American Crime Story (2016–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - 100% Not Guilty - full transcript
As jury selection gets underway, the entrance of Johnnie Cochran adds an interesting energy to the case.
(silenced gunshot)
ANNOUNCER: FX presents
The People v. O.J. Simpson.
♪ Everybody dance now ♪
♪ Give me the music ♪
(whooping)
♪ Everybody dance now ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Yeah, everybody ♪
♪ Here is the dome
back with the bass ♪
♪ The jam is live in effect
and I don't waste time ♪
♪ Off the mic
with a dope rhyme ♪
♪ Jump to the rhythm,
jump, jump to the rhythm, jump ♪
♪ And I'm here to combine beats
and lyrics ♪
♪ To make you shake your pants,
take a twirl ♪
♪ Hands in the air,
come on, say yeah ♪
♪ Everybody over here,
everybody over there ♪
♪ The crowd is live,
and I pursue this groove ♪
♪ Party people
in the house move ♪
♪ Work me all night ♪
♪ Come on, let's ♪
♪ Everybody dance now, sweat ♪
♪ Sweat ♪
♪ Let the music take control ♪
♪ Let the rhythm move you ♪
♪ Da, da, da, da,
da, da, da, da ♪
♪ Da, da, da, da, da,
da, da, da, da, da... ♪
(clattering, clanging)
(elevator bell dings)
SHAPIRO:
Gentlemen.
Johnnie, I want you
to meet everyone.
You know Lee. Alan,
Johnnie, nice
to see you.
Barry Scheck, and
Robert Kardashian.
And we have Nate 'n
Al's. The best.
(laughter)
We've got lox
and whitefish.
JOHNNIE:
And this is Carl Douglas
and Shawn Chapman.
They're working with us.
How are you?
Oh!
Carl, Shawn, welcome.
How do you do?
I just want to stress
how honored and happy we are
to have you join the team.
So let's hit
the ground running.
Yes.
Okay. First question:
who thinks O.J. did it?
Me neither.
BAILEY:
Uh, thank you, Bob.
Why don't we talk
big picture strategy?
I'd say our priority
at this juncture is the jury.
Yes. We know we have
a downtown jury, which means
a heavy concentration
of African-Americans.
Indeed.
Black men
obviously are our allies.
Mr. Simpson,
a hero in the community.
And I'm confident
that people will assume
he couldn't have committed
such a ghastly crime.
But black women, on the
other hand, might be a problem.
They don't like their men
marrying white girls.
Is that true?
Why are you looking at me?
Well, I...
But I believe
the generalization
is accurate.
Black women resent
successful black men marrying
outside the community.
We need to limit that group.
That analysis
is smart.
The prosecution thinks they have
the upper hand, but they don't.
Because we have you.
And you know
how these people think.
"These people."
Bob, let me give you
a helpful piece of advice.
On this case, you need
to choose your vernacular
very, very
carefully.
Mea culpa.
Okay,
but the important thing is
that we work
together.
When we face
the prelim judge,
we want to come out swinging.
We concede
to nothing. If
Marcia Clark wants
to go to the bathroom,
we object.
If they say the sky
is blue, hearsay.
Nothing will be admitted without
challenge and provocation.
(gavel bangs)
(murmuring)
Your Honor, at this time,
the State requests a hair sample
to compare to hairs found
at the scene of the crime.
Excuse me, Your Honor. We
have some grave concerns
about this request.
We would ask
that the court
limit this sample
to only the number
of hairs required
for testing.
Ms. Clark,
how much hair
do the People need?
Well, Your Honor,
a typical sample, as I'm sure
the defense is aware,
takes hairs
from each area
of the head.
Five to ten hairs
per area,
amounting
to approximately 100 hairs.
100 hairs?
This is a standard request,
Your Honor.
It's only as many hairs
as the criminalist needs, to
compare hairs from the defendant
with hairs found
at the crime scene.
100 hairs seems unduly invasive.
Your Honor, we offer one hair.
What?
Just a second,
Ms. Clark.
Excuse me,
Your Honor,
but this
objection is beyond ridiculous.
They seem to be
on some kind
of fishing expedition
at my client's expense.
MARCIA:
Your Honor,
this is routine.
80 hairs.
Five.
50.
Judge, we're getting nowhere.
We request a special hearing
on the hair.
So ordered.
I call
for a hearing
regarding the collection
of Mr. Simpson's hair.
Thank you, Your Honor.
GUARD:
O.J., you got
a visitor.
(door buzzes)
Where's Bob?
He had a dinner.
How are you, my brother?
"He had a dinner."
You should've seen
what I had for dinner.
I didn't even know what
it was. It was slop.
Then I kept running to
the toilet, but my toilet's
clogged up, so
you can imagine...
You have to be strong.
We're gonna get you out of here.
Oh, yeah? Is that what Bob said?
No, no, no. That's what I said.
Look at you.
You are a mess.
You can't walk into that
courtroom like this.
Everyone's gonna
be watching.
Everybody thinks
I'm guilty.
So change their minds.
Have you forgotten
who you are?
These walls around
you don't change that.
You know what you mean
to people?
(sighs)
Okay.
Well, then let me tell you
what you were once
to me.
1978. I just left
private practice, gone
back to the L.A. D.A.,
gonna be the first black
assistant attorney in office.
Gonna change things
from the inside. Shit.
That wasn't happening.
Same old shit,
same rigged system.
Feeling powerless
for the first time in my life.
And then my first marriage
blows up in my face.
My children
won't talk to me.
I'm a failure at work,
I'm a failure at home.
I was down, brother.
I was way down.
Sunday, sitting
on my bed,
surrounded by dead-end paperwork
and divorce lawyer bills,
drinking beer-- all right,
maybe a little bit
too much beer-- feeling sorry
for myself, watching
a football game all alone,
crappy TV. 49ers
versus the Falcons.
What I saw you do on that field
that day,
somehow, as I was watching,
it became as if you were running
for me.
Driving up that field, crowded
with adversity and obstacles,
getting knocked on your ass
and then popping
right back up again.
See, that's what I
wanted to do out there on
them streets, back home
with my troubles there
but couldn't.
But you, you, you,
you willed
what you needed to do into being
with nothing but grace.
I scored a touchdown that day.
You did. And when
they cut away
to the commercial,
there you were again,
leaping through the airport
for Hertz,
breaking another barrier with
charisma, humor, intelligence.
A black man as the public face
for one of the world's
biggest corporations.
We lost that game.
I don't remember that.
I remember everything else
about that game but not that.
Because it didn't have nothing
to do with what touched me.
And when the game was over,
I got the hell up off that bed
and jogged the six blocks
back to my office
and got right back to work
and haven't stopped and wallowed
in self-pity since that day.
You did that for me.
Just like you've done for
so many others, because you
are O.J. Simpson.
You are O.J.
Simpson and you
are an inspiration.
I am.
You are.
An inspiration.
An inspiration.
That's who you are.
Yeah. Yeah.
You're a man who loves people,
who people love right back.
That's you.
You're a fighter.
You're a runner. And when
you get knocked down,
I need you to pop right back up
like you know you can
and keep going, because
this right here,
this right here,
O.J. Simpson,
is the run of your life.
(sighs)
(sighs)
Come in. Come in. Shut the door.
Shut the door.
Lance, why did you drag me out
here in the middle of the day?
I've got some big news.
Very big.
They assigned me Simpson.
(gasps)
Oh, my God.
Mwah.
Yep, yep, yep.
Cecil said that they considered
a number of candidates
and that I was the best choice.
He said I have integrity,
an open mind,
and a strong backbone.
"Strong backbone." I like that.
(chuckles)
You'll be under a
lot of scrutiny.
I'm not intimidated.
What's important
is that this jury gets
the full picture.
This trial needs
to be pure truth school.
Let them see
all the available facts
so they make
the right decision.
You need to fill out
the usual spousal conflict form.
Nope. Nothing
rings a bell.
I'm so proud of you.
As you were, Captain York.
(grunts)
(murmuring)
(speaking indistinctly)
All rise.
Court is now in session,
the Honorable
Lance A. Ito presiding.
You may be seated.
(clears throat softly)
Mr. Simpson.
Are you ready to enter a plea
at this time?
Yes, Your Honor.
And how do you plead
to counts one and two?
Absolutely 100% not guilty.
-(excited chatter)
-♪ Don't call it a comeback ♪
♪ I been here for years,
rockin' my peers ♪
♪ Puttin' suckers in fear ♪
♪ Mama said knock you out ♪
♪ I'm gonna knock you out ♪
♪ Mama said knock you out... ♪
SHAPIRO:
I love Johnnie, it's just...
we have to keep
our eyes on him.
Johnnie's
an excellent trial lawyer.
He can sense all the potholes.
That's irrelevant. I don't
want him putting ideas
into O.J.'s head.
I mean, the truth is,
we both know there's only
one way out of this case.
Come on, Bob,
we're just getting started.
We want to have a little fun.
No, it's my job to
serve the client,
and the reality is,
it's not winnable.
Johnnie is here to make
Gil nervous enough
to cut us a deal.
(exhales)
You really think he will?
The race card's sticking,
and Johnnie equals
LAPD injustice,
and Gil doesn't want to see
the city burn down again.
WAITRESS: Here you gentlemen go.
Eggs Benedict...
and steak and frittata.
Thank you.
And enjoy.
Well, then...
to whom do I invoice my hours?
Hmm?
Who should I bill?
Lee, you're pro bono.
WAITRESS: Could I offer
either of you Tabasco or...
No, we're fine.
Bob...
(wry chuckle)
may I remind you,
I was your first call.
I like this case for you.
I really do, Lee.
It's a terrific way to get
back in the limelight,
reintroduce yourself
to the public.
I don't need reintroducing.
I'm F. Lee Bailey.
I represented Sam Sheppard,
Patty Hearst,
the goddamn Boston Strangler.
That's-that's a long time ago.
Look at the bright
side-- this could be
the most high-profile
criminal case
in the history of the world.
And O.J.'s easily the
most famous American
ever to be put up
for murder.
It's a different
world, Lee.
I mean, the old days,
you'd turn on TV, 6:00 p.m.,
the news,
and now it's 24 hours a day.
I have insomnia.
I wake up at 3:00 a.m.
I turn on cable,
and boom, there we are.
(sighs)
Trust me...
you'll dine out on this
for the rest of your life.
Yeah.
But Patty Hearst paid.
FAYE:
Nicole was my everything.
You know?
She was my...
confidant, my spiritual sister.
You know,
now there's just
such a-a void
in my life without her.
I went to a psychic,
and... she said,
"Nicole wants you...
to write a book."
But I don't want it
to be exploitative.
VINER: Oh, no, no.
I mean, o-of course not.
But we need to move fast--
we have to get to press
in two weeks.
Uh, Faye, just
to-- here--
just to give a general sense,
could you give me an overview
of your times with Nicole?
Oh, Nicole was
a wonderful person.
She was a terrific mother.
We need to stress that.
We had wonderful
times together.
We...
we'd go clubbing and...
go to parties and,
you know, Starbucks.
Sometimes do
a little cocaine.
We loved to eat
at La Scala.
Cocaine?
Really?
I'm trying to manage it.
There's no good time to find out
your best friend's
been murdered,
but particularly not three days
into cocaine treatment.
(laughs softly)
Did you know Nicole
had breast implants?
It was O.J.'s idea, but I'll be
honest with you, she loved them.
What else
can I tell you
about Nicole?
She loved to give
a Brentwood Hello.
I'm sorry,
a "Brentwood Hello"?
It was a little joke we had.
(laughs)
Where she would
go into...
a guy's bedroom
while he was asleep,
and, you know...
give...
go down on him.
Ha!
(chuckles)
Hmm, hmm, hmm...
We are gonna sell
a lot of books.
In a very nonexploitive way,
of course.
A.C. maintains he was trying
to keep O.J. alive,
but the evidence says O.J. was
planning to cross into Mexico.
I mean, he was carrying
his passport,
disguise kit
with fake beard and mustache,
makeup adhesive,
and $8,700 in cash.
Who takes a passport
to his wife's grave?
God, are they guilty.
What does Kardashian say?
We're screwed on Kardashian--
now he's O.J.'s lawyer,
so he's privileged,
he doesn't have to talk.
But it doesn't matter--
we got plenty.
Uh, tell me about the Bahamas.
Well, the couple on the island
heard talk
about a chartered yacht.
The crew was expecting O.J.
on the 18th.
The day after the Bronco?
Yeah.
So O.J. was gonna fly out of
Mexico the night of the 17th.
Damn, this feels good.
(chuckles, snorts)
I just, I can't, really...
You know what?
I'm gonna have to call you back.
I got to call you back.
Hello. Hi.
Come on in.
Come on in.
Have a seat.
I'm glad you were both able
to find time to come down.
It's good for us
to get to know each other.
I know what
you're going through.
Do you?!
Do you have a son
who was murdered?!
Ron is dead!
And it's like
no one even cares.
I turn on the TV,
and it's just
O.J. and Nicole,
O.J. and Nicole.
It's like Ron
is a footnote...
to his own murder!
And if they
talk about him,
they make him seem like
some kind of joke!
It's all so
superficial.
He was a male model,
he was a nightclub promoter,
he ran a tanning salon.
It's like they're
trying to tarnish him.
Like...
he... he was asking for it.
(sniffles)
(Fred sobbing quietly)
You know what he did
in his spare time?
He... volunteered
at a clinic
for children with
cerebral palsy.
He was a good person!
(sniffles)
He didn't drink,
he didn't do drugs.
He should be celebrated!
Not... this!
When the police called
and... they said Ron
had been killed...
...I assumed it was
a car accident.
Never in my worst nightmare
could I have imagined
the truth.
(sniffles)
What this...
this monster did to him.
Do you have children?
Two boys.
I pray... that you never have
to read an autopsy report
for your own child.
My son's...
last moments
were filled with
such horror...
and such...
pain.
He... he was stabbed
so many times.
He was stabbed in his
chest, his neck...
his face...
his head, his hands,
his stomach...
(sobs)
...his thigh.
(sobs)
He was even stabbed...
after he was dead.
(panting)
(sniffles softly)
We are gonna get him.
You better.
In that scenario,
he was lying in wait
when Goldman arrived with
the glasses in the envelope.
(door opens)
Sorry I'm late.
Anyway, as Bill and I
were discussing,
I've decided to take
death penalty off the table.
Gil, we can't do that.
What he did
was unspeakable.
It's special circumstances.
Marcia...
We want death-qualified jurors.
They're more aggressive,
more likely to convict.
We have to be
realistic.
People love O.J.
They're not gonna
love him once they see
those crime scene photos.
I have no doubt
you're gonna put him
behind bars,
but nobody in America is gonna
vote to execute O.J. Simpson.
Marcia, we can't even execute
Charlie Manson.
(Gil sighs)
Great.
Now, how about
some good news?
Donald Vinson...
has offered his services
to the case... for free.
Wow! Vinson?
Oh, come on!
We don't need his help.
Marcia,
Don's amazing-- he practically
invented jury research.
It's not rocket science.
We're gonna have
a downtown jury,
which means heavily black.
If I can make it black women,
we are in good shape.
And why is that?
They'll sympathize with Nicole.
I have handled
case after case
of battered
African-American women.
I have heard their stories.
They'll be able
to make the connection.
O.J.'s abuse... led to murder.
Okay, well,
you're probably right.
But it doesn't hurt
to be open to outside input.
Go see Vinson.
VINSON (over speaker):
So, how about
that Bronco chase, huh?
(chuckles)
Anybody see that?
I know I did.
(chuckles):
Oh-ho, that was something.
Okay, so who thinks
he's innocent?
Okay.
And who thinks O.J. Simpson
committed the murders?
Holy shit. It's worse
than I thought.
MARCIA (on TV):
You told the court today
that you left the restaurant
at 9:00 p.m.,
and that you knew that because
the restaurant was closing.
Why did you tell police
you were home by 8:30?
Your Honor, I would like
to ask the court
to instruct the witness
to answer the question.
Give me your impressions
of Marcia Clark
based on what you've seen.
Please. Come on.
And-and I want you to be honest.
Okay.
Well, she seems
like a bitch.
(laughter)
MAN:
She acts like
everybody's stupid.
And she's strident!
I wouldn't want
to be her boyfriend.
WOMAN:
Yeah, a real know-it-all.
She's shifty.
WOMAN:
Yes, definitely.
(overlapping chatter)
Black women don't like you.
What? No.
No, that's idiotic.
I have tried many, many cases
in front of black women and won.
I have a rapport
with them.
The data doesn't bear that out.
Well, then, your data
is horseshit.
Some of those black women
still write me letters.
Well, that's wonderful
anecdotal information, but
I think it would be wise
to limit the number
of African-American women
on your jury.
You might also consider
softening your appearance.
Skirts instead of
business suits.
Perhaps a new hairdo.
Maybe try smiling a bit more.
WOMAN:
Our focus group
rated the participants
on a scale of one to ten,
based on how much sympathy
they felt.
Among black women, O.J. received
all nines and tens.
But Nicole
scored sevens,
fives and a three.
SHAPIRO:
Really?
The murder victim
scored a three?
It was all over
the cards.
You saw the cards?
Why didn't I see the cards?
Who's in charge
of distributing the cards?
Gentlemen, let's focus
on our client.
Yeah, that's a novel idea.
JOHNNIE:
I will admit
I'm surprised that black ladies
liked O.J. so much.
What exactly did they say?
Oh, it's very positive.
They call O.J. "handsome,"
"masculine" and "charming."
Hmm.
What, what words did they
use to describe Nicole?
WOMAN:
Um...
various terms
got thrown around.
But one term
came up a lot.
"Gold digger."
Gold digger? That's
completely wrong.
I mean, she wasn't
like that at all.
I'm just repeating the data.
Nicole wasn't a gold digger.
I mean, I-I knew her.
She loved him.
Well, they were obsessed
with each other.
And she really did love him.
They had hot sex.
Which, of course,
became a problem
after they broke up,
because O.J. knew
that she needed it all the time.
And it absolutely
drove him crazy.
You know, when she was at that
little house on Gretna Green,
he used to hide in the bushes
and watch her have sex
with other guys.
Did she know that
O.J. was out there?
Of course she did!
She used to love
to push his buttons.
And they were
constantly reconciling.
And then somebody would
sleep with someone,
and the fighting
would start again.
They were really the most
undivorced divorced couple
I think I've ever known.
Hey. Working late?
Jury selection
begins tomorrow.
They've called 900 people.
I hear it might be a record.
Maybe I'll make
The Guinness Book.
I'll probably be here all night,
while Bob Shapiro eats dinner
in some Beverly Hills restaurant
I can't afford.
Well, I'll make it quick.
I'm just checking to see
where we're at with Cowlings.
Oh, Chris. Damn it.
I'm sorry. I'm so distracted.
I meant to talk to you.
O.J. is swallowing up
everything.
And considering
the available evidence,
Gil thinks we should drop
the Cowlings investigation.
You've done a great job, but...
I'm sorry.
(sighs)
Let me buy you a drink.
I only drink tequila.
(laughs)
There's a reason
you're the boss-man.
This trial is so crazy.
Usually people are
throwing up every excuse
to get out of serving
on a long case,
but here, I have to wade
through the crackpots
and the attention-seekers.
How extensive is
the voir dire?
It's endless!
We are asking 294 questions.
(whistles)
There are so many
moving parts.
"Have you ever asked a celebrity
for an autograph?"
"Have you ever dated anyone
of a different race?"
"Are you a fan of USC football?"
There's a lot
of Trojan fans downtown.
I'll deal with them.
(laughs)
(laughs)
Here's what I see
as O.J.'s biggest problem.
That he did it?
(both laugh)
Okay.
Here's what I see as O.J.'s
second biggest problem--
that pileup of egos
called "The Dream Team."
It's a dozen alpha dogs
in a cage match.
They are gonna tear
each other up and implode.
Well...
(clears throat)
That may be true for
all the white guys,
but I wouldn't be so
quick to judge Johnnie.
Oh, come on.
He's an act.
Those flashy clothes,
the preachy speeches.
How'd he score?
What?
How'd he score?
Pretty high.
Tens from blacks,
sixes from whites,
for a weighted average of eight.
Wow.
And how'd you score?
Four.
Ouch.
I'm being totally honest
with you.
What am I not seeing?
He's real.
I mean, Johnnie's a showboat,
but at the end of the day,
he always fights for community.
He talks like a preacher,
because he goes
to church every Sunday.
When I first started at SID,
if I had a question,
he'd always be my first call.
We were on the same side,
just fighting bad cops,
just coming at it
from different angles.
I wouldn't underestimate him.
(ice clinking in glass)
BAILEY:
I'll tell you something.
I've known Bob Shapiro
a long time.
We're old friends.
I'm the godfather
of his oldest son.
Hmm.
But he does not
have the proper...
appetite for this case
we find ourselves on.
You and I are creatures
of the courtroom.
The parries and jabs,
the turns of phrase.
That's where a case is won.
Not by settling like a pussy.
Johnnie...
we owe it to our client
to take it to
the finish line.
It's time for you
to make a move.
(loud crowd chatter)
This crowd is ridiculous.
It's like when David O. Selznick
cast Scarlett O'Hara
in Gone with the Wind.
Hey, it's the Trial
of the Century.
Jesus, it's like
they all scored courtside seats
at a Lakers game.
Somebody better
warn them.
They're about
to be sequestered
for half a year.
BAILIFF:
Come to order.
Department 103
is now in session.
(gallery quiets)
(quietly):
Welcome to jury selection.
(microphone squeaks)
(clears his throat)
Welcome to jury selection.
I have to say,
I have never seen
a case quite as unusual
as this one.
I have no issues
with the police.
Uh, one time
when my car stalled,
they helped me push it
to the side of the road.
Your Honor,
the defense asks the court
to thank and excuse
prospective juror number 58.
MARCIA:
Ma'am,
you say on your
questionnaire you've had
multiple encounters
with the LAPD.
Would you describe those
as positive or negative?
(laughs)
What's worse than negative?
The People ask the court
to thank and excuse prospective
juror number 79.
(elevator bell dings)
Yeah, what's-what's the tally?
I-I feel they're
targeting too many blacks.
It seemed pretty balanced to me.
No, no, no, I agree
with Johnnie.
It's inappropriate.
I should inform the press.
(mouths)
I think a press conference
is a good idea.
Mm.
But I don't think
you're the most
ideal person to...
to speak out
on this issue.
(elevator bell dings)
I'm the lead attorney.
I'll do the press conference.
What the prosecution
is doing implies
an insidious effort
to remove black jurors
because they are black.
(clamoring)
Charlie.
Hey.
Hey, can you fit me in?
For you, always, Johnnie.
Beautiful.
Get you a buff
or a complete shine today?
Complete shine. I got
all the time in the world.
Hey, Johnnie.
Hey.
You're still here.
Still here, man.
You got a minute to talk?
I suppose I can fit you in.
All right.
Well, we're really concerned
about the tenor
of the prosecution's questions.
We're really bothered by the way
they go after certain jurors.
You know, ultimately, it's a...
it's an issue of fairness.
Uh, fairness
for whom?
Well, you have eyes and ears.
You tell me.
MARCIA:
This is total bullshit.
So what? I'm not worried
about whether it's true.
I'm worried about perception.
The optics.
Yes, the optics.
With Cochran
taking a larger role, I think
it might make sense for us
to balance out our ticket,
stir in a little added flavor.
You mean
a black person?
I didn't say that, Bill.
But it's not a bad idea.
Add a third chair.
Sure. Give our team
something extra.
We like
where we are.
Uh-huh.
Well, I think
you should strongly
consider what I'm saying.
What about Chris Darden?
Bob, why is this
taking so long?
I missed Halloween,
didn't get to take my kids
trick-or-treating.
Now Thanksgiving's
coming up.
Holidays are always rough.
What about Christmas?
Well, that's gonna be hard.
BAILIFF:
Excuse me. The judge
would like to see
all counsel in his chambers.
Counsel, we have a problem.
JOHNNIE: No.
MARCIA: Oh, my God.
You've got to be kidding.
When did that get printed?
I'm troubled
by this.
Her book could have
major ramifications
on jury selection.
Yes.
This unwarranted
publicity
could make it impossible
for Mr. Simpson
to get a fair trial.
Oh, come on, Bob.
How do we know that this
book would prevent a fair trial?
No one's even read
the damn thing.
I said "could," Marcia.
All right, well, why don't
we order up some copies?
I will temporarily
suspend jury selection.
This is how she pays tribute
to her friend.
They're doing coke
on every other page.
Wow.
I'll never think of Brentwood
the same way again.
SHAPIRO:
This is bad.
This is very bad.
Faye's got it all wrong.
That's not true.
That's not true.
Okay, that's true.
She's a liar!
Faye says Nicole had
six abortions so she wouldn't
have another kid with me.
Nicole would never do that.
I can't read this shit.
I wouldn't lose sleep.
The book is trash.
Be forgotten
in a week.
Lesbian sex, 197.
What?
LARRY KING:
Judge Ito told us not to read
the book,
but we clearly did not listen.
Tonight, we welcome
the author
of the New York Times
number-one best seller,
Faye Resnick.
Faye, how are you?
Well, I just hope Lance Ito
is a better judge
than he is a book critic.
(short chuckle)
What do you want readers
to take away from this book?
I told Nicole's story...
so that women could break
the chain of violence.
If this book
can inspire one wife
or one girlfriend to...
to escape an abusive
relationship...
then any embarrassment
I've endured
is... it's a small price to pay.
ITO:
All right, counsel,
I've come to a conclusion.
After careful reading
and annotation
of Ms. Resnick's book,
I am prepared
to resume
jury selection tomorrow.
Oh, in all due
deference, Your Honor,
Mr. Simpson has been
unfairly tried in the media.
The well has been polluted.
Let's postpone the
trial till next year
and allow Mr. Simpson
to be released on bail.
O.J. Simpson is being tried
in the media because of you.
You're the one
who created this circus.
I am in no way responsible
for the media circus
around this case.
Judge, seriously,
they can't go five minutes
without holding
a press conference.
They leaked the Fuhrman story.
They play the race card.
SHAPIRO:
I would never.
I hold myself to
the highest ethical standards.
I would never reduce myself
to such cheap tricks.
Bob, calm down.
No, no, Lee, Lee.
I'm very upset.
These claims should
be sanctioned.
How dare they say that
we play the race card.
I stand before
you right now
and say race
has never and will never
be an issue in this case.
Never.
Bob.
It is not
that simple.
This is the United States
of America,
and we are defending a black man
who is fighting to prove
his innocence. Now, I know
I don't have to give anyone here
a civics lesson
about the historic injustices
visited upon black men
for no other reason
other than they're black.
We didn't introduce
that into this trial.
We didn't introduce that
into this case.
It is a plain and simple fact.
But we would not
be doing our job
if we did not at least
talk about how race
plays a part in this trial.
Now, if that
is playing the race card...
so be it.
Johnnie...
don't ever contradict me
like that again.
You contradict
yourself, Bob.
You change narratives
like the wind.
We all have longer memories
than your previous sound bite.
KING:
F. Lee Bailey,
I'm really glad you're here,
'cause the media has been
filled, filled
with accounts
of defense team infighting.
So can you shed some light
on the situation?
Larry, these stories,
where they emanate from,
I really can't imagine.
This is a tremendous,
tremendous group
of attorneys.
Yourself included.
You're very kind.
Well, so,
pardon my confusion,
but who the hell
is in charge?
Oh, Bob Shapiro is
the lead attorney,
make no mistake.
All that sniping in the media
that says Bob Shapiro
is in over his head,
Bob Shapiro is an empty suit,
Bob Shapiro can't handle
a case of this magnitude.
Well, that twaddle
is truly unfortunate.
Well, then don't say it,
asshole.
Fuck!
SHAPIRO (whispering):
We're in terrific
shape. We targeted
for four black
women, we got five.
We should stop now.
You know,
I have to agree with Bob.
No... No, we can do better.
I'm feeling lucky--
I want another
divorced black lady.
Let's push in our chips.
Your Honor,
the defense asks that
the court thank
and excuse
prospective juror number 35.
ITO:
Juror 35,
you are excused.
(murmuring)
Juror 462.
Juror 462.
(whispers)
I like 229.
She has an open mind.
She had a great questionnaire.
Marcia, we've barely used
any of our challenges.
Well...
Wouldn't it be nice
to have a white guy?
I'm a white guy.
We live in Los Angeles, too.
Bill,
we cannot be so hung up
on skin color.
This is
a reasonable panel.
They're smart people
who gave good answers.
My gut says...
trust them.
(mouths)
Your Honor...
the People accept the panel
as presently constituted.
Your Honor, the d...
Your Honor, the defense
jointly accepts the jury.
Yeah?
If these people convict me,
maybe I did do it.
(chuckles)
Good news. Your
next-door neighbor,
the Salingers, have a maid.
And she was
walking their dog that night...
And she saw the Bronco
parked outside at 10:15.
CARL:
If we get her
to testify, this could
decimate the
prosecution's timeline.
That's good. That's good,
it's what I've been
telling y'all all along.
I couldn't have done it.
I'm so sorry that I'm late.
But I have something
considerable to offer.
I've been doing some research
at the office about precedent
and about possible options.
I think...
that we should cut a deal.
We should go for manslaughter.
What we say is that
you were mad at Nicole
for not inviting you to dinner
at Mezzaluna.
You go home, you brood.
What to do?
So you decide
to get even with her.
So you take a knife
to her place
to slash her tires.
But you get caught
and you're humiliated.
You... you-you
don't know what to do.
Your-your heart is racing,
your emotions are cracking,
and before you know it,
things escalate
and you kill her.
And you kill
the Goldman boy,
too, because you're jealous.
So, um, Johnnie,
when can we meet the maid?
(horn honking)
JOHNNIE:
Shit.
Shit. Am I losing it?
What the hell was that?
That man is crazy.
He's gone. What
an arrogant prick.
It's like he imploded.
When's he going
on that damn Hawaiian vacation?
Uh, tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow afternoon,
we're going over to that office
and we're clearing out
everything. I mean everything:
witness statements,
files, boxes.
It's all leaving Century City.
I'm telling you, this trip
can't come soon enough.
Put an ocean between me
and Johnnie Cochran.
LINELL:
Did you see the
L.A. Times story?
It said Nicole went to a
battered women's shelter
five days before
the murder.
So what do you want me
to say?
At lunch today,
it's all anybody talked about.
And they keep playing
those 911 calls over and over.
I know, I know, I know. It's
the case that'll never end.
I think...
I think maybe you should quit.
(exhales)
Linell, it's what I do.
I can't take on a double
homicide and then suddenly say
I'm uncomfortable.
This is different.
My friends, a lot of them,
don't call me back.
Everybody thinks
he's guilty.
Don't you think I know that?
(sighs)
Linell, I'm sorry.
I am so sorry that
it's affecting you this way.
But I'm more worried about
how it'll affect us later.
Everybody. All of us.
If I don't put a lid
on Johnnie Cochran,
this city is...
(sighs)
Listen,
let's just go away to Hawaii
and have a beautiful weekend,
okay?
(sighs)
You're afraid
there are gonna be more riots,
aren't you?
(phone ringing in distance)
You got a minute?
I got all the time in the world.
Okay.
Knock off the self-pity.
I'm working
on a really big case,
and we could use
a little help.
Ah.
What kind of help?
Chris, you and I have both been
in this building
for a long time.
And I know that you feel
you haven't caught all
the breaks you've deserved.
But I have total faith
in your abilities.
What are you
saying, Marcia?
Would you like to be third chair
on O.J.?
Is that a yes?
O.J.:
I don't even understand
these things
they're saying about me.
This article says that I've come
to represent "the cross-section
of racial politics, due process,
and celebrity culture."
I mean, what does that
even mean? (chuckles)
O.J., O.J.,
we got to talk.
"Judo defense."
What the hell is that?
Listen, Juice,
I think... I think you
got to make a change.
Wh-What do you mean?
Look, I-I pray for you.
You know that.
I pray for you every day.
I know you do, Bobby.
I think... I
think Johnnie
should be lead attorney.
But...
What does Bob say?
D-Don't worry
about Bob.
(sighs)
I don't know.
I mean, how does that even work?
You know I'm not good
at these conflict things.
Juice, Juice, this is your life.
Hey, this is your freedom.
Johnnie is your
best chance.
You got to trust me.
He has got to
be lead man.
(elevator bell dings)
(phone ringing in distance)
Happy New Year, dear.
Have a
good one?
Linda,
where'd you put my O.J. files?
Cochran's team took them.
All of them.
What do you mean he took them?
He came here and took my files?
Well, he can't do that. I could
get him disbarred for that.
Get him on the phone! I want a
meeting with everyone right now!
He already called for a meeting.
At his office.
This also came in.
Somebody talked to the
New York Daily News.
We lost the motion
to suppress the evidence
collected at Rockingham.
It's like Ito
has a thing against us.
Don't worry.
We'll file a motion
to throw out the lab results.
(door opens)
Great. Bob's here.
First up...
Before we get into your agenda,
let's get into mine.
Bob, O.J.'s on the phone.
Good. Because we have some
very pressing issues to discuss,
because
there are some
stinky fish in this room.
Everybody here knows that
we have to keep a united front.
So from now on,
I am the only one
that speaks
for the defense team.
I'm the lead
attorney.
Um, O.J., do you have
something to say?
(clears throat)
Well, this is sort of funny.
It reminds me of the old days,
when I played football.
I didn't always get along with
my teammates. But on Sunday
we put all that bullshit aside
and played together.
SHAPIRO:
I don't get it.
I-I don't... I don't follow.
As I see it, Bob,
you're the quarterback.
And Johnnie's the running back.
But, uh,
we won't be throwing the ball
all that much.
But I'm-I'm the
quarterback, you say.
Is that correct?
Well, or-or maybe
you're the coach
and Lee's the quarterback
and-and, uh... and Alan's
the, uh, uh, front office.
Juice, Juice,
um, I think you need
to be more clear.
All right?
What are you trying to say?
Opening statements are
less than a month away.
Yes. Opening statements
are a month away.
And as the lead attorney, I will
be delivering those statements.
Is that right, O.J.?
W-W...
(sighs)
(clears throat)
I would
respectfully suggest
that our able
colleague Mr. Cochran
is the more appropriate person
to deliver the
opening statement.
Given the makeup
of our...
brilliantly selected
jury, he could translate
our message
into a "downtown" dialect
that would resonate more
powerfully with our audience.
I agree with Lee.
Uh, me, too.
What about you, O.J.?
Who do you think should give
the opening statement?
Well...
Shit.
Please, Juice.
Juice, we need an answer.
(O.J. sighs heavily)
Let's-let's have Johnnie do it.
JOHNNIE:
Okay. We need
to hand out
attorney assignments
for the week.
Barry, I need you to take
the PCR testing. Carl,
discovery...
("Black Superman"
by Above the Law playing)
♪ I hit the loose juice ♪
♪ Ant pulls up in the deuce ♪
♪ He gives me the scoop
about the fake-ass troops ♪
♪ Crime fighting's what I do ♪
♪ And ... in my crew don't
take lightly to you bustas ♪
♪ And so we say ... ♪
♪ Then buck you,
tuck you in for the night ♪
♪ As you think about the paper
at the funeral site ♪
♪ So when I'm hangin' with
the clique and we in demand ♪
♪ I feel good that the City of
Angels call me Black Superman ♪
♪ Now everybody know ♪
♪ Black Superman ♪
♪ Now everybody sing ♪
When did they get a black guy?
♪ Now everybody know ♪
♪ Black Superman ♪
♪ Now everybody sing
Black Superman. ♪
WOMAN:
This is a fiasco.
MAN: I think that we
should cut a deal.
MAN #2:
It is not that simple.
MAN #3:
I deserve to get hurt.
ANNOUNCER:
The People v. O.J. Simpson.
All new,
Tuesdays at 10:00 on FX.
(typing)
There's a spot on this.
(door bells
jingling)
Baskets. All new,
Thursdays at 10:00.
Only on FX.
(silenced gunshots)
(gasps)
No.
(laughing)
Oh.
(grunts, groans)
Come on.
(grunts)
(thuds)
(groans)
Man Seeking Woman.
All new, Wednesdays at 10:30.
On FXX.
ANNOUNCER: This spring--
How awesome is it
to be back doing
what we're best at?
(yawns)
MAN:
Archer!
-Aaah!
-Mmm.
Why the hell
are you naked?
It's after Labor Day.
Mr. Archer? Mr. Archer.
Boop. Sorry.
Had to take that.
ANNOUNCER: Archer.
Why does a divorce lawyer
have grenades?
'Cause they're
terrible people.
Whoo-hoo!
ANNOUNCER: The all new season
starts Thursday, March 31.
Only on FX.
-Wednesdays.
-(screams)
Ew. (sniffs)
Bro.
(gasps)
Oh, God!
Do you hear
that chirping sound?
(squawking)
Aaah!
-Oh!
-(screams)
-(cheers)
-(grunts)
-ANNOUNCER: Sunny.
All new,
Wednesdays at 10:00.
Only on FXX.
ANNOUNCER: FX presents
The People v. O.J. Simpson.
♪ Everybody dance now ♪
♪ Give me the music ♪
(whooping)
♪ Everybody dance now ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Yeah, everybody ♪
♪ Here is the dome
back with the bass ♪
♪ The jam is live in effect
and I don't waste time ♪
♪ Off the mic
with a dope rhyme ♪
♪ Jump to the rhythm,
jump, jump to the rhythm, jump ♪
♪ And I'm here to combine beats
and lyrics ♪
♪ To make you shake your pants,
take a twirl ♪
♪ Hands in the air,
come on, say yeah ♪
♪ Everybody over here,
everybody over there ♪
♪ The crowd is live,
and I pursue this groove ♪
♪ Party people
in the house move ♪
♪ Work me all night ♪
♪ Come on, let's ♪
♪ Everybody dance now, sweat ♪
♪ Sweat ♪
♪ Let the music take control ♪
♪ Let the rhythm move you ♪
♪ Da, da, da, da,
da, da, da, da ♪
♪ Da, da, da, da, da,
da, da, da, da, da... ♪
(clattering, clanging)
(elevator bell dings)
SHAPIRO:
Gentlemen.
Johnnie, I want you
to meet everyone.
You know Lee. Alan,
Johnnie, nice
to see you.
Barry Scheck, and
Robert Kardashian.
And we have Nate 'n
Al's. The best.
(laughter)
We've got lox
and whitefish.
JOHNNIE:
And this is Carl Douglas
and Shawn Chapman.
They're working with us.
How are you?
Oh!
Carl, Shawn, welcome.
How do you do?
I just want to stress
how honored and happy we are
to have you join the team.
So let's hit
the ground running.
Yes.
Okay. First question:
who thinks O.J. did it?
Me neither.
BAILEY:
Uh, thank you, Bob.
Why don't we talk
big picture strategy?
I'd say our priority
at this juncture is the jury.
Yes. We know we have
a downtown jury, which means
a heavy concentration
of African-Americans.
Indeed.
Black men
obviously are our allies.
Mr. Simpson,
a hero in the community.
And I'm confident
that people will assume
he couldn't have committed
such a ghastly crime.
But black women, on the
other hand, might be a problem.
They don't like their men
marrying white girls.
Is that true?
Why are you looking at me?
Well, I...
But I believe
the generalization
is accurate.
Black women resent
successful black men marrying
outside the community.
We need to limit that group.
That analysis
is smart.
The prosecution thinks they have
the upper hand, but they don't.
Because we have you.
And you know
how these people think.
"These people."
Bob, let me give you
a helpful piece of advice.
On this case, you need
to choose your vernacular
very, very
carefully.
Mea culpa.
Okay,
but the important thing is
that we work
together.
When we face
the prelim judge,
we want to come out swinging.
We concede
to nothing. If
Marcia Clark wants
to go to the bathroom,
we object.
If they say the sky
is blue, hearsay.
Nothing will be admitted without
challenge and provocation.
(gavel bangs)
(murmuring)
Your Honor, at this time,
the State requests a hair sample
to compare to hairs found
at the scene of the crime.
Excuse me, Your Honor. We
have some grave concerns
about this request.
We would ask
that the court
limit this sample
to only the number
of hairs required
for testing.
Ms. Clark,
how much hair
do the People need?
Well, Your Honor,
a typical sample, as I'm sure
the defense is aware,
takes hairs
from each area
of the head.
Five to ten hairs
per area,
amounting
to approximately 100 hairs.
100 hairs?
This is a standard request,
Your Honor.
It's only as many hairs
as the criminalist needs, to
compare hairs from the defendant
with hairs found
at the crime scene.
100 hairs seems unduly invasive.
Your Honor, we offer one hair.
What?
Just a second,
Ms. Clark.
Excuse me,
Your Honor,
but this
objection is beyond ridiculous.
They seem to be
on some kind
of fishing expedition
at my client's expense.
MARCIA:
Your Honor,
this is routine.
80 hairs.
Five.
50.
Judge, we're getting nowhere.
We request a special hearing
on the hair.
So ordered.
I call
for a hearing
regarding the collection
of Mr. Simpson's hair.
Thank you, Your Honor.
GUARD:
O.J., you got
a visitor.
(door buzzes)
Where's Bob?
He had a dinner.
How are you, my brother?
"He had a dinner."
You should've seen
what I had for dinner.
I didn't even know what
it was. It was slop.
Then I kept running to
the toilet, but my toilet's
clogged up, so
you can imagine...
You have to be strong.
We're gonna get you out of here.
Oh, yeah? Is that what Bob said?
No, no, no. That's what I said.
Look at you.
You are a mess.
You can't walk into that
courtroom like this.
Everyone's gonna
be watching.
Everybody thinks
I'm guilty.
So change their minds.
Have you forgotten
who you are?
These walls around
you don't change that.
You know what you mean
to people?
(sighs)
Okay.
Well, then let me tell you
what you were once
to me.
1978. I just left
private practice, gone
back to the L.A. D.A.,
gonna be the first black
assistant attorney in office.
Gonna change things
from the inside. Shit.
That wasn't happening.
Same old shit,
same rigged system.
Feeling powerless
for the first time in my life.
And then my first marriage
blows up in my face.
My children
won't talk to me.
I'm a failure at work,
I'm a failure at home.
I was down, brother.
I was way down.
Sunday, sitting
on my bed,
surrounded by dead-end paperwork
and divorce lawyer bills,
drinking beer-- all right,
maybe a little bit
too much beer-- feeling sorry
for myself, watching
a football game all alone,
crappy TV. 49ers
versus the Falcons.
What I saw you do on that field
that day,
somehow, as I was watching,
it became as if you were running
for me.
Driving up that field, crowded
with adversity and obstacles,
getting knocked on your ass
and then popping
right back up again.
See, that's what I
wanted to do out there on
them streets, back home
with my troubles there
but couldn't.
But you, you, you,
you willed
what you needed to do into being
with nothing but grace.
I scored a touchdown that day.
You did. And when
they cut away
to the commercial,
there you were again,
leaping through the airport
for Hertz,
breaking another barrier with
charisma, humor, intelligence.
A black man as the public face
for one of the world's
biggest corporations.
We lost that game.
I don't remember that.
I remember everything else
about that game but not that.
Because it didn't have nothing
to do with what touched me.
And when the game was over,
I got the hell up off that bed
and jogged the six blocks
back to my office
and got right back to work
and haven't stopped and wallowed
in self-pity since that day.
You did that for me.
Just like you've done for
so many others, because you
are O.J. Simpson.
You are O.J.
Simpson and you
are an inspiration.
I am.
You are.
An inspiration.
An inspiration.
That's who you are.
Yeah. Yeah.
You're a man who loves people,
who people love right back.
That's you.
You're a fighter.
You're a runner. And when
you get knocked down,
I need you to pop right back up
like you know you can
and keep going, because
this right here,
this right here,
O.J. Simpson,
is the run of your life.
(sighs)
(sighs)
Come in. Come in. Shut the door.
Shut the door.
Lance, why did you drag me out
here in the middle of the day?
I've got some big news.
Very big.
They assigned me Simpson.
(gasps)
Oh, my God.
Mwah.
Yep, yep, yep.
Cecil said that they considered
a number of candidates
and that I was the best choice.
He said I have integrity,
an open mind,
and a strong backbone.
"Strong backbone." I like that.
(chuckles)
You'll be under a
lot of scrutiny.
I'm not intimidated.
What's important
is that this jury gets
the full picture.
This trial needs
to be pure truth school.
Let them see
all the available facts
so they make
the right decision.
You need to fill out
the usual spousal conflict form.
Nope. Nothing
rings a bell.
I'm so proud of you.
As you were, Captain York.
(grunts)
(murmuring)
(speaking indistinctly)
All rise.
Court is now in session,
the Honorable
Lance A. Ito presiding.
You may be seated.
(clears throat softly)
Mr. Simpson.
Are you ready to enter a plea
at this time?
Yes, Your Honor.
And how do you plead
to counts one and two?
Absolutely 100% not guilty.
-(excited chatter)
-♪ Don't call it a comeback ♪
♪ I been here for years,
rockin' my peers ♪
♪ Puttin' suckers in fear ♪
♪ Mama said knock you out ♪
♪ I'm gonna knock you out ♪
♪ Mama said knock you out... ♪
SHAPIRO:
I love Johnnie, it's just...
we have to keep
our eyes on him.
Johnnie's
an excellent trial lawyer.
He can sense all the potholes.
That's irrelevant. I don't
want him putting ideas
into O.J.'s head.
I mean, the truth is,
we both know there's only
one way out of this case.
Come on, Bob,
we're just getting started.
We want to have a little fun.
No, it's my job to
serve the client,
and the reality is,
it's not winnable.
Johnnie is here to make
Gil nervous enough
to cut us a deal.
(exhales)
You really think he will?
The race card's sticking,
and Johnnie equals
LAPD injustice,
and Gil doesn't want to see
the city burn down again.
WAITRESS: Here you gentlemen go.
Eggs Benedict...
and steak and frittata.
Thank you.
And enjoy.
Well, then...
to whom do I invoice my hours?
Hmm?
Who should I bill?
Lee, you're pro bono.
WAITRESS: Could I offer
either of you Tabasco or...
No, we're fine.
Bob...
(wry chuckle)
may I remind you,
I was your first call.
I like this case for you.
I really do, Lee.
It's a terrific way to get
back in the limelight,
reintroduce yourself
to the public.
I don't need reintroducing.
I'm F. Lee Bailey.
I represented Sam Sheppard,
Patty Hearst,
the goddamn Boston Strangler.
That's-that's a long time ago.
Look at the bright
side-- this could be
the most high-profile
criminal case
in the history of the world.
And O.J.'s easily the
most famous American
ever to be put up
for murder.
It's a different
world, Lee.
I mean, the old days,
you'd turn on TV, 6:00 p.m.,
the news,
and now it's 24 hours a day.
I have insomnia.
I wake up at 3:00 a.m.
I turn on cable,
and boom, there we are.
(sighs)
Trust me...
you'll dine out on this
for the rest of your life.
Yeah.
But Patty Hearst paid.
FAYE:
Nicole was my everything.
You know?
She was my...
confidant, my spiritual sister.
You know,
now there's just
such a-a void
in my life without her.
I went to a psychic,
and... she said,
"Nicole wants you...
to write a book."
But I don't want it
to be exploitative.
VINER: Oh, no, no.
I mean, o-of course not.
But we need to move fast--
we have to get to press
in two weeks.
Uh, Faye, just
to-- here--
just to give a general sense,
could you give me an overview
of your times with Nicole?
Oh, Nicole was
a wonderful person.
She was a terrific mother.
We need to stress that.
We had wonderful
times together.
We...
we'd go clubbing and...
go to parties and,
you know, Starbucks.
Sometimes do
a little cocaine.
We loved to eat
at La Scala.
Cocaine?
Really?
I'm trying to manage it.
There's no good time to find out
your best friend's
been murdered,
but particularly not three days
into cocaine treatment.
(laughs softly)
Did you know Nicole
had breast implants?
It was O.J.'s idea, but I'll be
honest with you, she loved them.
What else
can I tell you
about Nicole?
She loved to give
a Brentwood Hello.
I'm sorry,
a "Brentwood Hello"?
It was a little joke we had.
(laughs)
Where she would
go into...
a guy's bedroom
while he was asleep,
and, you know...
give...
go down on him.
Ha!
(chuckles)
Hmm, hmm, hmm...
We are gonna sell
a lot of books.
In a very nonexploitive way,
of course.
A.C. maintains he was trying
to keep O.J. alive,
but the evidence says O.J. was
planning to cross into Mexico.
I mean, he was carrying
his passport,
disguise kit
with fake beard and mustache,
makeup adhesive,
and $8,700 in cash.
Who takes a passport
to his wife's grave?
God, are they guilty.
What does Kardashian say?
We're screwed on Kardashian--
now he's O.J.'s lawyer,
so he's privileged,
he doesn't have to talk.
But it doesn't matter--
we got plenty.
Uh, tell me about the Bahamas.
Well, the couple on the island
heard talk
about a chartered yacht.
The crew was expecting O.J.
on the 18th.
The day after the Bronco?
Yeah.
So O.J. was gonna fly out of
Mexico the night of the 17th.
Damn, this feels good.
(chuckles, snorts)
I just, I can't, really...
You know what?
I'm gonna have to call you back.
I got to call you back.
Hello. Hi.
Come on in.
Come on in.
Have a seat.
I'm glad you were both able
to find time to come down.
It's good for us
to get to know each other.
I know what
you're going through.
Do you?!
Do you have a son
who was murdered?!
Ron is dead!
And it's like
no one even cares.
I turn on the TV,
and it's just
O.J. and Nicole,
O.J. and Nicole.
It's like Ron
is a footnote...
to his own murder!
And if they
talk about him,
they make him seem like
some kind of joke!
It's all so
superficial.
He was a male model,
he was a nightclub promoter,
he ran a tanning salon.
It's like they're
trying to tarnish him.
Like...
he... he was asking for it.
(sniffles)
(Fred sobbing quietly)
You know what he did
in his spare time?
He... volunteered
at a clinic
for children with
cerebral palsy.
He was a good person!
(sniffles)
He didn't drink,
he didn't do drugs.
He should be celebrated!
Not... this!
When the police called
and... they said Ron
had been killed...
...I assumed it was
a car accident.
Never in my worst nightmare
could I have imagined
the truth.
(sniffles)
What this...
this monster did to him.
Do you have children?
Two boys.
I pray... that you never have
to read an autopsy report
for your own child.
My son's...
last moments
were filled with
such horror...
and such...
pain.
He... he was stabbed
so many times.
He was stabbed in his
chest, his neck...
his face...
his head, his hands,
his stomach...
(sobs)
...his thigh.
(sobs)
He was even stabbed...
after he was dead.
(panting)
(sniffles softly)
We are gonna get him.
You better.
In that scenario,
he was lying in wait
when Goldman arrived with
the glasses in the envelope.
(door opens)
Sorry I'm late.
Anyway, as Bill and I
were discussing,
I've decided to take
death penalty off the table.
Gil, we can't do that.
What he did
was unspeakable.
It's special circumstances.
Marcia...
We want death-qualified jurors.
They're more aggressive,
more likely to convict.
We have to be
realistic.
People love O.J.
They're not gonna
love him once they see
those crime scene photos.
I have no doubt
you're gonna put him
behind bars,
but nobody in America is gonna
vote to execute O.J. Simpson.
Marcia, we can't even execute
Charlie Manson.
(Gil sighs)
Great.
Now, how about
some good news?
Donald Vinson...
has offered his services
to the case... for free.
Wow! Vinson?
Oh, come on!
We don't need his help.
Marcia,
Don's amazing-- he practically
invented jury research.
It's not rocket science.
We're gonna have
a downtown jury,
which means heavily black.
If I can make it black women,
we are in good shape.
And why is that?
They'll sympathize with Nicole.
I have handled
case after case
of battered
African-American women.
I have heard their stories.
They'll be able
to make the connection.
O.J.'s abuse... led to murder.
Okay, well,
you're probably right.
But it doesn't hurt
to be open to outside input.
Go see Vinson.
VINSON (over speaker):
So, how about
that Bronco chase, huh?
(chuckles)
Anybody see that?
I know I did.
(chuckles):
Oh-ho, that was something.
Okay, so who thinks
he's innocent?
Okay.
And who thinks O.J. Simpson
committed the murders?
Holy shit. It's worse
than I thought.
MARCIA (on TV):
You told the court today
that you left the restaurant
at 9:00 p.m.,
and that you knew that because
the restaurant was closing.
Why did you tell police
you were home by 8:30?
Your Honor, I would like
to ask the court
to instruct the witness
to answer the question.
Give me your impressions
of Marcia Clark
based on what you've seen.
Please. Come on.
And-and I want you to be honest.
Okay.
Well, she seems
like a bitch.
(laughter)
MAN:
She acts like
everybody's stupid.
And she's strident!
I wouldn't want
to be her boyfriend.
WOMAN:
Yeah, a real know-it-all.
She's shifty.
WOMAN:
Yes, definitely.
(overlapping chatter)
Black women don't like you.
What? No.
No, that's idiotic.
I have tried many, many cases
in front of black women and won.
I have a rapport
with them.
The data doesn't bear that out.
Well, then, your data
is horseshit.
Some of those black women
still write me letters.
Well, that's wonderful
anecdotal information, but
I think it would be wise
to limit the number
of African-American women
on your jury.
You might also consider
softening your appearance.
Skirts instead of
business suits.
Perhaps a new hairdo.
Maybe try smiling a bit more.
WOMAN:
Our focus group
rated the participants
on a scale of one to ten,
based on how much sympathy
they felt.
Among black women, O.J. received
all nines and tens.
But Nicole
scored sevens,
fives and a three.
SHAPIRO:
Really?
The murder victim
scored a three?
It was all over
the cards.
You saw the cards?
Why didn't I see the cards?
Who's in charge
of distributing the cards?
Gentlemen, let's focus
on our client.
Yeah, that's a novel idea.
JOHNNIE:
I will admit
I'm surprised that black ladies
liked O.J. so much.
What exactly did they say?
Oh, it's very positive.
They call O.J. "handsome,"
"masculine" and "charming."
Hmm.
What, what words did they
use to describe Nicole?
WOMAN:
Um...
various terms
got thrown around.
But one term
came up a lot.
"Gold digger."
Gold digger? That's
completely wrong.
I mean, she wasn't
like that at all.
I'm just repeating the data.
Nicole wasn't a gold digger.
I mean, I-I knew her.
She loved him.
Well, they were obsessed
with each other.
And she really did love him.
They had hot sex.
Which, of course,
became a problem
after they broke up,
because O.J. knew
that she needed it all the time.
And it absolutely
drove him crazy.
You know, when she was at that
little house on Gretna Green,
he used to hide in the bushes
and watch her have sex
with other guys.
Did she know that
O.J. was out there?
Of course she did!
She used to love
to push his buttons.
And they were
constantly reconciling.
And then somebody would
sleep with someone,
and the fighting
would start again.
They were really the most
undivorced divorced couple
I think I've ever known.
Hey. Working late?
Jury selection
begins tomorrow.
They've called 900 people.
I hear it might be a record.
Maybe I'll make
The Guinness Book.
I'll probably be here all night,
while Bob Shapiro eats dinner
in some Beverly Hills restaurant
I can't afford.
Well, I'll make it quick.
I'm just checking to see
where we're at with Cowlings.
Oh, Chris. Damn it.
I'm sorry. I'm so distracted.
I meant to talk to you.
O.J. is swallowing up
everything.
And considering
the available evidence,
Gil thinks we should drop
the Cowlings investigation.
You've done a great job, but...
I'm sorry.
(sighs)
Let me buy you a drink.
I only drink tequila.
(laughs)
There's a reason
you're the boss-man.
This trial is so crazy.
Usually people are
throwing up every excuse
to get out of serving
on a long case,
but here, I have to wade
through the crackpots
and the attention-seekers.
How extensive is
the voir dire?
It's endless!
We are asking 294 questions.
(whistles)
There are so many
moving parts.
"Have you ever asked a celebrity
for an autograph?"
"Have you ever dated anyone
of a different race?"
"Are you a fan of USC football?"
There's a lot
of Trojan fans downtown.
I'll deal with them.
(laughs)
(laughs)
Here's what I see
as O.J.'s biggest problem.
That he did it?
(both laugh)
Okay.
Here's what I see as O.J.'s
second biggest problem--
that pileup of egos
called "The Dream Team."
It's a dozen alpha dogs
in a cage match.
They are gonna tear
each other up and implode.
Well...
(clears throat)
That may be true for
all the white guys,
but I wouldn't be so
quick to judge Johnnie.
Oh, come on.
He's an act.
Those flashy clothes,
the preachy speeches.
How'd he score?
What?
How'd he score?
Pretty high.
Tens from blacks,
sixes from whites,
for a weighted average of eight.
Wow.
And how'd you score?
Four.
Ouch.
I'm being totally honest
with you.
What am I not seeing?
He's real.
I mean, Johnnie's a showboat,
but at the end of the day,
he always fights for community.
He talks like a preacher,
because he goes
to church every Sunday.
When I first started at SID,
if I had a question,
he'd always be my first call.
We were on the same side,
just fighting bad cops,
just coming at it
from different angles.
I wouldn't underestimate him.
(ice clinking in glass)
BAILEY:
I'll tell you something.
I've known Bob Shapiro
a long time.
We're old friends.
I'm the godfather
of his oldest son.
Hmm.
But he does not
have the proper...
appetite for this case
we find ourselves on.
You and I are creatures
of the courtroom.
The parries and jabs,
the turns of phrase.
That's where a case is won.
Not by settling like a pussy.
Johnnie...
we owe it to our client
to take it to
the finish line.
It's time for you
to make a move.
(loud crowd chatter)
This crowd is ridiculous.
It's like when David O. Selznick
cast Scarlett O'Hara
in Gone with the Wind.
Hey, it's the Trial
of the Century.
Jesus, it's like
they all scored courtside seats
at a Lakers game.
Somebody better
warn them.
They're about
to be sequestered
for half a year.
BAILIFF:
Come to order.
Department 103
is now in session.
(gallery quiets)
(quietly):
Welcome to jury selection.
(microphone squeaks)
(clears his throat)
Welcome to jury selection.
I have to say,
I have never seen
a case quite as unusual
as this one.
I have no issues
with the police.
Uh, one time
when my car stalled,
they helped me push it
to the side of the road.
Your Honor,
the defense asks the court
to thank and excuse
prospective juror number 58.
MARCIA:
Ma'am,
you say on your
questionnaire you've had
multiple encounters
with the LAPD.
Would you describe those
as positive or negative?
(laughs)
What's worse than negative?
The People ask the court
to thank and excuse prospective
juror number 79.
(elevator bell dings)
Yeah, what's-what's the tally?
I-I feel they're
targeting too many blacks.
It seemed pretty balanced to me.
No, no, no, I agree
with Johnnie.
It's inappropriate.
I should inform the press.
(mouths)
I think a press conference
is a good idea.
Mm.
But I don't think
you're the most
ideal person to...
to speak out
on this issue.
(elevator bell dings)
I'm the lead attorney.
I'll do the press conference.
What the prosecution
is doing implies
an insidious effort
to remove black jurors
because they are black.
(clamoring)
Charlie.
Hey.
Hey, can you fit me in?
For you, always, Johnnie.
Beautiful.
Get you a buff
or a complete shine today?
Complete shine. I got
all the time in the world.
Hey, Johnnie.
Hey.
You're still here.
Still here, man.
You got a minute to talk?
I suppose I can fit you in.
All right.
Well, we're really concerned
about the tenor
of the prosecution's questions.
We're really bothered by the way
they go after certain jurors.
You know, ultimately, it's a...
it's an issue of fairness.
Uh, fairness
for whom?
Well, you have eyes and ears.
You tell me.
MARCIA:
This is total bullshit.
So what? I'm not worried
about whether it's true.
I'm worried about perception.
The optics.
Yes, the optics.
With Cochran
taking a larger role, I think
it might make sense for us
to balance out our ticket,
stir in a little added flavor.
You mean
a black person?
I didn't say that, Bill.
But it's not a bad idea.
Add a third chair.
Sure. Give our team
something extra.
We like
where we are.
Uh-huh.
Well, I think
you should strongly
consider what I'm saying.
What about Chris Darden?
Bob, why is this
taking so long?
I missed Halloween,
didn't get to take my kids
trick-or-treating.
Now Thanksgiving's
coming up.
Holidays are always rough.
What about Christmas?
Well, that's gonna be hard.
BAILIFF:
Excuse me. The judge
would like to see
all counsel in his chambers.
Counsel, we have a problem.
JOHNNIE: No.
MARCIA: Oh, my God.
You've got to be kidding.
When did that get printed?
I'm troubled
by this.
Her book could have
major ramifications
on jury selection.
Yes.
This unwarranted
publicity
could make it impossible
for Mr. Simpson
to get a fair trial.
Oh, come on, Bob.
How do we know that this
book would prevent a fair trial?
No one's even read
the damn thing.
I said "could," Marcia.
All right, well, why don't
we order up some copies?
I will temporarily
suspend jury selection.
This is how she pays tribute
to her friend.
They're doing coke
on every other page.
Wow.
I'll never think of Brentwood
the same way again.
SHAPIRO:
This is bad.
This is very bad.
Faye's got it all wrong.
That's not true.
That's not true.
Okay, that's true.
She's a liar!
Faye says Nicole had
six abortions so she wouldn't
have another kid with me.
Nicole would never do that.
I can't read this shit.
I wouldn't lose sleep.
The book is trash.
Be forgotten
in a week.
Lesbian sex, 197.
What?
LARRY KING:
Judge Ito told us not to read
the book,
but we clearly did not listen.
Tonight, we welcome
the author
of the New York Times
number-one best seller,
Faye Resnick.
Faye, how are you?
Well, I just hope Lance Ito
is a better judge
than he is a book critic.
(short chuckle)
What do you want readers
to take away from this book?
I told Nicole's story...
so that women could break
the chain of violence.
If this book
can inspire one wife
or one girlfriend to...
to escape an abusive
relationship...
then any embarrassment
I've endured
is... it's a small price to pay.
ITO:
All right, counsel,
I've come to a conclusion.
After careful reading
and annotation
of Ms. Resnick's book,
I am prepared
to resume
jury selection tomorrow.
Oh, in all due
deference, Your Honor,
Mr. Simpson has been
unfairly tried in the media.
The well has been polluted.
Let's postpone the
trial till next year
and allow Mr. Simpson
to be released on bail.
O.J. Simpson is being tried
in the media because of you.
You're the one
who created this circus.
I am in no way responsible
for the media circus
around this case.
Judge, seriously,
they can't go five minutes
without holding
a press conference.
They leaked the Fuhrman story.
They play the race card.
SHAPIRO:
I would never.
I hold myself to
the highest ethical standards.
I would never reduce myself
to such cheap tricks.
Bob, calm down.
No, no, Lee, Lee.
I'm very upset.
These claims should
be sanctioned.
How dare they say that
we play the race card.
I stand before
you right now
and say race
has never and will never
be an issue in this case.
Never.
Bob.
It is not
that simple.
This is the United States
of America,
and we are defending a black man
who is fighting to prove
his innocence. Now, I know
I don't have to give anyone here
a civics lesson
about the historic injustices
visited upon black men
for no other reason
other than they're black.
We didn't introduce
that into this trial.
We didn't introduce that
into this case.
It is a plain and simple fact.
But we would not
be doing our job
if we did not at least
talk about how race
plays a part in this trial.
Now, if that
is playing the race card...
so be it.
Johnnie...
don't ever contradict me
like that again.
You contradict
yourself, Bob.
You change narratives
like the wind.
We all have longer memories
than your previous sound bite.
KING:
F. Lee Bailey,
I'm really glad you're here,
'cause the media has been
filled, filled
with accounts
of defense team infighting.
So can you shed some light
on the situation?
Larry, these stories,
where they emanate from,
I really can't imagine.
This is a tremendous,
tremendous group
of attorneys.
Yourself included.
You're very kind.
Well, so,
pardon my confusion,
but who the hell
is in charge?
Oh, Bob Shapiro is
the lead attorney,
make no mistake.
All that sniping in the media
that says Bob Shapiro
is in over his head,
Bob Shapiro is an empty suit,
Bob Shapiro can't handle
a case of this magnitude.
Well, that twaddle
is truly unfortunate.
Well, then don't say it,
asshole.
Fuck!
SHAPIRO (whispering):
We're in terrific
shape. We targeted
for four black
women, we got five.
We should stop now.
You know,
I have to agree with Bob.
No... No, we can do better.
I'm feeling lucky--
I want another
divorced black lady.
Let's push in our chips.
Your Honor,
the defense asks that
the court thank
and excuse
prospective juror number 35.
ITO:
Juror 35,
you are excused.
(murmuring)
Juror 462.
Juror 462.
(whispers)
I like 229.
She has an open mind.
She had a great questionnaire.
Marcia, we've barely used
any of our challenges.
Well...
Wouldn't it be nice
to have a white guy?
I'm a white guy.
We live in Los Angeles, too.
Bill,
we cannot be so hung up
on skin color.
This is
a reasonable panel.
They're smart people
who gave good answers.
My gut says...
trust them.
(mouths)
Your Honor...
the People accept the panel
as presently constituted.
Your Honor, the d...
Your Honor, the defense
jointly accepts the jury.
Yeah?
If these people convict me,
maybe I did do it.
(chuckles)
Good news. Your
next-door neighbor,
the Salingers, have a maid.
And she was
walking their dog that night...
And she saw the Bronco
parked outside at 10:15.
CARL:
If we get her
to testify, this could
decimate the
prosecution's timeline.
That's good. That's good,
it's what I've been
telling y'all all along.
I couldn't have done it.
I'm so sorry that I'm late.
But I have something
considerable to offer.
I've been doing some research
at the office about precedent
and about possible options.
I think...
that we should cut a deal.
We should go for manslaughter.
What we say is that
you were mad at Nicole
for not inviting you to dinner
at Mezzaluna.
You go home, you brood.
What to do?
So you decide
to get even with her.
So you take a knife
to her place
to slash her tires.
But you get caught
and you're humiliated.
You... you-you
don't know what to do.
Your-your heart is racing,
your emotions are cracking,
and before you know it,
things escalate
and you kill her.
And you kill
the Goldman boy,
too, because you're jealous.
So, um, Johnnie,
when can we meet the maid?
(horn honking)
JOHNNIE:
Shit.
Shit. Am I losing it?
What the hell was that?
That man is crazy.
He's gone. What
an arrogant prick.
It's like he imploded.
When's he going
on that damn Hawaiian vacation?
Uh, tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow afternoon,
we're going over to that office
and we're clearing out
everything. I mean everything:
witness statements,
files, boxes.
It's all leaving Century City.
I'm telling you, this trip
can't come soon enough.
Put an ocean between me
and Johnnie Cochran.
LINELL:
Did you see the
L.A. Times story?
It said Nicole went to a
battered women's shelter
five days before
the murder.
So what do you want me
to say?
At lunch today,
it's all anybody talked about.
And they keep playing
those 911 calls over and over.
I know, I know, I know. It's
the case that'll never end.
I think...
I think maybe you should quit.
(exhales)
Linell, it's what I do.
I can't take on a double
homicide and then suddenly say
I'm uncomfortable.
This is different.
My friends, a lot of them,
don't call me back.
Everybody thinks
he's guilty.
Don't you think I know that?
(sighs)
Linell, I'm sorry.
I am so sorry that
it's affecting you this way.
But I'm more worried about
how it'll affect us later.
Everybody. All of us.
If I don't put a lid
on Johnnie Cochran,
this city is...
(sighs)
Listen,
let's just go away to Hawaii
and have a beautiful weekend,
okay?
(sighs)
You're afraid
there are gonna be more riots,
aren't you?
(phone ringing in distance)
You got a minute?
I got all the time in the world.
Okay.
Knock off the self-pity.
I'm working
on a really big case,
and we could use
a little help.
Ah.
What kind of help?
Chris, you and I have both been
in this building
for a long time.
And I know that you feel
you haven't caught all
the breaks you've deserved.
But I have total faith
in your abilities.
What are you
saying, Marcia?
Would you like to be third chair
on O.J.?
Is that a yes?
O.J.:
I don't even understand
these things
they're saying about me.
This article says that I've come
to represent "the cross-section
of racial politics, due process,
and celebrity culture."
I mean, what does that
even mean? (chuckles)
O.J., O.J.,
we got to talk.
"Judo defense."
What the hell is that?
Listen, Juice,
I think... I think you
got to make a change.
Wh-What do you mean?
Look, I-I pray for you.
You know that.
I pray for you every day.
I know you do, Bobby.
I think... I
think Johnnie
should be lead attorney.
But...
What does Bob say?
D-Don't worry
about Bob.
(sighs)
I don't know.
I mean, how does that even work?
You know I'm not good
at these conflict things.
Juice, Juice, this is your life.
Hey, this is your freedom.
Johnnie is your
best chance.
You got to trust me.
He has got to
be lead man.
(elevator bell dings)
(phone ringing in distance)
Happy New Year, dear.
Have a
good one?
Linda,
where'd you put my O.J. files?
Cochran's team took them.
All of them.
What do you mean he took them?
He came here and took my files?
Well, he can't do that. I could
get him disbarred for that.
Get him on the phone! I want a
meeting with everyone right now!
He already called for a meeting.
At his office.
This also came in.
Somebody talked to the
New York Daily News.
We lost the motion
to suppress the evidence
collected at Rockingham.
It's like Ito
has a thing against us.
Don't worry.
We'll file a motion
to throw out the lab results.
(door opens)
Great. Bob's here.
First up...
Before we get into your agenda,
let's get into mine.
Bob, O.J.'s on the phone.
Good. Because we have some
very pressing issues to discuss,
because
there are some
stinky fish in this room.
Everybody here knows that
we have to keep a united front.
So from now on,
I am the only one
that speaks
for the defense team.
I'm the lead
attorney.
Um, O.J., do you have
something to say?
(clears throat)
Well, this is sort of funny.
It reminds me of the old days,
when I played football.
I didn't always get along with
my teammates. But on Sunday
we put all that bullshit aside
and played together.
SHAPIRO:
I don't get it.
I-I don't... I don't follow.
As I see it, Bob,
you're the quarterback.
And Johnnie's the running back.
But, uh,
we won't be throwing the ball
all that much.
But I'm-I'm the
quarterback, you say.
Is that correct?
Well, or-or maybe
you're the coach
and Lee's the quarterback
and-and, uh... and Alan's
the, uh, uh, front office.
Juice, Juice,
um, I think you need
to be more clear.
All right?
What are you trying to say?
Opening statements are
less than a month away.
Yes. Opening statements
are a month away.
And as the lead attorney, I will
be delivering those statements.
Is that right, O.J.?
W-W...
(sighs)
(clears throat)
I would
respectfully suggest
that our able
colleague Mr. Cochran
is the more appropriate person
to deliver the
opening statement.
Given the makeup
of our...
brilliantly selected
jury, he could translate
our message
into a "downtown" dialect
that would resonate more
powerfully with our audience.
I agree with Lee.
Uh, me, too.
What about you, O.J.?
Who do you think should give
the opening statement?
Well...
Shit.
Please, Juice.
Juice, we need an answer.
(O.J. sighs heavily)
Let's-let's have Johnnie do it.
JOHNNIE:
Okay. We need
to hand out
attorney assignments
for the week.
Barry, I need you to take
the PCR testing. Carl,
discovery...
("Black Superman"
by Above the Law playing)
♪ I hit the loose juice ♪
♪ Ant pulls up in the deuce ♪
♪ He gives me the scoop
about the fake-ass troops ♪
♪ Crime fighting's what I do ♪
♪ And ... in my crew don't
take lightly to you bustas ♪
♪ And so we say ... ♪
♪ Then buck you,
tuck you in for the night ♪
♪ As you think about the paper
at the funeral site ♪
♪ So when I'm hangin' with
the clique and we in demand ♪
♪ I feel good that the City of
Angels call me Black Superman ♪
♪ Now everybody know ♪
♪ Black Superman ♪
♪ Now everybody sing ♪
When did they get a black guy?
♪ Now everybody know ♪
♪ Black Superman ♪
♪ Now everybody sing
Black Superman. ♪
WOMAN:
This is a fiasco.
MAN: I think that we
should cut a deal.
MAN #2:
It is not that simple.
MAN #3:
I deserve to get hurt.
ANNOUNCER:
The People v. O.J. Simpson.
All new,
Tuesdays at 10:00 on FX.
(typing)
There's a spot on this.
(door bells
jingling)
Baskets. All new,
Thursdays at 10:00.
Only on FX.
(silenced gunshots)
(gasps)
No.
(laughing)
Oh.
(grunts, groans)
Come on.
(grunts)
(thuds)
(groans)
Man Seeking Woman.
All new, Wednesdays at 10:30.
On FXX.
ANNOUNCER: This spring--
How awesome is it
to be back doing
what we're best at?
(yawns)
MAN:
Archer!
-Aaah!
-Mmm.
Why the hell
are you naked?
It's after Labor Day.
Mr. Archer? Mr. Archer.
Boop. Sorry.
Had to take that.
ANNOUNCER: Archer.
Why does a divorce lawyer
have grenades?
'Cause they're
terrible people.
Whoo-hoo!
ANNOUNCER: The all new season
starts Thursday, March 31.
Only on FX.
-Wednesdays.
-(screams)
Ew. (sniffs)
Bro.
(gasps)
Oh, God!
Do you hear
that chirping sound?
(squawking)
Aaah!
-Oh!
-(screams)
-(cheers)
-(grunts)
-ANNOUNCER: Sunny.
All new,
Wednesdays at 10:00.
Only on FXX.