Original subtitles

[Announcer] THE VERDICT.

WILL THE DEFENDANT PLEASE RISE?

[Clerk] "WE, THE JURY, IN THE CHARGE OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE,

FIND THE DEFENDANT GUILTY."

[Judge Bornstein] YOU HAVE SHOWN ABSOLUTELY NO REMORSE FOR THIS HEINOUS CRIME.

YOU'RE A VIOLENT YOUNG MAN AND A DANGER TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THEREFORE, I SENTENCE YOU TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.

- [Gavel Raps] - [Announcer] ILLNESS REVEALED.

I HAVE THIS HEADACHE. IT JUST WON'T GO AWAY.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO EXCUSE MYSELF FOR ONE SECOND.

- YOU JUST... YOU KNOW, YOU JUST DO... - RICHARD?

RICHARD! CALL 911.

[Announcer] THE TRUTH.

RICHARD CROSS HAS AIDS.

IF RICHARD CROSS KILLED JESSICA...

AND REALLY IS IN THE LAST STAGES OF AIDS,

HE WOULD HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BY TELLING US.

[Announcer] THE DISCOVERY.

SOMEWHERE IN JESSICA COSTELLO'S APARTMENT THERE'S A CAMERA.

- WHICH MEANS THERE'S A V.C.R. - WHICH MEANS THAT SOMEWHERE...

THERE MAY BE A VIDEOTAPE OF THE MURDER.

[Announcer] THE BREAK-IN.

ANY WAY FOR US TO GET IN SHORT OF BREAKING AND ENTERING?

NO WAY THAT'S IN TIME FOR US TO DO ANY GOOD.

NOW WE GOT US A GAME.

[Announcer] A PLEA FOR HELP.

RICHARD, NEIL NEEDS YOUR HELP.

WE FOUND THE VIDEO CAMERA IN THE APARTMENT.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT THE MURDER, NOW'S THE TIME TO HELP HIM.

TELL ME WHERE THE TAPE IS. IT'S IN MY SAFE...

IN THE FLOOR UNDER THE DESK.

WE'VE GOT THE VIDEOTAPE. EVERYBODY IN MY OFFICE.

[Justine] IT'S NEIL.

[Chris] HE DIDN'T DO IT.

JESSICA WAS STILL ALIVE WHEN NEIL LEFT.

RIGHT HERE.

OH, MY GOD.

TED. JULIE, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

WHAT'S THIS ABOUT? THE VIDEOTAPE.

BY ITSELF, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO FREE NEIL.

WE NEED RICHARD TO TESTIFY.

TO WHAT? TO THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE TAPE...

AND TO IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE IN IT.

YOU SAW RICHARD AT THE AIRPORT. HE ISN'T PHYSICALLY CAPABLE OF TESTIFYING.

THEY CAN CHANGE HIS MEDICATION, JULIE.

THERE ARE DRUGS HE CAN TAKE THAT'LL MAKE HIM TEMPORARILY MORE LUCID...

AND PHYSICALLY STRONGER THAN HE IS NOW.

THEN WHY ISN'T HE ALREADY ON THEM? BECAUSE THERE'S A DOWNSIDE.

THEY'LL INCREASE HIS RISK OF INFECTION.

SO HE COULD DIE SOONER.

THE REST OF NEIL AVEDON'S LIFE IS HANGING IN THE BALANCE.

I CAN'T PLAY GOD. I LED YOU TO HIM.

YOU GOT THE TAPE. DON'T ASK ME FOR ANYTHING ELSE.

- MAYBE YOU SHOULD SEE THE TAPE. - I DON'T WANNA SEE IT.

THE TAPE SHOWS YOUR SISTER'S MURDER.

[Hoffman] THAT'S NEIL.

[Chris] THAT'S NEIL LEAVING.

JESSIE.

TURN IT OFF.

TURN IT OFF, PLEASE.

GOOD GOD.

PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY, MR. CROSS IS IN AN EXTREMELY FRAGILE STATE.

THE ONE THING HE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO IS TESTIFY IN COURT.

I WAS HOPING YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO RECTIFY THAT, DOCTOR.

YOUR HOPE IS QUITE MISPLACED.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I UNDERSTAND...

THERE ARE DRUGS WHICH CAN ENHANCE HIS LUCIDITY.

IF YOU'RE REFERRING TO CYTOXAN, A.Z.T., AND THE OTHERS, YOU'RE RIGHT.

THERE CAN BE SOME EPHEMERAL BENEFITS WITHIN 24 HOURS. THAT'S ALL WE NEED.

IT ISN'T WHAT HE NEEDS. WHILE IT WILL DECREASE THE SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA,

IT WILL GREATLY INCREASE THE RISK OF BONE MARROW DEPRESSION AND CARDIAC NECROSIS.

I DIDN'T TAKE THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH TO KILL PEOPLE, MR. HOFFMAN.

HE'S GONNA DIE. WELL, IT WON'T BE BECAUSE I KILLED HIM.

THIS ISN'T YOUR DECISION, DOCTOR.

I'M TAKING THIS TO MY HUSBAND.

[Hoffman] RICHARD.

TEDDY.

WE FOUND THE TAPE.

GOOD.

WE'RE HOPING THE JUDGE WILL GRANT US A HEARING TOMORROW MORNING.

WE NEED YOU THERE TO AUTHENTICATE THE TAPE.

MMM. NO.

LISTEN TO ME, RICHARD. IF YOU ARE NOT IN THAT COURTROOM,

THERE'S A VERY GOOD CHANCE NEIL WILL SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN PRISON.

I DON'T WANT THAT. AND I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT THAT EITHER.

THERE ARE DRUGS THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO TESTIFY.

I CAN'T DO IT.

MR. HOFFMAN... YOU'VE SAID YOU'RE NEIL'S FRIEND.

YOU TOLD ME YOU'RE NOT MY ENEMY.

AND ONE DAY I WOULD KNOW THAT. THIS IS THE DAY, RICHARD.

THIS IS THE DAY ALL THE SUBTERFUGE, ALL THE LIES END.

[Julie] YOU OWE THIS TO ME, RICHARD.

YOU OWE THIS TO JESSIE.

YOU SAID YOU COULDN'T TELL ME WHO KILLED HER BECAUSE MY LIFE WOULD BE IN DANGER,

BECAUSE YOU WERE PROTECTING ME.

BUT THE ONLY ONE YOU WERE PROTECTING WAS YOURSELF.

MY GOD! SHE WAS 15!

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING CARE OF HER.

OKAY.

OKAY, PAUL.

[Sighs] GET ME IN THAT COURTROOM.

RICHARD, I CAN'T LET YOU DO THIS.

DO IT.

A VIDEOTAPE OF THE MURDER, MR. HOFFMAN?

YES, YOUR HONOR. WE BELIEVE ITS CONTENTS WILL COMPLETELY EXONERATE NEIL AVEDON.

JUDGE, IF I HADN'T PARKED NEXT TO HIM IN THE GARAGE,

I WOULD'VE SUSPECTED MR. HOFFMAN RODE OVER HERE WITH THE CAVALRY.

- YOUR POINT, MS. GRASSO? - THE SPECTACULAR TIMING OF IT ALL.

THE DEFENDANT GETS CONVICTED AND SENTENCED IN AN EXHAUSTIVE TRIAL.

NOW THIS TAPE SHOWS UP FROM OUT OF THE BLUE?

WHERE WAS THIS BOMBSHELL DURING THE TRIAL?

IN RICHARD CROSS'S POSSESSION. WE DIDN'T ACQUIRE IT UNTIL YESTERDAY.

[Grasso] AWFULLY CONVENIENT, DON'T YOU THINK?

YOUR HONOR, I ASSURE YOU, IF WE'D HAD THE TAPE EARLIER,

WE WOULD HAVE INTRODUCED IT EARLIER.

NO ONE HAS SUFFERED MORE FROM THE LATE APPEARANCE OF THIS EVIDENCE THAN NEIL AVEDON.

AS AN OFFICER OF THE COURT,

YOU'RE SWORN TO AN OATH OF HONESTY IN YOUR REPRESENTATIONS TO THE COURT.

THEREFORE, I'LL ACCEPT YOUR WORD.

I'M SURE, HOWEVER, THE PEOPLE WILL WANT TO TEST THE TAPE'S AUTHENTICITY.

OH, YES. YOUR HONOR, MAY I REQUEST...

THAT THIS BE DONE WITH THE GREATEST POSSIBLE SPEED?

MY CLIENT IS UNDER EXTREME EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL DURESS.

I'M SURE THE PEOPLE WILL DO THEIR BEST TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS, MR. HOFFMAN.

IN THE MEANTIME, I'LL TAKE YOUR MOTION FOR AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING UNDER ADVISEMENT.

SO, DO YOU PLAY GOLF? NO.

[Chuckles] YOU SHOULD PLAY GOLF.

MAYBE I WILL ONE DAY. IT'S A WONDERFUL PASTIME.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO SEE ME ABOUT, MR. FERGUSON?

OH, PLEASE. I FEEL OLD ENOUGH THE WAY IT IS. CALL ME PAT.

OKAY. WHAT DID YOU WANT TO SEE ME ABOUT, PAT?

WELL, THE OTHER DAY I'M PLAYING THE VALLEY CLUB OF MONTECITO WITH BILL RAUCH.

JUSTICE RAUCH, I SHOULD SAY.

ANYWAY, AFTER 18 HOLES, WE'RE SITTING OUT ON THE PATIO HAVING A DRINK.

AND WE GOT TO TALKING ABOUT THE AVEDON CASE.

HE THINKS YOUR GUY GOT A RAW DEAL. DOES HE?

YES, HE DOES. HE THINKS THERE'S REVERSIBLE ERROR.

WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME THIS? THE JUDGE WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE...

THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING OF SERVICE TO YOU IN RIGHTING THIS WRONG.

IN WHAT WAY? BY VOTING TO OVERTURN THE CONVICTION...

AND CONVINCING TWO OF HIS COLLEAGUES TO VOTE THE SAME WAY.

IS THIS SOMETHING THE JUDGE IS THINKING OF DOING?

LET ME PUT IT TO YOU THIS WAY.

FOR $100,000, HE WON'T THINK ABOUT IT. HE'LL GET IT DONE.

AND I KNOW YOU'RE SPEAKING FOR THE JUDGE... HOW?

WELL, I STARTED WORKING FOR BILL RAUCH WHEN HE WAS STILL A MAGISTRATE.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY YEARS AGO THAT IS?

I WORKED FOR HIM WHEN HE WAS A TRIAL COURT JUDGE IN FRESNO.

I WORKED FOR HIM AFTER HE GOT THE APPOINTMENT TO THE COURT OF APPEAL.

THE JUDGE AND I ARE VERY CLOSE. ASK AROUND.

SO YOU'RE SOLICITING A BRIBE ON BEHALF OF THE JUDGE. [Chuckles]

WELL, THAT WOULD BE ONE INTERPRETATION.

ANOTHER EQUALLY VALID INTERPRETATION WOULD BE...

THAT AN APPELLATE JUDGE GETS TO CALL IN FAVORS...

WITH OTHER APPELLATE JUDGES A FINITE NUMBER OF TIMES.

AND THOSE FAVORS, LIKE OIL...

OR GIANT SEQUOIA TREES, ARE A LIMITED RESOURCE.

ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAXIMIZE THE USE OF THAT RESOURCE.

MY FIRM IS NOT IN THE HABIT OF BUYING JUDGES.

THE LAST THING I WANNA DO IS TO DRAG YOU KICKING AND SCREAMING...

INTO THE COMMISSION OF AN ACT YOU FIND MORALLY REPUGNANT.

IF YOU'RE NOT SO INCLINED, SO BE IT.

FILE YOUR APPEAL, AND LET THE GOOD JUDGES CALL IT ON THE MERITS.

NOTHING WHATSOEVER WRONG WITH THAT. IT'S AN IMPERFECT SYSTEM.

BUT SOMETIMES THE RIGHT RESULT STILL COMES OUT.

OH, ONE MORE THING I MIGHT MENTION,

AND THEN WE CAN FORGET ABOUT EVER HAVING HAD THIS CONVERSATION.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR GUY IS HAVING A HARD TIME DEALING WITH INCARCERATION.

SHOULD JUSTICE RAUCH GET INVOLVED, HE'LL SEE TO IT...

THAT BORNSTEIN'S RULING ON BAIL IS OVERTURNED.

YOUR CLIENT WILL GET OUT THE VERY NEXT DAY.

I'LL TALK TO TED HOFFMAN.

I DOUBT VERY MUCH HE'LL BE INTERESTED.

AH, THE AGE OF INNOCENCE.

NOTHING LIKE IT, IS THERE?

[Hoffman] CHRIS, WHERE ARE WE ON THE VIDEOTAPE?

WESTERN VIDEO SAYS THEIR PRELIMINARY TESTS INDICATE THE TAPE'S FOR REAL.

NO EDITS. NO ALTERATIONS.

- I'VE SET A MEETING WITH BORNSTEIN FOR 11:00. - GOOD.

TED, THERE'S SOMETHING I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

A GUY NAMED PAT FERGUSON GOT IN TOUCH WITH ME.

HE'S JUSTICE RAUCH'S FORMER LEGAL SECRETARY.

I KNOW WHO HE IS. HE SAID THAT FOR $100,000,

HE WOULD GET NEIL'S CONVICTION OVERTURNED.

PENDING THAT, HE SAID HE'D GET HIM OUT ON BAIL.

WHAT DID YOU TELL HIM? I TOLD HIM THAT WE WEREN'T IN THE HABIT OF BRIBING JUDGES.

GOOD ANSWER.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'D EVER CONSIDER, IS IT? IT'S A FELONY.

THERE'S NO ASSURANCE THAT YOU'RE NOT BEING SET UP.

THERE'S NO ASSURANCE THAT IT WOULD WORK. AND IT'S WRONG.

I'M NOT PARTICULARLY SURPRISED THAT BILL RAUCH IS PROPOSING IT.

DO I WANT TO BE A PARTY TO IT? NO.

WHERE ARE WE, PEOPLE?

I SENT A COPY OF THE TAPE TO DETECTIVE POLSON AT PARKER CENTER.

I TALKED TO THE HOSPITAL. THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN CROSS'S CONDITION SO FAR.

I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND. IF THE TAPE'S AUTHENTICATED, WHY ISN'T THIS RES IPSA LOQUITUR?

- THE TAPE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. - TELL THAT TO RODNEY KING.

THERE'S ALSO NO TIME CODE TO ESTABLISH DATE AND HOUR.

COME ON. JESSICA WAS ONLY MURDERED ONCE.

EVEN SO, WE STILL NEED CROSS TO PLACE THE TAPE IN CONTEXT.

THERE'S NOTHING TO PROVE THAT NEIL DIDN'T COME BACK AND COMMIT THE MURDER AT SOME LATER TIME.

NOT TO BE A PESSIMIST HERE, BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF RICHARD CROSS DIES ON US?

SORRY.

[Roger] TED, I SAW THE TAPE. VERY PROVOCATIVE. BUT BOTTOM LINE, I'M NOT CONVINCED.

[Hoffman] WHAT PART OF SEEING THE ACTUAL MURDER DOESN'T CONVINCE YOU?

YOUR CLIENT'S ABOUT TO BE SHIPPED TO FOLSOM.

YOU SUDDENLY PRODUCE YOUR OWN LITTLE ZAPRUDER FILM.

THAT ISN'T COINCIDENCE. THAT'S THE MIRACLE AT LOURDES. THE TAPE IS AUTHENTIC, ROGER.

AND YOU CAN PROVE THAT? I CAN AND I WILL.

FINE. WHEN YOU'RE DONE, WE'LL RUN THAT PART IN FORREST GUMP...

WHERE TOM HANKS SHAKES J.F.K.'s HAND.

ARE YOU SUGGESTING I'D MANUFACTURE EVIDENCE?

DESPERATE MEN DO DESPERATE THINGS, TED. YOU WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST.

I WAS HOPING TO APPEAL TO YOUR SENSE OF FAIRNESS, ROGER.

BUT SINCE I OBVIOUSLY CAN'T, I'LL TRY YOUR SENSE OF THE POLITICAL.

THIS TAPE IS GONNA FREE NEIL.

YOU CAN JOIN IN OUR MOTION AND TAKE THE CREDIT,

OR YOU CAN STAND IN THE WAY AND TAKE THE BLAME.

[Bailiff] ALL RISE. THE HONORABLE BETH BORNSTEIN PRESIDING.

AS MUCH AS I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN OVER MY POLITICAL FUTURE, TED,

WHERE I'M STANDING SUITS ME JUST FINE.

YOU MAY BE SEATED.

MR. HOFFMAN, I'VE VIEWED YOUR TAPE. AND WHILE IT RAISES...

SERIOUS QUESTIONS AS TO THE PEOPLE'S THEORY OF THE CRIME,

IT DOES NOT IN AND OF ITSELF EXONERATE YOUR CLIENT.

UNDERSTOOD, YOUR HONOR. WHICH IS WHY WE'VE MOVED FOR A HEARING...

TO PLACE THIS EVIDENCE IN ITS FULL CONTEXT.

YOUR HONOR, WHEN I FIRST TOOK THE AVEDON CASE,

MR. HOFFMAN SUMMED UP THE VALUE OF EVIDENCE LIKE THIS.

HE SAID, "MIRIAM, THEY CAN DO WONDERFUL THINGS WITH FILM.

THEY CAN MAKE FRISBEES LOOK LIKE FLYING SAUCERS."

THE PEOPLE STAND BY COUNSEL'S WORDS. AS I RECALL AT THE TIME,

MS. GRASSO STRONGLY DISAGREED WITH THOSE WORDS.

I'VE COME TO SEE THEIR WISDOM.

MS. GRASSO, HAVE YOU SATISFIED YOURSELF AS TO THE AUTHENTICITY OF THIS TAPE?

NOT YET. WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THE LAB REPORT FROM SACRAMENTO.

YOUR HONOR, WE ARE PREPARED TO OFFER EXPERT TESTIMONY...

TO ESTABLISH AUTHENTICITY AS SOON AS YOU AUTHORIZE THE HEARING.

UH, YOUR HONOR, IF I MAY?

THIS IS PURE SPECULATION, YOUR HONOR.

MR. HOFFMAN, WILL MR. CROSS BE AVAILABLE TO VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY OF THIS TAPE?

IT IS MY HOPE THAT HE WILL, YOUR HONOR. HOWEVER, MR. CROSS IS SERIOUSLY ILL.

THEN PERHAPS WE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL HE RECOVERS.

HE WON'T. HE'S IN THE FINAL STAGES OF AIDS.

YOUR HONOR, I'M CONFUSED.

CAN HE OR CAN'T HE TESTIFY?

MR. CROSS HAS AGREED TO ALTER HIS MEDICATIONS SO THAT HE CAN.

MR. HOFFMAN, I'M GRANTING YOUR MOTION.

A HEARING IS SET FOR 3:00 THIS AFTERNOON.

IF MR. CROSS IS AVAILABLE, I WILL CONSIDER WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.

IF HE IS NOT, I WILL BE COMPELLED TO MAKE...

MY RULING BASED ON THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED.

[Hoffman] WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION, MR. NAGEL?

I'M A SENIOR ENGINEER AT WESTERN VIDEO.

WHAT DO YOU DO AS SENIOR ENGINEER?

I SUPERVISE THE CREATION OF VIDEO SPECIAL EFFECTS.

I'VE ALSO DEVELOPED NEW TECHNOLOGY IN THE FIELD OF VIDEO SPECIAL EFFECTS.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED IN THIS FIELD?

- FOURTEEN YEARS. - IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT YOU ARE AT LEAST CURRENT...

WITH THE STATE OF THE ART IN VIDEO TECHNOLOGY?

I DON'T LIKE TO BLOW MY OWN HORN, BUT THE FACT IS THAT WE HAVE...

- IT'S A YES OR NO QUESTION, MR. NAGEL. - YES.

HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE VIDEOTAPE MADE IN JESSICA COSTELLO'S BEDROOM...

ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 20, 1995?

[Nagel] YES, I HAVE. ACCORDING TO YOUR BEST EXPERT OPINION,

WAS THIS VIDEOTAPE EDITED IN ANY WAY?

- NO, IT WAS NOT. - ON WHAT DO YOU BASE THAT OPINION?

EDITS CAN BE DETECTED BY A SPIKE IN THE RADIO FREQUENCIES.

I EXAMINED THE R.F. ENVELOPE, NO SPIKE.

[Hoffman] IS IT POSSIBLE THROUGH THE USE OF SPECIAL EFFECTS...

TO HAVE REMOVED OR REPLACED SOMEONE...

WHO WAS IN THE ROOM AT THE TIME THE VIDEOTAPE WAS MADE?

WHAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING IS A TECHNIQUE CALLED COMPOSITING.

AGAIN, THERE ARE TELLTALE SIGNS...

PIXEL IRREGULARITIES, VISIBLE MATTE LINES.

I LOOKED. I DID NOT FIND.

IN YOUR BEST EXPERT OPINION, HAS THIS VIDEOTAPE BEEN ALTERED IN ANY WAY?

IN MY OPINION? NO.

THANK YOU, MR. NAGEL. I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

IS THE ALTERATION OF A VIDEOTAPE ALWAYS DETECTABLE, MR. NAGEL?

EDITING AND COMPOSITING ARE ALWAYS DETECTABLE, YES.

AND ARE EDITING AND COMPOSITING THE ONLY METHODS AVAILABLE FOR ALTERING A VIDEOTAPE?

ARE THEY THE ONLY METHODS? STRICTLY SPEAKING, THEY'RE NOT.

BUT THEY ARE THE ONLY METHODS THAT COULD CHANGE THE FACE OF AN INDIVIDUAL PRESENT IN THAT ROOM.

CAN YOU TELL US WHEN THIS TAPE WAS MADE, MR. NAGEL?

NO. SO FOR ALL YOU KNOW, THIS TAPE COULD'VE BEEN MADE...

TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE MURDER, IS THAT CORRECT?

AS I SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WAS MADE.

CAN YOU TELL US IF THE WOMAN ON THAT TAPE IS JESSICA COSTELLO?

- NO. - CAN YOU TELL US WHO THE MAN IS ON THAT VIDEOTAPE?

NO. SO FOR ALL YOU KNOW, SIR,

THIS ENTIRE TAPE COULD'VE BEEN STAGED FOR THE CAMERA.

OBJECTION. WITHDRAWN. NO MORE QUESTIONS.

YOU MAY STEP DOWN.

MR. HOFFMAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER WITNESSES?

AT THIS TIME, YOUR HONOR, WE CALL RICHARD CROSS TO THE STAND.

[Man] HERE YOU GO.

RICHARD, ARE YOU OKAY? CAN I GET YOU ANYTHING?

MR. CROSS, DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE AND WHY YOU'RE HERE?

[Chuckles]

YES, I DO. THEN WILL YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND?

DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD?

I DO. STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

[Clears Throat] RICHARD CROSS. I AM RICHARD CROSS.

MR. CROSS, I REALIZE THE TREMENDOUS SACRIFICE YOU'VE MADE...

IN APPEARING HERE TODAY, SO I'LL TRY TO MOVE THIS ALONG.

YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY TESTIFIED THAT YOU OWN THE APARTMENT BUILDING IN HOLLYWOOD...

WHERE JESSICA COSTELLO LIVED PRIOR TO HER DEATH, IS THAT CORRECT?

YES. DID YOU EVER MAKE...

ANY UNUSUAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE APARTMENT IN WHICH MS. COSTELLO RESIDED?

TWO YEARS AGO, I INSTALLED A VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM.

MS. COSTELLO HAVING SEX.

[Hoffman] WOULD YOU DESCRIBE FOR US HOW THIS SYSTEM WORKED?

THERE WAS A CAMERA HIDDEN BEHIND THE BEDROOM WALL.

IT WAS WIRED TO A V.C.R. IN THE GARAGE.

WAS THIS SYSTEM OPERATIONAL ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 20 OF LAST YEAR?

- YES. - SIR, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU A TAPE NOW,

AND I'D LIKE YOU TO IDENTIFY THE INDIVIDUALS WHO APPEAR IN IT.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE LOCATION, MR. CROSS?

YES. IT'S JESSICA'S BEDROOM AT 1501 NORTH HAVENHURST AVENUE.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE YOUNG WOMAN?

YES. THE YOUNG WOMAN IS JESSICA COSTELLO.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE YOUNG MAN?

[Richard] YES. THE YOUNG MAN IS NEIL AVEDON.

MR. CROSS, THIS IS A PORTION OF THE TAPE MADE LATER THAT SAME EVENING.

CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE INDIVIDUAL PRESENT WITH JESSICA NOW?

ROBERTO PORTALEGRE.

[Hoffman] MR. CROSS, DO YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT...

THAT THE MAN ON THE MONITORS IS ROBERTO PORTALEGRE?

NONE.

WHEN WAS THIS TAPE MADE, MR. CROSS?

SEPTEMBER 20, 1995. HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?

BECAUSE I ARRANGED FOR JESSICA TO MEET MR. PORTALEGRE THAT NIGHT.

[Coughing]

EXCUSE ME.

[Hoffman] WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MR. PORTALEGRE?

SEVERAL YEARS AGO I MADE THE MISTAKE OF GOING INTO BUSINESS WITH HIM.

WHAT BUSINESS WAS THAT, MR. CROSS?

MR. PORTALEGRE IS A COCAINE DEALER.

I AGREED TO SET UP A STRING OF BUSINESSES...

THAT WOULD FUNNEL THE PROCEEDS FROM THE DRUG SALES.

WHY WOULD A MAN OF YOUR WEALTH EXPOSE HIMSELF TO THAT KIND OF RISK?

[Chuckles] I, UH...

FOR THE EXCITEMENT, I GUESS. I DON'T KNOW.

SO ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 20, YOU ARRANGED FOR JESSICA TO BE WITH MR. PORTALEGRE.

YES. HE WAS IN TOWN TO CONSUMMATE A DEAL,

AND HE ASKED ME TO SET HIM UP.

I KNEW THAT JESSICA, UM, LIKED RICH OLDER MEN.

AND I KNEW THAT HE LIKED YOUNG GIRLS.

HAD JESSICA AGREED TO BE WITH MR. PORTALEGRE THAT NIGHT?

INITIALLY, YES. BUT AT SOME POINT DURING THE EVENING SHE CHANGED HER MIND.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS? SHE CALLED ME ON MY CELL PHONE AT APPROXIMATELY 1:00 A.M.

SHE TOLD ME THAT PORTALEGRE WAS ROUGHING HER UP...

AND INSISTING THAT SHE TAKE EVER-INCREASING AMOUNTS OF COCAINE.

SHE'D LOCKED HERSELF IN THE BATHROOM AND WAS CLEARLY FRIGHTENED OUT OF HER MIND.

WHAT DID YOU TELL HER? I TOLD HER NOT TO WORRY,

TO CALM DOWN, AND THAT I WOULD BE RIGHT THERE.

WHAT DID YOU FIND WHEN YOU GOT THERE?

I FOUND PORTALEGRE GONE AND JESSICA DEAD.

WHAT DID YOU DO?

I PHONED GRAHAM LESTER.

THIS WAS THE CALL MADE TO ZEPHYR HOUSE AT 1:45,

PREVIOUSLY ATTRIBUTED TO NEIL AVEDON.

YES.

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID DR. LESTER SUGGEST AS A COURSE OF ACTION?

HE SUGGESTED THAT...

WE FRAME NEIL AVEDON FOR JESSICA'S MURDER.

[Hoffman] DID YOU TAKE HIS ADVICE?

YES.

HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT CARRYING OUT THIS COURSE OF ACTION, MR. CROSS?

I INDUCED SUSAN DOMINICK TO LIE...

ABOUT THE PHONE CALL THAT CAME IN AT 1:45 AND SAY THAT IT CAME FROM NEIL.

DR. LESTER AGREED TO SUPPLY A FALSE CONFESSION.

AND YOU HAD NO COMPUNCTION ABOUT SETTING UP A MAN YOU CONSIDERED TO BE A FRIEND?

I FELT AS IF I HAD NO CHOICE.

WHY DID YOU FEEL THAT WAY? BECAUSE MR. PORTALEGRE MADE IT CLEAR...

THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

AND THAT I WAS TO CLEAN UP THE MESS.

WERE YOU AFRAID OF MR. PORTALEGRE? OH, YES.

WHY?

ROBERTO PORTALEGRE IS A KILLER.

I KNOW THAT HE SENT RUSTY ARNOLD TO KILL DAVE BLALOCK AND FREDDY CARELLO...

WHEN THE TAPE EXPOSING MY ALIBI SURFACED.

I BELIEVE THAT HE HAD HOLLY GERGES KILLED WHEN SHE WAS IN POLICE CUSTODY.

AND I KNOW, TED, THAT HE WAS BEHIND YOUR DAUGHTER'S KIDNAPPING.

HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS DOING THESE THINGS TO HELP ME.

BUT I KNEW... THEY WERE WARNINGS.

WHY ARE YOU COMING FORWARD NOW, MR. CROSS?

BECAUSE I'M DYING, MR. HOFFMAN.

AND I HAVE NO REASON TO FEAR...

MR. PORTALEGRE'S RETRIBUTIONS ANY LONGER.

AND FOR NO OTHER REASON? THAT AND THE HOPE...

THAT THIS WILL EARN ME SOME SMALL MEASURE OF FORGIVENESS FROM MY WIFE.

[Hoffman] THANK YOU.

YOUR HONOR, THE DEFENSE REQUESTS...

THAT UNDER SECTION 1385 OF THE PENAL CODE,

THE COURT, OF ITS OWN MOTION, VACATE THE CONVICTION,

AND DISMISS THE CASE AGAINST NEIL AVEDON.

MS. GRASSO?

[Whispering] NO, NO.

YOUR HONOR, THE PEOPLE JOIN IN MR. HOFFMAN'S REQUEST TO DISMISS.

YOUR HONOR, THE PEOPLE REQUEST AN IMMEDIATE CONFERENCE IN CHAMBERS.

THIS IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL, MR. GARFIELD.

YOUR HONOR, MS. GRASSO CONTRAVENED MY SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION...

TO CONDUCT A CROSS-EXAMINATION OF THIS WITNESS.

AS OF THIS MOMENT, SHE'S NO LONGER IN CHARGE OF THE CASE.

YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS. I'M COMPLETELY SERIOUS, MIRIAM.

I DIDN'T FIGHT ALL THESE MONTHS FOR A CONVICTION TO HAVE YOU ROLL OVER ON ME.

YOUR HONOR, I'VE MADE A MOTION. AND MS. GRASSO HAS JOINED ME IN THAT MOTION.

MR. GARFIELD'S ACTIONS ARE TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE.

I'M THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, TED.

INSOFAR AS THE DISCHARGE OF MY DUTIES IS CONCERNED, I'LL DECIDE WHAT'S APPROPRIATE.

MR. GARFIELD, YOU'VE JUST HEARD EXPERT TESTIMONY THAT THE TAPE HAS NOT BEEN ALTERED.

MR. CROSS HAS CORROBORATED ITS AUTHENTICITY.

WHAT MORE DO YOU REQUIRE?

THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF THE D.A.'s OFFICE TO CONDUCT ITS CASE, YOUR HONOR.

FINE, MR. GARFIELD. LET'S GO.

[Chattering]

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CROSS.

ROGER.

SOME WEEKS AGO YOU TESTIFIED IN THIS COURTROOM AS A WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION, CORRECT?

YES.

WAS THIS YOUR TESTIMONY ON CROSS-EXAMINATION CONDUCTED BY MR. HOFFMAN?

AND I'M READING FROM THE TRANSCRIPT NOW.

"QUESTION: 'YOU FOUND THE GIRL DEAD, BUT YOU DIDN'T CALL THE POLICE.

"DID YOU CALL ANYONE ELSE'? ANSWER: 'NO.'

"QUESTION: 'ARE YOU SURE YOU DIDN'T PLACE A CALL TO ZEPHYR HOUSE AT 1:45 A.M.?'

ANSWER: 'I'M QUITE CERTAIN.'"

THAT WAS MY TESTIMONY AT THE TIME, YES.

HOWEVER, I WAS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH.

THEN YOU ACKNOWLEDGE YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO LIES DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES?

WELL, I THINK WE ALL DO FROM TIME TO TIME.

BEING A POLITICIAN, YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER THAN ANYONE.

HOW DO WE KNOW THIS LATEST VERSION OF EVENTS...

WHICH YOU'VE TESTIFIED TO HERE TODAY ISN'T A LIE?

BECAUSE I NO LONGER HAVE ANY REASON TO LIE, MR. GARFIELD.

I RECENTLY FOUND OUT I DON'T HAVE MUCH LONGER TO LIVE.

FOR THE RECORD, COULD YOU TELL US THE NAME OF THE DISEASE WITH WHICH YOU ARE AFFLICTED?

AIDS. I HAVE AIDS.

IS IT FACT YOU'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA...

AS A RESULT OF THE DISEASE?

YES.

IN FACT, THE LAST TIME YOU TESTIFIED IN THIS COURTROOM,

YOU MADE SOME RATHER BIZARRE, EVEN DELUSIONAL REMARKS.

WAS THAT BEHAVIOR CAUSED BY THE DEMENTIA?

I IMAGINE SO, YES.

ISN'T IT POSSIBLE THAT YOU'RE DELUSIONAL RIGHT NOW?

THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU'VE GIVEN HERE TODAY HAS NO BASIS IN REALITY,

BUT IS A PRODUCT OF YOUR WORSENING DEMENTIA?

UM, ROGER,

I AM AS CLEARHEADED TODAY AS I WAS THREE WEEKS AGO...

WHEN YOU ASKED ME TO CONTRIBUTE AN EXTRA $50,000 TO YOUR REELECTION CAMPAIGN.

AND IF I AM DELUSIONAL, MAY I SUGGEST WE ARE ALL SHARING THE SAME DELUSION,

INASMUCH AS WE ALL SAW THE EXACT SAME THING ON THAT VIDEOTAPE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT TAPE, MR. CROSS.

YOU'VE REPEATEDLY TESTIFIED THAT YOU CONSIDER NEIL AVEDON A FRIEND, CORRECT?

YEP. THEN HOW DO WE KNOW YOU HAVEN'T USED...

YOUR CONSIDERABLE RESOURCES AND CONNECTIONS IN THE FILM WORLD TO MANUFACTURE THIS TAPE...

IN ORDER TO EXONERATE YOUR DEAR FRIEND?

WELL, YOU HEARD WHAT THE EXPERT SAID. HE SAID THE TAPE IS GENUINE.

HE SAID IT HADN'T BEEN TAMPERED WITH.

WHAT HE WASN'T ABLE TO DETERMINE WAS IF THE TAPE IS A RICHARD CROSS PRODUCTION.

OBJECTION. COUNSEL IS SUPPLYING TESTIMONY.

SUSTAINED. [Roger] YOU ARE A CLIENT OF TED HOFFMAN'S, AREN'T YOU?

WAS A CLIENT.

YOU ALSO BANKROLLED NEIL AVEDON'S DEFENSE, DIDN'T YOU?

YES, YES.

AS SOMEONE WHO IS SUFFERING FROM A TERMINAL DISEASE, YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH TO LOSE...

BY SITTING THERE AND SAYING JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WOULD EXONERATE YOUR FRIEND, DO YOU?

[Chuckles]

ROGER, ARE YOU SO AFRAID OF LOOKING BAD IN THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE...

THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT AN INNOCENT MAN IN PRISON?

COME ON.

ASK THAT THE WITNESS'S LAST REMARK BE STRICKEN AS NONRESPONSIVE,

AND THAT HE BE INSTRUCTED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. MR. CROSS.

[Sighs] I'M SORRY, YOUR HONOR.

MR. GARFIELD, IF YOU'RE ASKING IF I'M DYING FOR NEIL'S SINS,

THE ANSWER IS NO.

I CAN ASSURE YOU I'M DYING FOR MY OWN.

[Roger] TED HOFFMAN DIDN'T SPOON-FEED YOU THIS SCENARIO...

AS A LAST-DITCH EFFORT TO HELP HIS CLIENT?

- [Sighs] NO. - TED HOFFMAN DIDN'T BEG YOU TO GET OFF YOUR DEATHBED...

AND FLY ONE LAST KAMIKAZE MISSION TO HELP MR. AVEDON?

OBJECTION. ASKED AND ANSWERED, YOUR HONOR.

SUSTAINED. MR. GARFIELD.

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

MR. CROSS, YOU MAY STEP DOWN. YES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IF YOU HAVE NOTHING FURTHER, MR. HOFFMAN, I'M GOING TO REVIEW THIS NEW EVIDENCE.

WE'LL RECONVENE TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00,

AT WHICH POINT, I'LL MAKE MY RULING.

I'M SORRY, NEIL.

DO I AT LEAST HAVE YOUR FORGIVENESS, TEDDY?

OF COURSE YOU DO, RICHARD.

MY HEART IS LIGHTER FOR THE KNOWLEDGE.

I'LL SEE YOU AROUND, TEDDY.

[Bailiff] ALL RISE. THE HONORABLE BETH BORNSTEIN PRESIDING.

[Judge Bornstein] YOU MAY BE SEATED.

BEFORE I RULE ON THE MOTION, I WANT TO WARN EVERYONE.

THIS IS A COURT OF LAW. I WILL TOLERATE NO OUTBURSTS.

BASED ON THE NEW EVIDENCE PRESENTED, IT IS THIS COURT'S ORDER...

THAT MR. AVEDON'S CONVICTION OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE BE VACATED.

PURSUANT TO SECTION 1385 OF THE PENAL CODE,

THIS CASE IS DISMISSED.

THIS COURT, ON ITS OWN MOTION, IS ISSUING A FACTUAL DECLARATION OF INNOCENCE.

MR. AVEDON, WHILE I CAN'T MAKE UP FOR THE HARDSHIP YOU'VE ENDURED,

I HOPE YOU'LL ACCEPT MY APOLOGY...

FOR ANY REMARKS I'VE MADE WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR ORDEAL.

BAILIFF WILL RELEASE MR. AVEDON FROM CUSTODY.

SIR, YOU ARE FREE TO GO.

CHRIS.

FROM THE BEGINNING, MY ONLY OBJECTIVE IN THIS CASE HAS BEEN JUSTICE.

AFTER CONDUCTING A FAR-REACHING EXAMINATION OF MR. CROSS, I'M CONVINCED JUSTICE HAS BEEN DONE.

WILL YOU BE PROCEEDING WITH PROSECUTION AGAINST MR. PORTALEGRE?

OFFICERS OF THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE MOVING TO ARREST HIM AS WE SPEAK.

HOW WILL THIS LOSS AFFECT YOUR PLANS FOR THE GOVERNORSHIP?

I THINK THAT "LOSS" IS THE WRONG WORD.

IF JUSTICE IS SERVED, THAT'S ALL ANYONE CAN ASK,

WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF MR. PORTALEGRE.

[Man] MR. HOFFMAN. DO YOU HAVE A STATEMENT FOR US?

TEDDY, CONGRATULATIONS. A JOB WELL DONE.

[Reporters Clamoring]

SIGN HERE, PLEASE.

THIS FEELS AWFULLY GOOD, TEDDY.

IT'LL FEEL EVEN BETTER TO WALK OUT OF HERE.

IF IT'S NOT TOO MUCH TROUBLE, MR. AVEDON,

COULD YOU SIGN AN AUTOGRAPH FOR MY BOY?

[Neil] SURE. WHAT'S HIS NAME? BILLY.

HE WANTS TO TALK TO YOU.

I'LL BE BACK IN A MINUTE, NEIL.

I MUST APPLAUD YOUR SKILLS, MR. HOFFMAN.

TO GET A MURDER CONVICTION OVERTURNED IS TRULY REMARKABLE.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAS RESULTED IN MY ARREST.

YOU'LL FORGIVE ME, MR. PORTALEGRE, IF I REMAIN DRY-EYED.

OH, I UNDERSTAND. YOU THINK I AM A TERRIBLE MAN.

I THINK YOU KILLED MY INVESTIGATOR AND ABDUCTED MY DAUGHTER.

OH, YES. THE RAVINGS OF RICHARD CROSS.

I ALLOW THE MAN THE PRIVILEGE OF MOVING IN MY COMPANY,

AND HE BETRAYS ME WITH THESE OUTRAGEOUS LIES.

CONVINCE SOMEONE ELSE OF THAT.

LET ME CONVINCE YOU.

NOW THAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO MR. AVEDON ARE CONCLUDED,

I AM PREPARED TO OFFER YOU $20 MILLION TO REPRESENT ME.

AND WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I WOULD TAKE IT?

BESIDES THE MONEY,

YOU ARE A MAN WHO IS DRAWN TO THE BATTLE, MR. HOFFMAN.

AND ONCE THE JOY OF YOUR VICTORY HAS PASSED,

YOU WILL REQUIRE A NEW CHALLENGE,

ONE THAT WILL TEST YOU TO THE UTMOST.

I AM THAT CHALLENGE.

YOU BRUTALLY STRANGLED A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL,

AND YOU WERE PERFECTLY PREPARED TO SEE AN INNOCENT MAN GO TO PRISON FOR IT.

THERE'S NO AMOUNT OF MONEY ON EARTH THAT WOULD CONVINCE ME TO REPRESENT YOU.

GOOD DAY, MR. PORTALEGRE.

YOU SHOULD KNOW, MR. HOFFMAN, THAT KILLING THAT GIRL WAS NOT DIFFICULT FOR ME.

ON THE CONTRARY,

I TOOK PLEASURE IN IT.

SOME FREE ADVICE.

DON'T MAKE THAT THE CORNERSTONE OF YOUR DEFENSE.

YOU WANT SOMETHING TO DRINK? OKAY.

ARNOLD? YOU BET.

NEIL? AH, NO. I'LL STICK TO MY DIET COKE.

I COULDN'T GET ANY HIGHER IF I WANTED TO.

I'M SURE. CONGRATULATIONS. WELL, THANKS.

TO A HARD-FOUGHT VICTORY. ONE THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU, JUSTINE.

WELL, I JUST APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME A SECOND CHANCE, TED.

AS SOMEONE HOPING TO GET A SECOND CHANCE HIMSELF, I WAS HAPPY TO GIVE YOU ONE.

WHERE IS HE? WHERE IS THE PRODIGAL SON RETURNED FROM THE FIRES OF HELL?

THERE HE IS. COME ON, GIRLS. GIVE ME A HAND HERE. I'M LOSING MY GRIP.

HI, GARY. HELLO, MY FRIEND.

LOOKS LIKE YOU CLEANED OUT AN ORCHARD.

SMALL MEASURE OF MY HAPPINESS AT NEIL'S GOOD FORTUNE.

I SEE BIG THINGS HAPPENING, NEIL. HUGE THINGS.

I KNOW THE BOTTOM-FEEDERS IN THIS TOWN WILL BE ALL OVER YOU WITH MOVIE OFFERS.

ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU DO NOTHING UNTIL WE, MEANING YOU AND ME,

HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT AND TALK.

YOU KNOW, GARY, RIGHT NOW OFFERS OF ANY KIND ARE THE LAST THING ON MY MIND.

PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND AT PRESENT. THIS IS A MOMENT OF PURE HAPPINESS...

NOT TO BE SULLIED IN ANY WAY.

CONGRATULATIONS, TED.

YOU DID A TERRIFIC JOB, RAY.

I KNOW IT WASN'T EASY STEPPING INTO DAVE BLALOCK'S SHOES.

TO DAVIE.

TO DAVIE.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE. WE'RE GONNA COME IN HERE TOMORROW,

AND THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WON'T BE THE AVEDON CASE.

DON'T COME IN TOMORROW.

TAKE A WEEK IN HAWAII, ACAPULCO, WHEREVER.

YOU THINK I SHOULD? IT'S ON THE FIRM.

AND YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A FRIEND.

THANKS.

YOU KNOW, IF THIS THING HAD GONE THE OTHER WAY,

I WAS PREPARED TO COME BANGING ON YOUR DOOR WITH AN IMPASSIONED ARGUMENT...

FOR TAKING PAT FERGUSON UP ON HIS OFFER.

BRIBE OR NO BRIBE, I WANTED TO WIN THIS CASE.

[Sighs]

IT'S A GOOD THING THAT YOU'RE THE MORAL CENTER OF THIS FIRM AND NOT ME.

ARE WE CATCHING A FLIGHT TO LAS VEGAS?

NOT TONIGHT, LOUIS.

HEADING HOME? RIGHT AFTER I STOP OFF...

AT AN ALL-NIGHT DRUGSTORE TO PICK UP A 30-GALLON DRUM OF ASPIRIN.

OH, AND, CHRIS. LISA SAID SHE'S READY TO GO HOME WHEN YOU ARE.

RIGHT.

GUESS I'D BETTER BE GOING. THANKS, TED.

NIGHT, CHRIS. AND THANK YOU.

AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT CHRIS AND LISA?

I THINK THERE'S A TEMP IN BOOKKEEPING.

[Chuckles]

GO HOME, LOUIS. AND TAKE A CAB.

[Neil] TED? NEIL.

I THOUGHT YOU'D LEFT. [Sighs]

I DIDN'T WANNA GO WITHOUT SAYING THANK YOU.

YOU SAVED MY LIFE, TED.

ALL THOSE TIMES I WANTED TO GIVE UP, AND YOU TOLD ME TO HANG ON.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'D BE WITHOUT YOU.

I HAD A CLIENT I BELIEVED IN.

WELL, I SHOULD HAVE BELIEVED IN YOU MORE THAN I DID.

THAT OTHER DAY WHEN I WENT OFF ON YOU... DON'T APOLOGIZE, NEIL.

JUST REMEMBER, IT'S EASIER TO RUIN A LIFE TWICE THAN TO SAVE IT ONCE.

TEDDY, I PROMISE YOU. I WON'T NEED SAVING AGAIN.

[Pats Back]

CONGRATULATIONS, NEIL.

THANKS, MRS. HOFFMAN.

IT LOOKS LIKE A HELL OF A PARTY. SORRY I MISSED IT.

I'M GLAD YOU CAME ANYWAY.

YOU DID IT.

I PREFER TO THINK OF IT AS A GROUP EFFORT. IT WAS YOU, TED.

YOUR PASSION, YOUR SINGLE-MINDEDNESS.

THAT'S THE ONLY REASON NEIL WON'T BE SPENDING THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN PRISON.

AND ALL IT COST ME WAS YOU.

ANNIE, I WON'T TELL YOU THAT I'M PREPARED...

TO WALK AWAY FROM WHAT I DO.

I'M NOT SURE I CAN. BUT AT THIS MOMENT,

I'VE NEVER FELT MORE IN NEED OF YOU.

IF THERE'S A CHANCE YOU'D CONSIDER A RECONCILIATION.

I'M NOT SURE THIS IS THE BEST TIME FOR US TO BE DECIDING THAT.

WELL, I SHOULD GO.

AFTER ALL YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH, YOU'RE PROBABLY EXHAUSTED.

CONGRATULATIONS, TED.

I'M PROUD OF YOU.