Original subtitles

"Inside the Beltway." Melinda Stuart speaking.

Something's going on in the office where I work

that I think people should know about,

and I'm not talking about some little divorce.

I mean something big.

It involves a big senator and big money.

Well, why are you calling me?

I-I don't know.

Your picture's above your column.

Should I call somebody else? - Uh, no.

No, uh, that's all right.

Look, why don't we meet somewhere?

And every three months, almost to the day,

Michael Fitzmorris...

He's Senator Crawford's legislative assistant.

He takes a three-day trip.

I don't know where he goes

because he makes the reservations himself.

Something is going on

because normally I handle all that kind of stuff for him.

So he takes a trip.

And on the very day that he gets back,

Senator Crawford always calls a meeting between himself,

Michael Fitzmorris, Robert Irwin...

The... The corporate attorney?

Yes.

And Jed Palmer.

He ran the senator's re-election campaign.

The meeting never lasts longer than 15 minutes,

and Michael Fitzmorris, who just got off the plane,

he always goes in with a very heavy-looking briefcase.

It always looks light when he comes out.

Right after that, Senator Crawford

flies to Zurich for a couple of days.

It's like he's got a bank account there

or something.

So you think there's money in the briefcase?

I'm sure of it.

Can you prove it?

Before I give you anything else,

you're gonna have to give me $10,000.

Look, I've been in this town

since I was 18 years old.

I sat in on a couple of Senate hearings

when I came here on a senior class trip,

and I thought, "Wow.

I wanna do what they do."

So I started as a secretary,

figured I could work my way up.

But the very first man I worked for

told me I'd move farther faster

if I slept with him.

And you believed him.

Pretty soon, I wasn't working my way up

so much as working my way around.

That's a mistake I kept making over and over again

in order to survive.

Well, I finally decided surviving is what animals do.

I want out, and in order to get out,

I need cash.

Now, do you want this story or not?

It's not a story unless I have proof.

You give me the money,

I'll get you your proof.

Melinda, here you are.

Naughty girl. You almost didn't get an invite, you know.

After that semi-veiled reference to me

in your column last week.

Social piranha, indeed.

Piranhas are little itty-bitty things.

Surely, I'm up there with the sharks at least.

Now, just when are you gonna bring

a date to one of these things, precious?

Then maybe we can spread some nice,

juicy gossip about you.

Actually, I was kind of hoping Jed Palmer would be here.

Ooh, follow me.

Anything to breathe some life into this party.

The guest of honor, the sultan over there?

So many wives, and wouldn't you know it?

Every one of them is a total bore.

Oh, Robert. Now, what did you do with Jed Palmer?

Melinda had her heart set on talking to him.

Uh, he's just over there.

Ah, I'll retrieve him, darling.

You stay here and see what muck

you can drag out of my husband.

He never tells me a thing.

I'm afraid I'm fresh out of muck today, Miss Stuart,

but I'd be happy to round you up a drink.

Oh, no thanks.

So how's Senator Crawford?

He's fine. He's here someplace.

I understand that you had a meeting with him

last Wednesday, wasn't it?

I may have dropped by the office.

I-I go there so often,

it's, uh, hard for me to recollect.

Oh, every three months

doesn't sound that often to me.

Ah, here we are.

Melinda Stuart, Jed Palmer.

Uh, come along, dearest.

I, uh, hope your interest in me

doesn't stem from a desire to run for office.

I've yet to run a losing campaign

and I'd just as soon keep it that way.

With all of my loyal readers out there?

What makes you so sure I'd lose?

I'm sure you don't have enough of what it takes to win.

And what's that? Money?

Sad, but true.

Now, I understand that Robert Irwin

promised you seven figures up front

to run Senator Crawford's last campaign.

That's why you ended up working for the senator

and not his opponent.

Where did you hear that?

I hear everything.

Sad, but true.

To this day, I don't think he knew the microphone was on.

Hello, senator.

Good to see you again.

Melinda Stuart, Washington Tribune.

Yes, of course. Sit down.

You write that delicious column.

I can say that because you've never written about me,

not once.

That just goes to show what an upstanding

citizen you are, sir.

Hell, it shows how old and boring I am.

Oh, I don't know.

Anyone who flies to Zurich several times a year

can't be leading too dull a life.

You make it sound as if he had a mistress there or something.

Well, what does he have in Zurich?

Old friends going all the way back to World War II.

Actually, I have an old mistress

going all the way back to World War II.

You know, rumor has it

that you like to do a bit of traveling yourself.

No luck with Jed, I see.

Not that it's any great loss.

Those creative types can be such rogues.

By the way, whatever did you say to Robert?

He hasn't been in a funk like this since Dicky resigned.

Hi.

Those guys are up to something, all right.

I can smell it.

But like I said, I need proof that it's illegal.

Bank receipts, memos, letters, tape recordings,

something that will tell me and the public

exactly what's going on up there, okay?

I'll have your proof for you by tomorrow night.

I promise.

Ten thousand dollars?

Yeah.

It's my own money.

I figured if I asked the paper for it,

they'd just give the story to somebody else.

Good luck.

And be careful.

Those guys aren't stupid.

Nice thing is, they think I am.

If we're gonna meet Dobson in the bar at 6,

we're going to have to hurry.

You won't forget my wife, now, will you, Karen?

No, I'm going directly from here

to the airport to pick her up.

Good girl. See you tomorrow.

Uh-huh.

It's gone. She took the bait.

Damn.

Call the others.

Looks like we've got a leak to fix.

Hello?

Karen,

I've been calling for two hours. You had me worried.

Well, I had to pick up the senator's wife

at the airport and then take her home.

Did you find anything?

Yes, yes, a ledger.

It was in Senator Crawford's desk.

Could you hurry?

I'm really starting to feel creepy.

Yeah. Okay, I'll be there in a few minutes.

Karen.

Karen?

Stay right there and don't move.

♪ When it's peach pickin' time In Georgia ♪

♪ Yes, it's gal pickin' Time for me ♪

♪ Yodel-ay-ee, hey ♪

♪ Oh-lay-hee-ho Ah-dee-oh-lay-hee ♪

♪ Whoa-ho-ho Ho-ho, ha ♪

You like that, don't you?

What?

Messin' with your ukulele.

Oh, yes.

I'll always like that.

I'll tell you something else I like.

What's that?

I like livin' in Georgia.

I love Georgia.

Home sweet home? Home sweet home.

No place like it. Ha-ha-ha.

I'll tell you the truth...

I'll tell you the truth, I just as soon

never have to leave Georgia again.

♪ Well It's peach pickin' time ♪

♪ In Georgia ♪ Ben Matlock.

♪ Apple pickin' time... ♪

Who is it?

Washington, DC.

Yes?

Come in.

Oh, you must be, uh, Ben Matlock.

Yes.

Tom Shuford. Oh, nice to meet you.

I'm not holding up the presses, am I?

Oh, not at all. Take a seat.

Thank you. Ahem.

Did you talk to Melinda?

Well, I thought I should talk with you first.

About your fee.

Well... Well, it's high,

but the paper has no problem with it.

Good.

You want your fee now.

All of it.

In advance. Well, yes.

Newspapers these days have a tendency

to do something that I find very disturbing.

Like what? Go out of business.

Mr. Matlock, this is the Washington Tribune.

We're solid as a rock.

Well, that's what they said

about the New York Herald Tribune.

Let's start right off

with everything, okay?

She was shot with your gun.

I never carried that gun with me.

I always kept it at home.

And you were caught running from the scene.

The burglar alarm went off.

I panicked.

The police say you gave this young woman $10,000.

Yes. She had given me some information

and she was going to give me something

that would prove it was true.

But she never did.

She never had the chance.

By the time I found her, she was dead.

The police think

you went over there to get your money back.

And when she refused,

you got mad and shot her

when she hit the panic button of the alarm system.

I didn't say that's what I believe.

That's what they believe.

She came to me because she thought

the man she worked for

was involved in some sort of conspiracy.

Are you talking about Lambert Crawford?

It's all on the interview tapes.

Senator Crawford, his aide, Michael Fitzmorris,

Robert Irwin, and Jed Palmer.

She was sure that they were up to something illegal.

They must've figured out that Karen was feeding me stuff,

so to get rid of both of us,

they murdered her and framed me.

This... This proof... You have any idea what it was?

She said it was a ledger.

Was it in her apartment that night?

I never looked.

What was that address?

Ben, hi. Come on in.

Oh.

I thought it'd be the police who let me in.

That's who let me in. Oh.

Ah.

Well.

Well.

Not bad.

Secretary, huh?

Secretary. Hm.

Well, not too shabby.

Ah.

Hm.

Extracurricular activities?

I guess whoever she was seeing wanted to see her in...

More comfortable surroundings?

Something like that. Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Oh.

Oh, and, uh, that ledger isn't here.

What do you think, probably back in the senator's desk?

Or in the desk of one of the other three.

Mm.

Senator? Senator Crawford?

Uh, I'm Ben Matlock from Atlanta.

I-I apologize for barging in like this,

but there's nobody out front.

It's all right. Come on in.

Things are a little discombobulated right now.

It's an honor to meet you, sir.

It's something I've always wanted to do

ever since you introduced that legislation

giving low-interest loans to students.

Without you, a lot of kids

wouldn't have had a prayer of going to college.

Please, sit down. Oh, thanks.

It's an honor.

Uh... Are you aware

that I am representing Melinda Stuart?

Oh. How can I help?

Well, Melinda's convinced that your former secretary,

Karen Wyler, was murdered

because she had gotten wind

of, uh, some conspiracy.

I liked Karen.

I can't tell you how much it hurt to hear

that she tried to sell some bogus story

about me to the press.

You think she made it up?

Somebody did.

Was anything taken from your office

the night she was killed?

No.

Lambert,

I just talked with Cole, I think he's ready to swing over.

Ben Matlock, this is my right hand,

Michael Fitzmorris. Hello.

Pleasure to meet you, sir.

Mr. Matlock is representing Melinda Stuart.

We were just talking about that story

Karen apparently sold her.

Oh, yes.

Uh, it's, um...

It's almost time for roll call, senator.

You need to get down to the floor.

Well, Mr. Matlock, it's been a pleasure.

Oh, my pleasure.

I'd vote for you anytime, sir.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

Next time under more pleasant circumstances.

It's... It's an honor. It's an honor.

Honor.

Uh, if you, um...

If you have any more questions,

maybe I could help.

Well, there is this one. Yes?

It's one of those awkward questions,

but in my job I have to ask.

Where was the senator the night Karen was murdered?

He was with me,

working on the speech that he gave the next day

soliciting support for his aid to the homeless bill.

We were right here in the office.

You can check the security... Oh, no, no, no.

I'm sure that's true,

and I'm sure that whoever works for Lambert Crawford

has as much integrity as he does.

Of course, that... That wasn't quite

the case with Karen, was it?

Well, sometimes the senator is too big-hearted

for his own good.

He knew that she was

what is known in this town as a Potomac Cadet.

Girls who don't mind being used

as long as it's by men with power.

He felt sorry for her

and thought that she deserved another chance.

Yeah.

Well, thank you again. Oh, my pleasure.

It's about time.

I fixed myself a drink, honey.

I hope you don't mind.

I'll be glad to fix you one afterwards.

You like it, Rufus?

You're gonna love it.

My name's not Rufus.

You've got the wrong room.

You've got the wrong attitude, baby.

Oh, oh. Wait.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

No, wait a minute. No, no, no.

Wait, wait. Wait just a minute. Wait just a minute. No.

Oh, wait, wait, wait.

Wait! Wait a minute. Wait.

Wait. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

Hey, hey, hey, hey!

What the hell's going on?

I was told to come up here and entertain you.

Who told you? Some guy who drove by,

said you liked surprises, and I'd like my money.

Two-hundred dollars.

You get out of here.

You can go in your dress or in your underwear,

but you get out of here now!

Get out of here.

What? MAN: Mr. Matlock,

if you're not back in Atlanta in 24 hours,

the pictures that were just taken

will go into the National Informer.

Mr. Shuford, we got a problem.

What kind of problem?

Somebody wants me to drop Melinda's case.

They hired a hooker and a photographer

to ambush me last night,

and now they're threatening to give the pictures

to one of those scandal sheets.

What did you tell them?

I told them to go to hell.

It's common knowledge your newspaper is backing me,

so if I get dragged through the mud,

you're going with me.

If somebody wants you off this case that badly,

it means something big really is going on.

Let's go for it.

Shuford.

Yes, he's here.

Just a moment. It's for you.

Hello?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, all right.

All right, I'll be right there.

Thanks for coming, Mr. Matlock.

Paul Davies, federal agent.

What's goin' on?

Karen Wyler stumbled onto something she shouldn't have

and made it worse by contacting your client.

Because of them,

a major investigation is now in jeopardy.

What kind of investigation?

All I can tell you is it involves national security.

I'm just trying to keep an innocent woman out of prison.

Your reputation precedes you, Mr. Matlock.

In order to prove your client is innocent,

you'll undoubtedly go looking for the person that is guilty.

We can't have that.

Your nosing around

could scare the people we're looking for off.

What do you want me to do?

Plead your client guilty.

Our investigation will be over soon.

We'll drop all the charges.

She won't spend a day in prison, I promise you.

You're crazy.

You know, we've been keeping an eye on you

since you came to town, watching the people

that we're investigating, watching you.

My men nailed the would-be blackmailer

just after he developed his piece of film.

Here.

All the negatives are there.

Who did this? I'm sorry.

I can't tell you that.

So in appreciation,

I'm supposed to do what you ask. Is that it?

You can do whatever you like, Mr. Matlock.

Just remember, these people play for keeps.

The next time, they may just do

a lot more than take pictures.

What are their names?

I can't answer that.

The highest levels of national security

are involved here

and any breach of confidentiality

could have severe consequences.

My superiors would like to know how you intend to proceed.

I'm sorry. I can't answer that.

Why, hello, Tyler. When'd you get in?

As soon as I could.

You know, I love this town.

I love the vibes here.

I have always been into raw power.

So I hear.

Well, these bigtime defense lawyers,

my experience has been that the guiltier their client,

the higher their fee, and the more outrageous

their behavior in the courtroom is.

Uh, excuse me, sir,

I'm, uh, Ben Matlock, counsel for the defense.

Before the beginning of any procedure,

I like to shake hands with the prosecutor.

I'm the judge.

And how does your client plead?

Not guilty, Your Honor.

Also, defense would like to waive time

and proceed directly to the matter of bail.

One million dollars.

One million dollars?

If I heard you correctly,

you heard me correctly, counselor.

As for the trial date,

how does 9 a.m. on the second of next month sound?

The prosecution has no objection, Your Honor.

Defense has no objection.

I'd like to see counsel in my chambers.

Do you think the Trib will spring for the money?

I hope so.

Mr. Shuford's got a bondsman.

Is Judge Dunaway going to preside at the trial?

It looks like.

He has a reputation.

Yeah? Yeah.

For being the most meddlesome, interfering judge on the bench.

Oh, now, don't worry.

That's just show for the press.

I'm sure I'll get in chambers

and find him to be a very reasonable man.

I hate to waste time,

and I hate to waste money,

and especially I hate it when I'm forced to waste both.

Of course, I understand

why you plead your client not guilty.

Because she's innocent.

I know perfectly well

that it's because you intend to turn my courtroom

into a headline-generating sideshow.

I intend to do nothing

but pursue a vigorous defense.

Counsel, my guess

is that what you intend to pursue is publicity,

and I won't have it in this case.

Formal news releases, the afternoon press conferences,

the leaks, all to taint the jury pool

and confuse the issues.

Your Honor... Don't interrupt, counsel.

I'm well-acquainted with defense techniques

of trial by the media.

So by this court's own motion and order,

defendant and the people

are under a blanket gag order in this case as of now

and continuing until further order of the court.

Good day, gentlemen.

We're in trouble?

He's tough.

Melinda.

Well, at least there's a party late this afternoon.

What party?

Clarissa Irwin's party.

Who's that? Robert Irwin's wife.

Oh, yeah. Thought I recognized the name.

I haven't seen her since I was, oh, I guess, 17.

She and my father are old friends.

They go all the way back to prep school.

Anyway, she's having a party and we're all invited.

All right.

It's, uh, black tie.

Well, I'll rent a tux and charge it to my employer.

I guess I'll see you all there.

Uh, maybe you'd better not.

But all of our suspects will be there.

Well, that's why.

I think we can operate freer if you're not there.

Go up to your room at the Mayfair Hotel.

Maybe you'd better stay there

and not talk to anybody, not even a bellhop, okay?

Yeah, I guess.

Oh, Michelle Thomas.

Look at you.

I turned my back and you grew up.

Aren't you gorgeous?

Thanks.

And these must be your associates.

Yes. Clarissa Irwin,

I'd like you to meet Ben Matlock and Tyler Hudson.

Nice to meet you. CLARISSA: Welcome, all of you.

We wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Uh, I rented a tuxedo,

but I didn't have time to put it on.

You look lovely in your suit. - Well...

Let me introduce you to everyone. Have fun.

We'll start very small and then work our way up.

I think the vice president's over here.

So finally, finally, the guy shows up

to shoot the commercial.

So we sit him down,

point him towards the teleprompter,

and start rolling.

Only then do we disc... Excuse me.

Robert, dear, I'd like you to meet

the one and only Ben Matlock.

Oh. And Ben,

this is my one and only husband, Robert Irwin.

Oh. Pleasure.

Hm, no champagne here, either.

Excuse me. You two talk about courts or something.

Uh, Henri, ou est le booze?

Clarissa mentioned

that you might be joining us this afternoon.

Oh, did she? Uh-huh.

Because of your client,

there's a rumor flying around town

that Senator Crawford and I

are involved in something illegal.

Oh?

There is no truth to it.

Lambert is a long-time client and a friend.

That's all.

Good friend.

Very good for a lot of years.

That's good It's nice.

Uh... I saw Senator Crawford myself today.

That's a man that I've admired

for a long time,

and, um, I hated to do it,

but, you know, I have to know

where other people were

who were involved with Karen

at the time of the murder.

You asked him that?

Oh, no. I wouldn't ask him.

I asked his, uh, assistant, Mr. Fitzmorris.

I see.

Would you like to ask me?

Well, yeah.

I was here at home with my wife.

Often I'm not, but that night, I was.

Excuse me.

All right. Who are you?

No one seems to know who you are.

Jed Palmer.

It's Michelle Thomas.

I'm an old friend of Clarissa's.

Well, who's your date?

Well, I don't have one.

You're that famous PR man, aren't you?

No, no. I'm, uh, not that famous.

I just make other people famous.

You sure did a job for Senator Crawford.

He was history before you took over his last campaign.

All in a day's work.

Your work must be fascinating.

Only to the uninitiated.

Of course, I could take you

somewhere truly spectacular and initiate you.

I'll get my coat.

- Evening, Mr. Palmer. - How you doing?

Fine, thank you. - Good.

Alright, mister. You behave and you won't get hurt.

The tux! Don't hurt the tux!

Who are you? I'm just a private citizen

who's seriously considering making a citizen's arrest.

We're federal agents, pal.

Oh.

What's going on?

Have a seat.

I'd like you to meet Mr. Whitehall,

and Mr. Cabek.

Federal agents.

He said he's your investigator.

That's because he is.

We apprehended him at the residence of Jed Palmer.

Michelle left the party with Jed Palmer.

As they drove off, I saw that they were being followed.

So I jumped in my car and followed the followers.

Turns out it was these guys.

Why are you people following Jed Palmer?

I can't answer that.

Well, I guess we have nothing to talk about.

Let's go, Tyler. I'm sorry.

Nobody leaves until the special agent in charge

reviews the situation.

He's on his way over here right now.

Well, give him our very best. Excuse us.

We made six separate TV spots,

aired them three times every night

on each of the major networks

for the last two weeks of the campaign and won.

Well, with all the bad press Senator Crawford's been getting

with this Karen Wyler thing,

it seems to me maybe your job ended too soon.

Well, that's, uh...

That's not my area of expertise.

However...

You think there's anything to that conspiracy story?

Nah,

the senator's about as benign as they come.

You never picked up on anything

even a little bit illegal

when you were working with him?

I'm just a media consultant.

Why all these questions about Lambert Crawford, anyway,

and, um, why are you so tense?

Am I?

In my professional opinion, yeah.

Would you like to try some of my therapy?

Thanks, but I think I'd better go home.

Just kidding.

I-I don't even know why you're in town.

You can tell me while I'm driving you home.

I'll take a cab.

Then how am I gonna find out where you're staying?

I'll give you a call.

I enjoyed the initiation.

Well, Mr. Matlock,

I was afraid something like this might happen.

The only thing that's happened

is that your men have detained my associate

and me here without cause for close to two hours.

Oh, I apologize.

Of course, I warned you

that something like this might happen.

How can we keep it from happening again?

Well, the easiest way would be to have

your client change her plea to guilty.

What's the next easiest thing?

For us to communicate.

How about you keep me informed

of all your activities from now on?

You can leave messages for me

on the machine at this number.

How about you keep me informed?

I can't do that. It's a matter of...

National security.

I wish I could tell you this won't happen again,

Mr. Matlock, but...

Well, at least they didn't hurt the tux.

And when you ran ballistics tests on it,

what did you discover?

Bullets fired from that weapon

matched those taken from the decedent's body.

And who was the gun's registered owner?

The defendant, Melinda Stuart.

Thank you.

No further questions, Your Honor.

Mr. Matlock?

Ahem. Lieutenant Norris,

uh, are you aware that Melinda Stuart

called the police to report

that that gun was stolen?

Yes, but... And when the officers arrived

at her apartment to investigate,

they found evidence to suggest

that a window had been forced open?

Yes, but... So isn't it possible

that someone broke into Melinda Stuart's apartment,

stole the gun,

used it to shoot the decedent,

left it at the scene of the crime to incriminate her?

Objection. This is speculation.

Withdraw the question.

Thank you, lieutenant. That's all.

No, that's not all, Mr. Matlock.

I think this witness was attempting

to explain his last answer.

Lieutenant?

Yes, sir. I was.

The jury has a right

and a duty to hear the whole truth,

Mr. Matlock.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

Uh, I apologize.

Lieutenant, uh,

didn't Miss Stuart call the police

to tell them that gun had been stolen?

Yes, only it was after the murder.

But considering the fact that she was arrested

at the scene of the crime

and held in jail until bail was posted,

didn't she notify the police the gun had been stolen

at the earliest possible moment?

That's hard to say.

Was there any evidence that her apartment

had been broken into?

Your Honor,

may I ask my own questions?

Proceed.

Was there evidence that her apartment

had been broken into?

The marks that were found at the window frame

could've been made at any time by anybody.

I didn't ask you that!

I asked you did it look like it was broken into.

Well, I suppose.

Nothing further.

Thank you, sir.

Redirect?

No, sir. The people rest, Your Honor.

The court will take a 15-minute recess,

after which the defense will begin his case.

We've gotta do something about that judge.

He's gonna have the jury convicting you.

It's not the damnedest thing I ever saw, but it's close.

I want you to put me on the stand.

What are you talking about?

I want you to put me on the stand.

Melinda, I haven't prepared you for direct examination,

forget what the prosecution will put you through.

I'm the client. Now, don't I have a say in the matter?

It is my life.

Yes, and I'm trying to see you don't spend

the rest of it in prison.

Now, you're not getting on that stand.

That's all there is to it.

But I think... It's over.

Take a glance over to your right.

The guy gets around, doesn't he?

Is the defense ready to present its case?

Yes, we are, Your Honor.

I call as my first witness...

I'm going to be the first witness.

Sit down. I'd like to testify, Your Honor.

Your Honor, I'd like a moment to confer with my client.

Your client doesn't seem to want to confer with you.

Then I request an immediate recess.

No! I confess. I'm guilty.

I shot Karen Wyler.

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