Quincy M.E. (1976–1983): Season 8, Episode 5 - Unreasonable Doubt - full transcript
Doctor Meade said his
brain is turning to stone.
I'll be right back, Charley.
Why is everyone so anxious to believe that
this kind and gentleman killed his son.
He killed his son,
Quincy. It's that simple.
Your Walter Ross, Quincy, is out for
blood, and he doesn't care how he gets it.
Monahan's ready to arrest
Preston the minute he gets a verdict,
death at the hands of another.
But it sounds more and more
like a deliberate electrocution.
Why is it so hard for you to admit
the possibility that you might be wrong?
Because, I'm not!
And there isn't any way
you can prove them wrong.
There has to be, Sam.
Gentlemen, you
are about to enter
the most fascinating
sphere of police work,
the world of forensic medicine.
Ann, are you all right?
- Yes, sir.
- What in the world happened?
Well, I tripped over the carpet.
We've all been tripping
on that darned carpet.
That's the way it came
back from the cleaners.
Can't you iron it out before
someone breaks his leg?
I'll do it right now.
Okay, fine, now are
you sure you're all right?
- Yes, sir. I'm fine. Thank you.
- Okay.
Who was it?
- Ann tripped on
that hall carpet.
- Who hasn't?
- How's it going?
- So far so good.
It looks like it was just a
broken wire to the power tube.
If I hook up a jumper
wire around the break,
I get full voltage out of
the fly-back transformer.
Be careful, you can get
quite a jolt from that thing.
Yeah, I know, and this connector
wire's in pretty bad shape.
I'm going to make up a new one.
That's just what I was going
to have you do. You're learning.
- When's Mom due back?
- Any time now.
- I heard her
crying last night.
- It's hard on all of us.
Suppose Doctor Meade's right.
Maybe Charley's only gonna get worse.
- I don't think
mom could take it.
- It's up to us, Michael.
We have to be strong. And do
whatever's necessary to help her.
- What did Doctor Meade say?
- She said what I
knew she'd say.
It's not a rash. I knew it wasn't.
She said it's only the beginning.
Sweetheart...
He could live to
reach adulthood.
But by that time his face, his
features will begin to distort.
- His brain will
slowly be destroyed.
- Lilian, please, don't...
Doctor Meade said the brain
tissue is already calcifying.
Do you know what
that means, Jerry?
His brain is turning to stone.
Why? Why my precious
little Charley? Why him?
I'll be right back, Charley. Mommy
needs me very much right now.
You never complain, do you?
Lilian...
What hurts the most, I
keep feeling it's my fault.
Something I did or didn't do
that my baby's being punished for.
You know that's not true.
All I know is we waited
so long for Charley.
I love you very, very much.
- Is that gonna
help him get better?
- No, but it's...
It's going to help us get through
whatever it is that's expected of us.
I promise you, Lilian, if we're strong
enough, and love each other enough,
there's nothing in this world
that we won't be able to overcome.
Michael!
Michael!
Oh, no!
You think he was deliberately
infected with the Yersinia?
Sure. How else
could it have ended up
with that high a concentration
of bacteria in his stomach.
You know he was taking
an antidiarrheal medication
that would slow
up his intestines.
I figure the murderer must have
laced the capsules with that bacteria.
That would give you this
severe an intestinal infection.
- Yeah, it would.
- We have to find
the rest of those capsules.
I was hoping you'd say that.
I had Monahan get a search warrant
for the lab where his daughter works.
In each capsule there's a piece
of gelatin loaded with bacteria.
And I'm supposed
to be supervising you.
It's time to close up the store.
- I have to get
these notes together.
- Leave 'em.
You're making the rest of us look bad
with these 26 hour days you're putting in.
That's funny.
My father used to always say
there weren't enough hours in the day
for all the work
that needed doing.
I must have inherited
his get-up-and-go.
I just get up and go a
little slower, that's all.
Slower? You've only
been here five months
and you're already doing mental cartwheels
like your bacteria-laced medicine.
Come on. I'll buy you dinner.
I can't, Quincy, really.
But I'll take a rain check.
- You got it. Any time.
- Okay.
- Goodnight, Walter.
- Goodnight.
Quincy, I'm glad I caught you.
Don't you see I'm not doing
business hours? I'm going home.
Listen, I want your advice
on the Preston case.
- Jerry Preston's baby?
- Yeah... Quincy...
You know what I really want?
I want you to do that autopsy.
I can't. Jerry's
a friend of mine.
I do the autopsy,
before you know it
somebody will be
shouting conflict of interest.
I just don't know who then.
I just left him, Walter Ross.
Listen, Gerald
Preston's connected.
There's going to be a lot of publicity.
This case is political dynamite.
Ross is dynamite, too.
He's only been here five months, he's
done a 150 autopsies without a hitch.
And he doesn't miss a trick.
What about the Gresham case?
The strangulation marks, the
varying sizes of strands of rope.
- He did a magnificent job!
- I know he's
a hard worker, but...
Hard worker? He works too hard.
He's up there right now
running his own tests.
I'll bet if I came
in at five tomorrow
morning, I'd find him
cutting his own micros.
You're right. You're right.
I suppose that's... Listen...
I keep remembering
Senator Lyle's assassination,
and the reasons
Ross left Baltimore.
Ross was the most qualified
man to do that autopsy.
They side-stepped
him. They passed him by.
And you know, he
doesn't even feel bitter.
He told me that the guy who
did the autopsy did a terrific job.
- He said that?
- Yes, he did. Now is there anything else?
No, I guess I'm convinced.
Why don't you go home? I see
enough of you during business hours.
So this jumper wire was connected
exactly the way it is here, huh?
Yeah.
Where's Quincy? I thought
he'd be in on this for sure.
Hey, if you miss him that much, I can
be just as loud and irascible as he can.
No, no. That's okay.
Stay the way you are.
Could you give
me that voltmeter.
Now, Preston claims the baby
must've pulled this connector wire loose.
Was the tray
touching the radiator?
It was when we got here. Those
wires are in pretty bad shape.
Several places the
insulation's is completely off.
- See?
- Yeah.
So, apparently the current
traveled from the television set
through this wire to the
baby on the metal tray.
- Here.
- No, I'm okay.
I suppose with an active infant
Preston's story is physically possible.
But how could a father leave his
son so close to a live wire like that?
How could a man who's obviously been
working with electricity for some time,
not realize the risk?
His wife came home real
upset. Something about the baby.
He says he just put the baby
down and went to comfort her.
It only takes a second
to move the tray.
He thought he
turned the power off.
- At the television set?
- No, no, no.
Here.
That way the socket
would be dead,
so no electricity
would go to the TV.
But if he turned it off, how
was the baby electrocuted?
He doesn't know.
Well, I will. You can believe that.
Just as soon as I finish the autopsy.
What did you find?
Take a look.
Reddened area
on the right cheek.
Looks like a hemangioma.
- You okay?
- Yeah. Perfect.
- It's hard when it's a baby.
- Yeah. Especially
one that was so ill.
Anyway, you're right.
It is a hemangioma.
I've done quite a bit of
research on infant diseases.
There was a time when I
considered specializing in pediatrics.
Of course, my dad didn't
think it was challenging enough.
Probably the only
reason I'm doing this now
is because he didn't know
what pathology meant.
- You said the baby was ill?
- Yeah.
Sturge-Weber Disease.
From all appearances, he
was born without dysfunction.
I've spoken to the family's
pediatrician, Doctor Meade.
She says there was some concern
because the baby had several
seizures a little over a month ago.
She ordered more tests.
In the meantime, the nevi
appeared on his cheek.
What's the course
of the disease.
Development of venous angiomatous
masses on the face and in the brain.
Eventually that leads to distortion of
the features and mental retardation.
On this baby the entire right
hemisphere of the brain was involved.
The vessels are
already starting to calcify.
He would have died in his teens,
certainly as a young adult, and he
would have been severely retarded.
Go on.
Take a look at the burn
marks on the left forearm.
Both on the anterior and
posterior aspects of the arm.
What's your conclusion?
It's obvious.
The wire was not simply lying against
the top of the arm like Preston claimed.
It was wrapped
completely around.
Was the baby close enough to the
wire so it could've entangled itself?
- That was my first thought.
- What was your second?
Well, with Sturge-Weber, there'd
be motor impairment on the left side.
Very little chance of the baby reaching
out for anything, let alone a wire.
Just what are your
getting at, Walter?
What I'm saying is very
simple and very clear.
Someone wrapped the wire around
the arm and turned on the electricity.
This baby was...
Deliberately executed.
You? You want an inquest?
He's shown me enough
evidence to warrant one.
Then you agree with Walter Ross.
You think the baby was murdered?
Absolutely not. I've known
Jerry Preston for ten years.
There's nothing more precious
to him than a human life.
- He's not capable
of such a thing.
- I don't understand that.
The press is playing
this case up big already.
Prominent industrialist, political
influence, accident, murder.
The inquest is going
to add fuel to that fire.
I think with Walter's thoroughness,
is going to vindicate Jerry.
Do you think Doctor Ross can handle
himself in an inquest of this importance?
Of course. He did lots
of them in Baltimore.
Besides, I don't think
you have much of a choice.
I told you, I can't
do that autopsy.
Well, Quincy, you'll
have to excuse me
if I don't share your
admiration for Walter Ross.
I would like to.
But I don't believe what
you see is what you get.
Something disturbs me
under that composure of his.
I can understand that. You
still don't think I'm perfect.
Oh, no, wait. You're perfect. You are
perfect. That's why I want you there.
- Where?
- At the inquest. As a spectator.
Come on. That will look like
we don't trust him to do this job.
- That's my condition.
- All right. All right.
- But you're all
gonna be surprised.
- By what?
- Hold that, will you, Pete.
- Yeah.
By his thoroughness
and his professionalism.
You're gonna learn what
being fair actually means.
- How you feeling, Pete?
- Doing good, doc. Thank you.
Michael,
what are you doing?
I don't know. Just looking
at some of Charley's things.
Your mother and
I are leaving now.
Do you want me to come
to the inquest with you?
Do you want to?
- No.
- I understand.
- Do you?
- Of course.
Dad?
Charley has to be better off
where he is right now, doesn't he?
I hope so.
I'm gonna miss the little guy.
We're all gonna miss him, son.
Dad,
but, it's the best
thing for Mom, isn't it?
Him being gone?
Yes, I really believe it is.
Again, this is an
inquest, not a trial.
We're not here to decide the guilt
or innocence of any one individual,
but to determine
the circumstances
surrounding the death
of Charles Lane Preston.
Whether it was an accident
or at the hands of another.
Your decision need not be
unanimous. There are seven of you.
Therefore, a simple majority of four
will be sufficient to decide the matter.
Members of the jury may
feel free to ask questions,
but are not compelled to do so.
At this time I would like
to call Doctor L.T. Meade.
Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
- I do.
- State your name.
- Doctor Leslie Taylor Meade.
- Please be seated.
Doctor Meade, you
are a pediatrician,
- are you not?
- Yes.
Were you called in to
examine Charles Lane Preston?
Yes.
Approximately two
months after his birth,
the baby became subject
to periodic seizures.
And what was thought to be a
simple allergic rash on his right cheek
became increasingly pronounced.
Your diagnosis?
It appeared to be
Sturge-Weber Disease.
You informed the parents?
More tests were needed,
but I felt I should prepare them.
- What was there reaction?
- They were horrified,
of course,
particularly Mr. Preston.
What did he say to you?
He said that if Charles
did have Sturge-Weber,
that maybe it would be better...
If he'd been born dead.
Hey, Quincy, when are they
gonna take a break for lunch?
- It's almost twelve thirty.
- Any minute.
When I left before it was
looking pretty bad for Preston.
What are talking about? Everything
we've heard is circumstantial.
Sure it is, but there's a lot
of it and it sounds convincing.
Quincy, I'm sorry. But it sounds more
and more like a deliberate electrocution.
I'll be anxious to hear what Preston
has to say for himself this afternoon.
Mr. Preston, you're
a senior partner
in the industrial firm of Wakefield,
Warner and Harmon, is that correct?
Yes.
On the day your
son, Charles, died,
how is it that you were at
home instead of at the office?
I left work early.
I was concerned
over the tests that
would confirm how
sick Charles really was.
Then why didn't you accompany your
wife when she went to see Doctor Meade?
I don't know. I needed
to be alone, I guess.
How did you spend your time
waiting for your wife's return?
I was restoring an old
1950 model television set.
I was replacing some of the
worn wires and most of the tubes.
It's my hobby. Restoring
old electronic equipment.
- It helps me relax.
- I see.
Well, don't you think your wife might've
liked to take her mind off things, too?
Objection, Your Honor.
This isn't a formal court
of law, Mr. Wakefield.
It's all right, Ben.
No, it not all right. It's
a prejudicial question.
I want to answer it.
You're suggesting that I
acted selfishly or cowardly
by letting my wife face
Doctor Meade alone.
Well, maybe you're right.
You see, it was quite a shock learning
my Charley was going to become...
- That he would be...
- Be?
Be what, Mr. Preston?
Deformed? Unable to walk upright
like a so-called normal human being?
Doctor Ross?
- Please. I see no reason for you to...
- I'm sorry, Your Honor.
It's getting late.
I'd like to adjourn until ten thirty
tomorrow morning, if you have no objection.
- No objections here.
- No.
I think I'll be able to drag myself
back in here tomorrow morning.
Doctor Quincy?
Mr. Wakefield, I
shouldn't be talking to you.
I'm the one who's
talking, Doctor.
It's about your
colleague, Ross, in there.
What the hell does
he think he's doing?
I don't like the way this thing is going.
It can degenerate into a witch hunt.
So if you have any
regard for your friend Jerry,
you'd end this thing.
And you'll end it now.
Walter, need a lift home?
No, thanks. I've got my wheels.
That little conference
looked pretty cozy.
The concern is that you're losing sight
of the fact that this is only an inquest.
You're behaving more like a
prosecutor than a doctor of pathology.
- His concern or yours?
- At the moment, both.
Well maybe you
both better remember
that sometimes the truth demands
more of a lawyer than a doctor.
That isn't your
field of expertise.
Look, Quincy, we wouldn't
be having this conversation
I think if Gerald Preston
weren't a personal friend.
So why don't we
quit right now. Okay?
It's been a long day and I
feel a longer one coming up.
Damn you!
Mr. Preston, why did you leave
you're baby unattended in the study?
My wife needed me.
Well I would say that, she
needed you at the doctor's too.
But, that didn't stop you from
pursuing the pleasures of your hobby.
Your Honor, I must protest!
Sorry. I suppose everyone's
entitled to a little relaxation.
Mr. Preston, you say you
think you flipped the wall switch.
How is it that you're not sure?
I am sure. It was off.
But a few minutes ago you didn't
seem that positive. Why is that?
I just told you, the wall switch
was off. That's all there is to it.
What are we to
believe, Mr. Preston?
One minute you're not
certain, the next minute you are.
I don't know how we can put
any credence in what you say.
Whether or not that
switch was on or off
meant the difference between
your son growing to adulthood
and his life being snuffed
out by 17000 volts of electricity!
Yet you waffle back and
forth as to what you did.
If it had been your
other son lying there,
the one you consider normal,
would your memory be any better?
I turned that switch off!
Your Honor, I find
the conduct intolerable!
This is not a trial, my
client is not a defendant!
He's merely here
to give testimony
to the circumstances surrounding
the tragic death of his beloved child!
Now, if there are any other
slanderous implications,
I'm prepared to press
charges against Doctor Ross
and every one of his superiors
in the Coroner's Office!
That won't be
necessary, Your Honor.
Every question I wanted
to ask has been asked.
You look awful serious.
You know, Walter, the first
time you came to work here
I marveled at your
professionalism.
And every case you worked on
after that only confirmed my opinion.
Until today.
He killed his son,
Quincy. It's that simple.
It's not your job
to determine that.
The inquest determines the mode
of death, not who was responsible.
You're manipulating
him, and his testimony.
Why would I do that?
Because, you're taking this case
personally. You can't afford to do that.
You know what I think?
I think Preston put
you up to this, didn't he?
A little personal
plea for mercy.
I'm going to forget
that you said that.
Don't do me any
favors. I did say it.
And I'm sick and tired of
you looking over my shoulder,
- disapproving of
everything I do.
- What?
You never let up. Pushing
me! Over and over again!
Look, I do my best,
better than anybody else in this
office but it's never good enough for you.
Okay. You want to review
my findings, review them!
But, get off my back
and leave me alone!
If Preston did kill the baby,
he would've unhooked the
connector wire from the voltmeter,
made sure the tray was
touching the radiator,
then wrapped the exposed
parts of the wire around the arm.
As long as the TV was turned on,
all he had to do was flip
the switch by the door.
And if it was an accident,
the baby had to squirm
around enough to grab the wire,
pull it loose, and wrap
it around his own arm.
Preston testified that the wire
was firmly clipped to the voltmeter
when he left the room and
detached when he returned.
I could see the baby
grabbing the wire.
But, is there any way
it could've pulled it free
with that side of its body
impaired by the disease?
Both Ross and
Doctor Meade say no.
And there isn't any way
you can prove them wrong.
There has to be, Sam.
There has to be a way.
Mr. MacDonald, with over 20 years
experience as an electrical engineer,
can you tell us if
this drawing indicates
a plausible path for
the electrical current?
Yes, it does.
Electricity will follow the path of
least resistance to reach ground.
If you have a wire with an electrical
potential and a moderate resistance,
you'll get a current flow,
but if you give that current flow an
alternate path with lower resistance,
it'll take that path.
And in this case the human
tissue had lower resistance?
Yes, the wire had been disconnected, so
there was no place for the current to flow.
When it touched the child's arm,
the current flowed through the
child's body into the metal tray,
and out through the
radiator to ground.
Doctor Ross? Do you have
any questions for this witness?
Yes, I do, Your Honor.
Would you please return
to the witness stand?
Mr. MacDonald, will you
examine this wire, please?
It's in very bad shape.
Could you be a
little more specific?
Well, the old insulation is
worn off in several places.
The copper wire
inside is totally exposed.
If this wire were hooked to the output
of the fly-back transformer of a television
and these exposed areas came
into contact with a human skin,
would that result
in an electric shock?
Absolutely.
Is this an exact duplicate of
the one found in the study?
I stripped off the
insulation myself.
Those exposed places are accurate
down to a couple of millimeters.
Walter's says Jerry wrapped
around Charles' arm like this...
Yeah. Take a look.
One burn mark on top of
the arm, one on the bottom.
Each from a section of the wire
where the insulation was gone.
I still can't believe
Jerry would do that.
Run 17000 volts through
the body of his own child.
I'd honestly like to
believe you, Quince.
Look, forget the baby's
impairment from Sturge-Weber.
Suppose he did manage to pull
the wire from the voltage meter.
And it fell across his arm. He
could've been electrocuted that way.
True, but the photograph
shows a second burn mark
on the bottom of his arm,
which indicates the wire didn't fall.
It was wrapped.
What was the baby
wearing at the time of death?
Diapers. Cloth diapers.
Report said they were wet.
- We still have them?
- Right over here.
The way it's sealed, looks like
Doctor Ross never even opened it.
Probably because he didn't think
he needed it to prove his case.
Quincy, Ross was brilliant
today. I'm really proud of him.
He gave a straightforward, letter
perfect, medical presentation.
- You didn't find
anything in that report?
- No, it's not ready yet.
Well, it doesn't really matter.
I think Ross has left little
doubt about this case.
Monahan's ready to arrest
Preston the minute he gets a verdict
of death at the
hands of another.
I'm sorry, I know how you feel.
I can't understand why
everyone is so anxious to believe
that this kind and gentle
man murdered his son.
No, it isn't that. We
have to go with the facts.
Have you found something
to prove he didn't?
No, but I've found something that'll
prove Walter's theory isn't foolproof.
- What?
- This.
A safety pin? You
did find something?
I would rather save it
for the inquest tomorrow.
I wanna confront him with it.
Don't be ridiculous!
I can't have two of my
pathologists squabbling in public.
Do you know how that's
gonna make this office look?
What's the difference? As
long as we're after the truth.
You better be right
about that safety pin.
Because if you're not, the
only winner around here
is gonna be that crusader
from the Mayor's office.
So you gently lift the plant
out. Here take it, Quince.
You see those roots all
wrapped around together like that?
The plant wanted to keep growing,
but the roots had no place to go.
So what you do is shake
out some of the roots,
because the Mama
root and the Daddy root
wanted to go down the corner
and get a Cloverfield burger.
- Quince!
- What?
You haven't heard
a word I've said.
Yes, I did. You said you wanted to
go get a hamburger later or something.
Quince, it doesn't take a psychiatrist
to see that something's bothering you.
Yeah. Sorry.
What is it? What we
talked about at dinner?
Going into the inquest
tomorrow to dispute Ross?
It isn't as though I have solid
evidence that gonna prove anything.
All I'm going to do is
undermine his credibility.
You're worried about
how he'll take it?
He's been so adamant.
He's put everything on the line.
Now I'm going to dispute
him, publicly, deflate him.
You know what I mean?
That's the kind of thing you
sneak up on someone with.
He's more likely to feel
embarrassed and defensive
if he's caught by surprise.
You think I should tell
him what I plan to do?
Yes, I do. Go see him.
Let him know what's up.
Maybe you can defuse the whole
thing by sharing it with him ahead of time.
You know something,
honey? I think you're right.
Now I know why they
give you the big buck.
Oh!
Quince. I'd wear a mudpack
everyday to see you laugh like that.
See you later.
Well, surprise, surprise.
I didn't see you at
the proceedings today,
I figured maybe you were
on vacation or something.
- May I come in?
- Sure.
I just made a
fresh pot of coffee.
Guaranteed better than
what Sam makes at the lab.
No, thanks.
But, I would like
to talk though.
I wonder what the
subject matter could be.
I spent all day going over the
Preston case. Reviewing your findings.
I thought you were the
wrong type for a vacation.
I also came up with a solid theory that
supports the claim of accidental death.
- Quincy, that's impossible.
- No, it is possible.
I was gonna spring it on you
tomorrow morning at the inquest.
I decided to tell you tonight.
It's as scientifically feasible as
your version of the baby's death.
It thought I told you I didn't want
you looking over my shoulder!
This is my case. I'm not going
to talk about it to anybody!
It's either here or tomorrow
morning at the inquest.
Good! That would
be a perfect idea!
Might as well bring your prejudice for
Gerald Preston right out into the open.
Why is it so hard for you to admit
the possibility that you might be wrong?
Because, I'm not!
Gerald Preston
destroyed his kid.
He looked down at that baby
and saw some diseased creature
he was ashamed to call his son!
Believe me, I know
what kind of man he is.
If that baby lived, Preston
would've made his life a nightmare.
Pushed him beyond
human endurance.
Straight A's.
Not just a career, but the
most challenging one possible.
That's the way he would've
expected his deformed offspring
to earn stingy
little scraps of love.
Walter, Charles Preston
had Sturge-Weber.
He never would've been able
to go to school. Or have a career.
His mind would've been
as imperfect as his body.
Don't lecture me. I'm the one
who told you about Sturge-Weber.
You also told me you
decided not to go into pediatrics
because your father didn't
think it was challenging enough.
What is this? Part of
tomorrow's presentation?
An in-depth analysis of
Walter Sarsfield Ross?
Hasn't been easy
for you, has it?
You're damn right
it hasn't been easy.
Not with the ignorance,
the condescending attitudes,
the insensitivity
of people like you.
Walter, is it society you're
really mad at? Or your father?
Are you really trying to
crucify Gerald Preston?
I think you'd better go.
For the thirty-five years,
you've been looking for enough hours
in the day to be what your father wanted.
The perfect son. The
perfect human being.
So far out of the ordinary
that he might forget the real
Walter Ross walked with crutches!
I suppose you think
that's a brilliant analysis.
Well, Doctor, you're wrong.
My father didn't want a perfect
son, he wanted a dead one.
I never drove myself for
him, I drove myself for me!
To embarrass him
with my success.
To make him miserable every
time I achieved something.
And you know what happened?
Along the way, I turned into
someone who hates to lose.
So, if you challenge me
at that inquest tomorrow,
just remember, I'll
fight you until you bleed.
We have a special request from
Doctor Quincy of the Coroner's Office
to recall one witness
for examination
prior to your retiring
to consider your verdict.
Doctor Quincy?
Your Honor, I'd like to
call Doctor Walter Ross.
Doctor Ross, you understand you are
under oath from your previous testimony.
Doctor Ross, could you give the court
your definition of reasonable doubt?
I'm not sure. We use it a lot.
It's a term that most people
understand. But it's rather hard to define.
Then let's come
back to it later.
Over the last few of days you've
presented scientific and medical evidence
that indicates only one possible way
that Charles Lane Preston could've died.
There is only one.
And this diagram, prepared
under your direction,
shows a path that the electrical
current might have taken?
Did take.
An experienced electrical
engineer already testified to that.
Shown this diagram, what
other conclusion could he reach?
You say the wire was
wrapped around the baby's arm?
It had to be.
Could Charles have
freed that wire by himself?
That's out of the question.
Due to the Sturge-Weber Disease,
his left arm wouldn't have had
the strength to grasp the wire.
But, even with that
particular disease,
couldn't he have reached up
playfully and touch the wire?
I suppose so.
But certainly not with the
strength to have pulled it free.
Well, let's say, when he grabbed
the wire, he touched a bare spot.
And his body was
immediately jolted by electricity.
Couldn't the muscular contraction
that resulted have jerked it free?
California could fall into the
Pacific Ocean. Anything's possible.
If you aren't prepared to
give me a straight answer,
I have four eminent neurologists
who are willing to testify
that under those circumstances,
the baby could've freed the wire.
I'm not trying to
be cute, Doctor.
I'm merely acknowledging
that the realm of possibility
encompasses incredibly
wide proportions.
But, as the chief representative
of the Coroner's Office,
I must point out that even if
the baby did pull off the wire,
he most certainly did not
wrap it around his own arm.
That's truly absurd.
Bear with me for a
moment, will ya Doctor.
Believe it or not, we're
making progress here.
So, we both agree that
even a Sturge-Weber child
could've gotten the wire free.
Now, if that wire
fell over his arm,
and continued to send
electricity through his body,
couldn't that have
caused his death?
I'm trying to be patient
with you, Doctor Quincy,
and protective of our office.
But, you're forcing me to reveal
that you didn't do your homework.
Because, the second burn
on the bottom of the baby's arm
shoots your falling
wire theory full of holes.
If the wire simply fell, there
would only be one burn mark.
Unless the second was
caused by another metal object.
Your Honor, this is one of the safety
pins used to secure baby Preston's diapers.
I want to document it and
present it later as evidence.
Please proceed, Doctor Quincy.
You never examined
the pin, did you?
- There was no need.
- That's where we disagree.
Part of my investigation
consisted of pinning his diapers
on a doll that was exactly his size.
Easing the pins through
the original holes in the cloth
to find out exactly how they
were positioned the day he died.
I think you're beginning
to follow me, aren't ya?
My falling wire theory now
becomes plausible, doesn't it?
If that wire fell over his arm
and stayed there long
enough to produce a burn mark
then that same current could've
passed through the wet diaper
that made a second burn mark where
the hand touched the metal object.
You're giving me supposition
after supposition after supposition!
- You can't prove any of it!
- I don't have to.
I asked you earlier to
define reasonable doubt.
Your answer was one I
might have given myself.
It's hard to define.
Black's Law Dictionary lists
almost a dozen possibilities.
One, People vs. Rogers, states
that the term needs no definition.
We understand it to mean that in a trial,
after the State has presented its case,
and the jurors have compared
and considered all the evidence,
if there still remains an
element of uncertainty,
a reasonable, moral doubt,
the accused is given
the benefit of that.
I know this is not a trial.
But we are here to decide
between two possibilities,
accidental death, or death
at the hands of another.
If there still remain
questions that call for answers
that neither you
nor I could give,
do we have the moral right
to decide which is correct?
For me, there are still
unanswered questions.
For me, there is still
reasonable doubt.
How about you, Doctor Ross?
Walter, can I talk
to you for a minute?
I don't know what you're going
to say, but let me talk first, okay?
I resented you last night when you
told me what you were going to do today.
I was determined to show you up,
make you sorry you'd ever crossed me.
But, it didn't
turn out that way.
Walter, I wasn't
out to get you...
What I want to say is thank you.
You were right.
Somewhere along the
way I got fixated on one idea
and I lost track
of everything else.
I lost objectivity, I lost insight
and I almost lost the truth.
Anybody can get involved
with his work and lose objectivity.
It was more than
that and you know it.
But what happened
today isn't that important.
What really matters is
what happens tomorrow,
when that inquest jury
has to give its findings.
You raised a lot of good questions
but there still aren't any answers.
I'll tell you what.
Why don't you and I see if we
can come up with those answers?
Here, Doctor Quincy,
you can use this.
Thanks, Michael,
that'll be perfect.
The outlet on the left.
Got it. Does any other
switch work that plug?
I don't think so.
Then it would have to
be this one over here.
Yep. The power that electrocuted
Charles was turned on here.
- Yeah, but...
- What's going on?
Oh Jerry, I hope you don't mind,
you weren't here and Michael let us in.
I took Lilian over
to her mother's.
Now I'd like to know exactly
what you're doing here?
Doctor Quincy and I decided
to put our heads together
and see if we could
solve this thing.
Thanks to Doctor Quincy,
when we adjourned today,
it was pretty clear there was going
to be a verdict of accidental death.
Except for one thing.
There's still the big question
that has to be answered.
How did this light
switch get turned on?
You testified you turned it off
before you went outside
to comfort your wife.
If you turned it off,
somebody must've turned it on.
Well, I... I can't say.
My mind was a little
confused on that point.
Now that I think about
it, maybe I did leave it on.
Wait a minute, you were very
clear during your testimony.
You said... You even
shouted that you turned it off.
Sorry, I'm tired and I've got
a splitting headache and...
I'm not interested
in anymore theories,
or speculation about the
worst moment of my life.
Look, I'm sorry, Mr. Preston, but,
if we don't clear this up right now,
I can guarantee you
a visit from the police
no matter how the
verdict turns out.
Why? Why would the police come
here when he didn't do anything?
How do you know that, Michael?
Because, it was me! I did
it! I turned on the switch!
- Michael, don't!
- Why not, Dad?
I can't stand keeping
it inside anymore.
I couldn't take it. The way Mom
was, the way she was suffering.
So, when my father turned the
switch off and went to comfort her,
- I turned it back on again...
- This is incredible!
- He's a kid! He's lying!
- Is he?
Can't you see he's trying
to protect me because,
he knows I did
it? I turned it on?
- That's not what you
said at the inquest.
- I lied!
When? Then or now?
Please both just get out of
my house? Just get out, please!
Did you just use
a switch out here?
Yes, sir, that one. I
need it when I vacuum.
So, this switch works
that outlet too, huh?
Why would that be?
Well, this house is
almost sixty years old.
They didn't provide an
overabundance of plugs in those days.
My uncle probably had that
installed after he bought it, but,
I never knew it was connected
to the circuit in the study.
Annie, try and remember.
The day Charles died,
did you use that switch?
Well, yes. I ironed a
bump out of the carpet.
When? When did you use it?
Right after Mr. Preston told
me, I went to get the iron.
Oh, no. Oh, dear Lord!
Was it me? Was it my fault?
No, no Annie, it wasn't
your fault or anybody else's.
It was just a terrible accident
and no one is to blame.
Dad, you didn't do it.
Forgive me, son. I
did think it was you.
You know, it's really nice of Quincy
to give you this farewell dinner.
I just wish he had picked that
new French restaurant on the Strip.
A hundred dollars a plate? I didn't
know he had an expense account.
That's county. This is personal.
And never the twain shall meet.
As long as Doctor Asten's
firm hand guides our budget.
You'd do the same
thing if you had my job.
And you'd eat right
here if you had mine.
Except tonight, I'm
pulling out all the stops.
This is on me.
I want you to imagine yourselves
in the finest French restaurant
this side of the Mississippi.
Danny! You may serve the dinner!
Certainement.
For hors d'oeuvres we will
have champignons dijonnaise.
- What?
- I don't believe this.
The main course
poulet veronique,
for dessert, supreme
peches flambees.
Incredible!
I am only here to serve.
I would like to start the festivities
with a toast to you, Walter.
Baltimore's gain is our loss.
I just hope I can live up to the
title, Chief Medical Examiner.
Maybe, with a little luck, I'll
be Baltimore's new Quincy.
You're one of the best
pathologists I've ever known.
- You don't have to
walk in anybody's shoes.
- That's very true.
- Quincy, why are you late?
- I was with Jerry Preston.
Jerry and Lilian.
They wanted me
to be sure to tell you
that they've made application to
adopt a baby with Down Syndrome.
That won't be an
easy road to follow.
Charles wouldn't
have been easy either.
But they loved him and
they want to pass on that love.
And I would like to pass
on this very special dinner.
Hors d'oeuvres.
- Look at that.
- That's amazing.
How can you do
it with your prices.
My prices? No, no, no.
This is imported from that new
French restaurant down the street.
It comes to one hundred dollars,
per personne.
brain is turning to stone.
I'll be right back, Charley.
Why is everyone so anxious to believe that
this kind and gentleman killed his son.
He killed his son,
Quincy. It's that simple.
Your Walter Ross, Quincy, is out for
blood, and he doesn't care how he gets it.
Monahan's ready to arrest
Preston the minute he gets a verdict,
death at the hands of another.
But it sounds more and more
like a deliberate electrocution.
Why is it so hard for you to admit
the possibility that you might be wrong?
Because, I'm not!
And there isn't any way
you can prove them wrong.
There has to be, Sam.
Gentlemen, you
are about to enter
the most fascinating
sphere of police work,
the world of forensic medicine.
Ann, are you all right?
- Yes, sir.
- What in the world happened?
Well, I tripped over the carpet.
We've all been tripping
on that darned carpet.
That's the way it came
back from the cleaners.
Can't you iron it out before
someone breaks his leg?
I'll do it right now.
Okay, fine, now are
you sure you're all right?
- Yes, sir. I'm fine. Thank you.
- Okay.
Who was it?
- Ann tripped on
that hall carpet.
- Who hasn't?
- How's it going?
- So far so good.
It looks like it was just a
broken wire to the power tube.
If I hook up a jumper
wire around the break,
I get full voltage out of
the fly-back transformer.
Be careful, you can get
quite a jolt from that thing.
Yeah, I know, and this connector
wire's in pretty bad shape.
I'm going to make up a new one.
That's just what I was going
to have you do. You're learning.
- When's Mom due back?
- Any time now.
- I heard her
crying last night.
- It's hard on all of us.
Suppose Doctor Meade's right.
Maybe Charley's only gonna get worse.
- I don't think
mom could take it.
- It's up to us, Michael.
We have to be strong. And do
whatever's necessary to help her.
- What did Doctor Meade say?
- She said what I
knew she'd say.
It's not a rash. I knew it wasn't.
She said it's only the beginning.
Sweetheart...
He could live to
reach adulthood.
But by that time his face, his
features will begin to distort.
- His brain will
slowly be destroyed.
- Lilian, please, don't...
Doctor Meade said the brain
tissue is already calcifying.
Do you know what
that means, Jerry?
His brain is turning to stone.
Why? Why my precious
little Charley? Why him?
I'll be right back, Charley. Mommy
needs me very much right now.
You never complain, do you?
Lilian...
What hurts the most, I
keep feeling it's my fault.
Something I did or didn't do
that my baby's being punished for.
You know that's not true.
All I know is we waited
so long for Charley.
I love you very, very much.
- Is that gonna
help him get better?
- No, but it's...
It's going to help us get through
whatever it is that's expected of us.
I promise you, Lilian, if we're strong
enough, and love each other enough,
there's nothing in this world
that we won't be able to overcome.
Michael!
Michael!
Oh, no!
You think he was deliberately
infected with the Yersinia?
Sure. How else
could it have ended up
with that high a concentration
of bacteria in his stomach.
You know he was taking
an antidiarrheal medication
that would slow
up his intestines.
I figure the murderer must have
laced the capsules with that bacteria.
That would give you this
severe an intestinal infection.
- Yeah, it would.
- We have to find
the rest of those capsules.
I was hoping you'd say that.
I had Monahan get a search warrant
for the lab where his daughter works.
In each capsule there's a piece
of gelatin loaded with bacteria.
And I'm supposed
to be supervising you.
It's time to close up the store.
- I have to get
these notes together.
- Leave 'em.
You're making the rest of us look bad
with these 26 hour days you're putting in.
That's funny.
My father used to always say
there weren't enough hours in the day
for all the work
that needed doing.
I must have inherited
his get-up-and-go.
I just get up and go a
little slower, that's all.
Slower? You've only
been here five months
and you're already doing mental cartwheels
like your bacteria-laced medicine.
Come on. I'll buy you dinner.
I can't, Quincy, really.
But I'll take a rain check.
- You got it. Any time.
- Okay.
- Goodnight, Walter.
- Goodnight.
Quincy, I'm glad I caught you.
Don't you see I'm not doing
business hours? I'm going home.
Listen, I want your advice
on the Preston case.
- Jerry Preston's baby?
- Yeah... Quincy...
You know what I really want?
I want you to do that autopsy.
I can't. Jerry's
a friend of mine.
I do the autopsy,
before you know it
somebody will be
shouting conflict of interest.
I just don't know who then.
I just left him, Walter Ross.
Listen, Gerald
Preston's connected.
There's going to be a lot of publicity.
This case is political dynamite.
Ross is dynamite, too.
He's only been here five months, he's
done a 150 autopsies without a hitch.
And he doesn't miss a trick.
What about the Gresham case?
The strangulation marks, the
varying sizes of strands of rope.
- He did a magnificent job!
- I know he's
a hard worker, but...
Hard worker? He works too hard.
He's up there right now
running his own tests.
I'll bet if I came
in at five tomorrow
morning, I'd find him
cutting his own micros.
You're right. You're right.
I suppose that's... Listen...
I keep remembering
Senator Lyle's assassination,
and the reasons
Ross left Baltimore.
Ross was the most qualified
man to do that autopsy.
They side-stepped
him. They passed him by.
And you know, he
doesn't even feel bitter.
He told me that the guy who
did the autopsy did a terrific job.
- He said that?
- Yes, he did. Now is there anything else?
No, I guess I'm convinced.
Why don't you go home? I see
enough of you during business hours.
So this jumper wire was connected
exactly the way it is here, huh?
Yeah.
Where's Quincy? I thought
he'd be in on this for sure.
Hey, if you miss him that much, I can
be just as loud and irascible as he can.
No, no. That's okay.
Stay the way you are.
Could you give
me that voltmeter.
Now, Preston claims the baby
must've pulled this connector wire loose.
Was the tray
touching the radiator?
It was when we got here. Those
wires are in pretty bad shape.
Several places the
insulation's is completely off.
- See?
- Yeah.
So, apparently the current
traveled from the television set
through this wire to the
baby on the metal tray.
- Here.
- No, I'm okay.
I suppose with an active infant
Preston's story is physically possible.
But how could a father leave his
son so close to a live wire like that?
How could a man who's obviously been
working with electricity for some time,
not realize the risk?
His wife came home real
upset. Something about the baby.
He says he just put the baby
down and went to comfort her.
It only takes a second
to move the tray.
He thought he
turned the power off.
- At the television set?
- No, no, no.
Here.
That way the socket
would be dead,
so no electricity
would go to the TV.
But if he turned it off, how
was the baby electrocuted?
He doesn't know.
Well, I will. You can believe that.
Just as soon as I finish the autopsy.
What did you find?
Take a look.
Reddened area
on the right cheek.
Looks like a hemangioma.
- You okay?
- Yeah. Perfect.
- It's hard when it's a baby.
- Yeah. Especially
one that was so ill.
Anyway, you're right.
It is a hemangioma.
I've done quite a bit of
research on infant diseases.
There was a time when I
considered specializing in pediatrics.
Of course, my dad didn't
think it was challenging enough.
Probably the only
reason I'm doing this now
is because he didn't know
what pathology meant.
- You said the baby was ill?
- Yeah.
Sturge-Weber Disease.
From all appearances, he
was born without dysfunction.
I've spoken to the family's
pediatrician, Doctor Meade.
She says there was some concern
because the baby had several
seizures a little over a month ago.
She ordered more tests.
In the meantime, the nevi
appeared on his cheek.
What's the course
of the disease.
Development of venous angiomatous
masses on the face and in the brain.
Eventually that leads to distortion of
the features and mental retardation.
On this baby the entire right
hemisphere of the brain was involved.
The vessels are
already starting to calcify.
He would have died in his teens,
certainly as a young adult, and he
would have been severely retarded.
Go on.
Take a look at the burn
marks on the left forearm.
Both on the anterior and
posterior aspects of the arm.
What's your conclusion?
It's obvious.
The wire was not simply lying against
the top of the arm like Preston claimed.
It was wrapped
completely around.
Was the baby close enough to the
wire so it could've entangled itself?
- That was my first thought.
- What was your second?
Well, with Sturge-Weber, there'd
be motor impairment on the left side.
Very little chance of the baby reaching
out for anything, let alone a wire.
Just what are your
getting at, Walter?
What I'm saying is very
simple and very clear.
Someone wrapped the wire around
the arm and turned on the electricity.
This baby was...
Deliberately executed.
You? You want an inquest?
He's shown me enough
evidence to warrant one.
Then you agree with Walter Ross.
You think the baby was murdered?
Absolutely not. I've known
Jerry Preston for ten years.
There's nothing more precious
to him than a human life.
- He's not capable
of such a thing.
- I don't understand that.
The press is playing
this case up big already.
Prominent industrialist, political
influence, accident, murder.
The inquest is going
to add fuel to that fire.
I think with Walter's thoroughness,
is going to vindicate Jerry.
Do you think Doctor Ross can handle
himself in an inquest of this importance?
Of course. He did lots
of them in Baltimore.
Besides, I don't think
you have much of a choice.
I told you, I can't
do that autopsy.
Well, Quincy, you'll
have to excuse me
if I don't share your
admiration for Walter Ross.
I would like to.
But I don't believe what
you see is what you get.
Something disturbs me
under that composure of his.
I can understand that. You
still don't think I'm perfect.
Oh, no, wait. You're perfect. You are
perfect. That's why I want you there.
- Where?
- At the inquest. As a spectator.
Come on. That will look like
we don't trust him to do this job.
- That's my condition.
- All right. All right.
- But you're all
gonna be surprised.
- By what?
- Hold that, will you, Pete.
- Yeah.
By his thoroughness
and his professionalism.
You're gonna learn what
being fair actually means.
- How you feeling, Pete?
- Doing good, doc. Thank you.
Michael,
what are you doing?
I don't know. Just looking
at some of Charley's things.
Your mother and
I are leaving now.
Do you want me to come
to the inquest with you?
Do you want to?
- No.
- I understand.
- Do you?
- Of course.
Dad?
Charley has to be better off
where he is right now, doesn't he?
I hope so.
I'm gonna miss the little guy.
We're all gonna miss him, son.
Dad,
but, it's the best
thing for Mom, isn't it?
Him being gone?
Yes, I really believe it is.
Again, this is an
inquest, not a trial.
We're not here to decide the guilt
or innocence of any one individual,
but to determine
the circumstances
surrounding the death
of Charles Lane Preston.
Whether it was an accident
or at the hands of another.
Your decision need not be
unanimous. There are seven of you.
Therefore, a simple majority of four
will be sufficient to decide the matter.
Members of the jury may
feel free to ask questions,
but are not compelled to do so.
At this time I would like
to call Doctor L.T. Meade.
Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
- I do.
- State your name.
- Doctor Leslie Taylor Meade.
- Please be seated.
Doctor Meade, you
are a pediatrician,
- are you not?
- Yes.
Were you called in to
examine Charles Lane Preston?
Yes.
Approximately two
months after his birth,
the baby became subject
to periodic seizures.
And what was thought to be a
simple allergic rash on his right cheek
became increasingly pronounced.
Your diagnosis?
It appeared to be
Sturge-Weber Disease.
You informed the parents?
More tests were needed,
but I felt I should prepare them.
- What was there reaction?
- They were horrified,
of course,
particularly Mr. Preston.
What did he say to you?
He said that if Charles
did have Sturge-Weber,
that maybe it would be better...
If he'd been born dead.
Hey, Quincy, when are they
gonna take a break for lunch?
- It's almost twelve thirty.
- Any minute.
When I left before it was
looking pretty bad for Preston.
What are talking about? Everything
we've heard is circumstantial.
Sure it is, but there's a lot
of it and it sounds convincing.
Quincy, I'm sorry. But it sounds more
and more like a deliberate electrocution.
I'll be anxious to hear what Preston
has to say for himself this afternoon.
Mr. Preston, you're
a senior partner
in the industrial firm of Wakefield,
Warner and Harmon, is that correct?
Yes.
On the day your
son, Charles, died,
how is it that you were at
home instead of at the office?
I left work early.
I was concerned
over the tests that
would confirm how
sick Charles really was.
Then why didn't you accompany your
wife when she went to see Doctor Meade?
I don't know. I needed
to be alone, I guess.
How did you spend your time
waiting for your wife's return?
I was restoring an old
1950 model television set.
I was replacing some of the
worn wires and most of the tubes.
It's my hobby. Restoring
old electronic equipment.
- It helps me relax.
- I see.
Well, don't you think your wife might've
liked to take her mind off things, too?
Objection, Your Honor.
This isn't a formal court
of law, Mr. Wakefield.
It's all right, Ben.
No, it not all right. It's
a prejudicial question.
I want to answer it.
You're suggesting that I
acted selfishly or cowardly
by letting my wife face
Doctor Meade alone.
Well, maybe you're right.
You see, it was quite a shock learning
my Charley was going to become...
- That he would be...
- Be?
Be what, Mr. Preston?
Deformed? Unable to walk upright
like a so-called normal human being?
Doctor Ross?
- Please. I see no reason for you to...
- I'm sorry, Your Honor.
It's getting late.
I'd like to adjourn until ten thirty
tomorrow morning, if you have no objection.
- No objections here.
- No.
I think I'll be able to drag myself
back in here tomorrow morning.
Doctor Quincy?
Mr. Wakefield, I
shouldn't be talking to you.
I'm the one who's
talking, Doctor.
It's about your
colleague, Ross, in there.
What the hell does
he think he's doing?
I don't like the way this thing is going.
It can degenerate into a witch hunt.
So if you have any
regard for your friend Jerry,
you'd end this thing.
And you'll end it now.
Walter, need a lift home?
No, thanks. I've got my wheels.
That little conference
looked pretty cozy.
The concern is that you're losing sight
of the fact that this is only an inquest.
You're behaving more like a
prosecutor than a doctor of pathology.
- His concern or yours?
- At the moment, both.
Well maybe you
both better remember
that sometimes the truth demands
more of a lawyer than a doctor.
That isn't your
field of expertise.
Look, Quincy, we wouldn't
be having this conversation
I think if Gerald Preston
weren't a personal friend.
So why don't we
quit right now. Okay?
It's been a long day and I
feel a longer one coming up.
Damn you!
Mr. Preston, why did you leave
you're baby unattended in the study?
My wife needed me.
Well I would say that, she
needed you at the doctor's too.
But, that didn't stop you from
pursuing the pleasures of your hobby.
Your Honor, I must protest!
Sorry. I suppose everyone's
entitled to a little relaxation.
Mr. Preston, you say you
think you flipped the wall switch.
How is it that you're not sure?
I am sure. It was off.
But a few minutes ago you didn't
seem that positive. Why is that?
I just told you, the wall switch
was off. That's all there is to it.
What are we to
believe, Mr. Preston?
One minute you're not
certain, the next minute you are.
I don't know how we can put
any credence in what you say.
Whether or not that
switch was on or off
meant the difference between
your son growing to adulthood
and his life being snuffed
out by 17000 volts of electricity!
Yet you waffle back and
forth as to what you did.
If it had been your
other son lying there,
the one you consider normal,
would your memory be any better?
I turned that switch off!
Your Honor, I find
the conduct intolerable!
This is not a trial, my
client is not a defendant!
He's merely here
to give testimony
to the circumstances surrounding
the tragic death of his beloved child!
Now, if there are any other
slanderous implications,
I'm prepared to press
charges against Doctor Ross
and every one of his superiors
in the Coroner's Office!
That won't be
necessary, Your Honor.
Every question I wanted
to ask has been asked.
You look awful serious.
You know, Walter, the first
time you came to work here
I marveled at your
professionalism.
And every case you worked on
after that only confirmed my opinion.
Until today.
He killed his son,
Quincy. It's that simple.
It's not your job
to determine that.
The inquest determines the mode
of death, not who was responsible.
You're manipulating
him, and his testimony.
Why would I do that?
Because, you're taking this case
personally. You can't afford to do that.
You know what I think?
I think Preston put
you up to this, didn't he?
A little personal
plea for mercy.
I'm going to forget
that you said that.
Don't do me any
favors. I did say it.
And I'm sick and tired of
you looking over my shoulder,
- disapproving of
everything I do.
- What?
You never let up. Pushing
me! Over and over again!
Look, I do my best,
better than anybody else in this
office but it's never good enough for you.
Okay. You want to review
my findings, review them!
But, get off my back
and leave me alone!
If Preston did kill the baby,
he would've unhooked the
connector wire from the voltmeter,
made sure the tray was
touching the radiator,
then wrapped the exposed
parts of the wire around the arm.
As long as the TV was turned on,
all he had to do was flip
the switch by the door.
And if it was an accident,
the baby had to squirm
around enough to grab the wire,
pull it loose, and wrap
it around his own arm.
Preston testified that the wire
was firmly clipped to the voltmeter
when he left the room and
detached when he returned.
I could see the baby
grabbing the wire.
But, is there any way
it could've pulled it free
with that side of its body
impaired by the disease?
Both Ross and
Doctor Meade say no.
And there isn't any way
you can prove them wrong.
There has to be, Sam.
There has to be a way.
Mr. MacDonald, with over 20 years
experience as an electrical engineer,
can you tell us if
this drawing indicates
a plausible path for
the electrical current?
Yes, it does.
Electricity will follow the path of
least resistance to reach ground.
If you have a wire with an electrical
potential and a moderate resistance,
you'll get a current flow,
but if you give that current flow an
alternate path with lower resistance,
it'll take that path.
And in this case the human
tissue had lower resistance?
Yes, the wire had been disconnected, so
there was no place for the current to flow.
When it touched the child's arm,
the current flowed through the
child's body into the metal tray,
and out through the
radiator to ground.
Doctor Ross? Do you have
any questions for this witness?
Yes, I do, Your Honor.
Would you please return
to the witness stand?
Mr. MacDonald, will you
examine this wire, please?
It's in very bad shape.
Could you be a
little more specific?
Well, the old insulation is
worn off in several places.
The copper wire
inside is totally exposed.
If this wire were hooked to the output
of the fly-back transformer of a television
and these exposed areas came
into contact with a human skin,
would that result
in an electric shock?
Absolutely.
Is this an exact duplicate of
the one found in the study?
I stripped off the
insulation myself.
Those exposed places are accurate
down to a couple of millimeters.
Walter's says Jerry wrapped
around Charles' arm like this...
Yeah. Take a look.
One burn mark on top of
the arm, one on the bottom.
Each from a section of the wire
where the insulation was gone.
I still can't believe
Jerry would do that.
Run 17000 volts through
the body of his own child.
I'd honestly like to
believe you, Quince.
Look, forget the baby's
impairment from Sturge-Weber.
Suppose he did manage to pull
the wire from the voltage meter.
And it fell across his arm. He
could've been electrocuted that way.
True, but the photograph
shows a second burn mark
on the bottom of his arm,
which indicates the wire didn't fall.
It was wrapped.
What was the baby
wearing at the time of death?
Diapers. Cloth diapers.
Report said they were wet.
- We still have them?
- Right over here.
The way it's sealed, looks like
Doctor Ross never even opened it.
Probably because he didn't think
he needed it to prove his case.
Quincy, Ross was brilliant
today. I'm really proud of him.
He gave a straightforward, letter
perfect, medical presentation.
- You didn't find
anything in that report?
- No, it's not ready yet.
Well, it doesn't really matter.
I think Ross has left little
doubt about this case.
Monahan's ready to arrest
Preston the minute he gets a verdict
of death at the
hands of another.
I'm sorry, I know how you feel.
I can't understand why
everyone is so anxious to believe
that this kind and gentle
man murdered his son.
No, it isn't that. We
have to go with the facts.
Have you found something
to prove he didn't?
No, but I've found something that'll
prove Walter's theory isn't foolproof.
- What?
- This.
A safety pin? You
did find something?
I would rather save it
for the inquest tomorrow.
I wanna confront him with it.
Don't be ridiculous!
I can't have two of my
pathologists squabbling in public.
Do you know how that's
gonna make this office look?
What's the difference? As
long as we're after the truth.
You better be right
about that safety pin.
Because if you're not, the
only winner around here
is gonna be that crusader
from the Mayor's office.
So you gently lift the plant
out. Here take it, Quince.
You see those roots all
wrapped around together like that?
The plant wanted to keep growing,
but the roots had no place to go.
So what you do is shake
out some of the roots,
because the Mama
root and the Daddy root
wanted to go down the corner
and get a Cloverfield burger.
- Quince!
- What?
You haven't heard
a word I've said.
Yes, I did. You said you wanted to
go get a hamburger later or something.
Quince, it doesn't take a psychiatrist
to see that something's bothering you.
Yeah. Sorry.
What is it? What we
talked about at dinner?
Going into the inquest
tomorrow to dispute Ross?
It isn't as though I have solid
evidence that gonna prove anything.
All I'm going to do is
undermine his credibility.
You're worried about
how he'll take it?
He's been so adamant.
He's put everything on the line.
Now I'm going to dispute
him, publicly, deflate him.
You know what I mean?
That's the kind of thing you
sneak up on someone with.
He's more likely to feel
embarrassed and defensive
if he's caught by surprise.
You think I should tell
him what I plan to do?
Yes, I do. Go see him.
Let him know what's up.
Maybe you can defuse the whole
thing by sharing it with him ahead of time.
You know something,
honey? I think you're right.
Now I know why they
give you the big buck.
Oh!
Quince. I'd wear a mudpack
everyday to see you laugh like that.
See you later.
Well, surprise, surprise.
I didn't see you at
the proceedings today,
I figured maybe you were
on vacation or something.
- May I come in?
- Sure.
I just made a
fresh pot of coffee.
Guaranteed better than
what Sam makes at the lab.
No, thanks.
But, I would like
to talk though.
I wonder what the
subject matter could be.
I spent all day going over the
Preston case. Reviewing your findings.
I thought you were the
wrong type for a vacation.
I also came up with a solid theory that
supports the claim of accidental death.
- Quincy, that's impossible.
- No, it is possible.
I was gonna spring it on you
tomorrow morning at the inquest.
I decided to tell you tonight.
It's as scientifically feasible as
your version of the baby's death.
It thought I told you I didn't want
you looking over my shoulder!
This is my case. I'm not going
to talk about it to anybody!
It's either here or tomorrow
morning at the inquest.
Good! That would
be a perfect idea!
Might as well bring your prejudice for
Gerald Preston right out into the open.
Why is it so hard for you to admit
the possibility that you might be wrong?
Because, I'm not!
Gerald Preston
destroyed his kid.
He looked down at that baby
and saw some diseased creature
he was ashamed to call his son!
Believe me, I know
what kind of man he is.
If that baby lived, Preston
would've made his life a nightmare.
Pushed him beyond
human endurance.
Straight A's.
Not just a career, but the
most challenging one possible.
That's the way he would've
expected his deformed offspring
to earn stingy
little scraps of love.
Walter, Charles Preston
had Sturge-Weber.
He never would've been able
to go to school. Or have a career.
His mind would've been
as imperfect as his body.
Don't lecture me. I'm the one
who told you about Sturge-Weber.
You also told me you
decided not to go into pediatrics
because your father didn't
think it was challenging enough.
What is this? Part of
tomorrow's presentation?
An in-depth analysis of
Walter Sarsfield Ross?
Hasn't been easy
for you, has it?
You're damn right
it hasn't been easy.
Not with the ignorance,
the condescending attitudes,
the insensitivity
of people like you.
Walter, is it society you're
really mad at? Or your father?
Are you really trying to
crucify Gerald Preston?
I think you'd better go.
For the thirty-five years,
you've been looking for enough hours
in the day to be what your father wanted.
The perfect son. The
perfect human being.
So far out of the ordinary
that he might forget the real
Walter Ross walked with crutches!
I suppose you think
that's a brilliant analysis.
Well, Doctor, you're wrong.
My father didn't want a perfect
son, he wanted a dead one.
I never drove myself for
him, I drove myself for me!
To embarrass him
with my success.
To make him miserable every
time I achieved something.
And you know what happened?
Along the way, I turned into
someone who hates to lose.
So, if you challenge me
at that inquest tomorrow,
just remember, I'll
fight you until you bleed.
We have a special request from
Doctor Quincy of the Coroner's Office
to recall one witness
for examination
prior to your retiring
to consider your verdict.
Doctor Quincy?
Your Honor, I'd like to
call Doctor Walter Ross.
Doctor Ross, you understand you are
under oath from your previous testimony.
Doctor Ross, could you give the court
your definition of reasonable doubt?
I'm not sure. We use it a lot.
It's a term that most people
understand. But it's rather hard to define.
Then let's come
back to it later.
Over the last few of days you've
presented scientific and medical evidence
that indicates only one possible way
that Charles Lane Preston could've died.
There is only one.
And this diagram, prepared
under your direction,
shows a path that the electrical
current might have taken?
Did take.
An experienced electrical
engineer already testified to that.
Shown this diagram, what
other conclusion could he reach?
You say the wire was
wrapped around the baby's arm?
It had to be.
Could Charles have
freed that wire by himself?
That's out of the question.
Due to the Sturge-Weber Disease,
his left arm wouldn't have had
the strength to grasp the wire.
But, even with that
particular disease,
couldn't he have reached up
playfully and touch the wire?
I suppose so.
But certainly not with the
strength to have pulled it free.
Well, let's say, when he grabbed
the wire, he touched a bare spot.
And his body was
immediately jolted by electricity.
Couldn't the muscular contraction
that resulted have jerked it free?
California could fall into the
Pacific Ocean. Anything's possible.
If you aren't prepared to
give me a straight answer,
I have four eminent neurologists
who are willing to testify
that under those circumstances,
the baby could've freed the wire.
I'm not trying to
be cute, Doctor.
I'm merely acknowledging
that the realm of possibility
encompasses incredibly
wide proportions.
But, as the chief representative
of the Coroner's Office,
I must point out that even if
the baby did pull off the wire,
he most certainly did not
wrap it around his own arm.
That's truly absurd.
Bear with me for a
moment, will ya Doctor.
Believe it or not, we're
making progress here.
So, we both agree that
even a Sturge-Weber child
could've gotten the wire free.
Now, if that wire
fell over his arm,
and continued to send
electricity through his body,
couldn't that have
caused his death?
I'm trying to be patient
with you, Doctor Quincy,
and protective of our office.
But, you're forcing me to reveal
that you didn't do your homework.
Because, the second burn
on the bottom of the baby's arm
shoots your falling
wire theory full of holes.
If the wire simply fell, there
would only be one burn mark.
Unless the second was
caused by another metal object.
Your Honor, this is one of the safety
pins used to secure baby Preston's diapers.
I want to document it and
present it later as evidence.
Please proceed, Doctor Quincy.
You never examined
the pin, did you?
- There was no need.
- That's where we disagree.
Part of my investigation
consisted of pinning his diapers
on a doll that was exactly his size.
Easing the pins through
the original holes in the cloth
to find out exactly how they
were positioned the day he died.
I think you're beginning
to follow me, aren't ya?
My falling wire theory now
becomes plausible, doesn't it?
If that wire fell over his arm
and stayed there long
enough to produce a burn mark
then that same current could've
passed through the wet diaper
that made a second burn mark where
the hand touched the metal object.
You're giving me supposition
after supposition after supposition!
- You can't prove any of it!
- I don't have to.
I asked you earlier to
define reasonable doubt.
Your answer was one I
might have given myself.
It's hard to define.
Black's Law Dictionary lists
almost a dozen possibilities.
One, People vs. Rogers, states
that the term needs no definition.
We understand it to mean that in a trial,
after the State has presented its case,
and the jurors have compared
and considered all the evidence,
if there still remains an
element of uncertainty,
a reasonable, moral doubt,
the accused is given
the benefit of that.
I know this is not a trial.
But we are here to decide
between two possibilities,
accidental death, or death
at the hands of another.
If there still remain
questions that call for answers
that neither you
nor I could give,
do we have the moral right
to decide which is correct?
For me, there are still
unanswered questions.
For me, there is still
reasonable doubt.
How about you, Doctor Ross?
Walter, can I talk
to you for a minute?
I don't know what you're going
to say, but let me talk first, okay?
I resented you last night when you
told me what you were going to do today.
I was determined to show you up,
make you sorry you'd ever crossed me.
But, it didn't
turn out that way.
Walter, I wasn't
out to get you...
What I want to say is thank you.
You were right.
Somewhere along the
way I got fixated on one idea
and I lost track
of everything else.
I lost objectivity, I lost insight
and I almost lost the truth.
Anybody can get involved
with his work and lose objectivity.
It was more than
that and you know it.
But what happened
today isn't that important.
What really matters is
what happens tomorrow,
when that inquest jury
has to give its findings.
You raised a lot of good questions
but there still aren't any answers.
I'll tell you what.
Why don't you and I see if we
can come up with those answers?
Here, Doctor Quincy,
you can use this.
Thanks, Michael,
that'll be perfect.
The outlet on the left.
Got it. Does any other
switch work that plug?
I don't think so.
Then it would have to
be this one over here.
Yep. The power that electrocuted
Charles was turned on here.
- Yeah, but...
- What's going on?
Oh Jerry, I hope you don't mind,
you weren't here and Michael let us in.
I took Lilian over
to her mother's.
Now I'd like to know exactly
what you're doing here?
Doctor Quincy and I decided
to put our heads together
and see if we could
solve this thing.
Thanks to Doctor Quincy,
when we adjourned today,
it was pretty clear there was going
to be a verdict of accidental death.
Except for one thing.
There's still the big question
that has to be answered.
How did this light
switch get turned on?
You testified you turned it off
before you went outside
to comfort your wife.
If you turned it off,
somebody must've turned it on.
Well, I... I can't say.
My mind was a little
confused on that point.
Now that I think about
it, maybe I did leave it on.
Wait a minute, you were very
clear during your testimony.
You said... You even
shouted that you turned it off.
Sorry, I'm tired and I've got
a splitting headache and...
I'm not interested
in anymore theories,
or speculation about the
worst moment of my life.
Look, I'm sorry, Mr. Preston, but,
if we don't clear this up right now,
I can guarantee you
a visit from the police
no matter how the
verdict turns out.
Why? Why would the police come
here when he didn't do anything?
How do you know that, Michael?
Because, it was me! I did
it! I turned on the switch!
- Michael, don't!
- Why not, Dad?
I can't stand keeping
it inside anymore.
I couldn't take it. The way Mom
was, the way she was suffering.
So, when my father turned the
switch off and went to comfort her,
- I turned it back on again...
- This is incredible!
- He's a kid! He's lying!
- Is he?
Can't you see he's trying
to protect me because,
he knows I did
it? I turned it on?
- That's not what you
said at the inquest.
- I lied!
When? Then or now?
Please both just get out of
my house? Just get out, please!
Did you just use
a switch out here?
Yes, sir, that one. I
need it when I vacuum.
So, this switch works
that outlet too, huh?
Why would that be?
Well, this house is
almost sixty years old.
They didn't provide an
overabundance of plugs in those days.
My uncle probably had that
installed after he bought it, but,
I never knew it was connected
to the circuit in the study.
Annie, try and remember.
The day Charles died,
did you use that switch?
Well, yes. I ironed a
bump out of the carpet.
When? When did you use it?
Right after Mr. Preston told
me, I went to get the iron.
Oh, no. Oh, dear Lord!
Was it me? Was it my fault?
No, no Annie, it wasn't
your fault or anybody else's.
It was just a terrible accident
and no one is to blame.
Dad, you didn't do it.
Forgive me, son. I
did think it was you.
You know, it's really nice of Quincy
to give you this farewell dinner.
I just wish he had picked that
new French restaurant on the Strip.
A hundred dollars a plate? I didn't
know he had an expense account.
That's county. This is personal.
And never the twain shall meet.
As long as Doctor Asten's
firm hand guides our budget.
You'd do the same
thing if you had my job.
And you'd eat right
here if you had mine.
Except tonight, I'm
pulling out all the stops.
This is on me.
I want you to imagine yourselves
in the finest French restaurant
this side of the Mississippi.
Danny! You may serve the dinner!
Certainement.
For hors d'oeuvres we will
have champignons dijonnaise.
- What?
- I don't believe this.
The main course
poulet veronique,
for dessert, supreme
peches flambees.
Incredible!
I am only here to serve.
I would like to start the festivities
with a toast to you, Walter.
Baltimore's gain is our loss.
I just hope I can live up to the
title, Chief Medical Examiner.
Maybe, with a little luck, I'll
be Baltimore's new Quincy.
You're one of the best
pathologists I've ever known.
- You don't have to
walk in anybody's shoes.
- That's very true.
- Quincy, why are you late?
- I was with Jerry Preston.
Jerry and Lilian.
They wanted me
to be sure to tell you
that they've made application to
adopt a baby with Down Syndrome.
That won't be an
easy road to follow.
Charles wouldn't
have been easy either.
But they loved him and
they want to pass on that love.
And I would like to pass
on this very special dinner.
Hors d'oeuvres.
- Look at that.
- That's amazing.
How can you do
it with your prices.
My prices? No, no, no.
This is imported from that new
French restaurant down the street.
It comes to one hundred dollars,
per personne.