Guilty as Sin (1993)

Sustained.
Proceed, Mr Schiff.
when you entered that
Suite 405 of the Holiday lnn.
Mr Lombardo was alone in
the room with Richard Colbert,
a deputy director of the
lnternal Revenue Service,
who was kneeling beside a coffee table
counting out stacks of $100 bills.
And will you tell the jury
how you knew of this...
Therefore, with probable cause,
you applied for a warrant?
- Yes, sir.
- Which Federal Judge Griffen granted.
Thank you. Your witness.
Agent Powell, as you know,
my client, Ed Lombardo,
- is charged with extortion.
- Yes, ma'am.
Did you observe Richard Colbert
when he first entered the hotel?
- Yes, ma'am.
- Was he carrying anything?
- No, ma'am.
- Why not?
We didn't want him to know
that we were there.
So Richard Colbert
could have conceivably brought
the $125,000 in with him.
He could or he could not have.
Your agency has a well-deserved
reputation for thoroughness.
Did you also investigate
Richard Colbert's background...
to ascertain why he might have
been carrying such a large sum?
- The man gambled.
- l'm sorry. l didn't hear that.
that Colbert came there
that night to place a bet?
Agent Powell, hadn't a division
of your task force been trying
to link Mr Lombardo...
- We have.
- And in those circles,
$125,000 would not be considered
an unusually large wager.
- Am l correct?
- l heard of bets like that.
And wasn't your arrest made just
two days before the Super Bowl?
- Yes.
- Agent Powell, did you--
- l've got everything l need.
- You're sensational, Counsellor.
- What would it take
to keep you on retainer?
- A lot.
Here's the situation:
The FBl had a Title lll wiretap
authorization, all right,
but it expired five days
before the arrest.
No, no, they followed the rules.
They pulled the tap.
Well, then how'd they find out
about a meeting that was planned
just the day before?
An FBl guy working inside
the Lombardo organization.
They're not gonna risk blowing his cover
to get a simple bribery conviction.
Don't worry. You won't.
No matter what l need,
you're always there for me.
Count on it. You know, if your mother
hadn't turned me down nine times,
l-l'd be your father.
ls it unethical for me to ask
just how you got your information?
Well, there's a secretary
over at the Justice Department.
And there is nothing
a 62-year-old woman won't do...
for a date with a six--
72-year-old man.
Goddam it! lt took us two and a half
years to get this man into position.
lt'll take them no time
to finger him and kill him!
My job is to get Ed Lombardo
off, not to aid and abet...
in exposing a federal
undercover agent.
My client knows nothing
about this conversation.
-Well, how can l rely
on you to keep quiet?
-Because l'm giving you my word!
l'll leave it to you two
to figure a way out of this.
- Got it here as fast as l could.
- Oh, thanks.
By the way,
your fan is back again.
He's been here every day.
l mean, he's gorgeous.
He can't take his eyes off you.
You want me to find out
what he wants?
- l know what he wants.
- All rise!
Your Honour, might l ask the court
to examine this document, please?
Well, Mr Schiff, what do you
have to say about this?
maintained the taps
until the date of arrest.
- Yes, it appears so.
- Your Honour, on that basis,
l'd like to move...
for a directed verdict
of not guilty.
l have no choice
but to grant the motion.
The defendant is released from custody.
These proceedings are adjourned.
Yes!
Couldn't you have found something
a little more official?
lt's my favourite
Chinese joint.
Not bad for a night school lawyer.
See you next time, Counsellor.
Not necessarily.
Ladies and gentlemen,
first of all l'd like to thank...
my brilliant attorney,
Jennifer Haines.
She knew l was an innocent man.
of American justice.
Thank you very much.
How are you tonight,
Miss Haines?
Very well.
ls there anything better than winning?
Hope your day was as good as mine.
- lt was pretty good, in fact.
- Really?
Does this mean
it's time to go home?
You'll never make it
to the parking lot.
- What about the cleaning crew?
- Mmm, they don't get here
'til about midnight.
Should be done with you by then.
You know, sometimes l wonder why
we both even bother to pay rent.
We both have kitchens;
we eat out every night.
We have bedrooms,
but we only sleep in them.
You think there's
something wrong with us?
Think we should be more conventional?
Check into a seedy motel?
l don't have to get up tomorrow.
Well, l do.
Well, our flight to Aspen
isn't 'til 6:00.
Jen, you better get yourself
a good criminal attorney.
- Why?
- Because you're gonna murder me.
- Why?
- Because this damned acquisition...
gets more complicated every day.
- l'll make it up to you.
- l've heard this before.
Hey! You, of all people,
should understand.
l can't help it. lt's work.
So is this relationship.
- Way to go, Jennifer!
- Hey, hey.
Have you seen the morning paper?
Get a load of the picture
on page three.
Hope they didn't catch me with my eyes
closed and my mouth open, as usual.
lt's not you. They claim he threw her
out the window last Friday.
You'd think he'd
still be in mourning.
The police are looking all over
for him, he has the nerve...
to walk into a Superior Court
and watch a trial? Thanks.
Chutzpah.
- Yeah?
- There's a gentleman here
who says you're expecting him.
- A Mr Greenhill?
- So he wasn't just watching the trial.
- He was watching you.
- Tell him l'm in a meeting.
l can't see him.
Didn't anyone ever say
no to you before?
Yes. My wife said no,
just before l threw her out the window.
You find it amusing
being charged with murder?
Of course not. lt did get your
attention though, didn't it?
ls that why you showed up at the
Lombardo trial? To get my attention?
Absolutely.
l want you to defend me.
They tell me you're the best there is,
that you're smart and tough.
Couldn't hazard a guess.
who used to take her
to trials after school...
- Where'd you hear that?
- Uh, some old bailiff
down at the courthouse.
l see the little girl who,
at the ripe age of 14,
jumped up in the middle
of a murder trial and said, ''Objection!''
And the judge took you
back to his chambers...
and you ended up clerking
for that judge ten years later.
And l really delve into
anything that interests me.
Uh-huh. And did this interest
develop before or after...
you threw your wife
out the window?
We need to get
one thing very clear.
l did not murder anybody.
Come on, Counsellor.
You're experienced enough...
to recognize a set-up
when you see one.
- Who set you up?
- My wife.
She throws herself out the window
and makes it look like you did it?
You don't know how crazy
some women can behave.
- l'm sure you do.
- Yes, l do.
l've lived off of women
all my life.
That's all l'm good at.
lt's my talent--
Getting women to do
what l want them to do.
Then you must have
wanted her dead.
l knew she was angry
with me and upset.
Depressed over our relationship.
Now, what could a man do
to get his wife that, that angry?
Miss Haines,
God put too damn many
attractive women on this earth.
Rita knew that about me
before we were married,
and l never promised to change.
You don't portray yourself
as a very sympathetic figure.
There's a hell of a big
difference between...
being a compulsive
womanizer and a murderer.
- Was your wife rich?
- Very.
So you stand to inherit
a great deal of money?
Yes. And l've earned every penny.
Look at what she's
putting me through now.
She could have just divorced you.
Not good enough.
Miss Haines,
my wife was a very sick woman.
Two years ago she had to be
institutionalized for seven months.
Clinical depression.
And she swore that she'd get back at me
even if it meant from the grave.
And now, thanks to her
letter writing skills,
l might just spend the rest
of my life behind bars.
- There was a letter?
- Yes.
lt arrived at the State's Attorney's
Office the day after her death.
They wouldn't let me see it,
but they made it pretty clear...
Where did you go?
Do l have to answer that?
l promise, nothing you say
could lower my opinion of you.
All right.
l met a very nice lady
at the bar at the Drake.
She had some clean shirts at
her place; so many of them do.
And they always seem to fit.
Terrible picture, don't you think?
Do you know that there
are some women that are...
always attracted
to men the same size?
l'm counting on you to arrange that.
l have someone at the State's Attorney's
Office you can surrender to...
without a lot of media coverage.
- And so you'll handle my defence?
- Oh, thank you, but no.
Why not?
Because you don't like me?
- Or because you do?
- You're not my type.
l wouldn't be
too sure about that.
Come on. Why won't you handle
my defence? l'm innocent.
How would l know that?
Because, Miss Haines,
you can tell about clients...
like l can tell
about women, like that.
You know, it's funny.
l actually believe you.
Liars are seldom as blunt
or ridiculous.
Well, then, come on. For every
five Lombardos you represent...
you should take on
at least one innocent man.
-Mmm, my calendar's full.
-l can't believe you're turning me down.
l'm sure it's a novel experience,
but you'll get used to it.
l never have.
l'll tell you what.
l'll arrange for Josephine Grimes
to come see you.
She's a capable attorney
with her own firm...
and two grown sons as her partners.
l'm sure she'll be safe with you.
Get me Stanley Helman
in the State's Attorney's Office.
- Well, l'm glad you're not
taking that vacation.
- Well--
We've decided to let you take over
on this Barry Carpenter mess.
uh, he's as innocent as a baby.
Let's hold off on that a minute.
Yesterday l spent ten minutes
in my office with a slick...
but very attractive womanizer
who really needs an attorney.
- Who?
- David Greenhill.
Oh, no. Not that guy who
threw his wife out the window.
- l don't know that he did.
- What did you tell him?
l turned him down,
but l'm having second thoughts.
- Why?
- Because l've never represented
anyone like Greenhill before.
He is completely in love
with himself, manipulative...
and an outrageous flirt.
Uh-huh.
l mean, he is a classic target.
The media is gonna have
a field day with him.
''Gigolo murders society wife.''
''Lady-killer kills lady.''
They are gonna hate him
and try and destroy him.
ls that why you're
tempted to take him on?
- Maybe.
- You're really feeling your oats,
aren't you, Jennifer?
- You said you thought
l could be one of the best.
- Mmm.
You carried me through law school,
kept moving me up in the firm.
You want an honest answer?
l am feeling my oats.
- Good.
- l think l can get him off.
Besides, he makes a very good
case for his own innocence.
- l believe him.
- Well, l can see you're
talking yourself into it.
He should be able to afford
the very best defence, eh?
l thought you'd find
something positive about it.
You actually showed up.
You can't-- You can't imagine
how much better l feel...
- just knowing that you're here.
- Well, don't feel too good.
The State's Attorney's Office
say the lab reports show...
your fingerprints
all over that window.
And the houseboy claims he
cleaned it just the day before.
l-lt was stuck.
Rita deliberately...
got me to open the window
that morning.
Can anybody corroborate that?
lt was after the houseboy went out.
Goddam it. Don't you think
if l was gonna toss my wife
out the fuckin' window,
l'd have the common sense to
wipe my fingerprints off of it?
You don't have to convince me.
- Okay.
- Rodriguez! Your defence
counsellor is here.
Here's a copy of the letter she sent
to the State's Attorney's Office.
Beautiful.
According to her, l may as well have
taken an ad out in the Chicago Trib.
Our first problem is gonna be
to get you free on bail,
which is always very difficult
in a capital offence.
Then l guess l got me
an attorney.
Can you post bond?
Well, my wife's family
has tied up all the assets,
but Miriam said that she would
stand for the bond and--
Oh, and she said
she'd pay your fee.
- Miriam?
- Miriam Langford.
She's a dear friend.
You don't mind
if l have friends, do you?
Just don't marry them
'til the trial's over, okay?
Ah, don't worry about that.
l might even fall in love
with somebody else by then.
Your Honour, my client, David Greenhill,
has no prior record...
of any criminal activity,
nor has he any history of violence.
He maintains strong financial
and property ties to the community.
There is no reason to believe there is
any danger he'll flee the jurisdiction.
We respectfully request
bail not be denied.
Your Honour, we're dealing here with a
case of cold-blooded murder for profit.
An act so brutal, so premeditated,
it would lead any civilized person...
to believe the perpetrator would be
a danger to others in the community.
Therefore, it's in
the interest of the people that
David Greenhill be denied bail.
The court sets bail
in the amount of $250,000.
And you will surrender
your passport today. Next.
- Let me get outta here.
- Case number 623394.
Miriam, thank you
so much for everything.
l can't tell you
what this means to me.
You're the only one
that believes l'm innocent.
- What about Miss Haines?
- Oh, God, Miss Haines!
She said she'd defend me
even if l was guilty.
- That's her job, isn't it?
- l don't trust her.
See, people like us, Miriam,
we're-- We're warm people.
But she's a--
She's an attorney!
Don't you talk to her about us.
Don't discuss anything with her.
- Do you understand?
- She's awfully attractive.
Not to me, she's not.
All she cares about is winning.
She's like a goddam machine.
She did get you out of jail.
lt's what you wanted.
No, baby.
This is what l wanted.
- Just to your right, ma'am.
- Thank you.
- Hello. Yes, l'm here
to see Mr Greenhill.
- Oh, yes.
Good morning.
Thanks for coming.
Really nice of you to meet here
instead of at the office.
Must feel good to be home.
lt does kinda.
l'm trying not to think
about that window.
That is what you came to see,
isn't it? That window?
l need to know a little
about your background:
- your family, where you went to school.
- Oh, sure.
l was an army brat, in and out
of one school after another.
My father was an artillery captain.
Sit down, please.
l was an only child
and my mother's whole world.
She used to steal money out of
my father's pockets and give it to me.
l don't think it mattered
too much when he went away
to Vietnam and never came back.
l know it's probably hard to believe
given my current lifestyle,
but l hardly dated
when l was in high school.
ln fact, l didn't really start going out
until after my mother died.
And then only with older women.
What does that tell ya?
- Have you ever had
psychiatric counselling?
- Once.
Woman psychiatrist.
You can imagine
how that turned out.
Well, at least she didn't
charge me for the sessions.
But you've never
been married before?
Friend of mine once said,
''Never marry a woman for her money.
Get her money without
marrying her.''
Hi! This is a surprise.
Do we have plans tonight?
l had a visitor today
at the office.
- Your client dropped by.
- Yeah?
- Which client?
- David Greenhill.
- What?
- Yeah, just marched in
like he owned the joint.
- What in the world did he want?
- Well, he wanted to thank me...
for giving up our trip to Aspen
so that you could defend him,
but since l did hurt my knee
there last year, maybe it was
better that l didn't go.
Now, uh, how the hell
did he know that stuff?
Sweetheart, l have no idea.
l've told him absolutely nothing
about my personal life.
Yeah, well, somebody's
been doin' some talking.
You know, the whole time
he was looking me up and down.
- He was checking me out.
- He does that with everybody.
Oh, yeah?
So how do you rate, Jen?
What are you, a ten? Eleven?
Hasn't he told you yet?
Look, Phil, l don't like what
he did, but you're really--
l don't like your client.
Get rid of him.
- ''Get rid of him''?
- He's a slimy son of a bitch.
He very well may be, but the
question is: ls he a murderer?
He's butting into our lives,
so l say dump him.
You have no right to ask that of me.
by the way,
whom l truly detested?
How many times have l had to
sit with them and dine with them,
listen to their stupid jokes
and smile sweetly 'cause you
had a deal going on with them?
Look, Counsellor, l'm not on the jury,
so save the brilliant summation.
The bottom line: There's nothing
going on with me and this guy.
l'm not attracted to him.
He's not coming on to me.
and l am uncomfortable
in the situation, l will make...
- the appropriate decision then.
- Lawyer talk.
Why do you have to use
that tone of voice...
There's no point talkin', Jennifer.
You always have to win.
David Greenhill did not
start this, you did.
Well, hi there.
- What's so important?
- You dropped in to see...
-Did he say l was rude?
-lt doesn't matter what he said.
you better get yourself
another attorney. You can tell
your Miriam Langford...
to start looking because
l will not be there for you.
Actually, l think
Phil's a hell of a guy.
He's crazy about you.
You know, l'm not remotely
interested in your opinion.
Jennifer, l-l can take criticism.
But please try
to understand that l've...
never been accused of a crime
before in my whole life.
l'm completely vulnerable.
Right now,
you-you're my entire world.
l understand that. But if you
ever do that again, l'm walking.
- No, you won't.
- Oh, just watch me.
Please, Jennifer, l--
l don't even have Miriam any more.
lt's finished.
l broke it off myself.
Christ sakes, Jennifer,
Miriam wasn't a stupid woman.
She could see what
was happening between us.
Wha-What was happen--
What did you tell her?
l told her that right now,
that you're the only woman...
in the world that
means anything to me.
- David, are you crazy?
- cut me off and then got on a plane...
and went to Europe,
went to Geneva.
She has a house there.
At least l think that's where she went.
'Course, she's got 50 houses
all over the fuckin' world.
Empty houses with servants
sittin' around on their asses,
waitin' for somebody to show up.
She didn't give a fuck about me! She
just wanted to know that l was there.
David, she was also
paying for your defence.
- You'll get your money,
don't worry about that.
- From who?
You're going to prove me innocent
and then there will be millions.
You know, no matter how bad
it ever got with me and Rita,
at least l knew she had
real feelings for me.
She framed you for her own murder.
l'd say you're not doing that well...
- in the female department.
- Well, l just am not-- Oh, shit!
What am l? Am l some kind
of a fuckin' lowlife...
because l take money
when it's offered to me?
Nobody says a goddam thing.
lt's perfectly fine, isn't it?
Well, you--
lf you wanna talk about...
goddam women as sex objects?
What about--
What about men? What about me?
They use me.
And then they fuckin' drop me...
whenever they damn well please.
l do not intend
to represent you any more.
l tried to speak to you rationally, but
you defy all logic, so l'm backing off.
l'm not doing this for him.
l'm doing this because you--
You're an impossible person. l don't
have to put up with it and l won't.
No. No, l'm the one
that has to do this.
l'm the one that has to stand trial.
l have to defend myself
and my whole fuckin' lifestyle.
- Sure, go.
- Then step out of my way.
Oh, and Jennifer?
Ah, l mean, Miss Haines.
Really like your hair that way.
Oh, put the lady on.
Mrs Langford. l'm sorry
to be calling you on your vacation,
but our accounting department informs me
that you haven't remitted any payment...
for Mr Greenhill's
recent fees and expenses.
Yeah, Tom. Hi.
Jennifer, uh, l've just hung up
with Mrs Langford in Geneva.
She, uh, not only refuses
any more financial...
responsibility
for David Greenhill, uh--
She maintains that the,
the two of you are having an affair.
Tom, l had to go
to his apartment yesterday.
He told me while he was waving
a ten-inch kitchen knife
in front of my face--
He told me that l was the only woman
in the world that meant anything to him.
He treats me like we're
intimate. l don't know why,
but he's become fixated on me.
lt's-- lt's scary.
He's your client. You picked him.
l made a mistake.
l really made a mistake.
l'm sorry. Let's dump this guy.
l want off this case.
l want this lunatic out of my life.
- How do we do it?
- So now that the man can't pay,
- suddenly you don't
want any part of him.
- That's not it, Your Honour.
He totally misrepresented his ability
to meet these obligations.
You are associated with one of
the most successful firms in this city.
l don't think it's going to go under
because one client can't pay his bill.
You can always sue for these fees
afterwards and collect in a civil court.
No one's stopping you from that.
Your Honour, he's already
in arrears over 29,000.
- lt's estimat--
- The exact dollar figure
does not concern me.
You took on this man's defence,
filed his plea of not guilty,
went through the pleadings and the
discovery process, and now you want out.
for this entire process to be
repeated with some other attorney?
Why should they foot the bill
because your firm...
didn't obtain an adequate
retainer up front?
This widespread dumping of clients
is an abuse to the entire system.
l intend to see it stopped.
You will provide
the best defence possible.
And l'm gonna keep an eye on you
and make sure that you do.
Request denied.
Mr Greenhill.
ln your letter to me you said
you had complete faith in Miss Haines.
Do you still feel Miss Haines
can give you adequate representation?
Yes, l do, Your Honour.
l guess l'll see you in court.
l won't hold this against you.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
You have some things
for Jennifer Haines,
- uh, 12-C down the street?
- lt was going to be delivered.
Yeah, well, um--
She asked me to run down
and pick 'em up for her.
- Okay.
- Uh, she said...
to just put it on her account?
Very light on the starch,
especially in the collar.
- Okay. l'll remember.
- Thank you.
- Good morning, Rosalie.
- Miss Haines isn't in yet.
Yes, l know, dear. Thank you.
- You look very nice today.
- Good morning, Mr Greenhill.
Hello, Gretchen.
Hello, Virginia.
- Good morning, Mr Greenhill.
- Nice to see you.
- Good morning, Emily.
- You don't have an appointment.
l, l know.
Well, listen, l, uh--
l'm just gonna drop these things off
for Jennifer. She might need them later.
- Should l just put 'em inside?
- Oh, l'll take it.
Oh, okay. Um, and tell Jennifer
l'll just talk to her later.
Ah, she's got
a very busy schedule.
Emily, um, how long have you
worked for Miss Haines?
Well, l'm sure that she
relies on your discretion.
And so do l.
l behaved badly the other day.
l'm sorry.
Look, as soon as you're free, l want us
to go off for a couple of weeks...
and we won't tell anybody
where we're going.
There's a little detail
of earning money for the firm.
No, no, no. They can hardly refuse
to let a girl go on her honeymoon.
Will you marry me?
l guess you do.
l could swear that l know you.
Do you work around Watertower?
Women take care of me.
Mm-mm. l already have one.
But you can pay for it.
Bartender? This one's on her.
-Jennifer, l need to speak to you alone.
-What the hell do you want?
Jennifer, l know l've said
some things that l shouldn't,
but please don't treat me this way.
- l-lt's not right.
- Look, just ignore him.
This is some very weird thing
he's doing, just like leaving
my clothes at my office.
- What are you talkin' about?
- She didn't tell you?
You-You didn't tell him about the
personal items you left at my apartment?
- Look, maybe you should
just talk to the man.
- l don't want to talk to him.
- l do not want him in my personal life.
- All right, you heard her.
You know, it's supposed to
be unethical when a doctor...
or a psychiatrist
seduces their patients.
- But what about when a lawyer does it?
- That's bullshit!
Maybe l know her a little
better than you do, Phil.
-You better get the fuck outta my sight.
-Don't hit him.
That's what he wants.
Jennifer.
This is the monster client syndrome
every lawyer dreads.
Why would he make all that garbage up?
- He's brilliant at finding out
people's weak spots.
- Oh.
Our relationship is your weak spot?
You said that, l didn't.
- Thank you.
- Just drop me off at home, okay?
Whatever you want.
- Hello, Phil?
- Oh, dear.
You're all by yourself.
Why are you doing this?
'Cause if you loved me,
you'd do a better job defending me.
This is like saying ''fuck you''
to your brain surgeon the night
before the operation.
For a limited time only you can receive
this entire box set for only 9.99.
l'm not worried.
l'll see you tomorrow at 10:45.
- What?
- Check your calendar, honey.
We have a scheduled conference
tomorrow at 10:45.
Or should l get word to Judge Tompkins
that you're refusing to see me?
- 10:45.
- Nighty-night.
l'll be with you in a minute.
Let's go over the events
of the afternoon of your wife's death.
You left the apartment
at 20 after 12:00.
The lobby doorman saw you exit
the elevator and go out.
Yeah, isn't that great
he remembered?
You then walked to this
Four Farthings Bar...
on Dickens Street
where you met a woman.
Would you care to tell me
her name and address now?
Counsellor, how would
that sound in court?
While his beloved wife was tossing
herself out the fuckin' window,
our hero was down at the local
bar gettin' his rocks off.
Let's just say l took
a long walk, shall we?
There wasn't any woman,
was there?
- Well, there could have been.
- But there wasn't.
Yes, but there could have been.
l've met a lot of nice ladies
in that particular bar.
- But not on that day?
- Let me ask you something, Counsellor.
But then l haven't
butchered 12 or 14 people.
'Course he's a pro, so l guess
that makes the difference.
Uh, that doesn't
bother you so much.
You're not giving me
very much to work with.
Well, you got them to believe
that Frank Hillman slept right
through the murders...
in his own house
of his wife and both the kids.
l proved, that from his bedroom,
he would not have been able
to hear the screams in the basement.
Yes, l know.
l was there that day.
Oh, yes. Quite a few times.
ln fact,
sometimes it was hard to get in.
ls that when you started thinking
about killing your wife?
Now that you mention it.
Wait a minute. Now, was that
a proper question for you to ask?
By law, l'm forbidden to repeat anything
you tell me in confidence.
But l'm certain you knew that.
Could you explain that to me?
l'm not quite sure how that works.
Oh, l think you are.
Privileged communication
between attorney and client.
Mm-hmm. So, you couldn't
be forced to tell,
- but you could leak something.
- Only at the risk of being disbarred.
l would lose my licence
to practice...
and the facts wouldn't be
admissible in court.
Now, does that pertain
to just the current crime...
that l am charged with
or would that include...
Other murders?
lt's getting very interesting.
The law is very clear on this.
Only the details of any future
crime that was being planned...
l would have to reveal.
Anything that had already happened...
comes under the protection
of privilege.
You know what the problem is
with committing perfect murders?
- What?
- You can't tell anybody about them.
Were they all women, David?
Now don't get optimistic.
l hardly qualify as a serial killer.
l never got any pleasure
out of the actual act.
lt was more the, the planning
and the covering up...
that was the most rewarding.
You spent the money very quickly
and you needed more.
lt's never difficult to find.
Did you know that there's
a certain breed of women...
that always seem
to seek out men like me?
They think that their money
puts them in control.
And for a while,
l go along with it.
But you'd never been
arrested before?
Questioned once or twice,
but never detained.
Back in New York?
l never said l lived in New York.
But somewhere on,
on the East coast.
Emily. Just in the nick of time.
l was about to spill my guts
all over this table.
Would you like me to send out
for some sandwiches?
Uh-- Uh, no. No, thank you.
Uh, uh, l think
we're about finished.
So, w-we'll meet again
on, on Friday.
- At 10:00.
- Yes, Friday at 10:00.
l'll bet you can hardly wait.
A-And David,
don't call me at home.
Oh, you won't hear
from me until Friday.
Emily. You've lost
a couple of pounds.
Keep up the good work.
- Hello.
- Moe, l need to see you right away.
He's toying with you.
lf he can prove it, that's,
that's something else.
l just had a feeling it had
to be New York or Boston...
or Philadelphia;
some major city on the East coast...
where wealthy women congregate.
He said he'd been
picked up and questioned.
Well, that's a definite plus.
He might have been operating
under a different name.
Maybe not.
This boy loves to take chances.
l need you to help me, Moe.
Whatever.
l need you find out every
single thing you can about him.
You can't turn him in unless you
wanna kiss your career goodbye.
Why is--
Why is he inventing things about me?
Why is he loading me up with information
that could potentially harm him?
Moe, he had this whole thing
worked out in advance.
He chose me to defend him
before he killed his wife.
What if he--
What if he decides it's
too risky for me to be alive?
Thank you! Thank you,
thank you so much!
Trevor-Norton, eh?
We can work that one out.
No, l can't.
l'll be in, uh, court next week.
Yeah, Trevor-Norton.
Custom-made shoes in London.
But they went out
of business two years ago.
- Do you think you can
trace him back through them?
- Well, l got other leads.
Has his shirts made in Hong Kong.
Here, let me do that.
- l'll take you to the airport, okay?
- Ah, good. Yeah.
And the deceased, Mrs Greenhill, visited
you at the 101st Detective Division...
exactly one week
before her death. ls that right?
- She did.
- Will you tell us
the substance of that meeting?
She told me she was desperately afraid
her husband intended to kill her.
Did you speak to Mrs Greenhill
subsequent to that first meeting?
Yeah, l, uh, telephoned her five days
later to make sure she was all right.
She said she was living in
a constant state of terror,
locking her bedroom door at night.
So l urged her to move
into a hotel, contact her lawyer.
Uh, there was no action that
the police could have taken
under the circumstances.
Unfortunately, no crime
had been committed.
Your witness.
Lieutenant Martinez,
do you feel guilty now about
not having taken action?
Why should l?
l went by the book.
l don't see how
l could have prevented it.
You didn't believe her, did you?
l thought she was maybe making trouble
for her husband. l don't know.
Well, Mr Greenhill sent me to this,
uh, uniform store on Grant Street...
to, uh, to get outfitted.
He, uh, he said he was tired of seeing
me in the same uniforms every day.
Did he tell you
what time to be back?
No, actually he said
there was no need to hurry.
And in less than one hour after you left
Mrs Greenhill alone with her husband,
she plunged to her death
from the 18th floor window.
- Objection. Leading.
- Withdrawn. No more questions.
Mr Loo, you were with
the deceased for over a year
before she married David Greenhill.
- ls that right?
- Right.
And during that time, who gave
you your orders and instructions
around the house?
Mrs Greenhill did, of course.
So it may very well have been
Rita Greenhill's idea...
that you leave early
that day for the fitting.
Well, it could have been.
Now, you saw the defendant get off
the elevator and cross the lobby.
- ls that right?
- Yes.
Did he give you any
special instructions?
He said his wife was sleeping late
and under no circumstances
should she be disturbed.
Did you actually see
Mr Greenhill exit into the street?
You know, l'm not sure.
But you are certain he couldn't have
reentered the elevator and gone back up.
Suppose he slipped around to
the far corner of the lobby and
took the service elevator up.
- Would you have seen that?
- Well, l wouldn't have seen that.
Your witness.
Well, he had an overcoat on.
lt-- lt was chilly outside.
l think he had on gloves.
- Excuse me?
- He had on gloves.
He always dressed real smart,
Mr Greenhill. Just like today. Real G.Q.
- We've seen the suit,
Mr Greenhill. Sit down.
- Uh, sorry.
Mr Nolan, are you certain
he had on gloves?
his fingerprints all over
would put on gloves afterwards?
- Hardly a question, Your Honour.
- Out of line, Miss Haines,
and you know it.
The jury will disregard
Miss Haines' comments.
- What was going on
in the lobby that day?
- Same as every day.
- Only in the lobby?
- No.
- Could you be more specific?
- Well, at that particular time,
they were sandblasting
from 11 through 9.
On eight, they were knocking out walls,
combining apartments.
- How were they getting there?
- Service elevator, service stairs.
- l don't see how.
- And to your knowledge,
did the police question each
and every one of those painters
and plasterers and plumbers...
to find out whether or not
they had seen David Greenhill?
-Objection.
-Withdrawn. l have no further questions.
We will adjourn
until 9:30 tomorrow morning.
Well, l think that made
a few points with the jury.
You seem surprised
l'm doing a decent job.
Hello, Esther.
Say hello to Jennifer Haines.
Jennifer, this is my friend, Esther.
Well, you're every bit as attraactive
as David said you were
I'm sure he's never
stopped talking about me.
- Surprise.
- I hope this brings us up-to-date.
[ Skipped item nr. 690 ]
You could have paid
your bills from the start
I would have paid up on the spot.
Would you care to join us for dinner ?
[ Skipped item nr. 694 ]
No, uh, thank you.
l have to prepare for tomorrow.
See, l just sit here and look pretty
and she does all the work.
He's very lucky
to have you on his side.
Moe, l can hardly hear you.
l'm at the Baltimore Airport
just boarding a plane to Boston.
Thanks to our friendly London
shoe company, l picked up
quite a trail on Greenhill.
He lived here in Maryland
for eight months. Before that,
in Boston under the name of...
Edgar Greenhill.
- lsn't that his middle name?
- Yeah.
Listen, there's a--
There's a woman here, Selma Hanks,
who died here after
she overdosed on sleeping pills.
And another woman in Boston, who, uh,
well, she's on life-support systems...
after she O.D.'d on something.
And they're both
former lady friends of his.
He fixates on a woman and then--
He won't hurt you now. He needs you.
But, Moe,
he's planning something.
Now, look, Jen, you--
You be careful of this guy.
Moe, he had to have been
able to get back upstairs...
to kill his wife
with no one seeing him.
Oh, what did l do right?
Oh, l didn't feel
like being alone tonight.
That bastard.
He's really starting to get to you.
How can l help you?
You can't.
Thank you.
Oh, good morning. l want you to
know how l loved being in court.
You did very well.
Excuse me.
- Morning, Emily.
- Hi, Jennifer.
Good morning, Counsellor.
Did we oversleep this morning a little?
And State's Attorney Heath,
is this the original...
of the document
you received in the mail?
-lt is.
-May we mark this Prosecution Exhibit C?
And would you read the contents
into the record, please?
''lt's after 12:00 now.
''He's arranged to be alone
with me in the apartment.
''l am not strong enough
to run away.
''l have given up all hope
or reason to fight back.
But if David succeeds, l pray
he will not go unpunished.''
And it's signed,
''Rita Elizabeth Greenhill.''
What did you do after that, sir?
- We sent it to the Criminal
lnvestigation Division...
- Something bothering you today?
-of the State Attorney's Office.
-Sure. The expression...
- on the jury.
- And they, in turn,
sent it to be authenticated.
-And it was therefore verified--
-Don't worry about it.
Diangelo just shot his load.
That letter's all he's got.
One painter's cap.
One dust mask filter.
And one pair of work gloves.
- That is 54.19.
- Okay.
- ls that cash or charge?
- Cash, please.
Okay.
Good morning, Mr Loo.
l thought Mr Greenhill and l...
could, uh, ride
downtown together.
Oh, Mr Greenhill
wasn't here last night.
But he asked me to put out
his clothes...
because he might want to change
before going to court.
- Uh, do you mind if l wait?
- Oh, no, please, feel free.
Care for coffee? l have some made.
- Uh, uh, l prefer tea.
- Of course.
Thank you.
What are you doing?
Quite a responsibility
taking care of all this.
Oh, yes, indeed. Well, Mr Greenhill
is not so, uh, demanding to work for...
now that Mrs Greenhill is gone.
She, uh, she never gave
a person a minute's peace.
- Tea, right?
- Um, actually, no, l'm late.
Would you tell Mr Greenhill
l'll meet him at court? Thank you.
Well, this is a surprise.
Great, we'll split a cab.
- Don't you need to change?
- Don't l look all right?
Excuse me.
The way you were looking at me,
l thought there was somethin' wrong.
A little 5:00 shadow, perhaps, but...
nothing that would turn the jury
against me, do you think?
You know, for the life of me, l can't
figure out who sent that damn thing.
- What?
- The letter, Jennifer.
l mean, they say it was sent
on the same day that Rita died.
But Rita never left
the apartment that day.
And the mail chute upstairs has been
out of use since the renovations began.
Well, you certainly wouldn't
mail any letter to the State's
Attorney's Office yourself.
Of course not.
Suppose the greedy nephew, uh,
sent it or one of the cousins.
They certainly know
what her signature looks like.
They've seen it on enough cheques.
Could l see a photostat
of the envelope?
Sure. Somebody ought
to be able to figure out...
which branch of the post office
this was processed at.
You will follow up on that.
Of course.
According to the postmark,
this letter was picked up somewhere...
Since there was an earlier
pickup at 2:00, the letter
had to have been mailed...
- Objection. Argumentative.
- Rephrase, Miss Haines, rephrase.
By making an even greater enlargement
l was able to make a closer examination.
The-- The loops and
the angle of the letters...
now convince me
it is clearly a fake.
l apologize to the court.
Will counsel approach the bench?
What do you have to say
about this, Mr Diangelo?
Well, we've had our own people
examine the signature again,
and they now tend to agree.
We'll stipulate
it's not her handwriting.
Winning.
l'm talking about...
nailing that fucking Greenhill to
the wall and his lawyer along with him.
Well, after that fiasco with
the forged letter, l would like that.
l got a phone call from one
of his girlfriends yesterday.
- She might have been in on it with him.
- She tipped us where to look:
behind the radiator in the basement
of Greenhill's own building.
We got the search warrant.
Pay dirt.
All the reports are back from the lab.
And there's no question.
David Greenhill
was wearing this stuff.
You're already under oath,
Lieutenant.
- Why are they recalling him?
- l have no idea.
Detective Martinez, would you go
to the exhibits table, please,
Some coveralls that used
to be white at one time.
A pair of work gloves.
A cap similar to that used
by a painter or plasterer.
A gauze face mask used
to filter out dust and debris.
May we admit these as Prosecution
Exhibits D, E, F and G?
And upon obtaining a warrant,
Lieutenant, did you search
Mr Greenhill's apartment,
and did you find
something of interest?
Yes. A pair of
Trevor-Norton shoes...
with the residue of plaster and
paint on the soles of the shoes.
Mark those Prosecution Exhibit H.
Where were the shoes found?
- Did you make an analysis
of the plaster?
- We did.
- And what did you find?
- Are those your shoes?
lt was similar in every way
to the plaster and other
construction materials being...
- No.
- No more questions.
Let him get it all out.
We tested the inside of the cap
for traces of human hair.
Did you compare your findings
to samples of David Greenhill's hair?
Objection. Prosecution made no request
for specimens of David Greenhill's hair!
With all due respect,
Your Honour. We didn't need to.
The investigating officer
found a comb and a brush
belonging to the defendant...
and we took the specimen
hairs from that.
The specimens seemed to have been
acquired under a legal warrant.
l suggest we continue.
Did you do similar tests
on the gauze mask?
We found minuscule particles
of human blood...
such as might be left if
the wearer had recently shaved.
The University of Chicago
prepared these charts.
Entered as Exhibits l
and J for the Prosecution.
Will you explain the chart, please?
The skin sample matches exactly
the defendant's DNA patterns.
- Did you put the gloves
through your spectrograph?
- Examination of the lining...
of the gloves showed traces
of an over-the-counter cleaning
product called Windex Spray.
ldentical to the solvent
present on the window...
through which Mrs Greenhill
was thrown to her death.
- Objection, Your Honour!
- Sustained.
We'll take lunch now.
- Go have lunch.
- We have to talk.
You heard me.
l brought you a sandwich.
Oh, how thoughtful.
Based on what's happened,
do you care to change your plea?
l'll sleep on it.
- What is it?
- Hello, David. Do you know who this is?
Yes. How are things in Boston?
There's been someone around asking
questions about you the last few days.
Of course,
l didn't tell him anything.
An older man?
Seventy? Wears a hat?
Looks like you're going
to lose this one. Thank God.
Let's celebrate.
Call me when you get in.
l'll be home.
l love you, Jennifer.
- Jen.
- l'm right here, sweetheart.
- l'm right here.
- l couldn't see--
l couldn't see who.
This is David's way
of saying he knows.
Ooh! l'm sorry.
- Who were you expecting?
- You know who.
How is he?
ls he gonna be all right?
Yeah.
Can you leave now?
There's somethin' at the office.
l gotta show it to ya. lt's important.
Ya see, it's a clear pattern
but not conclusive proof.
Nothing to make
a prima facie case.
Well, they sure know
where to look.
Well, you divulge any of
those facts and he goes on trial
for any of the other crimes,
they'll throw the cases right out
for violation of confidentiality.
l can't turn him in either,
because, well, l'm employed by you.
- Jury's gotta convict now.
- Well, ya never know.
But as long as that bastard's
out on bail, you--
You watch your step.
l've made my decision.
We'll stick with
the not guilty plea.
That's your call.
Yeah, l didn't want
to do this, but...
now l have no choice.
Mrs Bigelow, say hello
to my attorney, Jennifer Haines.
- How do you do?
- Say hello to Mrs Bigelow.
How is Mrs Bigelow
gonna help us?
Well, her husband isn't
going to like this, but, uh,
well, Kathleen, why don't
you tell Miss Haines...
where l was on the afternoon
of my wife's death?
At my place, just around the
corner from his own apartment.
A five-minute walk.
Naturally l didn't say
anything about it before...
because Kathleen's marriage
was at stake.
And l didn't think there was
much of a case against me.
David was still there when we heard
the police and the ambulance sirens.
He couldn't possibly have had
anything to do with it.
And, tell Miss Haines what
we were doing the week before.
Yes. Um, my eldest daughter
is moving back in with me,
so l've been doing some redecorating.
Slapping on some paint,
putting up some wallpaper, and, uh,
l got David to pitch in and help.
Shamed him into it, actually,
just so he couldn't turn me down--
You got him the proper
clothing to wear?
You got him a cap and gloves?
The painters had left
some things behind when...
they did the upper floor
of the duplex last year.
Mrs Bigelow, you realize
l am obligated...
not to present perjured
testimony to the court?
Excuse me, Jennifer, how can
you be so sure that Kathleen's
not telling the truth?
You must know the State's
Attorney's Office will attempt
to impeach this testimony.
Lady, my husband is a lineman
with the Chicago Bears.
Do you honestly think l'd
jeopardize myself for a lie?
This is a very difficult thing
for me to do,
but David's life is in danger.
All right,
l'll put her on the stand.
Anything else you've been holding back?
Don't let her attitude bother ya.
She's just a little bit jealous.
You see, she wanted
to be the one to save me.
And now you've stolen
all of her thunder.
You don't have any idea
how those work clothes found
their way into the basement...
of David Greenhill's apartment building,
stuffed behind a radiator out of sight?
To the best of my recollection,
l put them in the trash room,
along with a lot of other junk
when we finished redecorating.
And, of course,
some of the service people...
work in more than one building
in the neighbourhood.
Move that the answer be stricken
as sheer speculation.
You asked for, quote, unquote,
''any idea,'' Counsellor.
The answer will stand.
for many months while carrying
on an affair with the defendant.
l wouldn't lie under oath, and l
certainly wouldn't protect a murderer.
On the one hand,
we have overwhelming...
physical and forensic evidence
that tells us exactly...
how cleverly it was planned:
the change of clothes, the split-second
timing, the cold-blooded brutality.
On the other hand, we have
the word of a solitary witness,
a sexual partner
obsessed with the defendant,
l ask you not to allow this man
to escape justice.
even when she pleaded for help.
Let's not fail her again this time.
Ask yourselves who--
Who would have benefited most
from the conviction of David Greenhill?
Did we not show numerous relatives...
who stood to gain financially
were he found guilty?
Did we not prove conclusively
that Rita Greenhill never wrote...
the supposedly incriminating letter?
Eyewitnesses saw--
leave the building long before
his wife plunged to her death.
Another witness has testified
to his whereabouts...
at the very time
of his wife's suicide.
You've done better.
Who knew the jury
would be out for a week?
lf they acquit, he's gonna go out and
kill somebody else, some other woman.
Well, let's see what
they have to say. Come on.
Aren't you going to hold my hand?
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,
have you reached a verdict?
l'm sorry, Your Honour, l have to report
that we're hopelessly deadlocked.
You don't see any possibility
of reaching a verdict?
We've been in there six days
and we're not even close.
l think it's hopeless, Your Honour.
l could send you back
for further deliberation.
The way we're divided, it wouldn't
make much difference, Your Honour.
Do the other members
of the jury agree?
Prosecution will move to retry
with all dispatch and ask the
court to set a new trial date.
l'll take that under advisement.
l will hear motions tomorrow morning.
Thank you so much. Thank you.
l appreciate it. l really am grateful.
Thank you. Thank you--
Can't win 'em all.
Thank you very much.
- Hey, honey.
- Thank you.
Well, if there's a next time,
l guess l can't depend on you.
l'm sure you'll find
somebody wonderful.
l'll, uh, be outside.
You know, l feel cheated.
l never got a chance
to take the stand.
l swear to tell the whole truth
and nothing but the truth...
so help me God.
Well, aren't you a little curious?
You seem anxious
to tell me all about it.
When did you first
decide to murder your wife?
l hadn't really made up my mind...
cinched it for me.
What did you see?
You.
You were celebrating a victory.
Of course, l'd seen your picture
in the newspaper.
But when l saw you in person,
up close,
l realized that this was something
that we had to do together.
l'd kill her,
and you'd defend me.
So l started to learn
everything l could about you.
l even arranged a,
a visit to Taos, New Mexico,
the same week
you took your vacation.
l booked myself
into the Summit Lodge,
and l took the adjoining room
on the third floor,
right next to yours.
Why are you telling me this now?
Jenny.
Everybody knows we're lovers.
They just don't know
how long it's been going on...
or how long we'd been
planning the murder together.
l even sent you a gift.
l charged it on my credit card
and had it delivered to your room.
l'm sure the shopkeeper
has a record.
- The turquoise bracelet?
- Mm-hmm.
- lt was you.
- Did you like it?
Can you imagine
how that would look...
should you ever decide to
violate your vow of silence...
about this murder
or any other murders?
You sent that letter.
We just played out our parts.
l could make you handle
my defence if l wanted to.
But frankly,
l'm beginning to tire of you.
You're not nearly as tough
or as smart as l thought you were.
Witness may step down.
Or l could sue
your firm for malpractice...
and collect a goddam fortune...
over that stupid,
phoney evidence you planted.
Lawyer tries to frame
her own client, film at 11:00.
Honey, you would be
finished forever.
Why don't you just do it?
Because we've been close,
haven't we, Jennifer?
Closer than most people who fuck.
Why?
Why did you take the gloves off...
before you killed her?
Killing with gloves on would
be like fucking with a rubber.
Bye, Jennifer.
Good luck.
What'd he do?
You haven't said a word
since we left the courtroom.
What did that bastard say to you?
Moe, l've--
l've looked into the face
of somebody so evil.
l've heard words so vile.
Moe, l've gotta destroy him.
-What are you talkin' about?
-All that evidence you gathered:
Selma Hanks,
the woman on life support,
where is it?
Right here.
- Have you got a copier?
- No.
Hold onto that file.
l'm going down to the State's
Attorney's Office tomorrow.
l'm gonna tell them everything
l know about David Greenhill.
lt would never be admissible.
All they'd need is corroborating
evidence of their own.
Are you nuts? lf something
like that ever got out,
it could mean disbarment,
the end of your career.
l don't care
if it means l'm indicted.
He made me an accomplice, Moe.
And l'm not gonna
let him keep walking the streets
looking for another vulnerable,
helpless woman to kill.
And he will, Moe, he will.
Now, look, Jennifer,
l've known you all your life.
You'd be giving up everything
you ever cared for.
lt's worth it.
lt's worth it, Moe.
All right now, please.
Huh? Just think about it.
l've been thinking about it ever
since we left the courtroom.
He is going down, Moe.
He is going down.
Are you going to be
all right tonight?
l'm picking Phil up
at his office at 10:00.
l'll pull myself together by then.
ls he back to work already?
The doctors felt his job
would be the best therapy.
No, you're the best therapy.
Why don't you marry the poor bastard?
Thanks, Moe.
Well, what can l do for you?
Well, l thought
l might be able to...
help you out with that little biography
you've been writin' about me.
You know, maybe help fill in
some of the gaps.
Why would l be interested in you?
'Cause l'm a remarkable fellow, Moe.
You've never met anyone
quite like me before.
God, places like these
are bad for my allergies.
Well, l don't like
to throw things away.
Yeah, well, Moe, sometimes
you got to get rid of the old
to make way for the new.
You know what l mean?
l mean, let's face it.
Old people, they just
kind of clutter up the world.
You know what l mean?
They walk too slow
and they talk too slow...
and they drive too slow
and they're always in the fuckin' way.
Tryin' to remind you
about how things used to be.
Pain in the ass, really.
lf you're looking
for your file, l...
had it copied and put
in the safe-deposit box.
No.
Not you, Moe.
No computer, no fax, no Xerox.
You wouldn't have
that shit in your office.
Nope. lt's in here somewhere.
Well, feel free to look around.
Well, if you're not gonna
help me look for it,
Goddam firetrap anyway.
See, the way l see it,
you were workin' late one night,
and you fell asleep with
one of them cigars in your hand.
Stray ash...
fell off and caught
those newspapers on fire.
You were overcome by smoke.
lt's better than wasting away
in a hospital day after day,
don't you think, Moe?
- l mean, really.
- What?
Damn crazy son of a bitch!
What the fuck are you doin'?
Your car is waiting
for you, Miss Haines.
- Good evening, Miss Haines.
- Hi, Eugene.
l guess it was more of a marriage
than either one of us thought, huh?
'Til death do us part
and all that shit.
You won't do anything to me.
Moe has got a stack of evidence
on you from Boston to Atlanta.
lf l should have an accident--
You know, it's a good night
for accidents.
Moe already had one.
Oh, well, that changes everything.
God, you've had...
just a terrible month,
haven't you, Jennifer?
First, your boyfriend gets beaten up
and put in the hospital,
then a hung jury, and now your
best friend goes and dies on ya.
Very depressing.
Suicidally so.
No one's gonna believe you.
l don't know.
So far, everyone's believed
everything l wanted them to.
And there won't be a mark on ya.
Just a leap from a high place.
How about a mark on you?
Exhibit A! Your skin under my nails!
Exhibit B!
Your hair in my hands!
Exhibit C! Teeth marks!
Oh, God!
- Watch those doors.
- Watch the doors, Phil.
l wanna see Security
in my office right away.
- You're gonna be fine, darlin'.
- Phil?
You're gonna be just fine.
Relax, ma'am. Try not to move.
Nice and easy.
Don't-- Don't bump her.
l beat him, Phil.
l beat him.
Tough way to win a case.