Quincy M.E. (1976–1983): Season 6, Episode 5 - The Hope of Elkwood - full transcript

You're a winner, Bobby!

Coach, I can't.

- MASCINO: He's dead.
- What?

How did my boy die?

Massive internal hemorrhage.

Bobby's heart burst because
you ran him till he dropped!

Well, how do you defend
against something like this?

Well, that's why I was hoping
you'd find another medical reason

for Bobby's death.

You killed the one person...

Get your hands off me!



- What are you suggesting?
- Something we never
bothered to look for.

You realize if you don't find that
tumor, my case is down the tubes.

If we find it, we'll
prove conclusively

that O'Banion had nothing
to do with Nolan's death.

And what if you
don't find anything?

Gentlemen, you
are about to enter

the most fascinating
sphere of police work,

the world of forensic medicine.

Slow it down, Mulligan!
I want one-fifties

Slow it down! Do you hear me?

What's the matter, he deaf?

Last four-forty in fifty flat.

I said one-fifty d'ya hear?

Slow it down,
Mulligan, one-fifty.



He's magnificent,
isn't he, Quincy?

- Nolan?
- Yeah.

Yeah, but that guy Mulligan,

is really giving him a run
for his money, isn't he?

No, no, Nolan's
just playing with him.

Wait till you see his
kick on the last four-forty.

Go, Bobby!

O'BANION: Slow down, Mulligan!

Slow down!

Now watch his kick.

Wow! That boy's amazing!

That's why the papers call
him the "Hope of Elkwood."

Put this burg on the map.

GIRL: Go, Bobby! Go, Bobby, go!

(CHEERING)

I told him one-fifty.

Now you're through!
Now get off the track!

Now you're through!
D'ya hear me?

Coach, I was tryin'
to give him a run.

What's the matter
with you, you deaf?

I said you're through
here! Get off the track!

But I was just... Don't but me!

Take it easy, Marty.

No, no, never.

Now you never tell me
to take it easy on my track.

You understand, never!

All right, you, back
in the locker room.

I'll deal with you later.
Now come on, move!

The both of you move
now get out of here!

Now he is off the team
Get him out of here.

Because no one,

I mean no one's gonna break
my regimen. You understand?

Nobody breaks my regimen.

What are you all
standing around for?

We have nationals in one
week. Now come on, move.

On the double, move!

Pretty rough, isn't he?

Now you know why they
call him "Madman Marty."

- Fits him like a casing,
doesn't it?
- I'll say.

But the man breeds nothing
but winners, remember that.

I'll try.

Okay, you delight in
your sarcasm, Benjamin,

but make no mistake about it.

When we brought O'Banion in,

he took a good
athlete in Bobby Nolan

and made him great.
Just take a look at him,

in less than two years,

he took that young boy

and turned him into a world
class Olympic contender.

Well, to say nothing of
all the fame and fortune

he brought to Elkwood College
and this happy little hamlet here.

And pray tell, what
is wrong with that?

Are these two always like that?

Well, you get two
lawyers together

and they'll find a way
to argue about arguing.

MANNING: Believe me,
Doctor, just last week,

before I gave Benjamin
the partnership in the firm,

it was "Yes, Mr. Manning.
No, Mr. Manning.

"Whatever you say, sir."
Heck, now I'm a tackling dummy.

Well you still gonna nominate
O'Banion for Man of the Year?

Can you think of a
more deserving recipient?

Whoa, I've got a trustees
meeting at one o'clock.

- Doctor Quincy,
it has been a real pleasure.
- Same here.

- Bye.
- See you later.

What do you say, Quincy,

would you like to go meet
the next Olympic gold medalist?

Nolan? I'd love to.

Great.

C'mon, I'll race you.

Enough with the Saigon humor!

You two go ahead
and I'll wait for you.

They love women in locker rooms.

You're such a sport.

- I'll see you later, Wendy.
- Okay.

O'BANION: No, I
never said Bobby Nolan

will beat John Walker's record.

What I said, and you
can quote me on this,

is that Nolan has the
potential to run a 347 mile

which, obviously, would
best Walker's record. In fact...

Hey, Bobby, Bobby, give me one.

You didn't believe me, huh, Doc?

I'm telling you, Press Day
is tougher'n ten miles uphill.

You've got a lot of fans out there,
they want to know more about you.

C'mon Bobby, just one more.

- You okay?
- Yeah, I'm okay.

These things give me, what
do you call, anxiety attacks.

- I'll be okay.
- C'mon, Bobby.

Hey man, you think your
camera can handle this face?

Come on, give
him your best side.

Okay, okay, here we go

O'BANION: Okay, Bobby,
okay, vacation's over,

back on the track,
back on the track.

Now look, I want eight more
miles before you do the sprints.

Eight more miles?
He's still sweating.

Hey, give me a break, will you?

Coach, listen, can I
talk to you for a minute?

Sure.

What's wrong? You okay?

Yeah, I'm okay, just a
little nervous, I guess.

Coach, listen,

I got two midterm exams
tomorrow. I gotta crack some books.

Look, Bobby,
Bobby, relax, relax.

You've already
taken those tests.

- I did?
- Yeah.

Well, how did I do?

Well, let's see, you
got an A in history

and a B in math.

Of course, math isn't
one of your best subjects.

Look Bobby, you
concentrate on training

and leave all the rest to me

and I mean all the rest.

Don't worry.

Now get out there and
kick up some dust, huh.

Okay.

Eight more miles? How many
miles does that make today?

I don't know. Twenty, maybe.

You run 20 miles and
then you work out?

Twenty on an easy day.
Usually, it's more like 30.

That seems
sadistically excessive.

I never trained that hard.

I was darn good.

You know what the coach told me?

He said in a race,

every runner on the
track has the will to win.

So if you're going to beat
'em, the will to win isn't enough.

You have to prepare for a race.
You have to train before the race.

Hey, look man, all
I got going for me

is two good legs
and two good lungs.

I'm a runner and I gotta
run the best that I can.

I like to win, that's
all there is to it.

With that attitude, I
know you're gonna win.

Good luck on Friday. And
good luck on the Olympics!

Hey, thanks. See ya later.

- Bye.
- Bye.

Speaking of running,
I've gotta get back to L.A.,

it's a two hour drive.

You have to go so soon?

So soon? When I
decided to come here,

I told Asten I was taking a
long lunch, that was yesterday.

- So long, Ben.
- Thanks again
for coming, Quincy.

You know it's not every day a guy
gets to celebrate a full partnership.

I know how close
you were to my father

and I...

I just really appreciate
your coming.

He'd of been very
proud of you Ben.

Thanks.

- So long, Wendy.
- Bye.

Good to see you.

Okay, pick it up.

Take the last two
miles at seven each.

Coach, the grade's
too seep for seven flat.

Well then push, damnit, push.

This is no summer camp.

Now come on, move, move.

Lift up your head,
lift up your head,

stride, stride.

Coach, I can't.

I'm getting really nauseous.
I'm gonna throw up.

You're not gonna get sick,
Bobby, you're gonna be okay.

Now listen to me.

You've got the speed,
you've got the stride,

now all you need's the stamina.

You can do it, Bobby.
Believe me, you can do it.

You gotta push, push,
then push some more.

Forget the pain,
forget about everything

and just push and push and push.

Since when did you
join the swim team?

Believe me, man,

the last mile
would've been easier

if I did the breaststroke.

Oh, man, don't wake
me till a year from Friday.

Well, don't get
too comfy, speedy,

we're due back out
at five thirty tomorrow.

Hey, Murphy, let me
ask you something.

Sure, go ahead.

Did O'Banion ever have
someone take an exam for you?

You kiddin'?

Hey, is that what's
been bugging you?

Look, I don't think I've taken
three exams in the last two years.

Hey, that's what an athletic
scholarship is all about.

I even gave one of those whiz
kids my Social Security card

so he could take my
college boards for me.

I came out a ravin' genius!

Where you been anyway?

(GROANING)

Bobby, Bobby, what is it?

What's wrong, Bobby?

My chest hurts.

My God, your heart's
going a mile a minute.

Lay here, I'll get the coach.

Oh, my God.

What? What is it?

He's dead.

What?

Well, I don't see
any problem here.

Heck, I don't see why we're
doing this for you, Clarke.

I've been sitting on
the board for years

and you haven't seen
fit to give our firm here

a crack at the
college's account.

Our contract with that Los
Angeles firm is up next month

and I'm recommending that
we shift the account to you.

Benjamin, would you... Benjamin!

I'm sorry.

Now that you've rejoined us,

would you be so kind
as to take a look at these?

It just doesn't make any sense.

I saw Bobby Nolan
just a few days ago.

He was healthy, he was happy,
he was as strong as an ox.

How could a thing
like this happen?

Mr. Nicholson, we
share your grief.

But there is a
question of liabilities.

It was just one of those things.

Just one of those things.

Who is responsible?

Nolan is, pure and simple.

He could have refused
to train the way he did.

Incidentally, Avery,

we'll be holding an emergency
board meeting this afternoon at four.

We'd appreciate if

you would review O'Banion's
contract before that time

and determine the appropriate
release and suspension clauses.

As I see it, O'Banion
is our biggest liability.

The sooner we get
rid of him, the better.

I'll take a look at it.

See you at 4:00.

Ben, you know Bobby
Nolan pretty well.

Why don't you
carry the ball on this?

Get over to Elkwood Med

and see Dick Muir about the
preliminary autopsy results.

Find out if there's
anything to worry about.

So Mad Man Marty O'Banion
is going to take the fall.

You see it going any other way?

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Mr. Nolan.

Let me tell you first

how deeply sorry I am
for Robert's untimely death.

He was a fine boy.

Your son was
greatly admired here.

That's something you
can be very proud of.

I appreciate what you're saying.

But please tell me,
how did my boy die?

Of course.

One of the arteries
of Robert's heart

split open, burst, if you will,

and the blood spilled
out into his chest cavity.

His death came very fast
and, for the most part, painless.

Heart attack.

In a sense, yes.

How did it happen, Doctor?

It was very hard to
tell. A boy his age,

strong athlete,
ostensibly healthy.

A congenital heart
defect perhaps.

Could excessive stress
cause this rupture?

Yes, it's possible.

Yes, very conceivably.

I appreciate what
you done, Doctor.

When can I get Bobby back?

We'll be able to
release his body

by ten o'clock tomorrow morning.

I'll see you then.

- Thank you.
- You're very welcome.

(PEOPLE CLAMORING)

Mr. Nolan, can you tell us
what the Doctor said anything?

What the hell are you doing here?
Haven't you done enough already?

You coming back for more?
Hey, take it easy, Vic, take it easy.

You killed him, O'Banion!
You killed Bobby,

you ran him right
into his own grave!

- You killed him!
- Get a hold of yourself, Vic,

you don't know what
you're talking about.

Don't I? Not two minutes ago the
Doctor told us Bobby's heart burst

because of stress because you
ran him and ran him till he dropped!

Shut up, that's crazy.

Is what he's saying true?

Mr. Nolan, I loved
Bobby like a son.

You didn't answer me.

Bobby done
everything you told him.

- Did you ask too much of him?
- No.

MASCINO: Tell him how
you worked him night and day,

tell him how you worked him
in the cold and freezing rain

even when he
complained he was sick.

Tell him how you
took him up to camp

where no one could see
what you were doing to him!

No! Shut up, shut up!

Don't you understand?
I was training him to win,

to give him something that
nobody else could give him,

to be a winner!

Is that true?

Come on, tell us.

Hey, sorry I'm late,

the board meeting
dragged on interminably.

Well? Was O'Banion axed?

Half axed.

We decided to suspend him.

If I could be so bold,
how did you vote?

Out!

Oh, scotch and soda.

I see O'Banion as a much
greater liability than an asset.

With all the bad publicity
we've been getting,

we stand to lose
thousands in federal grants,

thousands in
canceled endowments.

So Elkwood's Man
of the Year is now

Elkwood's Goat of the Year, huh?

Speaking of goats...
BENJAMIN: O'Banion.

MAN: O'Banion! When they
said you had the killer instinct,

they weren't kidding, were they?

Marty, please
let's get out of here.

After we've eaten, honey.
I'm hungry, come on.

Killing a nice kid
is hard work, huh?

Works up a man's appetite.

You watch your mouth, punk,

or you'll be eating
soft foods for a month!

How are you gonna
manage that, huh?

You need a whole grievance
committee to help you, is that it?

Marty, please let's go.

Come on, step aside, junior.

You think you're real
smart stuff, huh, O'Banion?

You kill the one
person, the one thing

that was important to this town

and you wander around
like nothing's happened.

Get your hands off
me, bone brain, ya.

(GROANING)

Stop it! Stop it!

What are you trying to prove?

Just go back to your
beers, both of you.

You okay?

Yeah, I'm just fine.

Yeah, I can see that.

Look, nobody asked
for your help, you know.

Let's get outta here, honey,
this place makes me sick.

And don't come back, Coach.

How does it feel?

How do you think
it feels? Terrific.

I'm sorry, Jill.

I know.

I suppose it's better if
you take it out on me

than those gorillas out there.

Anyway, I'm safer.

And a lot prettier, too.

Oh, Jill, you're always there
when the chips are down.

I really appreciate
it, you know that?

Jill, I didn't kill Bobby Nolan,

honestly, I didn't.

I loved him more than any
boy I've ever worked with.

He trusted me,
he believed in me.

He never questioned
anything I ever told him.

If I knew that he was sick

or if I thought
he couldn't do it,

I never would have
pressed him that hard.

Marty, don't listen to them
out there. You're not to blame.

Yeah.

I just wanted him to be the
champion that he could've been.

That's why I pushed for him.

He had the potential
to go all the way.

I wanted it for him.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Oh... I'll get it.

Yes?

- Are you Martin J. O'Banion?
- Yeah.

We've a warrant for your arrest.

Are you kiddin'?
For a bar fight?

No, sir. For involuntary manslaughter
in the death of Robert Nolan.

Under the circumstances,
Mrs. O'Banion,

I'm afraid it's impossible for our
firm to represent your husband.

I'm sure that

they've advised you that
Elkwood College's law firm

is obligated to provide
counsel for him.

Yes, I was advised of that.

But Marty would prefer
an independent attorney.

I'm sure you can see why.

Uh-huh, well, maybe
Arvin Clement's office?

I've already talked to them

and they were
conveniently unavailable,

as is Elliot Withers and
everyone else in this town.

For what it's worth, Mr. Manning,
you were my last stop.

In that case, I'm truly sorry.

Yes, I can see that you are.

Mr. Nicholson.

Boy, that guy is really
getting sandbagged.

Any second year law student

can see he has no case
for involuntary manslaughter.

He's picking up a little
political hay for himself

and open up the case that
Nolan's father is going to file.

It's no concern of ours.

Yeah, but even a guy like
O'Banion's entitled to due process.

He'll get his day in
court. And besides,

since when have you become a
member of O'Banion's fan club?

I didn't say I liked the guy.
I said he's getting shafted.

Stay out of it, Benjamin.

This firm cannot and
will not handle the case.

I will not risk
losing this account.

And besides, it's
a no win situation.

Even if we were
to get O'Banion off,

the people here will ride
us out of town on a rail.

Now just drop the whole matter.

I can't.

Benjamin, don't
do anything stupid!

Mrs. O'Banion, wait.

If you give me a lift
to the Sheriff's station,

I'll get your
husband out of jail.

Oh, thank you.

I really appreciate
this, Mr. Nicholson.

- Yeah.
- Will you

get in trouble with
Mr. Manning for helping us?

O'BANION: Thank you.

And please give my compliments
to room service and the chef.

How do you feel, Marty?

Great, great! Like a
night in the country.

- C'mon, let's get out of here.
- I want you to meet someone.

Marty, this is
Benjamin Nicholson,

he arranged bail to be
posted for your release.

He's going to handle your case.

Whoa, I never said
I'd take the case.

Nobody asked you anyhow!

Now listen, kid, I told you last
night, I don't need your help.

I can take care of myself.

Well, in the first
place, I'm not your kid,

and in the second place,

if you don't want to
spend the next four years

in an eight by ten cell,

you'd better find the best
criminal attorney you can buy.

Because, mister,
you're gonna need it.

Mr. Nicholson,
you're hired, okay?

Well, that's very large of you.

Let me tell you
something, Mr. O'Banion.

I don't like you.

I find you a cruel,
egomaniacal, self-indulgent boor

and I'm going to charge you
through the nose to get you off.

Oh? You telling me
that's all that's in it for you?

Well, as little as I like you,

I like vindictive miscarriage
of justice even less.

Not to mention all the publicity
this case is going to attract.

Admit it, you like
to win, don't you?

Don't be shy about it.

That's why I want you.

You're confident and cocky.

You've got a drive

I'd give my eye teeth
to give to my runners.

Coach, you don't
have any runners.

All you have are troubles.

What is this, the (I)Triumphal
March(/I) from (I)Aida?(/I)

No, it's more like
(I)Death of a Swan.(/I)

I can see you guys
didn't take my tip.

- What tip?
- Don't play the races.

Will you stop with the comedy
and give a little more service?

Who's buying?

This should take care of
it, don't you think, Danny?

You lucky you got it off
the two after I gave it to you.

How could you do that?

You convinced me.

Just blind luck, Marc.

Skill, gentlemen, pure skill.

No, no, Quincy showed the skill,

he picked the six last
horses in the last six races.

DANNY: How'd
you do that, Quince?

I listened to Doctor
Handicapper.

"Take blue, blue's
your favorite color."

It wasn't my idea. I tell ya,
go to the races with Quincy,

you're gonna lose twenty
two dollars just like that.

- Quincy, you're
wanted on the telephone.
- Do you know who it is?

Yeah, it's the jockey
you bet on in the last race,

says he's almost finished.

Well, gentlemen, I got a
special today for losers.

- Diane.
- Hi, lucky.

Yeah? Oh, hi, Ben.

Yeah, I've been
following it on the news.

It's terrible.

You want me to come up?

Well, I better ask Asten.

As a matter of fact, I
better not ask Asten.

He just lost a
bundle on the races,

twenty two dollars.

Sam and I will take a long lunch
hour tomorrow. See you then.

Give Wendy my love.

DR. MUIR: As you
can see, Doctor,

there was nothing at all in
the tox and tissue sections.

Yeah, well, let's take
another look anyway.

I can't tell you how much I
appreciate your cooperation, Doctor.

In a case like this, I'm only too
happy to have a second opinion,

especially by someone
with your credentials, Doctor.

Would you mind if I observed?

- I'd rather if you assisted.
- Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Blaine.

You may proceed, Mr. Nicholson.

Your Honor, the defense
moves for a dismissal

on the grounds that Robert
Nolan had lawfully and legally

executed and signed
the proper waivers.

Further, Dr. Sims, the
licensed team physician,

has previously stated that Nolan

had no acute or congenital disorder
which might have prevented him

from any manner
of physical activity

as prescribed by the
defendant, Martin O'Banion.

Your Honor, the
law is quite specific

concerning involuntary
manslaughter, stating

that the defendant must have acted
without due care and circumspection

and must have prior knowledge
of a life-threatening condition.

Only by ignoring such and
causing the death of another

can involuntary
manslaughter be brought.

In light of this,

we ask that the charge against
Martin O'Banion be dropped.

Mr. Blaine, do the people
wish to be heard in this matter?

No, your honor, we submit the
matter and ask that the court rule.

Then it's the
opinion of this court

that there is
insufficient grounds

to hold the accused
over for trial.

I therefore dismiss the
charge against Martin O'Banion.

Bail is exonerated.

(ALL CLAMORING)

Bailiffs, clear this court!

Clear this court!

Well, Counselor, I
guess we won, huh?

We didn't win diddley.

When Nolan
files that civil suit,

they're gonna
throw the big guns.

My guess is they're gonna
sue you and Elkwood College

for ten million dollars.

Oh, one more thing,

your jury is going to be selected
from that screaming mob outside.

So I suggest you use
the judge's chambers.

It's safer.

Good advice again, Counselor.

Well, now, you won
the first skirmish,

but it's a far cry
from winning the war.

I know all about
skirmishes and wars.

I'm sorry, Avery,
but I had to do it.

I understand.

You did a fine job too.

But now would be a
graceful time to bow out.

Let another attorney
handle the civil action.

I just talked to Jeffers,

he's still willing to
give us the account.

Us?

Well, he likes your style.

You still have a
place in the firm,

but you've got to withdraw
as O'Banion's attorney now.

That's final.

I'll have to think
about that, Avery.

It's your future, Ben,
don't think too long.

More coffee, anybody?

- BANJAMIN: No thanks, babe.
- Doctor Quincy?

QUINCY: Oh yeah,
I'd love some, thanks.

They've already
delivered the criminal case.

I never dreamed a civil suit
could get to court this fast!

We expected them to file,

but we never dreamed
they would hear it so soon.

I mean, the trial
starts in three days.

Well, how do you defend
against something like this?

"Did willfully and negligently
drive Robert Nolan

"beyond his point of
endurance and exhaustion,

"did not exercise due
care or caution in training."

I mean, it just comes
down to an opinion

there must be a thousand
witnesses who'll testify

he was very rough on the kid.

Well, that's why I was hoping
you'd find another medical reason

for Bobby's death.

Well, I'm afraid Dr. Muir's initial
autopsy results were very accurate.

Well, nobody said this
case would be an easy one.

Under the circumstances,
can't you settle out of court?

No.

When I take a job, I
don't quit in the middle of it

just because things
are starting to look bad.

Settling out of
court is not quitting!

Again, honey, we have a guest.

Would you excuse me
for a minute, please?

Sure.

What are you doing?

Benj, it's what you're doing.

Look what you're doing to us.

Right from the beginning

you were as obsessed
by winning this case

as O'Banion's obsessed
by winning his track meets.

- That's not true!
- It is true.

I've never seen
you like this before.

Winning is all you think about.

Why? What are
you trying to prove?

- Nothing.
- No?

Are you trying to prove that
you're a better man than O'Banion?

Benj,

you are a better man than O'Banion
because you care about people,

about life, about truth.

Please don't let winning
this case change you

or change the things
I love about you.

Okay?

But honey, O'Banion
might really be innocent.

I have to find out.

DR. MUIR: (I)Yes, (/I) (I)the
autopsy revealed that(/I)

Robert Nolan experienced a
disruption of the anterior coronary artery.

This disruption caused
a dissection between

the layers of the artery wall,

consequently the cause of death

was a massive hemorrhage
into the sack around his heart.

Dr. Muir, in your
professional opinion,

could an ostensibly
healthy person,

even a strong athlete,

suffer a heart attack
such as you described,

if they exceed their limits of
exhaustion and endurance?

Well, I... I suppose
it is possible.

Your Honor, Dr. Quincy,

Senior Medical Examiner
for the County of Los Angeles,

performed an independent
autopsy on the deceased.

I would like to place into the records
his corroborative autopsy report.

He wasn't training him,
he was abusing him.

- I've never...
- I object, Your Honor!

Sustained, Mr. Mascino,

if you would just answer the
question without editorializing.

Anyway, when we hit the hill,

Bobby wanted to slow it down

and he told O'Banion he
was really feeling nauseous,

he felt like throwing up.

But instead of giving the kid
a break and slowing it down,

O'Banion told him to
take the hill at seven.

Seven minute miles. It
was too much for him.

Then the sky opened up, it
started coming down in buckets.

But O'Banion, he kept running him
and running him and running him.

I'm telling you, he ran Bobby
into his grave! He killed him!

Objection, conjecture,
speculation!

(JUDGE POUNDS GAVEL)

I went over to him

and I could feel his heart,

it was just pounding away.

I mean, it was
beating real fast.

And that's when I ran
out to get the coach.

MR. NOLAN: No, I can't say
directly that Mr. O'Banion did it.

All I know is that Bobby
near worshipped him.

Did everything he
ever told him to do.

I also know that lately, he got
to training harder and harder.

He would come home and

get real irritable and
that wasn't like Bobby.

And more than a few times
he got to training so hard,

he would come home and
just vomit from the work.

- Are you hearing
what I'm hearing?
- What do you mean?

About Nolan, his symptoms.

Irritability, rapid
pulse and respiration,

sudden vomiting, nausea,

the extreme nervousness. I
saw him having an anxiety attack,

but I didn't put two
and two together.

What are you suggesting?

Something we never
bothered to look for.

A pheochromocytoma.

- A tumor?
- That's right!

It never occurred to me.

Well, it never occurred to
me either because it's so rare.

You did keep his blood and
urine samples, didn't you?

- Of course.
- What are we waiting for?

I'll get Sam and
we'll come right away.

JUDGE: Mr. Nicholson, you
may call your next witness.

At least the V.M.A. test will let
us know if we're on the right track.

I got it, Quince, the
catecholamine level.

Well? Are you waiting for a
special invitation? Let's have it!

Well, even calculating
with a small sample,

the catecholamines are sky high.

Bobby Nolan was saturated
with epinephrine, norepinephrine.

- That's evidence of a tumor.
- It sure is.

Now I'm gonna find out
how good a gambler Ben is.

An exhumation?

How do you expect me to go in
there and ask for an exhumation

for re-autopsy on Bobby
Nolan, on a hunch?

The way the case is going,
what have you got to lose?

Yeah, but you're
taking such a long shot.

If you're wrong, that's all
the jury's going to remember.

But if I'm right, if we find it,

we'll prove conclusively that O'Banion
was not responsible for Nolan's death.

And what if you
don't find anything?

Not a thing. I don't understand.

You'd expect to find at
least a hint of a tumor there.

Nothing in the adrenal glands?

No. And in ninety percent of
these cases, that's where you find it.

I was so sure, Sam.

Quince, a tumor that tiny, it
could be anywhere in his body.

Unless it was destroyed
in the first two autopsies.

What do you suggest?

We'll have to ribbon
every centimeter of tissue.

But Quincy, that
could take days.

Do you see any other way?

Quincy, I think
I've got something.

A little nodule, right
here, behind the adrenal.

Yeah, I got it, let's remove it.

Sam, get me a Petri dish.

There it is.

- Do a frozen section
on that right away.
- Okay.

Well?

Just a hylanized lymphnode.

- Right back to square one.
- (PHONE RINGING)

Yeah, but it's there!
I know it's there,

and we've got to find it.

Pathology.

Okay. Quince.

Benjamin Nicholson is here.

Ben's here?

I can't stall him
much longer, Quince.

Closing arguments
are in less than an hour.

How much more time do you need?

I can't tell you.

The tumor we're looking for could
be as small as an eighth of an inch.

And it could be
anywhere on his body.

You realize if you don't find that
tumor, my case is down the tubes.

I know. That's why
we're not going to quit.

For the sake of the
memory of Bobby Nolan,

I urge you to return a
verdict in favor of the plaintiff,

Theodore Nolan,

and give him some
measure of comfort

and compensation for the cruel

and needless death of his son.

Thank you.

JUDGE: Mr. Nicholson, the court
will hear your closing statement.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Your Honor,

ladies and
gentlemen of the jury...

Your Honor, I realize
this is highly irregular,

but I would like to continue my
defense and call Dr. Quincy to the stand.

Objection, Your Honor!

Mr. Nicholson, we will
hear Dr. Quincy's testimony,

but I warn you, if I even
suspect you're trying to play fast

and loose with this court,

you and your client will feel the
full weight of my judicial wrath.

Thank you.

Sam.

BENJAMIN: Dr. Quincy,

would you explain to the court

the reason why you
requested an exhumation

and re-autopsy of Robert Nolan?

From what I was hearing in
this court, a pattern emerged.

The young man, Rick Murphy,

testified that there was rapid
heart rate and respiration.

Mr. Nolan testified
that Bobby was irritable,

had sudden attacks of nausea,
vomiting and extreme nervousness.

These indicated a possibility

that Bobby died from a rare
tumor called pheochromocytoma.

What this tumor does is secrete
massive amounts of adrenalin,

epinephrine, into
the bloodstream,

increasing the heart
rate and blood pressure

to a point where congestive
heart failure can occur

or a blood vessel bursts.

We don't know what causes
it, nor is it easily diagnosed.

Sam.

This is a chart which shows
the many different locations

in which this kind
of tumor can occur.

Your Honor, a tumor just
a quarter of an inch long

can secrete enough
adrenalin to kill a human being.

In this case, a young
athlete, Bobby Nolan.

This area of the human anatomy
is where we found the tumor.

It was imbedded in the
muscles of the bladder wall.

Unfortunately, it was easy to
overlook in our initial autopsies.

Your Honor, these
tumors turn off and on.

That means that Robert's
tumor may never have shown up

during a physical examination

unless it was secreting its epinephrin
at the precise time of the examination.

These tumors are usually
activated spontaneously.

Robert's heart attack occurred

several hours after he
had stopped running.

Enough time for his
body to cool down

from the exertion and for the
tumor to secrete on its own.

Are you saying
that Robert's death

was not related to
the physical exertion?

Yes, I am.

Then the defendant,
Martin O'Banion,

is not responsible for
Robert Nolan's death?

No, he was not.

Your Honor, in light
of this testimony,

I move for a directed verdict.

Gentlemen, would you both
approach the bench, please?

You may step down, Dr. Quincy.

Under the circumstances,
Mr. Martinson,

I'm inclined to direct a
verdict in favor of Mr. O'Banion

unless you're prepared to
refute the facts in this case.

No, Your Honor, I don't
see how that's possible.

Your Honor, I would like to
make a statement for the record.

I don't think you
understand, Mr. Nicholson.

I'm ruling in favor
of your client.

You've mounted a superb
defense and I sincerely hope

you're not planning
on jeopardizing it now.

No, Your Honor. But I feel that
more has happened in this courtroom

than a simple civil case,

and I feel very strongly it
should be included in the record.

All right. But I hope you
know what you're doing.

- Thank you.
- (BANGS GAVEL)

Before I direct a
verdict in this case,

this court will hear a
statement by Mr. Nicholson.

- Mr. Nicholson.
- Thank you, Your Honor.

Your Honor,

ladies and
gentlemen of the jury,

Dr. Quincy has just
proven to you medically,

beyond a shadow of a doubt,

that this man, my client,

Martin O'Banion, is
completely innocent

in contributing to the
death of Robert Nolan.

True, legally he is innocent,

but he is morally guilty!

Mr. Nicholson, are you deliberately
trying to prejudice your case?

No, Your Honor, because he is
not the only one who is morally guilty.

If anyone's
responsible, it's you,

and you, and you, and me.

We all wanted a winner.

We all wanted a champion.

We all wanted to bask
in the reflected glory

of Bobby Nolan's victories.

And to hell with the price
that he would have to pay

for those victories.

We're paying that price now.

Paying the price in human misery

and suffering

every time a boy like
your son, Mr. Nolan,

is pushed physically
beyond their endurance

for the sake of a
winning athlete.

And you bought his
dream too, Mr. Nolan.

You shared in
your son's victories.

You wanted to see him have
that shot at fame and money

and a life better than yours.
And what father could resist?

But your son died cruelly
just so some alumni

could scream at a track meet.

Isn't that what it's all about?

Huh?

We pay the price every
time a coach like you

recruits impressionable
high school athletes

with promises of
new cars and girls

and under the table allowances

and easy classes.

And we pay dearly

when presidents of our
colleges like you, Mr. Jeffers,

allow transcripts to be forged,

who look the other way
when your star athletes

get passing grades for
classes they've never taken.

Or when you invent
phantom classes

to keep athletes playing who
are academically ineligible.

For what?

For the sake of winning a
game or winning a track meet?

What happens to
some of these athletes

when they graduate from your college
without being able to read or write?

Their lives are destroyed
before they've even begun.

For what? All for
the sake of winning.

For the sake of winning what?

I want you to think about this
before you leave this courtroom.

I want you to think
about all the lies

and cliches we so
eagerly embrace.

Like "Nice guys finish last.

"Winning isn't everything,
it's the only thing.

"Win at all costs."
And on and on.

This is the attitude
that killed Bobby Nolan.

This is the mentality,
no, the disease

that undermines and infects
all of our human values.

I used to believe
winning was everything.

I believe it when my country
sent me off to Vietnam,

and I still believed it when I
came back home a cripple.

I even believed it yesterday

when I wanted to win this
case so badly I could taste it.

But if winning means
destroying the lives

of boys like Bobby Nolan,

just for the sake of winning,

then I don't believe
that anymore.

And I thank God I don't.

Give Wendy my love.

Talk to you soon.

Well, what do ya say, Quince?

It'll cost ya two
dollars to stay.

Something wrong?

I just talked to
Benjamin Nicholson.

Some Midwestern university

just offered O'Banion a
huge four-year no-cut contract.

Some crazy world, ain't it?

And O'Banion asked
Ben to negotiate it for him.

Can you beat that?

Well, winning is everything.
Everybody loves a winner.

- Yeah.
- The only loser
is the Nolan boy.

- Well, what do ya say, Quincy?
- I'm out, I'm out!

Quincy, I bluffed you.

There it is. Do I
love to beat you!

Oh! love to win!

(ALL CHATTERING)