Murder One

Season One - Chapter Nineteen

U.S. air date: April 1, 1996

(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"

THE VICTIM - Narrator's voice-over: "The victim." Black and white clips of
Jessica Costello, dead. Color clips of her alive.

Chris: "Murder in Hollywood last night you could be interested in. Fifteen-
year-old blond named Jessica Costello. The cleaning lady found her. Naked,
tied up, strangled. Drugs all over the place."

THE SUSPECT - Narrator's voice-over: "The suspect, drug-addicted movie star,
Neil Avedon." Clip of the press surrounding Neil Avedon, after his arrest.
Clip of Neil, in jail with Ted Hoffman.

Ted: "Looks like your hip-deep in a rape-homicide."

THE STRATEGY - Narrator's voice-over: "The defense plans their strategy."
Clips of Lorraine Vitalli giving Ted some jury surveys; Chris and Lisa
working on the case; and Neil wondering about his chances for acquittal.

Neil: "How great is our side going, Ted?"

Ted: "When we get Richard Cross back up on the stand, we'll position
him, very credibly, as the killer of Jessica Costello." More b/w clips
of Jessica.

THE BETRAYAL - Narrator's voice-over: "The betrayal." Clips of Justine and 
Cross, and Ted and Justine.

Ted: "I had a conversation with Richard Cross. He informs me that you've
been working for him. Did you or did you not contravene my instruction to
turn him down?"

Justine: "Ted, let me explain."

Ted: "And did you deliberately mislead me by failing to mention that you
had arranged for Richard to meet with Julie on the night she disappeared?"
Clip from when Richard met with Julie are arranged by Justine.

Justine: "No I didn't tell you the entire truth."

Ted: "You're fired."

Justine: "Excuse me?"

Ted: "I can't trust you."

Clip of Cross' discussion with Ted about Justine.

Cross: "I don't think she deserves this kind of draconian punishment."

Ted: "Justine is a grown-up. She did what she did with her eyes open."

Cross: "Why don't you make me the snake in the Garden of Eden?"

Ted: "You set out to corrupt one of my associates and you succeeded."

MARRIAGE UNRAVELS - Narrator's voice-over: "A marriage unravels." Clip from
one of Annie and Ted's major arguments.

Annie: "What I've been getting isn't enough!"

Ted: "It's not enough? Well then find someone who'll give you more! Find
someone who'll minister to your every need!"

Annie: "I can't, as of now I'm still married to you!"

A FRIEND - Narrator's voice-over: "A friend to lean on." Clip of Ted and
Francesca.

Francesca: "I heard about you and Annie. Did the rumor about you and me
have anything... "

Ted interrupts: "It had nothing to do with this."

Francesca: "I hope Annie can find her way through this without doing 
anything rash. She has no idea how lucky she is. Let me cook you dinner
one night."

Ted: "You're a dear friend, Francesca."

NEW PARTNERSHIP - Narrator's voice-over: "A new partnership." Clip of Cross
and Justine toasting their new relationship.

Cross: "You didn't think I'd abandon my friend in her time of need, did
you? You learn fast and you're loyal. Those are the only two qualities I
require."

Justine toasts: "To loyalty." They touch glasses.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Cross' office. Justine knocks, enters and finds Cross on the phone.

Justine: "Knock, knock. I'll come back."

Cross: "No, I'm on hold. What's up?"

Justine: "I've been doing some digging into that Fast Track tire deal."

Cross: "Thought we closed that deal?"

Justine: "No, we're going back and forth, but the more I think about this
thing the m-... " Cross slams down the phone in anger.

Cross: "Damn it! Can't stand to be kept waiting." Regains his composure.
"What were you saying?"

Justine: "I've crunched some numbers and what these guys are looking to
walk away with isn't justified by their market share. Each of the twelve
franchises reported losses between seventeen and thirty percent in the
previous quarter, which means you're looking at a pretty steep negative
cash flow."

Cross: "I'm not concerned about cash flow."

Justine: "Even so, even if you're looking to cannibalize the chain for
real estate, we're going to take a hit. We're going to be overpaying for
buildings that are run-down and in economically depressed areas." Cross
holds his head as if he has a headache. "Any way you slice it this deal
just doesn't make any sense."

Cross: "Justine, what did I tell you to do? I told you to close the Fast
Track tire deal."

Justine: "Yes, and this market analysis... "

Cross interrupts: "Spare me your second-rate thinking. When I tell somebody
to do something I expect it to get done."

Justine: "Richard, if you would just hear me out."

Cross slams his fist down on the desk, stands and shouts: "Shut up! Get your
fat ass out of my office and close the deal! Otherwise I'll put somebody on
the job who will!" Justine is speechless.

[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:
Donna Murphy as Francesca Cross
Terence Knox as Douglas Fournier
Linda Carlson as Judge Beth Bornstein
Jeff Allin as Bruce Zannerman
Kelly Hu as Natalie Cheng
Markus Redmond as Mark Washington

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 Producers: William M. Finkelstein, Charles H. Eglee
Teleplay by William M. Finkelstein & Charles H. Eglee
Story by Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein
Directed by Mark Buckland
-------------------------

The firm, the morning staff meeting focuses on final strategies for Neil's
case.

Arnold: "Regarding the judge's instructions to the jury, I've briefed
everything we're asking for. I can give it to you whenever you're ready."

Lisa: "I'll have an outline for closing arguments end of business today."

Neil: "Are we really at that point?"

Chris: "Richard Cross is our last witness."

Neil: "So it's settled then, I won't be taking the stand?"

Ted: "It's settled as far as I'm concerned. By the way, I've asked Chris
to handle Richard's direct examination. The jury can't help picking up on
the personal animus between us and I don't want that distracting them from
Richard's testimony."

Neil: "That makes sense but shouldn't we wait and see what Cross gives us
before we decide I shouldn't testify?"

Chris: "Nothing's set in stone." Ted glares at Chris.

Ted: "Neil, you're not going to help yourself by testifying."

Neil: "But don't you think there are jurors that'll hold it against me if
I don't?"

Ted: "No."

Neil: "I would. I mean if a person's innocent I would think that he would
want to take the witness stand and, and say that."

Ted: "Neil, I am telling you as someone who's been a trial attorney for
seventeen years defendants do themselves far more harm than good when they
take the stand. I suggest you put it out of your mind." Louis enters.

Louis: "The car is downstairs."

Chris: "We'd better get going."

Neil to Ted: "Can we talk about this on the way to court?"

Ted: "Sure. Give us a minute to go over a couple of other matters."
To Chris, "When we speak to a client we speak with one voice, is that
understood?"

Chris: "I'm sorry."

Ted: "What is or is not set in stone gets decided within the confines of
this office. You don't think out loud with a client in the room."

Chris: "Sorry." They both leave to join Neil and head for court.

In court, Richard Cross is on the witness stand with Chris handling his
examination.

Chris: "Mr. Cross, we have called you to the stand to give you an
opportunity to explain what seem to be a number of jarring coincidences."

Cross: "I'm certainly happy to try."

Chris: "You're a major campaign contributor to Roger Garfield's political
organization. And Roger Garfield personally saw to your release following
your arrest for the murder of Jessica Costello." Cross nods.

Grasso: "I object, your honor, to counsel's attempt to suggest by
insinuation what he can't prove by evidence. It's argumentative, it's
improper and I ask that it be stricken."

Chris: "This is a hostile witness, your honor."

Judge: "Objection overruled. The witness may answer."

Cross: "Um, I did not buy myself a license to kill, Mr. Dochnovich. If Roger
Garfield thought I was guilty, all the campaign contributions in the world
would not have made him let me go."

Chris: "It's been alleged that after Neil Avedon got finished raping and
murdering Jessica Costello, that he made a call to the office of Dr. Graham
Lester. You have a relationship with Dr. Lester, don't you?"

Cross: "Yes, I do."

Chris: "You also have a relationship with a nurse who testified that she
received the call. Correct?"

Cross: "Well I know her but I wouldn't say we have a relationship."

Chris: "Her brother's medical expenses are being paid for by you. Is that
a coincidence?"

Cross: "Yes, it is."

Chris: "You're paying over three hundred thousand a year for the medical
care of an individual who testified to meeting you once, has absolutely
nothing to do with assuring his sister's testimony?"

Cross: "Absolutely nothing. Jonathan Kimball came across my path. I was
moved by the young man's plight and I have done what pitifully little I've
been able to do."

Chris: "Your wife is Jessica Costello's sister, is she not?"

Cross: "Yes, she is."

Chris: "You married her on the eve of her testimony thus allowing her
to invoke marital privilege when asked questions about you. Was that a
coincidence?"

Cross: "My wife and I married because we love each other. That, together
with a mutual need for emotional stability after going through what we've
both gone through, is why we got married."

Chris: "Is it a coincidence, Mr. Cross, that when we questioned the men
whose names appeared in Jessica Costello's diary, each and every one of
them testified to being introduced to her by you?"

Cross: "If you're implying that I somehow, um, worked as a pimp for Jessica,
let me hasten to correct that impression. Jessica looked at me, and I think
my wife can verify this, as a rich uncle. Someone she could go to when she
had problems, when she needed money, someone who would be non-judgmental
and always indulgent. In the final analysis, perhaps that's not what she
needed but that's what I provided. And that's all I provided."

Chris: "What about a place for her to live?"

Cross: "Yes, I provided that too."

Chris: "You own the apartment she lived in?"

Cross: "Yes."

Chris: "As the owner you would have had access to her apartment?"

Cross: "Yes."

Chris: "Okay. I think you've answered all my questions. Thank you."

Cross: "You're quite welcome."

Chris: "Oh, one other thing. What do you think the basis was for District
Attorney Garfield dropping the charges against you for the murder of
Jessica Costello?"

Grasso: "Your honor, this is well-trod ground. We've heard from four
different witnesses why the charges were dropped against this witness."

Chris: "I think the jury's entitled to hear it from Mr. Cross himself,
your honor."

Judge: "Objection overruled."

Cross: "I was with a young woman the night of the murder. She came forward
and made a statement as to my whereabouts."

Chris: "What was the young woman's name?"

Cross: "Beverly Nichols."

Chris: "Why was it that Beverly Nichols didn't come forward immediately
upon your arrest?"

Cross: "I believe because she was in fear of her husband."

Chris: "This would be the same husband who was captured on videotape by her
pimp, Fred Carello, participating in a menage a trois with the two of you?"

Cross: "If you're suggesting that her husband's presence on that tape means
that he is not, um, a violent and jealous person, I think, with all due
respect, that you have an overly simplistic view of human sexuality."

Chris: "Did you, in order to prevent others with an equally simplistic
point of view from doubting the veracity of your alibi, try to stop this
videotape from being seen?"

Cross: "No, I did not."

Chris: "So you would have had nothing to do with the murder of Fred Carello
and David Blalock on the evening Mr. Blalock was to take possession of this
tape?"

Grasso: "Objection. Counsel's testifying."

Chris: "I'll withdraw the question, your honor. I'm sure the answer would
have been no." Cross laughs.

Back in Cross' offices. Justine speaks with Cross' secretary.

Secretary, on the phone: "Yes, I'll give Mr. Cross the message. Bye-bye." 
To Justine, "He just stepped out for a minute."

Justine: "I have these contracts for him to sign."

Secretary: "Uh, I just need to run to Xeroxing but you can go on in." She
leaves and Justine enters Cross' office. She places the contracts on the
desk, marks where Cross is to sign and then begins looking through his
ledgers and papers that are on the desk. She keeps eyeing the door to make
sure that no one is approaching as she opens a drawer and starts looking
through some files. She is unaware of the security cameras which are trained
on her every move.

Back at the firm. The phone rings and Lila answers it.

Lila: "Hoffman and Associates. No, I'm sorry. Ms. Appleton is no longer with
this firm." Louis is giving Ted his messages.

Louis: "And Bill Weingart called again, desperate for a sit-down about his
bill, which he characterized as exorbitant and unfair. I told him you won't
be available until the trial is over."

Ted: "I don't know if I can wait that long."

Louis: "And Gary Blondo called, wanting you to buy a table at the Big
Brothers fund-raiser."

Ted laughs: "There are no enemies in this town, only continuing interests."
A man enters the firm.

Process server: "Are you Theodore Hoffman?"

Ted: "I am, but this gentleman will accept service." Indicating Louis.

Process server: "Uh, this is on a personal matter, sir." Hands Ted a large
envelope. "Evening." He leaves. Ted opens the envelope and reads.

Ted: "My wife is suing me for divorce." He heads out to the elevators.

At the Hoffman house, Ted confronts Annie about the divorce papers.

Annie: "I think the explanation is pretty self-evident. I don't want to be
married to you any more, Ted."

Ted: "You've made that abundantly clear. What upsets me is that I had to
find out from a process server."

Annie: "I've been telling you how I've felt for a while now. I told you I
was meeting with an attorney. It's not like you didn't see this coming."

Ted: "You don't think twelve years of marriage at least earns me the
courtesy of a phone call?"

Annie: "I tried to make this as painless as possible."

Ted: "We're not putting a dog to sleep here, Annie. I think you're being
precipitous. I'm asking you to put off your decision for a couple of
months."

Annie: "What you're asking is for me to put my life on hold so you can focus
all your attention on this trial, which I won't do. I want to get on with my
life."

Ted: "Then help me understand the rush here. Are you about to set up
housekeeping with someone else?" She doesn't answer the question.

Annie: "I have to do car pool. Excuse me." Walks past him.

Ted: "Annie, I'm asking you for the last time. Please don't do this." She
takes a lunch prepared for Lizzie.

Annie: "There's coffee if you want it. Please lock the door behind you on
the way out." She calls out to her daughter. "Lizzie, come on, we'll be
late for school."

Back in court, Grasso's cross-examination of Richard Cross.

Grasso: "Much has been made, Mr. Cross, of your campaign contributions to
Roger Garfield. For the record, is Mr. Garfield the only elected official
to whom you make campaign contributions?"

Cross: "All told, um, I probably give about a million dollars a year in,
uh, political donations. Mr. Garfield is one of many."

Grasso: "And much has been made of your footing the medical bills
for Jonathan Kimball. Is Mr. Kimball the only individual for whom you
underwrite medical expenses?"

Cross: "No, um, please believe me, um, when I say I don't, uh, like to
make a habit of bragging about my good works but there are, um, about
twenty different people whose medical expenses are underwritten by me."

Grasso: "And why is that, Mr. Cross?"

Cross: "Because I believe very strongly that with wealth comes
responsibility. Now I want you to pout for me."

Grasso: "Excuse me?"

Cross: "I said that with wealth comes responsibility." He's unaware of what
he's just said.

Grasso: "Do you consider Neil Avedon a friend, Mr. Cross?"

Cross: "Yes, I do."

Grasso: "When bail was set for Mr. Avedon at ten million dollars, were you
not the one who posted the bail?"

Cross: "Yes, I was. I want you to unbutton the top three buttons of your
blouse, pick up those papers, drop them on the floor, bend over and pick
them up." Snaps his fingers. "Do it." Cross' lawyer, Mr. Freilich stands.

Freilich: "Your honor, may we have a brief recess?"

Judge: "Mr. Cross, has something come over you?"

Cross: "No. Why do you ask, your honor?" He's completely baffled by the
judge's question.

Judge: "You've made an extremely inappropriate remark and I would like to
know what caused you to do so."

Cross: "Your honor, I've tried to be as truthful, uh, responsive and
cooperative as possible. If I have said anything that's been otherwise
I apologize." He has a puzzled look on his face. He does not understand
what has happened.

Judge: "Why don't you proceed with your questions, Ms. Grasso."

Grasso: "You've cooperated with the defense at every turn in this case,
have you not, Mr. Cross?"

Cross: "Yes, I have. In fact, uh, I've gone so far as to, uh, employ my
own private investigators on Neil's behalf. Mr. Hoffman maintains that
I'm trying to frame Neil. But all I've ever done was try to help him."

Grasso: "Is there any reason, Mr. Cross that you would... "

Cross turns to the judge and interrupts Grasso: "Do you think that makes
me pathetic?" Cross' lawyer stands up again.

Freilich: "Richard?"

Judge: "Sit down, Mr. Freilich. Mr. Cross, please limit your remarks to
responding only to the questions you've been asked." Cross gestures as if 
to stop filming some invisible movie being made there in court.

Cross: "Can we stick to the script please?"

Judge: "Excuse me, Mr. Cross?"

Cross: "No, listen. This is between me and her, okay? You don't come in
until I give you the signal... " He continues talking throughout.

Judge: "Mr. Cross?" Cross' lawyer again stands up.

Freilich: "Your honor, may we please have brief recess?"

Cross: "... You go directly over to her and you take your hand and you put
it right between her legs. That's it." Gestures at locking one's lips with
a key and whispers, "No talking."

Judge: "Mr. Freilich, is your client aware of where he is right now?"

Freilich: "Your honor, my client has been under a great deal of strain as
of late. I think it's possible he may be showing some of the signs of that."

Judge: "Okay, this court is in recess. Ms. Grasso, will you have any further
questions for this witness?"

Grasso: "No, your honor."

Judge: "In that case I'm going to call it quits for today. We'll resume
tomorrow morning at nine-thirty." He looks at his watch. "You may step down,
Mr. Cross."

Cross: "Thank you very much, your honor." Steps down from the stand and
walks out of the courtroom. He is not aware of anything that has occurred.
As Ted, Chris and Neil leave the courtroom, Neil grabs Ted's arm.

Neil: "We need to talk."

Ted: "In here." Leads him into an empty room.

Neil: "I want to testify."

Ted: "Do you think it went badly for us today?"

Neil: "I don't think it went great."

Chris: "Looks to me as though Richard Cross is having a nervous breakdown.
I'd say that's good for us."

Neil: "How is that good for us?"

Ted: "Because the jury looks at him and concludes that either he's cracking
up under the strain of lying or he's crazy and thereby capable of murder.
You win, either way."

Neil: "I hate to disagree with you but whatever it was we saw today didn't
make me think Richard was capable of murder. Chris? Am I the only one that
feels that way?"

Chris: "I'd have to go with Ted."

Neil: "Well, then I have to disagree with both of you. I think I'm in 
trouble."

Ted: "Neil, let me be blunt. You're too exposed on too many fronts to take
the stand. Miriam Grasso will eat you alive."

Neil: "That jury knows about my past."

Chris: "Knowing about it and being presented with the sight of you trying
to distance yourself from it, are two different things."

Neil: "I think if I present myself truthfully the audience will believe me."

Ted: "Neil, it's not an audience, it's a jury."

Chris: "And when it comes to explaining your life, you cannot afford to be
truthful."

Neil: "If I don't get up there and I get convicted, I'm going to spend
thirty years in a cell thinking I could have done something and I didn't.
Whatever else I have to endure, I can't endure that. Tomorrow morning I'm
going to testify and I expect you to prepare me for it as best you can."

Ted: "Neil."

Neil: "Ted, this is what I want."

Later that night at the firm, Chris, Lisa and Ted try to prepare Neil to
testify.

Chris: "Were you using cocaine when you were captured on this videotape,
strangling Melissa Griotte?"

Neil: "I believe I was, yes."

Chris: "Just so I understand you correctly, Mr. Avedon, it's your contention
that strangulation in this instance was an erotic act?"

Neil: "I'm not defending what I did."

Chris: "Aren't you? Well I thought that was the whole purpose of this
trial?"

Neil: "I'm not defending what I did to Melissa."

Chris: "What about Jessica? Was strangling her an erotic act?"

Neil: "I didn't strangle her."

Chris: "You didn't strangle her or you don't remember strangling her?"

Neil: "I didn't strangle her."

Chris: "We have sworn testimony from Richard DiGiacomo that you had your 
hands around Jessica Costello's throat in plain view of others at the House
of Blues, is that not the case?"

Neil: "That guy was lying through his teeth, Chris. We showed he was lying."

Chris: "Answer the question, Mr. Avedon."

Neil: "No, it's not the case."

Chris: "Could it be that you don't remember?"

Neil: "No."

Chris: "Did you not tell Detective Arthur Polson of the Los Angeles police
department that you were experiencing memory loss and black outs?"

Neil: "I remember that night at the House of Blues. I never touched her."

Chris: "How well do you remember the night of September 20th?"

Neil: "Well enough to know that I didn't kill anybody."

Chris: "So you never confessed to this crime?"

Neil: "Right."

Chris: "So Dr. Graham Lester is a liar?"

Neil: "Right."

Chris: "And the nurse, who testified that you call there, she's also a
liar?"

Neil: "That's right, she's a liar."

Chris: "So, we have Dr. Graham Lester, Susan Dominick, Richard DiGiacomo,
Melissa Griotte's lying about the tape, Roger Garfield's lying about letting
Richard Cross go and Richard Cross, well he's just lying about everything.
Is it your contention, Mr. Avedon, that you are the only one here who's
telling the truth?"

Neil: "I assume that at some point someone from our side is going to say
something here."

Ted: "Objection, your honor. Argumentative."

Lisa: "Overruled."

Neil throws his hands up: "I get the picture, okay? You're saying that it's
going to be rough."

Ted: "It's not a matter of rough. I'm telling you you're going to get
yourself convicted."

Neil: "I understand what the stakes are here. But I gotta do what I believe
I gotta do. And what I need from you is help."

Ted: "You've got it."

Chris: "Okay, let's go to your relationship with Jessica."

The next day, the press outside the courtroom swarm around Ted, Neil and
Chris as they get out of the elevator, shouting questions at them.

Reporter #1: "Are you going to testify, Neil?"

Neil: "Yes, I am."

Reporter #2: "When did this come about?"

Neil: "It's something I've wanted to do from the beginning."

Reporter #3: "This isn't an act of desperation, Ted?"

Ted: "Absolutely not. My client wants to tell his own story, as is his
right."

Reporter #1: "Who's idea was it?"

Ted: "This is a decision the entire defense team was involved in."

Reporter #3: "Are you nervous about what Grasso'll bring out in cross
examination?"

Neil: "I'm here to tell the truth. Whatever I get asked, that's what I'm 
going to do. I'm just going to tell the truth." The press continue shouting
questions as they enter the courtroom. Neil takes the stand and is sworn in.

Court clerk: "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing
but the truth, so help you God?"

Neil: "I do."

Court clerk: "State your name for the record."

Neil: "Neil Avedon."

Court clerk: "You may be seated."

Ted: "Good morning, Mr. Avedon."

Neil: "Good morning."

Ted: "I'd like to ask you some questions in the hope that these men and
women on the jury might get to know you a little better."

Neil: "Fine."

Ted: "Is Neil Avedon the name you were born with?"

Neil: "No, I was born James Rennick. I changed my name to Neil Avedon when
I was fifteen."

Ted: "What were the circumstances surrounding your decision to do that?"

Neil: "I decided that I wanted to become an actor. And I'd left
Indianapolis, came out to Los Angeles. I managed to get an agent. And
my agent suggested I change my name."

Ted: "Was it hard leaving Indianapolis?"

Neil: "No."

Ted: "Leaving your family and friends wasn't hard?"

Neil: "I didn't have very many friends and as far as leaving my family was
concerned, it, it wasn't hard at all."

Ted: "What was it about your family that you wanted to get away from?"

Neil: "Um, my old man."

Ted: "What was it about your old man?"

Grasso: "Your honor, if it'll speed things along, the People will stipulate
to the Defendant having had a difficult childhood and an abusive father."

Ted: "Ms. Grasso already knows that we won't stipulate, your honor. We want
our client to testify as to who he is and how he came to be here. That is
his right. And shame on Ms. Grasso for the mocking tone she can't seem to
keep out of her voice."

Grasso: "Excuse me?"

Judge: "Okay counsel, that's enough. Mr. Hoffman, I can do without the ad
hominem attacks. Ms. Grasso, your objection is overruled."

Ted: "I was asking you about your father."

Neil: "Um, he was pretty quiet. He worked for Bendix Brake Linings for
thirty years. He never let it interfere with his job but, uh, nights and
weekends he used to drink. Uh, he was a couple of inches shorter than me,
I remember that. He took very good care of his things, I remember that. He
bought a 1965 Dodge Coronet station wagon and, uh, and he was still driving
it when I left home in 1984. He'd wash it on the weekends, changed the oil
himself. When I was about ten I had dropped some M&Ms on the floor in the
backseat, and, uh, they got stepped on. And when he saw it he grabbed me by
my hair and banged my head against the car door until our neighbor came out
and made him stop. Ah, he never could get the stain out of that carpet from
those M&Ms."

Ted: "How did your father feel about your acting career?"

Neil: "Not interested. He never came to see me in school plays. Made a point
of not watching whatever television show I was on and he said acting was for
fags."

Ted: "It's fair to say, is it not, that your acting career took off?"

Neil: "I was very fortunate. `All for One' was a top-ten show for seven
years."

Ted: "You made a lot of money in that time?"

Neil: "Yes."

Ted: "Acquire any bad habits?"

Neil: "Yes, I did."

Ted: "Tell us about them."

Neil: "I began to drink and use cocaine and I eventually lost control of
my life."

Ted: "Tell us what that means, Neil."

Neil: "I went through three to four grams of cocaine a week, a fifth of
vodka a day."

Ted: "How did that affect your behavior?"

Neil: "I became a monster. I would verbally abuse people. I was violent."

Ted: "What were the consequences to this change in behavior?"

Neil: "When you're the star of a hit TV series, people work very hard
trying to forgive you. There were no consequences."

Ted: "Was it during this period of time that you met Richard Cross?"

Neil: "Yes."

Ted: "Would you describe your relationship with him."

Neil: "Richard's a collector. I was a TV star, I was good to have around."

Ted: "What was in it for you?"

Neil: "He always had a lot of cocaine and, uh, beautiful women. He made me
laugh and I thought he was my friend."

Ted: "Was it Richard Cross who introduced you to Dr. Graham Lester?"

Neil: "Yes."

Ted: "Did you become a patient of Dr. Lester's?"

Neil: "Yes, I did."

Ted: "Why did you do so?"

Neil: "The cocaine was getting out of hand and the alcohol was getting out
of hand and I felt as though I had to do something. Richard had said that
Dr. Lester had treated a lot of famous Hollywood drug addicts. And he said
that with Dr. Lester, you didn't have to stop getting high."

Grasso: "Your honor, I'm going to object to that as hearsay."

Ted: "Offered solely for its affect on Mr. Avedon's state of mind."

Judge: "Overruled."

Ted: "Did Richard Cross also introduce you to Jessica Costello?"

Neil: "Yes."

Ted: "Would you describe for us what your relationship with her was like."

Neil: "One minute we'd be curled up in each other's arms, you know, reading
or watching TV or talking and the next minute she'd be hitting me on the
head with a telephone or throwing my clothes out the window, or we'd get
high together or we'd stop getting high together. Um, as crazy as we both
were, we understood each other and as much as I've loved anyone, I loved
her."

Ted: "I would like you to take us through the night of September 20th, 1995.
Tell us exactly what you did."

Neil: "I was staying at Chris Dochnovich's house. I left there around ten
o'clock to go over and see Jessica. I got a pizza, a gram of coke. We ate,
we got high. We put `Two-Lane Blacktop' on the VCR. We made love while we
watched it and I left around midnight."

Ted: "Did you rape Jessica Costello that night?"

Neil: "No, sir."

Ted: "Did you murder her?"

Neil: "No, sir, I did not."

Ted: "I have no further questions."

Grasso: "You stated that on the night of the murder you were staying at the
home of Chris Dochnovich, is that correct?"

Neil: "Yes."

Grasso: "What were the circumstances surrounding your staying at his home?"

Neil: "I was having a hard time staying off drugs and alcohol and Chris was
keeping an eye on me."

Grasso: "Was there any particular reason why someone from your lawyer's
office rather than someone from your therapist's office was keeping an eye
on you?"

Neil: "At the time I was embroiled in another legal matter."

Grasso: "What caused you to be so embroiled?"

Ted: "Objection."

Judge: "Overruled."

Neil: "I killed a swan at the Bel Air Hotel."

Grasso: "How did you kill a swan, Mr. Avedon?"

Neil: "I strangled it."

Grasso: "Are you familiar with a young woman named Melissa Griotte?"

Neil: "Yes."

Grasso: "Are you familiar with a videotape that was made of the two of
you in bed together?"

Neil: "Yes, I am."

Grasso: "Is it not a fact that what we see on that videotape is you with
your hands around Ms. Griotte's throat?"

Neil: "I wasn't strangling Melissa."

Grasso: "You have your hands around her throat, Mr. Avedon. What was it
you were doing?"

Neil: "It was sex, as weird as that sounds and I, I know it sounds weird,
that's what it was about. Look, I was a drug addict. I was crazy and that's
what I was doing."

Grasso: "Ms. Griotte testified she was afraid for her life."

Ted: "Objection."

Neil: "Well, obviously that wasn't true. You can tell by the tape."

Judge: "Objection sustained."

Grasso: "Is it your testimony, Mr. Avedon, that Ms. Griotte was lying?"

Neil: "Yes."

Grasso: "We've heard testimony from Richard DiGiacomo that you had your
hands around Jessica Costello's throat one evening at a place called The
House of Blues. Was that also sex?"

Ted: "Objection. Argumentative."

Judge: "Overruled."

Neil: "That never happened."

Grasso: "So, Richard DiGiacomo is also lying?"

Neil: "Yes."

Grasso: "Dr. Lester's nurse is lying about receiving the telephone call. Dr.
Lester is lying about the confession. Is it your position, Mr. Avedon, that
you're the only person here telling the truth?"

Ted: "Objection. Argumentative."

Grasso: "I'll withdraw the question. If it pleases the court, your honor,
the People would be willing to resume our cross-examination of this witness
tomorrow morning."

Judge: "That's fine. We'll stand in recess till nine-thirty tomorrow
morning."

Back at Richard Cross' offices. Justine drops off some papers on the desk
of Cross' secretary who is not there. She enters Cross' empty office and
again begins searching through some files in the drawer. She finds a file
and begins looking through it when two men from security arrive.

Justine: "You scared me."

Security: "What are you doing here?"

Justine: "Working on a business proposal and I needed some background
information." The security chief looks at the file she has been reading.

Security: "On Zephyr House?"

Justine: "Oh, we're looking into buying an HMO."

Security: "Sit down."

Justine: "Uh, what's the problem?"

Security: "Suppose you tell me."

Justine: "Uh, look, I don't know who you think you are but I don't report
to you. I report to Richard Cross and I have work to do, okay?" She takes
the file on Zephyr House and tries to leave. 

Security: "Sit." The security chief grabs her arm and forces her to sit
down. He takes out a cellular phone and calls Cross.

Cross: "Do not lie to me, Justine. Do not, ever, lie to me."

Justine: "This was all just a huge misunderstanding, Richard. All that I
was trying to do... " Cross grabs her by the throat and chokes her.

Cross: "No lies, only truth."

Justine gasping: "Let go."

Cross: "Understand?"

Justine still gasping: "Yes! Please, let go! Please!" He lets go his hold.

Cross: "Douglas, if security had been watching Justine for several days, 
why was I not informed?"

Security: "Before I involved you I wanted to be sure we had a problem."

Cross: "Well, obviously there was a problem because this person was under
surveillance, correct?"

Security: "Yes, but the difference is... "

Cross interrupts: "So I was deliberately left out of the loop, wasn't I?"

Security: "I didn't see any reason to alarm you."

Cross: "Well what alarms me is that my security chief has not been entirely
forthcoming with me. That is what I find alarming. And unacceptable. Totally
unacceptable."

Security: "I'm sorry."

Cross: "I'm not interested in your apologies. Apologies mean nothing to
me." Walks over to the window. "Listen to me very carefully. I am being
photographed from the fourteenth floor of that building right over there."
Points out the window to a building. "My phone is tapped!" Grabs the phone
off the desk and throws it to the floor. Gets more upset. "I've made more
than a few enemies in my lifetime! So I need to trust the people who work
for me but what I'm finding out is that I can't trust you and I can't trust
Justine! I can't trust anybody! I have to check my seat belts when I get
into my car to make sure they haven't been tampered with, okay? Just in
case I happen to meet with an accident! Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Begins shouting. "So I am not looking for apologies or excuses! I am looking
only for performance! Am I making myself perfectly clear?"

Justine: "I didn't mean to cause an uproar, Richard. If I used poor
judgment, I want to assure you it'll never happen again." He's regained
his composure once again, shrugs his shoulders and smiles.

Cross: "Let's hope not." He rubs his nose. "Make sure she gets home safely."

Security: "What, that's it?"

Cross: "You say that as if you're questioning me."

Security shakes his head: "No."

Cross: "Good, because I think I've answered enough questions for one week."
Justine and the security chief head for the door. "What size is that dress?"

Justine: "Eight."

Cross: "Julie wears a six. I think that would look good on her, don't you?"

Justine: "I'm sure it would."

Cross: "Good." They leave.

Next scene, at the firm. Justine arrives to speak with Lisa.

Justine: "Lisa?"

Lisa: "Hey."

Justine: "Ted's not here, is he?"

Lisa: "No, he's not back from court yet. What's up?"

Justine: "Um, I need a favor."

Lisa: "Shoot."

Justine: "I need you to get me in a room with Ted."

Lisa: "I gotta be honest with you, Justine. I don't think there's a whole
lot you can do to get back in Ted's good graces at this point. You know
how he is once his mind's made up."

Justine: "Well I think he's going to want to see this." Open her blouse
collar to show Lisa the bruises on her neck.

Lisa: "Oh my God."

Justine: "The handiwork of Richard Cross. Lisa, I'm a hundred percent
convinced Cross murdered Jessica."

Lisa: "Richard Cross did that to you?"

Justine: "Last night. He flew into a rage, next thing I know he's strangling
me."

Lisa: "I'll certainly talk to Ted but, uh, he already knows Cross is violent
and he already believes he's behind Jessica Costello's murder so... "

Justine: "I'm in a room with this guy fourteen hours a day, Lisa. I mean
I'm watching him unravel right in front of my eyes. Sooner or later he's
going to make a mistake. I'll be there to capitalize on it. I want Ted to
know that."

Lisa: "He's not going to take you back, Justine."

Justine: "Will you talk to him?"

Lisa: "Yeah. But you've got to get as far away from Cross as you can.
Please."

Justine: "Talk to Ted."

Next day in court, Grasso continues her cross-examination of Neil.

Grasso: "In looking over the transcripts of yesterday's proceedings, I
found something you said that seemed quite perceptive. You said, and I
quote, `When you're the star of a hit TV show, people try very hard to
forgive you.' Am I correct in taking that to mean that you knew producers
and network executives were aware of your problems with drugs and chose
to look the other way?"

Neil: "So long as it doesn't interfere with the work, yeah."

Grasso: "Can I also take that to mean that you were aware that your friends
and acquaintances were sufficiently fearful of offending you that they too
tolerated your bad behavior?"

Neil: "Yes."

Grasso: "And that would include your women friends and acquaintances, would
it?"

Neil: "Yes, it would."

Grasso: "What would your bad behavior consist of, in relation to your women
friends and acquaintances?"

Neil: "A variety of things."

Grasso: "Including rape?"

Neil: "No."

Grasso: "Let's talk about your relationship with Jessica Costello a little 
bit. You were how old when you started seeing her?"

Neil: "Twenty-five."

Grasso: "And she was how old?"

Neil: "I later found out she was fifteen."

Grasso: "Must be pretty heady stuff for a fifteen-year-old to be involved
with a big TV star."

Neil: "I don't think me being on TV meant all that much to her."

Grasso: "Did you make it a practice to supply her with drugs?"

Neil: "No."

Grasso: "But you did say that on the night she was murdered you went over
to her apartment with a gram of coke, did you not?"

Neil: "Jessica didn't need me to supply her with drugs. She got drugs from
all over the place."

Grasso: "Okay, you leave the home of Chris Dochnovich and you get to
Jessica's around ten. Had you been drinking?"

Neil: "I don't believe so."

Grasso: "You don't believe so but you don't remember."

Neil: "Well I wasn't drinking before I got to Jessica's. I may have had a
drink when I got there."

Grasso: "One drink?"

Neil: "One or two. Not more than that."

Grasso: "Plus the gram of coke?"

Neil: "Right."

Grasso: "And notwithstanding her efforts to stop, she cheerfully consented
to get high, you watched a movie, you made love, you kissed her good-bye and
you left. Is that right?"

Neil: "That's right."

Grasso: "Following your departure, some other individual came over, raped
Jessica Costello, strangled Jessica Costello and then left."

Neil: "Yes."

Grasso: "You did not call Dr. Lester from Jessica's apartment at one-forty-
five a.m.? You did not confess to Dr. Lester that you killed her?"

Neil: "That's right."

Grasso: "But you did show up at Dr. Lester's office in an agitated state,
did you not?"

Neil: "Yes."

Grasso: "And that was attributable to what?"

Neil: "The fact that I continued to use cocaine and I drank after I left
Jessica."

Grasso: "Did you or did you not say to Detective Arthur Polson that you
were experiencing some black outs and memory loss?"

Neil: "I did not kill Jessica and forget about it."

Grasso: "Ask that the witness be directed to answer the question."

Judge: "Mr. Avedon."

Neil: "Yes, I did say I was experiencing some memory loss."

Grasso: "So when you state conclusively that you did not kill Ms. Costello,
you did not rape Ms. Costello, that regardless of what's contained in Dr.
Lester's notes, you did not confess to the crime, that what you're really
saying is, um, that you couldn't have done this thing?"

Neil: "I'm saying I didn't."

Grasso: "Is it possible that you did it and don't remember?"

Neil: "No."

Grasso: "There are other things that you don't remember. Why isn't it
possible that you don't remember this?"

Neil: "Because I would remember this. I didn't do it."

Grasso: "So, in other words, you who have repeatedly used violence... "

Ted interrupts: "Objection."

Grasso continues: "... who have repeatedly used strangulation as a means of
getting what you want... "

Ted interrupts again: "Your honor, I object to the district attorney's
badgering of this witness."

Judge: "Ms. Grasso."

Grasso: "Yes, your honor?"

Judge: "Ask your question."

Grasso: "Isn't what you're really doing asking us to take it on faith that
you're not capable of the crime you've been charged with?"

Neil: "I guess I am."

Grasso: "And yet you can't state with absolute certainty that you didn't do
it, can you?"

Neil: "If you're asking me if it's possible that I blacked out and in
the course of that black out that I raped and murdered Jessica, I guess
theoretically it is possible."

Grasso: "Thank you, Mr. Avedon."

Neil continues: "But I'm telling you that I know myself and I know what
I'm capable of."

Grasso tries to interrupt: "Thank you."

Neil continues: "And I didn't do it."

Back at the firm. The associates continue to work on closing arguments as
Neil arrives with coffee for everyone.

Neil: "Grande lattes anybody?"

Lisa and Arnold: "Thank you."

Neil: "Today felt good. You know I felt like I was completely in the moment.
And I felt like this was a real connection between me and at least three
people in the jury."

Chris: "Good."

Neil: "How did you think I did?"

Chris: "I think you did very well."

Neil: "Good. Thanks. I'm going to go to the men's room. I'll be right back."

Lisa: "You didn't really think he did that well, did you?"

Chris: "He's an actor. He wants applause."

Next scene: Cross' office. His secretary steps in for a moment.

Secretary: "Do you have a moment for Justine Appleton?"

Cross: "Always." Justine enters with an envelope in her hand. "Justine.
Looking radiant as usual."

Justine: "Thank you. This is for you." Hands him the envelope.

Cross: "What is this?"

Justine: "It's my letter of resignation. Effective immediately."

Cross: "You must be joking. Well I can't imagine a more promising career
opportunity than this has presented itself so I have to conclude that
you're unhappy here."

Justine: "To put it mildly, yes."

Cross: "Uh-huh."

Justine: "I don't take well to verbal abuse, number one. But I will not
tolerate being manhandled no matter how out of line my actions may have
been last night."

Cross: "Oh, well. Douglas, uh, sometimes approaches his job with a little
too much enthusiasm. I'm sorry about that. I will speak to him."

Justine: "I'm not talking about Douglas, I'm talking about you."

Cross: "Oh well I, I guess I haven't been myself lately, as was evidenced
by my behavior in court. I, um, I'm sorry. I have to beg your forgiveness."

Justine shakes her head and sighs: "I don't know, Richard."

Cross: "Now, Justine, look. I promise, it will never ever happen again.
And as far as this letter of resignation goes, I hope you'll allow me to
put this in the appropriate file." He tears up the letter and tosses it
in the trash can. "And I would like you to look at your new contract as
Chief Financial Officer of Alpha Microdyne Limited, a digital systems 
company that I acquired earlier today."

Justine: "What?"

Cross opens his drawer and takes out a check. "You can go over the fine
points, at your leisure. Meanwhile, here is a, uh, signing bonus of one
hundred thousand dollars." Hands the check to Justine.

Justine: "Richard."

Cross: "Now, Justine, I can't talk to you about it now because I'm going
to be late." Grabs a couple of books off his desk. "You know how those
blue bloods at the symphony board hate to be kept waiting." He leaves.

Final scene: Ted's office. Francesca drops by for a visit. She knock on
the open door.

Ted: "Francesca."

Francesca: "Am I interrupting?"

Ted: "No. Come on in."

Francesca: "I was in the area. I thought I'd drop by and say hello."

Ted: "I'm glad you did."

Francesca: "Dining in tonight, I see."

Ted laughs: "Yes, I am. Can I offer you half a sandwich?"

Francesca: "No, thank you. You should have called me though. I would have
met you here. We could have gone out."

Ted: "I'll remember that next time."

Francesca: "Will you?"

Ted: "I promise."

Francesca: "How are things?"

Ted: "Things are not great. Annie filed for divorce."

Francesca: "I'm sorry."

Ted: "Thanks."

Francesca: "Having just been through it myself, I think I know what a
difficult time you're having."

Ted: "You're not wrong."

Francesca: "Venture a guess that at the end of the day all you want is a
little distraction from everything else that's going on in your life."

Ted: "You'd be right."

Francesca: "Let's distract each other, Teddy. Just this one night."

Ted: "I don't know if that's a good idea."

Francesca: "Come home with me. Let me convince you that it is." She and Ted
leave the office together. Ted puts his hand on her waist.

[End titles]

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

Co-Starring:
Adam Gordon as the Process Server
Toni DeRose as First Reporter
Michael Prokopuk as Second Reporter
Donisha Walker as the Clerk
David Fresco as Albert Wysong
June Saruwatari as Karen Ting
Paul Goodman as Shel Metzger
Alexia Robinson as Akeesha Wesley
Rosanna Huffman as Eleanor Iverson

Director of Photography: Anthony R. Palmieri
Production Designer: Paul Eads
Edited by Kaja Fehr, A.C.E.
Unit Production Manager: Patrick McKee
First Assistant Director: Scott Printz
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: Margaret Varian
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: Dave Weathers
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: Tommy Day
Location Manager: John Armstrong
Script Coordinator: Michael Norell
Casting Associate: Libby Goldstein
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 Miles of Fun Sound
Presented in Dolby Surround
Lenses & Panaflex (R) camera by Panavision (R)
Copyright (c) 1996 Steven Bochco Productions #7119 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.