The Practice (1997–2004): Season 8, Episode 15 - Mr. Shore Goes to Town - full transcript
SHORE:
Previously on "The Practice"...
PAUL: Brenda Wilbur,
who I believed you know,
she's dead.
What?
The police are out there.
I was there.
I had made love to her earlier
and now they're here
to ask me questions.
I need money, Alan.
So much so I sometimes see it
in my dreams.
I especially saw it
at 10:30 last night
when I saw Paul Stewart
coming out of Brenda's house.
How are we arranging
to pay her off?
I cannot bribe this witness.
I'm not letting
my only child go to prison.
SHORE: Wives don't statistically
leave their husbands
over infidelity.
You cannot walk out
that door now.
Maybe I do think
he's guilty of murder.
Did he do this?
People change.
If you only knew
what I've become.
When you were 16,
you slept with your
best friend's mother.
How have you changed, Alan?
PAUL: I miss her.
Somebody you love has died.
You're allowed to grieve.
VICTORIA: I'd like you
to stay away from him.
WILSON: I'm sorry?
I fear
he's becoming attached.
I think a little distance
is in order for you,
Ms. Wilson.
This girl ended up
in some very unlikely places.
You, of all people know that.
Meaning?
Was she ever with you?
Are you out of your mind?
Whatever you share
with me here,
it stays confidential
between two old friends.
TOM: Two old friends
having a beer.
You have my word.
It happened once.
I've been subpoenaed
by the prosecution.
Why?
He came here
the night of the murder.
Paul?
TOM: He said that
he needed to confess.
PAUL: I needed to speak
with my priest.
I didn't go to confess murder.
Well, this doesn't look good,
Paul.
You're seen leaving
the victim's house,
then seen minutes later
rushing to a priest
ostensibly to confess.
PAUL: They have no witnesses
to my leaving the house.
SHORE: You hope.
CATHERINE: I saw Paul Stewart
leave Brenda Wilbur's house
around 10:30 the night
of the murder.
Paul's mother paid me $600,000
not to come forward.
But I have no doubt
he killed that woman.
KEVIN: Personally, I think
it's a mistake
to hire Alan Shore.
People in Dedham remember him
and, well...
I won't call him a liar,
but let me put it this way,
if he went out to feed the pigs,
you'd have to get somebody else
to call them.
(laughter)
SHORE: (laughing)
That was very funny, Kevin.
I demand you stop referring
to this man as witless.
Come on, Alan.
CLARKE: We will present evidence
of the affair.
You will hear from a witness
who places the defendant
at the scene.
You will hear
from scientific experts
who establish hair,
body oils, semen,
on or in the victim,
all coming from the defendant.
Clothing taken
from the defendant's home
with blood spatterings
from the victim.
Ladies and gentlemen,
in short, the evidence,
all of it,
eyewitnesses, forensics, motive,
every bit of it
points to one suspect
and only one suspect.
Paul Stewart.
Isn't it exciting?
A murder...
right in our own town.
The delicious kind, too.
One of our own dead,
one of our own charged,
one of our own prosecuting,
and best of all,
one of our own defending, me.
My name is Alan Shore
and I assure you
I'll be doing everything I can
to make this proceeding
all about me.
The prosecution will no doubt
take delight in that,
because you see,
I'm a terrible person.
Paul Stewart, on the other hand,
is a good man.
A kind one, innocent, too,
and they make
for lousy defendants.
Justice...
it works better
when you get bad guys,
not the innocent ones.
And we here in Dedham--
is it time for a break yet,
Judge,
or shall I keep going?
Keep going.
We here in Dedham know
all about travesty, don't we?
Dedham, this very courtroom,
in fact,
is ground zero for one
of the worst miscarriages
of justice
in American history.
Two innocent men,
Nicola Sacco
and Bartolomeo Vanzetti,
were convicted, where we stand,
for crimes
they didn't commit.
Why?
Because the police needed
these murders solved.
Because they--
MARCUS: Mr. Shore...
I'm going to instruct you
to stick to this trial.
This trial...
in a way...
is about a second chance
for Dedham.
In that other case, the one
the judge doesn't want me
to talk about,
we had Albert Einstein,
George Bernard Shaw,
Justice Felix Frankfurter,
the pope even--
the pope,
all writing letters to Dedham
begging for justice.
Pleading that we set
those two innocent men free.
Dedham didn't do that.
On August 23, 1927,
Sacco and Vanzetti
were put to death.
Dedham didn't get it right.
Today, we have, yet again,
an innocent man on trial,
and this time,
we need Dedham
to get it right.
(music playing)
KEVIN: Her eyes
were open and vacant
when we got there,
and her head was like all...
bashed in and mushed.
We found the defendant's semen
in her vaginal area,
we found strands of his hair
on her person,
and we found his oil secretions
on her person.
But you, in fact,
suspected Paul Stewart
even before the blood
and hair analysis.
Yes, because a witness
placed him at the scene.
In fact, the witness placed him
at the scene
on many occasions.
We suspected the affair
and when we first went
to question Mr. Stewart,
his lawyer just so happened
to be there.
I believe Mr. Stewart
has a constitutional right
to counsel
and I'd remind the court
this is the United States
of America.
Forgive me.
I'm sorry, I was thinking
about the old America,
sorry.
MARCUS: Mr. Shore,
the court does not intend
to tolerate your distractions.
CLARKE: I have nothing further,
Judge.
MARCUS: All right, Mr. Shore,
now it's your turn.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Well, detective.
So how are we today?
Fine.
Tell me, would you
regard yourself
as a good detective?
Yes.
You would.
So all the evidence
that exists against my client,
we should figure you to have it.
Well...
you say a witness placed
Mr. Stewart at the scene.
That witness would be
Catherine Piper?
KEVIN: Yes.
SHORE: Would you stand,
Catherine?
Is this witness the heart
of your detectiving?
KEVIN: No, she merely
supports my findings.
The heart would be
the physical evidence
linking the defendant
to the case.
Ah, the physical evidence.
You mean, like,
the murder weapon?
Where is the murder weapon,
by the way?
We didn't find it.
You didn't find it?
He obviously ditched it.
Ditched it?
Where?
You claim you've been able
to plot out
the exact route and timeline.
My client went
from Brenda's house,
to church,
to his mother's house,
to his own house,
where he stayed till morning.
At which point,
he went to his office
and from there
the police station.
So, where did he ditch it?
We don't know.
SHORE: You don't know.
That's disturbing.
Let's turn to the victim then.
Brenda Wilbur,
where is she?
The body was inadvertently
destroyed
but the autopsy
had been completed.
Gee, no body, no murder weapon.
Well, lucky for us
we have a good detective.
Objection.
SHORE: So let me
get this straight,
by physical evidence,
you mean...
For starters, his semen.
I see.
And his semen would explain
a, making love to her
or b, killing her
or c, loading zone
for passengers only?
It means that he was there.
But he could have been there
hours earlier, couldn't he?
His hairs were on her,
and his oil secretions.
Tell me, detective, honestly.
You actually found
his hair samples
and body oil secretions
right on the victim?
Yes.
SHORE: As she lay there dead?
Yes.
You're sure.
Yes.
Well then...
I can see why
you suspected him.
Nothing further.
Oh, I'm curious.
Did you find anybody else's hair
or body oil secretions
on the victim?
Say, for example, mine?
Did you find my hair
and oil secretions
on the corpse, detective?
Yes, because you fainted
on it.
SHORE: Well, why didn't you
question me?
I certainly had motive.
I'm the one person in town
she didn't sleep with.
Maybe I killed her.
CLARKE: Objection.
You think you're funny?
Any of your hair and fibers
on her, detective?
Because I helped you up
after you fainted.
So there was evidence
of you on the victim?
Detective,
you led this jury to believe
there was evidence
of Paul Stewart
and only Paul Stewart
on the body.
That wasn't honest.
I won't call you a liar
but who feeds your pigs?
CLARKE: Objection.
SHORE: Sustained.
So, let's see.
I could be a suspect.
How about Catherine Piper?
She hated Brenda.
Stand up, Catherine.
Did you investigate her?
No.
You can sit down, Catherine.
Wendy, hi.
Would you stand up, please.
Scorned wife,
she certainly had a motive.
No alibi, I'm told.
Did you check her out?
I'm sure you didn't.
You can sit down.
Thank you, Wendy.
So many suspects.
Let's not forget you, Kev.
Stand up, judge.
Dah, never mind.
But you get my point,
don't you, detective?
You really only looked
at one person, didn't you?
Three years of fifth grade.
We expected better.
Shoddy work, Detective.
Objection.
SHORE: Sustained.
I'm very disappointed.
Is that why you wanted me
in the room?
So you could point to me
as a possible suspect?
I wanted you in the room
to help secure an acquittal
for your husband.
We do want that,
don't we, Wendy?
CATHERINE: Hello.
I want you to know
I don't mind
being a suspect at all.
It gives me edge.
SHORE: Catherine, I'm having
a private conversation here.
Well, don't dillydally, dear.
My testimony's up next.
We certainly
don't want to miss that.
He would come to her house
at least three times a week.
He'd park on the corner
of Milton and Tobey
and then he'd walk a block.
Three times a week?
Yes,
to have lascivious sex
with her.
CLARKE: Miss Piper, on the day
Brenda Wilbur was murdered--
He was there.
CLARKE: When?
CATHERINE: Well...
he came in the afternoon
and then...
I saw him return that night,
before 10:00.
Objection.
On what grounds?
From my...
interview with the witness.
I believe she's misspoken.
No, I haven't.
Could I be allowed to finish?
Sit, Mr. Shore.
CLARKE:
You saw him return at 10:00 pm.
CATHERINE: Yes.
CLARKE: On the night
Brenda Wilbur was murdered?
Yes.
CLARKE: And when did he leave?
Just after 10:30.
And he was running
like there was something
terribly wrong.
CLARKE: Now, Miss Piper,
when the police
first questioned you,
you said nothing
about the defendant
being there that night.
Because Victoria Stewart,
Paul's mother,
paid me $600,000 not to.
We're dead.
CLARKE:
The mother of the defendant
paid you $600,000.
And I'm so ashamed to say
I took it.
I think that's why Mr. Shore
was expecting me to lie
just now.
But my conscience
simply got the better of me.
That's why I came to you.
I'm not the noblest of people.
I'm obviously
not above extortion,
or even lying,
but I just couldn't lie
to help somebody get away
with murder.
No, I can't do that.
Thank you, ma'am.
Hello, Catherine.
Hello.
Tell me, Catherine.
How do you feel
about Victoria Stewart?
Why, I loathe her,
of course.
As does everyone else
in this town.
SHORE: Yes, and in fact,
I bet it occurred to you,
you could get
the extortion money
and still bring her down
by going to the police.
Why, yes,
that was exactly my thinking.
Just for fun, could you tell us
your opinion of Brenda Wilbur?
She was a godless whore.
SHORE: In fact,
you complained to the police
about all the men
she entertained.
Tell me, did you ever recognize
any of these men?
I don't associate
with those kinds of people.
I see,
so in reviewing your testimony,
you hated Brenda,
you hate Victoria,
and, in fact, extorted her,
you saw a lot of men
enter and leave
what eventually turned out
to be the murder scene.
But the only one
you seem to remember
is my client.
I guess that's pretty much it,
right?
You didn't see anybody
commit any crime, did you?
No, but I'm sure he did it.
SHORE: I see.
By the way...
when you and I said hello
a few weeks ago,
we shook hands.
You had something on your glove.
Do you remember, what that was?
Dog crap.
SHORE: Yes.
Do you remember why
you reached for my hand
with dog stool on yours?
Because you put dog stool
in a bag
and left in on my doorstep.
And you ruined
my fleece slippers.
This happened when?
In 1971.
So you were getting even
for a Halloween prank
I pulled when I was 9.
Yes.
You hate godless whores
and you're a fan of vengeance.
I am a Christian, dear.
(church bell ringing)
I'm not breaking any seal.
SHORE: I'm not asking you to.
But you could verify
that Brenda Wilbur
was a sexually aggressive woman
who got herself into situations.
How would I know that?
SHORE: Tom, we're desperate.
I may have to ask you--
I'll lie.
No, you won't.
It's not in your character.
You gave me your word.
I realize that.
If I had something to say
that would help Paul--
You do.
I don't.
The only thing that would come
from my little admission...
is the destruction of my church,
my parish...
and me, and I won't do it.
I will lie
and I'll be believed.
And your case will just look
all the more desperate.
I may have
to take that chance.
You'll regret it.
I promise you.
There's no reason to panic.
No reason?
The jury just heard
that my mother
tried to bribe a witness.
Your mother did, you didn't.
PAUL: I am dead, Tara.
We still have a witness
who thought that he saw a woman.
We still have your testimony--
My testimony--
Not to forget--listen, Paul--
PAUL: Don't handle me, Tara.
You know, I realize
that's your assignment here
to handhold the client,
but don't.
My assignment isn't...
to handhold the client.
Let me ask you something, Tara.
Do you think I'm innocent?
Yes.
Yes.
Paul...
VICTORIA: Paul?
Could I have a moment
with Ms. Wilson, please?
Why?
I'd like a moment.
(sighs)
You and I
had a certain discussion.
My son has a family,
Ms. Wilson.
Despite this temporary setback,
Paul Stewart
is a respected doctor
and family man
in this community.
That is the reputation
he once had
and will have again,
Ms. Wilson.
I am confident
you don't mean to interfere
with that.
TOM: I was actually
getting ready to go home
when he came in.
CLARKE: This was around?
11:00 or so.
Maybe a little bit earlier.
Father, can you describe
the defendant as he entered
your church that night?
He seemed agitated.
Agitated?
Did he say anything?
He asked if he could go
into the confessional.
CLARKE:
Did something seem wrong?
Yes.
Did you go
into the confessional?
No.
He saw a member
of the cleaning crew.
He seemed to panic
and he ran out of the church.
And this was on
or around 11:00 p. m.
the night that Brenda Wilbur
was murdered?
Yes.
Thank you, Father.
This agitation,
in your opinion,
could it be consistent with Paul
seeing Brenda's murdered body,
a woman he loved,
being emotionally traumatized
by what he saw?
Something that made him run
to his clergy.
Yes, it could be consistent
with all of that.
Father...
Brenda Wilbur led a rather
promiscuous life, didn't she?
She was involved
with various men,
any number of whom,
could have come to her house
that night.
I wouldn't know.
You wouldn't know?
You were her priest,
were you not?
I was.
Did she not indicate
her propensity to seduce men?
I cannot break
the confessional seal.
I'm bound by canon law.
Were you ever able
to observe her
outside the confessional?
Something you could talk about.
No.
Father, may I ask,
were you ever romantically
intimate with Brenda Wilbur?
Father, I asked you a question.
I'll need to insist
on an answer.
Did you have sex
with Brenda Wilbur?
MARCUS: Father...
we need a response.
Yes...
I did.
Was it she who seduced you?
Yes.
Did she ever threaten
to expose this
to bring shame upon you
and your parish?
No...
she did not.
The other night,
I came up here to sit.
I was pretending
we were 10 years old again.
With everything ahead of us.
I've always believed
life should come
with one free "do over."
Are we gonna win?
Listen,
our defense has shifted
a little.
After I call Paul,
I'm calling you.
Me?
You need to explain
why you bribed Catherine Piper.
You need to convince the jury
Paul had nothing to do
with that.
I thought the idea
was to distance me
from the defense.
SHORE: Well,
you've made that impossible.
PAUL: We had made love that day.
Evening, really,
it was around 6:00.
I left,
returned around 10:00
after I couldn't get her
on the phone.
And then I found her.
Dead?
Yes.
Then what did you do?
I was experiencing panic.
Panic?
I'm--
I was a married man,
a family man,
I had a lot riding
in this community
that stemmed from leading
a life of integrity.
I think I felt
my life imploding.
Why didn't you call the police?
Clearly, I should have.
There was nothing I could do
to help Brenda.
As I said, I panicked
and I ran to Tom.
Father Dugan?
PAUL: Yes.
I went to the church,
I think, I guess to...
seek counsel or support.
And then when I got
to the church,
I saw somebody
from the cleaning crew
and I panicked once again.
I ran to my mother's.
What did you do there?
PAUL: There's a tree house
in the woods
out back that I built
as a child with you, actually.
It's a hideout from the world.
I think I went there
to seek refuge, I guess.
Paul, how long
had you been having
an affair with Brenda?
It was two years.
SHORE: Do you know if there
were other men in her life?
I believe there were, yes.
But she would never tell me
because...
Because why?
Because she knew I loved her.
Did you kill her?
No.
I was there that night
but I didn't kill her
and I didn't see who did.
CLARKE: You find a loved one
lying in a pool of blood,
you don't call an ambulance,
you don't call the police,
you just leave.
I knew she was dead.
And as for the police, I--
my family name in this town--
Oh, yes,
the family name.
Tell me about
this tree house you built?
You're into carpentry, doctor?
It's a hobby.
Hobby?
Funny, we confiscated a toolbox
in the trunk of your car.
Couldn't find a hammer.
The toolbox was missing more
than just a hammer.
It was also missing
several tools--
But, notably, the hammer.
I believe you seized
several hammers from my house.
None that matched that set.
PAUL: Look, you traced
my moves that night.
If I had tossed or ditched
a weapon--
CLARKE: Where's the hammer,
Dr. Stewart?
Your Honor,
I must object to this.
It's one thing
not to have evidence,
it's quite another to try
to prosecute with that
which you do not have.
Well, I tell you,
I have a hammer.
It's a hammer of justice,
it's a hammer of freedom.
It's a song about love
between my brothers
and my sisters
all over this land.
Except, perhaps,
Dedham, Massachusetts.
What?
I have good news and bad news.
SHORE: Bad news first.
My focus group thinks Paul
is guilty.
And the good?
They love you.
Splendid.
Alan, we might want to think
about a plea.
Okay.
I think not.
This focus group is obviously
trying to tell us something.
SHORE: Jamie,
try to understand this.
If we plead out,
I don't get to
give my closing.
And I've practiced it, so.
You need to take this seriously.
PAUL: Everybody out now.
Except Alan.
I'm the client, I get to call
the occasional shot.
Everybody out now.
(door closes)
Seems like the old days.
You and I getting
in all kinds of trouble
and you having the time
of your life.
I'm facing prison.
I'm doing the very best I can.
Is there a good deal
to be made here?
For a guilty man,
I'm sure there's a terrific deal
to be had.
For the innocent
it would be despicably unfair.
Which would you like, Paul?
Good or bad?
I didn't kill Brenda.
I know you didn't.
So let's not quit.
I know it was a stupid thing
to do.
SHORE: So why did you do it?
I suppose I was afraid that...
my son wouldn't get
a fair trial.
I know how people think of me.
SHORE: But, Victoria,
if you knew
your son was innocent,
why bribe a witness?
Catherine Piper's so biased.
I was...
concerned that she'd paint
the worst possible picture,
And I--
it was a bad idea.
One that--
I was probably...
blinded a little...
by my love for Paul.
Your love for Paul.
The perception is Paul
is the most precious thing
in your life.
Yes.
As Paul's oldest friend,
I've known you a very long time,
haven't I?
Yes, you have.
SHORE: When I was 16 years old,
you and I made love.
Several times, in fact.
(gavel bangs)
(gavel banging)
MARCUS: Mr. Shore,
as riveted as I am and I am,
I'm not sure this
has anything to do
with this trial.
I'm afraid it does,
Your Honor.
Sleeping with me caused you
a great deal of distress,
didn't it, Victoria?
As I recall,
you saw a therapist,
and he opined you were perhaps,
on some unconscious level,
not so much making love to me
but rather to Paul.
Victoria, are you in love
with your son?
That's ridiculous.
Is it?
I once asked you
why you never remarried
after your husband died.
And your response was,
"You know full well why."
Was that an admission to me
you were in love with your son?
I love my son...
the way a mother loves a child.
It was never romantic love.
Did you kill Brenda Wilbur?
Brenda Wilbur was not only
compromising your son
with a sordid affair,
she was not only destroying
his family,
his reputation,
she was sleeping with the man
you wanted to sleep with.
That is sick.
If I'm gonna be accused
of such depravity,
I should like to consult
an attorney.
That's all right, Victoria.
I won't accuse you of anything.
Well,
that was wonderful.
I guess, since paying off
the witness didn't work out,
why not a little performance.
And that was just wonderful.
I guess we'll leave it at,
you really,
really love your son.
MARCUS: Mr. Shore?
Defense rests, Your Honor.
SHORE: Ideally, whenever a crime
is committed,
the police should conduct
an open,
thorough investigation...
leading to a conclusion.
In the best case scenario,
the truth.
But that presumes
having unlimited resources
which clearly we don't.
So, what often happens,
we pick the most likely guy
and exhaust what we've got
trying to nail him.
That happened
80-plus years ago
with Sacco and Vanzetti,
it's happening here
with Paul Stewart.
Every year,
10,000 innocent people
are convicted in this country.
That's according to one study.
Others say that figure is low.
That's staggering.
It's disgraceful.
Ten thousand
wrongful convictions every year.
Why?
Mainly because juries
don't insist
on finding guilt
beyond all reasonable doubt.
When a person is killed,
we want somebody convicted.
It's human nature.
There's closure in saying
a crime has been solved.
There's also safety in it.
We like to go to bed at night
thinking the bad guy
has been captured,
especially in small towns
where we're desperate
to feel safe.
Please, let Paul Stewart
be the guy.
He must be the guy.
He's not the guy.
So, who is?
Catherine Piper
is a lunatic
who not only derives glee
in making the Stewart
family suffer,
she hated the victim as well.
And she just so happened to live
right across the street
from her.
Wendy Stewart...
had motive.
She was angry and hurt.
Betrayed wives have certainly
been known to react
with violence.
And she has no alibi.
Father Tom Dugan.
He had illicit sex
with the victim.
She had a history
of committing extortion,
he had everything to lose.
And let's not forget Victoria.
Obsessed with her son's life,
his reputation,
his legacy.
Or simply obsessed
with her son.
The point is, people,
there are many
potential suspects
in this case.
And that would include
all the strangers
in Brenda Wilbur's life.
We know nothing
of the nature
and disposition
of those relationships,
of the possible jealousies
and betrayals
precisely because...
they were never investigated.
Paul Stewart represented
only a small fraction
of this woman's life.
If this jury
is going to insist
on finding guilt
beyond all reasonable doubt,
Paul Stewart must be acquitted.
Nobody witnessed this crime
being committed.
The murder weapon
was never found,
despite the police tracing
my client's every step.
Prosecution inadvertently
destroyed the victim's body
before we could properly
examine it.
Of course,
there's reasonable doubt.
Reasonable doubt.
I love Paul Stewart
as I would a brother.
I grew up with him.
It's one of the reasons
I know he's innocent.
He's not infallible,
he had an affair.
It may cost him his marriage,
perhaps the respect
of his children.
But he did not--
Paul could not take the life
of another human being.
He simply could not.
This may surprise you.
I love Dedham, Massachusetts.
I grew up here.
I'm offended...
by its legacy of convicting
innocent people
because I know
that's not who we are.
This time,
let's set the innocent man free.
CLARKE: Rarely do we
actually see somebody...
commit the crime.
Typically, criminal cases
are circumstantial.
Now, the circumstances here
are that the defendant
had an affair with the victim.
There was evidence
that she tried to extort him.
He had incentive to protect
his family name,
and his community status.
His hair,
fibers, body oils were found
all over the victim.
His semen was found
in the victim.
Blood all over his clothes.
He was spotted leaving
the scene.
That is overwhelming
circumstantial evidence,
ladies and gentlemen.
And it certainly allows you
to find guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt.
Now, I suspect
the defense counsel
already knows that,
which is why
he began finger-pointing
elsewhere, everywhere.
Oh, hey,
maybe an eyewitness did it.
Oh, perhaps the priest.
Hey, how about the defendant's
own mother?
And to compound
this blatant attack
on your intelligence,
Mr. Shore buttons
his eloquent closing
by appealing to your sense
of justice.
This lawyer deliberately fell
on the body
to contaminate evidence.
The mother of the defendant
tried to buy a witness.
They staged
a performance by mom
to make you think
that she killed the victim
out of jealousy.
Now, this would be funny
if it weren't a murder trial.
But it is.
That man picked up a hammer
and bludgeoned a woman to death.
He's asking you to ignore that
because of Sacco and Vanzetti.
The police didn't explore
any other suspects,
ladies and gentlemen,
because there are
no other suspects.
Paul Stewart is the man
who killed Brenda Wilbur,
which is why he dashed off
to his priest
to confess.
(music playing)
At some point,
will they send us home?
9:00.
He was really compelling,
the DA.
How many times
are you gonna say that?
Well, I said you were good too.
If the news is bad,
do I go into custody
right away?
The news isn't gonna be bad.
We're winning.
(music playing)
(indistinct chatter)
Don't they make eye contact
when it's an acquittal?
No.
Yes.
MARCUS: I'm going to call
on the Foreperson
to read the verdict.
And I want decorum
maintained by everyone,
especially the media.
Madam Foreperson,
do you have a verdict?
Yes, Your Honor.
Mr. Stewart,
you may stand up
for the reading.
Would you please...
announce your verdict?
FOREPERSON: On the matter
of the Commonwealth
vs. Paul Stewart,
on the charge of murder
in the first degree,
we, the jury,
find the defendant,
Paul Stewart,
not guilty.
(indistinct chatter)
MARCUS: The jury is dismissed.
(gavel bangs)
MARCUS: We're adjourned.
(applause)
MAN: Mr. Shore.
(indistinct chatter)
Thank you.
TARA: Paul, Congratulations.
Boo.
Boo.
I don't know what to say.
You owe me a lot of beer.
I just have
two questions for you.
Okay.
Who do you think
killed her, really?
How in God's name
would I know?
It wasn't me.
Did you really love my mother?
I did.
That stuff about her
being romantically in love
with me, is any of that...
Trial strategy.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I got a great idea.
When's the last time
you smoked pot?
Wow.
Depending on the...
integrity of the container.
What are you doing?
Our secret panel
in the tree trunk.
I put some good Columbian
down there years ago.
It's nailed.
When did it get nailed?
I don't know.
It looks like an old nail.
How can you see
in this light whether--
Paul, if I were to shine
a light down the tree trunk,
what might I see?
I don't want to look down
the tree trunk,
do I, Paul?
No, you don't.
I really loved her, you know?
And she didn't.
(sighs)
I really loved her.
(music playing)
(music playing)
BOY: Score! Score! Score!
WOMAN: You stinker!
BOY: Oh. (groans)
(music playing)
Previously on "The Practice"...
PAUL: Brenda Wilbur,
who I believed you know,
she's dead.
What?
The police are out there.
I was there.
I had made love to her earlier
and now they're here
to ask me questions.
I need money, Alan.
So much so I sometimes see it
in my dreams.
I especially saw it
at 10:30 last night
when I saw Paul Stewart
coming out of Brenda's house.
How are we arranging
to pay her off?
I cannot bribe this witness.
I'm not letting
my only child go to prison.
SHORE: Wives don't statistically
leave their husbands
over infidelity.
You cannot walk out
that door now.
Maybe I do think
he's guilty of murder.
Did he do this?
People change.
If you only knew
what I've become.
When you were 16,
you slept with your
best friend's mother.
How have you changed, Alan?
PAUL: I miss her.
Somebody you love has died.
You're allowed to grieve.
VICTORIA: I'd like you
to stay away from him.
WILSON: I'm sorry?
I fear
he's becoming attached.
I think a little distance
is in order for you,
Ms. Wilson.
This girl ended up
in some very unlikely places.
You, of all people know that.
Meaning?
Was she ever with you?
Are you out of your mind?
Whatever you share
with me here,
it stays confidential
between two old friends.
TOM: Two old friends
having a beer.
You have my word.
It happened once.
I've been subpoenaed
by the prosecution.
Why?
He came here
the night of the murder.
Paul?
TOM: He said that
he needed to confess.
PAUL: I needed to speak
with my priest.
I didn't go to confess murder.
Well, this doesn't look good,
Paul.
You're seen leaving
the victim's house,
then seen minutes later
rushing to a priest
ostensibly to confess.
PAUL: They have no witnesses
to my leaving the house.
SHORE: You hope.
CATHERINE: I saw Paul Stewart
leave Brenda Wilbur's house
around 10:30 the night
of the murder.
Paul's mother paid me $600,000
not to come forward.
But I have no doubt
he killed that woman.
KEVIN: Personally, I think
it's a mistake
to hire Alan Shore.
People in Dedham remember him
and, well...
I won't call him a liar,
but let me put it this way,
if he went out to feed the pigs,
you'd have to get somebody else
to call them.
(laughter)
SHORE: (laughing)
That was very funny, Kevin.
I demand you stop referring
to this man as witless.
Come on, Alan.
CLARKE: We will present evidence
of the affair.
You will hear from a witness
who places the defendant
at the scene.
You will hear
from scientific experts
who establish hair,
body oils, semen,
on or in the victim,
all coming from the defendant.
Clothing taken
from the defendant's home
with blood spatterings
from the victim.
Ladies and gentlemen,
in short, the evidence,
all of it,
eyewitnesses, forensics, motive,
every bit of it
points to one suspect
and only one suspect.
Paul Stewart.
Isn't it exciting?
A murder...
right in our own town.
The delicious kind, too.
One of our own dead,
one of our own charged,
one of our own prosecuting,
and best of all,
one of our own defending, me.
My name is Alan Shore
and I assure you
I'll be doing everything I can
to make this proceeding
all about me.
The prosecution will no doubt
take delight in that,
because you see,
I'm a terrible person.
Paul Stewart, on the other hand,
is a good man.
A kind one, innocent, too,
and they make
for lousy defendants.
Justice...
it works better
when you get bad guys,
not the innocent ones.
And we here in Dedham--
is it time for a break yet,
Judge,
or shall I keep going?
Keep going.
We here in Dedham know
all about travesty, don't we?
Dedham, this very courtroom,
in fact,
is ground zero for one
of the worst miscarriages
of justice
in American history.
Two innocent men,
Nicola Sacco
and Bartolomeo Vanzetti,
were convicted, where we stand,
for crimes
they didn't commit.
Why?
Because the police needed
these murders solved.
Because they--
MARCUS: Mr. Shore...
I'm going to instruct you
to stick to this trial.
This trial...
in a way...
is about a second chance
for Dedham.
In that other case, the one
the judge doesn't want me
to talk about,
we had Albert Einstein,
George Bernard Shaw,
Justice Felix Frankfurter,
the pope even--
the pope,
all writing letters to Dedham
begging for justice.
Pleading that we set
those two innocent men free.
Dedham didn't do that.
On August 23, 1927,
Sacco and Vanzetti
were put to death.
Dedham didn't get it right.
Today, we have, yet again,
an innocent man on trial,
and this time,
we need Dedham
to get it right.
(music playing)
KEVIN: Her eyes
were open and vacant
when we got there,
and her head was like all...
bashed in and mushed.
We found the defendant's semen
in her vaginal area,
we found strands of his hair
on her person,
and we found his oil secretions
on her person.
But you, in fact,
suspected Paul Stewart
even before the blood
and hair analysis.
Yes, because a witness
placed him at the scene.
In fact, the witness placed him
at the scene
on many occasions.
We suspected the affair
and when we first went
to question Mr. Stewart,
his lawyer just so happened
to be there.
I believe Mr. Stewart
has a constitutional right
to counsel
and I'd remind the court
this is the United States
of America.
Forgive me.
I'm sorry, I was thinking
about the old America,
sorry.
MARCUS: Mr. Shore,
the court does not intend
to tolerate your distractions.
CLARKE: I have nothing further,
Judge.
MARCUS: All right, Mr. Shore,
now it's your turn.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Well, detective.
So how are we today?
Fine.
Tell me, would you
regard yourself
as a good detective?
Yes.
You would.
So all the evidence
that exists against my client,
we should figure you to have it.
Well...
you say a witness placed
Mr. Stewart at the scene.
That witness would be
Catherine Piper?
KEVIN: Yes.
SHORE: Would you stand,
Catherine?
Is this witness the heart
of your detectiving?
KEVIN: No, she merely
supports my findings.
The heart would be
the physical evidence
linking the defendant
to the case.
Ah, the physical evidence.
You mean, like,
the murder weapon?
Where is the murder weapon,
by the way?
We didn't find it.
You didn't find it?
He obviously ditched it.
Ditched it?
Where?
You claim you've been able
to plot out
the exact route and timeline.
My client went
from Brenda's house,
to church,
to his mother's house,
to his own house,
where he stayed till morning.
At which point,
he went to his office
and from there
the police station.
So, where did he ditch it?
We don't know.
SHORE: You don't know.
That's disturbing.
Let's turn to the victim then.
Brenda Wilbur,
where is she?
The body was inadvertently
destroyed
but the autopsy
had been completed.
Gee, no body, no murder weapon.
Well, lucky for us
we have a good detective.
Objection.
SHORE: So let me
get this straight,
by physical evidence,
you mean...
For starters, his semen.
I see.
And his semen would explain
a, making love to her
or b, killing her
or c, loading zone
for passengers only?
It means that he was there.
But he could have been there
hours earlier, couldn't he?
His hairs were on her,
and his oil secretions.
Tell me, detective, honestly.
You actually found
his hair samples
and body oil secretions
right on the victim?
Yes.
SHORE: As she lay there dead?
Yes.
You're sure.
Yes.
Well then...
I can see why
you suspected him.
Nothing further.
Oh, I'm curious.
Did you find anybody else's hair
or body oil secretions
on the victim?
Say, for example, mine?
Did you find my hair
and oil secretions
on the corpse, detective?
Yes, because you fainted
on it.
SHORE: Well, why didn't you
question me?
I certainly had motive.
I'm the one person in town
she didn't sleep with.
Maybe I killed her.
CLARKE: Objection.
You think you're funny?
Any of your hair and fibers
on her, detective?
Because I helped you up
after you fainted.
So there was evidence
of you on the victim?
Detective,
you led this jury to believe
there was evidence
of Paul Stewart
and only Paul Stewart
on the body.
That wasn't honest.
I won't call you a liar
but who feeds your pigs?
CLARKE: Objection.
SHORE: Sustained.
So, let's see.
I could be a suspect.
How about Catherine Piper?
She hated Brenda.
Stand up, Catherine.
Did you investigate her?
No.
You can sit down, Catherine.
Wendy, hi.
Would you stand up, please.
Scorned wife,
she certainly had a motive.
No alibi, I'm told.
Did you check her out?
I'm sure you didn't.
You can sit down.
Thank you, Wendy.
So many suspects.
Let's not forget you, Kev.
Stand up, judge.
Dah, never mind.
But you get my point,
don't you, detective?
You really only looked
at one person, didn't you?
Three years of fifth grade.
We expected better.
Shoddy work, Detective.
Objection.
SHORE: Sustained.
I'm very disappointed.
Is that why you wanted me
in the room?
So you could point to me
as a possible suspect?
I wanted you in the room
to help secure an acquittal
for your husband.
We do want that,
don't we, Wendy?
CATHERINE: Hello.
I want you to know
I don't mind
being a suspect at all.
It gives me edge.
SHORE: Catherine, I'm having
a private conversation here.
Well, don't dillydally, dear.
My testimony's up next.
We certainly
don't want to miss that.
He would come to her house
at least three times a week.
He'd park on the corner
of Milton and Tobey
and then he'd walk a block.
Three times a week?
Yes,
to have lascivious sex
with her.
CLARKE: Miss Piper, on the day
Brenda Wilbur was murdered--
He was there.
CLARKE: When?
CATHERINE: Well...
he came in the afternoon
and then...
I saw him return that night,
before 10:00.
Objection.
On what grounds?
From my...
interview with the witness.
I believe she's misspoken.
No, I haven't.
Could I be allowed to finish?
Sit, Mr. Shore.
CLARKE:
You saw him return at 10:00 pm.
CATHERINE: Yes.
CLARKE: On the night
Brenda Wilbur was murdered?
Yes.
CLARKE: And when did he leave?
Just after 10:30.
And he was running
like there was something
terribly wrong.
CLARKE: Now, Miss Piper,
when the police
first questioned you,
you said nothing
about the defendant
being there that night.
Because Victoria Stewart,
Paul's mother,
paid me $600,000 not to.
We're dead.
CLARKE:
The mother of the defendant
paid you $600,000.
And I'm so ashamed to say
I took it.
I think that's why Mr. Shore
was expecting me to lie
just now.
But my conscience
simply got the better of me.
That's why I came to you.
I'm not the noblest of people.
I'm obviously
not above extortion,
or even lying,
but I just couldn't lie
to help somebody get away
with murder.
No, I can't do that.
Thank you, ma'am.
Hello, Catherine.
Hello.
Tell me, Catherine.
How do you feel
about Victoria Stewart?
Why, I loathe her,
of course.
As does everyone else
in this town.
SHORE: Yes, and in fact,
I bet it occurred to you,
you could get
the extortion money
and still bring her down
by going to the police.
Why, yes,
that was exactly my thinking.
Just for fun, could you tell us
your opinion of Brenda Wilbur?
She was a godless whore.
SHORE: In fact,
you complained to the police
about all the men
she entertained.
Tell me, did you ever recognize
any of these men?
I don't associate
with those kinds of people.
I see,
so in reviewing your testimony,
you hated Brenda,
you hate Victoria,
and, in fact, extorted her,
you saw a lot of men
enter and leave
what eventually turned out
to be the murder scene.
But the only one
you seem to remember
is my client.
I guess that's pretty much it,
right?
You didn't see anybody
commit any crime, did you?
No, but I'm sure he did it.
SHORE: I see.
By the way...
when you and I said hello
a few weeks ago,
we shook hands.
You had something on your glove.
Do you remember, what that was?
Dog crap.
SHORE: Yes.
Do you remember why
you reached for my hand
with dog stool on yours?
Because you put dog stool
in a bag
and left in on my doorstep.
And you ruined
my fleece slippers.
This happened when?
In 1971.
So you were getting even
for a Halloween prank
I pulled when I was 9.
Yes.
You hate godless whores
and you're a fan of vengeance.
I am a Christian, dear.
(church bell ringing)
I'm not breaking any seal.
SHORE: I'm not asking you to.
But you could verify
that Brenda Wilbur
was a sexually aggressive woman
who got herself into situations.
How would I know that?
SHORE: Tom, we're desperate.
I may have to ask you--
I'll lie.
No, you won't.
It's not in your character.
You gave me your word.
I realize that.
If I had something to say
that would help Paul--
You do.
I don't.
The only thing that would come
from my little admission...
is the destruction of my church,
my parish...
and me, and I won't do it.
I will lie
and I'll be believed.
And your case will just look
all the more desperate.
I may have
to take that chance.
You'll regret it.
I promise you.
There's no reason to panic.
No reason?
The jury just heard
that my mother
tried to bribe a witness.
Your mother did, you didn't.
PAUL: I am dead, Tara.
We still have a witness
who thought that he saw a woman.
We still have your testimony--
My testimony--
Not to forget--listen, Paul--
PAUL: Don't handle me, Tara.
You know, I realize
that's your assignment here
to handhold the client,
but don't.
My assignment isn't...
to handhold the client.
Let me ask you something, Tara.
Do you think I'm innocent?
Yes.
Yes.
Paul...
VICTORIA: Paul?
Could I have a moment
with Ms. Wilson, please?
Why?
I'd like a moment.
(sighs)
You and I
had a certain discussion.
My son has a family,
Ms. Wilson.
Despite this temporary setback,
Paul Stewart
is a respected doctor
and family man
in this community.
That is the reputation
he once had
and will have again,
Ms. Wilson.
I am confident
you don't mean to interfere
with that.
TOM: I was actually
getting ready to go home
when he came in.
CLARKE: This was around?
11:00 or so.
Maybe a little bit earlier.
Father, can you describe
the defendant as he entered
your church that night?
He seemed agitated.
Agitated?
Did he say anything?
He asked if he could go
into the confessional.
CLARKE:
Did something seem wrong?
Yes.
Did you go
into the confessional?
No.
He saw a member
of the cleaning crew.
He seemed to panic
and he ran out of the church.
And this was on
or around 11:00 p. m.
the night that Brenda Wilbur
was murdered?
Yes.
Thank you, Father.
This agitation,
in your opinion,
could it be consistent with Paul
seeing Brenda's murdered body,
a woman he loved,
being emotionally traumatized
by what he saw?
Something that made him run
to his clergy.
Yes, it could be consistent
with all of that.
Father...
Brenda Wilbur led a rather
promiscuous life, didn't she?
She was involved
with various men,
any number of whom,
could have come to her house
that night.
I wouldn't know.
You wouldn't know?
You were her priest,
were you not?
I was.
Did she not indicate
her propensity to seduce men?
I cannot break
the confessional seal.
I'm bound by canon law.
Were you ever able
to observe her
outside the confessional?
Something you could talk about.
No.
Father, may I ask,
were you ever romantically
intimate with Brenda Wilbur?
Father, I asked you a question.
I'll need to insist
on an answer.
Did you have sex
with Brenda Wilbur?
MARCUS: Father...
we need a response.
Yes...
I did.
Was it she who seduced you?
Yes.
Did she ever threaten
to expose this
to bring shame upon you
and your parish?
No...
she did not.
The other night,
I came up here to sit.
I was pretending
we were 10 years old again.
With everything ahead of us.
I've always believed
life should come
with one free "do over."
Are we gonna win?
Listen,
our defense has shifted
a little.
After I call Paul,
I'm calling you.
Me?
You need to explain
why you bribed Catherine Piper.
You need to convince the jury
Paul had nothing to do
with that.
I thought the idea
was to distance me
from the defense.
SHORE: Well,
you've made that impossible.
PAUL: We had made love that day.
Evening, really,
it was around 6:00.
I left,
returned around 10:00
after I couldn't get her
on the phone.
And then I found her.
Dead?
Yes.
Then what did you do?
I was experiencing panic.
Panic?
I'm--
I was a married man,
a family man,
I had a lot riding
in this community
that stemmed from leading
a life of integrity.
I think I felt
my life imploding.
Why didn't you call the police?
Clearly, I should have.
There was nothing I could do
to help Brenda.
As I said, I panicked
and I ran to Tom.
Father Dugan?
PAUL: Yes.
I went to the church,
I think, I guess to...
seek counsel or support.
And then when I got
to the church,
I saw somebody
from the cleaning crew
and I panicked once again.
I ran to my mother's.
What did you do there?
PAUL: There's a tree house
in the woods
out back that I built
as a child with you, actually.
It's a hideout from the world.
I think I went there
to seek refuge, I guess.
Paul, how long
had you been having
an affair with Brenda?
It was two years.
SHORE: Do you know if there
were other men in her life?
I believe there were, yes.
But she would never tell me
because...
Because why?
Because she knew I loved her.
Did you kill her?
No.
I was there that night
but I didn't kill her
and I didn't see who did.
CLARKE: You find a loved one
lying in a pool of blood,
you don't call an ambulance,
you don't call the police,
you just leave.
I knew she was dead.
And as for the police, I--
my family name in this town--
Oh, yes,
the family name.
Tell me about
this tree house you built?
You're into carpentry, doctor?
It's a hobby.
Hobby?
Funny, we confiscated a toolbox
in the trunk of your car.
Couldn't find a hammer.
The toolbox was missing more
than just a hammer.
It was also missing
several tools--
But, notably, the hammer.
I believe you seized
several hammers from my house.
None that matched that set.
PAUL: Look, you traced
my moves that night.
If I had tossed or ditched
a weapon--
CLARKE: Where's the hammer,
Dr. Stewart?
Your Honor,
I must object to this.
It's one thing
not to have evidence,
it's quite another to try
to prosecute with that
which you do not have.
Well, I tell you,
I have a hammer.
It's a hammer of justice,
it's a hammer of freedom.
It's a song about love
between my brothers
and my sisters
all over this land.
Except, perhaps,
Dedham, Massachusetts.
What?
I have good news and bad news.
SHORE: Bad news first.
My focus group thinks Paul
is guilty.
And the good?
They love you.
Splendid.
Alan, we might want to think
about a plea.
Okay.
I think not.
This focus group is obviously
trying to tell us something.
SHORE: Jamie,
try to understand this.
If we plead out,
I don't get to
give my closing.
And I've practiced it, so.
You need to take this seriously.
PAUL: Everybody out now.
Except Alan.
I'm the client, I get to call
the occasional shot.
Everybody out now.
(door closes)
Seems like the old days.
You and I getting
in all kinds of trouble
and you having the time
of your life.
I'm facing prison.
I'm doing the very best I can.
Is there a good deal
to be made here?
For a guilty man,
I'm sure there's a terrific deal
to be had.
For the innocent
it would be despicably unfair.
Which would you like, Paul?
Good or bad?
I didn't kill Brenda.
I know you didn't.
So let's not quit.
I know it was a stupid thing
to do.
SHORE: So why did you do it?
I suppose I was afraid that...
my son wouldn't get
a fair trial.
I know how people think of me.
SHORE: But, Victoria,
if you knew
your son was innocent,
why bribe a witness?
Catherine Piper's so biased.
I was...
concerned that she'd paint
the worst possible picture,
And I--
it was a bad idea.
One that--
I was probably...
blinded a little...
by my love for Paul.
Your love for Paul.
The perception is Paul
is the most precious thing
in your life.
Yes.
As Paul's oldest friend,
I've known you a very long time,
haven't I?
Yes, you have.
SHORE: When I was 16 years old,
you and I made love.
Several times, in fact.
(gavel bangs)
(gavel banging)
MARCUS: Mr. Shore,
as riveted as I am and I am,
I'm not sure this
has anything to do
with this trial.
I'm afraid it does,
Your Honor.
Sleeping with me caused you
a great deal of distress,
didn't it, Victoria?
As I recall,
you saw a therapist,
and he opined you were perhaps,
on some unconscious level,
not so much making love to me
but rather to Paul.
Victoria, are you in love
with your son?
That's ridiculous.
Is it?
I once asked you
why you never remarried
after your husband died.
And your response was,
"You know full well why."
Was that an admission to me
you were in love with your son?
I love my son...
the way a mother loves a child.
It was never romantic love.
Did you kill Brenda Wilbur?
Brenda Wilbur was not only
compromising your son
with a sordid affair,
she was not only destroying
his family,
his reputation,
she was sleeping with the man
you wanted to sleep with.
That is sick.
If I'm gonna be accused
of such depravity,
I should like to consult
an attorney.
That's all right, Victoria.
I won't accuse you of anything.
Well,
that was wonderful.
I guess, since paying off
the witness didn't work out,
why not a little performance.
And that was just wonderful.
I guess we'll leave it at,
you really,
really love your son.
MARCUS: Mr. Shore?
Defense rests, Your Honor.
SHORE: Ideally, whenever a crime
is committed,
the police should conduct
an open,
thorough investigation...
leading to a conclusion.
In the best case scenario,
the truth.
But that presumes
having unlimited resources
which clearly we don't.
So, what often happens,
we pick the most likely guy
and exhaust what we've got
trying to nail him.
That happened
80-plus years ago
with Sacco and Vanzetti,
it's happening here
with Paul Stewart.
Every year,
10,000 innocent people
are convicted in this country.
That's according to one study.
Others say that figure is low.
That's staggering.
It's disgraceful.
Ten thousand
wrongful convictions every year.
Why?
Mainly because juries
don't insist
on finding guilt
beyond all reasonable doubt.
When a person is killed,
we want somebody convicted.
It's human nature.
There's closure in saying
a crime has been solved.
There's also safety in it.
We like to go to bed at night
thinking the bad guy
has been captured,
especially in small towns
where we're desperate
to feel safe.
Please, let Paul Stewart
be the guy.
He must be the guy.
He's not the guy.
So, who is?
Catherine Piper
is a lunatic
who not only derives glee
in making the Stewart
family suffer,
she hated the victim as well.
And she just so happened to live
right across the street
from her.
Wendy Stewart...
had motive.
She was angry and hurt.
Betrayed wives have certainly
been known to react
with violence.
And she has no alibi.
Father Tom Dugan.
He had illicit sex
with the victim.
She had a history
of committing extortion,
he had everything to lose.
And let's not forget Victoria.
Obsessed with her son's life,
his reputation,
his legacy.
Or simply obsessed
with her son.
The point is, people,
there are many
potential suspects
in this case.
And that would include
all the strangers
in Brenda Wilbur's life.
We know nothing
of the nature
and disposition
of those relationships,
of the possible jealousies
and betrayals
precisely because...
they were never investigated.
Paul Stewart represented
only a small fraction
of this woman's life.
If this jury
is going to insist
on finding guilt
beyond all reasonable doubt,
Paul Stewart must be acquitted.
Nobody witnessed this crime
being committed.
The murder weapon
was never found,
despite the police tracing
my client's every step.
Prosecution inadvertently
destroyed the victim's body
before we could properly
examine it.
Of course,
there's reasonable doubt.
Reasonable doubt.
I love Paul Stewart
as I would a brother.
I grew up with him.
It's one of the reasons
I know he's innocent.
He's not infallible,
he had an affair.
It may cost him his marriage,
perhaps the respect
of his children.
But he did not--
Paul could not take the life
of another human being.
He simply could not.
This may surprise you.
I love Dedham, Massachusetts.
I grew up here.
I'm offended...
by its legacy of convicting
innocent people
because I know
that's not who we are.
This time,
let's set the innocent man free.
CLARKE: Rarely do we
actually see somebody...
commit the crime.
Typically, criminal cases
are circumstantial.
Now, the circumstances here
are that the defendant
had an affair with the victim.
There was evidence
that she tried to extort him.
He had incentive to protect
his family name,
and his community status.
His hair,
fibers, body oils were found
all over the victim.
His semen was found
in the victim.
Blood all over his clothes.
He was spotted leaving
the scene.
That is overwhelming
circumstantial evidence,
ladies and gentlemen.
And it certainly allows you
to find guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt.
Now, I suspect
the defense counsel
already knows that,
which is why
he began finger-pointing
elsewhere, everywhere.
Oh, hey,
maybe an eyewitness did it.
Oh, perhaps the priest.
Hey, how about the defendant's
own mother?
And to compound
this blatant attack
on your intelligence,
Mr. Shore buttons
his eloquent closing
by appealing to your sense
of justice.
This lawyer deliberately fell
on the body
to contaminate evidence.
The mother of the defendant
tried to buy a witness.
They staged
a performance by mom
to make you think
that she killed the victim
out of jealousy.
Now, this would be funny
if it weren't a murder trial.
But it is.
That man picked up a hammer
and bludgeoned a woman to death.
He's asking you to ignore that
because of Sacco and Vanzetti.
The police didn't explore
any other suspects,
ladies and gentlemen,
because there are
no other suspects.
Paul Stewart is the man
who killed Brenda Wilbur,
which is why he dashed off
to his priest
to confess.
(music playing)
At some point,
will they send us home?
9:00.
He was really compelling,
the DA.
How many times
are you gonna say that?
Well, I said you were good too.
If the news is bad,
do I go into custody
right away?
The news isn't gonna be bad.
We're winning.
(music playing)
(indistinct chatter)
Don't they make eye contact
when it's an acquittal?
No.
Yes.
MARCUS: I'm going to call
on the Foreperson
to read the verdict.
And I want decorum
maintained by everyone,
especially the media.
Madam Foreperson,
do you have a verdict?
Yes, Your Honor.
Mr. Stewart,
you may stand up
for the reading.
Would you please...
announce your verdict?
FOREPERSON: On the matter
of the Commonwealth
vs. Paul Stewart,
on the charge of murder
in the first degree,
we, the jury,
find the defendant,
Paul Stewart,
not guilty.
(indistinct chatter)
MARCUS: The jury is dismissed.
(gavel bangs)
MARCUS: We're adjourned.
(applause)
MAN: Mr. Shore.
(indistinct chatter)
Thank you.
TARA: Paul, Congratulations.
Boo.
Boo.
I don't know what to say.
You owe me a lot of beer.
I just have
two questions for you.
Okay.
Who do you think
killed her, really?
How in God's name
would I know?
It wasn't me.
Did you really love my mother?
I did.
That stuff about her
being romantically in love
with me, is any of that...
Trial strategy.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I got a great idea.
When's the last time
you smoked pot?
Wow.
Depending on the...
integrity of the container.
What are you doing?
Our secret panel
in the tree trunk.
I put some good Columbian
down there years ago.
It's nailed.
When did it get nailed?
I don't know.
It looks like an old nail.
How can you see
in this light whether--
Paul, if I were to shine
a light down the tree trunk,
what might I see?
I don't want to look down
the tree trunk,
do I, Paul?
No, you don't.
I really loved her, you know?
And she didn't.
(sighs)
I really loved her.
(music playing)
(music playing)
BOY: Score! Score! Score!
WOMAN: You stinker!
BOY: Oh. (groans)
(music playing)