Color of Justice (1997) - full transcript

Woman: This is wpku,

where all New York

meets to talk.

Joey in queens...

Randall: Wzin, the liberated

voice of African American

New York.

Jody from Brooklyn,

speak to me.

Randall, we gotta talk about

cops hassling African American



males. I was on...

Man: ...My Yankees

are playing unbelievably!

Tino Martinez--

last year, he's like a bum.

He does nothing

in the playoffs, right?

And now, all of a sudden,

he's like babe Ruth...

Woman: What are they

thinking? You know, people

don't get up at 7:00

in the morning

on the weekends!



Why can't they do it...?

Man: ...They're scared

of ebonics 'cause they think

it's just for black kids,

but what I'm here to say is

that there's as many white kids

out there speaking like they're

from the streets

as there are black kids.

Man: It's bad enough in

the city. You can't even order

a hamburger without talking

Spanish. Now they want to make

up a new language?

How many of these kids are...?

Woman: ...When the city feels

that they have the need to do

construction during rush hour.

I mean, like,

how stupid is that?

Man: ...When TV shows do

stuff on deadbeat dads,

it's always about white guys.

How come they don't go after

them black men that get all

those 12-year-old girls

pregnant, huh?

How come they only chase guys

who had bad marriages,

and lay off guys who never...

Man: ...Fanatics,

and that means you've got

to be committed. We've got

a team here that has three

pitchers that are on the d.L.--

three multi-million-dollar

pitchers that are on the d.L.

Woman: I can talk now?

All right, well, listen...

Man: I got laid off,

Dr. Osgood, so my ex

goes on some daytime talk show,

and they say she ought to

haul me into court.

So she did!

So I go down to court,

and they've lined up

60 guys like me.

And they're white guys!

Woman: I understand what

the problem is here. It's

stupidity, that's what it is!

They're wasting money...

Wzin, you're on the air

with Randall Marcus.

Man: You don't get to say

anything about the mets.

Just keep your mouth shut,

'cause this is the team

of destiny. This is the team

that's gonna go someplace,

and when these guys come back

and the nucleus of the thing,

you know, comes together...

Woman: Those black girls

probably don't know

how to use the system

to go after the fathers.

Man: Or maybe they're

scared to try, huh?

Or maybe they're scared

to try, yes, but the deal

also is, Joey, that you

still do have kids.

What you gotta look out for

is them. What's race

got to do with that?

[ Overlapping shouts ]

Two!

[ Overlapping shouts ]

Three!

[ Overlapping shouts ]

Ha! Again!

Two!

[ Overlapping shouts ]

Three!

[ Overlapping shouts ]

Four!

[ Overlapping shouts ]

[ Young men laughing ]

Cook his ass, yo!

Look at it!

You better be writin'

my name up there, baby!

[ Overlapping happy chatter ]

Yo, man, look!

That what you learned

in school?

[ Overlapping happy chatter ]

Yo, Kenny, man! Kenny!

Yo, what's up, Mr. T?

Got some excellent

nickel feel-good, man.

You want some?

Nah, that's all right, man.

How's your crew for it, man?

Nah, nah, nah.

We ain't into that shit.

That's good. They'd make

good selling men.

You boys want a job?

Nah... it's cool, man.

It's-- it's real cool.

All right, man. Peace.

Let's go.

Later, yo.

Aw, shit!

[ Police radio chatter ]

Yo, it's the man.

It's the man.

He's onto Mr. T.

Cops don't got shit on us.

He seen us talking to Mr. T!

Come on!

Aw, shit!

Break out, man! Break out!

Here, here, here!

Move it, man, move it!

Eh, fuck 'em.

Let's go.

And if the thug should

come up from behind?

All: Scream like hell!

And then?

Elbow to the gut!

Knee to the groin!

[ Strained ] Go on, go on.

Betty, aren't you the tough one?

Ooh! I sure pity the enemy

that takes youon!

Pair up! Attack! And grab!

Ow!

[ Distant siren wails ]

Shit, man!

Come on, what we runnin' for?

Cops don't got nothin' on us.

They seen us talkin'

to Mr. T, didn't they?

Come on, k, you can't bust

a man for talking.

Oh, shit!

Where'd you get a piece

like that from, man?

I got it around, cousin,

I got it around.

Oh, shit!

You representing like that, kid?

The word is bought.

A'ight. What we gonna

do with it?

Anything we want, baby.

Yo-yo, we need to go fuck

with that chink.

That motherfucker threw me

out of the store this afternoon!

Man, not the chink. Come on,

man. Their store got TV.

They get our faces, and we dead.

We known around here.

Come on, man!

Kameel's right, man.

Cops gonna be lookin' all over

for the brothers that talked

to Mr. T, then split.

Look, man, we just gotta

get a grip and gotta get cool.

Man, chill.

Yo, k, we gotta do this here,

man? Man, this shithole

is fucking with my head.

You don't like my palace?

[ Laughter ]

Damn, let's split this

fuckin' warzone, man.

Let's go to town.

That was a good session

tonight. You ladies are doing

well, real well.

Any guy who picks on

any one of you

is going to have more

than he can handle.

But let's remember:

The purpose here is

to stay alive,

and usually the best way

to do that is to run.

Fight back only

if there is no exit.

Okay?

What's a girl's best friend?

All: Mace!

Okay, hit the showers.

See you next week.

♪ I don't think that

♪ I'm going crazy

♪ but you might be, yeah!

You sing like a bitch!

[ Overlapping happy chatter ]

♪ Back to my world...

♪ Get back to my world!

♪ Get back to my...!

[ Overlapping happy chatter ]

Nigga, please!

You buggin' out!

You can't get no skin?

You can't get noskin!

[ Overlapping happy chatter ]

Get your foot off the seat.

[ Chatter ceases ]

I says, get your foot

off the seat.

You don't understand me, boy?

[ Indistinct

pa announcement ]

Suck on this,blue!

We got four black juveniles.

Alert street officers.

Yo, yo, that was some

funny shit, man!

[ Indistinct happy chatter ]

What the fuck did you do

that shit for?

He's on his radio already!

They'll be probably waiting

at the fucking top

of the stairs!

Yo, waiting for what, man?

Yeah, what the fuck

they waiting for?

We ain't even done nothing, man.

Just chill. There's no way

you're going to jail for

flipping the finger.

Know what I'm sayin'?

Man: Wzin.

Uptown line coming in.

Angela, you're on with Randall.

Woman: Yeah, Randall,

you know, this woman call in

about being down on 72nd.

The brother on 72nd got

picked up. I guess hedid

get picked up! He in

the wrong neighborhood!

You know, he needs to stay

with his own people, you know?

I live uptown...

Shit!

We in the middle of whitey land,

and all on account of

your finger, asshole!

Man, there's no way we

melt in this hood, man!

Yo, kameel, just chill!

Yo, who's gonna fuck with us?

You know whitey

when you in whitey land.

He got five-oh looking out

for him, b.

All right, we'll go back

on the train, then.

Yeah, get back on the train?

We should do that?

And have blue pick us up?

Yo, man, we need to get

back to the 'hood,

and how you expect us

to do that shit?

Ain't no big thing,

you know?

Yo, what you gonna do?

Dude is buggin' out, man.

Yo, man, just relax.

[ Distant siren wails ]

[ Car alarm blares ]

Damn, Kenny,

is this smart, man?

Chill, cousin!

[ Car alarm continues ]

Come on, man, go!

Get this show started, Rodney!

Come on, man! Move it!

[ Engine starts ]

Come on, man, hurry up!

Get this shit going!

♪♪

[ Dialing cellphone ]

[ Telephone rings ]

Man: Hello?

Betty: Hi, honey, it's me.

Great. Hold on, would you?

I've got norm

on the other line.

Hi, darling.

Hi.

Sorry, you know how

lawyers run on.

Uh, yo-yo, Rodney,

man, do you know where

the fuckyou're going?

You're going the wrong way

to the Bronx, man.

[ Overlapping argument ]

You don't know what

you're talking about.

We can't do that, k.

We do that shit,

the beast gonna be onus.

The beast?! Shut the fuck up

and just do it!

I'm tryin', k, I'm tryin'.

What you mean, you tryin'?

You goin' the wrong way!

You better turn this shit

about, man!

How was it, honey?

Sarge really worked us,

but I did great.

Good.

Yeah, I got a few moves

I can show you tonight.

Sounds promising!

Rodney, if you don't turn

this shit around, man,

I'm gonna kill you, cuz.

Yo, where you want me to go,

to the river?

I don't give a fuck

what you do!

Once you cross the bridge,

you can turn around.

You get on the other side,

and then there's a turnoff.

[ Overlapping arguments ]

What?!

Gas! We almost out of gas!

Shit, man!

I knewi shouldn't have

been in this car!

Angie asked about dinner

Saturday night.

Ohh, I'd rather it were

just the two of us.

And, besides, I've got

so much paperwork this weekend,

and Joe is so damned boring!

I know, but I'm running

out of excuses.

Damn.

What's the matter, hon?

I just took a wrong turn.

I'm on the feeder Lane

to the bridge.

Oh, no sweat.

Just take the return Lane.

The rotary, you know?

No, actually, I don't.

Well, relax.

I'll stay on the phone.

I'll take you through it.

What'd you turn off

here for, man?

We got enough gas to do this?

You don't know shit!

[ Engine sputtering ]

You stupid!

And we in the middle

of fuckin' nowhere, Rodney!

Shit, man!

Okay, what the hell

we gonna do, man?

Just head north

onto the palisades parkway,

and then go past the toll,

and you can turn around

at the Plaza, okay?

It looks like there's a car

stalled up ahead.

What do you mean stalled?

There's a car coming, man!

What's up, man?

Yo, what's up with that, k?

Get the fuck out the car.

What?!

I said get the fuck

out the car! Come on!

Shit, man!

Oh, my god. Thugs!

I'm blocked!

Come on, get out the car,

lady! Get out the car!

[ Overlapping shouts ]

[ Betty screaming ]

Betty? Betty?!

[ Screaming ]

Betty!

Get out the car, bitch!

Get out the-- ohh!

Betty, where are you?

[ Overlapping shouts ]

Betty, answer me!

[ Betty screams ]

[ Silence ]

Yo, let's get out of here

before she gets up!

Betty?

Yo, what's that?

She's got a phone!

Well, blow this shit, man,

or do something to it!

Yo, k, blast that shit!

[ Overlapping arguments ]

Motherfuckers!

[ Overlapping angry chatter ]

Male dispatcher: 9-1-1.

This is an emergency!

Blow every fucking thing!

What's wrong with you, man?

Oh, shit.

I must have killed it!

Ha ha ha!

I must have fixed it!

Ha ha ha!

Word, yo!

Yes, yes, the line's

still open, but if they hear

the recording beeps,

they'll kill it.

Okay. Patch us in

and cut the recording tape.

They won't hear beeps now.

Okay.

What are we gonna do?

Get us back to the 'hood.

Just keep to the right.

If we go straight,

we're home free, man.

Go straight?!

[ Overlapping angry chatter ]

Man, shut the fuck up,

everybody else but kameel!

Do as kameel says, Rodney!

I've been here, man!

This bridge goes straight

across to the Bronx!

[ Overlapping angry chatter ]

Mayday, g.W. Bridge.

I got fugitives

in a stolen vehicle,

suspected 10-14 eastbound

towards the cross-Bronx

expressway, do you copy?

This is 'copter 410.

We have suspects spotted,

heading east for the bridge

underpass. Over.

Okay, yo.

All right, we clean, crew.

All we do is we hit

Fordham road, and we can dump

this piece of shit.

Then we can dump this

Jew-mobile, man.

We cool!

Cuz, cuz, we cool, man.

We cool.

What the fuck, man?

What's this?

[ Tires screech ]

Oh, shit!What do we do?

Cops!

Yo, smash, Rodney, smash!

Hit it! Get us out of here, man!

[ Panicked chatter ]

Ram the mother fucker!

I said ram him, you dumbass!

Kenny! You okay?

Back up, man, back up!

They want to ram us!

[ Tires squealing ]

[ Cocking pistol ]

Hands! I want to see

your hands up now,

or we presume you're armed!

We're fucking dead, k!

What we gonna do now, cuz?

Okay, what the fuck we

gonna do, man?

Man, shut the fuck up!

You got 20 seconds!

Okay, now,

we gonna give 'em hands.

You don't know shit!

We gonna give 'em hands,

but you don't know shit,

you hear me?

I know how to talk the talk!

I know how to fuck 'em!

Ten seconds!

All right, all right.

Let's give 'em hands.

Yeah, hands. Right.

Get 'em! Take 'em!

[ Overlapping shouts ]

Come on, you little punks!

Out of the car!

Come on, asshole!

Where is it, mother fucker?

It ain't here, man!

Where is it?

You my lawyer?

[ Groans and cries ]

Easy, man!

I ain't got nothin', man!

[ Gagging on pistol ]

You fucking got something,

boy.

[ Gags ]

Got it, lieutenant!

Where'd you get this, boy?

Maybe I stole it

from the bitch, pig.

Why don't you ask her?

That'd be hard, asshole.

She's dead!

[ Police radio chatter ]

Poor bastard.

Treat 'em right. Make sure

this one goes by the book.

Yes, sir.

You really are shit,

aren't you?

Better shit than a cop!

You little fuck!

You just beat a woman to death!

Hey, man! It's her own

fucking fault! She wouldn't get

out the car like I told her to!

All right, we've got

the four suspects here.

Press is here, lieutenant!

You have the right

to remain silent.

Anything you say will be held

against you in a court of law.

You have the right

to an attorney. If you have

no attorney, the court will

appoint one for you.

Get 'em outta here!

In yet another vicious crime,

a young woman from suburban

englewood, New Jersey,

was beaten to death

by a gang of marauding youths

believed to be new yorkers.

[ Indistinct

pa announcement ]

No, no,

I've got to get out of here.

I've got to get

to the police station.

Let the woman do her job.

What are you,

a doctor or my lawyer?

Norm, god, whose side

are you on?

I'm not the enemy, all right?

Let me talk to the doctor.

I'll be right back.

What do you think?

Do you think Betty's

somewhere inside the building?

What do you think, norm?

Blood pressure's way up.

Pulse is elevated.

Want to keep him overnight?

His insurance won't cover it.

If he stays, it's going to have

to be on his own dime.

Admission got his

credit card.

Anybody at home to keep

an eye on him?

The lawyer said he'd

hang out till his sister

arrived from California.

Let him stay.

[ Indistinct shouting ]

Hi. Have you heard

about this?

Who hasn't?

Yeah, well, it's your story.

Oh! All right!

Better watch it all,

'cause there's a press

conference in the morning.

Got it.

And by the way, this is

tomorrow's editorial,

station manager himself.

What's his take?

He wants 'em tried as adults.

Understand?

No problem.

Randall: Kwame in Tribeca.

Speak to me, brother.

Hey, yo, you see what's

going down on TV tonight?

I'm a radio man, kwame,

and until there's a liberated

African American

television station,

I'm stayin' that way...

[ Overlapping chatter ]

'Morning. Jim Sullivan,

Manhattan district attorney.

I have... I have a statement

to read, after which I will take

a limited number of questions.

Like all decent new yorkers,

this office is horrified

by last night's brutal

beating death

of an innocent woman.

I intend to see justice is done.

N.y.p.d. Have detained

four suspects,

and we're evaluating

the evidence to determine

if charges against the suspects

are warranted.

Now, questions?

Man: Knock if off down there!

No passing of anything

except documents,

and no touching.

Thank you so much.

I might have forgotten.

I'll be watching.

Sam lind, your court-

appointed lawyer.

So, have I got a case here?

You're the lawyer.

Why you askin' me?

Oh, a wild guess.

You're the crew chief.

50 bucks says I'm right.

[ Overlapping chatter ]

As I said, we're still

evaluating the evidence. Yes?

If you do press charges

against those in custody,

will you ask they be tried

as juveniles, or as adults?

Well, miss, uh...

Linda Chang, channel 3 news.

Well, Linda, I haven't

seen any paper on these people.

For all I know, they areadults.

Yeah?

But if they're not,

what then?

I'm not in the speculation

business, but you can rest

assured, we'll do what's right

for the law-abiding citizens

of this city. Yeah?

So you intended

to steal a car.

Why did you hit her?

She pulled something on me.

I thought it was a gun.

Self-defense, my man.

I'm not your man,

and self-defense

won't apply here.

Huh?

Murder committed during

the commission of a felony

is culpable, whether it was

intended or not.

Do you understand what

I just said to you?

Yeah.

We in deep shit, right?

Yeah, deeper than

you can imagine.

Shit, man!

Yo, man, cut that

faggot crap, man!

We in this together, a'ight?

Whatever, man.

We gonna fry together too.

Well, not necessarily.

You're juveniles,

and I haven't heard

all the details yet.

So, tell me,

did you cover yourself?

Bet your ass I did.

Actually, the stakes

are yourass, not mine.

So speak.

Mr. District attorney, sir!

Pete.

Are you sure you've got

jurisdiction here, Jim?

Of course.

The crime happened on

port authority turf, the victim

was from Jersey.

Did you discuss this with

the d.A. Across the Hudson?

Not an issue, Pete.

The suspects are new yorkers.

They're already in our custody.

This is the right office

to ensure the full measure

of the law is enforced.

You sure of this?

Come on, man, I'm telling

you, I ain't no fool's fool.

All right, tell me

one more time.

All right, man,

blue threw me up

against the car. He then

started to feel me down.

I said it wasn't there.

He then starts messing with me.

I ask about my lawyer.

He asked where it was.

I say-- I nodded at the car,

and he found it.

Simple as that.

And thenthey read you

your rights?

Like I said.

Aw, man, come on,

look at me, man!

They treated us brutal!

That was there

at the time of the arrest.

Fuck. They lie.

Then explain

the broken windshield.

I-I must have hit it

with the gun when I was trying

to get in the car.

Ohh.

Like I said.

D.a. Sullivan will now

wait for more evidence,

but he's clearly sickened

by this crime and won't

rule out trying the suspects

as adults.

Oh, he will try them

as adults. That right-wing

bastard would just as soon

hang 'em in public

without a trial.

I want this one.

This case belongs right here

in New Jersey. Now,

what do your friends

across the river tell you?

That it's an open-and-shut

case, tailor made for Sullivan:

Four black kids

caught red-handed.

Public opinion wants

a quick conviction.

If he can deliver it,

he will be off and running

for mayor of New York.

Not if I can help it.

This case belongs in New Jersey.

Oh, no, see, fighting

over a sure case is bad p.R.

It-- it stinks of trying

to out-tough Sullivan on crime.

Besides, I hear

they got the weapon.

Mm-hmm.

Kids weren't even smart enough

to dump it.

Mnh-mnh.

Sullivan's got this one.

Not if I can help it.

These'll help you sleep,

and here's a prescription

in case you need some more.

Oh, I don't need that.

Sorry, sir,

hospital regulations.

In case you fall and sue us.

[ Scoffs ]

Just... just do it.

I could guess

what you're thinking.

Mr. Gainer, my heart

goes out to you.

Kids today--

well, it's not like

when I was coming up.

I say no punishment's

too hard for those kids.

Randall: We got Dee

in Newark. Speak to me.

Randall, word on the street

says that these kids were

nowhere near that woman!

Cops just saw a car...

Look, can I get out of this?

Not yet, sir.

I'm gonna go get the car.

Oh, Jesus Christ.

Look, wait, wait, wait.

Get him out of here, all right?

Get him around the back.

Hold it. If you have

any questions, ask me.

I'm his lawyer, all right?

Linda Chang,

channel 3 action news.

Do you think d.A. Sullivan

should try them as adults?

I'm not here to outguess

the d.A., all right, but a woman

was savagely beaten to death

in her own neighborhood

by four males

rampaging in a stolen car.

They had no reason to be

where they were.

Can you confirm they had

no reason to be in New Jersey?

I mean, don't all Americans

have freedom of movement?

Not in a stolen car,

they don't.

Thanks a lot.

We feel the executive branch

is obliged to seek jurisdiction.

For political reasons?

It's one that we do not

want to get away.

Why?

Well, surely it's obvious.

A horrible crime occurs on

part of the interstate system--

the very type of crime

that this administration

is accused of being soft on.

And we need to be seen

as proactive in prosecuting

this kind of violence.

It's so transparent,

and I don't approve

of the white house micromanaging

my department.

Do you?

Well, my opinion

is irrelevant,

and, frankly, so is yours.

We both serve

at the president's pleasure.

♪♪

[ Telephones ringing ]

[ Indistinct chatter ]

It's in all the papers.

It's a circus, al.

It's all one big circus,

and we are the trained seals

that do all the entertaining.

This...

This is a terrible thing.

It's-- it's a horrible death.

But we had four dead

that same night:

One o.D., two gunshots,

and a suicide up on 160th,

and not a word in these!

Not a drop of ink to waste,

or a second on TV!

What's the word out there?

Lots of sorrow for

kameel and his family.

They're decent people.

Shawn Taylor and Rodney pass

aren't the smartest kids.

They probably didn't even know

what was going down.

Now, as for Kenny Johnson,

folks that knew him all figured

he'd get himself into a mess

like this sooner or later.

But nobody did anything

to help, did they?

The cops kept busting him

and letting him go.

That's all the system

cared about.

Nobody put out a helping hand

to the boy!

So now who's to blame

for the mess he's in?

[ Sighs ]

Well...

Better late than never, huh?

Time for some community action.

Is there a lawyer?

Sam lind.

Are we happy with that?

He's always did right

by folks like us in the past.

He's a good lawyer.

[ Sighs ]

For a white boy.

No. No!

I want those votes!

Okay, what do we got?

The court's appointed

a public defender,

a guy called Sam lind.

Sam lind! That ought to

make it easier.

He's stuck in the '60s.

He's not hip to the new media.

He's trying to slow things

down, delay preliminary hearing.

Judge?

Letasha winslow.

Shit!

We know where her sympathies

are. A fuckin' deadhead liberal!

In the black community,

she's considered tough.

No disrespect, Danny,

but their idea of tough

isn't mine. Pass on preliminary.

Go to indictment.

Anything else?

The one we think

is the leader, Kenny Johnson,

has got a rap sheet

longer than your arm.

Starts with armed robbery

at age 12, eight felony arrests

by the age of 14.

Great. More reason to

try him as an adult.

What about the others?

One kameel whelan,

has no record. The other two

are run-of-the-mill stuff--

a couple of misdemeanor

convictions, one felony robbery.

[ Sighs ] This kameel kid

might be a problem.

See what you can find on him

in the neighborhood.

I don't want these kids

to get away with an adult crime!

What else?

Yeah, uh, my buddy

from Harvard, the one who's

interning at justice,

he tells me Gordon's lobbying

to get jurisdiction

away from us,

but,says my friend,

the Attorney General's office

is also sniffing around

on their own account.

No surprise.

This is just the kind

of easy case liberals die for.

Shows their tough on crime

without getting reverend

ed walton up their ass.

Harder for him to accuse them

of playing politics.

But that's exactly

what they'd be doing!

Well, this time let's us

be the guys who win it back

from the thugs, so move fast.

By Monday, I want us so far

down the road, it'd be too late

for anybody else to grab

jurisdiction. Go!

[ Indistinct chatter ]

It's your sister.

Betty?

No. It's your sister.

Norm.

How is he? Is he okay?

I think this is what they

mean by "denial."

Hey. Mm.

I heard your car.

I thought it was Betty.

Must be nuts. You think?

No, no, no.

Of course not.

It's only natural.

Yeah.

So, uh, any luggage?

[ Indistinct chatter ]

I'm sorry, dad.

I'm real sorry.

I'll just bet you are.

The trouble is,

it's too damn late!

Dad, I never touched

that woman.

But you were there, weren't

you? You should have known

better! It isn't what

I raised you for, boy.

Is mama...

Is she... is she okay?

How do you think she is?

She's hurtin'.

Look, I know our neighborhood

is hard on you,

but everybody in the world

has a job to do.

Now, your mother and I,

we scratch hard

to make a living.

Your job is to take full

advantage of what we manage

to bring you. Now, that is

the deal, and you're not

living up to your side

of the bargain!

Dad, I never meant to be

trouble to you and mom.

What you meant and what you

did are two different things!

I messed up, dad.

I know it.

What do you expect,

hanging out with

that cousin of yours?

I warned you about him.

Kenny looked out for me

on the streets,

since we were little.

I mean, I don't know...

I guess I thought

I could change him.

And look where

that idea got you.

I just want a chance

to make it back, dad.

I mean, is...

Is this something that we...

Is there something youcan do?

There's always something

a man can do.

You've been a fool,boy,

but I'll stand by you.

I love you.

I love you too, dad.

Stay strong.

[ Indistinct chatter ]

Would you like something?

Why, thank you.

[ Indistinct chatter ]

Hi, how are you? Fine.

Excuse me.

Frank?

You okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

[ Sniffles ]

'Ppreciate everything

you're doing, Jill.

Are you kidding?

This is for both of us.

Betty was my family too.

I'm also grieving.

You know that, uh...

That last day, I didn't get

to kiss her goodbye.

I mean, why?

Why could four little bastards

be allowed to destroy so much?

Can you tell me that?

You know I can't,

at least not in any way

that would make sense

to you right now.

Yeah, sense!

What could make any sense?!

But for now,

I think you should just

take it one day at a time.

Oh, Christ!

Try not to look

past the funeral.

It'll be a circus.

Just remember

why we're there. We're there

to say goodbye to Betty,

and to start to heal...

So that we can try

and make some sense of it.

Sense?

There is no sense.

This lawyer,

do you think he cares

about our boy?

Well, he's all we got.

If you don't have any money,

you don't have much choice.

Well, reverend walton,

he called two more times today.

He's a loudmouth, just

looking to make more of himself!

Well, Stan, maybe we need

a loudmouth!

Or how else are people

gonna hear what kind of boy

kameel really is?

I don't like walton's kind.

I never did!

He's just about causing trouble.

Stan, we already gottrouble!

And if the devil

could lead us through it...

Stan, I would at least

talkto him!

Vultures.

Look at them hovering.

Bunch of ghouls and vultures.

It's okay. They have a short

attention span. They'll be gone

after the funeral.

You going to be okay tomorrow?

Like you said,

it's about us and Betty.

It's not about them.

Exactly. But what about

after, when I have to go back?

One day at a time, right?

Right.

We'll get through the...

Funeral.

I guess then the trial.

That's what I'm looking

forward to.

That's what I need--

to see those kids put away

for a long time.

Yeah, well, I guess

life will go on.

It will.

'Course it will.

When you go home,

we'll try to think about

how much easier things will be

when we see each other again,

after the worst of this

is over.

Yep.

Woman on radio:

Are you saying the courts

are crooked?

Man on radio: I wouldn't

say, like, crooked,

just swamped with

too much crime,

too many cases.

I betcha 90% of the murderers

never get caught, and even

the ones theydo get,

most of them walk

on some kind of legal,

technical thing.

That's how come we got

four kids killing some poor

white woman on her

own doorstep.

They know some lawyer

in a silk suit

is gonna get 'em off.

I really don't know

about this.

It'll be okay, Stanley.

We're doing the right thing.

I sure hope so.

You know, I don't believe

in stirring up muddy waters.

Never did.

He's coming up the stairs!

He's here, coming up the stairs.

Young man in hall:

Yo, rev, what's up, man?

Brother whalen.

Good of you to come,

reverend.

I'm always on call

for the community, my brother,

always.

I'd like you to meet

my wife, Sandra.

My daughter, Harriet.

Harriet. Hi.

Beautiful, beautiful.

Tell the brothers

to wait outside.

Keep it clear outside.

Reverend, would you like

to have a seat?

Thank you.

The top story tonight,

new developments in

the Betty gainer beating death.

Our Linda Chang has been

on the story all day.

She joins us now. Linda?

Thanks, Christine,

and, yes, there are many

new developments,

including what appears to be

a looming battle

over jurisdiction.

The dispute's between

New York, New Jersey,

and the federal authorities,

but the public is expressing

outrage by paying their

respects at the scene

of the crime.

Betty gainer was last

seen alive at her

self-defense class.

We spoke with the instructor,

former army ranger

Orville "sarge" brigham.

It was a tragedy.

Those kids must have

decided to kill her before

they even stopped the car.

Betty was smart,

she was well-trained.

If there was any room

for her to wriggle out,

she would have.

All right, thank you, Linda,

and we'll be keeping a close

watch on this breaking story.

Stay with us-- we'll be right

back after these messages.

Man: And we're out.

Good job!

You're doing great, Linda!

We're way ahead

of the competition.

We got a special overnight

from arbitron. We've picked up

four share points over channel 6

in the past week.

It's helping push the network

news past nbc at six!

The boys downtown are really

starting to notice you.

Oh, that's great!

I owe you big-time

for giving me this one, Ted.

Well, you were

the logical person:

Good on-camera presence,

folksy charm, and someone

neither side could accuse

of bias-- you know, you being

a person of color and all.

Just came in by fax--

CNN wants to license clips

from the Betty case.

Chopper stuff from

the night of the arrest.

For Larry king.

Larry king? Shit, look

at this. CNN's trying

to steal our audience.

Ceasefire has again

broken down, according to...

Man, what the fuck is that?

Is that all they gonna show?

No pictures or names or shit?

Man, that's 'cause we're

juveniles, man!

Shit!

That's right.

That's right. You right.

But how'd you know that?

Your parents talking to

some outside lawyer

or something, man?

Come on, k, man,

you know I'm one of you.

You better be.

See, man, you trust Kenny k,

cuz, and you gonna walk.

You fuck him,

and you gonna crawl.

Do I make myself clear?

Do I make myself clear?

I hear you, man, I hear you.

Who the fuck you touchin'?

Kameel whalen!

Special visitor up front!

Yeah, you.

It's your minister,

the reverend ed walton.

The fuck is he talking

about, man?

You punks shut your hole!

Finish this later!

Man: My brother Randall,

thanks be to Allah,

someone from the community

has the intestinal fortitude

to educate the white community

on the root causes

of this death.

There is a race war

in America, and she is

just one more victim--

no better, no worse than...

Man: I'm telling you,

I'm fed up with walton.

He's always blaming us

for everything

those gangbangers do.

What about-- what about

responsibility?

It's time we told them,

no justice for

that white woman,

no justice for them black guys.

...you do to the least

of my brethren, you do to me.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

I am the life

and the resurrection,

sayeth the lord,

and whoever believes in me,

yet shall they live

though they be dead,

from now until eternity.

Amen.

Love you, Betty.

[ Indistinct comment ]

What'd he say?

Watch channel 3 tonight.

Got his last words.

Terrific.

Frank, over here!

[ Reporters clamoring ]

Why don't you

leave him alone?

Frank, how are you feeling?

Feeling?!

Mr. Gainer, this case

seems to be raising

racial passions.

Could you address that, please?

Look, Betty, my wife,

I loved her very much,

and she's dead,

and all I care about

is getting her justice.

Now, I don't care about

the color of the killers.

I-I-I never even gave it

a moment's thought.

Seriously, not one moment?

Look, if you want to make

this a racial thing,

you go ahead, but all I care

about is justice for my wife.

The reverend walton says

all he wants is justice

for his people. He says we need

to look at the root causes

of crime in America, frank.

Do you have a comment on that?

The crimes are committed

not by voting groups

or neighborhoods.

Crimes are committed

by individuals,

and that's who

should be punished--

individuals.

[ Reporters clamoring ]

That's enough.

[ Car engine starts ]

All right, get us

out of here, Gus.

[ Reporters clamoring ]

[ Silence ]

How'd I do?

Great. You spoke your truth,

and that's what moves people.

Some people. A few, maybe.

Most of 'em will call it racist.

Racist? Get outta here.

You know, all I was trying to do

was to make sure everyone knows

those kids should be put

away forever.

This has nothing to do

with racism.

This is America, frank.

Everything is race.

[ Indistinct chatter ]

Hey, excuse me, I'm Sam lind.

He sure came fast

after I called him for you.

Yeah, well, he has no choice.

We're players in this,

no matter what he does.

"I'm on TV, therefore I am."

Bring him on in, al.

Yeah.

Mr. Lind? Reverend's

ready for you now.

Thank you.

Right this way.

Mr. Lind!

Welcome to the neighborhood.

Have a seat.

Would you like some coffee,

juice, or something?

Coffee would be great,

thanks.

It's good to see you

again, counselor.

I'm sorry, I don't remember.

No, I didn't think you would.

You spoke at my high school

graduation.

DeWitt Clinton,

class of '68.

Oh, yes, god.

Yeah, I do remember that.

Thank you, al.

That was a time, wasn't it?

Yes, it was, yeah.

Yeah, I remember you spoke

about draft-dodging.

No, no. Draft resistance.

Draft-dodging

was against the law.

I never encouraged that.

Were my words of any help?

Well, I heard you.

I decided to live by the law.

Wound up in 'nam

for two tours.

Oh. That must

have been tough.

Tough? [ Chuckles ]

It was hell.

But, you know,

one night while I was

sitting in the boonies,

I realized that if

the draft could be made

part of the broader struggle,

that was my real duty.

I see.

Do you?

I think you'll find I have

a great deal of respect

for the struggle, reverend.

My whole life is about that.

And with respect, counselor,

it isn't.

No, you're from the old days,

back in the days of

Martin Luther King,

who wanted equality.

But then after you

came the next generation--

Jesse, Andrew young.

They wanted respect.

But now there's a new

leadership, Mr. Lind.

And what is it you want?

Recognition.

Recognition that white society

has failed, that it cannot

correct itself, that your laws

and your ideas of justice

can never deal with

the realities of being

black in America.

How can you understand

what life is really like

for your clients?

I think I do.

But that's not even relevant.

What counts is that the law

is made to treat them

with full respect

and due process,

that they be given every chance

to employ the law

to their benefit.

Besides, I'm not looking

for a co-counsel, reverend.

Hmm. Step over here.

I want to show you something.

You see those people down there?

Mm-hmm.

Every one of them

is your co-counsel.

They're the result of

your society, your rule of law.

The law didn't put them

in the alleys or hooking

on street corners, reverend.

No, no. Poverty did.

Yes, I agree.

All the money we spend could

never be enough to solve

that problem.

You'vespent?

You're talking white man's

charity, and I'm talking

remaking America

with different values.

Oh, come on.

African Americans are

the most successful

black community in the world.

In the world.

Now, look, reverend,

maybe you're right.

Maybe I do belong to

the Martin Luther King

generation. Well, I hope so!

I believe I can make sure

that these kids

get a fair shake,

and I'll put my life on it.

And if that's not good enough

for you or their families,

then, by all means,

find yourself another lawyer,

one who'll play the race card,

or deal whatever else

you want to play.

No, no. That won't

be necessary.

I'm sure you'll do a fine job,

and I'm sure you'll let me

do mine.

I told you, I don't want

a co-counsel.

And I wouldn't want

to be one. No, counselor,

you worry about the law

and leave the community to me.

Yes, you head the legal

department, I'll head

public relations.

You talk to the judge,

I'll talk to the world.

You fight the law,

and I'll make sure it's part

of the broader struggle.

Do we understand each other?

I think we do.

Good, good.

Would you call Mr. Lind

a cab, Kelly, please?

Let me put you in a cab,

counselor. You stick out

around here, like my boys

did downtown.

I'll see you in court.

Thanks for coming.

What do you think, al?

Well, you sure made it clear

that we're part of the puzzle...

If he lives with it.

Oh, he will. He will.

Man like that, he'll do anything

to prove he's a good guy,

a decent guy.

He can't help himself.

He's a liberal.

Welcome to my still-

under-construction courtroom.

It will be done one day,

they promise me.

I've sorted the pre-trial

filings into three groups:

Defense motions for dismissal;

petitions for jurisdiction;

and a prosecution motion

for a hearing on whether

the defendants should

stand trial

under the appropriate section

of the New York uniform code.

Defense motions

will be heard first.

Are you ready, counselor?

Yes, your honor.

Uh, your honor,

we move to dismiss

on several grounds,

as outlined in the motion

filed last night.

Very well.

What motion late last night?

I just got 'em.

They must have found

a friendly clerk to receive.

So...

Hold it. Let's hear his case.

Motion to dismiss?

What the hell is this?

Just a pro formaexercise.

It doesn't mean shit. Relax.

Uh, plea one, your honor.

Evidence listed by

the prosecution in discovery

is tainted, in particular

the alleged murder weapon.

How so?

Well, um...

In the first place, one of

the defendants was questioned

about the presence of

the weapon in the car

and required by the arresting

officer to disclose

its location, and this before

he was given an adequate

Miranda warning--

in spite of the fact that

the defendant had asked

for legal counsel.

Anything from the people

on this?

Uh... no, your honor.

We've had insufficient time

to consider the details

of defense's late filing.

Are you asking for a delay?

Um...

May I have a moment?

What the fuckis this?

He buried it under

a shitload of motions,

most of them worthless!

It'll take hours to figure out

which ones he's really

depending on!

But I need to know!

Let him go on!

He'll blow his wad. It'll be

forgotten by the time we start

the jurisdiction debate.

Holy shit!

He's claiming self-defense!

[ Chuckles ]

He's out of his fucking mind!

Let him present.

He'll look like an asshole.

Are you sure about this?

Judge winslow: Counselors,

I'm waiting.

His case is indefensible.

He wants a delay so he'll look

good in the media,

get credibility.

Well, let's strip him naked

on day one, right now.

I-Is that wise?

For myself, I know I could use

a delay to get further

instructions.

You want instructions?

Try these.

Go back to Washington,

tell your boss,

the Attorney General, to get

the fuckout of this case.

Okay, make him sing

for his supper.

We'll certainly need a delay

before answering defense

motions, your honor,

but we can withhold the request

until defense speaks

to its plea, if that's

what they want.

Mr. Lind?

Works for me, your honor.

Continue, but please address

only pleas that go to the heart

of this hearing:

Is there a prima faciecase,

or should I dismiss charges?

Exactly my intention,

your honor.

Now, to this end, I would like

to call the witnesses

indicated as subpoenaed.

If it please the court,

if there's to be direct,

the people would prefer

to proceed ex parte,

for the moment.

Judge winslow: You'd waive

cross? Until when?

After any delay

the court might allow,

when so moved.

Then make your case,

counselor, in whatever

way you can.

I'll be interested.

What is all this

gobbledy-gook?

It's just lawyer talk.

Sullivan wants to hear

what lind's got,

then he's gonna wait

to fight again another day.

Is that smart?

I don't know. We'll see.

Uh, just some

routine questions.

Now, officer, in your report,

you claim that the defendant,

John Doe, stated,

and I'll quote,

"the bitch should have

given me the car,

and I would have

left her alone."

That's right.

Did he raise the question

of legal counsel?

He was saying

a lot of things--

nothing that made sense to me.

Well, did this nonsensical

exchange between the two of you

happen before or after he was

read his Miranda rights?

It wasn't an exchange.

He just said it.

Before or after

you manhandled him?

Objection. Sustained.

I used as much force

as necessary to submit him

to arrest.

We'll come back to that.

Now, moving on.

This exchange--

did it take place before

or after the lieutenant

informed him of his rights?

I don't remember.

I was under pressure and aware

that he might be armed.

Tell me, officer, were you

angry at the time of the arrest?

Objection, your honor.

Defense is leading

its own witness.

Sustained.

I'm sorry, your honor.

Let me put it this way:

What was your state of mind

at the time of the arrest?

Just doing my job.

No hostility?

Just doing my job.

So you wouldn't have noticed

any peripheral facts.

"Peripheral facts"?

Sure, you know-- side issues,

like the color of

the defendant's skin.

Objection!

You'd better have a good

reason for that question,

counselor. You're stepping

on dangerous ground.

I know that, your honor.

I go there with great sadness.

At this point, I would like

to file in evidence

this witness' discharge papers

from the United States

marine corps.

That was a lie!

I never did anything racist!

They used that to get rid of me.

Who used what?

The captain hated my guts.

He said I was a racist

to get rid of me.

Was he black or white?

Objection!

Was he black or white?

What do you think?

He was black.

Mr. Lind, please.

Your honor, this is germaine.

It relates to the circumstances

of the arrest and the

assumptions made by

the arresting officers

on the scene that may have

influenced the people

in drawing up this

very severe indictment.

Continue,

but consider yourself warned.

Thank you, your honor.

Officer, the photographs

taken of the accused

at the time of the booking

show a wound to the forehead

of the first accused, John Doe.

Do you have any idea

how it got there?

No.

Well, no mention was made

of it in the booking report.

I didn't notice anything

at the time of the arrest.

So, where did it come from?

I don't know.

Maybe he banged himself,

and it didn't come up

till later.

Who knows?

So the deceased was

an expert with guns?

She was trained.

I don't know about an expert.

Well, in this flier

advertising your class,

you promise to produce experts.

Well... yeah...

But, you know, it's...

No, I don't. Was she

an expert with guns?

Okay, she was pretty good.

She carry a weapon?

I wouldn't know, but I don't

think she was licensed.

So she was unarmed.

As far as I know.

What about mace?

Well, um,

most of my people carry mace.

It's a good first defense.

A good first defense?

How "first"?

I don't follow.

Well, don't you tell them

to grab for the mace

at the first sign of trouble?

Sure. It's effective,

it's nonlethal.

Somewhat touchy,

wouldn't you say?

No. Why?

Let me spell it out for you.

Suppose the driver breaks down,

the driver goes for help.

They approach one of

your students.

What would they do?

In that case, I figure

they'd help him out.

Unless they were thinking

ahead, the way you taught them.

I don't understand.

I saw you on the television

news last night, and I heard you

say that you assume that

the accused made the decision

to kill her before they

stopped her.

Isn't that exactly what you mean

when you tell your students

to think ahead?

No, you got that wrong.

I teach 'em to be cool

and to think.

Really?

Yes, they'd help a guy

in trouble.

Even if he was young, black,

dressed out of the ordinary?

Isn't it true that by the time

those women leave your class,

you've got them so hyped

they're looking for trouble,

just dying for the opportunity

to use all those wonderful

tricks you taught them,

and that you train them to react

to the first hint of a threat--

like a young, black male

with a turned-about

baseball cap?

With respect, your honor,

I think this is getting

out of hand. I'd like to move

to defer all questions

of minority and jurisdiction

and ask for a delay...

What's to delay?

...so the people can take

note of the defense's late

filing, as well as the issues

already raised.

Granted. And I want

all parties in chambers

Tuesday at nine A.M.

[ Gavel bangs ]

Yes, your honor.

Clerk: All rise.

[ Elevator bell dings ]

Reporter: Reverend walton!

Reverend walton, talk to me...!

[ Reporters clamoring ]

Reverend walton,

channel 3 news!

[ Reporters clamoring ]

All new yorkers deplore

the tragic events that

gave rise to this trial,

and just as we mourn

Betty gainer's death,

we also hope to avert

the further tragedy

of scapegoating these boys

and creating four more victims.

Scapegoating, reverend?

Isn't Betty gainer

the real victim here?

Yes, Betty gainer

was a victim of whiteracism.

What chance do young black males

have in the wrong place,

at the wrong time of night,

when faced with an armed

and determined white woman

who was trained to act first

and ask questions later?

She didn't see boys in trouble;

she was taught to see the enemy.

And you, the media,

are part of the conspiracy.

Just read and listen

to the white-dominated media:

Code words like

"a suburban woman,"

"marauding youths

from the city,"

and all the other polite

ways you have to tell audiences

that these were inner-city

youths who dared

drive to a suburb

where white, middle-class folks

run to hide from the righteous

anger of those who feel

dispossessed.

Reverend, do you have any

comments on Mr. Gainer's remarks

after his wife's funeral?

I'm sorry, I haven't

seen them yet.

Well, he said, uh, "crimes

are not committed by voting

groups; They're committed

by individuals."

More code words.

"Individuals," "groups,"

words to make whites

feel comfortable that the jails

are filled with black men.

Look, I feel sorry for the man.

My heart goes out to him,

but I don't hear any compassion

in him for our grief.

Shouldn't individuals be held

responsible for their acts?

These are kids.

Eleanor Holmes Norton has said

the young black male

is an endangered species,

and I think she's right,

and I think the system

wants it that way,

likesit that way.

These boys were in the wrong

place at the wrong time,

and they panicked.

And if you were an African

American youth, you would

understand.

The only decent memorial

to Betty gainer

is more understanding

of the troubles

our community faces.

Many of us individuals

live in constant fear

of the majority group.

Tell that to frank gainer.

Tell me yourself.

Mr. Gainer, could you explain

that comment, please?

This isn't personal.

It is to me.

Come on, let's go.

It is to me.

[ Reporters clamoring ]

Ladies and gentlemen,

ladies and gentlemen!

If you want to hear more,

the Bronx community crusade

is organizing a rally

in support of the g.W. Four.

Where? Where?

To be announced.

All we seek is justice.

Without justice,

there can be no peace.

[ Reporters clamoring ]

Mr. Sullivan.

Mr. Sullivan.

I took your instructions, sir,

and delivered your message

to the a.G.

Instructions?

Well, yeah, you know the one

about, uh... well, I believe

your exact words were,

"get the fuck out of this case."

Now, I told her I consider

that good advice, and on

further reflection, having seen

that the boys might have

a defensible case,

we feel it's better

dealt with as a local matter.

Love it when the whole

country sees our station logo

on a Mike, so keep shoving

the competition to the side.

Shove? Moi?Not necessary.

One sweet smile,

and they all melt.

Yeah, well, whatever works.

But, listen, keep pressing

walton to the race issue.

He's got to give you

credibility. Well, you know--

common cause among

the oppressed and all that.

[ Scoffs ] I grew up

in scarsdale. I went

to Princeton. I don't qualify

as oppressed.

Well, don't tell personnel or

the human resources department

'cause it might wreck our

diversity requirements.

Diversity req--

can you hear yourself?

Hey, Linda,

take it where you can find it.

Careers are hard to build

nowadays.

You sure you'll be okay?

Well, I'm gonna be okay

sooner or later. It might as

well be now. You've got to get

back to your kids.

Oh, I know you, frank.

You've got to get

rid of this anger.

Yeah, well...

That's not a simple thing

to do, Jill.

Yeah, I know. I know.

But I believe that life

on this plane is only a small

part of who we are.

Frank...

There's a reason why

this happened to Betty.

We come into life

to learn lessons,

to teach each other,

and Betty did what she

had to do here.

And now she's moved on

to another aspect of being.

She's gone home.

Frank...

As hard as this is,

you have got to get on

with your life,

but to do that,

you have to face the pain.

[ Sighs ]

Sounds right to me,

but, you know, I'm a closet

California new-ager, so I...

You have a safe flight.

Want me to drop by

on the way back?

Uh, no, I...

I could use some time alone.

I love you, frank.

I love you too.

Don't miss your plane.

[ Jet engine roars ]

I-I really don't feel

good about leaving.

Well, you have

your own family.

You have no choice.

I'm going to take care

of him, don't worry.

All we seek is justice.

Without justice,

there can be no peace.

Turning into a nightmare!

Maybe in the short term,

but lind's case is indefensible.

Only legally.

He'll win it in the streets.

That's not our arena.

We only have to win in court.

Jesus, are you really

that naive? I mean, what did

they teach you up there at Yale?

They taught me the law,

thank you very much.

Oh, yeah? Well, did they

teach you that the law

doesn't exist in a vacuum?

I mean, you need more than

a law degree to understand

how the real world works.

Don't patronize me, Andy.

Oh, okay, here we go--

one word of disagreement,

and all of a sudden

it's a feminist issue?

Stop! Stop it right now!

Wouldn't walton be delighted

if he could see us bitching

at each other?

You know, now that he's taken

this fight to the streets,

we're no longer faced with

having to convince a jury of 12;

the whole goddamn country's

gonna sit in judgment!

One of these kids killed a woman

while his buddies looked on.

If they walk, they'll be

heroes in the 'hoods,

if they're not already.

Walton will have shown

the world he can dance circles

around the whole criminal

justice system, and these kids

will feel free to kill again!

They'll have no reason not to.

So what are we gonna do?

If we can't get walton

away from the case, let's get

the case away from him.

What about New Jersey?

They still want it.

Good.

But why a rally, reverend?

They haven't even decided

which court will hear the case.

It doesn't matter where

they hear the case, Barry.

An African American cannot get

a fair trial in this country,

whatever the jurisdiction.

What about o.J.?

These were trials about

rich men spending millions

on lawyers. It was a disgrace.

But look at the thugs

that beat up Rodney king.

It took an intifada

in the streets

to get them in front of a jury

with enough people of color

to do the right thing.

Now, welearned from that.

Now we begin the fight

before rebellion is necessary.

That's why a rally.

What's the theme

of the rally, reverend?

A demand for justice

for the George Washington four,

to ensure a jury that

understands the root

causes of crime,

of why our inner-city youth,

our beautiful young

brothers and sisters,

are in such despair.

[ TV clicks off ]

[ Prisoners clamoring ]

Whassup?!

Shit, man, we heroes!

Whassup, man, if it ain't my

George Washington four-man crew!

Yeah, y'all showed up the man!

Word.

Hey, yo,

you did a good job, man.

It wasn't me, man,

it was my cousin kameel.

If it wasn't for him,

we wouldn't have old man walton

on the team.

Man, come on, k, man,

it was my folks.

Shit, man, it was them

that did the good.

It doesn't matter.

I told you, we are gonna

get out of here, man.

[ Sighs ]

Shit, kameel,

what is your problem?

I told you, we gonna

get out of here.

I been thinkin', man.

'Bout what?

'Bout that woman.

Whatwoman?

The one we offed.

Man, fuck her.

She was probably waiting

for some niggas to blow away,

just so she could become

the queen of her 'hood.

Fuck her!

Something's wrong

with you, man.

I said fuck her!

I'd help you if I could, Jim,

but if we move this case now,

walton's gonna scream

we're jury-hunting,

and he'd be right.

You're not gonna find his kind

of black in englewood.

I don't think he'd

come after you. He doesn't

like to cross the river.

So he's gonna ride your ass

for letting it go.

You're being stubborn.

No, I'm not.

You wanted this case.

Now you got it.

Feds pulled out this afternoon.

I'm withdrawing my venue

motion tomorrow morning.

All I wanted was to try

this case in court.

I didn't want a race thing!

Bullshit!

The race thing

is exactly what you wanted, Jim.

And while everybody except

maybe Jesse Jackson

says it out loud,

the scariest thing

in America today is having

four hip-hop black kids

turn up in your neighborhood.

Now, we white folks,

we don't talk about it

openly, Jim.

You know what's being said

behind closed doors:

Everything from

blacks are... inherently stupid

to genetically criminal.

I have never said that,

gordy, not in public or private.

Maybe not.

Never!

You thought you had

a dead certain conviction

of four black kids, and...

Killers, gordy. Killers!

It's politics that's

driving you this time, Jim,

and now that lind's cooked up

a defensible case,

you want me to fight it.

It's not defensible!

Not off the street,

not in court!

Then prosecute.

Man: Hold on,

something's happening.

Looks like gainer's

leaving his house.

Tell the producer

we're on it.

We'll stay with it.

And we're back with

the reverend ed walton.

Reverend, can you understand

the outrage of the people

in englewood?

Yes, I can.

But can they understand mine?

I wonder how many of them

even know or care

what's going on here?

And I would almost bet

that the vast majority

of those people in your survey

would like to see

a quick conviction

instead of trying to understand

how this happened

and to seek real justice.

Isn't it possible

to hope for real

social justice in America,

but to also want

specific justice in this case?

You can't separate the two.

It's impossible.

Trust me, Fred, I know

that the husband

of that dead woman...

"That dead woman"?!

Gainer! Betty gainer!

She has a name!

Until he can see the racial

element here, he's part of

the problem, not the solution.

You son of a bitch!

Frank! Frank!

Nbc national news!

Slow down there, fellas.

Take it easy. What'll it be?

Do you know who we are?

Hi, what you doing?

Uh, background

for tomorrow's rally.

Linda, you've done good,

you're gonna go far,

but for now, the story's

being kicked upstairs.

It's what?!

Why?! I'm on top of it!

I gave you exact spin

you asked for!

I did the race thing!

The network loves your angle.

Theirangle.

Linda, you watch TV.

It's a national story.

The competition's put their

own star names on it,

and we've got to counter

with our own top honchos.

But they are not

up on the facts!

Facts aren't the issue.

That's why we got teleprompters.

[ Sighs ]

Shit!

> Randall: Jamie in queens,

speak to me.

Jamie: I don't know,

Randall, seems to me

those kids are justbad.

Don't-- don't seem right

they should just walk...

Hey, Jerry.

Fucking lieutenant, to you.

Aw, shit.

The old days is over, Sam.

People are fed up with black

kids running around,

going fucking wild.

You know, some of those kids

grow up to be lawyers and

doctors, some even cops.

People have had it

with your crap.

They want us to get on

with our job.

Hey, come on, Jerry.

Keeping you guys honest

is my job. That's what I do.

You know you need me.

Yeah? Not this time, Sam.

Not this way.

Everything okay, Sam?

No. [ Chuckles ] Not really.

I guess I'm not very popular

these days, Johnny.

Well, Sam, I can't understand

half the things you're up to

now-- not no more, I can't.

Well, it's a shitty job,

Johnny, but in a democracy,

somebody's got to keep

an eye out.

Mm, yeah.

You know, it wasn't that long

ago that our parents

and grandparents were getting

the short end of the stick.

It took 'em 70 years

to clamber out.

What about those poor bastards

that have been waiting 500?

Yeah, but, Sam,

ed fuckin' walton?

I didn't invite him

to the party.

But... it's a free country.

Hey, grace. Grace.

More pickles here.

Thanks.

Once again, you're looking

at film shot earlier today

at a rally in support

of the defendants

in New York's bridge incident.

Now, because the accused

are minors, we have concealed

their identity.

If it is decided to

try them as adults,

this of course will

no longer be necessary.

That's a big crowd, Connie.

Praise Allah,

the beneficent,

from whom all blessings flow.

Thank you for inviting me,

reverend ed.

[ Applause ]

And thank you

for coming down here

to show support for our boys,

who are rotting in that jail,

victims of racist paranoia!

Yes!

[ Applause ]

I want to ask those people

who grieve for that woman,

what are you afraid of?

What frightens you?

If you want to know

what real fear is,

come down to this 'hood

and see how we live!

[ Cheers and applause ]

That's right, man!

Motherfuckin' right!

My boy should not be in jail.

Should his son be in jail?

Well, Dave, this particular

boy does present

special problems.

We put a report together

to give you an idea.

These are the mean streets

of the south Bronx,

streets where this young man

and his family

struggle for respectability.

He's a straight-"a" student

who's never been in trouble

with the law.

Here in his modest apartment,

we spoke with his parents

about the difficulties

in raising a child

in these circumstances.

Young black men

live in fear.

They-- they know they'll

never get a fair hearing

from the police.

That's why most of them get

caught up in the criminal

justice system, in jail,

where they only learn

how to become worse criminals.

That's why when things go

even a little bit wrong,

they do whatever it takes

to get away.

My boy is not a killer.

Just look at his life!

Thank you very much,

Connie, for that

perceptive interview.

We'll be right back

with more of this

emotionally charged story.

You gonna tell me that

that wasn't biased? What the

hell's she trying to do,

convict us for prosecuting?

She's just trying

to understand.

Well, that's the trouble--

I don't need white liberals

making excuses for me

and my community.

All I want is a fair shake,

an equal opportunity,

but if we keep excusing killers,

of course we're gonna be hated!

Not to defend her, but she'd

probably say you're gonna be

hated whatever happens.

Really? Do you hate me?

If you two are finished,

I'd like to discuss what

the hell we're gonna do. Andy?

Press on.

Even if lind has shown

he might have a defense?

Look, it's just a matter of time

before public opinion

starts to swing.

Not according to my buddy

at CNN. My college roommate,

he says we're only down 3%

in the overnight polls.

That's just the beginning.

With background reports like

the one we just saw, we'll fall

like icicles in June.

Will you listen to us?

"We're only down 3%

in the overnight polls."

What are we, lawyers

or fucking politicians?

With media saturation,

there's no difference anymore!

Okay.

What do we do, then?

We play poker.

Wait for judge's chamber,

see if lind's bluffing.

Who wants pizza?

This is Dr. Laura osgood,

wqny.

We've got Carl Leighton

from midtown. Carl?

Carl: Ain't no d.A.

In the city gonna try

white kids as adults.

Woman: You can tell that

other caller that these are

children, Randall!

What are they thinking?

These are hardly more

than children!

Man: ...Play by rules.

They ask, why should they be

different than anybody else?

Woman #2: ...Fed up

with it all. It's got nothing

to do with race. I mean, you

should know better than that.

Man #2: Shouldn't these kids

be treated as innocent

until proven guilty?

Woman: Well, it seems to me

that most of these kids

are treated like they're

innocent even after they're

proven guilty.

[ Overlapping radio voices ]

Man: ...Probably the whole

country, you couldn't find

one d.A. Who would take

this case. Now, that's--

that's-- that's just the way

it is 'cause that's

the American way.

Frank [on home video ]:

Close your eyes.

Come on.

Betty: This is weird.

Okay, okay, step forward.

Careful.

Now, open your eyes.

Oh, my god!

This-- this is amazing!

Is this really for me?

Your beautiful car

for a beautiful wife.

Happy birthday, hon!

[ Betty sighs ]

Thank you...!

Frank: Hi.

Uh, yeah, hi.

You know, I let myself in.

The door was unlocked up there.

Yeah, I...

Forgot to lock it, I guess.

[ Home video audio

continues ]

Don't worry,

the media has moved on.

They're not interested

in me anymore.

I am.

Think this is a smart way

to spend your time?

[ Tape rewinds ]

What about work?

What?

Work. What about work?

I called in sick.

Oh, I see.

Betty: I love you.

What should I be watching,

mad about you?

No. I know how you must

feel, frank, but...

This is not smart, pal.

You're dropping right out

of the world. You're ignoring

everything that's going on.

Who's dropping out?

I watch television,

I listen to the talk radio.

It's all about walton

and, uh, what a pity it is

about those poor kids.

Not a word about Betty.

Well, that's how TV works.

You know that, frank.

Dead victims make

lousyinterviews.

You know, the media, TV,

is just a heat-seeking missile.

It just goes straight after

whatever story's got

the best picture.

It doesn't mean shit, frank.

The only thing that really

counts is what happens

inside that courtroom.

Where Betty doesn't

have a voice.

She does. The d.A.

Speaks for her.

Yeah.

So what about me?

When did I become a spectator?

[ Sighs ]

That's how the system works.

That's why we have

open courtrooms.

Open-- what are you,

a comedian?

You think an open courtroom

is gonna give a damn

about Betty?

All they care about

is keeping up with the media.

That's who sets the agenda.

That's who the judge is gonna

be thinking about.

Then why don't you

fight back?

There isn't a station

in the country that wouldn't

kill for an exclusive

interview with you.

You know, I get 10 calls

a day, frank.

[ Disinterested ] Mm-hmm.

You know, if I hadn't

been so obsessed with work,

who knows where I would have

been that night?

Betty's pear tree's dying.

I should cut the grass.

I'm sorry-- you know,

that's not an answer.

Frank, why don't you fight back?

Look, I'm not a public

speaker, norm.

That's your job.

Huh?

Frank, would-- would--

would you think about it?

Frank!

I'll think about it.

Miss Chang?

Mr. Gainer.

I want to be heard.

Now... what are we gonna do

about this circus?

With all due respect,

your honor, the circus is

the court's problem, not ours.

We intend to push on.

Frankly, I agree

with your honor.

This is a circus.

And you're the ringmaster.

With pre-trial publicity,

I'm genuinely concerned about

my client's chances at

a fair trial.

You're concerned?

Give me a break!

That's not my only concern.

I-I could list for you--

that's enough.

I'm also concerned,

and I have my own ideas

about who's responsible,

but that doesn't change facts.

The media has turned this

into an election.

The media, or ed walton?

Doesn't matter who did it.

Jim, hear me and deal

with reality.

How do we find a jury

that won't think it's here

to vote on how it feels

instead of the evidence

presented?

Yeah, no, I understand.

Yeah, of course I'll explain.

Well, I really can't say

right now, but I'll

call you back. Good.

'Bye.

Well, Mr. Gainer,

the network's very interested.

Great, great.

Where and when?

A.s.a.p.

They've already put a call out

to find ed walton.

Walton? Why walton?

Well, to present

the other side.

The other side?

What other side?

Mr. Gainer, try to

understand, we have

an obligation to serve

all the communities

that make up New York.

Walton?

That bastard?

You... you'd give a soapbox

to that... bastard?!

You're just his pimp.

You're all pimps.

Hell, it was only

an opening shot.

We would have negotiated

a single.

Yeah, well, I listened

to your advice, norm.

A lot of good it's doing.

Norm on telephone:

Frank, I'm worried about you.

I'm all right.

Are you sure?

I said I'm all right!

Show me a way to put an end

to the carnival that this case

has become.

No way I can think of.

Oh, come on, Jim,

you're smarter than that.

If we choose, you and i--

just you and i-- we can put

a stop to this hoopla

dead in its tracks.

Plea bargain. You'd love

that, wouldn't you?

Defense lawyers love to pretend

that avoiding a trial is

the same thing as

serving justice.

And you, Jim, think that

justice will be served by

a trial dominated

by media coverage?

You think you can get

a fair jury?

I think we have to--

[ loud clamor outside ]

I think we have to--

now, this is about my wife.

I have a right to be here.

No, you don't, sir.

You have no legal connection

to this case.

You're not a party.

Then who speaks for my wife?

Who?

You people certainly don't.

None of you people

even know her.

Call security now.

Okay.

I'm sorry.

Judge winslow: Will you

report that to the police,

or shall I?

I have his lawyer's number.

Why don't I speak to him first?

Whatever it takes.

Now...

[ Sighs ]

...back to the issue.

How do we avoid

any more of this? You can see

it's getting out of hand.

Jim, you owe it to the deceased

victim, to say nothing

of the system, to give it a try

or risk everythingin court.

Mr. Lind.

I think it's the best course,

your honor.

Good. I want you two

to talk to each other.

Your honor,

there's nothing we have to--

give it a try, Jim, please.

You owe it to the system.

The system, or are you

worried about a street riot

if we win?

Think what happens

if youlose.

Hmm?

What the hell is

he doing here?

He's a client, Jim.

The Bronx community center

hired me. If the meeting

doesn't go well,

he's filing a friend-of-

the-court brief.

Let him. I don't give a shit.

He's not yet a party

to this case.

Come on, come on, Jim.

You know that walton

has to sign off on any deal

before it can sail.

You can agree to his being here.

Let's call it a sidebar.

Call it a fucking hijack.

You want this to work or not?

I don't give a shit!

Want me to tell that

to the judge?

Okay.

She said we should talk.

I agreed. So talk.

Drop these charges, Jim.

They won't fly.

Why?

What is this, a plea bargain

or a demand for surrender?

You know, I would think

a brother like you would be

on our side.

I'm not your fucking brother.

Yes, I see that.

Andy, cool it. Explain, Sam.

What tells you I can't convict?

Tainted evidence.

A racist cop.

A deceased who probably

acted rashly, as she was

trained to do. And, um,

the other things.

What other things?

Oh, come on, Jim,

you know what I'm talking about.

Maybe I just want to hear it

out of your mouth.

I'll say it. You want be able

to impanel a jury without

black faces.

Black juries convict

black defendants every day.

In certain circumstances,

of course they do.

But no African American

will vote to convict those kids,

whether you try them as

adults or juveniles. The best

you can hope for, my friend,

is a hung jury.

Asshole. Have you got

any respect for the system?

Should I?

The system has no respect

for me, or for my people

who will sit on that jury.

They know that.

They know who the real

victims are, my very

disrespectful brother.

Please don't call me an asshole.

I'm not dropping.

What else you got in mind?

Remand them

to juvenile court.

I'll plead guilty to assault.

Assault! The woman's dead!

Grievous bodily

with intent to maim.

The kid thought he was

defending himself.

He had no intent.

Assault with a deadly weapon.

He used the butt, not

the business end. If he wanted

to use it as a deadly weapon,

he would have fired it.

Besides, there's my

Miranda exception. The gun

will probably be excluded

from evidence.

But not the police officer's

direct testimony,

not necessarily.

Don't bet on it, counselor.

You see the bruise on the head

of the young man Kenny?

Even now, my b.C.C.

Is financing a civil suit

against the n.Y.P.D.

For brutality.

[ Sighs ]

Willful wounding of

a person in custody.

We're asking five million.

Was he here this morning?

Frank!

Frank!

Shit.

You know, we're wasting our

time. He'll show up in court.

Let's just get out of here.

I'll explain it to the judge.

You're leaving me nothing.

I'm offering you a lot.

You get a conviction

on their rap sheet,

and prison time.

Notional prison time.

Well, time all the same.

What if I say no?

What if I go juvie and ask for

involuntary manslaughter?

You'll lose and you know it.

I'll own enough people on that

jury to guarantee it's hung--

that is, if I don't win

acquittal on the evidence.

Evidence? Shit!

All you've got is that

bullshit victim's defense.

You know, in this world,

there are such things

as victims.

Now, I've given you

my best offer, Jim.

What do you say?

Give me a minute.

Uh, use my office.

Mmm, okay.

And close the door,

will you?

I don't want to lose this case.

So. How do we deal?

Patti: I guess we bring

to the judge a reduced plea.

Sullivan: Where the hell

are you going?

I don't think I want to hear

the rest. It's tough enough

being an American in your 20s.

Hey, it's tough on

all of us, but this is

the real world.

Maybe. Just leave me

something to believe in.

This is how the system works.

It's what you wanted to see,

isn't it?

Well, isn't it?

They say you can't eat

in a restaurant once you've

worked in the kitchen, so I

think I'd better get out of here

before I decide the best thing

for me is to find a different

place to eat...

Like Canada, maybe.

Schmuck. Like it's

different up there.

Okay, what do we do?

Come, come, come.

[ Overlapping chatter ]

What do you think? No, no.

One at a time.

This can work for me.

You both satisfied with it?

I think it's fair.

I think it's the only

way out.

It's a terrible thing.

The race card makes

a mockery of the system.

And ed walton set

the agenda here.

A judicial case should

never be a super bowl game

where the object is to stack

the jury with fans,

not citizens.

You did not serve

the Republic well, Mr. Lind.

In the category of grave sins

that serve the Republic poorly,

I'm hardly a footnote,

your honor.

I don't make a mockery

of the system.

I just have to deal with

the things that do.

What about your oath

of office, the one that you took

to enter the bar?

I lived up to it.

I got my clients the best

break I could.

That's my sacred trust:

To give each citizen

his constitutional right

to a defense.

You're on wqny talk radio.

Man: Let's be real honest

about this, okay?

If you get what you want

from our legal system,

then you like it. If you

don't, then you think it sucks,

but at least in this country

you could call in

and bitch about it.

Where would you rather live?

In some country where you got

no legal rights at all?

Answer me that!

I just want to thank you

for the new outfits, reverend.

'Ppreciate it.

Yo, yeah, thanks, rev.

'Ppreciate 'em.

Clerk: All rise.

This court is now in session.

Be seated.

A motion has been filed

in respect to an agreement

between the people

and the defense in this case.

Are the joint issues

in that motion still

acceptable to both parties?

They are, your honor.

Yes, your honor.

Then proceed.

The people believe

the best course would be

to remand the prisoners

into the jurisdiction

of the family courts,

where they will be

tried as juveniles.

That's acceptable

to this court.

I will entertain any further

motions at this time.

For the defense, your honor,

may I address the matter

of the defendants'

continued incarceration?

As you can see from

the plea bargain arrangement,

your honor, the people intend

to reduce the charge brought

before the family court.

The defendants will plea

to a charge of aggravated

assault.

[ Spectators murmuring ]

Order! Decorum, please.

Continue, Mr. Lind.

As you can see from

the documents, the people agree

that the defendants' time

already served

should prove sufficient

for the court to remand them

to an officer of the city

human services department

for an extended period

of probation

and community service.

Your honor, also,

my clients are from

very modest circumstances.

I mean, even notional bail

would present dire

hardship for their families.

You suggest here that they be

released to the recognizance

of their families, and to the

reverend ed walton of the Bronx

community crusade?

Yes, your honor.

One moment.

Before ruling on

the matter of your release,

I want you to hear me.

What you did is shameful.

You took a life,

and the history of this country

is littered with the corpses

of innocent people who have

died because of unthinking

violence. Now, perhaps that

was the fate of many of

your own ancestors,

and just as there was blood

on the hands of their killers,

so too is there blood on yours--

today, tomorrow,

and for all eternity.

Now, you can only cleanse

that blood by hard work

and good deeds,

and it seems that our

legal system is gonna give you

the chance to do that.

I hope you take it.

If not, as surely as

I am sitting here,

you will one day be

back in this court.

And if that happens,

don't count on the legal system

to bend a second time.

You come back here,

and you will pay dearly.

I promise that, to you,

and to the entire community.

Now, stand up.

Defendants are remanded

to the appropriate court

for juvenile matters.

Pending appearance

in that court,

they will be released to

the custody of their families

and to the reverend ed walton,

who willbe liable

for their conduct.

Prisoners are released.

Court's adjourned.

Dad!

Ha ha! What up?

We outta here!

Man: The halls of justice?

The only justice is in the hall.

This is crazy. I just couldn't

even believe this is going on!

Stanley: From now on,

you're walking the straight

and narrow.

Kameel: Most definitely.

[ Reporters clamoring ]

Female reporter: Do you think

these kids have gotten away

with murder? Reverend walton...!

This is the right decision

for all new yorkers.

This has been a hard time,

a time of recrimination

and anger,

but that moment has passed.

This is all behind us. Over.

Reverend!

Reverend walton!

Now the job is to ensure

that the progress we achieved

in this particular case

becomes the general condition.

We have shown that justice

can work for all

New York's communities.

We have been unified

by this awful experience.

Frank?

Time to join hands

and-- and move on.

The healing time

can now begin.

Now we can turn hope

into action.

Frank?

Oh, shit!

[ Overlapping shouts ]

Move!

Get down!

Get down, reverend!

[ Indistinct shout ]

[ Gunshot ]

Ohh!

Kameel!

I got him!

[ Weeping ]

Take it easy!

No jury's gonna convict you

for something like this!

Sandra: Oh, my god!

Stanley: Kameel!

What have they done to you?

Sweet Jesus!

Don't leave us, please!

Kameel! [ Weeping ]

[ Weeping ]

Randall: That's all the time

I've got for today.

Like always, it's been a tough

day in the big city.

This is Dr. Laura osgood.

It's been a long day

here in New York,

and I'll be back tomorrow

to take your calls.

Until then,

have a good night.

Randall: Y'all take care,

keep your heads.

Call me tomorrow.

I'll be back here

at the same time.

Tell me what you're feeling.

Good night, all.