Original subtitles

- I'm Martha Parker, Mr. Slade. - Oh, of course.

Come in.

It was good of you to see my so

late and on such short notice.

I really had nothing planned, you see,

just a quiet night at home.

You said on the phone you wanted to talk

to me about, er, murder?

Where shall we talk about it?

Over here on the couch?

The couch'll be fine.

May I offer you something.

A glass of white wine would be lovely, thank you.

As I told you, my radio station is

doing a feature on what the police are

calling the Northside Stabber.

A most graphic description.

15 victims so far.

Yes, 15.

What I'm doing is interviewing a number of criminal attorneys.

Ah, you must understand, I no longer practice criminal law.

Oh, I understand.

But up until-- what was it-- five, six years ago,

you were probably the most famous practicing

criminal attorney in the state.

Or infamous.

I'm curious.

Why did you keep up criminal law?

Money.

By that I mean I discovered I had a certain flair

for its management.

And because of the success of my own investments,

others turned to me to handle theirs.

My current practice is neither as flamboyant

nor as newsworthy as it used to be,

but uh, it's far more profitable.

- And you don't miss it? - Criminal law?

No, not in the slightest.

I'd like to ask you a couple of questions

I'm asking the other attorneys.

Testing, one, two, three. Testing.

Testing, one, two, three.

Testing.

Testing, one, two, three, testing.

Testing.

Amos Slade, tape 1.

Mr. Slade, as a man who was once the state's most famous

criminal lawyer, what advice would you give to the person

the police are calling the Northside Stabber?

If he happens to be listening, I

would advise him to turn himself in and get

himself a good attorney.

Given the current hysteria, would

you really say that he or she would be given a fair trial?

Well, the better the lawyer, the fairer the trial.

Aren't you saying there are two kinds of justice, then?

One for the poor and one for the rich

who can afford to hire expensive lawyers?

That should hardly come as a shock to anyone.

Of course, I've always believed that most

murderers are never caught.

Never?

That's right, never.

Have you any statistics to back that up?

What I have is years of experience.

See, the murderers who are never caught

are those whose victims and never found.

Literally thousands and thousands

of people in this country disappear every year.

They, uh, simply vanish.

And you're saying that some or most of those missing persons

are actually murder victims?

I'm saying it's a real possibility.

Thank you, Mr. Amos Slade.

End of Slade interview, tape one.

That's a pretty chilling conclusion, that most

murderers are never caught.

Chilling but inescapable.

If what you say is true, then walking around out there

are literally thousands and thousands of murderers.

On your way home, keep you car door locked.

Thanks for the counsel--

and for the interview.

My pleasure.

John.

Slade?

I thought I recognized that fancy car of yours.

You have trouble?

Ah, flats.

Two of them.

Oh, what a rotten shame.

All right, well, come on.

Get in.

I'll give you a lift home.

OK, thanks.

Two flats, hm?

Yeah.

Two?

Probably kids.

Probably.

What brings you out so late?

Same as you, visiting a lady.

That was Vicki Walder's house back there, wasn't it?

I didn't know you knew Vicki.

No, no, I knew her husband.

Or rather her ex-husband.

Ah.

You know, it's funny, us bumping into each other

like this.

I was going to call you tomorrow morning anyway.

Oh?

What about?

The Cagle trust.

I'm going to need a little more time before I

can transfer it over to you.

Uh, what do you mean by a little more time?

You've already had a three-months extension.

Well, I'm going to need another three months.

I'm sorry, but that's just not going to be possible.

John, I really need those three months.

You know, there've been some rumors floating around.

Hm?

What?

What kind of rumors?

Ugly rumors.

About you.

They say you went way short on Brixton Industries

and took a bath, a real bath.

I'd hate to think that has anything

to do with the Cagle trust.

Look, John, I can work the whole

thing out if-- if you just let me

have those extra three months.

That's what they always say, every time.

I can work it out.

John, I need those three months.

I've got to have them.

From an ethical point of view, this conversation

has gone far enough.

Just pull over and let me out.

I'll walk from here.

John, I'm begging you.

No chance.

Just tell me one thing.

How deep are you in, really?

$3 million.

Tough.

Mr. Slade,

aren't you saying there are two kinds of justice then?

That should hardly come as a shock

to anyone.

Of course, I've always believed that most

murderers are never caught.

Never?

That's right, never.

Have you

any statistics to back that up?

What I have is years of experience.

See, the murderers who are never caught

are those whose victims are never found.

Literally thousands and thousands

of people in this country disappear every year.

They, uh-- they simply vanish.

Thank you, Mr. Amos Slade.

Howdy.

Hello.

Saw your car and thought

I'd stop and ask directions.

Guess I'm kind of lost.

You a fisherman?

No, I was just about to give my dog a run along the beach.

Well, me and the wife and the kid been driving all night

and we're looking for a place to camp.

Well, like I said, we've been driving all night--

No thanks.

Looking for a place to camp.

I guess I took the wrong turn somewhere.

Well you go back up the highway, and it's about half

a mile.

Half a mile, you say?

Yeah, it'll be on your left.

Should get there just about dawn.

Get a little surf casting in if we're not too tuckered.

Did you say you got a dog over there?

That's right.

Awful quiet.

What kind is he?

He's a Chesapeake retriever.

No kidding.

They sure like the water, don't they?

I was thinking about buying one, but they're

just so doggone expensive.

Mind if I take a look at him?

Well, I'd really prefer you didn't bother him.

He's, uh-- well, he's not too friendly.

That's why we come here so early, when there

are no other people around.

Sure, I understand.

Don't blame you.

Maybe some other time.

Of course.

Just up the road?

Half a mile, on the left?

Is that it?

That's it.

Thanks for the directions.

Ahh!

Someone must be around here somewhere.

There's his car up on the cliff.

Kind of like to take it.

Oh, Fred!

Just take a look.

Isn't the cutest thing you ever saw?

Oh, Fred, I've got to get a picture of this.