All language subtitles for Law and order S14E05 - Blaze

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.

[Rock, Loud] [Man]
Two ales! One light and one dark!

[People Chattering]

- I should've told ya to get two.
- Nah. There's too many people.

- Hey, where's Joey?
- Way too many old people

- Two guesses.
- I swear, he finishes his, he ain't gettin' any of mine.

Hey, get us a place up close.

[ Crowd Chanting Indistinct]
[ Snorting ]

[Man] And now, the band
you've all been waiting for.

- Come on. Self-control, man.
- [Coughs] Look-- Look who's talking.

Listen, when the music starts, I'm the one
who's gonna be flying, and I don't share.

- Not even for baby brother?
- I'm serious, man!

[Explosion, Muffled]
Fine. One more hit.

[ People Screaming]
Screw this. I'm not missing the opening.

[ Screaming Continues] Dam n!
We already missed it!

[Screaming]

There's gotta be a window
in here somewhere!

[Girl] I was tryin' to find Rick.
He went for a drink.

The crowd was pushing.
I didn't know what happened.

I kept yelling at people to get off me
sol could find him.

I don't even know if he's okay.
Nobody will tell me anything.

They've already taken a bunch of people to the
hospital, so it's gonna take some time to sort it out.

- He didn't even wanna come here tonight.
- Were you able to see how it started?

[ Siren Wails ]
Why didn't we go bowling?

Ricky?
[Gasps]

Ricky! Ricky! Oh!

- Noise, dope and fire-- Same old Wotan.
- You've heard of Wotan?

I worked security at the Garden
20 years ago.

- Hey, Williams.
- Quite a mess.

- You wanna give us a tour?
- Sure, if you feel like having the ceiling collapse on your head.

- Should be safe in a couple of hours.
- How many people were in the club?

Between 300 and 400. Paramedics have already
taken at least 70 people to three hospitals.

Burns and smoke inhalation mostly.

Broken bones from the pushing and shoving.

I'd say we're lucky
there weren't more fatalities.

[Police Radio Chatter]

[ Williams ]
Typical Friday night.

[ Briscoe]
Yeah, in Tel Aviv.

[Radio Chatter Continues]

[ Williams ] It's gonna be hours
before I can get you in there.

- Bunch of cretins. it was like tossin' a match in to a hays tack.
- They don't have sprinklers?

They're not required in a public facility
with a maximum occupancy of 74 or less.

Wait. Didn't you say there were
between 300 and 400 people in there?

The nitwit at the door didn't major in math.
That gets the owner a fine.

Can you imagine? Nine bodies were found near
the front doors- trampled tryin' to get out.

- There had to be other doors, right?
- Sure, in the back.

Nobody could see them.
“Exit” signs were dark.

That's gotta be a code violation.

Bad lightbulb gets them fine number two.

Twenty-three people dead. Somebody's gonna
do more than pay a couple of bucks.

Ask me? Go right to the needle. Do
not pass “Go.” Do not pay $200.

Let me ask you this:
How'd the band get out?

- Three of them through doors backstage.
- And the fourth?

He was one of the 23.
Bass player.

Larry something.

Look, as soon as I know what
started this mess, I'll call you.

I'm no expert, but I saw these
guys a half a lifetime ago.

- Back then, they always lined the stage with flamethrowers.
- They still do.

Prometheus 530 flame projectors,
to be precise.

The thing is, there's no way that Prometheus should
spit out fire high enough to hit the ceiling.

What's the ceiling got to do with it?
Made of polyurethane.

Which burns fast as hell.

[Sighs] That's the
manager over there.

- Name's Champa.
- Thanks.

[Policewoman Chattering]
Mr. Champa.

- This is a nightmare. My life savin's was in that club.
- [Briscoe ] Oh, really?

I know 23 families
who really don't give a damn.

Of course I feel for those people,
but what could I have done?

First, you could've checked to see
if your ceiling was flammable.

The neighbors complained about the noise,
sol put up soundproofing.

The guy who sold it to me
never said anything.

You shouldn't have hired a band
that plays with fire.

I don't. All that crap is specifically
prohibited in the artist contracts.

[Green]
And Wotan signed this contract?

Sure, man.
They wanted to get paid.

[Guitar: Blues Riff]

People say Jack Bruce
can play bass.

But they never listened to Larry,
you know?

Like, really listened to Larry.

'Cause he was just
a whole 'nother planet.

[Continues]
I can't believe that he's gone.

Along with 22 paying customers.

- [Briscoe] Look, Mr. Connor.
- What do you mean by that?

For 10 bucks a ticket,
people don't expect to get barbecued.

- You're blamin' us for this?
- Your contract did specifically say no fireworks.

- I didn't know that.
- But you read the part about how much you guys were gonna get paid.

Matter of fact, I didn't.
Cause Maxie takes care of that.

Maxie?
Our manager-- Maxie.

Fire is Wotan's trademark. KISS has the makeup.
Townshend smashes his guitars.

Rock and roll isn't just
about the music.

It's the show.
It's the spectacle.

- Unfortunately, this "spectacle" doesn't allow fire.
- Yeah,yeah. Right.

That is the same mumbo jumbo in every
contract in every punk-ass club in America.

And you always ignore it?

Look, a club hires Wotan,
they hire the whole package.

-Very bright lights, very loud music--
-Very big flames.

The fans expect it. If we didn't give
it to 'em, hell, they'd walk out.

Yeah, we signed the contract.

But the club owner-- like every
other club owner in America-

gives us the big "wink, wink" when we did.

- You saying that he knew that Wotan was gonna
use fire in the act?
- Of course he did

We used it the night before.
No complaints then.

No problems either. Hey, after 26
years, we know what we're doin'.

Our stuff didn't
burn that place down.

Who's in charge of your “stuff”?

These guys went to Juilliard.
They're really good musicians.

But nobody paid any attention to their music
till we started lighting up the stage.

I kept telling them we didn't
need a gimmick, but Teddy--

- Ah, what difference does it make now?
- Actually, it makes a huge difference now, Nick.

Götterdämmerung.
God bless you

It's a German opera.

Wotan and the other gods--
at the end--

they all die in this amazing fire.

Wait. Hold on. Are you saying
that Teddy wanted to die?

No, I'm not.

He just wouldn't let go
of this pyro-mythology thing.

And you're the guy who kept his dream alive?
Yeah, I'm the guy.

But I set up the equipment
before they went on stage...

just like I do every night.

And I'm the guy
who hit the “On” switch.

There's no way
we caused this thing.

Twenty-three people are dead
because of an opera?

The Germans--
what are ya gonna do?

I'll tell you what the taxpayers want me to do.
They want me to string someone up. That's what.

And we would like nothing more than that.
But the problem is, who?

Wotan violated a contract.
They didn't break no laws.

[Briscoe ] The fire marshal can't say
how or when the damn thing started

For all we know,
somebody in the crowd lit a candle.

The bottom line is,
ain't nobody saw nothin'

Someone did. This is a transcript
of one of the thirty-two 911 calls.

“I'm at Danzibar."
[Green] That's the club.

“There's a fire on the stage."

I freaked I saw it on the news, but the
hospitals weren't giving out names.

That's the last time I let her go
to one of those things.

Everything went dark. The only thing
that you could see was fire.

People were screaming.
I didn't know what to do.

People were crawling
on the floor.

Larry's hair was on fire.

I tried to help this one girl.
And I grabbed her wrist,

and her-- her skin
came off in my hand.

Do you really
have to do this now?

I'm okay.

[Sniffles]

I had my cell in my purse,
and I called 911 right away.

I didn't know
what else I could do.

That's all you could do.

Now, in your call,
you said the stage was on fire?

Yeah, that's right.

Did you see how the fire
actually started?

It just looked like
all of their other concerts.

Except, um--

Except what?

They always start with Larry and James
at the mike...

[Sniff es]
with Wotan-- that's Teddy.

- And what about last night?
- Larry, the bassist--

He didn't move.

Um, if I'm the stage,
which side is he on?

- You can see this is hard for her.
- [ Green ] She did great. We 're done. Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Tums out the girl was right. The fire did
start on the left side of the stage.

- Accident?
- You tell me.

Gaines, these are the detectives working on
the Danzibar fire. Show them what you've got.

I've been trying to replicate
the conditions that started the fire...

using the six throwers
recovered from the site.

They work
with this flammable black powder.

- You pack it in like this.
- Looks like a giant M80.

This one doesn't blow up,
just flames up.

Given the layout of the stage, there's no way
that flame could have reached the ceiling-

on five of the throwers anyway.

- What about the sixth one?
- That's a whole other ball of wax.

- That's the one that was on the left side of the stage?
- That would be correct.

See this residue burnt into the metal
of the cylinder?

It goes twice as high as in the others-
above the level of the electric fuse.

This one burned twice as hot
as it's supposed to.

What are you saying?
It was defective?

Even if it was, it couldn't burn that hot
without twice as much powder.

- You mean it was packed wrong?
- I mean it was packed twice.

Somebody wanted this thing
to burn big.

Why don't you take us
through your night, Nick.

- What do you mean?
- Well, you got to the club, you blew your nose, whatever.

I got there about 8:00.

The throwers were locked in storage in the back of
the club, 'cause we used them the night before.

I, uh, took them out.
I loaded them same as always.

Was this before or after
a couple of tokes?

I don't do that, man
I'm clean since '94.

- Keep goin'.
- I, uh-- I set them on
stage, the same places as always.

Did you test them?

Well, why would I? They
worked fine the night before.

Okay. That gets us to 10:00.
The band went on about 11 :00.

- What'd you do for that hour, read a book?
- Why is he talkin' to me like that?

Because you killed 23 people, Nick!
That gets me a little agitated.

I told you-- What are you, some kind of sick
bastard that likes to watch things burn?

Lennie!

Okay. So, what'd you do next?

I, uh-- I set up the lights.

- And how long did that take you?
- I don't know.

Forty, 45 minutes maybe.

So you were done
15 minutes before showtime.

Yeah, like always.
So there were 15 minutes where
somebody could've rigged the thrower?

- Why would anybody do that?
- Right now, I'm more interested in who.

You're givin' this yahoo
too much credit, Ed.

It wasn't me, okay?

These guys pay me.
It's a steady gig.

Why would I risk blowing that?

The thrower started the fire.
You loaded the thrower.

I'm not the only one who knows how.

We've been doin' this a long time.

I told you guys--
these guys are into flames.

[Exhales]

I mean, they all know
how to work the equipment.

- Do you believe him?
- I think he's scared of his own shadow.

I don't recall anyone
giving medals for bravery
to arsonists.

What else is a dude like this
gonna do for money?

He had to know that would
put Wotan out of business--
the fire part of the show anyway.

- I don't think he'd risk it.
- He might if he didn't know
the ceiling was flammable.

You play with fire,
you don't get the benefit of the doubt.

True, but think about this.
The flamethrower that was tampered with
was right next to Larry.

- Who's Larry?
- Larry's the bass player that didn't
follow the normal routine that night.

Which put him directly
in the hot zone.

The flame hit the ceiling over his head,
and it came down on him.

And who knew Larry wasn't going to be
where he was supposed to be?

Let's find that out.

- [Maxie] You're sayin' somebody
was out to get Larry?
- No. We're just askin' questions.

Wotan opens the show
the same way every night--

Teddy,James and Larry at the mike,
center stage.

- The one night they change--
- Oh, you think one of the guys?

[Briscoe ]
Like I said, we're just askin'

Come on. These guys
love each other like brothers.

Hey, I love my brother,
but I can barely make it
through Thanksgiving dinner.

You spend every night together
for 26 years,

somebody is bound
to get on somebody else's nerves.

Yeah, they've had their disagreements,
sure, but nothin' to kill over.

Why don't you let us
be the judge of that?

Well, nothin' recently.

- No, nah. No, it couldn't be.
- What?

When we got back to New York,
Larry was bangin' Teddy's broad.

“Teddy's broad"?
Is that how she's listed
in the phone book?

- Debbie something or other.
- Well, we 're gettin' closer.

Grimes. She lives
down in Soho somewhere, I think.

[ Woman ]
Larry was great, man, the best.

I assume you're talking
about his bass playing.

Hey, I'm not crude.
The guy is dead.
Let's show some respect.

My partner is just
a little old-fashioned.

He just thought that you movin'
from Teddy to Larry...

might have brought on
some hard feelings
between the two of them.

Hell, he's a dinosaur.

Look, I was happy when Teddy
remembered my name, okay?

[ Laughing]
I mean, these guys,
they don't fight over babes.

When they got back to the city--
I think it was CBGB's--

I went to Teddy's dressing room
like always, knocked on the door,

but he was otherwise occupied.

You got a name?
Of which one?

I knew I should have
stuck with the guitar.

- You always go backstage?
- Yeah, so?

- [Green] You were there the night of the fire?
- Sure.

- [Briscoe] Who else was there with you?
- The guys, some chicks.

- You remember any names?
- One of them, I do.

- Terry. She's, like, always there.
- [Green] Terry?

- Yeah, that's her.
- She's got a pierced eyebrow,
long brown hair?

That's the girl who called 911.

- Sounds to me like you're a regular
at these Wotan gigs.
- I like their music.

A lot of people
like their music, Teresa.

They don't all get
backstage passes.

What are you,
my dad or something?

Look, I'm not the first girl
to like hanging out
with musicians.

There's no sex or anything.
I just party with them,
and that's as far as it goes.

Why didn't you tell us
you were in their dressing room
the first time we talked?

Duh. My mother was standing
right there, remember?

What, do you guys really think
I had something to do with that fire?

No, no. But now that we got
all our cards on the table,

maybe you can help us
find out who did.

Let me ask you this. Fifteen minutes
before the band goes on,
who's backstage with you?

- The band.
- Come on.

[Sighs]
Nick, a couple of new girls.

Um, Pete, Glen.

- Who?
- The roadies.

- You know, Mitch wasn't there.
- [Briscoe] Who's Mitch?

The sound guy.

That's right.
I wasn't partying

Someone in that damn crew
has to do some work.

- So you were busy turning dials, huh?
- Somethin' like that.

You know, in the long run,
it was time to hang up the ol' spurs.

All that travelin' was gettin' to me.
This is where I belong.

- Turning dials.
- You know, that was funny once.

What about the dials
on the flamethrower?
You turn them too?

Screw you.

Now, you see,
that kind of attitude's
gonna get you in trouble.

It turns out everybody but you
was in Teddy's room partying
before the show.

Really? Look, I didn't mess
with the throwers.

But I have a feeling he knows who did,
don't you, Ed?

Come on Mitch.

Give us a hint.
Teddy.

Man, he thought we still
should be playin' the Garden.

Small wasn't good enough for him.

I told him, “Let's go unplugged.
That'd be cool," right?

- Mitch.
- The fire.

Teddy was crazy about it.
He wanted it big, like the old days.

He said, “If we think big,
if we act big, we'll be big."

- So he wanted bigger pyro?
- Yeah.

Nickie told him the clubs we played now
couldn't handle it.

- That must have pissed Teddy off.
- Tell me about it.

Just before the last gig,
the son of a bitch told me
to rig the throwers.

- So you were just following orders.
- Hey, I don't mess with that crap.
I did my thing.

When you left, where was Teddy?

Onstage... alone.

This dude is just a washed-up wannabe
who's tryin' to return to his rightful spot...

at the top
of the rock-and-roll food chain.

It would have been a lot safer
to write a couple of new songs.

- [Scoffs ] You ever listen to any of their music?
- See, that's the thing.

Whatever stardom Wotan had,
it ain't because of their music.
It's because of their live shows.

Connor thought
if he made a big enough bang
with the press and his fans,

that he could hock the tour bus
and start ridin' private jets again.

So he burned down a club?

Hey, Ozzy bit off a bat's head.

He wanted more fire.
I doubt he thought it through.

Guys, we can't arrest a man
on motive alone.

All the physical evidence
went up in smoke, so to speak.

The guy who works the equipment
says that Connor begged him?
to rig the thrower

And when he refused,
he asked the sound guy.

Who will testify that he left Connor
alone on the stage before the show.

Well, does this Connor know
how to operate this doohickey?

Yeah, like playin' a "C" chord.

All right. Let's light a fuse under this moron
and see how loud he screams.

- [ Electric Bass]
- Stop! Stop!

Damn it, Maxie! I said bigger. Bigger!
Doesn't anybody do “bigger” anymore?

- I hear they got a lot of big guys
to choose from up in Ossining.
- What?

Teddy Connor, you're under arrest
for arson and murder 23 times.

Now that's got a nice beat,
and you can dance to it.

You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can be used
against you in a court of law.

Docket number 832677:
People v. Theodore Connor.

One count of arson in the first degree.
Twenty-three counts of murder
in the first degree.

Didn't your mother teach you
about playing with matches?

[ Woman]
Your Honor might not recognize my client, but he is--

Oh, yes, she does. I sat in the mud
at Roosevelt Raceway back in '79.

You were three hours late,
Mr. Connor.

I hope Your Honor
will approach this
with an open mind.

Not to worry, counselor.
That's where I met my husband.

How do you plead?

- Not guilty.
- Ms. Southerlyn?

- The People request remand, Judge.
The enormity of the crime itself--
- Is irrelevant.

But the defendant's financial means isn't.

- He's a flight risk, Your Honor.
- [Attorney] Ten years ago, maybe.

Yes, Mr. Connor's made
a great deal of money in his career,
but he has spent more.

He can barely make ends meet.

Why should he be any different?
Bail is set at 500,000,
cash or bond.

[Gavel Raps]

Bad things happen, Jack.
They're not always criminal.

[McCoy]
Twenty-three corpses
is more than a "bad thing."

It was an accident-
an act of God-
not a murder.

If God wanted that club to burn,
he wouldn't have used
a flamethrower.

Are you saying that someone
screwed with our equipment?

- No. I'm saying you did, Mr. Connor.
- Oh, this is crazy.

As a crime is what it is.
Don't you see what happens here, jack?

A high-profile client like Teddy Connor,
the mere fact that he's arrested
makes him guilty in the eyes of the public.

Actually, it's the jury
he should worry about.

The jury, I can handle.
What happens when he's acquitted?

Who's going to a Wotan concert
now you've ruined his good name?

Who are you kidding?
Notoriety sells tickets.

We're not gonna take that chance.
When Mr. Connor's acquitted,

we'll want there to be
a fully public record.

My motion to let TV cameras
in the courtroom.

The world's gonna
watch this one, Jack.

If I were you, I'd get a new suit.

Counsel is wasting everyone's time.

Section 52 of the New York
Civil Rights Law...

specifically prohibits
cameras of any sort
in the courtroom.

And said law was passed
in 1952.

It's about time New York made that
giant leap into the 21 st century.

We are only one of nine states
that have a per se ban--
And I'm sure Ms. Teller is aware...

making that leap
is the bailiwick of the legislature
and not a trial court, Judge.

It is when a statute
violates the First Amendment,

which requires that criminal trials
be open to the press...

unless there are compelling
and clearly articulated reasons
for closing such proceedings.

This is a high-profile case,
Your Honor.

Surely press from around the planet
will be intent on reporting it.

Obviously, our meager courtrooms
will not permit--

[McCoy]
I'm not concerned about the press.
I'm concerned about a fair trial,

which means keeping the hoopla
to a minimum.

- Albany obviously shares that concern.
- You are putting a rock star on trial.

Hoopla is a foregone conclusion.

Your Honor, there is precedent
ignoring the statutory ban.
New York v. Boss, People v. Barron.

What's really going on here,
counselor?

If my client is to be crucified
because he's a public figure,

the least I can ask is that
the public bear witness.

What the hell? It's about time we got
those old boys in Albany off their butts.

- Your Honor!
- Come on, Jack.
Who's it gonna hurt?

[Branch]
Well, what are you gonna do?

The Sixth Amendment says public trial,
and that's what he's entitled to.

You commending a judicial activist?
That's what appeals are for.

The cameras have to affect
the way people behave.

You mean they'll actually
tell the truth?

I mean it's not okay
for the medium to be the message
in the courtroom.

- Is this S.O.B. guilty?
- Yes.

- Can you prove it?
- I think so.

Then my advice--
get a new suit and enjoy.

It's clear from mere visual inspection
that the flamethrower in question...

emitted a stronger flame
than the others on stage.

- How much stronger?
- The others reached a maximum heat
of 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

This one, I'd guess,
was close to 600.

- Would that create a bigger flame?
- Yes.

In the same proportion--
it would be twice as big

Could this happen
through a malfunction?

No. In my opinion,
the only way this could happen...

is for the flame projector to be filled
with twice the combustible material.

Thank you.

Did you check the flamethrower
in question for fingerprints?

- That wouldn't be feasible.
- Why not?

- It's covered in carbon.
- From the subsequent fire.

- That's correct.
- So there is no scientific evidence
indicating who it was...

who added the extra combustible material.

No.

I've been on the road with Wotan
for over 20 years,

since back when they were known
as Cain's Ire.

We played the largest arenas
in the world.

- And your effects were bigger back then?
- Yes.

At a place like the Meadowlands,
Teddy said we needed spectacle.

- And, uh, that's what he gave us.
- For example?

We had a thrower that would
shoot flames 20 feet up in the air.

We called it the, uh,
pillar of fire.

We used gerb fans, flash reports-
you name it.

Teddy always wanted
to push the envelope, and, uh,

I have to admit,
I got a kick out of it too.

What would happen
if you used that kind of equipment
in the smaller clubs you play now?

They wouldn't even
fit on the stage.

Did the defendant want
to push the envelope
in his recent gigs?

Yeah, sure, we talked about it.
You know, bring back the pillar

He said the gags
would put asses in the seats.

And he wasn't concerned
about the safety of those asses?

That was my job.

He wanted me to go bigger.
I wouldn't.

- It sounds to me like you miss
the good ol' days.
- Well, sure. Who doesn't?

- Twenty-foot flames
must get your juices going.
- Objection.

[ Judge Bums ]
Sustained

You testified that the defendant
asked you to increase the fireworks
at recent shows.

- Is that correct?
- Yeah.

- He asked for bigger flames.
- Did he ever say why?

Publicity. You know,
bring back the good ol' days.

- To play big stadiums again.
- That's right.

You know, Mr. Stoller,
I've been listening to you very carefully.

And whenever you spoke about the band,
you say “we.”

I don't know.
I've been with them 20 years.

- You play guitar, do you?
- No.

- Keyboards.
- I don't play an instrument.

That's right. Your job is to play with fire.

I'm always the last one on stage
before the show.

I--I test volume,

make sure the cables are out of the way
so nobody trips or anything.

And you're alone
when you do this?

Nick and I usually
do our things together.

He finishes up before me though.

- And the night of the tragedy at Danzibar?
- Teddy was there with us.

He was pissed off because
the gig the night before
didn't pull in capacity.

He thought that we needed
to shake things up a bit,

you know, to bring us back
to the big time.

He asked Nickie to up the amps
on the fire stunts.

- And Nickie refused?
- He said no way.

With the ceilings in that club,
it'd be a disaster.

- And what happened next?
- Nickie finished up with the flamethrowers and left.

Then Teddy told me to add some
more powder to the throwers.

But I heard what Nickie just told him,
sol said no way.

He said just upping
one of the throwers
would be cool

I told him I wasn't touching a thing.
Then I left.

And the defendant
was on stage alone?

As far as I know.

- You're a soundman, aren't you?
- That's right.

Why would Mr. Connor think
to ask you to rig the flamethrowers?

With the models we use now,
it's not really brain surgery.
We all knew how they work.

Who exactly?

Teddy, Larry, Burly,

James, Peter and Glen
and probably Maxie too.

- All of us.
- I see.

Now, when you left the stage
prior to the show,

you don't know how long the defendant
remained there, do you?

- No.
- And you can't say...

if Larry or Burly or James or Maxie
showed up after he left.

No.

Mm, it was dark.
Um, then the curtains came up.

Were the band members
on the stage?

They were sort of
back near the drums.

And then?

Then James played
a loud chord,

and, um, they moved
into position.

It was still dark.
Where were they on the stage?

Bury was back by the drums.

Um, James and Teddy were by the mike
in the center of the stage.

- And Larry?
- Larry was off to the left, near me.

What happened then?
James played another chord

The flamethrowers, they shot up,
straight up.

[inhales]
And, um--

That's when I, uh--
That's when I heard-

What Teresa?

I heard Larry scream.

The flames on my side of the stage
hit the ceiling,

and there's, like, a big flash.

It was on fire.

And soon the whole ceiling--

It fell on his head,
and he was on fire.

How was it you came to be
standing backstage?

Um, I know some of the guys
in the band.

One in particular?

- Teddy.
- And he invited you backstage
to his dressing room, did he?

Please speak up.

Yes.

But I know for a fact that he didn't
rig the flamethrower.

- How can you be sure?
- Because I was with him the whole time
until they started playing.

And where exactly
were you and Mr. Connor?

We were in the band's tour bus.

He and I were-
You know.

No. You're gonna have
to be more specific.

We were screwing, okay?

That's not what she told the cops.

This isn't a game, Teresa.
I'm telling the truth.

Then why didn't you
tell anyone before?

I'm 18 years old. I live at home.
My mother--

- Why are you doing this?
- Because that's what happened.

She thinks I'm a virgin.
I'm not.

Do you think he gives a damn about you?

- What do you care?
- It's wrong, Terry!

If he started that fire--
If he killed all those people--

He didn't.
He was with me in the tour bus.

He couldn't have done anything
to the flamethrower.

Of course I 'd like to play bigger places.
What musician wouldn't?

But, you know, lightin' some joint on fire--
that's no way to get there.

So you never asked Nick Stoller
to increase the flames?

Hell. Sure, I did.
I mean, I asked if we could.

'Cause that fire, man, it would
get my adrenaline pumpin',
get that adrenaline blastin'.

You know, it made
for a better gig.

But, uh, he says
that's as high as we can go,
I believe him.

- No questions asked.
- That's right.

I mean, that's what
I pay him for.

I know this is dangerous and--
I loved Larry.

I love this band,you know?

I'd be nothin' without them
and my fans.

So your sound man, Mitch Sellman,
he was lying on the stand....

when he said that you asked him
to increase the flames.

Yes, he was. I don't know why
he'd want to do that to me,

but he was lying.

And before the show,
where were you?

Well, like the girl said, you know?
I was in the bus, me and her.

“The girl."
You don't know her name.

We play a lot of cities, man.

And there are lots of nameless,
faceless ports in the storm.

Yeah, that's right.
That's part of the gig.

Sex and drugs and rock and roll.

I gave up the drugs
about 10 years ago.

- But not the sex.
- [Scoffs] Not till I die.

[Spectators Chuckling]
What about the rock and roll?

Well, that's why I live,
you know?

Nothin' in the world like being on stage
in front of people that love my music.

- Nothin' between me and them--
- Except a wall of fire.

It turns 'em on.
I mean, rock is spectacle.

And the bigger the fire,
the bigger the spectacle.

That's right, you know.
I mean, my fans want it, I give it to 'em.

Even though there area 't as many
as there used to be.

- They're still out there.
That's right. What was I thinking?

You did bring, what,
300 people to that club.

- We sold it out.
- With people who love your music.

That's right.

- With people who would do
anything to protect you.
- Objection!

- Sustained.
- You know what, man.'

They would do anything,
'cause we were gods.

They worshiped us.
They slept in line for days to hear us.

They sat in the mud.
They sat in the rain.

Must be difficult
when all that worship disappears.

- Only it didn't.
- Well, at least not for one teenage girl anyway.

I was in that bus with her.

I'm sure you were.

Tell me, Mr. Connor.
How old are you?

Fifty-two.

Thank you.

[Coughs]

I thought the jury
would be back by now.

Don't worry.
Teddy Connor looked like a pitiful has-been
willing to do anything to recapture his past.

And Teresa Drosi looked like a groupie
willing to say anything
to protect her idol.

Let's hope the jury
sees it that way.

[ Phone Rings]
[Briefcase Latch Snaps]

Mr. Branch's office.

Fine. Judge Burns would like to see you
first thing tomorrow morning.

The jury has requested they be read
the entirety of Teresa Drosi's testimony.
Any objections?

- Does it make a difference
that she's lying through her teeth?
- Isn't that for a jury to decide?

I'll repeat my question.

- Are there any objections?
- [McCoy] No, Your Honor.

- [ Teller] Not from me, Judge.
- Now, wasn't that easy?

Just a thought, Your Honor.
Who's gonna be reading the transcript
in the jury room?

- My clerk.
- Mr. Rodriguez

- That's right.
- Then I do have an objection.

- The emotional nature of her testimony
might be obscured by a man.
- Come on. Her words are her words.

Yes, but her credibility
depends on how those words
are reenacted to the jury.

- I'm not gonna go out and hire
another clerk for this, counselor
- I'm not asking you to.

The cameras in the courtroom
filmed the entire proceeding.

- Why don't we let them
actually see Teresa Drosi's testimony?
- Absolutely not.

Other than the five pounds
the camera adds to her,
give me one good reason.

The cameras in and of themselves
violate the statutory language.

To actually allow their use in the proceedings
would compound that violation exponentially.

- It's reversible error.
- Last time I checked,
we were after accuracy.

- And you believe every image you see
in the 6:00 news?
- You know what, jack?

We've got a horse. We might as well
get what we can from her mouth.

- [Branch] She still lying?
- We were screwing, okay?

To be honest,
I can't tell anymore.

[Tape Squealing]
You tell me if this isn't reasonable doubt.

[ Teller On Videotape ]
And where exactly
were you and Mr. Connor?

Uh, we were in
the band's tour bus.

He and I were-
You know.

[ Teller]
No. You're gonna have
to be more specific.

We were screwing, okay?
[ Remote Control Clicks]

- Well?
- Look at her eyes.

- She's embarrassed
- No. If she were embarrassed,
she'd be looking down.

- Okay. She's proud she slept with her hero.
- Then I'd think she 'd look at him.

I don't think that's pride on her face.
I think that's defiance.

She's looking directly
into the back of the gallery.

- Who was sitting there?
- Her mother.

Her doting, overprotective mother.

Who didn't want her to go to
the concert in the first place.

Do you really think she'd lie on
the stand to provoke her mother?

You were once a teenage girl.
You tell me.

- I'll round them all up.
- No, not yet.

I'm thinking we ought to try
a little one-on-one first.

[ Teresa]
I've said in court what happened

I think you said what you wanted
to have happened.

Well, you're wrong then.

I've been there, Teresa.

You slept with a rock star.

No, but I had a mother.

I don't know what you mean.

A mother who dragged me to church
every Sunday...

and who thought that sex was something
that should only happen
between husband and wife.

- You are so off-base.
- Am I?

- Mm.
- 'Cause I saw your mom.

- I saw the look she had in her eye
when you said that you slept with Teddy.
- So?

So it's the same look my mom had
when I came home from my junior prom
at 6:00 a.m.

Nothing happened, but I kinda liked her
assuming the worst.

I don't know why
she wants to help him.

On the other hand,
maybe she's telling the truth.

No. I mean,
Teresa's not like that.

If that's the case, I wonder if her lies
were meant more to hurt you
than to help him.

I don't know
what you're talking about.

I'm a father, Ms. Drosi.
I know the battles that go on
between teenage girls and their mothers.

Terry and I--
She loves me.

Now is not the time to be
some kind of puritanical hero,
Ms. Drosi.

- If there's any chance
Teresa was with Teddy Connor-
- No.

Then I can and will bring
criminal charges against her.

- For what?
- I'll start with perjury...

and move on to abetting
23 counts of murder.

- She didn't do anything.
- She's helping Teddy Connor
cover up any number of felonies.

- If you know why...
- Because she's a stupid little...

Look, she's lying.

I know she's lying.

Why is it so hard to believe
he'd sleep with me?

- That's not what I'm saying.
- There are a lot of guys
that are interested in me.

I'm sure there are.
Look at him, Teresa.

- Is Teddy Connor someone...
- He's a great musician.

He's a genius.
He writes all of the band's music.

[Sighs]
I am sorry, but that is hardly a reason
to throw your life away.

- What are you talking about?
- Perjury is a crime, Teresa.

So is “accomplice after the fact."

If Teddy Connor gets away with this
because of your lying,

Jack McCoy is gonna take his anger
out on someone.

You're gonna have to prove
I lied, then,

and you can't do that.

Well, if it's any consolation,
it looks like the jury's
as confused as we are.

Only I'm not confused.
Teresa Drosi all but told me
she was lying.

Did you tell her she could
spend her twenties in Ossining on us?

She's protecting a musical genius.

[McCoy]
Let me ask you both something.

A hypothetical mother is told
that all she has to do
to keep her daughter out of prison...

is say that said daughter
slept with a hypothetical rock star,

yet that mother refuses
to do that.

- Why?
- To protect her baby's good name?

She is going to prison.

Well, if the hypothetical rock star
was particularly disgusting--

Oh, my God.

I think now's the time
to round them all up.

With the jury out this long,
why would I consider a deal?

[ Door Closes ]
I'm not here to offer a deal.

Look, we were together,
like she said.

Oh, come on.
What would she be doing
with a has-been like you?

Ask her.
Do you know
how many records I've sold?

I know how many
records you've sold
in the last 10 years.

- I think your fans finally
caught on to you, Mr. Connor.
- Right.

Actually, people who know about these things
tell me you were never that good
in the first place.

- Those people would be wrong.
- Why else would you need
the gimmicks?

If you don't have talent,
light up the stage.

You don't have to be a genius
to figure that out.

If you don't have a deal on the table,
why should we sit here
and be insulted?

You just don't get rock and roll.

- Apparently you don't either.
- Stop! Leave him alone.

I know you're good.

The odds are good
he's gonna go to prison
no matter what you say, Teresa.

Speak up now,
or you're gonna join him.

Well, at least you have one fan,
Mr. Connor.

How many other pseudo-stars
can say they have a fan
willing to go to jail for 'em?

The shame of it all is...

it won't do any good.

Twenty-three life sentences
running consecutively
is gonna be the best you're gonna get

That's if the jury's feeling generous.

The flip side of that coin
is a needle.

[Crying]
Stop, please! Please, stop!

Teddy didn't light the fire
It was me.

- Shut up, Terry.
- Mom, it was. It's true.

Teddy, damn it!

If you have something
to say, Mrs. Drosi.

It's “Miss.”
[ Exhales]

[Crying]
One stupid night.

I should've had my head examined!

It was nothing for you, but--

But for me--
For us--

I don't know what's going on here.
I don't want to know.

Come on Teddy
We'll take our chances with the jury

He just gave you his D.N.A., baby.

He was never a father.
You don't owe him anything.

- Forget her.
- How dare you!

Do you think giving her a couple tickets twice a year
gives you the right to ruin her life?

Look, I did it, Mr. McCoy.

I loaded the flamethrower.
I didn't know that Larry
or the ceiling--

I just-
I didn't think.

- You don't have to do this for him.
- But I did it, Mom.

I heard you say to Nick
that you wanted more fire.

I thought that if--
that if you were on top again, [ Exhales]

Maybe then you'd--

We're done here.

[ Door Opens]

[ Door Closes]

[Exhales]

[McCoy]
Teresa's lawyer wants to plea.

- What are you gonna do?
- Talk to him.

Is that sympathy I hear?

My father, the only one
of my tennis matches
he actually came to,

he spent doing paperwork.

It didn't make me love him less.
It just made me try that much harder
to make him love me more.

Were you successful?

You should see my backhand.

[Howling]