Murder One

Season One - Chapter One

U.S. air date: September 19, 1995

(Complete transcript) - [Final version]

[**NOTE: The credits listed have been completed thanks to Paul Manson.]

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Disclaimer: These transcripts were made from personal video copies of
the shows and are presented for Fair Use only to Murder One fans. All
of the characters and the scripts are the properties of Steven Bochco
Productions, Charles H. Eglee, Channing Gibson, ABC television and
their respective authors. No copyright infringement is intended nor
implied by the distribution of this document. It is solely meant for
entertainment purposes only.
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Opening scene: the main lobby of the courthouse. Attorneys milling about.
Chris Dochnovich is waiting for Ted Hoffman to arrive.

Ted: "Where is he?"

Chris: "I took him back to my place, put him to bed at ten, watched the
news until eleven and then went to bed myself."

Ted:"Then you woke up this morning and he was gone."

Chris: "Sorry."

Ted: "This punk."

Chris: "Will you ask for a continuance?"

Ted: "And hope the judge is in a good mood."

Chris: "There was a murder in Hollywood last night you could be
interested in."

Ted: "Why?"

Chris: "Fifteen-year-old blond named Jessica Costello. Richard Cross had
us represent her older sister on a solicitation charge a couple of years
ago."

Ted: "We beat it on entrapment. How do we know the sister got murdered?"

Chris: "The cleaning lady found her. Naked, tied up, strangled. Drugs all
over the place."

Some fans scream out `Neil' as a swarm of press enters with Neil Avedon.

Neil: "First, you people have us married because we went for pizza and now,
I'm supposed to be upset because she dates her cameraman? Get that out of
my face." Shoves away the camera stuck in his face.

Reporter #1: "Any chance of a reconciliation?"

Neil: "She's a friend, okay and a terrific actress. Find something else
to lie about, guys." Ted grabs him by the arm and leads him away.

Ted: "Come with me."

Neil: "Teddy! Uh, excuse me, guys. I gotta talk to my Doberman." Ted
pulls him into a stairwell.

Ted, to Chris: "I'm gonna need a minute." Chris stands outside, blocking
the door to the press. To Neil, "Where the hell have you been?"

Neil: "Uh, the gym. Look, you wanna go to Miami this afternoon? I'll
make the call." Takes out a cell phone and begins dialing.

Ted: "Are you high?"

Neil: "Ted, I'm fine."

Ted: "Listen to me, Neil. I worked my ass off getting you this deal. And
we still have to sell it to the judge. She doesn't buy, she doesn't buy
you, you are going to jail."

Neil: "Hey, Ted. That's not gonna happen."

Ted: "You know frankly I don't care if it happens or not. A couple of
Christmases in a blue jumpsuit might do you good." Getting Neil's attention
at last, he puts the cell phone away.

Neil: "Teddy, watch this." Prepare himself for his `performance' before
the judge. "Your honor, I'm embarrassed and sorry for this whole incident."
He is faking tears while Ted looks on in disgust.

Ted: "Let's go."

In court, Judge Beth Bornstein presiding.

Judge: "I want to get a clear mental picture of this, Mr. Avedon. You're
at the Bel Air Hotel for a wedding."

Neil: "Yes." Bends down to the microphone. "Yes, your honor, my manager's."

Judge: "And you decide to feed one of the hotel swans a canape of gravlax
and capers."

Neil: "I guess that's right, your honor."

Judge: "The swan bites you. You wade into the pond and break its neck with
your bare hands." There are some giggles and chuckles from the onlookers
in court. "At which point a security guard tries to restrain you and you
punch him in the face. Have I misstated anywhere?"

Neil: "Your honor, I'm embarrassed and sorry for this whole incident."

Ted: "Uh, Mr. Avedon and the security guard, Mr. Velasquez, have reached
a civil settlement. As your honor is also aware, we've had discussions
with the People concerning a plea agreement. At this time Mr. Avedon is
willing to enter a no contest plea to the included misdemeanor charge of
cruelty to animals."

Judge: "Mr. Hoffman, given the Defendant's history of destructive and
irresponsible behavior as documented in the probation report, is there
a compelling reason why I should accept his plea?"

Ted: "Judge, as he has in court, Mr. Avedon has expressed his remorse
and apologies as well as making as making restitution to both Mr.
Velasquez and to the management of the hotel."

Judge: "I'm sure that's a great consolation to the swan."

Ted: "Subsequently he has, uh, completed a drug and alcohol rehabilitation
and counseling program under the supervision of Dr. Graham Lester,
documentation for which has been submitted to the court. In light of
my client's willingness to plea to the lesser charge, the People's
interests will not be served by engaging him in a protracted and costly
trial which given Mr. Avedon's celebrity might result in an acquittal or
even a hung jury."

Neil whispers to Chris: "A hung jury would probably be a turn-on for
this broad."

Judge overhears him: "What did you say?"

Neil, grabbing the microphone: "Your honor, I asked my lawyer a question."

Ted grabs the microphone away from him: "Eh, your honor, may I approach
the bench." She nods. "Your honor, I apologize on behalf of my client for
any perceived rudeness to either these proceedings or to you personally.
If the court can find its way to show compassion and understanding here,
I am confident (he turns to glare at Neil) Mr. Avedon will have learned
a very valuable lesson that hopefully will inspire him to attain the
maturity which has eluded him thus far."

Judge to Ted, covering her microphone with her hand: "Don't you sometimes
make yourself sick?" The court stenographer stares at the judge for her
comment.

Ted smirking: "Sometimes, your honor."

The plea accepted, they leave the courtroom, once again surrounded by the
press. They shout questions at Neil but Ted rushes him past them into an
empty room with Chris again blocking the entrance.

Ted: "I'm through cleaning up after you, you ungrateful little jerk.
You're fired."

Neil: "Hey, man, Miami."

Ted: "I don't want to go to Miami with you. I don't want to go to Oxnard
with you. The next time you trash your hotel room or you punch your
photographer or you push some girl out of your car on Sunset, you know
what, you call somebody else." Ted opens the door and leaves Neil behind
to face the press.

[Music and main titles roll]

Daniel Benzali as Theodore Hoffman
Mary McCormack as Justine Appleton
Michael Hayden as Christopher Dochnovich
Grace Phillips as Lisa Gillespie
J.C. MacKenzie as Arnold Spivak
Stanley Tucci as Richard Cross
Dylan Baker as Detective Arthur Polson
Vanessa Williams as Lila Marquette
John Fleck as Louis Heinsbergen
Kevin Tighe as David Blalock
Barbara Bosson as Miriam Grasso
Patricia Clarkson as Annie Hoffman
Jason Gedrick as Neil Avedon

Created by Steven Bochco & Charles H. Eglee & Channing Gibson
Executive Producer: Steven Bochco

[Episode credits roll]

Guest starring:
Donna Murphy as Francesca Cross
Gregory Itzin as DA Roger Garfield
Bobbie Phillips as Julie Costello
Linda Carlson as Judge Beth Bornstein
Saida Pagan as Reporter #1
Patty Yasutake as Reporter #2
Larry Williams as Detective Clark

Director of Photography: Aaron E. Schneider
Production Designer: Paul Eads
Edited by Andrew Doerfer
Music by Mike Post
Casting by Junie Lowry Johnson, C.S.A.
Creative Consultant: David Milch
Producer: Marc Buckland
Supervising Producer: Joe Ann Fogle
Executive Producer: Charles H. Eglee
Teleplay by Charles H. Eglee & Channing Gibson and Steven Bochco & David 
Milch
Story by Steven Bochco & Charles H. Eglee & Channing Gibson
Directed by Charles Haid
------------------------

Ted returns to the firm.

Ted: "Morning, Lila."

Lila: "Good morning, Mr. Hoffman."

Weingart, angry: "Excuse me, Ted."

Ted: "Bill. Sorry I'm late."

Weingart: "Maybe I don't have four hundred million bucks but I don't like
waiting an hour and then getting bumped by Richard Cross."

Ted: "Bill, give me two minutes, I'll find out what's going on, okay?"

Weingart: "Sure. I'll send out for lunch."

Louis: "How did we do?"

Ted: "He got off. Send a registered letter and copy his agents, `As I
indicated as of this date, you are terminated as a client and our firm
will no longer represent you on this or any subsequent matter. For the
record, as for the terms and conditions of your plea arrangement, etc.,
etc. Get them from Dochnovich.' Why is Bill Weingart talking about getting
bumped for Richard Cross?"

Louis: "Cross is in your office. He just showed up. I thought you might
want to see him right away." Ted goes to his office.

Cross: "Hello, Teddy."

Ted: "Hello, Richard."

Cross: "Thanks for seeing me."

Ted: "What's the problem?"

Cross: "There was a murder in Hollywood last night. Fifteen-year-old
girl."

Ted: "Yeah. I heard a little bit about it."

Cross: "Yeah, I own the apartment building that she died in."

Ted: "Anything else?"

Cross: "I have a relationship with her older sister, Julie Costello."

Ted: "Whom you had me represent a couple of years back."

Cross: "Yes."

Ted: "Do you know anything about what happened to the younger sister?"

Cross: "I don't. She'd been staying with Julie for about a month or so.
We had a couple of casual conversations."

Ted: "Where's Julie now?"

Cross: "She's on a modeling assignment in Costa Rica. I got in touch with
her early this morning. I sent down my plane to bring her back."

Ted: "Does your wife know about Julie?"

Cross: "Francesca has, uh, she has a general sense of things." Laughs.
"But I have apprised her of the current situation, that I own the
building. I would be relieved and grateful if you would represent me
on this, Teddy. Police have been calling my office all morning."

Ted: "Have you spoken to them?"

Cross: "No. I suppose I'll have to sooner or later because I own the
building."

Ted: "Who called you?"

Cross: "Detective Polson. He asked me to go down there."

Ted: "Richard, if I had any reason to think your interests or theirs
might become adversarial, I wouldn't let you go."

Cross: "No. It shouldn't become adversarial." Ted buzzes Louis on
the phone.

Ted: "Louis."

Louis: "Yes?"

Ted: "Get me, uh, Arthur Polson, Robbery/Homicide."

Cross: "Do you know him?"

Ted smiles: "Oh yes."

At the police station, Polson leads Cross and Ted into an interrogation
room.

Polson: "Really appreciate you coming down here, Mr. Cross."

Cross: "I'm happy to cooperate."

Polson: "I wanna say my wife and daughter go to the Philharmonic all the
time. Have a seat. I know you're the main supporter of that."

Cross: "I'm glad they enjoy it."

Ted: "How is it Mr. Cross can help you?"

Polson: "We'd like any background you can give us in connection with
that homicide at your building at North Havenhurst?"

Cross: "What kind of background?"

Polson: "In connection with the ownership. That is your building, am
I correct?"

Cross: "It's owned by a company that I control."

Polson: "Would that give you occasion to be in the building?"

Cross: "Not particularly."

Polson: "Because several tenants have mentioned seeing you in the
building. Do you have any friends in that building?"

Cross: "Detective, I have a relationship with the older sister of the
girl who was killed."

Polson: "I see." Takes out his notepad to make some notes.

Cross: "We've been involved with each other for almost two years now."

Polson: "And this involvement would be of an intimate nature?"

Ted: "Come on, Polson."

Polson: "Well, we all understand romance."

Ted: "How else can Mr. Cross help you?"

Polson, reading from his notepad: "So this Julie Costello, the older
sister, do you have any idea where we could reach her?"

Cross: "She's out of the country. She'll be back tomorrow."

Polson: "She's a model?"

Cross: "Yes."

Polson: "And you've been in touch with her since the homicide?"

Cross: "Yes, I told her what happened, what little I knew, and, uh, I'm
sure she'll be contacting you as soon as she returns."

Polson: "She will?"

Cross: "Yes."

Polson: "That's good. So, this girl who was killed, Jessica, how much
contact did you have with her?"

Cross: "Not much. She'd been visiting Julie for about six weeks and I
might have had four or five casual conversations with her."

Polson: "So, this girl didn't look to you for guidance or anything like
that?" Cross shakes his head no. "You've no idea who might have done this?"

Cross: "No."

Polson: "No idea why it might have happened?"

Cross: "No."

Polson: "Have you been in the building recently?"

Cross: "Not for several days."

Polson: "I just wanna say again we appreciate your cooperation, Mr. Cross.
I know you're a busy man but if anything comes to mind please we, we could
sure use the help. Here's my card." Passes a card across the table to
Cross. "If you think of anything, just give me a call." Ted takes the
card and tosses it back towards Polson.

Ted: "Detective, if you have any further need for my client, contact me."

Polson: "Why, certainly counselor." Ted and Cross rise to leave. Both
Cross and Polson reach for the doorknob at the same time. Both retreat
and Cross waits for Polson to open the door.

Cross: "Thank you."

Polson: "I got a good feeling for you on this one, Hoffman. Your guy's
in this up to his hips. You get to soak him plenty."

Ted: "If he's in it, he's lucky you caught the case." 

Polson: "Kiss my ass, pal." As Ted walks past him out the door.

Next short scene: the elevator ride down with Ted and Cross.

Cross: "Well. That seemed to go fine."

Ted: "Uh-huh."

Outside, the eager press shouting questions at Ted and Cross.

Ted: "Hold it, hold it, hold it. Richard Cross has met with police
investigators as a courtesy. He is not a suspect. He is cooperating fully
with the LAPD to help solve this murder. Mr. Cross is acquainted with the
victim's family and would like to express his heart-felt sympathy over
this senseless tragedy. Thanks guys." The press resumes the shouting of
their questions as Cross covers his face from the cameras.

Back at the firm, Ted makes his way to his office.

Louis handing Ted some messages: "Your calls. The one from Sidney Wellman's
urgent and Dave Blalock is in your office."

Ted: "Everyone in the conference room in ten minutes." Delivery man with
a gift-wrapped basket of fruit. "What's this?"

Louis: "From Gary Blondo at Majestic, for keeping Neil Avedon out of
jail."

Ted: "They're sweet. Take it home if you want."

Louis: "I think not."

Ted: "Hey, Dave."

Blalock: "I always hope those news copters will crash into each other.
Does that make me a bad person?"

Ted: "Are they over that dead girl's building in Hollywood?"

Blalock: "Probably. How come Polson's sniffing around Richard Cross?"

Ted: "He owns that building. He's been having an affair with the dead
girl's sister."

Blalock: "Polson like him for the murder?"

Ted: "He breathed scampi in my ear about how Cross is in it up to his
hips."

Blalock: "Maybe that's Polson busting your chops for making him look
like a donkey at the Anselmo trial.

Ted: "If they've got anything it'd be too early to be from the autopsy."

Blalock: "Well let me call around, see what I can find out."

Ted: "Yeah. Look at the mistress too. We beat a prostitution beef for her
two years ago."

Blalock: "You wouldn't think she'd be going out the back door on a guy
like Richard Cross. Course maybe that's not on her job description, her
needing to be bright." Ted smiles and Blalock leaves.

The conference room.

Lisa: "How come Belchimer recused himself from Molina?"

Justine: "Prosecution found out one of his clerks brought harassment
charges against him."

Chris: "Julie Costello?"

Arnold: "Julie Costello. It doesn't ring a bell. I probably haven't seen
her paperwork."

Chris: "But you couldn't have missed her though. Great ass. Killer boobs."

Justine: "They're fake."

Chris: "You're jealous." Justine thrusts forward her own and laughs.

Justine: "She works out at my gym."

Ted: "Busy day, folks. For the record, we no longer represent Neil Avedon.
Take no calls."

Chris: "I just closed out the file and sent the final bill to his
business manager."

Ted: "Lisa, what's the story with Sidney Wellman?"

Lisa: "His daughter shoplifted a raincoat at Nordstrom."

Ted: "A raincoat?"

Lisa: "It was raining. I have a call in to Jack Ryan at the city's
attorney's office."

Ted: "Who took Bill Weingart for me this morning?"

Justine: "I practiced my posture for him." Again thrusts her breasts out
toward Chris. "He'll be all right." Arnold laughs.

Ted: "Arnold, how's it going on Schaffer?"

Arnold: "Motions to suppress luggage search are almost done."

Chris: "It better work. They found three kilos in his underpants."

Arnold: "Case law's with us. They didn't have a warrant and the guy
doesn't fit the courier profile."

Justine: "Ted, are you going to tell us about Richard Cross or do we
have to beg?"

Ted: "It's more sizzle than steak."

Chris: "Plenty of sizzle though. You got your naked fifteen-year-old
victim. You got your presence of drugs. Your rumors of sexual depravity.
And your gorgeous older sister and former alleged prostitute linked
romantically to the rich, powerful and married, Richard Cross which
could all just be sizzle."

Ted: "The press'll beat it to death for three days and move on. Anything
else? We're out of here."

Arnold: "Ted, Ted?" Following Ted out to reception.

Ted: "Yeah."

Arnold: "Um, not to be contrary but I get the feeling there's more to come
of this Richard Cross situation."

Ted: "Well, I'm not expecting it though."

Arnold: "Okay, point being if there should be further developments, I would
really like you to consider me for the second chair, okay. Because I think
I've more than earned my shot."

Ted: "As I say, Arnold, I'd be surprised if any more were to come of it."
Just then Cross arrives. "Excuse me, Arnold."

Arnold: "Oh well, yeah, life's full of surprises, isn't it? Mr. Cross."
He extends his hand to Cross.

Ted: "Richard."

Cross: "I just got another phone call from Detective Polson. Said he
needed to ask me a few more questions."

Ted: "We're not going back down there."

Cross: "I told him to meet me here." Ted and Cross go to his office.
Justine has been listening to the entire exchange, off to one side.
Polson and another detective arrive at the firm.

In Ted's office.

Ted: "Real fast, detective."

Polson: "We need to firm up a couple of things you told us in your last
visit to that building. When was that again?"

Cross: "Julie left Sunday, it would have been Saturday."

Polson: "You sure on the day?"

Ted: "He answered you."

Polson: "Do you know a Paul McGalion, Mr. Cross?"

Cross: "No, I don't."

Polson: "He manages your building."

Cross: "Oh, well a real estate company oversees the property. They hire
those people."

Polson: "Your garage has a security camera in it and when we opened it
this morning the tape was missing." He removes a videotape from his
pocket. "Little while ago the manager admitted he lifted it." Walks
over to Ted's vcr. "Can I put this in?" The other detective is closing
the blinds.

Ted: "We don't need visual aids. What'd ya got?"

Polson: "We got one of these. (Indicating the vcr.) Not as expensive."
He plays the tape. "This was taken last night in the parking garage of
your building." The tape shows Cross walking past the video camera. Time
and date on the tape: 02.36.AM -- 09.21.95. Polson freezes the frame. He
removes the tape. "The manager was going to blackmail you with this."

Ted: "Is Mr. Cross under arrest?"

Polson: "What were you doing in that building, Mr. Cross?"

Ted: "That's it. If you're not arresting him, you're through here."

Polson: "If you can make us understand this tape, Mr. Cross, now's the
time to do it."

Ted: "Not a word, Richard."

Cross: "Mr. Hoffman's my attorney and I'm going to follow his advice."

Ted: "There's the door. Use it."

Polson, as he and the other detective are leaving: "A lawyer always wants
you to think it's us against you, Mr. Cross. Doesn't have to be that way."
They leave.

Ted: "I'm not your confessor and I'm not your judge. But if you withhold
the facts I need to deal with as your lawyer I'm not going to represent
you."

Cross: "Facts are I was in that apartment for less than a minute and she
was dead when I walked in."

Ted: "Why were you there if your girlfriend was out of town?"

Cross: "When Julie went out of town she asked me if she'd give Jessica
my phone number and I said of course. Jessica called me last night on my
cell phone, very frightened, and asked me to come over to the apartment."

Ted: "Why was she frightened?"

Cross: "She wouldn't say. I got there about forty-five minutes later.
When I walked in, she was dead."

Ted: "Where were you when she called?"

Cross: "I was out clubbing with a friend. I dropped her off at her place
before I went to see Jessica."

Ted: "Who was the friend?"

Cross: "Her name's Beverly. She's a model."

Ted: "Did you touch the body, Richard?"

Cross: "No."

Ted: "They're going to do every kind of test on that girl's body."

Cross: "Listen to me, Teddy. I did not touch her! And I never had sex
with her! So, where do I stand with the police?"

Ted: "You're a suspect."

Cross: "Well, can they arrest me?"

Ted: "Of course they can."

Cross: "Please help me."

Ted: "It's hard for me to help you when I'm being handled."

Cross: "I'm sorry I didn't tell you the whole truth before, Ted."

Ted: "The whole truth's a pretty ambitious goal, Richard." Cross sighs.
"But do tell me the truth I need to know."

The Hoffman household. Lizzie is with a puppy, watching the news on tv.
Annie's fixing dinner as Ted arrives home.

Ted: "Hi honey." Kisses his wife.

Annie: "Hey."

Ted: "Hi Lizzie." Kisses his daughter.

Lizzie: "Daddy, look, you're on tv." 

On the TV: "... would like to express his heartfelt sympathy over this
senseless tragedy." Nedra Hayes, a news reporter comes on with more.

[TV] Hayes: "And that was noted criminal attorney Theodore Hoffman earlier
this afternoon, denying that his client, entrepreneur, philanthropist
Richard Cross, is a suspect in the brutal sex slaying of fifteen-year-old
Jessica Costello. But just an hour ago, Channel 8 Action News obtained
this exclusive video. Now what you're seeing is a videotape taken by the
security camera in the garage of the slain girl's building. And entering
from the left of your screen is Richard Cross, exiting the building at
what police believe is the date and approximate time of the murder, shown
across the bottom of the tape."

Ted: "Son of a bitch leaked the videotape."

Lizzie: "Daddy, you owe me a quarter for swearing."

Ted: "Honey, here's a quarter and a kiss."

Annie: "Elizabeth, why don't you take the puppy upstairs. I'll call you
when dinner's ready. All right? Hold him tight." Lizzie leaves. "Did he
kill that girl?"

Ted: "He says no."

Annie: "Do you believe him?"

Ted: "I think so. He had a reason to be in that building."

Annie: "Everyone who knows him knows him, Ted. The cocaine. Stashed
tootsie. The hookers he cheats on her with, while Francesca makes a
life out of looking the other way."

Ted: "It's a long way from cheating on your wife to killing a fifteen-
year-old."

Annie: "Are they going to arrest him?"

Ted: "Not off what they have now. And he says there's nothing else."

Annie: "I hope it's true. 'Cause if it's not, it's going to turn into a
circus around here."

Next scene, Julie's return from Costa Rica. Ted is there to meet Cross'
plane.

Ted: "I'm sorry we're meeting again under these circumstances, Julie."

Julie: "Where's Richard?"

Ted: "He wanted to be here but I didn't think it was a good idea. The
media's all over this."

Julie: "I'll bet."

Ted: "He asked me to tell you his car and driver will pick up your parents
at LAX later today and he's gotten a suite for you at the Bel Air Hotel
under the name Mary Abbot."

Julie: "All right."

Ted: "Do you want to go there now? You look exhausted."

Julie: "No. What do I have to do with the police?"

Ted: "A family member needs to identify Jessica."

Julie: "Do I have to look at her body?"

Ted: "It's a photo ID. Then, when you're ready, the police will interview
you."

Julie: "Let's get it all over with."

The police station. A detective has shown Julie Jessica's photo. She's
crying as identifies the photo. Polson is present.

Julie: "It's her. That's my sister."

Detective: "I'm sorry for your loss."

Ted: "Appreciate you letting her make the ID here."
 
Detective: "No problem." He leaves.

Polson: "I want to ask you some questions, Ms. Costello. Do you need to
take a minute?"

Julie: "No."

Polson: "Can you help us out with who might have done this, Ms. Costello?"

Julie: "You don't think it was a prowler, somebody from the street?"

Polson: "We don't. There's no indication of forced entry."

Julie: "Maybe someone from the clubs. She went to a lot of them."

Polson: "Was she involved with drugs?"

Julie: "She was trying to stop. She would go to meetings. But she still used.
My parents sent her out her because she kept in trouble in Minneapolis."
Breaks down in tears. "Maybe I should have been more involved in her life.
I guess I thought she'd just figure it out on her own like I had to."

Polson: "You had some difficulties yourself a few years ago."

Julie, stops crying: "And?"

Polson: "Any chance your sister was involved in that regard?"

Julie: "In prostitution? No. Neither was I."

Polson: "Ms. Costello, to be honest with you, there were some sexual
aspects to your sister's murder I can't say exactly what."

Ted: "Then why mention it? What's your point?"

Polson: "Ms. Costello, what kind of relationship did Richard Cross have
with your little sister?"

Julie: "He was like a second father to her. I told Jessica to call him if
she had any problems while I was out of town. If he was over there that
must have been why."

Polson: "So you're a big Richard Cross supporter? And of course he's a
big supporter of yours."

Ted: "We're done here. Let's go." They leave.

The District Attorney's office. Grasso is speaking with Garfield.

Grasso: "There's enough there to arrest him right now, but it's your
call." Ted knocks and enters.

Garfield: "Teddy. Good to see you. Come on in. You know Miriam Grasso?"

Ted: "A long unrequited love." Garfield laughs.

Grasso: "It never would have worked. He'd have kept me barefoot and
pregnant."

Ted: "You're doing a hell of a job on that Keller trial, Miriam."

Garfield: "Isn't she? Old Mike Swainey's gonna need an ego transplant by
the time she's through with him."

Grasso: "Aw, come on, guys. Hey, Teddy, that client of yours is very
photogenic in that garage film."

Ted: "Miriam, you know they can do wonderful things with videotape these
days. They can make frisbees look like flying saucers." They both laugh.

Miriam: "Off to dismember Swainey. Toodles." She leaves.

Garfield: "Teddy, I'm as mad about that tape getting out as you are.
Richard Cross is my friend and one of my most generous supporters."

Ted: "The cops just heard from Cross' mistress about why he was in the
apartment that night. Very innocuous. Keep embarrassing this man and
you're gonna stink all over."

Garfield: "I hear you, Ted. I'll make a call and try to put a leash on
Polson. I can't imagine there's anything substantive that will link Richard
to this mess."

Ted: "Whatever you imagine, Roger, let's just keep things civil. No
surprises."

Garfield: "No surprises, Teddy. I promise."

Back at the firm.

Justine: "Ted, could we just have a quick chat?"

Ted: "I'm stacked up, Justine."

Justine: "I know, I know. If I could just talk to you over here for one
second please." Pulls him into the kitchen. "Look, I'm not going to be
shy about this. I want to be part of this case so bad I can taste it."

Ted: "There is no case."

Justine: "So far. But when there is, you're never going to go with Arnold
for obvious reasons. So it's either Chris, me or Lisa. I'm as good as
Chris is. I know you well enough, you're going to want a woman on this
one. Ted, with all due respect, between me and Lisa, I'm the better
attorney. And when it comes to courtroom experience we both know it's
my ass you're going to want in that second seat."

Ted: "I'll take it under advisement."

Louis: "Gary Blondo wants you to call ASAP with regards to Neil Avedon
and Richard Cross is in reception. He seems distraught."

Ted: "Richard."

Cross: "Neil Avedon was busted two hours ago."

Ted: "For what?"

Cross: "He was popped in a drug buy. Ted, this kid could hurt me."

Ted: "How?"

Cross: "Well, one of my sources told me right after he was arrested,
Polson went in to talk to him."

Ted: "In here." He tries to lead him into the conference room. Just
then Polson and another detective enter the firm.

Lila: "Mr. Hoffman?"

Polson: "Hello there, counselor. I have a warrant for Mr. Cross' arrest."

Ted: "What the hell for?"

Polson: "Murder."

Detective, to Cross: "I have to take you into custody, sir."

Ted: "It's okay, Richard. Stay calm." To Polson, "How the hell am I
supposed to find a judge at a quarter to five on a Friday afternoon?"

Polson: "Not my problem, counselor. Put the cuffs on him."

Ted getting more aggressive: "Hold it. You want to tell me how your case got
so compelling all of a sudden?"

Polson: "Unless you want to get arrested too, counselor, back off."

Detective, to Cross: "Turn around for me please." He places Cross' hands
behind his back and put the cuffs on him as Polson frisks him.

Cross: "You can come down with me, right, Teddy?"

Polson: "`Teddy' can meet you downtown after you've been booked and
fingerprinted. Let's take a ride, Mr. Cross."

Cross: "Teddy?"

Ted: "Stay calm, Richard. Don't say anything."

Polson: "Up to his hips, counselor." They leave.

Ted, to Justine: "Find Francesca Cross and bring her down to Parker
Center."

Outside Parker Center, Ted waits for Justine to arrive with Francesca.

Ted: "Francesca."

Francesca: "Did he do it, Teddy?"

Ted: "Richard's adamant he wasn't involved. He's going to need all your
understanding and support to get through this." She laughs.

Francesca: "With all of his ass-kissing cronies' understanding and
support? And all the understanding and support of his girlfriends.
Now he has yours. What does he need mine for?"

Ted: "Francesca, you have every reason to be hurt and upset. But right
now things are very delicate and very public. I'd like you to wait in
the lobby with Ms. Appleton. In a little while I'm going to be giving
a statement to the press and I'd like you by my side. Can I count on
you for that?"

Francesca: "Yes."

Ted: "Good."

Francesca: "Would you give Richard a message for me?"

Ted: "Of course."

Francesca: "Tell him this is going to be very expensive."

Inside the jail, Garfield comes to meet Ted.

Ted: "No surprises, huh?"

Garfield: "Ted, I honestly didn't know a thing about this. Miriam Grasso
signed off on the warrant. I wasn't notified of the arrest until after
they'd already picked him up."

Ted: "At a quarter to five on a Friday so Polson can keep him inside over
the weekend."

Garfield: "Teddy, if I'd been in the loop I'd have called you myself to
arrange his surrender. And it wouldn't have been on a Friday."

Ted: "This afternoon all you had was a videotape."

Garfield: "Now we've got more."

Ted: "Neil Avedon."

Garfield: "Other than what I've already told you I can't comment on an
ongoing investigation."

Ted: "I'm going to a judge tonight to get my client out on a writ. I
hope you're not going to oppose me."

Garfield: "Ted, understand my position. I've known Richard Cross for
fifteen years. As a personal matter I hope to God he's innocent."

Ted: "So cutting through all your feelings of guilt and remorse you're
going to oppose the writ?"

Garfield: "I'm sorry, Ted. My hands are tied."

Guard: "Mr. Hoffman? You can talk to your client now." Ted goes to see Cross.

Cross: "Get me out of here."

Ted: "I'm gonna try to get a writ but the DA's gonna fight me. And no
judge is gonna want to look like he's caving in to your influence."

Cross, emphatic: "Get me out!"

Ted: "What's Neil Avedon telling the cops?"

Cross: "I have no idea. When Jessica called me she said that she and Avedon
had done a lot of coke and they'd gotten into some kind of argument. Things
got violent. Then she went into the bathroom and locked herself in."

Ted: "How did she know him?"

Cross: "How did she know him?"

Ted: "Uh-huh."

Cross: "They met at a club. She became one of his groupies."

Ted: "And you went over to the apartment after she called."

Cross: "`The door was open. There was not a lot of light in the living room
except for some candles. When I called her name she didn't answer. I walked
up to her bedroom. She was lying there. She was naked. Her wrists were tied
to the bedpost. Her eyes were open. It was like she was staring right at
me.' (Cross' description shown in black and white of the apartment and
Jessica's body.) I didn't know what to do so I got the hell out of there.
That's it, Teddy."

Ted: "Were you having a sexual relationship with the girl?"

Cross: "She was fifteen years old."

Ted: "That's a plus for some people."

Cross: "Not for me."

Ted: "What was your relationship to Neil Avedon? Did you take drugs with
him?" Cross laughs. "Understand this, Richard. What you're involved in now,
facts are weapons. I can be the best lawyer in the world but if I go in
unarmed I'm going to get my ass kicked. I'll get over that. But you'll get
executed."

Cross: "I understand."

Ted: "I'm not sure you do. But at some point it's going to sink in."

Cross: "Can I get out of here?"

Ted: "Not tonight."

Cross, furious: "Damn it!" Slams his fist down on the table.

Ted: "I'll see you in the morning. Try to get some rest."

Ted, Francesca and Justine leave the building to face the press outside.
Ted makes his statement.

Ted: "There is no foundation whatsoever for the outrageous charges made
against Richard Cross. The precipitous action of the LAPD and the District
Attorney's office shows a reckless disregard for the rights of one of this
community's most distinguished citizens. Mr. Cross has every confidence
justice will prevail and that he will be cleared of any wrongdoing. Thank
you very much." The press shouts questions at both Ted and Francesca.

Francesca: "I am here tonight to be with my husband. I know the kind of
man that he is. I stand by him. And I'm confident that he'll be home soon.
Thank you." Ted begins leading Francesca through the throng of press and
cameras. The reporters continue to shout questions when Justine steps up
to the microphones and makes a statement.

Justine: "We fully anticipate Mr. Cross will be released from custody
Monday morning after his bail hearing." Ted turns to glare at her.

Back at the firm, the associates and Ted are having a meeting.

Ted: "No judge would touch the writ so we're looking at a Monday
morning arraignment. The prosecution's going to oppose bail because
it's a death penalty case. By noon tomorrow I want case law on the
possibility of bail for murder one. Arnold's in charge. Any questions?"

Lisa: "Uh, the DA's making it murder one as a deliberate premeditated
act?"

Ted: "Also homicide during the commission of a rape."

Chris: "Can sex with a fifteen-year-old be consensual?"

Justine: "Doesn't matter, it's illegal. Besides to raise a consensual
defense we'd have to admit the act and we've got a client that says he
didn't do it."

Ted: "All right, everybody, work with Arnold. Arnold, can I talk to you?"

Arnold: "Does this mean I'm you're guy?"

Ted: "You're my guy for tonight."

Arnold: "What about Monday morning? Who's going to be the second chair?"

Ted: "Arnold, I know how badly you want it." Arnold's clearly
disappointed.

Arnold: "Damn it, Ted!"

Ted: "But I need you for motions. You're the best legal writer I know."

Arnold: "And I'm not exactly commanding courtroom presence."

Ted: "Chris Dochnovich is and I'm not going with him either."

Arnold: "Oh yeah, female victim, allegations of sexual assault. `Arnold,
you know we're gonna need the added credibility a woman brings to the
team.' Yep."

Ted: "I appreciate your understanding in that spirit, Arnold. There's no
one in the firm I value more."

Arnold: "Yep. Yep." Still disappointed.

Ted: "Lisa, have a drink with me."

At the bar they talk over strategy for Monday's hearing.

Ted: "I want every one of those jurors to trust you like a sister. To
feel like you've heard Cross' story and you believe it and they should
too because you wouldn't invest your integrity in a guilty man. How many
business suits do you own?"

Lisa: "Uh, four."

Ted: "Buy three more. I'll shoot you an advance if you need it. I don't
want you in the same outfit twice in a week."

Lisa: "Okay, I can go shopping tomorrow." Justine turns up.

Justine: "Ted, could I have a moment?"

Ted: "What's up?"

Justine: "We dug up some promising cases on the bail issue."

Ted: "Good."

Justine: "Is she (referring to Lisa) second chair?"

Ted: "Yes. You're going to be working on motions with Spivak."

Justine: "I'm sorry Lisa. Teddy, don't make that decision now."

Ted: "You were out of line with the press and you're out of line now."

Justine: "Teddy, come on."

Ted: "Turn around, keep a smile on your face as you walk out of here and
go back to work with Arnold."

Ted's statement made outside Parker Center is playing on the TV behind
the bar. Ted and Lisa watch for a few moments.

TV: "... downtown where noted criminal defense attorney Theodore Hoffman
issued this statement earlier this evening. `There is no foundation
whatsoever for the outrageous charges made against Richard Cross. The
precipitous action of the LAPD... '"

Ted: "Ready?"

Lisa: "If you think I am." 

Ted laughs: "I know you're ready for the case. I meant are you ready to go?"

Lisa: "Oh. Yeah." On their way out a drunk at the bar calls Ted's
attention. Ted is trying to listen to a story by Cindy Chang on Neil
Avedon on the TV.

Drunk: "Excuse me, Mr. Hoffman. Can I have a word with you?"

Ted: "Call my office."

Drunk: "Here's, eh, fifty bucks. Jump up on the bar and dance."

Ted, to Lisa: "A local wit."

Drunk: "Come on, Hoffman. You know this guy's guilty."

Ted: "I'm not interested in talking with you."

Drunk: "You know what I think? I think hookers on Sunset got more scruples
than you got, is what I think."

Ted: "My friend, do you think anyone in this bar believes you've got a
head of hair? We all know that's a comb-over. But till you get so obnoxious
you forfeit your right to civil treatment, no one in here points it out.
Think of the trial system like that. We know accused people aren't always
innocent. Maybe not even usually innocent."

Drunk: "Oh, yeah, yeah. Now start to twist things around, huh."

Ted: "And even though we know that, we treat people like they're innocent
until they've had their shot in court because it makes us better people.
It civilizes us to treat them that way. Civility's important. That's why
no one in here called you a self-deceiving fool until you opened your
drunken mouth. I'm not gonna dance for you but I'll put up fifty bucks
of my own, you put up yours and the bartender'll hold the stakes."

Drunk: "Are you betting your guy didn't do it or you're gonna get him off?"

Ted: "Never bet against me on that."

The Hoffman home. TV news is on. Scenes from the police outside Jessica's
apartment building. Ted arrives home.

Reporter: "The tranquility of this West Hollywood neighborhood was
shattered yesterday with the grim discovery of the body of fifteen-year-old
Jessica Costello. Police cordoned off a section of North Havenhurst for
several hours while crime scene specialists... "

Annie: "CNN and Hard Copy called five times. Every local station, the wire
services and Nigel... somebody, from the London Times needs you to call
him back ASAP."

Ted: "Is the machine on?"

Annie: "Yeah."

Ted: "I'll have Louis change the number in the morning. How's Elizabeth?"

Annie: "Good. You missed one of my better halibuts." She pokes him in the
ribs with her elbow.

Ted: "I'm sorry."

Annie: "How's Richard Cross?"

Ted: "Oh, he loves it down there."

Annie: "Now do you think he did it?"

Ted: "I don't know, Annie."

Annie: "Circus is in town, huh?"

Ted: "Yeah."

Annie: "Promise me, we'll keep Elizabeth as far away from this as we can."

Ted: "I promise."

Final scene: Lizzie in her bedroom watching her father's statement to the
press outside Parker Center on TV.

TV: "... The precipitous action of the LAPD and the District Attorney's 
office shows a reckless disregard for the rights of one of this community's
most distinguished citizens. Mr. Cross has every confidence justice will
prevail and that he will be cleared of any wrongdoing. Thank you very much."

[End titles]

Steven Bochco Productions
20th Century Fox Television, a News Corporation Company
Supervising Associate Producer: Gigi Coello-Bannon
Casting in New York: Alexa L. Fogel, C.S.A.

Co-Starring:
Michael McCarty as Patron
Michael Rithhaar as Bill Weingart
Vanessa Zima as Elizabeth Hoffman
Larry Barrett as Deputy M.E.
Mathew Beck as Police Officer
Lisa Dinkins as Reporter #3
Elizabeth Harmon Haid as Reporter #4
Chad Einbinder as Reporter #5
Chris Maher as Reporter #6
Elisa Pensler Gabrielli  as Reporter #7

Unit Production Manager: Phillip M. Goldfarb
First Assistant Director: Chris Stola
Second Assistant Director: Richleigh Heagh
Costume Designer: Brad R. Loman
Legal Consultant: Howard Weitzman
Technical Advisor: David J. Gascon
Production Coordinator: Ann M. Kaiser
Costume Supervisor: Sally Smith-McCardle
Make-Up Artists: Norman Page, Kenneth Paul Shoenfeld
Hairstylists: Paulette Pennington, Michael Moore
Script Supervisor: Renee Rosenfield
Camera Operator: David Boyd
1st Assistant Camera: Tom Klines
Chief Lighting Technician: Jerry Solomon
Key Grip: Harry L. Rez
Set Designer: Stella Furner
Art Director: Mindy Roffman
Casting Associates: John A. Aiello, Ron Surma
Production Sound Mixer: Susan Moore-Chong, C.A.S.
Supervising Sound Editor: Dave Weathers
Music Coordinator: Patty McGettigan
Re-recording Mixers: Robert L. Appere, Ken Burton
Set Decorator: Mary Ann Biddle
Lead Person: Randy Bostic
Property Master: Jerry Moss
Background A.D.R.: Leigh French
Animal Handler: Benay’s Bird and Animal Rental
2nd Second Assistant Director: Ron Dempsey
Assist. Production Coordinator: Paul Leonard
Construction Coordinator: Duke Tomasick 
Transportation Coordinator: Norm Benson
Location Manager: John Armstrong
Special Effects Coordinator: Ray Robinson
Production Accountant: Candace Montgomery-Lira 
Asst. to Steven Bochco: Barbara Kroells 
Asst. to Charles H. Eglee: Marian Devney
Asst. to Fogle/Buckland: Jacqueline B. Lange
EPR (R) Telecine and Electronic Assembly by Encore Video Inc.
Telecine Colorist: Steve Porter
Re-recorded at Sony Pictures Studios
Post Production Sound Editorial by Miles of Fun Sound
Presented in Dolby Surround
Lenses & Panaflex (R) camera by Panavision (R)
Copyright (c) 1995 Steven Bochco Productions #7101 All Rights Reserved
Steven Bochco Productions is the author of this motion picture for purposes
of copyright and other laws.
(AMPTP) Color by Foto-Kem Laboratory (R)

The events and characters depicted in this photoplay are fictitious. Any
similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely
coincidental.

Ownership of this motion picture is protected by copyright and other
applicable laws, and any unauthorized duplication, distribution or
exhibition of this motion picture could result in criminal prosecution
as well as civil liability.