The Whole Truth (2010): Season 1, Episode 1 - Pilot - full transcript

Okay, everybody hop to it.

You're not missing
the bus like yesterday.

Stop fussing over me. I'm fine.
"Stop fussing over me. I'm fine."

I do not sound like that.

You totally do, mom. I don't.

You kinda do, honey. Oh, wait,
wait, wait. I can do dad, too.

Uh, I teach
history class in High School,

and I'm a total geek. Ow.

Do you have band practice today?
I have it all week.

Uh, the competition's on
Saturday.

John, will you get that? I
have a soccer game on Saturday.



Don't worry. Different
times. We can make both. Dad?

Yeah.

Glen Sellards, you're under arrest

for the murder of Maria Covas.

Oh. Hands behind your back.

Oh, my God. Oh. Mr. Sellards, you
have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will...

Thank you. Can you
come to my gig tonight?

Oh..Thank you.

Kevin, I enjoy our time together,

I really do.

The yoga, even the tofu...

I mean, you've brought so
many things into my life

that wouldn't otherwise be
there, but... the fact is,



I'm...I'm waiting to hear
about a murder suspect,

and I can't make any promises
until I know something.

Okay. Mm.

Peale. Thanks. I'll get your change.

Excellent.

So... can you come to my gig tonight?

Bye.

Bye.

Oh! Sweet hoop dreams.
The Knicks pulled it out.

Yeah, but stoudemire
mangled that pass to curry.

Get outta here. He catches like a girl.

Like a girl who can't catch.

Hey.

Are you frickin' kidding me?

Why didn't the D.A.
Call us? Yeah, of course

they want a perp walk 'cause
they don't have a case.

Okay, on my way.

What's up, Katie?

No courtesy call before
you arrest my client.

Why is it, Jimmy, that the guilty ones

always have your number on speed dial?

Come on. The D.A. Is way off on this.

Sellards couldn't kill a
cockroach. It's incredible

how you're always so sure
of people's innocence.

Because you're always
so sure of their guilt.

And you're really wearing
red sneakers to arraignment?

Yeah. Why not? My kids approve.

Well, I worry about your kids, Jimmy.

What, are you kidding? They love me.

Hey, Jimmy! Yo!
See, everybody loves me.

We're not including your
ex-wife in this I guess.

All right, one bad apple.

The ego alone.

Ah, says the girl who's too
good to date men her own age.

Are we still on for that
N.Y.U. Panel on the 20th?

Yeah, if you're still talking to me

after what I do to your client. My
client will be sending you roses by then.

Fasten your seat belt, Jimmy.
Game on, Katie. Bring it.

Maria Covas... just 17 years old,

the only child of a
devoutly religious family.

Glen Sellards is loved by one and all...

students, family, you name it.

In fact, it had been her family's dream

that she would one day devote
herself to a religious life.

Instead, her desecrated
body was found in the alley

behind the school where Glen
Sellards teaches history.

He also takes care of his
wife, Corinne, who is undergoing

her third round of chemotherapy
at this time, your honor.

Due to the abhorrent
nature of this crime,

we request that the defendant
be remanded without bail.

Because he has no criminal record,

we ask that Glen be released
to his family at this time.

The court does not regard the defendant

to be a flight risk.
Bail is set at $200,000.

All right, let's take it
easy, please. Take it easy.

Mr. Covas, Mr. Covas.
Why do they call it the Ave Maria case?

There is no way my
father killed Maria Covas!

I will see that animal
dead for what he's done!

You got me and everything in my toolbox

to defend you against this witch hunt.

Listen to me, I will use
every legal means in my power

to convict your daughter's killer.

Mr. Covas! Esteban!

John!

"The Whole Truth: S01E01"
"Pilot"
Original Air date 22 September, 2010

Let's go, let's
go. Let's go. Let's go.

I will see that animal
dead for what he's done!

The "post," "the times," "Newsday."

Later. Starving. Food.

Conference room.

Conference room. Hey!

Conference room. Cookie.

Thank you.

Mr. and Mrs. Covas are here.

We get Maria silver
crucifix for her quiceañera.

The killer stole it.

A demon took our angel.

Mr. and Mrs. Covas...

If the death penalty
were available to me,

I would seek it.

If I could publish Glen Sellards address

on the front page of the
"post," I would do it.

I do not have access to such recourse.

I have only the law, but...

I love the law.

It is the only thing I am good at.

Just ask anybody who's
unfortunate enough

be involved in my personal life.

And I swear to you on
everything I hold dear,

we will convict this partilar demon.

Please.

Maria was all we had.

So good... Everything she did,

never trouble.

Just joy.

Ms. Peale,

I have proof that Glen
Sellards hates latinos.

Would that help you?

Yes. It could.

Okay, here's the case.

Glen Sellards was
obsessed with Maria Covas.

He bombarded her with phone calls,

then he sexually assaulted
and strangled her in an alley

10 feet below his office window.

His skin cells and saliva
were found Maria's breasts,

and we have an eyewitness that
places both of them in the alley

moments before the killing.

The only people who place him elsewhere

are his wife and daughter,
who are no doubt terrified

by the psychotic that rules their home.

Also... we may have
evidence that the defendant

had a thing against latinos,

which would make this a
racially motivated hate crime.

And what's our weakest link?

Holá, edge. How s Cabo?

I spent a week shooting Tequila

with fishermen whose names
I hardly recall. Nice.

And I bought everyone maracas,

though they are at the
bottom of my suitcase.

Nice boss, no? No. Back to work.

Our weakest link is the forensics.

We have post-mortem
wounds, genital trauma.

We do not have semen.
Perhaps Sellards was impotent.

Wouldn't be the first
rapist who couldn't get it up

and then killed in a rage because of it.
And how dismaying to be an impotent rapist.

See what you can dig up on Sellards medical history.
Maria was calling Sellards as much as he called her.

Was this a romance? Her
parents say she was a virgin,

and her friends corroborate.
Ave Maria indeed.

Who do you think's the best
Detective for this? Stan Klotz.

He can rake in the witnesses and
work with the cops. Take care of that.

You got it. Okay, people.

Glen Sellards may have gotten
Jimmy brogan to defend him,

but a dead girl demands justice,
and justice is truth in action.

Clarence Darrow.

No, Benjamin Disraeli.
But you're getting better.

What?

Chad Griffin is our third?

How can the D.A. Let
that tiny trust-fund tool

anywhere near this case?

Basically, I keep
the city bad-guy free.

Is it hard? Oh, it's way hard,

but in my line of work, hardness rules.

Is that something that appeals to you?

Chad, you lose your phone?

Yo, it's me, buddy.

*

thanks.

*

uh-oh.

I gotta go.

*

call me.

I don't cahere you are, I
don't care what you're doing.

When I call your phone, you answer it.

Do we now understand the relationship

between a junior A.D.A. And a
lead prosecutor? Totally, ma'am.

Don't call me ma'am. Roger that.

Don't say "roger that." Copy.

I just don't want to
go back to misdemeanors.

It's a real waste of my
talents. Get out.

Listen, Katie,
I questioned a bunch of students

who'll testify they saw Glen Sellards

here in the alley at
the time of the murder.

Excellent. And one of them says
that Sellards inserted himself

into every school
club that Maria joined.

That's what stalkers do. Mm-hmm.

All right, listen, Stan, one more thing.

See if you can find anything

that might support a hate crime charge.

I mean, maybe her
parents have something.

Will do.

Edge, the hate crime
charge is going to work.

Okay, let's do it. Just
don't let Jimmy get to you.

Oh, please. He always gets to me.

We took the bar together, you know?

And I snorted nodoz and wept and prayed,

and he finished an hour early

and waited outside with
a tray of jell-o shots.

That's what's bothering you? No. What's
bothering me is, he's too smart to take a case

that he doesn't think he can win.

So what does he know that we don't?
How strong is your hate crime witness?

It's an E.S.L. Student of Sellards'.

I'm trusting Chad to look into it,

against my better judgment.

The D.A. Wants him working.
You throw him a bone, Katie.

See what he does. Check this.

Sellards' E.S.L. Student king.
Will testify that Sellards said,

"I hate everybody,
but especially spics."

Would he be credible on the stand?
He's a she, and she'll be brilliant.

According to whose standards?

Yours.

What's her name? Fatima Vences.

Let's enhance Mr. Sellards'
sentence, shall we?

Ms. Peale,

how fascinating you should
call right at this moment.

Hello, Jimmy. I'm calling
to add a hate crime charge.

Yes, I do have enough evidence
to support such a charge.

And thank you for being big about this.

I know how being big about
things is hard for you.

It's
good, but we need more.

Then get more.

Stanley Klotz has good stuff.

Sellards' board of ed profile
says he has "rage issues."

He also was once fired from
a private school in Westport

because of an affair with
a 15-year-old student.

He
had prostate surgery last year.

He is now aspermic, which means

he can no longer produce
or ejaculate semen.

Hence the lack of semen in Maria's body.

You know, having a wonky Wang
would really cramp my style.

Why do guys always have
to talk about their wangs?

Why do women get to
wear the same sweater

three days straight?

Because they have more important
things to think about.

What's wrong with you?

Me?

You're the one

who dragged me to a
pistol range to unwind.

Okay.

Will you stop white-knuckling it?

Because you are driving
everyone around you crazy.

The staff hates me, don't
they? No. Just terrified of you.

Well, you know, underneath
this terrifying exterior,

there's a very likable
person trying to get out.

She just doesn't sleep
well when bad people win.

Why are you strung out about this case?

I know this girl.

I was this girl.

Strict family, very religious,
everybody's pride and joy...

it's not as much fun as it sounds.

It's Jimmy. Yeah.

Ms. Peale, you might
be interested to know,

I just watched a video that
makes your Ave Maria case

start to look like a hail Mary pass.

But once a few high
schoolers go blabbing

to the press about it...

Who needs to fasten their seat belt now?

What is it?

It's what Jimmy knows that we don't.

We're screwed.

Hey, Jimmy. You always
smile a little bigger

- after seeing Kathryn Peale.
- Wrongo, Rhonda.

To me, she's just an
over caffeinated grind

doing the government's dirty work.

The "post," "the times," "Newsday."

All right, let's burn through these.

Enough press. Time to strategize.

This is why I love you,
Alejo Salazar! Lena!

These charges are bullcaca.

Glen Sellards is an easy mark.

He takes care of a... a sick wife.
He teaches ten hours a day.

He tutors E.S.L.
Students on the weekend.

I mean, there's no room
in his schedule for murder.

So why is the D.A.'S
office targeting Glen

and not a hundred
other, better suspects?

'Cause they're lazy,
ineffectual and stupid.

Only faculty had access to the area

where Maria's body was found,

and Glen would sneak cigarettes there.
So circumstantial, I'm disgusted.

Many calls between Glen and Maria.

Sounds like a love thing.

No way. Lena, you mentor
students, you call 'em up.

So his phone records

should show calls to other students, right? And to
anyone at St. Claud's, and his kids' teachers. Rs

an eyewitness places Glen
and Maria at the murder site.

Eyewitnesses are wrong more
times than they are right.

Let's tell Larry combs to sniff
out this one, paltry witness.

What do they got for D.N.A.?
Glen's skin cells and saliva

were found on the victim's breasts,

and genital trauma means possibility
of rape. Ooh, that's not good.

If there's no semen,

nothing says the trauma
was caused by Glen.

Last I checked, skin and saliva
D.N.A. Do not a rape make.

Glen coulda sneezed on
her for God sake. Right.

What about the Ave Maria angle?

Maria was a teenage
girl in new York city,

not Jesus' mommy.

They come at us with the
D.N.A., we give 'em students

that put Glen and Maria
within sneezing distance,

we discredit their eyewitness,
we come up with six other

worthier suspects...
done, done and doner.

So let's hightail it out to Glen's house

and start prepping this
thing. Rock 'n' roll, people!

How's your wife?

She's lying down. What's up, Jimmy?

Well, there are a lot of
calls between you and Maria.

Any reason? Well, she
was nervous about college.

I mean, uh, Maria was...

You know, fragile in certain way,

then tough as nails, too.

And what about your sex life?

We don't want
to be caught unaware

if there's any indiscretion.

Well, my...

My wife and I haven't had, um... sex

in, uh, almost a year, you
know, due to her illness...

But I love her with all my heart,

and she loves me.

An eyewitness places you
and Maria at the crime scene

at 6:30 P.M., the approximate
time of the murder.

Oh, that's... that's im... impossible.

As my wife and daughter
told you, I was home by then.

Okay, here's the biggie. Skin and saliva

containing your D.N.A.
Were found on Maria's body.

Any reason why it would be there?

I mean, Maria and I, we saw
each other at debate club,

you know, the day she died.

Um, I'm the faculty moderator,

and when I conduct vocal exercises, I...

I stand close to the students to see

if they're doing them correctly. So this
happened with students other than Maria as well?

Of course, yeah. What's all that?

Oh. Uh, last year, I...

I taught a little bit
about Chinese history.

These are Chinese characters
my students did for me.

Maria did this one.

It means "friend."

Jimmy, how worried should I be?

Look, Glen,

when you and Corinne came
to me about your defense,

I was honored.

I am who I am because of
hardworking, underpaid,

beyond-the-call-of-duty
teachers like you,

which is exactly what makes
you a... a bull's-eye target

for a D.A. Off the rails.

Do not worry. My whole team is
all over this.

I... I gotta meet somebody.

Alejo will take it from here.

Thanks. What have you
found out, Larry combs?

Maria's mother called
child services last year

on her husband.

Esteban Covas threatened to kill Maria.

Ah, mama Mia. That's good pizza.
I'm lookin' into his alibi.

If he hasn't got o...

You might be able to toss the jury
another suspect. Ms. Peale,

how fascinating you should
call right at this moment.

Hello, Jimmy. I'm calling
to add a hate crime charge.

You sure you have enough
for a hate crime charge?

Yes, I do have enough evidence
to support such a charge.

Mm-hmm.

Know what?

She's just trying to bury us
under a mountain of charges.

Probably a bad time to
bring this up, but, uh,

Glen Sellards once worked
up at a school in Westport.

Well, they fired him
for screwing a student.

*

heard you might be here.

Hate crime charge is bogus.

Glen was tutoring Spanish-speaking kids

for the last decade for pocket change.

I mean, he's no St.

Just gotta figure out
what Katie's up to.

I do have good news.

The student Glen allegedly
had the affair with?

She had emotional problems.

Glen failed her. She struck
back with an accusation.

The dean will testify on Glen's behalf.

Month on the job,

I'm already getting my
money's worth with you.

Glad you feel that way,

'cause I want to
second seat you on this.

Unh-unh. Alejo's my second.

Jimmy, the victim's a
young woman of color.

And Latin, like Alejo.

But female, like me, and
the prosecuting attorney,

and half the jurors.

But it's important

is you need me next
to you at trial, Jimmy,

and you know it.

Glen called again about testifying.

That can wait. We got motions coming up.

Give me everything we've got.

All right, many e-mails
between Glen and his students,

but Maria was the only one
th he talked to on the phone.

Well, that sucks. No debate club student

remembers vocal exercises
the day Maria died.

Well, that sucks, too. Three
witnesses place Maria's father at work

at the time of the murder,
so he can't be a suspect.

Okay, sucky, suck, suck.

How can we use his wife's
call to child services?

I say introduce it.

It puts Maria in a climate of violence

that points away from Glen.
Or it makes us look like creeps

for ring a family's dirty laundry. I'm just
suggesting there are better suspects out there.

You're risking jury sympathy.
Guys, I don't mind you two

sharpening your teeth on each
other, but let's go easy, okay?

It's getting the D.N.A.
Dismissed as rape-related

that's most important. Alejo, what is the
holdup with the D.A.'S evidence anyway?

We need that M.E. Report.

I'll call edge comb again.

Why don't I call this time?
Just another voice might help.

Good idea. Get on it.

I like how she thinks.

You like how she walks.
Simmer down, buddy.

We are becoming the go-to firm
for criminal defense right now.

We need to build on that
with somebody of her caliber.

Larry combs just called,
and hang on to your hats.

Turns out Maria Covas
had a secret sex buddy.

Does he have a name?

Todd Engler.

So, Todd, how much pot were you holding

when the cops picked you up?

A few ounces.

Look, I didn't hurt Maria Covas, okay?

Me and her were hitting
it, but... no way.

Why so quiet about the relationship?

Her dad woulda killed me.

But I got a sick vid on my cell phone

I think you guys might like.

I know my friends did.

What, you think it's funny?

No, but it sure as hell
ain't no Ave Maria story.

Maria.

It's Jimmy.

Ms. Peale, you might
be interested to know,

I just watched a video that
makes your Ave Maria case

start to look like a hail Mary pass.

And, of course, it might
not make it into evidence,

but once a few high schoolers

go blabbing to the press
about its sexual nature,

well, my work will be done for me.

Who needs to fasten their seat belt now?

How could we have not
known about Todd Engler?

No one knew about Engler
but a handful of stoners.

Turns out that Maria
had some secrets herself.

Hey, shouldn't we check into

where Todd Engler was
the day of the murder?

I mean, everybody's all "he's
the new defense witness,"

but maybe he's the new defense suspect.

You just said something intelligent.

Todd Engler... witness or suspect?

His alibi is tight, so I vote witness.

The D.A.'s evidence list.
There's no M.E. Report.

Katie's nervous about forensics,

so now we talk to our forensics expert.

We find out Katie's weak spot.

Listen up, people. Motions.
We get the cell phone video in.

We keep the cell phone video out.

We get Maria's mother's
call to child services in.

We argue that Todd Engler

cut a deal to be a
witness in return for bail.

We tell the judge the
D.A. Refuses to hand over

the M.E. Report, and
we request sanctions.

We secure the hate crime witness

and argue the existing forensics
as conclusive on rape. Cab!

Top of our list...forensics
can't be introduced

until we see the me's report.

Do not give Katie Peale time to redo it.

Anything else? Nada. Let's rock it.

Anything else?

No. We're good.

Since when did you start
wearing dresses to court?

Three, two, one.

Ms. Peale, I'd like to compliment you

on your comportment.

Mr. brogan, perhaps you might wear

more appropriate footwear at trial?

We can only hope, your honor.

Now as you both know,

I like the motions
phase to be lean, mean,

so let's do the hokey
pokey and turn this around.

I allow the hate crime witness.

I allow the rape.

I allow Todd Engler as a witness.

I do not allow the cell phone video

nor Mrs. Covas' call to child services.

I will allow the D.N.A.,
but the district attorney

must turn over the M.E.'s report,

ready or not.

We have our hate crime
witness, rape, and D.N.A.,

but we have to turn
over the M.E.'s report.

Which unfortunate, because
the M.E. Thinks he sees

some sort of pattern in the
injuries on Maria's body,

and he would like some more time

to try to figure out what they
are. Send Jimmy the report as it is.

We can always amend it later.
Okay, let's prep the witnesses.

Chad, you take the E.S.L. Student

'cause you already interviewed her.

Thanks. Um, what am I doing at trial?

Let's not push it.

The M.E.'s report's as
weak as we thought...

trauma, abrasions.

They weren't able to turn
up any of Glen's D.N.A.

And our forensic expert says
that the D.N.A. Is present

in very low levels on Maria's body.

Kathryn Peale had reasons to be nervous.

Just the way we like her.

So Lena and I are brainstorming

about how to discredit
their hate crime witness.

There is no way

that Glen used disparaging
language about latinos.

What should I do?

Well, Glen's been on me about
testifying on his own behalf.

Head out there. Let's decide this.

All right. Give me time to tell Alejo,

but you're right about
being next time at trial.

I want you to second seat.

The new M.E. Report has
more clearly defined photos

of the abrasions on Maria's body.

And?

And they look to me like hieroglyphics.

As in, "from ancient Egypt"?

Yeah, kinda.

But how do we connect 'em to Sellards?

Look...

A., you know I can't eat,
sleep, or tinkle without you,

but...

I need Lena as my second seat.

E's a brilliant female lawyer.

She's a climbing recent hire.

Jimmy... If this is about race,

I'm Latino, like the victim.
I know, but last I checked,

you don't look so good in a dress.

Listen, Kathryn Peale
is across the aisle.

The victim was female.
We need the female jurors.

It's just growing pains.

A... That's all it is.

Damn it.

Brianna?

What are you doing here?

I didn't see my dad till after 7:00

the night of the murder.

So I, uh...

I lied.

But I was in my room he
coudoing homework. Ome,

the trial starts tomorrow.

Why are you telling me this now?

I found it yesterday.

My dad told his lawyers that
he and my mom don't have sex.

So why does he have this bottle,

and why is it half-empty?

When I showed it to him...

He told me to lie that I ever saw it.

Why would he lie

if he wasn't having sex with someone?

I want to testify against my father.

Jimmy...

You tell me you're not having sex,

and you're ordering Viagra online?

I've had some past sexual
issues, and I wanted

to be prepared when my wife's
strength returned. Half a bottle

is enough to prepare you
through next Christmas!

Were you having sex with
Maria Covas or not? No!

I swear, no.

I...

Okay, you know, there...

There were...

there were... prostitutes.

Oh.

The night before the trial starts...

Okay. I need their names.

No!

Glen, if I need to drag
every hooker you screwed

and stack 'em in a pyramid on that stand

to explain away the Viagra, don't think I
won't do it. Jimmy, you said you had my back!

I did, and I do, and I will.

But you just made things really tough,

so here's what you need to do, Glen...

March upstairs, put on
something professorial to wear,

take a valium if you need it.

That jury is going to be
watching you like a hawk,

and they need to see a
confident, relaxed teacher,

not some Viagra-pumped hooker chaser.

And forgive me if this sounds heartless,

but every day that your wife shows up,

those jurors will think, if
that woman can endure this trial,

her husband's gotta be
innocent. But I am innocent!

Trust me, from this point
forward, it doesn't matter.

The only thing that matters
is what that jury believes.

Right next to me.

Ms. Peale... I remember when you were

trying token suckers in
misdemeanor land. I remember

when you were bagging
undergrads in off-campus housing.

Well, don't mistake me for someone less
serious, not today. Forewarned is forearmed.

Mr. Azarian, other than you
and other janitorial staff,

who had access to the alley
where Maria Covas was killed?

Faculty and office staff.

Students are allowed unless
accompanied by a teacher.

But students get into that alley
on their own sometimes, I bet.

From the street now and then, yeah.

They cut, like, a flap in the fence
sometimes. Well, when did that happen?

Happened a couple of months back.

So on the day Maria Covas died,

anyone from the street
could've entered that alley?

Objection. Speculation.

I'll allow it.

Ms. sagebrush, how far away is the alley

from your window? 100 feet.

My 4 year old was sting
at something in the alley,

so I went over to see
what he was looking at.

Yeah, a 4 year old is
a handful, boy.

I know from my kids. Yeah,
he's always six places at once.

So from 100 feet away with a child

who's six places at once, you
can identify two total strangers

in a dark alley across the street?

And what exactly
did Mr. Sellards say to you

in class that day, Fatima?

He say...

"Odio a todo el mundo

especialmente a Los spics,"

which, in English, means, um...

"I hate everyone, but especially..."

Fatima...

You ever watch any movies
in Mr. Sellards E.S.L. Class?

Yes. Uh, A... American movie,

but, uh, in, uh, Spanish

with the... English on the bottom.

Oh, you mean, subtitles, so you
could learn the English words?

You ever watch any movies
in Mr. Sellards class

starring Clint Eastwood?

Yes, uh, "magnum force."
I... I like that one.

What is the point, your
honor? Come to it, Mr. brogan.

On my way, your honor.

Do you realize, Fatima, that

"I hate everyone, but especially
spics" is a famous line

from the Clint Eastwood movie "magnum
force"? Are you absolutely sure then,

Fatima, that Mr. Sellards said it?

Or maybe was he just repeating
something Clint Eastwood said?

I don't know what kind of
strings your daddy pulled

to make you an A.D.A.,

but you just lost us the hate crime charge.
She never said anything about a movie.

It was your job to
fully vet her.

Look, I know how I come off,
which is sometimes bad, but I...

I let you do one thing... all
right. What's done is done.

And what's also done is Jimmy
burned through our eyewitness.

Then we jump two steps ahead
to the post-mortem injuries.

We land there, we land hard,

we gut Sellards with his own
twisted handiwork. And we do it now.

The injuries on Maria's
thighs were made post-mortem

and indicate to me the
handiwork of someone

in tremendous psychological distress.

Objection. Your honor, really?

Let us strike that, please.

Were you able to determine
how these injuries were made?

Some kind of small instrument,
and a pattern was present,

which seemed to me to
be ritualistic in nature.

Objection. Judge, help me out.

I'll allow it.

Complex injuries made post-mortem...

this would take some time, right?

Indicating that the killer
must have had to have felt

extremely familiar with his surroundings

in order to take... oh,
objection. Come on. This is nuts.

Ms. Peale, you're out of bounds.

It was Viagra,

and it had my dad's name on it.

And, Brianna, why did you
testify to the grand jury

that your father was home

at 6:30 P.M. on the day of the murder?

To make my mom happy.

I mean, she's been...

So sick and sad,

but when I found those pills, I just...

Let's undo some damage.

Maria... Called our house frequently.

She seemed to ask more of my husband

than the other students.

And your husband's use of
erectile dysfunction medicine?

Yes, I was aware,

he occasionally used prostitutes.

But this much, I kno

he would never, ever
touch... a young girl.

Maria was kinky, always up for...

objection. Your honor...

Mr. brogan, be good.

We'll withdraw.

Regarding your testimony about
your relationship with Maria,

did the two of you
ever display affection

in front of Mr. Sellards?

Well, that dude was
always up in our grille.

He caught us in the park once,

and I was like, "seriously?"

So you're saying, he
trailed the two of you?

A bunch of times, yeah.
Once, he had Maria's crucifix.

He said it found it,
but I didn't believe him.

The defense submits into evidence

a drawing made for Glen
Sellards by Maria Covas herself,

which shows the Chinese character

for the word "friend,"

which is what Maria
considered her teacher to be.

Tarik, you
testified for the defense

that you attended
debate club with Maria.

Did you ever see Maria and
Mr. Sellards alone together?

I saw them alone in room 206,

where the debate club meets.

Then I saw them coming out
of Mr. Sellards' office.

And what were they doing?
The first time, just talking.

The second time...

Maria borrowed a scarf
from Mr. Sellards,

and I saw him... like...

He, um...

Tucked it into the top of Maria's shirt.

She looked scared.

And when did this occur?

The day Maria died.

Order.

Tarik Kohli never mentioned
seeing Glen alone with Maria.

Because you interviewed him
at school, where he didn't

want to say anything in front of his
friends. Where else was I supposed...

can the three of us come together

for the sake of the case?

They got Glen with his
hands down Maria's shirt.

That doesn't mean he raped her,

let alone killed her, but he
was... he was tucking in the scarf

that she'd borrowed from him.

I got it.

The defense asks

forensic expert Nancy
Kohlhaas to the stand.

Ms. Kohlhaas, can D.N.A. Be transferred

to skin via clothing? Absolutely.

So the D.N.A. Present on Maria's breasts

could've been deposited there
not by a sexual encounter

between Maria and Mr. Sellards,

but by something as
innocent as a borrowed scarf?

It's called secondary transfer.
It happens all the time. Thank you.

Yeah, Glen would come to me

every couple of weeks for a date,

always pop a little blue pill so he
could go the distance. Did he ever mention

having an affair with
one of his students?

No.

But he did ask if I could hook him up

with some of my younger girlfriends.

Hello.

Is that your partner?

Yeah.

You were at the white house.

We've been twice.

Good job today with the scarf.

Thank you.

We need to get over to
Glen's house A.S.A.P.

Her...

Her...her heart couldn't take it.

It just...

It just...it just stopped.

Do you have a minute?
Well, yeah, all right.

I'm sorry about Mrs. Sellards,

but since the jury is sequestered,

I'm going to argue that her
h not be disclosed to them,

because it could confer
sympathy on Mr. Sellards

that might unfairly prejudice the jury
and... Katie, Katie, Katie, Katie, Katie,

the man is on trial he just lost his.

A little sympathy is not out of bounds
here. I'm just trying to keep this fair.

Yeah, I'm just trying to remind you

that actual people are involved here.
Is this about me or is it about the case?

Well, hell if I know, but two
kids just lost their mother

because of this trial.

We're at trial because a
young girl was murdered.

Ms. Peale, we'll
now hear your summation.

Maria Covas was brutalized

beneath the window of
the office of her teacher,

the same teacher that stalked her.

The defendant's own
witness corroborated this.

A bunch of times, yeah.

Once, he had Maria's crucifix.

Said he found it.

We heard from another defense witness

that he saw Mr. Sellards

tucking a scarf...

Into the top of Maria's shirt.

She looked scared.

That's not something any
of my teachers ever did.

Did yours?

And let us reflect
on Brianna Sellards...

Who admitted that she lied

about her father's whereabouts
on the day of the murder

because... Because she wanted to...

Make my mom happy.

She's been so sick and sad.

The medical examiner mentioned

ritualistic injuries on Maria's body.

Injuries that, when enhanced,

bear a remarkable resemblance

to the Chinese character

for a friend...

The same character that
Maria Drew for her teacher,

Glen Sellards.

The medical examiner testified

that these wounds were made
with a small instrument.

Could it possibly be they
were made with the crucifix

that Todd Engler told us he once saw

in Glen Sellards possession?

I mean, the defense wants you to think

another murderer committed this crime.

Could another murderer

have carved such a special signature

on his victim,

a signature that had
meaning for them both?

No.

Only Glen Sellards did this.

Now let us hold him accountable
for his unspeakable acts

and exact justice by demanding...

An acquittal...

Which is the only response to
such circumstantial evidence.

Ms. Peale tried to tell
you about a hate crime,

but her witness fell...

Splat.

"Magnum force." I... I like that one.

Then we heard from Mr.
Azarian, who tells us

that kids cut a flap
in that alley fence,

allowing anybody access.

Happened a couple of months back.

That is reasonable doubt.

The soused Chinese
character on Maria's body...

It could've been made by anyone

who has ever taken
one of Glen's classes.

That's several hundred suspects.

Who has ever taken even
more reasonable doubt.

To top it off, the crucifix...

That supposedly made the character

has never been found.

The state has not produced
one shred of evidence

to show why my client could've
committed such a horrible crime.

But there is a killer out there.

He should be on trial here,

not my client.

A man loved by scores of
students has had his job,

his reputation,

and his beloved wife Corinne,
mother of his grieving children,

taken from him.

Do not let the prosecution
take anything more.

Think reasonable doubt.

You got it in spades.

Peale.

It's in.

Madame forewoman,
have you reached a verdict?

The defendant will please rise.

Please announce your verdict.

We find the defendant...

Guilty.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

you are dismissed.

Arvin Gaye)

can I get a double scotch, one ice cube?

good job, soldier.

you, too.

can I ask you something?

When you took on this case,

did you know something I didn't?

I knew what I always know.
Everyone deserves a defense.

And somebody's gotta defend 'em.

Well, you did it masterfully.

excellence is not an act, but a habit.

Is that run DMC?

I don't know why I even bother.

are we still on for N.Y.U.?

Yeah.

I'll pick you up.

do you remember... That day,

we were supposed to be
prepping for the bar,

but we went and saw "Chinatown" instead?

I remember everything about that day.

except "Chinatown."

You know, it's playing
at cinema village.

Want to check it out?

You know, I would love to,

but I'm on my way to... A gig.

What is...

What, a date?

Yeah, something like that.

*