All language subtitles for Law & Order s04e01 Sweeps.eng

(male narrator)
In the criminal justice system...

the people are represented
by two separate yet equally important groups:

the police
who investigate crime...

and the district attorneys
who prosecute the offenders.

These are their stories.

Okay. We're getting close.
Okay?

[tape rewinding]

(cameraman)
Okay, folks. 30 seconds to air.

(woman)
Yeah. That's good.

Okay, Allan.

Okay, camera coming through.

Here we go. Let's do this.

How does it look, Bonnie?
Looks great, Rick.

Control your hair,
control your life. (Perkins)

Barry,
can you hear me out there?

Yeah, lock up the street.
I'm coming out.

(Barry)
You got it, Rick. Chucky, frame me up. Signal?

(Perkins)
Signal good to the towers.

All right, standby.

Joey, be a guy.

Plug me in and keep me hot.

(Joey)
Clean and mean, Rick.

(man)
Today, live from the streets of New York....

Okay, it's bingo time.
Coming in 10.

(Perkins)
Three camera's ready.

Show me hard. Light me up.

(Perkins)
Okay, we're going to roll...

coming up to air in five,
four, three....

(man)
...Rick Mason's Final Confession.

I'm Rick Mason.

Today as always,
live on location on Final Confession...

the first exclusive interview
with Dr. Joseph Vinton...

child molester...

and one of his victims,
Scott Fisher.

Let's go meet them.

[crowd applauding]

[vehicles honking]

[people chattering]

Four years ago,
Dr. Joseph Vinton, a therapist...

recognized for his treatment
of disturbed children...

took Scott Fisher...

then 1 1 years old,
to this restaurant.

[people applauding]

Now, Dr. Vinton sat here
with Scott...

he bought him ice cream...

and he convinced Scott
not to say anything about the abuse that he'd committed...

moments earlier at
his Greenwich Village office.

But eventually,
Scott did tell his mother...

and Dr. Vinton went to prison.

Dr. Vinton.

It must be strange for you
coming back to this place.

I'm not concerned
about myself. I'm here to help others.

I've committed
unspeakable crimes, and while I've served my time in jail...

I know it's not enough.

Eighteen months for the abuse
of seven children.

Sounds like a cruise.

Is that justice?

I don't know what justice is.

I know what I did was awful.
I hurt people.

I can't ever live it down.

Not in 18 months,
or in 18 years.

Now, you wrote a book
in prison about your experiences.

Who would you think
would want to read it? Certainly not my audience!

[people booing]

I didn't face what I'd done
until I was in prison.

The book is
part of my recovery. Part of the reason I'm free today...

to say...

I'm sorry.

To say he's sorry
to two of his victims...

Scott Fisher,
and his mother Sarah.

Now, Scott...

this man took you
into his care and he abused you.

(Mason)
He's willing to acknowledge that.

But if I were you...

I think I would
still be a little angry.

I am, but...

I'm hoping to...

make a start...

at getting it together.

[gunshots]

[people screaming]

[gunshot]

[people clamoring]

This is terrible!
Take us to commercial. Commercial!

I was on air, I didn't see
the father come in.

You knew who he was?
I wanted him on the show.

The wife says he's there,
she's not.

Who dreams he's going
to show up and shoot Vinton?

Vinton gonna make it?

Died in surgery.
Oh, no.

(technician)
Mr. Mason?

[sighs]

Top of the show.
If this doesn't do it...

four million witnesses.

Did the father know
the psychiatrist was going to be here today?

[siren wailing]
No way.

We're on location every week.

We never announce
where we're going to be.

That's what I do.

My guests are in a hotel
two days before air.

Even the crew doesn't know
who's gonna be on till just the last minute.

[woman chattering
on police radio]

I could have been shot myself.

Look, if there's
nothing else...

can I take care
of my staff?

Let me give you my card.
You remember anything else give me a call.

Why did he do it?
Because he's crazy, that's why.

You thought your husband
was capable of violence?

It's my fault. He blames me
for what happened to Scotty.

He blames me for everything.

I don't talk to my husband.
I haven't seen him in three years.

So, you didn't expect him
here today?

Well, he attacked Vinton
at his trial.

He got thrown out of the Army.

Why do you think
I divorced him?

Is my dad going to be okay?

(Briscoe)
The wound's not serious.

Officer O'Brien is going to
take you home, all right?

Where is that
security director Talbott?

I sent him back
to the precinct. We'll get his statement.

What? He's an ex-cop.
He did his job.

You want to book him
for shooting the father?

If you don't mind,
I've got a question.

How'd the father know
to come here today?

Come on, Mike, break it up,
move along. Nothing to see here.

Secret location,
lots of security. How did Fisher get here?

He shot the guy
who molested his kid.

I don't care
if an avenging angel sent him.

I might've done the same thing
if it was my kid.

Oh, I guess, case closed.

That's what Van Buren
will say.

How did the father
get there?

Who cares?

In Narcotics,
we didn't care when scum dealers got shot...

we did want to find out
who shot them.

We have the killer
in an operating room at Bellevue.

Just tell me
how Fisher got there.

We drop it and he does
his 25 years.

What did the wife say?
He was in the Army...

in the Rangers in Vietnam?

Those guys
can track a leopard in the rain...

so, maybe
he stalked the shrink.

(Logan)
A shrink child molester.

I wonder what's next
on his show...

family dog gets a sex change?

Or girl gives birth
to a baby pig.

My mother likes those shows,
along with the rest of America.

What do you want to do?

Hey, we already have
four open homicides.

Now, wait a minute.
If he stalked him, he could have hit him in an alleyway...

he could have hit him
driving a car.

He picks today
when four million people are watching...

in a place he's not even
supposed to know about?

I'm just saying
let's give it a day.

If nothing happens,
the case closes itself.

Talbott,
Mason's head of security...

the one who shot the father,
we've got him upstairs. So?

Bring him down.

I don't know how he got there.
At least I zipped him.

God knows
who he would have shot next.

You'd think someone
would have noticed him at the restaurant.

They were
rounding up audience off the street.

I wish I'd seen him sooner,
but, hey...

it was a crowd.

You'd already met the father?

Saw his picture in a file.

Hey, hold on...

Twenty years in the 31, l
know the drill. Now, am I here to give a statement or what?

Easy, Barry.
Nobody's blaming you.

But the wife said
her husband was a wacko.

You weren't worried?

I never talked to the guy
myself....

Yeah, I knew he was a nut,
but a gun?

You're sure Mrs. Fisher
didn't know where the show was?

Unless she reads minds.

She don't find out
until we drive her there.

Do me a favor, use the desk.
Finish typing up this statement.

Nice guy.
Oh, sure.

Retired cop.

What?

He knows Fisher
was in the Army, has a history of violence.

What? He's surprised the guy
shows up with a gun?

Well, I thought you said
we had four open homicides.

The bodies are frozen.
They're not going to thaw out.

Okay, let's call the D.A.

Maybe we get in to see
Pop Fisher. He sure as hell knows how he got there.

Yeah, he's in post-op,
sedated. They won't put him in his room till the morning.

[woman chattering on PA]

I followed the son of a bitch.
I shot him.

(Briscoe)
Where did you follow Vinton from?

(Logan)
You're going to prison.

If you help us,
maybe the D.A. will help you.

Sid. The D.A.
says if you cooperate-- You're a lawyer, right?

Listen up,
no jury puts me in jail for what I did.

Sid, you listen.
It's a question of for how long.

Like Vinton.

Country club, 18 months.
He deserved to die.

All right, look, we can do
this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way.

I didn't talk to Mason,
Talbott, any of his people.

But you know the name
of the head of his security.

Hell, yeah, I know his name.
He put a hole in my shoulder.

Sid, this
isn't getting anywhere.

I shot an animal.
Call the vet.

If I'd known
this would happen, obviously we wouldn't have gone on TV.

Well, after what
you'd been through...

some people would wonder
why you went on TV at all.

I thought we could help
others. I thought it would be good for Scotty.

We'd have an ending,
a resolution.

Scotty, ahem,
let me ask you...

did you want your father
there?

He's not in touch with Sid.
The court arranges everything.

But, it must have been painful
seeing Vinton again, huh?

Well, after three years,
it was okay.

You knew your dad was angry?

Dad's angry
about what happened to me.

He has a right to be.

(Sarah)
Scotty.

So, Dr. Vinton is dead.

Scotty, I want to talk
to the detectives alone.

You see how upset he is?
We're victims of this, too.

My husband's temper destroyed
my son and my marriage. I didn't tell him.

I didn't know
where we were going.

He can't remember
how he found Vinton.

Must be trauma
from the wound.

Had to be his wife.
She got to him.

Mrs. Fisher's lying?
Come on, she hates her husband.

She doesn't have to like him
to wind him up.

Yeah, but she
wouldn't want him there.

She'd be afraid
he'd shoot her.

"The killing of Dr. Vinton
comes at the start of the television period...

"known as sweeps. Ratings of
Rick Mason's Final Confession are expected to rise...

30% in the top 25 markets."

Oh, Mason did it
for the ratings.

He's a saint, and his show
caters to the highest instincts of human nature.

Look at him, he's scum.

So, change the channel.

Are you listening to yourself?
First Pop, then Mom, now Mason.

It's an Oliver Stone movie.

All right, nobody planned it.

It still doesn't answer
my question. How did Fisher know where to go?

That security chief, Talbott?

He had the mother and son
in a hotel for two days.

Fifth floor. Adjoining suites.

Mrs. Fisher and the boy.
Very private.

So, if we called
we couldn't get through.

Discretion is our middle name.

No, Mr. Mason's guests
and Mr. Talbott weren't even on the computer.

Here we go.

The Fishers, no phone calls.
Talbott, local only.

All to the same number.
Mason's office.

Was Mr. Mason here
Tuesday night?

He came in about 5:00.

I took him up myself
in the service elevator.

Mr. M. hates the lobby.
Samsonite tourists.

He left about 7:00.

Are there any pay phones
upstairs? On the residential floors?

If they use pay phones,
we lose our surcharge.

Anywhere other than the lobby?

Yeah, there's one
on the mezzanine, third floor. Very private.

Okay, thanks. Hey.

9:53 p.m.

A phone call
from the mezzanine.

To 526 East 91st Street.

Sid Fisher's place.

I guess the bellboy
made the call.

Mason left at 7:00.

Talbott was still there.

Somebody has good instincts.

Which one of you said
Mr. Talbott should learn to lie better?

Both of us.

He said 20 years on the force?

Sixteen. Never made sergeant,
tried three times.

I.A. investigation
said payoffs from dealers.

They never made the case.
He resigned.

Even a hero needs a pension,
Barry.

This is what you wanted
to talk about?

How much is your pension?

(Buren)
You don't have one.

You didn't do 20 years.
Your career was over in 16.

We're having a problem
with your statement.

You see, Barry,
you said you never talked to Sid Fisher.

You said Mrs. Fisher
and her son were under your full-time surveillance.

Trouble is, somebody called
Mr. Fisher the night before the broadcast.

From a pay phone at the hotel.

Now either you called,
or you know who did.

One last shot
at the Sergeant's Exam. Check the box.

Is accessory to murder
an A or a B felony?

I lost my pencil.

The call was made, Barry.

You were a cop,
work your own testimony, see where it leads.

[sighs]

I....

I got four kids.

I needed the job.

I didn't call Fisher.
I didn't tell Mrs. Fisher where the show was.

The night before...

Rick's on the phone
at the hotel. He's on the phone with his lawyer.

I'm worried.

We know Fisher is wired,
he slugged the shrink at the trial.

I heard he pistol-whipped
some kid in the Army.

I hear Rick say to the lawyer:

"We talked about this.
What do you want me to do?

"Cancel the show?

If it happens, just tell me
what kind of trouble I'm in."

I figured
I'd better clean my gun.

Take a breath, Detective.
This is completely absurd.

What am I hearing?
That you're investigating my client?

On the word of a crooked
ex-cop?

Who was crooked
when you hired him. And when I fired him.

Did he tell you that?
Day after the show.

Barry Talbott was hired
to protect my client's guests.

I told Barry, heads-up...

Fisher could track his wife.
Why do you think I wanted Fisher on the show?

We get him there,
we could've made sure he didn't have a gun.

The day it happened,
you were surprised he owned a gun.

The idea that my client
is responsible--

Your client?
Check your shorts.

Mr. Talbott tells us
that Mr. Mason called you before the shooting.

Says you knew about
the mystery guest.

One, no such conversation.

Two,
this imaginary conversation took place?

Privileged. Three,
if Talbott overheard it...

privilege extends to him
as an employee of my client. Close your notebook.

The interview is over.

She denied talking to him?

Oh, but you should have seen
the look on her face.

This is one scared lady.

The D.A. says it's not enough.
Dirty ex-cop? Not a great witness.

Look, we know
Mason set this up.

He wanted the guy shot,
he somehow got the father there.

Mason, all these guys,
they'll do anything for higher ratings.

So, that's what's going down.

Somebody gets killed,
these guys break out the champagne.

We can't prove that.
We don't know who called the father from the hotel.

Fisher's wife.
Mason called her. Or he told the kid.

That makes no sense.
Sarah Fisher protecting Mason?

If she knew he set it up,
why won't she tell us?

Who knows why this lady
does anything?

Why'd she bring her kid
on TV in the first place?

"Hello, America,
here's my molested son, watch him suffer."

We have shrinks
on the payroll. Give them a call.

You're asking me to explain
the behavior of a woman I've never met.

(Logan)
Look, we need an idea, someplace to start.

I usually try and avoid
making diagnoses over lunch.

Okay, this is speculation.
What did Mason do for Sarah Fisher?

He gave her an obituary.

She wanted Vinton dead?
I don't think so. He molested her son.

And in a way she was molested,
too. She goes on TV, she gets support.

She even gets applause.
She doesn't want Vinton dead...

she wants to do
Oprah and Donahue with him.

That's her way
of getting through it.

Then she wouldn't have helped
her husband kill Vinton.

No, but her son might.

That makes more sense.
Mason tells the kid...

the kid phones his father.

She's not protecting Mason.
She's protecting her son.

You're making it worse
by being here.

Your husband
didn't do this alone.

Mason picked you and Scott
for a reason.

I watched his shows.
I guess I should have realized....

I really can't tell you
anything.

You knew what your husband
was planning...

and you called him.
That makes you a coconspirator and you could be indicted.

Mom, don't--
Scotty! I don't know anything.

Mason went to the hotel
and he told you to call your husband.

(Briscoe)
Did he tell you it would make a better show?

Did he offer you money?
Did he tell you your husband was going to shoot Vinton?

Unless, of course,
he talked to you, Scott.

Scotty, I don't think
you should be here right now.

Mom, you don't have to--

It doesn't matter
who Mr. Mason talked to...

it's too late now.

[sighs]

Neither of us
should have been alone with him.

We shouldn't be alone
with you.

[telephones ringing]

Olivet's right.
She's not giving up her son.

Mason's gonna get away
with this. Do you think the D.A.'s gonna touch this?

Nah, guys like Mason
don't go to jail.

They go to country clubs
and they get awards.

Yeah,
what did Sarah Fisher say?

She watched his shows,
so she should have known.

So?
So, do you watch his show? I don't.

Maybe we should.
Maybe the guy's got some bad habits we don't know about.

Yeah,
that'll get us an arrest.

It might get us something
that will convince the D.A. that this guy set up a murder.

I never watch
the competition.

Hey, this isn't
a press conference.

Mason's a major player
in this industry.

Mr. Hudson, we're interested
in opinions, not resumes.

And this is
a murder investigation.

Well, which opinion
would you like? Mason's Nielsens were down?

Read it in Variety.
Which comes first? His conviction or his Emmy?

Well, what are you, new?
Nobody in the business was surprised.

You see that woman in Florida?

Husband shoots her
at their daughter's grave.

Same day network news.

I'd sell my poodle
for that kind of hype.

And shooting a child molester
is even better.

Cable operators are asking...

the State of Nevada
to televise executions pay-per-view.

Snuff for you?

Smell blood yet?
Television 101, no jeopardy, no viewers.

No viewers, no sponsors.
No sponsors-- No money.

Oh, no, marquee.
The marquee, his name over the title.

Without a show,
Mason's nothing but letterhead.

I know a girl, Debby Corrio.
Sweet kid.

She used to work for him.
She'll take you backstage.

Why does everyone think
I was fired? I quit.

Better job?
Better life.

I couldn't take
another minute.

What's on 4:30?
Final Confession.

5:00, last rites.

Nobody ever got shot
on his show. It was coming.

You know the Pulisi trial?

He had one of the jurors on.
Four days later, the man disappeared.

Hey, a mob-trial juror
goes on TV? He's asking for it.

You should have seen Mason
trying to convince him he'd be safe.

Eight months ago
we were doing this spot.

I found a diva, 19,
has an act in The Village.

I say, "Rick Mason
wants you to sing on his show."

So, she's in heaven.

No, he's at Bergdorf's
picking out a little black dress.

He's wearing a dress. So?

You want to see why I quit?

I'll get you the tape.

I don't care if he's a bully.
It's not admissible.

We're not talking
admissibility.

It's motive. They're trying
to give you a reason to make the case.

Watch this.

[audience applauding]
Sophie, Georgette and Mary.

Boys who sing like girls.

Tonight,
live on Final Confession.

Stay with us.
Don't go away, we'll be right back.

(technician)
We go to commercial.

Mary? Is this what
you really want to do?

I just wanted to sing,
Mr. Mason.

But it's not you, Mary.
Don't you want to be yourself tonight?

I don't know....

They love you.
Show them who you really are.

They want you to be happy.
They told me. They're both here?

Yeah, atta girl.
All right, head's up. We're coming back.

(man)
In five, four, three....

[audience applauding]

Tonight,
live on Final Confession.

Mary is really Tommy Turner...

and tonight...

she tells the two people
that love her the most.

Howard? Elaine?
Would you come out, please?

Do you recognize
this young lady?

Dad....

Tommy?

[Howard pants]

Oh, my God.

Oh, no....

The father walked out
of the show and had a coronary.

The kid felt so guilty,
a week later he killed himself.

Mason destroys people.

It doesn't prove anything.
Claire, it proves who he is.

We can't make this work,
all we got left is rubber hoses.

You can hit him harder.

You can't be serious.

You don't think
we should go after him?

What he does may be sleazy,
but it's not criminal.

If he arranged a murder,
it is.

You can't believe
that Mason knew Fisher was coming with a gun.

Miss Kincaid, he wanted
to get the man there.

Expected a fistfight,
got a homicide.

If intent to cause injury
causes death, it's man one.

At the least,
it's facilitation.

How do we prove facilitation?

You're not suggesting
we offer the father a deal for his son's testimony?

Why not?
He gets man one anyway.

And no jury convicts
on murder two.

Half the country
wants to name him Father of the Year.

You know what Mason'll do.

Call himself a journalist
and wrap himself in the First Amendment.

Well, let him wrap himself
in the American flag. He's not Tom Brokaw.

By the way, Adam,
the father fired his lawyer. He's going pro se.

Jerk.

So, I figure we offer him
a deal, he doesn't want to take it...

we say we're adding his son
to the charge.

It's not the father
we're after, it's Mason.

We're not going to
indict the kid to get him.

No, but the father
doesn't know that.

Let's hope.

My son had nothing to do
with it.

[sighs]

Well, we think that your wife
will testify otherwise.

Not against my son.

Mr. Fisher...

if your son did help you
get to Dr. Vinton...

he's an accessory.

He will go to Spofford.

I shot a man on principle.

You torment my son
in front of me....

You have no principles.
And you speak for the State.

We'll see you in court.

We'll provide you with help
for your defense.

If you leave my son alone,
I'll tell you what you want to know.

The offer is manslaughter
in the first degree, you do 8-to-25...

if you tell the truth and
if your testimony is useful. That is the deal.

The deal is my son
never appears in court, for any reason.

Agreed?

I can promise that
he won't be indicted.

I cannot promise you
that he won't appear as witness.

You don't need him
as a witness.

Mason called
a couple of weeks before the show.

Said Sarah was dragging
Scotty on.

Humiliate him.

Vinton sells a million books,
laughs till he cries. What am I going to do?

He told me it was at Waverly.
I went and shot the son of a bitch.

(Stone)
That's a lie, sir.

I told you the deal depends
on you telling the truth.

I cannot let you
commit perjury.

I am not dragging Scotty
through anything else, do you hear me?

My boy had to testify
against Vinton.

He never appears
in court again the rest of his life.

I didn't get any calls,
I didn't talk to anybody.

We can't use him. He'll lie.

He probably
did talk to Mason.

Well, that's not
the whole truth and we both know it.

He laid it all on Mason
to keep it away from his son, and Mason's smart.

He used the son to incite
the father, makes facilitation that much harder to prove.

Plus, he could figure that
the Fishers would never want the kid back in the limelight.

But without him,
there's no case.

This family....

They haven't been
in the same room together in three years.

Mrs. Fisher, we believe
that you and your son conspired with your husband.

Scott talked to your husband
before the shooting.

We're certain you knew it and
if we have to, we'll charge you both as accessories.

So, Scott, help your dad.

Tell the truth and
he gets out of prison sooner.

Scotty.
I'm done controlling myself.

Dad said it's okay
to feel that way.

Mr. Mason told me
where it was going to be.

I called my dad.

This way, please.

[people chattering]

[typewriters clacking]

What is this?
What are you doing here?

[door closing]

I thought
we were closing a deal.

Your son just cut a new deal
for you.

You had to put it on him.

Is this today's solution?
Blame it on our son?

Don't dump this on me.
I put him in therapy, you put him in a murder trial.

Sid, there's no justice.
At least we can have recovery.

Keep your recovery.
I got revenge.

This is finished.
Dad, don't do that.

Scotty's telling the truth,
he called Sid.

He told me after it happened.

You wanted corroboration.

You said you'd threaten
the father, you threatened the son.

Alice Hutton finds out,
she'll have a hayride on cross.

Was there any other choice?
Now we look like carnival hucksters.

"Want a deal? Take a number.
You too can get a piece of the movie rights."

Nobody said
this was an easy case.

Conspiracy without collusion?
But you've got to make a point.

Which is?
You treat people like animal acts...

one of them dies,
you go to jail.

Well, I just hope
we don't look ridiculous.

Oh, I'd wear clown make-up
if I thought it'd get me a conviction.

[people chattering]

"Docket number 62397,
The People v. Richard Mason.

Charges are manslaughter,
first degree, criminal facilitation, first degree."

So, Miss Hutton?

Your Honor,
in view of the absurdity of these charges...

my client would like
to make a statement.

In my defense, Your Honor,
I point to my career in journalism...

the respect
of my colleagues.

Sir, I have no idea
who you are.

Miss Hutton, I'm not going
to dismiss charges before they get to grand jury.

Prompt your client
to enter a plea or enter it for him.

Not guilty on both counts.

Ms. Kincaid?

We don't think bail
will affect Mr. Mason's appearance at trial.

The People ask for $100,000.
We find that acceptable, Your Honor.

Such reasonable people.
Who says no happy families?

And Mr. Mason,
stay in character if you want, but please, stay in town.

Next.

Who are you?
I speak for the people.

I gave the Fishers
their real day in court. You're a public servant.

Your system gave a molester
18 months.

You serve the public
better than I do?

I didn't arrange
to have him killed.

Neither did my client.
He had no motive.

Your client saw
an opportunity, Alice. I'm an opportunist?

Thirty-eight people were shot
in courtrooms last year.

The show you're staging
is no different than mine.

Mr. Mason, please focus.
This is not a show.

You have a camera,
I have Attica. Take a rest.

I didn't get my nap today
either. Geraldo had Nazis on the show...

he started a brawl,
nobody indicted him. Nobody got shot on his show.

Now, I'm willing to discuss
a plea at the lowest charge.

Go ahead, pick that scab.

I'll see you in court.
Don't be late, it's live.

By the way,
that phone conversation the security guard overheard...

Mr. Talbott?

I was on the phone
with my client. You'll never get it admitted.

(Hutton)
The call is privileged.

Mr. Talbott worked
for my client. In essence...

he was my client.
Oh, really? On what grounds?

He was a necessary agent
to my client conducting his business.

The necessary agent theory?
Fine for the law journals, Alice.

We don't make law here,
we uphold it.

My client didn't expect
to be overheard.

McCormick on Evidence,
he thought the call was private...

he didn't waive privilege.

It was a public telephone.

Attorney-client privilege
is one of those great zones of privacy, however--

Your Honor, l--
Sit down, Alice.

I don't see
how it applies here. And the jury has a choice.

They don't have to
believe a word Mr. Talbott says.

The testimony on the call
is admitted. Let's go to trial.

Alice, that phone call,
Talbott isn't lying, is he?

That conversation
was privileged. This isn't about privilege.

Prove my actions
were improper, bring me up for disbarment.

If I could prove it,
it would be accessory to manslaughter.

Who appointed you
Saint Francis of Assisi?

It must be thrilling
to occupy such high moral ground.

You're an officer
of the court.

It sounds like you were
discussing the possibility of murder with your client.

Really? You want to try
proving any of that?

You're desperate.

Talk shows have been on
20 hours a week for the past 10 years.

First time somebody gets shot,
you call it manslaughter?

It's what a jury
calls it that counts. This prosecution's a hummer.

I don't know
how you look at yourself in the mirror.

I'm a Catholic,
I can feel guilty about anything.

But I'll bet my conscience
is easier to live with than yours.

[vehicles honking]

Now, what will the defendant
tell you?

That he covers the news.

But in this case,
he didn't cover the news, he made it.

Now, let's be clear
about the motive.

(Stone)
Nothing draws people to their television sets...

nothing is more magnetic
than violence.

And each year,
the stakes go up.

You had a fistfight
on your show last year...

now who's going to watch
if that happens again?

The higher the stakes,
the higher the ratings.

The higher the ratings,
the more money goes into Mr. Mason's pockets.

And these stakes
are human lives.

Not just the life
of Dr. Vinton...

but the lives of
the entire Fisher family.

Now, Mr. Mason
brought them together as you would gasoline and fire.

And he waited
for the explosion.

The People will prove
that the explosion came...

because the defendant
deliberately lit the match.

Mr. Stone has a strange notion
of human behavior.

The defendant, he believes,
is responsible for what other people do.

He says, let's be clear
about motive.

I suggest, let's be clear
about the facts.

Here's what you'll learn from
the witnesses. The defendant didn't fire a gun.

He didn't put a gun
in anyone's hand, he didn't coerce...

anyone to appear
on his program.

And I remind you
of one other fact.

Long before the defendant
ever met the Fisher family...

Scott Fisher's father
attacked Joseph Vinton.

Did Richard Mason provoke
Mr. Fisher to fire a gun?

Or was he provoked
in a courtroom...

Iong before Richard Mason
ever heard of him?

That phone call
scared the hell out of me.

What specifically worried you?

Mr. Mason always said
Fisher might show up.

When he asked his lawyer
what kind of trouble he'll be in...

I figure he knows for sure.

Did you do anything
about your concerns? Well, I told him:

"Let me hire an extra man."
He said, "Forget it.

Fisher comes,
I'll let the guy talk." I said, "The guy's nuts...

anything can happen."
And what did Mr. Mason say to that?

He said, "We're doing a show.
Things are supposed to happen."

Thank you. Your witness.

So, Mr. Talbott, you thought
there'd be trouble?

Did you call the police?

I followed Mr. Mason's orders.
Did you follow orders as a cop?

Why did you leave
the Police Department? Objection.

Is it true
you resigned because--

Miss Hutton.
Counsel will approach.

When he objects,
you wait for my ruling.

Now, Mr. Talbott wasn't
convicted of a crime, get near that again, you'll regret it.

Objection sustained.

Mr. Talbott, this call you say
you overheard.

Did you mention it
in your statement to the police?

No, I didn't.

Well, you lied then,
or you're lying now.

Is it true you no longer work
for Richard Mason...

that you were fired
the day after the shooting of Joseph Vinton?

Yeah, I was fired.
Well, you lied to the police.

I wonder, are you angry enough
at Richard Mason to lie now?

I didn't want my son on TV.
What did you tell Mr. Mason?

I said, "You put Scotty on,
I'm gonna be there. It'll be trouble."

Mason says, "It's news
to America. You don't like the news, make your own."

And what did that mean to you?
Objection. Asks for conclusion.

No, I'll allow it. Mr. Fisher?

It meant lump it.

He wanted me to come
and attack Vinton. Thank you. Your witness.

So, you testified your son
told you where to go that day.

Can you tell the court
why wasn't Scott charged as an accessory in this crime?

I don't know.

Is that so? You said you
made a deal with Mr. Stone.

You'd implicate Mr. Mason
in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Was your son a part
of that deal?

They threatened
to indict Scotty. "They," Mr. Fisher?

Mr. Stone,
the District Attorney.

He said he'd indict my son.

Compelling incentive.
If my son were threatened, I'd say anything.

No further questions.

Mason did it!
He made Scotty call me.

He's a parasite! He's filth!
Mr. Fisher!

The jury will ignore
the witness's remark. Strike it from the record.

Redirect, Your Honor?
If the witness can control himself.

Mr. Fisher, did you ever offer
to lie in your testimony?

I wanted to say
Mason told me where to go.

I wanted to say Scotty
had nothing to do with it.

And how did I respond?

You said that was perjury.
You said you couldn't let me do that.

Thank you.
No further questions.

It was at the hotel.
I was in my room.

And what did Mr. Mason
tell you?

He said where the show
was gonna be...

might be painful.

And what did you say to that?
I told him I was scared...

about seeing Dr. Vinton.

I didn't want to know
where it was.

He said he had to tell me.
The Waverly, where Dr. Vinton...

took me after the sessions.

Did Mr. Mason explain to you
why he had to tell you where it was?

He said my dad
ought to be there.

He couldn't tell Dad
where the show was going to be, but I could.

He took me to
a pay phone downstairs and I called my dad.

Thanks, Scott. Your witness.

I know this is difficult
for you, Scott. All we want you to do is tell the truth.

Now, you met with Dr. Vinton
for how long? About three years.

And did your mother ever
ask you about your sessions with the doctor?

Objection. Relevance?
Goes to credibility.

I'll allow it, but make
the connection quickly.

Go on, Scott.
Sure, my mom asked me.

And in three years
you never told her what Dr. Vinton did to you?

No, she wanted me to go.
You wanted to please your mother...

so you didn't tell the truth.

You want to make it
sound like I'm lying.

I'm not. Mr. Mason told me
to call my dad.

I didn't know
what he was gonna do.

Scott, didn't Mr. Stone
prepare you for today?

Didn't he tell you exactly
what to say?

He told me just like you,
to tell the truth.

No further questions.

She couldn't break him, Adam.

Ben, who said all cases
are made by prepping the witnesses?

You did, I think.
About 400 times. Oh, yeah.

Ben, Mr. Mason
just held a press conference.

He fully expects
to be acquitted.

He's suing for false arrest
and malicious prosecution.

$5 million in damages.

Well, the last guy
that tried that with me...

is still doing
three-to-nine.

I wouldn't eat that canary
just yet.

It's a long trip
from your witnesses to motive and conviction.

I'm pretty sure
Mr. Mason will get us there.

Well, but he might be
a better performer than you.

Certainly had
as much practice.

Well, then l
can learn something.

Why did you visit Scott
at the hotel that night?

I spend time with all
my subjects. Especially a vulnerable 15-year-old.

What did you tell Scott?
I reminded him how hard it would be.

Frankly,
I wanted to assure myself that he wouldn't be damaged...

and if I wasn't convinced,
I would have canceled the show.

Did you tell him where
the show would be and ask him to call his father?

Absolutely not.
I spoke to Mr. Fisher.

Anyone could see the man
was dangerous.

Did you instruct Barry Talbott
to curtail his vigilance in any way?

The opposite.

I was concerned
that Mr. Fisher might find out the location of the show.

I told Mr. Talbott
to stop him at all costs.

Mr. Mason, do you
consider yourself to have high professional standards?

Yes, I do.

There are some things
I will not do in pursuit of a story.

I've never used a hidden
camera. I don't surprise subjects in parking lots.

And I don't pay
convicted felons.

I might add that some of
my colleagues at the networks are not so particular.

Thank you. Your witness.

So, you have high professional
standards, sir, yet...

you put the Fisher family
on your show, you knew that Mr. Fisher was dangerous.

Is that a high standard?

I took every precaution.
Didn't you provoke Mr. Fisher?

Didn't you refuse
to hire additional security?

Didn't you manipulate
Scott Fisher? None of that is true.

What about guests on your
previous shows? Didn't you arrange to have--

Objection. May we approach?

Mr. Mason's past programs
are irrelevant. It goes to motive, Your Honor.

And they're inadmissible.
Put it in your pocket, Ben.

I didn't let her do it
to your witness, you don't do it to hers.

Objection sustained.

Mr. Stone?

Are you telling this court,
sir, that you feel no responsibility...

for the death of Dr. Vinton?

It was a tragedy,
but I would never knowingly put anyone's life in danger.

Judge, you can't allow this.
You want to go in the back door?

Your client opened the door.

Hello there,
send the arguments toward my door.

Mr. Stone tried to sneak in
character testimony before.

He wanted to tarnish my client
but you said no.

Mr. Mason's past programs
haven't suddenly become relevant.

But they have,
Alice. Mason lied.

He said he never
put anyone in danger. He did.

He said "knowingly."
He would never knowingly put anyone in danger.

Ben, you have rebuttal
on this?

(Stone)
I do, Your Honor.

A witness who was there
and she'll testify.

It's grossly prejudicial.

People v. Zackowitz,
Benjamin Cardozo on the New York Court of Appeals.

What about Wigmore?

Character is never an issue
unless the defendant chooses to make it one...

which is what your client did.
It's too bad, he should have kept his mouth shut.

I'm going to allow this...

but you better hope
your witness knows what she's talking about.

We wanted the juror
from the Pulisi trial...

to talk about
organized crime.

We picked juror number six,
James Davis.

And why did you want
that particular juror on your show?

He was the one who pushed
the jury to convict.

He said
he would talk about it, but he was afraid.

Mr. Mason assured him
that we'd alter his voice, silhouette his face.

(Stone)
And did Mr. Mason do that?

Sure, he did.

Then he invited
Nick Pulisi's son on the show.

Mr. Davis didn't know
until halfway through.

He disappeared
from a parking lot.

They never found him.

Were you involved in the show
that featured...

prostitutes in Times Square?

I helped find those girls.

The day of the show one
of them, her name was Cheryl, she was a little tired.

Mr. Mason was upset.

The first time we talked
to her, she was all lit up, she was funny.

Lit up, you mean
that she was on drugs?

She was on cocaine.

(Stone)
And what did Mr. Mason do to help her be funny?

He gave her $300, told her
to take a little walk.

Did she come back?

Yeah.

She was her old self.

She was buzzed.

We were just off the air
when she keeled over.

Later, we found out
she bought some bad stuff.

She barely made it
to the hospital.

Miss Corrio,
one last question.

How did Mr. Mason
react to that news?

He said, "What a waste...

too bad she didn't OD
on the show."

He said,
"What we really needed was for somebody to die on the air."

On the first count
of the indictment manslaughter in the first degree...

how does the jury find?

We find the defendant
not guilty.

(Steinman)
On the second count of the indictment,

the charge
of criminal facilitation...

in the first degree,
how does the jury find?

We find the defendant guilty.

Move to continue bail
until sentencing.

Motion granted.

[people chattering]

(Mason)
I'm disappointed, but not only for myself.

It's a sad day
for the First Amendment.

He'll do 18 months,
better than nothing.

Eighteen months
is what Vinton got, right?

Mason
could write his own book in that time.

Oh, he's off the air.
Oh, I don't know about that.

Five hundred cable channels
coming? He could start the Prison Channel.

[snickers]

[woman chattering]

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