Original subtitles

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.

Hey, what's happening?

Come on, baby.

Riles-? Come on!

Oh my God!

What do we got? 16-year-old found next to a dumpster.

Disoriented, racial stuff scrawled all over her.

Rape? Not sure yet.

I'd say more than likely.

She's been pretty unresponsive so far.

You get EMT results? They're finishing.

Got a name? Astrea Crawford.

Thanks. Excuse me.

Who was at the scene?

Patrini and Hanson.

Anybody get pictures of that?

Hey, you want to hold on those?

We're gonna need to bag them.

Astrea?

I'm Sergeant Greevey, this is Detective Logan.

We're here to find out what happened to you.

It's okay. It's all right.

Astrea, can you open your eyes?

Um-mmm.

I think you can if you try.

No one here is going to hurt you.

Honey, they can't help you

if you don't tell them what happened.

Now come on, open your eyes.

You did it once before.

Come on.

Okay...

Okay, that's a start.

Sweetheart,

do you know who attacked you?

Mmm-hmm.

Can you tell us who it is?

Um-umm.

Astrea, I'm gonna give the nurse my pad.

She's gonna hold it for you.

All I want you to do

is to write down who did it.

What?

No discernible contusions,

traumatized, disoriented.

EMT's original Glasgow coma was off.

It should be about 10 to 12.

Did you administer a rape kit?

I didn't see bleeding or bruises in the perineal.

Humor me, just do one.

She hasn't stated she's been raped.

She hasn't stated

that she hasn't been, either.

FBI should be notified,

at least to cover the civil rights vios.

Media catches a sniff- whew!

If these guys turn out to be ours, I want them fast.

You order a kit? Yeah.

Good. what else?

I requested a rape intervention specialist.

She's already there. What about parents?

The mother arrived just as I was leaving.

Mike's with her and the specialist.

Nothing more from the girl?

No, I figured to give her a day and let her calm down.

I just knew something bad had happened.

Did she stay away from home before, ma'am?

Usually only for a night

if things were bad at home.

Were things bad?

We just didn't want her seeing this particular boy.

Who is that?

Don't know. Only Hill...

Mike?

Excuse me.

Anything?

She didn't even file a Missing Persons Report until last night.

Three days?

One of my kids is 15 minutes late

I go through the roof.

Are you finished? I'd like to get her with her daughter.

How long can you stay?

As long as it takes.

If she comes out with anything at all...

location, names - Even if it sounds like nonsense, call us.

I know the drill, Sergeant.

And when the press comes sniffing around on this,

nothing goes to them

that might jeopardize this investigation.

In other words, don't say anything.

I didn't know she was gone.

They pretty much keep to themselves.

You don't know of any fights

or arguments they may have had lately?

Why? You ain't got none in your house?

Ma'am, do you know a young man,

last name Hill,

that Astrea was supposedly seeing?

Never heard.

Do you know the friends she hangs out with?

I got enough taking care of my own.

She did used to run with this girl down the hall.

But they moved

to the projects up on 109th.

Do you know her last name?

Hardison?

Leona, I think.

This one fits.

Leona Hardison!

Hey, hey, come on.

We just want to ask you a few questions.

I don't talk to the Man.

Do you know Astrea Crawford? Maybe.

You know she's been missing?

What kind of "missing"?

Attacked missing.

Maybe raped j j missing.

So you say?

You don't seem too upset by that.

Me and her - We don't hang no more.

Still - No still, "Bill. " we fell out.

Over a guy?

Do I look like I would lose a guy to her?

Do you know her friend Hill?

Yeah.

Want to give us his first name?

Jordan.

Where can we find Mr. Jordan Hill, Leona?

Well, if he's out of jail

he'd be doing community service.

"Remember a kid named Jordan Hill?"

You gotta be kidding.

Any given day, I get 175 actives.

If it ain't multiple homicide

the best I can do maybe

is notes on the day of the bust.

If we're lucky,

we're given a run-through of the day or days

prior to the crime, see where they screwed up.

You saw Hill after the arraignment.

Yeah, I managed to slide him into a detox space.

He ever mention anything about a girl

named Astrea Crawford?

Sorry.

Ba-bing!

Says he spent the early afternoon with her

the day he was arrested.

That's him over there.

- This isn't coming - Scrub harder.

Got a good job here, Jordan.

500 hours of community service?

Hell of a job. What do you want?

Seen Astrea lately?

Why, is she in trouble?

When was the last time you saw her?

Four or five days.

Look, I want to know if Astrea's okay.

Where was that?

Some hanger on 103.

Specifically what day, Jordan?

I don't know.

Hey, don't grease us, okay?

I am not in the mood.

Now, was she with you

the day you got busted in the sweep?

I don't know.

You know, we pulled your yellow sheet, Jordan.

The last time you got busted for crack

you got a nice little program.

Court's full of people who'd like to take your place.

Mike, Mr. Hill's had a tough week.

Give me your hand.

What? Give me your hand.

Remember today, Jordan

and call me...

before quitting time.

12 people arrested in this dump?

Snow cone in hell we find anything to place her in here.

Might as well call Forensics j in anyway.

What do you expect to find, Max?

This is gonna be a nightmare for a team.

You got prints in here going back to the Civil war.

Maybe we'll get the goods on the guy who killed Lincoln.

Anyway... that's all we got - Procedure.

Let's go see if the girl's calmed down any.

Dr. Miller. 3-5-4-1,

Dr. Miller, 3-5-4-1.

Sorry, gentlemen. No visitors at this time.

Consider your job well done.

You got a second?

The family has hired itself an advisor.

Everything's got to run through him at this point.

What?

You may have some trouble

getting statements out of the girl.

Why is that?

Are you familiar with the good Ronald Eaton?

Congressman Ronald Eaton?

Oh, great.

No crime scene, no physical evidence.

No witnesses, holes appearing by the hour,

a mute vic, and nowwe've got

"Mr. Civil Rights Soundbite"

putting on his make-up.

Problem, Detective?

Sergeant Greevey.

This is Detective Logan.

And yes, I have problems

when prevented from doing my job, Congressman.

I suffer the same frustrations, Sergeant.

Meaning?

My concern is with the girl,

That her cries for justice are not steamrolled

by the old white-boy power structure.

Well, it's a little premature to be

shouting cover-up, isn't it?

Premature? Yeah.

How many black homicide cases

does your precinct not clear every year?

And how many white cases?

Now, you've seen the numbers.

Don't tell me what "premature" is.

And you think withholding pertinent information

in this case is going to change all that?

I think it'll get the attention

of state and federal authorities.

The FBl has already been notified

about any potential civil rights violations.

That just means they'll be looking over your shoulder.

I want them staring you in the face.

Keep away from us. we don't need help from no white cops.

Lester, please.

Excuse me.

Oh...

one "g" in Logan, am I right?

Yeah. why?

Hate for you gentlemen

to see your names misspelled in the papers.

Dr. MacKenzie, 2-9-4-3,

Dr. MacKenzie...

Messengered in this morning.

Eaton wants a photo array.

"All the white cops

working or residing on the Upper west Side"?

He can't be serious.

This guy has got stones, huh?

Except for his mouth, the Congressman's got squat.

If there are wrong cops in this precinct

I want them as bad as he does, but I will be damned

if he's going to put every cop on trial.

What if he goes over your head?

He probably already has, but until I hear differently,

we conduct this like any other investigation.

We got anything on the parents?

Model citizens.

Mother's an x-ray technician. Father's a cab driver.

Deacon of his church. Not even a traffic ticket.

What about the FBl?

They're monitoring. waiting on the results of the rape kit.

When's that girl due to be released?

Tomorrow morning.

I want her in here before noon for questioning.

With or without Eaton?

Without. He is not her lawyer.

He has a problem with that, he takes an obstruction charge.

Let him see what his spin doctors can do with that.

Ooh, man.

You care to elaborate on that, Detective?

I'm just wondering how much gas this fire can take.

Meaning what?

Meaning she's the victim. we're treating her like a suspect.

Let's keep this low profile.

I don't want you out of the car

unless a riot's about to start.

She already told you, she's not here.

Mr. Crawford, come on, we just want to ask a few questions.

The longer we wait, the greater the chances

of her forgetting details.

Good. I'm glad to see

you got her best interests at heart.

The congressman told us

that you'd be coming here to get her.

Told us that you would grind her up

so you could bury her story.

He told us. It's okay, baby.

Mrs. Crawford,

I'm sure that whatever Congressman Eaton told you

was well-intentioned but...

Well, you can't get to her now.

You can't touch her.

The police raped my baby...

killed her inside.

He told us that you'd be coming here

with your filthy hands to protect your own.

Well, you can't get her.

She's safe now, do you understand?

You can't get her! She's safe, you hear?

Lord, I just can't take no more - ! Are you satisfied?

You think you got some kind of license to come and do this crap?

To rip open people's lives?

The parents don't trust the police.

Of course not.

That's 'cause Eaton's involved.

I give the bastard an hour to have the press out in full force.

Didn't know you knew the man.

Since the King assassination,

back when he was "Uhuru" Eaton.

He staged a sit-in at City Hall.

Demanded 100 buses to take people to the funeral.

Not the worst reason in the world to have a sit-in.

That's what I thought, until he told me

he was going to burn the place if he didn't get what he wanted.

Things got out of control. People got hurt.

The man is dangerous.

See what...

what's-her-name- the rape specialist's got.

I'm out of the loop.

Your choice?

Let's just say

I'm not about to jump on Eaton's bandwagon.

Where's he taking this thing, you think?

Off the record?

I'm sure he's got some political agenda.

He always does.

Whether Astrea was raped or not has taken a back seat.

You don't know if she was raped?

You got the lab report, you tell me,

End of business today.

Something happened to her,

but I'll be surprised if the kit comes back positive.

All right, suppose for whatever dimestore psychology reason,

it is a hoax.

She had to stay somewhere for three days.

I know where you're going, Max.

And if you're thinking the boyfriend,

I'm telling you, the crack house

j j is going to get us nowhere.

Even if we're lucky with Forensics.

I doubt they'll be able to timeframe it.

At best, it'll be weak, circumstantial evidence.

How about we get on the board

before we start second-guessing evidence we don't have?

Max, I was up till 2:00 in the morning last night,

watching one of those old Chaplin films,

"Modern Times."

No wonder you drag your butt until noon.

What do you want?

I only had half the bed.

You still dragging things home?

Hey- this one's different, man.

Really.

She's an NYU film student.

She's really, really smart.

Right, let me guess- she wears a lot of black?

She likes cops.

She says it makes her

feel connected to real life.

Oh, she loves guns.

Snubnoses, too?

Captain Cragen just called. He said,

quote, "Get in, it's really hit the fan."

to a live minicam where Congressman Eaton

has declared the former Baptist church a sanctuary.

So Eaton has no legal ground?

No, sanctuary doesn't apply.

It certainly doesn't apply if the building isn't a church.

That doesn't change people's perceptions.

It used to be a church.

You yank her in for questioning now,

we'll have a massive backlash on our hands.

What? Yeah, put him through.

Max, what the hell is going on?

10 minutes.

I think we better get over there.

You've heard the expression

"taking the law into your own hands"?

These are your hands.

Is this a government of Yes!

Are you the people? Yes!

And you are the government...

Three rings.

Eaton's doing his "Barnum" imitation.

3:00- just in time for the evening news.

Why don't we lose the squad cars

and downplay the entire thing?

That solve your perception problem?

I say we go up and haul her butt in.

We don't, it's going to look like he's got the names

and the entire force is on the run.

Eaton has named cops?

Teal and Rudolph, a couple of night shift uniforms from 7-3.

Don't know them.

I'm advising you not to go in, Captain.

Max, go make the congressman an offer.

Let him know you're here only to talk.

We're offering to hear Astrea's side of the story.

But it's got to come from the girl. Nobody else.

You know him. You should go talk to him.

Max, I hate the man.

Captain- Forget it.

I want you to go on in.

But no arrests and no removal for questioning.

You're making a mistake.

by laziness,

by acceptance of the status quo...

Those changes were prompted by a call to action!

We're not here to take her in,

we just want to hear her side of the story.

Astrea's presence here signifies her recognition

that any relief that she is to receive

will have to come from a higher authority.

I cannot stop them from entering this church

but I will lay down my life

to protect the rights of black women everywhere.

Be it from you- from your uniformed brethren,

or an entire city.

Do you hear it?

That is the sound of rage, gentlemen.

And it's a rage that will be louder in 24 hours,

and louder than that in 48.

And that is the fault

of the New York City Police Department,

which doesn't even have the sensitivity

to send a black investigator up here.

But it's also the fault...

of corrupt and crumbling black officials

who will sell their very soul

in the betrayal of their own people.

It will not stop...

until the fires of oppression have been quenched.

Until the racial inequities

and the sexual abuses of white...

Stop! Stop it!

Astrea, do you want to talk to us?

The child is traumatized. I won't allow her to be badgered.

Stay out of this.

Mike - Understand something, Detective.

You are dangerously close to a civil suit.

Oh, that's fine, Congressman.

While you're hunting for some ink, what about her case?

Hey, come on now.

Let's please stick to the point. we're getting nothing...

You're getting nothing?

You got no business here.

You're just trying to break her emotionally.

I can't do this! I don't want to hear it. Please!

Oh, my God. My baby!

Oh. my baby- please, oh, God!

What's going on, Detective? Is the ambulance for Astrea?

No comment. How come white cops are here to interrogate her

when there have been accusations that white cops raped her?

The department has no comment

other than to state that we were there only to listen.

We're not asking Ms. Crawford to accompany us to the station.

There aren't even any black uniformed.

What message is the city trying to send to the black community?

Terrific, exactly what we needed. She accuses a white...

You saw the statement.

We did not go in to take her out.

The statement means nothing when she's carted off in an ambulance.

She accuses white cops and I don't even see...

Damn it, don't come into my office and accuse my people.

Use your head. You jumped into this

like it's some by-the-numbers rape.

It's a whole collection of unverified accusations,

news flashes and soundbites. Fine.

You got anything under your hat besides speeches?

Yeah, your people are yanked off this case as of now.

This is no longer a police matter.

"Police drive Crawford girl to breakdown."

Nothing like starting in your own end zone.

Nine yards in.

Cragen's office called last night.

The two uniforms Eaton named

have substantiated alibis for the time in question.

Did you see this? FBl's rape kit results.

Gynecological tests, forensics, all negative.

She faked it.

At this point all we know is what's on paper.

You think Eaton is willing to stake his political future on this?

If this plays out, he's a genius.

He goes from gang member to rabblerouser to congressman

to spokesman for the entire black community.

He's an urban Horatio Alger.

"Go militant, young man."

Or it turns south and he loses whatever credence

he has on both sides of the track.

Do you see any indication of it turning south?

Because the whole burden of proof is on us.

And he's put the whole system on trial.

So this isn't enough, then?

If we don't disprove a cover-up

every minority in this city will assume Eaton is right

no matter how many lab reports we publish.

So how do we counter the momentum?

Call Eaton.

An interesting place for a meeting.

I thought you should see first-hand what it's all about.

Maybe the cobwebs will fall.

From our eyes?

From your heart.

My best wishes for the girl's health aside,

I didn't come here for a speech.

I know that, Mr. Stone,

or I wouldn't have agreed to see you.

You want to know where I'm planning on taking this.

You want me to give you

a free glimpse of the future.

It's fairly obvious you have a private agenda.

Of course I have an agenda.

Your system isn't serving the African-American segment of the population.

Let's dial this back a a second.

Does your system have any evidence the rape was committed?

My system has found nothing to suggest a crime actually took place.

Nor do I have access to the victim.

And you won't.

I believe Astrea completely.

But if I give you what she's got,

I run the risk of it being squashed.

You think I don't know how many people

would like to see this thing disappear?

Even if there was a cover-up

the press have made that impossible to stage.

That's not a risk I'm willing to take.

We've come too far.

But you are willing to risk

the emotional health of a teenager

and my ability to try the perpetrators?

I'm only here to help the Crawfords.

Look- you want to do

your Martin Luther King imitation, be my guest.

Don't think for one second that I'm giving up.

I don't care if Astrea is black, white, yellow or polka-dotted,

if she was raped, I'll find the cops

I'll prosecute them and I'll convict them.

White cops, black girl?

If?

Who are you kidding?

You don't want me to find them, do you?

Why shoot rats when you can go big-game hunting?

And whose heads do you want on your wall?

Cragen's, the Police Commissioner's...

yours.

There he is. Can you a give us statement, Mr. Stone?

We are trying to investigate a crime

without any assistance from the alleged victim.

"Alleged"? Does that mean the DA

does not believe Astrea Crawford's story?

The temperature on the nights in question was in the low 30s,

yet emergency room personnel found no evidence of exposure.

The FBl- not the NYPD ran a rape kit.

The results were negative. You can draw your own conclusions.

Why was the request for a photo array of the cops denied, sir?

The police have adhered to normal investigative procedure.

What if the girl had been white?

Would you have released photos of black cops?

ADA Stone and I

have just concluded a meeting on Astrea Crawford attack.

Unfortunately, Mr. Stone's myopic view of the case

only served to dampen any hopes I had harbored

of a fair investigation

into the action of this city's law enforcement officers.

Do you believe the DA is capable of an impartial investigation?

I believe there is a tacit agreement

running through the power structure of this city.

If Astrea Crawford had been white and her attackers black...

That's not the point, Adam. I know the facts...

you do, he does - I'm certain Eaton knows the facts.

But the press and thus the public hears what he wants them to hear.

Is he lying?

I think he believed her at first. Even if he doesn't now

it's too good an opportunity for him to let go.

Every move we make j rings cover-up- we go too slow,

we're dragging our feet; too fast, we're after the girl.

I can read a lousy hand. Now, what do you want to do?

I want a grand jury impaneled. I want to run it.

Last shot out of the gun. If it doesn't turn there...

We're dead, I know. But we're face down as it is.

And it could get worse before it gets better.

The one hope is the boyfriend. If he admits she was with him...

I'll take a shot.

That's different than what you had told your youth officer.

Plus, you told the police you had seen her a few days previous.

Maybe. Which is it?

I didn't see her any of the three days before I got busted.

We have hair and fiber samples

from the crack house that say otherwise, Jordan.

I don't care. I didn't see her.

Has anyone spoken to you about the three days?

Some. Eaton?

My nephew does not lie, Mr. Robinette.

And certainly not to a man

as esteemed as Mr. Eaton.

Thank you, ma'am. That's very helpful.

If he told Mr. Eaton that's what happened,

then that's what happened.

I'll be in touch with Jordan if I need him for the grand jury.

I'm assuming you'd be willing to state the same under oath?

You got that right. watch your mouth, young man.

Are you going to subpoena him? No, he'd lie.

We'd prove he perjured himself,

he'd lose his work program. what for?

Oh, the faint rumblings of a heart in there.

No, that's a brain

and it's decided to subpoena Ms. Crawford.

Whew! Talk about backlash.

What choice have we got? If we don't let her testify, they'll scream "cover-up."

If we do, what do you think Eaton will scream?

I don't know. We'll find out.

I think I'll subpoena him too.

And in your expert opinion, Mrs. Wilkes,

would you say there are characteristics associated

with false allegations of sexual assault in the Crawford case?

There are certain characteristics present in this case

that tend to appear more often in false allegations

than in the case of true sexual assault.

In the case, specifically, are there physical characteristics

that match established guidelines for false allegations?

Yes, there were. would you list them, please?

Mrs. Crawford's damage to her clothing

was inconsistent with that of her injuries.

Writing on the body is also very common

in false allegations as is self-mutilation.

And probably, most important of all,

the expected laboratory findings of rape are absent.

The District Attorney office has,

in an attempt to fracture our resolve,

issued subpoenas for myself and my clients,

Astrea Crawford and her mother.

I've agreed to testify to show

the vicious indifference

within this city's lily-white power structure

as young Astrea's cries for justice go unheeded.

So upon hearing of Mrs. Crawford's alleged rape in the papers

you contacted her family with an offer of your services?

My help to a constituent, Mr. Stone.

I supply no "services."

This help was in the form of a suggestion

to Ms. Crawford and her family

that she not cooperate with the duly-constituted

authorities in this investigation?

I embraced the family's hope for justice.

Only in subsequently bonding together as a whole,

our desires for justice for Astrea the individual

were only surpassed by those issues lying on the larger plane.

Which are?

Four centuries of oppression, Mr. Stone.

We became front-line activists in the struggle

to uproot a system of injustice

through this particular case.

Congressman, the purpose of this grand jury

is to determine whether a particular crime

has been committed, and if so,

was there an attempt to bury it,

as has been charged in various public forums

by yourself.

Therein lies, the problem, Mr. Stone.

For the real agenda here should be

the American system of justice

and its treatment of black Americans versus that of whites.

For better or for worse, it's the only system we've got.

Circumventing it, sir,

no matter how noble the perceived ends,

cannot be justified. And if you persist

in preventing Ms. Crawford and her family

from testifying before this jury,

I have no other alternative, sir,

but go to warrant for their arrest.

We must have the truth, not only for the black community

but for every one of the citizens of this city.

You leave me no other option.

Then you'll have to excuse me, Mr. Stone.

I can find no justifiable reason

to be party to this mockery of truth and equality.

Your Honor, as the evidence of this hearing establishes,

the defendants were served subpoenas 10 days previous

to the notice date of grand jury appearances.

They have, as the evidence shows,

willfully and deliberately failed to appear.

The People request immediate determination of contempt

and ask the Court to impose

the maximum sentence provided by law.

Mr. Gaines?

The defendants' stated position has been clear for some time, Your Honor.

The DA's issuing of said subpoenas

was a clear attempt to break the resolve

of this girl's stance on racial justice.

Spare me the diatribe, Counselor,

this is a hearing, not a trial.

While there is unfortunately much truth

in the stated position

that minorities in this city often fall onto uneven terrain

within the Court system,

that is not reason enough for your clients

to ignore the lawful mandates of this Court.

Is it your intention

to show any pertinent information

in the defense of this contempt citation?

Apparently, none that would do any good, Your Honor,

as it is becoming readily apparent

the Court's mind is already made up.

Tread lightly, Mr. Gaines. I'm becoming annoyed.

Given the legal documents submitted by the People

and the lack of any substantive defense,

this Court finds both defendants guilty of contempt.

You are hereby sentenced as followed:

Mrs. Thelma Crawford,

$250 fine along with 30 days' incarceration;

Miss Astrea Crawford,

30 days in a suitable juvenile facility.

At the end of that time,

or before, if they wish to cooperate

I will see them in this courtroom.

Your Honor, request incarceration be delayed

until immediately after the next grand jury date

so that defendants can reflect upon the Court's decision.

So ordered.

Yes, Mr. Gaines?

Congressman Eaton would like to make a brief statement.

All due respect to Congressman Eaton,

he has no business in this Court, Mr. Gaines.

Justice silenced is justice denied, Your Honor.

Congressman Eaton, go ahead, sir.

Your Honor, for the record I'd like to state

an overwhelming sense of disappointment

at the Court's handling of this affair.

Excuse me - J sir.

Yours and Mr. Gaines' clear implication

is that I have been sitting here oppressing black Americans,

and I will not have it.

And while I'm on the subject,

this Court would like to advise the defendants...

in my legal opinion you have had reprehensible

and irresponsible advice

from their retained counsel.

I hope you take what time has been granted

to fully examine the situation

and purge the contempt citation.

This Court does not relish

having you spend one hour in jail,

for what it perceives to be

the self-serving actions of others.

If Eaton convinces the girl and her mother to be martyrs

and take the 30 days,

we're dead in the water.

Now suppose that Angela Wilkes' theory is right,

that this thing started as a child's fib.

You think you could prove that Eaton took the ball,

orchestrated it for the media,

and keep the mother and the girl out of it?

I don't think that'll fly.

It'd be like a witch hunt. we're jumping around, looking for a villain.

And I actually think Eaton might still believe the girl.

We may have one more shot.

Gimme the day.

- why me? - He'll see you.

Just your presence will defuse the situation.

I'll do all the talking.

Paul, I just know the man from the "rubber chicken" circuit.

Look, I know I can cut this short.

He's got to be feeling pressure at this point.

If I provide him with a graceful exit he might take it.

Or he eats you for lunch...

holds you up to the press

as a "Tom" messenger, sent by the white establishment.

So what? So what, we sit back

and watch him tear the city in half?

He's already set back race relations 30 years.

I work with these people. I know how they feel.

There is no cover-up.

You know me. You think I'd be a party to it?

This is unbelievable.

I become a lawyer, turn down wall Street,

go into the one area I think I can help,

and everybody thinks I'm a damned "Oreo. " Excuse me, Father.

Maybe there's another way. Have you talked to the mother?

Eaton's got his hand in her back.

She's talking, but he's pulling the strings.

The Crawfords are parishioners.

If I can get her to talk to you alone...?

I'll take a run at her.

Mr. Robinette?

You okay?

Yeah.

Father warren said you wanted to talk to me.

How about we go get some coffee?

I can't stay long.

This thing has gotten...

I don't know what to do.

It's gone too far.

Did it happen?

Did any of it happen?

She's pregnant.

The Hill boy?

But we're Catholic.

She was terrified.

Her daddy, he has a terrible temper.

She wanted to have an abortion.

She thought by saying that white cops raped her that...

He'd let her have it.

I never thought it would get this big.

This is a part of it?

I had to tell him the truth.

That's not the point.

You give me the view from where you sit, "Mr. Jive DA,"

and tell me I got no reason to be up behind this?

I'm saying there's no reason to go on with it,

and I'm giving you an out.

The city will drop the cross charges

and the gag order will work both ways.

No quotes, no fingerpointing from anybody,

including us.

And it'll just disappear from the papers?

No fuel, no fire, Mr. Crawford.

The press will print other people's speculations,

but they're not going to print their own.

Look, I don't know what you need me for.

She's already agreed to it.

It won't work unless everyone's in agreement. And Eaton?

That'll be my problem.

Fine.

I'm sending a social worker by.

Look, we don't need any more help from you.

That's not an option, Lester.

You beat her again,

I'll come at you every way I know how.

If what you're telling me is true,

you may be the most simplehearted,

"down-the-river" nigger ever to wear a tie.

You want to call them?

They won't pick up the phone.

Don't you have any sense of connection to your people?

Cut the crap, Congressman,

there are no cameras here.

The thing was a hoax.

It's over. Let it go.

A hoax?

You know that now,

I know that now...

but does it really make a difference?

What do you think the point of all this madness was?

Besides the obviously self-serving aspects?

How long do you think it will be again

before our entire society

is focused on an issue of racial equality?

Ends justifying the means?

You look me in the eye

and you tell me this system is just...

this system is equal.

At times, the system stinks, Eaton.

I know that as well as you do.

But don't for one damn minute

tell me that your self-aggrandizing polarization

is going to solve the problem.

Don't tell me that tearing down a 200-year-old justice system...

no matter how flawed...

is going to alter the consciousness of a society.

We're past the separate- drinking-fountain stage.

We're past legal discrimination.

We're at the hearts- and-minds stage.

And believe me,

there's no quick fix.

Your intentions

might have been good...

but your execution stunk.

Another zombified soul

casts his vote for order

rather than justice.

Negative peace over positive peace.

Paraphrasing Martin Luther King's thoughts

won't lend credence to yours.

King walked with the angels.

You'd slide in slime on your belly

to get what you want.

So, he said we're out?

And they agreed to what?

Gag orders all around, we drop the cross complaints...

Drop the - What the hell does that get us?

"Get us"?

Granted, it's not the best deal on the surface,

but it's livable, it'll work.

It'll help the press deflate themselves.

Cops were named. Records maligned.

What, you want no casualties?

Six months and people will know it was a hoax.

It'll be back page news.

He'll live with it. By morning he'll probably love it.

You think I sold out?

Does it matter what I think?

If it does, I'll tell you,

but it's something you decide for yourself.

You got a "shave yourself in the morning" speech?

Maybe.

Do you think of yourself as a black lawyer, or a lawyer who's black?

Depends on the context.

You made a decision based on something from within.

You live with it, examine it. It's all you got.

You think by morning I'll come to love it?

No, but I don't think you'll have any problem

with the guy in the mirror.

I'll see you tomorrow.

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