Original subtitles

[Jimmy] Previously on Picket Fences...

George Putnik, he's apparently missing.

‐I call and call and call... ‐[Jimmy] Who is he?

He's a massage therapist on Prospect Street.

These women are some of his clients.

There's been foul play, I know it.

‐[Carter] Murder. ‐How can you be sure?

Contusion on the back of the skull. He was whacked hard.

George Putnik canceled an appointment with Marcia Lawson

because he received a death threat from Ed Lawson.

And my question is, did you do it?

Well, if I did do it,

it wouldn't be very smart for me to share that with you, would it?

‐[Kenny] Put your hands behind your back, Mr. Mayor. ‐You say absolutely nothing.

...and will be used against you.

Maybe I could make them think that I did it.

That is so stupid. No one's ever gonna go for that.

‐[clang] ‐[thud]

Gee, I don't know, they might.

[exhales]

‐[indistinct chatter] ‐[fax machine beeping]

What are you doing?

You're wearing perfume.

Well, maybe sometimes I just throw it on.

You never "just throw it on".

Sometimes I do. It's like brushing my teeth.

‐I just, you know‐‐ ‐Max, you never wear perfume to work.

And you don't always shower every morning,

but day after day, you've been coming in here squeaky clean,

with fresh breath.

Minty. [chuckles]

It isn't minty.

[drawer closes]

[indistinct chatter]

Kenny?

There's nothing wrong with it.

You know, we work side by side.

We're lovers.

‐Shh. ‐[chuckles]

It's perfectly natural for me to throw on some perfume

‐or for you to have fresh breath. ‐Okay, okay.

Hey.

Laurie, what's going on?

Oh, I just came down to check out his breath.

I heard it was minty.

[laughs]

I can read lips.

Why are you here?

Uh, she's here 'cause I called her.

I have your first assignment.

"Assignment"?

Yes, you owe 3,000 hours of community service.

You can start by finding our mayor.

‐Mayor? ‐Uh, yes, Ed Lawson.

He's wanted for murder.

He and his wife disappeared before we could arrest him.

We think they are somewhere in the Caribbean.

I want you to use your Dancing Bandit detective skills

to locate them.

Excuse me, can I steal you for a second?

Excuse me.

[sighs]

Kenny and I are heading the investigation. I don't appreciate‐‐

It's going nowhere.

The guy's been missing a month and, uh, you're not even close.

But bringing her in, I mean, it seems ridiculous, she's‐‐

I am willing to be ridiculous, Max.

I prefer that to feeling futile.

We've earned more respect than this.

I'm sorry. Uh, this woman is supposedly ingenious.

Let's take advantage of it.

Go. Find our mayor.

‐Now. ‐Uh...

[theme music playing]

[theme music ends]

We already searched the house.

And we've had it under surveillance ever since.

[interpreter] I want to check the closets, wardrobe.

Other than a few travel brochures,

you have nothing to suggest they went to the Caribbean.

Maybe they just thought of going south.

Maybe they just left the brochures for you to find.

Maybe they went fishing in Alaska.

What about phones? You checked the machines?

Why would they call their own machine?

[Interpreter] To check messages.

You don't have the phone line tapped?

Murderers don't usually call in.

[interpreter] No wonder you people never catch anybody.

‐[scoffs] ‐[interpreter] Can we go to the house please?

‐We catch people. ‐[Jimmy] Take her.

Can I wear this?

Take her.

‐[door closes] ‐[dog barking in distance]

Are you out of your mind?

‐Hear me out. ‐No, Henry, I will not hear you out.

You even mention the idea of me being the mayor‐‐

Did I ask you to be mayor?

‐You implied. ‐No, you inferred.

Look, will you let me finish?

Obviously, nobody on the city council wants the job.

It's a death wish.

But we can't go to November without one.

[sighs] So... so now what?

So let's see who does want it.

Let's put an ad in the paper and the city council can interview 'em.

"An ad in the paper"?

There are lots of qualified people out there looking for work.

You've been testing the communion wines again, haven't you, Henry?

Jill, we need a mayor. The last one escaped.

Something stinks.

‐I don't smell anything. ‐But I have a good nose.

There.

‐[clicks] ‐[automated voice] You have 17 messages.

For today's messages press play.

‐[beep] ‐Tuesday, 7:15 p. m.

[Marcia] Ed?

Pick the damn thing up, Ed. I know you're there.

Pick up.

It's real mature.

Look, anyway, I'm coming home tomorrow.

With any luck, you'll be convicted and in jail by now.

Love you. Right. Goodbye.

Who?

That was Marcia Lawson, Ed's wife.

‐[sighs] ‐So, they're not together.

Well, I... I don't understand this.

It sounds like she expects him to be here.

But, I mean, that doesn't make any sense.

Why would...

What?

Did we check in there?

‐Why would we check in there? ‐[scoffs]

‐Because it's a freezer, Kenny. ‐Again?

[Max] Well, it certainly has happened before.

You don't need to look at me or talk to me like I'm crazy.

But Ed Lawson was the one who did it.

I mean, what have we got, a freezer suicide?

‐Yeah but we thought he was with his wife. ‐He climbed right on in

‐and probably froze himself‐‐ ‐But the message said he isn't.

‐So we are‐‐ ‐Hey, will you knock‐‐

Hey!

Freezers kill people in this town.

This one has a lock. Why?

To protect the microwave pancakes? I think not.

What's with the lock? [sighs]

[clang]

Okay, now open it.

‐You open it. ‐You're so sure that nobody is in there.

‐I think you should open it. ‐You're so sure that somebody is in there.

‐[Kenny] I think you should open it. ‐Hey!

It's your turn to open up the freezer since‐‐

‐I'll do it. ‐...is in there.

[gasps]

[indistinct chatter]

Jimmy, he's dead. I'm quite positive.

‐Thank you, Carter. ‐Autopsy?

That would be nice.

‐[Carter] Oh, boy. ‐Max...

pick up the wife when she shows up.

‐[Carter] Don't wanna damage the integrity... ‐Something doesn't smell right.

‐[Carter] Okay, wait, move the fish sticks. ‐[Kenny] Yeah.

So, I found your mayor.

And I still have 2,999 hours left on the meter.

‐[chatter] ‐[Carter] One, two, three. Up!

‐[men grunt] ‐Oh! Help me. I got it.

‐Adam, I got it. ‐[indistinct chatter]

[Kenny] Yeah, and be careful.

‐[man 1] Okay. ‐[Carter] Careful.

‐[man 2] Watch his head. ‐[people gasp]

[Carter] I told you to be careful.

‐[man 3] Did you see that? ‐[man 4] I don't believe that.

‐[exclaims] ‐[radio chatter]

‐He's cute. ‐Give me that.

‐He wasn't cute. ‐Oh, not cute.

‐[interpreter] I like rosy cheeks. ‐[Carter] Oh.

Watch out! Evidence coming through.

[indistinct chatter]

Anybody home?

‐[car beeping] ‐[radio chatter]

What are you doing here?

I heard there was a secret stakeout

to arrest Marcia Lawson.

I thought I could be ready and poised to protect her rights.

How did you know we were here?

I tracked you down by your minty breath.

What difference does it make?

‐Now, look, Kenny‐‐ ‐Look, there she is.

Not too fast, I get carsick.

[car engine starting]

Let me get my feet in.

‐[tires screeching] ‐What's the matter with you?

‐[tires squeal] ‐[police siren blaring]

‐[Kenny] Marcia Lawson... ‐Don't say anything!

‐[Max] Be quiet. ‐[Marcia] What's going on?

Your husband has been found dead.

We'd like to ask you some questions.

Ed? He's‐‐he's dead?

[Max] Yes, he is.

Oh, my God.

Wh‐wh‐what happened?

Hit from behind. Freezer. Tragic.

What, Ed was found in the freezer?

[Max] He didn't say that.

He just said freezer.

Stop trying to trick my client.

‐"Client"? ‐We'd like to ask you a few questions.

‐Tragic. ‐[stammers] Are you arresting me?

‐No. ‐[Douglas] It's too bad.

It's when they arrest you that you know you're safe.

‐Shut up. ‐Hostile.

Let's go, please.

Let's go. No sharp turns.

When I left, my husband was certainly alive.

‐Why'd you leave? ‐[sighs]

Why would I stay?

I‐‐ When I left, I thought that he had killed George.

‐I thought that he was a murderer. ‐[Jimmy sighs]

So you just took off for the Caribbean?

What? I‐‐I used my maiden name.

I have nothing to hide.

I‐‐I‐‐I must have called home a zillion times.

You‐‐you got the messages.

Now, why would I call Ed if I thought that he was dead?

Maybe because you wanted us to ask that very question.

[scoffs]

This is unbelievable!

I come home and I find out that my husband is dead,

and you treat me like this.

‐She's lying. ‐[Marcia speaking indistinctly]

She's lying? That's what this graph says?

[Marcia] I thought that he was a murderer.

‐It's just as accurate as a polygraph. ‐And just as inadmissible.

‐Where did you get this thing? ‐[Marcia] My husband was alive.

Please.

Crooks have all the best equipment.

They have bigger budgets.

‐[Marcia] I just don't think‐‐ ‐She's really lying.

Whoo! [chuckles]

Why would I just come home?

Why would I just walk, waltz in the door

and let myself be arrested?

Because you're smart.

All right, that's enough.

I don't like this, and the conversation is over.

We need you to identify the body. Can you do that?

[indistinct chatter]

Um... I don't know.

Uh, yeah, I guess.

I... I still can't believe he's gone.

Uh, I‐‐I can't believe it.

And you treat me like a criminal.

[indistinct chatter]

[Carter] Sorry, but we need a positive ID and...

Ugh. Uh...

Look, suppose I don't identify him...

If the victim isn't established as my husband,

then would that still make me a suspect?

Oh, I think so.

[Kenny] All right, let's go.

Eww.

Carter?

Oh, oh, yes. Sorry.

Hm.

Yes, that's Ed.

He looks good.

[Kenny] Come on, we're going to court.

Wait a minute.

[sniffles] Goodbye, Ed.

Goodbye.

May he rest in pieces.

And you!

[interpreter] She went back three times to this pier in St. Thomas

looking to buy that one.

Six... $60,000?

Records of her bank accounts, her financial statements.

Don't ask me how I got it.

Just boot my computers and the stuff comes spewing out.

[sighs] That's illegal computer hacking. You‐‐you promised‐‐

[interpreter] Which is why I come to you with a heavy conscience.

You'll see from these records that Marcia Lawson

had no means to buy that boat.

A divorce settlement would give her nothing.

Their house is owned by the bank.

And here's this.

Oops. How did I get that? Awful.

And, look, life insurance policy.

If Ed Lawson dies,

Marcia gets 75,000. [chuckles]

What a world.

[bailiff] Case number 5552.

People v. Marcia Lawson.

Douglas Wambaugh for the defendant, Your Honor.

First, let me say,

let us bow our heads for a moment

to mourn the death of our mayor, Ed Lawson.

Now, while we're bowing‐‐

Objection. You can't call for a moment of silence

and then talk through it.

I'm just trying to speed things up

to preserve the Judge's time.

I want it noted that my client is on trial

for no other reason than that

both the victim and the Frigidaire belonged to her.

[Littleton] Your client is on trial for murder,

for George Putnik as well as her husband.

Now, if you're so interested in saving time,

why don't you just stipulate that she did it, Mr. Helper?

Then we can move right on to sentencing.

I don't think that the sarcasm is called for, Your Honor.

I ask that the District Attorney be sanctioned for his remarks,

and I ask you to dismiss all charges

due to his shocking behavior,

which he says simply because I'm Jewish with multiple sclerosis.

‐[people murmuring] ‐[woman] What?

It's kitchen sink time, Judge.

I'll be pulling out all the stops.

Are you ready to go, Counsel?

I'll need two weeks to interview witnesses and then I'll‐‐

Take three. Trial date April 24th.

‐Till then‐‐ ‐Get out.

‐I'm nothing if not consistent. ‐[people murmuring]

‐Is this really the way to get a town mayor? ‐[Jill] Uh...

Well, actually, we'll probably get a more qualified candidate this way

rather than holding it open to profit or vote.

I see.

Well, I'm... I'm happy to apply,

although I can't help but ask, um,

having a minister selecting the town mayor,

isn't that mixing church and state just a little?

We sit here as members of the town council.

And the selection's only temporary

until the November election.

But since you ask,

you have a problem with church, Mr. Kidd?

You have something against God we should know about?

[woman] She said that she loved George...

and that George was in love with her.

[Carter] I still maintain I could be a good mayor.

I finished a very close second in the elections

so the people have nearly spoken on this.

Politics is a boy's club.

The fact that I used to be a man should be a plus.

Marcia had just come from seeing George and she was upset.

She hated Ed.

Marcia loathed him.

She killed George,

and then she killed Ed.

When mayors kill, it sets a very bad example.

And with all that's happened in Rome, Wisconsin,

I have to say, poor leadership.

Very poor leadership!

Waive your residency requirement,

and I can change that.

♪ Be a frog, be a frog Be a frog ♪

Two counts, 12 years.

You're a character.

She committed two murders, she should be doing life.

Now, we're offering a 12‐year recommendation.

That is the deal of this or any century.

Let's not raise our voices, we're all friends here.

We're not friends! She's a murderer.

I am not her friend, you got that?!

I got that

as well as that little piece of spit

that shot out and hit me in the nose.

You want to be adversaries?

Fine! Let's be that way.

You were lucky to survive the arraignment.

So, let's skip all the bluster,

make the deal to reflect your horrible case.

Let's hear it.

Two counts of disorderly conduct.

And if you want to throw in "disturbing the peace,"

I won't scream.

The defendant goes back in lockup.

Your offer is rejected.

‐[woman murmuring] ‐I try to be reasonable.

Both murders reveal the same pattern.

Blow to the back of the head rendering the victims unconscious,

then death by hypothermia in the freezer.

Anything else?

No signs of bruising or struggle.

No indications of trauma.

[Littleton] And what does that mean?

Well, that both victims were probably surprised

by someone they knew and trusted.

Neither likely knew what hit them.

You can really tell that from looking at a corpse?

Yes, I can.

Fear can leave chemical traces in the body.

Neither of these victims showed signs of being afraid.

The bruise, um, back of the head?

You actually knocked Ed Lawson's head completely off

while trying to remove his frozen body, didn't you?

It fell right to the floor with a big thump.

‐Is there a question? ‐[people murmuring]

When the head snapped off and went thump on the floor,

maybe that made the bruise?

No, this was a pre‐mortem trauma.

Carter, you've ever pronounced somebody dead

who turned out to be alive?

‐Objection. ‐[Judge] Overruled.

[Douglas] You later sang with her at O'Kelly's, right?

Just two days after she supposedly died.

‐[Littleton] Objection, Your Honor. ‐[Judge] Sustained.

Marcia Lawson was the only one

who had access to the homes of both of the victims.

Both of the victims were also last seen with Marcia Lawson.

And the physical evidence?

Hair, prints, and fiber

all belong to the defendant, Marcia Lawson.

You were once convinced

Ed Lawson murdered George Putnik.

We now believe it was Marcia Lawson.

Yeah, but you were so convinced it was Ed,

you had a warrant out for his arrest.

You were looking all over for him.

Where did you eventually track him down?

‐In his house. ‐[people murmuring]

Of all places.

You enlisted the help of Laurie Bey,

the Dancing Bandit, to find him?

That is correct.

The same woman you were prosecuting for bank robbery

just a few weeks ago.

She's now on your side. [chuckles]

It's nice when people can work out their differences.

‐Objection, Your Honor. ‐Sustained.

How long did it take for Laurie Bey

to find the person you've been searching out for two months?

We all found him, together.

How long after she was put on the case?

Forty minutes.

‐[people murmuring] ‐Hm.

Imagine how it looks to an outsider.

The sheriff's department enlists the aid of a known bank robber

to help out with its case.

They put a felon in charge. [laughs]

Oh, my, I... I guess it's only funny to me.

I was in charge of the case, not Laurie Bey.

Kenny Lacos and I were running the investigation.

Ah, Deputy Lacos.

I saw the two of you in the car waiting to arrest my client.

That's right.

Do you remember what you were doing

as I happened to look into your car window?

‐We were kissing. ‐[people murmuring]

French kissing or was it Yugoslav?

‐Objection, Your Honor, this has absolutely nothing‐‐

Now, wait a minute. I'm trying to show

that the two officers in charge of this botched investigation

were romantically entangled.

In fact, they were tangling in uniform

while conducting the investigation.

My involvement with Deputy Lacos never compromises investigation.

[Douglas] The kiss?

Was it French or Yugoslav?

‐French. ‐[people] Ooh!

[Littleton] Kissing.

It's not enough you need a felon to locate the victim,

but kissing on a stakeout! French kissing!

You two do this to me on purpose. I know you do.

‐[Kenny] Can I ask you a question? ‐Yeah, go ahead.

Why is it no matter what the case or what the crime,

it's always us, the police, on trial? Why?

Because that's what defense attorneys do, Kenny.

They put the police on trial.

And with this particular police department‐‐

Now, watch it, John.

"Watch it"?

"Watch it"?!

You've got deputies necking on a stakeout. "Watch it"?!

You‐‐ [scoffs]

All he has to do is show reasonable doubt.

Now, you knew how tough this case was gonna be, to begin with.

You‐‐ "Watch it"? You're telling me to "watch it"?

[door slams shut]

Forgive me for not showing you the respect you so...

rightfully earned.

[door closes]

I don't like to make predictions,

but I got a permanent tingle going.

You think we'll win?

Well, they can't clear reasonable doubt.

I just don't see how.

So, um, can I...

Can I not testify? I'd rather not.

You can't be required to but, Marcia,

the jury would wanna hear your story.

[sighs] Can I be perfectly honest?

Certainly not. I'm your lawyer.

[Marcia] No, I want you to hear this.

I could take the stand and I could testify

that I didn't kill either George or Ed.

Mm, that would be lovely.

What?

Can I win without testifying?

I think yes, but with your testimony,

‐that we might have a better chance‐‐ ‐I killed Ed.

And I killed George.

I tell you this because...

This is going to sound really perverse...

but I guess if you've already committed murder,

that's about as low as you can get.

[sighs]

But actually, it's not. I've hired an agent.

I beg your pardon.

I can make a book deal upwards to a million dollars.

Talk shows, Montel, Ricki Lake, and all that garbage.

I am highly promotable

if I tell my story.

Problem is,

if I take the stand and I say that I didn't commit murder

and then tell my story after in the book and all,

then they can come after me for perjury.

Now, if I can get the acquittal without testifying,

then I can say and I can publish whatever I want

without risk of prosecution.

The acquittal also exempts me from Son of Sam laws, I think,

although my‐‐my agent's still waiting on an opinion letter on that.

You're disappointed?

Look, this is what I want you to do.

Put on no defense.

They really don't have any witnesses anyway.

Our defense is just poking holes in the prosecution,

which you've already done.

But by calling no witnesses whatsoever,

it'll make my not testifying less conspicuous.

Also by doing nothing,

I'll probably have grounds for inadequate counsel...

‐[grumbles] ‐...should we lose,

and I'll be able to appeal.

But we won't lose.

They have no case.

Seems you've got everything figured out, Marcia.

I really didn't plan on killing them.

There wasn't much premeditation.

It just... happened.

So now I gotta make the best of it.

[Jimmy] When I came to this town,

the biggest crime problem was jaywalking.

Now, it's murder.

And this department routinely botches investigation,

mishandles evidence,

and the bad guys go free!

Things are changing today.

We will begin a physical fitness regimen.

We'll have new standards.

Anyone not measuring up to those standards,

will be broomed out. Anybody.

This department has had it far too...

What are you doing here?

At your service, sir.

Dismissed. Go.

That's mine.

[indistinct dialogue]

Eyes front.

Fun time's over.

‐There's a new sheriff in town. ‐[door closes]

And it's me.

[indistinct chatter]

Henry, I would like to withdraw from this case.

I can't let you do that.

It would be prejudicial to the defendant

to let you out in the middle of a trial.

‐You know it. ‐My client and I disagree

as to strategy. It can't work if I represent her.

Sorry.

I just can't do it.

I know I'm a defense lawyer.

I have a job, but, Henry, I just can't do it anymore.

You're Douglas Wambaugh.

"Reasonable doubt for a reasonable fee."

"Have retainer, will travel."

You represent anybody.

You're a character.

You once said that the worst way to punish me

was to hold up a mirror.

I think you just did.

You know, Doug,

within three minutes of every case,

you tell me whether your client is guilty or not.

If he is,

out come the jokes, the character,

all the shtick to help you cover how you really feel

about what you're doing.

You waltzed in with Marcia Lawson

asking for moments of silence,

making cracks about kitchen sinks.

And I knew... she killed her husband.

I always know...

because I know, contrary to popular opinion,

Attorney Douglas Wambaugh has a deep, deep conscience.

Well, uh,

that makes my behavior much more inexcusable.

No.

Because when you walk into a courtroom,

you take an oath to uphold the law,

and you do that.

You've never wavered from your responsibility as a defense lawyer

and as an officer of the court.

And I won't let you waver from it now.

But, Henry,

it can't be justice for her to walk,

and if I do my best, she will.

Your job really isn't justice.

Your job is being her advocate.

That's how we're supposed to get to justice, remember?

Oh, that's a nice theory.

I've always been able to sing myself to sleep with it,

but not tonight.

[Judge] Counsel...

Let me make it easy for you.

I order you to give her the best defense you can!

If you don't...

I'll see you disbarred.

Mm‐hmm. Now, there might be justice.

[door closes]

She said it.

Her very own words.

"I wish Ed were dead."

And you heard the defendant say this when?

About a week before Ed became dead.

Thank you, Mrs. Walker.

If you really thought Marcia was motivated to commit murder,

why didn't you tell the police?

Because I didn't take her seriously.

I just thought, you know...

[Douglas] She was fantasizing like every housewife does

at one point or another about her husband dying.

Exactly.

Thank you, Sylvia, that's all.

But, Mrs. Walker, given Ed Lawson's death,

did you change your position regarding the seriousness of the defendant's words?

Yes, with what she said,

with her obsession for George Putnik...

I now believe that she did intend to kill Ed.

‐[people murmuring] ‐[Littleton] Thank you.

Nothing from me.

At this time, the prosecution rests, Your Honor.

The defense rests.

[people murmuring]

‐No witnesses? ‐None.

We'll adjourn till after lunch,

then we'll hear summations.

‐Counsel, in chambers. ‐[bangs gavel]

‐What the hell are you doing? ‐Defense strategy.

I gave you some advice, Counsel. You better not ignore it.

‐I told you to take me off this case. ‐And I didn't take you off!

So we proceed at our own risks, don't we?

Do your job, Counsel,

'cause I promise you, I'll do mine.

‐[Kenny grunting] ‐[man] One, two. One, two.

One, two. One, two. One, two.

Come on, you bunch of sissies!

One, two. One, two. One, two. Keep 'em up.

One, two. One, two. Up, two. Up, two.

Up, two. Yeah. Up...

[phone ringing]

‐[Kimberly] Hey. ‐[woman] Mayor's office.

This room looks good on you.

Oh, that's not funny. [chuckles]

You called me?

Yes, I did.

Kimberly, from a teenager's perspective,

what do you think this town needs in a mayor?

‐You haven't found one yet. ‐No.

We've seen a lot of great candidates

but Rome is a very strange town, honey.

‐You're just discovering this. ‐[chuckles]

Who is your ideal mayor?

Um... I don't know. Uh...

Probably, uh, Howard Buss.

Howard Buss? He put his pants on backwards.

[clicks tongue]

‐Besides which, he's dead. ‐[Kimberly] I know.

And I don't know about all the administration stuff.

He probably was incompetent, but...

this town has gotten angry, Mom.

And I don't know if it's because of the crime

or the busing or whatever. I have no idea.

But Howard Buss...

what's that expression?

Um... When you smile, the whole world smiles with you.

‐Mm‐hmm. Mm. ‐[Kimberly] Howard smiled a lot.

Yeah.

This town's just been drained of...

[sighs] I don't know, its spirit.

And that's what's always made Rome a little different.

Optimism, even joy a little.

I don't know.

‐You asked me. What do I know? ‐Yeah.

What do you know?

It's an awful thing to keep finding people in freezers.

It was just under three years ago,

poor Marcia Banks was dug out of her dishwasher.

You have to ask,

what kind of a community kills with home appliances?

Today, my client Mrs. Lawson is accused

of murdering George Putnik, the man who would squiggle her,

and her husband Ed,

the man who apparently wouldn't.

There was a reason I put on no defense, ladies and gentlemen.

The reason I offered nothing on this woman's behalf

is because...

Well... it's because a defense attorney's job

is to puncture the prosecution's case.

And they put on no case,

no witnesses, no physical evidence.

They put up the coroner who drops heads

and pronounces people dead while they're still alive.

They put up deputies

who give tonsillectomies to each other in squad cars.

They used a felon to find a victim

who was right in his own house the whole time. [laughs]

All I have to say is look at the evidence.

The evidence shouts "not guilty."

Not guilty.

I... I know that many of you,

many of you would probably like to believe she did it, I'm sure,

'cause then, uh, we could have some closure.

At some point, we all want closure.

But I'm afraid you can't close this case.

You have to go back there and listen to the evidence,

and do your job.

It's only if we do our jobs that the truth comes out.

Have to go and... and do our jobs.

So you go and do yours,

and find Marcia Lawson...

not guilty.

Thank you.

[people murmuring]

Marcia Lawson was obsessed with George Putnik.

A day after he refused to see her anymore, he's found dead.

She loathed her husband. She openly admitted wanting him dead.

And he's found in her freezer while she's in the Caribbean.

Now, the phone calls back to the message machine,

that's very clever, but come on.

She was last seen with both victims.

She was the only one with access to both.

She's the only one with a motive to kill both.

Life insurance policy leaves her $75,000.

Let's use our heads, folks.

Now, if there had been anyone else on the murder scene,

we would have found some evidence,

but there was nothing to indicate anyone but her.

Hairs, fibers, prints, it only points to Marcia Lawson.

Let's use our heads, ladies and gentlemen.

Like Mr. Wambaugh says, "Do your job"

before somebody you love ends up in a freezer.

[people murmuring]

‐[phone ringing] ‐What's with the hat?

Uh, it looks good on me. You like it?

[laughs] Laurie...

Um...

My daughter said something to me. Uh...

This town is a little bankrupt at the moment

when it comes to morale and...

I think, more than a balanced budget,

what we need is life‐affirming leadership.

[Jill sighs]

‐How do I ask this? ‐[Henry] I'll ask.

You owe 3,000 hours of community service. We want you to be mayor.

I signed it correctly.

‐Uh... ‐[Jill] You're very good at computers.

You're an administrative whiz.

And as for your personality, uh,

Rome could use a little bit of what you've got.

Me? Mayor?

It's completely ridiculous, totally insane,

therefore it's appropriate.

‐Just say yes. ‐Oh. [chuckles softly]

[chuckles]

[Jill sighs]

[Judge] Madam Foreman, has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

Will the defendant please rise?

What say you?

In the matter of People vs. Marcia Lawson

on the charge of first‐degree murder of George Putnik,

we find the defendant not guilty.

‐[people murmuring] ‐[man] There you go.

On the charge of first degree murder of Edward Lawson,

we find the defendant not guilty.

‐[indistinct shouting] ‐[people murmuring]

Member of the jury, thank you for your service.

This matter is adjourned. The defendant is free to go.

[bangs gavel]

[indistinct chatter]

[reporters speaking indistinctly]

Well, obviously I'm overwhelmed. I'm very happy.

Do you have an opinion as to who committed the murder?

My‐‐my God. Uh... Well, I have a lot to say,

but now is not the time. I...

I just want to enjoy today's verdict

and take the time, you know, to mourn my husband's passing.

‐[reporter] What about the movie deal? ‐No, I‐‐

‐Wambaugh? ‐Mr. Wambaugh?

‐Any victory comments? ‐Well, what can I say. Wonderful.

‐The big break came when the head snapped off the body. ‐[reporter laughs]

I'm very good with victims that are in two pieces.

It has an advantage emotionally.

But forgive me, I have to collect my thoughts.

I have so few, you know.

[reporters clamoring]

I want to be alone, damn it.

Tough.

Another trial, another victory.

Got to admit it, Henry, I'm good.

Yes.

Yes, you are.

72 years old.

My life amounts to nothing,

unless putting killers back on the streets counts for something.

That man you eulogized last month,

the child molester?

He was my son.

You wanna compare failures?

I was his father.

His father.

And I couldn't bring myself to see him as anything other than a monster.

Well, we all looked at him like that.

But you nevertheless eulogized him.

I heard.

You talked about him as if he were... a human being.

Show me a man who can look into the eyes of a murderer

or a child molester

and still locate humanity...

and I'll show you Douglas Wambaugh.

I know what they'll be saying at my funeral.

"Douglas Wambaugh...

good attorney."

If I had to do it all over again,

I'd be a good man.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Wouldn't we all?

I won't lie to you, Doug.

I'd often rather have root canal than be in your company,

but you're a good man.

In fact...

and I'll deny this if ever asked to repeat it,

you're probably the best man I know.

[theme music playing]

[theme music ends]