Murder One (1995–1997): Season 1, Episode 14 - Chapter Fourteen - full transcript

I have information
Richard Cross is innocent.

The alibi.

I was with him last Wednesday night
when he went to that girl's apartment.

Mr. Cross hasn't said anyone was
with him at the crime scene.

My husband's a very violent man,
Mr. Hoffman.

He said he'd kill me
if I ever saw him again.

The prosecution's exhibit A.

You could look at this.

The last time we were together.
Neil Avedon strangling me.

Stop!

A hundred thousand puts this
in your private collection.



-Do we have a deal, Mr. Hoffman?
-No.

So then the tape goes to the tabloids.

Neil Avedon's psychiatrist. Graham Lester.

Whatever Neil Avedon
may have said to his psychiatrist...

...the night in question
falls under the doctor-patient privilege.

Dr. Lester's notes and
records on Mr. Avedon are protected...

...along with any testimony
the doctor himself may make...

...going to the substance
of his meeting with Mr. Avedon.

Neil confessed to killing Jessica.

I'll rot in jail before I'll testify
to any of this, Mr. Hoffman.

But my lips to God's ears,
that's what happened.

Richard Cross takes the witness stand.

You found a 15 year-old dead girl,
naked, tied to a bed...

...the sister of a close friend...



...and yet it never occurred to you
to contact the authorities?

I exercised poor judgment.

Some might call it criminal neglect.

Lizzie's all tucked in.
It's just you and me.

At last.

The machine will get it.

A little chilly in here.
How about I build a fire.

Okay.

-Ted.
RAY : Ted. it's Ray Velacek.

If you're there. Ted. pick up.

Ted. are you there?

Ray?

Good. I'll meet you
in 20 minutes.

-Oh, Ted.
-I'm sorry, honey.

Ray's been looking for this woman
since Davey died.

She may know who killed him.

I'll try not to be too long.

Freddie had a stable of, like, 12 girls.

I was one of them.

Until he fell in love with me.

The woman is Beverly Nichols.

She was Freddie's best earner.

The guy in bed with her,
that's her husband, Jake.

A real creep.

Do anything for a buck.

And I guess you know
Richard Cross.

Do you know him?

Not personally.

Mr. Cross used to come
to Freddie for girls.

Obviously.

Freddie taped important men in the act.
For insurance.

Did Freddie try to blackmail
Cross with this tape?

No.

He knew better.

Figured he'd live longer
if he went to you...

-...through Dave Blalock.
Yeah.

But things didn't work out.

Freddie left Sabrina
this copy for safekeeping.

When she saw Richard Cross testify
on TV last week, she realized why.

That crap about Cross not telling
police he was out with Beverly...

...when that girl was killed.

Saying Beverly's husband
would get jealous.

And I was holding this tape.

Get real.

Why didn't you come
forward sooner?

I was scared.
I saw what they did to Freddie.

But then, you know...

...l ran out of money.
Got no place to stay.

And I think people
are following me.

We'll get you a place to stay.

You'll have 24-hour security.

We'll keep in constant touch.

And this will tide you over
on expenses.

Thank you.

Can I use your ladies' room?

Sure. Down the hall on your right.

Thanks.

This tape pretty well kills
Richard Cross' alibi.

Not to mention it pretty well killed
Davey Blalock.

It's too bad we didn't have this
when Cross was on the stand last week.

Would have made for one hell
of a cross-examination.

That son of a bitch.

All this time, he's putting up my bail,
pretending to be my friend.

All this time, he's putting up my bail,
pretending to be my friend.

And he's setting me up
to swing for him.

-I ought to kill him.
-Neil.

Don't say anything like that
ever again. Understand?

-Come on. I didn't mean it literally.
-Do you understand?

Yes.

I'm sorry.

Ted, any chance we
can work this tape...

...into our cross-examination
of Polson today?

I'll give it my best shot.

Good morning.

Sabrina's all set. No problems.

And I served
Beverly Nichols' subpoena.

She was thrilled.

I can imagine. Arnold?

Have you started prepping
Julie Costello to testify?

-She's coming in today.
Mind your p's and q's.

Assume anything you say
goes back to Richard Cross.

Julie Costello's testifying for me?

She'll verify you weren't
abusive to her sister...

...when they lived together.

After the tape of you and Melissa Griotte
runs we need all the help we can get.

Showtime's 10:OO a.m.

And, Neil, stare straight ahead
when they run it.

No guilt, no remorse.

The jury will be watching.

Okay.

Neir, don 't.
Shh.

Don 't.
It's okay.

Don 't.
Shh.

Trust me.

Mo. stop.

Stop. Stop!

Miss Griotte, are you
the woman on that tape?

-Yes.
Who is the man?

Neil Avedon, the defendant.

What were the circumstances leading
up to what we saw on that tape?

Neil and I had been dating
on and off for about a year.

Neil and I had been dating
on and off for about a year.

And we'd had a date that evening.

This was after dinner and a show.

Was this the first time the defendant
choked you during sex?

No.

He'd done it about
three or four times before this.

He believed that it
heightened my...

...sexual satisfaction.

-Did it?
No.

But I think it heightened his.

Objection. Unresponsive.
Move to strike.

Sustained. Strike the witness
answer after "No. "

The jury will disregard.

Miss Griotte,
under the circumstances...

...why did you continue
your relationship with the defendant?

Because I loved him.

When Neil was himself,
he could be the sweetest guy.

And when he was not himself?

Objection. Leading the witness.

I'll allow it.

If Neil drank or did coke...

...he was different.

-Dangerous.
-ln what way dangerous?

He would become violent.

lt was hard to get him
to hear you then.

Like there was a roar in his head.

Those times, he was gonna do
what he was gonna do.

Objection. Move to strike.
The witness is speculating.

She's not qualified to testify
to Mr. Avedon's mental state.

The witness is legitimately
relating her experience.

Overruled. Proceed, Miss Grasso.

Was the night this tape
was made one of those instances...

...where the defendant
was dangerous?

Yes.

He'd done a lot of coke.

And he insisted on having sex...

...and videotaping it
for his collection.

I didn't want to set him off,
so I went along.

When he said he wanted
to choke me...

...l made him promise to go easy.

Did he keep his promise?

No, he didn't. I think that's
pretty clear from the videotape.

Why does the tape end where it ends?

lt was close to the end. I guess he
just didn't realize how close it was.

And what happened after the tape ended?

Neil got up
and put on his clothes and he left.

Did you continue to see
the defendant after the night...

...that this tape was made?

-No.
-Why not?

Up until then...

...l thought that Neil cared about me
too much to ever really hurt me.

But I knew that if he had choked me
for one more minute that night...

-...he would have killed me.
-Objection. The witness is speculating.

The witness is relating a present
sense impression, Your Honor.

Overruled. The statement stands.

Thank you, Miss Griotte.
I have nothing further.

Mr. Hoffman?

You make your living
as an actress, is that right?

Yes. But I wasn't acting on that tape.

I didn't ask you if you were
acting there, did l?

No.

You testified on direct examination
that Mr. Avedon asked you...

...to make the tape for him,
is that right?

He did.

And how did the tape end up
in your possession, not his?

I don't know. He must--
He must have forgotten it.

He spent the time and effort
to videotape himself in bed...

...with an actress having
very dramatic sex...

...for his own viewing
and then forgot to take it with him?

Objection. Argumentative.

Sustained. Move on, Mr. Hoffman.

Have you ever been
to my office in Century City?

Yes. After I saw Neil on the news
about the Goldilocks murder...

...l brought you this tape.

Did you offer to sell me
this very tape for $100,OOO?

No.

I came to you for advice.

I didn't want to hurt Neil.

But I didn't want to cover up
if he'd done anything wrong.

Isn't it true you told me
if I didn't buy the tape...

...you would sell
it to the tabloids?

The only thing I asked you for
was advice.

I wasn't sure if
I could get in trouble...

...for not giving it to the police.

As I remember, you sent me away.

Miss Griotte, did you
subsequently sell this tape?

-Yes.
-To a tabloid television show?

-Yes.
For how much money?

-One hundred thousand dollars.
-What a coincidence.

Thank you very much.
Nothing further.

Did you contact the tabloid show,
or did they contact you?

They called me.

Did you ask for money for the video?

No. They offered it.
Maybe I shouldn't have taken the money.

But I needed it.
And I didn't see any harm.

Were you acting on that tape?

Mo. I was not.

Mo. I was not.

Was Neil Avedon strangling you?

Yes.

Were you frightened for your life?

Yes. Terrified.

You see that?

Call your trainer.
You're gonna be late.

This will be more than an hour.

Why?

Why?

That woman's obviously
selling a story. I'm not.

You're the sister of a murder victim
testifying on behalf of the defendant.

Prosecution's gonna go after you.
You have to be prepared.

l've been in court.
I know how to keep my cool.

This is a murder case, Julie,
with very high stakes. It's hardball.

If you're not thoroughly
prepared on your responses...

...these attorneys,
they'll tear you to shreds.

Are you including Ted?

Ted will have to ask you
uncomfortable questions too. Yes.

Questions about Richard?

-Maybe.
-That makes me nervous.

Richard only let me do this
to help clear Neil.

He won't want me answering
questions about him.

Ted will try to steer clear of Richard
and keep Grasso off your back.

But as I was saying,
this is for all the marbles.

Ted's gotta do whatever he can.

Okay.

Where do we start?

Ted will walk you
through your direct...

...which you and I will work on
this week and next.

Every encounter you've ever had
with your sister and Neil.

Your responses to Ted
should be clear and simple...

...but emotional.

A few well-placed anecdotes
are a nice touch.

When the prosecution takes over...

...limit yourself to one-word answers.
Yes or no.

Don't volunteer information.

Ted can clean up
after you on redirect.

And never lie, okay?

lt'll come back to bite you.

If you aren't sure of something,
say, "l don't recall at this time."

Hands. Fold them in your lap.

Keep them on an armchair.
But, uh, make a choice and stick with it.

Okay? Otherwise,
they're moving around.

And you're distracting the jury
from what you're saying.

-Arnold?
-Hmm?

-Are you married?
-No.

Attached?

No.

Okay. Why don't we try
a dry run on your direct, okay?

-Okay.
-Okay.

-I'll be Ted.
-I'll be Julie.

You're the primary detective
assigned to Jessica Costello's case?

Yes.
-What is your responsibility in that?

To identify any person
who had an opportunity...

...to commit the crime of murder
upon Jessica Costello.

What steps did you take
in that regard?

Based upon signs of struggle
at the scene...

...and the sexually battered condition
of the body, I ordered a rape kit...

...and directed the ME to examine
the body for signs of sexual assault.

And what did you learn?
That Jessica Costello...

...had been raped
before she was murdered.

Anything more specific?

Semen was found inside the victim.

Detective, were you able
to ascertain whose semen it was...

...found in the body
of Jessica Costello?

Yes. We were able to match it...

...based upon a prior blood sample
taken from the defendant.

Was there any particular reason...

...you sought to obtain
a match with the defendant?

Yes. I had interviewed Jessica Costello's
friends and associates.

The defendant's name kept coming up.

Was anyone else's semen
found in the body?

No.
Was there anything else...

...indicating that the defendant had
the opportunity to kill Jessica Costello?

Yes. He was in her apartment
during the period...

...the medical examiner
estimated as the time of death.

Objection. Move to strike.

-The witness is speculating.
-Overruled.

How did you determine the defendant
was in the victim's apartment?

The estimated time of death
is between 10:OO p.m. and 3:OO a.m.

According to a sworn statement
from Susan Dominick...

...night nurse at lephyr House...

...she received a call
from the defendant at 1 :45 a.m.

Telephone company logs
corroborate the call...

...and show it originated
from the victim's residence.

Objection. Move to strike.

Mr. Hoffman, overruled.

Based on everything that you've told us...

...what, if any, action did you take?

I arrested the defendant for
the murder of Jessica Costello.

Thank you.

Neil Avedon wasn't the first person
arrested for the murder, was he?

-No.
Who was?

-Richard Cross.
Why was Mr. Cross released?

We received information
exonerating him.

-From whom?
-A Beverly Nichols.

Can you describe the information that
convinced you Cross should be released?

Miss Nichols echoed Mr. Cross' account
of having found Jessica Costello's body.

Miss Nichols also vouched
for Mr. Cross having been with her...

...when the murder
would have taken place.

Richard Cross had originally
Iet himself be arrested for murder...

...rather than simply reveal
that he was with Miss Nichols...

...while that murder occurred?

Yes.

Why would he do that?

Because Miss Nichols
described her husband...

...as being a violently jealous man...

...who would physically abuse her
if he knew she were with Mr. Cross.

Would you still accept his alibi
if I were to present you with evidence...

...that, in fact, Mr. Nichols
was not jealous of Richard Cross?

That, in fact, Mr. Nichols had engaged
in sexual activities with his wife...

...for Richard Cross'
viewing pleasure?

Objection. Counsel knows
he's calling for speculation.

Sustained. Move on, counsel.

Your Honor, maybe we have a sidebar?

Approach.

Your Honor, we request
an immediate 402 hearing...

...to admit pertinent evidence
before further cross-examination.

-What is it?
A videotape...

...that bears on the alibi
just laid out by Detective Polson.

Whatever happened
to timely discovery?

We've heard nothing
of this tape until now.

lt just came into our possession.

Like the diary did.

How many weeks did you
sit on that, counsel?

This is completely unprofessional.

I don't think an office that held back
Nurse Dominick until after the hearing...

...should call anyone unprofessional.

Let's stick with the business at hand.

-How long is the tape?
-Under 10 minutes.

Lunch hour should be sufficient
for you to view the tape.

After which,
we'll hear from Mr. Hoffman.

Step back.

We're adjourned for lunch break
until 2:OO.

Mr. Hoffman?

Are you the woman
in that tape, Miss Nichols?

What do you think?

Miss Nichols is here under subpoena
and clearly unresponsive.

Request permission to treat her
as a hostile witness.

Granted. And the witness is directed
to answer questions with a yes or no.

Miss Nichols, isn't it a fact
that when this tape was made...

...you were a prostitute?

Yes.

For a price, you would
perform sexual acts.

-ls that right?
-Yes.

Depending on the price,
you'd indulge different sexual fantasies.

-ls that correct?
-Yes.

And if part of fulfilling that fantasy
was lying, you would lie, is that right?

Objection. Argumentative.

Counsel's not allowed
to batter the witness...

-...no matter how she made her living.
-I'm trying to establish...

...the circumstances under which
the witness will lie for another party.

Overruled. The witness will respond.

Yes. When I was a prostitute,
I lied to men at their request.

Is it a fair statement that,
as a prostitute...

...you would not only lie to clients,
you would lie to the police.

You lied to the world at large
about what you did for a living.

Yes.

When this video was taken, you were
in the employ of an escort service...

-...run by a Freddie Carello?
-Yes.

And Mr. Carello arranged for you to have
sexual relations with his customers.

-ls that correct?
Yes.

Do you recognize
the men in this video?

-I do.
-The one watching...

-...is Richard Cross, isn't it?
-Yes.

And the man in bed with you?

My husband, Jake Nichols.

You told police
Richard Cross was with you...

-...the night Jessica Costello was killed.
-He was with me.

You also stated Mr. Cross was motivated
to keep your being with him a secret...

...because you have a violently
jealous husband, right?

-Right.
Is that so-called...

...jealous husband the same man
on the tape having sex with you...

...for the pleasure
of Richard Cross?

Yes.

No further questions.

Miss Nichols, is your husband
violently jealous?

Yes, unfortunately.

Has he hit you on occasion?

-Yes.
Have you ever had to...

...go to the emergency room
as a result of your injuries?

-Yes.
How many times?

Three or four times.
-lf it please the court...

...we have copies
of Miss Nichols' records...

...from four visits to
Cedars-Sinai Emergency Room...

...from injuries from abuse.

Bailiff?

Was it jealousy that provoked
your husband's violent outbursts?

-Every time.
-But he didn't look jealous to me...

...on that videotape.
Can you explain that?

Jake was the one who made the deal
with Freddie Carello for that scene.

He knew Richard
was only going to watch.

Just the same, after we pulled
ourselves up out of that life...

...Jake would get pathological
at the idea...

...of anyone putting their
hands on me again.

Did you communicate to Richard Cross...

...when you agreed
to meet with him...

...that if your husband found out,
he would be violently jealous?

I told Richard that Jake would kill me.

So Richard Cross
had reason to believe if he told police...

...you were with him when he
discovered Jessica Costello's body...

...he would be
putting you in danger?

Yes. He knew very well
I was nervous all night.

Why did you spend
the evening with him?

He gave me $1000.

I didn't have to have sex
with him or anything.

I just had to go out with him.

We were broke.
We needed the money.

What, if anything, happened after you
came forward with Richard Cross' alibi?

Jake beat me up.

I had to go to the emergency room.

The people wish to submit
an emergency room report...

...from Cedars-Sinai
for September 26, 1995.

Bailiff.
Thank you very much.

Nothing further.

Redirect, Mr. Hoffman.

You say you've lied for money,
is that correct, Miss Nichols?

-Yes.
You say Richard Cross...

...gave you $1000 on the night Jessica
Costello was murdered, is that correct?

Yes.

Thank you. Nothing further.

The witness is excused.

While this tape
may impeach Mr. Cross...

...it has no direct relationship
to Detective Polson's testimony.

Therefore, Mr. Hoffman...

...l instruct you not to ask Detective
Polson any questions about this tape.

The defense may introduce it,
should you decide to...

...during your case in chief.

If you think the tape
we showed you two months ago...

...of Neil Avedon choking
a girl in bed was hot...

...wait till you see the video
Ted Hoffman unleashed...

...in Judge Bornstein's
courtroom today.

A ménage à trois
among the exotic Beverly Nichols...

...her Fabio-lous husband. Jake...

...and philanthropist Richard Cross.

Word is. it's hot. It's wild.
It's kinky.

-End Deadline: America is doing....
-Julie.

After I saw that on the news,
I walked out on Richard.

I got in my car and I drove around.

And the only person
I could think to go to was you.

-Are you all right?
-No.

-Are you all right?
-No.

I'm terrified Richard will find me.

And I'll end up in
a straitjacket somewhere.

You could, uh, stay at my place
until you figure out your next move.

You don't want to
get involved with me, Arnold.

Well, technically, that's true.

The last time I mixed my
private life with my work life...

...it had disastrous consequences.

But this is strictly
about your shelter and safety.

So I think it's okay.

You don't know what
you'd be taking on with Richard.

I can handle myself.
Stay at my place.

You are such a good person, Arnold.

Why couldn't I have known you
when I first moved to L.A.?

I don't know. But you know me now.

Thank you.

Again, just so there's no confusion,
I'll sleep on the couch.

I'm not confused.

-Would you like to tell me where she is?
Who?

-I don't know what you're talking about.
-Julie. Thanks to your video show...

...we argued and she walked out.
I haven't heard from her.

-I'm worried sick.
-I haven't seen her.

If you do, you should know
she's a troubled, high-strung young girl.

She requires special attention.

Which only you can provide.

Frankly, yes.

And if you think you can
take my place, believe me...

...you don't want to.

Thanks for the warning.
But as I said, I don't have her.

So you did. But if she stops by...

...tell her I came looking.

-Julie.
-Please, Richard.

-I don't want to talk to you.
-All right. Okay.

-Let's not make a scene.
-Perfect. I have work to do.

Can I just explain a few things?

Come home
and we'll sort this out, okay?

-No, Richard. Leave me alone.
-Listen.

I believe she stated her preference.

-Whatever you're about to say, don't.
-Granted you're upset--

I'll give you the same advice
that I gave your boss.

Don't come between us.

Ted's in his office, Arnold,
if you want to stick your head in.

Right.

Ted, I want to go on record
as saying nothing happened.

-Excuse me?
When Julie stayed with me...

...last night, I slept on the couch.
Nothing happened.

Hold your calls?

Thanks, Louis.

You let Julie stay at your apartment?

There are hotels.
What were you thinking?

I was worried for her.

Richard Cross' possessiveness
is not something to be trifled with.

The appearance of it is compromising.

I'm sorry.

I can see in the light of day
my heart may have led me astray.

I don't think it's your heart
that was leading you, Arnold.

Sorry to interrupt.
Car's waiting downstairs.

Two seconds.
Tell Justine to walk us down.

Let's not tempt your impulses
any further.

I'll talk to Justine.

Perhaps Julie would like
to stay with her in the short term.

Good idea.
We're going.

Your wife's on line two.

Tell her I'll try to call her later.

Ask Julie if she can meet me
Iater today in my office.

Will do.

I remind you,
detective, you're still under oath.

You first arrested
Richard Cross, didn't you?

-That's correct.
And you released Mr. Cross...

...four days later based on a story
he and Miss Nichols told you, correct?

Yes.

Still think that alibi is good?

-Objection. Argumentative.
I'll withdraw the question.

When you arrested Richard,
did you believe you had the right man?

-Yes.
But you later decided...

...you'd made a mistake, correct?

I developed evidence that caused
the district attorney's office...

...to subsequently bring charges
against the defendant.

If you made a mistake with Cross...

...could you have
made a mistake with Neil?

No. The evidence against
this defendant is very compelling.

What evidence are you referring to?

The only semen
we found in Miss Costello...

...was from the defendant,
Neil Avedon.

Is it possible
for a man to rape a woman...

...without ejaculating inside her?

I'm not a rape expert. I couldn't say.

Expertise aside...

...a man other than Neil could have
raped Jessica Costello...

...wearing a condom, that same night,
and you wouldn't know it, would you?

I didn't see evidence of that.

My question was whether or not
you would know...

-...if the rapist wore a condom.
-There's no way to tell.

So you're just guessing that it was
Neil Avedon who raped Jessica Costello.

So you're just guessing that it was
Neil Avedon who raped Jessica Costello.

An informed, educated guess.

But it's still a guess.

-Correct?
-Yes.

Isn't it a fact that it has become
common for serial rapists...

...to use condoms to avoid
Ieaving evidence behind?

Yes, but there was no indication
of forced entry to the residence.

We believe the victim knew her killer.

-Did the victim know Richard Cross?
-Yes.

ln fact, your investigation
shows that Jessica Costello knew...

...and was sexually linked
to at least a dozen adult men.

-Isn't that right?
Yes.

Couldn't any one of those men
have raped and killed her?

Theoretically, yes.

You testified that Neil Avedon
had sex with Jessica...

-...the day she was killed, correct?
That's correct.

You also testified that when
you spoke to Jessica's friends...

-...Neil's name kept coming up, correct?
It did.

It kept coming up because
he was dating her, isn't that right?

More or less.
-More or less? Did Jessica's friends say...

...they were dating or not?

Some friends said they were dating.

So it's very possible
their sex was consensual, isn't it?

I didn't see evidence of that.

ls it possible? Yes or no.

-Yes, it's possible.
When Mr. Cross...

...was the suspect in this case...

...did you receive phone calls
from prominent third parties...

-...urging you to release him?
-I did not.

You weren't reminded,
directly or indirectly...

...by elected officials that Mr. Cross
was a very important man in this city?

No, I was not.

Did you release Mr. Cross
at anyone's instruction?

Yes.
Whose instruction was that?

The district attorney's office
told me the charges...

...against Mr. Cross
were being dropped.

-Who in the district attorney's office?
-Roger Garfield.

Did Mr. Garfield
tell you this over the phone...

...or speak to you in person?

ln person.

ls it common for
the district attorney himself...

...to inform you, in person...

...on his office's disposition
of a defendant?

No.

Do you have any idea
why District Attorney Garfield...

...involved himself personally
to the degree he did...

...in the release of Richard Cross?

No.

One last question, detective.

Did you want to release
Richard Cross...

...for the murder of Jessica Costello...

...when District Attorney Garfield
dropped the charges?

Not at the time. No.

Thank you. Nothing further.

Miss Grasso, call your next witness.

Sidebar, Your Honor.

The people have new information bearing
on Dr. Graham Lester as a witness.

We move for discovery
of his records...

...and to compel him to testify.

And since this impacts on
the order of our witnesses...

...we'd like to deal with it
today if possible.

We can't be expected
to respond effectively...

...to a motion sprung at the last minute.
That's exactly why you're pulling this.

Short notice only works one way?

We'll break for lunch.
Give the defense an opportunity...

...to study the people's motion papers,
and reconvene at 2:OO.

Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury...

...we won't need you
this afternoon.

-Enjoy your weekend.
-Ted?

Surprise witness.

The witness' name is Amy Scott.

Anyone recognize the name?

We're about to get
a rude introduction.

Thanks, Lila. Richard.

Nice surprise.
To what do I owe this pleasure?

I was hoping you had
a few moments for me.

-Of course. Come on back.
-Thanks.

How are you?

Not as well as I'd like to be.

Sorry to hear that.

So I hear Julie's
moved in with you.

How's she doing?

We haven't talked much.

She seems fine.

Justine, I know it may
seem like I'm asking you...

...to compromise your
client-attorney privilege...

...but I'd like you to intercede
with Julie on my behalf.

I don't think she wants to see you.

She doesn't know
what she wants.

She's angry and frightened.

Hoffman has poisoned
the atmosphere to a point...

...where she thinks I had something
to do with her sister's death.

Which is completely
and utterly absurd.

I can certainly tell her
that you want to talk to her.

But beyond that....

Justine...

...this is not a legal matter.

This is personal.

I love Julie
and I loved her sister.

And it is inconceivable that I would
have ever done anything to harm her.

I need her to know that.

I'm not comfortable being
a messenger in this situation.

I'm not asking you to.

All I'm asking you to do
is broker a meeting.

And what if she doesn't
want to meet with you?

Then you use your considerable
powers of persuasion.

Woman to woman. Tell her you'll
be there while we talk. Anything.

Just get me in a room with her.

I'll talk to her.

-That's all I can promise.
-Okay.

Thank you.

You know my loyalty
to those I trust.

Anything you do for me
will be greatly appreciated.

Miss Scott, are you acquainted
with Dr. Graham Lester?

Yes.

Are you acquainted
with the defendant?

Yes. We were in group therapy together
18 months ago in lephyr House.

Would you describe what was
entailed in your group therapy?

There were five of us.

Dr. Lester monitored us
while we addressed our problems...

...with substance abuse,
how it affected our lives.

We confronted each other on our stuff.
Our baggage.

Your relationship with the defendant
in group therapy, was it cordial?

lt was at first.

Did something happen to change that?

-Totally.
-Would you tell us what happened?

Supposedly, because he's famous...

...Neil said people were always
throwing drugs and sex his way.

Which is total BS
and I called him on it.

I told him he wasn't
being honest with himself.

That nobody threw him drugs,
he bought them.

And sex didn't just come his way.
He was always hustling women.

How did the defendant react?

He got really, really mad
and told me I was full of it.

He then told us we just
couldn't understand the pressure...

...of living life in the spotlight.

I suggested he couldn't stand
to not be in the spotlight.

And how did the defendant
respond to this?

When he realized
I wasn't buying it...

...he did what he always does.

He started coming on to me. Flirting.

I told him that he was just
falling back on an old crutch.

That his playboy act
was probably covering up...

...for some real sexual insecurity.

How about we deal with that?

And what did the defendant say?

He said:

"How about I slam your head through
the wall and we can deal with that."

Then he kicked a trash can
clear across the room.

lt bounced off the wall
and almost broke a lamp.

And what did you do then?

I left, fast.

How did you feel after that?

I was scared to death.

Did you speak
to Dr. Lester about this?

Yes. Dr. Lester
told me not to worry.

He knew how to handle Neil
when he was like that.

He promised to straighten everything
out before the next session.

-Did you go to the next session?
Yes.

As soon as Neil saw me,
he said the fact that I showed up...

...for another session meant
that I deserved whatever I got.

Did you ask him what he meant by that?

Yes. He got real close to me
and he said nobody embarrasses him...

...and gets away with it.

That I should watch out.
That he was gonna pay me back.

What did you do then?
I left.

Did you return
to therapy the next day?

Not to lephyr House, no.

I found another group
with a therapist I could trust.

Thank you, Miss Scott.
Nothing further.

Mr. Hoffman?

-Hello, Miss Scott.
-Hello.

How long have you been
in a therapy group?

Five years, once a week.

But the I House thing
was a 21 -day intensive.

The nature of these groups
is confrontational.

-ls that your testimony?
Yes.

So after you confronted
Mr. Avedon, he yelled.

He confronted you back, didn't he?

No. It was more than that.

One of the main rules
is you never get physical.

Did he ever get physical...

...in the sense that he
put his hands on you?

No. But he got in my space, though.

But he didn't put
his hands on you?

No. But he kicked
the trash can across the room...

...and looked at me, you know,
like he was kicking me.

In your five years of group therapy...

...has any other person
shown frustration...

...by kicking a chair or stomping
the floor, things of that nature?

...by kicking a chair or stomping
the floor, things of that nature?

-Yes.
Did you fear for your life...

...after any one of those instances?

No.

ls it true you were
at lephyr House...

-...to deal with an addiction to cocaine?
-Yes.

Are you aware that chronic use
of cocaine will heighten paranoia?

I haven't used cocaine
or any other drugs in over a year.

And I'm not being paranoid.

Neil Avedon threatened me.

Did you go to the police and get
a restraining order against Mr. Avedon...

-...after he threatened you?
-No.

Why not?
I thought you were scared for your life.

I was.

But you didn't get a restraining order.

No. Things felt different
once I got home.

Because you totally overreacted
to Neil's comment, didn't you?

Not at all. I just felt safer
once I was in my own place.

Do you enjoy group therapy?

I like what it does for me.

Isn't it a fact that the dramatic
nature of group therapy...

-...is what you really like about it?
-No.

Aren't you, in fact,
guilty of what you accuse Neil of?

Seeking to be the center of attention?

-No.
-Not even a little?

Neil is the one with the ego problem,
not me.

I'm glad you cleared that up for us.

Thank you. Nothing further.

Redirect, Miss Grasso?
-No, thank you, Your Honor.

The witness is excused.

Argument, counsel.

Dr. Lester knew that the defendant
was dangerous to Amy Scott.

And he didn't tell her
or the authorities as required by law.

The people think that the same thing
happened with Jessica Costello.

And as such, we believe the doctor's
files on the defendant should be opened.

The people's belief is not enough
to abrogate my client's right to privacy.

There's no evidence that Neil Avedon
threatened Jessica Costello.

A distinction without a difference.

A distinction without a difference.

Two young women,
the same violent patient.

Let's see what the doctor knew
and when he knew it.

I'll review Dr. Lester's
records in camera.

We are adjourned until
9:OO, Monday morning...

...at which point
I'll make my ruling.

What are the chances the judge
will keep Dr. Lester's records sealed?

lero. But I think she's wrong.

If I'm right, Lester's records are filled
with references to your violent nature.

lncluding a back-dated memo describing
how you confessed to murdering Jessica.

This is my shrink
we're talking about?

We're talking about a corrupt bastard
who's selling you down the river.

I'm gonna be blunt here, Julie.

I think Richard Cross and Graham Lester
were involved in your sister's murder.

And I need you to help me
connect the dots.

Richard may have just been
in the wrong place at the wrong time.

He really considered
Jessie like a daughter and--

Don't delude yourself.

If it walks like a duck
and quacks like a duck, it is a duck.

Julie, we know Cross was at
the apartment the night Jessica died.

We believe he placed a call from
the apartment to Lester's facility...

...which Lester's night nurse
now says came from Neil.

That's probably when Cross
and Lester hatched the cover-up.

Richard hung up
that phone and sneaked out...

...leaving your sister's body on the
floor without so much as a mercy call...

...to 911 .

I was working for an escort service...

...when Richard found me.

He took me in and gave me a life
I never knew existed.

I owe him everything.

I know this isn't easy for you, Julie.

Part of you feels like a traitor.

And maybe we'll turn out
to be wrong.

But for now, let's just do the work...

...and see how it plays.

All right.

Sorry to interrupt, Ted.
Your wife's in your office.

Thanks, Louis.

-Hi.
-Hi.

Where's Lizzie?

With a sitter.

I wanted to talk to you
away from her.

-ls she okay?
-She's fine.

Ted.

-Annie?
-This is awful timing, I know.

What do you mean?

I keep putting this conversation off
and putting it off and I can't anymore.

What conversation? Talk to me.

I can't keep living
the way we've been living.

I have to...

...normalize.

The trial's been exhausting, I know.

But it'll be over soon.
Three months, tops.

And then there'll be another trial.

And you'll be more famous,
pursued for even bigger cases.

lt doesn't go the other way, Ted.

lt expands.

I think we need to
separate for a while.

-Separate?
-I'm losing myself, Ted.

If I don't get some distance
to sort things out--

Annie.

Annie, don't do this.

l've seen people separate.
They don't work it out.

-They get further apart.
-I don't know any other way.

Don't make this harder than it is.

It's taken all that I have to do this.

-Annie, I love you.
-And I love you.

-That's not what this is about.
-What's it about?

It's about not having a life.

We live in a fishbowl.

And maybe you can deal with it,
but I can't, and neither can Lizzie.

I'll, um....

I'll have Louis drop by tomorrow...

...after Lizzie's at school...

...to pick up my things.

I didn't come here
to push you out the door.

I'm not talking to a lawyer.

I just need to find my center
while I still have one.

Okay.

-Then you do.
-I do.

Yes.

I'm sorry.

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