Original subtitles

On my first day of law school, my professor says two things.

First, from this day forward, when your mother says she loves you, get a second

opinion.

And? If you want justice, go to a whorehouse.

If you want to get fucked, go to court.

Naomi! Let's say you have a client who you know is guilty. No, don't even start

with that. Our justice system doesn't care about that, and neither do I. Every

defendant, no matter who he is, regardless of what he's done, has the

the best defense his attorney can provide.

Period. So, where were you with the truth?

Truth?

How do you mean?

Naomi!

I'm not sure how many ways there are to mean it.

You think there's only one? I can't do this. You're late.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Okay. Actually, you're right. There is only one. One that matters. Marty, hold

still, please.

My version of it. The one I create in the minds of those 12 men and women

sitting on a jury.

Now, if you want, you can call it something else.

The illusion of truth.

If you want, it's up to you.

Okay. Yeah? Yeah.

Jack, is that it? You need some more stuff?

Oh, yeah. Tomorrow afternoon?

Yeah. All right, I'll let my secretary set it up.

This is a cover story, right? Yeah.

photo session while we have the boys here with His Excellency.

I'll be back in a few minutes.

Please bear with us. Enjoy your dessert.

Marty, what an unexpected surprise. Well, I'm here to help our friendly

prosecutor off the hook. Excuse me?

What's it going to cost?

A lot less than the alternative.

Tomorrow, my office, 930.

Is this on?

Ooh, yes, it is. Nice to see you. Ladies and gentlemen, we have come to the

heart of the matter, the reason we've all gathered together here tonight.

This is the fifth straight year that it's been my privilege to serve as your

master of ceremonies.

Chicago Bar Association and Catholic Charities. I'm afraid you're going to

to put that out.

It's a bar, for Christ's sake.

I thought you quit.

I cut down.

You look beautiful.

Did you cut your hair?

Yeah, a few months ago.

Do you want to dance?

There isn't any music.

Sure there is.

I

thought

you liked it better like this.

That way you don't have to look at the person.

Look at me.

Come on, let's go find a bar I can still smoke in.

Thanks for the invite.

But I don't like one -night stands all that much.

We saw each other for months.

It was a one -night stand, Marty.

It just lasted a bit, then.

Well,

I must say, I haven't seen this many lawyers and politicians gathered

in one place since confession this morning.

There is no way that people are going to tolerate a monetary award to a

cockroach who deserves 20 to life.

He may be your client, but Joey Pinero is a hard case felon.

Dealing, racketeering, money laundering, attempted murder.

Nancy, I didn't hear you say alleged. Did you hear him say alleged?

Mr. Pinero has never been convicted of anything.

Cops jumped in, left him bleeding in the snow. It's a miracle he survived.

Having said that, I'm not opposed to a settlement.

A million five and Pinero leaves the state.

You can't limit a citizen's right to live wherever he wants to.

Legally, that's unenforceable. Whether or not it's enforceable or just a

gentleman's agreement, Mr. Panera will know what we want.

Get the answer you're looking for?

Sit around and chat. It's been a pleasure.

You're worse than the fucking thugs you represent.

That's enough, bud. It's over.

Obviously, I've got to run this by him.

You're on 40 % commission, Marty. I have nothing but confidence your

recommendation will prevail.

Thank you, John.

Nice tone.

So what'd they say?

They're going to leave it off for a million and five.

I'm sure he'll see himself.

What do you think?

I think we should take it.

Unless you want to spend the next two years of your life tied up in a pellet

cord. No, fuck that.

Close it. Done. Gracias.

Okay.

Gracias. Salud.

Salud.

Hey.

Mia. Richard.

Oh, there's one more little thing.

They want you to leave the state.

They want you to disappear.

Disappear?

That's good.

Same bullshit, right?

What? I keep getting these offers from these guys, Marty.

What offers?

Well, a couple months ago, a cop walks in here.

He says, uh, you testify against Alderman Martinez and we'll owe you,

Say he did you a favor, say he's on your payroll, shit like that, right?

So I tell him to go fuck himself. Why? Because Martinez is a good man.

He's the only one holding out while the others try to turn South River into high

-rent condos.

Why didn't you tell me this before? Why?

Because this shit happens every day.

I didn't think it had anything to do with this.

No, you don't. Hey, I've spent a lot of money in this place. He spent a lot

more. I built a clinic here.

These people depend on me. I don't give a shit.

Send him checks from California.

I respect your advice, Marty, but

I can't take it.

I'll take the money, but I ain't going anywhere. This is my home. I don't like

it, Joey.

So what are they going to do?

Kill me?

Tried once.

How are they going to kill a man who never sleeps?

Get the money.

Too much. Hey. Not there. Not there.

That sound you like?

Fourth cut.

Very nice. Thank you.

You guys got enough fucking cops here?

No doubt. The police are going to have their hands full with this one. Captain

Stenner, could you tell us anything right now? I don't know anything. I just

here.

Captain Stenner, could you tell us what's going on? Hi, Andy. I haven't

anything yet. As soon as I go inside, I'll come out and tell you.

They should be home in bed, Abel. It's going around.

I'll consider that, Harvey.

Christ.

A mess, huh?

Sam, you got all you need?

Can you roll them over?

Four fingers, Sam.

Symbol B, 32 .156 is carved into the chest.

Ronnie, temperature's still warm.

Captain,

we got a live one on the run.

If you see now, a passing train has separated the fleeing suspect. You want

know what I hate? I'll tell you what I hate.

I hate when they go on and on about what big fucking whores the defense attorney

found.

We're the bad guys.

You know why?

Because we're always sitting next to some creep. We start to look creepy.

Plus, they assume they're guilty.

They assume they did it, like we know or something.

You don't know.

You don't ask. You don't care. You do the goddamn job.

It's not like they're your friends, for Christ's sake.

Well, some of your friends, but...

So,

why'd you leave the state's attorney's office?

It's an in -job.

Yeah, you either run for office or you end up a judge.

Or become an umpire when you can play ball.

around St. Michael's and the Archbishop's Mansion.

We will, of course, stay with this shocking story as it continues to unfold

throughout the day. Now, what we do know right now is that at approximately 11

.08 this morning... So when did you know you had them?

What? Sorry. Was there a moment during the Pinero trial when you said to

yourself, I've got them?

The day I took the case. Excuse me.

Chicago's most beloved figures.

Archbishop Richard Brushman has left the city just now. Okay, understand we have

Andy live. Let's go to Andy. Diane, we have just learned that Chicago police

have arrested a 19 -year -old man tentatively identified as Aaron

according to Captain Abel Stenner... We're going to have to reschedule it.

my office on the campsite. ...runs underneath McCormick Place just minutes

the murder of... ...Chicago.

Through cold -blooded savagery, a beacon of hope has been taken from us.

Hello, this is the Martin Vale.

You got the news on by any chance?

Yeah, we're watching it. All right, I want you to call Sullivan and Judge

Trotter's office.

Find out where they took him and call me right back. I'm at the alibi.

A lot of guys are going to want this one.

Okay.

The police have taken the first step acting with speed and determination with

the arrest.

Are you taking a stamp of case? I'm sorry, I can't talk to you about

Thank you very much.

State's attorney left, huh?

Yeah, he answered, no less.

He did?

Come and go on.

Lock up!

No, I bet it's for your brother.

Yeah, sure.

I'd like to see him alone, if I could.

All right, but I'm going to have to lock you in. Understood.

Know who I am?

No,

sir, no, I don't.

My name is Martin Vale.

I'm what you call a big shot attorney.

I don't.

I don't have no money.

No, I didn't think you did.

But I'm willing to take your case pro bono, which means you get all of my

expertise and hard work for free.

Or, if you want to, you could get the $40 ,000 a year court -appointed public

defender who will almost certainly escort you personally to death for your

choice.

No, no.

No, sir.

I'd surely be grateful for anything you could do for me. You're welcome.

Now, your full name is?

Aaron Luke Stampler.

Stampler.

From Kentucky, huh?

Yes, sir. I'm from Crixod.

Does it say that there?

How long have you been here in Chicago?

Two years next month, I think.

You ever been arrested?

No. No, sir.

So how do you know the occupation?

I was begging on the street up under Wacker Drive.

Bishop Rushman came by in his Cadillac.

He saw me and he stopped.

He took me into the Savior House.

I work as an altar boy.

I sing in his choir.

How long were you there at the Savior House?

A year, a year and a half.

Supposed to leave when you're 18, but Bishop Rushman let me stay on way

past my 19th birthday.

That was nice of him.

Yes, yes it was.

Aaron, did you have any reason to dislike the Archbishop?

Dislike? No.

No, sir.

He was...

He was like a father to me.

Yeah, but you... Were you

in the room when he was murdered?

How can you explain that?

There was someone else in that room, Mr. Bale.

It was a third person?

Yes, sir. Did you tell the police this? Yes.

Yes, I did.

But they didn't believe me.

All right, well, you tell me now.

I was returning a book to Bishop Rushman's library.

I heard a noise, so I went back into his bedroom.

Bishop Rushman was laying on the floor.

There was blood all over everything.

And then I seen a shadow. I seen a person.

leaning over Bishop Rushman.

It looked up, and then it came at me, and that's when I lost the time.

What does that mean, lost time?

I blacked out.

It happens to me sometimes.

I have spells.

I lose time. I can't remember nothing.

Why did you run from the police if you didn't do anything wrong?

Well, when I woke up, I was covered in blood.

I didn't know what to do. I got scared. I heard sirens, so I ran.

Look, I know how it looks, Mr. Bell, but I swear... Yeah, I don't need you to

try to convince me, Aaron. I just want you to answer my question. But I didn't

do this. You've got to believe me. No, I don't have to believe you. I don't

care.

I'm your attorney, which means I am your mother, your father, your best friend,

and your priest.

In other words, I don't want you talking to anyone but me from now on.

Not the cops, not the press, not the other guys in the cells here. Nobody.

Without my permission. You understand?

Yeah?

Yes, yes, I do.

All right.

Now the important stuff.

What's your suit size?

My what?

Suit size. About a 38.

Oh.

I don't know.

About a 38 long.

Okay.

Stampler was flushed by the police from his hiding place in the bushes behind

the cathedral.

The police chased him through the train yard just north of McCormick Place,

almost losing him as he scrambled over tracks before an oncoming train

separating him from the police.

In a later development, prominent local criminal defense attorney Martin Vail is

believed to have visited Stampler at the Maxwell Street precinct. After a brief

chase across the rail yard behind St. Michael's Cathedral, Stampler was

apprehended in a hole beneath train tracks.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

We've taken the first step in the process.

I can now take your questions.

Can you tell us anything about the altar boy group that Aaron Stampler was part

of? Not much at this time. Have you heard of the involvement of any of the

altar boys? We have no reason to suspect anyone other than Stampler. He had

access to the Archbishop's quarters.

He was caught fleeing the area of St. Michael's. The blood -soaked Aaron

Stampler was chased down under McCormick Place, but not before he was almost

killed by a passing train.

Sylvie! Yeah.

Sorry I'm late. We have a new client.

I was afraid you were going to say that.

Who?

You know what they're calling him already.

The butcher boy of St. Mike's.

I like that. Well, that's good. You're going to be hearing it a lot. This kid

who chopped up the Archbishop, he's our new client? Tommy, you're going to have

to try harder to get the word allegedly into your vocabulary, especially if you

want to be a lawyer.

There you go. Tommy, you want coffee?

No, no thanks.

He admits he was in the room when the killing occurred, but he didn't actually

see it happen.

Can I stop you right there?

He's returning a book to the Archbishop.

He heard loud noises in the bedroom.

He went in.

He sees a figure.

Someone in the shadows kneeling over the body.

He blacks out.

Next thing he knows, sirens are screaming. He's covered in blood. The

him in a train tunnel.

He's got the Archbishop's ring in his pocket.

He stole the Archbishop's ring? I didn't say that. I said it was in his pocket.

Is that it?

Yep.

That's, um... That's bullshit, Marty. That's the worst bullshit story I've

heard in my entire life.

Now, it's our bullshit story.

Okay, let's get to work.

Now, the name of the game here is motive.

As in, the prosecution doesn't have one. So, what we have to do here is prove

that someone else could have committed the crime.

Then we can establish reasonable doubt. So I want to know everything I can about

this guy, everything he was into. We go to database, go to Hall of Records, IRS

files, even his so -called charities.

So -called? I was a priest, for Christ's sake.

Now we're at this time.

B32 .156.

That was carved into the Archbishop's chest.

Allegedly. No, that was a fact. But I appreciate the effort, Tommy.

Thanks.

I also need case histories on murder by stabbing, murder by mutilation, murder

by religion.

Also, I'm going to need a psychiatrist.

You're telling me.

And not the kind that lives in a witness box, either. I need a real one this

time. And someone who knows about amnesia. What does he look like in

The butcher boy?

Like a Boy Scout.

A Boy Scout.

With a merit badge and carving.

The Archbishop was a close personal friend of Mr. Shaughnessy.

He came to me earlier this morning and asked me who was my best man.

I said you.

Thank you.

I trust Mr. Shaughnessy. If I am to prosecute this case, I'll be given the

authority which comes with the assignment.

You're the one trying the case.

Let's establish one thing at the outset.

I want the death penalty.

I'd like an opportunity to go over the case before we make a determination on

whether or not to seek the death penalty. I'm open to anything you have

Janet. But in my mind, there's no debate.

Did he say anything?

The boy they picked up?

Yeah, he didn't do it.

It's a slam dunk, Janet.

Excuse me. I appreciate your faith in me, and I don't mean to be

Hey, that's what we pay you for. But if it's as open and shut as you say it is,

then you don't need me.

The P. deal.

Plead no contest, throw the kid on the mercy of the court.

There's not a public defender.

He's got a lawyer?

Already? Who?

Hey, I'm Martin Vale.

I'm defending Aaron Stampler.

What did Inspector Mover say?

Oh, the booker boy, huh?

Thank you. Yes.

Forgot his real name.

What's the matter, Marty?

Lost your faith?

Looking for a little religion?

Now, tell me, Counselor, which one of us is the true headline chaser here?

Unlike you, I was assigned to this case.

Yeah? And you're up to it?

Sell the book rights yet, or are you going to wait a while?

Want to see some pictures?

Come on, they're kind of cute.

I think you'll agree they clearly show the heinous nature of the crime.

A small piece of advice.

Don't use the word heinous in the courtroom.

Half the jury won't know what you're talking about.

One small piece of advice.

I'm not sitting second chair to you anymore.

In case you hadn't noticed, I graduated.

I had no reason to leave.

You had every reason to leave.

How can you still work for them? What, you really expect me to trot out after

you, Marty?

Quit just because you did?

I don't need a Mercedes.

I don't need to see my face on the evening news.

You knew I was coming here, didn't you?

You knew I would defend him. That's why you took the case. You asked Shawsy for

this, didn't you? Oh, please.

What's the matter, Marty? Are you nervous?

It's been a while since you've repped up against a woman with a brain.

What is the matter?

Are you tired? You haven't been sleeping well?

You're the one with the score to settle, Marty.

I sleep great at night.

Where is he?

Over here.

All right, we'll be sitting at a table together, along with two of my

associates. Now, once the charges are read, the judge is going to ask you how

you plead.

Not. Not guilty? No.

But I'm not guilty, Mr. Vail. I don't care. It doesn't matter.

Keep your mouth shut. You don't say anything.

Well, you're going to say I'm not guilty.

I'll say whatever I say. You don't have to worry about it. But, Mr. Vail, I...

This is exactly what I'm talking about. This can't go on in the courtroom, so

you might as well get used to it now.

I speak.

You do not speak.

Your job is just to sit there and look innocent.

Well, I am innocent.

That's it. That's exactly how I want you to look. That's exactly it. Now, can

you remember that? Look in the mirror if you have to. That's the look.

I don't have to. This is how I always look.

Well, then you're way ahead of the game already, aren't you?

Don't smile.

No, we're going to find out what happened here.

The only pressure is to find the truth.

You've been talking to the police again, haven't you? I told you not to.

As usual, they get everything wrong.

Come on, how are you going to explain the fact that he had bloodstained

on him? We all saw that. At this juncture, I'm not going to explain it at

I've only recently been retained in this case.

Significant facts are in dispute here and continue to be in dispute.

Marty, you're a master at putting the victim on trial to help your own client.

That's going to be very difficult in this case. A victim in this case is my

client. We have two victims here and no suspects. Thank you very much. Are you

worried about his safety, Marty? No, thank you.

There won't be any questions.

All right.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

Bayliss. State versus Aaron Stempler.

Is everyone here? Sit down. Is everyone here?

Yes, Your Honor.

Madam Prosecutor.

The state charges the prisoner Aaron Stampler with the crime of murder in the

first degree.

How does your client plead, Counselor? Your Honor, if it pleases the court, I

need time to make a complete psychiatric evaluation before any charges are

brought against him. The state has more than enough evidence to warrant the

allegations, Your Honor. I agree. Motion denied.

Mr. Stampler, do you understand the charges brought against you?

Yes. Your Honor, I direct my client not to answer that question on the grounds

that his response may tend to incriminate him.

The defendant is taking the fifth on whether or not he understands the

Yes, Your Honor. Until we have a complete psychological evaluation, he

taking the fifth on any and all questions posed to him.

State v.

Appleby, your review of precedent.

Thank you.

I can't do that. No.

What do you want?

I'm looking for the room of a kid named Aaron Stampler Stadium.

You're the police?

I'm his uncle.

Thank you.

Go ahead.

This is Alex's.

Who's Alex?

He's one of the other altar boys.

An altar boy?

An altar boy was wearing this?

Well, not at the mass.

Well, this altar boy attacked a colleague of mine. He hurt him pretty

What do you think he was doing there in your room?

My room? Yeah.

I don't know.

I mean, I don't. I don't have nothing.

Know where I could find him?

Who?

Alex? Uh -huh.

No, I don't know where he is. You don't?

Who's Linda?

Linda?

Is

she

your girlfriend?

Where is she? I'd like to talk to her.

I don't know where she is.

Why did I get this feeling you're not telling me something, Aaron? I'm telling

you the truth. I don't think so.

Are you surprised that Alex attacked my friend?

No.

No, I mean, he has a temper.

Yeah, I'd say so.

Let me ask you this. Do you think it could be Alex?

Who was that figure you saw at the Archbishop's room?

Alex, I couldn't be sure.

But it could be him.

I don't know.

Aaron, you're not understanding this. The state wants you dead. If you don't

help me, that's exactly what they're going to get.

I... I'm trying. I can't remember.

I don't understand. Why would Alex want to do such a thing? For his own reasons.

Maybe someone hired him.

Hired by who?

What I need to know is, do you think he's capable of doing it?

I don't know. I don't know who's capable of such a thing, Mr. Vail.

Oh, thanks.

Sure.

So he claims there was someone else in the room and that he can't remember.

And you want me to look into this amnesia question and see what he

knows? Yeah.

What if he knows he did it?

Major causes of amnesia are substance abuse, seizures, head injuries, and

malingering.

I think the kid's telling the truth.

Okay.

Then let's get something straight.

I'm more than happy to go in and analyze him.

In fact, I'm looking forward to it.

But I won't go in there to validate his story, understood?

You do your job, I do mine, yada, yada.

That's right.

Listen, if I think it's necessary, I'd want to get an MRI, EEG, and neuropsych

testing, agreed?

Yes, doctor. Good night, doctor.

Good night.

I'll be recording our meetings for Mr. Vale.

So what we talk about isn't as confidential the way it might be if you

consulting with the doctor for help.

You may even call me as a witness. So if you have any questions about what I've

just said, you should raise them now while he's still here.

No, no.

No, ma 'am, I understand.

Good.

So, okay.

I think we'll be fine. All right.

I'll see you later.

Mr. Veal told me that there was a period of time surrounding the Archbishop's

death that you don't remember.

Is that right?

Yeah, yes. I lost the time.

I mean, I blacked out.

Have you had these blackouts before?

Yes, yes, I have.

When's the first time you remember them happening?

They started when I was about 12, maybe.

Were your parents aware of what was happening to you?

No, no, no. My mother was dead.

And your father?

No, no, no.

He was not a nice man.

Did you seek treatment?

Did I what?

Did you see a doctor for them?

Oh.

No, no.

You don't go see a doctor in Creekside unless your leg's broke.

Hey.

Can I talk to you?

Talk.

Excuse us. I'll bring her right back.

How dare you? What am I? I'm some kind of chess piece you can just move around?

I was in the middle of my lunch. When are we getting over Discovery?

What do you want, Marty? I want to know when we're getting all the discovery

I've got amongst Mr. Farrell. No, you don't.

You're looking to make a deal.

I have no authority to deal. I haven't discussed this with my client. Would you

excuse me? Well, if I thought we needed to make a deal, I have all the authority

I want.

Bullshit.

Shaughnessy wants the whole shot on this, and he's using you to get it.

Anybody in your position would deal this down to murder with no death penalty.

My position?

We have a fucking great case.

Great case?

Lack of prior record, no eyewitness, no confession, no motive. Hard evidence.

I assume this conversation means you're not going with insanity, which is a

shame. My shrinks would have torn him apart.

By the way, your pleading the fifth on the charges was brilliant.

It was good, wasn't it?

Yeah. All right.

You lose this case, you take the fall, not Shaughnessy.

Talk to me.

We're going to trial, Marty.

All right. All it takes is one.

Just one juror doesn't believe he did it. One juror with a kid his age looks

into that face. I've got to admit, that face is great. Are you prepping him to

take a stand? That stutter, it's priceless.

Oh, Marty.

Don't tell me you think he didn't do it.

Has little Aaron Stampler gotten to you?

We're not just talking about jail here.

It's about ending someone's life.

If you're wrong, Chauncey's made you do this. You gonna be able to live with it?

I'll live.

See you in court.

Your Honor, we stipulate that murder was done here.

Therefore, these photographs have no remaining probative value. This is not

murder. This is a case of mutilation and torture. The only reason the

prosecution wants to show these gory pictures to the jury is shock appeal.

is not true, Your Honor. They should be excluded. They clearly identify the

heinous nature of the crime, and they connect the defendant, who was found

covered in blood, to the crime scene. Perjudicial.

I beg to differ. Beg all you want. I don't care. Counsel, please.

The photographs are in, Mr. Vail.

Now, would you two like a reset so you can carry on this discussion in private?

I'm sorry, Your Honor, but this is too much.

Next thing you know, he'll be objecting if we want to bring in the murder

weapon.

Well, now that she brings it up... This is

a public building.

Excuse me, Mr. Vail.

Would you sign this for me?

What about Linda? Mr. Bale said she was your girlfriend.

Yes. Yes, she was.

How'd you meet?

Well, we was both at the Saviour House. I was an altar boy. She was

doing work for Bishop Rushman.

What was the relationship like?

Me and Linda?

Mm -hmm.

She's real cultural.

Real cultural and very smart.

We had a nice time together.

We might get married.

Were you sleeping together?

Well, that's private.

I know. I have to ask a question.

Were you having a sexual relationship, Aaron?

Yes. Yes, we were.

Were you sleeping with anyone else at the time?

No.

Was she?

Has she been to see Aaron?

Well, no, but... Did that upset you?

No, no. Thing is, she went away.

She went away for a while.

She left before this happened, I don't even think.

Don't even think she knows about it.

Hey, you got something for me?

Yeah.

There's nothing cataloged at the downtown branch under the numbers

don't think the B is a B.

I think it's an A.

I think it's a nice place.

832 -157.

Thomas Jefferson?

I don't think he did it.

All right, well, I'm not going to be much happier with this. A list of the

archbishop's charities and his foundation's investments.

Nothing startling here except for how many there are.

Yeah, yeah.

South... What was he telling me? The South River deal. Pull that up.

And then investors.

Shaughnessy?

That's Joey Pinheiro's neighborhood.

See this lot here?

This all used to be house.

In fact, there was a house over there on the corner where I kissed my first

girlfriend.

Got her pregnant, too.

However, kiss, Joey. Oh, yeah.

Anyway, this whole neighborhood's gonna end up high -rent condos. Those guys get

their way.

That's why I'm gonna buy back the lot for the settlement you got me.

You heard about that, right? The money?

Who hasn't?

Marty's the best, man. Doing my job.

Yeah, maybe a fucking five. He's just doing his job.

Balderman, Joey tells me a cop came around.

Wanted to set you up.

It's typical.

Can't buy me, so they try and buy a brother.

See, most people assume that this land we're walking on belongs to the

But it doesn't. It belongs to the church.

The church.

Mm -hmm.

So that's the Rushman Foundation.

That's right.

Along with a bunch of rich developers.

Including John Shaughnessy.

Oh, yeah.

Then they got greedy.

Started buying up all the land and old buildings around the church property and

tearing it down.

Our old neighborhood was going to disappear.

So I went to the archbishop and I said, what are you doing to these people?

They're poor.

They're getting kicked out of their homes.

And they're Catholic.

Fucking hell.

I listened.

I couldn't believe it.

He told them to stop developing around the trust property.

So the partners are left holding these empty buildings.

They can't knock down the land they can't build on. That's right.

Shaughnessy loses millions.

Look, if I need you to, will you testify?

On me?

Oh, yeah.

Easy.

Just change out of this suit, put on a Brooks Brothers with loafers, passers.

You bet. Thank you. Now you.

Sure.

I'll testify.

Well, you know what people think.

They think this great city runs itself.

They think it gets up and goes to work and climbs into bed at night just like

do. They're unaware of what it takes to make sure the whole damn thing doesn't

break down.

Crime, fires.

Riots. The goddamn water pipes bursting under the city. Christ, what a fucking

mess that was.

I know there's a water commissioner calling.

The contractor who built it?

No, he called me.

They all call me.

Goddamn, that's terrific.

They call me because I keep the peace.

That's my job.

This city doesn't burn because I won't commit it.

I'm the great negotiator.

You think people get that?

Who does? I don't care.

Dumb bastards don't even vote.

All they want to do is eat, sleep, watch TV, and occasionally fuck their wives.

Guess we should all thank you.

You're welcome.

John, you need some new material.

I've heard this great city speech ten times already.

Your boy Pinero's not on or on his side of the deal.

Is that what this dinner's about, Pinero?

No, Bart.

I told him what the deal is.

Easy, Corona.

What's the other part?

I understand your assistant's been digging around in the Archive of

Affairs.

Which did you lose when he pulled the plug from South River, John?

Let me tell you something.

It's a mistake to stick your thumb in the eyes of the most powerful people in

the city.

It's not their eyes I'm aiming for.

Do not fuck with me, Marty.

Pipes are bursting again, John.

In the most anticipated murder trial in recent Chicago history, former state's

attorney prosecutor Martin Vail will lead with his opening statement on

of Aaron Stanford.

Richard Rushman was a man of God.

He spent his life giving to the people of Chicago.

He was a beacon of inspiration, not only as a spiritual leader, but as a

citizen.

My name is Martin Vale, and the reason I'm here, and the reason you're here, is

to make sure that the whole truth is known.

Now, we can begin to learn the truth.

By talking about what the prosecution does not want you to hear. Do not be

fooled by the defendant's innocent appearance and demeanor.

Aaron Stampler sat in judgment of Archbishop Rushman and determined that

only should he die, but he should die the most brutal way possible. Aaron was

arrested within minutes of the Archbishop's death. We all know that. We

it on television.

But why?

Because? He was convenient because there was enormous pressure on the police to

solve this problem. The evidence will show that Aaron Stampler stalled,

ambushed, and savagely murdered this great man.

Prosecution does not want you to hear about the other altar boys in the church

choir who have mysteriously disappeared.

At the close of evidence, ladies and gentlemen, you will learn that Aaron

Stampler had everything he needed for the perfect assassination.

Using this knife, Aaron Stampler repeatedly...

stabbed at the Archbishop's chest, his genitals, his eyes.

They don't want you to hear that the Archbishop made investments on behalf of

the Roman Catholic Church and that those investments resulted in huge losses to

some very, very powerful people.

They don't want you to hear about the 20 death threats this year alone that the

Archbishop received prior to his death. And they really don't want you to hear

about their theory of motive.

Why is that?

Very simple.

Inspector Woodside, can you explain to the court where these sneakers came

They were taken off the defendant when he was apprehended.

And what was the result of the bloodstain analysis done on them? The

the analysis proved to be human blood matching the blood type and DNA

characteristics of Archbishop Rushmore.

What's the bloody footprint surrounding the body tell you? The killer left a

pattern of bloody footprints around the area of the struggle as indicated by the

spread of blood through the room.

All right, yes or no, Inspector? Could there have been a third person in the

Archbishop's quarters that morning?

There is no evidence to suggest that. Oh, but there's no evidence to prove

wasn't? No.

And after the struggle, what happened then?

Well, analysis suggests that the killer was startled during the mutilation and

ran from the bedroom down the stairs.

Is it possible, Inspector, that the real killer, the third person, who

maybe was smart enough not to tramp a whole freeway of blood... The whole

here. Couldn't this third person have placed the defendant's prints on the

while he was passed out?

Mr. Vail, anything is possible.

So clearly the victim suffered a great number of stab wounds.

Yes, he did. 78.

He tried to defend himself, and that explains the cuts on the hands and the

forearms. Doctor, isn't it a fact that you can't be sure whether more than one

person inflicted these 78 stab and incised wounds?

That's true, Counselor. It could have been more than one person, but I doubt

From your analysis of the knife wounds, Dr. Weil, do you have an opinion whether

the killer was left -handed or right -handed? Well, the incised wound to the

throat and most of the chest wounds were made from an angle that strongly

suggests that a left -handed person was using the knife. To your knowledge, is

the defendant left -handed?

Yes, he is.

Well, then it's possible that a right -handed person could have deliberately

used his left hand to inflict some of these wounds.

Yes, I suppose that is possible.

Then it would be reasonable to assume...

That there was, in fact, a third person there at the crime scene.

Reasonable note.

But it is possible.

Then following opening statements, it was a day of strong and detailed

from the prosecution's first witnesses, Cook County Forensics Chief Harvey

Woodside and Cook County Medical Examiner Emile Weil.

It was also a day of tough cross -examination of Woodside and Weil by

defense attorney Martin Vale.

By most accounts, though, the prosecution... Captain Center, I would

thank you for all the time you've given us today.

But finally, I would like to turn your attention to the symbol carved into the

Archbishop's chest.

Now, would you please tell the jury about that, Captain?

Yes, the letter and the numbers B -32 -156 were carved into the

Archbishop's chest.

What you just described.

Have you been able to find an identical reference anywhere?

I believe so, yes.

The symbol.

B32 -156, is actually catalog code for a book discovered in a private reading

room located in the church basement.

That particular number, or the B32 part, refers to a book, The Scarlet Letter,

by Nathaniel Hawthorne. When we opened the book to page 156, we discovered

an underlying passage.

Would you please read this underlying passage to the court?

No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to

the multitude without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.

Thank you.

What does that passage mean to you, Captain?

Objection. He's a policeman, not an English professor. His interpretation

be speculative and irrelevant.

I didn't hear her ask for an expert opinion. A witness can answer.

Well, to me, it's simple.

The killer thought that his victim was two -faced, dishonest in some way.

In your experience, Captain, do killers ever intentionally leave clues to their

motive? Not often, but it happens.

Thanks.

Thanks, man. Yeah, let's go.

You want to go on that boat?

You underlined that book.

No, no, Mr. Vail. No?

No, Mr.

Vail, I never even opened the Scarlet Letter.

I don't, don't, don't like Hawthorne.

I tried to read that one about the house with the seven somethings in high

school. I couldn't even get past page ten.

I mean, I weren't the only one using Bishop Brushman's library.

You know, everybody borrowed books from Bishop Brushman.

He encouraged it. There was altar boys and staff. Everyone was in there. Go

ahead.

Don't give up, dear.

So, you didn't know anything about it?

No. What about the impact?

Look, I can't talk to you right now.

My officer called you, right?

Yeah. Okay, bye.

Thanks. See you.

Bye.

What the fuck happened in that?

I guess that A was a B after all.

You think this is funny?

We're losing this case.

What the hell happened, Tommy? How could you have missed that?

Marty, there are 50 of them, plus the entire Chicago Police Department. How

I to know he had a private reading room in the church? Big job to know. Fuck,

Marty, you want my job? No, I want you to do your fucking job. Marty, come on.

I'm looking at a third man at the pension. Do you know that? Have you

that out yet? I don't have a third man. You know why I don't have a third man?

Because you can't fucking find him. That's why.

Is it that hard to find one indigent kid? Look, maybe we already got the kid

did this.

We have to at least consider the possibility that he did it.

All the hard evidence is pointing towards him and you keep refusing to

at it. I'm not refusing to look at anything. I don't think he did it.

Fuck you two.

We're up there in a couple of days and we got dick. So who's the two of you do

your fucking goddamn jobs, all right? Fuck.

hard for you to come here to Chicago.

Didn't know anybody?

No, nobody.

Didn't have any money?

No, nothing.

I want to talk more about your girlfriend Linda now.

Can we, Aaron?

I'm sorry.

Do you think we can do this later?

No, I want to stay with this for a minute.

I'm just a little tired.

I know. Why does talking about Linda Forbes upset you?

It doesn't.

I just don't want to talk about it right now. Why not?

Are you all right?

No. my hand hurts okay okay i'm sorry let me just

hey you know what

i can do with this thing well how the should i know

What was you saying?

Okay.

What do you want? God damn it, I'll kill you. I don't think so, Alex.

Drop it.

Drop it.

Remember me, huh?

My name is Martin Bale. I'll give him a fucking name. He's got no right to it. I

have a fucking right.

I'm not his staff or his attorney, you little shit.

Now, what do you know about the Archbishop's murder?

I swear I know nothing.

What are you doing over there? What are you doing in that man's house? What are

you looking for?

A tape. A tape?

Video tape?

Yeah. Of what?

Sex stuff.

Sex stuff?

You want me to draw a picture for you?

Who?

Ho!

Me, Linda.

And Aaron?

Yeah, he shot a two for the Archbishop.

Are you telling me that Archbishop Rushman is involved

with sex stuff?

Yeah. He called it purging the devil.

He'd say a sermon for ten minutes and then he would tell us what to do.

I don't give a fuck what you believe.

Hey, hey, hey.

What are we going to do? What are we going to do with the tape, huh? What are

going to do? Trash it.

He's going to throw it away.

Just one.

One tape. Just one tape. Yeah, yeah, one. He'd use the same one. He'd keep

recording over and over. So what made you think Aaron had this?

I don't know. I thought maybe he got it and he went back and killed him.

I mean, he did kill him, right?

No, he didn't.

So where's this girl? Where's Linda?

She freaked out. She panicked. She split.

I don't know. I'm not expecting any postcards.

One bunk and three meals a day.

Hey, you can't arrest me. You're not a cop. I used to be. Is that work for you?

Don't get up. Finish it. It's a good article.

You know the rules.

Don't disturb anything. Don't remove anything. If you do, it's my ass. Yeah,

mine too.

I won't touch anything.

And bring the gospel to everyone.

Hello.

Alex. What are you guys watching?

Wait a minute. Go to her.

Good.

Now help her.

That's it Aaron.

Good.

Linda help out.

Good.

Take off her blouse Aaron.

Here's motive.

Aaron, take her from behind.

Aaron, take her from behind.

Jesus Christ.

I need to

talk to him about it.

I think there's something we should discuss. I need to be alone with my

Do you trust me?

Do you?

Yeah, yes. Yes, of course I do.

Good.

Because I don't trust you.

I'm going to lay it all out for you.

I'm losing this case.

You know why I'm losing this case? Because my fucking client is fucking

me. I never, never, never, never...

No more bullshit. No more games.

Everybody thinks you did this. Everybody.

I'm the only one who believes you, and I am that close.

So I want it all out. All of it. Right now. Right here.

Did you underline that book?

Hey, hey, hey, look at me.

Did you underline that book?

No, no, no. No, I didn't. I don't believe you.

That is bullshit. I told you. I don't fucking believe you. I told you.

I saw the tape.

I saw the tape. I know what he did to you. Now, I want to hear it from you.

no, no.

Tell me the whole thing.

Don't fucking do this. I want you to tell me the truth, and do not even think

about it. You fucking killed him, didn't you? You did it. You killed him. You're

so full of shit. You did it, didn't you? Tell me the truth.

Don't lie to me. You little fuck, you did it. You killed him. You son of a

bitch. You fucking killed him. No.

What the hell you want from me now?

Quit your crying. I can't understand a goddamn word you're saying.

You little sissy, you make me sick.

Well, looky here. Who the fuck are you?

Who the fuck are you?

Hey, it's a myself check.

Who the fuck are you?

I got you now.

You're the lawyer.

You his lawyer, ain't you? Yeah. Yeah, with your fancy suit. I heard about you.

Well, my, my.

You sure fucked this one up, counselor.

It sounds to me like they're going to shoot old Aaron so full of poison it's

going to come out his eyes.

Where is Aaron?

Aaron's crying off in some corner somewhere. You scared him off.

You're going to beat me now, boy.

I'll give you a beating on principle.

Look at me.

You ever come in here and pull any of that tough guy shit on Aaron again, I

kick your fucking ass to Sunday. Do you understand me? I understand you. I

understand.

Aaron gets in trouble, he calls you.

Yeah, man.

Well, Aaron couldn't kick his own ass.

I mean, you seen him with the... Yeah.

Jesus Christ, he can't handle anything.

He sure as shit couldn't handle all that preacher's blood, could he?

If he'd have done like I told him, we wouldn't be in this mess.

But he got scared and... Ran off, got himself caught, this stupid little shit.

So Aaron did kill Rushman.

Hell no!

Jesus Christ, where'd they find you? Ain't you been listening to me?

Aaron don't have the guts to do nothing.

It was me, boy.

It was me. It was you. Yes, it was.

It was you.

He come crying to me like always.

Stuttering and whining. I can't take it no more, Roy.

You gotta help me, please. Please, Roy.

I said shut your mouth, you little girl.

Grow up. Be a man. Take care of yourself. Be a man. You know what I'm

Yeah.

His name is Roy.

Oh, jeez. I'm sorry. What is it, Marty?

Listen, Marty, I'm dying for a smoke. Do you have a cigarette on you? No, I

quit.

Fuck that. I can't live without it.

It's about around here somewhere. Roy.

Roy. Tell me about Linda.

Linda? Linda, yeah.

Well, who the fuck cares about Linda? Well, I care about Linda. I'd like to

about Linda.

That little tramp, let me tell you something. Everybody had a piece of her,

know what I'm saying?

I mean, she had Aaron wrapped up so tight, he actually thought she was his

girlfriend. It was pathetic.

She broke his heart.

So that's why you had to kill Rushman.

Because of the sex stuff.

You've seen the tape.

Son of a bitch.

You think I'm playing with you?

I will break your fucking neck.

I'm going to ask you again. Have you seen that tape? I saw the tape. Yeah, of

course I saw the tape. God damn it. God damn it. I told him to get that tape. I

said get the fucking tape. It's molded, you asshole.

This is going to fuck everything up, Marty. Don't you show that to a goddamn

person. Do you understand me? Do you understand me?

And this veil.

I need stitches.

No.

He didn't do it.

Aaron has no idea what just happened in there.

Let's see, and I'll find the big ones.

These are background, these repeated blackouts, the ellipses in thought, the

case ambidextrous. That's what I was trying to tell you when you came in

tonight. You may be thrilled by all this, but I'm fucked. I don't have a

It's textbook multiple personality disorder. Put me on the stand, I'll

He's insane.

I can't... I can't change a plea in the middle of a trial.

The judge would never allow it.

Besides, insanity is the hardest thing to prove.

Okay.

My professional opinion?

This is not a criminal we're dealing with. It's a sick kid.

He's sitting in a cell and it's not where he belongs.

Ask it.

Ask what?

The question you wanted to ask me before.

I don't understand, Mr. Bale. How can you defend someone if you know they did

it? How can you do that?

How can you fucking defend these fucking scumbags? Isn't that what you wanted to

ask me? It is, isn't it?

Huh? All those fucking coy questions, all that bullshit.

Bottom line is, how can you do what you do?

The first thing I ask a new client, I say, you been saving up for a rainy day?

Guess what?

It's rainy.

You think it's because I want to see my face in a couple of magazines?

About 15 seconds on TV?

I love it. I fucking love that shit. I really do.

But guess what?

That's not it.

You go to Las Vegas?

Yeah.

No, I don't go to Vegas.

Why do you think I don't go to Vegas? Marty, it's late. I think that we should

both just get up and go. Why gamble with money when you can gamble with people's

lives?

That was a joke.

I believe in the notion that people are innocent until proven guilty.

I believe in that notion because I choose to believe in the basic goodness

people.

I choose to believe that not all crimes are committed by bad people.

And I try to understand that some very, very good people do some very bad

things.

You know, when I was working for Shaughnessy.

I did something very, very bad. Maybe illegal. I was the prosecutor.

This thing that I did, I was very upset by it. I decided I'd leave. So I left. I

became a defending attorney.

Irony being that everyone assumes I'm fucking lying.

Anyhow, I made myself this little promise.

I would reserve my lies for other than my public life.

You print any of this, I'll sue your fucking ass.

Right, all right, so I made a little mistake.

No shit.

What do you want? You want a new suit? I'll buy you a new suit.

You made a mistake.

You told us the third man did it. So now you got your third man. And a fourth

man. And a fifth man. What are you going to do, Marty?

I really fucked up here.

You were right.

So how are you going to get him off?

I don't know.

What I know is Aaron did not commit first -degree murder.

Marty, you stabbed him a billion times. No, not Aaron.

To convict someone of a capital crime, the state must prove intent.

Roy had intent. Aaron didn't. Yeah, but the only way to prove that is to change

the plea to insanity, which you can't do mid -trial unless you're planning on a

career change.

I could have been mistaken, but I wasn't wrong.

Aaron is innocent.

It's Roy who is guilty.

This kid doesn't need a lawyer. He needs an exorcist. You are so full of shit.

You were not there and you didn't see it. There's one sick motherfucking boy,

man, who's been fucked around his whole life by his father, by his priest.

This kid does not deserve to die. And it's our job to make sure that a jury

believes he doesn't deserve to die.

Okay. Okay.

How do we do it?

Somehow introducing this whole abuse thing.

about the tape.

That's crazy.

That gives him motive.

It looks like that, but it's... No, actually, what it does is it turns this

whole thing around. It gives concrete documentation of what Rushman did to

kid. But we can't put it in.

You know that.

But we're not going to.

Okay.

What the hell are you doing?

Who is this? You know damn well who it is.

Barleycorn's Marty now.

Janet?

Cute porno.

Part of your collection?

Hey.

Where'd you get it?

Did you steal it?

Janet, I swear, I don't know anything about this tape. You are such a liar.

Think about it. I have. If this tape really has on it what you say it does,

last thing I'd do is give it to you. It gives you motive. You had to give it to

me. Why? You couldn't introduce it in court. The jury would despise you for

for dishonoring the bishop's memory. But if you get me to show it, motive or no

motive, I'm the one who looks bad, and you gain sympathy for your poor little

abused boy.

You think so?

I hate you.

Don't use it.

I have no intention of using it.

Usual stew.

You got it.

You're up to even more than that, aren't you?

I'm not up to anything.

You're opening a door. You think I'm going to walk through it? There's going

be a tiger on the other end, and I don't particularly care. It would be really

upset if you used it. I've just told you I'm not using it.

Fuck him. Fuck him?

Fuck you.

Thanks a lot.

All right, this is not your motive. What is?

I have motive.

Yeah? What is it?

I'm really going to tell you.

Well, you better tell the jury pretty soon.

Time's running out. Here you go.

You think you've got me.

You think because you know me as well as you do, you know how I think.

Well, I know how you think.

No, Marty, that was a... I'll talk to you later.

Later? What, they close in ten minutes?

No, I have to.

I've got nothing to lose.

How can your timing be so good in a quarter?

Think about it later.

Where's the tape? There's stuff on that tape.

Yes, there is.

Where'd it come from?

I had it on my front door last night. Who else?

What do you think he's up to?

Cut the crap, Janet. You're doing pretty goddamn well. You were balling it for

Christ's sake. Where is it?

At home.

My advice for you, if you really have aspirations beyond this particular

is go home right now and destroy this tape you should have destroyed like I

the minute you received it.

You don't think there's an original?

It's Stampler that's on trial, not the Catholic Church.

And if you haven't found another motive to hang it...

All right.

Please sit down.

Madam Prosecutor.

Ms. Venable.

It's Goodman.

Objection, Your Honor.

Investigator in this case. And under the work product rule, he can't be

compelled to testify.

Important evidence has just come into my possession, which I believe this

witness can authenticate. Mr.

Goodman, have you ever been to my apartment building?

Allegedly. Oh, I'm sorry. You're configuring to it.

I have been there.

I was delivering something. For whom?

Mr. Vale.

sent you to deliver something to me?

A videotape.

Did this have film?

I have a feeling it is, yes.

The people placed this half -inch videocassette... Please index.

Now, where did Mr. Vale get this tape, if it is indeed the... The closet of

Archbishop Rushman. He stole it? No, no, he borrowed it and did so. Mm -hmm.

Can you describe for me what's on this tape? There was a sermon by Archbishop

Ray, followed by, um...

A whole movie. Of what?

Some altar boys.

And what?

An altar boy lesson?

Having sex.

A porno movie?

Yes. Yes. This tape, this porno tape, was in the Arch Minded there. He was

um, the director.

Who was? Right in the corner.

And was the defense performing in the Archbishop's home movie?

Yes, he was. I believe her name is Linda Forbes.

Yes, she was.

And it was enjoying performing in this film with his girlfriend?

I will not ask you, Mr. Goodman, if you think we have just uncovered motive

here, once we've all seen the videotape.

No further questions.

Does defense wish to cross?

No, Your Honor.

Courts in recess.

Bailiff, please set up for the tape.

Yes,

yes, she was.

How did you meet? We were both at the Saigon.

I was an altar boy, and she was working for Bishop Rushman.

Doing what?

Were you sleeping with anyone else at the time?

No, no.

Was she?

No, no, no, no.

Is she anything to you, Aaron?

Yeah.

No, I'm still here now.

What?

Mr. Vail, are you prepared to proceed with your first witness?

Yes, Your Honor. The defense calls John Shaughnessy.

The people object, Your Honor. Mr. Shaughnessy has never been identified as

possible witness. Your Honor, may I approach?

Yes, you may. Thank you.

My client was on trial for his life here. He's always maintained that there

someone else in that bedroom.

Do you think Mr. Shaughnessy can somehow confirm that? Your Honor, the

Constitution of the United States takes precedence here, permitting the calling

of any witness to promulgate evidence of innocence.

That's clearly stated in the Sixth Amendment.

It's also profound in Brady v. Maryland.

Mr. Jones, you serve on the board of an organization known as the Rushman

Foundation. I have the privilege to be an honorary board member. Could you

briefly explain the nature and purpose of this foundation?

The Rushman Foundation was founded by the late Archbishop.

Its purpose is to invest in projects for the greater good of the community.

Greater good of the community.

Now, would that be true in the case of the now bankrupt South River housing

development?

Yes. Did you tell the court why the South River project was abandoned?

There was a difference of opinion as to the costs.

Wasn't there also a difference of opinion between the investors and the

Archbishop himself?

I don't recall.

Well, what kind of money are we talking about here?

I mean, just... How much money, Mr.

Shaughnessy, was invested...

In this failed South River enterprise.

$60 million.

What?

$60 million.

Wow,

that's a lot of money.

You and the Archbishop have been friends for, what, 20 years?

I think it's safe to say that the two of you knew each other really well.

That's right.

Were you surprised at the content of that tape that Ms. Venable submitted?

of course I was. So you never heard any...

allegations, charges against the Archbishop during that time. Not that I

no. No, especially since you were the State's Attorney for the last 15 years.

It would be fair to say that you've supervised all the prosecutions in Cook

County during that time, especially the prosecutions of all the prominent

figures. I also have a staff of a thousand of the best prosecutors in the

Yeah, yeah. But as State's Attorney, it was up to you, ultimately, to decide who

would be indicted and who wouldn't. Yes.

All right, let me just take you back now.

Let's go back to June 1985.

Do you recall any allegations of sexual misconduct against the Archbishop at

that time?

I don't recall that, no. Do you recall a young man by the name of Michael

O'Donnell who came to the felony review unit at your office?

I have no idea what you're talking about, Nelson. This is confusing to me

because I have this document here from the Chicago Metropolitan Police

Department. It says that, yes, Michael O'Donnell spoke to the supervisor of

unit over a period of two weeks, explaining to him the graphic details,

abuse he suffered at the hands of Archbishop Rushman.

Quiet. And isn't it also true, Mr. State's Attorney, that you then decided

your friend, Archbishop Rushman, was not going to stand trial for any of it?

He owed you big time, John.

You must have been really pissed off when he pulled out of South River.

What happened? What was it? He just finally said, I can't take it anymore.

said, no. Mr. Vail. You and your investors. Mr. Vail. 60 million reasons

him, you little cocksucker. That's it. Witness dismissed.

Courts and recess veil in my chambers now. Let's put George Pinheiro in a

shithead.

I'm starting looking for a job.

If you think you can use my courtroom to wage personal vendettas and settle old

scores, you are sorely mistaken.

I'm striking Shaughnessy's testimony from the record as irrelevant, and I'm

holding you in contempt to the tune of $10 ,000.

So what you're telling me is I can't get a fair trial in your courtroom, is that

it? Be very, very careful, Mr. Bale.

You're on dangerous ground here.

Fine, fine. You want me to make that check out to you, Judge? Do you want me

take you off this case?

You're making a mockery in my courtroom, and I am not going to allow it.

I suggest you start representing your client and stop representing yourself.

Do this later.

No, I want to stay with this for a minute.

I just... I'm feeling very, very, very tired.

Yeah, I know.

Why does talking about Linda Forbes upset you?

It doesn't. It doesn't. I just... Okay.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Hey,

you know what I can do with this thing?

How the fuck should I know?

Dr. Arrington, how much time have you spent with Erin Stampler?

Around 60 hours.

And what did you find in the course of your evaluation?

I found that Mr. Stampler suffers from an acute disassociative condition,

specifically multiple personality disorder.

Objection, Your Honor. Dr. Arrington is only stating what she herself has

personally observed. Your Honor.

Counselors.

Now I know what you're doing. Will you excuse us for a minute?

If he wants to question his client's sanity... Your Honor, I'm trying to

establish medical basis for amnesia. That is not what he's doing. He's saying

he's crazy.

Are you?

No, I am not.

I will allow you to proceed with this witness if you are very, very careful.

Absolutely.

Yes. Write down that he said that.

All right, where were we?

Could Aaron Stampler have been present during the murder of Archbishop Rushman

and not remember it?

Yes, he could.

Okay. Could you explain that, please?

Mr. Stampler's state at the time of the offense was such that his body could be

present at a homicide, and yet his mind would be unable to recall it.

And how was that possible?

The neurological mechanism that would make this possible began with the early

abuse suffered at the hands of his father.

In defense...

Aaron's like he splintered and helped him to create two separate

Your Honor, Mr. Bale. I didn't say it. You have been warned twice now.

Do you really want to pursue this line of questioning?

I suggest you think long and hard before answering.

Your Honor, just one last question.

All right, Dr. Arrington.

In your opinion,

Is Aaron Stampler capable of murder? No, he is not. He is far too traumatized to

express normal anger and frustration.

He keeps his emotions repressed, which is why he created Roy, who is capable of

such a crime.

Objection, Your Honor. That's enough, Mr. Bale. The jury will disregard this

witness's last statement, as will the court. Thank you very much. Madam

Prosecutor, do you wish to cross?

You bet I do.

Since you brought it up... Against the instructions of the court. I'm curious

know, is multiple personality disorder your primary area of expertise?

It's not my primary field, no. Is forensic psychiatry your primary area of

expertise? No, I'm a neuropsychologist. I see.

So you have no forensic experience, and you're more of, oh, let's say, an

academic.

Then you will forgive this rather academic question.

I'm driving in my car.

Somebody cuts me off. I think to myself, I could just kill that guy, but I

don't, now do I? I would hope not. That's right.

Things happen to us.

People wrong us.

But we don't all go around inventing psychopaths to do our dirty work for us,

now do we, Doctor? I'm not suggesting you suffer from multiple personality,

Venable. I'm saying Mr. Stampler does. Yes, I know, we heard.

You've also testified that you have met this, um...

What was his name again? Roy. Roy what?

He didn't give a last name.

I see. Did this Roy tell you that he had murdered the Archbishop? Mr. Vail was

alone with him at the time. I was watching through the window. But soon

that, I was in the room and saw both Roy and his transformation back to Aaron.

Did you happen to tape this appearance of Aaron?

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I just, I cannot get used to this name. Roy.

Did you?

No, the tape was off.

Off?

So you have no record whatsoever of his appearance?

No. No.

Does Aaron Stampler know the difference between right and wrong?

Yes, he does. If Aaron Stampler... Butchered the Archbishop. Would he know

Aaron Stampler murdered the Archbishop?

Would he know that he had broken the law?

Yes, he would.

But it wasn't Aaron who killed the Archbishop. Oh, yes, I know, Doctor.

It was Roy.

That's all.

No further questions, Your Honor.

Witness may step down.

Ms. Venable, if you would like to reopen the prosecution's case and call the

state psychiatrist, I would certainly agree to it. No, I don't think that's

necessary, Your Honor. I think we all get the picture here.

Mr. Vail, are you ready to proceed?

Would you like a recess?

Could you tell us a little about your relationship with Archbishop Freshman?

Well, he was like a father to me. I loved him very much. Why did you love

Why? Uh -huh.

Well, he saved my life.

I mean, he was the only person to ever treat me like I was worth anything.

Stop your whining, you little...

We've all seen that tape that you were in, Aaron.

How'd that make you feel? Did it change your feelings about Archbishop Rushman?

No, no.

He was a wonderful man.

So you didn't feel anger towards him about being forced to perform in that

No, he did everything for me.

There wasn't nothing else I could do for him, and he needed it.

There was someone named Roy.

No, no, I don't.

You heard Dr.

Arrington's testimony about what she and I saw there at the jail.

Aaron, it's pretty strange things going on there. Do you remember?

I heard what she said, but I don't remember any of that. No recollection?

sir. Did you kill Archbishop Rushman?

No. No, sir, I did not.

Mr. Stampler, would you like some water?

No, no. No, ma 'am. You sure?

Yes, ma 'am. Yes, ma 'am.

Mr.

Stampler, did you believe that the Archbishop wore masks?

I'm sorry, what did you say?

Do you think he acted one way in public and another way in private?

No, no, no, I didn't think that.

Isn't that why you underlined the Hawthorne passage?

Mr. Stampler?

No, I did not underline that book. You didn't underline it?

No, no, ma 'am. And you didn't carve the numbers referring to that passage into

his chest?

No. No, ma 'am, I did not. I told you I... You loved him.

You loved him like a father.

Even though he made you and your girlfriend perform demeaning sexual acts

his own gratification.

No, you don't understand.

He... There was no other way for him to cast out his own demons. He needed it.

He needed to get off, Aaron. That's what he was doing.

That's what he needed you for.

To perform like a circus animal. That was your function in his life?

No, no.

Oh, Mr. Stampler, I'm going to ask you straight because I am tired.

And I've had just about all I can take of this sordidness. And I want to go

home. And I want to wash my hands. And I want to forget all about you and

Archbishop Rushman. Did the Archbishop force you and your girlfriend and others

to perform sexual acts while he watched Yes or No?

No. Yes. Yes, he did. Yes, he forced you.

He forced you using a threat of expulsion from Savior House and a life

street with no heat and no water and no food. He put you in front of a camera.

He made you take off your clothes and you don't think that that's another

Another face of a man that we all thought we knew? Do you know what I

if someone did that to me? I would kill him. I wouldn't hesitate.

No. I would stab him 78 times with a butcher knife. I would chop off his

fingers. I would flash his throat open. I would carve numbers into his chest. I

would gouge out his eyes. I swear to God.

But that's me.

No further questions, Your Honor. Where the hell do you think you're going?

Excuse me? Hey! You look at me when I'm talking to you, you bitch!

Mrs. Stampler! Fuck you, baby! Come in here! Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

Come on!

Back off! Back off!

Hey! Come on, asshole! You see if I don't break her on the fucking neck!

Come here! Fuck you, Marty! I ain't walking out of here just slow!

Hey! Come on!

Come on!

No! No!

I didn't even think of lighting that cigarette, Ms. Venable.

How's your neck?

Hello. I could call a doctor.

Mr. Shaughnessy just called to inform me there will be no mistrial, as if that

was his right.

This scumbag has a boss to call out.

No.

What matters to me is what you have to say.

Obviously, your case has been damaged.

In fairness to the prosecution, I will declare a mistrial, regardless of what

Monsieur Shaughnessy and Vail think, if that's what you want.

Prosecution doesn't want to try this case again, even if it could.

Which it can't.

At least not by me. And I think I can guarantee you there's no one in the DA's

office who will. So, it's up to you.

I'm going to dismiss the jury in favor of a bench trial and a blind plea of not

guilty by reason of insanity.

Yes? Yeah. The defendant will be remanded to Elgin for an evaluation

30 days. Let them decide the term of his commitment.

Do either of you have a problem with that? Your Honor, he'll be out in a

Take it over to the legislature, Ms. Venable.

I'm going home.

Your Honor.

No, Mr. Vail, I am not refunding your contempt fine.

And the next time you want to get a client off on insanity, you plead that

Or I'll have you disbarred.

You okay?

Am I okay?

Do I seem okay?

I get attacked by this sick twist.

I've lost the case. I'm out of a job. No, Marty, I'm not particularly okay.

hey, you won.

Justice was done. Who the hell cares, right?

Congratulations.

You knew, didn't you?

You knew if I went after him, he'd wig out up there.

Well, I knew he'd come out if he was threatened.

And who better to do that than me?

You used me.

Yeah, I did.

And that's nice.

What did I use, by the way, that was so terrible?

I knew you'd do your job.

I knew you'd stand up to Shaughnessy.

I knew you'd try to win the case.

What's wrong with that?

I lost my fucking job.

And that's good. You should have left him years ago. Oh, Christ. Marty, why is

it you think you always know what's right for me? Because I'm arrogant.

I'm very... very arrogant.

No.

Yeah.

I'd like a minute alone with him.

Are you sure? Yeah.

You

okay?

My head hurts.

You don't remember what just happened?

Lost time again.

Well, I got some good news.

They've agreed to stop the trial.

They're going to be sending you to a hospital.

You can get the help you need.

There's a very good chance that you can get out someday soon.

I can't believe it.

I don't know what to say, Mr. Vail.

It's all right, Arnold. It's okay.

I knew the minute you came into my cell, I knew everything was going to be okay.

You saved my life.

When will I see you again?

Well, that's up to the courts now.

I don't want you to worry.

I'm going to stay on top of this.

Okay?

Thank you.

All right. You can give me a call if you need to, okay?

I will.

All right.

Hey, Mr. Vail?

Yeah.

Will you...

Tell Miss Venable I'm sorry.

Tell her I hope her neck is okay.

What did you just say?

What?

You told me they'll remember.

They black out.

So how do you know about her neck?

Well, good for you.

Marty, I was going to let it go.

You was looking so happy just now, I was thinking, but to tell you the truth,

I'm glad you figured it.

Because I have been dying to tell you.

I just didn't know who you'd want to hear it from, you know?

Aaron or Roy, Roy or Aaron?

Well, I'll let you in on a little secret.

Sort of a client, attorney privilege type of a secret, you know what I mean?

It don't matter who you hear it from.

It's the same story.

I just had to kill Linda, Mr. Vale.

That cunt just got what she deserved.

But cutting up that son of a bitch Russian, that was just a

fucking work of art.

You are really good.

Yeah, I did get caught though, didn't I?

So there never... There never was a Roy.

Jesus Christ, Marty. If that's what you think, I am disappointed in you. I don't

mind telling you.

There never was an Aaron, Counselor.

Come on, Marty. I thought you had it figured there at the end. The way you

me on the stand like that, that was fucking brilliant, Marty.

And that whole thing about act like a man, Jesus, I knew exactly what you

from me. It was like we were dancing, Marty.

Guard. Oh, come on. Don't be like that, Marty.

We did it, man. We fucking did it.

We're a great team, you and me.

You think I could have done this without you?

You're just feeling a little anger here because you started to care about old

Aaron. I can understand that, but...

You know love hurts Marty. What can I say?