Broken Trust (1995) - full transcript

I remember the first time
I went to my dad's courtroom.

I must have been seven
or eight years old.

And he was just doing
calendar that day, sitting
up there on the bench.

God, I was impressed.

I told him--

later that day,
I told him...

That I wanted to be
a judge just like him.

I was going to go
to law school.

[ Laughing ]

And my father, he looked up
from the dinner table
and he said,

"no lawyer will ever go
to heaven as long as there's
room for one more in hell."



Room for one more in hell.

One more in hell.

- Hell, hell, hell.
- [ Gunshot ]

[ Screaming ]

As long as there's room
for one more in hell.

Stanford. Fraternity man
at delta kappa epsilon.

Tight end of the football team.
Law review.

Pierce county prosecutors'
office, seven years.
Chief criminal prosecutor.

Assistant counsel
for the presidential
commission on the L.A. riots.

Appointed to the bench.
Daddy swears him in.

One wife. Recently ex.
So not everything works out
for our boy.

- How do you know he's our boy?
- I've watched guys like that
all my life.

[ Bailiff ]
All rise.

Court is now in session.
The honorable Timothy Nash
presides.



Please be seated.

Case number 8372190.
People vs. Evan Charles soyka.

Mr. Escobar,
trial is set for--

ah, your honor, I asked
the court for a continuance
on the grounds--

come on, Vince.
Screw this judge, man.

Mr. Escobar, control your client
or I'll have him removed.

Your honor, he was only
exercising his constitutional
right of freedom of speech.

- Don't push me, Mr. Escobar.
- But, your honor--

Mr. Escobar, this is not
a debating society.

Trial is set for Monday the 14th
of this month at 10:00 A.M.

I talked Eddie killiam
into buying that annuity.

Talk to master calendar.
Tim, I haven't seen
your son Bobby.

Not Bobby, Benjamin.
He's living with his mother.

Benjamin. Sorry,
I forgot about you and Beth.
The ol' foot in the mouth.

Look, Tim, I hate this.
We're not politicians.
We're judges.

We shouldn't have to run around
asking for money.

I said I'd buy a ticket
for your dinner.

I was really hoping
for an endorsement.

You know I don't think
sitting judges should
endorse one another.

Look, Harold, I have a plane
to catch for Washington.

Well, uh, then,
what about your dad?

If I could just get
a word from the great
Nash family--

ask him.
Ah, he doesn't like me.

Then that's a problem,
Harold.

[ Man ]
Judge Nash, you used
to be a prosecutor.

Why did you accept
a seat on the bench?
The hours were better.

[ Laughter ]
Judge Nash, we have
this man, this rapist.

Alleged rapist.
Okay, who's alleged
to have raped a nun.

And who strangled her to death
with her rosary beads--
alleged.

Alleged to have
strangled her.

Judge Nash,
you look unhappy.
I am.

Everyone has assumed so far
that the accused is guilty.

And so far, I have not heard
any evidence that he is.

This rapist, this murderer,
this scum of the earth--
Attorney General cleary,

you seem to have some
sort of prejudice...

Against the word "alleged."

If he is what you say he is,
he's going to need
representation even more...

Than the defendant
who can afford to buy it.

You would see
that he got it?

Absolutely.
Let's assume that you were
still in private practice.

I would give you a call,
I would say,

"Paul, you remember that course
in criminal law you taught me
at Stanford?"

You mean the one where I said
that every defendant...

Deserved the best defense
possible.

That's the one.

He knows all
the right answers.

Knows all
the right people.

I'm sorry, judge Nash.
I haven't had a vacation
in seven years.

I'm going with my wife
to Hawaii.

Tell her to bring
you back a lei.
[ Laughter ]

[ Chattering ]

You should have known
I'd hit you with your
own course notes, Paul.

I've been deskbound too long,
letting you blindside me
like that.

Neil! Somebody
I want you to meet.

Neil roemer. Tim Nash.
Neil head's up our
white-collar ethics team.

- He's an admirer of yours.
- I feel I already know
Mr. Roemer.

King of the stings.
The private dishonesty
of public men.

That's the curse
of the media age. I like
to think I deal in honesty.

- Oh, you find the honest people
in the system?
- Exactly.

And as long as I've got you here
in Washington, why don't you
stop by the office?

I'd like to pick
your brain.

[ Paul ]
Don't forget dinner
tomorrow, Tim.

Judge Nash.
Janice Dillon.
Hello.

Janice is my right-hand.
You were at the taping.

- Very observant.
- Well, I train myself to notice
who's in the courtroom.

It keeps me awake.
It's a trick I learned
from my father.

He learned it
from his father.
Who wrote about it.

In my years on the bench,
privately printed...

On the occasion
of his retirement.

What else can I assume
you know about me?

You can assume we've
done some homework.

For what?

Let's say, we have
predicate information...

That certain individuals
have a predisposition
to commit illegal acts.

We could create
an undercover operation...

Meant to separate the honest
from the dishonest.

[ Janice ]
Ashley, Harold.
Judge at the superior court.

We have probable cause
to suspect that judge Ashley...

Has accepted payoffs in exchange
for favorable rulings.

What kind
of probable cause?

Judge Ashley and wife Karen
took a trip to acapulco
last winter.

A developer friend,
one Carl brecht,

wrote the trip off
as a business expense.

Ashley later
threw out a zoning complaint
against the developer.

You know who paid
for the trip because
you have IRS support.

The man
in the flowered shirt
is Carl brecht.

This is still not
probable cause.
You know how courthouses are.

Somebody gets a fancy new boat,
somebody gets seen with too many
developers or contractors...

Or shady lawyers,
and people start talking.

Unless what they've said
is backed up by substantive
evidence, I don't listen.

I have no substantive evidence
against judge Ashley.

You can get it.

You want me to offer him
a bribe to dump a case?

If you saw my interview
in the Washington post,

I described this
as creating a scenario...

Where an honest judge,
under suspicion,

is given the opportunity
to prove his honesty.

Well, now, where Ashley
and I come from, we don't
get the Washington post.

We don't even know what
you guys are up to back here
until we get the tax bill.

And I have to tell you, you've
done a whole lot of prep...

To get one judge from one county
3,000 miles from here.

You didn't have any trouble
justifying the stings
you ran as prosecutor.

If I thought there
was probable cause,

if I thought there was
a pattern of complaint...

And if there was no way
to catch the perpetrator.

And of course,
those perpetrators tended
not to be white-collar.

Not people you knew.
That made it easier to justify.

You can keep this.

[ Tim ]
So, you signed off on this.
[ Paul ] Neil's a tough nut.

Law school at night.
Chip on his shoulder.
Bomb shoot.

But he gets results,
and he works for me.

Then it was your idea
to bring me back here?
Right.

But not just to be
on the show. That was just
to appeal to my vanity.

To run me past roemer.
Why?

You have the bona fides.

You could have a future
at the federal level.

I'm about to try
a murder case.

I don't want anything to happen
that could cause a mistrial.

The prosecutors' office
already runs in the red,

and they can't afford to try
the case twice like they do now.

I still believe
in the jury system.

It won't interfere.
You have my word.

I still got trouble
with this, Paul. Even though
I don't like Harold Ashley--

well, maybe especially
because I don't like him.

It doesn't have
to be personal.

Every judge in that
courthouse is either...

A friend of my father's
or someone I grew up with.

So believe me,
it's personal.

[ Sighs ]

[ Woman on phone machine ]
Hi, Tim, it's me.
Call me when you get back.

Ben saw you on TV and wants
to say hi. Here, Ben.

[ Ben ]
I stayed up to watch.

And you know what, dad?
You were great.

[ Tape rewinding ]

I stayed up to watch.

And you know what, dad?
You were great.

You want me to offer him
a bribe to dump a case?

- ...a bribe to dump a case?
- He's not locked in.

Oh, he will be.
Cleary doesn't like
squeezing anybody.

Oh, cleary.
Cleary likes seminars.
Colloquies, discussions.

Guys like cleary and Nash,
they are the old boy
network.

I'm not in that loop.

You want me to offer him
a bribe to dump the case?

[ Laughter ]

[ Tim ]
No lawyer will ever go
to heaven, dad always told me,

as long as there's room
for one more in hell.

[ Laughing ]

So, dad,
on your 75th birthday.

[ Cheering, applause ]

Oh, well, thank you.

Let me remind you, Timmy,
hell isn't filled up yet.

[ Laughing ]

Lionel, this is for you.

Oh, thank you.

Ruthie, are you
still carrying?

You sentence the way
I do, you better believe
I'm still carrying.

[ Laughter ]
You know what they call ruthie
now in the p.D.'S office?

No.
Yes, the time machine,
if you can't do the time...

[ All together ]
Don't do the crime.

Oh, ruthie, ruthie.
Frank.

I want to toast my family.

Hillary...

And Timmy.

And all of US here in this room.
For better or for worse.

We are the people who hold
this town together,

and we haven't done
a half-bad job of it.

We've stuck together.
We've looked out
for each other.

We've taken care of our own.
I love you. God bless you.

Finally came to the conclusion
the courthouse is just
a giant toilet.

If you're going to tell me
that plea bargain is the drano..

That keeps the crapper
unplugged, frank,
I've heard it before.

Ah, I'm just
having a bad day.

All I can see ahead of me is
shuffleboard and a cut-rate
retirement community.

When these slick lawyers
march through my courtroom,

I wonder what I had against
being one of them.

Okay, we've got 40 people.
We've got ten minutes.

Come on, people, hustle, hustle.
Too late to powder.

Now, if you can't see
the camera, it can't see you.

Oh, Tim, I want you
next to the presiding judge.

Harold! I got your memo
on the short close delays.
What do you expect me to do?

Trot around
delivering files--
if I don't get the files--

we'll talk about it later.
Dwight!

Yo, first group photograph!
Oh, new judge.
End of the line.

Just like the supreme court.
Get rid
of the juice.

Alright. Suzanna!
Suzanna! Where is she?

Suzanna, you got
to go next to Dwight.

Next to Dwight.
Alright. Frank,
come here next to Tim.

Harold, I hear you gave
a rapist ten months
of community service.

It wasn't black and white.
The supposed victim
had history--

if it would've been my court,
the germ would've done
Star Trek time.

Mr. Spock would have been back
by the time he got out.

Glasses.

- Could we take this, please.
- Yes, ma'am.

All systems go?

DEA has it set up.
It goes down tonight.

Looks like a no-show.
DEA said this guy Dale
would be here.

I don't mind having
a bust handed to me...
And a warrant in place.

Yeah, if this is such a good
bust, why is the DEA just gonna
hand it over to US?

**

Not tonight, conchita.
Louis has got business.

We're setting up a drug case.
One we control.

Sometime tonight,
a defendant named Louis Dale
will enter the system.

What you'll
offer Ashley...

Is the chance to do
Louis Dale a favor.

What's he looking for?
Damned if I know.

We wait a couple blocks
so we can say we saw
some bad driving.

Nah, screw waiting. Let's go.
I'm calling for back up.
Let's go!

[ Janice ]
You could have met Louis
when you were a prosecutor.

He did a deal for you.
You did one for him.

You'll tell Ashley
you can arrange to move
Dale's case into his court.

He's going to wonder why
I'm suddenly on the take.

You're separated,
maintaining two households.

You made $80,000 last year.
Fifty-one after taxes.

Or roughly $4,250 a month.

Fifteen hundred of that
goes for child support.

You and your wife
have $26,000 in equity.

And your sole joint asset,
a house purchased at the time
of your marriage.

You have a loan on your car
with $13,650 outstanding.

Your collar is frayed.
You haven't bought a new
suit in two years.

Judge...
You got money problems.

You didn't even get
the furniture.

[ Sirens wailing ]

Can I see your license
and registration? I saw you
weaving a bit back there.

Okay, I know. Do your thing,
I'll do mine...

And you tell everybody
I'm doing just what you say.

Just give me the license,
please, sir.

I'm going to ask you
to step out of the car now.

Hey, hey. Give me a minute
to get my stuff together.
Get out of the car.

Hey, when I tell you
to do something, do it.
Get out of the car.

What are you trying
to do, greaseball?
It's looking good. Real good.

How about if I run and
you chase me and make US
look even better?

Ahhhhh!

- Freeze!
- It looks better, right?
My running?

See how easy I am
to work with?

Anything you need me to do,
I'm your man.

Hey, you want to check
out the trunk?
Hey, hey, hey.

We got four gram bags
in the glove compartment
and two under the seat.

That's six to eight ounces.
Maybe even more.

Pretty easy to find too,
wasn't it? Just laying there.

This is a good bust.
Come on, man.
It was waitin' for US.

What's bugging you
about this?
This is definitely a set-up.

[ Laughing ]

They're gonna
stick a needle in my arm,
and I'm never gonna wake up.

Do you understand
what I'm saying?

Ev, I've got five clients
sitting on death row. Five.

I've got 16 more the state
wanted to put there.

But I saved their asses.
And I'm gonna save yours.

So stay calm.

Calm?

I'm calm.

I'm always calm.

[ Louis ]
What did I tell you?
Louis doesn't fool around.

Told you I'd make bail.
Couple more, and you're
out of here, germ.

Hey, thanks a lot. You guys
are doing a really great job.
You got a tissue?

Damn it!

A crooked machine
in the police department.

Why don't you see
the counterevidence.

- You don't remember me,
do you?
- Dale... Louis.

Four or five years ago.
Superior court, Seattle.

Judge Hanover's court.
Possession with intent
to distribute.

Ah, but I got it busted down
to simple possession.

But you were a two-time loser.
So you got two years.

Time off for time served.

- You paid ten grand. All cash.
- Small bills.

How are you, Louis?
It's good to see you.

Never forget
a cash customer.

Are you screwing up again?
Are you? Do you need
my services?

Oh, don't worry
about Louis, Vince.

I'm working on a very big deal
involving very important people.

- You'd be impressed
if I could talk.
- So talk!

No can do.
[ Laughing ]

What do you think?

Oh, he's just a big talking,
small-time con.

[ Louis ]
You got kids, judge?
I got a kid. Two, I think.

Child support's
against my religion,
so I'm not exactly sure.

Louis watches out for Louis,
if you get the drift.

What did they promise you,
Mr. Dale?

Well, I told you the deal.

I'd like Mr. Dale
to tell me.

Do you mind calling me Louis
like you know me?

I got some charges
in king county.

Illegal distribution.
Controlled substance.

Morphine stolen off a truck.
There's a related
federal charge.

Same offense.
Yeah, transportation route.

I've been
in the joint two times.
I don't want to go back.

And this will fix it
so you don't?

- Louis sincerely wants to help.
- Yeah, I want to help 'em
uncover bad judges.

- Don't jerk me around, Dale.
- Bad judges offend me.

**

[ Chattering ]

Ah, ah, ah. Name out front.
You're in the service business.

You never know when
somebody who might kick in
for your next campaign.

- Oh, do you know Cindy?
- I knew Cindy when she was
with the narco unit.

Never lost a case,
did we, judge?

[ Applause ]

Let's hear it
for "tropical heat,"
ladies and gentlemen.

My friends, I look in the crowd.
I see 15 standing judges,

muni and superior, all showing
the flag for the big guy.

And I want to thank each
and every one of you very,
very sincerely...

For coming out here tonight
and showing your support.

Now we have food, we have drink.
And don't forget to vote for me.
Thank you so much.

[ Cheering, applause ]

Yo, buddy,
do I have one for you!

You can accomplish more with
a kind word and a gun than you
can with a kind word and alone.

- I'll remember that, ruthie.
- Work on those love handles.

They've got this deal.
Shrimp, canapes, everything
all for the price of drinks.

Tim, how are you?

I need to talk something
over with you.

Well, grab a bite
and let's sit down.
Not here.

If you've seen your way
through to an endorsement--

it's a case, Harold.
I need to talk about a case.
Coming through my court?

That's what I wanna talk about.
If we could have dinner
sometime this week.

Thursday.
Where?

Neutral ground.
Jack, Harold Ashley.

Light.

Mr. Escobar, I see no reason
this tape should not be admitted
into evidence.

Motion to suppress
is denied.

Your honor, it's not even clear
that the man in this tape
is my client.

- Then that's a point
you can argue to the jury.
- But, your honor--

I've ruled, Mr. Escobar.
I've got a judges meeting.

Bailiff, recall the jury
and we'll adjourn for the day.

I'm handing you $20,000
in marked government funds.

Thanks.

[ Sighs ]

You'll be alright.

I don't think I've ever
held this much money before.

I don't like the feeling.

[ Janice ]
There'll be a mobile unit
in place at the restaurant.

Agent Sanchez will be carrying
a cellular phone, a concealed
camera and a flying Mike.

The sound isn't great,
but we've made cases
with it before.

Harold.

This is Louis Dale.
You remember,
I mentioned a case.

No, you didn't mention
you were bringing
anybody else.

I don't eat
with defendants.

I thought we'd
have a nice meal,
talk socially.

No defendants. That's it.
Get out of here.

I'm sorry. Louis.

Waiter, get judge Nash
a drink, would you?

Vodka...
On the rocks.
Yes, sir.

So how do you know
that guy?
Umm.

I first met Louis when
I was prosecuting narcotics.
He gave me some help--

snitch. Creep.

Yeah, later on
I was able to help him.

I got rid of
a possession case for him.

Uh-huh.
How did you do that?

Ah, Harold, getting rid of
a drug investigation...

Is the easiest thing
in the world.

You know how it works.
You bring in some
technical infraction.

I didn't, uh, consider
it particularly--

excuse me.
Your menus, sir.

Thank you.

It wasn't a particularly
good bust to begin with.

So you took a bribe?

I'm saying that
I saved the county the cost
of a chancey prosecution.

And what is the going rate
for saving the county the cost
of a chancey prosecution?

Louis was picked up on a dwi
with a significant amount
of coke in his car,

and the case is moving
through court for arraignment.

I could get it
assigned to you.
Twenty.

Someone's in the way.

Ah, who's that?
Who's in the way?

- Keep going.
- He's willing to pay 20.

To have the case fold up.

Bad bust.
Lousy search and choice.
Cash?

And what's your cut?

That's between me and Dale.

So you would
pay the expenses
out of your share?

And we wouldn't have
to talk to the perp.

You know, you're the last
person in this world...

That I would figure would
do something like this.

Tap city, Harold.
It happens.

Well, divorce tends to do that.
It's cheaper to stay married.

Maybe she had other plans.
What's it gonna be?

There's not much time
if we're going to put this
on your calendar.

No.

That's it?

Too many loose ends.

But, what I do like
is that it comes from you.

The great Nash family.

So now that we understand
each other, how about
that endorsement?

I think I'll hold, Harold.

Hmm.
Well, excuse me.

What's it gonna be,
Harold?

What's it gonna be,
Harold?

That's where you blew it.
You didn't like him talking
about your wife.

So you pressed too hard.
He yanked on the line.

You got uptight
and you lost him.

Well, let's just call it
one of those scenarios
where an honest judge--

let's quote
the Washington post here.

"An honest judge,
under suspicion,

is given the opportunity
to prove his honesty."

You don't like me much,
do you, Tim?

I hadn't thought
about it, Neil.

[ Neil ]
He didn't come up honest.
He came up smart.

Smarter than
you thought he was.

Correction. Smarter
than you thought he was.

Buy you a beer.

I guess we owe you a beer.

No, I'll buy. I don't want
to owe the eagle.

Let me get my jacket.

You get somebody's father's car,
you get a six-pack of beer
and you came down here.

That was pretty much
your standard entertainment
growing up here.

How about you?
Where did you grow up?

Atlanta. Houston.
Wherever.

My father worked for a company
that moved him around a lot.

When I got out of law school
and went to work in Orlando,

it was the longest I'd ever
been anywhere, five years.

I liked it.
Being in one place.

Why'd you leave
Orlando?
Long story.

Oh, I don't mind
long stories.
I do.

Okay, let me ask you
something else.

Do you believe
in what you do?

What do you mean?
The side show
we just finished.

You really believe
it was worth it?

I don't think this beer
was such a good idea.

Oh, you're not sworn.
I can't direct you
to answer.

I believe...

In me.

We still got a deal,
right?
You got nothing
to worry about.

Now, I can't go back inside.
I'm not a prison-type person.

Louis, trust me.
It'll all work out.

[ Chattering ]

Cindy, what's that hood doing
in a place like this?

Copping free nuts.

Didn't he say he had
something big going down?

Just talk, Vince.

Cindy, i'm
an ambulance chaser.

And he's an ambulance.

Chat up your old friends
in narcotics. See what
they got new on him.

[ Chattering ]

What's up?

Twin rivers. Mcneal island.
The guy's got a standing
charge with king county.

Hell, he was running
away from you.

You should've shot him
in the spine.

[ Ruthie ]
The defendant will rise.

Your probation report is like
reading a piece of pornography,
Mr. Highland.

Six priors on the same charges
pleaded down to misdemeanor.

Sexual battery.
Bad mistake to go to trial,
Mr. Highland.

Accordingly,
on each account,

I sentence you
to the maximum penalty
under the law...

To whit six years to be
served consecutively.

In other words,
48 years in the state.

Your honor,
I object.
Overruled, counselor.

And tell your client
that his parole officer
hasn't been born yet.

This court is adjourned.

Harold.

So you miss working
undercover, Cindy?

Yeah, flashing those big boobs
of yours around so folks don't
think you're an officer.

Yeah, I hate
working nine to five,
wearing clean clothes...

Being in my bed
instead of on the street
at 4:00 in the morning.

Yeah, who with, Cindy?

Garvey, if you unzipped
your fly, your brains
would fall out.

[ Laughing ]

By the way, if you got anything
more on this guy Dale,
you got my number.

**

[ Yelling, laughing ]

- You know your work?
- Sure. What about it?

Is that all
you ever do?

Well, I'm not
working now, am I?

Right. Well,
better tell mom that
'cause she thinks--

well, don't you worry
about it, Ben.

Will you ever show me--

show you what?

Where you do your work?

That's the way
you do it?
That's the way I do it.

And that's the way
your grandfather did it.

And that's the way
your great-grandfather did it.

I wish there were
other people here
to see me.

Well, you are in school
when other people come, Ben.

But when I have vacation?
Sure.

We'll ask your mom.

Hey, ruthie,
you're working overtime?

No rest for the righteous,
bubba.

Ben, you remember
judge Frazier?

Ben!
[ Laughing ]

You're getting
as cute as your dad.

Timmy,
we need to talk.

I'll be in tomorrow,
Ruth.

I'd sooner this
be at my place.

I promised Beth I'd get him
home around 7:00.

My place. I don't care
how late it is.

[ Ruthie ]
I've got one for you,
Timmy.

What has 18 legs
and four tits?

You got me, ruthie.

The United States
supreme court.
[ Laughing ]

Hey, quite a collection
you've got here.

Well, the boys know they'll get
a hearing in my court.

Mmm. Is your drink okay?

Mmm.

Oh, you smart little Ernie.

And ed. The only two males
allowed in my bed.

You sure
you're comfortable?

I'm fine.

[ Chuckling ]
Well...

I'm not gonna rape you.

Even if you are
back on the market.

How is Beth,
by the way?
Fine.

Sure I can't top off
that drink?
No, it's fine.

[ Laughing ]

Hmm. Your dad
could drink all night.
He had a hollow leg.

You didn't get that
from him.

So...

Timmy, I heard a story.

- What has 18 legs
and four tits?
- Mm-mm-mm.

About you from Harold Ashley.

What's the story?

That you tried
to bribe him, buddy.

Why would he tell you that?

I'm the presiding judge.

You know these stories that are
floating around about Harold?

He's trying to get
on my good side. It's an iou.

So did you?

- Did I what?
- Offer him money on a case.

Two-time loser named Dale
facing a drug bust.

He doesn't want to go back
to the slammer.

Do you know him?

I know Louis Dale.

You are shopping Louis Dale?

I knew him when I was
in the prosecutors' office.

Look, I know how this works.

Find a friendly judge,
get the case transferred,
money changes hands.

The judge gets some,
you get some and the perp
gets the case dismissed.

No fingerprints.
Life goes on.

It's conjecture, Ruth.
You're out of order.

Harold mentioned a figure.

Twenty-thousand dollars
to the friendly judge. Hmm?

[ Sighs ]

I could be very,
very friendly.

It's only a matter of making
some adjustments to get it
transferred to my court.

Cheryl could make
the arrangements.

Cheryl?

My clerk.
You remember.

She was the one always trying
to get you to screw her...

In your bachelor
prosecutor days.

When you could have
had the judge.

Ruthie, maybe you
better lie down.
[ Moaning ]

Ohh. Well, that is
the best offer I have had,

oops, in a long time.

You better
freshen this up.
Come on.

You should have come
to me. I'm easy.

I know. Come on.

I'm just so sick
of this job.

All the faces
look alike.

I had this crackhead.

She runs over her own kid
with a power mower.

Little girl's fat
little fingers flying
around like cocktail sausages.

Where do you find
the justice there?
Then leave the bench.

Go into private practice.
First, we're going
to get some sleep.

Sure, private practice.
I am a prized piece
of woman power.

Semi-lush
going through hot flashes
who hasn't been laid...

Since the aba convention
three years ago.

You know that name tag you
were looking at down there?

I keep it there just
to remember that guy's name.

Kurt.... something.

Oh!
[ Gasping ]

What a basket!

Hey, ruthie!
I'm going to get you an aspirin.
I'll be right back.

Well, I am available
for that Dale scumberger...

If you want
to throw him my way.

Twenty-thousand dollars.

Where are my dogs?
Ernie! Ed!

Ernie, ed! Come up here.
Mother wants you.

So, are you gonna throw
Dale scumberger my way?

Well, speaking of hot flashes,
are you having one?
Shh.

I'm sorry.
Mmm. You ever
get lonely, Tim?

Shh. It's okay.

I'm leaving now, ruthie.

[ Moaning ]

[ Screaming ]

[ Ruthie ]
I could be very,
very friendly.

It's only a matter of making
some adjustments to get it
transferred to my court.

Cheryl can make
the arrangements.

You didn't have anything on her.
You just thought you'd get her
on tape for the hell of it!

This is a sting.
People who are dirty go down.
People who are clean don't.

Uh-uh. That's
not the way this plays.
This is a one shot--

one bad judge. See if he bites.
He didn't. It's over.

That's the way you saw it.

But the way a sting works,
we have to stay open.

And we have to stay available
for any possibility.

The way a sting works
is you need a snitch.
I'm not your guy.

Look, Tim,
your name comes up
for the federal bench.

You know that.
For the sake of your family.
For the sake of your own future.

Why don't you sting my kid?
He's eight years old.

He didn't file a 1040 last year.
You can get IRS support.

[ Sighs ]

It's not your fault
she went down.

You're Ruth.
You're on the far side of 50.

You got two little dogs
for company, and nobody even
makes a pass at you anymore.

I know this requires
a giant leap of imagination,
but try!

You think this is going to be
like the prosecutors' office?

You think friends of the family
are going to be off limits?

- I'm out!
- You can't get out.

Yo, frak!
Frank!

What has 18 legs
and four tits?

The guys think the bust
was funny to begin with.

Eight ounces of stuff
not even hidden.

But no one ever
called Dale a smart guy.

Just makes
the guys nervous.

Did you tell him
to call you?
Mm-hmm.

Now, Mrs. Beller, isn't it true
you refused to see Mr. Soyka...

Unless he paid you back
the $1,000 you lent him?

Objection.
Calls for a conclusion.
Overruled.

But you're tying
my hands, your honor.

[ Judge ]
You're trying to disrupt
these proceedings...

By objecting to every question
posed by the district attorney.

There is a difference between
objecting and disrupting.

When your objections
are without foundation,
they will be overruled.

You may proceed,
miss benisek.

Didn't he tell you
he needed money to enroll
in a computer repair course?

[ Mrs. Beller ]
He said he wanted
to acquire a skill.

[ Janice's voice echoing ]
You can't get out.

- Objection. Here say.
- So he did lie?

Objection.
Calls for a conclusion.

To get money.

Your honor... please.

Objection.

I'm sorry.
Objection sustained.

"Del rio heights"?

It's a zoning matter.

Agricultural
into residential.
One more subdivision.

One less bird farmer
going broke.

You tell me where the moral
high ground was there.

You had a piece of it.
You should've recused yourself.

Instead, you made a ruling
you benefited from...

And you came away
with a substantial profit.

Why?

For you.
For your mother.

In case something
happened to me.

That was 30 years ago.
I don't remember why
anymore.

I did it.
I shouldn't have.

They're holding you hostage
on this, aren't they?

I'm old, Timmy.
I don't give a rat's ass
what people think about me.

So... let me go.
Cut me loose.

It's not that easy.
You know that.

This isn't just about you.
It's about the family.

It's about mother.
It's about Ben.
Especially Ben.

He will give a rat's ass
what people say
about his grandfather.

And yes, I am
being held hostage.

I'm sorry, Timmy.

Is he alright?

Maybe you should go in.

He doesn't sleep
anymore.

I did know, in case
you were wondering.

No one was hurt.

The sun came up as usual.

You want to know why
I left Orlando?

The question
hasn't been bothering me.

I found out my boss
was taking kickbacks.

Justice had him
under surveillance.

Neil roemer asked me
to smoke him out.
I had to leave.

I guess you could say
I was in your position.

That still doesn't tell me
why you did it.

When I was married,
my husband took a bribe.

Roemer had evidence.

I didn't want it out.
After I went to work for roemer,

I discovered that was one
of the tricks the pros know.

Always reserve a card
you can play if somebody
decides to cut and run.

This was always
wider than Ashley.

Sure.

[ Phone ringing ]

I'll let you get that.

Wait, wait. Please.

[ Woman on phone machine ]
Hi, it's me.

Sorry to call so early,
but it's about the house.

They can't set a date
for closing until--

[ continues, indistinct ]

[ Birds chirping ]

[ Children playing ]

What are you
going to do?

I wouldn't say I have
that many choices.

I tried to bribe
a sitting judge.

I know a second sitting judge
wants me to pay her off.

My father is wondering
whether a lifetime...

Of service to the community
is about to be trashed...

For a lapse in judgement
30 years back.

All things considered,

[ dog barking ]
I have to see
my options as limited.

Hiya, buddy.

Would you like
a drink?
Sure.

[ Lionel's voice ]
They're holding you hostage
on this, aren't they?

[ Janice ]
Harold mentioned a figure.

Twenty-thousand dollars
for a friendly judge.

I can be very, very friendly.

[ Tim ]
I'm out!

[ Janice ]
You can't get out.

[ Janice ]
Initial contact,
judge Ernest Chapman.

[ Indistinct talking ]

[ Janice ]
Second contact,
judge Dwight peatling.

P-e-a-t-l-i-n-g.

[ Dwight ]
A tax lawyer.
That's all this is.

It's not my concern.
It's organic crime.

No one died.
It was a drug bust.

What's the difference?

[ Janice ]
10:20 P.M. cash accepted.

I want to help uncover
bad judges.

Hey, you're a big guy now.
You're eight years old.

A birthday's nothing
to be sad about.

I know. I know
I said I'd be there.

And I will, Ben.
I promise.

It's just--
something's come up--

second contact,
judge Ernest Chapman.

Cash exchanged. 1:35 P.M.

First name is Dale.

Not here.
What do you mean it's not here?
I signed the stuff in myself.

Eight ounces of cocaine?
My name.
My badge number.

Try the lab.
I tried the lab!
They say they never got it.

You trying to make
this my problem?

You know what
I'm wondering.

You're wondering
who Dale bought to make
the stuff disappear, huh?

That's right.

** [ Radio: Country ]

What the hell
is he doing up here?

Beats me.

[ Sirens wailing ]

Jesus!
What?

Somebody's
gonna love this.

[ Tim ]
Miss benisek, so the court
might allot for time,

how many more witnesses
do you intend to call?

Just three, your honor.
I should be finished
by lunch recess tomorrow.

Then the defense
can begin its case
tomorrow afternoon.

Mr. Escobar?

Are you with US?

Oh, sorry, judge.
Friday morning would be better
for me, if it pleases the court.

It does not please the court.
Tomorrow afternoon, Mr. Escobar.

[ Car alarm chirps ]

[ Tim ]
What's on your mind, Vince?
Just a story, judge.

About a former client of mine.
Cash client. Felony possession.

Funny thing
about this guy.

He got picked up
not too long ago...

And the evidence
just... evaporated.

[ Sighs ]

But he's always been
one lucky guy, this guy.

He has some outstanding charges
in Marion county.

He didn't even have to bother
pleading them down.

They just... disappeared.

What do you think
happened, judge?

[ Chuckles ]
Because to me, it looks like
somebody's rolling over...

To help this guy
stay out of the joint.

Dale's his name.

Oh... I forgot.

You and Louis
are old pals, I hear.

I could misinterpret that.

Oh, believe me, judge.
I haven't said nothing
to nobody.

So far.

Nor do I want to.

But, you know,
I think I have a solution.

You're a smart guy.
You are. You are.

You're always
just thinking, you know?

Say at the right point,
I move for a mistrial?

Some prosecutorial error.

Um, I didn't get some report.
Had to ask for the witness list.

Stuff that I usually
put in the appeal.

And you Grant it.

And if I don't?

[ Sighs ]

Well, the last thing
I would like to do is go
to the presiding judge.

I could take you to the
state bar disciplinary board
tomorrow, Vince.

Hmm.

I would like that, judge.

And risk having your ticket
pulled... for this?

[ Chuckles ]
I'm not doing this for soyka.

Is that what you think?

[ Laughs ]
It's for me.

If I get a mistrial,

I plead out
this discount psycho.

I'm king
of the criminal courts.

Well, goodnight.

[ Door closes ]

We've got a problem.

Alright.
Let me put this in perspective.
Louis runs off at the mouth.

Escobar gets interested.
He sniffs around. He thinks
he can scam a mistrial.

I never saw a trial where you
couldn't find cause to dismiss.

This is a first-degree murder.
He killed a 16-year-old girl.

He is alleged to have killed
a 16-year-old girl.

Jesus, roemer!

Does Escobar suspect--
is that all
you can say?

Does Escobar
suspect a sting?

No.

Then whatever leverage he's got,
he loses it the day we go public
with indictments.

We were looking
at suzanna jardine, but she
comes up with no anomalies.

Frank whister?

Why? Did some jailbird
looking for a deal
drop his name?

A couple of them,
as a matter of fact.
Professional snitches.

Well, cheer up.
Virtue in my triumph.

He won't do it.
I know him.

He's like my own--

father.

What did you tell him?

I didn't
tell him nothing.
But you know him?

Sure I know Vince Escobar.
He was my lawyer once.

So you ran into him,
wanted to be a big shot
and ran off at the mouth.

Louis, I need to know
exactly what you told him.

Nothing at all.

If Escobar
squeezes Nash too hard,

this whole operation
gets blown out of the water.

And if that happens, you're
back at mcneal island...

Watching your ass
in the shower room.

That's not what we agreed on.
Neil, please!

I can't be responsible
for Escobar!

Guys like Escobar keep coming.
I seen guys like him.

Turn your back, they shake you.
You got no control.

Louis, you want to stay
out of jail, you better
start taking control.

[ Door closes ]

** [ Brass band ]

**

[ chattering ]

**

[ Applause, cheering ]

Bravo!
Let's hear it for the kids!

Come on! They're better
than "up with america."

Alright, alright.
At ease, people. At ease.

As far as I'm concerned,
this is...

The best moment of the year
in this courthouse.

A time-honored tradition
started by Lionel Nash.

Bravo! Lionel decided
that we shouldn't take it out...

On the kids of those people
we remand at the penitentiary.

So every summer we celebrate
fourth of July...

By reaching deep
for the children of the felons!

You're all heart,
ruthie!

You ought to be good
for a large cash gift
this year.

** [ Band playing
"yankee doodle" ]

**

frank.

Remember the year we had maitais
and ruthie did the hula?

Come on home after this shindig.
Pot luck, but you're welcome.

Actually, I need to talk
to you alone, frank.

Oh, well,
it's about time.

You haven't been
yourself lately.

Is it the divorce?
The trial?

Living out of a suitcase?

There's no point in getting
old if people don't bring
their troubles to you.

[ Ruthie ]
Frank!

Your place,
tomorrow evening.

Lenora's having a book club.
I'll be right there.

Frank, raffle time!

[ Laughter, chattering ]

[ Thunder rumbling ]

Do you want
the lights on?

No.

Your mother is hoping
that you'll bring Benjamin by...

Now that school's out.
[ Sighs ]

I even had the pool filled.

We could talk.

Dad... I didn't think--

none of US did, Timmy.

[ Thunder continues ]

[ Chattering, shouting ]

** [ Humming ]

**

[ Man on TV indistinct ]

Hello, Tim.

** [ "La bamba" ]

**

I'm gonna go get a drink.

Vince! Vince!
You and me gotta talk.

You wanna talk?
Talk to your pal, the judge.

Let me buy you a drink.

The one who thinks you're
such an asset to the community
he folds your jacket up for you.

Vince, you been talking crazy.
Just tell me what you got.

Get out of the way.
You don't got anything.
Maybe you just talking big.

- Just stay away from me, Louis.
- I don't think you got squat.

Oh, but I do, I do.

And what I've got
is gonna put you right
back on the island.

Hey, hey, Vince, just tell me
what you think you've got, huh?

[ Grunts ]
Want me to throw
him out, Vince?

Why not?

You want to send me back?
Is that what you want?

It's not my ass, Louis.

Here.

[ Laughing ]

I got to go now.

I'll call you.

[ Train passing overhead ]

So... the stories are true.

[ Tim ]
The walls in that
courthouse have ears.

Word is, you've got
financial problems.

[ Sighs ]
Where is the damn
case, anyway?

That can be assigned to you
in a couple of days, frank.

The cash that
you're holding...

Is for me?

If you want it.

Hmm.

You know, lenora thinks that
when I retire next year...

We'll take some trips,
gonna see the world.

On what I've saved,

I can just about show her
a weekend in San Francisco.

It's drug money, right?

Right.
Well, there's
the problem, Tim.

My calendar's
60 percent drug cases.

All that money is washing
through the system.

But I guess
nobody gets hurt...

If a little rubs off, hmm?

Can I see the money, Tim?

[ Frank ]
Ohh!

Ones.

They're so damn neat.

And all I do
is write checks.

Postdate most of them.

Lenora would see this
and think I robbed a bank.

I don't know
if I can do it, Tim.

You see, we're not thieves.

Not perfect people maybe,
but... not thieves.

It's up to you, frank.

Your dad faced something
like this once,

and it didn't
turn out so bad.

I shouldn't have said that.
A stupid remark.

Uh, do you have a--
a bag?

[ Sighs ]
I was gonna sneak out.

Easier than saying no.

I've never been
terribly courageous.

Not even
terribly honest.

Honest only because
I was too afraid not to be.

I can't do it, Tim.

This never happened.

[ Door closes ]

Virtue triumphed.

Who's next?

This one's a rap, Neil.

What?

He's not gonna play anymore.

Son of a bitch.

[ Tires screeching,
car horn honking ]

Hey, Vince!

[ Laughing ]

[ Tires screeching ]

[ Horn honking ]

[ Honking continues ]

[ Honking continues ]

[ Honking continues ]

- [ Gasping ]
- Stop!

[ Shouts ]

Ohhh!

[ Screaming ]

[ Chattering ]

Carole.

Highway patrol called US.
I thought you should know.

If you could be
in my chambers early,

we'll discuss
how to proceed.

I'm sorry, Cindy.

This is your fault.

What are you talking about?
This was an accident.

This was no accident.
He had surveillance photos
in his briefcase.

Photos of who?
He had the briefcase,
and now it's missing.

Photos of who?
Of you and that
sleazy Louis Dale.

[ Louis ]
It was an accident, I swear.

Accidents happen.

I saw his face.

No, you saw nothing.
You were not there.

The car was smashed.
I saw him die, Neil.

I saw him die, Neil!
I saw him--

you saw nothing.

You were not there.

Ladies and gentlemen,
as I'm sure you've all heard,

Mr. Escobar was involved
in an automobile accident
last night and was killed.

This, of course, mandates
my... declaring a mistrial...

At this time.

[ Murmuring ]

Judge Nash.

Hey! Mix and match
for the grand jury, judge.
It's finally happening.

No, it's not.

I want to get Louis
through this quickly.

Vince Escobar is dead,

and Louis had something
to do with it.

I don't have any evidence
of that, but I know it.

Like I know the prosecutor's
not gonna retry Evan soyka.
She's gonna plead a lesser.

And I don't think
that's doing it the way
it's supposed to be done.

And I don't think
you're doing it the way
it's supposed to be done.

I am not testifying.

You have to.
You're under subpoena.

You know,
I've sent people to jail
that I used to work with.

I liked them.
I don't like you.

[ Man on radio ]
It's gonna slow down as you
near the interchange.

But officials assure US
work will halt as the
morning commute heats up...

And it shouldn't affect
your drive time.

Coming up
at the top of the hour,
uncle macky will be here...

And Bobby Ray's gonna
recap yesterday's game.

We'll be giving you
more information--
[ Continues ]

[ Phone rings ]

Hello.

Ruthie?

Sure. Where?

Ruthie?

Ruthie?

Remember when they used to
can tomatoes out here?

Sure.

I put myself through college
working in the canneries.

Every August I'd be here
or the starship plant.

Of course,
I got scholarships too.

Why'd you ask me
to come out here, ruthie?

Try, "it's not bugged."
[ Chuckles ]

I've been adding
things up.

This guy Dale,
he's a phony.

I ran through his files.
The old ones.

You know why I didn't
check them right off?

I trusted you.

You're working for the feds,
aren't you? Mmm.

No lawyer
will ever go to heaven...

As long as there's room
for one more in hell.

You remember, you said that
at Lionel's birthday?

Ruthie, just listen
to me a second.

I remember
when he swore you in.

I got a nice invitation
in the mail this morning.

Big awards banquet.

Prosecuting attorney's
association voted me...

"The toughest sentencing judge
in the state."

Ruthie...

I didn't think it through.

Well, you know
what I always say, buddy.

If you can't do the time,
don't do the crime.

[ Gunshot ]

[ Barking ]

[ Tim Nash ]
What I will present to you,
members of the grand jury,

is a pattern of official
and judicial corruption,

of bribery, of misuse of office
and tax evasion.

I will play you audio tapes.
I will show you video tapes.

I will bring as a witness
a sitting judge...

Who worked in close concert
with the strike force
on official corruption,

and I shall show you
why the court believes...

Other sitting judges
should be indicted...

And subsequently
brought to trial.

I didn't know
whether you'd come.

Yeah, we don't get much business
here this time of night.

I wanted to come back
before I left.

First thing
tomorrow morning.

Remember I told you once
I believe in me?

[ Sighs ]

I didn't believe you.

[ Chuckles ]
That was nice of you.

Oh!

Angel.

Neil likes to have
everything wired.

He says you never know
when someone you think
is on your side...

Is going to
double back on you.

I guess
he was right.

It was an accident.

Accidents happen.

I saw his face.

No, you saw nothing.
You were not there.

Janice gave that to you,
didn't she?

I didn't factor in sex,

but then how do you think
she got where she is?

You're out of business,
Neil.

[ Louis on video ]
The car was smashed.
I saw him die, Neil.

I saw him die!
I saw him die!

You saw nothing.
You were not there.

[ Tim ]
A case of vehicular homicide,
and you suppressed evidence.

And now you have
a suicide on your hands.

I think you're gonna need
a good lawyer.

[ Sighing ]
Oh, my god! Oh, my god!

Oh, my god!

I saw him die!

You saw nothing.

[ Grunts ]
You were not there.

[ Tape rewinding ]
You saw nothing.

You were not there.
[ Tape rewinding ]

You saw nothing.
Nothing, nothing, nothing.

Oh, my god!

You were not there.

Oh, my god!

Hey, what's going on?

Louis! Louis!
Man, don't worry.
You'll be okay.

[ Whimpering ]

[ Whimpering continues ]

[ Chattering ]

Good day, you all.
I have a brief statement,

and I will take
no questions.

I have decided to leave
the strike force...

And return
to the private sector.

[ Crowd murmuring ]

[ Newscaster ]
There is an announcement
expected any moment...

That Neil roemer's replacement
will be his former deputy,

longtime justice official
Janice Dillon.

At the present time,
neither miss Dillon...

Nor Attorney General cleary
has issued a statement.

Prior to coming
to the justice department--

[ chattering ]

- Hello, Tim.
- Frank.

[ Ruthie's voice ]
Do you ever get lonely, Tim?

[ Bailiff ]
All rise. The court
is now in session.

The honorable
Timothy Nash presiding.

Please be seated.

Case number h-467852,
the people vs. Marjorie Wilson.

[ Sighs ]

We are about to begin
voir dire.

Voir dire is the process
by which we select--

By which we select
the jurors...

Who will decide
the merits of this case.

May I remind all present
that the accused...

Is not obliged
to prove her innocence.

It is, instead,
the obligation of the state...

To prove her guilt,
if such guilt exists.

No man or woman
who comes before this court...

Can be judged guilty
in the absence of a jury trial.