Murder One (1995–1997): Season 1, Episode 20 - Chapter Twenty - full transcript

The murder.

The evidence points
to a single perpetrator...

...who knew the victim and had rough
sex with her prior to her murder.

The suspect. drug-addicted
movie star Neil Avedon.

lt looks like you're hip-deep
in a rape homicide.

A new suspect.

Do your 20 years
as a homicide detective...

...give you a strong sense that
Eduardo Portalegre...

...could be responsible
for Jessica's death?

The answer is yes.

A new partnership.



You didn't think I'd abandon my
friend in her time of need, did you?

You learn fast, and you're loyal.

Those are the only two qualities
that I require.

Cross' strange behavior.

When bail was set for Mr. Avedon
at $10 million...

...were you not the one
who posted the bail?

Unbutton the top of your blouse,
pick up those papers...

...drop them on the floor,
bend over and pick them up.

Do it!

Looks as though Richard
is having a nervous breakdown.

What we saw today
didn't make me think...

...Richard was capable of murder.

Tomorrow morning, I'm going to testify.

Did you or did you not say to
Detective Arthur Polson...



...that you were experiencing some
blackouts and memory loss?

I did not kill Jessica and forget about it.

And yet you can't state
with absolute certainty...

...that you didn't do it, can you?

-I guess, theoretically, it is possible.
-Thank you--

But I know myself,
and I didn't do it.

The secret files.

Do not...

...ever lie to me.

This was all just a huge
misunderstanding.

All I was trying to do was--

No lies. Only truth.
Please.

Please.

Get me in a room with Ted.
I think he's gonna want to see this.

-Oh, my God.
The handiwork of Richard.

Lisa, I'm 100 percent convinced
Cross murdered Jessica.

Hello. You must be Justine.

And you are?

Eduardo Portalegre.

I thought you were in Brazil.

Even a Portalegre has to take exams
to graduate from an American university.

Can I offer you some cognac?
Richard won't mind.

No, thank you. Where is Richard?

I suppose I should offer
one of these as well.

Liberated women in this country
engage in such things, no?

-Not this one.
-Pity.

A fine cigar is one of
life's true pleasures.

You have not lived
until you have had a Cohiba.

Che Guevara, he created these after
the revolution, for Castro's private use.

Naturally, they were banned
in this country.

Which only served to make them
even more desirable.

-Know what else they say about them?
-No.

They take their sweetness
from being rolled...

...on the thighs of young peasant girls.

You're offended.
Please, I meant no insult.

I'm sure your own thighs
are equally as sweet...

-...if they're anything like your breasts--
-Hey!

American women, why is it they always
make it a game of defending their honor?

Eduardo, I'm leaving now,
and you're gonna get out of my way.

What do you think you're doing?

You wait till my father
hears about this.

Use my phone. He'll be glad to hear
you almost made your third rape charge.

-Thanks.
-A man walks in my office...

...helps himself to my Cohibas,
he deserves what he gets.

Actually, I was a little more concerned
about what he was trying to do to me.

Who?

-Eduardo.
-Oh, yes, Eduardo.

He left a message with my secretary.
He's coming back from São Paulo.

Are these the Fast Track documents
that I'm supposed to sign?

Yes.

Richard, Eduardo was just in here.

Eduardo who?

Morning, ladies and gentlemen.

This is the morning I'm sure many of you
thought would never come.

The day when there are
no more witnesses...

...when all the evidence is in...

...and when,
hard as it may be to believe...

...and when,
hard as it may be to believe...

...the lawyers
are almost finished talking.

Don't look too pleased.
I said "almost."

Before you retire to your deliberations,
we're gonna speak with you a last time.

And then it's going to be your job
to weigh the facts...

...to see which side the facts support...

...and make your decision,
as directed by the law.

So, what are the facts of the case?

Here's one no one disputes.

A lovely young girl
named Jessica Costello is dead.

A girl not yet 16.

A girl who had the rest of her life
taken from her...

...by the person that entered
her apartment on September 20th...

...and beat and raped
and murdered her.

What are the facts in her death?

We know that she was strangled.

Dr. Matheson described the bruising
on her neck...

...the way the assailant
crushed the bones in her throat.

We know she was raped.
Dr. Matheson described tears...

...and abrasions in her vagina.

Officer Bickley found her tied to her bed,
her apartment in disarray.

All signs that she desperately resisted
her attacker.

So who attacked Jessica Costello
on the last night of her life?

Who committed this brutal crime?

The facts support only one conclusion.

He did. The defendant, Neil Avedon.

By his own testimony...

...he admits he was at her apartment
that evening and had sex with her.

Well, what could he say?

Dr. Ghafoor identified
his semen inside Jessica...

...said it was one in a billion
it could be someone else.

But Mr. Avedon claims...

...he merely went to her apartment,
had sex with her and left...

...allowing some mystery man to enter
her apartment, kill her after he's gone.

ls that the truth?
Not according to Susan Dominick.

Miss Dominick testified that
the defendant called lephyr House...

...at 1 :45 a.m.
on the night of the murder.

She knew his voice, talked with him.

And when the phone company traced the
call, where was it from? Her apartment.

That puts Neil Avedon
at the scene of the murder...

...between the time
that Jessica made a frightened...

...frantic call to Richard Cross
at 1 :15...

...and Mr. Cross' discovery
of her body 45 minutes later.

Right in the middle of the time frame
established by the medical examiner.

Now, is this a coincidence?

Just bad timing...

...that put Neil Avedon at the scene
of a crime he didn't commit?

Well, that's what he says.

He says he never could've killed Jessica.
He loved her.

But what are the facts?
Again, by his own testimony...

...he admits he was prone to violence.

He admits he suffered blackouts,
during which he forgot entire evenings.

He admits he had sex
with Jessica Costello...

...and supplied her with cocaine.

A 15 year-old girl.

So, what does Mr. Hoffman do?

Mr. Hoffman parades in front of you
a lineup of manufactured suspects.

"Richard Cross did it.
Oh, Gary Blondo did it."

Her dentist did it.
Anyone but Neil Avedon.

Neil Avedon, the drug abuser.

Neil Avedon,
the man who got his kicks...

...videotaping himself
strangling women during sex.

Neil Avedon, the actor...

...who gave his finest performance
when he got on this stand...

I I
...and he said,
Pay no attention to the facts.

Damn the facts.

Believe the role I'm playing."

And what did he say to Dr. Graham
Lester on the night of the crime?

"l did it. I killed Jessica Costello."

Oh, of course,
he denies saying that now.

Despite the drugs and the blackouts,
he's certain he didn't say that.

And, in fact, Dr. Lester must have some
sinister motive for saying such a thing.

What are the facts?
Neil Avedon can't remember.

So...

...Mr. Hoffman drags up four...

...very confused young ladies...

...who accuse Dr. Lester...

...a respected, board-certified
psychiatrist, of raping them.

But when they called Julie Costello,
Jessica's older sister, to the stand...

...to confirm this wild story,
what does she say?

"lt never happened. "

Why did he do it? Why did
Neil Avedon murder Jessica Costello?

It's simple, really.

Because she rejected him.

She was tired of the parties and drugs
and lifestyle Neil had introduced her to.

She wanted out.

But no one had ever denied Neil.

Not since he'd become a star,
they hadn't.

So he goes over
to her apartment, furious...

...at his rejection, and he rapes her.

And as she desperately struggled...

...in order to have a bigger kick,
a bigger orgasm...

...he choked the life out of her.

Because she dared to say no to him.

Now he hopes that you'll ignore
all the facts...

...and let him
get away with his crime.

And why not?

ln Hollywood, someone always comes
along to clean up after the stars...

...protect them from the consequences
of their acts, make it all go away.

Don't.

Make him pay for what he did.

Make him pay for that.

I swear, if Grasso stuck her finger in
my face once more, I was gonna lose it.

I think restraint was
the wiser choice, Neil.

That Hollywood star stuff, you don't
think the jury is gonna buy that?

She told a story.
Tomorrow, we tell a different one.

Take Neil out the back. I don't want
him talking with press till the jury's out.

-Come on.
Please, a few questions, Neil.

Neil. Mr. Hoffman.

-Mr. Hoffman.
-How do you think Miss Grasso did?

Miriam Grasso is an effective advocate
for her cause.

But I'm confident the jury will see past
thetoric and find my client not guilty.

ls it true that you slept
with Judge Bornstein?

-What?
-My paper has reliable information...

...that you two had
a pretty torrid affair 13 years ago.

-Did you sleep with Judge Bornstein?
-This is garbage.

-Did you sleep with Judge Bornstein?
-This is garbage.

-Think Bornstein should resign?
-You wanna ask about arguments, do it.

I won't comment on tabloid gossip.

REPORTER 1 : Is that a non-denial denial?
-That's "no comment"...

-...which is all you're getting today.
REPORTER 2: Do you feel--?

Mrs. Hoffman will be seeking
physical custody of the minor child.

As long as we understand
that legal custody is to be joint.

-That's fine.
-The issue of child support remains open.

The issue of visitation remains open.

On visitation, I would assume we're
talking about every other weekend...

...and every other school vacation.

Please don't assume.
-Okay, I won't assume.

Visitation remains open.

Let's talk about division of assets.

We want the house. We want half
the estimated value of the law firm.

No problem as far as the house.

As far as the law firm,
we'll agree to a buyout...

...but only if we don't go through
competing net-worth evaluations.

-What does that mean?
-lt means we all agree...

...to abide by the valuation of the firm
as sworn to by the firm's accountants.

Okay, we have a problem, then.
We'll never agree to that.

Let's put it aside and move over
to support payments.

-Has it come to this?
Spousal support.

Can we really not trust each other
to do what's right?

Miss Spector, I ask you to admonish
your client not to address Miss Hoffman.

Why would I trust you?

You managed to stay married
for nine years...

...and never felt compelled
to tell the truth about yourself?

-Tell you the truth about what?
-Start with your affair with Beth.

You know what?
This isn't being productive.

-How did you find out about that?
-A reporter called for a quote.

My relationship with Beth
was over before I met you.

lt seems, with this trial before her,
you could've mentioned it.

-lt had nothing to do with us.
-lt had everything to do with us.

That and a thousand others like it
are why I want our marriage over.

I'm tired of living
on the front page of tabloids.

-You think I like it?
-I think you love it.

This would be a good time
for us to take a little break.

Then it's true? You and Bornstein?

-lt was 13 years ago.
-Yeah, but, Teddy--

ln here.

If Bornstein's still carrying a torch
for you, this could cut both ways.

lt ended by mutual consent.

-So this could be good for us?
-Neil, this has no bearing on your case.

I worked trials with Bornstein
over the years...

...and she's never been
anything but evenhanded.

I gotta hand it to you, Ted.

Before this started,
I thought I was the stud in this case.

Ted. They need you
in Judge Bornstein's chambers.

Come in.

You called this meeting. Can I assume
it's about the report in the tabloids?

Yes, Your Honor.

If you're expecting me to deny it,
I can't.

Well, our investigation
revealed as much.

Look, personally,
I'm not that troubled by this.

But I feel it's my duty
to request a formal hearing.

Let me understand this, Miss Grasso.
You want another judge?

Roger Garfield will be arguing
our motion.

-I prefer he address that issue in court.
Very well.

-I'll set a hearing for later this morning.
Thank you.

Now, if you'll excuse me...

...I'm sure you and Ted have things
to talk about that don't concern me.

Oh, to be young and foolish again,
huh, Ted?

Days like this, it's hard to remember
ever being young.

Any idea how this happened
to hit the fan?

A very good idea.
Remember my assistant, Carol Risten?

-Sure.
-Well, last week...

...l canned her
for padding her expenses.

Apparently, she also felt entitled
to pad her severance pay...

...by accepting a hefty check
from National Inquisitor.

And Garfield wants
to make a meal of it.

Almost makes you wish we'd never
stopped off for that drink, huh?

No.

With all due respect...

...failure to be forthcoming
about your relationship...

...with the defense counsel
has created a substantial doubt...

...about your capacity to be impartial.

In whose mind, Mr. Garfield?

ln the collective mind of my office.

-I see.
-Therefore under Section 170.1 ...

...of the Code of Civil Procedure...

...we move that you recuse yourself
from further participation in this case.

ls it possible you haven't been happy
with my rulings and want me off?

My only concern here, Your Honor,
is the fair administration of justice.

-Mr. Hoffman?
Your Honor...

...we can all see this motion
for what it is.

A desperate tactic
by a district attorney...

...who fears he's losing this case
and his political career along with it.

-Objection.
Save your objections.

There's no jury to play to.

In your six years
on the bench, I've seen nothing...

...which would question
your impartiality...

...in this case or any other
l've argued before you.

Mr. Garfield, in reviewing
the trial transcript...

...l discovered I ruled for the people
twice as often as I ruled for the defense.

Not on substantive issues, Your Honor.

The diary. Allowing Mr. Hoffman
to call me as a witness.

But this wouldn't be about retaliation?

-Absolutely not.
Cut to the chase.

Under the statute cited...

...l would have to have substantial doubt
as to my ability to be impartial.

If I had any doubt, I would have recused
myself before this trial even started.

-Motion denied.
You should know...

...we'll go to the presiding judge
on this matter.

As is your right under the law.

However, I will not waste the
taxpayer's money or this court's time...

...waiting for this to resolve.

We will begin with Mr. Hoffman's
closing argument after the recess.

You wanted to see me, Richard?

Yes.

I need you to look
into something for me.

And what would that be?

I used to be able to see Catalina
from this window.

Right there.

Find out for me why I can't anymore.

It's just a guess, but maybe it's because
this window doesn't face the ocean.

Well, that could be it. Yeah.

Good work, Justine.

-Are you okay, Richard?
-Yep. Top of the world.

On another note, I had lunch
with Eduardo Portalegre today...

...who apologized profusely
over some incident...

...who apologized profusely
over some incident...

...that apparently happened
between the two of you?

I don't understand what's going on.
You were here when he attacked me.

Do you recall you burned a rather
nasty lesson in the back of his hand?

Oh.

Latin Lotharios, the way they treat
women, you know, it's disgraceful.

Would that include Jessica?

Jessica?

Oh, yes. The rumor that
young Eduardo raped Jessica.

Yeah. Why would you
be interested in that?

Just curiosity, I guess.

Justine, in my experience...

...a ruthlessly ambitious person
like yourself never asks an idle question.

-You think I'm ruthlessly ambitious?
-Yes.

And coming from me,
that's a compliment.

I was curious if you knew anything about
Eduardo's relationship with Jessica.

You thought you'd get
some information...

...which you could then take and shove
in Hoffman's ungrateful puss, didn't you?

And I admire that, Justine,
I really do.

But, unfortunately, I had no idea that
young Eduardo even knew Jessica.

So....

One minute you're in the ozone,
the next you're focused like a laser.

I have some advice for you, Justine.

Don't try to figure me out.

Good afternoon.
After hearing Miss Grasso yesterday...

...some of you may be wondering
why I'm even bothering to get up here.

She made it sound so simple
to find justice in this case.

Just convict Neil Avedon
and go home.

Before you do, remember...

...there were no eyewitnesses
to the murder of Jessica Costello.

I I
Miss Grasso says,
But we have these circumstances...

...which suggest
Neil Avedon is the killer. "

Witnesses who can place him
at the scene.

One who even claims
that Neil confessed.

But when you look at her case critically,
as the law requires you must...

...you see it rests on the credibility
of three witnesses:

Susan Dominick, Graham Lester...

...and Richard Cross.

If any one of them is lying,
Miss Grasso's entire case falls apart.

Susan Dominick says that Neil
called Dr. Lester's clinic at 1 :45.

Miss Grasso says this places Neil inside
Jessica's apartment at the time of death.

Putting aside
the medical examiner's testimony...

...that the murder could have occurred
as much as three hours later...

...you're still left with this:

Neil was only there if Susan Dominick
is telling the truth.

Do you remember the phone log? The
one that purports to document his call?

Miss Dominick says
she had to copy it over.

Not because she had to enter a call
from Neil, which never occurred...

...but because she spilled coffee on it.

"Accidents happen," she says.
Well, maybe they do.

But when she was asked if she knew
Richard Cross, why was she evasive?

Why did she conveniently forget...

...he was paying hundreds of thousands
for her brother's medical treatment?

Ask yourselves, was Susan Dominick
telling the truth?

Graham Lester.
He says that Neil confessed to him.

"What could be more conclusive
than that?" Miss Grasso says.

Well, nothing.

Unless Dr. Lester was lying
for his good friend Richard Cross.

Four women took this stand
and described...

...how Dr. Lester drugged
and raped them.

How he violated every canon
of medical ethics.

Miss Grasso says
these women were confused.

They were too out of it on drugs
to know what happened.

Angela Scalese was not confused.
She stopped taking her medication.

And when Dr. Lester entered her room
and tried to rape her...

...she knew exactly what he was doing.

Ask yourselves,
was Dr. Graham Lester telling the truth?

Richard Cross.

He says he found Jessica's body
at 2 a.m.

The only reason he didn't call police
to report her death...

...was that he was concerned
about the reputation of a woman...

...who made her living as a prostitute.

Who only surfaced
after Mr. Cross himself...

...was arrested for Jessica's murder.

Who didn't Richard Cross know
in this case?

He introduced Jessica
to the men in her diary.

He married her sister, Julie,
to keep her from testifying against him.

He was one of the biggest contributors
to the campaign of Roger Garfield...

...who personally ordered
his release from jail.

Richard Cross was in
Jessica's apartment that night.

Did he kill Jessica? Did he make
that call to lephyr House at 1 :45...

...so that he could conspire
with Graham Lester...

...and Susan Dominick to set up Neil?

From all you know about him,
ask yourselves...

...was Richard Cross telling the truth?

Susan Dominick, Graham Lester
and Richard Cross.

Miss Grasso's case rests on
the rotting foundation of their testimony.

To confuse you, she tells you that
we're trying to make Neil the victim...

...to put Jessica on trial.

I assure you, we are not.

When we put the men
from Jessica's diary on the stand...

...we did so to show you
the dangerous lifestyle she was leading.

...we did so to show you
the dangerous lifestyle she was leading.

We let Neil's mother and his friends
speak to you...

...so you'd see another
side of him...

...the side the prosecution
doesn't want you to see.

Neil Avedon and Jessica Costello...

...were two lost souls,
who found each other and fell in love.

That's why no one grieves more
for Jessica's death than Neil Avedon.

That's why nothing could compound
Jessica's tragedy more...

...than to convict Neil Avedon
of her murder.

Did Richard Cross kill Jessica?

I can't tell you.

I can tell you this.

Listen to your doubts...

...your very reasonable doubts,
about Miss Grasso's unholy three.

Then you'll know Neil Avedon
did not kill Jessica Costello.

Neil Avedon is an innocent man.

I've read your motion,
as well as the trial transcripts...

...and the transcript of your hearing
before Judge Bornstein.

Unless you have more information
to offer, I'm prepared to rule.

Let me emphasize again
the people's concern...

...over Judge Bornstein's failure to reveal
her relationship with defense counsel.

-ln my years as district--
-I asked for additional information...

...not additional argument.

Understood, Your Honor. Understood.
I just wished to emphasize--

I understand what you're seeking here,
Mr. Garfield.

But in my reading of the transcripts...

...l see nothing which would suggest
Judge Bornstein's bias.

While it would have been
prudent of her to have revealed...

...a relationship with Mr. Hoffman,
it occurred long enough ago...

...as to be inconsequential
to this case.

Your motion is denied...

...with prejudice.

Are you prepared
to proceed with rebuttal?

Yes I am, Your Honor.
Then please do so.

Okay. We're almost done.

After I finish talking, Judge Bornstein
will present instructions...

...and you'll get on with the business
of reaching a verdict.

It's a daunting responsibility, I know...

...hunting for the truth,
deciding someone's fate.

The only suggestion
I'm going to make...

...is that you face this responsibility
with the strongest weapon you possess:

Your common sense.

Because that's what will get you
to the truth.

That's what will get you
through, frankly...

...the maze the defense has constructed
to make you lose your way.

If you let your common sense
be your compass, you won't get lost.

You won't buy the suggestion
that the defendant...

...should be forgiven for this crime,
because he was abused by his father.

Or the implication that Jessica Costello
was a wild girl...

...and therefore she deserved
what she got.

You'll see through the attempt
to cast suspicion on innocent men...

...remembering that they didn't
Ieave their semen in the victim...

...when she was brutally
raped and murdered.

If you follow your common sense,
you'll see in the defendant's actions...

...a pattern of violence that's consistent
with this horrible crime.

You'll never lose sight of the fact that he
admitted that he killed Jessica Costello.

He admitted it to Dr. Graham Lester.

And on a videotape,
he showed us how he did it.

If you'll watch the monitor, please?

Your Honor, objection.
To what?

The attempted transformation of these
proceedings into a show-and-tell circus.

-The jury has already--
-Approach, please. Both of you.

This is the tape of the defendant
having sex with Melissa Griotte?

-Yes, it is, Your Honor.
-It's prejudicial.

Because it proves your guy's guilty?

This tape's already been
admitted into evidence.

Fine. If the jury wants to see it,
they can request a showing at any time.

But she shouldn't be
shoving it at them now.

Since when does the defense
get to script my closing argument?

There are limits to the use of evidence,
Your Honor.

Common sense tells you that.

Otherwise, the prosecution
would play this tape...

...on a 10-foot screen
throughout this trial.

Nevertheless, the people are entitled to
recapitulate evidence during the rebuttal.

I don't find the use of this tape
to be prejudicial. You may step back.

I read to you from
Dr. Graham Lester's notes...

-...his testimony of February 19th.
No.

Where he describes
the defendant's agitated arrival...

...at his clinic
on the night of the murder.

"He told me that he had gone
to Jessica's apartment earlier that night.

-ln an argument, he lost his temper.
No. Stop.

And he said that he killed her."

And later this sequence when I asked:

"When Mr. Avedon told you
he had just killed Jessica Costello...

...did he seem coherent?"
Answer, "Yes."

"Was he delusional?"
Answer, "No. "

"Was it your opinion that the defendant
was reporting a fantasy or a dream...

...when he told you he had just
murdered Jessica Costello?"

...when he told you he had just
murdered Jessica Costello?"

Answer, "No. "

By the grace of God,
Iadies and gentlemen...

...Melissa Griotte survived this horror.

The defendant's other victim did not.

That difference aside,
what you are witnessing...

...is the murder of Jessica Costello.

Common sense, ladies and gentlemen.
Common sense.

If you use it to consider this
and all the other evidence...

...you will surely conclude
beyond a reasonable doubt...

...that Neil Avedon
murdered Jessica Costello.

Thank you.

"lt is the state of the case which...

...after the entire comparison
and consideration of all the evidence...

...leaves the minds of the jurors
in that condition they cannot say...

...they feel an abiding conviction...

...to a moral certainty,
of the truth of the charge."

Now, having fulfilled the letter
of the law by reading the charges...

...and being reasonably sure
there are a few of you...

...that may need further clarification,
Iet me try to put this in plain English.

lt is your job to find out whether
that man is guilty of first-degree murder.

ln order to determine
if he is indeed guilty of that crime...

...you must first find that he committed
a rape upon Jessica Costello.

And you must reach that conclusion
beyond a reasonable doubt.

"Beyond a reasonable doubt"
doesn't mean you have no doubt.

lt means "beyond a doubt
that's logical."

lf, after hearing the people's case,
you still have such a doubt...

...then Mr. Avedon is entitled
to a verdict of not guilty.

As to circumstantial evidence,
if in your mind...

...such evidence can be interpreted
to favor either innocence or guilt...

...you must adopt the interpretation
which favors innocence.

With regard to witnesses,
you have no obligation...

...to accept all or even any
of their testimony.

When weighing what they've said,
you should consider their credibility...

...the extent of their opportunity to
observe what it is they testified about.

And the reason why they testified.

Put these elements together...

...and then give their opinions
the weight you feel they deserve.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen,
for your patience.

"You shall now retire and select one
of your number to act as foreperson.

He or she will preside
over your deliberations.

ln order to reach verdicts,
all 12 jurors must agree to the decision...

...and to any finding you have been
instructed to include in your verdict.

As soon as all of you
have agreed on verdicts...

...so that when polled,
each may state truthfully...

...that the verdicts express
his or her vote...

...have them dated
and signed by your foreperson...

...and then return with,,them
to this courtroom.

You may now retire
to begin your deliberations.

Ted, over here. Look over here.

ls it true Random House has offered you
a _5 million book deal?

No, I haven't seen anything.

I'm too busy with the trial
to look at offers or deals.

-How long before they reach a verdict?
I have no idea.

If they stay out long, is that bad?

l've done this long enough to know...

...the time a jury spends deliberating
is no more reliable than editorials on me.

REPORTER 2: You confident?
-I'm optimistic.

-We'll get a positive result.
REPORTER 3: A hung jury?

-An acquittal.
REPORTER 4: Neil, this must be stressful?

I believe in the American
system of justice.

And I believe that those fine men and
women on the jury will do their duty.

They'll find the truth.
And when they do...

...l believe each and every one of them
will declare me innocent.

Now all I need is a blindfold.

-Come on, Neil.
Didn't you notice?

One of those jurors even glanced at me
on their way out.

You can't gauge what a jury will do from
who they look at when they leave.

-I got a vibe.
Don't put any stock in vibes.

All we need is one juror, one who
believes there's a reasonable doubt.

Well, I don't know
we have that, Chris.

What I said when we started
this whole thing is true.

We're going to deal
with whatever the jury decides.

And if it's not what we hoped for,
that's not the end of the road.

We'll keep fighting,
but I don't think it'll get to that.

I think we're gonna get
the verdict we want.

All right.
Screw all this negativity, right?

Attaboy.

Give us a minute, huh?

Keep an eye on him.
And stay near a phone.

-Here we go again, huh, Teddy?
-Again, Miriam.

Twenty-three years I've been
holding my breath waiting for juries.

Who was it? Sisyphus had to keep
pushing a rock up a hill over and over.

Sometimes I feel like that.

I remember when we met at these times,
we'd say, "Bloodied but unbowed."

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling
pretty bent-over these days.

How are things going?

It's a big house. Too much of it
smells like Harry's cologne.

I think I'm gonna sell it.

How about you and your wife?

I don't think it's gonna work out.

I guess we both got
pretty dinged up this time.

Yeah.

Winner buys, right?

Winner buys.

To the new owner of
Fast Track Tires Incorporated.

To the woman who made it all happen.

Congratulations. Now you can get
a flat tire anywhere in the Midwest.

Well, I know how unenthusiastic
you were about this transaction, Justine.

-I appreciate you seeing it through.
-Mine is not to question why.

-Your dinner's here.
-Great. Send it in.

Evening.
-Good evening.

Ma'am.

-What is that?
-Your order, sir.

-What is it?
-Trout almandine with mixed vegetables.

I did not order fish.

-Actually, I think you did.
-Don't contradict me, Justine.

Sorry. If you'd like
something else, I can phone our chef.

You can shove the phone.
Bring me what I ordered.

Yes, sir.

ls something wrong, Richard?

I have this headache.
It just won't go away.

I'm probably coming down with
this flu that's afflicted everyone.

I should have gotten
myself vaccinated.

Richard, I'm sorry.
I must have misunderstood.

-What was it?
-That's okay, don't worry.

l've lost my appetite anyway.

-Richard?
-I'm all right. I'm fine.

Just got something in my eye.

You know what, I'm just....

I'm gonna have to excuse myself
for one second.

You just-- You know, you just--

Richard! Richard!

Richard. Richard.

Call 911. Richard?

-How is he?
-I don't know.

His doctor arrived a while ago.
He's with Richard now.

-Did Richard say--?
-He was incoherent the whole way.

I didn't get a chance
to talk to anybody.

Dr. Kressel, I'm Justine Appleton.
This is Mr. Cross' wife.

Hi.

Your husband's resting now.
The seizure's abated.

We've got him on
anticonvulsive medication.

Where is he? Can I see him?

Not now. He's in the ICU.
He's still semiconscious.

Also, he's aspirated some vomit,
so we had to intubate and sedate him.

There's a danger under these
circumstances of contracting pneumonia.

He seemed feverish. He said something
about coming down with the flu.

It's not the flu.

Well, we should have a clearer picture
once he's stabilized.

-Excuse me--
-Where are you going?

-I have work to do.
You can't tell us anything else?

We're doing some tests.

-What kind of tests?
-I'm not at liberty to discuss that.

Doctor, this is his wife. If you know
something, you need to tell her.

-Who are you anyway?
-Mrs. Cross' attorney.

Someone who sues doctors
for malpractice.

Counselor, I guess you've never heard
of the doctor-patient privilege.

I guess you've never heard of Barnett v.
Kazanjian, 324 Cal. App. 615...

...which pierces qualified privilege under
circumstances of potential intestacy.

Um....

Would you come with me,
please, Mrs. Cross?

l've been practicing law for 20 years,
l've never heard of Barnett v. Kazanjian.

It's not a well-known case.

It's not a well-known case.

Richard has AIDS.

The doctor said it's in his brain now.

The AIDS is what caused the seizure.

Julie, I'm so sorry.

I just thought the way he was behaving,
it was from stress or working too hard.

But it's these lesions in his head.

Can they be treated?

The disease is in the fourth stage.

They can give him medication
to make him more comfortable.

But the forgetfulness, all the acting out,
the seizures...

...it's only gonna get worse
until it kills him.

Richard's a fighter, Julie. He's one
of the strongest men I've ever met.

When I first met him,
we took his jet...

...to an island he owns
off the coast of Honduras.

Just us and a small staff to provide
whatever we wanted.

We swam. We danced.
We ran on the beach.

I thought he was the most
charismatic man I'd ever met.

The most attractive. The most sexual.
I wanted him...

...for him. Not for the money.

Not for the life he lived.

For him.

But he never touched me.

Now I know he was just trying
to spare me from infection.

You didn't see any signs?
Nothing at all?

I noticed the outbursts.

I noticed the outbursts.

The lapses.

-Now I'm wondering....
-What?

Who knows how long
Richard's had these lesions.

Maybe he killed my sister,
and he doesn't even remember it.

Teddy?
Teddy?

You'll never guess.

Never guess.

Well, there he is.
The man of the hour.

-Gary, what are you doing here?
-I know, I know.

You think after you shredded me
on the stand, you'd never hear from me.

-Gary.
-Turns out you did me a favor.

Renee's filing for divorce.
My secretary can stop lying to her.

More than one major studio is looking
at me for the next head of production.

-I'm glad it all worked out.
-Lemons into lemonade, Teddy.

That's what it takes
to survive in this business.

I guess you're wondering about that?

I'm at The Peninsula Bar,
chatting up these two prime cuts.

And I mention that I know you,
and they flip.

lt turns out they are huge fans.

Girls. Come in, come in, come in.

Meet Ted Hoffman.

-Teddy, this is Jackie and....
Hi.

-Colette.
-Colette. I knew I'd get it.

We saw you on TV today,
Mr. Hoffman.

I must say, you have
a wonderful way with words.

Are you kidding?
The man is a master.

F. Lee Bailey couldn't lift
his jockstrap.

-Ladies, would you excuse us?
Just one minute, please.

-Okay, sure.
Go. Yes.

Gary, whatever you have in mind,
I'm not interested.

Are you insane?

Teddy, you are, at this moment,
as hot as a man gets.

Strike now or forever hold your piece,
if you know what I mean.

I have to decline,
but I appreciate the offer.

Well, to quote Dionne Warwick,
"That's what friends are for."

Besides, look, we can talk business.

I mean, if I get this head-honcho job,
I'm gonna need a bulldog.

No, thanks.

Teddy? Blondo's bimbos await.

Are we leaving soon?

Yeah, but Teddy isn't coming.
-Oh....

Oh, Teddy, I leave you
with this one thought.

When you've been dead
a 100 million years...

...you'll only begin to be dead for as
Iong as you'll be dead, which is forever.

Wow. That is so deep.

-Deep.
Bye.

Do you want some chicken?

No.

Hello?

No. You got the wrong number.

You all right?

I just thought it was, you know...

...maybe the jury had a verdict.

No. Neil...

...they're not working
at 9:OO at night.

If they got something for us,
the earliest it's gonna be is tomorrow.

-Try to relax.
-Yeah. Yeah, relax. No big deal.

I'm waiting to hear if they're gonna
Iock me up the rest of my life.

You know what's gonna
make me relax, Chris?

The knowledge that if I get convicted...

The knowledge that if I get convicted...

...I'm gonna take a gun
and I'm gonna blow my brains out.

I don't want to hear that, Neil.

I don't want you
even thinking about it.

Look, Neil, you gotta focus
on what Ted told you.

Whatever the word is from that jury,
we are gonna deal with it.

There was a time
where I'd deal with it...

...over a bottle of Cuervo
and a few lines of coke.

Hey. Win or lose, don't throw away
what you gained. You're sober.

-Don't let go of that.
-Yeah.

Now, look, Chris, I am fine. All right?

You don't have to hang around
if you don't want to.

It's okay. If we're both
walking the floor all night...

...we may as well do it together.

Aren't you coming inside?

No, honey.
I don't think I should do that.

Because you're mad at Mommy?

I'm not mad at Mommy.

She's not mad at you either.

She said you did
a real good job in court.

-Did she?
-Mm-hm. Real good.

She liked your speech a lot.

So I don't think Mom's mad at all.

Honey, I think...

...it would be better if we say
our good nights out here, okay?

-No. I want you to stay over.
-Sweetheart, I can't do that.

I'll always love your mother.

I'll always love you.

But I can't stay over.

Lizzie, come on.
It's way past your bedtime.

I want Daddy to sleep over.

Honey, I'll be at your
soccer practice tomorrow.

We'll spend all weekend together.

-Everything's gonna be all right.
-No. It won't.

Lizzie.

Lizzie.

Lizzie.

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