All language subtitles for Law.And.Order.S22E13.WEBRip.x264-ION10

.

- In the criminal justice
system,

the people are represented

by two separate,
yet equally important groups:

the police,
who investigate crime,

and the district attorneys,
who prosecute the offenders.

These are their stories.

- Thanks, Professor.

I'll let my team know
the good news

and we'll have a business plan
ready for you by next week.

Talk soon.

[gunshots]
[groans]

[siren wailing]

- DOA's a Hudson grad student
named Emily Wade.

27, two in the chest.
- Witnesses?

- Just the classmate
who found her.

Didn't see anything,
but she was pretty shaken up.

Said she was
the most intelligent

and driven woman
she'd ever met.

- Where is this classmate now?

- EMTs are treating her
for shock.

- Evidence of a break-in?

- No, looks like
it all went down outside.

- Cameras?
- Afraid not.

Off-campus housing.
Security's pretty lax.

- All right, let's see
what footage we can find

from businesses
and traffic cams, huh?

- I'd ballpark time of death
as 9:30.

- Any indication of assault?

- No.
But some blood splatter.

Means the shooter
was point blank.

- I'll check inside.

- Probably got hit
with some droplets.

- Yup.

"Thinking of you."

Doesn't say who it's from
or where it's from.

Can you bag that? Thanks.

You already check this?

Cell phone still here.

Wallet, credit cards, money.

- Doesn't look like anyone
tossed the place.

There's jewelry still
along the nightstand.

- So it's not a robbery,
not an assault.

Double tap to the chest.

Starting to feel like
an execution.

The question is why.
- Sad.

Seems like she was
going places too.

- Too bad she'll never
get there now.

♪

[dramatic music]

♪

- I was dropping off
a statistics outline

Em had loaned me.
Saw this van speeding off.

- What'd the van look like?

- Uh, blue.
Green stripe down the side.

- You get a look at the plates
or the driver?

- Sorry. No.

- How well did you know
the victim?

- We were study partners.

- Can you think of anybody
she had a problem with?

- Yeah.

We'd get drinks at this place

in Dumbo on Wednesdays
called Ewing's.

She didn't want to go
last week.

Said she was fighting with
one of the bartenders.

- You know what the issue
was about?

- No.

But he apparently followed her
to the library the other day.

[door clicks]

- Sorry, guys,
not open till five.

- Nathan Brae.

- Who's asking?

- We're New York City
detectives.

We need a word.

[cups clatter]

[dramatic music]

♪

[both grunt]

Give me your hands.
Give me your hands.

- I didn't do anything wrong.

[handcuffs clicking]

- I only ran because
I had coke on me.

I didn't want
to get in trouble.

- Good instincts,
so unless you start talking,

we're gonna charge you
with possession.

- What's your beef with
Emily Wade?

- I was dating her friend,
Alli.

It was going good, too,

until she dumped me
out of the blue last week.

Turns out Emily's been dissing
me all over the place.

I was pissed.
- Is that why you followed her

to the library?
- Yeah.

I told her to stay the hell
out of my life

and then some muscle-head
gets in between us

and tells me to back off,
so I did.

- And you didn't go back to
her place later that evening,

try to finish the conversation?
- No.

There's no point, you know?

- So where were you?
- What do you mean?

Why do you care?
- Because Emily Wade is dead.

Nathan Brae's alibi checks out.
Nothing on canvass either.

- Any next of kin
we can talk to?

- Nobody even to notify.

Her parents died
when she was five.

She was raised in foster care.

- So what about this
mysterious blue van?

- Snake eyes.
[knock on door]

- Got something here,
Lieutenant.

This is last Wednesday
afternoon

outside Drummond Library.

- There's our boy,
giving her the what for.

- The argument
doesn't get very far.

- Huh, looks like
our Good Samaritan's

no random bystander.

- Any chance we can get an ID?

- I already sent the image
to FIS.

This is what
they just sent back.

Bobby Gorman, 28, ex-Marine.

- Any recent contact
with Emily?

- Lot of romantic
back and forth.

Whoa.

Punctuated by a nasty DM
he sent early yesterday

accusing her
of cheating on him.

"I'm so angry,
I could kill you."

- We got an address
on this charmer?

- Sheepshead Bay.
- All right, guys.

Dust off your E-ZPass.
You're going to Brooklyn.

.

- I found out about Emily
on Citizen.

I can't believe she's gone.

- Were you two together?

- For a few months.

- How was it going?
- Ups and downs.

But I saw a future there.

- Let's talk about
those downs then, huh?

Like you threatening
to kill her.

- What? You think I did this?

- We think you need
to explain why

you were sending her
threatening texts.

- I felt terrible about that.

I was just venting.
- About what?

- All she did was study.

Barely had any time for me.

So I showed up
at her place on Thursday

to surprise her
with Knicks tickets,

but she was on her way out,
all dressed up.

She claimed she had
a family issue to deal with.

- You go by her place
last night for any reason?

- No.

Look, I didn't kill her.

I loved her.

- Key card to Gorman's loft
confirms his alibi.

- So where are we with

the unspecified family issues
that he alluded to?

- Still looking for the family.

- All right, so let's work back
from the time of the murder.

What was Emily doing that day?
Where was she?

Who was she with?
- Already on it.

I pulled Emily's financials.

Found an Uber charge the day
of the murder at 4:14 p.m.

- Hmm.
- Where'd she go?

- Yes, I met with
the poor soul

day before yesterday.
- About what?

- Her foster brother, Lonnie,
is a member here.

She was worried about him.

- What was she worried about,
Pastor Butler?

- Uh, it's Pastor Mike,
and no offense, Detectives,

but I take my parishioners'
privacy very seriously.

- We understand, but Emily
was murdered shortly after

she left here,
so you have to understand

that we need to know why
she was so concerned about him.

- Yes.

He'd been asking her for money.

She was worried about the
direction his life was taking.

- What direction
are we talking about?

- She asked that
I motivate him to find a job.

I told her I would do my best
and she left.

Excuse me for a second.
Reverend Sherman.

Liturgy looks perfect, Henry.
Thank you.

Lord's work is never done.

- Speaking of the Lord's work--

it's been a minute since
I was an altar boy,

but why would Emily think
career advice

is something
that's in your portfolio?

- The success of our flock
glorifies God,

so part of our work is to
guide them to milk and honey.

As Jesus said,
"I came that they may have life

and have it abundantly."

- And that's your thing?
Abundance?

- Yes. My congregation
is very generous.

- Thank you for your time.
- Thank you.

- We'll let you know
if there's any follow-up.

- Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
- Tell me how you really feel.

- Don't tell me you didn't see
that fancy, schmancy suit

and $10,000 watch.

He's bleeding that
congregation dry.

- It's a little more
complicated than that.

A guy like that--
he takes, but he also gives.

- How so?

- Some of these folks are
having trouble finding a job,

paying rent, even harder time
staying positive.

- No different from
any church I know.

- Yeah, but Pastor Mike

fills a void for people
who feel hopeless.

He's modeling success

so that his congregation
has something to aspire to.

- Not my idea of religion.
- Not mine either.

But religion is whatever
works for you, right?

So some people think
it's the body of Christ

being represented by a wafer.

Some people think
it's ponying up so the pastor

can wear a Rolex.
- I am not buying it.

- He's not selling it to you.

Prosperity means
something different

when you grow up
poor and Black, Frank.

- Fair enough.

- Let's check with
Emily's foster brother.

See what he knows.

- Emily and I spent five years
in this group home in Canarsie.

The only thing we got out
of that place was each other.

She was my big sis.

- Sorry for your loss, Lonnie.
- Yeah.

- We're trying
to piece together

Emily's movements
two days ago.

When was the last time
you saw her?

- I went by her place
about lunch.

- Now, would you say that was a
social call or something else?

- I needed her
to float me rent.

- Oh, you were having
money problems?

- I got laid off a month ago.

Savings are a little light.

- I mean, I couldn't imagine
how that conversation might go

between me and my sister if I
was asking her to pay my rent.

You guys didn't fight or argue,
did you?

- No, she was happy to do it.

She even had the money wired
to my landlord.

- How much money
we talking about?

- Two grand.

- Yeah, well,
the brother's story checks out.

- Then let's follow
the money trail.

- Communication just finished
the work up on her device.

GPS puts her at the corner
of 11th and Avenue C

right after eight
on the night of the murder.

The address is a match
for a pawn shop

called Sid's Jewelry and Loans.

- There ought to be security
cams on that street, right?

- Searching now.

Pawn shop's got them
on front and back.

This is at 8:20.

- That looks like Emily.

- Hey, can you get
in tighter on that guy?

- Yes,
but you never see his face.

- All right, well,
fast forward on the tape.

- This is 8:32.
- She hawks something,

and then an hour later,
she's dead.

- GPS confirms her next stop
was home.

[tense music]

- Freeze that.

- Yeah, blue van,
green pinstripe.

- Got a shot of the driver too.

Can't make out details,
but it looks like a Black male

wearing the same New York logo
hat as the guy on the street.

- Could fit the bill of the van
leaving the murder scene.

Can you pull up
the registration?

- Plate comes back
to Ruben Grandy,

Astoria.

He's got priors
for armed robbery.

- All right, bring him in.

[dramatic music]

♪

- [grunts]
- [shouts]

- Police!
Show me your hands.

Show me your hands.
- Don't move!

- Take it easy, fellas.

- Who else is here?
- Nobody, I swear to God.

- All rooms clear.
- Clear.

- Let's go.
- All right, keep your hands up

and stand up for me.
Let's go.

- All right,
but I'ma need my crutches.

I got a broken leg.

♪

.

- I told you, I was playing
poker here with some friends.

- Where's your van?
- Gave it away a few weeks ago.

- To who?
- My church. First Harmony.

Cast won't come off till
summer, so I can't drive.

I was happy to send it
their way too.

- And why's that?
- Guy that runs the church,

Pastor Mike, he's a good man.

Found me a job when
I got out of Sing Sing.

- So Pastor Mike is the one
driving the van now.

- No, he gave it
to the vice pastor,

Reverend Sherman.

- Yes, I was driving
Ruben's van.

My car is in the shop.

- Where'd you go
after you left the church?

- Home.

- You have any interaction with
Emily Wade couple nights ago?

- Who?
- Emily Wade.

Her brother's Lonnie Ballard.
He's a congregant.

- Mm.

Before I say anything else,

I need to know why
you're asking that.

- That van was used
in the commission

of the murder of Emily Wade.

- You accusing me of something?

- You stop by a pawn shop
that night around 8:30,

maybe one on 11th and Avenue C?
- No.

- So you're saying
you went straight home

from First Harmony
and you never left.

Is that right, Henry?
- It's Reverend Sherman.

You'd do well to remember
who you're talking to.

- [chuckles]

- We know exactly
who we're talking to.

An ex-con with a rap sheet
as long as my arm

and a seven-year stint
in Fishkill.

And now, all of a sudden,
you're a man of the cloth?

- Meaning what?
- Meaning you're no bishop,

so you need to account for your
whereabouts two nights ago.

- The only one
I need to account to is God.

And I won't stand here
and be insulted...

- Hey.
- For devoting my life

to the almighty.
- Calm down.

- You can see yourselves out.
- You're on parole.

You're not going anywhere.
- [scoffs]

both: Hey, hey. Wait.
- Yo, take your hands off of me.

- Hey, Henry.
- [grunts]

- We got a church too.

And putting hands
on my partner,

that's a sin.

Let's try this again.
- I already told you.

I was at the church until six
then I went home.

- How do you explain the fact
that you were seen

in that van driving away
from the church?

That same van was spotted
a few hours later

fleeing the scene
of Emily's shooting.

- Someone else
had to be driving it.

- Somebody else
is driving your van?

- Yeah, I left the keys on the
front tire when I parked it.

- And why would you do that?

- So parishioners in need
of transportation can use it.

- You got callers for
possession and burglary.

Maybe you're using again.
Maybe you're hard up for cash

and you saw Emily
as an easy target.

- You're wrong.
- I don't think I am.

I'm searching your van.

- You okay with all this?
- With what?

- End of the day,

you got to decide whose side
you're really on.

- I've already decided,
brother.

I'm on God's side.

Turns out,
he doesn't like murder.

- There's a baseball cap
with a New York logo on it

and there's blood
on the armrest.

- [whistles]
Blood.

You want to explain that?
- I'm not talking.

- Well, maybe you'll talk
to a jury.

You're under arrest for
the murder of Emily Wade.

- Calling docket
ending in 2129.

People versus Henry Sherman

charged with murder
in the second degree.

- How does the defendant plead?

- Not guilty, Your Honor.

- I'll hear the people on bail.

- We're seeking remand.

The defendant
stalked the victim,

followed her home,
then shot her to death

during a botched robbery.

Evidence is substantial.

We found the victim's blood
in a van

that the defendant
had control over--

the same van seen leaving
the victim's apartment

shortly after the murder.
- Mr. Gale.

- My client is a highly
respected member of the clergy.

- With a lengthy
criminal record.

- Who's lived an exemplary life
since finding God.

There's no eye witnesses,
no gun,

no evidence of motive.

No one can put my client
behind the wheel of that van

at the time of the murder.

- An argument you're free
to make at trial, Mr. Gale.

Bail is set at $1 million.
[gavel thumps]

- Case is solid,
but our motive is still weak.

Why on Earth would this man
kill Emily Wade?

- Does it matter?
If we can prove he shot her,

his motive's irrelevant.

My mentor taught me that.

- Yes, but he also taught you

juries hate cases
that don't make sense.

- You're right. He did.

So let's dig deeper.

Find a credible reason why
Sherman wanted to kill Emily.

- Scour his texts, email,
phone records, financials.

- [whistles]
- Mm-hmm.

A V12.
- Gentlemen.

- Pastor Mike.

Nice ride.
You got a minute?

- I'd love to chat,
but I'm late.

One of my oldest and dearest
congregants is quite ill.

I'm heading over to the
hospital to pray with him.

Help him find peace
before he passes.

- Oh, that's fantastic,
so this won't take long.

We just have a few questions.

- Sorry, I can't.
Not now.

- Oh, you misunderstand
my kindness here.

I'm not asking.
I'm telling.

- You're telling?

No, you don't get to tell me
a damn thing.

- Sure I do.
For starters, I'm telling you

that we know that
vice Pastor Sherman

deposited a $50,000 check
a day after Emily Wade was shot.

- So?

- So we want to know
what the check was for.

- It's a private matter.
- Private?

Sherman was charged
with murder,

so anything he has said or done
is now a public matter.

- I'm done talking,
so you can either arrest me

or step out of my way.

♪

Good day.

[car engine turns over]

- Does your pastor
drive a Bentley?

- I don't go to church enough
to know.

.

- A superseding indictment
for first-degree murder.

On what basis?
- Murder for hire.

Pastor Mike paid your client
to kill Emily Wade.

- Is this a joke?

- Here are 50,000 reasons
it's not.

- So he makes
a $50,000 deposit.

Who cares?
- I'm guessing the jury might

since it was
the day after the murder

from a First Harmony account.

- And phone logs show
Mr. Sherman called Pastor Mike

just before and after
Emily Wade was shot to death.

- Look, if we're right,
and we are,

you would be wise to cooperate.

Tell us what really happened,
or there's a very good chance

you'll die in prison.

- I've got nothing to say.

- You feel obligation
to Pastor Mike

because he took you in,

he gave you a job,
a purpose.

But what he really did
is use you.

That's why you're here
taking the rap and he's not.

Murder two, 15 years.

- I'm not a rat.

[soft dramatic music]

♪

Hold on. Wait.

- How about man one,
ten years flat?

- We're listening.

- Pastor Mike was nervous.

Said that Emily was a problem.

That we needed
to shut her ass up.

- What did he mean by that?

- He wanted me to kill her.

- Why would he want to do that?

- She told Pastor Mike
she was gonna call the police

if he didn't return
her brother's donation.

Let them know what's really
going on in the church.

- Is that some sort of secret?
- No.

But Pastor Mike
doesn't like paying taxes

or going to jail,
so he panicked.

- Okay.

Yeah, we got a deal,

assuming your story checks out,
of course.

Did you give or donate money
to Pastor Mike?

- Yes.

$40,000.

- Did Emily know about this?
- Yes.

I told her that day I asked her
to help me pay the rent.

- Well, when she heard about
the donation, was she upset?

Did she tell you she was going
to go get your money back?

- She was upset.
She thought I was an idiot.

But she didn't think
like I did.

She's not a believer like me.

Wait.

You think Pastor Mike
has something to do

with her murder?

- That is correct.

- When she found out
you gave him that money,

she stormed over to the church
and demanded he give it back.

- Or she would inform
the police about his antics.

- What do you mean antics?

- Buying houses and boats
with his congregants'

hard-earned cash.
- You're wrong.

The money we give
helps with prosperity.

It's part of the gospel.

- I know this is hard
for you to hear--

- Pastor Mike would never
hurt Emily.

He's a healer.

I mean, if it wasn't for him,
I'd probably be dead.

I mean, he got me off heroin.

- And with all due respect,

that has nothing to do with
your sister's case.

- I think I've had enough.

Please leave.

Now.

- Let me get this straight.

You want to go after a pillar
of the community,

a clergyman,

on the word
of a convicted felon

with every reason to trade up.

- We believe Henry Sherman
is telling the truth.

The victim's brother confirmed
the crux of his story.

- That's great,
but Sherman is still the felon

with a fantastic motive
to lie his ass off.

- We're talking about
a religious leader

who orchestrated someone's
murder to cover up his scheme.

If we don't at least try
to hold someone like that

accountable,
we're in the wrong line of work.

- Put Pastor Mike on trial,
not his church.

If you lose religious jurors,
you won't have a prayer.

choir:
♪ Gonna lay down my burden

♪ Down by the riverside

♪ Study war no more
- Yes.

- Lord.
[cheers and applause]

They live.
- Yes.

- Praise the Lord.
- Yeah!

- Thank you, choir,
for lifting our spirits

on the winds of your song.
Amen?

all: Amen.
- Amen?

all: Amen.

- I want to talk about

the importance of
your financial support.

What you give your church
will come back to you tenfold.

all: Yes.
- Detectives.

You're interrupting
our service.

- Pastor, we need a word.

- You're gonna have to wait.
- Justice waits for no man.

[attendees shouting]

You're under arrest
for the murder of Emily Wade.

[overlapping shouting]

- Fear not, my children.
God has a plan.

The righteous shall prevail.

.

- This is ludicrous.

Do you seriously think

that I'm involved
in this young woman's death?

- We do.

- Because Reverend Sherman
made up a story.

- He seemed pretty credible.

- Evidence supports it too.

- I suppose the darkness
from within was just

too much for him to overcome.

- Yeah, that may be true,
but right now,

you need to help yourself
and tell us what happened.

- I'm done talking.

I want a lawyer.

Reverend Sherman can say
whatever he wants,

but the truth will prevail.

- After Emily Wade
left First Harmony,

did you have occasion to confer
with Pastor Mike?

- I did.
- And what did he tell you

about the conversation
that he'd had with her?

- We didn't talk about her.
We talked about his sermon.

- He didn't tell you
that Ms. Wade

wanted her brother's money back

or she was gonna go
to the police?

- No.
- He didn't tell you

that she would destroy
everything you'd built,

so you had to shut her up?
- No.

[tense music]

♪

- Mr. Sherman,
did you or did you not tell me

Pastor Mike paid you
to kill Emily Wade.

- I did tell you that,

and I was lying
because I wanted a deal.

[overlapping chatter]

- Quiet or I'll clear
the gallery.

- The truth is you're lying now
out of some misguided

sense of loyalty to your boss,
aren't you?

- I'm not lying.
I'm telling the truth.

- Sir, I remind you that
if you violate the terms

of your plea agreement--
- Objection.

Asked and answered.
- I agree.

Mr. Price,
the witness' testimony

is very clear.

- Nothing further.

- Mr. Dressler?

- No questions, Your Honor.

- The People request
a brief recess.

- We're adjourned
until tomorrow.

[gavel thumps]

- Rikers' Visitor Log shows
Pastor Mike's attorney

went to visit Sherman
in jail yesterday.

Less than 24 hours later,
Sherman sandbags us.

It's witness tampering.

- No doubt.

But that's too hard to prove.

We'll just have to make
the case without him.

- We were looking at calls
coming into Pastor Mike

the day of the murder, right?

- Yeah, I'm not following.

- We know Sherman
called Pastor Mike

right after he killed Emily.

But according to this call log,
Pastor Mike called someone else

as soon as that conversation
was finished.

- Let's find out who he called
and what he said.

- As Senior Pastor
of First Harmony,

I don't have
day-to-day involvement.

I function strictly
in an advisory capacity now.

- Yes, but that capacity
includes

the provision of counsel
to Pastor Mike, doesn't it?

- It does.

- Does he typically call you
in the evening?

- He does not.
- But he did call you

December 14th at night.

What did you two talk about?

- [chuckles]

I'm a preacher.

Conversations with
my congregants are

meant to be confidential.

- A woman was murdered.

Doesn't that trump
confidentiality?

♪

- He called me on that night
as his clergyman.

He wanted
to unburden his soul,

which means the nature
of that conversation

is protected under the laws
of the State of New York.

- So just so I'm clear...

you're okay
if a murderer walks free?

- I'm not talking, fellas.
Simple as that.

♪

.

- Bryant is the whole ballgame.
He has to testify.

- But he's a clergyman.
And he's right about the law.

His conversation with
the defendant is privileged.

- Unless that privilege is
in service of a crime or fraud.

- You're on dangerous ground,
Nolan.

To prove that,
you have to attack the church.

I thought we agreed

that we would make the case
about the man not the religion.

- I'm not going after religion.

I'm going after
a single corrupt preacher.

- It'll read as blasphemy.

- Delegitimizing First Harmony

is the only way
to convict Pastor Mike.

Otherwise, we may as well
drop the charges.

- If we lose this case,
all people will remember

is an over-zealous prosecutor

who vilified a church
for no good reason.

And that's all
I'm going to remember too.

[dramatic music]

- The mere suggestion
this trial should devolve into

a referendum on the legitimacy
of First Harmony is outrageous.

- I take the point.
Mr. Price?

- The People are aware of
the sensitivities at play here.

But we're only questioning
that legitimacy

for the limited purposes
of a privilege inquiry.

- The phone call between
Pastor Mike and Pastor Bryant

was obviously for the purpose
of seeking spiritual advice.

- Presumptively
for that purpose,

a presumption
that can be overcome

if we establish that the church
is a corrupt enterprise.

- I share your concerns,
Mr. Dressler,

but this is a murder trial.

So I'm gonna grant the People
a limited opportunity

to demonstrate fraud.

And the defense will have
the chance to rebut.

- Mr. Conley, how much did you
donate to First Harmony?

- $61,000 over three years.

- And during that time,

did you experience
any financial setbacks?

- Yes.
I lost my home, my car.

Couldn't even pay
the storage facility,

so they sold my stuff.

- And yet you continued donating
to First Harmony, right?

- Yes.
- Why?

- Because Pastor Mike told me
if I stopped giving,

it could jeopardize
my relationship with God.

- The money you donated--
do you know where it went?

- Yeah. His Tesla.

His mansion in Armonk.
His catamaran.

What Pastor needs a catamaran?

- Nothing further.

- Mr. Conley,

are you currently a member
of Gamblers Anonymous?

- Yes.

- And how much money
have you lost gambling

the past three years?

- I don't remember.

- Nearly $200,000.
Is that right?

- I guess.

- So First Harmony
isn't the real cause

of your financial woes,
is it?

- Doesn't matter.

That man over there
stole from me.

♪

- Mr. Ballard, you're
a recovering heroin addict.

Is that right?
- Recovered.

- That's amazing.

And to what do you attribute
your recovery?

- Pastor Mike.

He got me into a facility,
paid for the program.

Visited me every day
for six weeks

to make sure
I was doing the work.

- Were you employed
as a sales rep

for Shearing Pharmaceuticals?

- Yes, for four years.

I just got laid off.

- I'm sorry about that.
And who got you that job?

- Pastor Mike.

- There's been testimony about

Pastor Mike's
extravagant lifestyle.

Are you familiar
with how he lives?

- Of course.

And it's a blessing
to the congregation.

- Do you believe First Harmony
defrauded you in any way?

- No.
As Pastor Mike likes to say,

"When we invest in the church,
we invest in ourselves."

And I'm living proof
that's true.

- Thank you.

- Mr. Ballard,

I'm very sorry about
the loss of your sister.

- Thank you.

- Until a short time ago,
what was your net worth?

- About $40,000.

- What's your net worth now?

- Less than that.
- In fact, it is zero.

Because you donated every cent
you had to First Harmony.

- I'll make more.

- How much have you given
First Harmony

over the past four years?

- I don't remember.

- Does almost $90,000
sound right?

- I donated because
that's the right thing to do.

I owe Pastor Mike.
I owe him.

- Well, isn't it possible that
the man you say you owe

turned you into
a productive citizen

in order to milk you
of everything you earned?

- No. Donating to your church
is the right thing to do.

Pastor Mike deserves
every penny I gave him.

- Oh, you gave Pastor Mike
your money?

- No, no, I meant I--
I gave it to First Harm--

this man is trying to fool me!

- No, sir.

I am not the one fooling you.

Nothing further.

♪

- The parishioners who donated

did so knowing that Pastor Mike
was spending at least

some of the money on himself.

No one was threatened
or coerced.

They donated for inspiration,
which is exactly what they got.

Pastor Mike's success
was a beacon to his parish,

which is all that
the prosperity gospel entails.

You get the benefit
of your bargain,

it can't be fraud.

- Mr. Price?

- Fraud needn't be a function
of deceit or coercion.

It can also be manipulation

by a person
in a position of trust,

such as a pastor
who tells his flock

that their relationship with God
will be compromised

if they don't give money
to the church.

These donations were part
of a shameless money grab

by a charismatic
and manipulative figure

in a position
of control and power.

The defendant concealed these
cash contributions from the IRS

and used the money he received

to finance
his opulent lifestyle.

That is not religion.
That's fraud.

- I agree with Mr. Price.

And since the defense
did not rebut his claims,

I am vitiating
the clergy privilege.

♪

- Mr. Price.

Why you doing this?
- Excuse me?

- Trying to destroy my church.

- No, I can assure you,
that is not my objective.

- You're acting like we don't
know what we're doing,

that Pastor Mike
is trying to defraud us.

That's not
what's going on here.

We know what we're doing.
We want to give him our money.

- That is your choice.
I--I don't really care.

I'm simply trying to present
the facts to the jury

so they know
what really happened--

so they know who really
killed Emily, your sister.

I-I would've thought
that's something

you might be interested in
as well.

- Don't do that.

Don't you dare suggest that
I don't love my sister Emily.

I do. More than anything.

But she's gone.

Ain't nothing
we can do about that.

And nothing you could do
to convince me

that Pastor Mike is involved.

- I won't bother trying.
- Wait, wait.

[stammers]

I'm just scared.

If you destroy Pastor Mike
and my church...

I'm left with
absolutely nothing.

Please.

- Pastor Mike Butler

called you at 9:14 on the
evening of Emily Wade's murder.

- He did.
- And what did he tell you?

- He told me
he wanted to pray with me

because he had transgressed.

- Did he tell you exactly
what the transgression was?

- This is not right.

That conversation was sacred.

- Pastor Bryant--

- Only God
should know the contents.

- Will the court please instruct
the witness to answer?

- Pastor Bryant,
the court has ruled

clergy privilege
does not apply here.

- Oh.
- If you don't answer,

I will have to hold you
in contempt.

Do you understand that?

♪

- Yes.

- Ask your question again,
Mr. Price.

- I'll make it a simple
yes or no question.

Did the defendant tell you

that he had instructed
Mr. Sherman to kill Emily Wade?

♪

- Yes.

[crowd gasps, murmurs]

- Nothing further.

- Then we are adjourned
for the day.

[gavel thumps]

- Man one, 20 max.

- Murder two, 20 to life.

- I'll start drafting
the plea agreement.

- I'll, um,
talk to Emily's brother,

let him know the case is over.

[knocking on door]

Lonnie?
[knocking]

It's Nolan Price
from the DA's office.

Hello, Lonnie?
[knocks]

[tense music]

[doorknob rattles, clicks]

Oh, no. Lonnie?

Lonnie.

Lonnie? Lonnie?

Lonnie? Oh, God.

[line ringing]

Yeah, I-I need an ambulance.
[stammers]

435 Warshaw, Queens.
Apartment 4B.

He's overdosed.
I need help right away.

Lonnie?
Lonnie, stay with me.

[grunting]

♪

[wolf howls]