Written By: David E. Kelley

Its snowing outside the courthouse in Boston.  Through a window we see a
solitary man standing in an empty courtroom.  It is Bobby Donnell.  He
looks scared.  Eugene walks in and over to where Bobby is standing.
Without even looking up, Bobby asks him how did he know he was here.
Eugene says to him that he always used to come here, him too for that
matter.  Bobby says "I remember, what was it 10, 11 years ago, you and I
sat in this very room dreaming of the days we'd argue before the Supreme
Court."  Eugene puts down is coat and turns the subject back to today.
He tells Bobby that while they talked about the idea of introducing
character evidence he doesn't think it would be a good idea, that it
would open the door on the drug bust where those police officers got
killed.  Bobby, sounding frustrated, says he's not missing anything, is
he, that its his word against Neel's and he's a felon.  He says they
have to be able to make reasonable doubt, that all they have is a
convicted felon with a huge motive to lie.  Eugene says the audio tape -
that precedes his motive.  Bobby looks very scared.  Nervously he asks
Eugene if they can win.  Eugene says "An outright acquittal?  I don't
know.  Felony murder count, all they have to do is prove you sent him
there to break in, Bobby.  That's what scares me."  Bobby is clearly
very scared too.  He says nothing.  Eugene tells him the prosecutions
offer is still on the table.  Bobby looks at him defiantly and with
conviction says no.

Opening credits.

In the conference room at Donnell, Young Dole and Frutt, the defense
team of Eugene and Ellenor are getting some last minute advise from a
D.A. - Helen Gamble.  Helen sits beside a very nervous looking Lindsay,
with Bobby at the head of the table.  She is telling them that the thing
about Toomey - the lead D.A. on this case - is that he stays very
neutral, he doesn't get very emotional.  She tells him not to try
pushing any of his buttons, that he hasn't got any.  She tells them not
to figure him to object too much either - if he doesn't need to preserve
something for appeal he stays quiet.  And, she tells him, juries tend to
like him because he seems objective.  Sarcastically, Ellenor says
great.  Eugene says they better get going.  A very scared looking
Lindsay nods her head.  Helen wishes them luck. They get up to leave.

As they go to leave, Eugene asks Lucy if their bags are packed.  She
hands him a briefcase telling him they're ready.  She then tells him
that she's on call for her rape crisis center today and asks if that's
going to be ok.  Rebecca says she thought she was just in training.
Bobby says he thought she was volunteering nights.  Lucy says she
finished her training and she is volunteering nights, but a counselor
got sick, that its a one day thing.  Ellenor tells her they need her on
call here.  Lucy repeats that its a one day thing and she probably won't
even get called.  Lindsay tells Bobby that they better get going, its
8:30.  Rebecca walks over to Bobby and gives him a hug.  She tells him
she wants to be there.  Jimmy says he does too.  Eugene says that they
can't go in there like an army.  Jimmy says if they sit in the
gallery...  Eugene tells him someone has to stay here and earn money.
Bobby says he appreciates the support.  Ellenor says let's go and they
leave.

At the courthouse, Bobby, Eugene, Ellenor and Lindsay are walking down
the hall toward the elevator.  Eugene is telling Bobby if there is press
on the 6th floor they just walk through it.  He says he'll give Bobby
the same advise he gives all his clients clients - look humble but look
like a winner.  They get in the elevator.  Right before the doors close,
someone stops them and gets in.  Its Mike McGuire.  They all glare at
him, but Bobby is shooting bullets at him with his eyes.  The doors
close and the elevator starts.  Bobby says sarcastically to Mike thanks
a lot.  Eugene cautions him to stop.  Bobby doesn't stop.  He says to
Mike that they're friends.  Ellenor and Lindsay both try and stop him.
Mike doesn't say a word, or even look at them.

In the courtroom, Mike is on the stand, looking very uncomfortable, with
Toomey questioning him.  He says "You were first approached by the
defendant's wife?"  Mike says "Yes.  She came to us saying she was being
stalked by Mr. Hinks."  Toomey: "What did you do?"  Mike: "We arrested
him."  Toomey: "And those charges were dismissed."  Mike: "That's
correct."  Toomey:  "Detective, how many times did you arrest or detain
Mr. Hinks at the request of the defendant or the defendant's wife?"
Mike:  "I believe it was three time."  Lindsay is watching the
proceeding nervously from the gallery sitting directly behind Bobby.
Toomey:  "And for the record, Detective, Bobby Donnell and Lindsay Dole
are friends of yours, isn't that correct?"   Mike:  "We've always been
on friendly terms, yes."  Toomey:  "I imagine its not easy for you,
sitting here today, accusing your friend of murder."  His concern
doesn't quite sound sincere.  Before Mike can answer, Eugene objects,
and the judge sustains his objection.  Toomey continues: "Could you
describe your last conversation with the defendant regarding William
Hinks?"  Mike looks toward Bobby.  He is clearly uncomfortable with what
he is about to say.  He says:  "He was very upset.  He and Lindsay came
to us saying that Mr. Hinks was the driver of the cab she was in.  Both
she and Bobby were agitated, and in fear.  Bobby said something like get
this guy."  Bobby looks nervous sitting between Ellenor and Eugene at
the defense table.  Toomey:  "How did you respond?"  Mike:  "I didn't
know how to respond, to be honest.  I was a little thrown."  Toomey:
"Why's that?"  Mike takes a deep breath:  "The tenor wasn't arrest him,
it was get him."  Lindsay looks upset, sort of raising her eyes upward
in disbelief.  Bobby casts his eyes downward.  Toomey:  "And by get him,
what did you understand him to mean?"  Mike:  "I really wasn't sure.  I
just didn't read it as arrest him."  Toomey thanks him and sits down.

Eugene starts his cross examination from his chair.  Eugene:  "Well,
what did you read it as?"  Mike:  "I wasn't sure."  Eugene gets up: "Are
you in the business of roughing people up, Detective?"  Mike:  "No."
Eugene:  "Killing them?"  Mike:  "No."  Eugene:  "Arresting them?"
Mike:  "I arrest people, yes."  Eugene:  "Yes.  Well couldn't Mr.
Donnell have possibly been saying do what you do."  Mike:  "I don't
know, Eugene."  Eugene:  "Prior to this conversation had Mr. Donnell
ever asked you to do anything illegal, Detective?"  Mike:  "No."
Eugene:  "So it is possible, sir, that when he said get this guy he
meant arrest him."  Mike:  "As I said, I couldn't tell."  Eugene:  "You
couldn't tell, so its possible."  Mike:  "I suppose."  Eugene:  "And you
described Mr. Donnell as being agitated when he said this, is that
correct?"  Mike:  "Yes."  Eugene:  "Well, his wife had just been
threatened again by a serial killer.  He responded by coming to the
police and saying get this guy."  Mike:  "Yes."

Back in a room at the courthouse, Eugene, Ellenor and Lindsay are at a
table, Bobby stands staring out a window.  There is uneaten food, cans
of soda and a bottle of water on the table, signs that they are making
an attempt to eat lunch.  Ellenor is saying that she doesn't even know
why they called Mike.  Bobby says they called him to bolster Neel, that
McGuire just made him a little more believable, made the jury a little
more predisposed to believe him.  Her voice sounding a bit shaky,
Lindsay says and he's next, right?  Eugene confirms that, saying he's
next.

Back at the office, Lucy pager is going off.  She just stares at it.
Rebecca asks her if she's going to get that.  Lucy says its her rape
center pager.  Rebecca says it looks as if she has a call.  Lucy
nervously picks up the pager.

Lucy stands waiting, looking a bit uneasy, in a hospital emergency
room.  A nurse walks up to her and asks if she's Lucy Hatcher.  She
introduces herself as Caroline.  They walk along as she says the victim
is in treatment room 3, that her name is Maddie Werner, 22 years old.
Lucy asks if the police brought her in.  The nurse says she thinks so,
that there's trauma to the face and neck, defensive wounds on the
hands.  She tells Lucy they haven't done the pelvic yet.  They stop and
the Caroline points to a rooms and tells Lucy the victim is in there.
She tells her she'll be in with the doctor in a few for the full exam.
Caroline walks away.  Lucy stands looking nervously at the door of the
exam room before walking in.

She opens the door and says hi Maddie.  She introduces herself and tells
her she's a counselor from the rape crisis center.  Maddie lies on her
side, shaking on a table, covered by a sheet.  Lucy tells her she's here
to help her through this.  Maddie doesn't say a word.  Lucy asks her if
there is anyone she would like her to call, a friend or family member.
Maddie just shakes her head no.  Lucy tells her that when the doctor
gets there he's going to do 2 things.  She says first he's going to make
sure she's ok, medically ok, and then to help the police catch this guy
he'll do some evidence collection.  Maddie just lies there shaking.
Lucy walks a little closer to Maddie and tells her she doesn't have to
do the rape kit if she doesn't want to.  Maddie starts to turn on her
back, revealing a horribly beaten and bloodied face.  Lucy looks
horrified at what she sees.  She tries to continue, saying that it will
really help prosecute if she lets them do the rape kit.  Maddie turns
back on her side.  Lucy asks her if she can get her anything.  She sees
a blanket and up and offers it to Maddie.  Maddie starts to scream and
then cry.  Lucy backs off in horror, saying over and over that she's
sorry.  She then turns and runs from the room,  Outside, she leans
against the wall, looking and feeling sick, then grasps her stomach and
covers her mouth, sick.

Back at Bobby's trial, Alan Neel is on the stand, being questioned by
Toomey.  He is saying that he has been a client of Bobby's for about 10
years or so, but not lately because he has been law abiding.  Toomey
asks him when Bobby last defended him.  Neel says about 8 years ago.
Toomey asks what the charges were.  Neel says double homicide.  Toomey
asks if he was acquitted and Neel says yes he was.  Toomey:  "Would you
describe for the court your relationship with Mr. Donnell."  Neel:
"Mainly lawyer/client, but I was very indebted to him.  You know, when
you allegedly kill people, you get charged for it, the man who gives you
back your freedom... Well I owe him my life, basically."  Toomey:  "Now
turning you attention to the day of December 5th, did you meet with Mr.
Donnell?"  Neel:  "Yes.  I got a call from his assistant saying there
was a big emergency and he needed to see me."  Toomey:  "And you went to
his office?"   Neel:  "I did."  Toomey:  "Would you tell the court what
happened there."  Neel:  "Well, he was upset.  He told me he got married
and he had a problem.  I figured he just wanted me to kill his wife."
From the gallery, Lindsay looks away, disbelieving.  Neel continues:
"That wasn't it.  He said this psycho was threatening her, and that he
could harm her.  He said he wanted me to take care of him."  Toomey:
"And by take care of him, what did you interpret that to mean?"  Neel:
"Kill him."  Bobby looks  upset, knowing that Neel is lying.  Toomey:
"Kill him?"  Neel:  "Yes."  Toomey:  "Did you and Mr. Donnell discuss a
price?"  Neel:  "$50,000. "  Toomey:  "Did he pay you this money?"
Neel:  "No, I figured he was good for it."  Toomey:  "Did he indicate
when he wanted you to kill Mr. Hinks?"  Neel:  "Immediately.  And he
gave me the guy's address."  Bobby looks as if he's getting angrier and
angrier, listening to Neel's lies.  Toomey:  "So what happened next, Mr.
Neel?"  Neel:  "Well, I went to this Hinks guy's house, I broke in and I
waited.  When HInks got there I...  I cut his head off and I put it in
the freezer."  There's murmuring in the courtroom.  Bobby looks like he
can't believe this is happening.  Lindsay looks near tears.  Toomey
walks over to a tape recorder and say he would like to play an audio
tape that was recorded in William Hinks' house.  He presses the play
button and it starts.  Neel's voice comes on.  He says "Bobby Donnell is
a friend of mine."  Toomey stops the tape and asks Neel if that's his
voice.  Neel answers yes, that its him and that Hinks right before I
killed him.  He says "I didn't know I was being taped.  That was
unfortunate."   Toomey continues playing the tape:  Neel:  "We have this
arrangement going. I kill people, he gets me off.  Over the years, I'm
in his debt pretty good so when he calls in a favor..."  Hinks:  "I have
a silent alarm.  The police are on their way as I speak."  Neel:  "Then
I better not waste time."  Hinks:  "Before you touch me you should know,
I have cooties."  Neel:  "Oh, you're a funny boy."  The sounds of a
struggle are heard before the tape cuts off.  During the playing of the
tape, Bobby, Ellenor and Eugene all look upset, knowing how damaging
this could be.  Lindsay sits in the gallery, horrified at what she is
hearing, also aware of the damage it may cause.   Toomey turns off the
tape recorder.  Toomey asks Neel:  "Does this tape represent an accurate
account of the events as they happened that night?"  Neel:  "Pretty
much."

Back at the hospital, the nurse Caroline hands Lucy a cloth.  She wipes
her mouth.  The nurse tells her it takes some getting used to.  She says
Lucy should have told her it was her first.  She says the doctor is
almost ready for the exam and asks if she's coming back in.  Lucy
hesitates.  Caroline says to tell her if she need to call the crisis
center and get another counselor down here.  Lucy softly says she's ok.
Caroline looks at her and tells her she doesn't mean to be brutal, but
she's not going to do Maddie any good if she runs out of the room
again.  Lucy again tells her she's fine.  Caroline asks her how old is
she.  Lucy doesn't answer, but tells her let's go.

Back at Bobby's trial, its Eugene's turn to question Neel.  Eugene:
"You made a deal with the prosecution in exchange for your testimony,
didn't you, Mr. Neel.?"  Neel:  "We covered that."  Eugene:  "Yes, it
bears repeating because in all of my years as a criminal defense
attorney I've never seen a case where a man goes to a house, breaks in,
lies in wait, decapitates his victim and then gets off with
manslaughter."  Toomey objects, the judge sustains his objection.
Eugene continues:  "They had you on video tape entering Mr. Hinks'
house, is that correct?"  Neel:  "It is."  Eugene:  "And we heard the
audio tape of you killing him?"  Neel:  "Yes."  Eugene:  "So basically
they had you.  You were looking at murder, life with no parole, weren't
you Mr. Neel."  Neel:  "I know what you're thinking.  I'm fingering
Bobby to help myself. "  Eugene:  "Why would I think that?"  Neel:
"Look, I'm telling the truth here."  Eugene:  "How many times have you
been convicted of murder sir?"  Neel:  "Convicted, once."  Eugene:
"Armed robbery?"  Neel:  "I'm not sure."  Eugene:  "According to your
record, twice.  Assault?"  Neel:  "Look, I didn't bring my resume."
Eugene:  "Three times.  Possession of drugs?"  Neel:  "I'm, telling the
truth what happened that day."  Eugene:  "Rape?"  Neel:  "I still
maintain my innocence on that."  Eugene:  "Perjury."  Neel:  "Once, and
that..."  Eugene:  "Murder, rape, armed robbery, assault and perjury.
Have we left out anything, Mr. Neel?"  Neel says nothing.  Eugene
continues:  "This deal you made to get manslaughter, instead of spending
every day for the rest of your life in prison, you're going to get
again, aren't you."  Neel:  "Look..."  Eugene:  "I asked you a question,
sir.  Under this deal, just by coming to court and accusing Bobby
Donnell, you get again.  True or false?"  Neel:  "True."   Eugene stares
at him saying:  "thank you, Mr. Neel.  Nothing further."

Back in the hospital exam room, the doctor is about to exam Maddie.  He
tells her he's about to do the pelvic exam now.  Lucy is standing on one
side of her, Caroline on the other, assisting the doctor.  He tells her
he needs to make sure she's ok and if she relaxes her muscles it won't
be too uncomfortable.  Maddie is unsure.  Lucy asks her if she would
like to hold her hand.  The doctor tells her he's just going to put his
hands on her knees.  When he does so, Maddie says wait and then
apologizes.  Lucy asks if they could get a different doctor, can they
still get a female doctor?  Maddie says no, she can do it.  The doctor
proceeds, saying that there's no tearing, which is good.  Lucy looks as
if she might not make it.  The doctor says he just has to take a couple
of swabs and then they're done.  Lucy starts to mumble something about
going to get the cream. Caroline picks up on this and tells Lucy to
please go the nurses station and ask for the sulfur cream. Lucy nods her
head and starts to leave, but as she does, Maddie reaches out and grabs
her arm, pulling Lucy back.  Lucy holds her hand and smiles down at
her.  The doctor tells Maddie that Caroline will finish the rape kit,
comb for pubic hairs and taking scrapings from under her fingernails.
Maddie just clings to Lucy.

Back at the office, Eugene, Ellenor, Rebecca, Jimmy, Bobby and Lindsay
are gathered in the conference room.  Eugene is saying they have a
decision to make, whether or not Bobby is to testify.  Bobby says how
can he not testify, that he was the only one to refute Neel's story.
Ellenor say if he takes the stand he'll be saying that he sent Alan Neel
to scare him and under the felony murder rule that may be all the
prosecution needs.  Eugene says if they rest now they could argue
reasonable doubt, that all the prosecution has now to show that he sent
him there at all is the word of a convicted felon looking to avoid a
life sentence. Lindsay says that the jury will assume that Bobby sent
him there.  Ellenor says an assumption isn't proof.  Eugene says but if
he says he sent him...  Ellenor says that is proof.  Jimmy says that the
question is where are they now.  He asks if Neel was convincing.
Ellenor says he wasn't terrible.  Lindsay says that if Bobby doesn't
testify how do they explain Neel going to Hinks' house.  Eugene says
what he's saying is they may be handing them their case, if Bobby says
he sent him it removes reasonable doubt on that issue, it could be case
over.  Lindsay says what she's saying is they have already lost on that
issue.  She says that everybody in that knows Bobby sent him.  Eugene
says they don't know it.  Lindsay says come on, if Bobby doesn't deny
that he sent him there to kill Hinks, which is what Neel just testified
to...  Bobby interjects that he also never said for Hinks to break and
enter, let's not forget that.  They all look at each other.  Finally
Lindsay says he has to testify, he has to.  Jimmy says it seems under
the felony murder rule you lose.  He says that it seems that the only
way you win is basically that the jury has got to want to let you go and
for that to happen you have to take the stand and say that you never
sent the guy there to kill him.  Rebecca says she agrees.  Lindsay says
so do I.  Eugene and Ellenor don't look entirely convinced.  Bobby,
looks at them and then says ok, he's testifying.  As he says that he
swallows hard.  He is clearly terrified by the task before  him.

In the office the next day, Rebecca and Jimmy, along with Lucy, are
watching a newscast.  The reporter is saying that Bobby is likely to be
the only defense witness, which means the case could go to the jury as
early as later today.  Jimmy turns off the t.v..  He slams down the
remote and mutters talk about a rush to judgment.  Rebecca walks over to
Lucy and asks how her thing went yesterday.  Jimmy asks if she had a
client.  Lucy says she's not allowed to talk about that.  Jimmy says not
even whether or not you had a client?  Lucy says no, and walks away.

Back at the courthouse, Bobby is on the stand, Eugene questioning him.
He says:  "Lindsay had become increasing scared.  First when he started
showing up at the office."  Eugene:  "William Hinks?"  Bobby:  "Yes.  He
showed up saying things like he wanted to appeal his acquittal for the
purpose of continuing his relationship with Lindsay.  Then he showed up
asking if there was a good place to walk a dog.  All his victims, he met
them walking a dog."  Eugene:  "Did you respond to that?"  Bobby:  "We
called the police and the district attorney.  We got a restraining order
to keep him 1000 feet away."  Eugene:  "Well, did that work?"  Bobby:
"No.  He showed up where she gets coffee, saying he didn't know she'd be
there.  Then she hailed a cab, he was in the cab driving.  He was
stalking her."  Eugene:  "Did you tell this to the police?"  Bobby:
"They said they couldn't prove it and there was nothing they could do."
Eugene:  "What happened next?"  Bobby:  "Next he murdered his
therapist."  Toomey objects saying that there's no evidence.  Bobby goes
on saying:  "His therapist was murdered, who was also a friend of
Lindsay's.  Then he showed up at the hospital, again to talk to Lindsay
and again the police said they couldn't prove it so they let him go.
He's out there killing people, he's obsessed with my wife..."  Eugene:
"What did you do?"  Bobby:  "I called Alan Neel."  Eugene:  "Why?"
Bobby takes a deep breath:  "Because, I needed someone who was capable
of scaring Hinks.  Hinks knew the police were bound by rules and laws
which he could manipulate.  I wanted somebody who didn't know those
bounds, somebody who could genuinely scare Hinks.  That's why I called
Alan Neel."  Eugene:  "And you met with Mr. Neel."  Bobby:  "I did."
Eugene:  "What did you say?"  Bobby:  "I asked him to put the fear of
God in him."  Eugene:  "Did you ask him to kill him?"  Bobby:  "No.  In
fact, I implicitly told him not to."  Eugene:  "Well, did you ask him to
physically hurt him?"  Bobby:  "Never. I only asked him to scare him and
that's all he said he would do."  Eugene:  "Well, what happened then?"
Bobby: "I gave him Hinks' address and he said he would take care of
it."  Eugene:  "Is it possible that Mr. Neel could have thought you
wanted him to kill Mr. Hinks?"  Bobby:  "No, because he asked me that
and I told him I'm not hiring you to kill him, just scare him."
Eugene:  "Isn't that a little risky, Mr. Donnell, sending one of your
clients out to scare a serial killer?"  Bobby:  "We had been to the
police.  We had been to the district attorney.  I had a wife 7 months
pregnant, I didn't know what else..."  Bobby's voice is shaky.  He
sounds as if he might break down.  He pauses to gather himself and then
continues:  "I got a psycho obsessed with my wife, a man who chops off
heads, a man who probably murdered his own doctor, who's now turning all
his attention to Lindsay...  Was it risky to send a man to confront
him?  Yes.  But I was not going to do nothing."  Bobby looks at
Lindsay:  "That's my wife over there, carrying my child.  I was not
going to do nothing."  He pauses for a just a moment, again seemingly to
gather himself:  "But I never, ever asked him to kill anybody."

Back at the office, Rebecca walks over to Lucy who is sorting through
some files.  Rebecca tells her something obviously didn't go well at the
clinic.  Lucy says she can't discuss cases.  Rebecca says she was
talking about her.  She asks how it went for her.  Lucy says she's
quitting.  Rebecca asks why.  Lucy says she's just not cut out for it.
Rebecca says and she knows this after her very first day.  Lucy says she
gave the victim a blanket, that one of the very first things they teach
you is never approach a victim without getting permission first and she
went at her with an open blanket and she panicked.  Rebecca says then
she won't do that next time.  Lucy says there won't be a next time.
Rebecca tells her there are going to be more victims.  Lucy says when
she saw what happened to her she freaked.  Rebecca says the woman was
raped, so she got emotional, she would wonder about her if she didn't.
Lucy says she ran out of the room and then she threw up in the hall.
Rebecca asks her if she went back in.  Lucy says yes, but she just
wanted to run out again and the only reason she didn't was the victim
grabbed her hand before she could.  Rebecca tells her this was her first
call, she thinks she could allow herself...  Lucy says she's just not
cut out for this.  Rebecca says she bets she is, and leaves.

Back at the trial, its Toomey's turn to question Bobby.  He stands:
"You know, I really don't have any questions.  As I understand your
testimony you were afraid of this Mr. Hinks, you called in a client you
once got acquitted for a double homicide.  After your meeting Mr. Neel
went to visit Mr. Hinks after which Mr. Hinks ended up with his head in
the freezer."  Bobby:  "I never sent Alan Neel to kill him."  Toomey:
"He just got that idea all by himself?"  Bobby:  "I don't know.  He
either did or maybe there was a scuffle - I don't know.  I do know I
never sent him there to kill him."  Toomey:  "So all you did was send a
known killer there with instructions to be sure not to kill this time."
Bobby:  "Yes."  Toomey:  "When you were first called to the scene of
William Hinks' house a month ago and you saw his headless body, did you
know who had killed him?"  Bobby:  "Yes."   Toomey:  "Did you tell your
friend Detective McGuire?"  Bobby:  "No."  Toomey:  "Why not?  There was
certainly no privilege here.  Why didn't you tell the police who had
killed William Hinks?"  Bobby:  "I was in shock.  I wasn't thinking
well."  Toomey:  "So you were content to let this killer stay at large,
this killer who murders people without being asked."  Eugene objects,
Toomey goes on:  "Wasn't your real fear incriminating yourself?''  Bobby
says nothing.  Toomey:  "Mr. Donnell, when you declined to tell the
police who had killed William Hinks, was it because you didn't want to
incriminate yourself?"   Bobby:  "Partly.  Maybe."  Toomey: "Prior to
the discovery of Mr. Hinks' decapitated body had you told anyone you had
sent Mr. Neel to visit him?"  Bobby:  "No."  Toomey:  "None of your
colleagues?"  Bobby:  "No."  Toomey:  "Not even your wife?"  Bobby:
"No."   Toomey:  "Mr. Donnell, your wife is terrified.  She's being
stalked by this serial killer.  You didn't think to tell her you sent
somebody to threaten him?  You didn't try and give her some piece of
mind, Mr. Donnell?"  Lindsay sits in the gallery, looking at Eugene as
if waiting for him to object.  Bobby:  "She was on the verge of
miscarrying.  I didn't want her any further involved."  Toomey:  "That's
exactly the case, isn't it.  You didn't want her any further involved.
You were afraid that by telling her the truth about what you sent Alan
Neel to do you might incriminate her too.  Isn't that right?"  Bobby:
"I only sent him there to threaten him."  Toomey: "Yes.  His ending up
dead, just a big mix-up."  Toomey sits down.  Lindsay looks very
frustrated, very scared.

Back at the office, Lindsay, followed by Bobby, Eugene and Ellenor walk
in silently.  Lindsay goes over to her desk to put down her coat and
purse.  Bobby goes to his office.  Jimmy asks Eugene what happened.
Eugene says it went ok, that Bobby did pretty good on direct, he was
crossed all right but he held up.  Lindsay walks over and says
emphatically that it did not go ok.  She is angry, and frustrated.  Her
voice is shaking:  "It was... They just put in there case, uncontested,
while you just sat on your hands and..."  She is clearly terrified. She
looks at both Eugene and Ellenor and says "Both of you.  If nothing else
you should have at least objected..."  Ellenor tells her there was
nothing to object to.  Lindsay is very upset.  She says "You do it to
break up their momentum, Ellenor.  You don't just sit around and wait
for something objectionable before... It was like you both went to
sleep."  She is clearly very near the edge.  She looks at them:  "I
don't want to be having this baby alone."  Her voice is cracking:  "I
want him in the room with me, Eugene."  She turns and leaves, going into
Bobby's office.  They all look at each other, understanding her
frustration - and her fear.

Lindsay walks into Bobby's office where he sits on the sofa, head in his
hands.  She comes in, slams the door behind her and sits on the sofa
beside him.  She looks at him, seeing his fear too.  She puts her hand
on his back and rubs it saying that she thought they were terrible.
Bobby says there was nothing they could do.  He goes on to tell her that
Toomey had an easy cross because he had the facts.  He says the truth
hurts me.  He looks at Lindsay, her eyes brimming with tears - and
fear.  He leans back and puts his arm over the back of the sofa near her
shoulders.  He says to her:  "Let's face it, the line between my
innocence and guilt here is a thin one, and I probably crossed it."
Lindsay looks at him with concern, worry and fear.

Back in court, its time for closing arguments.  The defense is up first
and they are playing a video tape of William Hinks' "confession".  Hinks
is saying, in all is evil eyed glory, "I would have loved to have
extended that look of pain in their faces, that look of horror.  Its a
thing of beauty, the look on the face of a woman who knows she's about
to die."  A voice on the tape asks Hinks if he thinks he'll kill again
and Hinks answers:  "Oh yes.  I'll get out of this, you just watch. And
I'll know the joy of that look again."  Eugene turns off the tape.
"That's what we were dealing with.  A psychotic man who cut the heads
off women, who pulled out their fingernails and kept them as souvenirs
and the police couldn't stop him.  Even after they caught him, he was
smart enough to convince his therapist that he was a sick, serial killer
want-to-be.  She testified to that his trial, the jury bought it, he got
off and then he killed his therapist.  And then he turned his attention
to his lawyer, Lindsay Dole.  Still, the police couldn't stop him.  He
would show up at our office, where she buys coffee, he picked her up in
a cab, he gave her a dog, and then he strangled the dog.  They got a
restraining order, but it didn't stop him.  See, he wasn't threatened by
the courts.  He could fool a jury, he wasn't scared by the police.  Why
should he be?  He killed 10 women, everybody knew it, and he was still
out there. I'll tell you who was scared - Bobby Donnell.  See, Lindsay
Dole, that's his wife, pregnant - 7 months, their first child.  You
don't think this man was terrified?  Would you be?  A man who cuts off
heads is after your spouse, the police shake their heads - nothing we
can do - how would you react?  How he reacted?  He called an old client.
Yes, a goon, to put the fear of God in this Hinks.  Because that's all
he could think of - to try and scare the guy.  And that's all Bobby
Donnell did, ladies and gentlemen, that's all he did.  He never said go
kill him.  That was a flat out lie, told by a murderer with a rap sheet
longer than the Callahan tunnel.  A murderer caught, a murderer trying
to avoid a life sentence.  Alan Neel flipped Bobby Donnell in exchange
for manslaughter and a shot at parole.  The chief prosecutorial witness
is a murderer, a rapist, with a motive to lie, and its on his word alone
that the district attorney is asking you to believe that Bobby Donnell
ordered a hit.  Alan Neel's word doesn't satisfy reasonable doubt and I
think you know that."  Eugene sits, and its Toomey's turn.

Toomey starts speaking from his seat.  "Mr. Donnell was scared.  I don't
dispute that.  Who wouldn't be?"  He rises.  "The man on that video tape
after someone you love?  But being scared doesn't give you the right to
become a vigilante.  It doesn't justify breaking the law and it doesn't
excuse murder.  Not for me, not for you, and especially not for Mr.
Donnell.  This is an experienced criminal defense lawyer - he knows the
law.  He uses the law when it suits him, to make money defending people
like William Hinks.  But the minute Mr. Donnell's family is at risk, the
minute Mr. Donnell is scared - forget the law.  He goes out an just
hires a killer.  That's not just hypocrisy, ladies and gentlemen, that
is the most knowing and intentional criminal act you can imagine.  Mr.
Young says Alan Neel had a motive to lie to spare himself a life
sentence.  That might be true after he was caught.  But Alan Neel gave
the same story to William Hinks before he was caught, before there was
any such motive.  You heard the tape.  The clear inference was he was
sent by Mr. Donnell to kill Hinks.  There was nothing self serving about
that statement at the time it was made.  Of course Mr. Donnell sent Mr.
Neel to kill Hinks.  Why else would Alan Neel have done so?  For extra
credit?  Do we really think oops, he must have misunderstood.  A price
of $50,000 was set.  Bobby Donnell was in that frame of mind when he
asked Detective McGuire to get this guy.  He was in that same state of
mind when he dispatched Alan Neel, and think about this - if Mr. Donnell
is the innocent man he claims to be why, when the police found Hinks
dead did he not tell them who did it?  Why didn't he tell his own wife?
Because he knew he was guilty.  And even if, for some reason - perhaps
out of sympathy - you are to believe Mr. Donnell, that he only sent Alan
Neel to scare Hinks, under the felony murder rule you still must
convict.  If you send a person to break into somebody's home and a
murder results - whether intended or not -  the felony murder rule
applies.  The reason for this rule is to deter suspects from doing
something so inherently dangerous that it could foreseeably lead to
violence, perhaps murder.  Here, Mr. Donnell sent a killer to break in
the home of a psycho.  Think about that.  It is no different than if he
lit the fuse of a bomb and threw it at Hinks - one way or another Hinks
was going to die.  And that's exactly what Mr. Donnell wanted."

Back at the office, Rebecca hangs up the phone.  She reports that the
judge is giving instructions and the jury will have the case within the
hour.  The door opens and Maddie walks in.  She has a patch over one
eye.  Lucy gets up and walks toward her.  Maddie asks her if she's
Lucy.  Lucy says yes.  Maddie tells her she didn't get that clear a look
at her before, and she knows she's supposed to wait to see her at the
clinic but without her help....  She thanks her.  Lucy says sure.
Maddie asks her if she'll see her at the clinic and Lucy tells her
she'll be there.  Maddie turns and leaves.

In a room at the courthouse around a table sit Eugene, Ellenor, Lindsay
and Bobby.  They are waiting nervously, silently, for the jury's
verdict.  There is a knock at the door.  Toomey walks in and asks to
speak to Eugene.  Eugene gets up but so does Bobby who says no.  He says
we're all lawyers here.  Eugene sits back down.  Toomey says that the
offer is on the table - aiding and abetting a felonious assault, 2-1/2
years.  Lindsay puts her head on her hands. Eugene asks Toomey to give
them a second.  Ellenor puts her hand on Lindsay's arm and looks at her
as if wondering if she's ok.  Bobby looks at her, and all of them.
Eugene finally says he thinks they should take it.  Lindsay looks at
him, eyes filled with terror - and tears.  He looks at Bobby who is
still standing there.  Eugene asks if he can tell him they'll take it.
He thinks for a moment and then shakes his head and says no.  He looks
down at Lindsay and says "I just can't, Lindsay."  She looks up at him
with fearful eyes.  He looks as if his eyes are filling with tears.  He
gathers himself and then asks Ellenor what she thinks.  She says she
doesn't know, that she feels good on murder one and conspiracy, but on
felony murder - she says she just doesn't know.  Lindsay wipes away
tears.  Another knock and Toomey walks back in.  Eugene tells him they
need another minute, but Toomey says they haven't got it, that the jury
is back in - they have a verdict.  Lindsay is shaking.  Toomey says they
either take the deal now or they go in there.  Lindsay looks up at
Bobby, tears running down her face, fear in her eyes.  He looks at her
and then back at Toomey and says "We go in there."  Lindsay looks
terrified, Eugene disappointed.  Toomey leaves, shutting the door behind
him.

In the courtroom, the jury slowly files in.  Helen comes into the
courtroom and stands at the back, awaiting the verdict.  Lindsay, eyes
still wet with tears, looks at them and takes a deep breath.  The jury
foreman hands the verdict to the bailiff who hands it to the judge.  He
reads it.  The tension is thick in the room.  Bobby puts his head in his
hand.  The judge hands the verdict back to the bailiff who takes it back
to the jury foreman.  He says "Mr. Donnell, will you please rise?"
Bobby, along with Eugene and Ellenor stand.  Lindsay sits behind them
almost holding her breath.  The judge says to the jury foreman "Mr.
Foreman, have you rendered a unanimous verdict?"  The foreman rises and
says "We have your honor."  The judge says "What say you?"  The foreman
reads:  "Commonwealth versus Robert Donnell..."  Ellenor grabs Bobby's
hand.  "On the count of murder in the first degree, we find the
defendant Robert Donnell, not guilty."  The crowd murmurs, Bobby sighs a
tentative sigh of relief, as does Lindsay.  That's one, two to go.  "On
the count of conspiracy to commit murder, we find the defendant Robert
Donnell, not guilty."  More murmurs.  One more.  Lindsay looks as if
she's holding her breath.  "On the count of felony murder, we find the
defendant Robert Donnell, not guilty."  Lindsay lets out a sigh of
relief and tears flow down her cheeks.  Bobby, Ellenor and Eugene are
equally relieved.  Bobby puts his arm around Eugene's shoulder.  The
judge dismisses the jury and adjourns the court.  With the bang of the
gavel, Lindsay gets up and rushes over to Bobby.  Helen smiles in the
back of the courtroom.  Toomey sits dejectedly at his table.  When
Lindsay reaches Bobby he puts his arm around her and says "Get me out of
here."  Lindsay says come on and the two of them leave arm in arm, along
with Eugene and Ellenor.  They make their way through a throng of
reporters and with flashes going off and finally get into an elevator.
The door closes and there is silence.  Bobby stands with his arm around
Lindsay, her head is on his shoulder.  Ellenor says "That, uh, that went
well."  Bobby stands there holding Lindsay looking as if he knows the
bullet he just dodged and how close he came to being hit.

Back at the office Rebecca and Lucy hug as they hear of the news.
Rebecca says she knew he would win, she just had this feeling.  She asks
Lucy if they're coming back here.  She says yeah.  Lucy says she guesses
this means they're back in business.  Rebecca says which means Lucy can
go back to distributing the mail - if that's not too much to ask.  Lucy
hands Rebecca a tape recorder and tells her she can have that.  Rebecca
asks what it is and Lucy says some cheapo recorder probably from some
cheapo client.  She says there wasn't a card or anything.  Rebecca
notices that there is a cassette inside so she hits play.  An all too
familiar voice rings out.  Its William Hinks:  "Hello Lindsay.  If
you're getting this its at the instructions of my probate attorney which
means I must be dead."  Lucy and Rebecca look at each other with chills
running down their spines.  The taped voice from the grave continues:
"That's unfortunate.  I usually like to have the last laugh.  This is my
little insurance policy on that.  See you soon."  Lucy looks at Rebecca
puzzled.  Rebecca drops the recorder as if it were a hot potato.
Something has clicked for her.  She grabs Lucy and tells her to get
out.  Lucy says what?  Rebecca grabs her and pushes her toward the door
and yells go!  Just then there is a huge explosion.  The glass of the
door goes flying.  There is smoke and glass everywhere.  Flames jump,
light fixtures spark, papers fly.  And in the debris on the floor lie
Lucy and Rebecca.

The End.

The Review

Not done yet

Miscellaneous Thoughts:

Not done yet