Original subtitles

[Announcer] THE MURDER.

ALL THE EVIDENCE POINTS TO A SINGLE PERPETRATOR...

WHO KNEW THE VICTIM AND HAD ROUGH SEX WITH HER PRIOR TO HER MURDER.

[Announcer] THE SUSPECT, DRUG-ADDICTED MOVIE STAR, NEIL AVEDON.

WE ARRESTED NEIL OFF OF THE SEMEN IN JESSICA COSTELLO...

AND HIS INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS TO THE POLICE.

LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE HIP-DEEP IN A RAPE-HOMICIDE.

[Announcer] THE TRIAL.

[Neil] I DON'T THINK I CAN GET THROUGH THIS.

YOU CAN DEPEND ON ME, AND YOU'RE GONNA PUT YOUR FAITH IN ME.

AND YOU WILL COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE.

[Announcer] RICHARD MAKES JUSTINE AN OFFER.

HE WANTS ME TO FLY TO AMSTERDAM TO BUY SOME PAINTING.

HE MADE A BIG SHOW OF WANTING IT TO BE ALL RIGHT WITH YOU.

IT'S NOT. TELL RICHARD YOU AREN'T INTERESTED.

DO WE HAVE SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE? EXCELLENT.

ONLY ABOUT TED... I WOULD LIKE TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIME TO TELL HIM.

[Announcer] RICHARD CALLS IN A FAVOR.

I WAS BEGINNING TO FEEL THAT WE HAD AN UNDERSTANDING.

'CAUSE YOU GAVE ME A $75,000 PIECE OF ART?

I CAN'T DISCUSS JULIE'S TESTIMONY.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF JULIE INTENDS TO DO ANY PERMANENT DAMAGE TO OUR RELATIONSHIP.

IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU FEAR SHE MIGHT IMPLICATE YOU IN JESSICA'S MURDER?

- WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? - RICHARD WANTED TO TALK TO YOU. I THOUGHT IT'D BE ALL RIGHT.

[Announcer] JULIE SHOWS UP IN COURT TO BURY THE DEFENSE.

ARE YOU ACQUAINTED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL NAMED RICHARD CROSS?

YES. BUT ISN'T THERE SOME LAW ABOUT TESTIFYING AGAINST YOUR HUSBAND?

RICHARD AND I WERE MARRIED NIGHT BEFORE LAST IN RENO.

[Announcer] A NEW SUSPECT.

- THIS IS YOUR SECOND ARREST FOR RAPE. - IT WAS NOT RAPE.

DO YOUR 20 YEARS AS A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE GIVE YOU A STRONG SENSE...

THAT EDUARDO PORTALEGRE COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR JESSICA'S DEATH?

[Polson] IF YOU'RE ASKING ME IF I THINK HE'S CAPABLE OF A RAPE-MURDER, THE ANSWER IS YES.

TED. LORRAINE, HELLO.

I HOPE YOU'RE NOT THE TYPE TO SHOOT THE MESSENGER.

IT DEPENDS. WHAT'S THE MESSAGE? OUR LATEST JURY SURVEY.

THE RESULTS AREN'T VERY ENCOURAGING.

OKAY, FOLKS, LET'S GET STARTED. LORRAINE'S GOT SOME POLL RESULTS FOR US.

A SURVEY OF 525 ADULTS, MATCHED TO THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR CURRENT JURY,

INDICATES THAT IF THE TRIAL ENDED TODAY, 59% WOULD VOTE TO CONVICT.

- ONLY 18% THINK NEIL'S INNOCENT. - THANKS.

FIFTY-NINE PERCENT? THAT'S... THAT'S ALMOST NO MOVEMENT AT ALL.

EVEN LESS COMFORTING ARE THE REASONS GIVEN BY THOSE VOTING TO CONVICT.

DESPITE OUR ASSAULT ON SUSAN DOMINICK,

24% STILL CITE DR. LESTER'S CONTENTION THAT NEIL CONFESSED.

SIXTEEN PERCENT CITE THE PRESENCE OF HIS SEMEN IN JESSICA.

AND A DISTURBING 47% SIMPLY BELIEVE...

NEIL IS THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO WOULD COMMIT SUCH A CRIME.

IN OTHER WORDS, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO CHARACTER.

OR MORE PRECISELY THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF NEIL'S CHARACTER.

TOWARD THAT END, NEIL'S MOTHER ARRIVES TODAY.

BESIDES DISHING UP SOME MOM AND APPLE PIE, WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH HER?

ALONG WITH THE OTHER WITNESSES WE'VE LINED UP, A MORE SYMPATHETIC PORTRAIT OF NEIL.

DRAGGING MY MOTHER OUT HERE FROM INDIANA, IT'S A HELL OF A WAY TO GET IT DONE.

I TAKE IT YOU AND YOUR MOTHER AREN'T CLOSE.

TRY WE HAVEN'T SPOKEN IN YEARS.

I'M HERE FOR ONLY ONE REASON, MR. HOFFMAN, BECAUSE MY SON NEEDS ME.

[Hoffman] AND NEIL APPRECIATES THAT, MRS. RENNICK.

"NEIL." SO HARD FOR ME TO REMEMBER THAT'S WHAT HE CALLS HIMSELF NOW.

IT WAS ALWAYS JAMES BACK HOME.

- ARE YOU SETTLED IN AT YOUR HOTEL? - YES. IT'S VERY NICE.

NOISY, BUT NICE.

IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, MRS. RENNICK...

NO, IT'S FINE. I'VE NEVER BEEN ONE TO COMPLAIN.

[Exhales]

OUR BEST ESTIMATE IS THAT YOU'LL BE TESTIFYING THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW.

- CHRIS WILL BE HELPING YOU PREPARE. - FINE.

WE'LL BE ASKING YOU ABOUT NEIL'S CHILDHOOD, THE KIND OF BOY HE WAS.

WE WILL HAVE TO GET INTO HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH MR. RENNICK.

I EXPECTED AS MUCH. NEIL AND MY LATE HUSBAND HAD THEIR SHARE OF DIFFICULTIES.

THAT'S ONE WAY TO PUT IT.

- THERE'S NO NEED TO GO INTO THAT HERE, NEIL. - YEAH, RIGHT.

JUST AS LONG AS YOU'RE CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING, MRS. RENNICK.

YOU ASK THE QUESTIONS, MR. HOFFMAN. I'LL ANSWER THEM.

I THOUGHT WE'D START REVIEWING YOUR TESTIMONY OVER DINNER TONIGHT.

IS THERE ANY TYPE OF FOOD YOU PREFER? WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE.

NEIL, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME ALONG IF YOU LIKE.

NO, I CAN'T.

I DON'T GO OUT MUCH ANYMORE.

YOU DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE MEETING YOU, MRS. RENNICK.

AND YOU, MR. HOFFMAN.

MR. DOCKNOVICH.

NOT EXACTLY THE BRADY BUNCH.

HOW'D IT GO WITH MRS. RENNICK LAST NIGHT?

[Chris] I TOOK HER TO DINNER AT HOUSTON'S. MAY NOT BE EASY,

BUT I THINK SHE'LL GIVE US WHAT WE WANT.

NEIL, WHATEVER YOUR PROBLEMS WITH YOUR MOTHER,

HER TESTIMONY ONLY HELPS US IF THE JURY SEES A LOVING SON.

YOU'LL SEE IT WHEN SHE GETS UP THERE, TED. IT'S CALLED ACTING.

ALL RISE.

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF LOS ANGELES,

THE HONORABLE JUDGE ELIZABETH BORNSTEIN PRESIDING.

WE'RE ON THE RECORD IN PEOPLE V. AVEDON.

IS THERE SOME REASON WHY MS. GRASSO AND MR. WASHINGTON ARE NOT PRESENT?

NONE THAT I KNOW OF, YOUR HONOR.

BAILIFF, WILL YOU CHECK THE HALLWAY?

BEGGING YOUR PARDON, YOUR HONOR.

MR. WASHINGTON, THESE SESSIONS BEGIN PROMPTLY AT 9:30.

LAST TIME I CHECKED, THE ELEVATORS TO THIS FLOOR WERE IN RUNNING ORDER.

I APOLOGIZE FOR MY TARDINESS, YOUR HONOR. MAY I APPROACH?

[Murmuring]

MS. GRASSO'S HUSBAND DIED OF A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK AT 6:30 THIS MORNING.

YOUR HONOR, IN LIGHT OF THIS TRAGEDY,

THE DEFENSE WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION TO A REQUEST FROM THE PEOPLE FOR A CONTINUANCE.

IT'S YOURS FOR THE ASKING, MR. WASHINGTON.

APPRECIATED, YOUR HONOR, BUT ON MS. GRASSO'S INSTRUCTIONS, I'M PREPARED TO GO FORWARD.

VERY WELL. STEP BACK. BAILIFF, PLEASE BRING IN THE JURY.

[Bailiff] WOULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD?

[Clears Throat] KAREN LOCKWOOD.

MS. LOCKWOOD, WERE YOU ACQUAINTED WITH JESSICA COSTELLO?

YES. I WAS HER SPONSOR OVER AT THE WEST HOLLYWOOD CHAPTER OF COCAINE ANONYMOUS.

APPROACH, YOUR HONOR.

YOUR HONOR, THE PEOPLE OBJECT TO THIS WITNESS AND FAIL TO SEE A RELEVANCE TO THIS CASE.

MS. LOCKWOOD KNEW THE DECEASED TWO WEEKS AND BARELY KNEW MR. AVEDON.

SHE OBSERVED THEIR RELATIONSHIP, YOUR HONOR.

THE PEOPLE HAVE PUT ON WITNESSES WHO ALLEGEDLY OBSERVED MR. AVEDON ON A SINGLE OCCASION.

ARE THEY NOW SEEKING TO DENY OUR RIGHT TO REBUT THAT TESTIMONY...

THROUGH SOMEONE WITH CONSIDERABLY GREATER KNOWLEDGE?

THE PEOPLE'S WITNESSES OBSERVED MR. AVEDON'S TENDENCY TO VIOLENCE.

THAT MS. LOCKWOOD DID NOT IS HARDLY PROBATIVE.

IF THAT'S YOUR POINT, MR. WASHINGTON, MAKE IT ON CROSS-EXAMINATION.

YOUR OBJECTION IS OVERRULED.

[Hoffman] MS. LOCKWOOD, HOW LONG BEFORE HER DEATH...

DID JESSICA COSTELLO BEGIN ATTENDING MEETINGS OF COCAINE ANONYMOUS?

ABOUT TWO WEEKS.

AND HOW DID YOU HAPPEN TO BECOME HER SPONSOR?

WE STARTED TALKING AFTER ONE OF THE MEETINGS.

I THINK SHE LIKED THE FACT THAT I WAS YOUNG TOO.

SHE ASKED ME TO SPONSOR HER, AND I SAID OKAY.

AND HOW WAS SHE DOING? IT WAS A STRUGGLE FOR HER,

BUT I THINK SHE REALLY WANTED TO GET CLEAN.

IN THE COURSE OF YOUR SPONSORSHIP OF HER, DID YOU EVER MEET NEIL AVEDON?

SEVERAL TIMES. HE'D DROP HER OFF AND PICK HER UP. THAT SORT OF THING.

WOULD YOU SAY HE WAS SUPPORTIVE OF HER EFFORTS TO GET CLEAN? VERY.

THE FIRST TIME THAT SHE SLIPPED, HE INSISTED THAT SHE CALL ME.

[Hoffman] PLEASE DESCRIBE THIS INCIDENT.

[Lockwood] ABOUT A WEEK INTO THE PROGRAM, JESSICA BEGAN USING AGAIN.

NEIL WENT OVER AND FOUND HER STRUNG OUT. HE MADE HER CALL ME.

WHEN I GOT THERE, YOU COULD JUST SEE THE CONCERN IN HIS EYES.

JESSICA BECAME ABUSIVE. SHE STARTED LASHING OUT AT HIM.

NEIL JUST HELD HER UNTIL SHE CALMED DOWN.

SO DESPITE THE FACT THAT JESSICA BECAME PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE TO HIM,

NEIL DIDN'T RESPOND IN KIND?

LIKE I SAID, HE JUST HELD HER.

IN ALL THE TIMES YOU SAW THEM TOGETHER,

DID NEIL EVER ACT AS ANYTHING BUT A LOVING BOYFRIEND?

- NEVER. - THANK YOU. NOTHING FURTHER.

MS. LOCKWOOD, ARE YOU AWARE THAT UP UNTIL SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER MS. COSTELLO'S DEATH,

THE DEFENDANT HIMSELF USED DRUGS AND ALCOHOL?

- [Lockwood] I'VE READ THAT, YES. - DID YOU EVER SEE HIM HIGH?

OBJECTION. CALLS FOR A MEDICAL CONCLUSION.

THE WITNESS IS A FORMER DRUG USER, YOUR HONOR. I THINK SHE'S QUALIFIED TO ANSWER.

OVERRULED. THE WITNESS WILL ANSWER.

[Clears Throat] WELL, UH, A COUPLE OF TIMES I... SAW HIM,

- HE MAY HAVE BEEN ON SOMETHING. - COCAINE?

- I COULDN'T SAY. - COME ON, MS. LOCKWOOD.

WEREN'T YOU IN C.A. FOR YOUR OWN COKE PROBLEM?

YES. THEN I REPEAT,

DID THE DEFENDANT EVER DEMONSTRATE BEHAVIOR...

CONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE COCAINE ABUSE?

I GUESS HE DID. AND ARE YOU AWARE THAT COCAINE, IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES,

CAN LEAD TO PARANOIA, EVEN VIOLENCE? I'M AWARE OF THAT.

SO IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT ON OCCASIONS OTHER THAN YOU OBSERVED,

MR. AVEDON BECAME VIOLENT WITH MS. COSTELLO AFTER USING COCAINE.

I-IT'S POSSIBLE.

FOR ALL YOU KNOW, HE COULD HAVE KILLED HER IN SUCH A STATE. CORRECT?

OBJECTION. CALLS FOR SPECULATION. WITHDRAWN.

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR THIS WITNESS, YOUR HONOR.

ANY LUCK GETTING THROUGH TO MIRIAM?

I LEFT A MESSAGE. APPARENTLY SHE'S WITH HER FAMILY.

I DIDN'T KNOW HER HUSBAND. DID HE HAVE A HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE?

I SAW HIM AT A BAR ASSOCIATION DINNER THREE MONTHS AGO.

HE SEEMED TO BE THE PICTURE OF HEALTH.

TED. CHRIS.

I WASN'T SURE IF I SHOULD COME OVER IN CASE YOU WERE STILL MAD AT ME.

I WAS NEVER MAD AT YOU, JULIE.

PLEASE, SIT DOWN.

THANK YOU.

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THE DECISION NOT TO TESTIFY AGAINST DR. LESTER...

WAS MINE AS MUCH AS RICHARD'S.

FORGIVE ME, BUT RICHARD SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO SUMMON UP YOUR AMNESIA AT WILL...

WHAT HAPPENED AT ZEPHYR HOUSE, HIS ROLE IN YOUR SISTER'S MURDER.

TED, I KNOW RICHARD HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH JESSICA'S DEATH.

THANKS TO JUSTINE, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE CLEARED UP.

- COME AGAIN? - THE NIGHT WE FLEW TO RENO,

RICHARD WAS AT JUSTINE'S HOUSE WHEN I ARRIVED.

AFTER SHE WENT TO BED, RICHARD AND I LEFT TO GET A COFFEE. WE TALKED EVERYTHING OUT.

AND HE ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM RIGHT THERE AT STARBUCKS.

OVER A DECAF ESPRESSO. HOW ROMANTIC.

I KNOW IT'S NOT MOONLIGHT AND CHAMPAGNE, BUT A GIRL TAKES WHAT SHE CAN GET.

I WISH I COULD BE AS CONVINCED OF RICHARD'S INNOCENCE AS YOU ARE, JULIE.

BUT I DO WISH YOU HAPPINESS. AFTER ALL YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH, YOU DESERVE IT.

AND WE'RE STILL FRIENDS?

OF COURSE.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HAPPY THAT MAKES ME.

WELL, I SHOULD LET YOU GET TO YOUR LUNCH.

I'D LIKE TO THINK JUSTINE CAN EXPLAIN THIS.

YOU WANTED TO SEE ME, TED?

YES. SHUT THE DOOR.

SIT DOWN.

I RAN INTO JULIE COSTELLO... AT LUNCH TODAY.

MM-HMM.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO TELL ME ABOUT THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED?

SUCH AS?

SUCH AS THE FACT THAT RICHARD CROSS WAS IN YOUR APARTMENT THAT NIGHT.

I'M PRETTY SURE I MENTIONED THAT.

THAT HE WAS THERE? I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING I'D FORGET.

TED, I ADMIT, I WAS PRETTY FLUSTERED THAT MORNING,

BUT I'M... I'M POSITIVE I TOLD YOU THAT RICHARD DROPPED BY.

ALL I REMEMBER YOU SAYING IS THAT JULIE'S BED HADN'T BEEN SLEPT IN.

THAT'S NOT MY RECOLLECTION, BUT ASK THE OTHER ASSOCIATES.

IF I'M WRONG, IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT.

HOWEVER YOU CHARACTERIZE IT, JUSTINE,

IT WAS POOR JUDGMENT TO ALLOW RICHARD TO HAVE ACCESS TO HER.

HE SHOWED UP AND DEMANDED TO SPEAK TO HER. SHOULD I HAVE CALLED THE POLICE?

YOU'RE A LOT SMARTER THAN THAT, JUSTINE.

RICHARD CROSS ARRIVES THE NIGHT BEFORE JULIE IS ABOUT TO DELIVER...

POTENTIALLY DAMAGING TESTIMONY AGAINST HIM,

AND YOU SUSPECT NOTHING?

THERE ARE A THOUSAND WAYS YOU COULD HAVE REFUSED HIM,

SHORT OF DIALING 911.

THEN YOU'RE RIGHT. I MADE AN ERROR IN JUDGMENT.

WHICH I TRUST YOU WON'T LET HAPPEN AGAIN.

TED, I PROMISE...

MY RICHARD CROSS RADAR IS ON EXTRA ALERT.

[Door Opens, Closes]

MIRIAM. HI, TEDDY.

I'M SO SORRY ABOUT HARRY. THANK YOU.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO, IF YOU NEED A DELAY IN THE TRIAL?

NO, THAT'S THE LAST THING I NEED, TO STAY HOME.

NO, I'D MUCH RATHER BE HERE. WHATEVER HELPS.

THE FUNERAL WILL BE SUNDAY. ALL THE ARRANGEMENTS HAVEN'T BEEN MADE YET,

BUT I'LL INFORM YOUR OFFICE.

[Chris] MR. STRICK, WOULD YOU TELL US WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING?

I'M AN APARTMENT MANAGER FOR THE CARLTON APARTMENTS IN HOLLYWOOD.

AND IN THIS CAPACITY, DID YOU EVER MEET NEIL AVEDON?

ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO. HIS UNCLE USED TO LIVE IN THE BUILDING.

WHEN NEIL MOVED HERE FROM INDIANA, THAT'S WHO HE MOVED IN WITH.

HOW OLD WAS NEIL THEN? MAYBE 15.

A REAL CHARMER. GOOD-LOOKING AS HELL.

HE HADN'T GOTTEN HIS BIG BREAK ON ALL FOR ONE YET,

BUT YOU COULD TELL HE WAS GOING PLACES.

AND HOW WELL DID YOU COME TO KNOW HIM? PRETTY WELL.

UH, LIVING IN HOLLYWOOD, I KNEW A LOT ABOUT THE OLD DAYS.

STEWART GRANGER USED TO LIVE IN THE BUILDING.

NEIL LIKED HEARING THE OLD STORIES. I LIKED TELLING THEM.

[Chuckles] HE'D COME HOME AFTER BEING REJECTED FOR SOME PART,

AND I'D REMIND HIM EVERY ONE OF THOSE STARS ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD...

WAS REJECTED A HUNDRED TIMES BEFORE THEY MADE IT.

AND WHEN HE GOT HIS ROLE IN ALL FOR ONE, DID NEIL CHANGE?

NOT TOWARD ME. EVEN AFTER HE MOVED OUT TO MALIBU,

HE'D STILL COME BACK TO SEE ME.

WHEN MY WIFE DIED TWO YEARS AGO, NEIL GAVE ME SOME MONEY TO TIDE ME OVER.

I TRIED TO PAY HIM BACK, BUT HE WOULDN'T ACCEPT IT.

SAID HE OWED ME MORE THAN THAT FOR ENCOURAGING HIM...

BACK WHEN HE WAS NOBODY.

I'LL TELL YOU. IT REALLY TOUCHED ME.

SO WHEN YOU HEAR NEIL DESCRIBED IN THIS COURTROOM...

AS A VIOLENT, SELF-CENTERED DRUG ADDICT, DO YOU RECOGNIZE THAT PERSON?

UH-UH, NO. THAT'S NOT THE NEIL I KNOW.

MY FIRST ACTING CLASS, NEIL WAS THERE.

HE HAD ALREADY GOTTEN THE PART ON ALL FOR ONE,

BUT I-I GUESS THEY THOUGHT HE SHOULD STILL TAKE CLASSES.

UH, OUR TEACHER WAS A SCREAMER.

HE WAS A REAL TYRANT.

AND I WAS GIVEN A SCENE TO DO WITH NEIL.

I WAS PETRIFIED.

AND THE FIRST RUN-THROUGH, I JUST SCREWED UP ROYALLY,

AND THE TEACHER JUST UNLOADED ON ME.

AND NEIL JUST CAME TO MY DEFENSE.

HE SAID THAT HE WAS THE ONE WHO HAD SCREWED UP...

BY NOT GIVING ME ENOUGH TO PLAY OFF OF.

WHICH WAS TOTALLY UNTRUE, OF COURSE.

BUT I APPRECIATED HIM SAYING THAT.

DID YOU SEE HIM AFTER THAT? WE WENT FOR A CUP OF COFFEE,

AND HE GAVE ME TIPS ON ACTING AND AGENTS.

WE JUST BECAME PRETTY GOOD FRIENDS,

EVEN THOUGH MY CAREER NEVER TOOK OFF LIKE HIS.

SUBSEQUENT TO THIS, MS. REESE, DID YOU WORK WITH NEIL PROFESSIONALLY?

YEAH. A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER, I WAS VISITING NEIL ON THE SET OF ALL FOR ONE.

HE WAS REALLY BIG THEN. HE WAS IN ALL THE TEEN MAGAZINES.

AND I, UH, MENTIONED TO HIM THAT I COULD REALLY USE A DAY PART...

TO KEEP MY HEALTH INSURANCE.

AND HE CALLED HIS PRODUCER OVER,

AND THEY GAVE ME A GUEST ROLE ON THE SHOW.

I PLAYED THIS GIRL THAT NEIL'S CHARACTER GETS STUCK IN AN ELEVATOR WITH.

I GOT A LOT OF WORK OFF OF IT TOO.

DID, UH, DID NEIL ASK FOR ANYTHING IN RETURN?

IF YOU MEAN DID HE COME ON TO ME?

NO. NEIL HELPED ME FOR ONLY ONE REASON...

THE GOODNESS OF HIS HEART.

YOUR HONOR, THE DEFENSE CALLS JEANETTE RENNICK TO THE STAND.

[Chris] MRS. RENNICK, WHERE DO YOU RESIDE?

FRANKLIN, INDIANA.

AND PRIOR TO COMING HERE FOR THIS TRIAL, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW YOUR SON,

- NEIL AVEDON? - ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.

WHY SO LONG?

I THINK JAMES... I MEAN NEIL...

BLAMES ME FOR CERTAIN THINGS THAT HAPPENED DURING HIS CHILDHOOD.

WOULD I BE CORRECT IN ASSUMING THAT ONE OF THESE THINGS...

WAS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS LATE FATHER?

YES.

WHAT DID YOUR HUSBAND DO FOR A LIVING?

HE WORKED FOR BENDIX BRAKE LININGS IN BLOOMINGTON,

ON THE PRODUCTION LINE. HARD WORK?

VERY.

WHEN NEIL WAS A YOUNG BOY, WHAT KIND OF A RELATIONSHIP DID HE HAVE WITH HIS FATHER?

A NORMAL FATHER-SON RELATIONSHIP.

THEY'D PLAY CATCH IN THE BACKYARD. GO FISHING.

THAT SORT OF THING.

DID THIS CHANGE AT SOME POINT? GRADUALLY.

OVER THE YEARS. LOU BEGAN HAVING LESS TIME FOR NEIL.

ANY PARTICULAR REASON?

I DON'T THINK HE GOT THE PROMOTIONS HE WANTED.

IT MADE HIM BITTER.

DID HE CHANGE IN ANY OTHER WAY?

HE BEGAN TO DRINK...

AND TAKE HIS FRUSTRATIONS OUT ON NEIL.

[Chris] IN WHAT WAY?

WE'D SIT AT THE DINNER TABLE, AND NO MATTER WHAT NEIL DID, IT WAS WRONG...

HOW HE HELD HIS FORK, HOW QUICKLY OR SLOWLY HE ATE HIS FOOD.

LOU CRITICIZED EVERYTHING.

IF NEIL TALKED BACK, LOU WOULD START YELLING.

AND WHEN LOU YELLED, YOU DIDN'T WANT TO GET IN HIS WAY.

YOU WERE LIKELY TO GET A SMACK ACROSS THE FACE.

SO HE WOULD HIT NEIL WITH HIS HANDS?

OR HIS BELT. YES.

AND WHEN THIS WAS HAPPENING, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

NOTHING.

MRS. RENNICK, WHAT KIND OF A STUDENT WAS NEIL?

OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL PLAYS, NOT MUCH OF ONE.

HE HAD THE ABILITY, JUST NEVER APPLIED HIMSELF.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WAS?

HIS FATHER'S CRITICISM.

AND THEN IN HIS FRESHMAN YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE STARTED DRINKING.

NEIL'S SOPHOMORE YEAR. DID SOMETHING HAPPEN FOLLOWING A PLAY IN WHICH HE APPEARED?

YES.

WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THAT FOR US?

NEIL PLAYED DANNY IN A PRODUCTION OF GREASE.

HE WAS QUITE GOOD, EVEN THEN.

OPENING NIGHT, HIS FATHER NEVER SHOWED UP.

NEIL HID HIS DISAPPOINTMENT, BUT I COULD TELL HE WAS CRUSHED.

WHEN WE GOT HOME, THERE WAS LOU ON HIS FIFTH SCOTCH.

[Chris] DID NEIL ASK HIM WHY HE MISSED HIS PERFORMANCE?

NO. BUT LOU STARTED YELLING AT HIM ANYWAY.

HE TOLD NEIL THAT HE'D NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING,

THAT ACTING WAS FOR SISSIES.

NEIL SAID SOMETHING BACK,

AND LOU JUST STARTED HITTING HIM.

OF ALL THE BEATINGS I SAW NEIL TAKE,

THAT ONE WAS THE WORST.

[Chris] WHAT HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY?

[Mrs. Rennick] NEIL RAN AWAY FROM HOME,

WENT TO LIVE WITH MY BROTHER IN LOS ANGELES.

HE AND HIS FATHER NEVER SPOKE AGAIN.

DID YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER CONTACT WITH HIM?

AFTER HE GOT THE PART ON ALL FOR ONE,

HE'D SEND ME MONEY.

SOMETIMES WITH A BRIEF LETTER.

ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, HE CAME BACK HOME TO DO A PHOTO SHOOT ABOUT WHERE HE GREW UP.

AFTER HE LEFT,

I FOUND OUT HE PAID OFF OUR MORTGAGE.

[Chris] DESPITE EVERYTHING THAT HAD HAPPENED.

YES.

[Chris] THANK YOU, MRS. RENNICK.

YOUR WITNESS.

[Mark] MRS. RENNICK,

DID YOU GIVE AN INTERVIEW TO TV GUIDE IN MARCH OF 1991?

- YES. - DO YOU REMEMBER TELLING THE INTERVIEWER, QUOTE,

"NEIL HAD A HAPPY CHILDHOOD. HE HAD EVERYTHING A BOY COULD POSSIBLY WANT"?

YES, BUT I WASN'T BEING TRUTHFUL.

- THEN OR NOW? - THEN.

WHAT YOU'RE TELLING US NOW, MA'AM, ISN'T THIS "THE ABUSE EXCUSE"?

NEIL ISN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS BEHAVIOR BECAUSE HIS FATHER DISCIPLINED HIM.

THIS WASN'T DISCIPLINE. THIS WAS ABUSE.

[Mark] WELL, LET'S SEE HOW THIS SO-CALLED ABUSE HAS AFFECTED HIS LIFE.

HE'S RICH. HE'S FAMOUS. HE'S LIVING OUT IN MALIBU.

WE SHOULD ALL BE SO ABUSED, WOULDN'T YOU SAY?

I WOULDN'T WISH MY SON'S CHILDHOOD ON ANYONE, MR. WASHINGTON.

BECAUSE YOU LOVE HIM.

- YES. - BUT BECAUSE YOU LOVE HIM,

WOULDN'T YOU SAY OR DO ANYTHING TO KEEP YOUR SON FROM GOING TO PRISON?

- I WOULDN'T LIE. - YOU LIED TO TV GUIDE.

- THAT WAS DIFFERENT. - WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MA'AM,

HAVEN'T YOU CONCOCTED THIS ENTIRE STORY TO PLAY ON THE JURY'S SYMPATHIES?

TO GET THEM TO EXCUSE YOUR SON'S CRIME?

[Mrs. Rennick] THE CRIME IS MINE, MR. WASHINGTON.

FOR 20 YEARS, I'VE LIVED WITH THE GUILT OF WHAT I ALLOWED NEIL'S FATHER TO DO TO HIM.

I'VE SEEN MY SON'S BITTERNESS.

THE ANGER IN HIS EYES WHEN HE LOOKS AT ME.

IF I COULD TAKE HIS PLACE...

RIGHT NOW, I'D DO IT.

I'D DO IT.

MAYBE THEN HE WOULDN'T HATE ME FOR MY WEAKNESS.

FOR THE TERRIBLE WAY I'VE FAILED HIM.

I'M SORRY, NEIL. I'M SO SORRY.

PLEASE FORGIVE ME.

[Louis] THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS.

RICHARD, THANKS FOR COMING BY.

I MUST ADMIT, TEDDY, GIVEN OUR RECENT RELATIONS,

I, UH, I WAS SURPRISED BY YOUR INVITATION.

WELL, WHATEVER OUR DIFFERENCES, I ASSUME WE SHARE A COMMON INTEREST IN HELPING NEIL.

ALWAYS.

IN THAT REGARD, WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT EDUARDO PORTALEGRE?

BESIDES THE FACT THAT HE'S HANDSOME, ARROGANT AND CHEATS AT DOUBLES TENNIS,

VERY LITTLE.

ARE YOU AWARE THAT HE WAS SEEING JESSICA?

TEDDY, DO I TAKE THIS TO MEAN THAT YOU SUSPECT YOUNG EDUARDO IN JESSICA'S DEATH?

I THOUGHT THAT PARTICULAR RING OF HELL WAS RESERVED FOR ME.

I TRY TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE ON THAT POINT, RICHARD.

WELL, NO OFFENSE, TEDDY,

BUT THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD PARANOIA BEING DESCRIBED AS FLEXIBILITY.

THEN YOU WON'T MIND INDULGING MY PARANOIA ON ANOTHER SUBJECT.

WHEN DID JUSTINE APPLETON'S DUTIES FOR YOU EXPAND TO INCLUDE MATCHMAKING?

- I BEG YOUR PARDON? - WHEN SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD DO SOME WORK FOR YOU,

IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SHE'D BE BUYING PAINTINGS.

NOW I'M INFORMED THAT SHE ARRANGED THE MEETING WHICH LED TO YOUR MARRIAGE.

TEDDY, I WANT YOU TO KNOW IN ALL HER ACTIVITIES ON MY BEHALF,

JUSTINE SCRUPULOUSLY AVOIDED ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST BETWEEN US.

DID SHE? ABSOLUTELY.

AND AS FAR AS MY MARRYING JULIE GOES,

THERE IS NO WAY SHE COULD HAVE POSSIBLY ANTICIPATED THAT.

I BARELY ANTICIPATED IT MYSELF.

SOMEHOW, RICHARD, IMPETUOSITY...

ISN'T A CHARACTERISTIC I ASSOCIATE WITH YOU.

WELL, I'M CHANGING, TEDDY.

A NEW MARRIAGE. A NEW LIFE.

AND IF I'M NOT BEING TOO PRESUMPTUOUS,

A RETURN TO SOME CIVILITY IN OUR RELATIONSHIP.

I-I FEEL TRULY BLESSED.

YOU SHOULD.

SO THEN WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER REGARDING JUSTINE.

PERFECTLY.

PAUL CARTER, WITH THE CASE IN RECESS,

HOW BADLY HAS THE PROSECUTION BEEN HURT...

BY MARK WASHINGTON'S OVERLY AGGRESSIVE QUESTIONING OF NEIL AVEDON'S MOTHER?

WELL, DEAN, ANYTIME YOU REDUCE MEMBERS OF THE JURY TO TEARS,

THOSE TEARS HAD BETTER BE WORKING TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

IN THIS CASE, THEY WEREN'T.

[Crowley] WELL, WE ALL KNOW THAT MIRIAM GRASSO'S HUSBAND DIED YESTERDAY MORNING.

SHOULD THE PROSECUTION HAVE ASKED FOR A DELAY,

RATHER THAN DEPEND ON THE RELATIVE INEXPERIENCE OF MR. WASHINGTON?

JUSTINE. TED. I WAS JUST WATCHING THE LAW TV WRAP-UP.

LOOKS LIKE WE CAUGHT A MAJOR BREAK WITH NEIL'S MOTHER.

I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH RICHARD CROSS THIS MORNING.

HE INFORMS ME THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING FOR HIM.

WE HAD DISCUSSIONS. I TOLD YOU ABOUT THEM.

YOU TOLD ME THAT HE WANTED YOU TO BUY A PAINTING FOR HIM.

NOW I WANT TO KNOW, DID YOU OR DID YOU NOT CONTRAVENE MY INSTRUCTION TO TURN HIM DOWN?

TED, LET ME EXPLAIN. DID YOU BUY THE PAINTING?

- YES. - AND DID YOU DELIBERATELY MISLEAD ME...

BY FAILING TO MENTION YOU HAD ARRANGED FOR RICHARD TO MEET WITH JULIE...

ON THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED?

I WOULDN'T CHARACTERIZE IT AS DELIBERATELY MISLEADING YOU.

BUT NO, I DIDN'T TELL YOU THE ENTIRE TRUTH.

YOU'RE FIRED.

EXCUSE ME? I CAN'T HAVE YOU WORKING FOR ME ANYMORE.

I CAN'T TRUST YOU.

GOOD MORNING. [All] GOOD MORNING.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO AREN'T AWARE, JUSTINE APPLETON WAS TERMINATED YESTERDAY.

I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO ANY OF THE DETAILS.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, SOME OF US WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE DETAILS.

- CAN YOU TELL US IF IT'S FINAL? - ABSOLUTELY FINAL.

AND AS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE REALLY HAVEN'T GOT TIME FOR IT.

LORRAINE VITALE DID A QUICK PHONE POLL LAST NIGHT.

OFF NEIL'S MOTHER'S TESTIMONY, WE MADE A BIG DENT IN THE "NOT SURES."

EXCUSE ME, CHRIS. TED, DON'T YOU THINK JUSTINE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE?

IF I THOUGHT SHE DESERVED A SECOND CHANCE, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN HER ONE.

I HOPE YOU'RE AWARE THAT I DON'T FIRE PEOPLE LIGHTLY.

THEREFORE, YOU CAN ASSUME I DID WHAT I DID WITH JUSTIFICATION.

IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO TAKE IT UP WITH ME BEYOND THAT,

YOU CAN DO IT INDIVIDUALLY IN MY OFFICE AT A LATER DATE.

[Chris] AS I WAS SAYING, LORRAINE LIKES THE NUMBERS...

COMING OFF MS. RENNICK'S TESTIMONY.

NOT TO MENTION THE JURY, WHO BOUGHT INTO IT BIG-TIME.

WHEN DO WE GET HER PAPERWORK?

FULL BREAKDOWN WITH MATCHED DEMOGRAPHICS IN A DAY, DAY AND A HALF.

WHEN THE MATERIAL COMES IN, LET'S LOOK FOR THE AREAS WHERE OUR NUMBERS ARE STILL WEAK.

WE'LL NEED STRATEGIES TO SHORE THEM UP.

[Louis] TED. YES.

MIRIAM GRASSO ON THE PHONE. SHE'D LIKE TO SEE YOU IN HER OFFICE...

AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. TELL HER I'M ON MY WAY.

SORRY TO HAUL YOU DOWN HERE LIKE THIS, TED.

NOT A PROBLEM. HOW YOU DOING?

I'M DOING FINE. THANK YOU FOR THE FLOWERS.

THE OFFER STILL STANDS, MIRIAM.

ANYTHING I CAN DO, ANYTHING AT ALL, CONSIDER IT DONE.

ACTUALLY, I THINK I'VE GOT THINGS PRETTY MUCH UNDER CONTROL...

THE WILL, NOTIFYING PEOPLE...

THE FUNERAL, BY THE WAY, WILL BE AT 10:00 A.M. AT FOREST LAWN IN GLENDALE.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THEY CALL THEMSELVES "BEREAVEMENT COUNSELORS"?

AND THEY OFFER PACKAGES. JUST LIKE BOOKING A CRUISE.

WELL, TO THE BUSINESS AT HAND.

I THOUGHT WE WOULD EXPLORE YOUR CLIENT'S FUTURE.

ONE, I TAKE IT, THAT WOULD NOT CONTEMPLATE LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR NEIL?

WELL, BEFORE THIS TRIAL BEGAN, I TOLD YOU...

THAT I WAS WILLING TO LOOK AT INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER WITH FOUR YEARS SERVED.

TAKING ANOTHER LOOK.

WHAT, TEDDY? IT CAN'T BE THAT SHOCKING.

I KNOW WE HURT YOU WITH NEIL'S MOTHER, MIRIAM,

BUT, FRANKLY, I'M MORE THAN A LITTLE SURPRISED...

THAT YOU'RE OFFERING TERMS AT THIS STAGE OF THE PROCEEDINGS.

I CAN GET YOU A GLASS OF WATER IF YOU LIKE.

I STILL THINK THAT YOUR CLIENT IS GUILTY OF MURDER,

BUT THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT ONE OR TWO OF THE JURORS MIGHT HAVE BEEN SWAYED.

LOGIC AND EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY.

THIS IS UNCHARACTERISTIC OF YOU, MIRIAM,

THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF FAITH IN THE JURY SYSTEM.

THIS IS LOS ANGELES, TED.

WE BOTH KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO CONVICT A CELEBRITY IN THIS TOWN.

IT'S A SIMPLE EQUATION, REALLY.

IF I CAN PUT YOUR CLIENT AWAY FOR FOUR YEARS, IT BEATS A HUNG JURY.

SO, CAN I ASSUME THAT YOU'LL TAKE THIS OFFER TO YOUR CLIENT?

YOU'LL HAVE OUR DECISION BY THE END OF THE DAY.

GOOD.

TED. I HAVE TO SAY I FEEL I'VE BEEN TERRIBLY MANIPULATED.

REALLY, RICHARD? WHY IS THAT?

WELL, FRANKLY, WHEN WE SPOKE YESTERDAY,

I ASSUMED THAT YOU, UH, UNDERSTOOD AND SANCTIONED MY RELATIONSHIP WITH JUSTINE.

IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS, I REALIZE YOU PRETENDED TO KNOW MORE THAN YOU ALREADY DID.

THEN WE COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER, SINCE YOU PRETEND TO KNOW SO MUCH LESS.

TED, JUSTINE IS A VERY INTELLIGENT AND CAPABLE PERSON.

I DON'T THINK SHE DESERVES THIS KIND OF DRACONIAN PUNISHMENT.

JUSTINE IS A GROWN-UP. SHE DID WHAT SHE DID WITH HER EYES OPEN.

LOOK, TED, WAIT. MAYBE SHE WAS A LITTLE WIDE-EYED, PERHAPS EVEN DAZZLED.

IN WHICH CASE, IT WAS HER JUDGMENT THAT WAS AT FAULT, NOT HER ETHICS.

WHY DON'T YOU MAKE ME THE SNAKE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN? DON'T BLAME THE VICTIM.

MAKE NO MISTAKE, RICHARD. I'M AWARE OF YOUR ROLE IN THIS AFFAIR.

YOU SET OUT TO CORRUPT ONE OF MY ASSOCIATES, AND YOU SUCCEEDED.

WHAT COULD I POSSIBLY HAVE TO GAIN?

WHAT YOU HAVE TO GAIN IS ACCESS TO MY PRIVATE DELIBERATIONS...

AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO INJURE ME.

PLEASE DON'T INSULT MY INTELLIGENCE ANY MORE THAN YOU ALREADY HAVE.

I CAN SEE THAT YOU'RE BECOMING OVERWROUGHT.

ACTUALLY, I'M FINE. THE HARM YOU'VE DONE TO ME IS TEMPORARY.

AND IT'S NOWHERE NEAR THE HARM YOU'VE DONE TO JUSTINE.

THEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FACT AND REINSTATE HER.

ARE WE DONE, RICHARD?

NO. BUT I SENSE THAT YOU'RE DONE, TEDDY.

AND NEVER ONE TO OVERSTAY MY WELCOME, I WILL ACCEDE TO YOUR DESIRE FOR CLOSURE.

AT LEAST TEMPORARILY.

I HOPE THAT WHEN THE DUST SETTLES,

YOU'LL RECONSIDER.

GOOD-BYE, TEDDY.

HEY. DID I MISS SOMETHING THIS MORNING?

WHAT WOULD THAT BE? THAT WOULD BE YOUR SUPPORT FOR JUSTINE...

WHEN HER REMAINING FRIENDS TRIED TO FIGHT TO KEEP HER EMPLOYED.

UH-HUH. YEAH. YOU MISSED THAT.

SO, YOU AGREE WITH THIS SUMMARY EXECUTION?

THAT'S A... THAT'S A LITTLE EXTREME, ISN'T IT?

I MEAN, YOU GO OUT IN THE LOBBY, THAT'S TED'S NAME UP THERE ON THE DOOR.

HE'S GOT THE RIGHT TO LET HER GO. BUT NOT THE JUSTIFICATION.

SHE SCREWED UP, LISA.

CHRIS, SHE WAS YOUR FRIEND. SHE'S STILL MY FRIEND.

BUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT SHE SCREWED UP.

TED'S GOTTA BE ABLE TO TRUST THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR HIM.

I HOPE I NEVER SCREW UP.

[Sighs] MEANING?

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TRUST EACH OTHER TOO, DON'T WE?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED TO ME?

YOU WOULDN'T LET IT HAPPEN.

BUT HYPOTHETICALLY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF I SCREWED UP?

WOULD YOU BACK ME OR YOUR BOSS?

TELL ME SOMETHING. IS THIS YOUR VERSION OF A LOYALTY CHECK?

I'M SORRY. AM I GETTING A LITTLE TOO PERSONAL?

DON'T MAKE THIS INTO A WAR BETWEEN MY AMBITION AND MY DEVOTION TO YOU.

VERY CLEVERLY PUT. YOU SHOULD BE A LAWYER.

WE DON'T HAVE TO THINK THE SAME WAY JUST BE-BECAUSE WE SHARE A BED.

BOTTOM LINE: I AGREE WITH TED.

IT DOESN'T MAKE ME A HYPOCRITE. IT DOESN'T MAKE ME A DISLOYAL FRIEND.

AND IT DOESN'T MAKE ME A FUTURE TRAITOR TO OUR RELATIONSHIP.

IF YOU THINK THAT, THEN YOU DON'T KNOW ME AT ALL.

CHRIS? NEIL AVEDON'S IN TED'S OFFICE.

OKAY.

FOUR YEARS.

WHICH MEANS I'LL BE OUT BEFORE I'M 30.

NEIL, MIRIAM GRASSO MADE THIS OFFER FOR A REASON.

AND THE REASON IS HER SIDE OF THE CASE ISN'T GOING AS WELL AS SHE'D HOPED.

HOW GREAT IS OUR SIDE GOING, TED?

YOUR MOTHER WAS AN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE WITNESS.

SHE MADE A STRONG IMPRESSION ON THE JURY.

SHE GOT UP THERE AND EXPOSED TO THE WORLD HOW MY FATHER USED TO BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF ME,

AND A COUPLE OF JURORS MISTED UP.

YOU THINK THAT GETS ME HOME FREE?

- IT WAS A VERY POWERFUL TESTIMONY. - IS IT GOING TO WIPE OUT...

WHAT THOSE PEOPLE SAID ABOUT MY VIOLENT NATURE?

HOW I CHOKE WOMEN?

YOU KNOW, WHEN THE TEARS DRY IN THOSE JURORS' EYES,

THEY'RE STILL GONNA HEAR GRAHAM LESTER'S VOICE SAYING I CONFESSED TO MURDER.

NEIL, WE'VE DAMAGED LESTER'S TESTIMONY BY UNDERMINING HIS CREDIBILITY.

[Chris] SAME WITH SUSAN DOMINICK.

[Hoffman] AND WHEN WE GET RICHARD CROSS BACK UP ON THE STAND,

WE'LL POSITION HIM, VERY CREDIBLY, AS THE KILLER OF JESSICA COSTELLO.

OH, SO THAT'S WHAT MY FREEDOM DEPENDS ON? CONVICTING RICHARD?

THIS IS NOT ABOUT CONVICTING HIM. IT'S ABOUT ESTABLISHING A REASONABLE DOUBT FOR YOU.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF DOING THAT.

SO DOES GRASSO, OR SHE WOULDN'T BE MAKING THIS OFFER.

[Sighs]

I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT I'VE GOT TO GAIN AGAINST WHAT I'M RISKING...

WHAT YOU HAVE TO GAIN IS YOUR FREEDOM.

IF YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU THERE'S NO RISK, I CAN'T DO THAT.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT IF YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER,

YOU'LL BE ADMITTING THAT YOU KILLED JESSICA COSTELLO.

AND THAT'LL FOLLOW YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

[Sighs]

HI. HELLO, NEIL.

ALL PACKED AND READY TO GO?

THE HOTEL CHECKOUT WAS 11:00.

MR. HOFFMAN SAID I COULD WAIT HERE UNTIL...

WELL, MY FLIGHT LEAVES IN THREE HOURS.

OH, WELL, THAT'S QUITE A WHILE.

OH, I HAVE A MAGAZINE, CROSSWORD PUZZLE.

YOU KNOW WHAT? WHY DON'T I DRIVE YOU TO THE AIRPORT?

OH, NO, YOU... YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO.

MR., UH, DOCKNOVICH SAID THAT HE WOULD GET SOMEONE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

WELL, THIS WILL BE BETTER. IT'LL GIVE US SOME TIME TOGETHER.

WHAT YOUR FATHER DID,

I NEVER WANTED ANY OF THAT TO HAPPEN.

I KNOW.

DO YOU THINK MY TESTIFYING HELPED YOU, NEIL?

I MEAN, D-DO YOU THINK THE JURORS UNDERSTOOD?

YEAH, I DO.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES A PERSON GETS FORCED INTO A PLACE,

AND THEY CAN'T GET OUT.

YOU KNOW, THEY GET BLAMED, BUT IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT.

DID YOU KILL THAT GIRL, JAMES?

NO, MA.

NO, I DID NOT.

MY CAR'S DOWNSTAIRS.

LET'S GET SOMETHING TO EAT.

BILL WEINGART CALLED REQUESTING A SESSION WITH YOU...

TO REVIEW FEES AND CHARGES.

THE BAR ASSOCIATION LUNCHEON HAS BEEN MOVED FROM FRIDAY AT NOON...

TO MONDAY THE EIGHTH, SAME TIME.

AND A PEPPER LADINSKY CALLED WITH A PROBLEM.

I'LL CALL HIM IN A FEW MINUTES. ONE MORE ITEM.

JUSTINE IS OUTSIDE. SHE'D LIKE TO HAVE A MOMENT.

LOUIS, I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY TO JUSTINE.

MAYBE SHE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY TO YOU.

I CAN'T CONCEIVE OF WHAT THAT WOULD BE.

SHOULD I TELL HER YOU'RE UNAVAILABLE?

SHOW HER IN.

I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY, TED. THANKS FOR SEEING ME.

LOOK. I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU FIRED ME.

IF I'D BEEN IN YOUR POSITION, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FIRED ME TOO.

JUSTINE... WAIT. I'M NOT GOING TO GET DOWN ON MY KNEES...

IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE AFRAID OF.

WHAT I AM GONNA DO THOUGH IS CROUCH A LITTLE,

OWN UP TO WHAT I DID AND TRY TO EXPLAIN.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW MY PURPOSE WAS NEVER TO HARM THE AVEDON CASE OR TO HARM THIS FIRM.

I TOOK A CALCULATED RISK, AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A POOR ONE.

I GUESS PLAYING MATA HARI ISN'T MY STRONG SUIT.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE CLAIMING? THAT YOU SAW YOURSELF AS A SPY AGAINST RICHARD CROSS?

INITIALLY, YES. I SAW THAT POSSIBILITY.

BUT YOU ABANDONED IT, JUSTINE.

EVEN IT HAD BEEN A LEGITIMATE APPROACH IN THE FIRST PLACE, YOU DROPPED IT.

INSTEAD, YOU DIRECTLY CONTRAVENED MY INSTRUCTIONS AGAINST WORKING FOR RICHARD.

YOU REVEALED CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, WHICH HURT OUR CASE.

- AND THEN YOU LIED ABOUT IT. - TED,

IF IN FIRING ME, YOUR AIM IS TO TEACH ME A LESSON,

I WANT TO ASSURE YOU, I'LL NEVER FORGET THE LESSON.

I DIDN'T FIRE YOU FOR INSTRUCTIONAL REASONS.

THERE WERE VERY PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS.

WELL, THEN CONSIDER THIS.

CONSIDER THAT I'VE SPENT FOUR YEARS WORKING FOR THIS FIRM.

THAT SHOULD COUNT FOR SOMETHING, IF NOT FRIENDSHIP OR COMPASSION.

AND IT SHOULD EARN THE RECOGNITION THAT I'M A DAMN GOOD LAWYER,

ONE WHO CAN DO A GREAT DEAL FOR THIS FIRM IN THE FUTURE.

I DON'T QUESTION AND NEVER HAVE QUESTIONED YOUR ABILITY, JUSTINE.

I MADE A MISTAKE, TED. THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

A MISTAKE.

I THINK YOU KNOW BASICALLY I'M NOT AN UNETHICAL PERSON.

BUT YOU DID UNETHICAL THINGS.

YOU LEFT ME NO CHOICE EXCEPT THE ONE I MADE.

AND I'M STANDING BY IT.

WELL... [Chuckles] YOU'VE SAID MANY TIMES ALL WE CAN DO IS PLEAD OUR CASE.

- GOOD-BYE, TED. - GOOD-BYE, JUSTINE.

[Hoffman] LOUIS.

WOULD YOU GET MR. LADINSKY FOR ME, PLEASE?

[Justine Sobbing]

[Louis] IT'S RINGING.

TO LOYALTY. HUH.

WHICH TED HOFFMAN COULD USE A GREAT BIG DOSE.

OH, TED HOFFMAN COULD USE A GREAT MANY THINGS.

THE POINT IS HE'S NOT WORTH THINKING ABOUT.

HE'S IRRELEVANT TO THE ONLY PART OF YOUR LIFE THAT MATTERS... YOUR FUTURE.

I KNOW THAT I SHOULD MOVE ON. IT'S JUST THAT I HAD SO MUCH GOING FOR ME,

AND I BLEW IT.

I MEAN, I CAN SAY GOOD-BYE TO BEING A PARTNER ANYWHERE.

PARTNER?

JUSTINE, I THINK YOU'RE MISSING THE BIG PICTURE.

WHEN CHRIS DOCKNOVICH IS MADE A PARTNER, HE'LL BE WORKING FOR YOU.

YOU DIDN'T THINK I'D ABANDON MY FRIEND IN HER TIME OF NEED, DID YOU?

QUITE FRANKLY, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.

WELL, WHY DON'T YOU THINK ABOUT GAMBLING?

I HAVE A CASINO IN ARUBA THAT REQUIRES A STRONG MANAGERIAL HAND.

I DON'T KNOW. WHAT ABOUT ANOTHER ADVENTURE IN THE ART WORLD?

RICHARD, THE ONLY EXPERIENCE I HAVE IS IN LITIGATION.

YOU LEARN FAST AND YOU'RE LOYAL.

THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO QUALITIES THAT I REQUIRE.

TO LOYALTY.

[Knocking] [Hoffman] DO YOU HAVE A MOMENT, MIRIAM?

WELCOME, TEDDY.

I WAS BEGINNING TO WONDER IF I WAS GOING TO SEE YOU TODAY.

WE ARE GONNA PASS ON THE OFFER.

REMEMBER, IT'S A ONE-TIME SALE.

YOU PASS NOW, IT'S OFF THE TABLE FOR GOOD.

I UNDERSTAND. AND YOUR CLIENT UNDERSTANDS.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR CHANCES.

WHY DON'T YOU TRY ONE OF THESE?

FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS,

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PLYING ME WITH ALL KINDS OF FOOD.

THE UNIVERSAL SIGN OF CONDOLENCE.

MMM. VERY GOOD.

I USED TO SHOVE THIS STUFF AT HARRY.

ALWAYS NONFAT, LOW CHOLESTEROL.

HE'D SHOVE IT RIGHT BACK AND SAY IT TASTED LIKE DIRT.

[Chuckles] YOUR HUSBAND ALWAYS HAD A WAY WITH WORDS.

SIX MONTHS.

THAT'S HOW LONG HE'D BEEN HAVING CHEST PAINS.

AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH I BEGGED HIM,

HE WOULDN'T DO A DAMN THING ABOUT IT.

AND THEN... [Sighs] A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO,

HE HAD SOME NUMBNESS IN HIS ARM.

I SAID I WAS GOING TO CALL THE PARAMEDICS IF HE DIDN'T DO SOMETHING.

HE SAID I WAS A PAIN IN THE ASS, BUT HE WOULD.

HE'D GO TO THE DOCTOR.

JUST AS SOON AS HE FINISHED THIS S.E.C. FILING HE HAD IN NEW YORK.

SO I LET HIM OFF THE HOOK.

YOU DID EVERYTHING YOU COULD, MIRIAM, BUT HARRY WAS HIS OWN MAN.

THE NIGHT BEFORE HE WAS TO GO TO NEW YORK,

HE WENT DOWNSTAIRS AND HE GOT OUT HIS TAPE RECORDER,

AND HE DICTATED A MESSAGE TO ME.

LAID OUT WHERE THE INSURANCE POLICIES WERE.

THE EXTRA KEY TO THE SAFE DEPOSIT BOX. YOU KNOW, STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND THEN HE WROTE A LETTER TO HIS BROTHER IN OMAHA,

PATCHING UP AN OLD FEUD.

AND THEN THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN HE GOT OUT OF THE SHOWER,

BEFORE HE COULD DRY HIMSELF OFF,

HE WAS DEAD.

HE WAS GOING TO RETIRE IN FOUR YEARS.

AND WE WERE GOING TO TRAVEL, JUST THE TWO OF US.

MAYBE TAKE A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD.

MIRIAM.

YOU CAN'T LET 25 YEARS BE DEFINED BY WHAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE.

I KNOW WHAT WE HAD, TEDDY,

AND I'LL ALWAYS LOVE HIM FOR IT.

BUT I CAN'T HELP IT.

I'M HAVING A HARD TIME FORGIVING HIM.

I KNOW THAT SOUNDS STUPID, RESENTING A MAN FOR DYING.

WANTING TO YELL AT HIM...

BECAUSE HE SKIPPED OUT ON A CHANCE...

TO WEAR THE TIE I BOUGHT HIM FOR HIS BIRTHDAY.

OH, GOD, TEDDY.

[Sobbing] WHAT AM I GONNA DO?