Murder One

Season One - Chapter Eight

U.S. air date: November 16, 1995.

(Complete transcript) - [Final version]

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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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"Previously on MURDER ONE"

Clip of Ted and Louis discussing the leak.

Ted: "There's a leak in this office and I want to know who it is."

Clip of Dr. Lester dropping a bombshell on Ted.

Lester: "Neil confessed to killing Jessica. I'll rot in jail before I'll
testify to any of this, Mr. Hoffman."

Clip of Ted asking Neil about the allegations made by Lester.

Ted: "Did you or did you not confess to him that you killed Jessica?"

Neil: "Teddy, I don't know."

Clip of Grasso revealing the identity of the mystery witness to Ted.

Grasso: "She's the night nurse at Zephyr House. She logged a call from
Neil at one-forty-five a.m. the night of the murder from Julie Costello's
apartment. That's two hours after he said he'd left."

Clip from after Ted's interview with Connie Dahlgren from Deadline: 
America.

Ted: "Who told you the results of our jury survey?"

Dahlgren: "You know I can't answer that."

Ted: "If I've got a traitor working for me I'd like to know."

Clip of Louis' revelation about the leaker.

Louis: "You'll never guess who I saw coming out of Connie Dahlgren's
apartment at seven o'clock this morning, with wet hair no less?"

Clip of Ted confronting Sydney Schneider.

Ted: "An attorney's fundamental duty is to his client. You've jeopardized
your own career before it's even begun."

Clip from Julie's attempted suicide.

Ted: "Who is it, Julie? Who is it in your dream?"

Julie: "Graham. Lester."

CHAPTER EIGHT

The Hoffman household. The Hoffmans are having a candlelight dinner when
the phone rings.

Annie: "Couldn't you just let it ring?" Ted gets up to answer it.

Ted: "Hello? All right, all right. Calm down, Richard. Was she hurt? Soon as
I can, yes." Switches off the phone. "Julie Costello was in a car accident.
The police have her out in Van Nuys."

Later at the police station in Van Nuys.

Ted: "I'm told all she had was a couple of glasses of wine. What was her
blood alcohol level?"

Desk sergeant: ".05 -- it's a low blow for the breathalyzer but her pupils
weren't dilating. Drug recognition expert will be here in a few minutes.
I'd like him to take a look at her."

Ted: "Be that as it may, we've posted bail so she's free to go, correct?"

Desk sergeant: "Not until we're done processing her."

Ted: "You may want to check with your watch commander. He told me a few
minutes ago that she'd been cleared for release." The officer picks up the
phone to verify what Ted's told him.

Desk sergeant: "Sir, we've got a Julie Costello in custody on a DUI and her
attorney's... Yes sir. I wasn't aware of that. Yes sir, I understand." Hangs
up the phone. "Let me check on her." Leaves.

Ted to Cross: "I thought Graham Lester was dialing back her drugs?"

Cross: "Yes, he has been. The alcohol must have amplified the effects of
the, uh, medication. Mea culpa, Teddy. If I had known she was going to get
behind the wheel I would have hidden the keys, believe me."

Ted: "How's the kid on the motorcycle?"

Cross: "Oh he's fine, you know, just a few scrapes. Fortunately Julie just
clipped him. So I should just be in civil court for the next five or ten
years. But what's money? As long as everybody's okay." Julie's escorted by
the officer.

Julie: "Richard, I am so sorry." Her speech is badly slurred.

Ted: "Get her out of here, Richard, fast."

Julie: "Your poor car."

Cross: "Oh, it's okay. Don't worry about it, honey. That's okay."

Julie: "And Teddy? It's so late and you came all the way to Van Nuys. Can
you ever forgive me?"

Ted: "Not to worry, let's just get you home."

Julie: "Wait. I can't forget my personal effects." Cross takes her jacket.
"My rings and stuff. Do I need to sign something?"

Desk sergeant: "Here." She signs. Richard continues to gather her things.
Put her jacket on her shoulders. Ted is watching Cross throughout all this.

Julie: "Am I going to lose my license 'cause of this?"

Cross: "Don't worry, sweetheart. Teddy will take care of everything. Let's
go." They turn to leave. Julie turns back to Ted.

Julie: "I don't know what I'd do without you, Teddy. I really don't.
'Night." They leave.

[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
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:
Joe Spano as Raymond Velacek
Charlotte Ross as Stephanie Lambert
Randy Oglesby as Gordon Pine
Carol Lawrence as Felicia Norell
Barry Kivel as Stan Lerman
Jessica Tuck as D.D.A. Martine Booth
Stanley Kamel as Dr. Graham Lester
Loraine Toussaint as Margaret Stratton
John Pleshette as Gary Blondo
Bobbie Phillips as Julie Costello
Miriam Flynn as Robin Zeitlin
Michael Laskin as Tim Keenan
Adam Scott as Sydney Schneider
Nancy Lee Grahn as Connie Dahlgren
McNally Sagal as Lorraine Vitalli
Linda Carlson as Judge Beth Bornstein
Richard McGonagle as Judge Wyatt Cowdry

Music by Mike Post
Casting by Junie Lowry Johnson, C.S.A.
Producers: Geoffrey Neigher, Marc Buckland
Supervising Producers: Ann Donahue, Joe Ann Fogle
Creative Consultant: David Milch
Co-Executive Producer: Michael Fresco
Executive Producer: Charles H. Eglee
Teleplay by Ann Donahue & Geoffrey Neigher & Charles Holland
Story by Steven Bochco & Charles H. Eglee
Directed by Michael Fresco
--------------------------

Ted and Ray at the firm, on their way to the morning staff meeting.

Ray: "Just for the hell of it, I've been doing a little bit more digging
into that 1992 wrongful death investigation Rusty Arnold was involved in
at Zephyr House."

Ted: "Don't get too hopeful. We've been all over that. Graham Lester
managed to disinfect himself pretty good." They stop off at the kitchen
where Justine prepares some coffee for herself and for Ted.

Ray: "Yep, well, check this out. A Stephanie Lambert -- she was in rehab at
the time for heroin addiction -- she told one of the investigating officers
she thought Lester had drugged and raped her on numerous occasions while
she was in treatment. The case never made because there was no corroborating
evidence and the girl couldn't be sure whether or not it was all just a bad
dream."

Ted: "The same bad dream Julie's been having."

Ray: "Why I thought you might be interested."

Ted: "Where is this woman now?" They all head to the conference room.

Ray: "Lives in Silverlake. I talked to her on the phone but she wasn't
exactly forthcoming. I explained I wasn't a cop but she didn't want to
hear it."

Ted: "If she'd be willing to talk to Julie it might drive a wedge 
between her and her shrink."

Justine: "Do you want me to take a run at her? She might be more willing
to talk to a woman."

Ray: "Be my guest. I'll give you her name and number." He writes down the
information and hands it to Justine.

Ted: "Anything new on Lester's nurse?" The others begin straggling in.

Ray: "Only thing about her so far is a building manager who thinks she's
got a cat. There are no pets allowed. Still working on her TRW." He heads
for the door.

Ted: "Thanks, Ray. Good luck."

Justine: "Boy, this Graham Lester's got some weird lizards living in his
head, huh?"

Ted: "Oh yeah."

Arnold: "Morning everyone."

Ted: "Good morning. First order of business, our jury consultant, Margaret
Stratton, is leaving us for a while for medical reasons. Nothing serious,
thankfully. Her partner, Lorraine Vitalli, will be coming on board this
afternoon, so please introduce yourselves. And Julie Costello's a client
again. She wrecked Richard Cross' Rolls last night."

Chris: "She all right?"

Ted: "She wasn't hurt, if that's what you're asking. She was charged with
DUI, reckless driving, driving without a license. Justine, I want you to
handle this one. Arraignment's next week."

Justine: "I'll find out who the deputy DA is. See what I can work out."

Lisa: "It's one thing after another for this girl."

Ted: "Don't get me started."

Arnold: "Conformed copies of our motion in limine. One for the nurse. One
for Dr. Lester and his medical records."

Justine: "If we win the motion won't Grasso come back with a motion to
preserve the records?"

Ted: "Great. We want to see those records too. Anything else?"

Lisa: "We're meeting with the judge today on George Lerman."

Ted: "All this over a dog. Surely this case can be plea-bargained." Louis
hurries in and turns on the TV.

Louis: "Sorry to interrupt. Breaking news on Neil Avedon."

Deadline: America's Connie Dahlgren with the news item.

Dahlgren: "In a sworn affidavit, the teenage girl says the man, seen in
the poor-quality video, is Hollywood's baddest bad boy, Neil Avedon, with
whom she spent a nightmarish evening of sex, drugs and videotape in the
bungalow of a posh Beverly Hills hotel. The affidavit goes on to say that
the girl quote `feared for her life when the film star tried to strangle
her during their lovemaking.' Neil Avedon is charged in the sex slaying
of fifteen-year-old Jessica Costello... "

Arnold: "It's amazing this kid finds time between these performances to do
any other acting."

Chris: "Assuming that's really Neil."

Ted: "Whether it is him or not, this is one more thing we have to explain
away."

Arnold: "What makes people do that?"

Lisa: "There's a theory hormones could play a part."

Ted: "I'll give Connie Dahlgren a call. In the meantime have Ray Velacek
find out whatever he can about the girl." Ted leaves.

Lisa: "After seeing that, there's not a whole lot we don't already know."
They all leave.

Meeting in Judge Owen Harris' chambers to discuss the dog case.

Judge: "You're kicking up a lot of dust over this, aren't you, Ms. Booth?"

Booth: "Your honor, this man pounded on Mr. Pine's front door, then punched
him in the nose, breaking it and causing collateral facial bruising."

Lisa: "Your honor, the Defense would maintain there was more than ample
provocation. We believe that reducing the charge to a misdemeanor and having
my client pay a fine is the appropriate solution rather than consuming the
court's time with a trial."

Judge: "Talk to me, counsel."

Booth: "I'm sorry I'm not willing to knock it down. This is a serious
offense." The judge buzzes his secretary.

Judge: "Lillian?"

Lillian: "Yes?"

Judge: "Send in Mr. Lerman and Mr. Pine. This is a dispute between
neighbors, counselors. A little simple communication and we should be
able to save ourselves a trial." After they've come in, the scene resumes.

Pine: "Forget about it! I was assaulted! I'm not willing to pretend that
didn't happen!"

Judge: "Mr. Lerman, is there anything you could offer up by way of
compensation that might induce Mr. Pine to feel as though he had received
redress outside the criminal court system?"

Lerman: "You want me to pay him, is that what you're suggesting?"

Judge: "Something akin to that."

Lerman: "Oh, well, how can I put this... Uh, I'd rather be thrown out that
window and impaled on an iron fence than pay this guy one dime."

Judge: "Mr. Lerman, understand something. As of right now, you're charged
with a felony. If convicted, there's a chance you will go to prison. What
I'm trying to do is spare you that."

Pine indignant: "Why should he be spared?"

Booth: "Leonard."

Lerman: "Why should you be spared? Thunder wasn't spared. Thunder lives
every day of his life with the consequences of what you did to him. Thunder
is disabled because of you."

Pine: "I did what I did with a clear conscience. It was an act of self-
preservation. I would do it again."

Lerman: "Have you heard the expression:`never again, my friend'? Have you
heard that expression? Well, hear it now. Never again. The next time I'll
be waiting for you... with a gun."

Judge: "Stop. Ms. Booth, Ms. Gillespie, you're ready to proceed?"

Booth and Lisa, in unison: "Right, your honor." "Yes, your honor."

Judge: Two o'clock this afternoon. I'll see you in court." They all rise to
leave.

Lerman: "Don't be looking at me."

Pine: "I wasn't looking at you."

Lerman: "You were looking at me. You're always staring. Out of the corner
of my eye, I saw you looking at me."

Next scene: Ted's office. Louis lets Neil and Gary Blondo in.

Neil: "That video was totally bogus, Teddy. Believe me. And this isn't a
case of me not remembering."

Ted: "I do believe you. This has felt like a scam from the jump. Trials
like this bring all the wackos out of the woodwork."

Neil: "Oh yeah well, I'm getting eaten alive. Okay? I'm in the supermarket
the other day and this woman scoops up her kid when she sees me coming.
Like I'm some kind of fiend. I gotta do something, Ted."

Ted: "Don't go to the supermarket. You put yourself out in the public eye,
people are going to do things, say things. That's the reality."

Blondo: "Maybe there's another way of coming at this than just laying low?"

Ted: "What would you suggest?"

Blondo: "Meet this head-on. Neil's publicist got a call from Felicia
Norell."

Ted shaking his head: "No interviews."

Blondo: "This is not an interview, this is Felicia Norell. This is a blue-
chip opportunity for Neil to tell his side of the story."

Ted: "And I'm sure the timing of this brilliant suggestion has nothing to
do with the fact your picture's about to open."

Blondo: "The welfare of my friend is my only priority here. But, let me say
this, we have been previewing `Deadbolt' in a few key markets. You should
see what the audience cards are saying."

Ted: "Listen to me, Neil. There's a perception in you business that any ink
is good ink. That's not the case in a murder trial. We're at war for the
hearts and minds of the jury. You say the wrong thing in an interview or
the questions themselves seem suspicious, that potential jury could decide
they don't like you or they don't trust you. It could cost you your life."

Neil: "I hear what you're saying, Teddy. And I know you're looking out for
my best interest. Would you at least talk to these people? Explore the
possibilities."

Ted: "Your my client. I'll talk to anyone you want."

Blondo: "That-a way, Ted."

Ted: "But before I would even consider signing off on such a thing, I would
have to satisfy myself in a couple of areas. One, that's there sufficient
reason to warrant taking this kind of risk. And two, that the network agrees
to terms and conditions I can live with. I don't like what I'm hearing, no
interview."

Blondo: "Which is why we are coming to you, to be the rabbi here."

Ted: "Neil, I need your authority to say no. No end runs around me to your
agent or any of your other representatives."

Neil: "You're the boss."

Blondo: "This is why you're a star, Ted. You're tough-minded but you're not
afraid to look past your own point of view to see the bigger picture. If you
ever decide you wanna run a studio... "

Ted interrupts: "Put the right bullet here." Points to the back of his head.

Hearing before Judge Bornstein on the Defense's motion to seal Dr. Lester's
records and the nurse's testimony.

Ted: "Whatever Neil Avedon may have said to his psychiatrist, on the night
in question, falls under the doctor-patient privilege.

Grasso: "The Defendant relinquished that privilege, your honor. Mr. 
Dochnovich argued for bail based upon the Defendant's mental health, or
rather, lack thereof. It's well-settled that once mental health is at
issue the privilege can no longer be used as a shield."

Ted: "The People have correctly stated the law but applied it improperly.
An argument at bail neither presents testimony nor introduces evidence."

Grasso: "We can all argue D'Arcy's Horn book or even legislative intent,
but the fact is that the Defendant's mental health is on the record and
the Defense put it there. Now they want to pull it back to suit their own
needs. The People argue they shouldn't be allowed to have it both ways."

Judge: "I find the privilege too compelling to set aside. Mr. Hoffman, I'm
granting your motion vis-a-vis Dr. Lester. I'm not sure about the nurse.
It seems to me if Susan Dominick has testimony that doesn't go to the
Defendant's medical records or statements, it may be admissible."

Grasso: "Ms. Dominick received a telephone call from the Defendant who was
at the apartment of the victim two hours after he'd told the police he'd
left. We have the phone company's records supporting the same."

Ted: "It's still hearsay. A hundred different men could have placed that
call and said they were Neil Avedon."

Grasso: "She'll testify that she knows and recognized his voice. Ms. 
Dominick also observed the arrival of the Defendant at Zephyr House,
thirty minutes after that call. She's a percipient witness to non-privilege
communication and conduct."

Ted: "There's no reliable proof such an event took place but arguing
hypothetically, if it did, Neil was visiting his psychiatrist and the
privilege extend to any employee who might have signed him in, including
Nurse Dominick."

Grasso: "The Defense is trying to use privilege as a smoke-screen. Ms.
Dominick saw Neil Avedon arrive at Zephyr House at approximately 2:15 a.m.
She noted his affect. He was distraught. He asked to see Dr. Lester and she
escorted him to his office. These are the objective facts and should be
admitted into evidence."

Judge: "I'm going to allow Ms. Dominick's testimony as it relates to
seeing the Defendant at Zephyr House. I'm also going to allow her as to
the identity of the person she spoke with on the telephone that evening."

Ted: "Your honor, with all due respect... "

Judge interrupts: "Whether she can identify Mr. Avedon from his voice,
counsel, is what cross-examination is for. As for the People's motion
for discovery, denied. Dr. Lester's notes and records on Mr. Avedon are
protected, along with any testimony the doctor himself may make going to
the substance of his meetings with Mr. Avedon."

Grasso: "Your honor... " Bornstein pounds her gavel. "...the People move
that Dr. Lester's records be removed to the custody of this court to prevent
any alteration or destruction."

Judge: "Does Defense have a problem with that?"

Ted: "Yes, your honor. These records belong to Mr. Avedon. Dr. Lester should
be ordered to turn over these records to my office for safe keeping."

Judge: "I think not, Mr. Hoffman. Dr. Lester, can you accommodate the
court?" Lester confers with his attorney.

Lester: "Certainly, your honor."

Judge: "Counsel, you will accompany your client to his office, secure
the records and deposit them with this court tomorrow morning. We are
adjourned."

Outside, the press hound Ted for news of the closed hearing with Bornstein.

Reporter #1: "Mr. Hoffman, why was this a closed hearing? What happened
in there?"

Ted: "The judge closed the hearing for good reason, that's all I can say."

Reporter #2 to Neil: "There's a story on the wire service that the film of
you and the underage girl is a fake. Any comment?"

Neil: "Look, this isn't a news bulletin, folks. I said earlier the tape was
a phoney. Now, maybe you'll believe me."

Ted: "This is just another example of rumor and innuendo being reported
as fact. It's this climate of irresponsible journalism that could make it
extremely difficult for my client to receive a fair trial. Thank you."

Cut to TV coverage of the above exchange including...

Ted: "All pre-trial motions are being considered. Thank you very much."

Reporter: "Artie Sneller, who produced the x-rated film `Hose Monkeys,'
footage of which was used in the apparent hoax, held a press conference
earlier today and had this to say."

Sneller: "I got a late-breaking bulletin for whoever ripped off our footage.
We're coming after you, pal. My attorneys, as we speak, are bringing suit
against Deadline: America and Connie Dahlgren, for misrepresenting our work.
Hey, you don't rip off `Schindler's List' and you don't rip off `Hose
Monkeys.'"

Reporter: "In other news... " Ted shuts off the TV. In his office are Chris,
Margaret Stratton and Lorraine Vitalli, who have been watching the news.

Chris: "It's about time Neil got a win."

Stratton: "Connie Dahlgren's credibility may be impeached but don't count
on it helping Neil."

Chris: "Why not?"

Vitalli: "Even the charge has been refuted the negative association's
already been made in people's minds. Our raw data says as much."

Ted: "Is there anything in your data that indicates there would be an
upside to Neil doing an interview with Felicia Norell tomorrow night?"

Stratton: "A venue like that puts him in America's living room with one of
the most respected women alive. The visual association alone with Felicia
Norell helps humanize him."

Chris: "Plus he's charming, charismatic, knows how to play the camera."

Ted: "When he's acting. This is the real deal, live, no take two."

Chris: "What's the downside?"

Vitalli: "Even if he says all the right things, he'll be under a microscope.
Everybody's going to be looking for guilty behavior. In his body language,
his eyes, his affect."

Stratton: "People tend to believe their televisions tell them the truth. If
he comes off badly... "

Ted: "Let's see how our meeting with the network goes."

Back in court... the dog case. The courtroom is empty except for Messrs.
Pine and Lerman, their respective counsels, Ms. Booth and Ms. Gillespie
and Judge Harris. Booth is questioning her client, Mr. Pine.

Booth: "Describe for us, if you will, Mr. Pine, the events of June 10th,
1995."

Pine: "My wife and my son were out of town, visiting my wife's parents.
I was in the den, assembling a model airplane. If memory serves me I
believe it was a B52 Stratofortress. The doorbell rang. I answered the
door. And the Defendant, that guy other there, George Lerman, attacked me."

Booth: "What reason did he give for doing so?"

Pine: "He was angry over what I'd done to his dog."

Booth: "Was this the first time that his dog was a source of conflict
between the two of you?"

Pine: "The first time? No. This wasn't the first time. His dog was a source
of conflict from the day we moved into that house."

Booth: "What was the nature of the conflict?"

Pine: "The dog barked. Every hour of every day of every week for over a
year."

Lerman: "Not true." 

Pine: "It isn't true?"

Judge: "Mr. Lerman."

Pine: "I'm home all the time. He barks at squirrels. He barks at birds. He
barks at pedestrians."

Lerman: "Oh please."

Judge: "Gentlemen, that's enough."

Pine: "He even barks at his own reflection in hubcaps."

Booth: "Did you ever speak to Mr. Lerman about it?"

Pine: "Many times. His one concession to me was to buy the dog an
electronic collar. It turned out the dog liked the electronic collar.
It liked getting an electrical charge every time it barked. It fun for
him. Instead of simply hearing incessant barking, I now heard barking
alternating with beeping. Bark - beep. Bark - beep. Bark - beep.
Bark - beep. Bark - beep."

Booth: "But the Defendant did take steps to try and remedy the situation?"

Pine: "His steps were halfhearted at best. The truth is he was sneering
at me. The last straw was when his dog leapt the yard fence and threw a
hump into my schnauzer. I had to turn the hose on him to get him off. It
was only then that I finally acted, reclaiming my little corner of the
universe from that dog-monster that had come to torment my every waking
moment."

Lerman: "Oh, do you believe this jerk? Come on."

Lisa: "George."

Booth: "I have no further questions."

Next scene: Justine waits to meet with Stephanie Lambert at a diner. It's 
raining heavily as Lambert enters.

Justine: "Stephanie?"

Lambert sits down at the booth with Justine: "I almost didn't come. I don't
like this place." Nervously lights up a cigarette.

Justine: "We can go somewhere else, if you want. Coffee?"

Lambert: "Uh-uh."

Justine sighs: "I appreciate you're coming. I know it wasn't an easy
decision for you... "

Lambert interrupts: "Like I said on the phone, I'm not saying anything on
the record."

Justine: "You don't have to."

Lambert: "Okay. Fine. What do you want?"

Justine: "I have a friend. She's twenty-five years old. She's a patient of
Graham Lester's. I'd like you to talk to her."

Lambert laughs: "No way."

Justine: "He's doing the same thing to her that he did to you."

Lambert: "Well she has my sympathies. Only advice I can give her is `run 
like hell.' Because if she tries to do anything no one will believe her.
Just like nobody believed me." She spots a man at the far end of the counter
looking at her and occasionally writing something down. 

Justine: "As of now she doesn't believe it herself."

Lambert: "Is he with you?" Points to the man.

Justine: "No."

Lambert: "Why is he looking over here?" She moves over to sit by Justine
and thus turn her back to the man.

Justine: "I'm asking you for your help."

Lambert: "Where was help when I needed it? Huh? I talked to detectives.
I talked to rape-crisis intervention officers. I talked to people from
the DA's office. And nobody did a damn thing, not to help me, not to stop
him."

Justine: "If justice wasn't served, don't make other women pay the price
for that." Lambert laughs. "At the very least you can deprive Graham Lester
of another victim. Maybe somebody will believe her, and maybe he'll finally
get what's coming to him."

Lambert: "If there was any justice, Graham Lester's balls would be nailed
to the front door of his clinic."

Justine: "Then give me a nail."

Next scene, the firm's conference room where Ted meets with a legal
representative from the TV network and the producer from Felicia Norell's
show to discuss the terms and conditions for Neil's interview.

Producer: "I haven't seen the network this excited since Felicia
interviewed John Wayne Gacy."

Ted: "You understand this is by no means a fait accompli?"

Female rep: "That's why we're here, to make it happen."

Ted: "Well then let's talk about the ground rules. We want the segment
taped in advance, with editorial control to reside with Neil and myself."

Female rep: "You're joking?"

Ted: "Do you hear a laugh track?"

Female rep: "It's never been the policy of the network news division to
cede editorial control."

Ted: "Change your policy."

Producer: "First of all, Teddy, there's no editorial control per se. Felicia
works live."

Ted: "Which means Neil can't get up and walk away if he's sandbagged."

Producer laughs: "Teddy, this isn't going to be adversarial."

Ted: "Felicia Norell didn't get where she is by throwing hanging curve
balls. If this has to be live we have to agree in advance to the questions
she can ask."

Producer: "These interviews aren't scripted. Felicia lets conversations
unfold as conversations do."

Ted: "Then we're done here." Rises to leave. "The receptionist will validate
your parking."

Producer: "Uh, hold, hold it. Hold it. The network wants to make this work.
What can we do to make Neil comfortable?"

Ted: "No questions about the crime. Period."

Female rep: "That could have a pretty broad interpretation."

Ted: "The broadest possible." Finally sits down again.

Producer sighs: "Felicia has to ask what's on everyone's mind. If the public
senses there's some sort of conspiracy to avoid this issue, they'll tune out
in droves."

Ted: "Your ratings aren't my concern."

Producer: "At the very least, people are going to want to hear what it's 
like to face these kinds of charges, what it does to someone's life, and if
they're like me, maybe Neil is innocent -- that engenders a lot of sympathy."

Ted: "I don't have a problem with Neil talking about his feelings. But I
don't him talking about or being asked about his whereabouts the day of
the murder." The two reps look at each other.

Female rep: "Fine."

Ted: "And no questions about his prior arrests."

Female rep: "His arrests are a matter of public record."

Ted: "But not admissible in court so he doesn't need twenty million people
hearing a litany of every screw-up he's ever made."

Producer: "All right. No specific questions about his criminal record. What
else?"

Ted: "No discussions about his relationship to the victim, his statements
to police, his preparations for trial, whether or not he'll testify, what
his testimony might be. And I want it in writing."

Producer: "I guess we can live with that." Ted nods.

Ted: "At the end of the day, what assurances do I really have that any of
these terms will be adhered to?"

Producer: "I like to think my word, Felicia's good intentions and the good
faith of the entire network means something, Ted."

Ted: "I like to think the meek will inherit the earth." The female rep 
opens up her portable computer to draw up the conditions for the interview.

Meanwhile Neil is pacing in Ted's office, waiting for his decision on the
Felicia Norell interview.

Neil: "So? How'd we do?" Ted hands him the written agreement with the
network. Neil looks at the papers. "You've got me covered sixteen ways
till Sunday."

Ted: "I got you a piece of paper with some assurances written on it, that's
all it is. Neil, I'm asking you not to do this interview."

Neil: "You're really looking out for me, Teddy. I can't tell you how much
this means to me. But I'm doing this interview. It's my decision. I'll take
the consequences."

Back in court... the dog case again. Lisa is questioning her client, George
Lerman, who is on the witness stand.

Lisa: "Describe for us, if you would, the history of your dealings with the
plaintiff prior to June 5th, 1995."

Lerman: "He bought the house next door to me a year and a half ago. I had
been there eleven years at that point. One day he comes to me and says my
dog's barking is irritating me. The dog is a little high-strung, I'll grant
that. I tried to correct the situation as much as possible. I started
keeping the dog inside."

Lisa: "Did that serve to satisfy Mr. Pine?"

Lerman: "No it did not. He complained that he could also hear barking when
the dog was inside."

Lisa: "Did you take further steps toward correcting the situation?"

Lerman: "I bought an electronic collar."

Pine: "Bark - beep. Bark - beep. Bark - beep." Boot tries to stop him.

Judge: "That's enough of that."

Lerman: "I paid for sessions with a dog trainer. Whatever I could do, I
did."

Lisa: "Where were you the week of June 5, 1995, Mr. Lerman?"

Lerman: "I was attending a trade show in Miami."

Lisa: "And would you tell the court what, if anything, you discovered upon
your return from that trip?"

Lerman: "That my dog was different. That he didn't come running to greet me.
That he didn't jump up and put his paws around me. That he wouldn't face me.
Suddenly he was self-conscious."

Lisa: "Your honor, we would like to introduce Defense Exhibit `A.'" She
walks out and returns with the dog, a Doberman pinscher. "Is this your dog,
Mr. Lerman?"

Lerman: "Yes it is."

Lisa: "Can you cause your dog to bark?"

Lerman: "I can cause my dog to attempt to bark."

Lisa: "Would you please do so?"

Lerman sighs: "Speak, Thunder. Speak, boy. Come on. Come on. Speak to daddy.
Come on. Come on. Come on." The dog tries repeatedly to make a sound but is
unable to."

Lisa: "Thank you, Mr. Lerman. What did you do when you found your dog was
unable to bark?"

Lerman: "I took him to the vet. I was informed that his vocals cords had
been surgically altered."

Lisa: "And what did you upon returning from the vet?"

Lerman: "I went to Mr. Pine. I asked him if he had done this. He told that
he had. He was proud of himself, this psychopath."

Pine: "Oh, I'm the psychopath."

Booth: "Leonard."

Pine: "You force an entire... "

Judge: "Mr. Pine."

Pine: "Community to endure this ceaseless barking of your miserable dog and
I'm the psychopath?"

Judge: "Mr. Pine."

Lerman: "Hey! Nobody complained but you though, why is that, I wonder!"

Judge: "Both of you, stop this colloquy right now!"

Lerman to his dog: "Thunder, Thunder, Thunder." The dog continues to try
to bark. "Look at what this evil little turd has done to you."

Lisa: "I have no further questions, your honor."

Next scene, Ted's office. Louis knocks and announces a visitor.

Louis: "A somewhat humbled Connie Dahlgren is here to see you."

Ted: "Show her in." Justine knocks and pokes her head in.

Justine: "Stephanie Lambert just called. She's agreed to come in this
afternoon and meet with Julie."

Ted: "Thanks, Justine." She leaves. Connie Dahlgren enters, waving a white
handkerchief.

Dahlgren: "Truce?"

Ted: "I didn't know we were at war?"

Dahlgren: "Teddy, you gave as good as you got."

Ted: "I don't quite follow."

Dahlgren: "Come on, Teddy, I'm not wearing a wire. Search me, if you like."

Ted: "You're laboring under a misapprehension if you think I had anything
to do with that video."

Dahlgren: "You have the most remarkable ability to be sincere, whether you
mean it or not. Whatever the circumstances, when Sydney Schneider gave me
that tape, I made the mistake of taking it at face value. Serves me right.
I should have been more thorough."

Ted: "That's not like you, Connie."

Dahlgren: "I know. But the dear boy was so eager to please. And so young.
And so grateful. Now that the score's even can we go back to the mutually 
beneficial relationship we've always enjoyed?"

Ted: "Nothing would please me more."

Dahlgren: "No hard feelings?"

Ted: "None."

Dahlgren: "I'm glad we had this chance to clear the air. But answer me one
question, Teddy. That film, `Hose Monkeys,' was that part of your private
collection?"

Ted: "If I told you it wouldn't be private, would it?" He walks her out
of his office. He then walks over to the library to speak with Sydney
Schneider. "You pulled that stunt with Connie Dahlgren."

Sydney: "Yep. After what she did to me and the damage I caused the Avedon
case, I had to do something to discredit her. And to be honest, Mr. Hoffman,
the revenge was pretty sweet."

Ted: "How'd you dummy the video?"

Sydney: "By bleeding out the color and re-recording it a bunch of times to
degrade the quality. And I kept a copy of the phoney affidavit for you. It's
pretty convincing."

Ted: "You're fired. Effective immediately."

Sydney: "Why?"

Ted: "You didn't learn anything from your last mistake."

Sydney: "I don't understand. I thought you'd be grateful."

Ted: "Because you tried to settle accounts through trickery? Did you hear a
word I said in our conversation last week?"

Sydney stammering: "Uh, you, you, said, you, that, that, with failure comes
opportunity. And I, uh, saw an opportunity and I went for it."

Ted: "You're smart, cunning and underhanded, Sydney. Qualities that in all
likelihood will make you very successful. But not in this firm."

Sydney: "But all I did was... "

Ted interrupts: "What you did was lie. There are too many people as it is,
bending and twisting legal ethics to suit their own needs, without you
joining their ranks. When the dean of your law school receives my evaluation
of your performance during this internship, maybe he'll take a more lenient
view. But I doubt it."

Sydney: "Tell me what it is I did that's so wrong?"

Ted: "That you have to ask makes my point. Louis will pack your things and
send them along with your final check. Good bye." He leaves the library and
go to Louis who has some papers for him to sign. They both watch Sydney
leave the firm, completely dejected. To Louis, "When Sydney Schneider is
the biggest agent in Hollywood you can say you knew him when."

Later in Ted's office, Julie arrives to meet Stephanie Lambert. Justine is
present.

Ted: "Julie, say hello to Stephanie Lambert."

Lambert: "Hi."

Justine: "Have a seat." Julie sits on the couch with Lambert.

Julie: "Is this about my car accident?"

Ted: "Justine has that under control. This is about Graham Lester."

Julie: "Oh, well, he told me not to drink alcohol with that prescription.
It was printed on the bottle but I didn't listen. It was totally my fault."

Justine: "That's not why we asked you to come here."

Ted: "When you were in the hospital, do you remember telling me about dreams
you've been having, about Dr. Lester forcing you to have sex with him?"

Justine: "Stephanie was a patient at Dr. Lester's too."

Julie: "Does Richard know you called me here to talk about this?"

Ted: "Does it matter?"

Julie: "Teddy, I don't want to have this conversation."

Ted: "I think you should."

Julie: "I don't even know this person."

Justine: "You don't have to say anything. All we're asking you to do is
listen."

Lambert: "It's okay. I know what you've been through. And I know what you're
going through now."

Julie: "What are you talking about?"

Lambert: "I'm talking about when it's real shaky and you're not sure if 
you're going to make it. And he's there, asking you to trust him, because
he's the doctor and he can make it okay. And he does, make it okay. He
shows you that he's not scared. And you don't have to be scared either.
Graham Lester was the one thing that I could hold onto and I held on tight.
So when he came into my bed, I tried to block it out. I couldn't allow
myself to think he'd do something like that to me. He was my lifeline. I
couldn't cut him loose. I knew that if I did, I'd die. That's how important
I'd let him become. But I wasn't crazy. And that whole sick little ceremony
that went on every night wasn't just some `bad dream that's a normal part
of therapy' like he kept saying it was. The nurse coming in, giving me my
shot. Him there, watching me, touching me, pulling up my nightgown, forcing
himself on me. And I'd try to say something, cover myself up, push him away
but I couldn't. I had to lie there, for however long it took him, his sweat
dripping all over me. And then he'd make this awful little noise and go
away. My body couldn't feel anything but I knew exactly what was happening.
Just like you knew. I was always afraid that in one of my dreams he'd want
to kiss me. That would only make it worse."

Julie: "He never did."

Lambert: "No. At least he never did that."

Next, a decision in the dog case. All involved parties are standing for the
judge's decision.

Judge: "Ladies and gentlemen, before I render my decision, I want to make
note of one essential fact. The only true victim in this case is the animal
in question. It's owner didn't train and control it properly. In response,
Mr. Pine subjected it to needless surgery, damaging it. In response to that,
the Defendant resorted to physical violence. Shame on the both of you. I
find the Defendant guilty on the charge of battery. As to sentencing, given
the fact that I believe that there was provocation and that the Defendant's
actions took place in the heat of the moment, I'm sentencing him to only
five days in the county jail and five hundred hours of community service
to be performed at the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter." Pounds his gavel.
"We're done."

Pine: "He plagues my life for a year. He physically brutalizes me, in my
home. You give him five lousy days in jail and say `we're done?'"

Booth: "Leonard."

Judge: "Careful, Mr. Pine, or you'll find out just how long five days can
be."

Lerman: "Yeah, in dog years it's three stinky hours."

Judge: "I'm warning both of you, cease this outburst, right now."

Pine: "I also love the idea that you're putting him to work in an animal
shelter. I think that's most appropriate. Maybe you could put Charlie Manson
on early work-release so he could be a Big Brother."

Booth: "Just sit down, Leonard." He sits.

Judge: "One more word, Mr. Pine, and I am holding you in contempt." But he
rises once more.

Pine: "If I may, your honor, I feel sufficiently aggrieved by the outcome
of this case to say that contempt for you and the criminal justice system
in general is a pretty fair summation of the way I feel."

Judge: "All right, Mr. Pine. I find you in direct contempt of this court.
Bailiffs, remand both these gentlemen into custody. They are both to serve
five days in county jail. And if I had my wish they were serve those five
days in the same cell." Pounds his gavel again and two bailiffs remove the
men from court. "Now we're done."

Ted's office again. He's getting ready to go watch Neil's interview with
Felicia Norell.

Louis with something for Ted to sign and various messages: "You're due at
the studio in half an hour. Neil called to say that he'll meet your there.
There's a drive-on for you at the Madison Gate. And Richard Cross is
outside. He needs a minute of your time."

Ted: "I'll bet. Show him in."

Cross: "Teddy."

Ted: "Richard."

Cross: "So, Julie told me about these dreams she's been having. And this
meeting with this, er, Stephanie... person. Can any of this be true or... "
Cross paces the room.

Ted: "The stories these two women tell are too similar to ignore."

Cross: "Well, then, I don't know what to think. I've known Graham Lester
for years. He's a friend, or was. But I mean, huh, I cannot allow Julie to
continue treatment with this man. Not under a cloud like this."

Ted: "It probably would be ill-advised." Continues pacing.

Cross: "I want you to know, Teddy, that whatever my past relationship with
Graham Lester, I'm going to jump into this thing with both feet. If any of
this happened or he so much as laid a hand on Julie, I will see to it that
his license is revoked and he is put behind bars." Stops pacing. "To that
end you can tell your investigator that my resources are at his disposal."

Ted: "This really is a police matter, Richard. If there's any information
Julie can provide, she should talk to law enforcement."

Cross: "Graham Lester was Jessica's psychiatrist too." Walks over to Ted.
"So I have to ask the question: if he did do these things, if he was
involved in the death of the other girl at Zephyr House, do you think
it's possible that he killed Jessica?"

Ted: "Anything's possible." Cross walks over to the door to leave.

Cross: "Wish Neil good luck for me tonight. I'll be watching." He leaves.

At the TV station, on the set of Felicia Norell's show. She is interviewing
Neil as Ted watches from the control booth with the producer. Neil is upbeat.

Felicia: "Let's talk about your new movie."

Neil: "Great. You should go see it. It's called `Deadbolt.' It's my first
feature."

Felicia: "Mm-hmm."

Neil: "Coming to a theater near you."

Felicia: "You've lived a charmed life, Neil. You've had your own series,
become a star, now you're embarking upon a film career and suddenly, you're
in the middle of a nightmare."

Neil: "Yeah."

Felicia: "I think everyone understands that with your trial coming up,
there's a lot you can't talk about."

Neil: "That's true.

Felicia: "What do you say to the people out there who have tuned in to this
show who want to know who Neil Avedon is?" Neil becomes more serious.

Neil: "The worst thing that's ever happened to me isn't being accused of
something I didn't do, it was losing someone that I loved. I'd give my life
right now if it would bring her back. For whatever reason, I have to live
through being accused of killing her then what I have to do now is convince
the world that I'm innocent. And I guess that's who Neil Avedon is right
now."

Felicia: "Why do you suppose all this is happening to you?"

Neil: "At first I thought God was punishing me."

Felicia: "For?"

Neil: "For all the bad things I have done in my life."

Felicia: "You've acknowledged publicly that for the first time since you
were fourteen years old, you're sober."

Neil: "Yeah. I just got my thirty-day chip."

Felicia: "Is that one of the lessons you needed to learn, that there's life
after drugs and alcohol?"

Neil: "Absolutely. And until you figure that out, you can't learn anything
else."

Felicia: "Talk about what it was like to be in jail."

Neil: "Well, it was terrifying. The smell, the noise." The producer gives
Ted a `thumbs-up' sign which he ignores, focusing his attention on Neil
instead. "It's never quiet in jail. And suddenly all the fame and the money
and the women -- none of that stuff means anything. The truth is, none of
that stuff means anything outside either."

Felicia: "Another lesson?"

Neil: "Big lesson."

Felicia: "One word to describe what a typical day is for you right now."

Neil: "Simpler, by a lot. I live in a guest house away from the city. I
run everyday, go to my meetings, read. Yeah I keep to myself mostly."

Felicia: "Are you lonely?"

Neil: "No. I mean, you'd think after all these years of never going anywhere
with at least six people coming along I would be but I've discovered this
weird new experience -- peace and quiet."

Felicia: "Anyone special in your life at the moment?" Neil smiles.

Neil: "Yeah."

Felicia: "Anyone we know?"

Neil: "No. She's not in the business. She's shy and, um, I'm in love with
her."

Felicia: "What's her name?"

Neil laughs: "Not telling."

Felicia: "Neil, are you worried about what this could do to your career?"

Neil: "My career? Do I want to be able to continue working as an actor?
You bet. I love what I do. But, do I worry that all this will keep me from
becoming a movie star? That doesn't seem quite so important any more."

Felicia: "We did a telephone survey right before we went on the air and the
majority of the people we spoke to think you're guilty."

Neil: "Because they only heard one side. I've been on trial in the press for
months, with people saying all kinds of things about me that aren't true.
The big reason why I wanted to do this interview was so that people could
get to know me a little and see that I don't have horns growing out of my
head."

Felicia: "Let's talk for a moment about what is true. You've admitted you
don't remember strangling Melissa Griotte in that videotape, that's a matter
of court record, isn't it?" Ted glares at the producer. Neil becomes uneasy.

Neil: "Yeah."

Felicia: "And the reason you don't remember is because you've been
experiencing black outs from using drugs and alcohol, right?" Neil looks
over to Ted in the control booth. 

Neil: "Felicia, we're getting into an area I really can't talk about." Ted
can be seen arguing with the producer in the control booth.

Felicia: "Okay, but you're saying that people are making up all kinds of
things about you. But there are a lot of disturbing things that aren't
made up. You strangled a swan. You strangled Melissa Griotte. You admit to
being in Jessica's apartment the night of the murder. You had sex with her.
Isn't it possible that you strangled her and you just don't remember?" Neil
has become emotional and there's a long pause before he answers.

Neil: "It's impossible for me not to remember something I couldn't have
done, something that's inconceivable I would ever do to anyone, let alone a
person that I loved that way I loved Jessica." He's in tears. "And wherever
she is now, she knows the truth and God knows the truth, that I didn't do
this terrible thing."

Felicia: "Thank you, Neil Avedon, for being with us tonight." 

Ted and Annie have been watching a videotape of the interview at home later
that evening.

Felicia: "We'll be back in a moment." Annie turns off the TV.

Ted: "Well, what do you think?"

Annie: "He's beautiful, boyish, sensitive, tragic. Now every woman in
America wants to mother him."

Ted: "Do you?"

Annie: "I don't know. He's an actor so I can't tell if I'm being manipulated
or if I've just watched an innocent man pour out his soul. I know that's a
concept I've been allergic to up to this point but for the first time I'm
beginning to wonder if Neil Avedon is really capable of murder."

Ted: "Give me twelve jurors who feel the same way you do and I've got a shot
at getting him off."

Annie: "And if they're wrong?"

Ted: "Then as the old saying goes... "

Annie: "`Better ten guilty men go free than one innocent man be punished.'"

Ted: "I rest my case."

[End titles]

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

Co-Starring:
Wayne Duvall as the Officer
Markus Redmond as Mark Washington
Johnny Cocktails as Artie Sneller
Lynn Blades as the News Anchor

Director of Photography: Aaron E. Schneider
Production Designer: Paul Eads
Edited by Andrew Doerfer
Unit Production Manager: Patrick McKee
First Assistant Director: Mike Schilz
Second Assistant Director: Brian Faul
Costume Designer: Brad R. Loman
Legal Consultant: Howard Weitzman
Technical Advisor: David J. Gascon
Production Coordinator: Nancy Wilkerson
Costume Supervisor: Debra Beebe
Make-Up Artists: Norman Page, Jim Scribner
Hairstylists: Paulette Pennington, Anthony Wilson
Continuity Supervisor: Sonny Filippini
Camera Operator: David Boyd
First Assistant Camera: Brian LeGrady
Gaffer: Mark Vuille
Key Grip: Harry L. Rez
2nd 2nd Assistant Director: Andy Spilkoman
Technical Consultant: Debra Carrillo
Production Sound Mixer: Susan Moore-Chong, C.A.S.
Supervising Sound Editor: Margi Carlton
Music Editor: Patty McGettigan
Background A.D.R.: Superloopers
Re-recording Mixers: Robert L. Appere, Ken Burton
Set Decorator: Mary Ann Biddle
Set Designer: Mindy Roffman
Lead Person: Randy Bostic
Property Master: Jerry Moss
Location Manager: John Armstrong
Script Coordinator: Michael Norell
Casting Associates: Libby Goldstein, John A. Aiello
Construction Coordinator: Pete Lawrence
Transportation Coordinator: Norm Benson
Assistant Production Coordinator: Ann M. Kaiser
Post Production Coordinators: Laina Mumbrue, Jamal A. Swinton
Production Accountant: Candace Montgomery-Lira
Asst. to Steven Bochco: Barbara Kroells
Asst. to Charles H. Eglee: Marian Devney
Asst. to Fogle/Buckland: Karin Londgren
Asst. to Donahue/Neigher: Holly Baker
Asst. to Michael Fresco: Maureen Milligan
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 Dave Weathers, Miles of Fun Sound
Presented in Dolby Surround
Lenses & Panaflex (R) camera by Panavision (R)
Copyright (c) 1995 Steven Bochco Productions #7108 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.