Murder One (1995–1997): Season 2, Episode 11 - Chapter Eleven, Year Two - full transcript

THE LATRELL CASE.

POLICE HAVE ARRESTED
BASKETBALL GREAT, RICKEY LATRELL...

FOR THE MURDER OF LAS VEGAS
STORM OWNER SANDY FORTAS.

GET ME OUTTA HERE.

HE'S PREPARED TO PUT UP ALL OF HIS
ASSETS, INCLUDING HIS MOTHER'S HOME.

BAIL IS SET AT $10 MILLION.

THE RIVAL AGENT.

KEN'S BEEN TRYING TO REPRESENT
ME SINCE I WAS IN COLLEGE.

SOME GUYS NEVER
TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.

AND YOU'RE ONE OF THEM. I AM.

A CHANGING OF THE GUARD.



WOULD LEE MICHAELSON PLAY FAST
AND LOOSE WITH PEOPLE'S MONEY?

OH, YEAH.

I HAVE NEVER STOLEN
MONEY FROM A CLIENT,

AND I DIDN'T KILL SANDY FORTAS.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY BEST FOR ME IF I
GOT SOMEONE ELSE TO BE MY AGENT FOR NOW.

AS OF TODAY, I'M RICKEY
LATRELL'S NEW AGENT.

RICKEY NEEDS FOR US
TO GET ALONG, JIMMY.

THE WIFE.

WERE YOU EVER ROMANTICALLY
INVOLVED WITH SANDY FORTAS, MS. LATRELL?

YES, I WAS.

SO WHEN THE DEFENDANT MET WITH
SANDY FORTAS ON THE DAY OF THE MURDER,

HE WAS AWARE OF THE FACT
THAT YOU HAD HAD THAT AFFAIR.

YES.

A BOLD TACTIC.



THERE'S NO QUESTION BUT
THAT THE JURY WANTS TO HEAR...

A DECLARATION OF INNOCENCE
FROM RICKEY'S OWN MOUTH.

IF WE DON'T PUT
HIM ON THE STAND,

WE'LL NEVER OVERCOME THE INFERENCE
THAT HE'S GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE.

SANDY FORTAS INSULTED YOU BY NOT
PAYING YOU WHAT YOU WERE WORTH.

HE THREATENED YOU WITH
DISCLOSURE OF THE FACT...

THAT YOU HAD SHAVED POINTS
OFF A GAME TO PAY A GAMBLING DEBT.

AND HE ADDED YOUR WIFE TO A VERY LONG LIST
OF ATTRACTIVE AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN...

THAT HE HAD SLEPT WITH... TRUE
OR FALSE? WAIT A SECOND, JIMMY.

I'M NOT GONNA WAIT A SECOND,
AND DON'T CALL ME JIMMY.

ONCE AGAIN, SANDY FORTAS.

HE DIDN'T PAY YOU,
HE THREATENED YOU,

AND HE HAD SEX WITH YOUR
WIFE... TRUE OR FALSE? TRUE!

PUT ALL THOSE THINGS TOGETHER. DIDN'T
THAT MAKE YOU WANT TO MURDER HIM?

IN FACT, DIDN'T IT CAUSE
YOU TO MURDER HIM? YES!

WHAT? I HAD TO KILL HIM.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT
I DID. I SHOT THAT SUCKER.

MORNING, EVERYONE.

I GATHER, BY THE
COLLECTIVE GLOOM,

THAT YOU'RE ALL CURRENT ON OUR
CLIENT'S REVELATIONS OF LAST NIGHT.

- I FILLED EVERYONE IN.
- ANY SUGGESTIONS?

OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T PUT HIM ON THE
WITNESS STAND. THAT MUCH WE KNOW.

UH-HUH.

I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO AT LEAST
SUGGEST AN ALTERNATE THEORY OF THE CRIME.

- ATTACK THE VICTIM?
- ALWAYS IN GOOD TASTE.

DO OUR BEST TO CREATE A SYMPATHETIC
VIEW OF RICKEY, EVEN KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW.

THEY'RE ALL SOUND APPROACHES. DOES ANYONE
HERE THINK THAT ANY OF THEM WILL SAVE OUR ASS?

- ME NEITHER.
- WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE?

- WE HAVE RICKEY.
- WELL, YOU CAN'T PUT HIM
ON THE STAND NOW THOUGH.

- THAT WOULD BE
SUBORNING PERJURY.
- ONLY IF YOU LIE.

IF HE TAKES THE STAND, THE QUESTION OF WHETHER
HE PULLED THE TRIGGER IS GONNA COME UP.

- AND WHEN IT DOES,
HE WILL TELL THE TRUTH.
- AND CONFESS TO MURDER?

RIGHT.

- IS HE CHANGING HIS PLEA
TO GUILTY?
- NO.

I'M LOST. IT'S JURY
NULLIFICATION.

WITHOUT REALLY SAYING IT, WE ASK THE JURY TO
IGNORE THE LAW AND THE JUDGE'S INSTRUCTIONS...

AND COME BACK WITH A
VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.

- ON WHAT GROUNDS?
- ON THE GROUNDS
THAT THEY WANT TO.

AS A RULE, JURIES TEND TO TAKE
THEIR OATH PRETTY SERIOUSLY.

- YES, THEY DO.
- THAT'S A HELL OF A GAMBLE
YOU'RE TAKING, DON'T YOU THINK?

- ABSOLUTELY.
- I DON'T WANT TO TRY OUT
EXPERIMENTAL LEGAL THEORIES.

THEN GIVE ME SOMETHING ELSE.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE ASK
OUR CLIENT TO COMMIT SUICIDE.

- THAT'S NOT WHAT HE'S DOING.
- THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT HE'S DOING.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
JURY, I SHOT THIS MAN IN COLD BLOOD.

BUT PLEASE, SOMEHOW, FIND IT WITHIN
YOUR HEART TO FORGIVE ME. WHAT IS THAT?

IT'S ALL WE HAVE. IT'S AN ACT OF
DESPERATION, AND IT WON'T WORK.

UNLESS YOU CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING
BETTER, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING.

THEN YOU SELL IT TO
HIM, BECAUSE I WON'T.

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? THAT YOU'RE NOT
GONNA SUPPORT ME IN FRONT OF THE CLIENT?

I'M SAYING IF I WERE IN HIS SHOES, AND
YOU TOLD ME THIS WAS MY ONLY CHANCE,

I'D HANG MYSELF.

HEY. HEY.

IS THIS A BAD TIME FOR A CHAT?

THIS IS NOT ABOUT
JURY NULLIFICATION, IS IT?

OH, NO.

WELL, THEN FIRE AWAY.

REMEMBER I WAS TELLING YOU TOMMY AND
I WERE THINKING ABOUT GETTING SERIOUS...

ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP?

UH-HUH.

WELL, LAST NIGHT HE GOT SERIOUS.

WOW.

CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO TYPE
WITH THAT BOULDER ON YOUR HAND?

WELL, THAT'S THE THING.

THIS KIND OF MAKES
MY WORK SITUATION...

A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED.

TOMMY WANTS TO GET
MARRIED RIGHT AWAY...

BECAUSE HIS COMPANY IS
TRANSFERRING HIM TO NEW YORK.

AH.

AND, AS A GOOD WIFE,

I SHOULD PROBABLY GO WITH HIM.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN SAY
TO GET YOU TO CHANGE YOUR MIND?

MARRY ME, GWENNIE.

I'M REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY GONNA MISS YOU.

I'LL CALL THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY
AND SET UP SOME INTERVIEWS.

OKAY.

HEY. HOW YOU
DOIN', MRS. LATRELL?

I'M JUST FINE, THANK YOU.

SHE'S GONNA BE GREAT. OH, YEAH.

HI. CAN WE TALK TO
YOU FOR A MINUTE? SURE.

IS THERE A PROBLEM?

CEED WITH THE CASE IN
LIGHT OF WHAT YOU TOLD US.

AND?

WE NEED YOU TO TESTIFY.

YEAH, I FIGURED ON IT.

EXCEPT WE NEED YOU TO TELL
THE TRUTH. WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

WE WANT YOU TO ADMIT THAT
YOU KILLED SANDY FORTAS.

YOU'RE KIDDIN' ME, RIGHT? YOU
DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICE.

YEAH, I HAVE A CHOICE. I GET UP THERE
AND SAY I DID NOT KILL SANDY FORTAS.

YOU MEAN LIE. RIGHT.

THIS FIRM IS NOT GONNA SUBORN PERJURY,
NOT TO GET YOU OFF, NOT FOR ANYTHING.

ARE YOU GUYS ON BOARD WITH THIS?

WE DISCUSSED IT, AND I'M NOT GONNA
TELL YOU IT WASN'T A HEATED DISCUSSION,

BUT IN THE END WE ALL
AGREED IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GO.

WHAT IF I DON'T TESTIFY?

IF YOU DON'T TESTIFY, ALL WE'VE
GOT ARE CHARACTER WITNESSES.

GIVEN WHAT THE PROSECUTION
HAS, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

YOUR ONLY OPTION IS TO TELL THE JURY WHAT
FORTAS DID TO YOUR WIFE AND WHAT HE DID TO YOU,

AND TO TELL IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT EACH AND
EVERY JUROR UNDERSTANDS WHY YOU KILLED HIM.

THEN THEY LET YOU GO
IN SPITE OF WHAT YOU DID.

SOUNDS LIKE A VERY INTERESTING EXPERIMENT,
GUYS. TRY IT ON SOMEBODY ELSE, OKAY?

- RICKEY, IF THERE WAS
A BETTER ALTERNATIVE...
- THINK OF ONE!

THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE
GONNA GET ME TO DO THIS.

MRS. LATRELL, UNTIL YOUR SON
BOUGHT YOU A HOME IN CHEVIOT HILLS,

WHERE DID YOU LIVE?

SOUTH BUDLONG, OFF MARTIN
LUTHER KING BOULEVARD.

THAT'S GANG TERRITORY, CORRECT?

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS
QUITE A BIT OF VIOLENCE DOWN THERE.

DID RICKEY EVER JOIN A GANG
OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE?

HE STAYED AWAY
FROM THOSE PEOPLE.

WHY DO YOU THINK HE DID THAT?

HE SANG IN THE CHOIR...

AT COCHRAN AVENUE BAPTIST
CHURCH SINCE HE WAS 10 YEARS OLD.

HE WASN'T ASHAMED TO BELIEVE
IN GOD OR FOLLOW HIS WORD.

AND HE FOLLOWED
YOUR WORD TOO. MMM.

OR HE REGRETTED IT. HE
KNOWS WHAT'S IMPORTANT.

HE LOVES HIS WIFE
AND HIS CHILDREN.

HIS MONEY AND HIS
FAME NEVER CHANGED HIM.

HE PUTS HIS FAMILY
ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE.

WHAT DOES HIS WIFE
MEAN TO HIM, MRS. LATRELL?

OBJECTION. COUNSEL'S ASKING THE
WITNESS TO READ THE DEFENDANT'S MIND.

SHE HAS FIRSTHAND OBSERVATIONS UPON
WHICH TO BASE AN OPINION, YOUR HONOR.

I'LL ALLOW IT.

MY SON TRULY LOVES CARLA...

AND TRUSTS HER.

SHE'S THE PERSON HE
SHARES HIS DREAMS WITH.

I KNOW THIS
BECAUSE I LOVE HER...

AND THAT COULDN'T BE UNLESS
SHE WAS A PART OF RICKEY'S HEART.

THANK YOU, MRS. LATRELL.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

YOU CAN GO OVER IT. YEAH.

MRS. LATRELL, YOU SAY YOUR SON IS A LOVING
HUSBAND WHO HAS A STRONG AVERSION TO VIOLENCE?

THAT'S RIGHT.

ON OCTOBER 18 OF THIS YEAR, TWO
DAYS BEFORE SANDY FORTAS WAS KILLED,

YOU WERE IN LAS VEGAS
VISITING YOUR GRANDCHILDREN...

WHILE YOUR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
WAS IN LOS ANGELES.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

WHEN SHE RETURNED, A DISPUTE
ENSUED BETWEEN YOUR SON AND HIS WIFE,

DURING WHICH SHE
CALLED THE POLICE.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

WAS THERE VIOLENCE
INVOLVED IN THIS DISPUTE?

NO, THERE WAS NOT.

BUT CARLA TOLD THE POLICE THAT SHE
HAD LOCKED HERSELF IN THE BATHROOM,

AND RICKEY HAD
KICKED THE DOOR DOWN.

ISN'T THAT VIOLENT? I WAS DOWNSTAIRS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED.

- RICKEY NEVER HIT CARLA?
- NO!

- AND YOU'RE TELLING US
THE TRUTH TODAY?
- YES, I AM.

MA'AM, DO YOU KNOW A GENTLEMAN
BY THE NAME OF KENNETH EISLEY?

HE WAS ONE OF RICKEY'S
COLLEGE COACHES.

HE WAS ALSO A MAN WHO, TWO MONTHS
AFTER RICKEY SIGNED A LETTER OF INTENT,

SOLD HIM A NEARLY NEW
Z-28 CAMARO FOR $900.

ISN'T THAT RIGHT?

RICKEY WAS ONLY 18 YEARS OLD WHEN HE
BOUGHT THAT CAR. HE DIDN'T KNOW BETTER.

HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT A CAMARO COSTS THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS MORE THAN WHAT HE PAID FOR IT?

HE GREW UP POOR. HE WAS
MISLED BY A MAN HE TRUSTED.

DID NCAA INVESTIGATORS COME TO
YOUR HOUSE AND ASK YOU AND YOUR SON...

ABOUT THE OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR?

YES.

AND WHO DID YOU TELL THEM
THE CAR WAS REGISTERED TO? ME.

- WAS THAT A TRUE STATEMENT?
- NO.

RICKEY STOOD THE CHANCE OF LOSING HIS
FRESHMAN ELIGIBILITY IF THE TRUTH CAME OUT,

SO YOU LIED TO
PROTECT HIM, RIGHT?

- I DON'T THINK I LIED TO...
- AND YOU'D LIE AGAIN IF YOUR SON
WAS IN TROUBLE, WOULDN'T YOU?

EVERYTHING THAT I AM SAYING
HERE TODAY IS THE TRUTH.

SO YOU'D LIE TO PROTECT YOUR SON
FROM LOSING HIS FRESHMAN ELIGIBILITY,

BUT YOU WOULDN'T LIE TO SAVE HIM FROM
GOING TO PRISON FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

MY SON NEVER HIT CARLA,

AND HE DIDN'T KILL MR. FORTAS.

WERE YOU PRESENT THE DAY
SANDY FORTAS WAS MURDERED?

- NO.
- SO YOU DON'T KNOW
IF YOUR SON SHOT HIM OR NOT.

DO YOU?

NO.

LEE MICHAELSON
IS HERE. SEND HIM IN.

I ASSUME, BY THE SUBPOENA, THAT YOU GOT
WHAT YOU NEED TO ACCUSE ME OF MURDER.

I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT IT TO
BE SAID THAT I WAS UNCOOPERATIVE.

NOBODY IS GOING TO
ACCUSE YOU OF ANYTHING, LEE.

WHAT WE WANT IS FOR YOU TO
TESTIFY ABOUT SANDY AND RICKEY.

WHAT ABOUT 'EM?

WE WANT THE JURY TO KNOW THAT
SANDY WASN'T THE BENEVOLENT PATRIARCH...

AND RICKEY WASN'T
THE UNGRATEFUL SON.

YOU WANTED SOMEBODY
TO PUT THE KNOCK ON SANDY,

YOU COULD HAVE THROWN
A DART IN THE PHONE BOOK.

AS FAR AS RICKEY'S CONCERNED, YOU
COULD HAVE GOTTEN HIS NEW AGENT.

YOU'RE TRYING TO SANDBAG ME. IF I WAS GONNA
DO THAT, I WOULD HAVE DONE IT ALREADY.

I TOLD YOU THAT NO ACCUSATIONS WERE
GONNA BE MADE UNLESS THEY COULD BE PROVEN,

AND I'VE BEEN TRUE TO MY WORD.

WE WANT YOU AS A WITNESS BECAUSE
WE THINK YOU CAN DO US SOME GOOD.

AND THIS SHOULD
MATTER TO ME WHY?

I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO SEE RICKEY IN PRISON
FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE BECAUSE HE FIRED YOU.

I KNOW YOU'RE NEW AT DEFENSE WORK,
COUNSELOR, SO HERE'S A QUICK REMINDER.

YOUR JOB IS TO GET RICKEY
LATRELL ACQUITTED, NOT EXECUTED.

HOW I DEFEND MY CLIENT,
MR. HICKS, IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

GETTING HIM TO CONFESS TO MURDER...
THAT'S YOUR IDEA OF A DEFENSE?

I'M A LAWYER, JIMMY.

THE PRIVILEGE OF
CONFIDENTIALITY APPLIES TO ME TOO.

OUR BEST SHOT IS
TO TELL THE TRUTH...

AND THEN ASK THE JURY TO UNDERSTAND
WHY RICKEY LATRELL DID WHAT HE DID.

OH.

BECAUSE BLACK PEOPLE ARE
NEVER WRONGFULLY ACCUSED,

IT WOULD BE FUTILE TO TRY TO
CONVINCE A JURY OTHERWISE.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

ACTUALLY, WHAT I'M SAYING
IS, IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

I'VE MADE IT MY BUSINESS,

THE SAME WAY I'VE MADE IT MY
BUSINESS TO KNOW WHAT'S OUT THERE...

THAT CAN HURT ME.

TOP OF THE LIST?

RICKEY LATRELL'S BUDDY, HILLY
JACKSON, HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.

HE'S LOOKING AT 15
YEARS ON DRUG CHARGES.

THE D.A.'s OFFICE IS
AT HIM DAY AND NIGHT.

WHERE DID YOU HEAR THIS?

I HEARD IT. TRUST ME.

WHY WOULD I TRUST YOU, KEN?

BECAUSE, JIMMY, I HAVE AS MUCH AT STAKE
AT KEEPING LATRELL OUT OF JAIL AS YOU DO.

YOU SURE YOU WANNA KNOW?

I'M NOT GONNA TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT. IF
THERE'S A SOURCE, I WANNA KNOW WHO IT IS.

PAIGE WEIKOPF.

THE DEPUTY D.A. IS
SELLING OUT HER OWN CASE.

SHE WANTS TO BECOME
A SPORTSCASTER, JIMMY.

I HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN, SHE TELLS
ME WHAT I WANNA KNOW. OH, COME ON!

YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO
WANTED OUT OF THE D.A.'s OFFICE.

PAIGE WEIKOPF IS
SELLING OUT HER OWN SIDE?

CONSIDER IT AN ASSET...

AND MAKE THE MOST OF IT.

PAIGE WEIKOPF WANTS TO DUMP HER
CAREER TO BECOME THE NEW HOWARD COSELL?

IS SHE NUTS? WHO CARES?

SHE'S JUST GIVEN US THE
PROSECUTION'S PLAYBOOK.

WELL, WE DON'T WANNA BE IN THE BUSINESS
OF ABETTING PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT.

THE OLD TUG OF WAR BETWEEN
ETHICS AND OPPORTUNITY.

WELL, ACTUALLY IT'S A CONFLUENCE
BETWEEN ETHICS AND OPPORTUNITY.

WE TURN IN PAIGE WEIKOPF,

AND SCOTTO MAY PETITION THE
COURT TO DECLARE A MISTRIAL.

AND THAT HELPS US HOW?

IT BUYS US SOME TIME.
OUR MAN STAYS FREE.

WITNESS OR TWO COULD DROP OUT.

AND WE COULD MAKE A MEAL OUT OF WHAT THE
D.A.'s OFFICE IS DOING TO HILLY JACKSON.

WON'T DOUBLE JEOPARDY ATTACH
IF SCOTTO MOVES FOR A MISTRIAL?

ONLY THE JUDGE CAN
DECLARE ONE SUA SPONTE.

AND IF SHE DOESN'T? WELL, THEN WE'VE
STILL DONE THE RIGHT AND NOBLE THING.

NOT TO MENTION ROLLING A
GRENADE INTO THE D.A.'s TENT.

YOUR INTERVIEWS ARE HERE.

IT SAYS HERE THAT YOU
ARE A, UH, A CYBER-PSYCHIC.

WHAT IS THAT?

WELL, IT'S A NEW
ENDEAVOR I'M INVOLVED IN...

WHICH MERGES TWO OF MY
MOST MARKETABLE ATTRIBUTES...

MY FAMILIARITY
WITH THE INTERNET...

AND MY GOD-GIVEN ABILITY...

TO INTUIT THE FUTURE.

AND THIS IS A HOBBY?
WELL, ACTUALLY, NO.

SEE, I HAVE A WEB SITE.

CUSTOMERS LOG ON,

AND I GIVE THEM PROGNOSTICATIONS
ABOUT THEIR FUTURE.

I MEAN, NOT TO APPEAR IMMODEST,

BUT I AM DEVELOPING
SOMETHING OF A FOLLOWING.

HMM. MM-HMM.

AND WHEN WOULD YOU DO THIS?

OH, I ALWAYS
MANAGE TO MAKE TIME.

I SEE. I SEE. YEAH.

SO, AT THE RISK OF
SEEMING OVEREAGER,

ANY THOUGHTS AS TO WHETHER
OR NOT I'D BE RIGHT FOR THE JOB?

YOU'RE THE PSYCHIC.

YOU TELL ME.

I HAVEN'T GOT A CHANCE.

YOU'RE GOOD. YOU'RE GOOD.

I CAN GIVE YOU THE
NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS,

BUT THEN I'LL NEED FOUR
MONTHS' MATERNITY LEAVE.

I'M A PERSON WHO SWEATS THE
DETAILS. KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

I DO.

BY THE WAY, THE WORD
"COURT" HAS A "U" IN IT.

IT'S TONY CHIN'S OLD OFFICE.

DOING QUITE NICELY
FOR YOURSELF, PAIGE.

YOU KNOW THE DRILL, JIMMY...
LONG HOURS AND ELBOW GREASE.

TELL ME SOMETHING.

WHAT'S YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH KEN HICKS?

ACQUAINTANCE. WHY?

WELL, I HAVE IT ON GOOD
AUTHORITY THAT, UH,

YOU'VE BEEN FEEDING HIM CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION ABOUT THE LATRELL CASE.

WHAT?

WHY WOULD I DO
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

DO YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST
IN BEING A SPORTSCASTER?

YEAH. IT'S SOMETHING
THAT I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT.

WHAT DOES THAT HAVE
TO DO WITH ANYTHING?

WELL, HAS KEN HICKS ASSISTED
YOU IN PURSUING THIS INTEREST?

THERE IS NOTHING ILLEGAL
OR UNETHICAL ABOUT KEN HICKS,

A NONPARTY TO THIS ACTION,

OPENING A FEW DOORS FOR ME.

THERE IS IF YOU ARE GIVING HIM
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT WITNESSES...

IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS HELP.

HE'S HELPING ME BECAUSE
HE THINKS I HAVE TALENT.

COME ON, PAIGE.

I HAVEN'T GIVEN HIM ANYTHING THAT
HE COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN ON HIS OWN.

THEN HE WAS JUST GUESSING WHEN
HE FOUND OUT THAT HILLY JACKSON...

WAS BEING SKEWERED BY
YOUR PEOPLE AT CENTRAL MEN'S.

I HAVEN'T HURT YOUR CASE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT,

I'VE HELPED IT.

PLEASE DON'T DO
THIS TO ME, JIMMY.

IF I LOOK THE OTHER
WAY AND YOU GET CAUGHT,

THEN I AM IMPLICATED
ALONG WITH YOU.

NOTHING'S GONNA
KICK BACK ON YOU.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

I'LL DO ANYTHING TO
MAKE THIS GO AWAY.

ANYTHING.

I'M SORRY, PAIGE.

I CAN'T HELP YOU.

WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS SANDY
FORTAS, MR. MICHAELSON?

SANDY FORTAS ENJOYED
CONTROLLING PEOPLE.

DIDN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU WERE
HIS GIRLFRIEND OR PARKING HIS CAR.

IF YOU WERE UNDER HIM,
YOU WERE REALLY UNDER HIM.

YOUR HONOR, WHAT IS THE
RELEVANCE OF THIS TESTIMONY?

THE CENTRAL ELEMENT OF
THIS CASE IS THE RELATIONSHIP...

BETWEEN RICKEY LATRELL
AND SANDY FORTAS.

IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT THE JURY BE ALLOWED
TO SEE THIS RELATIONSHIP FROM ALL SIDES.

I'LL ALLOW IT. GO
AHEAD, MR. DOCKNOVICH.

YOU REPRESENT A FORMER STANDOUT FOR
THE LAS VEGAS STORM NAMED ROMULUS KELLY.

- IS THAT RIGHT?
- USED TO REPRESENT HIM. MR. KELLY RETIRED IN '93.

BECAUSE OF A SERIOUS
INJURY, RIGHT? RIGHT.

COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THAT INJURY?

PLAY-OFFS WERE APPROACHING.
ROMULUS WAS HURTING.

HE'D HAD TROUBLE WITH
HIS ANKLE SINCE COLLEGE.

THE KID WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT DOCTORS
TO REST IT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON.

WHEN SANDY FORTAS HEARD THAT HE
WAS GONNA LISTEN TO THEM, HE FLIPPED OUT.

COULD YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC?

HE SAID IF ROMULUS CARED ABOUT HIS
TEAMMATES, HE WOULD PLAY THROUGH THE INJURY,

THAT IF HE DIDN'T,
THERE WOULD BE FALLOUT.

I REMEMBER HE USED
THAT WORD... "FALLOUT."

WHAT DID YOU UNDERSTAND
THAT WORD TO MEAN?

THAT IF ROMULUS SAT
OUT THE PLAY-OFFS,

SANDY WOULD SEE TO
IT THAT HE WAS BENCHED.

THEN HE WOULD
PUT HIM ON WAIVERS.

WHAT DID ROMULUS KELLY DO?

HE IGNORED THE ADVICE OF
HIS DOCTORS AND KEPT PLAYING.

NEXT GAME, HE RUPTURED A LIGAMENT IN
HIS ANKLE AND THAT WAS IT: 24, CAREER OVER.

DID MR. FORTAS EVER ATTEMPT TO MAKE AMENDS
TO ROMULUS KELLY THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF?

SANDY FORTAS DIDN'T MAKE AMENDS.

THE WORD IS NOT IN HIS
VOCABULARY. THANK YOU.

NOTHING FURTHER, YOUR HONOR.

MR. MICHAELSON,

WEREN'T YOU ONCE DESCRIBED
BY MR. FORTAS IN THE L.A. TIMES...

AS "THE MOST UNPRINCIPLED
SNAKE I'VE EVER DEALT WITH"?

PROBABLY. SOUNDS
LIKE SANDY'S STYLE.

YET YOU CLAIM TO BE GIVING AN
ACCURATE, UNBIASED ACCOUNT OF THE MAN.

I HAVE TRIED TO OFFER
AN HONEST IMPRESSION.

WELL, AS LONG AS
WE'RE BEING HONEST,

ISN'T IT A FACT THAT THE DEFENDANT
RECENTLY DISMISSED YOU AS HIS AGENT?

- YEAH.
- HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST YOU
NEXT YEAR IN COMMISSIONS?

IT DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF RICKEY'S
NEXT CONTRACT, IF THERE EVER IS ONE.

BUT IT WOULD BE ACCURATE
TO SAY, WOULD IT NOT,

THAT YOU HAVE DIRECT FINANCIAL INTEREST IN
GETTING BACK INTO RICKEY'S GOOD GRACES...

BY PROVIDING TESTIMONY THAT WOULD HELP HIM,
EVEN IF IT MEANS SPEAKING ILL OF THE DEAD?

I DON'T NEED A FINANCIAL INTEREST
TO SPEAK ILL OF SANDY FORTAS...

OR TO STAND UP
FOR RICKEY LATRELL.

THE QUESTION ISN'T WHETHER OR
NOT YOU NEED ONE, MR. MICHAELSON.

IT'S WHETHER OR
NOT YOU HAVE ONE.

I'M DOING WHAT I'M DOING BECAUSE I DON'T
WANT TO SEE AN INNOCENT MAN GO TO JAIL.

PERIOD.

DO YOU KNOW THE DEFENDANT,
MR. COOGAN? YES, SIR.

HOW DO YOU KNOW HIM, SIR?

I USED TO BE A PARK ATTENDANT AT THE
SCHOOL YARD WHERE HE PLAYED BASKETBALL.

AND HOW LONG AGO WAS THAT?

I RETIRED IN 1986.

- HAVE YOU KEPT IN TOUCH
WITH HIM SINCE THEN?
- YES.

HAS HE EVER HAD OCCASION
TO SEND YOU MONEY?

OBJECTION. IRRELEVANT,
YOUR HONOR.

YOUR HONOR, WE'VE HAD TO
LISTEN TO WITNESS AFTER WITNESS...

COME UP HERE AND, AT
MR. SCOTTO'S PROMPTING,

IMPUGN THE OVERALL
CHARACTER OF THE DEFENDANT.

NOW, I BELIEVE I AM ENTITLED TO PROVIDE
WITNESSES WHO CAN PROVIDE FOR US...

AN ALTERNATIVE POINT OF VIEW.

THE OBJECTION'S OVERRULED.
THE WITNESS MAY ANSWER.

IS THIS WHERE I TELL IT?

THIS IS IT.

RICKEY PAYS MY RENT...

AND MY MEDICAL INSURANCE.

WHY DO YOU THINK
HE DOES THAT, SIR?

WELL, HE TOLD ME ONCE HE
BELIEVES IN TAKING CARE OF HIS OWN.

AND IN WHAT WAY ARE
YOU "HIS OWN," MR. COOGAN?

- I USED TO BE A PROFESSIONAL
BASKETBALL PLAYER.
- WHEN WAS THAT, SIR?

I PLAYED FOR THE
SHEBOYGAN REDSKINS IN 1949,

THE FORT WAYNE PISTONS IN 1950,

THE MINNEAPOLIS
LAKERS IN 1951 AND IN 1953.

YOU KNOW, NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE
KNOW THAT THEY'RE CALLED THE LAKERS...

ON ACCOUNT OF ALL THE, UH...
ALL THE LAKES IN MINNESOTA.

OKAY.

HOW MUCH DID YOU
MAKE IN THOSE YEARS, SIR?

MY BEST YEAR, I MADE $5,000.

AND DO YOU RECEIVE A
PENSION FROM THE LEAGUE?

YOU HAD TO PLAY FIVE SEASONS TO BE ELIGIBLE
FOR A PENSION, AND I ONLY PLAYED FOUR SEASONS.

AND SO RICKEY TAKES CARE OF YOU.

YES.

BESIDES RICKEY, YOU
AND RICKEY'S ACCOUNTANT,

WHO ELSE KNOWS ABOUT THIS?

- UP UNTIL TODAY, NOBODY.
- THANK YOU, SIR.

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

WERE YOU AT THE MEETING BETWEEN
THE DEFENDANT AND SANDY FORTAS...

ON THE DAY THAT
MR. FORTAS WAS KILLED?

NO.

- SO THEN YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT
ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN THERE?
- NO.

THANK YOU, SIR. NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS.

HOW YOU DOIN', MAN?

I BEEN BETTER.

IS THE D.A. LEANING ON YOU?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?

THEY'RE SAYING I DON'T OWE YOU TO
SPEND 15 YEARS IN PRISON. YOU DON'T.

WE BEEN FRIENDS A LONG TIME.

I'D SAY I OWE YOU SOMETHIN'.

YOU'RE IN A TOUGH SPOT.

US BEIN' FRIENDS, USUALLY THAT'S
THE BEST THING I GOT GOIN' FOR ME.

IT'S NO GOOD IN HERE.

I DON'T HAVE A BIG-TIME
LAWYER LIKE YOU, RICKEY.

I GOT NOBODY LOOKING OUT FOR ME.

I CAN GET YOU A LAWYER, HILLY.

I REMEMBER A TIME I COULD
KICK YOUR ASS PLAYIN' BALL.

I REMEMBER. REMEMBER THAT?

I REMEMBER.

I DIDN'T HAVE WHAT IT TOOK...

TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF IT.

THERE WAS A TIME...

I COULD KICK YOUR ASS.

YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

YOU HEAR ME?

I LOVE YOU, BROTHER.

I LOVE YOU, MAN.

HE'S GONNA GIVE YOU UP, RICKEY.

HE ALREADY HAS.

THERE THEY ARE!

- ARE YOU GONNA TAKE THE STAND?
- WE CAN'T COMMENT RIGHT NOW!

- I WANT TO, YEAH.
- YOU WILL TESTIFY, THEN?

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO HIDE. I'M
INNOCENT. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

GUYS, YOU KNOW WE DON'T DISCUSS
TRIAL STRATEGY WITH THE MEDIA.

FRANK, I WANT YOU TO SIT
ON RICKEY AND KEEP HIM QUIET.

NO PROBLEM. I'LL TELL HIM ALL ABOUT MY DAYS AS
A POINT GUARD IN THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE.

MS. GRASSO, HAVE YOU
INVESTIGATED THIS CHARGE?

NO, YOUR HONOR. BEFORE I DO, I
WANTED TO APPRISE YOU OF THE SITUATION.

MS. WEIKOPF, DO YOU
HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? YES.

IT'S A COMPLETELY
UNFOUNDED ALLEGATION.

IT'S A DESPERATE ATTEMPT ON
MR. WYLER'S PART TO IMPUGN MY CREDIBILITY.

I RESPECT YOUR SKILLS AS
A LITIGATOR, MS. WEIKOPF,

BUT I AM NOT IN AWE OF THEM SO MUCH THAT
I NEED TO GET YOU REMOVED FROM THE CASE.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CASE.

I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT YOU
DID TO ME AT THE D.A.'s OFFICE.

EXCUSE ME?

I WON'T BE INTIMIDATED,
JIMMY. I WON'T KEEP QUIET.

QUIET? ABOUT WHAT, MS. WEIKOPF?

ABOUT MR. WYLER'S INAPPROPRIATE
ADVANCES TOWARD ME...

OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL MONTHS
WHEN I FIRST BECAME A PROSECUTOR.

PAIGE... THIS ALLEGATION
IS A PREEMPTIVE STRIKE...

TO DISCREDIT ME FOR FEAR
OF A SEXUAL HARASSMENT SUIT.

HAVE YOU FILED A SUIT
AGAINST MR. WYLER?

I'M PREPARING ONE.

UNTIL I CAN INVESTIGATE BOTH
OF THESE ALLEGATIONS FULLY,

I WANT ALL THE PARTIES IN THIS ROOM
TO STEP AWAY AND THINK CAREFULLY...

ABOUT HOW THEY WANT TO PROCEED.

I'M PLACING EVERYONE
UNDER A GAG ORDER.

I HEAR SO MUCH AS A
WHISPER ABOUT ANY OF THIS,

YOU'LL ALL BE UP IN
FRONT OF THE STATE BAR.

MIRIAM.

THAT STORY WAS A
COMPLETE FABRICATION.

BUT MY DILEMMA IS,

I HAVE WORKED FOR FOUR
YEARS WITH PAIGE WEIKOPF,

AND I'VE NEVER SEEN SO
MUCH AS A HINT OF IMPROPRIETY.

MIRIAM, COME ON. THIS
IS ME YOU'RE TALKING TO.

JIMMY, WE'VE BEEN
THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER.

YOU'RE MY FRIEND.

SO IS PAIGE.

THAT'S WHY RIGHT
NOW I CAN'T TALK TO YOU.

MOMENT OF YOUR TIME?

BEING INAPPROPRIATELY PHYSICAL JUST
GIVES ME AMMUNITION, DON'T YOU THINK?

HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO.

YOU'RE GONNA GO TO GRASSO
AND BORNSTEIN AND TELL THEM...

THAT YOU FABRICATED THE WHOLE
STORY TO GET YOURSELF OUT OF A JAM.

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, I AM GONNA SLAP
YOU WITH A DEFAMATION SUIT FOR SLANDER,

AND I'M GONNA DRAG YOUR ASS
IN FRONT OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION.

I'M GONNA STAND BY WHAT I SAID,

AND I'LL ASK YOU NOT TO MAKE
UNWANTED REFERENCES TO MY ANATOMY.

YOU'RE A COLD SLICE.

THERE'S A REMARK
THAT I COULD INTERPRET...

AS HAVING A DEMEANING AND
OFFENSIVE SEXUAL CONNOTATION, JIMMY.

YOU'D BETTER BE CAREFUL. HARASSMENT
ACTIONS ARE THE SUIT DU JOUR.

YOU ARE FROM MARS.
JURIES ARE FROM VENUS.

YOU WANNA PLAY IT THE
HARD WAY? IT'S YOUR CALL.

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT.

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR
A LIVING, MS. BROWN?

I RUN AN ESCORT SERVICE
IN NYE COUNTY, NEVADA.

DID YOU KNOW SANDY
FORTAS? YES. HE WAS A CLIENT.

OBJECTION. THE WITNESS'S
TESTIMONY IS IRRELEVANT...

AND CALCULATED SOLELY TO INFLAME
AND PREJUDICE THESE PROCEEDINGS.

WE WILL ESTABLISH
RELEVANCE, YOUR HONOR.

AND AS TO WHETHER THIS
WITNESS'S TESTIMONY IS PREJUDICIAL,

HOW CAN COUNSEL OBJECT TO
SOMETHING HE HASN'T EVEN HEARD?

BELIEVE ME, I GET YOUR DRIFT.

THAT'S ENOUGH, MR. SCOTTO.
THE OBJECTION'S OVERRULED.

WAS THERE ANY TRAIT OR CHARACTERISTIC
HE PREFERRED IN THE GIRLS YOU SENT HIM?

SHE HAD TO BE BLACK. THAT WAS
HIS ONLY HARD AND FAST RULE.

HOW MUCH DID YOU CHARGE
MR. FORTAS FOR THESE ESCORTS?

BETWEEN $1,000 AND $2,000, DEPENDING
ON WHAT HE WANTED THE GIRL TO DO.

DID HE PAY THESE GIRLS IN CASH?

IN THE BEGINNING, YES.

AFTER HE BECAME A REGULAR,

HE'D TELL THE GIRL THAT HE'D PAY 'EM
LATER OR TO PUT IT ON HIS ACCOUNTS.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO HE WOULD HAVE SEX WITH THESE
WOMEN AND SEND 'EM AWAY EMPTY-HANDED.

MOST OF THE TIME, YES.

I USUALLY HAD TO PAY THE GIRLS
AND THEN TRY TO COLLECT FROM HIM.

BY PAYING THESE WOMEN YOURSELF, YOU WOULD
BE ON THE HOOK FOR QUITE A BIT OF MONEY?

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN HE
OWED ME AS MUCH AS $35,000.

MR. FORTAS WAS AN
EXTREMELY WEALTHY MAN.

IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE,
HAVE THERE EVER BEEN OTHER OCCASIONS...

WHERE A WEALTHY CLIENT
DID NOT PAY HIS BILLS?

WELL, I'VE HAD CLIENTS
WHO GET THEIR KICKS...

FROM GETTIN' A WOMAN TO
PERFORM SEXUAL FAVORS FOR FREE.

IT'S A CONTROL THING, HAVING SEX WITH
A GIRL AND THEN REFUSING TO PAY HER.

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE FACT THAT
OTHER ESCORT SERVICES IN YOUR AREA...

ARE OWNED AND OPERATED
BY ORGANIZED CRIME?

YES.

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE,
DID MR. FORTAS PATRONIZE ANY OF THEM?

I KNOW FOR A FACT HE DID.

HOW DO MOB-RUN ESCORT
SERVICES GENERALLY DEAL...

WITH NONPAYMENT OF
SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF MONEY?

- WITH FORCE.
- DEADLY FORCE?

SOMETIMES.

BASED ON YOUR
EXPERIENCE WITH MR. FORTAS,

IS IT YOUR TESTIMONY THAT HE BEHAVED IN A
MANNER THAT MIGHT HAVE PUT HIS LIFE IN JEOPARDY?

OBJECTION. SUSTAINED.

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

DID YOU DROP
MR. FORTAS AS A CLIENT...

AFTER THESE INSTANCES OF
DEGRADATION YOU'VE ALLEGED?

- NO.
- WHY IS THAT?

IF I DROPPED HIM AS A CLIENT, I'D NEVER
SEE THE REST OF THE MONEY HE OWED ME.

OH, "THE REST OF THE MONEY." DOES
THAT MEAN HE PAID YOU SOMETHING?

HE'D SEND ME A CHECK
EVERY NOW AND THEN.

WELL, DID HE PAY YOU THE
$35,000 YOU JUST TOLD US ABOUT?

EVENTUALLY.

SO IT'S NOT ACCURATE TO SAY HE STIFFED YOU FOR
MONEY HE OWED. HE WAS JUST LATE IN PAYING YOU.

SANDY ALWAYS HAD TO PUT EVERYBODY THROUGH
A LOT. LIKE I SAID, THAT WAS HIS SHOT.

FOR THE RECORD, WERE YOU PRESENT IN THE
ROOM THE DAY SANDY FORTAS WAS MURDERED?

NO, I WAS NOT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE AS TO THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING HIS DEATH?

NO, I DON'T.

NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.

THE OTHER GIRLS WERE ALWAYS
SAYING WHAT A FREAK SANDY WAS,

THAT CALLING US SLUTS AND
WHORES WAS A BIG TURN-ON FOR HIM.

AND DID HE ADDRESS YOU IN SUCH A
MANNER WHEN YOU ARRIVED AT HIS HOUSE?

OH, YEAH. THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

I TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS A THOUSAND
FOR A FULL-SERVICE SHOW...

AND THAT I NEEDED THE MONEY UP
FRONT, 'CAUSE WORD WAS OUT ON HIM.

DID HE PAY YOU? YEAH.

BUT HE WANTED THE MONEY BACK
WHEN HE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE.

WHAT KIND OF TROUBLE? YOU KNOW.

WITH, UM, PERFORMANCE.

HE HAD BEEN DRINKING, AND HE
GOT MAD AT ME, LIKE IT WAS MY FAULT.

TOLD ME TO GET THE
HELL OUT OF HIS HOUSE.

DID YOU LEAVE AT THAT POINT? NO.

WHY NOT? BECAUSE HE GRABBED
MY PURSE AND TOOK BACK THE MONEY.

HE SAID I DIDN'T DESERVE IT.

THEN HE DRAGGED ME TO THE
FRONT DOOR AND THREW ME OUT.

I DIDN'T HAVE NOTHIN' ON, SO I WAS BANGING ON
THE DOOR TILL HE FINALLY THREW ME MY DRESS.

ONCE AGAIN, YOUR HONOR, I MUST STRENUOUSLY
OBJECT ON THE ISSUE OF RELEVANCE.

YOUR HONOR, WE'RE SIMPLY
TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE...

THAT THE BEHAVIOR AND
LIFESTYLE OF THE DECEASED...

EXPOSED HIM TO HARM
FROM ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

- LIKE WHO? DID SHE KILL HIM?
- THE OBJECTION IS OVERRULED.

SO, WHAT DID YOU DO NEXT?

I RAN BACK TO THE CAR...

WHERE CURTIS, MY DRIVER, WAS WAITING
JUST OUTSIDE THE GATES OF THE ESTATE.

- I TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
- AND HOW DID HE REACT?

HE WANTED TO KILL HIM.

IF I HADN'T TALKED HIM OUT OF IT,
THAT'S JUST WHAT HE WOULD'VE DONE.

THANK YOU. NOTHING FURTHER.

THE INCIDENT YOU
JUST DESCRIBED...

WAS IT THE LAST TIME THAT
YOU SAW SANDY FORTAS?

NO. I SAW HIM ONCE AFTER THAT.

SO IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN ALL THAT HORRIBLE
IF YOU AGREED TO GO BACK A SECOND TIME.

HE WANTED A TWO-GIRL SHOW,
SO I WENT WITH MY FRIEND.

BELIEVE ME, I NEVER WOULD
HAVE GONE BY MYSELF.

AND WHEN WE GOT THERE, HE
DIDN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHO I WAS.

HAVE YOU EVER
MET RICKEY LATRELL?

NO.

BUT YOU RESPECT HIM AS A DISTINGUISHED
AFRICAN-AMERICAN ATHLETE, DON'T YOU?

YEAH, HE'S ALL THAT.

SO IT WOULD BE
ACCURATE TO SAY...

THAT YOU HAVE MORE SYMPATHY FOR A BLACK
SPORTS HERO THAN AN OVERWEIGHT WHITE TRICK...

WHO YOU HAD AS MUCH CONTEMPT
FOR AS YOU CLAIM HE HAD FOR YOU.

OBJECTION! WITHDRAWN.

- WERE YOU IN THE ROOM THE DAY
SANDY FORTAS WAS MURDERED?
- NO.

DO YOU HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING HIS DEATH?

- NO.
- NO.

NOTHING FURTHER.

WELL, YOU SEEM TO BE EXTREMELY
WELL QUALIFIED, MR. PRUITT.

THANK YOU.

IF YOU'RE THINKING
OF HIRING ME, DON'T.

I'M SORRY?

JUST TELL THE AGENCY
THAT I DIDN'T PAN OUT.

THEN I'LL JUST START WORK, AND
YOU CAN AVOID PAYING THEIR FEE.

WOULDN'T THAT BE UNETHICAL?

IS THAT A LITTLE LAWYER HUMOR?

HELLO, ANGELA.

LUCKY LOUIS, AS I
LIVE AND BREATHE.

- HOWDY, STRANGER.
- HOW YOU DOING, MAN?

THERE SHE IS! GIVE
ME A HUG, YOU BIG LUG!

SO, HOW WAS EUROPE?

HMM, THERE'S A
DISNEYLAND IN PARIS,

A GAP MEGASTORE IN LONDON,

AND YOU CAN'T WALK SIX STEPS
WITHOUT BUMPING INTO A GOLDEN ARCH.

FORTUNATELY, THE TINTORETTOS IN THE SCUOLA
SAN ROCCO ARE AS MAGNIFICENT AS EVER.

CALL MY REFERENCES,

BECAUSE I THINK THEY WILL CORRECT ANY
MISIMPRESSION THAT I MAY HAVE CONVEYED.

I DON'T HAVE ANY
MISIMPRESSIONS, MR. PRUITT.

- THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING.
- I JUST LOVE THE CHEESES.

HEY, LOUIS. HOW YOU DOING?

WELL, THANK YOU. IT'S GOOD
TO SEE EVERYONE AGAIN.

JIMMY, COULD I TROUBLE YOU FOR A MOMENT
OF YOUR TIME? IT'S NO TROUBLE AT ALL.

AH.

I SEE YOU'VE DISPATCHED MOST OF
THE FURNITURE FROM THE ANCIEN RÉGIME.

THOUGH I MUST ADMIT I DO MISS
THE SMELL OF ALL THAT LEATHER.

MMM. TAKE A SEAT.

JUSTINE HAS TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF CALLING ME
TO SAY YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW ASSISTANT.

GWEN'S GETTING MARRIED, AND
SHE'S HEADING BACK EAST. THAT'S NICE.

AND QUITE FORTUITOUS, ACTUALLY.

I FIND MYSELF IN NEED OF A JOB, ASSUMING YOU
HAVEN'T ALREADY FILLED THE POSITION HERE...

CAN YOU START TOMORROW?

ABSOLUTELY.

WELCOME BACK, LOUIS.

- GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. LATRELL.
- GOOD AFTERNOON.

YOU A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT
TESTIFYING HERE TODAY? UH, YES.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO FINALLY TELL MY STORY.

THEN LET'S GET TO IT.

HOW LONG DID YOU
KNOW SANDY FORTAS?

ABOUT FIVE YEARS. I MET HIM A FEW MONTHS
BEFORE HE BROUGHT ME INTO THE LEAGUE.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM?

AFTER MY WIFE AND MY MOM, HE WAS PROBABLY
CLOSER TO ME THAN ANYBODY ELSE ON EARTH.

I NEVER KNEW MY FATHER,

AND I FOUND WHAT I WAS
MISSING IN MR. FORTAS.

I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST CAME TO LAS
VEGAS, I STAYED AT HIS HOUSE WITH HIM,

AND I TOLD HIM THAT I FELT LIKE
I WAS A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY.

HE SAID THAT I WAS NOT
"LIKE" A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY.

I WAS FAMILY. PERIOD.

WAS THAT FEELING RECIPROCAL
ON YOUR PART? VERY MUCH SO.

YOU WERE AWARE, WERE YOU
NOT, THAT YOUR WIFE, CARLA,

HAD AN AFFAIR WITH MR. FORTAS
PRIOR TO YOUR MARRIAGE.

MM-HMM. CARLA WAS SINGLE AT
THAT TIME. SANDY WAS SEPARATED.

THEY HAD THEIR MOMENT TOGETHER, AND
THEN THEY MOVED ON TO DO OTHER THINGS.

IT DIDN'T REALLY
BOTHER ME AT ALL.

- YOU HARBORED NO ILL WILL
TOWARD HIM?
- NONE WHATSOEVER.

DID SOMETHING HAPPEN ON
OCTOBER 18 TO CHANGE THAT?

YES. WOULD YOU TELL US
WHAT THAT WAS, PLEASE?

I FOUND OUT THAT HE HAD TRICKED MY
WIFE INTO HAVING SEX WITH HIM AGAIN.

- OBJECTION. ASSUMES FACTS - NOT IN EVIDENCE.
- YOUR HONOR...

WAS THE DEFENDANT THERE TO WITNESS
THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ALLEGED EVENT?

THE STATEMENT WAS NOT
OFFERED FOR ITS FACTUAL ACCURACY,

- BUT FOR ITS EFFECT UPON
THE WITNESS'S STATE OF MIND.
- OVERRULED.

THE WITNESS WILL CONTINUE.

CARLA HAD COME BACK WITH A CASSETTE
TAPE THAT SANDY HAD GIVEN HER...

SUPPOSEDLY OF ME
TELLING SAL BATTAGLIO...

I'D SHAVE POINTS ON A GAME IF
HE'D FORGIVE A GAMBLING DEBT.

- DID YOU EVER
TELL SAL BATTAGLIO THAT?
- NO, SIR, I DID NOT.

WHATEVER IT WAS HE FABRICATED, I
NEVER AGREED TO SHAVE POINTS ON A GAME.

BUT SANDY HAD THAT TAPE, THOUGH,

AND HE TOLD CARLA THAT IF SHE DIDN'T
PUT OUT FOR HIM, HE'D WRECK MY CAREER.

OBJECTION. HEARSAY. SAME
ARGUMENT, YOUR HONOR.

I'M GOING TO ALLOW IT.

- WHERE IS THAT TAPE NOW,
MR. LATRELL?
- I BURNED IT UP.

- DID YOU LISTEN TO IT?
- YES, I DID. IT WAS COMPLETELY MADE UP.

IT WAS A VERY CONVINCING FAKE.

DID YOU CONFRONT
SANDY FORTAS ABOUT IT?

YES, I DID. WHAT
WAS HIS REACTION?

HE ACTED LIKE IT
WAS NO BIG DEAL.

HE SAID HE AND
CARLA WENT WAY BACK.

HE SAID NOBODY PUT
A GUN TO HER HEAD.

HE TOLD ME I SHOULD CONCENTRATE
MORE ON MY REBOUNDS INSTEAD.

WHAT DID YOU DO
WHEN HE SAID THAT?

I SHOT HIM.

REQUEST IMMEDIATE CONFERENCE
IN CHAMBERS, YOUR HONOR!

ASK THAT I BE ALLOWED TO COMPLETE MY EXAMINATION
OF THIS WITNESS WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.

THIS IS A DELIBERATE
ABUSE OF THE PROCESS!

MR. SCOTTO, YOU'LL GET YOUR
CONFERENCE AFTER THE DEFENDANT'S DIRECT.

NOW CONTINUE.

MR. LATRELL,

YOU LOVE YOUR FAMILY VERY MUCH,

DON'T YOU?

MORE THAN ANYTHING
IN THIS WORLD.

MORE THAN MY OWN LIFE.

AND YOU WOULD DO ANYTHING TO
PROTECT YOUR FAMILY, WOULDN'T YOU?

YES, I WOULD.

DO YOU FEEL ANY REMORSE FOR
WHAT YOU DID TO SANDY FORTAS?

YES, I DO.

MY MOTHER DIDN'T RAISE
ME UP TO BE A KILLER.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO LIVE WITH
THIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

AND I'M GONNA HAVE
TO ANSWER TO GOD.

YOUR WITNESS.

COUNSEL IN CHAMBERS.

IF WHAT THEY WERE DOING WASN'T READILY APPARENT
BEFORE, IT SHOULD BE CRYSTAL CLEAR NOW.

COUNSEL KNEW THEIR CLIENT WAS
GUILTY, YET THEY INTRODUCED EVIDENCE...

WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE WAS TO
DENIGRATE THE VICTIM'S CHARACTER...

TO MAKE THIS MURDER
SEEM JUSTIFIED.

IS MR. SCOTTO TELEPATHIC?

- HOW DOES HE KNOW
WHAT WE KNEW AND WHEN?
- COME ON, CHRIS!

YOUR GUY DID IT.
HE TOLD US HE DID IT.

THERE'S NO ALTERNATIVE
THEORY OF THE CRIME.

THEY USED IT AS A PLOY TO MAKE SANDY FORTAS
OUT TO BE SOMEONE WHO SHOULD BE SHOT.

YOUR HONOR, WE DEMAND THAT THE TESTIMONY
OF LEE MICHAELSON, MONIQUE LaSALLE...

AND ANNA MAE BROWN BE
STRICKEN FROM THE RECORDS...

AND THE JURY BE STERNLY
INSTRUCTED TO DISREGARD IT.

WE FURTHER ASK THAT THE STIFFEST POSSIBLE
SANCTIONS BE IMPOSED UPON COUNSEL...

FOR KNOWINGLY PERPETRATING A
FALSEHOOD IN THESE PROCEEDINGS.

YOUR HONOR, THE REASON THAT THE
PEOPLE WANT TO EXCLUDE THE TESTIMONY...

IS BECAUSE IT BLOWS THEIR
CASE FOR MURDER ONE ALL TO HELL.

THE JURY HAS EVERY RIGHT TO CONSIDER THE
LESSER OFFENSE OF VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER...

OR EVEN REACH A FINDING OF JUSTIFIABLE
HOMICIDE, IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO.

- THE LAW COMPELS YOU
TO DENY THE PEOPLE'S MOTION.
- DON'T LECTURE ME ABOUT THE LAW.

I AM GRANTING MR. SCOTTO'S MOTION TO
COMPLETELY EXCLUDE THESE WITNESSES' TESTIMONY.

I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE DONE...

HAS BEEN ABOUT AS CYNICAL A MANIPULATION
OF THE COURTS AS I HAVE EVER SEEN.

YOUR HONOR, IF I MAY BE HEARD...

YOU MAY NOT!

I WILL INSTRUCT THE JURY TO EXCLUDE
THE EVIDENCE FROM THEIR DELIBERATIONS.

AND I AM IMPOSING SANCTIONS
IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,000.

I WISH IT COULD BE MORE.

BY WAY OF REVIEW,

A FEW MINUTES AGO YOU TOLD THIS JURY,
UNDER OATH, THAT YOU MURDERED SANDY FORTAS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT YOU WENT TO HIS WESTWOOD OFFICE CARRYING
A SPHINX .380 PISTOL REGISTERED TO YOU...

AND SHOT MR. FORTAS
FOUR TIMES IN THE CHEST.

- IS THAT YOUR TESTIMONY?
- I DON'T REMEMBER
HOW MANY TIMES I SHOT HIM.

JUST TO BE CLEAR, AFTER
SHOOTING MR. FORTAS,

YOU FLED THE SCENE, LEAVING HIM TO
DIE ALONE IN AN EMPTY OFFICE BUILDING?

OBJECTION! COUNSEL
IS GOADING MR. LATRELL.

JUST MAKING SURE WE ALL AGREE
ON THE BRUTAL FACTS OF THIS CASE.

THE POINT'S BEEN MADE,
COUNSEL. MOVE ON.

YOU DITCHED THE GUN, GOT ON YOUR
PRIVATE JET AND RETURNED TO LAS VEGAS.

YEAH. I WAS SCARED.

- I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING.
- YOU KNEW ENOUGH
TO HIRE JIMMY WYLER'S FIRM.

- OBJECTION.
- SUSTAINED.

SAL BATTAGLIO TESTIFIED HE MADE A
TAPE OF YOU OFFERING TO SHAVE POINTS...

TO SETTLE A GAMBLING DEBT.

- IS IT YOUR TESTIMONY
THAT HE WAS LYING?
- LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH.

YET YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THERE WAS A TAPE RECORDING.

I ACKNOWLEDGE SOMETHING PUT ON TAPE MADE IT
SOUND AS THOUGH I WAS SAYING THINGS I NEVER SAID.

- YEAH, AND WHO DID THAT?
- I DON'T KNOW.

DO YOU SUSPECT THERE MIGHT
HAVE BEEN SOME C.I.A. INVOLVEMENT?

- OBJECTION
TO COUNSEL'S SARCASM.
- SUSTAINED.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU'RE
ASKING THIS JURY TO BELIEVE...

THAT YOU MURDERED SANDY FORTAS
TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY HONOR.

THAT'S RIGHT.

- MONEY HAD NOTHING
TO DO WITH IT.
- RIGHT.

SANDY FORTAS DID NOT RETAIN A
COPY OF THE TAPE AND THREATEN YOU.

- NO, HE DIDN'T.
- YOU SAID MR. BATTAGLIO
LIED ABOUT THE TAPE.

DID HE ALSO LIE ABOUT THE
FACT THAT YOU LIKE TO GAMBLE?

NO.

WAS HE LYING ABOUT THE FACT YOU
HAD LOST A LOT OF MONEY? NO, HE WASN'T.

AND NONE OF THIS HAD ANYTHING TO
DO WITH THE KILLING OF SANDY FORTAS.

NOT THE PRESSURE ON
YOU FOR MORE MONEY,

NOT THE FACT THAT YOU HAD AN EXPOSURE
THAT COULD HAVE ENDED YOUR CAREER.

- NOTHING MATTERED TO YOU
BUT YOUR WIFE'S HONOR.
- THAT'S RIGHT.

AND FOR THAT YOU KILLED
A MAN IN COLD BLOOD.

OBJECTION. WITHDRAWN.

YOUR HONOR, IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT
THE DEFENDANT HAS CONFESSED TO THIS CRIME,

THE PEOPLE HAVE NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS.

MILLIONS WERE STUNNED TODAY...

WHEN BASKETBALL SUPERSTAR RICKEY
LATRELL TOOK THE WITNESS STAND...

AND CONFESSED TO THE MURDER
FOR WHICH HE STANDS ACCUSED.

IT WAS AN ALL-OR-NOTHING TACTIC
BY THE TRIAL'S DEFENSE TEAM,

WHO ARE COUNTING ON THE
JURY TO LET EMOTION GOVERN...

HOW THEY APPROACH THE TASK BEFORE
THEM AND RETURN A VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.

IT WAS A BOLD MOVE,

PERHAPS THE BOLDEST SEEN IN A
COURTROOM IN RECENT MEMORY.

THE QUESTION TONIGHT IS,
WILL THE GAMBLE PAY OFF?

WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO
SAVE RICKEY LATRELL'S LIFE?

HEY, RICKEY! I HOPE YOUR NEW AGENT
IS EXPLORING MOVIE DEALS FOR YOU.

I CAUGHT YOUR ACT IN
THERE. YOU'RE A NATURAL.

COME ON, LEE. WHAT? I'M
GIVING HIM A TIP OF THE HAT.

THIS IS A FANTASTIC ACTOR YOU'VE
GOT HERE. WHAT DO YOU WANT, MAN?

LAST TIME WE SPOKE, I GAVE THE IMPRESSION
THAT I WANTED YOU TO RECONSIDER FIRING ME.

I'D LIKE TO CORRECT THAT
IMPRESSION. OKAY. DONE. LET'S GO.

I DON'T CONDEMN YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID
TO SANDY. THAT WAS YOUR HEART, PASSION.

A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN OVERCOME BY THAT.

BUT THAT YOU WERE GONNA WATCH ME BE ACCUSED...
THAT WAS YOUR HEAD, BABY, WHO YOU ARE.

YOU'RE A SCUMBAG, RICKEY.

I'D LIKE YOU ALL TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOMETHING
THAT WAS DELIVERED TO ME THIS MORNING.

HI, I'M PAIGE RINGO,

AND THIS IS MY AUDITION TAPE.

I WENT FROM BEING A
TOMBOY TO BEING A JOCK...

TO BEING A FASHION MODEL
TO BEING AN ATTORNEY,

AND NEVER HAVE I LOST
MY LOVE OF THE GAME.

WHAT GAME, YOU ASK? ANY GAME.

WHETHER IT'S A PERFECTLY EXECUTED
DRAW PLAY, A BUNT TO ADVANCE THE RUNNER...

OR A THREE-POINT JUMP SHOT
AT THE FINAL BUZZER, I LOVE IT ALL.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US...

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
THIS TAPE, MS. WEIKOPF?

OR SHOULD I SAY MS. RINGO?

I DON'T KNOW THAT IT HAS
ANY SIGNIFICANCE, YOUR HONOR.

I HAVE SOME INTEREST IN PURSUING
A CAREER IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM,

AND AN AUDITION TAPE IS A
NECESSARY MEANS OF SELLING YOURSELF,

OF... DEMONSTRATING HOW
YOU COME ACROSS ON CAMERA.

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH KEN HICKS?

I KNOW HIM. NOT WELL, BUT...

WERE YOU PROVIDING HIM WITH
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CASE...

IN RETURN FOR HIS FOSTERING YOUR
CAREER IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM?

NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I HAVE A SWORN AFFIDAVIT FROM MR. HICKS STATING
THAT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE DOING.

HE'S LYING. MM-HMM.

ARE THE EXECUTIVES AT, UH...

CBS, UM,

ABC, FOX, ESPN,

WHO SAY THEY'VE BEEN APPROACHED
BY MR. HICKS, ARE THEY ALSO LYING?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE
INDIVIDUALS ARE ALLEGING, YOUR HONOR.

ALL I CAN SAY IS... SAVE IT FOR
YOUR SUPERVISORS, MS. WEIKOPF.

IF THEY CHOOSE TO ACCEPT YOUR
EXPLANATIONS, THAT'S THEIR PRIVILEGE.

AS FAR AS MY COURTROOM
IS CONCERNED, YOU'RE OUT.

WELL, I ASSUME I'LL BE ALLOWED TO
CONCLUDE MY DUTIES IN THE LATRELL CASE.

HONEY, YOU'RE OUT OF
MY COURTROOM AS OF NOW.

JIMMY?

THIS PUTS THINGS IN A
SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT LIGHT.

WHAT THINGS?

I COULDN'T CURTAIL A SEXUAL HARASSMENT
INVESTIGATION, JIMMY, NOT OUT OF HAND.

WHY NOT? DO YOU REALLY NEED
ME TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION?

I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT IF I COME TO YOU
AND TELL YOU SOMETHING, YOU WOULD BELIEVE ME.

WELL, I BELIEVE YOU NOW.

AND IF I HAD ANY DOUBTS ABOUT
YOU BEFORE NOW, I'M SORRY.

THAT'S THE BEST I CAN DO.

SO, NO MORE PAIGE WEIKOPF.

NO MORE PAIGE WEIKOPF.

JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, WHEN
YOU DECIDED TO TURN HER IN,

YOUR STRATEGY WAS WHAT, TO
GIVE UP ALL POSSIBLE ADVANTAGES...

IN PURSUIT OF A MORE
EVEN PLAYING FIELD?

WHATEVER MY STRATEGY IS,
I DON'T DISCUSS IT WITH YOU.

OH, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

IT WOULD BE GROSSLY UNETHICAL.

IT ISN'T AS THOUGH I'VE
BEEN KNOCKING MYSELF OUT...

TRYING TO HELP.

IT ISN'T AS THOUGH I'VE
SAVED YOUR UNGRATEFUL ASS...

BY SUBMITTING A SWORN AFFIDAVIT AND
GETTING A COPY OF THAT TAPE TO THE JUDGE.

JIMMY, DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT
THANKING ME FOR ANY OF THAT.

THAT WOULD BE
HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE.

YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU'RE RIGHT.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

SO, HOW DOES IT LOOK
FOR RICKEY? I HAVE NO IDEA.

THAT BAD, HUH?

YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE,
HAVEN'T YOU, MR. JACKSON? YES, SIR.

AND AT THAT TIME YOU HAD NO
KNOWLEDGE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT...

THE DEFENDANT WAS CARRYING A GUN
ON THE DAY HE MET WITH SANDY FORTAS.

- DO YOU RECALL THAT?
- YES, SIR.

I'M GONNA ASK YOU NOW,
MR. JACKSON... IS THAT STATEMENT TRUE?

NO, SIR, IT IS NOT TRUE.

WAS THE DEFENDANT
CARRYING A GUN ON THAT DAY?

YES, HE WAS.

HOW DO YOU KNOW
THAT, MR. JACKSON?

BECAUSE I GOT RID OF IT FOR HIM.

DID YOU DO SO AT THE
DEFENDANT'S REQUEST?

OBJECTION. CALLS FOR HEARSAY.

IT'S AN ADMISSION BY A PARTY
OPPONENT, YOUR HONOR.

OBJECTION IS OVERRULED.

MR. JACKSON?

- YES, I DID.
- AND WHEN DID THE DEFENDANT
MAKE THAT REQUEST?

WHEN I PICKED HIM UP AFTER
HIS MEETING WITH MR. FORTAS.

DID MR. LATRELL SAY ANYTHING PRIOR
TO HIS MEETING WITH MR. FORTAS...

THAT INDICATED WHAT HE
INTENDED TO DO WHEN HE GOT THERE?

OBJECTION. IRRELEVANT. GOES
TO PREMEDITATION, YOUR HONOR.

THE OBJECTION IS OVERRULED.
THE WITNESS MAY ANSWER.

- YES, HE DID.
- WHAT WAS THAT?

HE SAID THAT HE TOOK ALL
HE COULD TAKE OFF SANDY.

HE SAID HE WOULDN'T LET HIM USE
HIS GAMBLING DEBTS TO THREATEN HIM,

AND HE WOULD GET HIM
FOR WHAT HE DID TO CARLA.

HE SAID THAT SANDY
FORTAS WAS A DEAD MAN.

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL THE TRUTH
THE FIRST TIME, MR. JACKSON?

- I DIDN'T WANT TO HURT MY BOY.
- WHAT HAPPENED TO CHANGE THAT?

I GOT ARRESTED.

- SO YOU'RE LOOKING
TO HELP YOURSELF UP HERE.
- YES.

SO HOW DO WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT
LYING AND TRYING TO HELP YOURSELF?

I MIGHT NOT BE A ROLE MODEL,

BUT I WOULDN'T SEND SOMEBODY TO
PRISON FOR SOMETHIN' THEY DIDN'T DO.

NOTHING FURTHER, YOUR HONOR.

WHAT DID YOU GET
ARRESTED FOR, MR. JACKSON?

POSSESSION OF CRACK COCAINE.

THAT WOULD BE A
FELONY? YES, SIR.

DID THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE GIVE YOU
ANY INDICATION AS TO WHETHER THEY INTENDED...

TO LINK YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY TO THE
DISPOSITION OF THE CHARGES NOW FACING YOU?

THEY SAID THEY DID.

AND WHAT DID THEY PROMISE
YOU IF YOU CHANGED YOUR STORY?

THEY DIDN'T PROMISE
ME ANYTHING, SIR.

YOU'VE LEARNED YOUR LINES
QUITE WELL, MR. JACKSON.

- OBJECTION.
- SUSTAINED.

IT IS A FACT, IS IT NOT, THAT AS A
RESULT OF YOUR TESTIFYING HERE TODAY...

YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN
AVOID GOING TO PRISON?

YES, SIR. IS IT NOT
ALSO A FACT THAT,

SUBSEQUENT TO YOUR ARREST, YOU
WERE HELD IN THE MEN'S COUNTY JAIL,

ISOLATED FROM THE
REST OF THE PRISONERS?

YES, SIR.

DURING THAT TIME, WERE YOU SPOKEN
TO BY DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SCOTTO?

YES, SIR. IN POINT OF FACT,

YOU WERE SPOKEN TO BY MR. SCOTTO
FOR HOURS AT A TIME, WEREN'T YOU?

OBJECTION. IRRELEVANT.

IT IS COMPLETELY RELEVANT, YOUR HONOR, THAT
THIS MAN WAS SYSTEMATICALLY BROWBEATEN...

UNTIL HE WAS SO TERRIFIED THAT HE
WOULD HAVE AGREED TO SAY ANYTHING.

THE OBJECTION IS SUSTAINED.

ARE YOU ADDICTED TO
CRACK COCAINE, MR. JACKSON?

UH, YES, I AM.

HAS THAT ADDICTION EVER
IMPAIRED YOUR JUDGMENT?

I'M SURE IT HAS.

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

MR. JACKSON, YOU MAY STEP DOWN.

DOES THE PROSECUTION HAVE
ANY ADDITIONAL WITNESSES?

NO, WE DON'T, YOUR HONOR.

IN THAT CASE, THE PEOPLE MAY
PROCEED WITH THEIR CLOSING ARGUMENT.

YOU KNOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

THE CLOSING ARGUMENT THAT I WAS
WORKING ON THROUGHOUT MOST OF THIS TRIAL...

IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE
CLOSING ARGUMENT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TODAY.

I WAS GONNA TAKE YOU THROUGH
THE MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE...

SHOWING THAT THE DEFENDANT WENT
TO THE MEETING WITH SANDY FORTAS...

WITH THE MISSION
TO COMMIT MURDER,

THAT HE LEFT HIS HOME
WITH A LOADED GUN,

THAT HE SENT LEE MICHAELSON OUT OF THE
ROOM SO THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE A WITNESS,

THAT SEXUAL JEALOUSY AND THE SENSE THAT
HE'D BEEN BETRAYED BY A FATHER FIGURE...

PROVIDED MOTIVE,

WHO WAS ACCUSTOMED TO
GETTING WHAT HE WANTED...

PROVIDED CHARACTER
SUFFICIENTLY DEFECTIVE...

TO COLD-BLOODEDLY TAKE THE
LIFE OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.

I WAS GONNA TELL YOU THAT.

BUT THEN...

THE DEFENDANT DID IT FOR ME.

HE TOLD YOU...

THAT, UNDER THE LAWS
OF THIS STATE, HE IS GUILTY,

AND THEN HE DARED YOU
TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

HE DARED YOU TO HOLD HIM
ACCOUNTABLE UNDER THE LAW.

WE ARE TOLD, IN EFFECT,

THAT HE WAS ACTING OUT THE
RAGE OF A VIOLATED NEGRO SLAVE...

AGAINST AN EVIL
PLANTATION OWNER...

WHO NOT ONLY KEPT
HIM IN SERVITUDE...

BUT SAW FIT TO RAPE
HIS SLAVE GIRL WIFE.

HE'S ASKED YOU TO JUDGE HIM
AS YOU WOULD JUDGE A SLAVE...

WHO RISES UP TO
SLAY HIS OPPRESSOR.

BUT THERE ARE A FEW
PROBLEMS WITH THAT.

THE DEFENDANT IS
NOT A NEGRO SLAVE.

HE'S A MULTIMILLIONAIRE...

WITH MORE POWER AND MORE RESOURCES
THAN ANY OF US COULD EVER DREAM OF.

SANDY FORTAS WAS NOT
A PLANTATION OWNER.

HE WAS A HUSBAND AND A
FATHER AND A BUSINESSMAN.

THE DEFENDANT'S WIFE
IS NOT A SLAVE GIRL.

SHE'S A SMART, CAPABLE,
ASSERTIVE WOMAN...

WHO, PRIOR TO HER MARRIAGE,
HAD AN AFFAIR WITH SANDY FORTAS...

AND WHO APPARENTLY AGREED TO
REVISIT THAT AFFAIR WHILE SHE WAS MARRIED.

WAS HE ENTITLED TO COMMIT
MURDER BECAUSE OF THAT?

NO.

NO, HE WASN'T.

YOU CAN'T DO IT.

I CAN'T DO IT.

HE CAN'T DO IT EITHER.

NOTWITHSTANDING WHATEVER OPERATIC
PSYCHOLOGICAL PORTRAIT THE DEFENSE PAINTS,

THAT'S A MURDERER.

AND IN THIS STATE,

IN THIS COUNTRY
AND IN THIS SOCIETY,

MURDERERS ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE PUNISHED.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

I'M ASKING YOU TO DO YOUR DUTY.

I'M ASKING YOU TO
UPHOLD THE LAW...

AND ARRIVE AT THE ONLY
LEGAL VERDICT POSSIBLE...

GUILTY AS CHARGED.

THE PROSECUTION HAS
REPEATEDLY SUGGESTED...

THAT WHAT RICKEY LATRELL IS
ASKING FOR IS SPECIAL TREATMENT,

THAT THIS STAR BASKETBALL
PLAYER-MULTIMILLIONAIRE...

BELIEVES HIMSELF TO BE ABOVE THE
LAWS THAT GOVERN THE REST OF US.

LET ME SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

WHAT RICKEY LATRELL
IS ASKING FOR...

IS THAT YOU JUDGE HIM EXACTLY THE
WAY YOU WOULD JUDGE ANYBODY ELSE,

THE WAY YOU WOULD
JUDGE YOURSELVES.

BUT IN ORDER FOR YOU TO JUDGE HIM, YOU
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM,

UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO HEAR THAT
YOUR WIFE, THE MOTHER OF YOUR CHILDREN,

HAD BEEN SUMMONED TO THE OFFICE
OF YOUR EMPLOYER, A MAN YOU TRUSTED,

A MAN WHO, TO ALL OUTWARD
APPEARANCES, TREATED YOU LIKE A SON.

AT FIRST, YOU SEE YOUR WIFE TRY TO
CONCEAL FROM YOU WHAT HAPPENED,

THEN BREAK DOWN IN
TEARS AS SHE TELLS YOU...

THIS MAN DECEIVED HER INTO THINKING THE
ONLY WAY SHE COULD SAVE HER HUSBAND...

WAS TO PROSTITUTE HERSELF.

THIS MAN HAD A SEXUAL DESIRE,

AND HE WANTED IT FULFILLED.

AND SO HE TOOK THIS WOMAN,

THIS COLLEGE-EDUCATED,

CULTURED MOTHER OF
TWO SMALL CHILDREN,

AND HE SO TERRIFIED HER THAT SHE
WAS WILLING TO DO ANYTHING HE ASKED.

AS RICKEY LATRELL
LISTENED TO HIS WIFE,

HE FELT EVERYTHING HE WAS, EVERYTHING
HE HAD WORKED SO HARD TO BECOME,

DISAPPEAR.

AT THAT MOMENT,

THE ONLY SOUND HE HEARD WAS A
SCREAMING IN HIS HEAD THAT TOLD HIM...

THIS MAN MUST BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

HE MUST BE RESPONDED TO.

HE MUST BE MADE TO UNDERSTAND...

THAT THIS WOMAN, WHO RICKEY
LOVED MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF,

CANNOT BE VIOLATED
WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS THAT
YOU JUDGE RICKEY LATRELL...

THE SAME WAY YOU
WOULD JUDGE ANYONE ELSE.

IS THIS CASE ABOUT RACE?

WELL, ONLY AS MUCH AS OUR
COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE IS ABOUT RACE.

ONLY AS MUCH AS OUR
HISTORY IS ABOUT RACE.

LET'S NOT BE BASHFUL ABOUT IT.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS
CASE IS PROFOUNDLY ABOUT RACE.

YOUR VERDICT, HOWEVER,

MUST BE ABOUT ONLY JUSTICE.

I SUBMIT TO YOU,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

IF YOU USE YOUR WISDOM
AND YOUR COMPASSION,

IF YOU REFUSE TO
PERMIT THE PROSECUTION...

TO PUT BLINDERS ON YOUR EYES...

OR CHAINS AROUND
YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS,

YOU WILL FIND RICKEY LATRELL...

NOT GUILTY.

THE POWER IS YOURS.

ALL RIGHT, RICKEY!

DO YOU THINK THE JURY IS GOING TO BE
PERSUADED BY THIS EYE-FOR-AN-EYE DEFENSE?

HOW BAD DID HILLY
JACKSON'S TESTIMONY HURT?

IT'S OUR HOPE THOSE 12 JURORS WILL LISTEN
TO THEIR HEARTS AND DO THE RIGHT THING.

CAN YOU CONFIRM REPORTS THAT YOUR WIFE
WAS PREGNANT WITH SANDY FORTAS'S CHILD?

HAS O.J. CALLED YOU
TO WISH YOU LUCK?

I'VE SAID EVERYTHING I'M GONNA SAY ON THE
WITNESS STAND. IT'S ALL IN GOD'S HANDS NOW.

HEY. DID YOU CATCH
CHRIS'S CLOSING?

YEAH. HE WAS GOOD. HE WAS ACES.

AND NOW WE WAIT.

MMM. THAT'S ONE THING I'VE
NEVER BEEN PARTICULARLY GOOD AT.

ME NEITHER.

AT ABOUT 4:00 A.M., I WILL FINALLY GIVE
UP ALL PRETEXT OF GETTING ANY SLEEP.

I'LL GO AND WATCH A MOVIE, WHICH I WON'T
BE ABLE TO FOLLOW BECAUSE I'M PREOCCUPIED,

SO I'LL GO DOWNSTAIRS, COOK
MYSELF AN ENORMOUS BREAKFAST,

WHICH I WON'T BE ABLE TO EAT
BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE APPETITE.

MY VARIATION ON THAT
SCENARIO IS BEAUTY NIGHT.

- BEAUTY NIGHT.
- CONDITION MY HAIR.

FOUR DIFFERENT
KINDS OF FACIAL MASKS.

A DETOXIFYING HERBAL SOAK, FOLLOWED
BY A REHYDRATING COLLAGEN WRAP.

NONE OF WHICH WILL
DO ANY GOOD AT ALL,

BECAUSE I'M GONNA LOOK LIKE CRAP
TOMORROW FROM NERVES AND EXHAUSTION.

SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE BOTH IN
FOR A LONG AND LONELY NIGHT.

JOINTLY OR SEVERALLY?

CARLA LATRELL IS HERE.

I'LL GET BACK TO YOU
ON THAT. SEND HER IN.

RICKEY'S GONE. WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

HE LEFT ME A NOTE SAYING
HE'S GOING INTO HIDING.

DO YOU HAVE THE NOTE? YES.

DO YOU HAVE ANY
IDEA WHERE HE'D GO?

NO. HE NEVER TALKED
TO YOU ABOUT IT?

AFTER HILLY TESTIFIED AGAIN,
HE TALKED ABOUT RUNNING.

BUT I NEVER... I NEVER
THOUGHT HE'D DO IT.

HE'S PROBABLY IN
CANADA OR MEXICO.

WHAT DO I DO IF HE CONTACTS ME?

TELL HIM NO MATTER WHAT
THE JURY COMES BACK WITH,

IF HE'S HERE, WE
CAN GO UP ON APPEAL.

BUT IF HE'S NOT HERE,
THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO.

TELL HIM HE WILL NOT SURVIVE AS A
FUGITIVE. TELL HIM HE'LL GET CAUGHT.

YOU SHOULD ALSO TELL HIM THAT IF HE DOESN'T
COME BACK, HIS MOTHER WILL LOSE HER HOUSE.

OKAY. I'LL TELL HIM.

CARLA?

DOES ANYONE ELSE
KNOW ABOUT THIS?

NO.

WELL, LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY.

SHOULD I CALL SZYMANSKI?

RIGHT AWAY. AND CHRIS AND AARON?

LET'S KEEP THEM OUT OF IT. WHY?

WHEN THE JUDGE ASKS
WHERE RICKEY LATRELL IS,

I DON'T WANT THEM
TO HAVE TO LIE.

IF THEY COME BACK
WITH A GUILTY VERDICT,

OUR BEST SHOT ON APPEAL IS
GOING AFTER BORNSTEIN'S RULING...

TO EXCLUDE THE TESTIMONY
OF OUR LAST THREE WITNESSES.

- ANYONE HEAR FROM RICKEY?
- NO.

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO RUNNING THIS MORNING,
BUT I CALLED HIM AND CARLA SAID HE WAS OUT.

I STOPPED BY HIS HOUSE. NOBODY
ANSWERED THE DOOR, AND HIS CAR'S GONE.

I'LL TRY CARLA AGAIN.

CARLA SAYS SHE'S UNDER
INSTRUCTIONS FROM YOU...

NOT TO TALK TO ANYONE
ABOUT RICKEY'S WHEREABOUTS.

IS THAT WHAT SHE SAYS? WHY
ARE YOU HIDING ANYTHING FROM US?

FRANK SZYMANSKI
IS HERE TO SEE YOU.

TELL HIM I'LL BE
WITH HIM IN A MINUTE.

JIMMY, WHAT'S GOING ON?

- YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW.
- WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? THIS IS OUR CASE.

YOU DON'T WANT ANY INFORMATION THAT'S GONNA
HAMPER YOUR ABILITY TO DEFEND YOUR CLIENT.

OKAY. HE SPLIT, DIDN'T HE?

THE MEETING'S OVER, FELLAS.

MORNING, GUYS.

I CALLED IN A FAVOR, GOT
RICKEY'S PHONES DUMPED.

IT TURNS OUT HE CALLED
THIS EX-CHEERLEADER, UH,

CHRISTINE PHILLIPS,
NINE TIMES YESTERDAY.

SHE TESTIFIED AGAINST HIM. WELL,
MAYBE SHE HAD A CHANGE OF HEART.

IN ANY EVENT, I WENT OVER TO
HER HOUSE. I TALKED TO HER FATHER.

HE CONFIRMED THAT HIS DAUGHTER
DID, IN FACT, HAVE A LONGTIME...

CRUSH AND/OR RELATIONSHIP
WITH RICKEY LATRELL.

THE FATHER WOULD VERY MUCH
LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU PERSONALLY.

WHERE IS HE?
WAITING IN RECEPTION.

WELL, BRING HIM IN.

I KNOW CHRISTINE'S BEEN
CARRYING A TORCH FOR THIS GUY,

BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE'D
THROW HER LIFE AWAY ON HIM.

DO YOU KNOW IF SHE PLANS ON
MEETING HIM SOMEWHERE? I DON'T KNOW.

I KNOW SHE TOOK OFF WORK YESTERDAY.
I OVERHEARD HER CALLING IN SICK.

WHO WOULD SHE
CONFIDE IN? HER SISTER.

WHERE WOULD WE FIND HER SISTER? SHE WORKS
AT A COFFEE SHOP. I CAN GET YOU AN ADDRESS.

I THINK I'LL GO THERE MYSELF.

I CAN'T GET HER
BACK. I KNOW THAT.

CHRISTINE WON'T
TELL ME ANYTHING.

SHE'S SURE THE HELL
NOT GONNA LISTEN TO ME.

IF SHE GAVE A DAMN
ABOUT WHAT I THOUGHT,

SHE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN INVOLVED
WITH THAT BLACK BASTARD IN THE FIRST PLACE.

HI. HI.

I THINK YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR BOSS IF
YOU COULD TAKE THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES OFF.

WHO ARE YOU? I'M JAMES WYLER,
RICKEY LATRELL'S ATTORNEY.

I'D LIKE TO TALK TO
YOU ABOUT YOUR SISTER.

ARE YOU CLOSE TO YOUR SISTER?
I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS.

IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO HER, YOU
SHOULD KNOW WHAT SHE'S HEADED FOR.

MY SISTER'S 31 YEARS OLD. SHE'S
CAPABLE OF MAKING HER OWN DECISIONS.

THAT MAY BE, BUT IS SHE CAPABLE
OF SURVIVING AS A FUGITIVE?

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOUR LOVE
LIFE INCLUDED HELPING SOMEBODY SKIP BAIL?

I DON'T KNOW THAT'S
WHAT SHE'S DOING.

I DON'T THINK YOU'RE
TELLING THE TRUTH, CORRINE.

I THINK YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SHE'S
DOING, AND YOU'RE WORRIED SICK ABOUT IT.

EVERYONE'S ENTITLED
TO LOSE THEIR HEAD ONCE.

AND EVERYBODY'S ENTITLED TO REACH
OUT TO SOMEBODY WHO WILL PROTECT THEM.

CHRISTINE DOESN'T
WANT TO BE PROTECTED.

SHE'S BEEN PROTECTED HER ENTIRE
LIFE, AND SHE'S BEEN TOTALLY MISERABLE.

SO SHE'S GONNA RUN OFF
WITH A FUGITIVE MURDERER?

SHE DOESN'T KNOW
WHAT MISERABLE IS.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS.

YES, YOU DO.

AND IF SHE SAW FIT TO TELL YOU,

WHAT SHE'S DOING IS ASKING
YOU TO HELP STOP HER.

MISS PHILLIPS?

I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU.

WHO ARE YOU? JAMES
WYLER. I'M RICKEY'S ATTORNEY.

HOW COME I NEVER SAW YOU IN
COURT? I'M NOT TRYING THE CASE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU BEFORE. YOU COULD CALL
RICKEY IF YOU'VE GOT ANY DOUBT ABOUT IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE RICKEY
IS. WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S ANY OF
YOUR BUSINESS. WHAT'S IN THE BAG?

YOU'RE NOT A COP. I DON'T
HAVE TO TELL YOU ANYTHING.

WELL, WE COULD CALL A COP
AND FIND OUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

WE COULD TELL THE COP THAT
YOU'RE AIDING A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL...

IN FLEEING THE JURISDICTION
OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

WE COULD ASK HIM
TO LOOK IN THE BAG,

AND, IF MY GUESS IS CORRECT,
HE WOULD NOTIFY HIS SUPERIOR,

WHO, IN TURN, WOULD NOTIFY
THE MEXICAN FEDERALES.

HOW'D YOU FIND ME? YOU TOLD YOUR
SISTER YOU WERE GOING TO MEXICO.

SHE WAS CONCERNED ENOUGH
NOT TO KEEP IT TO HERSELF.

I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING
ABOUT ANYTHING.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING.

I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING AND WHAT
YOU'RE PLANNING TO DO, AND IT'S A BAD IDEA.

YEAH, AND SO IS GOING TO
PRISON FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY
GONNA HAPPEN. NUMBER ONE:

THE JURY COULD COME BACK WITH A
VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY. FAT CHANCE.

THEY COULD TAKE IT UP
IN APPEAL IF THEY DON'T.

RICKEY KNOWS ALL THIS, RIGHT? WELL, I
ASSUMED HE DID BEFORE HE LEFT THE COUNTRY.

I DON'T TELL RICKEY WHAT
TO DO. DOES HE TELL YOU?

NO. BUT THERE ARE THINGS
THAT HE COULD ASK YOU FOR.

RICKEY AND I GO BACK A LONG
WAY... LONG BEFORE CARLA.

WE NEVER SAID
ANYTHING TO ANYBODY...

BECAUSE AT THE TIME I COULDN'T DEAL WITH MY
FATHER KNOWING I WAS SLEEPING WITH A BLACK BOY.

WE GOT TIRED OF KEEPING
SECRETS, SO WE BROKE UP.

I NEVER STOPPED LOVING HIM.

I WATCHED HIM GO OUT WITH OTHER
GIRLS, I WATCHED HIM MARRY ANOTHER GIRL,

AND I HATED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

IT WAS BECAUSE I TAUGHT MYSELF TO HATE HIM
THAT I AGREED TO TESTIFY AGAINST HIM IN COURT.

I OWE HIM FOR THAT.

YEAH. YEAH, THERE'S
THINGS HE COULD ASK ME FOR.

THEN IMAGINE THAT HE'S ASKING
YOU TO USE A LITTLE COMMON SENSE.

HE'S ON THE LAM.

RICKEY CAN'T TAKE 100 STEPS IN ANY
DIRECTION ANYWHERE WITHOUT BEING RECOGNIZED.

AND I PROMISE YOU,

HE'LL GET CAUGHT, AND HE'LL BE
EXTRADITED TO THE UNITED STATES,

WHERE HE WILL NOT
FIND A FRIENDLY JURY,

IF HE'S EVEN LUCKY ENOUGH
TO GET ANOTHER TRIAL.

NOW, THAT'S HIM.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOU.

SO FAR, YOU'RE GUILTY OF
FELONY AIDING AND ABETTING.

IF IT GOES TO TRIAL,

IN ALL LIKELIHOOD YOU WOULD BE
SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON.

WITH TIME OFF FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR, YOU
COULD CUT IT DOWN TO FIVE AND A HALF YEARS.

BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, ARE YOU
WILLING TO SPEND FIVE AND A HALF YEARS...

IN A WOMEN'S PRISON IN FRONTERA?

DO YOU OWE RICKEY
LATRELL THAT MUCH?

TELL ME WHERE HE IS, CHRISTINE.

HERE'S HIS ADDRESS.

I THINK MISS PHILLIPS IS READY
TO GO HOME. THAT'S GOOD.

FIND A SAFE PLACE FOR THAT BAG.

WHAT WAS IT YOU COULDN'T TALK
TO ME ABOUT OVER THE PHONE?

RICKEY'S GONE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, GONE?
THAT'S JUST WHAT I MEAN... GONE.

HE'S HOLED UP IN SOME PLACE IN
CUERNAVACA. HOW DO YOU KNOW?

THAT GIRL WAS ON
HER WAY TO MEET HIM.

I ASSUME MY BEING HERE MEANS YOU
WANT TO JOIN FORCES IN BRINGING HIM BACK.

RIGHT.

THE DIFFICULTY ENTAILED IN YOU SAYING
THAT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED BY ME.

I KNOW YOU'D PREFER NOT
TO BE INVOLVED WITH ME, JIMMY,

BUT THE FACT THAT YOU CALLED ME IN SHOWS ME
THAT YOU HAVE RICKEY'S BEST INTERESTS IN MIND.

IT ALSO SHOWS ME
THAT YOU'RE A LEADER.

ARE YOU COMING?

JIMMY CALLED EARLY THIS
MORNING. HE'S LOCATED RICKEY.

LOCATED HIM WHERE?

- HE DIDN'T SAY.
- DID HE SAY WHEN HE'D BE BACK?

NO. WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?

SIT TIGHT. THE JURY'S BACK.

SO MUCH FOR SITTING TIGHT.

- GOTTA BUY OURSELVES SOME TIME.
- IT'S GOTTA BE
A MEDICAL EXCUSE.

- WE NEED DOCTORS FOR THAT.
- WE'LL GET DOCTORS.

WHAT KIND OF MEDICAL EXCUSE?

IT APPEARS TO BE
GASTROENTERITIS, YOUR HONOR,

I'M SURE NOT UNRELATED TO
THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

GASTROENTERITIS WOULD BE WHAT,
EXACTLY, YOUR HONOR? A STOMACHACHE?

I WOULD ASK THAT THE PROSECUTION NOT
TRIVIALIZE THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS OUT OF HAND.

IS HE BEING TREATED BY A
PHYSICIAN, MR. DOCKNOVICH?

I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE.

ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT HE IS IN
SECLUSION AND RESTING COMFORTABLY.

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA
WHERE MR. LATRELL IS?

I DON'T. THE ONLY INFORMATION I HAVE IS WHAT HAS
BEEN CONVEYED TO ME BY MY COLLEAGUE MR. WYLER.

- AND WHERE IS MR. WYLER?
- DO YOU MEAN WHERE IS HE NOW?

NO, WHERE WAS HE
LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME?

UH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE
IS RIGHT NOW, YOUR HONOR.

IS IT POSSIBLE HE IS IN
SECLUSION WITH MR. LATRELL?

I WOULD ONLY BE SPECULATING.

YOUR HONOR, THE PEOPLE WOULD
ASK FOR A BENCH WARRANT TO ISSUE...

FOR THE DEFENDANT'S
IMMEDIATE ARREST.

YOUR HONOR, ALL WE ARE
ASKING FOR IS A CONTINUANCE...

UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR CLIENT IS WELL
ENOUGH TO APPEAR BEFORE THIS BENCH...

TO HEAR THE VERDICT READ.

GIVEN WHAT MY CLIENT HAS BEEN THROUGH, I
DON'T THINK THAT'S ENTIRELY OUT OF BOUNDS.

I WILL GRANT THE CONTINUANCE
UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 A.M.,

AT WHICH POINT I EXPECT MR. LATRELL
TO BE HERE IN THIS COURTROOM.

I'M GIVING YOU THE BENEFIT
OF THE DOUBT, MR. DOCKNOVICH.

IF I FIND MR. LATRELL HAS LEFT THE
JURISDICTION, AND YOU HAD KNOWLEDGE OF SAME,

I WILL HOLD YOU IN CRIMINAL
CONTEMPT OF COURT.

- IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?
- YES, YOUR HONOR. THANK YOU.

WE ARE ADJOURNED UNTIL 9:00 A.M.

LET ME TALK TO HIM.

HOW'D YOU FIND ME?

WITH A LOT LESS EFFORT THAN THE
F.B.I. IS GONNA BE WILLING TO EXPEND.

I'M NOT COMING BACK WITH YOU.

YOU CAN COME BACK WITH US, OR
YOU CAN BE BROUGHT BACK IN CUFFS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE
RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

- YOU THINK YOU CAN
OUTRUN THE FEDS?
- I DON'T KNOW.

UNLESS YOU'RE WILLING TO SIGN ON AS MOAMMAR
GADHAFI'S HOUSEBOY, IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF TIME.

- WHERE'S CHRISTINE?
- NOT COMING.

- WHAT ABOUT MY MONEY?
- IT'S NOT COMING EITHER.

- THAT'S MY MONEY!
- DELIVERING IT TO YOU WHILE
YOU'RE A FUGITIVE IS A FELONY.

- NOBODY'S GONNA COMMIT
A FELONY FOR YOU, RICKEY.
- BUT IT'S MY MONEY, JIMMY.

I GOT MONEY FOR YOU, RICKEY.

I'VE GOT A SOLID OFFER
FROM ORLANDO IN MY POCKET...

FOR $66 MILLION
OVER SEVEN YEARS.

THE ONLY CATCH IS, YOU GOTTA
PLAY BASKETBALL TO GET IT.

YOU CAN COME BACK HOME,
LET THIS MAN DO HIS WORK,

AND THERE'S A CHANCE
YOU'LL BEAT THIS RAP.

THAT HAPPENS, YOU'RE BACK ON TOP, YOUR
FAMILY'S COVERED, AND YOU'RE A STAR AGAIN.

YOU RUN AWAY, RICKEY, AND THERE'S NOT A
CHANCE IN HELL YOU'RE GONNA BEAT THIS THING.

THEN ALL YOU ARE IS A
NIGGER WITH A SUITCASE.

YOU CUT MY MONEY OFF.

THAT MEANS YOU'RE NOT ASKING ME TO COME
BACK WITH YOU. YOU'RE TELLING ME TO, RIGHT?

THAT'S THE FIRST SMART
THING YOU'VE SAID ALL DAY, SON.

ANYTHING TO DECLARE? NO.

SHORT VISIT. UNFORTUNATELY.

YOU'LL STAY WITH US NEXT TIME LONGER,
I HOPE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

ANYTHING TO DECLARE,
MR... ROWLANDS?

NO, SIR.

AND YOU GENTLEMEN ARE ALL
TRAVELING TOGETHER? YEAH.

THEN I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK
YOU ALL TO PLEASE STEP THIS WAY.

WHAT FOR? USING
A FALSE PASSPORT.

WHAT? THIS WAY, MR. LATRELL.

YOUR HONOR, WE'VE JUST
RECEIVED WORD FROM THE POLICE...

THAT MR. LATRELL'S CAR WAS FOUND
NEAR A PRIVATE TERMINAL AT L.A.X.

THAT FACT, COUPLED WITH THE DEFENDANT'S
FAILURE TO APPEAR THIS MORNING AS YOU ORDERED,

STRONGLY SUGGESTS
THAT HE'S A FUGITIVE.

ACCORDINGLY, I HAVE
INSTRUCTED THE L.A.P.D...

TO LOCATE MR. LATRELL AND
TO PLACE HIM UNDER CUSTODY.

MR. DOCKNOVICH?

YOUR HONOR, WE WOULD ASK THAT THE
COURT CONTINUE THIS MATTER UNTIL TOMORROW.

NOT IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS.
NOT AFTER WHAT I JUST HEARD.

I HAVE THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE THAT
MR. LATRELL WILL BE HERE TOMORROW.

FINE. THEN YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE A
PROBLEM WITH WHAT I'M ABOUT TO DO.

BAILIFF, TAKE MR. DOCKNOVICH
INTO CUSTODY UNTIL SUCH TIME...

AS HIS CLIENT
SEES FIT TO APPEAR.

SORRY WE'RE LATE, YOUR HONOR.
NO DISRESPECT MEANT TO THE COURT.

BAILIFF, BRING IN THE JURY.

- MR. FOREMAN, IS THIS
A TRUE AND CORRECT VERDICT?
- YES, IT IS.

WILL THE DEFENDANT PLEASE RISE?

HOW SAY YOU?

"WE, THE JURY, IN THE
ABOVE ENTITLED ACTION,

"THE PEOPLE VERSUS
RICHARD HAYES LATRELL,

"IN THE CHARGE OF MURDER
IN THE FIRST DEGREE,

"TO WIT, VIOLATION OF SECTION 187-A OF
THE PENAL CODE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA,

"AS CHARGED IN COUNT
ONE OF THE INFORMATION,

"THE PREMEDITATED AND DELIBERATE
TAKING OF ANOTHER HUMAN LIFE,

FIND THE DEFENDANT, RICHARD
HAYES LATRELL, NOT GUILTY."

- DO THE PEOPLE WISH THE JURY POLLED?
- NO, YOUR HONOR.

THE COURT THANKS THE JURY FOR ITS
TIME AND DILIGENCE. YOU ARE EXCUSED.

THIS COURT IS ADJOURNED.
PLEASE CLEAR THE COURTROOM!

GOOD JOB.

I HOPE THERE ARE
NO HARD FEELINGS.

ACTUALLY, THERE ARE PLENTY OF HARD FEELINGS,
BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

WE DID OUR JOB.

YOUR JOB IS TO BE AN
OFFICER OF THE COURT.

YOU JUST CONVINCED THIS
JURY TO PISS ON THE COURT.

TELL ME HOW YOU DID YOUR JOB.

WE PLAYED BY THE RULES. I'M SORRY IF
OUR TRIAL STRATEGY WASN'T TO YOUR LIKING.

IT'S NOT A MATTER
OF TRIAL STRATEGY.

IT'S A MATTER OF BEING ABLE TO JUSTIFY
ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING BY SAYING, "I WON."

CHRIS, I'M SURE YOUR PHONE'S GONNA BE RINGING
OFF THE HOOK WITH A LOT OF NEW BUSINESS.

SO LONG AS YOU CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT,
YOU GOT NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

WERE YOU SURPRISED
BY THE VERDICT?

WHAT ABOUT YOUR CAR AT THE AIRPORT?
WERE YOU, IN FACT, GOING TO FLEE?

UH, I JUST WANT TO THANK GOD
FOR THE WAY THINGS TURNED OUT.

FOR NEARLY 400 YEARS, THE BLACK MAN
IN THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN VICTIMIZED...

BY THIS AMERICAN
SYSTEM OF JUSTICE.

HE'S BEEN UNFAIRLY ACCUSED, UNFAIRLY
CONVICTED AND UNFAIRLY PUNISHED.

TODAY, A BLACK MAN RECEIVED SOME JUSTICE IN
THAT COURTROOM, AND FOR THAT WE'RE ALL GRATEFUL.

THANK YOU. SIR, I THINK THERE'S A
LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

JIMMY. YOU'RE LETTING YOUR YOUNG TURKS
HAVE A MOMENT IN THE SUN BY THEMSELVES.

I'D CALL THAT A GREAT
GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT.

ACTUALLY, I WAS TRYING TO GET AWAY BEFORE
THE END OF RICKEY'S "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH.

HE'S YOUNG, JIMMY.

DON'T BE TOO HARD ON HIM IF HE
BELIEVES SOME OF HIS OWN PUBLICITY.

NOW THAT MY DUTIES WITH REGARD TO
RICKEY HAVE BEEN FULLY DISCHARGED,

LET ME GIVE YOU A PIECE OF PARTING
ADVICE THAT YOU MIGHT CONVEY TO HIM.

NO MATTER WHAT GOT
SAID IN THAT COURTROOM,

NO MATTER WHAT GETS SAID IN THE ENDLESS
COMMENTARY THAT'S BOUND TO ENSUE,

IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD,
RICKEY GOT AWAY WITH MURDER.

I'D TELL HIM TO GO
EASY ON THE RHETORIC.

MR. WASHINGTON, WHEN YOU CHARACTERIZE
THE DECISION IN THE RICKEY LATRELL CASE...

AS "A BAD DAY FOR THE REPUBLIC,"

DON'T YOU RISK BEING
ACCUSED OF HYPERBOLE?

NO. NOT AT ALL.

WHAT WE WITNESSED
WAS A JURY RUN AMOK.

TWELVE PEOPLE WHO IGNORED
THE JUDGE'S INSTRUCTIONS,

IGNORED THE LAW OF THE
LAND AND SET A MURDERER FREE.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, EVERY
CITIZEN IN THE COUNTRY IS IN TROUBLE.

THAT JURY WAS COMPOSED OF
REASONABLE, RATIONAL MEN AND WOMEN.

YOU'RE A PROSECUTOR, MARK. WHAT'S GOT YOU
EXERCISED IS THEY CAME BACK WITH AN ACQUITTAL.

WHAT'S GOT ME EXERCISED IS WHAT WE'RE
LEFT WITH IS JURY-SANCTIONED MURDER.

WHERE IS EVERYBODY?

HI. HELLO.

CAN I, UH, HELP YOU
WITH SOMETHING?

NO. THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
I'M WAITING TO SEE JIMMY.

OKAY.

FROM WHERE I SIT, I FIND IT REASSURING
TO KNOW THAT THE FINDERS OF FACT...

EXAMINED THE EVIDENCE AND FOUND THEY COULDN'T
SUPPORT A CHARGE OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

THEY DIDN'T EVEN CONSIDER A LESSER
OFFENSE, AS THEY WERE INSTRUCTED TO DO.

THEY DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS MERITED.

WHAT THEY DID FEEL WAS THAT LATRELL ACTED
IN A KIND OF HYPER-ATTENUATED SELF-DEFENSE.

MS. CLEARY, THERE WASN'T A SPECK OF
EVIDENCE THAT LATRELL ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE.

LET ME INTERJECT HERE
AND ASK BOTH OF YOU...

TO WHAT EXTENT DID RACE
PLAY A ROLE IN THIS VERDICT?

IT DID PLAY SOME ROLE.

NOT A DISPOSITIVE ROLE. ARE
WE SITTING ON THE SAME PLANET?

THE DEFENSE KEPT UP A STEADY DRUMBEAT
OF RACIALLY LOADED WORDS AND PHRASES,

ALL DESIGNED TO EVOKE IMAGES
OF SLAVERY AND SEXUAL BONDAGE...

WITH THE EXPRESS PURPOSE
OF INFLAMING THE JURY.

MR. WASHINGTON'S
TUT-TUTTING NOTWITHSTANDING,

THE IMAGES THE DEFENSE EVOKED
WERE RELEVANT, AND THEY WORKED.

CASE CLOSED.

HI. HI.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS.

YOUR FORTUNES RISE
WHILE MINE PLUMMET.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU, PAIGE?

COULD I BEG A
MOMENT OF YOUR TIME?

LET'S GO TO MY OFFICE.

I NEED A JOB.

MY CAREER AT THE D.A.'s
OFFICE IS CERTAINLY OVER,

AND I HAVE A BIG
HOLE IN MY RÉSUMÉ.

I THOUGHT KEN HICKS WAS SETTING
YOU UP IN THE WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS.

I SEEM TO HAVE LOST MY
USEFULNESS TO KEN HICKS.

HE WON'T BE SETTING ME UP
ANYWHERE. FEEL FREE TO GLOAT.

GLOATING IS OVERRATED.
I PREFER TO LIVE WELL.

YOU NEED TO KNOW, JIMMY, THAT I WOULD
NEVER HAVE GONE THROUGH WITH THE COMPLAINT.

MY BACK WAS TO THE WALL,
AND I HAD NO OTHER WAY OUT.

I DON'T HAVE A JOB
FOR YOU, PAIGE.

BUT FOR THE PRICE OF AN ASSOCIATE,
YOU'D BE GETTING A SEASONED TRIAL LAWYER.

NO, THANKS. I KNOW
THE ROPES, JIMMY.

THAT SHOULD BE COUNTING
FOR SOMETHING. NOT ENOUGH.

DON'T GET PIOUS ON ME, JIMMY. YOU SWIM
IN THE EXACT SAME SEPTIC TANK THAT I DO.

THAT MAY BE SO. THEN
GIVE ME A CHANCE.

YOU DON'T KNOW ME. YOU
DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAN DO.

I KNOW WHEN YOUR BACK'S AGAINST THE
WALL, AS YOU PUT IT, I CAN'T TRUST YOU.

THAT'S ALL I NEED TO KNOW.

CONGRATULATIONS. WHAT
ARE YOU GUYS DOING HERE?

I THOUGHT YOU'D
BE OUT CELEBRATING.

BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, WE WANTED
TO COME BY AND JUST THANK EVERYBODY.

RIGHT IN THERE.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PUTTING THIS DIFFICULT
TIME BEHIND ME SO I CAN GET ON WITH MY LIFE...

AND, UH, HELP MY NEW
TEAM INTO THE PLAY-OFFS.

- WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS OF THE NEW CONTRACT, KEN?
- - SEVEN YEARS, $66 MILLION.

WHAT ABOUT COMMERCIAL
ENDORSEMENTS?

I CAN'T COMMENT ON THE SPECIFICS.
ALL I CAN SAY IS WE'RE VERY PLEASED.

- I BET YOU ARE.
- EVERYBODY? RICKEY'S HERE.

I THINK HE HAS SOMETHING
HE'D LIKE TO SAY TO YOU ALL.

CARLA AND I WANTED TO COME
OVER AND JUST THANK YOU ALL...

FOR THE FACT
THAT I'M A FREE MAN.

UM, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR
EVERYTHING I PUT YOU THROUGH.

AND ALL I CAN THINK
WAS, WHO WAS I KIDDING?

A BLACK MAN KILLS A WHITE MAN WHO
HAD A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT OF FRIENDS.

NO MATTER WHY IT HAPPENED, I FIGURED
THE BLACK MAN DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE.

I HAD MY BACK TO THE
WALL, I PANICKED, AND I RAN.

SO, THANK YOU, JIMMY
WYLER, FOR BRINGING ME BACK.

THANK YOU, AARON AND
CHRIS, FOR TRYING THIS CASE.

I KNOW YOU PUT YOUR HEART AND YOUR
SOUL INTO THIS, AND I OWE YOU MY LIFE.

AND, UH, THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

YOU FEEL PRETTY GOOD, CARLA?

GREAT, YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

HEY. I WANNA ASK
YOU A QUESTION, MAN.

WHAT'S UP? I DON'T WANT YOU
TO TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY.

YOU GOT A LOT OF CREDIT WITH ME,
MAN. YOU CAN ASK ANYTHING YOU WANT.

THIS IS JUST US NOW,
BROTHER. ALL RIGHT.

YOU THINK YOUR BEING BLACK WAS THE
REASON YOU WERE PROSECUTED FOR MURDER?

IT WASN'T THE REASON. YOU KNOW WHAT
I'M SAYIN'? THEN STOP TALKING LIKE IT WAS.

IT MATTERS TO A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE
WHAT YOU SAY. DON'T LIE TO THEM.

PEACE OUT, MAN.

THANK YOU.

JIMMY?

I WANT TO TELL YOU I THINK
YOU'RE A HELL OF A LAWYER.

- BOTH OF YOU.
- I FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT YOU.

I DIDN'T ALWAYS SEE
WHAT YOU GUYS SAW.

I DIDN'T ALWAYS WANT TO SEE IT. BUT YOU
KNEW WHAT YOU HAD TO DO, AND YOU DID IT.

IN VICTORY, EVERYONE'S A
GENIUS. TRUTH IS, WE GOT LUCKY.

ANOTHER JURY MIGHT HAVE
SENT HIM AWAY FOR 99 YEARS.

YEAH, BUT YOU WENT WAY
OUT ON A LIMB ON THIS ONE.

DOESN'T HURT THAT YOU WERE RIGHT,
BUT I JUST ADMIRE THE FACT THAT YOU DID IT.

HOW 'BOUT WE ALL
GO OUT FOR A DRINK?

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. YOU GUYS
GO. I'M GONNA TAKE A RAIN CHECK.

SO, HOW DID YOU GUYS
GET OUT OF CUERNAVACA?

CASH TRANSACTION.

YOU BRIBED THE
FEDERALES? SHAMELESSLY.

THE MORE I GET TO KNOW YOU, THE CLEARER IT
IS THAT YOU ARE ENTIRELY WITHOUT SCRUPLES.

I HAVE SCRUPLES. LIKE WHAT?

LIKE, UH,

I WOULD NEVER GET ROMANTICALLY
INVOLVED WITH A COWORKER.

NEVER? NEVER EVER.

EVEN IF THERE WERE ONE THAT
YOU WERE INCREDIBLY ATTRACTED TO?

NO MATTER WHAT THE
LEVEL OF ATTRACTION,

NO MATTER WHAT THE
LEVEL OF RECIPROCITY.

YOU COULD JUST SAY NO.

WELL, IF IT WAS A
COWORKER, I'D HAVE TO.

THEN YOU'RE RIGHT.
YOU DO HAVE SCRUPLES.

JUSTINE? HMM?

YOU'RE FIRED.