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| PART V - Transcript done by Cali |
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105. Part V
United States, Original Airdate, April 1, 1997
Written by: David E. Kelley
Directed by: Michael Schultz
THIS TRANSCRIPT WAS DONE BY CALI.
-------------------- Disclaimer --------------------
We do not own the characters in this story, nor do we own any rights to
the television show `The Practice'. They were created by David E. Kelley
and belong to him and David E. Kelley Productions.
This is a cut and dry transcript of "Part V."
-----Opening-----
It’s a courtroom and Bobby is standing next to the defence table where the
Rabbi Danny sits. He is arguing something to the judge.
Bobby: This man was arrested for exercising his right to free speech.
Judge: All speech isn’t protected council, especially the kind that
facilitates murder.
Bobby: He gave an opinion. A congregate came to him seeking spiritual
counselling and he gave his learned opinion.
Judge: Your motion is denied. (Bobby looks peeved) Rabbi Warner will stand
trial for accessory to a homicide to commence immediately following the
Gerald Braun murder trial. Busy month for you.
Shot to outside the courtroom where Bobby, Jimmy and the Rabbi are leaving
through a throng of reporters.
Reporter: Rabbi Warner can I get you to comment?
Bobby: No comment.
Reporter: People have dubbed you the killer rabbi would you have any
reaction?
Bobby: No comment.
They reach the elevator and Bobby and the Rabbi go in but Jimmy holds the
doors open facing the reporters.
Jimmy: I’d like to respond to that, I think this killer Rabbi crap is
disgusting. If he was black you’d say the killer, if he was white you’d
say the accused but give him a yamakah and you all gotta push the ethnic
buttons. It’s shameful.
Bobby: Jimmy!
Jimmy: No further comments.
The elevator closes and we cut to the credits.
Scene Jail interviewing room (you know the one with the glass panels and
the phones you talk into) Eugene walks in lead by a guard and sits down
opposite a black guy with dreds.
Eugene: Ok Steven, trial is set for tomorrow, should be quick. They’re
putting up the victim and the arresting cop, that’s it. Figure one or two
days unless you think of anyone who could testify for you. Questions?
Prisoner: Just one, who are you?
Eugene: Aren’t you Steven Finald?
The prisoner hangs up the phone and Eugene moves onto the next booth where
another black guy is sitting.
Eugene: Ok Steven?
The guy nods.
Eugene: Trial set for tomorrow, should be fast. There putting up the
victim and the officer. I figure one to two days. Questions?
Cuts to scene of a lady walking through the courthouse and Eugene runs up
after her.
Eugene: Make me an offer.
DA (her name we later find is Renee): (smiles) You’re married.
Eugene: The Steven Finald case. You’ve got one witness Renee, it was
night, I’d get reasonable doubt, just think about it.
Renee: Uh huh and your Steven Finald has three priors, the parking lot was
well lit and I have eyewitness testimony.
Eugene: I’ll play the race card.
Renee: (Laughs) That’s why they put me on this case to take away your
race card.
Eugene: Three years, two suspended, we plead guilty.
Renee: So he serves just one?
Eugene: If you lose he walks.
Renee: Look I’ll tell you what. Now I shouldn’t do this, I could lose my
job but ah - a hundred bucks.
Eugene: Sorry?
Renee: A hundred bucks says you lose.
Eugene: You want to bet on it?
Renee: Now you took this court appointed right.
Eugene: Uh huh.
Renee: That means your fee tops at 700?
Eugene: Mmmm
Renee: Now I’m giving you a chance to make eight. Of course if you don’t
really think that you can win this case I understand…
Eugene: Uh uh uh, I’m in. With a ride it’s double if the jury takes less
than an hour to deliberate.
Renee: You got it.
Cut to a scene of the office (then Donnell and Associates) Rebecca is
talking to Ellenor over a stack of files. The office was pretty shabby
then. Bobby is in the background.
Rebecca: I don’t understand - you’re meeting him for both lunch and
dinner?
Ellenor: The lunch is to get the meeting part over. The date is in the
evening assuming…you know. (Rebecca nods)
Rebecca: Are you all right (ellenor looks nervous)
Ellenor: Not really, to tell you the truth I would have just preferred to
keep the phone relationship going for another month or you know, a year.
Becca, will you help me with my makeup?
Rebecca: Of course (reassuringly patting her hand)
Ellenor: Thanks.
Cut to Bobby’s office where Dr and Mrs Braun are sitting on his couch.
Bobby: They’ll drop to murder two but no go on manslaughter.
Dr Braun: Which means what?
Bobby: Trial.
The Brauns look anxious
Bobby: No point in copping to second degree. My advice temporary
insanity I think the jury will jump at it.
Dr Braun: Temporary Insanity, The Ronald Martin defence. (Ronald Martin
was his daughters murderer)
Bobby: Your daughter was murdered, the pressure of a trial topped off with
an acquittal you snapped.
Dr Braun: No.
Bobby: Excuse me?
Dr Braun: No, I will not use the Ronald Martin defence, I knew what I was
doing I won’t pretend otherwise.
Mrs Braun: Gerald!
Dr Braun: No!
Bobby: Dr Braun, you have no other choice!
Dr. Braun: Look at you. You are advising me to lie and you sit there
polaxed at my hesitation. Is dishonesty so organic to this system that
you’re actually thrown by a client who opts for the truth?
Bobby: Let’s fix the system next week, for now you have temporary insanity
defence or an extended prison term. If I seem thrown maybe I’m surprised
that a person who shot somebody in the head can be such a stickler for
principal!
Mrs Braun: That’s not fair, How dare you?
Bobby: Mrs Braun it is not my function as a lawyer to coddle either one of
you. This is a murder trial, it’ll get rough. If you want comfort go to
your Rabbi, although I suspect that that’s partly what got you into this
trouble to begin with.
Scene of the conference room where Ellenor, Lindsay and Jimmy are packing
up and walking out.
Jimmy: We should go with the Rabbi on this one.
Ellenor: What does that mean?
Jimmy: Well stand right up in court and say what Daniel said on the TV
show was right. It’s more right for Ronald Martin to be dead than free.
Lindsay: We can’t do that.
Jimmy: Course we can, just wink to the jury and say he did it let him go
anyway….there’s a name for it…..
Lindsay: Yeah, it’s jury nullification and ethically a lawyer can’t argue
it.
Jimmy: We have a client who shot a guy in the head and we’re gonna get
caught up on ethics? Put it right to that jury - Ronald Martin got what
was coming to him, what if it was your daughter - who wouldn’t pull that
trigger? It’s America, boom, not guilty.
Eugene walks in and hangs up his coat.
Eugene: Cancel whatever I’ve got on tomorrow Bec, I’m going to trial.
Rebecca: On Finald.
Eugene: DA won’t deal, she’ll bet though, I’ve got a hundred bucks saying
I’ll win.
He goes over and smells the flowers on Ellenor’s desk.
Eugene: Podiatrist?
Ellenor playfully swats him and he laughs.
Lindsay: Excuse me, you made a bet on Finald the armed robber?
Eugene: The very one.
Lindsay: They have an eyewitness.
Eugene: You ever seen me cross examine an eyewitness
Lindsay? Tell her Bobby.
Bobby: He’s good.
Lindsay: This eyewitness is perfect.
Eugene: When I hear they’re perfect I smile, you want in on the action
hundred bucks.
Bobby: Don’t do it.
Lindsay: I handled the arraignment on this case, I read the incident
report, he can’t win this.
Ellenor: Don’t bet him Lindsay.
Lindsay: (pauses and smiles at Eugene) A hundred bucks.
Eugene: Cha ching!
Everyone laughs.
Lindsay: You can not win this case and if you do I’ll be watching. The
education will be worth the money I lose.
Bobby: C’mon Jimmy.
Lindsay: You can not win this case. You won’t
Eugene is laughing but Rebecca looks kinda disgusted a shakes her head at
him.
Cut to a scene of a courtroom where Bobby is standing next to a defence
table with Jimmy and Dr. Braun sitting at it.
Bobby: The defence reasserts its plea of not guilty and we would be
requesting an immediate trial date.
Judge: Not guilty by reason of insanity?
Bobby: No your honour, straight not guilty.
Judge: You plan to challenge the constitutionality of the confession?
Bobby: No.
Judge: A plea of not guilty is not entered, I’ll see council in chambers.
Cut to the judges chambers where the lawyers are all walking in.
Judge: Well?
Bobby: My client insists on Not Guilty, he refuses to argue insanity.
Judge: You’re going jury nullification?
Bobby: I don’t know what I’m doing yet.
Judge: You don’t know what you’re doing and you’re asking for an immediate
trial?
Bobby: Right.
Judge: I will hammer that jury with the strongest instruction I have ever
crafted know that.
Bobby: I’ve got a job to do your honour.
Judge: As do I you better come up with something else I will not let
you argue to the jury that they ignore the law.
Bobby: I will just be asking that they listen your honour, that’s it.
Judge: Right.
Cut to a scene of the office at night, Rebecca is walking through it
carrying some files.
Rebecca: (to Eugene) working late.
Eugene: Trial starts first up.
Rebecca: I’m curious Eugene why didn’t you ask for a probable cause
hearing?
Eugene: On this?
Rebecca: If nothing else it would have been good discovery.
Eugene: They would have put up the cop and there’s no discovery on him,
the whold case rests on the victims eyewitness testimony.
Rebecca: So why didn’t you get it kicked on constitutional grounds?
Eugene: You going to law school on the sly Rebecca?
Rebecca: You don’t need to be a lawyer to know that there’s something
wrong with an ID being made while the suspect is still in handcuffs.
Eugene: The suspect was made three times. Once before and once after the
arrest.
Rebecca: Ok guess I’m wrong then.
Eugene: Say what you have to say Rebecca.
Rebecca: Since you ask, This case is court appointed, you get the same pay
which isn’t saying much no matter how much time you put in. Seems to me
you could have brought probable cause, or motions to suppress but you’re
happy just to jump through the court appointed required hoops.
Eugene: Done?
Rebecca: That’s all.
Eugene: First off the guy did it we all know..
Rebecca: Almost all our clients did it
Eugene: I thought you were done?
Rebecca: Well I had no idea you were going to say that.
Eugene: Second a probable cause hearing or a challenge, they would have
been so futile what’s..
Rebecca: Yeah but you could have preserved the grounds to appeal.
Eugene: Third how I choose to defend my case is none of your business.
Rebecca: Firm business is my business and if I see malpractice it’s my
responsibility..
Eugene: Malpractice! Rebecca you know nothing about the actual practice of
law and you seem to overlook that fact that I am going to win - winning
rarely amounts to malpractice.
Rebecca: Good thing for Mr. Finald you got money on it.
Rebecca leaves the office.
Cut to a scene in Bobby’s office.
Bobby: Let me ask you a question all that stuff you were saying earlier,
who wouldn’t pull the trigger, all that stuff, you really believe it?
Jimmy: Yeah.
Bobby: Level with me Jimmy, when you first heard Gerry Braun killed Ronald
Martin, how’d you feel in your gut?
Jimmy: Really? I said to myself good for him. I don’t support it or
nothing but if I had a daughter and somebody killed her I’d want him dead.
Bobby: You think the jury will think like that
Jimmy: I do.
Bobby: So what we want is some legal angle that allows them to go with how
they feel.
Jimmy: You mean some legal angle that allows them to ignore the law.
Bobby: Yeah.
Cut to a scene of the courtroom where Eugene is sitting with his client
and Renee is at the prosecutor’s table.
Steven: What’s taking so long?
Eugene: Judge’ll be in any second, the jury’ll follow. Let me see your
face again. (Steven makes an innocent sort of face) Good. Now sit up
straight. Don’t scowl no matter what the witness says.
We see Lindsay walking into the courtroom and sitting down in the gallery.
She smiles knowingly at Eugene.
Steven: When will I get to testify?
Eugene: We’ll cross that bridge when we’re drowning.
The judge enters and everyone stands. Eugene and Renee exchange a Look.
Cut to a scene of the office and Jimmy walks through a door holding up a
book.
Jimmy: I got it, we got a defence, moral justification. It’s a duress
theory little used.
Bobby: Moral justification?
Jimmy: It’s not an absolute defence but it can get murder chopped down to
manslaughter which in this case is good as an acquittal.
Dr. Braun: What do you mean it’s as good as an acquittal?
Bobby: The DA is only charging murder he’s not charging manslaughter in
the alternative because he’s afraid that if the jury has a chance, they’ll
jump at it.
Dr. Braun: I’m confused.
Bobby: If he gives the jury the choice between murder and manslaughter, he
figures the jury will pick manslaughter, you being sympathetic, so he
takes away that choice by not charging anything but Murder 1 and Murder 2,
he’s going all or nothing.
Jimmy: Which means if we convince the jury you’re only guilty of
manslaughter, you get a straight acquittal.
Danny: Could they then come back and charge him with manslaughter?
Bobby: No, double jeopardy applies to lesser included charges, they have
to include manslaughter now or forever lose it. Good going Jimmy. See now
we’ve got something to go in there with. You were acting in the heat of
passion, a passion was your sense of moral right. That’s different from
straight jury nullification and we can argue that. Good going Jimmy!
Cut to a scene of the courtroom Eugene’s case. The victim is giving
testimony.
Victim: I was loading groceries into my car when he appeared.
Renee: He being?
Victim: The defendant, he suddenly had a knife at my chest demanding my
watch and wallet saying he was going to kill me. He then lowered the knife
to my groin area.
Renee: And then what happened sir?
Victim: I gave him my watch and wallet.
Renee: And then what happened sir?
Victim: He just ran off.
Renee: This all happened at about what time.
Victim: Oh, at exactly 9:03 am, I know this because I looked at my watch,
probably because I knew I was never going to see it again.
Renee: And how was the lighting in this area Mr. Augusta?
Victim: Oh, it was very good, there were lampposts every four parking
spaces and five of the eight cars next to mine where white which I’m sure
added to the brightness I got a perfect look at him.
Renee: Now Mr. Augusta did you have an occasion to see the defendant
again.
Victim: Yes I did, the police responding to my call said a man fitting my
description had been picked up about a mile away and we drove to the area
and the police had that man in detention. I identified him as the man who
robbed me.
Renee: Now, Mr Augusta can you state with absolute certainty that the man
sitting here at this defence table is the same man that you saw on the
night of February Twelfth on two occasions and then again in the police
line up on Feb. 13th?
Victim: I can, I’m absolutely certain.
Renee: Thankyou Mr Augusta, your witness.
Eugene: Mr Augusta, you seem to have a pretty good grasp of the detail.
Victim: Well I’m a photographer by trade so, yeah, I have a pretty good
eye.
Eugene: I’d say outstanding. You not only remembered that five of the
eight cars were white but even identified the little tree the suspect
hopped through when he ran away.
Victim: Well, like I say I have a photographer’s eye.
Eugene: Yes, but when it came time to describe the suspect himself you
said only that it was a black man with a big head.
Victim: Well it was him.
Eugene: Well you sit here today remembering the placement of lamppost the
colours of the surrounding cars, the exact time to the minute but as for
what the suspect looked like black, big head.
Victim: Yes sir but as I said I’m certain that it was your client.
Eugene: Mr Augusta, were you a little scared, this knife suddenly being
put to your chest.
Victim: Well yes I was scared, yeah! But if your asking did it compromise
my powers of observation, I would honestly say no.
Eugene: You were looking at the knife weren’t you?
Victim: I was looking both at the man and the knife.
Eugene: For the knife you remembered stainless steel, cerated, wooden
handle, nine inches. For the man black, big head.
Victim: Look, I’m not saying that I wasn’t frightened.
Eugene: Would you say that you were ery frightened?
Cut to a scene of Ellenor looking at herself in a small compact mirror,
all done up.
Ellenor: Very frightened.
Rebecca is putting powder on her.
Rebecca: Why, you know you get along, you’ve been laughing talking on the
phone.
Ellenor: Yeah, but he hasn’t seen me yet Rebecca, today he sees me.
Rebecca: Ellenor, you are a very beautiful women. Blot. (lipstick)
Ellenor: Yeah well, maybe I’m just nervous about the whole eyes of the
beholder thing.
Cut to scene of judges chambers where the DA, Bobby and Jimmy are sitting.
Judge: Moral justification, for a homicide?
Bobby: It’s different thany nullification. DA: It’s not different, he’s
going to be arguing to the jury that they ignore the law.
Bobby: Look I’m not going to be drawing you a roadmap. Your honour, the
only reason I’m bringing this to your attention now is so we won’t have to
waste time going back to your chambers once the trial has started. I’m
arguing heat of passion, the passion can be driven by a man’s moral state
of mind.
DA: That’s ridiculous
Bobby: Fine, you make your arguments, I’ll make mine.
DA: So is this why the Rabbi’s on the witness list, is he going to be
testifying that God is on your side? Bobby: What ever he testify’s to you
can cross examine.
Judge: Mr Wilk, I seriously suggest that you charge manslaughter in the
alternative.
DA: Not a chance. Judge: If you don’t make Murder 2, he walks free!
DA: They’re flaunting this, he planned his crime, he went home, he
discussed it with his Rabbi first, this wasn’t heat of passion, it was
cold, calculated execution, then these people go on television and exalt
it. It’s Murder in the first degree all the way.
Judge: The jury might reject that.
DA: We’re not offering manslaughter.
Jimmy: This is exciting (looks from everyone) you gotta admit.
Judge: One of you might be disappointed, are you still ready to try this
next week?
Bobby: Ready.
Jimmy: Ready. (look from Bobby) I am!
Cut back to Eugene’s case and he’s still questioning the Victim.
Eugene: Mr Augusta, when the police told you that had the guy and you got
out of the squad car to identify him, truthfully, you wanted it to be the
man who robbed you didn’t you?
Victim: Of course I did. I wanted him off the street and I wanted my watch
and wallet back.
Eugene: Do you know whether they found your wallet and watch in the
possession of my client?
Victim: I’m told they did not.
Eugene: And the cerated, stainless steel knife with the wooden handle,
that turn up?
Victim: I’m told it did not.
Eugene: When you pulled up to the scene where did you see my client.
Victim: He was standing between two uniformed police officers, about
twenty feet away.
Eugene: Was he handcuffed?
Victim: Yes.
Eugene: And you said, that’s the man, that’s the man who robbed me, right
off.
Victim: No I got out and took a closer look first.
Eugene: You didn’t identify him from the car?
Victim: Nope.
Eugene: So as you looked at him from the car, twenty feet away he didn’t
look familiar?
Victim: Well…I thought it might be him.
Eugene: Might be him how?
Victim: Well, size and build wise it could be him.
Eugene: Ten minutes earlier you couldn’t give the officers a size and
build description.
Victim: I was in shock a little bit I’d just been assaulted.
Eugene: You were in shock. You mean your powers of observation might have
been affected a little?
Renee: Objection, He’s badgering the witness.
Judge: Overruled.
Eugene: As you saw this man standing twenty feet away, what about him made
you think that this was the man who robbed you sir.
Victim: I don’t know, I just remember thinking it might be him so I got
out of the car to take a closer look and when I saw him up close I knew it
was him, I knew it!
Eugene: But you couldn’t recognise him from twenty feet away.
Victim: That’s right, I said that.
Renee: Asked and answered.
Eugene: You couldn’t identify my client from twenty feet away.
Victim: Yeah, that’s right.
Renee: Asked and answered!
Eugene: But yet the next day in a police line up standing twenty feet away
you did recognise him. How is that possible.
Renee: Objection
Judge: Overruled
Eugene: Twenty feet away the night before you can’t recognise him but for
whatever reason the next morning you pick him out in an instant.
Victim: When I saw him the second time there were other characteristics
that registered. Build, stance, posture.
Eugene: So when you picked my client out of a line up you were going on
the things you saw when he was in police custody than what you saw in the
grocery store parking lot?
Victim: Well, yes.
Eugene: Ah, by the way, would you call that a big head?
Victim: Well it looks smaller today.
Eugene: But you told the police you were absolutely certain the suspect
had a big head.
Victim: Maybe I was wrong about that.
Eugene: Or maybe you were right. A photographer by trade, with a gift for
the detail, maybe it was someone with a big head.
Victim: It was him!
Eugene: Then you were wrong about the big head.
Victim: I said that!
Eugene: How could you be wrong about something so general as that?
Victim: I don’t know sir. I told you before I was in some shock.
Eugene: Oh yes you were in some shock.
Cut to the office where Bobby is walking in with the Rabbi and Jimmy
behind him.
Bobby closes the door, not letting Jimmy come in.
Danny: What’s up?
Bobby: What’s up is I gotta know something.
Danny: What?
Bobby: When Gerald Braun came to you, when he left your office, did you
know what he was about to do?
Danny: Think I wouldn’t have stopped him?
Bobby: Danny..Did you know?
Danny: Of course I didn’t know. When he said he wanted to kill him, I
never thought he would actually..Of course I didn’t know.
Bobby: Then why didn’t you stay with him? You knew he needed you!
Danny: Exactly what’s the accusation here?
Bobby: Danny help me out her a little please, Don’t you think you gave him
the moral empowerment and the righteousness he needed to see it through?
Let’s not kid ourselves, Ronald Martin is dead in large part because of
you.
Danny: I’ll ask again, what’s the accusation?
Bobby: I am walking uphill into a murder that’s going to be very difficult
to win, I gotta know exactly what I’m dealing with.
Danny: Friend to friend, I don’t grieve for Ronald Martin, but I never
thought that Gerry was going to go and kill him.
Cut to a scene of Eugene’s trial. Renee is questioning a cop.
Cop: He reacted nervously to our prescence, fitting the general
description of the suspect, we detained him until the victim could arrive
to make a positive ID.
Renee: Thankyou, no further questions.
Eugene: He reacted nervously to your presence? You shined a searchlight
right into his face didn’t you?
Cop: We shined it on his person.
Eugene: Do you think it’s unusual for a black man in South Boston to be
nervous when a police car comes along illuminating him like a deer caught
in headlights?
Cop: I don’t think he had anything to be nervous about if he were
innocent.
Eugene: Silly me. The general description you were talking about that
would be black, big head.
Cop: Yes
Eugene: Did either you or your partner approximate the circumference of my
clients cranium?
Cop: We detained him because he was black in the area of the crime, acting
suspiciously.
Eugene: This was before you picked him up?
Cop: ….No, after.
Eugene: I see.
Renee: The prosecution rests your honour.
Judge: Thankyou officer Caufey, you can step down. Mr Young we can break
or you can call your first witness (motioning to Eugene)
Eugene: We rests your honour.
Judge: Concluding arguments at three, we adjourn till then.
Steven: What’s going on?
Eugene: Trust me.
Steven: Shouldn’t I get up there and say I didn’t do it?
Eugene: If you do all your priors can come into evidence, this way it
stays out. Steven: Yeah I know, but if I say nothing don’t it look like I
did it.
Eugene: What are you going to say Steven, that you were just out taking a
moonlight stroll along the streets of South Boston? How would that look.
They didn’t make their case, that’s our defence.
Baliff: Come on, lets go.
He takes Steven away.
Cut to a scene of Ellenor waiting in the bar for the podiatrist. She’s
tapping her fingers nervously. A goodlooking guy walks in and she looks
hopeful but he’s there to meet somebody else. Then, who should walk in but
an balding, ugly geek (although at first glance he seems nice) It’s none
other than who we come to know as George Vogelman!! He goes up to the
table and Ellenor sort of smiles in a disappointed way.
Ellenor: George?
George: Ellenor.
They shake hands.
George: What a pleasure, and what a relief to finally be getting this part
over with.
Ellenor: Absolutely. Oh, sit, please sit.
He sits.
George: You lied to me, you said you weren’t beautiful.
Ellenor: oh well, you know lawyers we’re trained to conceal the truth.
George: (laughing) You’re just as funny in person. I’m not gonna lie, I
was so nervous about meeting you.
There’s sort of an awkward moment where George smiles infatuated at
Ellenor but she seems kinda disappointed with him.
Cut to a scene of the office
Bobby: Jimmy, come on.
Jimmy: I spoke with statton and co. the jury consultants, they gave me a
list of questions we should be looking to get yes answers to. Bobby: Good.
I’m gonna go back there and try and get the trial kicked to Charleston.
Jimmy: Why?
Bobby: People grow with an eye for an eye code in Charleston.
Jimmy; Listen,
Bobby: what
Jimmy: Bobby, I feel a good connection with the Braun case, I kinda came
up with the game plan, sorta. I was wondering whether maybe I could run
with it.
Bobby: Jimmy you been doing good things here but this is a jury trial.
Jimmy: I was losing with jury trials because I sweat and sweat makes you
come off looking distrustful, but I’ve corrected the problem. You saw me
on TV, I didn’t sweat.
Bobby: Jimmy, I don’t know.. I..
Jimmy: You gave the tobacco case to Lindsay and she’d never even done a
jury trial. You had a feeling and you went with it.
Bobby: Yeah, Well, I don’t have that feeling here.
Jimmy: Oh..ok
Bobby: I want you as second chair, you’re important to this case,
definitely.
Jimmy: Ok, sure, ok, let me know what you need.
Bobby: I will.
Cut to scene of closing arguments in Eugene’s case
Renee:(pointing to Steven) It was him, It was him ,It was him! Now how
many times did we hear Mr Augusta say this? They were standing nose to
nose, the lighting was clear. That was the man that stuck a knife to him,
threatened to kill him, he robbed him. Now the uh defence council did a
lovely job of trying to confuse the witness, to rattle him, see how much
water he could make him drink. But he could not shake him on the one
question we have here. Who did it? He did.
Eugene: No, he didn’t. But that’s what we all want to believe, let’s be
honest. Because if it’s him we can feel relieved that the bad guy’s off
the street, we can feel safe. And that’s what Mr. Augusta wanted to
believe as he was driven to see this man. Let it be him, let it be him and
when he saw Steven Finald there with handcuffs on it became just a little
bit easier to conclude that it was him. Didn’t it. Let me tell you what I
think you may already know. A man puts a knife to this man and as the
victim said he went into shock and nothing really registered except black,
big head, that’s all. Then this man runs away and Mr Augusta gathers
himself, while waiting for the police to show up he takes stock of the
lampposts, the cars, the fern trees. That ‘s why he remembers that stuff,
he processed it in a relative state of calm. But the suspect, black, big
head, that’s all. And if you look at my client, Steven Finald doesn’t have
a big head, my head’s bigger than his and so’s your honours. No offence.
Judge: Just proceed council.
Eugene: The reason the law demands a police lineup ladies and gentleman is
that it’s because it is an accepted truth that when a victim identifies a
lone suspect in police custody he’s more likely to automatically conclude
he’s the guy. As a matter of law those id’s are deem unreliable,
untrustworthy, tainted. That’s why they called him back the next day to
pick a suspect out of a lineup, because the id made before was unreliable,
untrustworthy, tainted. Now you might say he did pick Steven Finald up out
of a lineup. Of course, but he wasn’t identifying the man who put a knife
to his groin, he was identifying the man he saw in police custody. This
man is not the man with the knife, not the big headed man, This man is
only who Mr Augusta wants to believ is the bad guy and he admits that, big
head, no big head, it’s a normal size head now, so all we’re left with is
black. Steven Finald sits here black. They found no knife, no wallet, no
watch, they found no physical evidence, just an eyewitness in shock who
says that he can only give a general description, half of which, the big
head part, he retracts. Do I really have to stand hear and argue
reasonable doubt?
Cut to the restaurant where George is putting
Ellenor’s coat on her.
George: I had a really nice time.
Ellenor rolls her eyes, but he can’t see her do so.
George: Can I give you a ride or walk you to your car?
Ellenor: oh, no um, actually I’m uh gonna go to the clerks office, it’s
just across the street.
George: What about tonight, did we decide dinner or movie I meant to
bring the listings but I forgot.
Ellenor: you know George, I’m gonna take a raincheck, I ‘m sorry, it’s
just that a case that I though was going to be continued wasn’t, I think
the judge is trying jam us and to force a settlement. Anyway I have to be
in federal court first thing in the morning.
George: Oh well sure, maybe Friday..
Ellenor: I’d love to I really would it’s just that I’ve got some
houseguests coming, otherwise..
George looks like he’s caught on now
Ellenor: but I’ll get my calender out I think I’m really clear next wek.
George: I’m out of town the next week.
Ellenor: Ok, well how about the next week?
George: Sure, week after sounds good. ( thus began the psycho)
Cut to the office
Jimmy: I just got this fax from the clerks office the notice of
appearance of a new DA, in the braun trial.
Bobby: Asha Silverman!
Jimmy: What you know this guy?
Bobby: Asha Silverman is legend, he has never lost a murder trial.
Lindsay: So this’ll be a first then.
Bobby: He’s also an orthodox Rabbi, they did this in response to our moral
duress strategy.
Lindsay: He’s a DA and a Rabbi?
Bobby: Mmhmm
Jimmy: Maybe this makes him more compassionate - he’ll be willing to make
a deal.
Bobby: I don’t know anything about him as a Rabbi but as a DA, he’s
ruthless. They didn’t put him on this to make a deal, that’s sure.
Cut to Bobby talking to Danny.
Danny: this is obviously to offset any argument we make on Jewish law.
Bobby: Which is why I gotta know
Danny: We’re on solid ground.
Ellenor enters
Bobby: Ah, Ellenor, good ,I want you on this Braun case.
Ellenor: I’m really sorry Bobby, I just can’t do that. Bobby: Why?
Ellenor: I’m just not comfortable working on this case, please don’t ask
me to participate. I’d really ask that you respect me on this.
Bobby: oh, ok.
Danny: Forgive me, Could I be so intrusive as to ask why?
Ellenor: You wore your yamakah on that tv program, when a Rabbi speaks he
represents Judaism, you represented it as vengeful and as a jewish person
I was offended. I’d just rather not work on the case.
Bobby: fine
Cut to Eugene talking with his client.
Steven: you know you didn’t ask me much about my story
Eugene: you told me you were out on a walk, that’s all I need to know.
Steven: It seems like you didn’t want to know
Eugene: Well defence lawyers have to be careful, I’m stuck with whatever
you tell me, sometimes the less I know the more free I can be with my
defence. Now you follow that?
Steven: yeah, all of it.
Bailiff enters verdict.
Cut to verdict scene
Eugene: 36 minutes
Renee: I can tell time
Judge: Will the def. Please rise. Members of the jury have you reached a
verdict.
Foreperson: We have, on the matter of the commonwealth vs. Steven Finald,
armed robbery, we find the defendant not guilty.
Steven looks relieved.
Eugene: Alright Steven, you’re a free bird eat right and exercise.
Steven: Thankyou
Judge: The defendant is free to go, we’re adjourned.
Eugene: Small bills only.
Renee: Mmmmm, buy yourself a new tie.
Steven: Mr Young, I’m free no matter what now right?
Eugene: Correct.
Steven: so no matter what I say now they can’t arrest me.
Eugene: also correct, double jeopardy, but I wouldn’t be going on any talk
shows.
Steven: nah man, I only wanna say this to you. I didn’t do it. I didn’t
stick that guy up, I was just out taking a walk, so uh thanks for
believing in men
Renee: what he say?
Eugene: you know, just thanking me
Cut to Bobby in a courtroom
Judge: Change venue to where?
Bobby: Charleston, you could still keep juridiction if you want.
Judge: oh you think there might be more media attention in Charleston?
Bobby: I’m just looking for a fair trial your honour.
Judge: yeah, or you might be looking for a jury to come back and grant
your client mayor. The motion to change venue is denied the defendant
will stand trial here. Adjourned.
Cut to the office
Ellenor: I postponed it, that’s all.
Rebecca: So now what happens?
Ellenor: Oh, you know the usual, I’ll call him during the day when I know
he’s at work, leave a few polite messages he’ll eventually GET the message
and I’ll meet up with him, you know, sometime around NEVER.
Rebecca: You got it all figured out
Ellenor: I know how it works, trust me on this one.
Rebecca: You had no right to do that.
Ellenor: Right, I need a right?
Rebecca: The kind of treatment you expect from others..
Ellenor: It just wasn’t there Rebecca, the chemistry..
Rebecca: And you rejected him because of his looks
Ellenor: Yeah, and?
Rebecca: And you can live with that?
Ellenor: Can I live with that?
Rebecca: Yes.
Ellenor: I’ve been living with it my entire adulthood,
I’ll survive and I’m sure so will George.
Rebecca: You could have at least been honest, this stupid game, come on.
Ellenor: let me explain something to you Rebecca, you’re grateful for the
game, you make exscuses, it’s a lot easier to take than the truth even
when you know..And as for my right, if I have ever earned an entitlement
to anything (she breaks) …nevermind.
Cut to Bobby and everyone walking in
Bobby: First up , jewish law, between now and next week you are going to
make me an expert on it oh hey, Ellie, how’d your date go?
Ellenor: Oh, fine
Bobby: Good, Jimmy , where were you venue motion?
Jimmy: Somehow I thought you’d be ok without me.
Bobby: A minute, please, now.
They go into his office.
Bobby: I want and need your help on this case but make no mistake, you are
not a good trial lawyer, I’m sorry
Jimmy, but this is a homicide case, you are being selfish and totally
unfair to the client. I consider you an asset to this firm but for now
your job is primarily motion and trenchwork , let’s not make any mistake
on that. Now come on we have to meet with out client.
Cut to a shot of Eugene in a bar drinking and Rebecca walks in a sees him
Rebecca: Hey
Eugene: Hey, I’m buying, came into some cash. Rebecca: Usually when you
win you come back with a strut.
Eugene: my client did not commit the crime with which he was charged and
it never even dawned n me that he was anything but guilty.
Rebecca: Well they almost always are guilty
Eugene: that’s not the point, the point is the one you were trying to make
yesterday. I’m convicting them before they even get to the judge and I’m
the defence attorney.
Rebecca: Yeah but you got him an acquittal.
Eugene:That’s probably why I feel so good to the winners.
Cut to the office at night
Gerald: Does anybody get any of this. Ronald Martin commits murder and
they assign a junior varsity DA, for me they bring in the heavy weight
Bobby: Ham Bourg is not junior varsity, trust me
Danny: yeah but they’re pushing harder on this than they did on Ronald
Martin
Bobby: That’s because you went on tv and you embarrassed them. We’re here
because of you.
Danny: I was trying to help
Bobby: Well you didn’t. It’s still not too late to switch to insanity.
Braun: It’s still not to late to hire a new lawyer, that was the sanest
moment of my life and I’m going to get up on the stand and say that.
Bobby: Say it like that and you wave bye to your wife and world,
Braun: Whose side are you on here?
Bobby: Listen to me both of you, the whole world might be bidding to tell
your story all I care is what twelve people in a box think.. This DA is
good he’s great, he’s never lost a murder trial and if he can convince
those jurors to ignore the cheering and listen to the law like they should
be doing then you both go away because you committed pre meditated murder
and you were an accessory. I’m on your side but you are in trouble.
----End of Episode-----
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