Original subtitles

[Jimmy] Previously on Picket Fences.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,

allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Laurie Bey, better known as the Dancing Bandit.

Please try to remain as calm as possible.

‐[all screaming] ‐[gunshots]

‐Dancing what? ‐Bandit.

Modern‐day Robin Hood.

Steals from the rich, gives to the poor.

[interpreter] What a gorgeous little boy.

‐[Laurie sighs] ‐You know sign language?

This woman is not getting away. I finally got her.

Freeze! Damn it!

‐Laurie! ‐Freeze!

‐[gunshot] ‐[gasps, grunts]

She was trying to escape, Zack.

I am the sheriff.

She does good things for people who need help.

‐But she breaks the law. ‐So you shot her.

[interpreter] I made a lot of mistakes.

I'm sure your dad has, too.

Shooting me wasn't one of them.

‐[machine beeping] ‐[gasping]

Her heart rate's up to 230. She's got to go to Chicago.

‐Chicago? Why? ‐We don't have the equipment.

Chicago General is sending a chopper.

[sighs] Your wife is okay?

We needed the Air Evac.

The chopper you called for? It's over there.

The one that just left is ours.

What the hell is going on? Why is there another chopper?

I have no idea. There must be some mix‐up.

[birds chirping]

[air brakes hissing]

‐Is that your garbage? ‐Yes.

That's a lot of garbage for one small boy.

But my hair is red.

It's nice the way the light hits red hair, don't you think?

Reminds me of a sunset. A red sunset.

Would you like to see the inside of a garbage truck?

‐Is it nicely appointed? ‐That's a subjective question.

I didn't think you'd come.

What?

And miss your birthday?

I told you I'd come.

‐[chuckles] ‐I did the code right.

I remembered all the code words.

He sure did.

‐Hey! ‐For me?

Happy birthday.

This is the best birthday I ever had.

‐[Laurie chuckles] ‐[sirens blaring]

What happened? What's happening?

Um... it's okay.

Careful with the boy.

Get out of the truck with your hands up.

Send the boy out first.

The boy has to go.

All right, go get him.

Driver, Ms. Bey, you're next.

‐[man] Let's go. ‐Hands above your head.

[officer] Step out now.

Finally.

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can or will be used against you in a court of law.

You have the right to talk to a lawyer

and have him present for or during your testimony.

[theme music playing]

[theme music ends]

No one in or out without clearance.

Andrew, Cobb, I don't want them left alone for a minute.

‐What the hell's going on here? ‐We got her!

‐The Dancing Bandit is ours. ‐What are you doing with Zachary?

Your son's been communicating with Ms. Bey through cyberspace.

They've been talking with each other by computer.

She came to visit him for his birthday

and we were there to pounce.

‐Lock 'em up! ‐[stutters] Wait a minute‐‐

‐What the hell? ‐I want a lawyer.

‐You're not in trouble, son. ‐Yes, he is.

‐In my office. Now! ‐[grunts]

I want guards posted outside the jail quarter,

outside the jail window‐‐

‐Around the whole building. ‐[officer] Yes, sir.

‐You seem excited. ‐We got her. [sighs]

We finally, finally got her.

‐[sighs] ‐[door slams]

I am shocked.

She's a fugitive. Wanted by the law, wanted by me!

You've been communicating with her for a year...

she comes to visit you‐‐

How dare you not tell me?

I was afraid you'd shoot her.

[sighs] You're lucky you're not charged with a crime.

Aiding and abetting a fugitive is a crime, young man.

This is unconstitutional.

[scoffs] Go home.

‐You're grounded. ‐[door opens]

[sighs] I'm very disappointed.

You forgot to say happy birthday.

[sighs]

[bailiff] Case number 22166, People vs. Laurie Bey.

On the charges of robbery and kidnapping.

Douglas Wambaugh for the Dancing Bandit.

She hasn't hired me yet, Judge, but she will.

Oh, my little friend. How are you?

Your Honor, this is just an arraignment.

I fully expect this case to be transferred to federal court

where Ms. Bey will stand trial for numerous federal offenses

committed over the last four years.

Excuse me, Your Honor, that won't be happening.

‐Who are you? ‐My name is Janice Neiman.

I'm with the United States Attorney's Office.

We will be seeking to try Ms. Bey right here in Rome.

What?

I don't have jurisdiction over the federal crimes.

We're just charging her with the bank robbery that occurred in this county.

Why is that?

It's the only offense we're interested in prosecuting.

Counsel in chambers now.

What the hell are you up to?

She's covered her tracks very well.

We feel we'd have a hard time securing convictions

in almost all the other cases except for this one.

For the bank robbery, we've got witnesses.

We can put her away for this offense.

So this is the one we'd like to prosecute.

‐I object, Your Honor. ‐[Henry] Why?

I don't know, she seems tricky.

The bank robbery is also a federal crime, Ms. Neiman.

You could go to federal court on that.

We'd prefer to try it here.

‐Why? ‐I'm not sure.

[chuckles] They're up to something.

‐Are they charging me? ‐Not yet.

For this trial, they just want Laurie.

They must think that they have a better chance of convicting you in Rome

than with a federal court jury.

[Rebecca] Why would they think that?

Because she's a folk hero. A modern‐day Robin Hood.

She never hurt anyone.

She feeds the homeless, defends the handicapped.

There isn't a jury anywhere that's gonna want to convict her.

[Littleton] Yes, including here maybe.

So what makes you think a Rome jury is gonna be any different?

Because the jurors here know and love Jimmy Brock.

This is a small county that's very prosecution‐friendly.

If they see you sitting with us...

we undercut the Dancing Bandit's sympathy.

We lose more trials than we win.

[Janice] Here's the deal, we need a fast trial.

With every article that gets published about this woman,

her popularity goes up.

We want the fastest criminal conviction possible.

To nip her hero status in the bud.

We can go after her on the federal crimes later.

What if the defense doesn't agree to an immediate trial?

Oh, they will. Wambaugh has a short attention span.

I don't know.

I'm still not sure this town would convict her.

They have to.

We have a star witness.

Who?

‐Me? ‐You were in the bank.

There were a lot of people in the bank. Plus‐‐

‐Most of whom we plan to call. ‐[Jimmy sighs]

You looked right into her eyes...

you also treated her after she was wounded.

Which is the problem right there

because a doctor can't be forced to testify against her patient.

Yes, she can.

Your testimony, Dr. Brock, would be the most credible.

As I've already explained, you're a trusted member of the community‐‐

A former acting mayor.

[sighs] Thank you.

[Janice] You are of crucial influence.

[sighing heavily]

I'm sorry. But...

Well, I have misgivings about testifying against Laurie Bey.

I happen to like her.

And she's been so good to our son.

She's in jail right now for wishing him happy birthday.

She's in jail for robbing banks.

Well, I'm sorry. No.

Jill, we will subpoena you.

[Jill] Fine, go ahead.

I can't be sure what I'm gonna say.

Well, actually, we have a little...

insurance policy on that front.

Oh?

[Janice] We happen to be aware of the fact

that you knew Laurie Bey was getting in a bogus FBI helicopter...

but you stayed silent as that helicopter flew off into the sunset

carrying a fugitive.

Jill?

[sighs]

I... I didn't know that it was an escape

until she was already on the chopper.

But you could have told the FBI right then

and they could have pursued her.

Instead you stayed silent.

Helping a fugitive escape is a crime that comes with a prison term, Dr. Brock.

What‐‐ [scoffs] You're gonna arrest me?

And think nothing of it.

You don't take stand

and offer up convincing testimony against Laurie Bey...

I will absolutely prosecute you.

I don't like your tactics, Ms. Neiman.

And I especially don't like that you used my son to catch your suspect.

It's not your fault.

But if I didn't ask you to come for my birthday...

they wouldn't have caught you.

[Laurie sighs]

‐Secret? ‐[Douglas] Uh, does this involve the truth?

Because I can leave.

No, you can stay.

I knew the government was breaking into my computer.

I knew because I was tapping into theirs.

And I knew that they knew that I was coming for your birthday,

and that they were planning to capture me.

You did?

There was supposed to be a roadblock on Eight Rod Road

after I said goodbye to you.

I didn't think they'd hit while you were still in the truck.

But I guess they got nervous.

I'm sorry you had to experience that.

Wait, I, uh... I don't understand.

You wanted to get caught?

[Rebecca] I'm tired of running. I wanna live a life.

Then why didn't you just turn yourself in?

[Rebecca] I'm proud of everything I've done, Zack.

I know it's been outside the law but I have no regrets.

If I surrendered... I'd be saying I was wrong.

I didn't want people getting that idea.

I prefer to be captured.

And do you wanna be convicted? I need to know these things.

I wanna walk tall but I wanna walk free.

‐Get me an acquittal. ‐Please.

Well, they have you on videotape

going into the bank with a big gun.

Think of something. You're Douglas Wambaugh.

The prosecution wants to move fast.

Are you ready to go right away?

Are you?

All right.

All right, Ms. Dancing Bandit...

Let's go to trial.

[sighs] Can we talk about this?

‐Jimmy? ‐I am the sheriff of this town.

And my wife, my own wife...

[Jimmy sighs]

helps an FBI most wanted criminal escape‐‐

‐My own wife! ‐[slaps palm on thigh]

‐I apologize. ‐You apologize?

That's all you can say? You "apologize"!

Well, that, and... [sighs]

I'm sorry. [chuckles nervously]

Dad, come on, the candles are melting.

‐I don't care! ‐He's in the kitchen, he can hear you!

He committed a crime, too. My own wife, my own son.

Jimmy, it's his birthday.

Can we try not to completely ruin it?

Zack, get out here and blow out these candles on this cake!

‐This instant! ‐Oh, that's nice.

Hey!

♪ Happy birthday to you! ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you! ♪

♪ Happy birthday dear, Zack ♪

[Kimberly] Oh! There's one still left burning.

‐[spits] ‐[Jill] Oh, gee, Zack!

That's not the way we blow out candles.

You can't tell me who I could have as friends

just because you're the sheriff.

My wish was that you don't testify.

[Jimmy sighs]

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

I really am sorry, Jimmy.

I just didn't want her going to jail.

Did Zachary know that you stayed silent?

Did he know that you helped the Dancing Bandit get away?

Yes.

‐[door slams] ‐[Jimmy sighs]

He was so upset thinking that she was sick‐‐ You know, with her bad heart?

He was afraid she was gonna die.

I... I had to tell him that it was an escape plan

and that she was gonna be okay.

[Jimmy sighs]

How could he know that it was okay to go behind my back?

Because he saw his own mother do it.

What was the message you were sending, Jill,

that adorable criminals are above the law?

I just‐‐ I didn't want Laurie Bey to go to jail.

I didn't really think about the big picture. Okay?

You have to testify.

I don't think I can do that.

You heard that federal prosecutor.

She said she'd come after you if you didn't cooperate.

Do you really think that a jury is gonna punish me

for sympathizing with the Dancing Bandit?

No, everybody loves the Dancing Bandit.

That's why you have to testify.

I don't think I can do that.

‐[sighs] ‐[dish clatters]

[Janice] Ladies and gentleman of the jury...

my name is Janice Neiman.

I'll be the prosecuting attorney on this case.

Along with John Littleton who I believe you already know.

The case today involves‐‐

Your Honor, the defense stipulates

that my client, Laurie Bey, robbed a bank.

We admit to everything in the indictment.

No, no, no, you don't.

‐Mr. Littleton. ‐Well, he does this, Your Honor.

You know he does this. See, he does this.

He stipulates to our entire case so we have no record‐‐

I'm just trying to help.

Oh, yeah, that was your nickname in grammar school, right?

You were the little helper? We don't want your help, okay?

‐What's happening? ‐[Henry] Quiet.

Counsel in chambers. Now.

I'm just trying to speed things along.

[Littleton] Oh, yeah, you're very thoughtful.

"Mr. Helper." That was your nickname, right?

[Douglas] A nickname of affection.

I don't hear any affection here‐‐ And that troubles me.

No. No, no. No, no. No.

‐How do you really feel? ‐Be quiet.

Why take up court time with something

you don't have to prove?

We admit‐‐ She robbed a bank.

[scoffs] I'm sorry, I'm a little confused here.

That's exactly how I want you.

‐Look at his shoes. ‐Oh, shut up, Doug!

‐[Janice] Just one second. ‐[sighs]

You are the defense attorney.

How can you just admit to the charges?

Defense attorneys don't do that.

‐Oh, no, no, no, he does. ‐Why?

She's asking you why.

Look, by offering up a straight admission,

he preempts us from putting up witnesses to tell our story.

Then he puts up his witnesses.

So when the jury goes back to deliberate

they have all the defense witnesses fresh in their mind,

and all they get representing the prosecution is dry stipulation.

‐I'm shocked. ‐But that isn't smart, that's dumb.

‐Thank you. ‐If you admit to the charges, the case is over.

Then it doesn't matter how many witnesses he sticks up there.

‐The case is over. ‐No.

Why are we arguing? Let's just let me be stupid.

[Littleton] But you're not stupid, Doug.

Now, he's probably gonna try and argue something like

jury nullification or self‐defense.

[scoffs] Oh, that's ridiculous.

She walked into a bank with a gun and held it up

It's on video‐‐ [scoffs] Self‐defense? That's absurd.

Well, defense strategy is defense strategy.

But I see no point wasting time

trying to prove facts he stipulates to.

‐So‐‐ ‐[Littleton] One witness, Your Honor. Please!

Allow us one witness to put a face on the prosecution.

I'll stipulate you have a face.

‐[Henry] Shut up! ‐Be quiet.

[Janice sighs]

I'll give you one witness. Then the prosecution rests.

‐[Henry sighs] ‐I can't believe you, Doug.

Eh, you never believe it but it's always true.

Douglas Wambaugh, I'll never stop!

[door closes]

Ms. Neiman?

Get out.

They're selling them outside.

Ten bucks.

[chuckles] Is that me?

You're prettier in person.

You're sweet.

[Jimmy] Zack, go home.

If you wanna talk to her, she needs an interpreter.

I know sign language.

Fine. Interpret this.

Stay away from my son.

I don't like your influence.

Maybe you're the bad influence.

Let's go.

[Laurie sighs]

‐We need you. ‐We've been allowed one witness.

It has to be you.

I‐‐ I've told you, I'm just not comfortable doing that.

Jill, we're talking about a woman who's been on a four‐year crime spree.

[Jill] Well, I'm not gonna testify for her.

I just don't wanna get on the stand against her.

Please, don't make me play my hand against you, Dr. Brock.

I don't wanna go after you, I really don't.

She's not afraid of you.

It's okay to break the law sometimes. Tell her, Mom.

Honey, I never said it was okay to break the law.

You told the federal government to stick it

when they ordered busing.

You've gone to jail lots of time for contempt

when you've disobeyed Judge Bone.

Zachary, those were very complicated situations.

And what about the law that said child molesters should get to live here?

Lots of laws suck.

‐Zachary Brock‐‐ ‐It's true.

That's why the Dancing Bandit is good.

And that's why my mom helped her get away.

My mother won't help you.

Government sucks.

You hold it right there, young man!

Now you get down here and you apologize to all the people in this room.

‐No. ‐What did you say?

‐I said no. ‐You get down here right now.

You get down here or I'm gonna come up‐‐

You shot her in the back!

‐You're a bad influence. ‐You get down here!

[gasps]

[door slams]

Um... [smacks lips] Uh... I'll testify.

I was standing there, uh...

ready to make a deposit with my son.

And suddenly she just charged into the bank‐‐

‐She being? ‐Laurie Bey. Right there.

And what happened next, Dr. Brock?

Well, she announced herself. She shot out the video.

She told us all to get on the floor

and her gang proceeded to rob the bank.

She held you all at gunpoint?

[Jill] Yes.

‐Were you afraid? ‐Well, of course. We were very afraid.

She opened fire.

Security guards could have shot back.

Police surrounded the place, ready to shoot‐‐

My son was there...

[sighs deeply]

It was an armed bank robbery.

[Douglas] Sounds terrifying.

But you later came to believe...

this person was not a threat to society, didn't you?

[Jill] Well, yes, that's true.

In fact, you had your son visit her in the hospital?

You even helped her to escape, didn't you?

No, I didn't help to escape. I just‐‐

You knew that she was flying away in a phony FBI helicopter

yet you stood back and you said nothing.

Dr. Brock?

I was wrong to do that.

[Douglas] I'm not interested in your hindsight.

True or false, as Laurie Bey sailed away in the helicopter...

you were glad she was getting away.

You were glad, weren't you?

‐Yes, but I‐‐ ‐[interrupting] Well, thank you.

Nothing further.

Dr. Brock... [clears throat] are you glad now?

No. I realize that as romantic

as the escapades of the Dancing Bandit may be...

[inhales deeply]

she is a criminal and she should be going to jail.

[Janice] Thank you.

Did the prosecutors ever threaten to charge you

for aiding and abetting?

‐[both] Objection! ‐Ooh, it seems I touched a nerve!

Any potential charges to be brought against this witness‐‐

I'm only looking for bias.

For example, maybe the District Attorney

promised not to prosecute Dr. Brock

if she gave a good testimony here.

‐Objection! ‐[Janice] Move to strike!

Ooh, two questions, two nerves.

[clicks tongue] Did that happen, Dr. Brock?

‐That's not why I'm up here. ‐Did that happen?

Well... sort of.

Hmm! I think I'm having a Wambaugh moment, Judge.

I could feel the tingle.

What tingle?

You don't wanna know.

I feel paralyzed.

[grunts softly]

I don't know what I even begin to say to him when he makes a gesture like that.

What do I say?

He's hurting, Jimmy.

He adores this woman. We're trying to put her in prison.

He's hurting.

That's an excuse for him doing that?

‐He gave me the finger! ‐[chuckles]

Well, I think you need to resist your natural impulse to...

...ground him till he's 30.

Yeah.

He worships you, Jimmy, you know that.

Don't take it personally.

Easier said than done.

...the bank was federally insured,

so the theft was from the federal government, not people.

But even so, to steal from the federal government‐‐

But I gave it back to the federal government.

I put the money into flood relief.

I stole money from a federal program

that was investigating the benefits of cow flatulence.

To me, starving people trying to survive a flood

were more important than cows breaking wind.

Well, we love our cows in Rome.

Some of them give birth to humans!

‐[crowd murmurs] ‐I'm sorry, what?

He said that cows here on occasion bear human children.

I'll strike it as being irrelevant.

Thank you.

[Douglas] Well, let me see if I get this straight.

By robbing the bank...

you were simply trying to fight the atrocity of government waste

and reappropriate pork barrel federal funding

to help the struggling people in need,

and to make this world a better place for all mankind?

Objection! He's not paraphrasing testimony,

he's making a speech.

‐And I loved it! ‐[applauds]

‐[crowd applauds] ‐[Henry] Quiet!

‐Quiet down! ‐What is happening? They're applauding.

‐[banging gavel] ‐[Henry] I said quiet!

[applause continues]

Had you been at the flood, you would be applauding, too.

How much money do you make?

‐What? ‐Objection!

Wambaugh.

I have never, never seen a courtroom like this.

[Douglas] Well, you're a big city attorney,

you have no sympathy for the small towns.

‐Objection! ‐Move to strike!

[Douglas] And what kind of a woman would run around

‐prosecuting the deaf? ‐[Littleton] Doug, what are you‐‐

Wambaugh! Get up here, now.

All of you.

I will hold you in contempt.

[whispers] I don't mean it.

[normal] I was just trying to characterize you

as a horrible person for the jury.

Shut up! What she did with the money is irrelevant.

And you will ask no more questions about it or I will throw you in jail.

Get back!

I'm sorry, Ms. Bey.

The court is not interested how you helped the needy.

And the judge doesn't care what you did with the money.

But I promise,

to Mrs. Englander, who is sitting over there,

whose baby got food, she cares.

‐Stand up, Mrs. Englander. ‐Wambaugh!

Sit down, Mrs. Englander.

My hands are tied.

Nothing further. Tragic.

So, Ms. Bey... [sighs] how are you?

[interpreter] Fine.

Thank you for asking. How are you?

[chuckles] I'm okay.

Um, after you finished robbing the bank, you did a little dance?

Yes.

[Janice] As is your custom, right?

That's why they call you "the Dancing Bandit."

You end every caper with a little performance.

True.

[Janice] And according to your little pronouncement in the bank‐‐

One of the reasons you do this is to establish, uh...

a folklore to humanize you?

Which would really come in handy with the jury,

should you ever be brought to trial.

You said this, didn't you?

[interpreter] Well, sometimes when I'm robbing a bank...

I shoot my mouth off a little.

The truth is‐‐ I just love to dance.

[crowd murmurs]

You truly are an infectious personality.

Objection to the term infectious, Judge.

It makes her sound diseased, ill or handicapped.

She says that because my client is deaf... and Jewish!

‐You should be ashamed! ‐[stammers] What?

‐[gasps] ‐Wambaugh! [grunts]

The jury will disregard defense counsel's last remark. Continue, Ms. Neiman.

[sighs]

Zachary?

Zack... would you come up here for a second?

‐Objection! ‐Oh, I'm not calling him as a witness.

I just want to stand beside me for a second...

After everything he's been doing,

you gotta give me some latitude.

Zachary, please step up here.

Hi.

What you got there?

Oh, my gosh, this is a...

That's a Dancing Bandit doll, isn't it? Where'd you get this?

They're selling them outside.

This is the little boy you came to say happy birthday to, isn't it?

Yes.

[Janice] Oh, he is so cute.

You know, you've gotta be the most sympathetic defendant in the world.

You steal from the rich, you give to the poor,

risk your freedom to wish a little boy happy birthday.

The Dancing Bandit!

I suppose you know there's a whole flock of people from Los Angeles in town

just dying to buy the movie rights to your story?

Ms. Neiman, there's latitude and there's latitude.

You know what I object to most?

Not that you steal.

Privately, I... I kinda cheer for your cause‐‐

As I'm sure everybody does in this whole room.

Like he does.

I object to the dancing.

That's why I'm coming after you so hard. Because you dance.

Make it so fun.

What did you give him for his birthday?

‐Is this relevant? ‐I haven't a clue.

What'd you give him?

[interpreter] A book...

called High Stick by Teddy Green.

Well, that's not all that you gave him.

Last night, I saw this little boy

and heard him tell his parents

that it's okay to break the law.

I heard him say that the federal government sucks.

Then this cute little boy...

I saw him extend his middle finger

and make an obscene gesture to the sheriff...

the sheriff... who also happens to be his father.

[interpreter] Did you do that, Zack?

‐Yes. ‐[interpreter] Why?

'Cause he's the police.

That's what you gave this child for his birthday.

The fact you never shot anybody

doesn't mean you're not dangerous.

As far as as I can tell... you do more than rob banks.

You stole something from this family.

What's the little dance that goes with that?

You've questioned enough, Counsel.

[smacks lips] Okay. I'm done.

[sighs heavily]

Me?

Defendants can do their own closings.

I already cleared it with Judge Bone.

‐No! ‐I'm too scared.

Laurie, that was a good trick she did,

pulling Zack up there for the jury to see.

You'll have to close.

‐[interpreter] But what will I say? ‐[scoffs] Who knows?

On the facts you go to jail, on the law you go to jail.

There's a theory called jury nullification.

Which, technically, we're not allowed to argue.

But maybe... we should try it anyway.

Oh, I could always say that I told you not to use it

but you couldn't hear me

because the batteries in your little hearing aid went dead.

But the main thing to remember is this...

the jury is made of people...

which makes our system human and very imperfect.

That's our best hope.

[overlapping chatter]

[sighs] He wanted to hear closing arguments

so I thought we could sit together.

[interpreter] Ms. Neiman

talked about what I gave Zachary Brock for his birthday.

Maybe I gave him the idea that law and order is not important...

that being a criminal's okay.

If I sent that message...

that was wrong and I apologize.

But maybe I gave him the idea that laws need to be questioned.

That sometimes government needs to be looked at with scrutiny.

Sometimes it's hard to really tell the good guys from the bad guys.

If I gave him that for his birthday, good!

But, Zack...

I told you this last year and I tell you again...

I'm not a hero.

I don't believe in heroes.

I believe in people trying hard to leave a situation

better off than how they found it.

Your father does that, he does it everyday.

I try to do that, too.

Here's what it comes down to.

If you think that society would be better off with me in jail...

put me away. If you don't, don't.

In either case...

the Dancing Bandit is no more.

I will never rob another bank or commit another crime.

I promise.

And I never break my promises.

Do I?

It's one thing to target the bad people in government...

If you condemn the person just because he's in government,

just because they're the police...

if children are picking up that signal from me...

then Ms. Neiman was absolutely right.

This bandit has no right to dance.

My intentions have always been good.

I know that's not enough...

[sighs]

I believe she's just escaped.

[crowd gasps, murmurs]

Duh! I'm just kidding!

[all chuckle]

Your turn.

Well, delightful, right to the end. [chuckles]

You know, it's so easy to almost forget

that she walked into a bank with a gun, started shooting,

causing the police to surround the place,

taking aim on it with a full arsenal of weapons...

innocent people inside.

She created a crisis situation.

Lives could so easily have been lost.

That is not delightful.

Laurie Bey is a dangerous criminal.

She wants to tap into your frustration with the government,

evoke compassion for who she is.

Fine! Be frustrated.

Like her.

Even admire her a little, I certainly do.

But don't let it blind you to the fact

that she is a bank robber.

This woman is the defendant's friend.

Part of her I bet is even hoping for an acquittal today.

And yet she took the stand and she testified against her.

Why?

Because sometimes justice has got to win out

over what's popular.

Sometimes you have to go against your sympathetic instincts

and do the tough jobs.

Tough jobs.

Because truth demands it.

And now...

now, it becomes your work.

You want to set her free? Ah! Of course, you do.

[sighs] The thought of her being in jail... it seems atrocious.

Truth is tough, ugly work.

Maybe there aren't heroes anymore...

but I have to believe there are heroic acts.

And for the sake of truth.

And, yes, justice...

you must find Laurie Bey guilty.

Thank you.

[indistinct conversations]

She's going to jail, isn't she?

Well, both sides gave good closing arguments.

But, you know, she might get a light sentence

because she's a philanthropist.

‐A what? ‐[Jill chuckles]

A person who means well.

I'm sorry I gave you the finger.

‐You are? ‐Yeah.

‐Hey, jury's back. ‐Already?

‐[sighs] ‐She's fried.

Let's go.

Mr. Foreman, has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

What say you?

On the matter of People vs. Laurie Bey...

on the charges of felony robbery, kidnapping and false imprisonment...

we find the defendant not guilty.

[crowd murmuring]

‐[banging gavel] ‐[Henry] Quiet down!

I said quiet!

Members of the jury,

this is the time I thank you for your service

and adjourn the case...

but your service was terrible.

There was no factual dispute before you...

you had no basis whatsoever for an acquittal.

You didn't have the guts to put her away, that's what happened.

You all decide to become Dancing Bandit yourselves

and forsake the law!

But guess what?

The defendant is not free to go.

I will see her and counsel in chambers now.

Our system of justice maybe imperfect...

but it shouldn't be this imperfect while I'm on the bench.

You are a putrid jury.

Adjourned. Chambers.

Get out!

[Douglas] What a victory!

I wish all my clients were deaf.

‐Shut up! ‐[door closes]

Just a little Wambaugh acquittal humor.

Here's the deal, Counsel. Plea bargain.

The jury verdict aside, I find your client in civil contempt...

and I sentence her to 3,000 hours of community service.

‐What? ‐[Henry] She can work right here in Rome.

I can see she's got talent. We'll find a way to put it to use.

‐Well, you can't do that. ‐I just did.

Are you prosecuting her on any of the federal charges?

I don't know.

Well, you can't do this. Not even you.

She got an acquittal, it's over.

‐You can't sentence her with‐‐ ‐I did it!

‐Well, then I will appeal. ‐No. I'll take it.

You don't have to, you're completely free.

[interpreter] I'll take it, it's fair.

It isn't fair.

You going to prison would be fair.

You're getting another chance, young lady.

Most criminals don't.

And you are a criminal, make no mistake.

I've just bought your soul. Don't you dare let me down.

I won't.

[camera shutters clicking]

[overlapping chatter]

The halls are crying with press.

‐Excellent! ‐[Janice] Oh, God!

A victory is nothing without the opportunity to rehash it.

‐Come, my little friend. ‐Hold on.

[sighing] Oh, boy, did I pick the wrong place to try this case.

[chuckles] You think it'd be different any place else?

[scoffs] I don't know.

[Zack] What I said about there being no heroes...

She was right.

I think you might be one.

[sighs] For testifying against you? It was his idea.

[Zack] Good influence.

He's okay.

‐[door opens] ‐I know.

[indistinct chatter]

‐[chuckles] ‐Come, my little friend.

I need to revel.

What happened?

The judge says I have to stay here‐‐

Oh, good!

And do 3,000 hours of community service...

[journalists clamoring]

[theme music playing]

[theme music ends]