Original subtitles

[Announcer] THE VICTIM.

MURDER IN HOLLYWOOD LAST NIGHT YOU COULD BE INTERESTED IN.

FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD BLONDE NAMED JESSICA COSTELLO.

CLEANING LADY FOUND HER NAKED, TIED UP, STRANGLED. DRUGS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

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

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

[Announcer] THE DEFENSE PLANS THEIR STRATEGY.

HOW GREAT IS OUR SIDE GOING, TED?

WHEN WE GET RICHARD CROSS BACK UP ON THE STAND, WE'LL POSITION HIM...

VERY CREDIBLY AS THE KILLER OF JESSICA COSTELLO.

[Announcer] THE BETRAYAL.

I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH RICHARD CROSS.

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

- DID YOU CONTRAVENE MY INSTRUCTION TO TURN HIM DOWN? - TED, LET ME EXPLAIN.

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 DIDN'T TELL YOU THE ENTIRE TRUTH. - YOU'RE FIRED.

- EXCUSE ME? - I CAN'T TRUST YOU.

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.

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

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

[Announcer] A MARRIAGE UNRAVELS.

- WHAT I'VE BEEN GETTING ISN'T ENOUGH. - IT'S NOT ENOUGH?

THEN FIND SOMEONE WHO'LL GIVE YOU MORE.

FIND SOMEONE WHO'LL MINISTER TO YOUR EVERY NEED.

I CAN'T. AS OF NOW, I'M STILL MARRIED TO YOU.

[Announcer] A FRIEND TO LEAN ON.

I HEARD ABOUT YOU AND ANNIE.

- DID THE RUMOR ABOUT YOU AND ME HAVE ANYTHING... - NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

I HOPE ANNIE CAN FIND HER WAY THROUGH THIS WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING RASH.

SHE HAS NO IDEA HOW LUCKY SHE IS.

- LET ME COOK YOU DINNER ONE NIGHT, HMM? - YOU'RE A DEAR FRIEND.

[Announcer] A NEW PARTNERSHIP.

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

YOU LEARN FAST, AND YOU'RE LOYAL.

THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO QUALITIES THAT I REQUIRE.

TO LOYALTY.

KNOCK, KNOCK. OH, I'LL COME BACK.

NO, I'M ON HOLD. WHAT'S UP?

I'VE BEEN DOING SOME DIGGING INTO THAT FAST TRACK TIRE DEAL.

I THOUGHT WE CLOSED THAT DEAL. WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH.

BUT THE MORE I THINK ABOUT THIS THING...

DAMN IT! CAN'T STAND TO BE KEPT WAITING.

WHAT WERE YOU SAYING? I'VE CRUNCHED SOME NUMBERS.

WHAT THESE GUYS ARE LOOKING TO WALK AWAY WITH ISN'T JUSTIFIED BY THEIR MARKET SHARE.

EACH OF THE 12 FRANCHISES REPORTED LOSSES...

BETWEEN 17 AND 30 PERCENT IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER,

WHICH MEANS YOU'RE LOOKING AT A PRETTY STEEP NEGATIVE CASH FLOW.

I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT CASH FLOW.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO CANNIBALIZE THE CHAIN FOR REAL ESTATE, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A HIT.

WE'RE GONNA BE OVERPAYING FOR BUILDINGS THAT ARE RUNDOWN...

AND IN ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED AREAS.

ANY WAY YOU SLICE IT, THIS DEAL JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

JUSTINE, WHAT DID I TELL YOU TO DO? I TOLD YOU TO CLOSE THE FAST TRACK TIRE DEAL.

YES, THIS MARKET ANALYSIS... SPARE ME YOUR SECOND-RATE THINKING.

WHEN I TELL SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING, I EXPECT IT TO GET DONE.

- RICHARD, IF YOU WOULD JUST HEAR ME OUT... - SHUT UP!

GET YOUR FAT ASS OUT OF MY OFFICE AND CLOSE THE DEAL!

OTHERWISE, I'LL PUT SOMEBODY ON THE JOB WHO WILL!

REGARDING JUDGE'S INSTRUCTIONS TO THE JURY, I'VE BRIEFED EVERYTHING WE'RE ASKING FOR.

I CAN GIVE IT TO YOU WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

I'LL HAVE AN OUTLINE FOR CLOSING ARGUMENTS END OF BUSINESS TODAY.

- ARE WE REALLY AT THAT POINT? - RICHARD CROSS IS OUR LAST WITNESS.

SO IT'S SETTLED THEN? I WON'T BE TAKING THE STAND?

IT'S SETTLED AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

BY THE WAY, I'VE ASKED CHRIS TO HANDLE RICHARD'S DIRECT EXAMINATION.

THE JURY CAN'T HELP PICKING UP ON THE PERSONAL ANIMUS BETWEEN US.

I DON'T WANT THAT DISTRACTING THEM FROM RICHARD'S TESTIMONY.

THAT MAKES SENSE, BUT SHOULDN'T WE WAIT AND SEE WHAT CROSS GIVES US...

BEFORE WE DECIDE I SHOULDN'T TESTIFY?

NOTHING'S SET IN STONE.

NEIL, YOU'RE NOT GONNA HELP YOURSELF BY TESTIFYING.

BUT DON'T YOU THINK THERE ARE JURORS THAT'LL HOLD IT AGAINST ME IF I DON'T?

NO. I WOULD.

IF A PERSON'S INNOCENT, I WOULD THINK HE'D WANT TO TAKE THE WITNESS STAND AND SAY THAT.

NEIL, I AM TELLING YOU, AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN A TRIAL ATTORNEY FOR 17 YEARS,

DEFENDANTS DO THEMSELVES FAR MORE HARM THAN GOOD WHEN THEY TAKE THE STAND.

I SUGGEST YOU PUT IT OUT OF YOUR MIND.

THE CAR'S DOWNSTAIRS.

WE BETTER GET GOING.

CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS ON THE WAY TO COURT? SURE.

GIVE US A MINUTE TO GO OVER A COUPLE OF OTHER MATTERS.

WHEN WE SPEAK TO A CLIENT, WE SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE. IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?

I'M SORRY.

WHAT IS OR IS NOT SET IN STONE GETS DECIDED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THIS OFFICE.

WE DON'T THINK OUT LOUD WITH A CLIENT IN THE ROOM.

SORRY.

[Chris] MR. CROSS, WE HAVE CALLED YOU TO THE STAND TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY...

TO EXPLAIN WHAT SEEMED TO BE A NUMBER OF JARRING COINCIDENCES.

I'M CERTAINLY HAPPY TO TRY.

YOU'RE A MAJOR CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTOR TO ROGER GARFIELD'S POLITICAL ORGANIZATION,

AND ROGER GARFIELD PERSONALLY SAW TO YOUR RELEASE FOLLOWING YOUR ARREST...

FOR THE MURDER OF JESSICA COSTELLO.

I OBJECT, YOUR HONOR, TO COUNSEL'S ATTEMPT TO SUGGEST BY INSINUATION...

WHAT HE CAN'T PROVE BY EVIDENCE.

IT'S ARGUMENTATIVE, IT'S IMPROPER,

AND I ASK THAT IT BE STRICKEN.

- THIS IS A HOSTILE WITNESS. - OBJECTION OVERRULED. THE WITNESS MAY ANSWER.

UM, I DID NOT BUY MYSELF A LICENSE TO KILL, MR. DOCKNOVICH.

IF ROGER GARFIELD THOUGHT I WAS GUILTY,

ALL THE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE WORLD WOULD NOT HAVE MADE HIM LET ME GO.

IT'S BEEN ALLEGED THAT AFTER NEIL AVEDON GOT FINISHED RAPING AND MURDERING JESSICA COSTELLO,

THAT HE MADE A CALL TO THE OFFICE OF DR. GRAHAM LESTER.

- YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH DR. LESTER, DON'T YOU? - YES, I DO.

YOU ALSO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NURSE WHO TESTIFIED...

THAT SHE RECEIVED THE CALL, CORRECT?

I KNOW HER, BUT I WOULDN'T SAY WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP.

[Chris] HER BROTHER'S MEDICAL EXPENSES ARE BEING PAID FOR BY YOU.

- IS THAT A COINCIDENCE? - YES, IT IS.

YOUR PAYING OVER $300,000 A YEAR...

FOR THE MEDICAL CARE OF AN INDIVIDUAL...

WHO TESTIFIED TO MEETING YOU ONCE...

HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH ASSURING HIS SISTER'S TESTIMONY?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

JONATHAN KIMBALL CAME ACROSS MY PATH.

I WAS MOVED BY THE YOUNG MAN'S PLIGHT,

AND I HAVE DONE WHAT PITIFULLY LITTLE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO.

YOUR WIFE IS JESSICA COSTELLO'S SISTER.

IS SHE NOT? YES, SHE IS.

YOU MARRIED HER ON THE EVE OF HER TESTIMONY,

THUS ALLOWING HER TO INVOKE MARITAL PRIVILEGE WHEN ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU.

WAS THAT A COINCIDENCE?

MY WIFE AND I MARRIED BECAUSE WE LOVE EACH OTHER.

THAT, TOGETHER WITH A MUTUAL NEED FOR EMOTIONAL STABILITY...

AFTER GOING THROUGH WHAT WE'VE BOTH GONE THROUGH,

IS WHY WE GOT MARRIED.

IS IT A COINCIDENCE, MR. CROSS,

THAT WHEN WE QUESTIONED THE MEN WHOSE NAMES APPEARED IN JESSICA COSTELLO'S DIARY,

EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM TESTIFIED TO BEING INTRODUCED TO HER... BY YOU?

IF YOU'RE IMPLYING THAT I SOMEHOW, UM, WORKED AS A PIMP FOR JESSICA,

LET ME HASTEN TO CORRECT THAT IMPRESSION.

JESSICA LOOKED AT ME... AND I THINK MY WIFE CAN VERIFY THIS...

AS A RICH UNCLE,

SOMEONE SHE COULD GO TO WHEN SHE HAD PROBLEMS, WHEN SHE NEEDED MONEY,

SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE NONJUDGMENTAL...

AND ALWAYS INDULGENT.

IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, PERHAPS THAT'S NOT WHAT SHE NEEDED,

BUT THAT'S WHAT I PROVIDED,

AND THAT'S ALL I PROVIDED.

WHAT ABOUT A PLACE FOR HER TO LIVE?

- YES, I PROVIDED THAT TOO. - YOU OWN THE APARTMENT SHE LIVED IN.

YES.

AS THE OWNER, YOU WOULD HAVE HAD ACCESS...

TO HER APARTMENT.

YES.

OKAY.

I THINK YOU'VE ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME.

BUT ONE OTHER THING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BASIS WAS FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY GARFIELD...

DROPPING THE CHARGES AGAINST YOU FOR THE MURDER OF JESSICA COSTELLO?

[Grasso] YOUR HONOR, THIS IS WELL-TROD GROUND.

WE'VE HEARD FROM FOUR DIFFERENT WITNESSES WHY THE CHARGES WERE DROPPED AGAINST THIS WITNESS.

I THINK THE JURY'S ENTITLED TO HEAR IT FROM MR. CROSS HIMSELF, YOUR HONOR.

- OBJECTION OVERRULED. - I WAS WITH A YOUNG WOMAN THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER.

SHE CAME FORWARD AND MADE A STATEMENT AS TO MY WHEREABOUTS.

- WHAT WAS THE YOUNG WOMAN'S NAME? - BEVERLY NICHOLS.

WHY WAS IT THAT BEVERLY NICHOLS DIDN'T COME FORWARD IMMEDIATELY UPON YOUR ARREST?

I BELIEVE BECAUSE SHE WAS IN FEAR OF HER HUSBAND.

THIS WOULD BE THE SAME HUSBAND WHO WAS CAPTURED ON VIDEOTAPE...

BY HER PIMP, FRED CARELLO,

PARTICIPATING IN A MÉNAGE À TROIS WITH THE TWO OF YOU?

IF YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT HER HUSBAND'S PRESENCE ON THAT TAPE...

MEANS THAT HE IS NOT, UM, A VIOLENT AND JEALOUS PERSON,

I THINK, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT,

THAT YOU HAVE AN OVERLY SIMPLISTIC VIEW OF HUMAN SEXUALITY.

DID YOU, IN ORDER TO PREVENT OTHERS...

WITH AN EQUALLY SIMPLISTIC POINT OF VIEW...

FROM DOUBTING THE VERACITY OF YOUR ALIBI,

TRY TO STOP THIS VIDEOTAPE FROM BEING SEEN?

NO, I DID NOT.

SO YOU HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MURDER OF FRED CARELLO AND DAVID BLALOCK...

ON THE EVENING MR. BLALOCK WAS TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THIS TAPE?

OBJECTION. COUNSEL'S TESTIFYING!

I'LL WITHDRAW THE QUESTION, YOUR HONOR.

I'M SURE THE ANSWER WOULD HAVE BEEN "NO."

YES, I'LL GIVE MR. CROSS THE MESSAGE. BYE-BYE.

HE STEPPED OUT FOR A MINUTE. I HAVE THESE CONTRACTS FOR HIM TO SIGN.

I JUST NEED TO RUN TO XEROXING, BUT YOU CAN GO ON IN.

[Phone Rings]

HOFFMAN & ASSOCIATES.

NO, I'M SORRY. MS. APPLETON IS NO LONGER WITH THIS FIRM.

BILL WEINGART CALLED AGAIN DESPERATE FOR A SIT-DOWN ABOUT HIS BILL,

WHICH HE CHARACTERIZED AS EXORBITANT AND UNFAIR.

I TOLD HIM YOU WON'T BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE TRIAL IS OVER.

I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN WAIT THAT LONG.

GARY BLONDO CALLED WANTING YOU TO BUY A TABLE AT THE BIG BROTHERS FUND-RAISER.

THERE ARE NO ENEMIES IN THIS TOWN, ONLY CONTINUING INTERESTS.

- ARE YOU THEODORE HOFFMAN? - I AM, BUT THIS GENTLEMAN WILL ACCEPT SERVICE.

THIS IS ON A PERSONAL MATTER, SIR.

EVENING.

MY WIFE IS SUING ME FOR DIVORCE.

I THINK THE EXPLANATION IS PRETTY SELF-EVIDENT.

I DON'T WANT TO BE MARRIED TO YOU ANYMORE, TED. YOU'VE MADE THAT CLEAR.

WHAT UPSETS ME IS THAT I HAD TO FIND OUT FROM A PROCESS SERVER.

I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU HOW I FELT FOR A WHILE NOW.

I TOLD YOU I WAS MEETING WITH AN ATTORNEY. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING.

YOU DON'T THINK 12 YEARS OF MARRIAGE AT LEAST EARNS ME THE COURTESY OF A PHONE CALL?

I TRIED TO MAKE THIS AS PAINLESS AS POSSIBLE.

WE'RE NOT PUTTING A DOG TO SLEEP HERE, ANNIE.

YOU'RE BEING PRECIPITOUS. I'M ASKING YOU TO PUT OFF YOUR DECISION FOR A COUPLE MONTHS.

WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS FOR ME TO PUT MY LIFE ON HOLD...

SO YOU CAN FOCUS ALL YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS TRIAL, WHICH I WON'T DO.

- I WANT TO GET ON WITH MY LIFE. - THEN HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE RUSH HERE.

ARE YOU ABOUT TO SET UP HOUSEKEEPING WITH SOMEONE ELSE?

I HAVE TO DO CARPOOL. EXCUSE ME.

ANNIE, I'M ASKING YOU FOR THE LAST TIME... PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.

THERE'S COFFEE IF YOU WANT IT. PLEASE LOCK THE DOOR BEHIND YOU ON YOUR WAY OUT.

LIZZIE? COME ON. WE'LL BE LATE FOR SCHOOL.

[Door Closes]

MUCH HAS BEEN MADE, MR. CROSS,

OF YOUR CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ROGER GARFIELD.

FOR THE RECORD, IS MR. GARFIELD THE ONLY ELECTED OFFICIAL...

TO WHOM YOU MAKE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS?

ALL TOLD, UM, I PROBABLY GIVE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR...

IN POLITICAL DONATIONS.

MR. GARFIELD IS ONE OF MANY.

MUCH HAS BEEN MADE OF YOUR FOOTING THE MEDICAL BILLS FOR JONATHAN KIMBALL.

IS MR. KIMBALL THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL...

FOR WHOM YOU UNDERWRITE MEDICAL EXPENSES? NO.

UM, PLEASE BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY...

I DON'T, UH, LIKE TO MAKE A HABIT OF BRAGGING...

ABOUT MY GOOD WORKS,

BUT THERE ARE, UM, ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT PEOPLE...

WHOSE MEDICAL EXPENSES ARE UNDERWRITTEN BY ME.

AND WHY IS THAT, MR. CROSS?

BECAUSE I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY...

THAT WITH WEALTH COMES RESPONSIBILITY.

NOW I WANT YOU TO POUT FOR ME.

EXCUSE ME?

I SAID THAT WITH WEALTH COMES RESPONSIBILITY.

DO YOU CONSIDER NEIL AVEDON A FRIEND, MR. CROSS?

YES, I DO.

WHEN BAIL WAS SET FOR MR. AVEDON AT $10 MILLION,

WERE YOU NOT THE ONE WHO POSTED THE BAIL?

YES, I WAS. I WANT YOU TO UNBUTTON THE TOP THREE BUTTONS OF YOUR BLOUSE,

PICK UP THOSE PAPERS, DROP 'EM ON THE FLOOR, BEND OVER AND PICK 'EM UP.

DO IT.

YOUR HONOR, MAY WE HAVE A BRIEF RECESS?

MR. CROSS, HAS SOMETHING COME OVER YOU? NO. WHY DO YOU ASK?

YOU'VE MADE AN INAPPROPRIATE REMARK, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAUSED YOU TO DO SO.

YOUR HONOR, I'VE TRIED TO BE AS TRUTHFUL, RESPONSIVE...

AND COOPERATIVE AS POSSIBLE.

IF I'VE SAID ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN OTHERWISE, I APOLOGIZE.

WHY DON'T YOU PROCEED WITH YOUR QUESTIONS, MS. GRASSO?

YOU'VE COOPERATED WITH THE DEFENSE AT EVERY TURN IN THIS CASE, HAVE YOU NOT?

YES, I HAVE.

IN FACT, I'VE GONE SO FAR AS TO, UH, EMPLOY MY OWN PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS...

ON NEIL'S BEHALF.

MR. HOFFMAN MAINTAINS THAT I'M TRYING TO FRAME NEIL,

BUT ALL I'VE EVER DONE IS TRY TO HELP HIM.

IS THERE ANY REASON, MR. CROSS, THAT YOU WOULD...

- YOU THINK THAT MAKES ME PATHETIC? - RICHARD?

SIT DOWN, MR. FREILICH.

MR. CROSS, PLEASE LIMIT YOUR REMARKS TO RESPONDING ONLY TO THE QUESTIONS YOU'VE BEEN ASKED.

CAN WE STICK TO THE SCRIPT, PLEASE?

- EXCUSE ME, MR. CROSS? - LISTEN, THIS IS BETWEEN ME AND HER, OKAY?

YOU DON'T COME IN UNTIL I GIVE YOU THE SIGNAL. MR. CROSS.

YOUR HONOR, MAY WE PLEASE HAVE A BRIEF RECESS?

YOU GO DIRECTLY OVER TO HER, YOU TAKE YOUR HAND AND PUT IT RIGHT BETWEEN HER LEGS.

THAT'S IT. NO TALKING.

MR. FREILICH, IS YOUR CLIENT AWARE OF WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW?

YOUR HONOR, MY CLIENT HAS BEEN UNDER A GREAT DEAL OF STRAIN AS OF LATE.

I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE HE MAY BE SHOWING SOME OF THE SIGNS OF THAT.

OKAY, THIS COURT IS IN RECESS.

- WILL YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR THIS WITNESS? - NO, YOUR HONOR.

IN THAT CASE, I'M GOING TO CALL IT QUITS FOR TODAY.

WE'LL RESUME TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:30. YOU MAY STEP DOWN, MR. CROSS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, YOUR HONOR.

WE NEED TO TALK. IN HERE.

[Door Closes] I WANT TO TESTIFY.

- DO YOU THINK IT WENT BADLY FOR US TODAY? - I DON'T THINK IT WENT GREAT.

LOOKS AS THOUGH RICHARD CROSS IS HAVING A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. I'D SAY THAT'S GOOD FOR US.

HOW IS THAT GOOD FOR US?

BECAUSE THE JURY LOOKS AT HIM AND CONCLUDES THAT EITHER HE'S CRACKING UP...

UNDER THE STRAIN OF LYING OR HE'S CRAZY AND THEREBY CAPABLE OF MURDER.

YOU WIN EITHER WAY.

I HATE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU,

BUT WHATEVER IT WAS WE SAW TODAY DIDN'T MAKE ME THINK RICHARD WAS CAPABLE OF MURDER.

CHRIS, AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT FEELS THAT WAY?

I'D HAVE TO GO WITH TED.

WELL, THEN I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU. I THINK I'M IN TROUBLE.

NEIL, LET ME BE BLUNT.

YOU'RE TOO EXPOSED ON TOO MANY FRONTS TO TAKE THE STAND.

MIRIAM GRASSO WILL EAT YOU ALIVE.

THE JURY KNOWS ABOUT MY PAST.

KNOWING ABOUT IT AND PRESENTED WITH THE SIGHT OF YOU TRYING TO DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM IT...

ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

I THINK IF I PRESENT MYSELF TRUTHFULLY,

THE AUDIENCE WILL BELIEVE ME.

NEIL, IT'S NOT AN AUDIENCE. IT'S A JURY.

WHEN IT COMES TO EXPLAINING YOUR LIFE, YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO BE TRUTHFUL.

IF I DON'T GET UP THERE AND I GET CONVICTED,

I'M GOING TO SPEND 30 YEARS IN A CELL, THINKING I COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING AND I DIDN'T.

WHATEVER ELSE I HAVE TO ENDURE, I CAN'T ENDURE THAT.

TOMORROW MORNING, I'M GOING TO TESTIFY,

AND I EXPECT YOU TO PREPARE ME FOR IT AS BEST YOU CAN.

NEIL. TED.

THIS IS WHAT I WANT.

WERE YOU USING COCAINE WHEN YOU WERE CAPTURED ON THIS VIDEOTAPE...

STRANGLING MELISSA GRIOTTE?

I BELIEVE I WAS, YES. JUST SO I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY, MR. AVEDON,

IT'S YOUR CONTENTION THAT STRANGULATION IN THIS INSTANCE...

WAS A... AN EROTIC ACT?

I-I'M NOT DEFENDING WHAT I DID. AREN'T YOU?

I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS TRIAL.

I'M NOT DEFENDING WHAT I DID TO MELISSA. WHAT ABOUT JESSICA?

WAS STRANGLING HER AN EROTIC ACT? I DIDN'T STRANGLE HER.

- YOU DIDN'T STRANGLE HER OR YOU DON'T REMEMBER STRANGLING HER? - I DIDN'T STRANGLE HER.

WE HAVE SWORN TESTIMONY FROM RICHARD DI GIACOMO...

THAT YOU HAD YOUR HANDS AROUND JESSICA'S THROAT IN PLAIN VIEW OF OTHERS AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES.

IS THAT NOT THE CASE? THAT GUY WAS LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH, CHRIS.

- WE SHOWED HE WAS LYING. - ANSWER THE QUESTION, MR. AVEDON.

NO, IT'S NOT THE CASE.

- COULD IT BE THAT YOU DON'T REMEMBER? - NO.

DID YOU NOT TELL DETECTIVE ARTHUR POLSON OF THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT...

THAT YOU WERE EXPERIENCING MEMORY LOSS AND BLACKOUTS?

I REMEMBER THAT NIGHT AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES. I NEVER TOUCHED HER.

HOW WELL DO YOU REMEMBER THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 20?

WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT I DIDN'T KILL ANYBODY.

- SO YOU NEVER CONFESSED TO THIS CRIME? - RIGHT.

- SO DR. GRAHAM LESTER IS A LIAR. - RIGHT.

AND THE NURSE WHO TESTIFIED THAT YOU CALLED THERE... SHE'S ALSO A LIAR?

THAT'S RIGHT. SHE'S A LIAR.

SO WE HAVE DR. GRAHAM LESTER, SUSAN DOMINICK, RICHARD DI GIACOMO.

MELISSA GRIOTTE'S LYING ABOUT THE TAPE.

ROGER GARFIELD'S LYING ABOUT LETTING RICHARD CROSS GO, AND RICHARD CROSS...

WELL, HE'S JUST LYING ABOUT EVERYTHING.

IS IT YOUR CONTENTION, MR. AVEDON,

THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE HERE WHO'S TELLING THE TRUTH?

I ASSUME AT SOME POINT SOMEONE FROM OUR SIDE IS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING HERE.

- OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR. ARGUMENTATIVE. - OVERRULED.

I GET THE PICTURE, OKAY?

YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ROUGH. IT'S NOT A MATTER OF ROUGH.

I'M TELLING YOU YOU'RE GONNA GET YOURSELF CONVICTED.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STAKES ARE HERE,

BUT I GOTTA DO WHAT I BELIEVE I GOTTA DO.

AND WHAT I NEED FROM YOU IS HELP.

YOU'VE GOT IT.

[Chris] OKAY, LET'S GO TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESSICA.

[All Shouting]

ARE YOU GOING TO TESTIFY, NEIL? YES, I AM.

- WHEN DID THIS COME ABOUT? - IT'S SOMETHING I'VE WANTED TO DO FROM THE BEGINNING.

THEN THIS ISN'T AN ACT OF DESPERATION, TED? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

MY CLIENT WANTS TO TELL HIS OWN STORY, AS IS HIS RIGHT.

WHOSE IDEA WAS IT?

THIS IS A DECISION THE ENTIRE DEFENSE TEAM WAS INVOLVED IN.

[Woman] ARE YOU NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT GRASSO WILL BRING OUT IN CROSS-EXAMINATION?

I'M HERE TO TELL THE TRUTH. WHATEVER I GET ASKED, THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

I'M JUST GONNA TELL THE TRUTH. NEIL! NEIL!

DO YOU SWEAR TO THE TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH,

AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD?

I DO. STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

- NEIL AVEDON. - YOU MAY BE SEATED.

- GOOD MORNING, MR. AVEDON. - GOOD MORNING.

I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU QUESTIONS IN THE HOPE THAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN ON THE JURY...

MIGHT GET TO KNOW YOU A LITTLE BETTER.

- FINE. - IS NEIL AVEDON THE NAME YOU WERE BORN WITH?

NO, I WAS BORN JAMES RENNICK.

I CHANGED MY NAME TO NEIL AVEDON WHEN I WAS 15.

WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING YOUR DECISION TO DO THAT?

I DECIDED THAT I WANTED TO BECOME AN ACTOR.

AND I LEFT INDIANAPOLIS, CAME OUT TO LOS ANGELES.

I MANAGED TO GET AN AGENT, AND MY AGENT SUGGESTED I CHANGE MY NAME.

WAS IT HARD LEAVING INDIANAPOLIS?

NO. LEAVING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WASN'T HARD?

I DIDN'T HAVE VERY MANY FRIENDS,

AND AS FAR AS LEAVING MY FAMILY WAS CONCERNED, IT WASN'T HARD AT ALL.

WHAT WAS IT ABOUT YOUR FAMILY THAT YOU WANTED TO GET AWAY FROM?

UM, MY OLD MAN.

WHAT WAS IT ABOUT YOUR OLD MAN? YOUR HONOR,

IF IT WILL SPEED THINGS ALONG, THE PEOPLE WILL STIPULATE TO THE DEFENDANT...

HAVING HAD A DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD AND AN ABUSIVE FATHER.

MS. GRASSO ALREADY KNOWS THAT WE WON'T STIPULATE, YOUR HONOR.

WE WANT OUR CLIENT TO TESTIFY AS TO WHO HE IS AND HOW HE CAME TO BE HERE.

THAT IS HIS RIGHT,

AND SHAME ON MS. GRASSO FOR THE MOCKING TONE SHE CAN'T SEEM TO KEEP OUT OF HER VOICE.

EXCUSE ME? [Judge Bornstein] OKAY, COUNSEL, THAT'S ENOUGH.

MR. HOFFMAN, I CAN DO WITHOUT THE AD HOMINEM ATTACKS.

MS. GRASSO, YOUR OBJECTION'S OVERRULED.

I WAS ASKING YOU ABOUT YOUR FATHER.

HMM, HE WAS PRETTY QUIET.

HE WORKED FOR BENDIX BRAKE LININGS FOR 30 YEARS.

HE NEVER LET IT INTERFERE WITH HIS JOB,

BUT, UH, NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS, HE USED TO DRINK.

UH, HE WAS A COUPLE INCHES SHORTER THAN ME. I REMEMBER THAT.

HE TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF HIS THINGS. I REMEMBER THAT.

HE BOUGHT A 1965...

DODGE CORONET STATION WAGON...

AND, UH, HE WAS STILL DRIVING IT WHEN I LEFT HOME IN 1984.

HE WASHED IT ON THE WEEKENDS.

CHANGED THE OIL HIMSELF.

WHEN I WAS ABOUT 10,

I DROPPED SOME M&M's ON THE FLOOR IN THE BACKSEAT,

AND, UH, THEY GOT STEPPED ON.

WHEN HE SAW IT, HE GRABBED ME BY MY HAIR...

AND BANGED MY HEAD AGAINST THE CAR DOOR...

UNTIL OUR NEIGHBOR CAME OUT AND MADE HIM STOP.

UH, HE NEVER COULD GET THE STAIN OUT OF THE CARPET FROM THOSE M&M's.

HOW DID YOUR FATHER FEEL ABOUT YOUR ACTING CAREER?

NOT INTERESTED.

HE NEVER CAME TO SEE ME IN ANY SCHOOL PLAYS.

HE MADE A POINT OF NOT WATCHING WHATEVER TELEVISION SHOW I WAS ON.

AND HE SAID ACTING WAS FOR FAGS.

IT'S FAIR TO SAY, IS IT NOT, THAT YOUR ACTING CAREER TOOK OFF?

I WAS VERY FORTUNATE.

ALL FOR ONE WAS A TOP-10 SHOW FOR SEVEN YEARS.

YOU MADE A LOT OF MONEY IN THAT TIME? YES.

ACQUIRE ANY BAD HABITS? YES, I DID.

TELL US ABOUT THEM.

I BEGAN TO DRINK AND USE COCAINE,

AND I EVENTUALLY LOST CONTROL OF MY LIFE.

[Hoffman] TELL US WHAT THAT MEANS, NEIL.

I WENT THROUGH THREE TO FOUR GRAMS OF COCAINE A WEEK,

A FIFTH OF VODKA A DAY.

HOW DID THAT AFFECT YOUR BEHAVIOR?

I BECAME A MONSTER. I WOULD VERBALLY ABUSE PEOPLE.

I WAS VIOLENT.

WHAT WERE THE CONSEQUENCES TO THIS CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR?

WHEN YOU'RE THE STAR OF A HIT TV SERIES,

PEOPLE WORK VERY HARD AT TRYING TO FORGIVE YOU.

THERE WERE NO CONSEQUENCES.

WAS IT DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME THAT YOU MET RICHARD CROSS?

YES. WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM?

RICHARD'S A COLLECTOR.

I WAS A TV STAR. I WAS GOOD TO HAVE AROUND.

WHAT WAS IN IT FOR YOU?

HE ALWAYS HAD A LOT OF COCAINE AND, UH, BEAUTIFUL WOMEN.

HE MADE ME LAUGH,

AND I THOUGHT HE WAS MY FRIEND.

WAS IT RICHARD CROSS WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO DR. GRAHAM LESTER?

YES. DID YOU BECOME A PATIENT OF DR. LESTER'S?

- YES, I DID. - WHY DID YOU DO SO?

THE COCAINE WAS GETTING OUT OF HAND, AND THE ALCOHOL WAS GETTING OUT OF HAND,

AND I FELT AS THOUGH I HAD TO DO SOMETHING.

RICHARD SAID THAT DR. LESTER...

HAD TREATED A LOT OF FAMOUS HOLLYWOOD DRUG ADDICTS.

HE SAID WITH DR. LESTER, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO STOP GETTING HIGH.

YOUR HONOR, I'M GOING TO OBJECT TO THAT AS HEARSAY.

OFFERED SOLELY FOR ITS EFFECT ON MR. AVEDON'S STATE OF MIND.

OVERRULED.

DID RICHARD CROSS ALSO INTRODUCE YOU TO JESSICA COSTELLO?

YES.

WOULD YOU DESCRIBE FOR US WHAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HER WAS LIKE?

ONE MINUTE WE'D BE CURLED UP IN EACH OTHER'S ARMS,

YOU KNOW, READING OR WATCHING TV OR TALKING.

AND THE NEXT MINUTE, SHE'D BE HITTING ME IN THE HEAD WITH A TELEPHONE...

OR THROWING MY CLOTHES OUT THE WINDOW.

WE'D GET HIGH TOGETHER, OR WE'D STOP GETTING HIGH TOGETHER.

UM, AS CRAZY AS WE BOTH WERE,

WE UNDERSTOOD EACH OTHER.

AND AS MUCH AS I'VE LOVED ANYONE, I LOVED HER.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TAKE US THROUGH THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 20, 1995.

TELL US EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID.

I WAS STAYING AT CHRIS DOCKNOVICH'S HOUSE.

I LEFT THERE AROUND 10:00 TO GO OVER TO SEE JESSICA.

I GOT A PIZZA,

A GRAM OF COKE.

WE ATE, WE GOT HIGH.

WE PUT TWO-LANE BLACKTOP ON THE V.C.R.

WE MADE LOVE WHILE WE WATCHED IT, AND I LEFT AROUND MIDNIGHT.

- DID YOU RAPE JESSICA COSTELLO THAT NIGHT? - NO, SIR.

- DID YOU MURDER HER? - NO, SIR, I DID NOT.

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

YOU STATED THAT ON THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER, YOU WERE STAYING AT THE HOME OF CHRIS DOCKNOVICH.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING YOU STAYING AT HIS HOME?

I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME STAYING OFF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL,

AND CHRIS WAS KEEPING AN EYE ON ME.

WAS THERE ANY PARTICULAR REASON WHY SOMEONE FROM YOUR LAWYER'S OFFICE,

RATHER THAN SOMEONE FROM YOUR THERAPIST'S OFFICE, WAS KEEPING AN EYE ON YOU?

AT THE TIME I WAS EMBROILED IN ANOTHER LEGAL MATTER.

WHAT CAUSED YOU TO BE SO EMBROILED?

- OBJECTION. - OVERRULED.

I KILLED A SWAN AT THE BEL-AIR HOTEL.

HOW DID YOU KILL A SWAN, MR. AVEDON?

I STRANGLED IT.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH A YOUNG WOMAN NAMED MELISSA GRIOTTE?

YES.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH A VIDEOTAPE THAT WAS MADE OF THE TWO OF YOU IN BED TOGETHER?

YES, I AM.

IS IT NOT A FACT THAT WHAT WE SEE ON THAT VIDEOTAPE...

IS YOU WITH YOUR HANDS AROUND MS. GRIOTTE'S THROAT?

I WASN'T STRANGLING MELISSA.

YOU HAVE YOUR HANDS AROUND HER THROAT, MR. AVEDON. WHAT WAS IT YOU WERE DOING?

IT WAS SEX.

AS WEIRD AS THAT SOUNDS, AND I KNOW IT SOUNDS WEIRD,

THAT'S WHAT IT WAS ABOUT.

LOOK, I WAS A DRUG ADDICT.

I WAS CRAZY,

AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING.

MS. GRIOTTE TESTIFIED SHE WAS AFRAID FOR HER LIFE.

- OBJECTION. - OBVIOUSLY, THAT WASN'T TRUE. YOU CAN TELL BY THE TAPE.

OBJECTION SUSTAINED.

- IS IT YOUR TESTIMONY THAT MS. GRIOTTE WAS LYING? - YES.

WE'VE HEARD TESTIMONY FROM RICHARD DI GIACOMO...

THAT YOU HAD YOUR HANDS AROUND JESSICA COSTELLO'S THROAT...

ONE EVENING AT A PLACE CALLED THE HOUSE OF BLUES.

- WAS THAT ALSO SEX? - OBJECTION. ARGUMENTATIVE.

- SO RICHARD DI GIACOMO IS ALSO LYING? - YES.

DR. LESTER'S NURSE IS LYING ABOUT RECEIVING THE TELEPHONE CALL?

DR. LESTER IS LYING ABOUT THE CONFESSION.

IS IT YOUR POSITION, MR. AVEDON, THAT YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON HERE TELLING THE TRUTH?

OBJECTION. ARGUMENTATIVE.

[Grasso] I'LL WITHDRAW THE QUESTION.

IF IT PLEASES THE COURT, THE PEOPLE WOULD BE WILLING TO RESUME...

OUR CROSS-EXAMINATION OF THIS WITNESS TOMORROW MORNING.

THAT'S FINE. WE'LL STAND IN RECESS TILL 9:30 TOMORROW MORNING.

[Gavel Raps]

YOU SCARED ME.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

WORKING ON A BUSINESS PROPOSAL, AND I NEEDED SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

ON ZEPHYR HOUSE?

WE'RE LOOKING INTO BUYING OUT AN H.M.O.

SIT DOWN.

UH, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

SUPPOSE YOU TELL ME.

I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE, BUT I DON'T REPORT TO YOU.

I REPORT TO RICHARD CROSS, AND I HAVE WORK TO DO, OKAY?

SIT.

[Beeping]

DO NOT LIE TO ME, JUSTINE.

DO NOT EVER... LIE TO ME.

THIS WAS ALL JUST A HUGE MISUNDERSTANDING, RICHARD. ALL I WAS TRYING TO DO WAS...

NO LIES. ONLY TRUTH. YOU UNDERSTAND? PLEASE. PLEASE. LET GO.

YES. PLEASE, LET GO. PLEASE.

DOUGLAS,

IF SECURITY HAD BEEN WATCHING JUSTINE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED?

BEFORE I INVOLVED YOU, I WANTED TO BE SURE WE HAD A PROBLEM.

OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS PERSON WAS UNDER SURVEILLANCE, CORRECT?

YES, BUT THE DIFFERENCE... SO I WAS DELIBERATELY LEFT OUT OF THE LOOP, WASN'T I?

I DIDN'T SEE ANY REASON TO ALARM YOU.

WELL, WHAT ALARMS ME...

IS THAT MY SECURITY CHIEF HAS NOT BEEN ENTIRELY FORTHCOMING WITH ME.

THAT IS WHAT I FIND ALARMING...

AND UNACCEPTABLE.

- TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. - I'M SORRY.

I'M NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR APOLOGIES. APOLOGIES MEAN NOTHING TO ME.

LISTEN TO ME VERY CAREFULLY. I AM BEING PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE 14th FLOOR OF THAT BUILDING.

- MY PHONE HAS BEEN TAPPED! - [Clattering]

I HAVE MADE MORE THAN A FEW ENEMIES IN MY LIFETIME,

SO I NEED TO TRUST THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR ME.

BUT WHAT I'M FINDING OUT IS THAT I CAN'T TRUST YOU, AND I CAN'T TRUST JUSTINE.

I CAN'T TRUST ANYBODY.

I CHECK MY SEAT BELTS WHEN I GET INTO MY CAR TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TAMPERED WITH,

JUST IN CASE I HAPPEN TO MEET WITH AN ACCIDENT.

YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? SO I AM NOT LOOKING FOR APOLOGIES OR EXCUSES!

I AM LOOKING ONLY FOR PERFORMANCE!

[Shouting] AM I MAKING MYSELF PERFECTLY CLEAR?

I DIDN'T MEAN TO CAUSE AN UPROAR, RICHARD.

IF I USED POOR JUDGMENT, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

LET'S HOPE NOT.

MAKE SURE SHE GETS HOME SAFELY.

WHAT, THAT'S IT?

YOU SAY THAT AS IF YOU'RE QUESTIONING ME.

NO.

GOOD...

BECAUSE I THINK I'VE ANSWERED ENOUGH QUESTIONS FOR ONE WEEK.

WHAT SIZE IS THAT DRESS?

EIGHT.

JULIE WEARS A SIX.

- I THINK THAT WOULD LOOK GOOD ON HER, DON'T YOU? - I'M SURE IT WOULD.

GOOD.

LISA?

HEY.

TED'S NOT HERE, IS HE?

NO, HE'S NOT BACK FROM COURT YET. WHAT'S UP?

UM, I NEED A FAVOR.

SHOOT.

I NEED YOU TO GET ME IN A ROOM WITH TED.

I GOTTA BE HONEST WITH YOU, JUSTINE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LOT YOU CAN DO TO GET BACK IN TED'S GOOD GRACES AT THIS POINT.

YOU KNOW HOW HE IS ONCE HIS MIND'S MADE UP.

I THINK HE'S GONNA WANT TO SEE THIS.

OH, MY GOD. THE HANDIWORK OF RICHARD CROSS.

LISA, I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT CONVINCED CROSS MURDERED JESSICA.

RICHARD CROSS DID THAT TO YOU? LAST NIGHT.

HE FLEW INTO A RAGE, NEXT THING I KNOW HE'S STRANGLING ME.

I'LL CERTAINLY TALK TO TED, BUT HE ALREADY KNOWS CROSS IS VIOLENT,

AND HE ALREADY BELIEVES HE'S BEHIND JESSICA COSTELLO'S MURDER, SO...

I'M IN THE ROOM WITH THIS GUY 14 HOURS A DAY, LISA.

I'M WATCHING HIM UNRAVEL RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY EYES.

SOONER OR LATER, HE'S GONNA MAKE A MISTAKE.

I'LL BE THERE TO CAPITALIZE ON IT. I WANT TED TO KNOW THAT.

HE'S NOT GONNA TAKE YOU BACK, JUSTINE.

WILL YOU TALK TO HIM?

YEAH.

BUT YOU'VE GOTTA GET AS FAR AWAY FROM CROSS AS YOU CAN. PLEASE.

TALK TO TED.

IN LOOKING OVER THE TRANSCRIPTS OF YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS,

I FOUND SOMETHING YOU SAID THAT SEEMED QUITE PERCEPTIVE.

YOU SAID... AND I QUOTE...

"WHEN YOU'RE THE STAR OF A HIT TV SHOW, PEOPLE TRY VERY HARD TO FORGIVE YOU."

AM I CORRECT IN TAKING THAT TO MEAN THAT YOU KNEW...

PRODUCERS AND NETWORK EXECUTIVES WERE AWARE OF YOUR PROBLEMS WITH DRUGS...

AND CHOSE TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY?

SO LONG AS IT DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH THE WORK, YEAH.

CAN I ALSO TAKE THAT TO MEAN THAT YOU WERE AWARE...

THAT YOUR FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES WERE SUFFICIENTLY FEARFUL...

OF OFFENDING YOU...

THAT THEY, TOO, TOLERATED YOUR BAD BEHAVIOR?

- YES. - THAT WOULD INCLUDE YOUR WOMEN FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES?

YES, IT WOULD.

WHAT WOULD YOUR BAD BEHAVIOR CONSIST OF,

IN RELATION TO YOUR WOMEN FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES?

A VARIETY OF THINGS.

- INCLUDING RAPE? - NO.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESSICA COSTELLO A LITTLE BIT.

- YOU WERE HOW OLD WHEN YOU STARTED SEEING HER? - TWENTY-FIVE.

- AND SHE WAS HOW OLD? - I LATER FOUND OUT SHE WAS 15.

[Scoffs] MUST BE PRETTY HEADY STUFF FOR A 15-YEAR-OLD...

TO BE INVOLVED WITH A BIG TV STAR.

I DON'T THINK ME BEING ON TV MEANT ALL THAT MUCH TO HER.

DID YOU MAKE IT A PRACTICE TO SUPPLY HER WITH DRUGS?

NO.

BUT YOU DID SAY THAT ON THE NIGHT THAT SHE WAS MURDERED,

YOU WENT OVER TO HER APARTMENT WITH A GRAM OF COKE.

JESSICA DIDN'T NEED ME TO SUPPLY HER WITH DRUGS.

SHE GOT DRUGS FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE.

OKAY, YOU LEAVE THE HOME OF CHRIS DOCKNOVICH AND YOU GET TO JESSICA'S AROUND 10:00.

- HAD YOU BEEN DRINKING? - I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

YOU DON'T BELIEVE SO, BUT YOU DON'T REMEMBER.

I WASN'T DRINKING BEFORE I GOT TO JESSICA'S.

I MAY HAVE HAD A DRINK WHEN I GOT THERE.

- ONE DRINK? - ONE OR TWO. NOT MORE THAN THAT.

- PLUS THE GRAM OF COKE? - RIGHT.

NOTWITHSTANDING HER EFFORTS TO STOP,

SHE CHEERFULLY CONSENTED TO GET HIGH.

YOU WATCHED A MOVIE. YOU MADE LOVE.

YOU KISSED HER GOOD-BYE, AND YOU LEFT.

- IS THAT RIGHT? - THAT'S RIGHT.

FOLLOWING YOUR DEPARTURE, SOME OTHER INDIVIDUAL...

CAME OVER, RAPED JESSICA COSTELLO,

STRANGLED JESSICA COSTELLO AND THEN LEFT.

YES.

YOU DID NOT CALL DR. LESTER FROM JESSICA'S APARTMENT AT 1:45 A.M.?

YOU DID NOT CONFESS TO DR. LESTER THAT YOU KILLED HER?

THAT'S RIGHT.

BUT YOU DID SHOW UP AT DR. LESTER'S OFFICE IN AN AGITATED STATE.

- DID YOU NOT? - YES.

THAT WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO WHAT?

THE FACT THAT I CONTINUED TO USE COCAINE...

AND I DRANK AFTER I LEFT JESSICA.

DID YOU OR DID YOU NOT SAY TO DETECTIVE ARTHUR POLSON...

THAT YOU WERE EXPERIENCING SOME BLACKOUTS AND MEMORY LOSS?

I DID NOT KILL JESSICA AND FORGET ABOUT IT.

ASK THAT THE WITNESS BE DIRECTED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.

[Judge Bornstein] MR. AVEDON.

YES, I DID SAY I WAS EXPERIENCING SOME MEMORY LOSS.

SO WHEN YOU STATE CONCLUSIVELY THAT YOU DID NOT KILL MS. COSTELLO,

YOU DID NOT RAPE MS. COSTELLO,

THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S CONTAINED IN DR. LESTER'S NOTES,

YOU DID NOT CONFESS TO THE CRIME,

AREN'T WHAT YOU'RE REALLY SAYING IS THAT YOU COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS THING?

I'M SAYING I DIDN'T.

- IS IT POSSIBLE THAT YOU DID IT AND DON'T REMEMBER? - NO.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS YOU DON'T REMEMBER. WHY ISN'T IT POSSIBLE YOU DON'T REMEMBER THIS?

BECAUSE I WOULD REMEMBER THIS. I DIDN'T DO IT.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOU, WHO HAVE REPEATEDLY USED VIOLENCE...

OBJECTION. WHO HAVE REPEATEDLY USED STRANGULATION...

AS A MEANS OF GETTING WHAT YOU WANT...

YOUR HONOR, I OBJECT TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S BADGERING OF THIS WITNESS.

MS. GRASSO. YES, YOUR HONOR.

ASK YOUR QUESTION.

ISN'T WHAT YOU'RE REALLY DOING ASKING US TO TAKE IT ON FAITH...

THAT YOU'RE NOT CAPABLE OF THE CRIME YOU'VE BEEN CHARGED WITH?

I GUESS I AM.

AND YET YOU CAN'T STATE WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY...

THAT YOU DIDN'T DO IT, CAN YOU?

IF YOU'RE ASKING ME IF IT'S POSSIBLE THAT I BLACKED OUT,

AND IN THE COURSE OF THAT BLACKOUT THAT I RAPED AND MURDERED JESSICA,

I GUESS, THEORETICALLY, IT IS POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU. BUT I'M TELLING YOU THAT I KNOW MYSELF.

I KNOW WHAT I'M CAPABLE OF. THANK YOU.

AND I DIDN'T DO IT.

[Muttering] FOURTH DISTRICT.

GRANDE LATTES, ANYBODY? THANK YOU.

OH, THANKS. SURE.

TODAY FELT GOOD. I FELT LIKE I WAS COMPLETELY IN THE MOMENT.

I FELT LIKE THIS WAS A REAL CONNECTION...

BETWEEN ME AND AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE IN THE JURY.

GOOD. HOW DID YOU THINK I DID?

- I THINK YOU DID VERY WELL. - GOOD. THANKS.

I'M GONNA GO TO THE MEN'S ROOM. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

YOU DIDN'T REALLY THINK HE DID THAT WELL, DID YOU?

HE'S AN ACTOR. HE WANTS APPLAUSE.

DO YOU HAVE A MOMENT FOR JUSTINE APPLETON? ALWAYS.

JUSTINE. YOU'RE LOOKING RADIANT AS USUAL.

THANK YOU. THIS IS FOR YOU.

WHAT IS IT? IT'S MY LETTER OF RESIGNATION.

IT'S EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

YOU MUST BE JOKING.

I CAN'T IMAGINE A MORE PROMISING CAREER OPPORTUNITY THAN THIS HAS PRESENTED ITSELF,

SO I HAVE TO CONCLUDE THAT YOU'RE UNHAPPY HERE.

TO PUT IT MILDLY, YES.

UH-HUH. I DON'T TAKE WELL TO VERBAL ABUSE, NUMBER ONE.

BUT I WILL NOT TOLERATE BEING MANHANDLED,

NO MATTER HOW OUT OF LINE MY ACTIONS MAY HAVE BEEN LAST NIGHT.

OH, WELL.

DOUGLAS SOMETIMES APPROACHES HIS JOB WITH A LITTLE TOO MUCH ENTHUSIASM.

I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. I WILL SPEAK TO HIM.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT DOUGLAS. I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU.

OH, WELL, I GUESS I HAVEN'T BEEN MYSELF LATELY,

AS WAS EVIDENCED BY MY BEHAVIOR IN COURT.

I'M SORRY. I HAVE TO BEG YOUR FORGIVENESS.

I DON'T KNOW, RICHARD. NOW, JUSTINE, LOOK.

I PROMISE... IT WILL NEVER, EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

AS FAR AS THIS LETTER OF RESIGNATION GOES,

I HOPE YOU WILL ALLOW ME TO PUT THIS IN THE APPROPRIATE FILE.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LOOK...

AT YOUR NEW CONTRACT AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER...

OF ALPHA MICRODYNE LIMITED,

A DIGITAL SYSTEMS COMPANY THAT I ACQUIRED EARLIER TODAY.

WHAT? YOU CAN GO OVER THE FINE POINTS AT YOUR LEISURE.

MEANWHILE,

HERE IS A SIGNING BONUS OF $100,000.

RICHARD.

NOW, JUSTINE, I CAN'T TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT NOW BECAUSE I'M GONNA BE LATE.

YOU KNOW HOW THOSE BLUE BLOODS OF THE SYMPHONY BOARD HATE TO BE KEPT WAITING.

[Sighs]

[Knocking]

FRANCESCA. AM I INTERRUPTING?

NO.

COME ON IN.

I WAS IN THE AREA. I THOUGHT I'D DROP BY AND SAY HELLO.

I'M GLAD YOU DID.

DINING IN TONIGHT, I SEE. [Chuckles] YES, I AM.

CAN I OFFER YOU HALF A SANDWICH? NO, THANK YOU.

YOU SHOULD HAVE CALLED ME THOUGH.

I WOULD HAVE MET YOU HERE. WE COULD HAVE GONE OUT.

I'LL REMEMBER FOR NEXT TIME.

WILL YOU? I PROMISE.

HOW ARE THINGS?

THINGS ARE NOT GREAT.

ANNIE FILED FOR DIVORCE.

I'M SORRY. THANKS.

HAVING JUST BEEN THROUGH IT MYSELF,

I THINK I KNOW WHAT A DIFFICULT TIME YOU'RE HAVING.

YOU'RE NOT WRONG.

I'D VENTURE A GUESS THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY ALL YOU WANT...

IS A LITTLE DISTRACTION FOR EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE.

YOU'D BE RIGHT.

LET'S DISTRACT EACH OTHER, TEDDY,

JUST THIS ONE NIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

COME HOME WITH ME.

LET ME CONVINCE YOU THAT IT IS.