Quincy M.E. (1976–1983): Season 5, Episode 7 - Mode of Death - full transcript

The Constitution guarantees
us freedom of religion.

We're doing the Lord work.

Frank Osborn was found
dead in a motel room.

You mean the evangelist
who on TV all the time?

You haven't listed a mode
of death on the certificate.

I can't tell yet.

Don't you guys realize
what at stake here?

Why are you so anxious to
have his death ruled a suicide?

We also need to
examine his personal files.

You're in league with those other
government investigators, aren't you?

But these results aren't
going to satisfy anyone.



We'll have another Jonestown.

Well, that's your
responsibility. Isn't it?

Mr. Osborn, do you have any
comment on the Government investigation

of the Devine World Church?

I think it's disgraceful,
harassment of the worst kind.

The Constitution guarantees
us freedom of religion,

and the government
got no business infringing

on the separation
of church and state.

What about the charges
of financial abuses

and the possible loss of
your tax-exempt status?

That absolutely unfounded!

We're doing the Lord work,

and in the final analysis that is the
only judgment I'm concerned about.

Mr. Osborn, how does your
congregation feel about this?



Have the donations
to your church fallen off

as a result of
the investigation?

-Mr. Osborn
-I'm sorry, that all.

Mr. Osborn isn't feeling well...

Just a couple of more
questions, Mr. Osborn.

What about the records...

Those were the only
comments by Franklin Osborn,

founder and leader of
the Devine World Church,

one of the largest evangelical
organizations in the country.

From the church
headquarters in Los Angeles,

this is Ted Mackenzie
for the 5:00 news.

- Mark.
- Yeah?

These colonies are
oxidized positive.

The Hardy case?

You want me to run an ID on the
bacteria and see if that still amounts?

Yes, I do, because if
it is, it's malpractice.

Where are the levels for
your internal standard?

Run it again, will you?
With the standard this time.

Sam, how are you coming
on the Beecher case?

Just about done.

It looks like mercury
poisoning after all.

Okay. That's one
less we've got to do.

I never had so many
people working in the lab.

But if we don't catch
up on our backlog

before Asten comes down
here and raises the roof.

Why does he always give us
more cases than anyone else,

and the hardest ones too?

I think you're his
favorite, Quincy.

I wish he hated me.

I'll tell you one thing I'm
not gonna take it anymore.

- Quincy!
- Yes, sir.

- I have to talk to you.
- I know, we're way behind.

But I've got everyone
going full speed,

and we'll work all night
to finish if we have to,

- I promise.
- It isn't that.

I want you to drop
everything you're working on.

Something very
important come up.

Are you kidding? What
about all these cases?

Don't worry about them,
they'll just have to wait.

So, what if we
are a little behind?

What could be that important?

This is going to be
a very sensitive case.

Quincy, Frank Osborn was found
dead in a motel room this morning.

The police say it
looks like suicide.

You mean the evangelist
who on TV all the time?

That right. Osborn
had millions of followers,

and the government probe

of their finances has
been very controversial.

Now you'd better get over
to that motel right away.

Monahan waiting for you there.

But I can't stop in the
middle of these tests,

or they'll all have to
be done over again.

Don't you worry, just go.

We'll find someone
to take care of them.

I wonder who he
going to pick on now.

Tell you one thing,
it's not gonna be me.

- Sam?
- Yes sir.

That'll be a dollar deposit.

I'm here on official business.

You and those cops you're
gonna take up all my space...

Hi. What's the story?

He checked in
yesterday afternoon,

and left his car in
the lot next door.

The desk clerk came in after
checkout time this morning

to see if he wanted to stay
another day, and found him like this.

Pills and liquor, huh?

Yeah.

Looks like the old
one-two combination.

He must've spilled some
of the drink on the rug.

Well, it sure doesn't look
like homicide, Quincy.

He checked in by himself,

and there aren't any signs of
anyone else having been here.

You think it was
suicide, Quince?

We'll see.

You know, my sister never
missed one of his crusades on TV.

Excuse me, excuse me please.

Please, let me in!
I've got to see him.

- Who are you?
- Kenneth Ross.

I'm the director of the
church, Mr. Osborn assistant.

Frank.

Oh, Frank!

Welcome thy servant, Lord.

I pray that his troubled
soul will find peace at last.

This is such a
terrible loss for us.

How did it happen?

We're not sure yet,

but it looks like a combination
of drugs and alcohol.

You mean it was an
accidental overdose?

We won't be certain till
we finish our examination,

but you ought to know
there another possibility.

Are you suggesting
it was murder?

No, suicide.

Oh, no, that impossible.

Suicide was against everything he
believed in, everything he stood for.

Do you know what that would
mean to the millions of his followers?

Mr. Ross, if you're so sure
it couldn't have been suicide,

do you have any explanation

for the bottle of pills
and liquor we found here?

Yes.

Mr. Osborn was taking medication

prescribed by his doctor
for a painful ailment.

And because of all
the troubles lately...

He'd been drinking a little
more then he should have.

Didn't that concern you?

Of course, it did,

but I knew it was
only a temporary thing.

Mr. Osborn was a very
strong man spiritually.

Do you have any idea
why he came here?

If the pain started
bothering him,

he may have wanted to
stop and rest for a while.

But no matter what
the circumstances were,

it couldn't have been suicide,

and I'm sure your findings will bear
out the truth of what I'm telling you.

That our religion in this
investigation, Mr. Ross, the truth.

Arteriosclerosis of the
small arteries of the heart

but the large ones
aren't affected.

The kidneys show signs of chronic
infection and blood vessel disease.

The way they're
pitted and scarred

they look like a
couple of potatoes

and that fits with the atrophy
of the skin and hair on the legs.

Just not enough nourishment.

You think he had
diabetes, Quince?

It looks like it.

We better find out for sure.

The micros should
give us the answer

and that would explain

this bad ulceration on
the bottom of his right foot.

But, it won't explain why
he wasn't having it treated.

It must have
been pretty painful.

Maybe that what he
was taking the pills for.

Maybe. But I'm getting a hunch.

Depends on the
condition of his nerves.

Have Marc run fat
and myelin stains

on the nerve bundles
below the knees

and stain and you
get on that tox screen.

Do the micros give us an answer?

Yep, and you were right.
Take a look at this section.

Diabetic neuropathy.
Right out of a textbook.

I don't know how you
knew. It pretty rare isn't it?

Uh-huh, and extremely painful.

The signs of diabetes combined
with the foot ulcer made me think of it.

That why he didn't
have the ulcer treated.

I doubt if he even felt the pain

because the pain in his
leg was 100 times worse.

With diabetic neuropathy,

the tiny blood vessels bringing
oxygen to the nerve cells

are thickened,
cutting off the supply.

When there isn't enough
oxygen getting through,

the nerves react by
causing constant pain.

The ulcer on his foot was
the least of his problems.

Yeah, there was too much
competition for the pain impulses.

And the ulcer lost.

What're you doing here?

I told you, my sister
was crazy about Osborn.

She wanted to be
the first to know.

About what?

Facts, rumors, gossip,
she'll take anything.

Well, we don't
have much to tell.

How'd the analysis of the drug and
alcohol levels in the blood come out?

They should tell the story.

See for yourself.

There isn't enough of either.

They're right on the borderline.
This doesn't tell us anything.

Just take the file, Sam.

But shouldn't he
have known better than

to mix drinking and drugs?

These levels are so marginal,

maybe he didn't realize
that one and one make three.

Huh?

If you take a certain amount
of liquor it won't kill you,

and if you take a
certain number of pills,

they won't kill you.

But put them together,

and the results can be three times
as powerful as either one alone.

The combination can
be lethal, like it was here.

We know what killed him,

but we still don't
know exactly how.

The amounts he
took aren't enough

to indicate deliberate
suicide or not.

Is there any way someone
could have gotten him

to swallow more of the pills or
liquor then he intended to take?

There weren't any signs of force
or roughening of the esophagus.

There were no bruises
around the mouth.

No, I don't think so.

Did you find anything in it?

Nothing but pure scotch whiskey.

Well, I guess that
lets murder out.

Thank heaven for little favors.

But what do I tell my sister?

Tell her to tune in tomorrow
for the next chapter.

But there may be
another way to find out.

What that?

If I can convince Asten
a psychological autopsy.

Yes, yes, I promise you senator.

I'll call you back personally

just as soon as we have
any definite information.

And thank you for
your enquiry, senator.

Boy, am I glad to see you.

Robin, dear I told you to
please hold all my calls.

The phone been
ringing off my desk

ever since Franklin
Osborn was found.

If it isn't the reporters
or the church members,

it lawyers, or politicians,
or the insurance company.

- Or me?
- That right.

Dr. Quincy, this is Phil Moyer
from the U.S. Attorney Office.

- Hi.
- Pleased to meet you.

I've been telling Mr. Moyer
how efficient you are.

I trust you've completed
the post-mortem?

- Here the report.
- Good, good.

That was fast work.

Wait a minute.

You haven't listed a mode
of death on the certificate.

I can't tell yet.

I thought this case
was an apparent suicide.

Maybe apparent to
someone else, but not to me.

How obvious does
it have to be for you?

I mean, look at
the circumstances.

He goes to a motel,

takes a combination of pills
and booze and is found dead.

What more do you guys
need a neon suicide note?

What're you holding back for?

Because we don't know

whether he was using the
booze to forget his problems,

or he took the
pills to end them.

Besides, why are you so anxious
to have his death ruled a suicide?

We need to get the
courts to back us up

in getting the church books.

If you find that
death was accidental,

it going to look like
government harassment

drove him to drink.

Osborn gets the sympathy
and we get nothing.

Why pick on this one group?

Because we have
allegations of wrong-doing.

If they're legit, then they
deserve their tax-free status,

but if they're not,

why should they be able to
make profits without paying taxes?

I understand your problem,
but I've got one of my own.

This case falls right in the middle
between accident and suicide.

What do you want me to
do, flip a coin to decide?

We were just hoping

that there'd be enough
evidence one way or the other.

But these results aren't
going to satisfy anyone.

Then you shouldn't
have any objection

to authorizing a
psychological autopsy.

What's that?

In cases like this, the answer
can sometimes be found

by going over the
deceased state of mind

and the psychological
clues he left behind.

How long does
something like this take?

I don't know about
a month or so.

A month? That too long.

Do we have to go
through with this?

Well, if Dr. Quincy
requests one,

I have no choice
but to go ahead.

Don't you guys realize
what at stake here?

We finally have a chance to get
into one of these organizations.

Do you know how
many cults and religions

there are in this
country? Thousands.

Sure, most of them
are above board.

But what about the ones
that rob their followers?

We want to be able
to investigate him.

If this is such an important case,
it isn't going to die on the vine.

But we're on a roll now.

A month' be enough for
the whole case to cool down.

Osborn had a lot
of influential friends.

Look, I'd like to
cooperate with you,

but if I made a false
determination of death,

the public you're trying to
protect would get hurt too.

They're entitled to know
the truth about Osborn death.

Dr. Asten?

I can't disagree with you there.

But I hope you know
what you're doing,

because it took a
tragedy like Jonestown

to finally get us going,

and if we lose our momentum
and it slips away from us.

Well, that's your
responsibility. Isn't it?

Whenever someone
is attempting suicide

you must think of
one word, one word...

Ambivalence.

And you must act to help them.

As you know, I help to
perform psychological autopsies,

so I come in contact
with the survivors.

And for them it's not the end,

but the beginning, the
beginning of bereavement.

A period in which
we, the expert consults

and focus on the bereaved.

Allow them to deal
with their feelings, loss,

grief, embarrassment,

guilt,

rage.

We've discussed whether
we should intervene or not.

It's one of the most important

and complex questions
we can try to answer.

You see, there are no absolutes.

And to those who feel we
are violating people's autonomy

when we try to help someone
who intends to commit suicide.

I pray that I can
change your mind.

Dr. Chase,

if a person is on a
bridge, threatening to jump,

how do we know
that he wants help?

If he didn't want help, he'd
be in the water drowning.

But if he didn't want to die,

he wouldn't be on the
bridge in the first place.

Now, you're assuming
the conflict of whether

to commit suicide or
not is a constant one.

It isn't.

You have to remember
that the critical period

is very short in comparison
with the rest of the person life.

So many of them have gone
on to lead rich, fulfilling lives.

Dr. Chase,

I'm a volunteer at
suicide prevention center

and my conscience
is been bothering me.

As a matter of fact, I've
been thinking about quitting.

A couple of months ago a man
called and threatened to commit suicide.

He said he was going
to blow his brains out.

He wouldn't give me his
name or his phone number.

So I kept him on the phone
while I had his call traced.

About 25 minutes later a policeman
told me on the other end of the phone

that everything was all right
and that they had saved him.

And he indeed had a loaded gun.

And you wanna know, does
the end justify the means?

Yes.

After all, I deceived this man.

I mean isn't that immoral.

If he wanted the police to help
him, he would have called them.

If he didn't want any help
he would have been down

lying on the floor with
a bullet hole in his head.

That's exactly what happened.

They committed him and
when he got out he killed himself.

What's your name?

Judy.

I'm really sorry. I really am.

Well, I know how you feel,

I've been into the
same space, believe me.

I mean I wanted to run
away. I wanted to hide.

And then I started to think
about all the people that I did help.

More than the
people I didn't help.

There are some 250,000
reported suicide attempts

each year in this country.

Approximately ten percent
of them are completed,

now should we abandon
the other 90 percent?

Because of them should
we abandon our humanity?

Please. Please, please don't.

But aren't we
hypocrites when we say,

"No suicide..."

We commit them to
horrible institutions

and we send electricity
through their brains

and render them
almost like vegetables.

Anything, but let
them choose death.

That's a very sophisticated
analysis with very little truth.

Now I've been running suicide
prevention centers for 20 years

and I have never known a doctor

or a volunteer to recommend
electric shock treatment

or commitment
to an institution...

Never.

Lauren a sociologist
training with us,

and she'll be assisting me on
the death investigation team.

- Which brings us
to your problem.
- That right.

Do you know anything about
Franklin Osborn's death?

Just what we've read or
heard about in the news.

Well, here the autopsy file and a
copy of the police report to start you off.

Alcohol and oxycodone, huh?

Yes, but the levels of
each are only moderate.

If he hadn't taken
them together,

or took a little less of
either, he'd still be alive.

Unfortunately, if
doesn't count here.

We've seen too
many cases like this.

We're really under
the gun on this one.

Can you make it a priority?

I'll do my best.

We'll have the death
investigation team

start interviewing
everyone close to Osborn

to establish his condition
in the last ninety days,

which is the
usual crisis period.

Then we'll report our findings at
a mode conference to figure out

what his intensions
were in that motel room.

- How long will it take?
- Five weeks.

- When do you need them?
- Right away.

Maybe three if we're
lucky and we really push.

Thanks. I'll be in touch.

I wish my assistant
was as pretty as you are.

All right, Miss
Hartman, let get to work.

Right.

From the information
we have here,

Osborn was under great stress
from the government in investigation.

In addition, he had
some physical ailments.

He was certainly in
an emotional crisis.

We'll have to take
all of that into account.

But some of the police reports

and the photographs
tell a different story.

In this one,

you can see that the
pill container isn't empty.

So it not as though he was
making sure he wouldn't wake up.

And it shows in the police record
shows that he made several phone calls

arranging appointments
for the following day.

Doesn't that indicate that
he didn't intend to kill himself?

They might.

But you're overlooking the larger
question that more important.

What was a man of his stature
doing alone in a motel room,

mixing alcohol and medication?

That points
favorably to suicide.

These are only hints.

We'll have to try to find more
of the answer in his personality,

his habits, words, phrases,

changes in his habits,
stress responses,

all the usual criteria.

I've divided up the assignments,

and if there aren't
any questions,

we might as well begin.

Where do we start?

With the next-of-kin and his
closest personal relationships.

They should give us the best
insights into what we're looking for.

What kinds of things
are we looking for?

Well, for one I'm curious
about Osborn drinking habits.

Alcohol was
involved in his death,

but we don't know if
he usually indulged,

or whether he was driven to
drink by his recent problems.

Do you have any idea

why Mr. Osborn would've
gone to that particular motel?

Yes,

we'd gone there
on our honeymoon.

He always found
it a peaceful refuge

in times when he needed
to get away from the world,

and he always
took the same room.

Refuge. I see.

Did he ever have any
psychiatric problems,

or receive treatment?

No. He didn't believe in that.

He only had one confessor

and trusted him to
solve his problems.

What about alcohol or drugs?

What were his usual
habits regarding their use?

The only drugs he
ever used were those

prescribed by
Dr. Condon for his illness,

but...

He did a lot of drinking
a long time ago.

It was after the
death of our son.

He was only four years
old, but he became very ill.

Franklin was out of town
talking to a congregation.

I called him, but by the time
he got back, our son had died.

He never forgave
himself for not being here.

Franklin was despondent.

He'd hoped our son would
be his successor in the church,

and he couldn't
live with himself.

He drank more and
more for about a year.

And he stopped after that?

Yes, finally.

He went through his
trials and repented.

It was like he was reborn,

with a spirit that was
stronger and more resilient

than ever before.

Mrs. Osborn,

how would you describe
your husband personal habits?

Meticulous very meticulous.

He did everything consistently,

from eating to going to bed to the
time he'd wake up in the morning.

He stuck to the same routine.

Would you say the same
about his medication?

He was exact about everything,
especially his medication.

Did he ever seem
desperate to you?

No.

Can you think of anything he
said in the last three months

about dying,

or not being here anymore?

No.

He was always very
positive and strong.

If he had any thoughts
like that, he never told me,

but it wouldn't be like him.

What about personal
relationships?

Was there anyone close to him

or a loved one that he
might have lost recently?

Well, in a way I suppose, I was.

You see, we were separated.

How long ago did you separate?

About six months.

But I still saw him frequently.

He came to see
me the day he died.

Mrs. Osborn.

Can we ask you why it happened?

I guess it might seem
a little silly at our age,

after all we've been
through together.

But he started drinking
again and I couldn't stand it.

It must have been due to
the pressure he was under

and the pain from his illness.

But the liquor was
making his diabetes worse,

and I just couldn't watch
him killing himself that way.

Is that what you think
he was trying to do?

I didn't mean it that way.

If you still think my
husband committed suicide,

I can't tell you
how wrong you are.

When the government
investigation began,

did Mr. Osborn ever
discuss the matter with you?

Yes, a number of times.

I tried to reassure him that
we had nothing to worry about,

that our record was spotless.

Was he withdrawn from the
people around him recently?

Did he spend a lot of time
by himself, or go off alone

like he did on the
afternoon of his death?

Sometimes. But that was normal.

He often needed solitude to
think things through more clearly.

It was common for him before
any important sermon or decision.

Did he ever mention
ending his life?

Never.

As I tried to tell Dr. Quincy,

he never would have
abandoned his faith,

no matter how bad the situation.

How can you be so sure?

Because I spent
most of my adult life

working with him and I
know the kind of man he was.

Mr. Ross. As part
of our investigation,

we also need to
examine his personal files.

What for?

There may be clues about
his death in his recent behavior,

or in anything he said or wrote.

I'm sorry, it out
of the question.

If I opened our files to you,

I'd be betraying the
followers of every religion

in this country by allowing
government intrusion.

We don't need anything
related to financial matters,

just those that might indicate

his physical or
mental condition.

And they'll be held in
the strictest confidence.

I see.

You obviously didn't find any hard
evidence of suicide in the autopsy,

or you wouldn't be here.

I think I know why you're so
intent on 'investigating' further.

You're in league with those other
government investigators, aren't you?

That ridiculous.

We're operating totally independently
of any government agency.

You're still all part of the
same club, aren't, you?

Your operating grants
at the suicide center

depend on good relations

with the state and
federal governments

and right now they
want us to look bad.

You seem awfully anxious to
have us rule the way you want.

As long as you're
making accusations,

what about your
vested interests?

Lauren...

What're you talking about?

You might lose all of this
if you lost your following.

How dare you!

How dare you insinuate
I'm here for material gain.

Our reward is the
welfare of others,

not a bank account.

But it isn't my corruptibility
that in question here. It yours.

Mr. Ross, I have to apologize
for what been said here.

But we still have to
ask for your cooperation.

Well you're not going to get it.

Why should I give you something

that you will use
against me, Dr. Osborn,

and our church.

Now if you'll excuse me,
I'm late for an appointment.

Come on, Lauren.

The ancient question still
resounds for each of us,

"Why me, oh Lord? Why me?"

Each of us from time to time

may be...

See, Lauren. There's
a definite deterioration.

Am I interrupting?

Not at all. Come on in.

I just wanted to see
how it was going.

We've been looking through
the last of Osborn sermons.

They were all recorded on
videocassettes for his audience.

The electronic congregation.

I feel like we've been in a
revival tent for three days.

Did you find anything
important yet?

He rambled a lot and
was obviously distracted.

Take a look.

Mr. Osborn, do you have any
comment on the government investigation

of your Divine World Church?

I think it disgraceful
harassment of the worst sort.

The Constitution guarantees
us freedom of religion...

See how he's perspiring,

and his eyes keep
darting towards Ross

as if he needs reassurance?

That absolutely unfounded.

We are doing the Lord
work, and in the final analysis

that the only judgment
I am concerned about.

That's a portrait of a
man under great stress.

And from what you told us,
he was suffering great pain.

There something else, too.

Look at this.

His signature on a letter dated
two and a half months ago,

looks strong and regular.

But this is the way he signed
the motel registration card.

Notice how uneven
and uncertain it is?

Does this all mean
what I think it means?

Well, if you're asking me now,

I'd have to say I could
not rule out suicide.

This is just terrific, huh?

Your recommendation.
A psychological autopsy.

Now all this time and the only
determination they can make

is they can't rule out suicide?

Oh, we did expect the investigation
to last at least three weeks.

We also expected the
investigation to yield results.

Do you know that we
are putting the bill for this?

Yes, I do.

- Oh,
but you don't care, do you?
- Oh, come on.

No, you don't care.
You don't care.

I'll tell you why
you don't care.

Because that's not your money,

you're not responsible
when we go to the well

and come back dry.

Now aren't you being
a little premature...

- Am I?
- Yes, and negative.

I mean they're all gonna
meet in about a week.

Throw whatever
they find into a pot

and come up with
a determination.

Suicide or accidental death.

- And that'll be the end of it.
- That'll be the end.

It better be because I'm
gonna pull a plug on this case.

Now look at it.

I have nothing but
the highest respect

for the psychological
autopsy, you know that.

But you have got me
in to a terrible position.

How?

If they say suicide,

Osborn's followers
will burn me an effigy.

If they say accident,

the government
will audit my books.

I'll take full responsibility.

Ah, well, well, that makes
everything just peachy.

The hero, huh?
Come here, come here.

- You see that stationary?
- Yeah.

Is your name listed
on this stationary?

My name is listed
there, right? Mine, mine.

When the check is signed
for this psychological autopsy,

does your name go on
it? No, my name goes on it.

Then how can you be responsible?

Listen, I'm gonna
tell you something

I wouldn't ordinarily say.

But I have paid for this
psychological autopsy

out of my own pocket, Quincy.

I didn't know that.
Why'd you do it?

Because I didn't
realize this was the 66th,

we are only
allowed 65 in a year.

Oh, I'm sorry. I had no
idea. How much did it cost?

$75.

- $75?
- Yeah.

All this thing for $75?

Well, wait a minute.

- Tell me what you see?
- No, no, no.

I see a dollar, I
see the hospital.

That's right, that's right.
Now what do you see?

I see the dollar.

That is also right.

That's what happens when
you get too close to money.

You can't see the good
you're doing or can do.

It blanks it out.

And that's what's
happening to you, sir.

How are you coming with
his appointment calendar?

Well, it looks like his schedule
really thinned out towards the end.

There were a lot fewer meetings.

Couldn't that mean

he was withdrawing
into a suicidal state?

It might. Or he may just have
been having fewer meetings.

We'll have to keep talking to

as many people around
him as we can to find out.

The team making a lot of
calls to set up interviews.

Good. Have you got the
reconstruction of his final day?

Right here.

In the morning, he went to
meet with the Byrne family,

who're members
of the congregation,

went back to the church
offices for a few hours

left by himself
again around 2:00,

and filled a prescription
for the bottle of pills at 3:30.

That was just before he checked
into the motel room at 4:30.

I suppose we'd better
see the Byrne family.

What are we looking for here?

Since they were among

the last to see him
on the day he died,

we may be able to find out
what his frame of mind was.

But if they were
members of the church,

aren't they going to be biased?

Probably, to a degree.

He was a religious leader.

But I doubt if they're
fanatics like some cult groups.

How did he act when he was here?

The same as always.

Encouraging, calm,
reassuring and full of faith.

He was ready to
help anyone any time.

Did Mr. Osborn seem tired or
preoccupied when he was here?

Or in any kind of pain?

Dr. Chase, we know
about what you're doing.

But Mr. Osborn just
couldn't have taken his life,

and you can't know
what he meant to us.

Our kids

were in trouble with drugs and
our family was coming apart.

But Mr. Osborn and his church

brought us all back
together, gave us new hope.

What you're doing
could ruin it all.

And how many
other people like us

might not have a second chance.

We're only doing

what we've been asked
to do as a legal proceeding.

I want to thank you for
helping us Mr. Byrne.

Yes, I prescribed these for him.

How long have you been giving
Mr. Osborn oxycodone, Dr. Condon?

Almost a year.

He'd been suffering
from diabetic neuropathy,

and needed a strong pain-killer.

Were you aware of
his drinking problem?

Yes.

It was aggravating his diabetes.

I tried to get him to
stop, but he couldn't.

My only alternative
would have been

to refuse to treat him anymore.

But he'd been my
patient for years,

as well as a friend and
he was suffering so terribly.

Did he ever abuse his
medication to your knowledge?

No. He always took
what I gave him,

but I had to up the dosage

because the drugs weren't
as effective anymore.

He kept needing more
and more to help him.

It really depressed him.

It did?

He'd always been so
energetic and determined,

but lately his condition
was sapping his strength.

It was hard for him to
accept his weakened state.

I guess I should
have seen it coming.

What?

That he could have
committed suicide.

Do you think that's
what happened?

I don't know,

but I wouldn't doubt it.

Now, if he had been taking
the prescribed dosage for years,

why suddenly would
he accidently take more?

But Dr. Quincy hasn't
established that he has taken more.

It was the combination
of pills and liquor

that caused his death.

Osborn had been to that
motel before as a refuge.

He did use alcohol previously.

Drinking as form of release.

His behavior didn't undergo
any significant changes,

and he had no history
of suicide tendencies.

We checked with his
lawyers and found out

that he hadn't changed
his will in the last few years.

So that wouldn't indicate he
was anticipating his death either.

Well, maybe the government
investigation pushed him over the edge.

I could go along
with that Henry.

If we had any indication that
Osborn was guilty of the charges.

I'm only looking for a reason
for him to take his own life.

It looks like one of those rare
cases that remains equivocal.

The solid facts
are contradictory.

Okay, isn't there some
way to resolve this?

Well, I'm sorry, Dr. Quincy,

but we don't have the
same advantages you do.

We can't open up the brain
and read a person thoughts.

But can't you come
to some agreement?

I'm afraid the only
thing I can suggest

is that we rule
death was equivocal.

That'll probably be the
only thing I agree with you.

I guess I'll go
along with that too.

Are there any dissenters?

All right, then we're resolved.

- That it? You mean it a draw?
- That right, Quincy.

In a few cases, we can't decide

even after going
over all the evidence.

But how could you
walk away from a case

without a definite answer?

We have an answer.
It's true equivocal.

Okay, you took your shot.

But now let's examine
this from my expertise.

- What that?
- The only thing that's left.

Murder.

I'm as sorry as you are about

the results of the
mode conference,

that they weren't
more conclusive.

But at least we
can close this case

knowing we've done
everything possible.

I've inserted the words
accident, suicide, undetermined.

Sign it.

Well, maybe we shouldn't
close the case just yet.

You're the one who wanted
this psychological autopsy

and now you're rejecting
their conclusions?

I just want to be sure.

Dr. Stewart told me

this whole thing
didn't sit right with him,

and that there were
too many discrepancies

for it to be
accident or suicide.

- I want another look.
- What for?

The possibility of murder.

- Murder?
- Yeah.

Murder? Where did the
word murder come from?

We never looked at it
from that point of view.

We never did the
autopsy that way.

You mean to tell me
that you're gonna do

your autopsy all over again.

I wanna be thorough.

- Absolutely not.
- Why not?

Because you just can't stand

to see a case leave
here undetermined.

Oh, that's not fair.

I've called a press conference

to issue a final statement
about Osborn death.

The whole roomful of
reporters is expecting us.

You do that, you
make that statement

and it turns out to be murder.

Well the department would
be in a lot of trouble, wouldn't it?

I mean just think of it.

I don't know what I would
say to those people out there.

You're the old master
politician, you can stall them.

How much time are
you talking about?

A few hours. I just want
to take another look.

All right, go ahead. But hurry.

I'm hurrying. I'm already gone.

Robin? What? No,
this case is not finalized.

Hello, get me the press room.

Hi, Quince.

I'm sorry the mode conference
didn't find the answer.

They didn't, but we still might.

I want to go around
one more time.

- Huh?
- Sam.

I want to go over
every test we did,

every tissue sample,
every measurement

until we find what
we're looking for.

Okay.

Sam.

I think I've got something.

What is it?

The undissolved pill residue in the
esophagus and stomach contents.

That would indicate he
swallowed about five capsules.

So?

Even with the liquor,

that probably wouldn't
have been enough to kill him.

But the blood level concentration
of the drug in his system

was 250 nanograms per ml.

That indicates he must have
swallowed seven or eight capsules

which turned out to
be fatal with the alcohol.

They don't match.

Now why would
some of the capsules

totally dissolve while
the others didn't?

Maybe he took a few earlier
and they were already dissolved.

It doesn't fit Osborn
psychological pattern.

He was methodical
about everything,

and the undissolved capsules
fit his prescription dosage.

But the others don't.

Then how else could
they have gotten into him?

There is another way, if
somebody was helping him along.

What about the bottle of
liquor he was drinking from?

The pills could have been dissolved
in it without leaving any residue.

But we tested
the bottle, Quincy,

and there wasn't anything
in it except whisky.

We tested a bottle, Sam,
but maybe not the bottle.

Suppose somebody close to Osborn

who knew all about his habits,
his medication, his drinking,

slipped enough pills into a
bottle of liquor to tip the balance

somebody who had a lot to gain

by making his death
look like an accident?

Then they could
have gone to the motel

and replaced it
with another bottle

that matched the
level in the first one.

I guess it possible.

But how can we ever
find out or prove it?

Remember there was a spot

on the floor where Osborn
spilled some of the liquor.

It was still damp
when I got there.

Tell Monahan to
meet me at the motel.

That'll be $2 deposit.

I'm on official business.

Last week it was a dollar.

Inflation. Freeloaders.

I need the key to
room 60 right away.

Sorry, it occupied.

This is an emergency. You'll
have to ask them to leave.

I can't do that.

Quincy, would you mind
telling me what this is all about?

- Frank Osborn murder.
- Murder?

I thought you said it was
either an accident or suicide.

Well, I may change my opinion,

if we can get into his room.

But I'm having a little trouble.

Oh, I think we can
convince this gentleman.

You know, we have
lots of squad cars

that patrol this stretch
of road all the time.

I better call the occupants.

I'm sorry, Mr. Smith,
Mrs. Smith,

I hope we haven't caused
you any inconvenience.

Here it is.

Thank goodness you don't
vacuum the carpets too well in here.

Hey! What're you
doing to my carpet?

It evidence now.

Don't worry, we'll pay for it.

And it's tissue paper, anyway.

Couldn't cost more
than $12, anyway.

Have you got it yet, Sam?

It just coming through now.

You're right.

That spot from the whisky contains
over two milligrams of oxycodone.

We know the motive
death now, don't we?

It was murder after all.

And I think I know how to
find out who was responsible.

I know, official
business, right?

We're not staying this time.

We need all your ticket
stubs for a certain day.

They go into the main office.

But you guys never
spend any money?

What the matter, you
guys lose the deck of cards?

We're not playing, we're
working. Sit down and help.

Okay. Would you mind
telling me what we're doing?

Trying to get a list of
all the license numbers

on the backs of these stubs.

The Department of
Motor Vehicles computers

will give us the names and
addresses of all the registered owners.

We don't need to see any more.

Did you find what
you were looking for?

What I was looking for
but not what I expected.

Mrs. Osborn.

Yes.

I'm Dr. Quincy, I'm
with the Coroners.

Oh, yes. Dr. Chase
told me about you.

How do you do? This
is Lieutenant Monahan.

- Lieutenant.
- Mrs. Osborn.

Have you come to a decision

about my husband's
death, Dr. Quincy?

Yes, we have.

Was I right, that it
was an accident?

Or was it suicide?

It was neither.

Someone murdered your husband.

Murdered?

That right Mrs. Osborn.

That what we have to talk about.

But why me?

We were hoping
you could tell us that.

We found a record
of your license plate

at the parking lot
next to the motel.

The time stamped on it was
several hours after he checked in.

The day he came to
visit you, the day he died.

You dissolved his medication
in a bottle of liquor that he had.

You knew where he'd go.

Then you followed him to the
motel and planted another bottle.

He was suffering so.

He was in such pain and agony.

He used to cry and
pray to God to let him die,

but he was too strong
to ever take his own life.

Then he found out the
truth about Kenneth Ross.

What truth?

That the government
investigators were right,

and that he'd been using the
church for his own financial gain.

Franklin couldn't live
with himself after that.

Why didn't he turn Ross in?

And destroy everything
he'd ever stood for?

He couldn't do that,

and Kenneth Ross knew it too.

There was no way
out except humiliation,

disgrace

and maybe even jail.

My husband felt
his life was over.

He longed for peace,

but he couldn't help himself.

So I helped him.

Can you understand that, doctor?

Yes, I can.

Why is everybody so happy?

We made a determination
on a very difficult case,

we finally justified our jobs.

What are you doing here?

Oh, I figured you two had
such a stake in the Osborn case

that I thought
you'd like to know,

the district attorney not
going to go hard on her

due to the extenuating
circumstances.

What about Kenneth Ross?

Oh, they're going to go after
him. He stole a lot of money.

You know, I just
came from a sermon.

Those followers, they're
really terrific people.

Well, after all, Christianity
survived a Judas.

Listen, how your
training program going?

It all over.

Is that right?

Are you interested in learning
about forensic medicine?