Bull (2016–…): Season 2, Episode 3 - A Business of Favors - full transcript

[AIR HORN BLARES]

Guys, huh?

What kind of pledges are
you wimps, huh? Everybody up.

It's 1am, boys. That's the
shank of the evening. Let's go.

Let's go. Come
on, go for a walk.

ALL: Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink!
Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink!

- [CHEERING]
- All right! Drink up! Drink up!

ALL: Drink! Drink! Drink!
Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink!

Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink!
Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink!

[CHEERING]

That's number five, baby!



Yeah, man! Let's go!

Don't you fall asleep,
you pledge pukes.

The more you cough,
the more you're gonna get.

Into the water, pukes. Let's
go. Let's go. Come on. Go.

- In the water now!
- Wayland, what are you doing?

Move it. Let's go.
Let's go. Let's go.

- Hey, you OK?
- Excellent!

What's all the talking and laughing
about, pukes? Are you enjoying this?

'Cause you're not
supposed to enjoy this.

Why don't you go swim to
the other side of the lake, huh?

That'll take some of
the fun out of it for you.

Go on.

Swim faster! Keep going!

- Yeah!
- All right, boys.



[THUDDING]

If this is you trying to bum
another ride home, it has to stop.

People are starting to talk.

Dr. Bull, I need...
I need a favor.

Oh, well, for you, Judge Abernathy,
a woman who I greatly admire

and in front of whom I'm trying
a quarter of a billion dollar case...

This will, of course, have no
bearing on the matter before me.

Name it. You need a five? A
ten? In unmarked quarters?

A friend, a colleague
in the DA's office,

just caught a difficult
and high-profile case.

I know it's short notice, but if
there's any help you can give him.

Don't think twice.
Consider it done.

[BULL CLEARS THROAT]

- Dr. Bull?
- Yes.

I'm guessing you're the ADA
Judge Abernathy wanted me to meet.

I am. Richmond.
Richmond Abernathy.

Ah-ha.

- So... the son?
- Guilty as charged.

What can I do for you?

A Lennox University student was
found floating in the Hudson this morning.

Name's Sam Wayland, 18
years old, pledging a fraternity.

- Gather you think there's a connection.
- How could I not?

- Made any arrests?
- That's why you're here.

With all due respect to you and your
mother, this feels a little premature.

- I'm a trial consultant.
- I know.

But my mother claims you're
also an expert in human behavior.

Said you're like a
human lie detector.

I'm not sure I believe
there is such a thing,

but not like I have
much of a choice.

I've gotta figure
out who to charge.

These are mostly rich white kids and
they're lawyering up even as we speak.

I know I'm not gonna get
any of them near a polygraph.

I think she was hoping
I could use you instead.

Hazing? No, we don't
participate in hazing.

What this was was a
welcome to Theta celebration.

It's something we look
forward to every year.

See how his foot's
pointed to the door?

That's because he wants to escape
because he's uncomfortable because...

he's lying.

Basically it's always
the same thing.

We have a few cocktails and then
the pledges go for a swim in the river.

Essentially it's like a welcome
to Kappa Kappa Theta thing.

Hear the use of qualifiers?
Basically. Essentially.

That's a fairly good
indicator someone's lying.

I use qualifiers all
the time and I don't lie.

This is the victim's roommate.

BOY: We all got out of the water,
walked back up to the frat house.

Sam was right next to me.

I mean, we were all a little
loopy, but Sam was right there.

- We got in the room and went to bed.
- Notice all the blinking?

- COP: Did you undress? Did he undress?
- Yeah.

BOY: I kicked my shoes
off and did a face-plant.

Sam did pretty
much the same thing.

COP: When did you first
realize he wasn't there?

When you guys came to the
door this morning and woke us up.

COP: So you're telling me that Sam
walked all the way back to the dorm,

got in bed, and then changed his mind
and went back to the river by himself?

Why would he do that?

Maybe he forgot his
cellphone? I have no idea.

- COP: But that's your story.
- Yes, sir.

- Yes, sir.
- Absolutely.

- Yep.
- Yep.

That's what happened.

So, according to
you, they're all lying.

Hey, I'm not selling anything.

You asked what I thought. Take
what you need and leave the rest.

- Anything else?
- Assistant District Attorney Abernathy.

The victim's mother's
still waiting in 102.

She's having a pretty rough
time. Can I give her an ETA?

I honestly don't have
anything to tell her.

Need some company?

MRS. WAYLAND: You
have nothing to tell me?

Nothing beyond what the
coroner has determined,

which is in and of
itself very preliminary.

Did he fall in?

Was he pushed? Did...
Did he get a... a cramp?

Or did someone
hold him underwater?

Whatever happened, was he
frightened or just... surprised?

I mean, was he alone or
were there other people?

Was this deliberate
or was it an accident?

Oh, for God's sake,
tell me something!

I have a working theory.

Sam was taking part in a
hazing. There was a lot of drinking.

Things got out of control
and the boys went swimming.

And after Sam drowned, for whatever
reason, they decided not to call it in,

and for the moment they
have banded together

and they've all agreed on the same
story about Sam going back to his room

and, according to them,
returning to the river by himself.

You're saying there
were other people there.

We don't know that for sure.

But if your theory's right, why wouldn't
one of those boys go and get help,

or call 911, or call the police?

No. No. I... I don't
wanna believe that.

It's like two deaths.
It's not... human.

Mrs. Wayland, people
act differently in groups.

They just... do.

You add alcohol to the mix

and they're capable of doing things
they would never do if they were alone.

But... what about now?

Why isn't someone
stepping forward now?

It's part of the dynamic.

People commit to a certain
course of action and they stick to it.

The key is to undermine the
alliance they've made to each other,

and that is what we're gonna do.

I promise you, before
we're through here...

you will know the truth.

You made a lot of
promises in there

and now I have to keep them
and honestly I don't think I can.

Well, I wouldn't have made them
if I wasn't prepared to help you,

assuming you want my help.

Why don't you ask that victim's
mother if she wants my help?

It's not that I don't want your help.
Look, you were my mother's idea.

What does she know? She's
only been doing it for 30 years.

- I don't have to explain myself to you.
- Well, then, let me explain you to you.

You think you're smarter than
everybody else, morally superior,

and you think you got
this legal thing wired

because you had the highest marks
in your class or the best handwriting,

or I don't know.

You've been assistant district
attorney for what, a minute?

And you're too stupid to realize
that it costs you nothing to listen.

You can hear my ideas and still reject
them without me being any the wiser,

instead of letting me know with your
smug affect how little you think of me.

Oh, and one more thing.
You got no people skills.

That woman just lost her son, and
what she needed to hear from you

was that you were gonna get her some
answers, even if you didn't have any.

But you're so arrogant, and you're
working so hard to be honest with her,

that you didn't see what was
required there was a good lie,

although I'd bet the house you think
there's no such thing as a good lie.

Be sure and tell your
mother how amazing I was.

OK, Doctor, I'm all ears.

These 15 kids are my only
witnesses and all their stories synced.

So obviously someone sat them
down, someone rehearsed them.

So what do you suggest I do?

I'd put so much pressure
on those college boys,

they'd turn back
into preschoolers.

We need them to start
turning on each other.

- And how do I do that?
- Well, here's a crazy idea.

- Start filing charges.
- Against who?

Against all of them, all 15.
Charge them with manslaughter.

Make those boys sweat.
Make their parents sweat.

Make them hire expensive
lawyers and make them sweat too.

You want me to charge
15 kids with manslaughter?

- All due respect, that's insane.
- I knew you'd like it.

There is no evidence. I won't be
able to convict one person, let alone 15.

If we charge all of
them, someone will break

and come forward
looking for a deal,

and that is how we find our guy.

And if that doesn't happen?

Then I'll be wrong, and that
hasn't happened since 2005.

It was a Wednesday. I said it
was gonna rain. It only drizzled.

And by the way, I'm doing this
for the grieving mother, not for you.

Here's something you
don't see every day,

15 Lennox University students,

all of them members or
pledges of Kappa Kappa Theta,

doing the perp walk
after they were all booked

on the order of Assistant District
Attorney Richmond Abernathy.

You orchestrated
all this, didn't you?

- Called the press, worked out the timing?
- You can thank me later.

- You hear that sound?
- What?

It's the sound of your phone ringing
with calls from frantic moms and dads

who just saw their
baby boys on TV

and wanna know how
they can cut a deal.

CABLE: I was able to hack
into the fraternity security system.

Now, this camera's at the back
door. I don't know who's who.

But I can tell that 16 kids left
the fraternity a little after 1am,

and it looks like only 15
came back a little after four.

BULL: OK. What about the other
doors? Are they all monitored?

Could Sam have slipped in and then
slipped back out through a side door?

That's what the other
side's gonna argue.

But didn't you say the roommate told
the cops that they all came in together?

- Went to bed together?
- Mm-hm.

He also said he was
extremely intoxicated,

left himself plenty of
plausible deniability.

Can we get somebody down to
City Hall, Department of Records?

Let's get a set of plans for that
house, see every ingress and egress.

Marissa!

I, uh, actually don't
think she's in yet.

What are you talking about?
It's Marissa. She's always in.

I've worked with her for six
years. She's never even had a cold.

Should we call her?
Should we call the police?

She's fine, Dr. Bull.
She's just running late.

What does that mean?
Do you know where she is?

I know that she's fine and
I know she'll be here soon.

OK. Apparently I just work here.

I'll be in my office.

He had booze in his belly
and water in his lungs.

- Blood alcohol level?
- 0.43. Enough to make a rhino tipsy.

- Didn't kill him, though.
- How's that?

This boy died from asphyxiation.
While he was in the water, he aspirated.

Choked to death
on his own vomit.

Horrible, violent way to die.

A death like that would be
noisy, right, hard to ignore?

If there were people around, I
think it would be impossible to ignore.

[KNOCKING]

Hey. Sorry to bother you.
My name is Rex Bond.

- I own Rex's Bail Bonds.
- Hey, Mr. Daniels?

MAN: It's just totally
crazy, you know.

Rob Daniels. How can I help you?

I'm guessing you're
an attorney. Huh? Huh?

[CHUCKLES]

My name is Rex Bond.
I own Rex's Bail Bonds.

I understand the kids are out
on their parents' recognizance,

but if that should change,
I wanted to let them know

that we are ready and
willing to be of help.

I'm talking no money
down, excellent rates.

If I could just come in and talk to
the boys and leave them my card...

You're not coming in here. You're
not talking to any of these boys.

- I'm not?
- No, you're not.

I'm sure you understand.

These boys have been
charged with a homicide.

They're not gonna talk to just
anybody who comes to the door.

OK. I get that. But I'm glad that
I've made your acquaintance.

I'm always looking for good
attorneys I can refer my clients to.

Here you go.

Don't lose that.

Oh.

Hey. Full house.

Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. I will
be there in one minute.

- You OK?
- Yeah. Course.

- I'm fine. Late, but fine.
- Really? I'm concerned.

This is so not like you.
Anything you wanna tell me?

- Like what?
- Like, are you looking for another job?

No. No. I'm not
looking for another job.

Doctor appointment?

Yeah, OK, I did not have
a doctor's appointment.

Nothing is wrong with
me. Everything is fine.

I am truly sorry for being late.

So what kind of job
are you interviewing for?

- OK, Bull...
- Huh?

Look, we have been
together for... ever.

And I am very happy
here. Very happy.

And I am very healthy. No
worries there. No worries at all.

I'm sorry if I
caused you concern.

- So where were you?
- I was nowhere. It was nothing.

I went out to dinner last night
and... one thing led to another,

and I guess you could say I ended
up having an irresponsible evening.

I'm sorry... I think.

Um, are... are we done?

Mission accomplished.

BENNY: What have
you got there, Chunk?

Oh, wow. Those
boys are lawyered up.

I hate to be a buzzkill, but those
boys just might be telling the truth.

I've been doing this
for a very long time,

and they're telling
everything but the truth.

I'm just saying,
according to the coroner,

Sam's death was
violent and loud.

It's hard to imagine 15 guys just
standing around watching him die.

Dr. Bull? You have a call from
Assistant District Attorney Abernathy.

- I put the call in your office.
- Thank you.

What's the good news?

Dr. Bull, you promised
me an eyewitness.

- Have you received any calls?
- No.

Yeah, nor have I. The trial starts
tomorrow and no one's looking to flip.

- There are no deals on the table.
- Let's not quit before we get started.

That's easy for you to say. This
is all gonna land on me, Dr. Bull.

Losing the one kid might have
been bad, but losing the 15?

I might as well start
packing my desk.

I'll be sure to convey
your selfless concerns

to the victim's next of kin.

[HANGS UP]

Didn't think it'd actually get to
this, a trial with 15 defendants.

I was sure somebody'd
break ranks, make a deal,

tell us what actually
happened that night.

So what are we looking
for, jury-wise, I mean?

You ever heard of
the threshold number?

That'd be a no.

It's the number of people
who have to make a decision

before you or I might
make the same one.

One person breaks a
store window, it's a robbery.

Ten people break
store windows, it's a riot.

The question is, how many people
had to start breaking store windows

before the others felt
comfortable joining in?

How many fraternity brothers
had to say they were OK

walking away from
this kid drowning

before everybody else
was willing to join in?

OK, I get that, but how does that help
us figure out who we want on the jury?

What am I missing?

That guy. He's
our perfect juror.

BENNY: That guy? The guy
throwing the granny shots?

- Mm.
- Why? 'Cause he looks ridiculous?

Precisely. He doesn't care. As
long as the shots are going in.

Wilt Chamberlain, one of the
greatest players that ever lived...

And a lousy foul shooter.

One year, just
for the hell of it,

decides to shoot all his
free throws underhand.

Even scored over
100 points one game.

Never did it again, though.

Power of peer pressure.

JUDGE: Be seated.

- A little gift from me to you.
- What the hell are you doing?

I'm helping you find
a high-threshold jury.

Do any of you belong to, uh,
any groups, clubs, organizations?

I sing in my church choir and
I'm part of my neighborhood watch.

Oh, she is a joiner, Bull.

Also she belongs to the PTA and she's
on the board of her community center.

- A pox on her house.
- Move to strike, Your Honor.

And what about you, sir? Do you
participate in any organizations?

I belong to the Rotary.

MARISSA: The president of his
local chapter three years in a row.

Move to strike, Your Honor.

Sir, it says here you're an
officer on your co-op board.

- What's your title?
- Treasurer.

Bull's-eye. Talk about a thankless
job. People must hate him.

But he doesn't care,
which means we love him.

- Marissa, talk to me.
- What do you need, Dr. Bull?

- Marissa's not there?
- Um, she had... an emergency.

- Can I help you?
- What kind of emergency?

By the way, your pen is leaking.

Oh. You don't say.

Never mind. I don't need her.

This juror's acceptable to
the prosecution, Your Honor.

- That was a very expensive shirt.
- That was a very expensive pen.

Anyone feel like tapas?

Gentlemen. Mr. Assistant
District Attorney.

Sorry to interrupt your
lunch break, gentlemen.

- I was hoping to get a word.
- What's on your mind, Counselor?

I know you're not
gonna like this,

but I believe that what we're
looking at here is a tragic accident,

nothing more, nothing less.

But to compound the felony
by destroying 15 young lives,

it makes no sense.

There's no physical evidence.
You got no eyewitnesses.

None of that changes
the fact that someone died

during the
commission of a crime.

Excuse me, jury
consultant. What crime?

Contributing to the
delinquency of a minor.

Providing alcohol to
someone who is underage.

And by the way,
I'm a trial scientist.

What I do is I tell lawyers, the
ones who are smart enough to listen,

what to do so they can win their
cases, and they pay me very well for it.

I'm guessing you and I are
not destined to work together.

These boys,
including the victim,

were doing what college kids have
been doing for 100 years... drinking.

You really wanna send
them to prison for that?

An 18-year-old boy died,
Counselor, and a mother lost her child.

Absolutely, it's a tragedy, but
it's a tragedy born of an accident.

No one set out to
murder this poor boy.

My clients weren't even
present when it happened.

So they say.

I tell you what.

I'll let 14 of them walk.

- Mr. Assistant District Attorney.
- I will... under one condition.

I want the person responsible.

The one who said, "Let's
get these pledges drunk."

"Let's take them for a swim."

I want that person to come
forward and accept responsibility.

There's no such person,
Mr. Assistant District Attorney.

Enjoy your lunch, gentlemen.

BULL: Well, this
is a career first.

We're about to start a
trial and I have no case.

- We have a case.
- No, we don't.

No, my idea didn't work.

I was sure they'd crack
and somebody'd come to us

and tell us the truth, but... they
just offered to let us surrender.

Look at that.

Not one, "I'm sorry." Not
one, "He was my friend."

BENNY: They're all terrified, just
not terrified enough to break ranks.

You know what? We're
doing this backward.

What are you talking about?

I'm tired of waiting
for them to come to us.

Let's pick one kid,
separate him from the pack

and dismiss the
charges against him.

What do you mean?
Offer him immunity?

Yeah, that's
exactly what I mean.

We have to be
smart about it, though.

We have to pick the right guy,
not the guy we really think is guilty.

We wanna see him punished.

We gotta pick a
guy we can squeeze,

a guy we can put on the
stand and scare the crap out of.

Make him understand,
once we've immunized him,

if he doesn't cooperate, he'll
be locked up for contempt.

If he lies, he'll be
locked up for perjury.

I know just the guy.

All I'm trying to say is, if you
approach it mathematically,

his roommate Carter
is the most vulnerable.

I don't understand. What do
you mean, mathematically?

Well, other than
lies of omission,

the only lies everybody had tell
were that Sam got out of the water

and went back to the frat
house with them, two lies.

Carter, on the other hand,
had to go a lot further.

He had to say that he and Sam
made it back to the room together

and they went to bed,

and that therefore Sam must
have snuck out of the house

after everybody was
asleep and died alone.

Under a grant of
immunity, he must testify,

and if he lies, he is subject
to ten years in prison.

Remember, the point of
all this is to get him to tell us

what really happened that night.

You have got to use his
testimony against him like a club

and beat him with it until he
tells us what we need to know.

I know what I need to do.

Well, if you know what to
do, then our job here is done.

- Marissa.
- Did you call me?

- When do I get to meet him?
- Meet who?

Mr. Irresponsible.

Let's just see if it lasts the
weekend before we plan the wedding.

You know how
important you are to me.

I think so.

And you can call me anytime,
day or night, with anything.

That is sweet.

I'm fine, Bull. In fact, I'm
better than fine. I'm happy.

I'm happy you're happy.

Go get some sleep.

ABERNATHY: You're
here on a grant of immunity.

Yes, sir.

That means so as
long as you tell the truth,

anything you say here,
we can't use it against you.

That's what my lawyer said.

You and Sam were roommates.
Would you say you were friends?

Well, we just met six weeks
ago, but, yes, we liked each other.

On this particular night
there was a pledge party.

I think you told the
detective it was a celebration.

Was there alcohol
at the celebration?

- Yes.
- Did you drink?

Yes.

Even though here in New York State,
you're under the legal drinking age.

Your Honor, we're
prepared to stipulate

that there was underage
drinking at the celebration.

So stipulated.

- Did Sam drink?
- Yes, I saw him drink.

- Any idea how much?
- I wasn't keeping track.

Coroner says Sam's
blood alcohol level was 0.43.

Just to put it in perspective,
symptoms in a typical human being

with a blood alcohol
level between 0.3 and 0.4

are complete unconsciousness,
depressed or absent reflexes,

and impairment of
circulation and respiration.

Not to put too fine a point on it,
but death has been known to occur

at a blood alcohol
level of 0.37 or higher,

and fatality is almost certain
for nearly all individuals

at 0.45 or higher.

Objection, Your Honor. Is
counsel gonna ask a question?

Sustained. Ask a
question, Mr. Abernathy.

Happy to, Your Honor.

So based on these findings,
knowing that your roommate, friend,

was almost certainly at the
very edge of consciousness,

perhaps even death's door,

is it still your testimony that he
got out of the water on his own,

traveled three quarters of a mile
back to the fraternity house in the dark,

climbed stairs to the
second floor and went to bed?

Yes, sir. That is my testimony.

To the room you shared.
Right beside each other.

Yes, sir.

Did he get undressed?

We were already
in our underwear.

Did he brush his teeth?

I don't honestly remember.

But you are swearing under oath

that the two of you returned to
your room that night safe and sound

and that anything that happened
to him happened after that.

Yes, sir.

Son, do you know the
punishment for perjury?

It's ten years. Ten years in
prison for lying to the court.

I'm not lying.

That's ten years
per each lie, actually.

So you'll be, what, 29 when
you get out? Or 39 or 49.

Objection, Your Honor. We
understand the concept of lying.

We understand ten years.
And we all know how to count.

I'm not lying.

What if I told you that
I have security video

that shows 16 of you leaving
the house for the celebration

but only 15 of you coming back?

Would you be inclined
to change your story?

All that drinking...

He needed to use the bathroom.

He went in the
side door. It's closer.

No camera there.

Is that your sworn testimony?

It is.

Nothing further at this
moment, Your Honor.

DANIELS: Defense has no
questions for this witness, Your Honor.

If counsel for both sides
could approach the bench.

What's Marissa saying?

We created a lot of doubt
but not a lot of certainty,

and people don't convict
people based solely on doubt.

The judge would like to
see us in her chambers.

She's threatening
to dismiss the case.

Ooh.

I've got 14 defendants
in my courtroom.

14 defendants, 12
jurors, 20-some parents,

enough lawyers to
hold a convention.

But not one name on the witness list
that promises to provide an iota of fact

that will lead us anywhere
different from where we are right now.

In my opinion, this has been a
colossal waste of time and resources.

But, Your Honor, that
boy was obviously lying.

That's a supposition,
Your Honor.

One we have neither the time
nor the authority to adjudicate.

That would have been
for the jury to decide.

- Would have been?
- I'm going to issue a directed verdict.

Everyone innocent on all counts.

Let the defendants, the
jurors, everyone, go home.

- But there's one more witness.
- Excuse me?

I'm asking a favor, Your Honor.

Allow us one more witness

and I believe we can bring this
to some kind of just conclusion.

And who is this mystery witness?

The person for whom I took on
this case. The victim's mother.

Excuse me. She wasn't
there when her son died.

She's not a percipient witness.

We're not here to provide catharsis,
Dr. Bull, we're here to find the truth,

and I fail to see how this
is going to get us there.

That's why I called it
a favor, Your Honor.

You promised me you
would get me the truth.

That's what I'm trying to do.

They don't wanna hear from me. They
already know everything I'm gonna say.

Don't be so sure.

You remember what you said
to me the first time we met?

I told you I believed there were
people present when Sam died.

And you said just the thought of
that was like a second death to you.

The boys need to hear that.

It just might shake
the truth out of 'em.

[SIGHS]

OK.

Tell me what to say.

Sam was an only child. He had
no father. He had no brothers.

So the idea of being in a fraternity,
a house full of brothers and fathers,

he was very excited.

Objection. Relevance.

Ask a question, Mr. Abernathy.

The day you got the call informing
you that they had found Sam's body,

what were your reactions?

Again. Relevance.

Overruled. Let the woman speak.

Well, there were... many things.

First I thought it must
be some mistake,

and then I realized it
wasn't, that Sam was gone.

Just gone.

And then I realized that no
one could look me in the eye

and tell me what happened,

that apparently no one knew

and that I was gonna have
to live the rest of my life

knowing one day I had a child
and then the next day I didn't,

but I would never know why.

And then?

And then it started to seem
like maybe somebody did know,

like, maybe there actually had
been people there, like, a lot of people.

And so I wondered
who made the choices.

I mean, did they all just say, "Let's
go and get the pledges drunk"?

Did they all just decide, "Hey,
let's throw 'em in the river,

even though they're so
drunk they can't see straight"?

And then I gue... I guess
when Sam drowned...

did they all decide...

"Let's just not call anybody."

"Let's go home."

"Let's just get some sleep"?

DANIELS: Objection, Your Honor.

I don't mean any disrespect,
but I would be derelict in my duties

if I did not object to all this
testimony based on relevance.

Sustained. You're right.

The jury will please disregard
everything they just heard.

Right. Just go ahead
and unhear that.

JUDGE: Let's take
a one-hour recess,

and counsel and I will meet in my
chambers to determine next steps.

Earth to Marissa. Talk to me.

Well, the jurors
were clearly moved.

- Enough to convict?
- Not quite.

Eight are green, and four are
still red. What's your next move?

Well, I'm probably gonna
do what most great men do

when confronted with
a situation like this.

Yeah, what's that?

- Lie.
- Excuse me?

I'll tell you all about it tonight
when I get back to the office.

And do me a favor. 20 minutes
from now, will you please text Benny?

- Text Benny what?
- Doesn't matter. Just text him.

Come on, let's find
Richmond Abernathy

and see if we can convince
him to tell a couple of good lies,

or at the very least let us tell
them without him blowing our cover.

Our algorithm's never wrong. Rebecca's
testimony turned every single juror.

14 boys, 14 convictions.

And you know Judge Hanlon.

It's not gonna be picking up trash
on the side of the road. Mm-mm.

You're going to prison.

Logan, jury wants
to hear from you.

This is nonsense.

You can't get a conviction
based on a bunch of stares.

You're really willing to take
all your friends down with you?

- [PHONE CHIMES]
- Oh. Sorry.

Huh. It's one of the lawyers.

Somebody wants to make a deal.
Should I step outside and call him back?

One of the other lawyers?
Someone on my team?

- [PHONE BLEEPS]
- Let me see the phone.

- Not gonna show you my phone.
- 'Cause there's no such text?

- Let me see it, big shot!
- Get your hands off!

- Gentlemen!
- ABERNATHY: Quiet!

I just got two
voicemails from parents

who are willing to allow their sons
to testify in exchange for immunity.

With all due respect,
Mr. Assistant District Attorney,

would it be possible for me
to hear those voicemails?

I'm an officer of the court
for the State of New York.

Are you suggesting
that I'm a liar?

Fine, go and make
imaginary deals

with imaginary lawyers
and imaginary parents.

We're done here.

Being pretty cavalier with your
client's future. You're going home to bed.

He and all of his friends
are gonna do 15 years.

- 15 years? Really?
- That's the sentence for manslaughter.

That's the maximum. No
one gets the maximum.

They do in Judge
Hanlon's courtroom.

That's before I indict you
for obstruction of justice.

That's good for
another ten years.

No, no, I'm not going
to prison for 25 years.

Then let me help you.

Agree to testify and let that
jury and that grieving mother

know what really
happened that night.

And then I will go to the judge and I
will use every bit of influence I have

to get her to go easy on you.

You just said Judge Hanlon
doesn't go easy on anyone.

This is a business of favors,
and I've done a ton of 'em.

I guess it's time to
collect. What do you say?

When I was a kid, my grandpa
would talk about World War Il.

But my dad and
my older brothers...

they'd talk about Hell
Night, about pledging,

about how surviving that
ordeal made you a man

and introduced you to the people

that would stay your
friends for the rest of your life.

We all really liked Sam.

That's why we asked
him to be one of us.

Nobody expected him to die.

- Who bought the alcohol?
- I did.

The fraternity,
but we used my ID.

And who ordered the
defendants to drink?

Me, but, I mean, we all
did. It's kind of what you do.

And who marched
him down to the dock?

That was me.

I had the megaphone, and I was the
one who pushed Sam into the water.

And how long did
you keep them there?

I don't know. Maybe an hour.

We were drinking and
shouting and having a great time,

and then Carter, he
was treading water,

started to say he couldn't
see Sam anymore, so...

we started calling his name, diving
into the water to try and find him,

but you couldn't see anything.

It... It was black.

So we just kept
calling his name.

BOYS: Sam! Sam!

And then it kind of got quiet.

We stopped calling his name.

I... I guess we just
realized that he wasn't there.

And then I said,
um... I said this thing.

I said, "Well, maybe he
just went back to the house."

I don't know where it came
from and I wish I had never said it.

It was just kind of...

You could tell the...
the second they heard it,

it was what everyone
wanted to hear.

We were drunk and stupid and we
didn't even think to call the police.

Nobody said a word
on the walk home,

but I think we all realized that
there was a really good chance

that our lives were gonna
be very different now.

And what happened when you
got back home and he wasn't there?

Didn't anyone suggest
calling the authorities?

Everybody was really
drunk and really scared.

Everyone just went to their
rooms and either passed out

or prayed that he'd
show up the next morning,

and when he didn't, we
made a promise to each other

that we would not talk
about what had happened.

Not to our lawyers.

Not even to our parents.

And whose idea was that?

That was me.

I'm truly sorry.

JUDGE: You've been
convicted of manslaughter

in a sad and senseless death.

A young man full of
life and promise is gone,

and you had the
power to stop it.

But instead you chose to indulge
and encourage yourself and others

in reckless and wanton behavior.

I'm taking into account that you
admitted to your role in the incident

and took responsibility for the
effect of your behavior on others.

And I will note that Dr. Bull, a
member of the opposing team,

has spoken up on your behalf,
which is a rare occurrence.

I'm not one to
reward bad behavior,

but in this case I'm going
to make an exception.

I hereby sentence you to
serve two years in state prison.

Not so fast.

Sit down, please.

The rest of you bear a certain
degree of culpability as well.

I'm sentencing each of you to
500 hours of community service.

She took your suggestion.

Dr. Bull.

Thank you.

You kept your promise.

I had a lot of help.

Marissa!

Marissa!

I know you're dying to hear.
Have I got a story for you.

Mariss?