Original subtitles

How'd he get to you? Who?

That federal agent, Paul Davies.

He said that it was absolutely imperative that I plead guilty.

He said that the investigation he was spearheading

would clear me and he promised me

that I wouldn't spend a day in prison.

What's the matter with you?

He can't promise that. Nobody can.

The system isn't made to work that way.

Why didn't you consult with me before you agreed?

He said not to discuss it with anyone.

He said it was a matter of national security.

Well, maybe that's what he said,

but that's not why you complied.

He promised you an exclusive, didn't he?

He told you you could break the story

as soon as his investigation was over.

You weren't thinking about national security.

You were thinking about a Pulitzer Prize.

You lied, and if this investigation comes up dry

or loses its funding or just plain folds,

you just made the biggest mistake of your life.

Yeah, Tyler. Did you find him?

Oh, yeah. Paul Davies?

Yep, and he wants to talk to you too.

Good.

Paul Davies,

section chief, special projects.

Now, what's this all about?

You don't know anything about a secret investigation?

No, and furthermore, no one in this office

is conducting any investigation that involves you.

The IDs these guys were flashing

didn't come out of a cereal box.

Did anybody quit your staff recently?

No one fitting the description of the men you saw.

Damn. Impersonating a federal agent's

a serious offense, Mr. Matlock,

and I assure you we will look into this immediately.

I've got a client

who just confessed to murder in open court.

Unless I find who talked her into that,

she could go to prison for the rest of her life.

And you think the person that killed this Karen Wyler

is behind all this?

Yes, got to be,

and I think it's one of the men

my office has been investigating.

Lambert Crawford, for one. Lambert Crawford?

Senator Lambert Crawford? Yes.

That's who Karen Wyler was working for

at the time she was murdered.

She believed that he, Michael Fitzmorris,

Robert Irwin... Robert Irwin?

The attorney. And that whiz kid

who ran the senator's reelection campaign, Jed Palmer.

She told my client, who works for the newspaper,

that they were up to something

involving a lot of money and a lot of secrecy.

Now, doesn't it stand to reason that's why she was murdered?

What kind of proof did she have?

She didn't.

And neither do I.

He told her she'd be helping her country, Your Honor.

She was tricked into making that confession.

Your Honor, I was approached and fooled by these same men.

My client is innocent.

I wanna clear her of these charges as soon as possible,

but I need the time to find these phony federal agents.

Your Honor, I'd like a continuance.

Denied. Next suggestion.

Then I'll move for a mistrial.

I'll deny that too.

How'd it go?

He shouldn't be removed from the bench.

He should be removed from the planet.

That well, huh? Cheer up.

Remember the car that followed Michelle and Jed Palmer

to his apartment, the one that belonged

to those alleged G-men? Yeah.

I traced the license plate and found out

who it's registered to. Who?

The Leyland Group.

Who's the Leyland Group?

It's some kind of giant holding company,

but the most interesting thing here is the legal counsel

that they've retained here in Washington.

Who?

Robert Irwin.

Oh.

How about getting together with Jed Palmer?

See what he knows about this Leyland Group and Robert Irwin.

Is there a problem?

No. No problem.

Coming.

Hello.

Hi.

Welcome back.

Come on in.

I've got some espresso. It'll be ready in just a minute.

Oh, no. None for me, thank you.

No. It's no problem.

I need to talk to you.

I've got nothing against talking.

It comes in, uh, pretty handy sometimes.

You never know where it might lead.

I wasn't exactly forthcoming with you last time

about who I am.

You're not Michelle Thomas?

I am, but I'm also an attorney.

I work with Ben Matlock.

Defending Melinda Stuart?

That's right.

You're very good.

Thanks.

You, uh... You set me up.

Set you up? Yeah.

You had me completely fooled.

I didn't lie to you.

No, but you kept certain things from me.

When I look at you, I see a bright, interesting woman.

Someone I can relate to. Someone I can...

be comfortable with.

A woman I can spend special time with.

You set me up.

What did you want from me?

Just someone to answer your questions?

I'm really sorry.

I apologize.

But I need to ask you a couple more.

Why not?

Ever hear of the Leyland Group?

Sure. It's some big conglomerate.

Principal interests are oil.

Headquarters in Houston, I think.

Ask Michael Fitzmorris. He used to work for them.

What's Robert Irwin's connection to them?

I'm afraid you'd have to ask him that.

What about his connection to Karen Wyler?

He ever have an affair with her?

Again, you'd have to ask him.

What about Crawford? You'd have to ask him too.

What about you?

Of what possible relevance is any of this?

Whoever actually killed her was very familiar

with the burglar alarm system in her apartment,

and I imagine very familiar with her.

Which rules me out.

I was at the Brazilian embassy that whole evening

with 150 other people.

She told Melinda that your relationship

with Senator Crawford went beyond being a media consultant.

What's that supposed to mean?

I was hoping you'd tell me.

I wish I could, but I can't.

Too bad you can't ask Karen.

Yeah. It's too bad.

Well, thanks for the talk.

Anytime, Michelle.

And, uh, listen.

Next time you have a question to ask me, just ask.

Don't set me up.

Well, if it's information you were looking for, Mr. Matlock,

you have definitely come to the right place.

You know, many people, my husband included,

regard me as nothing but a flighty, garrulous old fool.

Well, not only do I have eyes in my head,

I have a brain as well.

Oh, I could tell that the instant I met you.

In fact, I... I said to Michelle, I... I said,

"Michelle, there is a smart woman."

You know what she said?

What? "I know it."

Oh, she is such a wonderful girl.

Oh, isn't she?

You are a very, very lucky man. I know. I know.

Now, what do you know about your husband's connection

with the Leyland Group?

More than I'm supposed to, I can tell you that.

You know, I knew something was up

when Robert started to lock the door of his study

whenever they'd call him at home.

Well, I mean, that only served

to pique my desire to learn more.

Oh. So... did you?

Mm. Are you sure that you won't have one of these?

They are quite delicious. Oh, no, thank you, Miss Irwin.

Oh, please, please.

Clarissa.

You know, whenever anyone calls me Mrs. Irwin,

I tend to look over my shoulder

expecting to see Robert's mother.

Which is a little disconcerting,

as she died seven years ago.

Did you, uh...? Did you find out?

About what?

The Leyland Group.

Oh, the Leyland Group.

Excuse me. Mr. Matlock,

you have a phone call from a Mr. Davies.

Which one?

All I know is he says it's an emergency.

Oh, please go ahead and take it. I'm in no hurry.

Uno más. Ahem.

This is Ben Matlock.

Hello?

Hello?

Hey, Clarissa!

I'm telling you there's a conspiracy afoot,

and my client is innocent.

Is this the same client who confessed in open court?

She was tricked into that by the same people

who kidnapped Clarissa Irwin.

Lieutenant, what is this all about?

Sorry to bother you, but Mr. Matlock here

claims your wife has been kidnapped.

Kidnapped?

Do you have any idea where she is right now?

I know precisely where she is right now.

She's down in Texas at a spa called, uh, the Springs.

Call the place and get Mrs. Irwin on the line.

I know I had lunch with her, at least tried to.

I really don't have time for this.

Call the maitre d' at Rex's. - We did.

He says while you were on the phone,

Mrs. Irwin got up and left with two gentlemen.

Those gentlemen are impersonating federal agents.

Lieutenant, line one.

Mrs. Irwin? Hello.

This is James Norris from the Washington, D.C. police.

Fine, thank you.

More to the point, how are you, Mrs. Irwin?

Oh. Sorry, uh, Clarissa.

Uh.

Clarissa?

Ben Matlock. What in the world's going on?

I do apologize for getting up and leaving like that,

but I'd entirely forgotten that I booked myself in

for a stay down here.

And the spa is just dreadful about no-shows.

I'm sorry, Ben. I have to go.

Whatever it is you're trying to pull,

I advise you not to try it again.

Thank you for coming down and helping us clear this up.

My apologies.

Okay.

- The Springs? - Yeah.

Some kind of spa in Texas.

Well, what am I supposed to do when I find her?

Talk to her.

We've got to find out what her husband's connection is

with the Leyland Group. Now, she was kidnapped?

I thought so. Well, if she was,

what if the people who did it don't want her to talk to me?

Find a way. BOTH: You always do.

Their identification looked real.

It looked real.

I honestly believed that they were federal agents.

So I did what they asked me to.

I confessed.

Melinda, did you shoot Karen Wyler?

No.

That's all, thank you.

Just tell me this, Miss Stuart.

Were you lying the other day, or were you lying just now,

or were you lying both times

and have yet another tale to tell us?

Um... Approach the bench, Your Honor?

Your Honor, I submit

that you're impugning the credibility of my client

with your every word, gesture, and expression.

And if you continue, I'll have no choice

but to move to have Your Honor disqualified for prejudice.

Lack of impartiality is probably the most serious charge

that can be leveled against someone in my position.

Are you certain that your observations are not colored

by your own partiality, Mr. Matlock?

Your Honor, I'm supposed to be partial.

I'm the defense.

Mr. Hobbs, are you aware

of any demonstrations of prejudice on my part?

No, Your Honor. No.

Then I suggest not only that you reconsider your options,

Mr. Matlock,

but that you bear this in mind as well:

I have never been removed for cause,

but I have cited many, many lawyers for contempt.

Do I make myself clear?

Abundantly.

Should I repeat the question, Miss Stuart?

I lied before, I admit that,

but I did not kill Karen Wyler.

Let me point out that it doesn't excuse her

because she was lying before... - Mr. Matlock,

I asked Miss Stuart the question.

Your Honor, I am this woman's defense attorney.

I have the right to speak.

When she confessed, she was not under oath.

She is under oath now.

Her statement that she did not kill Karen Wyler

is for the record!

Mr. Matlock, sit down!

Believe me, Mr. Davenport,

if discretion and results are what you want,

the Springs is unsurpassed.

Good, because that's exactly what I'd heard.

And we are particularly adept at meeting the needs

of people who are... Well-heeled?

Well, since we seem to understand each other,

what exactly is your wife's problem?

She is, uh... fat.

Well, a weight problem is no problem for us.

Look, why don't I take you on a little tour

and I'll show you how we deal with our food dependencies.

As soon as I answer this call.

Please, why don't you have a seat outside

and I'll be right with you. Thank you very much.

Yes, this is the manager.

No, we have not received those orders yet,

and I would like for you to check on that for me.

Mr. Davenport?

Hey!

I don't know. I just...

I just locked myself out.

Tyler...

You've gotta get back in there and get Clarissa out.

Whoever we're dealing with

might decide to make her stay permanent.

Do you understand?

Okay, okay.

I'll be in touch.

Clarissa Irwin is at that spa in Texas

under heavy sedation.

The Springs is owned by the Leyland Group.

I'm gonna listen to the tapes that Melinda made

of her interviews with Karen

to see if there's anything on them

that might tell us something Melinda may have overlooked.

As usual, you're two steps ahead of me.

Where are you going?

Once you get a fire started,

you've gotta stir the pot.

There's always work to be done.

That's why I love this job.

This country never stands still.

It's always moving.

Growing.

Changing.

I've helped clean up after World War II.

I've done my damndest to prevent World War III.

I've come through missile crises, oil crises,

overseen aid to our schools,

aid to our farmers.

Never the same thing twice.

I like to think that means

that we must've been doing something right.

Yeah.

I, uh, I... I admire people in public office.

I really do.

Uh, didn't you become chairman

of the Senate committee

that polices the activities of big oil companies

about the time of the oil crisis?

That's right. I have reason to believe

that the Leyland Group...

Y-You're familiar with the Leyland Group, are you?

Yes, of course. It's a conglomerate

which owns several oil companies.

I have reason to believe that the Leyland Group

is somehow involved in Karen Wyler's murder.

Why would they want to murder my secretary?

I don't know. I don't know,

but I do know that Michael Fitzmorris,

your legislative assistant, used to work for them.

Mike, step in here, please.

It could be that it's just a coincidence,

or it could be that he's some sort of watchdog

who's supposed to make sure

that a certain elected official holds up his end

of whatever deal was struck with this Leyland Group.

I don't think I like what you're implying, Mr. Matlock.

What's going on?

I was just sounding out a couple of ideas on the senator here,

asking him if, uh, he thinks maybe a person

who thought he was facing retirement

might've gotten a little greedy

and allowed himself to be bought off.

After all, 40 years is a long time to remain idealistic,

isn't it, senator?

What the hell are you suggesting?

Oh, nothing. Nothing,

just shooting off my mouth.

I guess it comes from sitting in a courtroom all day.

Oh, uh, uh, I spoke with that security guard

about, uh, your being up here

working with the senator at the time of the murder.

He said that he saw you around 8,

and the murder occurred in Karen's apartment

around 9.

Mrs. Irwin?

Mrs. Irwin, wake up.

You're being released.

You can change in the truck. Truck?

Oh, yeah, and we're all out of wheelchairs,

so you... You can ride in this.

There you go.

Truck?

Wait a minute. Wa... Hey, wait a minute.

Let me give you a hand there, pal.

Let's go.

Gee, what you got in here? A dead cow?

That's it. I'll be insulted no more.

Wait a minute! Hey!

What? What?

Somebody just drove out of here with Mrs. Irwin.

So when Congressman Levin didn't get re-elected,

he called Lambert's office and got him to hire me.

Did you sleep with the senator?

Maybe I did, maybe I didn't.

Karen, I need details.

Telling you all this is making me feel...

- Maybe this is a mistake. - No, it's not.

Please, keep going.

What about Jed Palmer?

You get anything? Anything usable?

Not so far, but maybe.

He can make you feel like somebody special.

He said I was a bright, interesting woman.

Somebody he could relate to.

Somebody he could be comfortable with.

Somebody he could spend special time with.

Ha-ha. Well, I guess it was special.

He got what he wanted.

I, uh, I slept with him for a while,

then it was over,

and on the off chance that there are still women

in this town he hasn't slept with,

somebody ought to warn them.

He's a user and he's got more lines than Shakespeare.

I don't believe it.

He makes me feel like a louse

for not being totally honest with him,

and then he turns right around and looks me straight in the eye

and gives me the same line.

Boy, he's in for it.

Wait a minute. You can't go over there.

He might be the one who killed Karen.

Then he's really in for it.

I think we can freeze-frame right here

on the kid's eyes.

Super the client's name here

and have a voiceover say,

"Let's start tomorrow today.

Vote for Hal Rice." That kind of thing.

Yeah?

I need to see you, Mr. Palmer.

Take five. Okay.

I heard what Karen Wyler said about you.

I listened to a tape of an interview she did with Melinda.

Guess what.

She said we had an affair.

You could say that, yeah.

I also checked with the Brazilian embassy.

Guess what. Now, wait a minute.

I was there. You arrived around 10.

Karen was murdered around 9.

Are you saying I'm a suspect?

You, Senator Crawford,

Michael Fitzmorris, and Robert Irwin.

Michelle, I didn't kill her.

Just like you didn't sleep with her?

All right, I lied. I was trying to be discreet.

In my profession, it's called perjury.

I just didn't want to say something that might

jeopardize our... Our budding relationship.

Budding relationship? Mmm-hm.

You say I'm a bright, interesting woman.

Someone you can relate to.

Someone you can be comfortable with.

That's the same line you used on Karen.

All you were trying to do was get me where you got her.

Truth and lies are the same with you,

something you just edit in or out.

You either wave it around like a flag,

or you shove it in a drawer,

whichever happens to suit your professional or sexual needs.

One woman is dead

and another faces life imprisonment,

and all you're worried about

is our budding relationship?

Well, don't, 'cause there ain't one.

Oh.

I feel like I've been asleep for days.

You have been.

There's a thermos of coffee on the floor.

Oh, you dear thing.

What foresight.

Any idea why your husband would do this to you?

I know precisely why he did this to me.

It was because of what I was about to tell Ben.

What?

Sorrel Flats.

Who is Sorrel Flats?

I thought it was a who at first too.

To be honest, I thought it was one of Robert's mistresses,

something he was hiding from me out of etiquette.

But finally I realized he was hiding it from me

because he really didn't want me to know.

But, of course, I made it my business to find out.

He must've known I would.

Mrs. Irwin, what is Sorrel Flats?

Oh, please, please. Call me Clarissa.

Whenever anybody calls me Mrs. Irwin,

I feel so terribly uncomfortable.

Clarissa, what is Sorrel Flats?

A tank farm.

A tank farm?

Where they store oil.

Only there isn't any oil at Sorrel Flats.

There isn't?

No, my husband and his friends

have been selling the government oil that doesn't exist.

You sure?

Are we in the middle of nowhere?

Not anymore.

We're heading for home.

Hello, Michelle.

Now, before you get excited, this is not an apology.

Then what is it, another come-on?

Crawford, Fitzmorris, Irwin, and I,

we were all taking payoffs from the Leyland Group.

Actually, mine was more of an annuity,

money they promised me when I agreed

to run Crawford's re-election campaign.

What was it for the others?

I don't know. They...

They pulled me over to Crawford's office

every couple of months.

Fitzmorris would pass out the cash he got down in Houston,

and we'd all go our separate ways, no questions asked.

Who was calling the shots?

Irwin.

The night of the murder too?

In fact, he called me that night.

He said that, uh,

Karen had stolen a ledger from Crawford's desk.

There was nothing incriminating in it,

but it proved that she was the one leaking information

to Melinda at the Trib.

He said the others were at Crawford's office

discussing the situation.

He asked me if I had any ideas.

I said no, and finally hung up.

That still doesn't explain why you were late to that reception.

I was in bed with a married woman.

How do I know this is the truth?

It sure as hell isn't a come-on.

No. Absolutely not.

No way. He's not signing anything.

Not till we get the release. That's what we agreed on

and that's the way it's going to stand.

You can tell him I'm sorry.

Are you busy, Mr. Irwin?

Yes. As a matter of fact, I am.

Uh, too busy to say hello to your wife?

That's right, Robert, darling.

I escaped from that hellhole that you packed me off to.

If you're responsible for this, you're through.

Any number of doctors, uh,

will testify that my wife's mental health

is precarious at best.

He knows about Sorrel Flats.

You know, those big, waterlogged oil tanks

that belong to all those rich friends of yours?

Now see what you've done.

She's totally mad.

You're drowning,

and if you think I'm going to keep lying

about where you were when that pathetic creature was murdered,

then you're the one who's mad.

Clarissa... He was not home

having dinner with me that night.

In fact, I'll be damned if I know where he was.

Uh...

I, uh, I know about the Leyland Group.

I know about the fraudulent oil sales.

I know about your meeting in the senator's office

after Karen stole that ledger.

Is there anything else I should know about?

Get out.

It's Robert.

Um... It's all coming unraveled.

Yeah.

It's gonna be every man for himself.

So it was Robert Irwin that killed her?

Well, I'm not certain it was him.

What are we looking for?

I don't know.

Maybe the police overlooked something.

They had Melinda. Maybe they missed something.

Yeah, but the only fingerprints they found belonged to her.

Yeah.

Whoever did it did a pretty good job of cleaning it up.

Well, we know he set the burglar alarm before he ran.

And he had to have deactivated it before he entered.

He must've wiped off the panel.

There weren't any prints found at all, not even hers.

Yeah.

Yeah, he did a pretty good job of cleaning it up.

Hm.

Hm.

Hm.

I wonder if Karen had big hands.

I don't know. Huh.

Looks like a medium or a large.

You think... Well, it might be.

Somebody used these to clean up after the murder

and then put 'em back in the bucket where he found 'em.

Now, that is a good theory.

Why don't we take 'em down to the lab

and have a technician turn them wrong side out real careful?

You want...? Yeah.

Let's take the whole thing.

You got me.

My name is Lambert Crawford. I'm a United States senator.

I reside in San Antonio, Texas,

and I also have a residence in the District of Columbia.

Thank you, senator.

For the past ten years,

you've been chairman of a Senate committee that monitors,

among other things, federal oil purchases.

Is that correct? Yes, it is.

And the oil the government purchases from an oil company

called the Leyland Group

is stored at a place called Sorrel Flats.

Is that correct? I don't recall offhand.

I'd have to check my records.

And I have to ask of what possible relevance

is any of this?

I'm establishing foundation, Your Honor.

The defense contends that Karen Wyler

was killed because she was convinced

that you and three other men

were part of a conspiracy.

Are you aware of that, senator?

I've heard that rumor, yes.

Now, isn't it true that this Leyland Group

made substantial contributions to your last campaign?

Again, I don't recall offhand, but I'm sure if they did,

they were legitimate.

Isn't it true they did that

because they were extremely eager

that you maintain your post

as chairman of that Senate committee?

All of my political supportees were interested

in my keeping my Senate posts.

Isn't it true that this Leyland Group

has sold millions of dollars

of nonexistent oil to the government?

Not to my knowledge, no.

And isn't it true you would warn them

whenever government officials were going to make spot checks

of their storage tanks

so they could move the existing oil around,

making 3000 barrels look like 300,000?

I have no knowledge of anything like that.

And isn't it true that you

and three other men

accepted payoffs for your part

in this very lucrative conspiracy?

And isn't it true that Karen Wyler was on the verge

of finding out about it?

And isn't it true that's why she was killed?

Objection. No foundation.

No relevancy. Speculation.

Sustained.

Mr. Matlock, you are out of order.

You aren't establishing foundation here.

You're using this witness as a excuse to speculate,

and I won't have it.

Either you provide this court

with proof of what you're saying,

or you move on to a legitimate line of questioning.

Yes, sir.

We're checking into your Swiss bank account.

That's not a question.

Matlock, I instruct you to move on with your questions.

Yes, sir.

Was Karen Wyler your mistress?

She was my secretary.

Now, careful, senator.

Remember those department store charge cards you gave her?

The bills would come into the office each month.

You paid out-of-office expenses.

I don't know anything about this.

She must've done it behind my back.

How often did you go to her apartment?

Once a week? Twice a week?

That's not true. Did you tell her it was over?

Did you cut it off? Is that why she went to Melinda Stuart

with what she knew of the conspiracy?

Maybe to get back at you? No.

Is that why you decided it'd be best for all concerned

if she were dead? No, that's not true.

I swear it.

I cared about Karen.

I could never kill her.

Never.

That's it for this line of questioning, Mr. Matlock.

You and your client may revel in gossip and scandal,

but I assure you, this court does not.

We're going to take a recess for lunch now, counselor,

and when we return at 2:00 p.m.,

you will begin to elicit relevant testimony

and only relevant testimony.

Is that clear?

You had to do it.

I know it.

I sure wish he hadn't gotten involved in all of this.

Oh.

I guess what the old folks used to say is right.

You wanna catch a fellow doing something

he's not supposed to do,

let him catch himself. Hm.

I didn't think it would work.

I figured he'd come in here,

find some way to set the burglar alarm,

think something was up, and turn right back around.

Well, desperation.

Desperation and opportunism.

Mr. Fitzmorris here saw an opportunity

to cash in on what I did to Senator Crawford in court today.

He saw an opportunity to frame him real good,

and you weren't about to let that go by, were you?

Tie clasp.

"L.C."

Lambert Crawford slept here.

He didn't sleep here.

He wasn't having an affair with Karen. You were.

That's how come you have a key.

That's how come you know the code to the burglar alarm.

That's absolutely not true.

That's not real proof.

Well, combined with your fingerprints

in those kitchen gloves...

Kitchen gloves you used to clean up after the murder.

It casts a long shadow on you.

Has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

We find the defendant, Melinda Stuart,

not guilty.

Oh, great.

Thank you.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury.

I would expect the United States Attorney

to conduct a full investigation into this conspiracy.

This court is adjourned.

Thanks. You're all wonderful.

Thank you. Thank you.

I've gotta get to the paper. Thanks, again.

Goodbye. MELINDA: Bye.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

And thanks for leveling with me before.

Maybe I was wrong about you.

No, you weren't.

I just got a phone call from some people

at the Leyland Group

asking me to help repair some of the damage

this trial has done to their corporate image.

Guess what I said?

Good luck.

Mr. Matlock.

Hm. I'm in trouble.

The trial's over, Ben. Not till he has his last word.

You go ahead.

Yes, sir?

Matlock, you used me.

I don't know what you mean. Oh, yes, you do.

You knew I'd stop your examination of Lambert Crawford,

didn't you?

Well, I figured you would.

And you knew the killer might take this opportunity

to plant new evidence at the scene of the crime?

Yes, I hoped he would.

And it was all dependent on me, wasn't it?

Yes.

You used me.

I suppose.

Matlock, I could hate a man for knowing me that well.

Or you could think a person like that

was such a fine lawyer,

you'd let him buy you a drink.

You're way out of line.

Hell, it's been a long day. Hasn't it?

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