Original subtitles

(vomiting)

(sobs)

(breathing heavily)

(music playing)

MAN (over TV): The liberal media

hates traditional pro-God,

pro-country, pro-family values--

PAUL: God...

MAN (over TV): --because, frankly,

they don't believe in them.

MAN (over TV): That's not true. Hold on.

MAN (over TV): It is true.

And it's why liberal media types,

especially in New York City and Hollywood,

hate the US military, hate the president,

and, frankly, hate me and guys like me.

Look what they've done to Rush.

MAN (over TV): Nobody hates the US military, I'm just...

MAN (over TV): Bottom line is liberals in this country

want to pursue their big government socialist policies,

they hate any free enterprise, they hate capitalism,

and they hate...

(music playing)

(engine revving)

(tires screeching)

(music playing)

A retreat?

SHORE: Yes, a company outing

where we all get to know our inner selves.

Do people ever get to your core, Jimmy,

or do they stop short at the mantle?

Did you hear that?

Fat joke.

SHORE: I'm actually being quite serious here.

We all work too hard. WILSON: Young, Frutt, Berluti.

How about Tahiti?

WILSON: Alan, Paul Stewart.

He says it's an emergency.

Paul?

PAUL (over phone): Alan,

I need you to get down to my office now.

Did I miss a check-up?

I've got an emergency.

I have detectives in my waiting room.

I need you to get down here.

You need to come through my private entrance

so they don't see you.

Hurry, Alan.

I'm in trouble.

(elevator bell dings)

(music playing)

(knocks on door)

Alan.

What is going on?

Come in, please.

They're still waiting out there.

In a second, Cheryl. They're about to just--

I'll be out in a second.

Just tell them I'm finishing a procedure.

Listen, I've been having an affair.

Brenda Wilbur, who I believe you know.

Brenda Wilbur. PAUL: Ah, yes.

I've been wanting to have an affair with Brenda Wilbur.

PAUL: Can you shut up?

Can you just shut up, please?

She's dead.

What? Somebody bludgeoned her

or something. I saw the body.

I was there last night.

I walked in-- Whoa, wait. Slow down.

PAUL: I can't slow down. The police are out there.

I was there, I had made love to her earlier,

and now they're here to ask me questions.

Okay.

Do I talk to the police now?

Do I tell them I was there?

What should I do?

They're coming.

PAUL: Just get out.

(door closes)

What do I do?

It's gonna look suspicious if I have a lawyer.

How do I even explain you being here?

CHERYL: He said he'd be right out.

He's in a procedure! We've been here an hour.

We don't have time for this.

So you keep saying.

I'm sorry, doctor, but this is urgent.

PAUL: Would you give me 10 more seconds, for God's sake?

This patient could sue me.

He's a lawyer.

Do you know a Ms. Brenda Wilbur?

PAUL: Why?

This needs to be a private conversation, doctor.

PAUL: You need to go back out there and wait.

What about Brenda?

She's dead.

Do you know her?

What do you mean she's dead?

She was killed.

Look, we really need to have this discussion in private.

I need to ask you some things.

Hold on.

(spits) Sorry,

but as a lawyer, I get suspicious

when detectives barge in asking questions

about dead people.

This doesn't involve you, sir.

Actually, it involves me more

than you could ever imagine.

I'm not only this man's friend,

I was a friend of Brenda Wilbur's.

How did she die?

Head trauma.

Your car was seen parked outside her place yesterday afternoon.

SHORE: Wait a second.

Are you questioning this man as if he were a suspect?

Certainly not. We j--

SHORE: Paul, when a detective says,

"Certainly not," you can be certain--

MAN: Sir--

It's Alan Shore.

I'm sure my client would love to cooperate,

but not before I get a little more information.

I don't mind talking, Alan.

But I do mind, Paul.

I know you have his best interests at heart.

Just the same-- Mr. Shore--

He's not talking.

Perhaps you'd like to. You've said nothing so far.

I think he did it.

Look, counselor, this is how it's gonna go.

He's either gonna talk to us here,

or we're gonna take him into custody

and walk him right out that front door.

This is a small town.

This man's family has quite a legacy in this small town.

I don't think he wants to be seen handcuffed

in connection to the murder of a woman

that he had a mysterious relationship with.

Do you?

My God, You're Kevin McCarley.

Alan Shore.

We went to middle school together.

How are you? Look at you.

Wow.

You're still the same

pain in the ass you were then.

Take him.

Alan.

SHORE: Just a second.

Let me tell them what I know.

Terrible idea.

We don't know what he knows.

He is going to arrest me.

SHORE: Look at me.

First of all, try not to look so much like a suspect.

Can you put something other than panic on your face?

You were having an affair with the victim.

You were witnessed at the scene.

Dodging arrest isn't the goal here.

It's about preventing a conviction.

A conviction?

You cannot give any statement to the police.

There's a reason for that little jingle,

"What you say can and will be used against you."

What about Wendy? What about the kids?

SHORE: I'll go talk to them.

In the meantime, you talk to nobody.

I cannot believe this is happening to me.

McCARLEY: Look, if I have to arrest him right here, I will.

Shouldn't you first do that other thing that police do?

What's the word?

Investigate.

Maybe I should bring you in on aiding and abetting.

SHORE: Kevin, it's me, Alan.

We played on the same soccer team.

We've showered together.

You had a very small penis then.

Has it--

Take him.

Say nothing.

Let's go.

Do we Mirandize here, Kev, or is that not done in Dedham?

They took him into custody.

They didn't make an actual arrest.

Do they plan to?

SHORE (over phone): I don't know.

It may just be about coercing a statement.

Where are you now?

SHORE (over phone): At the scene.

I figure I'll just try

and see whatever I can.

All right.

You again?

What are you doing here?

I thought you were with my client.

We're giving him time to think about cooperating.

I'm happy to advise him to cooperate.

But I got to have some idea what we're dealing with here.

I'd like to view the scene.

View the scene?

Why not?

McCARLEY: Because we don't give tours to civilians.

SHORE: I'm not gonna contaminate the crime scene.

McCARLEY: We haven't even positively ID'd her yet.

SHORE: You want my guy to cooperate.

I can ID her.

As I told you, I knew Brenda Wilbur.

McCARLEY: She's been ID'd.

Oh. Listen, you wanna talk to Paul Stewart.

I wanna let him talk to you.

Let me just get a glimpse

of what we're dealing with here first.

Help me help you.

You don't want me saying in court

you refused to let me see the crime scene.

(camera flashes)

MAN: Yeah, the room is covered.

Right.

You got...

She, uh...

Was found like that?

Yes.

I, uh, knew this woman.

You okay?

Uh, yeah.

For God's sake. Get him off.

Get him off!

MAN: Pick him up.

You fainted?

SHORE: Shh. No.

Please, don't make fun of me, Eugene.

I wasn't prepared for what I saw.

Right on the dead body?

I'm asking you for advice, not ridicule.

Do I let the man speak or not?

Not if he's the suspect.

But assuming he's innocent--

YOUNG: We never assume.

SHORE: I've known him since childhood.

He's--

It's the childhood friends you can never trust.

VICTORIA: Alan.

SHORE: Victoria.

VICTORIA: What's being done?

Victoria, this is Eugene Young.

Hello.

What's being done?

SHORE: At this point, there's--

Is there a place for privacy?

Yes.

Excuse us.

There's been no arrest yet.

They can place him at the scene

several hours before.

I'm assuming they can establish--

The affair?

Paul told me about it.

Really?

I would think his mother would be the last person

he'd want--

what else has he told you?

You were extorted by the victim?

Paul, if I'm gonna help you,

you need to share with me at least as much

as you tell your mother.

Brenda contacted a lawyer who--

Tried to shake you down?

PAUL: It was veiled.

I confronted her over it.

She apologized, admitted it was a stupid idea.

It was no longer an issue.

SHORE: No longer an issue?

It transpired a week

before her head was pounded to mulch.

It wasn't a coercive quid pro quo.

But you perceived it as extortion,

and she's currently dead.

(sighs)

SHORE: Okay.

Attorneys are divided

over whether this next question

should ever be posed to a client.

But as a childhood friend who grew up with you,

did you commit this crime?

For a childhood friend to have to ask me,

the answer is no,

I did not.

CATHERINE: Hello.

SHORE: Hello.

CATHERINE: Are you his lawyer?

Sorry?

Paul Stewart, are you his lawyer?

Mrs. Piper, Alan Shore.

I grew up here in Dedham

just three streets over from you.

Well, you used to trick-or-treat at my house.

SHORE: Yes.

Hello.

Hello!

Aah.

Ugh!

You once lit a paper bag on my porch.

It was full of dog crap.

I stomped it out

and got stool on my fleece slippers.

It never came out.

You were a crazy old bitch then.

I can see nobody's adjusted your medication.

Funny you should mention that.

This new Medicare package is gonna strap me.

I need money, Alan.

So much so I sometimes see it in my dreams.

In fact, I see it almost everywhere.

I especially saw it at 10:30 last night

when I saw Paul Stewart coming out of Brenda's house.

I refer, of course, to dead Brenda,

the slut all you boys wanted to screw in high school.

Many of you went on to do it, I'm sure.

I have yet to go to the police.

Tell Victoria

if she pays me $1.3 million,

I won't put her precious little baby in jail.

(music playing)

I told you I went back.

I understand,

but the police couldn't place you there at night,

only during the afternoon.

This is much more damaging, Paul,

to have you spotted leaving at 10:30.

You're not suggesting that we pay her off, are you?

No.

But things aren't getting any better.

We've got to prepare ourselves.

I'm sorry, this is a lawyer-client meeting.

Nothing personal.

No, I thought you'd like to know

that we're officially charging your client

with the murder of Brenda Wilbur.

He'll be arraigned tomorrow in Dedham Superior Court.

(music playing)

SHORE: I'm sorry.

There's nothing

that I can really say at this point

other than...

you'll get through this.

Did you know?

About?

Her.

No.

SHORE: I haven't really kept in touch

with Paul the last few years.

You and me both.

Melissa,

Michael,

when you were very young,

I told you a story

about my first day at kindergarten.

You probably don't remember.

I was so scared,

to the point of tears.

And then this little boy I didn't even know

came up to me and took ahold of my hand

and told me everything would be okay.

Your dad...

has held on to my hand

through much of our childhood.

He was then, as he remains today,

the most compassionate,

gentle person I know.

He did not commit this crime.

He did not commit this crime.

Okay.

We'll see you then.

He's still out in Dedham. He'll be here in the morning.

And then he's going back to Dedham for the arraignment.

This was really his best friend?

Evidently.

He doesn't seem the type.

I'm sorry?

Alan to have a best friend.

Eugene,

a lot of values may have passed him by,

but friendship,

and the loyalty that goes along with it,

he lives by that.

(music playing)

VICTORIA: Here you are.

May I ask why?

Just thought I'd get a look at the room,

see if it's how I remember.

What are you doing here?

Will he be granted bail?

Well, he's a trusted,

lifelong member of the community,

which his family half-built,

strong roots,

doctor,

poses no threat to society.

That and a million dollars should get him bail.

I'm gonna be candid.

There's a switch.

However accomplished you are as a civil attorney,

your criminal experience...

would I be wise to look for another lawyer, Alan?

Please do not be offended.

Victoria, you will micromanage whoever tries this case.

Best to go with someone who won't be thrown

by your interference.

And if you don't like what I'm doing,

you can always pull down my pants like old times

and give me a spank.

As I remember, you liked that.

Did he do this?

You know Paul.

He could never be capable

of bludgeoning the life out of a human being.

People change.

If he only knew what I've become.

When you were 16,

you slept with your best friend's mother.

How have you changed, Alan?

I'd like to have Ellenor join me.

Tara, too.

That should be enough for now.

As we get closer to trial,

we may need to add more.

I know I can't monopolize the whole firm, but--

Can he pay for all this?

His mother can.

This is a check for 750 as retainer.

I told her it'll likely go higher.

Seven hundred and fifty thousand?

SHORE: We should obviously hire

a private investigator immediately.

Since you used to be a PI, Eugene,

it would be great if you were able to oversee

that end of it.

Jimmy, did you use to be anything?

FRUTT: When's the arraignment?

SHORE: This afternoon.

Jamie, maybe you should head up the legal research.

We may be filing various motions in limine.

The exclusionary rule could be optional with these people.

I'm sure it's good.

We should get going. It's a schlep to Dedham.

Can I make one observation?

Certainly.

You seem nervous.

Ellenor has criminal experience.

Maybe she should first-chair.

I'm fine.

Shall we?

WOMAN: The arraignment itself figures to be short.

Basically a reading of the charges,

WOMAN: Possibly the setting of a trial date.

MAN: What we know about the defense attorney,

his name is Alan Shore,

a prominent civil attorney

primarily known for his antitrust work.

WOMAN: Hearing now that he grew up with the defendant.

That they, in fact, were childhood friends.

Commonwealth vs. Paul Stewart,

charging one count in violation of general laws,

Chapter 265,

Subsection 1,

murder in the first degree.

(gavel bangs)

WINNAKER: Quiet down.

(gavel bangs)

Quiet down!

You people will have to calm yourselves this very instant.

Let me tell you members of the media,

I don't have much use for the media.

I let the media in only so you can get your pictures

and be done with it, now I can be done with you.

I won't have the media

spew their toxic waste in my room.

Mr. Shore,

I understand you have waived

a formal reading of the charges?

SHORE: That's correct, Your Honor.

I'd also like to enter my appearance

along with Ms. Ellenor Frutt's at this time.

So noted.

Is there a question of bail?

CLARKE: Yes, Your Honor.

The Commonwealth opposes bail.

Dr. Stewart has no prior record, Your Honor.

He's never even been charged with a crime.

Well, he sure picked a beaut to start out with, didn't he?

He poses neither a safety nor flight risk.

He has extremely strong roots in the community.

WINNAKER: How many times have you appeared

before me, Mr. Shore?

Why?

Does it get old?

Is that an insult?

Sounds like he may have insulted me.

Read that back.

"Why? Does it get old?"

SHORE: Objection to the reading, Judge.

It lacked nuance.

Read that back.

WOMAN: "Objection to the reading, Judge.

It lacked nuance."

SHORE: Renew my objection, Judge.

The reporter is flat tonally.

WINNAKER: He sounds like a smartass.

Is he an ass?

SHORE: Your Honor,

my client poses no danger.

He's not going anywhere.

Two million, cash.

We'll conference on Wednesday at 10:00

to set our schedules.

(gavel bangs)

WINNAKER: We're adjourned.

(overlapping chatter)

(camera shutters clicking)

MAN: Mrs. Stewart, this is--

Mrs. Stewart, I'd like to get a (indistinct)

(music playing)

CHOIR: (singing in foreign language)

We, of course, will have a formal memorial service,

soon to be scheduled,

but considering the enormity of this tragedy,

many of you wanted to convene today.

And I support that.

Brenda Wilbur was a beloved member of this community,

a lifelong resident.

And it's at times like these

that we as a community...

come together.

The first thing we need to discuss is venue.

Is Dedham the best place for this trial?

Why wouldn't it be?

Well, everybody here knows your son.

SHORE: That's a good thing, Ellenor.

His reputation is impeccable.

FRUTT: It can't be impeccable, Alan.

He had an affair.

SHORE: They know him to be gentle,

caring, incapable of.

And the other potential problem

is that everybody here

seems to know you.

Meaning?

You're not the most upstanding citizen

on the eastern seaboard.

My life of indiscretion started after I left Dedham.

VICTORIA: The trial will be here.

Everyone who knows Paul

knows that he couldn't have committed

that kind of violence.

That has to inure to his benefit with the jury pool.

FRUTT: Thirdly,

people like to see the high and mighty fall.

It's human nature.

If anything, Paul comes off as meek.

But you don't.

I don't mean to sound rude,

but from my cursory check on the pulse of this town,

the dislike of you runs deep.

I'd hate for the jury to convict Paul

to vicariously get back at--

What's your name again?

Ellenor.

You're discharged, Ellenor.

SHORE: That's not a good idea, Victoria.

VICTORIA: I don't want her part of the defense team.

Paul, this is your defense.

VICTORIA: I'm paying for it.

I won't pay for her.

You're welcome to stay and observe pro bono,

but the sound of your voice,

that would be a deal breaker.

Mom. VICTORIA: No, I know

what the people of Dedham respond to, Paul.

That's how I built my fortune,

and they will not respond to this...

Ellenor.

You're discharged.

May I speak to you in private?

VICTORIA: No.

You can either leave with her

or stay without her.

I'll see you back at the office.

One of the best criminal-defense attorneys

in this state just walked out that door.

The only reason...

I don't walk out with her is because of Paul.

That's nice.

Let's turn to the most pressing matter,

Catherine Piper.

How are we arranging to pay her off?

We aren't.

Mom, that will come back to--

If she testifies that she saw you leave the house

at 10:30 in an agitated state--

I cannot bribe this witness.

Alan, who do you think you're kidding?

Look, this woman--

This is one of your most dear friends.

Victoria.

I'm not letting my only child go to prison.

If you wanna walk out now,

do it,

but Catherine Piper will not be testifying

as to what she saw...

the night Brenda Wilbur was killed.

I can see you've found great success

in holding your own with her.

I don't want you committing any crimes on my behalf.

I wanna make that clear.

Yes, you just didn't want to make it clear

in front of your mother.

She's still a force.

What can I say?

How about "No?"

I don't mean to judge you.

Yes, you do.

(music playing)

Excuse me, sir. I'm looking for God

and the men's room.

Could you point me in the right direction?

DUGAN: It's true,

you're really back.

Still in the sin business, I see.

As are you, I'm sure.

Ah, it's good to see you.

Although not under these circumstances.

He's in terrible trouble, Tom.

Are you gonna be able to help him?

SHORE: I hope so.

I haven't kept in constant touch the last few years.

Am I missing anything?

Is it possible--

Paul?

God, no.

Of course not.

There are many people who probably

had it in for that woman.

Which is why I'm here.

Sorry?

You were her priest.

DUGAN: Uh-hmm.

I'm assuming she practiced confession.

Did she ever mention anything?

I can't talk about anything said in confession, you know--

She's dead.

The seal survives death.

I think you know that.

Paul's on trial for his life here.

If you know something that can help him.

I can't break...

the confessional seal.

Perhaps something you thought she said in confession,

something she actually said...

here or...

just outside the confessional.

You'd be able to share that, wouldn't you, Tom?

This isn't about skirting a rule, Alan.

I have an obligation to God.

If you know anything

you can share, Tom,

now's the time.

And I'm the person to share it with.

It's good to see you again.

You too.

(music playing)

SHORE: Both rule 13 and rule 14.

Make sure you get a bill of particulars.

And ask them for any evidence in their possession

that supports any affirmative defense,

be it insanity, intoxication, alibi, anything, Jamie.

Right. Make it as far-reaching as you can--

(dog barking)

Yeah. Uh...

I'll get back to you.

Thank you.

VICTORIA: Alan!

I believe you've met Catherine Piper.

What is she doing here?

Why, I'm here to suck on

one of Victoria's shriveled nipples, of course.

Is that why you're here, Alan,

or is it just to drop some dog crap off at the door?

Victoria, I need to have a word with you now.

Would you excuse us, Catherine?

Why, of course, honey.

You cannot do this.

I've already made the deal.

That woman is extremely unstable.

She absolutely cannot be trusted,

and if this ever gets out--

VICTORIA: If it gets out,

we simply say she's lying,

or like you say, she's unstable.

SHORE: This is so dangerous.

What's dangerous...

would be her testimony.

SHORE: Victoria, this could...

bury your son in the end.

VICTORIA: You know, I've made my life trusting--

This is Paul's life.

You seem to keep forgetting that.

You can stay...

or you can go.

I thought I heard words.

Were you two having words?

You will also be available to testify

that you saw Paul leave at 5:00 PM

and that you saw neither him nor his car after that.

Victoria, that would be perjury.

The price goes up for perjury.

You will do it for this price, Catherine.

It must be awful to be at the mercy

of one of the little people.

Imagine, Victoria,

if I passed you on the street,

you wouldn't so much as make eye contact

for fear of brushing with a commoner.

And now I'm in your dining room,

drinking from your China.

And you have to look at me.

Look at me, Victoria.

This is what can happen to vicious,

soulless people such as yourself.

Little people lay in wait to screw you over.

You walk around this town like you own it.

And I suppose much of it you do.

Well...

I guess you don't own its people, do you?

Don't be silly, Catherine.

I'm buying you right now.

And that'll be your legacy, won't it?

Catherine Piper...

for sale.

(music playing)

Mr. Shore, Mr. Shore,

could you give us a brief statement or two

about what's going on--

SHORE: He never pitches past seven,

it was insane to let him return

for the eighth and everybody knew it,

and it is equally insane for any of us

to ever, ever get sucked in again.

Maybe I should stay at my mother's for a while.

I'm sure she'd love it.

Did you know she's paying off Catherine Piper?

If she insists on interfering,

you're the only one

with the authority to banish her.

If I say do that, Paul, you must.

Wendy's leaving.

I beg your pardon?

She's leaving me.

She's planning to--

Where is she?

In the kitchen.

I tried to talk to her.

You need to wait until after the trial is over.

WENDY: Why?

Because it might and probably

will negatively influence the jury.

You need to be by his side, at his side.

I can't do that.

SHORE: If not for your husband,

then for your children's father.

I'm not speaking as a marriage counselor, Wen--

the dish is dry.

Look at me.

Believe it or not,

wives don't statistically

leave their husbands over infidelity.

With the remotest possibility that you walking out

could be perceived as you thinking

he's guilty of murder,

and there is that possibility,

you cannot walk out that door now.

Maybe I do think he's guilty of murder.

You haven't asked my opinion on that, Alan.

PAUL: Let me ask.

Do you think I'm guilty, Wendy?

I don't know.

What, I'm supposed to assume

that I know you, that--

You know I'm not capable of violence.

I didn't think that you were capable--

I'll tell you what I'm not capable of,

walking into a courthouse

day after day by your side, pretending.

SHORE: If you don't pretend,

he could be going to prison for life,

for a crime he didn't commit.

No matter how angry you are with him...

right now,

you can't possibly want that.

Will she stay?

SHORE: For now.

Hopefully, her anger will subside,

and they'll work it out.

Victoria, I know how desperately

you wanna save your son,

but you must, you must

let me handle the defense.

You're gonna end up hurting him,

I promise you.

Just tell me you'll win.

SHORE: I can't do that at this point.

It's too soon to predict anything yet.

The case thus far is circumstantial.

I work for perhaps

the best criminal-defense firm

in the Commonwealth.

We have every reason to be optimistic.

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Catherine Piper is a petty,

vicious woman,

and I'm sorry.

People like Catherine Piper can only shoot spitballs.

Spitballs sting.

You know, Alan,

I've always believed that people regret

more the things they don't do

than the ones they do.

But one thing I did,

which I've long regretted,

was sleeping with you.

I'm sorry to hear that.

I wasn't a virgin, if it makes you feel better.

Oh, it was quite clear at the time

that you weren't a virgin.

No, it isn't that

or even that you were young

or even that you were Paul's best friend.

What is it, then?

I suspected that you'd fallen in love with me.

Did I hurt you?

Victoria, I was 16.

Can a boy even be capable of love?

What I remember most...

was your kiss.

16-year-olds tend to kiss

like they're eating chicken fingers.

How many teenagers have you been with?

Yours...

were so...

soft,

gentle.

Loving, I guess.

It's late.

And I have a long drive.

Yeah.

Good night, Victoria.

Night.

(music playing)

(music playing)

WOMAN: You stinker.

(music playing)