[ALARM BUZZES]
COME ON, JO ANN.
LET'S GET UP.
COME ON.
NO.
YES. WAKE UP.
YOU SAID TO USE
GUERRILLA TACTICS
IF NECESSARY.
OK.
THIS IS PHASE ONE,
ESCALATING
EVERY 60 SECONDS.
LET'S GO.
[SOUSA'S "STARS AND STRIPES
FOREVER" BLARING]
[KNOCKING]
GET UP!
[CRASH]
[MUSIC STOPS]
OK, JO ANN.
HERE COMES PHASE TWO.
YOU SAID YOU
WOULDN'T MARRY ME
IF I LET YOU
OVERSLEEP.
JUST REMEMBER,
THIS ONE'S FOR LOVE, BABE.
[SCREEEECH]
AAH! OH!
YOU SAID THA THE MORNING WAS
HYPERCRITICAL.
YOUR WORDS.
I WAS DRUNK.
YOU DON'T DRINK.
I MUST DRINK.
HOW ELSE COULD I
FEEL THIS WAY
IN THE MORNING?
JO ANN.
OK. PHASE 3.
60 SECONDS TO PHASE 3.
YOU WON'T LIKE PHASE 3.
COME ON, JO ANN.
I'VE GOT SOMETHING
IMPORTANT TO TALK TO
YOU ABOUT ANYWAY.
SERIOUSLY.
I'M ABOUT TO
COMPROMISE MY VALUES...
I THINK.
I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING
THAT SOME PEOPLE MIGH CONSTRUE AS UNETHICAL.
WELL, SORT OF A LITTLE
BIT UNETHICAL.
I MEAN, NOT UNETHICAL
REALLY--JUST OPPORTUNISTIC.
SELF-PROMOTING
MORE THAN UNETHICAL.
I JUST CAN'T STAND
THIS WAITING.
I WANT TO GET AT IT.
I WANT TO PRACTICE LAW.
IT'S WHAT I'VE WANTED
ALL MY LIFE.
WHEN OTHER KIDS WERE
PLAYING COWBOYS
AND INDIANS,
I WAS PLAYING PLAINTIFF
AND DEFENDANT.
I WANT TO GO TO TRIAL.
I WANT TO OBJEC AND BE SUSTAINED.
I WANT TO PACE UP AND DOWN
AND WAVE MY ARMS
AND BANG ON TABLES
AND BE OVERRULED
AND ALL THAT LAWYER STUFF.
ARE YOU LISTENING?
HMM?
YOU KNOW WHAT WE
ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT--
YOU AS EARTH MOTHER
BETWEEN YOUR ACTING
AND MODELING JOBS,
LOOKING AFTER CRIPPLED
KIDS AND THE HOMELESS
AND ABANDONED
OLD FOLKS;
ME DEFENDING MIGRAN FARM WORKERS--YOU KNOW,
FRUIT PICKERS AND STUFF.
ARE THERE ANY FRUI PICKERS IN MASSACHUSETTS?
ARE YOU LISTENING?
JO ANN.
MMM.
JO ANN.
MMM.
YOU HAVEN'T HEARD
A WORD I'VE SAID, HAVE YOU?
MM-HMM.
MM-HMM? OH, WELL, UH,
ARE YOU LISTENING NOW?
HMM?
OH. OH, GOOD,
BECAUSE I GOT A PHONE
CALL THIS MORNING,
AND, WELL, IT SEEMS THA I'VE BEEN AWARDED THE NOBEL
PRIZE FOR JURISPRUDENCE,
AND, WELL, THE HARVARD
LAW SCHOOL WANTS TO
HAVE ME BRONZED
AND HUNG OUT OVER
THE LAW LIBRARY.
DO YOU THINK
I SHOULD DO IT?
HMM.
MM-HMM. AND A BIG
DINOSAUR CAME DOWN
AND JUMPED ON MY HEAD,
AND I CAUGHT ON FIRE,
AND I WAS RUNNING AROUND
NAKED WITH FEATHERS
IN MY EARS.
SHOULD I DO THAT?
MMM.
OH.
HYPERCRITICAL,
YOU SAID.
OH! OH!
ROBIN! OH, GOD!
COME BACK HERE,
YOU COWARD!
OH, GOD. OH.
7 A.M. WHY DIDN' YOU WAKE ME?
[KNOCK KNOCK]
HI!
OH, JESUS. STEVE,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
NOTHING. JUST SEEING
IF DUNCAN WAS IN.
HOW COME YOU'RE
HERE SO EARLY?
UH, CATCHING UP.
YOU KNOW, FILING,
PROOFREADING,
THE USUAL.
YEAH, TELL ME ABOUT IT.
ARE WE STILL ON FOR LUNCH?
YEAH. WE GOT TO BE
BACK FOR ROBERTA'S
BIRTHDAY PARTY
AT 1:30.
HALF AN HOUR TO EAT.
WE BETTER ORDER AHEAD
FOR THAT PORK TARTARE.
HOW MANY OF THOSE THINGS
ARE YOU GONNA EAT?
WHAT? THEY'RE GOOD
FOR YOU.
STAYING POWER.
YOU MEAN OYSTERS, STEVE.
THOSE ARE CLAMS.
OH. WELL, THEY'RE
WET AND SLIMY.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD
REALLY TRY SOME OF THESE.
WHAT FOR?
I CAN'T GET A DATE.
WHAT, NO [INDISTINCT]
ARE YOU KIDDING?
I CAN'T GET NEAR A GIRL.
I CAN'T GET NEAR
ANYONE.
IF I WERE A TREE,
DOGS WOULDN' PISS ON ME.
[CHUCKLING]
I HAD AN IMAGINARY
PLAYMATE ONCE.
WELL, HE LIKED YOU.
NAH. HE USED TO BEA THE SHIT OUT OF ME.
WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH YOU?
I JUST CAN' TAKE IT ANYMORE.
EVERY DAY
IT'S THE SAME--
RESEARCH, FILE,
PROOFREAD,
RESEARCH--
ROBIN, DON' START AGAIN.
NOBODY TRIES CASES
THEIR FIRST YEAR
OUT OF LAW SCHOOL.
LOOK, STEVE,
WE WORK HARDER
THAN ANYONE
IN THAT FIRM.
NOBODY NOTICES.
I GOT TO DO
SOMETHING TO GE THEIR ATTENTION.
HEY, YOU GUYS, LET'S GO.
ROBERTA'S BIRTHDAY PARTY.
LET'S MOVE.
NO, I CAN'T MAKE IT.
I GOT TO WORK.
THAT'S A GREAT WAY
TO GET THEIR ATTENTION.
IGNORE A SENIOR PARTNER'S
BIRTHDAY PARTY.
YEAH. WE'RE GOING, BABE.
YOU KNOW, ROBERTA
HATES ME.
Steve: ROBERTA
HATES EVERYBODY.
ALL WOMEN HATE ME.
YEAH. THEY'RE RIGHT.
Employees: THE OLD GRAY MARE
SHE AIN'T WHA SHE USED TO BE
AIN'T WHAT SHE USED TO BE,
AIN'T WHAT SHE USED TO BE
THE OLD GRAY MARE, SHE AIN' WHAT SHE USED TO BE
MANY LONG YEARS AGO
SPEECH! SPEECH!
GOD, IT LOOKS LIKE
THE CHICAGO FIRE.
[LAUGHTER]
I KNOW METICULOUSNESS
IS A VIRTUE FOR LAWYERS,
BUT DO WE HAVE TO BE
QUITE SO UNERRING
IN THE CANDLE COUNT?
[LAUGHTER]
MAKE A WISH.
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE.
Robin: NO!
NOW, YOU LISTEN TO ME,
YOU ROACH!
YOU TELL THAT CLIEN OF YOURS
THAT IF HE'S NO OFF THE PREMISES
BY NOON TOMORROW,
I WILL NOT ONLY SUE HIM,
BUT I WILL SEND A 300-POUND
THUMB-BREAKER DOWN THERE
TO BUFF-DRY THE VASELINE
PLASTERED TO THE LITTLE
GREASEBALL'S HEAD.
BALONEY! THE GUY IS GREASIER
THAN ZORRO'S HATBAND.
SO YOU TELL
THAT LITTLE HANGNAIL
TO SCRIBBLE OUT A CHECK,
AND IT BETTER BE GOOD,
BECAUSE THE ONLY THING
THAT I WANT TO SEE BOUNCE
IS THAT LITTLE
WEASEL'S BUT RIGHT OUT OF
THE BUILDING!
BYE!
CINDY, WOULD YOU GET ME A--
OH, I'M SORRY.
COULD YOU HEAR THAT?
HEAR IT? YOU BLEW
THE CANDLES OUT.
WHAT WAS THAT?
THAT WAS A TENANT.
HE WON'T VACATE.
MY GOD. YOU
HAVEN'T HAD HIM
GUILLOTINED YET?
[LAUGHTER]
I'M REALLY SORRY.
I GUESS I WAS A LITTLE
BIT OVERZEALOUS.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
NOT AT ALL.
WE ENJOYED IT--
PARTICULARLY
THE PART ABOU ZORRO'S HATBAND.
THAT'S A VERY
ORIGINAL TERM
IN JURISPRUDENCE.
IT'S NEGOTIATION
AS ART FORM.
I'M VERY SORRY.
IT WAS VERY
INDUSTRIOUS.
ALL RIGHT,
CAKE FOR EVERYONE,
AND NOSES BACK
IN YOUR BRIEFS.
YOU'LL FORGIVE
THE EXPRESSION.
AND THANK YOU ALL
VERY MUCH.
SIR.
Man: ALL RIGHT,
WHO'S THE HUNGRIES PERSON HERE?
Different man: CINDY.
SHE CARRIED THE CAKE.
YOU SLICK SON OF A BITCH.
ZORRO'S HATBAND?
IT JUST CAME TO ME.
ROBERTA'S NOSTRILS
ACTUALLY FLARED.
I SWEAR TO GOD.
DESPERATION
IS MY MIDDLE NAME.
Man: WEATHERS!
COME ON.
WEATHERS, DAMN IT!
YOU WANT ME?
THE TORKENSON TRIAL
IS ON FOR TOMORROW.
WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED?
I SENT YOU A MEMO
LAST WEEK.
NO, YOU DIDN'T.
I NEVER GOT IT.
SIR, DID YOU CHECK
YOUR BOX?
OF COURSE I CHECKED
MY BOX.
YOU DIDN'T SEND I TO ME, THAT'S WHAT.
SIR, I DID.
NO, YOU DIDN'T.
ALL RIGHT, FIND IT.
I KNOW I SENT IT.
IT HAS TO BE HERE.
YOU NEVER SENT IT.
WHAT ABOUT THESE FILES
OVER HERE?
KEEP YOUR NOSE
OUT OF THAT.
THAT'S ANOTHER CASE.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH
THAT 50 TIMES.
MAYBE IT'S ALL
MIXED UP ON THAT STUFF
ON YOUR DESK.
YOU'RE THE ONE
THAT'S MIXED UP.
WHY DON'T YOU JUS ADMIT YOU NEVER SENT IT?
WHAT'S THIS?
HERE IT IS. SEE?
DATED JUNE 12--LAST WEEK.
HOW DID THA GET DOWN THERE?
TRIAL JUNE 19.
NO CONTINUANCE.
WE'RE SCREWED,
TOTALLY SCREWED.
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
THE TORKENSON TRIAL
IS ON FOR TOMORROW.
THERE'S NO CONTINUANCE,
AND I'VE NEVER
SEEN THE FILES.
I CAN TRY IT.WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
YOU CAN TRY IT?
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
OUR CLIENT PUNCHED SOMEONE,
AND HE'S BEING SUED
FOR $50,000.
I KNOW THE CASE.
I CAN TRY IT.
IT'S A PIMPLE.
LET HIM TRY IT.
WHAT CHOICE
DO WE HAVE?
OUR CLIENT IS
THE PRESIDENT OF A BANK.
I CAN DO IT.
HE CAN DO IT.
PHIL, BE SERIOUS.
HE'S A KID.
GO WITH HIM
AND HOLD HIS HAND.
YOU CAN DO IT.
YES, SIR.
GOOD BOY.
GOOD GOD.
THANK YOU, SIR.
GOOD LUCK.
HA HA HAH!
YOU DIDN'T.
TELL ME YOU DIDN'T.
OK, I DIDN'T.
YOU DID.
YOU STONEWALLED DUNCAN
ON HIS OWN COURT DATE.
ROBIN, YOU'RE EITHER
GONNA WIND UP
ON THE SUPREME COUR OR IN SAN QUENTIN.
MAYBE I SHOULDN' HAVE DONE IT.
MAYBE I
SHOULDN'T HAVE.
IT WAS UNETHICAL,
WASN'T IT?
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
ROBIN, YOU'RE
KIDDING, RIGHT?
YOU HEARD AMES.
IT'S A PIMPLE.
I'M SORRY I DIDN' THINK OF IT MYSELF.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S A GREAT CASE.
I GOT A GREAT GAME PLAN,
AND I CAN'T LOSE.
I'M GONNA CALL JO ANN.
[LAUGHTER]
[CHURCH BELLS RINGING]
ARE YOU GUYS
JUMPING AGAIN?
ARE YOU?
HI, SWEETHEART.
MRS. JAMISON,
WOULD YOU TAKE
THE KIDS FOR
A FEW MINUTES?
I'D APPRECIATE IT.
SILLY, ISN'T HE?
SILLY.
WOULD YOU BELIEVE
SOME OF THESE KIDS
COULDN'T TALK
WHEN WE GOT THEM.
AND THEY'RE CLOSING
THIS PROGRAM DOWN.
MORE OF THE RIGHT WING'S
WAR AGAINST WASTEFUL
SOCIAL PROGRAMMING.
SOMETIMES I THINK YOU'D
LIKE TO GIVE UP THE ACTING
AND DO THIS STUFF
FULL TIME.
NO. I CAN ONLY HAVE
MY HEART BROKEN
A FEW HOURS A DAY.
I GOT SOMETHING
FOR YOU.
WHAT?
IT'S FOR YOUR
COLLECTION.
Robin: IT'S A
NEW DON WRIGHT.
MM-HMM.
HA HA HA!
YOU LIKE IT?
OH, YEAH.
THIS IS AN ORIGINAL.
OH, MAN.
DUNCAN.
YUP.
YOU HAPPY?
OH, YEAH.
I'M GONNA
GET IT FRAMED.
SO TELL ME ALL ABOU THE CASE.
CAN'T. I DON'T WAN TO BE LATE
FOR MY FIRST MEETING
WITH MY FIRST CLIENT.
OK.
YOUR PLACE OR MINE?
MINE. THERE'S A SLIGH PROBLEM WITH YOUR BED.
WELL, YOUR SIDE
OF THE BED.
WHAT DID YOU DO
TO MY BED?
YOU DIDN'T THINK
I WAS GONNA LET YOU
GET AWAY
WITH THIS MORNING,
DID YOU?
I WAS JUS FOLLOWING ORDERS.
YEAH, THAT'S WHA HITLER'S BOYS SAID.
WHAT DID YOU DO
TO MY SIDE OF THE BED?
I, UH, KIND OF TARRED
AND FEATHERED IT.
YOU TARRED AND
FEATHERED MY BED?
WITH HONEY
AND SALTINES.
YOU'RE SICK. YOU'RE SICK.
I'LL UNDO IT.
I PROMISE.
NOW THAT YOU'RE
A LITIGATOR,
YOU GET A BREAK.
I LOVE YOU.
I'LL SEE YOU.
I GET TO PACE
UP AND DOWN
AND WAVE MY ARMS
AND POUND ON TABLES.
ROBIN?
Robin: OK, WE DON' HAVE VERY MUCH TIME,
SO LET'S GO OVER
YOUR TESTIMONY AND
DISCUSS YOUR DEFENSE.
THERE'S NO DEFENSE,
AND I STRUCK THE MAN.
EXCUSE ME?
IT'S A LOSER.
JUST DRAG IT OUT.
UH, I'M NOT SURE
THAT I FOLLOW.
WELL, I WANT AT LEAS A 3-DAY TRIAL,
RUN UP HIS FEES.
HE MAY GET 50,
BUT I WANT I TO COST HIM 20.
3 DAYS?
IT'S A ONE-DAY CASE.
JUST STRETCH IT OUT.
THAT'S ALL I ASK.
SIR, SHOULDN'T WE
TRY TO WIN?
I LIKE YOUR SPIRIT, KID.
GOD KNOWS I LOVE A FIGHT.
BUT, SIR,
I CAN WIN IT.
YOU CAN'T WIN IT, SON.
TRUST ME.
I HIT PEOPLE
ALL THE TIME. I KNOW.
SEE YOU IN COURT.
GREAT.
[BIRDS COOING]
IT'S JUST BECAUSE
OF TOMORROW.
PROBABLY. WILL YOU
STILL MARRY ME?
WHAT?
THIS COULD BE SERIOUS.
ROBIN, YOU'RE JUS PREOCCUPIED.
I'M A LAWYER.
WHAT KIND OF MARRIAGE
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE
IF TRIALS MAKE ME
IMPOTENT?
[LAUGHING]
I THINK
YOU'LL RECOVER.
DO YOU THINK I WAS WRONG,
HOW I GOT THE CASE?
UH, IT'S
A CLOSE CALL.
SOME PEOPLE WOULD
CALL IT INITIATIVE.
WHAT WOULD YOU
CALL IT?
CREATIVE SNEAKINESS.
OH, GOD.
I GOT TO MAKE
MY OWN BREAKS, JO ANN.
I DIDN'T EXACTLY FINISH
AT THE TOP OF MY CLASS.
YOU NEVER EVEN ME YOUR CLASS.
YOU WENT TO 3
LECTURES IN 3 YEARS,
AND YOU STILL FINISHED
IN THE TOP 10%.
YOU'RE GONNA BE
GREAT TOMORROW,
JUST GREAT.
BUT THE POINT IS,
I'M SUPPOSED TO BE
CALM, COLLECTED,
AND COMMANDING.
I AM A LAWYER.
HERE I AM LYING
IN BED, SCARED
COMPLETELY STIFF.
WELL, NOT COMPLETELY.
JERK.
HA HA HA!
Robin: OH, GOD.
LAUGH. GO AHEAD. LAUGH.
IT'S A REALLY FUNNY JOKE.
Man: OBJECTION!
HE'S GROPING, YOUR HONOR.
Man: WELL, A LITTLE GROPE
NEVER HURT ANYBODY.
OVERRULED. CONTINUE,
MR. WEATHERS.
Robin: NO FURTHER QUESTIONS
AT THIS TIME, YOUR HONOR.
HOW'S HE DOING?
I DON'T KNOW, BUT HE'S
HAVING A GREAT TIME.
GOOD.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
I DON'T WANT DUNCAN
TO SEE ME.
I SHOULD BE WORKING.
[STEVE CHUCKLING]
Man: MR. COWENS, IF WE'RE
NOT BOTHERING YOU.
YES, SIR. SO LET ME
GET THIS STRAIGHT.
THE PLAINTIFF,
A TRUSTEE,
CRITICIZED YOUR BANK'S
LENDING POLICY
AFTER A BOARD MEETING.
THAT'S CORRECT.
SO...
SO YOU PUNCHED HIM.
I STRUCK HIM
BECAUSE HE WAS RUDE.
HE CALLED ME AN IDIOT.
BUT HE NEVER
PHYSICALLY THREATENED
YOU, DID HE?
NOPE.
AND THERE WAS NO
SKIRMISH OF ANY KIND
PRECEDING YOUR AC OF VIOLENCE, WAS THERE?
NO.
DO YOU MIND?
NO, SIR.
YOU JUST FELT LIKE
HITTING HIM RIGH OUT OF THE BLUE,
SO YOU DID.
ISN'T THAT RIGHT?
I SUPPOSE SO.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS,
YOUR HONOR.
REDIRECT,
MR. WEATHERS?
YES, YOUR HONOR.
MR. TORKENSON,
HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN
THE PLAINTIFF MR. WILBY?
OH, APPROXIMATELY
12 YEARS.
AND OVER THAT DURATION,
DID YOU HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY
TO FORM AN OPINION
AS TO THE CHARACTER
OF THE PLAINTIFF?
I DID, YEAH.
COULD YOU PLEASE STATE
THAT OPINION FOR THE COURT.
YOU MEAN WHAT I
REALLY THINK OF HIM?
YOUR HONES OPINION, SIR.
HE'S AN ASSHOLE.
Cowens: OBJECTION!
Judge: YOU BET.
SUSTAINED.
THE ANSWER WILL
BE STRICKEN.
SIDEBAR, YOUR HONOR.
SIDEBAR? WHAT FOR?
BECAUSE I WANT A SIDEBAR.
UH.
I RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST, YOUR HONOR,
THAT THE ANSWER
BE ALLOWED.
WHAT?
IT SHOULD STAND.
IT IS RELEVANT.
AND IT'S OFFENSIVE.
DON'T COMPOUND IT,
COUNSELOR.
YOUR HONOR,
IF I MAY--
TELL THE WITNESS
TO REPHRASE THE ANSWER.
WELL, THAT'S
JUST IT, YOUR HONOR.
HE CAN'T.
THE WORD HAS
A VERY DISTINC CONNOTATION.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE
THAT QUITE
CAPTURES IT.
I OBJECT. ARE YOU SAYING
THE PRESIDENT OF A BANK
CAN'T ARTICULATE HIS
THOUGHTS WITHOUT USING
PROFANITY?
WHAT I AM SAYING,
SIR, IS THAT THERE
AREN'T MANY WORDS
TO DESCRIBE THE
PARTICULAR SLIME
THAT YOUR CLIEN OOZES.
OBJECTION.
MR. WEATHERS, JUST WHERE
IN THE NAME OF GOD
DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
I THINK, YOUR HONOR,
THAT I'M IN A PLACE
WHERE EVERY CITIZEN
CAN HAVE HIS SAY.
YES, YES, BUT NOT IN
ANY WAY HE WANTS TO SAY IT.
TELL HIM TO PICK
ANOTHER WORD.
LIKE WHAT?
DECEITFUL?
DISHONEST?
CONNIVING?
THEY'RE ALL
CLOSE--
OBJECTION!
BUT ASSHOLE
REALLY FITS.
IT'S THE ONLY WORD
THAT ACCURATELY
DESCRIBES THE MAN,
AND WE CAN
DEMONSTRATE
JUST THAT.
EVERYBODY THINKS
HE'S AN ASSHOLE.
SON OF A BITCH.
THAT'S GOOD,
TOO.
SHUT UP!
WHAT THE HELL?
[BANGS GAVEL]
COURT'S ADJOURNED.
IN MY CHAMBERS, NOW!
DUNCAN. FUFF FUFF
FUFF FUFF FUFF.
ALL RIGHT, NOW WHA KIND OF HORSESHI IS THIS?
I'M SORRY, YOUR HONOR.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW--
EXCUSE ME, SIR,
BUT, YOUR HONOR,
YOU KNOW AS WELL
AS I DO THAT THE WORD
HAS A UNIQUE MEANING,
AND MY CLIENT HAS
A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGH TO EXPRESSION.
GIVE ME A BREAK.CHANGE THE WORD.
FINE. GIVE ME
THE REPLACEMENT.
GIVE ME ONE WORD
THAT CAPTURES
THE SAME INFERENCE.
ONE WORD. YOU NAME IT,
AND I WILL USE IT.
SURE.
CAN YOU COME UP
WITH A WORD?
SURE. UH, ANTAGONISTIC.
ANTAGONISTIC?
WITH ALL DUE
RESPECT,
COUNSELOR,
YOU'RE MAKING
DEFENSE'S POIN FOR HIM.
I STILL OBJECT.
OH, COME ON.
I MOVE FOR A HEARING
ON THE MATTER.
Duncan: WHAT?
YOU WANT ME
TO HAVE
A SPECIAL MOTION
ON THE ADMISSIBILITY
OF THE WORD ASSHOLE?
WELL, LET ME HAVE
"ASS," THEN.
THAT'S CLOSE ENOUGH.
WHAT LAW SCHOOL
DID YOU GO TO?
I'LL AGREE TO IT,
YOUR HONOR.
YOU WILL? WHY?
I DON'T WANT ANY
INTERLOCUTORY APPEALS.
WHAT ARE YOU,
A COMEDY TEAM?
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL HEAR I TOMORROW.
JUST "ASS,"
THOUGH.
WE'LL BRING
THE JURY BACK
ON THURSDAY.
THAT'S OK WITH ME.
OH, GOOD!
WHAT'S
THIS SNOT-NOSE
DOING IN
MY COURTROOM
ANYWAY?
YOU WERE SCHEDULED
FOR THIS TRIAL,
DUNCAN.
WE HAD A TRIAL
RUN OVER, YOUR HONOR.
MM-HMM. I'LL
TELL YOU WHAT.
I'M HOLDING YOU
PERSONALLY
RESPONSIBLE
FOR HIS
BEHAVIOR.
HE STEPS OU OF LINE AGAIN,
I'M GONNA HOLD
YOU IN CONTEMPT.
ME?YEAH, YOU!
IT'S GOING ON
YOUR RECORD.
ANY QUESTIONS?
GOOD.
GET OUT.
UH, W-WAIT A MINUTE.
I, UH--
GET OUT!
LUNATIC. MORON.
CRETIN.
WE'LL HAVE TO CHANGE
THE NAME OF THE FIRM
TO SLEAZE, SLEAZE,
AND PANDA.
BALLS!
WELL, YOU GO YOUR 3 DAYS.
I LOVE IT.
HA HA HEE HEE!
HE'S SCREAMING
AT THE JUDGE,
YELLING,
FIGHTING, AND
I'M GONNA BE CHARGED
WITH CONTEMPT.
Ames: AND THEY'RE REALLY
GOING TO HAVE THAT MOTION?
OH, YES, YES, YES.
THEY'RE GOING TO ARGUE
OVER THE WORD "ASS."
CAN YOU IMAGINE SUCH
LANGUAGE IN A COURT OF LAW?
WELL, THAT BOY'S GOT BALLS.
I'LL HAVE TO GIVE
HIM THAT MUCH.
NO BRAINS, BU INDUSTRIAL-SIZED...
Roberta:
THEN GELD HIM.
RELAX. GIVE THE KID
SOME CREDIT.
HE'S PARLAYED
A LITTLE TORT CASE
INTO A FIRST AMENDMEN BATTLE.
HE'S DEMONSTRATED
A WILLINGNESS
TO EMBARRASS THIS FIRM.
THERE'S NO TELLING
HOW LOW HE'LL STOOP.
Duncan: OH, I KNOW
HOW LOW HE'LL STOOP.
ROBIN, WHAT ARE
YOU DOING NOW?
STEVE, JUST THE MAN
I NEED.
WE GOT TO GET LARRY.
WE'VE GOT TO COLLEC SOME BOOKS.
Robin: THE WORD APPEARS
IN ALL KINDS OF LITERATURE,
FROM DICTIONARIES
TO SONNETS.
LOOK AT THESE BOOKS.
SHAKESPEARE, DICKENS,
HEMINGWAY,
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW,
JAMES JOYCE,
LAWRENCE, BOTH D.H.
AND T.E.
FREUD, FAULKNER, CHAUCER.
BUT IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH
FOR MR. COWENS.
HE DOESN'T LIKE IT.
TOO HARSH.
MR. WEATHERS,
PLEASE COME OUT.
AND FACE UNPLEASANTRIES?
OH, I'LL BRUISE.
MR. WEATHERS,
THIS COURT ORDERS YOU
TO COME OUT.
I'LL COME OUT,
YOUR HONOR,
TO FACE REALITY,
BUT I WON'T STAY OU IF YOU LET PLAINTIFF'S
COUNSEL
TURN THIS COURTROOM
INTO A FORTRESS
OF CENSORSHIP.
[LOUD LAUGHTER]
THE SWELL OF OBSCENITY
IS EVERYWHERE.
VULGARITY HAS PERMEATED
ALMOST EVERY WALK OF LIFE.
BUT HERE, THE COURTROOM
OF AMERICA,
HAS STOOD TO STEM
THE FILTHY TIDE
OF MANMADE DECADENCE.
THIS PLACE, THE PLACE
WHERE YEARS OF INTEGRITY,
HONESTY, AND DEDICATION
CULMINATE FOR THE FEW
WHO EARN THE RIGHT TO WEAR
THAT BLACK ROBE
AND BE ADDRESSED
AS YOUR HONOR.PFFFFFT.
OBJECTION!
[CROWD LAUGHTER]
I OBJECT TO THIS
GROVELING DRIVEL.
FIRST HE OBJECTS
TO THE WORD ASS,
AND NOW, YOUR HONOR,
HE'S KISSING YOURS.
THIS IS GROUNDS
FOR DISBARMENT!
YOUR HONOR, HOW CAN YOU
STAND THIS CLOWN?
YEAH?
YEAH.
WHY DON' YOU GROW UP?
[SHOUTING]
[BANGING GAVEL]
MR. WEATHERS.
MR. WEATHERS.
[JUDGE WHISTLES]
HEY!
THAT'S IT, COUNSELOR.
THAT GETS HIM
A CONTEMPT ORDER.
BE SURE YOU SPELL
HIS NAME RIGHT--
D-U-N-C-A-N.
HA HA.
IN MY CHAMBERS.
WEATHERS. WEATHERS,
YOU'RE FIRED.
YOU'RE FINISHED,
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
YOU'RE THROUGH.
LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING.
IF YOU FIRE HIM,
YOU'LL NOT ONLY
LOSE OUR BANK,
YOU'LL LOSE OUR
3 SUBSIDIARIES,
AND I'LL PERSONALLY
SEE THAT YOU NEVER
REPRESEN ANOTHER LENDING
INSTITUTION
IN THIS STATE.
HE'S GREAT.
GREAT?
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
YOU BET...ASSHOLE.
Man on TV: ATTORNEYS
ROBIN "STORMY" WEATHERS
AND MATT COWENS ALMOS CAME TO FISTICUFFS
IN WHAT SOME INSIDERS
HAVE DESCRIBED
AS THE MOST BRILLIAN LEGAL ENGAGEMEN IN RECENT YEARS.
THE ONLY QUESTION NOW,
TED, IS,
WILL THE TWO LAWYERS
KILL EACH OTHER
BEFORE WE GET A VERDICT?
IF WE FIRE HIM,
WE'LL LOSE THE BANK.
WE HAVE TO FIRE HIM.
WE HAVE OUR REPUTATION,
OUR DIGNITY.
NEITHER OF WHICH
MEANS ANYTHING
WITHOUT OUR CLIENTS.
WE NEED THAT BANK,
NOT TO MENTION
THAT WE'VE HAD
INQUIRIES
FROM 4 MAJOR FIRMS
DIRECTLY DUE
TO MR. WEATHERS.
Duncan: WHAT?
ONE CLIENT CANNO BE WORTH AN INSTITUTION'S
INTEGRITY.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD,
CRAIG, CONTROL HIM.
I CAN'T. HE'S NO AFRAID OF ME.
LITTLE SHIT.
I DON'T KNOW WHY
THE JUDGE PUTS UP
WITH IT.
HE LOVES IT.
LOVES IT.
HE'S BEEN SITTING
IN CIVIL COUR FOR 30 DULL YEARS.
HE GETS OFF ON IT.
I WON'T HAVE IT,
PHIL.
IT CANNOT CONTINUE.
WAIT A MINUTE.
AREN'T--AREN'T WE
LOSING SIGHT OF SOMETHING?
THIS COWENS KID IS GOOD.
HE'S VERY GOOD.
WEATHERS HAS A NO-WIN CASE.
HE'LL LOSE.
AFTER HE LOSES,
TORKENSON'S PASSIONS
WILL COOL,
AND THEN WE'LL QUIETLY
CAN THE LITTLE BASTARD.
HMM?
Robin: NOW, MR. WILBY,
DO YOU RECALL
SAYING ANYTHING
TO THE DEFENDAN ON THE MORNING
OF THE DAY IN QUESTION?
I, UH--I DON'T REMEMBER.
BUT YOU DID SPEAK
TO HIM.
PROBABLY. I SPEAK
TO HIM EVERY MORNING.
ABOUT WHAT?
I DON'T KNOW.
IT COULD BE
MOST ANYTHING.
WELL, DID YOU TELL HIM
THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE
A SEXUAL ENCOUNTER
WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER?
[LAUGHTER]OBJECTION!
HE SAID IT COULD
BE ANYTHING.
AH, THAT'S CONTEMP ORDER NUMBER TWO.
CHARGE IT TO HIM.
MR. WEATHERS,
DO YOU DESIRE ANOTHER?
SURE. WHAT DOES HE CARE?
Robin: YOUR HONOR,
WHY IS IT THAT HE
CAN REMEMBER
THE AFTERNOON CONVERSATION
WORD FOR BLOODY WORD,
BUT FOR THE MORNING,
HE'S STUCK FOR A TOPIC?
BECAUSE I WROTE
IT DOWN.
WHAT?
I WROTE THE AFTERNOON
CONVERSATION DOWN.
WHERE?
IN MY JOURNAL.
IS THAT HOW
YOU REMEMBER?
YES, IT IS.
DO YOU HAVE
THAT BOOK HERE?
IT'S RIGH OVER THERE.
YOUR HONOR,
I WANT THAT BOOK.
OBJECTION!
THE LAW IS CLEAR,
MR. COWENS.
PRESENT RECOLLECTION
REFRESHED.
PRODUCE THE BOOK.
WHAT? YOU MEAN
HE CAN READ IT?
ALL OF IT?
EVERY SMUT-FILLED PAGE,
YOU DISGUSTING WORM.
OBJECTION!
OBJECTION!
OH, THAT'S NOVEL.
OBJECTION IN TWO-PAR HARMONY.
[CROWD LAUGHS]
Judge: NOPE. TOO LATE.
THAT'S IT, COUNSELOR.
CONTEMPT ORDER NUMBER 3.
HE KEEPS THIS UP,
MAYBE I CAN GIVE YOU LIFE.
I MOVE FOR
A SUPPRESSION HEARING.
DENIED.
[SHOUTING]
HA HA HA HA HA!
NOTHING.
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
WHAT DID
DUNCAN SAY?
DUNCAN HAS STOPPED
TALKING TO ME.
HE HAD HIS EYES CLOSED
THE WHOLE TIME.
YOU KNOW, I THINK
THAT WE SHOULD JUS TAKE ALL THIS
CIRCUMSTANTIAL MATERIAL
AND JUST CREATE
WHATEVER INFERENCES
WE CAN.
SURE. TRUTH BE DAMNED.
TRUTH? WHAT IS
THIS WOMAN
TALKING ABOUT?
THIS IS LAW.
ARE YOU REALLY
GOING TO MARRY
THIS
RABBLE-ROUSER?
All: BLUH-BLUH-BLUH-BLUH.
JO ANN.
THERE'S SOMETHING
I'VE GOT TO ASK YOU.
IF I WIN THIS TRIAL,
TRY NOT TO
EMBARRASS ME.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
REMEMBER IN LAW SCHOOL
WHEN I WON THAT MOCK TRIAL,
YOU STARTED SCREAMING
AND WHISTLING AND TURNING
CARTWHEELS?
ONE. ONE CARTWHEEL.
AND YOU MOONED
THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
I DID NOT.
ONE CHEEK PERHAPS,
MAYBE.
THIS IS THE BIG-TIME,
SO WOULD YOU PLEASE
TRY AND TEMPER
YOUR EMOTIONS?
I'M GONNA BOO AND HISS,
AND THEN I'M GONNA MOON
THE ATTORNEY
FOR THE DEFENSE.
MOON ME LATER, OK?
ISN'T HE CUTE?
[SHOUTING]
SHUT UP. SHUT UP, SHUT UP,
SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!
SHUT UP!
THE QUESTION'S CLOSED.
HE CAN USE THE BOOK
TO IMPEACH,
BUT, MR. WEATHERS,
YOU BETTER DAMN WELL
STICK TO THE FACTS
OF THIS CASE.
NOTHING--I REPEAT, NOTHING--
THAT DOESN'T CONCERN
THE FACTS OF THIS CASE
IS ADMISSIBLE.
IF YOU SO MUCH AS BREATHE
ONE IRRELEVANT EXCERP FROM THAT BOOK,
I'LL THROW YOU IN JAIL
UNTIL YOU ROT!
YOU GOT THAT, MISTER? ROT!
YES, YOUR HONOR.
YOU'RE POSITIVE?
POSITIVE, SIR.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY
POSITIVE?
ABSOLUTELY
POSITIVE, SIR.
VERY WELL. PROCEED.
NOW, MR. WILBY,
I'VE READ YOUR JOURNAL.
TELL ME, DO YOU ENJOY
MOLESTING LITTLE GIRLS?
WHAT?!
LOCK HIM UP!
DUNCAN. RIGHT NOW.
AND MUZZLE HIM.
GET ONE OF THOSE
DOG THINGS.
PUT IT ON HIS FACE.
AAH.
Robin: YOUR HONOR,
I HAVE CAUSE.
Judge: YOU'D BETTER
DAMN WELL HAVE
A GOOD-FAITH BASIS
FOR THIS QUESTION,
OR THIS TRIAL
IS OVER.
I'LL DIREC A VERDICT FOR
THE PLAINTIFF,
AND YOU'LL NEVER
PRACTICE LAW IN THE
COMMONWEALTH AGAIN!
BUT, YOUR HONOR--IN MY CHAMBERS!
BUT, YOUR HONOR--NOW!
HOW WOULD YOU
LIKE THIS GAVEL
TATTOOED TO
YOUR FOREHEAD?
YOUR HONOR, PLEASE
READ THIS TOP
PARAGRAPH.
I DON'T WAN TO READ IT.
YOU HAVE TO READ IT.
PLEASE.
"I THINK
I PRESSURED HER
"INTO DOING
SOMETHING SHE WASN' READY TO DO.
I FORCED HER.
AUGUST 1956"?
THAT'S TEENAGE SEX,
FOR GOD'S SAKES.
THOSE STATEMENTS
SUGGEST THE ELEMENTS
OF RAPE.
YOU'RE OU OF YOUR MIND!
HE SAYS HE FORCED
A GIRL TO HAVE SEX.
HE MAY HAVE COMMITTED
A CRIME,
AND IF HE WAS
CONVICTED OF THAT CRIME,
THEN IT IS RELEVAN BECAUSE THE RULES
OF EVIDENCE STATE
THAT EVERY CONVICTION
BEARS RELEVANCE
UPON THE CREDIBILITY
OF ANY WITNESS
WHO TAKES THE STAND.
THAT IS THE LAW.
I'LL BE DAMNED. HMM.
SNOT-NOSE
GROWS UP, HUH?
Cowens: VIOLENCE
BEGETS VIOLENCE,
SO I SAY TO YOU
MAKE HIM PAY.
SHOW HIM AND EVERYONE
ELSE LIKE HIM
THAT UNPROVOKED VIOLENCE
HAS A PRICE.
AND THAT PRICE IS JUSTICE.
THAT'S ALL I ASK--JUSTICE.
THANK YOU.
Judge: COUNSELOR?
Robin: THIS IS STUPID.
ALL OF THIS BECAUSE
ONE BANKER GUY
HITS ANOTHER.
IT'S CALLED BATTERY,
DEFINED AS AN
OFFENSIVE TOUCHING.
NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
YOU HAVE TO DECIDE
WHAT'S OFFENSIVE.
A MAN CALLS YOU AN IDIO IN FRONT OF YOUR PEERS.
THAT'S OFFENSIVE.
A MAN GETS SLAPPED,
DOESN'T EVEN GET A SCRATCH,
AND HE WANTS A $50,000
BAND-AID.
THAT'S OFFENSIVE.
NOW, THINK ABOU SUSIE WALKER,
A LITTLE GIRL WHOSE
WHOLE BODY WAS BURNED
WHEN A BOILER EXPLODED.
THINK ABOUT A LITTLE
8-YEAR-OLD GIRL
WHO NEVER GOT ONE PENNY
FOR HER CRIPPLING INJURIES
BECAUSE SHE DIED BEFORE
HER CASE CAME TO TRIAL.
THE MAN IS TOTALLY
WITHOUT SHAME.
YEAH.
THEN THINK OF ALL
THE FRIVOLOUS,
MEANINGLESS CASES
IN WHICH NOBODY GETS HUR THAT FILL UP THE COURTS
SO THAT THE SUSIE WALKERS
NEVER GET THERE.
OBJECTION!
THE MAN GOT SLAPPED,
AND HE WANTS
50,000 BUCKS!
THAT'S OFFENSIVE!
YOU'RE THE ONE
THAT SHOULD GE SLAPPED.
FOR THAT KIND
OF MONEY, BEAT ME.
SUSIE WALKER GOT NOTHING.
Cowens: WHO THE HELL
IS SUSIE WALKER?
THAT'S HIS ATTITUDE.
WHO THE HELL
IS SUSIE WALKER?
WHO THE HELL GIVES
A DAMN ABOUT HER?
WHO THE HELL
GIVES A DAMN
ABOUT CRIPPLED,
DYING CHILDREN?
THAT IS OFFENSIVE.
NOW THINK ABOUT IT.
THAT MAN DID NO GET HURT.
HE HAS WASTED
THE COURT'S TIME.
HE HAS TAKEN UP
A WEEK OF YOUR LIFE.
NOW, EVERYONE ALWAYS
SAYS HOW TERRIBLE
THE COURT SYSTEM IS
BECAUSE IT TAKES
LITERALLY YEARS
TO GET A TRIAL DATE.
WELL, YOU WONDER WHY.
HE WANTS $50,000,
AND HE CAN'T EVEN
SHOW YOU A BRUISE!
I SAY DON'T GIVE IT TO HIM!
TELL THIS GUY NO,
AND MAYBE THE NEXT GUY
WON'T TRY IT.
SEND A MESSAGE BECAUSE
THERE'S A LONG LINE
OF GUYS
JUST LIKE HIM WAITING
FOR THEIR CHANCE
TO ROLL THE DICE.
WELL, YOU TELL THEM
THAT THEIR PLACE IS
IN ATLANTIC CITY,
NOT IN THE COURTROOMS
OF AMERICA!
Judge: HAS THE JURY
REACHED A VERDICT?
Woman: YES, YOUR HONOR,
WE HAVE.
AND WHAT SAY YOU,
MADAM FOREMAN?
YOUR HONOR,
WE, THE JURY,
ACTING IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS
OF THE COMMONWEALTH
OF MASSACHUSETTS,
FIND FOR THE DEFENDANT,
RAYMOND TORKENSON.
AH-HOO!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
SON OF A BITCH.
SOMEBODY JUST SAID
THAT I'M GONNA BE
ON NATIONAL TV.
WELL, DON'T SQUINT,
BECAUSE YOUR EYES
DISAPPEAR WHEN
YOU SQUINT,
AND YOU'LL BE EYELESS
ON NATIONAL TELEVISION.
YOU'RE NUTS.
Torkenson:
WAS THAT SPECTACULAR?
I THINK YOU'RE GONNA
HAVE TO GIVE
SOME SERIOUS THOUGH TO MAKING THAT BOY
A PARTNER.
IT'D BE GOOD
FOR BUSINESS.
JUST THOUGHT YOU
MIGHT WANT TO
THINK ABOUT IT.
THEY WERE WRONG.
YOU'RE THE ASSHOLE.
[BIZET'S "MARCH OF
THE TOREADORS" PLAYING]
DOUBLE TIME!
HEE HEE HEE!
AND BACKWARDS!
IT'S YOUR CLIENT'S
PARTY.
IT'S IN YOUR HONOR.
HAVE A LITTLE
DIGNITY.
[LAUGHTER]
[WALTZ PLAYING]
WHAT IS THAT?
[APPLAUSE]
[BAND PLAYING "IN THE MOOD"]
DA DA DA DA
AND THEY SAID
THE MAN COULDN' DANCE.
AND THEY WERE RIGHT.
SIR. SIR.
WHERE'S YOUR DATE?
OH, SHE COULDN' MAKE IT.
AHEM.
[WHISPERING]
He got stood up.
I GOT STOOD UP.
OHH.
TOLD YOU I WAS
A LONELY GUY.
HEY, IS THAT COWENS?
WHAT'S HE
DOING HERE?
I INVITED HIM.
HEY, YOU'RE BOTH
GOOD LAWYERS.
YOU DID YOURSELF PROUD.
HE'S GOT AS MUCH CAUSE
TO CELEBRATE AS YOU DO.
ANYHOW, I KNOW
YOU'RE BOTH PROFESSIONALS.
YOU WON'T LE YOUR DIFFERENCES AFFEC A SOCIAL GATHERING.
ON THE OTHER HAND,
MAYBE THEY'LL SLUG IT OUT.
WELCOME. THERE'S
A FRIEND OF YOURS.
ARE YOU LOST?
IT'S A PARTY.
I WAS INVITED.
I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU REALIZE THIS,
BUT THIS PARTY
IS IN HONOR OF YOU
BEING WHIPPED.
THE ONLY THING
WHIPPED AROUND HERE
IS YOUR REPUTATION.
YOUR CLIEN USED YOU.
HE'LL HIRE ME NEXT,
AS SOON AS YOU GE DISBARRED.
YEAH?
Jo Ann: ROBIN.
WHY DON'T YOU TELL
THE BIMBO HERE
TO TAKE A HIKE?
OH, THAT'S IT.
Jo Ann: BIMBO?LET'S GO.
YOU GOT IT.
IT'S NOT WORTH IT,
ROBIN!
Jo Ann: ROBIN!
STAY BACK.
IT'S BETWEEN US.
IN THE BOATHOUSE.
Jo Ann: ROBIN?
WE HAVE TO STOP THEM.
LET THEM GET I OUT OF THEIR SYSTEM.
THEY WON'T HUR EACH OTHER.
WELL?
WELL, WHAT?
WIPE THIS,
YOU WINDBAG.
Both: WE DID IT. WE DID IT.
WE DID IT. WE DID IT.
WE DID IT.
WE DID IT.
WE DID IT!
[LAUGHING]
DID YOU SEE THE LOOK
ON THE JUDGE'S FACE
WHEN I ASKED FOR A HEARING
ON THE ADMISSIBILITY
OF THE WORD "ASSHOLE"?
WAIT. WE'RE SUPPOSED
TO BE FIGHTING.
MAKE SOME NOISE.
MAKE SOME NOISE.
HA HA HA!
WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
THEY'RE PROBABLY
TALKING IT OUT.
MAYBE NOT.
LET THEM FIGURE
THAT ONE OUT.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
THIS ISN'T ROBIN.
WE FIXED A TRIAL.
WHOA, WHOA,
WHOA, WHOA.
WE DID NO FIX A TRIAL.
ALL WE DID WAS
STAGE THE
PRESENTATION.
WE GAVE THE JURY
THE TRUE FACTS,
AND THEY COULD HAVE
GONE EITHER WAY.
MAN, ALL WE DID
WAS TELL EACH OTHER
WHAT WE WERE GONNA
DO AND SAY, HMM?
YOU'RE RIGHT.
THEY THINK WE'RE
THE FASTEST-TALKING,
QUICKEST-THINKING,
BADDEST-ASS LAWYERS
IN THE WORLD!
AWOO!
DESTRUCTION.
OW! OW! OW!
[CRASHING]
I LOVE THIS KIND OF
HUMAN INTERACTION.
HA HA HA!
ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?
I GOT AN INTERVIEW
MONDAY...
HA HA HA!
WHAT? WHAT?
FOR THE ASSISTAN D.A. JOB!
WHOO!
[SONG ENDS]
I'M GOING DOWN THERE.
THEY'RE COMING.
Robin: COWENS!
Both: YOU ASSHOLE!
IT'S OK. IT'S OK.
HE GAVE UP.
YOU SON OF A BITCH.
HE PUT UP A HELL
OF A FIGHT, THOUGH.
YOU'RE NUTS.
ALL RIGHT, KID.
YOU KICKED HIS ASS TWICE.
I LOVE IT.
DOES THAT GUY
KNOW HOW TO SWIM?
Torkenson: I TOLD YOU
THAT BOY WAS
PARTNER MATERIAL.
Man: PARTNER?
I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA
WAX THE LITTLE BASTARD'S ASS.
WE AGREED TO FIRE HIM.
THAT'S WHAT WE
VOTED TO DO.
FAMOUS OR NOT,
THE MAN IS A BLIGH ON OUR VERY
EXISTENCE.
I, FOR ONE, WILL
NO LONGER ALLOW
A BORN-AGAIN PUNK
TO DEGRADE THE REPUTATION
OF THIS FIRM.
HE'S FINISHED.
WE SHALL NOT WAIVER
FROM THE ONLY SOUND DECISION
TO WAFT FROM THESE WALLS
IN THE PAST MONTH.
WARREN, TELL THEM.
BASED UPON PROJECTIONS
FROM THE NEW CLIENTS
THAT ROBIN WEATHERS
HAS BROUGHT IN TO DATE,
THE AVERAGE EARNINGS
OF EACH PARTNER
WILL INCREASE THIS YEAR
BY $28,000 TO $32,000.
I'M DELIGHTED.
THANK YOU, SIR.
I'M SURE YOU CAN IMAGINE
HOW EXCITED WE ALL ARE
TO HAVE YOU AS A PARTNER.
I APPRECIATE THAT,
ROBERTA,
AND I HOPE THA I CAN LIVE UP TO
YOUR EXPECTATION.
I PALPITATE
AT THE THOUGHT.
THANK YOU. UM,
IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME NOW,
I HAVE TO MEE THE DECORATOR.
HE'S HERE
ABOUT THE NEW OFFICE.
All: FOR HE'S
A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW
FOR HE'S A JOLLY
GOOD FELLOW
FOR HE'S A JOLLY
GOOD FELLOW
WHICH NOBODY CAN DENY
THANK GOD HE'S DEAD.
WHO?
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES,
WHO FOUNDED THIS FIRM.
ROBERTA, HE'S
BEEN DEAD 50 YEARS.
THE LONGER,
THE BETTER.
LET'S NOT GE CARRIED AWAY.
HE'S A PARTNER NOW,
AND THAT'S THAT.
STORMY WEATHERS.
COULDN'T WE AT LEAS PUT AN ASTERISK
BESIDE HIS NAME?
Roberta: YOU HAVE
A GREAT DEAL TO ANSWER FOR.
Duncan: MY DEAR,
A GREAT LITIGATOR
IS NEVER WITHOU AN ANSWER.
MS. JENSEN,
BRING IT IN, PLEASE.
AND THIS IS?
THE BENOIT CASE.
THE BENOIT CASE?
WE DECIDED TO TURN DOWN
THE BENOIT CASE.
Duncan: OH, YES,
WE DID. WHY?
UNWINNABLE.
THE MAN WAS CAUGH WITH THE MURDER
WEAPON
AND THE VICTIM'S
BLOOD-STAINED CLOTHES
UNDER THE SEA OF HIS CAR.
EXACTLY. UNWINNABLE.
DIABOLICAL.
IT STINKS.
YES, IT DOES.
AND NOT ONLY THAT,
BUT AT THE PROSPEC OF BEING REPRESENTED
BY THE INCENDIARY
MR. WEATHERS,
PROFESSOR BENOI WAS EASILY INDUCED
TO PLUNKING DOWN
A RETAINER
OF $75,000.
CRAIG, HAVE YOU ANY IDEA
HOW CYNICAL THIS IS?
WHAT ABOUT OUR OBLIGATION
TO THE CLIENT?
OH, YES.
WELL, ACTUALLY,
I'VE TAKEN A BI MORE CREDI THAN I DESERVE.
BENOIT WANTS HIM.
HE DOESN'T WAN ANYBODY ELSE.
YOU TOLD HIM THE BOY
IS ONE YEAR OU OF LAW SCHOOL
WITH ONE TRIAL?
ALL RIGHT. IF THE LITTLE
WEASEL STARTS TO SINK,
I'LL BAIL HIM OUT.
WELL, I STILL
DON'T LIKE IT.
WHAT NONE OF YOU
WANTS TO ADMI IS THAT THE KID
IS GOOD.
WE'LL SEE.
YOU KNOW
THE BENOIT CASE?
THE B.U. DOCTOR?
I AM DEFENDING HIM!
WHAT?
YOU HEARD IT. ME.
WHY?
THE BASTARDS
ARE SETTING ME UP!
IT'S A COMPLETE NO-WIN.
BUT IT'S A GREAT CHANCE.
YOU SHOULD BE THRILLED.
THRILLED? THERE COULD BE
A DEATH PENALTY.
NOT FOR THE LAWYER.
OH, FUNNY. MAYBE
I CAN GET HIM TO CONFESS
OR PLEAD GUILTY.
Steve: NOW, WOULDN' THAT BE SOMEWHA IN VIOLATION
OF HIS MANDATE
AS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY?
SO WHAT?
JESUS.
WHY YOU?
HOW STRANGE
YOU SHOULD ASK THAT.
LET ME EXPLAIN SOMETHING
TO YOU, MR. WEATHERS.
THROUGH THE VICISSITUDES
OF WHOLLY GRATUITOUS
GENETIC ACCIDENTS,
I WAS VISITED WITH
EXTREMELY HIGH INTELLIGENCE.
I WAS FURTHER BLESSED,
OR BURDENED, AS IT WERE,
WITH CERTAIN PHYSICAL TRAITS
THAT WOULD SUGGEST,
SHALL WE SAY, GOOD BREEDING.
NOW, IN THIS PROLETARIAN
STEW WHICH TODAY WE
LAUGHINGLY CALL SOCIETY,
THESE ATTRIBUTES ARE NO ALWAYS ADVANTAGEOUS.
YOU, ON THE OTHER HAND,
ARE THE CURRENT MESSIAH
OF THE BLUE COLLAR,
THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE,
A SORT OF PISSED-OFF
ABE LINCOLN.
MY STORY, WHICH
BY THE WAY IS TRUE,
WILL BE BETTER SERVED
IF YOU TELL IT.
YOU HAVE TO REALIZE
THAT I'M A CREATION
OF THE MEDIA.
I'VE ONLY TRIED ONE CASE
IN MY ENTIRE CAREER,
AND A MURDER CASE IS
A VERY COMPLEX BEAST.
MODESTY IS A BANAL
AND SELF-SERVING DEVICE.
IT REALLY DOESN' BECOME YOU.
AND DON'T PATRONIZE ME.
I HAVE NO TOLERANCE FOR IT.
SAY WHAT YOU MEAN.
THIS CASE CAN'T BE WON.
I SAID WHAT I MEANT.
I DON'T HAVE
THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
NEEDED TO RECOGNIZE
THE TRAPS AND TRICKS
THAT CAN SWAY A VERDIC EITHER WAY.
SCOTT MURRAY IS ACTING
FOR THE PROSECUTION.
I'M NOT BEING MODES WHEN I SAY THA I MAY BE IN
OVER MY HEAD.
NONSENSE.
I WAS THERE.
IT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE.
Robin: THERE?
COME, COME, COME.
DON'T BE SO SLOW.
THE TORKENSON CASE.
YES.
YOU WERE REMARKABLY
INTUITIVE.
THAT WAS A SIMPLE
ASSAULT CASE.
IF YOU ANALYZE I UNEMOTIONALLY,
THIS IS JUST A SIMPLE
ASSAULT CASE
WITH SOMEWHAT MORE
DIRE RESULTS.
IF YOU EQUATE
A BLOODY NOSE
WITH A HAMMER CLAW
THROUGH THE BRAIN.
A MATTER OF DEGREE ONLY,
MR. WEATHERS.
YOU HAVE THE GIFT.
IT WAS UNCANNY HOW
YOU ANTICIPATED
EVERY MOVE,
TURNED EVERY SUBTLETY
TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
BUT MOST IMPORTAN OF ALL,
THEY LIKED YOU.
YOU HAVE THE COMMON TOUCH.
THEY WANTED YOU TO WIN,
AND THEY WERE LOOKING
FOR ANY REASON
TO GIVE YOU THAT WIN.
WELL, THAT IS
WHAT I NEED.
THAT IS WHA I HAVE PAID FOR.
AND ACCORDING
TO YOUR SUPERIORS,
THAT IS WHAT I WILL GET.
OH, WHA A SWEETHEART--
SORT OF A CROSS
BETWEEN CHARLES MANSON
AND WILLIAM BUCKLEY.
MY GOD. I CAN HEAR
MY OPENING
STATEMENT NOW.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I KNOW MY CLIEN HAD A MOTIVE,
HAD OPPORTUNITY,
WAS CAUGHT WITH
THE MURDER WEAPON
AND THE VICTIM'S
BLOOD-STAINED CLOTHES
AND IS A SUPERIOR,
OBNOXIOUS,
ELITIST SWINE
WHO MAKES YOU
WANT TO THROW UP,
BUT YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO OVERLOOK ALL THAT.
OH, NOW, DON' UNDERESTIMATE
YOURSELF.
I MEAN, BASED ON
YOUR WORK ON
THE TORKENSON TRIAL,
I'D SAY BENOIT'S
LIFE IS IN
GOOD HANDS.
LET'S GO. WE GOT TO
GET BACK TO WORK.
JO ANN?
JO ANN?
JO ANN?
I'M IN A BI OF TROUBLE.
I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO TELL YOU.
THAT'S WHY I'M TELLING
YOU WHILE YOU'RE ASLEEP.
YOU KNOW HOW I GO THE TRIAL,
BUT WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW
IS THAT COWENS AND I
SET UP THE TRIAL, TOO.
I DON'T WANT TO
EXAGGERATE WHAT WE DID.
I MEAN, WE DIDN' BRIBE THE JUDGE
OR THE JURY
OR RIG THE TRIAL,
BUT WE CONSPIRED
TO MAKE OURSELVES
LOOK GOOD.
CONSPIRED. OOH.
I MEAN, THAT WASN' WHAT WE THOUGH WE WERE DOING,
BUT ANYWAY, WE SE EACH OTHER UP
SO WE COULD BOTH
BE HEROES.
I'M NOT EXCUSING
ANYTHING,
BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS
MORE OF A MISDEMEANOR
THAN A FELONY--
NO HARM, NO FOUL,
YOU KNOW?
ARE YOU STILL ASLEEP?
ANYWAY...
AFTERWARDS, I FEL REALLY LOW,
MOSTLY BECAUSE I KNEW
THAT YOU WOULD BE
DISAPPOINTED IN ME.
BUT I THOUGH I'D JUST GO ON,
BE A GOOD GUY,
AND EVERYTHING WOULD
BE ALL RIGHT.
BUT NOW I'VE BEEN
GIVEN A MURDER TRIAL.
AND YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE THE CLIEN SAW ME IN THE
TORKENSON CASE,
AND HE WANTS ME
BECAUSE I WAS
SO BRILLIANT.
I JUST FEEL LIKE
SUCH A FRAUD
BECAUSE THE TORKENSON
TRIAL,
IT...SEEMED LIKE
A GAME SHOW.
HIGH THEATER,
HIGH JINKS.
NOW THIS THING
COMES ALONG.
IT'S ALMOST BIBLICAL.
BUT, JO ANN, I GO TO TELL YOU,
I LOVE IT.
THE LIMELIGHT,
THE ATTENTION,
BEING ON NATIONAL TV.
I'M SHOCKED.
I'M A JUNKIE.
NOW, I DON'T HAVE
TO TAKE THE CASE,
NOT REALLY,
BUT I JUST WANT TO.
I ALWAYS THOUGH OF MYSELF AS
AN IDEALIST,
BUT MAYBE I LOVE
GLORY MORE.
WELL...
IT'S BEEN NICE
TALKING TO YOU.
YOU'RE A GOOD
LISTENER.
[FOOTSTEPS]
[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]
OH, ROBIN.
UNFORTUNATELY,
IT DOESN'T MATTER
THAT HER BODY
WAS NEVER FOUND.
BRAIN TISSUE WAS
ALL OVER HER JACKET.
SOMEBODY'S DEAD,
AND THE JURY WILL BE
PERFECTLY WILLING
TO BELIEVE THA IT'S LIZA WILLIAMS.
NOW PLEASE, LET'S GO OVER
YOUR STORY ONE MORE TIME.
SHALL I SAY I IN HEBRAIC THIS TIME
OR MAYBE LATIN?
THEY DO STILL TEACH
LATIN IN LAW SCHOOL
THESE DAYS?
ACTUALLY, YEAH.
STEVE, TELL HIM THE LATIN
FOR PAIN IN THE ASS.
UH, BOXIMA RIDEM.
VERY GOOD.
THAT PLEBIAN WI WILL SERVE US WELL.
KEEP IT UP.
ALL RIGHT. AGAIN.
LIZA WILLIAMS WAS
A CALL GIRL IN MY EMPLOY.
SHE WAS BLACKMAILING ME.
SHE DISAPPEARED.
HER BLOOD-STAINED CLOTHES
AND THE MURDER WEAPON,
A HAMMER,
WERE FOUND IN MY CAR.
I HAVE NO ALIBI, AND...
WE WERE HEARD ARGUING
ON THE NIGHT THAT SHE
DISAPPEARED.
DO YOU EVER LISTEN
TO YOURSELF?
WHAT DOES THIS
ADD UP TO?
I'M TELLING YOU THIS
FOR THE LAST TIME.
DON'T PLAY
PERIPATETIC
WITH ME.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOU A GUILTY PLEA.
TO MANSLAUGHTER.
THERE'S A REDUCED--
DON'T WASTE MY TIME!
LISTEN, DOUG,
YOU DON'T SEEM TO--
UNDERSTAND.
IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE
ABOUT TO SAY, MR. WEATHERS?
YES.
I UNDERSTAND
EVERY FIBER OF EVERY
LITTLE TWITCH
OF EVERY LITTLE NEURON
IN THAT SLY LITTLE
MIND OF YOURS.
DON'T EVER TELL ME
THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
THINKING BEFORE
YOU THINK IT.
I UNDERSTAND
THE ULTIMATE CONCLUSION
TO EVERY ONE OF THESE
LITTLE LEGAL PEREGRINATIONS.
DID YOU THINK THA I HADN'T THOUGH ALL THIS OUT?
DID YOU THINK I WAS
GOING TO LEAVE IT ALL
TO YOU?
DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH.
I KNOW THAT THIS CASE
CAN'T BE WON
ON THE EVIDENCE.
SUBSTANCE IS NO ON OUR SIDE DESPITE
MY INNOCENCE.
STYLE IS WHA WILL WIN THIS CASE.
AND THAT IS WHY
YOU ARE HERE.
DO YOU KNOW WHA YOU'RE LIKE,
MR. WEATHERS?
YOU'RE LIKE ONE OF THOSE
CUTE LITTLE PERFORMING SEALS
THAT PLAYS LITTLE
TUNES ON HORNS.
THEY'RE ADORABLE.
EVERYBODY LOVES THEM.
BUT DO YOU THINK
ANYBODY CARES WHA TUNES THEY PLAY?
NO. THEY JUST LOVE
TO SEE THEM BLOW
THEIR LITTLE HORNS.
WELL, YOU GO OUT AND STAR BLOWING YOUR LITTLE
HORNS, MR. WEATHERS.
IS THIS YOUR VERSION
OF A PEP TALK?
VERY GOOD. I'M IMPRESSED.
I AM IMPRESSED.
UNDERSTAND ONE THING,
AND WE'LL GET ALONG
VERY WELL.
WHEN I SAY SOMETHING,
I DON'T WAN AN ARGUMENT.
JUST DO IT.
THERE WILL BE
NO PLEA BARGAIN.
WHO IS LUTHER MOSES?
LIZA'S PIMP.
HE'S DISAPPEARED.
AH. YES, NOW
YOU'RE THINKING.
HE KNEW THAT SHE WAS
BLACKMAILING OTHERS
AS WELL AS ME.
HE USED TO ACCUSE HER
OF HOLDING OUT.
HE HAD MOTIVE
AND OPPORTUNITY.
YES, DEMONSTRATE
TO THE JURY
THAT HE'S JUST AS LIKELY
A SUSPECT AS I AM.
WHY ELSE HAS HE DISAPPEARED?
YOU TELL ME.
AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
ISN'T IT TRUE
THAT YOU HAD SEVERAL
ALTERCATIONS
WITH MOSES?
WE HAD AN ARGUMENT--
OH, YOU HAD
A BLOODY FISTFIGHT,
AND HE BEAT YOU SENSELESS!
THAT IS RIDICULOUS.
HE HUMILIATED YOU,
AND YOU HATED HIS GUTS!
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
NOBODY EVER BEAT ME
IN MY LIFE.
TWO PEOPLE
SAW THAT BEATING--
LIZA WILLIAMS
AND HER MOTHER!
HE BEAT YOU, BENOIT.
HE HUMBLED YOU
IN FRONT OF THEM,
AND YOU HATED HIM,
AND YOU KILLED HIM,
AND THAT'S WHY
HE'S DISAPPEARED!
[CHUCKLES]
I PRESUME YOU WERE
TAKING THE PAR OF THE PROSECUTOR.
OF COURSE.
YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN.
SINCE WE CANNOT USE
MR. MOSES' DISAPPEARANCE,
YOU WILL NEVER MENTION
MR. MOSES TO ME AGAIN.
NEVER.
WHAT A WARM GUY.
HE'LL MAKE
A GREAT WITNESS.
NOT THINKING
OF JUMPING, ARE WE?
NAH. THERE'S
A CELTICS GAME
TOMORROW NIGHT.
I'LL JUMP FRIDAY.
TOUGH DAY, HUH?
TOUGH LIFE.
OOH. THAT'S HEAVY.
YOU WANT TO TALK?
IF I KNEW
WHERE TO START.
WAIT A SEC.
I CAN HELP.
OK. GO AHEAD.
TALK.
[SNORES]
YOU HEARD IT ALL,
DIDN'T YOU?
YES, I DID.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I THINK THIS IS
A REVOLUTIONARY
THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUE
THAT WE'VE
DEVELOPED HERE.
I MEAN, THIS KIND
OF COUNSELING
AIN'T CHEAP.
ALL RIGHT.
GIVE ME
A QUARTER'S WORTH.
A QUARTER'S WORTH?
WELL, YEAH.
DON'T I GET SOME KIND
OF A DISCOUNT?
YEAH. FOR
A QUARTER'S WORTH,
MY ADVICE IS
YOU SHOULD JUMP.
WELL, WHAT DID YOU
WANT FOR A QUARTER?
I WANTED YOU TO TELL ME
I'M RIGHT.
CAN'T DO THAT.
I CAN TELL YOU
THAT I LOVE YOU.
I CAN TELL YOU
THAT I UNDERSTAND.
I CAN TELL YOU THA YOU'RE ONE OF A KIND
AND THAT YOU GO A GOOD HEART,
BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU
THAT YOU'RE RIGHT.
YOU THINK I'M WRONG?
OF COURSE YOU WERE
WRONG, ROBIN.
DON'T COME TO ME
FOR ABSOLUTION,
ALL RIGHT?
I'M NOT YOUR MOTHER
OR A PRIEST.
I'M YOUR LOVER.
I MEAN, YOU'D HAVE
TO COME UP JUS SHORT OF MURDER
FOR ME NOT TO
SUPPORT YOU,
BUT YOU CAN'T ASK ME
TO MAKE IT RIGHT.
JUST GO OUT THERE
AND BE A GOOD GUY.
IT'S ALL THA I CAN TELL YOU.
FAIR?
FAIR.
WE GONNA TAKE
THE CASE?
YES.
IS HE GUILTY?
HE SAYS NOT.
THEY ALL SAY NOT.
THAT'S WHY THEY ALL
HAVE TO BE DEFENDED.
THAT'S JUSTICE.
YEAH. WITH ALL
THE JUSTICE THERE IS
IN OUR LEGAL SYSTEM,
YOU MIGHT AS WELL
PLAY SPIN
THE BOTTLE.
WHOEVER IT POINTS TO
WINS.
HA HA HA! SORRY.
OHH!
[COUGHS]
THAT'S GREAT.
YOU'VE JUST INVALIDATED
MY ENTIRE EXISTENCE.
I THINK I'LL JUMP.
NO. THERE'S
A CELTICS GAME
TOMORROW NIGHT.
LOOK. ALL I'M
SAYING IS,
I MEAN, LOOK AT ALL
THAT WE'VE GOT.
I JUST--I JUS FEEL LIKE WE
SHOULD BE GIVING
SOME OF IT BACK,
AND I'M NOT SAYING
THAT WE SHOULD BE
SAINTS OR MARTYRS.
I WOULD JUST LIKE
TO LAND SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN
MOTHER TERESA
AND IMELDA MARCOS.
SORRY.
ALL RIGHT.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE'LL BE THE FIRS YUPPIE MISSIONARIES
WITH ALL THE SHOES
WE CAN EAT.
QUEER. I KNOW.
IT'S QUEER.
IT'S REALLY DUMB.
I LOVE YOU,
YOU KNOW?
I KNOW.
IT KEEPS ME GOING.
CANDY MEAD,
BENOIT'S FORMER MISTRESS.
CAN'T FIND HER.
SHE'S MARRIED
AND RELOCATED.
YOU'VE GOT TO
FIND HER.
WE CAN'T ALLOW
THE JURY TO BELIEVE
FOR A FRACTION
OF A SECOND
THAT BENOIT'S CAPABLE
OF THAT KIND OF VIOLENCE.
IF HE EVER HI THIS CANDY MEAD,
THAT'S IT,
WE'RE THROUGH.
PUT ANOTHER DETECTIVE
ON IT.
ALL RIGHT.
NOW DID YOU TALK
TO BENOIT'S WIFE?
GAVE HER
THE WHOLE LITANY--
SMILE,
HOLD HIS HAND,
BE UNDERSTANDING.
SHE'S ACTUALLY
VERY SUPPORTIVE
OF HIM.
AND HOW WAS BENOIT?
IT WAS ONE
OF HIS GOOD DAYS--
WARM, CHARMING.
YOU COULD ACTUALLY
PUT HIM ON THE STAND
IF HE SHOWED
THIS SIDE
OF HIMSELF.
YEAH? THE GUY'S
A CHAMELEON.
I CANNOT GE A FIX ON HIM.
[TARZAN YELL]
DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION?
Robin: SIT DOWN.
I FOUND HIM.
WHO?
A PATHOLOGIST,
DR. C.R. PECKHAM.
NOW HE'S WILLING
TO STATE
THAT BASED
ON THE BLOOD SAMPLE
FROM HER JACKE THAT LIZA WILLIAMS
DIED MORE THAN A WEEK
AFTER SHE WAS SEEN
WITH BENOIT.
THAT IS GREAT!
PECKHAM'S ONE
OF THE BEST.
HE'S GONNA BE GOOD
ON THE STAND, TOO.
HE'S FIRM, FEISTY,
SENSE OF HUMOR.
THAT BLOWS MURRAY'S
PATHOLOGIST RIGH OUT OF THE WATER.
NOW ALL WE GOT TO DO
IS KEEP MURRAY
FROM PAINTING BENOI AS A VIOLENT WOMANIZER.
IS THERE ANYTHING
WE MISSED?
I DON'T SEE HOW.
WE'VE EMPANELLED
A GOOD JURY.
WE'VE BEEN OVER
EVERYTHING 10 TIMES.
I THINK WE'RE READY.
WE'RE READY.
WE'RE READY.
WE'RE READY.
Man: ALL RISE!
ALL RISE.
HEAR YE, HEAR YE,
HEAR YE.
LIONS AND TIGERS
AND BEARS, OH, MY.
ALL YE WHO HAVE BUSINESS
BEFORE THE SUPERIOR COUR IN AND OF THE COUNTY
OF SUFFOLK
IN THE COMMONWEALTH
OF MASSACHUSETTS
DRAW NEAR.
GIVE YOUR ATTENTION,
AND YOU SHALL BE HEARD.
BE SEATED.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO,
SO LET'S GET TO IT.
MR. MURRAY,
MR. WEATHERS,
WE HAD REASONABLE DECORUM
IN THE PRETRIAL HEARINGS.
I'D LIKE TO SEE
THAT CONTINUE.
BRING THE JURY
IN, PLEASE.
IS THE COMMONWEALTH
READY TO OPEN?
WE ARE, YOUR HONOR.
AND THE DEFENDANT'S
COUNSEL, ARE YOU READY?
YES, YOUR HONOR.
VERY WELL.
MR. MURRAY, PROCEED.
GOOD MORNING.GOOD MORNING.
HOW ARE YOU?
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
OF THE JURY,
LET ME BEGIN
BY SAYING I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY BECAUSE WHA I'M ABOUT TO DO
IS NOT VERY KIND.
I'M GOING TO TAKE
12 VERY FINE PEOPLE,
MOST OF YOU LEADING
GOOD, HAPPY LIVES
WITH LOVELY FAMILIES.
I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU LIVE
THROUGH THE ULTIMATE
SIN OF MAN--MURDER.
YOU SEE, IT'S MY JOB
TO MAKE YOU FEEL THE HORROR
LITTLE LISA WILLIAMS FACED.
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO CLOSE YOUR EYES
AND HEAR THE SICK SOUND
OF CRUSHING BONE
AS THE DEFENDAN REPEATEDLY BLUDGEONED
A HELPLESS 22-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
IT'S MY JOB TO MAKE YOU
HEAR THE HOLLOW CRACKLE
OF A BASHED SKULL
AS THE DEFENDANT BEA AND BEAT AND BEAT HIS PREY.
YOU'LL ALMOST BE ABLE TO SEE
THE SPATTERING OF BLOOD
THAT MUST HAVE BEEN
ALL OVER THE DEFENDAN WHEN HE FINISHED
THIS ACT OF TERROR.
I'M SORRY.
BUT IT'S MY JOB
TO TELL YOU HOW LIFE ENDED.
IT'S YOUR JOB TO DECIDE
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.
MR. WEATHERS,
DO YOU CARE TO OPEN?
YES, YOUR HONOR.
EVIDENCE.
MM-HMM.
THAT'S TAGGED,
YOU KNOW.
HMM.
[GASPING]
Judge: MR. WEATHERS.
THAT'S HOW
A HAMMER SOUNDS.
I'VE NEVER HEARD I HIT BONE BEFORE,
BUT NEITHER HAS HE.
MR. WEATHERS.
MR. WEATHERS,
THAT'S ENOUGH!
SO LET'S SKIP THE ACOUSTICS
AND GET TO THE QUESTION--
WHO DID IT?
[GASPS]
WHO SWUNG THE HAMMER?
MR. WEATHERS!
NOW THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
SAYS, "CLOSE YOUR EYES
AND HEAR IT."
WELL, HE HAS A GREAT CASE
AS LONG AS YOU KEEP
YOUR EYES CLOSED.
THE DEFENDANT,
ON THE OTHER HAND,
SAYS, "KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN,"
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE
THE TRUTH WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED,
SO KEEP THEM OPEN.
[LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE]
[GAVEL BANGING]
Judge: ORDER! ORDER! ORDER!
THAT IS ENOUGH!
YOU PEOPLE IN THE COURTROOM,
THIS IS NOT FENWAY PARK.
MR. WEATHERS, YOU'RE NO GONNA PULL THAT IN THIS TRIAL.
ANOTHER STUNT LIKE THAT,
AND YOU'LL REGRET IT.
AND YOU'RE GONNA PAY
FOR THAT TABLE.
MR. MURRAY,
YOUR FIRST WITNESS.
THE COMMONWEALTH CALLS
MRS. MARTHA WILLIAMS
TO THE STAND.
MRS. MARTHA WILLIAMS,
PLEASE.
ROBIN.
IT'S COWENS.
I GUESS HE GO THE ASSISTAN D.A. JOB.
THAT MURRAY'S
A SMART SON
OF A BITCH.
FIGURES COWENS
KNOWS YOU,
KNOWS YOUR STYLE.
Bailiff: DO YOU SWEAR
TO TELL THE TRUTH,
THE WHOLE TRUTH,
AND NOTHING
BUT THE TRUTH...
Murray: ANYTHING UNUSUAL
OCCURRED ON THE EVENING
OF NOVEMBER 12?
WELL, LIZA WAS
EXTREMELY UPSET.
DO YOU KNOW WHY
SHE WAS SO UPSET?
YES. SHE'D HAD
A TERRIBLE ARGUMEN WITH DR. BENOIT.
DO YOU KNOW WHY
THIS PARTICULAR
ARGUMEN UPSET YOUR DAUGHTER?
YES. SHE SAID
THAT DR. BENOIT HAD
THREATENED TO KILL HER.
OBJECT, YOU FOOL.
DID SHE SAY WHY
HE WANTED TO
KILL HER?
OBJECT!
SHE'D BEEN
BLACKMAILING HIM.
ROBIN.
HE SAID IF SHE
DIDN'T STOP,
HE'D KILL HER.
NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS.
OBJECTION!
Judge: UNTIMELY,
MR. WEATHERS.
I MOVE TO STRIKE,
YOUR HONOR.
NO. I'M GONNA
ALLOW IT NOW.
MR. WEATHERS?
I HAVE NO QUESTIONS,
YOUR HONOR.
THE WITNESS
MAY STEP DOWN.
THE ONE THING
THEY DIDN'T HAVE
WAS PREDISPOSITION,
AND NOW THEY'VE GOT IT.
YOUR HONOR,
THE COMMONWEALTH CALLS
DR. CHARLES PECKHAM
TO THE STAND.
WHAT'S HE DOING?
CHECK THE WITNESS LIST.
HERE IT IS.
I THOUGHT I WAS OUR LIST.
I'M SORRY, ROBIN.
WHY IS HE CALLING
OUR WITNESS?
HE'S GONNA DISCREDIT HIM,
OUR ONE EXPERT.
IT'S THE OLDEST TRICK
IN THE BOOK.
OBJECT.I CAN'T.
I'VE ALREADY ACCEPTED
THE WITNESS LIST.
I'M SORRY.
Bailiff: THE WHOLE TRUTH,
AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
BUT YOU ARE FAMILIAR
WITH THE DEGRADATION
PROPENSITY
OF AMORPHOUS
MATERIALS,
ARE YOU NOT?
I'M A PATHOLOGIST.
THAT'S ALL.
YOUR HONOR,
I'M TERRIBLY
EMBARRASSED.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
OF THE JURY, I'M SORRY.
UNFORTUNATELY, I ASSUMED
DR. PECKHAM WAS QUALIFIED
FOR THIS CASE.
IN LIGHT OF THE FAC THAT HE HAS NO BACKGROUND
IN POLYMER CHEMISTRY,
I'M AFRAID I'D BE
LESS THAN HONES TO HOLD HIM OU AS AN EXPERT.
I'M VERY SORRY.
WHAT'S THIS GUY
GONNA DO TO US NEXT?
VERY WELL.
DR. PECKHAM,
YOU'RE DISMISSED.
WOULD YOU CARE
TO BRING ONE OF YOUR
OTHER EXPERTS?
I COUNTED ON
DR. PECKHAM'S
TESTIMONY
TAKING UP
THE AFTERNOON.
HOWEVER, I DO HAVE
A MR. HARVEY BEALS
PRESENT,
WHO WOULD LIKE
AN EARLY APPEARANCE
IF POSSIBLE.
BEALS. HE'S NO SCHEDULED FOR TWO WEEKS.
WHAT DO WE HAVE ON HIM?
NOTHING. WE HAVEN' EVEN REVIEWED
HIM YET.
Bailiff: DO YOU SWEAR
TO TELL THE TRUTH,
THE WHOLE TRUTH,
AND NOTHING
BUT THE TRUTH?
Murray: TRIED TO LEAVE
DR. BENOIT'S COMPANY?
OH, YES.
SHE'D HAD ENOUGH
OF THAT FELLA,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
MR. BEALS, DID
DR. BENOIT GET UPSE AT THIS POINT?
YES, HE DID.
HE SAID THAT HE KNEW
HOW TO KEEP WHORES
FROM LYING.
I HAVE NOTHING FURTHER.
GOOD AFTERNOON,
MR. BEALS.
IT'S HARVEY,
ISN'T IT?
AND MAY I CALL
YOU HARVEY?
THANK YOU.
NOW YOU JUST HAPPEN
TO BE THE ONLY PERSON
WHO HEARD
THAT STATEMENT.
PROBABLY. THE BAR
WAS CLOSING,
AND I THINK I WAS
THE ONLY PERSON
AROUND THEM.
AND HAD YOU BEEN
DRINKING, SIR?
NO.
NO?
YOU JUST HAPPENED
TO BE IN A BAR
UNTIL CLOSING,
AND YOU DIDN' HAVE A DRINK?
COME ON, HARVEY.
ACTUALLY, I'D
JUST ARRIVED.
I'M THE NIGHT CLEANER.
[LAUGHTER]
MM-HMM. I SEE.
HOW OLD ARE YOU,
MR. BEALS?
I'M 72.
AND HOW'S
YOUR HEARING?
FINE.
[MUMBLING]
EVER HAVE ANY
PROBLEMS WITH IT?
I'M SORRY, COUNSELOR.
I DIDN'T GET THAT.
HE ASKED IF I HAD
ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT.
[LAUGHTER]
NO MORE QUESTIONS,
YOUR HONOR.
MY HEARING, I PRESUME.
[LAUGHTER]
Man on TV: ...CONTINUES
THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE MIDWES WITH RIVERS CRESTING
NEAR RECORD LEVELS
IN MICHIGAN, INDIANA,
ILLINOIS, MISSOURI,
AND MINNESOTA.
SO FAR, 11 COMMUNITIES
ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
HAVE SUFFERED ALMOS COMPLETE INUNDATION
WITH DAMS THREATENING
TO GIVE WAY IN NUMEROUS OTHERS.
ON THE LOCAL SCENE,
THE PROSECUTION HAS
RESTED ITS CASE
IN THE BENOIT MURDER TRIAL.
HI.
UH, I'M LOOKING
FOR A GUY NAMED
STORMY WEATHERS.
DO YOU KNOW HIM?
NEVER HEARD OF HIM.
OH. NOW, I HEARD
THAT HE'S AN ACE LAWYER
AND THAT HE LIVES
RIGHT HERE.
NO. I LIVE HERE.
BARNEY RUBBLE.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
WHAT'S THAT?
A PRESENT.
ACTUALLY,
IT'S SORT OF
A GOOD LUCK CHARM.
YOU BRONZED MY CARTOON.
THIS IS INCREDIBLE.
LOOK AT ALL THAT DETAIL.
JO ANN, THIS IS GREAT.
I LOVE IT.
COME HERE.
I THINK IT PUTS
THE WHOLE THING
INTO PERSPECTIVE,
DON'T YOU?
YEAH. WELL, IT DOES
SUM UP THE WAY I'VE
BEEN HANDLING THIS CASE.
YOU KNOW WHAT'S
WRONG, DON'T YOU?
WHAT?
WHY DO YOU THINK
THAT I CAME HERE
TODAY LOOKING
FOR STORMY WEATHERS?
EVERYBODY
IS LOOKING
FOR STORMY WEATHERS.
I FAKED MY WAY
INTO A MURDER TRIAL,
ONLY THIS TIME
I DON'T HAVE A BLUEPRINT.
ROBIN, YOU'VE
GOT TO LOOK
AT THE TORKENSON
CASE OBJECTIVELY.
OK. YOU WON
BECAUSE YOU USED
YOUR IMAGINATION.
YOU JUS DISGUISED IT AS
STORMY WEATHERS.
YOU CAME UP WITH
THE ASS DEFENSE,
YOU SEIZED
ON WILBY'S JOURNAL
AND TURNED IT INTO
A CREDIBILITY ISSUE,
YOU INVENTED THE WHOLE
SUSIE WALKER DEFENSE.
YOU WERE THINKING
ON YOUR FEET.
THAT'S WHAT WON I FOR YOU.
YOU WERE
STORMY WEATHERS.
THAT'S QUITE
AN ANALYSIS.
I DON'T KNOW IF
IT'S ACCURATE,
BUT IT'S ASTUTE.
ACTUALLY, I HAD
SOME COUNSELING.
OH. FROM WHO?
MATT COWENS.
YOU WENT TO SEE
COWENS?
NO. HE CAME TO
SEE ME.
I MEAN, HE COULDN' COME SEE YOU.
THAT WOULD BE
UNETHICAL.
HE THOUGHT THA YOU WOULD FIND
THAT IRONIC,
BUT HE MEANT IT.
HE'S CONCERNED
ABOUT YOU.
YEAH.
HE'S ALSO ANNOYED.
HE SAYS THAT BENOI ENTRUSTED HIS LIFE
TO STORMY WEATHERS,
HE PAID
FOR STORMY WEATHERS,
AND HE SUGGESTS
THAT YOU GIVE HIM
STORMY WEATHERS.
GOOD GRIEF.
HE SAYS I DOESN'T MATTER.
THEY'RE GONNA KICK
YOUR BUTT ANYWAY.
HE SAID THAT?
HE SAID IT.
THEY THINK THEY CAN
HANDLE STORMY WEATHERS?
WELL, UM,
HOW ABOUT YOU?
WHAT'S THE NEWS,
GOOD AND BAD?
STARTED REHEARSALS
FOR THE REVERE
WHARF THEATER.
THAT'S BAD.
THAT'S GOOD.
IT'S A GOOD PART.
YEAH?
DO THEY HAVE
SEATS NOW?
YES. LITTLE ONES.
UM, THE SUNSHINE
SCHOOL CLOSES IN
A COUPLE OF DAYS.
THAT'S BAD.
THAT'S BAD.
GET STARTED ON I RIGHT AWAY.
ROBIN, THIS IS
A LOT OF WORK.
WE CAN'T STAR A NEW CASE RIGHT NOW.
NO. IT'S NOT A CASE.
IT'S A MOTION.
GET LEAVIT TO WRITE IT.
HE OWES ME A FAVOR.
LISTEN. I WANT TO
FILE IT TWO DAYS.
GO. THANKS.
MR. WEATHERS,
YOUR FIRST WITNESS, PLEASE.
UH, YES, YOUR HONOR.
THE DEFENSE CALLS
DR. CHARLES PECKHAM
TO THE STAND.
THIS IS THE SAME
DR. CH--
YES, YOUR HONOR.
THE VERY SAME DOCTOR
THAT MR. MURRAY
ATTEMPTED TO
DISCREDIT EARLIER
IN THE TRIAL.
DOCTOR.
Judge: I REMIND YOU, DOCTOR,
YOU'RE STILL UNDER OATH.
Peckham:
YES, YOUR HONOR.
NOW, DOCTOR,
MR. MURRAY DISMISSED
YOU AS AN EXPER BECAUSE YOU DIDN' SPECIALIZE IN
POLYMER CHEMISTRY,
IS THAT RIGHT?
YES.
FINE. COULD YOU
KINDLY TELL
THE COUR HOW MUCH YAK MANURE
IS DEPOSITED
ANNUALLY
ON THE PLAINS
OF RAPSHU?
WHAT? I OBJECT.
THIS IS GOING
SOMEPLACE, COUNSELOR?
YES, YOUR HONOR.
WILL YOU TRY AND GE THERE IN A HURRY?
DOCTOR?
I DON'T KNOW.
I'M NOT AN EXPER IN YAK MANURE.
FINE. COULD YOU
TELL US, THEN,
THE AMOUN OF BAT GUANO
ACCUMULATED MONTHLY
BY THE FLAPPED-WING
CHILEAN FRUIT BAT?
I OBJECT!
WHAT DOES
BAT GUANO
AND YAK MANURE
HAVE TO DO
WITH THIS CASE?
I'LL TELL YOU
WHAT IT HAS TO DO
WITH THIS CASE!
IT HAS AS MUCH TO DO
WITH IT AS POLYMER CHEMISTRY.
EXACTLY NOTHING.
IT IS ALL A LOT OF CRAP!
BECAUSE,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THIS CASE IS NO ABOUT POLYMER CHEMISTRY.
IT IS ABOUT MURDER
AND BLOOD,
AND THIS GENTLEMAN HERE
HAS STUDIED BLOOD
AND BLOOD SAMPLES
FOR THE PAST 18 YEARS.
HE STUDIED
THE VICTIM'S BLOOD
AND THE BLOOD-STAINED JACKET,
AND HE KNOWS DAMN WELL
WHAT THOSE BLOOD STAINS REVEAL!
AND AS FOR MR. MURRAY'S
LITTLE FORAY
INTO POLYMER CHEMISTRY
AND THE DEGRADATION PROPENSITY
OF AMORPHOUS MATERIALS,
WELL, YOUR HONOR,
WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT WAS.
THAT WAS A LO OF YAK MANURE.
[LAUGHTER]
[GAVEL BANGING]
Judge: ORDER! ORDER! ORDER!
Robin: AND YOU
CONCLUDED,
LIEUTENANT SOSHA,
THAT SINCE
THE MURDER WEAPON
AND THE BLOOD-STAINED
CLOTHES WERE FOUND
IN HIS CAR,
THE MURDER MUS HAVE BEEN COMMITTED
BY DR. BENOIT.
WELL, THAT WAS
STRONG EVIDENCE, YES.
BUT YOU DIDN'T FIND
ANY FINGERPRINTS,
DID YOU?
NO.
AND DOES IT SEEM STRANGE
THAT SOMEONE WOULD
BE SO CAREFUL
TO WIPE AWAY
EVERY SINGLE
FINGERPRIN AND THEN LEAVE
THE MURDER WEAPON
IN HIS CAR
FOR SOMEONE
TO FIND?
WELL, IT'S
A LITTLE UNUSUAL.
UNUSUAL?
ISN'T IT POSSIBLE
THAT SOMEONE ELSE
PUT THOSE ITEMS
UNDER THE DEFENDANT'S
CAR SEAT?
IT'S POSSIBLE,
BUT WHY DIDN'T HE
CALL THE POLICE?
NO. HE KNEW THE STUFF
WAS IN THE CAR.
IT WAS RIGH UNDER HIM.
ISN'T IT POSSIBLE
HE DIDN'T KNOW?
HE WAS SITTING
RIGHT OVER IT,
FOR PETE'S SAKE.
SO IT WOULD BE
RIDICULOUS FOR HIM
TO HAVE NOT KNOWN?
ABSOLUTELY.
THEN IT WOULD BE
RIDICULOUS
FOR SOMEONE
NOT TO KNOW THA HE WAS SITTING
OVER A CAGED RABBIT,
SOMEONE LIKE YOU,
LIEUTENANT SOSHA?
[LAUGHTER]
WHAT'S THAT,
A RABBIT?
THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.
Robin: IS IT?
NO TELLING WHAT WE'LL FIND
IN MR. MURRAY'S
TRIAL BAG.
[LAUGHTER]
OH, MY GOD.
THAT BOY.
[BUZZING]
WELL, WE WILL ASSUME
MR. MURRAY
DID NOT KNOW
THIS WAS IN THERE.
OR DID YOU?
YOUR HONOR, PLEASE!
DON'T LOOK AT ME.
IT AIN'T MINE.
[VIBRATING]
IT'S A MONSTER.
CANDY MEAD--
I FOUND HER.
YOUR HONOR, MAY WE
HAVE A MINUTE, PLEASE?
TAKE TWO,
MR. WEATHERS.
THANK YOU.
LIEUTENANT,
YOU'RE DISMISSED.
IT'S GREAT.
HE NEVER LAID
A HAND ON HER.
IT WAS
THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
SHE SAYS SHE
BULLIED HIM.
HE WAS AFRAID
OF HER.
LOOK AT THIS.
OH, GOD.
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
THERE'S MORE.
HE NEVER MADE LOVE
TO HER.
HE COULDN'T GET IT UP.
HE WAS MR. LIMP.I KNEW IT.
PURE PASTA.
HEH HEH HEH.
SHE SAYS HE TOOK HER
TO ALL THE BIG FUNCTIONS,
SCHOOL EVENTS,
TOLD EVERYBODY
WHAT A STUD HE WAS,
BUT GET THIS.
SHE SAYS SHE
HAS A PIMP
AND THAT HER PIMP
BEAT THE HELL OU OF BENOIT.
SOUND FAMILIAR?
THIS IS GREAT.
WILL SHE TESTIFY?
SHE SAYS SHE WILL.
YES!
HA HA HA!
THIS--THIS IS
TOO FUNNY.
THE PROSECUTION
IS DEPICTING YOU
AS A MONSTER
WHO PISTOL WHIPS
WITH A HARD-ON.
CANDY MEAD CAN
DEFUSE THAT.
SHE CAN MAKE YOU
LOOK HARMLESS.
YES, BUT THIS
PICTURE IS DOCTORED.
IT ISN'T EVEN ME.
HA HA HA!
DOUG, THAT'S CRAZY.
NOW, LISTEN--
NO. YOU LISTEN
TO ME.
YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY
ASK THIS POOR, LITTLE
PSYCHOTIC GIRL
TO RECITE THESE LIES.
SHE CAN HELP
OUR CASE.
NO. SHE CAN'T HELP IT.
SHE'S LYING.
I BROKE OFF
THE LIAISON.
IT'S A VERY SAD ATTEMP TO HUMILIATE ME.
DOUG, IMPOTENCE IS
A COMMON PROBLEM.
[TEARS PHOTOGRAPH]
ROBIN, WE GOT TO GO.
GUY SHOULD BE WEAVING
BASKETS SOMEWHERE.
ROBIN, COME ON.
AND DURING THE COURSE
OF YOUR 12-YEAR FRIENDSHIP,
DID YOU HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY
TO OBSERVE
THE BEHAVIORAL
PATTERNS
OF DR. BENOIT?
I DID.
AND ARE THOSE
BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS
CONSISTEN WITH THE TYPE
OF BEHAVIOR
THAT DR. BENOI IS BEING CHARGED
WITH TODAY?
THEY ARE NOT.
DOUG BENOIT MAY
BE MERCURIAL,
BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE
A VIOLENT BONE
IN HIS BODY.
ANYBODY WHO'S
EVER MET HIM
KNOWS THAT.
THANK YOU, SIR.
YOUR WITNESS.
NO QUESTIONS.
THE WITNESS MAY
STEP DOWN.
MR. WEATHERS.
YOUR HONOR, WE ARE
GOING TO BRING THIS TRIAL
TO A RAPID CONCLUSION.
THE DEFENSE WOULD
LIKE TO CALL
OUR NEXT WITNESS,
THE VICTIM
LIZA WILLIAMS!
OBJECTION.
I OBJECT!
DO YOU, MR. MURRAY?
WELL, YOU CAN OBJEC TO THE GIRL'S FACE
BECAUSE SHE IS
ON HER WAY UP.
COUNSELOR.
THE REASON A BODY
WAS NEVER FOUND
IS BECAUSE LIZA WILLIAMS
NEVER DIED.
SHE IS ON HER WAY
UP THESE STAIRS,
AND IN 15 SECONDS,
LIZA WILLIAMS IS GOING TO
WALK THROUGH THOSE DOORS.
[FOOTSTEPS]
[LAUGHTER]
SORRY. TRAFFIC.
Robin: I GUESS I WAS WRONG.
LIZA WILLIAMS IS NO COMING THROUGH THAT DOOR,
BUT EVERY ONE OF YOU LOOKED.
YOU ALL WATCHED THAT DOOR,
AN IF YOU LOOKED,
YOU MUST HAVE THOUGH FOR A SPLIT SECOND
THAT SHE JUST MIGHT,
AND IF YOU THOUGH FOR THE SLIGHTEST FRACTION
THAT SHE COULD COME
THROUGH THAT DOOR,
THEN YOU HAVE
A REASONABLE DOUBT,
AND IF YOU HAVE
A REASONABLE DOUBT,
YOU MUST FIND
THE DEFENDANT NOT GUILTY!
NOW YOU REMEMBER,
WHEN YOU GO BACK
INTO THAT ROOM
TO DECIDE MY CLIENT'S FATE,
REMEMBER TO ASK YOURSELF
ONE HARD, HONEST QUESTION--
DID YOU LOOK?
WELL, HE DOES HAVE
A CERTAIN FLAIR.
THIS COURT IS ADJOURNED
UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING.
Steve: ROBIN!
ROBIN!
I THINK HE DID IT.
HE NEVER LOOKED
AT THE DOOR.
THAT'S NO GOOD ENOUGH, DOUG.
IT'S GOOD ENOUGH
FOR ME.
EVERY PERSON
IN THAT COURTROOM LOOKED,
EVERY SINGLE PERSON.
THEY COULDN'T HELP
BUT LOOK.
IT WAS COMPELLING.
I'VE TOLD YOU
BEFORE.
YOUR THOUGH PROCESSES ARE
SO TRANSPARENT,
THEY'RE LAUGHABLE.
LOOK. NOT THAT I WASN'T A GOOD TRICK.
IT WAS QUITE CLEVER.
IN FACT, IT'S
JUST THE KIND
OF CHEAP THEATRICS
THAT MIGHT WIN I FOR US.
INDEED, I MAY NO EVEN HAVE TO TESTIFY.
Robin: RUBBISH.
YOU CAN GET YOURSELF
ANOTHER LAWYER, PAL.
ROBIN, TAKE IT EASY.
ON WHAT BASIS
WILL YOU JUSTIFY
WITHDRAWAL
AT THIS POIN IN A TRIAL?
LACK OF DISCLOSURE.
YOU TOLD ME THA YOU WERE INNOCENT.
IF I HAD KNOWN THA YOU WERE GUILTY,
I WOULD HAVE CHOSEN
A DIFFERENT COURSE
OR REFUSED THE CASE.
BUT I AM INNOCENT.
I HAVE NEVER CONCEALED
ANYTHING,
HAVE I, GENTLEMEN?
OH, WELL, SPEAK UP.
I HAVE MAINTAINED
MY INNOCENCE
FROM DAY ONE,
AND I STILL
MAINTAIN IT.
NO ONE HERE HAS
HEARD ME SAY
ANYTHING
TO THE CONTRARY.
ROBIN, HE'S RIGHT.
GO AHEAD. WITHDRAW.
GO AHEAD.
I WILL GE A MISTRIAL,
AND YOU,
MY DEAR SIR,
WILL GE A DISBARMENT.
I GUARANTEE IT.
YOU REALLY ARE
BLOATED
WITH SELF-IMPORTANCE,
AREN'T YOU?
DON'T PROVOKE ME.
OTHER PEOPLE HAVE
PROVOKED ME.
LIKE LIZA WILLIAMS
AND LUTHER MOSES?
I WAS ABOUT TO SAY,
"AND LIVED TO REGRET IT."
DO YOU SERIOUSLY
THINK THAT YOU CAN PROD
ME INTO A CONFESSION?
OH, YOU REALLY ARE
AMUSING.
I'M SICK OF YOU,
BENOIT.
I'M SICK OF SEEING
YOU PRANCE AROUND
LIKE SOME
RIDICULOUS PEACOCK.
HAVE YOU ANY IDEA
WHAT IT TAKES
TO KILL A HUMAN BEING,
MR. WEATHERS?
I DON'T MEAN
ONE BRUTE BASHING
ANOTHER BRUTE'S
SKULL OU OF PRIMITIVE
PASSION.
I MEAN, THE KIND
OF MEASURED,
DISPASSIONATE ACTION
THAT COMES
FROM ABSOLUTE
CLARITY OF MIND,
TRANSCENDS
RATIONAL THOUGHT.
THE KIND OF ACTION
THAT SPRINGS
FROM ABSOLUTE
NECESSITY,
UNCLOUDED
BY THE RESTRAINTS
OF CONSCIENCE,
MERCY, PITY.
THE KIND OF ACTION
THAT ALLOWS ONE TO TAKE
A COMMON, ORDINARY HAMMER
AND WITH CLINICAL PRECISION
SPLIT A SKULL SO CLEANLY
THAT THE CRANIUM CRACKS
RIGHT THROUGH THE MEDULLA,
ALLOWING THE CLAW
OF THE HAMMER TO BE USED
TO PRY BACK
THE SKULL CLEANLY,
EXPOSING THE BRAIN
WHILE THE SUBJEC REMAINS ALIVE,
EVEN AWARE.
SUCH A MAN IS
TO BE ENVIED,
REVERED,
AND MUCH FEARED.
NEVER PARALYZED
BY IMPOTENCE OF WILL.
LUTHER MOSES MAY WELL
HAVE ENCOUNTERED
SUCH A MAN,
AND LIZA WILLIAMS,
AND LIZA WILLIAMS' MOTHER
MUST FEAR SUCH A MAN.
EVEN YOU MAY ENCOUNTER
SUCH A MAN SOMEDAY.
DO NOT INVOLVE YOURSELF
IN BETRAYAL, MR. WEATHERS.
BUT IF YOU IMAGINE
THAT I AM SUCH A MAN...
THEN YOUR JUDGMEN IS CLOUDED INDEED.
OH. I MERELY
TELL YOU THIS
SO THAT YOU KNOW
THE SORT OF MAN
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
I AM A PROFESSOR
LITERATURE.
IN SHORT,
A SOMEWHA DISAGREEABLE
BUT BENIGN
A PERCEPTIVE
BUT INNOCENT MAN.
SO DO LET'S GET ON
WITH IT, GENTLEMEN.
GOOD DAY TO YOU ALL.
OH, MY GOD.
THAT WAS QUITE
A SHOW.
SHOW? WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
HE RIPPED HER SKULL OPEN.
GOD KNOWS WHAT HE DID
TO MOSES,
AND GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S
GONNA DO TO LIZA'S MOTHER.
HE DIDN'T SAY THAT.
ROBIN, I THINK HE
WANTS A MISTRIAL.
THE ACQUITTAL RATIO
GOES UP DRAMATICALLY
IN SECOND TRIALS.
YOU KNOW THAT.
HE KNOWS THAT.
NOW YOU HAVE
ABSOLUTELY NO BASIS
WHATSOEVER
FOR WITHDRAWAL.
HE ADMITTED NOTHING.
HE THREATENED
MRS. WILLIAMS' LIFE.
LISTEN. WE'RE
REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE COURT.
WE'RE OBLIGATED
TO REVEAL THAT.
IT WAS A HYPOTHETICAL
STATEMENT,
A VEILED THREA AT BEST.
MAYBE HE WANTS
TO BE GUILTY.
I MEAN, IT HAPPENS.
ALL THIS
IMPLIED VIOLENCE
IS CONTRADICTORY
TO HIS ESTABLISHED
BEHAVIOR.
THAT'S
THE WEAK LINK
FOR THE PROSECUTION.
THE GUY HASN'T SHOWN
THE SLIGHTES TENDENCY TO VIOLENCE.
THE TRUTH IS,
WE DON'T KNOW WHA THE TRUTH IS,
WHICH IS EXACTLY
WHAT HE WANTS.
WELL, WHAT ARE WE
GONNA DO?
I'M GOING HOME.
THIS ISN'T FUN
ANYMORE.
I'M SORRY, ROBIN,
BUT THEORIES DON'T MEAN
THAT MUCH TO ME.
I JUST KEEP SEEING
THAT POOR WOMAN.
GOD. YOU SHOULDN' HAVE TOLD ME ALL THAT.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE.
YEAH. YOU SHOULD HAVE.
WHY CAN'T YOU MAKE HIM
PLEAD INSANITY?
THAT'S WHAT HE IS.
I MEAN, ANYONE WHO
CAN EVEN THINK
OF SUCH A THING.
I CAN'T MAKE HIM
DO ANYTHING.
I CAN EITHER
DEFEND HIM
OR WITHDRAW
AND PROBABLY BE
DISBARRED.
THEN BE DISBARRED.
I'D RATHER SEE YOU
BE DISBARRED
THAN HAVE ANYTHING
TO DO WITH LETTING
THIS MAN GO.
IS THAT REALLY WHA YOU WANT ME TO DO?
NO. WHAT GOOD
WILL THAT DO?
THERE WILL ONLY BE
A MISTRIAL,
AND HE'LL PROBABLY
GET OFF ANYWAY.
THEY MAY FIND HIM
GUILTY.
IT'S STILL VERY CLOSE.
AND HE MAY BE INNOCENT.
YOU BELIEVE THAT?
NO.
Man: JO ANN, CHARLIE'S
GETTING REALLY HOT.
COME ON!
I'M COMING.
TWO MINUTES, OK?
I GOT TO GO.
I'LL SEE YOU LATER?
I DON'T THINK SO.
I THINK I--I JUS GOT TO LET YOU DO
WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
I CAN'T HELP,
AND I CAN'T DEAL
WITH THAT.
IT SOUNDS SERIOUS.
IT'S NOT.
I MEAN, IT'S--
IT'S NOT SERIOUS
FOR US.
I'LL SEE YOU
WHEN IT'S ALL OVER.
MEANING YOU'RE NO COMING TOMORROW.
NO. I DON' THINK SO.
JUST PROMISE ME
ONE THING--
THAT YOU'LL TRY
YOUR BEST TO LE THE TRUTH COME OUT.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHA IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE
ABOUT, ISN'T IT?
IN FAIRY TALES.
SO MAKE THIS ONE
COME TRUE.
YOU CAN DO IT.
YOU'RE STORMY WEATHERS.
I'LL SEE YOU.
[FOOTSTEPS]
YEAH. HERE YOU GO,
MR. WEATHERS.
DON'T DO ANYTHING
I WOULDN'T DO.
THANK YOU, SIR.
HEH HEH.
HEH HEH HEH!
NYEEEHHHH.
NYEEEHHHH!
THE VIBRATOR.
YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT.
HA HA HA!
I'LL TELL YOU,
MR. WEATHERS.
YOU ARE GOOD.
YOU KNOW, I BEEN
HERE NEARLY
20 YEARS,
YOU'RE
THE SLIPPERIEST ONE
I EVER SEEN.
I MEAN, RABBITS,
MISSING BODIES,
YAK SHIT. HA!
YOU'RE GONNA
GET THIS GUY OFF,
I'M TELLING YOU
RIGHT NOW.
YOU GOT THIS JURY
SNOWED.
WELL, I'M OU OF HERE.
I'LL SEE YOU.
OH, GOD.
MR. WEATHERS!
YOU LOOK LIKE HELL.
I'M GONNA GO
WASH UP.
YOU TURNED GRUEL
INTO CHOCOLATE MOUSSE.
YOU SHOULD BE
EXULTANT.
WHAT'S HAPPENED?
I THINK I'M ABOU TO GET A PSYCHOTIC
ACQUITTED.
GO CLEAN UP
AND COME
TO MY OFFICE.
YES, MA'AM.
YOU'RE AS NAIVE
AS THE DAY YOU
WALKED IN HERE.
THEY'RE ALMOS ALWAYS GUILTY.
BUT ALMOST ALWAYS
CONVICTED.
BENOIT MAY WALK.
SO YOU'VE DONE
A GOOD JOB.
YOU'VE UPHELD
YOUR OATH.
I KNOW. THE CODE
OF LEGAL ETHICS SAY
THAT I MUST DO
EVERYTHING I CAN
WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES
OF THE LAW
TO GET AN ACQUITTAL.
AND THE DILEMMA IS?
MY SENSE OF RIGH AND WRONG SAY
THAT I SHOULDN'T.
HOW CAN THE ETHICAL
THING NOT BE MORAL?
BECAUSE THAT'S
THE WAY IT IS,
AND EVEN
STORMY WEATHERS
CAN'T DO
ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
WOULD THIS BE
THAT EASY FOR YOU?
NO. THIS IS
ABOUT AS BRUTAL
AS IT EVER GETS.
ACTUALLY, I HAD
A SIMILAR SITUATION
EARLY ON
IN MY CAREER.
IT WASN' LIFE-INVOLVING
BUT IMPORTANT,
AND I FOLLOWED
THE CODE.
THE RESULTS WERE
SOMEWHAT TRAGIC.
I'VE NEVER
FORGOTTEN IT.
THE WOUNDS PILE UP.
AFTER A WHILE,
YOU ARE AFRAID
YOU'RE NOTHING
BUT SCAR TISSUE.
WELL,
ENOUGH HOMILIES
FROM AUNT ROBERTA.
I UNDERSTAND HE DID
NOT ADMIT HIS GUILT.
NO.
AND HE DID NO TELL YOU DIRECTLY
THAT HE WAS
GOING TO HARM
MRS. WILLIAMS.
NO.
WELL, THEN AS FAR
AS I CAN SEE,
YOUR CHOICES ARE
QUITE SIMPLE.
YOU DO YOUR BES TO GET HIM OFF,
OR YOU GET HIM
TO CONFESS.
WHAT?
THAT'S WITHIN
YOUR MANDATE.
GET HIM TO ADMI HIS GUILT.
LET THE TRUTH
COME OUT.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S
ALL ABOUT, RIGHT?
RIGHT.
I STILL
BELIEVE THAT.
[BELLS RINGING]
Robin: DR. BENOIT.
MR. WEATHERS,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO
TAKE CHISELS
TO ONE ANOTHER AGAIN,
ARE WE?
IT'S GETTING WEARISOME.
NO, WE'RE NOT.
WE HAVE TO DECIDE
WHETHER OR NO YOU'RE GOING TO
TESTIFY.
I WILL DECIDE
WHETHER OR NO I TESTIFY.
DO WE HAVE IT WON?
YOU KNOW BETTER
THAN THAT.
YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT A JURY'S
GONNA DO.
IT COULD GO
EITHER WAY.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET ME
IF YOU CAN, AREN'T YOU?
OR MAYBE I SHOULDN' TESTIFY.
I DON'T THINK
YOU SHOULD.
YOU WON'T BE
A GOOD WITNESS.
I'LL BE AS GOOD
AS I NEED TO BE.
IS THA YOUR DECISION?
YES.
YES. I THINK SO.
ALL RIGHT,
BUT I MUST WARN YOU
THAT MURRAY
IS BRILLIANT, TRULY.
THE EMPHASIS,
FOR MY BENEFIT,
ON "TRULY"?
YOU'RE PUSHING
THE RIGHT BUTTONS NOW,
MR. WEATHERS.
CONGRATULATIONS.
BUT I AM
BRILLIANT, TOO,
OR HADN'T I TOLD YOU?
Bailiff: DO YOU SWEAR
TO TELL THE TRUTH,
THE WHOLE TRUTH,
AND NOTHING
BUT THE TRUTH?
I DO.
BE SEATED.
WOULD YOU PLEASE
STATE YOUR NAME
FOR THE RECORD?
MY NAME IS
DOUGLAS BENOIT.
AND YOUR OCCUPATION.
I AM A PROFESSOR
AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY.
AND HOW LONG
HAVE YOU BEEN
SO EMPLOYED?
14 YEARS.
ARE YOU MARRIED,
DR. BENOIT?
YES. I HAVE BEEN
MARRIED FOR 19 YEARS.
THAT IS MY WIFE
SITTING RIGHT OVER THERE,
AND I THANK GOD
THAT THROUGH ALL THIS
SHE STILL LOVES ME.
YOUR MARRIAGE
IS IMPORTAN TO YOU, THEN?
IT IS THE MOST IMPORTAN THING IN MY LIFE.
SIR, DID YOU
HAVE AN AFFAIR
WITH LIZA WILLIAMS?
YES. I AM ASHAMED
TO ADMIT THAT I DID.
I AM A VAIN MAN,
MR. WEATHERS.
I HAVE TROUBLE
IN RESISTING
THE ATTENTION
OF WOMEN,
BUT DESPITE
THE CONTRADICTION,
I LOVE MY WIFE.
I ALWAYS HAVE.
DR. BENOIT, WHERE
WERE YOU ON THE NIGH OF NOVEMBER 12?
I WAS AT MY HOME.
WITH YOUR WIFE?
NO. SHE WAS AWAY
VISITING HER SISTER.
YOU ARE AWARE, SIR,
ARE YOU NOT,
THAT THIS WAS THE NIGH OF LIZA WILLIAMS'
DISAPPEARANCE?
YES, I AM.
AND DO YOU HAVE
ANY INFORMATION
PERTAINING
TO THE DISAPPEARANCE
OF LIZA WILLIAMS?
I SWEAR I DON'T.
I SAW HER
THE EVENING
SHE DISAPPEARED,
BUT I HAVE NEVER
SEEN HER AGAIN
SINCE THEN.
YOU ARE ALSO AWARE
THAT THE MURDER WEAPON
WAS FOUND IN YOUR CAR?
I HAVE NO IDEA
HOW IT GOT THERE.
SOMEONE HAD TO HAVE
PUT IT THERE,
SOMEONE WHO WANTED
THE GIRL'S DEATH
LINKED TO ME.
OBVIOUSLY,
HE OR SHE DID
AN EXCELLENT JOB.
SIR, DID YOU KILL
LIZA WILLIAMS?
NO, I DID NOT.
I KNOW THAT I WAS
AT HOME ALONE.
I HAVE NO ALIBIS
OR ANYTHING,
BUT IF YOU DIDN' DO ANYTHING,
THEN YOU DON' NEED AN ALIBI.
I AM INNOCENT.
ALL I HAVE
IS MY WORD,
BUT I AM INNOCENT.
THANK YOU,
DR. BENOIT.
THANK YOU.
YOUR WITNESS.
YOUR HONOR,
ONE MOMENT, PLEASE.
[WHISPERING]
Bring that book
to Jo Ann.
[NO AUDIO]
Judge: MR. MURRAY?
Murray: DR. BENOIT,
I TAKE I BY YOUR TESTIMONY
YOU'RE A MAN WITH
A RATHER HEAVY LIBIDO.
OBJECTION.
HE TESTIFIED AS TO
HIS SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS
WITH LIZA WILLIAMS.
HIS SEX DRIVE
OR LACK OF I HAVE NOTHING TO DO
WITH THIS CASE.
I WANT TO KNOW
WHY THE DEFENDAN SPENT TIME WITH THE VICTIM.
Judge: I'LL ALLOW IT.
DOCTOR?
I DO NOT DENY HAVING HAD
SEXUAL RELATIONS
WITH THE GIRL.
NOR DO I DENY
OTHER INDISCRETIONS
WHICH SIMILARLY
BEAR UPON MY SENSE
OF FIDELITY.
BUT I DID NO MURDER ANYBODY.
I COULD NO EVEN IMAGINE
THAT KIND
OF VIOLENCE.
I SEE.
AND DURING THE COURSE
OF YOUR MARRIAGE, SIR,
HOW MANY OTHER WOMEN
HAVE YOU SLEPT WITH?
Weathers:
OBJECTION!
SUSTAINED.
HE UNWILLING TO
DEFEND IS HONOR
IS NOT A MAN.
HENRY DAVID THOREAU
SAID THAT.
YABBA-DABBA-DOO.
FREDERICK FLINTSTONE
SAID THAT. SO WHAT?
[LAUGHTER]
ASK QUESTIONS,
MR. MURRAY.
A MAN SHOULD
DEFEND HIS HONOR,
SHOULDN'T HE,
DR. BENOIT?
YES, I THINK
HE SHOULD.
AND...
IF YOU WERE WRONGED,
SIR,
WOULD YOU PASSIVELY
ACCEPT IT?
I WOULD LIKE
TO THINK NOT.
AND IN FACT,
WHEN LUTHER MOSES
WRONGED YOU,
YOU DIDN'T LIE DOWN
FOR THAT, DID YOU?
OBJECTION.
YOU PHYSICALLY
ATTACKED HIM,
DIDN'T YOU?
OBJECTION. PRIOR ACTS
ARE INADMISSIBLE.
SUSTAINED.
SORRY.
HE'S BADGERING HIM.
THAT'S WHAT BENOI WANTS.
[WHISPERING]
He's blowing it.
LIZA WILLIAMS
WRONGED YOU, DIDN'T SHE?
I SUPPOSE.
YOU SUPPOSE?
SHE BLACKMAILED YOU,
EXPLOITED YOU,
TAUNTED YOU.
What's he doing?
He's making Benoit
look sympathetic, damn it.
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS?
IT'S THE HAMMER
THAT WAS FOUND
IN MY CAR.
EVER SEE I BEFORE THIS TRIAL?
NO.
EVER HOLD I COMFORTABLY
IN YOUR HAND
THE WAY YOU'RE
HOLDING IT RIGHT NOW?
OBJECTION!
THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!
HE'S PUT THE HAMMER
IN HIS HANDS
TO FACILITATE
THE PICTURE FOR THE JURY,
AND WHEN HE
ASKS THEM LATER
TO CLOSE THEIR EYES
AND IMAGINE IT,
THEY'LL BE BETTER ABLE
TO IMAGINE IT,
YOUR HONOR, BECAUSE--
SAVE YOUR SPEECH!
YOU MADE YOUR OBJECTION!
MY OBJECTION
IS JUST BEGINNING!
SIDEBAR--
NO, YOUR HONOR,
ON THE RECORD.
THIS MAN HAS COMMITTED
GROSS MISCONDUC TO GET ME TO MOVE
FOR A MISTRIAL
BECAUSE HE KNOWS
HE CAN'T WIN!
Murray:
WHAT IN GOD'S NAME--
HE HAS INTRODUCED
EVIDENCE THAT HE KNOWS
TO BE FALSE!
HE KNOWS--
COUNSELOR, THIS IS
A SERIOUS CHARGE.
HE KNOWS MY CLIEN IS NOT A VIOLENT MAN!
THE STATE PSYCHIATRIS TOLD HIM.
HE CALLED THE DEFENDAN "TIMID, SUBMISSIVE."
HE KNOWS MY CLIEN DID NOT ATTACK
LUTHER MOES.
YOU HAVE TWO EYEWITNESSES
WHO SAW HIM COWER
FROM THE CONFRONTATION!
I DID NOT COWER!
HE TELLS THE JURY
HOW COMFORTABLE
THE HAMMER LOOKS
IN HIS HANDS.
BUT DOES HE TELL THEM
ABOUT THE TRACE OF VOMI ON IT?
DOES HE MENTION
THAT WHEN THE POLICE
FIRST SHOWED
THE BLOOD-STAINED HAMMER
TO THE DEFENDANT,
HE BECAME SO QUEASY
THAT HE THREW UP?
YOUR HONOR,
HE'S TESTIFYING!
YOU TESTIFIED, TOO,
AND YOU LIED!
I MOVE FOR--
MR. WEATHERS.
...FALSE IMPLICATIONS!
THIS IS A LAST-MINUTE
GROPE TO DEPIC MY CLIEN AS A VIOLENT WOMANIZER
WHEN HE KNOWS THA JUST THE OPPOSITE
IS TRUE!
DON'T PRESUME
WHAT I KNOW!
IT IS IN
YOUR OWN FILES!
ATTACK LUTHER MOSES?
HE BEGGED HIM FOR MERCY.
HE CRAWLED AWAY
LIKE A FRIGHTENED PUPPY,
AND YOU KNOW IT!
Judge: MR. WEATHERS?
Weathers:
HEAVY LIBIDO? HA!
YOU HAVE A SIGNED
STATEMEN SAYING THAT HE WAS
SEXUALLY INADEQUATE!
YOU WANT TO HEAR
ABOUT HIS SEX DRIVE?
LET'S ASK HIS WIFE!
MR. WEATHERS.
THEY TRIED TO SAVE
THEIR MARRIAGE
BY HAVING A CHILD,
BUT HE COULDN' COME THROUGH!
THIS IS A MAN WHO IS
A SEX-DRIVEN KILLER?
MR. WEATHERS.
LOOK AT THE ADJECTIVES
USED TO DESCRIBE HIM
IN YOUR OWN FILES.
THAT IS ENOUGH.
A SCARED MAN, A WEAK MAN.
MR. WEATHERS,
YOU ARE IN CONTEMPT.
AFRAID...
IMPOTENT!
MR. WEATHERS!
IMPOTENT!
MR. WEATHERS!
SHUT UP!
IMPOTENT!
[WOMAN SCREAMS]
[PEOPLE MURMURING]
[PEOPLE GASPING]
DOCTOR.
DR. BENOIT?
DR. BENOIT,
YOU MAY STEP DOWN NOW.
WHAT'S HE DONE?
MY GOD,
HE'S GOTTEN HIM
TO CONFESS.
Judge: DOCTOR.
MAY HAVE GOTTEN HIMSELF
A DISBARMENT.
Judge: WE CAN CONTINUE
AT A LATER DATE.
POSSIBLY.
DR. BENOIT?
PLAYYY BALL!
[SIGH]
OBVIOUSLY,
WE CANNOT PROCEED.
MR. MURRAY
AND MR. WEATHERS,
IN MY CHAMBERS, PLEASE.
YOUR HONOR?
THE PROSECUTION
HAS NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
THERE ARE TIMES
WHEN ONE WISHES
ONE HAD THE WISDOM
OF SOLOMON.
MR. WEATHERS?
YOUR HONOR...
IN LIGHT OF WHA WE HAVE SEEN
IN THIS COURTROOM TODAY,
I MOVE THA THESE PROCEEDINGS
BE DECLARED A MISTRIAL
AND THE ATTORNEYS
FOR DR. BENOI BE ALLOWED TO PREPARE
AN APPROPRIATE DEFENSE.
LACKING THE WISDOM
OF SOLOMON,
I MUST RELY UPON
MY OWN JUDGMENT.
THE QUESTION OF
GUILT OR INNOCENCE
HAS NOT BEEN IMPEACHED
BY DR. BENOIT'S OUTBURST.
THE QUESTION OF
HIS STATE OF MIND
CAN BE ADDRESSED
BY AN APPEAL.
THIS TRIAL WILL CONTINUE.
EXCEPTION.
NOTED.
DO YOU WISH A RECESS
AT THIS TIME?
MR. WEATHERS?
THE DEFENSE RESTS.
[PEOPLE MURMURING]
I NOTE FOR THE RECORD
THAT DR. BENOIT HAS WAIVED
HIS RIGHTS TO BE PRESEN AT THE READING OF THE VERDICT.
MADAM FOREMAN,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
OF THE JURY,
HEARKEN NOW
TO YOUR VERDICT.
"WE, THE JURY,
FIND THE DEFENDANT,
DOUGLAS BENOIT,
GUILTY OF MURDER
IN THE FIRST DEGREE."
SO SAY YOU ALL?
Jury: AYE.
Judge: SO BE IT.
SENTENCING WILL TAKE PLACE
TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY.
MR. WEATHERS, I SHUDDER
TO THINK OF THE IMPLICATIONS
OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED
IN THIS COURTROOM,
THOUGH I MUST CONFESS
I AM NOT ENTIRELY
WITHOUT SYMPATHY
FOR YOUR ACTIONS.
NONETHELESS,
FOR YOUR CONTEMPT,
I ORDER YOU TO SERVE 10 DAYS
IN THE COUNTY DETENTION,
COMMENCEMENT OF SENTENCE
TO BE DELAYED PENDING APPEAL.
THIS JURY IS DISMISSED.
THIS COURT IS ADJOURNED.
[BANGS GAVEL]
ALL RISE.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
WHAT WOULD YOU
HAVE DONE?
I WOULD HAVE
GOTTEN HIM OFF.
YOU'D REALLY HAVE
LET THAT MAN
WALK THE STREET?
I'M A LAWYER!
ROBIN, YOU DID
THE RIGHT THING.
ANYTHING ELSE
WOULD HAVE BEEN
WRONG.
I HOPE SO.
I WOULDN'T WANT YOU
AS MY LAWYER,
YOU UNDERSTAND.
HA HA HA!
HMM.
WHY ARE YOU CRYING?
I DON'T HAVE
THE SLIGHTEST IDEA.
WE'RE SUING
THE PRESIDEN OF THE UNITED STATES.
WELL, IT'S A CLASS ACTION
ON BEHALF OF BRIGITTE
AND ALL THE KIDS
AT THE SUNSHINE SCHOOL.
THEY GOT RIGHTS.
BUT THE PRESIDENT...
AND THE U.S. CONGRESS.
I DON'T MESS AROUND.
I'M GONNA CRY.
YOU ARE CRYING.
NO, I'M NOT.
LOOK. YOU SAID
YOU NEEDED A GOOD LAWYER.
WELL, YOU GO AN EX-HOTSHO CRIMINAL ATTORNEY,
FRESH OUT OF
THE LIMELIGHT.
ROBIN...
YEAH, I KNOW.
I'M A HELL OF A GUY.
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