Written By: David E. Kelley

We open at the offices of Donnell, Young, Dole and Frutt where Lindsay is talking to Ellenor. A woman walks in and says to Lucy that she is looking for.... She catches sight of Lindsay and says her. Lindsay turns around and says Jeannie? She smiles and goes over to her, giving her a hug. Lindsay asks how is she and she says fine. Upon noticing that Lindsay is pregnant she says she doesn't have to ask her what's new. Lindsay laughs and says yeah, she's about 5 months. Jeannie laughs and turns to the others and says she knew he when she was a virgin. Lindsay says funny. Lucy and Ellenor laugh. 

Jeannie says listen, do you have 2 seconds, I'm on a major clock. Lindsay says sure and shows her to the conference room. As they go in the conference room Lindsay says that Jeannie must be a witch, that she's been meaning to call her. Jeannie says yeah, yeah. Then she says thanks for inviting me to the wedding, by the way. Lindsay says they eloped. Jeannie say right. Then Jeannie says Listen, William Hinks. Lindsay just looks at her. Jeannie goes on, saying she's been treating him. Lindsay says THE William Hinks? Jeannie nods her head and says yes. Lindsay sits down and says did he start killing people after you began treating him or... Jeannie says that's cute. Jeannie sits opposite her, takes a deep breath and says that she doesn't think he did it. Lindsay says what does she mean she doesn't think he did it, he confessed. 

Jeannie says she thinks he fabricated that confession. Lindsay says he made up that he killed 9 people? Jeannie says yes. Lindsay says and fooled the police? Jeannie says yes, its complicated. Jeannie tells Lindsay that as she probably knows the trial starts in 2 days, and he just fired his attorney, and the judge she's told is not likely to grant him much of a continuance and he'll probably assign a public defender and .... she pauses a moment and then says Lindsay, would you consider doing it? Lindsay looks appalled - "Defending William Hinks?" 

Jeannie says "You've become this big star. I read about you now...." Lindsay interrupts her and tells her she doesn't do serial killers. Jeannie looks at her and tell her she believes the man didn't do it, yes he says he did, but as good as Lindsay is at what she does, she's just as good at what she does and she's telling her she has become more and more convinced he's delusional. Jeannie says that William Hinks is not the serial killer that murdered those women. She says that right now, he needs a good lawyer. Lindsay just looks at her.

Opening credits.

In the conference room, a meeting of the lawyers of Donnell, Young, Dole and Frutt is taking place. Bobby is telling Lindsay that he doesn't think she should take it. Lindsay says that her first instinct was not to but she says he's innocent. Bobby says I don't know, Lindsay. Ellenor says how do you start such a monster of a trial on 2 days notice? Lindsay says that the defense is fully developed. She says that John Moore was the lawyer and he's good, that Steven Banks was the lawyer before that and he's excellent. Rebecca asks what happened to them. Lindsay says he fired them, that according to Jeannie when they confronted him about his possibly being delusional he fired them. She says the man can't face the idea that maybe he's not the killer. Bobby says in which case how do you defend him? 

Eugene says and why would you even want to? Lindsay says she would be going up against Roland Hill, for one thing, and often does a lawyer have the chance to go up against him. Bobby says not very often but if he were going to do it he certainly would want to have a client who insists he's guilty. Just then Jeannie walks in. She says to them that you people supposedly defend underdogs and she's got one here. She says he's ill and unless they help him he's going to destroy his life. Lindsay turns to Bobby and tells him she wants to do it, but she will need back up. Ellenor says she can do it, as does Jimmy, and Rebecca, and Eugene - all clamoring for the chance. Bobby tells them to be quiet, turns to Lindsay and asks her if she's sure. She says yes. He sighs and reluctantly gives in to her telling Jimmy he'll second chair. The others say that's not fair. Lindsay says thanks.

Going into the prison, Jeannie tells Lindsay and Jimmy that he's really a docile man. Jimmy says just misunderstood - and you know he doesn't mean it. Lindsay asks if they need a guard in the room. Jeannie says its her call, but she'll lose privilege. They look through a window and see a rather small man sitting at a table. Jimmy says he thinks they can take him. Lindsay says ok to the guard and he lets them all in. Once in the room, Jeannie introduces William to Lindsay and Jimmy. He looks at them, seeming like a meek man, but with strange bug eyes that sort of give you the creeps. He says my pleasure upon meeting them and says he guesses a thank you is in order. 

Lindsay sort of smiles at him and then tells him that they've continued the trial until next week which means he may get transferred back to Cedar Junction, they don't like to keep maximum security prisoners in lock-up for too long. She tells him that what they are going to do first is to go over the confessions and the evidence and then they'll get back together and talk. He keeps staring at her, then he says what is there to talk about. Lindsay looks at Jeannie and then says that Dr. Reynolds tells her its his preference to plead insanity. She tells him that of they win on that he doesn't go free. Hinks says he realizes that. Lindsay says if they could possibly get a straight not guilty... Hinks says no, he says he did it and at least with insanity he might get sent to a place where he can get better. Lindsay tells him that even if that's true, he won't be getting out. Hinks just keeps staring at her.

Back at the office, Lindsay, Jimmy and Jeannie are in the conference room. Jeannie is saying that the closest diagnosis she can make is that he has delusions, symptomatic of schizophrenia, probably paranoid. She says that not only does he believe he committed these crimes, the idea of others not believing him is somehow repugnant to him. Jimmy says if he didn't do them, he sure gave them a lot of details. Jeannie says that almost all the information he provided was accessible, that there is a whole internet site set up for this killer, that a lot of these facts are available to the general public. Lindsay asks Jeannie why she thinks he didn't do it. Jeannie says for one thing he has a lot of holes in his story, she says she also doesn't get any sense of anger in him, that she doesn't see the necessary capacity for violence. She says he's a quiet little accountant who never leaves his house. 

Jimmy says its always the quiet ones. Jeannie says she also put him under hypnosis and there he told a very different story. Lindsay says which was? Jeannie says that basically he didn't do it, that he wishes he did it. Lindsay says they found him near the scene of the last victim. Jeannie says he has a police radio and according to his story under hypnosis he heard of the crime, he managed to go there, get into a neighboring cellar and let himself be discovered there. Jimmy says the police are pretty good about sniffing out false confessions. Jeannie says he is extremely smart, borderline genius and he also passed the polygraph which he would if he were delusional. Jimmy asks if there is any chance he was faking with the hypnosis. Jeannie says that's what she thought at first but she doesn't believe it now. Lindsay says that either way if he convinced the police with his confession, including an FBI profiler, he'll likely fool the jury. Jeannie says he didn't necessarily fool the FBI profiler. Lindsay says what?

At the office of the FBI profiler, he is telling Lindsay, Jimmy and Jeannie that he was suspicious, that there were certain facts he should have known if he were the real killer and he didn't. Lindsay asks such as? The FBI guy says times of death, he could only approximate, that a killer that precise he would have thought he would be clear on times, also the position of the bodies also the fingernails. Jimmy asks what about the fingernails. The FBI guy says he knows he pulled them off all his victims. Jimmy says and? The FBI guy says he actually didn't, that the police planted that misinformation for the very reason to trip up any false confessions, he says Hinks has maintained that he pulled the nails out of all of his victims, just as reported in the papers. 

He says that if they've checked discovery they now know that the nails of the 5th victim were never removed and that's something the real killer should know. Jimmy says but he signed off on this being the guy. The FBI guy says because he did have a lot of very specific details, he was found near the scene of the last one, and when they searched his apartment they found voluminous clippings, internet print outs, whatever, on each and every previous killing. Lindsay says he could have collected that stuff to learn about the murders. The FBI guy says or he was the murderer and he liked to read about himself which is pretty typical of serial killers. The FBI guy says there was one more thing - the killings stopped as soon as William Hinks was in custody. Lindsay asks if he thinks he's it. The FBI guy says he thinks he's probably the one. Lindsay says but maybe not. The FBI guy says maybe not.

Back at the office, surrounded by strategy boards and pictures of the victims, Lindsay asks Jeannie how do they defend him. If they plead not guilty, he'll fire them. Jeannie says more than anything else that's telling her he didn't do it. Jimmy asks how does she figure that. She says that a guilty man would want to get an acquittal if he could, doesn't he think? She says that a man who was obsessed with having the world think he's guilty on the other hand.... Jimmy asks isn't it possible to have both - guilty and wanting everyone to know it. Jeannie says its possible, but she doesn't see it that way. Jimmy says maybe they should just stick with insanity - who knows, maybe they could win that way. Lindsay says they don't think he did it, that they can't argue that he was insane at the time he did it if they know he didn't do it. Jimmy says they don't know it, they don't know anything. Jeannie asks if they cold ever go to a judge and get an order that he has to plead not guilty. Lindsay says she's never heard of that happening. Jeannie says that everyone wants it to be him because they're afraid, and he wants it to be him, but its not him. Lindsay and JImmy just look at each other.

Night fades into day. Lindsay, Jimmy and Jeannie are meeting with Hinks in prison. He sound like he's getting annoyed. He says he doesn't understand, are they arguing insanity or not. Lindsay says that this is extremely complicated and he's just going to have to trust her - can he do that? Hinks says no he can't, that his future is at stake, his life. He says he's known her less than a week. Jeannie says he trust her doesn't he? Hinks says to her "Please don't handle me. I'm not some anonymous little man to be handled." Lindsay tells him that the plan is to keep him out of prison, but it may involve him hearing some things in court that he doesn't want to hear. She says that it could also mean his having to testify so he should be prepared for that. He stares at her with those creepy bug eyes and repeats "testify?". He seems to like that idea. Jeannie tells him that his only chance at this point is to trust Lindsay. He glances at Jeannie, then continues to stare at Lindsay. He says to her "Are we going to go with insanity of not, Ms. Dole?" She nods her head and says yes, they're going with insanity. He says all right, insanity. And he keeps staring at her with those creepy bug eyes.

Commercial.

Its late at night. Inside Bobby's office Lindsay and Jimmy sit watching the video tape confession of William Hinks. He is saying that he always chose to drop the weapon at the scene so he didn't have to worry about it being found in his possession. He says the gloves he would either burn or dispose of at the right opportunity. On the tape he is just staring forward as he talks, and he speaks in a very deliberate manner. You hear the police asks why the fingernails and Hinks says souvenirs he supposes, he says that a fingernail is easier to remove than one might expect and less bloody as well. Lindsay is watching the tape intently, taking notes. Jimmy looks tired and bored. Lindsay pauses the tape while she writes her thoughts down. JImmy asks her how many times do they have to watch the tape. Lindsay says until they've memorized every word, that this confession is their whole case. She starts the tape back up again.

We're now in the courtroom and the tape is playing for the jury. Hinks is saying that he probably would have taken all of them if he had had time. He says it takes patience to extract a fingernail without damaging it. He says he likes them in mint condition of course and - he snickers slightly - he says its difficult not to rush when you have a dissected carcass in the room. He says it can make you jumpy. He is obviously creeping out the jury. The tape is stopped by the prosecuting attorney, the fabled Roland Hill. He is giving his opening argument. He says that they will introduce more of this tape later in the trial, but the footage they just saw will be introduced as evidence of the defendant's clarity during his confession, his precision, his careful choice of words. Hill says that Hinks just committed a murder and dismemberment 3 hours before this interview. He says that this was a man in control, a man who understood the nature and the qualities of the horrific acts he had committed. He says that the evidence will show that these crimes were carried out with detailed precision, with thorough premeditation. He says that the evidence will reveal cold blooded murders, executions, committed by a man who knew exactly what he was doing. Finished, he sits down.

Lindsay gets up, walks over to the jury and looks at them. She begins - "William Hinks is insane." She turns and returns to her seat.

The first witness is on the stand. He is saying that all 9 victims had dogs and Mr. Hinks met all of them in various parks and streets while walking his dog. Hill asks the witness, a police detective, how he learned this. The detective says from his confession, that he would always phone them from a public phone booth, make a date or plan to see them, be let into their homes and he would kill them. Hill asks the detective from his experience, did these killings seem to be acts of uncontrolled behavior. The detective says no. Hill asks why is that. The detective says first of all they were meticulous, that other than the mutilations which were bloody, there was never any evidence, no fingerprints, no DNA, the weapon was always carefully placed next to the torso, the first wound was always fatal. Hill asks how he could tell that. The detective says that there was never a sign of a struggle, plus the coroner's report would always confirm this.

Lindsay questions him next, asking if he is saying that a killer acting outside of conscious control could never act in a meticulous manner. The detective says its not the norm. Lindsay asks if its possible. The detective says its possible but... She cuts him off and thanks him, saying he answered the question. The detective thinks differently however and says actually he didn't and he would like to complete it. Lindsay says it was a yes or no question. Hill stands and says but it was evidently not a yes or no answer, your honor. 

The judge says the witness may complete his response. He says if the last victim hadn't hit that silent alarm, if they hadn't found the defendant in that basement, he would still be out there. He says they called these murders the immaculate dissections because the scenes were free of evidence. He says he means clean and that takes planning, skill. He says Hinks didn't just know what he was doing, he knew how to do it perfectly. Lindsay asks him if he's finished now. The detective says yes. She thanks him and says nothing further and returns to her seat, sort of nodding to Jimmy as she does, and he slightly nods at her. The judge asks Hill if he has more. He says the prosecution rests, saving their psychiatric evidence for rebuttal. The judge tells the witness he may step down.

Lindsay calls her first witness - Dr. Jean Reynolds. Hinks looks a little nervous. As Jeannie takes the stand, Jimmy leans over to Lindsay and asks her if she's all set. She says she thinks and tells him to watch himself. He says don't worry. Lindsay gets up. Lindsay asks her to state he name and occupation for the record. Jeannie says her name and that she's a criminal psychologist. Lindsay asks her if she could briefly describe what she means by a criminal psychologist. Jeannie says is basically like it sounds, that she's spent 10 years treating patients that have been charged with violent crimes as well as studying behavioral patterns of repeat offenders, including the patterns of serial killers. Lindsay asks her if she has had the opportunity to treat Hinks. She says she did. 

Lindsay asks if she had the opportunity to discuss with him the crimes for which he is being charged in this trial. Jeannie says she did. Lindsay asks if she formed any medical conclusion as the result of this treatment. She says yes. Lindsay asks her to state that opinion for the court. Jeannie says she doesn't think that Mr. Hinks killed those women. Everyone in the courtroom, except Lindsay and Jimmy are surprised. Hinks looks upset. Lindsay says he did not commit the crimes? Jeannie says its her opinion that Mr. Hinks is suffering from delusions, secondary to schizophrenia. She says basically he thinks he killed those women but he did not. Hinks is getting agitated. Lindsay asks her on what does she base this opinion. Jeannie says on 30 hours of treatments of Mr. Hinks, as well as 10 years of practical and academic experience. She says she also placed Hinks under hypnosis where he told her he did not kill those women. Hill immediately objects, citing hearsay. 

Lindsay says that under hypnosis the reliability of.... Hill stands and says that there is no hypnosis exception to the hearsay rule. Suddenly, Hinks stands and tells the judge he wants a side bar. The judge tells him to sit down. Hinks says he seeks to discharge counsel because she is soliciting false testimony from this witness. The judge repeats for him to sit down. Hinks goes on saying that she doesn't represent her interests, nor does she represent the truth and he asks that she be removed. He is quite agitated now. Again, and very firmly, the judge tells Hinks to take his seat - now. He does. 

The judge turns to Lindsay and tells her he is very confused here, that she entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Lindsay says that the defense seeks to change that plea to a straight not guilty. She says that Mr. Hinks never killed those women at all. Hinks is very upset. He yells out that this is a lie! The judge tells security to take Mr. Hinks into custody. Then, very annoyed, he says he will see counsel in chambers - now.

Back in the judge's chambers. The judge says to Lindsay what the hell is going on. Lindsay says he didn't commit the crimes. The judge says wait a second, it was her intent all along to argue this? Lindsay says yes. The judge is angry. He says that she committed a fraud on the court, that she filed an affirmative defense of insanity. Lindsay says they had to. The judge says you had to? Lindsay says yes, they had to keep it from their client which necessitated keeping it from the court. Hill is shocked. The judge can't believe what he's hearing. He says you kept your strategy from your client? Lindsay says Hinks delusional, that he not only thinks he did it, but he wants others to think he did it, which precluded them from.... 

The judge interrupts her saying then she should have had him declared incompetent to stand trial. She says Hinks would have passed the competency test easily and they would be right back in court. The judge says you do not commit a fraud on the court or on the district attorney. Lindsay says these circumstances warranted us to do this. The judge says no they did not. Finally, Jimmy speaks up. He says yes they did. He says with all due respect William Hinks was prepared to let himself be convicted for a crime he didn't commit. He says that's a bigger fraud, a fraud that leaves the real killer out there. Hill asks how do they know this isn't a trick. He says if the defendant doesn't agree to the change in plea he has automatic grounds for a new trial. 

Lindsay says this isn't a trick, that he has her word as an officer of the court. Hill says that doesn't solve it, you cannot change the plea without the client's consent. Jimmy says that the man has fired 2 previous attorneys who wanted to prove his innocence because he doesn't want to be innocent. Lindsay says they had to keep him in the dark, which meant having to keep the court in the dark. Hill says if he loses his next lawyer will be in here arguing their incompetency for... Jimmy interrupts him and says that this is an unusual thing here, that they have a defendant whose sickness prevents him from wanting to be found innocent. He says if they had plead straight not guilty he would have fired them like he fired the 2 guys before us, that he would have gone out and eventually found a lawyer to tell his lie and as he said they felt that would have been the bigger fraud. The judge is thinking.

Back in a room at the courthouse, Hinks is angry. He says to Jeannie who the hell does she think she is. Jeannie says she's his doctor. He says no she's not, does she get that, no she is not. He turns to Lindsay and Jimmy too and tells them they are all discharged. Lindsay says that that can't happen that the judge has ordered them to stay on. Shocked and upset, Hinks sinks into a chair. Jeannie tries to tell him that he is ill, that he thinks he committed those crimes, but under hypnosis he admitted to her that he didn't. He turns to her and says that maybe he was lying under hypnoses - had she thought about that? 

He says maybe he was in denial. He says for God's sake he killed 9 women - he can't be in denial? Lindsay says that all she cares about for this discussion is that she keeps him out of prison. He says why, so he can get mental treatment for his disorder - is that the secret plan? Suddenly its like a light goes on behind his creepy eyes. He says he's testifying. Lindsay starts to object, but Hinks says its his right to testify, that if he's competent to stand trial, then he's competent to make this decision. He says he will be getting into that witness chair and she cannot prevent that. He looks at them with those very creepy bug eyes and says very firmly "I'm testifying!"

Commercial.

Back at the trial, Lindsay is once again questioning Jeannie. She asks if while under hypnosis what did HInks say about the basement. Jeannie says that he heard about the crime on his police radio, together with the suspicion that it was the same killer, and went to the scene. She says that police were all over it so he broke into the basement 2 houses away. Hill stands and says he is renewing his hearsay objection, that this is all being asserted as the truth. The judge says that his objection is noted and overruled. Lindsay asks if he said why he went into that basement. Jeannie says no, she can only assume that on some level he wanted to be caught. Lindsay asks her that besides what he told her under hypnosis, does she have any other reason to believe he did not commit these crimes. Jeannie says that as she said she has studied the patterns of serial killers and that these people usually have some kind of displaced anger and she didn't find Mr. Hinks to have much anger if any. She says he's seen these killings on the front pages of our newspapers and he's somehow convinced himself that he's the object of all these headlines.

Hill questions Jeannie next. He asks if she has ever known a patient to fake being under hypnosis. Jeannie says she doesn't think Mr. Hinks was faking. Hill says his question was has she ever known a patient to fake being under hypnosis. She says yes. He then asks if this patient was suffering from a delusion wouldn't he suffer from the same delusion under hypnosis. She says yes usually the delusion would persist under hypnosis. Hill says didn't that make her suspicious. Jeannie says she was extremely suspicious. Hill asks her what Hinks' i.q. is. She says its high. Hill asks her if its her testimony that she makes no room for the possibility that Hinks faked being under hypnosis to tell his little tale of innocence. Jeannie says she not only considered it, she at first suspected it, but when he kept insisting that his lawyers not declare him to be innocent, when he fired lawyers for endeavoring to prove his innocence, she knew then that he couldn't be faking.

The prosecution's psychiatric expert is on the stand. Hill is questioning him. The witness says that Jeannie is simply wrong. Hill asks if he had thought it could be a false confession. The witness, Dr. Gale, says that its one of the first things they look for, but in Hinks' case he determined his confession to be genuine. Hill asks on what did he base this opinion. Dr. Gale says that he has been a clinical and forensic psychologist for 33 years and that contrary to Dr. Reynolds's findings he finds Hinks to be consumed with rage. He says he lived alone with his mother growing up and while not physically abusive she was emotionally punishing. He says that gruesome acts committed here, the dissections of the bodies, these are acts of hatred, these murders are very much about punishment. Hill says he's going to play a portion of his confession. 

He turns on the tape and Hinks is saying in that eerie voice of his that if he could have figured out a way of dismembering them alive he would have done so but the fear of getting caught was a deterrent there, but "still I would have so loved extending 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. They write in the papers why do they do it, why do these killers do it over and over and over - its that look." The jury is clearly disturbed by this. On the tape Hinks is asked if he thinks he will kill again. He answers "Oh yes. I'll get out of this. You just watch. And I'll know the joy of that look again." It looks like Lindsay is a little creeped out herself. Hill shuts off the tape. Dr. Gale says that even if Hinks were able to learn about all those crimes to the point where he could fool law enforcement, and that's an extremely unlikely if, you cannot fake a psychosis like that. He says, pointing at Hinks, that sitting at that table is the man who mutilated those women. A small smile creeps onto Hinks' face.

Back in a room at the courthouse, Lindsay and Jimmy are with Hinks. Lindsay looks discouraged. She says to Hinks that it looks like he got his wish, that after that last footage she is sure everyone thinks he's guilty, including the jury. Hinks says that other than lying to him they have tried an excellent case, that they should feel very good about themselves. Jimmy says to him does he fully realize where he'll be going? Hinks says in this life or the next. Jimmy says this one. He says he's talking about the maximum security hell where prisoners have special feelings for men who mutilate women. Hinks just looks at him calmly with those creepy bug eyes and says he guesses its his turn now. He then turns to Lindsay and says he still wants to testify.

Back in the conference room at D, Y, D, and F, Lindsay and Jimmy are meeting with Bobby and Eugene. Lindsay is saying she doesn't see the harm at this point. Bobby asks what else is left. Lindsay says not much, that they have an expert on tire tracks that could place his car maybe in some of the areas, its nothing. They'll establish that he has no alibi, big deal, he says that himself. She says they're almost done. Eugene asks if they're winning or losing. Lindsay says that depends on the goal, that she thinks he's looking at a conviction, but to the client that seems to be a victory. Bobby says and why does he want to testify exactly.

We're in the courtroom and William Hinks is on the stand. He's saying because if his soul is to have any chance at full redemption he must make a full confession. Lindsay says and God would like you to do that under oath? Hinks says God would like him to be open and notorious with my evil, yes. Lindsay then asks him what he did with the gloves. Hinks says I beg your pardon? Lindsay say that the killer always wore latex gloves to avoid leaving prints or oils behind. She says that on the night he as caught the gloves were never found - what did you do with them? Hinks says as he told the police he has no actual memory of how he disposed of them, and again as he told the police if he had to guess he threw them into the fire and burnt them. 

Lindsay points out to him that he didn't actually make that guess in his confession but much later when there was a report that there had been a fire burning. She then says that the police found no residue of the gloves in the fireplace - "Did you know that?" She says is it possible that no one could find the gloves because the real killer took them? Hinks says he is the real killer. Lindsay asks how come he didn't know that the second victim had cancer. She says that was something that was never released to the media and coincidentally was something he didn't know when he confessed. He says he didn't give them physicals, he just removed their heads. Lindsay says that this one's head had a wig on it - "You decapitated her and you didn't know she had a wig?" With a slight smile on his face he says "Even the sickest of criminals knows not to mess with a woman's hair." Lindsay says what a clever answer. She says that women have a thing about their nails too and you messed with them. 

Hinks says that actually he never so much as scraped a nail, he removed them in perfect condition. Lindsay asks what happened to them. Hinks says I beg your pardon? Lindsay says that in his confession he says he took them as souvenirs, that people keep souvenirs, what did you do with them? Defensively, Hinks says that he won't tell. Lindsay says come on, this is confession time, we're trying to redeem a soul here, what did you do with the fingernails? Hinks says there are some things he will take to his grave and that's one of them. She says that he doesn't know where they are because he never took them. He says he did. Lindsay says all of them, every victim? He says every victim. Lindsay says what about the fingernails of the last victim - did they go the way of the gloves? He says nothing for a moment and then says he swallowed them. Lindsay says what about the 5th victim - Angela Barton - do you remember her. He smiles and says pretty, quick tempered, lost her head easily. 

Lindsay says clever again then asks if he removed her fingernails. He says one by one, made difficult because she bit them. Lindsay says he didn't take her fingernails, not Angela Barton's. She says that the police conceal information for the purpose of flushing out phony confessions. She says in his confession he talked of removing the nails before incising the hands. She says the thing is that when you go to trial the prosecution has to hand over all exculpatory evidence, even the stuff the police concealed, and what she has now learned that the nails of Angela Barton were never removed, that they were reported to have been removed so you confessed to doing it. Ever cool, Hinks says so he forgot, it was 4 victims ago, they blend. Lindsay says you forgot. She says that he forgot a lot of things, that he could never remember the color of carpets, the layouts of rooms, the types of drapes. 

Hinks says he was killing people, does she think he was going to take time out to notice fabric? She says this killer noticed everything, h e was meticulous. He says please don't talk about him like he wasn't in the room. Then Lindsay says what about the 10th victim. Stunned for a moment he finally says there were nine. Lindsay says 9 reported, that there was a 10th, never reported to be one the serial victims because she died of a gunshot wound. Hill objects, the judge overrules the objection. Lindsay continues, saying that her fingernails were also pulled out, limbs and head amputated. She asks Hinks if that was his work. Hill objects again saying that Lindsay is deliberately... Lindsay says to ask counsel not to interrupt or steer the witness. 

The judge instructs Hill to sit and remain quiet. Again. Lindsay asks him if its his work or "another killer who likes fingernails." Hinks says he didn't think the police knew about that one. Lindsay says then it was your work. He stares at Lindsay with those creepy eyes but doesn't say a word. Again Lindsay asks if it was his work. He continues staring at her, as if trying to size her up, and finally says yes. Lindsay says funny, she made it up. Hinks' eyes look as if they are going to pop out of his head. Jeannie is watching him closely. Lindsay tells him he's a fraud, that he's never hurt anybody. Hinks says he killed those people. Lindsay says no he didn't. Hinks says he killed those people, Ms. Dole. Lindsay says his doctors discovered he's delusional, that he's just an anonymous little man. Hinks says he killed those women just as quickly and surely as he would kill her. 

The judge says to him firmly "Mr. Hinks!" Hinks yells he did it. He's getting very agitated. He says he's famous, that you see his pictures in the papers because he did it. He's yelling now. The judge tells him to lower his voice. He doesn't. He yells that this is his, that he killed them and you can't take it away. He looks at Lindsay and then more calmly, but just as emphatically, he says you can't. Finally Lindsay says to him, ok, you win, and returns to her seat. Jeannie looks concerned for Hinks. Hill doesn't look like he's buying it at all. He rises and says "Forgive me Mr. Hinks, but I was just trying to decide whose performance was better here, yours or Ms. Dole's." Lindsay objects, the judge sustains her objection. Then. looking at Hinks with disgust, Hill says he has nothing for Mr. Hinks. Hill sits down. Jimmy leans over to Lindsay and says he thinks maybe they've won. She says its not over, and glances in Hill's direction, and says you haven't heard him close.

Commercial.

Its time for closing arguments. Lindsay is up first. She says "No physical evidence. No witnesses. Just a confession from a paranoiac schizophrenic man suffering from delusions, a man desperate to believe he's something he's not. You heard his treating psychologist. You saw him in that witness chair. He's ill, but he's not the sick man who committed those crimes. For this so-called confession he was armed only with information that had been published somewhere, stuff that he had cut out, downloaded, printed, plastered all over his walls. The things that weren't public information like the fingernails still being on the 5th victim, oh he somehow forgot that. Mr. Hinks, as part of his illness, is desperate to believe he's the one. The prosecution, as the result of public pressure, is desperate to believe he's the one. I think on some level we all are. Because we want this sick person, whoever he is, off the street. But if we really truly want this killer captured, we better send the message to the police that they better keep looking. Because its not William Hinks. " She sits down.

Its Roland Hill's turn. He says "I have never been on a case where the defense plead insanity only to then in the middle of trial suddenly declare that he didn't do it at all and then to follow that with the defendant taking the stand to say he did. Sounds crazy. But it isn't crazy, ladies and gentlemen, its brilliant, and very carefully orchestrated. We're dealing with a very sick, dark, but brilliant chess player, a man who met 8 women, 8 different women, got admitted to their homes, murdered them leaving virtually no evidence, not a hair, not a bead of sweat, nothing, then he met his 9th victim, and though she let him in like the 8 others had before her, she was also able to set off a silent alarm. 

Mr. Hinks was still able to commit the murder and do his immaculate clean-up but when it came time to leave the police were coming and this time he had to take flight to seek cover in a neighboring basement. And this time he was caught. He knew the police would search his apartment and find those clippings and those web site printouts. He knew he could offer no alibis for those 8 other killings. He knew the police would know they had the right guy. Well, to get out of this now, Mr. Hinks would have to be at his most ingenious wouldn't he. So, he gives a confession, careful to provide most details, but also careful to leave out a few. And then, while under the pretense of being hypnotized, while being treated, he tells a different story, a story of innocence. And he hopes this therapist will become his pawn.

Well, Dr. Reynolds is no push over, she's a gifted psychologist, one likely capable of detecting a sham and though he had her mostly convinced he knew that she remained doubtful. According to her own testimony, it was only after Mr. Hinks fired his previous attorneys that she finally decided that he was not faking his delusions. He got her. And he needed her. You see, to have any chance of an acquittal, Mr. Hinks needed this therapist to sell you, and in order to keep her convinced enough, he had to keep insisting that he did it and he had to keep insisting that his lawyers not say otherwise, all the while needing a lawyer who would say otherwise, over his feigned protests. 

Enter Ms. Dole, pawn number two. Mr. Hinks needed to find an attorney who would find a way to plead not guilty in spite of being told not to. Sound complicated? You bet. Hard to pull off? Absolutely. Far fetched? Maybe. But let's consider what he's pulled off before. Not many can commit 8 murders without leaving a single clue. He did. And then he met his ninth and we got him. We finally got him, and in order to get off he would have to come off with something masterful. He did. You want to give him an academy award for his wrenching performance on the witness stand, you do it, but don't you dare give him an acquittal. Don't you dare. You don't want him out there looking for number ten." Finished, he returns to his seat.

Back in a room, Hinks, Lindsay and Jimmy sit waiting for a verdict. Jimmy sits staring out the window at the snow falling. Lindsay sits staring at Hinks. Hinks asks how long. Lindsay says she expects this one to take awhile. She says its close. Hinks says his closing was good, wasn't it. Lindsay says extremely. Hinks looks a little worried. Lindsay says he kind of sold her. Hinks stares at her, Lindsay at him. Suddenly Hinks looks very pleased with himself, and Lindsay looks a bit upset. They just stare at each other. Jimmy looks at them staring at each other, not quite seeming to know what is going on. Finally Lindsay asks Hinks if he knew she planned to yank the insanity plea and go straight not guilty. She swallows hard. Hinks says he had a pretty good idea. 

Jimmy finally gets it. He says when she wouldn't tell him the strategy and that he might be testifying he thought that might be the plan. She asks him what if he hadn't, wasn't that sort of a risk? Hinks snickers and says considering his plight he was in a position to take risks. He says besides he was poised to suffer a mental breakdown and at least secure a mistrial if you stuck with insanity. Lindsay asks why he didn't just let her talk her into not guilty over your objection. Hinks says because Dr. Reynolds was measuring him every step of the way and he had to cling to his delusions. He says without her completely sold he didn't stand a chance. He says what perhaps she didn't tell Lindsay was that she wasn't completely sure, that she thought he was innocent but her medical conclusions were far more precarious than she ever let on so he couldn't risk losing her. 

Lindsay asks then why not just feign improvement, take medication and then just testify and he could have just said I thought I killed them but now I know I didn't. Hinks says that's far too self serving, when you kill 9 people the jury isn't looking for a reason to let you go - things have to be perfect. Lindsay looks at Jimmy. He asks Hinks if he gets off, will he kill again. Hinks smiles slyly and says "Mr. Berluti, if I tell you I'm about to kill again you don't have to honor privilege and you can repeat everything I'm telling you now, but nice try." Jimmy says so things went just as you planned in there. Hinks says he certainly didn't plan on Mr. Hill to be so good in his closing. He looks at Lindsay and says that if he convinced her he hardly feel over confident. Lindsay asks what about the latex gloves on the last victim. Hinks says burned in the fireplace - the police are shoddy. Just then there is a knock at the door. The guard comes in and says verdict.

Back in the courtroom, The bailiff hands the verdict to the judge who reads it and hands it back. The bailiff takes it back to the jury foreperson. Lindsay sits stone faced. The judge tells hinks to rise. He asks the jury foreperson if they have a final verdict. She says they do. He says what say you. She says "Commonwealth versus William Hinks, counts 1 through 9 of murder in the first degree, we find the defendant William Hinks, not guilty." There are cries of disbelief throughout the courtroom. Mr. Hill is stunned. Lindsay just looks down. Hinks doesn't react at all. 

The judge tells Hinks that he has been declared not guilty and that he is free to go and adjourns the court. Lindsay looks as if she might cry. She turns to Hinks and tells him he might go out the back way. He says yes, thanks her and then thanks them both. As he turns to leave, reporters are shouting questions after him, but he just walks away. Before he leaves the courtroom however, he goes up to Jeannie who has come over to Lindsay. He thanks her and tells her he supposes her heart was in the right place. Jimmy walks over to join them. Jeannie tells Hinks that this gets him out but he still needs treatment. She asks if he'll let her help him. He says let me think about that, all right. 

Lindsay is staring at him. Jeannie tells him he really needs to get help. With a very ominous tone to his voice he tells her he'll call her and then he leaves. Lindsay almost looks panicked. Jeannie turns to Lindsay and tells her she really did it, that she was incredible. Lindsay asks her if she was really sure he was innocent. Jeannie says no, that she would probably never be 100% sure. Lindsay says he knew that. Jeannie says sorry? Lindsay, know that she can't say anymore, but desperately wanting to, says nothing. Jeannie says he's not out of the woods unless he gets treatment. Lindsay says to Jeannie to let him go. Jeannie tells Lindsay he's ill, that everything doesn't just end with the trial she's sorry to say. Trying desperately to warn her Lindsay says especially with this one - "Let him go". Jeannie turns around to see Hinks apparently signing autographs and then watches him leave the courtroom.

The end. 

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