Murder One
Season One - Chapter Twenty-One and Twenty-Two
U.S. air date: April 22, 1996
(Complete transcript) - [Final version]
[**NOTE: The transcript completed thanks to help by Patience Cook Eiker.]
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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.
Clip of Chris and Ted from the pilot.
Chris: "Murder in Hollywood last night you could be interested in. Fifteen-
year-old blond named Jessica Costello. 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 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."
Justine: "Ted, let me explain."
Ted: "You're fired."
MARRIAGE UNRAVELS - Narrator's voice-over: "A marriage unravels." Clips from
the divorce settlement discussion between Ted, Annie and their lawyers.
Annie's lawyer: "We want the house. We want half the estimated value of
the law firm."
Ted to Annie: "Has it really come to this?"
Annie: "I'm tired of living on the front page of the tabloids."
Ted: "You think I like it?"
Annie: "I think you love it."
A FRIEND - Narrator's voice-over: "A friend to lean on." Clip of Francesca
propositioning Ted for an evening of distraction.
Francesca: "Come home with me."
Ted: "I don't know if that's a good idea."
Francesca: "Just this one night."
THE NEW SUSPECT - Narrator's voice-over: "A new suspect." Clips of Eduardo
Portalegre. Clip of Ted discussing Portalegre with Polson.
Ted: "Do your twenty years as a homicide detective give you a strong sense
that Eduardo Portalegre could be responsible for Jessica's death?"
Polson: "If you're asking me if I think he's capable of a rape-murder, the
answer's yes."
ILLNESS REVEALED - Narrator's voice-over: "Illness revealed." Clips of
Richard Cross' collapse.
Cross: "I have this headache, it just won't go away. I'm going to have to
excuse myself for one second." He rises. "You just, um... " His eyes roll
back in his head, collapses to the floor and begins having seizures.
Justine: "Richard? Richard?" To his secretary, "Call 911."
Clip of Julie and Justine at the hospital.
Julie: "Richard has AIDS. It's only going to get worse, until it kills him.
Maybe he killed my sister and he doesn't even remember it?"
THE TRIAL - Narrator's voice-over: "The trial." Clips of fans and press
surrounding Ted and Neil as Neil displays a thumbs up gesture to the crowd.
Ted: "Now you're going to depend on me and you're going to put your faith
in me. And you will come out on the other side."
CLOSING STATEMENTS - Narrator's voice-over: "Closing statements." Clips of
Grasso and Ted's closing arguments.
Grasso: "So who attacked Jessica Costello in the last night of her life?
Who committed this brutal crime?" She points directly to Neil Avedon. "He
did. The Defendant, Neil Avedon. Make him pay for that."
Ted: "When you look at her case critically, you see that it rests on
the credibility of three witnesses: Susan Dominick, Graham Lester, and
Richard Cross. Ms. Grasso's case rests on the rotting foundation of their testimony."
JURY DELIBERATES - Narrator's voice-over: "The jury deliberates." Clip of
Judge Bornstein giving the jury their instructions.
Judge: "It is your job to find out whether that man (nods towards Neil)
is guilty of first degree murder. All twelve jurors must agree to the
decision."
Clip of Neil and Chris worrying about the verdict.
Chris: "Whatever the word is from that jury, we are going to deal with it."
Neil: "I'm just waiting to hear if they're going to lock me up for the rest
of my life."
CHAPTER TWENTY [Part I]
The firm's conference room, the associates, Ted and Neil are watching Law
TV while waiting to hear if the jury has finished their deliberations. Dean
Crowley is discussing the case.
Crowley: "The Avedon jury has been in deliberation since last Thursday.
Saturday's half-day session brought a surprise when the foreperson asked
that certain portions of the transcript be read back to the jury." Louis
enters.
Louis: "Felicia Norell on line 2. She wants to be your first post-verdict
interview." Ted picks up the phone.
Ted: "Hello, Felicia. That's quite a request, given the last time I let
Neil sit down with you. No hard feelings, just a long memory. That's right,
that would mean I'm declining the interview. I'm not going to comment on my
divorce. Good-bye, Felicia." Hangs up the phone. Neil shuts off the TV.
Neil: "They're going to convict."
Ted: "You have no idea what they're going to do."
Neil: "Ten thousand pages of testimony, they only want to hear my
confession. They're going to convict."
Chris: "They could just as easily been confirming that the testimony was
bogus, to acquit."
Lisa: "Neil, go home and get some sleep."
Neil: "I can't sleep. Every day I think this could be the last day of my
freedom." Louis enters again.
Louis: "Ted, line 3."
Ted: "No more media requests. Take a message."
Louis: "It's not the media, it's the clerk." Ted picks up the phone.
Ted: "Ted Hoffman." Listens to what is said to him. "Thank you." Hangs up
the phone. "Jury's reached a verdict." Neil looks terrified. "Let's go."
[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
Arrival of the defense team's van at the courthouse. The media circus is in
full force and there are Avedon fans everywhere with signs and t-shirts in
support of Neil. There are also those who believe in Neil's guilt with their
own signs labeling him as a `murderer.' Everyone is shouting at Neil and
Ted.
Reporter #1: "Neil, are you scared?"
Fan: "You're going to walk, Neil! My tarot cards are never wrong!"
Reporter #2: "The jury wasn't out long. Is that good or bad for Neil?"
Ted to all: "Excuse us. See you inside. Excuse me." They try to make their
way through the throng of press and fans.
Reporter #3: "What are your thoughts this morning?"
Reporter #4: "Hey, Ted, any prediction? Come on, talk to me, Ted!"
Ted: "Excuse me."
The crowd of reporters continue to shout after them as they enter the
courthouse, then the courtroom and take their places.
[Episode credits roll]
Guest starring:
Joe Spano as Raymond Velacek
Bobbie Phillips as Julie Costello
Tobin Bell as Jerry Albanese
Donna Murphy as Francesca Cross
Linda Carlson as Judge Beth Bornstein
Gregory Itzin as DA Roger Garfield
Stanley Kamel as Dr. Graham Lester
John Pleshette as Gary Blondo
Natalija Nogulich as Martina Spector
Anne Haney as Melanie Kendall
Terence Knox as Douglas Fournier
Nancy Lee Grahn as Connie Dahlgren
Ned Vaugh as Dean Crowley
Orlach Cassidy as Gigi Fasanella
Deborah May as Dana Benson
Markus Redmond as Mark Washington
Robert Gentili as Sal DeGenoa
Conor O'Farrell as Dr. Paul Kressel
Music by Mike Post
Casting by Junie Lowry Johnson, C.S.A.
Produced by: Marc Buckland & Geoffrey Neigher
Supervising Producers: Joe Ann Fogle & Ann Donahue
Creative Consultant: David Milch
Co-Executive Producer: Michael Fresco
Executive Producers: Charles H. Eglee & William M. Finkelstein
Teleplay Part I: William M. Finkelstein & Ann Donahue
Story Part I: Steven Bochco & Charles H. Eglee
Teleplay Part II: Charles H. Eglee & Charles D. Holland
Story Part II: Steven Bochco & William H. Finkelstein
Part I Directed by Mark Buckland
Part II Directed by Joe Ann Fogle
---------------------------------
In the courtroom. The jury enters and takes their seats. DA Garfield sits
with Grasso and Washington. Several of the jurors look pointedly at Neil.
At the firm, everyone is gathered around a TV in the conference room to
see the verdict on Law TV.
Bailiff: "All rise. The Honorable Beth Bornstein, judge presiding."
Judge: "Good morning, everybody. Please take a seat. We're back on the
record in the People versus Avedon. I understand you have a verdict."
The jury foreperson, Eleanor Iverson, stands. Det. Polson is present in
the courtroom.
Iverson: "We do, your honor."
Judge: "Did you bring the verdict form?"
Iverson: "I did."
Judge: "Please check to make sure you signed it properly." She checks and
nods. "Please hand the form to the Bailiff." Neil is anxious and very much
afraid. He keeps trying to read the faces of the jurors.
At the firm, Law TV describes what is happening.
[TV]: "The foreperson, a fifty-seven-year-old bookkeeper known only as
Juror # 5, has risen to hand the verdict to the Bailiff."
In court, the judge reads the verdict.
Judge: "Madam Foreperson, is this a true and correct verdict?"
Iverson: "Yes it is."
Judge: "Before my clerk reads this verdict I want to warn everyone in this
courtroom that if there is any acting up or hysterics you will be removed
immediately." She hands the verdict to her clerk.
Judge: "Will the Defendant please rise?"
At the firm, everyone waits for the verdict to be read. Scene shifts back
and forth from the Law TV live coverage to the courtroom, with images of
the jurors intermixed with both the defense and prosecution tables and some
of the onlookers as well.
Judge: "How say you?"
Clerk reads the verdict: "`We, the jury, in the above entitled action, the
People versus Neil Avedon, in the charge of murder in the first degree, for
the premeditated and deliberate taking of another human life during the
commission of a felony rape, find the Defendant, Neil Avedon, guilty."
There's a gasp in the courtroom. Neil and Ted both look stunned. The clerk
continues to read the verdict. "To wit violations of sections 187a and 189
of the penal code of the State of California, as charged, in count one of
the information." At the firm, everyone is stunned by the verdict too.
Ted: "Your honor, I would like to have the jury polled."
Judge: "Juror #1, is this your true and correct verdict?"
Juror #1: "Yes."
Judge: "Juror #2?"
Juror #2: "It is."
Judge: "Juror #3?"
Juror #3: "Yes."
Juror #4: "It most certainly is."
Juror #5 (Iverson): "Yes."
Juror #6 (McQuen): "Yes."
Juror #7: "Yes."
Juror #8 (Ting): "Yes."
Juror #9: "Yes."
Juror #10: "Yes it is."
Juror #11: "Yes."
Juror #12: "Yes."
Neil is listening to the verdicts and is nearly overcome with emotion.
Chris trying to keep him together: "You're okay. We're ready for the next
step."
Judge: "Jurors, this court thanks you for your diligence and time." Neil
looks as if he will faint. Ted and Chris try to steady him. "You are under
no obligation to speak to either of the parties although they have a right
to approach you. You are excused. The Bailiff will see you out." They rise
and leave the courtroom.
Ted: "Your honor, the Defense moves that this verdict be set aside."
Judge: "Denied."
Ted: "We move to file a notice of appeal at this time."
Judge: "So noted."
Ted: "We ask that Mr. Avedon's bail be continued, pending his appeal."
Grasso: "The People vigorously oppose any bail."
Judge: "This court is in agreement. Mr. Avedon, you've been found guilty.
Bail is revoked. The Defendant is remanded into custody at the men's jail
until sentencing. We are adjourned. Please clear the courtroom."
Neil collapses in his seat, his lawyers try to comfort him and give him
hope while the prosecution, including Garfield, congratulate themselves
and one another for the win.
Garfield to Grasso: "Congratulations."
Grasso: "Thanks." They shake hands. He turns to shake hands with Washington.
Washington: "Mr. Garfield."
Garfield: "Well done."
Chris: "Keep breathing, buddy. There's an entire appeal process. Neil looks
to be in shock. Grasso congratulates Washington.
Grasso: "Good job, kid."
Washington: "Thanks." They shake hands and she pats him on the back. Polson
looks puzzled by the verdict.
Ted: "Prepare yourself, Neil. The next twenty-four hours are going to be the
toughest. You can get through it. Don't panic. Look at me, Neil. No matter
what, do not panic. You understand me?"
Bailiff: "Take off your shoes and give me your socks."
Neil: "Teddy?"
Ted: "It's procedure. They'll want your belt and your tie too." Polson
watches as Neil removes his tie, his chain from his neck, his belt, his
watch, his shoes and finally his socks. The bailiff removes his shoelaces
and returns the shoes to Neil who then puts them on again.
Ted: "You'll be okay."
Bailiff: "Let's go." He leads Neil away, in cuffs.
Neil: "This is wrong. This is all wrong." He looks back at Ted one last
time. Ted is standing completely alone in the courtroom.
Next scene, Garfield holds a press conference to celebrate their victory.
He enters, the room filled with press, TV cameras and lights, to applause
and cheers.
Garfield: "The jury has spoken, justice has been served and we've sent
a message across the country that law enforcement is a priority in Los
Angeles. All of us, in Los Angeles County, owe a deep debt of gratitude
to the police and to the members of the district attorney's office who
have worked so tirelessly to return this verdict." Spattering of applause.
"And that of course includes our lead prosecutor, Miriam Grasso." Applause
and cheers from the press. Garfield pulls her up to the podium to say a
few words.
Grasso: "Thank you. Thank you very much. I'm very proud of the dedicated
members of this office, of my superb associate, Mark Washington, DA
Garfield's leadership. But in our victory let us not forget that a young
girl's life has been lost. Thank you very much."
Outside the press waits to pounce on Ted and Chris as they leaves the
courthouse.
Reporters: "Ted! Ted!"
Reporter #1: "Any statement, Ted?"
Reporter #2: "How's Neil?"
Reporter #3: "Is he on suicide watch?"
Ted: "Justice was not served today. This is a mistaken verdict fueled by
suspect evidence and innuendo. The jurors are good people but their passions
were inflamed. Neil Avedon would not, could not and did not, kill Jessica
Costello. We are going to aggressively appeal this wrong-headed verdict and
you will find, as I have said all along, that the true killer of Jessica
Costello is not Neil Avedon. Thank you." The press continues to ask more
questions as Garfield leaves the courthouse and confronts Ted, in front of
them.
Garfield: "Excuse me. You put up a good fight, my man. You're a worthy
opponent."
Ted: "Game's not over, Roger."
Garfield: "It is as far as I'm concerned."
Ted: "That's right, by the time the court of appeals makes this right,
you'll be into your second term as governor, with a little help from
Richard Cross."
Garfield: "You know why you could never run for public office, Teddy?
You haven't learned the fine art of losing gracefully."
Ted: "Maybe, but I know how to win without stacking the deck." Ted leaves
and the press continues with their questions.
At the firm, Connie Dahlgren is there with her film crew. So are a variety
of other assorted media personnel, each trying to gain access and score a
scoop with anyone from the firm and Neil's defense team. Louis is trying
to maintain some kind of order in the lobby. He's got telephone headphones
on and is one the phone, while dealing with other matters, clipboard in
hand.
Louis: "Remove yourself from the premises, Connie, and take the Village
People with you."
Dahlgren: "Louis... "
Louis, to someone on the phone: "Tell Ms. Norell, he hasn't changed his
stance as of yet."
Dahlgren: "Louis, all we want is five minutes. No Ted, just a `we're in
the offices of,' that's it, that's all we want." A man carrying a pizza
gets off the elevator and tries to go into the offices.
Louis: "You can't do it. We want everyone out, out, out." Lila catches
the man with the pizza and baseball cap entering the offices.
Lila: "Sorry, sir. You can't come in here."
Pizza guy: "Ah, I'm delivering a pizza."
Lila: "Nobody here ordered a pizza."
Pizza guy: "I don't understand. Could I just call my office?" Tries to
get past her.
Lila: "No, no, no. Take your box and your hidden camera (removes the man's
cap revealing a mini-cam) and get off this floor. Okay?"
Pizza guy: "Would you sign this release?"
Lila: "No, I would not." He leaves. Out in the lobby, Louis continues to
try and restore order.
Louis, on the phone: "Hold. Please, Tawny. I cannot let you up there. I
told you... "
Dahlgren interrupts: "Promise me, Louis."
Louis: "Connie, have I ever let you down before. If I say you're on top
of the list, you're on top of the list."
Dahlgren: "I'm holding you to that." Justine gets off the elevator.
Justine: "Louis, hi. I need to talk to Ted."
Louis, on the phone: "He'll be available to consider a conversation after
two o'clock today."
Justine: "Great." And walks into the offices. Louis follows after her.
Louis: "Look, no, no. Not you, Justine."
Justine: "Louis, this is urgent."
Louis, feigns writing on the clipboard: "Your phone number, area code first.
You may have gathered this is not a very good day."
Justine: "Look, I have information Ted's going to want and I'm not leaving
this office until he hears it."
Louis: "We do miss you around here, Justine."
Lisa: "Hey, Justine. How are you?"
Justine: "Lisa, get me ten minutes with Ted."
Lisa: "I'll put in a good word for you when he gets back."
Justine: "Thank you." Chris arrives back from court. Completely dejected by
Neil's conviction and what he perceives to be his own personal failure in
the case.
Lisa: "Chris, you okay?"
Chris: "I blew it. I blew the trial."
Lisa: "It was a group effort, Chris."
Chris: "No. I'm the guy who examined Cross. I also should have talked Neil
out of taking the stand. I could have done it."
Lisa: "There were a million variables that went into this verdict, Chris."
Chris: "You're right. I just wish I wasn't one of them."
In the conference room, Arnold is watching TV coverage of the verdict.
Law TV, with Dana Benson and another legal expert, David Krenswirth, are
discussing the case.
[TV] Expert: "Not taking anything away from the defense because they did put
on a masterful case, given what they were up against. What they failed to
communicate to the jury was Neil Avedon was innocent."
[TV] Benson: "But as you know, David, the defense has no burden to prove
anything." Lisa and Chris enter the conference room.
[TV] Expert: "Legally, that's true but... "
Arnold: We've made every channel so far. Pull up a chair."
[TV] Expert: "... Ted Hoffman and his associates did not give them one."
[TV] Benson: "I'm afraid I have to jump on the bandwagon with you there.
Ted Hoffman did float his `unholy three' theory at closing arguments but
let's face it. If Hoffman really believed that Richard Cross was in cahoots
with Graham Lester and his nurse, you'd have expected Hoffman to have
examined Cross himself. Instead he passed him off to his second chair,
Chris Dochnovich and that communicated to the jury a secondary status
to the defense's own theory."
Arnold: "The hits just keep on coming." Remote control in hand, he changes
channels. Finds Roger Garfield on Channel 8.
[TV] Garfield: "Ted Hoffman's comments about my friend Richard Cross were
frankly beginning to sound like pathetic. He sees conspiracy everywhere he
turns. He's giving Oliver Stone a run for his money." The press shouts some
questions at him. Arnold changes channels again. Jury Foreperson, Eleanor
Iverson is on CNN.
[TV] Iverson: "I'm not going to discuss the particulars of our deliberation
but I will say that when we took our first informal vote, there wasn't a
lot of disagreement. That I will say." Arnold changes channels again. Gary
Blondo is surrounded by press and making a statement on Channel 8.
[TV] Blondo: "There is one piece of business I must clear up. Over and over
the press erroneously reported that Neil Avedon's legal defense was paid for
by the studio. He worked for us. He made a movie, `Deadbolt,' which is now
out in foreign and available on video. But we never paid for his defense.
We had no part in his defense. (Laughs.) I'm no Oliver Wendell Holmes, but
frankly, if we had been involved, there might have been a different outcome
in court today." Changes channels again. Dr. Lester is being interviewed on
KRNC.
[TV] Lester: "Sadly, Neil Avedon is exactly where he should be today. And
yes, I am contemplating a slander suit against Hoffman and Associates for
their egregious attempts to implicate me in the death of Jessica Costello.
They're a, uh, ruthless group led by an amoral tactician who would stop at
nothing... " Ted has entered the room and shuts off the TV.
Ted: "First rule of a lost verdict: don't attend the wake. We took it on the
chin today. But it's the end of round three, that's all. Now we get back up,
go to work on the appeal. We still have a client behind bars."
Arnold: "Personally I have the will but not the way."
Ted: "How many times did you hear me tell Neil a murder trial's a marathon?
This is what I'm talking about. Some stretches you coast, you return to
fundamentals. This is our time to organize, regroup."
Chris: "Are you considering any kind of regrouping, staff-wise, Ted? 'Cause
if you are, I'd certainly understand if you wanted to make a change at
second chair."
Ted: "If there's anything I need from you Chris, it's to stand fast. I
didn't hire any of you to see `if' you could do the job. I hired you
because I `knew' you could. This case, from the start, has been difficult
for us to get our arms around. We've had a set back. It's no one person's
fault. I consider it temporary. It may ultimately prove to be a bona fide
failure. But you're going to find in life that you learn more from your
defeats than you'll ever learn from your victories. Go have lunch, on the
firm. See your families. Answer your mail. Life does go on. Then come back
here 'cause we've got work to do. Now, if you'll excuse me, I understand
Justine wants my ear." Ted heads for his meeting with Justine.
Chris: "And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why his name is on the door."
Ted: "Justine?"
Justine: "Ted, if the verdict had gone another way, I wouldn't be here.
But the fact is I don't think Neil should spend the rest of his life
behind bars when another man is guilty."
Ted: "If you were trying to get my attention, you've succeeded." They head
for the law library.
Ted: "Chris?" As he passes the conference room he calls Chris to join
them.
Justine: "Richard Cross has AIDS. Not a rumor, not conjecture, he's got it.
Full-blown."
Chris: "Oh, man."
Ted: "How do you know this?"
Justine: "I was at the hospital when his physician told Julie. He collapsed
the other night. He's in stage-four AIDS dementia."
Chris: "He was just in court. He looked fine."
Justine: "They've had him on steroids. It masks the effects."
Ted: "It certainly would explain his behavior in court. What was Julie's
response?"
Justine: "She was shocked, but not surprised."
Ted: "Have you told anyone else?"
Justine: "No."
Chris: "If Jessica knew she may have threatened to go public with it. That
would have been all the motive Cross would have needed to kill her."
Justine: "And with the dementia, he might very well not remember."
Ted: "If Richard Cross killed Jessica and really is in the last stages of
AIDS, he would have nothing to lose by telling us."
Justine: "He was at Cedars. I'd be happy to go with you."
Ted: "I think it's probably better if Chris handles it alone, Justine."
Justine: "Hope I've done the right thing."
Ted: "There's no doubt in my mind that you have."
Justine: "Is there anything else I can do?"
Ted: "Not that I can think of, but thank you." Justine leaves. "Call me from
Cedars."
Chris: "You don't hold out much hope Cross is still there, do you?"
Ted: "Richard Cross has always managed to stay one step ahead of us. If he's
dying, it just might allow us to catch up." Chris leaves.
At Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Chris talks with Dr. Kressel, Cross' physician.
Chris: "I know he's gone, doctor, that's pretty evident. What I'm asking you
is where he's gone to?"
Kressel: "As I've told you, I'm not at liberty to say."
Chris: "Well then you're in violation of the Hippocratic oath because
Richard Cross isn't the only life at stake here."
Kressel: "What are you talking about?"
Chris: "What I'm saying is other lives will be lost if I don't find Cross
before he dies. It's that simple."
Kressel: "I'm sorry, I can't help you." He leaves.
Back at the firm, in Ted's office, Louis knocks and enters with messages.
Louis: "Larry King's office on 2. No word yet from Francesca Cross but I'll
pencil her in when she calls. And your wife."
Ted: "What line?"
Louis whispers: "She's here." Ted walks to the door to see her.
Ted: "Annie?"
Annie: "Hi."
Ted: "Everything all right?"
Annie: "Yeah, I'm here to see if everything's all right with you."
Ted: "Come in."
Louis: "I'll tell Larry King you'll get back." He leaves.
Annie: "I've been watching you on TV all day. How are you holding up?"
Ted: "I'm fine."
Annie: "You fool everyone but me. I see you on every channel, a microphone
stuck in your face, responding to these rude, ridiculous questions. You look
so strong and steady. No one can guess how badly you've been hurt. Because
the jury didn't get behind you, didn't see the logic -- your logic. For
three months you showed them the way and they ignored it. And that hurts."
Ted: "Yeah, it hurts like hell."
Annie: "Come home with me tonight. We'll order in from The Ivy and play
Scrabble with Lizzie. No TV, no verdict."
Ted: "Aren't you worried that'll confuse her?"
Annie: "Confuse her how?"
Ted: "Get her hopes up, that the divorce is off, that we're a family again?"
Annie: "Ted, we are a family whether you and I are married or not. Lizzie
and I are your family."
Ted sighs: "I thought this door was closed."
Annie: "Just because we can't live together doesn't mean we can't love each
other."
Ted: "Would you be here if I'd won today?
Annie: "Would you need me if you'd won today? Come on, let's go home." They
leave together.
Back at the firm, Ted and Chris prepare for their first efforts at helping
Neil.
Ted: "Arnold, let's go." Arnold hands Chris several papers.
Arnold: "This is the brief on post-conviction bail. This is the list of
case citations you should make during oral argument."
Chris: "Did you shepardize those cases, Arnold?"
Arnold: "Yes, Chris, good you asked."
Ray: "I sent a guy to Phoenix to be at the Freedman Clinic by this
afternoon. If there's anyone susceptible to being bought, he'll find
them and buy them."
Ted: "Tell him not to worry about how much for."
Ray: "He knows." They leave and head for court. Neil is in a blue jumpsuit
and in handcuffs. He looks exhausted and frightened.
Ted: "The Defense would ask the court to reconsider the issue of bail."
Judge: "On what basis should the court do that, Mr. Hoffman?"
Ted: "Neil Avedon, while out on bail, never missed a day of court. He's
demonstrated that he's not a flight risk. He should be free on bail pending
the determination of his appeal."
Grasso: "Your honor, the People would oppose the setting of bail in any
amount, given the change in circumstances. Given that the Defendant now
stands convicted, rather than accused -- the fact that he hasn't fled
jurisdiction until now hardly provides a compelling argument for his
release."
Ted: "My client's face is known around the world, Ms. Grasso. Where is he
going to go?"
Grasso: "He has access to funds, counselor. He can go where it doesn't
matter if his face is known."
Judge: "Your motion for bail is denied, counsel."
Ted: "We have supporting papers, your honor. We would ask that they be
read before the court rules."
Judge: "I've already ruled. Submit your papers to the clerk."
Ted: "May I be heard, your honor?"
Judge: "I've ruled, counsel. The Defendant is remanded to custody." The
Bailiff rises to take Neil back to jail.
Bailiff: "Let's go, Mr. Avedon." Neil grabs hold of the table and refuses
to let go of it. The Bailiff tries to pull Neil up but he can't.
Ted: "Neil? Your honor, may, uh, may I have thirty seconds with my client?"
The Bailiff lets go of Neil but he and another officer stand behind him.
Judge: "Go ahead." Ted sits down next to Neil. He takes hold of Neil and
tries to calm him down.
Ted: "Neil, pull yourself together. I'm going to see you later. I'm
expecting to have some good news. I want you to hang in and let me work
on what I'm working on. Okay, Neil? Neil, let go of the table. Come on."
He lets go. The Bailiff leads him away.
On leaving the courtroom, the press again confronts Ted and Chris.
Reporter #1: "How's Neil taking it, Ted?"
Ted: "He's doing fine."
Reporter #2: "What was the problem there at the end, Ted?"
Ted: "We had to go over a couple of things and we took a moment. That's
all."
Reporter #2: "So he wasn't refusing to leave?"
Ted: "Absolutely not."
Reporter #3: "You really think you have grounds for a new trial, Ted?"
Ted: "Absolutely. Excuse us."
Back at the firm.
Ted: "I'd like for you to get with Arnold and Lisa for an appeal of her
ruling on bail."
Chris: "Do we have any chance?" Ted doesn't answer. "So that would be no."
Ted: "Sometimes you just take a shot."
Chris: "With that in mind, can I talk to you about Justine?"
Louis: "Gigi Fasanella called from The Larry King Show. She needs you at
the studio no later than four-thirty. Do you want them to send a car?"
Ted: "Not necessary."
Louis: "I have a long list of calls. I won't give them to you."
Ted: "Thank you." Louis leaves.
Chris: "What Justine did was dead wrong. When you fired her I thought you
were a hundred percent right."
Ted: "I wish I could say the same."
Chris: "Given what she's done since then, you wouldn't be betraying any
principles if you brought her back in."
Ted: "I don't know if I can trust her."
Chris: "I think she's trying to show you that you can." Ted turns and heads
for his office. In his office, Louis buzzes him with a message.
Ted, picks up the phone: "Yes? Send her in." Louis lets Francesca in.
"Thank you for coming."
Francesca: "I was at the accountant's in Century City when I got your
message."
Ted: "Please sit down."
Francesca: "What is it, Teddy? What's wrong?"
Ted: "Richard has AIDS. I don't know if you knew that. In the event you
didn't, I felt an obligation as a friend to tell you."
Francesca: "You are a friend, Teddy, a very dear one. And I've known Richard
was HIV+ for quite some time. How did you find out?"
Ted: "It's become self-evident. He's gravely ill."
Francesca: "If, um, you are at all concerned about any risk, you needn't
be. When Richard was diagnosed, about, um, six years ago now, he was
forthright enough to tell me. I was tested every month for a couple of
years. I'm fine and so are you."
Ted: "At least he had the decency to tell you."
Francesca: "He was very concerned that he not give this disease to anyone
else. Not that he's joined the priesthood. But he's contented himself with
exploring the one part of his nature that apparently gives him pleasure.
Watching. An interest I never shared."
Ted: "Was anyone else aware of his condition?"
Francesca: "I can't imagine so. Richard's an intensely private, very
secretive man."
Ted: "Forgive my self-interests, but do you think his illness could have
factored into Jessica's death in some way?"
Francesca: "You mean blackmail?"
Ted: "Possibly."
Francesca: "I don't think he killed that girl, Teddy."
Ted: "Why not?"
Francesca: "Richard isn't someone who gets his hands dirty. He sits back,
at an exquisite remove, looking at the rest of us go about our lives. Cool,
detached, always watching -- voyeur that he is." She becomes emotional.
"I'm sorry to hear that he's so ill." She gets up to leave. "If you see
him, tell him that he's in my prayers."
Ted: "Not to sound uncharitable, I'm not sure he deserves your prayers,
Francesca."
Francesca: "Regardless, the enterprise is good for my soul. Good bye,
Teddy." She leaves.
At The Larry King Show's studio, backstage, Grasso and Ted are having
makeup applied and chatting.
Ted: "Planning to take any time off?"
Grasso: "I've got a multiple homicide trial starting on Monday. How about
you?"
Ted: "The Einhorn case out in Santa Monica goes to trial the beginning of
the month."
Grasso: "Can't be good for you, what we do."
Ted: "Whoever said it was?" Gigi Fasanella, Larry King's assistant comes
over to them with gifts.
Fasanella: "These are for you, folks. Compliments of the show."
Grasso: "Mmm, gee, suspenders."
Fasanella: "We're all very excited about having the two of you on the show."
Ted: "Thank you. It's nice to be back. And thanks for the braces." She
leaves.
Next scene is on The Larry King Show, with King as he talks to them both.
King: "Miriam Grasso, do you hold out any chance that that jury managed to
convict the wrong man?"
Grasso: "I resolved, Larry, any doubt I had before we went to trial. As
certain as I can be about anything, I'm certain we've convicted the right
man."
King: "Ted Hoffman, how long are you prepared to, uh, drag this out?"
Ted: "As long as it takes."
King: "You're going to file appeal after appeal after appeal."
Ted: "I will petition whatever appellate forums are available to me, you
bet."
King: "Let's take a call -- Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Hello?"
Caller #1: "Hi, Larry."
King: "Hi."
Caller #1: "I have a question for Mr. Hoffman. I'm guessing, but I'd say
that if your client told you that he had raped and murdered that girl, you
wouldn't have done anything any different. Am I wrong about that?"
Ted: "You are wrong. First of all, I wouldn't have put him on the witness
stand to proclaim his innocence."
King: "But, you would have continued to represent him."
Ted: "The guilty as well as the innocent are entitled to legal
representation. If I sign on to do the job, I fulfill my obligation."
King: "Roanoke, Virginia, you're next. Go ahead."
Caller #2: "Sure, Larry, I have a question for Mr. Hoffman. I had a daughter
who was raped and murdered two years ago, this November. She was nine years
old."
Ted: "I'm sorry."
Caller #2: "Well the man that did it to her also had a smart lawyer and that
lawyer managed to get the charges knocked down to voluntary manslaughter. To
which they pleaded guilty and for which this man will be out of prison in
seven years. So my question is (clears throat), does Mr. Hoffman think that
justice was done?"
Ted: "Based on the facts, as you presented them, absolutely not."
King: "Thank you, caller."
Grasso: "Larry, can I just say that, um, Ted Hoffman does his job, he does
it well. And the truth is the justice system doesn't work if he doesn't do
it."
King: "Fair enough. Ted, I asked Miriam this earlier. Let's turn it around
for you. Is there any chance, any thought in your mind, that that jury
convicted the right man?"
Ted: "No."
King: "No chance at all?"
Ted: "No chance at all."
King: "We've gotta take a break. Don't go away. We'll be right back." The
three of them can be seen talking during the break. Then Ted drives himself
and Chris back to the firm in his car. Conversation takes place in the car.
Ted: "Find out when we get to see a copy of Neil's sentencing report."
Chris: "I have a call in to the judge's clerk."
Ted: "And get me a list of shrinks for Neil. I want to discuss what's
going to be on his report to the judge."
Chris: "Okay."
Ted: "How bad was I?"
Chris: "It wasn't bad at all."
Ted: "When I sit at home and actually watch myself on one of these things
I always get a little sick to my stomach." Chris laughs. "Let's see how we
play in Peoria." He pulls over at a newsstand to buy a paper. He picks a
copy of the Los Angeles Herald with the headline: `Avedon Found Guilty'
across the page. Begins reading it as he turns to the vendor to pay for it.
Then he notices himself on a monitor near the vendor. It's a closed-circuit
TV monitor and he looks up to see the camera to his left. He suddenly has
an idea. The vendor tries to get his attention.
Vendor: "Next, please. Next, please!" Ted hands him some money but doesn't
wait for his change. "Your change." He rushes back to share it with Chris
who is in the car. "Mister, your change!"
Ted: "Keep it." Gets in the car, still thinking his idea through.
Chris: "You all right?"
Ted: "Somewhere in Jessica Costello's apartment is a camera."
Chris: "What makes you say that?"
Ted: "Richard Cross is a voyeur. We know that because Julie Costello told
us. We know it because Francesca Cross told us. Given that and given that
he has limitless resources, it makes sense that he wouldn't limit his
viewing pleasure to those occasions when he was physically present. And
I'll bet there were things he wanted to see more than once."
Chris: "Which means there's a VCR."
Ted: "Which means that somewhere there may be a tape of the murder."
Chris: "So what do we do?"
Ted: "We call Ray Velacek and tell him to meet us over there." Picks up and
dials his car phone. He then drives to the Havenhurst apartment building to
meet Ray and Eddie Rosco.
Ray: "What's up, Ted?"
Ted: "There's a camera and a tape deck hidden someplace in that apartment."
Ray: "You know that for a fact?"
Ted: "I know it in my gut."
Rosco: "Is there anyone living there?"
Ted: "No. Cross has kept it vacant since the murder."
Ray: "Anyway for us to get in, short of breaking and entering?"
Ted: "No way that's in time for us to do any good."
Ray: "If that's the case, let Eddie and me go in. You and Chris take a
ride around the block."
Ted: "I did that once, Ray. Your predecessor got himself killed doing my
bidding, while I was home sleeping in my bed. This time, you go it, I go
in. Let's do it." All four head for the building.
Ray, wearing rubber surgical gloves, begins picking the lock to the door
of the apartment. Eddie Rosco is also putting on gloves. They're all
wearing gloves. He opens it and they enter. They have also flashlights.
Chris: "Where do we start?"
Ray: "Bedrooms and bathrooms, the only place they would put a camera."
They head up the stairs to Jessica's bedroom. Rosco is carrying a small
ladder. They enter the bedroom.
Ray to Rosco: "Let's do the ceiling first."
Ted and Chris help out as Ray and Rosco go to work. Ray has brought along
a large bag with all the tools they'll need to use. They begin unscrewing
every lamp in the ceiling and all of the light fixtures in the room, one
by one, searching all of the wires for any hidden mini-cameras. They check
the vent in the wall, the track lighting, lamps on the walls, behind all
pictures and frames hanging on the walls.
Ray: "There may not be a camera in here."
Ted: "There is a camera in here." Ray begins looking around at the walls,
specifically the one that faces the foot of Jessica's bed where there is
a closet. Ray shines his flashlight on the door frame.
Ray: "Give me some more light." Ted and Chris shine their flashlights on
the frame. Ray begins prying the frame loose. On the back of it he finds
the camera. Turns to look at Ted. "You're absolutely right."
Ted: "Find the deck." Ray begins ripping he wire from the wall to follow
it to the tape deck.
Ray: "It's in the closet." He searches inside the closet. There's a set of
wardrobe empty drawers. He checks them, removes the bottom drawer and then
the panel that's behind it and finds where the wire goes to. "Yeah." It
leads into an electrical circuit box. He opens it and checks to see where
the wire leads out to. "It's downstairs."
Chris: "Let's check the garage." They go down to the garage and find that
the wire leads to a padlocked storage cabinet. Rosco breaks off the lock.
He opens to cabinet to reveal two tape decks. Ted checks them both but
they're empty.
Ted: "Now we got us a game."
Back at the firm, Justine is waiting for Ted and Chris to return.
Ted: "Hi, Justine."
Justine: "Hi, Ted. Hi, Chris."
Ted to Justine: "Come on into my office. I appreciate your efforts to help
us."
Justine: "I hope they amount to something."
Ted: "I'd like to offer you your job back."
Justine: "Thank you."
Ted: "I'm guessing here that you want it back."
Justine: "Yeah, I never stopped feeling as though I were part of this place,
Ted. I never stopped feeling as though I had to make amends for what I did.
I owed that to you and to Neil, regardless of whether or not I was getting
my job back."
Ted: "I hated like hell to let you go." Chris knocks at the door.
Chris: "Detective Polson's here."
Ted to Justine: "Chris'll bring you up to date."
Justine: "Okay." And she leaves with Chris as Polson enters.
Ted: "Good evening, detective. What brings you here at this hour?"
Polson: "I know you're not a nine-to-five kind of guy, Ted. Thought I might
find you here."
Ted: "And so you have."
Polson: "You wouldn't have had any reason to stop by Jessica Costello's
apartment recently, would you?"
Ted: "Why do you ask?"
Polson: "Seems as though someone broke in there tonight."
Ted: "Is that right?"
Polson: "Any idea why someone would have done that?"
Ted: "My first guess would be tampering with evidence. On the other hand,
given the notoriety of this case, it just as easily could have been souvenir
hunters."
Polson: "I didn't really come here to speculate aloud with you, Ted."
Ted: "Why did you come here?"
Polson: "I got a partial plate from a neighbor that matches up with yours.
And I found a piece of black electrician's tape over the lens of the
security camera in the garage. You want to tell me what you were doing
there, Ted?"
Ted: "I was looking for a hidden camera and a VCR."
Polson: "You realize you committed a felony?"
Ted: "Before you arrest me, you might be interested to learn that we found
what we were looking for."
Polson: "Why is that significant?"
Ted: "Because it means there's a good chance that somewhere there's a tape
of the murder."
Polson: "Assuming such a tape existed, where would it be found?"
Ted: "My guess would be somewhere in Richard Cross' possession. What he was
doing on that security camera the night of the murder was retrieving it."
Polson: "Now according to your theory, Richard Cross either killed this girl
himself or paid someone to have her killed. If a tape existed, why wouldn't
he have destroyed it?"
Ted: "Because he's a voyeur. He likes to watch it. Help me find him,
Arthur."
Polson: "There's no longer an open investigation in this case. Officially,
there's nothing I could do -- other than looking the other way when you
break the law." He leaves.
At Parker Center, Ted visits Neil. Neil is very upset.
Neil: "I did it to myself. I was a drunk and I was a dope fiend."
Ted: "Now is not the time to be beating yourself up over that."
Neil: "I didn't do the one smart thing that I could have done which was
listen to my lawyer and keep my mouth shut."
Ted: "Don't dwell on it, Neil."
Neil: "You were right. You said if I took the witness stand, I'd convict
myself."
Ted: "You don't know what did it, Neil."
Neil: "What did it! What did it was me, Teddy! Me, I did it. I lived a bad
life and now I'm paying for it. They're going to put me in prison for the
rest of my life."
Ted: "Maybe not."
Neil: "Are you going to tell me about appeals now?"
Ted: "I'm going to tell you that we found a camera and a VCR in Jessica
Costello's apartment tonight. I think there's a videotape of Jessica's
murder."
Neil: "Where is it?"
Ted: "Somewhere under Richard Cross' control."
Neil: "Where is he?"
Ted: "We don't know yet." Neil slams his fist down on the table and turns
away from Ted. "What we do is that he's got full-blown AIDS."
Neil: "Oh, great." He turns back toward Ted.
Ted: "That means he's got nothing to lose by telling us the truth."
Neil: "Assuming you find him in time."
Ted: "We will find him. One way or another, we will find him."
Neil: "What if you don't? I'm scared, Teddy. I am so scared." Breaks down
crying. "Oh God, I'm scared."
[Part II]
The firm. Louis gives Ted a message as he is on his way to join the
associates for a meeting.
Louis: "Martina Spector called to see if you have any time today, to go
over your divorce settlement. You're free at eleven-thirty."
Ted: "Have her come in. Good morning, people." They reply. "First order of
business, let's officially welcome back Justine."
Lisa: "And I'd just picked out new carpeting for that office."
Justine: "Thanks a lot."
Ray: "Welcome back, Justine."
Ted: "Where are we in locating Richard Cross?"
Ray: "Oh, we're still looking. Given the particular nature of his illness,
he's probably in an AIDS clinic that specializes in neuropathology. Three
of the best are in Europe. There's the Newberry Center in San Francisco and
St. Catherine's in New York City."
Arnold: "We won't get any patient information out of any of those places."
Ray: "No, but I got people camped out at the private airports in each area,
looking for the tail number of Cross' plane."
Ted: "Keep me posted."
Ray: "Also, we've been keeping an eye on Cross' estate. Julie Costello
turned up there last night."
Ted: "Justine, take a ride out there and see what you can get out of her."
Justine: "Okay."
Arnold: "Let's check out thinking here for the moment. Are we really putting
our energies to the best use by scouring the planet for Richard Cross when
the fact is we really have no idea if he has a videotape of the murder or
that such a tape even exists?"
Ted: "I haven't heard any suggestions how our energies could be put to
better use. I also believe there is a tape and Richard Cross has it."
Chris: "He was in the parking garage the night of the murder. There's a VCR
down there. It's not a big leap, Arnold."
Arnold: "Just asking the question."
Lisa: "Any sense how Bornstein will respond to our argument for mitigating
factors in sentencing?"
Ted: "No way she goes better than twenty-five to life. What we've got to
hope for is straight life. That way Neil has a shot at parole."
Justine: "Is there at least enough mitigation to keep him out of a level-
four facility?"
Ted: "Unfortunately not. What we have to hope is that he gets sent to the
California Rehabilitation Center at Norco rather than some place like Folsom
or Pelican Bay or Tehachapi. God help him if they him there." Louis enters.
Louis: "The van's downstairs, it's time."
In court, Judge Bornstein decides Neil's sentence.
Judge: "Will the Defendant please rise." He and his counsel rise. "Mr.
Avedon, do you have anything to say before I pass sentence?" Polson is
seen sitting with the prosecution.
Neil: "There are no words to express my sorrow over Jessica's tragic death
or how completely impossible it is that I could have killed her. As God is
my witness, I am innocent. This is a terrible mistake. I pray that you can
see that, somehow. That's all I have to say."
Judge: "Mr. Avedon, rarely have I seen such a stubborn refusal to accept
the truth. In your statements to probation and to this court today, you
continue to profess innocence in the face of overwhelming evidence of your
guilt. You have shown absolutely no remorse for this heinous crime. You're
a violent young man and a danger to our community. Therefore I see it is my
duty to sentence you to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.
Mr. Avedon, you are remanded to the custody of the Los Angeles County Jail,
to be transferred one week from today and delivered to the California State
Prison at Folsom, a level-four facility, to begin your sentence." Pounds
the gavel.
Back in a holding cell in the courthouse, Ted tries to reassure Neil.
Ted: "This verdict isn't the last word, not by a long shot. We're going to
file an appeal."
Neil: "But, Teddy, all my money's gone."
Ted: "I'm not worried about our fees. The important thing right now is not
to panic."
Neil: "I'm going to die in prison."
Ted: "You won't. Look, I'm not going to try and con you. This is going to
be an uphill fight and it's going to take some time but we're going to be
with you every step of the way. And you're going to get through this." Neil
sighs. Ted puts his hand on Neil's shoulder. "Try and get some rest. I'll
be back to see you tomorrow." He leaves and runs into Ray in the empty
courtroom.
Ray: "Ted."
Ted: "What's up, Ray? Anything on Cross?"
Ray: "No, but I can put the Portalegre kid at the Costello murder scene.
I figured you'd want to know."
Ted: "Eduardo Portalegre."
Ray: "Bench warrant's just been issued for him on some outstanding parking
tickets, one of which puts his car in front of Jessica's building at one-
fifty-two a.m."
Ted: "Isn't that the sort of thing the police would already have turned up
in their investigation?"
Ray: "Car had been sold. New owner got stuck with the tickets. When he got
out from under them, it spun around to Portalegre."
Ted: "Who supposedly raped Jessica two months before she was killed."
Ray: "Could be he goes back to see her again and it turned nasty."
Ted: "Or maybe Cross orchestrated the whole thing for his viewing pleasure
and it got out of hand."
Ray: "And he tries to seal you off by having you take the kid on as a
client."
Ted: "Thanks, Ray." They both leave.
Next scene, a meeting in Judge Bornstein's chambers to discuss a motion by
the defense. Grasso is present.
Judge: "What is the basis of your motion for a new trial, Mr. Hoffman?"
Ted: "New and relevant evidence pointing to the real killer."
Grasso: "Don't tell me -- the one-armed man."
Ted: "Counsel's sarcasm is gravely misplaced with a young man facing life
behind bars."
Judge: "What's your evidence?"
Ted: "Eduardo Portalegre, a young man twice arrested for rape, has been
alleged to have raped Jessica Costello before she was killed. We have
concrete and irrefutable evidence that Mr. Portalegre's car was parked
outside the victim's residence at the time of her death."
Grasso: "And the jury concluded that Neil Avedon was actually `in' the
apartment and that he killed Jessica Costello."
Ted: "Mr. Avedon's right to due process necessitates that he be allowed
to place this Portalegre evidence before a new jury." The judge sighs.
Grasso: "Oh, come on, Ted. You did everything but shout from the
mountaintop that Richard Cross killed Jessica Costello, and it didn't
work. Now you want to take another bite of the apple with this new
scapegoat? It's not appropriate and not relevant."
Ted: "Clearly Ms. Grasso doesn't want to give up a win. But your honor,
I ask you to focus on the primary consideration here, which is justice."
Judge: "Mr. Avedon got a fair trial and has recourse through appeal. That
is justice. Motion denied." He leaves and as he's walking through the
hallway, Detective Polson arrives to speak with him.
Polson: "Counselor."
Ted: "Detective, what can I do for you?"
Polson: "Nineteen-year-old girl, a homicide. We've got a suspect in custody.
He's asking for you. His name is Jerry Albanese."
Ted: "Don't know him."
Polson: "He says he knows something about Jessica Costello's murder."
Ted: "What can you me about him?"
Polson: Not much." Takes out a paper on the man and reads from it. "He's
out of Brooklyn. Priors for burglary and ADW. And if you're interested,
he's at Parker Center." He hands Ted the paper.
Ted: "I'm interested and grateful."
Polson: "I'm just doing my job."
Ted: "Under that heading, do you remember Eduardo Portalegre?"
Polson: "Yeah."
Ted: "We can put him at the Jessica Costello murder scene with a parking
ticket he got outside her building. I know you'd be sticking your neck out."
Polson: "I'll check it out." They both head their separate ways.
Back at the firm, Lila hands Ted some messages.
Lila: "Ted, these are for you. And Martina Spector's waiting in your
office."
Ted: "Thanks, Lila." He heads for his office. Lisa has come up to the
reception desk.
Lisa: "Spector's the divorce attorney?"
Lila: "Yeah."
Lisa: "What a shame."
Lila: "Tell me about it."
In Ted's office.
Spector: "Ted, why even hire me to handle your divorce? You're making it
impossible for me to do my job."
Ted: "I'm not looking to go to war here."
Spector: "You don't have to fall on your sword either -- the house, half
of everything you own and thirty thousand a month? Teddy, this isn't a
settlement, it's penance. And unwarranted at that. It's not like you
ditched your wife for some tootsie."
Ted: "I don't want my daughter put through an ugly, drawn out contest. And
I want her future assured. She should have every opportunity available to
her."
Spector: "She's ten years old. Don't you think an allowance of a quarter
million dollars a year is overdoing it?"
Ted: "I'll give you a letter acknowledging your reservations."
Spector: "Teddy, I'm not trying to cover my ass. You're making a mistake
you would never let a client make."
Ted: "As I said, I'm comfortable with the arrangement."
Spector: "At least give me a crack at the valuation of the firm and the
schedule of assets."
Ted: "The valuation's fine."
Spector: "The other side's overestimated the long-term receivables of the
firm and inflated goodwill way out of proportion. I know Melanie Kendall
and I guarantee you, she did this expecting us to negotiate."
Ted: "Martina, make the offer, close the deal."
Spector: "I understand what you want, Ted. But let me accomplish this in
a way that makes some degree of sense."
Ted sighs: "Fine."
Next scene, outside Richard Cross' estate. Justine is going to speak with
Julie.
Julie: "Hi, Justine."
Justine: "How is he?"
Julie: "Not good."
Justine: "We need to talk to him, Julie."
Julie: "Now is not a good time."
Justine: "Julie, Neil's being sent to Folsom."
Julie: "And what is talking to Richard going to do to change that? Richard
didn't kill my sister. He's not going to confess to something he didn't do."
Justine: "We found a hidden camera in the bedroom, Julie. We think Richard
has a tape of the murder. There was a VCR in a locked cabinet in the garage.
We think Richard retrieved the tape that night and has kept it hidden ever
since."
Julie: "Who do you think is on it?"
Justine: "That we're not sure of."
Julie: "What if it turned out to be Neil?"
Justine: "Well then that would be that. At least we would know that he
deserves what he's getting."
Julie: "Justine, I understand what you're saying and I understand why you
feel the way you do. I would ask that you try and understand me. I will not
betray my husband."
Justine: "We're not asking that you betray him, Julie. All we want is for
Ted to be able to talk to him."
Julie: "I'll think about it."
Justine: "We may not have very much time."
Julie: "I know that. I said I'll think about it and I will."
Justine: "Okay." She leaves.
Later, at the firm, Ted's office. Arnold enters. Louis is there taking care
of some matters.
Louis: "He's not back yet. I expect any moment."
Arnold: "Okay." Ted enters.
Ted: "Louis, cancel the rest of my morning. I have to go down to Parker
Center."
Louis: "Right." He leaves. Arnold begins handing papers and files to Ted.
Arnold: "Here's the schedule of the exhibits. And I updated our brief to
include a case I picked up on West Law. It's from the 9th Circuit. It's
not controlling and it's not exactly on point but... "
Ted: "What is it?"
Arnold: "A dictum backing up our contention that Neil supposed confession
to Lester should never have been admitted due to its unreliability."
Ted: "I'll read it."
Arnold: "I think that the dicta in the concurring opinion serves us to the
extent that... "
Ted interrupts: "Arnold, I'll read it."
Arnold: "Right." Justine enters.
Justine: "Excuse me."
Ted: "Come in."
Justine: "I just got off the phone with Julie Cross. She doesn't think her
husband should be disturbed."
Arnold: "Knowing he could have a videotape of her sister's murder?"
Ted: "My guess is that Julie took a run at convincing Cross, got smacked
down and gave in."
Justine: "I don't think so. I think she's actually stepping up to the role
of wife here."
Ted: "Then we'll have to track down Cross ourselves."
Arnold: "I have to get back to work." He leaves.
At Parker Center, Ted meets with Jerry Albanese.
Albanese: "Mr. Hoffman, let me say right off the bat, I know you're a very
busy guy and I appreciate you're coming in here to see me."
Ted: "How can I help you?"
Albanese: "Well I was hoping maybe we could help each other."
Ted: "Okay, how can we help each other?"
Albanese: "You know Sal DeGenoa?"
Ted: "No.
Albanese: "Sally Rocca? Sal DeGenoa? Sal, Jr.?"
Ted: "Don't know any of them."
Albanese: "No, no, it's, it's all the same guy. You don't know him?"
Ted: "I don't know him."
Albanese: "Well, he's a made guy in the Philadelphia mob, you know.
Occasionally I do some work for him."
Ted: "What kind of work?"
Albanese: "Well, let me put it this way, I ain't a bricklayer. Sal calls
me it's because he wants me to whack somebody. I'm the one whacked Jessica
Costello, Mr. Hoffman."
Ted: "Did Sal tell you to do that?"
Albanese: "That's right."
Ted: "Why did Sal DeGenoa want Jessica Costello killed?"
Albanese: "He was doing it for Richard Cross."
Ted: "Did he tell you that?"
Albanese: "I put two and two together, you know. Cross is in Atlantic City,
right, he goes down there for the Pernell Whitaker-, uh, Julio Cesar Vasquez
fight. He's at the tables, he's hanging out -- who's with him? Sal's with
him. Next day Sal calls me on the telephone, you know, and he wants me to
see me. So you tell me, who am I working for?"
Ted: "Jessica was strangled. That's an unusual method for a professional
killer to use, isn't it?"
Albanese: "Which is exactly the way that I wanted it. I wanted it to look
like a crime of passion."
Ted: "This thing you're in on now, was it also a contract kill?"
Albanese: "No, that was a crime of passion. Honest, I just fell in love
with the wrong girl, that's all. I trusted her. She goes out on me. So,
one thing leads to another and, you know."
Ted: "What's your purpose in coming forward now, Mr. Albanese?"
Albanese: "My purpose is getting you to represent me."
Ted: "What's the defense?"
Albanese: "Well, that I'm crazy, no?"
Ted: "Are you crazy?"
Albanese: "You could convince a jury that I am. I know you could, you know.
You get all the right shrinks, you find something the cops did wrong, you'd
find something. You convince twelve people that I'm crazy. I seen you in
action, Mr. Hoffman. You could convince twelve people to set themselves
on fire, you put your mind to it."
Ted: "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
Albanese laughs: "You're the man." Continues laughing.
Next scene, Cross' estate again. This time Arnold goes to speak with Julie.
Outside a van is arriving with a hospital bed. Two men are about to bring
the bed into the house.
Man: "What room is this going into?"
Julie: "It's down the hall, on the right."
1st Man to 2nd Man: "Watch your back, mind those steps." They take the bed
inside.
Julie: "Hi, Arnold."
Arnold: "Hi. Got a minute?"
Julie: "Yeah, sure. Come on in."
Arnold: "If it's all the same, I'd just as soon stay outside."
Julie: "Okay." They begin walking together.
Arnold: "I understand you've elected not to tell us where Richard is."
Julie: "Right." They stop walking.
Arnold: "That being the case I'd like to talk to you about the consequences
of your husband dying before we can talk to him. The consequences are that
an innocent man gets shipped off to Folsom prison. He'll turn middle-aged
in there. If he lives that long, he'll turn old. Before that, he can expect
to get gang-raped on a regular basis."
Julie interrupts: "Arnold."
Arnold: "Do you know what they do in prison if you're a pretty boy like
Neil? They knock out your front teeth to make it easier to use your
mouth... "
Julie interrupts again: "Stop it!"
Arnold: "That's what's going to happen to him."
Julie: "Nothing Ted is going to say to Richard is going to make a
difference."
Arnold: "How convenient it is for you to think that."
Julie: "And I think Richard is entitled to die in peace."
Arnold: "Really? What did he do over the course of his life to entitle him
to that?"
Julie: "Isn't everyone entitled to that?"
Arnold: "No. Particularly not when it ruins the life of another human
being."
Julie: "Well, I don't think Richard is responsible for that."
Arnold sighs: "Let me cut right to the heart of the matter, Julie. Whatever
deal that you have made with Richard and whatever elaborate justification
you've made to yourself regarding this, quote, unquote, marriage, it does
not -- no matter how much you want it to -- absolve of the responsibility
to do what's right. You owe it to us to tell us where Richard Cross is."
Julie: "Whatever you think of my marriage to Richard, it is a fact. He is
my husband and I am his wife and whatever else I do, I'm going to honor the
commitment I made to him. Don't you dare stand there with your air of moral
superiority and tell me what I owe you. I owe you nothing."
Arnold: "Wow, what's he worth, four hundred million? Well, whatever else
they say about you, they can't say you sold yourself cheap." He leaves.
Another meeting for the divorce settlement. Present are: Ted, his lawyer,
Martina Spector, Annie and her lawyer, Melanie Kendall.
Kendall: "Further, your client agrees to pay alimony and child support
totaling in the aggregate $427,000 a year. Ted will also pay all of his
daughter's medical and educational expenses."
Spector interrupts: "Reasonable educational expenses."
Kendall: "Okay." Adds the word to the settlement papers. "Reasonable
educational expenses until Lizzie is twenty-one. Anna gets the house and
its contents. What am I leaving out?" Ted and Annie have been looking at
each other throughout.
Spector: "On the liquidation of assets, we're agreed that Ted keeps the
stock portfolio, valued at $1.1 million dollars and Annie gets the cash,
totaling $900,000. With Ted contributing a hundred thousand dollars in
AT&T shares, to make up the difference."
Kendall: "What was discussed, was your client paying a hundred dollars in
cash."
Spector: "We're agreeing to pay the hundred thousand. We just want to do
it in stock."
Kendall: "Except that a hundred K in stock is only worth 72 when you go
to sell it and pay capital gains."
Spector: "Then don't sell it."
Kendall: "We want the cash and we do not want to be saddled with his tax
liability." Ted and Annie continue to look at each other.
Spector: "Come on, Melanie. We're giving you the house. We agree to your
inflated valuation of the firm... "
Kendall interrupts: "To all of which we are entitled."
Spector: "You can't be saying that with a straight face."
Kendall: "I absolutely am."
Spector: "This is a front-loaded deal."
Kendall: "I want cash, Martina, I do not want stock equivalency."
Spector: "I find this offensive."
Kendall: "Well, I'm sorry that you feel that way."
Annie to Spector: "We'll take the hundred thousand dollars in stock."
Kendall: "Hang on a second."
Annie insists: "We'll take the stock."
Kendall: "Annie, may I speak to you for a moment in private?"
Annie: "There's nothing to talk about, Melanie." Kendall sighs.
Next scene, Ted and Annie have lunch together.
Annie: "I can't even remember the last time I had a martini. Whoo."
Ted: "I thought gin gave you a headache."
Annie: "It does. But after today how could I possibly feel any worse."
Ted: Well, at least it's over with."
Annie: "Yeah. Thanks."
Ted: "For what?"
Annie: "You could have made this whole process pretty grueling if you'd
chosen to and you didn't."
Ted: "Believe it or not, all I ever wanted was for you to be happy. I
thought the best way to do that was to work hard, be successful and that
would make me a good husband. A lesson learned." Annie looks around the
restaurant and leans in toward Ted.
Annie: "All these lonely people, with nothing better to do than sitting
around getting schnockered."
Ted: "You want to see a study on loneliness, check into a hotel for a
couple of months. Everybody's en route. The more ornate the lobby, the
more depressing it is."
Annie: "When are you going to get out of there and get a place of your
own?"
Ted: "It's on a list of things to do."
Annie: "I drove by a little house for sale in Santa Monica on 20th.
Spanish, lap pool in the back yard. You'd only be three minutes away
so Lizzie could come over whenever she wants."
Ted: "Sounds great."
Annie: "Want me to call the realtor and make an appointment?"
Ted: "Sure." The waiter comes over with a phone.
Waiter: "Mr. Hoffman? You have a call from your office." He takes the
phone.
Ted: "What is it, Louis?"
Waiter to Annie: "Another round?"
Annie: "No, just the check, please."
Ted: "I'm on my way." Puts down the phone. "An inmate just attacked Neil
with a knife."
Annie: "Oh, my God."
Ted: "I'll call you later." He leaves.
At Parker Center, Ted sees Neil. His left hand is bandaged and bleeding
and he has several bruises on his face.
Ted: "Are you okay?"
Neil: "No, I'm not okay. Somebody tried to kill me."
Ted: "Tell me what happened."
Neil: "I'm in the shower, this guy comes on to me. He won't take no for
an answer and he won't back off. So, I hit him and he came after me with
a shank. You gotta get me out of here, Ted."
Ted: "That's what we're trying to do, Neil. But like I said, it may take
a while. In the mean time, I'll speak to the watch commander. I promise
the person who did this won't be able to get anywhere near you from now
on. Do you want to press charges?"
Neil: "And set myself up as a snitch? I'm already a target." He's very
frightened and upset. "Everybody here knows my name and everybody knows
my face. Coming after me is a shortcut to a reputation in here. And
believe me, it's going to happen. It's just a matter of when. And this
is not me being paranoid. That's a fact."
Ted: "I'll go to Bornstein and see what else can be done to guarantee your
safety."
Neil: "You gotta get me out of here, Teddy." Getting more desperate. "You
gotta get me out of here."
Ted: "We're doing our best, Neil. I promise you that."
Next scene, back at the firm, Justine's office. She's buzzed that she has
a visitor.
Justine: "Appleton. Sure, send her in." Hangs up the phone and rises to
meet Julie. "Hi."
Julie: "Richard's in Zurich. He'll be back in Los Angeles tomorrow night."
Justine: "Ted'll want to meet him at the plane."
Julie: "They're landing at Van Nuys around nine. I can't promise he'll
talk to you."
Justine: "I understand."
Julie: "This wasn't easy."
Justine: "I know."
Julie: "My mother was a good wife to my father. I wanted to be a good wife
to my husband."
Justine: "Your mother wasn't married to Richard Cross."
Julie: "Arnold Spivak gave me his opinion, which for some strange reason
mattered to me. I decided that Neil not going to prison for the rest of
his life was more important than the kind of wife I was. I decided I owed
it to him. I decided I owed it to all of you."
At the courthouse, Ted and Ray discuss Jerry Albanese.
Ray: "I'd be very surprised if Jerry Albanese killed Jessica Costello."
Ted: "Why?"
Ray: "I talked to people close to the Philly mob. Nobody's ever heard
of him."
Ted: "It's not inconceivable that Cross was hanging around with Sal
DeGenoa."
Ray: "It's not inconceivable at all. Cross likes to be around wiseguys."
Ted: "So, when Albanese says Cross was with DeGenoa at the Whitaker-Vasquez
fight -- that sounds right. When he says that Cross asked DeGenoa to take
care of Jessica -- that sounds right. The only thing that doesn't sound
right to you is that DeGenoa would bring in Albanese and that's because
you say nobody ever heard of him."
Ray: "If you're asking me can I prove he's lying, the answer is no. I don't
have that on the night of the Whitaker-Vasquez fight Cross was attending a
state dinner in Jakarta."
Ted: "In other words, he might be telling the truth."
Ray: "I know how bad you want him to be, Ted. I just don't think he is."
Later, a meeting with Judge Bornstein to try and help secure some measure
of safety for Neil in prison. Washington is present.
Ted: "What I'm asking for, your honor, is that you use your influence to
have my client moved to a more protected status while he's at county. I
can't imagine the People would oppose me on that."
Washington: "As long as he's off the street, the People have no vested
interest in where Mr. Avedon is incarcerated."
Judge: "I understand your concern, Mr. Hoffman, but my power is limited
in this situation."
Ted: "I have to believe a call from a superior court judge would have
an effect, especially if you were to articulate the ramifications of a
liability suit against the county should anything like this happen again."
Judge: "I'm award of what needs to be said and to whom. As to whether or
not it would be effective, I can't say. But, I'll see what I can do."
Ted: "Thank you. Your honor, I also urge you to reconsider this young
man's sentence, in light of what has happened. Mr. Avedon is good-looking,
vulnerable, he's a celebrity -- all of which makes him a trophy in a place
like Folsom. Perhaps if he were sent to a less-severe facility such as the
California Rehabilitation Center."
Judge: "Your client may be famous but he also has a well-documented history
of violence. I don't want him in a place where he can victimize other
inmates convicted of lesser offenses."
Ted: "We'll have to disagree as to whether Neil poses a threat to
anyone. What I'm sure we can agree on is that Mr. Avedon still enjoy the
constitutional protection from cruel and unusual punishment. He won't
survive a year at Folsom."
Judge: "I'll take this matter under advisement and make whatever
recommendations I deem appropriate. Understand, however, the final call
is made by the Department of Corrections."
Ted: "This was never a death penalty case. It's my hope that you will use
all your influence to keep it from becoming one."
At the firm, Louis is trying to deal with two men, one of whom is Sal
DeGenoa, the other, his bodyguard.
Louis: "Sir, excuse me but we've been through this. I don't know when
Mr. Hoffman will be returning. I can tell you that regardless of when
he does get back, he will not be able to meet with you today. Now... "
Just then Ted arrives.
Ted: "Can I help you?"
DeGenoa: "I'm Sal DeGenoa."
Ted: "Ted Hoffman. How do you do?" They shake hands.
DeGenoa: "Somebody says they know me?"
Louis: "I've been trying to explain to this gentleman that he needs an
appointment."
DeGenoa: "I don't need an appointment, fruitcake. I hear accusations made
against me I go to the source -- that's me, that's the way I operate."
Ted: "I'm representing a client, Mr. DeGenoa. Names come up, I check them
out -- that's the way I operate."
DeGenoa: "Some guy, Jerry La-la, whatever, mentions my name and you're
checking `me' out? I never heard of this guy in my life! He tells a story
and suddenly people are asking me if I ordered a fifteen-year-old girl
killed. What is that?"
Ted: "You do know Richard Cross?"
DeGenoa to Louis: "Hey, you got something to do?" Louis has remained
standing next to Ted throughout the above conversation.
Louis: "Yeah. This is it."
Ted: "It's all right, Louis. Let's step into my office." Louis leads them
into the office."
DeGenoa: "I don't mean to be rude. This isn't a conversation I wanted to
have in the presence of others."
Ted: "I understand."
DeGenoa: "Richard Cross didn't have anybody killed, not that broad, not
anybody."
Ted: "How do you know that?"
DeGenoa: "I know because I know him. I know people who have people killed.
Richard Cross isn't like them. Richard Cross is the kind of a guy that
likes to have stories to tell. He likes to be able to say -- `I was out
last night with a Hollywood star.' `I was out last night with a professional
basketball player.' `I was out last night with a mob guy.' He hung around
me so he could tell people about it. He ain't no tough guy. I ain't no
tough guy." Gestures with his head behind him to his bodyguard. "Larry,
here -- he's a tough guy."
Ted: "What was in it for you?"
DeGenoa: "What was in it for me? I liked the guy."
Ted: "Was the nature of your relationship purely social?
DeGenoa: "Whoa, whoa, wait!" Laughs. "Was I served with a subpoena when I
wasn't looking?"
Ted: "I'm sure you can appreciate that the role of an attorney is to
explore any and all theories that might serve to exonerate his client."
DeGenoa: "I not only appreciate it, I admire it. The whole reason for my
coming here today is to advise you that `I' am not a theory. Now so long
as you understand that, as long as my name is off the table, we have
absolutely no problem."
Ted: "If you have no relationship to this crime, Mr. DeGenoa, I have no
interest in you."
DeGenoa: "Beautiful. Then we'll leave it at that. Case closed. New subject.
You licensed in the state of Nevada?"
Ted: "No."
DeGenoa sighs: "Can I make a modest proposal?"
Ted: "By all means."
DeGenoa: "I'm paying an attorney quarter of a million dollars a year
retainer up there in Las Vegas, and I'm ready to drop him down an elevator
shaft."
Ted: "And you'll be looking for someone to replace him."
DeGenoa: "That's exactly right."
Ted: "I don't think I'm the guy."
DeGenoa: "Hmm. Let's not close any doors. Can we manage not to do that?"
Ted: "Absolutely."
DeGenoa: "That's all. We don't have to say another word." He shakes hands
with Ted and they leave.
Once again, outdoors at the Cross estate. Arnold goes to visit Julie.
Julie: "Hi, Arnold."
Arnold: "Hi."
Julie: "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
Arnold: "I was wrong to say what I said earlier and I'm sorry."
Julie: "You weren't wrong. You were horrible, but you weren't wrong."
Arnold: "I'm sorry that I was horrible. For what it's worth, I think you
did the honorable thing."
Julie: "You also think I married Richard for his money."
Arnold: "Why you married him is none of my business."
Julie: "I did marry him for his money and the security it buys me. And
the fact that he asked me. Would I have married him if he didn't have
money? Probably not. But if in some small corner of myself I didn't
actually love him, I wouldn't have married him no matter how much money
he had."
Arnold: "Like I said, it's none of my business."
Julie: "You really mean a lot to me, Arnold. I think about you and I think
about what might have been and it makes me sad. Think about me sometimes."
She touches his face and walks away.
Parker Center. Ted goes to visit Jerry Albanese again.
Albanese: "Hey, how are ya, Mr. Hoffman?"
Ted: "Good, Jerry. How are you?" They shake hands.
Albanese: "Seeing as how you're here, I feel pretty good."
Ted: "You understand if I have some questions for you."
Albanese: "Yeah, sure."
Ted: "We made some inquiries in Philadelphia. Nobody seems to have heard
of you."
Albanese: "Oh that's 'cause I ain't from Philadelphia. I'm from Providence.
And I know Sal on account of he used to have a `compare' up in Providence.
He used to come up all the time and hang out."
Ted: "What if I told you that on the night Pernell Whitaker fought Julio
Cesar Vasquez, Richard Cross was attending a state dinner in Jakarta?"
Albanese laughs: "I tried. Let's just say, `Let's go to Plan B, you know.'"
Ted: "Which would be what?"
Albanese: "Tell the truth and hope for the best."
Ted: "You didn't kill Jessica Costello, did you?"
Albanese: "No, sir."
Ted: "Okay."
Albanese: "But I would maintain that it doesn't make the least little bit
of difference and let me explain why. I got homicidal tendencies. I have
murdered several prostitutes, including ones the authorities don't know
anything about which would make me a wholly credible suspect in your
murder."
Ted: "Why would you want to take the rap for a murder you didn't commit?"
Albanese: "For the same reason I gave you before, herr kommandant. Because
I'd have you at the controls, that's why. Mr. Hoffman, not to tell you your
business because I ain't going to do that but, we can pull this thing off.
Now, you think Richard Widmark in `The Kiss of Death' or you think, uh,
Jimmy Cagney in `White Heat'. Think Peter Lorre from `M'. That's what that
jury's gonna see when they look at me. I'm going to a mental hospital for
a few years. Neil Avedon's gonna be a free man. Now, maybe I'm missing
something but this looks like your classic `win-win' situation to me."
Ted: "You're a smart fella, Jerry. Too bad your mind hasn't been put to
more beneficial purposes."
Albanese: "What's going to be more beneficial than staying out of prison?"
Ted: "I'm not going into court claiming things I know to be false."
Albanese laughs: "Since when?"
Ted: "Since always." Gets up to leave.
Albanese: "Well, can you refer me to somebody?"
Ted: "I'm sorry, I can't."
Albanese laughs again: "All right. Well, Mr. Hoffman, you can't blame me
for trying, can you?" They shake hands. Ted leaves. Albanese pushes the
table in frustration. Outside in the hallway, Ted runs into Det. Polson.
Polson: "Counselor, we located the Portalegre kid. He's in New York City."
Ted: "Any idea when he plans to return?"
Polson: "No, not any time soon. And given the fact that the Costello
investigation is now closed, my bosses aren't eager to cough up the air
fare for me to go back there to question him about a parking ticket. Was
Jerry Albanese able to shed any light on things?"
Ted: "Not really."
Polson: "Uh. He seemed to me like a guy who's looking to play the angles."
Ted: "Yeah." Polson walks away.
While at Parker Center, Ted visits with Neil.
Ted: "Hello, Neil."
Neil: "What's up?"
Ted: "How's the hand?"
Neil: "Uh, hurts."
Ted: "I understand they moved you in with a more protected population."
Neil: "Yeah, thanks. Um, I'm pretty much the only guy in there not wearing
a dress. So, where are they sending me?"
Ted: "I spoke to Bornstein. She's recommending you go to China Lake."
Neil: "This is the place where they, they lock you up for twenty-three
hours a day."
Ted: "The job right now is to keep you healthy during the appeals process.
There's never been a prisoner or a guard killed at China Lake."
Neil, getting angrier: "How about you quit jerking me off? You and I both
know I'm going away for the rest of my life!"
Ted: "We don't know that."
Neil: "At least at Folsom someone might do me the favor of slitting my
throat and putting me out of my misery!"
Ted: "Neil, wherever you are, however bad it is, you got to do what it
takes to stay alive."
Neil: "Yeah, is, is that the word from on high, Teddy? Is, is that my
inspirational message for the day? I'll tell you what. Why don't they
lock you up in here. Then you tell me how it doesn't matter how bad it
is!"
Ted: "What would you like me to tell you, Neil?"
Neil: "Nothing. Just stroll on out of here to your next big trial."
Ted, getting angry as well: "No one's strolling anywhere, Neil. What I am
doing is busting my ass all day, every day, trying to accomplish one thing
and one thing only -- getting you out of here. I'm sorry that up until now
I haven't been successful. If you think you can find someone who'll work
harder or be more effective, I suggest you hire them. Just tell me where
to send the files."
Neil, more composed: "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
Next scene, Ted and Chris drive to Van Nuys to meet Richard Cross' plane.
Chris: "Do we have any reasonable expectations that Richard Cross is going
to be forthcoming with what he knows, whatever it is?"
Ted: "I have to believe that somewhere inside the man is a human heart.
Probably the size of a caraway seed, but a human heart nonetheless. And if
I was about to meet my maker I wouldn't want to leave this world having
sent an innocent man to prison for the rest of his life."
Chris: "Let's hope."
They arrive at the airport. The plane has landed and there's an ambulance
waiting to collect Cross. Julie and Cross' physician, Dr. Kressel are there,
as well as Cross' security staff and his security chief, Douglas Fournier.
Fournier to the paramedics: "Let's hurry it up." He spots Ted and Chris
pulling up. He approaches their car. "Excuse me! This is a secured area.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
Ted: "We have business with the individual arriving on that plane."
Fournier: "The individual on that plane doesn't want to be disturbed.
Now if you'll just get back in your car." He pushes Chris.
Chris: "Hey, get your hands off me."
Julie: "It's all right, Douglas."
Fournier: "I have my instructions."
Julie: "I'm giving you new instructions." Fournier goes back to attend to
Cross.
Ted to Julie: "I appreciate your cooperation, Julie, and so does Neil"
Julie: "Sure." She leads Ted and Chris to Cross.
Fournier: "All right, let's get him in here ???"
Ted: "Richard?" Cross is on a stretcher gravely ill.
Cross, weakly: "Who is that? Is that you, Teddy?"
Ted: "How are you feeling?"
Cross: "Well, I'm not doing so wonderful at the moment." Tries to laugh.
Turns to Julie, "Am I in Los Angeles?"
Julie: "Yes, you're home."
Cross: "Good."
Ted: "Richard, Neil needs your help."
Cross: "I heard they found him guilty."
Ted: "And you and I both know that he's not. We found the video camera
in the apartment, Richard. If there's anything you know about the murder,
if you truly are Neil's friend as you claim you are, now's the time to
help him."
Cross: "You're a smart guy, Teddy." Laughs, feebly. "Despite all our
differences, you know, I always admired you for your mind. I'm dying,
Ted. I don't feel ready for that just yet."
Ted: "I'll hold a good thought for you, Richard. But in God's name, don't
die with this on your head. For Neil's sake, as well as your own, tell me
where the tape is." Cross closes his eyes and doesn't answer.
Julie: "Richard. Do it for me, Richard."
Cross: "It's in my safe."
Ted: "What safe?"
Cross: "One in my office. In the floor, under the desk. That's a Biedermeyer
desk, Ted. You should take a moment to appreciate it while you're there."
Ted: "What's the combination?"
Cross, fading: "The what?"
Ted: "The combination?"
Cross: "Combination... 1, 94, 11."
Kressel: "Sir, we've got to get this man to a hospital."
Cross: "Take Douglas with you and you really should take a moment to
admire that desk, Ted. It's beautiful. Thank you for coming by to visit
me. It means a lot."
Kressel: "Please. Come on." They take and put Cross in the ambulance.
Julie and the doctor both get in with Cross. Ted, Chris and Fournier
head for Ted's car and drive to Cross' office. The three of them move
the Biedermeyer desk aside to get to the floor safe. As Chris was about
to reach down to the safe, Fournier stops him.
Fournier: "I'll do that. So, I'll bet you guys are really going to get
your shots in now, aren't you? Huh? Now that Mr. Cross is too sick to
stand up to you."
Ted: "The combination is 1, 94, 11." Fournier pulls open the cover,
revealing the safe.
Fournier: "I saw what you tried to do to him during the trial. Things
you said about his wife in public." Begins turning the dial. "The way you
planted that Appleton broad in here, to spy for you. Tell you what, in my
opinion, you're the low-life not him."
Ted: "We appreciate the awkwardness of the situation, Mr. Fournier. All we
want to do is get the tape." Fournier has opened the safe. Inside are bags
filled with money, coins, a gun, and the tape. Fournier takes the tape.
Fournier: "I'll tell you something else too. Out of all the people I've ever
worked for, I've never met more of a gentleman than Richard Cross. Here's
your tape." Tosses it at Ted. Ted and Chris leave and go back to the firm.
Waiting there are the other associates and Louis.
Arnold: "What's up, Ted?"
Ted: "We've got the videotape. Everybody in my office."
Ted inserts the tape into the VCR and presses `Play.' The tape starts.
Lisa: "It's Neil."
[Neil is with Jessica just as they begin making love. She's wearing a robe
and lying on the bed. Neil kneels over her and opens her robe. He takes the
belt from the robe and moves it over Jessica's head.]
Justine: "Oh, no."
Ted: "Someone hit the fast forward." Chris has the remote control and hits
the button.
[The tape speeds through the couple love-making and reaches the point where
they are both standing and kissing each other good night.]
Ted: "There." Chris stop the fast forward and returns the VCR to normal
speed.
[They kiss and Neil leaves. Jessica then lies down on the bed.]
Chris: "He didn't do it. Jessica was still alive when Neil left."
Ted: "Speed through this." Chris does as told.
[Then it becomes clear that there is someone in the room with Jessica.]
Ted: "Right here."
[Jessica can be seen struggling with someone. There are images of a very
violent struggle -- lamps are knocked over, a mirror is broken, Jessica
can be seen, her face bruised from a beating, a bottle of champagne is
knocked over, the phone is knocked off the hook... All of this in intercut
with the reactions of the viewers of the tape. While her murder is shown,
the killer's identity is not.]
Justine: "Oh my God."
[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:
Donisha Walker as the Clerk
Gokul as the Pakistani Attendant
Jason Azikiwe as Eddie Rosco
Valerie Dillman as Fan #1
Paul Sandman as the Pizza Delivery Guy
Susan Merson as the Caller
Mark Newsom as the Bailiff
Jesse Henecke as the Waiter
Collette White as Jessica Costello
Toni DeRose as Media #1
Leslie Ishii as Media #2
Bruce Wright as Media #3
Tim Hutchinson as Media #5
Lisa Dinkins as Media #6
Michael Prokopuk as Media #7
Rosanna Huffman as Eleanor Iverson
Alexia Robinson as Akeesha Wesley
June Saruwatari as Karen Ting
Paul Goodman as Shel Metzger
David Fresco as Albert Wysong
Constance L. Gomes as Juror #1
Anthea Orlando as Juror #2
Roberto Martin Marquez as Juror #7
Bruce Williams as Juror #10
Rachel Escalera as Juror #11
Joseph A. Jackson as Juror #12
Director of Photography: Anthony R. Palmieri
Production Designer: Paul Eads
Part I Edited by Lance Luckey
Part II Edited by Kaja Fehr, A.C.E.
Unit Production Manager: Patrick McKee
First Assistant Directors: Brian Faul, Michael J. Schilz
Second Assistant Director: Andy Spilkoman
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, Kathina Szeto
Gaffer: Mark Vuille
Key Grip: Harry L. Rez
2nd 2nd Assistant Director: Jim Goldthwait
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
Art Director: 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 #7143 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.