Reckless (2014): Season 1, Episode 9 - Damage Control - full transcript
Roy asks Terry to testify against Lee Anne in an attempt to get her sexual discrimination lawsuit against the police department thrown out of court.
Previously on Reckless...
Well, if you think the
circumstances are right,
we can take down McCandless clean.
this is the biggest bust
in Charleston history.
Some things are going down tomorrow night.
When the smoke clears,
I'll finally be able to
tell you the whole story.
I want you to know I love you.
Rape shield laws are made to
prevent sleazy defense attorneys
from using a woman's prior sexual history
against her. That tape
has no probative value.
Barbara: We have rules. One of them
is to keep our mutual indiscretions
out of the public eye.
We're having a baby.
Oh, my God.
Terry.
Kill the cops first.
(Gunfire)
(Grunts)
(Gunshot)
It was you, Preston. I got
two bullets left, and I'm
gonna use 'em both on you.
(Groaning)
I'm not gonna beg... for my life, Terry.
(Panting)
Go ahead.
Do it!
A damn snitch!
How much does Knox know?
(Panting)
Answer me!
(Panting)
(Grunting)
You answer me!
(Soft groan)
(Soft moaning)
(Distant sirens wailing)
(Panting)
(Sirens approaching)
(Loud panting)
(Gunshot, groans)
You had sex with Terry McCandless
the night of the mayor's ball.
Wait. How do you...?
Terry planted a surveillance
camera in my office,
and I got hold of the footage.
You saw us?
But how could he...?
How could he?
Are you seriously asking that question,
after everything he's done to you?
That night of the ball was so rough.
I came back here.
He was waiting for me.
It was a moment of weakness.
Well, that moment might have
just cost us the entire case.
I'm sorry.
Jamie?
Roy.
- What is it?
- I've been trying to call you.
It-it...
Preston's been shot.
(Siren wailing)
Woman: Deputy Chief Knox?
Detective Cruz is in surgery now.
We've initiated a protocol
called damage control.
What are his chances?
He underwent significant trauma.
We've stabilized him,
but he remains in critical condition.
Knox: Thank you, doctor. A word?
What's the latest on Terry McCandless?
It's very important that I speak with him.
He sustained a through-and-through
to the upper left arm.
He's been heavily sedated.
I'm afraid he'll be asleep until morning.
Thank you.
Thanks again, Roy... for telling me.
For staying with me.
Hey, when I heard what
happened, I knew I had to come.
I know that you two were, uh...
You know,
it will be all right.
All right?
Preston came to me the other night.
He said things, like
he knew something terrible
was going to happen.
What did he say?
Just that...
He...
still cares about me.
And what did you say?
Not much.
I was...
thinking...
about other things.
Mm. (Sniffles)
I have to be in court in two hours.
My brain is mush.
Which is really bad, considering
I'm going up against your boss.
Oh, right.
Ms. Sawyer.
I haven't had the chance to tell you
what a pleasure it is to
finally face you in court.
Oh, the pleasure's mine, believe me.
It's been a while since I've
argued against someone so...
fresh out of law school.
And I haven't cited
precedent in front of someone
who's been around long enough
to actually set some of them.
Trading barbs already,
and trial's barely begun.
That's the spirit.
No, please.
Allow me.
I'm Bentley Grieve, and you're listening
to The Morning Gauntlet.
We're about to do a segment
called Bentley's bluff.
We've got Amber on the line. She suspects
her husband Mason has been cheating on her.
Amber: Yes, and he's been acting strange.
Bentley: Yeah, well, we're
gonna get to the bottom of that
right here right now.
Amber: I'm not s... I'm not sure.
I just don't think I can do this.
Bentley: Yes, you can.
Trust me. Here we go.
(Phone ringing through)
Mason: Hello?
Bentley: Mason, this is
Ben from Regalwood Hotels.
Your recent stay with us
automatically enrolled you
in a travel give-away. Congratulations.
You've won a free trip for two to Miami!
Really?
All we need to know is
your travel companion,
and you're off to paradise.
Mason: The name of my
companion is... Darcy Cole.
Bentley: Darcy Cole. She sounds special.
I have one more question for you.
Who the hell is Darcy Cole?
Amber: Mason, how could you?
Mason: What? What's happening right now?
That's your wife, you
jackass. You're on the radio.
Hey, are you cheating on your
wife with this Darcy woman?
Mason: I-I'm sorry. What? Amber?
Amber: How could you do
this, Mason? We have a son.
Who the hell is Darcy, and how
long have you been banging her?
Bentley: You know, guys like you disgust me.
You always think that
you can get away with it.
You're just a lying, cheating scumbag,
and you deserve to go down
for what you've done. Your...
What was Mason's response, Amber?
Mason came home.
He left his, um,
wallet and wedding ring
on the kitchen table.
Then drove to Torrance Lake...
And killed himself.
How did you first get involved
with the Bentley's bluff segment?
I was at a coffee shop with a
friend, talking about Mason.
A woman overheard me.
Jamie: This was Naomi Hobbs,
Bentley Grieve's show producer?
Yeah.
She told me about her
job at the radio station
and pitched me the idea.
I said no at first, but,
eventually, she convinced me.
Amber, do you believe that Bentley Grieve
and his station's parent
company, Hydrus Communications,
are to blame for Mason's suicide?
Yes. Yes.
Mrs. Wheelan, is this the liability waiver
you signed with Hydrus Communications?
Yes.
And in it, did you assume the risk of all
unforeseeable hazards
associated with the prank call?
I didn't want to go through with it.
I tried to back out. You heard the call.
How exactly could the radio station
have foreseen Mason's suicide?
I don't know. They just...
I tried. They... they pushed me.
I understand you want to
point the finger at someone,
Mrs. Wheelan, but isn't the real
person to blame your husband,
for cheating on you in the first place?
(Monitor beeping rhythmically)
(Gasps softly)
(Sighs)
(Grunts softly)
The hell is this?
Didn't want you to disappear
in the middle of the night.
Why would I disappear?
I just brought down the biggest gunrunner
on the eastern seaboard.
Yeah, you brought him down, huh?
Yeah, I got a tip from one of my CIs.
Gun deal going down on James Island. Well...
We walked right into a damn firefight.
Two guys from my academy class
went down right in front of me.
Preston would've, too, but I saved his life.
Your PSO debriefing is tomorrow.
When Preston wakes up,
he'll be debriefed, too.
He'll tell his side of the story.
The truth will come out.
Looking forward to it.
You hear about what went
down on James Island?
Terry McCandless got shot.
Yeah, I heard.
Well, I guess he's not
so bulletproof after all.
(Panting)
You around for dinner tonight?
No, I, uh...
I got a thing.
Oh? What kind of a thing?
(Sighs)
I'm going to an A.A. meeting.
Really?
Yeah, really.
Ms. Hobbs, isn't it true
that your show, The Morning Gauntlet,
was put on constructive notice
after eight different people
filed formal complaints against you?
Any show like ours can incur
the occasional complaint.
It just means we're doing our jobs.
Sarah Nichols complained about
a venereal disease prank
that caused her to lose her job as a nanny.
Greg Serrano assaulted his neighbor
after a prank involving a faked
paternity test.
Should I go on?
That's eight complaints out
of hundreds of radio segments.
And they were all dismissed.
But didn't that ever give you pause?
Make you wonder if your show's
reckless antics might one day turn deadly?
Objection, Your Honor.
Withdrawn.
Nothing further.
Ms. Hobbs, did even one
of these other pranks end in a loss of life?
Of course not.
Ms. Sawyer said that
you stalked the plaintiff.
Is that accurate?
No, it's called being an effective producer.
Bentley is very particular about what
he wants, and I make sure he gets it.
(Seagulls calling)
Terry (Sighs): Make this quick, Roy.
I have a situation I'm dealing with.
I saw you with Lee Anne
the other night.
Outside Joyce Reed's carriage house.
I need to know...
Are you currently involved with her?
Involved. That's a vague sort of word.
I need you to testify
that you and Lee Anne have
continued your relationship,
even after the lawsuit was filed.
You know, it could win us the case.
You want me to throw her under the bus.
I could just force you to testify.
Lee Anne and I, we ain't involved.
End of story.
I know what you're going
to say, but I'm here.
So, you're just going
to have to deal with it.
This isn't a good time, Lindsay.
I-I'm in the middle of a
high-stakes litigation.
I...
Don't care, Dec.
We need to talk. The way we left things...
I know, I know. Look, Lindsay...
I'm gonna be there for you
and this baby, 100%.
The two of you will never
want for anything.
You have no idea what I'm
really asking, do you?
I want to know if you want to
be involved in this child's life.
And-and you just keep talking about money.
I'm just being practical.
When Shelby was born,
I wanted to give her everything.
I still do.
Being a father was the most rewarding
experience of my life,
but it took resources.
It also takes love, and caring.
Is that something you're capable
of giving? Because if you're not...
We should discuss this later.
Later?
Like when I'm starting to show?
Because that'll start a
discussion, all right.
(Knocking)
Chief Ellsworth.
How you holding up, son?
I just visited the wives
of our fallen officers.
Jablonski's wife could hardly speak.
Yeah. You're a good man, Knox, that's why
I brought you here from North Charleston.
You're exactly what this department needs.
I just got word to Sergeant Canning
in the PSO. We're pushing back
the McCandless debriefing.
Why, sir?
We need to act fast.
W-we... (Sighs)
We have an opportunity here.
Waterman's been eliminated,
thousands of assault
rifles will never make it
to the streets, and millions of dollars
have been seized.
On all accounts, that's
a victory for Charleston.
And Terry McCandless and
Preston Cruz are heroes.
We've been working on this
undercover operation for months.
You signed off on it.
This department can't afford
another scandal right now.
Preston Cruz risked his life for this,
he almost died for it.
He knew the dangers.
What you're proposing would be a cover-up.
I can't be a part of it.
I won't.
Mm.
You know, I'm beginning to wonder
if your mayoral campaign is interfering
with your duties as deputy chief.
Perhaps you're getting overwhelmed
trying to do two jobs at once.
There is a solution for that.
(Door opens)
You are in, McCandless.
(Door slams shut)
You don't write, you don't call.
Next time I'll bring a casserole.
(Quiet chuckle)
Waterman's dead.
The guns and money were seized by the ATF,
and it turns out... my partner,
Preston, was informing for the deputy chief.
So basically you, uh, you screwed the pooch
and you've come crawling back
to your old man for advice.
I screwed the pooch?
You're the one sitting in a jail cell.
'Cause you turned me
in. I didn't turn you in,
they came after me. They ran my DNA
and got a familial match.
(Slams fist on table) That was it.
They debrief you?
Nothing formal, just
Knox being a hard-ass.
PSO's gonna come down on me tomorrow.
They try and arrest you?
No.
Well, what does that tell you?
Think!
That knox didn't have enough hard evidence.
Which means that Preston wasn't
wearing a wire during the deal.
I'd be willing to bet that Knox's whole case
hinges on that guy being a eyewitness.
What's his status?
He's in the hospital, all banged up.
He might not make it.
That rat wakes up and starts blabbing...
You're a goner.
Only one way to take care of
a ticking time bomb, son.
Defuse it.
Jamie: I had a thought
on Bentley Grieve.
His producer, Naomi Hobbs,
said that he was very particular
about what he looks for
with their radio pranks.
Particular. You mean, that he looks
for certain types of targets?
Maybe.
If Naomi really does troll public
places for Bentley's next mark,
I want to know exactly
how she goes about it.
You think you can talk to her on the sly?
You kidding me?
On the sly is my specialty.
Uh, excuse me, are you Jamie Sawyer,
the attorney of record for Lee Anne Marcus?
Yes.
Special delivery.
What is it?
Your client's just been served.
Roy is suing you for fraud.
What?
He filed an official countersuit.
He's saying that you continued
a relationship with Terry,
and so your accusation of
sexual harassment is fraudulent.
He knows about me and Terry?
He must.
This is what happens when you
have a moment of weakness.
If Terry testifies against
you, which obviously he will,
we won't win. We may not even
get a chance to present our case.
I'll go talk to him.
- I can fix this.
- You can't fix this.
I may not even be able to fix it.
Well, they still fired me.
They still drugged me.
How does this change anything? It's...
It's just a scare tactic.
And I hired you because
you don't get scared.
'Cause you believed in me
when no one else would.
Lee Anne, this changes everything.
I'm going to fight the countersuit,
but once I do, once I get it off the table,
I have to be honest with you,
I'm not sure I can continue
with the rest of your case.
(Exhales)
I'm sorry,
aren't you the woman from the radio,
with Bentley Grieve?
Yes. Hello.
I'm a big fan, listen every morning.
Can I just say,
Bentley's bluff? Best radio prank ever.
I'm glad you like it.
You know, my husband's been acting
odd lately. He lost his big beer belly
and suddenly started wearing cologne.
Got to be another woman.
Oh, I'd love to call that dog out on air,
in front of all your listeners.
Can you get me on?
Yeah, we're really not looking
for people for the show.
You won't be sorry.
When I go off on him, nobody's
gonna be turning that dial,
I can guarantee you that.
Look, we don't solicit off the street, okay?
Ms. Cole, when did you
begin having an affair
with Mason Wheelan?
About nine months before he died.
Did Mr. Wheelan call you from a pay phone
near Torrance Lake right
before he committed suicide?
Yes.
- And what did he say in that phone call?
- Objection,
- hearsay.
- Your honor,
the call is a dying declaration.
It is therefore an exception
to the hearsay rule.
Mr. Wheelan wasn't dying at the time
- of the phone call.
- All that's required
is for death to be imminent. Mr. Wheelan
made the call, then took his own life.
He knew he was going to die.
Overruled.
You may answer the question, Ms. Cole.
Well, he was upset about the radio thing.
And he's been depressed for
a while. I tried to get him
to see a therapist, but he didn't want
the people at his job or Amber
to know how bad off he was.
Ms. Cole,
do you believe Mr. Wheelan was depressed
and suicidal even before your affair
was exposed on the radio?
Given everything I know now?
Yes.
I'm sorry, Amber.
Today was...
tough.
But we have to push forward.
Vi and I are working on a new theory.
I spoke to Naomi Hobbs
about Bentley's pranks.
She said they don't solicit
people off the street
for Bentley's bluff.
But that's not true. She
approached me in that coffee shop.
Well, maybe you were a target.
If we could prove that
they actually sought you out
for the show, it could help our case.
Have you ever crossed
paths with Bentley before?
No, I only know him from the radio.
What about your husband? Do you think
Mason and Bentley knew each other?
I don't think so.
But then, maybe I don't know
anything about Mason anymore.
You know a lot, Amber.
You are strong.
I want you to write down
everything that you can
about Mason's history.
Where he went to school, where he worked,
his friends, his enemies.
The more thorough you are, the
better we can fight this, ok?
Yeah.
(Knocking)
Arliss.
Did you tell Lee Anne that you
might stop being her lawyer?
I can't discuss that with you.
You can't just turn your back on her.
That's not what I'm doing.
She can get another lawyer.
She won't get another one like you.
Look, I may not have given you a fair shake
in the beginning,
but now, I-I know, you're different.
You actually care about your clients,
and you think that the people
you represent deserve justice.
And my wife
needs someone like you fighting for her.
So, please... don't abandon her.
You're late. I told you
to come during my break.
"How you doin'? How's your gunshot wound?"
"Not too bad, darlin'. Thanks for askin'."
Roy knows about us.
He just thinks he knows.
Jamie says you're going to
testify against me. Are you?
What do you think?
I think you followed me
home from the mayor's ball,
and you seduced me in her
office 'cause you knew
there was a camera there,
a camera you planted.
You did this just to end the lawsuit.
No, I didn't. It was for
something else, that camera.
I didn't even remember it was there.
I... I turned it away.
What does that even
mean? You turned it away?
Lee Anne,
Roy asked me to testify,
but I said no, and I meant it.
I never wanted this.
I didn't want you to get fired.
I wish every day when I drive to work
that you'd still be there
when I walked in the door.
(Sighs)
Look at you.
Everything you touch
gets mangled and bloody.
All that talk of running away.
I'll still take you.
I'd run away right now.
Running away is a fantasy.
This case is what's real, and
I'm gonna see it through.
I can't... I can't talk to you anymore.
(Monitor beeping rhythmically)
Preston came to see me...
Before the shooting,
and he said,
"when the smoke clears,
I'll be able to tell you the truth."
I know that he was involved in something.
If he dies...
Please.
Wait.
What I'm about
to say has to stay between us, understand?
Preston has been working for me...
Undercover.
Undercover?
On what?
Corruption... within the department.
I shouldn't have said anything.
Holland...
Thank you
for telling me.
I know it can't be easy,
given our... situation.
I didn't do it for you.
I did it for Preston.
He always wanted you to know the truth.
Preston was working undercover?
To root out corruption in the department.
It's got to be Terry and his guys.
It explains so much.
How he couldn't tell me.
Why he was in the sex tape.
To get in good with them.
Is he awake yet? Can you talk to him?
Not yet. Hopefully, soon.
What's new on the Bentley Grieve front?
I went through Amber's list,
and I found a connection
between Bentley and her husband.
They went to the same
college for one semester,
but Mason left after three months.
- Did they know each other?
- Not on paper.
They were two years apart
and didn't have any classes together.
What about clubs or sports?
Bentley worked for the campus
radio station, but that's about it.
Why don't you check the
campus security reports?
See if Bentley and Mason
ever had any run-ins.
Hmm.
(Phone ringing) Oh.
(Sighs)
That's Lee Anne.
What are you gonna do about the countersuit?
I don't know.
She slept with Terry.
It kills her credibility.
That's all the jury's going to see.
And the crazy thing is,
it only really affects
one charge... The sexual harassment charge.
Doesn't even affect the other two.
Wait. That's it.
Let me get this straight, Ms. Sawyer.
You want to drop the
sexual harassment charge
from the lawsuit entirely?
Yes, Your Honor.
Lee Anne Marcus will now
only be suing the city
for wrongful termination
and defamation of character.
Your honor, she is only doing this
in reaction to my fraud countersuit.
She is trying to take sex off the table
so that my countersuit won't hold any water.
A clever trick.
Why am I not surprised?
You can wipe that smug
look off your face, Mr. Rayder.
I take it you want the sexual
harassment charge to stay
just so you can prove Ms. Marcus is a fraud?
Well, in light of Ms.
Sawyer's blatant attempt
to limit the scope of my defense,
yes, that is correct, Your Honor.
Judge Moss,
the truth is, sexual harassment
was always our weakest charge,
especially in light of
Vance v. Ball State...
- Come on.
- Which raises the bar
for proving sexual
harassment in the workplace.
We are merely coming to our senses.
Mr. Rayder, if your opposing
counsel wants to drop a charge
against the city and save the
taxpayers money in the process,
it's her prerogative,
and you should welcome it.
I understand, Your Honor,
but if you decide to dismiss the charge,
may I ask that you do so with prejudice?
That way, under no
circumstances will she be able
to wiggle the charge
back in at a later time.
For once, a sensible request. Ms. Sawyer?
- I'm fine with that, Your Honor.
- Excellent.
Your motion's granted.
McCandless.
(Loud panting)
(Groans)
You didn't do it.
You didn't pull the trigger.
(Weakly): Why?
Because you're a good cop.
We're the same, you and me.
We're not the same.
I did some stupid things,
yeah, and I can't take 'em back.
No. You can't.
I'd rather be dead than owe my life to you.
Then don't.
Don't owe me. Make us even.
I gave you another chance, Preston.
I'm asking you to do the same for me.
(Door opens)
(Door closes)
(Panting)
Thank you so much for
meeting me, Mr. Collier.
No problem at all.
So you've been the manager
of this campus radio station for how long?
Going on... wow... 20 years.
So you were here when
Bentley Grieve was a student?
Yeah.
I'm trying to find a connection
between him and a man that he pranked
on a recent radio broadcast...
Mason Wheelan?
When I checked the campus security reports,
I didn't find any incidents between them.
I did, however, find that you
filed a report against Bentley.
Can you tell me what happened?
Yeah, well, when Bentley ran this booth,
he was a real hothead.
One day, he just went off,
smashing equipment,
throwing chairs.
I had to call security.
- So he had a temper?
- Big time.
And he was vindictive.
Did this incident involve
Mason Wheelan, by chance?
No. It was over a girl.
She worked here in the control room.
Yeah, when she dumped him, he just lost it.
Do you remember her name?
Mr. Grieve, who is Simone Vail?
An old girlfriend.
Wow.
You and her?
Go, you.
So, how did things
end with Simone?
We broke up.
You broke up?
Or did she dump you?
(Sighs)
I don't remember.
I have a sworn affidavit from
Ms. Vail which names the man
that she left you for.
Mason... Wheelan.
Objection. A personal history
between my client and Mr. Wheelan
does not equate to intent.
Overruled, Mr. Fortnum.
Mr. Grieve, did you ask your producer
to target my client for this prank
out of a deep personal
- vendetta against her husband?
- You...
- You can tell Simone that I...
- Did you intend
to inflict harm on Mr. Wheelan as payback
for stealing your college girlfriend?
She meant nothing to me! I...
Did you hold a grudge
for 15 years against Mason Wheelan,
humiliate him on the air and cause his death
as a result of your vindictive actions?
I have nothing to say.
Well, now... that's a first.
I apologize
for having to do this so soon, Preston.
I understand.
Detective Cruz, were you
assigned to work undercover
for the Charleston police department
and report on illegal activities
among your fellow officers?
Yes.
Were you tasked specifically
to track the operations
of Terry McCandless?
(Sighs) Yes.
And after an exhaustive investigation...
I found no illicit activity.
Are you saying you did not
witness Terry McCandless
engaged in illegal conduct,
such as selling guns to criminals?
I'm sorry.
I have nothing to report.
All right, who got to you?
Was it the chief?
McCandless?
(Grunts)
We've been planning this
operation for months.
I brought you down from
New York specifically for this.
I trusted you. Do not look me in the eye
and tell me this was all for nothing!
I have nothing to report.
(Door slams)
When I was a law student,
one of my professors, Edson Smith,
dismissed every class by saying,
"Lex est sine affectu."
"The law must be void of emotion."
Now, young lawyers,
much like my opposing counsel here,
tend to be a bit preoccupied
with their passion for the law.
I know I was. In fact,
I have no doubt Ms. Sawyer will base
her entire closing argument
purely on emotion,
so allow me to base mine purely
on fact.
Even if Bentley Grieve intended
to embarrass Mr. Wheelan
as a result of a grudge,
in the eyes of the law,
he is not responsible for
Mr. Wheelan's death. Why?
Because Mr. Wheelan's suicide
was not a foreseeable consequence
of Mr. Grieve's radio prank.
The fact is, Mr. Wheelan took his own life
because he was embarrassed
by the adulterous affair he had created.
One night, 12-year-old Candice
Keen was trick-or-treating
when three bullies started taunting her
and throwing rocks at her.
Scared, Candice ran into the road,
and was struck dead by a car.
A year later, the three bullies
were convicted of manslaughter.
The prosecutor on that case...
my opposing counsel...
brilliantly argued, and I quote,
"the fact that the defendants didn't intend
"to kill Candice was of no consequence.
"They intended to do her harm.
That was enough."
Fact: Mr. Grieve didn't force
Mr. Wheelan to cheat on his wife.
Fact: Mr. Grieve did not saddle Mr. Wheelan
with the debilitating disease of depression.
Fact: Mr. Grieve did not
drive to Torrance Lake,
call his mistress to say good-bye,
and follow through
with a suicidal act he had already planned.
This man is a bully.
His prank on Mason Wheelan was
an act of premeditated revenge
that ended in death.
He preyed on Amber Wheelan
and tricked her into
humiliating her husband in front
of millions of people. Why?
Because his feelings were hurt 15 years ago.
Due to his actions, Amber Wheelan
is now a single mother, saddled with debt,
facing a cruel and
uncertain world.
Mason Wheelan was a troubled man
who ended his own life,
sadly, because he chose to.
Jamie: This case boils down to one question.
Did Bentley Grieve intend
to do Mason Wheelan harm?
If your answer is yes,
that is enough.
Has the jury reached a verdict?
We have, Your Honor.
In the matter of Amber Wheelan v.
Bentley Grieve and Hydrus Communications,
on the claim of wrongful death,
we, the jury, find in
favor of the plaintiff,
and order the defendants to pay damages
in the sum of $4.8 million.
(Gavel bangs)
Congratulations.
(Scattered applause, gallery murmuring)
Dec: I know.
It-it was a regrettable loss, but...
Yes.
I understand.
(Knocking)
I thought you could use some company.
Oh, Dec.
I'm so sorry.
Mm.
Hydrus just called.
They're pulling their
entire litigation slate.
I think that'll put the firm
in the red this quarter.
I can kiss my partnership bonus good-bye.
I needed that bonus.
We needed that bonus.
I meant what I said, Dec.
I don't care about the money.
Tell me something.
When you left the courthouse today,
who did you want to see,
me or Barbara?
Look, I know this is a
complicated situation,
but, for me, it's pretty simple.
We're having a baby.
It's amazing.
And, darling, this could be us every day.
We could wake up together every morning.
We could have a home.
We could have a life.
(Lindsay sighs)
I was on my way to work.
Just thought I'd stop by.
What happened with the countersuit?
I took care of it.
I had to drop the sexual harassment charge.
What does that mean for the case?
Means it'll live to see another day.
And are you still my lawyer?
Yes.
I saw Terry...
for the last time.
But before he left, he said
he never agreed to testify for Roy.
For what it's worth, I believe him.
(Sighs)
(Footsteps approaching)
You never had Terry.
You just made me think you did.
You knew I'd try to get the sexual
harassment charge dropped.
you just wanted to make sure
it happened with prejudice.
(Sighs)
(Smacks his lips)
Hearing you say it makes it even sweeter.
How did you know that would be my move?
I knew sexual harassment
was your weakest charge.
And I knew that you'd go
on the offensive because...
That is who you are.
(Laughs quietly, sighs)
Fine.
Fine.
Well, drinks are on me.
It's almost an acceptable hour.
I wish I could, but I can not.
I have a date with the city council.
I have to let them know
that I finally outsmarted the yankee lawyer.
(Laughs)
Well, it's probably for the best.
I was gonna head over
to the hospital anyway.
How is he?
He's good.
He's awake.
He's been through a lot.
He's gonna need me, Roy.
You know, if something
terrible happened to me,
I would want you there by
my side, as well, so...
(Sighs)
Ellsworth: This is a proud day
for the city of Charleston.
This victory would not be possible
without the valiant efforts
of detectives Terry McCandless
and Preston Cruz and
deputy chief Holland Knox.
We also salute our two fallen comrades,
Frank Jablonski and Clint Marks,
who sacrificed their
lives in the line of duty.
Woman (On TV): Channel 10 has obtained
this video from an anonymous source.
We warn you, the images you
are about to see are graphic.
The woman in the video has been identified
as former Charleston P.D.
officer, Lee Ann Marcus.
(People gasping)
Woman (On TV): In addition
to Lee Anne Marcus,
we've also identified
one of the male officers
in the sex tape as Terry McCandless.
Lee Anne Marcus is currently suing
the Charleston police department
for wrongful termination
and defamation of character.
This scandal
will likely diminish the police
department's recent victory
against Charleston's
biggest gunrunning ring.
(Phone chimes)
__
♪ And now it's like climbing the walls ♪
♪ All I see, the smell of the smoke ♪
♪ The tears that they choke
♪
♪ I never wanted ♪
♪ Truth is a liar... ♪
Arliss?
♪ I never needed... ♪
Arliss?
♪ This house is on fire... ♪
♪
Well, if you think the
circumstances are right,
we can take down McCandless clean.
this is the biggest bust
in Charleston history.
Some things are going down tomorrow night.
When the smoke clears,
I'll finally be able to
tell you the whole story.
I want you to know I love you.
Rape shield laws are made to
prevent sleazy defense attorneys
from using a woman's prior sexual history
against her. That tape
has no probative value.
Barbara: We have rules. One of them
is to keep our mutual indiscretions
out of the public eye.
We're having a baby.
Oh, my God.
Terry.
Kill the cops first.
(Gunfire)
(Grunts)
(Gunshot)
It was you, Preston. I got
two bullets left, and I'm
gonna use 'em both on you.
(Groaning)
I'm not gonna beg... for my life, Terry.
(Panting)
Go ahead.
Do it!
A damn snitch!
How much does Knox know?
(Panting)
Answer me!
(Panting)
(Grunting)
You answer me!
(Soft groan)
(Soft moaning)
(Distant sirens wailing)
(Panting)
(Sirens approaching)
(Loud panting)
(Gunshot, groans)
You had sex with Terry McCandless
the night of the mayor's ball.
Wait. How do you...?
Terry planted a surveillance
camera in my office,
and I got hold of the footage.
You saw us?
But how could he...?
How could he?
Are you seriously asking that question,
after everything he's done to you?
That night of the ball was so rough.
I came back here.
He was waiting for me.
It was a moment of weakness.
Well, that moment might have
just cost us the entire case.
I'm sorry.
Jamie?
Roy.
- What is it?
- I've been trying to call you.
It-it...
Preston's been shot.
(Siren wailing)
Woman: Deputy Chief Knox?
Detective Cruz is in surgery now.
We've initiated a protocol
called damage control.
What are his chances?
He underwent significant trauma.
We've stabilized him,
but he remains in critical condition.
Knox: Thank you, doctor. A word?
What's the latest on Terry McCandless?
It's very important that I speak with him.
He sustained a through-and-through
to the upper left arm.
He's been heavily sedated.
I'm afraid he'll be asleep until morning.
Thank you.
Thanks again, Roy... for telling me.
For staying with me.
Hey, when I heard what
happened, I knew I had to come.
I know that you two were, uh...
You know,
it will be all right.
All right?
Preston came to me the other night.
He said things, like
he knew something terrible
was going to happen.
What did he say?
Just that...
He...
still cares about me.
And what did you say?
Not much.
I was...
thinking...
about other things.
Mm. (Sniffles)
I have to be in court in two hours.
My brain is mush.
Which is really bad, considering
I'm going up against your boss.
Oh, right.
Ms. Sawyer.
I haven't had the chance to tell you
what a pleasure it is to
finally face you in court.
Oh, the pleasure's mine, believe me.
It's been a while since I've
argued against someone so...
fresh out of law school.
And I haven't cited
precedent in front of someone
who's been around long enough
to actually set some of them.
Trading barbs already,
and trial's barely begun.
That's the spirit.
No, please.
Allow me.
I'm Bentley Grieve, and you're listening
to The Morning Gauntlet.
We're about to do a segment
called Bentley's bluff.
We've got Amber on the line. She suspects
her husband Mason has been cheating on her.
Amber: Yes, and he's been acting strange.
Bentley: Yeah, well, we're
gonna get to the bottom of that
right here right now.
Amber: I'm not s... I'm not sure.
I just don't think I can do this.
Bentley: Yes, you can.
Trust me. Here we go.
(Phone ringing through)
Mason: Hello?
Bentley: Mason, this is
Ben from Regalwood Hotels.
Your recent stay with us
automatically enrolled you
in a travel give-away. Congratulations.
You've won a free trip for two to Miami!
Really?
All we need to know is
your travel companion,
and you're off to paradise.
Mason: The name of my
companion is... Darcy Cole.
Bentley: Darcy Cole. She sounds special.
I have one more question for you.
Who the hell is Darcy Cole?
Amber: Mason, how could you?
Mason: What? What's happening right now?
That's your wife, you
jackass. You're on the radio.
Hey, are you cheating on your
wife with this Darcy woman?
Mason: I-I'm sorry. What? Amber?
Amber: How could you do
this, Mason? We have a son.
Who the hell is Darcy, and how
long have you been banging her?
Bentley: You know, guys like you disgust me.
You always think that
you can get away with it.
You're just a lying, cheating scumbag,
and you deserve to go down
for what you've done. Your...
What was Mason's response, Amber?
Mason came home.
He left his, um,
wallet and wedding ring
on the kitchen table.
Then drove to Torrance Lake...
And killed himself.
How did you first get involved
with the Bentley's bluff segment?
I was at a coffee shop with a
friend, talking about Mason.
A woman overheard me.
Jamie: This was Naomi Hobbs,
Bentley Grieve's show producer?
Yeah.
She told me about her
job at the radio station
and pitched me the idea.
I said no at first, but,
eventually, she convinced me.
Amber, do you believe that Bentley Grieve
and his station's parent
company, Hydrus Communications,
are to blame for Mason's suicide?
Yes. Yes.
Mrs. Wheelan, is this the liability waiver
you signed with Hydrus Communications?
Yes.
And in it, did you assume the risk of all
unforeseeable hazards
associated with the prank call?
I didn't want to go through with it.
I tried to back out. You heard the call.
How exactly could the radio station
have foreseen Mason's suicide?
I don't know. They just...
I tried. They... they pushed me.
I understand you want to
point the finger at someone,
Mrs. Wheelan, but isn't the real
person to blame your husband,
for cheating on you in the first place?
(Monitor beeping rhythmically)
(Gasps softly)
(Sighs)
(Grunts softly)
The hell is this?
Didn't want you to disappear
in the middle of the night.
Why would I disappear?
I just brought down the biggest gunrunner
on the eastern seaboard.
Yeah, you brought him down, huh?
Yeah, I got a tip from one of my CIs.
Gun deal going down on James Island. Well...
We walked right into a damn firefight.
Two guys from my academy class
went down right in front of me.
Preston would've, too, but I saved his life.
Your PSO debriefing is tomorrow.
When Preston wakes up,
he'll be debriefed, too.
He'll tell his side of the story.
The truth will come out.
Looking forward to it.
You hear about what went
down on James Island?
Terry McCandless got shot.
Yeah, I heard.
Well, I guess he's not
so bulletproof after all.
(Panting)
You around for dinner tonight?
No, I, uh...
I got a thing.
Oh? What kind of a thing?
(Sighs)
I'm going to an A.A. meeting.
Really?
Yeah, really.
Ms. Hobbs, isn't it true
that your show, The Morning Gauntlet,
was put on constructive notice
after eight different people
filed formal complaints against you?
Any show like ours can incur
the occasional complaint.
It just means we're doing our jobs.
Sarah Nichols complained about
a venereal disease prank
that caused her to lose her job as a nanny.
Greg Serrano assaulted his neighbor
after a prank involving a faked
paternity test.
Should I go on?
That's eight complaints out
of hundreds of radio segments.
And they were all dismissed.
But didn't that ever give you pause?
Make you wonder if your show's
reckless antics might one day turn deadly?
Objection, Your Honor.
Withdrawn.
Nothing further.
Ms. Hobbs, did even one
of these other pranks end in a loss of life?
Of course not.
Ms. Sawyer said that
you stalked the plaintiff.
Is that accurate?
No, it's called being an effective producer.
Bentley is very particular about what
he wants, and I make sure he gets it.
(Seagulls calling)
Terry (Sighs): Make this quick, Roy.
I have a situation I'm dealing with.
I saw you with Lee Anne
the other night.
Outside Joyce Reed's carriage house.
I need to know...
Are you currently involved with her?
Involved. That's a vague sort of word.
I need you to testify
that you and Lee Anne have
continued your relationship,
even after the lawsuit was filed.
You know, it could win us the case.
You want me to throw her under the bus.
I could just force you to testify.
Lee Anne and I, we ain't involved.
End of story.
I know what you're going
to say, but I'm here.
So, you're just going
to have to deal with it.
This isn't a good time, Lindsay.
I-I'm in the middle of a
high-stakes litigation.
I...
Don't care, Dec.
We need to talk. The way we left things...
I know, I know. Look, Lindsay...
I'm gonna be there for you
and this baby, 100%.
The two of you will never
want for anything.
You have no idea what I'm
really asking, do you?
I want to know if you want to
be involved in this child's life.
And-and you just keep talking about money.
I'm just being practical.
When Shelby was born,
I wanted to give her everything.
I still do.
Being a father was the most rewarding
experience of my life,
but it took resources.
It also takes love, and caring.
Is that something you're capable
of giving? Because if you're not...
We should discuss this later.
Later?
Like when I'm starting to show?
Because that'll start a
discussion, all right.
(Knocking)
Chief Ellsworth.
How you holding up, son?
I just visited the wives
of our fallen officers.
Jablonski's wife could hardly speak.
Yeah. You're a good man, Knox, that's why
I brought you here from North Charleston.
You're exactly what this department needs.
I just got word to Sergeant Canning
in the PSO. We're pushing back
the McCandless debriefing.
Why, sir?
We need to act fast.
W-we... (Sighs)
We have an opportunity here.
Waterman's been eliminated,
thousands of assault
rifles will never make it
to the streets, and millions of dollars
have been seized.
On all accounts, that's
a victory for Charleston.
And Terry McCandless and
Preston Cruz are heroes.
We've been working on this
undercover operation for months.
You signed off on it.
This department can't afford
another scandal right now.
Preston Cruz risked his life for this,
he almost died for it.
He knew the dangers.
What you're proposing would be a cover-up.
I can't be a part of it.
I won't.
Mm.
You know, I'm beginning to wonder
if your mayoral campaign is interfering
with your duties as deputy chief.
Perhaps you're getting overwhelmed
trying to do two jobs at once.
There is a solution for that.
(Door opens)
You are in, McCandless.
(Door slams shut)
You don't write, you don't call.
Next time I'll bring a casserole.
(Quiet chuckle)
Waterman's dead.
The guns and money were seized by the ATF,
and it turns out... my partner,
Preston, was informing for the deputy chief.
So basically you, uh, you screwed the pooch
and you've come crawling back
to your old man for advice.
I screwed the pooch?
You're the one sitting in a jail cell.
'Cause you turned me
in. I didn't turn you in,
they came after me. They ran my DNA
and got a familial match.
(Slams fist on table) That was it.
They debrief you?
Nothing formal, just
Knox being a hard-ass.
PSO's gonna come down on me tomorrow.
They try and arrest you?
No.
Well, what does that tell you?
Think!
That knox didn't have enough hard evidence.
Which means that Preston wasn't
wearing a wire during the deal.
I'd be willing to bet that Knox's whole case
hinges on that guy being a eyewitness.
What's his status?
He's in the hospital, all banged up.
He might not make it.
That rat wakes up and starts blabbing...
You're a goner.
Only one way to take care of
a ticking time bomb, son.
Defuse it.
Jamie: I had a thought
on Bentley Grieve.
His producer, Naomi Hobbs,
said that he was very particular
about what he looks for
with their radio pranks.
Particular. You mean, that he looks
for certain types of targets?
Maybe.
If Naomi really does troll public
places for Bentley's next mark,
I want to know exactly
how she goes about it.
You think you can talk to her on the sly?
You kidding me?
On the sly is my specialty.
Uh, excuse me, are you Jamie Sawyer,
the attorney of record for Lee Anne Marcus?
Yes.
Special delivery.
What is it?
Your client's just been served.
Roy is suing you for fraud.
What?
He filed an official countersuit.
He's saying that you continued
a relationship with Terry,
and so your accusation of
sexual harassment is fraudulent.
He knows about me and Terry?
He must.
This is what happens when you
have a moment of weakness.
If Terry testifies against
you, which obviously he will,
we won't win. We may not even
get a chance to present our case.
I'll go talk to him.
- I can fix this.
- You can't fix this.
I may not even be able to fix it.
Well, they still fired me.
They still drugged me.
How does this change anything? It's...
It's just a scare tactic.
And I hired you because
you don't get scared.
'Cause you believed in me
when no one else would.
Lee Anne, this changes everything.
I'm going to fight the countersuit,
but once I do, once I get it off the table,
I have to be honest with you,
I'm not sure I can continue
with the rest of your case.
(Exhales)
I'm sorry,
aren't you the woman from the radio,
with Bentley Grieve?
Yes. Hello.
I'm a big fan, listen every morning.
Can I just say,
Bentley's bluff? Best radio prank ever.
I'm glad you like it.
You know, my husband's been acting
odd lately. He lost his big beer belly
and suddenly started wearing cologne.
Got to be another woman.
Oh, I'd love to call that dog out on air,
in front of all your listeners.
Can you get me on?
Yeah, we're really not looking
for people for the show.
You won't be sorry.
When I go off on him, nobody's
gonna be turning that dial,
I can guarantee you that.
Look, we don't solicit off the street, okay?
Ms. Cole, when did you
begin having an affair
with Mason Wheelan?
About nine months before he died.
Did Mr. Wheelan call you from a pay phone
near Torrance Lake right
before he committed suicide?
Yes.
- And what did he say in that phone call?
- Objection,
- hearsay.
- Your honor,
the call is a dying declaration.
It is therefore an exception
to the hearsay rule.
Mr. Wheelan wasn't dying at the time
- of the phone call.
- All that's required
is for death to be imminent. Mr. Wheelan
made the call, then took his own life.
He knew he was going to die.
Overruled.
You may answer the question, Ms. Cole.
Well, he was upset about the radio thing.
And he's been depressed for
a while. I tried to get him
to see a therapist, but he didn't want
the people at his job or Amber
to know how bad off he was.
Ms. Cole,
do you believe Mr. Wheelan was depressed
and suicidal even before your affair
was exposed on the radio?
Given everything I know now?
Yes.
I'm sorry, Amber.
Today was...
tough.
But we have to push forward.
Vi and I are working on a new theory.
I spoke to Naomi Hobbs
about Bentley's pranks.
She said they don't solicit
people off the street
for Bentley's bluff.
But that's not true. She
approached me in that coffee shop.
Well, maybe you were a target.
If we could prove that
they actually sought you out
for the show, it could help our case.
Have you ever crossed
paths with Bentley before?
No, I only know him from the radio.
What about your husband? Do you think
Mason and Bentley knew each other?
I don't think so.
But then, maybe I don't know
anything about Mason anymore.
You know a lot, Amber.
You are strong.
I want you to write down
everything that you can
about Mason's history.
Where he went to school, where he worked,
his friends, his enemies.
The more thorough you are, the
better we can fight this, ok?
Yeah.
(Knocking)
Arliss.
Did you tell Lee Anne that you
might stop being her lawyer?
I can't discuss that with you.
You can't just turn your back on her.
That's not what I'm doing.
She can get another lawyer.
She won't get another one like you.
Look, I may not have given you a fair shake
in the beginning,
but now, I-I know, you're different.
You actually care about your clients,
and you think that the people
you represent deserve justice.
And my wife
needs someone like you fighting for her.
So, please... don't abandon her.
You're late. I told you
to come during my break.
"How you doin'? How's your gunshot wound?"
"Not too bad, darlin'. Thanks for askin'."
Roy knows about us.
He just thinks he knows.
Jamie says you're going to
testify against me. Are you?
What do you think?
I think you followed me
home from the mayor's ball,
and you seduced me in her
office 'cause you knew
there was a camera there,
a camera you planted.
You did this just to end the lawsuit.
No, I didn't. It was for
something else, that camera.
I didn't even remember it was there.
I... I turned it away.
What does that even
mean? You turned it away?
Lee Anne,
Roy asked me to testify,
but I said no, and I meant it.
I never wanted this.
I didn't want you to get fired.
I wish every day when I drive to work
that you'd still be there
when I walked in the door.
(Sighs)
Look at you.
Everything you touch
gets mangled and bloody.
All that talk of running away.
I'll still take you.
I'd run away right now.
Running away is a fantasy.
This case is what's real, and
I'm gonna see it through.
I can't... I can't talk to you anymore.
(Monitor beeping rhythmically)
Preston came to see me...
Before the shooting,
and he said,
"when the smoke clears,
I'll be able to tell you the truth."
I know that he was involved in something.
If he dies...
Please.
Wait.
What I'm about
to say has to stay between us, understand?
Preston has been working for me...
Undercover.
Undercover?
On what?
Corruption... within the department.
I shouldn't have said anything.
Holland...
Thank you
for telling me.
I know it can't be easy,
given our... situation.
I didn't do it for you.
I did it for Preston.
He always wanted you to know the truth.
Preston was working undercover?
To root out corruption in the department.
It's got to be Terry and his guys.
It explains so much.
How he couldn't tell me.
Why he was in the sex tape.
To get in good with them.
Is he awake yet? Can you talk to him?
Not yet. Hopefully, soon.
What's new on the Bentley Grieve front?
I went through Amber's list,
and I found a connection
between Bentley and her husband.
They went to the same
college for one semester,
but Mason left after three months.
- Did they know each other?
- Not on paper.
They were two years apart
and didn't have any classes together.
What about clubs or sports?
Bentley worked for the campus
radio station, but that's about it.
Why don't you check the
campus security reports?
See if Bentley and Mason
ever had any run-ins.
Hmm.
(Phone ringing) Oh.
(Sighs)
That's Lee Anne.
What are you gonna do about the countersuit?
I don't know.
She slept with Terry.
It kills her credibility.
That's all the jury's going to see.
And the crazy thing is,
it only really affects
one charge... The sexual harassment charge.
Doesn't even affect the other two.
Wait. That's it.
Let me get this straight, Ms. Sawyer.
You want to drop the
sexual harassment charge
from the lawsuit entirely?
Yes, Your Honor.
Lee Anne Marcus will now
only be suing the city
for wrongful termination
and defamation of character.
Your honor, she is only doing this
in reaction to my fraud countersuit.
She is trying to take sex off the table
so that my countersuit won't hold any water.
A clever trick.
Why am I not surprised?
You can wipe that smug
look off your face, Mr. Rayder.
I take it you want the sexual
harassment charge to stay
just so you can prove Ms. Marcus is a fraud?
Well, in light of Ms.
Sawyer's blatant attempt
to limit the scope of my defense,
yes, that is correct, Your Honor.
Judge Moss,
the truth is, sexual harassment
was always our weakest charge,
especially in light of
Vance v. Ball State...
- Come on.
- Which raises the bar
for proving sexual
harassment in the workplace.
We are merely coming to our senses.
Mr. Rayder, if your opposing
counsel wants to drop a charge
against the city and save the
taxpayers money in the process,
it's her prerogative,
and you should welcome it.
I understand, Your Honor,
but if you decide to dismiss the charge,
may I ask that you do so with prejudice?
That way, under no
circumstances will she be able
to wiggle the charge
back in at a later time.
For once, a sensible request. Ms. Sawyer?
- I'm fine with that, Your Honor.
- Excellent.
Your motion's granted.
McCandless.
(Loud panting)
(Groans)
You didn't do it.
You didn't pull the trigger.
(Weakly): Why?
Because you're a good cop.
We're the same, you and me.
We're not the same.
I did some stupid things,
yeah, and I can't take 'em back.
No. You can't.
I'd rather be dead than owe my life to you.
Then don't.
Don't owe me. Make us even.
I gave you another chance, Preston.
I'm asking you to do the same for me.
(Door opens)
(Door closes)
(Panting)
Thank you so much for
meeting me, Mr. Collier.
No problem at all.
So you've been the manager
of this campus radio station for how long?
Going on... wow... 20 years.
So you were here when
Bentley Grieve was a student?
Yeah.
I'm trying to find a connection
between him and a man that he pranked
on a recent radio broadcast...
Mason Wheelan?
When I checked the campus security reports,
I didn't find any incidents between them.
I did, however, find that you
filed a report against Bentley.
Can you tell me what happened?
Yeah, well, when Bentley ran this booth,
he was a real hothead.
One day, he just went off,
smashing equipment,
throwing chairs.
I had to call security.
- So he had a temper?
- Big time.
And he was vindictive.
Did this incident involve
Mason Wheelan, by chance?
No. It was over a girl.
She worked here in the control room.
Yeah, when she dumped him, he just lost it.
Do you remember her name?
Mr. Grieve, who is Simone Vail?
An old girlfriend.
Wow.
You and her?
Go, you.
So, how did things
end with Simone?
We broke up.
You broke up?
Or did she dump you?
(Sighs)
I don't remember.
I have a sworn affidavit from
Ms. Vail which names the man
that she left you for.
Mason... Wheelan.
Objection. A personal history
between my client and Mr. Wheelan
does not equate to intent.
Overruled, Mr. Fortnum.
Mr. Grieve, did you ask your producer
to target my client for this prank
out of a deep personal
- vendetta against her husband?
- You...
- You can tell Simone that I...
- Did you intend
to inflict harm on Mr. Wheelan as payback
for stealing your college girlfriend?
She meant nothing to me! I...
Did you hold a grudge
for 15 years against Mason Wheelan,
humiliate him on the air and cause his death
as a result of your vindictive actions?
I have nothing to say.
Well, now... that's a first.
I apologize
for having to do this so soon, Preston.
I understand.
Detective Cruz, were you
assigned to work undercover
for the Charleston police department
and report on illegal activities
among your fellow officers?
Yes.
Were you tasked specifically
to track the operations
of Terry McCandless?
(Sighs) Yes.
And after an exhaustive investigation...
I found no illicit activity.
Are you saying you did not
witness Terry McCandless
engaged in illegal conduct,
such as selling guns to criminals?
I'm sorry.
I have nothing to report.
All right, who got to you?
Was it the chief?
McCandless?
(Grunts)
We've been planning this
operation for months.
I brought you down from
New York specifically for this.
I trusted you. Do not look me in the eye
and tell me this was all for nothing!
I have nothing to report.
(Door slams)
When I was a law student,
one of my professors, Edson Smith,
dismissed every class by saying,
"Lex est sine affectu."
"The law must be void of emotion."
Now, young lawyers,
much like my opposing counsel here,
tend to be a bit preoccupied
with their passion for the law.
I know I was. In fact,
I have no doubt Ms. Sawyer will base
her entire closing argument
purely on emotion,
so allow me to base mine purely
on fact.
Even if Bentley Grieve intended
to embarrass Mr. Wheelan
as a result of a grudge,
in the eyes of the law,
he is not responsible for
Mr. Wheelan's death. Why?
Because Mr. Wheelan's suicide
was not a foreseeable consequence
of Mr. Grieve's radio prank.
The fact is, Mr. Wheelan took his own life
because he was embarrassed
by the adulterous affair he had created.
One night, 12-year-old Candice
Keen was trick-or-treating
when three bullies started taunting her
and throwing rocks at her.
Scared, Candice ran into the road,
and was struck dead by a car.
A year later, the three bullies
were convicted of manslaughter.
The prosecutor on that case...
my opposing counsel...
brilliantly argued, and I quote,
"the fact that the defendants didn't intend
"to kill Candice was of no consequence.
"They intended to do her harm.
That was enough."
Fact: Mr. Grieve didn't force
Mr. Wheelan to cheat on his wife.
Fact: Mr. Grieve did not saddle Mr. Wheelan
with the debilitating disease of depression.
Fact: Mr. Grieve did not
drive to Torrance Lake,
call his mistress to say good-bye,
and follow through
with a suicidal act he had already planned.
This man is a bully.
His prank on Mason Wheelan was
an act of premeditated revenge
that ended in death.
He preyed on Amber Wheelan
and tricked her into
humiliating her husband in front
of millions of people. Why?
Because his feelings were hurt 15 years ago.
Due to his actions, Amber Wheelan
is now a single mother, saddled with debt,
facing a cruel and
uncertain world.
Mason Wheelan was a troubled man
who ended his own life,
sadly, because he chose to.
Jamie: This case boils down to one question.
Did Bentley Grieve intend
to do Mason Wheelan harm?
If your answer is yes,
that is enough.
Has the jury reached a verdict?
We have, Your Honor.
In the matter of Amber Wheelan v.
Bentley Grieve and Hydrus Communications,
on the claim of wrongful death,
we, the jury, find in
favor of the plaintiff,
and order the defendants to pay damages
in the sum of $4.8 million.
(Gavel bangs)
Congratulations.
(Scattered applause, gallery murmuring)
Dec: I know.
It-it was a regrettable loss, but...
Yes.
I understand.
(Knocking)
I thought you could use some company.
Oh, Dec.
I'm so sorry.
Mm.
Hydrus just called.
They're pulling their
entire litigation slate.
I think that'll put the firm
in the red this quarter.
I can kiss my partnership bonus good-bye.
I needed that bonus.
We needed that bonus.
I meant what I said, Dec.
I don't care about the money.
Tell me something.
When you left the courthouse today,
who did you want to see,
me or Barbara?
Look, I know this is a
complicated situation,
but, for me, it's pretty simple.
We're having a baby.
It's amazing.
And, darling, this could be us every day.
We could wake up together every morning.
We could have a home.
We could have a life.
(Lindsay sighs)
I was on my way to work.
Just thought I'd stop by.
What happened with the countersuit?
I took care of it.
I had to drop the sexual harassment charge.
What does that mean for the case?
Means it'll live to see another day.
And are you still my lawyer?
Yes.
I saw Terry...
for the last time.
But before he left, he said
he never agreed to testify for Roy.
For what it's worth, I believe him.
(Sighs)
(Footsteps approaching)
You never had Terry.
You just made me think you did.
You knew I'd try to get the sexual
harassment charge dropped.
you just wanted to make sure
it happened with prejudice.
(Sighs)
(Smacks his lips)
Hearing you say it makes it even sweeter.
How did you know that would be my move?
I knew sexual harassment
was your weakest charge.
And I knew that you'd go
on the offensive because...
That is who you are.
(Laughs quietly, sighs)
Fine.
Fine.
Well, drinks are on me.
It's almost an acceptable hour.
I wish I could, but I can not.
I have a date with the city council.
I have to let them know
that I finally outsmarted the yankee lawyer.
(Laughs)
Well, it's probably for the best.
I was gonna head over
to the hospital anyway.
How is he?
He's good.
He's awake.
He's been through a lot.
He's gonna need me, Roy.
You know, if something
terrible happened to me,
I would want you there by
my side, as well, so...
(Sighs)
Ellsworth: This is a proud day
for the city of Charleston.
This victory would not be possible
without the valiant efforts
of detectives Terry McCandless
and Preston Cruz and
deputy chief Holland Knox.
We also salute our two fallen comrades,
Frank Jablonski and Clint Marks,
who sacrificed their
lives in the line of duty.
Woman (On TV): Channel 10 has obtained
this video from an anonymous source.
We warn you, the images you
are about to see are graphic.
The woman in the video has been identified
as former Charleston P.D.
officer, Lee Ann Marcus.
(People gasping)
Woman (On TV): In addition
to Lee Anne Marcus,
we've also identified
one of the male officers
in the sex tape as Terry McCandless.
Lee Anne Marcus is currently suing
the Charleston police department
for wrongful termination
and defamation of character.
This scandal
will likely diminish the police
department's recent victory
against Charleston's
biggest gunrunning ring.
(Phone chimes)
__
♪ And now it's like climbing the walls ♪
♪ All I see, the smell of the smoke ♪
♪ The tears that they choke
♪
♪ I never wanted ♪
♪ Truth is a liar... ♪
Arliss?
♪ I never needed... ♪
Arliss?
♪ This house is on fire... ♪
♪