All language subtitles for L.A.Law.S05E14.The.Gods.Must.Be.Lawyers.1080p.DSNP.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-NTb_track4_[eng]

The biscuits
are getting cold, Joseph.

I can't keep the food hot
forever. It's funny that way.

I can't say the blessing
till people sit, Gaby.

Everybody sit down.

All my cooking's
gonna go to waste!

You made us get back up.

Now, Charlie, I want you there.
Anna, you're here.

- Victor, next to your father.
- Mama, that's where we sat...

Grace, honey, next to me.

Everything looks so delicious.

Grace, hurry up.
Her biscuits gets cold,

and she turns into a tigre.

Hey, you know what?
I don't even like her biscuits,

- they're like knee pads.
- Charlie!

Joseph, hit your son.

- Can we just get started here?
- Dear Lord, in heaven above--

Gaby: Wait! Wait! I'm not
in my chair yet.

Then get in your chair
and stop yappin'.

Charlie, hit your father.

Gaby: Now bow your heads.

Dear Lord.

We give thanks for the food
we are about to receive.

We give thanks for this family.

That we can be together
like this.

On this occasion
where Victor brings to us

his beautiful friend,
Grace Van Owen.

Hey! I bring at least
20 girls home for dinner,

none of them get mentioned
in the blessing.

Cause they're stupid, Charlie.

Why don't we just skip the rest
of the blessing?

The lawyer doesn't want
to say the blessing.

Alright, okay.
Quiet there okay? Shut up.

Silencio, silencio. Charlie boy
wants to say something.

We've already thanked God
for the food and family, right?

I mean he's got other blessings
he has to listen to,

he's a busy God,
especially nowadays.

So... let's just give Grace
a welcome, okay?

We're happy
to have you here, Grace.

Thank you.
I'm honored to be here.

- She's honored.
- That's nice.

Now pass me those
damn biscuits.

[laughing] God.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Alright, people, busy days
for everyone,

let's keep it short.

First up,
on a very exciting note,

I spoke last evening
with Hendrick Shay,

the Estate Planning counsel
for Rikki Davis.

- The Rikki Davis?
- Yes.

For those of you
who've been skipping page one

for the last few months,

Ms. Davis and her lover
is charged

with murdering her
72-two-year old husband.

- The "Beverly Hills Hangers"?
Douglas: The very ones.

The young widow is apparently
upset with her defense counsel.

She wants to interview us.

- Are you serious?
- I want this case.

Douglas: You've got it,
Michael, if you can hook her.

She's due in this morning
at 11:00.

Needless to say, this would be
a public relations home run.

It's probably
the most talked about

murder case in the country.

Let me second chair, Mike.

Ann: Why does Michael
always get the big cases?

For once, I'd like
a murder case, maybe.

You never want
murder cases, Ann.

- I want this one.
- Well, you can't have it.

Douglas: Alright, there's
probably enough work here

for everybody, if we get it.

Michael,
might I suggest bringing

somebody else for the meeting,
whatever it takes to snag her.

Michael.

Douglas: Moving on... Jonathan.

Jonathan, are you still planning
to proceed

with your action against
the police?

Yeah. Yeah. I'm not chasing
the D.A.'s office though

out of deference
to Zoey Clemmons.

Be apprised, people,
I'm out of the office

Wednesday morning with some
minor bunion surgery.

That's all. We're adjourned.

Why does he tell us
these things?

- Bowling?
- Yeah, bowling.

Really, Charlie's in this thing
called the "Friends' League."

And he wants us to go
with him tonight.

- You wanna go?
- Well, sure.

I mean, we can
grab a bite to eat after work

and then from there about
7 o'clock we hit the lanes.

- What do you say?
- Okay. Sure.

Great.

Hey, Grace, thanks
for last night, too.

I mean, you were a real sport.

I really liked 'em, Victor.

You have a terrific family.

[sighs]

Come here.

Thanks.
I'll see you later?

Umm. Bowling.

Yeah. Bowling.

[chuckles]

Cop to the rape,
I'll go with low term,

you'll be off in 18 months.

That's ridiculous.

Orin. Misdemeanor battery.
Suspended.

He rapes a 16-yrold girl,

you expect me to let him walk
on a misdemeanor?

I didn't rape anybody!

And she got exactly
what she was looking for--

- Orin.
- If it hadn't been me,

it would have been
somebody else.

Orin.

As we agreed,
anything said in this room

is in the context
of plea negotiation

and therefore
totally inadmissible.

Did you contact
the girl's mother

and offer her
three hundred thousand dollars

to drop this thing?

The offer anticipated
a potential civil claim.

It would be illegal for me
to tamper

with a criminal prosecution.

Yeah, well, she got the
impression that's exactly

what you were doing.

- She misunderstood.
- You listen to me.

If I get wind
you're offering bribes,

or doing anything to buy
your way out of this,

I'll bring you both up
on obstruction of justice.

Don't threaten me,
Ms. Clemmons.

Stay away from the girl.

Stay away from the mother.

Well, until they're represented
by civil counsel

and thus far they're not,
I'm entitled to approach them.

Go near them again,
I'm bringing charges.

I don't care
how many banks you run

or how many lawyers you hire,
I'll screw up your life.

Well, you're never make rape
or statutory rape.

And after we beat up the girl
in the criminal case,

and make no mistake
I will get her...

we'll gonna bring a civil
liable action against her

and even if we don't win it,

we'll bankrupt them
with legal bills.

Now you go back and tell your
people that, Ms. Clemmons,

and then you ask 'em

if they really wanna follow
through on this.

Will you excuse us.

My last lawyer suggested
I plead out.

That means either
he thinks I'm guilty,

or he doesn't think he can win.

Either way,
a switch seems in order.

John Fryar's a pretty sharp
defense attorney.

If he's telling me to admit to
a crime I didn't commit,

Mr. Mullaney,
he's not sharp enough.

From what I gather
in the papers,

you got a tough case.

What exactly have you gathered?

Your husband was found dead

one week after he decided
to divorce you.

A divorce would've cut you off

at the knees with a prenup,

while his death
on the other hand,

leaves you 26 million
as the grieving widow.

You also had a lover.

They found his prints
along with yours on the chord

used to hang your husband.
That's pretty much it.

Those prints were on the beam,
not on the chord

and they got there
when we discovered him

and tried to cut him down.

- We didn't hang him.
- Then who did?

I think maybe he hung himself.

- He was depressed.
- What about?

A month before he was diagnosed

with the inoperable
liver cancer.

They say that's not much
to go on.

But I didn't murder my husband

and I didn't participate
in any conspiracy to murder him.

And I need a lawyer
who can help me prove that.

Well... I'm gonna need all
the files

from John Fryar's office. Today.

I also want you to take
a lie detector test.

Why?

Because evidently you want
a lawyer

who believes in your innocence.

I'm not there yet.

- Are you, Tommy?
- Nope.

Why don't you think it over?

No. You're hired.

Set up the polygraph,
let me know.

Nice to meet you both.

Nice touch
with the lie detector!

You know I figured that would
get her attention.

I want in on this case,
Michael, as much as possible.

Don't worry, Tommy.
I have big plans for you.

Good. Because this thing here,
this is serious juice.

I certainly don't want you
to back down.

But I don't want
to mislead you.

If we prosecute,
his lawyer is gonna do

anything he can to destroy you.

And his lawyer is great.

Does she have to testify?

I mean, with statutory rape
consent doesn't matter, right?

But we're also going with
straight rape.

On that one,
consent is an issue.

Maybe we should drop that one.

That would be a mistake.

Our best shot's
with the straight count.

With stat rape
the only issue is age

and he can argue
mistaken belief

that she looked old enough.

If we go forward,

we really should go
with both counts.

Can you get him convicted?

I don't know, Laurie.

No, I don't want her put
through this.

Mom--

Honey, you have no idea

how hard it's gonna be
in there.

And the likelihood
is you'll lose.

- It's all for nothing.
- What do you think?

I want to prosecute.
But she's right.

There's a good chance
we'll lose.

I wanna go through with it.

He raped me!

How can I just let him
get away with it?

Zoey: You understand how tough,

how strong you'll have to be
in that witness chair?

I can do it.

I'm ready to do it.

Then so am I.

Okay.

You're gonna
regret this, Charlie.

I'm a lousy bowler.

Anybody can roll a ball, Grace.

Besides you're probably
a lot better than Victor.

What are you talkin' about?

I kicked your ass
the last time.

Sure you did. Sure you did.

Stinks. Stinks.

- Oh, baby, go into your car.
- Hey! You gonna follow me?

I don't need to follow you,
I know where I'm going.

You just make sure
you don't get lost.

Yeah. Grace, he stinks!

Grace: This is good
to know, Charlie.

You are in deep trouble here.

- Why?
- The family likes you.

Oh, no.
What comes after bowling?

What comes after bowling?

Last year he dragged me
to poor man's polo, on cows.

- We were slow.
- Yeah, right.

[honking]

Charlie!

What happened?

Charlie! Help! Someone help!

Charlie! Charlie!

Come on, get away.

Come on, Victor.

Ooh! Charlie!

Charlie!

[instrumental music]

And Laurie, where did you first
meet this group?

At the bar. They were on
a business trip or something.

And then he invited us
up to his suite.

Zoey: How old are you, Laurie?
Laurie: Sixteen.

And what were you doing
in a hotel bar having drinks?

I don't know. We were just
sitting home bored.

I don't know.
We just decided to go out.

Okay.

But I want you to tell
us exactly

how you happened to go up
to the defendant's hotel suite.

There were two other men and
a woman, besides Carol and me.

And we talked about
ordering room service

and stuff up there.

And...

Well, Carol and I just thought,
I mean, we didn't think

they were dangerous
or anything.

Okay. So what happened
after you got there?

Well, we all talked
and we danced a little.

There was a stereo,

and I was dancing
with him... Orin.

- Did you like him?
- Sure.

I mean, he seemed really cool.

- Even though he was older.
Zoey: So what happened?

Laurie: Well, at about 12:30
Carol said she had to leave

cause she had to be home
by 1:00.

He said he'd drive me home,
so I...

Zoey: You stayed?
- Yeah.

And what happened

after your girlfriend left?

Well, then the other people
left, too.

I guess to go back
to their rooms.

And then he made another drink.

And then... we hugged.

And then we kissed.

Zoey: You willingly kissed him?

Laurie: Yeah.
Zoey: Then what?

Then the kissing started to get

heavier, you know... a lot.

And then he began putting
his hands on my breasts.

And I told him no

but he just kept telling me
to relax.

And then he pushed
me onto the bed

and I tried to get away
but I couldn't,

and he just kept saying

"you know you want it".

And... and then

he pulled up my dress.

And I just screamed.

And I tried to get out
from under him

but I couldn't

because he had my arms
pinned back.

And he was just too strong
and I couldn't get him off.

And so the next thing
I knew...

he was pushing himself
inside me.

When you say pushing himself
inside of you.

He was raping me.

I mean I tried to fight him,
but I couldn't.

Okay.

And Laurie, are you sure
the defendant knew

that you didn't
want intercourse?

Yes, he knew! I mean I was
screaming at him to stop!

I was screaming for help.

He knew.

Zoey: Thank you.
I have nothing further.

Let's take a short break.

McGrath: Let the witness
collect herself.

[indistinct]

- My Victor, my Victor...
- Come on, Mama.

Where is Joseph?

We've removed all
the skull fragments...

but the news isn't good.

- What?
- He'll survive.

But there's damage
to the brain stem.

Bilateral damage,
especially to the parietal

and temporal lobes.

It looks permanent.

He's going to be
extremely dysfunctional.

How dysfunctional?

I don't think he'll ever be
able to speak.

Or even to understand
verbal language.

He'll be completely paralyzed
on his right side.

Oh, Lord.

Alice: We'll do whatever
we can.

Walt: You were married to your
husband for three years?

Rikki: Yes.

Did you love him?

Very much.

Did you know he was planning
to divorce you?

No.

Ms. Davis, did you murder
your husband?

No, I did not.

Is your dress black?

Yes.

Did your lover, David Shaeffer,
murder your husband?

No, he did not.

Do you know who hung him?

No, I do not.

Thank you.
That's all. We're done.

Excuse us a second, Rikki.
We'll be right back.

- Well, she's telling truth.
- You sure?

Well, these things
aren't foolproof,

you know that as well as I do.

But, uh, she passed.

I gotta get my gear.

Michael. News on Victor.

It looks like the brother will
have permanent brain damage.

Oh, God.

The guy who hit him registered
point one six. Drunk driver.

Obviously, anything he needs,
we give it to him.

Hello, Miss Penn.

Would it be alright
if I called you Laurie?

- Yeah.
- Laurie, that night in the bar.

You were dressed
a little differently

than you are right now,
weren't you?

- Yeah.
Brian: Nice dress. Make-up.

It would be fair to say
you looked older?

I guess.

Brian: And the bartender
served you alcohol.

We had fake I.D.s.

Did you ever tell
Mr. Baldwin that you were

under the age of eighteen?

No.

And before he sat next to you,

did any of the guys at the bar,

you know, hit on you?

A couple.

You looked pretty adult that
night didn't you, Laurie?

- Objection.
Brian: Withdrawn.

Laurie, why did you
and your girlfriend

go to the bar that night?

I already said. We were bored.

We were just looking
for something to do.

You carry condoms in your purse
don't you, Laurie?

Objection!

- Goes to consent, Your Honor.
- Alright.

You carry condoms
in your purse, don't you?

Well, yeah, because my mother
wants me to.

To be safe if I ever...

Oh, so you were out looking
for sex that night?

Laurie: No.
Zoey: Objection.

And I never told him I wanted
to have sex with him!

Laurie, how many drinks
did you consume that night?

Laurie: Two.
- Two.

- Were you inebriated?
- I don't know.

- Maybe just a little?
- Maybe.

So, when the two of you were
kissing it became

passionate, did it not?

I don't know.

Well, you testified earlier
that "we were kissing

and it got heavier, you know,
and a lot."

Well, that didn't mean he could
do what he did!

Did you put your hands on his
buttocks, Laurie?

Did you grab his buttocks
and pull them toward you?

I don't remember.

So, it's possible that you did.

The witness said
she doesn't remember!

Move on, Mr. Byrd.

Laurie, what did you do
immediately

after the two of you made love?

We didn't make love.
He raped me!

- What'd ya do then?
Laurie: I left.

I went to the lobby
and I got a cab.

Did you report to the hotel
security that you'd been raped?

No! I just got out of there.

Brian: Where'd you go?
- Home.

Not to the hospital.
Not to the police?

No! I just wanted to go home!

And when you arrived at home

your mother
was waiting for you,

very angry, wasn't she?

I mean dressed
the way you were,

all that make-up.

2:30 in the morning,

coming home drunk
without your panties.

Objection.

Brian: In fact, you were
so afraid of what she'd do

that you made up
this whole story

of being raped,
isn't that true?

Zoey: Objection!
- That's not true! He raped me!

Brian: Come on, Laurie.

You'd rather commit perjury

than have your mother
find out the truth?

- Objection!
- Withdrawn.

You know, you seem to be
a very nice young lady.

And I hope you realize
that these lies

are hurting an innocent man.

Move to strike that.

Sustained. Come on, Mr. Byrd.

No further questions,
Your Honor.

I had him examined
this afternoon

by three more doctors.

Including the best neurologist
in the state.

I used him as an expert
in one of my trials.

He's not coming back, pa.

Charlie's only breathin'
right now

cause of the machines.

Well, I'm not giving up.

The doctors,
they say if he's lucky,

that he might be able
to brush his teeth

or, or feed himself,

but he's never gonna
be able to communicate,

he's never gonna
be able to understand.

They told me that he's gonna
have the mental capacity

of a dog.

Pa, you remember that
Jamie Ferguson trail

that I had two years ago?

Mm-hmm.

Charlie and I, we used to talk
about that one a lot.

I remember him saying that
if he ever got like that,

that he wouldn't want
to be suffering,

hooked up to some device.

- But I'm not killing my son.
- But he's gone, pa.

No, he's not gone.
He's not gone!

Charlie's not dead, Victor!

I don't want to let him go
any more than you do.

He's my only brother!

We can't just let him
live like that,

we can't just let him
live like that, pa.

[speaking foreign language]

Victor, we are Catholic people.

I know that.

God should have him now.

I wish I could be strong
to help you, son.

I know how much you hurt.

I wish I could be strong.

[instrumental music]

What do you mean
we can't do it?

He isn't dead, Victor.
We can't just disconnect.

The damage is permanent.

He'd be living
like a vegetable.

Not totally.

He'll have some use
of his left side.

He'll be able to sit up.

W-w, you told me

that he'd be living like a dog.
You told me that.

But that isn't brain dead.
I'm sorry.

The hospital
just isn't authorized

to suspend life-support
under these circumstances.

Victor, try to understand their
position,

they really can't jeopardize--

How can I let him just exist
like this.

Charlie would never
wanna be kept alive like that.

Don't you understand that?

I, I can't... I can't do that.

Look, Victor, honey,
we'll get a court order.

We'll go in this afternoon.

I'll handle it, okay?

- Okay?
- Okay, okay.

Doctor, can I count on your
support medically?

- Absolutely.
- Thank you.

Alice: Ms. Van Owen,
you should know...

I'll back you 100%.

You'll get no argument from me.

But you will
from the hospital.

Yeah.

So, Mr. Baldwin,

you thought that the woman
was older than 18.

Yes, she was sitting at a bar

being served alcohol
when we met,

so I assumed she had to be
at least 21 years old.

Mm-hmm. Did she ever at any time
tell you her true age?

No and she looked
a lot different

than she does right now.

Okay, Mr. Baldwin.

But even though you did
mistakenly believe

that she was old enough
to consent.

She said she did not consent.

Well, that's not true.

- She initiated it.
- She did?

I was certainly
a willing participant,

don't get me wrong.

But me pushing her
on the bed and forcing her,

that's not even close
to the truth.

Well, what did happen?

I had just made a drink
and we were

standing over by the bed.

It was all incredibly awkward
because,

well, we both knew

what we had come back
to my suite for.

Objection as to what
the victim knew.

Sustained.

Orin: Look, I am no ladies man.

I think I was more nervous
than she was.

And I guess I was hoping
she'd make the first move.

- And did she?
Orin: Yeah, sort of.

She put her hand on my shoulder

and then she ran it down
my arm,

into my hand,
and then she squeezed it.

What'd you do then?

I turned to her, and I put my
arms around her waist,

and pulled her to me, gently.

And then we hugged a little.

And I rubbed the top
of her back, and we kissed.

And the kissing escalated

and then it,
it all progressed.

Continue, sir.

We fell back on the bed
and we made love.

We both made love.

And afterwards she kissed me
good-bye and she left.

Mr. Baldwin, did she ever scream
at any point?

No. God, no.

If anything
she enjoyed herself.

And the next thing I know,
the police show up

and charge me with rape.

Thank you, sir.
I have nothing further.

When the police arrested you,

you had scratch marks
on your neck.

Orin: Yes, she did scratch me,

but it was from
aggressive love making.

She wasn't telling me to stop.

How did her panties get ripped?

I don't know.

They may have torn
while she was taking them off.

Oh, she took them off
and ripped them herself.

I guess so. I-I pulled her
dress up, yes.

But she took off the panties.

You say that when contact
was initiated,

you "put your arms
around her waist."

- That's right.
- Would you stand up outside

- the witness box, please?
- Your Honor.

A little latitude, your Honor.

I'd like him to show us exactly

what he's described.

Stand up.

Zoey: Laurie,
could you come here please?

Objection!

This'll only take a second,
your Honor.

I beg the court's indulgence.

You don't have
to do this, Ms. Penn.

Laurie. Please?

Laurie, I want you
to go to the witness

and stand before him.

Laurie, please do it.

Mr. Baldwin,
could you show us

how you put
your arms around her--

- Your Honor!
- I will get through this

a lot faster if you stop
jumping up!

Sit down, Mr. Byrd.

Show us, Mr. Baldwin.

show us how you held her
before the kissing began.

Now show us how you
pulled her towards you.

Show us, Mr. Baldwin.

Now rub the top of her back
like you said you did.

Your Honor, this is outrageous!

McGrath: Mr. Byrd!

Brian: Look, I don't care
if you lock me up for contempt.

I'm going to keep objecting
to this blatant sideshow--

Your Honor, I know
what counsel is doing

and I'd like to be heard
in chambers.

Let's go.

She's trying to shock the jury,
Your Honor, and there is no--

Your guy offered up
the description.

I just asked
for a demonstration.

Brian: That's not what that
was about.

You just wanted the jury
to see the girl

in his arms and be disgusted.

That's right. I wanted them
to get the picture.

But that wasn't the picture!
She was dressed

totally different that night,
Your Honor.

Alright, Mr. Byrd!

Your Honor, I want to put on
my demonstration.

Meaning what?

She put the girl up there
to punctuate

to the jury
just how young she looked.

I'd like permission
to dress Laurie Pinn

the way she was dressed
that night.

I object to that.

Her appearance
is directly relevant

to my client's defense

that he thought she was of age.

What are you proposing to do?

The girls took a picture
of themselves

before they left that night
so we have the means

of assuring accuracy.

We'll send her to
an independent make-up artist,

she can wear the same dress.

Oh, please.

Your Honor, the jury

should be allowed
to see her this way.

It is vital to their
understanding of the events.

Your Honor,
I could not be more opposed.

Alright, look, you had 'em see
her your way.

The defendant
could be prejudiced

if I don't give him his shot.

The court will appoint
a make-up person.

- Your honor!
- Ms. Clemmons.

I gotta let' em
put on their defense.

The jury will see her before

closing arguments. That's all.

You don't think
this is a little bit sick?

This is a rape trial, counsel.

Everything about it
makes me sick.

Tomorrow at 10 a.m.

This here's the deceased.

Before... and after.

- Oh.
- Oh, God.

Wait, this one's better.

Douglas: Look at his face.
Is he blue?

He ain't happy.

Victim had a bruise
top of forehead.

They might be saying the killer
knocked him cold

before stringin' him up.

Damn!

Tommy: The guy's teeth.
- I don't believe it.

Tommy: The cord must've squeezed
em right out of his head.

Abby: Oh, please!

The boyfriend, David Shaeffer.

Jonathan: Guilty.

His trail is separate.
It starts in about two weeks.

Michael: Abby, I want you
to monitor that.

Abby: Sure.

Tommy: Victim's daughter,
cut out of the will.

We should do
some diggin' on her.

Mildred Spicer,
next door neighbor.

Abby: She did it.

She would come over twice a week

and scratch the victim's feet.

- Sweet.
- Yeah?

She has a criminal record
for kleptomania.

Stuart: She does not.

Tommy: Okay, that's all
the photos in the police file.

Michael: Alright, people,
now look.

If we're gonna win this thing,
we either have

to hand the jury another suspect
or sell suicide.

We're gonna have to pick
one thing and run with it.

In the meantime, I've called
a press conference.

The media's coming out
with stuff on this every day,

and since prospective jurors
are probably reading about it,

I want to have our version
in print, too...

as soon as possible.

Now, Abby, I need the motion
to suppress by Friday.

Jonathan, the same thing goes
for the changes of venue.

C.J, I want you
to start working

with a private
investigation team.

Michael: And Stuart--
- The will.

Michael: Get crackin'
on the will.

Okay, everybody, that's it.

I want an acquittal here, people.

That looked like a pretty good
knot, Michael.

- He had to have help.
- Boyfriend.

- Yep, the boyfriend did it.
- No way.

- He's too cute.
- Yeah. Way too cute.

Did you ever discuss
with your brother

the possibility that he could
end up like this?

Yes, I had a case
about two years ago

which involved a young woman

who was in a persistent
vegetative state.

And her parents
were petitioning the court

to have the G-tube removed

which was keeping her alive.

My brother and I had talked
a lot about that case.

And he 'said...

he said that if ever ended up

where he couldn't speak
or couldn't think,

he would not want to be
kept alive by artificial means.

Was he clear in his intent?

Yes. Yes, he was very clear.

Grace: Thank you.

Your Honor,
I submit the declarations

of three physicians,

including the attending,
Dr. Nyberg,

each stating that the left side
of Charles Sifuentes' brain

is permanently destroyed,

that he has severely impaired
cognitive brain function,

and that this condition
is irreversible.

I have nothing further.

I'm very sorry
for your tragedy, Mr. Sifuentes.

I'll try to keep this short.

You and your brother
never sat down

specifically to discuss
this contingency, did you?

He told me his wishes.

Marsha: Yes, in the context
of one of your cases.

But your brother might not stay
in a vegetative state

like the woman in that case.

He might be able to sit up.

To recognize people,
maybe feed himself.

With therapy,
maybe he could do even more.

Ma'am, the doctors say,
at best,

he'll end up
with less intelligence

than a one-year old.

In the Jamie Ferguson case...

according to the transcript

you stood before the court

and said a Judge should
never measure

the quality
of a person's being,

to decide whether that person
has a right to be.

Now, that's exactly

what you're asking
this judge to do.

Victor: Well, at that time
I was standing up

for the hospital.
Right now...

right now I'm standing up
for Charlie.

Are you sure
you want to do this?

Are you sure you want to
end your own brother's life?

Of course, I'm not sure!

I want him to be alive!

But you see
it isn't about what I want.

I know my brother,

and he would never want
to end up like this.

If he can't be himself,
then he'd just rather not be.

Marsha: Back in
the Ferguson case

you begged the judge
not to play God.

You asked him for,
Jamie Ferguson's sake,

to leave open the possibility
that God might be God.

Why doesn't your brother

deserve that same
consideration?

Alright. Let's bring her in.

Members of the jury,
the parties stipulate that

Ms. Penn's appearance today
fairly reflects

the way she appeared
the night in question.

Ms. Penn, please walk up
and stand before the jury.

I'd like her to turn
to the side, Your Honor.

Ms. Penn.

Now if you would please
turn around

and put your back to the jury.

McGrath: Alright,
that's enough.

Ms. Penn, you can go back
and sit down now.

Mr. Byrd, make your
closing statement.

Well, I think

Laurie Penn
just made it for me.

I mean how could any
red-blooded American male

not be attracted to her?

The bartender believed her
to be twenty-one.

Other patrons believed it.

My client believed it.

And you can certainly
understand why.

What a beautiful woman she is.

As for consent,
ladies and gentlemen,

she dressed herself like that,

she equipped herself
with condoms

and camped out at a hotel bar.

She willingly went
to my client's suite,

willingly kissed him,

fondled him

and eventually
she made love to him.

Then faced with a little guilt
and a disapproving mother,

she made up a story.

She got caught up in that story
when mom went to the police.

And now Orin Baldwin
is entangled in it too.

I'm not going to assault
your dignity

by trying to convince you

that there is
a reasonable doubt.

You must already know that.

Was Orin Baldwin guilty
of bad judgement that night?

Perhaps.

But rape?

Well, that's just ridiculous.

[laughs]

Ridiculous.

She dressed the way
16-year olds dress these days.

They grow up watching
Madonna videos,

the black lingerie,
sexy is in.

It's hip.

And the condoms in her purse.

We teach our children
to carry condoms,

with the AIDS epidemic.

Don't you dare accept
his suggestion

that to do so is evidence
of consent.

And yes, she kissed him

and maybe she even grabbed
his buttocks,

but she also did
something else.

She said "No."

Laurie Penn pushed
the defendant away

and told him "no".

And he responded
with violent,

forced intercourse,
that's rape!

It isn't sex.

It isn't making love.
It's rape.

And she's here today,

willing to be judged by you,

willing to relive that
vicious attack

because that's the only way
to make the point,

that every woman,

whether 16 or 60,

still has the right
to say stop.

You don't forfeit it
when you go to a hotel room.

You don't waive it
when you buy a condom

or when you kiss a man.

Even, lying on a bed...

there is never a point,
ladies and gentlemen,

where if a woman says "no",

a man is entitled
to overpower her.

That's why she's here.

To make that one simple point.

A point that Orin Baldwin
refused to get that night.

Please... see that
he gets it today.

This is hard.

This is not about somebody
who is brain dead.

This person might not
even remain comatose.

He is capable of life,

although horrible life at that.

I feel extremely uncomfortable
at drawing a line of...

well, where someone
should be kept alive,

and where they shouldn't.

And I don't think
it's appropriate

for judges to have
this kind of discretion,

to decide whether
someone's life is worth living.

But I have to trust the family,

that you know

what Charlie would have wanted.

Mr. Sifuentes, are you sure?

Yes, Your Honor, we're sure.

Okay, I'm hereby granting
your petition.

The life support equipment
shall be disconnected.

I'll say a prayer tonight
for everybody.

We're adjourned.

Thanks.

woman: Mr. Kuzak! Kuzak!

Mr. Kuzak, was it your success
in the Earl Williams trial

that made Rikki come to you?

I won't speculate as to why she
chose us as counsel.

The most important thing for us
is just to prove her innocence.

woman: Mr. Mullaney!

Mr. Mullaney, you said that
you spent the day with her.

How would you describe
her spirits?

Her husband's dead,
the police are blaming her,

you people are callin' her
the hanging bitch every day

in the papers. She is unhappy.

What are you going to do that
her last lawyer didn't try?

Any comment on our strategy
would be premature at this--

Except to say that we're gonna
show that she didn't do it.

reporter: Then who did do it?

Most likely
the guy killed himself.

- Tommy, Tommy...
reporter: Now wait a minute...

- Yeah, you.
- What is your basis

for thinking Mr. Davis
took his own life?

Well, he had a few squirrels
running around up there.

Well, let's face it,
the guy was a kook.

How do you explain the severe
bruise on the side of the head?

I think when the homicide dicks
cut him off

the beam he fell in a heap.

Uh, Mr. Mullaney!
Do you expect Rikki to testify?

Well, at this time

we have not yet determined
whether or not

Ms. Davis will take the stand.

But if you're gonna bet,
put your money on "yeah".

woman: I have
one more question.

Tommy: Now, hold on.
Take it easy.

I'm gonna get to all of you.

[indistinct chatter]

It worked. They loved you.

You came off as Mr. Candid,
a straight shooter.

We gotta manipulate a headline
or two down the line,

you're gonna
have an inside track.

- I hope you're right.
- Are you kidding?

They were ready
to adopt you out there.

You watch, we do this
a few more times

and the press is going
to be our friend.

I got to admit. This is fun.

Of course, it is.
This is the case of a lifetime.

Mr. Foreman, the jury
has returned a verdict?

Yes, Your Honor.

On the count three two
seven four, statutory rape,

we find the defendant,
Orin Baldwin... not guilty.

On the count three two
seven five, rape,

we find the defendant,
Orin Baldwin...

guilty as charged.

God!

Your Honor, Your Honor,

the people ask that bail
be revoked

and that the defendant
be remanded to custody.

- Opposed.
- It is so ordered.

The court officers
will take him into custody.

- Your Honor--
McGrath: Forget it, counsel.

Court is adjourned!

[machines beeping]

Victor, I don't think
the family

should stay in the room.

Ma. Pa.

I think you should go
outside now, okay?

[sobs]

[speaking foreign language]

My baby.

Go with God.

Be with God.

[sobbing]

I think I'm gonna want
to stay with him.

I wanna be here in
the room, okay?

Just tell me when.

I hope we're doin'
the right thing here, Charlie.

I know you don't like
being like this.

It's all gonna be okay, Charlie.

You don't have to worry
about anybody.

I love you.

Okay.

[instrumental music]

I'm right here, Charlie.

I'm still here for you.

I'm right here, Charlie.

I love you.

[machine beeps]

[theme music]