The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1993–1994): Season 1, Episode 9 - Brisco for the Defense - full transcript
Matthew?
Matt?
Matt.
Come on, Matt.
I been riding
for two days.
Either you're here
or you're not.
Brisco.
Well, for a doctor,
you got some place here.
Where have you been?
Oh, how wonderful
for you to make it,
Brisco.
How nice to see you!
I'm sorry, Brisk.
Thanks for coming.
Come here!
Let's get a good look at you.
So? How's the wild
west treating you?
I don't know.
I think I should have
taken your advice
and never left Boston.
Since when have you
ever followed
my advice?
I'm in big trouble
this time, Brisk.
Uh-huh. Last time
I heard that,
let's see,
it was
in our dorm room...
you're covered
with water,
having just sunk
the Harvard crew.
That was an accident.
Mm-mm. Not according to
the rowing coach,
it wasn't.
This is serious,
Brisk.
I'm scared.
Ah, come on, Matt.
We had to dodge
a few bullets
in college, didn't we?
You just need to learn how
to dodge them out here,
that's all.
Cheers. Uhh!
I didn't mean
real bullets!
I didn't do
anything, Brisk!
I swear to God!
This whole town's
gone berserk!
[GUNS COCK]
Dr. Carter,
you under arrest
for murder.
Get him out of here.
You!
You a friend of his?
He's my lawyer.
I am?
Sheriff Bumper
W. Crosswait.
Nice doing business
with you, counselor.
[POUNDING GAVEL]
Alright, Bart,
shut down the taps.
Everybody, sit down.
Shut up.
Shut the hell up!
This court is in session.
You ready to go, Dwayne?
The prosecution
is ready, Your Honor.
Doc. Where's your lawyer?
Um...well--
Now, hold it right there!
Well, we're holding it.
What would you like us
to do with it?
You can't hold
a murder trial
in a saloon!
Cafe.
I can if my courtroom's
being painted.
Now sit down.
Mr. County here
is my lawyer.
Matt, we need
to talk about that.
We need to get on
with this trial.
Are you a lawyer or not?
I am.
Where'd you go
to school?
Harvard.
Good enough.
Now sit down.
Let's get on with this.
Your Honor,
I haven't handled
a criminal case
in five years.
Duly noted.
Now sit, Harvard.
It's Dwayne's turn.
Dwayne...
Thank you,
Judge Gatt.
Gentlemen of the jury,
the prosecution will show
that Dr. Matthew Carter
had the opportunity,
the means, and the motive
and, indeed,
did murder one of
Crowville's leading citizens,
the honorable...
Potter S. Crow.
My condolences, Mrs. Crow.
I thank you.
Very nice, Dwayne.
Succinct and to the point.
Harvard...
Matt, I can't do this.
What are you
talking about?
Gentlemen, can we
get on with this trial?
Ain't no need
for a trial, Silo.
Let's just hang him
and get done with it.
Yeah!
Yeah!
[GAVEL POUNDING]
Can it, Bewtell.
I don't want any
lynch mob mentality
in here.
You got something
to shout about,
you go on out
to that ranch of yours
and yell at your heifers!
[POUNDS GAVEL]
Otherwise,
I'll clear this saloon.
Cafe.
Harvard, you got
an opening statement?
Well, uh...no.
Good enough.
Dwayne, call your
first witness.
If you don't
defend me,
I'm going to hang.
Uh, Your Honor...
What now?
If I am going
to defend Dr. Carter,
then under the rules
of discovery,
I am entitled to examine
all evidence
and to be presented
with a list of witnesses
prior to the proceedings!
I guess they taught me
a few things at Yale,
thank you.
Yes, sir.
One thing nobody
had to teach me
was a sense of justice.
Now, you're in
my court, Harvard.
You don't have
to dazzle me with the law
'cause I'm going to
always side with justice.
Dwayne, he's got a right
to look over what you got
on the doc.
You shown him it yet?
He just walked in here
five minutes ago.
Well, do it and let's
get it over with.
[POUNDS GAVEL]
Alright.
This court is in recess
until Harvard here
gets his ducks in a row.
That'll be
noon tomorrow.
Bar's open!
[POUNDS GAVEL]
[CHEERING]
Read 'em and weep.
Thanks, Brisco.
Uh, Matt, this is only
temporary.
I-I'll have you
a better lawyer
by tonight.
I don't want
a better lawyer.
I got you.
Excuse me, Sheriff,
I wonder if I could have
a few minutes
with Matthew?
Nope.
You know,
I do have the right
to talk to my client.
Yeah, well,
you must have me
mixed up
with someone
who cares.
Well, I guess
I'll just
have to file
for a mistrial,
and I'll have
my client
out of your bad
excuse for a town
by tomorrow.
Eddie, you take the doc in
and lock him up.
Mr. Country--
County.
Country...
and I have some things
to get straight.
Matthew, I'll be
right there.
This will
only take a minute.
Ah!
Oh!
Now, that's just
to get your attention.
You listen,
and you listen good.
Unh!
We don't need no...
back east know-it-all
to come here
and tell us our business.
We got a dead man,
we got the man who did it.
Ain't nothing
you can do that's
gonna stop justice
from being served.
Well,
I'm glad to see
you're
so open-minded--
Unh!
Come noon tomorrow,
you let your man
get found guilty
or, uh...
or...
Else?
Yeah! Else.
Unh!
Heh heh heh heh
heh heh.
Yeah. Heh heh.
Yeah. Or...else.
Hah hah hah hah!
We got a thing
in this country
called the U.S.
Constitution.
I heard of it.
Well, that's good.
Because that means
I'm going to see
my client...now.
Get him out of here.
[GRUNTING]
Aah!
Uhh!
[GLASS SHATTERING]
[CLANGING]
Mm. You got five minutes.
[MOANING]
Nothing's broken.
Yeah, not yet,
anyway. Ow!
Sorry, Brisk.
Alright.
Now do you mind telling me
what's going on
around here?
Well...when they found
Crow's body,
you know, the rumors,
they just started
flying.
Then somebody said
they saw me running
from the scene.
They said that I got
in a big fight with Crow
and I threatened him.
Well, did ya?
W-We had our differences
now and then.
But Brisco, he's the one
I wrote you about.
He's the reason
I left Boston General
and came here.
Wait a minute.
He's the money behind
that dream lab of yours?
It's incredible, Brisco.
Every time I walk in there,
I feel like I got a foot
in the future.
It's--it's like the--
The coming thing.
Yeah.
So you still seeing
patients?
Oh, yeah, yeah.
But it's my research
in the lab
that is, uh,
keeping me here.
Sounds like Potter
knew how to get
his hooks into you.
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Me and everybody else.
You either loved him
or hated him
around here.
Why is that?
It's the way
he did business.
If he couldn't
get you
by enticing you,
he'd play dirty.
He'd try to get
something on you.
He'd try
to manipulate you,
and bend the rules
till he broke you.
You know anybody
he did that to?
Half the town.
People like Bart Lewis,
Bewtell Ogilvey.
Even Sheriff Bumper
had trouble with Crow
for years.
Yeah, but you're the one
they want you swinging
from the gallows.
That's 'cause
I'm the outsider,
somebody
they can blame.
Alright.
So you got an alibi?
I went out for a walk...
alone.
Oh, come on, Matt,
you got to give me
something!
I didn't kill him!
Well, try and convince
the jury of that.
Then why don't you
ask them why would
I kill a man
who's gonna be dead
in a month?
What?
Subacute bacterial
endocarditis.
It's a heart condition.
It's terminal.
It's all in his
medical records.
You have his
medical records?
In my office.
Will that do it?
That is one hell
of a start.
[WHINING]
Shh.
[ARF ARF]
Hey, go away.
Git!
Even the dogs have
an attitude in this town.
Hmm, very fancy.
[COCKS GUN]
[GASPS]
Let go of me!
Get off!
I thought things felt
a little soft.
You're
Matthew's lawyer.
Brisco County Jr.
Charlotte Ketchum,
Dr. Carter's nurse.
I'm sorry. I thought
you were a thief.
Oh, sorry to disappoint you.
I'm not too disappointed
at the moment.
I, uh, I came to get a file
for Matt.
I didn't have a key.
I--I guess
we should get up.
Is there something
in Mr. Crow's file
that'll help Dr. Carter?
Yeah, that's what
we're hoping.
I can't believe
all this is happening.
How long
have you known Matt?
Only six months,
but I can tell
he is not a murderer.
Yeah,
he's an old friend
of mine.
You don't have
to tell me that.
That's funny.
Why would somebody steal
Mr. Crow's file?
Because that was
Matt's only alibi.
Grab that side.
A little heavy.
MAN: You got it.
Hmm...Excuse me.
I'm in Crowville, aren't I?
Not anymore.
Socrates. What
are you doing here?
You sent for me.
I didn't mean you.
I meant
a real lawyer.
This is
a murder trial.
[VOICES]
What's that,
a welcoming committee?
Uh, no.
That's a lynch mob.
[HOLLERING]
Keep that law book
up front, Socrates.
Right now, we stand
for law and order.
Uh, it's not a law book.
It's Pudd'nhead Wilson.
Let me do the talking.
Bumper W.?
Bumper W.?
MAN: Get him out!
SECOND MAN:
Come on, Sheriff!
Thank God.
The sheriff.
Here to take care
of business.
Is that so, Bewtell?
That's so, Bumper W.
You take care
of whatever you like.
My shift is over.
Goodnight, all.
Let's go!
Yeah!
Yeah!
Yeah!
Yeah!
There he is.
Get him!
This is insane, Bewtell.
You don't know
what you're doing.
I think I do.
Alright,
hold it right there,
all you back-water,
oat-head, chicken-kicking
piles of hayseed.
You talking to us?
That's right.
I want you to meet
Matthew Carter's new
attorney, Socrates Poole.
He's here to insure that
Matthew gets a fair trial,
and I'm here to insure
that he gets the chance.
Six bullets
ain't gonna stop us.
I reload pretty quick.
You're not going to
shoot all these men.
You hear that?
Let's hang him!
No!
BRISCO: Hey!
Hey! Matt!
Sorry.Matt!
Brisco!
Get him up there!
Turn around.
Get out of the way!
Move it!
BRISCO:
I'm coming, Matt!
Get out of here!
Move it!
Get out of the way!
I think if anybody wants to see
my husband's killer hang,
it's me.
You stay out of this,
Cassie!
I can't do that, Bewtell.
You've stirred up
these folks enough.
Your husband built
this town.
It's the least we can do.
Oh, don't do me any favors.
You should all be ashamed
of yourselves.
Do you really want
a man's death on your hands?
Bewtell, this isn't
for Potter's memory,
and you know it.
We're doing what's right.
By hanging
an innocent man?
Because
that's what he is
until 12 men on a
jury say different.
You can't
get rid of evil
by making more evil.
Now, go on home,
all of you.
There won't be
any hanging tonight.
This ain't ending here,
Cassie.
Goodnight, Bewtell.
Goodnight.
That was a heck
of a shot, Mrs. Crow.
Thank you.
I'll see you
in court.
Alright.
Come on down out
of there, Carter.
Party's over.
Come on, Matt.
You going to protect
him, Sheriff?
I'll do my best,
counselor.
Mrs. Crow?
I don't think we've met.
I'm Brisco County Jr.
This is my associate
Socrates Poole.
Sorry about
your husband.
Don't be.
My husband wasn't a saint,
Mr. County.
You'll learn that
soon enough.
In the end, even I
couldn't bear the man.
But I didn't kill him.
I'm not suggesting
you did.
You will.
Goodnight, Mr. County.
Mr. Poole.
Interesting town.
Are you looking for
something in particular
in that newspaper?
Local news can tell you
a lot about a community.
For example, did you know
that there's a mortician's
convention in town?
Yeah. That's what
they told me
when I tried to get you
your own room.
Oh, I don't mind sharing.
Soc, the first thing
to do
is to find more
likely suspects.
Mmm. Mmm.
[GLUG GLUG]
[GARGLING]
Yeah, I agree.
I just think we need
to find out more
about this Bewtell
character.
[SPITS] Look, would you mind
helping me
with the mattress?
What?
The mattress.
I want to put my trousers
under the bed
to keep them pressed.
You do this
every night?
Well, yeah, pretty much.
There. Thanks.
Now, why Bewtell?
Well, something
Potter Crow's widow
said tonight
made me think
that Bewtell
might have
ulterior motives
to see Matt hang.
Like what?
I don't know.
Well, then...
first thing
in the morning,
let's find out.
Uh.
Socrates...
before
you get married...
What?
Never mind.
[MOANING]
I don't snore.
You not only snore,
you make these little
gurgling noises.
You had to be dreaming.
No because
I was up all night
reading
Pudd'nhead Wilson
because of you.
Good book, isn't it?
Actually it's
pretty interesting
how all
of our fingers
are different.
No, don't tell me!
I haven't got
to that part yet!
Alright.
Let's clear the street.
We got cattle moving in.
Well, if it isn't
the man of the hour.
You want
to cross the street,
you better get a move on.
I got 50 head
coming through.
Then again, you might
want to just stand
in the street, counselor.
Sounds like
you're as anxious
to get rid of me
as you are Matthew.
I'm anxious to get this town
back to normal.
If that means a hanging,
so be it.
Alright!
Bring 'em through!
Hey, hey!
Get out of there!
You Okay?
I guess when I fall,
I fall hard.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean
to be so rough.
Oh, I don't mind rough...
if it's with
the right intention.
Are you married,
Mr. Country?
County.
No, I'm not.
Oh.
Involved, I suppose.
Not at the moment.
Neither am I.
I'm surprised.
Don't be.
There aren't a lot of
available men around here.
What about Matthew?
Why would you ask that?
I've known him
all my life.
He's a good man.
He's taken.
Oh, well, I guess that's
just about everything.
Thank you for your help,
Mr. County.
Anytime.
Oh!
[MOO]
Prosecution calls
Rufus Wells.
I'm walking by
the Crow house,
and I hear
Potter Crow
from inside shout,
"Carter,
don't do it!"
Well, wasn't there
something about
"Don't kill me"?
Objection!
Objection!
What is this, fellas,
choir practice?
Mr. Melon is clearly
leading the witness.
He's helpin' him remember.
Go ahead, Dwayne.
Rufus...
what did you hear
Potter Crow shout?
"Carter,
don't do it.
Don't kill me!"
Bang!
Opportunity.
Mr. McKenzie,
directing your attention
to your store ledger
for May 19,
would you
tell the court precisely
what did
Dr. Matthew Carter
charge to his account
on that day.
Uh...
a Derringer pistol.
Well, I'm sure
we all remember
that Potter Crow was
killed by a Derringer.
A Derringer dropped
when his murderer
panicked...
and took flight.
Your witness,
counselor.
Allow me, Soc.
I got this one nailed.
Now, Mr. McKenzie,
how many years
have you been in business?
22 years.
Mm-hmm.
And in
all those years,
could you tell us,
please,
how many Derringers
you've sold
to the folks here
in town.
Just sort of
round it off.
Goose egg.
I beg your pardon?
Zero.
Not one.
Except to him,
of course.
Most men when
they want a pistol
they go for a Colt
or some such.
Your Derringer's
more of a girlie gun.
When you and I talked,
you told me that
you had sold...
That I sold
dozens and dozens.
Yes, sir.
So which is it?
Were you lying
yesterday,
or are you
lying today?
I was lying yesterday.
I thought you was going to buy
a Derringer.
Why would I go and tell you
nobody ever does?
Except for him,
of course.
No further questions,
Your Honor.
I bought the Derringer
for Cassie.
So why didn't you tell us?
I don't know.
She just wanted something
to scare off Potter
when he went into one
of his rages.
Why didn't she
buy the gun
herself?
Because she thought
McKenzie would tell him.
She set you up,
Matthew.
No, she didn't.
Why are you being so blind?
What are you trying
to do?
I'm trying to save your life!
You're trying to save
my life by destroying hers?
Is that it?
You don't know anything
about Cassie's life.
You don't know how lonely
she was.
How--how Potter trapped her.
Their marriage was a deal--
an arrangement.
Potter wanted her
and he got her.
You're in love
with Cassie Crow.
Yes...
and she's in love
with me.
But we didn't
kill him, Brisco.
We didn't kill him.
If the prosecution
finds out about this,
we're dead.
You got any other
bombshells to drop
on us?
Hold that thought.
Unh!
Sheriff Bumper!
Unh!
Unh!
Uhh.
Unh!
Unh.
It's no use!
[WHISTLES]
Comet!
Come here, boy!
[WHINNIES]
Good boy! Come on!
Come on over here.
Attaboy.
SOCRATES:
Hurry, Brisco, hurry!
Now, boy!
Okay, get back!
Oh!
After you.
No, you, please.
Move!
Aah!
Get up, Soc!
[HORSE NEIGHS]
What was that all about?
Evidently someone thinks
we're going to win this case.
Get in there!
Come on, Sheriff,
he's not an animal.
Least you could do is
lock him up in a hotel room.
Hotel's all fulled up.
Oh, yeah,
the mortician's convention.
I got armed guards
on the door,
it's gonna be padlocked,
so don't get
any funny ideas.
You two have five minutes.
Now where does it say that
I only have five minutes?
Isaid.
That's all you got.
Why only five minutes?
Why not 7 minutes
or 10 minutes?
What if I only need
three minutes?
Why can't I just talk
to my client
until I'm through?
Five minutes, Country.
Alright, Matt,
come on.
Let's have it.
Let's just put it all
on the table.
You know everything, Brisco.
I swear.
You got
another visitor.
I heard about
the explosion, I...
I had to--
It's alright, Cassie.
They know everything.
Oh, Matthew,
I'm so scared.
Are you alright?
I'm fine.
Everything's going
to be alright,
I promise.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Cassie, did your husband
know about you two?
As far as I know,
he was too busy
with Sheriff Bumper
to notice us.
Bumper?
Potter'd been trying
to get his ranch
for years.
Sheriff Bumper
has a ranch?
MATTHEW: Those were
his cows that came
through town today.
Wait a minute.
I thought that
those belonged to Bewtell.
Bewtell
manages the ranch.
Matt, did you know
that Potter was after
the sheriff's ranch?
I stayed out of his
deals, and he left
me alone in my lab.
Left you alone.
You said that you two
had troubles before.
Well, when I first arrived,
he had me working
on vaccines that
were just ludicrous.
How ludicrous?
Hoof-and-mouth disease.
Why hoof-and-mouth?
There hasn't been
a reported case in years.
I know. He kept pushing
till I convinced him
that the investment
of time and money
just wouldn't pay.
But you kept working
on them?
Yes. I experimented on some
active strains in the lab.
Come on, Socrates.
We may have found
the motive for
Potter Crow's murder.
[SQUISH]
Oh!
No!
It's only mud.
No, it's not.
Oh. My mistake.
Well, well, well.
What have we got here?
What are we
doing here, Brisco?
[GUN COCKS]
What you doin'?
Cattle rustlin' is what.
Why would we want
to rustle a sick herd?
It ain't sick.
They got hoof-and-mouth,
Bewtell, and you know it.
What seems to be
the trouble, Bewtell?
These jokers.
The trouble here is
Potter Crow.
He threatened
to kill your herd
unless you sold him
your ranch.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
But you didn't give in
to his demands,
so he infected
all your cattle,
which means you're gonna have
to destroy them,
and my guess is
you're gonna go bankrupt.
That's why the sudden
cattle drive today.
You're trying
to sell them before
anyone finds out.
They ain't sick.
That's why you want a noose
around Matthew's neck.
He's the only one
who might catch on.
Until now.
You accusin' us
of killin'
Potter Crow?
You had a pretty good motive.
Why? He was going
to do the job for us.
He had a month to live.
Wait a minute.
You knew that?
He told us himself.
This was all going
to be
Potter's revenge
from the grave.
Yeah.
He loved the idea.
Heh.
Kill Potter Crow.
Sorry.
I got some more
immediate worries,
thanks to him.
Thanks for your time,
Sheriff.
What about the cattle?
They're sick,
Bewtell.
You can answer
that one yourself.
Gentlemen.
Uh, Your Honor...
the prosecution
would like to call
a last-minute witness.
Titus Miller.
Objection!
That's the fifth time
you've been dancin' today.
What now?
Mr. Miller's name
is nowhere to be found
on the prosecution's
witness list.
How come, Dwayne?
Uh, Your Honor, Mr. Miller's
been out of town
stuck breeding his bulls
down in Wheatly.
He just came forward
with this new testimony
last night.
Sir,
it was just one bull!
This is the oldest,
most nakedly
slimy trick
in the history--
Save it.
Titus...
Get on up here.
Swear to tell
the whole truth,
so help you God--
all that?
Yes, sir.
Park it.
Now, uh...
Titus.
Before he was killed
last week,
did Potter Crow
visit your telegraph office
and send a telegraph?
Yes, sir.
Alright.
Who did he send it to
and what did it say?
He wired a law office
in Sacramento.
Uh...
Henderson, Hinkley
and Barnes.
Henderson, Hinkley
and Barnes...
does that sound familiar?
Mm-mm.
The wire detailed
how Mr. Crow was having
a personal problem,
and he needed
some legal advice.
But Potter Crow
was an attorney.
What kind of legal advice
would heneed?
As I understand it,
Henderson, Hinkley
and...
And Barnes.
And Barnes, uh...
specialized in
probate law.
Probate?
Mr. Crow was considering
writing his wife
out of his will.
[AUDIENCE GASPS]
Really?
Did he say why?
He suspected infidelity.
[COMMOTION]
Did he name his wife's
suspected paramour?
No, sir...
but he said
something odd.
And what was that?
No matter
how many apples he ate,
he couldn't keep
the doctor away.
[COMMOTION]
Gentlemen of the jury,
I give you motive.
[POUNDS GAVEL]
Quiet!
Quiet!
Quiet!
Quiet!
Shut the hell up!
Your witness,
counselor.
This is bad.
This is very, very bad.
Did you find anything, Soc?
Mm-mm.
Henderson, Hinkley.
Henderson, Hinkley.
I know it's here.
Wait. I know where
I saw that.
I need that book.
Where are you going?
I got a lot of work
to do.
You going somewhere,
Harvard?
Uh, well, yes, sir.
Try and talk him
into a recess.
MATTHEW: What is it,
Brisk?
Your Honor,
at this time
I'd like to move--
Harvard, you can't just
walk out of here.
Brisco, where
are you going?
JUDGE GATT:
Order in court!
I know who
the murderer is.
Order in court!
Harvard!
Get back here!
[POUNDING GAVEL]
Harvard!
Harvard!
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]
I don't know.
Come on.
We gotta get there.
Let me get a look.
WOMAN: Well, I think they--
[GAVEL POUNDS]
Order, damn it!
Where is he?
Don't worry.
He'll be here.
Well, looks like
we're all here.
Razzle-dazzle us,
gentlemen.
Yes, sir.
Your Honor,
at this point,
I would like
to thank you
for your consideration
and patience--
Get on with it.
Sorry I'm late,
Your Honor.
You want to explain
what the hell
you're up to?
Yes, sir.
With one--
and only one--
witness,
I will prove beyond
reasonable doubt
that my client
did not kill
Potter Crow.
With one witness.
Yes, sir. And
I will also prove who did.
Well, get to it then.
I call
Dr. Matthew Carter
to the stand.
You swear
your testimony
will be the whole truth,
so help you God?
I do.
Plant it.
Now, Matthew...
you purchased
the Derringer
that killed
Potter Crow,
is that correct?
Yes.
But you did not
kill him with it.
No, I did not.
Well, then could you
please explain
to the jury
how the gun got
to the murder scene?
I bought it for Cassie
to protect herself
against Potter.
He was--he was not well
physically or mentally.
Alright.
So now we know
where the gun was
before the killing.
But that doesn't
tell us
who pulled
the trigger, though,
does it?
Oh, Harvard,
you're gonna have to do
a whole lot better
than this.
The Derringer itself
will tell us.
Gentlemen...
take a close look
at your fingertips.
Those patterns
you see...
those loops, whorls,
and arches
are yours for life.
They are indelible.
Unalterable.
Unique.
These fingerprints
leave oily traces
on objects touched,
Your Honor.
Oh, yeah? Says who?
Mark Twain
in Pudd'nhead Wilson!
[LAUGHTER]
[GAVEL POUNDS]
Citing fiction
at a murder trial?
Boy, you two must be
the dumbest
big-city lawyers
I ever met.
And Sir Francis Galton,
the British anthropologist,
who Mr. Twain was
quite familiar with.
He wrote a book
last year called
Finger Prints.
Nonfiction.
You going to object
to this, Dwayne?
I, uh, don't know.
Don't, Dwayne.
This is going to get
a whole lot better.
Seems to me
if you're looking
for these fingerprints
on that gun,
you got to know
it's been touched
by a couple of dozen folks.
Oh, yes, sir.
The gun
is covered
with prints.
But not the shell
inside.
No one bothered
to take it out.
The only prints
we're gonna find on that
are the ones that
belong to the killer.
Charlotte...
would you come here
for a moment?
Do you carry
any face powder?
Yes.
May I borrow some?
Certainly.
Thank you.
Now...
following Sir Francis'
instructions...
we apply
a little powder
on the shell...
to bring the print out.
Then we roll the shell
on this glass slide,
which has been covered
with a gum arabic.
A what?
It's called glue, Dwayne.
That removes the powder
and the print.
I now have
one right thumbprint.
Matthew, I'm going
to need yours.
Alright, now,
ink up.
Your right thumb.
Alright. Now
place your print
right in the middle
of the slide.
Good. Thank you.
Would somebody please
cover the windows?
WOMAN: Oh!
MAN: Hey!
Exhibits "A" and "B"
for the defense.
On the right,
we have the print lifted
from the Derringer shell.
And on the left
is Matthew's print.
Now you can see very clearly
that they bear
no resemblance
to one another.
[STAMMERING]
That print from
the bullet there...
now...you're
saying that...
Yes, sir. That belongs
to the killer.
And so...
does this.
Exhibit "C."
[WOMAN GASPING]
They're identical.
SECOND WOMAN: Well,
look at that.
MAN: Oh, my.
[MURMURING]
SECOND MAN: Look at that.
Well, County,
don't take all day.
Whose thumbprint is that?
I got it
from Cassie Crow.
Brisco!
It's not her thumbprint,
however.
She gave it to me
when I asked her
for something
of her husband's...
something that
she never touched.
The print you see there
was lifted off of this razor.
So that print and the print
on the Derringer's shell
both belong
to Potter Crow.
[COURTROOM REACTS]
Are you saying that
Potter Crow shot himself?
Well, it's something
the sheriff told me
about his last
conversation with Crow.
Revenge from the grave.
Potter Crow
knew he was dying...
and he wanted
to get back
at everybody he felt
had wronged him.
He got back
at the sheriff
and Bewtell
by infecting their herd
with hoof-and-mouth
disease.
But he had something
much more sinister
in mind
when he found out
about his wife's affair.
He planned a revenge
that would spare himself
a painful death,
destroy Cassie's
only chance for happiness,
and send his rival
straight to the gallows.
Alright,
whoa, whoa, whoa.
Now what about
Potter yelling,
"Carter,
don't kill me"?
And Carter running away
in his doctor's coat
in front of a witness?
And--and the gun found
far away from the body?
You telling us
that he moved it himself
with a bullet
in his head?
No.
He had an accomplice.
Well...who'd go along
with a thing like this?
I mean, they'd
have to be crazy.
Or lonely.
Wouldn't you
agree with that,
Charlotte?
What?
Henderson, Hinkley,
and Barnes--
They were Potter Crow's
attorneys.
So what?
You got a letter
from them the other day.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
Sure, you do. You remember--
the envelope you dropped.
It had quite a bit
of money in it.
That was an investment.
An investment...
or payoff?
A payoff to get back
at the man you loved...
Matthew Carter...
who was more interested
in his work than you...
who fell in love
with a married woman
after he looked
right past you.
And that
was your revenge,
and Potter Crow used you
all the way.
Your Honor...
the defense rests.
[COMMOTION]
You don't understand.
I was always there
for you, Matthew...
the one who cared
about your work...
who watched you struggle...
who understood your passion...
I was the one that
you were meant to be with,
not some rich,
adulterous tramp
who could've cared less
about you.
[CLICK]
That's what you think.
Unh!
I believe now
the defense can rest.
You saved my life,
Brisco.
I wish I could do
something more
than just thank you.
Well, I ought to be
thanking you
for getting me back
into that courtroom again.
Felt pretty good.
Well,
I'll probably see you at
the 10th reunion, huh?
Uh, yeah, probably...
even though
it was last April.
Really? Now,
how'd I miss that?
Cassie, you gotta get Matt
away from that lab
once in a while.
Let him have some fun.
Don't worry,
he will.
Thanks, Brisco.
You bet.
We ready to go?
Yep. All set.
You're not hitching up
Comet and taking
the stage with me?
Socrates, you did
a great job,
and I appreciate
all your help.
But right now,
I need the open trail...
the howl
of the coyote...
even an occasional
thunderstorm.
I need a good night's
sleep, Soc.
I don't snore!
So long.
Matt?
Matt.
Come on, Matt.
I been riding
for two days.
Either you're here
or you're not.
Brisco.
Well, for a doctor,
you got some place here.
Where have you been?
Oh, how wonderful
for you to make it,
Brisco.
How nice to see you!
I'm sorry, Brisk.
Thanks for coming.
Come here!
Let's get a good look at you.
So? How's the wild
west treating you?
I don't know.
I think I should have
taken your advice
and never left Boston.
Since when have you
ever followed
my advice?
I'm in big trouble
this time, Brisk.
Uh-huh. Last time
I heard that,
let's see,
it was
in our dorm room...
you're covered
with water,
having just sunk
the Harvard crew.
That was an accident.
Mm-mm. Not according to
the rowing coach,
it wasn't.
This is serious,
Brisk.
I'm scared.
Ah, come on, Matt.
We had to dodge
a few bullets
in college, didn't we?
You just need to learn how
to dodge them out here,
that's all.
Cheers. Uhh!
I didn't mean
real bullets!
I didn't do
anything, Brisk!
I swear to God!
This whole town's
gone berserk!
[GUNS COCK]
Dr. Carter,
you under arrest
for murder.
Get him out of here.
You!
You a friend of his?
He's my lawyer.
I am?
Sheriff Bumper
W. Crosswait.
Nice doing business
with you, counselor.
[POUNDING GAVEL]
Alright, Bart,
shut down the taps.
Everybody, sit down.
Shut up.
Shut the hell up!
This court is in session.
You ready to go, Dwayne?
The prosecution
is ready, Your Honor.
Doc. Where's your lawyer?
Um...well--
Now, hold it right there!
Well, we're holding it.
What would you like us
to do with it?
You can't hold
a murder trial
in a saloon!
Cafe.
I can if my courtroom's
being painted.
Now sit down.
Mr. County here
is my lawyer.
Matt, we need
to talk about that.
We need to get on
with this trial.
Are you a lawyer or not?
I am.
Where'd you go
to school?
Harvard.
Good enough.
Now sit down.
Let's get on with this.
Your Honor,
I haven't handled
a criminal case
in five years.
Duly noted.
Now sit, Harvard.
It's Dwayne's turn.
Dwayne...
Thank you,
Judge Gatt.
Gentlemen of the jury,
the prosecution will show
that Dr. Matthew Carter
had the opportunity,
the means, and the motive
and, indeed,
did murder one of
Crowville's leading citizens,
the honorable...
Potter S. Crow.
My condolences, Mrs. Crow.
I thank you.
Very nice, Dwayne.
Succinct and to the point.
Harvard...
Matt, I can't do this.
What are you
talking about?
Gentlemen, can we
get on with this trial?
Ain't no need
for a trial, Silo.
Let's just hang him
and get done with it.
Yeah!
Yeah!
[GAVEL POUNDING]
Can it, Bewtell.
I don't want any
lynch mob mentality
in here.
You got something
to shout about,
you go on out
to that ranch of yours
and yell at your heifers!
[POUNDS GAVEL]
Otherwise,
I'll clear this saloon.
Cafe.
Harvard, you got
an opening statement?
Well, uh...no.
Good enough.
Dwayne, call your
first witness.
If you don't
defend me,
I'm going to hang.
Uh, Your Honor...
What now?
If I am going
to defend Dr. Carter,
then under the rules
of discovery,
I am entitled to examine
all evidence
and to be presented
with a list of witnesses
prior to the proceedings!
I guess they taught me
a few things at Yale,
thank you.
Yes, sir.
One thing nobody
had to teach me
was a sense of justice.
Now, you're in
my court, Harvard.
You don't have
to dazzle me with the law
'cause I'm going to
always side with justice.
Dwayne, he's got a right
to look over what you got
on the doc.
You shown him it yet?
He just walked in here
five minutes ago.
Well, do it and let's
get it over with.
[POUNDS GAVEL]
Alright.
This court is in recess
until Harvard here
gets his ducks in a row.
That'll be
noon tomorrow.
Bar's open!
[POUNDS GAVEL]
[CHEERING]
Read 'em and weep.
Thanks, Brisco.
Uh, Matt, this is only
temporary.
I-I'll have you
a better lawyer
by tonight.
I don't want
a better lawyer.
I got you.
Excuse me, Sheriff,
I wonder if I could have
a few minutes
with Matthew?
Nope.
You know,
I do have the right
to talk to my client.
Yeah, well,
you must have me
mixed up
with someone
who cares.
Well, I guess
I'll just
have to file
for a mistrial,
and I'll have
my client
out of your bad
excuse for a town
by tomorrow.
Eddie, you take the doc in
and lock him up.
Mr. Country--
County.
Country...
and I have some things
to get straight.
Matthew, I'll be
right there.
This will
only take a minute.
Ah!
Oh!
Now, that's just
to get your attention.
You listen,
and you listen good.
Unh!
We don't need no...
back east know-it-all
to come here
and tell us our business.
We got a dead man,
we got the man who did it.
Ain't nothing
you can do that's
gonna stop justice
from being served.
Well,
I'm glad to see
you're
so open-minded--
Unh!
Come noon tomorrow,
you let your man
get found guilty
or, uh...
or...
Else?
Yeah! Else.
Unh!
Heh heh heh heh
heh heh.
Yeah. Heh heh.
Yeah. Or...else.
Hah hah hah hah!
We got a thing
in this country
called the U.S.
Constitution.
I heard of it.
Well, that's good.
Because that means
I'm going to see
my client...now.
Get him out of here.
[GRUNTING]
Aah!
Uhh!
[GLASS SHATTERING]
[CLANGING]
Mm. You got five minutes.
[MOANING]
Nothing's broken.
Yeah, not yet,
anyway. Ow!
Sorry, Brisk.
Alright.
Now do you mind telling me
what's going on
around here?
Well...when they found
Crow's body,
you know, the rumors,
they just started
flying.
Then somebody said
they saw me running
from the scene.
They said that I got
in a big fight with Crow
and I threatened him.
Well, did ya?
W-We had our differences
now and then.
But Brisco, he's the one
I wrote you about.
He's the reason
I left Boston General
and came here.
Wait a minute.
He's the money behind
that dream lab of yours?
It's incredible, Brisco.
Every time I walk in there,
I feel like I got a foot
in the future.
It's--it's like the--
The coming thing.
Yeah.
So you still seeing
patients?
Oh, yeah, yeah.
But it's my research
in the lab
that is, uh,
keeping me here.
Sounds like Potter
knew how to get
his hooks into you.
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Me and everybody else.
You either loved him
or hated him
around here.
Why is that?
It's the way
he did business.
If he couldn't
get you
by enticing you,
he'd play dirty.
He'd try to get
something on you.
He'd try
to manipulate you,
and bend the rules
till he broke you.
You know anybody
he did that to?
Half the town.
People like Bart Lewis,
Bewtell Ogilvey.
Even Sheriff Bumper
had trouble with Crow
for years.
Yeah, but you're the one
they want you swinging
from the gallows.
That's 'cause
I'm the outsider,
somebody
they can blame.
Alright.
So you got an alibi?
I went out for a walk...
alone.
Oh, come on, Matt,
you got to give me
something!
I didn't kill him!
Well, try and convince
the jury of that.
Then why don't you
ask them why would
I kill a man
who's gonna be dead
in a month?
What?
Subacute bacterial
endocarditis.
It's a heart condition.
It's terminal.
It's all in his
medical records.
You have his
medical records?
In my office.
Will that do it?
That is one hell
of a start.
[WHINING]
Shh.
[ARF ARF]
Hey, go away.
Git!
Even the dogs have
an attitude in this town.
Hmm, very fancy.
[COCKS GUN]
[GASPS]
Let go of me!
Get off!
I thought things felt
a little soft.
You're
Matthew's lawyer.
Brisco County Jr.
Charlotte Ketchum,
Dr. Carter's nurse.
I'm sorry. I thought
you were a thief.
Oh, sorry to disappoint you.
I'm not too disappointed
at the moment.
I, uh, I came to get a file
for Matt.
I didn't have a key.
I--I guess
we should get up.
Is there something
in Mr. Crow's file
that'll help Dr. Carter?
Yeah, that's what
we're hoping.
I can't believe
all this is happening.
How long
have you known Matt?
Only six months,
but I can tell
he is not a murderer.
Yeah,
he's an old friend
of mine.
You don't have
to tell me that.
That's funny.
Why would somebody steal
Mr. Crow's file?
Because that was
Matt's only alibi.
Grab that side.
A little heavy.
MAN: You got it.
Hmm...Excuse me.
I'm in Crowville, aren't I?
Not anymore.
Socrates. What
are you doing here?
You sent for me.
I didn't mean you.
I meant
a real lawyer.
This is
a murder trial.
[VOICES]
What's that,
a welcoming committee?
Uh, no.
That's a lynch mob.
[HOLLERING]
Keep that law book
up front, Socrates.
Right now, we stand
for law and order.
Uh, it's not a law book.
It's Pudd'nhead Wilson.
Let me do the talking.
Bumper W.?
Bumper W.?
MAN: Get him out!
SECOND MAN:
Come on, Sheriff!
Thank God.
The sheriff.
Here to take care
of business.
Is that so, Bewtell?
That's so, Bumper W.
You take care
of whatever you like.
My shift is over.
Goodnight, all.
Let's go!
Yeah!
Yeah!
Yeah!
Yeah!
There he is.
Get him!
This is insane, Bewtell.
You don't know
what you're doing.
I think I do.
Alright,
hold it right there,
all you back-water,
oat-head, chicken-kicking
piles of hayseed.
You talking to us?
That's right.
I want you to meet
Matthew Carter's new
attorney, Socrates Poole.
He's here to insure that
Matthew gets a fair trial,
and I'm here to insure
that he gets the chance.
Six bullets
ain't gonna stop us.
I reload pretty quick.
You're not going to
shoot all these men.
You hear that?
Let's hang him!
No!
BRISCO: Hey!
Hey! Matt!
Sorry.Matt!
Brisco!
Get him up there!
Turn around.
Get out of the way!
Move it!
BRISCO:
I'm coming, Matt!
Get out of here!
Move it!
Get out of the way!
I think if anybody wants to see
my husband's killer hang,
it's me.
You stay out of this,
Cassie!
I can't do that, Bewtell.
You've stirred up
these folks enough.
Your husband built
this town.
It's the least we can do.
Oh, don't do me any favors.
You should all be ashamed
of yourselves.
Do you really want
a man's death on your hands?
Bewtell, this isn't
for Potter's memory,
and you know it.
We're doing what's right.
By hanging
an innocent man?
Because
that's what he is
until 12 men on a
jury say different.
You can't
get rid of evil
by making more evil.
Now, go on home,
all of you.
There won't be
any hanging tonight.
This ain't ending here,
Cassie.
Goodnight, Bewtell.
Goodnight.
That was a heck
of a shot, Mrs. Crow.
Thank you.
I'll see you
in court.
Alright.
Come on down out
of there, Carter.
Party's over.
Come on, Matt.
You going to protect
him, Sheriff?
I'll do my best,
counselor.
Mrs. Crow?
I don't think we've met.
I'm Brisco County Jr.
This is my associate
Socrates Poole.
Sorry about
your husband.
Don't be.
My husband wasn't a saint,
Mr. County.
You'll learn that
soon enough.
In the end, even I
couldn't bear the man.
But I didn't kill him.
I'm not suggesting
you did.
You will.
Goodnight, Mr. County.
Mr. Poole.
Interesting town.
Are you looking for
something in particular
in that newspaper?
Local news can tell you
a lot about a community.
For example, did you know
that there's a mortician's
convention in town?
Yeah. That's what
they told me
when I tried to get you
your own room.
Oh, I don't mind sharing.
Soc, the first thing
to do
is to find more
likely suspects.
Mmm. Mmm.
[GLUG GLUG]
[GARGLING]
Yeah, I agree.
I just think we need
to find out more
about this Bewtell
character.
[SPITS] Look, would you mind
helping me
with the mattress?
What?
The mattress.
I want to put my trousers
under the bed
to keep them pressed.
You do this
every night?
Well, yeah, pretty much.
There. Thanks.
Now, why Bewtell?
Well, something
Potter Crow's widow
said tonight
made me think
that Bewtell
might have
ulterior motives
to see Matt hang.
Like what?
I don't know.
Well, then...
first thing
in the morning,
let's find out.
Uh.
Socrates...
before
you get married...
What?
Never mind.
[MOANING]
I don't snore.
You not only snore,
you make these little
gurgling noises.
You had to be dreaming.
No because
I was up all night
reading
Pudd'nhead Wilson
because of you.
Good book, isn't it?
Actually it's
pretty interesting
how all
of our fingers
are different.
No, don't tell me!
I haven't got
to that part yet!
Alright.
Let's clear the street.
We got cattle moving in.
Well, if it isn't
the man of the hour.
You want
to cross the street,
you better get a move on.
I got 50 head
coming through.
Then again, you might
want to just stand
in the street, counselor.
Sounds like
you're as anxious
to get rid of me
as you are Matthew.
I'm anxious to get this town
back to normal.
If that means a hanging,
so be it.
Alright!
Bring 'em through!
Hey, hey!
Get out of there!
You Okay?
I guess when I fall,
I fall hard.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean
to be so rough.
Oh, I don't mind rough...
if it's with
the right intention.
Are you married,
Mr. Country?
County.
No, I'm not.
Oh.
Involved, I suppose.
Not at the moment.
Neither am I.
I'm surprised.
Don't be.
There aren't a lot of
available men around here.
What about Matthew?
Why would you ask that?
I've known him
all my life.
He's a good man.
He's taken.
Oh, well, I guess that's
just about everything.
Thank you for your help,
Mr. County.
Anytime.
Oh!
[MOO]
Prosecution calls
Rufus Wells.
I'm walking by
the Crow house,
and I hear
Potter Crow
from inside shout,
"Carter,
don't do it!"
Well, wasn't there
something about
"Don't kill me"?
Objection!
Objection!
What is this, fellas,
choir practice?
Mr. Melon is clearly
leading the witness.
He's helpin' him remember.
Go ahead, Dwayne.
Rufus...
what did you hear
Potter Crow shout?
"Carter,
don't do it.
Don't kill me!"
Bang!
Opportunity.
Mr. McKenzie,
directing your attention
to your store ledger
for May 19,
would you
tell the court precisely
what did
Dr. Matthew Carter
charge to his account
on that day.
Uh...
a Derringer pistol.
Well, I'm sure
we all remember
that Potter Crow was
killed by a Derringer.
A Derringer dropped
when his murderer
panicked...
and took flight.
Your witness,
counselor.
Allow me, Soc.
I got this one nailed.
Now, Mr. McKenzie,
how many years
have you been in business?
22 years.
Mm-hmm.
And in
all those years,
could you tell us,
please,
how many Derringers
you've sold
to the folks here
in town.
Just sort of
round it off.
Goose egg.
I beg your pardon?
Zero.
Not one.
Except to him,
of course.
Most men when
they want a pistol
they go for a Colt
or some such.
Your Derringer's
more of a girlie gun.
When you and I talked,
you told me that
you had sold...
That I sold
dozens and dozens.
Yes, sir.
So which is it?
Were you lying
yesterday,
or are you
lying today?
I was lying yesterday.
I thought you was going to buy
a Derringer.
Why would I go and tell you
nobody ever does?
Except for him,
of course.
No further questions,
Your Honor.
I bought the Derringer
for Cassie.
So why didn't you tell us?
I don't know.
She just wanted something
to scare off Potter
when he went into one
of his rages.
Why didn't she
buy the gun
herself?
Because she thought
McKenzie would tell him.
She set you up,
Matthew.
No, she didn't.
Why are you being so blind?
What are you trying
to do?
I'm trying to save your life!
You're trying to save
my life by destroying hers?
Is that it?
You don't know anything
about Cassie's life.
You don't know how lonely
she was.
How--how Potter trapped her.
Their marriage was a deal--
an arrangement.
Potter wanted her
and he got her.
You're in love
with Cassie Crow.
Yes...
and she's in love
with me.
But we didn't
kill him, Brisco.
We didn't kill him.
If the prosecution
finds out about this,
we're dead.
You got any other
bombshells to drop
on us?
Hold that thought.
Unh!
Sheriff Bumper!
Unh!
Unh!
Uhh.
Unh!
Unh.
It's no use!
[WHISTLES]
Comet!
Come here, boy!
[WHINNIES]
Good boy! Come on!
Come on over here.
Attaboy.
SOCRATES:
Hurry, Brisco, hurry!
Now, boy!
Okay, get back!
Oh!
After you.
No, you, please.
Move!
Aah!
Get up, Soc!
[HORSE NEIGHS]
What was that all about?
Evidently someone thinks
we're going to win this case.
Get in there!
Come on, Sheriff,
he's not an animal.
Least you could do is
lock him up in a hotel room.
Hotel's all fulled up.
Oh, yeah,
the mortician's convention.
I got armed guards
on the door,
it's gonna be padlocked,
so don't get
any funny ideas.
You two have five minutes.
Now where does it say that
I only have five minutes?
Isaid.
That's all you got.
Why only five minutes?
Why not 7 minutes
or 10 minutes?
What if I only need
three minutes?
Why can't I just talk
to my client
until I'm through?
Five minutes, Country.
Alright, Matt,
come on.
Let's have it.
Let's just put it all
on the table.
You know everything, Brisco.
I swear.
You got
another visitor.
I heard about
the explosion, I...
I had to--
It's alright, Cassie.
They know everything.
Oh, Matthew,
I'm so scared.
Are you alright?
I'm fine.
Everything's going
to be alright,
I promise.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Cassie, did your husband
know about you two?
As far as I know,
he was too busy
with Sheriff Bumper
to notice us.
Bumper?
Potter'd been trying
to get his ranch
for years.
Sheriff Bumper
has a ranch?
MATTHEW: Those were
his cows that came
through town today.
Wait a minute.
I thought that
those belonged to Bewtell.
Bewtell
manages the ranch.
Matt, did you know
that Potter was after
the sheriff's ranch?
I stayed out of his
deals, and he left
me alone in my lab.
Left you alone.
You said that you two
had troubles before.
Well, when I first arrived,
he had me working
on vaccines that
were just ludicrous.
How ludicrous?
Hoof-and-mouth disease.
Why hoof-and-mouth?
There hasn't been
a reported case in years.
I know. He kept pushing
till I convinced him
that the investment
of time and money
just wouldn't pay.
But you kept working
on them?
Yes. I experimented on some
active strains in the lab.
Come on, Socrates.
We may have found
the motive for
Potter Crow's murder.
[SQUISH]
Oh!
No!
It's only mud.
No, it's not.
Oh. My mistake.
Well, well, well.
What have we got here?
What are we
doing here, Brisco?
[GUN COCKS]
What you doin'?
Cattle rustlin' is what.
Why would we want
to rustle a sick herd?
It ain't sick.
They got hoof-and-mouth,
Bewtell, and you know it.
What seems to be
the trouble, Bewtell?
These jokers.
The trouble here is
Potter Crow.
He threatened
to kill your herd
unless you sold him
your ranch.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
But you didn't give in
to his demands,
so he infected
all your cattle,
which means you're gonna have
to destroy them,
and my guess is
you're gonna go bankrupt.
That's why the sudden
cattle drive today.
You're trying
to sell them before
anyone finds out.
They ain't sick.
That's why you want a noose
around Matthew's neck.
He's the only one
who might catch on.
Until now.
You accusin' us
of killin'
Potter Crow?
You had a pretty good motive.
Why? He was going
to do the job for us.
He had a month to live.
Wait a minute.
You knew that?
He told us himself.
This was all going
to be
Potter's revenge
from the grave.
Yeah.
He loved the idea.
Heh.
Kill Potter Crow.
Sorry.
I got some more
immediate worries,
thanks to him.
Thanks for your time,
Sheriff.
What about the cattle?
They're sick,
Bewtell.
You can answer
that one yourself.
Gentlemen.
Uh, Your Honor...
the prosecution
would like to call
a last-minute witness.
Titus Miller.
Objection!
That's the fifth time
you've been dancin' today.
What now?
Mr. Miller's name
is nowhere to be found
on the prosecution's
witness list.
How come, Dwayne?
Uh, Your Honor, Mr. Miller's
been out of town
stuck breeding his bulls
down in Wheatly.
He just came forward
with this new testimony
last night.
Sir,
it was just one bull!
This is the oldest,
most nakedly
slimy trick
in the history--
Save it.
Titus...
Get on up here.
Swear to tell
the whole truth,
so help you God--
all that?
Yes, sir.
Park it.
Now, uh...
Titus.
Before he was killed
last week,
did Potter Crow
visit your telegraph office
and send a telegraph?
Yes, sir.
Alright.
Who did he send it to
and what did it say?
He wired a law office
in Sacramento.
Uh...
Henderson, Hinkley
and Barnes.
Henderson, Hinkley
and Barnes...
does that sound familiar?
Mm-mm.
The wire detailed
how Mr. Crow was having
a personal problem,
and he needed
some legal advice.
But Potter Crow
was an attorney.
What kind of legal advice
would heneed?
As I understand it,
Henderson, Hinkley
and...
And Barnes.
And Barnes, uh...
specialized in
probate law.
Probate?
Mr. Crow was considering
writing his wife
out of his will.
[AUDIENCE GASPS]
Really?
Did he say why?
He suspected infidelity.
[COMMOTION]
Did he name his wife's
suspected paramour?
No, sir...
but he said
something odd.
And what was that?
No matter
how many apples he ate,
he couldn't keep
the doctor away.
[COMMOTION]
Gentlemen of the jury,
I give you motive.
[POUNDS GAVEL]
Quiet!
Quiet!
Quiet!
Quiet!
Shut the hell up!
Your witness,
counselor.
This is bad.
This is very, very bad.
Did you find anything, Soc?
Mm-mm.
Henderson, Hinkley.
Henderson, Hinkley.
I know it's here.
Wait. I know where
I saw that.
I need that book.
Where are you going?
I got a lot of work
to do.
You going somewhere,
Harvard?
Uh, well, yes, sir.
Try and talk him
into a recess.
MATTHEW: What is it,
Brisk?
Your Honor,
at this time
I'd like to move--
Harvard, you can't just
walk out of here.
Brisco, where
are you going?
JUDGE GATT:
Order in court!
I know who
the murderer is.
Order in court!
Harvard!
Get back here!
[POUNDING GAVEL]
Harvard!
Harvard!
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]
I don't know.
Come on.
We gotta get there.
Let me get a look.
WOMAN: Well, I think they--
[GAVEL POUNDS]
Order, damn it!
Where is he?
Don't worry.
He'll be here.
Well, looks like
we're all here.
Razzle-dazzle us,
gentlemen.
Yes, sir.
Your Honor,
at this point,
I would like
to thank you
for your consideration
and patience--
Get on with it.
Sorry I'm late,
Your Honor.
You want to explain
what the hell
you're up to?
Yes, sir.
With one--
and only one--
witness,
I will prove beyond
reasonable doubt
that my client
did not kill
Potter Crow.
With one witness.
Yes, sir. And
I will also prove who did.
Well, get to it then.
I call
Dr. Matthew Carter
to the stand.
You swear
your testimony
will be the whole truth,
so help you God?
I do.
Plant it.
Now, Matthew...
you purchased
the Derringer
that killed
Potter Crow,
is that correct?
Yes.
But you did not
kill him with it.
No, I did not.
Well, then could you
please explain
to the jury
how the gun got
to the murder scene?
I bought it for Cassie
to protect herself
against Potter.
He was--he was not well
physically or mentally.
Alright.
So now we know
where the gun was
before the killing.
But that doesn't
tell us
who pulled
the trigger, though,
does it?
Oh, Harvard,
you're gonna have to do
a whole lot better
than this.
The Derringer itself
will tell us.
Gentlemen...
take a close look
at your fingertips.
Those patterns
you see...
those loops, whorls,
and arches
are yours for life.
They are indelible.
Unalterable.
Unique.
These fingerprints
leave oily traces
on objects touched,
Your Honor.
Oh, yeah? Says who?
Mark Twain
in Pudd'nhead Wilson!
[LAUGHTER]
[GAVEL POUNDS]
Citing fiction
at a murder trial?
Boy, you two must be
the dumbest
big-city lawyers
I ever met.
And Sir Francis Galton,
the British anthropologist,
who Mr. Twain was
quite familiar with.
He wrote a book
last year called
Finger Prints.
Nonfiction.
You going to object
to this, Dwayne?
I, uh, don't know.
Don't, Dwayne.
This is going to get
a whole lot better.
Seems to me
if you're looking
for these fingerprints
on that gun,
you got to know
it's been touched
by a couple of dozen folks.
Oh, yes, sir.
The gun
is covered
with prints.
But not the shell
inside.
No one bothered
to take it out.
The only prints
we're gonna find on that
are the ones that
belong to the killer.
Charlotte...
would you come here
for a moment?
Do you carry
any face powder?
Yes.
May I borrow some?
Certainly.
Thank you.
Now...
following Sir Francis'
instructions...
we apply
a little powder
on the shell...
to bring the print out.
Then we roll the shell
on this glass slide,
which has been covered
with a gum arabic.
A what?
It's called glue, Dwayne.
That removes the powder
and the print.
I now have
one right thumbprint.
Matthew, I'm going
to need yours.
Alright, now,
ink up.
Your right thumb.
Alright. Now
place your print
right in the middle
of the slide.
Good. Thank you.
Would somebody please
cover the windows?
WOMAN: Oh!
MAN: Hey!
Exhibits "A" and "B"
for the defense.
On the right,
we have the print lifted
from the Derringer shell.
And on the left
is Matthew's print.
Now you can see very clearly
that they bear
no resemblance
to one another.
[STAMMERING]
That print from
the bullet there...
now...you're
saying that...
Yes, sir. That belongs
to the killer.
And so...
does this.
Exhibit "C."
[WOMAN GASPING]
They're identical.
SECOND WOMAN: Well,
look at that.
MAN: Oh, my.
[MURMURING]
SECOND MAN: Look at that.
Well, County,
don't take all day.
Whose thumbprint is that?
I got it
from Cassie Crow.
Brisco!
It's not her thumbprint,
however.
She gave it to me
when I asked her
for something
of her husband's...
something that
she never touched.
The print you see there
was lifted off of this razor.
So that print and the print
on the Derringer's shell
both belong
to Potter Crow.
[COURTROOM REACTS]
Are you saying that
Potter Crow shot himself?
Well, it's something
the sheriff told me
about his last
conversation with Crow.
Revenge from the grave.
Potter Crow
knew he was dying...
and he wanted
to get back
at everybody he felt
had wronged him.
He got back
at the sheriff
and Bewtell
by infecting their herd
with hoof-and-mouth
disease.
But he had something
much more sinister
in mind
when he found out
about his wife's affair.
He planned a revenge
that would spare himself
a painful death,
destroy Cassie's
only chance for happiness,
and send his rival
straight to the gallows.
Alright,
whoa, whoa, whoa.
Now what about
Potter yelling,
"Carter,
don't kill me"?
And Carter running away
in his doctor's coat
in front of a witness?
And--and the gun found
far away from the body?
You telling us
that he moved it himself
with a bullet
in his head?
No.
He had an accomplice.
Well...who'd go along
with a thing like this?
I mean, they'd
have to be crazy.
Or lonely.
Wouldn't you
agree with that,
Charlotte?
What?
Henderson, Hinkley,
and Barnes--
They were Potter Crow's
attorneys.
So what?
You got a letter
from them the other day.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
Sure, you do. You remember--
the envelope you dropped.
It had quite a bit
of money in it.
That was an investment.
An investment...
or payoff?
A payoff to get back
at the man you loved...
Matthew Carter...
who was more interested
in his work than you...
who fell in love
with a married woman
after he looked
right past you.
And that
was your revenge,
and Potter Crow used you
all the way.
Your Honor...
the defense rests.
[COMMOTION]
You don't understand.
I was always there
for you, Matthew...
the one who cared
about your work...
who watched you struggle...
who understood your passion...
I was the one that
you were meant to be with,
not some rich,
adulterous tramp
who could've cared less
about you.
[CLICK]
That's what you think.
Unh!
I believe now
the defense can rest.
You saved my life,
Brisco.
I wish I could do
something more
than just thank you.
Well, I ought to be
thanking you
for getting me back
into that courtroom again.
Felt pretty good.
Well,
I'll probably see you at
the 10th reunion, huh?
Uh, yeah, probably...
even though
it was last April.
Really? Now,
how'd I miss that?
Cassie, you gotta get Matt
away from that lab
once in a while.
Let him have some fun.
Don't worry,
he will.
Thanks, Brisco.
You bet.
We ready to go?
Yep. All set.
You're not hitching up
Comet and taking
the stage with me?
Socrates, you did
a great job,
and I appreciate
all your help.
But right now,
I need the open trail...
the howl
of the coyote...
even an occasional
thunderstorm.
I need a good night's
sleep, Soc.
I don't snore!
So long.