The Practice (1997–2004): Season 2, Episode 5 - First Degree - full transcript

Previously on The Practice.

This case is completely
circumstantial.
We have a very good shot.

Plus, we have grounds
for an appeal.
Let's not forget that.

You guys have nothin' to worry
about. There's no way they're
gonna convict your client.

- Oh, you were in the courtroom?
- I'm on the jury.

I had a communication
with a juror.
I gotta go to the judge.

But you didn't
communicate with him.

But even so, technically,
under the rules,
we have a mistrial.

I don't see
how it has any effect.
I say we don't tell.

[ Woman ] On the matter
of the Commonwealth
versus Kenny Tripp,

we find the defendant... guilty.



[ Judge ]
Sentencing next Tuesday, 9:00.

[ Ellenor ] Don't say anything.
I'm coming right back
to talk to you.

Okay? Just don't say anything.
I've got a plan.

The guilty verdict stands.
As for the two of you,

I'll be recommending
immediate disbarment.

You risked your careers.
You completely jeopardized the
reputation of this entire firm.

You got a murderer off
on the moral integrity of his
cold-blooded execution.

What exactly do you think
our reputation is here, Bobby?

It wasn't suicide.

You can state that
for a medical certainty?

Mr. Wiggins
had no suicidal tendencies,
in my professional--

You can state it
to a medical certainty
it wasn't suicide?

I'm a psychiatrist,
not a medical examiner, but--

[ Bobby ] So you can't rule out
suicide as a cause of death.
Correct, Doctor?



That would be correct.
But I--
Thank you, Doctor.

And, Doctor,
have you had other patients
who did commit suicide?

Yes.
How many?

I'm not sure.
[ Bobby ]
More than five?

Probably.
More than 10?

I'd say between five and 10.
I'd have to check my files.

And of those suicides,
was there ever one
you didn't see coming?

For most of those occasions,
I saw some symptomology--

Was there ever an occasion where
the suicide surprised you?

Someone you didn't
deem suicidal
took his or her life--

Has that ever happened?
Yes, but--

Thank you.
So it does happen,
doesn't it, Doctor?

A patient with no apparent
suicidal tendencies
takes his life. It happens.

- That's argumentative
and badgering.
- This is a cross-examination.

I would submit the doctor
is being argumentative.

Let's just have a nice,
civil murder trial,
shall we?

Doctor,

according to your testimony,
Mr. Wiggins became upset
to learn of the affair...

between his wife
and Mr. Forsythe, didn't he?

Upset, yes.
I didn't say despondent.

Well, is it possible
he could have
become despondent...

to learn his wife of 12 years
was sleeping with another man?

To me, he seemed
more enraged than depressed.

Are you telling this court
he wasn't depressed about it?

I'm telling this court
I don't think
he committed suicide.

Of course you don't want to
think that. You were
his treating psychiatrist.

Suicide would represent
yourfailure,
wouldn't it, Doctor?

Hey. I prescribed medication.
He refused to take it.

- He refused to take drugs.
Any drugs.
- Move to strike. Nonresponsive.

There is no way
he would willingly
take Seconal.

Move to strike!

You were way too aggressive.

Too aggressive?
He was throwing
dirt on the coffin.

He put the final nail in.
Andrea, have you been
paying attention? We're losing.

It's still all circumstantial.

Two lovers
last seen with
a dead husband?

They found her drugs
inside of him.
This is a nightmare.

They're innocent, Bobby.
You know that as well as I do.
It doesn't matter what we know.

I'm tellin' ya.
I could see it
in the eyes of the jury.

We're goin' down.

[ Line Ringing ]

[ Cell Door Opens, Closes ]

[ Sirens Wailing ]

Come on.
You know Ellenor Frutt.

She's an honest lawyer.
So's Lindsay Dole.
They communicated with a juror.

Your Honor, if you file
this complaint, it will stain
their careers forever.

That's the point.
You never
made a mistake?

Not the one you're asking me
to make right now.

My decision stands.
It stands to be corrected.

Counsel, maybe I should
direct the board
to investigate you.

Damn it.
Didn't fly.

Nope.

So we're still
basically suspended?

Basically.

[ Sighs ]

This is, uh,
a little awkward, Jimmy.

I mean, you said you had
some kind of specialist
on disability claims, so I--

Well, he is.
He used to be a P.I.
This is his wheelhouse.

Yeah, well,
all the same, I--

Whoa, whoa.
What's goin' on here,
Mr. Rydell?

Is there a problem
with my being, uh,

bald?

You're black.

Oh.

Which is fine
in most instances, but...

this instance--

What's the problem, John?
A black lawyer can't argue
a bum knee?

We ain't talkin' about
a bum knee here, Jimmy.

The disability
I'm claimin' is racism.

What?

I've been seein' a shrink.
I can document it official.

You're saying racism
is a disease...

to qualify you
for disability pay?

Mr. Young, I've been workin'
the beat for 18 years.

I ain't just talkin'
job stress here.

I'm talkin' every time I see
an African-American suspect,

my hand is automatically
goin' for my gun.

Am I proud of that?

No.

Is it the truth? Yeah.

- And you expect to be awarded
an early pension for this?
- I didn't expect to get fired.

When I told my superiors,
they bounced me.

I-- I-- I should be
suing to get my job back,
but I shouldn't get it back.

I got no business
bein' out on the beat.

But I got a family,
a mortgage.

And I got fired for
tellin' a truth that was
pretty hard to fess up to.

And I'll tell you
somethin' else.
These racist tendencies--

I never used to have 'em.

This job has done this to me.

Listen. Our gut reaction,
plus the polls from
our jury consultants,

it doesn't look good.

We might have to
think about a deal.

A deal? A deal?

We're innocent. What--
What-- What kind of a deal?

I don't think
they'd offer anything
better than manslaughter.

- Do you think we did this?
- No.

Then how could you
possibly suggest
we agree to manslaughter?

I'm-- I'm not suggesting it.
But let's face it.

You two are the only ones
who can account for
your whereabouts.

By your own admission,
you were sleeping,

while you were alone
at a movie.

Your husband was found dead
in a bathtub with his blood
full ofyour Seconal.

Two lovers,
last seen with him, no alibi,
plenty of motive.

We didn't do it.

Your husband's psychiatrist
just blew a hole through
our suicide theory.

I didn't kill my husband.

And I certainly will not
get up and say that I did.

Okay.

Okay. Um,

it comes down to
putting you on the stand.

Both of you.

That's-- That's fine.
Now look.

Pratt is gonna come at you
hard on the affair, the prenup,
the motive. It'll be ugly.

You'll be painted as greedy
adulterers who killed a rich,
older man for his money.

That picture's already
been painted, Mr. Donnell.
Do you read the papers?

Mary Jane, the newspapers
have done nothing...

to prepare you for what
you're in for once you
get in that witness chair.

Now, we'll start with you, Doug.

And then you'll follow,
Mary Jane.

Let's meet after lunch,
and we'll go over
what to expect.

All right?

Listen, you-- you better
go out the back.
Corridors are crawling.

[ Exhales ]

Remember when we were
lying in bed worrying about
our con law exam?

Yeah.

We were talkin' about
how great it would be
once we got out of school.

Maybe someday cocounseling
a big case together.

And here we are.

This isn't fun.

Not a bit.

Are you actually going to
take this guy's case?

Think about it.
He got punished for admitting
he was being racist.

What kind of message
does that send to the force?

"Keep it to yourself.
Don't come forward"?

To me, that keeps
more racist cops on the street.

That's one way
of looking at it.

Another way would be
this guy is looking to get paid
for being prejudiced.

Now, have you put that
to your smell test?

I got the whole file faxed over.
We-- We could--

Oh. Hi.

Hi.

I wish you the best of luck
in your disbarment proceeding.

How long have you
and Mrs. Wiggins
been lovers, sir?

[ Doug ]
A little over two years.

And you met how?

I was employed as a senior
vice president at Wiggins
Corrugated Steel Company.

You were sleeping with
your boss's wife.

- Yes.
- At some point,
he found out about it.

Yes.
[ Bobby ]
What was his reaction?

- [ Doug ]
He terminated my employment.
- Did you ever see him again?

Yes. I saw him
the day of his death.
Where?

[ Doug ]
At his house.
What happened...

on the day you went
to see him, Mr. Forsythe?

I tried to express
how bad I felt. And I--

I suppose I really
wanted to get
some kind of forgiveness.

- Did you?
- No.

No. He accused me
of being a liar.

Then he asked me to, uh,
leave his house.

- [ Bobby ] Did you leave alone?
- No. Uh, Mary Jane
was with me.

Uh, she tried to stay
and reason with him
a little,

but, uh,
he screamed at her too.

When you left the house,
where did you go?
To my house.

We were gonna go to a movie,
but, uh, I decided
to just crash.

I took a nap,
and, uh, Mary Jane
did go to the movie.

So, you were deeply upset
when you left
Mr. Wiggins's house.

- Yes, sir.
- So troubled that you
laid down and took a nap.

Any difficulty sleeping?

The sleeplessness from
the last two weeks probably
made it easier.

Can anyone verify
that you were home, sleeping?

No, sir.
Except for Mary Jane.

[ Pratt ]
Who went to the movies. Yes.

That's a funny thing.

You know,
you both have busy lives.

Active schedules,
lots of people to see.

But for the actual time
Mr. Wiggins died,

neither of you have anybody
to account for your whereabouts.

That's kind of a coincidence.
Don't you think?

Would that be a coincidence,
Mr. Forsythe?

I suppose it would.
And, by Mr. Wiggins dying,
instead of divorcing his wife,

you and your lover stand to be
very wealthy people together.

- [ Together ]
Objection!
- Overruled.

- No worry about that prenup
now, is there, Mr. Forsythe?
- Objection!

- Sustained.
- Did you go back to that house
and poison Mr. Wiggins?

No.
[ Both ]
Objection!

- Did you drown him
in that bathtub?
- Your Honor.

- Counsel.
- Did you murder him
for his wife and his money?

Move to strike!
Objection!

Mr. Pratt, that is enough.

Don't you think
if we were going to
do something like this...

we would have made sure
we had an alibi?

Well, that's a good thought,
Mr. Forsythe.

Did you think of that
before or after you killed him?

- Mr. Pratt.
- I'm sorry.
That's all.

[ Judge Hiller ]
The witness may step down.

[ Spectators Murmuring ]

You held up well, but--
It still looks bad.

Doug, I gotta ask you
a tough question.

Mary Jane said
she went to the movies.

- In your mind, is there
any possibility that she--
- No.

I know you love her,
but if there is
the remotest chance--

[ Sighs ]
At this point,
it's every man for himself.

I represent you.
I don't represent her.

Hey. If either of us were to be
singled out as more likely,
it would probably be me.

- I-- I don't follow.
- [ Sighs ]

She still loved him.

In fact, a couple of days
before he died, she said she was
thinking of going back with him.

The two of us were fighting.
Why didn't you
tell me this before?

'Cause it doesn't matter.
At the end of the argument,
we were all settled and-- and--

and staying together.

The point I'm making is this:

though she couldn't
live with John anymore,
she still loved him a lot.

She never would have
considered hurting him.

She-- She wasn't worried
about the prenup?

She didn't care about his money.
She didn't even want his money.

What about pointing the finger
at somebody else?

There are two employees
at Wiggins...

who were in a big power struggle
tryin' to squeeze him out.
So they kill him?

Nah. The first rule in defense
law is don't offer a theory
you can't prove, remember?

Well, we gotta think of
something, Andrea.

What about accident?
We could go back to that.

No. You heard the M.E.
He said it was way too much
Seconal to be accidental.

He could be wrong.
All we need is doubt.

You realize we got two people
who basically, because they
committed adultery,

are about to be convicted
of a homicide?

Yeah. The problem
is that the Seconal
was mixed with wine.

If the guy wanted to commit
suicide, why wouldn't he just
swallow the pills?

Why grind it up and mix it
with wine? That's the question
we gotta answer.

Maybe he was hoping
it would look like murder.

I mean,
that would be a great way
to get even, wouldn't it?

Yeah. Another theory
we can't prove.
But keep thinking.

That little mind of yours is
bound to come up with something.
Mmm.

Come on.
[ Sighs ]

- I lied.
- What?

When I said
that this wasn't fun.

I mean, the case isn't,
but working together--

[ Chuckles ]

I love the way
you grilled the psychiatrist.

Your little cheeks
got all flushed.

I'd forgotten
how your cheeks flush up.

- [ Door Opens ]
- Bobby?

- Oops. Uh, sorry. I'll just--
- No, no. No, I was--
I was just going.

Uh, I'll see you in court.

Yeah. 9:00.

Sharp.
Uh, night, Ellenor.

Good night.

I'm sorry.

You need me?

Yeah. Um, Lindsay said
that you were going to go
to another judge for us.

Judge Hiller is the presiding
superior court judge in Suffolk.
She's on my murder trial.

I'm gonna try to grab her during
a break, see if she'll pull rank
over Judge Stevens.

I'm not optimistic,
but it's-- it's worth a try.

She's the fairest judge going,
and we get along.

Okay. Thanks.
Yeah.

Bobby, I wanted
to apologize for--

I never meant
to jeopardize you.

You know that.

I do.

Okay.

Thanks again.

[ Door Closes ]

[ Sighs ]

Under Massachusetts law,

Officer Rydell suffers
a permanent partial disability,

which constrains him from
working in his selected field.

Racism is not
a recognized disability.

The law recognizes mental
distress produced by prolonged
work-related anxiety.

Mr. Rydell did not suffer
this condition of irrational
discrimination based on race...

prior to his employment
by the department.

Mr. Rydell,

you've been before this panel
before, haven't you?

Yes, sir.
That time, I was tryin'
to stay on the force.

You took a bullet,
if I recall correctly.

Nine years ago,
a stray shattered my kneecap.

They offered me
the pension then
and said I wasn't fit.

- I told them I wanted
to stay on the street.
- You recovered?

Yes, Your Honor.
I have some pain. That's all.

-You know the implications of
the claim you bring here today?
-I do.

You're going on record that
the Boston Police Department--

your department--
our department--
turned you into a bigot?

The claim is that working
this job has caused him
to suffer racist tendencies.

Nobody's blaming the department.

The conclusion people
will draw is obvious.

And frankly, Mr. Rydell,
I'm a little sickened
by this petition.

Let me tell you
what sickens me, Mr. Crane.

Last summer, me and my partner
were investigating
a "B" and "E" call.

At the scene, I--
I see a man I think has a gun.

A black man.
I opened fire and killed him.

He didn't have a gun,
Mr. Crane.

He had a lighter.

I.A.B. determined
it was an honest mistake,
and I was cleared.

This hearing
addresses issues of law
as they relate to your claim.

This is symptomatic
of his condition
and entirely relevant.

Let him finish.

I.A.B. lets me off on
"perception of danger"...

with some mandatory
stress recovery.

During my sessions,
the psychiatrist--

I-It started to become clear.

If this man
with the lighter was white,
would I have fired on him?

It keeps coming up.
He's black, so I see a gun.

This man had a wife,
two daughters,
runs a shoe shop.

He was the man who called in
the "B" and "E."

Now, as sure
as I'm sitting here,

I know I was quick
to pull the trigger
because he was black.

I can't tell
another judge what to do.

You could talk to her.
And say what?

Your associates
talked to a juror?

They were wrong.
Judge Stevens was right.
Technically.

That's the way
we do things here, Bobby:
technically.

Seven years ago,
I had a client who raped
and killed three children.

The police coerced a confession
out of him. I stood before
a certain judge...

and argued that
the confession be tossed
on constitutional grounds.

The judge went by the book,
even though she knew
he was guilty.

She released the defendant
on technical grounds.

Two weeks later,
he killed another child.

The lawyer cried for a week.

And I suspect
the judge did too.

Are you comparing
that case to this one?

I'm suggesting doing
what's right, by the book,
doesn't always work.

Let me suggest to you
judges and lawyers take an oath
to this judicial process,

and that oath isn't waivable.

We both need to
cling to that, don't we?

That case isn't this case.

Both cases involve doing
what's technically right,

resulting in
a greater injustice.

Ellenor Frutt and Lindsay Dole
were both wrong.
No dispute.

But to face disbarment--
that-- that's a much
greater injustice.

Beck,
we need a quick check...

on Dr. Wolfman,
our testifying shrink.

We don't want to get surprised
by any skeletons.

This the psychiatrist that
says racism is a handicap?
Yeah.

- H-He's got good credentials,
but just to be safe--
- Oh, I'm sure he's legit.

- How's the hearing going?
- What?

Oh, fine.
Things are proceeding well.

It's fine.

Excuse me.

What's going on?
What?

Nothing.

Why?
Because every time my eyes
happen to catch yours,

you-- you give me
this look like
you killed my mother.

Oh. Well, I'm sure
your mother's fine.

- Jimmy.
- It's private.

It's got nothin'
to do with you.
I mean, it does, but--

It's none of your business.

I'm not tellin' you, Lindsay.

Jimmy, if whatever this is has
something to do with me, as you
say, you owe me an explanation.

You don't want to know this.
Trust me.
Tell me.

I'm not comfortable--
Now.

Okay.

The other night,

I kind of had
this erotic dream.

We were both in it.
We were both naked.

Nude.

And you were...
very rigorous.

See? I knew
you wouldn't want to know.

Well, I don't think
you have to feel guilty
about a dream, Jimmy.

People dream.

No. I know.
But, see,

I got certain hang-ups
when it comes to sex.

I see.
Whenever I have
relations with a girl,

it's hard for me
to look at her after,
on account of my Catholic guilt.

And in my mind,
it's as if you and I had sex.

And it was... rigorous.

[ Mary Jane ]
And, um, when I got home--

or rather,
when I got to Doug's home,
the police were there.

And, um, they told me
my husband was dead.

Mrs. Wiggins, the autopsy
revealed that your husband died
from an overdose of Seconal.

The prescription
for this drug was yours.

Yes. I take Seconal
for insomnia.

Did you give this drug
to your husband?
Of course not.

Do you have an explanation
as to how he came to take it?

Well, I could only guess
that he was upset.

And he either took some,

hoping to relieve
his own anxiety,

and accidentally took
too much, or maybe--

maybe he did it on purpose.

So, he ground it up
and mixed it with wine.
Why would he do that?

I don't know.

How much money
do you stand to inherit
from your husband's estate?

I'm not exactly sure.

Would it surprise you
to learn it's 3.7 million?

That sounds about right.
If you and your
late husband had divorced,

do you know how much money
you were entitled to
under the prenuptial agreement?

It was considerably less.

Considerably less.
$410,000.

- Did you murder your husband
for his money?
- No, sir. I did not.

You were at the movies
when he died.

Yes.
By yourself.

- Yes.
- [ Pratt ]
Anybody else see you there?

Nobody recognized me,
Mr. Pratt.

I suppose if I went today,
it would be different.

Mrs. Wiggins,
you'd have to admit
how this looks.

You had motive, opportunity,
you were the last one seen
with your husband alive,

you have no alibi.

All you have here
is your word, isn't it?

I suppose that would be so.

And are you good for your word,
Mrs. Wiggins?
Are you somebody to trust?

- Objection.
Argumentative and badgering.
- Overruled.

- Your Honor.
- Overruled. Sit.

[ Pratt ]
You lied to your husband
for two years, didn't you?

Did you not hear
my question, ma'am?

Did you not lie to
and continue to betray your
husband's trust for two years?

- I'm not proud about
deceiving my husband.
- He did trust you, didn't he?

I suppose he did. Yes.

I suppose if you were to offer
him a glass of wine, he'd glady
accept without a second thought.

- Objection.
- Sustained.

I didn't kill him.
I didn't kill my husband.

Yes. We have your word on that.
Your word of honor.

Officer Rydell suffers from
a neurosis that prohibits him
from performing his job.

Doctor, would you read
the final paragraph
of your evaluation.

"Officer Rydell's
irrational assumption...

"that persons of color
are more likely to present
a physical threat...

"makes him a hazard to himself,
his coworkers and the citizens
of the commonwealth.

"Before recovery can begin,

the subject must be
removed from the situation
that created the condition."

Thank you, Doctor.
[ Man ]
Doctor.

In your report, you use
this word "irrational."

That have a special
psychiatric meaning?

It means that
the patient responds...

inappropriately
to real-world conditions.

If a child was punished
by his parents in a garage,
for example,

he may have an irrational
fear of cars.

What if it's rational...

to believe he has more danger
coming from a person of color?

If that's the lesson learned
from years on the street,
the voice of experience--

Then I feel the Boston Police
Department has a serious
institutional problem.

I'd like to quote someone
who's not an officer.

A man of color, in fact.

Reverend Jesse Jackson,
uh, Wall Street Journal,
December 17, 1993.

[ Clears Throat ]

"There is nothing
more painful to me
at this stage in my life...

"than to walk down the street
and hear footsteps and start
thinking about robbery,

then look around
and see someone white
and feel relieved."

Would that statement
make Jesse Jackson
irrational or prejudiced?

I never treated Jesse Jackson.

I would say, however,

an idea can be widely held
and still constitute
a psychiatric condition.

I take issue
with the suggestion
that Mr. Rydell's ideas...

are widely held
by the Boston Police Department.

And I take issue with
your automatic rejection
of that suggestion.

The issue is
whether Officer Rydell has
a diagnosable condition...

and whether that condition
is job-related.

So let's keep the debate
right there, shall we?

[ Door Opens ]
I think we got a shot.
I really do.

With that panel?
Don't hold your breath.

That Adams guy
was hangin' on every word.

Case going well?

Don't judge me, Rebecca.

I'm judging your client.
I'm not defending the man.

I'm representing the idea
that racism could be a sickness
in that department.

Now, how many times have you
been pulled over because your
license plate light was out?

Too many. And you were yanked
out and beaten once for fitting
a general description, remember?

This isn't about that.
Maybe not.

But the idea
that the cop who did that...

could get disability pay
and an early pension...

makes me a little sick.

Would you please stop this.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Look. You know,
I know it was just a dream.

I-- I know this.

But, uh--

Well, the first time
I ever hit a home run
in Little League,

I had a dream about it
the night before.

Sometimes my dreams
can be like omens.

You think maybe--
I don't know--

after work we can
go for a drink sometime?

Are you mulling it over?

Jimmy,

since we work together,
I don't think
it would be a good idea.

We should keep things
completely professional.

Yeah.
You're probably right.

Well--
Yeah, you're right.

Can I ask you one thing?
Sure.

You ever dream about me?

Um--
[ Stammers ]

I don't really
remember my dreams.
And, uh,

I suspect, knowing myself,
I'd probably try to keep
my dreams professional too.

Yeah. Well--

Anyway, I thought I'd ask.

You're a very supple person.

Thank you.

I just still can't understand.

If he were planning on taking
a medication, why wouldn't he
just swallow the pills?

Why would he grind them up
and mix them with wine?

I don't know.
So,

after your husband
took the poison
and became unconscious,

did you and Mr. Forsythe
carry him to the bathroom,

take off his clothes
and put him in the bathtub?

Objection.
[ Bobby ]
Objection.

Sustained.
[ Pratt ]
Mrs. Wiggins,

I have one last question.

When the police informed you
that your husband of 12 years
was dead, did you cry?

I--

I think I was in shock.

[ Pratt ]
You didn't cry, did you?

Not when the police
were there maybe.

But after they left, I did.
When it looked like
you were going to get caught.

Objection!
Move to strike.

- Sustained. Get on with it.
- Did you ask the police
how he died?

Of course I did.
Really?

The detectives
don't remember you asking.

Well, I did.
Okay.

If you say so.
We'll just have to
accept that...

on your word.

That's all I have.

[ Judge Hiller ]
Any redirect, Ms. Wexler?

- No, Your Honor.
- The witness may stand down.

Uh, Your Honor,
I'd like to ask
a couple of questions.

[ Whispers ]
Try to stay stoic.
Don't react.

Wh-What's goin' on?
I'm your lawyer.
I know what I'm doing.

Don't react.

Mary Jane,

just a few things
I'd like to clear up...

because I--
I suddenly became troubled
by your testimony.

You met with your lawyer
three days before your husband's
death, did you not?

Maybe I did. I--
I met with him a lot.

Yes, but-- but on this meeting,

he discussed the terms
of the prenup, didn't he?

- [ Mary Jane ] Yes.
- [ Bobby ] And those terms
were unfavorable,

as Mr. Pratt pointed out.

I didn't really care
about my husband's money.

- Now, that's a lie,
isn't it, Mary Jane?
- Objection!

- Hostile witness, Judge.
- Conference!

I want to ask this witness
questions now, before she has
time to think up answers.

- Move to strike that!
- Get up here, all of you.

What the hell is going on?

- I'm entitled to ask questions.
- You are cocounsel
for the defense.

Your client's story
doesn't serve the interest
of my client's story.

Unfair surprise.
I'm not the prosecution.

- Be quiet.
- We should suspend right now.

I said be quiet! He has
the right to ask questions.
You can redirect.

- I knew nothing about this.
- Neither did I
till a minute ago.

- He is blindsiding me.
- [ Bobby ] The reason
each client has a lawyer...

is because
there may be conflicts.
What the hell is this?

- Stop it.
- I move for
an immediate mistrial.

- Denied.
- Your Honor!

Be quiet. Step back,
and let's get on with it.

I'd like to remind the jury...

that Mr. Donnell is counsel
for Mr. Forsythe only.

He does not represent
Mrs. Wiggins.

Proceed.
[ Bobby ]
Mary Jane,

after you met with your lawyer,
did you decide divorce was
not in your best interest?

I certainly
did not decide that.

Did you go to Mr. Forsythe
and tell him...

that you suddenly
wanted to get back
with your husband?

- Didn't you tell him that?
- [ Mary Jane ]
Not in that context. Uh--

I was, uh--

- I couldn't bear hurting him.
- [ Bobby ]
"Couldn't bear hurting him"?

Are you telling this court
you cheated on your husband
for two years,

told him it was over,
then suddenly, after
meeting with your lawyer,

where you were informed
you'd be out
three million dollars,

you suddenly didn't want to
hurt your poor husband?

- Objection!
- Overruled.

You did try
to get back with him,
didn't you, Mary Jane?

And the thought of
losing all that money--

- Move to strike that!
- Counsel, I don't want to
tell you again.

But he wouldn't take you back.
So you killed him.

I did not!
As an officer of this court,
Your Honor,

I can no longer
escape the truth.

- This woman
poisoned her husband!
- You've got to be kidding me!

That remark is stricken!

- [ Doug ] It's a lie.
- It wasn't. She said she was
thinking of getting back--

It had nothing to do with his
money. You son of a bitch!
Listen.

She's gonna think I betrayed
her. You made it look--
Doug-- Shut up!

Look. We are facing
a double conviction here.

She was getting harpooned
like a beached whale in there.

Your only chance here was this.
I had to turn against her.

You sacrificed her.
She's not my client.
You are.

- [ Door Opens ]
- Lying bastard!

That was the most despicable
thing I've ever seen anyone do!
Calm down.

I'm not gonna calm down,
you lying--

I did what I had to, to save my
client. It may have saved yours.
Yeah.

I didn't plan it.
It was a last-second Hail Mary.
Oh!

We were both dead.
We probably still are.

Mary Jane's definitely
more dead now, isn't she?
I represent him!

Kill yourself!
You want to turn right around
and point the finger at him?

- Go ahead!
I'd almost welcome it.
- What?

If we start
accusing each other,

the jury might think they
have to pick one or the other,
and they couldn't possibly.

You did it. She did it.
Both did it. Neither did it.

It all adds up to reasonable
doubt. What I did in there
was desperate. I know.

But we are desperate.

Everything is--
is spinning right now.

And that's a plus.
Half hour ago,
everything was settled.

And it wasn't settled
for the better.

What's to stop any officer
from, uh, deciding,

"Hey, I don't want to do
my last three years.
I'll just, uh,

decide that I'm a racist
and start collecting
my pension early"?

What's to stop any
police officer from claiming
post-traumatic stress disorder?

You have to prove it clinically.

But you have to admit,
counsel,

that even if racism
were a disorder,

even if it were
caused by the job,
it's contributory.

He doesn't get it
like the flu.

He has to have some
predisposition.

This hearing is not about blame.

If he'd shot himself
in the foot,
he'd be to blame,

but it wouldn't
disqualify him from disability.

This man has got a sickness.

The evidence suggests he got it
in the course of duty.

He came forward.
If he's penalized for it,
the others out there--

and there are
others out there--

they won't come forward.

Still, to call it a disease?
I don't like--

Then call it an epidemic.
Who gives a damn?
Your department's got it.

I thought you said
this wasn't
about blame, counsel?

Uh, it isn't.
But part of the issue is--
Look. Look. Look.

I think we'd all agree
racism is a cancer.

You do whatever you can
to root out cancer
and destroy it.

The idea that he killed a black
man for carrying a cigarette
lighter is hateful to me.

The idea that he's trying
to collect disability for it
doesn't make me feel any better.

But the idea of him staying
out on the streets, and others
like him staying out there,

there can't be anything
more hateful than that,
can there?

Again, I thought you said
this wasn't about blame.

- Let's just focus on--
- May-- Maybe we should
all be blaming you.

Blaming the institution
that allows people like him--

[ Clears Throat ]

Maybe it's time...

you all started
owning some blame.

Nothing ties him
to the scene.

Yes, he was there earlier.
But she took the car
to go to the movies.

The tire prints
from only one car
were found at the house.

It was her drugs.
She wanted the money.

She was desperate
to keep that money.

So desperate that he tried
in the eleventh hour
to blame her.

He claims he loves this woman.

But then,
in a dastardly attempt...

on the last day of the trial,
he points the finger at her.

And what about accident?
What about suicide?

The prosecution couldn't
medically rule out either,
could they?

He did it. She did it.
No, it was suicide.
Accident.

Gee, they included
everything but act of God.

It's all a ploy of spin.

They figure, by suddenly
going at each other,
you're gonna go,

"Wow, it's no conspiracy
after all.

"So, who's guilty?
Which one?

Can't be sure.
Must be reasonable doubt."

Don't fall for this.
Don't you dare fall for this.

[ Door Opens ]

[ Door Closes ]

The likelihood is
that every police force
in the country...

discriminates against
minority suspects.

Sometimes in obvious ways.
Sometimes not.

There's even
the possibility that the job
could even breed racism.

In defense of
police departments,
however,

I would say that the disparate
treatment is no better,

and maybe even worse,
in the justice system.

You might consider that,
Mr. Young, when you tighten
the knot on your tie,

preparing to go to work
at your law firm.

You accusing me, Judge?

I am suggesting
that if this is a battle
that you want to fight,

you need look no further
than your own backyard.

Well, today
we're in your yard.

The issue here,
as you have stated, however
contrary to your agenda,

is whether this man has
a disability which qualifies him
for an early pension.

Mr. Rydell, we salute
your coming forward.

We admire your willingness to
get help for an attitude that
most officers would deny having.

And we hope that
other officers, should they
suspect themselves...

of being so prejudiced
that they pose a danger
on the force,

would also choose
to come forward.

But when they do,
this panel will not
be rewarding them.

You say what you want about
the Boston Police Department.

We may have our share of racist
officers, but we will never
be apologists for them.

Your request for pension
is denied.

You want to take something
with you as you leave this room?

Take this: As bigots go,
you're one of the better ones.

This matter's adjourned.

Interesting move,
ambushing your cocounsel
like that in open court.

I can't say I've ever seen it.

I'm not sure
it'll have any effect.

Oh, but it already has.

I've prevailed upon
Judge Stevens...

not to send
your associates before
the Board of Bar Overseers.

I don't understand.

Things don't happen
in a vacuum, Bobby.

I mean, maybe you have
some inner compass that
gives you clear directions.

I don't really know.
But if others try
to take direction from you,

I have no doubt
but they'll be lost.

Bottom line, if Ms. Frutt
and Ms. Dole were taking their
cues from their senior partner,

it mitigates their offense.

Judge Stevens has agreed
to recommend probation.

Thank you.

Bobby, what you did yesterday
was disgraceful.

I have a client and a duty.
What am I supposed to--
You have 50 clients. Maybe more.

- Meaning?
- Meaning...

when you step into a courtroom,
you walk in with
your reputation.

You compromise it,
all your clients suffer.

I'll be less likely
to trust you now, and that
hurts your next client.

Do you think any lawyer
in this town would agree
to have you as cocounsel now?

Do you think the D.A.'s
will trust you
to be straight with them?

A liar makes a lousy advocate.

Hey, you think
I lied in there?
Then throw me in contempt.

It's so easy
for you to sit up there
wearing the robe.

I'm the guy with
the client's life in my hands.

I'm speaking as someone
who likes you, Bobby--
who always has.

That Gerald Braun trial--

standing up there,
arguing your client was, uh,

morally correct
for having shot a man
in cold blood.

Had you lost,
you would have been admired.

The lawyer who put up
the noble defense, who fought
the good fight for the client.

But in victory,
you're despised.

That's the way it works.

And now, on the heels
of the Braun trial,

pulling a stunt
like yesterday's.

Be careful, Bobby.

If you lose your integrity
in that room, you lose it all.

I may not know everything,

but I've been around
long enough to know that.

[ Knocks ]

They have a verdict.

Oh. Well, that was fast.

So, I guess this is where
we see if you're a winner.

Thank you.

[ Judge Hiller ]
The defendants will rise.

- Madam Foreperson, has the jury
reached its verdicts?
- We have.

What say you?

On the matter of
Commonwealth versus
Douglas Forsythe,

on the charge of murder
in the first degree,

we find the defendant
not guilty.

[ Spectators Murmuring ]

On the matter of
Commonwealth versus
Mary Jane Wiggins,

on the charge of murder
in the first degree,

we find the defendant guilty.

[ Spectators Gasping,
Murmuring ]

[ Judge Hiller ] Members of
the jury, this does complete
your service. We thank you.

The court officers will take
Mrs. Wiggins into custody.

[ No Audible Dialogue ]
Mr. Forsythe,
you are free to go.

We are adjourned.

Mary Jane--

[ Chattering ]

[ Jimmy ]
I'm sorry it didn't work out.

- I think we came close.
- Yeah. Well, uh, thanks.

- Thanks.
- Good luck, Mr. Rydell.

Uh, next time you don't
want to take a case,

don't take the case, okay?

Don't be takin' a client
that goes against whatever it is
you're tryin' to win...

when you should be tryin' to win
for the client if you're gonna
take his case.

I make myself clear?

No.

But I understand
what you mean.

How can I be happy?
I mean,
I'm glad I got acquitted.

Don't get me wrong.
But, uh, my God.

Doug, I told you.
My job was to defend you,
to get you off.

I'm sorry that Mary Jane--
If they acquitted me,

maybe they were gonna
find her not guilty too.

- Maybe you convinced them.
- You don't know that.

She's going to jail for murder!

How can this be?
It can be like that.

We said it probably would be.
Don't you listen?

We've been telling you.
For God's sakes,
you two were with him.

It was her Seconal,
no alibi.

We're lucky
you both didn't go down.
And you know what, Doug?

You love her. You don't
believe she could do this,
but maybe she did.

Who are we to know?
Nobody saw her at the movies.

- Maybe she went back there,
and she killed him.
- No, she didn't.

You weren't there.
Maybe she did.
Stop it!

You can't know for sure.
How could she have carried
the body to that bathtub?

She would have had to drag it,
in which case...

there would have been
carpet fibers
all over his clothes.

There were no fibers.
He had to have been carried!

There was nothing introduced
about carpet fibers.

I never gave you
the investigative reports.

Doug, did y--

Did you go back
to that house?

All I'm telling you--

Mary Jane didn't.

I know she didn't.

[ Woman ]
You stinker!