All language subtitles for Law.and.Order.True.Crime.S01E05.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-NTb_track3_[eng]

.

[dramatic music]

*

- These boys were abused
from the age of six.

- I told Lyle I was sexually
abused when I was a kid,

and he told me he was molested
by his dad.

- Terrified
into keeping secrets.

- Dad said
if anyone ever found out

that something bad
would happen.

- What will I do?
- You'll kill me.

- That's right.

- They grew up with no sense

of feeling protected
by their parents.

- Erik and I killed
our parents.

Dad was molesting my brother.

- Mom too. She molested me too.

- [cries]

- They were made to believe

that their parents
would kill them.

- What Erik said
about Uncle José...

It's true.

- Imperfect self-defense.

And do you believe them?

- I believe in our case.

male radio host:
The trial of Lyle and Erik

Menendez gets underway
in Van Nuys today.

female radio host:
Waste of money.

Didn't they confess?
- Yeah, yeah.

Judge is Stan Weisberg.
Remember him?

- Yes.
- He's the genius

who moved the Rodney King
trial to Simi Valley.

They say because
it was a shorter commute.

- Yeah, lot of cops live
in Simi Valley.

- That's right.
The officers who beat King

were acquitted.
No big surprise to anybody.

- Except to the people who got
caught in the riots.

I wonder how Weisberg feels
about teeing up the riots

just so he could shave ten
minutes off his commute--

[radio clicks off]

[cars honking]

- With your permission,
Your Honor,

Court TV will broadcast
this trial gavel-to-gavel.

The public's interest
will be served.

The image of our nation's
courts will be enhanced

by seeing how Your Honor

conducts the business
of justice.

- We are not doing a public
service announcement here.

This is a trial
involving family violence

and extreme forms
of child abuse.

Some of our witnesses
don't want to appear

on national TV discussing
intimate personal details.

- Your Honor, we have
no objection

to gavel-to-gavel
coverage.

- Of course she doesn't.

It's not her witnesses
who'll be intimidated.

I filed a motion to have
their identities sealed

until after they testified,

and now you want
to put their faces

on every TV
in the country.

- I'm sure Court TV
can conceal their identities.

- No, no blue dots.

I want the camera out.

- [inhales] I'm concerned
that the camera and operator

will be distracting
to the juries.

Can't your client hang
one of those

department store security
cameras on the wall?

- Well, if that's
their only choice.

- Good. Petition is granted.

We're adjourned.
- Your Honor--

- We're adjourned,
Ms. Abramson.

We will reconvene in chambers

to hear defense counsel present
the legal basis

for their theory of the case.

[indistinct chatter]

- Erik and Lyle
were traumatized

by sexual abuse
by their parents.

Once they threatened to reveal
the abuse to third parties,

their trauma led them to have
a real but unreasonable belief

that their parents would kill
them to keep the abuse secret.

That's imperfect self-defense.

- Come on. We've litigated
this case for three years

and now they bring up abuse?

- True or not, Your Honor,
abuse can't be used

as a justification
for these murders.

If you instruct the jury

to consider imperfect
self-defense,

they could convict
these defendants

for nothing more
than Voluntary Manslaughter

or even acquit them.

- That is up to the jury

when they hear our evidence.

Your Honor, I ask you not
to dismiss this

until we present
our case.

- Fine. Present your case.

But if you don't convince me,

I will instruct the jury to
ignore imperfect self-defense.

Jury selection begins
on Monday.

- And how do you feel
about Beverly Hills?

- Seems like a ritzy community.

I'd like to live there someday.

- Please tell us what,
if anything,

you know
about José and Kitty Menendez.

- Well, they were rich, and...

Now they're dead.

- Do you think
you could be impartial

even though you're married

to Los Angeles Deputy
District Attorney?

- Yes. I don't always agree
with my husband.

- We'll take her.

- We reject for cause.

- Denied. And since you're out
of peremptories,

this juror is accepted.

- Have you ever seen
Erik's face on TV?

- No.

- Have you ever seen
my face on TV?

- No.
- Some people would say

you're lucky.

- I'm striking this juror.

Your Honor, every time
the Court makes

a comment about me,
it's negative.

Have I offended the court?

- You're being
overly-sensitive, Ms. Abramson.

Let's move on.

- Easy.
Just take a deep breath.

female newscaster:
Opening arguments in the trial

of Lyle and Erik Menendez
are scheduled today.

- Mom, why would you say
something like that?

Yes, I'm going to raise
a stranger's child.

So what? I married
a stranger's child.

I got to go.
I got to prepare.

Yeah, love you.

[sighs] She says I'll be
a terrible mother.

- Laine knows that's not true.
So do I.

- She thinks I'm ungrateful.
I'm not.

All her insults growing up
made me stronger.

Tell me what you think.

Pam Bozanich will probably
wear something colorful,

to distract from the fact
that she's the Angel of Death.

What you doing?
- You left out a comma.

Punctuation matters,
even in a speech.

- Mm.

What do you think?

- Now the defense is ready.

*

- I'm a screenwriter.

I want to soak up atmosphere

for a thriller I'm writing.

- Too late, Dominick.

Only 12 seats
for the press.

- Second row, right
behind the defense.

Vanity Fair pulled some
strings, Bob.

- Watch out, please.

Watch out, elderly person here.

[overlapping chatter]
- Good morning, guys.

- Oh, that's Pam.

- Excuse me.

- There she goes,
Cardinal Richelieu.

[indistinct shouting]

- Morning.
- No, sorry.

- Excuse me.
- Oh, my. Here comes the bride.

Leslie, any significance
to the white dress, dear?

- White is the color
of truth, Dominick.

Try it on sometime.

[indistinct chatter]

Mr. Arnel, he's the boy
I told you about.

He came to show his support.

Who is Lyle talking to?

- That's Norma Novelli.

She puts out a newsletter
for prisoners.

Lyle's writing an article
for her.

He trusts her.

- All rise.

- Please sit down.

Good morning.

Some of you may have noticed

that there are two juries
in the courtroom today.

The jury that will hear
Lyle Menendez's case

is sitting in the jury box
wearing gold badges.

Erik Menendez's jury is in the
front gallery with blue badges.

They will move
in and out of the courtroom

according to which defendant
the testimony pertains.

Jurors...

I would like to thank you
in advance

for performing this important
civic service.

I'm sure all of you will find
this a rewarding

and interesting experience.

The evidence will be
fascinating

and all of the lawyers
are top-notch.

- What is he doing,
pitching a TV show?

- Now, the Court--

[camera whirring]

What is that?

- The camera you authorized,
Your Honor.

- But it's moving.

- It's a robotic camera, sir.

It's being controlled
from down the hall.

[ominous music]

*

- Now the Court will
call the case

of People versus Menendez.

Let us proceed
with opening statements.

[camera whirring]

- Based on our evidence,

it will become apparent
that this murder was unlawful,

unjustified and wholly
premeditated,

and that but for a few mistakes

that Lyle Menendez
and his brother made...

This was almost
the perfect murder.

- On August 20, 1989,

Lyle and Erik Menendez killed
their parents.

We're not disputing
where it happened,

how it happened, who did it.

The only thing you're going to
have to focus on in this trial

is why it happened,
and we will prove

that it was done
out of fear.

- Four days after the killings,

they went to Slavick's
Jewelers in Beverly Hills

and spent $15,000 on Rolex
watches and gold money clips.

- It will be your job to decide
what kind of killing this is.

We intend to provide you

with the answer to
that question.

Erik will tell you
why he killed his parents.

Erik was the abused son
of wealthy parents.

He killed his parents
because he could no longer

endure the abuse
and had to stop it.

In doing that, he put himself
in mortal danger.

When he sensed
that danger was imminent,

his instinct to
survive took over.

Now, because his parents
were wealthy,

the prosecution tells you

that Erik and Lyle
did it for money.

What do they say when poor kids
kill their parents?

.

- During the course
of this fishing trip,

did it seem to you

that the family
was enjoying themselves?

- The boys sat at the bow
the whole trip,

getting cold and wet.

I couldn't
say they enjoyed it.

- Didn't you tell police
that the family

excitedly pointed to seals

playing in the water
to Mrs. Menendez?

- That's right.

- Thank you.

- Seals? How adorable.

- Ms. Abramson, I want no more
gratuitous remarks

in front of the jury.

- Captain, who took this photo?

- I did. Mrs. Menendez asked
me at the end of the trip.

- Captain Anderson,
during this outing,

did it appear to you
that the boys were trying

to stay away
from their parents?

- They didn't talk much
to their parents.

They seemed...gloomy.

- Gloomy?

And afraid of their parents?

- Objection.
- Withdrawn.

No more questions.

[ominous music]

- Blood and brain matter were
dripping from the ceiling.

I observed Mr. Menendez sitting
at one end of the couch.

He had gunshot wounds to his
legs, thighs, torso and face,

and what appeared to be
a point-blank gunshot

to the front of his head.

- What else did you observe?

- Mrs. Menendez was lying
on the floor

between the couch
and coffee table.

She had gunshot wounds
across her body,

and what appeared to be
a point-blank gunshot

under her left eye.

*

- People's three.

Detective, please
open the packet

and describe its contents.

[bag ripping]

- Women's size nine
tennis shoes.

These are the shoes
Mrs. Menendez was wearing

when she was murdered.

*

- Erik and I wanted to start
a multi-faceted company

that dealt in stocks,
screenplays, inventions--

you know, anything to
develop our status in society.

- What classes did Erik say
he took at Beverly Hills High?

- Uh, several,
but a drama class

I believe is
what you're looking for.

- Did you have occasion to
visit Erik at his home

after the murders?
- Yeah.

About a week and a half after.

Just to make sure he was okay.

There was this computer expert

there from San Diego
with his pregnant wife.

Erik said that Lyle had the guy

erase a family will
from the computer.

He said that the will cut him
and Lyle out of the money.

- Did Erik discuss the murders
with you?

- Yeah, he asked me,

"Do you want to know
how it happened?"

I said, "Yes."

He told me how Lyle
handed him a shotgun,

said, "Let's do it."

They went into the family room,

parents were on the couch,

and Lyle shot his dad.

Uh, and then he told Erik,
"Shoot Mom."

And Erik shot his mom while she
was standing up and yelling.

- Did Erik say that he was
acting in self-defense?

- No.

- That he was abused
by his parents?

- No.

- He's lying.
- Nothing further.

- I know, honey.

This is where we take

their case apart,
one liar at a time.

[sighs] I take it,

Mr. Cignarelli,
from the way you're dressed,

that you're no wallflower.

You like attention, do you not?

- Yeah, I guess so.

- Do you like the fact there's
a TV camera on you right now?

- No, not at all.

I'm dressed this way
because this is my future.

- Ah.

You tend to talk very fast

so try to slow down.

Now, you testified
that Erik confessed to you

a week and a half
after the murders.

You initially told police
it was on October 21st,

two months after the murders,
did you not?

- The police told me
the exact date

was a week and a half
after the murder.

- How would they know what date

Erik confessed to you?

- I believe they coordinated
the dates

with when the
computer expert was there.

I guess they put
those two together.

- So you're putting
your story together

based on
what the police told you?

- No, I'm not putting
my story together.

- There was no expert
at the house, was there?

Erik never talked to you
about any will.

- You can twist my story
all you want, okay?

I'm telling the truth.

- Erik never confessed to you,
did he?

- No, he did, okay?

That's why I agreed to wear a
wire in the first place,

to get him to confess on tape.

- Did the police use threats

to get you to wear that wire?

- No, they didn't threaten me.

- So there was no downside
to wearing it?

- No, the downside was I'm
doing this to my best friend.

- Your best friend.

*

I'm done.

[club music playing]
- Hoo-hoo-hoo, aw, man.

Those girls were even hotter
than the last place.

- Not as hot as
where we're going next.

- Hey, thank you for all
of this, Detective.

- Ah, you boys need to relax.

You got a big day tomorrow.

Now, when you get on the stand,

just stick to the script.
- Okay.

- Those defense lawyers
are sharp,

but three words will get you
out of trouble.

"I. Don't. Remember."

Okay?

Let's go.

- It's my time card
from Boxer's.

It shows I worked a shift
on August 18, 1989.

- Did you give Erik or Lyle
permission

to use your driver's license

to buy two shotguns
in California on that date?

- No, I did not.

- Thank you.

No more questions.

- Mr. Goodreau, you and Lyle
were close friends.

You shared confidences?

- Uh, yes. Right.

- In May 1989, over dinner
at a Chinese restaurant,

did Lyle reveal a secret
about himself,

Erik, and their father?

- Um...a secret?

- I'll be specific.

Did Lyle tell you that
his father had molested them?

- No, he didn't.

- But didn't you tell
Glenn Stevens

that Lyle told you
that his father had abused him?

- No, I never told Glenn that.

[ominous music]

*

- The little bastard.

- Ask him
about the Rand interview.

- Mr. Goodreau, did you ever
have an interview

with a reporter
on tape in which you stated

Lyle confided that his father
had molested him?

- Bob Rand was
the only reporter

who interviewed me
on tape.

- And did you state on tape

that Lyle said he and Erik were
abused by their father?

*

- [inhales] I--I...

I don't remember.

*

- I thought Goodreau was
my friend.

- They're all turning on us.

- What's wrong with us?

How could we have friends
like this?

- They're just scared, Lyle.

The juries know they're lying.
- Come on.

- Hold on, we need you boys
to get some rest tonight.

Can you do that for us?

Okay.

[buzzer rings]

We can refute Goodreau's denial
with Rand's interview tape.

- But we can't use it in court.

It's never been made public.

We only know about it

because Rand played it for us.

There's no basis
to admit it as evidence.

- Interesting testimony today,
Mr. Rand.

- Yeah, interesting.

- Too bad your Goodreau
interview was never broadcast.

Better do the right thing.

[engine turns over]

- Everybody's glued to it
at the office.

Even the Japanese Barbecue
down the street.

Your reviews aren't good.

You defend rich brats,

don't show proper respect
for the judge,

and I don't at all get why
you keep petting Erik

and fussing with his sweater.

- Everyone needs mothering.

- Speaking of, does Sylvia know

you've been in touch with Sol?

- Ira told her.

It's why
that rejecting old woman

isn't returning my calls.

[phone ringing]

- Mr. Goodreau, you and Lyle
were close friends.

- This is Leslie.

- Shared confidences?

- Thank you, Bob.
- Yes, right.

- KCAL's number nine, right?
- May 1989,

over dinner
at a Chinese restaurant,

[channel changes]

female news anchor:
Possible perjury

in the sensational trial

of Erik and Lyle Menendez,

when prosecution witness
Donovan Goodreau

was asked about a conversation
with Lyle Menendez.

- Didn't you tell Glenn
Stevens that Lyle told you

that his father
had abused him?

- No, I never told Glenn that.

- Eight months ago, Goodreau
told reporter Robert Rand

a different story.

- He told me he was molested
too by his dad.

And Erik was too.

- Now we got him.

.

- And he told me he was
molested too. By his dad.

And Erik was too.

I don't know, maybe he was
just saying that

to make me feel better,
I don't know.

Rand: I'm sorry. Do you know
if he told anyone else?

- No, but I told Glenn
Stevens what Lyle said.

[VHS player shuts off]

- Well, Mr. Goodreau,

would you like
to amend your testimony

from yesterday?

- [breathes deeply]

[ominous music]

*

- Take a deep breath,
Mr. Goodreau.

- I don't remember
that interview.

Lyle never told me
he was molested.

So I never said anything
to Glenn Stevens.

*

- Nothing further.

*

- Donovan never told me
anything.

It was the reporter, Bob Rand,

who told me about the
molestation and the massages.

- When he was arrested, Lyle
gave you his gold Rolex watch

for safekeeping,

What did you do with it?

- I sold it.

To pay for my trip back east.

- In the months
before his arrest,

Lyle bought you plane tickets,
meals, even a car,

is that right?

- Yes. I managed
his restaurant.

It was his responsibility to
pay for those things.

- To pay for a car? What were
your duties at the restaurant?

- Well, I supervised
five employees.

I took care of the payroll.

- Defense's 39,
a copy of the resume

you sent to prospective
employers.

It says
that you supervised a payroll

of 20 restaurant employees.

So you went
from 5 to 20.

- Yes, that was an
over-exaggeration.

An embellishment.

- Is that the same thing
as a lie?

*

- Sometimes it can be.

- And is there anything else
on this resume

that is an embellishment?

[camera whirring]

- Probably.

- Valedictorian
at Westminster School,

is that correct?

- Not exactly.

- So you were presenting
a false picture of yourself?

- You see, at Princeton,
we're instructed

to embellish a little bit.

To sell yourself.

- So it didn't violate

any personal code of honor
that you have?

Or do you have one,
Mr. Stevens?

*

- Yes, I have a personal code
of honor.

And it probably violated it.

- Thank you.

Nothing further.

*

- Wait, don't tell me that.

The Board's accusing me
of giving her drugs,

threatening to put her
in a mental hospital,

and forcing her to have sex.

I never had to force her.

- We'll answer the charges,
Jerry.

- But they're threatening
to revoke my license, Ross.

- Relax. I'll handle it.

- Oziel is the prosecution's
star witness.

This guy who is a menace
to the mental health

of the people of California.

If we are allowed to prove
the nature of this person,

his ethics,
his total ineptness,

the jury will not believe a
word he has to say.

Everybody got that? Thanks.
[overlapping chatter]

- This doesn't change
our plans one bit.

The allegations against
Dr. Oziel have nothing to do

with the testimony he's going
to give in this case.

Excuse me. Thank you.
[indistinct chatter]

- In November 1989,
Lyle and Erik shared with me

a list of grievances they had
against their father.

It didn't include sexual abuse.

- How did they characterize
the killings?

- I laid out two kinds
of murder for them.

One premeditated,

involving a plan,
a job to be accomplished.

Or two, a crime-of-passion
killing.

Lyle and Erik chose
the first option

to describe their own crime.

- A job to be accomplished.

Thank you.

- [inhales]

Dr. Oziel.

From an ethical standpoint,

are you comfortable
being a witness

against former patients
in a case

where the state wants
to kill them?

- No.

- In your resume,

you describe yourself
as a "sex therapist."

The term pops up many times.

"Sex therapist, sex therapist,
sex therapist."

And you list
your media appearances.

I assume you were speaking

about things associated
with sex therapy?

- Probably. I don't recall
those appearances

because they didn't have
that much importance to me.

- Enough importance to list
them all in your resume.

When you met the Menendez
family in 1988,

did you tell them that your
license was on probation

at that time?

- I don't remember.

- The probation was for

unprofessional billing
practices, right?

- Technically, yes.

- Let's talk
about your billing practices.

Four days after the murder,

you went to the Bel Air hotel

to offer your condolences to
Erik and Lyle, is that right?

- Well, yes, of course.

- And you billed them $1,300
for that visit.

[crowd murmuring]

- Well, that reflects the time
I spent with them,

as their therapist.

- $1,300 for condolences?

You testified earlier about
feeling threatened by Lyle,

that you and your family were
in mortal danger.

But instead of going home
to ensure their safety,

you went to your girlfriend's.

- I wouldn't call her
my girlfriend.

- Are you more comfortable
with lover?

[ominous music]

*

- I'll help you.

Defense's 43.

Is this a poem you wrote to
Judalon Smyth in January 1990?

- I didn't write it to Judalon.

- "For like a nymph she strides
from the forest

"at daybreak dressed in white

"when no other man had truly
known her...

Judalon."

So, girlfriend? Lover?

- Fine. I was afraid that if
Lyle and Erik followed me,

they would find me
with my wife and children.

- So instead you went to
Ms. Smyth's and put her,

based on what you told us and
her, in danger?

- Erik knew where I lived.

They didn't know about Judalon.

I could hide out there--

- How many days did
you hide out

at Ms. Smyth's?

- Several days.

- But during that time,
on November 1st,

did you see patients
in your office?

- I did see patients that day.

- 11 patients in your office.

Erik and Lyle certainly knew
where that was, didn't they?

*

You didn't really feel
threatened, did you?

You just said
that to Ms. Smyth so that she

would feel threatened--
- Objection.

Approach, Your Honor?
- Come on.

- [whispering]
Ms. Abramson is putting

before the jury a legal issue

that's been resolved.

- Look. This jury has a right
to assess his credibility.

We're not challenging whether
or not he was in fear.

We're saying he told Ms. Smyth
they were in danger

because he exploits people

by exercising domination
over them,

by putting them in fear--
- I'm sorry.

- By isolating them...

- Do you want to do this in
front of Dr. Oziel,

because he's right here.
- Yes, I don't care

if he's listening.

- Ms. Abramson,

move on from this line
of questioning.

And did you fail the law school
whispering course

[whispering]
because everybody

can hear your
stage whispers.

- [breathes deeply]

Dr. Oziel.

Isn't it true, rather than
being afraid,

you saw Erik's confession as an
opportunity for financial gain?

- No, that's not at all true.

- You don't remember telling
Ms. Smyth

in a call recorded by her,

"Judalon, there's 14 million
involved in this,"

14 million being the
approximate worth

of the Menendez estate.

- I don't recall making
that statement,

but, you know, I might have.

- Have you talked
about writing a book

about your experience
in this case?

- Yes, I have.

- Were you hoping to make a lot
of money off this book?

Was that on your mind?
- No.

What entered my mind was
that being a witness

in a case like this is like
being on trial.

It's like this experience,
actually,

that we're having
right now.

*

- Good luck with that,
Dr. Oziel.

I'm done with this witness.

- So now we've heard
the prosecution's

whole case against you.

- They haven't proven anything.

I mean, there was no testimony

about us hating our parents
or wanting money.

- They're going
with the evil seed theory.

Their best theory is hatred.

- I'm not a guy who hates.

- We will get our chance
on Monday.

This weekend, we want you boys

to go out
and use the exercise yards.

Just work up a sweat.

- Let's go.

- I have to run.

I'm meeting the birth mother
tonight.

She's six months pregnant.

- Six months?

At the rate we're going,
she's going to give birth

in the middle of the trial.
- I thought of that.

- Well, Leslie, I wish you'd
told me earlier.

How can you possibly handle
this trial and a new baby?

- I can handle it.

Just like you did
when you had Lila.

Just like women have been doing
since God knows when.

Six months pregnant.

I remember when I was
six months pregnant.

I was not a happy camper.

- It's going to be okay.

- What if she's not
in the best frame

of mind to meet us?

And what
if she doesn't like us?

What if I say something--
- You won't.

- You don't know that.

- She's ready to meet you.

- All right.

[clears throat]

*

- Oh, sweetheart,
you look so beautiful.

.

- They want to put the parents
on trial.

- The prosecution used a parade

of pathological liars

to concoct a fantasy
about Erik and Lyle.

We want to talk
about what really happened.

- Judge Weisberg, presenting a
history of the Menendez family,

starting with José and Kitty
Menendez's childhoods

is the only way to give the
jury a full understanding

of Erik and Lyle's abuse.

- How can the events
from 40 years ago,

before the defendants
were even born,

have any relevance?

- If we get the chance, Lester,

we will connect the dots
for you and the jury.

- I happen to agree
with Mr. Kuriyama.

The victims' teething problems
are not relevant.

You can start
your family history

with the defendants'
childhood.

Now I warn both of you ladies

that if you bog us down
in minutiae,

I will cut you off.

- Watch out,
I'm gonna blitz you.

- Ooh, little Erik,
I'm so scared.

- Oh, six.
- Aw.

- That's a hit.

[phone rings]

- Yep?

They're back in.

- Kitty wouldn't kiss and coo
Lyle when he was a baby.

She didn't like Lyle.

She seemed to resent him.

- Can you give us an example?

- When he was two
and he was hungry,

she let him climb on a chair,
get on the counter,

and get his cereal.

- Did she make a move
to grab the baby?

- No.

But when I did, she stopped me,

and she said,
"Lyle can fend for himself."

I didn't understand.

She once told me the boys
had broke her marriage.

[dramatic music]

- How did you brother José
treat his sons

in your presence?

- He was brutal.

Once, when Erik
lost a tennis match,

he called him a sissy in front
of the whole crowd.

- Defense's 52.

Do you know this photo?

- Yes.

José put Erik on a chin-up bar,

and left him there,
to toughen him up.

He thought it was funny.

Erik was terrified.

- Who took this photo?

- Kitty.

She thought it was funny too.

- Ms. Cano,

do you think your brother
loved his sons?

- I think he did.

You can love somebody
and still hurt them,

you know?

*

- Uh, I'm not sure, Ira.

Yeah, I understand.

I will get there
as soon as I can.

I'll call you.

I love you too, honey.

[sighs]

Sylvia had a heart attack.
She's in a coma.

They don't expect...

The doctors don't expect her
to live.

- It's too late
for the red-eye,

but we can fly out first thing
in the morning.

- Oh, I can't do that.

I have to be in court tomorrow.

There's important testimony.

It's too late
to get a postponement.

I can leave tomorrow night.

I tried, Tim.

[crying]
She pushed me away.

She threw my father out
for another man.

She pushed everybody away.

[solemn music]

[breathes deeply]

This is more important to me
than I ever was to her,

and if she can't wait for me,
well then...

What else is new?

*

- We were playing war
in a field behind the house,

pretending to hide
from the Russians.

And then this helicopter,
a real one,

suddenly appeared in the sky.

[helicopter whirring]

We got scared and ran
into the woods.

[distant helicopter whirring]

- The Russians are gone.
They ran away.

- Andy, does your dad give
you...massages?

- No, my dad's
not really around.

- Do you think other kids get
massages from their dad?

- I don't know.

- My dad massages my pecker.

I wonder if that happens
with other dads.

- My dad doesn't do that.

I can ask my mom.
- No, you can't.

You can't tell anybody.

- Did you tell your mom?

- No, she'd get mad at Dad.

Massages are starting to hurt.

I want him to stop
everything he's doing to me.

You got to swear never to tell.

- I swear.

I didn't really get what he
was trying to tell me.

I was too young.

- Thank you, Andy.

- Mr. Cano.

You didn't share this story
until almost a year

after your cousin Erik
was arrested, correct?

- I promised him I wouldn't.

- You love your cousin,
don't you?

You'd say or do anything
for him?

- Well, not anything,

but I am--
- Nothing further.

- Redirect, Your Honor.

Andy, would you lie for Erik?

- No, I wouldn't lie for him,

and I wouldn't lie
for anybody under oath.

*

[intense musical build-up]

*

.

- I spent vacations
at the Menendez's.

I felt welcome there.

The whole family,
the aunts and uncles,

were very special to us.

- And did anything happen
to change your view?

- Yes.

When I was 15, Lyle came up
to the guest room

where I was staying.

I thought he wanted
to say goodnight.

- Can I sleep here?

- Why? Is something wrong
with your bed?

- I want to touch you
down there.

- What did you say?

- I want to play, like this--

- Stop it, Lyle,
that's not nice.

- Me and Dad touch
each other down there.

- What do you mean, down there?

- Our penises.

[dramatic music]

*

- Guys.

- Aunt Kitty.
Lyle just told me...

It's weird. He said Uncle José
touches him on his penis.

*

- You're making things up,
Diane.

Lyle would never say anything
like that.

You should know better.

Come on, mister,
you need to get to bed.

*

- It was never discussed
after that.

I convinced myself
that I was in the wrong,

but I...

I started noticing things.

There was never any warmth

between my cousins
and their parents.

When Erik was 11,
I tried to give him a hug,

but Aunt Kitty stopped me.

She said...

He needed to grow up.
He was too much of a baby.

- What other behavior

did you notice?
- All right.

I'm gonna end this line
of questioning right now.

- Your Honor, this is relevant
to our--

- I've heard enough
family minutiae.

Defense is beating
a dead horse here.

- Your Honor,
I move for mistrial.

The Court's comments
in front of the juries

are prejudicial
and inappropriate.

- Motion denied.

Ms. Vandermolen,
you are excused.

- Your Honor, I ask
that you reconsider.

- Court will recess.
[gavel thuds]

[murmuring]

- It's okay.
Don't you worry about it.

- You know, Erik,
this is our life.

- We had
a dozen more witnesses.

Weisberg cut us off
at the knees.

- I don't know if it's me
or the boys or the abuse,

but Weisberg has got a bug up
his ass about something,

and it might cost our boys

their lives.
[pager vibrates]

- What's wrong?

- I'm sorry I got here
too late.

- It's okay. Mom never regained
consciousness.

- She was so proud of you,
Leslie.

- [scoffs]
- I really think so.

- You must be Leslie.
We recognize the hair.

We live across the street
from your mother.

Such a sweet lady.

- Aw, thank you so much
for coming.

- You're that lawyer,
the one from TV.

Well, how can you defend
those monsters?

- Excuse me?
- Killing their parents.

It's the worst thing
imaginable.

- No.

Using your kids for sex,

warping them, destroying them,

destroying your future
generations.

That's the worst sin, lady.

- You can't talk
to my wife that way.

- My daughter can talk to
anybody any way she wants.

What's more, she's right.

Come on, kiddo,
walk me to my cab.

[dramatic music]

- I missed you, Daddy.

I missed
that voice cheering me on.

*

Those people are
just ordinary joes.

You know, I expect it
from them,

but Weisberg's a judge.
He should know better.

He called it "minutiae."

Sex crimes, minutiae.

- He's not making
the connection

between the killings
and the abuse.

He's not the only one.

Did you read Dershowitz's
column today?

He called your defense
"The Abuse Excuse."

"A national abdication
of personal responsibility."

- Just goes to show you,

being a Harvard professor

does not make you
a human being.

- [chuckles]

- What is that?

- It came in the mail
from the adoption agency.

Handsome devil.
- Oh.

- I feel like I want
to call her.

Tell her how beautiful he is.
- I wouldn't.

It's late. It'll sound like
you're checking up on her.

Write her a letter.

Or better yet, America Online
has an email service now.

We can set you two up to write
to each other.

- Sounds like a recipe
for disaster.

I prefer talking to people.

[emotional music]

*

[exhales]

Screw Weisberg.
Screw Dershowitz.

Once my boys take the stand,
everyone will get it.

They will see the connection

between the abuse
and the killings.

I will make them see it.

*

[wolf howls]