Original subtitles

May I help you?

Hey. Wait a minute.

Excuse me. I said, may I help you?

This is Congressman Pete McGinnis.

Now...

Mr. Gerard.

No.

Not "Gerard." Gentry. Craig Gentry.

What are you d...?

I know for a fact your name is Gerard.

Son of Sam Gerard,

one of the biggest crime lords on the Eastern Seaboard.

Get out of here. I'm Pete McGinnis,

U.S. congressman.

And this is a subpoena.

You are hereby summoned

to appear at the hearing I'm conducting

to investigate the infiltration of organized crime

within the Atlanta business community.

I said, get out of here!

You touch him, it's assault and battery.

I'll see you at the hearing, Mr. Gerard.

This is very awkward.

The congressman is right.

Sam Gerard is my father.

But I haven't seen or spoken to him in ten years,

and I don't approve of what he does any more than you do.

It's why I changed my name, and it's why I'm on my own.

I'm sorry to put you through this, but I...

This project is very important.

Not just to me, but to a lot of people.

And I just hope that what happened here today

won't adversely affect your decision

to go forward with this development.

I'm afraid we're going to need a little more time

to consider your proposal.

Am I correct?

Gentlemen, I will go

and see the congressman.

I will give him my full cooperation.

And I will ask that my name, this company

and this development be kept out of it.

Well, we need more time to think about it.

Sam Gerard?

The one and only.

That's big-time underworld.

Your father?

I'm talking big-time underworld.

How come you never told me?

I never told anybody.

All through your divorce trial, you never told me.

Ten years ago, I made a deal with my father.

I don't ask him for anything,

and he doesn't ask me for anything.

Hell, I never even told Diane.

You never told your wife?

No.

I'm sorry I didn't level with you.

It's just that as far as I'm concerned,

Sam Gerard isn't my father.

Oh.

I guess I get the picture.

Well, we'd better go talk with that congressman.

Uh, I'm looking for Congressman McGinnis.

McGINNIS: In here.

Oh. Okay.

Oh, yeah.

Uh, congressman. Ben Matlock.

We spoke on the phone.

Mr. Matlock. Oh, yeah.

Um... Um, my client and I

are not clear just what it is

you're working on, congressman.

Mr. Matlock...

we believe that syndicate money has been finding its way

into legitimate businesses down here.

And the congressional committee that I chair

finds that very disturbing.

So I've been checking into it.

And guess what?

According to background checks of the key personnel

of some of the businesses around here,

it's no rumor.

Well, what does that have to do with my client?

He's a legitimate businessman.

That may be.

But he doesn't exactly do business under his birth name,

does he? We're just checking, that's all.

A... A... A man changes his name. I don't see...

Okay, okay. So, Sam Gerard...

So, Sam Gerard's my father.

But the reason I changed my name is because I am sick and tired

of being persecuted by wimps like you...

Oh, wait a minute.

He didn't mean that.

Uh, congressman...

my client has done all in his power

to divorce himself from his family

and its reprehensible activities.

He himself is very legitimate.

He has nothing to hide.

Then what better way to prove it

than by showing up at that hearing?

Mr. Gentry is prepared to cooperate with you fully.

He asks only in return

that you not make his appearance

and testimony public.

Part of our purpose here is to send a message.

The more we make public, the better.

Uh, my client is involved in some very sensitive negotiations

concerning a major housing development,

which could mean that thousands of families...

Pete, you made the news.

Channel 7.

No deals, Mr. Matlock. Sorry.

Congressman Pete McGinnis,

armed with a subpoena, went into this office building today

and confronted Craig Gentry.

Eye News Seven was there, and here's what happened.

McGINNIS: You are hereby summoned

to appear at the hearing I'm conducting

to investigate the infiltration

of Atlanta's business community

by organized crime. I said, get out of here!

Damn you! Hey. Hold it!

Damn you! Oh, hey. Hey, hold it!

Hey, now! I'm gonna get you for this.

He's threatening me, counselor.

I'm gonna get you. I swear!

Come on.

I'm sorry.

You want to just go somewhere

and cool off, call me tomorrow?

Pete? Yeah?

I'm, uh, going home.

Do you need anything else?

No. Thanks, Ken.

You have a good one.

Okay. You too. Good night.

Good night.

Pete?

Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're already here.

That's right, Gary.

We're coming to you live

from the office building at 15589 Peachtree Avenue.

We're investigating an unconfirmed report

that Congressman Pete McGinnis has been involved

in some kind of assassination attempt,

or maybe even worse.

The police are arriving now. Maybe they can tell us more.

Officer?

Officer?

Sir, any idea what's happened up there?

What was he doing in the building?

He must've been working late.

He always worked late.

He was the hardest worker I've ever seen.

Morning, lieutenant.

Morning.

Is this building locked at night?

Yes.

The night watchman is the only one

who can let you in after 8:30.

That's when he locks up.

And when's the door unlocked?

Seven in the morning.

Then whoever did this

either checked out with the night watchman

or left this morning.

Or they're still in the building.

I think you should search the whole place right now

and talk to everyone.

Someone might've seen the killer.

Yes, sir.

Morning. Morning.

Lieutenant.

There's a file missing.

Craig Gentry's.

So where'd you go

after you left the congressman?

I, uh... I just got in my car and I drove.

I finally ended up at a bar.

Had several nice, stiff drinks.

Hm.

When was that?

It was around 9:15, 9:30.

The congressman was killed between 8 and 10,

and you're 9:15, 9:30.

That puts you at the bar right in the middle.

Talk to anybody there?

Uh, the... The place was practically deserted.

I... I talked to the bartender.

I'm a regular, and we've gotten to be friends.

Well, that's good.

That's good. That might be a help.

Friends. That's good. What's his name?

Michael Patrick Xavier Morrison.

Most people call me Mickey.

Occupation?

Bartender at the Blue Moose Lounge.

You know a Craig Gentry? Yeah.

He's a regular customer.

Did he come in last night?

No. Not last night.

You sure?

Hey, if he'd have been there, I'd have seen him.

Now, what time did you leave the Blue Moose?

Eleven-thirty, I guess.

Hm.

Where'd you go then?

I just went home.

I got undressed. I did a little reading.

And I went to sleep.

You didn't go anywhere else?

Just for a drive to the bar and home?

Yeah.

That's right. I saw him go into 15589 Peachtree Avenue.

What time was that, Mr. Silvers?

Eight-twenty, 8:25.

You think you'd recognize him if you saw him again?

I got mugged by a fare once,

and they never caught the guy.

After that, I've always made it a point

of giving people a real good look.

I never forget a face.

Is he in there?

Bingo.

That's the guy.

So it... It was, uh...

All right, Mr. Gerard. Come with us.

Uh, excuse me. I'm Ben Matlock, Mr. Gentry's lawyer.

Where are you taking him?

We're booking him for first-degree murder.

What's your evidence?

About two hours ago,

we got a warrant to search his home.

We found a bloodstained knife in the trashcan.

We just got the lab report.

It's the murder weapon.

And we have a witness that can place him

at the scene of the crime at the time of the murder.

Come on.

I guess just one stab right through the heart, huh?

Yeah. Hm.

So when does the coroner put the time of death?

How's that?

When does the coroner put the time of death?

Oh.

Uh, sometime, uh, between 8:35...

That's when one of the congressman's coworkers

last saw him alive.

And, I believe, it was 10.

Hm.

Well, do you think I should go find the night watchman?

Hm? The night watchman.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Now, the thing is, if we can get over

and find this guy.

Um, you go back to the station,

take care of this thing right here.

I'll have the lab report around 4 p.m.

All right.

Uh, hi.

Uh, nice to see you again.

I'm sorry. I... I didn't get your name.

It's Webber. Lieutenant Webber. Uh, Ben Matlock.

Uh-huh. Uh, are...?

Are you new to Homicide?

I was the liaison between the department

and the congressman's investigation.

I know the ins and outs of his operation,

so I guess it just made sense to...

To reassign me temporarily.

Oh. Yeah.

Uh, a-a-about the... The ins and outs of the case, uh...

Excuse me. Uh, Ken? Want to...?

This is Ben Matlock. This is Ken Long.

Ken was the congressman's right-hand man.

How do you do? Uh-huh.

I have something to take care of.

Yeah.

Uh... as he said, I'm... I'm Ben Matlock.

I'm, uh, Craig Gentry's lawyer.

Yes, I know.

Yeah.

Uh, so...

all these, uh... These files, you...

Surely you're investigating people other than my client.

Yes, a lot of people.

But my client was the only one

who came in here and made threats.

Yes, you could say that.

Yeah.

Uh... well, uh... Uh, Carl Benedict.

He's supposed to be pretty big in organized crime.

Yeah, we were looking at him pretty closely.

And the Martinez family too.

From South America. Drugs, very violent.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Three-quarters of what you see around here

has to do with those two families,

but none of their files were stolen.

Just your client's.

Let me ask you something.

Doesn't it seem odd...

that my client would come in here,

kill the congressman and only take just his own file?

Doesn't that seem kind of stupid?

Yeah. Pretty dumb.

Well, yeah.

Maybe it should tell you something.

What time was it when you locked the front door last night?

At 8:30.

Just like always.

So then what happens when someone

wants to get into the building

after you've locked the door?

I have to let everyone in or out.

Even the people who work in the building?

Nobody has a key to that door except me.

And it's on my person at all times.

And you didn't let anybody in or out the whole night?

No, I didn't. Okay.

Um, what time did you open the door this morning?

At 6:50, I let in Kenneth Long.

He's... He's the one who found the body.

And then when the police showed up,

I unlocked the door again and left it open.

And there's no other way someone

could've come in or out of the building?

Not without setting off an alarm.

Well, maybe the killer spent the night in the building

and then slipped out after you opened the door for the police.

Huh.

I appreciate you letting me come in early like this.

Yeah, well, you won't mind if I continue working.

I gotta open up in a half an hour.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

You go right ahead.

So... So that's, uh... That's

pretty much where you were

that night of the murder. Behind the bar working?

Yeah. That's right.

So, what'd you have? A pretty good crowd that night?

No. It was real slow.

When Craig Gentry comes in, where does he usually sit?

Well, just about where you're sitting.

But you didn't see him that night.

No.

I didn't see him because he wasn't here.

Well, he swears he was.

Yeah? Well, he's lying.

Oh.

You know... something...

Something doesn't make sense.

Uh, a man's gonna kill somebody.

Uh, like Craig is supposed to have killed this congressman.

And he comes up with an alibi that won't hold water.

And he knows that it won't hold water

before he comes up with it.

Like, Craig said he was at the bar here with you,

and if he wasn't,

then he has to know that you know that.

Does that make any sense?

Ask your client.

Well, maybe I'll ask him.

Hey, fella!

Mr. Morrison?

Hey, Mick!

Hey!

Uh... Uh, I'm Ben Matlock.

We know.

Down!

Come on.

Come on, guys.

Let's go. Come on.

Hut one! Hut two!

Hey.

Come on. Huddle up, huddle up.

There you go. Come on. Come on.

Let's go! Hey!

Down.

Set. Hut one, hut two.

Oh!

Nice, boss. All right. Hey.

Mr. Matlock. MATLOCK: Yes, sir.

Carl Benedict. Oh.

That was a nice catch.

Thank you.

Why haven't we met before, Mr. Matlock?

I don't know.

I hear you're in court almost as much as I am.

I, uh...

I was just, uh, looking at your cars.

Uh, anybody, uh, drive a blue sedan?

No.

Are you here to talk about cars or Congressman McGinnis?

Oh. Yeah.

Uh, I understand he was, uh...

He was scrutinizing your activities.

Yes, of course.

Did you, uh...? That bother you?

I'm always under scrutiny.

Paul.

Where was I on the night

Congressman McGinnis was murdered?

You were here, sir. The whole night.

Would you like to step inside?

Yeah.

Set. Hut one, hut two.

Oh, thanks.

Mm.

Mm.

So, uh...

how you getting along with Sam Gerard?

He has his business, I have mine.

How can I best put this?

Um... Yeah, if...

If, uh, Congressman McGinnis' investigation

was getting to you...

What better way to put an end to it than to just kill him

and frame the son of my worst enemy?

No. Ah.

If Sam Gerard ever got that idea into his head,

it would mean serious problems for a lot of people.

Yeah. I guess so.

Some people say that you're working

for the Gerard family now.

Oh, no. That's not true.

I work for Craig Gentry.

Let me presume to give you a piece of advice.

This is a potentially explosive situation.

Treat it very carefully.

For all of our sakes.

Including yours.

Oh?

Oh, hm. Hm.

I'll, um... uh, see myself out.

That'll be fine.

How long am I supposed to stay here?

Just until things calm down.

Thank you.

Tyler.

Yeah?

How long have you been a private eye?

Well, I've been working for Ben Matlock a couple years now.

Why?

Because that man's got the drop on you.

Outside.

You follow... you're dead.

Tyler.

I'd like you to meet someone.

Tyler Hudson, this is Sam Gerard.

How do you do?

You tell me.

Mr. Matlock?

Yeah? Over here, please.

This car will take you directly to the penthouse.

Oh?

Hands against the wall, please.

Say what? It's just a formality.

Put your hands against the wall, please.

Hm.

Should I f...? Should I feel honored?

Or is this the treatment everybody gets?

No exceptions, sir.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Uh, this way, please.

Mr. Matlock. I'm an admirer of yours.

Elliot Atkins. I'm Mr. Gerard's in-house counsel.

Oh.

I'll be coming over to your office later on

with all the information we have

on the Benedict and Martinez business. Hm.

Where's Tyler Hudson?

He's around somewhere.

Would you like a drink?

I want to see him.

You're concerned that he's not okay?

I assure you he's fine.

After he called you, he and a couple of our men

ordered some lunch.

Well, where is Sam Gerard?

Mr. Gerard is in conference at the moment.

Craig. I'm not through.

Craig!

Can you understand?

I want you out. I want you out of that courtroom.

I want you out of Atlanta.

I want you out of my life.

I'm doing this for you.

This isn't about me.

This is about your pride.

This is about your family name.

This is about your honor.

This is between you and Carl Benedict, and nobody else.

Least of all me. But you're a Gerard.

Nobody does this to a member of my family.

Oh, so, what are you gonna do?

Start a good old-fashioned war?

Kill a couple of dozen people? Not for me, please.

Once more, I am not a Gerard.

I am not a member of your family.

Just go home.

Mr. Matlock.

Hello, Mr. Gerard.

How's his defense coming?

Well, we've only just started.

Have you found out who planted the murder weapon in his house?

No, not yet.

Do you know who told the cab driver to lie

about seeing him enter that building?

Or the bartender about not seeing him in his bar?

No. Uh, we're looking into that.

It's the Benedicts, Mr. Matlock.

They're the ones who framed my son: the Benedicts.

Well, do you have proof of that?

I'll leave that to you.

I'll stay out of this and give the legal system a chance.

But if you fail... it's my turn.

I'd like to say a couple of things.

Of course.

Uh, I, of course, know who you are.

And I work for, um...

I'll go ahead and say it: your son.

And if you really want to help your son...

you'll go back to New York.

I'm not going anywhere until this matter is settled.

I really hope you won't do anything

to prejudice this jury.

And one other thing:

I'm gonna overlook that little stunt

your men pulled with my friend today.

But if you do anything like that again,

I will file charges for kidnapping.

Now, have someone take me to Tyler Hudson.

Mr. Matlock.

Good luck.

All right.

Full house.

Read 'em and weep there, gentlemen. Three ace...

Three aces.

A pair of tens. I hate to win and run,

but my employer calls.

You know what, guys?

Next time, I'm gonna teach you a game

where only one-eyed jacks are wild.

They're placing the body of Congressman McGinnis

into the coroner's wagon now.

Again, he died of some kind of chest wound.

There's no official word yet

as to how that wound was inflicted.

Apparently, no weapon was found at the scene.

Hi, there.

Hi.

Ahem. Ben said you might need a little help.

Well, I was hoping that somebody

inadvertently got a shot

of the killer sneaking out of the building that morning

amid all the chaos. Mm-hm.

That's all we have to report at the moment.

To repeat... At the moment. To repeat,

we have a definite confirmation... Hm.

What do you see?

- That's all we have to report... - That limo driver

was in an awful hurry to get out of there

once he realized he was on camera.

- At the moment. - I can see why.

You recognize him?

That is Rene Morales.

One very bad dude.

He works for the Martinez outfit.

What outfit is that?

Well, they are the kind of people that will slaughter ten

to get back at two.

Somebody's gonna have to go ask this Morales guy

what he was doing outside the building that morning.

We have a definite confirmation that United States Congressman

Pete McGinnis is dead.

Oh, you learn so fast.

We'll be following this story throughout the day.

Back to you, Gary.

Excuse me.

Bartender, tequila and lime.

Ah, what the hell.

Shots all around!

Hey! I mean, how many times

do we get to celebrate an occasion like this, huh?

Huh? He says... occasion like what?

Rene Morales' birthday! Yeah!

He says it's not his birthday.

Is that a fact?

Sí.

He says "yes."

Well, I am glad to hear that,

because this is the sixth bar that I've been to,

and it's the first one that really knows who he is.

So why don't you tell him to come on over here,

because old Tyler Hudson is prepared to buy him a drink.

Or something.

Oh.

And what do you want with Rene?

Um... I just want to talk with him.

"Tyler Hudson, Private Investigator."

Are you aware your driver's license has expired?

You're kidding.

Two months ago.

Damn.

Whatever questions you have for Rene Morales, you can ask me.

Well, who are you?

Juanita Martinez.

You run the Martinez... Gang?

There is no such thing as a Martinez gang, Mr. Hudson.

But as an attorney,

I am looked upon by many as a leader in my community.

And at this moment, I certainly speak for Rene Morales.

So tell me what the hell you want, and tell me quickly.

All right, I work for Ben Matlock,

who is representing Craig Gentry.

Rene Morales was seen

parked outside of Congressman McGinnis' office

the morning after the murder.

I was just wondering...

If he had anything to do with the murder?

Well, he didn't.

He was there because I had him drive me there.

Oh.

Well, you were in the limo.

Congressman McGinnis subpoenaed me to testify at his hearing.

I went there to reason with him.

Uh-huh.

That is all I care to discuss.

You are free to go.

Oh, that sounds like a good plan.

Oh, thank you. Ah.

You owe $25 for the drinks you bought.

Uh. Wish Rene Morales a happy birthday for me.

Whenever he has one.

There you are.

Everything you've always wanted to know

about the Benedicts, but were afraid to ask.

Let's get one thing straight right here and now:

It's Elliot.

Elliot Charles Atkins. Mm.

Magna cum laude, Colgate University.

Columbia Law School. Law review.

Graduated top ten of your class.

Straight from law school

to one of the largest firms in New York.

You've done your homework.

So have you.

Do the Benedicts know this much about you?

Not if I have anything to say about it.

Tell me, Elliot...

why give up the law to work for the Gerards?

I got to Colgate...

even though my family was very poor

because I worked eight hours a day

and carried a full class load.

I got a scholarship to law school

because I worked hard for it.

And I quit that big law firm

because I didn't want to become an indentured servant

to some legal corporation.

These were the only two alternatives?

I grew up with the Gerards.

So...

Craig Gentry is like a brother to you, huh?

Actually, uh, I hardly knew him.

If a war broke out between the Gerards and the Benedicts

and the Gerards won,

you'd have a whole new territory, wouldn't you?

The Gerard family would, yes.

And you're the heir apparent.

You are flirting with the idea...

that I framed Craig Gentry in order to start a war.

It's more than a flirtation.

It's a real possibility, isn't it?

Come on.

Where to?

I'm gonna buy you a drink.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

I'll have a club soda and...

Uh, two club sodas with lime.

Coming up.

Now...

you think the people I work for, the Gerards...

You think they're nothing

but a bunch of gangsters, right?

Right.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Businessmen.

Very rich, very successful, very powerful businessmen.

Take Sam Gerard.

His son is being framed for murder.

He knows it.

He's very upset about it.

Now, in the old days,

there'd be at least three bodies

swinging from meat hooks.

But today, Sam's calm.

Why?

Again, all he wants is to be a businessman.

For instance, Craig Gentry

was in this very bar

at the time of the murder.

This man here knows that.

Yet he told the police Craig wasn't here.

Someone paid him to lie?

Mm-hm. Craig knows it.

I know it.

Sam knows it.

Yet he's still breathing. Hm?

Nobody's tied him up,

shot a bullet through him, have they?

No, of course not.

These are the '80s.

As a matter of fact, do you have a subpoena on you?

Yeah.

Sign it and let me have it.

Have much do I owe you?

Uh... 4 bucks.

That's fine.

And this is a subpoena.

I'll see you in court.

Now, in the old days,

he would've been tossed into the Chattahoochee

with a pair of cement overshoes.

Today, that's the last thing Sam Gerard wants to do.

It's business.

Could I, um, speak with you?

Now? Just for a moment?

It's a nice day for it, isn't it?

He's my son.

I have a right to be here.

That's correct.

But you're not here just for the boy.

You're here to intimidate those witnesses.

And if the court catches on to that,

believe me, it's all over.

Those men aren't witnesses. They're paid liars.

Well, that's my problem.

Getting the truth out of them is my job.

Now, it's... It's a free society.

I can't tell you to stay or go.

But those men who are with you,

I'd get them out of the courtroom

before they destroy everything we've got going for us...

which isn't much right now.

I'm asking you...

to give me a shot at this.

Will you?

My name is Dick Silvers.

I live at 560 North Eaton.

And I work for the Black and White Cab Company.

Were you in the vicinity of 15589 Peachtree Avenue

the night Congressman McGinnis was murdered?

Yes, I was.

My dispatcher sent me over to pick up a fare.

About what time did you arrive?

Do you recall?

Yes. That was around 8:25.

You certain?

Hey. I got my trip sheet right here.

It shows the fare got in my cab at 8:28.

She only kept me waiting a couple of minutes.

While you were waiting, how did you occupy your time?

The way I usually do.

I people watch.

So you were watching people

going in and out of the office building.

But it was getting late.

Most people were coming out of the building.

But I did see one person going into the building.

Who was that person? Do you know?

Yes.

That person sitting right over there at the table.

You mean the defendant, Craig Gentry.

That's right.

And you're certain that's the man who entered the building

where Congressman McGinnis has his offices

around 8:25 the night the congressman was murdered?

Absolutely. No doubt in my mind.

Thank you, Mr. Silvers.

Nothing further.

No questions, Your Honor.

Ben? MATLOCK: Yeah?

Turkey.

Oh. Only thing they had left.

Oh, they were still open. Good.

Uh, no. I had to bribe the counterman.

I gave him my phone number.

At least he thinks it's my phone number.

Oh.

What's all this?

They're law books.

Oh, sometimes when I'm stuck and can't do anything,

I open a lot of books, and it makes me feel like...

Like you're doing something. Doing something. Yeah.

I'll tell you the truth, and...

Unless we have a rabbit

pop up out of a hat, and pretty quick,

Craig Gentry could be convicted.

I wish there were something I could do to help.

Well, you have helped.

No, I haven't. Yes, you have.

You looked at all that tape.

You kept the office running, went to law school,

and gave the counterman your wrong number.

Otherwise, my stomach would've kept me awake all night.

You know, Ben, maybe you should go home.

This isn't really the kind of case you should be working on

alone late at night in a deserted building.

These people are professional criminals.

Ben Matlock's office.

Uh, may I tell him who's calling?

All right.

It's for you. Won't say who it is.

I don't think you should take it.

Thank you.

Hello?

Yeah.

Yeah, you don't say.

I'll be right there.

Be right where? Who was that?

That was that bartender.

He's decided he wants to talk.

Maybe he's our... Our rabbit.

Yeah. Okay.

Mr. Morrison?

Mr. Morrison?

Hey, Mickey.

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