All language subtitles for Marshall (2017)_track4_[eng]

(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

MARSHALL: A confession?

Is that what they call it?

Billy Lyons was thrown in jail
for three days without cause.

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

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

and I am prepared to rule.

The court finds that
the service of the complaint

was in fact made at
the wrong address,

as Attorney Friedman
has argued.

Therefore, the defendant's
Motion to Dismiss is granted.

(POUNDS GAVEL)
Thank you, Your Honor.

Great work, Friedman.

(SOBBING)

Now, to get their confession,
Special Agent Cheatwood,

sent by the Governor himself,
took this club,

his "nigger-beater,"
he called it,

he tied Billy Lyons
to a chair

and he pounded Billy Lyons
in the head with it.

And still
Billy Lyons insisted

he had not committed
these murders.

We had this one
pegged as a loser.

You've got a real knack
for spotting technicalities.

Thank you, Mr. Sprague.

(OLD LADY EXCLAIMS)

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

I will make the time.

Good.

They forced him into their car
and hauled him off

to the murder scene.

The bodies had been burned,
and were decomposing.

They took some of the bones
of these dead bodies,

put them in a pan

and placed them
in Billy Lyons' hands.

They admitted this.

Delirious with exhaustion
and pain,

Billy Lyons
confessed to a crime
he did not commit.

And it is based upon
that confession alone

that they now seek
to hang Billy Lyons

by the neck until he is dead.

BUSTER: You'll get them
the next time, baby.

There may not be
a next time.

We needed this one.
All right.

When you coming home?

I'll be on the next train
to Knoxville.
(MAN WHISTLES)

I should be home
by mid-day Wednesday.

Okay.

Be safe. I love you.

Love you, too. See you soon.
Bye, baby.

(COIN CLATTERING)

(TRAIN CHUGGING)

Hey, boy!

Boy! What do you think
you're doing here?

(INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT
OVER PA)

What you gonna do,
nigger?

(TRAIN HORN BLOWING)

STATION MASTER: All aboard.

I'll see you boys
another time.

MAN: That son of a bitch!

Let's go scare him.

Shoot!

WOMAN: NAACP. Please hold.

Good morning, Mr. Marshall.
Good morning.

Welcome back.

Thank you.

Hmm.

Thurgood,
you're going to Bridgeport.

What, now?
No, I swore to Buster...

How many Thurgoods
are there? Five or ten?

There's only one,
and that one is
gonna get his ass

on the train tomorrow.

Why?

Why? "Nightmare in Greenwich,"
that's why, Thurgood.

"Wife Attacked
By Negro Driver,"
that's why, Thurgood.

How about,
"Fear Grips Connecticut."

What's the reaction?

Fear. Getting calls
from all over
the country.

Negroes getting fired.

White families afraid to
have us in their homes.

Well, if we can't work
as domestics,

Negro families
are going to starve.

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

MARSHALL: It's got everything,
doesn't it?

"Eleanor Strubing,
a fair-haired
Greenwich socialite,

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

Yes.

And the boy
that they're holding

is straight out of
Native Son.

Look at that.

Wow.

"Joseph Spell.

"Uneducated Negro servant
with a criminal past."

A fable that
the New York City press

is gonna feed on,
to the last morsel.

Yeah. They're starving
for this one.

So are we.

We win this thing,

our big donors
are coming right back,
Thurgood.

There's only
thirteen million Negroes
depending on you.

Irwin said I would
find you here.

What?
Your brother.

He said I'd find you here.
You know, swimming.

Nice swimsuit.

Who the hell are you?

Tad Lancaster.
Bridgeport High, remember?

Trombone?

Yeah. Still blowin' it,
too, man. (CHUCKLES)

What are you
doing here, Tad?

Oh, I am working with
the Bridgeport NAACP.

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

Do you know
that Spell case?

The guy who attacked
the girl from Greenwich?

Yeah.

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

and we need a local guy
to get him admitted.

(LAUGHS)

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

Well, there's
nothing else required.

I'm not interested.
Well, think about
the publicity, Sam.

Oh, no, that's exactly
what I'm thinking of.

Well now, your brother
seems to think...

My brother is
an absolute idiot.

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

Honestly, I'm grateful.

But I don't handle
criminal cases, okay?

Find someone who wants
that kind of attention.

Irwin already filed
the papers with the court.

He did what?

(INDISTINCT CHATTER ON RADIO)

A paper, please.

Thurgood Marshall.

National Association for
the Advancement
of Colored People.

Sam Friedman.
Um, Friedman and Friedman.

Good to meet you, Sam.
Give me a hand with these,
would you?

Sure.

(SAM GROANS)

What've you got
in here, cement?

Guns.

Books, Mr. Friedman.

My law library.
It goes where I go.

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

but I can't get involved
in a case like this.

Yeah? Why not?

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

I've got a reputation
to think of.

Ah!

That must be difficult.
What?

Having a reputation
to think of.

You meet
our client yet?

Your client.
And no, I was waiting...

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

(SIREN WAILING)

Got another one
coming in.
Okay.

University of
Maryland Law School.

Was walking distance
from home,

but they didn't
accept colored,

so I had to go to Howard.

An hour and a half
each way by bus,

and well known
as a school for failures.

That's too bad.

MARSHALL: No, no.
It was best thing
that ever happened to me.

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

he turned that place around
and taught me
everything I know.

Including how to sue
the University of Maryland.

You sued them?

You bet your ass I did.

Soon as I passed the bar.

And?

Supreme Court
ordered the bastards
to integrate.

(CHUCKLES)

(CLEARS THROAT) You argued
in the United States
Supreme Court?

What? No,
the Maryland Supreme Court.

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

Your boy's ready for you.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

Spell, lawyer's here
to see you.

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

You heard of us?

You a lawyer?
I am.

This is Sam Friedman,
he's a lawyer, too.

You can go.
I got no money for lawyers.

Anybody ask you
for money?

Did you rape
that woman, Joseph?

No.

Why does she say
you did?

I don't know why
she's saying that.

She says you raped her
and tried to kill her.

She lying!

I was up in White Plains,
at a club.

Come on, Joseph.
All night long?

No, not all night.

I was at the house,
but couldn't sleep.

So I went to play cards.
Got back maybe 6:00, 6:30.

Anybody see you
at the club?

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

For an alibi defense
you need witnesses, Joseph.

Otherwise, it's her word
against yours,

and who do you think
they're going to believe?

There was a cop.

MARSHALL: A cop?

JOSEPH: Stopped me
in Port Chester
on the way to the club.

Looked at my license
then let me go.

MARSHALL: What time was that?

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

I'm telling you this
up front.

The NAACP, we're not like
most lawyers.

We only represent
innocent people,

people accused
because of their race.

That's our mission.
You understand?

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

Did you do
what they said you did?

I never touched that woman.

Okay, Joseph.
You got lawyers now.

(SIGHS)

(RADIO CRACKLING)

Go ahead,
change the station.

(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

What do you know
about the prosecutor?

Loren Willis.
Graduated Yale
the day he was born.

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

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

What do you know
about the judge?

Judge Foster?

Former law partner
of Willis' father.

(CHUCKLES)

I'll move your admission
Monday morning,
and then I've got...

Back to fighting off
those insurance claims.
Yeah, I know.

(EXHALES)

(MUSIC PLAYS)

Ah. So you like
Langston Hughes, huh?

Of course.
Don't you?

I don't give a damn
about no poetry.

(CHUCKLES) Come on.

I actually went to school
with Langston.

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

Another bourbon,
Mr. Marshall?
MARSHALL: Sure.

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

You told me
you were a driver.

Yep.

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

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

I see.

And what about you, Irene?
What are you gonna be
when you grow up?

A nurse
like your mother?

No.

A lawyer, then?
No.

A fighter pilot.

A fighter pilot?
(BERTHA CHUCKLES)

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

TAD: All right,
say good night
to Mr. Marshall, Renie.

(TAD CHUCKLES)

Good night!

You got kids?

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

Buster is my wife.

Sometimes people think
I'm talking about my dog.

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

Ah!
(CHUCKLES)

So, you think
this boy did it?

Hey, whose side you on?

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

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

Burden of proof
is on the State.

Is it now?

Hey, there.
Hey.

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

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

You trust him?
Sam? Oh, yeah.

If you dropped a nickel
while kicking him
in the balls,

he'd return it to you.

(ALL LAUGH)

Couldn't play trombone
for shit, though.

REPORTER 1 : Gentlemen.
Gentlemen, can I have
a minute, please?

Just a minute.

REPORTER 2: Who's this,
a relative of Spell?

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

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

It's Friedman. Sam Friedman.
Of Friedman and Friedman.

Local counsel. That is all.

REPORTER 2:
The defense team, huh?

Is your boy innocent,
Friedman?

He is not my...

Let me state this to you all
clearly and unequivocally.

Our client, Joseph Spell,
is an innocent man.

REPORTER 3: Well, let's get
a picture of you two.

All rise.

Superior Court
is now in session,

the Honorable
Carl Foster presiding.

(CLEARS THROAT)

You may be seated.

The State of Connecticut
v. Joseph Spell.

Are the parties ready
to proceed?

WILLIS: The State is ready,
Your Honor.

FOSTER: Ah, Mr. Willis,
good morning.

How's your father doing?

He's better, thank you.
That's kind of you
to ask.

Um...

The defense is ready
as well, Your Honor.

Well then,
let's get on with it.

Mr... Mr. Friedman.

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

Yes, Your Honor.

Attorney Thurgood Marshall,
of the Maryland Bar.

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

Uh-huh. (CLEARS THROAT)

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

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

No, Your Honor, but...

FOSTER: How long
has he known him?

Not long,
Your Honor, but...

Exactly how long?

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

However...
(LAUGHTER)

FOSTER: A few days ago!

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

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

You have tried cases before,
haven't you?

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

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

So are we all,
Attorney Friedman,
so are we all.

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

No, he's not.

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

He argued in the
United States Supreme Court.

That has no bearing
on this case.

Your Honor,
may I be heard?

No. You may not.

The court has heard enough
and will rule.

(SAM CLEARS THROAT)

The court sees
no legal requirement

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

SAM: But, Your Honor...
FOSTER: However,

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

but to maintain
the appearance
of fairness as well.

Therefore, the court
will allow Mr. Marshall

to enter his appearance
for the defense...

Respectfully...

His written appearance,
Mr. Willis.

Mr. Marshall may sit
at counsel table.
However, he may not speak.

Your Honor,
I must speak for the client!
He may not speak,

argue, or examine witnesses!

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

And you as well,
Mr. Friedman.

You will conduct this case.

Me?
FOSTER: Yes, you.

The trial will begin
a month from today
at 10:00 a.m.

Court adjourned.
(POUNDS GAVEL)

COURT CLERK: All rise.

What the...
What the hell
just happened?

What the hell
just happened here?

Shut up and be quiet.
Let me think!

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

Excuse me?

That son of a bitch.

I've tried cases
before judges who were

Grand Dragons of
the Ku Klux Klan,

who forced me to enter
through the back door.

But this horseshit
is a first.

I cannot get involved
in a case like this.

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

This is not my problem.

The hell it isn't!

No. You heard the judge.

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

It's our problem now.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

According to
Eleanor Strubing's account,

Spell rapes her at home,
ties and gags her,

then drives up here.

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

(SCREAMING)

MARSHALL: Takes her
out of the car.

(SOBBING)

Then pushes her
over the guardrail

into the reservoir
right about here.

He throws rocks at her,
then drives away.

Somehow she gets to shore.

Dripping wet.

Then climbs up to the road.

(PANTING)

Ah.

Awfully scary
down there, though.

Go take a look
where she climbed out.

Me? These are
my best shoes.

Please try to
make yourself useful.

(PANTING)

Stop.

Stop!

(HONKING)

Stop.

This is where
the truck driver found her.

SAM: What do you want
with those?

It's an old
Negro superstition.

Always take a little piece
of the Earth with you.

Really?

(DOOR OPENS)
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

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

Oh.

MARSHALL: Not a bad picture.

Of me, anyway.

RUTHIE: Also,
your wife called.

Sam, perfect!
Where you been?

Out getting the cutlery
I need to castrate you.

You must be Irwin.

I am. Mr. Marshall,
pleasure to meet you.

Pleasure.
Sam, listen,
I've great news.

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

Harry Gruber?
The Communist?

Sam, at least he handles
criminal defense.

Could you get Gruber
on the line, Ruthie?

RUTHIE: Sure thing.
Thank you.

This is not
a cut-and-dry case.

I mean, you should really
consider whether or not

this is something
you want to commit to,
as far as I'm concerned.

You want
the Communist Party
taking over?

They'll martyr Spell
for their own cause.

Not my problem.

You think he did it?

That's for a jury
to decide.

What do you think?

You think he raped
this woman,

then drove her
up to the reservoir
to kill her?

People have done
stranger things.
That's right.

People do all sorts of
strange things,
horrible things.

But throw a woman
over the bridge
into the water,

not check to see
if she's dead,

then drive back
to her house...

I mean, you've got to have
a pretty dim view of Negroes,

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

The papers say
he was dishonorably
discharged from the Army.

This isn't
a court martial.

He was fired
from his last job
for stealing.

No charges were brought.

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

MARSHALL: Yes,
he's got baggage.

Criminal defendants
usually do.

They're not perfect citizens,
like you and me,

but none of that
makes him guilty
of this crime.

Sam, we've got
Gruber on the phone.

What do you want me
to tell him?

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

Sam, come on...
Irwin, shoyn genug!

Why me?

MARSHALL: I need someone
who will do as I say.

What makes you think
I will do as you say?

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

You're quite a salesman.

MARSHALL:
There's no time for that.

You want me to try
this case?

No. I need you
to try this case.

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

"He shall speak for you
to the people."

BOTH: "He shall be your mouth,

"and you shall be
as God to him."

(EXHALES)

Tell Gruber
to go fuck himself.

All right.

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

Okay, I'm on it.

What is this?

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

Yeah. That's right.

You better
start reading, then.

You've got one month.

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

MARSHALL: No. Not tonight.

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

I'm the one who's been sick
every morning
for the past month.

What? You'd better not
be lying.

Look at the bump.

Oh, I see it.

You see it?

(CHUCKLING)

I'm not going
anywhere after this.

Hmm.

What? You don't believe me?

No, I don't.

I swear.

You swear?

I swear, I swear.

Nowhere. Nowhere. I swear.

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC)

(SINGING) Trouble in mind
Guess I'm blue

But I won't be blue always

The sun's gonna shine
In my backdoor some day

Langston, he swore
on his mother's life

that he wouldn't be going
anywhere, anytime soon.

My mother's name
was never mentioned.
(CHUCKLES)

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

Which only means
that the inevitable loss

will be
that much more devastating.

Don't bet against me.

No, you're not even
trying the case, baby.

Every single word
that man utters

in that courtroom
will be mine.

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

by the Greenwich gentility

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

Langston, maybe you should
just go back to Spain,
or back to Russia,

write your little poems.

Explore big ideas
with your comrades.

I was fighting Fascists
in Spain.

Well, you were
writing about

fighting Fascists
in Spain.
(CHUCKLING)

BUSTER: Listen, by the time
the baby comes,

Thurgood's gonna be
out of a job.

Do none of you have
any confidence in me?

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

misplaced as it may be.

(BUSTER LAUGHS)

(MAN LAUGHING)

LANGSTON: God,
here comes Zora.

Probably leaving dinner
with Charles Lindbergh.

Don't you dare.
Zora!

MAN: Sit down!

MARSHALL: Come on over here,
Zora Neale Hurston.

Hi! How y'all doing?

Langston Hughes.

Zora.

Hmm.

(KISSES)

ZORA: And who is this?

I'm August.
I've heard so much
about you.

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

Huh, Langston?

Trouble in my mind, yeah

(MAN SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY)

Okay, guys.
Are we ready to go?

You're still
not talking to me?

It's not my fault.

You have no idea
how persuasive
this guy can be.

(HUSHED CHATTER)

(WHISPERS) Stella,
what on Earth
is Sam thinking?

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

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

Well, he wasn't
looking for it, Rose.

Irwin got him involved.

Well, you tell him
that everybody is terrified

by what this man did.

Sophie Gittelson
fired her girl today.

She's been with them
for 11 years.

They fired Gladys?
Why? She's lovely.

Yeah, she is lovely.

But what if
one of her relatives
comes to visit?

They have their daughter
to think of.

I would've done
the same thing.

(CANTOR SINGING)

(CLEARS THROAT)

Well, if it isn't
Mr. Friedlansky.

Mr. Weisman.

Dora and I couldn't remember,
were you born here
or in Minsk?

We came over
when I was one.

That's what I thought.

So you feel like
a real big shot, I bet,
defending that shvartze.

What do you think
your father would say?

I could not tell you.

I think he'd say
he was proud.

For the defense.

Don't mention it...
To anyone.

(ENGINE STARTS)

(CAR DOOR SHUTS)

DICKY: Ew!

(CHUCKLES)

FOSTER: Jury selection,
gentlemen.

Clerk, call the first
venireperson.

Lester Gilman of Norwalk.

Mr. Gilman.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Mr. Gilman, um,

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

Could you be fair
in deciding such a case?

I think so.

SAM: No further questions.

Accepted by the defense.

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

We don't have too many
in Stratford.

Excused.

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

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

I don't think much
of Hebrews, either.

Excuse me?

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

Thank you for your candor,
Mr. Wright.

Uh, no further questions.

MARSHALL: (WHISPERING)
Excuse for cause.

Counselor?

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

On what grounds?

(WHISPERS) Bias...
I know.

He just admitted
he's biased.

Mr. Wright,
you're a law-abiding citizen,
wouldn't you say?

That's right,
Your Honor.

If I instructed you
that the law requires

that you set aside
your bias,

would you obey
my instruction?

I guess I'd have to.

The challenge for cause
is overruled.

You may use
a peremptory challenge.

Your Honor,
with all due respect...

I've made my ruling!

Excused.

WILLIS: Mr. Ellis,
you agree, do you not,

that as a colored man
you could not

fairly pass judgment
on Mr. Spell?

No, sir.

You agree
you could not be fair?

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

I'll use a challenge.

(WHISPERING) Object.

On what basis?
Just do it.

Your Honor, I object.

Grounds?

MARSHALL:
He can't use the challenge
to discriminate...

He can't use the challenge
to discriminate...

I heard that, Mr. Marshall!

It's a peremptory challenge,
Mr. Friedman.

The State may use it
for whatever reason it wants.

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

What was the point
of that?

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

Recognize it. Now.

WILLIS: Mrs. Richmond,
you reside in Greenwich?

Yes, Mr. Willis,
I do now.

And if the State proves
its case you could convict
the defendant?

Yes, of course I could.

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

Mrs. Richmond,
I notice you have
an accent.

Really?

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

Fair enough.

Mrs. Richmond,
where did you live
before moving here?

MRS. RICHMOND:
Raleigh, North Carolina.

SAM: But now you live
in Greenwich?

MRS. RICHMOND:
Yes. That's right.

SAM: Well, if you live
in Greenwich,

you must have heard
about this case.

It's all anybody talks about.

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

regarding the defendant's
guilt or innocence.

You assume incorrectly.

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

Have you met Mrs. Strubing?

In passing, at parties
and community events.

I believe we belong
to the same club.

Do you really think then,
Mrs. Richmond,

that with all of
these connections,

the club, the parties,

that you could really just
set all of that aside?

I don't see why not.

Thank you.
No further questions.

The State accepts
Mrs. Richmond.

Your Honor...

SAM: (WHISPERS) No.
Absolutely not.
Mr. Friedman?

(CLEARS THROAT) Your Honor,

may we have
five minutes, please?

Fine with me,
Your Honor.

The court will recess
for exactly five minutes.

But we're not going to make
a habit of this,
are we, Counselor?

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

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

Just trust me on this.

SAM: She's a Southerner,
lives in the same town.

Take her.
I'm not your
goddamned puppet!

I'm getting rid of her.

She's smart,
she's confident.

She resists authority.

Did you see the way
she talked back to you?

The other jurors
will listen to her.

Which is exactly
the problem.

She knows Mrs. Strubing,
they run
in the same social circles...

And she doesn't put her
on a pedestal.

Maybe Mrs. Strubing
is a drinker.

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

You are stabbing
in the dark.

Maybe, but this
I do know.

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

Arrogant Yankee pricks
like Willis.

Were you watching her?

She folded her arms
and sat back
when Willis spoke.

When you began,
she opened up,

leaned forward,
removed her glasses.

These are signs.

Signs of what?

She likes you.

(EXCLAIMS)

My glasses...
I need my glasses.

It's about time.
I know.

Mr. Friedman?

The defendant accepts
Mrs. Richmond.

Am I missing something?

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

and will serve
as our 12th and final juror.

The evidence will begin
tomorrow morning at 10:00.
(POUNDS GAVEL)

Hey, Mr. Friedman.
(REPORTERS CLAMORING)

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

What comments?

The press release
by Walter White.

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

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

Do you agree,
Mr. Friedman?

I have nothing to say
about that.

What about you,
Mr. Marshall?

Hasn't it been proven
in this courtroom already?

How can a man
have a fair trial

when he is denied
counsel of his choice?

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

When fear and bias
against his race

are the central points of
the case against him?

In Europe right now
the forces of tyranny
have mobilized

behind the vision
of a so-called
"Master Race."

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

Here we're promised
equal protection
under the law,

nothing complicated
about that.

But that promise
has not been realized,
not even close.

Not in Birmingham, Alabama,

nor in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma,

and certainly not here
in Bridgeport, Connecticut,

(CROWD ARGUING)

where your bigotry
is simply colored
by a northern accent.

But a fair jury
can always render
a just verdict.

That is what we are
striving for here today.

The Constitution
was not written for us,
we know that,

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

From now on,
we claim it as our own.

(ALL SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)

Go back to the South!

What's bothering you?
Sam.

SAM: Not now.

What's bothering me?

You insulting the judge
on the courthouse steps,

that's what's bothering me.

(CHUCKLES)

Just relax.

Excuse me?

I have to live in this city
after you're gone,
understand?

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

Let me make this clear.

My people will decide
what to say

to the newspapers
and when to say it...

The newspapers should have
no place in this trial!

They already do!
People are losing their jobs
because of these stories...

Those people
are not my clients!

Well, they are mine!

My jury isn't
just the 12 people
in that jury box,

it's the whole
goddamn nation.

You just focus on this case,

try your best
not to screw it up,

and leave the big picture
to me.

(CLEARS THROAT) Sam...
SAM: What is it, Irwin?

Don't you have
something to do?

There's someone
waiting for you
in my office.

Yes? And who is
this someone?

Officer McCoy.

And who the hell
is Officer McCoy?

The cop who pulled Spell over
that night.

I just did what you said.

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

Atta boy, Irwin.
Atta boy.

What time did you
pull over Mr. Spell?

Did you hear the question?

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

Why'd you stop him?

It didn't look like
a man like that
would drive that car.

(CHUCKLES)

Was anyone with him
in the car?

No, he was alone.

MARSHALL: Are you willing to
testify to that in court?

If I have to.

Irwin, get a sworn statement
from Officer McCoy,

then escort him out.

Officer.

Wow.

An honest policeman.

(CROWD SHOUTING)

See what your publicity
stirs up?

It just brings them out
where you can see them.

Give us justice!

That doesn't look
anything like me.

Does it?

The State of Connecticut
v. Joseph Spell.

Are counsel ready
to proceed?

Ready for the State.

We are, Your Honor.

Mr. Willis, you may call
your first witness.

The State calls
Greenwich Police
Captain Burke to the stand.

WILLIS: Would you identify
these photos, Captain Burke?

Yes, sir,
that's the Kensico Reservoir.

Did you find any evidence
at the scene that pertains
to this case?

Yes, sir, we did.

We found Mrs. Strubing's
sealskin coat

floating in the reservoir
under the bridge, about here.

Then about here,
on the guardrail,

we found
some strands of fabric.

I believe they were stuck
to some bird droppings.

Were you able to
identify the fabric?

Yes, sir.
It matched the fabric

from Mrs. Strubing's
sealskin coat.

Thank you.
Nothing further.

FOSTER: Your witness,
Mr. Friedman.

(INDISTINCT WHISPERING)

Bird droppings?

Sorry?

Oh.

"Bird droppings,"
Captain Burke?

Yes, that's right.

Were you able to
identify the bird?

(LAUGHTER)

SAM: May I?

Thank you.

(CLEARS THROAT) Now,
on one side of the bridge

is a reservoir,
placid as a lake.

On the other side
there's a 30-foot drop
onto a jagged rock bed.

Is that correct?
You could say that.

And the fabric that you found
was on the lake side

right about here,
around 60 feet
onto the bridge?

BURKE: Sixty-seven feet,
four inches.

Okay.

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

I concluded
that she was pushed.

Pushed?

To murder her.

BURKE: That's right.

As a trained crime
investigator, Captain,
did you ever ask yourself,

if someone wanted
Mrs. Strubing dead,

why not push her
onto the sharp jagged
rock bed

rather than the still
lake water?

Object.
Asking for speculation.

Sustained.
The jury will disregard
the question.

Now, Mrs. Strubing told you
that after pushing her
into the water,

Joseph threw rocks at her
from the bridge,
is that correct?

BURKE: Yes.

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

I don't know.
There may have been.

But there were rocks
in the area around
the bridge, is that correct?

Yes, there were.

About how big were they?

BURKE: I really couldn't say.

Were they any bigger
than this, Captain?

I can't say they were.

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

You could call it that.

Well, what would you
call it?

A pebble.

(CROWD LAUGHS)

A pebble.

So, in summary, Captain,

it's your belief
that this man

threw Mrs. Strubing
into a placid lake,

then gathered pebbles
to toss at her

while she waited patiently
under the bridge?

Object.

Withdrawn.

No further questions,
Your Honor.

FOSTER: Captain Burke,
you are excused.

Court is adjourned.

COURT CLERK: All rise.

Mr. Friedman,
well done.

Well done.
Let's go.

Why are you smiling?

Well, I think we scored
some points there.

This isn't a sporting event.
A man's life is on the line.

A word with you, Friedman.

Yes, of course.

Alone.

To you both then.

The doctor who examined Ellie
is testifying tomorrow.

It's rather personal,
of course.
These are private people...

Please get
to the point.

Excuse me?

Well, I've spoken
with John Strubing

and he's willing
to consider a plea.

It's my decision,
of course,

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

Otherwise, he gets life.

No. No deals.

(SCOFFS)

Mr. Friedman?

Not my call.

Of course, you'll have
to speak to your client.

I'll expect
a different answer
in the morning.

MARSHALL: Even with
good behavior,

you'd be locked up
at least 14 years.

I could maybe do that.

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

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

You could walk out
of here a free man.

But if she does,
if you're wrong...

Listen, the decision
is yours.

Sam, I need to talk
to Joseph.

Are you asking me
to leave?

Of course not.
He's your client.

I'm asking you
to listen.

When we first met,

I told you
I'd only defend you
if you were innocent.

And you told me
you were innocent.
You remember?

I remember.

Did you lie to me?

No, I didn't lie.

So I'm gonna ask you again.

Did you commit this crime?

No.

But you're willing to say
you did?

If I got to.

For the deal.

If you "got to"?

My great-granddaddy
was a slave.

Were your people slaves,
Joseph?

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

But we're not
slaves now, are we?

No, we ain't slaves.

You say that
like it's nothin'.

We ain't slaves
because we rose up

and we fought
and we fought
and we fought

till we got our freedom.

Isn't that right?

My granddaddy escaped
when he was 15.

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

Okay, then,
you tell me this.

After what your
granddaddy did
to get his freedom,

you're just going to
give it right back?

For nothing?

For something
you didn't even do?

Understand this.

If you want your freedom,

you're going to have to
fight for it.

But you don't
have to fight alone.

That's why I'm here.

We've got
weapons now, Joseph.

Our people do.

Weapons we didn't
have before.

We've got the law.

And you've got Sam.

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

You really think
we can win?

I wouldn't be here

if I didn't think
we could win.

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

I specialize in
the field of gynecology
and I deliver babies.

CROWD: Aw.

On the morning
she was discovered
in the reservoir,

did you have occasion
to examine
Mrs. Eleanor Strubing?

Yes.

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

Let's see...

6:30 in the morning.

Did she tell you
what had happened?

Objection! Hearsay.

Overruled.

WILLIS: Doctor?

I've forgotten the question.

What did Mrs. Strubing
tell you?

She told me that
she had been raped

by a colored man
who worked for her.

What was her mental state
during all of this?

SAYER: She was
severely distraught, weeping.

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

Did you then examine her?
Yes.

My wife assisted
by removing her clothing.
It was torn, wet, and muddy.

I noted bruises
on her arms and legs

and numerous abrasions
and contusions
on both extremities.

I then performed
an internal exam.

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

as to whether or not
she had been raped?

Beyond question, Mr. Willis.

It was all consistent
with rape.

Thank you.

Your witness.

(WHISPERING)
Get the records.

The medical records.
Get them.

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

Object, these are personal.

Overruled.

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

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

SAM: (CLEARS THROAT)
May I?

(INDISTINCT WHISPERING)

"Abrasions and contusions."

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

Yes, scrapes,
scratches, bruises...

Right.

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

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

It's possible.

You did an internal exam,
and you found,

"Edema, swelling,
and traces of blood"?

Yes.

Mmm-hmm. And it was based
on this that

you determined
that she was raped?

SAYER: Indeed.

But those same findings
are equally consistent

with a woman who took a lover

and engaged in vigorous
sexual intercourse

over the course
of an evening...

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

FOSTER: Sustained.

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

Um, of course, Your Honor.

I'm sorry.

Hello?

Hey, baby.

No, they just pulled me
out of proceedings.

BUSTER: The baby

didn't make it.

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

It wouldn't stop.

I'm so sorry.

(KICKS BOOTH)

I should be there.

Buster?

Buster, are you there?

Yeah, I'm here.

Where are you?

Do you have
any further questions,
Mr. Friedman?

Mrs. Strubing told you
that she resisted
her assailant?

Yes, she did.
Mmm-hmm.

SAM: And you looked
under her fingernails,
too, didn't you?

To see if you could find
any traces of skin?

I did.

What did you find?

Splinters, dirt in some...

SAM: Any skin, Doctor?
(MARSHALL MUTTERS SOFTLY)

Yes, I was just
about to get to that.

Excuse me?

There was skin.

Where...

Where in these records
does it say anything

about finding traces
of skin?

It's not in the records.

My wife took the notes.

She did not write down
that bit of information.

(SCOFFS) Why not, Doctor?
Why would she not record that?

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

It was the skin
of a colored man.

SAM: No further questions.

It wasn't in the records.

They got a doctor
to lie under oath.

How do we fight
against that?

You asked the exact question
Willis wanted you to ask.

What were you thinking?

Where the hell were you, huh?
Getting instructions
from Walter White?

See what happens
when I don't hold
your hand?

You panicked up there,
like an amateur.

You should have
let him take the deal.

God damn it,
would you shut up
about the deal?

We have an alibi witness,
remember?

What don't you get?
They will have McCoy
change his testimony.

Just watch.

Let them.

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

No, tomorrow morning,
I am walking
into Willis's office

and I am asking him
if the offer
is still on the table.

The NAACP isn't taking
any deals.

The NAACP isn't the one

with its life
on the line here!

Yes it is, God damn it.

(SCOFFS)

You're using him.

That's all this is.

Just like you said
the Communists would.

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

Mmm. Yeah.

I'm sure he'll feel
really lucky

as he sits in prison
for the rest of his life.

Let's not act like
it's Joseph Spell

you're concerned
for all of a sudden.

What is that supposed
to mean?

From the moment
you got involved in this,

you've been looking
for a way out.

Play nice with the D.A.,
earn yourself a favor,

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

Well, get this
through your head.

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

Must be easy
for you to say, huh?

You see, it is my life
that is on the line here.

My family,
my practice, my future.

What do you have?

You have nothing to lose.

No, you just
sweep through town

stirring up
all kinds of ugliness,

then move right on.

No one will ever
even remember you were here.

Oh, fuck you, Sam.

Fuck you.

(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)

Hey. You two okay?

(COURTROOM MURMURING)

FOSTER: Please take
the stand, Mrs. Strubing.

Mrs. Strubing,
you reside in Greenwich?

Yes.

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

Is your husband here
in the courtroom today?

Of course.
He's sitting in the front.

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

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

Please, tell the jury
what happened.

My husband was away
on business,

as he is often,
I'm afraid.

I had dinner with friends.
The Moores.

And I arrived home
around 10:00

and then I decided
to shower before bed.

And I was fixing my hair...

And he came in the room.
He came after me
and started chasing me.

He had a knife.

The knife was pointed
at my throat and I...

I thought of screaming,
but I couldn't.

He penetrated me.

I couldn't make him stop.

His body was crushing me.

What happened next,
Mrs. Strubing?

He said he wasn't
finished with me.

(SNIFFS)

And then he did it again.

Did what?

Raped me, Mr. Willis.

WILLIS: And then
what happened?

When it was over, he said,

"We're going for a ride,
Mrs. Strubing."

After all that,
he still called me
"Mrs. Strubing."

Then he tore my dress
with his hands
and gagged me.

I show you Exhibit H.

Is this the dress?

Yes. That's it.

And is this Exhibit I,
taken from that dress,

similar to the gag
he used on you?

ELEANOR: Identical.

WILLIS: Then what happened?

We started driving.

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

He came around,
pulled me out of the car.

And I remember
feeling weightless.

Suddenly I was freezing,
and rocks were hitting
around me.

Mrs. Strubing,
do you see the man
who raped you

in this courtroom today?

(SIGHS) Yes.

He's right over there.

The colored man.

For the record,
Mrs. Strubing,

which colored man?

ELEANOR: The one
in the brown suit.

Thank you.

One more question,
Mrs. Strubing.

Did you encounter
anybody else

during your time
with Mr. Spell?

Yes. As we were driving
toward the reservoir,

the car suddenly filled
with red light.

It was the police.

I thought,
at last, I was saved.

And then Joseph said
to get down back there

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

Then I heard the policeman.

And I thought...
Please, please just look.

But he didn't.
He spoke with Joseph
and then he left.

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

I'm so sorry.

You've been very strong,
Mrs. Strubing.

WILLIS: She certainly has,
Your Honor.

No more questions.

SAM: Hi there, um...

Name, sir?

Sam. Freidman.
Sam Friedman.

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

Actually,
I'm a friend of...

Hold onto this
for me.

MAN: Sir, you can't go
back there!

Gentlemen,
you must leave, now!

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

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

That's exactly
what my father said.

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

they'll take care of
each other beautifully.

This club is for
members only, boy.

MAN: Loren, it appears that
you have some rather
unique admirers.

(WILLIS SIGHS)

(CLEARS THROAT)

This is a private club.

She wasn't
in the car, Loren.
Excuse me?

You had her lie
on the stand today.

Are you accusing me
of a crime?

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

Who do you think you are?

We have a sworn statement
from an Officer McCoy

that Spell was alone
that night.

I don't care
what you have.

Ellie Strubing
told the Greenwich police
everything

when she first
recounted the crime.

If she wasn't in the car,
how could she have known

the car
had been stopped, hmm?

Here.

Read it.

What is this?

Another sworn statement.

This from Ellie Strubing
the morning they found her.

Dated, timed, notarized.
Everything she told
the Greenwich police.

This is fraudulent.

Get out of my club.

I've had better.

Are you okay, sweetie?

You look blue.

And a man
as good-looking as you

has no cause to be blue.

Where is he?

Attorney Friedman!

I'm not much of
a conversationalist tonight.

It's okay. I am.

I'm Jen.

Thurgood.

Pleasure.

I've never
seen you here before...

MAN: Attorney Friedman!

Attorney Friedman,
hold on a minute.

What do you want?

We're just eager to
introduce ourselves.

To you
and the nigger lawyer.

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

JEN: Excuse me.

You gentlemen are making
a big mistake.

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

Bet you wish you had
your nigger
lawyer friend now.

Hey!
Get out of here.

JEN: Let him go!
MAN: Hold him up!

(GRUNTS)
(GROANS)

JEN: Let him go!
Hold on.

You liking this? You kike!

Let him go! Let him go!

Let him go!

(CAR HONKING)

Go! Go!
Kike bastard!

Sam!

(GUN COCKS)

This here
is Mr. Thurgood Marshall.

This man is an attorney.

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

Sit down and finish
your bourbon.

Say something!

You're late.

(GROANING)

What happened?

I didn't mean
to start trouble.

It's not your fault.

Here. It's okay.

Listen, men are men.

And women are women.

Right?

(CHUCKLES)

Right.

MAN: (OVER RADIO)
The Nazi masters of Germany

have made it clear
that they intend

not only to dominate
all life and thought...
(DOOR CLOSES)

...in their own country,

but also to enslave
the whole of Europe...

There's flanken.
(SNIFFS AND CLEARS THROAT)

Why are you so...

My God, Sam,
what happened to you?

I could use some ice.

What is it? What's wrong?

I got in the first punch.

What's wrong? What is this?
You've been crying.

Not now. Let's... (SNIFFS)

Tell me.

My cousin Anna, in Kraków.

They took her?

(SPEAKING IN HEBREW)

(CRYING)

(KNOCKING)

Who is that?
I don't know.

Stand back.

(POUNDING ON DOOR)

Who is it?

It's me. Thurgood.

Your co-counsel. Open up!

What happened to you?

Did I come at a bad time?

What do you want, Thurgood?

I have thoughts
about tomorrow.
(BABY CRYING)

Tomorrow? Get out
of my house.

No. Not until I tell you
why I'm here.

(BABY WAILING)

MARSHALL: Hear me out.

You were right.

I had it all wrong all along.

Spell was with her
all night.

Spell lied.

This is
your big epiphany?

Eleanor Strubing lied, too.

Neither of them
have been telling us
the truth.

Whoa...

Thurgood, you've just broken
this case wide open.

My God, you really
are a legal genius.

Men are men
and women are women.

Men are men
and women are women, Sam.

You think it was consensual.

It's the only explanation
that makes sense.

How can we be certain?

MARSHALL: We need to talk.

Talk about what?

Listen to me carefully, now.

Did you have
sexual intercourse
with Eleanor Strubing?

No. Why you keep
asking me that?

I've never
asked you that before.

Did you have sex with her?

Speak, God damn it!

I told you I didn't!

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

Did you hear her
say that in court?

I heard, but she's lying.

No, she's not lying.

You're lying.

Why're you taking her side?
The cop...

The cop never searched
the car.

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

No. I'm telling you...

Get this through your head.

She gave a statement
to the police
early that morning.

She knew then
the car had been stopped.

(BREATHING SHAKILY)

Okay.

Okay, she was there.

And did you have sex

with her that night?

(GROANS)

Answer me. Answer me, now!

Yes.

How many times?

Two times.

So, you're guilty.

You've been lying all along.

No! Look, it wasn't rape.

What about
the skin under her nails?
Is the doctor lying, too?

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

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

So I grabbed her,
just to keep her there.
That's when she scratches me.

You lying to me again?

No.

It's the truth.

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

Because I was confused.

Not good enough, Joseph!

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

He's gonna ask you
in front of everyone.

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

And you're just going to say
you were confused?

I couldn't think straight!

That's not gonna swing it!

You lied
in a sworn statement.

Why would you do that?

Because I was scared,
all right?

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

(CROWD CLAMORING)

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

MARSHALL: My father
told me once,

"If anybody calls you nigger,
you not only got
my permission to fight him,

"you got my orders
to fight him."

Your father say anything
about being called a kike?

No.

Not to me, anyway.

You look like
a real fighter now, Sam.

Like a Jewish Joe Louis.

Nah.

Barney Ross is my guy.

Barney Ross it is.

SAM: Good morning.

Good morning, Mr. Friedman.

Mrs. Strubing,

you're originally
from Philadelphia,
is that correct?

Yes.

College grad?

Bryn Mawr, Mr. Friedman.

And you were an athlete,
I understand?

Yes, I was on the swim team.

Ah.

You and your husband moved
to your estate in Greenwich

last spring,
is that correct?

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

SAM: Sorry. A mansion?

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

But your husband
was away on the night
of this incident,

is that right?

Yes, as I said, on business.

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

That is correct,
to the Moores'.

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

As I recall,
I drank some wine.

How many glasses,
would you say?

I don't remember.

But it was more than one.

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

Mmm-hmm.

When you drove home,
were you tipsy?

I never drink enough
to get tipsy.

Okay.

So you went straight up
to your room to shower,
is that correct?

Yes.

And when you came out
of the shower,

you say Joseph
was waiting for you.

ELEANOR: I didn't see him
at first.

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

But then...

He was there.

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

What?
Objection!
That's an absurd accusation!

FOSTER: Sustained!
You invited him into
your bed, didn't you?

WILLIS: Your Honor!
He attacked me!

Strike the question
and answer from the record.

Mr. Friedman,
no more of this,
do you understand me?

SAM: Yes, Your Honor.
Yes, of course. I'm sorry.

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

ELEANOR: Yes.

Did you scream for help?

I couldn't.
He had a knife.

Did he hold the knife
as he removed his clothing?

He must have.

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

Apparently so.

You told Mr. Willis
that you fought him,

but he overpowered you,
is that right?

Yes.

There was a phone
right next to your bed.

Did you attempt to use it?

No, I was terrified.

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

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

But at no point, at no point,
during the hours and hours

that the two of you
were together

did you ever attempt
to make any calls,

to escape,
to raise your voice
for help?

I object, this is argument.

I was scared for my life!

Sustained, the jury will
disregard the question.

You knew
you had been unfaithful
to your husband,

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

and you wanted
to get away.

Your Honor,
he is badgering the witness!

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

He bound me! He gagged me!
And he dragged me to the car.

The police stopped the car?

Yes.
But still you did not scream?

He had a knife.

Right. Right, the knife...

As you testified,
you were afraid

that he was going to
slash your throat,

from the front seat
of the car, was it?

I couldn't make a sound.

Because of the gag?

Yes.

Mrs. Strubing, this Exhibit-I
is identical to the gag
that he used?

Yes.

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

Please, please instruct
Mr. Marshall, if you would.

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

ELEANOR: Yes.
That's correct.

Is this about right?

(EXHALES)

No, it was a bit
tighter than that.

How about this, ma'am?

Yes, that's about it.

(SAM SCREAMS)

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

He would have killed me.

Who would have killed you?
Your husband?

Objection!
Quiet, Mr. Marshall!

How dare you
speak to me that way.

There was a policeman
standing not three feet away
from you

and still
you did not call out
for help?

Instead, Joseph drove on
to the reservoir...

I'm warning you!
No speaking!

...where you bolted
from the car

because you were ashamed
of what you'd done

with another man,
with a colored man!

WILLIS: Objection!
One more word out of you

and I will hold you
in contempt!

You were afraid of
what your husband

would do to you
if he found out.

Afraid that you were pregnant
with a colored child!

Objection! This is argument!

Sustained!
Jury will disregard!

You jumped into that water.
You wanted to end it all.

Jumped? I was thrown.

I was thrown.
My hands were tied.

He tried to kill me!

Your hands were not tied,
Mrs. Strubing.

You were able to
remove your coat,

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

ELEANOR: That's not true,
that's a lie.

He gagged me. He tied me.

Raped me.

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

No more questions.

Mr. Willis?

I have no questions.

(SIGHS)

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

The jury needs to
hear him deny it.

And you bring out
all the bad stuff yourself.

Don't leave anything
for Willis.

What happens
to the organization
if we lose?

I don't even want
to think about it.

You could blame me.
(CHUCKLES)

You're one of us now, Sam.
Haven't you noticed?

In the papers, they write,

"Sam Friedman
and Thurgood Marshall
of the NAACP."

SAM: Joseph,
please tell the jury
where you were raised.

Louisiana.

You have a wife
and two children, right?

Uh-huh.

Even though you have a wife,

you have another woman
in White Plains, is it?

JOSEPH: Yes.
What's he doing?

SAM: Ever served
in the Army, Joseph?

Yes, sir. Fort Benning,
Georgia, six years.

Discharged.

That was
a dishonorable discharge?

JOSEPH: Yes.

Then you moved north?
That's right.

Before working for
the Strubings,

you worked for
another family
in Greenwich?

Yes, sir.

They accused you of
stealing and fired you.

JOSEPH: Yes, sir.

SAM: And when you worked
for the Strubings,

did you run into
any other difficulties?

No, sir.

Did the Strubings
treat you well, Joseph?

She was always
real nice to me.

SAM: What about Mr. Strubing?

Was he mean to you?

He was mean to everybody.

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

You watch where
you're standing.

JOSEPH: Yes, sir.

Just a second, Joseph.
I'm sorry.

That's quite all right,
ma'am.

On the night
of this incident,

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

JOSEPH: To ask her for money.

I had to pay a man
I'd been playing cards with.

What happened
when you got to the room?

I knocked on the door.

(KNOCKING)

ELEANOR: Come in.

JOSEPH: I could tell
she'd been sad.
She was crying.

Are you okay, ma'am?

What do you want, Joseph?

It can wait,
Mrs. Strubing.

JOSEPH: But she told me
to stay,
and ask my question.

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

There's a man I owe.

Ah!

(EXHALES)

JOSEPH: So she went
to the bureau.

She said, "Is this enough
for you, Joseph?"

I said, "Yes, ma'am.
Thank you. "

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

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

No, ma'am.

Joseph...

She asked me not to
leave her alone that night.

And, uh, I didn't.

SAM: Then what happened?

Well, we went down
to the living room.

Me and her,
we had a drink together.

What did the two of you
talk about?

She told me he beats her.

Who beats her?

Who did that?

My husband.

Did she ever
resist you, Joseph?

No, she didn't. Not at all.

What happened next?

(JOSEPH EXHALES)

We were lying on the sofa.

(DOG BARKING)

(GASPS)

JOSEPH: And she heard
some dogs barking.

She was convinced
that somebody was

gonna come to the house
and find us together.

Get up! Get up!

(DOG BARKING)

JOSEPH: She started panicking.

I told her
there's no one coming.
Everything's fine.

But she was insisting on it.

"We gotta
get out of here.

"We gotta get out
of here right now. "

So we left the house.

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

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

Then the cop car
come on up from behind.

She gets real scared,
she say...

ELEANOR: I cannot be seen
with a colored man, Joseph!

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

Don't move.

(SHUSHING)

POLICEMAN: Where'd
you get this car, boy?

I'm a chauffeur, sir.

Belongs to John Strubing.
Greenwich, Connecticut.

Identification.
JOSEPH: Yes, sir.

Drive slower, boy.
Yes, sir.

Get your ass out
of Port Chester.

On my way right now, sir.
Thank you.

SAM: What happened next?

We get to the reservoir,
and she screams at me.

ELEANOR: Joseph,
stop the car.

Stop the car, Joseph!
Stop the car!

What's the matter?

She keeps shaking her head

and saying,
"What have I done?"

Everything's gonna be fine,
Mrs. Strubing.
Just take a deep breath, okay?

(SOBBING)
No, you don't understand.

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

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

JOSEPH: She keeps saying,
"I'm gonna get pregnant. "

"No, you ain't, " I say.

You're not gonna
get pregnant.

I can't have
a colored child.
I was real careful.

You not gonna have
no babies at all, okay?

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

ELEANOR: What have I done...

JOSEPH:
And she screamed at me.

Let me out of the car!

I'm gonna tell
everyone you raped me!

She goes to open the door
and I grabbed her...

Let me out!

...just to keep her there.
That's when she
scratches my arm.

Mrs. Strubing! Hey! Hey!

No, wait...
Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Mrs. Strubing.
Mrs. Strubing,
what you doing up there?

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

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

She just turned away.

Joseph, did you rape
Mrs. Strubing?

No. I did not.

Thank you, Joseph.

SAM: Your witness.

Not bad.

WILLIS: You wouldn't lie to
the jury, would you, Joseph?

Not bad at all.

JOSEPH: No, sir, I wouldn't.

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

Objection! Argumentative.

Overruled.
It's cross-examination.

He's okay.
When you married
your first wife, Hattie,

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

Yes, sir.

But you weren't.
It was a lie.

You could say.

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

JOSEPH: Yes, sir.

But you haven't,
have you?

Not so much
as I should.

And then you
were in the service

and you swore to
honor your country.

But that was
a lie, too.
JOSEPH: No.

And then you came north
and you stole from
your first employer.

And when
the police picked you up

you lied to them
about your whereabouts
the night before, didn't you?

Yes, I did.

You gave
a statement under oath

that you were in
a bar all night.

Yes.

So you lied to your wife,

you lied to
the State of Louisiana,
you lied to the police.

You lied to God!

Why should anyone
believe you now?

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

The truth?

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

If you're
an innocent man, why lie?

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

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

I tell
the police I was with her?
It was what she wanted?

If it's the truth.

In Louisiana,
you know what
they do to me

for being with
a white woman like that?

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

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

they cut off my manhood.

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

So why'd I lie,
Mr. Willis?

Because the truth
gets me killed.

That's why.

I move the answer
be stricken.

(SIGHS)

The answer will stand.

FOSTER: Mr. Willis?

Nothing further,
Your Honor.

(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

MARSHALL: You know what?

It finally looks like
a respectable
law office in here.

(CHUCKLES)

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Come in.

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

Walter?

What are you
doing here?

Can we talk?

I'll just move
to Irwin's office.

Come on, Walter.
What is this?

WALTER: 14-year-old boy
in Mississippi,
they say he killed a cop.

He needs a lawyer.

And I have
to leave tonight?
Mmm.

He ready
with the summation?

Sam? He will be.

Then there's no
reason for you to stay.

I'll take care
of everything.

You get the picture
Renie left you?

Ah, yes!

Now, what kind
of plane is this?

She said it's
supposed to be you.

Those are ears,
not wings.
Ah!

(CHUCKLES)

She's quite a talent.

You were right,
you know.

About what?

"Why would she lie?"
Hmm.

That is the question
we needed to answer.

Well, I'm thankful
Renie got to see

there's men like
you in the world.

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

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

What if something
comes up?

The case is in, Sam.

Walter will
represent the NAACP.

And you'll be there
for Spell.

(CAR DOOR SHUTS)

Sam, did you know I
only have one testicle?

Um, no.

Yeah.

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

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

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

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

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

It slashes right
through my sack.

Yeah.

Why am I
telling you this?

Well, I want
you to know

that even sitting in
the back of that pickup,
my scrotum torn,

every bump sending
shocks of pain down my leg,

even that wasn't
as excruciating
as sitting there watching you

argue this case
these past few weeks.

(LAUGHS)

(POUNDS TABLE)

But I did
learn something.

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

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

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

Well, almost as capable.

And until then, what?

You just travel
around the country
on this crusade?

Putting out
fires in Mississippi,
Oklahoma, Bridgeport?

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

It's fire itself.

Get out your pen now.

Here's the closing argument
you're going to give.

WILLIS: Who is
telling the truth?

A woman from
a fine family with
an unblemished background,

or a depraved man,

a repeat criminal
with no morals,

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

Did this decent,
church-going,
intelligent woman,

the graduate
of a top college,

engage in
voluntary sexual relations
with her Negro servant,

and then jump into the water,
for what?

For pleasure,
as the defense
would have you believe?

Of course not.

Joseph Spell raped
Eleanor Strubing.

Then he hurled
her over the bridge

to kill the only
witness to his crime.

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

to stalk more victims,

to threaten
the safety and security
of each and every woman

in the State
of Connecticut.

As a jury,
you have been exposed

to the darkness of
a sinister man's soul.

But you are also
in a position of
great privilege.

Because you...

You have the power
to do justice on
behalf of all of us.

Bullshit.

WILLIS: Thank you.

And God bless.

Mr. Friedman.

Why would a woman
like Eleanor Strubing
consent...

No, encourage
sexual relations with
a man like Joseph Spell?

Let me tell you why.

Eleanor Strubing's story
is nothing less than tragic.

She is a respectable woman
from a fine family,

she attended
the best schools.

She went to church
each and every Sunday.

As the Good Book says,
she was "spotless
as the lamb of God."

She is spotless
as the lamb of God.

She and her husband John
move to Greenwich.

He travels frequently,
leaving her alone,

in a new town,
away from her
friends and family,

in a vast empty house.

The pangs of
loneliness hit hard.

She has some drinks...

(KNOCKING)

MARSHALL:
A knock at the door.

Joseph.

Joseph.

She was
not expecting this.

A young man,
a handsome man.

In a moment
of weakness,

her judgment impaired
by the alcohol
of the evening...

...consumed by loneliness,
she invites him
to share her bed,

to ease her pain.

As the evening goes on,

she becomes panicked
that they will be discovered.

She must leave the house,
must escape her sin.

What if she is pregnant...

...with a colored child?

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

She cannot live
with the fear.
The shame...

So then there they are,
at the reservoir.

An opportunity to
escape her life,
her despair.

Joseph tries
to hold her back,
but she wrangles free,

runs from the car...

MARSHALL: ...and she
plummets into the water.

SAM: Only, as soon as
she hits the surface,

her years of
training take over.

See, she is a swimmer.
And she simply cannot drown.

With the zeal to
end her life gone,

her only escape,
she must accuse him.

And so a story
is created.

A web of desperate lies

filled with inconsistencies,
absurdities.

Reasonable doubts.

The State must prove its case
beyond a reasonable doubt.

SAM: It must be a clear case.

No scream for help
all night long.

Doubt.

No call on
the four family phones.

Doubt.

No cry to the officer
just a few feet away.

Doubt.

No rocks on the bridge.

Doubt.

Doubt, doubt, doubt.

The doubt,
my friends, is overwhelming.

And this is why
you must find
Joseph Spell not guilty.

Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,

you've heard
the arguments of counsel.

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

Court is in recess.
(GAVEL BANGS)

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Who is it?

MARSHALL: It's me.

(MARSHALL GROANS)

You're supposed
to be on a train.

I have a little time.

I heard you were
looking for me.

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

John Strubing
just called me.

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

They want it over, now.

I'm prepared to
offer one final deal.

What is it?

Five years.

He'll have to enter
a guilty plea right away

and admit he
lied on the stand.

I'll speak with him.
Do it now.

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

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

possibly sooner.

You think
I should take it?

I don't know what
the jury will do.
It's a good deal.

And if they
convict me?

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

(EXHALES)

And I got to
decide right away?

What do I got to
do for the deal?

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

Can I talk
to Mr. Marshall?

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

I would never be able
to reach him in time.

And what do you
think he would say?

Ha!

So? Give me
good news.

No deal.

You did advise
him to accept, hmm?

I told him it
was a good offer.

I told him what
the alternative is.

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

And I told him that
no man should ever

confess to a crime
he did not commit.

Here I thought Jews
were supposed to be smart.

But you sound
just like the Negro.

Why, thank you, Loren.

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

There's a verdict.

FOSTER: Would
the foreman please rise?

I'm the forewoman,
Your Honor.

Very well.
Have you reached
a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

Mr. Spell,
rise and face the jury.

(WHISPERS) It's time.

Madame Forewoman,
what is your verdict?

We, the jury,
find on the charge of rape

that the defendant,
Joseph Spell,

is not guilty.

(CROWD CHEERING)

(GAVEL BANGING)

Order.

Is this your verdict,
so say you all?

ALL: We do, Your Honor.

That's it, Joseph.
We did it.

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

You are released
from custody.

Jury is dismissed.

Court is adjourned.
(GAVEL BANGS)

COURT CLERK: All rise.

(CROWD APPLAUDING)

Congratulations,
Mr. White.
Thank you.

TAD: Mr. Spell.

I am Tad Lancaster.

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

(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Oh, Mr. Marshall.

(PHONE RINGS)

(SNORING)

Hello? (CLEARS THROAT)
Hello?

Sam? Sam,
I can barely hear you.

Is there a verdict yet?

Yeah. Yeah, it's me.

Sam, are you there?
Yeah.

Yes, can you hear me?

(DISTORTED) Sam?

Not guilty!

SAM: (DISTORTED)
We did it!

What?
Not guilty!

Not guilty!

Not guilty!
Not guilty!

Sam!

Yes!

Yes. We won!

Sam, I told you! I told you!
I told you you could
bring it home, I told you!

Yeah! Yes, we did it!

(LAUGHS)

Uh...

Thurgood, I'm having
trouble hearing you.

Sam, are you there?
Are you there?

Thurgood...
(CALL DISCONNECTS)

(EXHALES)

(EXHALES)

Oh, Looby.
Marshall!

Your wife still
putting up with you?

Look at me,
she dressed me
from head to toe.

Got me looking
as sharp as you.

God bless you.
We really need your help.

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

Thank you for coming,
Mr. Marshall.

We really need
you in Mississippi.

My pleasure.
Let's get going.

Are you hungry?

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

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

That'll be nice,
and you can
fill me in on

everything that's
going on down here.

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

(MARSHALL CHUCKLING)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

MARSHALL: You know,
there's so many people,

indeed, my own
sons at times,

look at me with
an expression on their face
that they don't believe

what happened in the past.

There are movements
by the different
branches of this government

that are set to push back.

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