Quincy M.E. (1976–1983): Season 2, Episode 5 - The Two Sides of Truth - full transcript

How about explosion,
fire? Simple. Direct.

Oh, I know what
destroyed the body.

But is that what killed him?

Dr. Stone!

Oh!

[both chuckling]

Quincy, your Dr. Stone
just blew us out of the water.

I don't understand
you, Dr. Quincy.

If Dr. Stone is
willing to attest

that Mr. Farrell is
dead, it seems to me

that reasonable men
might expedite matters



by agreeing to issue an
immediate death certificate.

I'll nail you!

I only testify to what
I believe is possible!

You're not thinking
of killing him?

Gentlemen, you
are about to enter

the fascinating
sphere of police work:

the world of forensic medicine.

This court's calendar is predicated
upon witnesses being here

when their
testimony is required.

I assume the District
Attorney's office

is aware of that
very obvious fact.

Absolutely, Your Honor.

The medical examiner
assured me that he...

I don't know where he is.



I've sent someone
to look for him.

(Judge) The coroner's
office is three blocks away.

This court will
recess for 15 minutes.

That's five minutes
to travel each block.

My mother, who is
94 and in a wheelchair,

could travel that distance
with time to spare.

Yes, Your Honor.

All rise.

It never hurts to
have an irritable judge,

providing she's
irritated at the right side.

That medical examiner is
in for a rough time, Doctor.

The judge's attitude doesn't
interest me, Mr. Borland.

The evidence
matters, nothing else.

Quincy! Where's Schiller?

He was supposed to
be here 10 minutes ago.

His back went out.

He's gotta testify.

(Quincy) He can't move his neck.

One shoulder's
higher than the other.

His hands point south
while he's going north.

If his face was blue,

he'd look like an early Picasso.

Quincy...

Dr. Stone!

Oh!

[both chuckling]

Oh, I heard you moved back East.

That's when I retired.
I've moved back.

Oh, how's Edith?

Uh, none of us is young anymore.

Oh, your wife will
always be young.

Give her my love, will you?

Hey, listen, we have to
have dinner... the three of us.

I'll fix it on my boat.

I've followed your career

in the journals, even
in the daily papers.

I like to know how my
students are getting along.

Oh, Sam. Sam Fujiyama.

(Quincy) I'd like you to
meet Dr. Herbert Stone.

My pleasure, sir.

He taught me pathology.

Well, he taught me
everything I know.

I assume you're here to
represent the medical examiner.

Oh, well, I'm pinch-hitting.

I barely had a chance
to look at the material.

We'll talk later. If you
need more time to prepare,

I'm sure Mr. Borland
will agree to a delay.

Oh, I thought I recognized
that lawyer, Borland.

His tongue against your scalpel

in a cutting contest,
my money goes on him.

Sam, never mind him.

You may not realize
this, but this could be

one of the
highlights of your life.

Just being in the same
room with Herbert Stone.

The man is a giant.

And if you're gonna
play Jack the Giant Killer,

you better go over
these autopsy reports.

(Quincy) Now, this section
of the victim's pancreas

shows severe
injury to the organ,

possibly as a result of a blow

he received in the
automobile accident.

See.

The pancreas normally
secretes digestive juices

which flow into
the small intestine.

Now, in this case,
because of the injury,

those juices seeped into
the tissue of the pancreas,

and it began digesting itself.

Tell me, Dr., uh, Quincy... Yes.

Uh, could there be other causes

for what you indicate happened

to the poor
gentleman's pancreas?

Oh, yes, of course.
There's disease,

and certain natural processes.

(Quincy) But in this case
the evidence is quite clear.

Do you know Dr. Stone?

Yes.

(Borland) Uh,
and you're familiar

with the textbooks he's written?

I've memorized them.

I studied under Dr. Stone.

How would you rate
him as a pathologist?

Top of the list. He's the best.

No further questions,
Your Honor.

Lights, please.

Uh, the witness may step down.

(Stone) There is no question

that there is pancreatic
tissue destruction.

Would you say, Dr. Stone,

that a blow to the abdomen
could produce this condition?

Yes, it clearly could
result in this kind of injury.

(Stone) It could. However,
I don't believe it did.

I agree with Dr. Quincy

in that other conditions
can produce this effect.

(Stone) I depart

in that I am confident
what we are looking at,

here is the outcome
of a natural process.

(Borland) Your
witness, Counselor.

(Judge) Lights, please.

How do I show he's wrong?

I can't say he's wrong.

He's not just another
witness, you know.

He happens to be
Dr. Herbert Stone.

Counselor?

Uh, just one moment,
Your Honor, please.

Quincy, your Dr. Stone just
blew us out of the water, man.

What am I gonna say?

I don't know.

Oh, either he's wrong
or all of this is wrong.

Come on, man, this
whole case is riding on this.

It's a matter of interpretation.

Pathology is not always
an exact science, you know.

It's the importance
you give to a...

To a shadow or a faint line.

If it was anybody
else but Dr. Stone...

I have no further
questions, Your Honor.

Quince, I know he
was your teacher, but...

Professor. He was a
professor of pathology.

He could've been
wrong, couldn't he?

Of course, he
could've been wrong.

There's a better chance I am.

Just remember, I didn't
even prepare the slides.

It doesn't make too
much sense to me.

The department wouldn't
have pursued the case

unless it was sure.

Will you knock it off, Sam?

If Herbert Stone tells
you that black is white,

you better check your vision

before you start
arguing with him.

I still believe... Will
you knock it off?

(Alice) Sam.

Dr. Astin said I could stay.

Hey, that's great.

After all those things I broke.

Hey, don't say anything.

What?

Uh, I told him, uh, I did it.

Sam!

Oh.

(Sam) Oh.

Sam, what's the matter?

Uh, it's nothing.

I'll tell you later.
Uh, excuse me.

Sam, are you bleeding?

Oh, I-it's nothing.

Blood. He didn't say a word.

Well, they're right.
They are inscrutable.

It sure looks like
injury to the pancreas.

You know Quincy, letting
Borland defeat us today

doesn't do us any good.
It's bad for our image.

Yeah. I got a good shot at
an ax murderer next week.

You can get 3-to-1 in Las Vegas.

That'll be terrific
for your image.

Yeah, terrific.

Still, you know,
Dr. Schiller said

he gave you an airtight case.

Yeah, Dr. Stone arranged
for it to spring a leak.

Dr. Herbert Stone?

That's right.

Ah!

Well, Quincy, I'm
sure you did your best.

Thank you.

It just wasn't good enough.

You didn't win,
but we'll overlook it.

Uh, right now I want you

to get over to, uh,
Petrochem Refinery.

They had an accident.

An oil refinery? Was it bad?

Would I be sending
you there if it were good?

No.

[sirens wailing]

[fires raging]

[men clamoring]

(man) Hey, give me a hand!

I haven't been able to get
ahold of Farrell's wife yet.

Keep trying.

Got enough pictures there?

Sure have, Quince.

Okay, rush them
through. Well, you got it.

You finished? For now.

Can you give me
the cause of death?

Soon as I know.

How about explosion,
fire? Simple. Direct.

Oh, I know what
destroyed the body.

But is that what killed him?

What's the mystery?

The deceased, William Farrell,

vice president of
Petrochem Refineries.

Quincy, he was seen
by the gate guard

driving onto the grounds

10 minutes before the explosion.

That reminds me.

His glasses were
beside the body, broken.

And did you check into the car

to see if he had
an extra pair there?

You think he'll need them now?

Just check it out. Let me know.

[engine starting]

[siren wailing]

Were you able to
get a blood type?

The guy was burned so
badly, his blood cooked.

Hmm.

The test result's zilch.

Maybe I won't need it.

I'm getting Farrell's
medical history.

I'll check it against
our findings.

Mind if I take my,
uh, coffee break?

Now?

With Alice?

That's probably the
right name for it: break.

(Monahan) Morning, Sam.

Morning, Lieutenant.

Sgt. Brill told me

you were interested
in Farrell's glasses.

Yeah, I've been running
tests for two days.

The glasses belong to Farrell.

I don't know if the body did.

Oh, fill me in on it.

Well, a guy as
near-sighted as Farrell

always carries an
extra pair of glasses.

Do you know what would happen

if he broke the pair of
glasses he was wearing?

He'd be practically blind.

Is that all you've got to go on?

Did you find a second pair?

I don't believe you, Quincy.

You mean, you're holding
up on a death certificate

because a... a pair of
glasses are missing?

I have a hunch
I'll find a lot more

when I finish the
tests I'm running.

[glass shattering]

Sam's having coffee.

Look, Farrell was
called to the plant

because a foreman there,
he suspected a gas leak.

Now the arson boys
checked out everything,

and it all adds up

to an accident, nothing else.

I'm not satisfied.

Oh, you never are.

Quincy, the guy could
have broken his glasses

the day before he died.

Yes, he could've, but I
called his optometrist,

and he hadn't
ordered a new pair.

I don't believe you.

Lieutenant, how are you?

Great, great.

I'll tell you, if my job was
paid on the basis of piecework

instead of a flat salary,

Quincy here would
make me a rich man.

Quincy, I just got a call

from an attorney,
uh, Martin Borland.

He's been retained by
William Farrell's widow

to, uh, force issuance
of a death certificate,

so that the, uh,

woman can collect her
husband's insurance.

Why, is Farrell dead?

Well, at this point
I sure hope so,

because you examined
him. Now isn't he?

I'm doing that new
pubic symphysis section.

This is the first slide.
Take a look at it.

I know we haven't
tested this in court yet,

but I feel strongly

we can establish that
victim was in his 205.

Well, I see what you mean.

It's, uh, very interesting,

but I wouldn't call
that conclusive.

Well, I would say it was
strongly suggestive that

the, uh, victim might
be a younger man.

Look, if Mr. Borland...

I'll check for basement-membrane

alterations with an
electron microscope.

Quincy, that'll take days.

You know, you'll
tie up the whole lab.

Uh, the slide is very nice,

but it is only
suggestive evidence,

so on what basis are you
going to give me such chaos?

On the basis of
our need to be sure.

[knocking on door]

Quincy.

[woman chattering]

Dr. Stone, I presume? Hmm.

How are you, sir?

I am Dr. Astin.

Good morning, Quincy,

I was delighted to hear that
we'd be working together.

The Farrell case?

Yes, I've been retained
to represent Mrs. Farrell.

Of course I'm sure I'll
agree with your findings

after I've examined
the tissue samples.

Dr. Stone, if I may say so, sir,

I am very honored
to have you here.

Now, you may not be familiar
with, uh, Dr. Quincy's work,

but I'm sure
you'll find he is a...

I trained him.

Quincy, if you could give me

whatever materials
you've put together,

I could go right to work.

Sam, you are a disgrace.

I not only run a tight ship,

but a neat ship.

I expect the
appearance of my people

to reflect credit
on our department.

Now clean up.

See you later, sir?

Oh, uh, excuse me.

Sit down, sir.

Thank you.

So this is really
a beautiful lab.

Okay.

A man could do good work here.

I had a lab just like
this for 37 years,

before I retired.

I know.

It doesn't belong to you.

You're only permitted
to use it as long as you...

You ever thought of going
back into private practice?

Oh, n-not any more than you
thought about leaving the university.

Hmm, I'll take the specimens,

and maybe you could
arrange a small room

with a microscope
where I could study them.

You're gonna use mine.

I want you to see this
pubic-symphysis slide.

Now there are
bone abnormalities...

I'll look at the
slides in private.

I'm perfectly capable of
reaching my own conclusions.

You wouldn't want
me to be influenced

by my personal feelings
for you, now, would you?

Oh, no... no... no. Look,
I'm so excited about this...

Good. Just so long
as we both understand

that we're going into
an adversary hearing

where we'll be
representing opposite sides.

Well, how can there
be two sides to truth?

Maybe you could show
me into some room

where I could work undisturbed.

Sure, I'd be glad to. Good.

Adam, show Dr. Stone
to the serology lab, please.

Sure thing.

I'll be eager to
hear your findings.

I'll report them to Dr. Astin.

Oh! My, that was a close call!

Hi, Alice.

Hi.

Oh, Alice.

I'll clean it up.

No. No, I'll handle it.

I don't understand
you, Dr. Quincy.

If Dr. Stone is
willing to attest

that Mr. Farrell is dead,

it seems to me reasonable
men might expedite matters

by agreeing to issue an
immediate death certificate.

Who says I'm reasonable?

Well, that'll be the
day. Right, gentlemen?

Quincy, Dr. Stone has
examined the tissues.

He finds no evidence
to support your position.

But the pubic
symphysis is evidence.

(Astin) Inconclusive.

You pointed out the
abnormality yourself.

Yeah, but I have other slides.

Quincy, your dedication
makes me proud

that you were my student.

However, there does come a time

when one must back down.

(Stone) In this case,

in light of the circumstances
surrounding Farrell's death,

failure to issue
a death certificate

is unwarranted
harassment for the widow.

But, Dr. Stone,

if we say that Farrell
died in that fire,

the case is closed.

Now if we're mistaken
in our identification,

we may never know
who the dead person is.

A murderer may go free.

You never taught me

to practice forensic
pathology that way.

You're confusing stubbornness
with principle, Quincy.

Well, maybe I am.

I just can't see it, that's all.

Dr. Astin, I have great respect

for Dr. Quincy's tenacity,

but I can't allow my
client to be harmed,

so that he can indulge
in some baseless crusade

for what he alone conceives
to be truth and justice.

I don't believe that I am alone.

I'm sure Dr. Stone
agrees that there is doubt

about the identity
of the victim.

Oh, I'm afraid I can't
agree with any such thing.

Dr. Astin, I believe
you have the authority

to order a death
certificate issued.

No, he doesn't... he doesn't
have that kind of authority,

not without an inquest.

Not when the
examining pathologist

questions the cause of death.

Then I would hope, doctor,
that you schedule the inquest

as soon as possible.

An inquest?

To spare this poor widow
any additional suffering. Yes.

An inquest.

Would Thursday at
2:00 be soon enough?

What are you... I need
more time than that!

Thursday would be fine, Doctor.

Dr. Quincy, schedule
it for Thursday.

Sam, you all right?

Yeah.

Watch where you're kneeling.

Hi, Dr. Quincy.

Hi. Excuse me.

Hey, where are you going?

To see Mrs. Farrell,
the phantom's widow.

Oh.

(Quincy) Mrs. Farrell, I
know this is difficult for you,

but it could be important to me

if I could find out something

about your husband's
medical history.

Well, surely you've learned
the name of his doctor.

He would be a better source.

I spoke to his doctor.

Except for his eyes,

your husband was
in very good condition.

Then you've answered
your own question.

Except that it doesn't jell
with what I've been finding.

I understand that
you and your husband

traveled out of the
country a great deal.

Latin America, Indonesia.

Were there any medical incidents

he didn't tell his doctor about?

I don't know.

I... I don't know what he
discussed with his doctor.

This is your profession.

You deal with death every day.

Are you aware of its
effect on the living?

The pain, confusion,
the torment.

Why are you adding to it?

I don't mean to.

[sighing]

The police...

The police officer asked
m-me about Bill's glasses.

He said that you
were interested.

Yes, I am.

Well, I was, uh, I was upset.

I... I wasn't thinking clearly.

Bill had broken the
bridge piece the morning...

The day that it happened.

[sighs]

I said I'd have them fixed.

I just... I never
got around to it.

They've been here in
his study all the time.

W-Would they be
of any help to you?

Yes, they will.

Good.

Then can I expect you to
end this dreadful ordeal?

Well, there will be an inquest.

Because of your stubbornness.

My attorney told me

that everyone was
in agreement but you.

I'm sorry.

Sorry?

Well, I don't
accept your apology

because if you were sorry,
you would stop all of this.

I...

I can't discuss this
with you anymore.

I really am sorry.

[door closing]

[sighing]

We could be in trouble.

You said we couldn't
be, that there was no way.

I still think so, but
there's too much

riding on this to take a chance.

Bill, you're not
thinking of killing him?

No, you don't use
blasting powder

to open a tin of sardines.

It's enough if
Dr. Quincy is unable

to continue his activities

for the next several days.

[crashing]

(woman on PA system) Please
report to the nurses' station,

What are you
sneaking around for?

I thought you were asleep.

I didn't wanna disturb you.

How are you feeling?

Okay.

How can you sleep in a hospital?

Every time you nod off,

the nurse wakes up to
give you a sleeping pill.

Turn on the light, will you?

Will you pick up the weight?

Sure it's all right?

Pick it up, will you?

[Quincy groaning]

Besides, I don't wanna
sleep, I wanna talk to you.

What took you so
long to get here?

I had important
crimes to take care of.

Oh, somebody tried to kill me.

That's not important?

Quincy, you walked
in on a burglar.

He slugged you because
you blocked his way out.

When he was hiding.

Why didn't he wait?
I might have left.

If he wanted to kill
you, why didn't he?

I don't know.

Why don't you find
him and ask him?

Look, in the past
couple of months,

there's been at least six
boats ripped off down here.

Yeah, what'd he
take off my boat?

Just your stereo.

Probably some hyped-up
kid needin' money for a fix.

Did he take my binoculars?

No.

Well, they're pretty expensive.

I had a spare microscope
under the table.

Did he take that?

It's still there.

Don't you see?

If he was a burglar, he
would have taken everything.

It was just a cover-up.

Will you stop trying
to make a conspiracy?

Now be glad you scared him off,

or he would have
ripped you off completely.

You're lucky.

I'm lucky?

My head feels like
it's busted wide open.

My back feels like

somebody's driving
a 10-inch spike in it,

and you say I'm lucky?

Quincy,

if whoever was on that
boat wanted you dead,

you wouldn't be breathing
very good right now.

You were out cold.

They could have done anything.

What about the glasses?

Well, I don't know.
I didn't see 'em.

Maybe the burglar took 'em.

Not mine. Farrell's.

Isn't it just marvelous

that his missing pair
of glasses turn up

soon as there's a little
heat put on the case?

I mean, when is a coincidence
too coincidental for you?

When you get
your teeth into one,

and won't let it
die a natural death.

Goodbye, Quincy.

I'll let you know the results
of Thursday's inquest.

What results? I'm
gonna be there.

Maybe.

Maybe?

Oh, boy.

I don't believe it.

[phone ringing]

Sam here.

Sam, Quincy.

Well, I feel lousy. That's
why I'm in the hospital. Yeah.

How are you doing

with those sections for
the electron microscope?

Astin said to stop work on that.

Why did Astin do that?

Well, you forget
it. Get right back.

Yes, I want you back on the job.

Now keep it cooking.

Yes, sir.

That's right. I... I want the
epoxy resin polymerized in section

when I come back to
the lab on Thursday.

Quincy, I'm liable to get fired.

Sam, you got your choice.

You can be fired
Thursday by Astin

when he finds out or
get fired by me now.

Right.

Call me tomorrow
and give me a report.

[knocking on door]

Come in. I'll talk to you then.

You got accident
insurance, Quincy?

Hang this up for me, will you?

What'd they do? Demote you?

Now you're selling insurance

instead of investigating claims?

No. I'm just being friendly,

and I just wanna
see if you're covered,

but not by my company.

Listen, take that weight,
put it on the rope, will ya?

Oh, yeah.

Here we are.

At the rate you thieves
charge for insurance,

I can't afford to be
covered or uncovered.

Here you are.

Does this mean we're engaged?

I just hope we're on
the same side this time.

What does that mean?

You're up against Herbert Stone

in the Farrell case, aren't you?

Yeah.

You're, uh, buddy-buddy, right?

What is it, Max?

I'm going after him, Quincy.

I don't want you
to get in my way.

Wait a minute. I mean,
he's not a criminal.

He's not Public
Enemy Number One.

Maybe he's not that to you

But Stone has testified on
four of my company's cases

in the last six months,

and every time he's blasted us.

Now they were small
cases, but I get the pattern.

He's your original "Have
microscope, will testify to anything."

Max, he's truly one
of the great, honorable

men in pathology.

You've flipped out.

Quincy,

you're remembering
the Stone of years ago.

This is a different guy.

He's hustling
expert witness fees

and using all kinds of ruses.

I know the type.

You're ripping into Stone

because he testified
against your company.

He cost you a few bucks,
not even your money...

Yours, Quincy. Everybody's.

We all have to foot
the bill for fraud.

And we all have to pay the
tab in higher insurance rates.

I'm not touched
with your concern

for my insurance costs.

I know Herbert Stone.

The Farrell case is big time

$1 million is involved.

Maybe a murder thrown
in to make it interesting.

You wouldn't let your
friendship with Stone

get in the way of a heavy
thing like that, would you?

You just got in the way
of our friendship, Max.

I'm very tired. Do you mind?

Okay, Quincy. See you around.

[door closing]

Hello. Finished?

Oh, a long time ago.

Do you know this hospital

has made a major
breakthrough in science?

What's that?

It has managed
to make grapefruit,

orange juice,
eggs, bacon, toast,

and coffee taste like...
Oatmeal. Oatmeal.

Oh, you've heard it
before? I've heard it before.

Hope you can change this.

[woman chattering on PA system]

Hey, feeling better, huh?

Well, two visits from
the busiest cop in town.

I'm flattered.

I just wondered how you
were feeling. That's all.

I feel pretty good,

but you'd be one lousy crook,
'cause you're a rotten liar.

Look, I was talking
to the doctor.

He wants you to stay in
the hospital till Monday

for more tests.
It's very important.

Well, the inquest
is important, too.

Astin says he doesn't
need you there.

He doesn't need me there.

That's what he thinks,
'cause I'm gonna be there.

Look, Quincy,

I've been thinkin' about, uh,

what you mentioned
about that thief.

I think maybe somebody's
trying to kill you.

Oh, out of the blue
you believe me now.

Well, I know what
you're trying to pull.

And you won't get away with it.

You can't keep me here.

Sorry.

Court order.

You're under protective custody.

Now you stay here
until the doctor says

it's okay for you to leave.

Who do you know that's
big enough to keep me here?

Garcia.

Hey, you just
relax, take it easy.

You'll feel fine.
I'll see you later.

(woman on PA system) Dr. Pierce,

report to OR. 3, please.

Dr. Pierce, please
report to OR. 3.

Hi, Garcia.

[phone ringing]

Hello. Danny's.

This is Quincy.
Where have you been?

What do you mean, "where
have I been?" Right here.

Then why didn't you
answer the phone?

It rang twice and I'm
answering the phone.

It rang six times.

Six, two.

Listen, the phone isn't
attached to my ear, you know.

All right, listen.

You gotta sneak me
out of this hospital.

Yeah. What's the matter?

You don't wanna
pay your hospital bill?

Will you stop with the
jokes? Now do what I tell you.

Yeah, but, Quincy, how, what...

You know, I never been involved

with no hospital break.

This will be your maiden effort.

Now we're gonna
need Sam to help us.

I gotta get out of here.

[whispering] Okay,
here's what we'll do.

(woman on PA
system) Dr. Roberts,

report to Emergency, please.

Dr. Roberts, please
report to Emergency.

Who is that?

Dr. Quincy.

He wasn't seriously injured.

He was due to be
released in three days.

You know how fast it can happen.

How much time do we have?

10 minutes.

Dr. Stone is waiting
in the inquest room.

I want you to tell him
that I have to talk to him.

It's very important.

I'll be in the counselor's room.

Quincy, whatever you
want to say to Stone,

he doesn't want to hear.

You're only going to make
it rough on him or yourself.

I gotta find out, Sam, please.

I was distressed to hear
about your accident, Quincy.

Thank you.

I didn't pull you out
of the inquest room

to discuss the
state of my health.

Quincy, my good friend,

it's obvious why you
called me in here.

Obvious, unnecessary,
and unwise.

Please...

In just a few minutes,
very few minutes,

the inquest will be underway.

We can present
our opposing views

for a fair-minded
public resolution.

Why should we subject ourselves

to the unpleasantness of
a private disagreement?

Because I have to understand.

It's driving me crazy.

I mean, I know you.

I know how you look at things.

I know what you are.

Okay.

Also I want to tell
you what I've got.

I told you this is an
adversary hearing.

You present your
evidence. I'll present mine.

We are not adversaries.
We're doctors.

Our only adversary is
disease or bad medicine,

or lies.

[sighs]

Please hear me out.

I'm going to put Farrell's
doctor on the stand.

I'm going to establish
his physical condition

and his medical record.

I will rule out the possibility

of any bone abnormality

affecting the pubic symphysis.

Now that victim was at least
10 years younger than Farrell.

You're wasting my time.
I've looked at your slides.

I differ with your
interpretation.

That's not all. I
ran other tests.

I will listen to whatever
you have to say

when that court convenes.

Now will you please
move away from that door?

No, I won't have you hurt.

I have evidence.

Doctor, I could have
you up on charges

before the ethics committee
of the Path. Society.

Your behavior

is... is incredible!

The only charitable view is that

you have temporarily
lost your sanity.

And what have you lost?

What happened to that
doctor with the open mind,

the one who believed

that the search for truth

was the highest goal
a man could achieve?

I see no need to defend myself.

There's no point in
continuing this conversation.

I'm not doing this for my sake.

I'm pleading with you
not to go out on a limb.

Here it is.

I have electron-microscopic
evidence

that is absolutely conclusive.

You consider the
symphysis slides conclusive.

My confidence in your judgment

is long gone.

Do you know the kind of
reputation you're getting?

Max Wilbur, the top insurance
fraud investigator, said it.

He said, "Stone
has a microscope,

and will testify to anything."

You're insulting.

I'm sorry.

But I can't let you get
on that witness stand,

and paint yourself
into a corner.

Now believe me, I have evidence

that you cannot refute.

If, as I suspect,
your evidence is

of a caliber with your
recent performance,

I will most certainly testify

that the pathological findings

are not inconsistent with those

that might be found in
a man of Farrell's age,

and possible physical condition.

"Not inconsistent with."

"Might be present."

"Possible physical...
Do you hear yourself?

Those are the words that
cut the hard edge off the truth.

I always leave
an area for doubt.

I consider none
of us infallible.

I'll crucify you.

It won't be a lawyer
asking you those questions.

It'll be me. What'll
you answer then?

With the truth, as I see it.

As I always have.

"Oh, not inconsistent
with." "Might be present."

"Possible physical con..."

I won't let you get
away with those words.

I'll nail you!

I only testify to what
I believe is possible!

It is impossible for
the man who died

in that fire to be Farrell!

Who do you think
you're talking to?

Some 3rd-year medical student?

I'm Herbert Stone.

37 years of my life

have been spent in the
single-minded pursuit

of knowledge and honesty.

I can prove that with
the imitation parchment

scroll given me
by the university

when I was forcibly
retired at the age of 65.

Oh, I had saved a little
of my professor's salary.

Though occasionally,

I had advanced money to students

who were in some difficulty.

They were not all
like you, Quincy,

in the matter of repaying.

I left the university with $300.

I may have lost some of
my certainty at that point.

If it's a question of
money, maybe I...

Absolutely not.

I'm in private practice now.

I make a great deal of money

by stating that all
things are possible.

I will not go hat in hand
to anyone, ever again.

My wife is terminally ill.

She's confined to bed,

needing nursing
care around the clock.

She'll have that, Quincy.

She'll have anything
she needs or wants.

That is one point
I am certain about.

I'm due at the inquest.

(bailiff) All rise.

This coroner's inquest
will please come to order.

Kindly be seated.

Case number
15211. William Farrell.

Dr. Astin?

Pardon me?

I would like to correct
the record, please.

Case 15211. John Doe.

The identity of the victim
has not yet been established.

We stand corrected. So ordered.

(Astin) The purpose of any
inquest is to bring to light

pertinent information
surrounding a death.

However, in this case,

the issue is less
the cause of death

than the identity
of the deceased.

While this is not
a court of law,

It is a legal court of inquiry.

Subpoenaed witnesses will
be questioned under oath.

And, uh, Dr. Quincy

is the presiding
medical examiner.

Dr. Quincy, would
you state for the record

the official cause of death?

The subject was
killed during a fire

and explosion at the
Petrochem Refinery

on April 27,
approximately 8:00 pm.

Exact cause of death:

extreme physical trauma
due to the explosion.

The body of the victim was
burned beyond recognition,

so the usual means of
identification were useless.

May I, Dr. Astin?

Even the teeth gave no
clues about the dental work

or even pathology in sit...

The point was made

that the victim
was William Farrell.

I would like the jury to study

this recent photograph
of Mr. Farrell.

(Quincy) You will notice
that he is a man of about, uh...

Oh.

Sam.

Uh, to save time,
we will stipulate

that Mr. Farrell
was 37 years of age,

and in good health at
the time of his death.

Oh, no... no, Mr. Borland.

Thank you very much,
but, no, thank you.

Since we have not
established his death,

and I don't really want
a vague stipulation

about his good health,

I think the jury's
entitled to the specifics

of his physical condition.

I call Dr. Albert Freeman.

Dr. Albert Freeman.

Why did Quincy
refuse the stipulation?

I don't know.

Could he have something
we don't know about?

I can't answer that.

He's a very
resourceful pathologist.

So are you,

and have already been very
well paid for your resources.

I'm depending on them.

(Astin) Albert Freeman, M.D.

Dr. Freeman, how long were you

William Farrell's
personal physician?

When's the last
time you saw him?

12 years.

I saw him most
recently five weeks ago.

How often did you see him
when he was your patient?

Invariably, for an
annual physical checkup.

(Freeman) Occasionally,
to treat some acute condition

of flu, bronchitis,

once a very mild
case of food poisoning.

Mr. Farrell enjoyed
remarkably good health.

No sign of chronic illness?

None.

Now when he came to you
for these annual physicals,

did you give him
the routine urinalysis,

blood chemistry,
chest x-rays, EKG?

Of course.

And they were all normal?

That's correct.

No pathology, no
question of disease?

None.

Thank you, Doctor.

Your witness.

I didn't hear anything
in Freeman's testimony

to hurt us, did you?

[whispering] Quincy's
setting the stage.

For what?

He said he'd done
some additional tests.

Mr. Borland?

One moment.

[whispering] You're the expert.

Do I try to take his
testimony apart?

You can't.

No questions.

(Astin) The witness
may step down.

(Borland) You guaranteed

that William Farrell
died in that fire.

No... no... no, I guaranteed

there'd be no proof
to the contrary.

I'll stand on that statement.

That's good enough.

Circumstantial evidence
that it was Farrell

will prevail absent
proof to the contrary.

(Astin) Dr. Quincy.

Ladies and gentlemen,

you just heard
William Farrell's doctor

testify that Mr. Farrell

suffered from
no chronic illness.

Now I don't want
to get technical,

but I have to try to make you
understand what we're going to do.

I'm going to show you film of
transmission electron microscope findings.

Sam, get the slide ready.

What's he got?

Probably a basement membrane.

I don't want medical code words.

I have to see the slide.

See it? Hell, you're gonna
have to shoot it down.

Now this slide is a
section of a normal arterial

from bone marrow.

This is the basement membrane.

See how thin it is,
well defined? You see?

Give me the next
slide, will you, Sam?

This is a similar section,
only this was taken

from the decedent, the membrane.

Look how thick.
It's thick because...

How do I tell you?
It's filled with sickness.

We call it flocculent
irregular hyaline thickening,

but it's sickness.

This condition never,
now I repeat, never,

occurs unless
the subject suffers

from diabetes mellitus.

The victim who died
in that fire had diabetes.

Now we're not talking
about some exotic disease

that might be overlooked
or misdiagnosed.

We're talking about diabetes,

a common, readily
recognizable entity,

a disease from
which William Farrell

did not suffer.

And that's why I
say it's impossible

that it was William
Farrell who died in that fire.

This is where you earn
your money, Doctor.

Dr. Astin,

Dr. Quincy is a highly
qualified pathologist,

but his conclusions don't
always have the force

of the Sermon on the Mount.

Now he's led
this jury to believe

that this slide presents
irrefutable evidence,

and that is not so.

Oh, really?

Then you are
prepared to refute it?

Yes, I am. Indeed.

(Borland) Not personally,

but via one of the most
distinguished pathologists

in this country,
Dr. Herbert Stone.

Now, just a minute.

Dr. Stone, do you
refute the evidence

that Dr. Quincy's
presented on that slide?

(Astin) Dr. Stone,

are you prepared
to take the stand

and state under oath

that the consequence of diabetes

have not been demonstrated here?

I'll take the stand.

Dr. Stone, before you testify,

I would like you
to take a look at...

Oh, my back. Sam. My back.

Dr. Quincy, are you all right?

Well, this spasm came
back from the blow.

Would it help to lie down?

We could take a small recess.

Thank you. Good. Get me out
of here. Very good, thank you.

Mr. Borland, Dr. Quincy's
been in an accident.

I know you won't mind if
we recess for half an hour.

It will take an hour,
about an hour to get the...

(Astin) Whatever will
help. This inquest stands

adjourned until
3:20 this afternoon.

(bailiff) All rise.

Wait out here, Sam.

You have 35 minutes.

Thanks for reminding me.

May I come in, please?

Is the inquest over?

As far as you're
concerned, it is.

What do you want?

Your husband.

If that's a joke, it's
in very poor taste.

Murder always is.

Look, lady, I don't
have time to play games.

I want you to leave.

A man was killed
by your husband.

Don't insult my intelligence by telling
me you don't know what I'm talking about.

You two stood
to gain $1 million.

You're a very special
person, Dr. Quincy.

I have never met anyone

who would intrude
on the grief of a widow

with a wildly unreal,

unsubstantiated
accusation of murder.

I'm not angry, I am
just numb with shock.

Yeah, knock it off.

I presented irrefutable
medical evidence at the inquest

that the man that
died in the fire

was not your husband.
I don't believe you.

I can't help the
man who is dead,

but there is a man who
will be as good as dead

if I don't get your cooperation.

He'll go on that witness
stand. And he'll perjure himself,

and he'll destroy a lifetime
of honor and decency,

and I'm not going
to let that happen.

I don't know who you're
talking about and I don't care.

Oh, I know you like to
keep your victims nameless,

but hear this.

The police know that
Farrell is not dead.

They're gonna keep looking.

The insurance company
knows that he's not dead.

They're not going to pay off.

Let's face it, sister.

You're a loser.

I'll give you one more
chance, no guarantees.

But you tell me
where your husband is.

I'll do what I can for you.

Just words. You can't
prove I've done anything.

I don't wanna listen to you.

But you're
listening, aren't you?

Because you know
you have no choice.

When they catch up with Farrell,

and they're gonna
catch up with him,

you'll get what he gets.

You help me, I'll
help you. I swear.

Otherwise, it's murder one.

You could be lying about
proving that Bill's alive.

Call the coroner's
office. Inquest Room 3.

Ask to speak to your
lawyer. He'll tell you.

Your case is lost.

(Monahan) Get down here!

What are you trying
to do, break my back?

What are you doing here?

I've got five minutes to make
sure you guys get Farrell,

or I'm in contempt of Astin.

Where is he?

Shh. He's in there. Come on.

Brill.

Hey, get that girl out of there.

There's gonna be trouble.

That girl is
Policewoman Billings.

She's got a gun
under those towels.

She's captured four criminals
in the past three years.

[gun cocking]

(Farrell) Who is it?

Maid.

Freeze.

Walk towards me, slowly.

Turn around, up
against the wall.

That's an old man
with no glasses.

He must be wearing
contact lenses.

You'll feel more
comfortable with these.

Take him away, Brill.

Oh, well...

What's bugging you now?

We may never know
who died in that fire.

Oh, Quincy.

I'm sorry.

I just saw Dr. Astin.

Really?

Yeah, he offered me a job.

Consultant pathologist
to the department.

I'd be working on
problems arising

from differences
between staff pathologists,

special situations,
that sort of thing.

Sounds very interesting.

I guess it doesn't pay too well?

I wouldn't get rich. Who does?

But it must have
its compensations.

You think I should take it?

Oh, I couldn't advise
you what to do, Dr. Stone,

but if Astin recommended it,

I'd kinds go along with it.

Particularly when you
were responsible for it.

Oh, no. Dr. Astin's a
very independent man.

He's very stubborn.

Sure, sure. Thanks, Quincy.

Thanks for everything.

Now, Is there anything
I should know about?

[crashing]

Never ask Alice
to bring you coffee.