Picket Fences (1992–1996): Season 3, Episode 1 - Survival of the Fittest - full transcript

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[Marjorie]
She's never done this.
Stayed out all night.

Something's happened.

We're looking for her, Marjorie.

She's in trouble. I know it.

She tried to buy a six‐pack,
but come on, she looks 16.

[Kenny] Come in.
Blue Camaro matching
the description,

appears to be unoccupied.

Sometimes we argue,
she runs out,

but she always comes back,
you know.

Then I seen her
talking to this guy,

30, maybe older.



I seen her give him the money.

Then he comes in,
buys the beer.

[radio chatter]

[car door closes]

‐[static]
‐[Kenny] License plate 332.

Yellow. Victor. X‐Ray.
Affirmative.

I called all her friends.
They haven't seen her.

This isn't right.

I seen him get in her car.

Then they drove off together.

She is not a runaway.

We fight
but she is not a runaway.

‐[radio chatter]
‐Blood on the seat and floor.

Send forensics,
and call Carter Pike.
Maybe he can...



[static]

Please, help us.

The guy looked normal.

I've retrieved what
appears to be
a right middle or ring finger.

Female. Severed
at the second joint.

‐[static]
‐[woman] 10‐4,
units are responding.

Here we go.

[theme music playing]

[theme music ends]

‐[police siren wailing]
‐[Carter] Okay, you're done...

[Kenny] Go off the road...

‐[Carter] I want to take it
back to the morgue.
‐[Kenny] You can't.

‐[man] Are there any trails?
‐[radio chatter]

[Max] Suspect drives
a brown pickup. Older model.

Dent in driver's side door.
Last seen just before midnight.

I want the finger. It could be
a post‐mortem incision.

‐He won't let me have it.
‐Give him the finger.

Thank you.

‐[man] Help, Billy.
‐[indistinct chatter]

‐Looks like a struggle
in the car. A lot of blood.
‐[sighs]

Dust everything inside and out.
Check the... for tracks.

Impound the car.

[indistinct chatter]

[sighs] Make a guess.

A lot of blood. Probably dead.

[indistinct chatter]

‐God.
‐[Kenny] All right.

‐God?
‐[woman] Yes, God.

‐He's teaching the kids
Creationism.
‐I'm sorry. He has no‐‐

‐Wait a minute. Wait.
Wait a minute.
‐[people talking all at once]

‐Who? Who?
‐Harold Sawyer.

He's a fifth‐grade teacher.
Your Zachary is in his class.

And he's being taught that God
created man.

‐[woman] We have to do
something‐‐
‐But why are you coming to me?

'Cause Michael Oslo
wouldn't give us an appointment,

and you're on
the school committee.

[Bernard] My son is Jewish,

and I don't want
the New Testament

being driven down
his young,
impressionable throat.

Well, that's a lovely image,
Bernie, but I'll tell you what.

I'll set up a meeting with
the school committee
and this Mr. Sawyer,

and I'll find out
what he's teaching.

Well, if it's God,
he should be arrested.

‐[indistinct shouting]
‐...so much.

‐Now, I need the office.
‐No, I'm sorry.

This is not something
that can be shelved.

[people clamoring]

[reporter 1]
Just one question, please.

‐[reporter 2] Sir?
‐No, there have been
no arrests made.

‐Are there any leads?
‐Uh... Yes, we do have
some leads,

‐but, uh...
‐Is the Engrams girl dead?

I don't know. We do know
there has been foul play.

‐The investigation is ongoing.
‐You gave Carter Pike
the finger.

‐[camera shutter clicks]
‐For pathology.

[reporters clamoring]

I'll let you know
as soon as we have something.

John Emmanuel just called
from his store.

The brown pickup's back.
The guy's inside the shop.

Take all units. Get that guy.

[police siren wailing]

[tires screeching, squealing]

[police siren wailing]

[bottles clinking]

‐[bottles clinking]
‐[keys jingling]

[police siren wailing]

‐[tires screeching]
‐[police siren wailing]

[police officer 1] Police,
don't move!

[police officer 2]
Hold it right there!

Right there!

‐Freeze.
‐[police officer 3]
Get your hands up!

I... I paid.
I have a receipt.

‐[people clamoring]
‐Tell them nothing.

‐Move it, Doug.
‐I didn't do anything.

He hasn't been arrested yet.

Just going to ask him
a few questions, that's it.

‐Oh, how silly of me.
‐Keep him out of here.

This will be exciting.
I can feel it.

Yes, I got into her car

and we went off and had
a few beers together.

It's a crime to provide alcohol
to 16‐year‐olds, Mr. Latham.

It's a crime to have sex
with them, as well,

but trust me,
that was the plan.

What happened?

We parked somewhere
on a quiet road.

We drank the beer
and then we kissed a little.

And I... I tried for more.
Much more.

‐And?
‐[Brian] She said "No."

We wrestled
and got a little grabby,
but that was it.

Then she drove me back
to my car,

let me out, and I never
saw her again.

That was the end of it.

I wanna go back
to the beginning.

[Zack] In the beginning,
God created the Heaven
and the Earth.

That's what Genesis says.

And your teacher
told you to read this?

Yes. But it's a giant myth.

It is?

We come from monkeys.

A male ape got a Homo erectus
for a female ape.

They had a bald baby

who could stand up straight.

And that's how man began.

I saw it on Nova.

Oh, I see, but, um, now, Zack,

your teacher told you
that God created man?

It isn't true.

Is it?

[Brian] I didn't do anything.

How long do I have
to keep saying that?

Until you tell us the truth.

Maybe I should get a lawyer.

Can I have a lawyer?

You want a lawyer?

You really want a lawyer?

You see, Brian,
this is the wrong town
to be picked up in

for kidnapping a girl.

‐I didn't kidnap her.
‐It doesn't matter.

A 16‐year‐old girl is missing,
maybe dead,

and somebody's gonna get blamed.

Now, you're a drifter
with a criminal record
who was last seen with her.

Use your head.

Now you ask for a lawyer.

Maybe we should turn you lose
and let the mob outside
deal with you.

You can't do this.

We can do whatever we want.
We're the cops.

‐Max.
‐No.

He needs to hear this.

You're not going
to get a fair trial.

Someone is going to pay
for what happened to that girl.

Now, if you're the only suspect
that we offer up,

it's going to be you,

innocent or not.

I want a lawyer.

Hmm.

[clicks tongue] Maxine.

[footsteps retreating]

‐[door opens]
‐[indistinct chatter]

‐[fax machine beeps]
‐[man] How long have
they been there?

Charge him with kidnapping.

‐On what? We haven't got‐‐
‐If you let him walk, he'll fly.

Book him and hold him.

‐[indistinct chatter]
‐[fax machine beeping]

[door closes]

Nothing.

Go ahead, you got a client.

I knew it. Very exciting.

‐[cop] What'd you say?
‐[indistinct chatter]

Pre‐mortem incision.
She was still alive
when this was cut off.

‐Please don't shake that at me.
‐Here's the thing.

There was a lot of blood
in that car.
It didn't just come from this.

‐Fingers don't bleed like that.
‐Stop shaking it at me.

My bet, the girl is dead.

But it is pre‐mortem.
She could be alive.

But if so, where is she?
Not with him. We've got him.

‐What's your point?
‐He was back at that store
buying groceries.

Maybe it's a kidnapping.

Maybe she's locked up somewhere.

In which case, holding him
puts her life in jeopardy.

She probably has no access
to food or water.

She could have
a limited air supply.

‐I'd release him. Maybe‐‐
‐We're not releasing him.

[Carter] Well, then you damn
well better get him to tell you
where she is.

She could be dying as we speak.

‐Let me beat it out of him.
‐No.

‐What if carter's right?
‐We don't use force.

It's unconstitutional
and you know it.

‐The Constitution isn't doing
Susie Engrams any good.
‐No force!

Gimme two minutes with the guy.

That's a direct order.

[door opens]

[door closes]

[sighs]

[indistinct chatter]

[reporter] Deputy Stewart,
do you know where she is?

We have no information as to
the welfare or location
of Susan Engrams.

What about the medical findings?

We know that the finger
was cut off while the victim
was still alive.

Severed at the second joint‐‐

Is it true you used it
to pick your nose?

‐Cheap shot.
‐All right.

On what grounds
did you arrest Latham?

I will not discuss
the investigation

other than to say that
we are very satisfied
with our progress.

Our field units have done
an outstanding job.

[Kenny] We're dead.
Nothing in the gas truck.

He's suspicious.
No prints of hers anywhere.

There's nothing forensic.

Hey... [clears throat]

Wambaugh's pushing me
on this arraignment, so,

what have we got?

[indistinct chatter]

‐What do we have?
‐The girl was last seen
getting into his car.

His prints were
all over the beer cans.

‐That's it?
‐He was arrested three years ago
on the same charge.

He tried to abduct
a 15‐year‐old girl
at knife point,

but the charges
were eventually dropped.

‐[sighs] Kick him.
‐What?

‐We got nothing
to arrest him on.
‐I'm not kicking him.

‐Well, you cannot hold a suspect
without evidence.
‐[Jimmy speaking]

‐I can't make that stick.
‐You tell her parents.

You tell the judge
to weigh probable cause.

‐Such loud voices.
‐Shut up.

I have to see my client.
Looks like the news is good.

I want to give him a polygraph.

[Douglas] Jimmy, I'm shocked.

The man may have killed
a 16‐year‐old girl.

No polygraph.

And I don't want you
even talking to him.

[Oslo] You cannot teach
Creationism in the schools.

I'm not proffering
strict Creationism.

I'm suggesting
a moderate Creation theory

that God had something to do
with man's evolvement.

No, you can't do that.

Look, all I'm doing
is encouraging the students
to ask questions.

Eh... There are questions
about evolution.

We can't scientifically prove
the ape to man mutation.

You're suggesting
the possibility
of a divine being,

and that is directly against
the Supreme Court's mandate.

Hey, those kids are coming
into my class confused,

Zachary Brock included.

Now, I'm letting them know
it's okay to be confused.

Religion and science
don't have to be
mutually exclusive.

They can coexist.

I see no cause for alarm
in this man's teachings.

[chuckles] Funny thing.

[Harold] I'm not feeding them
Adam and Eve.

But I won't eliminate God
from the creation process.

Yeah, how can any teacher
responsibly do that?

And don't tell me to.

[Jill]
Nobody's telling you that.

Just teach your course,
Mr. Sawyer,

but be aware of our concerns.

[indistinct chatter]

My lawyer said
not to talk to anybody.

You want me to go? I'll go.

I'm not gonna ask you anything
about what happened.

That's a promise from me to you.

Then why are you here?

I'm here as a Catholic.

I see you carry this cross
in your truck.

‐You're Catholic, too,
aren't you?
‐So?

So...

I can understand you a little.

A little well.

There's wrong,
and there's "wrong," Brian.

If you killed her...

I'm not saying you did.

I don't care if you did.

I'm saying even if you did,

God forgives everything.

People repent...

He forgives.

But there is one thing
this girl needs,

her parents need,

and yeah, maybe God needs.

Let her be buried.

Every Christian deserves that.

No matter how good
or how evil...

every Christian
should be put at peace.

I'm not asking you
to admit to nothing.

Just...

We've been looking everywhere
for this girl.

We can't find her.

I didn't do anything.

[Kenny] I don't care if you did.

I need to go someplace
just to relax.

Clear my head.

Perhaps you know a place
I could go...

to help me out.

Make things right.

In the name of God.

She deserves a Catholic funeral.

Just tell me
someplace to go

where I can relax.

She's got parents, Brian.

Tell me someplace
where I can go.

There is a pond...

about six miles back
the other way...

behind some old farm.

Looked peaceful.

Maybe it's a good place
to relax.

[man 1] I am wrong.

‐He told you.
‐[man 2] Yeah, good idea.

Just like that?

I didn't lay a hand on him.

We've got it.

[man 3] Get her up.

[indistinct chatter]

[man 4] ...hand over here.

‐[indistinct chatter]
‐[man coughs]

[diver]
There's rocks to weigh it down.

[people chattering]

‐[people chattering]
‐[radio chatter]

[man 5] Stay back.

[radio chatter]

[people talking]

‐[man clears throat]
‐[radio chatter]

[indistinct chatter]

[people "oh"‐ing]

‐[radio chatter]
‐[indistinct chatter]

[sighs]

[paramedics] No pulse rate.

[indistinct chatter]

[cop 1] Close it back up.

[cop 2] I got it.

[Carter] Keep that gurney ready,
huh.

Ready, one, two, and three.

[grunting]

[people chattering]

‐[man 1] Get him on the gurney.
‐[man 2] ...body...

‐It's my job.
‐I don't care.

If Wambaugh wants to represent
scum like that,

I don't want you
working for him.

But if I'm going to be
working for a lawyer,

I'm going to be working
for guilty defendants.

How can you defend this man?

I'm an assistant,
I'm not even a paralegal.

And you...

Letting this guy
teach Creationism?

He's not pushing Christianity.
It's strictly academic.

Huh. So he'd like you to think.

What?

[clicks tongue] He's Catholic.

He's Jesuit trained.
He's smart.

If he wants
to sneak in Creationism,

he's clever enough
to guise it in academia.

What?

That's pretty racist.

Excuse me?

You distrust the guy
'cause he's Catholic.

That's racist.

It's politically correct
to hate Christians.

I don't hate Christians.

Do too.

[Jimmy] And I'm not
anti‐Catholic.

I'm... I'm against teaching God
in the school.

‐Would you keep your voice down,
Jimmy?
‐No!

And I won't be lectured to
by any of you.

Freedom of religion means
the freedom not to believe, too.

And maybe I just don't feel like
believing tonight.

‐Jimmy.
‐I'm sorry.

I just saw a 16‐year‐old
wrapped in a tarp.

Where was God for her?

Where was He for Susan Engrams
or her parents?

If that's the work
of the Almighty,
then to hell with him.

[dog barking in distance]

He didn't mean that.

Just eat.

[door closes]

‐I think he did mean it.
‐Me, too.

[Kimberly] He was just upset.

He saw that girl and he was just
still upset about it.
That's all.

But if God has a purpose
for everything,

then He did that
to Susan Engrams
on purpose.

You can't look at it that way.

Why not?
We're supposed to give Him
credit for all the good stuff.

I think it's easier
to just not believe
in Him at all.

Unless of course
the Devil did it
to Susan Engrams.

There's no such thing
as "the Devil."

That Catholics believe
in the Devil.

[Matthew] Well, they're wrong.

Maybe they're wrong
about God, too.

They probably are.

Look, it doesn't make
any difference.

It's not like if you believe
in Him, He'll protect you.

The Engrams are Catholics.

Susie Engrams wore the cross.

Look how she ended up.

‐Bye, Mom.
‐Bye, Mom.

‐Bye, guys, have a good day.
‐[Zack] Thanks.

I'm almost 18 years old.

I have a part‐time job,

and the top priority in my life
can no longer be
making my parents proud.

I beg your pardon.

How dare you or Dad
try to tell me

to quit working for Wambaugh?

I knew Susie Engrams,
you didn't.

How dare you tell me
how to feel?

I'm sorry.

What if Latham was wheeled
into your office
with a gunshot wound?

You wouldn't try to save him
because he's guilty?

Well, uh, it's not quite
the same thing,

but again, I apologize.

[sighs] Oh, and you better go
to the arraignment today.

‐Why?
‐[sighs] I...

I can't tell you why.
I made a promise.

But... you'll wanna be there.

[Jill] What's going on?

[sighs]

It has nothing to do with me

but I made a promise
that I wouldn't tell.

So just go to court.

[door closes]

Don't you ever talk
to the police.

‐I just thought‐‐
‐I don't wanna know
what you thought.

And I don't care how you knew
where the girl was.

You tell me nothing.
You tell the police nothing.

Any chance of you walking free,
you gotta keep your mouth shut.

You understand?

Yes.

You dug yourself a nice grave,

now I gotta get you out.

Guard?

Time to go to court.

[Bailiff] Case number 42123.

People v. Brian Latham.

Charges of murder
in the first degree.

Douglas Wambaugh
for the defendant.

Waive reading, plead not guilty,
and ask that
the bail be set at‐‐

No bail. Preliminary hearing
October 3rd.

[Douglas] Hold on
just a second, Your Honor.

I have a motion
to dismiss all charges.

What a surprise.

There is no probable cause

to connect Mr. Latham
to the crime,

except that he got
into the girl's car.

Your Honor, he knew
where the body was hidden.

He directed the police
to go there.

That statement was coerced
without counsel.

[Littleton]
The statement was voluntary.

Deputy Lacos told the suspect

that if he didn't want to talk,
he didn't have to talk.

Deputy Lacos prevailed
on my client's
Christian sympathies.

He asked that my client
locate the body,

so Susan Engrams
could have a Catholic burial
and‐‐

Is that what happened?

I... I wasn't informed
of the content
of the conversation, Your Honor.

I only know
that it was voluntary.

Deputy Lacos, step up here.

Uh, Your Honor, I would first
like to confer with Deputy Lacos
before‐‐

[Judge Bone] Denied.

‐Your Honor.
‐Denied.

What did you say
to the defendant?

Just that...

You know, that she should get
a burial service.

I didn't ask him
to admit anything.

Just point us to the body.

Your Honor, I had asked that
they not speak to my client.

Your Honor, it was
a voluntary conversation.

It was a conversation designed
to elicit
an incriminating response.

It amounts to an interrogation
outside of counsel,

in violation of the defendant's
Sixth Amendment rights.

That would mean

that the discovery of the body,

and all the physical evidence
contained therein

would be fruits
of a poisonous tree,

‐and therefore inadmissible.
‐[people murmuring]

I may have no choice,

but to dismiss the charges.

‐[people gasp, murmur]
‐[gasps]

Mr. and Mrs. Engrams,

I'm deeply sorry.

Put the defendant
back in lockup.

I'll take this matter
under advisement.

[people murmuring]

[cop] Let's go.

We'll reconvene
at 2:00 tomorrow,

at which time
I'll make my ruling.

‐Everybody, get out.
‐[people murmur]

Your Honor...

I have another matter.

I'm so pleased.

[Douglas] Send him in.

I'm representing Zachary Brock.

A student currently enrolled
in Rome's public school system.

What's going on?

We're filing suit against
the Rome school committee,

and we are seeking
a restraining order

against teaching Creation
at the schools.

[people murmuring]

Excuse me?

[Douglas] Harold Sawyer,
a biology teacher,

is teaching the book of Genesis.

Such a horrible week
for the Constitution.

Y‐Your Honor, may I be heard.

Who are you?

Eh... Harold Sawyer.
The teacher in question.

I'm not an attorney,

but I'm well aware
of the Supreme Court's ruling

in Edwards v. Aguillard and‐‐

He's a wild Christian, Judge.

‐I'm no such thing.
‐[Judge Bone] All right.

Quiet.

Zachary...

You went to Mr. Wambaugh
and asked him to stop this?

‐Yes.
‐[Judge Bone] Why?

It's Catholic dogma.

I see. Mm‐hmm.

What's dogma?

It's bad.

God shouldn't be at schools.

He's a joke.

Why do you think that?

Look what happened
to Susie Engrams.

There can't be a God.

So they shouldn't be
teaching Him in school.

‐[reporter 1] Sheriff Brock?
‐[reporter 2] Sheriff Brock?

‐Take him to your office.
I'll see you there.
‐Okay.

‐How could you not tell me?
‐I gave you a clue.

[reporters talking over
each other]

No comment.
I have nothing to say.

What the hell is going on?

Uh... Don't worry,
we're on top of it.

[indistinct chatter]

Tell me.

We're back to being dead.

Kenny didn't use force.
The guy willingly talked.

The man said he didn't want
to talk without a lawyer.

You get him to talk
with a Christian burial speech.

There's a Supreme Court case
exactly on point.

But this can't be happening.
The guy committed murder.

‐Now he's gonna walk.
‐He won't walk, damn it!

There's forensics on that body.
We can put together‐‐

Poisonous fruits. We are dead.

[Jill] Your father and I
are on that school committee.

Do you think it's a nice thing
to sue your parents?

We love you.
We take care of you,

and you sue us ex parte.

What were you thinking about?

‐The Jews.
‐[sighs]

Zachary, there's nothing
anti‐Jewish about Creationism.

I am very disappointed in you,
young man.

Well, you should read
the complaint.

He's seeking treble damages.

And Sinai Temple.

Plus, four sets of parents

have joined your little
lawsuit now.

It's snowballing.

You go straight home, Zachary,

and you wait for us there.

Yeah, no street hockey,
no Wiffle ball,

inside and wait.

If you retaliate,

Mr. Wambaugh says
I got ourselves a rights claim.

‐Never mind.
‐Go.

[door closes]

Well, I don't know whether
to be proud of him
or completely mortified.

That is the kind of insanity
religion breeds.

No, no, this is the kind
of insanity
that bad parenting breeds.

[inhales sharply]

Jimmy, I wanna start
taking them to church.

I don't just mean
funerals and Easter.

I mean, every Sunday,
on a regular basis.

‐We talked about this.
‐We talked about this
ten years ago.

Things have changed.
Now kids kill each other.

Our own children have been
victims of violence.

We can't...
They need something.

I never thought I'd hear you
lobbying for the church.

Well, I never thought
that I would hear my younger son

say that God is a joke.

‐They get that from us.
‐[Kimberly] You're wrong.

We don't get
anything from you.

That's the problem.

Matthew and Zack come to me
about religion.

I don't know what to tell them.

Last year, when I was kidnapped,
and Matthew was shot...

didn't you pray to God?

‐Mom?
‐Yes, I did.

Daddy, did you?

Yes.

Why do admit it
like it's a dirty secret?

[chuckles softly]
What's so wrong with letting us
know that you pray to God?

I pray to Him a lot, Kimberly.

But I don't know if He's there.

Other than being
a human creation
to give us hope,

I don't know...

if He's there.

How can you say that?

I don't know.

You told me once,

the day I was born...

that you looked at me,

and you knew right then
that there was a higher power.

What happened?

[clicks tongue] I don't know.

You lied to me. You said
if I told you where she was,
you'd help me.

‐You said you'd help!
‐I did help you.

Maybe not in this life,
but I helped you.

[cell door closes]

[indistinct chatter]

I told you not to talk
to my client.
You went behind my back.

‐There was a bigger issue.
‐Aside from it
being against the law,

it was disrespectful of me.

I have a relationship
with your department.

‐You betrayed my trust.
‐I can live with it.

I can't.

You wanna play hard, Kenny,
I'll embarrass you.

Take my word on that.

‐[knock on door]
‐Your Honor...

‐Get out.
‐We just want one moment
of your time.

No, no, no, no, no. You get out
of this room right this minute.

‐Just hear us out before‐‐
‐I will not hear you.

I don't know
how you got this far,

but if you're not out that door,

I'll lock you both up
for contempt of court.

Now, get out of this room
right now
without another word. Go.

I'm sorry.

You brought them here?

‐I'll see you disbarred.
‐[Littleton] Do it.

I'm not a particularly
proud member
of the system right now.

Brewer is right on point.
We both know it. The man
legally should walk.

I...

I can't look her parents
in the eye.

You can't either.

The answer isn't
to break the law,

or to come crying to me.

We're officers of the court.

We go by the law. Period.

Yeah.

I mean, we can't go
against the Constitution.

That'd be sacrilege.

[door closes]

‐[footsteps approaching]
‐[machine whirring]

[door opens]

Did Latham have
any scrape marks?

Two, on the neck.

I found skin
under the fingernails.
DNA should match it up.

Doesn't matter.

This whole body
is illegal evidence.

Poisonous fruits.

What? We can't use any of this?

‐[sighs]
‐No.

We found the body
after the illegal confession,

which makes all of your findings
probably inadmissible.

Judge Bone already said so.

That's madness!

What kind of people do this?

And how do we stop them?
We can't even question suspects.

‐How can we stop them?
‐Kenny...

We can't stop 'em. Look at her.

‐[Max] Kenny...
‐The guy that did this is gonna
go free 'cause of me.

They expect us to be lawyers.

The guys doing the killing,
they don't have to be lawyers,

but we have to know
all the technicalities
or we lose them.

Look.

The guy that did that
is gonna walk
'cause of me.

Hey,
Susan Engrams gets a burial
because of you.

Her parents get to put her
at peace
because of what you did.

She was dead.

No matter what.

She gets a Catholic burial
only because of you.

[Douglas] What's going on?

I did a little reading
on evolution last night.

There are gaps.

Transitional fossils
haven't been found.

The missing link
is still missing.

Evolution may not be perfect,

but he still can't teach God.
It is against the Constitution.

The Establishment Clause says
we can't do anything

to advance or inhibit religion.

Exactly.

Good judge.

Well, if you teach
strict evolution,

you are suggesting the absence
of a God.

To suggest his impossibility

would be inhibiting religion.

That's a violation of
the Establishment Clause, too.

Your Honor, as a lawyer,
I obviously object.

But also, as a Jewish man
right here‐‐

‐Mr. Sawyer's motives
are secular.
‐I don't care.

As a Jewish citizen
here in this town‐‐

Talk to me as a citizen. Period.

You see the expressions
on the faces in this town?

On the children?

One of our teenagers
was brutally murdered.

The news is full of tragedy.

Our kids need something
to cling on to.

To offer the suggestion
of a higher power to them,

that can't be all bad.

Our children need hope.

I don't disagree with that,

but religion is a parent's job
not a school's.

The parents
aren't doing the job.

Are they?

[sighs]

How did you feel to see your son
march into the courtroom?

[murmurs]

Oh... Uh... Embarrassed.

Imagine...

For his religious anxieties,

he felt it easier
to hire a lawyer,

to face a judge,

than to face his own parents.

Oh, I... I don't think it was
that he couldn't face us, Judge.

It was just he...
he probably thought he wouldn't
get much help.

We're a little wobbly
on the subject.

[Judge Bone]
And you're not alone.

Here's the bottom line:

Mr. Wambaugh's right.

If I authorize the teaching
of Creationism,

the appellate courts
will come after me
with cannons,

even worse,

I could get love poems
from Orrin Hatch.

What I'd like to do

is let Mr. Sawyer
quietly teach his class.

I'd like this case
to be dropped.

So I'm talking to the parents,

and the lawyer

to help me out.

[sighs] We'll talk to Zachary.

And you,

I need you to let it go.

I'll be watching to make sure
he stays secular.

But okay.

‐[fax beeping]
‐You're telling me
he'll go free.

I think so. I'm... I'm sorry.

‐I got you.
‐Easy.

I'm sorry. You...

You get your hands off me, yeah.

‐Maybe we should go see
Jill Brock.
‐You're gonna stay right here.

We're gonna fix this.
I'm gonna go to the bathroom.

When I come back, the three
of you are gonna tell me

the brilliant plan
you have devised

to keep that bastard in jail.

‐Mr. En‐‐
‐You'll figure it out!

[indistinct chatter]

No!

Drop it.

Aah!

‐[gasps]
‐[indistinct chatter]

‐[Kenny] Grab his gun. Grab it.
‐[Max] Got it.

[Kenny] Don't move.
Call the paramedics.

‐[John] Watch my hand, please.
‐[cops chattering]

‐[Jill] It's gonna be okay.
‐[people chattering]

Tell them the bullet
exited.

He lost a lot of blood.
Check the blood volume.

Keep this across your chest.

Don't move it. You'll be okay.

[slurring] I'm so... sorry.

‐It's okay.
‐No, it's my fault.

I... Susie different...

Stop it, John,
it isn't your fault.

‐Stop it.
‐Please forgive me, okay?

‐It's time to go
to the hospital.
‐I'm so sorry.

‐Let them take care of you.
‐You be in the courthouse,

you hear me?
You be in that room.

‐One of us has to be there.
‐I'll go. I'll go.

‐Okay, go take him.
‐Got it. Let's go.

Coming through.

[indistinct chatter]

You had to, Kenny.

He would have killed the guy,
you had to.

Right.

Justice comes first.

[indistinct chatter]

[Bailiff] The court
will come to order.

[bangs gavel]

If the defendant says
he doesn't want to speak
without his lawyer,

that is it.

There is an exception.

If the defendant waives
his right to counsel

and chooses to speak anyway,

then the statement
is admissible.

But the relinquishment
of his right to counsel

must be intentional
and voluntary.

Unfortunately,

that's where God
comes back into play.

The Supreme Court has also held

that a God‐fearing
religious person

may lack capacity
to waive counsel

when his free will has been
compromised by his faith.

So, if Mr. Latham

revealed the whereabouts
of the body

in keeping
with his Cristian sympathies,

I am supposed to set him free.

Well...

here's a novel idea.

I'm going to hold

that a person can be
deeply religious

and yet still be competent.

Imagine that.

Mr. Latham,

you allegedly killed
and murdered
a 16‐year‐old girl.

I don't give a damn
what the Supreme Court says.

I don't care that
the police botched
a Constitutional technicality.

If the police screw up
on procedure,

then, damn it, let's start
punishing the police.

I'm a strong believer
in the Bill of Rights.

And I know we need to fend off
government and police abuse,

which is rampant.

But if you really want
to find dogma in America today,

it's not in religion.

It's in blind devotion
to the Constitution.

Criminals go free

while we throw
civil rights parades.

I'm sick of it.

I'm sick of the judicial system
being more about
winning and losing

than it is about the truth.

Mr. Latham,
you are going to trial.

If the Supreme Court
has a problem with that,

they can come and get me.

Bailiff, take him into custody.

‐[bangs gavel]
‐Adjourned.

‐[people murmuring]
‐[cheers and applause]

Hey...

This is not a happy day.

Get out.

[indistinct chatter]

‐[woman 1] Here you go.
‐[woman 2] Oh, thanks a lot.

[man 1] All right, I need
a double 16.

‐[man 2] Double 16?
‐[man 1] Double 16,

with a double ring
on the outside.

[indistinct chatter]

Did I miss something?
What happened?

I don't know.

But something tells me
it's only the beginning.

[organ music playing]

♪ Glory be to the Father ♪

♪ And to the Son ♪

♪ And to the Holy Ghost ♪

♪ As it was in the beginning ♪

♪ Is now, and ever shall be ♪

♪ World without end ♪

♪ Amen ♪

♪ Amen ♪

[theme music playing]

[theme music ends]