The Practice (1997–2004): Season 6, Episode 18 - The Return of Joey Heric - full transcript

DOLE:
Previously on The Practice...

BERLUTI: You were smoking crack

with an eight-month baby.

Please just get me out!

BERLUTI: If I get you out,

you go into rehab immediately.

I promise.

DOCTOR: The placental lining
started to come loose

from the uterine wall,

and there was cocaine
in her body.

The baby?
DOCTOR: Little girl,



three and a half pounds.

I'm sorry, Jimmy.

Okay.

DONNELL: This is unbelievable!

Two lovers
and they're both dead?

What, you think just
because you got away

with it last time,
you can get away

with it whenever?
Yes.

DOCTOR: He has a narcissistic
personality disorder.

He commits a crime

where it's impossible
not to convict him,

and the game is still

getting away with it.

Well, win or lose.



Won't this be fun?

Were you trying to wrestle
the knife away,

or were you trying
to kill him?

It went into him
during the struggle.

It went in by accident?

How many ways can I say it?

MAN: We find the defendant,
Joseph Heric,

not guilty.

(music playing)

(horns honking)

God, she's really
getting a personality.

DONNELL: All right,
I'm out of here.

Who'd you kill?

Good to see you, too, Ellenor.

Have you put on weight?

We're busy, Joey.
Who'd you kill?

Very cute.
Well, can't anybody say,

"Hey, good to see you?"

(baby chuckles)

Whose is that?

Mine. What are you doing here?

You have a baby?

DONNELL:
Joey, why are you here?

Why don't we start by asking

where I've been
for the last three years?

Law school.

Ta-da!

Passed the bar in February.

We're now all learned brothers.

You're a lawyer?

And a good one, so far.

YOUNG: Wait, wait, wait.
You went to law school,

took the bar exam?

HERIC:
It was my therapist's idea.

He thought one way
of weaning myself off

of killing people
was to help others

who did get away with it.

I've got a case now

that's why I'm here.

Case? What kind of case?

Homicide.

I don't slum.

The problem I'm having is this,

I think the kid might
actually be innocent.

And as good as I am,

my conscience says
I should bring someone else

on board with experience.

FRUTT: So, in addition
to getting a law degree,

you also picked up
a conscience?

Drives like new,
hardly any miles on it.

But seriously, Bobby,

I'd never admit this publicly,

but I could really
use some help.

It starts tomorrow.

Tomorrow?
HERIC: Yeah.

I'm ready.
I can do this.

And I could do it alone.

I'm prepared to if I have to,

but to be honest,

with an innocent kid's life
on the line,

believe it or not,
I don't want to.

Come on, what do you say?

You, me, Ellie,

it'll be fun.

Just like old times.

(music playing)

WASHINGTON:
You're actually helping him?

And you?
FRUTT: Come on.

I can't resist.
But he's a murderer.

We only know that

because we represented him.

DOLE: Even so, we also know
he's clinically sick.

Look, the ship has sailed.

I'd said I'd help.

Jimmy, it's someone
from Brigham Hospital.

Jimmy Berluti.

WOMAN (over PA):
Dr. Myser to x-ray.

Dr. Myser to x-ray.

(music playing)

Hi.

I'm sorry, Jimmy.

Hey. Shh.

This is Lucy Hatcher.

She works with me.

She also works
for Rape Crisis.

I feel so stupid.

What happened?

You're gonna be mad, Jimmy.

I'm still a...

Prostitution?

JENNIFER: It was a trick.

He just went crazy.

I don't--I'm so sorry.

Where's your baby?

She's with a friend.

She's okay.

So, what happened?

One of your tricks
beat you up?

He raped me.

And then he beat me up.

He raped you?

The sex wasn't consensual?

No.

I mean, it probably
would have been.

I mean,
we went to a room, too.

But as soon as we got there,

he just wigged out.

It was like he had this thing
against hookers,

like we were evil.

I told him to get out,

and he raped me.

Do you think
you might recognize him

if the police showed
you some photographs?

He gave me his name.

I told it to the police.

ROLAND: The body
of Jean Homestead was found

in an alley off
of Tremont Street,

a deep gash in the back
of her head,

the apparent victim
of a mugging.

That's the way it looked

because that's the way
that Daniel Carrington

wanted it to look.

But that is not the way
she died,

ladies and gentlemen.

The evidence
will show overwhelmingly,

the defendant drove
to the victim's house,

murdered Mrs. Homestead
in her bedroom,

then drove her body back
into Boston

and dumped her
into that alley.

The evidence will establish
the defendant

and the victim were
having an affair.

And when the victim tried
to end the relationship,

the defendant murdered her.

The homicide rate
in this country,

this city,
our city,

the proud City of Boston,

is starting to climb.

And people,
people like me,

you, are getting damn
sick of it.

For one, I'm fed up
with exalting civil rights

to the point
where the criminal

enjoys more constitutional
privileges than we do.

Enough already!

If a person kills
another human being,

I don't give a rat's ass

whether he suffers
from schizophrenia,

substance abuse,

or an overbearing mother.

I say put the son
of a bitch in jail.

That's how I feel.

It may be how some
of you feel, too.

It's certainly how
the government feels,

and I salute them for it.

But,

every once in a while,

in their zeal,
their haste

to make sure a murder
is avenged,

they get it wrong,

and they arrest
the wrong person.

My heart goes out
to Jean Homestead's husband

sitting there,

and her son.

We all wanna catch the person

who killed Jean Homestead.

But Daniel Carrington

is not that person.

They've arrested
the wrong man.

Jimmy, the police
questioned the guy.

What's his story?
Yeah.

They went back
to her place,

he didn't know
she was a hooker.

After they had sex,
she announced she was,

tried to extort him
for $10,000,

he refused and left.

And you believe that?
Jimmy, the examination

didn't reveal
any vaginal bruising

or tearing.
You see her face?

You think she did
that to herself?

I can't rule out
the possibility that she did.

Why?
This is a hooker

with a drug problem.

Listen, even if
she's telling you the truth,

a prostitute takes a man
to a room to have sex,

then claims the sex
wasn't consensual.

I'm not that good a DA.

Both blows came to the back
of the skull.

The second one,

this one,
was fatal.

It crushed both the skull

and the brainstem.

Death likely came instantly.

ROLAND: And did you make
any other findings

that you find significant?

JOSH: Several.

There were no other bruises,

scratches,
no skin scrapings

under her nails,

no indication of a struggle.

And what did that tell you?

JOSH: Well, that
it's highly unlikely

she was mugged,
or overpowered.

Much more likely,
she was simply struck

on the back of the head.

ROLAND: Anything else?

JOSH: We found small traces

of semen in the vaginal area.

We submitted samples
for DNA analysis.

They were an exact
genetic match

with the defendant.

ROLAND: Thank you, Doctor.

First of all, Doctor,

let me applaud you
on your ability

to crunch your testimony.

So many experts,

especially doctors,

just rattle on
in such technical talk,

it's either boring
or incomprehensible.

I salute you, sir.

Thank you.

I probably shouldn't
be admitting this,

but I can't take issue

with a single thing you said.

I agree with all of it.

So, I'm going to sit down

so we can move on.

Oh, I'm sorry.

There is one thing.

It is possible for her
to be mugged

and dragged
into the alleyway

without showing
any physical signs,

such as bruising
or fingernail scrapings?

Yes, it's possible.

Excellent. Thanks.

Oh, oh, one other thing.

If my client had had intercourse

with the victim several hours

before her death,

semen evidence
could still be found,

couldn't it?

Yes.

HERIC: So it's possible
my client

and the victim had sex,

she was later hit on the head

and killed by somebody else?

Your findings don't exclude
that possibility,

do they, Doctor?

No.

Thank you.

How'd I do?

He raped me.

And it would be your word
against his.

Do you know who he is?

Russell Mathis.

He's a very prominent Lawyer.

He would be perceived
to be more credible

than a hooker
with a drug history.

Look, I'm your friend.

There's nothing
to be done here.

YOUNG: Maybe not criminally.

I would think
Mr. Mathis would like us

to go away without any noise.

(music playing)

I'll go pay him a visit, Jimmy.

JEAN (over recording):
I'm ending it now, Danny.

I can't see you anymore.

I'm married,
and the truth is,

you're beginning
to frighten me a little.

I just need you to stay away.

That was identified
as the voice of the victim?

Identified
by her husband, yes.

ROLAND: Where was this message
found, Detective?

On the defendant's voicemail,

recorded six minutes

past 9:00 on January 17th.

ROLAND: And according
to the coroner's findings,

when did Mrs. Homestead die?

Her body temperature indicated

that she died about 10:00 PM
that same night.

Did you make any findings

as to where she died,
Detective?

Our conclusion
was that she died

in her own bedroom.

There were microscopic
blood splatterings

on her bedpost
as well as the carpet.

The blood matched up
genetically to the victim.

We believe
she was killed there

and then moved.

Any other evidence
lead you to this?

We also found microscopic
blood splatterings

in the defendant's car,

blood that also belonged
to the victim.

Thank you, Detective.

Well, things really look bleak

for our side,
don't they?

Now, I imagine

that's why
you arrested my client.

The phone message,

the blood splatterings,

the affair--

well, come to think of it,

that would be it,
wouldn't it?

I mean, that's your entire case,

blood, phone message,
and affair.

Right, Detective?

And his semen.

Right. Well,
I was sort of including

that with "affair."

Any weapon?

No.

Any evidence,

physical, forensic,

testimonial that my client

was in the victim's bedroom
that night?

His semen.

Well, the coroner
has already admitted

that they could
have made love earlier,

maybe even someplace else.

Do you disagree with
the coroner on that, Detective?

No.
HERIC: And this blood

you're talking about,

"microscopic," you said.

So, if we took all this blood

and pooled it together,

the blood you found
both in her bedroom

and my client's car,

more or less than

a paper cut, Detective?

Probably less.

Gee, it doesn't look as bad

for us as I thought.

Objection!

Is it wise to be smug, Joey?

HERIC: Oh, Danny,

that was nothing.

Ask Ellenor.

Have they offered
any kind of plea here?

Second degree,
it's laughable.

DONNELL:
What are you willing to take?

We thought an acquittal

would be nice.

Yes, besides that.

Danny, would you
consider manslaughter?

Joey thinks we can win.

DONNELL: This is Joey's
first murder trial.

Bobby!
He needs to hear that, Joey.

What? You don't think
we can win?

Yes, you have a shot here.

But your lawyer's opinions

are colored by his ego.

Bobby!
This is what you get

for making me second chair.

If you don't already know this,

you need to as we go forward.

(music playing)

I've trusted Joey this far.

I'm going to keep
trusting him.

How is he?

FRUTT: He's good.

The jury loves him.

It kills me to admit it.

HERIC: Admit what?

Hi, Helen.

Do you know I've been having

these nasty little
hetero dreams of you?

What?

DONNELL: Joey, the blood
in the car

is a problem.

I hope you don't plan

to argue "paper cut."

HERIC: Oh, no.
The beloved husband is up next.

He's what you call
"Plan B."

Wait a second.
He has no alibi!

FRUTT: It doesn't matter.

Do you have any evidence
that he killed her?

No.
Well, then, you don't "Plan B,"

not the widower.
Ellenor.

FRUTT: If you accuse
the husband with nothing

to back up the accusation,

your client will get convicted.

I agree.
HERIC: Bobby, Ellenor,

I recognize that I don't
have your experience,

but one thing
I do know, "Plan B,"

that's where the practice
of law is delicious.

PAULINE: Mr. Berluti,

Mr. Mathis can see you now.

You can close the door, Pauline.

Yes, sir.

It's the conclusion

of a Rape Crisis Counselor

that she was raped.

She tells me she was raped,

and I believe her.

You believe her?

Your client set me up,
Mr. Berluti.

She had relations,
only then to tell me

what her occupation was.

And then she attempted
to extort me.

Did she give herself
the black eye?

RUSSELL: Perhaps she did.

I assure you I didn't.

Why are you here?

The District Attorney's Office

has to prove its case

beyond all reasonable doubt.

In civil cases,
as you know,

the burden is much less.

She makes
for a credible witness.

Get to the punch line.

We settle now

or sue you tomorrow.

(music playing)

None of those people
would ever know.

On your way out,
Mr. Berluti,

take a glance
at the artwork on the walls.

We are a very rich law firm,
Mr. Berluti.

It's a byproduct

of having many
excellent lawyers.

Go forward
with this extortion,

I'll deploy the attorneys here

to destroy both your client

and you.

And that's not extortion?

No, it isn't,

because I didn't rape
your client.

You may leave now, Mr. Berluti.

(music playing)

I thought maybe Jean
was out with friends,

though it wasn't like her

not to leave me a message.

And finally,
around midnight,

I began calling some
of her friends,

and then at 3:00 AM,

I phoned the police.

Mr. Homestead, I know that
this is very difficult, sir,

but did you have knowledge

of your wife's affair

with the defendant?

I had learned about it

a week before.

ROLAND:
And how did you find out, sir?

Jeannie had been in therapy,

and her therapist
implored with her

that she tell me.

And as a result
of your finding out, you...

We had some
very severe arguments,

ending with a recommitment

by both of us
to our marriage.

ROLAND:
And as for the defendant?

She planned to break
it off with him.

Do you know
if she did that, sir?

She said she had
three conversations

telling him that he--
Objection, hearsay.

Withdrawn.

Joey.
Let it in, Ellenor.

No, this is--
HERIC: The objection

is withdrawn, Your Honor.

I think we should
all hear this.

Would you continue, sir?

MICHAEL: She said that
he was having a difficult time

accepting that they would
not be seeing

one another again.

Jean even thought
that she might eventually

have to get
a restraining order.

Why?

She was becoming afraid of him.

ROLAND: Did she use
that word, sir,

"afraid?"
Yes.

She was concerned

that he might try
to hurt her.

Thank you, sir.

Well! Now I wish
we hadn't withdrawn

our objection at all

if I knew you were
going to say that.

Mr. Heric.

HERIC: So, your wife
told you the things

she had been discussing
with her therapist?

Yes.

Had she engaged
in any other affairs?

Not to my knowledge, no.

Had she talked to you,

perhaps, about being unusually

attracted to a younger man,

an attraction that both she

and her therapist
considered unhealthy?

Mr. Homestead,

did she tell you
if she had been sexually

attracted to another man,

a younger man?

Yes.

A man that she had once
even kissed?

Yes.

HERIC: Sir, do you see that man

in the courtroom today?

Yes.

Could you identify him
for the court, please?

My son,

her stepson.

(music playing)

Well, isn't this exciting?

Objection!

Withdrawn.

For how many hours
were you home alone

before notifying the police

that your wife was missing?

I don't know.

Around five hours.

Forgive me, sir,
but I have to ask the question

that's on everybody's mind.

Did you kill your wife?

ROLAND: Objection!

Overruled.

Obviously,

it wasn't over like she said

between her and my client.

They found his sperm.

She clearly lied to you.

She has an affair.

You learned she kisses
her stepson,

your son.

Then you find out she's lying

and still sleeping with the man

she claims to be afraid of.

If indeed she said that,

only you know for sure.

Did you kill your wife?

No,

I did not.

I don't believe you.

Objection!

Mr. Heric?

Nothing further, Your Honor.

FRUTT: He doesn't

need us, Bobby.

He's not even letting us in

on all of his cards.

We're simply sitting
in a courtroom

as spectators
to be impressed,

which is exactly

what his narcissistic disorder

is all about.

He needs other people

to see his achievements

in order for him to enjoy them.

Well, we can't get out now,
Ellenor.

(knocking on door)

FRUTT: We were just talking
about you, Joey.

Nice little bombshell.

Wasn't it, though?

Why didn't you tell us
about it?

Oh, come on.
It'd ruin the surprise.

Now the question becomes,

"Do I let Daniel testify?"

Things are going so well.

Does he have any skeletons?

Not that I'm aware of.

Then he has to testify.

He has to explain the semen.

And the blood in his car.

I could rest now,

argue, they didn't make
their burden.

DONNELL: Joey,

things aren't going that well.

You need to put him up there.

BERLUTI: I'll do
whatever you want,

but, Jennifer, we're not going
to win this.

He's prepared to put an army

of lawyers on this.

I think

we should just let it go.

The man rapes me,

and I'm supposed
to just let it go?

(door opens)

(music playing)

Mr. Berluti?

Yes.

(music playing)

First,

I'm going to deny
saying everything

I'm about to tell you.

Okay.

I don't know if Mr. Mathis did

what you're saying he did.

But there's a junior partner
at my firm,

he keeps asking me
what's going on.

It's like he's too interested,
you know?

I think he knows something.

What's his name?

(music playing)

PAULINE: Like I say,

we never had this conversation.

Jimmy,

draft a complaint.

Move for an emergency
deposition to be taken

prior to filing the complaint.

Can you do that?

YOUNG: But if there's
a danger,

the evidence could be lost.

This junior partner will have

a lot of pressure
put on him.

You need to get him
in a room now

and put him under oath.

(music playing)

Why not just file
the complaint, Counsel?

BERLUTI: We're happy
to do that, Your Honor.

I would think the defendant

would seek to explore ways

of making this go away

before we file

since filing makes it
public record.

That kind of threat

is evidence of the extortion.

Look, I have the automatic right

to depose him after we sue.

We're happy to take that route.

WARREN: Mr. Berluti,
don't insult me.

The only reason
you're not formally suing

is because by doing so,

your card is played,

and you'll lose leverage.

This thing
has a bad stench to it.

But, Mr. Miles,

it's not a question

as to whether he can depose
this lawyer.

This motion only covers timing.

We're even willing to come
to your place.

WARREN: I'm going to allow
the deposition.

But, Mr. Berluti,

like I say,

I don't like the stench.

We had gone to a club.

At 6:00 PM?

That's a little early,
isn't it?

It was an underground club,

mostly gay.

But a lot of heterosexuals

went there primarily

to have sex.

They had sex in the club?
Yes.

HERIC: And you
and Jean Homestead

went to this club

on the night of the murder?

Yes.

HERIC: Daniel,

what did you do there?

We danced,

we made love.

What time did you leave?

Probably around 8:00 or 9:00.

I drove her home.

HERIC: Did you go inside?

No,

I dropped her off

then I went home.

HERIC: You never went back

to her house?
No.

HERIC: Well, did you receive
her phone message?

DANIEL: No,
that message was left

on my business cell,

which she would know

I wouldn't get.

That message was left
to set me up.

Objection.

Sustained.

HERIC: Then, what about those

microscopic traces of blood

that were found in the backseat

of your car?

I have no idea.

She'd certainly been

in the backseat of my car

many times.
We'd--

Sometimes we even made
love there.

Anybody see you

and Mrs. Homestead
at this club?

I'm sure people did

but no one's come forward.

It's funny how
not one waitress,

not one bartender,

not one patron

remembers seeing you there.

It's a pretty crowded place.

Any witnesses to establish

that you were home alone

the night of the murder?

Well, if there were witnesses,

I wouldn't have been alone.

Ever been convicted
of a felony,

Mr. Carrington?

(music playing)

Once.

Many years ago.

What was it?

Assault.
ROLAND: Assault and battery.

You beat up a girlfriend,

didn't you, Mr. Carrington?

I pushed her.

ROLAND: Pushed her
and she was hospitalized

with three broken ribs,

wasn't she, Mr. Carrington?

(music playing)

Did you know
about that conviction?

HERIC: So what?
He was only 19 at the time.

It doesn't matter.

That felony was reason enough

to keep him off the stand.

HERIC: You told me
to put him on.

DONNELL: We didn't know
he beat up a former girlfriend.

HERIC: Well, the jury
had to hear his story.

DONNELL: How about you
letting us in

on all the facts from now on?

Just help me prepare
my closing.

We'll meet you back
at the office.

I have no information
whatsoever.

What's your relationship

with Mr. Mathis?

I work with him.
We're both lawyers

in the same firm.

BERLUTI:
Do you socialize together?

MARK: No, we do not.

Were you in the
Palmer House Hotel

on the evening of April 12th?

No, I was not.

BERLUTI: Do you have
any information

concerning the events

involving Mr. Mathis

on April 12th?

Asked and answered.

MARK: I will answer it again.

I don't know
what you're talking about,

and I have no information.

Do you know Jennifer Cole?

No, I do not.

Ever heard of her before?

Only in connection

with this lawsuit.

Okay.

We're done.

You can go, Mark.

You also, please.

If you go forward

with this lawsuit,
Mr. Berluti,

this is the counterclaim

that awaits you.

Never mind abuse of process.

There are counts of libel,

defamation of character.

You can't sue me for what I
allege in a complaint.

MATHIS: Oh, we will.

And, truthfully,
I hope we lose

the first go-round.

That'll give us a chance

to go to the appeals court,

possibly the S. J. C.

I hope you like working

on this case, Mr. Berluti,

because for the next
three years,

you'll have time
for little else.

(door opens)

Sorry we're late.

We were held up in court,
and we all wanted

to come over together.
What is this?

YOUNG: This is an army,
Mr. Mathis.

(music playing)

YOUNG: See, you may have thought
to yourself,

"Nobody's gonna take up
the cause

of a lowly prostitute,"

but you were wrong.

Jennifer Cole is a friend
of this firm.

We care about Jennifer Cole.

We stand committed
to exercising

Jennifer Cole's rights.

I guess what I'm trying
to say, Mr. Mathis,

if you want a war,

you've got one.

MATHIS: You think
you're ready to challenge

the resources
of this law firm?

Do some research.

We've been up
against big firms before

and beaten them
for a lot of money.

A reputation
is a terrible thing to waste,

Mr. Mathis.

You people are what give lawyers

a bad name.

WASHINGTON:
No, lawyers who rape

give us a bad name.

DONNELL: Look,

we can fight

or we can settle this,

but like Eugene Young said,

if it's a fight you want,

you're in for a big one.

And, win or lose,

you lose.

(music playing)

(music playing)

$175,000,

all conditioned
on total confidentiality.

A hundred and seventy-five
thousand?

I think we should take it.

Okay.

We'll have the check tomorrow.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you all.

But, Jennifer, listen.

This guy, Mathis,

if he's capable of rape,

we just left him pretty hot.

I don't want you ever...

going back to the Palmer House.

I won't.

BERLUTI: You have a little girl,
Jennifer.

She needs you.

The other night,

you could have been killed.

You need to start over.

I will, Jimmy,

and not just for her,

but for you.

You don't owe me nothing.

I owe you my life, Jimmy,

and I'll never forget it.

(music playing)

ROLAND: She told her husband

she feared Daniel Carrington,

feared that he might hurt her,

and she's found dead.

Dead with traces
of Daniel Carrington's

semen in her.

Her blood is found

in Daniel Carrington's car.

Come on.

He previously beat up

and hospitalized
another girlfriend.

All the evidence

in this case points to him,

and what's his story?

They made love in a bar?

Nobody saw them in this bar,

not one patron,

not one waitress or bartender.

There was a message

from the victim

breaking off the relationship.

A message...

to the defendant
left one hour

before she was murdered.

There is no doubt here,

ladies and gentlemen.

Daniel Carrington

murdered Jean Homestead.

I certainly understand
the theory

that Danny did it.

His sperm,

the blood,

phone message,

it makes perfect sense

to jump to that conclusion,

doesn't it?

But we don't jump
to conclusions

in murder trials.

The evidence
has to establish guilt

beyond all reasonable doubt.

Now, have they really done
so here?

They certainly didn't rule out

that they made love at the club

or that Danny was alone at home.

And let's face it.

We really can't rule out
the husband,

can we?

He had motive,

opportunity,

no alibi.

What about the stepson,

for that matter?

Hmm? Any stepson

embroiled in an Oedipal affair

is certainly capable
of twisted turns.

It doesn't even stop there.

Suppose Danny Carrington

had another lover.

No evidence, to be sure,
but they

didn't even investigate that.

And is it really
that far-fetched?

The other lover

gets wind of the little session

at the club,

goes to the victim's house,

threatens her,

forces her to make
that phone call

to implicate Danny.

Then he or she kills the woman,

dumps her in the alley,

knowing full well

who the police will blame.

He or she even plants

that little blood speck
in his car.

Now, Danny is
the obvious suspect,

but it could have been anybody,

maybe one of you,

maybe the judge,

maybe me.

(music playing)

Now,

could have been a bonehead,

stupid murder by Danny

or one of the more
perfect variety

by somebody else to frame him,

the husband,

the stepson,

a female lover,

a big, gay,

sick lover, anybody.

The simple truth is,

we don't know,

certainly not beyond

all reasonable doubt.

(music playing)

They sent you with the check?

No, the check is coming
by messenger.

May I see you in private,
Mr. Berluti?

(door locks)

I'm a man of conscience,

which made yesterday

one of the most difficult days
in my life.

I lied in my deposition,
Mr. Berluti.

I had a hunch.

I don't think you had this
particular hunch.

About six weeks ago,

I met Jennifer Cole

in the Palmer House.

She passed herself off

as a young advertising
executive.

We got a room, we made love,

after which, she informed me

that she was a prostitute

and if I didn't give her
$10,000,

she would tell my wife

or cry "Rape."

Here's a copy of my check.

There's nothing to be done now.

Your case is settled.

But these are people

with families,

Mr. Berluti.

It's difficult for me
to stay quiet

knowing she's going
to do this again.

(door opens and closes)

Did you kill her?

HERIC: Bobby, I was throwing out
a hypothetical.

DONNELL:
I don't think so, Joey.

This totally fits
your narcissistic disorder.

The only reason
we were at that table

was to be an audience
for that smile.

You did it,

and you wanted us to know
you did it.

HERIC: You've been watching
too much television.

DONNELL: Did you and Danny
used to be lovers?

Well, now that you mention it,

that's how I got the case.

DONNELL: I'm going to the D. A.

HERIC: Oh, please, Bobby.

The jury's out.

If we win,
you've got nothing to say.

If we lose,

well, D. A. s just love

to throw out convictions,
don't they?

I'm sure he'll be thrilled
to listen.

FRUTT: I think you wanna lose.

That's why you put your guy
on the stand

with a felony conviction

and that closing?
HERIC: Well, wait, wait.

What was wrong
with my closing?

FRUTT: It was ridiculous.

"Maybe the judge did it,

maybe a juror did it?"

I also said,
"Maybe the lawyer did it."

That part, you seem to believe.

DONNELL: You killed her.

HERIC: Bobby,

Bobby (chuckles) Bobby,

you think I'm evil?

DONNELL: You murdered his lover,

framed him,

got yourself put on
as his lawyer

to guarantee he goes away.

Well, I must say, it does sound

worthy of me.

(music playing)

Hi, everybody.

(laughs) What's the matter?

The name "Mark Greene"

didn't ring a bell with you,
Jennifer?

You cashed his check.

You did the same thing to him

you did to Mathis.

Here's your check.

Take it,

walk out of this office,

and never come back here again.

These people are rich, Jimmy.

It's expensive

raising a child, and...

BERLUTI: The biggest problem
your child has

is having you for a mother.

If I hear of this happening
ever again,

I'll go to the police

and to Social Services

to take that child away
from you.

Take the check,

walk out,

and never come back.

(music playing)

I'm so nervous.

PATRICK: Will the defendant
please rise?

Madam foreperson,

has the jury reached
a unanimous verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

What say you?

FOREPERSON: In the matter
of the Commonwealth

versus Daniel Carrington,

on the charge of murder

in the first degree,

we, the jury,
find the defendant,

Daniel Carrington,

guilty.

HERIC: We will appeal,
Your Honor.

So noted.

Members of the jury,

this completes your service.

Security, will you take

the defendant into custody?

We're hereby adjourned.

(gavel bangs)

HERIC: Danny, listen,
don't lose hope.

We will keep trying.
But what happens now, right?

HERIC: We're gonna come
right in.

We're gonna start talking
about our appeal.

Now, Danny, don't lose hope.

Don't lose hope, Danny.

Remember,

in the end,

it's a good world.

Well,

I guess you can't win them all.

If I can figure out a way
to reveal what I know, I will.

HERIC: Certainly you know
the allegation

that I tried to lose a case

would be libel, per se.

Listen, come on,
sometimes you have to accept

unfortunate outcomes.

All part of being a lawyer,
isn't it?

Right, Ellie?

Well, if you'll excuse me,

I'm wanna go try to dig up
some new clients.

(chuckles)

Till we meet again.

(music playing)

(music playing)

WOMAN: You stinker.