Original subtitles

Appearing in numerous high-profile Hollywood films,

the body was discovered in a Santa Barbara motel room.

Our field reporter, Ann, is coming to us live from the scene.

What can you tell us about this?

We are live outside the Pacific View Motel in Santa Barbara, where stuntwoman Paula

McCarthy, just hours ago, was found beaten to death in her room.

What we can tell you at this point is that shortly after the body was discovered,

Ms. McCarthy's husband, Barry McCarthy, returned to the motel.

And he has been undergoing police questioning since that time.

They're coming out now.

Let's see if we can get a statement.

Excuse me.

Officer, are you arresting Mr. McCarthy?

Are you arresting him for murder?

No comment.

Mr. McCarthy, is there anything that you'd like to say?

When's the last time you saw your wife alive?

Yes, sir.

Are you arresting him for murder?

Yes, give me Debbie Gardner, please.

Could you please tell Ms. Gardner to return one of my phone calls sometime today?

It's Dr. Eric Spindler calling from Los Angeles.

I've left my number several times already.

Hallelujah.

Trauma 2.

All right.

Drop that on the railing.

Good.

Can you guys check the girl?

Okay.

But IV's running.

IV here.

What do we got?

All right, I sent 38-year-old mail.

BP's 90 over 60.

Respirations are eight.

Depressed skull fracture.

Okay, where?

Parietal occipital region.

Jeez, he's swelling up like a balloon.

Let's get him upstairs.

I'll call the OR.

Who's on call?

David's operating a couple shot.

Damn it.

Is he conscious?

I don't know.

He's bleeding out of the ear.

Do an MRI, Jesse.

There's no time.

Let's get him out of here.

No.

What do you mean no?

Take a look at that X-ray.

How much fluid do you need to see?

If we don't release the pressure inside his

cranium, he will suffer severe brain damage.

You're risking that by going in and not

knowing where the full insult to the brain is.

Just do an MRI.

No.

Let's intubate him to get him to the OR.

I will not let you cut him open.

Yeah, but it's not your call to make, Eric.

Chris!

Matt!

Please, get Dr. Spiller away from my patient.

Now!

I said get him out of here!

Yes, doctor.

You're making a mistake.

Don't do it!

You look wiped out.

I heard Travis' patient is partially paralyzed.

It wasn't Jesse's fault.

Like hell.

He should have done those tests.

He never should have cut him open.

He had no business doing what he did.

I was there, Eric.

I assisted.

Jesse had to open him up to relieve the cranial pressure.

It was the right thing to do.

Yeah.

I didn't ask you to dinner to talk about Jesse.

You and I, Dr. Spindler, are pregnant.

You were using birth control.

Not that time in the Pacific Ocean I wasn't.

Oh, man.

Okay.

I can get you through this.

Actually, I do know somebody.

You think I'm getting an abortion?

Of course you're getting an abortion.

No, I am not.

What did you think I was gonna do, Jerry?

Marry you?

No, but you don't have to act like that.

Such a disgusting thought.

Just give us a minute, will you?

I know what this is about.

This is about money, isn't it?

How?

That's why you got pregnant.

Well, I got a newsflash for you.

I am not supporting you or your child.

You bastard!

Hold on!

Hi.

Are you Jesse Travis?

It depends.

Is that a bill?

Hardly.

Are you Jesse Travis?

Yes, I'm Jesse Travis.

It's nice chatting with you.

Where in the world did you find my Little League picture?

I found them in the closet under my old manual typewriter.

That's the game I remember.

You hit a two-run homer and one for your team that day.

Actually, I struck out three times and was hit by a pitch.

That was... Man, I'm toast.

Cooked.

Done.

Do you know what he's talking about?

I think it means he's having a bad day.

That's great.

You guys go ahead and make some jokes, but my career might be over.

You're being sued.

You remember that accident victim I operated on in emergency last week?

Mm-hmm.

It's his family.

Oh, boy.

They're suing both Jesse and the hospital for medical malpractice.

Well, why does his family think he did something wrong?

Because Eric Spindler told him I did.

Eric?

What did he have to do with it?

He's testifying against me.

He's running around telling everybody that I screwed up.

I can't believe that.

Yeah, well, believe it.

He's their chief witness.

Mark, you gotta help me find a lawyer.

You're gonna need a good one.

Hey, you're going to Atlanta this weekend for that convention.

Maybe you could talk to that friend of yours, that guy.

What's his name?

He lives there.

Who are you guys talking about?

Please, Mark, my practice is at stake here.

Jess, I don't think he takes that kind of a case.

Well, maybe you could just call him.

Who are you talking about?

He's very busy.

I'm not even sure he remembers who I am.

And I think he hates L.A.

Mark, please, my career.

My life is on the line here.

Could you just call him?

Sure hope you remember our deal.

For every hot dog you eat, you promise to walk a mile.

Oh, my Lord.

Hold on to your cash, Reggie.

Charlie.

Money seems to disappear when this man's around.

Hello there.

Still mad, huh?

Have a reason not to be?

How are you, Ben?

Okay.

Hungry.

How much is this man's tab?

375.

Don't think for a second that makes us even.

Boy, you can't carry a grudge, can't you?

Why are you here?

Ben, I need your help.

No.

Wait, I haven't even told you what it is yet.

I know.

That way you can get an earlier flight back to Los Angeles.

I'm going back Wednesday after the medical convention.

Ben, I need you to defend a resident of the community general.

Who's been charged with malpractice.

Nope.

Busy.

No, you're not too busy.

I spoke to your daughter.

She says your schedule's light.

This can't be about the money, can it?

I didn't make light.

No, I'm not gonna make light.

Ben, when you were back at Harvard Law School, what if

something had happened to jeopardize your whole future?

Something you didn't do?

Wouldn't you reach out to someone with the power to help you?

You flew all the way from Los Angeles to Atlanta.

Probably paid first class because you got plenty of cash.

And that's the best pitch you can come up with?

I thought you might want to sit up front with me in first class when we fly home.

First class.

Round trip.

Dr. Travis made his decision on the basis of an X-ray.

I felt it improper to perform surgery without the support of other tests.

Mm-hmm.

And you told this to the defendant before he went ahead and operated?

That's correct.

Without being able to pinpoint the exact location of the

damage, Dr. Travis exposed his patient to severe risks.

Your Honor, objection.

Unless I'm misinformed, Dr. Spindler is not an expert in craniology.

And while his opinion's interesting, it seems pretty irrelevant.

Ben, overruled.

Why?

Because Dr. Spindler witnessed the patient when he was admitted.

He witnessed the patient's symptoms.

He was nowhere near the operation.

I said overruled.

Uh, excuse me a second, Your Honor.

What?

Why don't you explain to the judge that a medical resident is not an expert and

therefore not qualified to give expert testimony?

That's what I said.

No, it isn't.

Who's trying this case, Your Honor?

Mr. Matlock or Dr. Sloan?

I'm trying the case, jackass.

Hey.

Uh, Mr. Matlock, that kind of language doesn't fly in my courtroom.

One more outburst and I'll cite you.

I apologize, Your Honor, but I just don't

understand why this man's allowed to testify.

Well, I don't know how it works in Atlanta, Mr. Matlock, but here in

California, when a judge says overruled, that means tough luck and sit down.

Hmm.

Hmm.

Bonehead ruling.

Uh, well, that's it.

I hope you don't have any plans for tonight,

Mr. Matlock, because you're going to a slumber party.

Whoa.

Stop pushing.

Hey, Jerry.

Wait up a second.

I was just gonna knock on Eric's door.

I, uh, fixed my sprinkler head so it stopped squirting on his driveway.

Are you all right?

I hate him.

Did you have a fine?

He's out of control.

I have to get out of here.

Jerry.

What's the matter?

What were you thinking, Jerry?

I wasn't thinking.

I just snapped.

I don't know.

You said you broke up with him.

Why'd you go back?

He accused me of getting pregnant so that I could go after his money.

Can you imagine that?

But why did you go back to his house, Jerry?

I didn't go back there to kill him, if that's what you're asking.

You understand that that answer's gonna have a lot to do with what happens to you.

After I left his house earlier today, I went home.

I started drinking.

You were drinking.

Jerry, you're pregnant.

You know better than that.

I have never done anything like that before.

I was so angry.

Some point later, I just had to talk to him.

So I called.

I don't think I was on the phone for more than 30 seconds before he hung up on me.

And then later on, when I went to his house and he was lying there on the couch,

listening to music, so unconcerned by all this, I just lost it.

Do you have a lawyer?

No.

Actually, there's a very good one in town.

As a matter of fact, he's in the building as we speak.

Hi.

Go away.

I'll come all the way down here to spend your last

hour in jail with you, and this is the thanks I get.

It's your fault.

I'm not the one to call the judge a bonehead.

I didn't call the judge a bonehead.

I said there's a bonehead ruling.

Thank you all, sir.

I'll try to see if he doesn't make a break for it.

You keep your Patience and stitches.

How you doing, Ben?

This mattress is two inches thick.

I chipped a tooth on something called cream chicken salad.

And if you haven't noticed, it stinks in here.

Well, you got 40 minutes left.

Thank God.

Ben...

I got another little favor to ask you.

Oh, come on!

A nurse at the hospital has been accused of murder.

What... what is it with your hospital?

Do you have to be a criminal to get a job there?

There is a little ironic twist of this case.

The guy that was murdered was the resident who was testifying against Jesse.

That Spindler fella?

Get out of town.

So... Ben?

No, I've got a case.

Hey, look how long can it take you?

I mean, she's pleading guilty.

It's a crime of passion.

It's a snap.

That's when I hit Eric over the head with a lamp.

Well, the good news is, if there is any... You won't be charged with murder.

Most it'll be manslaughter.

No, I won't.

You're not gonna believe this, but... It's my job to tell you, you are free to go.

Free to go where?

Wherever she pleases.

The charges have been dropped.

How can that be, Steve?

I killed Eric.

Apparently, you didn't.

Eric Spindler's toxicology report just came in.

He was killed by an obscure poison called monocaine.

When you hit him, he was already dead.

She's not gonna be charged with anything?

They might get her for defacing the corpse.

That'd be about it.

This guy needs to quit smoking.

You'd think in this day and time they could get a clearer picture.

That looks like a baseball glove.

Yeah.

Yeah, it kinda does.

What happens now to the malpractice suit against Jesse?

Eric Spindler was the big witness against him.

Well, I imagine it'd be dropped.

Without this Spindler fellow, the case doesn't have much weight.

Well, I believe we'll call the airlines.

Maybe I can get a flight to Atlanta at night.

What's your big hurry?

I wanna go home.

Be nice to make a little money for a change.

We haven't had a chance to spend any time together.

Well, I'll try and find a way to get over that.

All right, you've got to at least let me give you a physical while you're here.

Oh.

On the house.

On the house?

Yeah.

Get your shirt off.

We'll start out with a chest X-ray.

You better not find anything wrong.

You wanted to see me, Phil?

Yeah.

Uh, come in.

Steve, we had to change gears in the Spindler case now that we know he was poisoned.

Look, I wanted to talk to you about that.

I heard you signed it to Rogers.

Now, I have no problem staying on the case.

Actually, I have a problem with it.

You have a problem with me staying on the Spindler case?

We needed to reexamine who else might have had a motive

to kill Spindler, and someone pretty much jumped out.

It's Jesse Travis.

Jesse Travis?

Oh, come on, Phil.

You've got to be kidding.

Jesse's one of the most nonviolent, least vindictive people I know.

He also could have lost his license had Eric Spindler

lived to testify against him in a malpractice action.

Look, Phil, you've got to listen to me on this one.

There isn't even a remote chance that Jesse

had anything to do with Eric Spindler's death.

You know the bottle of wine we took from Spindler's house?

It had monocaine in it.

I know that.

It also had Dr. Travis's fingerprints all over it.

Plus, we found traces of monocaine on the porcelain around the sink at Dr.

Travis's bathroom.

It's a rare poison, Steve.

I figured you'd want to be the one to bring him in.

Then I want you off the case.

Now, before I go, I wanted to show you this coloring book that someone gave me.

See, all these wonderful pictures in here.

But, you know, as a doctor, I don't have much time to do coloring.

So, so maybe one of you can help me.

What's your name?

Harmony.

Harmony.

What a pretty name.

Maybe you can just give it a little tap there and then get some coloring done.

Maya, you might have hit a little too hard there.

See?

See that?

She kind of made them all disappear.

Now, maybe, hmm, maybe you can help me.

What's your name?

Kelsey.

Kelsey, maybe you give it a little soft tap.

So, oh, gentle and nice.

And I think that everything worked out nicely there, huh?

Thank you very much.

So nice.

Hey, and look at this.

The grand magician of all, Dr. Sloan.

If we're nice enough, maybe we can get him to do a little trick, huh?

Thank you very much, Jesse.

Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to show you a little piece

of prestidigitation involving this little lavender fluff.

I'm going to poke it into my fist.

And I'll tell you in advance, I'm going to make it disappear into thin air.

We simply shove it into the fist there until it's as tiny as we can get it.

Now, would you blow on that, please?

And poof, it's gone.

Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.

Jesse, can I speak to you outside?

Yeah, sure.

Okay.

Everyone back to bed.

Get a little rest.

And if we're nice enough, maybe Dr. Sloan will do another trick tomorrow.

In the bed.

In the bed.

Be good.

Sorry, Jesse.

Let's take a walk, Jess.

Mark, it's insane.

I know it.

Ben, I want you to do something for me.

Hey, uh, Steve.

What's going on?

I can't believe I'm doing this, Jess.

But I have to read you your rights.

What?

Well, can I help you?

I can't believe it.

It's really you.

Oh, well, you know.

I'm Amanda Livingston.

And I work with Mark Sloan.

And I was so afraid I'd miss meeting you.

I'm a huge fan of yours.

That's very nice.

Thank you.

I'm not taking Jesse's case.

Uh, well...

Well, was I that transparent?

Yeah.

Well, I practiced the whole way over here, too.

Well, I know a couple of good lawyers here in Los Angeles.

And they'll do fine.

Well, don't just throw your stuff in the suitcase.

There they're gonna get all wrinkled.

Look at them.

I'll take care of that.

So, where'd you meet Mark?

Oh, I just met him one time.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

You're putting my socks in my shoes.

Yeah.

It's safe space.

Uh, in college?

No.

Where?

Well, I was just starting out in law.

And I had a case here in Los Angeles.

And I ate a piece of bad fish.

And Mark was the resident in charge of the emergency room.

So... And that's it?

Yeah.

Whenever your name comes up, you act so weird.

None of us can figure out why.

He didn't say anything to you?

About what?

We don't call a taxi.

My plane needs a little over an hour.

Uh, you know, I wasn't kidding when I said I was a huge fan of yours.

Now, I followed a case of yours years ago.

Um, it was about a magician's assistant who was murdered.

Yeah.

And you convinced the judge to move the jury to Magic Mansion so that you could go

on stage and act out how the murderer committed the crime.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Any of your L.A.

lawyer friends do something like that?

No.

Jesse needs you.

I'm not above begging.

Bail is denied.

The defendant will be remanded into custody until

trial, which will commence on March 4th at 9.30.

This court is dismissed.

All rise.

Am I going to jail?

I'm going to jail.

Jesse, I warned you this would probably happen.

Bail's almost always denied an estate on a murder charge.

That's why we got him.

Let's go.

I can't go to jail.

Jesse, don't worry.

We'll take care of everything.

Don't worry.

You guys got to get me out.

Ah.

I thought Captain Bryan took you off this case.

He did.

I'm just, uh, spending the day with my father,

who also happens to be a police consultant.

A police consultant?

I thought I told you.

A doctor, a lawyer, and a police consultant.

Why?

I knew you guys were here.

I looked through the window.

I didn't go in.

According to Jerry, this is where Eric Spindler's

body was lying when she hit him with the lamp.

Yeah.

These earphones are broken.

Why do you suppose Eric would be using earphones and didn't work?

Maybe Jerry broke them when she threw the lamp at him.

I can't tell you what an honor it is to be working side by

side with one of the greatest legal minds in this country.

Thanks.

You already took the case, Amanda.

No, I was just cementing the deal.

You guys come here and take a look at this.

It's mud.

Fresh mud.

Well, do you think someone's been here since the murder?

Actually, I was wondering if they were here now.

Well, did you get the plates?

No.

Well, at least we know whoever was here drives a black pickup.

Maybe we'll get lucky and find some fingerprints on the door.

Yeah.

Where's Ben?

There you are.

What are you looking for?

You see any toothpaste or a toothbrush anywhere?

Maybe Mr. Spindler packed them up because he was going someplace.

Hey, you're good.

Well...

Well, if Eric packed a bag, it's not here.

You know, maybe he packed it in front of the car already.

I saw his car out in front.

Let's go.

Oh.

That's why I am a police consultant.

At least now we know he was going somewhere the day he died.

Does anything say where?

Eh... Santa Barbara.

Montecito Hotel.

Maybe he called somebody up there.

We should get his phone bill.

Yeah.

I'm on it.

Look at that.

There's a lot of sap on the hood of this car.

What's wrong?

Oh, nothing.

I just say there's a lot of sap on the hood of this car.

Oh, thank God you're here.

Well, I got twelve phone messages from you.

I'm losing my mind here.

I mean, this is a... It's a pretty scary place.

I know it's hard, but you gotta get a hold of yourself.

You're a lucky man, Jesse.

See, you've got a lot of really good friends out there.

And they're doing the very best they can to find out whoever did this.

Look, I know that and I appreciate it.

But I just want to get out of here, okay?

Have you got anything?

We have a couple of leads.

As soon as I have something concrete, I'll let you know.

Look, Ben, I-I know that you were all set to go home

and that you didn't really want to take this case.

Well, I'm on it now.

But I've got everything riding on you.

Jesse, if I couldn't give you a hundred percent, I wouldn't be here.

Thanks.

Oh, I was wondering if I'd see you here today.

Thank God, a friendly face.

How's it feel being at work?

Oh, work's okay.

But the people... Well, I guess just thinking I tried to kill Eric scares them.

It's hard to blame them, really.

I guess it just takes time.

How's Jesse holding up?

He could be better.

Ben, I knew Eric better than anyone.

If there's anything I can do... There's one thing.

Do you know if Eric knew somebody named Debbie Gardner?

No, I don't think so.

Why?

Well, Steve found out that he called her at the Montecito Hotel in Santa Barbara...

Six times the day before he was killed.

He was all packed and ready to go up there when he died.

Hmm.

What does it ring a bell?

That's why Amanda went up to Santa Barbara.

What?

It's only an hour and a half away.

She drove up for the weekend with the baby.

Looks like you've run out of real estate.

Goddammit, Debbie, you moved again.

Sorry, Hal.

All right, let's try and get this one right.

Everybody, back to Juan.

What is wrong with that woman?

I mean, how tough is it to stay on her friggin' Mark?

Stunt doubles, they drive me nuts.

Okay, people.

One more time, let's set it up.

Okay, reset!

Pretty amazing, huh?

Why'd you come all the way up here?

Well, do you honestly believe I could sit around L.A.

while Jesse's in jail?

While I have this incredible opportunity to crack his

case alongside the greatest defense attorney in the world?

How big a fool do you think I am?

That Debbie Gardner?

Ben, you really don't know what's going on here, do you?

Should I start guessing?

Well, you see, Debbie Gardner wasn't Ellen Tracy's original stunt double.

Debbie's sister Paula McCarthy was.

What happened to her?

Paula?

Oh, she was found dead a couple of months ago in a motel room.

Apparently her own husband killed her.

Oh, boy.

Uh, let's roll it!

Quiet, please!

Listen to this.

Shh!

Would you please hold it down back there?

And...

action!

Looks like you've run out of real estate.

Let's go, darling.

Unbelievable.

No kidding.

Wow, there's not enough money in this world to make me do something like that.

Sweetheart!

How'd I do, Jack?

Hey, you did great.

Thanks.

Gotta get out of these wet clothes.

You cold?

You did good.

Thanks.

Well, looks like she's on her way back to the trailer.

I want to talk to her.

You stay here.

I'll come back in a couple minutes.

I'd appreciate that.

Who are you?

You look familiar to me.

My name's Ben Matlock.

And you want to talk to me?

Well, I'm investigating the murder of a doctor in Los Angeles named Eric Spindler.

The guy who was calling me?

Yeah.

He's dead?

Was he a friend of yours?

No.

I didn't know him.

He called six or seven times, but I never called him back.

Walked in my truck.

Why was he calling?

I don't know.

I never spoke to him.

I kind of wish I had now.

What happened to him?

He was...

He was poisoned.

Some world.

You know, three months ago, my sister was found beaten to death in a motel room.

I know.

I'm sorry.

What did she say?

She said she didn't know Eric and never spoke to him.

Oh, she's lying.

Think so?

Yep.

There was sap on the hood of her truck.

Like the sap on Eric's car?

Maybe.

You know, Steve said whoever broke into Eric's house was driving a black truck.

Yeah.

Why are you here?

I told you, I like watching you work.

That's not why you're here.

Mark's worried about Jessie.

That's why you're here.

Mark told you to be here.

What'd he say?

I'm old and feeble and can't take care of myself?

No, he didn't say that.

Sure.

You want to make yourself useful?

Of course I do.

Call Steve and tell him to find out what he can about Debbie.

Afternoon ladies.

Hi.

Hi.

Did you see Dr. Rice?

Look.

My ultrasound.

It's a miracle, you know, having a baby.

You be sure and take good care of yourself.

Dr. Sloan?

You know, I was practically living with Eric.

Well, it's not a big secret.

Well, the problem is, a lot of my clothes and jewelry are still at his house.

How long are the police going to keep everyone out?

I could ask Steve.

There are some things there, like the earrings

my father gave me, that I'd really like.

Yeah.

Well, I have some pull with the police department.

I'll see what I can do.

Thanks.

And action.

Okay, come across the other side.

Terrific, terrific.

Pull her underneath.

Underneath.

I need more splashing.

That's great.

I need to talk to you.

Come on, man.

What?

Well, it looks like the sap on Debbie's truck

may have come from outside Eric's house.

How do you know?

Take a look at this.

Steve faxed me Debbie's phone bill.

Cut!

Okay, print that.

Let's get it up for the next shot.

I'm gonna talk to her right away.

I'm coming with you.

No, you're not.

Uh, Debbie.

Debbie.

What?

What is it, Mr. Matlock?

Uh, I'm, I'm, I'm so sorry to bother you.

I thought I'd already answered your questions.

Well, something else has come up.

Oh, look, if I don't get out of these clothes, I'm gonna catch pneumonia.

Oh, I can come back.

No, just be quick about it.

Okay, maybe, maybe, maybe you can explain this to me.

Wait, how'd you get a copy of my phone bill?

Look at that call down here.

On January 9th, 310-555-2134.

That's Eric Spindler's number.

I told you, I don't know Eric Spindler.

I never spoke to him.

Well, now you see why this is so puzzling.

Somebody called Eric Spindler on your phone and talked for 12 minutes.

Now, if it wasn't you, maybe, maybe I'll talk to your husband.

Jack left for banning New Mexico to visit his parents,

but I don't think that he talked to this guy in L.A.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm glad I get out of these clothes.

Oh, wait.

One more.

Do you usually drive the truck?

No, it's Jack's.

We just brought one car to the location, though.

So, I really gotta go.

Sorry.

My father gave me those earrings.

They were my mom's.

Did you look in the bathroom?

My wife always left her earrings on the sink.

It's the first place I looked at.

Maybe Eric put them in the safe.

What safe?

There's a floor safe somewhere in the house.

I'd like to see what's in it.

All right, let's see what we got.

Passport.

Pink slipped to his car.

Some letters.

Well, looks like it's your lucky day.

That is great.

It says Community General.

It is.

You recognize that guy?

No, never saw him before.

Well, me neither.

Well, I better get a copy of this to Ben.

There you are.

Hungry?

Oh, ravenous.

Listen to this.

I was poking around in Jack's truck.

When?

After I spoke with Debbie.

You'll never believe what I found on the floor.

It's all about Paul McCarthy's murder and the arrest of her husband.

Well, what's in the tape?

I don't know.

Sure makes you think it was Jack that broke into Eric's house, doesn't it?

Yeah.

Can you message 1407?

No check.

912.

Thank you.

Mark wants me to meet him at the pool in two hours.

I don't want to come all the way up here.

I'm going to have to tell him about a new invention called the telephone.

I've got to go.

Something wrong?

The hotel sitter called.

Thinks the baby's running a fever.

I'll talk to you later.

Okay.

Expand your park.

It's Jack.

Oh, God!