Turn, turn, turn.

By Noodle

Scenario: Jane Dawson, a fortyish woman is brought to the 27, for committing manslaughter. Her background: An unofficially ex-communicated Catholic who is passionately pro-choice and, at the same time, pro-life. She says that her mission was to inform all potential abortion and/or stem cell donors of all options beyond termination of pregnancy and stem-cell research. In her zeal to make a point, she holds a fertility clinic staff hostage, at gunpoint, and when one of the staff attempts to disarm her, the gun accidentally goes off. She is taken into custody, where she waives all her rights and makes a complete, factual account of the events. There is some question about her competency, since she is comfortable with inserting conversations she has had with her Lord into the account. She is highly intelligent, and has a master's degree in Biology. Her current profession was as a research lab assistant for HIV research. She has no official church affiliation, was married and is now divorced. She has a charismatic personality, and is able to read people's body language and emotions with scary precision. She wishes to save the taxpayer's money and waives all rights to a trial, etc. (My choice for the actress would be Amanda Plummer). A public defender is appointed to her anyway. (perhaps, James Waterston would give this the right amount of ineptness, and inexperience). The prosecution will be handled by ....Nora Lewin, John J. McCoy and Abbie Carmichael.

When Lt. Briscoe attempts to interrogate her, she quickly picks up on his use of humour and wise-cracking manner as masking sorrow for a lost loved one. She shares this with him and advises him that he should celebrate this person's life, and that God is taking care of her at this point, and any and all guilt that motivates him to avenge his daughter's death is not appreciated and is abhorred by the Almighty. Briscoe has no smart come back to any of this, and leaves the interrogation room, to let Detective Curtis fend for himself.

Curtis is tentative at first, but then he says "You've opened up quite a wound in my partner, Miss Dawson. Maybe you need to concentrate on your own situation, instead of trying to force your politics on the rest of us. I'm Catholic, but I believe a woman has a right to her body-" (Miss Dawson has no trouble detecting his arrogance, and too-sure-of-himself attitude, and makes no comment for a moment. Then she answers in a slightly sarcastic tone:

"Puh-leese. How many times have I heard that line. It's almost as bad as 'have a good day'- what does that mean anymore? We, all of us, men and women have a right to our body, to make decisions, but women are occasionally put in the unique and awesome position of making a decision that will ultimately affect another, unborn life."

"You call it unborn life, but the Supreme Court has pretty definite guidelines about all this, and that is what I have to uphold. What made you think you could make a difference with your hostage scheme anyway? Besides, the Courts of New York also have specifics about what you did to that innocent worker, who had a wife and 4 children of his own. How much blood do you intend to spill to prove your point!!!"

Rey's eyes are flashing at this point, and Anita comes in to calm him down. He leaves and Anita stays.

"Look, Miss Dawson. I don't have a degree in political philosophy, and your intellectual snobbery, in the face of the reckless murder you freely admit to does not go very far with me. And don't try to read my mind, or try one of your so-called divine parlour tricks on me. I may not be a Catholic, but I know the means you chose to accomplish your ends were not justified. You are a murderer, and the fact that you even try to associate yourself with a loving, merciful God really makes me want to throw up. You need to focus all your energy on telling us what we need to know, so you will not be the recipient of a lethal injection!"

Miss Dawson seems truly moved by what Van Buren has said, but simply looks down for a moment. When she begins to speak, Carmichael arrives, and Dawson keeps silent.

Some time passes while Abbie and Miss Dawson sit across from each other in the interrogation room. Dawson is advised that they both need to wait for her public defender. Almost immediately, the door to the room whips open with a loud band, and a very tall, disheveled, thirty-ish fellow stumbles in, hair askew, with a pile of files ready to spill out of his arms. He is wearing what look like Drew Carey hand-me-down clothes, even down to the horn-rimmed glasses. He plops himself and the files down in the nearest chair, losing some of the files to the floor under the table. Almost on cue, he snatches at the file and audibly cracks his head on his way back up for air. Once he composes himself, he introduces himself as Matthew Stockton, and begins:

You must be Jean Dawson. I have your file here and I'm advising you...

Miss Dawson interrupts him: "God must have known I needed a good laugh about now. If this were Shakespeare, you'd be the designated 'comic relief.' and in a different time and place, I'd be laughing my head off...This is Miss Carmichael from the district attorney's office, and we've been waiting for you, Mr. Stockton. Miss Carmichael, maybe you'd like to try divining something about our young defender's background?"

Abbie takes on a devilish look for a moment and begins: "Well.....I'd peg him as coming from somewhere in New England, possibly related to the Kennedy's or some other influential family, and just using this job temporarily as a stepping stone to an elected position in the future. You probably did pass the bar on the 2nd or 3rd try, and your family definitely summered on Martha's Vineyard or at the Hamptons.

Stockdon's statement is priceless. He stammers: " I'm not sure, but I think what you've done is close to contempt or something and I don't appreciate it one bit, Miss Carleton."

Abbie does her standard eyeroll, says something mildly apologetic, and then Miss Dawson takes the floor.

Really, Mr. Stockpile, er Stockton. I'll forgive Miss CarMICHAEL if you will. And you can carry all those folders back out of here, since I am not retaining any counsel. Thanks for your time, and next time you meet a client for the first time, get the names right.

Mr. Stock-whatever stands up, presses out his wrinkled clothing, picks up the files and starts toward the door. Before leaving he turns and says "I'm sorry about screwing up the names Miss Dawson and Miss Carmichael. Miss Dawson, you probably don't want any advice from me, but you are in grave circumstances, and you need to have someone defend you....." With that said, he turns and leaves in a much more orderly fashion than his entrance.

When Carmichael questions her, Dawson picks up on Abbie's passive aggressive manner, and determines that Abbie must have had a painful past experience , that continues to motivate her to strive to punish the evil and corrupt of the world. She also can feel Abbie's conflicting emotions about this case. At the same time, Jane's sensitivity and soft-spoken manner contradict with her, apparently, passionate zeal which put her in her present situation. Nevertheless, Jane is clearly ready to accept whatever punishment or justice is due her. Abbie attempts to explain to Jane that a plea bargain could be arranged, that would have her serve out a minimum term for manslaughter, in an environment away from the hardened criminals. Jane expresses her disgust for plea bargains and the legal profession in general, and sarcastically adds that she has no drug czars or mafia leaders to hand over, but she might be able to locate Jimmy Hoffa's body, Ha! Ha! At this point, Carmichael is truly baffled as to Jane's sanity, yet she also feels herself actually caring and wanting to defend this person. She excuses herself and reports all of her findings and impressions to Jack

Meanwhile, the wife of the slain fertility worker is up is arms. She senses that Jane is trying to play the martyr part too well, that the media and court of public opinion are hailing her as some sort of prophet, that may have arrived before her time. The widow wishes that the public would remember the finality of death that Jane directly caused, the pain that has been dealt her and her family of four, and that justice should prevail. To even entertain the notion that her husband's death was just an accident and overshadowed by the rights of the unborn is morally repugnant to her, etc., etc.

In the interim, the police attempt to delve into Jane's background. She graduated from an ivy league school, she was treated and institutionalized for depression about 2 years ago, after a divorce from a marriage of 25 years, which ended when the husband had a one-night stand. Soon after that, Jane had had a born-again-type experience and was trying desperately to get her husband into the fold. It was then that reports of her Joan of Arc-type relationship with God was first reported, and her intuitive skills about people's pasts were documented, as she had private sessions, ala John Edward, in her neighborhood and the ecumenical church she attended (The Solid Rock). As to Jane's acquisition of the rifle she had, this was a part of her deceased father's gun collection, and the crime lab had already determined that Jane was pretty lucky not to have had the gun explode in her face, since the gun was filthy, and obviously, not kept in clean and working condition, which would have been expected from a vigilante or well-armed militia member, where gun safety is usually a priority.

By the time Jack McCoy meets Jane, the media circus is in place, Jane is on the verge of being a folk hero, everyone is staking out his or her territory, and Nora is strongly urging everyone to tie this mess up as quickly and cleanly as possible.

When Jack and Abbie enter the interrogation room, Jane apologizes immediately for wasting his and the taxpayers' time, and reiterates her desire to be punished in the way of the Old Testament, and executed for her sin. Jack tries to explain that it is his duty to inform her of all of her options, not unlike what she wished to do for unwed mothers seeking abortion, etc. Jane will have none of this talk, and, again expresses her hatred and loathing of the American justice system, which she believes to be perverted and an oxymoron. Jack is exasperated but, at the same time, somewhat mesmerized by her eloquence of speech, her soft-spoken manner, and her passion. He inquires how she can be so sure of her judgment of the legal system, and suggests that, perhaps, her strong need to control her situation, outweighs the recklessness of her seeking such severe punishment. Abbie agrees and verbally supports Jack's view. Jane counters with what she knows about Jack, which she has heard while being incarcerated, and that he should well know what a control freak is, since he has skillfully turned the system to his own brand of justice at times, citing a case where he withheld evidence in order to have a drunk driver charged with 1st degree murder, for example. Abbie looks extremely puzzled and then turns to Jack. Jack is caught off guard by this and is visibly shaken. There is a long uncomfortable pause while Jack and Jane have a staring match.

Jack relents by averting his eyes and makes a move to leave when Jane says something totally off-handed.

"You're a Catholic also, aren't you. This whole case unsettles you?

Abbie casts a glance at Jack to see his reaction.

" I was raised in the Catholic faith, but I leave my religious and political views behind, when I am working as an officer of the court."

"Quite concise and clear, Mr. McCoy, but a little rehearsed, perhaps. What led you to this line of work anyway?"

"Really, Miss Dawson, neither you nor I have time for chit-chat. Are you going to listen to your options?"

"You're right about us not having time for chit-chat. We just have to decide what to designate as 'chit-chat'. Now back to my original question. Usually one has had some moment in his past, where he decides to choose a vocation, in reaction to a strongly happy, sad or violent event. Your controlling nature suggests to me that your childhood must have been fairly strict, traditionally Catholic, with the stereotypical drunk father that subdued his wife and family, keeping her barefoot and pregnant. How am I doing?"

Jack is physically fatigued already, and this last question really zaps him.

"I'm not going to play your game. I know about your mind-controlling, pseudo-psychic crap, and, believe me, now is not the time to ...

"Whoa now, guess I've struck a nerve. Really, I've had foot-in-mouth disease all my life, and I still seem to leave my tact at the door. Well, maybe we should both retreat to our corners and wait for the next round; yikes, there I go again."

Jack shrugs his shoulders, swallows a small lump in his throat, and lets out a long, sigh....

"Jane...... I think you need some counseling and I have the perfect psychologist in mind."

"Yeah, I've heard about this tactic too---or were you trying to hit a nerve also because I've had all kinds of 'therapy' and the only kind that ever worked for me was....

"Jane, please listen. This is not a game we are playing. I have been over the details of your case, and I believe I am a good judge of character, and, well, you just don't fit any of the criminal molds I've encountered in my career, and please believe me when I tell you that I have your best interest in mind."

Jane seems removed from this last bit of conversation, but what Jack has said seems to have registered on some level.

"Mr. McCoy, I appreciate what you have said, and I know you have your duty to uphold what you truly believe is the law. But if I tried to tell you why I do what I do, and why I believe with all my heart that my punishment is justified, you would probably have me committed faster than I could complete my explanation."

Jack is even more uncomfortable, and wishes he had brought Dr. Skoda with him, for just this moment. He hesitates slightly, and then, cautiously and slowly, he offers:

" Jane, this will strictly be off the record. Feel free to share whatever it is you feel you must say."

Jane has had her head down at this time, and curls her shoulders until she takes on a fetal position, while still sitting in the chair, keeping her feet on the ground. She begins to cry softly, and her shoulders begin to shake just a bit. She shakes her head, indicating that she does not wish to speak, look, or participate further in any type of communication . Jack tries to offer her a handkerchief, which repulses her, causing her to turn in her chair so that she and Jack are at 90 degree angles. Jack motions for the guard to take her away, and then he sits at the table for awhile, grinding his teeth, taking a final deep breath, and letting out a long sigh. He pauses to look at Carmichael, whose face shows no emotion at this point, and then he motions for them to leave.

Jack is at his apartment later that night, and he seems pre-occupied. He's searching for something, and then realizes he still has his briefcase in his hand. Then he searches for something to write with, has no success, and slumps down in the nearest chair, with his back sort of sprung, looking like a broken Slinky, taking on the appearance of a broken Jack-in-a-box. He straightens himself and seems to be deep in thought. He makes a phone call and asks Nora if she could contact Skoda and they could all meet in her office in an hour. He then calls Abbie to have her be there also.

Nora and Abbie are verbally trying to figure out Jack's cryptic request, while Skoda seems a bit bemused, at women, in general, trying to figure out one man, specifically, Jack McCoy. When McCoy arrives, he is casually dressed and he is carrying a file folder, which he presents to Nora. Then he begins:

"I'd like everyone to sit down for a moment, because I'm going to be doing one of the most difficult things I've ever done in my life. You are all colleagues as well as friends, and I don't have to tell you that this Jane Dawson case has certainly taking its toll on all of us. But, with that in mind, I must share with you that I am at a moral dilemma, because I do not believe this woman is worthy of the death penalty, though all of our evidence seems to be pointing that way. I would probably be able to get a conviction, with a life sentence and, maybe, the death penalty, but....I'm recusing myself from the case, and resigning from this office. (Everyone is appropriately stunned.)

"My letter of resignation is in the folder, Nora. I hope that the explanation is clear. I believe Jane is genuinely obsessed about her mission, and not responsible for what happened, and I am going to offer my services to her for her defense. Skoda, I respect your psychoanalytical skills greatly, and had I taken you to the interrogation with Dawson, things may have turned out differently. I also respect and have faith in Liz Olivet's skill, and I will be using her as my psychological expert on this case. Of course, all of this depends on whether Miss Dawson even lets me help her. As I said in my letter of resignation, I have no earthly evidence to support her innocence, and what I am doing may seem foolhardy, but I cannot in good conscience proceed to prosecute, when my heart just isn't in it. I know we're all exhausted mentally and physically, and I appreciate you all letting me relate all this to you now. I'll be going back home now." Jack pauses for a moment to look everyone individually in the eye, before taking out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face and out of his eyes. He lets out a sigh, and then leaves. Everyone is stunned and speechless.

In the morning, McCoy and Olivet meet for breakfast. Jack begins:

"I guess you got about as much sleep as I did, which amounts to zero."

"Jack, I have to ask. Don't you think you've let this case whip you around to the point where you may not be making rational decisions?"

"Why Liz, I thought you had stopped trying to figure me out long ago. Besides, you will have your hands full with Miss Dawson."

"Jack, from what information you have given me, Miss Dawson is delusional as far as her so-called conversations with God, and her prophetic messages and psychic powers are not even worthy of a circus sideshow."

"Aren't you being a little too harsh with your conclusions?"

"I feel like this, whatever she is, is manipulating everyone involved in this case, and she just got lucky and finally broke down that stonewall that has kept you from becoming personally involved with your defendants and your co-workers, for that matter." Jack is taken aback, especially by the co-worker comment. He pauses to compose himself and then says carefully and authoritatively:

"Liz, what if she actually can speak to God." Jack waits for Liz to react.

Liz is dumbfounded. She nervously takes a sip of her water, and tries to compose herself. Jack observes this and begins:

"If Miss Dawson were here, she would try to unlock some past event in your life and..."

"That's it Jack! It's one thing to have a total stranger like Dawson mess around with your psyche, but to mentally stab a friend and colleague is really a low.."

I'm sorry, I must be getting a little punchy. Really though, how do any of us know that any of the past martyrs we revere, like St. Peter, or Gandhi did not have something about their political agenda that would put a dint in our admiration of them? We're all human, aren't we.

Liz says, I don't remember St. Peter or Gandhi taking a human life in the process..." McCoy acknowleges this and then changes his posture to one of uncomfortable seriousness.

"Liz, I'm going to share something about myself. You already know how driven I am about my work, and we'd both agree that I'm probably a textbook case of an abused child trying to control his part of the world, and gain some catharsis from this, because I could never spare my mother the pain my father caused. I've never told anyone this, but...I think God spoke to me when I decided to study law, and well, even though I've not felt God's presence 100% of the time while practicing law so far, I now realize that God was always there, whether I felt his presence or not. Is any of this making sense? Am I scaring you, because I sure am scaring myself right now. It's like I know that I am saying these words, but I cannot believe Jack McCoy is having this kind of conversation with anyone..." Liz registers mild sympathy and asks, gently:

"When did God speak to you?"

"It was the week after I graduated from college, and I found my mother battered and bruised, semi-conscious from another of dad's tirades. I guess I had reached the end of my rope, and the service revolver was ready and loaded, since dad had hung it in its usual place, night after night, even after he retired from the police. The grip of the gun's handle was almost seductive, and I turned it over and over in my hands, as my heart raced. I was ready to blast him to kingdom come, and before I could get up the stairs to the bedroom where I knew he lay snoring away in one of his stupors, I tripped and fell down the stairs. The gun discharged and glanced a bullet across the side of my head, and missed my mother by less than an inch. I thought I was going to die, the pain was incredible, but then came a soothing fog, and I felt an incredible peace..."

" Please Jack, don't waste your and my time with another account of entering the long tunnel, traveling to the bright light... Haven't you heard that the brain does weird things when oxygen-deprived or injured"

"Liz, it must be such a comfort to be so wise and have all the answers. Excuse my sarcasm, but what I'm trying to tell you is difficult enough, without your interruption. If I am crazy, I'll spare you the trouble of going down with me, and I will psychoanalize Miss Dawson myself, if I have to. I need to know that you can entertain the notion that sane people can contact the supernatural, or God, or something beyond what we can detect with our 5 senses."

Liz mulls this all over, and then, after another sip of her water, she says: " Jack, this is difficult for me too, so I'll try to have an open mind. O.K. So you were in a fog, but you were not afraid...."

"Yes, I did not hear a voice, per se, but it became clear after I recovered that law was to be my vocation, and, well, that has brought me here today."

"So, Jack, you feel a kinship with Miss Dawson. Is that what you're trying to say?"

"More than that, Liz. When she broke down in front of me, there was something I saw in her manner. Normally I could have passed off her histrionics as that of a beguiling criminal, trying to gain sympathy and save oneself from the consequences of one's actions. But there was something more there. A certain vulnerability, while at the same time, a look of helplessness, and a look of fear, like one feels when one is momentarily separated from humanity"

"Jack, I'm not following that last part. What do you mean by being separated from humanity?"

"Liz, it's the feeling one has when you find yourself totally out of step with the majority, and you begin to question your own sanity. The closest example I can personally cite is when I was a parent, and I realized I had to be the bad guy, and mete out discipline, and threaten the friendship between myself and my daughter. I knew it was going to hurt me more than her.. It's a little like taking a step of faith. It may be uncomfortable and scary, but one still has to do it. Miss Dawson has nothing to gain from sharing all of her accounts of divine conversations and the lot of it. In fact, her biggest fear should be the threat of being institutionalized for being insane, what with her background of needing psychiatric treatment, but she consistently insists on her main motivation being divinely inspired. And your earlier observation about her psychic powers not being worthy of a sideshow is right on the mark. If she is faking this, she certainly seems intelligent enough to be doing a better job of it...(Jack pauses for a moment to let Liz take all of this in). "I can tell you are at least thinking about this, which is a positive sign for her defense. Now all I have to do, is prove that which cannot be proven."

"Jack, I can be pretty hard-nosed and clinical about things, and my profession requires it, but you've at least created benefit of a doubt for me. It's refreshing to consider this possibility, but scary to go down a type of slippery slope, where divine evidence could be misused and perverted, the way some lawyers do the law."

McCoy halfway grins and says "You're not the first to have little faith in the justice system. If you only knew the deja vu I'm feeling from your last comment. Well, what do you say. We have work to do"

When McCoy and Olivet arrive at Rikers, they learn that Jane has been involved in a scuffle, after she tried to relate to a fellow inmate what she knew about her tortured past, and how God could give her the peace that passes all understanding. McCoy shares with Olivet what Jane surmised about her own lack of tact while they wait for the guard to bring her in. When Jane does arrive, she is visibly bruised, worn out and pretty pathetic- looking, though her posture still retains determination to see things through. She makes no eye contact with either Olivet or McCoy as she is seated. There is silence as McCoy and Olivet look at each other while they search for the right words to open the conversation that may profoundly change Miss Dawson's life. Jack breaks the silence by saying:

"Jane, I know that you have been having a rough time, and I respect your cynicism when it comes to the legal profession. I believe we have a chance to let you have your day in court; to let you say what you need to say to the public. I also believe that you were not responsible for your actions, and I'm confident that with my and Dr. Olivet's help, we can help you plead your case "

"Mr. McCoy. I know we are all tired, and I know I'm not thinking straight, but how can the district attorney's office help me. I thought we were on different sides"

"Jane, I'm sorry if I'm not making myself clear yet. I've resigned from the district attorney's office, and I'm here to offer you my services as your public defender. I've brought Dr. Olivet, who is the most talented and respected psychologist I know, and I wholeheartedly recommend that you let her help you express and explain what happened and what motivated you to the point that you ended up in the hostage situation. I won't say any of this will be easy, but I truly believe we are your best option now, and I feel we have a good chance to lead this all to the right outcome."

"This may be the worst time to share this, Jack, but I had a vision about you, at least, I think it was you. I was told through it to let everything fall into place and that a public defender would come forward on his own. I could almost quote what you just said..."

McCoy and Olivet look at each other, and share the same feeling of goosebumps. Jane takes a deep breath, and then begins:

"I've had enormous respect for the sanctity of life, and I am literally sickened by the fact that another life was terminated by my own lack of control about bringing on the the hostage situation which led to my shooting the research worker. I did not wish for any of that to happen, but I've likened abortion to the same horror as the mass execution of the Jews by Hitler. That may sound fanatical to most, but the more I learned in undergraduate biology about the biochemical events that lead up to the moment of conception, the miracle of that one event , and all that happens after, it just becomes more clear that so many women have taken false comfort in the rhetoric of pleading for the right to their body, that they've forgotten that it also involves another little body, no matter how foreign-looking or immature in its appearance. I've made it a priority to strive to give these women the information they need to make an informed decision, without a guilt trip, or religious proselytizing, and when the stem cell research issue came up, I seized the opportunity to get the attention of many, and make a clear statement about the sanctity of life. What a cruel contradiction, that while I strove to make clear what I feel so passionately about, another life was terminated? How can I ever be taken seriously again. Any prophecies or wisdom I have to share is now tainted by this horrific act. The pain the widow must be feeling and the loss for her family is almost too much to bear. I am truly at a loss as to what to do. I do not deserve any help from you or Dr. Olivet." Dawson pauses for a moment, and then continues, with a more determined tone of voice:

"My main purpose was to inform, teach, plead the case of the unborn, and now.....well, I'm a common criminal, and the only resolution to this whole mess I can see, is for me to accept my punishment, apologize to the widow if she will allow me, and let God take care of the rest."

Jack and Liz listen intently to all this, but both look as though they are not completely won over. Jane speaks further:

"I don't have to be a prophet or psychic to read your looks now. How can I expect to influence a judge or jury if I don't even have total support from you two? Besides, I'm useless to God now. All I represent is another religious, gun-toting fanatic who murdered an innocent being, who is trying to play the martyr thing to the hilt. I'm just exhausted and fed up with all of this, and I do not want any further counseling or visits or anything. Let what will be happen. I'm through screwing up...." Jane, who should be looking hysterical and distraught, perhaps even dejected at this point, has taken on a serenity about her now, as if she finally understands what has to happen. Then Jack speaks.

"Jane, you've made yourself very clear to me, at least, and I think a judge would be positively moved by your confession. Don't you think all of us, yourself included, deserve your day in court? God does not expect perfection from us. He expects us to give it our best shot. You've already given me enough for a closing argument--now all I have to do is get the defense together, and all Dr. Olivet has to do is...."

"Prove that I'm competent for trial?" Jane interrupts. She looks at Olivet and Olivet is a bit pale, and appears less convincing as her possible advocate. Jane looks down for a moment and then looks up, speaking in a slightly forced optimistic manner: "Well, let me think about it for awhile, and I'll get back to you....Thanks for all your trouble, no matter what I decide." Jane then motions for the guard, and she leaves.

Jack and Liz ponder what Jane has said. Then Liz says: " I'm not sure I believe her. I do think a suicide watch is in order. Sometimes people, right before they make a major decision about being or not being take on an air of calmness, like what I just observed in Jane."

Jack slowly nods in agreement: " I don't think she'll be getting back to us anytime soon, either. I think I need to talk to an old friend about this. Liz, I'll call you first thing in the morning." Both McCoy and Olivet check out.

Jack is back at his apartment and it is early evening. He makes a phone call which requires several assists from operators, until he finally reaches his old friend and mentor:

"Hello, Adam. How are things in Switzerland"?

"Jack, I'm pretty sure you didn't call me for a weather report. Do you recall when you were trying to convince Miss Kincaid and I that the mother who had already smothered 3 of her children should have a tubal ligation? I said something about you riding your bike without a helmet. I've been following the papers, and Nora called me about your resignation. Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

Jack is emotionally vulnerable at this point, and has to catch his breath before he can respond: "I just never realized until now how much I've missed you. You were like a father to me , even though I was a fairly petulant brat at times... Adam, I feel so confused and helpless.?"

There's a long pause on the line, and then Adam speaks: "Jack, I think you know you are out of your league on this one. You were and are the finest prosecutor I've ever encountered. You really have a gift for it. But you've not done any defense work since your college days, and we both know how long ago that was. What if you were the defendant? Put aside that ego of yours, and decide whom you would want to defend you."

Jack answers too abruptly: "It really doesn't matter now. I think Miss Dawson has given up on any defense, and, perhaps, on her existence in general. Isn't it ironic that a person can be so passionate about saving what the majority of us call a fetus or embryo, when she has so little regard for her own life?

"Listen to what you are saying Jack. Your own passion for your work has made you personally sacrifice more than you realize sometimes. Is there a lesson in this for you, too? What made you think you could save the day. I recall when you took on Chilean politics and the Supreme Court, for God's sake...and I don't say that irreverently either. The public is too used to you tilting at wind mills, and this current stunt of yours must be having a heyday in all the Op/Eds. Think now. Who would you call to defend this lady."

"Well, it would have to be someone comfortable with the media, who practically basks in the limelight. But he would have to be an excellent defense attorney at the same time. No chance we could make a bargain with the devil and conjure up William Kunstler?"

"Jack, you're wasting precious time. I can think of 3 or 4 people...."

Jack's thoughtful look breaks into a lightbulb of discovery. " Of course, Paul Robinette. He practically wiped the floor with me over that child custody case. Even a mistrial would be a blessing at this point, and I'm 100% sure he could swing that---if he can win the trust of the defendant."

"If? There's only one way to find out"

"Thanks, Adam for helping me with this. There for a moment, I almost thought I was losing my mind...Well, this will be a first. Jack McCoy backing down from a challenge....."

"Been there, done that, Jack. Vaya Con Dios, my friend.

Jack is alive with energy and forgets the late hour. He contacts Paul Robinette immediately, who has been following the case. Paul agrees to meet Jack and Liz first thing in the morning to be brought up to speed. Then the next order of business was to try to convince Miss Dawson....

Jack suggests that Paul contact Miss Dawson directly, and her powers of reception are quick to accept and trust the sincerity in his voice. Their first meeting goes well, and the defense strategy gels easily. Paul will concentrate on Miss Dawson's overall character, and Liz Olivet's stamp of approval. Jack is kept abreast of all by Paul and Liz. At the same time, Jack goes back to the D.A.'s office. He knocks on Nora's door, feeling the eyes of all the ADA's piercing him like humbling arrows.

Nora answers: "Come in". When Jack appears, her face is mixed with emotion--great surprise, incredible relief, genuine love and exasperation. "Jack, I-I don't know what to say."

Jack approaches Nora, and assumes a somewhat compliant, almost, apologetic posture: "Just say you'll give me another chance. (Looking up now, and making direct eye contact, he continues): I'll make no promises, but I think I've aged a century since we last met. Hopefully, I've matured some in that time also."

The end.

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