of staying in your good graces.

Earl never put up a front for me or anyone else.

Is that right?

Tell us, Dr. Craig, were you aware

he was having an affair with Nina Corry?

No.

So somehow Earl Williams kept a side of himself hidden.

Michael: Objection. - Sustained.

Tell us, did you ever suspect the defendant was involved

romantically with this student?

No.

Margaret: With any other students?

- Objection. No foundation. - Sustained.

Did you harbor any suspicion that Earl Williams

was cheating on his wife with anyone?

- Look... Margaret: Yes or no, sir.

I can't collapse everything I know

into a simple yes or no answer.

I'm afraid you're going to have to, professor.

No, I had no idea he was being unfaithful to Jackie.

Margaret: That does seem to raise the question of just

how well you knew him, doesn't it, professor?

I knew him as well as anyone did.

No.

There was a 20 year-old girl named Nina Corry

who knew him better.

And with a badly sprained wrist,

clear liability, pain and suffering--

Two thousand. Take it or leave it.

Come on, Mr. Clancy. We're talking about

a sympathetic elderly woman who--

Yeah, yeah. She took a header into the kumquats. Two grand.

Jonathan: I'm trying to deal in good faith here, Mr. Clancy.

You're trying to flush me.

We both know this pimple would cost you

much more than you'd ever make.

There's no chance you'd be crazy enough to try the thing.

You're rolling dice for a quickie settlement and two grand

is all you're gonna squeeze.

- Nice view. - Look, Mr. Clancy.

The claim is worth ten. At least give me five.

- That way-- - Oh, no. I can't do that.

But how about say, uh...

two.

You're disappointed in me, aren't you?

I could add on a claim for punitive damages.

I'm all aquiver.

Look, you can't afford to litigate this.

You'd have to be a total lunatic to pursue it.

Take some friendly advice from a guy who's been around the block.

Tell grandma to take the two G's, buy herself a new walker,

and steer clear of fruit juice puddles.

- Is that City Hall? - Will you forget the view?

Talk to your client. Tell her she can have the money

as early as tomorrow.

These really are great digs.

[instrumental music]

But something hit me the day I saw your daughter.

I'd bee so pleased with myself for engineering this firestorm.

Then I looked at who was in the middle.

And it got to me. You know?

This can't be the first time you've handled

a divorce where were children involved.

No, it isn't. But, the truth is, it never bothered me before.

All that really mattered was that I was good.

That I lived up to my reputation and that

people were afraid of me.

Clients themselves, their families, their children,

those were just details.

What happened to change that?

I looked in your little girl's face...

and I couldn't make her a detail.

Still hate me?

- No. - Am I still your lawyer?

How come I still need one? The settlement papers

have been signed.

You may have to enforce that settlement.

People sign agreements one day and dishonor them the next.

- No, Randy's not like that. - Hope you're right.

If I'm wrong, you're the one I'll turn to, okay?

Good.

Well, thanks for lunch.

- How about dinner? - Dinner?

Why not?

Well, my daughter for starters. She doesn't want to be

left with a sitter right now.

- So don't get a sitter. - Don't get a sitter?

No. Bring her along.

I'll call you.

Detective Vitale, you were originally assigned to

investigate Nina Corry's murder, is that correct?

That's right.

Michael: And during the time that you were on the case,

was the defendant ever a suspect in your mind?

- In my mind, no. Michael: And why was that?

Cash was missing, credit cards were missing,

jewelry was missing.

To me, it looked like a robbery.

Did you pursue robbery suspects?

In my opinion, not to an adequate degree.

When a viable suspect was not immediately forthcoming, it was

the decision of my superior officers that we pursue

known acquaintances of the victim.

Can you tell us why they came to that decision?

Objection. Calls for the witness

to look into the mind of another person.

It calls for an opinion as to the workings of a police

department that the witness was a member of for 15 years.

Objection overruled. The witness can answer.

The bird in the hand, right? Got the department off the hook.

Are you saying that there was pressure on the department

to make an arrest?

Pressure?

It was like the whole world was breathing down our neck.

Detective, in your opinion, is this the right man?

No, sir. In my opinion it is not.

I have nothing further.

Approximately two feet from where the victim was situated,

an expensive looking watch was in plain sight,

yet not taken, is that correct?

In fact, that watch proved to be a cheap watch, Ms. Flanagan.

Margaret: Would a thief have stopped to appraise it

before sticking it in his pocket?

A thief would have known by looking at it.

Does a thief generally stop in the middle of a robbery

to batter their victim to death?

It happens, believe me.

Did the baseball bat lead you to a thief?

The prints we got off the bat didn't lead us anywhere.

There was no sign of forced entry, was there, Mr. Vitale?

That means absolutely nothing.

It means Nina Corry opened the door to her killer.

It means that Nina Corry knew her killer.

She might have opened the door for anybody who knocked.

Tell us, sir...

would you feel differently it if had been you

who brought Earl Williams in?

No, I would not feel differently.

It would've been a hell of a caller for you.

He just said it wouldn't have mattered.

You got passed up for promotion, did you not, sir?

Yes, I did.

And you took early retirement soon after.

Right again.

This is, is really an ego thing with you, isn't it, Mr. Vitale?

You didn't turn out to be the hero and you're miffed.

Let me tell you something, whether I'm miffed or not,

if I thought he was responsible for this crime,

I wouldn't be sitting here.

Don't forget, I saw what that girl's body looked like.

[instrumental music]

Flanagan's offering second degree.

And?

It's your decision.

You recommend I take the deal, though.

Well, I can't recommend that you spend 15 years in jail

for something you didn't do.

On the other hand, if I did it, 15 years isn't bad. Right?

Like I said, it's your decision.

Tell Flanagan no.

In that case, I'm going to put you on the stand this afternoon.

Okay.

- I'll see you in court. - Wait.

- What do you want me to do? - Do?

Well, I want you to testify exactly like we said.

I know that. What I'm asking is, what should I do?

What-- what-- what-- What-- what-- what--

what-- what should I act like? How should I be?

- How you should be? - That's right.

I'll be anything you tell me to be.

Now look, Earl, if the jury thinks that

you're putting on an act, we're finished.

You have got to be dead real out there. Do you understand?

Yeah.

- Dead real. - Yeah.

Good.

You'll do fine.

[pensive music]

[instrumental music]

[knocking on door]

Come.

[door opens]

Here's the memo on Rico forfeiture.

Mm-hmm.

I'll have the citations later today. [sighs]

If I was unprepared for that class, it's because

I was up half the night researching this memo for you.

And that entitles you to special treatment?

It entitles me to fair treatment.

I've been putting in a lot of hours around here

and you can't expect to bleed me from both sides!

A lot of law students have jobs, Diana.

They don't get any favors, nor should you

just because you happen to work for me.

You're trying to drive me out of here, aren't you?

Excuse me?

You disapprove of my relationship with Jonathan

and you're trying to remedy the problem by forcing me out.

What happened yesterday was that a student was unprepared.

And a teacher got tough to prevent that

from happening again.

- That's all. - Uh-uh.

What happened yesterday was one individual

treating another with disrespect.

And that's a premise I will not accept. Sorry.

Diana, have those citations on my desk by 5 o'clock.

[door closes]

- Well, hello there. - Hi.

Jonathan. What's this "Weedon versus

Kendall's Food Mart" thing?

I'm helping out this old woman in a slip and fall. She--

You've indicated a liability ceiling of ten thousand dollars.

She's getting steamrolled by an insurance company. And--

You had no right to accept this case.

I'm not going to run up a lot of hours. Don't worry.

I'm having one more meeting with the claims

adjuster and I'll be out of it, I promise.

I wish I could believe that. You have a tendency

to turn the slightest conflict

into a protracted cat fight and I won't allow--

Would you like to take over, Douglas? Maybe you should do it.

Perhaps my counsel could prove fruitful.

I'm an excellent negotiator.

I'll bring you the file. The meeting's at two tomorrow.

- Good. Jonathan: Good.

Would you describe your relationship with Nina Corry,

Mr. Williams.

Her freshman year, she was just a student in my class.

Very bright. Very enthusiastic.

Her sophomore year, she became my research assistant.

We worked long hours on a paper I was doing, and the more time

we spent together, the harder it became to fight

the impulse we both felt.

- Finally, we gave in. - You became lovers.

Yes.

- You lied about that, Earl. - Yes, I did.

You sat here and you let me repeat that lie to the jury.

Earl: Yes. Michael: Why?

I was afraid that if it came out that I were there that day,

no one would believe I didn't kill Nina.

Then there's my wife.

I think I can face anyone easier than I can face her.

I'm scared to death of losing her.

Now, you went to see Nina Corry

the day she was killed, didn't you?

Yes, I did.

Michael: What time did you arrive?

Earl: About two.

Would you please tell the court

what transpired during that visit.

We talked for a while.

She showed me some clippings she had torn out of a newspaper.

Then we went to bed.

You had sexual intercourse?

- Yes. Michael: Then what?

Earl: I took a shower. Nina made tea.

Michael: What time did you leave?

Earl: Around four.

Earl...

did you ever strike Nina Corry?

No, sir.

Was she alive when you left her apartment?

Yes, sir.

She was alive.

Thank you.

I have no further questions.

Tell us, Mr. Williams, why did you take a shower

after having sex with Nina Corry that day?

I-- I-- I don't know.

It's just what I'm in the habit of doing.

Really.

You mean you always wash the smell of another woman off

before going back to your wife?

Michael: Objection. - Sustained.

The truth is, you were desperate to conceal

this affair from your wife, weren't you?

It was important to me that she not find out. I said that. Yes.

Yet, as desperate as you were about that, you were just as

desperate that the affair continue, weren't you?

I cared about Nina,

but I wouldn't call it being desperate.

No?

What would have happened to your standing at the university

if it got out you were sleeping with a student?

I don't know.

Would it have helped you, would it have hurt you?

The witness said he didn't know.

Except that the witness does know.

He knows full well the kind of risk he was running.

Make your point, Ms. Flanagan.

The only reason you ran that risk is that you loved her.

I cared about her. I said I cared about her.

And I say you loved her.

Desperately and passionately.

You loved her, and wouldn't let her go.

- Your Honor. Argumentative. - Sustained.

Tell us how you felt about her wanting to

end the affair, Mr. Williams.

She never gave any indication that she wanted to end it.

You heard Todd Ehrenpries testify.

He and Nina were going away for Thanksgiving.

She was leaving you for him.

Even if it were true, I was hardly in a position to object.

Oh, you were in a position to do whatever you wanted.

You were bigger than she was.

Objection. Move to strike.

Sustained and stricken.

You were in the apartment. You had sex.

She told you about Todd.

How did you feel about her going off to Palo Alto

with this rich white boy?

- Objection. Roberta: Overruled.

Look, I was a married man, she was a young girl.

I felt bad, okay? But I did not kill her.

I think you did. I think you went into a murderous rage

that didn't end until she lay dead on that floor.

I'm not capable of doing something like that.

I think you are.

You saw this pretty young girl with a will of her own.

You couldn't break her down, so you beat her to death.

Your Honor, I ask that the prosecutor be instructed

to stop badgering this man.

Ms. Flanagan, that's enough.

Mr. Williams, you're now asking that all these people believe

that you went to Nina's apartment on the day

she was killed, you had sexual intercourse, she told you she

had someone else, you kissed her good-bye and you left.

Then a short time later, some unknown, unseen person

showed up and beat her to death.

That's exactly what happened.

Because you're incapable of murder?

Earl: Yes.

Margaret: Incapable of brute force?

Earl: Yes. I am not a brute.

I am a professor of Russian literature. I'm a learned man.

That doesn't mean you're not a savage killer.

Michael: Objection! - I am not a savage.

I am not a wild beast, no matter what you would

like these people to believe.

No matter how you see me,

I am a human being and I did not kill anyone!!

The law says that I can fold my arms and stand mute,

and if the prosecution has not proven guilt beyond a reasonable

doubt, you have to acquit this man and let him go free.

Okay, given that, let's look at what the prosecution has proven.

That the defendant and the deceased were having an affair,

and the defendant was in the deceased's home

on the day that she was killed.

That's it. None of that...

none of it proves that the defendant committed murder.

Now, the prosecution's eyewitness made her

identification in the dark when she was scared out of her wits.

A detective who was assigned to the case testified

that it was a thief that committed the murder.

And we have the unrefuted testimony of Jacqueline Williams

that Earl was at home with her

at the time the killing occurred.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all go home feeling as though

this horrible crime had been avenged.

It would seem to resolve this tragedy if we could ignore

the lack of proof, declare this man guilty,

and dispatch him to his fate.

But what distinguishes us from a lynch mob, however,

is that we choose to do that

which is just over that which is easy.

I don't know who killed Nina Corry.

But I do know in my heart that this man did not.

Now, the police department and the District Attorney's office,

in their desperation to solve a crime,

have created a runaway train.

I beg you, ladies and gentlemen,

I beg you, to stop it.

Who is Earl Williams?

We know he's a liar. He lied to protect himself.

He steadfastly denied having an affair with Nina Corry

until we identified the semen on her sheets as his.

He denied being in her home at the time of the murder,

and his wife backed him up.

We produced an eyewitness who was positive she saw him leave.

Various friends and family members have testified to his

gentleness, because that's the side of him they knew.

We're here, ladies and gentlemen,

because of another side.

The side that only Nina Corry knew.

The murderous side.

The side that battered the life out of a girl

simply because she wouldn't bow to his will.

Did anyone see him do it? The answer's no.

People seldom kill in the presence of others.

Besides, Nina was willing to be alone with Earl.

For nearly a year, she had been willing to give Earl

anything he wanted.

And this man wanted everything.

He wanted his marriage, he wanted his job,

and he wanted his affair.

And no one was going to take that away.

Especially not some 20-year-old girl.

I mean, who was she to cause him such pain?

Who was she to back away from him?

So this six-foot-one, 190-pound man

took a baseball bat to a girl who stood five-foot-two

and weighed a 105.

He shattered her legs,

he pounded on her midsection until her insides burst.

He crushed her skull.

He did this, ladies and gentlemen.

This man who sits before you did this.

Find Earl Williams guilty and punish him for what he did.

You have all the proof you need.

And I thought if the three of us sit down

as reasonable men, we could perhaps...

Nice. Birch?

Imported oak.

Mr. Clancy.

Young attorneys sometimes fall victim to their passion.

You and I should be more disposed to extol common sense.

You're absolutely right, Doug.

I'll give you two thousand.

You see?

You're a shrewd businessman, sir.

But shrewdness is often the calling card of compromise.

Don't start whacking me with proverbs, Dougie.

I told our little victim of passion here,

that I'd spot you two bills.

Now since you're obviously not gonna bite, and since we both

want it to go away, I'll bring it up to, uh, 25.

But that's all.

- Three and you've got a deal. - Done.

With a signed release today.

- No! No! - Jonathan.

Her medical bills were almost $800!

Douglas: Jonathan. - She's my client, Douglas.

Jonathan: I'm not going to let her go for this.

You'll do what I tell you to do.

- Dammit, Douglas! - Oh, gee. Here he goes.

You want to see me go?

- You watch me go. - Jonathan...

This may cost us ten thousand dollars to litigate,

but it's going to cost you a lot more.

- Bluff away. - No bluff.

The complaint will be filed tomorrow, you son of a bitch!

The interrogatories will be on your desk next week,

and the depositions will start after that.

- Mr. Rollins! - You're crazy!

That's right, Mr. Clancy. You're going to war with a crazy man.

I'm gonna haul your fat ass up and down those steps three times

a week for what's gonna seem like

the rest of your putrid life!

- Jonathan! - Shut the hell up, Douglas!

Jonathan: There's nothing you can say that'll stop me.

I'm going to bury this cheap bastard.

You're going to fire him, right?

I wish I could.

What do you mean you wish you could?

You're a partner, he's an associate.

Yes.

But he's a valued associate, and I can't just terminate him.

He just screamed at you, for God's sake.

Are you gonna stand for that?

The point is, Mr. Clancy, he wins his cases.

And if he's determined to litigate this,

there's nothing I can do to stop him.

[door opens]

Did he fold?

Like a cheap umbrella.

[exhales]

Twelve thousand.

- What?! - I told you it would work.

She'll have the check tomorrow.

You're the greatest. Thank you.

Well, the idea was good, but I must admit

your little performance really brought it home.

- It was sensational! - Just following your direction.

Let's see, on a one-third contingency, the firm just made

four thousand dollars for less than an hour's work.

Yeah, and a little old lady gets a fair settlement for her pain.

That, too. Good work, Jonathan.

[door closes]

- Hello? - Well, Diana. Come in.

I just wanted to tell you, your Rico memo is excellent.

Thank you.

You're doing excellent work, Diana.

Keep it up.

[chuckles]

I don't quite get it. Around this office

you're so charitable and nice.

And in that class...

Well, the jobs are different.

In here, it's my function to cultivate loyalty.

But there, I have 50 minutes, three times a week, to push

sixty-five people up a hill that isn't too much fun to climb.

And I have to use everything I can, including scare tactics.

I think I understood that.

Until I became the victim.

It was nothing personal, Diana.

And about my trying to drive you out of here.

I didn't mean that. I was feeling a little wounded

and I shouldn't have said that.

The truth is, I am a little uncomfortable about an associate

here dating a law clerk.

It's not a great precedent.

But do I disapprove of your relationship with Jonathan?

No.

Would I be more comfortable if you didn't work here?

Absolutely not.

- You're sure? - Extremely sure.

Well, get back to work.

Yes, sir.

- Thank you. - Uh.

Chloe: I don't like the red thingies.

Arnold: Well, how's everything else? Do the hot dogs

measure up to your standards?

They're okay.

I hope you've saved some room for dessert.

Chloe always got room for dessert.

My dad takes me to a different place for hot dogs.

Does he?

My dad has a special place for hot dogs.

Well, you like Chinese food?

I hate it.

That's too bad. Because I've got a special place for that.

- You like Chinese food. - No, I don't. I hate it.

That's news to me.

Are you my mom's boyfriend?

Well, let's see...

I'm her friend...

I'm a boy.

My dad said you were her boyfriend.

Did he say that to you, honey?

I heard him talking on the phone.

- Well... - You made my dad to cry.

- I didn't mean to. - Well, you did.

Corrinne: How did he do that, honey?

When I told him that Mr. Becker came to the house,

he started to cry.

Well, mommy and daddy both cry sometimes, Chloe.

I cry sometimes, too.

May I go on the dragon now?

- Do you want to go by yourself? - Yes.

Corrinne: You sure? Okay. - Yeah.

She's got a lot of questions.

[chuckles softly]

- Me, too. - Oh, yeah. Like what?

[sighs] What if at some point Randy decides to

fight you for custody?

A lawyer's professional judgment can't conflict

with his personal feelings.

A lawyer himself can't be made an issue on which

you're vulnerable.

A lawyer can't keep questioning himself because he's afraid

he could be falling for his client.

I think maybe you need another lawyer.

Roberta: Has the jury reached a verdict?

Man 1: We have, Your Honor.

Will the defendant please rise?

In the matter of the People versus Earl Williams,

criminal complaint number seven-three-four-one

we, the jury, find the defendant, Earl Williams,

guilty of murder in the first degree.

We further find special circumstances to exist.

Namely that the murder involved the infliction

of extreme physical pain.

Roberta: Ms. Flanagan.

Your Honor, at this time,

the People ask that the defendant be sentenced to death.

Members of the jury, we will reconvene in four weeks time

to commence with the penalty phase of this trial.

The sole issue to be determined is whether this defendant,

Earl Williams, receives life imprisonment

or death by the infliction of lethal gas.

[dramatic music]

[outro theme]

[production theme]