Undue Influence (1996) - full transcript

(melancholic music)

You'll have to keep after her about her piano lessons.

She never practices unless you make her.

And on Tuesday, she goes over to Jackie's or Carol's,

or they come over here after school.

I know.

You always used to make fun of my lists.

Now that's all that's gonna be left of me.

(somber music)

I love you so damn much, Nicki.

Always and always.



Isn't that what we used to say?

It's what we still say.

Is that you, honey?

Yes, Mommy.

If you're sleepy-

No, no, I'm fine, button.

I just want to look at you.

You know that Aunt Laurel and Cousin Danny-

I know, Mom.

Well, she'll be like a mother to you, you know?

I don't want another mother.

And Paul, you'll take care of my sister, won't you?

I'll take care of her.

Mommy, I love you.



I love you, Mommy.

(somber music)

(phone rings)

Atomic Fitness, Cindy speaking.

Yes, she's here, can I...

I'll get her.

(melancholic music)

Did you go see that doctor?

Laurel?

What?

Your sister.

(somber music)

Aisha.

He's in the living room.

She went quietly, Mrs. Vega.

I'm so sorry.

Oh, god.

(melancholic music)

Mom?

Uncle Paul?

Danny!

Are you and Aunt Laurel gonna come and live with us?

(Laurel sobs)

(melancholic music)

(bells tolling)

Our sister Nicole...

Has gone to her rest in the peace of Christ.

May the Lord now welcome her to the table

of God's children in heaven.

With faith and hope in eternal life,

let us now assist her with our prayers.

(melancholic music)

Lord Jesus Christ, by your own three days in the tomb...

You hallowed the graves of all who believe in you,

and so made the grave a sign of hope

that promises resurrection.

Even as he claims our mortal bodies,

grant that our sister may sleep here in peace...

Until you awaken her to glory,

or you are the resurrection and the light.

Because God has chosen to take our sister Nicole

from this life and unto himself...

We now commit her body to the earth...

For we are dust, and unto dust we shall return.

Now for our sister Nicole,

let us pray to the Lord Jesus Christ who said...

"I am the resurrection and the light.

Whoever believes in me shall live even in death.

And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die."

(somber music)

Mom, Mom...

It's all right.

It's all right.

I don't want you here.

Get out. Out!

Laurel, come on.
Get out!

She was my sister-in-law.

Where do you get the gall?

It's all right, it's all right.

It's okay. Settle down.
Please, just make him leave.

Paulie, I'm sorry.

Look, I just came here to pay my respects-

Respect?

What do you respect? Get out!

Get outta here!
You're insane.

Stop it, stop it, stop it!

All right, I'm going.

Paulie, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

(Laurel sobs)

Well, at least he didn't bring that bitch with him.

Sorry.

I didn't get the question?

Did you have carnal relations with Mr. Vega

while he was still married to

and living with my client, Laurel Vega?

Carnal relations?

Is that like-

Sexual relations.

Did you have sexual relations with Mr. Vega at that time?

I might've.

It's a simple question, Mrs. Vega. Yes or no?

Were you sleeping with Mr. Vega

while he was still a married man?

So what if we were?

Consenting adults, right?

Certainly.

Now...

Where were you and my client's husband

doing all this consenting?

Did you go to motels?

(Melanie laughs)

Please.

Is that a no?

That is definitely a no.

So you went to your apartment then?

Sometimes.

Or Mr. Vega's house?

Sometimes.

Let the records show that Mr. Vega

is coaching the witness.

You said yes.

You went to Mr. Vega's house sometimes.

Where was Mr. Vega's son

while you were doing this consenting in his home?

His son?

Yes, his son, Danny.

I believe he's the subject of this custody hearing.

Come on, Paulie.

We all know what this is about.

Where was Danny?

How would I know?

He wasn't in the room.

Well, I guess we should be grateful for that.

Hey, come on.

I'm not the kid's mother.

And you are not going to be.

I want that outburst on the record.

It will show on the record.

I understand that you're not his mother, Mrs. Vega.

What I don't understand is why you think

you're fit to be his step-mother,

when you and Mr. Vega were apparently

so busy with your consenting,

that you didn't even know where the boy was!

Okay.

You were fantastic.

You wiped her out.

We got some good stuff on the record,

but so did they.

Paul.

Why are you always so-

Conservative?
Boring?

You smoked her!

Why don't you just enjoy it?

For 16 years, he never even knew he had a son.

He spent every waking hour

running around with his big political cronies,

or he's sleeping over with tramps

like the second Mrs. Vega.

Now all of a sudden he wants to be a daddy?

Oh, god.

Is he waiting for us?

There's one way to find out.

Can I talk to you for a minute?

Sure.

If you'll excuse me, I'll just...

Let's get realistic here, Paulie.

You and I both know none of this

is doing anyone any good.

Does that mean you're gonna drop the action?

We're not dropping anything.

I'm just trying to make a deal here.

Cards on the table, Paulie.

What does she want?

She wants her son, Jack.

Our son.

She wants him, I want him.

Gotta be a bottom line.

Bottom line, huh?

Yeah.

More alimony, more visiting time.

What's it gonna take?

She can't have the house, Melanie and I are living there.

But you know me, Paulie.

Whatever it takes.

Did you ask him?

I'm talking to him now, baby.

Well, how long does it have to take?

He's supposed to be such a wizard

with his deals and everything,

he can't even work this out with his ex-wife.

I'm working on it, baby.

The reason why he's not having

too much success, Mrs. Vega,

is because it's tough to negotiate with a mother

about giving up her child.

If you'll excuse me.

Look...

I know he's her kid, and I'm sure

she wants what's best for him.

But we can give him so much more than she can.

Well, that's a good point.

So maybe we should be talking about increasing

the amount of child support that your husband pays.

Look.

She's not gonna win this thing.

We're just offering her a chance

to get something out of it.

The court is very reluctant to take a child

away from his mother, Mrs. Vega.

Yeah?

Well, let's see how reluctant they're gonna be

when they hear about...

When they find out what?

Haven't you heard?

Danny's been picked up by the police.

Something about a stolen car.

Now, what kind of a mother-

You're not gonna get my son!

You bitch!

Whoa!

Stop acting like a little kid!
Bitch!

All right, all right!

Let me go. I'm not gonna do anything.

Hey, hey, hey, cut it out!

It's all right!
All right!

Everything is under control.

Look, we can't have this kind of thing going on-

Everything is under control.

No harm. Right, Jack?

That's right, Officer. No harm.

No Harm. Go wait outside.

She could've taken my head off.

I should've.

She didn't. Go.

Wait outside, I just said!

All right, all right.

No, let him go first.

That's mine.

Thanks.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Let's wait for a few minutes and then we'll go.

(dramatic jazz music)

If I had just gotten her two inches higher-

Hey, hey, hey.

It's not funny, all right?

All right, maybe it's a little funny.

But it's not smart.

They can use this crap against you, okay?

Lighten up, Paul.

If you can't hit someone like that,

who can you hit?

We have more depositions tomorrow, right?

Yup.

Mind dropping me at home?

What do you mean dropping you off?

We gotta talk.

(Laurel groans)

Danny?

Yeah, hi.

Hey, how'd it go?

Your uncle wants to talk to you.

What's this about you being picked up

in a stolen car?

It wasn't stolen.

What was it?

They didn't have permission, it was just-

It was stolen.

The cops gonna charge you?

I don't know, I don't think so.

No, of course not.

Because your old man's gonna get it fixed, right?

You spend a lot of time with these kids?

Come on, I hardly know them.

Oh, you know them well enough to ride around

in a stolen car with them.

They were just some kids, that's all.

I just went with them, it's no big deal.

Look, Paul.

He didn't know they didn't have permission,

you don't have to be so hard on him.

No big deal, huh?

No big deal.

Jack and Melanie are gonna try to kick

your brains out with this.

They're gonna tell the judge,

"Well, she can't be trusted to raise this kid

because you can't control him!"

You want to move in with your father, Danny?

No way.

I was supposed to stay with him these two weeks

and that's the deal-

Then you better make damn sure

that nothing like this ever happens again

because if it does,

I guarantee you he's gonna win custody,

and you're gonna be living with him.

Do you understand?

Do you understand?

Yes.

Do you really think they're gonna make

a big issue out of this?

I'd make an issue out of it.

Paul, he is not a wild kid. You know that.

I thought I knew it. I gotta go.

You wanna stay? Have some dinner?

I'll have dinner with my daughter.

How is she?

She's not great.

Very sad little girl.

I spend as much time with her as I can,

try to establish some kind of a life.

I've gotta go too, Mom.

Hey, I'm just gonna work this out with Dad.

I gotta have dinner with him and Melanie.

Well, okay.

So it's cottage cheese and a pint of butterscotch ripple

for me, I guess.

Bye.

Bye-bye.

(somber music)

Is this thing really going okay, Uncle Paul?

Well, this little joyride of yours

certainly doesn't help us,

but it would be very unusual for a court

to take a child away from his mother.

Well, Dad's such a big shot senator.

Look, what's the worst case scenario here, Danny?

I mean, you move in with him for 18 months or so,

then you go off to college.

Look, I'm living with him when I have to.

Christmas, a little bit of the summer, yeah, okay.

But I'm not gonna live with him.

I don't care what happens.

You either win this thing or you don't,

but I'm not gonna live with him, Uncle Paul.

Give Sarah a kiss for me.

Yeah.

Be careful on that thing, huh?

(somber music)

Aisha, hi, it's me.

Listen, have you given Sarah her dinner yet?

No, that's great.

I've got one more stop to make,

and then I'll be home,

and I'd love to have dinner with her.

Yeah, if she gets hungry let her have an...

I was just gonna say that, let her have an apple.

Let me talk to her.

Hey, pumpkin.

Guess who?

(calming jazz music)

Sausage at one!

Sausage!

Can I buy you a drink, sailor?

How you doin', counselor?

Terrific.

Can we get two more of these, please?

Listen, I need a favor.

My nephew, Danny, he got busted on a car thing

with a bunch of kids.

It's already taken care of.

Your brother-in-law got more suck than you got.

Ex brother-in-law.

Yeah, I know he's fixed it,

but what about the records?

Are there any records on this?

Sure, there's the incident report.

The incident report.

Can you make it go away?

Here's the deal.

Nicki's sister loses points for letting this happen. Okay?

And Jack scores points for cleaning it up.

It never happened.

You're a good man.

You can have both of these, all right?

Hey!
Thanks very much.

Always a pleasure.

(Clem chuckles)

Who's gonna pay for this?

You're paying for it.

Otherwise it's bribery, right?

(lighthearted jazz music)

(Aisha hums)

Daddy!

Can I move?

(Paul laughs)

Hey, sweetie.

How you doin'? What you doin'?

Fractions are so gross.

Oh, I always thought they were kinda cute.

Beats what I was doing, calculus.

Give me a good old fashioned fraction any day.

She cooks, she does calculus,

and look what she's got on.

Something wrong with it?

No, no, I think it's cool.

(Sarah laughs)
Cool?

What? People don't say cool anymore?

People your age?

Look, what do you say you and Miss Fraction wash up

and I put some food on the table?

Sounds like a plan.

Come on!

Oh, you're too heavy, too heavy, too heavy.

(lighthearted music)

Sleep tight, sweetheart.

Could you leave it on?

I got a better idea.

Why don't I just hang out for a while?

Daddy?

Hm?

I got a 98 on my math test.

98? Wow, that's fantastic!

I don't think I got 98 on all my math tests added up.

(Sarah laughs)

Do you think Mommy knows how I'm doing in school?

I know she does, sweetheart.

And she's just as proud of you as I am.

'Cause sometimes at school, not just at home,

I can feel her watching me.

She'll always be watching over you, button.

'Cause you...

You carry her with you everywhere you go.

Me too.

Everywhere we go, for always.

Always and always.

Yeah.

Go to sleep.

Okay. Goodnight.

(calming music)

(phone rings)

This is Paul Madriani, I'm not here.

Please leave a message.

Paul, are you there?

Are you there, Paul?

Pick up, pick up.

Are you there, Paul?

Paul, wake up and listen to me-

Yeah, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute.

Yeah, Paul, it's Clem.

Clem. All right, Clem.

I'm at your ex brother-in-law's house.

You better get your ass over here.

Somebody killed Melanie Vega.

What?

Just get over here right now.

(dramatic music)

(siren blares)
(people chattering)

Hey, hey!

I'm sorry, sir. You can't park here.

This area's closed off.

Clem, talk to him.

It's all right, Frank. Let him through.

What happened?

Melanie Vega, one shot between the eyes.

Hey, where's your sister-in-law?

Laurel?

What about Laurel?

No one seems to be able to find her.

Wait a minute.

Why would anybody want to find Laurel?

Come on, Paul.

If you got this call, who would you be looking for?

Ah, come on.
Paul?

Paul Madriani, Dana.

Oh, hey, how you doin'?

What are you doin' here?

The feds involved in this thing too?

No, no, no, no. I live a couple blocks over.

What's your connection with this?

Jack Vega's my ex brother-in-law.

His wife is the one that was shot.

His second wife.

Someone was shot?

Do you know if they're dead?

Yeah, I guess they are.

It's Mrs. Vega.

Oh my god.

You know, we just moved in here.

This is supposed to be a safe neighborhood.

Well, I'm sure it is.

You know, these things happen.

Your brother-in-law's first wife then is-

Nicki's sister, Laurel.

I'm so sorry.

I just overheard the police.

There's an APB on her.

What are you thinking?

Come on, is she capable of something like this?

No, no. I can't believe that.

They were involved in a very bitter custody battle.

Wait a minute, maybe...

Hey, Clem.

She told me she was going out.

She was gonna go for ice cream or something like that.

Maybe that's why they couldn't find her.

Yeah. I'm not arguing with you.

When she gets back, she'll straighten it all out.

I better get in now, make sure Danny's all right.

Oh, your nephew?

Forget it, he's downtown.

They got Danny in custody?

I told you, a couple detectives

went by his mother's apartment to pick her up.

She wasn't there, they took the boy in.

He was at his mother's place?

Madriani!

Come here.

Jimmy Llama.

Well, that explains a lot of things.

What?

Oh, he's a cop.

I had a run in with him 4 years ago.

Paul got him flopped out of the detective school,

he's back now and nasty as ever.

Bastard.

I bet he lit up like a Christmas tree

when he heard the victim was in litigation

with my sister-in-law.

The only thing better is if he could nail this on you.

He'd actually do that?

Jimmy Llama?

He hates Paul's guts.

You want to go in and take a look, counselor?

Actually, I was just leaving.

I understand you got my nephew in custody downtown.

Oh, he's in pretty good hands.

Come on.

Let's go see what we got here.

(mysterious jazz music)

Nice house.

Follow me, counselor.

It'd be best if your client turns herself in.

Look, if she knows anything,

she'll cooperate in any way she can.

We're not talking witness here.

We're talking prime, grade A, number one suspect.

Wait, wait.

You've had the case what, an hour now?

Two, going on three.

Wow!

I bet you left no stone unturned, right, Llama?

(mysterious jazz music)

Excuse me, guys.

There's a videotape somewhere.

(camera flashes)

Taking a bath.

Pretty, huh?

Except for that bullet hole in her head.

(people chattering)

Any powder burns on the body?

Don't know yet, counselor.

Any sign of a struggle?

Don't know yet.

Why are you so sure it was Laurel?

It was her all right, counselor.

Any sign of forced entry?

Don't know yet.

Because Laurel didn't have a key.

Is that what she says?

Didn't she used to live here?

Let's go look at some TV.

(cops chattering)

All right, let's rewind this part.

Bastard!

She comes in my house and kills my wife!

Senator?

Where is she? Where is that crazy bitch?

Senator!

I don't know where she is!

Come on, Jack!

Laurel couldn't do anything like this.

I swear, I'll kill her!
Hey, hey!

You are not doing yourself any favors right now.

Now, we'll take care of it.

Don't worry about it, we will get her.

(dramatic jazz music)

Well, there's your excitement for the day, counselor.

Let's go back to our show.

Now this is tonight, 9:07.

What do you think?

Think they're good friends?

I don't see Melanie in the bathtub.

Good point, counselor.

Keep watching.

(Jimmy chuckles)

Now I can hear those little wheels turning around right now.

Your client's on the outside,

the deceased is on the inside.

You're the one that's got the videotape.

Do you have her coming back?

I got better.

9:07.

Now, if she popped her right there, that's manslaughter.

Murder 2, tops.

Heat of passion.

Exactly.

Except the people upstairs with the thermometers

put the murder at around 11:00.

Which means your client went home,

got her piece, came back...

And knew there was no camera,

on account of she's the one

that broke it in the first place.

Now, what do you think, counselor?

Premeditation?

Maybe.

If she did it.

Have you got it on videotape, Llama?

(Jimmy chuckles)

Do I look like a worried man to you, counselor?

(dramatic jazz music)

Uncle Paul.

Danny, thank God.

I went to the police station,

I went to your mom's place.

Where have you been?
I was just riding around.

Have you seen my mom?

No, have you?

The cops are looking for her.

I know.

Come on inside.

They said my mom shot Melanie.

That's why we've gotta talk to her, Danny.

She couldn't do anything like that, Uncle Paul.

Look, I'm sure if we just talk to her

we'll get the whole thing cleared up.

What's gonna happen to her?

Come on, Uncle Paul. I'm not a kid.

What's gonna happen to her?

So far they're just assuming things, you know?

If they dig up some evidence,

if they think they've got a case,

they'll put her on trial.

She couldn't do it.

She couldn't of done that. She couldn't.

So, how come you were at your mom's?

I went to Dad's for dinner,

and then he went out, so I split.

She wasn't home when you got there?

No, I told you. I haven't seen her.

Then the cops are knocking at the door...

You got no idea where she went?

She was just gone.

She didn't leave you a note?

She didn't know I was coming back.

Now you'd tell me if you knew anything, Danny.

Wouldn't you?
Sure!

All right.

Come on. Come on inside.

Come on.

(melancholic music)

See what you can find, Danny.

I'll be right back.

She was...

She was a little upset when she saw you weren't home,

so I told her I'd wait for you.

I appreciate it.

It's not getting any easier for her.

How about you?

Me either.

I've been walking around in a fog half the time.

I tell you, you lose the person

you love most in the world, it's pretty tough.

And I'm not 10 years old.

(melancholic music)

Let me get this straight, Mr. Madriani.

You still want to contest this custody action

even though your client is a fugitive?

That's right, Your Honor.

I assume that you realize that being a fugitive

does not work to your client's benefit

as far as winning custody of this child is concerned.

(Harry chuckles)

That's a hell of a family you married into, boychik.

Your sister-in-law's husband bops anything that moves,

leaves his wife for the bimbo du jour,

then drags them all through court

so he can steal a kid he never even noticed

until the day before yesterday.

Then your sister-in-law drills the bimbo.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong,

but it sounds pretty much like the first Mrs. Vega

and the good senator more or less deserves each other.

It's not that simple, Harry.

Ah.

When is it ever that simple?

We're simple, hence we try and simplify things.

I can't imagine Laurel shooting anybody, all right?

Oh, well...

Watch the Nature Channel.

A wolf threatens her nest,

that mother quail rips that wolf limb from limb.

Really? The quail?

Only it wasn't a quail.

(Harry chuckles)

But you know what I'm saying.

I don't know.

I really don't even know Laurel that well.

I know she's a terrific mother.

Now, if you said a terrific shot...

Come on, Harry.

We're facing a life sentence here.

A life sentence?

Only if she's got an idiot for a lawyer.

Ah, 10 years max, she'll do 5.

Murder 1.

Come again?

They're gonna argue premeditation.

Listen to old Harry, huh.

They can argue the world's flat,

that don't make it flat.

They got her on videotape.

It's pretty flat, Harry.

Listen to me, Paulie.

I know how tough it's been.

First you lose Nicki, trying to raise Sarah yourself,

and this hits you between the eyes.

All I can tell you is...

You gotta play the cards you're dealt.

Which means what?

Well, it means for the little girl.

You stop torturing yourself that you're not her mother.

You just be the best damn father you can be.

And for the sister-in-law it means minimize your losses.

You think I should plead her?

Find her, Paulie.

Bring her in, cut a deal.

If you don't try to beat this thing,

you could have her out in time

to see her kid graduate college.

I say something wrong? Where you goin'?

You said bring her in.

(ball bounces)

You have no idea where she might've gone?

Well, no. We're not that close.

I mean, she's the manager and all.

It's not like we hung out.

Has she called in?

Yeah, actually.

She called in a couple of times.

But she didn't say where she was.

You know, it's kind of a funny thing.

What?

Well, she didn't really have much of anything to say.

That's because she didn't want to talk to you,

she wanted to talk to me.

(mysterious music)

(phone rings)

Atomic Fitness.

Cindy?

She's in class now.

Could I tell her who called?

Hold on.

She won't give her name.

Where are you, Laurel?

Paul, thank God.

Don't say my name.

Look, I don't think they've got this phone tapped,

all right?

I don't know.

I was afraid to call your house or the office.

I was just hoping you'd figure it out.

Now, listen to me.

You've got to turn yourself in.

Where's Danny?

Danny stayed with me last night.

I'm sure Jack's gonna want him home tonight.

Wait, Paul.

I don't want him there.

You have no choice in the matter.

Do you understand?

Now, look.

I'm gonna arrange for you to surrender.

After that, we can talk about-

Listen to me, Paul.

I don't want him staying there.

Take him to the airport, there's a reservation,

I'll have someone meet him.

Are you crazy?

Absolutely not.

I'm not gonna do anything like that.

You're just gonna let Jack have him?

How can you do that?

Because Jack is his father!

(Laurel chuckles)

You want to fight that?

You come back here and you turn yourself in.

Do you understand?

I can't.

Did you kill Melanie?

No.

All right then.

Let me help you, Laurel.

Look...

I'll get you the best lawyer I can find.

What do you mean get me a lawyer?

You are my lawyer.

No, no, that's stupid.

I've never defended a murder case.

Well, that makes us even.

I've never been accused of murder.

Paul...

Please.

I don't want anyone else.

All right, all right.

All right.

But how the hell can I defend you

if you're not even here?

Now, listen to me.

I want you to tell me exactly where you are, and then...

Laurel?

(phone rings)

This is Paul Madr...

Paulie, it's Jack.

I've gotta see you.

I'll be in my office all day.

(birds chirping)
(cars honking)

(people chattering)

I want this to work out as much as you do.

Paulie!

Glad you're here.

Come on in.

Last time I saw you, Jack, you tried to kill me.

That's true.

Sorry about that.

I flew off the handle.

Grief, you know?

I know.

Sit down.

Want a drink?

No.

You know, I was thinking about it.

This has nothing to do with you, does it?

Laurel, I mean.

You married her sister, I married her.

What am I PO'd at you for?

I know I shouldn't be here in the office

a week after my wife died,

but what am I gonna do?

I was going crazy at home.

What did you want to talk to me about, Jack?

Fine, right.

Let's see...

Danny.

He's at your place, right?

Yeah, he stayed there last night.

Good.

Good, I'm glad he had someone he could turn to.

Family is very important at a time like this.

I want him home tonight.

I don't know if that's what he wants, Jack.

Are you his lawyer too?

Come on, the kid's have a tough time.

For dinner, Paulie.

I told him he could have dinner with Sarah.

Fine.

No problem.

You guys have a nice dinner.

Then just drive him by afterward.

Thanks for coming by.

I talked to your father today.

And he said he wants you home.

And he is your father, Danny.

I told him I'd drop you by later tonight.

(tense music)

Excuse me.

Daddy, what's wrong with Danny?

He's had a tough time, button.

What happened to Melanie and his mommy being away.

Is she coming back?

Sure, she's coming back.

He should be happy.

(melancholic music)

(door slams)

(door opens)

Hold it right there!

Now, get down!

Get down!

Laurel Vega.

You have the right to remain silent.

(announcer chatters)

Look, Danny, it's not like we have much choice

in this situation.

I know you don't get along very well with your father.

He's okay.

Yeah, he is.

You know, one of the thing we've all gotta learn

is to accept people for who they are.

We interrupt this program

to bring you a special report.

Right.

This development just in

on the Melanie Vega murder.

Police in Reno, Nevada have made an arrest.

Laurel Vega, the ex-wife of Senator John H. Vega,

was arrested just moments ago in this hotel,

where she has been hiding out ever since the shooting

of Senator Vega's second wife, Melanie, two nights ago.

Miss Vega was in a bitter custody battle

with the Senator over their young son Danny

when the shooting occurred.

She is currently being held in police custody

awaiting a hearing.

We'll bring you more as this tragic story unfolds.

(dramatic music)

Hey.

Thanks for coming, Paul.

How have you been?

How have I been?

I put you through a rough couple of days, I guess.

Danny's with Jack?

Last night.

Guess it couldn't be helped.

No, it couldn't.

Now, we've got a lot to talk about,

you're facing a first-degree murder charge.

I didn't kill Melanie.

That's a good start.

Now, sit down.

I have a friend who will take Danny.

I can make all the arrangements for him here.

Forget about it, Laurel.

That's not even on the table.

I don't want him in that house.

You should've thought about that before you...

I told you, I didn't kill her.

Fine.

Let's get started on this, all right?

You don't believe me, do you?

Under the law you're presumed innocent, okay?

I don't want that!

I want to know what you think.

What do I think?

They've got you on videotape

having an argument with Melanie

right there in front of the house.

They've got you on videotape destroying the security camera,

and then you disappear.

You take off for Reno in the middle of the night.

"What do I think?"

So far you haven't told me one single thing that helps us!

Yes, I did.

What?

I told you I didn't kill her.

Good, you didn't kill her.

Maybe you can help me figure out

how to deal with all of this evidence.

You can start by telling me exactly

what you did that night.

I went to her house and we talked.

Okay, argued.

Then I left. That's the whole story.

The whole story?

That's not even the first page.

"And you left."

Where did you go when you left?

Why did you go to Reno?

I'm tired, Paul.

If that's not good enough, I'm sorry.

(dramatic music)
(Laurel knocks)

(door slams)

She didn't give me a thing.

It's like she's not even trying to defend herself.

Maybe she's crazy.

If only.

What about that?

Do we got any chance on an insanity plea?

I don't know.

Can pigs fly?

I know it ain't easy, but heat of passion,

irresistible impulse, something.

I mean, God knows she's not acting rationally now.

Let's examine that for a minute, shall we, boychik?

When they busted her in Reno,

she was soaking something in bleach

in her motel bathroom.

What?

Yeah, you didn't know that, huh?

A throw rug.

A rug?
Yeah. You heard right.

A little rug.

Which, according to Jack,

came from the bathroom where Melanie met her end.

Oh, God. She's washing it?

Bleaching it.

Which puts her in the house,

which puts her in enough possession of her faculties

to scrub some potentially damaging evidence.

So much for your insanity plea.

Do you want more?

(Paul chuckles)
You got more?

She had Melanie's compact in her purse.

Oh...

That is crazy.

What did she take her compact for?

She's your sister-in-law, ask her.

I'm just telling you what they've got.

That's a nice act we've got here.

I talk, you walk out the door.

Hey, this is your idea.

I'm gonna go try to minimize our losses.

I'm gonna go talk to the DA.

Well, do you have any priors?

But if he's gonna cop a plea,

we need to have the full rundown.

(Paul knocks)

Carla, how you doin'?

Paul.

So, you're handling the Melanie Vega homicide.

And you're representing Laurel Vega.

(Paul chuckles)

Look, Carla, we go back a ways.

Cards on the table, okay?

I'm holding a full house, Paul.

And I got a client who swears she didn't do it.

I can't even talk to her about a plea.

But I can work on her.

Why don't you give me something to bring her?

Come on, we both know this is not murder 1.

You know that, I don't know that.

Come on.

She's a wife and a mother.

This woman already stole her husband,

she stole her house.

Trying to take away her kid.

You're giving me motive, Paul.

How does the motive mitigate the charge?

I'm giving you a woman at the end of her rope.

So she drills the Senator's wife?

Oh, is that what this is all about, Carla?

Is this political?

(Carla chuckles)

It's a murder trial, Paul.

Did you ever hear of one that wasn't political?

No deals.

But thanks for asking.

See you in court.

(phone beeps)

He wanted to stay here.

Why can't he stay here?

Because his daddy wanted him to come home.

He's not coming back?

Not for a while, baby.

What about Aunt Laurel?

She'll be here just as soon as she can, I promise.

I don't understand.

All right, okay.

Just stop for a second.

What don't you understand, sweetie?

First Mommy's gone, then Big Danny, then Aunt Laurel.

It's like my whole family's disappearing,

and they're never coming back.

I know.

I don't understand.

(somber music)

Nicki!

(somber music)

(phone beeps)

Ah, this better be good.

Friends don't call friends before the sun comes up.

I've gotta get to work.

I need somebody in the second chair, Harry.

Very early in the morning. Enlighten me.

I saw Carla Morgan yesterday.

She won't even consider a plea.

Ouch.

So you're gonna try and win this thing?

Have I got a choice?

Hey, you came to the right guy.

I love a good fight. Where do we start?

Talk to the neighbors.

Maybe somebody saw something.

Yeah. Our client, I'll bet.

I'm with you all the way.

You know, I never believed a lawyer

should try to get a guilty client off.

Make the best deal for 'em you can,

that's all you should do.

This is why other lawyers with less talent

have bigger offices.

Not as commendable, nonetheless.

(doorbell rings)
This is Mrs. Miller.

Ah.

(tea pours)

Well...

I heard a commotion.

Then I saw Mrs. Vega outside.

Now, that's the first Mrs. Vega.

And she was really going into it,

just like she used to with her husband.

Of course, none of my business.

Here you go.

Now it's very hot, so be careful.

Thank you.

Now, where was I?

Mrs. Vega was outside.

Could you hear what they were saying?

Oh, yes.

I heard her say she would see her in hell.

Now, is your tea too hot, Mr. Madriani?

No, it's fine.

Good.

I imagine she will.

You mean see her in hell?

Mhm.

Such a pity too.

A very sweet woman.

You mean the second Mrs. Vega?

Oh, heaven's no!

The first.

You know, I used to watch her teaching that little boy

how to ride his bike.

Very nice.

I imagine he's pretty well grown by now.

Oh, no, no, no.

Not the second Mrs. Vega, not at all.

Imagine leaving your wife for a tramp like that?

Why do you say tramp?

Well, men at all hours.

You know, if I see on the television

that the Senator's going to be in Washington,

well, I just know there's gonna be goings on at that home,

let me tell you.

Unbelievable.

Would you like a cookie?

(whimsical jazz music)

Well, that ain't bad for openers.

If Melanie had such a complicated social life,

maybe Laurel wasn't the only person in the world

who had a motive to kill her.

Could've been a jealous lover.

Could be Jack if he found out she was cheating.

Oh, I like that.

Let's not frame anybody yet,

but that's a good start.

Okay, across the street we have the Merlows.

(mysterious jazz music)

You know...

I tried a case, must've been 12 years ago.

About the only defense I had

was there were other suspects

the police hadn't told the jury about.

Did it work?

No.

(Harry chuckles)

But they were out three days before they convicted.

Ah, nobody's home.

Just slip your card under the door.

On second thought, don't bother, Paulie.

Nobody lives here.

What are you talking about?

I met these people the night of the shooting.

They said they just moved in.

And now they moved out.

That's not a clue, Paulie.

People move all the time.

Come on, we're due in court.

Hey, look at this.

What?

There's the bathroom that she was killed in.

I bet you these people saw something.

Laurel, no doubt.

You mean they were so terrified of Laurel

they moved out of a house they just moved into?

Besides, Laurel's in custody, right?

So where are they?

Where are they?

I don't know.

(calming music)

The defense waives the reading of the indictment.

The indictment has been amended, Your Honor.

I think we'd better read it.

What do you mean amended?

If you let her read it, Mr. Madriani,

we'll find out.

If it's all right with Mr. Madriani,

I will just give him the highlights.

In the court of et cetera, et cetera, city county, count 1.

That on the night of July 18th, 1996,

Laurel Thompson-Vega did shoot and kill Melanie Johnson-Vega

with malice forethought

in full knowledge of the consequences,

et cetera, et cetera.

Let's see...

Okay, count 2.

Why are there two counts?

It's probably a weapons charge.

May I continue, Your Honor?

That on the night of July 18th, 1996,

Laurel Thompson-Vega did unlawfully

take the life of John Doe.

Wait a minute, wait.

What are you talking about?

Melanie Vega was five months pregnant, Mr. Madriani.

A legally viable fetus.

Under the circumstances, Your Honor, multiple murder,

the state will be asking for the death penalty.

(dramatic music)

This way, sir.

(calming piano music)

Hi.
Hi.

I'm so glad you called.

Me too.

Well...

I always suspected you federal types

lived high on the hog.

Oh, oh, no, no, no, no, no.

No, this place is a legacy for my ex-husband.

He knew all the best places

to spend his daddy's money.

Obviously he was a man of very good taste.

Thank you, Henry.

We won't be ordering yet, thanks.

(Paul clears throat)

So, you won't mind if I put this on my tab?

No, come on. This was my idea.

I know, but this place is a bit much.

Besides, my ex pays all my bills here.

It's part of my settlement.

Well, in that case, I think we should drink

to your lawyer.

(Dana chuckles)
Here, here.

God, it's nice to be with a man

who can enjoy something like this.

Hey, what's not to enjoy?

You've got a problem with your ex-husband?

Testosterone poisoning, I think.

(Paul laughs)
Was the...

It was a sad case.

Yeah, I didn't even know you were divorced.

Mm.

Over two years.

Two years, really?

We've been out of touch that long?

We were.

Shouldn't of let that happen.

Right.

There was something I wanted to talk to you about.

Oh, god.

This is gonna be business, isn't it?

Just a little.

You remember that night outside the Vega house,

the night that Melanie was killed,

we were talking to this couple, the Merlows.

No.

(drink pours)

You remember, you were on the sidewalk, this couple...

The woman got very upset when I told her

that Melanie had been shot.

Oh, oh, oh, yes, yes, yes, yes.

I do remember a couple there.

I don't have the foggiest notion who they were though.

Why?

Oh.

Okay.

We still gonna have dinner?

You still gonna pay?

Sort of.
(Dana chuckles)

Sky's the limit.
(Paul chuckles)

There was just something funny about those people.

Who?

The Merlows.

I mean, the guy said that they had

just moved into the neighborhood.

My partner and I canvassed the neighborhood

a couple of days later, and the house was empty.

And?

Well, doesn't that seem odd?

I don't know.

I suppose it's a little odd.

Anyway...

As long as we're talking business,

there's something else I want to ask you.

I saw Jack Vega the other day,

and he was wheeling and dealing with some of his cronies.

So, you expected him to be in mourning?

I didn't expect him to be wearing a wire.

He told you that?

I saw it, underneath his jacket.

I mean, let's face it, he's a senator.

If he was wearing a wire,

he had to be doing it for your people.

It makes sense.

You don't know anything about it?

You think you could find out?

I'll ask.

I can't promise I can tell you anything if I find out.

I mean, is there a reason you need to know?

I'm just looking for reasons why

somebody wanted to kill someone in the Vega house.

I mean, if Jack was wearing a wire,

that means he was cooperating

in some kind of investigation.

There's probably somebody out there

who doesn't like the idea of being cooperated against.

I'll see what I can find out.

Okay.

Paul...

Is that the reason you asked me to dinner?

Yeah, I guess it is. I'm sorry.

No, no, don't apologize, please.

It's my fault.

I just assumed that...

Hoped that it was something a little more social.

(Paul chuckles)

I'm making a big fool out of myself, aren't I?

Well, maybe just a little.

Oh, thank you.

That's very nice, I like it.

To tell you the truth,

the idea of something more social crossed my mind too.

More than once.

But I just don't think I'm ready for anything like that.

I mean, it hasn't even been a year since Nicki died and...

I know.

I'm so sorry.

How you doin'?

You know, we were married for 14 years.

It seems like a long time, doesn't it?

But it's not.

It's not long enough.

You know what I think you need?

What?

Champagne.

(Paul laughs)

And what, two straws?

(Dana laughs)

Hi.
Hi.

How's she doing?

I think she's still awake.

You better get up there.

She seems a little down.

(melancholic music)

You still awake?

Mhm.

Aisha says you're having a tough time.

A little.

You want to talk about it?

Not really.

I think we should talk about it.

You miss Mom?

It's not that.

I mean, yeah.

But it's not that.

It's something I did?

'Cause I went out tonight, huh?

You know how you said Mommy will always be with us?

Yeah, she will.

Well...

Then how come you went out on a date tonight?

Why do you think it was a date?

You could tell when you were getting dressed.

Busted.

I had a meeting with a lady.

It wasn't really a date.

She's a lawyer, and we had business to talk about, and...

This doesn't really answer your question, does it?

I guess it does.

No, it doesn't.

I don't know what's gonna happen, button.

Look at it this way.

You're gonna grow up, and you're gonna meet somebody,

and you're gonna fall in love.

That doesn't mean you're not gonna love me anymore,

or your mommy.

Does it?

Okay, maybe I'll meet somebody too.

But that's not gonna change the way

that I love your mommy.

Because she's inside here, and here.

And she's always gonna be there. Always.

You understand?

Anyway...

Nothing like that's happened yet, okay?

And if it does, you'll be the first person I'll tell.

Come on, give me a kiss here.

Goodnight.

Goodnight, sweetheart.

(footsteps tapping)

Hey, hey.
Hey.

You may have a bum for a client,

but you have one hell of a partner.

Oh, yeah? What do you got?

Mr. and Mrs. Merlow, the mystery neighbors?

Mystery number one...

Why were they able to move out so easily?

Answer? They never bought the house.

They were renting.

They were renting in that neighborhood?

Good old Uncle Sam.

The place was seized for back taxes,

government puts it on the market,

rents it out until they can find a buyer.

Did you find out where they went?

Not quite, but I do know where she works.

Really?

Yeah.

(calming jazz music)

The more I think about this,

the less sense it makes.

I told you, you didn't have to come.

And miss this excitement?

Can I have a sheet of 32s?

Is Kathy Merlow working today?

Kathy doesn't work here anymore, she's...

She's what?

Are you a friend of hers or something?

I'm a lawyer.

She's not in any trouble,

I just want to talk to her.

What's this about?

I was looking for a friend of mine, Kathy Merlow.

We don't socialize during postal hours.

I wasn't socializing, I was asking.

About an employee?

Well, I don't know.

Is she an employee?

If you just fill out form IB-139...

Come on, I don't want to fill out any forms, I'm just-

We can't answer personal questions about personnel.

But I don't know if she is personnel.

Oh.

In that case, you would fill out form QB-1139.

I'm telling you, that girl knows something

about Kathy Merlow.

She would've told us too,

if the supervisor doesn't stick her nose in there.

So what?

If you find Kathy Merlow, and if she saw anything,

she's gonna tell you she saw Laurel.

What the hell good does that do us?

You know, you're a great help to me, Harry.

I don't know what I'd do without you.

I'm trying to help you, Paulie.

You're in a street fight here.

You're in a street fight

and the other guy's got bigger muscles,

what do you do?

You run away.

No, you fight dirty!

Meaning in this case, you don't spin your wheels

looking for witnesses who could've seen the killing.

Because what they would've seen is your client.

So what do I look for?

Anything rotten you can find on Melanie Vega.

When you can't try the facts, try the victim.

I'm not ready to do that, okay?

Well, call me when you are ready.

You're wasting my time, Paulie.

(dramatic jazz music)
(siren blares)

(bell rings)
(people chattering)

Hey.

I wonder if I could talk to you for a second.

You got me in trouble.

Yeah, I'm really sorry about that,

but I need your help.

My name is Madriani. Paul Madriani.

I'm a lawyer.

You can keep that.

What's your name?

Marcy.

Marcy Reed.

Marcy, look, it's real important

that I get in touch with Kathy Merlow.

Oh, I don't think so. I don't-

You're a friend of hers, right?

Well, yeah, I guess we're friends.

It's just, you know, if I help you out,

maybe it'll get her in trouble.

I promise you,

you're not gonna get her into any trouble.

She may have been a witness to something.

She might be able to help one of my clients,

that's all this is.

Oh, I don't think so.

Please leave me alone, okay?

The lady says leave her alone, pal.

Hey, pal.

Why don't you just mind your own business, okay?

(dramatic jazz music)

(drowned out dance music)

(tense music)

Hey, mister.

Tell Danny Vega to come out.

We've gotta talk to him.

Danny's not here.

Don't give me this crap, pal.

He's not here, okay?

Tell him to get out of the way.

You get that kid out here, or we stay.

He's got something of mine, and I want it back.

I can't do anything about that.

Now, listen to me.

Whoever told you that Danny Vega is here is misinformed.

Misinformed?

Did you get that?

We were misinformed.

Well, you are gonna be unformed unless-

Everything all right, Mr. Madriani?

(tense music)

Let's go.

Come on in, sir.

Who the hell are you?

Where's my daughter?

Were we making too much?

Hi, Daddy.

Hi.

We're making lamb chops.

You didn't eat yet, did you?

No, no, lamb chops will be fine.

How are you?
Hi.

I see you've met Special Agent Charles Franklin.

Oh, yeah.

I didn't mean to scare you out there,

but it looked like you could use some help.

(Paul chuckles)

Could we have a word?

The three of us? Outside?

All right. Who goes first?

Well, it's simple.

You were right about Jack Vega.

He has negotiated a guilty plea-

Which is sealed.

Various counts of corruption as part of the agreement.

He's going to cooperative with the investigation.

Which is the wire that you saw.

Okay, here's the tricky part.

Who was he cooperating against?

I'm sorry, that would compromise an ongoing investigation.

Well, then we have a problem, don't we?

See, obviously whoever Jack Vega is cooperating against

is a pretty damn good suspect

in the murder of Melanie Vega.

I need to know who that is.

Paul, we would help you with that if we could.

If I have to, I'll go to the judge for an order.

In that case we would deny everything,

including this meeting tonight.

Is that right?

You a lawyer, Mr. Franklin?

Yes, I am.

Well, good.

Then you understand that I can subpoena your ass.

I can put you on the stand as a witness.

I can ask you a bunch of direct questions.

Now tell me, are you prepared to purger yourself

to protect this scuzzball?

Paul, Paul.

All right.

Here is the best that we can do.

We will do everything in our power to tie this thing up

before your trial is over.

If you can get the charges against Jack unsealed by then,

is that good enough for you?

You mean I get to tell the jury

that Jack Vega is a crook?

Well, thank you very much.

They know that already, okay?

No, that's not good enough.

Now listen to me, Laurel Vega's on trial for her life.

I'm gonna do whatever I have to do to defend her.

Do you understand?

You go back, you talk to whoever's running

this little dog and pony show of yours,

and you tell him I need some names.

Under the circumstances,

maybe we better forget about dinner, huh?

It's very good meeting you, Mr. Madriani.

You have a very charming daughter, sir.

Yes, I do. Thank you.

You can go on ahead Charles, I'm okay.

Okay, I'll wait in the-

No, no, it's all right.

You can go on ahead.

I think I'm gonna walk home,

I don't live too far from here.

It's a nice evening for a walk.

Mhm.

Okay, I'll see you later then.

Thanks.

It's beautiful here.

Yeah, we've been very happy here.

Your daughter is so sweet.

Yeah, she's great.

She's getting a lot of compliments these days too.

Well, please apologize to her.

Sure.

We had fun.

We kinda hit it off.

Of course, she thought you were here on business.

Would she mind if I wasn't?

Yeah, I think she would very much right now.

I understand.

It's just that...

I mean, some day...

Yeah, some day.

Maybe.

I'm not asking for a wedding ring, you know.

(Dana chuckles)
(calming jazz music)

It's true!

Come on.

She's just a lawyer, she works for the government.

Yeah right.

You know, it's possible for a pretty woman

to have a government job, okay?

And he's an FBI agent.

Daddy!

Anyway...

What'd you think of her?

She's all right, I guess.

Yeah, she is all right, isn't she?

And so are you.

(Sarah chuckles)

(tense music)

I think the person you should be looking at is Jack.

All right, let's look at him.

Jack kills Melanie.

What's his motive?

Jealously. Isn't that a motive?

Always has been.

We got a neighbor who says Melanie was fooling around,

but there's no way to prove that Jack knew about it.

Of course he knew, she was pregnant.

So?

Jack had a vasectomy 12 years ago

so he could play around more.

I wasn't supposed to know.

Wow.

Yeah.

But these days you could have that reserved, can't you?

Jack. Are you kidding?

So Melanie gets pregnant,

Jack knows the baby's not his...

Do you think he could do something like that?

You thought I could.

I don't know what he could do.

But you knew there was gonna be trouble.

That's why you wanted Danny out of the house, right?

Leave Danny out of this.

No, no, no, come on.

He must've known something was going on, kids always do.

I said leave him out of it, Paul.

Okay, okay.

(Paul chuckles)

I'm off to a great start here.

One thing I gotta do is I gotta track down those neighbors.

What neighbors?

The Merlows. The people next door.

The moved out right after the murder,

maybe they saw something.

I'm sure they didn't.

I think what you should do is just concentrate on Jack.

I'm gonna concentrate on Jack,

but there's something fishy about those people.

No, there isn't.

Look, I don't want you wasting your time.

You don't want me wasting my time,

or you just don't want me to talk to them?

Why wouldn't you want me to talk

to a potential witness, Laurel?

You son of a bitch.

You still don't believe me.

You think that I killed her?

I'm trying to find out what I'm up against here!

What the hell are you defending me for

if you don't know what you're up against?

What's this, some damn favor for Nicki?

Laurel, I'm doing the best I can here.

Just get out, out!

I'm gonna get another lawyer.

Are you crazy?

You think you're gonna do any better with a stranger?

And how the hell are you gonna pay him?

Get out!

All right.

All right.

I will get out.

(dramatic jazz music)

(Paul knocks)
Guard!

(door slams)

(phone rings)

(melancholic music)

(doorbell ringing)
(knocking)

Paulie!

Come on, open up!

What?

What? What?

I'm coming, I'm coming!

(knocking)
Let's go!

Hey, hey!

Open the door!

All right, all right, I'm coming.

Come on!

Coming!

Where the hell is he?

Where's who?
Danny!

What'd you do with him?
He's not here.

Oh, come on! Danny!

I left him at your place two days ago, I haven't seen him.

Be quiet-

Well, he's not at my house, so where the hell is he?

I don't know where he is, Jack.

Calm down. Now, come on.

I know Laurel set this up,

but she's in jail, she couldn't have done it.

It has to be you.

I don't know what the-
Danny?

Jack!
Danny?

He's not here, Jack.

I'm telling you, he's not here.

Yeah, well, I want to see for myself, Paulie.

All right?

Don't call me Paulie, all right?

My name is Paul, call me Paul.

Where you goin'?

Stay out of there, that's Nicki's room.

Jack, knock it off!

Daddy, what's going on?

Daddy!

Uncle Jack.

What's going on?

It's okay, Sarah.

Go back to sleep.

Daddy, are you okay?

It's all right, it's okay.

Daddy!

It's okay, it's okay. Everything's fine.

Don't worry.

What happened?

What is this about, Paul?

I told you I'm getting another lawyer.

Where's Danny?

He's got nothing to do with you.

What happened to your face?

Your ex-husband dropped by looking for his son.

Sorry about that.

It still has nothing to do with you.

You can't do this, Laurel.

Really?

I seemed to have done it.

It's a felony.

What are they gonna do, Paul?

Put me in jail?

You're just handing the prosecution evidence

about how reckless you are.

Let me worry about that.

Do you care what happens to you?

I care about my son.

(hand slams)

This man is no longer my lawyer.

Can I go back to my cell?

You're wrong about that, Laurel.

I'm still your lawyer.

Until the judge gives you permission

to remove me from the case, I'm your lawyer.

(door slams)

It's a trick, Your Honor.

What kind of trick?

They're stalling for time.

She's going to ask for more time

to prepare with a new layer.

Is that the case, Mrs. Vega?

I don't care.

Do it whenever you want.

You support this petition, Mr. Madriani?

Come on, she's not gonna fire him,

he's her brother-in-law.

Mr. Madriani?

This hearing was requested by my client, Your Honor.

It was not my idea.

Please.

They are not even good actors,

I can see right through this.

I don't know what is going on here, but I object.

That's enough, Miss Morgan.

Mrs. Vega, this is a very serious step.

You're going to have to convince this court

that it makes sense for you to discharge your attorney

at this stage.

Can you tell us why you're dissatisfied with him?

I don't trust him.

I have no confidence in him.

Are those reasons enough?

Ever since Nicki died I feel like I'm losing my grip.

My grasp.

It's not just a figure of speech,

I mean, I reach out for something.

It's just not there anymore.

Like Nicki.

Yeah.

Like Nicki and like my nephew, Danny, just disappeared.

Like this case that's disappeared,

like my daughter who finds me lying there.

Knock it off.

Can't even defend myself against

a couple of adolescent punks

without the FBI stepping-

I said knock it off.

Just stop talking a second and listen to me.

First of all, since you're into this self pity thing,

you forgot to mention getting beaten up

by a windbag like Jack Vega.

I'll give you 12 seconds to contemplate

how truly pathetic that is,

and you get off this kick.

It's not a kick, Harry.

It's not a kick.

I feel like I'm falling apart.

Do you hold Sarah when she cries?

Of course I do.

All right.

You're doing everything a father could do.

And there were three of those punks.

The only reason you got fired off the case

is because your sister-in-law doesn't want to be helped.

She doesn't want to be helped because she can't be helped.

Oh, come on.

I could've-
You could've what?

You're a damn good lawyer.

You found a potential witness

where nobody else would've bothered.

Only that scared the hell out of her.

What does that tell you?

It tells me I should've figured it out earlier.

No.

No, I'm telling you,

there's something that we're missing here.

I don't know what it is,

but the neighbors, the Merlows.

They're not gonna run away because they saw

Laurel Vega standing there with a good in her hand.

I didn't saw you were a good lawyer,

you're a great lawyer, Paulie.

You care about this woman,

she doesn't even care about herself.

But that's another thing.

Why doesn't she care about herself?

I mean, she won't even let me help her.

Why not?

(knocking)

Paul, it's Dana.

Hi.

I heard what happened in court today, I just...

Ouch.

What'd she do? Punch you for good measure?

He had run-in with reality.

Plus he's turned the self pity dial up to full.

Well, I'm here to offer my condolences.

Paul, it's better somebody else handles this.

This is not a winnable thing.

You wanna hear how screwed up I am,

when I was handling the defense,

I couldn't help thinking,

"What am I, crazy? She's guilty as hell."

But now that I've been fired I keep saying to myself,

"You know, I got a pretty good case here."

Paul, you can't mean that.

Look what we got.

We got a senator who's ratting out

all of his crooked friends to the feds.

So?

He sent a hitman?

What? Are you saying it couldn't happen?

All the time, Paul.

All right, without that.

You got Melanie cheating her brains out.

She gets pregnant, only her husband has had a vasectomy.

Which gives you?

It gives you a motive for murder.

If he knew she was pregnant.

We don't know that he did, do we?

He knew.

We've been tapping his phone.

When the doctor called to tell Melanie

that her pregnancy test was positive, she was out.

Jack took the call.

(mysterious music)

(elevator dings)

Excuse me, I need to talk to whoever's handling

the Laurel Vega defense.

Uh, if you'll just have a seat please.

(people chattering)

(door slams)

Uh, Mr. Vega?

Yeah, right here.

Fred Travis.

I'm handling the Laurel Vega defense.

Listen, I've only got a minute.

I've gotta be in court on another matter.

Why don't we walk?

Right.

So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about, Mr. Vega?

Madriani.

My name is Paul Madriani.

You're not the husband?

She doesn't have a husband.

She's accused of murdering her ex-husband's second wife.

Right, right, right.

And I've got some information

I think would be useful to the defense.

Listen, hold that thought. Steve.

Steve, come here a second.

This is Mr. Vega.

Madriani.

Madriani. Sorry, sorry.

He's got some information about that homicide thing.

You want to do me a favor

and take a statement from him?

I've gotta go, I'm sorry.

This shouldn't take very long.

Which case was that again?

Laurel Vega.

How'd it go?

She's being defended by a guy

who insisted I'm her husband.

Well, it takes them a while to get up to speed.

Do you know what they call people

who had lawyers like that?

Convicts.

You got it.

I'm gonna go talk to her again.

Marcy Reed.

Who the hell is Marcy Reed?

Beats me.

"I'm sorry about the other day.

Can you meet me at work?

Marcy Reed."

I don't know anybody named...

Yes, I do.

That girl at the post office, the little blonde.

I'm going over there.

Bear in mind, your client doesn't want you pursuing it.

If I can remind you that I don't have a client.

(phone rings)

I'm sorry, excuse me, this is an emergency.

Excuse me, pardon me.

Pardon me, just a second.

Miss Reed?

Oh, hi.

I get off in half an hour.

Okay, I'll wait for you.

Bye.

Hi.

Hi.

I really appreciate this, Marcy.

Oh, I just didn't feel right

blowing you off like that the other day.

Ah, forget about it.

And then I read in the paper,

that lady you're defending?

Murder charge.
Yeah.

She's got a kid.

He's like my brother's age.

You understand, I'm not really representing

Mrs. Vega anymore.

Yeah, yeah.

That's what it said in the paper,

I just didn't know who else to call,

and I'd really like to help that lady out if I can.

Ah, me too.

Why don't we move over here, out of the way. Okay?

I would love to get to talk to Kathy Merlow.

See, she and her husband,

they lived right next door to the murder scene.

Maybe they saw something.

I mean, they left in kind of a hurry, didn't they?

Oh, brother.

But she didn't tell you they were planning

on going anywhere?

She didn't even clean out her office.

But you do know where she went, huh?

Yeah, Jamaica.

Jamaica.

Yeah.

Well, she sent me a card.

Really?
Yeah.

She's only here like, about a month,

but we got kinda close.

It doesn't have an address though.

No.
That's too bad, isn't it?

Yeah. It still could be helpful though.

Do you mind if I keep this?

No.

Do you know if she had any family,

anyone who might actually have an address?

I don't know.

What about her husband?

Do you know where he worked or anyone who might know him?

No.

But you know, there might be something in her office.

Actually, you know, you're probably not supposed to be here.

I don't want to get you into any trouble.

No, I'll just tell them you're a lawyer,

and that's kinda like working for the government.

(Paul chuckles)

Well, not quite.

In court and all?

Yeah, sure it is.

Sometimes it sticks.

What we're looking for is like an address book,

a Rolodex, you know.

Notes with phone numbers, names.

Was that right what it said in the paper?

That she fired you?

More or less.

Bummer.

Miss Reed.

What exactly are you doing here?

Who is this?

I'm an attorney, all right?

I'm trying to get in touch with Kathy Merlow.

This is federal property!

I understand that.

If you'd just let me talk to you for a minute...

I'm asking you to leave, now.

And I want to see you in my office.

It's not her fault, all right?

I told her it was gonna be okay.

I wasn't talking to you!
Marcy Reed?

Yes?

Package for you.

Who are you? What are you doing here?

You're not supposed to be back here either.

Where exactly is our security?

That man is not authorized to be back here.

Will you-

I'm gonna leave now, all right?

I'll leave. Let's go out and talk about this.

Okay?

I think maybe Kathy Merlow was a witness to a homicide.

All I want to do is talk to her,

and if she saw anything, maybe...

I got it.

(explosion booms)

(people screaming)

(dramatic music)

Hey, she needs help!

It's still too early to speculate.

The number of dead has already been placed to 12,

and a source within the fire department here says

that number is certain to go a lot higher.

The only break we're getting

is the walls are pretty thick,

otherwise the whole thing would've come down.

Are you confirming it was a bomb, sir?

Get the hell out of here!

Hold it, hold it, let me check her pulse here.

It's rapid, she's in shock.

Let's move her out!

(dramatic music)

Let me give you a hand, brother.

Let me take a look at that.

I'm fine, I'm fine. Thank you.

People are really hurt in there.

(sirens blaring)

(dramatic music)

Mr. Madriani.

Hold all my calls.

What happened?

(dramatic music)

Mr. Hines, could you please come down right away?

Something's happened.

(dramatic music)

(glasses clanging)

(knocking)

Paul, are you in there?

Come on, Paul. Open up.

It's open.

What's going on?

Grace said you were back...

What have you been doing, rolling in the street?

Holy...

What happened?

There was a bomb.

Didn't you hear it?

I heard sirens.

It was the post office.

Was it bad?

People killed?

I guess so.

My god, the girl.

What girl?

The girl. The girl we went to see.

The clerk, what was her name?

Marcy, Marcy Reed.

What about her?

Harry, it had to be.

It had to be. It was in the package.

What was in the package? The bomb?

The bomb. The bomb was in the package.

I handed it to her.

Give me all the details, don't leave anything out.

All right.

I went to see the girl,

and she got a postcard from Kathy but...

She's in Jamaica. There's no address on it.

So, we went to Kathy's office,

we tried to find an address, a phone number, something.

This mailman comes in and he hands me a package.

For you?

How'd he-
No, no.

It wasn't for me, it was for her.

It was for Marcy Reed, so I give it to her.

The supervisor's there and she says,

"Who's he? What's he doing back here?

Where does he work?"

You know, I figured something was weird but-

Listen to me, Paulie.

I don't know what's going on here,

but that bomb was meant for Marcy Reed and for you.

Why?

I don't know why.

Let's get you to a doctor.

(melancholic jazz music)

Yeah, Dana Colby, it's Paul-

Yeah, you get the feds in it.

It's important. I need to talk to her right now!

Yeah, yeah.

Listen, I need to talk to you right away.

No, no, I don't want to see you there.

Meet me at my place, as soon as possible.

Don't bring anybody with you. You understand?

No agents, nobody.

Okay, bye.

Hi.

What's the big...

Paul, my god.

I got something to tell you.

It's just between you and me.

You gotta keep your office out of it.

Do you understand?

Well, Paul, if it's something-

No, no, no. Listen to me.

I need your promise on this.

All those people dead.

That nice girl, that nice, sweet girl, Marcy Reed.

All she wanted to do was to help me.

I understand how you must feel.

Really? I wonder if you do.

You're right, I probably don't.

What I also don't understand

is what you want me to do.

I handled the package, all right?

In fact, I gave it to her.

Technicians, they do amazing things these days.

They'll probably find my fingerprints.

If they do, I wanted you to know what happened

just in case...

What?

Why? What are you going to do?

I'm going to Jamaica.

Oh, no, no.

I'm not asking your permission.

I know you're not.

Paul, you touched a nerve.

I don't know whose, neither do you.

You don't fool around with people like this.

Did you hear what I just said?

I handed this girl the bomb.

I'm not gonna turn my back on this and walk away.

You owe her something.

That's right.

You have an overdeveloped sense of obligation.

(Paul scoffs)

At least Laurel Vega is family.

You don't know what you're doing.

You owe this girl nothing.

You're gonna get yourself killed!

This girl, this girl died

because she was trying to help me!

I'm going to Jamaica.

Okay.

Okay.

I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.

No, this is enough shirts, baby.

What are you looking for?

I'm looking for your bathing suit.

(Paul chuckles)

Bathing suit.

This is a business trip, I'm looking for a witness.

Daddy, it's an island.

There's ocean all around it.

Thank you very much.

My bathing suit.

There we go. All right, now come here.

Come on over here, let's sit down.

That's a girl.

Listen, sweetie, a lot of things have been going on.

Lot of changes.

Are you okay with all this stuff?

Yes.

Are you sure?

I like having dinner with you better than Aisha.

(Paul chuckles)

Good.

Yeah, I'm okay.

I'm glad.

Give me one here.

Okay?

Oh, that's what I want.

Yeah, that's what I want, baby.

(upbeat music)

Thank you for flying Tropical Air.

Well, you might have a little trouble

explaining this item on your expense account.

As far as I'm concerned,

you're an informant with information relevant

to the bombing of a federal facility.

I'm just doing my duty here.

Welcome to Jamaica.

Nice to see you folks again.

What the hell are you doing here?

I thought we had a deal!
Paul, Paul.

Look, do you really want to help us find Kathy Merlow,

or do you just want to ease your conscience?

We'll use local agents, Mr. Madriani.

They're very discreet.

All right, let's find her.

(upbeat music)

We checked out that postcard.

It was posted from a village up on the hills.

There's no one under the name

of Kathy or George Merlow up there,

but there was mail addressed to her hill at the post office,

which she picked up.

I think I remember what she looks like.

Why don't I just go up there and look around?

Paul, she knows what you look like too.

Exactly.

When I say village, I'm talking about a dirt road,

four buildings.

She'd spot you a mile off.

All right.

So, what are you suggesting?

We'll use a local agent.

Someone who'll blend in with the scenery.

I don't know if she's expecting anymore mail,

but sooner or later she's gonna be needing groceries.

And when she's spotted-

Then you inform me, right?

She's your witness, Paul.

We're not gonna interfere.

Good.

What do we do in the meantime?

Well, you did bring your bathing suit, didn't you?

(upbeat music)

(Paul laughs)

(Dana laughs)

(calming music)

Dana.

Yes, yes.

I had a client.

We got involved, I guess it lasted about 6 months or so.

I don't even know why I was doing it.

It nearly wrecked my marriage.

I had to really work hard

to try to patch things up with Nicki.

This is different.

Yeah.

Of course. Of course it's different.

It's not the same at all.

I miss you too.

I'm hoping just a couple of more days. I don't know.

No, no, not yet.

They think they know where she is, but...

Look, if she can help Aunt Laurel, right?

I know, sweetie.

I tell you what, why don't you sleep in my bed tonight?

I'll call you later and I'll tuck you in, all right?

Yeah.

I love you too, baby.

Buh-bye.

Hey, I'll meet you in the lobby.

Okay, 10 minutes.

Don't run away.

Okay.

(people chattering)

(mysterious jazz music)

(jeep speeds)

Oh, I got it.

You're her.

You're Kathy Merlow.

What do you want with me?

My name is Madriani, I'm a lawyer.

I know who you are. I can't help you.

You saw what happened that night, didn't you?

I didn't.
Come on, lady!

You just moved into the house,

you've been running ever since.

You know what happened!

I can't help you, I didn't see anything.

Marcy Reed is dead.

That's right, that's right, she tried to help me,

somebody sent her a bomb.

Okay?

I have to go.

Marcy is dead, another woman is gonna go to prison

for the rest of her life

for something she didn't do.

Come on, lady!

What kind of a person are you anyway?

You've got no right, no right at all!

Look out!

(gun fires)

Go, go, go!

(suspenseful music)

(gun fires)

Get down the hill.

No, I can't-

Go on, I'll keep him up here.

Go on, move, now!

(gun fires)

Was the door open?

Yes, Father, it was.

I really must get it fixed.

There's not supposed to be anyone in here really,

but since you are interested,

this structure, it was built in the early 18th century.

It's the oldest one of it's...

(suspenseful music)

(tires screeching)

(gun fires)

I don't know.

It's been a couple of hours.

Hi.

Hey. What happened to you?

I was looking at those pictures at the bar.

Had an impulse to take a look around.

I'd rather you told me the truth, you know.

I had a hunch where I might find Kathy Merlow.

Well, you didn't find her, did you?

No.

I didn't think so, because we did.

Really? Hey.

Well, that's great.

No, it's not.

(dramatic music)

Let's keep that place secured.

Don't let anyone touch anything.

How's your stomach?

What happened?

Take a look.

(tense music)

We just got here too late.

Where are the bodies?

The bodies aren't here.

They'll probably wash up in a day or so.

Are you sure it's them?

We'll do a blood work up.

But I wouldn't hold out any hope

that they're alive if I were you.

(dramatic music)

I did see her today.

Somebody took a shot at us too.

Paul!

Let's get out of here, let's go home.

Yeah.

Yeah, let's go home.

(dramatic music)

Just hear me out, Laurel.

(dramatic music)

Back on the case, counselor?

It seems that way.

I take it you're back with us to stay, Mr. Madriani?

That's right, Your Honor.

Well, let's hope we don't have anymore

changes of the heart.

Now, what's this motion about the rug?

You want it out?

No, no, Your Honor. Not at all.

I'm a little concerned about inferences.

His client was washing that rug

in the bathroom of the motel where she was arrested.

It comes from the bathroom where the murder took place.

That rug speaks for itself.

A talking rug.

(people chuckling)

And what is your motion, Mr. Madriani?

Your Honor, there is no fiber evidence,

there's no biological evidence,

blood stains or whatever,

linking my client to this crime.

Of course there aren't.

She washed the rug.

And you wish to argue that washing the rug

infers the willful distraction of evidence?

Isn't it obvious?

That's an inference, Your Honor.

A textbook inference.

Thank you very much.

She drove to another state in the middle of the night,

and she took laundry with her?

I don't think so.

And there's another inference, thank you again.

Your Honor, if this talking rug wishes to testify

and speak for itself,

I've got no problem with that.

I just don't want the prosecution

putting words in the rug's mouth.

Come again?

I don't want the prosecution inferring

that evidence exists where it does not exist, Your Honor.

This is a classic case of circular logic.

We're assuming that Mrs. Vega was washing the rug

because it had blood stains.

We're assuming that the rug had blood stains

because Mrs. Vega was washing it.

All we've got here are assumptions.

The prosecution is inferring that evidence,

hard evidence, i.e. blood stains exist,

based solely on the fact that there are no blood stains.

Your Honor.

Miss Morgan, I will permit you to introduce

the rug into evidence.

I just don't want to hear any inference

about non-existent blood stains.

(calming jazz music)

You know I can't be seen with you.

Why?

Law of the jungle.

I mean, you're in court, counselor.

That means the people who write my checks

are trying to put your client away.

I thought we were all engaged

in the search for justice.

Yeah.

Yeah, maybe when we were in junior high school.

Listen, Clem, I need a favor.

Oh...

How much trouble am I gonna get in?

Oh, no, no, it's nothing.

I want you to run some prints for me.

An entire set of gorgeous prints.

Dried paint, it's a piece of cake.

Oh, I'm sure the boys in the lab

are really gonna appreciate the quality of this.

Tell them we're gonna have to sell them something.

We're gonna have to buy them something.

A fifth of scotch usually does the trick.

Can I ask whose prints these are?

(Paul chuckles)

That's why I want you to run the prints,

so you can tell me who they belong to, all right?

It's a lady, now deceased.

That means dead.

All right, wiseguy. Let me out here.

I'll walk back.

I remember I was told to never accept a ride from a lawyer.

(Clem laughs)

Honey, I promised you you'd be the first person I'd tell.

While I was in Jamaica, Dana Colby,

you remember Dana from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Forget that she's from the U.S. Attorney's Office,

this wasn't business.

Well, she was there on business.

Are you going out with her?

Yeah, I am going out with her.

Look, honey.

I'm never gonna stop loving your mommy, all right?

For the rest of my life, that's not gonna change.

Hey, anybody home?

I just...

Sarah...

Huh, great timing.

(melancholic music)

I'm sorry.

Is she okay?

She's asleep.

That's not what I asked.

Watch your legs.

She's...

She's 10 years old.

And she's lost her mother,

and she's scared to death she's gonna lose me.

You're scared too.

(Paul laughs)

Maybe a little.

Look, I think about you all the time, Dana.

Good.

I feel like I'm starting to need you.

I don't know if I'm ready for that.

Why are you so hard on yourself?

(Paul chuckles)

Things happen to us, Paul,

whether we're ready for them or not,

good and bad.

This is one of the good things.

Yeah.

You're right about that.

Yeah?

I have a present for you.

Really?
Mhm.

What could that be?

That's him.

That's the guy that delivered the bomb.

You're positive?

We got to know each other pretty well.

His name is Lyle Simmons.

AKA Frank Jordan, AKA James Hayes,

and so on, and so on, and so on.

What he does for a living

is precisely what you saw him doing.

A hitman.

Yeah, I figured that.

The thing is, who hired him and why?

Paul, I have to tell you something.

You have to be very judicious how you use this.

I am so judicious that Laurel says I'm boring.

Well...

We have an informant in Washington, the bureau that is,

who claims they saw Mr. Simmons, Jordan Hayes,

having a very quiet meeting

in a very quiet corner of a dingy restaurant

with Senator Jack Vega.

Melanie gets pregnant, Jack finds out about it,

and he hires this guy to kill her.

I think that's a reasonable inference.

And Kathy Merlow got a good look at him,

and she probably said something about it to Marcy Reed,

so this guy kills Marcy Reed

and 12 other people in the post office,

and then he uses me to lead him to Kathy Merlow,

and he kills her.

God, what a mess.

All right, I gotta talk to this informant,

the guy that saw him together with Vega.

Well, now that's a problem.

No one knows where he is.

What do you mean no one knows where he is?

You just said he was on the payroll.

Paul, you know what these people are like.

They're roaches.

The lights come on, they disappear.

I don't think he would make a very good witness anyway.

I have to talk to him.

He's my whole case.

I know.

I know.

Well, at least you know Laurel didn't do it.

I mean, that should give you some moral support.

(Paul chuckles)

I need all I can get.

That's what I'm here for.

Oh, that's what you're here...

You're here for moral support?
Mhm.

All right, well...

Maybe moral isn't exactly the right word.

Oh, oh!

(Dana laughs)

(calming music)

I'm gonna have to go home and get some of my-

Shh, shh, shh.
What?

Oh, she doesn't know I'm here?

She doesn't know you're still here.

Hey, the school bus will be here in a minute.

You all ready?

Mhm.

I don't know how late I'll be in court,

but Aisha will be here when you get home.

All right.

I love you, Daddy.

I love you too, sweetie.

Bye, Miss Colby!

(lighthearted music)

(dramatic music)

Relax, Paul.

It's only another trial.

That's a very serious looking dress.

Severe, you mean?

A touch of Mary, Queen of Scots,

I thought it was appropriate.

Except they used to wear those big ruffles

in those days.

Until they cut off their heads.

You will hear evidence that the defendant was involved

in a very bitter custody battle with her ex-husband.

And you will hear evidence that she blamed the deceased,

Mr. Vega's second wife, for trying, as she put it,

"To steal her child."

You will hear and see evidence that this woman, Laurel Vega,

was so angry and bitter,

that she attacked Melanie Vega outside her lawyer's office

just hours before Melanie Vega was killed.

You will see with your own eyes

evidence that the defendant went to the deceased's house

on the night of the murder.

A house in which she used to live.

A house she knew her way around.

They had a violent argument.

And sometime later that night,

the evidence will show Laurel Vega returned to that house

where she shot and killed Melanie Vega

and her unborn child.

Victim was lying on her back in the bathtub

in the master bath,

and there appeared to be a bullet wound in her forehead.

Was the tub filled?

Yes, ma'am.

And did there appear to be signs of a struggle?

There was a considerable amount

of water splashed on the floor.

There was a little shelf next to the tub full of cosmetics.

Some of the bottles were knocked over.

Detective, did you conclude

that there had been a struggle?

I didn't draw any conclusions,

I'm just telling you what I saw.

Do you recognize any of those individuals,

Detective Llama?

The woman in the door is the victim, Melanie Vega.

And the other woman?

The husband of the decreased informed me

that that was his ex-wife, Laurel Vega.

The defendant?

The defendant.

Detective Llama.

Did you find any physical evidence on the scene

that would implicate the defendant in this crime?

Well, there was a dead body. That tape.

Mr. Vega told me that-

No, no, no, no, no.

Not hearsay, Detective.

Physical evidence.

Fingerprints, skin fragments, stuff like that.

You know, evidence.

No.

You found no fingerprints?

That's correct.

Hm.

But you immediately broadcast an all points bulletin

for my client.

Isn't that correct?

As I explained-

Yes or no?

Yes.

And that bulletin listed her as armed and dangerous.

Isn't that correct?

She had a gun.

Move to strike, Your Honor.

Detective, please confine your testimony to the facts

you directly observed.

The jury will disregard the witness's last statement.

Detective Llama, isn't it fair to say

that you decided that Laurel Vega

was the perpetrator of this crime

within an hour of your arrival on the scene?

Yes, sir.

On what evidence?

On the statement of her ex-husband?

The videotape that we just viewed.

In which she leaves the scene.

She broke the camera.

Whether she left or stayed, I don't know.

But she was on the outside.

We saw the door close.

She used to live in that house, Mr. Madriani.

Very possible she could've had keys.

Could've had.

Do you always broadcast APBs

on the basis of could've hads?

Objection!

Is it fair to say, Detective Llama,

that you relied very heavily

on the statement of Jack Vega

on making your assessment of the situation?

Well, he said there was animosity

between the two women.

In fact, there was a custody fight.

There were two parties to this fight, weren't there?

I beg your pardon?

Animosity.

Animosity, that's your word, Detective.

That cuts both ways, doesn't it?

I mean, didn't it occur to you

that Jack Vega might have his own reasons

for wanting to implicate his ex-wife

in the murder of Melanie Vega?

Your Honor, who is on trial here?

She has a point, Mr. Madriani.

Where's this going?

I'm trying to establish a rush to judgment here,

Your Honor.

The police made up their minds without-

The police had plenty of reasons

for wanting your client in custody, Mr. Madriani.

Isn't that obvious?

I mean, all I'm trying to do is suggest

that maybe the cops made a snap judgment.

Okay, Laurel did it, end of investigation.

No, no, that-

I believe "son of a bitch"

is the word you're groping for.

Thank you, thank you.

That black robed son of a bitch

not only won't let me get it in,

he flat out tells the jury,

"No, that's not true.

No, they had plenty of reasons."

What do you do when a judge pisses in a stew pot, Paulie?

You move on! You let it go.

Move on where?

We're getting killed here!

Never laid a glove on Llama.

Yeah, well, you probably should've left him alone.

No cross.
Yeah, well, thank you.

Thank you for pointing that out.

Paul.

Not too good, I hear.

It's all over the courthouse how I blew it.

Come on, let's get some dinner.

It's the state's case, you don't win there,

you win in your case.

Except I don't have a case.

Unless you found that witness of yours.

Nothing yet.

Well, that's not gonna keep Laurel

out of the gas chamber, is it?

We're going down the tubes, boys and girls.

I don't feel like getting dinner.

Damn it.

There's nothing more I can do.

It's all on those big shoulders.

It ain't gonna get any better either.

She appeared to be washing something

in the bathroom sink.

Washing?

The sink was filled with water,

detergent, and a bleach of some kind.

There was a bulky object soaking there,

and she was stirring with a hairbrush.

Showing you state's 32 for identification.

Is this rug the object

that was soaking in the sink, Officer?

Yes, it is.

Did you find anything else of significance

in the possession of the defendant?

A woman's compact.

Why was that of significance?

It was engraved.

They weren't the defendant's initials.

What were the initials, Officer Deming?

MJV.

Showing you state's 33 for identification.

Is this the compact that was found

in the possession of the defendant, Laurel Vega?

Yes, it is.

In the course of your investigation,

did you have cause to discover

to whom this compact belonged?

Melanie Vega.

No further questions.

I'd like both objects received in evidence.

State's 32, 33. So received.

Your witness, Mr. Madriani.

No way you can hurt this guy.

Officer...

Did Mrs. Vega resist in any way?

No, sir.

No further questions.

You've known the defendant how long?

10 years, since college.

She's one of your best friends.

Would that be fair to say?

Yes, it would.

And you see her, often?

We try to get together every few months.

Do you recall having lunch with her

about three months ago?

That would be in June.

You said I wouldn't have to-

Do you recall that lunch?

You're under oath, Miss Lang.

Yes, I do.

Did she talk about her marriage?

She wasn't married at the time.

About her divorce.

Yes.

Did she characterize it as a difficult divorce?

Because of the custody issue, yes.

She was upset about the possibility

of losing custody of her son.

Wouldn't you be?

Yes, Miss Lang. I would.

Did she blame anyone in particular

for this state of affairs?

Her husband.

He was the suing for custody.

Did she blame anyone else?

I think she was very upset.

I don't think she knew what she was saying.

That isn't what I asked you.

She blamed his second wife.

She said that Jack would never have gone after the boy

if Melanie hadn't put him up to it.

Did she say anything else about Melanie Vega?

Miss Lang?

She said, she told me-

In her words, if you can.

She said she wanted "To kill the bitch".

This is very painful for you, Miss Lang.

Yes, it is.

Do you consider Laurel Vega a friend?

Very much so.

And you're not here because you want to see her

punished or anything like that,

you're here because you're under subpoena.

Is that right?

Yes, I am.

I just have one question, Miss Lang.

When you heard Laurel make this statement about Melanie,

that she felt like killing her,

you didn't notify the police, did you?

Of course not.

Because you didn't consider it a genuine threat.

It wasn't a threat.

It was just an expression.

That's all.

Thank you very much.

If you had known then what you know now,

that Melanie Vega would be murdered,

would you have thought otherwise

about notifying the police?

(tense music)

It's going badly, isn't it?

It always sounds bad when the state's making their case.

It's their case.

Paul?

Yeah, it's going badly.

A single bullet wound to the head.

Was there any other evidence of trauma?

There was not.

There is no doubt in your mind

that this bullet wound was the cause of death?

None whatsoever.

Doctor, did you find anything else of significance

in your autopsy?

The deceased was approximately 5 months pregnant.

Doctor, I'd like to show you these photographs.

I'd kind of like to be heard on that, Your Honor.

Approach the sidebar?

It'll probably take more than a sidebar, hm?

(tense music)

Certainly very disturbing, Miss Morgan.

Of course they are, Your Honor. It's a murder.

It's inflammatory and prejudicial, Your Honor.

There's no reason for this, Carla.

I have to establish the elements of the crime.

He can testify that the baby was viable.

You don't go showing a jury photographs

of a dead fetus.

Miss Morgan?

That leaves Mr. Madriani in the position

of questioning the Doctor's opinion,

he can bring in his own experts.

Come on, come on.

You've seen my witness list.

There are no doctors on it.

We are entitled to establish the elements

of the crime, Your Honor.

I'll stipulate to that.

Now wait a minute, wait a minute.

I don't want the jury to see those photographs.

Your Honor, co-counselor and I

would like a chance to talk this over.

You can't stipulate to that, Paul.

If the jury gets a look at those photographs,

they're gonna hate you, Laurel.

They'll convict you in a heartbeat.

Why can't he stipulate?

What does that mean?

It means that we concede the baby was viable.

They don't have to prove it.

The baby's dead either way, Harry.

Why does this matter?

If the baby isn't viable, it's not a murder.

That leaves just Melanie's murder,

which you can't be executed for.

They need special circumstances

to go for capital punishment, Laurel.

Multiple murders is a special circumstance.

If we stipulate that the baby was viable,

we're conceding that whoever killed Melanie

was guilty of multiple murder.

That's a capital offense.

That means there's no room to wiggle on appeal.

If you're convicted-

I can go to the gas chamber.

I'd say so.

I thought...

You know, I thought I might go to jail,

I didn't think-

Now, listen to me.

If the jury gets a look at those photographs,

you don't stand a chance of being acquitted.

But if we stipulate, we might win.

Is that what you're saying?

At least you got a chance.

But if you lose-

I know, I know.

So it's an all or nothing.

What would you do, Paul?

If there was the slightest chance

I could go home to my kid,

I'd take the risk.

Okay.

Okay.

(tense music)

Yes, ma'am. I knew the participants.

Mr. Madriani has business in my building fairly regularly,

and Mrs. Vega, well, she-

The defendant?

That's right.

She was a client. She was coming in regularly.

Pretty often.

On the day in question,

could you please tell the jury exactly what happened?

It was late in the afternoon,

and Senator Vega came downstairs with his wife.

A little later, Mr. Madriani

and the defendant came downstairs,

and then Senator Vega indicated

that he wanted to talk to Mr. Madriani.

And then the next thing I saw

was the defendant over there, Laurel Vega,

she's rushing across towards them,

and she swings her pocketbook,

and it just misses catching Melanie Vega across the head.

Do you have a surveillance system in your building?

Yes. There's a camera in the lobby.

I ask you to direct your attention

to the monitor over there.

Roll the tape, please.

Would you turn off the tape, please?

Does that tape fairly and accurately depict

the incident you just described?

Yes, it does.

No more questions.

Don't bother with him, Paul.

The tape speaks for itself.

I won't keep you long, Fred.

Technician, could you roll the tape, please?

It'll just be a moment, sir, 'til I rewind it.

No, don't rewind it.

Just play it from there.

Objection!

Exceeds the scope of direct.

Your Honor, why would the prosecution

not want the jury to see the rest of the tape?

You did introduce the tape, Miss Morgan.

If the tape is ready, you can roll it, please.

What's happening here?

There's some shoving and some name calling.

What are you doing now?

I'm picking up some of the stuff that fell.

Would you freeze it there, please?

What's that in your hand, Fred?

It looks like a lady's makeup thing.

It was a compact.

A compact.

Looks like a compact.

This compact?

They look pretty much the same.

Come on, Fred.

They look identical, don't they?

Yeah.

Roll the tape.

Wow, look at that.

Hey, Fred, if I'm not mistaken,

you just put this compact, Melanie Vega's compact,

state's exhibit number 33,

into Laurel Vega's handbag.

What do you think about that?

I guess I did.

I guess you did.

Thanks very much.

Clarified some things for us.

No more questions.

Court's adjourned until 2 o'clock this this afternoon.

(gavel slams)
All rise.

Court's adjourned.

You just proved that your client

didn't kill Melanie Vega for her compact.

Congratulations.

(whimsical jazz music)

She's right.

Yeah, I know.

Sure felt good to score some points.

Yeah, but we didn't change the score.

Paul!

That was good, that was so good.

Listen, we gotta talk.

Okay, yeah, I know it's not

the biggest thing in the world,

but maybe the momentum is changing.

All right, talk.

I want to go see Carla Morgan about a plea.

What?

Look, the compact.

It's just not that important, understand?

What I can do now is I can pound on the jury,

"The state is trying to pull a fast one here,

ladies and gentlemen!

They had the whole tape,

but they didn't want you to see it!"

"Well, why not?"

Carla knows all I need is one juror, just one,

looking funny at her.

I'm telling you, she just might deal.

You want to just give up?

Look, I wouldn't call keeping you

out of the gas chamber giving up.

I thought we agreed all or nothing.

That is when I thought we could win.

Look, listen to me.

Laurel, we're getting our asses handed to us here!

It's great to be brave,

but I don't want to see you die.

I don't want to see you die for it.

No.

I can't do that.

I don't care what happens!

I can't do it.

I can't, I can't.

(Laurel sobs)
(dramatic music)

You can't talk about the trial, Paul.

Not the trial.

We're not trying this thing in the press.

(dramatic music)

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

What about the post office bombing, Mr. Madriani?

What about the post office bombing?

Channel 21 is running a story

that your fingerprints were found

on the wrapping of the package

that contained the post office bomb.

Can we have a comment on that, Mr. Madriani?

(dramatic music)

My first question is directed to you, Miss Morgan.

I am greatly concerned about the source of this leak.

Obviously it comes from law enforcement.

Detective Llama is the investigating officer

in this case.

Is that right?

Yes, he is.

Then get him in here.

He's right outside.

Detective Llama?

Detective Llama, are you aware of a news story

appearing this afternoon about Mr. Madriani?

Of course I am, Your Honor.

Is there any truth to it?

Is Mr. Madriani a suspect in the bombing?

Feds are heading up this investigation, Your Honor.

I can't say that he's been classified

a suspect at this time,

but I do know he hasn't been ruled out.

Do you know the source of the news story?

No, sir.

Find out.

I will not take lightly law enforcement officers

interfering in the business of this court.

Yes, sir.

I'll look into it.

Now, Mr. Madriani.

I don't see how I can have you trying a case in my court

when you're a suspect

in one of the most heinous crimes in this city

in the past half century.

There are no charges against me, Your Honor.

I'm sure there never will be.

I'm not going to quibble with you

on constitutional grounds, Mr. Madriani.

You know perfectly well I can't remove you from trial

because of unsubstantiated allegations.

But I can and will remove you

if I'm convinced it's in the best interest

of your client.

Well, I don't think my client

wants me to quit, Your Honor.

Well, perhaps she hasn't considered

the impact of this story.

People on that jury lost friends in the bombing.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I'm sure she's aware of that,

but I'll be glad to remind her if you like.

You're making this very hard for me, Mr. Madriani.

I'm not gonna be bound by her decision,

and then leave myself open to reversal on appeal.

I'm ordering the jury be immediately sequestered overnight

so that they don't hear the story,

and I'll give you my decision in the morning.

I don't want a mistrial, Your Honor.

I think we're close to a conviction.

I don't want a mistrial either, Miss Morgan.

If I remove you from the case, Mr. Madriani,

I would like to know whether Mr. Hines

is prepared to proceed with the trial.

You evaluate the situation overnight

and let me know in the morning, Mr. Hines.

Ah.

I don't need 'til morning, Your Honor.

Miss Vega's getting the best council she can get right now.

I wouldn't be prepared to replace Mr. Madriani

tomorrow morning, or any morning.

(thunder rumbles)

That weasel rat bastard's

been trying to screw me for years!

The judge?

No, Jimmy Llama.

(thunder rumbles)

I still don't understand.

I mean, why would he do that to you?

What exactly happened?

Well, about 5 years ago, he planted some evidence

on a client of mine.

I won the case, and then I went after him.

Oh, and he didn't like that.

No, I guess he didn't like it.

He just make it back to detective last year.

I don't understand.

What?

How does such a sweet man attract so many enemies?

Oh, I guess I just have the talent for it.

I guess.

You're so beautiful.

(phone rings)

Mm-mm.

Mm-mm.

(phone continues ringing)

What?

It's Clem.

What the hell are you trying to pull

you stupid son of a bitch?

What are you talking about? What's going on?

I'm not talking on the phone.

Meet me in half an hour

in the alley beside the diner.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute!

Going out?

(mysterious music)

Hi, sailor.

Hey.

All right.

What's the big problem?

Those damn prints you gave me

set off so many bells and whistles

I've been answering questions all day.

Everyone from Internal Affairs to Secret Service.

(Paul chuckles)

All right, who was she?

Well, her name isn't Merlow, but that doesn't matter.

8 years ago she was involved in a money laundering scheme.

She agreed to cooperate and she went witness protection.

Ah, I see. That makes sense.

That's why she took off the night of the killing,

she didn't want to have to talk

to any of the local cops.

Wait a minute, hold it. Slow down.

This lady's dead.

I know she's dead, I told you she's dead.

The same guy that planted the bomb in the post office

killed her in Jamaica a week ago.

She's deader than that, amigo.

She died 6 years ago.

What are you talking about?

I saw her last week. I talked to her.

Is that right?

Kathy Merlow and her husband died

in a car wreck in New Jersey 6 years ago.

Now what the hell are you trying to pull?

Mr. Madriani.

The public has a right to know!

Come on, let me through.

Come on, let me through.
(reporters chattering)

I got nothing to say. I have no comment.

How do you explain...

I've given this matter a great deal of thought.

With a view towards balancing the interest

of all parties, the state, as well as the defendant.

It doesn't seem possible for this trial to continue

with Mr. Madriani as defense council

without unduly prejudicing the rights of the defendant.

Accordingly, I am removing you from the trial.

I make this ruling with no opinion

as to the merits of the charges.

What charges?

There are no charges.

Allegations.

I'm also ordering that the trial proceed.

If Mr. Hines requires a brief recess, you can have one.

If you still feel you can't do that, sir,

other council will be found.

Mrs. Vega will remain in custody until it is.

You gotta do it, Harry. We got no choice.

(phone rings)

Yes?

I specifically said I didn't...

She's here now?

Send her in.

I appreciate you stopping by, Miss Colby.

What's your connection with this matter?

Miss Colby's with the U.S. Attorney's Office.

I'm well aware of that.

My office, in conjunction

with the Federal Bureau of Investigation

is also handling the investigation

of the bombing of the U.S. post office on Dwayne Street.

As a friend of the court,

I'm here to offer whatever information

my office can provide.

Well, I don't think we need any additional-

Miss Colby.

Am I a suspect in that investigation?

Not in the least.

Mr. Madriani was injured in the blast.

He has not now, nor has he ever been considered a suspect.

Well, thank you for that information, Miss Colby.

As I said, my ruling was not based largely

or even in any significant part

on whether you are or are not a suspect.

Your Honor.

The bureau has also been able to ascertain

since the story broke yesterday

that the leak did not come from our shop.

The television people confirmed this.

The source was on the city side.

And if I could point out, Your Honor,

obviously the police are very involved

in the prosecution of my client.

For them to take any action,

that would in effect prevent her

from having the council of her choice...

You're quite right, Mr. Madriani.

For the time being, I will permit you

to remain on the case.

Detective, I'd like to see the ranking city officer

of the bombing investigation

in my chambers during the noon recess.

Oh, that won't be necessary, Your Honor.

He's here right now.

(dramatic music)

The rest of you are excused.

If' you'd just remain behind, Detective.

Hey, listen to me.

I don't care what happens in there,

I don't care what he says.

You're gonna keep quiet.

You're not gonna call him a liar,

and you're not gonna call him a bastard.

Do you understand?

No, I don't think hate is too strong a word.

Laurel hated her.

Objection.

The rules of evidence don't allow you

to characterize other people's feelings, Senator.

Just confine yourself to the facts.

I'm sorry, Your Honor. I'll try.

But you did see behavior that you interpreted

as animosity, didn't you?

I certainly did.

Confining yourself to the facts,

can you give us an example?

Well, for one thing, Laurel hit her.

The defense attorney was present. Ask him.

Was that unusual behavior for your ex-wife?

No, not at all.

She was always jealous and angry.

She couldn't deal with younger women.

Maybe if you hadn't screwed so many of 'em.

Mr. Madriani, am I going to have to gag your client,

or are you gonna explain the rules to her?

It won't happen again, Your Honor.

Please proceed, Miss Morgan.

Let's move on to something else, Senator.

Do you recall the night your wife told you

that she was pregnant?

I certainly do.

It was a Friday night.

Melanie had made a very nice dinner,

and we turned off the phones

as we often did when we wanted to be alone.

And after dinner, she told me.

And this news made you happy?

Oh, yes.

I wanted a family with Melanie very much.

That's all I have, Senator. Thank you.

Your witness, Mr. Madriani.

Very nice. Very nice, indeed.

Your Honor, would you instruct council

not to address me off the record?

Your Honor, I was simply congratulating the prosecution

on a first class performance.

And I'm sure she appreciates your professional opinion.

Now, if you'll kindly address yourself to the witness.

Of course.

Mr. Vega, Senator.

You mind if I call you Jack?

I should point out to the jury

that Jack and I used to be related.

Isn't that true?

Yes, that is true.

Paulie was my ex-wife's brother-in-law.

Indeed.

Jack.

I'm going to mention a name,

and I want you to tell the court

if you know who this individual is.

Dr. Winston Butler.

Doesn't ring a bell.

Oh.

Well, maybe I can help you by pointing out

that Dr. Butler was your wife Melanie's gynecologist.

Yes.

Right, right.

Jack.

On July 11th, did Dr. Butler call your home?

He may have, I don't recall.

Well, that surprises me, Jack.

Because he had very big news.

He was calling to tell your wife

the results of her pregnancy test,

but she wasn't home, so he told you, Jack.

Didn't he?

Jack?

Come on, now.

Do I have to bring the doctor down here

and put him on the stand?

No, yes.

I believe he did call.

So, Dr. Butler told you that your wife, Melanie,

was pregnant.

Mhm.

Is that a yes?

Yes, it is.

So that sweet little story you told us

about having dinner, and having the phones told off,

that wasn't true, was it?

No, we had dinner, and then after dinner-

But that's not when you found out

that your wife was pregnant.

No, I guess not.

But you were still happy about it.

Weren't you, Jack?

I mean, that part of your statement is still true, isn't it?

Objection!

Were you happy when you found out

that your wife Melanie was pregnant?

Yes.

So this was a planned pregnancy,

you wanted to have children, right?

Very much.

Let's play the name game, Jack.

Dr. Charles Elliott.

Does that ring any bells?

Wait a minute.

Your Honor, isn't there kind of confidentiality thing here?

I mean, a doctor's records

aren't just allowed to be introduced.

He hasn't introduced any records.

Dr. Charles Elliott, Jack.

Yes, I know him.

Would you speak a little louder?

Yes, I know him.

In fact, Dr. Elliott is a surgeon.

And he operated on you 12 years ago.

Would you tell the court, please,

what procedure Dr. Elliott performed on you?

If you don't recall, just say so.

A vasectomy.

He did a vasectomy.

Is that what you want to know?

Oh, I knew it already, Jack.

I just wanted you to tell them.

Merry Christmas.

Well, let's see if we can straighten this out.

Isn't it a fact, Jack,

you didn't discuss this pregnancy at all

with your wife, did you?

No, we talked about it right after dinner.

In fact, she kept this pregnancy a secret.

She went to her death believing

you didn't know anything about it.

She kept it from you because obviously

she had had an affair with another man.

That's not true.

Your wife Melanie had taken a lover,

and you found out about it!

That is not true!

Who was it, Jack?

Who got Melanie pregnant?

Didn't you just want to kill him?

Huh, Jack?

Come on, tell us. Tell us who it was!

Enough!

Enough about the baby.

Perhaps this might be a good time to take a recess.

Your Honor, please.

I have just a few more questions for this witness.

Would you like a recess, Senator?

I want to get this over with.

You've been a senator for how long now, Jack?

Two terms, 12 years.

You're running for re-election?

No, I'm retiring.

Retiring.

Isn't it true, Senator,

that you're cooperating with a federal investigation

into corruption in the government?

Where did you get that?

What the hell are you talking about?

Isn't it a fact, Senator,

that you've already plead guilty

to 5 counts of corruption?

You've made a deal with federal prosecutors-

There was an arrangement-

Order!

That was an arrangement.

That was sealed!

That was an arrangement!

That was an arrangement here!

Who the hell do you think you're screwing around with?

Silence!

Silence!

(gavel slams)

(dramatic music)

You know what they used to say in law school?

Would it be,

"Any day the state's star witness gets indicted

is a good day for the defense?"

Exactly.

We still gotta deal with the fact

that she went over there, and she attacked Melanie,

and she ran off to Reno.

We haven't won anything yet.

Oh, come on.

I could hear the fat lady practicing her scales.

Doctor, can you tell us if DNA tests

were performed on the deceased's unborn child

of Melanie Vega?

Yes, they were.
What's this all about?

And did you, at my request,

take a blood sample from Senator Jack Vega

and perform DNA tests on that?

Yes, I did.

And what were your findings, Doctor?

The genetic makeup of the baby

is absolutely consistent with Jack Vega being the father.

But Doctor, are you aware of medical records

indicating that Senator Vega some years ago

had a vasectomy?

Yes, yes, I am.

And this in no way leads you

to amend or qualify your testimony?

No, it does not.

It's widely reported in the literature

that a small, but statistically significant number of men

are quite capable of fathering children after vasectomies.

No further questions.

Your witness, Mr. Madriani.

Mr. Madriani, any re-cross?

No. No questions.

Any more witnesses, Miss Morgan?

The state rests, Your Honor.

All right.

We'll adjourn for the day.

We'll begin the case for the defense tomorrow

when we reconvene at 2 p.m.

This court's adjourned.

(gavel slams)

Paul.

(melancholic music)

We're finished.

That was our whole case, she wiped us out.

Look, maybe there's something.

Yeah.

Yeah, Harry, there's something all right.

(people chattering)

Excuse me.

I gotta talk to you.

I don't know if we have anything to talk about.

We want a plea.

Second degree on both counts.

You're joking, aren't you?

Come on, Carla.

Now, look. You know Laurel Vega isn't a cold-blooded killer.

Let's just stop this thing before it's too late.

I don't make those decisions.

Look, it's over, okay?

You win.

Now let her plea.

At least we save her life.

You should've thought of that

before you stipulated to multiple murder, Paul.

That's the point.

See, that was my decision.

But we're talking about her life.

I was under the impression

she wasn't interested in a plea.

I'll talk her into it.

She was Nicki's sister.

I can't let her die because I screwed this thing up.

You're panicking, Paul.

You were so triumphant yesterday,

this really doesn't become you.

(dramatic music)

Daddy?

Daddy?

Hey, button.

Are you ready for bed?

What's wrong, Daddy?

Nothing's wrong.

I'll come tuck you in, all right?

All right.

But remember what you told me.

What did I tell you?

It's okay to cry.

Yeah, okay.

Yeah.

We're almost there.

They had reasonable doubt and a motive for Jack.

She blew us out of the water,

we got nothing.

All he said was "consistent with".

It doesn't mean-
It does.

If the child is consistent with the husband,

it's the husband's child.

We've got no jealousy, we've got no affair for Melanie,

everybody's feeling sorry for Jack

on account of yesterday.

Does that mean we've lost?

There's one other thing I can try,

I don't know if it'll work.

Paul.

Did you want to see me?

Yeah.

I'd love to have you in court today.

I could use all the support I could get.

Sure.

(lighthearted music)

The defense calls Assistant U.S. Attorney, Dana Colby.

What's this all about?

What's she gonna say?

I have no idea.

Don't do this, Paul.

Miss Colby.

Please tell the court your whereabouts

the night Melanie Vega was murdered?

At what time?

An hour after the killing.

I was outside the Vega house.

In fact, you and I saw each other out there.

Did we not?

Yes, we did.

Now, you said you lived in the area,

that you'd heard the police sirens,

you just dropped by.

Isn't that right?

Yes. That's what I said.

But that wasn't the real reason

you were there Miss Colby, was it?

Was it?

May I remind you that you're an officer of the court,

and you're under oath.

No, that's not why I was there.

Your Honor, I don't see the relevance

of why Miss Colby was there or why she wasn't.

Your Honor, if I could have a few minutes,

I will make it clear.

Very few, Mr. Madriani.

Miss Colby.

When I saw you outside the Vega house,

you were talking to some people.

Were you not?

Yes, I was.

Kathy and George Merlow.

And who are George and Kathy Merlow?

They were neighbors of the Vegas.

Are those their real names?

(tense music)

Your Honor...

Answer the question, Miss Colby.

No, those are not their real names.

Kathy Merlow is a protected witness.

Miss Colby.

Why would you go out so late in the evening

to visit a protected federal witness?

We had reason to believe

that some government files had been compromised.

Records of the relocations

of a number of protected witnesses

had fallen into the wrong hand.

Efforts were underway to relocate the witnesses.

No one had gotten around to the Merlows yet.

Miss Colby.

It was the middle of the night.

You were dressed informally.

Please, please tell this court right now,

why you went to the Merlow home that night

in such an urgent state?

Someone at the bureau had monitored a police call

for a homicide at 63 Elm Drive.

My superior called me knowing I lived in the neighborhood,

I was told to get over there at once.

But the Merlows didn't live at 63, did they?

They lived at 61.

The address in their file was incorrect.

A clerical error.

We suspected that the hit was intended for Kathy Merlow.

So the federal government suspected

that the murder of Melanie Vega was a mistake?

A mistake based on a clerical error.

The real target of the killer was Kathy Merlow.

Is that your testimony, Miss Colby?

Yes.

Miss Colby...

While I was looking for the Merlows,

you accompanied me to Jamaica.

Did you not?

Yes, I did.

And what did we find there?

They were dead.

Really?

Special records from the state of New Jersey.

Would you please tell the court what it says?

It purports to be a record of the death

of Linda and William Greenlaw in 1988.

And who are William and Linda Greenlaw?

They were other aliases of George and Kathy Merlow.

So they didn't die in 1988, did they?

No.

Miss Colby.

Are they dead now?

No.

Your Honor, the federal government

has deliberately and knowingly

concealed from the defense in this case,

and from this court,

evidence and witnesses that could prove the innocence

of my client, Laurel Vega.

Even went so far to stage a phony bloodbath

trying to convince me that the witnesses were dead.

It was pointless to try to find them.

In light of such blatant government misconduct,

I move for a mistrial,

and the directed verdict of acquittal.

Given the circumstances

that have come to the court's attention,

a level of government interference

with the criminal justice system

virtually unprecedented in the experience of this court,

I have no choice but to declare the defendant acquitted

as a matter of law.

The jury is dismissed with thanks to the court.

Miss Colby, I can assure you

you will be appearing before me

in an appropriate forum

to discuss these activities you describe.

Mrs. Vega, you're free to go.

This court is adjourned.

(dramatic music)

Paul.

Save it.

I would like to talk to you!

Listen to me.

I lied, okay?

Okay? I lied to you.

What happened between you and me in Jamaica

was not a lie.

Of course it was a lie.

No, it wasn't, and you know it wasn't!

I don't know it.

You didn't want me talking to your precious witness.

You came along for the ride

so you could keep track of what I was doing.

That's true.

And when I found her, you staged that little death scene

so you could send me home.

But you knew I had Clem checking on her prints, didn't you?

I knew that.

Yeah, so you arranged for that mysterious informant

who saw Jack Vega meeting with a hitman.

I guess if it came down to it,

you'd produce him in court.

He'd testify, huh?

I don't know what we would've done.

I wanted to help you.

Jack didn't meet any hitman,

and he didn't kill his wife.

But you would've framed him for murder

just so you could keep your little secret.

Choices, Paul, that's what we do.

I make choices.

Sometimes...

This is an important job, and I am good at it.

Yeah.

Maybe you don't like the way we operate,

but that has nothing to do

with what happened between you and me!

It's got everything to do with us!

Do you have any idea what just happened to me in there?

I hurt you, and you hurt me.

But don't...

What?

Paul, I want us.

Please don't...

You don't understand, do you?

Can't we start over?

Let's just put it behind-

You really don't. You don't understand this, do you?

You know, I never thought I could love

anybody again after Nicki.

But I'm in love with you, Dana, God help me.

I just don't like you very much.

If you'll excuse me, I'm meeting some friends.

Paul...

(dramatic music)

Oh, God!

(dramatic music)

So, when did you figure all this out?

Well, of course, I didn't know about the mix up

in addresses until she mentioned it on the stand.

But when Clem told me that those people had died in 1988,

I figured hey, if the feds could fake their deaths once,

why not twice?

I think it's awesome that after all that

it turns out it's just a hitman

who had nothing to do with Mom.

If that's what it was.

Listen, I understand they have a cannoli here

that is perhaps the Eighth Wonder of the World,

maybe even the Seventh.

I think we should try it. What do you think?

Deal me in.

Daddy, I've eaten so much already.

Oh, I bet you could get one more bite

down inside there, especially if it's cannoli.

Come on, come on, try it.

One piece.

Waiter.

(Laurel chuckles)

Daddy, can I ride home on Danny's bike?

Do you got an extra helmet?

Yep, sure do.

All right, be careful. Okay?

Okay.

Paul?

Mhm?

I can't thank you enough for everything.

Wait 'til you get my bill.

Yeah, well, in the first place

I'm never gonna get a bill,

in the second place, it would never be enough.

I owe you, big time.

Why don't you just give me a hug?

Okay, wait here.

I'll get the car.

All right.

(siren faintly blares)

(gun fires)

(dramatic music)

Danny, don't!

Danny, come back.

(gun fires)

(light shatters)

Danny, no.

Stay here.
We'll go get help.

Stay here.
Come on. Come.

Oh my god. Sarah, honey.

Stay back here.

Danny!

Come on, come on.

(dramatic music)

(glass shatters)

(eerie music)

Uncle Paul? Uncle Paul?

Danny, get out of here!

Get out of here, now!

Danny!

I got your nephew here, Madriani.

Get on your knees.

You want to come out,

or you want to watch me kill him here?

(gun fires)

Leave him alone! He's just a kid.

Look, he can't hurt you, Simmons.

I'm the one that you want, now come on!

You're not in much of a bargaining position.

(gun fires)

I'm coming out!

I'm coming out, just leave him alone, all right?

I'll count to three.

One.
Leave him alone!

Two.

Three.

(gun fires)

(dramatic music)

Danny?

Danny?

Danny.

(calming music)

I was just getting my bike started

and I heard this shot.

I thought maybe a mugger...

I went to see if Uncle Paul was okay.

I tried to stop him,

but then Sarah was coming too,

and when I turned to her, Danny ran in.

So, I took Sarah to the restaurant to get help,

and when I came out, the van was there,

the gun was on the front seat, so I took it.

His name is Lyle Simmons.

One of his names, anyway.

He's got a record.

He was responsible for the post office bombing,

he tried to kill me in Jamaica last week.

I think if you run a ballistics test

on the gun that Mrs. Vega found in his van,

you'll find it was the same gun

that was used to kill Melanie Vega.

(man chuckles)

Eventually you're just gonna have to come down

and spell all this out.

You're going way too fast for me.

Sweetie, why don't you go in with Danny for a minute?

I want to talk to your Aunt Laurel.

I love seeing them together again.

They're like brother and sister.

That's what Nicki always used to say.

Paul.

How did you know that the gun that I got out of the van

was the one that he used to kill Melanie?

Because you didn't get the gun out of the van.

The kids that Danny got into trouble with,

they paid me a little visit.

They said that Danny had something of theirs.

Hey, Mister.

Tell Danny Vega to come out.

He's not here.

He's got something of mine, and I want it back.

It was a gun, of course.

They lent Danny the gun, and they wanted it back.

You're guessing, Paul.

No. Not anymore, no.

No, Danny killed Melanie.

I kept asking myself,

"If Laurel didn't do it,

why doesn't she just tell us where she was

and what she was doing?"

But you couldn't, could you?

No.

You refused to defend yourself

because if you came up with an alibi,

the cops would have to go looking for somebody else,

and they would've found Danny.

Right?

Isn't that right?

Yeah.

That's right.

Do you actually want to know why, Paul?

Why he killed her?

Danny...

Make love to me, Danny.

(eerie music)

(Melanie moans)

I don't know.

I don't know if he was angry at his father,

or he thought it was just some kind of big conquest,

but he got confused and guilty,

and he wanted it to stop.

Only she wouldn't let him.

Danny. Danny.

(Danny sobs)

Danny.

He got the gun because he wanted to kill himself.

He took it over to the house that night.

Danny?

She called out to him,

he told her that he wanted her to leave him alone.

Danny...

(eerie music)

Danny, what are you doing with a gun?

No, Danny.

Give me the gun.

Get away from me!
Okay, okay, I'm sorry!

No, Danny!

I want you to see this.

No!
I want you to see!

No! Give me the gun!

(gun fires)

(tense music)

If it was an accident, why did he take the rug?

He had to.

His footprints were all over it, and the blood.

When did you know?

There was only one person in the world

who would be DNA consistent with Jack Vega.

And that was his son, Danny.

Now listen, you gotta understand how severely damaged

Danny has to be about all of this.

Of course I understand that, Paul.

The question is, what are you gonna do?

I'm gonna do what I think is best for Danny, okay?

I just haven't decided what that is yet.

So I'm gonna take my kid home,

I'm gonna get a good night's sleep,

and then I'm gonna do some serious thinking.

Now what you did was very brave, Laurel.

It was very unselfish.

But that doesn't mean it was the right thing to do.

Not for you, and not for your son, Danny.

You ought to do some serious thinking about it yourself.

Yeah.

I have thought about it, Paul.

I've had plenty of time to think about it.

I know that Danny is suffering.

He's gonna have to carry this with him

for the rest of his life.

He needs us, Paul.

He needs his family.

Daddy!

Daddy, look what Danny gave me.

Aren't they awesome?

Danny's so cool.

You're right baby, he is cool.

And he's family, and we love him.

We'll take care of him, Laurel.

I promise, we'll take care of him.

Thank you, thank you.

Uh, good night.

Good night, sweetie.

Good night.

Well, put them on.

Let's see what they look like.

Wow.

Like 'em?

Buckle your seatbelt.

(lighthearted music)

Let's go home.

(somber violin music)