The Practice (1997–2004): Season 7, Episode 15 - Choirboys - full transcript

BERLUTI:
Previously on The Practice.

You understand
I confessed.

DOLE: I do,
but you only confessed

after they discovered
the body in the trunk.

If we can suppress
the search,

the confession
goes out too.

I just don't want to go
to a prison.

Anything to keep me
out of prison.

DOLE: I understand.

You answer only
what I ask you,

nothing more,
because, uh--



I strangled her.

I know you're ill,

and I know
you wanna get better.

Her name was Carol.

She was very nice to me.

You didn't know
there was a body

in the trunk, did you?

Not before he opened it, no.

HILLER: The search
and confession

are hereby suppressed,

the charges are dismissed,

and the defendant,

I'm horrified to say,

is free to go.



I can just walk out?

Yes.

But you still
wanna get some help.

There's no need to now, right?

Thank you, Lindsay.

It's not a conspiracy.

I simply can't understand

how two different people

could pick him
out of a lineup

without some
police collusion.

BERLUTI: It just means
he looks like

whoever this killer is.

They've offered murder two.

You're certainly
not suggesting

that we consider that.

(sighs)

We know
you're innocent, but...

But what?

There's a kind of
a swell here.

I don't need
to tell you that.

The media
doesn't get a vote.

Please. Don't kid
yourself, Mrs. Bakey.

The influence of the media

seeps into that jury room.

They weren't sequestered.

A lot of them will be
watching the news

despite the judge's
instructions.

The witnesses are credible,

persuasive demeanors,

and...
What about me?

You don't find me
persuasive?

You're his mother.

I am also truthful.

RUSSELL: Look,
I cooperated fully.

Uh, I gave them DNA samples.

I let them search
my house,

my car.

I've never broken any law.

Are you actually telling me

that I could go away for life

simply because I happen
to look like somebody?

Like somebody who stabbed
three women.

(music playing)

Russell Bakey,

better known as the alleged

supermarket killer,

finally goes on trial today

for the murders
of three south end women.

Rumors of a last-minute
plea agreement

have turned out to be false.

Is he guilty?

Eugene doesn't think so.

MAN (over TV): ...now rest
in the hands of the jury.

(door opens)

Lindsay.

Mr. Deeks?

I have a situation.

Who is this person?

She's a lawyer
I work with.

Claire Wyatt,

Stanley Deeks.

What's wrong?

I need to speak in private.

Actually,
lawyer-client privilege

extends to her, Stanley,

you can speak freely.

What's the situation?

I had a relapse.

A relapse?

I made a friend.

She was only 14,

but we had a lot in common,

and...

I befriended her.

You befriended her?

Yes.

Where is your friend now,
Stanley?

She's away.

Away? Where away?

I need to get help, Lindsay.

I thought I was better,

but I'm not.

Stanley, did you kill
this girl?

I was loading my groceries
into the car

when I saw them.

By them, you mean...

HEPLER: The defendant
and the woman

in the poster on the left,

Heidi Stevens.

GAMBLE: What were they doing?

HEPLER: At first, I thought

they were together.

But then I gathered

he was offering to help

jump-start her car.

The battery was dead
or something.

It was a bitter cold night.

Did she accept his offer?

Yes.

GAMBLE: Do you know
whether or not

he was able to help
start her car?

No.

They were still working
on it when I left,

so I don't know.

Are you positive

that this is the man

you saw that night
with Heidi Stevens?

Very positive.

They were only about
20 feet away from me.

BERLUTI: Were you able
to describe for the police

what this man
was wearing that night?

Not enough to give
a specific description.

Was he wearing a hat?

Yes.

Can you describe that?

It was a knit hat.

Pulled down a little over
his forehead?

It didn't cover his face.

You mentioned it being cold.

Do you remember how cold?

I believe
it was in the teens.

And yet you kind of
took time out

from loading your groceries

on this cold night

to check out his man's face.

How long do you think
you looked at him?

I really don't know.

Long enough for it
to make an impression.

More than five seconds?

Probably not.

And this was at night.

The parking lot
was well-lit.

You saw him for less than

five seconds at night.

And picked him
out of a lineup.

Before or after
you saw his face

on the news?

After.

BERLUTI: Is it possible,
Mrs. Hepler,

that when you went to view

this police lineup,

you recognized my client

because you'd just
seen his face

on the news?

I recognized him
from both the news

and the parking lot.

DEEKS: That's the address.

Nobody lives there.

That's why we'd go there

because the house was empty.

We never had sex
or anything.

I'm not sick that way.

How...

(sighs)

what happened?

I squeezed too tightly

around her neck.

I'm pretty sure she's dead.

Pretty sure?

You--you're not positive?

Well, uh,

it's been two days,

and she hasn't gone home.

Uh, at least, that's what

they're saying in the news.

You think maybe
they're trying to trick me?

(gasps)

I'd turn myself in,

but I don't want
to go to prison.

Uh, I want to get better.

And I'm afraid

for me to get better,

I'm gonna have
to tell the doctors

what I did.

And if I do...

they'll tell the police.

I don't know what to do.

MCGUIRE:
This is the security video

taken from inside the market.

This was taken the night

Wendy Banks was killed?

MCGUIRE: Yes.

That's her
at the checkout counter.

And if we fast-forward
to here

that's the defendant

paying for his groceries.

GAMBLE: Detective,
after arresting the defendant,

did you have opportunity

to search his car?

Yes, we did.

Could you tell us
what you found?

Jumper cables, tool kit,

his jack was out

like it had recently been used,

and some box cutters

we think were used
to slash tires.

What, if anything,
did you conclude?

That these were
the instrument he used

to disable cars
and also repair them.

We think that was his MO

for approaching women,

disabling their cars

and then coming to their rescue.

BERLUTI:
Any video that shows

my client had contact

with Wendy Banks

in the store?

No.

BERLUTI: And this was
a different grocery store

from where the other
two victims

were last seen, right,
Detective?

That's correct.

All three victims
were last seen

at different grocery stores.

BERLUTI: And the box cutters,

you said you think
had been used

to slash tires,

could you positively
connect them

to Susan Graham's tire?

No.

You also searched
my client's house,

correct, Detective?

Yes.

Were you able to find

any physical evidence

connecting my client
with these murders?

No.

YOUNG: I actually think
that the most damning

piece of evidence
is the video.

Why?
YOUNG: Well, it's one thing

to argue a look-alike.

But on top of that,

we know for a fact

that he just
so happened to shop

in the same grocery store

at the same time
of the last victim

on the night she disappeared.

But I live near the store.

Understood,
but those are two

very big coincidences,
Russell.

SYLVIA: Not to be critical,

but I'm a little disappointed

in your performance
so far.

Mrs. Bakey--

Here we have an innocent man,

no scientific,

no forensic evidence

whatsoever against him,

and yet you speak
as a defeatist.

I speak as a realist.

The public wants
to lynch somebody.

Right now, your son
is the only offering.

May I continue, please?

Certainly.

Thank you.

Russell, you'll go first.

We'll follow that up
with your mother,

who we know will make
every effort

to come off sympathetic.

Are you ready?

SYLVIA: He's ready.

Helen Gamble will come hard.

Be prepared, Russell.

She'll come straight for you.

With what?
I've got nothing really

to cross him with.

WALSH: Yes, you do.

Good-looking guy, nice job,

makes a lot of money,

lives with his mother.

Come on.

It doesn't make him
a murderer.

It makes him weird.

He's probably a closet homo
or something.

Okay. Let's go with that.

If he's secretly gay,

then he's sure to kill.

Helen, we both know
this is the killer.

Get him to flash his rage.

Push him.

If he doesn't emote,

we'll paint him as cold.

If he does flare,

we'll argue
that he's a man of rage.

Also, get as close to him
as you can.

Why?

Because you're the prototype

of the women he kills.

I want the jury to picture
the victims

when you question him.

I don't know.

WALSH: Look, I agree,

our case is thin,

which makes this cross pivotal.

You need to push him.

Go there?

To the house?

What if she's not dead?

(sighs)

She has to be dead.

He...

(sighs) He said
he wasn't sure, Claire.

He said he thinks
she's dead.

And what if,
for some reason, she isn't.

What if she's lying there
with a broken neck,

you know, paralyze
or something.

Lindsay, uh, I'm not sure

I could go there.

I can't not go

with the slightest
possibility...

Well, can't you send someone,

like a private detective?

I'm not sure it wouldn't
violate privilege.

(sighs)

DOLE: Look, it's only
20 minutes from here.

I would think
on something like this

we should be allowed
to tell the police.

Well, (sighs) you'd be wrong.

Lindsay...

do you want me to go
with you?

Yes.

That was me on the video.

I was in the supermarket
that night.

Did you meet Wendy Banks?

RUSSELL: I did not.

Nor did I ever meet

Heidi Stevens
or Susan Graham.

Two witnesses said
they saw you

helping those women
with their cars.

Those witnesses are mistaken.

BERLUTI: Okay.

Can you tell us
where you were

on the nights
of these murders?

On the evening
of October the 20th,

I was working late

in my office.

What do you do, sir?

I'm a security consultant.

I basically help to detect

and prevent computer fraud.

Thank you.

And the nights
of the other murders?

I was home.

Both nights?

RUSSELL: Yes.
The January 3rd night,

I was obviously doing
some grocery shopping

in the evening,

but I was home the rest
of the night.

Do you live alone?

No. I live with my mother.

BERLUTI: Was she home
on those nights?

RUSSELL: Yes, she was.

And she can confirm

that you were home.

Yes, she can.

BERLUTI: Mr. Bakey,

have you ever been
arrested before?

No, I have not.

I am, and I
have always been,

uh...

a law-abiding person.

I have never committed
any crime.

I've never received so much

as a speeding ticket.

I certainly did not take

the lives of three women.

Not even a speeding ticket?

No.

Well, Mr. Bakey,
you just sound

too good to be true.

I would think a woman
would be lucky

to snag you.

YOUNG: Objection.

Sustained.

GAMBLE: Do you go to church?

As a matter of fact, I do.

GAMBLE: You even joined
the choir, didn't you?

I tried out for the choir.

GAMBLE: Well,
according to my sources,

you didn't sing too well.

There was some suspicion

that you might have tried out

in order to meet women.

Is that true?

I can't speak to the truth
of the suspicion,

but that's not why
I tried out

for the choir.

Ever been in therapy,
Mr. Bakey?

Objection.

Sustained.

GAMBLE: Your honor,
I'm trying to explore

the psyche of a grown man

who still lives at home
with his mother.

YOUNG: Objection.

KITTLESON: If you wanna know

why he lives with his mother,

ask him, but he hasn't
opened any door

on character evidence.

GAMBLE: Mr. Bakey,

you were a bit modest

in describing your job.

In fact, you're a bit
of a whiz.

Many companies hire you

to detect computer fraud,
don't they?

I've done well.

You make over $200,000 a year.

A talented,

good-looking man

who still lives
with his mother.

Seems odd.

Objection.
GAMBLE: Withdrawn.

Mr. Bakey, is your mother

physically or financially

dependent on you?

No.

Have you ever not lived
with your mother?

RUSSELL: No.

I am not ashamed of loving

my mother, Ms. Gamble.

I enjoy living with her.

We--we're very compatible.

Ever had sex with her?

BERLUTI: Objection!
YOUNG: Objection!

GAMBLE: Trying to explore
the depth of this love

and compatibility.

The objection is sustained.

Ever had any girlfriends,
Mr. Bakey?

I date.

GAMBLE: I don't mean a date
or a movie

or helping a girl
change a tire...

BERLUTI: Objection!
YOUNG: Objection!

Ms. Gamble--

I mean a relationship.

Have you ever had
a long-term relationship

with a woman?

If so, could I have her name?

Your Honor...
Overruled.

He can answer that one.

Any girlfriends, Mr. Bakey?

I've been extremely
career-oriented.

Lots of nights
at home with mom?

YOUNG: Objection!

Ms. Gamble, knock it off.

Do you have a problem
getting along

with women, Mr. Bakey?

No, I do not.

You kill women,
don't you, Mr. Bakey?

No, I do not.

GAMBLE: Two of the victims
were last seen with you.

No, they were not.

Your witnesses were mistaken.

My witnesses
were mistaken.

Well, too bad for you,
I guess,

that you don't have
any witnesses

other than loving mom.

You have difficulties
with intimacy,

don't you, Mr. Bakey?

It causes you to kill women.

YOUNG: Objection!

KITTLESON: Sustained.

Is it some sexual dysfunction

that causes you to snap?

I asked you a question,
Mr. Bakey.

Do you have some
sexual dysfunction

that caused you to snap

and stab those three women?

I never met those women.

I never took their lives.

The witnesses are mistaken,

as are you, Ms. Gamble.

(door closes)

WYATT: This is so not why
I went to law school.

DOLE: He said upstairs.

I can't believe
we can't hire somebody

to do this.

DOLE: Because there's
something called

privilege, Claire.

WYATT: Yeah. Well,
privilege doesn't require us

to go look at
dead bodies.

DOLE: Just wait here.

WYATT: Uh, right, like
I'm gonna wait anywhere alone.

Oh, my God.

Okay.

She's dead. Let's go.

DOLE: (screams)
WYATT: (screams)

Why are you here?

Oh, my God. Stanley...

Why are you here?

DOLE: Be--because
we had to confirm

that she is--
she was dead.

Why?

DOLE: Because
if she wasn't,

it would be
in your best interest

to save her.

You were gonna tell on me.

DOLE: No, we weren't.

But we needed to be sure

that she wasn't suffering.

I don't think
she suffered that much.

Look at her.

She was so beautiful.

What kind of person would kill

an innocent child like that?

Stanley...

I know you didn't want
to hurt her.

And I know you desperately

don't want to hurt
anybody else.

Given that, maybe we should
go to the police.

No.

I can't go to prison.

I'll go to a hospital,

but not a prison.

You said that before.

Now, look.

Because I didn't go
to a hospital.

I'll go to a doctor,
Lindsay.

I want to.

But not prison.

Not prison.

BERLUTI: Your mother
goes up next,

then we rest.

Okay.

BERLUTI: Are you all right?

(sighs)

Do you think (sighs)

I'm aberrant for living
with my mother?

Well...

it's not...

typical for a 30-year-old man.

If you don't mind my asking,

why do you still live at home?

I'm hugely busy at work.

It's not like I have a family

or a need for my own
place yet.

Well, what about a need

for your independence?

I suppose I...

still feel safe at home.

My parents were divorced

when I was young.

My mother,

she fought all my battles.

She may have undermined
my self-esteem

in the process.

But I guess I've always felt,

I don't know, safe.

I'm gonna throw something out.

It's kind of wild, but...

What?

Well, you've described
your mother

as pretty controlling.

Is it possible
your mother saw you

with these women,

and she killed them,

because, I don't know,

she felt threatened or--

Jimmy, I never met
these women.

I was never with them.
Okay.

RUSSELL: And even if
I was with them,

my mother, she is not capable

of committing murder.

Trust me.
Like I said,

it was a wild idea.

(scoffs)

Is she gonna go after her?

Sorry?

The DA is she planning

to attack my mother?

Probably.

MARSHA (over TV): We're not
looking for a punishment.

We just want
our daughter back.

We're appealing
to your compassion

and to your humanity.

Please.

Please just bring her back.

DONNELL: Can you imagine?

No.

(sighs) How long
has she been gone?

Did they say?

I didn't hear.

This is when I go back
to believing

in the death penalty.

Somebody snatches a child.

Yeah.

(keyboard clacking)

GAMBLE: Come on.

Don't stop on me now.

We just had you serviced.

Come on.

Damn it.

(sighs)

(music playing)

WALSH: "Those who falsely
accuse others

deserve punishment
themselves.

And those who would vilify
a person's mother,

don't attack the mother,
dear Helen."

My God.

Did you send it?

Me?

I'm in jail.

Well, you made a few calls
last night.

A computer expert
could use the phone lines

to send a message.

That's ridiculous, Eugene.

I'd have to know her address.

YOUNG: Well, you might have
plucked it off

some of our discovery
correspondence.

Look,

this is a thinly
veiled threat

on a DA's life, Russell.

That alone could get...

I didn't send it.
Did mom?

Look, I don't know
what's going on.

Maybe the real killer's
playing head games,

but I didn't send that.

And my mother wouldn't even know

how to boot up a computer,

much less
hack into somebody else's.

BERLUTI: It does seem
suspicious, Russell.

Last night you asked me

if Helen Gamble
planned to attack

your mother on the stand.

You used that very word,

attack.

A few hours later,

she gets a message
using the word.

RUSSELL: I promise you

I had nothing to do
with this.

You want me
to take a polygraph?

Wheel a machine in.

I have nothing to do
with this.

Tell them?

Only that she's dead.

I'll go to prison.

Stanley, listen to me.

I will not say who killed her.

I will not even reveal
where she is.

But these parents
are suffering.

They should at least
be notified

that their daughter is gone.

The agony of not knowing.

Stanley,

you have a sickness.

The reason
you struggle with it so

is because I think
you are a man with compassion.

It is inhumane
to let these parents

go day after day
after day

not knowing.

We will in no way
implicate you.

We won't help them find her
or lead them to any evidence.

DOLE: Let us spare
these people some pain, Stanley,

please.

You can tell the parents,
not the police.

DOLE: Well, they'll just go to
the police, anyway, Stanley.

It doesn't...
You can tell the parents,

not the police.

I can vouch for him,
physically,

for two of the murders.

On the third, I'll simply vouch
for his character.

Let's begin with the night
of December 19th.

SYLVIA: He was not only home,

he was sitting
right by my side,

from 8:00 P.M.
through the 11:00 news.

YOUNG: You're sure?

SYLVIA: Positive.

We were watching
It's a Wonderful Life.

It's a Christmas tradition
Russell and I have.

We've been watching
it together

every year going back
to his childhood.

If you check
your local listings,

you'll see that it
aired December 19th.

Well, did he ever
leave the house?

SYLVIA: Never.

He used the little boys' room

during a commercial break
or two,

but other than that,

he was right by my side.

What about the evening
of January 3rd?

Again, he was home.

I sent him
to the market

to pick up a few items,

hence, you saw him
on the video.

But he was home
shortly after 7:00.

YOUNG: Mrs. Bakey,

I would assume
you love your son very much.

I've been divorced over
23 years.

And my son is,
without question,

my dearest
and closest loved one.

Which begs
the question, um,

would you lie
to spare your son

a lifetime of prison?

If faced with that,
I suppose I would, Mr. Young.

But I'm not faced
with that today.

My son was with me.

He was home.

The fact is

my son is innocent
of the crimes

he is being charged with.

Thank you.

Your son is the dearest

and closest loved one
in your life.

Is that the reason
you got divorced 23 years ago?

The reason
was my husband and I

were ill-suited
for marriage.

Well, in the divorce complaint,

your husband alleged

that you sexually molested

your seven-year-old
son, Russell.

He alleged that
as leverage to gain custody.

The charge was baseless

and never considered seriously
by anybody.

Did you used to sleep
with your seven-year-old son?

He'd get scared at night.

I'd let him in the bed.

You slept in the nude?

I never molested my son.

It certainly would explain
a few things.

If mother and son
become lovers...

YOUNG: Objection.
There's no basis for that.

GAMBLE: There's no basis yet,

because I haven't been able
to ask the question.

You need basis
for the question itself,

and there is none.

KITTLESON: I agree.
The objection is sustained.

GAMBLE: Okay.
Then we'll just leave it at

you love your son
so dearly,

and by your own testimony,

you would lie to spare him
a life in prison.

We're looking
for Lindsay Dole.

That's me.

Mr. and Mrs. Burns.

What information
do you have?

Please sit.

Please just tell us.

I think we need to sit.

I'm afraid my information,

it isn't good.

(sighs)

Your daughter is dead.

DOLE: A client of mine
has admitted to me

that he took Cindy's life.

Privilege prevents me
from telling you anything more.

But to spare you further agony
of not knowing, I...

(cries)

I am so sorry.

Is there any chance

that this client
was lying to you?

No.

He told me where...

her body was.

And, uh, I went there.

And it was her.

And she had passed away.

Where is she?

I'm afraid
I can't tell you that.

(sighs)

How was she killed?

I'm afraid
I can't tell you that either.

It's privileged.

(crying)

Oh, God.

(crying) Oh, God.

(crying) Oh, my...

(crying)

WOMAN (over TV):
In an absolutely

stunning development,

the parents of Cindy Burns

were told
by the killer's lawyer

that Cindy has in fact
been murdered.

WYATT: Please don't look at me,
Stanley.

DEEKS: Why isn't, Lindsay...

Please don't look at me.

Lindsay is under
a microscope right now.

There's a chance the police
could watch her every move,

which is why you are not
to come to our office.

Does this...
WYATT: Please don't talk to me.

On the off chance
that I'm being watched,

don't look at me.

Lindsay and I got
subpoenaed this morning.

The police are gonna try
to force us to talk,

but you need not worry,
we won't.

The main thing for you
to remember is do not call us,

do not come to see us.

We will contact you.

Write that down
if you need to, Stanley,

but don't forget it.

Wait for us to contact you.

(breathing heavily)

YOUNG: I'm not saying
we can't win,

but I'm nervous.

If we could get manslaughter...

No.

You came off
like a strange man.

Add to that two of the victims
were last seen with you.

And the third--

I agree with Eugene.

It's a big risk.

Neither of us
has a good feeling here.

And they're offering
manslaughter?

They haven't offered
anything yet.

I need to speak
to Ms. Gamble personally.

Why?
RUSSELL: I just do.

I need to speak to her

before I would even
consider a plea.

I don't know who
put the notion of plea

into your head,

but if you think
I'd offer manslaughter...

What can we get?

Murder two.
YOUNG: Oh, come on, Helen.

This could be
a straight not guilty.

You've got
no forensics evidence...

GAMBLE: Eugene,
I can live with an acquittal,

but the politics
of letting a man

we consider
to be a serial killer

get off on manslaughter...

I would think
the important thing

would be to get him off
the street.

If you brought me in here
to discuss manslaughter,

talk time's over.

RUSSELL: They brought you in
because I wanted to talk to you,

Ms. Gamble.

I want you to know
I don't blame you.

If you truly believe
I'm guilty,

I would expect you
to be zealous against me.

I have no hard feelings.

I don't care.

RUSSELL: One other thing,

I majored in psychology
at Northeastern.

I took many courses
in criminal psychology.

I wish you had taken a few,
because if you had,

you'd know I'm innocent.

I majored in English lit,
bummer.

RUSSELL: I read and reread
that message you received.

My interpretation
is that whoever sent it

doesn't want me convicted.

He's angry with you.

Perhaps the real killer
doesn't like the attention

and credit going to me.

In any event,

I firmly believe

that if you continue
to prosecute me zealously,

you will be killed.

Are you threatening me,
Mr. Bakey?

Me? No.

(chuckling) I'm only saying
that whoever sent this,

in my opinion,

intends very much to kill you

if you don't back off.

Russell.

I think she should know this.

There's no shame in losing.

Everybody knows
the state's case is thin.

But winning
that could be deadly.

Helen, would you excuse us
please?

Are you out of your mind?

To me the message
seemed dangerous.

That's all I was saying.

From my experience,

women never seem
to recognize danger.

What's that supposed
to mean?

Prepare your closing, Eugene.

FRUTT: Privilege is absolute,
Your Honor.

Ms. Dole and Ms. Wyatt
learned what they learned

through a confidential
communication...

It doesn't matter.

By going there,

they became witnesses
themselves.

To what?

Who knows what?

Possible time of death,
position of the body.

The point is privilege
doesn't protect them here.

Once they go to a scene,
they lose any opportunity...

FRUTT: There is no basis
in law for that contention.

What's more,

my clients
didn't disturb the scene...

But why did they go there
at all?

To affirm that Cindy Burns
was in fact dead.

If she were still alive,

they could perhaps
help save her.

And I would submit,
Your Honor,

to hold that a lawyer
blows privilege

by going to a scene

that could have potentially
devastating effects.

No lawyers would ever
go to scenes,

and sometimes that would mean
lives would be lost.

All right. Look...

I won't make them reveal
the identity of their client,

but I am ordering them

to tell us
where the body is.

DOLE: Your Honor,

I won't do that.

MANTLE: Then I'll hold you
in contempt, Ms. Dole.

DOLE: If I tell you
where the body is,

that could lead
to discovery of the evidence,

which could lead you
to my client.

MANTLE: Ms. Dole,

I am giving you
a court order.

Please don't think
I'm kidding.

Lindsay, he's letting you
off the hook here.

He's ordering you.

I'm not looking
to get off a hook.

This is privileged information,
and I won't reveal it.

Security, take Ms. Dole
into custody.

Ms. Wyatt,

I am now ordering you

to tell us where the body is.

How long will
they keep us?

Until we tell.

(sighs)

Or until it becomes clear
we won't.

No murder weapon,

no fingerprints,

no DNA,

no bloodstains,

no forensic evidence
whatsoever.

They searched my client's house,

his car, every stitch
of his clothing.

They couldn't find so much
as a fiber.

All they have--

all they have
are two witnesses

who said they saw a man

who looks a lot
like Russell Bakey,

that, and a videotape

which puts Russell Bakey
in the same supermarket

as the third victim.

Now, that hardly overcomes
all reasonable doubt,

especially, since my client

has an alibi.

For two of the murders,

Russell Bakey has an alibi

that puts him in his home
for the night.

Yes, it's his mother,

and, yes, she might have
a motive to protect him.

He's her son.

But her testimony
stands uncontradicted,

uncontroverted.

His alibi

has not been refuted.

GAMBLE: She's his mother.

She loves him dearly.

We heard that, didn't we?

They even live together,
don't they?

They have
a very special relationship,

this mother and son.

Three women are dead.

All three

have one thing in common,

Russell Bakey.

Two of them
were last seen with him,

the third in the same
supermarket with him.

How many more coincidences
have to happen,

ladies and gentlemen?

Jumper cables found
in his trunk.

These are tools
to help repair cars.

Now, I suppose
that's a big coincidence too.

This man
has serious problems

with women

so he kills them,

slashes a tire,

disconnects a battery,

becomes a Good Samaritan,

and then kills,

with loving mom
waiting at home with an alibi.

We caught him.

We arrested him.

We brought him to trial.

Now, we give him to you.

Let's not pick up
a newspaper one day

and read about
yet another coincidence.

FRUTT: I don't know, Bobby.
The judge

just seems determined
to hold them.

Great. Let's start working
on an appeal.

The law has to be with us here.

They have a verdict.

On TV?

They let cameras in.

KITTLESON: Mr. Foreman,

has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

What say you?

In the matter
of the Commonwealth

versus Russell Bakey,

on the count of murder
in the first degree,

we find the defendant,
Russell Bakey,

not guilty.

WASHINGTON: Unbelievable.

FOREMAN (over TV):
On count two,

murder in the first degree,

we find the defendant,

not guilty.

(sighs)

FOREMAN: On count three,
murder in the first degree,

we find the defendant,

not guilty.

(sighs) Thank God.

KITTLESON: Members of the jury,
this concludes your service.

You are dismissed
with the thanks of the court.

The defendant
is free to go.

(gavel bangs)

Thank you.

Let me bring you home,
sweetheart.

Your room is just as it was.

I'm gonna cook you
a home-cooked meal.

RUSSELL: Okay, Mom.

Thanks, Jimmy.

Thank you, Eugene.

Excuse me.

Ms. Gamble,

I promise you

justice has been done.

Uh-huh.

Also, one might think
this verdict

takes you out of danger.

Let's hope.

YOUNG:
You will not threaten her.

You will not go near her.

Thanks again
for the good work, Eugene.

(rocking chair creaking)

(music playing)

(grunts)

WOMAN: You stinker!

(music playing)