Original subtitles

Defensive wounds on the arms, hands.

She put up a fight.

Book the window.

You haul her down from the bedroom?

Yeah.

Fellas.

Marcella? Victim Claire Birdson.

The mayor's granddaughter?

His oldest.

And the music?

It's been that way since we got here.

Turn it down, would you? Got it.

The mayor's granddaughter.

We saw this.

We'll be heroes.

We don't. We're working the night desk down at Kensington.

You're a Boy Scout, right?

Indian Cup.

What do you make of that?

It's a knot.

Thanks.

Clove hitch.

Double half hitch. It's a boat knot.

Hey, get a few shots of this, will you?

With a double half hitch.

A Boy Scout or something?

Something.

Hey, get a few shots of this, will you?

Eggs, scrambled, home fries.

Coffee? The cream, please.

And a bagel, thanks.

Two coffees.

Food? We'll brief in half an hour.

Egg sandwich with cheese.

A non -stinky cheese.

I tried to call you last night.

Extra ticket to the game. I was at Faith's. Took a lab on alert.

Really? This one is top priority.

He seems revved up. What's going on?

A murder.

Female victim. Standard stuff.

In the kitchen with a knife.

We found her over at University City.

Yeah, Colonel Mustard. That's funny. Listen, do me a favor. I need research.

Anybody look good for it?

Hey, Marie, wrap this up for me, would you? Not not. Not with a K. Not.

Yeah. Clove hitch.

Clove?

No, like the hippy -dippy cigarette. Clove.

Thanks.

Needham's an idiot.

Clove hitch.

Coincidence.

Victim tied up in a kitchen chair.

Mike Crawford. Heavy metal plan.

What's going on? Perp break in the back door.

Call her out of bed, stab her, drag her down to the kitchen, watch her die.

I need to know some secret handshake before you're going to tell me how you

all that. Remember the Claire Burton murder?

Mayor's granddaughter.

Remember the M .O.? I was over at the 21st, but they said she was stabbed,

up, and... Well, so what do you think, a coincidence or copycat?

Every detail of that murder was made public.

Flo Fitch was under wraps. Yeah, but it's a common voting not.

If Frederick Morton didn't kill Claire... He did. He's doing life in

At least compare the case files. Yeah, we do that. The trail on our case goes

cold. And Rossi and I, we're left with nothing.

I still got my paperwork.

I can take a look.

Mike, a witness puts the kid at the scene.

We got a parking ticket outside our house. His prints are all over the

Please. Don't be making noise on this. I'll stay under the radar. No, no, no,

no. You stay out of this.

The coroner puts the time of death between midnight and 2 a .m. Clyde

take a handful of uniforms, cameras in the neighborhood for witnesses. The

Livingstone worked at Evolution.

This is a list of her colleagues.

McPhee, Kinson, see if they got something to add.

Now, Prince, we're lifted from the scene, but all but a partial match to

victim and her family. Yeah, we're running that partial through the local

Odds are slim that they'll have enough to work with, so let's get out the

release records, see who's back on the street. Might be up to their old tricks.

McCafferty, two traffic violations, parking ticket issued within a mile

of the victim's home.

Any questions?

Did you put the wrong guy in jail?

Maybe.

I don't know, maybe.

Mike.

That was a brutal murder.

All this media frenzy.

Frederick said no record.

Never been in any kind of trouble.

Well, he must have had something.

We had a lot.

But, oh, I don't know.

Back then, I looked at people like Frederick different.

No offense, but back then you looked at all of us different.

Well, it was us against everybody else.

You know, there's this little part of me, it just, it knew that something

right.

Once that ball gets rolling,

What are you going to do?

Marcello says to leave it alone.

Since when do you listen to him?

Mike. Oh, hey.

Sorry, I knocked. I thought you were out.

Can I come in?

Yeah, sure.

I just need to pick up one of my old... Hey, Dad.

Hey. Dr. Ambrose.

It's Ryan.

Please.

We're going to the Sixers game tonight. Want to come?

Ryan has an extra ticket.

Mikey? Uh, no, no, no. It's okay. No, can't.

Uh, thanks anyway.

No, I just came by to get one of my old files.

They're not here.

The leak in the basement?

That's right.

I think they're still at your... I know. I know.

Sorry to bother you.

Bye, Dad.

Have a good time at the game.

Bye.

Move and I'll shoot.

It's me.

I'll shoot. Hey, hey, hey.

Dad, it's me. Stop.

It's me.

Aunt Lolly said you'd be at the track.

How did you get in?

Key under the paper. I just need one of my old files.

Forgot my binoculars.

How are you?

Lock up when you leave.

Nice talking to you.

Then he's waiting on me. Yeah, right. You want to talk?

Okay, let's see.

I hear the traffic on the school pill was a nightmare this morning.

I screwed up.

I embarrassed you. I get it.

Mrs. Hendrick on the block broke her hip. She's in a home.

What else you want to talk about?

Benny's waiting for you.

The killer wanted to see a sufferer. This is just like the dick over in

A couple years ago? Yeah, the ex -boyfriend with the bad teeth. This is

the same thing. No way.

This guy killed the mayor's granddaughter.

He's a psycho.

He chose his victim at random. Friends, psycho. Cops go their whole careers

hoping to catch a case like this. You realize that?

Brief me.

Dad. Make a retired cop happy.

Brief me.

Time of death was between midnight and 2 a .m.

Perp broke in through the back door.

As near as we can tell, she left work at 6, went to the gym, came home alone.

What's in here?

Apples.

And grilled cheese?

What's asking?

You don't like them? Peel them out.

Yeah.

Whoa.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Thanks.

You got help?

He's got a lead on a witness.

Thanks for lunch.

We were neighbor -friendly.

Borrow a cup of sugar like that.

But I knew Claire well enough to know that the music coming from her house

night was definitely not her. What time did you hear the music?

Maybe 10, maybe 11.

Mr. Jenkins,

the mayor's granddaughter is dead. Maybe it's not good enough.

Okay, let me think.

I'd gone down to get a glass of water.

That's when I saw the man standing in Claire's kitchen.

Looked like he was washing something at the sink.

The time?

Right, it was 10 .30 on my microwave.

I remember thinking I had another seven hours to sleep.

Mr. Jenkins, these people got parking tickets in the neighborhood the night of

the murder.

Any of them looked like the man that you saw?

This guy looks like him.

Frederick's not here.

Do you know where he is?

Why? Because we want to talk to him.

About what?

This morning we know he's a carpenter.

Any chance he's working construction?

Depends. Any chance you're going to answer any of my questions? We're

investigating a murder.

Well, what's Frederick got to do with that?

We think he might have information that could help us find the killer. So, where

is he?

Frederick Morton?

That's me.

Yeah, put the hammer down.

Why?

Just like his mother.

Frederick's gonna solve you a big murder. He's gonna be a hero.

That's what you said five years ago.

I know, but... My son hasn't been home.

He hasn't stepped foot in this house since you showed up that day.

Move your foot!

I'm trying to help him.

I'll call the cops.

Get down now. Whoa, hey, what's going on?

Frederick Morton, you're under arrest for the murder of Claire Burton. Wait,

shut up. Please, you're just leaving the bed. Shut up.

You have a right to remain silent.

Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You've got the right

to an attorney.

You don't have one, but you can't afford one. One will be provided.

He wrote, my friend.

He wrote.

Another woman was murdered yesterday.

Whoever killed her might have killed Claire Burton.

I might have made a mistake about Frederick.

Please, may I come in?

It was so cool. And after the game, Ryan took me to the locker room to meet the

players. I met Iverson. No joke?

He gave me this.

It's his autograph.

And then he gave me a pound.

Right there.

I'm bringing my hand in for show and tell.

How are you going to take a bath?

Like that.

Mike. Mikey.

I got Iverson's autograph.

Get out. Let me see that.

Don't lose that.

No way.

You guys got a big day planned?

No, my dad has to go meet some guy in jail.

I can't come.

Really?

Bring that up, okay?

Okay.

Can I get a brownie?

Yeah, all right.

Witness could have been wrong.

No forensic evidence other than his prints.

That's not enough.

You want to know the truth?

I never felt right about it.

I just want to talk to him.

At 2 .30 this afternoon, detectives Washington and Olshansky arrested

Morton for the murder of Clara Burton.

Mr. Morton will be arraigned tomorrow morning. At that time, my office will

for an expedited trial date.

Because of you, I've been in here four years.

347 days, 6 hours, and 32 seconds.

Please advance my question. 8 ,500.

361 crap meals in here. I'm trying to help you. You understand that?

Don't you want to know how many cigarettes I've smoked since you put me

What were you really doing at Claire's?

35 ,743.

We're done. But 350 ,000 puffs.

You all right?

Like I said, I was building shelves for Claire's pantry.

Sorry.

Afterwards, I left my car and I went to a movie.

That's when I got the parking ticket.

I didn't kill her.

I know the witness says he saw me there, but he didn't.

Maybe he saw me doing work earlier at her place, but that night, that late, I

swear, he didn't see me.

Thanks, Mike.

See you later.

How you doing?

What the hell are you doing visiting Frederick Morton?

Not here.

Charlie, over at Correction, saw your name on a sign -in list. The inmates

you're getting Morton out.

Dad, please don't do this. Am I causing any trouble? Hey. Am I causing any

trouble? Come on. Don't touch me.

You've been drinking. Take out an ad. Let's just go outside. Frederick

a damn killer.

What if he isn't?

Look at you.

Talking like the cop you aren't.

Pathetic. Yeah.

And you ought to know about pathetic.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, listen up. Michael, Marcellus, come up here. Get up here.

Come on, get those glasses up in the air.

Come on, come on.

You never bagged anything like this, neither did I. But these two guys, my

God have mercy on that poor girl.

They busted their asses. Nailed the killer.

My kid. This is my kid.

Seats on the floor.

Iris and... Ryan knows the team doctor.

He had some extra tickets.

Yeah. Brought Mikey along.

You too serious?

We're spending time together, Mike.

A lot of time?

Sure you're okay talking about this?

I'm dating Faith.

Yeah.

A lot of time.

We found cotton fibers on her nightgown, probably from the perp shirt. Check it

out.

Flyers fan.

Orange and black.

What about the DNA?

So far, nothing.

Tell me about the rope.

Three -strand braided nylon with a 12 -inch ice knife.

Stock line.

Yeah, three -eighths inch.

So we're looking for a 15 to 25 footer? If the perp lifted it off a boat, yeah.

But he didn't.

Rope's new, and it's not your standard brand.

What the hell do you mean, was it definitely Frederick Morton? That's what

asking. That's what I said at trial. I know, but is it possible you made a

mistake?

No. Are you sure?

Mr. Jenkins.

A man is sitting in jail possibly for something he didn't do.

I don't need any trouble. Neither did Frederick Morton.

Look, there is evidence to suggest that Frederick didn't kill Claire. If you

know something... Your partner's an ass.

Ex -partner.

What'd he do?

After the lineup, I told him I wasn't sure it was Morton that I saw.

Down at the district?

Yeah, you'd left the room. Call from your wife, I think. Anyway, your partner

kept saying it was Frederick, that I was this...

hero for helping to catch him.

And with all the press and the mayor, I guess I bought into it.

So you didn't see Frederick at Claire's house?

No.

I mean, I don't know.

Guy looked like him.

But I didn't get a good enough look to say for sure.

So I gave him a little push. He was telling you he wasn't sure.

Yeah, and we shake a treat, though, with witnesses you took statements from,

took positive IDs from.

How many I'm -not -sures -you -think -will -fall -out?

We do what we have to do.

That's what we are.

Who I was.

How what?

You think you're going to cleanse your soul by turning your back on good police

work? What would you know about clean souls?

This guy was working three jobs that aren't tuition.

He had no priors. Everybody who knew him said he was gentle as a lamb.

That's what they said about Ted Bundy. Yeah, well, Ted Bundy fits Sykes'

profile. Frederick Morton didn't. He didn't even come close.

So that's what makes him innocent?

That's what makes me wonder.

What about the parking ticket a half an hour before the time of death? Maybe.

It's like you said. He was at a movie.

Mike, we talked to the cashiers.

The candy girls.

No one remembers seeing him.

So he's guilty.

I'm not thinking that. Then why aren't you helping him?

Because if this Morton stuff becomes public, the killer goes under, and we're

never going to find him. My way, we find the killer, and then we come back and

take care of the first murder.

That if the DA finds out that you're behind Morton making this move, he's

to bury you.

Let him.

I'm seeing this through. Mike, would you stop for one minute and think about

what it is that you're doing?

Sure. I'll think.

I'll think about a man who lost five years of his life because we wanted a

promotion. And I'll think about every corner that we cut, every witness that

pushed. And I'll think about how we didn't give a crap about any of them.

Or their families. We weren't supposed to.

Sorry I'm late. Bus was delayed.

Mrs. Morton.

You remember Detective Washington?

Hello.

Right.

Are you ready?

Mm -hmm.

We should have cared.

Mr. Profeta, in light of... It's a motion for a new trial.

Thank you. I'm aware of that.

I'm missing the witness's declaration.

I see here Mr. Jenkins has changed his testimony.

That's correct. Mr. Jenkins is now telling the court Frederick Morton is

man he saw in the victim's home the night she was murdered? Yes, Your Honor.

Even though he identified him in a lineup and gave a detailed description

police, is that correct?

Yes, but after reflection, Mr. Jenkins believes he was wrong.

Mr. Landy, anything?

It's simple.

Recollections fade over time.

As such, testimony at trial is most reliable and should be afforded such

I agree.

But, Your Honor, this... Motion denied.

Mr. Profeta, you want a new trial, you'll have to bring me more.

Call the next case.

Word of advice.

We've got enough trouble.

Back off this.

I'm sorry.

We're going to get you out of this.

We will.

We'll get him out of this.

Half the guys are put away.

Half the really guilty ones, they're out on the street because of

technicalities. Frederick, he's still in jail.

You got my coffee? The witness recanted his testimony.

Didn't see him there.

We are witnesses who put you there, Frederick.

No, it's... Yeah, you tie her up. I didn't. And you stabbed her. And you

Claire Burton die.

I'm telling you, I was at a movie.

Yeah. Bear yourself.

Nobody saw you.

You know what happens now, huh? You know what happens now, Frederick?

Look at yourself.

You know what happens now?

You die.

Yeah, you die.

I want a lawyer.

I said I want a lawyer.

Why'd you do it?

I hadn't pushed Frederick so hard.

I just listened.

And he wouldn't lawyer it up.

I could have heard the whole story.

Mike, Mike Hoffman. Are you listening?

If something doesn't smell right, you don't complain.

You get out there, beat the pavement, and make it right.

It's not in your nature to tell me stories.

What else is going on?

Help a guy get his life back. No, there's something else other than

What is it?

I had this little boy friend.

Took her and Mikey to a Sixers game.

They had floor seats.

No kidding.

Mikey met Iverson.

Got his autograph.

And this is bad because...

I'll never be

able to do something like that for my son.

You don't have to.

You're his father.

My coffee, please.

What?

Came in two weeks after we pitched for that.

Yeah, B &E over.

Ariana Street.

Detective Lawner over in East Division Center.

Look here.

Leon Wilmer, arrested breaking into the back window of a house. No, we don't

know that.

Of a house belonging to a 29 -year -old single woman. Just take it.

Wilmer was caught with a fishing knife and a dock line in his back.

He spent the last four and a half years in the joint. Was released three weeks

ago.

We should have followed up on this.

Read the description.

There you go.

Let's pull up Wilmer's mugshot.

Leo, W -I -L -M -E -R.

Wilmer, I got it, I got it.

at her birth.

So you help me clear Frederick?

You got Rossi on board?

Yeah, where do you want to start?

We have to show that Wilmer was at Claire's the night she was killed. What

of print did we lift from her thing? Four sets or a tag.

Okay, you got them here? Yep, Frederick's.

They were on the shelves.

Claire's one of these ones for her mother's. What is the fourth report?

I don't know. It should be for a set lifted from the doorknob. I know. It's

here.

Okay. Well, let me call up my files from Central Story.

That's going to take days.

Yeah, you got a better idea?

There was some day.

A shining moment.

What's your problem?

No problem at all.

Two months he said those boxes would be here. They've been here two years.

The prints aren't here.

The report, it's not here.

Did you hear me?

When are you going to get all this stuff out of here?

Maybe I should wait outside.

Why are you letting him do this? Why do you care?

Huh? Answer me. Why do you care so damn much about this case?

Mike, let it go. No.

I want to know.

Huh?

Tell me why, after a year and a half of slamming doors in my face, this case

gets you off your ass and down to see me.

That case and getting your conviction.

Cops wait their whole careers for something like that. Yeah, and that's

everything, isn't it?

It's a hell of a lot more than you've got now.

He's always there for the wins, but the losses... At least he was there for

something. It was a bragging rights.

That bust is all he talked about right to the day I got kicked off.

You okay?

Nothing new.

Hang on.

Washington.

Yeah.

I'll be right there.

Rocky got a lead on the dock line.

K .L. calls Levitt.

Tell him you're coming by for the prints.

Yeah.

Let's see.

Here you are.

This is what you're looking for.

It's our private label. See the gold threading? You saw many of these?

In season, sure.

You recognize him?

Yeah. He was in last week. Maybe the week before. You buy one of these?

Yeah. Keep repeats?

For plastic, sure.

This guy paid cash.

Any idea where we could find him?

No. Okay, if he comes back in, call us.

Sure.

Yeah, I ran the prints, just like always.

All four sets?

In a case like that, DA sent down himself a rush job. Come on, you know

Mike. I ran them all.

Well, I need a copy of the report on the sets on the door now.

Can't do it.

Look, it's not for me. It's for Washington. No, I got no problem with

It's just, I never wrote one up.

Why?

DA said not to.

You gotta be kidding.

Hey, all I know is...

He stopped by after I'd done the comparison, said since there was no

the friend, family, or Morton, no need to write up the report.

So it said on the door knob, they're unidentified.

Wait.

This is not the first you're hearing this, right?

Are you sure?

It's been five years, but come on. All the heat from the mayor's office?

Yeah, I'm sure.

You run the prints through the system?

You still got the prints?

In storage.

Order them up.

I'll send them to Washington.

We ran a print from the doorknob on Claire's door.

Against the partial from Ellen Livingstone's. And it matched.

It gets better. Then we ran the set we got from Claire's against Leon Wilmer's.

We got a hit. And get this.

He was released last month. Farrell tells me he's staying right here in

with his mommy.

Dr. Fitts?

You were right.

We got the wrong guy.

The prints not being yours is a start toward proving that you didn't kill

Claire. Okay. And the DA not letting you know about it, according to your

lawyer, that's grounds for a new trial.

Okay. But to guarantee we get you out of here, the cops have got to find Leon

and get positive IDs.

Is this really happening?

We're trying.

You tell my mom all this?

I thought you'd want to do it.

We're not allowed.

It's all right.

I'll talk to the guard.

Hey, Ma.

It's me.

I don't care where his parole officer says he's staying. I haven't seen that

damn fool's son of mine since he swiped 70 bucks out of my purse. When was that?

Two days ago.

Damn fool left me six bucks till payday. That ain't right.

No, it isn't. You catch Leon?

Get that money back for me?

Yes, ma 'am.

Rossi.

Ms. Wilmer, any chance Leon might be staying with friends? He doesn't have

friends.

Imagine that.

We're on our way.

All right.

Thank you, ma 'am.

That was a guy from the boat supply store. Leon just bought a new dock line.

Did they stall on him?

Couldn't, but he got him talking. Leon says he's got a boat down on Schuylkill.

There's hundreds of boats down here.

Yeah, but this one's called Heavy Metal.

There it is.

Got his rope.

Got his knife.

He's ready for action.

Yeah, no kidding.

Look at this.

The victims.

This is Ellen Livingstone.

And this one stayed stamped yesterday.

She must be next.

This is Boathouse Row.

Hey, Ron. The idiots always run.

No!

Congratulations. Send them in.

Turn to your right.

Turn to your left.

Face front.

The third guy.

It's him.

Take your time.

Number three.

It's him.

Toast.

You did good.

Well, the jury did it. Yeah, but you handed him to them.

Here's to Frederick Morton spending his life in jail.

And you for putting him there.

Mr.

Landy. As I'm sure you're aware, withholding a scapulatory evidence from

defendant could cost you your license. The fingerprint evidence was dubious at

best. Dubious? I believe that's the court's call, not Mr. Landy's. I agree.

Landy, you should have seen to it that a report was written and delivered to the

defense. Yes, Your Honor.

Mr. Buffetta, I'm impressed at your tenacity.

Thank you. Now, in light of Mr. Landy's dubious decision with respect to crucial

fingerprint evidence, the eyewitness recantation...

and the positive identification of Leon Wilmer in connection with the Claire

Burton murder, I hereby grant defense's motion to set aside the conviction.

Mr. Morton, you are free to go with the sincerest apology from the court.

Mr. Landy, I'll see you in chambers.

Mr. Oshansky, wait.

I just want to thank you for helping my son.

I'm sorry about everything that he's had to go through.

He's out now. That's what's important.

Congratulations.

25 minutes and 33 seconds.

Thank you.

Thanks, Dad. I had fun.

Yeah. Well, ice cream isn't exactly four seats for the Sixers.

But Schmitz does make a damn fine chocolate chip.

Yeah, they do.

Here. Wait. I got something for you.

It's for the autograph.

Oh.

Cool, Dad. Thanks.

The improper handling of evidence by the district attorney's office, Leon

Wilmer, was not linked to the murders until yesterday.

Despite years of appeals, Frederick Morton spent nearly five years in prison

the murder of former Mayor Boyd's granddaughter, Claire Burton.

This afternoon, Mr. Morton was exonerated for the murder and is now

his release with family and friends.

Earlier today, City Hall awarded the Philadelphia Medal of Honor.

to detectives Aldo Rossi and Marcellus Washington in appreciation of their

outstanding work.