All language subtitles for Law.and.Order.True.Crime.S01E07.WEBRip.x264-RARBG

.

- No mistakes on my watch.
Is that clear?

- Mr. Garcetti, I have no
intention of losing Menendez.

- Winning is a given,
Miss Ferrero.

- Who was Lyle talking to?

- It's Norma Novelli.
She puts out a newsletter

for prisoners.

After a lifetime of terror,

these children were terrorized.

- He threw me on the bed

and--and he raped me.

- When I was, uh, seven,

he would put me on my knees,

and I would have
oral sex with him.

- We're here because
the defendants did this

to their parents.

- Erik and his brother
honestly believed

their parents were
going to kill them.

- It's the first day
of deliberations

for both juries
in the Menendez trial,

and as you can see, Menendez
fever is as strong as ever.

[crowd cheering]

And here comes the van

carrying Erik and Lyle.

Each morning, they'll be driven
from the county jail

in downtown Los Angeles

to the courthouse
here in Van Nuys

to await the juries' verdicts.

[camera shutters clicking]

[crowd chanting, cheering]

And we'll be ready
with live coverage

the minute
those verdicts come in.

- The whole time, I couldn't
wait for the trial to end.

But now...

[dark music]

Do you think...

do you think they'll vote
for the death penalty?

- They decide that
during the penalty phase,

and we're a long way from that,
honey.

Right now, they're focused on
murder versus manslaughter,

maybe even an acquittal.

- When I was up there talking,
I could see Uncle Brian's face.

He looked at me like
I was the lowest form of life.

Even Aunt Terry.

It's sad, you know?

We used to be a family.

- All those people, my friends,
who lied on the stand,

Donovan, Glenn, Jamie.

People really hate me,
don't they?

- Don't punish yourself, Lyle.

Try and stay positive.

- I want to get out.
I want to prove to people

that I can be different
than I was.

That I can be better.

*

- Let's start with a vote.

Just to see where
everyone's leaning?

Raise your hand if--

- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Raise our hands?

I think we should have
a secret ballot.

- Yeah.
- Who cares?

- No, I'm with Paul.

Everything in the open.
- I agree.

- I agree.
So, once again,

raise your hand
if you think Erik is guilty

of first-degree murder
on both of the killings.

Interesting.
Okay.

Raise your hand
if you think Erik is guilty

of voluntary manslaughter.

- Okay,
that's six for manslaughter

and six for
first-degree murder.

- These other women got their
panties in a twist over Lyle.

You and me know
he's a bad seed.

- Okay, let's deliberate.

*

- Look what I found.

We can decorate the house for
when Lyle and Erik come home.

- They're coming home?

Is it decided?

- No, Mama.

That's not what Henry means.

*

- [speaking Spanish]

- Mama...you already have
more candles than the Vatican.

Let's just pray
everything goes well.

- [whispering]

- Four days means the jury
can't make up their minds.

Daddy, when are you coming out?

Your grandson wants
to meet you.

Just pick a date.

We'll--we'll take care
of everything.

Okay, love you too.
Bye.

- I want a retraction.
- [sighs]

- I did not cry
during my closing.

Your reporter
wasn't even there.

It was my client that cried.

Check the Court TV feed.

A retraction.
And don't bury it.

[sighs]
Unbelievable.

- Sorry that happened.
You want a hug?

The press convicted the boys
years ago.

They have to make us
look weak and emotional

for defending them.

I found some things
in the trial transcript

that might be grounds
for appeal.

- An appeal?

You think they'll convict?

- Let me know
if you want that hug.

- "Points of fact in law."
What's this?

- My 25 facts that prove

Lyle should be convicted
of first-degree murder.

- So now you're a lawyer?

- [sighs]
Point of fact number one:

if the boys really thought
their parents were going

to kill them,
they could have looked through

the family room window,
checked to see

if their parents had guns.

Point of fact number two...

- What you think they should
have done isn't a fact.

- [scoffs]
Sarah.

You know I'm right.

Your husband works in
the DA's office.

Tell 'em.

- I really think
you should listen

to other people's opinions,
Dan.

- Now, sit down, and let's have
a proper discussion.

- Good luck.

- Look, I don't want
to set a precedent here.

But if these boys get off
with a slap on the wrist,

every murderer
who kills their parents

will say they were abused.

- I don't care about
future cases.

Our duty is to this case.

- The prosecutor suggested
that Erik learned

molestation details from some
kind of homosexual experiences.

- Maybe he learned it
from having sex with Lyle.

Right?
Maybe those two--

- No, Erik's sexuality
has nothing to do

with him being molested.

- I don't buy
that whole abuse thing.

- Erik's cousins said
he was abused.

And those photos.

Do you have photos like that
of your kids?

I sure don't.
- Look, I think those boys

could have pushed their dad
away if they wanted to.

- Abuse isn't about
how strong you are.

It's about the power they have
over your emotions.

- Witness answers:

"He told me his father
was massaging his pecker.

"He wanted to know
if this happens to every kid

with a father and son
relationship."

- Thank you, that concludes
the read-back you requested.

You may go back
to your deliberations.

- Merry Christmas, your honor.
- Yes, merry Christmas.

- Thank you.
Court is adjourned.

- Hello, Detective.
- Counselor.

[sighs]

- Any plans for the holidays?

- I was gonna take the kids
to Hawaii,

but I gotta stick it out
until there's a verdict.

It's the fourth time this year
I've had to push off the trip.

- I am sorry.

- Meh,
it comes with the territory.

How about you?
How's the little one?

- Yeah, he's wonderful.

It's great to get
to spend some time with him.

He's endlessly cute.

But what baby isn't?

[elevator bell dings]
- Right.

And then they grow up.

- Erik wouldn't need to
ask his cousin.

Any kid would know it's wrong.

- Not if you don't know
right from wrong.

- How does he not know that?

- Because the person who was
supposed to teach him that

is the one who was molest--
- Where is the proof

that José was doing that
to his sons?

There is none.

- We don't need
definitive proof.

What we need is a--
- Oh, just stop talking.

I'm sick of your voice.

- Now, come on.

*

- Just look at the way
the judge treats their lawyer,

Abramson.
He doesn't buy it, either.

- Why is it so hard
for you to believe?

We know abuse happens
with coaches and priests.

Are you scared to admit that

it could happen between
a father and his own sons?

- I'll tell you what scares me.

This man José Menendez
pushed his kids,

and so what?

He worked hard
to put food on the table.

And for what?

So his kids could kill him?

Is that what being
a good provider gets you?

*

- I have two daughters.

One's in college.
The other graduated last year.

And this case...

is making me sorry I spanked
them when they were little.

- Well, I'm sure
your daughters turned out fine.

- How far apart we are...

it'll be a miracle
if we can agree on a verdict.

- That's because
you're not facing the facts.

Take this cousin Diane
Vander Molen, for instance.

She said Lyle told her
he was being abused.

She's lying.

- Why do you say she's lying?

- Because he didn't mention it
when he testified.

He would've if it was true.

- She said he was eight
when he told her.

Maybe he doesn't remember.

- That makes me believe her
even more.

If they were gonna lie,

you'd think they'd get
their story straight.

- That's women's logic.

*

- [clears throat]

*

I changed my mind.

They were abused.

That's what twisted them,

twisted everything about them.

*

- I get letters thanking me
for exposing the abuse.

I get other letters that...

[sighs]

I shouldn't be surprised.

I mean,
how can anyone forgive me?

- God knows the truth.
He forgives you.

- How can He?

How can my parents?

I want them to forgive me.

- You have to start
by forgiving them.

- I'm trying.

I want to.

- God loves you, Erik.

- [sighs]

*

- In the name of the Father
and the Son

and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

- Thank you, Father.

- Merry Christmas, Erik.

*

- Hey, Erik.

*

Do you remember
when Mom and Dad took us

to see "A Christmas Carol"?

Dad thought
the theater was so phony.

But he did it because

that's what high-class people
in Princeton did.

- [chuckles]

He fell asleep during the show.

- [laughs]

*

- I miss them, Lyle.

- God, I miss them too,
little brother.

*

- [sighs]

*

.

- My husband's under
a lot of pressure

from the DA's office to get me
to vote one way or the other,

but he thinks I should
quit the jury,

but I can't.

I've put six months
into this.

- What the hell are you doing?

- You're gonna see the results
of what those brats did

so that things will be fair.

- You cannot put up
some of the evidence

and not all of it.
Take those down now.

- No.

I need them up
to refer to them.

- Yeah well, pass them around
if you need to refer to them.

Take them down or I will.

- Hey, man, just because
you're the foreman

doesn't mean
you're the boss of me.

- That's exactly what it means.

- Oh, hey, stop it.
[overlapping shouting]

- You better step back.
Step back.

- We've all been here
a long time.

We all want
to get out of here.

We all want to get on
with our lives.

It's been over three weeks.

Let's just do
what we're here to do.

I've thought about it,

and I want to change
my vote again.

[tense music]

*

- So you're voting to convict
Lyle of second-degree murder?

- Yes.
We're allowed to.

- And that means
down the line he gets out.

- And I think that's
a reasonable thing.

- That ain't never gonna
happen, lady.

- If Erik was
really being abused,

he would have told Oziel.

- No, José owned Oziel.
Erik knew that.

- I'm sick of you women
talking about José and Kitty

like they're on trial.

They were good parents,
and society would be better off

if more parents were like them.

- They went to every one
of their sons' tennis games.

You know who went to my
sports games when I was a kid?

Nobody.

What I would have given
to have had a dad like José.

- Oh, my God.
- Are you kidding?

- I--I feel sorry for you.
I do.

But what has that got
to do with Erik?

With--with reasonable doubt?

- Let's do another vote.

- And one of her eyes
was open.

Kitty had these
bright blue eyes.

She saw who killed her.

The sons she gave birth too.

This poor mother.

[sighs]
I'm sorry, this is--

This has been
a difficult case.

- Erik's jury is coming in.

Might be a verdict.

- Excuse me.

- Have you come
to a decision?

- We have not, Your Honor.

We're deadlocked.

Our positions haven't changed
after three weeks.

I see no hope
for reaching an agreement

on any of the counts.

I'm sorry.
We tried.

[courtroom murmuring]

- What does this mean?
- Oh, it's good, honey.

If Weisberg
declares a mistrial,

I can try to get a deal
from the DA.

- I understand
this has been difficult.

I know all of you have made
sacrifices over the holidays.

But I'm going to ask you
to go back

and to try and reach
a consensus.

[dramatic music]

- What?

- You can't do that,
Your Honor.

- Sit down, Ms. Abramson.
- You should consult counsel

before giving
the jury instructions.

- I'm fine with the
instructions, Your Honor.

- I would like to know what
charges are being discussed

and if first-degree murder
is off the table.

- Please escort the jury
back to the jury room.

- Your Honor,
this is unfair.

You have been biased against
my client this entire time.

- One more word, Ms. Abramson,

and I will hold you
in contempt.

[gavel bangs]

*

[indistinct murmurs]

- That son of a bitch!

Judge Weisberg
is the most high-handed,

obnoxious judge I have ever
tried a case before.

The Judicial Council
should be looking at him.

Erik and Lyle have been
plagued by bad parents,

a bad shrink,
and now a bad judge.

It makes you wonder what the
next disaster is for this case.

- An earthquake measuring 6.7
struck the Los Angeles area

at 4:30 this morning.
- Reports of casualties.

- Strong aftershocks
are still being felt.

- Sections of the freeway
crumbled...

- Entire apartment complexes
are collapsed.

- Total devastation...
- The Van Nuys courthouse,

site of the infamous
Menendez murder trial,

suffered damages.

- Until the damage
can be assessed and repaired,

we'll set you up in here.

- Oh, dear God, it smells
like sewage in here.

- All right,
everyone grab a chair.

- It stinks in here.
- We gotta wrap this up.

- Oh, man.

- And how many
for voluntary manslaughter?

[tense music]

*

- Everyone's put
so much into this.

There are no 12 people
in the world

who will ever be able
to hear the evidence

in the way that we did,

because so many people
followed this trial

and are now tainted
by the media.

We owe it to the court
to see if we can come

to a unanimous decision.

So would those of us
currently voting first-degree

or manslaughter be willing
to meet the others

at second-degree?

Raise your hand.

*

Dan, there's 11 of us
willing to vote second-degree.

We're gonna need you
to come down from first-degree.

*

- We really tried, Your Honor.

We went over all the evidence,

but we just couldn't
reach a consensus.

- Are you absolutely sure?

- Yes, Your Honor,
we're absolutely sure.

We're at a complete deadlock.

- You're positive?

- Yes, Your Honor, positive.

*

- Then I have no choice
but to declare a mistrial.

Thank you for your service.
You are free to go now.

The defendants are remanded
to custody.

[courtroom murmuring]

[overlapping chatter]

- On behalf of Lyle and Erik,
we want to express

our gratitude to both juries
for their hard work

in considering the issues
in this case.

- Leslie, do you feel
like you won?

- Well, victory would be
for Erik and Lyle

to walk down the street,

but I am glad that
Jill and I had a chance

to shine a light
on a kind of abuse

that people want to ignore.

There are people who want
to deny it took place

in a beautiful house in
Beverly Hills, but it did.

We asked the jurors
to have compassion

for two young men
who endured it, and they did.

- Excuse me, Jill.
Will there be another trial?

- Hopefully not.

- Hopefully
District Attorney Garcetti

will save the tax payers money
and offer our clients a deal.

- I want Bozanich in here
as soon as she arrives.

- Will you take that same
gamble in a retrial?

- It's not about whether
it was a risky defense.

It was the best defense
because it was true.

[dramatic music]

.

- The public is
losing faith in us.

We can't even convict
confessed murderers.

You were too soft, Pam.
You allowed the jury

to fall for
that sex abuse crap.

- I did that?

Weisberg let
Abramson run wild.

- I can't do much
about Weisberg,

but I'm taking you
off the case.

David will handle
the retrial.

- Fine. I'd rather
eat broken glass for a year

than spend another hour
in a room with Leslie Abramson.

Good luck.

- No margin for error
this time.

We need two convictions.

- So sex abuse,
that split the juries.

- Weisberg let
the defense run amok.

He's up for reelection.

The county
and the justice system

deserve a stronger presence
on the bench.

- When there's a hung jury,

often you have to look
at the judge.

Either his jury instructions
weren't clear

or his rulings were confusing.

Judge Weisberg
has a record of hung juries

and controversial verdicts,
including the McMartin case

and the Rodney King trial.

- There you are.
Jackie sent me to look for you.

Bill Norris
is about to speak.

- That's all I need, a lecture
from a Ninth Circuit liberal.

And I don't need
the contempt of my colleagues.

They're blaming me
for Menendez.

- As your friend,
I have one piece of advice.

Forget those SOBs.

- It took me two years
to get out of municipal court.

If I don't get reelected
because of those murderers...

- You're gonna get a chance
to rehabilitate yourself

if there's a retrial,
or better yet,

if you can get the DA to make
a deal with Leslie Abramson,

you're everybody's hero.

- [scoffs]
Leslie Abramson?

That woman...

- Keith's face would get
redder than a radish.

One time he practically
climbed over the table

to get in my face.

- Incredible.
- And yet they couldn't

understand the concept
of heat of passion.

- Do you know anything
about a new trial?

- No, we're hoping
for a plea bargain.

- Oh.
[phone rings]

- Is that him?
- Hello.

Hi, Erik.
Yes, they're here.

Can I put you on speakerphone?

- Hello.
all: Hi, Erik.

- You guys having
a fun night?

[laughter]
all: Yeah.

- Erik, it's just so strange
to talk to you after all

those months of not being able
to say anything to you.

- It's strange for me too.

You guys know a lot of stuff
about me.

I don't know anything
about you.

- Okay, we're gonna let you go.

We know you have
other people to call.

- Okay, I just wanted
to thank everyone

for listening to us.
It was nice to meet you.

Bye.
- Good luck, Erik.

- Bye.
- Good luck.

- That's what Erik was
hoping for, manslaughter.

He was really upset
it didn't happen.

- It's a shame
having to wait once more.

- Erik's just upset he's gonna
have to testify again.

He's not in good shape.

And they told us today

that they're gonna
move me to another row.

So Erik will be alone.

- I can check in on him
if he wants.

- Yeah, that'd be great.
Thanks, Norma.

Um, I, uh--
I have three calls tonight.

The first is 571-555-0189.

- 571, that's Virginia.

- Yes, someone who wrote me
a nice card.

I want to say thank you.

- All right.
I'll connect you.

[tense music]

*

[line ringing]

- Hello.
- Hello. Is this Martha?

This is Lyle.
- Hi. You got my card.

- Yes, I just wanted
to say thank you.

- I saw you on the TV
last Tuesday.

You looked so handsome.

- It's nice of you
to say that, Martha.

[indistinct conversation]

*

- We concede nothing.

Justice isn't a game.

We'll file for a new trial
in the Menendez case.

Assistant District Attorney
David Conn

will lead the prosecution.

David.
- Thank you.

The defense managed to put José
and Kitty Menendez on trial

when in reality
they were the victims.

This time we'll make that
crystal clear.

Leslie Abramson
has said in the press

she expects us to offer
a plea bargain.

Let me be
the first to tell her,

we will not be offering
any deals.

- He's just staking out
a position.

So Marcia told me that
she has taken on a new case.

But I found somebody
really good to replace her,

Barry Levin, ex-cop,
and he's a damn good lawyer.

I think the three of us
will make a really good team.

- Leslie, I can't do
another trial.

- I know.
Yes, it's gonna be very hard.

- No, I mean,
I'm not doing another trial.

- What are you talking about?
You can't do that to Lyle.

I'm sorry.
That wasn't fair.

- My daughter has changed
so much in the last four years,

and I feel like
I've missed it all.

I don't know how you
manage it with your baby,

but you do.

You're different.
You're not like the rest of us.

- Don't blow smoke, please.
You know I hate that.

[tense music]

*

Oh...
[sighs]

Okay, I get it.

- I have grown to truly
care about you, Lyle,

but I have to take care
of my family, too.

- That's okay, Jilly.

- There's a friend of mine
I'd like you to meet.

His name is Charles Gessler.

He's very respected
as a public defender,

and he's an expert
in death penalty cases.

- Sure.
I'll talk to him.

- I really appreciate you
making this easy on me, Lyle.

- You spent so much time
away from family.

Family is everything.

- I was only appointed
last week.

It'll take at least eight
months to properly prepare.

I request that a new trial date
be set for January, 1995.

- Foot-dragging, Your Honor.

I'm new to this case.
I'm ready to go.

We request a trial
at the earliest date.

- I'm ready too, Your Honor.
Why don't you sever the trials

so proceedings
for my client can begin?

- I'll take it
under advisement.

- Can we talk bail?

- Your Honor, the People will
be pursuing the death penalty.

That takes bail
off the table.

- The DA has been holding our
clients prisoner for four years

when they haven't been
convicted of anything.

It is outrageous.

- Maybe the solution
is a negotiated settlement.

That would be appropriate.

- The brutality
of these murders

prohibits us
from offering a deal.

- There has been enough bombast
on both sides.

I strongly encourage you all
to sit down

and come to an agreement.

You'll be doing your clients
and the public a favor.

- Let's face it, David,
we were this close

to getting a manslaughter
verdict for our clients.

- Your defense is bull,
and I'll rip it to shreds

in front of you.

- This case puts sexual
abuse out in the public.

People are talking about it.
Victims are speaking out.

And the jury pool are being
exposed on a daily basis.

- The only people
who believe that

are on your side
of the table.

- If I offered you a deal,
you think I'd be able

to face the detectives
who stood in the blood

under a ceiling dripping
with brain matter?

Your clients are
a couple of craven brats

who killed for money,
and they're laughing

their asses off at you
for thinking otherwise.

You tell your boys
to buy some new sweaters,

'cause I'm not offering them
a damn thing.

- [exhales]

- Counselor.
- Detective.

You know Barry Levin.
He's ex-LAPD.

- Working for
the other side now, eh?

Boy, Conn was laying it on
a little thick.

- Yeah, he's all talk.
- Eh, I don't know.

You don't seem to have
your old pizzazz.

- Um--
- Don't listen to him.

He's just pimping you.

It's an old cop trick.

- The house in Calabasas
was auctioned off to pay taxes.

There's hardly anything left
in the estate.

- We can't afford a new trial.

All the experts,
the lawyer fees--

- Lyle's new lawyer
was appointed by the court

because Jill left.

His fees are paid
by the state.

Same thing with Mr. Levin,
who replaced Marcia,

and I will use my fees
to pay experts.

- Leslie, there's not even
enough to pay for you.

I'm sorry.

- I will ask the supervising
judge to appoint me

to represent Erik.

That way the state
will pay me

about a quarter
of my regular rate.

You'll be getting a bargain.

My client is broke,
Your Honor.

Neither he nor his family
can afford my attorney fees.

I am asking to be made Erik's
court-appointed attorney.

- I'm denying your request,
Ms. Abramson.

As supervising judge,
it is my duty to manage

the very limited resources
of the criminal division.

This is one trial
where the taxpayers

don't need to chip in.

- Are you trying to force me
off the case?

You can't expect me
to work for free.

- You've been paid very well.

- I don't like the inference

that I am a moneygrubber,
Your Honor.

I have spent 8,600 hours
over the past four years

on this case.
That is $68 an hour.

- Can I speak? Please?
- Erik.

- Please, please.
- Erik.

- Your Honor, I beg you.

There is no way I would
want to do another trial

without Ms. Abramson.

She's been my lawyer
since my life was revealed.

I don't think that I can
open up to another attorney.

- I am not relieving her
of her position.

As long as you want her
to work for you,

she has to work for you,

but the taxpayers
of California

will not be footing the bill.

We are adjourned.
[gavel bangs]

- I don't understand. They're
paying for Lyle's lawyer.

They're paying for Mr. Levin.

- That's because we replaced
lawyers who left,

and you want Leslie to stay.

- I can't ask you
to work for free.

I'll let you go. I'll say
I want another attorney.

- That's what they want.
They want me off the case.

We will find a way around this.
I'm not leaving you, Erik.

- This trial could take
another year, at least.

And then the appeals.

Now, I know how
committed you are,

but you can't pretend
you can afford to do this.

You have to let
Erik fire you.

[somber music]

.

- There's a misconception
that Erik and Lyle are rich.

They are not.
Not anymore.

I'm not rich either.

And because Judge Mills
refuses to make me

Erik's court-appointed lawyer,
I may go broke defending him.

As you all know,
justice isn't cheap.

It costs a lot
to mount a defense,

especially when the DA
is hell bent

on killing our clients

and won't even consider
a plea bargain.

So we need to raise money.

People have sent in
contributions unsolicited,

very modest contributions
from ordinary people,

but it gave us the idea
to set up a defense fund.

- How much are
you hoping to raise?

- We have to spend as
much money defending the boys

as Garcetti is spending
to kill them.

- Leslie Abramson may have
the Erik Menendez Defense Fund.

Well, we have one too.

This came to my office today

addressed to the Erik Menendez
Prosecution Fund.

It's for $50, and it's from
an attorney in Chicago.

- And we hear that
some disc jockeys on KFI

are holding a yard sale
and they're donating

the proceeds
to the prosecution.

[laughter]

- Garcetti's making it look

like I'm helping
the prosecution.

Where's Abramson's
motion to reconsider?

[sighs]

This should make
things interesting.

- Listen, my grandmother
was from Russia.

When I was little,
she told me how the Nazis

wiped out our people.

My people,
just rolled over them.

I don't wanna get
rolled over.

Not by anybody.

I will find a way
to pay for it.

- No, you can't pay
for everything, Leslie.

- Look, Tim and I talked about
getting a second mortgage.

I got a book offer.

- You just won't quit,
will you?

- This is why I have
an office next to K-Town.

- Judge Mills on line two.

- This is Leslie Abramson.

Uh, okay.

Half?

No, no, no.
I accept.

Yes.
Thank you, Your Honor.

He reversed himself.

He granted
my motion to reconsider.

I am now Erik's
court-appointed attorney,

for half my normal rate.

I am now the cheapest
famous lawyer in the world.

- Just got a phone call.
Mills reversed.

He appointed Abramson.

- Gutless.

That leaves Weisberg.

I read your preliminary
witness list.

Oziel, really?
- Why not?

- I hear he settled with
Judalon Smyth on her lawsuit.

His credibility is shot.

- That's the agreement
and the nondisclosure.

- This should end all claims by
your client against Dr. Oziel.

- It's kind of like
getting a divorce.

- Without the misery of
actually being married to you.

- You're so abusive. You're
the worst therapist ever.

Go to hell.

How much do you think
I could get

for suing "Playboy" for those
articles they wrote about me?

- How 'bout me suing
"Vanity Fair"?

I'm serious.

- "Our local judiciary's
inability to control

"the courtroom and
deliver justice has made us

the laughingstock of
our criminal justice system."

This is just
a shot across the bow.

- What do you mean?

- Well, there's talk
they're looking for someone

to run against you
in the next election.

[somber music]

*

- I have considered
the defense request

to sever the trials.
I'm denying it.

Both defendants will
be tried at the same time

with one jury.

- Your Honor, waiting
for Lyle's attorney

to get up to speed
is not fair to my client.

- Two trials isn't fair
to the taxpayers.

It is time-consuming
and costly.

One trial, one jury.

That's what you've got,
Miss Abramson.

We're adjourned.
[bangs gavel]

- Your Honor--

*

- I was eight when
I saw you do the Run.

Most exciting moment
of my life.

- Thank you.

- We just cleaned it
for you, Juice.

But we'll be back.
Try and take it easy.

[indistinct chatter]

- [Simpson crying]

- Mr. Simpson?

Um, O.J.?

- Who's that?
- I'm Erik Menendez.

Um, you came to my house
in New Jersey

when my dad worked for Hertz.

- Oh, yeah?

- Yeah, you were so nice
to my brother and me.

- [Simpson sniffs]

- It's gonna get better, O.J.

First three days
are the worst,

but...

It gets better.

- Mr. Simpson will be charged
with two counts

of first-degree murder
with special circumstances.

We will not seek the death
penalty in this case.

- If anyone doubted
the District Attorney

had a double-standard,
now we have proof.

What kind of moral
or legal decision

would merit the death penalty
for two young men

accused of killing
their abusers,

but not for
a famous wife-beater

accused of killing
his ex-wife and her friend?

I think "famous"
is the key word here.

You believe this?

I've run off
and joined the media circus.

- It pays the Menendez bills,

and everybody gets to see
what a smart lady I married.

- I'm not feeling so smart.

Feel like I'm failing
at everything,

as a lawyer,
as a wife, as a mom.

I don't know if I'm doing
the right thing.

.

- Thanks for signing it, Juice.
My kid's gonna love it.

- Guys, you think I could
get a different pillow?

I couldn't sleep last night.

- No problem, Juice.
I'll see what I can do.

Hold onto that.

- O.J.

Be careful about
what you say to the deputies.

They seem like they're
your friends, but they're not.

- [chuckles]
They're just fans.

- No, everything you tell them
goes straight to the police.

Don't talk to anyone but
your lawyer about your case.

That includes
other inmates too.

The jail's full of snitches
who'll try to beat

their cases by making yours.
You understand?

- Yeah.

Thanks, Erik.

- And your lawyer,
Robert Shapiro,

he screwed up my surrender.

I'm facing the death penalty
because of him, so...

don't believe
everything he says.

- I won't.

Thanks for the heads-up.

- Your Honor,
defense has put

almost a dozen experts
on the stand,

all testifying essentially
about the same thing.

We're asking
the court to limit

this quack pack
of psychologists.

- It was six experts, not 12,

testifying for two defendants

about a much-misunderstood
subject.

- Mr. Conn, I am denying
People's motion.

Defense experts are in.

- Your Honor, our motion
to exclude testimony

about the Menendez family
history is before you.

- That testimony
is crucial--

- Ms. Abramson,
I did not ask you to speak.

Mr. Conn,
your motion is granted.

I am excluding
any irrelevant testimony

about the family history.

- Your Honor,
please explain "irrelevant."

- Any unnecessary testimony
from family members

or friends
of the defendants

about physical abuse
or psychological bullying.

- You can't do that.

- All such testimony
will only be permitted

in the penalty phase.

- That's too late.

The jury needs to hear it
during the trial

before they reach
a verdict.

My defense is built
on imminent fear.

Please, I am not
trying to prove

that my client and his brother
had a sad childhood.

Their entire sense
of safety is at issue.

It makes no sense
to present experts

when there is no corroboration
from family members

and the people
in their lives.

- I disagree.

- Ugh, this is unbelievable.

- I'm looking forward
to working with you again too,

Miss Abramson.

Only this time around,

things are gonna be
a little different.

For one thing,
that will be coming down.

I am excluding all cameras
from the courtroom.

We're adjourned.

[dramatic music]

- Wh--what does he mean,
no family history?

- Our family can't testify
about what happened to us?

- No, but you can,
and we'll appeal.

We will find a way
to get it in.

*

Weisberg just gutted
our case.

- Yeah, I think
you were right.

The fix is in.

- And they don't want
any witnesses.

- I don't care anymore.
I'm just tired of not knowing.

Will I be in jail
for ten years?

Will I be in jail forever?
Will I be executed?

I just want to know
so I can get on

with whatever life
I'm gonna have.

- I understand, Erik.
We all do.

You just--you have to
take it moment by moment.

- Hey, we'll get through this,
all right?

I know you can do it.

Just remember,
master your emotions.

*

- We should ask to have Erik
put on suicide watch.

*

- What happened to O.J.?
- He went to another unit.

His lawyer, Shapiro, called.
Had him moved.

*

- Ooh, this toy train
looks fun.

- I think he's
a little young for that.

Oh, this is adorable.

[both chuckle]

- Sold.

[children laughing]

[somber music]

*

[indistinct chatter]

There we go.

*

- [sighs]

- What's wrong?

- Just all these happy kids.

- Yeah.

Why are you crying?

- I don't know.

*

[gate opens]

*

.

[dramatic music]

*

[wolf howls]