Original subtitles

‐He kicked me. ‐You had no right to touch him.

‐Hey, he should be on a leash! ‐[siren wails]

Let me tell you something, you’re a disgrace, okay?

‐Your kid should be in a box! ‐Hey, you watch it, buddy.

He should be kept in a cage!

‐Hey! ‐He kicked me!

‐You had no right to touch him! ‐What’s the problem?

‐What’s going on? Get back. ‐Thank God.

‐Officer, arrest that brat! ‐This little brat

‐kicked me! ‐[lady] He assaulted my son!

‐And I told him to knock it off. ‐[Max] Please, listen.

‐[sausage man] Hold on! ‐[Max] You know what?

‐One at a time, please. ‐Get your kid out of my face!

‐The big brat hurt me. ‐[Max] Hold on.

‐He’s a wild child! ‐Arrest that man.

‐[sausage man] You got to hell! ‐Ma’am, please.

‐Your kid’s a menace. He’s a demon. ‐Okay, sir, come on.

‐Come with me. I wanna talk about it. ‐Hey, keep your hands off me.

‐Okay? Just back off! ‐Sir, if you don’t comply, I’ll place you under arrest.

‐You don’t touch me, you pig. ‐[all gasping]

Stay away from me.

Don’t you dare touch me, you fascist, all right?

You are under arrest for assaulting a police officer.

[sausage man] Bring it on!

‐[both grunting] ‐[all gasping]

[sausage man] You fascist pig!

‐I’m gonna‐‐ ‐[Max] Let go of my gun.

[sausage man] All right. You want it?

[Max] Stop or I will shoot. Drop it!

Get down on the ground! Drop it or I’ll shoot!

‐Stop! ‐[grunting]

‐[gunshot] ‐[sausage man groans]

[crowd gasps]

She killed him. She killed Barney Big Brat.

‐[all murmuring] ‐[breathing heavily]

[theme music playing]

[theme music ends]

[siren wailing]

[indistinct conversations]

‐Yeah, I’m okay. ‐I didn’t say anything.

Mr. Big Brat’s okay, too, it’s just a minor shoulder wound.

I heard.

[sighs]

I went to see the department shrink, Kenny.

He cleared me. I’m fine.

He was going for my gun, it was a clean shoot.

You touched your holster, right?

Didn’t I just say that?

Max?

[Dr. Joey] Whoa, whoa, whoa. Lila honey, keep it contained.

All I’m asking for is a change in the venetian blinds.

Hello, I‐‐

Are you here for the receptionist’s job?

‐’Cause it’s filled. ‐No, I...

No, I know I said periwinkles, so I changed my mind.

What, for this, are you gonna stroke out?

Deep breaths, Lila.

We’ll look at some new swatches this afternoon. Okay?

Okay, bye‐bye.

‐Decorators. ‐[chuckles]

You know, that new girl may not work out.

‐If you wanna fill out an application‐‐ ‐Um, I’m Kimberley Brock.

Oh! Okay.

‐Get a gun, shoot me I am so sorry, Kimberley. ‐[chuckles]

I’m Joanna Diamond.

My roommates and I watch your show all the time.

Well, good, I could use the ratings. [chuckles]

Your mom’s not here right now, she does a clinic on Mondays.

Yeah, I know. Um,

actually, I came to speak to you.

Me? What can I do for you, honey?

Uh, I have a problem.

‐A medical problem? ‐Sort of.

And you don’t wanna tell your mother?

I’d rather talk to you, if that’s okay.

Sure.

You’re suspending me?

It’s not suspension, it’s paid administrative duty.

‐It was a righteous shoot. ‐[sighs] I know it was, Max.

‐He was going for my gun. ‐It was standard procedure, officer involved.

‐You didn’t suspend Kenny when he shot the psychotic Santa. ‐You’re not being suspended.

And you sure didn’t suspend yourself

when you shot Laurie Bey in the back.

[sighs] Both those cases were investigated.

‐You’re not being singled out here. ‐Yes, I am.

It’s not fair.

You pull the trigger, you face the heat like anyone else.

Now, complete your report, and we will complete our investigation.

You’ll be on the street in a couple of days.

Okay?

Max, I’m gonna need your weapon too.

‐[door closes] ‐[depressing music playing]

For forensics.

Thank you.

[exhales sharply]

‐Hi, Kim. ‐Mom. [chuckles nervously]

Hi. I had a few errands in the neighborhood, ‐Hi.

‐I thought I’d just stop by. ‐Yeah? Everything okay?

‐Fine. Fine. ‐I took take a half‐hour for lunch, if you like.

Oh, no, no, no. That’s okay. I should be getting back. I’m kinda late for class.

So I’ll see you later.

‐You sure everything’s okay? ‐Yeah. Perfect.

Jill, I know I said chartreuse for the pillows, but I’m having second thoughts.

Did you just see my daughter?

Yeah, nice kid.

‐Uh, you talked to her? ‐A little.

‐Oh, what’d she say? ‐Nothing.

‐Did she come here to see you, or‐‐ ‐Jill...

[scoffs] She did, didn’t she?

‐Jill... ‐What did she wanna talk about?

‐I can’t tell you. ‐What do you mean you can’t tell me?

Well, what part of that sentence don’t you understand?

‐She’s a patient? ‐And down comes the talk.

You’re pulling doctor‐patient privilege on me over my own daughter?

‐Look, I really can’t discuss it. ‐Yes, you can.

You tell me why Kim came to see you.

I’m sorry, that was my bad ear

I thought I just heard you say, "tell me," when I told you I can’t.

Joanna...

Oh, my God.

[Jimmy] My daughter is not pregnant.

She comes to the office

‐specifically to see Joanna, not me. ‐[Jimmy scoffs]

‐She lies to me about it, Joanna takes the fifth‐‐ ‐Yeah.

‐[scoffs] It could be any number of things. ‐Name one.

‐Well, I don’t know, some‐‐ ‐Sexually transmitted disease.

‐Oh, God! ‐Jill, for crying out loud.

‐Jimmy, you’ve got to talk to her. ‐What?

Well... she’s mad at me ever since I called her pre‐med advisor.

‐She thinks I spy on her. ‐Well, what makes you think she’ll confide in me?

‐You’re very good in these situations, honey. ‐[laughs]

I’ve never been in a situation like this.

Oh, yes. Do you remember when we caught Kim in bed with Billy O’Connell?

‐I threatened his life. ‐But you’ve mellowed since then, Jimmy.

You have to talk to her. We have to find out what’s going on. We have to help.

‐Wh‐what do I say? ‐I don’t know. You’ll think of something.

[engine starts]

Carlson.

What are you doing?

Having some fun.

Well, I don’t think that’s very funny.

Max needs our support.

Well, I figured if she ruins our reputation,

the least we can do is enjoy the ride.

It was a good shoot.

Did you pull the trigger?

[chuckles] She choked, buddy.

Women do not belong in combat.

It’s that simple.

‐[loud bang] ‐[yelps]

Gee, that’s too bad.

[pleasant music playing over speakers]

[indistinct conversations]

‐Hey, pumpkin. ‐Hi, Daddy.

‐So, what’s up? ‐Oh, not much, uh... [sighs]

How’s it going?

Well, calculus is killing me, chemistry isn’t much better,

I go to sleep dreaming of carbon rings and Krebs cycles. [laughs]

If I don’t become a doctor after all this junk...

[chuckles] Sound good. Good. Good.

So... [sighs]

you’re feeling good, you look good, school’s good,

you’re not pregnant or anything. ‐What?

Nothing.

Am I... pregnant?

Or just uh... Silly question.

‐Leo? ‐Oh, wait.

‐This is coming from Mom, isn’t it? ‐No.

No, she saw me with Dr. Joey, so naturally, she assumes I’m pregnant.

She didn’t say pregnant, necessarily.

It could be, uh, sexually transmitted disease.

[sarcastically] Oh, perfect!

Well, Mum thought it was just strange seeing you that way.

Dr. Joey...

didn’t say anything.

‐If that makes you feel better. ‐No, I know Dr. Joey wouldn’t sell me out.

I trust her, it’s Mom I’m not so sure about.

‐Kimberley. ‐Well, you can tell her I’m not pregnant.

I do not have a sexually transmitted disease.

‐I practice safe sex, and if she sticks her nose ‐[groans]

in my personal business one more time,

I will never, ever, ever come home ever again.

Not even to do laundry!

[exhales sharply]

[all laughing]

[Max] Carlson.

I love it, man. She shocked me as the lady killer.

‐[groans] ‐[both officers] Ooh.

Max, come with me.

‐In a minute. ‐Now.

‐What? ‐You gotta see it, it’s on TV.

‐[sausage man] Yeah? You’re gonna arrest me? Bring it on! ‐[Jimmy] I don’t believe this.

‐But they’re showing it on every channel, Dad. Look. ‐[clicks]

[news reporter] As seen here in the amateur video taken by Rome citizen Fred Sit.

The argument escalated into a brawl,

resulting in the use of deadly force by Officer Maxine Stewart.

‐Justifiable shooting? You be the judge. ‐[arguing continues]

‐This is gonna be bigger than the Rodney King tape. ‐Zachary.

[video continues playing]

‐[Max] Stop now! ‐ [gunshot]

‐[gasps] ‐[sausage man groans]

[sighs]

That’s the guy who was in the Bernie Big Brat outfit.

‐Was Franklin there? ‐Turn it up.

When a trigger‐happy deputy is allowed to shoot up the street

‐ in Rome, none of us are safe. ‐[Jimmy] "Trigger‐happy"?

‐[Jimmy scoffs] ‐That is why...

on behalf of my client, Mr. Williams, I have filed a civil rights action

against Deputy Maxine Stewart,

Sheriff James Brock, and the city of Rome, Wisconsin,

alleging the use of excessive force

‐in violation of the fourth amendment of our constitution. ‐Whoa.

It is time that we citizens of Rome

hold our law enforcement officials

‐accountable for their actions. ‐ Turn it off.

[boy] He’s totally bogus.

‐[Bernie Big Brat] He’s a wild child! ‐[mother] Arrest that man!

‐[Bernie Big Brat] You go to hell! ‐[Max] Ma’am, please.

[continues playing on TV]

[dramatic music playing]

‐[Max] Stop now. ‐[gunshot]

[all gasping]

[reporter] As the Fred Stit videotape plays in living rooms across the country,

the Rome’s Sheriffs’ Department is scrambling to justify

its shooting of Barney Big Brat.

Otherwise known as Kurtis Williams, an itinerant actor.

The shot heard around the cornfields has brought police controversy

to the heart of small‐town America,

whose amber waves of grain today

are splattered with the blood of an unarmed sausage.

Reporting live from the Rome’s Sheriffs’ Department,

this is Timothy Malone, Mid‐West Cable News.

You wanna settle?

Douglas Wambaugh wants to raise the white flag?

As special counsel to the mayor,

it is my responsibility to lay out all the options.

‐Well, selling is not an option here. ‐Sheriff.

My deputy didn’t do anything wrong, I didn’t do anything wrong.

Nobody’s saying you did.

How do you think people are going to react to a settlement?

It’s an admission of guilt.

Well, who cares what people think?

It’s important for us to limit the city’s exposure.

You go to trial, who knows what can happen?

Just take a look at our beautiful Mayor here.

With a little bit of courtroom magic,

I transformed the self‐confessed bank robber into our leading public servant.

‐I don’t wanna think about that. ‐Well, you better think about it, Jimmy.

The media’s having a field day!

"Female cop shoots a nine‐foot hot dog."

On videotape, no less.

‐Do you really want that kind of publicity? ‐[sighs]

Have you seen this?

‐I know. ‐"Self‐styled super cop known as Loose Cannon."

‐Where did they get that? ‐I don’t know.

"Sources within the Sheriff’s Department report that Deputy Stewart

has a tendency towards overzealousness"?

Says one, "She goes for her gun about as often as her toothbrush"?

What sources, Kenny? Who’s talking?

‐It wasn’t me, Max. ‐I’m going to Jimmy with this.

He’s not in there, he’s with the mayor.

Max... Max.

I don’t want my people hesitating

every time they have to make a judgment call. That could cost lives.

Now, this is a good shoot.

If we cave, it sends the wrong message.

The city doesn’t back Max, or me.

There’s more at stake here than your department’s morale, Jimmy.

And let’s face it.

We all know that Deputy Stewart doesn’t make the best defendant.

She’s impulsive and hot‐headed.

You wanna tie your fate to hers?

I know Franklin Dell, Mayor.

He had his moment in the sun.

We give him a settlement, he gets what he wants,

we get what we want, and it’ll all go away.

He has a point, Sheriff.

I can’t believe it!

‐[Jimmy] Max... ‐You’re selling me out.

You’re cutting a deal, aren’t you?

For your information,

Sheriff was just about to tell us for the 20th time

why we should go to trial.

Oh.

[sighs]

I think we’ve heard all the arguments.

Sheriff, Counselor, thank you.

I’ll let you know my decision.

‐I’d like you to stay, Deputy. ‐I’ll see you in my office.

‐[door closes] ‐[sighs]

Is that how you reacted yesterday?

With the bratwurst man.

No.

I won’t put this city at risk for someone I don’t believe in.

If you settle this out,

I am a joke as a police officer.

I may as well quit.

It was a good shoot.

You’ve got to give me a chance to clear my name.

‐Got a minute? ‐Ah, just. I’ve got a taping in an hour.

Um...

Joanna, there’s something that I wanted to explain to you.

[inhales sharply] Um...

see, I’m actually Kimberley’s stepmother.

I raised her since she was three years old. [chuckles]

So we’ve been through a lot of things together.

When she was five, she ran through a plate glass store.

I was the one who sewed her up. [laughs]

And of course when she started her period, she came to me.

I‐I guess what I’m trying to tell you is that she’s...

‐Your baby! Yes. ‐Yes. Yes.

[both laugh]

But she’s not a baby anymore, Jill.

If you want your relationship to survive, you’re gonna have to learn to respect that.

I know! I‐I know that, I...

I guess I’m just

wondering why she came to you instead of me. I mean...

What was it that she couldn’t tell me?

Well... [laughs]

Did you want to tell your mother everything when you were 18 years old?

I sure as hell didn’t.

I sincerely doubt that my relationship with Kim

is anything like your relationship with your mother.

[deep breath] Look...

I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll give a little jingle,

‐and see if I can arrange a sit‐down. ‐What?

Well, you obviously still want to know what’s going on,

I can’t tell you! But maybe Kim will.

You’re gonna facilitate between me and Kim?

Well, hey, who’s the talk show host?

Look, Joanna.

I don’t need you to help me communicate with my daughter.

Oh, really?

Then why are you here?

[door closes]

‐I’m with the mayor sticking my neck out for you, and you‐‐ ‐I said I was sorry.

It isn’t just you, my whole department’s on the line.

I don’t know.

Maybe Wambaugh is right, maybe we should settle.

Is that what you think?

I’ve decided. We’re going to trial.

[Max] I told him to get down and he didn’t.

‐So you shot him. ‐He charged me.

‐You shot an unarmed man. ‐He wasn’t unarmed, he was carrying a club.

‐A plastic wiener. ‐Well, I didn’t know that!

Oh, that was terrible.

What you just did was terrible. How many times must I tell you?

You must not lose your temper on the stand.

‐[sighs] ‐All right, let’s start from the beginning.

‐I’m tired. ‐You are not ready.

You’re far from being ready.

You don’t believe in the case, do you?

You think I’m a lousy cop.

What I believe doesn’t matter.

What matters is your demeanor in the courtroom.

I’ll take that as a yes.

Well, we have a history, you know.

I led you by the nose in the Latham case.

‐What’s that mean? ‐You get angry too quickly.

You’re arrogant and defensive, so the juries don’t like you.

[chuckles] And your records,

they’re bulging with reprimands for reckless behavior.

I could win Franklin Dell’s case for him without consulting a single note.

‐Hi. ‐Hmm.

I’ve been calling you.

The phone must be off the hook.

Too many calls from reporters.

‐Come in. ‐Oh. Yeah.

Well, I just thought I’d come by and...

see how you’re doing.

I’m okay.

Yeah?

Well, you got what you wanted.

The trial, I mean.

Yeah.

Look, Max, we’re all behind you.

Except for Carlson, you know what a joke he can be.

I almost took that guy’s life, Kenny.

‐For what? ‐Hey.

He assaulted you. You thought your life was in danger, right?

Right?

Yeah.

Well... you did what you had to do.

You defended yourself. He went for your gun.

I think his hand was on my holster.

I keep looking at that tape,

in my mind, I played it over and over.

I see the bullet entering the costume...

and the look on his face.

‐Max, you can’t second‐guess yourself now. ‐[sighs]

‐You’re going to trial tomorrow. ‐I know.

Or maybe it’s all just...

It’s delayed shock, all this media attention.

I almost killed that guy, Kenny.

Do you have any idea what that feels like?

Yeah, I do.

[depressing music playing]

I need to know.

Did I do the right thing?

I wasn’t there.

[Judge Bone] Fire away, Counselor.

‐[all chuckle] ‐[sighs]

‐Sorry. ‐It’s all right, Deputy Campbell, pick it up.

‐What? ‐I said pick it up.

Your Honor, I’m sure we’re all impressed

Mr. Dell can teach the sausage a few simple tricks,

may I ask the relevancy?

And what’s next? Dancing cheese curds?

I think this demonstration has served its purpose, Mr. Dell.

You may shuck your bun now, Deputy.

He said you could shuck your bun now, Deputy.

Okay.

[all laughing]

‐[Wambaugh sighs] ‐Well...

it must be pretty uncomfortable inside that thing.

‐It is, believe me. ‐Hard to hear too?

‐Definitely. ‐In fact, Mr. Williams,

as Deputy Steward was leading you away, could you hear what she said to you?

[sighs] I tell you,

it is so hot in that thing,

I had a belligerent juvenile and his mother shouting in my ear.

[stammers] Honestly, I could hardly hear anything.

And the next thing I know, someone was pulling on my costume.

‐Were you confused? ‐Oh, definitely confused and disoriented.

‐Nice script. ‐Shut up.

[Dell] At any time,

‐did you place your hand on Deputy Stewart’s gun? ‐Absolutely not.

I was merely trying to protect myself

from what I perceived to be a threat to my personal safety.

Then why did you pick up the plastic bratwurst and advance toward Deputy Stewart?

‐Didn’t you hear her tell you to stop? ‐No.

If I had, I would’ve stopped.

I wanted to get her attention, that’s all.

I wanted her to calm down

‐and talk things over. ‐[Dell] So, there you are,

virtually unarmed,

stuffed inside of a clumsy costume,

do you have any idea why she shot you?

No. I wish I did.

Sheriff Brock,

would you, uh, identify this for the court?

Deputy Stewart’s personnel file?

I refer you to page two,

January 22nd, 1993.

Objection.

My client’s past actions are irrelevant to this case, Judge.

[Dell] Your Honor, this goes directly to course and pattern of violent behavior,

and the Sheriff’s negligent supervision.

Objection overruled.

But I’ll be looking for the connection, Counselor.

Did you make that entry, Sheriff?

‐[Jimmy] Yes. ‐And to what does it refer?

Deputy Stewart discharged her weapon [sighs]

in a house of worship prior to making an arrest.

She fired into the ceiling, didn’t she?

In a small room with over 20 people in it.

Yes.

Would you read the entry, please?

Uh, you have to remember, she was relatively new to the department.

[Billy] The last two sentences will do.

"After reviewing the incident, we found

violation of department policy 4.2, suggested remedy,

two days’ suspension without pay,

and 20 hours remedial training." Which she did, by the way.

Page four.

Where the hell were you, Doug?

‐Her‐‐ ‐Dell’s killing us out there!

Her personnel file is fair game.

‐That file... ‐Jimmy, there’s nothing I can do.

[Jimmy] That file tells a part of the story, and that’s it!

But when I cross‐examine, you get to tell the other part.

‐Maybe we should settle. ‐[both] What?

Didn’t you look at the jury’s faces? They think I’m guilty.

Maxine,

‐our team hasn’t even come to bat yet. ‐[Max] What’s the point?

‐They’ve made up their minds already. ‐You wanna quit?

Dell won’t stop until he’s hammered every mistake‐‐

You’re gonna get on that stand, you’re gonna defend yourself

and you’re gonna defend this department.

Quitting is not an option! Is that understood?

[Douglas] Sheriff...

I know how you feel.

But it’s the pressure, that’s all. Opening‐night jitters.

On my first case, I got hives all over.

I wanted to walk away but I stood my ground.

I won the case.

And you could win too.

Just stick to what we went over no matter what happens.

Don’t lose your cool.

I’ll be there to protect you, Maxine.

All you have to do is tell the truth.

[dramatic music playing]

[Billy] You tell me when to stop now. You tell me when Mr. Williams

has his hand on your holster.

Stop.

‐[Billy] I can’t see much of anything, can you? ‐It’s a bad angle.

They say the camera never lies, Deputy Stewart.

Could it be that Mr. Williams never had his hand on your holster?

Is it possible that, that in all the excitement,

all the rolling around, the adrenaline rushing,

‐that you could have been mistaken? ‐No.

You’re telling me it’s not possible, not even conceivable,

that a piece of Mr. Williams’ costume

might have brushed against your holster, and you mistook that for his hand?

Costumes don’t pull on holsters, hands do.

[Billy] I see.

So that’s your testimony.

Despite the photographic evidence, you maintain

that Mr. Williams pulled on your holster.

That’s why I yelled, "Let go of my gun."

You’ve had your gun

‐taken away from you, haven’t you? ‐Objection. Irrelevant.

[Judge Bone] Overruled. ‐Deputy Stewart?

‐Yes. ‐When was that?

Three years ago.

I was trying to take care of an ill man in a Santa Claus suit.

And he stole your gun and he held you hostage.

‐Correct? ‐Yes.

How did that make you feel, Deputy?

Like I was never gonna let anyone steal my gun again.

The fact is,

that even the slightest provocation in the area of your holster,

real or imagined, might make you immediately go for your weapon.

Wouldn’t it? I mean, to prevent a similar incident from occurring.

‐No. ‐[Billy, chuckling] Come on, Deputy.

‐[sighs] ‐Are you telling me

that the Santa Claus episode had no effect

on the way that you handled Mr. Williams here?

Are you telling me that you were not afraid that another man in a silly outfit

‐was gonna make a fool of you? ‐Objection!

‐Overruled. ‐I’m telling you,

he had his hand on my gun.

What crime did Mr. Williams commit before you arrived on the scene, Deputy?

I was trying to make that determination when he assaulted me.

The fact is, you could not say then, and you cannot tell this jury today

that Mr. Williams had done anything wrong

prior to your arrival on the scene, isn’t that so?

‐Yes. ‐Did it ever occur to you that...

that he might have resisted because he couldn’t hear you from inside the weenie?

‐No. ‐"No."

And when he did resist,

did you call for backup?

‐There wasn’t time. ‐Really?

From the time you first encountered resistance,

until you fired your gun, you didn’t have any opportunity to

de‐escalate the situation and call for backup.

I was attempting to control the suspect.

Well, yes, but you could’ve backed off.

Couldn’t you? I mean, it was physically possible. Wasn’t it?

Possible, but not very plausible.

Not for you, perhaps. So instead,

you chose to shoot an unarmed man who, by your own admission, had committed no crime.

Assaulting an officer is a crime, Counselor.

And he was not unarmed, he was holding a club.

A plastic bratwurst weighing under a pound?

At the time, I didn’t know what it was.

I thought it was a weapon he could use to disarm me.

A plastic weenie?

Deputy Stewart, wasn’t it really your pride that was on the line here?

Isn’t that what it was all about?

‐No. ‐Ambition, pride, hotheadedness,

that’s the story of your career, isn’t it?

Now, another officer might have de‐escalated the situation,

‐but not Maxine Stewart. Not Super Cop ‐Objection!

‐Objection, Your Honor. ‐Isn’t that true Deputy? What it’s all about.

‐[Wambaugh] He’s making a speech. ‐[Judge Bone] Sustained.

Mr. Dell, just ask the questions.

Very well, Your Honor, I shall do exactly that.

Deputy Stewart, when you chose not to call for backup,

was it because you need to prove you can do it all by yourself?

‐[Max] No. ‐And when Mr. Williams resisted,

did you choose to fight because you like showing how tough you are?

‐No. ‐And when you felt yourself losing control,

didn’t you go for your gun because

that’s what you always do when you’re in trouble?

‐That’s not what happened. ‐Isn’t it true, Deputy, that you fired,

endangering the public, almost taking a human life,

and all because you weren’t gonna let a man in a plastic sausage suit

get the better of you?

‐Isn’t that true, Deputy? Isn’t that the way it was? ‐Objection!

‐That’s not the way it was. ‐Objection!

[gavel bangs]

This is absurd, I don’t even know why I’m here.

‐Kimberley, I’m just concerned that‐‐ ‐[Dr. Joey] Wait.

Let her finish.

‐Kim. ‐[Kim sighs]

Just because you’re my mother, doesn’t mean you own me.

I need to feel like I have some freedom to do what I want to do.

And as long as it’s not hurting anybody, what do you care?

‐[Dr. Joey] All right, well put. ‐[sighs]

Okay, Jill, let’s tell Kimberley how we’re feeling.

How I’m feeling is angry

that I’m sitting here talking to you through a third party, Kimberley.

And beyond that, I’m feeling sad that you feel you can’t talk to me anymore.

‐I never said that. ‐[Jill] Well‐‐

Kim, same rules apply, let your mother speak.

If things are so bad or so wrong

that you can’t talk to me, then that makes me afraid for you, honey.

I see you leaving my office and I say, "Kimberley’s sick. Kimberley’s hurting."

And who do you go to talk to about it? A stranger.

A talk‐show host for God’s sake.

[Kim] It always comes back to you, doesn’t it, Mom?

‐Are you finished? ‐This is what drives me crazy about you!

You just keep harping on why I won’t talk to you.

Well, why won’t you talk to me?

You say you’re upset about it, and then you send Dad to weasel things out of me.

What ever happened to asking? Directly.

I assumed you wouldn’t talk to me about it,

especially with the incident with the pre‐med advisor.

Well, how do you know unless you ask?

If you had asked me, maybe I would’ve told you, "Mom, look,

I got a tattoo." Wow. Whoopie. Alert the media.

Instead, you get Dad on my case, and then make me go to some stupid therapy session!

‐Hey, let’s stick to our feelings here. ‐Shut up.

You got a tattoo?

[sighs]

So some friends and me, we got a little crazy and we all got tattoos.

And the next day, well, it just looks so permanent,

that I wanted to find out how much of a hassle it would be to get it removed.

I was going to ask you, but then I remembered how Dad totally freaked

when I told him Larissa Bennet got this teensy little butterfly on her ankle,

‐so I came to Dr. Joey. ‐So, you wanna remove it.

[sighs] Well, now that I’ve lived with it for a few days, I kinda like it.

‐Uh‐huh. ‐What do you think?

I hate it.

‐But it’s your wrist. ‐I’m sorry you were worried.

I’m sorry, Kimberley.

‐[chuckles] Oh, I’m sorry. Hmm.

Okay, this is the part where you kiss and make up, and get out of my office.

[both] Shut up.

[sighs]

Okay, watch what I’m doing here

’cause I want you to be able to fix this thing next time.

[news reporter talks indistinctly on TV]

‐Zach. ‐Hmm?

Can you turn it off, please?

[sighs, groans]

Dad...

do you think Max should’ve shot that guy?

Oh, that’s complicated. [chuckles]

She thought she was being attacked.

She did what she thought was right.

Danny McDaniel says that all cops are fascists.

What do you think?

I don’t know.

What’s a fascist?

Okay, let’s see what we got here.

[grunts]

Yes, sir, good and new.

[exhales sharply]

We give police officers a gun,

we train them to know when to shoot.

But out there, um,

we come across things we never learn in training.

Much easier to criticize.

It’s not so easy when you’re the one holding the gun,

and you have a split second to whether or not to pull the trigger.

Like you did with Laurie Bey?

Yeah.

Do you think you would ever do it again, Dad?

[sighs]

No, I don’t think so.

It’s a terrible feeling taking a human life.

Or close to it.

[dramatic music playing]

You have to make sure you’re right. I mean, really right.

Because no matter what the law says...

you have to live with yourself.

[music continues]

[Douglas] So, Mr. Williams,

you have no idea

why a police officer would shoot an enraged maniac

‐that was fighting like a crazy person. ‐Your Honor!

I’ll rephrase the question.

How are you?

‐What? ‐What, it’s a simple question.

Are you feeling good?

Or are you feeling bad? You got a little gas maybe?

‐[all chuckle] ‐Are you some kind of comedian?

Oh, I’ve been known to tell a joke or two, but let’s move on.

You told the jury

that you’re an out‐of‐work actor.

How long have you been starring in the role of Benny Bratwurst?

‐Barney Big Brat. ‐Oh, I apologize.

I don’t mean to insult a member of the sausage family.

‐I have relatives of Frankfurters, you know. ‐Wambaugh.

‐[all laugh] ‐I’m sorry, Your Honor.

You told the jury that you’re a peace loving man.

‐Isn’t that right? ‐Yes.

‐Ever hit anyone before, Mr. Williams? ‐Objection. Irrelevant.

Your Honor, he says he’s a peace‐loving fellow, I get to impeach.

Go ahead, but get to it.

How about it, Mr. Williams?

‐Did you ever hit a person, say, in the last five years? ‐No.

Did you ever get into an altercation or break somebody’s jaw?

Maybe you can recall this man’s name

"Joe Westerhouse."

Yes, but that was on stage, uh, in a play.

You mean to tell me it was scripted?

I was playing a part in a play, I got immersed in the role,

and I went too far, that’s all.

Weren’t you suspended from Actors’ Equity for six months?

They refused to understand.

Yes or no, Mr. Williams?

Yes, but it was a lousy decision.

‐It was an accident, they knew that. ‐"An accident."

You put a man in the hospital.

$3,000 of dental work alone.

Isn’t that right, Mr. Williams?

Uh... I don’t know. I apologized to the guy.

That ought to make him feel a lot better. When did this all happen?

Four months ago.

Four months ago, ah!

No wonder you’re in Rome, Wisconsin.

‐Because you couldn’t work in the legitimate stage. ‐I’m on vacation.

What a way to spend a vacation, imitating processed meat.

‐[all chuckling] ‐But that’s not so bad.

One day, you’ll meet a nice little liverwurst.

‐Objection! ‐You think you’re pretty funny, don’t you?

Wambaugh, I’m warning you.

And, Mr. Williams,

please confine your remarks to the questions asked.

What? I’m supposed to let him take cheap shots

at me all day? I can’t do anything about it?

Well, what would you like to do, Mr. Williams? Sock me in the jaw?

‐[Billy] Objec‐‐ ‐Hey! I’m the guy who got shot here!

[Judge Bone] Wambaugh.

Such an outburst.

I withdraw the question.

[sighs]

So when you go back to your jury room, ladies and gentlemen,

you must ask yourself these questions.

Why didn’t Deputy Stewart back off?

Why didn’t she call for help?

And after you examine the evidence, you’ll know the answer.

It is because Deputy Stewart is a trigger‐happy macho cop

with a documented history of bad judgment in the field.

Now is the time to tell your sheriff’s department

that you don’t want loose cannons like her wearing a badge.

Now is the time that you must tell your city

the fourth amendment to our constitution

still means something here in Rome, Wisconsin.

That the police are not above the law.

That’s the message that you must send.

My esteemed colleague has made such a big deal

about who chose to do what in this case.

But who really has a choice here, my friends?

It was the plaintiff

who ignored repeated warnings,

and who chose to turn a simple conversation

into violence.

It was the plaintiff who gave my client no choice

but to act as she did.

Oh, now we can look at that videotape all day,

but it would still tell you nothing about that one critical question

that you have to decide for yourselves.

Did he go for her gun or did he not?

Now, who you trust to answer that?

Well, consider who kept their cool in the courtroom, and who didn’t.

Whose behavior, throughout the incident has shown control,

and who has shown lack of control.

Deputy Stewart responded to this violent man

exactly as her training told her to do.

She showed restraint.

He showed none.

When at last she fired, she did so to protect herself

and all those that were around her.

Deputy Stewart...

did her job, my friends.

Now you do yours.

[all murmuring[

[sighs]

‐It’s only one and it’s outside, okay? ‐It’s your lungs.

So is the house of Brock back in order?

You know, I um...

I didn’t really see you as

being much help in this situation initially.

I guessed that.

‐What changed your mind? ‐I don’t know.

Maybe the fact that Kimberley trusted you.

Or that no matter how much I pressure you,

you didn’t breach her confidence.

‐I respect you for that. ‐Ooh, that must’ve hurt.

Like swallowing broken glass.

But it’s the truth.

You have more skill than I give you credit for.

Whoa, hold the presses. Do I hear an apology here?

‐No. [scoffs] ‐I’m hearing an apology.

‐I merely tried to say‐‐ ‐That you are wrong and I’m right.

No, I hear you. It’s okay, Jill, I accept your apology.

Has anyone ever told you that you’re totally obnoxious?

Well, other than you, hmm, no. I don’t think so.

Right.

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

We have, Your Honor.

[Judge Bone] What say you?

In the matter of Williams v. Stewart Brock and the City of Rome,

‐we find for the defendant, and direct that ‐[all murmuring]

‐the plaintiff take nothing. ‐[Wambaugh laughs]

[gavel banging]

This court will remain in order.

The claims against the defendant are dismissed.

Members of the jury, thank you for your time.

‐This court is adjourned. ‐[gavel bangs]

Now, get out.

[dramatic music playing]

[all talking indistinctly]

‐Hmm. ‐A couple of more faxes, Jimmy.

Greensboro in North Carolina, Dallas, Texas

Oh, this is just amazing. Look at this.

‐I guess a lot of people were booing for us. ‐I guess. Guess so.

‐Jimmy, can I talk to you for a second? ‐Sure.

‐Alone? Sorry. ‐No problem.

‐I’ll see you at O’ Cally’s. ‐Yeah.

Hey, sit down.

Faxes from department all over the country. You did all right.

I was thinking about turning in my badge.

Okay.

‐I shouldn’t have shot that guy, Jimmy. ‐[sighs]

I should’ve found another way.

The jury at your appearance didn’t think so.

It’s not what they think, it’s what I think.

I don’t know if I can go back out there.

I see.

I never doubted myself before, Jimmy.

‐Not like this. ‐It could make you a better cop.

It could make me totally useless.

We’re given the power over life and death and we’re supposed to know how to use it.

Do it right, nobody says much. Do it wrong...

you get hell to pay.

It’s not fair, it’s not gonna change, it’s the job.

[sighs]

The thing is, Maxine, you’re gonna have to live with this,

whether or not you quit.

Now, you can use it as a weakness,

or you can use it as a source of strength, it’s up to you.

Your strength is measured on how you confront your weakness.

I believe this is yours.

[melancholic music playing]

[theme music playing]

[theme music ends]