Original subtitles

The biscuits are getting cold, Joseph.

I can't keep the food hot forever. It's funny that way.

I can't say the blessing till people sit, Gaby.

Everybody sit down.

All my cooking's gonna go to waste!

You made us get back up.

Now, Charlie, I want you there. Anna, you're here.

- Victor, next to your father. - Mama, that's where we sat...

Grace, honey, next to me.

Everything looks so delicious.

Grace, hurry up. Her biscuits gets cold,

and she turns into a tigre.

Hey, you know what? I don't even like her biscuits,

- they're like knee pads. - Charlie!

Joseph, hit your son.

- Can we just get started here? - Dear Lord, in heaven above--

Gaby: Wait! Wait! I'm not in my chair yet.

Then get in your chair and stop yappin'.

Charlie, hit your father.

Gaby: Now bow your heads.

Dear Lord.

We give thanks for the food we are about to receive.

We give thanks for this family.

That we can be together like this.

On this occasion where Victor brings to us

his beautiful friend, Grace Van Owen.

Hey! I bring at least 20 girls home for dinner,

none of them get mentioned in the blessing.

Cause they're stupid, Charlie.

Why don't we just skip the rest of the blessing?

The lawyer doesn't want to say the blessing.

Alright, okay. Quiet there okay? Shut up.

Silencio, silencio. Charlie boy wants to say something.

We've already thanked God for the food and family, right?

I mean he's got other blessings he has to listen to,

he's a busy God, especially nowadays.

So... let's just give Grace a welcome, okay?

We're happy to have you here, Grace.

Thank you. I'm honored to be here.

- She's honored. - That's nice.

Now pass me those damn biscuits.

[laughing] God.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Alright, people, busy days for everyone,

let's keep it short.

First up, on a very exciting note,

I spoke last evening with Hendrick Shay,

the Estate Planning counsel for Rikki Davis.

- The Rikki Davis? - Yes.

For those of you who've been skipping page one

for the last few months,

Ms. Davis and her lover is charged

with murdering her 72-two-year old husband.

- The "Beverly Hills Hangers"? Douglas: The very ones.

The young widow is apparently upset with her defense counsel.

She wants to interview us.

- Are you serious? - I want this case.

Douglas: You've got it, Michael, if you can hook her.

She's due in this morning at 11:00.

Needless to say, this would be a public relations home run.

It's probably the most talked about

murder case in the country.

Let me second chair, Mike.

Ann: Why does Michael always get the big cases?

For once, I'd like a murder case, maybe.

You never want murder cases, Ann.

- I want this one. - Well, you can't have it.

Douglas: Alright, there's probably enough work here

for everybody, if we get it.

Michael, might I suggest bringing

somebody else for the meeting, whatever it takes to snag her.

Michael.

Douglas: Moving on... Jonathan.

Jonathan, are you still planning to proceed

with your action against the police?

Yeah. Yeah. I'm not chasing the D.A.'s office though

out of deference to Zoey Clemmons.

Be apprised, people, I'm out of the office

Wednesday morning with some minor bunion surgery.

That's all. We're adjourned.

Why does he tell us these things?

- Bowling? - Yeah, bowling.

Really, Charlie's in this thing called the "Friends' League."

And he wants us to go with him tonight.

- You wanna go? - Well, sure.

I mean, we can grab a bite to eat after work

and then from there about 7 o'clock we hit the lanes.

- What do you say? - Okay. Sure.

Great.

Hey, Grace, thanks for last night, too.

I mean, you were a real sport.

I really liked 'em, Victor.

You have a terrific family.

[sighs]

Come here.

Thanks. I'll see you later?

Umm. Bowling.

Yeah. Bowling.

[chuckles]

Cop to the rape, I'll go with low term,

you'll be off in 18 months.

That's ridiculous.

Orin. Misdemeanor battery. Suspended.

He rapes a 16-yrold girl,

you expect me to let him walk on a misdemeanor?

I didn't rape anybody!

And she got exactly what she was looking for--

- Orin. - If it hadn't been me,

it would have been somebody else.

Orin.

As we agreed, anything said in this room

is in the context of plea negotiation

and therefore totally inadmissible.

Did you contact the girl's mother

and offer her three hundred thousand dollars

to drop this thing?

The offer anticipated a potential civil claim.

It would be illegal for me to tamper

with a criminal prosecution.

Yeah, well, she got the impression that's exactly

what you were doing.

- She misunderstood. - You listen to me.

If I get wind you're offering bribes,

or doing anything to buy your way out of this,

I'll bring you both up on obstruction of justice.

Don't threaten me, Ms. Clemmons.

Stay away from the girl.

Stay away from the mother.

Well, until they're represented by civil counsel

and thus far they're not, I'm entitled to approach them.

Go near them again, I'm bringing charges.

I don't care how many banks you run

or how many lawyers you hire, I'll screw up your life.

Well, you're never make rape or statutory rape.

And after we beat up the girl in the criminal case,

and make no mistake I will get her...

we'll gonna bring a civil liable action against her

and even if we don't win it,

we'll bankrupt them with legal bills.

Now you go back and tell your people that, Ms. Clemmons,

and then you ask 'em

if they really wanna follow through on this.

Will you excuse us.

My last lawyer suggested I plead out.

That means either he thinks I'm guilty,

or he doesn't think he can win.

Either way, a switch seems in order.

John Fryar's a pretty sharp defense attorney.

If he's telling me to admit to a crime I didn't commit,

Mr. Mullaney, he's not sharp enough.

From what I gather in the papers,

you got a tough case.

What exactly have you gathered?

Your husband was found dead

one week after he decided to divorce you.

A divorce would've cut you off

at the knees with a prenup,

while his death on the other hand,

leaves you 26 million as the grieving widow.

You also had a lover.

They found his prints along with yours on the chord

used to hang your husband. That's pretty much it.

Those prints were on the beam, not on the chord

and they got there when we discovered him

and tried to cut him down.

- We didn't hang him. - Then who did?

I think maybe he hung himself.

- He was depressed. - What about?

A month before he was diagnosed

with the inoperable liver cancer.

They say that's not much to go on.

But I didn't murder my husband

and I didn't participate in any conspiracy to murder him.

And I need a lawyer who can help me prove that.

Well... I'm gonna need all the files

from John Fryar's office. Today.

I also want you to take a lie detector test.

Why?

Because evidently you want a lawyer

who believes in your innocence.

I'm not there yet.

- Are you, Tommy? - Nope.

Why don't you think it over?

No. You're hired.

Set up the polygraph, let me know.

Nice to meet you both.

Nice touch with the lie detector!

You know I figured that would get her attention.

I want in on this case, Michael, as much as possible.

Don't worry, Tommy. I have big plans for you.

Good. Because this thing here, this is serious juice.

I certainly don't want you to back down.

But I don't want to mislead you.

If we prosecute, his lawyer is gonna do

anything he can to destroy you.

And his lawyer is great.

Does she have to testify?

I mean, with statutory rape consent doesn't matter, right?

But we're also going with straight rape.

On that one, consent is an issue.

Maybe we should drop that one.

That would be a mistake.

Our best shot's with the straight count.

With stat rape the only issue is age

and he can argue mistaken belief

that she looked old enough.

If we go forward,

we really should go with both counts.

Can you get him convicted?

I don't know, Laurie.

No, I don't want her put through this.

Mom--

Honey, you have no idea

how hard it's gonna be in there.

And the likelihood is you'll lose.

- It's all for nothing. - What do you think?

I want to prosecute. But she's right.

There's a good chance we'll lose.

I wanna go through with it.

He raped me!

How can I just let him get away with it?

Zoey: You understand how tough,

how strong you'll have to be in that witness chair?

I can do it.

I'm ready to do it.

Then so am I.

Okay.

You're gonna regret this, Charlie.

I'm a lousy bowler.

Anybody can roll a ball, Grace.

Besides you're probably a lot better than Victor.

What are you talkin' about?

I kicked your ass the last time.

Sure you did. Sure you did.

Stinks. Stinks.

- Oh, baby, go into your car. - Hey! You gonna follow me?

I don't need to follow you, I know where I'm going.

You just make sure you don't get lost.

Yeah. Grace, he stinks!

Grace: This is good to know, Charlie.

You are in deep trouble here.

- Why? - The family likes you.

Oh, no. What comes after bowling?

What comes after bowling?

Last year he dragged me to poor man's polo, on cows.

- We were slow. - Yeah, right.

[honking]

Charlie!

What happened?

Charlie! Help! Someone help!

Charlie! Charlie!

Come on, get away.

Come on, Victor.

Ooh! Charlie!

Charlie!

[instrumental music]

And Laurie, where did you first meet this group?

At the bar. They were on a business trip or something.

And then he invited us up to his suite.

Zoey: How old are you, Laurie? Laurie: Sixteen.

And what were you doing in a hotel bar having drinks?

I don't know. We were just sitting home bored.

I don't know. We just decided to go out.

Okay.

But I want you to tell us exactly

how you happened to go up to the defendant's hotel suite.

There were two other men and a woman, besides Carol and me.

And we talked about ordering room service

and stuff up there.

And...

Well, Carol and I just thought, I mean, we didn't think

they were dangerous or anything.

Okay. So what happened after you got there?

Well, we all talked and we danced a little.

There was a stereo,

and I was dancing with him... Orin.

- Did you like him? - Sure.

I mean, he seemed really cool.

- Even though he was older. Zoey: So what happened?

Laurie: Well, at about 12:30 Carol said she had to leave

cause she had to be home by 1:00.

He said he'd drive me home, so I...

Zoey: You stayed? - Yeah.

And what happened

after your girlfriend left?

Well, then the other people left, too.

I guess to go back to their rooms.

And then he made another drink.

And then... we hugged.

And then we kissed.

Zoey: You willingly kissed him?

Laurie: Yeah. Zoey: Then what?

Then the kissing started to get

heavier, you know... a lot.

And then he began putting his hands on my breasts.

And I told him no

but he just kept telling me to relax.

And then he pushed me onto the bed

and I tried to get away but I couldn't,

and he just kept saying

"you know you want it".

And... and then

he pulled up my dress.

And I just screamed.

And I tried to get out from under him

but I couldn't

because he had my arms pinned back.

And he was just too strong and I couldn't get him off.

And so the next thing I knew...

he was pushing himself inside me.

When you say pushing himself inside of you.

He was raping me.

I mean I tried to fight him, but I couldn't.

Okay.

And Laurie, are you sure the defendant knew

that you didn't want intercourse?

Yes, he knew! I mean I was screaming at him to stop!

I was screaming for help.

He knew.

Zoey: Thank you. I have nothing further.

Let's take a short break.

McGrath: Let the witness collect herself.

[indistinct]

- My Victor, my Victor... - Come on, Mama.

Where is Joseph?

We've removed all the skull fragments...

but the news isn't good.

- What? - He'll survive.

But there's damage to the brain stem.

Bilateral damage, especially to the parietal

and temporal lobes.

It looks permanent.

He's going to be extremely dysfunctional.

How dysfunctional?

I don't think he'll ever be able to speak.

Or even to understand verbal language.

He'll be completely paralyzed on his right side.

Oh, Lord.

Alice: We'll do whatever we can.

Walt: You were married to your husband for three years?

Rikki: Yes.

Did you love him?

Very much.

Did you know he was planning to divorce you?

No.

Ms. Davis, did you murder your husband?

No, I did not.

Is your dress black?

Yes.

Did your lover, David Shaeffer, murder your husband?

No, he did not.

Do you know who hung him?

No, I do not.

Thank you. That's all. We're done.

Excuse us a second, Rikki. We'll be right back.

- Well, she's telling truth. - You sure?

Well, these things aren't foolproof,

you know that as well as I do.

But, uh, she passed.

I gotta get my gear.

Michael. News on Victor.

It looks like the brother will have permanent brain damage.

Oh, God.

The guy who hit him registered point one six. Drunk driver.

Obviously, anything he needs, we give it to him.

Hello, Miss Penn.

Would it be alright if I called you Laurie?

- Yeah. - Laurie, that night in the bar.

You were dressed a little differently

than you are right now, weren't you?

- Yeah. Brian: Nice dress. Make-up.

It would be fair to say you looked older?

I guess.

Brian: And the bartender served you alcohol.

We had fake I.D.s.

Did you ever tell Mr. Baldwin that you were

under the age of eighteen?

No.

And before he sat next to you,

did any of the guys at the bar,

you know, hit on you?

A couple.

You looked pretty adult that night didn't you, Laurie?

- Objection. Brian: Withdrawn.

Laurie, why did you and your girlfriend

go to the bar that night?

I already said. We were bored.

We were just looking for something to do.

You carry condoms in your purse don't you, Laurie?

Objection!

- Goes to consent, Your Honor. - Alright.

You carry condoms in your purse, don't you?

Well, yeah, because my mother wants me to.

To be safe if I ever...

Oh, so you were out looking for sex that night?

Laurie: No. Zoey: Objection.

And I never told him I wanted to have sex with him!

Laurie, how many drinks did you consume that night?

Laurie: Two. - Two.

- Were you inebriated? - I don't know.

- Maybe just a little? - Maybe.

So, when the two of you were kissing it became

passionate, did it not?

I don't know.

Well, you testified earlier that "we were kissing

and it got heavier, you know, and a lot."

Well, that didn't mean he could do what he did!

Did you put your hands on his buttocks, Laurie?

Did you grab his buttocks and pull them toward you?

I don't remember.

So, it's possible that you did.

The witness said she doesn't remember!

Move on, Mr. Byrd.

Laurie, what did you do immediately

after the two of you made love?

We didn't make love. He raped me!

- What'd ya do then? Laurie: I left.

I went to the lobby and I got a cab.

Did you report to the hotel security that you'd been raped?

No! I just got out of there.

Brian: Where'd you go? - Home.

Not to the hospital. Not to the police?

No! I just wanted to go home!

And when you arrived at home

your mother was waiting for you,

very angry, wasn't she?

I mean dressed the way you were,

all that make-up.

2:30 in the morning,

coming home drunk without your panties.

Objection.

Brian: In fact, you were so afraid of what she'd do

that you made up this whole story

of being raped, isn't that true?

Zoey: Objection! - That's not true! He raped me!

Brian: Come on, Laurie.

You'd rather commit perjury

than have your mother find out the truth?

- Objection! - Withdrawn.

You know, you seem to be a very nice young lady.

And I hope you realize that these lies

are hurting an innocent man.

Move to strike that.

Sustained. Come on, Mr. Byrd.

No further questions, Your Honor.

I had him examined this afternoon

by three more doctors.

Including the best neurologist in the state.

I used him as an expert in one of my trials.

He's not coming back, pa.

Charlie's only breathin' right now

cause of the machines.

Well, I'm not giving up.

The doctors, they say if he's lucky,

that he might be able to brush his teeth

or, or feed himself,

but he's never gonna be able to communicate,

he's never gonna be able to understand.

They told me that he's gonna have the mental capacity

of a dog.

Pa, you remember that Jamie Ferguson trail

that I had two years ago?

Mm-hmm.

Charlie and I, we used to talk about that one a lot.

I remember him saying that if he ever got like that,

that he wouldn't want to be suffering,

hooked up to some device.

- But I'm not killing my son. - But he's gone, pa.

No, he's not gone. He's not gone!

Charlie's not dead, Victor!

I don't want to let him go any more than you do.

He's my only brother!

We can't just let him live like that,

we can't just let him live like that, pa.

[speaking foreign language]

Victor, we are Catholic people.

I know that.

God should have him now.

I wish I could be strong to help you, son.

I know how much you hurt.

I wish I could be strong.

[instrumental music]

What do you mean we can't do it?

He isn't dead, Victor. We can't just disconnect.

The damage is permanent.

He'd be living like a vegetable.

Not totally.

He'll have some use of his left side.

He'll be able to sit up.

W-w, you told me

that he'd be living like a dog. You told me that.

But that isn't brain dead. I'm sorry.

The hospital just isn't authorized

to suspend life-support under these circumstances.

Victor, try to understand their position,

they really can't jeopardize--

How can I let him just exist like this.

Charlie would never wanna be kept alive like that.

Don't you understand that?

I, I can't... I can't do that.

Look, Victor, honey, we'll get a court order.

We'll go in this afternoon.

I'll handle it, okay?

- Okay? - Okay, okay.

Doctor, can I count on your support medically?

- Absolutely. - Thank you.

Alice: Ms. Van Owen, you should know...

I'll back you 100%.

You'll get no argument from me.

But you will from the hospital.

Yeah.

So, Mr. Baldwin,

you thought that the woman was older than 18.

Yes, she was sitting at a bar

being served alcohol when we met,

so I assumed she had to be at least 21 years old.

Mm-hmm. Did she ever at any time tell you her true age?

No and she looked a lot different

than she does right now.

Okay, Mr. Baldwin.

But even though you did mistakenly believe

that she was old enough to consent.

She said she did not consent.

Well, that's not true.

- She initiated it. - She did?

I was certainly a willing participant,

don't get me wrong.

But me pushing her on the bed and forcing her,

that's not even close to the truth.

Well, what did happen?

I had just made a drink and we were

standing over by the bed.

It was all incredibly awkward because,

well, we both knew

what we had come back to my suite for.

Objection as to what the victim knew.

Sustained.

Orin: Look, I am no ladies man.

I think I was more nervous than she was.

And I guess I was hoping she'd make the first move.

- And did she? Orin: Yeah, sort of.

She put her hand on my shoulder

and then she ran it down my arm,

into my hand, and then she squeezed it.

What'd you do then?

I turned to her, and I put my arms around her waist,

and pulled her to me, gently.

And then we hugged a little.

And I rubbed the top of her back, and we kissed.

And the kissing escalated

and then it, it all progressed.

Continue, sir.

We fell back on the bed and we made love.

We both made love.

And afterwards she kissed me good-bye and she left.

Mr. Baldwin, did she ever scream at any point?

No. God, no.

If anything she enjoyed herself.

And the next thing I know, the police show up

and charge me with rape.

Thank you, sir. I have nothing further.

When the police arrested you,

you had scratch marks on your neck.

Orin: Yes, she did scratch me,

but it was from aggressive love making.

She wasn't telling me to stop.

How did her panties get ripped?

I don't know.

They may have torn while she was taking them off.

Oh, she took them off and ripped them herself.

I guess so. I-I pulled her dress up, yes.

But she took off the panties.

You say that when contact was initiated,

you "put your arms around her waist."

- That's right. - Would you stand up outside

- the witness box, please? - Your Honor.

A little latitude, your Honor.

I'd like him to show us exactly

what he's described.

Stand up.

Zoey: Laurie, could you come here please?

Objection!

This'll only take a second, your Honor.

I beg the court's indulgence.

You don't have to do this, Ms. Penn.

Laurie. Please?

Laurie, I want you to go to the witness

and stand before him.

Laurie, please do it.

Mr. Baldwin, could you show us

how you put your arms around her--

- Your Honor! - I will get through this

a lot faster if you stop jumping up!

Sit down, Mr. Byrd.

Show us, Mr. Baldwin.

show us how you held her before the kissing began.

Now show us how you pulled her towards you.

Show us, Mr. Baldwin.

Now rub the top of her back like you said you did.

Your Honor, this is outrageous!

McGrath: Mr. Byrd!

Brian: Look, I don't care if you lock me up for contempt.

I'm going to keep objecting to this blatant sideshow--

Your Honor, I know what counsel is doing

and I'd like to be heard in chambers.

Let's go.

She's trying to shock the jury, Your Honor, and there is no--

Your guy offered up the description.

I just asked for a demonstration.

Brian: That's not what that was about.

You just wanted the jury to see the girl

in his arms and be disgusted.

That's right. I wanted them to get the picture.

But that wasn't the picture! She was dressed

totally different that night, Your Honor.

Alright, Mr. Byrd!

Your Honor, I want to put on my demonstration.

Meaning what?

She put the girl up there to punctuate

to the jury just how young she looked.

I'd like permission to dress Laurie Pinn

the way she was dressed that night.

I object to that.

Her appearance is directly relevant

to my client's defense

that he thought she was of age.

What are you proposing to do?

The girls took a picture of themselves

before they left that night so we have the means

of assuring accuracy.

We'll send her to an independent make-up artist,

she can wear the same dress.

Oh, please.

Your Honor, the jury

should be allowed to see her this way.

It is vital to their understanding of the events.

Your Honor, I could not be more opposed.

Alright, look, you had 'em see her your way.

The defendant could be prejudiced

if I don't give him his shot.

The court will appoint a make-up person.

- Your honor! - Ms. Clemmons.

I gotta let' em put on their defense.

The jury will see her before

closing arguments. That's all.

You don't think this is a little bit sick?

This is a rape trial, counsel.

Everything about it makes me sick.

Tomorrow at 10 a.m.

This here's the deceased.

Before... and after.

- Oh. - Oh, God.

Wait, this one's better.

Douglas: Look at his face. Is he blue?

He ain't happy.

Victim had a bruise top of forehead.

They might be saying the killer knocked him cold

before stringin' him up.

Damn!

Tommy: The guy's teeth. - I don't believe it.

Tommy: The cord must've squeezed em right out of his head.

Abby: Oh, please!

The boyfriend, David Shaeffer.

Jonathan: Guilty.

His trail is separate. It starts in about two weeks.

Michael: Abby, I want you to monitor that.

Abby: Sure.

Tommy: Victim's daughter, cut out of the will.

We should do some diggin' on her.

Mildred Spicer, next door neighbor.

Abby: She did it.

She would come over twice a week

and scratch the victim's feet.

- Sweet. - Yeah?

She has a criminal record for kleptomania.

Stuart: She does not.

Tommy: Okay, that's all the photos in the police file.

Michael: Alright, people, now look.

If we're gonna win this thing, we either have

to hand the jury another suspect or sell suicide.

We're gonna have to pick one thing and run with it.

In the meantime, I've called a press conference.

The media's coming out with stuff on this every day,

and since prospective jurors are probably reading about it,

I want to have our version in print, too...

as soon as possible.

Now, Abby, I need the motion to suppress by Friday.

Jonathan, the same thing goes for the changes of venue.

C.J, I want you to start working

with a private investigation team.

Michael: And Stuart-- - The will.

Michael: Get crackin' on the will.

Okay, everybody, that's it.

I want an acquittal here, people.

That looked like a pretty good knot, Michael.

- He had to have help. - Boyfriend.

- Yep, the boyfriend did it. - No way.

- He's too cute. - Yeah. Way too cute.

Did you ever discuss with your brother

the possibility that he could end up like this?

Yes, I had a case about two years ago

which involved a young woman

who was in a persistent vegetative state.

And her parents were petitioning the court

to have the G-tube removed

which was keeping her alive.

My brother and I had talked a lot about that case.

And he 'said...

he said that if ever ended up

where he couldn't speak or couldn't think,

he would not want to be kept alive by artificial means.

Was he clear in his intent?

Yes. Yes, he was very clear.

Grace: Thank you.

Your Honor, I submit the declarations

of three physicians,

including the attending, Dr. Nyberg,

each stating that the left side of Charles Sifuentes' brain

is permanently destroyed,

that he has severely impaired cognitive brain function,

and that this condition is irreversible.

I have nothing further.

I'm very sorry for your tragedy, Mr. Sifuentes.

I'll try to keep this short.

You and your brother never sat down

specifically to discuss this contingency, did you?

He told me his wishes.

Marsha: Yes, in the context of one of your cases.

But your brother might not stay in a vegetative state

like the woman in that case.

He might be able to sit up.

To recognize people, maybe feed himself.

With therapy, maybe he could do even more.

Ma'am, the doctors say, at best,

he'll end up with less intelligence

than a one-year old.

In the Jamie Ferguson case...

according to the transcript

you stood before the court

and said a Judge should never measure

the quality of a person's being,

to decide whether that person has a right to be.

Now, that's exactly

what you're asking this judge to do.

Victor: Well, at that time I was standing up

for the hospital. Right now...

right now I'm standing up for Charlie.

Are you sure you want to do this?

Are you sure you want to end your own brother's life?

Of course, I'm not sure!

I want him to be alive!

But you see it isn't about what I want.

I know my brother,

and he would never want to end up like this.

If he can't be himself, then he'd just rather not be.

Marsha: Back in the Ferguson case

you begged the judge not to play God.

You asked him for, Jamie Ferguson's sake,

to leave open the possibility that God might be God.

Why doesn't your brother

deserve that same consideration?

Alright. Let's bring her in.

Members of the jury, the parties stipulate that

Ms. Penn's appearance today fairly reflects

the way she appeared the night in question.

Ms. Penn, please walk up and stand before the jury.

I'd like her to turn to the side, Your Honor.

Ms. Penn.

Now if you would please turn around

and put your back to the jury.

McGrath: Alright, that's enough.

Ms. Penn, you can go back and sit down now.

Mr. Byrd, make your closing statement.

Well, I think

Laurie Penn just made it for me.

I mean how could any red-blooded American male

not be attracted to her?

The bartender believed her to be twenty-one.

Other patrons believed it.

My client believed it.

And you can certainly understand why.

What a beautiful woman she is.

As for consent, ladies and gentlemen,

she dressed herself like that,

she equipped herself with condoms

and camped out at a hotel bar.

She willingly went to my client's suite,

willingly kissed him,

fondled him

and eventually she made love to him.

Then faced with a little guilt and a disapproving mother,

she made up a story.

She got caught up in that story when mom went to the police.

And now Orin Baldwin is entangled in it too.

I'm not going to assault your dignity

by trying to convince you

that there is a reasonable doubt.

You must already know that.

Was Orin Baldwin guilty of bad judgement that night?

Perhaps.

But rape?

Well, that's just ridiculous.

[laughs]

Ridiculous.

She dressed the way 16-year olds dress these days.

They grow up watching Madonna videos,

the black lingerie, sexy is in.

It's hip.

And the condoms in her purse.

We teach our children to carry condoms,

with the AIDS epidemic.

Don't you dare accept his suggestion

that to do so is evidence of consent.

And yes, she kissed him

and maybe she even grabbed his buttocks,

but she also did something else.

She said "No."

Laurie Penn pushed the defendant away

and told him "no".

And he responded with violent,

forced intercourse, that's rape!

It isn't sex.

It isn't making love. It's rape.

And she's here today,

willing to be judged by you,

willing to relive that vicious attack

because that's the only way to make the point,

that every woman,

whether 16 or 60,

still has the right to say stop.

You don't forfeit it when you go to a hotel room.

You don't waive it when you buy a condom

or when you kiss a man.

Even, lying on a bed...

there is never a point, ladies and gentlemen,

where if a woman says "no",

a man is entitled to overpower her.

That's why she's here.

To make that one simple point.

A point that Orin Baldwin refused to get that night.

Please... see that he gets it today.

This is hard.

This is not about somebody who is brain dead.

This person might not even remain comatose.

He is capable of life,

although horrible life at that.

I feel extremely uncomfortable at drawing a line of...

well, where someone should be kept alive,

and where they shouldn't.

And I don't think it's appropriate

for judges to have this kind of discretion,

to decide whether someone's life is worth living.

But I have to trust the family,

that you know

what Charlie would have wanted.

Mr. Sifuentes, are you sure?

Yes, Your Honor, we're sure.

Okay, I'm hereby granting your petition.

The life support equipment shall be disconnected.

I'll say a prayer tonight for everybody.

We're adjourned.

Thanks.

woman: Mr. Kuzak! Kuzak!

Mr. Kuzak, was it your success in the Earl Williams trial

that made Rikki come to you?

I won't speculate as to why she chose us as counsel.

The most important thing for us is just to prove her innocence.

woman: Mr. Mullaney!

Mr. Mullaney, you said that you spent the day with her.

How would you describe her spirits?

Her husband's dead, the police are blaming her,

you people are callin' her the hanging bitch every day

in the papers. She is unhappy.

What are you going to do that her last lawyer didn't try?

Any comment on our strategy would be premature at this--

Except to say that we're gonna show that she didn't do it.

reporter: Then who did do it?

Most likely the guy killed himself.

- Tommy, Tommy... reporter: Now wait a minute...

- Yeah, you. - What is your basis

for thinking Mr. Davis took his own life?

Well, he had a few squirrels running around up there.

Well, let's face it, the guy was a kook.

How do you explain the severe bruise on the side of the head?

I think when the homicide dicks cut him off

the beam he fell in a heap.

Uh, Mr. Mullaney! Do you expect Rikki to testify?

Well, at this time

we have not yet determined whether or not

Ms. Davis will take the stand.

But if you're gonna bet, put your money on "yeah".

woman: I have one more question.

Tommy: Now, hold on. Take it easy.

I'm gonna get to all of you.

[indistinct chatter]

It worked. They loved you.

You came off as Mr. Candid, a straight shooter.

We gotta manipulate a headline or two down the line,

you're gonna have an inside track.

- I hope you're right. - Are you kidding?

They were ready to adopt you out there.

You watch, we do this a few more times

and the press is going to be our friend.

I got to admit. This is fun.

Of course, it is. This is the case of a lifetime.

Mr. Foreman, the jury has returned a verdict?

Yes, Your Honor.

On the count three two seven four, statutory rape,

we find the defendant, Orin Baldwin... not guilty.

On the count three two seven five, rape,

we find the defendant, Orin Baldwin...

guilty as charged.

God!

Your Honor, Your Honor,

the people ask that bail be revoked

and that the defendant be remanded to custody.

- Opposed. - It is so ordered.

The court officers will take him into custody.

- Your Honor-- McGrath: Forget it, counsel.

Court is adjourned!

[machines beeping]

Victor, I don't think the family

should stay in the room.

Ma. Pa.

I think you should go outside now, okay?

[sobs]

[speaking foreign language]

My baby.

Go with God.

Be with God.

[sobbing]

I think I'm gonna want to stay with him.

I wanna be here in the room, okay?

Just tell me when.

I hope we're doin' the right thing here, Charlie.

I know you don't like being like this.

It's all gonna be okay, Charlie.

You don't have to worry about anybody.

I love you.

Okay.

[instrumental music]

I'm right here, Charlie.

I'm still here for you.

I'm right here, Charlie.

I love you.

[machine beeps]

[theme music]