Cagney & Lacey (1981–1988): Season 2, Episode 14 - Open and Shut Case - full transcript

Mary Beth is the star witness in a trial that turns out not to be the slam dunk the prosecutors thought it was. Meanwhile, Chris and Mary Beth try to convince a rape witness to not back out of testifying.

Don't say that I never do you two favors.

Homicide? All right.

How did you get the nerve to ask him out?

I showed him my badge
and I told him to follow me.

These damn appellate judges,

they overturned a conviction
based on one lousy technicality.

A woman's life is being ruined,
do they know or care? Hell, no.

Four men raped me.

I don't believe it. Our open and shut case
is falling apart right before our eyes.

The defendant shouldn't suffer
because his lawyer is a bozo.

As far as I am concerned,
that woman has been raped twice.



Once by those creeps
and once by the courts.

And could you tell us what you saw?

May I please refer
to my investigative report?

Of course.

I saw the defendant leave the residence
at 1082 Broome Street,

walk approximately half a block
to a 1980 sedan,

New York license plate 352-QAV,
which I took note of.

The defendant got into the car

at which time Officer Johnston,
who has already testified,

approached him and put him under arrest.

Thank you. No further questions.

I spent two and a half days

hanging around that courtroom
waiting to testify.

I'm on the stand less than five minutes.



And everybody complains
there's not enough cops on the street.

So, did you nail him?

No, they knocked it down
to possession of stolen property,

he copped a plea
and I wasted two-and-one-half-days.

How we doing on that Moskowitz thing?

They picked him up in Jersey. Here.

- Believe it or not, we are all clear.
- Oh, yeah?

So, come on, tell me. What do you think?

Too fluffy for my image?

I don't know. If it doesn't have four doors,
I've never heard of it.

Pretty macho, isn't it,
shifting your own gears?

If I remember correctly, I saw
one of these assault a Volkswagen once.

You still trying to decide on a car?

- Yeah.
- Cagney, let me give you a suggestion.

Studebaker.

I've had mine for 12 years now,
never had a day's problem.

Why don't people buy American anymore?

No wonder the whole country's
falling apart.

Studebaker.

I don't know, I was just thinking
of something that

maybe had a little more sex appeal.

If you're thinking of something
with a little more...

Don't even say it.

Don't say that I never do you two favors.

- What is it?
- A stabbing.

Homicide? All right.

Open and shut case,
all you gotta do is fill in the blanks.

Thank you, sir.

A Turk.

Bloody butchering Turk
at an Armenian clan party.

What would you smart ladies
think happens?

- A fight breaks out.
- You call it a fight?

When a bloody butchering Turk

totally out of the blue sky
pulls a knife and kills my cousin.

- This was totally unprovoked?
- Totally.

The Armenian massacres all over again.

And you, yourself, witnessed
the stabbing, Mr. Menukian?

Of course, of course.
I saw the whole thing.

My sister, she saw the whole thing.

My brother-in-law,
he saw the whole thing.

My son saw the whole thing.
My wife saw the whole thing.

That's enough?

Well, we'd like to talk
to everyone who's a witness.

Okay.

My girlfriend,
she saw the whole thing, too.

- Hello.
- How was it?

Chalk one up for our side.

We got six eye witnesses
champing at the bit to testify.

Not to mention, we go in to arrest
this alleged knife murderer

and he's got a 10-inch switchblade
in his pocket.

- And a rap sheet as long as your arm.
- Did you get a signed statement?

He was not real chatty.

I only get confident
when I have a confession.

Six eye witnesses? I think I might be
inclined to feel confident.

Well, it's quite obvious
why the ladies on the squad

have the highest conviction percentage.

Lieutenant Samuels keeps giving you
the slow grounders.

Oh, right.

Like the Dock Street burglary,
that was a real piece of cake.

One thing you'll admit,
sweet little homicide collar like this

isn't going to hurt your chances
for sergeant any.

I thought of that.

What do you think of this
for a police sergeant?

- Not too bubblehead, huh?
- Should be orange.

- Elizabeth?
- Mary Beth.

Hiya. What's the matter?

- Could I talk to you alone?
- Of course, sure. We'll go inside.

- Okay.
- Are you all right?

Please.

Sure, come on. Right over here.

- Sit down.
- I didn't know where to find you.

Well, we made detective.

Fine.

You want coffee?
Or we have hot water for tea.

- Tea, yes. Tea. Thank you.
- Sit, sit down.

Go ahead.

- La Guardia.
- Yeah.

Can I have one of your tea bags?
We're all out over there.

- Sure.
- Thanks.

Thank you.

Herbal Blitz?

It's 100% organic, no caffeine.

They did a study at
the University of Massachusetts medical...

Isn't that great, huh?

That's great. Thanks, La Guardia,
I've got to take it in to her.

Chris, who is she?
I don't remember seeing her around.

When Mary Beth and I were in uniform,
a group assault.

Sexual?

- Poor lady.
- I'll say.

Especially since the lousy defense lawyer
had all the cases severed.

First she had to face the grand jury,
then four separate trials.

She went through absolute hell but
she put every one of those bastards away.

- Something happen now?
- Going to find out.

So, how is that nice man of yours?

- What? Peter, right?
- Yes, Peter.

I remember he was so good with you
going to trial and everything.

- Yes, yes. He was.
- Herbal okay?

- Yes, thank you.
- Good.

He really was torn up, you know,

about my having to talk about all that
in front of strangers.

We split up.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Well, I was impossible to live with.

Two years in court,

telling that horrible story
over and over again and...

And, you know, I started to hate Peter.

Just for being a man.

I cringed when he touched me.

Well, finally, he had enough
and, well, who could blame him.

Well, you were nice together.

- Maybe you can talk about it, work it out.
- He got married last month.

CAGNEY: Oh, God. I'm sorry.

I lost my job, too.

I missed so many days
for court appearances

that they finally had to let me go.

Was there really a point to all of this?

Yes, without you, we would never
have been able to convict those guys,

they would still be out on the street.

I was starting
to get my life together again.

Really. And now...

And now, it's gonna start all over again.

What do you mean?

They overturned Sordell's conviction.

- And there's gonna be a new trial.
- Oh, God.

I can't face it. I can't.

Please.

Please.

You have to help me get out of this.

Mary Beth, please.

These damn appellate judges,

they overturned a conviction
based on one lousy technicality.

A woman's life is being ruined,
do they know or care? Hell, no.

I think Elizabeth is right.
I think she's done enough already.

- You can't tell her that.
- Why not?

What, and get Sordell off,
is that what you want to do?

No. Now, don't you try
and twist me around like that.

I'm saying that the woman should
not have to go through all that again.

Well, she doesn't have much choice.

All right. If she refuses to show up,
she'll be held in contempt of court.

Well, then, she could say
she lost her memory.

- You're not serious.
- Let them prove different.

That's perjury.
I can't believe you'd suggest that to her.

Damn it, Christine,
you've seen what defense lawyers can do.

Hounding and harassing
and all the lawyer tricks

and their smutty little insinuations.
Think how she feels.

I'm sorry for her.

Her dignity, her job, her boyfriend,
her self esteem is all down the tubes,

what for?

So Sordell and his scuzzball friends
don't rape another woman.

All right, so what is your solution?
What do you want to tell her?

You want to tell her to go back there
and tear herself apart again?

No, I just don't want to
talk about it anymore.

Could we just save it for tomorrow?

Yeah, okay. All right.

You and Harvey
still want to go look for cars?

Oh, yeah. I couldn't talk him out of that
if I wanted to.

Thanks.

- I'll see you what, around 10:00?
- Yeah.

What, you got a date tonight?

Yeah, well, I'm gonna cancel,
I'd be lousy company.

- Yeah, I know what you mean.
- I'll see you.

Good night.

- Say, fellow, what are you doing?
- We're ready, we're ready.

This lady, she wants to buy a car.

All right.

Harvey, I really appreciate
your opinion on this.

He really knows his cars.

Yeah. Well, I just want to make sure

no one pulls a fast one on you
just 'cause you're a woman.

You can give them real good odds.

Yeah, you got the want ads, right?

- I got it, yeah.
- You got the keys?

- What?
- I'll get the keys.

Don't forget, you promised us a ride
to California.

- To California?
- Yeah. Wanna see where E.T. lives.

That's dumb.

- Dumb is a little strong.
- E.T. doesn't live in California.

What do you know?

Besides, I'd rather see Victoria Principal.

All right, come on, you guys, on a roll.
Let's go, let's move it.

He wants to go to California
to see Victoria Principal.

That is ridiculous. The only reason to go
to California is to see Fred Astaire.

I love Fred Astaire,
I've always loved Fred Astaire.

- Here, take it for a test drive.
- CAGNEY: Yeah.

Here, maybe I should do this first, huh?

All right.

- What do you think?
- It's very cute.

- All right.
- No, it's not... Come here, get out of here.

- Don't hurt it.
- Wait.

Sorry, kids.

(ENGINE REVVING)

HARVEY JR.: Let's hurry up.
Come on, here we go. Ready?

So...

I don't think that we can avoid it
much longer, do you?

Elizabeth Carter.

I promised I'd call her this afternoon.
What do I tell her?

That she has a responsibility.

Mary Beth, it's wrong
to encourage her to quit.

For God's sake, it's illegal. Come on.

I had another idea.

What if we promise her
we'll go with her to the trial?

It's not our case anymore,
we haven't even been subpoenaed.

- We take a vacation day.
- Or two or three?

She needs somebody there, Chris.

Mary Beth, I feel for her.

Really, I do. I hate that when you think
I'm such a hard case.

No.

We simply cannot
babysit the whole world.

It's not the whole world,
it's Elizabeth Carter.

She needs somebody in her corner,
I don't think she gonna be able to do it.

And then another rapist just takes a walk.

If you don't want to do it I'll go myself.

- Now you're mad.
- I'm not mad.

We're not the Bobbsey twins.
We don't have to do everything together.

(CAR HORN HONKING)

Michael, get over here.

- So?
- So, huh.

Yeah?

- Doll, isn't she?
- I don't know.

- What do you think, Harvey? Is she okay?
- I like it.

- Do you?
- Yeah.

- You like it?
- LACEY: It's cute.

- You want to talk money?
- Don't bother, Christine. It's a pass.

- Why?
- SALESMAN: What do you mean, man?

- This is a great little car.
- If you look real close

you see the paint don't match
between here and the door plate.

That's no problem.
If you don't like it, you repaint it again.

Take off 50 bucks.

And look here.
See those ripples on the door?

This car has been in a head-on collision.

You want to put it up on jacks, huh?
We'll take a look at the underside.

It shimmies when you drive.

I'll bet you anything you like
the frame's bent.

Listen, lady.
If you don't want the car it's fine with me.

But you're missing a real good buy,
I'm telling you.

- I'll recover. Thanks anyway.
- Yeah.

- Come on, let's go.
- Thank you, pal.

I think it's a piece of junk.

This is not my favorite thing, coming here.

Hey, don't look at me.
I invited him out to lunch.

Anywhere he wanted, our treat.

- And?
- He insists he loves to eat on the job.

- That's disgusting.
- Yeah.

- You're here about...
- Aaron Rapozian, the stabbing.

Right, interesting case.

Another intriguing case that one,
death by crushing.

You don't see many of those.

Are you sure you two ladies wouldn't like
to attend an autopsy while we confer?

- No, thank you.
- Sounds fascinating.

Really, we're just a little pressed for time.

If you'll excuse the expression,

death by crushing, pressed for time.

You like puns, too.

It was unintentional.
Believe me, it was unintentional.

Doctor, so as not to waste
any more of your time,

is it fair to say, and would you so testify,
that the cause of death

was a puncture wound of the type
suggesting a switchblade knife?

I like the way you plunge right in.

If you'll excuse the expression.

But that's not exactly the truth.

- It isn't?
- No.

What is exactly the truth?

Exactly, I would have to say
that Mr. Kamal

could not possibly have directly caused
the cessation of life processes

in Mr. Rapozian.

The victim was not killed
by the defendant?

I would say not.

Well, how did he die?

Don't you want to take a stab at it?

If you'll excuse the expression.

Doctor, I just don't have time
to play games.

Do you or do you not know
how Mr. Rapozian died?

Well, I'd have to say,
the emergency room doctor killed him.

- The emergency room doctor?
- I don't understand.

- LACEY: The doctor killed Rapozian?
- That's what I'd say.

You see, when first brought
into the emergency room,

Mr. Rapozian was suffering
from nothing worse

than a puncture wound to the left lung.

That's not serious?

Oh, serious, yes. But not life threatening.

In fact, some years ago, the quarterback
for the Los Angeles Rams

played an entire game
with a collapsed lung.

Great. So, what happened to our victim?

God knows why,
but for some obscure reason

the good doctor got it into his head that
Mr. Rapozian needed open heart massage.

Pity. He was a fine physical specimen.

You should see his organs, very clean.

Are you saying the doctor killed him
giving him an open heart massage?

Most assuredly.

You see, opening him up,
he punctured the aortal wall,

drove right into the heart,
killed him instantly.

That's what happened.

Cutting right to the heart of the matter.

- If you'll excuse the expression.
- Excuse the expression.

I know.

Dr. Ravshad is no longer associated
with this hospital, I'm afraid.

I'd be more afraid if he was.

Could you tell us
how we could get hold of him?

- We think he went back to Pakistan.
- You think?

Don't you know for sure? The man should
not be let anywhere near a scalpel.

I guess you'll read about it
in the news tomorrow.

There's a good chance
that Ravshad is not a doctor.

We have indications
that his credentials were forged.

Oh, great.

Do you realize
I gave birth to Harv Jr. in this hospital?

I can assure you we revoked his privileges
as soon as we found out.

Nothing like this
has ever happened here before.

If I ever get pregnant again
I'm looking into home delivery.

I don't believe it. Our open and shut case
is falling apart right before our eyes.

I got to check in. They had Elizabeth on
hold in case they finish with jury selection.

Got to talk to the D.A.,
you can call from his office.

Isn't that cute? Wait a minute.

- How much are you asking?
- Five even.

- Too much.
- Hey, make me an offer.

- What? Right here?
- I'll drive around the block.

- No, I've got to be somewhere, I'll call you.
- Okay, yeah. Do that.

Hey, I'm sure
that we can work something out.

Ladies, this is my first big homicide case.

It's a dead bang winner
which pleases me very much.

- There's no extra charge for sitting down.
- Oh, sorry.

What does not please me, however,

is getting these negative waves
from my investigating officers.

It's not negative waves, sir. It's evidence.

Relevant evidence
concerning the cause of death.

And where did you go to law school,
Detective Lacey?

I didn't, sir.

- But it would seem to change things.
- Not in the least.

The principle is called proximate cause,
Detective Lacey.

Even though the immediate cause of death
was the emergency room procedure,

the stab wound was inflicted
by the defendant,

which in turn necessitated
the visit to the emergency room.

And thus it was the proximate cause.

- So you're saying it's still a homicide?
- Absolutely.

As far as I am concerned,
this is an open and shut case.

CAGNEY: Where is she?

Court 32 was this floor.
I should have called earlier.

- You think it's fair?
- What?

Proximate cause, immediate cause.
Do you think it's murder?

Well, if he hadn't stabbed the guy
in the first place

he wouldn't have been put in the position
of being killed.

- That seems to be their point.
- If you'll excuse the expression.

Don't do that to me.

- Hello.
- Hi.

- Hi.
- What's been happening?

They seem to have adjourned.

- What happened?
- Nothing out of the ordinary.

Assistant D.A. calls me in.

I sit here all day from 8:00 in the morning

and she doesn't even
have enough time to talk to me.

Very nice.

At 4:30 the defense lawyer
asks for a continuance

and of course, the judge says it's okay.

- 4:30?
- Yes, 4:30.

Well, you know their game plan, Elizabeth.

Harass the witness bad enough
so she gives up

and the judge dismisses the case.

Mary Beth, I really hate being
such a cry baby. Really, really, I do.

But I don't know
how much more of this I can take.

Why don't we just forget all this, huh?

Want to go get silly?

- Silly?
- Silly, come on, here.

- Here.
- Let's go.

- Where you taking me?
- We're getting silly.

Silliness very important.

- Where are we going?
- Follow this woman.

Rule number one is
you have to hold your mouth right.

(MUSIC PLA YING ON STEREO)

(WOMEN LAUGHING)

Would you stop! A male stripper?

I mean, you went out.

- How did you...
- She did. She certainly did.

It's true.

How did you get the nerve to ask him out?

I showed him my badge
and I told him to follow me.

- He turned out to be a PhD from Columbia.
- Really?

She has all the luck in the world.
I'm not kidding.

I'll tell you one thing
about taking home a stripper,

at least you know what to expect.

(CAGNEY AND ELIZABETH
LAUGHING)

CAGNEY: Right? No surprises.

There's a man at the bar
who's looking at you.

Who?

- You. At you.
- He is, he is. Don't look around.

- What are you...
- No.

- He's looking at Chris.
- He is. He's very nice.

Very nice. He's trying to get up
the nerve to come over here.

(CLEARS THROAT)
Three women are very intimidating.

- All right, I'm going home.
- No. Sit down, stay.

No, I'm going home because I feel silly.
I'm here and Harv is at home.

- And I feel kind of...
- Guilty for having a good time.

- That's it.
- Guilty for having a good time.

- Married life.
- What do you know about married life?

Absolutely nothing. She smiled.

Speaking of married life, Elizabeth,

- I've been thinking.
- Great.

Let's stop. That's good.

I don't need this, Elizabeth, all right?

- I've been thinking about you.
- Oh, really?

- Yes.
- What? What?

I have somebody for you, a great guy.

- Pass, no. No dates.
- Why not?

- Come on.
- No dates, I'm not dating.

- Give me one good reason.
- Listen, I'm just...

Don't have the right attitude, okay?

Wait a minute. All right? Now, it is time.

You cannot crucify
the entire male population because of

- the actions of four subhumans.
- Okay.

Anyway, this guy is terrific.
He's wonderful. I used to go out with him.

- Which one?
- Barney.

Oh, he's a doll. This is a very nice man.
And besides, you have to do it anyway

because it's part of Christine's
philosophy of dating.

Which is, never throw out a man
if you can recycle him to a friend.

- Mary Beth, you're making that up.
- That's right.

You're making that up. I don't believe that.

No.

- Listen, hold my hand, hold my hand.
- What?

- I'm telling you...
- All right.

I want you to think of this
as a sacred trust.

There are not that good many men,
there are not that many... Hello.

There are not that many good men
to go around, do you hear me?

- So, when you find a goodie...
- Yeah.

- ...and you're tired of him, you know...
- Christine.

Hey, come on.

You owe it to the women
of New York to keep them circulating.

- This is getting very boring.
- It's true.

- Excuse me.
- Hello.

- Would you like to dance?
- Me?

No, I can't dance, I'm married.

- What is that?
- What did I say?

- You guys are so good for my head.
- We like you, too. We do.

Thank you. No, really, for everything.
I mean, I guess you know

I couldn't go through this thing
without you guys' support.

You got it. We are there for you.
Well, I mean, you can call me up anytime.

- What? Us. You call us up anytime.
- Anytime.

- We will be there for you.
- Absolutely.

Wait a minute. Three musketeers.

- Here I come, come on.
- What are you doing? You're crazy.

People are looking at us.

Mes amis, your coach awaits.

Just get it in there.

- ELIZABETH: Do you know what I wish?
- What do you wish?

I wish that I could whistle
like you whistled.

I don't blame you!

How could my arms have grown?

I don't think I've worn this stupid suit
since sorority rush.

You look nice.

I feel like I'm going to a costume party.

Oh, I don't know. Harv kind of likes it
when I dress up for court.

Says I look like a lady.

Yeah. Real comfortable, too, huh?

Credibility clothes.

- Remember the Esteban case?
- Yeah.

The Assistant D.A. told me

that I would have more credibility
with the jury if I wore nylons.

- What, stockings?
- Stockings. Yes.

And then he told me,
I'm quoting him verbatim,

"Listen, Cagney,
could you frump it way down?"

What is it?

- He never told me that.
- Oh.

Oh, well. Oh, Mary Beth,
I'm so tired of looking at car ads.

Do you remember
that little green sports car

- we saw near the hospital?
- Yeah.

- Do you like it?
- Sure.

I'm about to do something
very impetuous.

If he hasn't already sold it,
I'm gonna buy it.

Congratulations.

I'll call from the courthouse.
I'll pick it up tonight.

When do you think we'll be through,
5:00, 5:30?

Yeah, 5:00 the latest.

- You ever see a judge be late for dinner?
- No.

You don't think Elizabeth will be mad,
do you?

Why?

Well, our murder case coming up
the same day as her case.

- No.
- I guess we couldn't help it.

No, she'll understand.

So, I guess I will stay with her

and you can help the D.A.
on that Kamal thing, okay?

Unless, you'd rather be with her.

No, she'd probably
be more comfortable with you, anyway.

Yeah. Well, I don't know.
Maybe we ought to let her decide.

Anyway, you get first dibs.
You want blonde or brown?

(LAUGHING)

Would you, Chris?

Me? Sure.

Get this show on the road.
Okay, you all ready to testify?

Me? What, now?

What happened to jury selection
and opening statements

- and all that business?
- We did all that last week.

I didn't call you till I was ready for you.

Oh.

"Oh"? What's wrong with that? Isn't that
what you cops are always asking for?

Don't want to waste the taxpayers' money
sitting around the courtroom all day.

- Right?
- Right.

- But...
- But?

Well...

Mr. Leffler, I know that
this is gonna sound stupid to you.

- But I get, like, a stage fright.
- Oh, terrific.

No, I'm okay. I just need
to work my way up to it for a day or so.

- No can do. You've gotta go today.
- All right.

Give me an hour or two.
I'll be fine. I know I will.

Nope, sorry. You're on first.

Then I need you to testify and help me,
assist me, for the rest of the day.

Well, the assisting part,
there's no problem with that.

It's the testifying
without the working up to it.

Just can the stage fright, okay.

You're not even testifying to anything
that important.

Unfortunately, sir, that has never
stopped me from getting nervous before.

Look, I'm telling you. Just erase nervous
from your memory bank.

- Jurors don't trust a cop who's uptight.
- Right.

I don't know
if you thought about this, Mr. Leffler,

but that did not make me feel any calmer.

You'll be fine.

- Defense Attorney's a real zip wad.
- Great.

You say, Officer Lacey,

that you were at the alleged scene
of the alleged murder in person?

Yes, sir, that is correct.

And what did you find at that time

to be the dimensions
of the alleged room in question?

I have a diagram, sir, if I may refer
to my report of the investigation.

- From your memory, Detective Lacey.
- From memory?

Are you trying to tell us that
you don't have any independent memory

- of such an important piece of evidence?
- Objection.

The witness should be allowed
to refresh her memory

without Mr. Pressman's
impugning her credibility.

Can't we get on with this, please?

(CLEARS THROAT) Do you have
any memory without your notes?

Yes, sir. I do have some memory
but I've always been allowed to look...

Try it without.

- Your Honor...
- Just try it.

Let's do it fast and get on with it.
Objection overruled.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Dimensions please.

So the guy is gonna sell it
to somebody else.

Not if I get there by 5:30.

- Oh.
- No problem.

Come on.
We'll be out of here in plenty of time.

Well, I hope so.

Wait till you see it. British racing green.

Four-on-the-floor, wire wheels.

It's very sexy.

And the guy's coming down 500 bucks
on the original price.

Oh, that's wonderful.

But, you know, to tell you the truth,
even if I could afford a car like that

I would be so nervous
about driving in the city. Those potholes...

Miss Gallegos.

I'm sorry.
I've only got a five-minute recess.

We'll get you today, Miss Carter,
I promise we will.

I appreciate your patience.

So, wanna hear about the cars
I didn't buy?

There was one sweet one. Honest to God,
that guy was perverse as hell,

but the car was so cute.

Now, Officer Lacey.

If you'd be so kind
as to step over to this board

and attempt to recreate for us

the alleged scene of the alleged murder.

Doors and windows. Furniture. The works.

You mean, draw it?
I have a diagram right here.

Does the court note some reluctance
to be cooperative on your part, Officer?

No, sir. It's just I'm not much of an artist.

(PRESSMAN CHUCKLING)

Yeah.

You're not much of
a memory expert, either.

- Isn't that so?
- Objection.

Mr. Pressman is deliberately trying
to confuse the witness and the jury.

And perhaps Mr. Leffler

and his representative
from the police department

are deliberately trying
to keep something from the jury.

Your Honor, could I just refer to my notes?

Objection.

The witness is admonished
to speak only in direct answers

- to the questions placed before her.
- Thank you, Your Honor.

Your Honor, all Officer Lacey is doing
is trying to be exact in her answers.

Isn't that what this court is here for?

To find the exact truth,
so that justice may be served?

And I believe that truth and justice
might best be served by Officer Lacey

if she's allowed to be as exact as possible.

Mr. Leffler, you've been watching
too much Perry Mason.

- Can we just get on with it?
- Thank you, Your Honor.

- Officer.
- Thank you.

You're welcome.

So, did you call Barney yet?

Chris, Chris, I could not call up a guy
I don't even know.

Sure you can.

I'm telling you. You wait around
for some jerk to ask you out,

you're gonna end up going out
with some jerk.

- Hiya.
- Hi.

- How's it going?
- Awful.

That guy's lawyer's playing games,
you know.

Try and confuse the issue.
Making me feel like I'm the one on trial.

Oh, Lord. Elizabeth, I got a big mouth.
I'm sorry.

Mary Beth, it's okay, really.

- Coffee, Mary Beth.
- No, it's just over dramatizing.

- So, you blew the case, huh?
- No.

No, it's just the kid D.A. put me up
without letting me warm up

so I got a little rattled.
I was fine. It's all right.

Miss Carter,
can I talk with you for a moment?

- Are you ready for me?
- Soon.

- I just want to set something up with you.
- Oh.

Excuse me.

How is she holding up?

She's all right as long
as we don't talk about the trial.

All right.

So far we've gone through
cars, clothes, men and movies.

I'm running out of subjects.
You have any suggestions?

- Kind of...
- No!

- What is going on?
- No. No.

I thought she knew.

- What is it?
- Knew what?

I've gotta get back to court.
Can you handle her?

What is it
that she was supposed to know?

The appellate court has overturned
another one of the convictions.

- Oh, God.
- His new trial is set for next month.

ELIZABETH: I won't.

- I can't.
- I know it's upsetting.

- I cannot do this anymore.
- All right, Elizabeth.

It's just one more trial.

Maybe it is just one more trial for you.

But I can't sleep.

I can't think.

I can't do this anymore.

And you...

- You are not going to make me.
- Listen to me. Can we talk about it?

- No, Mary Beth. I am so sorry.
- Please, just wait a minute.

- I am really truly sorry.
- Elizabeth, wait a minute.

- Let's talk. Let us help you here.
- No.

Officer Lacey, court's back in session.
District Attorney's waiting for you.

I'll get her.
You cannot blow this homicide collar.

I'll take care of Elizabeth.

- Elizabeth!
- All right.

If your partner doesn't bring her back,
I'm gonna have to issue a bench warrant.

You would arrest her
after what she's been through?

I need her as a witness.

Well, aren't you all heart.

I'm coming.

Hi.

- I didn't know you smoked.
- I haven't for five... Please.

Don't lecture me.
At least now you can buy your car.

Just come back upstairs with me, please.

It isn't fair.

- It just is not fair.
- No, it isn't.

But nobody ever said life was fair.

- So then what's the point of it?
- The point of it is that it's still good.

If you'd stop being a victim.

Wait a minute, Elizabeth. Wait a minute!

Stop being a victim?

I am a victim.

- Four men raped me.
- I know it.

And until you stop running away
from the consequences of that

you're gonna stay a victim.

Until you go up there
and you face him down again in court,

you're gonna stay a victim.

I have faced that scum in court
over and over and over and over again!

What the hell do you want me to do?

You're asking me as a cop?

'Cause as a cop, I want you to go up there
and face him again till it sticks!

If you're asking me as your friend,

as your friend, I want you to go up there
and face him again.

No.

No.

When did you first become aware
of Mr. Kamal's presence in the house?

As soon as he come in. No, before.

You can smell a Turk
downwind at two miles.

Make that three, and I swear it under oath.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

Objection.

Objection. Objection.

The witness will be admonished.
Just answer the questions. No politics.

- This is outrageous.
- Continue, Counselor.

Now, then.

Will you describe Mr. Kamal's appearance
on the night in question?

Just like now. Greasy.

So greasy, his hair was shining
in the dark like patent leather shoes.

Your Honor!

Your Honor, please! Please!

Could you admonish the witness again?

The witness is admonished a second time.
Go on, gentlemen, please.

Mr. Menukian, you said his hair
was shining in the dark.

What do you mean by "in the dark"?

What do you think I mean? Dark.

- No light.
- "No light," what do you mean by that?

- Sure.
- Sure.

Music goes on, lights go out,
50 people have a good time.

You don't know nothing
about hanky-panky?

Don't look like you do.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

How can you be so sure of what you saw
if it was so dark?

How? How? No problem.
If I say I can see, I can see.

- That's right.
- What?

You think you don't pay any attention
when three guys get stabbed?

Mr. Menukian,
did you ever have your eyes examined?

Close the door.

In the dark? Three stabbings?

Why wasn't I made aware
of these little problems

before they cropped up
on the witness stand?

Or don't they teach you
how to interview witnesses?

They do, sir. And I did. I specifically
asked Mr. Menukian about the lighting.

He said it was good.
He also said nobody else got hurt.

I have it here in my report.
He's changing his story, sir.

Well, we're just lucky that
old Morley Pressman is such a bozo.

He scored maybe one point on the lights,

but missed the significance
of the other knifings completely.

As long as there are no other surprises,
I can still pull this one out.

You're gonna try and convict the guy
for murdering somebody in the dark?

I mean, three people got knifed
in what sounds to me like a free-for-all.

- Armenians against the Turks.
- Listen, Detective.

There are six witnesses
willing to swear in court that he did it.

Now don't tell me how to do my job.
And we'll just let the jury do their job.

Now, if you'll just ask
Mr. Menukian and his clan

to come back in here for a moment
before we go back into court,

I'll try and make sure
that we keep the damage to a minimum.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Leffler, whatever happened
to the search for truth and justice

you were instructing the judge
about before?

I mean, I know there's a lot of Armenians

that don't hold with that historical grudge
they got against the Turks.

But this one family, sir,
I think they're trying to railroad the guy.

Thank you for your theory,
Detective Lacey, but it's my case now.

Just ask them to come in. All right?

All right.

Maybe enough is enough.

What's gonna happen
when they turn over the other two?

I'll be here to put them right back in.

But, I cannot do that
without Elizabeth Carter.

As far as I am concerned,
that woman has been raped twice.

Once by those creeps
and once by the courts.

- And now you're gonna do it again?
- That's an old argument, Officer.

- Well, forgive me.
- We are doing the best we can.

If she is not back when I need her

I will ask for a recess
and issue a bench warrant.

She will spend tonight in jail. But she will
take that stand in the morning.

- So, shall we go over to her apartment?
- I just called her. She's not there.

I'll tell you what.
I will pitch the D.A. again.

I'll ask her to hold the warrant.
You and I can go pick up Elizabeth.

- She can spend the night in my apartment.
- Good.

So, what's going on with our murder trial?

That's a good idea.
You think the D.A. will go for it?

I don't know. I'm gonna try.
So, what's happening on your end?

What are we gonna do about your car?

- Mary Beth, you're being evasive.
- Me?

Did you go do something
to screw up our collar?

Oh, thank you very much.
I appreciate that vote of confidence.

- Well, did you?
- I can't hear you.

LEFFLER: Now, on that date in question,
Miss Burnham.

You were the night-duty nurse
in the emergency room, right?

WOMAN: Yes, I was.

And did you have occasion
to see Mr. Rapozian on that evening?

Yes, several members of his family
brought him in for treatment.

- About what time was that?
- Could I look at my notes?

Objection. It hasn't been established

that the witness
doesn't have an independent memory.

For Pete's sakes, Pressman,
are we gonna start all that again?

The District Attorney is admonished
to refrain from outbursts of this sort.

JUDGE: Do you have any independent
memory without your notes?

WOMAN: Yes, I think it was about 1:00 a.m.
No, that's not right.

It was the defendant who came in
with a stab wound in his arm about 1:00.

Mr. Rapozian came in
about a half an hour after that.

Your Honor, the people would ask
for a recess at this time.

This court stands recessed for 20 minutes.

I want you to know, Leffler,
I appreciate everything you've done.

I'll see you back in the courtroom.
I know you done the right thing.

- Thank you.
- Okay.

- Did you dismiss the case?
- What are you talking about?

The nurse's testimony.

She said the defendant
was treated for stab wounds

- a half hour before the victim.
- She did? I didn't hear that.

Mr. Leffler, would you agree with me

that it's kind of hard to murder someone
when you're in the emergency hospital?

At the least, it's self-defense.

At the worst, it looks like
the family's railroading the guy.

Maybe Rapozian got lost
on the way to the hospital.

Maybe the nurse was wrong.
Maybe a million things.

Who knows, or cares?

The point is,
his lawyer didn't catch it either.

And now he's offering to make a deal.
He'll plead to second degree.

What a bozo.

- Well, you can't let him do that Mr. Leffler.
- Of course I can.

The defendant shouldn't suffer
because his lawyer is a bozo.

Come on. You've seen Kamal's rap-sheet.
He's as dirty as they come.

If he didn't do this one
he did something else.

Let's just be happy we can get him
off the street for a few years.

I'm not gonna be happy
if I don't think he's guilty.

So don't be happy. Just be a cop.

I'm sorry, sir, but three stabbings
in the dark in a 50-man free-for-all

with the defendant in the hospital
a half hour before the victim,

I know I didn't go to law school,

but that sounds a lot
like reasonable doubt to me.

Officer, you and I
are supposed to be on the same team.

With respect, sir, I don't think that
this is supposed to be a team sport.

Are you threatening me?

Well, yes, sir. I guess I am.

And if I don't get satisfaction
through the proper channels

I got an old friend at The Times

who would, I am sure,
be very interested in hearing this story.

I can't believe this. You're actually willing
to let this sleazoid just skate out of here?

That's how unhappy
I am with this particular beef, sir.

Unless you wanna work out
something else.

Something a little more fair.

GALLEGOS: And the people will prove
beyond a reasonable doubt

that on the date in question
Elizabeth Carter had the bad fortune

to be waiting for a cab
outside her place of business

- at 33rd and First Avenue.
- (WHISPERS) Christine.

And at that time the defendant, Sordell,
and three other men approached her

brandished a knife
and threatening her life...

How're we doing?

- She never took a recess.
- What?

The opening arguments are almost done

and they're gonna be getting
to Elizabeth any time now.

I just tried her apartment again.
She's still not home.

So, I guess we did what we could, huh?

- How's the murder, recessed?
- It's done. It's over.

- Really? Did we nail him?
- He copped a plea.

That's what I was afraid of,
manslaughter, right?

Possession of a switchblade.

Possession of a switchblade?
Are you serious? Mary Beth!

You're not being serious.
You're joking with me, you're... What?

- Hi.
- LACEY: Hiya.

You okay?

I'm kind of worn-out
feeling sorry for myself.

You were right, Chris.
And I am not gonna be a victim anymore.

I'm glad.

Look, I don't know if I can do the next one.

But I can do this one.

- So, we do them one at a time.
- Yeah, one at a time.

The three musketeers, huh?

- How do you do it?
- All right. Come on, we'll go over with you.

No, thank you,
but I have to do this myself.

If I lean on you two anymore

I might fall flat on my face
and never get up.

I really have to do this myself.
You understand?

I really think you're a terrific lady.

So are you. Both of you.

- You call us, huh?
- I will.

You're here?
Good. We're just about ready for you.

And I'm just about ready for you.

I love you guys.

- I really do.
- Okay.

- Yeah.
- Go.

Wanna get a car?

- Who's buying?
- Me. Come on.

CAGNEY: What kind of moronic D.A.

would let him cop to
possession of a lousy switchblade?

It wasn't his idea. It was my idea.

Now you're really kidding me, right?

It was the right thing to do, Christine.

Oh, Mary Beth. What, are you taking
bribes from the ACLU?

You just passed your car.

Hold on.

(TIRES SCREECHING)

Hey, my car.

(LAUGHS)

Listen, I told you 5:30, sweetheart.
His money is just as green as yours.

Isn't that a shame?

(LAUGHING)

What? I was gonna buy this?

LA CEY: That's... What a pity.