All language subtitles for HDPOPCORNS.The-Verdict-1982-720p

Mrs Dee, this is Frank Galvin.

He's a good friend of ours,
and a very fine attorney.

Well, it's just a
shame what happened

to your husband, Mrs
Dee. He was a...

I knew him vaguely at the
Lodge. He was a wonderful man.

It was a crime what happened
to him. It was just a crime.

If I can help... in any way...

don't hesitate to call.

Well...

If this can help in any way...

What is that?

Oh. It's my card.

What the hell is that?

I was a friend of your father's.

You never knew my father.

Get out of here.

Who the hell do you think you are?

Excuse me, Mrs Cleary.

Who the hell do you think you are?

Hey, you know me.

I don't want you
coming back here ever.

- You understand?
- I was just talking to the guy.

Those are bereaved
people in there.

So Pat says... He says
"They got this new bar...

and you go inside, and for half a

buck you get a beer,
a free lunch...

they take you in the back
room and get you laid."

- Another one, Frankie?
- Yeah. Everyone.

Mike says "Now wait a minute,
wait a minute, wait a minute."

"There's a new bar, and you go
inside, and for half a buck...

they give you a beer, a free
lunch and they get you laid?"

Pat says "That's right." "Have
you ever been in the bar?"

He said "No, but me sister has."

Hey.

Oh, yeah. Everyone.

Frankie?

Frankie. Frankie, you all right?

Oh, Frankie.

Come on, get up.

Get up, Frank. Oh, Christ.

What the hell's going on here?

What have you been doing?

I got a call from Sally Doneghy.

Who's that?

You're in court in
ten days, and you

haven't even met with them yet.

Sally Doneghy? Who is that?

One lousy letter in 18 months.

I try to throw a case
your way, and look at ya.

Frankie...

I got these people to trust you.

They're gonna be here at noon, by
the way, and look at this shit.

I got this expert
doctor to talk to ya.

Remember his name? Dr Gruber?

It's been 18 months, and I've been
doing all the fucking legwork.

You're due in court in
less than two weeks...

and I bet you haven't even
looked at the goddamn file.

What are you, my nanny?

Now listen to me, Frankie.

Frankie, listen to me, cos
I'm done fucking with ya.

I can't take this any more.

I mean, you're not gonna change.

Look around ya. I mean,
what's gonna change?

You think it's gonna be any
different next week, next month?

It's gonna be the
same goddamn thing.

Now I got you a good case.

It's a moneymaker.

You do it right, it'll
take care of ya.

But I'm through, you understand?

I mean, I can't take
this shit any more.

Life's too fucking short, Frankie.

I'm getting too fucking old.

Fuck.

Excuse me, sir.

Mrs Doneghy. Hi. Frank Galvin.

- Why didn't you go in?
- It's locked.

Locked?

I'm sorry.

God, I hope... I hope
this didn't put you out.

Let me see here...

Come on in. I'd get you
a cup of coffee, but...

looks as though my girl went out.

It's not a good case,
it's a very good case.

A young, healthy woman
goes into a hospital

to deliver her third child, and...

Well, it's just
beyond comprehension.

She's given the wrong anaesthetic.

- We love her, Kevin and me.
- I'm sure you do.

But what can we do? She don't
know who's visiting her.

I know. I went.

- You saw her?
- Oh, yes.

My sister? You know how
beautiful she was?

Her, husband left her,
and he took her kids.

They...

they let you die in there.

They don't care. Nobody cares.

The Patriot Home, the Chronic Care
in Arlington? They'd take her in.

Perpetual care. $50,000
they want in endowment.

50,000?

I don't wanna leave
her. Kevin, he...

And Father Laughlin, he
said it was God's will.

Well, I understand.

My doctor told me I gotta move out

West. That's when
we filed in court.

- We didn't wanna sue.
- Oh, I understand that too.

But Kevin's looking for
two years in Tucson.

They called him up and
they said to come out.

He's a good man. He's only
trying to do what's right.

Come on in.

This is my husband.

Come on in. Sit down.

I told your wife, I'm
sorry we have to meet

out here, but I got a
case in superior court.

- The place is full of papers.
- That's all right.

I was also telling her
you got a good case.

He saw her at Northern Care.

I may get some very important

corroborating testimony
from a Dr Gruber.

It'll be a problem getting
one doctor to testify

that another doctor's
negligent, but...

The archdiocese called
and said who was our

attorney, cos the case
is coming to trial.

Well... I doubt very much that the
case will ever come to trial.

We told them we didn't want
it to come out this way.

I completely understand.

- See, we just...
- We just can't do it any more.

This is our chance to get away.

I'm gonna see that
you get that chance.

How much is this gonna cost?

It's not gonna cost you anything.
It's done on a contingency basis.

Whatever the settlement
is, I retain a third.

But that's normal procedure.
You can check around.

Ok?

Ok.

His name is Frank
Galvin. Boston College,

class of '52, was
second in his class.

Editor of the Law Review. Worked
with Mickey Morrissey 12 years.

Criminal law and personal injury.
Married Patricia Harrington, 1960.

Joined Stearns, Harrington,
Pierce, 1960, as a full partner.

Resigned the firm, 1969,
over the Lillibridge case.

He was accused of jury-tampering.

Accused, not indicted.
He resigned the firm.

Divorced, 1970. Galvin
worked with Michael

Morrissey until Morrissey
retired in '78.

Since then he's been on
his own. Four cases in

three years. He's lost
them all. He drinks.

Four cases in three years.

The man's an ambulance chaser.

- Tell me about this case.
- This is a nuisance suit.

He's asking for
$600,000 and betting

we don't want to go to court.

No, we don't want
this case in court.

Neither does he.
That's where he loses.

He's scared to death
to go to court.

We only have to call his bluff.

I want to settle and be
done with it. I don't

want the archdiocese
exposed, Mr Alito.

No. Absolutely. And we're
going to see that it's not.

So, what I want to
do is stop it here.

I'm going to make him an offer
myself. I want it to come from me.

All right. But let's
keep the price down.

I called Ed Concannon.
He recommends we

continue to respond as
if we're going to trial.

If we were to go to trial,
would we win the case?

Well, of course it's
always dangerous.

I know that answer. Would we win?

Yes.

Dr Gruber?

Yes. Galvin, right?

Well... well, I sure appreciate
a man as busy as you are...

It's perfectly all
right. Look, I'm kinda

rushed. Do you mind if
we walk while we talk?

I read the hospital
report on your client.

Deborah Ann Kaye? They
called. They want to

settle. It's just a
matter of jacking 'em up.

Who called?

The archdiocese.
They wanna settle.

- And you're gonna do that?
- Yeah.

You're gonna settle out of court?

Well, yeah.

Why?

In the interests of her
family. And you, Doctor.

You can never tell what
a jury's gonna do.

St Catherine's is a
renowned institution.

- Her doctors are...
- Her doctors killed her.

- I'm sorry?
- Her doctors killed her.

They gave her the
wrong anaesthetic,

and she drowned in her own vomit.

The doctors murdered her.

Do you know who her doctors were?

Yeah, I read the file. Marx and
Towler. I know who they were.

Two of the most respected...

I thought you wanted
to do something.

I've no interest in
the woman's estate.

No offence, we all know
where the money is going.

I have an interest in
hospitals. I don't want

those bozos in the
same profession as me.

They gave her the wrong
anaesthetic, they

killed her and her kid,
and you caught 'em.

You want a cigar?

No, thank you. The hospital's
owned by the archdiocese...

What are they gonna do? Not invite
me to their birthday party?

Look, I'm sorry I'm rushing,
but I have to be in Cambridge.

When can we get together
again and get a deposition?

Ok. We'll meet here Tuesday night.

I gotta go. Are you going my way?

Ok. But we're gonna have to
keep you under wraps, you know.

- You can't discuss the case.
- I understand.

You're gonna meet
me here on Tuesday.

We'll go over your testimony.

Right. Seven o'clock
in the locker rooms.

- I got it.
- Thank you.

- Thank you.
- My pleasure.

Why are you doing this?

To do the right thing. Isn't
that why you're doing it?

Whoo-ha.

Sorry. Nobody ever
stood here since 1952.

Give me a Bushmill. Who
are the civilians?

Lousy weather, good for business,
Frankie. There you go.

- Would you like a drink?
- I'd like an apartment.

Would you settle for a drink?

No. Thank you.

I had a good day today.

Let me at 'em.

Gentlemen...

- To ya.
- To ya. To ya.

I cut myself so badly shaving this

morning, my eyes
almost cleared up.

Bad?

I'm glad you had a good day.

- Good night.
- Thank you.

Well, well, well, well, well. Hey.

It's a long road
that has no turning.

That's for sure, Frankie.

Yeah. I'm going to the
archdiocese tomorrow.

At two.

Yes, I know you don't.
I know you don't.

You're just following
your own life.

You have a life to live too.
You have to go out West.

You're not gonna do
yourself good here.

Well...

I'm sure she knows
that you care for her.

- Well...
- She's so unprotected.

Finally, we're none
of us protected.

I mean, we just...
have to go on...

seek help where we
can and go on...

She's stuck there. Maybe she
knows when we're there.

Will she think we've
abandoned her?

Yes, I know that you love her.

I know that you're
acting out of love.

Huh. As soon as I know.

My husband sends his respects.

Well, you give him
my respects, too.

Thank you. Sorry to call so late.

Not at all. No, not at all.

Well...

Good night.

- God bless you, Mr Galvin.
- Well, bless you, too.

Good night.

"Jimmy" I said. "You
don't go in your

pocket if there's nothing there."

And what did he say?

Sir, you're not allowed
to be in here.

You can't be in here.

I'm her attorney.

It's a question of
continuing values.

St Catherine's, to do the good
she must do in the community...

must maintain the position
she holds in the community.

So... we have a
question of balance.

On the one hand, our hospital, its

reputation, and so
its effectiveness...

and that of two of its
important doctors.

And on the other hand, the
rights of your client.

A young woman in her
prime, deprived

of her life, her
sight, her family.

It's tragic. It's a
tragic accident.

Nothing, of course, can
begin to make that right.

But we must do what we can.
We must do all that we can.

Yes, we must try to make it right.

It's a generous offer, Mr Galvin.

Nothing can begin to
make that woman well,

but we could at least
try to compensate...

make a gesture.

How did you settle on the amount?

We thought it was just.

You thought it was just?

Yes.

Because it struck me...

how neatly three went into
this figure, 210,000.

That means I would keep 70.

That was our insurance
company's recommendation.

Yes, that would be.

Nothing we can do can
make that woman well.

And no one will know the truth.

What is the truth?

That that poor girl put
her trust into the...

the hands of two men
who took her life.

She's in a coma.

Her life is gone.

She has no home, no family.

She's tied to a machine.

She has no friends.

And the people who
should care for her...

her doctors...

and you and me...

have been bought off
to look the other way.

We've been paid to
look the other way.

I came here to take your money.

I brought snapshots to show you
so I could get your money.

I can't do it. I can't take it.

Because if I take the
money, I'm lost.

I'll just be a...

rich...

ambulance chaser.

I can't do it. I can't take it.

If we may discuss
money, Mr Galvin...

how's your law practise?

Not too good.

I only got the one client.

Mick?

I gotta talk to you.

Mickey, come on. Hey,
let's go get a drink.

Hymie, sit in for me, will ya?

- Are you out of your mind?
- I need your help.

You need my help? You
need a goddamn keeper.

Are you telling me you
turned down 210 grand? Huh?

What are you, nuts? What are you
gonna do, bring her back to life?

- I'm gonna help her.
- To do what?

To do what, for Christ's sakes?
Help her do what? She's dead.

They killed her. They're
trying to buy it.

That's the fucking point, dummy.

Let them buy it. No, we
let them buy the case.

That's why I took
it. Now, look, you

just drop this, you understand?

We'll go up to... up
to New Hampshire.

- We'll kill some fucking deer.
- Mick. Mick.

You said... No, listen to me.

You said "If not now, when?"

I know what I said. But
not now, all right?

I'll tell you something
else. I can win this case.

But you won, Frank. You won.

When they give you the
money, that means you won.

Now, look, we... we don't
wanna go to court.

Is this this getting
through to you?

Do you know who the attorney for
the archdiocese is? Ed Concannon.

- He's a good man.
- "He's a good man?"

He's the prince of
fucking darkness.

He'll have people testifying
they saw her water-skiing.

Frank, don't fuck
with this case, huh?

I gotta stand up for that girl.

Frank, I know you're trying to
wipe out some old business.

I understand that.
I do. But not now.

Call the bishop, will you?

I'm gonna try this case.
Will you help me?

I'm gonna need your help,
Mick. Will you help me?

Anybody ever hear "For want
of a shoe, a horse was lost?"

Who's going on vacation tomorrow?

Friedman? St Barts, is that right?

Yes, sir.

Send Mrs Friedman a dozen roses
tomorrow morning, please, Sal.

No, wait a minute...
Send her a sun lamp.

Friedman, I'm sorry, but
you'll have to stay.

There'll be no vacations
until this thing is cleared.

You're all acquainted
with this case.

It's been on the
calendar for 18 months.

Now I think we have a...
definite court date.

February... 19th.

The plaintiff's attorney
is Francis P Galvin.

I trust you're all
familiar with his record.

We've been expecting
him to call us

to negotiate, and as he did not...

five days before we're
supposed to go to court...

we made him a rather generous
offer, which he refused.

Five days before trial. What does
that mean? I want to find out.

Acquaint yourselves again
with the depositions.

Don't rely on the fact that we
did it last year. Do it again.

We shall be reviewing it
here. You do it at home.

You each have a full
file, so know the deps.

I want you all to be
here when we work

with the defendants.
When is that, Billy?

- Wednesday evening.
- Huh.

I want an article as soon
as possible in The Globe:

"St Cat's, neighbourhood giant,
serving the community," et cetera.

They've got it in the files.

And I want something
in the Herald Monday

morning: "Our gallant
doctors." Huh?

Be inventive?

And television. We've
gotta have television.

Friedman, since you're
still with us...

why don't you have a word
with your friend at GBH, huh?

Now, to belabour the
obvious for a moment...

our clients are the
Archdiocese of Boston,

the St Catherine
Labouré Hospital...

and Doctors Marx and
Towler, two of the

most respected men
in their profession.

The thrust of this defence
will be to answer...

in the court, the press,
and the public mind...

to answer the accusation of
negligence this completely...

that not only do we
win the case, but

win the case so that it is seen...

that this attack on
these men and this

institution... was
a rank obscenity.

Ok, let's get the
cobwebs off. Billy?

Please turn to your page four.

We're gonna review the
depositions of the

nurse anaesthetist,
the scrub nurse...

and all those in attendance in the
OR at the time of the operation.

- So, what have we got?
- Well, we've got her sister.

Says Deborah Ann ate
a full meal an hour

before she was admitted
to the hospital.

And we got the admittance form
says she ate nine hours before.

The sister's testimony's
no good. The

jury knows if we win,
she gets the cash.

We got my Dr Gruber. He says she
was given the wrong anaesthetic.

And, anyway, she came in
complaining of nausea.

Well, Gruber's not bad.

He's Dr Kildare. The
jury'll eat him up.

Yeah. But their guy is Towler.

He wrote the book: Methodology
and Practise in Anaesthesiology.

Everybody in that
operating room signed a

deposition, from the
scrub nurse on up:

"All those guys are God. I
saw them walk on water."

They had an obstetric nurse. Did
we get a deposition from her?

No.

Maureen Rooney, aged 49, lives in

Arlington. Still works
at the hospital.

Think you could talk to her,
ask why she ain't speaking up?

Yeah.

- Ok. Cases.
- All right.

- Smith versus State of Michigan.
- All right.

Brindisi versus Electric Boat.

Hey, you've got a
good memory, Frankie.

I had a good teacher.

- McClean versus, Urban Transport.
- Right.

Jimmy. Couple of Bushmills.

Ah.

Do me a favour. I'll buy
you a drink tomorrow.

What are you doing tonight?

I found this new bar, see, and
for half a buck you can...

I'm gonna get laid.

All right. I'll be at the office.

Just don't leave your
best work in the sheets.

These are on me, Frankie.

Did you find an apartment?

Still looking.

I changed my life
today. What did you do?

Changed my room at the hotel.

Why'd you do that?

TV didn't work.

What hotel are you staying at?

And what are you? A cop?

No. I'm a lawyer.

- My ex-husband was a lawyer.
- Nice. Wonderful for you.

Yes, it was, actually.

"It was, actually?" Well,
how come you called it off?

Who says I'm the one
that called it off?

Aw.

Well, a brick house
says you divorced

him. I'll put you on your honour.

100 bucks against you
have dinner with

me tonight. I'll take
your word for it.

Come on. Tell me the truth.

You can't lie to me.

What's your name?

Laura.

Mine's Frank.

Furthermore, you came
back to see me tonight.

What if it wasn't you I came
back here to see tonight?

Well, you got lucky.

Have you eaten yet? Come on.

My God, you are some
beautiful woman.

The weak.

The weak have gotta have
somebody to fight for 'em.

Ain't that the truth?

- Want another drink?
- Yeah.

- Jimmy.
- Yeah?

That's why the court
exists. The court

doesn't exist to
give them justice.

The court exists to give
them a chance at justice.

Are they gonna get it?

They might.

They might.

See, the jury wants to believe. I
mean, the jury wants to believe.

It is something to see.

I gotta go down there tomorrow
and pick out 12 of 'em.

All of 'em, all their
lives, think it's a

sham, it's rigged, you
can't fight city hall.

But when they step
into that jury box...

I think you just barely
see it in their eyes.

"Maybe."

"Maybe."

Maybe what?

"Maybe I can do something right."

And... is that what
you're going to do?

Is... is that what
you're going to do?

That's what I'm gonna try to do.

- Would you like a drink?
- Yeah.

- Water? Soda?
- No.

That's all right.

Ya-ha.

Beat you, you.

- Is that right?
- Yeah.

Oh, my God.

I met him at the club
the other night.

Poor guy.

- You're late, Mr Galvin.
- I know. I'm sorry.

- Why is that?
- I, Well, I just got held up.

- Ed Concannon.
- Oh, hi.

Frank Galvin. We've met before.

Well... here. Let's
do some business.

They tell me no bargain ever was
completed other than quickly...

when both parties really
care to make a deal.

Have you boys tried to
resolve your difficulties?

Because that certainly
would save the

Commonwealth a lot
of time and bother.

Well, it's a very complicated
case, Your Honour.

Oh, yeah, I'm sure it is, Frank.
But, let me tell you something.

If we find it so
complex, how the hell do

you think you'll make
jury understand it?

You see my point?

Now, let's talk a minute.

Frank, what would you and your

client take now,
this very minute...

to walk out of here and
let this damn thing drop?

My client can't walk, Your Honour.

I know full well she can't, Frank.

You see the padre on
your way out. He'll

punch your ticket. You follow me?

- I'm just trying to help you.
- Your Honour...

Bishop Brophy and the archdiocese

have offered the
plaintiff $210,000.

What?

My doctors didn't
want a settlement.

They wanted this
cleared up in court.

They want their vindication.
I agree with them.

But for today the offer stands...

before the... publicity
of a trial begins.

For today only. But
when I walk out

that door, the offer is withdrawn.

Just so long as you
understand that, Mr Galvin.

Got to be that way.

We're going to try the case.

That's it?

Oh, come on, guys.

Life is too short.

Now, you tell me if you're playing
chicken or you really mean it.

Frank, I don't think I'm
talking out of school,

but I just heard someone
offer you 200 grand.

Now that's a lot of money.

And if I may say... you haven't
got the best of records.

Things change.

That's true.

Sometimes they change, and
sometimes they don't.

I remember when you
were disbarred...

I wasn't. They
dropped the charges.

It seems to me, a
fella's trying to

come back, he'd take
this settlement.

Get a record for himself.

I myself would take it
and run like a thief.

I'm sure you would.

Yeah.

Well, we have the date set.

Next Thursday.

Good.

Well... see you boys in court.

All rise.

Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.

- Mr Abraham?
- Abrams.

- Mr Abrams, how are you?
- I'm fine.

Have you ever been a patient in
St Catherine Labouré Hospital?

Me? I'm Jewish.

Have you ever been a
patient in a hospital?

Yes.

Well, how did they treat you?

I don't know what you mean.

Been a long time, huh?

I'll get it back.
Don't worry about me.

- Did you get the obstetric nurse?
- Maureen Rooney?

I went over to the hospital.
She didn't wanna talk to me.

When I get home tonight, I'll
go back. Here. Read this.

So what?

"So what?" The best
is yet to come.

Check the TV guide. They got our
Dr Towler on GBH this Friday.

The Healing Hand.
The expert speaks.

Still gotta take it to a jury.

All I'm saying is, they're
getting some help.

What do you want me to do?

Concannon's gonna try the case his
way, I'm gonna try it my way.

You want me to go "wee
wee wee" all the way

home just cos of
stories in newspapers?

I'm gonna win this case.

John, give me a cigar, huh?

- What day is it?
- Tuesday.

I gotta go and meet Gruber.

What's a box of your best cigars?

Macanudos.

Then I gotta meet
somebody at O'Rourke's.

Could you meet her for
me? Laura Fischer.

- 33 bucks.
- Put it on the tab.

- The one from the other night?
- Yeah.

See you at the office
tomorrow. We're doing fine.

Hey, Galvin.

You said that you were
gonna call me up.

- You didn't call me up.
- Oh.

Well, who... who do
you think you are?

Who do you think you are, huh?

They tell me I can have you

disbarred. Do you
know what you did?

I said, do you know what you did?

Take it easy.

It's ok. It's ok.

You ruined my life,
mister. Me and my wife.

And now I'm gonna ruin yours.

You don't have to go out
there to see that girl.

We've been going for
four years now.

See, four years... my wife has
been crying herself to sleep.

What they did to her sister.

Look, I swear to ya, I
wouldn't turn down the

offer if I thought I
couldn't win the case.

What do you mean,
what you thought?

I am a working man, trying
to get my wife outta town.

Now, we hired you,
and I am paying you.

And I gotta find
out from the other

side that they offered $200,000?

I'm gonna win this.

I'm going to the jury
with a solid case, I

got a famous doctor for
an expert witness.

You're gonna get, what,
five, six times what you...

You guys...

You guys, you're all the same.

The doctors at the
hospital, you, it's

always "What I'm gonna do for ya."

And then you screw up and it's...

"We did the best that we
could. I'm dreadfully sorry."

And people like us live with your
mistakes the rest of our lives.

- They took back the offer.
- They?

- Dr Gruber.
- Dr Gruber isn't here today, sir.

- No, David... David Gruber.
- Well, he's not on the chart.

He hasn't been here all day.

- Phone book?
- Yup. Right here.

- What is it?
- Dr Gruber.

Dr Gruber's not in.

I had an... an appointment
at his office.

I must have got it wrong.
I mean, we had a meeting.

- He's not in, sir.
- Could you call him?

You can't reach him, sir. He's in

the... on some island
in the Caribbean.

They don't have a phone.

He'll be back in a week.

If you'd like Dr Halfrin's
number, he's taking his calls.

Thank you for seeing me.

What is it?

I...

I need an extension on my case.

You should have taken their offer.
Especially if you were unprepared.

- I had a witness disappear on me.
- That happens.

I could subpoena him
if I had a week.

I don't have a week.

This case should never
have come to trial.

But you know better.
You're Mr Independent.

You wanna be independent?
Be independent now.

I have no sympathy for you.

Stearns, Harrington.

- You know who they are?
- Should I?

Huge law firm.

Ok, they put him in the firm,
he... marries the daughter...

buys himself a dog, and
everything is rosy.

Then Stearns... tries
to fix a case.

Stearns did?

Yeah, that Frankie was working on.

Figured he'd need a little
help, so he... bribed a juror.

When Frankie heard about that,
he came to me in tears.

He figured anyone who knew what a
spinnaker was had to be a saint.

I said "For Christ's
sakes, Frankie, wake

up. These... these
people are sharks."

"How the hell do you
think they wound up

with all that goddamn
money? Doing good?"

But... he didn't
wanna listen to me.

He goes back to the boys at
Stearns and Harrington, and...

he tells them that he's
very disappointed.

He's gonna go to the
judge and rat them out.

Course, they're way ahead of
him. Before he can get there...

he runs into this federal marshal

and is indicted for
jury-tampering.

They throw him in jail, and...
he's gonna be disbarred.

His life is over.

- Cape Cod Casualty.
- Oh. Mr Alito, please.

Business hours are over, sir.

I have to reach him.
This is an emergency.

- Please give me his home number.
- Sorry, we're not allowed.

What? Well, could
you, could you call

him, yes, and have
him call me, then?

I can't guarantee that
he'll call you back.

Yes. Oh, no, I understand,
I understand.

Thank you. Thank you. The
name is Frank Galvin.

- Could you spell that, please?
- Yes. G-a-l-v-i-n.

And I will be at the following
number in about half an hour.

Jimmy, give me a beer, will ya?

- Want one?
- Yeah.

Two, huh?

Ok, so now he's in jail and he...
finally gets to see the light.

He calls up Harrington
and tells him

that he thinks he
made a big mistake.

Like that, I mean,
like... like magic.

All charges are dropped, and
he's released from jail.

But... he's fired from the firm...

his wife divorces him...

he starts hitting the booze...

and he mopes around for about
three and a half years.

You like that story, Laura?

What else do you wanna
know about Frankie?

Hello?

Oh, yeah. Thanks for calling.

Frank Galvin. I'm representing
Deborah Ann Kaye.

Well, I'd like to discuss your
firm's offer of that 210...

Well, in the sense that...

well, we'd like to accept it.

Huh.

Yeah, well, it came as
something of a shock to

me too, but it is my
client's wishes and...

She changed her mind
as of tonight and,

of course, I tried
to dissuade her.

Huh. Well...

Huh. On the eve of the
trial... Well, you understand.

I think she just came down with
a terrible case of the jitters.

Huh.

When was that arrived at?

Well, I know what
Concannon said, but... I

think you guys are
making a big mistake.

I think you oughta
reconsider, I think you

oughta get the principals
back together.

Ok.

No, no. I understand.

No, that's fine. I'm really
sorry to bother you at home.

What happened? You
didn't talk to Gruber?

Oh...

Concannon got to him.

I can't even breathe in here.

We're outta time. See if there's

somebody on this list
to replace Gruber.

Well, there's Dr Thompson.
He's the nearest.

Dr Thompson.

Yeah, Frank Galvin,
representing Deborah

Ann Kaye. We had
some correspondence.

Well, I'm sorry I
didn't get back to

you, but... the
case got postponed.

I had to reorganise my staff.
I'm sorry to call you so late.

Well... we've had a
change of strategy.

Huh. I was just wondering
if you could...

Well, it is kinda short
notice, at any rate...

Would you like me to go?

No, I...

I just...

Why don't you try
and get some rest?

I have work to do.

You can't work if you can't think.

Try and sleep.

I'll stay here with you.

Stay here?

Yeah.

I'll just see if I can get a
little... a little sleep.

- What is your name, please?
- Dr Robert Towler.

You were Deborah
Ann Kaye's doctor?

No, actually, she
was referred to me.

She was Dr Hagman's...

Don't equivocate. Be
positive. Tell the truth.

Whatever the truth is, just
tell that. You were her doctor.

- Yes.
- Say it.

I was her doctor.

You were her anaesthesiologist at
the delivery on May 12th, 1976?

Well, I was one of a
group of medical...

No, answer affirmatively,
simply, please.

And keep your answers
down to three

words. You were not
part of a group.

You were her anaesthesiologist.
Isn't that so?

Yes.

You were there to help Dr
Marx deliver the child.

Yes.

Anything special about the case?

Well, when she had been...

- "When Debby..." Thank you.
- Thank you.

- When Debby had been...
- Remember that, Dr Towler.

Who else was with you
in the operating room?

Miss Nevins, nurse
anaesthetist. Dr Marx, of

course. Maureen Rooney,
obstetric nurse...

And what did these people
do when her heart stopped?

- We went to Code Blue.
- Code Blue?

Do you mind explaining to
the jury what that means?

It's a common medical
expression. It's a

crash programme to
restore the heartbeat.

Dr Marx cut an airway
in her trachea so

she could get oxygen,
she and the baby.

- Miss Nevins...
- Why wasn't she getting oxygen?

- Many reasons, really.
- Tell me one.

She'd aspirated vomitus
into her mask.

She threw up in her mask.

Cut the bullshit, please. Just say
it. "She threw up in her mask."

She threw up in her mask.

Therefore she wasn't getting
oxygen and her heart stopped?

- That's right.
- And what did your team do then?

You brought 30 years
of medical experience

to bear. Isn't that what you did?

A patient riddled with
complications, with

questionable information
on her charts.

- We did everything we could.
- To save her, to save the child.

You reached down into death.

We tried to save
her. You can't know.

You can't know.

Good. Good.

Now tell us.

Well... this patient...

Mr Galvin?

Dr Thompson.

Good of you to meet me.

- Well, I'm glad you could come.
- My pleasure.

Well... I have some
errands to run, and

then I thought we'd
spend the evening...

- That's what I planned on doing.
- And then I want you to...

to go out to the home
and see the girl.

From what I've read, Mr Galvin,
you have a very good case.

Yes, I think so. I think so.

Well...

Well...

You will be very comfortable.

- I've put you up at my apartment.
- Oh, I made a reservation.

You don't know who
you're dealing with.

They'll bring a lot
of pressure to bear.

There's nothing they can do to me.

Please. Please, sir.

Humour me.

Here is the address. The
key is right inside.

341 Worth, please.

Treat the place as
your very own and...

But please, please,
don't call anybody.

And thank you... thank you
very much for coming.

How's our new witness?

Did you find the obstetric nurse?

She's working the night
shift at the hospital.

She's home now. I'll
take a run over there.

Give me the address. I'm
going. We're gonna need her.

Hi. Frank Galvin.

I represent Deborah
Ann Kaye in the

case against St Catherine Labouré.

I told the guy I didn't
wanna talk to anybody.

It'll just take a second.

Deborah Ann Kaye. You know
what I'm talking about.

Do you know who our
chief witness is?

No.

David Gruber. He's
the assistant chief

anaesthesiologist at
Mass Commonwealth.

He says that your
doctors, Towler and Marx,

put my client in a
hospital for life.

We can prove that. See,
what we don't know is why.

What went on in there,
in the operating room?

I mean, something happened.
You know what it was.

They gave her the
wrong anaesthetic.

Now, something happened.

There was a distraction.
What? The telephone? What?

You have your doctor.
What do you need me for?

We need someone who was
in the operating room.

We're gonna win the case.

There's no question of that.
It's simply a matter of how big.

Well, I don't have
anything to say to you.

You know what happened.

Nothing happened.

Then why don't you
testify for their side?

I can subpoena you,
you know. I can

put you up there on the stand.

And ask me what?

Who turned my client into
a goddamn vegetable?

- I didn't do it.
- Who are you protecting?

- Who says I'm protecting anyone?
- Doctors? What do you owe them?

I don't owe them a goddamn thing.

Then why don't you
testify for them?

- You're very pushy, fella.
- You think I'm pushy now.

Wait till I get you up
there on the stand.

Well, maybe you just
better do that, then.

You know, you guys
are all the same.

You don't care who you hurt.

All you care about is a dollar.
You're a bunch of whores.

You've got no loyalty... no
nothing. You're a bunch of whores.

Thank you.

His name is Dr Lionel Thompson.

City College of New York, class
of '28. Bachelor of Science.

New York College of Medicine,
16th in a class of 22.

1976, got a courtesy appointment,
staff of anaesthesiology...

Easthampton Hospital for Women.

Never married. Has no honours
or degrees of any weight.

Since 1975 he's testified
in 28 court cases.

12 malpractice.

And... he's black.

I'll tell you how
you handle the fact

that he's black. Don't touch it.

Don't mention it.
Treat him just like

anybody else, neither
better nor worse.

And, let's have a black
lawyer sit at our table.

- Ok?
- Yes, sir.

And what else do you do?

Get the record of his testimony
in the 12 malpractice cases.

Do that. We'll be at Locke-Ober's.

They gave her the
wrong anaesthetic,

under the circumstances.

Why is that?

Her sister said she ate one
hour prior to admittance.

That's what her sister
says. The admittance

form says she ate
nine hours prior.

She went in complaining of nausea.

A good doctor would have doubted
the information on the chart.

Is that what a good
doctor would do?

- How old are you, Doctor?
- I'm 74 years old.

And what makes you an
expert in anaesthesiology?

I'm on the staff of
anaesthesiology,

Easthampton Hospital for Women.

The Easthampton
Hospital for Women?

What is that, a joke? Let me
tell you something, Doctor.

Those men at Catherine
Labouré, known not

only in this city
but in the world...

were trying to save
a woman's life.

They were there. And here you
are, four years later...

I made a detailed physical
examination of the patient, sir.

Is she, is she getting
good treatment over there?

Well, actually, it's... Yes. Well,
it's by no means bad, but...

What's the point of ruining
the reputation of two men...

to try to help a girl whose life's
not gonna be changed in the least?

You know what Code Blue is?

Code Blue...

It's a common medical term.

We're gonna lose.

You think it's my fault?

Well... there must be
something you can do.

That's not the point.

It's over.

Do you think it's my fault?

That I could have...

No. But...

Oh, God. I never should have taken
it. There was no way I could win.

And it's over?

Yeah, it's over.

But I thought it wasn't over
until the jury comes in.

- Who'd you hear that from?
- From you.

You want me to tell
you it's your fault.

Ok, it probably is. But what
are you gonna do about it?

I wanted to talk to
you. I thought maybe...

You maybe could get some sympathy?

You came to the wrong place.

What makes you so tough?

- Maybe I'll tell you later.
- Is there gonna be a later?

Not if you don't grow
up. You're like a

kid, coming in here
like it's Sunday night.

You want me to say
you have a fever so

you don't have to
go back to school.

Why won't you understand?

I do understand, Frank.
Believe me, I do.

You say... you say you're
gonna lose, "Is it my fault?"

The damn case starts tomorrow,
and already it's over for you.

- It is over.
- You wanna be a failure?

Then do it some
place else. I can't

invest in failure,
Frank, any more.

I can't.

Excuse me.

Frank?

Frank.

Please don't... please...

please...

please don't pressure me.

Please don't.

I'm gonna do the best that I
can for you and your sister.

I know how much it means to you,
and it means that much to me, too.

- How ya holding up?
- Good.

All we have is the
witch doctor, huh?

Yeah.

Well, look at it
this way, Frankie.

It's refreshing
every time a doctor

takes the stand he's not a Jew.

All rise.

Hear ye, hear ye.
All persons having

anything to do before
the Superior Court...

now sitting at Boston,
draw near, give

your attendance and
you shall be heard.

God save the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. Be seated.

Deborah Ann Kaye versus St
Catherine Labouré Hospital...

and Robert S Towler MD
and Sheldon F Marx MD.

Is the plaintiff ready?

- We are, Your Honour.
- Defence?

Ready for the
defence, Your Honour.

Let's begin.

Your Honour...

ladies and gentlemen
of the jury...

it's a terrible thing
to sit in judgement.

So much rides on it.

I know that you have thought
"How can I be pure?"

"How can...

how can I be... impartial
without being cold?"

"How can I be...

merciful, and still be just?"

I know that some of you
have said prayers today...

to be helped... to
judge correctly.

We have the reputation
of two men, two...

well-respected
doctors before us...

and a renowned hospital.

And with them we have...

my client, Deborah Ann Kaye...

who was deprived of sight...

of speech, of hearing...

of locomotion, of...

Well, in short, everything
that constitutes her life.

We will prove that she was
deprived through negligence...

through the negligence of
these... respected men.

We will show, one...

Why did he go to see
Maureen Rooney?

She's the only nurse
who isn't testifying.

- And what did he find?
- Nothing.

How good's your intelligence?

Very good.

So what is the rest of his case,
aside from this Dr Thompson?

As far as we know, nothing.

Thank Mr Concannon for me. Please

tell him I'll see
him in his office.

Good morning, Doctor.
Dr Thompson...

just so the jury knows, you
never treated Deborah Ann Kaye.

- Is that correct?
- That is correct.

I was engaged to
render an opinion.

"Engaged to render an opinion"
for a price. That is correct?

- You are being paid to be here?
- Just as you are, sir.

Are you board-certified
in anaesthesiology?

No, I'm not. It's quite common
in New York State to practise...

Yes, I'm quite sure it is,
but, this is, Massachusetts.

Are you board-certified
in internal medicine?

No.

- Neurology?
- No.

Orthopaedics?

- I'm just an MD.
- Ah...

Do you, know Dr Robert Towler?

- I know of him.
- And how is that?

- Through his book.
- What book is that?

Methodology and Practise...

in... in Anaesthesiology..

Methodology and Practise
in Anaesthesiology.

Yes.

- How old are you, Doctor?
- I'm 74 years old.

Huh.

Do you still practise
quite a lot of medicine?

I'm, on the staff of
anaesthesiology...

Yes. Yes, I've heard that.

But you do... testify quite a
bit against other physicians.

Isn't that correct?
You are available for

that, so long as you're
paid to be there.

Sir, yes.

When a thing is wrong, as in
this case, I am available.

I'm 74 years old.

I'm not board-certified.

I've been practising
medicine for 46 years,

and I know when an
injustice has been done.

Do you, indeed?

I bet you do. That's fine.

Fine.

Let's save the court time.

We'll admit Dr Thompson
as an "expert witness."

Mr Galvin, do you
want to continue now?

Or we could resume this afternoon.

I'll continue, Your Honour.

Dr Thompson...

did you examine Deborah
Ann Kaye at the

Northern Chronic Care
Facility last night?

- I did.
- Objection.

Sustained. The witness
will confine his

testimony to review of
the hospital records.

Dr Thompson, in your review of the

hospital records of
May 12th 1976...

in your opinion, what
happened to Deborah Ann Kaye?

Cardiac arrest.

During delivery her heart stopped.

When the heart stops, the
brain is deprived of oxygen.

You get brain damage.

That's why she's in the
state she's in today.

Dr Towler has testified
that he restored

the heartbeat in three
to four minutes.

In your opinion, is that
an accurate estimate?

In my opinion, it took
much longer, nine,

ten minutes. There's
too much brain damage.

Are you saying failure to restore
heartbeat within nine minutes...

in itself constitutes
bad medical practise?

- Your Honour.
- Yes, Mr Galvin?

If I may be permitted to question
my own witness in my own way...

- I'd like to get to the point.
- I am getting to...

I believe I have the right to ask
the witness a direct question.

Now let's not waste
these people's time.

Answer the question,
Mr Witness, please.

Would a nine-minute
lapse in restoring the

heartbeat in and of
itself be negligence?

In that small context, I
would have to say no.

Then you're saying there's no
negligence, based on my question?

Given the limits of
your question, yes.

The doctors were not negligent.

Thank you.

I'm not through questioning...

Your Honour, with
all due respect...

if you're gonna try my case for
me, I wish you wouldn't lose it.

Thank you. I think that's
enough for this morning.

I'll see counsel in my chambers.

- Now, please.
- All rise.

Court is adjourned
until one o'clock.

I'm gonna write to
the Board of Bar

Overseers about you today, fella.

You're on your way
out. They should have

kicked you out in that
Lillibridge case.

Now, this is it, today.

I'm an attorney...

on trial before the Bar,
representing my client.

My client. When you
open your mouth,

you're losing my case for me.

- Listen to me, fella...
- No, you listen to me.

All I wanted out of this
trial was a fair shake.

You push me into court five days
early, I lose my star witness...

and I can't get a continuance.
And I don't care.

I'm going up there, I'm
gonna try it, and let

the jury decide. They
told me about you.

Said you're a hard-ass,
you're a defendant's judge.

Well, I don't care. I said to
hell with it. To hell with it.

Look, Galvin, many years ago I...

Come on. Don't give me that shit
about you being a lawyer too.

I know about you. You
couldn't hack it as a lawyer.

You were a bagman for the boys
downtown, and you still are.

- Are you done?
- You're damn right I'm done.

I'm gonna ask for a
mistrial. I'll request

that you disqualify
yourself from this case.

I'll take a transcript
of the trial

to the Judicial Conduct Board...

and ask them to impeach your ass.

You aren't gonna get
a mistrial, boy.

We're going back, and we're
gonna try this case to the end.

Get out of here before I call the

bailiff and have you
thrown in jail.

What does it mean?

I mean, you... have other tactics?

Oh, yeah. They present
their case, then I

get a chance, and we
just cross-examine.

Are we gonna win?
I mean... I mean,

you have other tactics, though?

Yeah.

Thank you, Dr Towler.

No further questions, Your Honour.

- Dr Towler?
- Yes.

- Let's work backwards.
- Yes.

You have a record of what
happened in the operating room.

You made notations every 30
seconds of the procedures.

These notations stop
four and a half minutes

after Deborah Ann
Kaye's heart stopped.

Four and a half minutes
after her heart

stopped. They resumed
three minutes later.

We had more on our minds
than taking notes.

We were trying to
restore her heartbeat.

What happened in
those three minutes?

We were trying...

- What happened?
- Objection, Your Honour.

Why did it take so long
to restore her heartbeat?

Almost nine minutes to
restore her heartbeat...

which caused massive
irreversible brain damage.

You're not allowing the
witness to answer.

Thank you, Your Honour.
I would like to answer.

Brain damage could have...

It didn't necessarily take
nine or eight minutes.

It could have been caused in two.

Wait a minute.

You're saying that her brain
damage could have been caused...

by being deprived of
oxygen for two minutes?

Yes.

Why is that?

It's right there on
her medical chart.

She was anaemic. Less
blood, less oxygen.

The brain was getting
less oxygen anyway.

I didn't do too well for you.

You did fine.

No, I'm afraid that's not true.

Will you want me to
stay on till Monday?

No, thank you. You can go on home.

You know, Mr Galvin, sometimes
people can surprise you.

Sometimes they have a great
capacity to hear the truth.

Yeah. Yes.

Sure you don't want me to stay on?

No. Thank you.

You can go on home.

I'll see you back
at the office, huh?

- What happened?
- It's bad.

What are you going to do now?

I don't have a goddamn idea.

What do you do if you
don't have a witness?

You use their witness.

That's right.

Well, I think we've
tried that, Francis.

The case is over.

You know, you broke the first
rule I taught you in law school:

You never ask a question unless
you have the answer to it.

Even your own expert witness
said there was no negligence.

It's over, period.

There'll be other cases.

There are no other
cases. This is the case.

There are no other
cases. This is the case.

There are no other
cases. This is the case.

No other cases, this is the case.

I know how you feel.

You don't believe me,
but I... do know.

I'm gonna tell you something that
I learned when I was your age.

I had prepared a case, and old man
White said to me "How did you do?"

And I said "I did my best."

And he said...

"You're not paid to do your
best. You're paid to win."

And that's what pays
for this office...

pays for the pro Bono work
that we do for the poor...

pays for the... type of law
that you want to practise.

It pays for my whiskey.

It pays for... your clothes.

It pays for the leisure
we have to sit back...

and discuss... philosophy,
as we're doing tonight.

We're paid to win the case.

You've finished your
marriage. You...

wanted to come back
and practise the law.

You wanted to come
back to the world.

Welcome back.

Why isn't Maureen
Rooney testifying?

Hey. You with me? You awake?

- Yeah, I'm awake.
- She's protecting somebody.

Who is she protecting?

Doctors?

If she's protecting the doctors,
she'd be on the witness stand.

Read me what she said.

"You guys are a bunch of whores.
Loyalty. Don't care who you hurt."

- "You guys got no loyalty."
- One of the nurses?

Who? Everybody who was in the
operating room is testifying.

All right. Who wasn't
in the operating room?

The admitting nurse?

- What does she do?
- She took down the history.

And she signed it here.
"KC." Kaitlin Costello.

- The history?
- Yeah.

"How old are you? How many
children do you have?"

"How old are you?
How many children

do you have? When
did you last eat?"

Oh, Miss Rooney.

I understand what
you're doing, and I

just wanted you to
know that it's ok.

- What are you talking about?
- Well, about Kaitlin Costello.

I mean, I don't blame
you for shielding her.

- I spoke to her today.
- What are you talking about?

I talked to her this
morning, and...

I know. She told me.

- She told you?
- I just saw her.

In New York? You saw
Kat in New York?

Or is she in town? Is she in town?

Thank you. I'm sorry.

All right. Thank you.

Don't we have anything from the
New York Nurse Association?

- That broad has disappeared.
- From the hospital?

Well, there's no records
since she quit in '76.

She quit two weeks
after the incident.

- Thank you.
- I have to talk to you.

I can't talk now.

Call the AMA. Tell 'em you're Dr

Somebody and you need
to find a nurse...

get some forms, somebody's dying.

Mrs Costello? I'm sorry
to bother you this

late, but this is Mr
Goldberg in Accounting.

We have some money here for you.

Is this the Mrs Costello,
the registered nurse?

I see. Well, I'm sorry. Our
records must be mixed up.

Are you related to
Kaitlin Costello?

You aren't. All right, thank you.

This is Dr Dorchester in Boston.

Listen, a nurse left my
employment about four years ago.

A Kaitlin Costello.

That's correct.

This is Mr Dorchester
in Records. I'm

trying to track down
a Kaitlin Costello.

Laura? Laura, you got a cigarette?

Kaitlin Costello.

Yeah. That's right.

Well, she left about
four years ago,

and we're looking for her chart.

Kaitlin. Kaitlin Costello.

Laura, don't forget
the cigarettes, huh?

Hello. This is Ross
Williams calling.

Yes. I'm calling from California.

I'm sorry. I know it's very late

back East, but this
is an emergency.

I'd like to speak to
Kaitlin Costello, please.

There's nobody here by that name.

I see.

Well, our records must have
been mixed up, I guess.

Is this the family
of Kaitlin Costello?

You know what time it is?

- Hello?
- Hello.

I'm calling from, from The
Professional Nurse Quarterly.

From the magazine?

Yes. This is Mr Wallace
in Subscriptions.

Is this... Miss Costello?

- Yes... Price.
- Pardon?

Kaitlin Price.

Yes. We find that your
subscription has lapsed.

It lapsed three years ago.

That's why we're
calling, Miss Price.

Mrs.

We have a "renew your
subscription" offer.

We get the magazine at work.

Yes, I know. It's in
our files. Let me

see, that's the Manhattan
Health Centre.

No. At Chelsea Childcare, ok?

Look, call me Monday,
hey? I'm late for work.

Eastern Airlines 9am
air-shuttle for La Guardia...

now ready for boarding at gate 10.

Hello? Frank? Frank,
where are you?

You're going to New York?

Listen, I have to be in New
York about some business.

I have some papers to
sign about my divorce.

- Could we meet there?
- Laura, you got a cigarette?

Could we meet in New York, Frank?

Yeah.

Yeah. The Russell Hotel. On
38th Street, isn't it? Yeah.

Ok. At around four?

I feel the same way, Frank.

Yeah, I know.

Ok. I'll see you this afternoon.

Bye-bye.

Laura, I'm...

I'm gonna go out and
get some cigarettes.

Ok, ok, ok. One basketball.

One football, one
more basketball...

and Duanie gets a little ball.

What did you do with
your hand? Come here.

What did you do to your
hand? What did you do?

Hi. Let's see this.

I've been meaning to stop
in here for a long time.

- You live in the neighbourhood?
- My nephew's coming to visit.

- How old is he?
- He's four.

Let's see what we've got here.

- Let's see this.
- No. Don't take it off.

You're great with these kids.

Thank you.

No, I mean, you really are.

Oh, you're the... you're the
one they said was a nurse.

- Who told you that?
- I don't know. Mrs...

- Mrs Simmons?
- Yeah.

I used to be a nurse.

Well, it's a wonderful profession.
My daughter-in-law's a...

What'd you do? Did you stop?

Yes.

Why'd you do that?

Will you help me?

What's the matter? Are
you lost or something?

Frankie, we gotta talk.

Come on. There's a bar around the
corner. We'll get a cup of coffee.

Did you see that?

You all right, Miss?

- Are you ok?
- Yeah.

I'm all right.

- Leave him alone.
- Are you ok?

I'm all right. Thank you.

I talked to... Johnny White
at the Bar Association.

She used to work for one of
Concannon's partners in New York.

She wanted to come to Boston.

How bad did she hurt us?

I don't know.

We got a mistrial, you know.

Did you hear what I said, Frank?

I don't want a mistrial.

- Hello?
- Is Frank there?

- No. He's not here now.
- When are you expecting him?

I don't know when.

Doctor Towler.

Page 406. "Contraindications
of General Anaesthetic."

"A patient should
refrain from taking

nourishment up to nine hours...

prior to induction of general
anaesthetic." Sound familiar?

Yes. I wrote it.

Methodology and Practise
in Anaesthesiology.

A general textbook on the
subject, is that correct?

I...

Yes, it is.

- And you wrote it?
- Yes.

Page... 414.

"If the patient has
taken nourishment

within one hour prior
to inducement...

general anaesthetic
should be avoided

because of the grave risk...

the patient will aspirate food
particles into his mask."

Is that what happened
to Deborah Ann Kaye?

She aspirated food
particles into her mask?

She threw up in her mask, yes.

But she hadn't eaten one
hour before admission.

If she had eaten an hour before
being admitted to the hospital...

then the inducement of a general

anaesthetic would have
been... negligent?

Negligent? Yes, it would have been

criminal. But such
was not the case.

Thank you.

Mr Concannon?

No further questions, Your Honour.

Thank you, Dr Towler.

Mr Galvin, rebuttal?

Kaitlin Costello Price.

State your name, please.

Kaitlin Costello Price.

Do you swear the
evidence you give will

be the whole truth,
so help you God?

- I do.
- Be seated.

- Kaitlin Price.
- Yes.

You were the admitting
nurse at, St

Catherine Labouré on
May 12th, 1976...

the night that they
admitted Deborah Ann Kaye?

Yes.

Did you sign this...
admission form?

- Yes.
- Those are your initials, "KC?"

Kaitlin Costello.

That's my maiden name.

Did you ask the patient,
when did she last eat?

Yes.

What did she say?

She said she'd had a full meal...

one hour before coming
to the hospital.

- One hour?
- Yes.

And did you put the numeral
"one" on this admission sheet?

I mean, standing for "one hour?"

I did.

A single hour?

Yes.

Thank you.

Your witness.

Anything?

You're aware of the
penalties for perjury?

- It's a crime.
- It is a crime. A serious crime.

- I wouldn't do it.
- You would not?

No.

You've taken an oath that you
would not commit perjury.

You've just sworn to
that, isn't that right?

Yes.

- Just now.
- Yes.

You have sworn before God that
you would tell the truth.

Yes.

Now... I want to
ask you something.

Four years ago, when you
were working as a nurse...

are you aware that these
doctors, Marx and Towler...

based their treatment of Deborah
Ann Kaye on this admitting form...

which you signed?

I...

Wasn't that an oath? These
are your initials, "KC."

When you signed this form,
you took an oath...

no less important than that
which you've taken today.

Isn't that right?

- Isn't that right?
- Yes.

Then which is correct?

You've sworn today
that the patient

ate one hour before admittance.

Four years ago you swore that she
ate nine hours before admittance.

All right, which is the lie?

I...

These men could have
settled out of court.

They wanted a trial
to clear their names.

And you would come
here, and on a slip of

memory four years ago,
you'd ruin their lives.

- They lied.
- They lied? They lied.

When did they lie?

- Do you know what a lie is?
- I do, yes.

You swore on this form that
the patient ate nine hours...

That's not what I wrote.

You just told me
that you signed it.

I... Yes, I... yes,
I signed it, yes.

But I didn't write a nine.

I wrote a one.

You didn't write a nine,
you... wrote a one.

And how is it that you remember
so clearly after four years?

Because I kept a copy.

- I have it right here.
- Objection.

We can't accept a copy when the
court already has the original.

I'll rule on that presently.

Please, proceed.

What in the world
induced you to make

a photocopy of an
obscure record...

and hold it for four years?

Your Honour, this...

Why would you do that?

- I thought I might need it.
- And why would you think that?

After...

after the operation...

when that poor girl, she went into
a coma, Dr Towler called me in.

He told me...

that he'd had five difficult
deliveries in a row...

and he was tired.

And he never looked at
the admittance form.

And he told me to change the form.

He told me to change the one...

to a nine.

Or else... or else, he
said... He said he'd

fire me. He said I'd
never work again.

Who were these men?

Who were these men? I
wanted to be a nurse.

No further questions, Your Honour.

You may step down.

Mr Galvin?

Nothing further, Your Honour.

Mr Concannon?

Mr Concannon.

Thank you, Your
Honour. We object to

the copy of the admitting form...

and we cite McGee versus the State
of Indiana, United States 131.2.

"The admission of a
duplicate document

in preference to an
existing original...

must presuppose the possibility of

alteration and so
must be disallowed."

And, Your Honour, having given
the plaintiff the leeway...

we would like your ruling
on this issue now.

We object to the admission
of a Xerox photocopy.

One moment, Mr Concannon.

Yes. The document is disallowed.

- Objection.
- Overruled.

- Exception.
- Noted. Thank you.

Legally, he's right.

The jury will not
consider the testimony

of Miss Costello regarding
the Xerox form.

It is unsubstantiated.

We cannot accept a copy in
preference to the original.

Thank you, Your
Honour. Furthermore,

Miss Costello is a
rebuttal witness.

As the court knows,
no prior notice was

given of Miss
Costello's appearance.

And as a surprise witness, she may

serve only to rebut
direct testimony.

As her only evidentiary
rebuttal is the

admitting form which
has been disallowed...

I request that her entire
testimony be disallowed...

and that the jury be
advised to totally

disregard her entire
appearance here.

- Yes, I'm going to uphold that.
- Objection.

- Overruled.
- Exception.

Noted. Thank you.

The jury will be advised
not to consider

the testimony of Miss Costello.

Miss Costello was a
rebuttal witness.

The sole rebuttal
was the document,

which has been disallowed.

Her entire testimony must be
stricken from the record.

You shouldn't have heard
it. That was my mistake.

You must strike it from your
minds. Give it no weight.

Legally, it's over.

Concannon was brilliant.

Tell me about Kaitlin Costello.

There's nothing to tell. It's
been stricken from the record.

I know. But did you believe her?

Mr Galvin?

Mr Galvin? Summation?

Well...

You know, so much of the
time, we're just lost.

We say "Please, God...

tell us what is right,
tell us what is true."

I mean, there is no justice.

The rich win, the
poor are powerless.

We become... tired of
hearing people lie.

And after a time we become dead.

A little dead. We
think of ourselves...

as victims.

And we become victims.

We become...

we become weak.

We doubt ourselves,
we doubt our beliefs.

We doubt our institutions.

And we doubt the law.

But today you are the law.

You are the law.

Not some book, not the lawyers.

Not a marble statue...

or the trappings of the court.

See, those are just symbols...

of our desire...

to be just.

They are...

they are, in fact, a prayer.

I mean, a fervent and
a frightened prayer.

In my religion...

they say "Act as
if ye had faith...

and faith will be given to you."

If...

if we are to have
faith in justice...

we need only to believe
in ourselves...

and act with justice.

See, I believe there is
justice in our hearts.

Have you reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honour.

Your Honour, we've
agreed to hold for

the plaintiff, Deborah Ann Kaye...

and against St Catherine Labouré,
and Doctors Towler and Marx.

But, Your Honour, are we limited
on the size of the award?

What I mean, sir...

Are we permitted to
award an amount greater

than the amount the
plaintiff asked for?

You are.

You're not bound by
anything other than

your good judgement,
based on the evidence.

Please retire, and when you've

agreed on the amount
of the award...

You did it, Frank.

Way to go, Frank.