Original subtitles

THERE'S A LEAK IN THIS OFFICE, AND I WANNA KNOW WHO IT IS.

NEIL CONFESSED TO KILLING JESSICA. I'LL ROT IN JAIL...

BEFORE I'LL TESTIFY TO ANY OF THIS, MR. HOFFMAN.

DID YOU OR DID YOU NOT CONFESS TO HIM THAT YOU KILLED JESSICA?

TEDDY, I DON'T KNOW.

SHE'S THE NIGHT NURSE AT ZEPHYR HOUSE.

SHE LOGGED A CALL FROM NEIL AT 1:45 A.M...

THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER FROM JULIE COSTELLO'S APARTMENT.

THAT'S TWO HOURS AFTER HE SAID HE LEFT.

WHO TOLD YOU THE RESULTS OF OUR JURY SURVEY? YOU KNOW I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.

IF I'VE GOT A TRAITOR WORKING FOR ME, I'D LIKE TO KNOW.

YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHO I SAW COMING OUT OF CONNIE DAHLGREN'S APARTMENT...

AT 7:00 THIS MORNING WITH WET HAIR, NO LESS.

[Hoffman] AN ATTORNEY'S FUNDAMENTAL DUTY IS TO HIS CLIENT.

YOU'VE JEOPARDIZED YOUR OWN CAREER BEFORE IT'S EVEN BEGUN.

WHO IS IT, JULIE? WHO IS IT IN YOUR DREAM?

GRAHAM... LESTER.

[Sighs Heavily]

[Phone Ringing]

COULDN'T WE JUST LET IT RING?

[Phone Continues Ringing]

HELLO?

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. CALM DOWN, RICHARD.

WAS SHE HURT? AS SOON AS I CAN.

YES.

[Phone Beeps Off] JULIE COSTELLO WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT.

THE POLICE HAVE HER OUT IN VAN NUYS.

I'M TOLD ALL SHE HAD WAS A COUPLE OF GLASSES OF WINE.

- WHAT WAS HER BLOOD-ALCOHOL LEVEL? - .05.

IT'S A LOW BLOW FOR THE BREATHALYZER, BUT HER PUPILS WEREN'T DILATING.

DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERT'LL BE HERE IN A FEW MINUTES. I'D LIKE HIM TO TAKE A LOOK AT HER.

BE THAT AS IT MAY, WE'VE POSTED BAIL, SO SHE'S FREE TO GO, CORRECT?

NOT UNTIL WE'RE DONE PROCESSING HER.

YOU MAY WANNA CHECK WITH YOUR WATCH COMMANDER.

HE TOLD ME A FEW MINUTES AGO THAT SHE'D BEEN CLEARED FOR RELEASE.

[Sighs] SIR, WE'VE GOT A JULIE COSTELLO IN CUSTODY ON A D.U.I.,

AND HER ATTORNEY S...

YES, SIR.

I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT. YES, SIR. I UNDERSTAND.

LET ME CHECK ON HER.

- I THOUGHT GRAHAM LESTER WAS DIALING BACK HER DRUGS. - YES, HE HAS BEEN.

THE ALCOHOL MUST'VE AMPLIFIED THE EFFECTS OF THE, UH, MEDICATION.

MEA CULPA, TEDDY. IF I HAD KNOWN SHE WAS GONNA GET BEHIND THE WHEEL,

I WOULD'VE HIDDEN THE KEYS, BELIEVE ME.

HOW'S THE KID ON THE MOTORCYCLE? OH, HE'S FINE. YOU KNOW, JUST A FEW SCRAPES.

FORTUNATELY, JULIE JUST CLIPPED HIM.

SO I SHOULD JUST BE IN CIVIL COURT FOR THE NEXT FIVE OR 10 YEARS.

BUT WHAT'S MONEY? AS LONG AS EVERYBODY'S OKAY.

RICHARD, I AM SO SORRY.

GET HER OUT OF HERE, RICHARD, FAST.

YOUR POOR CAR. OH, IT'S OKAY. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, HONEY. THAT'S OKAY.

AND, TEDDY, IT'S SO LATE, AND YOU CAME ALL THE WAY TO VAN NUYS.

CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? NOT TO WORRY. LET'S JUST GET YOU HOME.

WAIT. I CAN'T FORGET MY PERSONAL EFFECTS...

MY RINGS AND STUFF. OKAY.

- DO I NEED TO SIGN SOMETHING? - [Officer] HERE.

AM I GONNA LOSE MY LICENSE 'CAUSE OF THIS?

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, SWEETHEART. TEDDY WILL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING.

LET'S GO.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D DO WITHOUT YOU, TEDDY. I REALLY DON'T.

NIGHT.

JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT, I'VE BEEN DOING A BIT MORE DIGGING...

INTO THAT 1992 WRONGFUL DEATH INVESTIGATION...

RUSTY ARNOLD WAS INVOLVED IN AT ZEPHYR HOUSE.

DON'T GET TOO HOPEFUL. WE'VE BEEN ALL OVER THAT.

GRAHAM LESTER MANAGED TO DISINFECT HIMSELF PRETTY GOOD.

YEP? WELL, CHECK THIS OUT. A STEPHANIE LAMBERT.

SHE WAS IN REHAB AT THE TIME FOR HEROIN ADDICTION.

SHE TOLD ONE OF THE INVESTIGATING OFFICERS...

SHE THOUGHT LESTER HAD DRUGGED AND RAPED HER...

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE SHE WAS IN TREATMENT.

CASE NEVER MADE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CORROBORATING EVIDENCE...

AND THE GIRL COULDN'T BE SURE WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS ALL JUST A BAD DREAM.

THE SAME BAD DREAM JULIE'S BEEN HAVING.

THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED.

- WHERE'S THIS WOMAN NOW? - LIVES IN SILVER LAKE.

I TALKED TO HER ON THE PHONE, BUT SHE WASN'T EXACTLY FORTHCOMING.

I EXPLAINED I WASN'T A COP, BUT SHE DIDN'T WANNA HEAR IT.

IF SHE'D BE WILLING TO TALK TO JULIE, IT MIGHT DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN HER AND HER SHRINK.

WANT ME TO TAKE A RUN AT HER? SHE MIGHT BE MORE WILLING TO TALK TO A WOMAN.

BE MY GUEST. I'LL GIVE YOU HER NAME AND NUMBER.

ANYTHING NEW ON LESTER'S NURSE? ONLY WRONG THING ABOUT HER...

SO FAR IS THE BUILDING MANAGER THINKS SHE'S GOT A CAT.

THERE ARE NO PETS ALLOWED.

STILL WORKING ON HER T.R.W. THANKS, RAY. GOOD WORK.

BOY, THIS GRAHAM LESTER'S GOT SOME WEIRD LIZARDS LIVIN' IN HIS HEAD, HUH?

OH, YEAH. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

GOOD MORNING. MORNING. FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS.

OUR JURY CONSULTANT, MARGARET STRATTON, IS LEAVING US FOR A WHILE FOR MEDICAL REASONS.

NOTHING SERIOUS, THANKFULLY. HER PARTNER, LORRAINE VITALE,

WILL BE COMING ON BOARD THIS AFTERNOON, SO PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.

AND JULIE COSTELLO'S A CLIENT AGAIN.

- SHE WRECKED RICHARD CROSS'S ROLLS LAST NIGHT. - SHE ALL RIGHT?

SHE WASN'T HURT, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING. SHE WAS CHARGED WITH D.U.I.,

RECKLESS DRIVING, DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

JUSTINE, I WANT YOU TO HANDLE THIS ONE. ARRAIGNMENT'S NEXT WEEK.

I'LL FIND OUT WHO THE DEPUTY D.A. IS, SEE WHAT I CAN WORK OUT.

- IT'S ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER FOR THIS GIRL. - DON'T GET ME STARTED.

CONFORMED COPIES OF OUR MOTION IN LIMINE.

ONE FOR THE NURSE. ONE FOR DR. LESTER AND HIS MEDICAL RECORDS.

IF WE WIN THE MOTION, WON'T GRASSO COME BACK WITH A MOTION TO PRESERVE THE RECORDS?

GREAT. WE WANNA SEE THOSE RECORDS TOO.

- ANYTHING ELSE? - WE'RE MEETING WITH THE JUDGE TODAY ON GEORGE LERMAN.

ALL THIS OVER A DOG. SURELY THIS CASE COULD BE PLEA-BARGAINED.

SORRY TO INTERRUPT. BREAKING NEWS ON NEIL AVEDON.

IN A SWORN AFFIDAVIT, THE TEENAGE GIRL SAYS THE MAN...

SEEN IN THE POOR-QUALITY VIDEO IS HOLLYWOOD'S BADDEST BAD BOY, NEIL AVEDON,

WITH WHOM SHE SPENT A NIGHTMARISH EVENING OF SEX, DRUGS AND VIDEOTAPE...

IN THE BUNGALOW OF A POSH BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL.

THE AFFIDAVIT GOES ON TO SAY THAT THE GIRL "FEARED FOR HER LIFE"...

WHEN THE FILM STAR TRIED TO STRANGLE HER DURING THEIR LOVEMAKING.

NEIL AVEDON IS CHARGED IN THE SEX SLAYING OF 15-YEAR-OLD JESSICA COSTELLO.

IT'S AMAZING THIS KID FINDS TIME BETWEEN THESE PERFORMANCES TO DO ANY OTHER ACTING.

- ASSUMING THAT'S REALLY NEIL. - WHETHER IT IS HIM OR NOT,

THIS IS ONE MORE THING WE HAVE TO EXPLAIN AWAY.

- WHAT MAKES PEOPLE DO THAT? - [Lisa] THERE'S A THEORY HORMONES PLAY A PART.

I'LL GIVE CONNIE DAHLGREN A CALL. IN THE MEANTIME, HAVE RAY VELACEK...

FIND OUT WHATEVER HE CAN ABOUT THE GIRL.

AFTER SEEING THAT, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT WE DON'T ALREADY KNOW.

YOU'RE KICKING UP A LOT OF DUST OVER THIS, AREN'T YOU, MS. BOOTH?

YOUR HONOR, THIS MAN POUNDED ON MR. PINE'S FRONT DOOR,

THEN PUNCHED HIM IN THE NOSE, BREAKING IT AND CAUSING COLLATERAL FACIAL BRUISING.

YOUR HONOR, THE DEFENSE WOULD MAINTAIN THERE WAS MORE THAN AMPLE PROVOCATION.

WE BELIEVE THAT REDUCING THE CHARGE TO A MISDEMEANOR AND HAVING MY CLIENT PAY A FINE...

IS THE APPROPRIATE SOLUTION, RATHER THAN CONSUMING THE COURT'S TIME WITH A TRIAL.

- TALK TO ME, COUNSELOR. - I'M SORRY. I'M NOT WILLING TO KNOCK IT DOWN.

- THIS IS A SERIOUS OFFENSE. - LILLIAN?

[Lillian] YES? SEND IN MR. LERMAN AND MR. PINE.

THIS IS A DISPUTE BETWEEN NEIGHBORS, COUNSELORS.

A LITTLE SIMPLE COMMUNICATION, AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAVE OURSELVES A TRIAL.

FORGET ABOUT IT! I WAS ASSAULTED.

I'M NOT WILLING TO PRETEND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

MR. LERMAN, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU COULD OFFER UP...

BY WAY OF COMPENSATION THAT MIGHT INDUCE MR. PINE TO FEEL AS THOUGH...

HE HAD RECEIVED REDRESS OUTSIDE THE CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM?

-YOU WANT ME TO PAY HIM? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING? -SOMETHING AKIN TO THAT.

AH. WELL.

HOW CAN I PUT THIS? I'D RATHER BE THROWN OUT THAT WINDOW...

AND IMPALED ON AN IRON FENCE THAN PAY THIS GUY ONE DIME.

MR. LERMAN, UNDERSTAND SOMETHING.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE CHARGED WITH A FELONY.

IF CONVICTED, THERE'S A CHANCE YOU WILL GO TO PRISON.

WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS SPARE YOU THAT.

WHY SHOULD HE BE SPARED? LEONARD.

WHY SHOULD YOU BE SPARED? THUNDER WASN'T SPARED. THUNDER LIVES EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE...

WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT YOU DID TO HIM.

THUNDER IS DISABLED BECAUSE OF YOU.

I DID WHAT I DID WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE. IT WAS AN ACT OF SELF-PRESERVATION.

I WOULD DO IT AGAIN. HAVE YOU HEARD THE EXPRESSION "NEVER AGAIN," MY FRIEND?

HAVE YOU HEARD THAT EXPRESSION? WELL, HEAR IT NOW: NEVER AGAIN. THE NEXT TIME,

I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU WITH A GUN.

STOP. MS. BOOTH, MS. GILLESPIE, ARE YOU READY TO PROCEED?

YES, YOUR HONOR. RIGHT AWAY. 2:00 THIS AFTERNOON.

I'LL SEE YOU IN COURT.

DON'T BE LOOKIN' AT ME. I WASN'T LOOKING AT YOU.

- YOU WERE LOOKING AT ME. YOU'RE ALWAYS STARIN'. - [Lisa] GUYS.

[Men Squabbling, Voices Overlapping]

THAT VIDEO WAS TOTALLY BOGUS, TEDDY, BELIEVE ME.

AND THIS ISN'T A CASE OF ME NOT REMEMBERING.

I DO BELIEVE YOU. THIS HAS FELT LIKE A SCAM FROM THE JUMP.

TRIALS LIKE THIS BRING ALL THE WACKOS OUT OF THE WOODWORK.

OH, YEAH? WELL, I'M GETTIN' EATEN ALIVE, OKAY?

I'M IN THE SUPERMARKET THE OTHER DAY, AND THIS WOMAN SCOOPS UP HER KID...

WHEN SHE SEES ME COMING, LIKE I'M SOME KIND OF FIEND.

I GOTTA DO SOMETHING, TED.

DON'T GO TO THE SUPERMARKET. YOU PUT YOURSELF OUT IN THE PUBLIC EYE,

PEOPLE ARE GONNA DO THINGS, SAY THINGS... THAT'S THE REALITY.

MAYBE THERE'S ANOTHER WAY OF COMING AT THIS THAN JUST LAYING LOW.

WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST? MEET THIS HEAD-ON.

NEIL'S PUBLICIST GOT A CALL FROM FELICIA NORELL.

- NO INTERVIEWS. - THIS IS NOT AN INTERVIEW; THIS IS FELICIA NORELL.

THIS IS A BLUE-CHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR NEIL TO TELL HIS SIDE OF THE STORY.

AND I'M SURE THE TIMING OF THIS BRILLIANT SUGGESTION HAS NOTHING TO DO...

WITH THE FACT YOUR PICTURE'S ABOUT TO OPEN.

THE WELFARE OF MY FRIEND IS MY ONLY PRIORITY HERE, BUT LET ME SAY THIS:

WE HAVE BEEN PREVIEWING DEADBOLT IN A FEW KEY MARKETS.

YOU SHOULD SEE WHAT THE AUDIENCE CARDS ARE SAYING.

LISTEN TO ME, NEIL. THERE'S A PERCEPTION IN YOUR BUSINESS THAT ANY INK IS GOOD INK.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN A MURDER TRIAL.

WE'RE AT WAR FOR THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE JURY.

YOU SAY THE WRONG THING IN AN INTERVIEW OR THE QUESTIONS THEMSELVES SEEM SUSPICIOUS,

THAT POTENTIAL JURY COULD DECIDE THEY DON'T LIKE YOU OR THEY DON'T TRUST YOU.

IT COULD COST YOU YOUR LIFE.

I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, TEDDY, AND I KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING OUT FOR MY BEST INTEREST.

WOULD YOU AT LEAST TALK TO THESE PEOPLE? EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES?

YOU'RE MY CLIENT. I'LL TALK TO ANYONE YOU WANT.

THATAWAY, TED.

BUT BEFORE I WOULD EVEN CONSIDER SIGNING OFF ON SUCH A THING,

I WOULD HAVE TO SATISFY MYSELF IN A COUPLE OF AREAS.

ONE: THAT THERE'S SUFFICIENT REASON TO WARRANT TAKING THIS KIND OF RISK.

AND TWO: THAT THE NETWORK AGREES TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS I CAN LIVE WITH.

I DON'T LIKE WHAT I'M HEARING... NO INTERVIEW.

WHICH IS WHY WE ARE COMING TO YOU TO BE THE RABBI HERE.

NEIL, I NEED YOUR AUTHORITY TO SAY NO. NO END RUNS AROUND ME TO YOUR AGENT...

OR ANY OF YOUR OTHER REPRESENTATIVES.

YOU'RE THE BOSS.

THIS IS WHY YOU'RE A STAR, TED. YOU'RE TOUGH-MINDED, BUT YOU'RE NOT AFRAID...

TO LOOK PAST YOUR OWN POINT OF VIEW TO SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE.

IF YOU EVER DECIDE YOU WANNA RUN A STUDIO...

PUT THE BULLET RIGHT HERE.

[Hoffman] WHATEVER NEIL AVEDON MAY HAVE SAID TO HIS PSYCHIATRIST...

THE NIGHT IN QUESTION FALLS UNDER THE DOCTOR-PATIENT PRIVILEGE.

[Grasso] THE DEFENDANT RELINQUISHED THAT PRIVILEGE, YOUR HONOR.

MR. DOCKNOVICH ARGUED FOR BAIL BASED UPON...

THE DEFENDANT'S MENTAL HEALTH, OR, RATHER, LACK THEREOF.

IT'S WELL SETTLED THAT ONCE MENTAL HEALTH IS AT ISSUE,

THE PRIVILEGE CAN NO LONGER BE USED AS A SHIELD.

THE PEOPLE HAVE CORRECTLY STATED THE LAW, BUT APPLIED IT IMPROPERLY.

AN ARGUMENT AT BAIL NEITHER PRESENTS TESTIMONY NOR INTRODUCES EVIDENCE.

WE CAN ALL ARGUE D'Arcy's HORNBOOK OR EVEN LEGISLATIVE INTENT,

BUT THE FACT IS THAT THE DEFENDANT'S MENTAL HEALTH IS ON THE RECORD,

AND THE DEFENSE PUT IT THERE.

NOW THEY WANT TO PULL IT BACK TO SUIT THEIR OWN NEEDS.

THE PEOPLE ARGUE THEY SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

I FIND THE PRIVILEGE TOO COMPELLING TO SET ASIDE.

MR. HOFFMAN, I'M GRANTING YOUR MOTION VIS-À-VIS DR. LESTER.

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE NURSE. IT SEEMS TO ME IF SUSAN DOMINICK HAS TESTIMONY...

THAT DOESN'T GO TO THE DEFENDANT'S MEDICAL RECORDS OR STATEMENTS,

IT MAY BE ADMISSIBLE.

MS. DOMINICK RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL FROM THE DEFENDANT,

WHO WAS AT THE APARTMENT OF THE VICTIM TWO HOURS AFTER HE TOLD POLICE HE'D LEFT.

- WE HAVE THE PHONE COMPANY RECORDS SUPPORTING THE SAME. - IT'S STILL HEARSAY.

A HUNDRED DIFFERENT MEN COULD'VE PLACED THAT CALL AND SAID THEY WERE NEIL AVEDON.

[Grasso] SHE'LL TESTIFY SHE KNOWS AND RECOGNIZED HIS VOICE.

MS. DOMINICK ALSO OBSERVED THE ARRIVAL OF THE DEFENDANT AT ZEPHYR HOUSE...

30 MINUTES AFTER THAT CALL.

SHE'S A PERCIPIENT WITNESS TO NONPRIVILEGED COMMUNICATION AND CONDUCT.

THERE'S NO RELIABLE PROOF SUCH AN EVENT TOOK PLACE, BUT ARGUING HYPOTHETICALLY,

IF IT DID, NEIL WAS VISITING HIS PSYCHIATRIST, AND THE PRIVILEGE EXTENDS...

TO ANY EMPLOYEE WHO MIGHT HAVE SIGNED HIM IN, INCLUDING NURSE DOMINICK.

[Grasso] THE DEFENSE IS TRYING TO USE PRIVILEGE AS A SMOKE SCREEN.

MS. DOMINICK SAW NEIL AVEDON ARRIVE AT ZEPHYR HOUSE...

AT APPROXIMATELY 2:15 A.M.

SHE NOTED HIS AFFECT. HE WAS DISTRAUGHT. HE ASKED...

TO SEE DR. LESTER, AND SHE ESCORTED HIM TO HIS OFFICE.

THESE ARE THE OBJECTIVE FACTS AND SHOULD BE ADMITTED INTO EVIDENCE.

I'M GOING TO ALLOW MS. DOMINICK'S TESTIMONY...

AS IT RELATES TO SEEING THE DEFENDANT AT ZEPHYR HOUSE.

I'M ALSO GOING TO ALLOW HER TO TESTIFY AS TO THE IDENTITY...

OF THE PERSON SHE SPOKE WITH ON THE TELEPHONE THAT EVENING.

YOUR HONOR, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT... WHETHER SHE CAN IDENTIFY...

AS FOR THE PEOPLE'S MOTION FOR DISCOVERY: DENIED.

DR. LESTER'S NOTES AND RECORDS ON MR. AVEDON ARE PROTECTED,

ALONG WITH ANY TESTIMONY THE DOCTOR HIMSELF MAY MAKE...

GOING TO THE SUBSTANCE OF HIS MEETING WITH MR. AVEDON.

YOUR HONOR, THE PEOPLE MOVE THAT DR. LESTER'S RECORDS BE REMOVED...

TO THE CUSTODY OF THIS COURT TO PREVENT ANY ALTERATION OR DESTRUCTION.

- DOES THE DEFENSE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT? - YES, YOUR HONOR.

THESE RECORDS BELONG TO MR. AVEDON. DR. LESTER SHOULD BE ORDERED...

TO TURN OVER THESE RECORDS TO MY OFFICE FOR SAFEKEEPING.

I THINK NOT, MR. HOFFMAN. DR. LESTER, CAN YOU ACCOMMODATE THE COURT?

[Murmuring]

- CERTAINLY, YOUR HONOR. - COUNSEL, YOU WILL ACCOMPANY YOUR CLIENT TO HIS OFFICE,

SECURE THE RECORDS AND DEPOSIT THEM WITH THIS COURT TOMORROW MORNING.

WE ARE ADJOURNED.

[All Clamoring] [Male Reporter] MR. HOFFMAN, WHY WAS THIS A CLOSED HEARING?

WHAT HAPPENED IN THERE? THE JUDGE CLOSED THE HEARING FOR GOOD REASON.

- THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. - THERE'S A STORY ON THE WIRE, SIR, THAT THE FILM IS FAKE.

ANY COMMENT? THIS ISN'T A NEWS BULLETIN. I SAID EARLIER THE TAPE WAS PHONY.

NOW MAYBE YOU'LL BELIEVE ME. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE...

OF RUMOR AND INNUENDO BEING REPORTED AS FACT.

IT'S THIS CLIMATE OF IRRESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM...

THAT COULD MAKE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR MY CLIENT TO RECEIVE A FAIR TRIAL.

THANK YOU.

ALL PRETRIAL MOTIONS ARE BEING CONSIDERED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ARTIE SNELLER, WHO PRODUCED THE X-RATED FILM HOSE MONKEYS...

FOOTAGE OF WHICH WAS USED IN THE APPARENT HOAX...

HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE EARLIER TODAY AND HAD THIS TO SAY:

I GOT A LATE-BREAKING BULLETIN FOR WHOEVER RIPPED OFF OUR FOOTAGE:

WE'RE COMIN' AFTER YOU, PAL. MY ATTORNEYS, AS WE SPEAK, ARE BRINGING SUIT...

AGAINST DEADLINE: AMERICA AND CONNIE DAHLGREN FOR MISREPRESENTING OUR WORK.

HEY, YOU DON'T RIP OFF SCHINDLER'S LIST, AND YOU DON'T RIP OFF HOSE MONKEYS.

IN OTHER NEWS...

IT'S ABOUT TIME NEIL GOT A WIN.

CONNIE DAHLGREN'S CREDIBILITY MAY BE IMPEACHED, BUT DON'T COUNT ON IT HELPING NEIL.

WHY NOT? [Woman] EVEN THOUGH THE CHARGE HAS BEEN REFUTED,

THE NEGATIVE ASSOCIATION'S ALREADY BEEN MADE IN PEOPLE'S MINDS.

- OUR RAW DATA SAYS AS MUCH. - IS THERE ANYTHING IN YOUR DATA THAT INDICATES...

THERE WOULD BE AN UPSIDE TO NEIL DOING AN INTERVIEW WITH FELICIA NORELL TOMORROW NIGHT?

A VENUE LIKE THAT PUTS HIM IN AMERICA'S LIVING ROOM...

WITH ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED WOMEN ALIVE.

THE VISUAL ASSOCIATION ALONE WITH FELICIA NORELL HELPS HUMANIZE HIM.

PLUS HE'S CHARMING, CHARISMATIC, KNOWS HOW TO PLAY TO THE CAMERA.

WHEN HE'S ACTING. THIS IS THE REAL DEAL... LIVE, NO TAKE TWO.

WHAT'S THE DOWNSIDE?

EVEN IF HE SAYS ALL THE RIGHT THINGS, HE'LL BE UNDER A MICROSCOPE.

EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR GUILTY BEHAVIOR IN HIS BODY LANGUAGE, EYES, AFFECT.

PEOPLE TEND TO BELIEVE THEIR TELEVISIONS TELL THEM THE TRUTH.

- IF HE COMES OFF BADLY... - LET'S SEE HOW OUR MEETING WITH THE NETWORK GOES.

DESCRIBE FOR US, IF YOU WILL, MR. PINE, THE EVENTS OF JUNE 10, 1995.

[Pine] MY WIFE AND SON WERE OUT OF TOWN VISITING MY WIFE'S PARENTS.

I WAS IN THE DEN ASSEMBLING A MODEL AIRPLANE.

IF MEMORY SERVES ME, I BELIEVE IT WAS A B-52 STRATOFORTRESS.

THE DOORBELL RANG. I ANSWERED THE DOOR, AND THE DEFENDANT...

THAT GUY OVER THERE, GEORGE LERMAN... ATTACKED ME.

WHAT REASON DID HE GIVE FOR DOING SO?

HE WAS ANGRY OVER WHAT I HAD DONE TO HIS DOG.

WAS THIS THE FIRST TIME...

HIS DOG WAS A SOURCE OF CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU?

THE FIRST TIME? NO. THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME.

HIS DOG WAS A SOURCE OF CONFLICT FROM THE DAY WE MOVED INTO THAT HOUSE.

WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE CONFLICT?

THE DOG BARKED EVERY HOUR...

OF EVERY DAY OF EVERY WEEK FOR OVER A YEAR.

- NOT TRUE. - [Pine] IT ISN'T TRUE? - MR. LERMAN.

I'M AT HOME ALL THE TIME. HE BARKS AT SQUIRRELS. HE BARKS AT BIRDS. HE BARKS AT PEDESTRIANS.

- GENTLEMEN, THAT'S ENOUGH. - HE EVEN BARKS AT HIS OWN REFLECTION IN HUBCAPS.

DID YOU EVER SPEAK TO MR. LERMAN ABOUT IT? [Pine] MANY TIMES.

HIS ONE CONCESSION TO ME WAS TO BUY THE DOG AN ELECTRONIC COLLAR.

IT TURNED OUT THE DOG LIKED THE ELECTRONIC COLLAR.

IT LIKED GETTING AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE EVERY TIME IT BARKED. IT WAS FUN FOR HIM.

INSTEAD OF SIMPLY HEARING INCESSANT BARKING,

I NOW HEARD BARKING ALTERNATING WITH BEEPING.

BARK. BEEP. BARK. BEEP. BARK. BEEP. BARK. BEEP. BARK. BEEP.

BUT THE DEFENDANT DID TAKE STEPS TO TRY AND REMEDY THE SITUATION.

HIS STEPS WERE HALFHEARTED AT BEST.

THE TRUTH IS, HE WAS SNEERING AT ME. THE LAST STRAW WAS WHEN...

HIS DOG LEAPT THE YARD FENCE AND THREW A HUMP INTO MY SCHNAUZER.

I HAD TO TURN THE HOSE ON HIM TO GET HIM OFF. IT WAS ONLY THEN...

THAT I FINALLY ACTED, RECLAIMING MY LITTLE CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE...

FROM THAT DOG MONSTER THAT HAD COME TO TORMENT MY EVERY WAKING MOMENT.

- OH, YOU BELIEVE THIS JERK? COME ON. - GEORGE.

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

[Mutters Angrily]

[Rolling Thunder]

[Rings]

STEPHANIE?

I ALMOST DIDN'T COME. I DON'T LIKE THIS PLACE.

WE CAN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE IF YOU WANT.

- COFFEE? - UH-UH.

I APPRECIATE YOUR COMING. I KNOW IT WASN'T AN EASY DECISION FOR YOU.

LIKE I SAID ON THE PHONE, I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING ON THE RECORD.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO. OKAY. FINE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

I HAVE A FRIEND. SHE'S 25 YEARS OLD.

SHE'S A PATIENT OF GRAHAM LESTER'S. I'D LIKE YOU TO TALK TO HER.

[Scoffs] NO WAY.

HE'S DOING THE SAME THING TO HER THAT HE DID TO YOU.

WELL, SHE HAS MY SYMPATHIES. ONLY ADVICE I CAN GIVE HER IS RUN LIKE HELL.

[Panting]

'CAUSE IF SHE TRIES TO DO ANYTHING, NO ONE WILL BELIEVE HER,

JUST LIKE NOBODY BELIEVED ME.

[Justine] AS OF NOW, SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE IT HERSELF.

- IS HE WITH YOU? - NO.

WHY IS HE LOOKING OVER HERE?

I'M ASKING YOU FOR YOUR HELP. WHERE WAS HELP WHEN I NEEDED IT? HUH?

I TALKED TO DETECTIVES.

I TALKED TO RAPE CRISIS INTERVENTION OFFICERS.

I TALKED TO PEOPLE FROM THE D.A.'s OFFICE, AND NOBODY DID A DAMN THING...

NOT TO HELP ME, NOT TO STOP HIM.

IF JUSTICE WASN'T SERVED, DON'T MAKE OTHER WOMEN PAY THE PRICE FOR THAT.

AT THE VERY LEAST, YOU CAN DEPRIVE LESTER OF ANOTHER VICTIM.

AND MAYBE SOMEBODY WILL BELIEVE HER.

AND MAYBE HE'LL FINALLY GET WHAT'S COMING TO HIM.

IF THERE WAS ANY JUSTICE,

GRAHAM LESTER'S BALLS WOULD BE NAILED TO THE FRONT DOOR OF HIS CLINIC.

THEN GIVE ME A NAIL.

[Rolling Thunder]

I HAVEN'T SEEN THE NETWORK THIS EXCITED SINCE FELICIA INTERVIEWED JOHN WAYNE GACY.

YOU UNDERSTAND THIS IS BY NO MEANS A FAIT ACCOMPLI?

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE: TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GROUND RULES. WE WANT THE SEGMENT TAPED IN ADVANCE,

WITH EDITORIAL CONTROL TO RESIDE WITH NEIL AND MYSELF.

- YOU'RE JOKING. - DO YOU HEAR A LAUGH TRACK?

IT'S NEVER BEEN THE POLICY OF THE NETWORK NEWS DIVISION TO CEDE EDITORIAL CONTROL.

CHANGE YOUR POLICY. FIRST OF ALL, TEDDY, THERE'S NO EDITORIAL CONTROL, PER SE.

- FELICIA WORKS LIVE. - WHICH MEANS NEIL CAN'T GET UP AND WALK AWAY IF SANDBAGGED.

TEDDY, THIS ISN'T GONNA BE ADVERSARIAL.

FELICIA NORELL DIDN'T GET WHERE SHE IS BY THROWING HANGING CURVEBALLS.

IF THIS HAS TO BE LIVE, WE HAVE TO AGREE IN ADVANCE TO THE QUESTIONS SHE CAN ASK.

THESE INTERVIEWS AREN'T SCRIPTED.

FELICIA LETS CONVERSATIONS UNFOLD AS CONVERSATIONS DO.

THEN WE'RE DONE HERE.

THE RECEPTIONIST WILL VALIDATE YOUR PARKING. UH, H-HOLD IT.

THE NETWORK WANTS TO MAKE THIS WORK.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE NEIL COMFORTABLE?

NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CRIME.

PERIOD.

THAT COULD HAVE A PRETTY BROAD INTERPRETATION.

THE BROADEST POSSIBLE.

[Sighs] FELICIA HAS TO ASK WHAT'S ON EVERYONE'S MIND.

IF THE PUBLIC SENSES THERE'S SOME SORT OF CONSPIRACY TO AVOID THIS ISSUE,

THEY'LL TUNE OUT IN DROVES.

YOUR RATINGS AREN'T MY CONCERN.

AT THE VERY LEAST, PEOPLE ARE GONNA WANT TO HEAR WHAT IT'S LIKE...

TO FACE THESE KINDS OF CHARGES, WHAT IT DOES TO SOMEONE'S LIFE.

AND IF THEY'RE LIKE ME, AND THEY THINK NEIL IS INNOCENT,

THAT ENGENDERS A LOT OF SYMPATHY.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH NEIL TALKING ABOUT HIS FEELINGS.

BUT I DON'T WANT HIM TALKING ABOUT OR BEING ASKED ABOUT HIS WHEREABOUTS...

THE DAY OF THE MURDER.

FINE.

AND NO QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS PRIOR ARRESTS.

HIS ARRESTS ARE A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD. BUT NOT ADMISSIBLE IN COURT.

HE DOESN'T NEED 20 MILLION PEOPLE...

HEARING A LITANY OF EVERY SCREW-UP HE'S EVER MADE.

ALL RIGHT. NO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS CRIMINAL RECORD.

WHAT ELSE?

NO DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP TO THE VICTIM, HIS STATEMENTS TO POLICE,

HIS PREPARATIONS FOR TRIAL,

WHETHER OR NOT HE'LL TESTIFY, WHAT HIS TESTIMONY MIGHT BE,

AND I WANT IT IN WRITING.

I GUESS WE CAN LIVE WITH THAT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY,

WHAT ASSURANCES DO I REALLY HAVE THAT ANY OF THESE TERMS WILL BE ADHERED TO?

I LIKE TO THINK MY WORD,

FELICIA'S GOOD INTENTIONS...

AND THE GOOD FAITH OF THE ENTIRE NETWORK MEAN SOMETHING, TED.

I LIKE TO THINK THE MEEK WILL INHERIT THE EARTH.

[Clicking Lighter Lid]

SO? HOW'D WE DO?

YOU GOT ME COVERED 16 WAYS TILL SUNDAY.

I GOT YOU A PIECE OF PAPER WITH SOME ASSURANCES WRITTEN ON IT.

THAT'S ALL IT IS.

NEIL, I'M ASKING YOU NOT TO DO THIS INTERVIEW.

YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING OUT FOR ME, TEDDY.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO ME.

BUT I'M DOING THIS INTERVIEW.

IT'S MY DECISION. I'LL TAKE THE CONSEQUENCES.

DESCRIBE FOR US, IF YOU WOULD,

THE HISTORY OF YOUR DEALINGS WITH THE PLAINTIFF PRIOR TO JUNE 5, 1995.

HE BOUGHT THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR TO ME A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

I HAD BEEN THERE 11 YEARS AT THAT POINT.

ONE DAY HE COMES TO ME AND SAYS MY DOG'S BARKING IS IRRITATING HIM.

THE DOG IS A LITTLE HIGH STRUNG, I'LL GRANT THAT.

I TRIED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

I STARTED KEEPING THE DOG INSIDE.

[Lisa] DID THAT SERVE TO SATISFY MR. PINE? NO, IT DID NOT.

HE COMPLAINED THAT HE COULD ALSO HEAR BARKING WHEN THE DOG WAS INSIDE.

DID YOU TAKE FURTHER STEPS TOWARDS CORRECTING THE SITUATION?

I BOUGHT AN ELECTRONIC COLLAR.

- BARK, BEEP! BARK, BEEP! - THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT, MR. PINE.

I PAID FOR SESSIONS WITH A DOG TRAINER.

WHATEVER I COULD DO, I DID.

WHERE WERE YOU THE WEEK OF JUNE 5, 1995, MR. LERMAN?

I WAS ATTENDING A TRADE SHOW IN MIAMI.

WOULD YOU TELL THE COURT WHAT, IF ANYTHING, YOU DISCOVERED UPON YOUR RETURN FROM THAT TRIP.

THAT MY DOG WAS DIFFERENT.

THAT HE DIDN'T COME RUNNING TO GREET ME.

THAT HE DIDN'T JUMP UP AND PUT HIS PAWS AROUND ME.

THAT HE WOULDN'T FACE ME. SUDDENLY HE WAS SELF-CONSCIOUS.

YOUR HONOR, WE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE DEFENSE EXHIBIT "A."

- IS THIS YOUR DOG, MR. LERMAN? - YES, IT IS.

CAN YOU CAUSE YOUR DOG TO BARK?

I CAN CAUSE MY DOG TO ATTEMPT TO BARK.

[Lisa] WOULD YOU PLEASE DO SO?

[Sighs] SPEAK, THUNDER.

[Dampened, Raspy Barking] SPEAK, BOY! COME ON!

SPEAK FOR DADDY. COME ON. COME ON.

COME ON. COME ON!

THANK YOU, MR. LERMAN.

WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN YOU FOUND YOUR DOG WAS UNABLE TO BARK?

I TOOK HIM TO THE VET.

I WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VOCAL CORDS HAD BEEN SURGICALLY ALTERED.

AND WHAT DID YOU DO UPON RETURNING FROM THE VET?

I WENT TO MR. PINE. I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD DONE THIS. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD.

HE WAS PROUD OF HIMSELF, THIS PSYCHOPATH! OH, I'M THE PSYCHOPATH.

[Judge] MR. PINE! YOU FORCE AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO ENDURE THIS CEASELESS BARKING,

AND I'M THE PSYCHOPATH?

- MR. PINE! - NOBODY COMPLAINED BUT YOU!

WHY IS THAT, I WONDER?

BOTH OF YOU, STOP THIS COLLOQUY RIGHT NOW.

THUNDER, THUNDER, THUNDER.

LOOK AT WHAT THIS EVIL LITTLE TURD HAS DONE TO YOU.

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.

A SOMEWHAT HUMBLED CONNIE DAHLGREN IS HERE TO SEE YOU.

SHOW HER IN.

STEPHANIE LAMBERT JUST CALLED. SHE'S AGREED TO COME IN THIS AFTERNOON AND MEET WITH JULIE.

THANKS, JUSTINE.

TRUCE.

I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE AT WAR.

YOU GAVE AS GOOD AS YOU GOT.

I DON'T QUITE FOLLOW. COME ON, TEDDY.

I'M NOT WEARING A WIRE. SEARCH ME, IF YOU'D LIKE.

YOU'RE LABORING UNDER A MISAPPREHENSION...

IF YOU THINK I HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT VIDEO.

YOU HAVE THE MOST REMARKABLE ABILITY TO BE SINCERE, WHETHER YOU MEAN IT OR NOT.

WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WHEN SYDNEY SCHNEIDER GAVE ME THAT TAPE...

I MADE THE MISTAKE OF TAKING IT AT FACE VALUE.

SERVES ME RIGHT. I SHOULD'VE BEEN MORE THOROUGH. THAT'S NOT LIKE YOU, CONNIE.

I KNOW.

BUT THE DEAR BOY WAS SO EAGER TO PLEASE,

AND SO YOUNG, AND SO GRATEFUL.

NOW THAT THE SCORE'S EVEN,

CAN WE GO BACK TO THE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP WE'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED?

NOTHING WOULD PLEASE ME MORE.

- NO HARD FEELINGS? - NONE.

I'M GLAD WE HAD THIS CHANCE TO CLEAR THE AIR.

BUT ANSWER ME ONE QUESTION, TEDDY.

THAT FILM, HOSE MONKEYS...

WAS THAT PART OF YOUR PRIVATE COLLECTION?

IF I TOLD YOU, IT WOULDN'T BE PRIVATE, WOULD IT?

YOU PULLED THAT STUNT WITH CONNIE DAHLGREN.

YEP.

AFTER WHAT SHE DID TO ME AND THE DAMAGE I CAUSED THE AVEDON CASE,

I HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO DISCREDIT HER.

AND TO BE HONEST, MR. HOFFMAN,

THE REVENGE WAS PRETTY SWEET.

BY BLEEDING OUT THE COLOR AND RERECORDING IT A BUNCH OF TIMES TO DEGRADE THE QUALITY.

AND I KEPT A COPY OF THE PHONY AFFIDAVIT FOR YOU. IT'S PRETTY CONVINCING.

YOU'RE FIRED.

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

- WHY? - YOU DIDN'T LEARN ANYTHING FROM YOUR LAST MISTAKE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND. I T-THOUGHT YOU'D BE GRATEFUL.

BECAUSE YOU TRIED TO SETTLE ACCOUNTS THROUGH TRICKERY?

DID YOU HEAR A WORD I SAID IN OUR CONVERSATION LAST WEEK?

Y-YEAH, Y-YOU SAID... [Stammering]

T-T-THAT WITH FAILURE COMES OPPORTUNITY,

AND I-I SAW AN OPPORTUNITY, AND I WENT FOR IT.

YOU'RE SMART, CUNNING...

AND UNDERHANDED, SYDNEY.

QUALITIES THAT, IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, WILL MAKE YOU VERY SUCCESSFUL.

BUT NOT IN THIS FIRM.

BUT ALL I D-DID WAS... WHAT YOU DID WAS LIE.

THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE AS IT IS...

BENDING AND TWISTING LEGAL ETHICS TO SUIT THEIR OWN NEEDS...

WITHOUT YOU JOINING THEIR RANKS.

WHEN THE DEAN OF YOUR LAW SCHOOL...

RECEIVES MY EVALUATION OF YOUR PERFORMANCE DURING THIS INTERNSHIP,

MAYBE HE'LL TAKE A MORE LENIENT VIEW.

BUT I DOUBT IT.

TELL ME WHAT IT IS I DID THAT'S SO WRONG?

THAT YOU HAVE TO ASK MAKES MY POINT.

LOUIS WILL PACK YOUR THINGS AND SEND THEM ALONG WITH YOUR FINAL CHECK.

GOOD-BYE.

WHEN SYDNEY SCHNEIDER'S THE BIGGEST AGENT IN HOLLYWOOD,

YOU CAN SAY YOU KNEW HIM WHEN.

JULIE, SAY HELLO TO STEPHANIE LAMBERT.

HI. [Justine] HAVE A SEAT.

IS THIS ABOUT MY CAR ACCIDENT?

[Hoffman] JUSTINE HAS THAT UNDER CONTROL.

THIS IS ABOUT GRAHAM LESTER.

OH, HE TOLD ME NOT TO DRINK ALCOHOL WITH THAT PRESCRIPTION.

IT WAS PRINTED ON THE BOTTLE, BUT I DIDN'T LISTEN.

IT WAS TOTALLY MY FAULT.

THAT'S NOT WHY WE ASKED YOU TO COME HERE.

WHEN YOU WERE IN THE HOSPITAL, DO YOU REMEMBER TELLING ME ABOUT DREAMS YOU'D BEEN HAVING?

ABOUT DR. LESTER FORCING YOU TO HAVE SEX WITH HIM?

STEPHANIE WAS A PATIENT AT DR. LESTER'S TOO.

DOES RICHARD KNOW YOU CALLED ME IN HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS?

DOES IT MATTER?

- TEDDY, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. - I THINK YOU SHOULD.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW THIS PERSON. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING.

ALL WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO IS LISTEN.

IT'S OKAY. I KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH, AND I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH NOW.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT'S REAL SHAKY AND YOU'RE NOT SURE...

IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT,

AND HE'S THERE,

ASKING YOU TO TRUST HIM...

BECAUSE HE'S THE DOCTOR, AND HE CAN MAKE IT OKAY.

AND HE DOES MAKE IT OKAY.

HE SHOWS YOU THAT HE'S NOT SCARED,

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SCARED EITHER.

GRAHAM LESTER WAS THE ONE THING THAT I COULD HOLD ONTO,

AND I HELD ON TIGHT.

SO WHEN HE CAME INTO MY BED,

I TRIED TO BLOCK IT OUT.

I COULDN'T...

ALLOW MYSELF TO THINK HE'D DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO ME.

HE WAS MY LIFELINE.

I COULDN'T CUT HIM LOOSE.

I KNEW THAT IF I DID, I WOULD DIE.

THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT I'D LET HIM BECOME.

BUT I WASN'T CRAZY.

AND THAT WHOLE SICK...

LITTLE CEREMONY THAT WENT ON EVERY NIGHT...

WASN'T JUST SOME BAD DREAM THAT'S A NORMAL PART OF THERAPY LIKE HE KEPT SAYING IT WAS...

THE NURSE COMING IN, GIVING ME MY SHOT,

HIM THERE... [Scoffs]

WATCHING ME, TOUCHING ME,

PULLING UP MY NIGHTGOWN,

FORCING HIMSELF ON ME.

AND I'D TRY TO SAY SOMETHING,

COVER MYSELF UP,

PUSH HIM AWAY,

BUT I COULDN'T.

I HAD TO LIE THERE FOR HOWEVER LONG IT TOOK HIM,

HIS SWEAT DRIPPING ALL OVER ME.

AND THEN HE'D MAKE THIS...

AWFUL LITTLE NOISE...

AND GO AWAY.

MY BODY COULDN'T FEEL ANYTHING,

BUT I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

JUST LIKE YOU KNEW.

I WAS ALWAYS AFRAID THAT IN ONE OF MY DREAMS...

HE'D WANT TO KISS ME.

THAT WOULD ONLY MAKE IT WORSE.

HE NEVER DID. NO.

AT LEAST HE NEVER DID THAT.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

BEFORE I RENDER MY DECISION...

I WANT TO MAKE NOTE OF ONE ESSENTIAL FACT...

THE ONLY TRUE VICTIM IN THIS CASE IS THE ANIMAL IN QUESTION.

ITS OWNER DIDN'T TRAIN OR CONTROL IT PROPERLY.

IN RESPONSE, MR. PINE SUBJECTED IT TO NEEDLESS SURGERY, DAMAGING IT.

IN RESPONSE TO THAT, THE DEFENDANT RESORTED TO PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.

SHAME ON THE BOTH OF YOU.

I FIND THE DEFENDANT GUILTY ON THE CHARGE OF BATTERY.

AS TO SENTENCING,

GIVEN THE FACT THAT I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS PROVOCATION...

AND THAT THE DEFENDANT'S ACTIONS TOOK PLACE IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT,

I'M SENTENCING HIM TO ONLY FIVE DAYS IN THE COUNTY JAIL...

AND 500 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE...

TO BE PERFORMED AT THE WEST LOS ANGELES ANIMAL SHELTER.

WE'RE DONE.

HE PLAGUES MY LIFE FOR A YEAR,

HE PHYSICALLY BRUTALIZES ME IN MY HOME,

YOU GIVE HIM FIVE LOUSY DAYS IN JAIL AND SAY "WE'RE DONE"?

BE CAREFUL, MR. PINE, OR YOU'LL FIND OUT JUST HOW LONG FIVE DAYS CAN BE.

YEAH. IN DOG YEARS, IT'S THREE STINKIN' HOURS.

I'M WARNING BOTH OF YOU, CEASE THIS OUTBURST RIGHT NOW.

I LOVE THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE PUTTING HIM TO WORK IN AN ANIMAL SHELTER.

THAT'S MOST APPROPRIATE. MAYBE YOU COULD PUT CHARLIE MANSON ON EARLY WORK RELEASE...

- SO HE COULD BE A BIG BROTHER. - JUST SIT DOWN, LEONARD.

ONE MORE WORD, MR. PINE, AND I AM HOLDING YOU IN CONTEMPT.

IF I MAY, YOUR HONOR,

I FEEL SUFFICIENTLY AGGRIEVED BY THE OUTCOME OF THIS CASE TO SAY THAT CONTEMPT...

FOR BOTH YOU AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN GENERAL...

IS A PRETTY FAIR SUMMATION OF THE WAY I FEEL.

ALL RIGHT, MR. PINE.

I FIND YOU IN DIRECT CONTEMPT OF THIS COURT.

BAILIFFS, REMAND BOTH THESE GENTLEMEN INTO CUSTODY.

THEY ARE BOTH TO SERVE FIVE DAYS IN COUNTY JAIL.

AND IF I HAD MY WISH, THEY WOULD SERVE THOSE FIVE DAYS IN THE SAME CELL.

NOW WE'RE DONE.

YOU'RE DUE AT THE STUDIO IN HALF AN HOUR.

NEIL CALLED. HE'LL MEET YOU THERE.

THERE'S A DRIVE-ON FOR YOU AT THE MADISON GATE.

AND RICHARD CROSS IS OUTSIDE. HE NEEDS A MINUTE OF YOUR TIME. I'LL BET.

SHOW HIM IN.

TEDDY.

RICHARD.

JULIE TOLD ME ABOUT THESE DREAMS SHE'S BEEN HAVING...

AND THIS MEETING WITH THIS, UH...

STEPHANIE PERSON.

CAN ANY OF THIS BE TRUE, OR...

THE STORIES THESE TWO WOMEN TELL ARE TOO SIMILAR TO IGNORE.

WELL, THEN,

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.

I'VE KNOWN GRAHAM LESTER FOR YEARS.

HE'S A FRIEND. OR WAS.

BUT I MEAN, UH... [Chuckles]

I CANNOT ALLOW JULIE TO CONTINUE TREATMENT WITH THIS MAN.

NOT UNDER A CLOUD LIKE THIS.

IT PROBABLY WOULD BE ILL-ADVISED.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW, TEDDY, THAT WHATEVER MY PAST RELATIONSHIP WITH GRAHAM LESTER,

I'M GONNA JUMP INTO THIS THING WITH BOTH FEET.

IF ANY OF THIS HAPPENED, OR IF HE SO MUCH AS LAID A HAND ON JULIE,

I WILL SEE TO IT THAT HIS LICENSE IS REVOKED AND HE IS PUT BEHIND BARS.

TO THAT END, YOU CAN TELL YOUR INVESTIGATOR...

THAT MY RESOURCES ARE AT HIS DISPOSAL.

THIS REALLY IS A POLICE MATTER, RICHARD.

IF THERE'S ANY INFORMATION JULIE CAN PROVIDE,

SHE SHOULD TALK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

GRAHAM LESTER...

WAS JESSICA'S PSYCHIATRIST TOO.

SO I HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION...

IF HE DID DO THESE THINGS,

IF HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF THE OTHER GIRL AT ZEPHYR HOUSE,

DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THAT HE...

KILLED JESSICA?

ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE.

WISH NEIL GOOD LUCK FOR ME TONIGHT. I'LL BE WATCHING.

[Door Closes]

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR NEW MOVIE.

GREAT. YOU SHOULD GO SEE IT. IT'S CALLED DEADBOLT.

IT'S MY FIRST FEATURE. MM-HMM.

COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU.

YOU'VE LIVED A CHARMED LIFE, NEIL.

YOU'VE HAD YOUR OWN SERIES, BECOME A STAR.

NOW YOU'RE EMBARKING UPON A FILM CAREER.

AND SUDDENLY... YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A NIGHTMARE.

YEAH.

I THINK EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT WITH YOUR TRIAL COMING UP...

THERE'S A LOT YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT.

THAT'S TRUE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE TUNED IN TO THIS SHOW,

WHO WANT TO KNOW WHO NEIL AVEDON IS?

THE WORST THING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED TO ME...

ISN'T BEING ACCUSED OF SOMETHING I DIDN'T DO.

IT WAS LOSING SOMEONE THAT I LOVED.

I'D GIVE MY LIFE RIGHT NOW IF IT WOULD BRING HER BACK.

FOR WHATEVER REASON,

I HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH BEING ACCUSED OF KILLING HER,

AND WHAT I HAVE TO DO NOW IS CONVINCE THE WORLD THAT I'M INNOCENT.

AND I GUESS THAT'S WHO NEIL AVEDON IS RIGHT NOW.

WHY DO YOU SUPPOSE ALL THIS IS HAPPENING TO YOU?

AT FIRST I THOUGHT GOD WAS PUNISHING ME. FOR?

FOR ALL THE BAD THINGS I HAVE DONE IN MY LIFE.

YOU'VE ACKNOWLEDGED PUBLICLY THAT,

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE YOU WERE 14 YEARS OLD,

YOU'RE SOBER.

YEAH. I JUST GOT MY 30-DAY CHIP.

IS THAT ONE OF THE LESSONS YOU NEEDED TO LEARN?

THAT THERE'S LIFE AFTER DRUGS AND ALCOHOL?

ABSOLUTELY. AND UNTIL YOU FIGURE THAT OUT, YOU CAN'T LEARN ANYTHING ELSE.

TALK ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE IN JAIL.

WELL, IT WAS TERRIFYING.

THE SMELL, THE NOISE... IT'S NEVER QUIET IN JAIL.

AND SUDDENLY ALL THE FAME AND THE MONEY AND THE WOMEN,

NONE OF THAT STUFF MEANS ANYTHING.

THE TRUTH IS, NONE OF THAT STUFF MEANS ANYTHING OUTSIDE EITHER.

ANOTHER LESSON? [Neil] BIG LESSON.

ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE WHAT A TYPICAL DAY IS FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.

SIMPLER, BY A LOT.

I LIVE IN A GUEST HOUSE AWAY FROM THE CITY.

I RUN EVERY DAY, GO TO MY MEETINGS, READ. I KEEP TO MYSELF, MOSTLY.

- ARE YOU LONELY? - NO.

I MEAN, YOU'D THINK, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS...

OF NEVER GOING ANYWHERE WITHOUT AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE COMING ALONG I WOULD BE,

BUT I'VE DISCOVERED THIS WEIRD NEW EXPERIENCE...

PEACE AND QUIET.

ANYONE SPECIAL IN YOUR LIFE AT THE MOMENT?

YEAH.

ANYONE WE KNOW?

NO. SHE'S NOT IN THE BUSINESS.

SHE'S SHY.

AND, UM,

I'M IN LOVE WITH HER.

WHAT'S HER NAME? [Laughs]

NOT TELLING.

NEIL, ARE YOU WORRIED...

ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD DO TO YOUR CAREER?

MY CAREER? DO I WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE WORKING AS AN ACTOR?

YOU BET. I LOVE WHAT I DO.

BUT DO I WORRY THAT ALL OF THIS WILL KEEP ME FROM BECOMING...

A MOVIE STAR?

THAT DOESN'T SEEM QUITE SO IMPORTANT ANYMORE.

WE DID A TELEPHONE SURVEY RIGHT BEFORE WE WENT ON THE AIR,

AND THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WE SPOKE TO THINK YOU'RE GUILTY.

BECAUSE THEY ONLY HEARD ONE SIDE.

I'VE BEEN ON TRIAL IN THE PRESS FOR MONTHS...

WITH PEOPLE SAYING ALL KINDS OF THINGS ABOUT ME THAT AREN'T TRUE.

A BIG REASON WHY I WANTED TO DO THIS INTERVIEW WAS SO PEOPLE COULD GET TO KNOW ME A LITTLE...

AND SEE THAT I DON'T HAVE HORNS GROWING OUT OF MY HEAD.

LET'S TALK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT WHAT IS TRUE.

YOU'VE ADMITTED YOU DON'T REMEMBER...

STRANGLING MELISSA GRIOTTE IN THAT VIDEOTAPE.

- THAT'S A MATTER OF COURT RECORD, ISN'T IT? - YEAH.

THE REASON YOU DON'T REMEMBER IS BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING BLACKOUTS...

FROM USING DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, RIGHT?

FELICIA, WE'RE GETTING INTO AN AREA I REALLY CAN'T TALK ABOUT.

OKAY, BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT PEOPLE ARE MAKING UP ALL KINDS OF THINGS ABOUT YOU.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF DISTURBING THINGS THAT AREN'T MADE UP.

YOU STRANGLED A SWAN. YOU STRANGLED MELISSA GRIOTTE.

YOU ADMIT TO BEING IN JESSICA'S APARTMENT THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER.

YOU HAD SEX WITH HER.

ISN'T IT POSSIBLE YOU STRANGLED HER AND YOU JUST DON'T REMEMBER?

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME NOT TO REMEMBER SOMETHING I COULDN'T HAVE DONE,

SOMETHING IT'S INCONCEIVABLE I WOULD EVER DO...

TO ANYONE,

LET ALONE A PERSON I LOVE THE WAY I LOVED JESSICA.

AND WHEREVER SHE IS NOW,

SHE KNOWS THE TRUTH,

AND GOD KNOWS THE TRUTH...

THAT I DIDN'T DO THIS TERRIBLE THING.

THANK YOU, NEIL AVEDON, FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT.

WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

HE'S BEAUTIFUL,

BOYISH, SENSITIVE, TRAGIC.

NOW EVERY WOMAN IN AMERICA WANTS TO MOTHER HIM.

DO YOU?

I DON'T KNOW. HE'S AN ACTOR.

SO I CAN'T TELL IF I'M BEING MANIPULATED...

OR IF I JUST WATCHED AN INNOCENT MAN POUR OUT HIS SOUL.

I KNOW THAT'S A CONCEPT I'VE BEEN ALLERGIC TO UP TO THIS POINT,

BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME...

I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER IF NEIL AVEDON IS REALLY CAPABLE OF MURDER.

GIVE ME 12 JURORS WHO FEEL THE SAME WAY YOU DO,

AND I'VE GOT A SHOT AT GETTING HIM OFF.

AND IF THEY'RE WRONG?

THEN, AS THE OLD SAYING GOES...

BETTER 10 GUILTY MEN GO FREE THAN ONE INNOCENT MAN BE PUNISHED.

I REST MY CASE.