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"Appeal and Denial"
- summary by Christie
Written By:
David E. Kelley
We open with a woman sitting it Helen's office. They have
been
discussing a plea agreement. The woman is saying 2 years is all
he'll
get? Helen says yes, that that's a pretty good deal for them, if
he
were convicted he would probably only serve 3. The woman says
she could
have died. Helen says yes, but she said he really wasn't trying
to kill
her. The woman says but he tried to hurt her. Helen says yes,
and
that's why he's about to go on trial. Helen tells the woman
(Margaret)
that she'll get him but if they can get the plea... Helen says
she
doesn't think she wants to go through this, that she knows her
husband's
lawyers and they're tough (any guesses as to who they are??).
Margaret
sits there and just says 3 years as if in disbelief.
At the offices of Donnell, Young, Dole and Frutt, a man is
meeting with
Rebecca and Jimmy. He's Margaret's husband. He's saying he won't
plead
guilty. Rebecca says this is his wife saying he pushed her down
a
flight of stairs. The man says he didn't touch her. Jimmy says
the
problem is that victims of domestic violence can look very
sympathetic.
The man says she's not a victim. Rebecca says they will make her
look
like one and the jury will want to know why she would lie about
something like this. The man says he would like to know that too
and
what about his daughter, if he pleads guilty to a crime like
this he'll
lose custody of her. Rebecca says that's not necessarily true.
The man
(Robert) says no, he didn't push his wife down a flight of
stairs and he
won't say that he did, that he doesn't car what his odds are, he
won't.
Jimmy and Rebecca just look at each other.
Opening credits.
At the office of D,Y,D and F, Ellenor is at her desk, Eugene is
leaning
over a counter by the library, Lindsay is sitting at her desk
and Bobby
is standing beside her, going over something. All are working.
Lucy
steps forward and says "May I have your attention
everybody. I have
some very exciting news." She goes on to say that its kind
of private
but she's been keeping it now for about 2 months and she can't
do that
anymore. She is standing in front of Lindsay's desk. Bobby asks
her
what. He sounds a bit impatient. Lucy goes on. She says about 2
months ago "now in keep in mind it is so unlike me to go
through waste
cans but it was a dull day and I was in the ladies' room.
Anyway, I
found this pregnancy test thing and it was positive."
Eugene glances up
from his book as if saying he can't believe she would go rifling
through
the trash. Ellenor glances at Bobby and Lindsay with an amused
look on
her face.
Lucy continues. "Now I know it could have been
anyone on
this floor, but I still had a feeling." Eugene walks over
near the
others. Lucy goes on, "Then yesterday a book came and I
opened it
thinking it was just office supplies - book usually library
things..."
Lindsay and Bobby are listening intently. Lucy goes on
"Unfortunately,
I threw away who it was addressed to and then the trash guy came
and
picked it up whatever..." She turns around and picks up a
book from her
desk and holds it up for all to see. "What to Expect When
You're
Expecting. Somebody here is preggos." She looks at Lindsay.
"Lindsay?" Lindsay seems surprised. She says "I
didn't order that
thing." Lucy says "Oh come one. I thought I saw a
tummy." Defensively,
Lindsay starts to pull her jacket around her and repeats that
she did
not order that thing. Bobby, giving up, says "Lindsay, we
might as well
tell them." She glances up at him, a little smile creeping
onto her
face.
At the realization, a big smile comes across Ellenor's
face.
Eugene looks very pleased and surprised. Lucy smiles broadly -
both at
the news and at the fact she found them out. Lucy says that's
great.
Lindsay stands up and says "Thank you Lucy for your
exciting news."
Lucy says "Well I couldn't keep it from the family."
Ellenor gets up
and asks how fare along is she. Lindsay says, looking excited
and
pleased, 4 months. Bobby is just standing there grinning with
his hands
folded in front of him. Lucy sarcastically asks who the father
is.
Lindsay glares at her and says "You're funny today."
Ellenor gives her
a big hug. Eugene says Congratulations. Bobby just stands there
with a
big grin on his face.
At the courthouse Robert's trial has begun. Judge Hiller is
presiding. Helen is playing a recording of a 9-1-1 call made by
Margaret. She is screaming for help. You hear Robert yelling
"What the
hell are you doing?" More screaming then static. The 9-1-1
operator
asks if she's still there. There is no response. A police
officer is on
the stand. Helen repeats an address to him and asks if he's
familiar
with that address. The policeman says yes, after the 9-1-1 call
he
proceeded to that location. Helen asks him what he found there.
The
policeman says the front door was open and the defendant was
standing at
the base of a stairwell in a foyer area. He says Margaret was
lying
face up wearing a nightgown and she appeared to be unconscious.
He says
Robert was sitting next to her holding her head from behind.
Helen asks if there was anyone else in the house. He says the defendant's 9
year old daughter who said she was in her room and didn't see
anything.
Helen asks if he could describe the defendant's demeanor. The
policeman
says he was very upset and he could tell right away that he had
been
drinking, that his eyes were glassy. Helen asks what he did
next. He
says they called for an ambulance and took Mrs. Wakefield to
Mass.
General. Helen asks him to describe her condition. He says at
first
she was still unconscious but on the way there she began to come
to and
that's when she told him her husband had pushed her. Helen says
just
to be clear could he describe Mrs. Wakefield's exact words. The
policeman says she said he pushed me, Robert pushed me.
Rebecca is questioning the policeman now. She says when he
arrived her
client was upset and was sitting there holding his wife's head.
The
policeman says yes. Rebecca asks him if he can exclude the
possibility
that Mrs. Wakefield tripped on her own nightgown. The policeman
says can
he positively exclude it, no, but.... Rebecca cuts him off and
asks him
when Mrs. Wakefield went to the hospital Mr. Wakefield went with
them.
The policeman says he met them there. Rebecca then asks if he
permitted
Mr. Wakefield to see his wife. The policeman says that at that
point
they didn't know what they had. Rebecca says really? She says so
even
after Mrs. Wakefield's big statement in the ambulance you
weren't sure a
crime had been committed? The police officer says they were
investigating. Rebecca says you weren't sure about what she told
you?
He says they had no reason to doubt her. Rebecca says but the
man she
accused of pushing her you allowed to visit her, didn't you? The
policeman says yes.
At the prison, Bobby and Eugene are visiting Scott Wallace.
There is a
screen between them. Bobby is asking what do you mean spots?
Scott
says spots, its worse when he looks at the light, but even when
he
doesn't he still sees spots, that they're big and then they
shrink and
when he blinks they come back, but not always. Bobby looks at
him with
concern. Bobby says they had the optometrist examine him? Scott
says
he's a hack, how many kids do you know who go to med school just
to
examine prisoners? He says the doctors in this place are all
unemployable hacks. Suddenly he asks Bobby "Is it
fun?" Bobby looks at
Eugene, puzzled. He asks Scott is what fun?
Scott says he would
think it must be fun, that he must dream about big cases, and this one
for murder with your friend on the hook, he says he would think that
this one would have all the stakes that any lawyer would ever wish
for and if he's not having fun now, then what's the point. Bobby looks at
him as if he's losing it. Eugene says to Scott that they're going to
have him meet with a psychiatrist. Scott laughs. He says he was
convicted, do they want to have him declared incompetent to stand appeal? He
says that's smart, why don't they examine his eyes while they're at
it. The he asks "Do I get to go?" Puzzled, Bobby asks go
where? Scott gets up and hurriedly leaves. Bobby turns to Eugene who says that Scott
is losing it. Bobby says they have to get him the hell out of here.
Helen is sitting in her office. There is a knock at her door.
Its
Margaret. She shuts the door behind her and nervously looks at
Helen.
Helen asks her what's wrong. Hesitantly, Margaret says she
doesn't
think that Robert meant to push her down the stairs. Helen leans
forward and says, disbelieving "I beg your pardon?"
Margaret sits
down. She says she's been replaying it over and over again.
Helen is
standing. She asks her if she's been talking to him. Margaret
says yes,
that they've been talking of reconciling, but that this is the
truth,
that she made a mistake. Helen is not pleased. She says to her
not to
dare do this. Margaret says to Helen that at the time she didn't
know
what to think, that one minute they're fighting, the next she
wakes up
in a hospital and the police are asking her questions and she
was angry
and she thinks she convinced herself at the time that he did it
on
purpose but he didn't and she is dropping the charges. Helen is
really,
really not pleased.
She walks around to the front of her desk
and tells
Margaret that she doesn't get to drop the charges, only the
district
attorney can do that. Margaret says its her choice as to whether
to
continue. Helen says no actually its not - she called 9-1-1 and
now she
gets to make those decisions. Margaret tells her she's not
testifying.
Helen says then she'll get a material witness order and have her
arrested. Margaret is adamant. She says if Helen tries to force
her,
she will tell the jury that she fell, that this was an accident.
Helen
sits down next to her. Almost pleading she says that she knows
she
thinks she has no life without him but... Margaret is getting
angry.
She says she's not some weak victim here. She regains her
composure
here and tries to explain to Helen.
She says they have had a
complicated, volatile relationship. She says if Helen wants to
prosecute her for false arrest or whatever, she'll own that, but
the man
didn't push her down the stairs. Helen just stares at her,
knowing
that's not true. Margaret leaves. Helen sinks back in the chair,
mouth
hanging open in disbelief. Richard appears at her door. He asks
her
what happened. She says her victim just recanted. She says
"That's why
I prefer murders. When they're dead they can't change their
stories."
She gets up and walks back around to her desk and asks Richard
what does
he want. He says he came to apologize. He says he has been a
little
influenced by politics of late. He walks over to her and says
that she
was there for him when his job was in peril and he wants her to
know
that he's there for her now. Helen asks him if her job is in
peril.
He
says they have stuck her with domestic violence, what does that
tell
her? Helen says they, they meaning Kate Brunner. Richard says
she
carries a lot of power. She stares at him. He goes on. He says
he's
told she's supplying Bobby Donnell with an affidavit. She says
not that
Richard suborned perjury, only that the witness was coached and
that he
committed perjury. Richard says if he can give her a little
advise, she
shouldn't give him that statement. Helen asks if that's why he's
here,
to reach out and gag a friend? Richard says nervously that it
really
doesn't affect him. She says it does his case and therefore you
with
Kate Brunner - you win she likes you, you lose she doesn't.
Helen is
sitting at her desk now. Richard comes over to her desk and says
if he
loses, she will get the brunt of the blame, not him. Helen tells
him
she already gave Bobby the affidavit. Richard looks angry. She
tells
him thanks for stopping by. He glares at her and leaves.
Back at D, Y, D, and F, its late. Bobby is working in his
office.
Lindsay walks in. She says "You're working late?" He
looks up at her
and says that the Wallace appeal is tomorrow. Lindsay sighs. She
looks
a little bit upset. He asks her if she's feeling ok. She says
fine. A
smile breaks out on his face. He says he's glad its out. He says
it
was hard for him to keep it a secret. Lindsay smiles. The she
leans
forward on his desk and says "Bobby, I didn't take the
pregnancy test
here. Did you order that book?" He looks at her puzzled and
says "Me,
no." Lindsay stands up, arms folded and says "That
little witch tricked
us. Either that or somebody else is pregnant." Bobby looks
up at her.
Could someone else be??
Rebecca is standing lost in thought at the library table. Jimmy
asks
her if she's ok. She says sure. He asks her what she is thinking
about. She says just the case. A voice says "Ms.
Washington?" Its
Margaret. She asks if she can speak to her. Rebecca says she
represents her husband. Margaret says yes she knows, but she has
decided not to testify. Rebecca and Jimmy are stunned. Margaret
says
she actually does want to testify, but for Robert. Rebecca says
she's
not sure she understands. Margaret says their client is
innocent.
Rebecca and Jimmy look at each other, not sure as to what to
think.
Commercial.
At the jail, Scott is being taken away after meeting with a
psychiatrist. The doctor goes up to Bobby and Eugene and tells
them
they have a problem, that he is about 2 weeks away from
Bridgewater (I
assume this is a psychiatric hospital/prison). The doctor tells
them he
is suffering from severe clinical depression and that he needs
to be
hospitalized right now. Bobby tells him they're due in court.
The
doctor emphatically tells him that Scott is not going to court,
that he
is in the middle of what they call a situational mental
breakdown most
likely caused by twin positional traumas - the death of his wife
and his
conviction. He says that with the spots, his inability to sleep,
that
the man is on the verge of a psychotic breakdown and that he
needs to be
transferred to a mental facility right now. Upset, Bobby tells
Eugene
to go to Judge Wolfe and file a motion to have Scott transferred
to the
hospital jail ward right now. He says he will handle the appeals
court
himself. Eugene tells the doctor that he'll need his affidavit
and asks
if he will agree to supervise him in there. The doctor says
absolutely
and tells them that they have to get him out of prison.
In a courtroom, Margaret is on the stand. Rebecca is questioning
her.
She is testifying that her husband had her by the shoulders,
that his
face was right in front of hers, that she had never heard him
scream
like that before. Rebecca asks what they were fighting about.
Margaret
says the same thing as always - he wouldn't stop drinking, that
it was
getting worse since the wedding. Rebecca asks if she told him
she was
worried. Margaret says she tried but when Robert is like that
you can't
tell him anything. Rebecca asks what he was saying. Margaret
says he
said it was her fault, that he had to drink because she was
making him
miserable. She says he was yelling and shaking her and that's
when she
got scared.
She says she waited until he left the room and then
called
9-1-1. Rebecca asks her to tell the jury why she called the
police.
Margaret says she never wanted to have him arrested, that she
thought
the police could just get him out of the house, hold him until
he was
sober again. Rebecca says and then he heard her on the phone?
She says
he came up behind her and ripped the phone out of her hand, that
that's
why she was screaming on the tape. She says she was scared so
she ran,
that when she got to the stairs she was going too fast and all
she
remembers was falling and waking up at the hospital. Rebecca
says she
wants to be clear - she asks if Robert pushed her down those
stairs.
Margaret says no. She says they were fighting but he didn't hurt
her,
that she tripped and she fell. Rebecca points out that that is
not what
she told the police. Margaret says she was angry, that the
police were
trying to get her to say what they wanted and she wanted to
punish him.
Helen is up next. She is reading from Margaret's statement to
the
police: "We were at the top of the staircase. Robert had me
by the
hair. I begged him to let me go and then he pushed me from
behind."
Helen puts down the statement and asks Margaret if that is what
she said
in the hospital. Margaret says she really didn't have time to
think
about things. Helen asks her if she and her husband had talked
about
reconciling. Margaret says yes. Helen asks when they had those
talks.
Margaret sighs and says a few days ago. Helen walks over to the
evidence table and picks up an enlarged picture of Margaret
taken at the
hospital. It shows her face bloodied and battered.
She walks
back over
to Margaret and holds it up in front of her and tells her to
look at her
face. Margaret looks at it and then says she's not saying she
didn't
fall down the stairs. She says she's not saying that it didn't
happen
as the result of an argument and a scuffle with Robert. She
starts to
say that she has finally come to the conclusion... Helen stops
her,
saying that she has answered her question. Margaret says no she
hasn't. Helen asks Judge Hiller to instruct the witness to...
Margaret
says Helen is trying to control her. Judge Hiller says the
witness may
answer the question. Margaret takes a deep breath and says that
what
she is finally admitting to is that he didn't intend for her to
fall.
She tells Helen that she knows this disturbs her case but like
it or
not, its the truth.
In the appeals court, Bobby and Richard stand before a panel of
3 judges
to present their cases. Bobby is speaking first. He says he
would like
to focus the court's attention on their first issue for appeal
which is
the trail court's refusal to conduct an evidentiary hearing
concerning
the charge of perjury by a material witness and the
prosecution's role
in suborning that perjury. He says that attached to their
supplemental
brief is the sworn affidavit of District Attorney Helen Gamble
who was
present when Mr. Bey encouraged the witness Kyle Barrett to give
false
testimony.
One of the judges says that's not what her affidavit
says.
He says he coached the witness but doesn't go so far as to say
he
suborned perjury. Bobby says that the affidavit says he supplied
testimony that was new and different from any prior statement
that was
supplied bu this witness and to him that him implies perjury.
Bobby
says that a reading Ms. Gamble's statement reveals that she too
drew
that inference. Another of the judges speaks to Richard. She
says that
she assumes he takes issue with the affidavit. Richard says he
is
offended by it. He says he certainly expressed to the witness
the need
for his testimony to be compelling but he never remotely asked
him to
lie.
Another of the judges asks him about the idea that he
supplied the
testimony. Richard says he gave him a list of points they needed
to
cover, he told him what was most relevant and what needed to be
emphasized. Richard says that the idea that he encouraged false
testimony is preposterous, he says its a desperate ploy of a
defense
team that is even arguing its own inadequacy if they will look
at
paragraph 6. Bobby turns to Richard and says that he hasn't got
to that
yet. Richard ignores him and says to the judges that this is the
catch
all inadequacy appeal that is thrown out there when the defense
has
little else to go on. He says that the fact remains that Scott
Wallace
is an educated man, that he participated in his defense fully,
that this
was a strategic position to which he relented, that it does not
rise to
a denial of his right to testify.
In Judge Hiller's chambers, Helen, Rebecca and Jimmy are arguing
before
her. Judge Hiller is sitting at her desk looking through some
papers.
Rebecca says this is unfair surprise. Helen says she didn't know
about
it herself, that she just uncovered it. Rebecca says that
doesn't
matter, that at this point in the trial... Helen says look, she
will
give Rebecca time if she wants discovery. Rebecca says she
doesn't want
time. Judge Hiller, referring to the papers, asks Helen if these
are
records of Margaret's injuries. Helen says no, Robert's previous
wife's.
She says there are also medical records of 3 injuries to
his
daughter - a broken arm, a shoulder bruise and a laceration.
Judge
Hiller asks over a period of? Helen says 11 years total. Rebecca
argues that there is no evidence or suggestion that her client
caused
these injuries. Judge Hiller asks Helen if Mr. Wakefield was
ever
accused of any abuse. Helen says no, but with this pattern he
probably
should have been. Judge Hiller asks Helen if she has any she has
any
evidence that he caused the injuries. Helen says no but... Judge
Hiller stands up and says denied. She tells Helen she knows
better than
that. She tells them all to leave. Helen looks very frustrated.
In a room at the courthouse, Robert is standing staring out a
window.
Rebecca walks in, closes the door and asks him abruptly if he
ever hit
his first wife. Robert turns, surprised at the question. He says
what? Rebecca tells him they dug up hospital reports, and some
on his
daughter too. Robert in disbelief asks if they're saying that he
hit
them? Rebecca says that luckily they don't get to say it but her
question is did he hit them. Robert says of course not. Rebecca
asks
him how they got their injuries. Robert asks what injuries.
Rebecca
says bruises, cuts, that Jennifer (his daughter) had a broken
arm.
Robert, offended at the insinuation, says she fell off her bike.
He
says Joanne (his first wife) rode horse, she jumped, that she
had a
couple of accidents maybe. He asks what the hell is this? He
asks if
this is what happens now, that they start manufacturing things?
Rebecca
looks as if she doesn't quite believe him. She tells him it
seems like
a lot of accidents. He says he's had his share of yelling
arguments,
that he's even grabbed from time to time, but he's never ever
hit a
woman or his daughter. Rebecca tells him she doesn't think its
wise for
him to testify, that she thinks they should rest and go to
closing.
Robert asks defensively why is that? Rebecca says because Helen
could
back-door that stuff for impeachment and it doesn't look good.
Offended, Robert asks if he needs another lawyer here. Rebecca
says
she'll finish. Robert says he doesn't want her finishing unless
she
believes him and repeats - "Do I need a new lawyer?"
Rebecca just looks
at him and repeats that she will finish.
Commercial.
At their apartment Helen and Ellenor are talking. Helen is
saying that
she knows Margaret and she knows he is covering for him. Ellenor
says
"At the risk of getting my head bitten off, ground into
wheat germ and
sprinkled on your cereal, I know you." Helen asks what that
is supposed
to mean. Ellenor says it means that she is under a lot of
pressure at
work. Ellenor says has she considered the possibility that she
needs
this conviction so badly that she is willing to chase one even
in the
absence of a crime? Defensively, Helen says that after what she
did on
the Wallace case, how could she even say that to her. Ellenor
says she
believes Helen believes he's guilty but her question is does she
need to
believe it. Ellenor says that the only eyewitness was the victim
and
she says there was no crime. Helen thinks for a moment and then
asks
was she the only eyewitness? She has an idea.
Outside a school yard, Helen looks throw a crowd of children
playing.
She sees one and walks over to her. Its Jennifer. She says hi to
her
and introduces herself to her. Jennifer looks at her and tells
her she
knows who she is.
Back at D, Y, D and F Lucy answers the phone, "Donnell,
Young
whatever." Eugene looks at her almost puzzled. She listens
for a
moment and then says to Bobby that its the clerk's office about
the
appeal. He takes the phone from her. He listens, seems to be
surprised
at what is being said, says thank you and puts down the phone.
Eugene
asks what? Bobby says they have ordered a full hearing on the
perjury
issue, that they go back into Judge Wolfe today. He says that
that is
their best grounds, that they have a shot. Eugene says he can't
believe
it. Bobby says they have a shot. Eugene tells him not to get
carried
away. Bobby says its their best grounds, that they're going to
get him
out. In a warning tone, Eugene tells Bobby that they can't get
Scott's
hopes up - not yet.
In a room in the prison's hospital ward, Bobby and Eugene are
visiting
with Scott. Scott is in bed, a tray of food sitting before him.
Bobby
tells him they turned them down on 3 issues, but on the perjury
issue
they get a full hearing. Scott asks if this is good. Bobby says
they
were hoping they would order a new trial outright and they
didn't get
that but with a hearing if the judge determines that the brother
did
commit perjury then they get a new trial. Bobby adds that
unfortunately
they go before the same judge they had at trial. Scoot says
Wolfe?
Bobby says yes but...
Suddenly Scott yells "I said no
toast!" and
throws his food tray away. Bobby and Eugene look at each other.
Scott
is trying to control himself. Bobby tells him he needs to rest.
He
tells him that the doctor says he is suffering from clinical
depression
what with Karen dying, the conviction... He tells him again he
needs to
rest, take his medication and that they will do what they need
to do.
Scott looks up at Bobby and says that the spots are gone away.
He says
he's doing better, that he's not seeing the spots. Bobby smiles
weakly
and says that this is great. Scott asks if he will come back and
see
him after the hearing. Bobby says he promises.
At the courthouse. Helen, Rebecca and Jimmy are again in Judge
Hiller's
chambers. Helen is arguing, saying that she (Jennifer) is a
witness and
she has the right to question a witness. Rebecca says she filed
and
appearance before the court that she was representing the entire
family. Helen says that that's a potential conflict on
interests.
Rebecca tells her she should take that up here, not on a
playground.
Looking surprised at this, Judge Hiller asks Helen if she went
to the
school. Helen says yes. Judge Hiller asks what the hell is wrong
with
her? Helen says what's wrong is that she thinks this girl may
have seen
or heard something that night. Judge Hiller tells her that then
her
course of action was to get a material witness warrant. Helen
says that
under the circumstances....
Judge Hiller tells her angrily there
are
rules about barring contact with represented parties that
especially
apply to prosecutors. Hiller reminds her that Jennifer is only 9
years
old. Helen says that she believes the witness is under the
control of
the defendant. Judge Hiller says that Helen has been running
about
making accusation after accusation with nothing to support it.
Helen
says that that is why she went to ask questions. Judge Hiller
says she
went about it in the wrong way. She tells Helen that she is
restrained
from going near the girl and that she's lucky she doesn't report
her to
the bar. Helen is clearly getting frustrated. She starts to say
something else, but Judge Hiller cuts her off and says very
firmly "That
is all!"
In the conference room at D, Y, D, and F, Rebecca and Jimmy are
meeting
with Margaret who has Jennifer sitting on her knee. Jennifer
asks if
she has to do anything. Rebecca says no, she promises. She tells
her
they just want her to be there, that it will be good for the
jury to see
them as a family. Jennifer says ok. Margaret asks Jennifer if
she can
go outside for a moment, that she wants to speak with Ms.
Washington.
Jimmy says he'll take her and the two of them leave. Once they
have
left, Margaret asks Rebecca if this is really necessary. rebecca
tells
her she wouldn't ask for it if she didn't need to. She tells
Margaret
that they stand a very good chance of an acquittal here so why
risk it.
Margaret says that the risk if for Jennifer being traumatized,
that she
has to sit and listen to accusations that her father threw her
stepmother down the stairs. Rebecca tells her firmly that she is
trying
to avoid a conviction.
At the hearing on the perjury charge, Judge Wolfe tells Bobby to
call
his first witness. Bobby calls Helen Gamble. She gets up and
starts to
walk forward but the judge asks for offer of proof. Helen looks
surprised, Bobby even more so. He says that Ms. Gamble was in
the room
with Barrett and Mr. Bey, that she was the lead DA. Judge Wolfe
asks
what will she say that is not in her affidavit. Bobby says she
will
confirm all the allegations made in her affidavit. Judge Wolfe
tells
him she doesn't need to, he's already heard them then tells
Bobby to
call his next witness. Bobby asks what about the Commonwealth's
right
to cross examine this witness. Judge Wolfe turns to Richard.
Bobby
looks at him, Richard looks at Bobby.
Richard thinks for a
moment then
stands and says that he thinks the court can take judicial
notice that
they dispute Ms. Gamble's claims. Bobby, getting frustrated,
says that
the court of appeals ordered a full evidentiary hearing on this
issue.
Judge Wolfe says he will enter the affidavit into evidence. He
tells
Bobby to call his next witness. Bobby says he objects to this.
Judge
Wolfe firmly says that if he has any other witnesses he better
call
them, otherwise this evidentiary hearing is over. Angrily, Bobby
says
that the defense objects to the court acting out of ego.
He says
the
defense wants it entered into the record that the trial court
judge is
angered by the fact that the appeals court ruled he was in error
and the
defense wants it noted for the record that the trial court judge
is not
complying with the order of the appeals court. Judge Wolfe is
clearly
mad. He leans forward and says very firmly that he repeats,
"call your
next witness or the hearing is over." Frustrated, Bobby
says his next
witness, Kyle Barrett, hasn't arrived yet. Judge Wolfe says they
will
adjourn until he does - 1 hour. Eugene sits there shaking his
head in
disbelief. Bobby stands there, steam practically coming out of
his ears.
Commercial.
Its closing arguments at the Wakefield trial. Rebecca is up.
She's
saying that they have a crime where the victim says it didn't
happen,
that she once claimed it did but as she explained she was
confused and
angry and she lashed out and that all those statements were made
when
she was emotionally unsteady but now she is admitting the truth,
that
they don't just have reasonable doubt here, but they have proof
of his
innocence, that she finally let go of her rage and let the truth
come
out. Then, taking a shot at Helen, she says "If only we
could get a
zealous district attorney to do the same." Helen sits at
her table,
arms folded defensively.
She waits for Rebecca to sit down and
then
gets up, saying sarcastically that yes, that's the only reason
they're
here, because she is an angry over zealous district attorney who
cannot
get over her rage. She says, again sarcastically, that it has
nothing to
do with the fact that an unconscious woman was rushed to the
hospital,
she says let's just forget the 9-1-1 call where the victim was
screaming
while the defendant pursued her, she says that this isn't the
week after
or even the month after, that these charges were filed 6 months
ago,
that Margaret Wakefield has stuck to her story since last
spring. Helen
says that it was only after she and her husband talked 2 days
ago about
reconciling that she suddenly rose up and said she must have
been
mistaken, it was only an accident.
She asks the jury if they
really
believe that. She says she is sure that Margaret Wakefield is a
little
frightened, that her husband supported her, that he's the father
of her
step... She pauses for a second, as if something has just hit
her, but
goes on, saying that he's the father of her step daughter, that
she's
suddenly faced with losing everything and she thinks that maybe
they can
work things out, that they talk about reconciling and poof - its
an
accident. Helen says he threw her down the stairs, it can't be
erased
even at the victim's own request. She says it happened and it
will
probably happen again. She tells the jury that they heard those
tapes,
that they heard her statement to the police and the hospital,
that
Robert did it. Helen says Margaret can say whatever she wants to
now,
that she didn't take an oath to uphold the law, but that the 12
of them
did.
Back at the evidentiary hearing, Kyle Barrett is on the stand.
Bobby
asks him to state his name and address for the record, and he
does. He
clearly does not want to be there. Bobby asks him if he is the
brother
of Karen Wallace. He says WAS the brother, until his client
killed
her. Bobby asks him if prior to his testifying in Scott
Wallace's trial
if he had a meeting with Richard Bey and Helen Gamble. Kyle
Barrett
says that on the advise of counsel he refuses to answer citing
his 5th
amendment right. The courtroom buzzes. Bobby, in amazement, says
excuse me? From the back of the courtroom steps forth a man who
identifies himself to the judge as Matthew Stone, Mr. Barrett's
attorney. He goes onto say that while his client maintains his
complete
innocence in regard to the allegation of perjury, given Helen
Gamble's
beliefs he has to advise him not to answer these questions.
Judge Wolfe
tells him that his client is not on trial here. Mr. Stone says
he
understands that but given that charges could be filed, he has a
5th
amendment right and it would be foolish for him not to exercise
it.
Back in Judge Wolfe's chamber, Judge Wolfe walks through the
door,
clearly very angry, with Bobby, Eugene, Richard and Mr. Stone
following. Bobby is saying he has to grant Barrett immunity.
Judge
Wolfe says forget it, if he committed perjury during a first
degree
murder trial "I am not going to offer up immunity like a
stick of gum!"
Bobby says he has to be allowed to question him. Judge Wolfe
says he
can't force him to waive his 5th amendment right. Bobby says
they are
being denied their evidentiary hearing. Judge Wolfe
sarcastically tells
him to show him some precedent where he gets to take away his
5th
amendment right not to incriminate himself and he will be glad
to
accommodate him. Judge Wolfe turns to Mr. Stone and asks him if
its his
client's intent to take the 5th on every question he is asked.
Mr.
Stone says yes. Judge Wolfe tells everyone to get out, that he's
going
to take 10 minutes to think about this and then they will
reconvene.
For a second no one moves. He looks at them all and yells
"Out!". They
leave.
In the hallway of the courthouse, Margaret Wakefield is pacing,
smoking
a cigarette. Helen approaches her. Upon seeing her, she tells
Helen
she's not suppose to talk to her. Helen tells her she seems to
be doing
a lot of things she's not suppose to. Helen puts her briefcase
down on
a bench. She tells Margaret that she couldn't figure it out, but
it
finally hit her, she's not going back to Robert because she
loves him,
that she's doing it to protect Jennifer because its the only way
she
can. Margaret says she doesn't know what she is talking about.
Helen
says yes she does. Margaret says no, she doesn't and sits down,
right
below a no smoking sign.
Helen sits beside her and says to her
that the
reason she was so horrified that he would get only 3 years in
prison was
that when he got out Jennifer would only be 12 and she was
worried he
would get custody again and faced with that she decided to
reconcile so
she could always be there to protect her. Helen tells her that
he might
not get custody, that under the law... Margaret says she knows
the
presumption, but there is a good chance he would and then what.
Helen
asks her what happens the next time he pushes her down the
stairs.
Suddenly, Robert appears and asks Margaret if everything is ok.
He
shoots a suspicious glance at Helen. Helen tells him that
everything is
just swell. He hold out his hand to Margaret and tells her to
come.
She gets up and they walk off, a worried and discouraged looking
Helen
watching after them.
Inside the courtroom at the evidentiary hearing - or what is
left of it
- Judge Wolfe has returned. he says he has been ordered by the
court of
appeals to hold a full hearing into this perjury business, but
that
hearing has been thwarted by the primary witness invoking his
5th
amendment right not to testify. He takes a deep breath and then
says
almost hurriedly that the conviction of Scott Wallace is hereby
set
aside and it is the order of this court that he be granted a new
trial.
He quickly adjourns the court. Richard is left with his mouth
hanging
open. Bobby and Eugene look at each other, smiling but clearly
surprised at this turn of events. Bobby looks relieved.
Out in the hallway, Richard is surrounded by reporters. He is
saying
that they fully intend to retry Scott Wallace, that he committed
murder
and that the district attorney's office will pursue him until
his home
in prison becomes permanent. Richard is asked to comment on the
ruling. He says he's shocked and outraged and that Judge Wolfe
clearly
acted within his discretion but the reality is that a killer
could end
up back on the street and he finds that horrifying.
Lindsay and Ellenor are in the conference room at D, Y, D and F
watching
Richard on TV. A reporter asks him what Helen Gamble's role will
be in
the next trial. He says he will be prosecuting, he will be in
charge.
Ellenor shakes her head. She says "Look at him. Every time
he loses he
shrinks an inch." Lindsay says amazing - they do it all
over again
now. Ellenor says amazing, then turns and looks at Lindsay. She
says
to Lindsay is it exciting? Lindsay says a new trial? Ellenor
smiles at
her and says being pregnant. Lindsay giggles and, smiling a big
smile,
says yes, its really amazing.
She pauses for one second and asks
Ellenor if she thinks Rebecca is. Ellenor thinks for a moment
and says
she doubts it. Lindsay is perplexed. She says the books and the
test
are kind of an elaborate scam, even for Lucy. Ellenor gets up,
saying
yeah but between the two of them she doesn't think Rebecca is
really
pregnant and she doesn't think Lucy is playing any trick.
Lindsay says
then how did that book get here. Ellenor says she ordered it.
Surprised, Lindsay asks why? Ellenor looks at her for a moment
and then
says "Because I'm pregnant." Lindsay just stares at
her in total
disbelief.
Back at the prison hospital ward, Bobby is filling Scott in on
the
news. Scott says then he's not convicted anymore? Bobby says no,
the
verdict is out. Scott asks if they do it again. Bobby tells him
they do
it all over again, and this time they are going to win. Scott
says ok,
the tells Bobby that these drugs make him weak. Bobby takes his
hand
and tells him they'll help him rest. He tells him to just get
better.
Scott says ok. Bobby looks at him and again says, with firm
conviction,
"Next time we win. We win."
Back at the courthouse, we have a verdict in the Wakefield
trial. The
jury forewoman reads the verdict - not guilty. Helen looks
devastated.
Robert shakes Jimmy's hand and thanks Rebecca. He goes over to
Margaret
and hugs her. As he does she glances at Helen who looks back at
her,
worried. She watches Robert kiss his daughter and then watches
the
three of them leave, hand in hand. As the reach the door of the
courtroom, Margaret turns and looks at Helen again. They both
look
afraid and worried. Margaret then turns and leaves, leaving
Helen to
contemplate what she is sure will happen again.
The End.
The Review
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Miscellaneous Thoughts:
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